//------------------------------// // Day IV // Story: I'll Huff and I'll Puff // by Acologic //------------------------------// ‘Mm,’ said Rapidfire appreciatively, munching on his jeely piece. ‘Thanks, Princess.’ Luna was too preoccupied with conjuring another loaf for Cadence and Celestia to notice. With her rope she had secured together the balloons. Cadence and Rapidfire had flown to Luna and Celestia’s and freed space in Cadence’s for the wingless. Nurse Redheart and Doc Top had refused jam in favour of butter, in their words, ‘to balance the starch’. Jet Set and Upper Crust looked thoroughly miserable, yet the presence of three highest-ranking ponies was sufficient motivation for eating without complaint. ‘OK!’ called Luna eventually. ‘Everypony happy?’ ‘Mm,’ almost all of them grunted (Upper Crust’s smile wobbled). Celestia clapped her sister on the back. ‘Well done, Luna,’ she said. ‘At least no pony shall go hungry, and in such circumstances – more than one hopes for. Well done.’ ‘Doing my bit,’ said Luna as she bit into her bread. ‘Mm. Yeah, it’s not bad, right? The Larder, Sister! Good stuff!’ ‘Yes, yes. Now. Cadence. I see you have your T-Kam.’ ‘And you have yours?’ ‘We’ve already visited Tirek,’ Celestia told her. ‘And as irksome as it is to admit, he might not be responsible. I haven’t ruled him out, of course – but there it is. Actually,’ she added, ‘it will be worth checking in on him. His opinion could be useful; he knows an awful lot about dark magic. You’ll join us?’ Cadence nodded and asked, ‘How did you end up here?’ ‘We woke up here,’ Luna said. ‘Woke up floating! You?’ ‘Exactly the same,’ said Cadence with worried eyes. ‘All of us! Redheart and Doc Top say they fell asleep on a couch. Jet Set and Upper Crust were relaxing at home. We all woke up here, in the air. What a mercy it is to find you two! I was afraid we’d starve.’ ‘Urh, Princess Luna?’ It was Jet Set, in the other balloon. ‘My wife and I would love some more, please. If it isn’t too much troub—’ ‘Catch!’ Luna tossed across a loaf with her magic; it landed in Doc Top’s hair. ‘Oops! Head’s up, Doc! And here’s a jar of marmalade. Oh, and some butter for you too.’ These items followed more successfully. The medical contingent thanked Luna; the socialites positively gushed. ‘Ever so grateful –’ ‘And if you should ever be in our –’ ‘– shall give you the most excellent –’ ‘– eternally thankful!’ Luna waved them down. Rapidfire coughed but could not hide his snort. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘They’re unbelievable. Spent the entire day sucking up to Princess Cadence, and now that you’re here, it’s round two. Sorry. Shouldn’t say that.’ Luna was delighted. ‘Nonsense, Raps, that’s the way! It’s all informal here, up in the air! No stations or graces. You get to the point, and you do it without pretension! Hear that, Doc?’ she crowed at Doc Top, who blinked. ‘Princess?’ ‘Don’t “Princess” me! It’s “Luna”! And “Celestia”!’ Celestia coughed. ‘Well, if it’s all the same –’ She stopped herself, remembering Luna’s earlier outburst. ‘Yes, well. If we are to get to know each other, I suppose we can be more relaxed.’ ‘That’s the spirit, Sister!’ Luna grinned. ‘Oi, you lot! You think you get to eat for free? No, no! It’s game time! Two facts and a lie, and Cadence will start us off!’ Cadence looked at Luna; then she looked at Celestia. Tired and not eager to deny Luna her fun after a hitherto invaluable contribution, Celestia nodded. Cadence shrugged. ‘OK, I’ll play. Um – OK. Two facts. And a lie. Um –’ She paused. ‘I’m an expert in post-tonal theory. My favourite book is The Cow of Monte Crest-o. I – I cheated on Shining Armor.’ Luna groaned. ‘You’re awful at this, Cadence! You’re supposed to make the lie believable. And you’re meant to think of it before you say the truths! And you’re supposed to embed it, not make it obvious by hesitating and leaving it for last!’ ‘Wait – which was the lie?’ muttered Jet Set. Cadence looked very sad. ‘Do you think I’d ever cheat on my husband?’ ‘Oh! Oh, n-no, of course not, Princess! I – I meant no offence! I am so very sorry to have –’ ‘Drop the “Princess”, Jetso! This princess commands it!’  ‘“Jetso”?’ repeated Celestia, grimacing. Luna grinned. ‘Acceptance, Sister. Gratitude! Inspiration! Let’s have some fun! OK, my turn, then, as you’re all so bloody shy. OK. I’ve broken my leg seven times. Once I stole seven bits from my sister’s bedside table. I’m a massive black-magic fan.’ Celestia shook her head, amused. ‘Oh, Luna. You criticise Cadence, and you’re just as bad? You don’t even know the rules!’ ‘Sure I do!’ ‘I think,’ chipped in Rapidfire, ‘that you’re lying when you say you’re a black-magic fan, but then I don’t think you stole from your sister’s table either, so –’ He frowned. Celestia rolled her eyes. ‘She’s messing with you. They’re all lies. Broken your leg seven times? And I can tell you for a fact that you’ve never pinched so much as a comb tooth from my bedside table!’ ‘Wrong!’ Luna said, grinning. ‘Any other takers?’ ‘The black-magic thing,’ said Cadence. Doc Top and Nurse Redheart looked at each other.  ‘The bits from the table?’ suggested the latter weakly.  ‘Hah!’ cried Luna triumphantly. ‘That’s how you play, see? You make the truths seem ridiculous and then slip in a mundane lie! I’ve broken my leg once. Tripped on a moon rock. And the bits I stole were in your bedside table, Sister, because I stole them from Father, who’d hidden them there. And I am a fan of Black Magic, the album – not “black magic”, see? Hah! See how it’s done?’ ‘Wait a moment,’ said Celestia, frowning. ‘Cadence, did you say you’re an expert in post-tonal theory?’ Cadence blinked and nodded. ‘Yes.’  ‘But – but since when?’  Cadence shrugged. ‘I studied it.’ ‘Sister!’ exclaimed Luna. ‘You can’t interrupt another pony’s go! I won my round! OK, now it’s your turn!’ ‘Luna, I’m not –’ ‘Your turn, Sister!’ ‘Fine, fine! I need time to think. Let somepony else try.’ ‘I’ve saved a foal’s life. I’ve never tasted celery. I’ve lost money playing the lottery.’ Doc Top’s face was impassive.  ‘The first one’s true,’ said Nurse Redheart. ‘So, it’s between celery and lottery.’ ‘Well, that’s easy,’ Rapidfire called to her. ‘Everypony loses playing the lottery. So it’s celery that’s the lie.’ Luna nudged Celestia. ‘See?’ she whispered. ‘The ice is breaking!’ ‘Luna…’ ‘Unless he doesn’t play the lottery!’ Upper Crust piped up. Doc Top grinned. ‘Well done,’ he said. ‘Never played, never will – but celery I have tasted, and I don’t like it.’ ‘Keep going, you lot!’ said Luna, standing abruptly. Celestia watched her.  ‘Where are you going?’ she asked. ‘For a walk! Well, a fly. Oh, more rope, that’s right. Give’s a sec.’ She closed her eyes, furrowed her brow and – pop! A coil materialised and fell over her mane. ‘Oof! Ah, there.’ Bemused, Celestia asked, ‘Would you like me to come with you?’ ‘No, no. Just keep everypony happy for a while. I want some time alone. Don’t look so shocked! I’ll be back in a jiffy.’ To Celestia’s surprise, Rapidfire and Cadence did not seem perturbed by Luna’s sudden change of heart. In fact, they laughed as Nurse Redheart claimed to have peed on her neighbour’s flower bed. Once Luna had reattached herself and flown below, Celestia caught an inkling of how lonely she felt without her.