//------------------------------//
// Back to the Library 
// Story: Friendship is Shining: Multi-Pink-Cation Problems 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

As planned, the six of them -- four ponies, one changeling, and a young dragon -- returned to the library at one in the afternoon.  After each had finished their selected area, they had searched around the rest of Ponyville for any more of the Pinklettes.  Although one or two were found from time to time, there were no more big groups of them.

The moment the door opened, the smell of food reached them all.  Mouths started to water at the aroma as everyone realized how hungry they were feeling.  Especially Rarity and Shining Armor, who had burned a lot of energy with their magic to dispell the magic clones.

In the dining room, Fluttershy was setting the table.  Assisting her were the Cake twins, their hives now covered in some sort of green stuff that really stuck out against their coats.  At the sight of the returning group, the mare and pair of foals smiled.

"You did it!" Pound called out, jumping over the table and landing over by the group.  "You saved Pinkie!"

"She woke up a while ago," Pumpkin added.  "She's still in bed, though.  Zecora and Limestone insisted."

"And you don't argue with Limestone Pie," Pound said, his wings flicking as he gave a small shiver.

"Well, it's nice that everything has worked out," Chrysalis stated.  "However, I believe I will forego the celebratory lunch.  I should really start packing."

"Packing?" Spike asked.  "Do you mean you're leaving?"

"My cover has been blown," Chrysalis stated.  "Even if Shining Armor was willing to not write to Princess Celestia about meeting me -- which I am not asking him to do since it would lead to a conflict of loyalties -- it is still very likely that my change from earth pony to unicorn has been noticed, and rumors shall eventually reach my parents.  It will not be long before a retinue of guards from either kingdom will arrive to escort me to Canterlot.  Given a choice, I would very much prefer to show up of my own volition."

Turning to Shining Armor, she moved closer her, eyes narrowing.  The unicorn horn she had began to light up green with her magic.

"However, before I go..."

Grabbing a hold of the stallion, she pulled him close to her.  Chrysalis closed her eyes as she leaned in, pulling Shining Armor closer as their lips met.  Wrapping a foreleg around him, she kissed him hard.

As she did, Chrysalis felt the emotional reactions from the others.  There was surprise, some awkwardness, a little bit of envy, and... jealousy?  Interesting.  It seemed that at least one of the mares was interested in being more than friends with him... or maybe they were secretly interested in her?  It was difficult to tell who exactly they were jealous of, just like it was difficult to know which one exactly was jealous since they were all together.

Chrysalis pulled back, breaking the kiss as abruptly as she started it.  As she did, her tongue slipped out, licking her lips and tasting the remnants of Shining's skin and emotions on it.  She could not help but grin as she could tell he enjoyed it at least a little.  Perhaps not as much as she would have liked, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

"I'll come say good-bye to you all before I leave," she stated as she stepped back.  "And please tell Pinkie not to throw me a going away party.  I would prefer something more discreet."

With that, she made her way out of the library and left.

After three seconds (although it seemed much, much longer), Shining Armor recovered.  With a cough, he shifted, trying to ignore the burning in his cheeks and the looks the others were giving him.

"Okay," he said, looking toward the wall.  "Pinkie's upstairs resting, so we should probably check on her one at a time.  Anypony mind if I go first?"

"While you're up there, could you ask if we can bring Pinkie some lunch?" Pumpkin asked after none of the others objected.

"Sure," Shining answered as he made his way upstairs.  As he did, he wondered why the twins were so afraid of Limestone Pie.  True, he had not actually talked to the mare, but he had met her before.  She had seemed upset over something, but there had been nothing about her that was that frightening.

Was there?

Reaching the door, he gave a gentle knock before opening it.  As soon as he did, he was met with a light gray face, scowling at him and glaring with lime green eyes.

Shining's body tensed as he suddenly felt like he was in trouble.

"What?" the mare at the door growled out.

"I-I-I was hoping we could visit Pinkie Pie now that she was awake again," he stammered out.  "It's just me.  Figured one at a time would be okay."

Limestone's eyes narrowed more as she looked Shining over.  He could see the muscles in her neck twitching as her jaw clenched and unclenched.  After several seconds of this, she let out a snort and moved aside.

"Fine," she huffed.  "Just remember that she's supposed to be resting, though."  The mare leaned in close.  "If you get her worked up, I will bend you like a donut, shove your horn up your plot, then kick you down the stairs like a wheel.  Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am," Shining replied, almost saluting.  He then stepped in past her, trying not to look intimidated.

As soon as she saw Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie's face lit up and she started to climb out of bed to greet him.  However, a look past Shining caused the smile to turn into a grimace as Pinkie laid back down in the bed.  It seemed like a safe assumption that Limestone Pie had made it clear what would happen if Pinkie tried to get up.

"Hey Pinkie," Shining said as he moved closer to the bed.  "Glad to see you're feeling better."

"Yeah," Pinkie said.  Shifting, one ear gave a flick.  "I don't know what happened, though.  I only meant to make two copies of me, but for some reason, they suddenly decided to make more and more.  Then I got a dizzy and tired, and passed out."

"Well, when the pool made the copies, it used your own life force for the energy," Shining explained.  "So each new copy meant less energy for you."  He placed a hoof on the bed.  "What I'm curious about is how did you even know about the pool in the first place?"

"Granny Pie used to tell us all sorts of neat stories about magic places, ancient artifacts, and cool monsters!"

"Ugh!" Limestone groaned as she flopped down.  "Still can't believe that one of Granny's crazy stories was actually true!  What's next?  The one about the amulet that lets the wearer control ponies' minds by singing?  The kingdom that disappeared into a mirror?  A book that wakes up demons and and allows them to suck the magic from living creatures?"

"Granny had a lot of weird stories," Pinkie whispered.  "Limey didn't like most of them."

Limestone let out a grunt, but did not argue.

"By the way," Shining said, turning toward Limestone, "Pumpkin and Pound want to know if they can bring Pinkie lunch."

A sudden growl from Pinkie Pie's stomach expressed its opinion on the idea.

"Fine," Limestone huffed.  "As long as she can eat it in bed.  The only reason she is getting out before tomorrow morning is to use the bathroom.  And I've already locked the window, so don't bother trying to get out through there!"

Shining Armor turned to look at Limestone Pie, then back at Pinkie.  Maybe it was his imagination, but something about that made him think it was something that happened before.  Pinkie sneaking out through a window was hard for him to imagine.  Pinkie doing any kind of sneaking was hard for him to imagine, really.  He knew it was something that she must be capable of, but he just could not picture the pink, hyperactive mare moving silently and unnoticed by any means.

At the moment, Shining did not feel like actually asking, and if Pinkie knew what he was thinking, she was not willing to volunteer the information at her own volition.

"Well, when you're better, you can show me where the pool is," he said.  "That way, we can make sure nopony else comes across it."

"Okay," Pinkie said.  She suddenly grabbed Shining Armor and pulled him into a hug.  "And thanks for saving me."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "You're a great friend."

A small blush formed as he still felt the warmth of Pinkie's lips on his cheek.

"Well, I'll let somepony else come up and visit," he said as he headed for the door.  As he left, Limestone moved to make sure he could see her. Ears pulled back and scowling, she pointed a hoof at her eyes, then turned it to point at him.

Apparently, she felt he needed to be watched for some reason.

"Okay," Shining called out as he reached the others.  "Limestone said Pinkie can have lunch so long as she stays in bed."

With a nod, the twins grabbed a plate and started for the stairs.

Suddenly, Shining found himself face to face with an earth pony mare he had not met before.  Like most of Pinkie's sisters -- which he was guessing she was -- she had a gray coat and mane, with said mane having a purple tint to it.  This one seemed to have a calm and stoic look on her face as she looked at Shining with half-lidded blue eyes.

"You must be Shining Armor," she stated in a very monotone voice.  She held out a hoof.  "I am Pinkie's sister, Maud Pie.  I have heard much about you."

"Most of it good, I hope," Shining said as he shook the offered hoof.

"Yes.  Pinkie speaks very highly of you.  Although, to be fair, she speaks very highly of most ponies."  Taking a step, she motioned toward the table.

"Lunch is ready.  I saved you a spot between Marble and myself."

As he joined the others, a small smile pulled at Shining Armor's mouth.  While not perfect, it was nice to have so many friends in one spot.  Plus, knowing that Pinkie was going to be fine, a weight was off his shoulders, so he felt like he could relax a little more.

Marble Pie glanced up at him with her one uncovered eye, then quickly looked away.

"Hey, Shining," Rainbow called out.  "I was wondering something.  What happens if we didn't get all the Pinklettes?"

Shining Armor took a bite of his lunch as he considered the answer.

"There are two possibilities," he answered after swallowing.  "The first is that the clones will disappear on their own, the magic and energy dispersing like normal spells and is lost.  Kind of like a flame burning up the entire match before it goes out on its own.  The second is that the remaining clones might actually become their own independent ponies."

"Is that possible?" Fluttershy asked.

"In theory," Shining answered with a shrug.  "Clover the Clever speculated that if a simulacrum could be created that did not need to fed constant magic from the caster, it would be able to have its own separate experiences and memories, which in turn would allow it to grow and develop its own personality, until becoming its own entity separate from the original source pony.  But, as far as I know, nopony has ever been able to test it."

"So, if we didn't get them," Rainbow said, "then there could be a pony out there that looks just like Pinkie, but will end up acting differently?"

"Pretty much."

The conversation ended as the others considered that.