Rarity's father wishes for her to marry a nobledragon for an aliance but she wishes to marry another for love, all the while the dragon's best friend is pinning for him! What will become of this?
Rarity's father wishes for her to marry a nobledragon for an aliance but she wishes to marry another for love, all the while the dragon's best friend is pinning for him! What will happen when they all find themselves venturing into the Everfree forest one midsummer night? Things are about to become very confusing, especially when a fun-loving fairy gets involved!
Based on William Shakespear's A Midsummer Night's Dream
It was a beautiful midsummer day, the birds were chirping the sun was shinning and everything was perfect and peaceful! In the castle of Canterlot sat a beautiful pink alicorn mare, with stunning blue eyes and a pink, purple and yellow mane and tail. The mare sat at the window in the throne room and looked out at the peaceful gardens that surrounded the castle. She sighed in content at how relaxing and quite everything was, that is until her fiancé came bursting through the doors with his main assistant following behind him.
"Ah, my beautiful Cadence," a white unicorn stallion, with blue eyes and a dark blue mane and tail said walking toward her. "there you are, I cannot wait until four days pass so that we can finally be husband and wife, I just don't think I can wait that long!"
Cadence chuckled at this. "Be patient Shinning Armour, four days isn't that bad!" she said, smiling as he put his foreleg around her.
Shinning Armour smiled warmly at her. "Your right, as usual," he said, then he kissed her passionately, which she happily returned. Then they pulled their lips away and she nuzzled his neck. "I love you so much"
Cadence the looked up into his eyes and smiled. "I love you too!"
"Ahem!"
They both turned around to see Shinning Armour's assistant, whom they had forgotten was there! He was an orange unicorn stallion with a white stripe down his muzzle with green eyes shielded by a large pair of round specticals and a darker orange mane, tail and beard, he wore a dark blue cloak covered in stars with a sun clasp at the front.
"Sorry to interrupt," The stallion said nervously. "but your highness I need you to look over the assignments for the wedding".
Shinning Armour smiled. "Of course, Sunburst I'll get right on it!" he stated
Then he turned to his fiancé. "Sorry my love, duty calls!"
Cadence smiled then kissed him gently on the cheek. "It's alright Shinning, I understand"
He embraced her then turned to face Sunburst. "Alright what's first?" he asked trotting over to him.
"Well," Sunburst began. "before you do anything you have to meet with Lord Sombra, he appears to be having some kind of trouble with his daughter!"
"Well alright then, bring him here so he may discuss the issue." Shinning Armour said.
"I shall go and fetch him right away!" the orange stallion said as he trotted out the door.
Shinning Armour then turned back to Cadence. "Come darling." He said smiling at her, gesturing his hoof towards two thrones at the back of the room.
She smiled as she trotted over to him and they advanced toward the thrones together with their hooves entwined.
When Sunburst came back into the room the royal couple were seated in their thrones, happily conversing between themselves. He then began to trot towards them and made himself known.
"Your highness," Sunburst announced. "may I present Lord Sombra of the Crystal Empire and his daughter Lady Rarity!"
As he said this a dark grey unicorn stallion with piercing red eyes and a black mane and tail entered, wearing a red cloak lined with white fur at the hem, followed by a beautiful white unicorn mare with blue eyes and a curly purple mane and tail, wearing a beautiful yellow hat with flowers on the band and a dress to match.
"Good to see you again Sombra," Shinning Armour said, smiling at his old friend. "how are things?"
"Well that's what I came here to talk to you about," Sombra began. "before I begin though, I would like to introduce you to the subjects of our argument, may I present Duke Spike of Dragonland and Lord Fancy Pants."
As he said this a small teenage dragon with purple scales and green spikes walked into the room, followed by a white unicorn stallion with a blue mane, tail and mustache, wearing a black suit jacket and a white shirt.
"So as I was about to say," Sombra continued. "you see, I have created an alliance with Duke Spike so that our two cities may help each other out in battle and in wealth in exchange for my daughter's hoof in marriage, but she claims that she is in love with this Fancy Pants and that she wont marry the Duke! So I have come to ask that you use the old Canterlot law on her so that she must marry the Duke!"
Rarity frowned at her father and decided to speak up. "Father you're being completely unreasonable!" she exclaimed stomping her hoof.
Sombra scowled at his daughter. "Don't you dare take that tone of voice with me young lady, I am your father!" he yelled furiously
Rarity gasped furiously and was about to retort back until Fancy Pants took her hoof and gave her a reassuring smile, this calmed her down.
"What do you say about this, your majesty?" Sombra asked Shinning Armour.
"Well, I...um...I..." he looked to Cadence, who gave him a reassuring look, then he turned to Rarity. "what do you say about all of this Lady Rarity? Tell me what your problem is. Surely it wouldn't be that bad, Spike is a worthy gentlecolt!"
Rarity merely huffed. "So is Fancy Pants!" Rarity retorted.
"Yes, well, in his own right yes but in this case, your father doesn't approve of him and has not deemed him worthy enough." Shinning Armour stated.
"I wont change my mind," she said seriously. "all I wish to know is what will happen to me if I don't marry Duke Spike!"
Shinning Armour turned his head to Sombra, who just nodded slowly.
He sighed sadly. "If you don't marry him you will face imprisonment for life in the Canterlot dungens or spend the rest of your days as a nun, to be without any stallion for the rest of your life. You have until my wedding to make your decision. I'm sorry my hooves are tied." he stated solemnly. Many of the ponies gasped except for Sombra and Cadence, the mare just hung her head sadly.
"Rarity please," Spike pleaded as he walked over to the mare. "just marry me and stop this nonsense, I beg of you I promise I can make you happy, just say you'll be mine!"
Rarity sighed. "I'm sorry Spike, but I just don't love you!" she cried.
"But Rarity..." he began but was interrupted by Fancy Pants.
"Look I may not have a big land or an entire army to offer her, all I can give her is my heart and my love, but I am noble and have riches of great measures and if she will have me I will make it my lives mission to make her happy!" he said, taking Rarity's hoof. Cadence smiled at this.
"NO!" Spike retorted, removing Fancy's hoof from Rarity's. "You are not worthy of her!"
Fancy was apalled. He had planned on being fair and solving this like adults, but if that was the way he was going to play it, well two can play at that game!
"You have her fathers love let me have Rarity's!" Fancy Pants snapped.
Spike gasped. "Why I outta..." he exclaimed, before a voice interrupted him, it was Cadence.
"Enough!"
Everyone turned to face the mare as she spoke.
"Sombra, come with me and Shinning Armour to his royal study, Duke Spike you come too!" she said, then she and her fiancé rose from their thrones and began to make their way out of the side door, followed by Sombra and Spike. Then it was just Rarity and Fancy Pants left standing in the throne room all by themselves.
Rarity then began to weep, as she fell to her knees. "Oh, what will we do now!" she sobbed
Fancy then took her hoof and helped her up off the ground and pulled her close. "There is no place for us here anymore." he said sadly, gently stroking her mane.
She looked up at him. "Do you mean that we should leave?" she sniffed.
"Yes, tonight" he said looking into her eyes. "if we have any chance of being together we must leave"
She sighed. "Your right" she said, and with that their plan was set into action!
"Ugh," a young lavender unicorn mare cried out in frustration. "would you all be quiet!"
The other mares in the room, who were all joyfully gossiping amongst themselves, all turned to face the exasperated mare before them, and immediately ceased their blabbering.
"Thank you!" the unicorn said, a hint of annoyance lingering in her voice. "so I bet you are all wondering why I called you here"
"Yea," a blue unicorn mare exclaimed. "whatever it is you better make it quick, the great and powerful Trixie is a very busy mare!"
The lavender mare just rolled her eyes.
"Hmm," a cyan Pegasus, who was sitting in the corner, scoffed "more like the irritating and arrogant Trixie!"
The blue unicorn, Trixie, shot her a death glare.
A pale yellow unicorn mare, who was sitting at he table in front of her, smirked. "You're one to talk Rainbow Dash" she said mockingly.
Rainbow glared at the unicorn. "Watch it Sunset!" she warned.
Twilight was growing impatient. "Guys!" she yelled "Enough! You are all acting like a bunch of foals, so quit it and listen up!"
Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly, and immediately was silent.
Twilight sighed. "Thank you, now as to why I have called you all here-"
She was interrupted by a pale pink unicorn mare bursting through the door, panting heavily.
"Oh dear," she exclaimed, trying to catch her breath "so sorry I'm late everypony, hope I didn't interrupt anything?"
Twilight face-hoofed herself. "Why do I even bother!" she muttered to herself.
Sunset Shimmer turned her head, and smiled at the mare. "Nah, come on in Starlight!" she said, gesturing to a free seat next to Trixie.
Starlight smiled and happily obliged, and sat down in the seat.
"Twilight was just about to tell us why we were summoned here in the first place" Sunset said, smiling at Twilight.
Twilight smiled gratefully at the mare, and took a deep breath. "Alright, as I was trying to say," she began, shooting Rainbow Dash and Trixie a quick glance, before continuing "we have been asked to prepare a play for the upcoming royal wedding!"
There were lots of gasps amongst the mares.
"Wow Twilight, you must be super exited after all, it is your big brother's wedding!" said Sunset, walking over to Twilight and gently nudging her side.
Twilight smiled at the mare. "Yes, but I'm also nervous, I just want the wedding to go smoothly, which means that we are all going to have to work really hard to make this play a success!" she said
"Don't worry, I've got your back, we all do!" she exclaimed, smiling supportively at Twilight.
Their touching moment was interrupted by Trixie. "So, what pray-tell is the play about?" she asked, whilst filing her hooves.
Twilight turned to the rest of the mares. "It is the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisneigh!"
"Who?" Trixie asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"Pyramus and Thisneigh were a young couple who longed to be together but their families wouldn't allow it so they decided to run away together, but a tragic misunderstanding with a manticore ended with Pyramus thinking his love was dead and killing himself because he couldn't live without her and Thisneigh doing the same thing when she finds her lover's dead body!" Twilight answered.
"Oh," Trixie said, rather disturbed by the gruesome tale. "well who will Trixie be playing?"
Twilight summoned a check-list with her magic "Trixie you will be playing Pyramus!" she said
"Wait a second, Trixie has to play a STALLION!" Trixie exclaimed.
Twilight ignored her and continued down the list. "Starlight, you will be playing Thisneigh!"
Starlight nodded, while Trixie continued to protest. "No, wait, let Trixie play Thisneigh!" Trixie yelled, but Twilight continued to ignore her.
"Sunset, you will be playing Thisneigh's mother!" Twilight continued, smiling "and Rainbow, will be playing Pyramus' mother
"NO! Let Trixie!" the blue unicorn pleaded, but Twilight continued on.
"I will be playing the narrator, and last but not lest, Coco Pomell will be playing the Manticore!" Twilight finished.
The group of mares parted to reveal a pale yellow earth pony with a pale blue mane and tail cowering in the back.
The young mare looked up at Twilight. "M-me?" she asked nervously. Twilight nodded.
Coco gulped. "But m-my roar is v-very little, and y-you want m-me to p-preform in front of a-all those p-ponies! Cant I just stay behind the scenes and m-make the costumes?" she stuttered, shaking were she stood.
Sunset smiled at the mare. "You'll be fine Coco," she said reassuringly "you can still make the costumes, if you want, but only this time you'll actually get to wear one!"
Coco smiled slightly and nodded, although she still wasn't one hundred percent sure that she could act, but she would try.
"Alright then it's settled! How about we all meet at the Everfree forest tonight to reherse?" Twilight suggested.
The other mares all nodded in agreement, all except Trixie who was still protesting about her role, but alas it fell on deaf ears as everyone began to leave the bar and Twilight gave them each a script for the play as they left.
"Ugh, this is going to be a long night!" Trixie groaned, as she began her journey home.
Nopony noticed the set of piercing green eyes watching them from a nearby bush, as the all left the bar.
"Ooh this is going to be fun"
And with that the mysterious stranger made their way back into the Everfree forest to tell their master what they had learned
"Another drink please, my good mare" called out a mysterious stallion, from the corner of the room, to the waitress.
"Comin' right up, sugar" called out the red-headed waitress.
The stallion was relaxed back in his chair, a large hat looming over his face and a poncho covering his body. No one knew much about the stallion to be true, only the rumors spread by the lonely fairy chicks who had no lives so they made it their business to meddle in others, but since they had nothing else to go on the other fairies all thought him to be the fairy king's right hand man and one of the best tricksters around, so most avoided him like the plague in order to be spared of becoming his next prank victim!
The stallion put his forelegs behind his head and sighed contently, he felt so relaxed in that moment, that was, until the voice of a mare snapped his attention.
"Is this seat taken?" the mare asked, gesturing to the seat across from him.
The stallion looked at the mare from under his hat. She was very pretty. Her coat was a beautiful shade of pink and her mane bounced softly on her shoulders and was a dark shade of magnetta. But none of that compared to her amazing sapphire blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light. She was wearing a long grey cape that flowed all the way to the ground and defined every feminine curve of her body. He couldn't help but let his jaw drop at the stunning mare before him, but quickly shook it off so as not to come off as a weirdo.
Play it cool, just play it cool! He thought to himself.
"No, it's not...um go ahead" he stuttered, gesturing at the seat.
She smiled politely at him and sat down in the seat.
He was about to say something when a pint of ale was slammed down in front of him by the barmaid.
"Here you are sugar," said the barmaid. "can I get anything else for ya or your friend here?
"I'm good, Cherry," said the stallion, he then looked to the pink mare across from him. "do you want anything?"
"Sure, I'll have a glass of cider thanks" beamed the mare.
"Alright then, Ill go fetch some, be back in a giff" Cherry Jubilee said before making her way back to the bar.
Just say something to her. Anything would be better than you just sitting there staring! Quit it!
"Umm, so what's a pretty mare like you doing here?" he asked, trying to start a conversation. The mare blushed at his words.
"Oh, well I was out on business and I decided to make a quick stop and have a drink before heading back home!" the mare explained.
"What about you?" she asked.
"Oh umm, pretty much the same reason as you" the stallion replied. "So what is your name?"
"How rude of me! My name is Pinkiemena Diane Pie, but you can just call me Pinkie!" she said cheerfully.
"Well I am Cheese Sandwich, but you can just call me Cheese!" he said smiling.
"Hmm your name sounds familiar" Pinkie said as she pondered it. "Nope, don't remember ever meeting you before now, oh well"
Just then, Cherry Jubilee returned with Pinkie's drink and placed it on the table.
"Enjoy!" Cherry said before going to deal with some other customers.
"So, Pinkie tell me about yourself " Cheese said
"Oh well I was born on a candy rock farm..."
A few hours later it was getting dark and Pinkie and Cheese were having a good laugh together.
"Well, it's getting kinda dark, I should probably head home. But I had a really great time tonight!" Pinkie said smiling.
"Me too!" Exclaimed Cheese. "Hey, why don't I walk you home. I mean, what kind of stallion would I be if I let a young mare walk home unescorted in the dark."
"Well, I suppose if it's not too much trouble" Pinkie said nonchalantly.
"Not at all!" Cheese stated he then held out his foreleg. "Shall we, ma' lady"
Pinkie giggled and placed her foreleg in the crook of his. "We shall!"
The couple then made their way towards the door and left the bar
Pinkie and Cheese walked through the forest happily conversing together when a cold gust of wind caught their attention.
"Did you feel that?" Pinkie asked.
"Oh no!" Cheese exclaimed "He's here!"
Suddenly a cluster of pink clouds began to gather above them and mist surrounded them. Suddenly a tall figure emerged from the smoke, he had a serpentine body made from mismatched animal parts and the head of a pony, he was none other than the Fairy King, Discord! He was followed by a large army of diamond dogs and a few fairies.
"CHEESE SANDWICH!" Discord yelled. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!"
"Hold on! You work for him!" Pinkie exclaimed. Cheese nodded then turned his attention back to his boss.
Cheese Sandwich gulped. "I...umm...I went to get a drink after I finished scouting Canterlot and I got umm...distracted" he said, glancing over at Pinkie.
Discord then took notice of the pink mare. He was about to say something when a golden glow off light coming through the forest caught his attention. The light made its way through the trees towards them.
"What is that?" Cheese asked
Pinkie smiled. "She's here!" the pink mare exclaimed happily.
Once it finally reached the clearing the light dimmed to reveal a beautiful buttercream Pegasus mare with a long rosy mane and gorgeous teal eyes, she was the Fairy Queen, Fluttershy! She was followed by a small group of fillies who were carrying a baby basket and a large swarm of breezies.
"Pinkie there you are!" she exclaimed softly as she rushed to embrace her friend. "I was so worried. I'm so very glad you're alright"
"Wait! You work for her!" Cheese exclaimed. Pinkie nodded then returned her friend's embrace.
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me," Pinkie said. She then pointed her hoof at Discord. "Worry about him!"
Fluttershy turned around to face him and smiled warmly. "Hello Discord" she said gently.
Discord looked at her sweet face and into her adorable eyes, oh how he wanted to kiss her, but he couldn't! He was still mad at her for choosing that stupid insect over him!
"Hello Fluttershy" he said spitefully.
Fluttershy's expression saddened. "You're not still mad at me, are you?" she said as she looked into Discord's eyes.
"Of course I'm still mad! And I'll stay mad until you hand that little bug over to me" he exclaimed, pointing a finger at the basket. The four fillies stood in front of the basket protectively.
Fluttershy frowned. "Discord!" the Fairy Queen exclaimed. "I already told you, he is not joining your army! He is only a baby!"
Fluttershy flew up to Discord and took his paw in her hooves. "Discord, please stop this madness come home to your wife and your subjects they need you," she paused for a moment and looked deep into his eyes. "I need you"
Discord's anger began to melt away as he looked into her loving eyes and felt her warmth radiating onto him. He was about to give in when the sound of a baby crying broke his trance. Fluttershy jerked her head up and he felt her hooves slip away as she flew over to comfort the infant. Things would never be back to normal until the brat was gone, he then knew what he had to do!
"Hush now, Thorax" she shushed as she cradled the baby larva in her hooves "there, there it's alright"
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy but this is your last chance to give me the changeling willingly or I will be forced to take drastic measures!" Discord said
The Queen looked up at her husband with tear filled eyes. "Discord, please!" she cried.
"So be it then!" The King exclaimed "Cheese Sandwich, let's go!" And with that Discord's army began to march back into the forest.
"Goodbye" Cheese said sadly, looking at Pinkie's beautiful blue eyes.
"Goodbye" Pinkie said tearfully.
And so he was gone. Pinkie turned to face her weeping friend, clutching the young changeling in her arms.
"Your majesty," Pinkie said "we should go home"
Fluttershy gently placed the baby back into the basket. "Yes, we should"
The Fairies then made their way back through the forest to their kingdom.
"Oh Discord" Fluttershy whispered as she slowly raised a hoof to her stomach. "If only you knew!"
Meanwhile, Rarity and Fancy Pants were leaving the castle of Canterlot to prepare for their journey, when they saw a familiar face. There, standing outside the castle next to a royal carriage was a lovely earth pony mare with golden hair tied into a braid that fell loosely on her shoulder, wearing an elegant lime green dress with a large bustle and a hat to match with an apple broach attached to the band.
"Applejack, darling!" Rarity exclaimed as she rushed to embrace her friend. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in ages!"
The orange earth pony was startled but returned her embrace. "It's good to see ya too, Rarity" she said in her thick country accent. "I'm fine, how are you?"
"Oh well I've been better but never mind all that!" she said nervously "We simply have so much to catch up on, and speaking of which since when did you begin to ride in such style!" she exclaimed, gesturing towards the elegant carriage behind her.
Applejack blushed. "Oh, well actually it's not mine, it belongs to the Duke Spike, I rode here with him!" she stated.
Rarity looked to the ground. "Oh, is that so?" she muttered. Applejack noticed the uncomfortable look on her friend's face and realised her mistake.
"I take it that things didn't go to well" she said, putting a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. Rarity looked up at her with tear-filled eyes and shook her head.
"Oh it was simply awful, Applejack!" The beautiful unicorn mare wept. "My father is forcing me into a loveless marriage and if I don't agree I will be forced to live out the rest of my life in a convent!"
Applejack gasped. "They used the old Canterlot law!" she muttered.
"I have nothing against the Duke, he has always shown me great kindness" Rarity continued. "But I just don't..."
"Ya don't love him!" Applejack finished
"No, I don't" The white mare cried.
"So what are ya gonna do?" The orange earth pony asked.
Rarity sighed. "The only thing I can do!" Rarity began. "I am going to run away with Fancy Pants and never look back!"
Applejack's eyes widened. "Really? wow you two must really love each other!" she said sadly. "I wish I had that"
Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder, remembering that her friend had always felt strongly for the Duke Spike ever since they had first met him. "Hey, you'll get him someday!" the unicorn said reassuringly. "Spike will realise soon enough that you two were destined to be together!"
Applejack smiled slightly. "Well, a girl can dream!"
She turned to face Fancy Pants. "Anyway we better be going to prepare for our journey if we are to make it to the forest before nightfall! Goodbye Applejack it was lovely seeing you again!" She gave her friend a hug and then she and Fancy Pants turned and began to walk away, leaving Applejack alone with nothing but her thoughts.
After some time the Duke Spike emerged from the castle with a rather frightening looking stallion behind him. Applejack watched the stallion with caution as he shook hooves with the Duke, then made his way over to another carriage and slammed the door shut behind him. The carriage then hurried away. Applejack's attention then returned to the handsome young dragon, who was walking over towards her! She quickly smoothed out her skirt and put on a kind smile.
What in Celestia's name are ya doin'! she mentally scolded herself Get it together he's just a guy!
"Hey, AJ!"
That snapped her attention back to reality. "Hi, Spike"
"Hope you weren't too bored while I was gone" he said smugly.
Applejack smiled. "Now don't get too fool of yourself, ya hear"
"I make no promises"
Applejack laughed, somehow he always managed to make her laugh.
"Hey, Applejack?" Spike asked seriously.
"Yes?" she said
"How much do you know about poisoned apples?"
That confused her. "Huh, poisoned apples? Umm I guess I know quite a bit but why?"
"Do you think you could get your hooves on one?"
Now she was beginning to get concerned. "I'm sure I could, but I ask again why?"
"Because what's the point in living if the mare of your dreams would rather live in a convent than marry you!" he cried out, as he fell to the floor in anguish.
"Oh, this is about Rarity. I heard things didn't go too well." she said sadly as she put her hoof around him in comfort.
"Oh, Applejack. I'm so lost without her, I need her to live, she is my everything. I love her"
Those last words brought tears to her eyes. She loved him too much to see him like this. She knew what she had to do, no matter how much it would hurt her.
Forgive me, Rarity
"Spike" as she said this he looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. "I think that I might be able to help ya..."
She struggled to hold back her tears as she continued to tell him of her friends' plans to stow away together during the night.
Spike stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I must stop them!"
The night was cold and the two lovers stood outside the forest.
"So are you ready, my dear?" Fancy Pants asked
The unicorn mare turned to get one last look at Canterlot. "Yes" Rarity replied.
And with that the young couple made their way into the forest.
All was peaceful in the fairy nursery. The kind light of the moon shone delicately through the window and illuminated the two figures inside. For in the room sat the beautiful Fairy Queen, Fluttershy, cradling the baby changeling as she sang to him. The sweet melody of the Fairy Queen was gently soothing the young larva as he drifted softly to sleep in her arms. The two were so content that they took no notice to the two sets of prying eyes looking upon them from outside the window.
The Fairy King's anger was seething inside him as he watched how tender his wife was being with that pesky little bug. Cheese Sandwich, whom was also spying on the Queen, noticed this and began to worry about what the master was planning to do.
"Umm, sir?" whispered nervously.
"What!" Discord exclaimed loudly, then quickly put his hand over his mouth, hoping she hadn't heard him.
"I was just wondering what the plan was" Cheese continued cautiously.
Discord looked around to make sure no one was there before proceeding to tell Cheese the plan. "Right listen closely, I need you to fetch something for me, it's a very special flower that only grows in the darkest depths of the Everfree forest. It is a pale pink flower with petals in the shape of a heart and it's called Hearts Desire. It is said to be a most powerful love potion that can bring up feelings that are hidden deep down and convince you to act upon them. I would go myself, but I am the King so we cant risk my dashing good looks getting damaged now can we?"
Cheese Sandwich just rolled his eyes at that last comment.
"Now, how will that do any good on Fluttershy you may ask. Well we know that my beautiful wife has a very kind and loving heart right? Well, I figured out that, if we use that plant on her it will amplify that part of her which means that if she was met with say, an animal in need, all of her attention would be focused on that. Therefore, we can get in there, snatch the bug, dust my wife with the antidote and be home for tea"
"But, how do you think she will react when she finds out that the changeling is gone, surely she will know that it was you. How do you plan on winning her back after that?" Cheese asked.
"Cheesey, don't you see, once that pesky fly is out of her home she will realise that it was nothing but a distraction left by Old Chrissy to poison our relationship, and everything will be back to normal. Now go and fetch the Hearts Desire and bring it to me in the woodland clearing, I'll be waiting" Then in a flash of light he was gone.
Left on his own, Cheese sighed and burst out his moth-like wings and began his journey.
In another part of the woods a young couple were lost.
"Fancy, I thought you said you knew where you were going" The unicorn mare said sceptically.
"I do, I just haven't done this in a while that's all" Fancy Pants stated.
"You've gotten us lost, haven't you?" Rarity deadpanned.
"Erm...yes"
"Fancy!"
"I am sorry, my darling, it's just these map things are very confusing"
Rarity sighed. "Well I suppose we better make camp for the night"
"Yes I'll get a fire started with my magic"
Rarity then pulled a blanket out of her saddle bag and lay it on the ground. She then proceeded to lie down on top of it and make herself comfortable, while Fancy Pants fixed the fire. Some time later, Rarity was just ready to go to sleep when she felt someone lie down next to her, which immediately made her jump up.
"What are you doing!" she exclaimed.
"Getting some rest, my dear" Fancy said, confused by his fiancé's sudden reaction.
"Not next to me! It would be improper!"
"Oh, come now Rarity, we're practically married already"
"No, you can sleep over there" she said pointing to a patch of grass near the fire.
Fancy Pants sighed. "Alright dear, whatever you wish" he said as he made his way over to the fire.
Happy that everything was now in order Rarity relaxed and lay back down on the blanket.
"Goodnight, my love" she called out to Fancy Pants
"Goodnight to you also, my darling" he called back. And with that they slept.
In a nearby woodland clearing, Discord sat on a branch of a tree waiting for Cheese Sandwich to return with the flower when he heard voices that seemed to be coming closer. Discord quickly hid inside the tree as he watched a young earth mare and a dragon enter the clearing.
"Rarity!" the dragon called out. "Rarity where are you?"
"Spike, maybe you should calm down" the mare suggested.
"No! I won't calm down! I will find her, even if I have to hunt to the ends of the earth and drag her down the isle by that pretty purple mane of hers! She will be MINE!" he exclaimed, slamming his foot onto the ground causing a nearby puddle to ripple, as he looked at his reflection he started to tear up, for he saw something that he never wished to see.
"No" he uttered in a tone barely above a whisper.
"Spike..." the earth mare said, as she cautiously approached him.
Spike turned around to face her with tear filled eyes. "I've become him, haven't I?"
Applejack gasped. "No, you are nothing like your father!"
"Aren't I? This is exactly how he used to behave, he was impulsive and cruel, is that not how I am being now?"
"No! Your father was a tyrant who was cruel to his people, but you, you are kind and fair and my hero. Do you remember when we first met? We all decided to go for a walk in the woods and then we were attacked by Timberwolves. I got my hoof stuck under a rock and was about to get eaten when you stepped in and bravely fought the Timberwolf off, you saved my life! Do you really think that someone like your dad would do something like that? Sure sometimes you get a bit impatient but so does everyone. That doesn't make you a bad person it just makes you mortal" Applejack said as she hugged him.
"Thank you AJ, you have always been such a good friend!" Spike said as he hugged her back. Applejack winced slightly at the word friend but shook it off so Spike wouldn't notice, but that didn't stop Discord from noticing and the tender way she acted towards him only made her crush on the young dragon that more apparent. Spike was just too caught up trying to find the mare of his dreams to notice how he was making his best friend feel. But Discord would fix that.
As Discord watched the two friends leave the clearing an idea came to mind. Just then Cheese Sandwich came flying in, looking a bit rough.
"You forgot to tell me about the Chimera guarding the flower!" Cheese exclaimed furiously. "You were lucky that I was able to fight that thing off, I was this close to becoming lunch!"
"Yes, well it must have slipped my mind, anyway did you get it?" The King asked eagerly.
"Yeah, I got it" he said handing the flower to Discord. "Hey do you hear that ringing sound too?"
Discord ignored that last question. "Excellent, now I have a very important job for you. I need you to take a petal from this flower and squeeze it's juices into someone's eyes. A young drake wearing rich clothing should be traveling with a mare, she is desperately in love with him but he is too stupid to realise her feelings so I thought we better give him a nudge. And while you deal with that I will squeeze the love juice into my wife's eyes. You understand?"
Cheese Sandwich nodded, even though he was still having trouble hearing.
"Good, I'll see you later when the job is done!" Discord then disappeared in a flash leaving Cheese, once again, alone.
"Wait did he say I was looking for a young stallion travelling with a mare? Yeah I think that's it" and with that he took off in the air again, in search of the young couple.
"Alright," said Twilight as she dropped her saddle bag. "This looks like a good spot"
The rest of the rehearsal group, who were walking behind her, followed suit.
"Yeah, we've got a good amount of space here, perfect for rehearsal" Sunset agreed, smiling at Twilight.
Everyone else smiled and nodded except for Trixie, who was clearly unimpressed.
"The great and powerful Trixie doesn't understand why we have to rehearse in the dark and dirty forest," Trixie exclaimed in disgust. "Twilight isn't your brother to be the king? Surely you could have pulled some strings and got us a room in the castle"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well yes, I could have done, but that would have spoiled the surprise for my brother and Cadence. Remember, I was asked to do this by my brother's royal advisor, Sunburst, as a surprise wedding gift. Practicing in he castle would be too risky"
"But..."
"No buts, Trixie, this place is good enough for now. So why don't you make yourself useful and fetch us some fire wood, we need to keep warm and it's going to be a long night"
"That's the great and powerful Trixie to you" Trixie huffed as she stomped off to collect the fire wood.
As Trixie disappeared into the forest, Twilight sighed. "What are we going do with her?"
Sunset placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "She'll come around" Sunset said reassuringly.
"I hope so" Twilight said as she stared off into the forest.
Twilight and Sunset then turned to the rest of the group and began to help them unpack. None of them seemed to notice the bright pair of blue eyes watching them from inside the bushes.
It was Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie had been out checking the boarders for spies of Discord's when she had herd a group of mares squabbling and had decided to go and check it out. She was outraged to find an arrogant blue mare insulting her home and being a very big meanie-pants to her friends. So when the blue mare left Pinkie decided to follow her and teach her a lesson.
"Stupid Twilight," Trixie muttered, as she picked up stray sticks and twigs. "thinking she's better than Trixie, always second guessing Trixie and making Trixie feel small"
Trixie's rant was then interrupted by a large pink balloon appearing out of no where. The balloon then proceeded to burst into a shower of confetti revealing a pretty pink mare with a large, poofy mane and tail.
Trixie gawked at the strange mare before her. Alas, before Trixie could say anything the mare pointed her hooves toward Trixie and a large blast of pink energy began to surround the confused unicorn mare and envelope her in it's magic.
Pinkie then clapped her hooves together and the bubble of energy that surrounded Trixie popped and slowly placed her on the ground. Pinkie then looked upon Trixie, happy with her work, and spoke.
"That'll teach you not to be a big meanie-pants to other ponies and it should help with the narcissism too!" and with that Pinkie brought out her butterfly-like wings and made her way back to the castle.
Trixie awoke feeling quite disorientated. She must have fallen over and hit her head because she could have sworn that there was a magical pink mare who appeared in a balloon made from confetti. Trixie decided that she should make her way back to the others so she got up and began to go back at the clearing.
When she got there the others were reading the scripts together. That was until Coco Pommel caught sight of Trixie and let out an ear piercing scream.
"MINOTAUR"
The others all looked around and too began to panic. Everyone was grabbing their things until Twilight stopped and cried out.
"Wait, where is Trixie?"
This confused Trixie, couldn't they see her? "Trixie is right here" she called out.
"Oh my Celestia, it ate Trixie!" cried out Rainbow Dash.
This comment only added to their fears and sent everyone running as far as they could until the only one whom was left in the clearing was a very bewildered and annoyed Trixie.
"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON!" she yelled.
Trixie looked down at the ground and caught sight of her... hands? She had hands! In a panic Trixie rushed to the well to check her reflection, but what she saw terrified her.
"I'm a minotaur" she said in disbelief, as she fell to the ground.
