“To be true to yourself is to look straight into your own eyes reflected in the mirror, and to be loyal to the person you see—is to be bold indeed.”
Fluttershy was afraid….
She knew she couldn’t turn back from this, but…. They needed to know…
She had sent a message to the girls so that they knew to gather at the castle and wait for her.
But what if they… react like her previous friends… what if they reject her?
Angel tugged on her tail and she looked back at him. He’s been difficult but at the times she needed him he supported her.
Yes, she had entrusted him with the secret of her past, and he was shocked, even scared. But he stood by her in the long run, and that’s more than she could ever have asked for.
But what about everypony else? Fluttershy had marked several dates on her calendar over and over as the day she’d tell them and she kept changing it because she was too nervous.
But no more delaying. This will be the test to see if they're real friends.
Fluttershy knelt and petted Angel.
“It’s okay Angel, I will be back soon, just… hope I don’t come home crying," Fluttershy said before trotting out the door.
Fluttershy trotted through the town as ponies went about their day.
“Hey Fluttershy!” the flower trio called.
“H-hello!” Fluttershy called back.
“I heard about the meeting, anything going on?” Roseluck asked.
“No!” Fluttershy said a little too fast and hotly, and upon realizing the tone she said it in she murmured a quick apology and trotted away.
“They can’t know…” Fluttershy whispered to herself before reaching the castle.
Pinkie Pie and RD were at the front door chatting when the pink mare saw her and squeed.
“Yay! The mare of the hour!” Pinkie cheered and she ducked out of view and pulled Fluttershy in for a hug from behind.
“Haha… hi Pinkie,” Fluttershy said.
“What’s up, you seem nervous,” RD asked trotting up to her.
“I-I can’t say why out here, can we get this meeting started please?” Fluttershy asked.
“Sure, just as soon as egghead lets us in,” the rainbow-maned pegasus replied.
“Is everything alright?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah, she’s just getting the meeting room set up,” RD casually waved off the question.
“Yeah! I took a look inside and it was sooooo messy! I think Twilight is almost done!” Pinkie said.
“How? You were standing right in front of me the whole time,” RD said, confused.
“I checked in between your blinks,” Pinkie responded.
“Gotcha,” she said, not even trying to understand how Pinkie did that.
“Will she be done soon?” Fluttershy asked.
“Sure, I don’t see why not.” RD shrugged before they heard trotting and turned to look and see Rarity and Applejack approaching.
“I do say, Applejack dear, are you certain you don’t wish to have me style your mane?” Rarity causally asked Applejack.
“Told ya a dozen times Rares, no, ah like mah style as it is,” Applejack replied.
“Hi girls!” Pinkie cheered.
“Hello Pinkie dear, do any of you know what the meeting is about?” Rarity asked.
“Nope, you’d have to ask Shy here,” RD said.
“It’s…important, but I’ll wait until we’re inside,” Fluttershy said.
“Sure darling, take your time if need be,” Rarity said.
“Yeah, it's a good thing Mac didn’t mind taking over, but only for a few hours, so we can’t drag this out,” Applejack said.
“I understand,” Fluttershy said.
And with that, the five waited outside for an hour before the door was knocked upon and Twilight poked her head out.
“Okay girls, the meeting room is ready,” Twilight said.
“YAY!” Pinkie cheered.
“Whew, finally, it’s scorching out here,” RD said waving her hoof in front of her face.
“Bout time! Ah can’t stay forever Twi,” Applejack said.
“Sorry, last night I accidentally forgot to clean up my most recent study session,” Twilight said, trotting inside and the others follow her into the meeting room.
“Ok, but do remember to set up a guest room for us to wait, as Rainbow said it was quite hot outside and that simply cannot be good for my mane,” Rarity said, gesturing to her mane which was drooping slightly.
The group entered the room, Spike was already present and setting up the refreshments.
Twilight locked the door and put up a silencing charm.
“Uh, what’s with the fortifying?” RD asked.
“Fluttershy requested this in her letter to me that we make sure nopony can overhear us,” Twilight responded.
Pinkie gasped “It’s a surprise party isn’t it?!” Pinkie cheered.
“No…” Fluttershy said sitting down and motioning to the others to follow suit.
“A private party?” Pinkie asked.
“It’s not a party Pinkie, it’s…. Just sit down everypony, this will be something I promised myself I would only tell the closest of friends…” Fluttershy said.
The others looked at each other and went to their seats.
After a minute of silence, Applejack spoke up, “Well? Ya got us here Shy, so what’s on yer mind?” Applejack asked.
“...” Fluttershy looked like she was struggling to find the words.
“C’mon Shy, I’m not sure what’s got you all scared but I promise you we won’t think any less of you,” RD said.
“How do I know?” Fluttershy asked.
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Rarity asked.
“The last time I told my friends about this, they were scared of me, they even tried to…” Fluttershy paused as if she didn’t want to say it.
“Fluttershy?” RD said confused.
“Afraid of ya? Why?” Applejack asked.
“Because… of what I am…” Fluttershy said before shaking her head “M-maybe this was a mistake, I should just-” Fluttershy began to get out of her chair when RD stopped her.
“Whoa whoa whoa, I’m not sure why you're scared Shy, but whatever those past friends did, they weren’t real friends, but you and me? We go way back, I won’t turn my back on you and none of us will,” she said comfortingly.
“Agreed, whatever it is it can’t be that earth shakin” Applejack encouraged.
“And if you need time we can give it,” Twilight assured.
“...No, I-I need to come out with this today. I've delayed enough,” Fluttershy said sitting back down.
“That's the spirit Shy, now what is it?” RD asked.
Fluttershy was still scared, petrified even, but she could see everypony meant it when they said they trusted her.
So she decided to just swallow her fear and say it.
“...What I want to say is,” Fluttershy said before looking them all in the eyes. “I’m not the pony you all thought I was,” Fluttershy said.
This surprised everypony and a part of them were confused by what she meant, maybe a little curious, but they could also see Fluttershy was being genuine.
They all nodded for her to go on.
Fluttershy took a deep breath and said it…
“I’m not a real pony…”
Everypony fell silent when they heard that, they glanced at each other as if waiting for somepony else to speak their mind.
When nopony did and Twilight could feel Fluttershy’s nervousness returning, she decided to be the one to break the ice.
“Not a real pony? What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“Oh oh! Like Pinnochio?!” Pinkie blurted out.
“Pinkie!” Twilight whispered harshly.
“Sorry,” Pinkie said.
“No no… she’s going somewhere with that…” Fluttershy said “It’s not that I'm not real… it’s that I’m not a pony,” Fluttershy said.
“That don't make any sense, y'all look like a real pony ta me,” Applejack said.
“That’s because I am using a zigmak…” Fluttershy said.
“Pardon me, dear, a zic…mac?” She questioned.
“Oh, sorry, forgot nopony speaks that language here. I meant glamour,” Fluttershy said.
“A glamour?... wait… you mean to say you're-” Twilight began.
“PREGNANT?!” Pinkie exclaimed, everpony just looked at her.
“Oh… Sorry, I thought this story was headed in that direction,” Pinkie said sheepishly and waved for Twilight to continue.
“Fluttershy, are you saying the whole time we’ve known you, as in from the time you met Rainbow Dash to after my ascension you’ve been using a glamor to hide your true form?” Twilight asked.
Fluttershy nodded.
“Amazing… It must have been a strong glamor for you to have hidden it so long,”
“Hold on an apple pickin minute here, glamors? True form? What in the hay is goin on?” Applejack exclaimed.
“I-it would be better to just show you… just promise me… you won’t freak out.” Fluttershy asked.
Everypony glanced at each other and nodded before looking at her.
Fluttershy gathered her courage, got out of her chair, and stood in the open area of the room, took another deep breath before bowing her head and uttering the following words…
“Drvakh tue For”
Immediately she was covered in flames.
“AH!” Twilight and the others cried out in surprise, Spike who had been observing the meeting silently this whole time scrambled to get some water.
“Cal be zu dak, di ar fin…” The flames parted and what stood there was something different.
She had scales and fur, she had a draconic snout, she had clawed hands and hindlegs with hooves, and she had wings with leathery webbing in between bone protrusions.
A long scaly tail with a tuft of pink tail fur tipped her tail and spikes on her back, leading up to her familiar mane, she raised her head, showing off her curved dragon spike-like horns and stared at them with her slitted eyes.
“Fluttershy… you're... you're a-”
“A Solstice Kirin,” Fluttershy said.
“I was going to say dragon pony but that works too,” Twilight said.
“Whoa…” RD said as everypony looked at her in awe.
Immediately her imposing presence died down and she looked nervous.
“S-so… now you know…. Now tell me!” She demanded startling them.
Fluttershy approached with a mix of fear, worry and anger on her face.
"Am I a freak? Am I a monster? Do you guys feel as though I still belong?" Fluttershy demanded.
"What kind of question is that? Of course we-" Rainbow began.
"Prove it!" She said.
"Darling if you just let us-" Rarity attempted.
"No! Tell me now!" Fluttershy said letting tears fall as she looked away.
"Do I still belong?..." She asked softly.
She then felt an embrace, which startled her. Looking up she saw RD was hugging her. "Never believe you're a freak Fluttershy."
Fluttershy was stunned and as she looked at the rest of her friends, she saw they were smiling.
"Y-you mean it? You're not just saying that?" Fluttershy asked tearfully.
"Of course Fluttershy," Twilight said.
"Ah'll admit ah was surprised when you turned into a dragon pony, but that don't change nothin' yer still our friend," Applejack said.
"We all have our secrets, and while this was a surprising one it does not change our perception of you." Rarity said.
Fluttershy started to tear up and then she hugged RD back and started crying.
"You guys are truly the best friends a Solstice Kirin could ask for! Thank you thank you thank you!" Fluttershy cried.
"Agh! You're crushing me!" Rainbow choked out.
Fluttershy yelped and dropped her gasping friend.
"I'm so sorry! I forgot how strong I am when I'm in this form." She explained.
"It's fine," RD said sitting down and she got up and got back in her seat.
After everything calmed down every pony was just sitting there staring at her before Twilight popped the question.
"So… um, you've been like this all along, I have to say Shy I wasn't expecting this," Twilight began. "Do you have a history in the dragon lands? There's so much I can ask you-"
"Twilight darling that might be a bit of an invasive question don't you think you should let her describe it." Rarity said
"Right, you're right," Twilight said, nodding.
"To answer your question, yes, I do have history there… not good history but history nonetheless," Fluttershy said.
"Bad history?" Pinkie asked.
"Dear, are you implying they abused you in some fashion?" Rarity said.
Fluttershy let a tear fall and nodded.
"I get it." Twilight asked, "Is that why you're always so distrustful and scared of dragons?"
"Yes, among other things," Fluttershy said.
"What other-"
"They killed my birth father and mother…" Fluttershy said sadly.
The room went silent after hearing this.
"What?" RD said.
"They killed my mommy and daddy, because they gave birth to me," Fluttershy said morosely.
"Sweet Celestia…" Spike muttered.
"My father was a dragon and my mother a pony, unlike other dragons or ponies they believed in a world where both can coexist, I was their attempt to show that…. It only made things worse, however," Fluttershy said.
"Worse how?" Applejack asked.
"The ponies only saw me as a monster, the dragons saw me as an abomination, they didn't want me to exist so they killed my father and came after us,"
Everypony sat silently… except Pinkie who was eating popcorn.
"My mother snuck me into Cloudsdale and used the last of her strength to grant me the power to put up a glamor, to disguise me as a pegasus so I could live peacefully… and I was adopted when two ponies found me on the streets. The rest is history," Fluttershy said.
"Wow… I didn't know you had such a dark past," Rarity said honestly.
"It’s fine,” Fluttershy said.
“Guess that explains why Shy has always been scared of dragons… I always thought they just scared her, never knew it was that…” Rainbow said, before looking away as if in thought.
“So… sorry to change subjects buuuut, do you have dragon powers now?” Pinkie said.
“I’ve always had them, I just haven’t shown them,” Fluttershy said.
“COOL!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Instead of cheering Fluttershy seemed sad.
“What’s wrong Shy?” Applejack asked.
“It’s just that, I’m the odd one out now… You're all great ponies with a bright future… I’m not a pony at all, all I have to look forward to is ponies fearing me if they knew,” Fluttershy almost was in tears.
“Shy that isn’t true, we didn’t freak out,” Pinkie assured her.
“That's because you are close friends, but what about the rest of the town? If any of them find out it could be disastrous! M-maybe I should just-”
“No Shy!” RD said suddenly surprising everypony.
“Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked.
“You're not the odd one out! Don’t ever think that!” RD said getting up.
“But, you're a real pony and I’m-”
“I understand your problems Shy,” RD said.
“I’m sorry Rainbow, but you don’t,” Fluttershy said.
“Yes I do… If you had the courage to come clean then I should too… Girls, there’s something I need to show you,” RD said.
“You too Rainbow Dash?” Rarity exclaimed.
“You don’t mean… yer a dragon pony too do ya?” Applejack asked.
“Are you?” Fluttershy asked looking surprised.
“...No… Trust me when I say I wish to heaven I was… but I’m not,” Rainbow said taking to the air and closing all the curtains in the room before landing in front of her friends.
“Rainbow? Why did you do that?” Twilight asked.
“I need darkness for it to work… Look on Shy, you think you're a monster? You're not, I am…” She focused and a swirl of dark energy surrounded her.
“Girls? What’s happening?!” Twilight said wondering if there was a danger in their midst.
When the dark energy cleared, what stood before them had even Fluttershy nervous.
Her fangs glistened, her fur was spiked and her eyes were red. “Do you see now?” Rainbow declared, “I am a Vampony…”
Everypony reacted with surprise and they began to get out of their seats.
“Ah thought they were just a myth!” Applejack exclaimed
“Twi! We need to get out of here, a vampony has replaced Rainbow!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“GIRLS WAIT!” Fluttershy barked at a surprising volume.
“What?” The others asked pausing in their attempts to book it.
Fluttershy approached Rainbow cautiously and sniffed the air, her enhanced draconic senses picking up on Rainbow's familiar scent.
“This is Rainbow!” Fluttershy exclaimed.
“What? But there are so many factors that go against that, one of them being that she’s been out in the sun, and I read that vamponies die in the sun,” Twilight said.
“Usually that would be the case, but I have devised a method to protect myself,” Rainbow said.
“A method?” Twilight asked wondering if she used some ancient magic or something to protect herself.
“What is that?” Rarity asked.
“Sunscreen…. Lots of it,” she replied.
The room was once again silent, then a hair twinged out from Twilight’s mane.
“Sunscreen?... You mean you just applied sunscreen?!” Twilight said disbelievingly.
“I too was surprised it worked. Though, I have to blow through my allowance to afford enough,” Rainbow said.
“Rainbow… how long?” Fluttershy asked.
“Since I was little, I uh…. It’s not important how,” RD said nervously. Applejack noticed and seemed suspicious.
“Darling if you don't tell us how are we going to find a cure for you?” Rarity asked.
“Because it’s my backstory!” RD said rather hotly, but winced when she saw Rarity flinch. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Rarity reassured.
“No… I guess Shy revealed her backstory I might as well reveal mine, let’s see…” RD seemed nervous for a second before she spat it out. “It was nightmare night, I was trick or treating with my parents, and uh… some guy lured me into an alleyway promising me lots of candy, but he was after something else,” RD said.
“YOUR-” Twilight slapped her hoof over Pinkies mouth,
“Pinkie! Not appropriate!” Twilight assumed
“I was going to say, candy” Pinkie reassured
“Oh, sorry Pinkie, continue Rainbow,” Twilight said.
“Turns out he was a vampony out for my blood and he attacked me… I was fast enough to get away, but not before he bit me,” RD said.
“And you used a glamor like me to hide your vamponyism?” Fluttershy asked.
“...yes,” RD said, and as she finished her story Applejack seemed to watch her intently, not fully believing her but she decided to keep it to herself for now.
“Wow… who could have guessed that two of our friends were hiding such big secrets,” Rarity said.
“Ah agree, mah head is spinnin right now,” Applejack said.
“You're telling me,” Spike said.
“Based on your earlier reactions I suppose you all firmly believe that all Vamponies are evil,” RD said sadly.
“Nonono darling, it just uh, caught us by surprise- that's all,” Rarity said.
“Yer our friend Rainbow, and the element of loyalty. There ain't a vampony ah trust more than ya,” Applejack assured her.
Rainbow smiled at that “Thanks girls, see Shy, you’ve got somepony who understands."
“Thank you for this, Rainbow, you have no idea how much it means to me,” Fluttershy hugged her and RD hugged back.
Little did anypony notice the vibrating ball of energy before it burst.
“YAY! IF YOU BOTH UNDERSTAND EACH OTHERS SITUATION THEN THERE’S NO REASON FOR ME TO HOLD BACK ANYMORE!” Pinkie cheered and landed atop the table.
“Oh come on!” Twilight said.
“Somehow this is less surprising…” Applejack said.
“Pinkie? You mean you're hiding something too?” Rarity asked.
“Yeppers! I have been waiting a long long long long time to tell somepony but the last time I showed it to somepony the village became a mob and chased me out, and I got super super duper sad but now that I’m among fellow secret bearers I can finally be myself! YAY!” Pinkie cheered.
“This is getting too ridiculous!” Applejack said.
“Ready or not, real Pinkie is coming!” And with an explosion of confetti and pink smoke, Pinkie stood there…. Changed.
Everyone was petrified at what they saw, even RD and Fluttershy.
Standing there was a skeletal pony with pink flames surrounding her skull and armor on her body.
‘TADAA!” Pinkie said in a slightly warped version of her voice.
“...............Pinkie?” Twilight squeaked. “What just happened to you?” Twilight said scooting away from the flames as Pinkie leaned into her, locking the glowing motes of her eyes on Twilight.
“I should formally reintroduce myself, hello, I am Pinkamena Pyrocelsa steed number 3 Diane Pie. I'm a retired horse of the apocalypse!” Pinkie cheered.
“....That’s…cool,” Twilight said. “Uhm Pinkie, when and how long have you-”
“Since the dawn of time really but I took a super super long nap, so long that Pestilence decided to fire me and replace me with a new horse, what a meanie by the way and he always had a bad smell anyways,” Pinkie waved it off.
“Is that it?” Rainbow said, looking nervous before whispering to Fluttershy. “Are you telling me the element of laughter is the former carrier of the harbinger of demise?!”
“YUP!” They turned around and saw Pinkie behind them.
“AH!” RD yelped jumping back and Fluttershy nearly piddled herself.
Spike was nearby and jumped in fright as well as he literally saw Pinkie disappear and rematerialize behind them.
It didn’t help that she’s a skeleton pony!
“So…that’s how you do all those things, you're a primordial! Practically living history!” Twilight exclaimed, not knowing if she wanted to study Pinkie again or flee for her life.
“Oh you don’t have to be so melodramatic Aether Spark, Twi would never run from a friend!” Pinkie said.
The author wonders why she has to break the 4th wall in literally every story!
“You make it too easy,” Pinkie said trotting back to her seat. “Don’t worry girls, the days of spreading chaos and woe is over for me, now I just wanna party all day every day.”
“I-I trust you Pinkie. After all you’ve never given us a reason to not, right?” She said looking at her friends.
They all looked at each other and nodded before hesitantly going back to their seats.
“So, you’ve been around since the dawn of time?” Twilight said.
“As far as I can remember,” Pinkie said.
“And the rock farm… it’s not your real home?” Rarity asked.
“No, but it feels like home so it is. I became a part of that family to lift their spirits but their funk put me in a funk, but when the rainboom happened, boom! Ole Pinkie was back on track!” Pinkie said.
“How powerful are you?” Twilight asked.
“Eh, my power kinda diminished when Pestilence fired me, but I've got enough power to rival Discord,” Pinkie said.
“...And ya didn't think to bust it out either time he was threatening Equestria?” Applejack asked.
“I was asleep for that first one and I was… scared… of you know, you girls finding out who I really am,” Pinkie became sheepish.
“Aww, Pinkie dear,” Rarity said patting her shoulder bone comfortingly, only to withdraw hurriedly when a rat poked its head out of her shoulder.
“AAAAAHH! RAT!” Rarity panicked.
“Huh? Oh don’t mind Nibbles he comes out from time to time, I let him and his family live in the pocket dimension within me from time to time,” Pinkie said.
“I have so many questions…” Twilight said.
“Maybe the next story in this series, also I have this cool scream ability! Wanna hear it?” Pinkie said.
“Uh, no thank-”
“OK!” Pinkie took a deep breath and belted out a piercing scream that would put a Nazgul to shame.
“Pinkie! Turn it down!!” Twilight cried.
“Ooops, forgot mortals have fragile eardrums,” Pinkie said with a chuckle.
“Pinkie!” Rarity cried and everypony turned to see her tail sticking out of a pile of books.
“Oopsie! Must have launched her, I got it!” Pinkie zipped over and pulled Rarity out by the tail… only to drop her in surprise and jump back in shock when she saw Rarity had a few spots surrounded by green flame revealing a black chitin.
“Oh dear… this isn’t how I wanted you all to find out,” Rarity looked nervously at her friends who immediately got into defensive positions, save for Fluttershy.
“Girls! Wait!” Fluttershy cried.
“Changeling!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Where’s Rarity!?” Spike demanded.
“Tell us meanie!” Pinkie said.
“GIRLS CALM DOWN!” Fluttershy roared startling her friends and she flew over them and landed in front of the scared Changeling.
“Shy, she might be a spy for Chrysalis, she could tell her about all of us,” Rainbow said.
“I know because of her form changed she may be but her scent still remains that of Rarity, I won’t let you harm her without proof she isn’t her,” Fluttershy turned and helped Rarity up.
“Thank you Fluttershy dear, if we can all stay calm I can explain.” Rarity said.
The others glanced at each other before letting their guard down.
“We'll trust you since Fluttershy does, but one wrong move and I’ll show how dangerous we Vamponies are!” RD said sitting down.
“Rainbow…” Fluttershy sighed.
“It’s fine, they have a right to be suspicious given recent events with my kind,” Rarity trotted up to the table and sighed before spilling the beans.
“My name is still Rarity and I am and always have been your friend and the element of generosity, I promise you, but I suppose it is my turn to clear the air. Now, where shall I begin?...”
Rarity nervously thought of her past with her hive… she had a speech prepared for the day she planned to tell her friends. She had hoped it would have been at a better time but thanks to Pinkie’s scream disrupting her changeling magic she has to come clean right here and now, she decided to make it simple.
“It all began in a distant hive, far from Chrysalis’s-”
“Wait! There’s more hives besides Chrysalis’s?!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Yes, many, but I will not divulge them until further notice, anyways, I was originally a drone working under the late queen Monarch, I-”
“Is she a queen or a monarch?” Pinkie asked.
“Monarch is her name,” Rarity explained.
“Oh.”
“If I may continue, she-”
“Oh! I also want to know-”
“Pinkie! Please let me finish!” Rarity barked.
“Ok…” Pinkie said.
“Anyways I was but a lowly Changeling drone, toiling away to build up and guard the hive. It was a dreadful job and so very boring. We suffered the same malnourishment that Chrysalis’s forces suffered from to a degree, but Queen Monarch was a stern and strict ruler and she made sure her drones were fed enough to be productive, unlike Chrysalis she cared for her drones to a degree. She detested ponies however and I sadly admit I once shared her sentiment, but all that changed when I unearthed the most beautiful gem. I fell in love with how beautiful it made me feel...the other soldiers forced me to give it to Monarch as per law but it sparked something in me, a desire to find beauty in the world.” Rarity explained.
“And you snuck into Pony society to find out more?” Twilight guessed.
“Indeed, I began to fall in love with the fashion world of ponies! I was bedazzled! I loved it! But alas, it could not remain a secret forever, I was snitched upon by my older brother-
“Brother? You have a brother” Applejack asked.
“I do wish to stop being interrupted, but yes, he still lives back in the hive as far as I know. Anyways, Monarch detested that I spent time among ponies, and gave me an ultimatum, banishment or forgetting about my new dream…. I suppose it is obvious what I chose,” Rarity said.
“And what about Sweetie Belle? Is she a changeling too?” Twilight asked.
“...Yes… she isn’t my real sister, something about Monarch I detest is that weak and unproductive Changelings are left out in the wilderness to starve or fend for themselves… I found her barely clinging to life.”
“Sweet Celestia…. How could someone do that?” Spike asked.
“I do not know, I took her in and raised her as my little sister, and though it was a massive invasion of your privacies I sustained us both by absorbing your love as well as the love of others, when I needed it,” Rarity sadly admitted.
“You’ve been draining us without our permission?!” Applejack snorted indignantly.
“If you had known would you have allowed me to harvest love when I was nearby? I had to be discrete for me and Sweetie’s sake!” Rarity bit back.
“But not me right?” Spike said hoping it was a no.
Rarity looked even guiltier. “You were my main source…”
Spike looked hurt by that statement and walked over to Twilight who hugged him.
“At the wedding, why weren’t you blown away with the other Changelings?” Fluttershy said trying to change the subject.
“I suppose it was because I meant no ill intent, the magic of Cadance and Shining Armors love didn’t see me as a threat, and as for Changeling reveal spells I had been training ever since my banishment to resist them. Though, I suppose Pinkie’s sonic waves disrupted my camouflage,” Rarity explained.
“I see,” said Twilight. “Applejack, you’ve been studying her carefully, is she lying?”
“No, ah know a liar when ah see one and she ain’t fibbing, or maybe she’s doing a good job of it,” Applejack said.
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, I am Rarity Belle.”
The other looked at each other and then the Changeling and nodded.
“You believe me?” Rarity asked.
“Fer now, but Ya’ll better not be an imposter,” Applejack said.
“I assure you I will prove I am who I say I am,” Rarity said sitting down.
A long pause occurred…
“So… Applejack, Twilight, got any secrets you’ve been hiding?” RD asked.
“No!” Applejack said hurriedly, giving her usual signs that she is lying.
“Um, I’m still an alicorn,” Twilight said.
“Come on guys, we revealed our true identities, it’s only fair,” Rarity said.
“Yeah, if you both are hiding something, time to come out with it,” RD said.
“Ah ain’t hidin nothing!” Applejack indignantly said while sweating nervously.
“Applejack it’s clear as day, don’t make me hypnotize you,” RD said.
“Cool! You can do that?” Pinkie said.
“Yeah, I’m not super good at it though,” Rainbow shrugged.
Applejack looked nervous but seeing everyone isn’t believing her for a second she ultimately relented.
“A-Alright…. Ah’ll admit it since ah can’t lie, I’m not a normal pony too,” Applejack admitted.
“You can’t be serious, you too Applejack?” Twilight said as she started to wonder if she was having a weird dream or not.
“Eenope, Ah’m a keeper of secrets too, even though ah’m the element of honesty…” Applejack said sounding ashamed of herself.
“Called it!” RD high-hoofed Pinkie.
“Well darling, I suppose It should only be natural for you to tell us your story as well,” Rarity said.
“That’s kinda the thing… ah can’t…” Applejack said.
“What do you mean you can’t?” RD asked
“Ah just can’t say what ah ah’m right now, can yall do me the great favor of allowing me time to work up the nerve?” Applejack said.
“Hey now, we-” RD began but Twilight held out a hoof to stop her.
“If Applejack doesn’t want to share with us right now that’s her decision,” Twilight said.
Everypony looked to each other and silently communicated their decision to not ask Applejack.
“Ok, I suppose I can roll with that,” RD said.
“It’s her choice ultimately,” Rarity said buzzing her wings.
“Whelp, that leaves just one more secret to be revealed,” Pinkie said turning towards Twilight.
“Huh?” Twilight saw everypony looking at her.
“C’mon Twilight, it’s only fair,” RD said.
“Yeah, show us show us show us!” Pinkie cheered.
“Um… I really don’t have a secret like the ones you guys have, honest,” Twilight said.
“Don’t be like that Twi,” RD sighed.
“I will admit I’m also curious,” Fluttershy said.
“Girls, I’m serious, I’m not disguised as a pony, I am a pony,” Twilight said.
“Wait, is she serious?” RD asked.
“I don’t seem to be getting a strange smell from her, she smells… like she always does” Fluttershy said.
“I can vouch for Twilight,” Spike said, "I’ve never seen her as anything besides a pony, and I’ve been with her for most of her life.”
“Wow… I guess she’s not kidding. So you're saying egghead here is the only normal one among us?” Rainbow said
“Well, she is an alicorn, I suppose you cannot get much rarer than that, right?” Rarity said.
“Yeah, I suppose so…” RD said.
…A great pause followed this statement.
The group just sat there glancing at each other silently before Twilight spoke up.
“I didn’t expect all these revelations today… I’m frankly… at a loss for words…”
“All this time I thought I was the only one hiding something… but I was so very wrong,” Fluttershy said.
“To think you were all non-ponies too… what were the odds…” RD said.
“Mah mind is frayed right now…” Applejack said.
“Ditto” Rarity said, staying in her Changling form.
“You can say that again,” Pinkie said scratching her skull.
“...Where do we go from here?... how are we going to go from here? This is all too much,” Twilight asked.
“I can tell ya!” Pinkie said.
“What?” Twilight said with dread.
“ADVENTURE!” Pinkie cheered. “We’ve got a lot to figure out, so let’s get moving girls!” Pinkie cheered.
“What do you say Twilight?” Spike asked.
“...I guess so, we need to keep our secrets from getting out and try to move on the best we can,” Twilight said. “Because who knows what these revelations mean.”
RD looked down seeming deep in thought, Applejack saw this and eyed her unsurely.
“YEAH! No longer are we the Mane six! Now we’re the STRANGE SIX!” Pinkie declared.
“Uhh, can we review that?” Rarity asked.
“Nope! I said it, it’s canon,” Pinkie said.
The group shared a stressed sigh.
A dark cavern, strange symbols covering the ground and walls, and hooded ponies approaching an altar.
Another two hooded ponies trotted in and bowed upon reaching the altar.
The torch on the altar lit up and a demonic face appeared on it.
“Hail Arma Geddo the dark one!” A female voice came from one of the two cultists.
“Hail!” The ponies and even a few other races like dragons and changelings and even griffon cheered.
“The vessel awoke her true powers last week, the time is now… Begin your operations through the lands, collect the sigils and soon, this world shall crumble and begin anew…” Arma said.
“It will be done Master,” a male voice came from the other cultist.
“It is time for your daughter to fulfill her purpose, and ensure everything runs smoothly, fail me and I will tear out your hearts,” Arma said before vanishing.
“It will be as you will Lord Arma,” The mare said removing her hood and flipping her multi-colored mane out.
“Time for that no good daughter of mine to make herself useful to us,” The mare said with an evil grin.
To be continued...