Friendship is Weird

by Local Loco

Friendship is Weird Part 2

The days before the Summer Sun Celebration were rather relaxed for our 6 ponies and a dragon. Cookies found himself spending most of his time at Sugar Cube Corner, often there to volunteer baking while Pinkie Pie was off. Alto invested himself in the musical side of Ponyville, finding the resident musicians to be a duo of a classical artist and a DJ. Lucky had been given a luxurious room as a representative of Appleoosa, unfortunately the room was not big enough to house more than 1 pony so the rest of them stayed at the town library. Hope spent most of his time meeting every single pony in Ponyville. Enchanted Crown helped Mayor Mare with the organization of the festival. With EC out of the library, Mareian took over as a more proper librarian, with the help of Scales, she was able to properly organize the library.

“Took us a while but now this place is finally up to code.”

“I can’t believe they left us with the mess after the party was over. I didn’t even join in! I went straight to bed.” Scales complained to the green Pegasus he’d been assisting all week. “You’d think SOME PONIES would join in.”

“I doubt any of them used this library to begin with. There’s dust in between the books and the only one’s not covered in dust is the one Cookies got from my library.”

“I can see why they call you Mareian. A mare librarian is definitely a thorough description.” Scales sat down on a pillow seat in the library. After a few seconds he belches out a letter. “oh boy.” Scales unfurls the scroll. “This doesn’t look good.” He said calmly.

“Sounds like something EC needs. Need a ride?”

“Nah, I need to stretch my legs and get out of the house. But you do you.” Scales hops out of the library window. Ponyville was bustling with ponies from across Equestria as well as the ponies of Ponyville doing their best to keep up with them as well as make final preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. Scales managed to avoid bumping into other ponies by slithering on the ground, holding the letter in his tail. It does not take him long until he reached the town hall, where Mayor Mare is waving at EC who is trotting away from her.

“Oh, hey Scales. Did Celestia send a letter today?”

“Worse, it’s a letter from Twilight. It seems rather serious.” EC used her magic to unfurl the scroll in front of her.

Dear Enchanted Crown,

I apologize for bothering you while you are at Ponyville, but in my studies in your study I have discovered that Nightmare Moon shall be making her return at the Summer Sun Celebration. I’ve informed Celestia but she laughed it off and told me that everything will be fine. I’m not liking this one bit.

Be careful EC. Danger is around the corner.

Yours Truly,

Twilight Sparkle

“Huh, not even a remark from Spike in this message. Rather worrisome, but I trust in Celestia’s decision.” EC gave the scroll back to Scales. “A simple ‘Dear Twilight, everything will be fine. Have faith in Celestia. EC’ would be good to send her. Right Scales?”

The green dragon rolled his eyes. “I dunno, shouldn’t we at least ask Celestia?”

“We’d more than likely receive the same response that Twilight got. Besides, Celestia is what keeps Equestria held together in times of crisis. I’m sure that if this is true, she has a plan to counteract it.” Scales writes on the scroll given back to him before setting that aflame. “Come on Scales. Let’s head on down to Sugar Cube Corner to see Cookies and have a good lunch.”

As EC arrived at Sugar Cube Corner, she heard the familiar voice singing. Over at one of the tables she saw a light orange earth pony who had just been levitated a dazzled stack of pancakes. Chocolate chips, whipped cream, syrup, strawberries, blue berries, with a bit of butter on top. The earth pony messily gobbled down the super pancakes in front of him.

“Now now, my dear Hope. Eat more slowly and enjoy the flavor. Also, you might choke eating too fast if you’re not careful.” Said the white unicorn behind the counter. He turned his smiling stallion snout over to EC. “Good to see you, EC. How might I trouble you on this fair day?”

“Pancakes for lunch? I’ll have what he’s having!” Scales slithered up to the counter.

“Not for me though, Cookies. I’ll have some strawberry oatmeal.”

“One Hopeful Journey and an oatmeal with strawberries. That’ll be 12 bits.” EC used magic to give the bits to Cookies who also used magic to count and place the bits into the register. “One moment as I get your orders ready.”

“WHO IS SINGING MY SONG!?!?!?” A pink earth pony pulled stretched her head into the room. She stared at Hope who was the culprit. “Listen here Mr. Psychic, you should know that I do not like when other ponies take my songs. Okie Dokey Loki?”

“Okie dokey loki.” Hope says with a salute to the pink pony.

“Okie Dokey Loki!” The pink pony replies with a smile and a much cheerier demeanor.

“I can’t help it.” Hope takes another bite of his pancakes, thoroughly chewing before swallowing. “That song is just so catchy.”

The dragon and the helmed unicorn make their way towards Hope. “Hello, Hope. You seem to be enjoying yourself today.”

“Well, yesterday I told Alto that I’d check out what he, Octavia, and Vinyl made. Octavia said it was “experimental” but I could tell Al was enjoying himself. They said they’d be ready to perform tonight, just before the Celebration. Did you want to check them out?”

“Thanks for the offer, Hope. We’re bound to hear about it as we’re ending the night off making sure everything is in order.”

Hope smiled at EC, but then looked at Scales. The dragon is sat down but his eyes are looking at the ceiling with his front claw rubbing his chin. “Is something wrong, Scales? Something on your mind?”

Scales closes his eyes and lets out an anguished sigh. “Can’t hide anything from the psychic, can I?” He looked over at EC before looking back at hope. “Twilight sent us a letter, trying to warn us about something, but EC puts her faith in nothing going wrong and I guess I’m just a bit worried.”

“Scales, no need to go into details.”

“He’s an empathic psychic. He’d make me spill my guts out with guilt because he knows I’m bothered by something.”

“Humor her.” A plate of pancakes and a bowl of oatmeal floats towards Scales and EC. “You can’t rely on others to be this perfect monolith of pure perfection. Sometimes you have to lend a helping hand here and there.” Cookies approached the group. “That’s how Hope, Alto, and I get along. We’re always there for each other when things go awry”

“Hmm.” EC pondered as Hope gave a big hug to Cookies. “Maybe you’re right.” She took a spoonful of her oatmeal to her mouth hole of her helmet. “Oooh this oatmeal is surprisingly sweet.” Cookies bows his head as EC and Scales shovel down their food.

After finishing their meals, the unicorn dragon duo proceeds to the library. They find Mareian relaxed on one of the seating cushions only for EC to trot right pass her and pull a couple of books off the shelf. Mareian shows a raised eyebrow of annoyance seeing the unicorn make a mess of a freshly cleansed library only for Scales to come up to her and give a few words. All the green Pegasus could do was sigh as she stands up and joins them in rummaging through the books in the library. Hours pass, and the sun has almost set. The search for the right book continues as EC wipes a bead of sweat dripping off her helm.

“Hey ya’ll!” The yellow earth pony enters the library. “Der’s sum music festivities all o’er dat founin.” Lucky looks at those inside the library only to find none of them looking at her. “err ya’ll need help with summin?”

“We’re looking for a book that will give us an idea as to what Celestia used to battle Nightmare Moon like a thousand billion trillion years ago.” Scales responded.

Lucky gives a confused look and grabs a book off the shelf with her mouth onto a nearby table. “L’ments of Hairmony? Hey ya’ll, dis book has images of a white pony blasting a dark pony with deez six balls and colours.”

“Should’ve known Lucky would find something first try. Next time, ask her. She’ll break all the timed records for how quickly she’d find something. Now if you need me, I have a library to clean up per usual.” Mareian states as she starts putting books back on the shelves.

“Come on now, girl. You’ve been cleaning dis here place. Les go enjoy da music.” Lucky’s argument got a defeated sigh out of Mareian who proceeds to exit the library before Lucky.

With the book in hoof, EC and Scales make their way out of the library and towards the sound of the music Lucky had mentioned. Music fills their ears as they approach the fountain at the center of town. They see a gray Earth pony with a cello playing next to a white unicorn with sunglasses in a DJ booth. Near them playing his instrument to the rhythm of the others is Alto. The smile on his face is noticeable to those watching. The most noticeable audience member is Hope who is cheering vibrantly while dancing to the music.

“Gotta say, they did a good job. Never heard anything like it before.” Scales says.

EC nods in agreement. “It is certainly unique, blending electronic noises with classical music.” She looks over at Alto, keeping the rhythm going despite the noises coming from the other ponies contrasting music. “I’m just surprised Alto’s able to keep up with them.”

“OF COURSE, HE CAN KEEP UP!” Hope trotted up next to the group trying to be heard over the music. “WOOOOO! ALTO! ALTO! ALTO!” He cheers on.

As the music begins to die down, a brown earth pony with red mane and tail appears in front of the musicians about to give a speech. “Check One Check Two! Mic Check is here for you Ponyville.” The audience bursts into cheers. “The Summer Sun Celebration happens once every year but THIS YEAR Celestia raises the sun HERE IN PONYVILLE!!!” The crowd bursts louder than before. “ALRIGHT! Give it up for these talented ponies for volunteering to hold these musical festivities as we head into the night before the LONGEST DAY! The Apple Family have provided the catering over there. I’ve been Mic Check, Checking out. I’ll see you all when the princess arrives.” The stallion trots away as the music continues.

“Who was that?” Hope asked.

“Oh, that was the announcer that Celestia had hired for the Summer Sun Celebration. He’s not exactly a big actor. Small town earth pony with the charisma that draws attention. I hear that he does a radio talk show on the weekends.” EC informed Hope.

“Oooh Radio. Cookies’ dad has one of those, but he uses it to get the news around Equestria. He says it makes it easier for to understand the market better.” Hope turns his head around from left to right. “Speaking of which, have either of you seen him? Haven’t seen him since pancake lunch.”

There is a shrill voice can be heard nearby. “My precious little angel food cake is the most independent pony I love. You’ve been keeping your mane well kempt, you got a job, and by the sounds of it you found yourself a place to stay since the Inn didn’t take you in. How dare they not accept MY son. My adorable son. My SUPER SON WHO I JUST LOVE SEEING GROW UP OHOHOH!”

The group turn their heads towards the voice which was followed by a groan. “Yes, yes, mother. I don’t think I’m all that independent. I came with my friends remember.” The voice had come from a familiar white unicorn who was being huggingly dragged by a yellow-orange unicorn mare. Her blonde mane is short and kempt. She is wearing a lot of jewelry with sapphires on them. On her flank is a golden whip. Following them is another white unicorn. He wears glasses and has his light black hair short and slick. On his flank is a blue bowl filled with white and a drama sad face next to it. Trotting close to him is a young unicorn colt whose mane is similarly styled to Cookies, his color scheme is more yellow like the mare before and both sharing blue eyes.

“Signed receipt documents, Cookies. Undeniable proof that you have purchased what you say you have purchased.” The spectacled unicorn says, face showing no emotion. “I’ll speak to the proprietor about their mistake and make sure they never do that again.”

“I have no idea what to say father. It was all mistaken identity; you don’t have to go that far.”

“I say you aren’t going far enough Sowy dear. SUE THEM FOR EVERY BIT THEY ARE WORTH!!!” Fire was almost coming out of her mouth.

“Oh hey! Mr. and Mrs. Cream! Over here!” Hope hollered over at the group of unicorns

“Hope!” The yellow colt ran up to the red stallion embracing Hope’s front leg. “Daddy says you got your cutie mark so early that you don’t even remember. When do you think I’ll get mine?”

“Bananas! Don’t be worrying too much about that. You’ll get yours soon enough.” Hope encouraged the young unicorn. The two of them laugh as the other unicorns approach the group. While Lucky and Mareian give a confused and annoyed look respectively, EC is standing stiff jointed. Scales meanwhile gave the same emotionless face as the white stallion and waved at them.

“Oh good, you are all here.” Cookies sighs in relief and begins to introduce his parents to his new friends. “Mother, Father, and my dear younger brother. On my journey here I have made some new friends. Miss Facing North, Lucky Horseshoes, and Enchanted Crown. And I believe, father, you and Miss Crown have already met.” When Cookies mentioned EC you could hear a squeak coming from her. Cookies father merely nods his head emotionlessly. “Friends, my father Sour Cream, my mother Whipped Cream, and my younger brother Banana Cream.”

After a moment of his and hellos, Cookies mother brought him in a bit closer and whispered “That’s an awful lot of mares you befriended. You find any of these girls attractive.”

Cookies politely pushes his mother off of him “Oh Mother, I don’t go rushing off into relationships so soon.”

“Well when ARE you!? You’re older than both of your friends and the only other mares I know in your life are that brooding unicorn Hope took to prom and Alto’s older sister. You haven’t taken any steps and I want to see my son start a family.”

“I’m working on it, Mother. Speaking of Alto’s family, do you happen to know if they’ll be arriving in time for the Summer Sun Celebration?”

Sour Cream sighs. “Roaring Thunder has a meeting in Cloudsdale. His wife accompanied him.” Cookies’ father said with a bit of a somber tone. “The daughter we saw when we entered town. She’s currently at the inn.”

“Dis Crem famly shore iz a bit a unique buncha cornheads don’t ya think?” Lucky whispered to Mareian.

“With how Cookies acts, I’d assume his family would be more elegant. I’ll give the father some credit though, a soft spoke stallion who doesn’t wear his emotions.”

“Shhhhh.” EC shushed the two mares. “The Creams are known for mane and tail care products, but Sour Cream is the most legally aware and branched the family business off into safety and insurance agencies. He is unreadable but he COULD SUE US for talking out of place.”

“Relax EC. You worry too much. He didn’t do any of that in his visits to Canterlot.” Scales said without the thought of secrecy.

“Thank you, Dragon.” Sour Cream thanked Scales. This caused the three mares too gasp with an audible peep. “And Hopeful Journey is here. Would you kindly escort young Banana around for a while. I have some very important ponies to have a discussion with.”

“Aye Aye Sir!” Hope said with a salute.

“Aww but Sowy, I wanted to spend time with my son’s new friends.” Whipped Cream whined.

“You may stay with them if you’d like, but I will miss your company.”

Whipped Cream laughed in a lustrous way. “Oh, you sure know how to tie me up into emotional knots. I love it.” She trots side by side with her husband. “Take care of my beautiful babies!” She waved goodbye at the group.

As the unicorns left the music died down. The trio of music players start to pack up their things and participate in the night’s festivities. “AL!” Banana rushed over to the giant Pegasus who just put his instrument away. “Al that was SO COOL I wish I could do all the things you can do and perhaps get my Cutie mark along the way.” Alto gives the colt a pat on the head as he trots with him to the others with an accomplished smile on his face.

The group continued to enjoy festivities of the Summer Sun Celebration. Though the food was plentiful, the amount of apple related dishes had left Cookies a bit queasy, but he stayed strong with the group. Banana played some sideshow games with Hope and Alto only to be impressed when Lucky joined in on a ring toss where she almost caused a riot as the pony in charge tried to reason why she shouldn’t get the prize. Despite the drama they all had a good time. During which EC and Scales were looking through the book they found at the library.

“Laughter, honesty, loyalty, generosity, kindness, and the unknown 6^th element. What do you think that could be, Scales?” EC pondered through the crowd.

“I dunno. Magic?” Scales stated in an unsure tone.

“Seems illogical though. All the elements are already magical so the 6^th element being magic would be rather redundant, don’t you think? Plus, that wouldn’t fit with the others which are more like… emotions… should we ask what Hope thinks about this?”

“Ask me about what?” As if on cue, Hope appears out of nowhere with a smile on his face looking at the faces of the dragon and unicorn reading a book. “Is that a spell book? Cookies might want to have a look at that.”

“Actually, Hope, this is more of a history book discussing the lore of these magical objects called the Elements of Harmony. Twilight wanted me to be prepared for danger so I’ve been looking for books on how to stop Nightmare Moon that she was talking about and these elements were the ones that sent her to the moon. This book says the elements are honesty, loyalty, generosity, kindness, and laughter but there is also a 6^th element that we can’t seem to figure out.” EC informed hope of the situation.

“Hmmm” Hope pondered for a moment. He took a look around at all the ponies celebrating. “Some of these elements remind me of some of the ponies here in Ponyville. Laughter, for example: Pinkie Pie fits that description with how she throws parties to put smiles on ponies face which also fits Cookies with how he tries to find the right way to bake treats that’ll make anyone happy.”

“So, you think that the elements are supposed to represent a living creature, like a dragon?” Scales say with a bit of optimism.

“Maybe, Scales. You aren’t as generous as Mareian is with her time. Not as kind as Lucky is with helping out where she can. Not as loyal as EC is here, nor as honest as Alto.”

“Mr. No Talk? Honesty? I haven’t heard him say a single word since we all met a week ago. Come on Hope, give me something here.” Scales complained.

“Well now, Al more prefers actions over words, but sometimes his words can be powerful. Who knows, Scales? Maybe you can be the element of tolerance if that’s the 6^th element.”

EC can’t help but sigh. Celestia should be arriving soon and with her is the potential of there being Nightmare Moon. All she has is the knowledge that there exists these Elements of Harmony and the speculation that they represent the characteristic traits of ponies and potentially dragons and even more speculation on what this 6^th element is and who is supposedly supposed to represent it.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, the night is upon us and soon shall be THEE longest day in Equestria. The Princess’s chariot shall be arriving here soon and if you look close enough at the night sky, you’ll just be able to see her.” The aforementioned announcer said. “Please, don’t bother her with autographs UNTIL the sun rises, but you can bother ME anytime you want. This has been Mic Check, checking out until the princess arrives. I’ll be signing photos over there.”

EC took a look at the sky and with a sigh of relief she could see the princess’s chariot on the way to Ponyville. Though the darkness of the night made the chariot look a bit darker, EC was still able to recognize the Princess and the two guards pulling her chariot. “Looks like we’re in the clear Scales. The Princess is fine, so we were all worried about nothing.”

“hehe, I guess the whole ‘Mare in the Moon’ was just an old pony’s tale.” Scales laughed but EC just stood unmoving.

“Wait… ‘Mare in the Moon’? If that’s supposed to be an old pony’s tale like you said, Scales, then why is there a book here about the magical items that were used to send her to the moon? Unless…” If EC wasn’t wearing her helm, one would be able to see her eyes widen. The moon that usually had the shadow on it, no longer had it. And as the Princess’s chariot came closer and closer to the bright and bristling Ponyville, the dark shades of the chariot and guards and even the Princess herself didn’t change.

“To all the ponies in attendance, we appear to have an early arrival of the PRINCESS. Please graciously bow to your ruler of Equestria.” All the ponies bow following the red maned announcer. All except for EC who was bracing herself for the horror that she knew was coming. What should have been Celestia was instead a mist of night blue shrouded the chariot. A Black figure emerges from the mist, her wings large and her horn long. She wore a blue helm with a chest piece that had a crescent moon on it.

“Oh, my beloved subjects. It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sun loving faces.” The figure laugh, looking at all the ponies who have bowed their heads. “It seems I’m still royal enough for you.”

“Of course, Princess Ce-” The red maned earth pony announcer lifted his head up and then immediately back down. “Your Majesty is always welcomed to the wonderful town of Ponyville, the mayor told me so herself.”

“What have you done to our princess?” EC muttered. The dark alicorn had turned her head towards the only pony not bowing.

“Is my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legends? Did you not see the signs?” The alicorn marched towards EC as she said that. She caught a glimpse of the book that EC had been reading earlier and her eyes narrowed. “Ah, so you have read about the Elements of Harmony. Tell me, little pony, do you know where they are?”

EC gulped, feeling the weight of the alicorn’s gaze on her. Before she could say anything, Scales stood up between the two. Usually on all fours, Scale’s was just barely the height of the average pony, but standing up on his hind legs he could just meet eye to eye with Nightmare Moon. “Pfft, you’re scared of some magical rocks that beat you centuries ago? I got news for ya, princess. You never faced a dragon before.”

“After a thousand years and dragons still have the pride larger than the moon itself.” The alicorn’s horn starts glowing, its aura encapsulating Scales before launching him into the dark night sky. During this moment, EC skims through her book in hope to find some sort of clue.

Elements

Everfree

Sisters

Castle

Before she could get any other hints, a starry aura disintegrates the book. If her face weren’t obscured, Nightmare Moon could have witnessed the terror on EC’s face firsthand. “Enough fooling around. I shall not have one as pathetic as yourself get in my way. Darkness shall rule over Equestria for all of eternity!” And just like that, the menacing alicorn flew away into the unwavering night sky.

Some of the ponies slowly raised their heads up, looking cautiously. Cookies, Lucky, and Mareian rushed over to EC. “My goodness, that sounded quite serious. My dear EC, what in Equestria is going on?” Cookies asked the unresponsive unicorn. Alto and Hope were predisposed to taking care of Bananas by playing games with him to be bothered by the happenings. Mareian gives an annoyed sigh while Lucky gives a confused look.

“Summtin bout dem l’ments of harm or summ’in?” Lucky could only guess, but that’s all that she could possibly know.

EC knew she had to act fast. She closed her eyes and focused her mind, recalling everything she had learned about the Elements and their location. Suddenly, a vision flashed before her eyes. She saw a clearing deep in the Everfree Forest where the Elements were hidden, protected by a powerful enchantment. “I-I see it.” She informed the questioning ponies. “The Everfree Forest… I think there is a castle there in a deep clearing where the elements of harmony are. We need them in order to stop Nightmare Moon and bring back the sun.”

“Evah free?” Lucky asked. “Aww shoot! Why didn ya say so erlier. I go through dat locale erry time I make a trip to Ponyville. I can ezly get ch’all ‘round dere.” Lucky stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

EC breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great, Lucky. I don’t suppose you know about a castle being there at all would you?”

“More or less.”

“Adventure!?” Hope popped his head into the conversation. “Oh boy! And we’re gonna save Equestria! AL GET THE CART!” Alto begins walking away from the crowd, Bananas tried to go with him but Hope had already lifted him up by one hoof back into the group. “Sorry Bananas. Your dad entrusted me with you and I take my tasks very seriously.” Hope says to the Colt who has a bit of a frightened look.

“I don’t think a foal like myself should be going on such dangerous adventures.” Bananas said with a gulp.

“Nonsense! What could possibly go wrong?”

At Everfree Forest travel 7 ponies with a cart. Lucky taking the lead followed by Cookies. Alto slowly pulling the cart while looking at the creepy surroundings. Hope, Mareian, EC, and Bananas are all huddled in the cart under the blanket, shivering.

“Oh come on now.” Cookies said. “Most of you are fully grown ponies and a bit of darkness starts to spook the hairs off your bodies.”

“N-N-Nightmare M-M-Moon.” EC stuttered

“So dark… Just like then… oh brother where art thou?” Mareian spoke with dread.

“B-Big bro… I don’t like those monsters looking at me.” Bananas informed Cookies

“Y-Yeah. Those emotionless eyes… I can’t read them.” Hope added.

Cookies gave them all a stern look before turning around to see the ‘Emotionless eyes’ that Hope spoke of. With a glow of his horn, he showed that the eyes looking at them were branches before looking back at all of them with the same look. Hope and Bananas sighed in relief and Alto started to move the cart a bit faster catching up with Lucky. The Pegasus and the unicorn were still shaking in fear. Cookies couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are-are you laughing? This-this is no l-laughing m-matter.” EC said still shaking in fear.

“No, no, dear EC. Laughter is the best medicine. For you see…” A bit of music starts to play as Cookies begins to sing.

Cookies little song and dance stopped any would be jitters from EC and Mareian can’t help but join in the laughter with the others. Cookies took a bow on the back edge of the cart. “Thank you. Thank you. Not exactly the emotion I want to share with song, but with times being tough and all a smile is worth more than a million bits.”

A sudden bump on the path causes Cookies to fall backwards and the momentum of his fall caused the cart to unwillingly change direction to a downward slant. Gravity causing Alto’s wings to be pinched by the cart as they all begin building up speed toward a spikey canyon. They knock a big boulder what had been embedded with moss onto the earth and it began to roll down the hill with them. Cookies and Lucky ran as fast as they could towards the cart. Mareian flew upwards off the cart. Hope covered Bananas with his body and a basket embroidered “Hopeful Journey.” EC decided to jump towards Alto, hoping that the force would get him unstuck. The force tumbles them both off the cart, but now in the path of the boulder barreling towards them. EC uses her magic while the two of them are tumbling to stop the boulder which she was able to do so in time. Unfortunately, EC is barely hanging on to Alto as she is beginning to slide off the cliff and into the canyon. Fortunately, Alto has one of his wings wrapped around her hoof but his other wing got caught under the boulder.

“Save yourself, Alto. I wasn’t prepared for this in time so just let me go.”

“Don’t let go.” EC couldn’t recognize the origin of the soft-spoken voice. A tone so serious yet at the same time as calm as a clam. “I can get us both to safety.”

“Who?” Before EC could get answer to her question she was pulled up by Alto’s wing. The wing had twisted and contorted in a way she wasn’t used to, but it managed to place itself back into its original position. EC then noticed his other wing was caught underneath the boulder which she kindly lifted with her magic and tossed in into the canyon. “By the way Alto, did you hear a voice just about now?” Alto just tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and pointed one of his hooves towards himself. After a few seconds, EC spoke. “OH! That was you? Sorry I just… you don’t ever speak I thought… sorry.” She said at a loss.

Meanwhile the cart that had just about launched itself into the canyon had found itself coated in a magical white aura along with the two ponies and items inside of it. Mareian is carefully dragging Hope, who has his basket on his head, out of the floating mess. Slowly but surely the cart is magically placed firmly on the ground. Cookies collapses as the aura disperses and Bananas runs up towards his brother for a hug.

“Bro THAT WAS AWESOME.” Bananas shrieked. “We were all like ‘ohno!’ and you were all like ‘not on my watch’ and used your super awesome magic and caught us all and so THRILLING to float without wings bro you are SO AWESOME!” Bananas continues to fanboy over his older brother, Cookies, while he just lays down and give an accomplished smile.

“Jus glad that wasn me in dat dere mishap.” Lucky stated. “Tho, we need t’git ovr da otha syde of da crevace dere.” She says pointing to the other side. All the ponies look at each other. Alto tries to flap his wings, but he could barely get any air from his injured wing and falls to the ground. Cookies is still laying down exhausted with Bananas hugging his older brother. “Naht it!” Lucky said with a raised hoof.

“Not it!” Hope joined in still with the basket over his head.

Mareian looked over to EC who is slowly raising her hoof, but before she could Mareian grabs EC’s hoof with her own. “Oh no you don’t. I’m not going out there alone in the dark. You’re coming with me and we are going to make a bridge if we have to.” The Pegasus drags the unicorn, flying them both to the other side of the canyon. They spot two stakes at the other end and a wooden rope bridge connected to them but it is dangling off the cliff. “I don’t suppose you can use your magic and bring the other end back up?”

EC’s horn lit up, but nothing came up. “I think it’s stuck on something. I can’t see what it’s stuck on, it’s too dark for me.”

“Too dark for you? Girl, if you expect me to go down there in the darkness, you have another thing coming.” EC cast a spell on Mareian causing her to glow a bright light that shines as far as 10 feet away from her. “…Thank you. This shouldn’t take long.” She said politely before slowly descending down along the cliff.

A bush rustled, causing EC to turn her head. “Who’s there?” She called out. Two stallions appeared before her. They looked like Celestia’s royale guards, except darker. Their eyes were red and their armor was more like Nightmare Moon’s.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Celestia’s meekest student.” One of them said in a mocking tone.

“Can’t blame her, really. Celestia was all laid back around her. She’d never have been placed in any REAL danger. Nightmare Moon will train you to your perfect form.”

“Yeah little filly. Celestia is the reason that you are weak. Nightmare Moon will make you strong. She won’t let you hide behind a royal guard helmet and pretend you are all chummy with the captain.”

“News flash, he’s engaged.”

“Yeah, to a mare who really gets around. We all know what that heart REALLY means.” The two of them start laughing.

“Say what you will about me…” EC quietly muttered. “But don’t you ever…” She takes a deep breath. “DON’T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT MY FRIENDS LIKE THAT AGAIN! Especially not Celestia!” She shouted at the pair who are taken aback before running out of sight into the forest.

“Wow… I get launched up into the sky and you get enough bravery to stand up for yourself… Cool.” Scales appeared from the bush on all fours. He swiped off some of the branches of his scales.

“Not now Scales. I’m a bit peeved at that situation.” EC said in a sour tone. She then immediately turned her head to Scales and stared at him. “When did you get here, Scales?”

“Two words. Dragon Wings.”

“No, I know that but it was less of a question of why and more of a how.”

“Seven colorful ponies and a single cart doesn’t exactly ‘blend in’ especially from a bird’s eye view.” Scales informed the unicorn. Though I did lose you guys in the darkness of Everfree. The screams were helpful.”

Mareian interrupted the conversation. “Hey! I got the end of the bridge! Can you see it!?” She shouted. EC immediately looked over the edge and lit up her horn, sending the other end of the bridge to the other side with Alto, Bananas, Cookies, Hope, and Lucky. It wasn’t long before they carefully crossed the bridge along with the cart.

Cookies is still exhausted, leaning his head on the spell book he got from Buckfield and looking at a framed photograph. The photo contains thirteen ponies. On the left and right of the photo are Sour Cream and Whipped Cream respectively. Next to Sour is a dark Pegasus stallion with a whiteish mane wearing a hard hat. He has his wing rapped around Sour and the two give a relaxed smile to the camera. Next to Whipped is a rather larger Pegasus mare in Wonderbolts bodysuit and goggles. Though her body is covered with a suit, you can see that her snout and wings are blue. Her mane looks like it has gone through high speeds and is a faint bluish white. She too also has her wing rapped around Whipped. While both are smiling, Whipped is looking at what’s at the center of the photo. Bananas lays on the ground with Hope sitting behind him. Behind Hope is Alto sitting, and behind him is Sky Sonata with Cookies N Cream on her shoulders, all of them smiling to the camera. Cookies sighs nostalgically.

EC had decided to check up on Cookies at this time and saw him staring longingly at the photo with a smile on his face. She recognized most of the ponies in the photo. “Last family photo?”

“Most of us are adults, Miss Crown… It’s best to enjoy the time you still have together before you won’t be able to see each other again.” He places a hoof on the photo where Sky’s face was. “Being this close to her made me the happiest pony in town. I wonder if we’ll still have time to spend together or if she’ll have work obligations outside of Equestria. Will she still be at Ponyville by the time we’ve resolved all this?”

The helmed unicorn listened to Cookies’ words and could sense the feeling of uncertainty in his voice. She took a moment to think before responding. “I think that everything will be alright in the end. Even if things don’t go according to plan, you’ll still have all the good memories of the past. And even make some more in the future. There’s always a chance, right?” EC explained. “And no need to be so formal with me remember. We’re friends.”

Cookies gave a light chuckle. “I guess you’re right.” He adjusted his head a bit before closing his eyes.

“Hol’ up ya’ll!” Lucky exclaimed, causing Cookies to sit back up, sleepy eyed. They had stopped in front of a roaring river. “Dis line of water ain’t normly dis rappid.” The earth pony explained.

“OH BOO HOO HOO!” A voice cried in the river. Rising from the water thrashing around causing the chaotic water movement is a purple sea serpent monster with a fancy orange head of hair and mustache, except that one side of the moustache is uneven and poorly cut. “Oh WHY must there be a TACKY little cloud of smoke TEAR of my BEAUTIFUL moustache.” The serpent cried dramatically.

“Good grief, you sound like my brother.” Mareian said in an annoyed toned before tearing off one of the beast’s scales. The serpent collapses in shock as Mareian heads back to the cart and pulls out a tube of Dandy Cream’s Dandy Cream™. She looked at the hairs of the serpent and looks at her tail hairs. With a sigh, she cuts the hairs of her tail, applies the tube of hair care on it and attaches it to the serpent’s moustache as though it were glue. A couple more applications of the hair cream to make both sides of the moustache look symmetrical. “Dandy Cream’s Dandy Cream for all your dandy emergencies.” Mareian read off the tube.

The serpent opened its eyes to see that his moustache is now complete, though the color of Mareian’s tail did not match the other the beast gave a smile and a joyous laugh. “Oh thank you thank you THANK YOU. I wouldn’t know how to LIVE without my moustache. Is there ANYTHING I can do to repay you?”

“Always glad to lend a hoof where I can. You don’t have to do anything. It was merely a force of habit.”

“NONSENSE darling. Here…” The serpent lifted the cart that had all the ponies in it to the other side of the river. “It’s the least I can do. Sorry for all the commotion.”

After thanking the serpent, the ponies continued their journey. Lucky lead them through the forest until she came upon a dying plant. “Hol’ up, y’all! We got a plantation emergency.” She starts digging the plant up and placing it closer to a nearby pond, applying some water on it. “Ok, y’all. LES GO!” As she walked away the others just stared at the plant for a moment and saw it magically grow into a bulbus sharp tooth monstrosity. The ponies let a fearful gasp until the plant turned around and chomped up some timber wolves that were charging after the ponies. This all led up to a collective sigh as they follow Lucky through the woods.

It wasn’t long until they reached the ruins of a castle. EC took on ahead. “You all stay here. We don’t know if Nightmare Moon has set a trap for us.” She enters the castle with the others left outside. She finds five of the elements of harmony on a chandelier. “Five? Where is the sixth one?” She asked.

“Good question.” Scales appears from the darkness much to the surprise of EC. “Maybe there was never a sixth element?”

“Scales!? I thought I told you to stay outside with the others.”

“You weren’t looking at me when you said that, so I thought I was exempt.”

“If Scales gets to go then why can’t we all come?” Hope came and asked.

“Hope… *wheeze* she said *gasp* to stay.” Cookies chased Hope out of breath and legs wobbling. He is followed by Bananas who in turn is followed by Alto, Lucky, and Mareian in that order.

“I swear you are the most childish stallions I’ve ever met.” Mareian stated with a roll in her eyes. She looked over at EC. “Those the elements we’re looking for? They don’t look all to magical… or six.”

“I’m working on it.” She turned her head towards the elements and started to apply her magic on the elements. While the others are standing a bit back, Hope takes a closer look at the elements. “Hope don’t get too clo-” Just as EC was about to warn Hope, a dark and starry aura appears and sucks in the elements as well as Hope. EC reacted faster than anyone else in the room and jumped in after him with Scales following suit, but before Cookies could jump in after them, the magic aura dispersed.

“HOPE!” Cookies screamed. He tried to stand up but wasn’t able to and collapsed immediately. “Gah…”

“Don’t you think you’re over doing it there?” Mareian said in a bit of a worried tone.

“As the oldest of our group, I feel the most responsible for the youngest.” Cookies took a deep breath. “We need to find them. Hope… Despite being a rather well-built stallion… he can’t fight an alicorn. He can’t.”

Alto had lifted Cookies onto his back. “He’s my younger brother. If it’s anypony is responsible for him, it would be me.” Alto looked at Mareian and Lucky and waved them over to follow him. Bananas was already following him.

“Did he jus say… WORDS. Liek, ACTUAHL words?” Lucky spoke in a surprised tone.

“A lot of things have already happened today, Lucky. The quiet one actually speaking is not all that surprising.” Mareian remarked, following Alto as she does. Lucky shook her head and followed suite.

In a distant part of the ruined castle, the magical aura appears and releases the elements, Hope, Scales, and EC from its grasp. The five elements were sent to one end of the room while the earth pony, the unicorn and the dragon slide to the opposite end. By the time they got their bearings, Nightmare Moon appears, surrounded by the elements of harmony.

“Alright! Ready for round two, Princess?” Scales states as he stands up into a kung fu pose, goading Nightmare Moon to make the first strike.

“You’re kidding… You’re kidding, right?” Nightmare Moon scoffs as she lights up her horn. Her aura envelopes Scales’ body and is about to launch him out the window, but another magical pink aura cancels it out allowing for Scales to re adjust himself and launch himself at the alicorn.

“He’s not alone.” EC stated with her horn lit up. “I will not let you harm any more Equestrians nor my friends.” EC joined in the charge against Nightmare Moon.

“Hmph. So be it.” The alicorn’s horn lit up and fired a beam of magic, knocking Scales and EC to the side. Hope had been out of the way the whole-time getting glimpses at Nightmare Moon. “Your elements couldn’t even help you get yourself out of a bag of straw. Let me DEAL with them.” With a menacing cackle and stomp, the elements shattered.

“NO!” EC shrieked in defeat.

“Quit your crying! These elements are the reason for all the bad things Equestria has to offer. No pony will miss them! No pony will need them! No pony will want them!!!” Nightmare Moon shouted with intimidation.

A sparkle shined in Hope’s eyes. He slowly trots towards the alicorn, no fear on his face. “I understand now.”

“Hope RU-” Scales tried to warn Hope but was shot away by Nightmare Moon’s magic.

“Dragons forget how weak they are to magic with there hardened scales. BAH!” Nightmare Moon scoffed before looking at Hope. “An earth pony? Don’t make me laugh! I could strike you down, even without magic.” The alicorn boasted. Hope remains unphased by the predicament and is smiling his way toward Nightmare Moon. She remained on the defensive curious at what Hope was planning to do to fight her. She knew that she was more powerful, so no matter what kind of attack the earth pony had, she knew she could counter it. But the earth pony never attacked. He never rushed at her or prepared a strike. Instead, Hope simply reached out his hooves towards Nightmare Moon in an embrace.

“It’s all ok.” Hope said. “I can see it in your eyes… on the outside is this dark foreboding presence, but on the inside, I see a lost pony. This isn’t you.”

“In the books,” EC added “you were… no you ARE Princess Celestia’s sister, Princess Luna.” EC got up and spoke with determination. She walked towards the hugged alicorn. “I think I understand it as well. Ponies can change, even Alicorns. Some can be corrupted but can also be easily uncorrupted.” She joined in on the embrace as well. “The elements don’t matter, but friends do.”

“HOPE!” A scream could be heard coming from the other side of the room. It was Cookies, still on Alto’s back. Following them are Lucky, Mareian, and Bananas. Cookies got off Alto’s back and rushed towards his friend alongside Alto, but the two slowed down as they got closer, realizing that their friend isn’t in any danger. Cookies and Alto looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders before joining in on the group-hug pile. “Welcome to Hopeful Journey’s Trademarked Hug Therapy Session, Princess.” Cookies said.

“OOOH GROUP HUG! LES GO GIRL!” Lucky said to Mareian before rushing ahead for a jumping hug to the group-hug pile.

“Hey, slow down! It’s not a ball pit, somepony could get hurt.” Mareian yelled out to Lucky. She rolled her eyes and looked at Bananas. The young colt was about to run in after them, but Mareian was able to stop him with one of her wings. “Woah there. I don’t think your father would approve of you just jumping into a pile of ponies. He could sue us if you get hurt. Just stay in our sights, kid until the adults sort things out.” Mareian scolded Bananas before joining in on the hug as well.

Nightmare Moon was flabbergasted. She expected the ponies around her to shiver in fear, not calmly approach her for a hug. She could feel a warmth feeling deep down inside her. She didn’t notice the tears trickling down her face and snout. Just then, the shattered remains of the elements of harmony started emitting magic around the six ponies and the alicorn. The sixth element floated down from above. After the light of the magic settled down, Nightmare Moon was no longer there. Instead of the tall dark alicorn, was a smaller, light blue alicorn in her place, with tears still trickling down her snout. The six ponies that had been hugging Nightmare Moon had been hugging this blue alicorn instead.

“Did y’all see a lite ‘r summing? I had my eyes closed an’ feels like sum pony shined a light attem.” Lucky says. She is the first to remove herself from a hug where she notices that she’s wearing a gold necklace with a gem in the shape of a four-leaf clover on the front. “How’d dat git der?” She asked.

Mareian is next to get off. She looks over at Lucky. “Looks like the clovers on your cutie mark.” She tells the mare.

“Wel y’all got one too!” Lucky points her hoof at Mareian. “An’ yer tail has grown back.”

Mareian looks down at her own necklace and sees a circular silver gem with a straight red accent that looks like it’s pointing. “Well, what do we have here?” She ponders. Looking back at her tail she sees that it is no longer short after cutting the hairs not too long ago. “Oh yeah…” She says as if she forgot about it.

Alto and Cookies top hugging and look at the two mares discussing and then look at themselves. Alto had his in the shape of a music note while Cookies had a chocolate chip cookie. Cookies looks over at EC who is still hugging they newly reformed Princess Luna. “Excuse me, EC. I just need to have a look at something.” EC obliges and reveals that she too has a necklace in the shape of a helmet just like her cutie mark.

“THAT WAS SOOOOO COOOL!” Bananas screamed from the other side of the room. He rushed at his older brother, Cookies, and gave him a hug. “There was these shattered rocks and they floated and this floating orb that came from the ceiling and then a light happened and then I got dizzy but the big dark scary winged unicorn was gone!”

“Alicorn, Bananas. Just like Celestia.” Cookies took a look at Princess Luna. “Oh, come now. No need to cry, dear princess. No harm, no foul. All is ‘forgive and forget’ as it were.”

“No harm? Speak for yourself.” Scales crawled out of some debris he was left under after he had gotten hit with magic.

“As I said, forgive and forget.” Cookies told the dragon. He looked at Princess Luna who was still being hugged by Hope. “Now, now, Hope. give the Princess some breathing room.”

“It’s fine… I needed this for a while.” Princess Luna says as she finally embraces Hope.

The sun shines through one of the windows. It has finally risen. And with the sunlight appears Princess Celestia. Most of the ponies bow to her except for Hope who is still hugging Celestia’s sister. With a smile on her face, Celestia spoke “My little ponies. You have overcome adversity not through sheer force, but through the power of friendship.”

“What about Twilight?” EC asked the Princess. “She told me that you laughed off her concerns.”

“I had meant to reassure her, as I had sent one of my most loyal subjects to Ponyville to make some friends…” She started chuckling to herself. “But she had already made some interesting friends before she even left Canterlot. Isn’t that right, EC?”

EC put her hoof on her helmet and pushed it off with a bit of a struggle. Her turquoise mane had gone everywhere, it was hard to tell where the light purple highlights began and where they ended. There was a bit of sweat was dripping off her mane. Here eyes shined with a golden yellow hue, and her mouth stretched with a smile that almost brings out a tear. “Thank you Celestia. It was an honor.”

Celestia smiled at her student and looked over to her sister still being hugged by the orange bodied earth pony. “Pardon me, may I have a word with my sister?” Hope looked over at Celestia and then over to Luna before nodding his head. “Thank you.” Hope began to trot off until Celestia stopped him, noticing that he, too has a necklace with his cutie mark on it, a big red love heart. “You too have an element of harmony? That one is the most magical of all. It represents the magic of friendship. May I know the name of the one who saved my sister from eternal darkness?”

“Hopeful Journey is my name!” Hope said with a salute. “Most ponies call me Hope for short.”

“With a heart as big as yours I wouldn’t be surprised if you were the Hope Equestria needs.” She said with a laugh. Hope joins in on the laugh as well. And even though there were tears on her face, Luna too started to laugh. “Enjoy your times together, my little ponies. A new day is ahead of us. Let this be a time for togetherness.” The ponies cheered as Celestia hugged her sister and with a light of her horn, the two princesses were gone.

“Did… did the princess just leave us stranded here?” Mareian asked as she pressed her hoof between her eyes. “We’ve been up all night and now we half to go back to Ponyville on our own.”

“We could fly. Two Pegasus and a dragon. We pull the cart together. We could make it back to Ponyville in a short amount of time.” Alto states, flapping his wings to show they are better.

Mareian sighs. “I liked you better when you didn’t talk.” She says sarcastically before patting Alto on the back. “Come on, boys! We got a wagon full of ponies and their destination is Ponyville.”

The six adult ponies, one foal unicorn, and a dragon took to the skies. Mareian, Alto, and Scales pull on the wagon while Cookies, Hope, Lucky, EC, and Bananas remain inside the wagon. Bananas had fallen asleep inside the cart while EC and Hope hold on to a rather panicking Lucky. Hope had put his basket on top of Lucky’s head to cover her eyes while he wears her hat. Cookies, meanwhile reads the spell book next to his little brother. EC notices the book Cookies is reading, but as she’s about to ask, Lucky starts bucking causing EC to hold her down even more. It wasn’t long before they made it to Ponyville where they were greeted by a crowd of onlookers.

“Is that them?”

“Did they raise the sun?”

“IS THAT A DRAGON!?!?”

The murmurs in the crowd continued until the group finally landed. The first pony to approach them was the mayor. “I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you fo-” before she could finish, Whipped Cream brushed past her like a yellow-orange blur.

“OH THERE ARE MY PRECIOUS BABIES.” She yanked both Bananas and Cookies out of the wagon with her magic. Cookies puts his book away while she does this and Bananas is still asleep. “oh, my little one stayed up oh so late don’t worry my precious little pumpkin Banana spice.” Mrs. Cream cradled Bananas with her magic and let Cookies go. “Oh and Cookies de-” She notices the necklace on Cookies baring the element of harmony. “Son, necklaces look tacky on you. Get something more organic like a scarf or a bow tie. Anyway, your father would like to speak with you.” Cookies sighed before trotting off with his mother.

“SIS!” Mareian is tackled by a similar looking stallion Pegasus, South Pole. “I-I-I panicked! The night didn’t stop so I had to use a cannon to launch myself to the skies above Equestria and let gravity take me to Ponyville and I couldn’t find you and now I just want to go home, North.”

“It’s been a long night, South. We can stay at the library here.” Mareian reassured her brother. “Let’s go. I need my beauty sleep.”

Alto is approached by three ponies: Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, and a light green unicorn with a lyre cutie mark. “Come now, Alto Tenor. We have garnered another member of our new music club. We must prepare for our next experimental music session.” Alto smiled and nodded at Octavia before extending a hoof to the new unicorn.

“Lyra Heartstrings. I just moved here from Canterlot and haven’t gotten accustomed, but you guys know how to jam.” The unicorn introduced herself.

Lucky had launched herself off the wagon and started to hug the dirt. While she was enjoying her moment of being firmly on the ground, Lucky is approached by a yellow stallion earth pony with an apple cutie mark. He had green eyes, golden locks of mane and tail, with a brown vest and cowboy hat to boot. “Howdy Lucky.”

“Howdy Braeburn!” Lucky responded.

“Sorry to drop in on ya like this, but it turns out that there was a confusion over at the postal service. I was the one who would have shown Appleoosan culture. You with your…” The stallion stumbled over his words for a bit. “Your talents would have been no problem taking over for me, but it turns out that they went by description in the post office… haha.”

“Awww shoot.” Lucky swore. “I had such a gran’ ol’ time here in Ponyville and made sum fond memories with mah new friends. Do I hav t’go back?”

Braeburn gave an embarrassed smile. “Well, it’s no problem. We can sort this all out with the officials over at Appleoosa see what they say.” Braeburn extended his hoof out to Lucky. “Now come on, girl! We gots a train to catch… to.”

“APPLEOOSA!” The two earth ponies shouted and ran off.

EC got off the wagon next, but as soon as she saw all the ponies around her, she tried to put her helmet back on to no avail while Scales sighs and draws a ponies face on a paper bag before forcing it on EC, causing her horn to pierce through the bag.

“EC?” A voice came from the crowd. It was a purple unicorn with a sparkle cutie mark, but she was being supported on her midsection with a pair of wheels that pulls her back half forward.

“Twilight?” EC used her magic to cut eyeholes out of the bag so she could see. She rushed over to the wheeled unicorn. And gave her a hug. “It’s so good to see you again.”

A purple dragon appears at her side. Scales stealthily approaches the other dragon. “Sup, Spike?”

“Sup, Scales?” The two dragons give each other a fist bump of approval.

“I tried to get here sooner, but last second train tickets to Ponyville are hard to come by.” The unicorn sighed. “But it looks like everything went well with you. Thanks for lending me your study by the way.”

“It’s been a long week, Twilight, to say the least. I know of a place that sells the best sweets. We can celebrate over there for the survival of another day.” The two mares start giggling as they walk off, dragons in tow.

This left Hope staring at the tens of ponies that are just looking at him. The mayor approaches the orange stallion. “Well if it isn’t Hope? Perhaps you may… inform these worried ponies about what just happened?”

Hope stared back at all the ponies. While there were some smiles here and there, there were a lot more confused and concerned looks. Understandable as an unknown alicorn had come to their town to stop the sun from rising on the longest day of the year. Hope was taken aback, collecting all the thoughts and memories of the past 24 hours before he said with a smile on his face. “THE PRINCESS’S SISTER HAS RETURNED AND THEY ARE HAPPY TOGETHER!!!” Hope cheered which immediately turned all the frowns in the area upside down. “Oh, and we got these magical necklaces. Mine represents the magic of friendship. That’s what the princess told me.” Hope continues to retell the events of what happened as the ponies of Ponyville celebrate a joyous occasion.

At the front of Vacant C.’s Vacant Inn are three ponies: Sour Cream, the inn’s proprietor, and a tan earth pony stallion with slick black hair and a tie with a money symbol on it. His cutie mark was three bags with money symbols on them.

“No, no no, Mr. Cream I didn’t ban your son. I didn’t even know you had one. I banned this pesky mare that tries to claim she has ‘business meetings’ with my client.” The lanky proprietor pulled out a piece of paper that depicts the face of a pony that looks like rarity, but do to it not being colored in, one could say it’s Cookies. Sour pulls out a pencil to color in Cookies mane, removes the eyelashes, and adds a few dots on the cheeks of the photo.

The beige stallion next to Sour chimes in. “Well, I don’t know about that Sour, I’ve been to Rarity’s Boutique and she’s not exactly a mare to be easily confused with any pony let alone a stallion.”

SOWY THE KIDS ARE BACK.” Whipped cheese enters the scene with a cradled Bananas in her magical grasp. Behind her is Cookies, who is dreary eyed from the entire day.

“Good morning father.” Cookies said.

“THERE SHE IS! I thought I told you not to come back here, Rarity!”

“Excuse me, Mr Cream, did I hear my name just now?” Behind the trio of stallions was Rarity who had in her magical grasp a black and white checkered scarf. “I had this made for your darling son, Cookies and when you asked me to meet you here, I thought it’d be a FABULOUS idea to give it to you to give to your sone, right?” The two stallions next to Sour looked at Rarity and then back over at Cookies. “Oh Cookies, you’ve returned to Ponyville so suddenly as you left off with your friends. Here, this’ll add that bit of masculinity we’ve talked about.” She wraps the scarf around Cookies neck, covering up his element. “You look fabulous darling.”

“Why thank you, Rarity.”

“And that is another thing you’re wrong about, Mr. Rich. You should stop making foolish bets unless you know the outcome.” Sour looked at the money dressed stallion next to him.

“Pocket change, Sour. Even that discount I gave you on that house barely did a dent in my profits.” The stallion pulled out a small bag of bits from his clothing. “I’ll be off then, before I miss breakfast with the wife and daughter, you know.” The stallion trotted off to his own business.

Sour Cream gave a menacing look over at the proprietor of the inn. “I’ll go prepare you the Grand Galloping Feast with no added cost to your bill sir.” The stallion meekly offered as he rushed back into the inn.

Sour looked at Cookies before using magic to give him a set of keys. “Happy early birthday Cookies. I bought a summer house here in Ponyville and am putting you in charge of it. Understood?”

Cookies nodded his head and had the keys nestled in his newly acquired scarf. “Understood father, but after all I’ve been through the past 24 hours, I think I earned myself a well-kept bed to sleep on.” As Cookies is about to enter the inn, he bumps into a rather large Pegasus.

“Going to sleep at this time of the day? How naughty.” The Pegasus was Sky Sonata and she gave a rather mischievous smile at the black and white unicorn. “Come on, sleepy head. Let’s head to this house you got.” She picks up Cookies with her head, placing him on her back. “Later Mr. & Mrs. Cream.” After all the goodbyes, Sky flew up high with Cookies in tow.

“DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING!?!?!?” Cookies shouted over the sound of the roaring wind.

“Ehh, shouldn’t be that hard.” A yellowish aura envelops Sky’s head. “Especially when your mother uses her magic to tell me where we need to go. It’s over there.” Sky said calmly. They land in front of the new summer home. The outside is fairly upper middle class, bricks and wood put together in the form of a two-story house with plenty of windows. “After you.” Sky placed Cookies down and allowed him to open space. The inside had fine wood flooring and tall, open rooms. There were four bedrooms with one of them containing a double bed. Cookies took advantage and jumped into this new bed. Just as he’s about to close his eyes, Sky also joins him in getting in the bed, though much more carefully. “Nice house.”

Cookies could feel his heart practically beat out of his chest. His body was tired but his heart prevented him to rest, not when a beautiful Pegasus is on the same bed as him. Cookies took a deep breath. “Better than being cramped in a library for the past couple of days.”

“Oof. Even when you have the free time… wait… YOU SPENT THE NIGHT WITH THAT LIBRARIAN MARE DIDN’T YA!?” Sky said in a rather joking tone. It gets a laugh out of Cookies.

“Yes, and both of your brothers and a dragon. And here I thought I was the element of laughter.”

“Huh?” Sky asked. This causes Cookies to explain what had happened in the Everfree forest and how Princess Luna had come back after a thousand years and how he and his friends hugged her and that they suddenly got given an element of harmony after the fact. “Cookies… I was bad at history, you know that. We were in the same class.” Sky rubbed a hoof on her chin. “Say… when was the last time we hung out just me and you? Every time there’s always some pony there when we have the time to see each other again.”

“Senior prom. Hope and his date had won prom King and Queen due to the number of friends he made in school.”

“Yeah, Hope is quite popular pony. He even got the students to vote for that goth mare Starshine Glamour. Wonder what happened to her.”

“Her father and mine along with another unicorn would discuss the economic structure of home and I haven’t heard anything about her.” Cookies shakes his head. “Anyway, you had tuckered yourself out on the games and dancing that happened so you sat next to me and drank chocolate sundae swirls. Neither of us said anything but I remember enjoying your company.” There was an awkward silence between the two. Sky had blushed and looked away and Cookies just nervously smiled. “Maybe we could spend more time together. Maybe you can stop by Ponyville and say hi. Maybe we could have a picnic together. A friend had recently told me that even if things don’t go according to plan, we’ll still have all the good memories of the past. And even make some more in the future. So why not take a chance and make some more memories, Sky?”

Sky had looked back at Cookies and smiled with a bit of a blush. “Of course, Cookies. How about next weekend?”

“I’ll be waiting, Sky.” With one last smile, Cookies’ head fell into contact with a pillow on the bed.

“I know Cookies. I know.” Before leaving the house, Sky had tucked Cookies firmly into bed. She looked back at the house with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye before flying away.

On the outskirts of Ponyville, to shadowing figures meet up in an unnoticeable location. “Hey, hey, hey, Bossman! I didn’t expect that prediction of Nightmare Moon returning would come true, but I bet you didn’t expect this: the pony that I got to go to that library in the middle of nowhere to get that book you had me donate was one of the ones to stop her. Can you believe that?”

“Fate has its bizarre meanings. However, it should stir enough chaos to release the draconequus from his prison. The seeds have been sewn for now. I have another task that I want you to do. Next time I send for you, I’ll have you deliver another book to the all-mare’s academy on the north east coast. But for now, we shall lay low.”

“Lay low? It’d be even more suspicious for me to lay low with that charismatic magic you’ve bestowed upon me. Charismagic as it were.”

“At the very least, do not come looking for me. The ponies knowing of my existence would spoil future plans.”

“In that case, I’ll see you when I’ll see you, big boss. Forever indebted to your service.” The taller figure walks away from the other figure.

“Be yourself, my faithful servant.” The other figure magically dispersed into darkness.

“And you keep being cryptic, boss.” The figure that had walked away said and then sighed. “This friendship is weird.”