//------------------------------//
// Day VIII 
// Story: I'll Huff and I'll Puff 
// by Acologic 
//------------------------------//

‘What’s the matter?’ asked Doc Top, frowning as Celestia and Luna emerged. 

‘What do you mean?’ asked Celestia.

‘You just seem – on edge, you know?’

‘Oh? And how would you know that?’

Doc Top shrugged. ‘You just gave me the impression.’

‘Did I indeed? Well, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m just fine!’

Luna rolled her eyes. ‘It’s paranoia time, people; watch it.’

‘Luna!’ Celestia couldn’t believe that Luna would expose her in front of perfect strangers. 

‘What? Pays to be honest, doesn’t it? Get all the poison out on the table, I say, Sister. Get all the emotions out for all to see. Only way that works in the long term.’

‘What do you mean?’ Cadence asked Luna, her brow raised. ‘What happened? What did Tirek say?’

‘Nothing!’ snapped Celestia. ‘Luna’s talking about something else.’

‘See, Sister, this is your problem.’ Luna sighed. ‘You don’t trust anypony! Not even your closest friends! It’s Cadence! It’s me!’

Celestia went red as the others watched her. ‘It – it’s not like that!’ she stammered. ‘Luna, there are – what about, you know? The others,’ she hissed so that only Luna could hear. Luna’s eyes twinkled. 

‘OK, people, we’re going to have it straight because that’s the way we roll here.’ Luna stood and cleared her throat. ‘I want everypony to put on the table their misgivings. All of them. Any bad emotion I want out. Oi, Raps. Kick us off, yeah?’

Rapidfire obeyed without hesitation. ‘It’s simple enough for me. I think this is some rotten luck, and I don’t like the posh ponies very much. There it is.’

‘That’s a relief!’ scoffed Upper Crust. ‘I don’t like you either! “The glory days” and how you’re oh-so chummy with the princesses! It should be me in that balloon!’

‘Yes, quite right!’ added Jet Set, scowling at Rapidfire. ‘And though we made money on you, I didn’t say how much we lost! Overconfident poser. Can’t even fly properly! Do you know how much I paid after your last crash?’ 

Rapidfire shrugged. ‘No, and I don’t care. Look at you, sucking up to anyone you can suck dry! You’re exactly the ponies who exist on the work of others and contribute nothing themselves!’

‘Well, I don’t like either of you,’ said Nurse Redheart. ‘And Luna’s the only pony here who’s done anything to help us. And I thought you were supposed to be a leader,’ she aimed at Celestia, who blushed.

‘I haven’t much to say at all,’ said Doc Top, sighing. ‘I just want to go home. That’s me. Fed up.’

‘My turn? I’m having a hoot myself!’ said Luna, chuckling. ‘This is the most fun I’ve had since – well, since we forced Tirek to drink tonic!’

‘No fun for me,’ said Cadence. ‘I’ve had enough of you two. Arguments and chaos every time. Luna and Celestia, the funny sisters! Ha, ha! But I’m the one who picks up the pieces. Well, I’m off.’ She flew to the other balloon. 

Celestia snorted. ‘Aha! I have it now! Oh, Luna. Luna, I can see it’s you. You’re far too ridiculous to be false – but the others? How it hits me now! Chrysalis!’ she said, smirking at Cadence. ‘You and your changelings can change back now.’

Instead of changing the ponies froze. Almost all the ponies froze. Celestia and Luna inspected Rapidfire, who’d gone stiffer than a statue. Cadence leered from her balloon.

‘So,’ she called. ‘You think you’ve figured it out?’

‘Haven’t I?’ crowed Celestia, delighted that Luna appeared ordinary. ‘Let’s see you, then! What is this? Explain!’

‘Cadence’ laughed. And turned into Tirek. ‘Surprise!’ he said, grinning. Celestia was not fooled.

‘No. He’s safely contained. Show yourself, Chrysalis. I won’t have any more games.’ She charged her horn. 

‘But there’s one more left to play!’

The sky started to spin. First turned the clouds, a tiny twister of vapour high above them. It grew. The hot-air balloons rose. The envelopes deflated with a sigh and the baskets dropped – but did not fall. The vortex sucked them in. Blue, black, white, red – colours swam in Celestia’s eyes. She moved but could not see where. She called for Luna but could not hear her voice.

And she awoke. A cold, metal restraint held her in place. She struggled, gasping. The room was dark; she shivered.

‘Luna! Luna, are you there?’

‘Sister?’