//------------------------------// // True Meaning of Family // Story: Living Darkness // by vildtiger //------------------------------// Note: Acapella16 asked for a chapter made from "Sisterhood Social" and Gina M Taylor would like to see Dr. Hooves. I made this chapter in response to those two. sidenote though. Dr. Hooves is NOT Dr. Who as I have never watched the show and never going to. so, sorry, no Timelord. this happens a couple of days after the last chapter. It has been quite a while since he last woke in a fit of dread and fear, but usually, that would be from his nightmares, not from the smell of smoke which usually says that Pyro is once again trying to burn down the place. Medic snaps awake, realizes he is in the pony world, so no Pyro and hurries downstairs to find the source of the smoke. Both to his relief and disgust, he finds the source of the smoke is someone's cooking, no wonder that whole meal is black from how much smoke is in the house. “Oh, morning Medic.” Rarity greets him with an awkward smile, from the looks of it; it seems he wasn’t the only one getting a rude awaking. “Morning frauline Rarity.” He muses back before turning to the meal there deserves to get thrown in the trashcan, much to his horror; two ponies are eating this stuff. Without a word, he removes the food and throws it out, much to the unicorn kid’s disbelief. “Hey! I worked really hard on making that!” Sweetie Bell objects to this unicorn having the nerve of throwing out her breakfast, this stallion eyes her with a look clearly saying that he really doesn't care how she feels about it. “I would only feed this to my worst enemy.” “Oh, don’t be so picky mister.” Rarity's father argues lighthearted and drinks what should’ve been juice, now it looks more like oil. He sends this light grey unicorn a small stare when that one levitates the glass out from his own magic and throws it out with; “That’s not picky, it’s simple survival.” Hondo Flanks turns to his daughter, frowning. “Your new boyfriend is quite the—“ “He’s not my boyfriend.” Rarity quickly corrects her father, much to Medic’s relief, she sends the unicorn a small look. “He’s my houseguest, and a friend, nothing more.” Before turning back to her parents with the question why her family is here. “I wasn’t aware you would come on a visit.” “We wanted to surprise you!” Sweetie Bell says once again joyfully. Rarity's mother Cookie Crumbles smiles in agreement but has to admit. “Sorry dear, I and your dad can’t stay for long, but I am sure you two will have a great time during our vacation.” That catches Rarity truly off guard, she hasn’t scheduled to house her sister. If she had then she would’ve asked one of her friends to house Medic since Sweetie Bell is usually using that room when on her weekend visits, but this isn’t simply a weekend it sounds like. “And… how long will you be gone?” She asks her parents with a nervous smile. “A week, seven days and six nights.” Her mother says joyfully, not at all seeing the panicking look in her daughter’s eyes. “I know, such a short time to spend with your little sis.” Sweetie Bell jumps from the excitement she feels being with her older sister for a whole week. “We're gonna have the bestest time two sisters could ever have!” She runs past an uncomfortably looking Medic and outside to grab her luggage. “I’m gonna go grab my stuff from Dad's wagon.” Rarity must admit that she wishes her parents warned her about this a bit earlier but it has never been their style, still won’t stop her from arguing. “But I've got such a long to-do list.” Then sighs when realizing that they probably already have their plans set and it wouldn’t be fair if she told them no. “Oh well, I suppose 'spend time with your sister' will just have to be added to the list.” To then snaps her attention to the door when her younger sister has dragged a whole mountain of luggage inside. “Just a few necessities.” The filly smiles. Rarity frowns lightly but does not voice anything as she knows far too well how much it means to have the right clothing to the right situation. After another sigh, she turns back to her parents, giving them a weak smile. With them set and this houseguest of their daughter has removed the breakfast, Hondo Flanks figures there is no need to stick around longer. “Have a nice week you two!” He and his wife give both their daughters a goodbye hug and with that, they head out onto their vacation. The two sisters return back to the kitchen, Rarity frowns seeing that Medic has for some reason found a very big interest in the pot which Sweetie Bell used to make her breakfast, she clears her throat, getting his attention and telling both him and her sister. “Now, let's get that kitchen all cleaned up.” She moves over to remove the mess, does stop when her sister says confused. “Cleaned up? But we haven't even eaten yet.” In which she replies as she heads over to the remnants of the food Medic yet hasn’t removed. “Well now, Sweetie Belle, I appreciate the gesture, but we simply can't eat this breakfast; it's burnt.” “More than that.” Medic smirks and shows Rarity what he found in the pot; it’s a black goo, and it is moving. Rarity stares at it, just to comprehend what she is seeing before she can though, he grabs the pot. “You get it back later.” Grabs the remaining burned food and heads upstairs to his current room to figure out what made this destroyed food move as if alive. Also to get a bit away from that squeaky toy there happens to be Rarity's sister. Rarity stares after the bit crazy doctor pony, but quickly recovers as Medic finding such things interesting is the norm for him and she figures he might have a little fun with the stuff. Hopefully, he won’t leave too much of a mess. Her sister on the other hoof does not understand Medic's quirks and asks confused. “Where is he going?” and Rarity replies with a small shrug. “Perhaps trying to see if he can return your burned food back to its former state. If not, never fear, my dear.” She trots over to the shelves to get what she needs. “I'll get a proper breakfast going.” “Can I help?” Sweetie Belle asks. Rarity turns to her, very unsure what her sister can help. “Oh, er, of course, er, in one moment, Sweetie Belle. Let me just get things started.” And she returns back to her task in making a proper meal, Rarity completely forgets about her sister, only realizing it when Sweetie Bell cries loudly. “Rarity! I thought you said I was gonna help!” Much to Rarity embarrassment, so to make up for it, she lets her sister put the garnish on the fried eggs. She suggests this but even that simple tasks seem to be too much for Sweetie Bell as the filly crashes the table she prepared and almost ruined the breakfast as well, almost, so, fortunately, Rarity did not has to start over. After breakfast, Rarity suggests her sister clean the kitchen, hoping Sweetie Bell won’t ruin anything while she brings Medic- who has once again forgotten the world around him in favor of his new discovery there was Sweetie's Bell attempt in making a meal. Levitating the plate with fried egg, Rarity knocks on the door. “Medic, your breakfast is ready.” She hears him speak something in a language she did not understand, quickly followed by: “Oh, come in, come in.” She steps inside and frowns seeing that his room is once again a mess with papers lying around. At least it is only papers this time, last time she got a living and frog legged orange at her face from a spell he tried out after Twilight’s lessons. She lets Medic takes the plate. “Here you go. Do I even dare to ask what you are doing with Sweetie, eh... breakfast?” Well, it was less interesting than he thought. “I had hoped your sister had succeeded making her abomination food alive, but it turns out it was just remnants of air stuck in the pancake dough.” Pity, he would've liked another specimen like the monster bread. “…. That was pancakes?” Rarity asks with eyes on that black goo in the pot, not sure she should be impressed or horrified what Sweetie Bell has made with her cooking skills. Well, in any case, Rarity has better things to worry about. “When you’re done eating and playing with Sweetie Bell’s burned breakfast, could you be a dear and clean it?” Oh and before she forgets. "I presume you rather not have to share the room with a little filly?" Medic nods she stand corrected, he doesn't mind kids but he sure heck haven't the patience for them either. So, yes, he would be happy if that Squeaky Bell doesn't bother him. Seems like she has to share room with her sister, Rarity finds it unfair throwing Medic out because of this sudden change of plans. Sweetie Bell will only be here for a week after all. She nods and heads back downstairs, happy to see that her sister hasn’t messed up the cleaning. She helps her with the last part and when done, figures Sweetie Bell can help by bringing the dirty clothes to the washing room while she prepares her inspiration room to the new line she is working one. Rarity regrets to have left her sister for when she returns to check on Sweetie Bell, she finds to her horror that her sister has washed her expensive one-of-a-kind designer crocheted wool sweater and before she could get it out from the sun, it shrank, much to her great frustrations. Still trying to not blow in front of her sister but needed to get a bit away from this mess, she heads back to her inspiration room, telling Sweetie Bell. “Stay out of trouble, okay?” She later wishes she hasn’t left her sister alone in the room. Meanwhile, Rarity is having her share of trouble with her sister, another filly is having her own problems in form of the pony there usually compete in the Sisterhood Social along with her has gotten sick. “Why does Amethyst Star has to get sick at the worst time?” Dinky Doo whines heartbroken to her mother. She has been looking so much forward to competing with her stand-in sister, now she won’t be able… Derpy brushes her daughter’s mane gently, understanding Dinky’s frustrations but: “If Amethyst could choose when she gets sick, you know she never would’ve chosen it now.” Dinky lower her eyes. “I know…” She muses before turning them back up to her mother with tears in them. “But I have been looking so much forward to this…!” “I know sweetie.” Derpy says and does wish she could take the role as stand-in sister, but Derpy is her mother plus her bad eyes make her a very bad chose for competitions such as Sisterhood Social. Fortunately, Ponyville is filled with mares there might be a stand-in sister to Dinky. “What about we ask around? See if somepony wishes to compete with you?” She suggests. Dinky gasps in surprise to then leap in joy. “Yeah! Let’s go!” and the filly is out from the house. Derpy follows with a smile and the mother and daughter starts asking around for a stand-in sister for the upcoming competition. That task proved harder than thought. Most mares either didn’t feel like competing, didn’t have the time or have their own sibling to compete with. Leaving Twilight’s library with her very disappointed daughter behind, Derpy muses her thoughts out loud. “I know it’s called Sisterhood Social but does that mean no colt or stallion can compete?” Maybe she should ask the Apple family about it, they are after all those doing this small festival. “I need to ask Granny Smith about the rules who can be a stand-in sibling.” She tells her daughter there nods and the two head to Sweet Apple Acers, on their way they encounter a very miffed Sweetie Bell. Dinky greets her and asks the few years older unicorn foal. “You going to compete in Sisterhood Social?” In which Sweetie Bell replies with a loud huff. “I was planning but my un-sister said it was uncouth!” Dinky titles her head in confusions of what this white curly-haired foal meant, she turns to her mother for declaration. Derpy steps over to the angry Sweetie Bell, worried what she has just called her sister. “Not all ponies like to get messy. Rarity is one of them… Sweetie Bell, did you and your sister get into a fight?” “She’s not my sister anymore.” Sweetie Bell grumbles and before Derpy can speak again, she trots over to find one of her friends. Derpy watches this filly leave and is quite worried, perhaps she should speak with Rarity after she has found a stand-in sibling to her Dinky. “Mom, can you refuse someone being family?” Dinky asks confused but also worried as they walk towards the Apple farm. Her mother eyes her surprised, then smiles weakly. “I’m sure Sweetie Bell doesn't mean it. She’s just angry at her sister at the moment.” Didn’t eases up this young filly's worries. “Will you un-daughter me if you get too angry?” Her mother laughs lightly and pulls her into a hug with: “You will always be my daughter, nothing going to change that.” That eases up Dinky’s worries, she hugs her mother and feeling much better, follows over to where the oldest residence of Ponyville is taking her nap. After have woken Granny Smith, Derpy explains the old earth pony about her small problem and asks the thought there crossed her. “So I was wondering if a stallion could be Dinky’s stand-in sibling for the event?” Granny Smith scratches her chin, musing. “Well, the Social's always had a pretty loose definition of what is a sister.” Turning her gaze to the young filly with a smile. “As long as you share a bond that represents the spirit of the Social, you're in!” So anypony sharing a bond of a sibling will do? Well, that does kinda take out her good friend Time-Turner. Yes, he likes Dinky but he is so… awkward around foals and has more the silly neighbor vibe with her daughter than anything. Turning to her daughter, Derpy notices that Dinky's eyes are shifting in her thoughts, then the filly lets out a loud gasp and declares up to. “I know who we can ask! Thanks!” She tells Granny Smith and the filly runs off. Derpy wonders who her daughter is going to ask, guess she’s going to figure out soon. She turns to the old earth pony. “Thanks, you really helped making Dinky’s day bright again.” Granny Smith nods in return and Derpy follows her daughter to whoever Dinky wants to ask. That somepony turns out to be Soldier, bit to Derpy’s surprise and yet she can sort of see why. He and her daughter has gotten quite good friends. “I can be your brother of arms for a day!” Soldier declares and already preparing himself to make a training course there will help Cadet in the upcoming battle she speaks about. “With the training you have done, you won’t have any problems smearing those maggots inside—“ Derpy has to stop him there, this isn’t the first time he thinks Dinky’s so-called fights are part of the War Games. “No enemies Soldier, it’s a competition for fun.” Soldier sends her a confused look. “Smearing their insides is fun.” He points out, she shakes her head and has to remind him. “Dinky’s enemies have to stay intact and breathing.” He looks rather disappointed but they have reaches a point in their friendship that he listens to her words without doing anything stupid. Dinky doesn't really understand much what her mother keeps telling Soldier not to do, only that if he does it, then somepony will get hurt like that manticore there attacked Town Hall and she dosesn’t want that to happen. “Many of the ponies competing are my friends' Soldier.” She tells the olive green pegasus. “So this is a competition to strengthen the bond among the soldiers?” Soldier asks, Derpy nods he got it right. Then it that case. “I won’t smear their inside against the nearby wall. But I can still kick their ass in the competition?” “No harming the others.” Derpy smiles, happy she has realized Soldier is literal which makes her careful not to say anything he might take the wrong way. Taking a step over to him, she whispers as if it’s a big secret. “Don’t tell Dinky, but the soldiers are in fact Civilians.” Soldier grumbles but does not start yelling as he usually would when hearing he will compete against civilians, according to Derpy; Cadet thinks they are competing against fellow soldiers and seeing how excited the kid is, well he will keep his mouth shut. Turning to Cadet. “Alright! We only have one day to get the training course right, so let’s get training Cadet!” Excited Dinky salute him. “Yes sir!” and giggling runs outside so they can make a substitute course for tomorrow’s competition. “Thanks for understanding.” Derpy says to Soldier, the stallion turns to her, grumbling. “Wish it was fellow soldiers, it makes it easier.” and that is why she said the others are civilians, Soldier has made as big solum promise he can that he will not harm civilians as long he is part of the Royal Guard. “I know, but Dinky has really looked forward to this.” and thinks she better asks her good friend Time-Turner if he could help these two putting up a reasonable and safe training course. “I have a friend there can help you with the course.” Soldier nods and after Derpy has dragged Time-Turner out from his lap and explained him the situation. The brown earth pony with an hourglass for a cutiemark tells the two. “Come along you two, there is a lot we need to make for you to be ready— miss Dinky Doo could you be a dear and fetch some eggs for me?” Derpy smiles and is about to aid but then remembers the issue between Rarity and her sister. So after have reminded Time-Turner that Soldier takes words literally and listens if using military terms, she leaves the three to check on the designer unicorn. Walking inside Rarity boutique, Derpy calls for the designer pony. “Rarity, if you’re not too busy, can we talk?” “Oh, just one moment, I need to get these fabrics washed for my fabulous new line.” Rarity’s voice replies from the back. Derpy decides to walk over to where she heard the unicorn, thinking Rarity will tell her if she’s not welcome there. Looking inside the washing room, Derpy is about to voice her concerns about what Sweetie Bell told her but forgets it when she sees a tiny but very stylized sweeter. “ooh, I wasn’t aware you could get such designs to pets.” She says, turning to where Rarity is putting her new clothing designs into the wash. Rarity lets out a huff. “My favorite sweater... ruined because of that Sweetie Belle—“ She didn’t see where she was going and accidentally steps on her cat Opal. Understandably the cat hisses at her for stepping on his tail before turning around and returns to wash himself. Looking at her cat, then at the sweeter, Rarity gets an idea and levitates the sweeter onto Opal. Much to the cat’s annoyance but Rarity didn’t see it, she’s just happy someone could use the greatly shrunk sweeter. “Oh, Opal-wopal! It's as if Sweetie Belle knew the sweater was perfect for you.” Then remembers what her sister did to the sweeter in the first place, plus like Sweetie Bell, stubbornly staying mad at her. “And Sweetie Belle should consider herself perfectly lucky that this thoughtless mishap turned out all right.” She huffs and returns back to work, oh, she has almost forgotten about Miss Hooves. “Oh sorry, I had a lot on my mind. What was it you wished to speak with me about?” Which reminds Derpy why she came here in the first place. “I heard from Sweetie Bell the two of you got into a fight, is that right?” She asks the unicorn. Rarity hangs the new clothing to dry, scowling she replies the older mare. “I wouldn’t call it a fight. Sweetie Bell kept messing up my stuff, so I might have gotten a bit angry at her. Understandable, Derpy sure knows how much a foal can get on somepony’s nerves, especially when it comes to sisters. She and Amethyst Star did sure fight a lot back when they were foals and even today they can have a sisterly spat. “I can relate to that, but—“ She follows Rarity back to the shop. “I and Amethyst Star never went so far to renounce the other as sisters.” Rarity does not seem that bothered, busier decorating a dress in blue diamonds. Derpy steps over to the unicorn. “Rarity, are you really planning on staying angry on Sweetie Bell from a few small mistakes?” Rarity turns to her with a huff, in her eyes what Sweetie Bell did is far from being some small mistakes. “She almost destroyed my kitchen– do you have any idea how long it took for me to clean that up?” “What did she do to cause such a mess?” “She… she tried to make me breakfast.” Rarity replies hesitant, feeling a bit embarrassed as her younger sister did— well the thought was there, but Sweet Bell didn’t do a very good job. She voices this to Derpy, adding as she attaches the baby blue diamonds onto the outfit she is making. “In fact, her ‘help’ did more harm than good, she ruined my sweeter—“ “The one you put on your cat?” Derpy asks just to be sure. Rarity nods. “That’s right. And when I told her to stay out of trouble, what did she do? She cleaned up my inspiration room and ruined a whole week of brainstorming!” Derpy turns to the clothing line Rarity came out with not long ago. “But you got back on track.” “Ehm… yes— but I might not have.” Rarity argues, stubbornly returns back to her work. Checking the box for the sapphires, she realizes she has run out and she would have more if not for Sweetie Bell. “Rrgh! This is what I was talking about.” She tells the grey pegasus greatly annoyed. “She used all of my former rare baby blue diamonds on a silly art and craft project.” Scanning the room for it. “Now where is it?” Even with her bad sight, Derpy ’s spots it first. “Found it.” and walks over to see what all the fuzz is about. The sapphires Sweetie Bell used have been shaped into a heart around a drawing of the two, Rarity might not see it as the drawing is a bit crude but Derpy sure can see the love and care behind it. “Oh~ this is so sweet!” She praises the work and shows it to Rarity. “I remember the first art my Dinky did, it was horrible but I could feel the love and care put behind every line of that drawing— Rarity?” She asks, noticing the unicorn is holding a hoof over her mouth with eyes filled with tears. Derpy is not sure it’s because the unicorn find this just as loving as her or heartbroken that her diamonds is used to such a crude drawing. She gets her answer three seconds later as Rarity cries out loud. “Oh, Sweetie Belle! My one and only sister! What have I done? All the time I could have spent with you was wasted complaining and wishing you were gone!” She snatches the art out from Derpy’s hooves, but this pegasus didn’t mind, in fact, she is happy knowing that Rarity finally sees that Sweetie Bell tried to make her big sister happy. However, she does get a bit worried when the unicorn collapses onto the floor, crying loudly. She pats Rarity’s shoulder gently. “There, there, what about we go out and find your sister?” She asks, forgetting for a moment she is speaking to an adult mare and not a filly. Fortunately Rarity did not take notice of that, otherwise, she might’ve gotten quite offended. All she heard is the grey mare’s suggestion. “Yes! I must get her back!” She jumps onto her hooves, declaring loudly. “As Celestia is my witness, I shall never be sisterless again!” and with those words she gallops out, leaving a quite dumbfounded Derpy behind. About a half minute later, the grey mare follows and helps searching town for her sister. They find Sweetie Bell that evening, hanging out with Applejack and her sister, Rarity gasps happily. “Sweetie Belle!” She trots over to the group sitting around a campfire and warming marshmallows. “Oh, I have been galloping all over looking for you. I–“ Sweetie Bell rudely cuts her off by hitting away the hoof Rarity has reached out to her. “Oh hello, un-sister. What are you doing here?” Sweetie Bell asks coldly, for she hasn’t yet forgiven her older sister, in fact, she is annoyed Rarity found her. “Better be careful, you might get some dust on you.” She mocks her sister. The Apples and Derpy all sense the hostility coming from the unicorn foal but for now, decides to let Rarity sort this out on her own. And Rarity is planning on just doing that. “Oh, Sweetie Belle, I want to apologize. I am not better off without a sister.” And to her joy, Sweetie Bell admits the same, adding in a sad tone. “Spending the day with Applejack and Apple Bloom made me realize that.” Rarity laughs out her relief and she steps over to hug her sister. “Oh, Sweetie, you don't know how happy I am to hear–“ “And that's why I'm adopting Applejack as my big sister!” Sweetie Bell interrupts her, much to everypony’s big shock, runs over and hug her new acclaimed sister. Still hugging Applejack’s front hoof, she tells her no longer older sister Rarity. “A sister is someone who loves and takes care of another sister. Applejack's a real sister.” “Sweetie Bell, that’s… that’s not how it works.” Derpy tells the still upset foal. “You cannot choose family, only the views on them.” “Yeah! Besides, she's my big sister!” Apple Bloom cries angrily of the thoughts one of her best friends is trying to steal her older sister. The two foals grab each a leg of Applejack, doing a tug of war who she belongs to. Applejack did not like where this is going. “Yeah, um—“ before she can voice her thoughts on this uncomfortable situation, Sweetie Bell shoots an angry remark to her sister. “Or maybe she should be your sister, so she could teach you what a good sister is supposed to be!” Rarity trots over to them, almost kneeling before her sister to show she is really serious about this, Applejack just wishes she realized what the problem is before she spoke. “But I don't need lessons on being a good sister, I-I promise! Listen! I'll show you how to cook my favorite quiche! Or, or, I'll show you the proper way to beautify your mane. Won't that be fun? Hm?” and Applejack is not one bit surprised to see an annoyed frown on Sweetie Bell’s face, less so when the foal asks Rarity. “You want me to go home with you, so we can do what you wanna do?” Rarity did not see the problem there caused this rift between them, only that she did something wrong. “Uh… yes?” she replies although hesitant. She can’t believe Rarity, Sweetie Bell groans loudly and trots off. “Just forget it!” She needs to get some distance from Rarity before she starts thinking everything is uncouth. Still a bit angry, but not enough to abandon her friend when she clearly needs support. Still, just to be sure. “We’re still sisters right?” Apple Bloom asks her sister and when Applejack nods she got that right, Apple Bloom leaves to have a chat with her friend. With both foals gone, Rarity walks over to Applejack, grumbling “Well, that apology went swimmingly.” To then asks the country pony annoyed why she made her look so bad in her apology. “Applejack, why do you have to be so good and make me look so bad?” To her bigger annoyance, both Applejack and Derpy chuckle, seeing something she cannot. “What?” She asks, turning to the young mother in form of Derpy when she says. “Oh Rarity, it’s a wonder you cannot see that you're refusing to share your virtue with your own sister.” Said curly haired unicorn raises a brow of that remark, not sure if she should feel offended that Derpy just has indirectly called out she did not embrace her Element of Harmony. “But I generous with her!”She exclaims, lifting her hoof as if preparing a fine meal. “I share my knowledge how to do a fine meal, how to stay out of trouble, I- I was trying to teach her how to do her hair correctly.” Applejack rolls her eyes, somewhat amused by Rarity shortsightedness. “But you never allow others show their generous nature.” She taps her friend lightly on the chest. “You are so busy seeing the world your way that you do not see the beauty the others try to make.” Rarity blinks, still not really getting it, so Applejack tries a different approach. “Being sisters is like… apple pie!” “Or a good muffin.” Derpy giggles. “That too.” Applejack nods, returning back to the now really confused Rarity, she smiles weakly to the unicorn. “Stick with us sugar cube. See sisters as an apple pie, you are the apples, amazing with everything there can be made out from them if just a bit creative and Sweetie Bell is the crust, it is a bit messy but taste amazing. Both good separate but you can only have a perfect apple pie together.” Rarity has to think about it to understand what Applejack is trying to tell her, yes both things are good on their own but apple pie apples are a mashed mess and the crust without the apples is just a crumbly mess. She gasps, finally getting it. “I know what I need to do! I just hope it isn't too late...” She adds to the two mares, both which is giving her a weak smile but does promise they will help with whatever she is planning. *next day* “Don’t take this the wrong way my dear friend, but…” Time-Turner winches slightly of the mere thought of what he dealt with yesterday. “Your partner is— how best to describe him? Brutish effective perhaps?” Derpy smiles weakly, she does feel a bit sorry for her friend, for when she found him, Soldier was forcing poor Time-Turner to do pushups. “His father was a soldier.” At least that what she got when he started on monologing why he was a soldier in heart. “Ah, then that explains everything.” Time-Turner muses, more so why that brute’s father called him Soldier, sure suits him. The attitude from Soldier does worry him a bit though. “Are you sure Dinky Doo can take his… strong personality? I mean I couldn’t even tell him I wasn’t a warrior but a pony of science.” Derpy sends him an ensuring smile. “Don’t worry, doc, Dinky likes Soldier and he won’t cause her any harm.” Well, he trusts her words on that one, then a chime reminds him of why he is here. “Great whickering stallions! The main competition is about to start, better get moving my friend.” He urges Derpy and both trots over to the place. They find a good spot beside a brown unicorn and a species Time-Turner cannot name. All he knows that these two are associates to his good friend Derpy. The unicorn turns to Derpy, “Ey, heard from Solly he was competing with your kid.” Derpy nods. “That’s right, doc helped them with the obstacle course.” Both unicorn and other creature blink, with the other creature— if Time-Turner remembers correctly, that one’s name is Engineer. “Sorry miss, Medic’s not here” Engineer says. Derpy giggles. “Oh, sorry I forgot you call him doc too. I mean Time-Turner.” Gesturing to her earth pony friend. “He’s a doctor too— well not medical.” “Most know me as Doctor Whooves— No relation to miss Hooves, it is quite a funny story— anyway, I’m a doctor of scientist, so many things can be solved with the right machine.” Time-Turner smiles, he gets a delightful surprise when Engineer chuckles and says in agreement. “You got that right doc. I have built a few contraptions of my own, one of them being a teleporter.” Before Time-Turner can get more details from Engineer, Derpy stops him, declaring excitedly. “The race is about to start!” The group turns to the competition. As the sibling pairs line up, Demo notices that Applejack is paired up with some other foal. “Hold up, why isn’t Applejack competing with Apple Bloom?” Oh, she forgot they didn’t know about the plan. “Rarity and her younger sister Sweetie Bell got into a fight, it got so bad that Sweetie Bell doesn't want anything to do with her sister. I and Applejack helped Rarity realize what she did wrong, and now she is trying to fix it.” Derpy explains the two. Time-Turner already knows of the plan, he was the one who helped to make sure the illusion won’t be broken before time. “And how exactly will she fix it if she’s not here?” Engineer asks frowning. The race start and the groups set off, it is a bit surprising that Soldier and Derpy’s kid did not take the lead but Soldier has never been the fastest, they aren’t the slowest either, that is Applejack and Sweetie Bell. At the first obstacle, Applejack falls into the mud, so deep, in fact, she disappears for a moment and when appearing, she is covered in mud. “Miss Applejack should have about seven minutes of air from the breather machine.” Time-Turner muses and activates a clock just to be sure. Engineer turns to this other doctor, a bit confused what he meant by that. “You have a machine down in the mud?” “Oh yes, it makes sure miss Applejack doesn’t appear before the race is over… hopefully.” Time-Turner admits, he did only have a few hours to make this, he voices this to the two stallions. “Not my greatest work, but perfections requires time- time I did not have thanks to a certain military pony.” Derpy giggles sheepishly. “Sorry about that doc.” She is after all partly at fault of her friend being trapped in doing push-ups. Demo and Engineer exchange a look with one another, surprised that not only they are speaking to a pony there knows how to make machines, but that Applejack currently is underneath the mud. “So if Applejack is down there,” Demo points at the mud pool. “then the one competing with Sweetie Bell...” “That’s Rarity.” Derpy confirms, turning to her friend as Time-Turner remarks thoughtful. “I’m surprised miss Rarity is taking being soiled in stride.” Engineer laughs, he too is a bit surprised but is also happy that Rarity considers family more worth than her mane. Turning back to the competition, he must admit that it is good seeing the two work so fine together. Eyeing the other team in form of Derpy’s daughter and Soldier, those two are doing a good job as well, and it is surprising that Soldier knows how to be gentle with the foal. As he doesn’t hurl Derpy’s foal as thought up to the barrels for mashing grapes to make the juice, instead he lets her jump onto his back to reach the barrel. “Never thought I would see the day Solly being patient.” Demo remarks, as like Engineer is baffled watching Soldier wait for Dinky to make the juice without yelling at her like he would towards them. “You never told him that his loud voice will ruin somepony’s ear?” Derpy asks a bit confused, the two sends her a look and she explains. “I told him that and explained that if he kept ruin somepony’s ear with his yelling, someday they won’t be able to hear him- or the danger.” “No, we haven’t.” Engineer admits and feels a bit silly about not explaining Soldier such things. Guess they all were too busy fighting in the War Games to really get to know one another. It is perhaps a good thing they came here, Engineer sure heck has learned a lot of new things about his fellow teammates in their time here. “You told him that straight out?” Derpy nods. “I have to, Soldier is literal.” “Well, that explains a lot.” Demo muses to Engineer there nods in agreement, both feeling silly they haven’t realized that before someone told them. After that small revelation, the two return back to the competition. Neither Soldier’s or Rarity’s team won, that is Berry Punch and her younger sister there did. Demo smirks proudly seeing that. “Times up.” Time-Turner declares and leaves his seat. “Better make sure Applejack get out from the mud.” The others head down to Rarity and Sweetie Bell, the filly has just realized that the one she competed with is not the one she thought it would. Confused, Sweetie Bell looks around for the orange earth pony. “Wait, where's Applejack?” Turning to the first obstacle she sees Applejack reappear with a loud gasp for air, and after having returned Time-Turner his machine, Applejack trots over to the others. Sweetie Bell is very confused. “I don't get it.” Demo chuckles down to her. “You wouldn’t be the only one if Miss Hooves didn’t explain us beforehand.” Applejack chuckles as well of this brilliant plan is successful thanks to a friend of their friend. “We switched places over at the very first mudhole.” And is very thankful Dr. Hooves gave her that breather machine, for no way she could’ve held her breathe for that long to keep the illusion. She notes herself to thank him somehow. Still dumbfounded, Sweetie Bell turns to her sister, asking. “So, we did the whole competition... together?” and Rarity replies smiling. “That we did, little sister. Well, except for the start line.” She points out. Apple Bloom jumps in between them, declaring proudly. “But you finished together!” Wait, Apple Bloom knew? “You mean... you were all in on it?” Sweetie Bell asks the Apples and her sister, looking at the others, she realizes that they all seem to have known. That is truly touching so many adults did all of this for her sake. “You did this for me?” Rarity steps over, correcting her little sister. “Us. I did it for us.” Much to her joy, Sweetie Bell nuzzles her head against her in the sign of affection. “You see? We are apple pie!” Realizing that only Applejack and Derpy would know, she giggles weakly to the confused crowd. “Uh, I'll explain later. For now, I think we deserve a celebration!” Everypony cheers and she proudly says the place when her sister asks. “The spa, of course.” And apparently, everypony thought it was a joke, quite the contrary. “No, I-I-I'm serious.” She tells the group, sure she did this for both her and Sweetie Bell, but she really wants the mud out from her pelt before it dries up. “What would you like?” Engineer asks Sweetie Bell and she replies still amused by her sister. “I would like do the obstacle course again!” Alright, so what about this. “What if we all do the course together, after that; we clean up.” “Not at that sissy spa.” Soldier grumbles, with Demo nodding in agreement. “I prefer a simple shower then.” Rarity rolls her eyes but she guesses that’s just how stallions are, at least her sister has also learned how to compromise. “If you do the obstacle course with me again, I go to the spa with you, deal?” That she can agree on. “deal,” and the two sister runs over to the starting line.