Equestria
Canterlot Theater
Many hours later
Applause is heard as Twilight prepares to announce the next concert number, smiling cutely toward the audience.
"Our next number is quite a master piece. You know, it's actually funny with how wrong an artist can be about his or her own work. Let's take an example from another famous composer from the planet Earth named Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The one composition that he sadly detested was his Nutcracker Suite, which, if you ask me, is probably the most popular music he ever wrote. It's a series of dances taken out of a full-length ballet story called 'The Nutcracker' that he once composed for the St. Petersburg opera house. Sadly, it wasn't much of a success to him and nobody performs it nowadays. And even though you've never seen the ballet, I'm sure you'll enjoy the beautiful music from it when you hear it as my friends and I did. Now you won't see any nutcracker or anything related to him on the screen. There's nothing left of him but the title. In his place are the wondrous creatures called fairies, alluring fish of Arabian beauty, dancing mushrooms and dancing flowers with the four seasons spring, summer, fall and winter in a single day. From morning to night."
Symphony of Sorcery
The Orchestra Stand
Present Time
Deems, the ponies, Jiminy and Spike approach another songbook, this one colored blue.
“The next sheet music you need to look for is called the ‘Nutcracker Suite’,” Deems explained. “It was written by a famous Russian composer known as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Some of his works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire.”
“Wow!” Octavia gasped, amazed.
“I’m already liking this Tchaikovsky fella,” Vinyl said.
“Me too!” Rarity agreed.
“The Nutcracker Suite was one of his most famous,” Leopold said, joining the conversation. “But he really detested it.”
The ponies gasp hearing about a composer hating his own work.
“It’s taken out of a full-length ballet called ‘The Nutcracker’ that he composed for the St. Petersburg Opera House,” Leopold continued. “It sadly wasn’t much of a success and nobody performs it nowadays.”
But give it a few more years, eventually it becomes a Christmas tradition.
“But why would someone hate their own work?” Rarity asked.
“Nobody knows, but there is always the one project that a worker doesn’t hold too fondly of,” Deems answered. “Even if it is one of their most popular works… In this case, Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker Suite’. “
“And you say nobody performs it nowadays?” Twilight asked.
“Well, not completely,” Deems replied. “Yes, as of this year, we’d doing this. It’s not performed outside of Russia, but something tells me that someday, the music of the Nutcracker and the story that went along with it will always be performed around the world every Christmas… But that could just be me.”
Told you so…
“Oh! Well, that’s good to know!” Pinkie smiled, then thought of something. “Uh… What’s Christmas?”
The other ponies and dragon seemed curious as well, as if only hearing it for the first time.
“Oh, I can answer that,” Jiminy cut in. “You see, one day a year on Earth on December 25th, we all come together and celebrate the holiday known as Christmas. Christmas is a time to spend together with families, friends and doing holiday traditions, such as decorating Christmas trees, singing carols and opening Christmas gifts…”
As Jiminy goes on about Christmas in general, the ponies imagine it in their heads as the images of the holiday play out. Pinkie especially loved the idea of Christmas gifts, seeing wrapped boxes float around her head.
“I’d say it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Jiminy concluded, sighing happily.
“You mean Christmas in your world and this one is like Hearth’s Warming Eve on ours?” Applejack asked.
“Well…” Jiminy thought. “More or less.”
“Um, Mr. Taylor, sir?” Fluttershy asked, raising a hoof.
“Yes, Miss Fluttershy?” Deems said.
“How does the story of ‘The Nutcracker’ go?”
“Well, like I said, it happened on Christmas Eve,” Deems explained. “There was a family and some friends celebrating that night, when a mysterious man, the godfather of the daughter of the family, appeared. He was also a magician and a toymaker. He had four living dolls as presents for the girl and her brother, but he kept them with him for safekeeping. Both children were disappointed, but the man had another gift for them: A nutcracker doll. Everybody ignored it, except the girl who liked the nutcracker. But her brother broke the doll on purpose, making her very sad.”
“That’s not very nice,” Fluttershy said, shaking her head. “The poor thing.”
“During the night, the girl woke up to check on her nutcracker,” Deems continued. “But when the clock struck midnight, she saw her godfather in the room. Suddenly, the room became invaded by mice under the command of the evil Mouse King and both the Christmas tree and the Nutcracker grew in size. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King were enemies of one another. The mice and an army of gingerbread soldiers fought against each other while the Nutcracker fought the Mouse King, who was about to win. But with help from the girl, the Nutcracker won, the mice fled, and the Nutcracker changed into a handsome prince.”
“Oh, my!” Rarity sighed, feeling warm inside.
Spike was worried when he saw Rarity’s expression.
“The prince took the girl through a pine forest covered with snow,” Deems continued. “To travel to his kingdom, the Land of Sweets.”
“Land of Sweets?!” Pinkie asked, smiling. “Sounds like the kingdom for me!”
Suddenly, she gasped in excitement and seemed to float in the air to Deems’ bewilderment.
“Is the Land of Sweets in the songbook too?”
“No, Pinkie,” Deems replied, with a laugh. “I’m sorry.”
“Shoot!” She said to herself.
“To finish the rest of the story,” Deems moved on. “The Land of Sweets was ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The prince told her about how the girl helped him defeat the Mouse King and that she changed him back to himself. In honor of the heroine, the kingdom celebrates with sweets from all over the world. After the party, the girl and the prince flew away on a sleigh with reindeers and waved their subjects ‘goodbye’.”
“That’s quite a story,” Applejack said.
“That was lovely,” Fluttershy replied, adorably.
“Now, like I said before, you’ll find no Land of Sweets in the musical realm,” Deems said. “You won’t find any nutcracker in there; in fact, there’s nothing left of him but the title. But what you will find in there is a forest inhabited by small, innocent creatures that love to dance.”
“What kind of creatures?” Fluttershy asked.
“Mostly plants, flowers and mystic creatures,” Deems answered. “You won’t find anything dangerous in that realm.”
“It be nice to take things easy and peaceful for a change,” Applejack sighed with relief.
“Nah! I’d rather prefer something epic and awesome!” Rainbow said, air boxing. “Something dangerous to fight against, you know?”
“Oh honestly, Rainbow,” Rarity said, disapprovingly. “Does everything have to end in violence?”
“Can I help it that I have a taste for adventure?” Rainbow asked.
“It might be peaceful now, but not all musical realms are like the Toccata and Fugue or the Nutcracker Suite,” Deems warned. “There are some filled with danger, mystery, even evil.”
“Are you telling us there are evil beings and creatures in some of those songbooks?” Octavia asked, worriedly.
“I’m afraid so, Miss Octavia,” Deems answered.
“Yes!” Rainbow said, hoof pumping.
“Oh dear,” Rarity sighed.
“But believe me when I say you won’t find anything dangerous in the forest of the Nutcracker Suite,” Deems assured.
“We trust you, Mr. Taylor,” Twilight said. “We should be wary of what we’re going to face in the other realms, but for now we should make the best of this one by finding the next sheet music.”
“Then, what are waiting for?” Applejack asked.
“The songbooks can be triggered by music,” Leopold explained. “But they can also be triggered by magic.”
“Perhaps I can try to open it with magic,” Twilight offered.
“Go ahead,” Deems said.
Twilight stood in front of the songbook, preparing herself.
“Come on, Twilight,” Spike encouraged her. “You can do it!”
“Okay, here goes,” Twilight said.
The unicorn/alicorn charged her horn and with one good aim she shot a beam of magic at the book, causing it to glow. A portal to the realm opened from the blue book, allowing the Equestrians to enter. Music notes surrounded our heroes, as they see a light at the end. Then three orbs of light, red, blue and green, flew around and collide against each other. It creates a light so bright the group closed their eyes from the blinding rays. As they slowly open them, they found themselves in a meadow at the edge of a forest. The new world was dark, so Twilight, Rarity and Vinyl used their horns to light the way.
“Well, look at this,” Applejack said. “We’re in a meadow in front of a forest.”
“Oh, I didn’t even bring some essentials,” Rarity complained.
“You mean bringing your entire house in suitcases?” Applejack asked, sarcastically.
“Well uh, I… Uh…” Rarity stutters, eyes wide. “You can’t be sure enough!”
Applejack just rolled her eyes, while Octavia observes the sky.
“It’s nighttime,” She said.
“Yes, but not for long,” Twilight said, looking toward the horizon. “I see a bit of light coming; dawn is arriving.”
“It sure looks nice here,” Fluttershy said, looking around.
Spike searched behind some bushes, when he found something.
“Hey guys!” He whispered. “I think you should see this!”
The others join him, each peering behind the bushes.
“Look,” Spike pointed, quietly.
A swarm of tiny colorful orbs appear, floating around the flowers.
“What are those?” Vinyl asked. “Fireflies?”
“I don’t know,” Spike said.
As the little orbs float around the flowers, one blue orb flew closer. It was at that moment Rarity took a good look and noticed it wasn’t an orb or firefly at all.
“It’s a tiny creature with gauzy wings and a wand,” Rarity observed.
“It must be a fairy,” Fluttershy said.
“It’s lovely,” Octavia admired.
“And super cute!” Pinkie smiled.
The fairy taps her wand along three flowers, making them sparkle with dew. Then she gave a few flicks with her wand, spreading some kind of dust.
“What are they doing?” Applejack asked.
“They’re sprinkling the flowers with something,” Spike said. “It looks like that wetness on the grass we see every morning.”
“It’s called ‘dew’, Spike,” Twilight said.
“Oh, yeah,” Spike chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “I knew that.”
“Look, here comes another one,” Rainbow points out.
A pink fairy lands on some mushrooms, dancing around with her wand leaving dew on top. Then she flew towards the other flowers, making them glow. Three fairies flew above a pond, forming ripples along the surface. A light green one gave one tap on a dandelion, which sparkled with dew.
“Wow,” Jiminy said, in awe. “So beautiful!”
“And sparkly!” Pinkie added.
A purple fairy sprinkles dew along some purple flowers, while tapping on a yellow one. The bud opens allowing the fairy to go inside to sprinkle more dew. Other fairies sprinkle dew along the flowers, big and small. It was a beautiful sight to see, as all the dew shine on the petals like stars so bright they couldn’t help but stare.
“Those fairies are true artists in my opinion,” Rarity said.
“It is very lovely,” Fluttershy replied. “They almost remind me of the Breezies.”
“It’s like they're dancing while they sprinkle the flowers,” Octavia observed. “Look! On the water!”
A swarm of fairies flew over the water, sometimes jumping on it and a few flying together in a circle. One pink fairy approaches a big spider web, as one tapped her wand spreading dew along the threads. The fairy led a few drops along a thread toward another flower. The dew woke a golden fairy sleeping inside, she shook off the wetness and yawns. She gave a few taps of her wand along the spider web, causing a large amount to be covered with dew. The pink fairy puts the finishing touch on the remaining threads, leaving the entire spider web beautifully decorated and sparkling with dew.
“Now that’s what I call ‘style’,” Rarity admired.
“Everything beautiful and sparkly is style to you,” Rainbow said, in a snarky tone.
Rarity gave Rainbow a disapproving glare, while Rainbow just shrugs. Meanwhile, the fairies were sprinkling the flowers with dew until the entire meadow was a dewy wonderland. Three fairies collide against each other, creating a big burst of dew in the air as the ponies stare in awe.
“Ooh! Ahh!” They all said, in unison.
“Haven’t we said that before?” Spike asked.
“We sure did,” Pinkie smiled, showing the script. “At the last chapter too.”
“How did—” Spike began.
But Pinkie throws the script away before he can finish, smiling as if nothing happened.
I wish she'd be more careful. *Dusting the script*
“That was truly enchanting,” Twilight said. “But we should try to look for that missing sheet music.”
“Maybe the fairies can help,” Fluttershy suggests.
“That could work,” Vinyl agreed. “Doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“Allow me,” Fluttershy steps in.
The yellow Pegasus emerges out of the bush to speak to the fairies, who were busily sprinkling dew along the flora. They didn’t notice some pony walking toward them quietly.
“Um, excuse me,” Fluttershy began. “But could you…?”
The fairies heard her and turned around. Before she could finish, the fairies were immediately scared at the sight of something bigger than them. They quickly flew away and ducked into the flowers.
“Oh no, I’m sorry!” Fluttershy said, gently. “Please don’t fly away!”
The fairies’ heads pop out of the flowers one-by-one, for a good look at the visitor.
“It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “My friends and I won’t hurt you.”
The rest of her friends appear from the bush, joining her to show the fairies they’re no threat. The fairies slowly emerge from hiding.
“I’m very sorry,” Fluttershy apologized. “I didn’t mean to frighten you; we just want to ask for help.”
One particular fairy, less scared than the rest, flew cautiously toward the Equestrians. She was close enough to take a good look at them. The fairy makes some kind of magical sparkling sound as most fairies do.
“My name is Fluttershy,” Fluttershy introduced herself. “These are my friends; we come in peace.”
“You can understand them?” Jiminy asked.
“I understand the language of all kinds of creatures.”
“All of them?” Vinyl asked.
“Well, maybe not all of them… Yet,” Fluttershy answers, honestly. “Some are easy to learn, but some take days or longer.”
The fairy made another sparkly sound.
“What is it saying?” Applejack asked.
“That’s a she,” Fluttershy corrected. “She says they’re Sugar Plum Fairies or Dewdrop Fairies. They always sprinkle dew on the flowers before dawn arrives.”
“So… Does this mean the dew in Equestria is created by fairies too?” Spike asked.
“Of course not,” Twilight answered. “Dew is created by low temperature. The air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor.”
“Oh,” Spike nodded.
The fairy spoke again with the same sound.
“It’s nice to meet you, Nightglow,” Fluttershy said.
Suddenly, all the fairies appear from the flowers. They flew towards the ponies, cricket and dragon, surrounding them and studying them curiously.
“So stinkin’ cute,” Pinkie said, trying to contain herself. “It makes me wanna explode!”
Some came a little too close toward Rainbow, making her uncomfortable.
“Okay, don’t try anything funny,” Rainbow warned.
But the fairies drew closer, admiring the pegasus’ mane, tail and wings. All at once, though very small, they began to hug her.
“Hey! What did I just say?”
The other fairies begin to hug the rest.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Twilight smiled.
“Well, what do you know?” Vinyl replied. “They like us!”
“Oh, how lovely,” Octavia said.
“This is so cute!” Pinkie grinned. “I think I peed a little!”
Wide-eyed, Spike took a small step away from Pinkie while the fairies hugged him.
“Be careful where ya hug, little critters,” Applejack warned. “Because on some spots I’m very…”
But suddenly, Applejack tried to hold a laugh. One fairy hugged her along the rib cage.
“No! Not there. That’s where I’m… Ha-ha-ha… Ticklish! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Make it stop!”
Suddenly, Applejack couldn’t stop laughing. Even our little cricket friend wasn’t left out.
“Alright now, take it easy ladies,” Jiminy said, as the fairies hugged him. “Okay, alright. Keep going if you want.”
Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle seeing the little cricket blush. Eventually, the fairies released them from their hugs.
“This is what I want to ask,” Fluttershy continued. “Have you seen some sheet music around here? It’s very important.”
The fairies thought for a moment, till they sadly shook their heads.
“Guess that means ‘no’,” Jiminy said.
“Ooh,” Everypony sighed in unison.
But one fairy made a sparkly sound, pointing toward the forest.
“What is she saying?” Pinkie asked.
“She says we should look in the forest,” Fluttershy said. “Maybe it’s in there.”
“The forest?” Rarity asked, nervously. “In the dark?”
“It won’t be dark for long,” Twilight said, pointing to the horizon. “The sun’s already rising.”
“Then let’s go inside that forest immediately,” Applejack said.
A few fairies appear in front of them, one made a sparkly sound again.
“She says they would love to show us the way,” Fluttershy translates. “They have to go into the forest eventually to spread more dew on the flora.”
“That’s good,” Rainbow said.
“Let’s go!” Spike shouts.
Our Equestrian heroes stroll into the forest, while some fairies guided them. Those staying in the meadow waved ‘goodbye’. As they trekked through the woods, they searched for any sign of the sheet music while the fairies sprinkle dew along the plant life.
“Any sign of that sheet music?” Vinyl asked.
“Nope,” Rainbow shook her head.
“How big is the forest exactly?” Octavia asked.
“I don’t really know,” Fluttershy said.
“Hopefully not too big,” Rarity said, looking around in discomfort.
“You’re not going to complain, are you?” Applejack asked, an eyebrow raised.
“I’ll try my best,” Rarity said.
She wished to complain but didn’t want to give Applejack the satisfaction.
The fairies kept sprinkling dew till one approached the ponies, making a sparkly sound again.
“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy nods. “We understand.”
“What did she say now?” Twilight asked.
“She said this is where she and her fellow fairies will leave us,” Fluttershy translates. “They have lots of work to do, but if we keep walking forward, we’ll find a different species of fairy. They said they can help us.”
“They’re leaving us all alone?” Rarity asked. “In this forest?”
“They have no other choice,” Fluttershy said, regretfully. “They like to join us, but their job comes first.”
The fairy made a sparkly sound, dropping dewdrops along some mushrooms.
“Goodbye,” Fluttershy said. “Thanks for everything.”
In a matter of seconds, the fairies vanish deep into the woods.
“Different species?” Twilight pondered. “Are there other fairies in this realm?”
“If they say so, I believe them,” Fluttershy assured.
“Then let’s move forward,” Twilight suggests.
Suddenly, before they can move on, Spike noticed the mushrooms sprinkled with dew. There were seven of them, six big ones and a very small one. Before his eyes, the weirdest thing happened: The mushrooms began to move.
“Hey, guys!” Spike calls out. “Check this out!”
“What is it, Spike?” Jiminy asked, turning around.
“It’s the mushrooms; they moved!”
The ponies turned toward Spike, who was pointing to the mushrooms.
“Living mushrooms?” Applejack laughed, rubbing the dragon on the head. “Oh Spike, you and your imagination. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever…”
But suddenly, Applejack stopped, and her eyes went wide. The mushrooms were really moving, before the ponies' eyes.
“You were saying?” Spike said, eyebrow raised.
“What the hay?!” Applejack said. “Those mushrooms really move.”
The mushrooms jump and vigorously shook the dew off them. Our heroes didn’t know this yet, but these mushrooms look like little mandarins. They appeared dressed in long robes and wearing coolie hats. The smallest one, Hop Low by name, tried to keep up with his fellow mushrooms while they danced in a circle.
“Well, I’ll be,” Jiminy said, softly.
“That’s so adorable,” Twilight smiled.
“The little one sure is cute too,” Fluttershy added.
The mushrooms jump once more, vigorously shaking while Hop Low shook his bottom. The ponies couldn’t help but giggle at the silly cuteness of the tiniest mushroom. The mushrooms dance in a circle again while Hop Low was once again out of step, trying to keep up. They gather together and the big mushrooms form two groups of three. The two groups walk to a different side of their little dance field, bowing with one small jump. Hop Low, who was about to walk through the middle, took a big jump. He slowly walks and bows a few times.
“Aw, aren’t they the cutest?” Applejack said.
“They dance rather nicely too,” Octavia added.
The mushrooms repeat the same process, each taking the opposite side, bowing and jumping again while Hop Low jumps higher. The tiny mushroom walked through the middle, taking a few bows till he reached the end. They jumped again, moving their feet and walking different directions. The shapes of their hats shift every now and then. They repeat the process with Hop Low struggling to keep up. Then their hats assume the same size, walking like a train in different directions. Hop Low ran as quick as he could to catch up. But suddenly, he tripped and fell out of the dance field.
“Oh my,” Fluttershy gasped, peering down. “Are you okay?”
Hop Low shook off his daze, rejoining the other mushrooms while they dance in a circle. Suddenly, they stood still and took one deep bow. Hop Low was in the midst of the group, taking a bow too, ending the dance.
The ponies, dragon and cricket clap their hooves, claws and hands.
“Alright!” Vinyl cheered.
“Woohoo!” Pinkie yelled. “Encore! Encore!”
“Bravo!” Spike cheered.
The mushrooms look up toward their big audience, taking another bow.
“That was simply gorgeous,” Rarity said.
“That was the cutest thing EVER!” Pinkie said.
“Say guys, maybe they can help us find the sheet music,” Spike suggests.
“I can ask them,” Fluttershy offers.
The yellow Pegasus brought her attention toward the mushrooms.
“Excuse me, Mr… Or Ms. Mushroom? Could you help us search for a sheet music hidden somewhere in this forest? We really need it. Have you seen it somewhere?”
The mushroom thought until all, except Hop Low, shook their head. The littlest one was still thinking.
“They don’t know?” Rainbow asked.
“Apparently not,” Fluttershy sighed.
“D’oh!” Twilight groaned. “Well, it was worth a try.”
Hop Low stopped thinking and jumped high as he could in the air.
“Hey, I think the little one knows something,” Spike said.
“Have you seen it?” Fluttershy asked.
Hop Low nodded, hopping over and over.
“Where?”
The little mushroom tilts its body to the right.
“That way?”
Hop Low nodded in response.
“Can you show us the way?” Twilight asked.
Suddenly, all the mushrooms gather together and strolled toward the direction Hop Low showed as the Equestrians follow them.
“Now we’re talking,” Applejack said.
“Follow those mushrooms,” Jiminy ushered.
Our heroes follow the tiny mushrooms, as they led them deep into the forest. After a few minutes, they reach a brook near some trees with blossoms of various color. They search around, but not a sign of sheet music was in sight.
“Are you sure you saw it here?” Fluttershy asked.
Hop Low nodded.
“But I don’t see the sheet music.”
“It’s possible that it disappears and reappears now and then,” Spike suggests.
“Guess we better keep searching this spot,” Vinyl said.
“Thank you again for showing the way, little mushrooms,” Fluttershy said. “That was a very cute dance.”
The mushrooms bow and waddled away.
“They’re leaving us already?” Rainbow asked.
“They probably have stuff to do,” Applejack said.
Rarity couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful environment.
“Oh my!” She gasped. “This place is simply lovely.”
“We should have a picnic here,” Pinkie suggests.
“That’s a good idea,” Rainbow said. “I am hungry.”
“Did we actually bring something to eat?” Applejack asked.
Everypony began to think, not considering packing for this trip.
“Don’t worry, guys!” Pinkie speaks up. “I’ve thought of everything!”
From her mane, Pinkie pulls out her friends’ saddlebags placing them along the grass and takes out everything they need: A blanket, food, drinks, etc.
“Wow!” Vinyl said, wide-eyed. “Thanks, Pink!”
“Guess we forgot to prepare our saddlebags,” Rainbow said. “But it’s good we can always count on you.”
“Aw, it was nothing,” Pinkie replied. “Although it’s possible the writer forgot to have you prepare your saddlebags.”
Well, excuuuuuuuuuuse me, Pinkie!
Everypony looked at Pinkie appropriately confused.
“Right…” Rainbow said, awkwardly.
“Who wants sandwiches?” Pinkie asked, pulling out a tray of sandwiches.
Thirty minutes passed and the group enjoyed a wonderful picnic together between the silence and beauty of the forest.
“Mmm, those sandwiches really are delicious, Pinkie Pie,” Applejack said, between bites.
“Thanks, I prepared them this morning in case the book summoned us,” Pinkie replied. “Guess I was right on time!”
Twilight looks toward the sky, watching the colorful, glowing orbs flying around. She knows exactly who they are.
“Hey, look! It’s the fairies!”
The little creatures flew around, sprinkling dew along the plants and flowers. They even sprinkled the blossoms on a tree before flying away.
“Still sprinkling that dew, huh?” Vinyl said.
“Looks that way,” Twilight nodded.
“Well, they’re doing a divine job,” Rarity replied.
“Yes indeedy!” Pinkie nodded, rapidly.
Suddenly, without any pony noticing, four dewdrops dripped from the trees into the brook. Octavia soon saw the pink blossoms starting to fall.
“Hey, look guys!” She pointed.
Soon the others noticed the falling flowers.
“What beautiful pink flowers!” Rarity said.
One by one, the flowers softly land along the water surface. Yellow flowers begin to drop from one of the trees, blue ones following after.
“So many colors!” Pinkie smiled.
The flowers slowly drift down the surface while the ponies watch.
“This place could give me some inspiration for my newest couture,” Rarity said.
“I bet it’s going to be beautiful,” Twilight said.
“How about you, Tavi?” Vinyl said, nudging her friend. “Found your inspiration?”
“I’m working on it,” Octavia replied. “But I think it’s coming piece by piece.”
“That’s the spirit!” Vinyl said, tussling Octavia’s mane. “Keep going that way and you’ll find your inspiration before we get back to Equestria!”
As Octavia fixes her mane, a single white blossom slowly falls toward the surface. When it touches the water, the Equestrians are in for a surprise. The flower’s petals flatten, slowly curving backward until it was completely inverted. The same happened with the other flowers.
“Did you see that?” Rainbow points out.
“Those flowers inverted themselves!” Rarity gasped.
“They’re alive,” Fluttershy said. “Just like the mushrooms.”
“They almost look like… Ballerinas!” Twilight observed.
The flowers begin to dance along the water, the white flower surrounded by eight orange ones. The orange flowers went backwards, as six pink ones surround the white one.
“Well, this is something I could watch all day,” Jiminy said.
“This is gorgeous!” Rarity said.
While the flowers dance, Twilight noticed Pinkie dancing along.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?” She asked.
“Dancing along,” Pinkie replied, mid-dance. “You should try it too!”
The ponies watch the flowers surrounding the white one, as it started to spin around like a ballerina taking the spotlight. Pinkie began to spin around too, imitating the white flower.
“Those flowers sure can dance,” Applejack said.
The spotlight disappears, as all the flowers dance around in a circle while the white flower kept spinning. The flowers went through the openings of the tree roots not too deep within the brook.
“They’re going through the tree roots,” Twilight points out. “Let’s follow them.”
Twilight uses her magic to grab everything, putting them neatly in the saddlebags.
“Well come on, follow the flowers!”
Together they went after the flowers.
“You sure we should go underneath the roots?” Rarity asked. “In the water?”
“If we don’t want to lose them, then yes,” Twilight nodded. “Maybe they can lead us to the sheet music.”
“But we won’t fit through those tree roots,” Applejack points out.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this!”
Twilight places her hoof in the water, quickly pulling it away.
“Brr… Chilly!”
Quickly, Twilight jumped into the water.
“Come on, every pony! Hurry up!”
“But I don’t want to get my mane wet,” Rarity complained.
“Just get in!” Rainbow said, shoving Rarity into the water.
As Rarity emerged, turning to Rainbow with her mane over her face, Pinkie rushed in and jumped.
“Cannonball!”
Pinkie Pie splashed into the brook, while the others followed. It was a bit chilly, but their bodies adjusted. They swam toward the tree roots, but as Applejack points out they were too big to squeeze through.
“Told ya we won’t fit,” Applejack said.
“Alright, gather around,” Twilight instructs.
Twilight charged her horn and with a purple flash of light, the ponies were tiny enough to go through the roots. This was a new experience for Vinyl and Octavia.
“Yippee!” Pinkie squeaked. “We’re tiny again!”
“Just when I thought I couldn’t get any smaller,” Jiminy remarked.
“Alright, everypony,” Twilight said. “This way!”
The tiny companions swam through the roots. Meanwhile, all the flowers made it to the other side spinning around like ballerinas. The heroes watched them fall down the waterfall with the white flower falling last.
“Did you see that?” Octavia said. “They fell down a waterfall.”
“I hope the flowers are okay,” Spike said.
“I’ll check it out!” Rainbow said.
The blue Pegasus flew out of the water and over the waterfall, searching for the flowers. She sees them dancing away, carried by the stream.
“They’re alright!” Rainbow calls out. “They’re dancing further downstream; the waterfall isn’t long!”
“Is it safe?” Twilight asked.
“You bet!” Rainbow answered, rejoining her friends.
“So… We’re going down the waterfall?” Spike asked.
“Guess we are,” Twilight answered.
“Ooh! Is it like that theme park ride where you go down a waterfall and get really wet?” Pinkie asked, excitedly.
“Uhhhhhhhh?” Twilight could only say.
“Oh, please no!” Octavia pleaded to herself.
“Tavi, you do know we are already wet, right?” Vinyl said.
“Oh, right,” Octavia realized.
“I say ‘Bring it on’!” Pinkie said, swimming toward the waterfall.
“Wait for us, Pinkie!” Jiminy calls out.
They all swam toward the waterfall, trusting Rainbow. Approaching the edge, they quickly fell down to the stream where bubbles emerged. They screamed a little mid-fall before… SPLASH! They all hit the water, eventually their heads pop out gasping for air.
“See?” Rainbow said, who hovered over them. “Told you it wasn’t long.”
The ponies look around and notice somepony was missing.
“Pinkie?” Twilight asked, looking around. “Where’s Pinkie?”
Everypony looked around, assuming they lost their friend. Suddenly, her head pops out of the water.
“Hey guys!” Pinkie said, gleefully.
“Pinkie? Where were you?” Rarity questioned. "Don’t ever do that again; we thought we lost you!”
“Sorry, everypony,” Pinkie replied. “You see when we fell from that waterfall, I was searching underwater.”
“Searching underwater?” Vinyl asked.
“Yes indeedy. This might sound weird, but I have a feeling we should search in the water for the sheet music instead of following those flowers.”
“Is that your Pinkie Sense telling you that?” Rainbow asked. “Or are you just fooling around?”
“I swear I’m not joking… This time. If this sheet music could be anywhere, we should look underwater too. Right?”
Everypony faced Pinkie Pie with confusion.
“Is anypony following her?” Rainbow asked.
“I think we should follow her plan,” Twilight suggests. “She does have a point: The sheet music could be anywhere. Let’s do it!”
Pinkie squeed, having a pony who agrees with her.
“Let me get this straight,” Octavia said. “You want us to search for sheet music in the water?”
“Uh-huh!” Pinkie nodded.
“But wouldn’t we drown?” Vinyl asked.
“I can make air bubbles that allow us to breathe air while underwater,” Twilight explains. “We’ve done this before.”
“So, I suppose we’re going underwater?” Rarity asked.
“I guess we are.” Twilight answered.
Twilight charged her horn and with one flash of magic, air bubbles appear around everypony’s head except for Jiminy Cricket.
“Why doesn’t Jiminy get an air bubble?” Vinyl asked.
“I don’t need one,” Jiminy answered. “I’m a cricket.”
“Different breathing system,” Fluttershy whispers to Vinyl and Octavia.
“Ooh!” They said, understandingly.
“Everypony ready?” Twilight asked.
“Ready!” They answered in unison.
“Let’s dive!”
The heroes dive into the water, swimming below the depths of the stream toward a forest of water plants gracefully undulating in the current.
“Wow! Look at this place,” Vinyl said, looking around. “It really looks different when we’re tiny.”
“You said it,” Pinkie nodded. “If we had our seapony tails, we’d be tiny fishes.”
“You said you did the air bubble thing before?” Octavia asked, swimming beside Twilight.
“It’s a spell Princess Skystar of the Hippogriffs taught me,” Twilight explained. “I used it when we dove with Pinocchio, a puppet animated by magic, into the ocean to retrieve his father.”
“What was his father doing in the ocean? Did he drown?”
“No, he was very much alive. He was just swallowed by a whale.”
“A whale?” Octavia asked, in fear and wonder.
“A very scary one too,” Jiminy added. “His name was Monstro, he could eat an entire ship with one bite.”
Octavia gulped at Jiminy’s words.
“But don’t worry, we took care of him,” Rainbow said, smugly.
“You mean after he whacked you to the other side of the world?” Applejack said.
Rainbow’s eyes went wide, glaring toward Applejack disapprovingly.
“I was hoping we’d never talk about that.”
Twilight looks around and suddenly spots something that made her eyes widen.
“Shh! Be quiet.”
“Why?” Rainbow asked.
“Shh… Because I have a feeling we’re being watched,” Twilight said.
She points to a small grotto to the right. In the darkness, two big eyes watch the ponies, dragon and cricket. They didn’t know what it could be: A predator? A harmless creature?
“Wha-wha-wha-wha-what is that?” Spike asked, shivering in fear.
“I-I don’t know,” Twilight said.
The creature stares at them for a few seconds, then swam away leaving a trail of bubbles behind.
“It’s gone!” Spike said.
“I think we spooked it,” Fluttershy said.
“Well, whatever it was, it’s gone now,” Vinyl said.
“Let’s swim further,” Twilight instructs.
They swam along until they spot some pink see-through water plants.
“Ooh, those are gorgeous plants!” Rarity said.
“I don’t think those are plants,” Twilight shook her head.
When they take a closer look, something moved underneath the plant. It made them realize it wasn’t a plant at all.
“Those aren’t plants,” Applejack said. “They’re goldfish.”
Maybe they can help us,” Pinkie said. “Excuse me!”
The fish saw the ponies and quickly swam away.
“Wait! Don’t go away!”
“Pinkie, don’t yell!” Twilight said.
“Oops,” Pinkie said, covering her muzzle. “Sorry!”
Pinkie’s yell caused the whole group to cover their ears.
“We should keep swimming,” Twilight said. “Maybe there’s some other fish that can help us.”
They swam further through the water plants, as rays of sunshine appears above. Another goldfish, with a see-through tail, swam around.
“Look, another goldfish,” Octavia points out. “Let’s ask that one.”
“I’ll do it,” Fluttershy offered, swimming toward the fish. “Um, excuse me, Miss Goldfish. Can you help us? We’re searching for a…”
But before Fluttershy could finish, the goldfish quickly swam away the minute it saw her.
“Oh my! I didn’t say or do anything wrong, did I?”
“I think the fish are scared because we are new to them,” Twilight said.
“Guess we better hope the other fish are helpful,” Rainbow said.
As they swam through the underwater world, more goldfish saw them and swam off in fear.
“They just keep swimming away from us,” Spike noted.
“It’s no use,” Applejack said. “I guess it’s up to us to search for that sheet music.”
“We can try looking inside that cave over there,” Pinkie points to a cave, not far away.
“Okay, what have we got to lose?” Twilight asked.
As they searched the cave, another fish appears behind a water plant. It peers toward the group for a moment, then swam away leaving bubbles behind.
“Do we really have to go in there?” Fluttershy asked, worriedly. “I don’t like dark caves.”
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy,” Pinkie said, patting Fluttershy’s head. “Your auntie Pinkie Pie is here to protect you.”
“Do I still need to remind you I’m a year older than you?” Fluttershy asked, annoyed.
Nopony answered. They swam inside the cave as Twilight, Rarity and Vinyl used their horns to light their way along the dark path. Another goldfish peers behind a corner, sees the Equestrians, and quickly swam away.
“Well, there swims another one,” Vinyl said, dryly.
Suddenly, a strange light appears, and the group is surprised by three moving shadows along the cave wall moving a graceful, languid way. The ponies, dragon and cricket look behind them and see the shadows belong to three yellow goldfish with blue spots swimming behind a red coral. The Equestrians sigh in relief. But they soon noticed these goldfish weren’t scared of them, not one bit. Rather, the fish stared at them curiously.
“Hey, these ones aren’t scared,” Spike said.
“You’re right, Spike,” Twilight said.
The goldfish swam high above the coral. Two of them look at the ponies with a smile, while the third danced in a circle.
“Are they… Dancing?” Rainbow asked.
“I think so,” Spike answered.
The fish swam down and up, over their heads. Suddenly, pink goldfish appeared and swam in a circle. Their heads came close to each other and span around like a windmill, as our heroes watched.
“This is new,” Applejack replied.
The lights dim, as the pink goldfish swam away, and six black goldfish appear from above. They land with their heads on the ground, their tails high in the air. Our heroes didn’t know how to respond until they noticed something glowing covered by the fishes’ tails.
“What’s that glow behind them?” Rainbow asked.
The goldfish lower their tails revealing a beautiful white goldfish with a glittery see-through tail. The Equestrians couldn’t help but stare while she swam around and performed a graceful dance.
“Wow,” Jiminy said, impressed.
“That fish is so beautiful,” Spike replied, till he saw Rarity. “Oh, um, I mean… She’s pretty nice for a fish.”
“It’s alright, Spike,” Rarity giggled. “That goldfish is rather gorgeous.”
The goldfish came close toward Spike and Jiminy, blowing them a bubble. Then she did a tail move, leaving bubbles behind while she danced. She sways her tail first, as she swam a little higher. She twirls around, her tail covering her making her look more beautiful. The whole time the boys couldn’t help but blush.
“She sure is lovely,” Fluttershy said. “She almost looks like Cleo.”
“Cleo?” Vinyl asked.
“Geppetto’s goldfish,” Fluttershy answered. “Geppetto is Pinocchio’s father.”
“Oh,” Vinyl nods, understandingly.
“Her moves are so graceful,” Octavia observed.
“It’s pretty nice,” Rainbow admits.
The fish came closer, doing another tail move while leaving a trail of bubbles. The black fish surround her, covering her a tad. Then both the black fish and white fish approached the ground. The white fish twirls, covering herself with her tail, while the black fish covered her completely with their tails creating bubbles in the process. The ponies, dragon and cricket couldn’t help but clap their hooves/claws/hands.
“That was amazing!” Pinkie said.
“Pretty good,” Vinyl nodded.
“Beautiful!” Jiminy said.
“As pretty as it was,” Twilight cut in. “I think we should look further for…”
Before she could finish, one of the bubbles became big and slowly came toward her and her friends.
“Twilight, why is that bubble growing and coming toward us?” Octavia asked.
“Should we run?” Applejack asked. “I mean swim?”
“Come on, girls,” Twilight said. “Bubbles are harmless; nothing’s gonna…”
But Twilight didn’t get to finish when the bubble caught the group and carried them to a new, unfamiliar place.
“… Happen?”
“Uh, where are we?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t know,” Twilight said, looking around. “I don’t think we’re in the forest anymore.”
“It sure is a little empty around here,” Fluttershy added.
“A little?” Rainbow asked.
“Where do we go now?” Octavia asked.
“I don’t know,” Twilight admits. “Let me think.”
Pinkie looked around and spot something unusual: A group of thistles.
“Hey, guys! Look at this!”
The other ponies, dragon and cricket turned toward Pinkie’s direction.
“Those are thistles, Pinkie,” Applejack said. “So what?”
“Well, don’t you think it’s weird they’re the only things in this place?” Pinkie inquired.
“Hmm… It is strange to have thistles in one place with nothing else around,” Twilight observes.
Pinkie reached her hoof out to touch one of the thistles when suddenly, to everypony’s surprise, they leapt in the air and danced.
“WAH!” Everypony screamed.
“Tho-tho-those thistles are alive!” Rainbow said.
The thistles look more like Cossacks with belted blouses, tall hats and boots. They dance wildly while more thistles appear with flower heads of a different color. Some of them span around in the air as part of their dance. The ponies were completely surprised and confused, as eight of the thistles approached the mares, bowing and offering a leaf as a request to dance along.
“Are they asking us to dance with them?” Applejack asked, confused.
“I guess so,” Fluttershy said.
“I’d love to!” Pinkie said, excitedly. “This dance looks super-duper fun!”
She took the leaf of one thistle and danced along. Twilight faces Vinyl in confusion, while the DJ pony just shrugs.
“Oh, what the hay!” Applejack said, grabbing a thistle’s leaf to dance.
“Should we…?” Spike asked Jiminy.
“I guess we don’t have anything to lose,” Jiminy said.
The two began to follow the steps of the thistles. It didn’t take long before they all joined, though Fluttershy felt unsure at first. But the thistle who asked her gave her some courage and soon she danced along. They first followed the thistles’ steps, which weren’t easy, but they were fast learners.
“They sure know how to dance,” Applejack replied, dancing with the thistles.
“It’s a bit wild, but still brilliant!” Rarity said, dancing along.
Suddenly, a group of orchids of various colors, that almost look like peasant girls in quaint headdresses and bulging skirts, arrived on the dance floor. Two of them offer their leaves to dance with Spike and Jiminy.
“Um, I don’t know if I… Whoa!”
Spike never finished when one of the orchids grabbed him and swung him in the air.
“Oh, well,” Jiminy shrugged, jumping onto an orchid’s leaf.
The thistles appear from the air, landing on the ground as they danced. Then they jump high in the air along with the Equestrians.
“This is all kind of unexpected…” Vinyl noted. “I love it!”
Many thistles danced with the orchids in pairs, while others danced with the mares. Spike first danced with an orchid, then with Rarity.
“Oh my, Spikey-wikey,” Rarity said. “I didn’t know you can dance like that.”
“If a bunch of thistles can do this,” Spike said. “Then dragons can too!”
One thistle grabbed Octavia, lifting her high in the air before bringing her back to the ground.
“Oh goodness!” She said in surprise.
Jiminy and Pinkie danced like real Cossacks, their arms crossed against their chests and their feet/hooves doing all the work. Pinkie even wore a Cossack hat and boots for fun.
Don’t ask where she got them.
Then they all dance around and around until they almost got dizzy. Then they all struck a pose, ending the dance. The ponies, dragon and cricket were breathing heavily.
“That… Was… AWESOME!!!” Rainbow said, excitedly.
“That was intense,” Fluttershy smiled. “But… I actually liked it.”
“Oooh….”
The gang turned and noticed Twilight, her eyes rolling in dizziness.
“I think I danced around and around for too long…”
Then she held a hoof to cover her mouth, preventing her from throwing up, before rushing toward a corner where no one can see.
“I… I’ve never done something like that before,” Octavia said.
“You know what they say, Tavi?” Vinyl replied. “There’s a first time for everything.”
“I… I kind of liked it,” Octavia smiled.
“Me too!” Jiminy said. “Haven’t danced like this since college.”
The thistles and orchids stood upright, looked toward the Equestrians, while they did the same. Twilight just returned, wiping her mouth clean.
“Ahem, well uh…” Twilight began. “That was a great dance.”
“You dance rather well for flowers,” Rarity compliments.
The thistles and orchids bow as a sign of gratitude and as a compliment for the dancing of our heroes.
“I don’t suppose you know where we can find sheet music, do you?” Twilight asked.
The thistles and orchids look behind them, pointing in that direction. A bright light appears, revealing a new part of the forest.
“Look, the forest!” Jiminy points out.
“It’s a part we’ve never seen before,” Spike notes.
“The sheet music has to be there,” Twilight said, turning toward the flowers. “Thank you!”
The flowers bow then form two lines to make a pathway for the Equestrians.
“My, they’re quite courteous too!” Rarity said.
The group walks toward the forest leaving the thistles and orchids behind. It took a matter of seconds to reach the new section of the forest. Soon enough, they found themselves on a grassy field surrounded by trees. The sun was up, and its warmth made the Equestrians very happy.
“Ah, so nice to see the sun again,” Rarity said.
“Me too,” Applejack said.
But there was one thing they noticed: The forest is bigger.
“Is it me or has the forest become larger?” Spike asked.
“We’re still small, Spike,” Twilight points out.
“Oh yeah, the shrinking spell,” Spike remembers. “Totally forgot."
They examine a few plants, when suddenly a pair of wings emerged.
“Hey, look!” Jiminy points out, as more wings appear.
“Those are fairies,” Fluttershy smiled. “They must be the other species Nightglow mentioned.”
“Let’s ask them for help,” Vinyl suggests.
They walk toward the flowers as the fairies awoke from their sleep. These fairies were indeed different, as they were green in color. They yawned and, to their surprise, saw the ponies, dragon and cricket all the same size as them.
“Greetings, fairies!” Pinkie greeted. “Do not fear us, we’re in need of your assistance.”
The fairies looked at each other, confused.
“Maybe you should let Fluttershy do the talking,” Rainbow advised.
“Why? Wasn’t I convincing enough?” Pinkie asked.
“You were a little too convincing, Pinkie,” Rainbow answered, dryly.
“Hello, I’m Fluttershy and these are my friends,” Fluttershy said, approaching the fairies. “We’re looking for a missing sheet music. A dewdrop fairy named Nightglow said you could help us.”
The fairies looked at each other and one spoke with a sparkly sound, just like the other fairies.
“Oh yes! She and a few other fairies guided us through a small part of the forest. We’ve searched everywhere, but we still haven’t found the sheet music. Can you help us?”
One of the fairies spoke with the same jingle, before flying in the air. A few seconds later, she returns with two orange fairies and spoke to Fluttershy again.
“Really?” Fluttershy asked. “Oh, thank you!”
“What did she say?” Twilight asked.
“The Summer Fairies would’ve liked to help, but they can’t,” Fluttershy explained. “But she said the Autumn Fairies can surely help. They’re going to fly through the forest with more fairies to bring Autumn. I think these fairies are responsible for changing the seasons in this realm.”
“Just like us ponies do in Equestria,” Twilight smiled.
“Wow!” Octavia said, impressed.
One of the two Autumn Fairies spoke to Fluttershy.
“She said they’d love to help us find the sheet music,” Fluttershy explained again. “We just need to follow them in the air while they make the leaves fall.”
“But some of us can’t fly,” Applejack points out. “How are we gonna follow them without wings?”
Suddenly, a few Autumn Fairies flew down. The Equestrians who don’t fly were air-lifted by two fairies, as they pulled them up in the air.
“Guess this answers my question,” Applejack replied, while she’s lifted in the air.
“Come on!” Rainbow said. ‘Let’s follow them!”
Rainbow spreads her wings, flying into the air. Twilight and Fluttershy did the same and followed the rest, while the Summer Fairies flew away. While up in the air, more fairies flew around. Their presence made the leaves of the trees change color and the ponies watch the leaves become goldish brown.
“Wow, they’re doing a good job,” Vinyl said, while two fairies held her.
“They sure do,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia would love this. Autumn or Fall is her favorite season.”
“Really?” Octavia asked. “I didn’t know that.”
“Now you do,” Pinkie said, winking.
One fairy flew towards a plant with many leaves. She lands on it and with one touch, the leaves turned gold. It stops at the small end of the plant, while there was a longer end with more leaves. With a single touch, the rest of the leaves turned gold too.
“Amazing!” Applejack said, watching the fairy.
Together, they flew through the leaves of the trees changing the colors. Eventually, the leaves began to fall down.
“You know, if we had more ponies,” Applejack said. “We could do a Running of the Leaves to help these fairies.”
“If they need help, they got it,” Rainbow said. “Hey, Flutters! Wanna help me get those leaves from the trees?”
“I’d do anything to help,” Fluttershy replied.
They both flew towards some of the leaves, flapping their wings to create a strong wind to make them fall. The fairies appreciated the help from the two Pegasi. While the leaves fell, two red leaves fell together. Two fairies flew around them to make them stay longer in the air. It almost looks like the leaves were dancing.
“Huh, it’s like those leaves have a mind of their own,” Rainbow observed. “Come on, let’s fly around them too!”
The leaves flew in the air till Rainbow and Flutters flew around them, keeping them in midair for a few seconds. Suddenly, a whole bunch of leaves drop from the trees along with smaller leaves shining in the light. Twilight couldn’t help but stare at this scenery.
“This is so pretty,” She said.
“Beautiful!” Rarity exclaimed.
“Who knew Autumn could be this nice?” Jiminy said.
While the leaves kept falling, the fairies went toward some branches with Old Man’s Beards seed heads. With one touch, the seeds fell from the branch and the fairies grab onto them while they flew away.
“That looks like fun!” Pinkie said. “Let me try!”
She grabbed onto a seed and the fairies release her, letting her float in the air screaming “Wheee!”. Another fairy lands on a milkweed pod, which opens after one touch and lots of milkweed seeds emerged. The seeds look very silky and most of all, they looked like ballerinas.
“Those look fluffy,” Pinkie said.
Pinkie was still holding onto an Old Man’s Beard seed, when the two fairies grabbed her.
“Aw, I wanted to fly a little longer!” Pinkie pouted.
The milkweed seeds flew close to the ponies, one tickling Octavia’s nose and she began to sneeze. Twilight noticed Octavia’s eyes became red and tired.
“Are you alright, Octavia?” She asked.
“It’s my allergies,” Octavia said. “Those seeds are triggering it.”
“Excuse me, can you get her away from those seeds?” Twilight asked the two fairies holding Octavia. “She’s allergic.”
The fairies nodded, flying away from the seeds. Ironically enough, they flew right next to two fairies holding Vinyl.
“Hey Tavi, is this fun or what?!” She asked.
“Yeah, totally,” Octavia said, sniffling.
“Allergies again?”
“Mm-hmm,” Octavia nodded.
Lots of leaves pushed the milkweed seeds away and flew in various directions while the fairies, Rainbow and Fluttershy kept going passed the trees making the leaves drop, along with a little help from the wind. The leaves and milkweed seeds got close to the ground. One of the fairies began speaking to the ponies.
“She said we’re going to a lake,” Fluttershy translated. “That’s where they’ll leave us.”
The same fairy spoke again, as Fluttershy continued translating.
“Winter will be coming soon. During that time, the Frost Fairies wake up and ice everything. They would have no problem helping us too.”
“Alright,” Twilight understood.
“Looks like winter comes pretty fast,” Pinkie noted. “Too fast actually.”
Meanwhile, all the leaves and seeds land on the ground while the fairies and the Equestrians flew away. In minutes, they arrive at a lake while the fairies released the ponies and dragon who can’t fly before leaving. One of the fairies stopped to wave them goodbye.
“Goodbye!” Fluttershy said, waving back. “Thank you for everything!”
The Equestrians look around the new landscape.
“Well, we’re alone… Again,” Spike said, sarcastically.
“Don’t worry,” Applejack assured. “Those fairies said we’d get help from the Frost Fairies.”
“But where are they?” Rainbow asked.
Suddenly, atop the branches of a dried bush, five bright lights shone. The Equestrians look behind them and couldn’t help but stare. The lights reveal five blue fairies who began to slide down the leaves. While they slide, the branches and leaves became frozen. They land in front of the ponies, confused with what they saw. One of them spoke, probably asking who they are.
“Um, my name is Fluttershy and these are my friends,” Fluttershy introduced. “Don’t be scared, we mean no harm. The Autumn Fairies brought us here and said you could help us. We’re searching for sheet music. Can you help us find it?”
The fairies look at each other, then turn back nodding with a smile.
“Oh, thank you!”
One of the fairies look toward the lake, speaking again.
“What did she say?” Spike asked.
“She said we can cross the lake,” Fluttershy answered.
“Cross the lake?” Octavia questioned. “How do we do that?”
“We can’t swim in that lake,” Jiminy points out. “We’d freeze to death.”
Fortunately, the fairies had a better idea. They see a leaf fall into the water and fly towards it. Upon touching the leaf, it froze along with the water. The ice spreads over the entire lake as our heroes stare in amazement.
“Wow!” Rainbow said, in awe. “All that with one touch?”
Applejack approaches the ice to check if it was hard enough.
“It’s pretty thick, we can cross over it.”
She walks along the ice, when she suddenly lost her balance.
“Whoa!”
BAM! Applejack slips and falls face-first onto the hard ice. She slowly raises her face and turns around, showing it was bruised from the fall.
“Ow! It’s a little slippery, but ah think we’ll make it.”
Applejack tries to stand up, only to slip and fall hard again. This time on her rump. Pinkie couldn’t help but giggle.
“You can’t walk on ice bare-hooved, silly,” Pinkie giggled. “There’s only one way to travel on ice.”
Surprisingly, Pinkie took out some ice skates from her mane.
“Put these on. I got pairs for each and every one, even for you Jiminy.
Pinkie hands Jiminy Cricket a tiny pair of ice skates just his size.
“Wow!” Jiminy said. “Thanks Pinkie. That’s very thoughtful of you.”
Jiminy proceeds to slip off his shoes to replace them with the skates.
“We better wear something warm too,” Rarity said. “Don’t want us catching a cold.”
“There should be some scarfs and gloves in the saddle bags,” Pinkie points out.
Everypony opens their saddle bag, retrieving warm clothes. They still couldn’t believe their saddle bags could fit in Pinkie’s hair. The thing that she has a ton of stuff hidden in her mane remains a complete mystery to everypony, but they shook it off and stuck with the fact that it’s just Pinkie Pie. Everypony else, including Spike, wore their ice skates and tightened the laces.
“Okay, we’re ready,” Twilight said.
“Easy, everypony,” Applejack cautioned. “Don’t try to slip.”
They all walked carefully on the ice. Some had a bit of difficulty being their first time, but it was no problem for Jiminy, Pinkie and Rarity. The only one who really needed help was Twilight. She remembered the time she wanted to help Pinkie break the thick ice during Winter Wrap Up Day and since that day she still wasn’t good at it. Her knees wobbled, struggling not to slip and fall. Applejack could see her friend was having trouble.
“Need a little help, sugarcube?” She asked.
“I would love that,” Twilight said.
“I can help too,” Spike offered.
“That’s nice, Spike,” Twilight said, then in a serious tone. “But don’t push me like last time, okay?”
“Okay, okay,” Spike said. “I won’t push.”
While they skate along the ice, the fairies flew and skated along the ice. Pinkie saw they were about to dance and suddenly an idea pops in her head.
“Hey, girls!” Pinkie called, with a smile. “Anypony in the mood for a little ballet?”
“Ballet?” Everypony asked.
“Yeah, the fairies are doing it. We can have some fun too!”
“I’ve never done ballet before,” Twilight admits.
“Me neither,” Applejack added.
“Eh, ballet’s a little sappy for me,” Rainbow said.
“How about you, Rarity?” Pinkie asked. “Wanna join?”
“Me?” Rarity asked.
“Of course, silly-willy!” Pinkie giggled. “I taught you ballet on ice skates, didn’t I?”
“Well… Yes?”
“How’s about putting those skills to the test?”
“Well, um… Sure. I suppose it won’t hurt to show everypony what you taught me.”
“Ooh, this will be so much fun! I even have a feeling we’re getting close to that sheet music.”
Rarity wasn’t sure what her friend meant, but she quickly shrugs it off.
“Allow us to show you how professional ice skaters dance,” Pinkie informs everypony. “Ready, Rarity?”
“Ready!” Rarity answered.
“Let’s dance!”
Together, Pinkie and Rarity skate along the ice and danced with the fairies. They skate around a fern leaf that touched the water. The fairies left ice tracks along the lake while skating. Rarity made a twirl in mid-air and lands perfectly on the ice.
“Way to go, Rarity!” Pinkie complimented. “Those lessons really paid off!”
“I did it!” Rarity said, excitedly. “I can ice dance! Thank you, Pinkie Pie!”
“You’re welcome! Come on, let’s join the fairies!”
The girls skate toward the fairies, following their dance moves. They all had one leg stretched behind them as they skated further. Pinkie and one fairy both did a twirl in the air. They danced in different directions, while skating gracefully.
“You know, those fairies are pretty good too!” Pinkie said to Rarity.
“I agree,” Rarity nodded.
They did multiple dance poses, each one more graceful and beautiful than the previous. Twirls in the air, stretching a leg or dancing in circles with one leg. They even skated backwards. The ponies and Jiminy couldn't help but stare at the talent of the fairies and their two friends, even Spike couldn’t keep his eyes off Rarity. But then the unexpected happened, it began to snow.
“Snow?” Spike asked.
“Winter has come,” Twilight declared.
Because they were still small, the snowflakes were bigger and detailed.
“Wow!” Rainbow said. “I’ve never seen snowflakes this close before.”
“That’s what you get with shrinking spells,” Twilight explains. “You end up in an entirely new world to explore.”
But then they noticed something with the snowflakes, fairies with crowns were wearing them around their bodies and danced around like ballerinas. These were the Snowflake Fairies.
“Look, more fairies!” Jiminy points out.
“They must be a different species too!” Fluttershy observed.
“They’re so beautiful!” Octavia said.
Many Snowflake Fairies land along the lake, twirling around. The snowflakes shone with a beautiful glimmer while Rarity, Pinkie and the two Frost Fairies still danced. It was almost like the Equestrians were watching a live ballet performance. Then Pinkie and Rarity took each other’s hooves and danced around and around. All the fairies kept dancing till Pinkie threw Rarity high in the air, surprising her completely. But while in midair she kept twirling around and around till she fell, and Pinkie caught her in time. The fairies stop dancing while Rarity and Pinkie held a beautiful pose. The ponies stare wide-eyed, even Spike and Jiminy were impressed. They clapped their hooves/claws/hands and whistled. Even the fairies clapped along, as the fashionista and the party pony stood there amongst all the praise.
“Woohoo!” Spike cheered. “Go, Rarity!”
“Brilliant!” Octavia complimented.
“Lovely!” Fluttershy replied.
“Awesome!” Rainbow said.
For a mare who doesn’t love ballet, she sure was impressed by that performance.
Anyways, the ponies, dragon and cricket skate close toward their friends wrapping each other in a warm embrace.
“That was amazing!” Twilight said.
“Now that’s what I call a show!” Vinyl said.
“That was truly a spectacle, girls,” Jiminy replied. “Especially from you, Pinkie Pie. How did you learn to dance like that?”
“I’ve been doing all these things since I was an itty-bitty little-wittle Twinkie-Pinkie,” Pinkie answered. “It runs in the family, even my sister Maud can do it!”
“Well, I’m truly amazed,” Jiminy said. “Even the fairies think it’s good.”
The fairies did indeed, as they gave a few more claps. Spike approaches Rarity, practically dropping to his knees.
“Wow, Rarity. You were like an angel.”
“Why, thank you, Spike,” Rarity said, flattered until she pointed to Pinkie. “But this is a duet.”
Pinkie couldn’t wait to hear Spike’s opinion about her.
“Yeah, yeah,” Spike said, absently. “You were pretty great too.”
Anything that makes Pinkie happy is more than enough.
Suddenly, one of the fairies flew beside Fluttershy and spoke to her.
“What is it?” Fluttershy asked.
The fairy pointed somewhere along the lake. Fluttershy turned and gasped.
“Everypony, look!”
All the ponies, dragon and cricket turned toward Fluttershy’s direction. To their surprise, they saw the blue sheet music floating atop the lake.
“The sheet music!” Twilight smiled. “We found it!”
“I’ll get it,” Fluttershy volunteered.
The yellow Pegasus didn’t get very far when Rainbow stopped her in her tracks.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rainbow said. “Hold on a sec. Maybe Twilight should do it if that one flies away when we get too close.”
“Don’t worry, I’m prepared for anything.”
Rainbow Dash watched as Fluttershy slowly flew towards the sheet music.
“Please don’t screw this up,” Rainbow said, under her breath.
Fluttershy flew closer, but the sheet music didn’t move. It just floated on that same spot. The ponies, dragon, cricket and fairies watch silently and nervously. When she was close, she slowly reached her hoof to grab it. Rainbow was biting her hooves, hoping the sheet music didn’t try any tricks. Suddenly…
“Oh!” Fluttershy gasped.
“Oh no! It flew away!” Rainbow thought to herself. “Now we have to search further; we’ll never get back. We’re gonna…”
“I never thought this sheet music was so soft!”
Rainbow’s eyes went open with confusion and wonder. But to her surprise, it was true: She saw Fluttershy holding the sheet music, giggling.
“It… Didn’t… Fly away…,” Rainbow said, processing. “SERIOUSLY?!?!”
With the sheet music in her hooves, Fluttershy flew back with a smile as her friends cheered for her. Rainbow just stood there, her jaw wide open which Applejack pushed back into place.
“Why didn’t this one fly away?” Spike asked.
“I guess the first one was the only one with a mind of its own,” Fluttershy answered.
“Let’s hope the others don’t make things difficult,” Rainbow said.
Suddenly, a portal opens behind them as Pinkie turns around.
“Hey guys!” Pinkie calls out. “The portal’s open.”
“We better go,” Twilight said. “Deems and Leopold are probably waiting for us.”
But before they turned to leave, they faced the fairies. They looked sad because they admired Rarity and Pinkie’s dancing hoping they’d do some more. They also really liked the other Equestrians and didn’t want them to leave.
“Aw, don’t be sad,” Fluttershy said. “We promise we’ll visit again someday.”
The fairies felt much happier with Fluttershy’s words.
“Thanks for all your help; we really enjoyed ourselves here.”
“Come on, Fluttershy!” Rainbow called out. “Let’s go!”
As Rainbow went through the portal, Fluttershy waved goodbye and entered along with the others.
The Orchestra Stand
Meanwhile, Deems, Leopold and the musicians waited patiently for the ponies return.
“They sure have been gone for a while,” One of the musicians said.
“I don’t blame them,” Deems concurred. “Some of those realms take longer just to find one sheet music.”
Soon their wait was over when the blue songbook began to glow. In a flash, the Equestrians returned and in their full height too.
“Hey, we’re big again!” Applejack said, surprised.
“The songbook must’ve broken the spell to bring us back here,” Twilight said.
“Ah, you’ve returned,” Deems said, approaching the ponies.
“It took a little longer to find the sheet music, but we finally got it,” Twilight said, handing the sheet music. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of the fairies and the other woodland creatures.”
“We even danced with some of them,” Pinkie added.
“You should have seen them, Mr. Taylor,” Jiminy said. “They were outstanding!”
“Did you?” Deems chuckled, holding the sheet music. “Well, I hope you enjoyed it.”
“Oh, we did,” Fluttershy smiled. “It was a very beautiful, peaceful place.”
Deems returned the sheet music to its proper place, next to the other one.
“That makes two. You’re doing great so far. But like I said, the bigger challenges come later.”
“What’s the next one?” Vinyl asked.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in the next realm, you will meet two very special people,” Deems explained. “I think this one will be one of your interest, Princess Twilight. Since this involves magic.”
“Really?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, and I’m very sure you can learn a lot from them.”
The Equestrians look in Deems direction toward a songbook, the one with an orange glow.