12 weeks (2 ½ Months) Later…
Harmonia and Honey Crisp were walking down the long dirt path to Applejack's barn. Honey Crisp invited Harmonia to her house to help her with today’s chores. They were silent for half the way there. Even her friends even knew about what happened between Harmonia's mom and her dad. Honey Crisp gives her friend a soft sympathetic look.
"So...how's your mom doing?" Honey Crisps asks.
Harmonia bit the inside of her cheek, she really didn’t feel like talking about this at the moment, but she replied to her answer anyways. “She's fine...I hope…”She said, her voice hinting with worry and concern for her mother, tears started appearing in her eyes but she held it, not showing her friend.
“She's just resting…” She said. She tried to brighten her mood a bit, but instead she was finding herself wiping away her own tears from her eyes. Honey Crisp stops and looks at her friend. “Are you sure you are up for helping me out on the farm today? It's okay if you aren't.” She asks the tiny draconquess.
Harmonia looked at Honey Crisp with a warm smile on her face
“No it's alright! I can manage…” She mumbles to her, Harmonia gives her a fake smile and gives her the hint that she’s willing to help her out.
Honey Crisps sighs. “Okay, but if you ever need to leave to go on home I won't be offered." she said, as they both continue to walk.
Harmonia nods.
"So what is it that you need me to do exactly?" Harmonia questions her quite pegasus friend.
“You, my friend will help me, and my mother,” Honey Crisp said, crackling her bones, showing off to Harmonia, Harmonia giggled a little at the sight of what Honey Crisp was doing as she bucks wildly at the air.
“Buck down some apples!” She said happily, her body ready to kick down some apples.
Harmonia looks at her slightly confused. “You do know that I'm a draconequus, right? I can simply get the apples down with a snap of a paw.” She snaps her paw and a bright red apple appears before her.
She takes a bite out of it.
Honey Crisp giggles at the antics her friend was pulling. “Well then, I'm gonna have to teach you the traditional way!” Honey Crisp said, as she neared the barn, AppleJack waited, cracking her bones, they both watched as Applejack bucked down some apples off a tree nearby.
Harmonia's mouth suddenly dropped at the sight, leaving her to drop her half eaten apple as well.
“See, what'd I tell ya! If you want to drop some apples, ya gotta do it the apple way!” Honey Crisp says, smiling at her mother.
Harmonia gulps as she mutters to herself. “This is going to be harder than it looks.”
The girls approached Applejack, who was fanning herself with her cowgirl hat.
“Hey mama!” Honey Crisp said, giving her mother a hug. Harmonia stared at them for a moment, watching as Applejack gave her daughter a hug back and thinking how lucky Honey Crisp was, but she shook the feeling away.
Applejack looks over Honey’s shoulder, realizing that her niece stood there, quietly watching them. “Oh Harmonia! How are you sugarcube?” She asks. Applejack walks over to her and hugs Harmonia tightly, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Honey Crisp smiled at the sight. “Mama she's gonna help us buck some apples!” Honey Crisp announces.
Applejack looked at her niece, her eyes held an understanding and soft expression to them. “Is that so? Well we could always use an extra hoof around here on the farm.”
Harmonia was a bit nervous on what hard labor they were about to do. "Mhm. Just tell me what you need me to do." She said, her tone confident.
Applejack points to an apple orchard nearby. “Well you see those Apples over there? I need you girls to buck them down. I need a few of those apples to make apple fritters for a bake sale I'm doing next weekend.”
Harmonia looks back from the row of apple trees to her aunt. “Uh… How many is a few?” She asks, her tone slightly nervous.
Applejack smirks at her niece and daughter. “You'll see.” She said.
The two looked behind to see 10 apple trees, with 20 apples each on one tree. “Now this is a challenge…” Mutters Honey Crisp.
Harmonia's eyes widen, but she takes a deep breath. “Ok...I can do this..!” She said, with a hint of nervousness yet perseverance as she tries to boost her confidence.
“You can use those buckets to carry the apples to the barn, think of this as an exercise. And remember: no magic.” Applejack said, as she bucked another tree. “If you girls need me, I’ll just be right over there in the other apple orchard.” She then walks off.
Honey Crisp looks at Harmonia. “Well I guess we better get to work, those apples aren't going to buck themselves out of the tree.” She said, making her way toward the apple orchard. Harmonia nods and follows her friend.
Harmonia looks at the rows of trees, she gulps. "Remember no chaotic magic..." she thought to herself.
Honey Crisp stretched her legs and her hooves, ready to buck the first tree. “Before you start. Let me show you how it's done first!” She said, as she brought the basket and the cart near them.
Harmonia watched as he friend bucked the tree, all of the apples fell to the basket, some landed on the ground, but Honey Crisp picked up a few apples from the ground and placed it in the basket, Harmonia carries the basket that was filled with apples, she had a little difficult time carrying them but it was not a hard job for her, she placed the first basket on the cart and moved to the next tree.
Harmonia watches her friend with curiosity. “So, you just kick apple trees all day?” She questioned Honey Crisp, not offending her and not disturbing her.
Honey Crisp wipes her forehead with her wing. “Sometimes, well it's a fun thing to do around the farm!” Honey Crisp replied with glee, Harmonia smiled back as they neared the next tree.
“Don't you do other fun things around here? I mean other than chores?” Harmonia asks, still following the pegasus around.
Honey Crisp hauls the bucket of apples to the side. “Well this is what we do in the farm all day, we buck apples for my Mama's apple fritters or something else.” She explains, she tosses an apple into the bucket.
They walked over to the second row and stopped in front of another tree, Harmonia gulped.
“Think you can handle that?” She asks her friend with a playful grin on her face.
Harmonia looked slightly worried at first, but built her confidence up. “Of course!” Harmonia beams. Harmonia turns her back to the tree and back up she raises her back hooves and tries to kick the apple tree, but she falls to the ground face first.
Honey laughs as she watches Harmonia drums her paw on the ground and snorts. “Haha very funny.” She said, her tone blunt and unamusing.
Honey Crisp giggles slightly at her friend's failed attempt to buck. “Oh don't sweat it sugar, here let me teach you, alright first align yourself to the tree.” She then demonstrates to Harmonia, and Harmonia follows her friends instructions.
“What you want to do is you have to build up strength on your legs, then kick as hard as you can, make sure your hooves are steady on the ground so that way you won't fall!” Honey Crisp explains the rest of the instructions to her friend, as she tries to boost Harmonia's confidence.
Harmonia nods and keeps her eyes on Honey Crisp, observing her every movement. “Now kick the tree!” She instructed. Harmonia did as she was instructed and kicked the tree, bucking down the apples.
Harmonia looks back at the apples, seeing that they were all in the basket. She squeals with excitement as she gives her friend a wide grin. “I did it!” She beams at Honey Crisp.
Honey Crisp hugs her friend, proud of her progress. “YOU DID IT!? THAT'S INCREDIBLE!” She squeals. Honey Crisp hugs Harmonia tightly and they both laughed.
Applejack watched from a distance, she smiled as the two were hanging very well.
“Okay now on to the next one!” Honey Crisp said, pushing onward, Harmonia gleefully follows behind her.
They neared the third tree, it's trunk so large and the apples were way up high, they both readied two baskets and the cart.
Honey Crisp looks at the third tree. “The third one has a stiff stump, so you might wanna help me with this one.” She said, as she gave her friend a smile, Harmonia giggled.
Honey Crisp looks back at Harmonia. “You ready?” She asks. Harmonia gave her friend a smile. “Why of course!” she beams
The two bucks the apples, once, twice, fifth. After the sixth attempt the apples finally came loose from the tree as they fell to the ground.
Harmonia looks at the baskets, a questionable look etched onto her face. “Do you think this will be enough?” She asks.
Honey looks at the baskets they have already filled up. There were two at each tree that they have already bucked down filled to the brim with apples.
Honey looks back at Harmonia. “Well mama didn't exactly say how many apples she needed for the apple fritters.” she said.
Harmonia looks at the row of trees that still had apples on them. “I guess we can do one more tree?” Harmonia suggested.
Honeycrisp was done picking up the remaining apples on the ground and putting them on the basket and onto the cart.
Honey Crisp smiles. “Let's go!” She beams.
The two ran to the last tree, the last tree was the biggest tree of them all, with 30 apples on it.
Harmonia eyes widen at the last tree. “Now this is gonna be a problem…” she mutters.
Harmonia thought for a second, but her thoughts were interrupted by Honey Crisp. “Well since this is a big one, how bout use your magical powers!” She suggested.
Harmonia looks at her, a confusing and worried look displayed on her face. “Are you sure? Aunt Applejack said that appletree bucking was traditional.” Her tone was laced with concern and worry.
“Well this tree big ain't it?” She asks. They both looked at the tree, Honey Crisp readied herself, and bucked the tree, sadly one apple fell from the tree.
“She'll never know the difference, don't worry!” She said.
Harmonia bit her bottom lip thinking to herself, she then breaths to calm herself. “Okay if you say so.” She mutters to Honey Crisp.
Honey Crisp watches with giddiness and excitement as Harmonia snaps her paw and a few apples levitates from the tree to the bucket.
Honey Crisp crosses her hooves over her chest, her eyes closed as a smug smile plays onto her muzzle. “She will never tell the difference.” She said, her tone proud.
Applejack walks up behind the two. “Oh is that so?” She said, her tone equally as smug. Harmonia eyes widened as she lost concentration on the apples, they fell to the ground and onto her head.
Harmonia held her head. “Ow!”
Applejack looks at the girls, a stern look on her face. “What in tarnation do you think y'all are doing?” She asks, her eyebrows furrowed.
Honey Crisp spins around quickly, coming face to face with her mother. “Oh hi Mama haha..ah…” She said, with a nervous giggle.
Harmonia looks at her aunt. “I'm just practicing my levitation spell Aunt Applejack!” She fibs.
“Yeah! What she said!” Honey Crisp said, lying to her mother.
AppleJack looks at the two perplexed, but crossed looks displayed on her face. “Now you know I'm the element of honesty, so you better tell me the truth.” She said with a blunt tone.
Honey Crisp looks at her mother in fear. Harmonia looks at her friend, her eyes widened not knowing what to say. “I'm sorry Aunt AppleJack, we were gonna use magic on that tree...just to get the apples…” Harmonia said, finally admitting the truth.
Applejack expression softens a bit. “Ah sugar cubes you could've called me to help you both.”She said her voice now soft.
Applejack back into the tree, getting ready to buck. “Here, help me buck this tree.” She said. Harmonia smiles at how understanding her aunt was.
“Sure thing Mama!” Honey Crisp said, joining her mother and Harmonia. All three of them lined themselves against the tree, readying their legs.
“At the count of three, we're gonna buck this tree, in 1...2...3!” Applejack said.
The three bucked the tree, apples falling over them, but they didn't mind, they grabbed the bucket and baskets, Applejack moved the cart to them, putting the buckets and basket on the cart they made their way to the barn.
AppleJack wipes sweat from her forehead. “That was fun ain't it kids?” She said.
Harmonia looks at the ground. “..... If you say so.” She mutters. Honey looks at her friend confused.
Honey Crisp lays a wing over her small draconequus friend. “Harmonia? Are you okay?” She asks.
Harmonia sniffles. “I'm fine…” she mutters,as tears started to show up again, but she resisted a little.
“Sugarcube did something get your eye? Here let me see.” Applejack said. She placed the cart on a tree stump, and then she came to check on Harmonia. Applejack moved a hoof to her eye.Harmonia started sobbing a little. Applejack looks at Harmonia, a sad look on her face.
“Harmonia? What's the matter, sugarcube.” She asked, her tone was sympathetic towards the tiny draconequus.
“I-its n-nothing...a-aunt Applej- Jack…” Harmonia said, trying to speak up, but the unravelling emotions just kept on hitting her, she started sobbing even more.
AppleJack wraps Harmonia into a tight hug, Harmonia hugged back tightly, covering her face on Applejack's fur, she cried softly into it.
Applejack looks at her daughter. “Hun, can you bring the Cart to the barn, I'll be with you shortly.” AppleJack said to Honey Crisp. Honey Crisp nods and goes to grab the cart to take to the barn.
Leaving Applejack and Harmonia alone.
Applejack looked down at Harmonia, who remained crying in her fur. She strokes her mane, her tone going soft. “Sweetheart, what's bothering you?” She asks.
“M-mommy...D-daddy…” Harmonia's voice goes ragged, as she cries louder than before, she tried to stop herself from crying but couldn't control herself, her emotions were all over the place.
“I-im S-sor...sorry...Aunt A-Applejack!” She said, she started to grit her teeth, controlling herself to stop crying.
“It's okay!” Applejack mutters, as she strokes her mane.
They stayed quiet for a moment as they listened to the birds chirping. Applejack eyes remained on the ground, as she was still hugging her niece. “I know what happened, sugarcube and I'm so sorry it did.” She mumbles, her voice slightly cracking me
Harmonia moves away from Applejack's hug. She looked at her aunt, tears aligned her eyes. “Why did it have to happen to me?” She asks.
Applejack sighed, not knowing how to answer her niece's questions at first, then she spoke. “Things happen for a reason sweetie but I tell you one thing, it's not your fault.” She explains. Applejack gently put her hoof on Harmonia's chin and she gently made her look at her.
“All families aren't perfect, and we should accept things that will happen to all of us, I'll be honest with you on that, we should accept what's coming to us, and we learn from them, sometimes we cope with them.” Applejack smiles at Harmonia, her tone soft. Harmonia stops crying, she wiped her tears and she smiles, AppleJack smiled back, kissing her cheek.
“Now let's go, you’re gonna help me make apple fritters with Honey Crisp, and I'll let you taste one.” Applejack said, Harmonia nods and follows Applejack inside the barn.
***
The kitchen was slightly messy, but still was clean enough to maneuver in it.Harmonia sniffs the air, it smelled like apple fritters and cinnamon.
“It smells soooo good Aunt Applejack! Now where are those apple fritters.” She breams looking around the kitchen's table for them.
Applejack giggles at her niece.
“Mama makes the best Apple fritters!” Honey Crisp beams, sitting at the table.
“The apple fritters are still getting ready, we just gotta wait for them.” Applejack explains.
Harmonia thought of her mother and how much she loves Applejack's baking. “Do you mind if I take some to Mommy?” She asks.
Applejack smiles at her. “Of course not sweetie.” She said. Applejack checks the oven, before turning back to her niece and daughter.
Applejack rubs her hoof. “Speakin’ of Twilight, how is she doing?” She asks. Applejack heard the news and was concerned for a friend.
“She says that she’s fine, but I really don’t think she is,” Harmonia said, her ears downfolded. Harmonia was concerned for her mother, she saw her mother down in the dumps before, but her Aunt Starlight helped her recover from “pillow fort pouting” when her school got shut down, but this? This was far more worse than she had ever anticipated.
Harmonia then smelled the Apple fritters, both Honey Crisp and Harmonia's mouths were open, saliva dripping from their mouths.
“I see two kiddies that are hungry.” Applejack giggled at the two, as she readies the plates for the two of them, placing them on the countertop.
Applejack then got four apple fritters in a container, she let it cool for awhile until it was ready for Harmonia to take home to Twilight.
“Go on! Try some!” She said, smiling at the two.Harmonia and Honey both bit into the apple fritters.
Harmonia savors the sweet taste of the tart. ”Mmmm! This is so good Aunt Applejack!”
Applejack smiles.
“I told ya Mama makes the best apple fritters in Equestria.” Honey Crisp, brags. She then takes a bit of her apple fritters.
Applejack blushes at her daughter's comment. “Ah sucks!” She said, she turns to wipe down the counter and stove top.
Rara enters the kitchen, smiling at Applejack and the kids. “It's true.” She said, smiling at Applejack.
“Aunt Rara!” Harmonia beams.
“Hey hon.” Applejack hugs Rara.
“This is the best Apple fritters in Equestria!” Honey Crisp beams, she enjoyed every last bit of her apple fritter.
“Hey Harmonia! How's my little super star?” Rara asks.
“.... Could be better.” Harmonia mutters, she remains sitting in the chair beside Honey Crisp. Rara looks at her niece in confusion.
Applejack puts a hoof to Rara ear whispering to her. “I'll tell you later Hun.” She said, her tone low and hushed. Rara looks from Harmonia to Applejack.
Rara then decides to change the subject, her eyes landing upon the plate of apple fritters. “I see that you made your Equestria famous apple fritters.” she said.
Applejack points her hoof over to the girls. “The girls helped me, they were the best Apple buckers I've seen on this farm today.” She smiles at the girls.
“Harmonia and I help mama buck down some apple trees!” Honey Crisp beams.
Harmonia giggles. “HoneyCrisp taught me.” she said.
“Well you two did a wonderful job today!” Beams Rara, proud of the work the girls did.
The sun began to set, as golden rays shone through Applejack's kitchen window, casting a soft glow in the room and wooden floor. Harmonia looks at the time. She scarfs down the last bit of apple fritter, before grabbing the container that held extra apple fritters for her mother.
Harmonia gets out of the chair, making her way towards the door. “I guess it's time for me to go…” she mutters.
Applejack looked at her and a soft expression was on her face. “Sugarcube, you're always welcome to come back here and hang out with us.” She smiles at Harmonia.
“Just remember what I said to you alright.” Applejack winks at Harmonia. She walks over to her and kisses Harmonia's forehead before she leaves, Harmonia hugged Honey Crisp and Applejack, the two hugged her back, along with Rara.
Harmonia moves away from the hug and makes her way to the door, walking out.
***
Harmonia walks down the path of Sweet Apple Acres. She didn't realize how long of a road the Apple family had. She then teleports herself, back to Ponyville, but only to be mobbed by the press.
It's been 2 ½ months since the incident happened, yet that seems to be the only news that these ponies' seem to be interested in nowadays.
“Harmonia Sparkle, is it true that your mother and father broke up!” A female newspony shouts.
Other news reporters came in to interrogate the small mare.
“How long will this last Harmonia Sparkle?” Asks another one. Harmonia looked slightly terrified from the mob of reports.
“Don't you have anything better to do?” Harmonia mutters, slightly annoyed by their obnoxious questions.
“Have you been informed about the marriage of Princess Celestia and your father discord?” Shouts a third news reporter.
All of the news reporters were asking the same Question, Harmonia's eyes widened at the words she heard.
This statement broke her. “Wait..... What?!” She shouts. The news reporter was shocked by Harmonia's reaction, all of the news reporters were silent, They backed off slowly from Harmonia. Harmonia's eyes were tearing up, she dropped the apple fritter container on the ground, she started to cry.
“Daddy, replaced us…” Harmonia mutters.
Twilight peeks outside of her castle, her eyes widen at the sight of the news reports surrounding her daughter.
Twilight looked furious as the news reports bombarded her daughter. Twilight's eyes were tearing up, her gaze was angry upon the mob. “Step away from my daughter!” She announces, using her Royal Canterlot voice, which was stearn and angry at them.
The news reporters ran away, leaving Harmonia crying. Twilight quickly runs over to Harmonia and wraps a wing around her, enveloping her in a tight hug. Harmonia hugged her so tightly, that she would not let go.
“I-is i-it true...M-mommy…” she whimpers.
This is not how she wanted Harmonia to find out, much less with who. Twilight sighs. “Sweetie, let's go in first alright, we will talk there…” she mutters, softly. Twilight carried Harmonia on her back , her face covered. Twilight looked at the Apple Fritters that AppleJack made, she smiled a little and she tried to change the subject.
“Did Applejack make her delicious apple fritters, again?” Twilight asks. Harmonia nodded a little.
Twilight and Harmonia went into the castle together.Twilight shut the door behind her and looked at her daughter with sorrow and hurt in her eyes.
“Is it true mommy?” She asks again, her voice small and quiet. Twilight shook her head, tears filled her eyes.
“Yes, sweetie it's true.” She mutters.
“But why would daddy choose a princess, if you're a princess too?” Harmonia asks, slightly confused.
“Because he wanted somepony of higher power.” Twilight thought to herself.
She bushes Harmonia's question to the side. “Come on! Let's enjoy these apple fritters.” She said, changing the subject. Twilight levitates the container and takes the food into the kitchen.
Harmonia examines her mother carefully. She looked at her mother like she was about to have a major breakdown.
“Mommy? Are you sure you're okay?” Harmonia carefully asks, not wanting to upset her mother.
“ ..... I'm fine sweetie really.” Twilight mutters as she places plates for the both of them.
Harmonia bit into her apple fritter. “You know mommy.... If you ever need anypony to talk to-” Harmonia stated, but got cut off.
Twilight broke down crying, she pushed away her plate. “Talk?! Talking isn't going to help, nothing is going to help! He has made his choice! I hope he is happy with it!” She yells. Harmonia jumps slightly at her mother's voice.
Without warning, Twilight gets up from the chair and teleports into the castle's throne room where the Friendship map stood.
Harmonia just sat there, looking at her Apple fritter, she then started to cry, she dropped her fritter and she left her seat, she curled up into a ball, crying softly into her fur.
“It's my...f-fault...that...daddy left.” She whimpers.
***
Twilight stood in her throne room, crying. “...... I can't do this anymore.....” She thought to herself.
Harmonia opens the door to the Twilight’s throne room. “Mommy?” Harmonia asks.
Twilight's ears prick up at her daughter's voice. Twilight pauses and looks at her daughter. She had finally come to a conclusion.
Twilight sighs, her breath ragged. “........ Harmonia, sweetie, I-I can't take care of you anymore.” Harmonia looks at her mother as if her heart broke more than it did.
“Mommy......? But-” Harmonia was speechless. Was her mother giving her away? She was the only thing that Harmonia had left, that she considers family.
Twilight sighs. “I'm in no condition to do so at the moment. So, I'm going to send you to live with one of the girls.” she explains.
Tears came into Harmonia's eyes.
Twilight’s cutie mark started to glow, signaling that somepony needed her help. Twilight looks down at her cutie mark and back at her daughter who had tears in her eyes. “I have a Friendship Mission to attend to and I can't risk the thought of taking you with me.” Twilight explains.
Harmonia ran to her mother, she hugged her ever so tightly, she cried and pleaded to her mom. “MOMMY PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME!” She cried out, her body was shaking, her eyes bloodshot. “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOMMY...I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU TOO!” She rambles on.
Twilight's eyes widen. “Sweetie, relax! It's just for a few days. It's not like I'm going to be gone for an eternity.” Twilight explains as she hugs her daughter.
Twilight unwraps her hoofs around her daughter’s neck. “Now, I will be leaving for the Crystal Empire. I should be back in a day or two so no need to worry.” She explains, her tone calm.
Twilight smiles down at her daughter. “Where am I staying?” She wonders.
Twilight teleports the two to Pinkie Pie's house. “You Will be staying with your Aunt Pinkie Pie.” She said. Harmonia eyes widen with excitement.
Pinkie Pie pops her head out the door. “Hello Twilight and Harmonia! What can I do for you?” She asks, her voice was bubbly and cheerful.
Twilight stifled a small giggle. “No order today, Pinkie. I actually have a Friendship Mission to attend and I was wondering if you could watch Harmonia for a few days?” She asks.
Pinkie Pie beams at the thought of the twins having their first sleepover, especially Confetti Pop.
“Of course! You can bunk with Confetti for the night. I'm sure she wouldn't mind.” Pinkie Pie
“Of course not!” Confetti Pop shouts from somewhere in the house.
Twilight sighs with relief. “Thank you, both of you. I shouldn't be gone long, but less than two days. I should be back soon.”
She kisses her daughter's head, one last time before departing.
“I love you. Be good.” Mutters Twilight.
Harmonia nods. “I will.” She gave a small smile to her mother. Twilight walks out the door and down to the train station.
“Hi Confetti!” Beams Harmonia.
“HARMONIA IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU!” Confetti hugged Harmonia tightly, Harmonia giggled and she hugged her back.
“It's been awhile, did you eat anything before you came yet?” She asked her friend.
Harmonia nods. “I had apple fritters.”
She laughed and she nuzzled her. “Come on! I'll help you get settled in.” Harmonia nods and follows Confetti to her room.
Harmonia placed her belongings in Confetti's room. Confetti was excited to hang out with Harmonia.
“I haven't had a sleepover in forever! The last one was with Ophelia, and let's just say it ended in-” Confetti thought for a moment, thinking to herself, thinking of the right words, how the sleepover with Ophelia ended.
“Thievery?” Harmonia questions the pink filly.
Confetti giggles. “Exactly!”
Harmonia laughs at her bubbly pink friend’s bubbly attitude. “I'm just glad she didn't steal anything valuable.” Harmonia explains.
“The only thing “valuable” we have in my mom’s party cannons, not sure what she would want with those.” Harmonia giggled at Confetti, Confetti laughed back.
The two came back downstairs, seeing Pinkie Pie baking.
“Is somepony hungry?” asks Pinkie Pie, her tone naturally bubbly and upbeat.
“Me!” Confetti said, bouncing her way to the table.
Harmonia giggles at her friend's antics, she reminds her so much of her aunt. Harmonia then sits down on the chair near the kitchen counter top.
“I guess I can go for one, what are you baking Aunt Pinkie Pie?” asks Harmonia.
“Well lucky for you girls, I'm baking your favorite treat Confetti.” Pinkie Pie said, pulling out the muffin pan from the oven.
“Chocolate strawberry cupcakes?” Confetti guesses.
Pinkie nods her head. “Yep. Here you go! Don't worry, there's more for you Harmony!” Pinkie Pie said, looking at her niece.
Pinkie Pie gives a cupcake to both of the girls. “These look delicious, thank you!” Harmonia said.
Cotton Berry came into the kitchen. “Is that Chocolate Strawberry cupcakes?” He asks.
“Yep! Want one?” Confetti asks her twin brother.
“I’ll pass.” He said. He then notices their friend, Harmonia. “Oh! Hello Harmonia. What are you doing here? Wait, Confetti didn’t constantly pester you for you to have a sleepover did she?” He asks.
Harmonia giggles. “No, not this time. Mommy had to go on a mission, so I’m staying here for a while.” Harmonia explains.
Cotton nods his head, taking in the information. He then rams a cupcake onto Confetti Pop’s muzzle. “Hey, what was that for?” She wines.
“That was for a prank you pulled on me four weeks ago, you really thought I’d forget dear sister?” He said, snickering at how ridiculous his sister looked.
He cocks a goofy grin at her. “You can’t out prank the master.” He said, his tone nonchalant.
“So you think you can out prank, Harmonia?” Confetti Pop said, her tone slightly sassy.
Harmonia gave Cotton a cocky grin, his eyes widened. “Oh! Hehe… look at the time! It’s way past my bedtime. So bye!” He poofs out of the room, quickly.
“He thinks he is a champion of pranks, but between you and me, I think he is just scared to be beaten by a girl.” Confetti Pop explains.
Harmonia giggles.
***
Twilight gets off the train, she is in Canterlot, her cutie mark still glowing, it starts guiding her to the friendship problem she needs to fix. “I wonder where this is leading me…”
She then flies towards the problem, her cutie mark guiding her, she goes past the big crystal courtyard, she then enters a town nearby. “Excuse me, but does anypony here have a friendship problem?” She asked, her tone cautious, not wanting to trigger anypony into another fight.
“I heard a ruckus nearby, just south of here, heard somepony fighting, but I don't wanna intrude Princess Twilight, but we're glad you're here to resolve this problem!” The Pony said, pointing to the direction the problem was located.
Twilight follows the sound to the loud arguing, this time running into another group of ponies. “Hi, Princess of Friendship here. I'm not entirely sure what is going on here, but I'm sure whatever it is. We can work it out.” Twilight said, her tone sounding welcoming, calm and inviting.
“Oh it’s not us your highness, but we heard a ruckus in the castle, we think it's Shining and Cadence who's having a problem, we're so glad you could come and fix this Princess!” The pony said, as he sighed in relief.
“Sure! It's no problem at all!” Twilight beams.
Twilight thinks to herself. “I've never known them two to fight in their whole life. This is a first, even for me.”
Twilight thanks the pony and heads to the Crystal Empire.
She neared the castle, she saw a small window opening on the side, revealing Cadence and Shining face to face, their stiletto of their shadow view made it look like they're arguing. Loud voices were heard inside the castle, but not to loud, making it feel like they are actually arguing,
Twilight lands on the front door, knocking not too loud, but just a little bit to be heard. Cadence answers the door. “Oh Twilight, good to see you!” Cadence said, she wraps her sister in law in a tight hug, Shining smiled at the sight.
“Hey Twi, what brings you here?” Shining asks,
“Well, I was summoned here by the Friendship Map.” She explains.
Twilight looks between the two. “Is everything okay?””
Cadence was slightly confused. “A Friendship problem?” she wonders.
“But we are not even arguing Twi, and the friendship map calls you here?” Shining said, who was equally confused by his sister's statement.
Twilight was slightly baffled. “Indeed it did! But if you two aren't the problem then who is?” She asks.
Cadence releases a little chuckle. “There's no problem!”
“Maybe it's somepony else's friendship problem nearby the castle, but your here so, do you want to come inside?” Shining asks.
“Yeah, it's so nice to have you back Twilight.” Cadence hugs her once more, and she guides her inside the castle.
“Come on, you should rest up.” Cadence insisted on her hospitality to her sister-in-law.
“Well I did tell Harmonia that I'd be gone for a day or two..... Sure why not.” she said, making her way inside.
Shining closes the door gently and he goes back to patrolling with the guards.
“Two days? Who is Harmonia staying with? One of your friends?” Cadence asks, as she readied drinks for the two, she readied two glasses of Lemon juice.
Twilight takes the drink from Cadence. “Yeah, she's staying with Pinkie Pie from the time being.” Twilight explains.
“How is everything with you? Are you doing well with yourself lately?” Cadence asked, with a hint of concern and worry for her sister in law, she then wrapped a wing behind Twilight, rubbing her back gently.
Twilight ears flatten slightly. “...... Eh it could be better, honestly.”
“Twilight... did you have another breakdown?” Cadence asked, not wanting to trigger Twilight in anyway, she then took a sip from her glass and she placed it on the table.
“Kind of, but I'm okay now.... Wait how did you know about my breakdown?” Twilight was curious to know how her sister in law could have known about her breakdown.
“You were like that even before Harmonia's time.” Cadence light giggled at Twilight, nudging her playfully. “But I'm glad to see you, lightening yourself up. And I'm glad you're doing well. How's Harmonia by the way?” she asks.
Twilight takes a sip of her drink. “She's hanging in there.”
“Well I'm glad you two are doing well for yourselves!” Cadence replied, happy to see her sister in law finally recuperating from all of the shenanigans that happened.
“You can sleep in the spare guest room we have for tonight.” Cadence explains.
“AUNT TWILIGHT!” Flurry Heart lunges at Twilight and hugs her tightly.
Twilight giggles and hugs her niece tightly. “Hey Flurry Heart!” she said.
“I didn't know you were coming!” she beamed, her tone was curious laced with excitement.
Twilight softly giggles. “I'm just here to stay for 2 days, your cousin is at her friend's house, so I'll be staying here for a few days.” Twilight smiles at her niece, she kisses her forehead and wraps a wing around her.
Flurry smiles at her aunt. “Is everything okay?” She wonders. Flurry could have sworn she saw a different emotion displayed on her aunt’s face, but quickly disappeared. She was curious to know why Twilight was staying for two days and not just here for a visit.
“Everything is fine sweetie, your Aunt Twily just needs a vacation.” Twilight smiled at her niece, Flurry Heart smiled back and she nuzzled Twilight.
“Oh okay!” Flurry said.
Crystal was the next pony to stop by. “Aunt Twilight? What are you doing here?” She asks.
“Hey Crystal, I'm just here for 2 days, how are you little one?” Twilight asked Crystal.
“I'm fine.” She smiles.
Twilight looks at her sister in law. “How about you girls go and I'll see you in the morning.” Twilight yawns.
“Alright! Goodnight Aunt Twilight!” They said in unison. The two girls ran upstairs, going to their rooms. Cadence goes to Twilight.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us for desert? Shining and I are making Apple pie. ” Cadence asks.
Twilight looked over at the clock and it was only 8:30 pm.
“I might join later. For now, I think I’m just going to get settled in my room." Twilight said.
Cadence smiles at her sister in law, then turns her attention to the hallway, leaving Twilight alone.
Twilight rises from Cadence's bed and makes her way to her room.
***
“I'm glad Twilight is recuperating from all of this.” Cadence said, looking at her husband she gave him a small smile.
“My sister is the toughest mare I know! She’ll get through this.” Shining said.
“I'm glad Aunt Twilight is feeling better.” Flurry said, her tone calm.
Crystal thought for a moment. “But she still seems slightly off edge, at least to me she does.”
Cadence softly sighs. “She just needs more time dear.” Cadence smiles at her daughters, she then goes back to reading the ingredients.
Cadence and Shining both grab the ingredients from the fridge and cabinets.
“Okay, so we have: apples and the pie crust. The only thing we are missing is the sugar.” Cadence lists the ingredients in front of her.
“I think we have some in the storage room, hang on.” Cadence said, walking to the pantry. She illuminates her horn for light.“Found some!”
She brings the sugar out of the pantry and places it on the countertop. “Alright, let's get baking!" she beams.
***
Twilight lays down on her bed, curled up, her wings wrapped around herself, she stared blankly on the wall.
“I don't get it...why did the friendship map call me here…” She thinks to herself, she shakes off the thinking and she tries to catch some sleep.
She slept for thirty minutes. Until she was awoken by a voice.
It was her brother coming to get her.
“Twily, wake up. The pie is done.” Shining Armor said, gently shaking his sister.
“What time is it?” She asked.
“It’s only 10, but if you would rather go ahead and just go back to sleep then we won’t be offended.” Shining said, giving his sister a smile.
She rubs her eyes, and she gets up from her bed, she yawns softly and she stands up. “It’s fine, I could use some of your pie.” Twilight smiles at her brother, she then goes down stairs, followed by Shining from behind.
***
“Is Aunt Twilight gonna eat with us?” Flurry asks, her mother.
“Don't worry she will, she's just tired, that's all sweetie.” Cadence explains, giving her daughter a soft smile.
Crystal finishes her food, she then pushes the plate away and goes up stairs, without a word.
Twilight enters the kitchen and a small smile appears on her face. “It smells soooo good in here!”
Cadence levitates a plate to her. “Here you go, Twilight.” She said, giving Twilight her slice of the pie.
Twilight receives her slice of the pie, she smells it first, savoring the sweet smell of apple. She levitates the fork and cuts the pie into bite size chunks, she then ate the first half. Her mouth filled with yummy bliss as she savored the pies flavor.
“This is delicious! ” Twilight said, savoring each bite.
“Mommy and Daddy make really good pies Aunt Twilight!” Flurry said, giving her aunt a toothy grin.
Cadence giggles. "Well, thank you Twilight.." She said.
“I'm sorry I came down late, I was nearly asleep.” She said, her tone was sincere.
Twilight thought to herself. “I still don't know why the friendship map brought me here, I see no problem here.”
“Anyway, do we have anything to do tomorrow? Like princess duties and what not?” Twilight asked Cadence, she ate a piece of her pie once more, savoring the flavor again.
Cadence thought for a moment. “..... Well, our schedule is pretty clear for tomorrow, except Shining has guard duty, but that's about it.”
“I can hang out with the kids tomorrow if you like, we can always take a stroll outside.” She recommended it to Cadence, she ate the last piece of her pie, and then she levitated the plates and utensils in the sink.
“Thanks for the pie Cadence, it's really tasty!” She gave a smile to her sister in law.
“You are always welcome Twilight!” Cadence said, her tone calm.
Twilight yawns. “I think I'm going to head to bed.” She mutters.
“Us as well, we will see you in the morning.” Cadence said.
They parted ways and the Empire remained quiet for the night. Twilight's hooves were the only sound echoing in the hallway. A cold chill swept through the hallway which sent shivers down Twilight's spine.
Twilight stops. “Hello? Is anypony here!?” She calls out into the darkened hallway, but nopony answers. Twilight shrugs and heads on to bed.
“It must be my imagination.” Twilight thought to herself.
Once she got to her room, she made her way to her bed. Snuggling down in her cover, she turns on her side and drifts off to sleep.
From a far the mysterious visitor watches as their mouth curls into a sinister smile, their eyes glowing white.
As they watched the Princess of Friendship sleep peacefully, the only thing that illuminated the room was her cutie mark.
***
Twilight yawns as she opens her eyes, she comes face to face with four pairs of eyes, both belonging to Crystal and Flurry Heart.
Twilight screams. “Do you girls know what time it is?” Twilight asks, as she narrows her eyes at her nieces.
“Yeah, it's 9:00 am.” Crystal said, her tone blunt.
“And you promised us that you would spend the day with us!” Flurry said.
Twilight rubs the sleep from her eyes, and yawns. “I did promise, but why this early? Ponies are still asleep you know.” Twilight narrows her eyes at the two.
“Well we can always have fun before anypony else wakes up.” Flurry suggested.
Twilight sighs. “Fine. What do you girls want to do?” She asks the girls.
“We can have a picnic in the garden.” Crystal suggests.
“That sounds like a nice idea Crystal.” Twilight said, placing her hooves on the cold hard crystal floor. Flurry jumped up and down around Crystal excitedly.
“This is gonna be so much fun! Come on Aunt Twilight!” Flurry Heart grabs her aunt's hoof and the three hurry out the door.
****
The picnic blanket landed safely on the grass as the sun reflected off the leaves. Crystal gently sat down as Flurry laid down on the blanket. Twilight giggled as she levitated an orange platter of cucumber sandwiches placing it on the blanket along with a pitcher of lemonade.
“Thank you for inviting me girls. I guess I needed this.” Twilight said, taking in a deep breath of fresh air.
“You're welcome, Aunt Twilight.” smiles Flurry Heart.
Crystal takes a bite of her sandwich, savoring the flavor. “We could have gone to the spa, but Flurry suggested something more relaxing. Even though the spa was more relaxing in my opinion.” Crystal said, as she rolls her eyes.
“The spa would have been a nice idea, Crystal, but this is simply relaxing as well.” Twilight smiles at her niece.
Twilight looked around the garden and frowned. The garden looked like the one back at her castle. Her eyes became watery as she remembered the times she had with Discord in her garden. She could remember the times where they would laugh and tickle each other or the times where they would sit and talk about things that were on their minds.
“Aunt Twilight? Are you okay?” Crystal asks.
Twilight blinked her eyes and smiled at Crystal. “Of course Crystal. I’m fine.” she said, sipping her lemonade.
She watches as her nieces are enjoying themselves, as she remained lost in thought. It's as if she was in a trance as she was slowly eating her cucumber sandwich.
“Aunt Twilight?” Flurry asks.
No response.
“Aunt Twilight?” Crystal asks.
Again no response.
“Aunt Twilight!” They said in unison.
Twilight jumped, startled. “Sorry girls, I guess I was lost in my own thoughts at the moment.” She said, her cheeks held a hint of pink. Clearly she was embarrassed by her action.
“Are you sure you're okay?” Flurry Heart questions, double checking.
Twilight nods. “I'm fine! Honestly, I'm just trying to figure out what this Friendship Mission is that I am supposed to go on. I mean I'm not even sure where it's located.” She explains.
“Well, hopefully you will figure it out soon.” Flurry said, her tone hopefully.
“Maybe…” Twilight mutters. She takes another bite of her sandwich.
***
The girls clean up the mess, as they fold the blanket and throw away their trash. “You girls head inside, I'll be inside in a few.” Twilight said.
For now, she just wanted to enjoy the sounds of nature to herself. Twilight closes her eyes, as the soft breeze blows through her mane. She could not shake the feeling that maybe there was no friendship problem at all and that maybe she should just head on home.
Twilight gets up and walks into the empire. She comes face to face with Cadence, who smiles at her. “Good morning, Twilight!” She beams.
Twilight gives her sister in law a sheepish smile. “Oh! Good morning Cadence. I was actually coming to tell you that I am heading home early.” Twilight said.
Cadence looks at her sister in law, confused. “I thought you had a friendship problem that needed to be fixed here?” Cadence asks.
“I thought I did. Maybe it was just a false alarm. A glitch in the map.” Twilight assumed.
Cadence sighs. “Well I'm sorry to hear that your friendship mission was unsuccessful.” Cadence said.
“It's fine, really. I've been meaning to head back home anyways to take care of Harmonia.” Twilight said.
Twilight gives her sister in law a hug. “Alright. Well I guess we will see you soon.” Cadence said.
“Tell Shining that I have left and not to worry.” Twilight said.
Cadence nods her head, watching as Twilight leaves the Empire.
***
The walk to the train station was fairly long. Twilight enjoyed the cool breeze that blew on her face. She sighed as she enjoyed the quietness of the peace that the Crystal Empire had to offer.
Twilight slowed her pacing, her cutie mark started to glow once again. She looks at her cutie mark, slightly confused.
“Huh? The friendship problem must be near here.” She mutters. She watched as her cutie mark glowed before her. It's like it was guiding her to her problem.
Twilight's cutie mark gives her a trail. She follows it.
After what felt like miles of traveling, Twilight's cutie mark stops glowing, leading her into a crystal forest.
“A Crystal forest? Why on Earth would my cutiemark send me here?!” Twilight asks confused.
She wanders around, looking for anypony who needs her help. “Hello? Is anypony here?” Twilight calls out, in the crystal clear forest.
Nopony answer. “Great! Just great! My cutiemark just had to lead me here!” Twilight mutters to herself. “Another false alarm…” she thought.
Twilight sighs, as she tries to find her way out of the forest, but with no luck she was lost. A cold chill, the same cold chill she felt in the hallway of the Crystal Empire swept through the forest grounds, sending chills down her spine.
“That's the same feeling I felt at the Empire.” Twilight thought to herself.
Twilight musters up all the bravery and courage she had. “Whoever is out here! Show yourself!” Twilight demands.
They didn't say a word, not even a sound. The only sound that could be heard was Twilight's scream.