//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18 
// Story: Something Sparkling 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

Autumn carried the unconscious Sparkler in her forelegs all the way back. Sparkler wasn’t heavy, but it still was an exercise to walk all the way from the middle of nowhere to their home, after all that exertion beforehand. Autumn, though, had to do it. For her friend.

Alongside everypony else during most of the trip, she entered the bedroom with just her and Flappy, to softly place their best friend in bed.

Sparkler had no awareness whatsoever, but Autumn still had that feeling in her heart when she placed the bed blankets over her body and her blue security blanket into her grasp. “Sleep well, Sparkler. When you wake up, I hope we can talk about this.”

What Autumn really meant by that was “plead with her to stay friends”, but that was for later. What needed to be tended to right now was further explanation to everypony in the living room.

“Squeak. Let’s let her sleep ‘til morning. With any luck, her anger will have at least dwindled significantly by then. Squeak.” Flappy whispered.

Flappy didn’t squawk. He squeaked. Autumn could feel she wasn’t alone. “Man, I know there are other things to address at the moment, but I can’t get it out of my head. I don’t want to lose her…” Autumn drifted off and cried again.

“Squeak. Well luckily we didn’t physically lose her today. Now come on. There are a few ponies that need to understand why they can’t blab about this. Squeak.” Flappy urged.

Autumn sniffled. “Yeah… I need to walk out into the living room… would you mind being the primary speaker? It’s going to be really hard for me to say much.”

‘Squeak. You don’t know the whole story either so I’ll have to fill in the gaps anyway. Let’s go. Squeak.” Flappy flapped his wings and flew out into the living room.

The pair showed up in front of the audience of ponies on the couch, who didn’t look much happier than they were. Also hesitant to speak.

Applebloom bit her lip before breaking the silence. “How’s Sparkler?” She asked.

Autumn didn’t know what to say. The simple answer was that she had passed out, but there was so much story behind that.

“Well, you could say she’s overall not good right now. I guess we should start at the beginning.” Autumn said. “You want to start, Flappy?”

“Yeah. Like, I know ponies called her a freak before, but judging by the magical glowing cyclone of wind that she just made, something tells me that was just the tip of the iceberg.” Rainbow commented.

“Squawk! Oh you don’t know the half of it. They didn’t just call her a freak, they treated her like absolute garbage. Using her as target practice for throwing eggs, calling her mean names. It’s a miracle she hasn’t developed a fear of eggs. Squawk!” Flappy said.

“Those daggum school bullies.” Applejack said. “I’ve seen many cases of those before; heck, Applebloom has dealt with it herself. But Sparkler’s case seems even worse…”

“I know. Like, who the hay would pick on an Alicorn?” Rainbow asked.

“Squawk! Here’s the kicker. Nopony in Saddle Arabia actually knew what Sparkler was until Luna told her. Until that point, we dubbed it the horn and wing combo. Squawk!” Flappy explained.

Nopony said anything. They all couldn’t believe it. How could such an innocent pony be dealt a hoof like that?

“Squawk! For thirteen years, from her first day of Kindergarten to graduating high school, this harassment from her peers was a daily occurrence. Every school day she would come home covered in egg yolk and egg shells. And in most cases, with tears in her eyes. Squawk!” Flappy continued.

“By golly, I’d like to find those ponies and go pelt them with eggs!” Applejack said.

Rainbow grumbled. “Why was nothing done to change it?” She asked.

“Squawk! Because nothing COULD stop it, and homeschooling wasn’t an option, or moving to a new town. Squawk!” Flappy replied to Rainbow.

“Well, I sure hope we can make up for it and make her life from here on out as good as we can.” Applejack said. “Sometime after she wakes up, I want to go do somethin’ fun with her. Or do somethin’ sweet for her.”

“Squawk! Well first Autumn and I need to patch things with her. Cause we kinda made her mad before she went all glowy magic cyclone. Squawk!” Flappy said.

“Wait, what? Why was she mad?” Applejack asked.

Autumn let out a deep exhale and she wouldn’t be surprised if they could see tears. She fully believed it was her fault. That she was the one who caused the breakdown. I almost killed her, Autumn thought.

“Autumn? You okay there?” Applejack directly asked.

Well, she was pinned. Darn. “No, Applejack, I’m not okay.” she said in raised volume. “All this was my doing. She intentionally hid her wings and pretended to be a unicorn, because of all that bullying. But one day, I touched her sides… and then briefly saw her wings while walking by, so I became curious, and I… I tricked her into coming out when she wasn’t ready.”

“I fully expect you to be mad. Go ahead and punish me, I deserve it.” Autumn cried out.

“Squawk! Autumn, Didn’t we agree to pin the blame on Luna since she came up with the idea in the first place? Squawk!” Flappy asked.

“What?” Applejack said.

Ugh, Autumn really was under pressure. “No, I just agreed to save this topic for later… and I was the one who carried it out.” Ah, yes. The thing she wanted to say earlier.

“Squawk! Did Luna ask it of you? Squawk!” Flappy asked.

“Well… she did.” Autumn said. “Luna told me to do it… but I could have declined. Heck, I knew it was a bad idea in the first place. I don’t know why I accepted it.”

“Squawk! Maybe because she’s a princess and I doubt you can very well refuse a princess. Squawk!”

Autumn didn’t say anything. She just kept hyperventilating.

“Is there any way we could help y’all?” Applejack said. “I’m worried about the two of ya. Or actually, three.”

“Squawk! Maybe come back here in the morning? Sparkler’ll want to make sure you all promise to keep quiet about this. Squawk!” Flappy suggested.

“I will make sure. To do both those things.” Applejack said.

That felt good to hear, but was it improving Autumn’s day? No, it couldn’t. She was still crying.

“Flappy, I think this is the worst day of my life.” Autumn said.

“Squawk! Look on the bright side. Can’t get much worse. Squawk!” Flappy remarked.

“They do say that when you’re at rock bottom, the only way to go is up.” Fluttershy said.

Autumn sniffled. “I suppose… but in the meantime, I have to deal with all this stuff.”

“And actually, I may not be at rock bottom, because what if Sparkler is still mad at me and cuts off our friendship? Finally landing a roommate was one of the best things that ever happened to me, and now it’s in d-danger.”

“Squawk! I did say it couldn’t get MUCH worse. Squawk!” Flappy commented.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get her to see that being an Alicorn ain’t so bad. And we’ll convince her you did the right thing.” Applebloom said.

“She really does need to know that being an Alicorn is nothing bad, nothing to be ashamed of.” Autumn said. “Those bullies really corrupted her mind.”

“And we’ll be with ya every step of the way.” Applejack told her.

“Squawk! And in the meantime. Rainbow, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Fluttershy. I need you guys to swear that you will not breathe a word of any of this to anypony until Sparkler is ready. Squawk!” Flappy told them.

“I already told her her secret’s safe with me.” Rainbow responded.

“I’ll keep her secret as long as she needs us to.” Fluttershy promised.

“Us too.” Appjejack and Applebloom said.

“Squawk! If you guys do blab I WILL find you. Squawk!” Flappy warned.

Autumn gulped as she glanced down the hall to the room she and Sparkler shared. By the stars please let all of us come out of this still friends.





Celestia’s son grazed the land to signal the start of another day. The sun hit the slumbering Sparkler and roused her awake. She fluttered her eyes open and slowly got up out of bed. “Ugh…What happened last night?” She asked idly. Without even thinking, she walked out of the bedroom, right to the kitchen, and opened the fridge to grab a bottle of her homemade lemonade. She made a note that they were running low and put it in her mental schedule to make more. She took a few sips from the cool drink to help wake her up, before she got the feeling she was being watched. She glanced around the room until she found Autumn, Applejack, Applebloom, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Flappy all standing or sitting in the living room, watching her. “Uh…Morning?” She said. Confused as to what was going on.

“Squawk! Morning. Squawk!” Flappy responded cautiously.

“You feeling alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Mah head hurts some, but overall I feel fine? Why?” Sparkler asked.

“Because you released a LOT of magic last night.” Autumn said.

“”Do you remember anything from last night?” Fluttershy asked.

“I remember having dinner, going to the bathroom…And then…” Sparkler started to remember the events of last night, and two things came to mind. One, she was furious with Autumn and Flappy, but more urgently, she couldn’t feel her onesie on her! She eeped as she whirled around to see her wings exposed.

“Sparkler, It’s alright. You don’t need to hide from us now.” Rainbow said.

“We already promised to keep your secret until you’re ready.” Applebloom said.

That seemed to get through to Sparkler because she calmed down from the panic, but that brought her anger to head as she glared angrily at Autumn and Flappy. “I can’t believe you two went behind mah back!” She growled. “Tricking me into coming out when I wasn’t ready?! What the Faust were you THINKING?!” She asked in rage.

Autumn was about to say something before Sparkler cut her off. “Actually, no, don’t talk. I thought you two were mah friends. Maybe I was WRONG!” She growled.

Everypony jumped and their eyes widened. Autumn gulped, while Applejack shook her head and returned Sparkler’s glare. “Now listen here Sparkler, I get that you’re angry, and yes, I agree that there was probably a better way they coulda gone about this, but you are going to hear what they have to say before you make any friendship calls.” She said sternly.

Sparkler and Applejack had a staring match for a few seconds, before Sparkler, realizing Applejack wasn’t going to back down, relented. “Fine. But there had better be a darn good explanation from them.” She stipulated as she walked into the living room and sat down.

 Autumn, momentarily stunned, modded after a second. “I never wanted to do it Sparkler, I would’ve told you right away after that first practice session, but Luna and Flappy convinced me to go through with the charade.” She explained.

“Squawk! Luna is the one who came up with the idea in the first place. Squawk!” Flappy added.

“But why?” Sparkler asked. “Why did you think it was a good idea to go behind ma back? I’m sure Luna wouldn’t have done anything if you refused.

“Sparkler, ya don’t refuse a princess’ request for help. It just doesn’t happen.” Rainbow chimed it.

“Squawk! And we did it so that when you came out to Autumn in the real world, we’d have proof that Autumn doesn’t care if you’re an Alicorn or not. Squawk!” Flappy explained.

“Proof?” Sparkler asked.

“What does that mean?” Sparkler asked.

“It means that I don’t give two bits about you being an Alicorn Sparkler. You’re still my best friend and I want to help you. You could be half dragon and I wouldn’t care. Because I know who you are on the inside.” Autumn explained.

“Really…?” Sparkler asked. Her anger starting to subside.

“And she’s not the only one. I meant what I said yesterday. Equestria has a VERY different opinion of Alicorns juxtaposed to Saddle Arabia, apparently.” Rainbow said.

“Yeah! Heck, we even have one living in Ponyville!” Applebloom announced.

“And no pony gives her much trouble. So I highly doubt that you’ll be any different.” Applejack said.

“Isn’t she a princess though?” Sparkler asked.

“Yes. But she’s always saying how she’s no different from everypony else.” Fluttershy explained.

“But back on track, Sparkler, you are not a freak, a monster, or whatever those jerks in school called you. You are perfect just the way you are and you can absolutely have friends while being yourself.” Autumn told Sparkler.

“Squawk! As evidenced by her willing to tell a little white lie to help you come out. Squawk!” Flappy said.

“Still can’t believe an Apple agreed to lie but OK I suppose.” Applejack commented under her breath.

Sparkler took everypony’s words into consideration, and a feeling of guilt started creeping in, primarily from being so angry at Autumn and Flappy without hearing them out. She was still mad, but after hearing their reasoning, she was a lot less mad.

Flappy studied his friend, trying to gauge what she was thinking. “Squawk! So…What do you think Sparky? Squawk!” He asked.

Sparkler took a deep breath. “I’m still ticked that you went behind mah back like that, but after hearing you out…I think I can forgive you.” She said.

Autumn burst out smiling as she lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Sparkler. “Thank faust! Does that mean we can still be roommates?” She asked.

Sparkler chuckled. “Yes we can still be roommates.” She said.

Flappy sighed in relief. “Squawk! Luna is not allowed to ask anything of us ever again. Squawk!” He laughed.

“Yeah. I’m gonna have a talk with her when she comes to visit me next.” Sparkler responded, earning a chuckle from everypony there.

Sparkler was happy. It may not have been how she intended, but she was happy that Autumn actually accepted her, as did some other ponies. It gave her hope for the future.

To be continued…