> The Second Revival of a Heart: Ponyville Days
>  by TheMessenger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> One Can Always Dream
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

One Can Always Dream

Life was nonexistent.

There was no life in the stones. The sand did not breath. The wind, though it may whisper sweetly as it passed by, had no soul, no spirit, nor were there any to hear its haunting cries.

No snakes slithered through the desert sand. No lizards sunbathed on the scattered stones. No tall prickly towers of vegetation one might expect stereotypically scattered in a desert wasteland. No hardy shrubs and grasses fought for what little moisture could be gathered by their roots. One could not even be sure whether there was any hidden water abound. There certainly weren't any wells dug, any signs of a robust, adaptive civilization.

No, life was nonexistent.  

One, if one could be found in the first place, could argue that, metaphorically, the ash-black mountain that stood out of the sand like a towering fortress was very much alive. The ground shook violently as it rumbled. Streaks of yellow and red burned down the slopes. Ash and smoke spewed from the top, threatening to block out the sun. Not that there was anyone or anything around to miss that bright globe of light anyways.

Though hidden behind black smoggy clouds, the sun's heat was not lessened. Heat waves danced across the sand, creating images. One, if one could be found in the first place, might have seen a welcoming oasis in the distance, and would have wasted their energy pursuing those fake coconut palms. Or perhaps see a delicious feast, with apples and peaches, bananas and pineapples, baked potatoes, wine from freshly squeezed grapes, only to break one's teeth against a rock after taking a generous helping of honey-glazed ham.

Or perhaps one might see a cloaked upright figure. It was a tall figure, standing on two long trunks. Two similar appendages hung at its sides, attached below the figure's hooded head. Legs and arms.

In the sweltering heat, the figure seemed to shimmer, the only clue and reminder that this was just a mirage, a mere illusion. After all, life was nonex-

The shimmering had faded but the figure did not. Rather, as he approached the mountain he began to appear more and more solid, more tangible. More real.

A gust of wind knocked the hood back. The being, for now he was much more than a simple figure, raised a hand to shield his eyes. Two bright hazel brown ovals dotted with black points in the center narrowed as the sun shone down upon them from behind the volcanic smoke.

He ran his fingers through the mess of dirty white hair atop his head. He loosened the scarf around his mouth and nose and sighed. The mountain was still distances away, though he could feel its tremors run through the earth. He leaned against the gnarled staff in his hand, the bottom buried in sand. Silver runes ran down the staff that seemed to gleam in the sun.

More than being now. A man.

The young man removed a canteen from his belt and took a small sip. He considered the container for a moment, weighing it in his hand, before lifting his shoulders in a resigned shrug and lifting his head upward and tipping the canteen to his lips. A small bump in his patched throat bobbed as sweet water ran down it. With a satisfied sigh, he removed the canteen from his cracking lips. He considered reattaching the metal canister to his belt before shaking his head and punting it behind him instead. He would not be needing it and it was a cumbersome piece of equipment anyways.

He turned his head back to the mountain, which seemed to quake in anticipation for his arrival. With one step after the other, he walked forward.

And forward.

And forward.

And forward still. Hours may have passed but one could never be certain.

The man now stood at the base of the volcano. As if angered that such a small being dared approach it, the mountain rumbled. Loose rocks bounced about as the ground shook. The man struggled to keep his balance. His staff dug deeper into the sand.

A large cloud of ash burst forth from the mountain's peak. For a moment it lingered in the air, hiding the sun once more. The man stared at the cluster of ash. He would have expected the burnt dust to have drifted off and dissipate, either dispersed through the atmosphere or raining down upon the charred earth. The black cloud did neither, growing larger much to the man's surprise. Even the passing wind did nothing to the ash.

The sky grew even darker, almost creating an artificial night. Roars shook the man's ears, though he could not tell whether it was thunder or the rumble of the volcano. Another roar was released and he tilted his head up toward the source of the sound. He hadn't felt any tremors but he also hadn't seen any flashes of lightning that would hint of a storm. 
Another roar, followed by a sudden torrent of wind. The man covered his eyes as sand, dust, and ash threatened to blind him. He winced as wind and debris cut into every bit of exposed flesh. His unprotected hands grew red and raw, as did his cheeks. 

At last the wind died down. The man slowly opened his eyes. They immediately jumped wide open at the sight above.
The dark clouds disappeared. In their place was a giant grotesque monster. Its slithering body eclipsed the sun, continuing the illusion of a hellish evening. Horns sprung up from the beasts head, some curled up like goat horns, others simply sharp bony points. No two horns were uniform. 

Four massive legs hung above. One was scaly, ending in a hand-like fashion, though each finger was accented with dangerous claws. Another was like that of an eagle or raptor, with massive talons. Still another was similar to the leg of a cow or a horse, ending with a hoof.

Behind the beast's snout were two sickly yellow eyes that spun uncontrollable. Several fangs larger than the man's entire arm peeked out of the monster's lips. The very corners of the beast's mouth were twisted up into a sadistic smirk. It opened it's mouth and released an earth-shaking growl, though for all the man knew it could have been a laugh.

It took the man several long seconds to find his voice. When he did, he muttered, "Cefuli the Demon, the Dark One."

"Discord," his echo said in the wind. "Of True Chaos."

The beast turned down to the young man. The imagined smirk grew and grew until the cruelty behind it could not be denied. Those insane eyes focused and zeroed on him. The man's breathing quickened as the monster screamed again, opening its mouth and charging toward him.

The man could feel the beast's hot breath. He could count those teeth that would reduce him to powder. He could see the darkness that served the back of the monster's throat, that would serve as his own oblivion.

Light flashed. Instinctively, he raised his hand and shielded his eyes. Judging by the pained roar that threatened to crush the man, it was apparent that the beast had not been as lucky. He opened his eyes.

Six orbs of brilliant light stood between the man and the beast. Each sphere was a different color: red, magenta, yellow, blue, green, and purple. The monster snarled as it clutched its eye. Black goo leaked from the empty socket. The purple orb drew closer. The beast flinched, as if struck.

"The Essences of Concord," the man breathed.

"The Elements of Harmony," his echo whispered back, carried by the wind.

The demon swung its claw at the purple light to extinguish it only to howl in pain as the red one charged forward, striking it back. The remaining four moved in.

Light filled the man's vision and nothing else. For a moment, he thought himself blind.

Slowly, shapes were forming. He could see the begins of a...a...a snout. Not like the one the beast had. No, this one was smaller, softer, more feminine. More...friendly.

Color came next. There was so much pink it was almost maddening. Lighter variants formed and congregated near the top while almost everything below was a very bright purple. Two small spots of greenish grey dotted amid the brighter hues.
The shapes were becoming more distinct. A body was formed, with four hoofed legs. The grey-green blobs became eyes. 

The light pink became hair, both on top of a head and in the back as a tail. 

A purple mare stood before the man. How odd...

She opened her mouth. Her voice was motherly, but stern.

"Well, Ash? We're waiting."


*****


"Wasuh?" 

Ash blinked his eyes opened. The purple mare was still there and she did not look happy.

Ash shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts and understand the situation.

Cheerilee. That was the mare's name. Teacher of the Ponyville schoolhouse. Educator to almost every foal in Ponyville. Oh, and him too, Ash grudgingly added. 

Now why did she look so upset? Ash racked his brain, searching for an answer. Had he unintentionally insulted her? Had he intentional insulted her? The last thing he could remember was trying to keep his eyes open. He had been so tired he rested his head on his desk and-

Ash was suddenly aware of the giggles and snickers around him.

"Oh..." was all he could say as realization dawned. He must have fallen asleep in class. Ash gulped, turning red in embarrassment. If Twilight found out...

"Well?"

Cheerilee was waiting for a response, Ash realized. Quickly, he considered his options, hoping to at least stop himself from digging a deeper hole. 

"I...really like your mane?"

Cheerilee was not impressed, though he received a tremendous response from the rest of the class. The short giggles and snorts grew into uncontainable raucous howls and shrieks. Fillies and colts stomped away in their seats and some pounded away on their desks.

The grin that slowly spread across Ash's face died away at the sight of Cheerilee's glare. Again, he gulped nervously.

"I'm sorry, what was the question?"

Miss Cheerilee's frown deepened. Her eyes narrowed. Sweat dripped down Ash's brow but he made no attempt to clean it. He wasn't sure what would happen if he made any sudden movement; few wilderness guides covered the appropriate approach to handling angered pony teachers in their natural habitat. Ash made a mental note to himself to write a book on surviving public schooling, providing that he survived this encounter. Oh, and after learning how to write in Equestrian.

"My question was, and do try to pay attention this time..."

The laughter grew and Ash's imitation of a tomato was quite impressive.

"...was, and still is mind you, why is there a hairless ape monster sitting in my student's desk?"

Ash's blush was banished as the blood in his veins chilled, froze, solidified, and fell to his feet with what he assumed to be an audible thud. 

"H-h-h-h-huh-is..."

"Hairless ape monster, yes."

Ash brought his hand to his face. Hand, not hoof. His fingers brushed across his face, against his nose, lips, cheek, skin. There was no fur, only the smooth skin of a Human. There was no snout of a horse, only the pitifully weak olfactory organ Humans had the gale to call a nose.    

Yes, he was very Human.

Ash began to panic. How could this happen? Why hadn't either he or Twilight anticipated this? The spell had never done this before or even hinted and according to Twilight's observations, there was no sign of deterioration. His eyes shifted to the door, the windows, looking for an exit. That wall didn't look to solid. He could probably get through with a running start.

"Perhaps the more pressing question, however, is where are your pants?"

The Human froze, suddenly aware just how cold his rear felt against the tiny wooden chair he sat in. He didn't want to, fought against the urge with all his will, but no matter what he did, Ash could not stop himself from looking down. 

Yep, no pants. No underwear either. Those socks looked awfully comfortable though.

Ash screamed.


*****


Ash opened his eyes and lifted his head. Sweat fell like raindrops in a summer storm and he struggled to control his shaky breathing.

"Ash, are you alright?" Miss Cheerilee asked, looking away from the chalkboard behind her. There was no glare in her eyes, no enraged glint. She was frowning but out of concern. 

Ash rubbed his hooves together. Wait, hooves? Hooves! His labored breathing slowed and he began to relax. "No ma'am," he said. "Er, was there a question?"

A haughty snort came behind the former Archmage apprentice. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That would Diamond Tiara, of course. She and her friend, Silver Fork(?), made it perfectly that they were not intimidated by his age and the lack of a symbol on his grey flank might as well have been a red and white target. 

"I didn't ask a question." Cheerilee's grey-green eyes were narrowing, though not to the extent Ash had seen in his dream. "Though something tells me somepony hasn't been paying attention today."

More snickers and even a high-pitched giggle. The little pink brat and her bespectacled lackey were probably passing notes the whole time, using the slumbering body of their older classmate as cover. Once again, Ash reminded himself that straggling a child was probably just as looked down upon in Equestria as it was in his old world. Besides, he wasn't exactly sure how he'd do it without fingers.

Instead, Ash calmed himself down and apologized. "Sorry, Miss Cheerilee. I was helping Twilight Sparkle with a spell and well..." He yawned. 

The teacher nodded her head. "I'm glad to hear that Twilight's back to normal but I can't accept an excuse like that. If you're really that tired you should have stayed home."

Ash nearly burst out laughing. Twilight was pretty clear on her stance on absences and the few days he had taken off to help the Unicorn with her condition were a few days too many in her opinion. He didn't even get the chance to explain just how much that short hour took out of him before Twilight all but kicked him out. Odds were, however, the spell took just as much energy out of her and she wasn't thinking straight. He couldn't completely blame her.

"Sorry."

Cheerilee's expression softened. "It's fine. You will be spending recess in here of course."

Most children would have groaned. Ash didn't mind. Three young fillies did however, and they made their complaints verbal.

"But Miss Cheerilee," said one young orange Pegasus with a short magenta mane. "You told us that young foals like us should always get our sleep."

One would not easily classify Ash as a young foal but Scootaloo wasn't one to sweat details.

"Yeah," piped in a cream-colored filly with a bright red bow in her red hair. "An' what's what that one pony said? Somethin' 'bout sleep makin' a pony healthy, wealthy, an' wise?"

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a pony healthy, wealthy, and wise was the quote Apple Bloom was searching for. She conveniently forgot the first part.

"My sister says a lady should always get her beauty sleep," added a young Unicorn. Her coat was white and her mane was light purple and in nice little curls. "She says a lack of proper sleep is a sure path to a grey mane."

And if Rarity said it was true, who was Sweetie Belle to argue? It didn't matter that Ash's mane was already white as snow from age.

Cheerilee shook her head and sighed, just as the bell rang for lunch. Students leaped out of their seats and beelined to the door.

"You are excused for lunch," the teacher said cheerfully, ignoring the fact that several of her students were already outside. She smiled at the three fillies who had grouped themselves together. "Sorry girls. Ash should know better than to sleep in class, though I'm sure he appreciates the effort."

Light snoring came from the grey stallion who sat with his face in the desk. 

Cheerilee forced a smile. "You three go ahead and enjoy your lunch. I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for crusader preparation with Ash after school."

"Okay," the trio of fillies conceded, making their way outside and into the sun. Cheerilee continued to beam until the door finally shut behind Sweetie Belle.

Cheerilee turned to Ash and sighed. Alone at last.

A small mischievous grin broke across her face. As a teacher and a role model for several younger ponies, Cheerilee had to be careful with her indulgences. Cider was one thing but this? She shuddered at the possibility of being discovered. She could imagine the scandal that would soon ensue if one of her students wandered in during the middle of the act.

Still, a mare has her needs and now they were finally alone at last. This wasn't the sort of thing she would normally ask from one of her students. They were all still so young, so innocent. Cheerilee wasn't sure any of them were ready.

Ash on the other hoof was a full grown stallion and that put him in a very unique position. He could handle it. Cheerilee looked around the classroom. All the children were outside, eating and playing. She had no need to worry about getting caught. Still, this would have to be quick she told herself sadly. These foals were her responsibility and she was a responsible mare. But a mare does have her needs.

Cheerilee sauntered over to Ash's seat, looking over her shoulder every now and then. Her tail brushed against the trio of smiling flowers on her flank. Gently, she poked the grey Unicorn in the side. Ash did not stir. She tried again with a little more force. This time she was rewarded with a loud snore. 

The teacher shook her head. He was completely out of it and in no condition to help. Her tail hung limply as she made her way back to her desk. She reached down from behind the desk and pulled out a brown paper bag. With a few shakes, a banana tumbled out.

Cheerilee glared at the yellow fruit, taunting her. The peel was all that stood between her and lunch and experience had taught her that it was indeed a worthy opponent. She wasn't sure how she was conned into purchasing such discriminatory fruits. 

She glanced back at the sleeping Unicorn. His horn seemed to gleam in the sunbeams coming through the window. How useful it would have been. She sighed.

"Now what am I suppose to eat?"

> Ya Gotta Hardly Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ya Gotta Hardly Party

"Streamers?"

"Check!"

"Balloons?"

"Um, check."

"Gator-free punch?"

"No gators today. Check!"

"Cupcakes with extra frosting?"

The baby dragon removed his sugar-coated claw from his mouth and made a quick mark on the long roll of parchment in front of him. "Chekth," Spike said with a mouth full of pastry. He leaned on the tips of his toes as he reached over the festive table and poured himself a cup of fruit punch, downing it all in a single swig. 

A pink mare with a mane like cotton candy pounced next to the young dragon. A group of blue and yellow balloons adorn the side of her flank like those floating around and about the library. Spike offered her some punch.

"Are you sure this a good idea, Pinkie?" he asked as the pony ignored the cup and drank directly out of the bowl.

Pinkie Pie laughed and wrapped a leg around Spike's shoulders. "Oh Spike, when is a party not a good idea?"

"Well, I-"

"Exactly! A Congrats on Turning Back Into a Pony from a Hairless Ape Monster party is just what Twilight needs!"

"But-" 

Spike shut his mouth and gulped as the pink Earth pony's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I have waited days for this specific party. I have spent days planning for this. I have sacrificed more than you'll ever imagine. I sat still yesterday for an entire ten minutes. Ten. Minutes. I will not be denied. Capiche?"

Pinkie's cheerful demeanor returned as Spike frantically nodded. "Then let's get this party STARTED..." She turned to a nearby clock on the wall. "...in a couple of hours, once all the guests all arrive."

"Plus Twilight's still kinda out of it," a cyan Pegasus added. Like Pinkie Pie, her flank was marked with an unique symbol, her's being a cloud and lightning bolt outlined by blue, yellow, and red. Rainbow Dash's signature rainbow colored mane flipped to the side as she poked the sleeping purple Unicorn. A small cone party hat sat over her horn. Her gentle snore filled the library, rustling the pages of the open book that served as her pillow. 

Pinkie bounced to Twilight's other side. "Huh, guess there's not much point of a 'Congrats on Turning Back Into a Pony from a Hairless Ape Monster' party without a Twilight to congratulate," she said, giving the purple Unicorn a prod. "Sheesh, she wasn't like this when we were here this morning."

Spike shrugged. "I dunno. She just crashed in the middle of breakfast. Like, pow!" He threw his arms in the air in emphasis. "Out cold. She didn't even didn't finish eating," he added with a pout. He kicked at a stray balloon.

"Aw, what's with the long face, sugarcube?" asked the blond orange mare with a distinct Southern drawl. She wiped a few crumbs off her lips as she approached the group. Behind her was a white Unicorn, whose violet mane with all its intricate curls and evident dedication stood in stark contrast to the literal blond ponytail sticking out of the brim Stetson sitting on the orange pony's head. 

With her head up high, Rarity levitated a small towel in front of her with her magic. "Well, the dishes are finally finished," she sniffed in disdain.

"Don' know why yer so worked up," Applejack said, rolling her eyes and shifting her hat. "Woulda been a waste of good food." She released a loud belch, winning a laugh from both Pinkie and Rainbow Dash and a glare from Rarity. 

"Pardon," she said apologetically. "Ah'll apologize tah Twilight when she wakes up but there's no point tah wastin' food."

"That was for Twilight..." Spike mumbled.

"An' she don' know what she's missin'. Spike, those were the best...Ah mean..." Applejack grew silent as the dragon fell back onto his rear, dejected. The alabaster mare's glare intensified. 

"Aw shucks, sorry Spike," she said, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "Ah should've known they were special."

Spike's frown faded slightly. His arms uncrossed and dropped to his sides. "It's alright, I guess. I'm glad somepony could enjoy them at least. Were...were they good?" he asked nervously.

The farm mare chuckled. "Didn' yah hear me tha firs' time? Heck, why don' yah ask Rares here?"

Rarity's blush was transparent as all eyes turned to her. She cleared her throat and began to twist the rag in the air.

"Er, well, yes, I may have taken a few bites," she admitted. "I mean, throwing it all away would have been a crime. After all, Spike, you spent so much time on preparing it..."

Rarity flashed a smile toward the dragon who blushed furiously, trying his best to look cool. Rainbow and Applejack rolled their eyes.

"...and the aroma, oh don't get me started. I can't possibly imagine how lucky Twilight must have been to walk in the kitchen while they were still fresh." Rarity's lip quivered and her eyes grew watery. "I'm so, so sorry Spike but I couldn't resist. I couldn't stop myself. I was so weak." She sniffed. "Oh, I do hope you will forgive me for taking a few small bites."

"Small bites nothin'," Applejack whispered to Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. "Ah always thought ladies had bigger mouths than regular pony folk." Pinkie and Dash giggled.

Spike meanwhile rocked on his heels, clutching at his chest. "Of...of course I forgive you, Rarity," he breathed. "How could I not?"

Once again Applejack and Rainbow Dash's pupils rolled up toward the library's roof as Rarity cooed and gave Twilight's scaly assistant a hug, which Spike accepted zealously. "Ooh, my little Spikey-Wikey is so kind."

Rainbow Dash nudged Applejack and pretended to gag. The orange mare stifled a snort.

Pinkie on the other hoof had thoroughly ruined the moment between the two by joining in the hug. "What?" she wondered when both Rarity and Spike gave her unamused stares. "Three's company! And four is more!"

Twilight Sparkle barely stirred as Pinkie grabbed her sleeping body and sandwiched her like grape jam between Spike and Rarity. 

"Pinkie...darling..."

"Can't breath!" 


*****


"An' that's why we're not Cutie Mark Crusaders Jugglers."

"Hmm," Ash grunted. 

"Rarity still won't let me near her scissors," Sweetie Belle complained. "Or her pencils. Or her toaster. Or her cat."

"Uh huh." He hadn't noticed the makeshift harness on his back or the stares he was receiving because of it. Or the little red wagon he pulled behind him.

Scootaloo rolled past on her scooter, her wings spread to slow down. The filly gave the grey stallion an annoyed glare. "Are you even paying attention?" she asked. 

"That's nice."

Scootaloo turned to her friends who sat in the wagon that was normally attached to her scooter as a means of transport. They gave her a shrug, just as confused as she was.

Carefully, Apple Bloom climbed out of the moving wagon and onto the grey Unicorn's back. She waved her leg in front of his face. She received no response.

"Ah think he's sleepwalkin'."

"Get off my head," the stallion growled.  

"Oops." Apple Bloom leaped down. "Sorry."

"Hmm." Ash blinked and looked around. "Where are we going again?"

"Sugarcube Corner," Sweetie Belle explained over the loud clanks as Scootaloo head-butted her handle bars. The young Unicorn pulled out a long sheet of paper. "If Rarity won't let me use her toaster I'll just have to get creative," she huffed.

"A toasting cutie mark?" Ash wondered. 

"Ooh, that's much better that the juicing idea," Sweetie squealed. "After that is the Boutique to pick up some yarn. Then to Fluttershy's to try knitting..."

"Extreme knitting," chimed Scootaloo.

"...extreme knitting, followed by, um...stuff."

Ash yawned. "Stuff?"

"Stuff, things, to-dos..." Sweetie Belle listed as she scanned the sheet. "...activities, projects, endeavors, schemes, tasks, affairs, engagements, crusades, hoopla, undertaking, tasks, Note to Self: Scootaloo is relieved of all secretarial duties until further notice, quests, games, events, an ink blot, two stick ponies, business, missions-oof!"

Sweetie Belle tumbled back as Ash fumbled through an apology.

"S-sorry about that. I'm having a little trouble paying attention."

"Oh, it's no problem at all," the yellow Pegasus quickly assured. She seemed to sink into her long pink mane. "U-unless you have a problem. I'm sorry," she said, pawing at the ground timidly, her light aqua eyes toward the ground.

"What, no, you have nothing to apologize for," Ash exclaimed. "I mean, I should have been, well you know...I mean..." He rubbed the back of his head, his own eyes shifted to the side.

"Hiya Fluttershy!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders greeted in unison. They crowded around the Pegasus as close as they could without panicking the pony. If anything, their presence calmed Fluttershy, who lifted her head and smiled. "Oh, hello girls. Is school out already?"

"Yep!" Apple Bloom answered. "Hey, are yah still gonna help us with our lion tamer cutie mark? Yer still taking care of that baby manticore, right?"

"Oh, well, I don't think..."

"We're heading to Sugarcube Corner. Wanna join us?" Sweetie Belle offered.

"Oh, I'd love to but..."

"Hey, Fluttershy, settle a bet: how do you call a chicken?"

"Um..."

"Sorry about this," Ash said, pulling the three fillies back. "Pretty popular around kids, aren't you?"

"Oh, no. I just love taking care of small creatures." Fluttershy's shy smile became a concerned frown. "Oh my. Oh, you look...um...I'm sorry...you look so tired."

Ash smiled weakly. "I feel tired," he said. He yawned. "You checked on Twilight yet?"

"Oh yes. I'm glad she's back to normal even if she seems so tired right now." Fluttershy's smile returned. "We knew we could count on you, Ash. Thank you."

"I-it was nothing, really."

"If it were nuthin' why'd yah keep snorin' in class," Apple Bloom asked as her two friends struggled to contain their laughter.

"It's nothing," Ash assured as Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Like I said, I'm a little fatigued from the ordeal but I'll be fine. Oh and..." Ash lowered his voice and beckoned the yellow mare closer. "If you could, I'd appreciate it if my involvement in the entire thing wasn't common knowledge. I think it'd be best if everyone believed Twilight figured out how to fix everything instead."

"If you say so..."

"Thanks. Oh, and please don't let Twilight know I fell asleep in class."

"Of course not," Fluttershy said with a quiet giggle.

Ash sighed, relieved. "Thanks. Would you like to join us for a pastry or something? I mean, that is if you're not busy or anything."

"I'd love to, I really do, but I'm so sorry. Pinkie Pie needs me to hand out all invitations." The Pegasus gasped. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I got so caught up talking I forgot I..." Fluttershy fumbled with the strap on her saddlebags before delivering four small envelops. "Um, Pinkie told me I could sing if I wanted but..."

"It's fine." Ash stared at the invitation. "I-it's not going to explode this time, will it?"

Both the Unicorn and the Pegasus jumped as confetti shot into the air with a loud bang.

"You're invited to Twilight's Congrats on Turning Back Into a Pony from a Hairless Ape Monster party," Scootaloo read as bits of the plain envelope mingled with the colored paper.

"Punch and cupcakes will be served as well as a very special piñata," continued Sweetie Belle, shaking her head as confetti rained into her hair. "BYOB: bring your own bat."

"Cheap tail extensions, for when your stallion...wait, what?" Apple Bloom pulled her head back from the paper and quickly reread it. "Ah think this got mixed with Pinkie's invites," she said, looking up. "How long are yah two gonna stay up there?"

Fluttershy's blush grew. "Um, Ash, do you mind letting go of me?"

"N-not at this height."


*****


"Sorry."

"No, it's my fault..."

The Cutie Mark Crusaders rolled their eyes as Ash and Fluttershy tripped over each other in their attempts to apologize.

"It's fine, really..."

"I didn't mean to..."

"Hey Fluttershy," Scootaloo finally interjected. "Those bags look real full. How many ponies do you still have to invite?"

"Oh no," Fluttershy gasped. "I'm so sorry but I really need to get going."

"Of course. Uh, sorry for taking your time."

"I had a wonderful time talking with you, i-if you don't mind me saying."

"Same here. Um...I suppose I-we'll be seeing you later?"

"Oh yes. I could never miss one of Pinkie's parties, especially for a friend." The mare shivered. "It's just a little hard for me to talk to all the other guests, I guess."

"Yeah, I-"

Apple Bloom planted her hoof on her face as both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo groaned toward the heavens. In his current state, Ash didn't take the hint. Fluttershy thankfully did however and politely excused herself with a soft coy good bye. Ash's eyes followed her for a moment before shaking his head.

"Must be more tired than I thought."

"Huh?" Sweetie prodded the older pony's side. "What's up?"

"Nothing, nothing," Ash said, shaking his head. "Just...for a second I thought I was talking to an old friend. Argh, I really do need some sleep." 

"What 'bout some coffee?" Apple Bloom suggested. "Big Mac's always drinkin' that black stuff in tha morning. Never shares."

Ash shook his head. Caffeine would not help; he knew, he tried. "It'll just make my head hurt more." He turned to the three fillies. "Sorry girls. I don't think..." Ash quickly turned away. As long as he couldn't see those little quivering eyes and those shaking lips, he'd be fine. "I don't think I can play today."

"Oh, that's fine," Sweetie Belle said.

"Yeah," added Scootaloo. "Who said anything about playing anyways."

"...I mean I don't think I'm up for any...crusading."

"WHAT?"

Oh my head. Please, for the love of God, stop bleeding.

"I'm sorry. But unless you three want to try being Cutie Mark Crusader Nap Takers-"

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER NAP TAKERS! YAY!"

"Wait," Scootaloo considered as Ash fell to the ground, clutching his head and ears. "Haven't we tried that already?"

"Nah, that was Cutie Mark Crusader Pillow Testers."

"Hold on," interjected Sweetie Belle. "What about the party?"

"Oh yeah." Apple Bloom taped her chin. "Guess we've gotta postpone crusadin' fer today."

"Wonderful..." Ash muttered, finally on all fours. He began to walk away. 

"Where are you going?" Scootaloo asked as she and her friends quickly caught up.

"Home...the library. To lie down. And sleep."

"But Ash," Sweetie Belle whined, "you can't miss a Pinkie Pie Party." She lowered her voice. "Who knows what she'll do." All three fillies shivered as their imaginations ran wild.

The library came into view. "I just need a short nap." It wasn't entirely a lie. Short is subjective after all. "Just a nap." The door was now in reach. Ash extended his hoof. "Where is the party anyways?"

"Um..." Scootaloo looked back to her invitation. "Says here the Golden Oak-"

"SURPRISE!"

An loud thunk rang through the library as Ash's horn found itself dug deep into the ceiling. 

"Piñata's up!" Pinkie shouted triumphantly. 

"Piñata," Spike repeated, holding the long list and quill. "Check. That's it for decorations," he declared, tossing the list to the side.

"Aw, we fergot tah bring any bats," Apple Bloom said, frowning as she looked up at the dangling Unicorn. 

"That's okay," giggled Pinkie Pie. "We still got plenty of time before Twilight wakes up and the party really starts."

"Besides," said Rainbow Dash as she swooped over and dropped some clubs onto the Crusaders' unprotected heads. "I brought extras." 

Pinkie rubbed her hooves together in anticipation as the cyan Pegasus was subjected to the wraith of two protective older sisters. "I'm sure he'll spew candy this time! Ash, are you ready?"

The Unicorn answered with a snore.

"Aw, he's asleep." Pinkie set her own club aside and sighed. "Guess we'll have to use the backup," she said dejectedly, gesturing to a small paper mâché figure Spike was working on.

"No need," Applejack grumbled, giving a tied up Rainbow Dash a kick. "Got yah piñata right 'ere."

"No! I'm too awesome to be stuffed with candy!" 


*****


The royal gardens were, for the moment, off limits. Visitors were redirected by stern guards in golden armor to other attractions in Canterlot, including the wonderful palace gift shop, the Royal Guard recruitment headquarters, and a local donut eatery, never mind that it was far too early for donuts.

When questioned, these gold-plated enforcers of Equestrian law did what they were best at: keeping silent. Through vigorous training, these fine ponies had mastered the art of acting like a statue and eventually even the most curious pony lost interest and left with a few pictures of themselves making funny faces at the guards. 

In all honest, not a single one could answer why exactly the princesses had barred all entry into the stone gardens and the center maze. 

One could accuse Princess Celestia of being shadowy and underhanded for keeping a secret from even her most trusted guards. Of course, if one knew the reason the princess had, one would most likely, in panic, have started one of the largest riots in Equestrian history.

The princess sat before a certain statue, glaring at it with the intensity that could rival the glare of the sun. The stone depicted the most perplexing beast Celestia had the displeasure in knowing. It had the slivery slender body of a serpent that was covered in fur, once brown but now grey as rock. A pair of mismatched horns stuck out of its head and the rest of the face contorted in fear and in panic. Two legs, one like a pony and the other like that of an eagle, were outstretched, as if attempting to escape from something.

"Discord," Celestia muttered, her long horn glowing vibrantly. A faint glow surround the statue. "What are you planning?"

A flutter of feathery wings from behind her caught Celestia's attention and she let the spell falter. "Hello, sister," she greeted with a tired smile.

Princess Luna responded with a majestic smile of her own. She's been flossing Celestia observed, impressed. A thousand years in exile on the moon had not been kind on Luna's teeth and it had been a mix of miracles and the Princess of the Night's own tenacity that save her from the modern torture device known as braces.

Luna walked over to her older sister's side. "Hello, dear sister," she said, giving her a nuzzle. Both were larger than other ponies but it was quite obvious just who was the elder. Size was not the only difference between the two as while Luna was as dark as the night she guarded, Celestia was white. Both had long billowy manes but Luna's was dark with dots of white light, like the night sky, while Celestia's were waves of greens, pinks, and blues, like an aurora.

Luna's horn now glowed, covering the statue with her own magic. She frowned.

"I feel nothing, sister."

Celestia nodded solemnly. "Neither did I. And that bothers me. The seal had not weakened. There have been no hint of his influence." The white Alicorn began to pace. "So what was it that we sense before?"

She fell silent and stared at the statue, demanding answers with her glare. As expected, she received none.

"Celestia," the younger princess said, "I will continue the vigil. The sun must be set and the moon must take its place. Then, I implore you, get some sleep."

"I suppose..." Celestia agreed, spreading her wings to take flight. "Call me at once if anything changes. We cannot take him alone."

"I understand," said Luna with a nod. "I remember well." 

Celestia gave her younger sister an affectionate nuzzle, then took to the air. Luna watched her fly off into the distance and shortly after, the sky grew orange as the sun fell to the horizon.

The starry sky was a magnificent beauty but in Luna's eyes, it paled in comparison to the sight of the evening sunset. A second, just a mere damnable second, an old jealousy seized the princess. She shook her head and growled.

We were meant to rule together.

The sun disappeared. Luna's horn shined as the moon now shined in the sky. Guards were relieved and replaced. The gold-plated stallions gave nods and traded quips with their darker brethren. 

The Princess of the Night was on watch.


*****


Twilight's eyes reluctantly opened. The resounding echoes of a loud thud still rang in the Unicorn's ears. 

She closed her eyes, fighting for sleep's warm embrace. But like a lover scorn and hurt, Twilight's slumber refused to return, having moved on. With groan, Twilight pushed the blankets back and sat up in her bed. According to the small clock sitting on her bed stand, it was around five.

The Unicorn pulled away the window curtains warily and looked outside. The sun was not out but it was too bright to be evening. Additionally, Twilight could see no ponies about. It must be early morning then, Twilight concluded.

Twilight stretched and got out of bed. No point in staying in bed if she could not sleep the Unicorn decided. She turned to the mirror and blinks. Is that...it was. A large purple cone party hat sits on Twilight's head. She removes the hat, setting it to the side, revealing her horn underneath.

Twilight scratches her head, trying to recall the events last night. Was cider involved? The Unicorn smacked her lips. No, there was no nasty aftertaste in her mouth. She really need to brush her teeth however.

Her frustration grew as Twilight realized that the entirety of yesterday was missing from her memories, not just of last night. She remembered talking to Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, talking to Ash, sending Ash to school like a foal, sitting down for breakfast...

Speaking of which...

Twilight's stomach growled, cutting into her thoughts. It's a little early for breakfast Twilight thought. Her belly rumbled in protest. But I suppose a snack won't hurt. 

She looked over to the basket her assistant used as a bed. Twilight smiled as she watched Spike's body rise as he snored. A green party hat, much like the one she had been wearing, laid next to him. A long piece of ribbon was clenched in his claw. 

Twilight considered waking the dragon up. He seemed to have answers. She thought better as Spike rolled in sleep and shoving a thumb into his mouth, mumbling something that sounded awfully like "Twilight". Her smile grew.

Quietly, the purple Unicorn descended down the stairs that connected the main library to her personal living space. She raised an eyebrow when she discovered a sleeping Pinkie Pie at the bottom the stairs, wearing another party hat and covered in confetti bits and candy wrappers before simply shrugging and continuing onward. This was not the strangest position Twilight had ever found the pink party pony and experience told her that any investigation of any depth simply led to the obvious: Pinkie Pie was Pinkie Pie.

Perhaps if Twilight hasn't been so tired she may have found it suspicious that she, Spike, and Pinkie all wore the same cone hats, differing only in color. Perhaps if Twilight wasn't so hungry, she would have noted all the streamers, the trays of baked goods gone cold, the punch bowl, the large banner saying "Congrats on Turning Back Into a Pony from a Hairless Ape Monster" with a crude rendition of the purple haired girl she had been. The fangs made a nice touch, she and Ash would later agree.

Perhaps if Twilight's attention had not been completely diverted to the white-haired young man laying on his back, rubbing his neck and rear, and muttering obscenities, she may have been able to connect the dots herself.

"Good morning Ash."

"Humph." 


> F is for Fantastic 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

F is for Fantastic

Fluttershy set the large bag of chicken feed down on the ground, wiping away with her wing the bit of sweat that had accumulated on her brow. As her chicks grew so did their fierce appetites and the size of the sack of seeds the Pegasus need to buy.

Not that she was complaining, of course. If anything, Fluttershy was ecstatic that so many of her chickens grew so healthily into adult hens and roosters . Even now, the Pegasus smiled as several of the bolder ones left the safety of the coop and pecked around her hooves.

"Now, now," Fluttershy chided, "I know every one of you is hungry but you still need to be patient. You will all get plenty but please wait for your brothers and sisters."

Most obediently filed back behind the fence but a few clucked defiantly. One overconfident red cock hopped on the bag and attacked it. One glance back into his caretaker's aqua blue eyes, however, and he immediately ceased, bowing his head and retreating with his brethren.

With some difficulty, Fluttershy lifted the heavy bag onto her back and filled the chicken troughs. Her smile grew as the chickens clucked in gratitude. Some of the more appreciative even offered a few eggs, to which Fluttershy refused. Dragging the feed bag out of the pen and closing the gate behind her the Pegasus filled another, smaller trough for the weasels and ferrets and raccoons. A few had developed the unfortunate habit of stealing food from the chickens and Fluttershy sought to correct this behavior with this deterrent.

She shook the bag, taking note of its current weight. Fluttershy estimated that it would last for another week or so, then it was another dreaded trip to the market. The feed merchant had the disturbing tendency of eating her own wares.

With the sack safely stowed in a small nondescript shed, Fluttershy headed back into her cottage, where she planned to prepare breakfast for the rest of her guests and, eventually, herself. To her surprise a small white rabbit sat between her and the door.

"Good morning, Angel," she said. "Are you hungry? How does a nice carrot and celery salad sound?"

Angel put his paws on his hip as he made way for the Pegasus. His impatient scowl deepened as Fluttershy went into the kitchen and picked out a few small carrots. He hopped next to the yellow Pegasus and firmly tugged on her leg.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is there something else you would like this morning?"

The bunny shook his head, pulling at Fluttershy's leg more forcefully. Angel made his way to the doorway and pointed out.

"Do...you want me to follow you?" Fluttershy asked.

Angel nodded before hopping off. Fluttershy hurried after him with the carrots. Perhaps he had found a friend and wanted to share his morning meal thought Fluttershy. Or maybe Angel had discovered a poor injured animal that need help. Fluttershy quickened her pace at the thought, even as she crossed the border of the feared Everfree Forest.

They hadn't gotten very far into the forest before Angel had led Fluttershy to his destination. Several other critters were in the clearing they stopped at as well: rabbits, mice, ferrets, badgers, jays in the nearby trees, brown squirrels, a few adventurous ducks, a bear, even a disoriented owl. Many Fluttershy recognized, though a few, rougher animals came from deeper within the Everfree Forest.

The rather sudden gathering of woodland creatures startled Fluttershy as she struggled to rationalize the meeting's purpose. She got little more than a few polite shrugs when she inquired the animals she knew. Now curiosity was not a trait that most would associate with Fluttershy; more often than not, the shy Pegasus was more content with hiding in room and letting a braver pony like Rainbow Dash or Twilight Sparkle conduct the investigation when confronted with a mystery.

This morning, however, curiosity had seized the shy Pegasus like a dog to a chew toy and an uncharacteristic frustration began to gnaw at Fluttershy in a similar fashion and with hidden determination, she found herself vowing to discover just what was going on around here. She hadn't gotten far before answer found her and she had heard it.

It was a song, a haunting, mesmerizing song. There were no lyrics Fluttershy recognized. If there were any words, they were not ones she understood, nor was she entirely certain that she ever should.

The voice was like the wind, whispering in her ear and sending a shiver down her spine. At the same time, however, the Pegasus was at peace, like a cooling summer breeze. The voice felt oddly familiar. The mysterious melody both chilled her core and calmed her, willing her forget the problems of the day. The yellow Pegasus fought back a yawn. She sat down next to Angel who leaned against her. Angel's behavior startled Fluttershy out of the beginnings of a trance. It was rare for the bunny to be acting so subdued. She looked around and noticed how all the animals seemed more relaxed and at ease. Even the flighty squirrels sat still, staring into the center of the meadow. Fluttershy follow their gaze.

There sat Ash. With his eyes closed and hands upon on his knee, the white-haired Human rested cross-legged. He had a similar expression of peace on his face, as if having a pleasant dream. Several birds had found that his shoulders made lovely perches and Fluttershy giggled when she saw the little finch poke her head out of the little nest she had made out of Ash's hair.

Fluttershy slowly approached the Mage. As she did, the faint melody she heard grew stronger. Now she recognized the voice; she and her friends had heard it when they first discovered Ash trapped to the mighty tree behind the old palace in the Everfree. Then it had been a lamentation, mourning Ash's failure and the crushing betrayal that nearly destroyed him. Then the song had nearly crush her beneath a heavy weight of sorrow. Then the mysterious music brought tears to her eyes.

Today, however, she was relaxed, as if the notes were masseurs, rubbing away the soreness in her back from her chores and lulling her into sleep. It was a little like a lullaby, though even as she made the comparison, Fluttershy noticed that Ash's lips were not moving.

She drew a little closer before she felt something tug at her leg. Fluttershy looked around and found Angel hopping behind her. He pointed at the carrot she had and then pointed at Ash.

Fluttershy smiled. "Oh, do you want to share with our new friend?" She gave the vegetable over to the bunny. "Here. Try not to wake him though, okay?."

Angel nodded. He pounced past the others until he stood right next to the towering Human's foot. Angel held the carrot up.

Fluttershy watched in horror as her bunny threw the carrot. It smacked Ash's forehead and fell to the ground.

As if on cue, the animals scattered. Birds took to the air and those who lived deeper in the forest went in that direction. The more domestic ones ran down the way to Fluttershy's cottage, some giving the Pegasus a small wave of greeting as they passed by. A certain white rabbit found himself dangling from Fluttershy's teeth as he tried to run by. He struggled but Fluttershy held firmly, though not painfully. Eventually, Angel tired and let himself hang, resigning himself to whatever punishment Fluttershy would come up with.

Her scolding was interrupted however when Ash opened his eyes. She released an involuntary squeak as she saw that instead of being hazel his eyes were milky. He blinked and they returned to the light brown the Pegasus had been familiar with.

Ash got up with a groan, stretching upward. As his arms sprung to the sky, feathers fell down his front. He picked one up in confusion, then groaned. He began to brush his shoulders furiously. When he was satisfied that they were clean, Ash ran a hand through his hair, only to pull it back with a pained yelp.

The finch squawked angrily. She had claimed this head as her home and she wasn't going to be evicted without a fight. She attacked the Human's fingers ferociously as they approach again.

The Human growled angrily. This head belonged to him, had been with him through Hell and high waters, and during those long years Ash had become quite attached to it. He was not about to lose it to some crazy bird without a fight and he was willing to lose a few fingers.

As the battle continued, Ash's temper began to boil over and his rational thinking became the next casualty. A small flame sparked from the Mage's fingers and for the sakes of both sides, Fluttershy stepped in with a soft whistle.

The finch squawked back. She freed herself from Ash's hand and flew onto the Pegasus' wing.

"Now now, you should know better than to make nests in places that belong to others," Fluttershy chided softly. "Why don't we go find you a nice sturdy branch for you to rest in? I'm sure we can find a good home for you and your eggs."

The little bird chirped in agreement, snuggling against Fluttershy's cheek appreciatively. The warmth in Ash's heart at the sight quickly froze as the Pegasus turned her stare onto him.

"And you..."

Ash gulped at the soft exclamation.

"...I know it wasn't nice of Ms. Finch to use your mane as a nest without asking but it isn't right to use force when you can use words," Fluttershy said. "You're so much bigger than she is and you should know better than to lose your temper like that."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. With evident difficulty, he met the Pegasus' aqua blue eyes. "Right, sorry. I guess I kinda lost my head there."

Fluttershy smiled. "It's fine but I'm not the one you need to apologize to." She held the little bird up.

"...you're not serious, are you?" Ash sighed and looked at the bird, which glared back.

"I'm...sorry."

The bird cocked her head, as if in consideration. A few mocking moments passed, testing Ash' patience once more, before the finch finally gave a bored nod and flew off with a quick chirp.

"Um, she says she's sorry too," Fluttershy said as she watched the bird disappear.

Ash watched as well before turning and saying, "You certainly have a gift with animals. Have I already told you that?"

Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, it's just my special talent. I love animals and taking care of them and, well, talking to them is a bit second nature to me."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Do they ever talk back?"

"Once," Fluttershy answered, smiling at the Human. Ash struggled to control his blush. "But just because they can't talk like ponies doesn't mean we shouldn't listen," she continued. "If you're observant, you can see how the animals communicate with each other. Then they begin to talk back to you, not with words or in the same way you spoke, but in their own way. You just need to listen."

"Insightful. Hmm..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing," Ash quickly assured. "Nothing at all." He just could help but note of the parallels between Fluttershy's words and Elvish philosophy.

"I think you're pretty good with animals too," Fluttershy said, interrupting Ash's musings. "If you don't mind me saying."

"Eh?"

"I don't think I've ever seen so many animals so at peace. Sometimes I have problems just getting Angel to take a nap." The Pegasus giggled. "What was that song? Was it from your old- oh..." Fluttershy gasped. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to remind you..."

Ash raised a hand. "It's fine," he said. "I...wait, song?" The Human tapped his chin. "What song?"

Now Fluttershy was confused. "That wasn't you? There was music playing. It made me feel so calm, I wanted to take a nap. You heard it too, didn't you Angel?" The bunny nodded.

Ash rubbed his chin in thought for several moments before his eyes lit in realization. He groaned.

"Is something wrong?" asked Fluttershy in concern.

"No, just..." He sighed. "There's a technique I was taught, special kind of meditation," Ash explained. "It's hard to explain but imagine your body as a house. If you open up that house, nature fills in. It's a way to connect directly to nature and with practice, you can focus on tracking down individuals, scout out unseen areas, and even control the elements. Some theorize that's how the Elves are so powerful at physical magic. It's also a pretty relaxing exercise," he added.

"Oh," Fluttershy said. "But you don't seem very happy about it. If you don't mind me asking, why?"

"It works two ways. When you leave your house open, your own...for lack of a better term, spirit, tends to roam free. Kind of like a conscious. It acts as the scout, the tracker, whatever." Ash frowned. "The problem is, however, that having an uncontrolled spirit wandering about is very dangerous...you said there were a bunch of animals here earlier right?"

"Um hmm. Lot's of them."

"They must have noticed my spirit and its aura drew them here." Ash shrugged. "I'm glad none of them attacked."

"Why would any of them attack?" Fluttershy asked, alarmed. "They were acting so calm, so peaceful. And the song...was that your spirit?"

Ash's lips fell into another frown. "I've never heard of such a thing. I mean, I've felt other auras and they've always been more like creepy lanterns floating around. Even if it's well hidden, I'd probably still just feel a chill. Nothing resembling a song or music though. And most creatures react violently to an uncontrolled and unknown spirit. Odd..."

"Is it going to be a problem?"

"I don't kn-"

Fluttershy shielded her eyes as a flash of light threatened to blind her.

"-ow. What bothers me is that I hadn't realized how little self-restrain I had," the grey Unicorn that had replaced the young Human continued. "I normally have complete mastery over myself and it took years of training to achieve that. But now..." Ash shut his eyes. "This could be an issue if I needed to scout a hostile area without being noticed."

"Um, well...I don't think, um, there are too many hostile places you'd need to spy on...if you don't mind me saying," Fluttershy finished to the ground.

"I suppose. Guess I'm just a little disappointed in myself." He looked up into the sky. "I should probably head back to the library before Twilight has a fit."

"Does...she know that you're here?"

"Well, I did leave a note..."


*****


"Spike! Grab me an encyclopedia! What in Equestria is a 'Eva Foreplay' and why does Ash need one?"


*****


"I, um, probably didn't think that through."

"Oh. I...should get going. I still need to make breakfast."

"Here, I'll, uh, walk you home."

"Oh, there's really no need," Fluttershy quickly said. "I'll be fine, r-really. I don't want you to get in trouble with Twilight."

"Don't worry about that. I'm sure Twilight will understand."


*****


"Doesn't he know he has school today? HE SHOULD BE STUDYING FOR THAT SPELLING QUIZ!"


*****


"Um, did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Never mind," Fluttershy mumbled.

"Oh...okay."

The two ponies continued their walk through the forest in awkward silence. Every so often Fluttershy would lift her head to find the grey Unicorn turning his head away, his eyes shifted to any other direction beside toward her. She in turn would look back to the dirt with an embarrassed blush. Between the two hopped Angel, who would slap his paw against his head at the display.

Ash decided he had enough. He opened his mouth but before he could muster the courage to actually speak, he released the least impressive squeak Equestria had ever heard.

The stallion covered his mouth, horrified. His face grew redder and hotter as Fluttershy and Angel stared at him. He tried to clear his throat with a cough but it too came out as a squeak.

I wonder if it's possible to die from embarrassment Ash thought, not for the first time. He stared back.

Fluttershy at last broke eye contact. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, then made a noise that was just as impressive as Ash's had been.

Silence reigned for a second longer before being violently overthrown by a burst of giggles from the Pegasus and the Unicorn. The giggles grew into full laughter and soon the two were clutching their sides and leaning against each other for support.

"Oh geez, I-I'm-"

"I'm so sorry, i-it's j-just-"

The reminder of the trip passed devoid of any of the initial discomfort. Angel's face continued to take self-inflicted abuse as every now and again the giggles would begin anew.

"If you don't mind me asking...well..."

"I don't. Really, Fluttershy, go ahead."

"Is there any reason you were in the Everfree Forest, um, meditating?"

"It's harder to meditate indoors. It's just...too quiet. I didn't want to risk anypony seeing me out and everypony seems to avoid the forest so..."

"But it's so dangerous," Fluttershy protested. "There's a reason why we all try to avoid the forest...oh, uh..." She turned away as Ash stared. "I'm sorry...I'm just glad you're safe."

"Yeah, well, I guess it wasn't the best idea I've had. Sorry to worry you."

"Um, is there any reason why you needed to, you know..." Fluttershy's eyes widened. "You called it a relaxing exercise. D-did something happen?"

"Just a bit of stress. It's...well, it's Friday."

"Oh no." Fluttershy turned to her rabbit, who mirrored her blank look. "Um, is that bad?"

"Not in itself," Ash said with a sigh. "It's just...Ch...Ms. Cheerilee gives spelling tests on Friday mornings. Today will be my first one and, well, I'm kind of nervous."

"Oh," said Fluttershy. "Um, didn't Twilight help you study? N-not to imply that you didn't o-of course," she quickly stammered.

"Heh, course I did. Twilight saw to that. Did you know it's actually possible to misspell 'a'?" Ash chuckled nervously. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone that angry before."

"So that's what that sound was. I thought Rainbow Dash was trying a new trick."

Fluttershy's quaint little cottage came into view at last. "Um, would you like to stay for a little while? I could make you some breakfast as well," Fluttershy offered politely but hesitantly.

"Oh, uh, I'd love to but..."

"Oh no, I understand completely. I must have been too forward and I know my house isn't much for entertaining..."

"No, really, I really would like to stay and I think your house is really...nice. It's just that...Twilight...and you know..."

"Of course. I'd hate to worry her. Um, sorry to bother you..."

"It's not a bother, maybe-"

Something bounced off Ash's skull. A carrot landed at the Unicorn's feet. Both he and Fluttershy turned to Angel, who stood at the doorway, tapping his foot impatiently.

"...maybe another time then," Ash finished, levitating Angel's gift into his mouth.

Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "Of course. Good luck on your test. I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Thanks. See you around."

With a wave, Ash headed back to the library, hoping to find it still intact. The carrot slowly disappeared with a crunch.


*****


"Now class, you know what time it is."

Cheerilee ignored the collective groan that echoed through the schoolhouse as her students set their books aside and found paper and pens. "That's right, it's time for a spelling quiz!" the teacher declared cheerfully, pulling out a list of potential words.

That's odd she thought. These words seem a little, well, random. Some of them are definitely too easy and others...so that's how you spell asphyxiation. Did I remember the right list?

If she had the time to consider the strangeness more fully, Cheerilee would have remembered that this week had been a hectic one, with her mother over for a visit, and she had left the choosing of the tested words at the discretion of her sister. Not her brightest idea, considering how her niece was also her student, but Cheerilee had been at her wits end, with a majority of her time and energy spent on explaining to her mother why her eldest was still single. The only alternative she had come with was to open the dictionary at random pages and pick whatever word her hoof landed on.

Which is exactly what Berry Punch had done. It would explain the juice stains on her personal dictionary.

A few ponies sat their seats and waited eagerly for the test to begin. Ash was one of them. He fidgeted in his seat nervously, constantly checking his pens and flipping his piece of parchment over onto the other side. Tests were nothing new. As an apprentice of the Archmage and a candidate for the title, his abilities were constantly reviewed and questioned. This, this was nothing more than a little spelling quiz designed for young foals, child's play.

So why was he so excited, so nervous?

"The first word is..." Cheerilee fought the urge to groan and ram her desk with her own head. This would be the last time she ever got her sister's help. "...duck."

Ash took a deep breath. A simple, four letter word. No problem. Same number of letters in Equestrian as in his own language. A 'd' followed by a 'u', then a 'c', and finish it with a 'k'. Not a problem.

Several nearby students looked up from their own papers to watch the grey stallion scribble furiously. Ink splashed over his cheeks as he fought to keep the pen still with his teeth. A few giggles and snorts rose around him but Ash ignored them, focused on his task.

D...

It wasn't pretty.

U...

Hell, a baby could make a cleaner finger painting.

C...

One day, he would have the same control over his Unicorn magic as he did over his own spells. Until then, he'd have to be grateful that in Equestria ink wasn't deathly toxic.

K...

Ash set the pen down as pride swelled within. It should have felt ridiculous feeling so victorious after writing just one short and simple word down but at the moment, Ash was experiencing nothing but pride. First word down, nineteen left. The thought sobered him a little as he looked back at his near-ruined pen and partially destroyed paper. Ash took in a breath to steady himself once more. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Ash reminded himself, and he he was a step closer to being able to write, a step closer to being able to read, to filing a resume, to getting a job.

He was a step closer to fitting in.

"MS. CHEERILEE! MS. CHEERILEE!" came a screech from the side. "ASH WROTE A BAD WORD!"

"...huh?" Ash glanced toward the direction of the scream and down at Diamond Tiara's test. The filly gasped and covered the paper with her hooves. She smirked as the mare at the front removed herself from her desk and began making her way here.

The front of her name remained unhidden, however, and allowed Ash to make a comparison and see his error.

So...if that's what a 'd' looks like...what did I write?


*****


"Why do I have to stay in too?" complained Diamond Tiara. "He's the one who wrote-"

"You know the rules," Cheerilee said cooly. "Looking at another student's paper is cheating."

"But-"

"No buts," interrupted Cheerilee. She knew the young filly probably wasn't actually trying to copy Ash's work (who would need to cheat to spell 'duck'?) but rules are rules and she was obligated to uphold them. "Cheating is an automatic fail, you know this."

Diamond Tiara began to sniff. The even with all her experience, young teacher struggled to be strong, to remain professional. She found it difficult not to assure the light-pink filly that this test was worth no points anyways. Even Ash couldn't help but feel the tugging on his heartstrings, no matter how much he tried to freeze the traitorous organ.

"It's not fair though!" Diamond Tiara cried. "I wasn't cheating!"

"That's enough," Cheerilee said. "Diamond Tiara, please go sit in the corner while I talk to Ash. I'll speak to you personally later, and any attitude and I will schedule a meeting with your father."

The threat worked. With one last hateful glare at her older classmate, Diamond Tiara flopped herself in a desk in the corner, looking wistfully out the window and at the beckoning sun. The happy cheers that wafted from outside darkened her mood.

"Now..."

"I am really, really, really sorry. I honestly thought I was writing a 'd', honestly. I am really sorry. It won't happen again, I promise. Please don't tell Twilight!"

Cheerilee regarded the stallion in front of her desk with an eyebrow raised. His normally grey face was red as he made apologized, made excuses, then apologized for making excuses. "Ash..." she began.

"Sorry!"

"Can you let me speak?" Cheerilee struggled not to snapped, reminding herself that before her was one of her students, despite his age.

"Sorry," Ash mumbled, fidgeting with his hooves. "I...I'm just a little...panicky, I guess. It's been quite a day."

"A long day for you too, huh? It's fine," Cheerilee said. "Don't worry, you're not in any trouble. I know you didn't mean to disrupt class but I would like to use this as a reminder to watch your language around the children. Just a reminder, that's all."

"Alright."

"There's another thing I would like to discuss with you however. About your education." The light-purple mare straightened the small pile of papers. "I'd have preferred a more private meeting for this but I suppose right now is a good a time as any."

"I-is something wrong?" Ash asked, a little apprehensive.

"No, no, I just want to take the opportunity to talk about your progress." Cheerilee paused. "It's funny, you speak perfectly but you can't read or write."

"Oh, I, uh, never needed to learn so I didn't," Ash quickly said, trying to buy time to build a stronger excuse. "Yeah..."

"Hmm, never needed to learn...is that right?"

"Well, no, that's not true," Ash backpedaled. "I meant to say I never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. My, uh, family was part of a caravan, nomads. Yeah, always on the move."

"Nomadic table makers?"

"Table makers?" Ash's eyes flashed with understanding as he remembered the background he had created. "Oh, yes, nomad table makers...it was a hard life." He hoped his eyes weren't as shifty as they felt. "Yeah, no formal education."

"Hmm..." Cheerilee considered the sweating stallion in front of her. She decided not to pry further, least she appear intrusive. "Well, about how you're doing...how do you think you're progressing along?"

Ash grimaced. "Progressing? I...could be doing better." His eyes lingered on the parchment sitting separately some distance from the neat stack of spelling tests. "A lot better."

"You are improving, that's encouraging," said Cheerilee with a supportive smile.

"But?"

"Well, not to mince words, it's been slow and your progress is slowing down. Every child-er, student, works at their own pace but I can see that you're not entirely happy with your current speed."

Ash followed Cheerilee's gesture to his test. "No," he sighed. "No, I'm not. It could definitely be better. I could definitely be better."

"I'm bringing this up now because Twilight's been pushing me to add classical literature in the curriculum and I've decided to start it, before summer hits. However, I'm not sure if you'll be able to keep up with the rest of the class but I also don't want to leave anypony out."

"So what are you suggesting?"

Cheerilee thought for a moment. "With so many foals, there's only so much I can do for each individual student. I can't help you as much as I'd like. Do you think we could recruit Twilight's help? I believe finding a tutor would help."

"I don't want to bother Twilight too much. She's always pretty busy," Ash said. "Do you know anypony else?"

"Well..."


*****


"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER EQUESTRIAN LANGUAGE TUTORS! YAY!"

> ABCs with the CMCs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABCs with the CMCs

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER EQUESTRIAN LANGUAGE TUTORS! YAY!"

Ash turned his head and gave Cheerilee a look that could have been interpreted either as 'Are you kidding me?' or 'Surely you're not serious'.

"I assure you, I am not joking and I am completely serious," said Cheerilee. "All three have an amazing vocabulary range and are exceptional writers. You might as well call Scootaloo a living thesaurus, with all the synonyms she knows. And Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom aren't any slouches either. Near perfect spelling test scores every time," the teacher declared proudly as the Crusaders flushed and beamed.

"That, uh..." Ash lowered his voice. "Well, just because they're good at something doesn't necessarily mean they can teach."

"That is true," Cheerilee answered with a nod. "But you already have a solid foundation-"

The grey Unicorn struggled not to roll his eyes and snort.

"-and these three are just going to help you develop you skills further. I'll also provide some extra material for practice but for now, if you have a question, ask these three." The mare gestured to the trio chatting away furiously about boot camps and extreme training.

Ash shook his head. "I don't know..."

"Don' worry Ash!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle agreed. "There's no way we're gonna let a Crusader fall behind."

"You'll learn to read and write good and we get our cutie marks," Scootaloo added. "It's a win-win. Hey, what do you think a tutoring cutie mark'll look like?"

"Hmm, maybe somethin' like Ms. Cheerilee's?"

The orange Pegasus gagged. "Geez, I hope not."

Amazingly, Cheerilee managed to bite back her cry of indignation. Instead, she said to Ash, "Will you at least give it a chance?" This time, the mare lowered her voice to a whisper. "These three really want to help. They actually came to me, offering their assistance."

"Really?"

"Well, no. Sweetie Belle was actually looking for extra credit but when I mentioned that you needed tutoring, they jumped at it. I think they deserve a chance to help." She shrugged. "But it is your decision."

Ash turned to the fillies. "I really don't..."

The stallion realized his mistake too late as he looked into three pairs of giant, quivering eyes.

"Fine," he grudgingly conceded. "Let's see what happens. Can't hurt, I guess."

"YAY! CUTIE MARK CRUSADER EQUESTRIAN LANGUAGE TUTORS!"

Cheerilee brushed her mane back into place and smiled. "Perfect. And before I forget..." She reached under her desk and returned with a large pile of papers and books. "Here's some practice for you to begin with. I'll leave the rest in your capable hooves." She gave the Crusaders a wink as the three grinned widely. The fillies giggled and winked back as Ash sighed and stuffed his purple saddlebags full.

The young teacher continued to wave as her four students disappeared into the distance. As she did, Cheerilee failed to notice the old mare approach her until she had spoken.

"Who's the handsome fellow?"

"Oh." Cheerilee sighed. "Hello Mother."


*****


"CUTIE MARK-"

"They're tutoring me," Ash said wearily. His face betrayed no other emotions.

Spike stared, first at the stallion, then at the Crusaders that were rendering hours of his and Twilight's pain and sweat meaningless as they shuffled through the shelves, pulling out books and discarding them in a not-so neat pile. He then returned his gaze onto his purple guardian, whose jaw hung slack. Twilight shut her mouth and gave Ash a look that could have been interpreted either as 'You've got to be joking' or 'You're not serious, are you?'.

"I wish I was kidding," Ash said. "But Ch-Ms. Cheerilee's planning a study on classical literature or something and-"

"Wait," Twilight quickly interjected, stopping him with a hoof on his front. "You mean she's going forward with it?"

"I...guess?"

Spike and As winced as Twilight released a high-pitched squeal. "Is she still at the schoolhouse?" she asked, knocking the three fillies aside and grabbing large texts with her magic.

"Uh, maybe?"

At Ash's answer, Twilight disappeared with a purple flash. Sweetie Belle stuck her head out of a pile of books. "Hey Spike?"

The little dragon was stirred out of his stupor. "Huh? Oh, yeah? What's up?"

"Do you have any books that'll help with reading?"

"Wait, hold on. Are you three actually taking this seriously? You guys are actually gonna try teaching Ash how to read?"

"And write," Apple Bloom said, giving the titles of the books surrounding her a brief read. "Yah got anythin' on writin'?"

Spike looked to the grey Unicorn next to him before smirking. "Oh man, this is hilarious," he laughed. "Wait 'til Rainbow Dash and Pinkie hear 'bout this!"

"Great, just let all of Ponyville know," Ash groaned. "Just do your job and find us the books."

"Nah, we don't need help," said Scootaloo, relieving a shelf of its entire contents. "Let's see..."

"That's...the science section."

"Oh." Scootaloo shrugged, tossing aside a thick medical almanac. "Next!" More books fell onto the floor. Spike whimpered.

"Stop! Just...just stop." Spike hid his face behind his claws. He walked out of the main library and up the stairs. A few minutes later he returned with his arms laden with literature. "Here, you can borrow these," the library assistant said, handing some worn out picture books over to Apple Bloom.

"'Spot the Dog'," the Earth Pony read. "'Puff the Huff ', "Green Eggs and Dams: A Collection of Ridiculous Comparisons','Goodnight Mare on the Moon', 'A is for Antidisestablishmentarianism'..."

"I didn't know Twilight stocked children books in the library," Scootaloo exclaimed.

"She, uh, doesn't really, They belong to...me," said Spike, shifting his eyes side to side and shuffling his feet. "Um, it's kinda how Twilight and Mo-Princess Celestia taught me when I was little and, well, look how I turned out." Spike set his claws around his waist and smiled smugly. He let his arms fall to his sides when he failed to win any response. "Anyways, I guess you can borrow them for awhile."

"Aw, how nice," Sweetie Belle said, smiling at the dragon awkwardly kicking at the floor. "Thanks, Spike."

Spike blushed. "Heh heh, yeah well, just make sure I get them back. I kinda wanna-I mean, ahem, those are library property so you need to take care of them." His face grew redder as the Crusaders giggled.

"Well, thanks for your help, Spike," Ash said. "If it'll speed this up..."

"Hold on, one more thing." Spike gave him one last book.

"'R-red...'"

"Reading," Scootaloo corrected.

"'Reading for D-uh-mes'. Hey I did it! Reading for Dummies!" Ash's smile quickly faded. "Hey, is that an insult?"

"Library's closed." Spike shoved all four ponies toward the door with a broom. When he was finally alone, the dragon looked at the mess around him and groaned.

It was going to be a very busy afternoon.


*****


"Ladies, this is gonna be a very busy afternoon," Scootaloo declared, her helmet sliding over her eyes. "We're gonna teach you how to read and you're gonna read good. Then you're going to learn to write then you're gonna write good!" The Pegasus slammed a dictionary down in front of her, sending Ash into a jump. "By the end of today, you'll be the bestest-"

"Bestest isn't a word," Ash muttered, his confidence in his tutors waning.

"-reader in Equestria and we'll finally have our cutie marks. Any questions, troops?"

"Where'd yah get that jacket?"

"How come we don't get jackets? I want a jacket like that."

Ash raised his hoof.

"Yes, Private?"

The stallion rolled his eyes. "We have more than just this one afternoon you know. Heck, the weekend is tomorrow."

"Yeah, but think how awesome it'd be if we pulled all of it off in one afternoon. Fastest tutors in Equestria." Scootaloo puffed out her chest. "I bet even Rainbow Dash doesn't have that title, and speed's her middle name." The Pegasus gasped. "Do you think I'll a get cutie mark that's like hers after all this is done?"

"Ah thought it was fer racin'," Apple Bloom said.

"No, definitely speed. She's the fastest flyer in Equestria after all."

"I thought her middle name was 'Danger'."

"No, definitely speed. She's the fastest flyer in Equestria after all."

"Ahem."

Ash's dry cough returned the fillies back to the job at hand. "Right," Scootaloo said, pushing the helmet off her head and taking a piece of parchment out of it. "If we're gonna get Ash up to speed before Saturday and in time for fresh muffins at Sugarcube Corner, we need, uh..."

"We need organization," Sweetie Belle finished. "A plan, something to follow."

"Good thinkin'," Apple Bloom said. "Ah always see Twilight makin' lists of chores and orderin' them up whenever she comes over tah help."

"Alright then, here."

The paper and pen found their way in Ash's hooves. "Wait, what?"

"Well, Ms. Cheerilee always says practice makes perfect," Sweetie Belle said. "So time to practice!" She cleared her throat. "Item one, make list of things we need to do."

"Two, teach Ash how tah read well," Apple Bloom added.

"Three, teach Ash how to write. Wait, that's it?" Scootaloo snorted. "This it'll be a breeze!" She snatched the list from the tutee just as he placed the pen on the parchment. She frowned at the completely blank paper. "C'mon Ash, how are we going to finish all this before dinner at this speed?"

It might have been her imagination but Applejack could have sworn that steam streamed from Ash's ears as she stuck her head in the Crusaders' clubhouse to call everypony for dinner.

"What are yah four up tah anyways?" the farmer asked.

"CUTIE MARK-"


*****


"Well, it ain't a school night, so Ah guess yah three c'n stay tha night so long as yah let yer parents know," Applejack agreed as she passed plates of food around the table.

"Oh, they know," Scootaloo declared with her mouth full of pie.

"We kind of anticipated an all night session. Have you seen Ash's hoofwriting?" Sweetie Belle shook her head. "It's like he's never held a pen in his life."

Ash grumbled, poking at his food. As he leaned forward to take a bite, the old mare beside him smacked his back, sending his muzzle deep into the fritter.

"Ah hear yah, young'un," Granny Smith said, chuckling. "Why, back when Ah was jus' a filly an' the Apple's were still travelin' 'round, lookin' fer a place tah settle, we didn' have them luxury things like fancy pens or monocles or sliced bread. Just tha clothes on our backs, our seeds, an' family. Why, we had tah write all our letters with our hooves coated in ink! 'Course, back then, letter paper was lot bigger, made it easier tah write, easier tah read, didn' need them awful spectacles, not like nowadays with you whippersnappers writin' like ants. Why, Ah think the firs' time Ah touched an actual, honest tah Betsy, Betsy bein' our very firs' dairy cow, bless her hooves, pen was on mah tenth birthday, easily tha fourteenth best harvest that year. Got it fer a gift and 'course wouldn' yah know it, we didn' have any ink. Almost ruined it by usin' paint instead. Paint jus' ain't what it use tah be..."

Applejack placed a napkin next to the grey Unicorn's plate. "Yah got something on yer face, sugarcube," she said, trying not to snicker.

"...thanks."

To her younger sister the mare sighed and said, "Ah wish yah could've told me these things beforehoof. Would've gotten tha old sleeping bags out an' ready."

"That's okay, sis. We've got a great big blanket in the clubhouse an' snacks an' a lamp an' everythin'. Heck, you don' even have tah check up on us." Apple Bloom's eyes brightened. "Hey gals, Ah jus' realized. Now that we've got an adult in the Crusaders, we won' need somepony tah babysit when we have sleepovers! Ash can jus' sleep with us!"

How unfortunate that it was that moment Ash chose to take a sip of juice. "H-hold on," he said between coughs. "What?"

"What? You think you're an expert at reading and stuff already?" Scootaloo demanded.

"Well, no..."

"Then of course you have to stay the night with us. That's what tutors and students do, right?"

"No! Where did you even-"

"Right!" Sweetie Belle answered loudly. "Just like those books my sister has that she doesn't think I know about. Besides, at the rate we're working by the time by the time we finish all the good muffins will be gone. We'll be stuck with the 'surprise' ones and only Spike likes those." The Unicorn filly looked around her before sticking her tongue out in disgust in a rather unladylike manner.


*****


"Hmm?"

"Something wrong Rarity?"

"No...it's nothing. Just a chill. Spike, please excuse me, I need a scarf."


*****


"I really don't..."

"No buts," Apple Bloom interjected. "How are yah gonna learn anythin' with that sort of attitude."

"Apple Bloom's right," Granny Smith said, slamming her hoof against the table. "Why, tha only reason we Apples've been so fruitful, 'sides bein' friendly, smart, knowin' tha right folks, luck, eatin' right an' exercisin', is our 'can-do' attitude. Can we raised a barn? Yah better bet yer boots! Can we eat all these apples? Yah better believe it! Can we..."

As the elderly mare continued her rambling, Ash gave Applejack a nervous look. She stared back for a second before shrugging.

"Let's see if we can find Big Macintosh's old sleeping bag after dinner. Might be a little big though."

Ash blinked. "A-are you sure about this?"

"Have yah seen mah brother? There's a reason why we call him 'Big' Mac," Applejack scoffed.

"N-no. I meant, well..." The Unicorn trailed off as he looked down at his plate.

"Where is Big Mac anyhow?" Apple Bloom wondered, pointing at the seat Ash was in.

"That nice mare Cheerilee picked 'im up," answered the Apple matriarch. "Lovely mare she is, polite, smart, pretty. Offered him dinner. 'Course yer brother accept. Ah raised that colt an' taught him manners, he'd do yer mother an' father proud. Too quiet and shy, though, takes from his mother Ah guess, bless her heart. Still, he'll never meet a mare like this an' Ah ain't gettin' any younger." She sighed. "Ah heard her mother is in town. Pushy mare, that one."

Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom who turned to Sweetie Belle who shrugged.

"Don't look at me," the white Unicorn mumbled as she finished her pie. "I didn't have anything to do with it."

"Now Ash," Granny Smith said, turning her attention to the stallion struggling with his own supper. His hooves were sticky with cinnamon and caramelized apple. "Yer a nice young fella. Whada think 'bout mah granddaughter?"

How unfortunate that it was that moment he and Applejack chose to take a sip of juice.


*****


"Alright, alright," Scootaloo said, poking her head out of a pile of pillows. "Truce. I think it's time to get to work."

Sweetie Belle paused mid-swing. She let her pink fluffy weapon fall to the floor. "Aw-oof! Hey, truce!"

Now Apple Bloom dropped her pillow. "Scootaloo's right. As fun as that was, we still need tah do all that tutorin' stuff. Where is Ash, anyways?"

A muffled cry came from beneath the sea of pillows. A grey hoof broke through and waved weakly.

"You surprised me, that's all," Ash mumbled as the fillies dug him out. "I was surprised."

"Yeah sure," Sweetie Belle smirked as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo giggled. "Now, where's that list? What's next on the agenda?"

"Let's see." Apple Bloom rested her chin against her cushion as she thought. "It was either teachin' you tah read or learnin' tah write."

Ash looked out the clubhouse's window. "It's getting kind of late," he noted. "Shouldn't we-"

"Uh uh uh," Scootaloo interrupted, shaking her hoof. "You're not getting out of this that easily. Um..." The young Pegasus shifted through the mess of their battle. "Where are the books we borrowed?"

Ash frowned. "You didn't lose them, did you?"

"Psh, of course not, heh," Scootaloo said, hoping she sounded confident. "I know they're here, somewhere..."

"Here's one!" called Apple Bloom. "Huh, Ah've never actually heard of this one."

"Me neither," Sweetie Belle said, looking over her friend's shoulder. "Maybe it's a book you can only find in Canterlot."

"Let me see that."

"Careful," Sweetie Belle scolded as Scootaloo snatched the book from Apple Bloom. "That's Spike's book, remember. We need to take good care of it."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Here, catch!"

Ash flinched as the hardcover struck his cheek and landed at his feet. He turned it over and looked at the front. Below the title was the picture of filly huddled beneath a red blanket. She was staring up into the starry sky and at the full moon, which was decorated by the faint outline of a Unicorn.

"'Goodnight Mare on the Moon'," he read slowly. He looked up and found his tutors snuggled beneath their own large quilt.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Scootaloo asked, her legs wrapped tightly around her pillow. The other two waited just as eager.

Ash sighed and opened the book.

"Goodnight Mare on the Moon, commissioned by the Princess..."


...Goodnight moon, goodnight room, goodnight Mother's weaving loom.

Goodnight sunlight, goodnight moonlight, goodnight stars that also grant us sight.

Goodnight candle, goodnight door handle. And goodnight door and goodnight floor and goodnight puppy beginning to snore.

Goodnight farms, goodnight barns, goodnight Mother's balls of yarn.

Goodnight cats, goodnight hats, goodnight chair in which I sat.

Goodnight woolen socks, goodnight ticking clocks.

Goodnight dolls, goodnight books, goodnight toys, safe in their nooks.

Goodnight wagon, goodnight dragon, goodnight knight, please don't fight.

Goodnight rubber ball. Goodnight pictures in the hall. Goodnight Gran from far away. Goodnight Gran that's here to stay.

Goodnight Mother, and goodnight Father. Some day soon, goodnight brother.

Goodnight clouds, goodnight frogs croaking loud, goodnight all ye nighttime sounds. And goodnight to the lovely town.

Goodnight little shops, goodnight nearby mountain tops.

Goodnight city oh so large, goodnight lords and ladies in charge.

Goodnight castle made of stone, goodnight castle all alone.

Goodnight, goodnight, Mare on the Moon. Please, please, come home soon...



"...the end." Ash gently closed the book. The annoyed frown he wore as he looked at his three slumbering tutors evaporated like summer morning dew and was replace with a small smile. Carefully, so as to avoid disturbing the sleeping fillies, Ash shifted the blanket around into a more comfortable position for the three.

The stallion laid his own head down as he drew himself into the spacious sleeping bag he was lent. He peaked out of the window one last time, stealing a glance at the moon.

Ash shook his head. What, did he really expect to see a mare wandering the face of the moon? Chastising himself for such childish thoughts, Ash shut his eyes.

Tonight would be the first night the Mage did not suffer from nightmares, but he would not realize it amid the chaos  that followed in the morning.










> Weekend Rear Ends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekend Rear Ends

"Ah told yah, Ah don' sleep walk!"

"Well something made that hole and you kicking the wall in your sleep makes a lot more sense than Sweetie Belle's alien."

"I'm telling you the truth!" the Unicorn shrieked. "I saw it last night! It was big and black and weird looking and all shadowy..."

"Like a shadow?" said a sarcastic Scootaloo.

"Yeah, like a shadow, but it wasn't!"

"Now what are yah three yammerin' 'bout now?" Applejack asked as she approached the arguing fillies. Before any of the three could respond, the farmer's attention was already drawn to the clubhouse wall. "What in...how...why is there a giant hole in mah clubhouse?"

"Your clubhouse?" questioned her little sis.

"Mah old clubhouse," Applejack amended. She got closer and ran a hoof along the jagged, splintering edge. "How'd this get here? What did you three do?"

"It was the alien!"

"Apple Bloom kicked it in her sleep!"

"We don' know!"

"Hold on," Applejack said, tearing her eyes away from the hole. She turned her head and scanned the area. "Hey, aren't yah missing one? Where's Ash?"


*****


"This is quite a surprise. What's this before my eyes?"

"Good morning, Zecora," Ash said, forcing a smile. "Could you give me a hand? I tripped on some flowers. I think they were poisonous."

"Poison flowers you say?" The zebra cautiously approached. "Would you know their color by the way?"

"Blue, I think. With red stems."

"Ah."


*****


"It was big and black and all shadowy..."

"Are yah sure yah didn' jus' see a shadow?" Applejack asked. "Maybe yah jus' saw Ash leaving."

Sweetie Belle shook her head furiously. "It didn't look like any pony at all. It was too big and too tall." She shivered. "I think it saw me, then it ran through wall and made the hole."

"It didn't happen to be standin' on two legs did it?"

"Dunno. It was too dark. Why?"

"N-no reason. No reason whatsoever."

"Why didn't you wake us up?" demanded Scootaloo. "We could have totally been Cutie Mark Extraterrestrial Extractors!"

"I was tired and you two were snoring so loudly, so I went back to sleep. What? What?"

"Yah just...went back to sleep," Apple Bloom said steadily. "Just like that."

"After seeing an alien," the older Apple sister added.

"I don't snore," grumbled Scootaloo. "Pegasi don't snore."

"I was tired," Sweetie answered defensively. "I wasn't thinking straight."

"So what makes you so sure there was something in the clubhouse last night?" Scootaloo challenged. Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. 

"Well...I...I...but..."

"That's enough, y'all," Applejack stepped in as the young white Unicorn began to sputter. "Whatever happened happened. All we c'n do now is patch tha darn thing up. Ah knew Ah forgot somethin'."

"What was that, sis?"

"Nothin', nothin'," the orange mare said quickly, shaking her head to hide her shifting eyes. "W-why don' yah three head inside for breakfast?"

"We can't just go eat without Ash," Sweetie Belle suddenly said. "He might have been abducted!"

"She's right," Apple Bloom piped in. "Ah mean, besides the abductin' part," she added as Scootaloo gave her a look of utter disbelief. "It don' seem right chowin' down when everypony's not sittin' down together. Ah think we should find Ash first. That's the Crusader way, after all."

"Ah made apple short bread."

Applejack barely caught onto her hat as the gust of wind trailing behind her younger sister threatened to steal it. The other fillies followed shortly behind, leaving the farm mare in the dirt. Dusting herself off, Applejack sighed. 

"Let's see, tha hole's on this side so Ash must've ran that way." Applejack scratched her head. "Now who do Ah know lives in that direction?" 


*****


"Oh, I'm sorry, Zecora. Is the tea too hot?"

The zebra shook her head. "Fluttershy, the heat is just fine. I suppose I'm not used to taking tea with lime."

"Um, it's lemon..." The Pegasus turned to her other guest. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Ash shook his head, "I'll be fine, thank you," he said, taking a sip of his tea. There definitely was more than just a hint of citrus. Ash hoped he didn't look as sour as his tongue felt. 

"A-are you sure you wouldn't like some honey?"

"YES! I mean..." Ash cleared his throat. "Just a bit, thank you."

Taking her guest's cup, Fluttershy added a generous glop of sweet honey before turning to her other visitor. "Would you like some too Zecora?"

Zecora shook her head. "Please do not trouble yourself. The last thing I want is to empty your shelf."

As she settled down and tended to her own tea, Fluttershy caught herself staring. It wasn't polite or proper for a hostess to stare, Fluttershy chided herself with a blush, but she stared regardless. There was something different about Ash today, something, well...different.

"Um..."

"Is something wrong?" Ash asked, his eyes raised toward hers, an eyebrow cocked. 

The Pegasus bit back a surprised squeak. "N-no, nothing. It's just, well, how do I say...um..."

It was Zecora that came to her rescue. "If you are noting how his appearance seems weird and queer, we have a patch of Poison Joke to blame, my dear," she explained, hiding a grimace as she took another sip.

"Oh," Fluttershy said and nodded in understanding. Yes, that could explain why Ash was a Human waist up and had the lower body of an equine. Or at least, she assumed it was equine. The legs were much longer and thinner than any pony's she had seen and the barrel was wider. It was brown, the same brown of Ash's eyes she would later note, and the color and size reminded Fluttershy of an actual barrel, like the ones used at Sweet Apple Acres to store cider. The three had quite a time getting him out of the open and into her cottage. 

"I know you are experienced with the Poison Joke blight," the striped alchemist continued, "as well as the cure to make it all right. However I do not have enough supplies for my brew, which is why I must go into town and we have come to you. Ash cannot stay in my home in the Everfree as you are aware of how dangerous it can be."

"I'd hate to be a bother-"

"-but right now we can go to no other. Ash, for his reasons, refuses to be seen in Human form in any degree..."

"We've gone over this," Ash growled.

"...and I continue to disagree," Zecora said, shaking her head. "If you would be so kind, if you wouldn't mind, could he stay here while I fix this bind. It won't be long, all I need..."

Fluttwrshy nodded, her thoughts elsewhere. It was rude to stare but her eyes continued to drift down to Ash's lower half.

"...and a root bright orange," Zecora finished, lifting her teacup to her lips. "Fluttershy, is everything alright? You look as if you've seen quite a sight."

"Well, unless centaurs are common in Equestria, I suppose I am one," Ash said with a nervous chuckle.

Fluttershy gasped. "Oh no. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have been staring, I shouldn't be staring, I really shouldn't. It's just so fascinating."

The other eyebrow rose. "Fascinating?"

The yellow Pegasus nodded. "Oh yes. I've never seen anything like this. I mean, I had never seen a Human before but this is something else. Can you imagine if ponies had developed hands instead of having magic, how different the world would be? Or having six limbs instead of four?" She placed a hoof on her cheek. "You mentioned centaurs, what are those?"

"Uh, creatures of legend. Some sort of hybrid between horse and Human."

"Hmm...so then are Human reproductive organs similar to ponies?"

"What was that?" Ash managed to say over Zecora's strangled coughs.

"Well, you said hybrid, so..." Fluttershy ducked her head and blushed.

"I-I didn't mean..." Ash sputtered, his face growing red as well. "N-no, that's...what? I...no!"

"I'm so sorry," Fluttershy apologized quickly. "It's just that learning about new animals is so amazing and sometimes I don't think when I get excited...n-not that I was calling you an animal or thinking about you m-m-mating or-"

The rest of Fluttershy's sentence was hidden by the sound of shattering porcelain, followed by a pained gasp. Ash grabbed his hand, instinctively applying pressure while foolishly driving bits of china deeper into the flesh.

Instantly Fluttershy was at his side. She wrenched the Mage's fingers away and examined the wound with a practiced eye over his protests. Ash's apologizes regarding the cup went unnoticed as the little yellow Pegasus nearly overturned the table as she searched for the first aid kit she kept underneath. The decorative teapot fell to the floor, breaking into dozens of tea soaked pieces.

"Does it hurt?"

"N-no, not really-gah!"

"Oh no. I'm so sorry. We need to get the pieces out first. I should have warned you."

"It's alright, just let me-ow!"

As the flurry of bandages and cries of concern grew, no one noticed Zecora set her cup carefully down on the table with a shake of her head and an amused smile. By the time Ash's powerful hind legs had kicked the table over and crushed her cup, the zebra was already gone.


*****


To this very day Twilight turns pink at the very mention of what ponies called the Smarty Pants Incident, Lesson Zero, and by at least one young dragon The Day Spike Saved the Day from a Crazed Twilight. Much to the Unicorn's embarrassment, much of the town saw Twilight to be their most high-strung overreacting inhabitant, an impressive feat considering that Rarity and a certain trio of flower traders also called Ponyville home. Thankfully, most of the drama revolving the incident died down along with what charm her title had and soon the event became nothing more than a hilarious anecdote. 

Thus when Twilight entered Ponyville proper with a series of blinding lights and mane looking like a badger's nest, the townsfolk simply nodded their heads, locked their doors, and prayed that their savior Spike would come and rescue them soon. Some would check their calendar and scratch their heads, noting that it was indeed still Saturday. Odd, Tuesday wouldn't be for another three days unless...ah, yes, time travel. That would explain everything.

"Twi...light...wait..." Spike leaned forward, grabbing onto his knees as he tried to catch his friend and his breath.

"Oh, where is he? Where in Equestria is he?" Twilight muttered, hopping side to side frantically. 

The little purple dragon finally grabbed hold of the purple Unicorn. "Twilight, you need to calm down. So Ash didn't come home last night. Big deal, he's a grown up. I'm sure he can take care of himself."

"He's also a being from another universe that reverts back into a being from another universe every morning," Twilight reminded. "What if somepony sees him? What if the town starts panicking and then they learned we were harboring him and then they'll think we're alien spies sent from alien invaders and then they learn that the Princesses also know about him and then everypony thinks that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are also aliens and then try to revolt and then try to establish a socialistic democratic utopia that devolves and collapses, leading to a traumatic war that wipes out ponykind and-ow! Spike, what are you doing?"

"Sorry, just checking for zippers," Spike said, giving Twilight a pat on the side as he confirmed that it was indeed his guardian and not Pinkie Pie in a suit. "Yeah, I might be going out on a limb but I think you're overreacting a bit." He brush a stray strand of hair out of Twilight's eyes. "Give Ponyville some credit. They've seen Ash already, remember? And all that happened was that stupid-"

"Spike!"

"-silly article being published in that one magazine nopony really reads. I'm sure he's doing just fine."

Twilight sighed. "I guess you're right. Maybe I did overreact. I'm just, well, worried. I mean, what if something really bad happened to him? What he got into a fight? Or what if he got caught in the wrong crowd? What if he got arrested for something he didn't realize because we didn't bother to explain Equestrian law?"

"Twilight, you're doing it again."

"What if he got lost on the way home and ended in the Everfree Forest? Or what if he ran into trouble in the seedier side of town-"

"Seeds? You mean like Sweet Apple Acres? We could just ask Applejack." Spike waved his arm and jumped. 

"Applejack?" Twilight turned in the direction of Spike's waving and saw the familiar mare running toward her.

"Twi, thank goodness Ah found yah," she said as soon she was in speaking distance. "Oh, and uh, hey Spike."

"Wait, I need to ask something first."

"We don' have time fer questions!" Applejack cried, pulling Twilight with her. "Ash's in tha Everfree Forest?"

Twilight slipped out of the farm mare's grip. "What did you say?"

"Apple Bloom an' her friends were havin' a sleepover an' Ash ended up gettin' roped in." Applejack groaned, throwing her head upwards. "Ah totally forgot 'bout him trans-a-forming back into a Human. Ah reckon he ended up running toward the Everfree Forest while tryin' tah escape those three."

Twilight took a deep breath. "Okay, we'll go straight to Fluttershy's, see if she saw anything. Then it's straight to Zecora's hut. If Ash's in the forest, she's our best bet in finding him. Spike, I need you to round up Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Get them up to speed and have them meet us at the edge of the forest."

"Roger!"

"And hurry! No distractions!" she added but Spike had already disappeared.

"C'mon, Twi, we gotta get a move on too." And with that, Applejack galloped off, with Twilight following a few steps behind. 

As the two ponies sped out of town they failed to notice a certain zebra passing through.

Zecora looked around and sighed with mild annoyance. "Once again windows are barred and doors locked tight, could be some time 'fore Ash is made right."

> The Apple Never Falls Far
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Apple Never Falls Far

"What a lovely flower, Dinky. Ooh, Archer, that's a fierce looking dragon."

The two fillies beamed as Cheerilee walked past, handing out kind praises and encouragements. She stopped in front of a small pudgy Unicorn colt desk. "Snips, what a lovely...uh...what exactly did you draw today?"

"Black bears camping in a black forest at midnight. Do we have any more black crayon? I think I used up all the ones I borrowed from Diamond Tiara."

"You WHAT? Hey, how'd you get into my stuff?"

After a quick lecture on the definition of "borrowing" (i.e. requiring consent from both parties) and placating an outraged Diamond Tiara with promises that yes, Snips would buy her a brand new set of crayons and that would be no reason to call in Daddy's lawyers, Cheerilee found herself before the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all giggling as they worked save for the lone stallion of the class who seemed adequately content reading his book, See Puff Fly. A few colorful lines streaked across his own piece of paper, creating either an amazingly thoughtful postmodern commentary on society's narrow minded definition of boundaries or the mindless scribbles of a pony lacking the basic understanding on how to use a crayon. 

"And what are you three drawing?" the schoolteacher asked. 

"Well, we saw this really weird animal near Fluttershy's the other day," Sweetie Belle explained. "We asked Fluttershy what it was but she just turned pale and told us she didn't know."

"We were goin' ta see if we could find it in a book but we kinda forgot what the critter looked like," added Apple Bloom. "So we're tryin' ta draw it out an' see if we can jog our memory."

"Only now it just looks silly," Scootaloo laughed. "Guess we kind of got carried away."

"Yeah, Ah don' recall it havin' a mustache." 

The three presented the picture to their teacher. She held it up, level to her eyes. "Wow, that's certainly...well it's definitely something."

"You're holding it upside down, Miss Cheerilee," corrected Sweetie Belle.

The purple Earth Pony shook her head. "You three have such an active imagination," she said with a chuckle. "Alright everypony, before class ends I need to explain your next project." Cheerilee ignored the groans that followed her on the way to her desk at the front. "Just a small book report, identifying the five main parts of the story: the exposition, rising action, climax, the falling action, and the resolution. The report will be written but there will be an optional oral presentation for extra credit. Any book will do, save for comic books..."

Several raised hooves went down.

"...gossip magazines..."

Several more hooves fell.

"...or movies based on books. Books based on movies are fine. I'm letting you choose the literature but try to choose something that is at least a little challenging. I really don't want to read five papers on Pound Pups."

Ash let his hoof fall. 

"If you need help finding a book, be sure to check the Golden Oak Library," Cheerilee continued over the ringing of the bell. "Class is dismissed, have a wonderful afternoon!"

Scootaloo shoved her way through the crowd. "Alright, who's up for some crusading?" she cheered, her helmet already fastened.

"Shouldn't we work on our homework first?" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Psh, we've got all week to write that measly thing," the young Pegasus filly scoffed. "Besides, we already tried Cutie Mark Crusaders Homework Doers, Cutie Mark Crusaders Report Writers, and Cutie Mark Crusaders Pen Pushers."

"We've also already tried Cutie Mark Crusaders Slackers," Sweetie challenged. 

"Whatever. Apple Bloom, you're with me, right?"

"Actually, Ah've gotta head home right now."

"What? Why?"

"Cuz today's the first day of Applebuck Season, an' Applejack an' Big Mac say Ah'm finally old enough to help." The cream colored pony grinned. "Ah can't believe it, Ah'm finally old enough! Ah get ta show Applejack that Ah'm a big pony now!"

"That's so cool," Sweetie Belle said. "I wish Rarity would let me help more often around the Boutique."

"Okay, what about-"

"I live with Twilight Sparkle, remember? She'll kill me if I put this off for a second." 

Scootaloo groaned. "Really? All of you are going to be like this?"

"Well, I guess Scootaloo's right. We do have all week. Maybe we could just start the project, just find the book, then spend the rest of the day crusading."

Scootaloo brightened at the Unicorn filly's proposition. "Alright, now that's an idea." She hopped onto her scooter. "Come on, let's get this over with."

"Where do you even keep that?"

"Well, ya'll have fun. Ah've gotta get home an' get ready too."

"You sure you can't hang out even for a little bit?" asked Sweetie Belle as she climbed into the red wagon attached to Scootaloo's scooter.

"No, seriously, where did this even come from?"

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Ah gotta show Applejack that Ah'm all grown up an' responsible an' stuff. See ya!"

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Ash watched as the young pony ran off toward Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo shook her head. "If growing up means liking chores, I hope I never have to grow up."

"Then how will you find your special talent?"

"Sweetie Belle, I'm trying to make a point here! Don't you start applying logic to the situation."


*****


"Hey Ash," the little draconian assistant greeted as the stallion made his way into the library. "Twilight's out right now, if you're looking for her. I thought you'd be out with the Crusaders today."

"We're here too!" Sweetie Belle called from behind. 

"Oh, great."

"Hey, you sound like you're not happy to see us." Scootaloo zoomed past a yelping Spike as he leaped out of the way, grabbing his tail. "Where's Twilight?" the filly asked as she slid to a stop. "We need a book."

"I work here too, you know," Spike huffed. "What kind of book? And could you leave your scooter outside?"

"Don't know yet," Sweetie Belle said, glancing over a few titles. "We'll just browse a bit."

"Oh, no. I'm not reshelving the entire library a second time today." The dragon pulled out a sheet of parchment and a quill. "Just give me an idea of what you're looking for."

"Something...sweet, like a romance. You know, something heartwarming."

"No way! Give me action, adventure, explosions, Rainbow Dash's biography..."

"Something that I can read without making myself look like a complete fool."

"Okay. Sweetie Belle, A Sister's Gift is on the shelf right behind you-no, don't get up, I'm getting it for you. Scoots, Daring-"

"Don't call me that."

"...all our copies from the Daring Do series is checked out right now. I can put you on the waiting list or I can find you something else." Spike handed over a hard-covered book with a picture of a mare lying next to a filly and a box covered in wrapping paper to the Unicorn filly before asking, "What's this for anyways? Normally you guys just want how-to guides and stuff. Speaking of which, The Arsonist's Atlas is overdue. Gonna have to start charging soon."

"Arsonist's Atlas?" Ash wondered aloud.

"Apple Bloom had it last, I think," said Scootaloo. 

"Apple Bloom, huh? I'll just let Applejack know then." Spike looked around. "She's not with you guys? Weird."

"It's Applebuck Season," Sweetie Belle said, lifting her eyes up from the book. "Apparently this is the first one she's actually going to get to participate in. We should probably get her a book too. It's for a book report," she added.

"Book report, huh? Oh boy..."

"What? What's up?" Scootaloo asked as she peered over her friend's shoulder and stealing a peek. 

"It's nothing...well actually, have any of you written a book report before?"

The two Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other before answering with a slow head shake. "I mean, we've done reports on other stuff before but not books," Scootaloo expanded.

"Then good luck, 'cause those things are brutal." Spike shivered as he pulled out another tome and passed it to Scootaloo. The title read The Pegasus's Zenith. "Twilight once let me help her with one. I'm just glad she just has to write friendship reports now. Thirty two pages on a amateur botany manual..." The dragon shuddered again. 

Scootaloo's mouth fell opened as Sweetie Belle whimpered "Th-thirty two pages?"

"Yep. And then there was her report on The Abridged History of Starswirl the Bearded. I think it might have actually been longer than the book itself. Ooh, yeah, this is a good one." Spike placed one more book before the fillies. On the cover was a tiny silhouette of a foal sitting next to the largest peach anypony had ever seen. "It might not have apples but I think Apple Bloom'll like that one. When is the report due?"

"The end of the week, I think," Ash answered. He wandered through the library, scanning the shelves and tracing book spines with his hoof. 

"You guys probably want to get on that report soon then." Spike helped pack the books into the saddlebags along with a slip with the return date. 

"Y-yeah," Scootaloo said nervously. "See ya tomorrow, Ash."

"Bye Spike. Thanks for the books." Sweetie Belle dropped to a whisper. "How are we going to write thirty two pages in a week?"

"I don't know, write really really big?"

Ash waited until the duo were no longer in speaking distance. "That was a mean trick."

"What was?"

"You telling them that book reports are hard." Ash scoffed. "Okay, it was kind of funny, I'll admit."

"What are you talking about? Book reports are hard," Spike asserted. "I'm telling you, Twilight, she...well...is Twilight." Spike fell back onto his rum and planted his face into his hands. "You mean she was just going overboard back then?" 

"Wait, that wasn't an exaggeration? Twilight actually wrote a thirty two page book report on a book about plants?"


*****


Loud thuds rung through the apple orchards as strong hooves met hard wood. Softer thuds could be heard as the fruit fell from the branches and into well-placed baskets. Macintosh took a moment to catch his breath and admire the apples he had just freed. Big Mac liked to think he was a humble pony but when it came to fruits of the Apple family's labor, no pony could be more proud. 

"Hey, Big Mac!"

The red stallion set his powerful hind leg back down and turned. He suppressed a groan at the sight of his sister's best friends. Wearing a weary smile, Macintosh waved.

"Wow, this year looks even bigger than last year's," Sweetie Belle said in awe.

"Eeyup."

"Hey, Big Mac, mind if I have a free sample?"

"Eeyup."

"Thanks!" 

Macintosh opened his mouth to protest, to explain that yes he did mind, but the big juice apple he had hoped to save for a certain mare had already disappeared down Scootaloo's gullet. He sighed but said nothing else; no use crying over spilt milk, as the cows that lived on the farm often said. 

"We brought Apple Bloom a book for a project, and wanted see how she's doing," said Sweetie while Scootaloo wiped away the residue of juice from her lips. "Do you know where she is?" 

"Nope."

"Oh, does Applejack know?"

"Eeyup."

"Great!" Scootaloo helped herself to another apple. "Can you tell us where Applejack is?"

Big Macintosh pointed toward a gathering of trees a distance closer to the entrance of the farm, where the trees were younger and less thick.

"There?"

"Nope."

"There?"

"Eeyup."

"Thanks Big Mac," Sweetie Belle said. "Do you mind if I took a few apples? I bet Rarity would love some. Please?"

Like most older ponies of Ponyville, Macintosh made the mistake of looking into the filly's pleading eyes. One would think that living with Apple Bloom would have built a tolerance, and it did, for brilliant gamboge eyes. Sweetie Belle's eyes were, however, grey-green.

"N-n-nope."

"Oh, okay."

The lone Apple stallion of Sweet Apple Acres opened his mouth to explain, to clarify that no he didn't mind, that the little adorable Unicorn could take as many apples she wanted, but the crestfallen filly was already gone, with Scootaloo right behind.

Well, at least they're going in the right direction he thought to himself. Now, back to-

There were few things in this world that could make the red stallion cry. The sight of an entire hour worth of work reduced to a pile of apple cores was one of them.


*****


"Hey, girls," Applejack greeted. Each word was punctuated by a swift two-legged tree shaking kick. The two fillies ducked away as apples rained upon them. "Whoops, sorry, 'bout that," the farm mare chuckled. "Can Ah help ya'll with somethin'?"

"Just looking for Apple Bloom," said Sweetie Belle. "Sorry to bother you all but we brought her a book for a class project."

"Don' worry 'bout it. We're makin' great time. Apple Bloom could use a break, Ah reckon." Applejack wiped the sweat off her brow before continuing onto the next tree. "She's off over yonder, settin' up some baskets. What's this school project, if ya don' mind me askin'."

"It's a book report."

"Oh." The mare shuddered at Scootaloo's answer. "Yeah, good luck with that."

"D-do you really think this report is as bad as they say it is?" Scootaloo whispered as she and Sweetie Belle made their way through the orchard.

"Miss Cheerilee isn't evil," the little Unicorn reasoned. "She wouldn't give us something so difficult, unless..."

"CHANGELINGS?" the two nearly yelled together. The fillies looked around nervously before staring directly at each other. A short second later laughter echoed through the farm as the two fillies collapsed into giggles. "Nah."

It wasn't until the joyous sound had faded away that soft sniffing could be heard.

"Hold on, you hear that?"

"No, I-wait, I hearing crying." Sweetie Belle turned behind her. "You don't think an actual Changeling heard us and had their feelings hurt, do you?"

"Of course not," Scootaloo assured. "It was, uh..."

"Look out!"

"Whoa!"

In this crazy chaotic universe, few things remain constant: socks will always disappear in the wash, political/religious/philosophical debates will always deviate toward outright brawls, and those who walk without paying attention will trip and fall, normally after a friend gives a warning. Our little Pegasus at hand found herself tumbling backwards over an overturned basket.

"Ow..."

"Scootaloo, are you-" Sweetie Belle gasped. "Apple Bloom?"

The young Earth Pony looked up and rubbed her eyes. "Hey," she mumbled.

"What were you doing, hiding under that basket?" asked Scootaloo as she got to her feet.

"Ah wasn' hidin'. Ah was...was...um, napping!"

"Under a basket?"

"Y-yeah! What 'bout it?"

"Then why were you crying?" Scootaloo challenged, her eyes narrowing as Sweetie Belle took a step back.

"Ah wasn' crying! Ah'm a big pony, ya'll hear? Big girls don' cry an' Ah'm a big girl!" She leaped into the air and stomped on all fours before crying out, "Ah!" 

Apple Bloom fell to her knees as her friends rushed to her side. "What's wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked, grabbing the Earth Pony's front hoof.

"I-it's nothin'," Apple Bloom tried to say confidently. The tears that ran down her cheeks undermined the valiant attempt. "D-don' worry 'bout it. Ah'm tellin' ya, it's nothin'."

"Nothing my flank," Scootaloo said, turning pale. "Your hind leg, it's all crooked."

"What?" Sweetie Belle tried to get up to see but Apple Bloom held to her hoof tight.

"Ah'm tellin ya, it's-OW! Don't touch it!"

"I didn't." Scootaloo shook her head. "This looks really bad. I'm going to fetch Applejack."

"NO!" the Earth Pony screamed. "Please, don't get Applejack! Please..." Her sobs rung freely and unhidden this time. "Please..."

"We need help, Apple Bloom. Don't worry, your sister will make everything better," Sweetie comforted, tightening her grip on Apple Bloom's hoof.

"No...please...Ah'm a big pony...if she finds out...if she finds out..." Apple Bloom dragged Sweetie Belle down and cried into her fur. "She...she...she..."

"There, there," Sweetie said softly. "Applejack won't get too mad. She cares for you, remember?"

"S-s-she...if she finds out what I did, she won't let me work with her no more!"

Scootaloo blinked. "What are you talking about? You two always do chores together. What makes you think Applejack won't let you work anymore? I mean, beside the fact that you do have a buster leg. What?" she asked as Sweetie Belle shot her a glare.

"It'll be alright. Tell us what happened. Why do you think Applejack won't let you help?"

Apple Bloom sniffed and pulled her nose out of Sweetie Belle's coat. Rarity would have a fit later but that was Future Sweetie Belle's problem. She could handle the lecture.

"This was the first year Ah was gonna help with Applebuck Season. Ah was gonna to help Applejack and Big Mac with the harvest. Ah was gonna show everypony that Ah was grown up and maybe earn my cutie mark."

The youngest Apple sibling sighed. "But all Applejack told me to do was to set up the baskets to catch the falling apples."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Ah thought Ah was gonna buck some apples. Ah thought Ah was gonna actually help. Ah thought...Ah thought Ah was gonna get to do some of the grown up stuff and be like my sister and everythin'."

Apple Bloom shook. The tears began to fall again. 

"S-so Ah thought Ah'd show her, show her how strong Ah was, how grown up Ah was. Ah was gonna to buck more apples all by myself than she and Big Mac could combined. Ah found the biggest, toughest, apple-est tree Ah could find. Ah lifted my legs and...and..."

"And?" Scootaloo prompted, winning another glare from Sweetie Belle.

"Ah don't know what went wrong. Ah did everythin' Applejack taught me. Ah used every piece of advice Big Mac told me. Ah even sang Granny's special bucking song! But when Ah tried..." She gestured to her hurt leg and winced. "It hurt so much. I-if Applejack finds out she'll never let me help her again!"

Apple Bloom's anguished wail rang into the treetops. She fell back into Sweetie Belle and cried. The young Unicorn awkwardly ran a hoof through Apple Bloom's red mane, wishing that she could channel Fluttershy's tenderness or even her sister's way with words. "There, there," was all she could muster. "Applejack wouldn't do that. She loves you."

"Ah know. Ah know she loves me. But she'll just keep seein' me as a foal, as her baby sister, especially after this. She'll say Ah wasn't ready, that we should've waited until Ah was older, that Ah should just stick to the 'kid chores'. Ah don't wanna be a kid anymore." Apple Bloom hugged her friend closer. "Ah just wanna be useful, for my family. Ah don't wanna be that baby everypony has to take care of." 

"Are you kidding?"

"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle hissed.

"No, listen," the Pegasus said. "What kind of baby kicks a tree so hard her leg break? What kind of foal pushed themselves so hard that they get hurt? A kid doesn't do those kind of things! You know who pushes themselves harder than they think they can handle? Winners." Scootaloo jabbed Apple Bloom's chest. "You know what I think? I bet Applejack'll see just how hard you're willing to work and make sure you've got work. She won't think you're some weak filly that needs to be taken care of all the time. She'll see a winner, a sister she can be proud of."

"How does that make any sense?"

"Hush, Sweetie Belle, I'm on a roll. In fact, I'm going to grab your sister right now. You two just sit tight."

"What? No!"

Apple Bloom was too late. Scootaloo had already dashed away, speeding through the farm as a orange blur.

"That crazy mare," Sweetie Belle breathed, shaking her head. 

"How could Applejack be proud of me? Ah messed up so badly." The Earth Pony cried out as she dragged her hind legs closer. "Ow..."

"Try not to move too much." The Unicorn sighed. "Look, you're hurt. We need Applejack now. We need an adult. Yeah, I said it," she added as Apple Bloom looked away.

"So ya think Ah'm a baby too, huh?"

"I didn't say that. I said we. If we were grown up, we'd be able to take care of your leg. But we're not. None of us are and I guess that's why we still haven't found our cutie marks yet."

"Y-you're not givin' up, are ya?"

"Of course not! But I've been thinking, you know, about what Rarity and Applejack keep saying about waiting. I don't know but maybe we're just not ready."

The two young ponies sat there thinking. "That's crazy talk."

Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yeah, probably. After all, Scootaloo's kind of right."

"Huh?"

"Kind of," Sweetie repeated quickly. "You're not a baby. Babies don't know or understand why some things are important. They just do stuff. But you tried and got hurt because you wanted to help your family, because you wanted your big sister to be proud of you, even if Rarity doesn't think you're ready."

"Applejack."

"Huh?"

"You said Rarity. That's your sis, not mine."

"Oh, uh, right." The Unicorn went quiet for a moment, staring out into distance in the direction of town. "What I'm trying to say is that you're not a baby and you're not a big grown-up either. You're too smart and too strong to be a baby..."

"...but too weak and too dumb to be a big pony," Apple Bloom grumbled. "What does that make me?"

"A Cutie Mark Crusader."

Apple Bloom let her jaw fall. Then she smiled. Laughter displaced the sound of crying.

"How does that make sense?"

"Hey, I'm trying to make a point here. Don't you start applying logic now."

The two leaned back and laughed and laughed and laughed. Apple Blooms light guffaws and Sweetie Belle's soft giggles blended together like music, music that no composer and his symphony with all the notes in the world could ever hope to recreate.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle? You're a great friend, ya know that right?"

"Thanks."

Applejack soon appeared, hatless and galloping at full speed. She skid to a stop right in front of the fillies. "Ya'll alright?"

"Yeah," Apple Bloom muttered weakly, her eyes averted. She felt something squeeze against her hoof and looked up. Sweetie Belle smiled. She smiled back.

"Ah hurt my leg while tryin' to buck some apples by myself," Apple Bloom reluctantly admitted. "Ah wanted to show you that Ah could help on the farm, that Ah was a big pony. Guess Ah'm not."

"Well, that wasn' the smartest thing ya could have done," Applejack said, shaking her head. She held the busted leg gingerly. "Does it hurt right now?"

Apple Bloom winced. "N-no?"

"Apple Bloom..."

"Well, maybe a little."

Applejack set the leg back down. "Well, it looks like a sprain. Ah sent Scootaloo ta grab Big Mac and the medicine box." The mare knelt over her sister and nuzzled her cheek. "We'll get an ice pack on ya and you'll be just fine. Apple Bloom, something wrong?"

The filly wiped her nose. "A-Ah'm so sorry."

"It's fine, Bloom, it's fine. Ah'm not mad, though Ah wish ya could've waited for me." She chucked. "Ah wouldn't want ta miss my sister's first tree buck of the season."

"W-will you still let me help?"

"Of course Ah will," Applejack said. "Well, not on that leg," she added. "Give it a day or two and you'll be right as rain. Apple Bloom, Ah know ya wanna grow up and everythin' but you're still young."

"Ah know..."

"And you're still learning. Heck, Ah'm still learning. Let me tell ya somethin', thinkin' ya can handle something all by yourself ain't somethin' smart adults do. Learn something today from this and grow a bit, 'kay? Don't be afraid ta ask for help. Not askin' for help ain't a sign of maturity..."


*****


"Are you sure you don't want me to help you with this? I am Twilight's Number One Assistant, after all."

"I'll write this report by myself or not at all."

There was a loud snap.

"Whelp, that's the last quill. Twilight's gonna kill us both."


*****


"C'mon, let's get ya inside. You too, Sweetie Belle. Rarity or your parents know you're here?"

"Nope. I spent most of the day out.”

"Well, it's almost dinnertime and it wouldn' sit well with me if Ah sent you and Scootaloo home hungry." 

The three ponies made their way through the orchards as the sun began to set behind them. Applejack tilted her head toward Apple Bloom's ear as she rode on her back.

"Ah love ya, little sis, no matter what."

"Ah know that," Apple Bloom whispered back. "Ah just wanted you to be proud of me too."

Applejack merely smiled and nuzzled her sister again.

Same here, Apple Bloom. Ah want ya to be proud of me too…






> Happy Nightmare Night!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Nightmare Night!

"Ta da! Check it out, isn't it awesome?"

Ash looked up from his book, one of Spike's comic books though both he and Ash preferred the term 'graphic novel'; it made Ash feel a little smarter and a little better about himself.

The grey Unicorn blinked. "What are you wearing?"

Spike beamed as he posed. "It's my costume for Nightmare Night!" he declared. "I'm gonna be a dragon this year!"

"You're a dragon every year," Twilight said, shaking her head as she entered the library atrium. "And for every night for that matter. Why don't you try for some originality this time? I know, why don't we plan a costume together, like we used to?"

The dragon in the cartoonish dragon suit stuck his tongue out. "The last time we did that I was a book and you were a librarian-historian-pony."

"It wasn't that bad."

"I couldn't move! You had to carried me everywhere!"

"Oh like that's so different from now. You were a baby. I had to carry you regardless. Come on, Spike, please?" Twilight Sparkle begged.

Spike crossed his arms and sighed. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well I was rereading my collection of classics and-"

"That's not promising."

"Hush, you didn't even hear the idea."

"I heard classics," Spike pointed out. "That's all I need to know."

"Oh come on!" protested the purple Unicorn. "I mean, sure there was a lot of racist subtext and a surprising amount of misogyny during the romantic era and most of Charley H. Writtens's plots were resolved with the most contrived coincidences imaginable..."

"Hey, Ash." Spike now turned his attention to the lone stallion in the room. "What are you gonna be for Nightmare Night?"

"Nightmare what now?"

Twilight paused her review on classic literature and gasped. "That's right! This will be your first Nightmare Night ever, won't it?"

"Again, Nightmare what now?"

The library door was flung open, knocking a few books off the nearby shelf. Pinkie Pie stood at the entrance, crouched low and gasping for air.

"I felt it," the pony cried. "Shaky hooves, itchy nose, uncontrollable urges to use the filly room hand in hand with constipation, all signs of a poor deprived child within a three mile radius!" Pinkie leaped into the library. "Where is he or she? Where is this poor poor foal that has neither seen nor felt the glorious rays of the the lunar face or known the divine touch of sugar upon her or his tongue. Where is this pitiful colt or filly that does not know the unending joys of donning the coat of another and becoming her or his mask, becoming his or her soul? Oh where, where is this poor lost lamb that does not the ecstasy that can only be revealed through the trials of fear?"

"Pinkie Pie..."

"You!" Pinkie sprung onto Twilight, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Is it you,Twilight, who does not know the wonders, the undescrible happiness that comes every year on that wonder filled evening?"

"You mean indescribable. Undescrible isn't a word."

"Oh, the words of a deprived child!" wailed Pinkie. "They wound my very soul!"

"I'm not deprived!" Twilight yelled. "Get off!"

"No? You sure?"

"Yes!"

"Then it was your spirit I heard cry out!"

Spike yelped and tried to run but Pinkie tackled the dragon before he could escape. "Poor, poor Spikey," Pinkie moaned. "Oh, to be raised by Twilight in such an environment devoid of love, it's no wonder you is deprived."

"Devoid of-it's 'are deprived'!" Twilight screamed. "And he isn't deprived of anything besides air! Let him go!"

"How can you tell?" Pinkie asked. "I mean he's all purple. Does he turn blue or-"

Spike released a torrent of flames, forcing Pinkie to let go and take cover behind the table. Twilight hesitated for a moment, torn between checking on her biggest helper and friend or the pink maniac that broke into their home who also happened to be a close friend.

"Are you alright?" Twilight asked, helping Spike sit up as Ash went to make sure Pinkie Pie was okay.

"Y-yeah, I think so," the baby dragon managed to gasp. "I-is Pinkie alright? I didn't mean to..."

"She's fine," Ash called from behind the table.

"I'm okay, I'm okay." Pinkie Pie peeked out and waved sheepishly. "Heh, sorry about that Spike. I guess I kinda lost it for a sec."

"Pinkie Sense?" Twilight wondered.

"Yep. It's been awhile since I felt that combo so I lost control. Bowel issues can do that to a mare, you know?" The Earth Pony began to hop in place. "Speaking of which, do you mind if I use the restroom?"

"Go right on ahead. Oh, and restroom means bathroom, right? You're not going to just, um, go right in my bedroom are you?"

Pinkie giggled. "Oh Twilight, you silly filly."

"Wait, is that a yes or a no?" But Pinkie Pie had already bounced off. Twilight groaned just Spike tugged at her leg.

"Um, Twilight," the dragon began nervously. "I don't mind living here with you. You know, for the record and everything. I mean, I don't feel deprived..."

"Thanks, Spike." The Unicorn wrapped her legs around her assistant and nuzzled him through his partially burnt costume.

"Okay, I've been long enough to know that this isn't a regular thing," Ash said, butting into the tender moment as he leaned against the table. "So why is Pinkie acting extra Pinkie Pie, why were we discussing costumes, and what is this Nightmare Night you keep speaking of?"

All Ash saw before he was thrown into the opposite wall and showered with encyclopedias was a pink blur.

"You! It was you I heard in agony!"


*****


"So, Luna, any plans this year?"

The Princess of the Night lifted her tired head. Princess Celestia sat next to her in the grass. She tore her magenta eyes away from the grotesque statue and bore them upon her sister. "Nightmare Night is in a couple of days," Celestia noted. "Any plans?"

"No."

"Luna...is something wrong? I thought your first Nightmare Night went well?"

"Oh, it did. I had quite an experience," Luna said, rubbing her eyes. 

"Then what's the problem?"

"Sister, there are matters we must attend to. Though there has been no sign of the seal's weakening, we must remain vigilant." The blue Alicorn scowled. "Whatever it was we sense so long ago, I do not doubt it's evil."

"You are right," Celestia agreed with a sigh. "The thought of Discord running rampant is a frightening one but...perhaps we've been making a mountain out of a molehill."

"A mountain out of...Celestia, are you assuming we are acting out of paranoia?" Luna whipped her head and stared. "How can you say that? This is the safety of our kingdom, of our little ponies that is at stake!"

The Sun Princess nodded. "Again, you're right but it has been nearly a month since there has been any hint of activity."

"It could be a trick, to lower our guard. We cannot afford to underestimate this foe."

"Nor should we overestimate him," Celestia said. "Discord is not this patient. He has always been an opportunist. The moment the magic of his seal weakened is the moment he would have escaped. Discord would not have waited this long." She chuckled. "I bet if he could he'd be laughing at us for wasting so much of our lives by being on edge."

Princess Luna frowned. "But-"

"I'll still have guards posted of course. We both know they could use something to do. And at the first sign of trouble I will contact you, just try to stay close to Spike."

"The dragon whelp, correct?"

"Right. Look at it this way, should a problem arise you will be in the perfect position to rally the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, though I have complete confidence that will not arise. And if it does, you'll get to say I told you so," Celestia added, smiling.

"I believe should that time come, even I will not want to." Luna sighed. "But I did make a promise. Yes, dear sister, we do have plans for this Nightmare Night."

"We?"

For the first time in a while, Luna smiled, albeit somewhat wearily.

"Aye, Ponyville and I."


*****


"Really?" Rainbow gaped in awe and pity. "You've never had a Nightmare Night before."

"I don't know why this is so surprising," Ash sighed, leaning forward to take a sip of tea. "I mean, all things considered..."

"Oh yeah, the whole other world thing." Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Geez, I keep forgetting."

The grey stallion folded his hooves over each other, his eyes on a particularly stubborn stain on the eatery's table. Everypony else grew quiet as Applejack swat at the back of Rainbow Dash's head with her head.

"Hey, what's the big-" The Pegasus gulped suddenly as the gravity of her words hit her a few moments after Applejack did. "Aw man, sorry about that Ash. I didn't mean to, well, you know, remind you I guess."

"It's fine," Ash said, waving his hoof. "If it weren't for the morning reminders I'd forget too."

"You sure 'bout that sugar cube? If ya need somepony to talk to..."

"Applejack, if he says he's fine, he's fine," Rarity interjected. "It would be best not to pry. Pinkie Pie, is there something you'd like to say?"

Pinkie nodded but did not open her mouth, opting to instead continue bouncing in her seat anxiously.

"Would you like to speak," Twilight asked after a disquieting moment.

"Well, yeah, I'd love to speak and what I really wanted to ask was how they could live in Ash's world if they didn't have Nightmare Night because I can't even began to imagine or even want to imagine a world without Nightmare Night because Nightmare Night is one of the bestest holidays ever and any world that doesn't have an entire night devoted completely to eating candy and wearing silly clothes and acting silly must be really really sad but then I remembered your story and how your world actually is really really sad and so I thought you'd be really really sad if I said anything that would remind you of your old home so I decided not to say anything but if you insist, what I really wanted to ask was-"

"Pinkie?" Ash said.

"Yes?"

"I'm getting really really sad. Can we talk about something else? Like what exactly is this holiday? And not a history lesson, please," he quickly added much to Twilight's visible disappointment.

"Well-"

"It's a horrible holiday where ponies dress up in frightful costumes and go around scares poor little foals and bullying ponies out of their candy! As if the world wasn't frightening enough!"

Fluttershy ducked until the table as her wail drew the attention of the surrounding patrons.

"Yeah, Fluttershy had a pretty awful Nightmare Night when she was a filly," Rainbow Dash explained as she pulled up the shivering Pegasus. "Hey, don't give me that look. I had nothing to do with it, honest."

"The shadows were everywhere! I felt so violated!"

"You know what? Staying home with the door locked doesn't sound that bad."

"Aw, come on. Don't be like that." Pinkie Pie reached out across the table and grabbed Ash by the neck. "You never know unless you try. Just imagine, a mountain of delicious, oh so delightful candy right in front of you. Sweets of every kind. Chocolates, peanut butter cups, licorice vines, caramel apples, you name it. We will call it...Candy Mountain. What do you say, Charlie?"

"You're drooling."

"You'd be missin' out on one heck of a shindig," said Applejack as Ash called for a new cup. "Plenty of games and music and wearin' a costume's always good fun."

"Provide, of course, you find a proper costume."

"Now what are ya tryin' to imply, Rarity?"

"Why nothing," the fashionista quickly said. "I was just thinking about how your costume could have used a little less hay."

Applejack shrugged. "Don't see the problem. Made a quick snack."

"Ooh, now there's an idea. An entire costume made out of candy! I'll be a candy collecting candies! Rarity, can you-"

"No! I mean..." The Unicorn cleared her throat. "Remember your Gala design?"

"Oh yeah."

"Will you be just as busy this year as you were last Nightmare Night?" Twilight asked.

"I am afraid so," Rarity answered with a sigh. "And to have missed the opportunity to have prepared something for Princess Luna, oh woe. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your viewpoint, my name in Canterlot has spread far beyond my expectations and I have so many orders to complete before the big night."

"I never thought Canterlot ponies were the type to wear silly costumes," Rainbow said.

"Well, no, I suppose it's quite beneath them. There are, however, a number of masquerade parties and with it comes the need for a number of extravagant dresses. Speaking of which..." Rarity got up and waved over the server. "I apologize for cutting our little get-together short."

"We understand," Twilight assured. "We'll see you later."

"Can I help?" Spike asked eagerly, wiping away chocolate residue from his lips.

"Of course, Spikey. I could use the extra set of claws. That is, of course, if Twilight had no objections."

The librarian shook her head. "Spike's free," she said. "The only thing we had planned today was deciding on costumes. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to bounce a few ideas off you later when I pick him up."

"I mind not one little bit," Rarity said. "If you need some inspiration, you're welcome to look at the few designs at the boutique." Before anypony could protest, the seamstress placed several golden coins more than what was required for her own order on the bill and returned the check to the waiting waitress. "Come along now, Spike. Ta ta, everypony."

Applejack watched the Unicorn and the dragon exit before stretching and getting up. "Yeah, Ah should pro'ly also get back to the farm. Granny's gonna try an' teach Apple Bloom how ta make pies today and we've still got lots ta get done before the big night. Guess Ah'll be seeing you gals later. Oh, an' Ash?"

"Hmm?"

"Ah'm givin' Fluttershy here a free pass but Ah'd better see ya having one heck of a Nightmare Night."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure."

"Hey, AJ, need a hoof?"

"You just want free pies, don'tcha Rainbow?"

Applejack and Rainbow Dash left, followed shortly after by Pinkie Pie who headed straight to Carousel Boutique with a quick sketch on a napkin. Then it was Twilight's turn to excuse herself with the goal of looking through a few historical references for costume ideas.

"You remember your way back to the library, right?"

"Is it still the giant oak tree in the middle of town? I think I'll manage."

Ash finished the rest of his tea. It was a perfect blend of honey and sunflower petals, strangely enough. As he set the cup down and considered asking for another refill, he looked up and realized who was left at the table with him.

"Uh..."

"Um..."

"So...you enjoying your drink?"

"Huh? Oh, y-yes. It's very, well, nice."

"That's...nice, I guess."

There was a moment of silence before Fluttershy spoke again. "Um actually...it could use a little sugar but the waiter there looks so busy and I didn't want to bother him."

Ash followed the Pegasus's gaze toward the suited stallion reading a newspaper while chewing on the end of a pen.

"I think he's working on a, what do you call them, sudoku puzzle?"

"Oh. No wonder he looks so focused."

At this point, another, more diligent server noticed the grey Unicorn's empty cup and rushed to her patron's side.

"Refill, sir?"

"Yes please and could you also grab some sugar?"

"Of course." The mare picked up the cup and went away.

"Thank you. You didn't have to trouble yourself."

"It's not a problem." Ash shrugged. "So...Nightmare Night?" He winced as Fluttershy whimpered.

"W-what about it?"

"I just want to know if it's as bad as you seem to say. I mean, I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into..."

"Well..." Fluttershy took a deep breath. "No, it's not. It's actually a lot of fun gathering candy and wearing costumes, even if the Nightmare Moon story is a little scary."

"I'm surprised Princess Luna let's this be a thing, considering her history."

"She was unhappy at first and the whole town was afraid but eventually we warmed up to her and she warmed up to the holiday," Fluttershy explained.

"Still, I'm amazing how easily she can accept this and take it in stride." Ash paused before continuing, "What about you?"

"Pardon?"

"Why do you act this way towards Nightmare Night? I mean, you say it's fun but...well...you know."

Fluttershy sighed. "Like Rainbow said, I had a bad experience. Some mean foals tricked me by telling me that I could find lots of good treats somewhere. It ended up being a haunted house and while I was crying they took all the candy I had gotten when I wasn't looking. I know it sounds silly but I was really young back then, years before I got my cutie mark and it changed how I see Nightmare Night. I was so scared and I see those masks those bullies wore so they couldn't get caught and then I see all the masks the foals are wearing in town and...a-and..."

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...I shouldn't have intruded like that."

"No no, it's fine. All my friends know this story and it's only fair you did too." Fluttershy smiled. "I'm so glad I have such understanding friends. Rainbow Dash does try every year to get me to go out but she never pushes too hard."

"You-" The Unicorn cleared his throat. "You know, I could-that is...I mean if...I doubt any of us would mind spending Nightmare Night with you at the cottage."

"Oh, no," gasped Fluttershy. "I could never ask that from any of you. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie love Nightmare Night. I couldn't bring myself to force anypony to waste their night with me."

"Well, I really don't know what to expect from the holiday so I could..."

This time Fluttershy's warm smile was directed straight at him. "Thank you, Ash. That's really kind of you but it wouldn't be fair. Nightmare Night really is fun, just a little scary. Don't worry, I'll be fine by myself."

"If you say so." The server had returned and set a new cup on Ash's saucer and a small bowl of sugar cubes in front of Fluttershy. The two thanked the waitress and tended to their drinks. "Do you think you'll ever get over it? That experience with Nightmare Night, I mean."

Fluttershy took a moment to answer. "Yes," she said. "I believe I will one day. I don't know if I'll ever forget how scared I was that night but I think one Nightmare Night I'll be out with my friends, wearing a costume and eating candy and having fun like everypony else. I can't always be afraid."

"That's good," Ash said with a nod. He lifted his teacup.

"Um..."

"Yes?"

"Well...actually, never mind."

Ash waved his hoof dismissively. "Go ahead. If you have a questions, ask. Really, it's only fair."

"I don't want to offend, it's just...I understand you don't want to talk about...your past."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized quickly. "It's just I was listening to Pinkie and began to wonder if Humans also had holidays. You shouldn't answer if you're not comfortable, I understand."

The Unicorn closed his eyes. "Yes, we had holidays but what they were and how they were celebrated varied. There's Harvest Day and all the festivals and feasts that came with it. There were games, entertainers of all arts, so many kinds of food." The hazel eyes grew wistful. "There's Savior's Gift in the winter and all the streets and houses are decorated with colorful ice crystals and sculptors come near and far to the capital for the national competition. Sinners's Redemption, Reshelving Day, Children's Dance, Freedom Remembrance when we celebrate the fall of the Dark-"

Ash stiffened. He lifted the cup to his lips and drain it.

"W-was there anything like Nightmare Night?" Fluttershy asked, hoping to distract her friend from whatever thoughts and memories were running through his head.

The grey Unicorn tapped his chin. "No, not really. The closest thing would be Hallow's Eve but that's only because most of it was during the evening."

"No treats or costumes?"

Ash shook his head. "It was more of a solemn affair, a remembering of the dearly departed and for stopping cultists from summoning malevolent spirits and raising general havoc." He gave a small smile. "I think I prefer Nightmare Night," he said before going silent.

"Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked. "I didn't mind to remind you."

"It's fine," Ash said, looking up. "Every morning's a reminder and as much as I'd like to, I can't just forget what happened. The past made me what I am. But every morning also brings a new beginning."

The Pegasus tried to duck beneath her pink mane as she stifled her giggles. "I'm sorry...it's just...what you said..."

"Too cheesy?" The Unicorn smirked.

"Even for me."

Ash began to laugh as well. The two ignored the nearby stares as they shared a chuckle at Ash's sad attempt to sound profound.


*****


"Um..."

"Uh, so..."

The two ponies stood awkwardly in front of the restaurant, waiting for the other to say goodbye. Ash cleared his throat for the sixth time that minute. "So..."

Fluttershy beat him to it. "I had a great time, Ash," she said. "It's always nice talking to a good friend."

"Same here. I'm still surprised they actually asked us to leave."

"Well, there was a line," Fluttershy noted. "And we weren't eating or ordering anything. It wouldn't have been considerate of us to hog a table for eight for ourselves."

"I suppose. Would you like to continue our discussion elsewhere or..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry but I need to get back home soon. Angel gets cranky if I don't fluff his tail on schedule."

"No problem. If you have plans..."

"Please don't think I'm making excuses. I really did enjoy our talk, really."

"Hey, it's not a problem. I understand, really." The stallion rubbed the back if his neck. "So...well, uh..."

"Yes...um..."

"No loitering!" screamed the manager.

"Goodbye!" Fluttershy squeaked as she jumped in surprise and flew off before Ash could reply.

The Unicorn sighed and began to wander through town. It took him a good few minutes to realize that the direction he took was not to the Golden Library. Before he correct himself, Ash felt something tug at his leg. He looked down and found a spotted Earth Pony looking up back at him. He'd be the smallest calico pony Ash had ever seen before if there had been others to compare him to.

"Please sir," the youngster pleaded. He bore an accent Ash was not entirely familiar with. "Could you help me? I could really use it, sir."

"What is it?" Ash asked. "Just as long as it stays legal."

The colt pulled the older stallion in front of a tall tree and pointed up at some cloth stuck on one of the branches.

"There was a huge guest of wind," he explained. "And 'fore I could react, it took my costume and threw into the tree. Please, mister, can you help me get it back?"

"Wouldn't this be a better job for a Pegasus?"

"Maybe, but you were the first adult I found," the colt said. "I did meet a few fillies earlier and asked them for help too but I don't know where they went. They said something about matches. One of them was a Pegasus too, I think. Do you think you can reach my costume with your magic?"

"I don't know," admitted Ash as he ran a few rather unreliable estimates in his head. "I can try though," he added as the child's face fell.

The boy's spotted face immediately lit up. "Oh, thank you sir, thank you. You have no idea how much that costume means to me. My mother made it herself."

Ash moved to the very foot of the tree and threw his magical grasp towards the trapped cloth. To his utter dismay and frustration, it fell a good length short, about the distance from the ground to his shoulder. He tried extended a little further but quickly ceased such efforts as a sharp migraine stabbed into his head. 

"Tch."

"Are you alright, mister?"

"Yeah, just did something stupid." Ash rubbed his head as words unwanted words drifted into his head that did not belong to him.

"A Mage must know his limits before he can transcend. To push against such limits without preparation is dangerous, equivocal to playing with a tinderbox in a wood cabin."

Hindsight never helped anyone Ash growled internal. He glared at the tree. "Guess we'll just have to do this the old fashion way," he muttered. 

"What's the old fashion way?"

"I'm going to throw you and try to knock it down-I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Ash said as even the brown spot over the colt's eye grew white. "I'm just going to climb the tree so I can reach it."

"Are you sure, mister? It's really high."

"I don't need to climb all the way, just enough to get into range. It shouldn't be much trouble." He placed his front hooves against the the truck of the tree. "Oh wait."

"What's wrong, Mr. Unicorn?"

"I just remembered something very important..." I. Don't. Have hands. "The first idea might be a little easier, actually, now that I think about it."

The colt held up a small rock. "Will this do instead?" 

Ash lifted the rock with his magic. He let it float in the air for a time before nodding his head. "This will work perfectly. Thanks kid," he said. The colt beamed.

The stone rocketed toward the branches and struck with a satisfying snap as the wood splintered and broke. Ash's grin faded as he saw the branches and bundle of cloth fall towards him. 

"Oh, sh-" 

The colt flinched at the loud thud on impact and quickly rushed to the mess of cloth and a combination of tree and pony limbs. "Are you okay, sir." He gasped as the stallion lifted his head. "Oh dear."

A large bruise fell over Ash's left eye, painting that side of his face purple. On appearances alone, the blow must have been painful yet to the colt's awe and Ash's credit, the stallion was not blubbering or crying out or teaching the colt a new set of colorful vocabulary. He did flinch however as he applied pressure to the inflicted area.

"Great," he muttered as he pulled himself out of the heap. "Well, guess there's nothing else to do now but head back. Here, try not to lose it again."

The child caught the bundle and held it close to his chest. "Um, shouldn't you go see a doctor, mister?"

"It's not as painful as it looks," Ash assured. "Come morning, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, though looking like this for the rest of the day is going to be a pain." He sighed. "Hey kid, you know where the Golden Oak Library is?"

"It's the big hollowed tree in the middle of town, isn't it? How can anypony miss it?"

"How indeed," Ash grumbled. "Just answer the question."

The colt pointed in a direction. "Just a few blocks that way, sir."

"Which way?"

"That way."

"Are you pointing? I can't see through this eye."

"Oh, right." The child moved himself and pointed again. "There."

"Alright then." The Unicorn gave the colt a final nod. "Thanks kid."

"Pipsqueak."

"Eh?"

"My names Pipsqueak, sir," Pipsqueak said, raising his hoof in salute. "Um, here." He held something up. Ash knelt down for a closer look. It was an eye patch.

"Thank you for saving my costume, sir," the colt said, leaving the patch in Ash's hooves and skipping away. "Maybe we'll see each other during Nightmare Night."

Ash held the eye patch up and regarded it with his good eye. With the dexterity of a crippled walrus, he managed to tie the patch on crookedly over the bruise, covering a majority of the purple swelling. A young pink filly wearing her trademark diamond encrusted diadem passed with a bag of freshly baked cookies from Sugar Cube Corner. At the sight of the stallion she stuck her nose up.

"Your pirate costume's horrible," she sniffed. "Nightmare Night isn't even for a couple of days, genius."

"Pirate costume? Hmm..."


*****


"Come on, Fluttershy," the dark Wonderbolt groaned. She stood behind the cottage's door and knocked again. "You can't stay in there all night."

"Yes I can!" came a squeak. "I did last year, I did the year before that, I did the year before that, and I'll do it this year too!"
"Well, at least give us some candy," said an extra fluffy Pinkie Pie. She adjusted the paper horn on her forehead. "Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give us som-"

"NO CANDY HERE! VISITORS NOT WELCOMED ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT-oh." The door opened just a peek. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to shout."

Rainbow Dash tried to find a strand of pink hair or a spot of yellow through the little passage between the door and the framework. "Are you'd sure you don't want to hang out this year? I promise not to prank you."

"And I promise not to steal all your candy like I did with Scootaloo."

"Well...EEP!" The door slammed shut. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow turned around.

"Hey, girls," the purple dragon said. "What's up?"

"Why are we all crowded around Fluttershy's house?" the purple Unicorn asked, munching on some sweets. "Is she giving out treats?"

"GO AWAY! NO CANDY HERE! VISITORS NOT WELCOMED ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT-oh." The door cracked open. "H-hello...Twilight?"

"Yep," said the purple dragon. The Unicorn in the suit grinned. "Can you guess who I am? Holy guacamole!"

"...Barney?"

"No Pinkie. I'm Spike. What are you suppose to be, a fluffy puffy Unicorn?"

"No, silly Spikey. I'm cotton candy!"

The little purple Unicorn scratched his 'head' with a claw. "Is she talking to me or..."

"Oh, hey Lyra! You've finally mastered walking, nice! Ooh, and are those hands?"

"What, no! I'm Twilight! I mean I'm-" 'Twilight' groaned.

"I told you this would get confusing."

Rainbow turned to the newcomer. "And what are you suppose to be, Ash?"

"A crippled walrus." He shrugged, lifting a bent flipper. "It just came to me and-"

The door swung open as Fluttershy fell forward. 

"Is she dead?" Pinkie asked, hiding behind Twil...Spike...the purple dragon. 

"Nah," Rainbow Dash announced, letting the yellow Pegasus's head fall back gently on the ground. "She just fainted. That probably wasn't the best costume to show Fluttershy, pal."

"Sorry."

"Well, wanna head back to the festival?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Maybe we can find some cotton candy and then we'd have cotton candy in cotton candy."

"We can't leave Fluttershy like this," asserted Twilight the magic dragon. "We-"

A scream echoed out from town. A Pegasus dressed in a toga flew by sweating. "The spiders are back!" she cried. "She brought them back!"

"Spiders?" Twilight turned toward Ponyville and gasped. Judging by the echo that followed she wasn't the only one surprised to see a massive hairy leg extend over the rooftops.

"Ash, what are you-"

"GO AWAY! NO CANDY HERE! VISITORS NOT WELCOMED ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT! NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SPIDERS!," the walrus screamed as tried to slam the cottage door. He was as successful as one might have expected from a crippled walrus.

> Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why Does it Always Rain on Me?

It was, of course, a matter of opinion but for Twilight, there were few things better than curling up with a good book, a warm blanket, and a delicious cup of hot chocolate during a rainstorm. Granted, it was still rather early so Spike wasn't up yet to make any cocoa. A pity perhaps but Twilight decided against waking her assistant and was willing to settle with just the book and the blanket, at least for the time being, and spent reminder of the early hour reading and listening to the hypnotic pitter-patter of raindrops against her home. Soon, the Unicorn found herself lost in mystic world of the preclassical era.

"This...isn't natural."

Twilight looked up from her book. "Pardon?"

Ash withdrew his hand from the window and closed it. He waved his hand around to rid of the loose droplets that clung to his skin before drying it properly on his trousers.

"The rain," he said, shifting his eyes back to the window. "It's not natural. There's magic in the air."

"Well, of course there's magic. The Pegasus control the weather," the Unicorn explained, flipping to the next page. "Pegasus magic," she added as Ash continued to stare blankly.

"Oh."

A few more pages were turned. "Hmm, I don't think this author did her research," Twilight said, mostly to herself. "Could you grab me Study on Star Swirl: Volume XI? It's on the shelf next to you."

The Mage bent down and began to scan the titles written on the book spines. "Let's see," he muttered as he searched. "S-t-u-d-y...s-t-u-wait, is that an 'S' or..."

A flash of light filled the library, followed shortly by several thuds. Twilight opened her eyes and bit back a groan. A number of tomes now littered the floor, along with a grey Unicorn stallion who was nursing the back of his head. "Is this it?" he asked weakly, grabbing the largest book within range and offering it.

"I really need to stop asking you for help during this hour," Twilight sighed and accepted The Daring Do Complication: Book 1-12 from the Human-turned-pony. "How did this even get on that shelf?" she wondered out loud. "This doesn't belong in here." With a shrug, she set the book back neatly and helped Ash out from beneath the miniature sea of books. 

"Thanks," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. "Here, uh, let me help clean up."

Twilight shook her head. "No, no, let me handle this. Every book has its proper spot and if one book is out of place who knows whether or not any of these belong here?" She shuffled through the first few titles before gasping and dropping them. "And if these books are out of place, who knows if any of them are on the right shelf? I'll have to add re-shelving to today's schedule."

"Is that really necessary?"

The purple Unicorn answered by sweeping every book in the library onto the ground with a single spell. 

"What's going on?" Spike rubbed his eyes and yawned as he descended down the stairs. "And I was having this amazing dream about..." The baby dragon yawned again and stretched toward the ceiling. "Well, I can't remember now but it was an awesome dream."

"Wait, Spike, watch out f-"

Twilight's warning came too late as the dragon's foot landed on one of the many books laying around. Both Unicorns winced as Spike slipped and tumbled down.

"This is one way to start a morning," he groaned as he picked himself up. He rubbed his eyes at the sight of the mess before him and blinked. "Twilight," Spike said, folding his arms across his chest, "you know Re-shelving Day isn't for another month, right?"

"Of course I know that, but somepony, or somedragon, thought it was a good idea to mix Daring Do with historical studies." Twilight shook her head. "Never mind that now. Spike, I need you to make some us breakfast and help Ash get ready for school. You two will have to start without me but if I start now I might have the entire classics section all done before Ash has to head off."

"Wait, hold on," Ash interjected as Spike raised his claw in a weary salute and headed into the kitchen. "I-"

"You're right, Ash. Spike!"

"Hmm?"

"Just some cereal please, maybe some toast. I don't want you messing with the stove when you're so tired."

"Hmm."

"No, wait, I-"

"You know, while Spike's preparing breakfast, you should make sure your saddlebags are all packed," the Unicorn suggested as books began to line up in the air and march single file in front of the librarian. "You know, double checking for homework and extra pencils and supplies."

"Hey, I'm-" Ash ducked as The Art of the To-Do List flew dangerously past his head. "Hold on, you really expect me to go out in this weather?"

The books floated to a halt. Slowly, Twilight turned to face the stallion and regarded him with rapidly narrowing eyes.

"You're not thinking about skipping class just because of a little rain, are you?"

"Little is not the term I'd use...but I suppose little can be subjective," Ash quickly added with a gulp and a weak laugh. "It's just, I mean..." He sighed. "I don't suppose you would have any rain gear, would you?"


*****


The schoolhouse was deserted. No fillies or colts huddled under the rafters, no ponies took shelter outside the doors as they waited for Ms. Cheerilee to usher them inside, no Ms. Cheerilee. 

Perhaps he was late, Ash figured, and everypony was already in class. The idea was a rather foolish one really, considering the lack of light from inside and Twilight's near religious devotion toward punctuality, but as he stood in the downpour, shivering underneath a borrowed purple raincoat, Ash could think of no better reasons. He moved up to the door and prepared a few believable excuses to explain his tardiness.

"Oh, good morning Ash," came a familiar cheery voice from behind. "I wasn't expecting anypony here today."

"Morning, Ms. Cheerilee," Ash said, turning around. "Uh, am I late?"

"Late?" the teacher repeated in bewilderment. She shook her head as she set aside her umbrella. "There's no class for today."

"Excuse me?"

"There's class for today," Cheerilee said again. "Didn't you know?"

"No," Ash replied shortly, trying his best to hold back his irritation. Evidently he failed, as the mare gave him a small sad smile.

"I apologize. I should have told you about the leaks. There are so many holes in this old roof it might be dryer to have the class outside." The cerise mare chuckled. "Well,  except for today," she said. "The local Pegasi must be making up for lost time. It's been pretty dry this year, though I'm certainly not complaining about those extra sunny days."

Ash made way as Cheerilee moved toward the entrance of the schoolhouse. "Is that right? I, uh, hadn't noticed."

"Really?" 

"I just assumed Ponyville was naturally sunny." He reached out to rub his neck and shivered as his hoof brushed against the cold wet plastic. "So why are you out here in this weather, if you don't mind me asking."

"Oh, well..." Cheerilee grinned diffidently. "It's a little embarrassing to admit to one of my students but I forgot last week's quizzes on my desk over the weekend. I just hope they're still dry. Speaking of which, you're making great progress lately."

"Really?"

"Why, of course," said the teacher as she opened the door slowly. "I think you managed to spell three words completely right this time around. Oh, don't look so discouraged. You just keep mixing up the vowels, mistaking t's for f's, and-"

As the door swung open, a small flood rush forward, drenching the teacher and her student up to their hooves.

"That's...some leak."

"Hole must have gotten larger in the rain," Cheerilee groaned, shaking her head. "Oh, I knew I should've gotten somepony to take a look at that when I had the chance. Well, I suppose better late than never," she sighed. "Could you take a look at the roof when the rain stops?"

"Wait, why me?"

"Well, you did mentioned that you come from a family of carpenters."

"I did?" Ash's eyes grew wide. "O-oh right, I did. Yeah, that's right, y-yeah."

"I know this is sort of sudden," Cheerilee quickly said apologetically, "and I understand that you might already have plans for today, but our entire class would really appreciate it if you gave the roof a quick check."

"I'd love to help but..." Ash rubbed the back of his head as he chewed his bottom lip and shifted his eyes to the side. "I-it's been a while...since I last handled a hammer. Yeah, I'm a little rusty over the years." He let out a weak laugh. "Get it? Like rusty nails? Because, you know hammers and, uh...never mind."

"Oh, is that so?"

The Unicorn swallowed, straining to maintain his insincere smile under his teacher's scrutinizing eyes. His cheeks began to burn from the effort. When Cheerilee finally dropped her glare with a nonchalant shrug, Ash fought to keep his expression of relief internally.

"A shame," Cheerilee said. "And here I was hoping to pay for repairs with extra credit instead of bits."

"Um, sorry?"

"I'm kidding, Ash," Cheerilee giggled. "I wouldn't want to start some sort of precedent by handing out grades as bribes or payments." She frowned as she stuck her head into the classroom. "I'd invite you to come inside but..." The mare pointed to the little stream that flowed out from schoolhouse and onto their feet and laughed. "You should probably head indoors as soon as you can, though if you're not busy, I could use a favor."

Ash shrugged and shivered as the cold wet canvas hugged his shoulders. "Do I get extra credit for it?"

"Nope. I already told you I can't do that."

"Tch, what is it then?"

"I need to try and waterproof the classroom as best as I can. In the meantime, could you see if Big Mac is busy?"

"Big Mac?" questioned Ash. "Uh, that's..."

"Big Macintosh. He's Apple Bloom's older brother, a big red stallion, quiet sort. I'm sure you've seen him on the apple farm, he's kind of hard to miss." Deftly dodging puddles, Cheerilee made it to her desk and ducked under it. She surfaced shortly after with half a dozen umbrellas and a large tarp. "He's a very good friend of mine and a decent handy pony." The first pink umbrella flew open, knocking over a few loose papers onto the wet floor. Cheerilee closed her eyes and fought the urge to curse. "Can you see if he'd be willing to help?"

Ash looked back outside. The rain had worsened to the point where the Unicorn's poncho would have provided as much protection as a handkerchief. The dogs and cats had grown into feral wolves and lions with chilling bites. Up from the dark foreboding clouds above came a low rumble. Every bone in Ash's body demanded that he immediately return to the library and take shelter, where a warm cup of hot chocolate was potentially waiting for him.

"Alright, I think I can at least handle that."

"Oh, you will?" Cheerilee smiled. "Thank you Ash. I know I'm asking a lot but-"

"Don't worry about it, I didn't have anything planned for a day like this to begin with. Could I, uh..." Ash gestured to one of the umbrellas laying about.

"Borrow an umbrella?"

The stallion nodded. "This coat just isn't working and a little on the small side."

"Purple looks good on you," laughed Cheerilee. "Go ahead. Just be sure I get it back."

"Thanks." Ash moved forward and carefully lifted the least colorful umbrella from the pile. It rose unsteadily in the air until it was about eye level. Ash tried his best to ignore the teeth marks and instead placed his attention onto a small switch at the end of the handle. "Hey, um, what does this-"


*****


"Whoa, what happened to your-"

"Not important," Ash hissed through clenched teeth. "What have you three been up to?" he asked in a far more amiable tone.    

"Oh you know, crusadin'. Nothin' much," Apple Bloom answered. "Thought we'd try fixing the leak in the school roof but these two finished before Ah got there." The filly gave Scootaloo a dirty look. "Ah can't believe you lost the lucky hammer. What am Ah suppose to tell Big Mac?"

"Hey, it was Sweetie Belle's fault," the Pegasus retorted defensively.

"What?" Sweetie shrieked. "No it wasn't! You're the one that kept throwing stuff onto the roof."

"Well-"

"Can you just tell me where your brother is?" Ash begged, his teeth chattering. "I just want to get this over with and go home."

"Wait, aren't you going to stick around?" Sweetie Belle asked. She held up a pair of long flat sticks. "We were just about to go water skiing."

"Uh, no. I think I've had enough water for today."

"Heh, we've noticed," Scootaloo smirked. "You know your umbrella has a hole, right? Probably not the best way to keep dry."

"Yes, thank you." Brushing his sopping mane out of his eyes, Ash groaned. "Look, do you know where I can find Big...Macintosh, was it? Yes, Big Macintosh. Cheerilee needs his help."

"His pro'ly in the barn," Apple Bloom answered. "Here, Ah'll take you to him." The filly stuck her head back into the clubhouse. As he waited, Ash couldn't help but grow envious of the girls taking shelter in the safety of the Crusader's headquarters. At least branches of the surrounding trees provide some protection. 

"Well, it's not snowing, so there's that I guess," Ash grumbled. 

Apple Bloom soon reappeared, with bright yellow galoshes on her hooves and a red raincoat. Ignoring the ladder, she leaped down from the clubhouse and into a large puddle. Rainwater and mud flew into the air.

Sweetie Belle winced. "Ooh..."

"Oops. Um, sorry 'bout that Ash. Ah'm sure the rain will wash that right off. Here, c'mon!" 

The clubhouse and the two waving fillies grew smaller as Ash let Apple Bloom drag him through puddle after puddle. He was beginning to see the value of rain boots, never mind how silly they looked on ponies. 

"Some rainstorm, ain't it? Doesn't look like it'll be clearing out any time soon," Apple Bloom chirped as she marched through a miniature lake. "Yah'd think Applejack would be happy what with all the rainwater and stuff but she keeps complainin' 'bout how she can't work in this weather. And just the other day she was botherin' Rainbow Dash 'bout the next rainfall, sayin' how badly the farm need water."

"Is that right?" Ash said, ducking beneath a low hanging branch. 

"Yeah! Now she's just hangin' round the house, being mopey and doin' chores. Anyways, Applejack's in a mighty bad mood today so don't bother her, alright?"

"Bad mood huh? That makes two of us..."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, it was nothing. Besides, I'm looking for your brother today."

"Cheerilee's been askin' Big Mac a lot of favors recently, you know," Apple Bloom continued. "Usually just a little handy work or somethin' like that. Ah hope it doesn't have anythin' to do with...well, you know."

"Not exactly."

"Oh, then don't worry none. Probably doesn't have anythin' to do with the love potion anyhow."

"Hold on," Ash interjected. "Love potion?"

"Ah told you, don't worry none. It ain't important."

"It sure sounds important. What happened?"

"What happened to your eye?"

"That has...where did that...I...don't worry about it, it's not important." 

"Are you sure? Sure looks important."

"Cute," Ash said, rolling his eyes. "You sure this is the right way to the barn? I can barely see two feet in front of me."

"Hey, 'course Ah do. Ah know this farm better than Ah do the back of my own-oof!" Apple Bloom stumbled back, shaking her head to clear out of the troupe of stars dancing in front of her. When she did, the filly let a grin of victory spread across her face.

"Told yah," she gloated as she knocked on the barn door. "Hey, Mac, you in here? Oh wait, Ah don't remember, have you met my brother before?"

"Once, I think."

"Eeyup," came the deep response from inside. The door slid open and the red stallion holding a straw reed in his mouth stuck his head out. He gave his sister a small smile before greeting Ash with a nod. Ash returned it.

"Ash here's been lookin' for you," Apple Bloom said. "Looks like Cheerilee needs some help. It's not my fault this time, honest!" she quickly added as Big Macintosh gave her a suspicious glance. "You've met Ash before, right?"

"Eeyup." It took all of the farmer's resolve to refrain from bursting into hysterics as his first encounter with the grey Unicorn replayed in his head.

"Miss Cheerilee needs the schoolhouse roof looked at," Ash explained. "The leak got worse."

"Wait, Ah thought Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle...Ah mean, heh." The filly grinned sheepishly as her brother returned his attention to her. "Oh, and, uh, while you're up there could you keep an eye out for the lucky hammer?"

"...eeyup," Big Mac agreed with a heavy sigh. 

"And nails. We might have also lost a few nails up there."

"...how few?"

"Um, six."

"Nails?"

"Uh, nope. Boxes."

Big Mac groaned and opened the barn further. He motioned the two ponies inside and stalked off to the shelves where a collection of tools sat at attention. A collie lifted her head at the approach of the newcomers and rushed over to them, barking wildly at the stranger that stood next to the youngest Apple.

"Down, Winona," Apple Bloom commanded, giving the dog a pat on the head when she obeyed. "Good girl. Listen Big Mac, Ah'm awfully sorry 'bout losin' all those nails without your knowin', again, even thought it wasn't 'actly my fault. Anyways, Ah'm sure we've got plenty of nails left, right?"

"Nope."

"No?"

The stallion lifted the lid off an old rusty tool box and shook out its contents: two pieces of lint and some dust. "Nope."

"Well maybe we can go get some now."

The farmer shook his blond head. "Busy," he said, pointing to the giant pile of hay that sat unbundled. 

"Oh, but Ash ain't! He could grab them for us!"

"Wait, what?"

Big Mac looked up from his work. "You'd do that?" he asked. 

"'Course he will," Apple Bloom answered happily. 

"Hey, don't speak for me! I-"

Ash cut himself off as Big Macintosh approached him. He'd like to think he was of decent stature for a pony but as Big Mac got closer, his neck craned further and further. If there was any pony that deserved the name of big, it was the red giant that stood before him. Like an amateur mountaineer underestimating a mountain's height by judging it at a distance, Ash had failed to truly appreciate the Apple brother's size until he had stood directly before him. Any objections he had prepared crumbled as he unwillingly reminded himself of how much hurt Apple Bloom had done to him and made a few quick size comparisons.

"...nope," Big Mac said at last.

"Er, what?" Ash managed to squeak.

"What do yah mean, big brother?" 

"Don't sit right, makin' some stranger go out in this weather for a favor."

"But Big Mac, Ash's a friend," Apple Bloom argued, "not some guy we pulled off the streets."

"All more reason why it'd be wrong to send him out in the rain to fix your mistakes." Big Mac shook his head. "Soon as the rain stops, you and me'll go into town to pick up some nails before checking up on that roof. Sorry 'bout any hassle," he added in apology to Ash.

"Oh...well, gee, thanks. Don't worry about," Ash laughed in relief. 

"'Course, if yah'd be willin' to make the trip for us, Ah can promise you one of the pies Applejack and Granny are bakin' right now."


*****


"Hey Cap, cloud nine's dried out!"

"Again?" Rainbow Dash groaned. "Tell Thunderlane to get his act together! Flitter, get him a replacement and-"

"Um, Rainbow Dash?"

"What?" the Pegasus nearly screamed as she threw her hooves up in frustration. She was completely confident in her own weather manipulating skills (who else could clear the skies in ten seconds?) but it was times like now, when the occasion called not for a fast flyer but for an organized coordinator, that Rainbow questioned whether or not her predecessor had chosen the right pony for the position of captain. Keep it together girl, she told herself as she struggled to quell her rising temper. 

The grey mare took a step back and gulped. "Oh, s-sorry Rainbow Dash."

"It's fine, just..." Rainbow sighed. "Look, I shouldn't have shouted. What's up?"

"Well..." The mare smiled nervously and rubbed the back of her blond head. "You know how we're suppose to have, like, a dozen backup rainclouds?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, I know they were rainclouds when I first got them, really, but now they're all full of snow! I have no idea what when wrong!"

Rainbow groaned. Really, it was her own fault for delegating this task to this certain mare in the first place but the bubbly Pegasus had been too eager to refuse. 

"I could go back and see if they have any rainclouds left," the mare offered.

"Ha, no. Hey, Snowflake!"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna head back to Clouddale and see if I can grab any extra clouds," Rainbow called. "You think you can handle being substitute captain for half a minute?"

"Yeah!"

"What about me?" the grey mare asked earnestly. "Anything I can do to help?"

Rainbow looked around. Any pony that had been in earshot and had heard the offer desperately shook their heads.

"Let's see, uh, well...h-hey that cloud needs somepony to sit on!"


*****


"Are you sure you don't need a hammer?"

"Yes, Mr. Lugnut, I'm sure. Just nails."

"Hmph, your loss." The shopkeeper shrugged and ducked under the counter. He returned with a small box that had a picture of a nail, or perhaps of a very pointy screw, Ash couldn't tell. "Give my regards to Mac boy and be careful. Those nails are made of the finest metals."

"So they're dangerously stabby?" Ash presumed.

"Nah, they make great electric conductors. Doesn't look like there'll be lightning but you'd never know." Lugnut chuckled. "Now, about that hammer..."

Ash grabbed the bag on the counter and flipped the canvas hood over his eyes. "Thanks for the nails," he said as he opened the door.

Like a long lost friend the downpour outside welcomed Ash back with open arms. Even as he shivered Ash grinned. Big Macintosh's massive poncho had been the best thing that had happened to him today. The size ensured full coverage and protection and lack of sleeves negated any worries over tripping on the massive coat. 

His little victory over the elements had placed him in a rather unsettlingly giddy mood. "Ha, is that all you've got?" he challenged the heavens, throwing a hoof in the air. "My armor is impenetrable! I. Am. Invincible!"

The sky crackled as if in answer.


*****


The library door swung open. 

"Where were you?" Twilight demanded. "School was out hours ago and don't tell me you were with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It's raining way too hard even for those three and..." The Unicorn sniffed. "Spike? Are you baking something? Something smells burnt."

"It's not me," Spike said, poking his head out from the kitchen. He held a large mixing bowl up. "I haven't even finished making batter yet."

"Huh, that's strange. Well, back on topic." Twilight turned back to Ash, regarding him as a disappointed mother would have. "First question: where did all those bandages come from?"

> Happy Hearth Warming (I)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Hearth's Warming

"...and remember, Sweetie, you want to pack just the right amount of snow. Not too much now nor too little, that's it, perfect!"

Sweetie Belle beamed at her sister's cheers and held up their creation. A near perfect sphere of pure white snow (Rarity had been adamant about this little detail) sat in the filly's hooves that threatened to melt in the midst of her sunny smile. 

"Now, Sweetie Belle," Rarity said as she gave the younger Unicorn a loving pat on the head, "how would you like to do the honors?"

Sweetie Belle gasped. "Can I? Really? You mean it?"

"But of course!" Rarity giggled. "You are the one who made it."

Grinning wildly, Sweetie Belle sat up and lifted the ball of snow above her head.

"Sweetie, please don't stick your tongue out like that."

"Sorry."

Taking a deep breath, the filly closed her eyes and swung her hoof down hard. The snowball soared through the brisk air until it struck Applejack's face, knocking off her hat.

"Consarnit, Rarity! Ah thought we were suppose to wait for Rainbow to say-"

"Go!" Rainbow Dash screamed as she and Scootaloo hopped out into the open and released a barrage of powdery missiles. Applejack made a hasty retreat behind her own makeshift snow fort.

"You alright, Applejack?"

The farmer spat out a mouthful of snow before nodding her head. "Don't worry 'bout me, Apple Bloom, Ah'm fine. Nice fort you managed to raise up by the way," Applejack added, her voice so thick with pride Apple Bloom struggled not to blush at the compliment. 

"Shucks, Ah was just doin' what you taught me."

"Heh, well, why don' we show these vermin what happens when you mess with the Apple family?"

The two sisters shared a devious grin before releasing their own volley of snowballs, forcing their adversaries into cover. Snowball after snowball after snowball crashed and melted against the walls of snow, chipping away at the defenses. Rarity and Sweetie Belle watched in wide-eyed horror as the first turret of their glorious cold castle collapsed under the Apple family's attack. 

Rainbow Dash meanwhile laughed as she huddled with her honorary little sister-figure behind the simple mound of snow the two Pegasi threw together. It was a crude design, ugly even, but it proved to be an effective shield.

"Is that all you've got AJ?" she roared, tossing her head up as she laughed. "Please, I've seen better aim on a-"

The rest of Rainbow's taunt went unheard as either a very well aimed or a very lucky snowball struck her jaw and knocked her back. Scootaloo quickly rushed to the downed Pegasus's side, shaking her and begging her to get up.

By this time, Sweetie Belle and Rarity had recovered and were responding with their own massive arsenal, forcing Applejack and Apple Bloom onto the defensive and cutting their attack short.

The two other fortresses of snow sat mysteriously quiet as the battle rage around them. A scaly head poked it's head out of one of them before ducking back down as a snowball flew dangerously close.

"I see you, Spikey-Wikey!"

Spike gulped and rushed to the two struggling Unicorns. "Come on, you guys," he said nervously. "Hurry it up."

"Don't rush me," Ash growled as his snowball crumbled into flakes. 

"You said you did this before."

"I have," the stallion said shortly, throwing his hooves in the air in frustration, "with hands and small stones."

"Twilight?"

"This is a lot harder than it looks, Spike," Twilight sighed. She held up her own snowball. "I mean, look at it."

"Uh, looks fine to me." Spike looked to Ash, who nodded in agreement.

"Are you kidding? Look at those edges. How can you even think to call this a ball? Oh, I wish I had done some research before hand." Putting the defective ball in Spike's claws, Twilight groaned and began to roll out another one. "I should have predicted this. It's a snow day. Of course we'd have a snowball fight."

"Well, at least that's one more thing can cross off on your holiday checklist," Spike said as he sat down and began to make his own snowball. "Have an improv snowball fight, check."

"I don't remember having that in any checklist."

"Yeah, I added it after Rainbow Dash told us about the huge snowfall. Be prepared, right?" The little dragon and his guardian shared a small smile before they noticed the long shadow above.

"Hey eggheads, think fast!"

Faster than any of the three could react, Scootaloo blanketed them with snowballs before Rainbow Dash flew her away to the safety of their base. Their cheers drowned out all of the flying accusations.

"You know, I'm beginning to think I preferred it when it was just me and the fillies," Ash grumbled as he struggled to pull himself out from under the weight of snow on his back. "Sure, I was an easy target and those three kept ganging up on me but at least I didn't have to deal with these shenanigans."

"Oh come on," Twilight giggled, brushing flakes out of her mane as Spike helped her up. Her snowball, which had somehow survived the aerial assault, caught her eye. She placed it in Ash's hoof. "The more the merrier, right?"

Ash regarded the childish weapon for a moment, ignoring the others that flew above. He let a small smile creep across his face and stood up. Turning from the snowball to Twilight, who gave him a nod of encouragement, to Spike, who threw his fist in the air, and finally to the battlefield, Ash pulled his foreleg back and swung it forward with all his might.

The snowball landed unceremoniously a few feet short of Rarity and Sweetie Belle's walls. Twilight and Spike winced as the Unicorn sisters answered with several well thrown snowballs that found their way into Ash's face with such accuracy, Twilight was almost certain Rarity had enchanted them. 

The stallion wobbled for a second before falling onto his back. "No, no I don't think the more the merrier," he grumbled. 

Spike rushed to the fallen pony's side. "Come on Ash," he urged. "Get up! We've gotta win this!"

"Spike, it's not a competition," Twilight said, ignoring the taunts that came from almost every direction. "It's just a game. The important thing is to have fun."

"There's no fun in being a loser," the dragon mumbled. 

"Oh, what kind of attitude is that?" Twilight pulled her assistant close, throwing a leg around his small shoulders. "It's a beautiful day and we're here spending time with our friends. Where's your Hearth Warming spirit?"

Spike scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "Yeah, well, I guess-"

"Hey eggheads, think faster!"

The Pegasus duo flew away once more laughing, leaving behind two slushy sculptures that vaguely resembled an Unicorn and a dragon. The images did not stand long as within seconds the snow had disappeared into vapor, replaced by an actual baby dragon and a steaming purple pony.

"Um, Twilight," Spike began hesitantly. 

"Spike, take a note."

"With what?"

"Dear Rainbow Dash..." As she spoke, several globs of snow floated into the air, molding themselves into icy orbs. Two of the orbs flew to Spike's opened claws, only giving into gravity's pull when the dragon had a confident grip upon both. 

"...it has come to our attention that you have decided to completely disregard the rules of engagement," Twilight continued in the tone she normally reserved for lectures. "We had agreed no flying, no excessive usage of magic, no rocks, no fire breathing, and to respect the three feet distance minimum."

Ash felt the heavy white weight on his back vanish. He opened his eyes and stared as snow began to pile up and pack into the walls of their admittedly shoddy fortress until they were taller than him and probably just as thick. 

"Rules are a very important part in any game; they keep everypony safe, maintain a smooth procedural process of operation, and ensures a level of fairness among the participants. In the midst of all the fun, however, it looks like you've forgotten all this and what kind of friend would I be if I didn't remind you the importance of following the rules. I'm sure you won't have any objections to this little reminder. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle. Did you get all that, Spike?"

Spike responded by leaping onto his friend's back, his snowballs raised over his head. He drew in a deep breath, held his head proudly, and screamed:

"CHARGE!"

Ash watched as the two rushed toward Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo's defenses, flanked by the walls of their fort which had sprung to life and charged forward with their owners in order to fulfill their destiny. He watched as Rainbow's jaw fell seconds before being pummeled out of the sky. 

"Well then," he muttered to himself, pointing his horn toward the ground and squinting as he focused. Slowly, bits of snow rose into the air and began to pack together. Ash gasped and wiped away the few trickling beads of sweat as he gave his creation a weary smile. Sure it was nowhere near the size of the snowballs in Twilight's armory and was more egg shaped than an actual sphere but it would serve its purpose. 

The tired grin became a confident smirk. "Guess it's time to do my part," he muttered before charging into the fray, his weapon held above his head by magic.

Meanwhile, at the urging of her pink partner's urging, Fluttershy shut her eyes and tossed her snowball in a random direction before diving back onto her belly and covering her head.


*****


"I still can't believe Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy of all ponies beat us," Rainbow was groaning as she nursed her hot cocoa along with five other mares, three young fillies, a dragon, and a stallion still trying to get snow out his eyes. They had been gathered around several tables had been pushed together, courtesy of the cafe's employees.

"I mean, I guess we all really should have seen Pinkie's party cannon coming a mile away," Rainbow Dash continued, poking at a bobbing marshmallow, "but who would have thought Fluttershy was a bonafide crack shot?"

The yellow Pegasus blushed at Rainbow's words. "It was an accident," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to hurt anypony."

"Well, that's why snow's soft!" Pinkie Pie laughed. A dark chocolatey mustache sat just above her lip and she made no move to remove it. "I mean, can you imagine what it'd be like if snow was hard? Snowball fight wouldn't be fun anymore, 'cuz they'd just be fights."

"Could you even make a snowball if snow was hard?" Sweetie Belle wondered out loud. "Wouldn't that make it, you know, too hard to pack together and stuff?"

The curious filly's question went unanswered for almost an entire minute as everypony turned from Twilight to Rainbow Dash.

"Wait, why is everypony looking at me?" Rainbow asked.

"You are captain of the Ponyville weather team after all," Twilight reminded. "If anypony could be an expert in this area, it'd be you. If I'm not mistaken, the reason why snow packs together is because it's just frozen water. I don't know if being hard or soft is a factor," the Unicorn admitted. "You know, that's a really interesting question. I think I have a few books on-ow!"

Spike whistled innocently as his bookish guardian rubbed her battered shin. Twilight gave the little dragon a quick glare that quickly dissolved into a look of embarrassment.

"But I suppose research can wait until after the holidays," she said sheepishly, much to everypony's relief. "Although I do have one last assignment to get out of the way. I had better go back to the library."

Spike scratched his head. "I don't remember any assignment."

"Oh, it's a boring one about, you know, boring stuff that's...boring. I'm not surprised you don't remember." The Unicorn laughed weakly.

"Huh. If you say so." The dragon leaped to his feet.

"Actually Spike, I have everything under control," Twilight said, gently pushing him back into his seat. "Why don't you spend the rest of the afternoon with everypony else?"

Spike opened his mouth but his protests never left the tip of his tongue. "If you say so," he said again, this time a little more sullen. "Maybe I can help you today instead, Rarity." Spike brightened at his own suggestion.

"Spikey dear, I couldn't ask that of you," the seamstress said. "There's just so much to do and I could never force you, or anypony for that matter, to waste such a lovely day on me just because I chose to leave everything onto the last minute."

"Hold on, didn't you finish your winter line, like, a while ago?" Sweetie Belle piped in. "I thought you sent the last orders out last week."

"Er, well, yes, I am of course referring to...a personal project. Yes, a personal project, one that requires the utter most privacy. In fact I must be heading back to the boutique-no Sweetie Belle, just me. You may spend the rest of the day with your friends. I even insist."

"But-"

"Sweetie Belle, this is a very, very personal project of mine," Rarity said, resting a hoof on her sister's shoulder. "I need some time alone. Is that alright?"

Sweetie sighed and turned back to her empty mug. "Okay."

"Yeah, Ah think we'd better get a move on too, right Applejack? Granny and Big Mac probably need our help."

"Um, Apple Bloom..." Applejack began to play with a dirty napkin. "Ah was thinking, why don't Ah just head on back home an' you can just stay here. It'll be no problem. Ah'm sure Granny and Big Macintosh are doin' just fine."

"Sis, are you feelin' alright?"

"O-of course Ah'm alright! Why wouldn't Ah be?"

"Well, your eyes are doin' that thing again. You know, the..." Apple Bloom shifted her eyes side to side in demonstration. "You know, that thing. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Y-yeah, Ah'm fine, just have'ta get home. Alone." The farm mare sighed. "Listen, Bloom, Ah know you want to help but this is something only me, Big Mac, and Granny can handle."

"Why? Aren't Ah an Apple too?"

"Y-yeah, of course. It's just...just, uh..."

"It has to do with my personal project!" Rarity suddenly blurted out, attracting the attention from some of the other nearby customers. "Y-yes, Applejack is helping me with my own project, isn't that right, darling?"

Applejack nodded vigorously. "Y-yeah, that's right."

"But Rarity, you said you needed your privacy," Sweetie Belle said, giving Apple Bloom a quick dubious glance, which Apple Bloom returned. 

"Well, yes, that's true, but I could use a second opinion from another mare..."

"Yeah, and everypony knows just how much you trust Applejack's sense fashion," snickered Rainbow Dash. Her smirk disappeared under the collective glares of Rarity and Applejack. "I mean, uh...hey look at the time! I'd better get going too."

"Wait, Rainbow Dash, you-"

"See you around, squirt," the Pegasus said, hovering over Scootaloo and punching her shoulder gently. "You guys got the tab, right? Then I'm out of here!"

The blue Pegasus flew off, ignoring the shouts and cries of the waiters, furiously pointing at the signs posted about that said 'No Flying Inside'. 

Scootaloo let her mouth hang open for a few seconds. "But...she..."

"Ah'm sure Rainbow hasn't forgotten her promise, Scootaloo," Applejack assured. "RD is a lot of things but she ain't the kind of pony to break her word. Well, unless a competition's involved, then you've gotta watch your back..."

"She's pretty forgetful when it comes to overdue books," Spike said.

"I think she owes me five bits," added Pinkie. "And she's owed Fluttershy a new saddlebag for years."

"I-it was during our flight academy days. I-I don't think it really matters anymore..."

"What we're trying to say," Rarity jumped in, noting the growing crestfallen appearance on Scootaloo's face, "is that Rainbow Dash would never forget her promise to spend the holidays with you."

"You think so?" asked Scootaloo.

"Of course," Twilight said as everypony else nodded in agreement. "Rainbow Dash probably just had something to do first. Speaking of which, Rarity, Applejack, Ash? Could you help me fetch the bill?"

"Huh, but why...oh, y-yeah!" Applejack struggled up onto her feet. "Yeah, right."

The original Crusaders plus Spike all shared a confused look and turned to the remaining adults.

"Hey kids, wanna see if I can laugh hard enough to sneeze hot chocolate out of my nose?"

When they had placed a good distance between themselves and their table, Rarity pulled out a small pouch and slipped it tightly around Ash's neck.

"That should help you keep them distracted for at least an hour," she said. "No, I insist, consider it payment for babysitting," Rarity interjected before Ash could protest. "We can't thank you enough for this Ash. I want to make sure Sweetie Belle's gift remains a perfect surprise."

"Same here," said Applejack. "Oh, it'll all be worth it seein' little Bloom's face on Hearth Warming mornin'."

"No problem. It's the least I could do after the decorating fiasco at the library." 

"Well, we didn't lose any books in the fire so I'd stop worrying," Twilight said. "If Spike gets any mail, just hold onto it unless it's marked urgent or sealed by the Princesses."

"Alright then. Anything else I should know?"

"Try to avoid buying candy," Rarity said. "I'd rather not deal with a hyperactive filly tonight."

"An' no matches!"

"Yes, absolutely no matches," the fashionista agreed. "Or fireworks or firecrackers-"

"Is there a difference?"

"-or anything sharp or pointy or anything from that questionable pony in that awful trench coat and scarf who calls everypony 'stranger'..."

"	Just try not to get any of those four too suspicious," Twilight said. "Rainbow will be back in an hour after she's done with her own present to pick up Scootaloo and take her home but if you could chaperone everypony else home that'd be nice."

"Got it," Ash said, raising his hoof to his forehead in mock salute. "Uh, what exactly did you get a baby dragon anyways?"

Twilight grinned. "Looks like you'll have to find out on Hearth Warming morning."

With a wave, the three mares left the cafe and Ash returned to their table, brushing past a fuming server drenched in liquid chocolate. 


*****


"...and then I said, 'oatmeal, are you crazy?' But by then all the muffins were already gone so we really didn't have much choice." Pinkie sighed. "Third boring-est brunch in my life." 

The fillies and baby dragon laughed as they were ushered into Sugarcube Corner. A huge line extended from the front counter all the way to the entrance of the bakery. A gangly stallion in a stained apron and a lopsided cap was working furiously, taking down orders and tossing little paper bags of treats at the customers, along with short apologies to the slower ponies who ended up catching their orders with their faces.

"Looks busier than usual," Ash said as he searched for a free table, "though I suppose that's to be expected, considering it is the holidays."

"I don't think it was this busy last year," Sweetie Belle said. She turned to Pinkie Pie. "Was it?"

"Oh no, it's never this bad. Or is it good? I mean, it's good business but Mr. Cake looks like he's gonna fall apart any second, and I'm pretty definitely sure that'd be bad." Pinkie shrugged. "It's just that this year Mrs. Cake's great aunt's second cousin twice removed's niece up in Canterlot has the feather flu and Mrs. Cake's the closest relative so she has to take care of her while Mr. Cake's stuck here running the shop and taking care of the twins all by himself without any help."

"Um, but don't you work here too?" Fluttershy whispered. "I mean, I don't mean to, well, say anything rude or make any false assumptions, but aren't you help?"

"Not today," Pinkie replied cheerfully. "Mr. Cake gave me a break today after I saw Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Pegasususus prepare the snow and wouldn't sit still and ended up burning the first batches of cookies because I couldn't pay attention. But I'm sure Mr. Cake's got it all under control. Right, Mr. Cake?"

Shrilled screeches came from upstairs. The baker turned toward his family's living quarters only for an annoyed cough and a pound on the cashier counter by an angry customer to pull him back. Desperately he pleaded to the pink Earth Pony with eyes that were far better suited for Pinkie Pie or perhaps one of the children accompanying her.

"...but, I guess this break's been a bit long," Pinkie chuckled weakly. "Sorry ponies, but I'm gonna have to cut this party short." She reached into her chaotic mess of a mane and pulled out her own apron. "Duty calls!" she screamed, rushing forward and pushing Mr. Cake away from the cashier and toward the stairs. "Now, you ordered half a dozen banana nut muffins, you ordered a miniature gingerbread house and two medium size gingerbread ponies, you wanted the holiday cupcake, and you're just that no good loiter from last week who tried to take all our candy cane decorations..."

"Let's try here again later, when it's less crowded," Ash proposed, prompting Fluttershy, Spike, and the Crusaders toward the exit. While Fluttershy followed obediently, the fillies and baby dragon took one last longing look at the display of pastries before deciding that a cupcake wasn't worth the hour long wait.

"So where to now?" asked Scootaloo, who had pushed into the front of the group. "The Everfree Forest?"

"No! I-I mean...wait, I do mean no!"

"Agreed," Ash said, much to Fluttershy's relief. "No dangerous forests."

"No Sugarcube Corner either," Scootaloo grumbled.

"No Sweet Apple Acres," Apple Bloom sighed.

"No Carousel Boutique," said Sweetie Belle.

"No library," Spike snorted.

"Are we still banned from the bowling alley?" Sweetie Belle asked, to which Apple Bloom responded with her best imitation of her brother: 

"Eeyup."

"Well, there's the frozen lake," Fluttershy suggested. "I-I suppose we could all ice skate, if we wanted."

"That sounds boring," Scootaloo groaned, rolling her eyes. "We don't want to do anything like that, right Spike?"

"Uh..."

"Well...let's see..." Ash looked around. "Not enough snow for another massive snow war...might be enough make a small snowman if we want..."

"What's a snowman?" asked Apple Bloom, running up next to the grey stallion.

"Mare. I said mare. We could..."

"Actually..." Spike raised his claw slowly into the air. "Can we make a quick stop here first?"

Everypony looked toward the store Spike had been pointing at. A large sign with the picture of a large red love seat and a single feather pen hung above the door. Like most of the buildings, this store had colorful lights aligning the edges of its windows, along with a small decorated tree sitting on the windowsill, a miniature model of the magnificent pine that sat in the center of town, naked until very recently. 

"The sofa and quills store?" Ash and Apple Bloom said together.

"The quills and sofa shop?" Fluttershy and Scootaloo questioned in unison, half a second behind Apple Bloom and Ash.

"Why?" asked a lone Sweetie Belle.

"I-I just need to get something first, t-that's all."

"Twilight has plenty of quills. You bought an extra set of spares only a couple of days ago, remember? Plus, I don't think the library has room for a sofa." Ash was prepared to move on but as he turned his eyes met Spike's. The dragon fell to his knees and grabbed the Unicorn's front.

"Please? Just real quick. There's something I wanna see. Please?"

...a dragon has no business looking that cute. 

Ash shrugged and sighed. "Alright then," he relented. "Fluttershy, can you keep an eye on the others for a bit? This shouldn't take too long."

"Um, I guess so. Just...try to hurry please."

The dragon and the Unicorn pulled the store's door wide open, moving to the side as a young couple brushed by carrying a plush sofa similar to the one on the shop's sign. A tan stallion wearing a white and blue shirt and a festively green and red cap waved cheerfully.

"Welcome, customers," he greeted. "Welcome to my store, where we sell all kinds of items such as sofas and quills."

"I was under the impression that was all you sold," Ash said, looking around. There were certainly sofas. Perhaps the quills were hidden underneath them.

"Er, yes well, if you've got a sofa and or quill emergency, there's only one place to find the remedy. Hey, I know you." The shopkeeper pointed at Spike. "And you've brought an adult. Good, good. So ready to make your purchase?"

"I sure am!" Spike exclaimed excitedly. "It's still here, right? You didn't sell out, did you?"

"You're in luck, kid." The stallion walked past some of the more expensive looking pieces of furniture with Spike and Ash following closely behind. "We got a few left."

They stopped before a display case holding a single pen. Unlike the ones Ash had grown accustomed to seeing in the library, this one was silver, with the very tippy tip coated golden. He couldn't tell what kind of bird the feather came from, or if it even was natural.

"Well?" Spike asked smugly. "Aren't you gonna ask me what it is?"

"...it's no sofa."

"And it's no ordinary quill either, buddy," the manager chuckled, grabbing Ash's neck and pulling him closer to the glass. "I'm told that this here is from the feather of an Alcyo'nide. Their feathers are supposed to be as hard as diamonds and can only be found in the winter, just around the Hearth Warming season. This quill is the quill designed to outlive all other quills, lasting years before the tip needs resharpening."

"Really?" Ash said, throwing the pen a skeptical glare as Spike all but drooled over it.

"Of course, provided that the workload we're looking at is, ahem, reasonable."

"Ah, so it's just a novelty item."

"More of a collector's thing really," the stallion admitted. "They've been rather popular ever since the latest Daring Do book came out, Daring Do and the Mighter-than-a-Sword Pen I think it was called."

"Daring Do and the Titanium Tome," Spike corrected. "Fans just like referring to it like that because of this one scene where Daring Do fights off a bunch of armed thugs with a magical quill, just like this one."

"Well, I don't know if it's magical," the manager laughed, "but it's sure to make a wonderful gift."

"Gift? Oh, so you're buying it for..."

"Twilight." Spike pulled out a small pouch similar to the one around Ash's neck and began to fish out coins. "She goes through so many quills so quickly, I'm hoping this one will last her for a while."

The money was exchanged and the tan stallion walked over to the other side of the counter. "Why don't you just get her a book?" Ash asked. "That seems like the most appropriate present for someone like Twilight."

"I thought about it," Spike said, rocking on his heels as they waited. "But we live in a library. Odds are, I'd end up getting her one she's already read. Besides everypony's going to get her something like that. I want my gift to be something special." 

"Why does he need an adult to buy this anyways?" This time Ash's question was directed at the storekeeper who was wrapping the quill in light red tissue paper and placing it into a small bag. "He's bought plenty of quills before."

"The end is a little sharper than most quills," he answered with a shrug. "Don't know if it qualifies as a weapon but I'd rather not risk it. Here you are."

Spike tucked his purchase under his arm and led the way out of the store, humming as the two left. 

"What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you going to get us for Hearth Warming?" the dragon asked. "I mean, I know I'm not exactly suppose to ask but..."

Before Ash could respond, a yellow blur sped towards him, nearly knocking him over as Fluttershy appeared in front of him.

"Ash...they..." Fluttershy took a shaky deep breath. "They...they..."

"They...who? Wait, where are the Crusaders?" Ash's eyes grew wide as he noticed the lack of fillies before him. "What happened?"

Fluttershy removed her muzzle from the paper bag Spike had given her. "Please don't get mad at me. I'm already mad at myself and I don't know if I can handle so many ponies being angry at me at once. I'm really, really sorry."

"Y-you didn't lose them, did you?" The panic in Ash's voice was obvious. "Oh God, please tell me you didn't lose those three."

"Well, not exactly," Fluttershy said. "I know where they went anyways. Apple Bloom wanted to go to the toy store while Sweetie Belle asked me if we could go see the jeweler," she explained. "Scootaloo also wanted to look around market and, well, I'm sorry but I just couldn't say no. The minute I said they could those three ran off before I could tell them to stick together. Oh, if only I was a little faster."

"Alright, let's see...we need to find Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo as soon as possible so, uh...okay, I'll check the toy store, which is..."

"That building," Spike pointed out. "The one with the giant toy bear in front."

"Right, okay. Fluttershy, do you know where Scootaloo is exactly?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "I saw the direction she ran in and she mentioned wanting to see something in the market but I don't where she actually went."

"Tch, alright...then, um..."

"Fluttershy could always fly and see if she can find Scootaloo from up in the air," Spike said. 

"An aerial view...is that a good idea in this weather? Fluttershy, do you think you can fly right now?"

The Pegasus nodded confidently. "It's not snowing too heavily and the wind is dying down. If it'll help us find the fillies before they can get hurt, I'll do it."

"Alright then. You look for Scootaloo, I'll find Apple Bloom and...shoot, and Sweetie Belle...uh..." Ash ran a hoof through his mane, frantically turning his head in search for a solution.

"I could look for her," Spike suggested. "I know the jewelry store like the back of my claw."

"No, you're staying with me," Ash asserted. "The last thing I need is to lose the baby dragon."

"But-"

"Ash, we need to hurry," Fluttershy whispered nervously. "Splitting us up into three would help us track down the Crusaders much faster. I-I mean, I know Spike's just a child-"

"Not a child," the baby dragon muttered.

"-and I understand that you don't want risk losing him too but, well, maybe you should consider his idea. I mean, I fine with whatever you decide," Fluttershy added. "Just a thought."

"Fine. Spike, head to the jeweler's and see if you can catch Sweetie Belle. If you can't, stay at the store. We'll meet you there after we finish finding the other two."

"Okay."

"I'm serious. You'll meet us right there, at the jeweler's, alright?"

"Yes, got it, sheesh."

"Then let's go." With a final nod, Ash charged toward the small building dwarfed by the displayed giant teddy bear as Spike hurried in the opposite direction while Fluttershy took off.


> Happy Hearth Warming (II)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Hearth Warming (II)

"It's bigger on the inside," Ash noted aloud as he made his way through the toy store and past the crowd of foals and their parents. Teddy bears and cotton crocodiles sat on the shelves or in the hooves of children, waiting to be bought and loved and played with. Model chariots were guarded by tiny figurines in armor. Several sets of building blocks were scattered on the ground, along with dolls of ponies which hid behind the wooden constructs. In every aisle sat a group of fillies and colts surrounding a board game and the clatter of dice rung throughout the store, blending with the shouts, pleads, and cries of rowdy children.

"This is a nightmare," Ash said, rubbing his forehead. "I can barely hear myself think."

"I know! Isn't it wonderful?"

Ash turned, startled. A tan stallion with a brown mane stood behind him, grinning madly. "Why, hello there," he said in an accent Ash was not entirely familiar with. It was a little similar to how that little colt he had met before Nightmare Night spoke. "And how are you doing today?"

"Is this your store?"

"Oh dear, no. I'm just looking after it for the day. Did you know we have automatons? It's nothing fancy, mind you, dolls that move a little, wave a bit and do a little dance, but I just had to see how it worked. I don't know if I'll ever understand how all this magic business works. Anyhow, the owner should be back yesterday."

"Er, yesterday?"

"Yes. She'll be back then but if you can't wait for then I suppose you could always check tomorrow. Now, what can old Time Turner do for...say, did I ever catch your name? No? Well, I'm sure it's nothing important. But back to the matter at hand." The stallion suddenly ducked just as a big red ball flew over. "Now, you don't look like the type who'd be interested in a doll, automatic or not, but I've been wrong before. Not very often, of course, but enough to make a point."

"I'm not look for a toy," Ash said, having recovered from the erratic stallion's appearance. "A filly I was looking after ran into this store and I'm trying to find her. She's an Earth Pony and-are you okay?"

"Y-yes. Just...Earth...hee. It's nothing, just an inside joke. It's not even all that funny when you think about it. Earth does also refer to the ground after all."

"...right. Anyways, Earth Pony-"

Time Turner snorted again.

"-red mane tied back by a bow, tan-cream-ish coat, wearing a brown scarf."

"She's in the back," the stallion said, pointing. "Apple Bloom correct? Yes, you'll find her in the very back of the store, just past the colouring books and mind teasers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a mop."

Ash stared at the retreating pony humming to himself before he shook his head and head to the direction Time Turner had given to him. As he walk, the sounds of retching echoed through the store, followed by screams of disgust. He expressed his silent gratefulness that the sounds were coming from behind him.

Vomit puddles or not, the trek through the store proved difficult as Ash struggled to pass by without stepping on foals or damage merchandise. At last, he found the filly sitting in front of a shelf of rag dolls. 

"Apple Bloom."

"Oh, hi Ash," Apple Bloom said, waving. "Are you and Spike done with whatever you had to do?"

"Yeah. I thought I told you to stay with Fluttershy."

"Ah did. Or, Ah tried to, but it wasn't 'til Ah got here when Ah realized Fluttershy wasn't behind me." The filly shrugged. 

"You should not run off by yourself," Ash said sternly. "I left you three with Fluttershy for a reason."

"Sorry, Ash. Ah didn't mean to cause any trouble or nothin'."

"As long as you're safe," Ash said. "I just hope Spike and Fluttershy are having an easier time than me."


*****


Fluttershy's eyes desperately scanned the ground below for a glimpse of a saffron coat, a hint of a dirty-gold feather, a tuff of reddish pink mane, any sign of Scootaloo. It was proving to be a challenge as the market square was crowded, ponies finishing their holiday shopping no doubt. The sight of ponies scurrying about with bags filled to the brim reminded the Pegasus of the several items in her closet that still required wrapping. Oh, how she hoped her friends would enjoy her presents to them...

Fluttershy shook her head suddenly. There wasn't time to be distracted; she had a job to do. Find Scootaloo first, then contemplate whether Rarity would prefer her hoof-knit sweater red with green stripes or green with red stripes. Wiping a few white flakes out of her eyes, she continued her search. 

"Oh Scootaloo, where could you be?" she asked. She hadn't expected an answer and the loud crash that seemed to echo in response surprised the Pegasus. She would have jumped if she hadn't already been in the air.

"Could that..."

"It's not my fault!"

"Oh dear." Fluttershy raced toward the source of the cry at a speed Rainbow Dash was more comfortable with than she was.

A small crowd had already formed, blocking Fluttershy's view. Seeing no other option, she sighed, breathed in deeply, and pushed past the ponies, apologizing all the way. At last, Fluttershy found herself in the front of the crowd. 

"Scootaloo!" she cried as her eyes fell upon the young filly cowering before a very large mare. Cans of soup rolled every which way.

Fluttershy flinched as the mare turned her attention away from the filly and onto her. "This your kid?" she demanded gruffly.

"I-I'm just taking care of her for the day," Fluttershy managed to squeak. "I'm so sorry for any trouble she's caused."

"It's not my fault," Scootaloo said again. "Honest. Some pony who should been paying attention walked into me and pushed me. It's not my fault your stand is made out of flimsy cardboard."

"What I'm sure she means is that she's very, very sorry for the damages," Fluttershy said quickly, grabbing Scootaloo and pulling the filly behind her. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"Hmph, it better not lady," the mare nearly growled. "Don't touch," she exclaimed as Fluttershy bent down to pick up one of the fallen cans. 

"But I-"

"Just let me do my job, alright miss? Unless you want to buy something, leave. That goes for the rest of you," she directed toward the crowd, which quickly dispersed under the grumpy pony's glare.

"So much for the Hearth Warming spirit," Scootaloo grumbled when she and Fluttershy were no longer within hearing distance. "What a jerk."

"The holidays can be stressful, especially when you have to work while everypony else gets to play. You really should have apologized."

"But it was an accident," Scootaloo protested. "I didn't mean to knock over all those cans, I was pushed. Besides, didn't you see how mean she acted toward us?"

"It doesn't matter. That poor mare probably worked really hard today and we've just made her day harder. I think I'd be pretty upset too if I were in her shoes. What about you?"

"Well, I guess," she conceded. "But I still think he's a jerk."

"That's fine, though I think jerk might be a bit strong."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Anyways, thanks for the save Fluttershy. Now I've gotta-"

"Hold on." One of Fluttershy's wings flew open, blocking Scootaloo's path. "I am very disappointed in you, Scootaloo, running off like that in a busy marketplace. Don't you know how dangerous that is? You could have gotten lost or hurt. Do you know how worried Ash and I were when we didn't know where you went?"

"But..." Scootaloo hung her head. "I'm sorry. It's just...I guess I got a little excited."

"Excited?" Fluttershy said. "Did you see something you wanted?"

"Not really. I'm just really excited to finally buy a present for Rainbow Dash. The market's so big, I'm sure I'll find the perfect gift here. I've been looking for weeks. Um, don't tell her, okay?"

"Of course I won't. Rainbow loves a nice surprise."

"It's not just that. It's..." Scootaloo leaned forward and began to whisper. "Please don't tell her I got all excited over something like shopping."

Fluttershy giggled. "Don't worry, I promise. But we should really head back. Ash needs to know you're safe."

"Can't we just look around for a little while? Just ten minutes?" pleaded Scootaloo. "Please?"

"I don't know. I don't think it's a very good idea for us to stay separate." The mare tightened the scarf around her neck, then did the same with Scootaloo. "But I suppose we can spare a few minutes. No running off though, okay?"

Scootaloo nodded furiously. "Yeah, come on," she said, tugging the older Pegasus toward the center of the market.

The chilly winter air did little to discourage the merchants of Ponyville. As usual, stalls and booths filled the area, though none sold the fresh produce normally found in the summer, spring, and even autumn. Instead of celery stalks, cane sized candy canes. Instead of broccoli, ponies sold evergreen trees waiting for adoption and decoration. Beautiful crystal ornaments were bought instead of fresh tomatoes, though canned tomatoes could still be found if you were that desperate. Some stands even sold toys, competing against the local toy shack by offering a cheaper alternative if you didn't mind a dip in quality. 

"Do you see anything yet?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, not yet," Scootaloo replied, setting down a knockoff walleyed Wonderbolt doll. "It's kinda hard finding a gift awesome enough for Rainbow on a filly's allowance. I wish I could afford tickets for the Wonderbolt's show. That would have been perfect."

"I'm sure Rainbow Dash would be fine with whatever you get her."

"But I want her to be more than fine. This is my chance to show her what she means to me. It's got to be something amazing. Something awesome. Something super-ultra-extreme-awesomazing."

"Scootaloo..."

"Come on, this place is huge. There's got to be something here for Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy's hoof stopped Scootaloo from running off. "Please, slow down," she said. 

"Sorry. I'm just getting a little nervous. I never thought getting somepony a gift could be so stressful. Wait!" The young Pegasus grinned and grabbed hold of Fluttershy.

"Eep!"

"Fluttershy, you knew Rainbow Dash since you two were fillies, right?"

"Y-yes, we knew each other when we were young."

"Then you've got to know what she likes. Like, her secret desires and stuff. You've got to tell me, what does Rainbow wants for Hearth Warming this year."

"Well...I don't think I should tell you."

"What? Why? Come on Fluttershy, help me out here."

"I'm sorry, Scootaloo, but I made a promise not to tell you."

"Oh. Wait..." Scootaloo squinted at Fluttershy. "Me specifically? Does it have something to do with?"

"...oh pony f-"

"Wait, what Rainbow Dash wants has to do with me?" She gasped. "Oh no, she expects something really, really awesome from me doesn't she?"

"No, no, it's not that-eep!" Fluttershy covered her mouth.

"T-then, could it be...does she want me to leave her alone? I-I didn't mean to be annoying, I-I just..."

"No, it's nothing like it's-no, I promised her I wouldn't tell! I promised! I promised!"

A few ponies wandering close by gave the shaking Pegasus worried looks. Some considered notifying the hospital that the holiday strain had claimed other one this year

"Come on Fluttershy," Scootaloo urged. "I won't say a word to Rainbow if you tell me. Please? I need to know."

"I can't! I've said too much already! I promised Rainbow Dash I wouldn't tell you anything about the present she got you!"

"S-she got me a Hearth Warming gift? Rainbow got me a present?"

Scootaloo's questions couldn't be heard over Fluttershy's screams of anguish. 

"Fluttershy?" Scootaloo said, shaking the mare. "Ponies are looking."

Her screams grew a little louder.

"Fluttershy!" Scootaloo exclaimed, this time more forceful. Though the screaming did not end, Fluttershy at least turned her head to face the filly.

"I promise I won't tell anypony that you told me all that."

"Promise?" Fluttershy whimpered.

"I promise."

"O-okay," she said unsteadily. "Okay. Oh, Rainbow will be so disappointed. She wanted it to be a surprise."

"What did she get me anyways?"

Fluttershy shook her head furiously. "Oh no, at the very least I can keep that a secret."

"Can't you just give me a hint?"

"No," Fluttershy said. "Rainbow Dash spent so much time and worked so hard trying to decide what to get you. She wanted you to enjoy it so badly. I'm not about to ruin the surprise."

"Wait, she had trouble finding me a gift? Why?"

Fluttershy groaned quietly. Well, she already knew too much. 

"Rainbow Dash wanted to make sure you got the perfect present," she explained. "This was going to be her first gift to you and she really wanted it to be special."

"But it's Rainbow Dash! Anything from her would be special."

"Well, anything you get her will be special too, because it's from you. You're special to her," Fluttershy said, smiling. "And she'll love anything you get her. So please stop, um, worrying, okay?"

"But..." Scootaloo sighed. "Well, I still want to get her something awesome."

Fluttershy laughed softly. "Of course. You know, Rainbow has lots of Wonderbolt souvenirs but she's also a big fan of Daring Do." She picked up the cheap Fleetfoot plush. "She doesn't have much to show it though because merchandise is rare. I mean, if you wanted to, we could always make something. I could help with the needlework..."


*****


"There you are!"

Sweetie Belle turned around. Spike stood in front of her with his arms crossed.

"Were you looking for me? I told Fluttershy I was going to be here." The Unicorn looked around. "Hey, where is she anyways?"

"She went to chase after Scootaloo while Ash's looking for Apple Bloom," Spike said, joining Sweetie Belle in front of the large glass display case, in which dozens of gems encrusted necklaces and jewels of every name. Opals, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, glittered in the light against the velvet background embraced by golden chains.

"Spike, you're drooling."

"Sorry." The dragon quickly wiped his lips with the back of his claw. "You can't blame me though. We never had lunch."

"Can I help you?" 

The two youngsters looked up at the bespectacled clerk, who seemed to be having some trouble deciding who deserved his attention more: the gem devouring dragon or the trouble causing filly. Both had a tendency to leave businesses like his own in ruins.

"Just making sure she's out of trouble," Spike said with a shrug, to which Sweetie Belle responded by sticking out her tongue.

"I'm looking for some kind of jewelry," Sweetie explained to the clerk. "Something that'd make a really nice gift."

"Is there something you're looking for in particular?"

"You know." Sweetie Belle motioned aimlessly in the air. "Something nice."

The clerk rolled his eyes and marched off to the back of the store. As the stallion shifted through boxes of lockets and brooches, Spike turned away from the tantalizing jewels protected only by a simple glass shield.

"That's going to be a really expensive gift," he said. "If you're looking for some nice gems your sister could always help you find a few."

"Yeah, but Rarity can't know about it."

"Why not?"

"Because it's for her."

"I thought you were going to give her that card you made," Spike said. "The one covered in stickers and with all the sapphires on the edges that was shaped like a liver."

"It was suppose to be a heart," the Unicorn grumbled. 

"Yeah, that one. What happened to it?"  

"Rarity's dumb cat got to it," Sweetie Belle replied with a sigh. "This is way better anyhow. So what did you get my sister?"

"I, uh, don't know yet," the dragon admitted. "Now might be the perfect opportunity to look around actually."

"Wow, really? Smooth."

Spike opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by the return of the jeweler with a few boxes in tow.

"Have a look, miss," he said, setting a box on the counter before the young filly and opening it. Sweetie Belle had to lean forward against the display case to see the golden chain with accented by a small heart shaped amethyst. She gaped at the necklace as another box joined the first, this one holding a pair of opal earrings.

"Wow," Sweetie Belle breathed. "They look so much more prettier up close."

"And delicious."

The clerk pulled the sparkling articles closer to him.

"How much for the necklace?" Sweetie asked. "It's perfect. I know she's going to love it."

The jeweler gestured to the price tag attached. Her jaw fell at the sight of the cost.

"Whoa," Spike whistled. "Isn't that a little extreme? I mean, amethysts aren't that hard to find."

"The art of gem cutting is often overlooked," the jeweler sniffed. "Acquiring the gem may not prove difficult but effort that must be put into shaping the amethyst so that it fits is immense. This is no mere gem. This is jewelry."

"Well, how much is those?" Spike asked, pointing at the earrings and taking out his money pouch. "They're so small. It can't be that much."

The clerk told him and the dragon began to count out coins.

"Just enough! Good thing I thought that quill was more expensive than it actually was," he exclaimed triumphantly. "I'll have to live without rock candy for a few days though."

"Don't you have anything, um, cheaper?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"What sort of price are you looking for, miss?"

"Uh, do you have anything that's only two digits? Guess not," she mumbled when the clerk gave her a look of incredibility.  

"Well then, sir, would you like your purchase gift wrapped?" the clerk asked.

"Huh? Oh uh, yeah, sure," Spike said, turning away from the crestfallen filly next to him. "Sweetie Belle, are you-"

"I'm fine," she said. "I just thought...maybe I shouldn't have bought those new packs of crayons." Sweetie Belle smiled weakly. "I'll just have to find something else for Rarity..."

"Well, maybe I-"

"Here you are, sir," the bespectacled stallion said, giving the dragon a small black bag, which he placed under his arm next to Twilight's gift. "Have a wonderful Hearth Warming."

The two walked to the exit in silence before Spike remembered Ash's orders.

"We need to wait for Ash and Fluttershy here," he told her. 

"Fine."

Unicorn and dragon waited quietly near the front. 

"Um..."

"I hope Rarity likes your gift, Spike. Really, I do," Sweetie Belle said. "I just wish I was the one to give it to her."

"Yeah, I hope so too." 

Silence grew again and the two shared a sigh. Spike looked at the little black bag in his hand, then to Sweetie Belle, then back to Rarity's gift.

"Here," he said, holding out his head toward the filly.

"Huh? But-"

"As long as Rarity's happy, I guess." Spike tried his best not to sound too distressed. He wasn't sure if how convincing he sounded. "I can always find something on my own."

Sweetie Belle took the bag and removed the little box. Slowly, she untied the bow and removed the gold and red wrapping paper. With a quick flick, she opened the velvet chest, revealing the shiny gems inside.

"You know, Spike," she said. "There are two earrings." She pick up one of the opals and placed it in her draconic friend's open claw. "We could give the set to Rarity together..."


*****


"What were you looking for anyways?" Ash asked, lowering himself next to the young Earth Pony. "Fluttershy said you were in a bit of a hurry."

"Oh, it's nothin' really, just that." Apple Bloom pointed to a grey stuffed equine doll. Yarn served for the mane and in the doll's hooves sat a feather pen and a small notebook. Strangest of all were a pair of polka dot trousers that covered the doll's hind legs.  

"Didn't know you were still into these kind of things."

"Ah'm not," Apple Bloom insisted. "Ah'd say Ah'm a little old for that but considerin' who it's for..." She trailed off.

"Ah, so it's a present then." Ash set the toy back on the shelf. "I'm guessing it's not for Scootaloo."

"Pfft, 'course it ain't. It's for mah brother."

"...excuse me?"

"Uh, can you keep a secret. Ah mean, it's not exactly a secret since the entire town knows but Ah don't know if they know this part."

"What is it?"

"Well, me and the rest of the Crusaders were trying to get our cutie marks in journalism or something like that and we kinda got a lot of ponies mad 'cause we spilled a bunch of embarrassing secrets. Like didja know the mayor dyes her mane grey?"

"What? No. What color is it actually?"

"Pinker than a county fair pig but that's not important. See, Applejack and mah brother got into the mess when we wrote a few things 'bout them. We had a hard time with Applejack 'cause she doesn't keep all that many things hidden but Big Mac had the motherlode of secrets. He..." Apple Bloom quickly looked around and gestured Ash closer. "He plays with dolls."

"Oh. Yeah, I imagine he wasn't too happy with that being revealed," Ash said, stifling a chuckle. 

"Happy nothin'. He got madder than a rattlesnake that got stepped on. He and Applejack wouldn't talk to the three of us 'til we published an official apology, though Ah guess Ah kinda deserved it," Apple Bloom added with a sigh. "He had a doll that was just like this one," she continued. "A Smarty Pants doll he borrowed from Twilight. He gave it back after all this but Ah don't think he wanted to, more like he had to 'cause of pride or something."

"Like he was doing it to save face?"

"Exactly. Anyways, he forgave me and everything and says it's all alright but sometimes Ah can hear him tossin' in his sleep." Apple Bloom's voice grew quieter. "Ah think he's having trouble sleepin' without it."

"So you're planning on buying a replacement?" Ash presumed.

"Yeah. It took me forever to find another Smarty Pants. Ah missed his birthday. Apparently, they're awfully rare. Ah don't know if it was this doll specially or if Big Mac likes dolls in general but Ah'd rather not take any chances. Ah mean, Ah know he likes this one."

"Well, you found it. Let's go buy it and get going. Fluttershy will want to know you're safe."

"Well, there's a problem. Smarty Pants dolls aren't just rare, they're expensive too."

"Do you not have enough?" Ash asked. He pointed to the pouch hanging from his neck. "I could always pitch in."

"Ah'd appreciate that but it wouldn't be right, taking money like that for something Ah don't actually need. Ah have enough, it's just..." Apple Bloom gave the toy a small sad glance. "Ah've saved enough for the doll but if Ah go ahead and buy it, Ah won't have any bits to get mah sister anythin' this year, and after last year's disaster, Ah've gotta get Applejack somethin' good."

"What happened last year?"

"Ah bought some seeds from a pair of no good swindlers who said they were magically and would grow into the most beautiful golden delicious' ever that tasted like red galas. Granny took one look at 'em and said they were cooked pumpkin seeds."

"And you've lived on an apple farm for how many years?"

"Hey, Ah thought they were magic," Apple Bloom said in indignation. "Anyways, that's how Ah ruined Hearth Warming last year. Nopony ever said anythin' but Ah'm sure they were all thinkin' it. But year's gonna be different. Or, at least it was gonna be different," the filly finished sadly.

"What were you going to get her?"

"Ah don't know. Something amazin' that's for sure."

"I could help."

"Ah told you, Ah don't want any charity."

The Unicorn shook his head. "No, I meant help thinking of a present," Ash clarified. "I have a little experience in gift giving on a budget. How about a card?"

"A card? Are yah kiddin'? Who gives just a card on Hearth Warming?"

"If it has the right message, the right sentiments behind it, a homemade card from the right person can the perfect gift. Just spending the time together can be enough too."

"That just sounds cheap."

"Cheap can be good."

"Not like that though," Apple Bloom groaned. "How would that look, if Big Mac got a new toy and all mah sister got from me was a lousy card?"

"So don't make it lousy," Ash replied with a shrugged. "You're pretty set on buying the doll huh?"

"Yeah. Ah mean, Ah was but if it means Applejack doesn't get a good present, Ah'm not too sure."

"Apple Bloom, whatever you get Applejack will be fine."

"That's what Applejack said," Apple Bloom grumbled. "Ah want her gift to be more than fine. Ah know Ah can't get her anythin' too big or fancy but it has to be something. What's she gonna do with a card? We get plenty of those every year from family."

"Yeah, but how many of those are from you?" Ash challenged. "Listen, I once had a...a friend. He was my best friend and we were close, as close as brothers. But the thing was, he was from a very rich family."

"You mean you were friends with a snob?"

"Hey, don't call him that! He wasn't a snob."

"S-sorry. But the only rich ponies we know is Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon and you know how those two are." 

"Yeah, but this guy was different. He didn't wave his wealth in my face all the time. We didn't always have to do what he wanted. He wanted to be my friend even though I had nothing to offer. So what do you think I could give him for the holidays when his family had enough money to buy anything he wanted and I could barely rub two coppers together?"

"What's a copper?"

"Bits. I said bits."

"A card?" Apple Bloom ventured.

"Ha, not even. I didn't have the supplies to make one." Ash smiled. "I didn't have any paper for personal use so I had to tell him what I wanted to write in person. And you know what he did?"

"What?"

"He made me repeat it in front of the entire kitchen staff," Ash laughed.

"That sounds horrible. Ah don't think Ah'd like this fellow very much."

"Heh, probably not." He chuckled again, though it was a little more subdued. "It was a great distraction though and we each ended up with a pie apiece. The point is, a gift as simple as a meaningful message or just spending time together is more than enough. Remember how much fun you had earlier today?"

"Yeah! Me and Applejack were unstoppable."

"Well, how much fun do you think Applejack had?"

Apple Bloom thought of her sister's smiles, her cheers and whoops as she ducked and hid from the snowy onslaught. She remembered the pride in Applejack's voice as she complimented the icy construct she had built and fortified. 

"I don't think you'll find any gift that could replicate those feelings today," Ash continued, breaking Apple Bloom out of her reminiscence. "There are plenty of supplies in the clubhouse. Make Applejack a card, tell her what she means to you, then spend the rest of the day with her. But if you don't believe me..." He jingled his money bag. "I will pay you to keep yourself, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle from running off again."

Apple Bloom regarded the pouch warily. She reach out and grabbed the Smarty Pants doll from the shelf.

"That's okay, Ah think Ah can find Applejack a present with what Ah've got."

> An Upbeat Wrap Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Upbeat Winter Wrap

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Ash demanded, his question punctuated by a loud and exaggerated yawn.

"Uh, late?" Pinkie Pie offered, lowering Rarity from above her head and setting her on the ground. "Really late?" the pony added as the sleepy stallion simply glowered. "Really, really-"

"I guess rehearsal did run a little longer than we anticipated," Twilight admitted as she and Rainbow Dash quickly helped Applejack off the table in the center of the room. She turned to the snoring little dragon curled on a chair and gently removed the parchment out of his grasp. "But we got a lot done. I think we've finally nailed down that chorus."

Twilight's declaration was met with hearty cheers. She smiled as her silver feather pen left its mark on the parchment mark. 

"Now, next on the list is choreography, but I think we should run through the second verse one last time. I think somepony was offbeat. Ready? One, two..."

Lively music and singing followed Ash as he crawled back to his mattress and blanket. He lowered his head onto the soft lavender pillow and groaned as the mares begun another round.

"That song's going to be stuck in my head for weeks."


*****


"I believe we all owe you an apology after last night," said Rarity. "We were so caught up in all our preparations we completely forgot about Twilight's other housemate."

"And to make up you're taking me to the spa?" Ash said, pausing to point at the building with violet tent-like roofs Rarity had been guiding them towards.

"Wow, you're on fire today," Pinkie Pie said as she danced between him and Rarity. "First you guessed it was me covering your eyes with that bucket-"

"You do have a rather distinct voice."

"-then you guessed what today was correctly-"

"Saturdays normally come after Fridays."

"-and then Spike sneezed and set your pants on fire!"

"I didn't mean to, honest!" the dragon declared desperately before hiding himself in Twilight's mane. "I-I mean, at least your underpants survived, right?"

"Doesn't matter," Ash said. "I'm not Human long enough to enjoy the indecency anyways."

"Aw, don't worry about that," Pinkie Pie declared, grabbing hold of the stallion's shoulders and pulling him into a short embrace. "I'm sure Twilight will be more than happy to enjoy all that indecency for you."

"I saw nothing!"

"Twilight darling," Rarity chided softly, "indoor voices please. This may not be a library but I am certain Aloe and Lotus would appreciate it if we kept from disturbing the rest of their clients. Come on now, everypony," she sang as she flung open the door and gestured her friends forward. "We have quite the morning planned out for us today. I have the entire sauna completely reserved, followed by facials and a lovely massage, seaweed wrap, mud baths-"

"And the hot tubs right? We can't forget the hot tubs!" Pinkie Pie cried. "With all the jet streams and bubbles and-"

"Of course, Pinkie. What's a trip to the spa without, well, without a dip in the spa?" Rarity giggled at her own little jest. "Come along now, Ash," she called out to the hesitant stallion. "Oh, don't act so shy. You've been here before, remember?"

"Yes, I don't think I'll be forgetting that treatment any time soon," Ash said, rolling his eyes. 

"Is this some misguided masculine nonsense then?" Rarity wondered. "Please don't believe such childish notions. Stallion frequent these facilities very often. Just take a look at how excited little Spikey is."

"That's not the issue. I actually have-"

His explanation hadn't gotten any further before Rarity directed her horn at the reluctant Unicorn and all but threw him into the building.

"All present," Rarity declared cheerfully to the receptionist, who nodded before hurrying off. "A pity Applejack and Rainbow Dash won't joining us today, and even more so for Fluttershy," she said with a prolonged sigh. "But I suppose that's to be expected, what with all their duties for this year's Winter Wrap Up. Captains of their respective teams, every single one of them." 

"I'm still surprised Fluttershy accepted the position," said Twilight. "I was almost certain she was going to turn it down."

"That's Fluttershy for you," Pinkie Pie chirped. "She'd never let her friends or any little adorable critter down. You saw how worried she was when she heard how sick Sparkler was and how the Animal Team was going to be all directionless without a captain and how sick all the chipmunks, squirrels, snakes, and skunks were going to be from hibernating too long and oh, how I hope we find a replacement for Sparkler soon, won't somepony think of the poor bunnies?" Pinkie finished her emotional cries by holding her hooves over her heart.

"You have a very convincing Fluttershy voice."

"Thanks Ash!"

"Hold on, I thought Amethyst Star was the captain of the Animal Team."

"Nah, it's Fluttershy now. Try to keep up, Twilight."

"But-" The princess' personal prodigy interrupted herself with a groan. "Never mind. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised that Fluttershy took Sparkler's mantle, considering what's at stake."

"Don't be silly," Pinkie scoffed. "Fluttershy would never take something that belonged to somepony else, well, except for maybe Amethyst Star's job but that was more given than taken."

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Doing what?"

"I'm a little more surprised to hear Fluttershy wasn't captain to begin with," said Ash, returning the conversation back to the original matter. "It is her expertise, isn't it? Animals, I mean. It would make the most sense for her to be in charge of the Animal Team, wouldn't it?"

"True," Rarity agreed, "but a leader needs more than expertise and Fluttershy's never been the 'in charge' type of pony. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have confidence in Fluttershy, and I'm sure she'll do fine, but she has a few tendencies not exactly ideal for a leader. There's the mumbling, the second-guessing, the quick acceptance of suggestions, the nerves, the reluctance in using commanding tones..."

"She has plenty of skills to make it all up though," Twilight jumped in quickly. "Like, uh, well, there's, um, that thing she...she'll be fine. I'll just have to keep an extra eye on her." She laughed weakly. "Though I am glad we got to this topic. I was hoping we could use this time to detail Winter Wrap Up for Ash."

"You mean this will be your first Winter Wrap Up, ever?" Pinkie gasped. "First no Nightmare Night, then no Hearth Warming, what next? No birthdays?"

"My winters never needed wrapping up," Ash said dryly. "I'm still getting used to scheduled weather."

"Exactly, which is why I've prepared a quick review of all the jobs everypony does to help you figure out what you're going to do." Twilight proudly held a neat stack of notecards. 

"Twilight, dear, we'll be in a spa."

"Oh, don't worry. They're enchanted to be completely waterproof. Now, finding the right job can be stressful, I understand-

"Yeah, I guess you would," Spike snickered quietly.

"-and as a good friend," Twilight continued, throwing her assistant a quick frown, "I'll be here to help you find your place. Spike's right, I was exactly where you were a few years ago so I know exactly what it's like, trying to fit in and figure out how to play your part. Don't worry, there are so many different options, you won't even miss your magic. Let's see, there are three teams: Plant Team, Animal Team, and Weather Team. Now, not being able to fly limits you really to Plant and Animal, unless you can ice skate, but even if you're limited to just those teams, there's still plenty of jobs to try out until you find the one you like. And with this head start, you'll find the one just right.."

"Wait, what are you-"


"Yes, the time has come to welcome spring,

And things nice and green

But it's also time to get to work,

There's lot's of winter to clean

I know, it's a struggle

Deciding what to do

How to best fit in with everypony, 

Well, just let us guide you!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"Let's help Ash figure out what to do."

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's hopelessly screwed!"


"Hey!"


"'Cause without us he's hopelessly screwed!"

"Bringing back the southern birds,

Is not the job for you,

Flying is kind of a necessity,

Trust me, I've tried it too

And there's not much you can do

To help melt the cold snow below

Best leave that to the pegasi

The Weather Team's a no-go!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"Let's help Ash figure out what to do!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's totally screwed!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's totally screwed. 'Cause without us he's totally screwed!"

"Little critters hibernate,

Skunks, snakes, and bears

So if you help wake 'em up,

You'd best take some care

I've got plenty of tomato juice

And plenty gauze galore

If you choose the Animal Team,

Fluttershy's got plenty of chores!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"Let's help Ash figure out what to do!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's royally screwed!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's royally screwed. 'Cause without us he's royally screwed!"

"No easy task to clear the ground,

Trust me, I've tried

But the planting part isn't too bad

As long as you keep your seeds in sight

Applejack's in charge of plants

She'll keep you as busy as can be

So if you don't mind a little dirt,

The Plant Team's got lots to see!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"Let's help Ash figure out what to do!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's completely screwed!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's completely screwed. 'Cause without us he's completely screwed!"

"Now that you know what we all do,

It's time to do your part

And figure out what job you like the best

And follow through with all your heart

Have more questions? Just go and ask

We're with you all the way

We want to help you fit in

And do your best that day

Do your best that day!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"Let's help Ash figure out what to do!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's really screwed!"

"Winter Wrap Up, Winter Wrap Up!"

"'Cause without us he's really screwed. 'Cause without us he's really screwed! 'Cause without us he's really screwed!"


The last note echoed through the spa. Ash and Spike applauded half-heartedly, reluctant to move even an inch from their current positions. With cool cucumbers covering their eyelids, the two failed to even notice the impressive pony pyramid Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight managed to build in the center of the jacuzzi. 

"Well?" Twilight demanded as Pinkie and Rarity settled into relaxing positions as well. 

Ash lifted a cucumber slice and opened his eye. "Hmm?"

"Have you decided what you're going to do for Winter Wrap Up?" she asked. The unicorn held up a stack of soggy notecards. "We can go over the options again if you like."

"Well-"

"We could always use another helping hoof with the home making projects," said Rarity. "It's not a difficult job, even without magic."

"- actually, I'm-"

"Ooh, you should totally help me with melting the ice lakes," Pinkie Pie chirped. "The more the merrier and can you think of a better job to break the ice?"

"-already in-"

"And if nothing works for you, you can always help me with the organization," Twilight added. "I'm sure Spike would appreciate a break every so often and with all the work we've got, I'm sure we'll find something you can do."

"But-"

The door leading back to the spa parlor flung open and in stepped in a trio of stallions, all earth ponies. They scanned the spa furiously until their eyes fell upon the grey unicorn getting his hooves rubbed.

"So this is where you've been hiding," growled the tan stallion in the center. "We spent the last hour running around town looking for you just to find you soaking at the spa!"

"Has it really been an hour already? That song couldn't have been longer than four minutes."

"What's going on here?" Rarity stood up and reached for a bathrobe. "I thought I had this time booked for a private session. Honestly, I cannot believe Ponyville hosts such ruffians. Big Macintosh, does your sister know that you go around town rudely barging into the rooms of bathing mares?"

"Er-"

"And you!" 

The two other ponies flinched as the angered mare  turned to them.

"I recognize the two of you. Why, we're neighbors! I thought you two were kind, wonderful gentlecolts. What sort of excuse can you possible give for interrupting our little private time together so barbarically and so violently, Burnt Oak?"

"It's, uh, Caramel."

"Well, Caramel dear, please stop cowering behind Meadow Song. It is most unbecoming."

"Rarity, that's Lucky Clover," Pinkie quickly whispered.

"We're just looking to that guy," Lucky explain, pointed toward Ash, who was in the middle of washing away the mud on his face.

"Eeyup."

"Looking for Ash?" Twilight had now exited the hot tub as well. "Why?"

"He needs to be fitted for a harness and a plow," said Lucky Clover. "Anyways, we're awfully sorry for the intrusion but he was supposed to meet us at Sweet Apple Acres an hour ago and, well, you know how Miss Applejack is with slackers and liars. She's not happy with this guy, not one bit."

"Wonderful," Ash groaned. "Ah, sorry to cut this short, but I should probably get going. Thanks for inviting me, Rarity."

"Oh, think nothing of it. You should have told me you had plans. If Applejack gives you any grief, send her to me."

"Hold on," Twilight jumped in, stepping into Ash's path. "Fitting? Harnesses? Plows? What's going on?"

"Oh, didn't this guy tell you?" Caramel shrugged. "Big Macintosh sort of bullied him into joining the Plant Team."

"Eeyu-hey!"

"We can always use another stallion on the snow plows," said Lucky Clover, "especially considering how much snow we got this year. Clearing the fields are going to be a huge pain, yes indeed. Well, good bye Miss Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie Pie." He gave each mare a polite nod, and all four stallions were off.

"They never asked for my help," grumbled Spike, crossing his arms. 


*****


Applejack gave the approaching unicorn a tired grin. "Hey there, Twilight. What brings yah down to the farm?"

"Oh, you know, just wanted to see a friendly face, ha ha."

"Is that right?" Applejack wondered aloud, her smile wavering. "'Cause you don't sound all that friendly. More grouchy like and grumpy really. Yah've been gettin' enough sleep, sugar cube? Ah know last night went kinda late."

"I got plenty of sleep last night, thank you."

"Well, that's good. Ah'd hate to imagine going through 'nother Winter Wrap Up without you and your checklist. Spring's never been more, what's the word, punctual since yah've been in charge of the schedule." 

The smile Twilight returned appeared weak and forced, and Applejack soon let her own grin fade.

"All right, sugar cube." The farm mare placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "What's been botherin' yah?"

Twilight sighed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Uh, tell who what?"

Twilight pointed out to the distance, where Big Mac was giving a familiar grey unicorn directions. "About Ash. You could have said something about him being part of the Plant Team last night."

"Shoot, Twilight, Ah didn't mean to keep it a secret." The orange pony rubbed the back of her head as her face split into an awkward grin. "Just slipped mah mind is all. Why, if Big Mac hadn't reminded me today we still had to find a plow his size, Ah would have completely forgotten. Sorry 'bout that, Twilight."

"Oh."

Applejack waited for the unicorn to say more. "Uh, is that all?"

"Huh?" Twilight blinked and shook her head furiously. "S-sorry, just lost in thought. Anyways, I was wondering if, well, if you think Ash being part of the Plant Team is a good idea."

"Why wouldn't he be?"

"I don't know, I'm just think out loud, that's all. I mean, we want everything to go smoothly this year, and I just want to make sure everypony has a suitable job." 

"Shoot, Twilight, yah don't have to worry 'bout a thing then," Applejack said with a laugh. "He ain't a farmer, but he's a pretty strong stallion. Ah'm sure he'll manage to keep up with the rest of the boys."

"Are you sure? I mean, are you sure Ash is alright with it? It sounded like your brother coerced him into helping."

"Twilight, yah know Big Mac. He ain't that pushy kind of pony. 'Sides, Ash didn't disagree."

"Yeah, but, he could just be trying to be polite. I mean-"

"Yah mean what?" Applejack snapped, throwing her hooves over her head. "Sorry if Ah'm being a bit short with yah, but if Ah didn't know better Ah'd say yah think the Plant Team ain't good enough for Ash."

"What?" Twilight gasped as she recoiled. "N-no, of course not! The Plant Team plays one of the most crucial roles during Winter Wrap Up. I'd never think something like that!"

"So what's the problem? And don't go sayin' there ain't one," Applejack added, swinging her hat over Twilight's muzzle before the unicorn could speak. "You're makin' too much of a deal for there not tah be one."

"I-I just want to make sure everypony has a wonder Winter Wrap Up this year," mumbled Twilight. "Especially Ash. It's his first Winter Wrap Up after all, and I want to help him fit in, to find the perfect job, one that let's him use his talents to the fullest."

"Is that it?" 

"Well..." Twilight began to fidget with her hooves and kept her head low. Sensing something resting on her shoulder, she lifted her eyes and found Applejack waiting patiently. 

"There's more, ain't there?" It was phrased as a question but the farm mare knew the answer. "If you're not comfortable sharin', not mah business to pry. But if yah need somepony tah hear yah out, Ah'm here."

This time, the smile Twilight returned was genuine. "Thanks, Applejack. It's just..." Twilight groaned. "I feel awful for saying this, but I was kind of hoping for Ash to have a little more trouble deciding."

"Trouble? That doesn't sound like yah, Twi. Don't yah hate it when a plan doesn't stay together?"

"But that was my plan," said Twilight. "All of us were going to work hard together to find the perfect job for him, just like the five of you did for me. We were going to try building nests with Rarity and the rest of her group, then try ice skating before helping Fluttershy with waking the hibernating bears and, and..." She took a deep breath. "It's just, I remember my first Winter Wrap Up here in Ponyville, and I want to give Ash a similar experience."

"Yah want him tah crash into a snow bank, get stung by a bunch of bees, have tah bathe in tomato juice tah wash off skunk spray, before causin' a six pony pileup in the fields?"

"You're exaggerating," Twilight grumbled. "It was four ponies at most. And that's not what I meant. I just wanted to help him feel like he truly belongs in Ponyville, and, well, I guess Ash doesn't really need my help, and I can't help but feel a little disappointed, maybe even a little...jealous."

"Jealous? You?"

The unicorn nodded slowly. "He fitted in so easily. It took him, what, less than a day to find his place when it took me almost the entire event before I discovered how I could help." 

"Twilight..."

"I should be happy Ash getting along with the Plant Group so well. I should be happy knowing he'll fit in with the rest of the stallions of Ponyville. If I was a good friend, I would be happy that Ash doesn't need my help, that he can find his place without me...but I'm not. I'm not happy he's doing so well. I told myself I wanted to help him, but I think I just wanted Ash to want my help." Twilight slumped against the fence behind her. "I'm not being a very good friend, am I?"

"Well, we're all learnin', aren't we, how tah be good friends? Kinda the reason why we're pen pals to Princess Celestia." Applejack's chuckles quickly subsided as she grew solemn. "Did yah talked tah Ash 'bout all this?"

"Um, no."

"Have yah tried?"

Twilight shuffled in place silently. "I thought about it, on the way here. Does that count?"

"It's a start, Ah guess," Applejack said, holding down a hoof with the other as it threatened to fly into her face. "Ah just hope yah'll follow through. Yah can't just keep this a secret to yahself. Let Ash know how yah feel right now."

"You really think talking will help? I mean, what if he gets angry at me for wanting him to want my help? What if I hurt his feelings? Guys are like that, right?"

"What, prideful? Shoot, everypony's got some sense of pride, though Ah guess boys are a little more sensitive 'bout it," Applejack said with a smirk. "Listen, Ah don't know what else tah tell yah. Honestly and truly, Ah believe the best way to deal with all this is tah let Ash know 'bout it. If yah want some support, Ah can round up the girls, and we'll be standing right next tah yah. But really, how mad do yah think that stallion'll get?"

Applejack let her words sink in, then set her hat back onto her head. "Ah've got a few more chores tah do inside. Yer welcome tah join me, Ah can still lend an ear."

Twilight shook her head. "No, it's alright, I've got it. I need to talk to Ash when he gets back, so I'd better prepare myself first." She swung a leg over Applejack's shoulders and smiled. "Thanks, Applejack."

"Shucks, Ah'm just glad to help. Yah be sure to talk to him soon, okay?"

"Don't worry, I know. I've got to tell him soon."


*****


"I've got to tell him soon," Twilight whispered to her reflection, barely visible by the dying candle light. She turned to the calendar tacked next to the mirror, her eyes focuses on a single circled date. In that little square, Spike had neatly written 'Winter Wrap Up' in bold red letters.

The unicorn's purple ears twitched at the ticking of a clock sitting nearby. Eleven thirty five, it read. In less than half an hour, that day marked on her calendar would be here, and she still hadn't spoken a significant word to Ash, her promise to Applejack unfulfilled.

"I've got to tell him soon."

"Tell who what soon?"

If she hadn't been so tired, Twilight would had jumped. Slowly she turned to face the grey unicorn behind her, rubbing his eyes sheepishly.

"Sorry for startling you like that," Ash said quietly.

"It's fine. You're not tired?"

"Dead tired," he responded with a muffled yawn. "But I can't sleep. You too?"

"Something like that, I guess," she answered with a yawn. "Is something bothering you?"

"Just nerves, I think."

"You're nervous?"

"Well, yeah," Ash said. "I mean, the entire idea of changing the seasons ourselves is still kind of surreal to me. Winter becoming spring has always been something I never really thought about, and something I just took for granted."

"So you really don't have Winter Wrap Up where you come from. The seasons really change on their own, huh?"

"Yes, all on their own, or by the hand of spirits if you're into fairytales. To actually put effort into making spring come, it's a whole new perspective for me. I never thought about how the snow disappeared or how the birds came back from the south or how all the animals knew when to awaken. To me, it just...happened. The snow disappeared, the air grew less cold, just like that, without me having to give even a thought."

Ash closed his eyes and lowered his voice. "And it scares me."

"Scares you?" Twilight said in surprise. "What does? Why?"

"You know how we have to clear the fields before planting can begin, right?"

"Yes," Twilight said slowly and with uncertainty.

"The planters can't begin sowing seeds until the snow's gone but we can't just melt the snow or all the soil turns to mud. That snow needs to be moved first. If it's not, the fields can't be planted, grass won't grow, and the animals won't have anything to eat or make shelters with. No fields, no food, and then everyone starves." With his hooves running through his gray mane and an exhausted look on his face, Ash had the appearance an overworked professor. "That level of responsibility is frightening, and you ponies deal with that every single year? Without magic? Madness.

"I want to do a good job, I really do," he continued. "After everything Ponyville's done for me, after everything you've done for me, it's the least I can do. I mean, if it wasn't for you, I would've never been able to join the Plant Team."

"M-me? I didn't do anything," protested Twilight. "Big Macintosh asked you to join because of your strength."

"No matter how strong a stallion he is, do you think Mr. Macintosh would have asked a stranger to take part in such a sacred and important ritual?"

The young mare frown in thought. If she had to be honest, no, she couldn't imagine the elder Apple sibling delegating such a job to somepony he didn't trust. 

"But he does trust you," Twilight blurted out, more as to answer her own inner dialogue. 

"Only through you. Remember when we first met, how frightened I was, and how frightened you and the entire town were?"

"It was more of morbid curiosity than fear really."

"Does curiosity normally lead to getting hogtied and tackled?"

"That's just Pinkie Pie and...you were hogtied?"

"Applejack," Ash said, chuckling at the memory. "I was looking for a bathroom, and she jumped me."

"Even so, you passed through town without a single incident, didn't you," Twilight argued.

"Yes, because the six of you were with me. And because I met the six of you, I felt safe, well, safer. The only reason I've managed to get this far is by becoming...your friend. The only reason I'm comfortable enough to take part in tomorrow's event is because you became my friend. And also the whole 'turn into pony' spell," Ash added with a small jesting grin. 

Twilight smiled as well. "I did help you in the end, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did." Ash sighed, and his grin faded. "And now all that trust is about to be tested. The entire fate of spring rests on our shoulders, and that's a heavy weight. What if I screw up? I know I just have to follow everyone else's lead and push a plow, but what if something happens, and I end up betraying that trust? I'll ruin spring and everything you've done to help me become a part of Ponyville" His body shook as he grew frantic. "What if I can't keep up with everyone else? What if I end up breaking the plow? What if I get separated and fall into the lake? Or what if-"

A purple hoof found it's way onto the quivering stallion's shoulder. Twilight's touch steadied him as he took a deep breath. "S-sorry," he apologized. "I'm a bit nervous."

"Listen, you'll be fine," Twilight assured. "I'm positive you'll do a great job, no matter what. Sure, Big Macintosh knows you through Applejack and I, but he invited you on his team because of your...amazing plowing abilities? Or something like that."

"But what if I mess up?"

"Ponyville's a very forgiving place. Even if you mess up, nopony'll hold a grudge. We're all in this together, okay? Spring isn't on just your shoulders, it's on all of ours. Have I told you how my first Winter Wrap Up in Ponyville went down?"

"No, but seeing how you're now the head coordinator, I imagine it went swimmingly." 

"Hah!" Twilight laughed. "As if. I tried just about every job I could find, and each one ended horribly. But everything turned out alright in the end, despite all my mistakes. Spring came on time, and I found the perfect job for me. I'm sure your first Winter Wrap Up will be even better."

"You really think so?"

"Yes, I do. If you need any help, just look for me. I'll never be too busy to help a friend, so don't be afraid to ask, okay?" Twilight gave the stallion a quick embrace and a pat on the back. "Now let's go to bed. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Yeah, we do."

The two unicorns separated and made their way to their beds after wishing each other pleasant dreams. Slowly, Ash's eyes closed as their lids grew too heavy to hold.

"Um?".

"Hm?" .

"I...I'm sorry." 

Twilight's whispers continued even as the hour hand passed twelve. The candle had long been extinguished.


*****


"How are we progressing, Spike?"

The little dragon quickly ran through the checklist in front of him. "Looks like we're ahead of schedule, Twilight. Wanna take a break?"

The unicorn shook her head. "Not yet. We'll wait for everypony else to take theirs first. But let's use this time to check on Rarity and make sure her team has enough supplies and-"

A familiar tan colored stallion ran forward, burying Twilight's distracted assistant under a pile of straw.

"Twilight, you have to come quick!" he scream frantically. "G-g-grab a first aid kit and blankets and rope and-"

"Carmel, calm down," Twilight said, helping Spike onto his feet. "What happened.

"It's Ash! He got separated from the main group and fell into the frozen lake!"

"...Spike, grab the blankets and some hot water."