My friends, Cadance and I arrived back in Ponyville the next morning on Cadance's private chariot. The rest of Ponyville seemed to be shocked that Cadance had decided to pay them a visit. It was kinda cool to watch her wave to ponies I knew with a big smile on her face.
We arrived at Twilight's library first. I wanted to go straight to my sister and Applejack, but Cadance insisted that we had to at least act like we were actually here to visit her sister-in-law. And Spike had to go home.
Cadance knocked on Twilight's door. I could barely contain myself. It was all I could do to keep from running around in circles.
"Just a moment!" Twilight's voice called from inside.
A few thuds and bumps came from inside. Finally Twilight opened the door, looking a little crazy. I stepped back a little, remembering the time Twilight had enchanted me and my friends to really like her doll's mane.
The unicorn saw Spike first, somehow.
"SPIKE! Oh thank goodness you're back! I can't find my quills anywhere and I need to make a checklist for..." then she saw Princess Cadance.
"Cadance!" Twilight exclaimed, then blushed. "Oh it's so nice to see you! Um...thanks for visiting and please don't mind the mess, Spike's been gone, well obviously you knew that since he's with you...did he put you up to this? You should really be in Canterlot with my brother...don't you have royal things to do?"
"It's ok Twilight, Shining Armor is busy reorganizing the guard after the changeling mess, and I needed a vacation. Visiting you and your friends is the perfect way to unwind!" Cadance said. She was pretty, I really liked her mane.
"Oh of course! Well, do come in, then. There's not really a lot to do here, but make yourself at home!" Twilight said. I was beginning to get slightly impatient. I wanted Cadance to tell me if Applejack liked my sister!
"Actually, I was wondering if maybe you could show me around Ponyville," Cadance said. I had to give her props for quick thinking. "Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom here were going to take me around but I'd hate to be the only adult present if we got lost." Cadance laughed musically. "Not that I couldn't handle them on my own, I distinctly remember one pony saying that I'm the world's greatest foalsitter." She winked at Twilight. Twilight smiled. I started tapping my hoof. This was getting annoying.
"Well of course, I could use a break from studying I guess. SPIKE!"
Spike ran back into the room. "Yes Twilight?"
"Can you get the library cleaned up and the guest bedroom set up? Cadance is going to be our guest, and I'm going on a walk around Ponyville with her."
"Sure thing Twilight!" Spike said, saluting and the door closed behind the rest of us. FINALLY!
"So, where too first girls?" Twilight asked.
"Sweet Apple Acres!" I said, figuring Applejack would be there and Cadance could see if she was in love with Rarity.
"Carousel Boutique!" Apple Bloom said at the same time I said Sweet Apple Acres and that Scootaloo said
"Rainbow Dash's house!"
I glared at Scootaloo who shrugged and gave me a look that said, "What? I don't care about all this sappy romance stuff!"
Twilight laughed at our suggestions and then said, which made me want to glare at HER, "How about Sugarcube Corner? I'll buy everypony a treat!"
No! I wanted to say, but I knew Twilight would think that was weird. Maybe even Cadance and my friends.
Speaking of my friends, both of them were grinning and vigorously nodding "yes" to Twilight's question, the traitors, so I had no choice but to go along with it.
"Alright, Sugarcube Corner it is!" Twilight announced and led the rest of us there.
Not surprisingly, Pinkie Pie was working the counter when the five of us walked in.
"Hiya Twilight!" Pinkie said, then noticed Cadance. "Oh wow! Princess Cadance is in Sugarcube Corner? Omigosh that's so super exciting! I should tell Mrs. Cake, she's been wanting to meet you ever since the wedding! Here, totally have some of these, they're Applejack's fritters, we're selling them since they were such a hit at your wedding, and I know you totally loved them!" Pinkie would have gone on but Cadance stopped her with just a smile.
"Thanks Pinkie, I did really like them. And the elite of Canterlot haven't stopped talking about the reception!"
Pinkie beamed. "Just another specialty Pinkie Pie party!"
Now I was really getting impatient.
"Ok, well we got our treat, we should really go to Sweet Apple Acres now!" I said, my voice cracked on Acres, and not in the cute adorable way it usually did. The rest of the ponies stared at me.
"I mean...so Cadance can see it!"
"Ah kinda wanted ta stay..." said Apple Bloom. Scootaloo nodded.
"Oh come on, you two! What about our mission!" I said forgetting that Cadance, Twilight and Pinkie Pie were all listening too.
"We're spending time with Princess Cadance and all you care about is hooking up your sister with Applejack?" said Scootaloo, also forgetting we weren't alone.
Pinkie Pie gasped. The rest of Sugarcube Corner seemed not to have heard, it was pretty loud. But Pinkie and Twilight had. Cadance looked a little sheepish.
Twilight looked at us. "What's all this about?"
My traitor friends both pointed at me.
Twilight and Pinkie Pie both stared at me but it was Cadance who spoke up first.
"Sweetie Belle and her friends came to see me, and fetched me here to Ponyville to find out if Applejack returns the feelings Rarity has for her. Sweetie Belle read her sister's diary, which I in no way condone, but I was curious to find out if this could go anywhere. Blame it on me being a hopeless romantic. And I did want to visit you and Ponyville, Twilight, being stuck in Canterlot all the time is no fun, especially with Shining Armor being so busy. So I followed them here for a little adventure and I'm sorry if I lied to you in the process."
Twilight nodded clearly still processing the meaning of all this.
Pinkie Pie was the first to speak up, voicing what I knew Twilight must also be thinking.
"So Rarity has a crush on Applejack? Omg, this is totally crazy! I have to tell Rainbow Dash, she'll think it's hilarious!" the pink pony said.
"No, you can't tell anypony else or Rarity will find out I read her diary. We have to find out if Applejack likes her back!"
I said.
"If Ah like who back?" said a familiar voice at the door. I jumped.
"No one Applejack," Twilight said shoving her hoof into Pinkie's mouth as a precaution. I looked at Cadance. Her horn was barely glowing and she seemed to be studying Applejack intently.
"Rwarymmmpph" Pinkie mumbled through Twilight's hoof. That gave me an idea.
"Rarity! We want to know what you think of Rarity!" I said.
Twilight, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom stared at me. Cadance smiled gratefully at me, apparently her spell needed an extra push.
"Rarity? Well she's mah friend ain't she?" Applejack said, looking puzzled. "Ah mean, Ah know the two of us don't always get along as well Ah do with most ponies but she's...challengin'. I like that."
Cadance apparently completed her spell as her horn was no longer glowing. She was smiling slightly though.
"Oh ok! We just wanted to make sure!" I said.
Applejack looked at me funny, before remembering her manners and why she was there.
"Oh right, Ah was bringin' by more of them fritters, Pinkie Pie," She bowed to Cadance. "Princess. Here's the fritters Pinkie Pie."
And she left. After she was gone I looked at Cadance.
"Well?"
"She likes her...but she doesn't know it," Cadance confirmed.
My mouth spread into a huge, and by huge I mean huge, grin.
"Yes! I knew it!" I exclaimed.
Apple Bloom looked stunned. Scootaloo rolled her eyes.
"Now what's your big plan genius? We know Applejack likes Rarity, but doesn't realize it, and we know Rarity likes Applejack. What are you going to do now, trick them into going on a date?"
I smiled, somewhat evilly Apple Bloom told me later, at Scootaloo.
"You're a genius, Scootaloo."