//------------------------------// // Shipping Time // Story: Chaos at Mach 20 // by KGB-Agent9347 //------------------------------// “We’re finally done,” Twilight Sparkle said breathlessly, marveling at the fruits of her labor. She swept her gaze across the shelves with an euphoric smile. “Isn’t it beautiful, Spike?” “Yeah, beautiful,” Spike replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice. After six hours of intense book organizing, he had lost the ability to filter his emotions. Slumped over one of the library’s tables, every muscle in his body burned from exhaustion . Rolling his head to the side, he saw Twilight wander around the library with foalish glee. Despite his bitterness at wasting a beautiful day inside the castle, a small chuckle betrayed Spike’s demeanor. I haven’t never seen Twilight this happy in months. Maybe she’s finally getting used to the castle. A warmth blossomed in his chest. I guess spending the afternoon in the library was worth it after all. Spike dragged his aching body off the table and trudged into the hallway. “I’m going to open a window to let in some fresh air.” “Good thinking, Spike. The library has become a bit…stuffy,” Twilight remarked, trotting over to the table holding the two copies of Daring Do’s latest adventure. Spike swung open the castle’s window and gazed the setting sun, letting out a melancholic sigh. Purple-tinged clouds hung over the horizon as the veil of night washed over the distant hills. A faint chorus of birds and crickets permeated the air while the winds carried their tune through the trees. Well, there goes the day. Without any warning, a strong gust blew through the window and knocked Spike off his balance. “Whoa!” Flailing his arms, Spike failed to regain his footing and tumbled on to the floor. A dull ache gripped his head. “Ow.” “Spike? Are you all right?” Twilight emerged from the library. Her eyes shone with worry. “Yeah, I’m fine,” Spike groaned, staggering to his feet and dusting himself off. “I didn’t think the wind would be so strong. I thought the weather ponies said today would be calm.” “It must have blown in from the Everfree,” Twilight said, igniting her horn. A small pouch floated out of the library and dropped into Spike’s claws. “Anyway, this is for you.” Spike loosened the drawstring and felt his jaw go slack as golden light bathed his face. He glanced up at Twilight, eyes wide with disbelief. “Is this really for me?” “Yes, really,” Twilight smiled and affectionately patted Spike on the head. “I felt my number one assistant deserved a reward for all of his hard work. Why don’t you treat yourself at Sugarcube Corner? I heard that Mr. and Mrs. Cake are having a special on gem-encrusted cupcakes. It’ll still be open for a few more hours.” Visions of the delectable treats pranced through Spike’s mind as exhaustion evaporated off his body. “Thanks, Twilight!” He threw his arms around Twilight’s neck and pulled her into a hug before sprinting to the stairwell. “Wait for me!” Twilight giggled, trotting to catching up. “I’ll walk you to the door.” Arriving in the foyer, a violet glow shrouded the castle’s massive doors and pulled them inward. Rays of sunlight flooded into the room, painting a vivid crimson on to the crystalline walls. The aroma of wildflowers wafted into the castle and dispelled the stagnant air. Spike wasted no time in racing out of the gate. “Don’t stay out too long! I want you back here before the moonrise!” Twilight called out as she stood at the threshold. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon,” Spike replied. Only several feet away, a into his mind. Spike slowly came to a halt and turned back to Twilight with an uncertain expression. “Are you going okay? I mean, you’re going to be left all alone in the castle.” “No need to worry, Spike,” Twilight reassured. “Rainbow Dash should be arriving soon. I’ll just wait for her in the foyer. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned it.” “Alright, if you say so…” Spike mumbled, half-believing his own words. Walking past the old tree, the slam of the doors closing reached his ears. He glanced back at the castle then continued along the path. As Ponyville emerged on the horizon, Spike’s fondness for gems reasserted itself. “Twilight said to enjoy myself so that’s what I’m going to do!” He bounded down the dirt trail with the pouch gripped in his claw. The metallic jingle of coins striking each other rang out in the air. In spite of renewed vigor, shreds of doubt lingered in his mind. As Twilight and Spike disappeared down the stairwell, Korosensei loosened his grip from the crystal ceiling and silently dropped to the floor. He waited until the castle had gone silent before passing through the library’s doors. A small gasp escaped Korosensei’s mouth as he stared upon the towering book shelves which lined the room. This certainly eclipses Discord’s personal collection. Noticing the painstaking level of organization, Korosensei felt a pang of guilt while running his tentacle across a row of books. It’s a shame that all of the Princess’s work is about to go to waste. However, I can’t overlook this opportunity to broaden my knowledge on Equestria…and ruffle the Princess’s feathers. Korosensei’s grin turned mischievous as numerous smaller tentacles emerged from his sleeves. “Let’s get to work. Nurufufufufufu…” Lounging on the foyer sofa, Twilight leafed through her old scrapbook. She blissfully stared at pages loaded with pictures and nostalgic keepsakes when a dull knocking emanated from the castle’s door. “Coming!” Twilight levitated her scrapbook back to the corner table before bounding to the door and opening it with a cheery smile. “Rainbow! I’m so glad you could make it!” Twilight’s smile faltered under her friend’s half-lidded glare. “Hey, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash sighed wearily, dragging her hooves over the threshold. “Whatever you have planned for tonight, can we make it quick? It’s getting late and I need to catch up on some sleep.” “Really? I’ve seen you stay up late plenty of times,” Twilight said with a concerned expression. “What has you so tired?” “Some featherbrain busted through all of the clouds in Ponyville!” Rainbow shouted, eyes flaring with indignation. Twilight recoiled in shock, walking back a few steps as her friend went a tirade. “I had to skip my afternoon nap to work overtime and reschedule Ponyville’s weather for next week! And I even had to issue a formal apology at an emergency meeting of the Ponyville Agricultural Council! Do know how many ponies I have to consult before I can finalize the weather? Well, do you?!” “Of course I do,” Twilight stated calmly, regaining a degree of her composure. “As a princess, it’s my job to know everything about the public institutions of Equestria. That includes the weather team and their planning process.” “Oh…right,” Rainbow said quietly, her ears drooping from embarrassment. “Sorry for unloading on you like that, Twilight. I’m just really tired. Let’s get this over with so I can go home and sleep.” “It’s okay, Rainbow. We all have bad days.” Twilight flashed a sympathetic smile and turned toward the stairs. “If you’ll come with me, I have something in the library that will lift your spirits.” As Twilight giddily trotted up the stairs, Rainbow groaned and momentarily glanced back at the door which she had left ajar. I’ve already made the trip here so there’s no point in leaving now. She exhaled sharply and pushed the massive door shut before following her friend to the castle’s upper level. Rainbow crossed into the library where Twilight eagerly awaited her arrival. She stood next to a table with a pair of books resting on top. What’s got so excited? As the covers’ details came into view, Rainbow quickened her pace, galloping to the table and leaning over for closer look. “No way! Is this…” “The latest entry in the Daring Do series?” Twilight asked with a benevolent smirk, delighting in the spectacle of Rainbow’s rapidly shifting expressions. The scowl of exasperation dominating her face evaporated, replaced by a smile of foalish exuberance. “Why, yes it is. The publisher sent me some early copies at A.K. Yearling’s request. You’re the first pony I thought of after receiving them in the mail.” “Twi, I don’t know how to thank you enough. This is awesome!” Rainbow pulled Twilight into hug. “It totally makes up for everything that happened today.” After holding the embrace for a minute, self-awareness struck Rainbow like a pile of bricks. She blinked and hastily released her grip on Twilight before attempting to salvage her image. “I mean, that’s really cool of you. Thanks.” “You’re welcome, Rainbow,” Twilight said while stifling a giggle. “Sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier but there wasn’t any openings in my schedule. Spike and I spent the morning working through a mountain of paperwork before we finally organized the library.” She gestured proudly at the massive collection of book which lined the walls. “Every book is on the proper shelf, organized by subject, cross-referenced by author, and reverse-indexed by publication date.” Rainbow trotted over to the nearest shelf and titled her head, scrutinizing the amassed literature. “Are you sure about that? I’m no librarian but even I know that Zebraka: Unmasked shouldn’t be next to The Colt of Monte Cristo.” Twilight rolled her eyes and trotted to the shelf where her friend was standing. “Very funny, Rainbow. I personally triple-checked every shelf before finishing up. There’s no possible way that-“ Twilight stopped dead in her tracks, eyes nearly bugging out of her head. “You’re right…” she said incredulously before turning her gaze to the rest of the library. To her horror, a cursory glance revealed a slew of sorting errors among the other shelves. A heavy silence washed over the library as Twilight fell to her haunches. Rainbow stared at her crestfallen friend, worry creeping into her heart. This is bad. I haven’t seen Twi like this since her brother’s wedding. I have to do something to cheer her up. Twi would do the same for me. Rainbow took a few tentative steps forward, ready to console her friend when Twilight’s hoof crashed down on to the floor. She reflexively jumped back as cracks radiated from the point of impact. “How?! How could this have happened?! Who could have made this happen?!” Twilight roared, leaping to her hooves. She stomped around the library and glared at chaotic jumble of books which lined the shelves, her eyes twitching madly. “I was only gone for ten bucking minutes! Who could have possible done this much damage in that time?! It can’t be Discord! He is away somewhere, plus I enchanted every single book against his type of mischief! It doesn’t make any sense! This is exactly Discord’s style and yet he can’t be responsible!” Twilight let out an inarticulate scream before igniting her horn. Dozens of books flew off the shelves and gravitated to the library’s center, coalescing into a floating island of literature. “Well, you know what?! It doesn’t matter! I don’t even care who or what was responsible for this! What matters is my library! I didn’t spend my afternoon reorganizing all of my books to end up with this mess! This library is going to be organized even if it takes me all night!” Maintaining a safe distance, Rainbow watched as Twilight’s behavior and ranting grew increasingly livid. She remained rooted in place, uncertain of how to deal with her friend’s ongoing meltdown. I should probably try to calm her down…but that could land me in the hospital. I’ll just grab my copy of Daring Do and check back in the morning. I’m sure that Twi wouldn’t mind if I left. Right? Despite her self-doubt, Rainbow steeled her resolve and turned around. Rainbow blinked several times as her brain short-circuited. Instead of two copies of Daring Do’s latest adventure, she found a creature dressed in graduation regalia sitting atop the table. It cradled an old tome in its tentacles and casually leafed through the pages, seemingly engrossed in reading. A flurry of questions ricocheted around Rainbow’s head as she stared at the creature. Where did that thing come from? It wasn’t here a minute ago. I definitely should have heard it come in. She glanced back at Twilight before rolling her eyes in exasperation. Rainbow knew she could deal with this. She had fought of an army of changelings and a full-grown dragon. Why should this guy scare me? As Rainbow took her first step forward, the octopus shut the book and set it on the table before abruptly materializing in front of her path. It loomed over her, standing at twice her height with a wide grin on its face. “Why hello there.” Rainbow reflexively backpedaled and reevaluated her approach, never taking her gaze off the creature. Okay, maybe I should have Twi back me up. She paused, internally. Not that I need it. On the other side of the library, Twilight felt something tap her shoulder. “Um, you might want to see this,” Rainbow said in a strained voice. “WHAT?!” Twilight whirled around to face Rainbow who recoiled upon seeing her bloodshot eyes and disheveled mane. “WHAT COULD POSSIBLY SO IMPORTANT TO DISTRACT ME FROM FIXING THIS MESS?!” She followed Rainbow’s gaze back to the library’s center where the octopus gave a friendly wave. A deluge of shock and bewilderment swiftly dissipated the red mist clouding Twilight’s mind. “What in Equestria?” Twilight’s concentration and magic simultaneously lapsed in that moment. The purple aura which suspended the island of books in mid-air faded, allowing gravity to reassert its dominion over the amassed literature. Twilight shut her eyes, bracing for the thunderous cacophony of thousands of books striking the castle floor. Seconds later, the rushing of air and a series of dull thuds were the only sounds to reach her ears. Hesitantly opening her eyes, Twilight’s jaw went slack as she swept her gaze across the library. A quick side-glance confirmed that Rainbow shared her sentiment. What just happened? When her levitation spell had failed, Twilight mentally prepared herself for the worst outcome. Her imagination conjured up a disaster zone where hundreds of books were scattered around the library. Twilight’s heart sunk as visions of numerous pages floating in the air and irreplaceable tomes lying broken on the floor danced throughout her head. This is one time where I’m glad to be wrong. Massive stacks of books encircled the table where the creature had previously sat. Where did that creature go? Electing to momentarily disregard the intruder, Twilight shifted her attention back to the inexplicable wall of literature looming in front of her. How is this even possible? Did that creature do this?. She trotted closer and began examining the amassed books. A reluctant smile forced its way on to Twilight’s face as she ran her eyes down the books’ spines. Rapidly scanning the other stacks, she felt a surge of relief upon seeing the identical style of their organization. The books are in perfect order! I can’t believe it! This is amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a better result. Well, I‘d prefer if they were back on the shelves but its better than the alternative. Twilight’s smile faltered as she shifted her gaze to the top of the stacks and noticed her copy of The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide was missing. Though, I wish that all of books were here. I wonder where it could have gone. Twilight received her answer when a lone tentacle holding the missing title creeped into her field of view. He carefully laid the missing title atop its corresponding stack before disappearing. Loud squelching echoed throughout the library as the creature emerging from behind the wall of literature. After pausing to smooth the wrinkles from its robe, he turned to face Twilight and bowed. “My apologies for interrupting your private time, Princess.” Twilight stared unblinkingly at the creature, flabbergasted by his appearance. She racked her brain to recall something he resembled from the pre-Equestrian tomes stored in the Canterlot Archives only to find nothing. After travelling to the human world, Twilight believed that nothing could shock her anymore. That notion was shattered to pieces when the creature had spoken to her. “Who are you? What are you?” Twilight blurted out before her mind had completed its reboot. “My name is Korosensei. I’m merely a teacher who is enjoying a small vacation. I was passing through Ponyville when I heard about that the Princess of Friendship’s library was available to the public and decided to investigate.” Korosensei straightened his posture and ran a tentacle down a stack of books. “I must commend you for meticulously organizing such a massive collection of books. It certainly made reading more about Equestria far easier than I expected.” “Wait, you’re responsible for causing this mess?!” Twilight asked, her eyes narrowing in rage. “That would be correct,” Korosensei replied bluntly. A bolt of magic flew shot through space which Korosensei had occupied moments earlier and hit the wall, marring it crystalline surface with an ingrained ring of soot. “Huh?! Where did he go?!” Twilight furiously glanced around library before feeling a rush of air behind her. There’s no way that’s a draft. Gritting her teeth, she whirled around and discovered Korosensei shaking his head. “However, I’m disappointed in your reaction. I was under the impression that the Princesses of Equestria were capable of handling dire situations with a level head. I merely shuffled around a few books and you have already thrown a tantrum,” Korosensei chided as Twilight ignited her horn. Retrieving a map from his backpack, he scrutinized a small region while dodging Twilight’s flurry of magical projectiles. “Is this really appropriate behavior for a Princess?” “Yes! My library is closed today so you are officially trespassing!” Twilight shouted, feeling her nerves fray with each successive miss. “Why can’t you just stay still?!” “While it wouldn’t bother me too much, I prefer to keep my limbs intact. Regenerating them can be a hassle,” Korosensei said as the magical onslaught ceased. Twilight panted heavily with wings hanging limp at her sides. Despite the mounting exhaustion, her vengeful glare never wavered. Korosensei merely shook his head before looking over to the exit. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be taking my leave. My vacation time is limited and there are other locales that I wish to visit before its over.” “Oh no, you’re not going anywhere! Nobody gets to ruin all of my hard work and escape without consequence!” Twilight’s horn flared up again, unleashing a wave of magic which enveloped the entire library. For the briefest moment, the purple aura locked Korosensei in place while his complexion flashed deep blue. The spell collapsed as quickly as it was cast, allowing Korosensei to escape Twilight’s grasp. Upon regaining his composure, Korosensei glided toward the exit. He stopped several feet away from the door and reached into his sleeve, glancing back at Twilight. “By the way, I’ll also be borrowing these books.” Korosensei flashed an impish grin and produced the missing copies of Daring Do. “Don’t worry, I’ll return them in due time.” Shaken from her stupor, Rainbow immediately bolted to Korosensei and attempted to snatch the books. “Hey! Give those back!” she cried indignantly as her prize was constantly dangled just out of her reach. “We haven’t had a chance to read them yet!” “Oh, what are you going to do about it?” Korosensei asked mockingly as green rings formed on his face. “I’ll just rip them out of your slimy…whatever those things are.” Rainbow lunged at Korosensei only to faze through his ghostly doppelganger and collide with the wall. She awkwardly stumbled back before noticing Korosensei leaning against the doorframe. “You would have to catch me first and that’s highly unlikely. You’re still welcome to try, though. Failure is always part of the learning process,” Korosensei remarked as he slipped between the twin doors. A growl escaped Rainbow’s throat as she quaked with fury. She charged through the library’s doors with a vicious scowl plastered on her face. “Get back here! I’m not done with you yet!” Sprinting into the hallway, Twilight found Korosensei standing by the open window. Rain mk mkbow stalked toward him with a murderous gleam in her eyes. “Ha! You’ve got nowhere left to run!” she sneered triumphantly. “Is that what you think? How naïve,” Korosensei replied before leaping out of the window. Twilight and Rainbow rushed to the window in time to glimpse Korosensei rocketing toward the Everfree Forest. Rainbow unfurled her wings and shot into the sky after him. “You’re not getting away that easy!” “Rainbow, wait! It might be a trap!” Twilight let out an exasperated groan as her warning fell of deaf ears. “I don’t know why I even bother sometimes.” She flew out of the castle and shut its window before following her friend’s fading contrails. Upon arriving at Sugarcube Corner, Spike was greeted by the closed door. It was an unusual sight given the frequent traffic surrounding the only bakery in town. The Cakes had closed down following the birth of the twins though operations resumed to normal within a few days. Citizens of Ponyville could comfortably on Sugarcube Corner to satiate their sugary craving at most hours of the day. Spike suspiciously eyed the building, noticing the light filtering through the kitchen’s windows. He could have sworn that Sugarcube was open earlier today. It’s only sunset. Why would it be closed now? Walking around the perimeter, he could faintly hear a frantic stampede of hoofsteps and the clatter of bakeware. The scent of almonds wafted into his nostrils, eliciting a jealous growl from Spike’s stomach. Discarding his inhibitions, Spike jogged up to the entrance and knocked on the door. “Hello? Is anypony home?” Within seconds, the door swung open and revealed Pinkie’s smiling face. Pieces of almond shells clung to her mane. “Hiya, Spike? What brings you around here?” “Hey, Pinkie.” Spike said, peering into the building’s darkened interior. “Is that special on gem-encrusted cupcakes still going on?” “Well, Sugarcube Corner is closed right now, but I’ll make an exception for my favorite dragon!” Pinkie hopped to the side and gestured to a small table near the counter. “Take a seat and I’ll ring you up!” “Thanks Pinkie.” Spike handed over the pouch of coins before crossing the threshold. As he climbed atop the chair, a thought floated through his mind. “Hold on, do you even know any other dragons?” “Not really,” Pinkie chirped. “I haven’t met any in the-” she paused for consideration “-scales? That sounds right. In the scales. Anyway, dragons send all of their orders by the mail.” She disappeared behind the counter. “ Why else would we make cupcakes with gems, silly.” “Oh, right. That makes sense,” Spike said as the cash register’s distinct ring echoed throughout the empty building. Pinkie returned a moment later with a tray with the cupcakes balanced atop her curly mane. I will never understand how she does that. “Here you go, Spike!” Pinkie carefully slid the tray on to the table, then skipping back to the counter. She beamed joyfully as Spike salivated over the gem-encrusted treats . “Enjoy!” “Don’t mind if I do!” Spike stuffed a cupcake into his mouth and happily munched through the vibrant crystals. He repeated this process in quick succession, emptying the plate within a few minutes. Sighing contently, Spike brushed the crumb off his face. “Those really hit the spot after a long day of work.” “Did you have to rework Twilight’s entire schedule?” Pinkie asked casually, wiping down the table with a damp cloth. “I wish,” Spike said with a roll of his eyes. “Twilight had us spend the whole afternoon reorganizing the library. My arms are still aching from carrying all those books.” He paused as a ghost of a smile crept on to his face. “Though, it was nice to see Twilight happy again. I can’t be mad at that.” Glancing out the window, he noticed a crimson sliver vanishing below the horizon and turned to Pinkie. “By the way, do you know why Sugarcube Corner closed so early?” “Sure do! Mr. and Mrs. Cake received an order for the Marzipan Mascerpone Meringue Madness yesterday. I actually forgot about it until a half-hour ago…”Pinkie admitted sheepishly. “The Marzipan Marscerpone Meringue Madness?! Really?!” Spike shouted, leaning forward in his chair and nearly losing his balance. Pinkie nodded in response as he slowly climbed down to the floor. “Who ordered it? They must swimming in bits if they can afford that kind of cake!” “No idea. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were so busy preparing the kitchen that I didn’t have a chance to ask.” Pinkie trotted behind the counter and donned her chefs. "The sacks of almonds must have arrived while I was checking on Angel and the rest of Fluttershy’s animals. Mr. and Mrs. Cake closed up early so they could get started on the marzipan. It’s probably the reason why Mr. Octopus wasn’t here when I came back.” Spike cocked his head to the side. “Mr. Octopus?” “Oh, that reminds me! When is the next opening in Twilight’s schedule,” Pinkie asked while dropping a massive planner atop the counter and opening it to the current date. “I was planning on having Mr. Octopus’s Welcome to Ponyville tonight but then I remembered that Twilight asked not to be disturbed and that Rarity and Fluttershy are staying in Fillydelphia for the Flower Show and that Applejack has-” “Pinkie! Who is this Mr. Octopus you keep talking about?” Spike asked, immediately regretting his decision as Pinkie took a deep breath. “Well, its funny you asked about that. I was walking back from Fluttershy’s cottage when suddenly my Pinkie sense went off. I felt my nose became pinchy, my ears became twitchy, and my back became achy. It was a new combo for me so I immediately started looking for the cause and discovered Mr. Octopus walking out of Sweet Apple Acres. I’ve never seen anything like him before. He looked exactly like an octopus except that he was really tall and could talk and was dressed like one of the professors at Maud’s graduation. I think he’s also able to change color but I’m not completely sure…” As Pinkie rambled on, Spike was left with more questions flooding into his head than answers. A talking octopus? How is that even possible? Twilight taught me octopi could only live in salt water. How did it get all the way out here? I have to tell Twilight about this! He glanced up and discovered that Pinkie had yet to finish her explanation. “Anyway, I was wondering if you and Twilight could attend Mr. Octopus’s party after tomorrow. Of course I’ll have to check with him first but that shouldn’t be a problem. I’m Ponyville’s premier party planner and nopony leaves without experiencing a proper Pinkie Pie party. Well, I guess in this case it would be no octopus but that just sounds weird.” “Pinkie, we’re done blanching and peeling the almonds. We could use a helping hoof with grinding them up,” Mr. Cake called out at the moment when Spike raised his claw to respond. “Be right there! Sorry to leave you hanging Spike but almond meal doesn’t make itself!” Pinkie tied on her apron before bounding off to the kitchen. “Just close the door on your way out. We can’t have somepony sneak in and spy on us while we’re making the MMMM. I’ll check back with you tomorrow about that party.” Upon shutting the doors of Sugarcube Corner, Spike turned around and gazed at the Castle of Friendship. A wave of dread broke over him as the final rays of daylight bounced off its crystalline façade. “I have a bad feeling about this.” “Get back here! Try saying that to my face again and see what happens!” Rainbow screamed, chasing after the octopus-thing. He descended in altitude, and swooped into an opening just outside the forest’s edge. Seconds later, she was at the entrance. Squinting her eyes, Rainbow failed to see anything but darkness beyond the cave’s mouth. A cacophony of snapping branches diverted her attention back to the Everfree Forest where a cluster of bushes were violently rustling. “I said wait!” Twilight shouted wearily, emerging from the tree line. Dozens of twigs stuck out of her disheveled mane. She stumbled toward the cave, panting heavily while sweat dripped off her snout. “Would it kill you to listen me once in while?!” “Yes,” Rainbow replied bluntly. “Now come on. I saw that thing fly into this cave. Let’s head in there and get back Daring Do.” “Are you crazy?!” Twilight hissed. “There’s no way we’re going in that cave!” “Why not?! You’re an alicorn princess and I’m the fastest flier in Equestria,” Rainbow said with a hint of bravado. “We’ve saved Equestria plenty of times by now. This should be a piece of cake.” “You’re forgetting that we’re both exhausted and that thing is clearly more capable than either of us had expected.” Twilight brushed the twigs out of her mane. “It’s too dangerous to enter that cave when we don’t fully know what we’re up against.” “Speak for yourself, Twilight,” Rainbow scoffed. “If you’re okay with that thing getting away with messing up your library and stealing your books, be my guest. Meanwhile, I’m going to march into that cave, kick his butt, and take back our copies of Daring Do.” She stormed into inky blackness, leaving Twilight with her jaw hanging open. Seconds later, Rainbow heard a hoof sharply strike the ground. “Rainbow Dash, come back here! It’s dangerous to go alone!” Twilight’s warning echoed unheeded throughout the cave. “As a Princess of Equestria, I command you to come back here immediately!” Rainbow said nothing, plunging deeper into the pitch darkness. Each step gradually reduced the visibility to nothing. In spite of her own worries, Rainbow’s fury was relentless. It silenced every protest Rainbow’s mind raised and drove her forth. She absolutely refused to allow that octopus have the final word. Smacking headlong into a wall, her rage was only slightly dampened. Stumbling backwards, Rainbow massaged her aching skull when a violet light illuminated the space around her. She glanced over her shoulder with a pained yet satisfied smirk. “Took you long enough.” Twilight leveled a venomous glare at Rainbow without breaking stride. “Shut up and keep walking.” Venturing deeper into the unknown, Twilight’s magical glow peeled back the darkness and revealed the cave’s features. Gems embedded in the walls glittered from violet light while stalactites hung menacingly like a dragon’s teeth from the low ceiling. Twilight lead the way with Rainbow following a few paces behind, wings fidgeting at her sides from the alicorn’s menacing aura. An overwhelming silence permeated the air, broken up only by the periodic dripping of water. “Hey, Twi, I’ve been thinking-“ “That’s a first,” Twilight spat coldly. Rainbow grimaced, biting her tongue before returning to her thought. “What exactly was that thing? I know Equestria is a weird place and all but that thing takes the cake!” Twilight glanced back at Rainbow before letting out a heavy sigh. “Well, I have an idea. He might be a new species of octopus based on the tentacles and his remarks about regenerating limbs.” “What’s a fish doing so far away from the water?” Rainbow pondered aloud. “Actually, Rainbow, you’re wrong on both counts. Octopi are fully capable of traversing land. Also, they’re cephalopods, not fish,” Twilight stated matter-of-factly. “Octopi lack the backbone needed to classified as a fish among other biological traits.” “Like that makes a difference,” Rainbow said dismissively. “You would be surprised. The Marine Institute of Vanhoover has done extensive research on cephalopod intelligence and the results are fascinating. They have published numerous articles about octopi tool use, observational learning skills, and the complexity of their chromatophores.” Rainbow shot Twilight a puzzled look. “Chromato-what-nows?” “Chromatophores,” Twilight repeated. “They are a type of pigment cell which allows animals to change colors at will. Octopi are famous for their ability to camouflage with their environment down to its texture by manipulating their papillea which are-” “Cut to the point, Twi,” Rainbow interrupted. “I wanted an answer, not an entire lecture on octopus biology.” “Octopi are masters of disguise and camouflage,” Twilight said with exasperation dripping from her voice. “There are a few exceptions but an octopus can hide virtually anywhere. “So that means he can be watching us right now but we can’t see him?” Rainbow asked, warily eying her surroundings. “That’s definitely a possibility…” Twilight blanched upon hearing her own words. She frantically scrutinized the walls for anything that was uncharacteristically slimy or undulating. For a split-second, something appeared to glide across the ceiling. Twilight’s pulse began to skyrocket when a her mind posed a simple question. Why would he be watching us? He wanted to get away, not play with us. It doesn’t make any sense. Twilight shook off her lapse in irrationality before noticing the light diffusing several feet in front of her. “However, that’s not likely. He’s probably resting in the chamber up ahead. Come on!” Twilight shouted, quickening her pace. “You don’t have to tell me twice!” Rainbow easily caught up to Twilight and trotted by her side. Crossing into the chamber, they were encircled by darkness with only a small sphere on visibility afforded by the magical glow. Rainbow’s ears twitched as their hoofsteps reverberated of . “By the way, why do you even know all this stuff about octopi?” “I had a biology class during my time at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. We had to choose an animal for our final written assignment and I wanted a challenge,” Twilight said wistfully. “Dr. Pelagos gave me an A+ on that paper.” “Why am I not surprised?” Rainbow chuckled, scanning the ground for any trace of Korosensei. Unable to see anything beyond the cone of light, she lifted her head up and groaned. “Can’t you make it any brighter? We’re gonna be here for all night at this rate.” “This is all that I can manage at the moment” - Twilight stopped in front of a crystalline surface and gazed at her own reflection- “but I may have a solution.” She charged up her horn and channeled her magic into the crystal. Darkness consumed the two ponies for a moment before a flash of violet illuminated the entire chamber. It was nearly octagonal in shape with the corridor serving as the sole entrance and exit. A massive crystal protruded from the ground close to the center of the chamber. Aglow with Twilight’s magic, its violet light revealed the curved ceiling. Numerous ledges and alcoves dotted the walls, stretching up toward the cave’s apex. Rainbow’s jaw went slack. “How did you-” “These are quartz crystals,” Twilight stated curtly. “They aren’t very valuable to jewelers or dragons but unicorn explorers have used quartz as lanterns for decades. They conduct magic extremely well and provided more light than wax candles.” She spread out her wings and flew near an alcove before glaring at Rainbow. “Well, are you going to help me search for the octopus or not?” “Right!” Rainbow shook her head and leapt to the closest ledge. “Now that we’re here, there’s no place left to hide!” I never imagined that weather arrangement could be so relaxing. Korosensei leaned against the cave’s mouth, admiring the fruits of his labor. Storm clouds blanketed the night sky, unleashing a steady downpour upon the Everfree Forest. Gazing into the distance, Korosensei glimpsed flashes of light near the horizon. He looked at the magical charm in his tentacles as a thunderclap rattled the cave. I wonder if Discord will let me keep this when I return home. “I can’t believe this! He got away! How is that even possible?!” Rainbow’s voice ranted furiously. “I had a feeling this might happen. He probably slipped out of the chamber before I charged up the crystal,” Twilight’s tired voice replied. “Let’s just get out here and head home.” “Yeah…I could definitely use some sleep after everything that happened today.” Right on time. Stowing his graduation regalia inside the backpack, Korosensei tossed it into a nearby shrub before liquefying his body. He clung to the ceiling and mimicked the stone texture in time for Twilight and Rainbow to arrive at the cave’s mouth. They fell to their haunches and traded glances, staring at the raging tempest as its winds toppled a tree on the Everfree’s boundary. “Well…looks like we’re staying here for a bit longer,” Twilight remarked after a long pause. “Great. We’re going to be stuck here all night. Everfree storms can last for hours.” Rainbow muttered as a gust blew into the cave, splattering her with rainwater. A low snarl escaped her throat. “I guess you can’t just teleport back to the castle, right?” “No, teleportation requires a lot of magic and I can barely maintain this illumination spell. Plus, I have no idea where this cave is in relation to the castle.” Twilight rose to her hoofs, turning away from the cave’s mouth and retreated down the corridor. “We should go back to that chamber. At least we don’t have to worry about getting wet there.” “No argument here.” Rainbow shook the water from her fur before catching up to Twilight. Korosensei detached himself from the ceiling and zipped to the shrub after Twilight’s glow had faded into the darkness. Clad in ninja garb, he swiftly remerged with a pencil and notepad grasped in his tentacles. Korosensei slung the backpack over his shoulder and glided down the corridor, a devious grin plastered his face. There nothing quite like seeking shelter for a storm to drive two ponies closer together. All that’s needed from me is a little push. On the back of his head, a heart with the words Couple Setup materialized. A tryst between a commoner and royalty! I can’t imagine juicier material for my trashy romance novel! Korosensei stifled a gleeful chuckle as the violet-lit chamber came into view. Upon closing the door to her bed chamber, Princess Cadance sighed in relief. She tossed her robe aside and unceremoniously flopped on to her bed. A content smile spread across her face as she crawled underneath the blanket, delighting in its plush embrace. She glanced at her nightstand and ignited the candles which atop it before dropping her head to the pillow. Scented candles, freshly laundered sheets, and a bubble bath. I can’t think of a better way to end a day filled with a dozen meetings, mountains of paperwork, and Shiny’s mental breakdown. As Cadance was about to drift off to sleep, a chill raced up her spine. She bolted upright in the bed and blinked, her smile contorting into a scowl. “Someone is meddling in affairs of the heart,” Cadance growled, “and it’s not me!” “So…is there anything you want to talk about?” Twilight Sparkle asked, resting several feet away from Rainbow Dash. She stared listlessly at the ceiling with her back pressed the crystal illuminating the chamber. Despite its cold touch sending down her spine, Twilight felt too exhausted to move a muscle. “Not really,” Rainbow yawned, stretching out her wings. “I just want to get some sleep. It’s been a rough day.” Twilight shot Rainbow a disbelieving look. “You’re going to fall asleep in this cave?” “I’m not the ‘Greatest Napper of All Time’ for nothing,” Rainbow replied with a confident smirk. “I can fall asleep anywhere!” Twilight rolled her eyes. “That’s ridiculous. I highly doubt anypony could sleep in a place like this.” When she heard a dull thud, Twilight turned to discover that Rainbow had already dozed off. She laid sprawled on the stone floor with her mouth hanging open. Loud snores echoed throughout the chamber with the gentle rise and fall of her chest. “I stand corrected,” Twilight chuckled as Rainbow’s hind leg kicked in the air. A gust surged into the chamber with a fearsome howl, shaking Rainbow from her slumber. “Must be some storm if the winds can reach us all the way in here,” she groaned, begrudgingly opening her eyes. “Yeah,” Twilight remarked while staring at Rainbow who reciprocated the gesture. After a minute had passed, Rainbow’s expression grew agitated. She gestured impatiently for Twilight to speak up. Twilight’s thoughts drifted back to Rainbow’s outburst. “Back at the library, that octopus really got under your skin.” Rainbow glowered at Twilight suspiciously. “Yeah, so?” “I have never seen you that angry,” Twilight insisted, concern bleeding into her voice. Rainbow sighed and broke eye contact, “I just really hate that word.” “What word?” Twilight asked, cocking her head to the side. “Failure.” Twilight’s eyes widened at the revelation. “Rainbow…” “Back in flight school, there was this instructor who’d always call me a failure,” Rainbow snarled, her face contorting into a vindictive grimace. “It really ticked me off.” Crap. Twilight thought. I shouldn’t have gone there. She gently laid a hoof atop Rainbow’s shoulder. “But you’re not a failure! You’re a Wonderbolt cadet.” “Don’t you think I know that, Twilight! And the Wonderbolts know it too!” Rainbow yelled, her expression brightening a moment later. “Spitfire might be tough on me sometimes, but she’d never call me a failure.” The air grew warm between them as Twilight reflected on Rainbow’s last comment. “Have you ever been in love, Rainbow?” Rainbow jerked upright and glared incredulously at Twilight. “Where did that come from?!” “It’s something that’s been on my mind for a while now,” Twilight said while sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. “I thought you might have a crush on Spitfire since you talk about her all the time.” “What? No!” Rainbow shouted then sighed in exasperation. “Listen, Twilight, I talk about Spitfire so much because she’s a Wonderbolt. She’s just an awesome athlete. That’s all. Plus, I’ve been in enough relationships to know it wouldn’t work out between us.” “Wait, you’ve been in a relationship before?” Twilight asked disbelievingly. “Oh horseapples.” Rainbow cursed her slip of the tongue, lowering her gaze and knocking a pebble across the floor. Twilight continued to gaze at her, expectantly. Rainbow slowly exhaled before sitting opposite of Twilight. “I used to be active in the dating scene back when I lived in Cloudsdale. Everypony seemed to be in a relationship and I didn’t want to be left out. So I started going out with whoever was interested and there were a lot. I mean, who wouldn’t want to date the only filly to perform a sonic rainboom. Anyway, things usually ended after a week or two and I would move on to the next pony. This went on for a while before I realized I wasn’t happy.” Rainbow paused, a scowl overtaking her face as memories of that day came flooding back. “Now that I think about it, I only realized this after my date with Fluttershy’s brother-” “Fluttershy has a brother?!” Twilight interjected, frowning at this new piece of information. “When were planning on telling me?!” “I don’t know. When were you planning to tell us about Shining Armor?” Rainbow retorted dryly. “Touché,” Twilight replied after a moment of silence. “Please, continue.” “Thank you, I will.” Rainbow flashed a smug grin. “After that disaster, I decided to stop wasting my time on relationships. Around the same time, Fluttershy was getting ready to move to Ponyville so I decided to join her and start fresh. I got a job with the local Weather Team, bought my cloud house, and started my training to join the Wonderbolts. You should know the rest by now.” Twilight blinked, slowly absorbing all the information that Rainbow had imparted. As she catalogued away the details, her mind focused on one event in particular. “If you don’t mind my asking, how bad was that date with Fluttershy’s brother?” “It lasted for ten seconds before I bailed,” Rainbow stated bluntly. “Zephyr Breeze is the type of pony who can give a migraine without saying a word. If you’re ever unfortunate enough to meet him, you will regret it immediately afterwards.” Twilight inhaled sharply, recoiling at the vitriol in Rainbow’s words. “I can see why you gave up on romance after an experience like that.” “I never said that I gave up on romance,” Rainbow said, earning a baffled look from Twilight. “Sure, he may have turned me off of dating…and possibly stallions for good but that’s not the point. If I ever decide to try another relationship, it has to be something special.” She averted her gaze, unable to directly face Twilight. “I want there to be a connection that’s based on more than looks. They would have to get me on an emotional level. I want a pony to like me for me, not because I’m the fastest flier in Equestria or anything like that. I’ve dated enough jocks to know they’re not my type. I would be more interested in a pony who shares my love of the sky. A pony that I can comfortably share silence with. A pony that I wouldn’t mind slowing down for. You know, that sort of stuff…” “Wow, that’s oddly profound for you, Rainbow,” Twilight said, stunned by the sincerity her friend’s remarks. Her mind struggled to rationalize how the same pony who treated anything “girly” with disdain could speak so candidly about love. “I never expected you to be such a romantic.” “Yeah, whatever,” Rainbow muttered bitterly. “Just keep this yourself. I can’t have this getting out and ruining my reputation.” She turned to Twilight brandishing a glare that could terrify an adult dragon into fleeing. “If you tell anypony else, especially Rarity or Cadance, I’ll never forgive you.” “My lips are sealed. Pinkie Promise,” Twilight reassured while going through the motions, stopping short of jabbing herself in the eye. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Twilight into a tight hug. “Thanks, Twi. I knew that I could trust you.” “Of course, Rainbow.” Twilight chuckled, enthusiastically returning the hug. “What kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t keep a secret.” “Alright, enough about me.” Rainbow released her grip and stepped back, a curious gleam in her eyes. “So, who’s the lucky pony?” Twilight jerked her head back in surprise. “What are you talking about?” “You wouldn’t have asked me about this romance junk unless it involves you have a crush on somepony,” Rainbow declared confidently. “Let me guess, it’s probably that pegasus guard from the Crystal Empire.” “Flash?” Twilight blinked, looking away as her voice grew quiet. “There’s nothing going on between us.” “Really? You two seemed to hit it off pretty well after you came from the human world,” Rainbow said, recalling how the girls had teased Twilight after she bumped into the stallion. “I thought so too.” Twilight slumped against the crystal, her expression turning sullen. “We even went on a double date with Shining and Cadance but that was where it ended. Flash had to leave early and we haven’t talked seriously since that day. Whenever we run into each other, he always has to be somewhere else and runs off” Rainbow flashed a sympathetic grin. “Hey, I’m sorry that it didn’t work out between you and Flash. It’s probably for the best though.” As Twilight tilted her head to the side, Rainbow couldn’t help but snicker at her friend’s expense. “I know that you’re saving yourself for Princess Celestia.” Twilight stared numbly, the horror slowly dawning on her face. Her mouth agape. She sucked in a deep breath and cried, “WHAT?!” Spike stared anxiously out of the castle window as the storm raged outside. He had barely reached the castle’s door before the sudden downpour hit Ponyville. As a burst of lightning illuminated the night sky, he noticed a bizarre occurrence over the Everfree Forest. Flocks of birds had erupted from the trees in spite of the treacherous weather. A moment later, Spike heard something unmistakable amidst the rainfall. “Twilight! That sounded like Twilight! I’ve gotta go help her!” Overwhelmed with concern, Spike mentally braced himself to face the storm when a lightning struck the old tree near the castle. It groaned in agony as a crack vertically split the trunk in half, revealing its smoldering interior. Embers danced along the blackened surface before the rain snuffed them out. Spike closed the window and slowly backed away. “On second thought, I’ll just get a fire started for when she gets back. Rainbow groaned and rubbed the back of her head, checking for blood. The last thing she could recall was Twilight shouting at her before being launched at the wall. “Jeez, Twi, are you trying to make me deaf?” Upon opening her eyes, she was greeted by Twilight’s furious visage mere inches away from her face. “You okay there, Twi?” “NO!” Twilight shrieked, her voice rising in pitch. “HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!” Rainbow took a breath and looked deep into Twilight’s eyes. It didn’t take much effort to locate what had precipitated Twilight’s reaction. Buried underneath all of the bluster and fury, there were glimmers of fear and embarrassment. Despite the momentary satisfaction of being right, Rainbow was left at a crossroads. Okay, now what should I do? “You should apologize.” A tiny Fluttershy materialized on Rainbow’s left shoulder in a flash of light. A translucent alabaster robe hung loosely off her body. She floated in front of Rainbow wielding a stern, humorless frown. “Twilight has been nothing but a good friend to you. You need to apologize before you hurt her feelings any more.” “Bah! Where’s the fun in that?” A torrent of flames erupted on Rainbow’s right shoulder which subsided to reveal an equally tiny Discord. Clad in a crimson suit, he brushed off the soot and sauntered closer to Rainbow Dash. “When are you going to get a chance like this again? Besides, she’s a Princess. She can handle a little teasing.” It took less than a second for a wicked grin to creep across Rainbow’s face. Discord pumped a fist in the air while Fluttershy merely shook her head in disappointment. They both vanished in puffs of smoke as Rainbow reached out and tenderly laid a hoof on Twilight’s neck. “Oh, Twilight, you don’t have to hide your feelings from me.” “This isn’t funny, Rainbow!” Twilight growled, swatting the limb away. “Where did you even come up with something that ridiculous?!” “You scrapbook,” Rainbow stated, prompting Twilight to step back. As she blinked in disbelief, Rainbow created more distance between herself and the alicorn. “Scrapbook…” Twilight muttered. “You mean my Scrapbook of Friendship Memories? That scrapbook?!” “ Yeah,” Rainbow remarked, massaging her aching head. Her ears were still ringing from Twilight’s earlier outburst. The cave’s acoustics only further compounded her migraine. “I think it’s kinda weird she’s in it so much.” “What are you talking about?! All of my friends are in it!” Twilight ranted. “You, Fluttershy, Rarity-” “All on one page,” Rainbow interjected, causing the words to die in Twilight’s throat. “You did the same thing with your family and Spike. The rest is all Princess Celestia.” A faint blush creeped on to Twilight’s face. She looked askance and rubbed her foreleg with the other. “Well, I, uh, Princess Celestia is such a big part of my life, and I owe so much to her.” “You really aren’t helping your case,” Rainbow said, stifling a bit of laughter. She had seen plenty of ponies fail at deception but Twilight was among the worst. Off the top of her head, the only worse liar she could think of was Applejack. Twilight glared at Rainbow with renewed outrage. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” Unfazed by Twilight’s growing indignation, Rainbow flashed a smug grin. “You just called her Princess Celestia again. You’re a Princess now so you don’t need to be the title with her anymore. She even told you that herself.” “I know! It’s just, uh, that’s what I’ve called her for my entire life! You can’t expect me to start addressing her so informally after only a few months!” Twilight snapped before lowering her gaze to the ground. The blush on her cheeks glowed brighter. “Besides, it’s more than that. Princess Celestia has ruled Equestria for over a thousand years and accomplished so much in that time. I’m just treating her with the proper respect she deserves.” “Right,” Rainbow smirked. “Is that why you always look at her like that?” “Like what?!” Twilight demanded. “Those long lingering looks,” Rainbow said, garnering a confused look from Twilight. “You gotta know what I’m talking about!” She mussed her mane to match Twilight’s style before leering at the alicorn with a half-lidded gaze. After shaking her mane back to its unkempt glory, she chuckled as Twilight’s expression had morphed into one of shock. “That’s how you look at Princess Celestia whenever she’s around. Though, I can’t blame you. I mean, she’s got that big luscious flank. That long flowing mane. Those strong powerful wings”-Twilight’s wings perked up, shooting outward with an audible pomf -“You see!? See what I mean?” “No, I don’t!” Twilight cried, frantically flailing her forelegs to cover up her wings. She tried to force them back in place only to wince from the slightest touch. “You’re just, uh, imagining things!” Rainbow sat up and crossed her forelegs. “Then explain the body pillow.” Twilight stopped fighting with wings and slowly looked at Rainbow. All of the fury in her eyes was gone, replaced by an overwhelming horror. Rainbow blinked, struggling to comprehend the drastic emotional shift. “H-How do you know about that?” Twilight stammered, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “Twilight, I’ve been in your room. You didn’t really think you were keeping it hidden, did you?” Rainbow asked with an even tone. “There’s a perfectly good explanation for that.” Twilight turned away, nervously stroking her tail. Rainbow continued to stare at her, expectedly. “When I was filly, I used to be afraid of thunderstorms. They terrified me. I would always run to my parents’ room and sleep with them whenever one happened. Then, I got accepted into Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I was studying with her one night when a massive thunderstorm blew into Canterlot. Nopony knew where it came from and the weather ponies couldn’t do anything about it. It was strong enough to shake the castle walls. I was so scared…but Princess Celestia knew exactly what to do. She let me with her that night. She even wrapped her wing around me. It was so warm…” Twilight lifted her head and let out a wistful sigh. “I can’t remember a better night’s sleep. I eventually got over my fear of thunderstorms but those memories stayed with me. After all the stress that comes from my Princess duties, that pillow helps me sleep peacefully. You have to believe me! That pillow has nothing to do with love. It’s just my way reliving fillyhood memories,” Twilight implored. “You know, like a teddy bear.” Rainbow groaned internally, feeling her resolve weaken under Twilight pleading gaze. However, she couldn’t shake a though lingering in the back of her mind. “Okay…but why is she wearing a schoolgirl uniform?” Twilight’s breath hitched as a single tear drop hit the cave floor. Looking closer, Rainbow noticed more tears streaming down her cheeks. Twilight’s blush had exceeded critical mass, staining her lavender coat a deep crimson. In that moment, the gears within Rainbow’s head finally started to move. Tears. There weren’t supposed to be tears. Guilt crashed down upon her like road roller plummeting from the sky. Oh buck, I took this way too far. Rainbow slowly approached her friend with an outstretched hoof. “Twilight, wait, I didn’t mean to-” “S-SHUT UP! You don’t what you’re talking about! Leave me alone!” Twilight whirled around and leapt toward the nearest ledge only to crash on to the floor. Cursing under her breath, she glared at her erect wings as Rainbow rushed toward her. “Stupid wings! Stupid Rainbow Dash!” Twilight ignited her horn before vanishing in a violet flash. She rematerialized on the ledge then slinking into an alcove. Moments later, her sobs began echoing throughout the cavern. “Well, I hope you’re happy with yourself. You made Twilight cry,” the tiny Fluttershy remarked, reappearing in a flash of light with her back turned. Rainbow winced as those words cut deeper than ever expected. She was accustomed to pain from innumerous crashes but this was different. It was lingering and growing stronger with each passing second. The tiny Fluttershy then glanced over her shoulder with eyes brimming with cold rage. “You must be so proud.” Shrinking back from the glare, Rainbow tried to think a retort before noticing a plume of fire from the corner of her eye. Perched atop a stray rock , the tiny Discord stroked his beard with a troubled look on his face. “Yes, this is quite the predicament you gotten into.” Rainbow glared at the draconequus who responded with a dismissive wave. “Don’t give me that look. I only told you to tease her a little, not drive her to tears. It’s on you to fix this mess.” Without another word, the tiny Discord and Fluttershy vanished once again in puffs of smoke. Rainbow flew up to the ledge and peered into the alcove. “Hey, Twilight, can we talk?” A flash of violet filled her field of view. Acting on pure instinct, Rainbow jerked her whole body back. A searing bolt of magic whizzed inches away from her muzzle and struck the chamber wall. Rainbow’s heart hammered inside her chest as molten rock oozed to the floor. “Okay! You’re not in a talking mood. I get that. No problem. I’ll handle all the talking then.” Rainbow took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m not the best pony when it comes to words. Never have been. So all I can say is…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I though I was just clearing the air between us but that wasn’t the case. Listen, we don’t have to talk about your feeling for Princess Celestia if you don’t want to. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’ll always be there for you…” Rainbow paused as the implications of her statement sunk in, feeling her cheeks heat up. “…along with the rest of the girls. We’re never going to abandon you. So, Twilight, please come out and we can just forget this mess ever happened. Okay?” After a minute, Twilight emerged from the alcove. She stared at Rainbow with an unreadable expression, her eyes tinged red from crying. “Rainbow, I-” Twilight’s stomach growled, eliciting a sheepish grin from the alicorn. “Sorry, I guess I’m a little peckish. Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.” “Same here. My lunch break was taken up by the Council meeting,” Rainbow chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. “I could go for a bite of something.” A clatter of metal and ceramics rang out as another gust surged into the chamber. Rainbow whipped her head toward the source and felt her jaw drop. “No way. That can’t be real.” Positioned a foot away from the massive crystal were a pair of stools and a table covered with a red checkered cloth. A plate of noodles coated in a red sauce rested atop it along with a candle and some forks. “Spaghetti and hayballs?” The wafting aroma of basil and tomatoes soon confirmed her suspicions. Glancing at Twilight who quickly nodded in response, they glided down to the inexplicable pasta dish. As they paced around the table, Twilight ignited her horn and shrouded the plate in a lavender aura. “I can’t detect anything out of the ordinary except for a lack of salt. It’s just a plate of spaghetti and hayballs so I don’t see a reason not to eat it.” Twilight hopped atop one of the stool and seized a fork with her magic. Coiling noodles around the utensil, she eagerly shoved it in her mouth. A frown materialized on Twilight’s face after several chews. “Whoever made this isn’t a very good cook. The spaghetti is overdone.” She turned to Rainbow. “Aren’t you going join me? You said that you’re hungry.” Moving toward the table, Rainbow stopped in her tracks as Twilight slurped up one of the noodles. A memory from her fillyhood bubbled to the surface of watching movies with parents. In particular, she recalled a sappy romance where the characters shared a dinner with an identical set-up and a mishap involving a shared noodle. Rainbow sat down next to the massive crystal. “Actually, I’ll pass. I had a big breakfast so I can afford to miss a meal or two.” She yawned and looked up at ceiling. “Besides, that way we can avoid having an…accident.” Twilight cocked her head to the side “Accident? What are you talking about…” Twilight’s blush flared up as a look of dawning realization crossed her face. “Oh…right. We certainly wouldn’t want… that to happen.” Several minutes of silence awkwardly passed while Twilight finishing up her meal. Wiping the sauce off her muzzle, Twilight slid off the stools and glanced around the chamber then to Rainbow. “What should we do now?” Rainbow shrugged. “Don’t know. Probably should try to get some sleep.” As she leaned against the glowing quartz, a chill shot up her spine. Rainbow lurched forward and groaned tiredly. “Though, that’s easier said than done. I may be the ‘Greatest Napper of All Time’ but that’s not going to help me stay asleep, especially if those winds keep up. I could use a blanket or something.” In that moment, a third gust blew past the table and snuffed out the candle’s flame. Rainbow narrowed her eyes and snapped her attention to the cave’s entrance. Now I know something’s going. That didn’t come from outside. Sweeping her gaze across the chamber, Rainbow saw something that resembled a pink blanket resting not far from the table and blinked. Upon noticing it wasn’t a hallucination, she marched closer and picked it up. “You’ve gotta be kidding me! Where is this all stuff coming from?!” She took a few moments to run her hoofs over the blankets, marveling at the blanket’s silken texture. Disgust welled up and overwhelmed pleasure as closer examination revealed a heart motif. “I have no idea but do you think we could share that blanket?” Twilight flashed an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m little bit cold myself.” “That might be a problem. This thing is pretty small. We’d have to get really close together in order to…share…it.” Rainbow’s mouth creased into a frown before tossing the blanket to Twilight. “You know what? You can have the blanket, Twi. You probably need it more. I’ll find some way to get some sleep.” Rainbow dropped to the ground and closed her eyes. “Really? Thanks, Rainbow,” Twilight said, wrapping herself in the blanket and sighed wistfully “I wish that I was at castle. I’ve never slept without a mattress.” A heavy thud shook the entire chamber, prompting Rainbow to bolt upright. She quickly looked at Twilight before sprinting around the quartz and halting dead in her tracks. Twilight joined her friend a moment later in staring at the inexplicable occurrence in front of their eyes, dumbfounded by its existence in the cave. A massive heart-shaped had materialized out of thin air. Rose petals lay scattered across its blanket and pillows. An ornate record player rested atop a nightstand. As its needle struck the rotating vinyl, a swanky guitar riff flooded the chamber. “Hey, Twi?” “Yes, Rainbow?” Twilight replied numbly. “Have you ever done anything to piss off Cadance?” “Not that I can recall.” “Okay. What about caves carrying some sort of romantic curse. Are there any of those located near Ponyville?” Twilight blinked and turned to Rainbow with a disbelieving expression. “Rainbow, those aren’t real. They’re just plot devices used by amateurish writers to forcibly create romantic tense between characters.” “That’s all I needed to know,” Rainbow remarked, swiftly executing an about-face and marching toward the exit. “Where are you going?” Twilight asked with a hint of concern tinging her voice. “Home. I’ve had it with this cave,” Rainbow stated without a glance back. “I’m going back to my cloud house and sleeping this mess off. Hopefully, I can forget this day completely.” As she stepped into the stone corridor, Rainbow was sideswiped by a burst of wind which lifted her off the ground. She had no idea what happened next but is somehow ended with her being snout-to-snout with Twilight. Feeling the alicorn’s breath on her fur, she tried to backpedal only to discover something slimy was restricting her movement. The space between Rainbow and Twilight then started to disappear. Oh buck me. She frantically looked for a way to escape, noticing the yellow tentacle also holding onto Twilight. Moments before their lips were to meet, Twilight fired off a bolt of magic. The tentacle holding Rainbow loosened its grip, allowing her to slip free and create some breathing room. That was a close one. She panted heavily as blur of black of yellow shot into the exit, accompanied by the rushing of air. Scanning the chamber, Rainbow flinched upon seeing the tentacle was still moving. It twitched and writhed like a fish out of water, slowly disintegrating with each passing moment. Rainbow looked away and spotted a familiar object on the ground. “A book…No way… It can’t be…” Trotting up to book, her heart soared with joy as the unmistakable figure of Daring Do came into view. “Hey, Twi, check it out! We got Daring Do back! Isn’t that awesome?” When no response came, Rainbow turned around. “Twilight?” Twilight held what was left of the tentacle within a lavender bubble, its disintegration seemingly halted. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. Maybe it will tell me more about that octopus. Imagine the possibilities! Nopony has ever encountered something like this!” Twilight beamed, her eyes shining with unbridled curiosity. “I can have my research published by Canterlot University Press. They might even ask be a lecturer. I’ve always wanted to be call Professor Twilight Sparkle and now that can happen. Isn’t that amazing, Rainbow?” “Whatever you say, Twi,” Rainbow smiled wearily. “You go ahead with your science and stuff. I’m heading home for some long overdue rest.” “Wait!” Twilight cried out. “Your home is pretty far from Ponyville and you must be very tired. Why don’t stay at my castle for the night? I have plenty of spare rooms.” Rainbow wanted to decline Twilight’s offer. She desperately wanted to return home and drift off to sleep on her cloud mattress. However, her resolve crumbled away under Twilight’s gaze. Rainbow let out a sigh of resignation and motioned to the exit. “Fine. Lead the way.” Several miles away, Korosensei stood on a wooded hilltop and reminisced about the day’s events. “I should remember not to underestimate alicorns in the future,” Korosensei mused, tying his hammock between a pair of oak trees. “If I’m not more careful, losing a tentacle will be least of my concerns.” Retrieving his special pillow from the backpack, Korosensei changed into his pajamas then stowed his guidebook inside the backpack. “I should ask Discord where he got the idea that those two had feelings for each other. I created the ideal romantic environment and nothing happened. Though, it wasn’t a complete waste of time.” Korosensei grinned, skimming through his notepad of Twilight’s deepest secrets. “What I learned in that cave is far juicier than anything that Discord had in his almanac.” He dropped the notepad into backpack before securing it to a low hanging branch and yawned. “I should get some rest. Wouldn’t want to start the last day of my vacation tired.” Flopping onto the hammock, Korosensei let out a content sigh as breeze rolled through the trees. The clouds floated away to unveil the tapestry of stars and comets, momentarily taking his breathe away. Pale moonlight bathed the forest and invited the crickets to fill the air with their lullaby. Korosensei smiled serenely before drifting off to the realm of dreams. Walking down the castle’s lengthy hallway, Twilight was struck by an odd revelation. The cold which had greeted her each morning was absent, replaced by a comforting warmth. The feeling had lingered since her and Rainbow’s return last night. She glanced back at Rainbow and noticed her content expression. Upon reaching the hallway’s end, Twilight ignited her horn and swung open the window. She stared at the distant hills, smiling as the sun’s rays bathed her face. A breeze carried the scent of flowers into the castle’s interior along with the bird’s morning song. Hearing Rainbow clear her throat, Twilight snapped out of her reverie and turned around. “Hey, thanks for letting me crash here,” Rainbow said while sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. “You don’t need to thank me, Rainbow.” Twilight stepped forward and pulled Rainbow into a brief hug. She felt her friend stiffen for second before reciprocating the gesture. “That’s what friends are for.” Rainbow flashed an appreciative grin then turned to the staircase. As she disappeared into the foyer, the events of last night replayed in Twilight’s mind. Her gaze wandered to Rainbow’s well-toned flank. Friends… Twilight’s wings flared out. “Gah!” “Is everything okay, Twilight?” Spike’s drowsy voice called from down the hallway. “Yeah, Spike. Everything’s fine,” Twilight replied while trying and failing to fold back her wings. The young dragon’s footsteps reached her ears after a moment of skeptical silence. As they grew louder, she wracked her mind for an believable excuse before catching a glimpse of Rainbow’s vibrant tail. “I’m just, uh, walking Rainbow to the door!” Twilight hastily trotted down to the stairs without waiting for Spike’s answer.