//------------------------------//
// 3. Cutie Blossom Bash 
// Story: Sonic The Hedgehog x My Little Pony: Make Your Mark - Season 3 
// by BronySonicFan 
//------------------------------//

The Marestream flew across the sky at top speed, being piloted by Zipp.

Inside said vehicle, the entire thing suddenly rumbled, which made Misty loose her balance a bit, something Sunny at her side noticed.

"Are you okay, Misty?" Sunny asked her.

"Oh yeah! I'm just––" Misty tried to reply, but the vehicle rumbled again, and Misty had to fight to not fall. "... still finding my balance!"

"The Marestream can take some getting used to!" Sunny pointed out with a smile. "At least we're taking you on a secret surprise adventure! Are you excited?"

Misty flinched a bit after being asked this, and when she looked at her friends' smiles, she got even more nervous. Worse of all, she has no idea on why she was suddenly dragged to the Marestream, but a part of her felt it wasn't good news.

"Oh yeah! Definitely!" Misty lied all the same, since the last thing she wanted was to disappoint her friends. "Uh, so, um... What is it?"

"We are going... to Zephyr Heights for the annual Equestria Cutie Blossom Bash!" Sunny replied with a smile.

The rest of the ponies but Misty cheered after hearing this, and Pipp even said "You'll love it!", while Team Sonic stared at them confused.

"Cutie Blossom Bash?" Misty asked confused.

"What in the name of Chaos is that?" Knuckles asked extremely confused.

"It's only the cutest springtime celebration of all that is fresh and new." Pipp said with a smile. "I'm talking flowers, blossoms, bunnies, fashion." As she said this, she posed all around the Marestream's pilot cabin. "The looks you will see, Misty. The looks!"

"But more importantly, it's an official ceremony and celebration for all of the ponies that have gotten their new Cutie Marks that year." Hitch stated. "A day of honor."

"Yeah. And and it's kinda cool how we're finally combining the tradition we've all grown up with." Zipp added with a smile.

"You guys truly like to make anything a big party, huh?" Sonic said with a smile. "Guess is good Team Dark stayed in the Brighthouse to watch over the Unity Crystals. Except for Omega, they would hated this, anyway."

"Are you sure leaving them of all people to watch over the Unity Crystals was a good idea?" Amy questioned Sonic with half a glare and a raised eyebrow.





In the Crystal Brighthouse, Omega was at the top of the building.

He was right outside of the Crystal Room, walking back and forth to guard over the Unity Crystals from the top, also marching like a soldier ready to scold over his apprentices.

Meanwhile, Rouge and Shadow were making bets inside of the Room itself, right below the Unity Crystals and over the elevator, being careful to not activate anything that turns the elevator on.

"Alright... I bet that your deck of cards has a red ruby... 5!" Shadow said, since it was now his turn.

"Oooh, pretty close! But not at a 100% percent." Rouge said with a confident smirk. "Pay the bill!"

Shadow frowned, but still payed her the 10 bucks they bet.

"Now... I bet that you've got a leaf 7 on your deck of cards!" Rouge said.

Shadow's eyes widened, then he growled and immediately extended her 10 bucks. "Lucky guess."

"Uh-huh, sure, keep telling that to yourself, hun~" Rouge replied with a mocking smirk, which made Shadow cross his arms and groan, as he also looked away.





Back in the Marestream, Sonic smirked and snorted at Amy's question.

"Don't worry, Ames." Sonic assured her by pushing her in the shoulder slightly. "We left those Crystals in very good hands!" He stated with a wink.

Izzy squealed a little with glee. "I love the Blossom Bash! It's so springy!" She said happily, before taking out a small ring made with flowers from her mane. "See? I've already crafted seven flower corsages . I only need to make a few hundred more."

"A few hundred?!" Misty exclaimed in shock with wide eyes.

"Yeah! For all the ponies who are going to cheer you on!" Pipp grinned, as the others nodded and cheered on, but Team Sonic was not on board with this idea, and Misty wasn't either.

"Oh wow... Okay. It'll be okay." Misty whispered to herself anxiously. "I can just avoid all those other ponies, right?" She inhaled a bit sharply, "I'll just keep my head down and blend in. It will be smooth sailing. Yup."

"Tails, your other girlfriend is panicking." Sonic told him with a deadpan.

Tails deadpanned back and rolled his eyes. "You've been calling her like that these past few days, and I don't know how I haven't punched you for that yet."

"Come on, little buddy. I'm just messing with you!" Sonic said with a smirk. "Although, Misty does look at you the same way Zipp does, so I'm partially right."

Tails rolled his eyes again and groaned, then walked up to Misty with a smile, while Knuckles and Amy dragged Sonic to the passengers cabin to talk with him on private.

"What do you mean Misty looks at Tails the same way Zipp does, Hedgehog?!" Knuckles asked with a slight frown.

"Well, exactly that!" Sonic replied with a little smile. "Misty has a crush on Tails. And honestly? I kind of expected it with how he is with her."

"Well, I can get behind that logic, but... it doesn't changes the fact that Tails already has a crush on someone else!" Amy pointed out with concern.

"Which is why we must shut this between us!" Sonic said with a frown. "Tails is a genius, but if he hasn't realized that both Misty and Zipp have feelings for him, then maybe we should revoke that title from him."

"Ugh..." Knuckles rolled his eyes. "My lips are sealed regarding this subject... But this better not be a problem for our friends!"

"Hey, tell that to the mares looking for Tails' attention, not to me." Sonic deadpanned.

"He got you there!" Amy told Knuckles with a mocking smirk, while the echidna rolled his eyes annoyed.

On the other hand, Tails approached Misty and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Mist. How you doin'?"

"I've been better..." Misty replied with a nervous smile. "Is just... I don't like the idea of big crowds looking at me, you know? Is one thing to get a brand new Cutie Mark and a change of mane color, with my friends only. But show them off to so many ponies?! I-I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Well, if you don't want to be in here, why did you came along?" Tails questioned concerned.

"Because everypony seems to excited to be here!" Misty replied. "They're excited that I'm here. And I don't want to ruin them that."

"You don't have to be here if you don't want to." Knuckles said, as he arrived along Sonic and Amy and joined the conversation. "The only one getting hurt if you keep going is you. Is not the end of the world for saying 'no'."

"Knuckles is right. If you don't want to do this, just tell them! I'm sure they'll understand." Amy agreed with a smile.

"But what if they don't?!" Misty said with concern.

"Mist, the sooner you tell them you want out, the better. Or else, you'll deal with 5 years olds torturing you for being the only adult mare that got her Cutie Mark later than them." Sonic deadpanned. "Why do you think I never took those classes at the Community Pool even though Sunny inscribed me? Because they wanted to put me in the beginners class! I can't be seen swimming around a bunch of 5 year olds! Kids can be cruel when they smell weakness..."

"That's why in the first day, you gotta be the biggest one in the yard!" Knuckles stated with a smirk, also punching his fists together.

"Knuckles, that's prison..." Amy deadpanned at him.

"Only if you let it be." Knuckles replied confidently, making Amy groan and facepalm.

"Guys..." Tails glared at them, because Misty only had an anxious look, and one of her eyes was twitching. "You're not helping!"

"Well, I'm just telling you the truth." Sonic raised his hands defensively, then he turned to Misty with a smile. "I'm serious, Mist. You don't have to do this to satisfy anyone. We're not Opaline nor Eggman! We won't be mad if you say you want out."

Misty smiled after hearing that, feeling a lot better thanks to Sonic's words. However, before thanking him or open her mouth at all to say something, they all heard thunder striking, then they looked ahead and noticed that they were heading towards thunderstorm clouds.

"Quick turn!" Hitch yelped as he looked at Zipp.

"I got this!" Zipp said, as she flew under the thunderstorm cloud, then came out from the other side, with everyone sighing in relief.

"Oh no, I just jinxed the whole 'smooth sailing' thing, didn't I?" Misty fretted with a gulp.

"Nah. Zipp is just avoiding her mess up from Ponytropico..." Tails said with a mocking smirk.

"I heard that, Miles!" Zipp groaned with an eye roll and an embarrassed blush.

Everyone laughed loudly after that, but even thought Misty did laughed, she still looked down again with concern.





Later on, the Marestream was still flying, as Pipp began to sand and play music.

"So put your hooves up high. 'Cause we’re feeling alright. Everything is awesome in the Maretime Bay." Pipp sang.

While Zipp was looking ahead to drive and bobbing her head to the music, Hitch looked out of the window with concern, and Sonic was not even aware that Pipp was singing while staring at the Blue Chaos Emerald... Everyone else was dancing at Pipp's song.

"So put your hooves up. Put your hooves up. Everything is gonna be okay." Pipp finished.

Meanwhile, Hitch couldn't help but sigh as he looked out of the window, until Izzy approached him. "Thinkin' about Sparky again?" Izzy guessed with a small smile, while Hitch turned to her.

"Yeah..." Hitch confirmed. "Ever since his run-in with Opaline, he’s been so tired. Sure, he got energies back during the fight with the Death Egg Titan, but he's been more tired lately. I didn't wanna drag him all the way to Zephyr Heights, but I miss him."

"Is still for the best that he's not here, Sheriff." Knuckles spoke as he approached Hitch and placed a hoof around his neck. "Being here would probably make him feel very sick, considering he's not used to fly at all yet."

"And, at least he's resting with Grandma Figgy!" Izzy said cheerfully with a smile.





At Grandma Figgy's place, house, everything seemed to be peace and quiet.

Inside, Figgy was sitting on her chair with Sparky resting on her lap, as the baby dragon was wrapped on his blanket and had his pacifier on his mouth, while Figgy held her adoptive grandson with a warm smile, letting Sparky sleep peacefully.





"And honestly? I couldn't think of somepony better to look after him." Knuckles said with a smile.

Hitch smiled as well after thinking on what his friends told him. "You're right, guys. Grandma is the best at making anypony feel better."

"See? Sparky is in great hooves!" Izzy said happily. "You just gotta get your mind off things."

"I know how we can do that!" Sunny said with an excited smile. "Let's go around and share our Cutie Marks stories with Misty! I'll go first."

"Now that I think about it... You never told us that before, so it'll be cool to hear how it happened!" Tails said with a smile.

Sonic, who was still looking at the Chaos Emerald, heard the whole thing, so he smiled and looked up to hear the stories as well, as he also stood up since he was sitting in the ground with his legs crossed.





Years ago, before magic returned, a Filly Sunny was setting up a lemonade stand.

"Back when I was a little filly, I didn't have many friends. But, my dad always said… Sunny narrated.

Meanwhile, in the flashback, we see Argyle Starshine, her father, standing next to her and drinking a cup lemonade, while he also smiled at his daughter.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and sell it to raise money for the library." Argyle said to his daughter, while ponies around were coming up to Filly Sunny's stand.

"So I did! My lemonade was a hit!" Sunny continued, while ponies were buying her lemonade, with the cups getting sold very quick. Argyle smiled at his daughter with pride after seeing this. "I sold almost every cup right away. But two ponies wanted the last one."

Filly Sunny felt concerned, scared and sad when the two ponies began to argue, since she had no idea on what to do, while her father saw his daughter's expression with concern.

"They started arguing, but then I stepped in to help." Sunny continued, while her younger self grabbed another cup and poured half of the lemonade from one cup into the other, offering both to the two ponies with a smile. "They realized they were fighting for no reason!"

The two ponies walked off, as Argyle watched the two ponies go and then looked at his daughter proudly, while Filly Sunny looked at her flank with a smile.

"That's when my Cutie Mark appeared! My dad told me it's because I helped those ponies put aside their differences." Sunny explained, while Filly Sunny looked at her father, who smiled proudly at her, before they embraced each other in a hug. "He was so proud."





A scene later, Filly Sunny was walking over a stage.

She had a flag of her Cutie Mark strapped on her, smiling proudly, while Argyle looked at his daughter with a proud and heartfelt smile.

"That spring, I got to trot the stage in our Cutie Blossom Bash." Sunny said with a giggle at the memory. "Ah, it's one of my favorite memories."





Sunny smiled fondly at the memory, while Misty and Tails smiled at her.

"Changing the world since fillyhood, huh! Now that's my Sunny-bunny girl!" Sonic congratulated her with a smirk, placing and arm around her neck and rubbing her mane.

Sunny giggled at the gesture and then pushed him away slightly with a smile.

"Mmm, now I want lemonade." Hitch said with a huge and dorky smile.

"Me next!" Zipp called out, as she raised her hoof excitedly. "My story––"

"Well, technically our story." Pipp corrected her sister.

Zipp rolled her eyes annoyed. "... Starts back home in Z.H."





Back when Zipp was a filly, she was doing some calculations.

Having puppy Cloudpuff next to her, she looked at the statue of the Pegasi wing formations.

"Before we had magic, I was always crunching numbers trying to figure out exactly how Pegasi could fly again. But one day, I had this epic breakthrough moment!" Zipp started, while her younger self thought on something, before she smiled widely and started climbing onto the statues. "I could tell that I was so close to flying. It felt amazing. And sure, it was scare, but no other Pegasus had tried it before me."

Filly Zipp made it to the top of the statue, taking a deep breath before doing some stunts, hopping around the pillars, then jumped and flipping in the air, landing on the head of the statue again while gliding and doing a loop. The the crowd of Pegasi that watched her started to cheer and exclaiming in awe, while Filly Zipp landed on her hooves and the crowd kept cheering at her. Then, she looked at her flank and saw her Cutie Mark appearing.





"It was awesome! That's the day I got this lil' wonder-bolt!" Zipp finished as she looked at her Cutie Mark pridefully.

"You were making loops at 5?!" Sonic asked with an excited smile, before boosting at her side and lay on her shoulder with a smirk. "Are you sure we're not siblings from different mothers?"

Zipp chuckled at that comment, while Pipp cleared her throat to gain attention. "And don't leave out what happened next."





Same flashback, same context... Different point of view.

After Filly Zipp was doing her stunt, Filly Pipp saw her sister doing the tricks with awe. "Watching my sister soar, I'd never seen anything like it!" Pipp narrated, while her younger self looked at her sister with an amazed smile once she landed. "She was so courageous! And that gave me the confidence to perform, for the first time, ever."

Filly Pipp stomped her hoof and started to sing.

"Make your mark. It's your spark. Your Cutie Maaark. Oooh yeeaaahh!" Filly Pipp sang with her wings spread.

Filly Zipp then saw her sister as she looked in surprise. "Pipp?" She asked her sister in surprise.

"Pipp!" A Mare announced.

"Hurray!" The whole crowd except for Filly Zipp cheered, because the latter smiled at her sister.

"Hey, that's cute! I'm using it." Filly Pipp smile, before she looked at her flank and noticed how she got her Cutie Mark, which appeared as well.





In spring of that year, and just like with Sunny, it was time for the Cutie Blossom Bash.

The royal sisters walked on a stage with flags of their respective Cutie Marks strapped on them, while Queen Haven watched her daughters from above.

"Oh yay!" Haven cheered with tears of joy, then she grabbed suddenly Puppy Cloudpuff and blew her nose on him with joy, while the two sisters chuckled at each other.





Zipp gave an amusing smile at her sister. "Kinda stole the spotlight there, sis."

"It's not my fault!" Pipp called out with a smile. "You were the one who was so inspired!"

In this occasion, however, Sonic said nothing, he simply turned around and frowned. "Stole the spotlight, 'cause attention and approval is all she cares for."

He walked away from her, but even if none of the royal sisters heard Sonic, nor noticed his change in attitude, Tails, Sunny and Amy definitely did.

"... Did he just... Is he... mad with Pipp?" Sunny muttered with shock.

"Yeah..." Tails muttered. "He's been like that for the past week, now that I think about it..."

"Right?" Amy said with concern. "Sonic is usually attached to Pipp to the point it's kind of annoying, but today he's staying as far as he can from her! He didn't even sang along when she started to, and he loves to do that!"

"I'll ask what's the matter with him later." Sunny said, as the other two nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, and completely oblivious at the fact that this conversation even happened, Zipp looked at Hitch with an amusing smile. "You look like you’re about to burst, buddy." She noted, while Hitch gave a wide smile and tried to contain his excitement. "Wanna tell yours?"

Hitch then gasped excitedly. "Do I!"

"Oh boy, here we go..." Knuckles said with a smirk, also crossing his arms.





As a foal, Hitch was at the beach with Foal Sprout and a colt, playing beach ball with each other.

"I was playing hoofball on the beach with some colts when this filly asked to join us." Hitch narrated, as a filly came up to them, asking if she would join them to play, but Foal Sprout threw the ball to Foal Hitch, as the two colts shook their heads. "But they wouldn’t let her play! They just kept shouting…"

"No fillies allowed!" Foal Sprout shouted, with Hitch feeling a bit intimidated with what Sprout said, while the two colts walked up to Foal Hitch, leaving the filly tearing up and then running off crying.

Foal Hitch gave the filly a sympathetic look, before nodding determined. "So I did what any decent pony would do. I ditched the meanies and played with her!" Hitch explained, while his younger self abandoned Foal Sprout and the colt to start and play with the filly instead. "And then… I got my Mark!"

Foal Hitch then felt strange, so he looked at his flank and smiled when his Cutie Mark appeared.





That year, the Cutie Blossom Bash came again... You know the deal.

Foal Hitch walked on stage with a flag of his Cutie Mark strapped in, as posed and winked to the crowd. "Because the only peace of mind is to be kind."

Foal Sprout and their colt friend watched on, and Foal Sprout looked away jealously, while the colt at his side looked down in sadness.





"You stood up for those who needed it. For that, I salute you, Hitch!" Sonic said with a smirk.

He also made an actual salute and winked, while Hitch smirked and saluted back.

"Sprout was an asshole since a kid..." Knuckles muttered to himself with a bored expression. "I'm not surprised at all."

"My turn! Oh!" Izzy hopped excitedly. "So, it all begins back in Bridlewood, during the days of Yore, on the eves of the Translucent Moonstone Moon…" She echoed herself with the last word.





"Doodle-oodle-loodle-oodle-loo… Flashback!"

Thanks, Izz! You spared the explanation to me.

Filly Izzy was walking around Bridlewood, until she she saw a bunch of junk pile up. "There was this really sad-looking junk pile in the middle of our forest that just kept growing and growing. But I didn’t see it as 'junk'. I saw the stuff that just needed some love!"

The younger Izzy looked at the stuff in her hooves with a smile, and now she had an idea, one that she pulled in s really short noticed, because a little bit later, she putted all together in a teapot statue.

"I remade everything into a big teapot statue!" Izzy explained literally what I just said, while the teapot statue started flowing, and the ponies walking around stopped to see the statue with interest. "Then, everypony saw that maybe they'd judge the junk a little too harshly."

"Hey, thanks!" Filly Izzy said to the unicorns as she giggled cheerfully. "I'm just a Unicorn that loves recycling! Uni… cycling. Unicycling!"

"And then, bam!" Izzy cheered, as Filly Izzy looked at her flank and saw her Cutie Mark appearing. "I got my mark!"





Filly Izzy was now on stage with a flag strap on her back as she giggled. "Yay!"





"Ah, nothing like some good ol' childhood stories!" Sonic said with a smile.

"Well, thank Chaos I don't have to deal with having a Cutie Mark..." Tails said with a smile. "I like having my 5-minute fame like the next guy, but a day where everyone is focused on you? No thanks."

"Wow, great stories!" Misty said with a nervous smile, specially with that Tails just commented. "But, um, they all ended with a big event where you had to stand in front of a lot of ponies?"

"Yep!" Sunny replied with a smile. "Now it's your turn to do the same. And it's going got be the biggest, most-grand one yet!" She cheered and grabbed Misty, while the Unicorn gave a small smile before Sunny gasped. "Look!"

The ponies got out of the clouds, with Zephyr Heights coming into view, as they flew over the city and saw a bunch of ponies setting up the walkway outside the balance, which made Misty feel nervous.

"There's so many ponies here!" Misty muttered to herself. "Be brave, Misty." She declared to herself, then looked at her friends. "I don't want to ruin anything for them! I can do this."

"You can still quit, Mist. Remember: No one is gonna judge you if you want out." Sonic reminded her, placing a hand on her shoulder with a smile.

"Aren't you so thrilled?" Pipp exclaimed happily.

"Um, it's all so new!" Misty said nervously, chuckling in the same manner and looking down.

Sonic noticed this, and when Pipp turned around, Sonic looked at her with a frown and growled in anger, his electrical powers showing up entirely.

Tails and Amy noticed this, and they frowned slightly as well.

Once the Marestream landed on a balcony on top of the palace, the Mane 6 and Team Sonic exited the vehicle, while Queen Haven flew from the door with Cloudpuff, Zoom and Thunder behind her.

"My angels! You've arrived!" Haven cheered in joy, as she flew to her daughters and gave them a hug. "I was so worried, I nearly had to send Cloudpuff to track you down again!" She exclaimed, Cloudpuff flying behind her. "I'm thrilled to have you here, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm a teensy bit stressed."

Thunder roared in the sky, which made the Mane 6 and Team Sonic look up a bit concerned, and Tails even had the instinct to hid behind Sonic, since he was still scared of thunders, even as a young adult.

"A problem with the crystals again?!" Zipp asked in panic.

"Oh starts, no." Haven assured. "It's just spring showers. But if it rains, then everything will be ruined!"

At this, Hitch smiled with confidence. "I can most certainly help with that."

"Me too. We're problem solving pros!" Zipp added with pride.

"Me three!" Knuckles declared with a smirk, pulling Hitch and Zipp closer by placing his arms around their necks. "'Solving Problems' would be our second names if 'Trailblazer', 'the' and 'Storm' didn't stoled the spots already!"

Haven smiled after hearing this. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course." Hitch confirmed. "We promise to make sure this event runs seamlessly and that everything is as right as rain." He declared, as he hoofbumped with Zipp and Knuckles, before he realized what he said. "Uh… or not rain, in this case."

Knuckles facepalmed and groaned, while Zipp smiled sheepishly at Hitch's words.

"Ah, thank hoofness!" Haven said, then she gestured the to the palace. "Follow me."

Everyone proceed to enter the palace and follow Queen Haven... Everyone except Sonic, who stopped for a second as he heard a maniac laugh, one that has been haunting him for months.

He looked around in panic, and he saw nothing at first... But then, as he stared into a wall, he saw him with wide and panicked eyes... He saw Cyber Sonic, staring at him. The figure was laughing, then he pointed at Sonic with a finger, before passing a thumb over his neck.

This sign was saying he was willing to kill him, and that made Sonic feel even more panicked, so he rushed inside the castle to follow his friends and ignore what he saw, or at least try to.

Meanwhile, a figure was watching him from the sky... Metal Sonic, who had a mission from Doctor Eggman, one that actually didn't involved Sonic at all. With a frustrated sigh because of this last thing, Metal Sonic turned around and boosted away, heading Towards Maretime Bay.





Inside the castle, everyone walked down the corridors as they followed Queen Haven.

However, Sonic seemed to be too busy on his own thoughts with a concerned frown, something Tails and Amy noticed, as they approached him for a moment.

"Sonic?" Tails called out first, and Sonic looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

Sonic sighed and denied with his head, much to Tails and Amy's surprise. "I haven't been myself this past week... And I know you guys have noticed."

Seeing the sudden turn of events that the conversation took, literally right at the beginning, Tails and Amy looked at each other and shrugged, since none of them were expecting this answer, and now they had no idea on how to keep the chat going with him.

But Amy still decided to take the shot, anyways. "Well, yeah. It's been hard to ignore that you act like you at times, but then you suddenly become another person... Specially because you seem to be mad with Pipp."

That actually made Sonic stop walking, and as everyone else kept going, Sonic, Tails and Amy stood behind, because what Sonic wanted to say next, he wanted to tell it only to them.

Sonic sighed at first, before looking at his friends over his shoulder with concern. "... We're not in the best of terms right now... And she doesn't even noticed yet."

Of course, hearing this made Amy gasp, while Tails tilted his head a bit confused, like if Sonic literally spoke in other language, even though he understood every word of what he just said.

"Im sorry, did I heard that right?" Tails asked. "You... You and Pipp had a fight?!"

"I wouldn't call it a fight." Sonic rolled his eyes. "We're simply not in good terms. At least I ain't, but has she noticed?" He snorted and then scoffed. "Her phone is more of a boyfriend to her than I'll ever be, that's for sure."

This last line made them both stop walking when he started to, then Tails and Amy looked at each other with cringed expressions, because they knew why he said that: Pipp's been publishing more and more pictures with Sonic lately, and while that normally would be good, it isn't this time if Sonic's not happy to be around Pipp.

"I mean, that'll explain why he doesn't looks happy on many of the pictures..." Tails said, as he took out his phone and checked some of the photos that Pipp uploaded.

In the first few, he seemed genuinely happy, and even making funny faces to mock Pipp up... But as Tails kept scrolling, the pictures showed his smiles turning a bit sheepish, then uncomfortable, then forced...

And finally, no smile. Not even looking at the camera... Only a frown and an eye roll.

"Sonic must feel that he's being used as a like generator..." Amy said with concern, before frowning in anger. "Look at the views and likes of this posts! They're above the average Pipp gets with anything else! She's using him like an object and not even considering how he feels!"

"Now, now, Ames!" Tails stopped her. "We cannot say that this is the case! Maybe Pipp just published those to show off how much he loves Sonic, but Sonic noticed the pictures and how much Pipp was focusing on taking them instead of spending time with him... There's actually a lot of possibilities on what's going on here, but we need to know for sure! Ugh, but I can't help my two best friends at the same time! Misty also needs some cheering..."

"Then how about you let Sunny and me take care of Sonic?" Amy suggested with a smile. "You go and cheer Misty up!"

That actually made Tails smile, and he nodded in agreement, then they resumed their walk to catch up with the rest.

Speaking of them, Queen Haven was giving them a tour around.

"Here you'll find our giant springtime floral arrangements, as well as our baby duck nursery. Oh, and our Zephyr 'Bites' appetizers!" Haven listed, as she picked up a cookie from a table a stallion was strolling. "Clever, huh? I didn't come up with that one. Cloudpuff did!" She said, as she tossed the cookie to Cloudpuff. "What do you think, girls? I am devoted to making this the best Cutie Blossom Bash ever, especially for your darling new friend, Misty."

Misty smiled a bit after hearing that.

"Guards! Prepare for Misty's Cutie Mark debut." Haven announced, as Zoom and Thunder flew down, while she trotted ahead. "This is going to be one fun-packed, pony-filled social event!"

The Mane 6 cheered and went ahead, while Team Sonic, Izzy and Misty stood behind them.

"You’re gonna be so great! This is fun!" Izzy cheered as she hopped off to the others.

"Yay?" Misty said uncertainly, feeling really nervous about all of this.

"Hey, we can still tell them that you want out, you know?" Tails reminded her with a smile. "Remember what we told you: Don't do something you don't want to please others, and don't hold back on doing something you do for the same reason."

"Come on, Misty! Woo!" Sunny cheered, as she came up to Misty and grabbed her hoof to pull her away, which made the Unicorn mare scream startled.

"Or let everyone else screw it before she even has the chance to express herself..." Knuckles deadpanned, and the rest deadpanned at this as well.





The whole group was now waiting on a make up room.

There, Pipp and Izzy were applying some make up on Misty's faces, but Pipp could barely concentrate since she noticed that Sonic was too far away from her... Just like he has been the entire week.

She has noticed how much he has distanced, and how coldly he looks at her lately. It hurt that the one creature she loved the most now seemed to be drifting apart from her, and the worse of all is that she doesn't even understands why, because he doesn't even talk to her.

She was hoping that, whatever got into him, it'll go away soon, and he'll be clear with her for good.

Pipp decided to go back to the work after deciding to let Sonic be, while Amy and Sunny approached Sonic with the idea of talking about the same subject about his anger towards Pipp.

"Sonic." Sunny called out, and Sonic looked at her since he's laying on a wall with his arms crossed and a frown. "I think we need to talk about the elephant in the room."

"You mean why I'm mad with Pipp?" Sonic asked, still frowning, but his tone was more an annoyed one.

"Precisely!" Amy said. "What has she done to you so you refuse to look at her? Or even talk to her?!"

"I don't know. Maybe the fact that I'm an excellent like generator for her." Sonic replied rhetorically. "Because, if I make the more likes on her feed, why bother on uploading anything else?"

"What?" Sunny asked with wide eyes. "Come on, Sonic. That's not true. You're not the only thing that makes Pipp win lots of likes and attention––"

"You think so?" Sonic asked, and his look clearly said he was challenging Sunny, who frowned at him. "Then show me one picture Pipp has published with as much likes as any of the ones that have my face on it. Just one, and I'll drop this act."

Sunny accepted the challenge, because she didn't hesitated on taking out her phone and checking out Pipp's ponygram page, in search of the latest picture that Pipp has uploaded without Sonic.

However, and despite the fact that she did found variety in her pictures at first, the more she scrolled, the more she found only pictures that had Sonic in it... And worse of all? That all those pictures had an amount of likes that no other picture managed to reach.

Sunny felt concerned, and she realized that Sonic was right, something he noticed by her expression.

"That's what I thought." Sonic said with a snort. "I don't wanna talk to someone who only sees me as her like generator. Specially because she doesn't care enough to even notice I don't wanna talk to her."

Amy wanted to say something to correct him, to say that this was childish... But a part of her knew that, being as stubborn as he is, he wouldn't listen, no matter what she told him.

She sighed, then looked at Sunny who seemed as concerned as her. They had no idea on what to do or where to go from here on.

Meanwhile, Tails approached Misty, who seemed to feel down. "Hey. Is something bothering you?" he asked her with concern, which made Misty gasp and turn at him.

"Oh… uh… I'm just worried about what's going on back home." Misty replied, before she quickly stopped herself. "I mean, back at Opaline's!"

"Oh, we understand." Sunny said softly, while Izzy and Pipp came to them with smiles.

"Luckily, we have more Cutie Blossom activities that focus entirely on you!" Pipp announced, as she flew close to Misty. "That should get your mind off it! Help me with the baskets?" She asked her friends, as they walked off.

Tails, however, looked at her with a slight frown, while Cloudpuff flew to Misty and barked at her.

"You cannot lie to me, Mist." Tails said a bit mad. "I know you don't want to be here, but I also know that you're not only concerned for Opaline."

Misty smiled and chuckled after hearing this. "Nothing gets by you, does it, Tails?"

"I'm your best friend for a reason!" Tails said mockingly, before bringing out another chair and sit in front of Misty. "Come on, Mist. You can tell me anything. And I promise you that I won't be mad."

Misty took a deep breath and then sighed. "Okay, so I was lying a little about what's bothering me! But it's sort of true. Opaline knows I'm gone, she knows that I betrayed her, and she's probably already plotting her evil revenge against me!"

"Even if that's the case, her power has weakened a lot at this point." Tails pointed out. "Sure, she's powerful, an Alicorn, can make fire, yada, yada, yada... I've seen a literal God made of water destroying an entire city, and now it's sealed on the Master Emerald in Angel Island! Opaline will end up like him for sure!"

"Well, I guess that's a good thing, right?" Misty said with concern, also scratching her left hoof.

"But that's not everything that concerns you, is it?" Tails asked with worry.

"... I'm more concerned about... Eggman, too..." Misty said, before letting out a snort. "You know? Is funny. I called Eggman 'Dad' sometimes because he cared more about me than Opaline ever did... He was truly sweet, and unlike Opaline, he listened to what I had to say without labeling it as nonsense! He truly made me feel appreciated, even as much as you guys do... Until he broke the promise he made..."

Tails was smiling at first as he heard Misty, and even felt surprised to hear that Eggman showed a bit of his soft side, but when Misty's smile disappeared as she mentioned a broken promise, so did Tails' smile.

"He promised me that... That even if we were in different sides, he'll never hurt me..." Misty said, trying to hold back her tears. "But it was a lie... Because he did hurt me... When he attacked us with that giant robot with his face... The one that almost conquered Equestria."

"Oh, Misty..." Tails said with concern and sorrow for his friend.

"I... I don't know how I feel about him anymore..." Misty confessed. "A part of me desires to capture him and stop him for good, make him pay for all his crimes! But... There's a side of me that wants to have him back as a friend, as someone I could trust, and not... And enemy that I want to see encaged for all his crimes."

Tails had no idea what to tell Misty after hearing all of this. Sure, it is one thing that she is concerned for Opaline and her revenge, but caring for Eggman as a friend, or even as a father figure, like how he was such a thing for Sage... This was a lot to process.

Perhaps Eggman created Sage because of Misty, because he missed to have a daughter figure... Now he lost both: One was against him, and the other one is dead... or so he thinks, anyway.

"... I cannot tell you anything comforting regarding Eggman, Mist." Tails said honestly, before smiling and placing his hands on her shoulders. "But... I do know that if Eggman was open to you, to the point he saw a daughter in you... Then maybe, and just maybe, he regrets what he did to you. If that's the case... Then he may tell you that next time we encounter him."

This actually made Misty smile, and she nodded at Tails, since she was willing to take his words by heart.





Dr. Eggman was at his hidden lab under Bridlewood.

So far, he kept experimenting the Metal Virus over plants instead of animals, analyzing all the side effects and upgrading it every single time he found what went wrong in the last test to try again.

He didn't particularly enjoyed killing plants, specially from a place like Bridlewood, which had tons of rare species that the Unicorns surely were trying to preserve... But if he wanted the Metal Virus to be perfect and flawless, then he must keep going.

At least he's not killing animals anymore, which doesn't makes him a better person, but it is what it is.

However, as Sage ran a simulation over a plant that was getting slowly infected with the Metal Virus, Eggman couldn't help but frown concerned, as he thought on Metal Sonic's mission.

"Sage?" Eggman called out.

"Yes, father?" Sage replied.

"... How's Metal Sonic doing?" Eggman asked. "With his mission, I mean."

Sage made an image appear on Eggman's computer, as the doctor himself turned around to see what is it.

It showed Metal Sonic's front camera, as the machine was now approaching to the Crystal Brighthouse, but it stopped moving once the camera zoomed and noticed Omega outside of the Crystal Room.

Eggman frowned slightly, but then returned his sight to the Metal Virus infecting the plant.

Sage, despite not having physical eyes, still noticed this. "Father? Y-You won't tell him to retreat or something?"

"Metal Sonic can handle this himself." Eggman replied. "He has strict instructions to not attack anyone. He just has to deliver the package and come back here as soon as he's done."

"I... I do not understand why you want to deliver a 'gift' to that Unicorn." Sage said with honesty. "Didn't she betrayed you?"

"... Is complicated... In a way, we betrayed each other." Eggman replied with concern. "I told her that I wouldn't hurt her, even if we were on different sides... But getting rid of Sunny Starscout and her friends didn't made me realized I was... Attacking her, too. I betrayed her, and I cannot forgive myself for that..."

Sage didn't replied anything this time, and Eggman thanked her in silence. He wasn't in the mood to talk, anyways.

Suddenly, a beep sound called his attention, and he saw that the plant infected with the virus was slowly dying, which made him deadpan and facepalm annoyed.

"Great... Time to upgrade this thing again." Eggman declared, as he pressed a button that incinerated the dead plant.





Speaking of Metal Sonic, he landed far from the Brighthouse.

He didn't wanted to be spotted by Omega in the top of the Brighthouse, so he quickly sneaked in and flew upwards, surrounding the building and looking for a specific entrance, until he found the window with a Butterfly.

He opened said window slowly and checked the inside. Once he made sure that Team Dark wasn't around, he entered the place and carefully landed on the bed. This seemed to be Misty's side of the Brighthouse, because it was decorated with the same blue tone than Misty's fur.

There was a small nightstand besides the bed with purple blankets, and the pillows over the bed had butterfly drawings, all choose by Misty, who wanted to feel comfortable on her new home, and thanks to her friends, she did it.

Metal Sonic found all of this ridiculous, and he could just destroy everything if he wanted... But he was here for a mission from Eggman. A very stupid one, if you ask him, but a mission all the same. So, he took out the small blue box with a red ribbon around and placed it on the desk.

With that done, Metal turned back to the window and boosted out of the Brighthouse, heading back towards Eggman's new hidden lab to report that his mission was successful.

At least he has the glee to say that, even if he still believed this was a waste of time, more than a mission.





Back at the castle, Queen Haven was showing a video of Zipp and Pipp when they were fillies.

"Mom, Mom! Look at me!" Filly Zipp called out, as she ran up a tree and did a flip, while Filly Pipp was looking at a tree sapling.

"If I sing to the tree, Mom, will it grow faster?" Filly Pipp asked her mother.

Just then, Haven appeared to the camera as she smiled at her daughters. "Oh, there's an idea! Let's try, shall we?" She suggested, as the family huddled together, with Filly Zipp landing on her mother's back, while Filly Pipp was under her chin.

The four ponies and Team Sonic watched the video, all cooing at the moment. And even if Sonic was still mad with Pipp, he couldn't deny she still looked adorable as a filly.

"I remember your Cutie Blossom Bash like it was yesterday." Haven said to Pipp with a small smile.

"I just wanna pick them up and squeeze them! Ah." Izzy cheered, as she hugged Misty and squeezed her tightly, while Misty smiled at her.

"We were so cute." Pipp said with a smile.

"You still are." Haven answered as she, Pipp, Sunny and Team Sonic but Tails walked off.

Meanwhile, Misty was in deep thought again. "What's up, Misty?" Tails asked her concerned.

"Um… It's just that… most ponies get their Cutie Marks when they're young." Misty started as they walked on. "Because that's when the magic of their personality…"

"And their Luminessence!" Izzy sang cheerfully.

"... Starts to shine." Misty finished and continued. "But, because of Opaline, I never got to shine until now." She stated, as Izzy, Tails and her caught up to the others to the door that leads to the throne room. "That means not only will I be in front of everypony, but…"

Once the doors opened, she saw something that made her feel absolutely panic.

In the throne room: Seashell, Peach Fizz and Glory were chattering with each other, and with other foals around them.

"I'm gonna be the oldest pony here." Misty finished with worried and awkward look.

"Remember to be the biggest one in the yard!" Knuckles reminded her in a whisper.

"Knuckles, for the last time, that's prison, not a gathering between kids..." Tails facepalmed and groaned.





On the other hand, Sonic walked towards a balcony to breath some fresh air.

He didn't wanted to talk with anyone right now. He just wanted peace and quiet to put his thoughts together, specially because he didn't wanted to be near Pipp the entire time.

He's been avoiding her the whole week ever since he realized how many likes she gets with all the pictures involving him. Hence why he has made a grumpy expression, to hopefully get that number lower... But he knows he's just fooling himself, because the likes are just as much as usual.

"... Blue Star..." Pipp's voice called out, and that made his eyes shot open.

No... No, no, no, no... Please no... Sonic begged internally.

Yet when he looked over his shoulder, he frowned, because Pipp was there, behind him.

He simply turned around again and decided to ignore her. Again, he isn't in the mood to talk with anyone, specially if it with her.

"Sonic..." Pipp called out again, but now she was really concerned when he didn't replied for a second time, and now it was her turn to frown. "Sonic, I know you're listening."

"I am. Do I wanna reply? Ha! Not even to joke." Sonic replied coldly, and with a tone that already told Pipp he was mad, and she could sense that he was mad with her.

"... Okay, at least I can tell that something is bothering you." Pipp said, still frowning. "What's the matter?"

However, Sonic snorted and the started to laugh, even covering his face with his hands as he lay on the balcony. Then, he turned to see Pipp, and she felt a horrible sensation when he glared down at her with rage, a type of rage she hasn't seen on him before.

"I'll tell you what's the problem: Your phone seems to have a better romantic relationship with you than I'll ever have!" Sonic said with anger. "You love showing everything to your fans, and while I'll normally understand and even find it adorable, it becomes annoying anytime I wanna get intimate with you and you just cut the tension off to take a goddam picture for your goddam ponygram!"

"So you're mad because I'm showing off how much I love you and how much you meant to me to my Pippsqueaks?" Pipp asked with a frown.

"Yes! Because I feel that you care more about a bunch of strangers that will ditch you at the first mistake you make, rather than be with someone who genuinely cares for you and would never do that to you!" Sonic replied with anger as well.

"That's not true! And you know that, Sonic!" Pipp replied offended, also opening her wings in anger.

"Then explain me why anytime you upload a picture to your profile, is always one with my face, which conveniently always gives you the most likes out of all your other pictures!" Sonic said with a frown.

"T-That's just a coincidence!" Pipp replied, still offended, but also stuttering a bit since she'll be lying if she said that she's not doing it for the likes, even thought it isn't her main reason. "Sonic, I don't think you're thinking straight––"

"No, Pipp. I'm thinking very straight right now. I love that you enjoy doing this kind of stuff, but if that means that I'm just a like generator for you, of course I'm gonna get mad!"

"For the last time, Hedgehog: You're my boyfriend! I'm not using you as a like generator! I genuinely love you!" Pipp said with anger.

"Right! You love me so much that you post my image on your profile to get some attention, because apparently mine isn't enough for you!" Sonic said with a frown.

"UGH! I won't let you mess with my Pippsqueaks, Sonic!" Pipp said enraged at this point. "Yes, I publish those pictures often and more than any other one because I love you, dang it! But this is also what I love, what I live for! It makes me happy, and I won't stop doing it just to please a stupid porcupine like you!"

Sonic frowned and growled a bit in anger after hearing that, so he simply left and choose to keep his mouth shut.

"So that's it?!" Pipp asked with anger and disbelief once he began to walk away. "You just said all of that out of nowhere, to be mad with me for a childish thing, and then walk away?!"

"I'm leaving before I say something I'll regret my entire life!" Sonic replied, because even if he was mad, the last thing he wanted was to hurt Pipp with his words.

Pipp growled and then shouted. "Go to hell, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"Kuso mitaina hatsudenki to shite tsukawa rete mo kamawanai yatsu ni meiwaku kakero yo, Pippu!" Sonic shouted back, and Pipp understood every word, because he said 'Go bother someone else who doesn't mind being used as a damn like generator, Pipp!' in Japanese.

The pegasus mare growled in anger and shouted her frustration out. She was in the balcony already, so better take the chance now that she has it, right?





Back inside the castle: Sheriff, Deputy and Detective were talking.

"Alrighty, Zipp. Perimeter checked. The throne room looks alright and safe from rain!" Hitch declared as he looked around.

Knuckles facepalmed and groaned, while Zipp flew down and landed next to them. "That's great, Sheriff, but what about…"

"The fact that the Blossom Bashers will have to trot outside to get from the palace to the stage and getting wet because of the rain?" Knuckles pointed out with a bored expression.

"Yeah, what he said." Zipp agreed with a smile.

"We need rain boots! And umbrellas! And fast!" Hitch called out, while Zipp and Knuckles nodded in agreement, then they all ran out of the room.

Meanwhile, right behind them, Misty was moving backwards nervously, just before Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz came to her.

"Misty!" Seashell called out, which surprised Misty as she turned to see them. "We didn't even know it was possible a pony your age could get a Cutie Mark for the first time." She said surprised, while Misty felt awkward as she rubbed her hoof. "It's so cool!"

Misty gasped in surprise, since she wasn't expecting them to say that, specially because she still remembers Sonic's words about kids being cruel when they sense weakness. Guess he was wrong.

"Would you like to join us?" Seashell asked. "Glory and Peach Fizz are here to celebrate my new Cutie Mark with me. Look!"

She hopped happily, and then she showed her green conch shell and two pink stars that she got as a Cutie Mark.

"It's awesome, Seashell!" Misty told her with a smile, just when Zoom came up behind them.

"It is time!" Zoom announced.

"Time? For what?" Misty asked nervously.

"Don't worry!" Seashell assured. "You can stick with me!"

All the foals that recently got their Cutie Marks, and Misty, formed a line. Of course, Misty feels awkward because she's taller and older than all these foals.

"Welcome to the Cutie Blossom Bash Eve Dinner Soiree!" Thunder announced, pointing to the dinner table, while the foals and Misty took a seat.

Queen Haven walked to her seat as well, turning to Misty with a smile. "You got this!" She whispered and winked, which made Misty smile, while Haven took her seat. "I am so honored to have you all here in Zephyr Heights for our first Cutie Blossom Bash Together!" She announced. "From Pegasi to Unicorns to Earth Ponies, every one of you has reached an important milestone in your journey to become your best, most authentic selves." She added as Misty was still in deep thought. "It's time to go out and make your mark on Equestria! But first, please enjoy this incredibly fancy springtime feast!"

With that being said, the foals grabbed the forks to eat. Misty, however, had a little trouble picking hers, since there was two, and when she grabbed one of them, Seashell noticed it.

"Psst. That's the wrong fork." Seashell whispered and pointed to her fork, the one Misty didn't grabbed.

"Oops." Misty said sheepishly, so she put down the fork and grabbed the right one, then tried to pick her carrot, but it was giving her trouble, so she pushed down hard, making the carrot fly off. "Oh no!"

The carrot flew and landed on a unicorn foal's horn, making the other kids laugh, while the foal himself didn't seemed to mind, and even smiled. Then, Thunder came in and pull the carrot off, before he fell to the floor.

"I am so sorry!" Misty said ashamed.

"It's okay, darling, it happens." Haven assured with a small smile, then she turned to the foals. "Now as per tradition, it's time to introduce yourselves to one another and tell us about your Cutie Mark." She announced. "Misty, why don't you start?"

That caught Misty off guard, and she even tossed her utensil startled. "What, oh, um… me?!" She asked nervously. "Uh, yeah. I'll go first." She said as she stood up. "So, um… My name is Misty. Misty Brightdawn, and uh, my Cutie Mark is a butterfly." She showed her Cutie Mark with a sheepish smile.

The foals looked amazed at her Cutie Mark, but also expecting her to tell more.

"Uh… That's it." Misty said nervously with a sheepish smile.

"My dear, you also have to tell everypony why you think it's a butterfly." Haven explained with a smile.

"Oh!" Misty said nervously as she sat down. "And um… uh… because… Um…" She stammered, because how could she reveal  that she got it by freeing her friends from Opaline? She'll probably end up locked on a cell. "Uh… heh, because…" She then swiped a fork and made it fell to the floor. "Oh, ah, I dropped my fork."

After saying that nervously, she dropped to the floor and hid under the table.

"This is so awkward!" Misty whispered to herself. "I have no public speaking skills. My only friend before this was a pile of junk named Madame Taffytail! Opaline was right. Maybe I'm not cut out for this world."

"My name is Seashell and my Cutie Mark is… a shell!" Seashell spoke, and Misty was hearing her. "Because I'm a pony who's as unique as every shell on the beach is!"

"Wonderful, that was lovely, dear!" Haven said, while the foals cheered to Seashell.

"Yay, Seashell!" A foal cheered, while Misty sighed on the ground with disappointment.





On the other hand, Sonic was training up with Amy on a room that Queen Haven let them borrow.

Of course, this training was a 1v1, and they were both trying to be as careful as possible to not brake anything in this room... However, Sonic could barely focus on the battle, because his fight with Pipp was still haunting his thoughts, and he could barely think straight.

Is exactly because of this that Amy hit him with her hammer and sent him backwards, towards a column, where he crashed on his back, and then fell on his knees with pain.

Normally, Amy would apologize, but this is the sixth time today she has launched Sonic against a wall or column during their training, and she knows something's really wrong with him if he can barely concentrate on attacking her, or even defeat her at all.

So, Amy approached Sonic and looked down at him with a slight frown, also laying on her Piko Piko Hammer. "You are not being yourself today, Sonic."

Sonic chuckled in pain and decided to sit down in the floor instead of standing up. "You've noticed?"

"More than that." Amy replied, as she placed her hammer to lay it on the column behind them, while she sat down next to the Blue Blur. "I heard you had a fight with Pipp. In fact, everyone knows. Pipp cursed your name a lot during lunch break."

Sonic frowned slightly after hearing that, but then sighed. "Yeah, well... It was inevitable with how I've been feeling lately."

"Pipp said a lot about you not understanding that the 'like thing' was just something that happened. That there's another reason why she collected all those pictures on her phone, but she never told which one."

"... I honestly don't know what to believe anymore..." Sonic said with concern. "I still feel mad because she always has to bring her Pippsqueaks whenever we're on our own, and... I just don't want to feel that I'm there to be another big event for a livestream she makes, you know? I'm her boyfriend, but sometimes... I feel like she loves her phone more than she'll ever love me..."

After saying this, Amy smacked him in the head really hard, making Sonic groan and rub his head in pain.

"Amy! What the hell?!"

"I'll tell you what's the hell: The one I will unleash if you don't stop saying the biggest amount of nonsense you'd ever speak in your life!" Amy replied with anger. "What in your sane mind makes you think that Pipp loves her phone more than she loves you?!"

"Amy, she barely leaves it aside whenever we are together." Sonic pointed out with a frown. "Whenever I wanna have a normal conversation with her, she always has to bring out her phone and her fans and... I know is what she does, that she likes it, and I'm happy for her... But I don't wanna feel like an accessory instead of her partner."

"And why haven't you told her that?" Amy asked him with a bored expression.

"How could I face her after I told her to leave me alone?" Sonic asked with concern.

"Because staying here and hope to forget what happened won't work, Sonic." Amy pointed out, then she stood up and grabbed her Hammer to walk off, but not without saying one last thing, even though she didn't turned around. "Is one thing to try and forget a kiss, but you cannot avoid something like this. Even if the problem is small, it can get bigger if you don't do anything to solve it."

With that, Amy lefty the room, and Sonic was now on deep thought, because her words truly reached him.

The fact that Cyber Sonic appeared right in front of him and stared down at him with anger wasn't helping that much, but Sonic simply sighed, stood up and walked though the illusion, as it banished.

"I'm not in the mood to panic over you today." Sonic muttered, walking off the room. "Not right now."





The next day, Glory and Peach Fizz were throwing some blossoms outside.

Meanwhile, Misty was taking a nap on the guest room, until an airhorn played, which startled her away.

Misty screamed startled and jumped, ducking behind her bed. "What? What is it?! Are we under attack!?"

"No, Misty! It's your big day!" Sunny called out excitedly, as she arrived with her along Tails. "The Cutie Blossom Bash! Yippee! Time to get ready. Aren't you buzzing?!"

After asking that, Sunny trotted off with a squeal, leaving Tails behind, as he looked at Misty with concern.

"Buzzing… with nerves!" Misty said nervously.

"This could've been avoided long ago if you told them already that you don't want to do this, Mist..." Tails reminded her with concern, as he sat at her side and let out a sigh. "You cannot keep this for you. Nobody looses anything if you told them that you're against the idea!"

"But I don't want to disappoint them, either!" Misty said with worry. "They seem so excited, and... I don't know if I can take that excitement away."

"Not telling them the truth just makes things worse. And after everything that has happened in the past few months, keeping yourself a secret that actually affects you more than them is bad."

"But I... I don't wanna ruin our friendship..." Misty said. "I know is silly to think something like this can do that, but it still concerns me..."

"Oh..." Tails said, now being in deep thought. "Is that why you never told me that you like me?"

That made Misty's eyes shot open widely, and her face got as red as a tomato, while she slowly turned to see Tails, who was smiling at her the same way he always does.

"... Y-You... You knew?!" Misty asked in shock.

"I suspected it for a while." Tails replied. "Ever since you gave me that kiss when your Cutie Mark wasn't shining as much as the others, to be precisely.

"S-Six months?!" Misty asked, completely surprised and embarrassed by this. "B-But why didn't you ever told me anything?!"

"Because you're my best friend, Misty!" Tails replied. "I wasn't going to tell you that. I wanted to wait until you were ready to tell me, but... I guess I just screw that, huh?"

"K-Kinda..." Misty said nervously.

She started to play with her mane, and all she wanted to do right now was to disappear and not have to face Tails anymore, not now that he knows she likes him.

"S-So... W-What do you... t-think?" Misty asked concerned, looking away from Tails.

"Well... You're a great mare, Misty." Tails said, and that made her eyes open wide and sparkle, as she slowly turned to see him. "You have come a long way in just a few months... And that's why you deserve someone that feels the same than you."

Misty's expression quickly shifted, and she already knew what Tails implied with his words, so she felt very disappointed.

"... I see..." Misty said.

"Don't take it the wrong way, Mist. We're still friends! That won't ever change." Tails assured her with a smile. "I just... My heart belongs to somepony else. And I cannot be with you to hurt any of us. Nor you, nor me, nor the one that owns my heart. But I know that, one day, you'll find that special pony that'll love you and threat you like you deserve. And they better, because if they don't, I'll follow them to the end of the world and make their life a living nightmare!"

After hearing Tails swearing to kick whoever's ass in order to protect her, and even if she was still hurt by being rejected, Misty couldn't help but burst out laughing at his words, and Tails laughed along.

However, she soon pulled him into a tight hug, and while startled at first, Tails still smiled and hugged her back, since he had a feeling that she needed this right now. After all, he rejected her gently, so she might need a few seconds, or even minutes, to process it.

"... Do you promise?" Misty asked Tails, tightening her grip a bit. "You promise that nothing is gonna change between us, even thought I have feelings for you?"

Tails chuckled and rubbed her back softly. "We're still friends, Mist. And nothing is gonna brake our bond, not even the biggest menace ever to live."

Misty smiled after hearing this and tightened the hug a bit more, while Tails decided to let her be.

"... Aren't you gonna ask me who my heart actually belongs to, or––"

"I know is Zipp, Tails."

"... Dang it..."

Misty chuckled after hearing him saying that, while Tails rolled his eyes annoyed, but still smiled at her.





Pipp was at her old room in the castle, laying on her bed and hugging a pillow.

She hasn't talked with anyone since dinner last night, and now she's very concerned. She never had a big fight with Sonic like the one from yesterday in the balcony, and she didn't liked that their first fight as a couple involved her fans and her life as a popular pony.

She knew that couples fight often, and that communication was the key to avoid a split up... But she didn't knew how to approach Sonic about this, or even if approach him at all.

A knock on her door suddenly pulled her out of her thoughts, and she simply let out a startled squeal.

"W-Who is it?" Pipp asked.

"... Is me, Pipp... The idiot that screamed at you yesterday..." Sonic's voice replied from the other side of the door.

Usually, she'll be happy to hear him, but she was still kinda mad at him fro everything he told her the previous day, so she returned her sight to her pillow... But the girl in love inside of her was somehow stronger than her normal self, so she ended up sighing and walking up to the door, removing the lock and then walking back to her bed.

"Come in." Pipp said, burying her face on her pillow again.

Sonic opened the door, and even if he was still a bit mad for the reasons he shared earlier, the sight of his girlfriend burying her face on her pillow and feeling down did shattered his heart.

He sighed, then closed the door behind, and then slowly approached her, not saying anything so far. But then, Pipp suddenly squealed startled when she was picked up like a pet, and then hugged from the back by Sonic like if she was a giant plushie... Well, she's technically that to him.

"... Pipp... I... I think we need to talk..." Sonic spoke.

Pipp was a bit flustered to be hold like this, but she still frowned slightly. "W-Why should we talk? You told me not to bother you..."

"Well, I'm technically the one bothering you..." Sonic pointed out with a chuckle, before getting serious again. "You wanna know why I'm actually mad, Pipp?"

"I thought you told me that already..." Pipp pointed out as well.

"Not the full story." Sonic replied. "I... On our last date, you were barely paying me any attention. You were so focused on your phone and on your fans... Like always."

Pipp's eyes opened wide after hearing that. "L-Like always?"

"Whenever we go on picnics, to a restaurant, to the beach, anywhere, you and your damn phone are on the way. Always taking pictures, uploading them to your Ponygram." Sonic explained. "It didn't bothered at first, but I noticed how many likes you get from those pictures this past week... I started to feel that you were only using our relationship as an excuse to get more likes... I started to feel that I was an accessory for you, and not your lover..."

Now that Sonic explained himself, Pipp actually began to tear up, and she even grabbed Sonic's arms with her hooves, squeezing them tightly and whimpering.

Once Sonic heard that, he turned her around, and he felt even worse when he saw her crying.

"P-Pipp?!" Sonic asked confused. "Crap! Sorry, I'm so sorry! I should had worded that better! Me and my stupid mouth––"

However, Sonic was shut down when Pipp locked her lips with hers, startling him a lot, since he wasn't expecting this reaction from her after what he said, specially considering she's still crying.

"P-Pipp?" Sonic called out confused once she broke the kiss.

"S-Sonic... Why didn't you told me that instead of being so mean to me?!" Pipp asked, as he tapped her hooves on Sonic's chest in an attempt of hit him, but he only felt she was tickling him.

"... Because like you said, I wasn't thinking straight..." Sonic replied with an ashamed smile. "I guess I still have a lot to learn as your boyfriend, because thinking about it... I was just childish and immature, thinking you only see me as an item for your own gain... And I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday."

Pipp smiled, then wiped some of her tears away, and then hugged Sonic, burying her face on his chest, while Sonic returned the hug and rubbed her back with a smile.

"While I'm glad you apologize for yesterday... I still must apologize, too." Pipp stated, then looked up at him and caressed his cheek with a hoof. "Sonic, the reason why I was taking so many pictures is not even related to my Ponygram!"

Sonic's eyes shot open after hearing this. "I'm sorry, what?!"

"Sure, I uploaded some pictures, but it was to show you off as my boyfriend!" Pipp pointed out with a smile. "I mean, I'll be crazy not to lay my eye on you~" She bite her lowed lip as she looked at him up and down, while Sonic smirked smugly at her. "But the rest of the pictures I took? They're for a surprise I have for you, for our first anniversary!"

"Huh?!"

"That's why it angered me what you said yesterday, but... it also made me sad..."

Sonic facepalmed and groaned, then lay on the bed. Right now, he wished that earth would just swallow him and make him disappear, because he was too ashamed to find out that his girlfriend took those pictures for something special and meaningful.

"How could I had labeled all of that as you using me?! Gosh, I'm so stupid!" Sonic scolded himself.

"Well, is kinda my fault not to tell you why the pictures were for." Pipp pointed out, as she got on top of him. "I guess I also have to learn a lot about being a girlfriend as well."

Sonic chuckled and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, pulling her down for another kiss, one they were both ready for, as Pipp kissed him back and massaged his chest with her hooves.

"We both have to learn more, Little Pipp~" Sonic said in a flirty tone, but Pipp bite her lower lip when he used that tone. "I'm just glad we talked this out before things got worse... Because we're good now, right?"

"Mmm, I don't know..." Pipp replied mockingly, as she made circles on Sonic's chest. "I think you have to be more convincing than this, Mr. Hedgehog~"

At first, Sonic raised an eyebrow confused, but then Pipp got off him and went towards the door, as she looked it and shook her tail, something Sonic noticed, and he blushed at the sight of her rear, but then he smirked and bite his lip as well.

"Well, well, well, Princess Petals. Looks like you're more naughty than anyone could ever imagine~" Sonic told her with a mocking tone.

Pipp simply giggled and removed her bandana, then launched herself against Sonic, tackling him in the bed.





Outside the castle, the foals were enjoying their day before the Blossom Bash.

They trotted around, petted bunnies, and crafted stands, while Izzy got her Izzy's Does It Cart with her, holding up a bracelet.

"Flower corsages! Get your flower corsages!" Izzy called out. "Hoofmade by me, Izzy, of course! Smells great!" She then sniffed the corsage in her hoof. "Like flowers!"

Dazzle came walking by and accepted the corsage from Izzy, then she trotted off, just before thunder crackled, as the sky was more gray then yesterday.

And then Hitch, Knuckles and Zipp came out, all wearing weather boots and a couple of umbrella hats.

"Don't worry, everypony!" Hitch called out.

"There's no way we're letting it rain on this parade." Zipp finished.

"Wait, there’s a parade?!" Izzy asked excitedly, as she came skidding next to them. "Why didn't anypony tell me? Um… I may be able to fashion a float quickly, but I will need a tube of glue, 5014 gummy bunnies and a––"

Hitch, Knuckles and Zipp looked at her confused, then the two ponies shook their heads and Knuckles walked up to her.

"Izz, it's just an expression." Knuckles explained with a smile. "What we mean is we've got this festival of fun under cover!" He then gestured to the tarps all over the festival.

"We also have critter deputies on duty to make sure nopony slips." Hitch added, as he gestured to his critter crew, who gave a salute, then they all posed out with walkie talkies. "And trottie-talkies! Because… Well, trottie-talkies are cool."

"We've taken every precautionary measure. So now, we wait." Zipp said with a smirk.

Knuckles looked at the sky with a frown, specially because last time it rained, he ended up dragging his friends to the Starfall Islands as soon as it stopped. "It'll be here any minute."

"Kenneth. You take charge!" Hitch said to his bird friend. "When it rains, you know what to do!"

Kenneth chirped in understanding, as he and the other critters gave a salute, while the three in charge of drifting the rain away saluted back before splitting up.





In Misty's room, she was putting the final touches of makeup on her.

The young fox was helping her out, and he placed a flower on her ear as the definitive touch of her look.

Tails kissed his fingers and felt happy with the result. "Divine, Mist. That's the best word to describe it: You look divine!"

"Well, at least I look pretty." Misty said with a smile, before getting nervous again. "Pretty terrified."

"Aw, come on, Mist!" Tails said with a smile. "You look great!"

Just then: Izzy, Sunny, Pipp and Amy came in, and they gasped at Misty's look, while the Unicorn was surprised by their arrival, but she still smiled.

"Wow! Misty!" Izzy gasped.

"Oh my hoofness!" Pipp exclaimed. "Misty! You are the picture of spring! A vision in florals, an ode to the beauty of the butterfly!"

Izzy then gasped with a smile. "You're gonna stick out." She said with a smirk, which made Misty stiff. "In a good way."

"Watch out, everypony!" Tails said with a smirk. "Because a beautiful butterfly is ready to bloom!"

"Here it goes." Sunny squealed, as she turned Misty's chair around and walked off.

The rest followed up and exited the room as well, but Misty still felt nervous, and Tails looked at her with concern.





Once outside, the crowd of ponies were out the front gates.

Soon, the foals started to trot excited with a flag of their Cutie Marks strapped on them, while Misty looked at her friends behind her... But then, she stopped and started to panic.

Misty saw all the ponies outside, and she was finally feeling very overwhelmed... Until she finally gave up.

"I can't do this. It's all too much." Misty said, then used her magic to close the doors, which surprised her friends, except for Team Sonic.

"What?" Sunny asked in surprise.

"No!" Izzy said, while the others ponies gasped confused.

"Wait!" Misty said, as she turned to her friends. "I need to confess something."

"I knew it!" Zipp said with a smirk.

"It's not about Opaline, Zipp." Misty cleared, and that surprised Zipp, since she believed that it was about her. "This is about… me."

"Took you long enough." Knuckles deadpanned.

"The whole Episode, to be precise, but yeah." Sonic deadpanned as well.

"The truth is I.. can't go out there!" Misty confessed.

"What, is it the outfit? We can change it!" Pipp exclaimed in worry.

"Seriously, Pipp?!" Amy asked the pegasus with disbelief.

"She's always like that, Ames." Tails pointed out with a deadpan and his arms crossed.

"No, no! It's perfect. It's all perfect." Misty said, twirling around a bit, while the rest looked at her with concern. "But ever since I got here, I haven't felt… comfortable. All these ponies and all this fuss over me."

"Wait, you don’t like that?" Pipp asked confused.

"No." Misty answered. "All this Cutie Blossom Bash stuff has made me feel so not me. I may be smiling, but this is what I really feel like." She showed a very unhappy expression.

"Oh wow, yeah. That, that looks unhappy." Izzy said sheepishly.

"I don't wanna trot across that stage with all those eyes one me." Misty continued. "I don't want the spotlight! I just wanna be Misty. But if I don't pretend, then everypony will know the truth about me. That I'm… shy."

"Tails. Remind me what's the problem with telling this from the beginning." Sonic said with his arms crossed.

"What problem?" Tails asked with a bored expression.

"Exactly." The rest of Team Sonic all said in unison.

The rest of the Mane 6, however, gave Misty sympathy looks. "Oh, Misty. We just wanted to celebrate your new Cutie Mark!" Sunny said with a small smile.

"I know I should be proud of it and I am, but I don't wanna do this." Misty said, then she walked up to them. "I've been so scared to tell you because you were all so excited. And Team Sonic told me to be honest from the beginning, but I didn't wanted to ruin this for you! And now look where that led us. I'm sorry. I should've been honest. I've ruined everything!"

"Misty… You haven't ruined anything at all." Sunny told her, as he walked towards her. "We are the ones who should be sorry. We got so caught up in trying to make this moment special for you, we forgot to ask along the way if this is what you even wanted."

"That's what real friends do." Sonic said, then he turned to the rest with a smile. "Guys, you get way too excited sometimes, and while I'm all in for enthusiasm, let's try to be a bit more aware of our surroundings and each other's feelings before jumping to conclusions. And that goes to me as well."

Pipp smiled tenderly after he also pointed his own words out towards himself.

Meanwhile, Misty was happy to see her friend understood her. "Thank you for understanding. I'm still learning about friendship."

"And so are we." Izzy added.

"Every day." Pipp spoke next.

"Isn't that the entire point of 'the Magic of Friendship'?" Tails pointed out with a smile. "Sure, you learned stuff along your life, but you still learn everyday! That's whats makes friendship so cool, remember?" 

Misty smiled back at Tails and nodded, since she does remember the conversation she had with both Zipp and Tails in the library during the Manesquerade Ball.

Suddenly, Zipp turned to Pipp, Sunny, Sonic and Tails, whispering something into their ears, while the rest looked at them curiously and confused.

"What are you guys whispering now? I'm done with secrets!" Knuckles said with a frown.

"What are you talking about? We didn't hide anything from you." Amy pointed out confused.

"You don't, but that Hedgehog is hiding something." Knuckles pointed out. "Or haven't you noticed how he always looks around startled and afraid, like if he saw a ghost?"

Amy realized what Knuckles was talking about, and she looked back at Sonic with concern, as he approached along the royal sisters, Sunny and Tails to them.

"Maybe we can celebrate in another way?" Sunny suggested, and Misty smiled at her response.





Outside, the Cutie Blossom Bash for the foals continued.

The foals themselves were on stage, showing off their Cutie Marks and their flags, with the crowd applauding to them.

"And next we have… Seashell!" Dazzle announced, as she gestured to Seashell, who moved around and made the crowd cheer, including did the Mane 6 and Team Sonic.

"Good thing Omega isn't here, or he'll be a crying mess." Sonic said with a smile. "He's got weirdly attached to the Pippsqueaks lately."

That made Pipp's eyes shot open, as she looked at her boyfriend confused. "Omega can cry?"





The Cutie Blossom Bash was being recorded and broadcasted in TV.

In the Brighthouse, Shadow was patrolling the Crystal Room since it was his turn, while Omega was in the living room, seeing Seashell getting her time to shine, as he cleaned his oil tears with a handkerchief.

"Are you crying?" Rouge asked Omega with an amused and mocking smirk.

"N-No. I'm presenting problems through my ocular radar." Omega replied, then sorbed a bit on the handkerchief. "They grow so fast!"

Rouge chuckled at his attitude, patting his arm a bit for comfort.





"Wow..." Pipp replied after Sonic explained how Omega can cry.

"I know. Crazy stuff." Sonic said with a smirk, placing an arm around his girlfriend, and Pipp smirked at his flirty attitude.

"Thank you, guys." Misty said gratefully, as she turned to her friends. "For the first time in a long time, I feel… happy. Probably about as happy as Seashell feels right now."

Seashell giggled as she moved excitedly. "This is the best moment of my life!"

"Yeah, it is good Omega is not here, or he'll be crying oil nonstop." Knuckles deadpanned.

Just then, Zipp flew down to her friends. "Okay. Talked to Mom. She's totally cool with it."

The rest cheered, and Sonic and Knuckles even fist bumped, while Misty looked at her friends confused.

"Cool with… what?" Misty asked them.

"A special surprise." Pipp answered, standing right next to her. "That we promise doesn't involve any other ponies, preparations or primping. Just us!"

"It is time you make your mark, Mist!" Tails said, standing right next to Misty with a smile, and she smiled back.





Later, the Mane 6 and Team Sonic then went into the Royal Garden.

As they looked around and walked ahead, Misty gasped surprised, since she recognizes it.

"Hey! This is the place from the video! It's beautiful." Misty said as she looked around the garden, before noticing a whole dug right in front of them, so she turned to the rest. "But why are we here?"

"We wanted to do something cool to mark your big day, in a small way." Zipp explained with a smile.

"And like we promised, just you and your friends! No one else will be here." Tails added with a wink.

Then, Pipp flew in front of her, holding a tree sapling. "This is one of the saplings I've been singing to, I mean, nurturing for a while." She quickly corrected herself sheepishly, with her friends giving her playful smirks. "And now it's yours." She put the sapling down. "It represents you growing into the pony you were meant to be."

"Now your sparkle can take roots! Woo!" Izzy cheered, while the royal sisters flew around.

"Like mine!" Pipp sang while gesturing to a tree.

"And mine." Zipp added while gesturing to her tree.

"This is where you finally start to write your story!" Sonic pointed out with a smile. "No chains, no one to hold you back... Just you growing for yourself, by yourself."

"So… what do you say?" Sunny asked.

"I love it!" Misty exclaimed in joy, as she levitated her sapling and put it on the ground. "It'll be a long time my tree catches up to yours!" She added as she secured it with some dirt before grabbing her flag and planting it next to the sapling.

"Maybe it doesn't have to…" Sunny stated with a smirk.






Sunny:
Just plant the seed
To be who you wanna be

Tails:
Because the magic
It lives within you and me


As Sunny and Tails sang, they moved next to Misty, with the Unicorn smiling, just before Zipp and Pipp flew close to her and lifted Misty into the air.


Zipp and Pipp:
It takes time to grow
And to learn on your own

Sunny, Tails, Zipp and Pipp:
The transformation is beginning


The royal sisters put Misty down, while Sunny used her Earth Pony magic on the sapling, just before Izzy stepped in and started to dance around.


Izzy:
Butterflies don't get their wings

Sonic:
Over the night

Sunny:
It all takes time


Izzy, Sunny, Tails and Sonic circled the sapling, while Hitch and Knuckles came next to Misty.


Hitch and Knuckles:
Birds don't just wake up and fly

Amy:
It comes from deep insiiiidddeee


Misty closed her eyes and thought back how Opaline treated her and how she scared her, before she had memories of good times she had with Eggman as a father figure, then with her friends before redeeming by freeing them, getting her Cutie Mark, and vowing to stop Opaline and Eggman.


Mane 5 and Team Sonic:
Find you light
Let it, let it glow
You got it, got it, go

Find your light
You got it, got it, go
Everypony can grow

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh


The Mane 6 Cutie Marks and Team Sonic but Amy's powers started to glow, as Pipp flew up in the air and dance, while their magic from their marks and powers began to fuse with the sapling, which started to grow faster.


Everypony can grow

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh


Misty smiled as she hopped around and finished the song, while the tree fully sprouted, and butterflies fluttered around.


Everypony can grow


Just then, Misty turned and looked at her very own tree. "Whoa. Look at that!"

The rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic saw the butterflies moving around, and while the ponies laughed around, Sonic let one butterfly stop over his finger, as he smiled at it.

Then, Misty saw her horn glow, so she looked at her flank and noticed her Cutie Mark glowing, which made her smile.

"That's it! That's why my Cutie Mark is a butterfly!" Misty realized. "It's because I have the power to change, to transform my own destiny. That's me."

"Well, I never believed in destiny until my mother figure popped up from a Chaos Emerald as an hologram and told me my whole life was a lie." Sonic deadpanned. "But I've been proven wrong, and honestly? I'm kinda jealous. I mean, my whole idea is to just run around as free as the wind, to be just another guy that so happens to be there whenever there's trouble! But knowing almost everything I've done was already written, it makes me feel jealous of you, Mist. You can change your destiny and forge a new one. And that's something I both admire, and I'm so jealous of as well."

"Really?"

"Yeah!" Amy agreed. "Who wouldn't want to change their destiny for real? I've tried to do that long time ago, but it didn't went well..." She looked over at Sonic with shame, but Sonic smiled at her, and she smiled back. "When I realized that, everything went better than I could ever expect." She then looked at Misty. "And I don't need fortune cards to tell that your destiny will be amazing."

Misty smiled after hearing this, then she took a deep breath and looked at the rest with a determinate look. "Well, I don't know what destiny may have in store for me, but there's one thing I have clear: We need to find Eggman and stop him, as well as Opaline! She might been defeated once, but there's other thing she shares with Eggman besides ambition: She'll always come back, no matter how many times we stop her."

"Oh, and we will!" Knuckles said with a smirk, punching his fists together. "He still owes me one for mentally torturing my friends in a lab!"

"After what he did to Sunny? I'm not planning on being merciful." Tails said with a frown, as he made a sniper appear.

Sonic's eyes widened, and he tossed the weapon from Tails' hands. "Okay! I wanna kick Eggman's butt as much as everyone here for what he did with the Death Egg Titan, but let's not cross lines."

"I don't know, Sonic..." Sunny said with a smirk, making her Alicorn form show up. "I'm up to being a little more violent to crack and Egg open!"

"You're hanging out with Shadow too much, young lady." Sonic said with a frown and his arms crossed.

Suddenly, it began to rain, and everyone looked up confused... Except for Pipp and Amy, who squealed in fear.

"Ah! My mane!" Pipp cried out, as she rushed back inside the palace.

"Not my hair, not my hair!" Amy cried out as well, which made everyone else laugh.

However, once they were all inside, Misty stopped Sonic for a moment. "Sonic?"

"Yo!" Sonic replied with a smile.

"Sorry to stopping you, is just that I never had the chance to ask this before..." Misty said sheepishly with a chuckle. "Um, when the others revealed that I was working with Opaline and Eggman, you stood for me. You said that I was still your friend, and even blamed the others for things that weren't as bad as working with two power-hungry tyrants! Why? Why did you defended me the same way Tails defended me from Zipp all the time, even if she was right about me?"

"I told you that already, Mist, that same day!" Sonic reminded her with a smile. "You are my friend no matter what. And I knew that you were going to make the right thing in the end, even if everyone else doubted you. I know that I blamed them for things that aren't as bad, but my point was to prove that we all make mistakes in life. We can either hold into them forever, or learn and keep going. You learned the latter, and look how far you've gotten ever since! And I cannot wait to see what await us all in this journey to stop Eggman and Opaline!"

Misty smiled and felt touched by Sonic's words, then she nodded with a determinate look, and they both rushed to catch up with the rest.





Hours later, the whole group went back to the Crystal Brighthouse.

Once everyone entered, they saw that Omega was on his resting pod near Izzy's crafting corner, while Shadow was attempting to read the instructions in how to roasted vegetables, and Rouge was nowhere to be seen.

"Yo, Shadow!" Sonic greeted with a smirk.

That took Shadow out of the cooking book, as he turned to see the rest on the entrance. "You came earlier than I thought."

"We finished the event earlier!" Sunny said with a smirk, before snorting once she approached Shadow and noticed that he was wearing a pink apron with a heart. "What are you wearing?"

"I lost a bet against Rouge." Shadow replied with no shame. "My pride may be big, but I know when to loose. Also, I was trying to cook... Let's just say is not one of my stronger points."

"I'm just impressed the kitchen is still in one piece." Knuckles said as he looked around, and Shadow deadpanned at him.

Just then, a flash snapped as a picture was taken, and everyone turned to see Sonic, pointing his phone at Shadow, because he just took a picture of him with the pink apron.

"Let's see how proud you truly are when I publish this!" Sonic said with a sinister grin, before boosting away.

Shadow frowned, then removed his apron carefully and gave it to Sunny. "If you'll excuse me; I'll go make that Hedgehog's life a living nightmare."

After that, he teleported out to chase down Sonic outside of the Brighthouse, making everyone else that saw this chuckle.





Upstairs, Misty was heading to her side of the room with a smile.

She was about to pick something from her desk, but right as she approached it, she noticed the blue box with a red ribbon, and she tilted her head a bit confused.

She levitated the box with her magic, and then she opened it... Her eyes shot open when she then levitated out a golden necklace shaped like a heart, as well as a note that came with the necklace. Misty opened the note to see what it said and who gave her this.

"To the daughter I lost because of my arrogance.

Misty. I cannot express in words how happy and proud I am that you finally have gotten your Cutie Mark all by yourself, without needing Opaline's help nor mine! You have grown into a young and beautiful mare that's more than ready to face the world, even if you think otherwise.

Don't let Opaline's words get in your mind. You are more than capable to survive without any of us... Because you've got more than just lots of new friends. You've got a family, one that will look after you the way I couldn't.

I'll never forgive myself for hurting you when I promised that I wouldn't, and I really hope you don't forgive me, either. I don't deserve it. Just know that I'll always be proud of you, and that I cannot wait to see you kicking ass next time we see each other!

Go and make me proud, Misty, even if we are on different sides now.

Yours truly: Dr. Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik."

After reading all of that, Misty's eyes watered, and she smiled fondly after reading the letter, then she opened the necklace to see what picture was inside, and her smile grew when she saw a photo of her and Eggman.

In this picture that she took on a sneaky way, she was taking it so fast that she appeared a bit blurry, but with a huge mocking smile for finally getting the picture, while Eggman himself turned and looked very confused at the camera, clearly not expecting Misty's move at all.

Misty smiled brightly, and then she held the note and necklace close to her chest.

"I won't let you down... Dad..." Misty declared with a determined look.