“Where you going?” Dollar Sign asked, catching me walking the opposite way I would have if I was heading home to the castle.
“Oh, um...” I said nervously. “I’m, um... I’ve got a few things I have to do for auntie as my punishment.”
“Oh?” she asked with a smirk. “What’s that?”
“Grocery shopping. Now get your nose out of my business!” I snapped.
Dollar Sign stepped back. “Alright! Geez,” she shook her head and trotted off. “Just make sure you’re ready for the party tomorrow. K?”
I nodded with a smile. “Of course. Will be the highlight of my week!”
She nodded. “Well, laters, K!” She blew me a kiss and then was gone.
I rubbed my head. A bit harsh, but the last thing I wanted was for news of who’s sister I had to foal-sit get around. My eyes squinted, thinking, would it really be that bad if anyone knew? All I could do was think about it as I made my way to Shinning's house. Sure, it likely wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but what nopony needed to know wasn’t their business. Then again, how would it look if I was caught lying? Maybe I would at least tell Dollar or Blue on Monday. I had an exciting weekend ahead and could deal with anything else later.
One trot later, I came to the house. Same as I remembered from last time, only out front, was his mother
“Ah, princess!” she exclaimed, a smile that had me stepping back a bit. “You and Shining have a good day?”
I blinked. “Er... yes. It was, alright.”
She continued to grin. “Well, Little Twily’s asleep, so I’ll just leave ya too it if you think you’ll be okay.”
“No! I mean, I’m sure I’ll be okay.” I said, not eager to be alone with this crazy mare longer than I had to be.
“Well then,” she closed her eyes and trotted merrily out of the yard, “you have a good time then sweetheart.”
I nodded sheepishly, not letting my eyes off her until she was out of sight. Then, I hurried up to the house.
Sure enough, I found Twily asleep in her crib in the living room. Cuddling with what i had first took to be a rag, only to find the ugliest looking doll I’d ever seen. Was it suppose to be a mule instead of a pony? Was it even clean.
Disgust aside, her snoring was cute enough to distract from the doll. I’d ask about it later out of curiosity. For now, I could relax at the ease of watching a sleeping filly. A boring amount of free time if I wasn’t to wake her, but I'd take it over something like house painting or volunteering at a rodeo any day. When I went to a bookcase to see if there was anything I would like, I found myself sorely disappointed at the selection. It would seem the household only read Daring Do and other such adventure novels. Namely the former as there seemed to be at least ten copies of every book. While there were a few romances, from how mad that women had to hook me up with her son, i’d figured they’d make up all of her books.
Not finding any of the romance novel’s appealing, I shrugged and took one of the Daring Do books.
My boredom was not to last though. Less than an hour later, I heard Twilight stirring awake. She gave a yawn, followed by some pouting. I raised myself from the couch to see if she needed anything. Praying it would just be to play.
“Hello there, Twily,” I said, gently approaching the crib. “Have a good nap?”
She regarded me solemnly, still holding tight to that rag doll. She then looked all around. Her head sweeping back and forth before asking, “Shinny?”
I half chuckled. “Sorry, he’s not here today. I’ll be watching you for awhile.”
She looked back at me. He eye’s going from innocent, to puzzled as she proceed what I said.
“No Shinny?” she asked. Before I could answer, she wailed, “Bimbo Princess Hurt Shinny!” and cried.
“I didn’t,” I started to lie… wait, lie?! It wasn’t my fault he was in detention or anything. He didn’t have to save my life— Oh, right. I was dodging the blocks she was hurling at me with her magic. One of which, smacked me in the crown. Right between the eyes. Thankfully it wasn’t an edge the struck my face, but it still hurt.
While I winced in pain, Twilight laughed. That was, until she remembered that she was supposed to be mad. However, out of blocks, she simply pouted and turned her back on me.
Sighing, I came up with an idea on the spot before it crossed her mind that magic could probably throw more than wooden blocks.
“No, no!” I protested. “He’s just... gone to learn a special dance for you.”
That caught her attention. She turned her head at me. “Shinny... Dance?”
I giggled at the idea. May as well have some fun out of this. “Yes, a Shiny Dance for his little Twily.” I leaned my head down to her level. “He, um, asked me to keep an eye on you to go learn it. And if you’re a good filly for me, he’ll dance it for you when he gets home.”
She though on it for a moment. I was worried I had either sounded to complicated or if she had bought it at all. Finally, she smiled, and clapped her hooves together. “Shinny dance! Shinny dance!”
I let out a breath. “Yes,” I smiled, “Shinny Dance.” At least now I was eager to see what Shining Armor would do when he got home.
*****
After that, we had a, if not pleasant, engaging time. Sure hanging out with my friends would have been better, but I enjoyed foalsitting for what it was. They were cute when they didn’t poop and Twilight was no exception. What made our time most fun was when I found out I could read a book, and shed happily sit and let me read. Granted it was a Daring Do book, but like Twilight, they grow on you.
Several hours later, the door opened, and in walked Shining Armor. “Twily, I’m home!”
Before I could Great him, Twilight, to my surprise, lifted herself off my lap and levitated herself towards her brother.
“Shinny!” she called out.
“Whoa!” Shining Armor said. “Getting your magic surge in—“
“Shinny Dance!” she giggled.
He blinked. “Huh?”
I was about to explain, before I found myself being lifted into the air. “Hey, wait! What?!” I shrieked.
Still looking a bit confused (if not concerned as well), I start to explain to Shining Armor, “You see, I told her—“ I muffled, as my mouth peeled off my face. For better or worse, it wasn’t as if it was ripped off. Instead, it came off as if they were a pair of toy lips, leaves the spot where I use to have a mouth now nothing more than bare patch of skin. I ran my hoof over the spot, as my lips where levitated towards Twilight in her own magic.
Holding my lips in her magic, she scolded, and point to me, not looking away from her brother. “Shinny, she says learn dance? Dance!”
Shining blinked several times. First to just sister, then to me. When Twilight’s horn began to brighten, he put on a big goofy smile and nodded. “Why yes! Of course. Why don’t you give the princess her mouth back and let me have a word with her?” He briefly scold at me. “I’ll need her help on it and should fill her in.”
Smiling brightly, Twilight return my lips and sat me down.
“Yes!” I nodded vigorously, nervously smiling as Twilight’s horn still lite. Just need to have your brother teach me the dance then we can teach you.” I was pushed into the kitchen before I finished.
“Let me guess,” he asked looking down at me, “funny story?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Well I wasn’t going to say I got you in trouble when she started crying for you?”
“So you think lying was a better idea.”
“Well, I... Well, what would you have—“
There was a loud pop. Followed by Twilight bellowing, “SHINNY DANCE, NOW!”
I pushed Shining Armor back to the living room. “You heard her, dance now, lecture later!” He gave a snort, but after dodging a flying book trotted forward.
While i hadn’t seen many magic surges in my life, I had certainly heard the horror stories. Houses turned inside out, realities altered, missing bodies found months later. Exaggerations I was sure... I hoped.
“Right!” Shining said as Twilight levitated some knives. “My special new dance I spent the day learning for my favorite sister!”
Twilight's magic faded out. As everything feel to the floor.
“Okay... so...” he thought for a moment.
As Twilight’s horn began to glow, I said the first words to come to my mind.
“Sunshine sunshine!”
When Twilight's horn grew brighter Shining Armor followed my lead. “Ladybugs awake!” His front knees bent to doge a book.
Twilight giggled when I imitated her brother.
“Now clap your hooves!” I added, doing just that. “And...”
“Do a little shake.” Shining finished, wagging his rump in the air.
“Seriously?!” I deadpanned.
He shrugged “I might as well get some enjoyment out of this. Now shake!”
I rolled my eyes, turned around, raised my rump in the air, and as i said; “Do a little shake.”
Shining Armor and Twilight giggled as I swayed my hips.
“More!” Twilight clapped.
So we did for several more minutes. The process of Sunshine and ladybugs, to end with my romp in the air while giving it a jiggle. At least wonder boy had to do it to.
Unfortunately, when we tried to stop, Twilight’s mane became a fiery red. Her coat a snow white. “MORE!!”
So we did. For hours, and hours, until at last, their father came home.
“Hey, Shining, did you, eh...” He caught us at another rump shake.
“Help...” Shining coughed, “magic, surge—“
“More!” Twilight demanded, and we got our second wind.
Quick as a flash, their dad raced to a closet, pulled out a ring, and placed it on Twilight’ ring.
We collapsed immediately.
“More!” Twilight demanded, only for nothing to happen.
The last thing I remember before passing out was their dad laughing, saying something about sleep, and then I did so.