The short fly calmed me down. They always did. Everypony seems to think I'm afraid of heights but that's just silly. How can you fly and be afraid of heights. There are so many other actual things to be afraid of. In fact I love being high because it's just so calm, but there are also no cute little bunnies, or sweet smelling pine trees, or apples or all the other things on the ground. I don't see how anypony can spend so much time away from such a wonderful place.
I landed in the grass next to Twilight. She was reading a book of course. It was nice to know she at least got outside without us sometimes. I didn't see Spike around anywhere. I just stood there in silence for a while. I didn't want to interrupt. Then Twilight looked up and started. Apparently I landed too quietly for her to hear. I looked down at the ground.
"I apologize Twilight. I didn't mean to scare you."
"No need Fluttershy, really. I should have heard you coming but I was just so engrossed. This is a good story. However I think that's enough for now."
She then concentrated and the book vanished. I blinked. I wasn't sure exactly what that spell was but it seemed new. I'd certainly never seen her do it before. Twilight then smiled broadly.
"How about we find something to do. I've been cooped up in my library with my not so little project for a bit too long I think and…"
"It isn't your fault Twilight. The others didn't notice Rarity…" I then stopped "I can't think of a good way to say it."
"Her problem. Luna and Celestia have both promised me it was very temporary. Most likely brought on by a combination of stress and your refusal to remove the hat being in some way a refusal of her fashion advice."
"Oh, that's bad, isn't it. But Rainbow Dash and Applejack…"
"Yes, but that's more a matter of personal style. Also I would guess you've never said anything even remotely negative about her work or style before."
I hung my head. "Uh, once, maybe. But she asked. But I still said it was nice, because it was. I could see a few ways it could be better but, she didn't over react at all."
"Well as I said. Some sort of stress was probably involved considering the small nature of things." Then she smiled. "Lets just forget about that. It's all fine now."
I nodded. Things were fine. Other than the fire thing with her mane, which she didn't use much, and being a little taller, nothing was different. Every pony else was the same. Even Pinkie in a strange way, even though she was often anything but. I smiled.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I'm, not sure really. Honestly the reason I let you girls pick something to do so often is because reading and studying was just about all I did."
"Oh. Um."
We sat there in silence for a while. I could be content just looking at the nature all around us, but I think Dash isn't the only one who would get bored with that eventually. I shuffled back and forth on my hooves for a bit, then noticed the flowers below me and took a step to the right.
"Did those just grow because you were standing there?"
"Yes, I think so. Flowers tend to do that for me now."
"As well as all the other plant growth that's very interesting. I wonder if…"
Then Twilight planted her face on the ground before coming back up with a smile. Her horn carved out a little divot in the ground, and was quite dirty. Then it glowed and all the dirt fell off.
"Rarity's right. I have been underestimating the usefulness of cleaning spells."
"Why exactly did you…"
"I'm trying to not focus so much on research and then I did it again. Maybe we need some help thinking of something fun to do."
"Oooo, I have lots of ideas."
I turned to see myself bouncing toward us. At least for a second I thought so. But my mane may be that pink, but I'm not, and I don't sound like Pinkie or have her cutie mark. Otherwise she did a very good job. Twilight was staring. I guess she hasn't seen any of Pinkie's impressions yet.
"Pinkie, is that really you?" asked Twilight
"Of course it is silly. Who else would I be?"
"Uh, Fluttershy?"
"Oh yea. I totally forgot."
Then she flapped her wings for a little extra height on the top of a bounce and dove at the dirt. It looked like it hurt to smack into it with her face, but then a moment later the normal cotton candy maned Pinkie we all know and loved popped up, smiling broadly. Her face was a little dirty but otherwise she looked fine.
"Pinkie, how did you do that?" asked Twilight
"Oh, well see I figured out how make myself go all floopy, and when I do if I smack into stuff it doesn't even hurt, it's so fun. Of course to answer your question, I can change my shape and I've been practicing. I know you girls like really well, so of course I thought to change into you. It's fun."
"Pinkie I want to know…" Then Twilight blinked. "Wait, you actually answered my question. And you could tell which one I meant even though I was vague."
"Duh. I mean why wouldn't I?"
"But you…" Twilight's right eye twitched, then she hung her head. "Never mind."
"Pinkie, do you have an idea of something fun to do?"
Pinkie nodded. "Yea, lets go to Cloudsdale. I mean Twilight is so much better at casting that cloud walking spell now." Pinkie smiled broadly "I've been really annoying."
"Oh I'm sure that's not true."
"You have been slightly aggravating constantly asking for…"
Pinkie then narrowed her eyes and looked at Twilight. "No, I've been annoying, and I know it. But never mind that." She smiled. "We can get the other girls too."
"There is more Dash and I could show you. I'm sure Rarity would like to see the clothing stores, and you might like the library, even if is mostly scrolls instead of books."
Twilight's eyes widened and a huge smile crossed her face. For a long time she just stood there like that. Pinkie walked over and waved a hoof in front of her face. Then she sat down and waved both front hooves in front of Twilight's face. Then Pinkie smiled, stood back up, took a step to the right, and gave Twilight a great big lick up the side of her face. Pinkie then pulled back and stuck out her tongue. Twilight just stood there, one eye twitching randomly, some of her hair in little out of place curls.
"Ewww, you're all bitter and sour. Not at all like Rainbow Dash."
"Dash let you lick her?"
"Not exactly let me, but she just seemed so lickable and I was so curious what she tasted like. She didn’t like it either."
Twilight shook her head. "Pinkie, why did you lick me?"
"To snap you out of it, duh." She tiled her had to the side and smiled
"And that was the only way you could think of?"
"No, but it was the most fun." Then she stuck her tongue out. "But I don't like sour candy. If I knew you would taste like that I wouldn't have done it. I really thought you'd taste much more sweet, maybe chocolatey, or at the worst a little boring like vanilla."
"Pinkie, how much time have you thought about how your friends taste?"
She giggled. "Oh, I dunno, the normal amount. I mean don't you ever wonder if Fluttershy's mane is as sweet as she is."
I looked away, blushing madly. That was such a nice thing to say. I felt I should turn around and say something, but I just couldn’t think. Pinkie giggled. Twilight then cleared her throat. I then turned back to her and Pinkie, hoping my blush wasn't still that obvious. Neither seemed to react.
"I think that's a wonderful idea Pinkie. Though maybe we should skip the library. Although it would be amazing to use the Cloudsdale library directly, instead of making requests though Canterlot university, I am trying to spend some time with you girls."
"It's a nice building. Maybe we could just take a quick look around, and then leave."
"Uh, maybe. It will be rather tempting though. I can't believe I didn't even consider this until now. What I need on pegasai might be right there, just not in the catalog list in Canterlot. It's possible that…"
"Muffin?"
Pinkie shoved it in Twilight's mouth, making the question a bit silly. Though I guess Twilight didn't have to bite down. She did and fairly quickly ate it. She gave Pinkie a brief glare, but said nothing.
"Thank you Pinkie, that was very good. Okay, Pinkie you go get Rarity, I'll get Applejack, and Fluttershy, you find Dash."
"I don't really need to look. She's probably rolling in the storm right now."
I then pointed to the dark clouds quickly filling the sky, pegasai putting them into place. I couldn't see Dash, but she had to be up there somewhere. Twilight then sighed.
"I guess the trip to Cloudsdale will have to wait."
"Ooo, ooo." Pinkie bounced. "If we get everypony together fast enough we can be up in the air above the clouds before the rain starts."
"Good idea Pinkie." Twilight smiled. "Lets get going and meet back at the library as quickly as possible. This is a great way to beat the storm."
"Whoo!"
"Okay."
Pinkie was gone almost immediately. I think she waved before she left, but she could really move when she felt like it. Twilight waved for sure before she trotted off. I waved back, but I'm not sure she saw me. I looked up and sighed. I guess not everypony likes the rain as much as I do.