“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Aw, come on Twi! Live a little!”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.” This time, the flat word was accompanied with a sigh. This was not an unfamiliar conversation, as Twilight was all too well aware of. “It never ends well. Besides, you’re already half-gone.”
“You’re no fun.” Her rainbow-maned challenger pouted. Despite her light words, the ruffled feathers and slight swaying did indeed hint at a cider too many.
But, this was excusable. Tonight marked six mares’ Seasonal Sleepover. They were all present, in Canterlot Castle’s large bedroom: Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and of course, Twilight and Rainbow. They formed a rough circle, scattered with oversize cushions and wide blankets. Rarity and Fluttershy huddled together, wrapped in the same blue blanket to escape the slight chill, murmuring quietly about everything mares had to catch up on. Pinkie Pie sat a ways apart from them, leaning so heavily on her front hooves that she would have fallen over long ago, were she not the legendary Pinkie Pie. Her eyes were wide, darting first from Rainbow, then to Twilight, then back to Rainbow. Not far from her sat Applejack, leaning against the plaster wall. Her tanned back hooves were crossed in front of her, forehooves folded, an empty mug of cider right beside her. Her eyes were half-shut, a slight grin playing on her lips.
The six mares – well, so far, only Twilight and Rainbow – were having the same argument as the previous season. And the one before that. And the one before that.
“Well… anypony else want to play? AJ?” Rainbow pleaded. Her gaze darted the farmer, who’s eyes slowly widened with the realization that… she would be roped into the swing of things. Again. Most likely with a taunt. A taunt she just couldn’t bear, one that always worked, one she absolutely, totally could resist, no matter what… “Or are you too scared?” Rainbow grinned. Applejack grimaced. There it was.
“I am not scared!” Applejack snarled. She pulled her mug closer, glaring down at it. Something inside her wished she hadn’t just emptied it. That it was full, ready to take her away from the awaiting nightmare… Don’t fall for it, AJ. Don’t fall for it, don’t fall for it!
“Nah, you’re just scared that good ol’ Rainbow Dash will beat you… again!” Rainbow sing-songed, swaying closer. “Or maybe, that she’ll come up with something that makes you feel bad!” Applejack took a deep inhale. Then another. And one more.
“I’m not scared.” Applejack muttered. But her resolve was slipping away… slipping away through hooves that couldn’t keep pride shut anymore…
“Prove it.” Rainbow stomped her hoof once, lightly. Unfortunately, her other three legs couldn’t support the unbalanced weight, and she went toppling down to the side, with a very ungraceful crash.
“Oh my, Rainbow Dash! Are you alright?” Fluttershy exclaimed, alarmed. She moved to get up, but was instantly stopped by Rarity’s expertly polished white hoof.
“Darling, you mustn’t overexert yourself!” She scolded, giving a little push to make sure Fluttershy would stay down. “You’re due any day now, and we simply cannot go risking your health!” Rarity frowned. “What would Discord say?”
“Probably that he’s already regretting the foal.” Rainbow grumbled as she struggled to her feet.
“Now, Rainbow Dash… what will it take for you to give him a chance?” Fluttershy demanded. Her eyes flashed. It… was the hormones. Yes, that’s what it was.
“Jeez, Flutters. Chill.” Rainbow smirked, plopping down a few feet from where she had started out. Fluttershy opened her mouth, ready to retort, but was again stopped by Rarity.
“No, no, my dear… let’s not be distressed now, hm?” Rarity soothed, shooting Rainbow a dirty look. “You know she’s not… ahem… particularly clean, at the moment.” This was followed by another disapproving glare, pointedly aimed in Dash’s direction.
“You’re right,” Fluttershy sighed quietly. In, out, in, out.
“Now, where were we?” Rarity, too, dropped in tone, going back to the hushed whisper previously used.
“So, AJ! You in?” Rainbow’s eyes narrowed to slits. A grin, only to be described as ‘evil,’ complimented the look. “Or out?” She hissed.
“Fine, fine!” Applejack threw up her hooves. “I’m not scared,” she added, somewhat triumphantly.
“Awesome! Now, Flutters? Rarity? Twilight? Pinks? C’mon now, you know you want to…” Rainbow encouraged.
“For shame, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity announced. “Your friend is with foal, for Celestia’s sake! This… game, of yours, will certainly include harmful substances… not to even start on those… those… silly dares you come up with! We will absolutely not expose Fluttershy and her unborn foal to such conditions! For shame!” She finished, turning her nose up in disgust.
“Yeah, yeah, okay. Fluttershy doesn’t have to play,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Pinks? You in?” She turned to her friend. The pink mare was trembling with excitement, a manic smile stretching wide over her face.
“Hey, this is a party, right?” She squealed, tone unnaturally high. Well, unnaturally… for anypony but Pinkie. Rainbow nodded, enthusiastically. “Count me in!” Pinkie giggled, tone rising first from low, to high, and back to low in the same sentence. Sounded a bit like she as well had had an unnecessary cider… but this was Pinkie Pie. Didn’t she always sound a bit buzzed?
“There we go! Double-awesome!” Rainbow thrust her hoof out, surprisingly not even moving an inch as Pinkie reached waaaay back and slapped her pink hoof into Dash’s blue one. “Now… Twilight? Please?” She turned her gaze to the alicorn, eyes wet, big, and pleading. Twilight flinched immediately. This was, surely, a side-effect of that extra cider. Surely. Those eyes couldn’t, just couldn’t, be real… they couldn’t be… oh, good Heavens, they were quivering now… Twilight felt herself wavering. Look away, Twilight! But those eyes…
Despite herself, and her best instincts, the ruler of the entire whole of Equestria sighed in defeat. Her head nodded once, helplessly, then dropped to her chest. She couldn’t bear to look at Rarity, couldn’t face the shame of succumbing yet again to Violet Eyes.
“YES!” Rainbow yelled, flipping into the air. Only to find her wings hadn’t quite made it all the way to open… and did absolutely nothing to keep her air-bound. Once again, the Wonderbolt pegasus crashed to the ground in a heap. But this time, excitement made her get up fast. Very fast. Very much too fast. But it didn’t matter! They were playing! Now the night could really begin!
“Alrighty! Who wants to start?” Pinkie scooted in close to Rainbow. Who needed personal space? Nopony; not tonight!
“I will.” Applejack spoke up, leaning forward slightly. She pressed her hooves together, narrowing her gaze in on Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash, who had used tricks and taunts to get a lowly apple farmer involved in a foal’s game of Truth or Dare… oh, but was that mare going to pay. “Truth… or dare… Dash?”
“Dare.” Rainbow answered, closing her eyes. You know… to prove she wouldn’t hesitate. Nope, the great Rainbow Dash did not hesitate, nor get scared… not even in the face of a Dare meant for revenge. Not Rainbow Dash, never!
“I’ll go easy on ya, for this one.” Applejack smirked. “Dare you to fly up to your ‘HQ’ and wake all the Wonderbolts.” She did indeed use air quotes, but honestly wouldn’t have needed to. Rainbow got the idea. Oh, she got it alright.
“H-HQ?” She stammered. But… that was where all the Wonderbolts were! Surprise… and Fleets… and Fire Streak… and Blaze… and Lightning… and High Winds… and Misty… and Sunny… and Zoom… Windy… Wave… and most of all… Soarin. Spitfire. No. No, AJ couldn’t be asking this. She couldn’t be.
“Yup.” Applejack confirmed, a wicked smile forming as she nodded sharply. “Better go now. Or are you scared?” She dropped her tone, forcing it raspier, lower, more similar to the one Dash herself had used.
“No. I’m not scared.” Rainbow inhaled, preparing for her takeoff. Right wing out, left wing out, you ready? As I’ll ever be. “Be right back!” She yelled, slipping nimbly – even in her state – out the tall window. A trail – even if slightly crooked – of rainbow followed her, faintly lighting a path for the remaining ponies to track.
Needless to say, they could hear it. From all the way in Canterlot Castle, they could hear what it took to wake up the Wonderbolts. First, it started out as just some really loud yelling, which was just slightly audible. Then, it was clear, Rainbow dragged in Equestria’s ripest, biggest, fullest thundercloud, and gave it a hefty kick. Fluttershy would have dashed to Tartarus and back from that scare along… had she not been, like, eleven months with foal. Lastly, as though that hadn’t been enough to wake some champion flyers, military-experienced ones, at that, Rainbow Dash finished with something that sounded not unlike a bomb. Indeed, everypony sat stock still, staring out at the window, looking for the sure wave of rainbow light to wash over the land. Oh, but it hadn’t been a legendary Sonic Rainboom. Yes, Rainbow was the strong flyer, but even she had limits when buzzed. They could only guess what had been the Great Divider – and hope to Celestia that it hadn’t been an actual bomb.
They scarcely had to wait, for the mare to come rushing back after that last clap. Within seconds, a quick blur of blue dashed back through the window, whipping everypony’s manes back. A trailing yell followed Dash, but… it just… couldn’t quite keep up with the speed at which she had just flown in with. In fact, it was – of course – all too fast. Not even Rainbow Dash could come to a standstill quickly, after such a speed. So, quite unceremoniously, the highly-ranked Wonderbolt pegasus flew straight into the opposite wall, bouncing off it and landing in a heap feet away. She grunted. To look on the bright side, she sounded a lot clearer now. But nopony could comment on that. They stared in shock at their friend – no, perhaps not in shock. They were in awe. Speechless. Dumbstruck. Flabbergasted.
As expected, Fluttershy was the first to regain control of her vocal cords.
“Dashie!” She gasped, “Are you okay?” Her eyes were wide, staring at her life-long friend. Similarly, next to her, Rarity pressed a hoof to her heart.
“Ugh. I’m fine.” Rainbow groaned, shakily straightening back to a sitting position.
“Alright, alright, no big deal. Did you at least do the dare?” Applejack demanded, impatiently tapping her hoof on the polished ground next to her.
“I did,” Rainbow started, then hesitated. “I… wouldn’t go to HQ right now. Spits is… not in a good mood.” She gave a dry chuckle, slowly reaching up to rub her head once more.
“Your turn, then.” The farmer sat back, closing her eyes, apparently satisfied. Well… she did look like she wanted some hay to chew on, but… beside the point.
“Okay, uh…” Rainbow’s gaze swept, if slowly, over the playing ponies. She stopped at Pinkie. “Pinkie. Truth or dare?” Pinkie sat up taller, straightening an unseen tie.
“I’ll pick…” She pretended to think about it, tone rising high. “Truth, for this one.”
“Aw, c’mon,” Rainbow sighed, “What’re you most afraid of.” She didn’t even try posing it as a question; instead just threw it out there, as an off-hoofed remark.
“Ooooooh… my biggest fear…” Pinkie closed her eyes, humming from the back of her throat. The already-dim lights in the room flickered, whether by coincidence or by Pinkie… would remain uncertain. Rarity involuntarily moved closer to Fluttershy, who was, indeed, fixing Pinkie with a fascinated look.
“What’cha got?” Applejack joined in, cocking her head at Pinkie’s hesitation. The lights flicked again.
“I think… I think my biggest fear is…” She paused, in a way only known as ‘dramatically,’ before continuing. When she spoke again, her tone was low. Not… bubbly, not happy, not fun. “My biggest fear is that I can’t make ponies smile anymore. That they’ll hate me one day, just f-for… for me being me.” She looked down, scraping a hoof lightly across the lacquered wood floor.
“Ah, Pinkie…” Rainbow muttered, running a hoof uncomfortably through her mane, holding it there for a moment. Things weren’t supposed to get… serious this fast… she couldn’t help but think. The other side of her argued. It’s Truth or Dare. And you asked the question, Dash. Gotta expect her to be honest.
“Pinkie, darling! Why ever would you think somepony could hate you?” Rarity asked, concern audible in her tone, concern visible in her eyes.
“Can we… not talk about this?” Pinkie murmured, not looking up. She was much, much quieter than before. Much, much less like the Pinkie everypony knew so well.
“Pinkie Pie? Are things going okay? Are you stable? Do you need to see a psych-” Twilight started immediately, only to be interrupted.
“Everything’s fine, Twilight. I’m okay,” she gave the Princess a small smile. “But this is Truth or Dare, and she asked, so I answered.”
“But… you’d say something, if things weren’t okay, right?” Applejack added, staring at her fellow Earth Pony. The buzz of alcohol was gone – replaced by an unfailing worry for a best friend.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it!” Pinkie answered, lightening her tone. “Seriously, girls… don’t worry about me. Everything’s great! I’m here, with all of you, having a sleepover party!” She smiled. A genuine smile, one full of love and… appreciation.
“Are you sure?” Fluttershy murmured, liquid blue eyes searching her friend intently. Rarity fixed her own gaze in the same direction, pinning Pinkie down with a stare that missed nothing.
“Yes,” She confirmed. “Everything is A-OK.”
“If you’re sure,” Rainbow added, then held a hoof up when Pinkie started to protest, “as you said you are, then it’s your turn.” Intelligent violet eyes flicked up, lingering for but a moment on Pinkie’s own crystal blues.
“Hmm…” Pinkie brightened again, cheerfully spinning in a slow circle, taking in each of her friends. “Fluttershy, can I give you a Truth question? No dares.” She added quickly.
“Go ahead.” Fluttershy smiled. She sat back, gently laying a hoof on her grown stomach.
“Are you super-duper excited for the foal? Or… a little worried?” Pinkie rested her head on the heels of her newly-steepled hooves. She tilted her head slightly, gazing steadily at the yellow mare.
“Oh, um,” Fluttershy shifted, blinking. “Both, I guess. I mean… I’m so very excited. You know… it took a while, and we weren’t sure if… if the foal would survive this long. Being half draconequus, and all. It does make me smile, to think… there’s a little foal inside me, and I’m… a mother.” She paused, smiling down. “But…” here, the smile wavered. She looked up, quickly flicking her glance to each of the mares. “I’m also scared. Pinkie, I was there when you had Lil Cheese. I saw what it was like. It… hurt you. And… I think I can get through that. I’m not worried for myself. I’m… I’m worried about the foal. What if she doesn’t survive to see the world? What if she has some horrible disease? What if the other foals laugh at her? What if they make fun of her?” She took a deep breath, staring down at the floor. Her tone had gone quiet, troubled.
“Hey now, Fluttershy…” Rainbow hovered into the air, drifting closer to her fillyhood friend. “Everything’ll work out, you’ll see.”
“Oh, I know,” Fluttershy hesitated, mouth moving, but no words coming out.
“It’s totally normal.” Pinkie stressed the ‘totally’ largely. “Trust me, Flutters. You’ll worry about so much, but then, when things get going, if ya know what I mean, everything will disappear!” She threw her hooves out to the side – all four of them.
“And we’ll all be there for you.” Twilight got to her feet, settling down on Fluttershy’s other side. She draped a growing wing over the mare, pulling her close.
“She’s right, you know.” Applejack pointed out, warm smile aimed at Fluttershy. “We’ll be here.”
“You mustn’t worry, Fluttershy. You are going to make a wonderful mother, and the foal will be delightful.” Rarity assured, nuzzling her friend on the shoulder, lightly.
“Oh, thank you, everypony.” Fluttershy whispered, tears choking her voice just a little. Those hormones, surely. Surely.
“If you want to pause the game, you know, to… talk-” Rainbow began, tone a nervous kind of affectionate.
“No, no. Let’s keep playing. I don’t want to cause a holdup, and… it’s actually kind of fun.” Fluttershy smiled up at the rainbow-maned pegasus. Rainbow gave a little nod, then landed in front of her. The others took their cue and spread out just the tiniest bit.
“Alright. Your turn!”
“Oh, right… my turn.” Fluttershy bit her lip. “Twilight. Truth or Dare?” Twilight huffed, thinking.
“I’ll go with… dare, for this one.” She looked up, sitting up a little straighter.
“Hm, okay.” Fluttershy looked up, scanning the ceiling, as though the perfect Dare were just up there, if only she looked hard enough. “I-I dare you… to make a National Bunny- oh wait, no, that already exists. Hm. My, this is hard.” She laughed, a light sound. A Fluttershy sound. “I dare you to try and call a bird?” A faint blush heated her cheeks.
“Mm… okay then.” Twilight grimaced, lifting to her feet. She walked to the window, slowly, in the kind of walk one could call royal, and composed, but should call hesitant, and full of dread. Applejack and Rainbow exchanged a glance – it may have been a silent question. It may have been, ‘couldn’t Fluttershy have picked something a little more deep? Dark?’ But… it also may have been… ‘this was not a good idea.’
Because it hadn’t been a good idea. It really, truly, hadn’t been a good idea. And the second Twilight started… yodeling out the window, Fluttershy understood. She didn’t think she had ever flinched so hard. Without thinking, her hooves flew up to cover her sensitive ears (hormones?), instinctively huddling down over her unborn foal. Lockdown mode, lockdown mode, lockdown mode! The ponies around her were not faring much better. Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut, breathing in through her nose sharply, unmoving. Pinkie yelped, curling into a little tiny ball, rocking herself back and forth, back and forth. Applejack bit down on her lip, hard, and stayed in a position similar to Rainbow’s. Rarity desperately looked for an exit, but, finding none, settled for a very unladylike wheezing, hooves pressed hard to her ears.
To say the least, Twilight didn’t notice. She belted her heart out, croaking and ‘chirping’ in something barely recognizable as a pony’s voice, eyes closed as though she were performing the greatest symphony ever to grace the air of Equestria. And she kept on with it, having quite the good time as well. That is, until the birds finally did fly up. And yes, they did indeed come because of Twilight’s… birdcall. But they did not come bearing the white flag of peace. They came bearing the wooden swords of Fluttershy’s Birdly Guard. Imagine what surprise they felt, to see their dear friend crumpled on the ground, shivering. Surely, there was something wrong with the foal! And… it was all her fault!
The biggest bird, admittedly not more than four inches tall, turned to Princess Twilight Sparkle, raising her twig and directing her army with a practiced chirp. The birds nodded, once, in unison, before streaming toward the Princess in waves, little wooden sticks raised high and proud. For Fluttershy!
Just before the first sword made contact, Fluttershy took notice of what was happening. With a harsh chirp, not unlike the one of the leader, she cut the mission short. The army of birds stopped in their little tracks, turning toward their favorite pony in confusion. The same bird that had issued the call for attack gave some rapidly-paced squeaks.
“That won’t be necessary, Sunny. I do so appreciate your coming, and I do appreciate the defense,” Fluttershy paused, hiding a small smile behind her hoof. “But it was all just a big misunderstanding. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience, I truly am.” The bird, Sunny, answered with another sharp chirp.
“What’s he saying?” Rainbow muttered, mostly to Applejack. But of course, it wouldn’t have hurt for Fluttershy to hear it as well.
“Well, Rainbow Dash. First of all, Sunny is a she.” Fluttershy nodded at the bird, who proudly saluted with a glimmering blue feather. “And… they just wanted to do the right thing.” She offered a comforting smile to the army, where a good amount of its soldiers were looking out the window, longing to get out of this utterly humiliating situation.
“I-I’m sorry, Fluttershy.” Twilight murmured. If Fluttershy’s cheeks had been ‘tinted pink’ earlier, Twilight’s were on fire. And, however embarrassing it was for the birds, it must have been tripled, doubled, and then some for poor Twilight.
“Don’t worry about it, Twilight,” Fluttershy shifted her smile to the Alicorn. “It really was my fault, for giving you the dare.” Sunny chirped again. “Yes, thank you. You may go. I’ll have some extra seeds for you tomorrow, alright?” She answered, waving the army off. Sunny gave a curt nod, then squealed again, giving the ‘dismissed’ order. The army filed out in pairs, not a one looking back. “Would you like to keep playing, Twilight?” Fluttershy turned back to Twilight, who gratefully nodded. She walked back to her spot, stiffly, and offered a small smile.
“Rarity, are you playing now?” She murmured, not over the initial embarrassment, despite Fluttershy’s best attempts to reassure her.
“I think not, darlings. Perhaps in another few rounds, is that alright?” Rarity answered, lifting a hoof and examining it closely. The mares all replied with some version of ‘yes.’
“Okay. So… Applejack, Truth or Dare?” She turned in the direction of the farmer.
“Ah, I’m gonna regret both.” Applejack answered, shaking her head. “Truth.”
“You probably are.” Rainbow muttered, stretching over to give her friend a little kick. Applejack, ever the lady, stuck her tongue out in response.
“What’s your life plan?” Twilight asked, bluntly. Her ears were pricked forward, actually very eagerly awaiting the response.
“My… life plan?” Applejack repeated, lifting an eyebrow. Twilight nodded, quickly. “Uh… I’m not exactly sure. I guess… well, Granny – rest her dear soul – left the farm to me and Mac, soon Applebloom, so I’d love to get some more trees in, you know, improve harvest season even just a little more. Once everything’s all good and ready for Mac’s filly, eventually, I think I’d like to go find myself a stallion, and settle down, maybe have a couple strong colts of our own.” She paused, thinking. “And never retire. I won’t retire until I’m forced to retire.” She finished with a nod, satisfied.
“Interesting,” Twilight murmured. She stared ahead, a faraway look in her eye. It passed as quickly as it arrived.
“Pinkie Pie, Truth or Dare?” Applejack demanded, slipping back into hard-core mode.
“Dare.” This time, Pinkie answered without hesitation. She cracked her hooves, in some way that probably shouldn’t be possible, and bent forward, eyes once again narrowed. She. Was. Ready.
“I dare you to drink five of Twilight’s strongest coffees.” Applejack cackled. “Straight.” The room’s light flashed off, then cracked back on. Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and even Pinkie, gasped. Fluttershy and Rarity most likely at the light, and Twilight and Pinkie most likely at… that dare. They both knew exactly which coffee Applejack was hinting at.
“But… those are hoof-picked by Luna herself! It’s what she used to stay up all night! Applejack, nopony can drink five of those, certainly not straight!” Twilight wheezed, barely taking enough break for an inhale.
“She’s not wrong!” Pinkie chimed in, ears twitching wildly in alarm.
“Aye, come on now. Believe in yourself! Hey, RD? What’s that the Wonderbolts always say? Belief is…” Applejack prompted, gazing first at Pinkie, then at Dash.
“Belief is ‘yes, I can!’” Rainbow answered, raising her voice some at the last part. That could be blamed on instinct – gotta stay sharp in the ‘Bolts, after all! – but was more likely caused by… none other than… ciders. She hadn’t completely gotten them out of her system, apparently.
“There ya go!” Applejack sat back, smugly crossing her hooves again.
“W-Well… okay.” Pinkie stammered. She was not ready, not for this.
“You’ll be fine. Don’t you, like, always drink your own?” Rainbow shrugged. She could never remember what it was called.
“The-” Pinkie started, only to be immediately cut off by Rainbow.
“Yeah, yeah, that.” She rushed in. One thing she could remember? It had a long name.
“It’s different, Rainbow Dash. That one is only meant to keep my energy up. It’s guaranteed to bring some extra to your day, some extra to your step, and some extra to your life!” Pinkie announced, not unlike from the times she stood in front of Sugarcube Corner, promoting whatever new pastry the Cakes had come up with. “I-It’s not meant to… keep you up all night.” She dropped to a whisper, terrified blue eyes darting from one end of the room to the other. Her teeth were chattering, clacking together so loudly Fluttershy was sure her foal could hear it.
“Twilight, be a sweet and grab some?” Applejack’s grin started to slip, upon seeing her friend so upset.
“S-Sure.” Twilight muttered, easily activating her pink aura of magic. Within seconds, five purple mugs, yes, with pink hearts on them, appeared in the room. Inside was a steaming concoction. It… wasn’t exactly brown, nor was it precisely black. Not even white. It was… a certain shade of gray. A… more-than-mildly concerning one, at that.
“I-I have to drink that?” Pinkie whimpered, deflating like one of her balloons after the party was over. Applejack made a noise, similar to something Granny Smith might have voiced, back in the day.
“Good luck, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight whispered, levitating the mugs over to her dear, dear friend. Her expression was nothing less than absolutely somber. Rainbow Dash stared at Pinkie – though, whether it was because of how she was acting now, or for fear or how she would act, nopony knew… Similarly, Rarity and Fluttershy had their gazes locked on Pinkie’s hoof, slowly drawing the first cup closer, and closer, and closer to her lips. They scooted closer to each other, very quickly joined by a trembling Princess of Friendship. Applejack stood frozen, no doubt debating if this had been such a good idea.
“H-Here goes…” Pinkie squeaked. She lifted the mug closer. Scrunched her nose away – that smell! And then, with a tremor racking through her rib area, Pinkie Pie tipped her head back, emptying the mug slowly at first, then gulping it down. It was scalding hot, burning a way from her tongue, down her throat, all the way to her stomach. And then, the mug was empty. Pinkie held it up for just a moment longer, then released the smooth surface from her mouth. Slowly, she set it down with a small click.
“P-Pinkie Pie?” Twilight whispered again, eyes wide and staring.
“Yes, Princess Twilight Sparkle?” She answered, blinking once. Very slowly. Her tone was low. Very low. She stood still. Very still. And… her mane was going flat!
“Are you okay?” Applejack uttered. She, too, had her gaze trained intently on the pink mare.
“Of course I am!” Pinkie announced, voice springing back up to its cheerful normal. Her mane popped up, fizzing out to all sides. Applejack – Element of Honesty – would have sworn she heard something of a static crack. The mares, all of them – perhaps even Pinkie herself – heaved a sigh of relief.
“Look here, Pinkie,” Applejack started. “You really don’t have to finish the dare. In fact, I’d rather prefer it if… if you didn’t.” Pinkie snorted, rather loudly. Rarity immediately sniffed, turning up her nose just a touch. Rainbow rolled her eyes lightly, at Rarity, but immediately sombered up once Pinkie started speaking again. Fluttershy huddled down, though not quite as much as last time, already ready to protect the life inside her. Rainbow, seeing this, stepped closer. Not that she though Pinkie could be a danger, of course not. Well, not a normal Pinkie. An… even more caffeinated Pinkie, however…
“Applejack, Applejack!” She giggled. “Pinkie Pie doesn’t back out on dares, silly! She’s gonna finish this dare!” Twilight flinched. Third pony? That was… that was a Trixie-thing, not a Pinkie-thing. Red flag? Red flag.
Applejack muttered something in reply, something that wasn’t quite audible. The others hesitated, wondering if they should say something, if they could even say something. Probably not. They watched in sheer fascination as Pinkie, quick as lightning, picked up each of the four remaining mugs – filled with, not even arguably, the strongest coffee in all of Equestria – and absolutely guzzled them. One right after the other, downing them as though they were merely bottles of water on a hot summer day. When Pinkie finished, not a minute later, she just stood there, five empty mugs set neatly around her, happy smile gracing her face, head tilted slightly to the left, blinking with innocent eyelashes at her best friends.
“Dear, do you feel well?” Rarity, very concerned, by now, asked quietly. She blinked rapidly, perhaps trying to take everything in, exactly as it was.
“Never been better!” Pinkie chirped, bouncing in place a little. Rarity exchanged the glance with Twilight. Fluttershy shrank down, eyes fixed on Pinkie.
“R-Right then.” Applejack said, a heavy unsureness weighing her tone.
“Hey!” Pinkie exclaimed. “It’s my turn!” She… wasn’t quite yelling, not yet. She… did indeed, actually seem… an excited normal. Well, Excited-Pinkie-Pie-Normal, that is. “Rainbow Dash, Truth or Dare?” She whirled on one back foot, until landing like a spinner on Dash.
What to choose, the poor mare had to wonder, and wonder deeply. There could be side-effects, that would show on even Pinkie. Was it wise to go with a dare, for this one? Probably not. Did she want to pick a dare? Certainly. This was Rainbow Dash! She could be beat by nopony. But it was Pinkie Pie, and she was drunk on coffee.
“Truth.” Rainbow exhaled, so quickly it almost wasn’t to be heard.
“Okie-dokie then!” Pinkie cheered. She thumped down onto the ground, hitting her hipbone in the process, hard. She just giggled again. Time for Applejack and Rainbow to exchange the glance. “Are you afraid of dying? If so, why? If not, why?” Rainbow immediately flinched. That hit right in the sensitive spot. “O-Or if that’s too much, I can always give you a diff-”
“No.” Rainbow interrupted. One blow to her pride was enough. She’d finish this feat, like it or not, comfortable or not. She inhaled once, swallowed heavily. The lights whistled off, then back on again, but dimmer this time. The mood shifted as well, more or less like the light. It dimmed. Rainbow sat down, curling her tail around herself, and just slightly opening her wings to cocoon around the same direction. “I guess I don’t really know the answer to that.” She hesitated, voice dropping lower, involuntarily. “I’m not really scared of death. I’m a Wonderbolt, and I do dangerous stuff, like, every day. I’ve heard the death stories of… multiple ponies, even been there for a few. I know everypony dies one day, and I’ve long since accepted it. I’m not scared of death in general, no. But… of dying?” She took another breath, seemingly unable to look up, meet her friends’ eyes. “I’m afraid of dying, yeah. Not necessarily… of the pain. I’m probably going to die from a stunt gone wrong, or saving somepony. I… know. And I know I’m gonna get hurt doing it. But, then again, how often have I gotten hurt during training? Well… too often, as you all tell me. I know what pain feels like, and I know I can bear it. I-I guess… no, I know… I’m not afraid of pain. But the actual death? Leaving behind a life I love? Leaving behind ponies? Hurting ponies? I think… that’s the part that I’m afraid of. I’m scared of what I’ll do to the ponies I leave behind.” She finished, closing her eyes. All five other mares sat in silence, a moment, each lost in the wondrous words Rainbow had just uttered. Once again, Rainbow Dash had stunned them to speechlessness.
“You’ve thought a lot about this, haven’t you?” Fluttershy, at last, murmured. Her eyes were soft, gazing upon Rainbow, not missing a thing.
“Yeah, I have.” Rainbow answered, sending her a tight smile. Everything’s alright, Shy, it read. And Fluttershy’s blink answered, I know.
“You are really out of it.” Pinkie blurted, voice shaking. Dash gave an obvious start, flashing her gaze to the pink mare. What she saw was not at all what she had expected.
Pinkie Pie was quivering. Her whole body, every single inch of it, trembled, twitching this way and that. Her mane had deflated completely, hanging down heavily, as though her emotions just couldn’t hold the spring of curls up anymore. Her hooves clacked against the floor with tremors, and Pinkie didn’t even do a thing to stop them. And her eyes. Oh, her eyes. What was usually an icy blue river of intelligence, or a deep ocean of happiness, even a squirt of thick, troubled paint, was now… everything combined. Her eyes were huge, huge and dark, almost forming a liquid depth; a black pool that would either open wide, or snap shut. Heavy currents of tears streamed, oh, how they streamed, down her face, rocking out of big eyes without any sign of stopping. Her mouth opened and closed with silent sobs, sobs that visibly racked down through her chest, to her ribcage, expanding from the inside out, over and over again.
“Pinkie, are you alright?” Rainbow gasped. There… there was something about her, that made her keep staring. She couldn’t look away, but she couldn’t go nearer, offer comfort, either. Strange… very strange…
“Yes.” Pinkie sobbed. She sniffed loud, sobbed loud. “Oh, Dashie. Dashie, Dashie, Dashie!”
“Dash? Are you alright?” Twilight whispered, looking first to Pinkie, then to Rainbow. She sat still, hooves tight to her body, as though she were fragile; as though if she moved, she would break.
“…Yeah?” Rainbow uttered. The hay…?
“Are you sure, darling?” Rarity chimed in, tone just as low as Twilight’s. Her hooves were anxiously tugging on her mane – she didn’t even seem to care that a good tendril of indigo had come uncurled.
“I’m great.” Rainbow answered, confusion twining into her words. “I mean, sure, I might be a little buzzed, but… that’s alright…?”
“Of c-course it is!” Pinkie cried, crumpling forward. She didn’t even put her hooves out to stop herself, just collapsed onto the floor. Rainbow was starting to feel what terror felt like. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Pinkie sobbed. “I-I think… I think it’s the c-coffee.” She tried to laugh, but only succeeded in letting even more tears flow out of her.
“C-Can I get you some water?” Rainbow asked, hesitantly. So… what should she do, actually, in this case? It had… literally just been a simple Truth…?
“No!” Pinkie wailed, crying from deep inside, from the heart. “Y-You shouldn’t do anything. J-Just s-sit there, and… and… a-and don’t get hurt!” She bawled, tears forming a small fountain as they poured, and poured, and poured out of the not-so-happy, not-so-cheerful Party Pony.
“Uh…” Rainbow stammered. What to say, now, exactly?
“Caffeine overdose, I’m almost s-sure of it.” Twilight cleared her throat, deliberately looking away from Pinkie. After all… once Pinkie got started, she’d rope everypony into it…
“Yeah, cool, now what?” Rainbow demanded. Fluttershy flinched at the tone. Dash paid her no mind.
“I-I’m not exactly sure,” Twilight frowned, mentally scanning through her library, knowledge, and exe. “I read something, the other day… right! We need to get the caffeine out of her system… somehow…”
“No, girls… really, I’m o-okay,” Pinkie sniffed, giving them a watery smile. Her eyes were full of unshed tears, just on the brink of escaping again.
“I believe that.” Rainbow snorted.
“I-I just d-don’t want you… you t-to have to deal with-” Pinkie stopped, unable to draw a breath in the midst of such heavy sobs, “You shouldn’t d-deal with such pain!” Rainbow clapped her hoof to her face.
“Pinkie,” She started, gently, yet with definite exasperation. “Yeah, it sucks, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is the here and now. Right now, I’m here with all of you, in no pain.” She paused, thoughtful. “Well, my head doesn’t feel too hot, but that’s my own fault.”
“B-But I don’t want you to die!” Pinkie burst back into an even bigger mess, howling with sobs. Rainbow groaned.
“I don’t want to die either, Pinkie!” Rainbow clenched her teeth. “But I’m here right now, and so are all of you, and we should, oh, I dunno, enjoy it while it lasts...”
“B-But what if Rarity stabs herself to d-death with a sewing needle? Or… or tries to play Doctor, and g-gives herself an IV, but h-hits a wrong vein, and kills herself by accident?” Pinkie’s eyes widened even more. Much like Rarity’s, at the moment. “A-And Twilight! What if… what if she gets really, really sick? What if she d-dies from it?” Twilight frowned.
“Wait, but alicorns can’t die…” She trailed off when Pinkie shook her head, hard.
“They can, Twilight!” Her lower lip trembled. “Th-They just age slower!”
“Seriously?!” Twilight gasped. Her head started to pound, a rhythmic thump egging her on all the more. “They should have told me!” She fumed, clenching her teeth so hard everypony could hear the grate. “And here I thought I’d get to study – or at least see – when the sun finally swallows Equestria whole…” She wailed, as a single tear ran down her cheek, tracing a path of despair down the Alicorn’s muzzle, falling to her chest, her heart… and then dropping to the floor, never to be seen again. Fluttershy hesitantly reached a hoof out, resting it on the distressed Princess’s shoulder. Twilight didn’t seem to notice.
“That’s messed up.” Rainbow gaped. Surely, Twilight had had a cider, or two. After all, the mare could never carry her alcohol well… yes, that must be what it was. Just the result of an unnecessary cider, nothing to worry about, nope, nothing at all…
“And Applejack,” Pinkie whimpered, taking no notice of the steaming Alicorn, nor of the protesting Pegasus. “What if she… what if she breaks her leg? What if she breaks her neck? Or! What if she-”
“I really appreciate you taking the time to list all the ways I could pass,” Applejack rushed in, catching her friend before… the next option. “But it really ain’t necessary.”
“O-Okay.” Pinkie sniffed, wiping her eyes with her hoof. It was a futile gesture, but who had to notice? “And, Fluttershy. S-She’s pregnant. W-What if-”
“Ah, that’s enough.” Rainbow hurried in again, seeing Fluttershy draw her hooves protectively around her stomach. Her brow was furrowed, and she was staring down at the floor, as though if she stared hard enough, she could disappear, disappear away from this death-filled place. Twilight was in a similar position, only her hooves were deep inside her mane, rubbing her temples hard, in little circles. The sorrow of finding out one couldn’t study, couldn’t research, the end of their land… the absolute sorrow! “Pinkie, we’re all gonna die. Fact. So, how ‘bout we move on?” Dash’s voice was strained. With uneasiness. With… held-back laughter?
“F-Fine.” Pinkie squeaked, mournfully. Rarity’s blue aura floated a lace handkerchief to her friend’s side, grimacing as Pinkie grabbed it and blew her nose loudly. Rarity opened her mouth, as if about to say something – manners, Pinkamena Pie! – but decided against it, shutting it again, as delicately as it came. One must always be a lady, after all. Even… even in the presence of those who had… forgotten it.
“So, Applejack!” Dash hissed, voice going dangerously low. “Truth or Dare?” The farmer’s eyes squinted, and she tilted her head to the pegasus.
“How many ciders you had?” Applejack grunted. Ah, this would be the Deciding Factor. Not that she was scared, though. No. But it… it wasn’t the best idea to take a dare with Rainbow while she was- well, it wasn’t a good idea to accept a dare from Dash anytime, but it was even worse once Dash was out of it.
“I… dunno…” Rainbow sighed. Must have been a few, maybe more, at least. Her head could – would – remind her of it. Speaking of which, her stomach wasn’t feeling great either…
“Right then,” Applejack muttered. She looked up, up at Rainbow. Oh, she was going to regret this… but that look! Surely, Rainbow was judging her… thinking she was too scared… Yes, indeed… she would regret this. “Dare.”
“I like it!” Rainbow nodded, giving her friend an approving glace. It was met with narrowed eyes and a grimly set jaw, from none other than the victim herself. Now, what to pick, what to pick?
“Let’s keep this one inside, ‘kay, Dash?” Twilight spoke up. Her voice was slightly muffled, and held little quivers. Rainbow gazed to her, prepared to retort – “Twilight, please? Dares are no fun if you can’t go outside” – but stopped before the words even formed. Poor Twilight looked traumatized. Her eyes were glassy, and stared straight ahead, showing a dullness similar to what one got after a long bout of crying. Fluttershy had a wing draped over Twilight’s back, gently stroking the feathers up, and down, and up again, offering what reassurance she could. Rarity… looked like she didn’t quite know what to do, in the midst of such a frazzled coiffure. And Pinkie? Well, Pinkie sat straight up, crazed smile making her eyes twitch. “Yes, I’m okay.” Twilight muttered, seeing Rainbow’s expression. “Just continue.” She sighed, a heavy sound. One full of troubles; one full of broken dreams, dreams that had crashed down in an instant, reducing to nothing but tiny splinters. Splinters that would never be picked up; glued together, ever again.
“Applejack, I dare you to sit still for…” Rainbow paused, thinking a moment. “For the next three rounds.” She said nothing to Twilight, didn’t even acknowledge her. By now, she knew to let her tremble it out – it would all pass in good time, yes, all in good time…
“Easy.” Applejack settled back, sliding her back more comfortably against the wall. One more shift, and she was in position. But… already… there was a little itch in the very tip of her back hoof…
“Your turn!” Rainbow snickered. She didn’t believe Applejack was capable of it, and didn’t even bother trying to hide it. Lovely mare, wasn’t she?
“Twilight.” Applejack murmured, trying to move nothing but her mouth. Ack, but her hoof! “Truth or Dare?”
“Truth.” Twilight answered immediately. Despite the deeply crushed state she was in, nopony – certainly not Twilight – would want a repeat of the… ‘birdcall’ dare.
“Mm, alright then,” Applejack paused, deep in thought. Not thinking about the little tickling, taunting her, sending a warm invitation… “What’s the worst thing about being an Alicorn?” Internally – mind, not externally – she winced, and winced hard. Good going, AJ. Lame much?
“Funny you should ask, Applejack,” Twilight grit out. She set her hooves back on the floor, sitting up straighter. Fluttershy’s soft wing slipped off, retreating back to its owner. Twilight was in ‘answering mode.’ Applejack wanted the answer? She’d get the answer! “The worst thing about being an Alicorn is that I won’t even live forever! I’ll just age slower!” Her voice rose to a shriek. Nopony moved, not even to offer support.
“Oh… did you want to live forever and ever?” Fluttershy asked, quietly. “I’d imagine that wouldn’t be very much fun. I mean, you’d have to watch everypony you love di-”
“Don’t say it, Fluttershy!” Rainbow yelled, just before she finished the word. Her gaze shot to Pinkie, who was, thankfully, still just sitting there, watching the conversations unfold with a… scarily content smile on her face.
“O-Oh my… I didn’t realize…” Fluttershy fumbled, cheeks turning a faint shade of pink again.
“No, don’t worry.” Rainbow sighed. “We just… don’t need a repeat.” She felt her head now. Maybe she shouldn’t yell for a while. Now, how did Spitfire do it…?
“It… really would have been great to study the sun,” here, Twilight picked up a much more giddy tone, “I mean, Celestia used to control it, and now I control it, and soon Flurry will, but even we won’t be able to stop it when it grows and more or less eats Equestria. And then, if it’s anything like the books, there’s going to be one lone survivor, and I’ve been preparing so everything will be all set and ready for that survivor! They’ll be able to continue my studies, record data for the future, and even learn what it takes to turn back time, so I can actually research my observation!” She finished, twirling her hooves, looking not unlike an excited schoolfilly.
“You’d… risk turning back time to… research?” Applejack spoke up from her still position, incredulous. Had Twilight, ruler of Equestria, not learned a thing from all the adventures? Tests gone wrong? Spells gone wrong? Starlight?
“Of course!” Twilight grinned, before she knew what she was saying. Then, and only then, did she clear her throat, and smooth down her mane. “I mean, probably not. The citizens of Equestria come first… despite,” she sighed, closing her eyes in reverence. “Despite what a wonderful opportunity it would have been.”
“Alright then!” Rainbow cut in, nervously chuckling. “Your turn, Twi.” She turned her gaze to Applejack, a playful gleam in her eye. “And that is one round done for you!” Applejack, in response, grumbled something… something best left unsaid.
“Hm…” Twilight was clearly disappointed, but it was the Sleepover, and they did want to focus on something other than research. Or, at least, everypony but Twi. “Rarity, a Truth?” She gestured to the white mare. Rarity looked up with a hum. Her eyes were falling shut – she was always the first to fall asleep, it seemed. “A Truth?” Twilight repeated.
“Ah, go ahead, darling.” Rarity answered, with a sleepy smile. She adjusted herself more comfortably under the blanket she and Fluttershy still shared. “Ask me anything.” At this, Twilight did not start to grin manically. She absolutely did not glance around the circle, as the lights flashed yet again, seeking out the perfect Truth question.She certainly did not start rubbing her hooves together, cackling, as though she were a witch preparing the pot for some answers…
“Where do you see yourself, and us, in ten years?” Twilight asked, tone matter-of-fact. Rarity pursed her lips, giving a very ladylike nod. Not a bad question, actually. Not bad, not bad at all.
“Pinkie Pie, in five years, I see with, shall we say, five foals?” Rarity started, deep in thought. Pinkie gasped loudly, almost choking, immediately snapping out of her tranquil state. Before she could give some fury-filled, disbelief-filled, exasperation-filled yell, however, Rarity continued. Smart mare, smart mare… “She’ll be working Sugarcube Corner in her spare time, but spend most of her time planning parties for the creatures all over the world. Applejack, well, I hate to say this, darling, but I fear you’ll be stuck living on that ranch for the rest of your time. I do not even believe for a moment that you’ll stay away long enough to ‘find yourself a stallion.’ But indeed, you’ll not retire until you’re forced to retire.” Rarity paused, thinking. Applejack looked so like she wanted to get up, and strangle the living daylights out of her very best friend. Pinkie looked much the same way. Only thing holding them back? Applejack had a dare she needed to uphold, and Twilight had placed a strap of magic on one of Pinkie’s hooves. Rainbow Dash was watching, with quite the amused look winking in her eye. Fluttershy held back a yawn, smiling at her best friends. Twilight still sulked a bit, but was starting to come out of her stupor. Just a little. Rarity took no notice, still deep in thought. “Twilight, I believe you’ll still be ruling Equestria in five years. Perhaps you’ll have Princess Flurry by your side, shaping her up into a leader. Fluttershy, I think you’ll be raising a lovely foal by then, working your sanctuary with the little one by your side. Rainbow Dash, I see you in the Wonderbolts in five years. To be frank, I’m sure you and Soarin will become an item, and then… move forth from there.” She winked. Rainbow’s cheeks heated, and she looked away, rubbing one hoof against the other.
“What about you?” Fluttershy murmured. Rarity hmphed.
“I… I don’t know, actually.” She hesitated. “I have my goals, surely, but most of them will never become reality. I’ll probably be with a stallion I don’t care for all that much. Perhaps I’ll adopt another colt – Aster really did turn out well, didn’t he?” Rarity smiled, a fond smile, that never failed to appear when talking about her little blue colt. “And I’ll probably have opened another store or two.” She shrugged. “One day at a time, right girls?” This was met with a series of nods. Well, from all but Pinkie.
“FIVE FOALS?!” She yelled, as soon as Rarity finished. “Like, okay, maybe one or two, but FIVE?!” She was panting, sides heaving, sweat streaming down her face. No. No. This couldn’t be her fate. She couldn’t be doomed to a life of mashed peas, sleepless nights, diapers in need of changing, she couldn’t be doomed to the terrors of hearing foals screaming, without end, no matter how hard one tried to get them to cut it out! No. She just couldn’t be. Not Pinkie Pie. “No.” She whispered, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “No. No, no, no.” She dropped her rear to the floor, looking down hard, letting the tears fall. She imagined waking up in the middle of the night, to screaming. Moving around the two foals already occupying the middle area, between herself and Cheese, to walk down the hall, where she realized that not one, but two of her five foals were howling. Turning the doorknob, entering her fate… She imagined getting up in the morning, seeing her sweet, little, innocent foals all lined up next to her bed: “Mommy, where’s breakfast?” “Mommy! Strawberry stole Boneless 13!” “Mommy, I don’t want to take a bath!” “Mommy! I can’t find the orange juice!” “Mommy, I got frosting into my tail!” “Mommy! I spilled the batter!” “Mommy!” “Mommy!” “Mommy!” It pounded into her head, all those tiny, tiny voices. Tiny voices, that would pull her tail out, popping all the valuable balloons, clambering for attention, for this, for that, eating her party files… the files she had worked on for years and years, only to never be seen again…
“Pinkie? Are you alright?” Fluttershy whispered, extremely concerned for her friend.
“NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!” Pinkie cried, breaking down in sobs. Again. She buried her face in her hooves, pressing down hard. “Please, MAKE IT STOP! Just MAKE IT STOP!” The mare was incredibly distressed. The voices wouldn’t leave her alone! ‘Mommy! I want to get up now! Not five more minutes!’ ‘Mommy, I wanted a cupcake for breakfast, not a cake!’ ‘Mommy! What’s the p-prod-duct of two and four?” “Mommy! I need help NOW!”
“Now, Pinkie, foals aren’t all bad…” Rarity began, lifting her nose, staring over and down at Pinkie. “It’s delightful to go shopping for those adorable little suits! And they make wonderful companions.”
“Oh, yes.” Fluttershy joined in, eyes sparkling. “And you can hug them, and know they’re yours, and take them by their little hooves, showing them, and guiding them, through the beautiful journey of life!” She giggled softly, gazing down at her stomach.
“They’re also easiest to teach. After all, it’s extremely important to teach friendship at an early age. If you wait until they’re as old as I am, there’s a much smaller chance of them relearning their habits.” Twilight added. She could go on all day about the importance of ‘catching them while they’re young.’ It was a fascinating topic, really.
“I reckon I wouldn’t mind a filly helping out.” Applejack bit her lip. “Apple Bloom would always bring a little… joy to the farm, back when she was still just a filly. Sorta like Cheri brings now.” A wistful smile shone in her eyes.
“And, it’s really cool to teach them how to fly.” Rainbow pointed out. Oh, the satisfaction of seeing a foal fly, for the very first time… it was like nothing else, nothing in the whole world.
“B-B-But.” Pinkie stuttered, gasping through her cries. How could her friends have betrayed her like this?! Did they not know the horror of going to sleep with little faces in mind, and then waking up with those same little faces in mind?!
“Pinkie, relax. It was just a possible outcome.” Twilight assured. “You don’t have to have foals if you don’t want to.”
“W-Well…” Pinkie sniffed. “I-I guess th-that makes me f-feel b-b-better.” But now, it felt like the voices in her mind were crying. Not screaming for foalish reasons – not to be fed. They were crying, from heartbreak. ‘Mommy… you don’t like me anymore?’ ‘Mommy, did we make you sad?’ ‘Mommy… I didn’t mean it!’ ‘Mommy, are you grumpy to me?’ ‘Mommy, w-would Boneless 13 help? Here.’ Oh, no. She couldn’t have just made her unborn foals sad. She wished she could reach in, and hug every little one of them, telling them, no, she wasn’t grumpy, she wasn’t sad… and they should keep their Bonelesses. But she couldn’t! And the voices kept on crying, and crying, and crying. Little sobs, wrenching out from deep inside hearts. And she couldn’t do anything about it!
“Pinkie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Rarity offered, letting her tone go genuine. Pinkie looked up, tear-streaked eyes glinting in the dim light.
“N-No, it’s o-okay,” she hiccupped. “I-It wasn’t y-your fault.” It was her own fault, for making the voices cry!
“Probably the coffee’s fault.” Rainbow muttered, just loud enough for Applejack and Twilight to hear. Applejack worked to hide a grin. Twilight shot her a dirty look. After all, a true friend had to help a friend in need. Not… not rain on their parade.
“Are you going to be alright?” Fluttershy worried. She, unlike Rainbow Dash, apparently, had taken their encounters with a caffeinated Pinkie to heart. Granted, those times had been when Pinkie hadn’t been high on coffee this strong, but hey… anything counted, right?
“I-I think so.” Pinkie sniffed again, quietly. Another tear slid down her muzzle. She didn’t move, only sticking her tongue up and licking it off. Another hiccupping sob, but this time, a silent one, shivered through her. As though the little foals, ones that she had just completely and utterly dissed, were pushing in waves, trying to get their Mommy Pinkie Pie to notice them, to love them like a mother should. “I-I’m sorry…” She whispered, barely audibly. “I’m so sorry…” The little voices didn’t respond. Twilight and Rarity exchanged another glance. Fluttershy held worried eyes on her friend. Applejack and Rainbow Dash snickered behind their hooves.
“Your turn, Rarity!” Rainbow announced. “And, one more round for you, AJ.” Applejack grunted again. As though she needed to be reminded of it, think of that!
“Hm… Rainbow Dash.” She covered a yawn with her hoof, blinking tired eyes to the Wonderbolt. “Truth or Dare?” She stopped, a small frown immediately forming. “No, I refuse. I shan’t drop to the low level of such… such… trivial, and certainly unladylike dares. It will either be a Truth, or none at all.”
“Go ahead with a Truth, then.” Rainbow muttered, annoyed. Who didn’t want to dares? Some ponies just weren’t fun these days. Probably just came with age. Yeah, that must be it.
“What’s your biggest regret in life so far?” Rarity asked. She… actually looked like she wanted the answer. What a great friend she was!
“My… biggest regret?” Rainbow repeated, raising an eyebrow. She shifted uncomfortably. So, she’d tell these mares most anything, but some things, a pony wanted to keep to herself. Especially if the answer showed a weaker side. Especially if the answer would make them think less of her.
“Indeed.” Rarity confirmed. Next to her, Fluttershy lay down, turning onto her side, snuggling deeper into the blanket. She smiled, when Rarity glanced at her, and watched the conversation with happy eyes.
“Can I pass?” Rainbow mumbled, not meeting anypony’s eyes. Twilight, surely about to say, ‘of course!’ opened her mouth. But was interrupted by none other than: Applejack.
“Why? You scared?” She grinned. “Now, that doesn’t sound like you, Dashie…”
“You know what, Applejack?” Rainbow fumed. A heavy blush spread across her cheeks. “That counts as moving. Shut up.”
“Hey, that ain’t fair.” Applejack protested. Instinctively, she sprang to her feet, preparing to physically intimidate Dash. Only when the room went deathly silent did she realize where she was. She froze.
“You moved.” Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight, ever the angels, declared in unison. They giggled quietly, among themselves, trading small hoof claps. Applejack hung her head in shame.
“I moved.” She sighed, sitting back down – this time, properly. She braced herself, internally, for Dash’s sure taunts. But none came. Confused, Applejack looked up, toward Rainbow. She wasn’t laughing, and she wasn’t taunting. The mare was just… kinda standing there, lost look in her eye. Was this still about the ‘scared’ comment? Ah, that hadn’t been anything different from what they exchanged on a regular basis. RD could take it, she always had.
“Rainbow, darling, would you like a different question?” Rarity asked, gently.
“Yes.” Rainbow snapped. Then took a deep breath, resettling herself. “Yes. Thanks.” She repeated, calmer this time. Now, if she were completely ‘clean,’ such event wouldn’t have gone that fast. Rainbow would have held a heavy grudge, sulking for the rest of the night, shooting frowns to everypony around her. But, of course, she wasn’t completely ‘clean.’ And the grudge passed as quickly as it had arrived. Tonight wasn’t a night for anger! Tonight was a night for fun!
“Why do you adore this game so?” Rarity asked, doubtfully. “It seems so… petty.”
“What’re you calling ‘petty’?” Rainbow demanded, only halfway joking. Rarity only raised an eyebrow. Rainbow… could get the idea. “Alright, well, because it’s fun, I get to prove myself, and make ponies do really stupid stuff.” She grinned, purposely avoiding Applejack’s semi-playful glare. Somepony felt targeted, didn’t she…?
“… Quite…” Rarity cleared her throat. Clearly, she had not expected such a… straight answer. These mares had no modesty these days. No dignity.
“Fluttershy.” Rainbow nodded to her lifelong friend. Fluttershy gazed back. “Truth?”
“Sure. But… this might have to be the last one for me,” she told everypony softly, “I… I need my rest.” Smart mare, indeed. And to think… ponies underestimated her ‘self-awareness.’
“Of course,” Twilight answered, smiling at her friend. “You are carrying a foal, and need to keep your energy up.” Fluttershy nodded obediently.
“Shy…” Rainbow paused, thinking hard. Applejack, she could handle. Even Rarity, even Twilight, and definitely Pinkie. But… she didn’t want to break Fluttershy. “Have you ever yelled- no, raised your voice at your animals? If you have, why?” Not her best question, but apparently, it was more than enough for Fluttershy. The poor mare immediately shrunk down into the blanket, as though she wanted to disappear. Oh, how she didn’t want to answer… she could still remember so clearly… the looks on their little faces…
“I-I have.” Fluttershy squeaked. There, good mare… one half done. Stay strong, Flutters. Stay strong! They’ve forgiven you, they’ve forgiven you, they’ve forgiven you… They’re not mad… well, they were never mad, but… oh, it was horrible!
“Why…” Applejack, ever so helpfully, prompted. This earned an instant dirty look from both Rainbow and Twilight. Probably would have elicited one out of Rarity as well, were she not already this close to passing out for the night. Nopony wanted to deal with a – pregnant – distressed Fluttershy.
“B-B-Because,” Fluttershy’s voice dropped even lower. By now, it was barely any more audible than the chipmunks at their quietest. “Th-They broke i-into the f-feed room, a-and s-stole all of-” she paused for a little whimper, not unlike a wounded animal. “And stole all of Angel Bunny’s carrot paste.” She finished with a small, sobbing sigh, looking down in shame.
The confession was met with complete and total silence. Applejack stared, Twilight stared, Rainbow stared, and even Rarity stared, Fluttershy as their target. As she realized that all their eyeballs were glued to her every move, she shrank down even more. H-Had she said something wrong? Had it been a good idea to share that? Would they… would they think less of her now?!
“Oh.” Rainbow finally uttered. So, she – admittedly – hadn’t expected the confession to be huge. Fluttershy just wasn’t the type to go around, screaming at everything in a loud voice. Hay, she wasn’t even the type to yell at all. But… she had – this could be blamed on her still-slightly-buzzing state, yes – wanted, hoped for, something… juicer. “That isn’t too bad…” She teased, trying to lighten the mood. Nopony laughed, but nopony frowned. Rainbow stayed quiet after that.
“Okay then.” Fluttershy murmured, uncertainty audible in her tone. “Now, I think I’m going to get to bed… if that’s alright with all of you, that is…” She glanced about the circle anxiously. She didn’t want to be that one friend, the one that always forced the others to be quiet, the one that was always talked about, when the others thought she was asleep and couldn’t hear… no. Not Fluttershy. She really didn’t want to be that friend.
“It is perfectly alright,” Rarity answered, giving her a tired smile. Oh, good… crisis averted. “In fact, I do believe I’ll be joining you. It’s late, indeed.”
“Late?” Applejack snorted. Ah, the moon had barely been up for… a few hours, maybe?
“It was a fun night, girls, really.” Twilight yawned. “But I’m with Rarity and Fluttershy. I think it’s time for me to turn in.”
“Aw, really? This early?” Rainbow whined. Nopony answered. Twilight merely raised an eyebrow in Fluttershy’s direction, pointedly staring at Dash.
“Don’t you have training tomorrow, anyway?” Twilight pointed out.
“Well… yeah…” Rainbow mumbled. Then sighed. “You’re right, I guess. It’s time to call it a night. This was fun, though. I had a great time.” She smiled warmly at her friends, each laying in their normal spots, where they lay every season. Well, once she got to Applejack, the smile wasn’t as warm, but both had seen and done worse, respectively.
“C’mon!” Pinkie wailed. “I can’t sleep now!” She bounced to her feet, anxiously jogging in place. She had so much energy, it was like she’d be able to run to the moon and back, by the end of the night! Maybe that wasn’t the worst idea! After all, it would be a marvelous way to get rid of all that extra energy!
“Pinkie, settle down now,” Applejack began, lowering her voice to a tone she might use to soothe a fussy filly. “Lie back, get comfortable, close your eyes, and just breathe for a while, yeah?”
Pinkie tipped her head to Applejack, for one, two, three seconds, a diseased look gracing her face. Then, slowly, as commanded, she robotically folded her legs, pulling her pillow close, and squirmed around a little. To get comfortable. And then, she closed her eyes, inhaling big, exhaling big, inhaling big, and exhaling big. She… actually sort of looked serene.
Until she didn’t.
“I’m going to be right back!” She chirped, launching into the air, and somehow landing on all fours. She zoomed out of the room, crashing into the door – but who cared, anyway? They could always get a… new door. A trail of multiple shades of pink hovered in her tracks. Cause for concern.
“Want me to go after her?” Rainbow stretched her wings wide, crouching into a takeoff position. Oh, a midnight chase!
“Ah… no,” Applejack heaved a sigh. “She’ll… she’ll come back when she’s ready.”
“And, no offense, of course, dear,” Rarity blinked at Dash, “but… I don’t think you could catch her, at this rate.” Rainbow frowned, opening her mouth to protest. She was the fastest flyer in all of Equestria! Granted, she had never tried to catch a caffeinated Pinkie thus far... certainly not one this caffeinated...
“Unless…” Fluttershy’s face contorted into something that might have been called a smirk in another life, “Unless you have a drink as well…”
“Fluttershy!” Rainbow gaped, wings dropping to her sides in surprise. Well, that was something she had never expected to hear.
“Oh!” A furious blush flamed on her cheeks again. “I-I meant a drink of… of the coffee. N-Not…”
“Right.” Rainbow nodded, slowly, keeping her eyes trained on Fluttershy, an eyebrow raised, with an amused smile. Some mares… some mares never lost the mindset of a filly, still keeping to a fear of ciders…
“Let’s just… sleep. Hopefully, she’ll be back by morning. And if not, well, we can always go after her. Once we have more energy,” Twilight started, rubbing her chin with a hoof. “You remember, right?” Here, she slipped into a teaching-tone. “The first lesson to friendship is trust. One friend has to trust the other friend to know what’s best for the friendship, and for themselves. If that trust is broken-”
“Yes, darling,” Rarity nodded patiently. Ponies underestimated Rarity. But, in fact, she was one of the only mares to keep patience, late at night. Quite admirable, actually. Quite, quite admirable. “We taught the same lesson, recall?”
“Heh…” Twilight grinned sheepishly. “Right…” She was tired, that was it.
“G’night, y’all.” Applejack murmured, settling back against the wall, pulling her hat down to cover her face. A series of ‘goodnights’ rang out in answer. Not a one was worried about the caffeinated mare that had bolted out the room. After all! A friend must always trust a friend. It’s one of the most important traits for a friendship, next to honesty and respect. And once you think of it, they go hoof in hoof with each other! She probably just had to pay a visit to the mares room. Or grab a midnight snack. Nothing to worry about, as long as they had trust!
Despite what complaints both AJ and Dash had filed, they were out as soon as the others. Soft snores rippled about the room, while the stars twinkled outside, bathing the land and its ponies in a peace only reachable at night. It was a fitting end to a great night, filled with great friendship. A night filled with revealing Truths, and embarrassing Dares... in short, a night filled with bonding moments.
In the distance, a rapidly-moving pink blur raced to the Castle. It reached the grand building within seconds, where it dashed inside. Crashes and bangs erupted from the basement. Of course, since the sleeping mares were in the very top tier, they didn't hear or notice a thing. They just kept on sleeping, each floating about in their own dreams of happiness and friendship!
Until, of course, the fire alarm went off.