//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: to find what Love is Hiding 
// Story: MoonRacer: The land of misfits. 
// by NicLove 
//------------------------------//

Twilight was breathing heavily as she was running to the library. A part of her wanted to see what classes Shark was going to, but she wouldn’t miss a chance to have full access to that library for anything. As she turned the corner, she accidentally bumped into FlashTruth, knocking both of them down, and hurting her a bit.


“Ow! I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there,” Twilight apologized while rubbing her head.


“It’s ok, I hope you’re not hurt,” Flash asked with worry, before helping her up.


“It’s fine. My scales don’t bruise easily,” Twilight assured him as she picked up her bag. “Are you okay?”


Flash smiled, before tapping his skull. “I have dense bones.”


“Oh… I didn’t know earth ponies were that durable,” Twilight said as they both started walking towards the library again.


“Oh... umm. umm.. Ya...” Flash said, wondering if he should tell her.  ‘earth -pony.’


“So, Light seemed pretty happy when we rejoined him. How did he get along?” Twilight asked.


“Oh, well... The little girls are fans of him, so that boosted his self-confidence,” Flash told her.


“Um… what do you mean by little girls? Do you mean kids or…”


“Kids,” Flash replied. “What else would I be talking about?”


“Well, Pinkie and fluttershy have been swooning over Light,” Twilight admitted as they neared the large doors. “Oh... Speaking of which, I need your help with something.”


“I have noticed, he’s not here for more than 2 days, and he already has mares swooning after him,” Flash said before laughing. “What do you need help with?”


“I think he and Spike need to learn about…” Twilight looked a little embarrassed as she cleared her throat. “The birds and the bees.”


“Oh, that’s some that...” Flash paused before slowly turning his head to Twilight. “They haven’t already got the Talk!?” he said, a bit louder than he should have.


Twilight quickly covered his mouth and shushed him. “No, and please keep it down.”


“W... What do they already know?” Flash asked her. “Do they at least know what’s the difference between you and I? I mean, besides our race.”


“Yes. They know how bodies grow and the difference between mares and colts. They just don’t know how babies are made or how the body reacts when a romantic element is introduced. Light had a couple of wing boners and didn’t know what was going on,” Twilight explained with a sigh.


“Ok, I’ll give them the talk,” Flash told her.


“Thank you. It was awkward when Cadence told me, but those two need to know before those girls make them go crazy,” Twilight said as she gave Flash a hug.


“I understand,” Flash told her while hugging her back. “Good thing that was the... Only boner he had.”


“Yeah… he’s never had them before,” Twilight admitted.


“Well... that you know,” Flash pointed out, noticing how soft Twilight was. All this talk about... boners was making it hard for Flash to keep his mind clean.


Twilight pulled away before anything intimate could happen. “Well, I guess I’d better get into the literature club before they start.”


“Oh, you’re part... Of course you’re part of it,” Flash said, while his mind went back to normal.  “Let me open the door for you, and let you go in before me.”


“Oh? You’re in the class too?” Twilight asked as Flash opened the door.


Flash nodded.  “Yeah, I... I try to expand my knowledge. It helps me help more,” he explained.


“Nice! It’s nice to meet another intellectual,” Twilight said with a bright smile as she walked in.


“Oh, I... I  don't know if I'm worthy of that title,” Flash admitted bashfully.


“Well, either way, I have somepony to read with,” Twilight said as they both went over to the study group.


“You didn’t before?” Flash asked her, feeling sad for her.


“Well, Light and Spike joined me because no one else did in my school, but none of them could read as much as I did,” Twilight admitted. “I read three to four times more than they do.”


“You, you poor thing,” Flash told her before hugging her head.  


“It’s fine. I do know that I have a larger appreciation for books than most other ponies,” Twilight said proudly. “I’m not ashamed of it.”


Flash realized that it is not a good idea to call you a thing. “I... I mean, you poor... individual student!”  He finished with a smile, hoping that she wouldn’t get mad at him.


Twilight giggled as she listened to Flash. “It’s alright Flash. I’m not too sensitive about how I’m described.”


“Oh... so you wouldn’t blush if I called you beautiful?” Flash asked her with a cheeky grin.


Twilight blushed when he said that. “Oh? Do you say that to all of the cute girls you meet?”


“Maybe,” Flash said with a big grin on his face. 


“Well, second day and I’m swimming in stallions,” Twilight said with a small smile.


“I thought it was at the pool?” Flash asked her. “But... who are the stallions trying to court you?” 


“Well, I’m interested in Sleipnir and more recently Shark, but I have a lack of experience with dating.” Twilight admitted.


Flash nodded. “Mhm... and no mares?” he asked her. “Well... if you ever need help or have any questions, feel free to ask me anything.”


“M… mares?” Twilight asked before seeing the entire study group.


Flash nodded ones more. “Yes, mares, are you only into mares?” he asked Twilight.


“I… I never dated a mare before,” Twilight explained as she looked rather confused.


“But... stallions?” Flash asked in confusion.


“This is my first time dating… ever,” Twilight said with a blush. “Again, I don’t fit in at Canterlot.”


“But... I’m asking you if you are only attracted to stallions, or are you bi?” Flash asked her.


“I…” Twilight froze in place as she had never thought about it before. “I… I don’t know. I was never attracted to anypony before.”


“Oh…” Flash said while pausing. “Asexual!?”


“That’s… not true. I just never found anypony who would be willing to be interested in a girl like me,” Twilight tried to explain, a tear falling off her face.


“Oh... I... I’m sorry,” Flash said, now feeling bad. He went to her and wiped the tear off of her face. “They were probably too shy to talk to you, thinking that you were out of their league,” he told her before hugging her.


“No, they called me a freak of nature or avoided me to keep from getting bullied,” Twilight said as she sniffled a little.


Flash petted Twilight’s head. “There there... You’re no longer there. They are far away from you.”  


Twilight wiped her eyes as she nodded. “T… thank you. I hope you don’t mind if I am slow to the dating world, and if Light asks, tell him I told you the requirements of dating me. I’ll write them down for you.”


“Ok,” he said with a blush. “Should... Should we join the reading group?”


“Sure, and I hope you don’t mind me dating two other guys,” Twilight said as they sat down at the table.


“I’m fine if you’re fine with my dating history,” Flash told her.


“It’s okay, but don’t expect to get frisky with me for a while,” Twilight whispered as the other group members started looking at them.


“I can wait.” Flash whispered back.


Twilight blushed before she turned to the group.


The same cyan mare with the red and orange mare that was seen at the AS group with Flash, cleared her throat. “If you are done talking with my cousin can we get started?” she asked.


“C… cousin?” Twilight asked, now embarrassed and nervous.


She nodded. “Yes, I’m HottenBright, I’m SkullCrusher’s cousin on our mom’s side of our family.”


Twilight’s jaw dropped as she tried to understand what she just called him. “S… SkullCrusher?”


Flash has his face in his hooves. “Bright, it’s now FlashTruth, you know how I hate my birth name.”


“Oh… I… didn’t know that,” Twilight said as she tried to regain her composure.


Flash turned to Twilight. “And I wish that you would never know,” he said, depressed. “Please don’t tell anyone about my birth name,” he begged.


“I won’t, I promise,” Twilight said with a nod.


“Thank you,” Flash told Twilight before turning to the rest of the group.


“So… who are the rest of you?” Twilight asked the rest of the group as she started to think about what book she should read first.


“Well, you already met Hotten, the perfectionist,” Flash said, looking irritated at his cousin for ratting his name out like that. “And you met Speed. This is the club he takes when his music club isn’t scheduled. The two buffalo are Tomato’s sisters. The one with the straps is Salami, and the one with the horn is Feta,” Flash explained as he kept listing them off. “You already know Sleipnir. The sad brown mare in green is Ground-Earth, and the bookworm unicorn next to her is Lovely-Language.”


“Oh, it’s nice to meet you all,” Twilight said as she blushed at the sight of Sleipnir.


Sleipnir waved back at Twilight. “So... have you read any of the Daring Do books?” he asked her.


“All of them, along with the entire Shadow Spade series,” Twilight admitted.


“Well, we are at Daring Do and the waterfall of Dreams, are you at that one?” Sleipnir asked.


“I have... but I think it’s called Daring Do and the waterfall of Wishes in Canterlot?” Twilight said, looking confused. “Is this another cultural difference or variation?”


Ground-Earth shrugged. Sleipnir answered, “Well it’s based on a legend, you must call it something else in Canterlot. Here, the legend is that you swim in the water you get to live your dream until you wake up and get out of the water.”


“Oh… that’s dramatically different. In Canterlot it grants your wish if you drink the water,” Twilight explained as she sat next to them. “Maybe we are thinking of two different Daring Do books? It may be a newer one that I haven’t read?”


“It’s the only one that has the word waterfall in it, though that would explain what the bad-guy was planning to do,” Sleinir said.


“PackMaster?” Twilight asked.


“Based on how it works it should instead be called ..the waterfall of nightmares,” Ground-Earth said.


“Yeah, I believed that the water ended up being contaminated with some kind of hallucinogenic chemical,” Twilight agreed.


“Because his dreams were twisted into something he didn’t want?” Grand-Earth asked.


Sleipnir nodded. “A nightmare is an undesirable dream,” Rewording an old saying.


“Well. it looks like I need to compare notes… but why would an author write two different versions of a story?” Twilight asked, looking confused.


“Sounds more like only the book title was changed,” Sleipnir said.


“Maybe, but I think I should read your version of the book,” Twilight said curiously.


Flash passed his copy to Twilight. “Feel free to read it.”  he offered.


“Thank you,” Twilight said as she quickly started reading the book.


As the group talked about the book, Twilight was skimming through the book, except for some name changes, and Daring thinking that PackMaster was a foolish diamond dog instead of an insane earth pony, she couldn't find any real changes.


“Hm… Strange,” Twilight said as she was trying to understand why so few things were changed.


“What’s wrong?” Sleipnir asked, concerned.


“Both stories have minor changes, but both still have the same plot problem,” Twilight explained.


“Which is?” Sleinir asked, confused.


“The origin of this waterfall. She leaves out a lot of detail talking about where it came from or where it would be located,” Twilight explained as she was looking through the book again.


Sleipnir shrugged. “Have you never heard of that legend?” he asked her.


“It’s not in the book, so no,” Twilight admitted, looking a little peeved by this missing detail. “I tried to do some research on it, but I couldn’t find anything. I guessed that the author just came up with something original.”


“Well long story short, it’s said to make your dream a reality,” Sleipnir explained.


“I get that, but how does it happen? Other stories explain how said artifact is blessed or cursed or was in some sort of anomaly. There is no origin for this waterfall and how it came to be.” Twilight said as she set the book aside. “We know what it does, but not how it became magical.”


“I heard that it was made by the dream writer, the one that crafts dreams,” Sleipnir said.


“Hm… I think I want to do more research on this,” Twilight mused.


“Ok, but after we are done here,” Sleipnir offered.


“Sure thing,” Twilight said with a nod. “I hope Light will be okay when we meet up with him in the homeroom.”


“Oh... how is he feeling?” Sleipnir asked.


“Probably in a bit of pain. He nearly drowned,” Twilight explained as she rubbed her forehead, thinking about where Light was hit. “He got struck by a rogue water polo ball.”


Everyone in the group winsed. “Oof, is he ok?” Sleipnir asked.


“Yes. He got taken to the nurse’s office,” Twilight assured the group.


“Too bad it wasn’t Flash,” Bright said with a grin.


“You know as well as I do that I don’t swim,” Flash said sternly.


“I was talking about getting hit in the head,” Bright clarified.


“What are you all talking about?” Twilight asked curiously.


“Let's just say he's made of harder stuff,” Bright said.


Twilight looked confused as she turned to Flash for an explanation.


“To keep it short and simple, our moms pray to the goddess of fighting and… and well.. We tend to be more tough,” Flash tried to explain, while trying to keep the fact that he is a crystal pony a secret.


“Oh, I see…” Twilight said, remembering Flash’s real name.


“Don’t worry, I pray to the one of peace, helping, and good dreams,” Flash told Twilight trying to reassure whatever questions or doubts she may have about him.


“Okay, so are there any other books I need to read in order to catch up with your group?”


“Well we are currently reading through all the Daring Do books now…”  Sleipnir told her.


“I guess I can read them again with you and tell you what differences there are in the ones I read,” Twilight offered.


“Oh... ok, look at the back, and tell me if any of the other names are different,” Sleinir asked Twilight.


Twilight flipped the book over to the back, where all of the names of the books in the Daring Do series were listed.


“Well, I found a few that I haven’t read,” Twilight admitted.


“Oh... later ones, or are they taking the place of a book that isn’t there?” Sleipnir asked.


“Hm… there are only a couple of books that I don’t see here,” Twilight said, looking rather curious at the swapped ones on the list.


“Oh... what are the differences?” Bright asked.


“Well, The Key of the Bloodline is new to me, along with The King’s Promise. The ones I knew were The Ruins of the Everfree and The Lost Child,” Twilight explained.


“Mhm... could The Key of the Bloodline be the same as The Lost Child?” Sleipnir asked.


“No, the lost child had to do with a supposedly lost descendant of the alicorn house from Canterlot,” Twilight explained. “It talks about an ostracized Queen’s child.”


“While The Key of the Bloodline is about the supposed royal bloodline of the first ruler of MoonRacer, so I guess they are different,” Sleipnir said.


“What about The King’s Promise? That one went back to before Kirouac was king,” Flash pointed out. “It talked about his magical sword.”


“Well, The Ruins of the Everfree is a more spooky story about a haunted castle. Daring even ended up saying at the end that if you find a castle in the Everfree, avoid it at all costs,” Twilight said as she was now looking very curious.


“That’s strange...” Flash said.


“Yeah, and she didn’t give a lot of detail on the background of that castle either,” Twilight explained. “She did say that it was haunted by the mare of shadows and had a ton of hidden passages.”


“Again, it does connect to my theory,” Salami said with a proud grin.


“And what would that be?”  Ground-Earth asked.


“That this is a self biography and not a fictional tale,” Salami explained.


“Self... biography?!” Earth said.


“Yeah, being able to integrate real life events even ranging back to her childhood, even including some of her awkward moments does give the impression that this is based on a real pony,” Salami said as she was getting out some of her notes.


“That would mean that everything is true?” Earth said with some envy.


“I highly doubt it,” Twilight said, looking rather skeptical. “Why would she leave out details or even publish these books if they are true?”


“For us to find them!” Salami declared.


“Considering that she collects a lot of them and even describes how dangerous they are, I find it hard to believe. No offense,” Twilight explained.


“To warn them of what doom will come upon whoever tries to find them?” Salami changed her tone.


“Alright guys, let’s settle down. There is no way to confirm the theory at the moment, but let’s remember why we are here. It’s so we can have fun and give our opinions about stories,” Sleipnir reminded the group.


Flash nodded. “Yeah... So… What was your favorite part?”


“Well, I do like the part when Daring realized that she was missing half of the token that made her realize that she was three miles off,” Twilight admitted.


Flash giggled. “For me it was when she talked to that Zebra... What was her name? Zecora!”


The group all started to relax as they started talking about the story they were working on, learning about the differences in the stories while also finding what they had in common.


“Ha ha... And then she said ‘Crocodilian, how about Crododon’t!’” Flash told them, getting a laugh from all.


Twilight wiped her eyes as she was tearing up in her laughter. “It was incredible, even if she nearly got taken down for that punchline.”


“But she gets back up again, because nothing keeps her down,” Flash said.


“Yeah, she is amazing,” Twilight said with a nod.


Flash leaned closer to Twilight. “Do you want to hear something fun?” he asked her.


“What is that?” Twilight asked curiously.


“I caught R.D. reading those books.”


Twilight looked excited when she heard that. “Really? That’s great!” Flash nodded.


“Now we only need to get her to admit it,” Sleipnir said with a sigh. “She calls everypony else eggheads when we (go geeky about things)/(do geeky things), but she won't admit that there is a bit of a geek in us all.”


“Embrace it. Bring out your nerd side, you will be more happy if you do,” Salami said before laughing.


Twilight agreed as she turned to Sleipnir. “Maybe I can talk to her about it?”


“Ok... good luck, hope you can think of something that I couldn’t,” Sleipnir told her.


“Well, I think I may wait for us to get more comfortable working together first. Then I may just bring up Daring Do more casually,” Twilight suggested.


Salami nodded. “Quote something from the book, something that only someone who read the book should know.”


“Whatever you do, don’t try to turn it into a weapon. I think welcoming her with open hooves will work out much better for both of you,” Flash said as he was starting to pack up his bag.


“You think so?” Salami asked him.


“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” Flash said wisely.


“That’s what Celestia always tells me,” Twilight said with a smile.


Sleipnir giggled.  “And that’s how my father gets more loyal subjects, by being friendly & open arms to them, instead of being hostile to them,” he said while petting Twilight’s back. “Good luck.”


As everybody was packing their bags up, they heard the bell go off. “Well, I guess all that’s left is homeroom,” Twilight said as she picked up her bag.


“Have fun,” everyone told Twilight before leaving, until only she and Ground Earth remained.


Twilight looked around as she made a few mental notes of some books to borrow. “So Earth, what’s your story?”


Earth raised her head up. “Can’t you tell?” she asked as her flat face  turned to Twilight.


“Um… not really? I was just wondering if you were born here or…”


“Moved… My parents thought that I could be less noticed here, but there aren’t any like me,” Earth said with a frown. “I’m somehow the only pony with Down Syndrome here.”


“Oh… I’m sorry,” Twilight said, instantly looking regretful.


“You don’t know how it feels. You got King Kirouac , that mare that works with metal, and the pyrotechnic,” Earth said, putting her face down on the table.


Twilight looked concerned as she gave Earth a small hug. “Well, you have friends who have the same likes as you do, right?”


Earth nodded. “Yeah, and?”


“Well, a lot of us feel like outcasts in our own ways. I wouldn’t look at you like you are weird or anything like that,” Twilight tried to assure her as she petted her back.


“Have you looked at my face?” she asked.


“I lived in Canterlot with this body. Do you think I’d care about how your face looks?” Twilight asked.


Earth paused. “So... you lived with glamor?”


“I lived with ponies who only saw me as a monster. I would see normal ponies and envy them,” Twilight said as she wiped the tears off of Earth’s face. “You aren’t alone any more… we aren’t alone anymore.”


“Well still, nopony else here has Down syndrome,” Earth said.


“Well, at least you have friends.” Twilight tried to comfort her, now knowing what else to say.


“Yeah... my family and the gardening class,” Earth said.


“And us too,” Twilight said as she kept hugging Earth.


Earth finally broke down, and hugged Twilight back.


Twilight smiled before thinking about what Flash said about looking at dating mares too. “Sweet Celestia. Am I getting a harem?” Twilight thought aloud to herself.


Earth raised her head up. “Wow... wait, we need to know each other first,” she said while backing away.


“I… I didn’t say anything!” Twilight said as a deep blush came over her face.


“Yeah… umm... Don't we have to go?”  Earth asked, before running off, trying to hide her blush.


“Um… sure… and we’ll meet up later,” Twilight said as she slowly started walking towards the door.


“Umm... yeah, maybe,” Earth said, going the other way.







Twilight was quick to catch up with Sleipnir and Flash as they led her to their homeroom class. There were a few tables and chairs set up, along with some bookcases for studying.


“What took you so long?” Flash asked her.


“I was just talking to Earth. Sorry,” Twilight apologized as they sat down in the room.


Sleipnir nodded. “Mhm... I see. She feels a bit lonely. Being the only one with Down Syndrome.”


“Yeah, I just wanted to help comfort her,” Twilight admitted.


“It is hard to keep her spirits up sometimes,” Fluttershy said as she and Pinkie walked into the room followed by Light, who had bandages covering his forehead.


Flash winced. “I heard what happened, are you ok bro?”


“I got hit by a hard water polo ball and nearly drowned. I have a light headache, but I was told that I’m going to be fine,” Light explained as he tried not to rub his head. “I did miss the last class today.”


Flash nodded, knowing how it feels to drown.


“It’s okay Darling. The craft’s class got canceled today because one teacher had to deal with kidney stones,” Rarity said as she had a card in her magic. “Would you all sign this get well soon card for me?”


Flash took it and started to sign it.


“Well, at least I didn’t miss much,” Light said as he sat down.


“Maybe you could make the teacher one of your stuffed animals?” Flutter suggested.


“Maybe, once my head feels better,” Light said with a soft moan, as he still felt a bit of pain in his chest.


“Oh, no,” Flutter said before petting his head very softly.


“It’s fine Fluttershy,” Light said, still feeling somewhat bad for her and Pinkie staying to keep an eye on him.


“Maybe you should kiss it to make it feel better,” Flash suggested.


“Um. I don’t…” Before Light could finish, he felt both Fluttershy and Pinkie kissing his head, causing him to blush deeply again.


“How does that feel?” Pinkie whispered to Light, speaking softer than she normally did.


“I… it feels okay…” Light said as he tried to keep his wings from stiffening up.


Both Pinkie and Flutter nodded. “Good.”


Rarity giggled softly to herself as she looked at the flustered alicorn. While Dash and Applejack walked in, they got to see Light looking rather bashful.


“Hey Light, heard what happened to you and made you some apple-bread,” A.J. told him.


“Oh… I got hit by a weight water polo ball,” Light said as he looked more nervous than embarrassed now.


“So, how was it, did you slam the ball?” Dash asked with excitement.


“No. The ball slammed into me,” Light tried to explain


“He wasn’t even playing the game!” Spike told Dash as he walked into the room. “He was just in the training pool when he got hit.”


“Aww man, that's less cool,” Dash said.


“Dash! That is very impolite to say to a colt with a head injury,” Rarity scolded the speedster.


“Thought he would be more cool than that,” Dash said.


“Gosh darn it Dash! You need to be a bit more understanding with the poor boy. He’s already had it rather rough today. It's like if you sprained your leg in a shower after a race you were hyped up for was canceled,” Applejack tried to explain to her.


Flash tried to calm both mares down, “Ok... now back to the stuffed animal,” he said, wanting to keep a fight from happening. 


“OH! Yeah, with ribbons and bows and all nice things!” Pinkie said while jumping in place.


“Well, just make sure that you are feeling well first,” Fluttershy said, not wanting him to strain himself too soon.


“I will,” Light told her, feeling better with Flutter around.


“Of course the alicorn gets girls caring for him. You autistic boys are practically mare magnets,” Speed said as he and some of the other roommates walked in.


Flash blushed before covering his face. “Maybe it's our personality. How are you and Cotton doing?”


“Doing fine, but she has been ranting about alicorns and the magical application to shifting bodies,” Speed explained.


“Well, with what she wants and what you can do...” Flash turned to Light. “How did it go?” he asked him.


“What do you mean?” Light asked, looking somewhat confused by what he meant.


“I deduced that you probably got invited to the pegacorn group, bast on your wings and horn, so... What did Cotton do?”


“Asked me a dozen questions about how it happened. I think she is confused by how it works,” Light said with a gulp.


“Well... she was born with underdeveloped wings and horns, making any task involving flying or doing magic hard for her, so... Finding out that the legend of ponies becoming alicorn, getting wings and horns at 100% of their capability. She would want that,” Flash said.


“And I can only ever have the capability of one or the other,” Speed said.


“Well, knowledge and understanding are different things. I was always bad at magic, and I don’t know how to fly,” Light reminded them.


“Just relax Light. It’s not the outside where good ponies are made, but on the inside,” Applejack tried to assure him.


“Yeah, that’s the best part,” Pinkie said as she hugged him from behind.


“And do you think she cares or minds?” he asked him. “She does have knowledge and understanding. The only thing she is missing is the horn and wings to do it.” 


“Well, tell her when she figures it out, we’ll do a swap,” Light offered before he felt fluttershy hugging him too, keeping his blush a deep red.


“Don’t give her any ideas to ask Marerian to do that,” Flash warned.


“Sure thing,” Light said as Dash and Applejack were giggling at the sight of him being caressed by two of their friends.


“So... umm…” Flash tried to change the subject from Light’s wings. “Can you walk, Light?” he asked him.


“Yes. It’s something that I can do right…” Light shuddered as he felt Pinkie rubbing his shoulders.


“Why don’t we go shopping!” Flash suggested. “I’m sure we can find things that you always wanted to have but never could.”


“Don’t forget, we have to spend this time studying,” Sleipnir reminded the others.


“Later?” Flash asked them.


“Well...” Light looked rather nervous, but Rarity spoke up for him.


“Of course! I know that Light would love to know all of the best fabric places for his stuffed animals along with some suppliers for toy parts,” Rarity said before putting on a dramatic pose. “But I’m so worn out. If I would join, I’d need somepony to help me carry stuff, and I would never ask an injured pony.”


“I’ll help!!!” Spike said quickly as he jumped up, looking almost too eager.


Both Dash and A.J. looked at Rarity. She gave a smug smile as she walked over to Spike. “Some mares have it…”


“Have what?” Pinkie asked while petting Light’s back.


“Not in front of the clueless boys,” Rarity said with a giggle.


Flash nodded, reminded of what he will have to do with Light and Spike. Should he wait for Light to get better or do it now before Pinkie and Flutter do something that he doesn't know.


“Keep your excitement and enthusiasm for later, we all have to study,” Sleipnir told Spike.


“Well, I think I need some help on math today,” Shark said as he walked over to Light. “That is, if you can get the girls to leave you alone for a minute.”


“Ok, but you would have to take care of Light, and pet his bruises,” Pinkie told Shark.


“Um… I don’t think I need too much pampering…” Light tried to tell the girls.


“Just allow him to use some flash cards and give me tips,” Shark suggested as he handed Light the deck of cards.


“I can do that,” Light said before taking a deep breath at managing to levitate the cards.


Twilight sighed as she walked up to Dash. “Looks like I will be helping you again. Let’s work with history for a bit before I ask Light for the math cards. What do you remember from earlier?”


“Um... the town of Dream Lavender,” Dash said.


“And what is the historical significance about it?” Twilight asked hopefully.


“Um... vampiric platypus?” Dash tried to think.


Twilight groaned as she got out a book. “Well, let’s start all over again…”


“Sorry Twil, but this stuff is just not cool for me,” Dash said.


“Well, it depends on your depiction of cool. Some find it in simple acceptance, others in wisdom, some in safari hats… well, maybe not the last one,” Twilight said as she hid her face in the book.


Dash had to restrain herself to not act like she knew what Twilight was talking about.


“The point is that being smart doesn’t make you any less cool.” Twilight tried to explain.


Dash tried to restrain herself. “Um... yes, it degraned my awesomeness,” she said.


“Well, there was this mare I read about who had to learn to research certain historical moments in order to find artifacts, I think there was even a book about Kirouac’s crown…”


“Oh... what about the Crown?” Dash asked.


“Well, I’m trying to remember the name of the book… The Prince’s Promise?” Twilight asked, acting like she was struggling to remember.


Dash raised an eyebrow. “Goo on!?”


“Well, I haven’t read it, but I heard it’s one of the more boring books in the series,” Twilight said as she opened the book. “The funny thing I heard is that some of the facts in it are real.”


“Like what?” Dash asked.


“In one story it accurately describes the Myan culture in the South West,” Twilight said with a small grin. “Along with the advanced mechanics used in the snake pit trap. How else would she know how to escape the room without knowing the text on the walls?”


“Oh... ok,” Dash said with her eye twitching, knowing that what Twilight was saying was wrong.


“Well, there are only three good books. Maybe it is for eggheads,” Twilight said with a giggle.


“I... I…” Dash couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you kidding!? Griffin Goblet  is the best, where she had to go do some spelunking.  There’s also the Cloud Castle, one of her most underrated books. Also let's not forget the Dragon Hoard, one of the most mature books in the series. The book you are talking about is The King’s Promise, and it has to do with his sword. The Myans were in the South East.  And... and…” She realized what she had just done.


Twilight smiled as she placed a claw on her shoulder. “I actually have read all of her books, and although I have not read the KING’S promise, I know it has to deal with his sword. The Griffon Goblet is in my top ten, and it is my favorite series. Now, do you think Daring Do is afraid of a little book and learning?”


“N... no,” Dash said timidly.


“Come on. Sleipnir loves the series and he is as athletic as you. None of us think that being smart will take away from your coolness in any way.” Twilight tried to comfort her.


“But... but I don’t want to turn into Salami,” Dash said with worry.


“Do I look like Salami?” Sleipnir asked.


“Listen hon. No matter how much you learn, you will always be the fastest pony in MoonRacer, and also the most stubborn,” Applejack said with a grin as she gave Dash a strong pat on the back.


Dash blushed. “Umm… Yeah.” Speed rolled his eyes.


“So, how about we try to work on a bit of math? Light?” Twilight asked as she turned to the alicorn.


“No, you forgot to carry the one,” Light said to Shark. “Um... you said something Twilight?”


“He has five cards to go. Maybe we should wait?” Dash tried to point out, making Twilight freeze in place.


“H… how do you know? You were looking at me the whole time,” Twilight asked as she stared at Dash.


“I notice a lot of stuff around me. Every good flier keeps track of her surroundings,” Dash explained nonchalantly. 


Twilight stroked her chin. “Is that so?” she said before turning around looking at everyone.


Everybody started to raise eyebrows at each other before having flash cards teleported into their hooves and magically moved to where the ones with the cards can be visible to Dash.


“We never used cards in our group,” Sleipnir whispered to Flash.


“Exactly. I think Twilight is onto something,” Flash said as Twilight motioned the others to start studying.


“Well, why don’t we talk about Daring Do for a while?” Twilight said as she summoned one of her own books in front of her. “I heard that there are a few variations in some books.”


Dash looked a bit confused. “Um... ok, what are the differences?”


Twilight smiled as they spent some time going over some of the differences and talking about their favorite stories. Dash admittedly liked being able to just chill and talk about Daring Do instead of going over some boring school lessons.


After about twenty minutes of the others studying, Twilight decided to test her theory. “Well, let’s go over a few math problems while we have some time left. What is twelve times five?”


“60…” Dash said bluntly and nonchalantly.


“Who was the founder of Lavender Dream?” Twilight asked again, having a growing smile on her face.


“The Thestrial, Sweet Dreams, and her-what we now know as trans-unicorn wife ‘Mr.’ Lavender Swirl,” Dash answered.


“And how do you spell fascinating?” Twilight asked as she saw that her plan had clearly succeeded.


“F, A, S, C, I, N, A,T, I, N, G!” Dash said, starting to get confused.


Twilight smiled brightly as she looked Dash straight in the eye. “I found it!”


“Found what?” Dash asked her. “How to be less weird?”


“Your way of learning. You’re answering questions that you have been struggling with. Don’t you see it?” Twilight asked before thinking of another problem. “What is 26 times 5?”


“130,” Dash said with a shrug.


Even the others looked impressed by this. “Why can’t I get that right?” Shark asked, looking rather envious.


“Because you try to count on your feathers,” Light said.


“And what is the problem with that?” Shark asked as he looked at Light.


“You keep running out of feathers.”  Light added. “You need to learn to mentally add in your mind.”


“Well golly, it looks like Twi has cracked the code to your head,” Applejack said with a smile.


“What are you talking ab...” Dash was about to ask, but she turned her head and saw that everybody was now staring at her.


“Dash, what natural disaster struck Lavender Dream two years before the collapse of the nation?” Flash asked.


“F5 tornado that was blamed on Pegasus from Purify Pond.” Dash said, pausing as she realized that she didn’t know that an hour ago.


“Admittedly I went off on a hunch, but since you noticed Light had five cards left out of the corner of your eye, I rolled with it. I had everybody use flash cards in a way that you could see them without focusing on them. When you try to focus on one thing, your mind wanders off, but when you’re relaxed and allowing things to happen around you, you pick up stuff without thinking about it,” Twilight said with a big smile.


A.J. smirked.  


Dash looked amazed. “Wow... I… I don’t know what to say.”


“I guess we will be using these flashcards a lot more now,” Flash said with a smile as he put his cards away.


“I guess you have more time to give Twilight and Light some flying lessons,” Pinkie suggested. “But you may want to wait on giving Light any for a few days.”


Dash looked at Pinkie, wondering what she was planning.


“What?” Pinkie asked, completely confused. “He’s hurt,” she pointed out. “What did you think was going on in my head?”


“I’m not going to answer that,” Rarity said as she started working on putting some stitches on a skirt that was in her bag. 


“Is there anything else that Dash has to learn?” Flash asked, wondering what Rarity was doing with her bag.


“We can work on that tomorrow. She has a test in a couple of days,” Sleipnir pointed out, being in one of the same classes as her.


“I feel confident,” Dash said, getting up and popping out her chest.


“Good. I’m glad to help,” Twilight said happily.


Flash nodded before turning to Light and Shark. “How is he doing?”


“A little slow, but I think we’re making progress,” Light said as he handed some notes to Shark.


Shark looked at them. “What... what is it?”


“Just a few pointers to help you out. If you can remember those rules, it may help you out,” Spike explained.


Shark read them over, and nodded.


“So… are we done studying?” Flash asked with a smile.


“Five, four, three, two, one,” Pinkie Pie counted down before the bell went off. “Now we are done!”


“How does she do that?” Light asked as he slowly got up.


“Don’t ask!” the entire room said at the same time.


Twilight shrugged as she walked over to the others. “So, I guess we get to go…” Twilight looked like she was confused as she couldn’t remember if flying lessons were first of shopping.


“Let’s shop, then Dash can show you how to fly,” Flash said while getting up.


“Yeah…” Twilight looked a little concerned as she started thinking about it. “Besides fabric and probably some books, what else should we get?”


“Darling, it’s just a matter of what you need. Just keep in mind that it needs to fit in your dorm room without taking too much space and don’t get greedy,” Rarity explained with a smile as Spike got her bag for her. “It’s basically an easier version of window shopping… by the way, is...”


“Well, don’t worry about Twi. She’s already been through her greed phase,” Spike assured them. “It took me and Light a week to get her back to normal, but I think it was a one time thing.”


“Yeah, that’s the thing a lot of new young dragons have to struggle with when they come here. Greed becomes a thing which they quickly have to learn to control,” Sleipnir said as he was picking up his bag.


“Don’t worry. I learned to keep my greed in check,” Twilight assured the group.


“Yes, but now there's not a... I can’t pay for all of this stopping you this time,” Flash pointed out. “But don’t worry. Even the nondragon kids have to deal with that.”


“Oh, that makes me feel better,” Twilight said with a small blush.


“Yes,” Rarity said with a blush. “Some kids want to get all of the dresses. Ha ha...”


“Or all of the pins,” Flash said while adjusting his hat.


“Apple themed memorabilia, for me,” A.J. said.


“Balloons, confetti, and other party supplies!” Pinkie said.


“Anything involving the Wonderbolts,” Dash said proudly.


“Wait… the Wonderbolts? The fastest flyers in Equestria?” Light asked, looking shocked that this was the standard she was trying to live up to.


Dash nodded. “Just you wait, I’ll join them, and then I'll become their Captain!” she said triumphantly.


Spike, Twilight, and Light cringed as they thought about a half griffon trying to join the Wonderbolts. “Yeah…”


“Well... for me, a necklace with a shark tooth on it. The skull of a shark. I think you know where this is going,” Shark said.


“Oh... I... I tried to adopt... all of the pets,” Flutter said with a blush, before covering her face. “I tried to have more than A-Dark-ble.”


“Eh… I guess we never cared about having a ton of stuff,” Spike admitted.


“Or is it because you couldn’t get all that you wanted?” Dash asked him playfully before poking him in the stomach.


“I’m a prince. You don’t think I have money?” Spike asked bluntly.


“Yes, but if you spend it all on memorabilia instead of... Fixing the roads, the country will revolt,” Sleipnir pointed out.


“I have an allowance, and admittedly a lot of it I invested for my future,” Spike said before thinking about MoonRacer. “Now that I think about it, I think the bank’s going to be holding onto it for a long time.”


Sleipnir laughed. “Many come here for a year, say that they put all of their money in a banking account that they can’t touch for a year. Apparently it let’s their money grow?”


Flash looked at Sleipnir in confusion.


“When you invest money in the bank, the bank invests in other businesses, supplies loans. You can do a GIc loan, and a bunch of other things that can help other ponies while growing your investment,” Spike explained as the group started to walk out of the room. 


Fluttershy didn’t really see the point in investing when she lives in a land where everything is free. “I’d rather feed the birds.”


Flash nodded. “Yeah, I'd rather help out directly.”


“Well, some things need a larger investment, but I guess it’s a money thing,” Spike said with a shrug.


Flash shrugged. “Where should we go first?”


“Darling, when you are shopping for the first time in this place, you have to be willing to explore,” Rarity said, leading the pack.


“And where do you plan to take us first? Oh wait, I know,” Flash said with a laugh at the end.


“Well, the poor boy deserves to have some materials for his toy making, doesn’t he?” Rarity asked the group with a pouty lip. “That, and I need some more supplies too.”


“Yer not going to try to make your gallon size fluffy hat once more, are you Rarity?” A.J. asked her.


“Of course not! Fluffy hats aren’t in season anymore,” Rarity said with a small huff.


“Oh good grief,” Dash said while face-palming into her claw, thinking  back to when Rarity tried to make her biggest hat ever.


“Hey Light, you could try to make a Stuffed animal that is 3 times the size of a pony!” Pinkie said happily while jumping in place next to him.


“Um, maybe?” Light said, now actually curious about making a toy that size.


“Don’t let anything stop your mind from doing what your heart wants to do,” Pinkie told Light, getting a bit close to his face.


“Oh… okay… but the chocolate store has an age limit,” Light said, looking rather clueless. “And I don’t know if they would let me ride on the conveyor belt that glaises the doughnuts.”


Pinkie looked at Light with big wide eyes.


“What?” Light asked, looking confused about her actions.


“She did that once. They had to close the donut shop for a full day to clean it,” Flash explained. “But, the good thing is that it did inspire someone to make a water ride based on being a donut being mass produced.”


“With the doughnut glaze?” Light asked as his eyes went as wide as Pinkie’s.


“Like you are the donut being made and then getting glazed, yes,” Flash said. “But with water instead of glaze.


“Yes... if you are into that stuff,” Rarity said.


“I’m an alicorn. Sugar means nothing to me!” Light said as he looked determined to ride this thing. “When my head heals, I’m going to ride that thing all day!”


“No, I mean eating the mass produced food, instead of waiting for the fresh hoof made ones.”  Rarity said.


“Oh… rats…” Light muttered, looking disheartened.


“You have some weird things on your bucket list,” Twilight said, looking a little embarrassed.


“Some ponies dream to be on top of the world, and others want to ride the doughnut glaze conveyor belt,” Flash said with a shrug.


“I’d rather be in the lazy-petting river instead of that one,” Flutter admitted.


“Yeah… that would be nice too,” Light admitted before turning to Rarity. “So, I guess it’s back to shopping?”


“Yes,” Rarity said while entering the fabric store. “I need something that is bold, but also calm.”


“Um… I don’t know what that means,” Twilight admitted.


“Which word?” Rarity asked her half dragon friend.


“Just understanding what kind of color is bold and calm at the same time,” Twilight explained.


“Oh, Darling,” Rarity told Twilight while tapping her head softly. “It’s something that only a true fashionista would understand.  Like... quantum feelings for you.”


Light looked confused, but he decided to focus on finding materials for stuffed animals.


“Oh, how about you try... pink,” Pie said before looking at Flutter’s mane, then at her own.


“Well, I need some pink fluffy fabric that can work as a lion mane for a girl in the autistic group,” Light explained as he was looking at what they had.


“Oh you met Sunflower-Knot?” Pinkie asked Light.


“She’s a sweetie,” Flutter admitted. “She once asked me to help her find a female sunflower-kitten,” she said, trying to hold back her laughter.


“Yeah, it took me a while to figure out it was a lion,” Light explained bashfully. “She got upset because the mane wasn’t pink.”


“It is a good color to have,” Pie said. “For a mane,” she added.


Flutter nodded. “It reminds her of her zama,” she explained to Light.


“Zama?” Light asked, looking confused.


“You know, Zebra. Mama. ZAMA!” Pinkie said.


“Oh… it’s a play on words… I see,” Light said as he found a couple fabrics that looked like they could work for a pink lion mane. “Which one do you think looks better?”


“Um... do you have the lion?” Flutter asked.


“Yeah,” Light said as he magically summoned the toy lion and looked at it. “Maybe I should change the fur too?”


“Oh... why?” Flutter asked.


“Just to match the mane better,” Light said as he pointed to the tan fur the lion had.


“Oh, how about you make the lion yellow with a light pink mane!” Pinkie said.


Flutter blushed at that.


“That would work!” Light said with a bright smile as he picked one of the fabrics that looked a bit like Fluttershy’s mane before heading to look for some yellow fabric, picking a few other fabrics on the way.


“It is her Zama’s color,” Pinkie said.


“Like Fluttershy?” Light asked, looking at the zebra kirin.


“Oh... yes,” Pinkie said, trying to act like she didn’t know that. “I forgot that she shared color with her cousin,” she said, her eyes darting around.


“Well, I think the colors work well together,” Light complemented, earning a blush from Fluttershy.  


“Oh... you... really think so?” she asked him while covering her face.


“Well…” Light blushed as he realized that he picked the same colors that Fluttershy had, even down to the hue. Light gulped as he realized where these hues came from. “Um… yeah…”


Pinkie was trying to find a way to diffuse the situation. “Umm... Which of you is the lightest one?” she blurted out to both of them.


“What?” both of them asked at the same time, looking confused at what Pinkie meant.


“Which of you has the lightest coat?” Pinkie asked them.


“Um… I don’t know,” Light admitted.


“Then let’s test it!” Pinkie suggested.


“How do we test that?” Fluttershy asked, wondering what Pinkie was playing at.


“Put your hooves next to one and other and we will see,” Pinkie said.


“Um… Okay…” Light said as he and Fluttershy nervously touched each other’s hooves.


Pinkie put her face right next to where the hooves were touching, and was looking at the color of their hooves. “Mhm.. that’s strange,” Pinkie said.


“What? Is there something wrong?” Fluttershy asked her friend.


“You’re more light colored than Light,” Pinkie said.


Fluttershy blushed at how she phrased it. “Well, it’s alright.”


“But it isn’t, how can we continue to call him Light Heart, when it is you who is the lighter one,” Pinkie asked Flutter. “We will have to start calling you, LightShy, and him... Um… Soft... Heart?”


“Well… it’s a name, not a title, and I’m sure that there is more to Light’s name than the color of his coat,” Flutter tried to  explain to her hyper friend.


“Yes, and my name has nothing to do with how I look,” Pinkie pointed out.


“Exactly. Now let’s go and find Light some more fabric,” Flutter said as she tried to get things moving.


Pinkie's smile faltered. “That was sarcasm,” she pointed out.


“I know,” Flutter tried to assure Pinkie. “I was just… flustered,” she whispered with a deep blush.


Pinkie looked at Flutter before saying. “Okie dokie Loki!”


Fluttershy smiled at her friend. They both admitted to each other when they found out about Light that he was cute, and his likes and dislikes suggested a nice personality. So Pinkie suggested that she would try to help it work for both of them since she was the bolder one. Pinkie would pull the strings and help Light get along in this place while Fluttershy would be able to talk to him about his life and personal feelings. Thus, they had a truce to share Light with each other.


“Ok, um...” Light cleared his throat. “Can we go back to the lion?” he asked the two mares.


“Of course. Let’s also find some other fabrics for some toys that you can make,” Pinkie said as she pulled Light through the store.







While Light was being pulled by the two mares that had a crush on him.  Flash was walking next to Rarity followed by Spike. “You should tell him,” Flash whispered to Rarity.


“Flash, you know what I am. Do you know how many nice stallions that I actually like ended up dumping me?” Rarity asked sternly. “Spike seems sweet, and I may end up liking him back as much as he likes me right now. I don’t want to mess that up so soon,” Rarity said as she sighed, looking disheartened. “What would he say when he sees the real me?”


“Do you really want to be living a lie with him?” Flash whispered to her. “He’s going to notice that there’s something off each time he’s with you.”


“I don’t want to have my heart broken by my… problem again,” Rarity tried to explain, looking like she didn’t want to relive history.


“So what? You'll keep it going to hide each time he's close to you?” Flash asked. “Are you really going to spend and waste all that time and energy for something that you should be upfront with? You know that if he finds you sleeping or out of focus, he will find out.”


“I… I know… but… I don't know what he will say. He’s the son of a princess. He acts so noble and is so willing to help, but what will he say when he finds out?” Rarity asked, looking hurt as she rubbed her mane.


“That you are who you are, and not what you are?” Flash told her. “Look at me, do I let the fact that I’m a Crystal-pony with AS define who I am?” he asked her.


“No… but you…”


“I let my orange coat and pin covered hat define who I am,” Flash said proudly.


“It’s not that easy for me. My problem is different then yours. Every time I look in the mirror…” Rarity had to stop as she was starting to tear up. “I… I wish I could see the pony who I want to be.”


“And you can, both literally and figuratively,” Flash said, trying to make her laugh.


“You know as well as I do that… almost everything about me is fake,” Rarity said as she got out a handkerchief.


“But your love of Spike?” he asked her. “Is that fake?”


“N… no… I… I have hope that he’s my prince in shining armor… but I’m afraid that he’ll be like the other stallions. I want to make sure that his love is real,” Rarity tried to explain.


“And… is it?” Flash asked her, knowing what she could do and know.


“That’s the thing about love. It’s easy to confuse with infatuation. I know better than any pony that love at first sight isn’t always real,” Rarity said with a sigh.


“But tell me, why are you also hiding it from his ‘brother’ and ‘sister’?” he asked Rarity.


“They influence his choices… or at least… that’s how family is supposed to work,” Rarity said as she turned to him, revealing her smeared mascara. “Just… give me a little time.”


“Fine, but you should also clean yourself up,” Flash suggested.


Rarity nodded as she walked over to the restroom to fix her makeup.


Flash tried to avoid eye contact with Spike while they both waited.


Spike wasn’t able to catch all that happened due to him being busy holding several bags of fabric, which admittedly were lighter than books, but larger as well. “So… how many stops will there be after this?”


“Um... clothes, jewelry, a few places where she likes to get inspiration, namely an art gallery and a restaurant. Then there are places where the others may want to go,” Flash said as he looked at the large load on Spike’s back. “Are you sure you can handle this?”


“Of course I can. A gentlecolt always helps a woman,” Spike said proudly.


“Yeah…” Flash couldn’t disagree with what Spike was saying, but he felt he should know everything, or at least that one thing about her.


“So, what’s it like having more than one mare with you?” Spike asked curiously. “Isn’t that overwhelming?”


“Oh... umm... What do you mean?” Flash asked him with a blush.


“You have several marefriends, and I don’t have any. How do you pull it off?” Spike asked curiously.


“Um... well it’s like having more than one friend,” Flash tried to explain. “You should give them each the time they deserve, and be there for them when they need you. And they also do the same with each other.”


“And you do this for how many mares?” Spike asked.


“Um... They may just want to be with you. But you must be upfront with them, and let them know what’s going on,” Flash explained to Spike.


“Okay Darlings, let’s go check out,” Rarity said as she ran over to them. “What were you two talking about?”


“Oh... ummm nothing,” Flash said with a blush.


“He was just telling me about his experience with mares,” Spike said, not wanting to admit that it was talking about dating.


“Oh... umm…” Rarity blushed, thinking that it was more ‘personal’.


“So, how do we work this out?” Light asked as he brought his fabric over. “Is there a check out place or something?”


Flash looked confused. “Umm... no, that is, not for the mass-produced things, if it was a... Rarity,” he joked, “then we would be limited on how much we can take, or even if we can take,” he tried to explain.


“Um… how do we know the limit?” Light asked.


“Well... we would probably have to pass an extra door to get to a secluded area, and someone would probably tell us what are the limits on it, and-or what criterias we would have to pass to be considered to be able to have a chance to have it,” Flash said.


“Oh… I didn’t know that… but I guess that does keep ponies from clearing ponies out,” Light said as he looked at the door.


“The only one I know of, it’s the super big and strong bed,” Flash said. “Oh, and those collectors items where less than 10 of them were made.”


“So, we should be good?” Light asked.


“Yes. I design dresses and you are making toys. I have learned how to tell what the limits are,” Rarity said proudly as she walked to the room.


The group followed her. “What are you getting now?” A.J. asked her.


“Well, I need to say hi to the owners, then I can head over to the jewlers for some decorations,” Rarity explained.


Dash tried to hold back her laughter.


“Well that’s a nice thing that you'll be doing, Rares,” A.J. said.


“I always make it a point to be friendly with my suppliers,” Rarity told the group.


“I know the feeling,” Pinkie said, before turning to Light.


Light gulped as he remembered that he was now Pinkie’s gift provider.


“Do you also thank the ones who give you the... Cotton!?” Pinkie asked Light.


“Well, I do try to be nice,” Light said bashfully.


Pinkie smiled and nodded before turning to Flutter.


“So... is there anything that you 3 want to get at the jewelry store?” Flash asked Light, Spike and Twilight.


Twilight gulped as she instinctively licked her lips. “I think I should stay behind,” Twilight said as she didn’t want to eat anything valuable.


Flash noted Twilight licking her lips.  “Don’t worry, they leave a bag of scraps at the door just for that,” he told her reassuringly. “What about you, Light, and Spike?”


“Well, I am carrying Rarity’s stuff, so I’ll stick with her,” Spike said as he followed the mare.


“Um… I don’t know or care much about gems,” Light admitted, unsure of what to do.


“You… could sew them into one of your stuffed animals!?” Flash suggested. “Or... use a gem for the eye on a toy.”


“Hm… I never thought about it before… but I’m not too familiar with it,” Light said as he looked deep in thought.


“What’s stopping you from trying?” Flash asked Light.


“I never did anything like that before. I wouldn’t know how to manage it. Maybe I should wait for crafts class so I can ask for advice?” Light asked, looking uncomfortable with trying to do this new technique right off the bat.


“Well, if you two are taking a break, then I can give you those flying lessons!” Dash said excitedly as she walked up to Twilight and Light.


Flash leaned to Light. “You’re choice,” he whispered to him.


Light looked scared as he had to pick between shopping for gems, or flying. “Um… I um… flying is…”


“Good choice!” Dash said as she quickly pulled Light and Twilight with her as she looked for a good place to start training them.


“Umm... wait!” Flutter said. “He’s still hurt,” she pointed out.


Dash froze in place as she realized that she would get her head chewed off if Light got hurt while trying to fly with a head wound. “Aww man!” she whined as she turned to Light. “Sorry man. Looks like you’re benched for the moment. It’s too bad. I really wanted to see how fast an alicorn flies.”


“Oh… It’s alright. We’ll do it another time,” Light said as he walked back to the group. “Thank you,” Light whispered sincerely to Fluttershy.


“Oh it’s fine,” Flutter said with a blush.


Flash wondered if he should save Twilight as well. “Wait, wouldn't it be better to wait so you can teach both of them at the same time, so that you don’t have to repeat yourself,” Flash suggested, before turning to look at Twilight, and saw that she was excited about flying.


“Hmmm… good point. It does save time,” Twilight said with a nod.


Flash felt a bit bad. “Yeah…”


Light gulped as he leaned over to Flash. “No offense, but I heard that Dash is an unforgiving teacher, and I’d like to start with training wheels.”


“Do you need help finding a... friendler flying teacher?” Flash asked back.


“Farmer already offered to help. I’m just wanting to have a bit of help before Dash dropped me off of a building or something,” Light said, trying to be quiet.


Flash nodded. “I can see and understand,” he told Light before turning to look at Dash. “I’ll help you sneak out to your lesson with Farmer each day,” he offered.


“I owe you one. I already have enough problems with the idea of flying,” Light said with a shudder.


“Thanks, I’ll keep it on by notes, then one day,” Flash said while starting to pet his chin. “I’ll come to you, with an offer... a favour that you can't refuse,” he told him with a smirk.


“I feel like there is a joke here somewhere,” Light said as Pinkie walked over to them.


“You would have to be asked to take care of a child if, by great tragedy, the parents are no longer there to take care of the child,” Flash explained to Pinkie.


“Like Applejack?” Pinkie asked, suddenly realizing what she said. “Um… forget I said that!”


Flutter petted Pinkie's head so she wouldn’t say anything more, especially not about Dash.


“Um… what?” Light asked, looking confused by the conversation he just heard.


“Um... don’t... Please don’t ask,” Flash asked Light. “Not yet.”


“Um… okay. My lips are sealed,” Light said with a hint of worry.


“Thank you,” Flash said before giving Light a soft pat.


“Well, I guess that leaves us to just follow Rarity and show you around the town,” Sleipnir offered to the new kids.


Flash nodded. “Yeah…” he said, trying to sound excited.


“Alright! Let’s go!” Sleipnir said as the group started to lead them around town.







The group spent the whole day leading the new kids around the town, showing them their favorite spots, restaurants, stores, and even a few parks. The new kids started to relax as they felt more welcome in this town, liking that they weren’t being treated like freaks or monsters.


As it was starting to get late, Flash looked at the time. “Wow, it’s dinnertime,” he said as he turned to the new kids, still wanting to accommodate them. “Where do you want to eat?” he asked them.  “Or should we skip dinner and just go get some ice-cream?”


“Admittedly, I’m ready to head back to our hall,” Spike said as he now had a small mountain of bags on his back.


“Hm… maybe we can get takeout?” Twilight suggested, not wanting Spike to overexert himself.


“Mhm... ok... How about... pizza!” Flash suggested.


“The classics always work,” Light said with a shrug.


“Ok,” Flash said before pointing to Spike. “Let’s let him rest while you two, Light and Twilight, follow me to the pizza place to order and tell them where to deliver.”


“Alright. Come with me Spike. Let’s get this stuff home,” Rarity said as Applejack and Rainbow Dash went to help the earth pony.


Flash smirked at Spike before leaving with Light and Twilight.


“So… I guess we get to meet the Pizza family,” Twilight said as she turned to her possible future boyfriend. “Do we know what we want?”


Flash nodded. “Yes but first we need to find out how many pizzas to order,” he pointed out before he started doing some math in his head. “Let’s see, there are 16 of us, each pizza will be cut in 8, we each would take 6” slices.  How much pizza should we take?” Flash asked, mostly to himself.


“Just six slices?” Light asked, looking worried as he rubbed his stomach. 


“Yeah… he has a large appetite. Remember?” Twilight said cautiously, remembering the breakfast incident.


“I was talking about the XXL pizzas,” Flash laughed it off. “Let’s order for 18 students,” he offered.


Light gave a nervous chuckle as he knew that it still wouldn’t be enough for him.


Twilight on the other hoof, had a thought. “Um… can we get gemstones on one of them?”


“Mhm... ok, we can order one... small? Gem pizza, just for you,” Flash offered.


“That works,” Twilight said with a smile as she happily licked her lips.


“So... 14 XL pizzas, and one small?” Flash asked them.


“And maybe some breadsticks as well?” Light asked.


“Oh, and let’s get two chocolate Pizza-Pies,” Flash added. “Oh wait, they also cut it in 8...”


“May we make it three?” Light asked hopefully.


“I’ll make it 4,” Flash told his friend. “But which pizza to get?”


“One small gem, and then a variety so that way we can make sure that we all get something we like,” Twilight suggested as she didn’t know what everybody likes.


“4 vegetarian, 2 meat lovers, 2 Haywaiian, 2 cheese, 2 MoonRacer-specials, and 2 Canterlot?”  Flash asked them. “Is there any other pizza that you want to try, or add?”


“Can we get stuffed crust in the cheese ones?” Light asked hopefully.


“Oh... yeah, oh! How about half are stuffed?” Flash asked them. “Vegetarians have mushrooms, olives and little peppers in the crust, meat lovers would have bacon with little balls of meat in it, Haywaiian pineapples...”


“That works,” Light said with an eager nod before Twilight raised her hoof.


“What is a MoonRacer Special?”


“Oh that one is fun, they randomly pick one ‘vegetable’ from each other country and put it on the pizza, you don’t know what you are going to get,” Flash explained.


“Well, I guess that will work for everypony,” Twilight said with a bright smile, trusting his judgement.


“Yeah, oh... Wait, how are you 2 and Spike with... meat?” Flash asked them.


“Not good,” both of them said at the same time.


“Oh... should we replace one of the meat lovers with something else?” Flash asked them.


“Yeah, maybe another cheese? That’s what Spike and Light tend to eat,” Twilight suggested.


“You’re fine with that, Twilight?” Flash asked her.


“I’m just having the gem one, so I’m good,” Twilight said with a nod.


“If you say so,” Flash said before stopping in front of 7 Pizzas.


“Named after the seven mothers?” Light asked.


Flash nodded. “Yes,” he said before laughing.


“Well, that’s one way to advertise,” Light quipped


“They opened their restaurant on their wedding day, and were the caterers for their own wedding,” Flash explained.


“Wow… that’s dedication to business,” Twilight said, looking impressed.


“What did your parents do on their wedding day?” Flash asked them.


“My parents eloped. The paperwork is… kinda sketchy,” Twilight admitted.  “She was also with child with my brother.”


“My family went out to Dodge Junction for a good old country wedding with my family,” Light explained with a small smile.


“A... that’s... that’s something,” Flash said.


“I will always enjoy the story about the bachelor party,” Light said with a small smile. “I may be an alicorn, but I have some country blood in me.”


Flash paused. “Oh.. What’s the story?” he asked Light.


“Some cousins thought it would be funny to toss my dad in the mud pit. Sadly, his brothers got to them and shoved them in. It turned into all of the guys wrestling and making a big mess. My grandma had a fit when she saw the line waiting for the shower,” Light said with a chuckle.


“Wow... this story got dirty,” Flash said before turning to Twilight.


“It wasn't that kind of wrestling… oh… that was a joke,” Twilight realized with a blush.


“Yes, because of the mud,” Flash said. “Should we walk in or is there more to talk about?”


“Let’s just go in before Light starts trying to tell all of his dad’s life stories. You’ll be here all day,” Twilight encouraged him.


Flash laughed before pushing open the doors that were decorated with all of the different toppings that they offered.


“Wow! That’s a lot of stuff,” Twilight said as she looked at the wide array of options.


“Well don’t forget that we not only have toppings that can be found in Equestria, but in all of the other nations,” Flash explained.


“You know, if we ever get to a place where we can end this racist thing, we have to make the national leaders sign it here. People who watch get to take home a pizza.” Light said, making Twilight roll her eyes at such childish ideas.


Flash giggled. “I know, oh! And they make one pizza for each nation with all the toppings of said nation, and one extra pizza with everything on it,” Flash said.


“And the diplomats get doggy bags,” Light agreed as the guys were chuckling at this idea.


“But wait, would Abyssinians be getting a kitten bag instead?” Flash asked.


“You’re asking the wrong pony,” Light said with a shrug as they reached the counter.


A brown buffalo went to the counter, and welcomed them. “Wellcome to 7 Pizzas, I’m BBQ Pizza, what can I get you?” she asked them.


“Hi. May we get 4 vegetarians, 1 meat lover, 2 Haywaiians, 3 cheeses, 2 MoonRacer-specials, and 2 Canterlot pies, all extra large, and half of them with stuffed crust Also, may we get some breadsticks and four chocolate chip cookie pizzas?” Twilight asked, trying to be as polite as possible.


BBQ nodded before turning back and telling the order to the rest of the family... “Oh, and Salami, Tomato, can you both come here, your new friends are here.”


A Zeffalo and a pegacorn both walked out the back to go to their Buffalo mother. “Which friend is i…”  Tomato stopped what she was saying when she saw Light. “Oh… hey Light…” she said, looking a little embarrassed before noticing the bandages on his head. “Ouch…”


“Surprisingly, I’m doing a lot better now,” Light assured her while rubbing his head.


“Yeah...” Tomato said while rubbing her head nervously.


“I’m doing alright. Let’s just put today behind us,” Light insisted.


Twilight gulped as she waved at the mare. “So, how are you doing?”


“Good, strange that a mom would call us friends,” she said before turning to BBQ. “Especially since I didn’t talk about him to anyone.”


“Really?” Light asked, looking confused. “Then why would she suggest we are friends?” 


“You both have a horn and wings, aren’t you part of the pegacorn group?” BBQ asked confused.


“Oh… yeah,” Light admitted with a nod.


“It’s sad what happened,” BBQ said.


“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked as the group sat down, waiting for their order.


“You haven't heard about Dandelion!?” BBQ asked.


The group nervously looked at one another. “Oh, I thought you were talking about something that happened today,” Light said as he let out a deep breath.


“We heard about her, and I can’t believe that a pony would act like that,” Twilight said, still peeved about that mare.


“The nerve of some ponies!” BBQ said. “Going around telling others that she’s an alicorn and that we should all kneel to her just because she has a horn and a pair of wings, rubbish.”


Tomato looked both awkwardly and nervously at Light.


“Yeah… alicorns.” Light said as he remembered that awkward meeting.


As the mother was trying to figure out what he meant by that, an Earth-Zebra walked in and saw how nervous this new yellow pony was making her sister, Tomato, feel. “Who’s this cutie, your coltfriend!?” she said, both teasingly and dreamly.


“No. I’m a new student in her group,” Light said, looking a bit confused that she was trying to pass him off as somepony’s coltfriend. “My name is Light Heart.”


“Oh, so why is she making you nervous?”


“An awkward first meeting,” Light admitted.


“Oh what happened? The two of you bumped into one another, tried to pick up the same thing and then your hooves touched,” she asked with a smile.


“Nope. She thought I was a pegacorn and… I learned why some ponies hate alicorns.” Light said with a disheartened sigh.


Tomato winced when Light said that.


“Ahh, I se... Wait… if you’re not a pegacorn, wha…” she was about to ask but Tomato covered her mouth and took her to a different part of the restaurant. “Garlic, let’s talk in private.”


“Well, I’m ready to go. Let me know when the pizza is ready,” Light said as he walked out, looking humiliated.


Flash told them where to deliver to before running off after Light. “Wait up!” he cried out.


Light sighed with a bit of frustration as he tried to keep his cool. “Does everybody here hate alicorns?” Light asked bluntly, not liking the fact that this is becoming a pattern.


“No... we just believe that it's a fictional thing like zombies, Cthulhu or the Loch Ness Monster”  Flash tried to explain. 


“And will everybody have a problem with me being one?” Light asked sternly.


“Well… there are some that will think that you are just being like Dandelion, while others are going to just be jealous about you getting wings and… instead of themselves,” Flash tried to explain. 


Light sighed in frustration as he kept walking. “I wanted to forget I was an alicorn. I don’t want ponies constantly berating me over it.” Light grumbled as he felt like he was back where he started.


Flash went to Light. “Look, I’m sorry that Dandelion ruined everything for you, but… life is life and others will ruin it for you,” he said with a frown. “But… we must continue moving on, and try to make everything better.”


“I… I’m just done with ponies trying to make me into something I’m not,” Light said with a disheartened sigh. 


“Then don’t let them. Show them Who you are, instead of What you are,” Flash told Light. “You’re a caring toymaker who made friends, not just an alicorn.”


Twilight nodded as she petted Light’s back. “Why don’t we go back to our rooms and just hang out with the others?”


“Yeah... let’s do that, let’s go to our friends who can see you for who you truly are,” Flash told them.


“Okay.” Light said as he started to calm down. “By the way, are Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie always so… hooves on?”


“Pinkie… Yes, Flutter… with cute things,” Flash said.


Light blushed when Flash said the last part. “Then why does she keep hugging me?”


“Umm… maybe she finds you soft as well,” Flash said.


“Well, they both have seemed to be getting… very close to me,.” Light said with a blush.


“Well.. you don’t want their hugs?” Flash asked with worry.  “If so, I can be there and help you tell them to stop invading your personal space.”  


“Well… I do… like it… I just don’t know why they always do it,” Light tried to explain, looking rather flustered.


“I… We’re here!” Flash said before opening the door of their room and walking in.


Light paused as he saw the group all chatting, knowing that most of them have been friends for a while. Twilight even noticed that Fluttershy and Pinkie were both looking at Light while Shark and Sleipnir were looking at her.


“So... while we wait, should we play a game?” Flash asked the group.


“Well, we talked about it, and even though we will have to be careful with Light, we want to do an initiation for the new kids,” Bubbly said with a big grin.


“Oh…” Flash looked worried.


“Don’t worry darling.” Both Light and Twilight suddenly felt a metal ring being up on their horns. They both instinctively tried to use their magic to take it off, but it didn’t seem to work. “It’ll only be a bit of harmless fun,” Rarity assured them as the two realized that Spike was tied up on a bed.


Flash blushed, before turning to Light.  “I’m so... so sorry,” he told him before covering his face.


Before Light and Twilight could act, they were grabbed by the others, who started tying them up, being as gentle as possible.


“I’m sorry Light,” Flutter whispered into his ear before kissing it, and joining the others.


“Don’t you worry. It’s just a little playing around,” Applejack started to explain as they laid their two prisoners on the bed. “It’s just a bit of teasing and tickling. Nothing much.”


“T… tickling?” Twilight asked, looking a little worried before Rarity put a collar around her neck. 


“Don’t worry. This will keep you from torching us,” Rarity assured her.


“Yeah, it’ll just be a bit of harmless fun,” Shark said as he used his one good wing to tickle her.


As everyone was tickling Twilight, only Pinkie and Flutter had their ‘hooves’ on Light’s body.


Light blushed deeply as they seemed to caress him instead of tickle him. “Um… wh… what are you doing?”


“Um… trying to find the best tickle spot,” Pinkie told Light with a blush.


“That’s not hard. I am very ticklish,” Light said as he was still expecting an onslaught.


“Well, if we tickle you too much, your headache can come back, and we don’t want to hurt you,” Flutter tried to explain as she touched one of his hooves gently.


Light closed his eyes when Flutter did that. “Mhm… not what I would call tickly,” he admitted to them while feeling something different.


“Well, as long as you are having fun,” Pinkie said with a grin as she began rubbing one of his legs.


“Yeah…” Light said, starting to have some strange and different new feelings.


Fluttershy blushed deeply as she started kissing Light’s legs, feeling empowered to have this alicorn’s cute body tied up in front of her. “Mmmmm. Nice choice of body wash,” she said softly.


“Oh… th… thanks, I like to keep myself clean, and smelling nice, makes me more approachable to kids,” Light said while feeling every kiss that Flutter was giving him.


Pinkie giggled as she started nuzzling Light’s chest. “So Light, what do you think about… us?” Pinkie asked, showing a hint of nervousness.


“Well… MoonRacer is a nice place. I’m sad about Dandelion and the alicorn thing, but happy that I’m not the weirdest thing here.” Light went on talking about the place.


“Um… I think she was talking about us,” Fluttershy said as she started going up to his wings.


“Oh… you two, well,” Light had to think about it. “You both are likable, friendly, you like how I am, and you don't mind about what I am,” he went on.


“So… you really like us?” Pinkie asked as she neared his face.


“Um… yes,” Light said while looking into Pinkie’s eyes.


“And… do you want us to keep showing you our kindness and… care?” Pinkie asked as she was now an inch away from Light’s face. “We can always slow down if you want.”


“I umm..,” Light could see how close both of the pink maned mares were to his face.


The mood was quickly killed as they heard Twilight nearly dying in laughter next to them, reminding them that they were not alone at all. “HAHAHAHAHA!!! PLEASE!!! I… I CAN’T…” Twilight was squealing as she was fighting against her ropes.


“Use your claws,” Light suggested to Twilight.


“Like we’ll give her the opportunity,” Sleipnir said as he was tickling her armpits.


Twilight was breathing out, unable to make fire.


Dash and Applejack pulled away from that tickle fest to see that Rarity had Spike all to herself. “Hey Rare! Mind if we join you?” Dash asked as the two mares walked over to her.


“Oh, darling I don't mind, That is…” Rarity turned to look down at Spike. “If he doesn’t mind being shared,” she asked him.


“Well, Light shouldn’t get swarmed for a medical reason, and I can’t let Twilight take everypony on. Alright! Do your worst,” Spike said bravely as he braced for the mares to tickle him to death.


Dash turned to A.J, moved her eyebrows up and down before going for force on tickling Spike.


“AHHH!!! MMMMMFFFFF!” Spike was trying to keep from laughing as the griffon/pegasus was ticking his chest relentlessly.


A.J. rolled her eyes before going to Spike’s back hooves.


“Wow! This kid works out. Not professionally though,” Dash said as she was feeling Spike’s firm stomach. “What do you think Jack? Do you think this kid can put on some more muscle?”


“Mhm,” A.J. said while feeling Spike’s back legs. “Yeah.”


“Vvv… very funny…” Spike said as he was trying to hold back his laughter.


“How about I train you?” Dash offered.


“Dash, you are the master of speed, but when it comes to old fashioned strength, I’m the mare to call,” Applejack pointed out, having a small grin on her face.


“Is that so!” Dash asked A.J. before pouncing on her.


Rarity sighed as she watched the two mares wrestling, trying to figure out who was the best again. “You have to forgive those two. They are a little too competitive.”


“Oh… I don’t mind,” Spike said. “Don’t get  a lot of that in Canterlot.”


Rarity giggled as she started using a powder brush on his armpit. “I’m sure you must enjoy seeing that,” she said teasingly.


“Ha, seee.. Ha.. What?” Spike tried to ask while laughing.


“Seeing mares fight over you?” Rarity asked as she kept brushing him gently.


“Mhm… Me?” Spike asked.


“Well, they may want to just train you, but they don’t see the pure shining knight that I do,” Rarity explained as a question popped into her mind. “Tell me Spike… What is beauty to you? Just out of curiosity?”


“Do you mean internal or external?” he asked her.


“Yes… where do you think it comes from?” Rarity asked, somewhat nervous about his response.


“Beauty is primarily internal,” Spike explained. “You should be beautiful inside before you can be beautiful externally.”


Rarity’s eyes widened when she heard this. She had always had boys calling her beautiful, and when other guys would be asked this question they would give half hearted “Oh, you are beautiful on the inside,” or “You’re beautiful no matter what.” But Spike didn’t bother referencing her. He just said firmly that it was on the inside, nothing else. 


“A… and how important is physical beauty to you?” Rarity asked curiously.


“Um… as long as everything goes along well together,” Spike said while trying to point to the half-breads of the group.


“Well, I think…” Before Rarity could finish, she was knocked over by the two wrestling ponies who were still going at it with each other.


“RARITY!” Spike cried out while trying to get free to help her out.


Applejack and Dash froze as they realized they were on somepony. “Oops! Sorry Hon! We just got carried away for a…” Applejack froze in place as she realized that she and Dash just messed up big time.


“You. Brutes!” Rarity yelled out as she stood up, knocking A.J. and Dash off of her while gaining everyone’s attention as they realized what all was off with Rarity. Her mane and tail were still the same, along with her cutie mark. Besides that, there were many things that were drastically different. Her coat was now smooth skin, and her eyes were a solid dark blue. Even though she still had her horn, it became clear quickly to the others that she was half changeling.


Spike had to crain his head, tryin to see what was going on.  “Wait what, is…?” he asked.


Rarity looked confused before she glanced at a mirror, realizing that she lost her focus, and now everypony could see the real her. She started to tear up as she saw Spike looking at her. “I… I… I just…” Rarity started breaking out into tears as she ran out of the room, almost knocking down Pesto, who was bringing the pizzas in on her skateboard..


“Rarity, wait!” Spike cried out while struggling out of the ropes. “Someone get me out of these blasted ropes,” he cried out.


Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly started trying to free the young earth pony. “We’re sorry! Rarity made us all swear not to tell any new ponies that she’s part changeling!” Dash tried to explain as Spike escaped his ropes.


“I don’t really care right now!” Spike said while getting free. “I need to find her!” he got out and ran to the door, where Pesto was. “Where did she run to?” he asked Pesto.


“To the balcony, and who ordered the pizza?” Pesto said before seeing the two winged ponies tied up in the room. “Um… I think I’ll leave these here,” she said as she started to back away on her board.


Spike ran off to the balcony, where he could see a white mare with a purple mane. Rarity!?” he called out.


“Go ahead! Dump me like every other guy who has seen my real body!” Rarity said as she was still bawling her eyes out.


Spike went to her to hug her body, having to get used to her harder shelled skin.


Rarity was sniffling as she was trying to stop crying to no avail. “Every time… Every time a guy finds out that I am half changeling I can tell that his love for me leaves. I can smell it so clearly…” she explained as her mascara started to run.


“What about me?” Did my love leave?” Spike asked her.


“I… I don’t know… I just… I’m tired of being rejected because of my looks,” Rarity said as she hugged her hooves, afraid to try and tell if he still cared about her.


Spike caressed Rarity’s face. “I still think you’re lovely,” he told her.


Rarity’s eyes widened as she looked at him, trying to tell if he was being truthful. “R… really?”


Spike nodded. “Yes,” he said while looking into her eyes.


Rarity’s breathing became slower as she tried to focus her senses to tell if his love was true.


“Why would I be lying?” Spike asked her.


“I… I…” Rarity started tearing up as she realized that his love was still there, and still true. “So… you still love me?” Rarity asked.


Spike nodded before hugging her tightly.  


Rarity hugged him back tightly, feeling that she had what she wanted now. A prince in shining armor who wasn’t afraid of her.


Spike backed away a bit.  “So… you’re half changeling!” he asked her.


“Yeah… I am the offspring of a couple of ponies who were ashamed of their child,” Rarity said, looking ashamed about her background.


Spike nodded. “I never knew my parents.”  


Rarity sniffled as she hugged Spike again. “Why? Why did they leave us? Do they hate us?”


“I don’t know, I wish I did,” Spike admitted while hugging Rarity once more.


“I… just want to have real love,” Rarity explained with a sniffle.


“And you do,” Spike told her, while rubbing his head on her cheek.


“Mmmmm,” Rarity moaned as she could get a taste of his love.


But Spike was a bit curious. “Can I ask you something?” he asked her.


“Anything,” Rarity said with a nod.


“Can… can you change into a pegasus or..?”  He asked her.


“No. I can only be a unicorn. I can’t even change my mane,” Rarity explained as she looked rather bashful.


“Oh…” he said before looking over her body. “I’m fine with that,” he told her while wondering if it was just a lack of training.


“So… Do you mind sticking through with me for a while  so we can tell if this love will last long term?” Rarity asked hopefully. “It’s no offence, but I’d like to get to know you better.”


Spike nodded. “I will.”


“Thank you, Spikey-wikey,” Rarity said before kissing his forehead.


Spike gasped when Rarity kissed his forehead. “Wwow.”


Rarity giggled as she cleaned up her makeup and changed back into her pony form.


Spike titled his head. “What are you doing?”


“I… I’m sorry… but I just… feel better when I’m like this,” Rarity admitted, looking rather embarrassed. “I am admittedly trying to deal with my self image… and it’s been rough for me.”


“Rarity, you’re with your friends,” Spike told her.


“I know… I just… never felt comfortable with my body. Do you mind if I just be like this?” Rarity asked, looking like this was really personal to her.


Rarity could feel the disappointment that Spike felt before he replied. “Ok.” With a smile.


Rarity gave him one more hug as she felt heavy hearted. “I’m sorry. I just… never feel comfortable in that body.”


“I… I can understand,” Spike told her before getting up, and walking back to the group.