Author's note: Thanks to PrettyPartyPony for proofreading!
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While Twilight and Spike were in Canterlot, their friends struggled with their daily activities.
Rarity was lying in her bed, wriggling. She had her sleeping-mask put on and the drapes in the room were shut. It was dark but apparently not dark enough for the white unicorn.
“How can I sleep if the sun is still high in the sky! I need to create!” she shouted, taking off her sleeping-mask.
She got up, yawning loudly. This was not the way a lady would yawn. “But I am definitely too tired to do ANYTHING.,” she said in her usual dramatic tone of voice. “Please, somepony turn off the sun!” She lay down on the bed again.
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Pinkie was lying on the street, seemingly unconscious. Applejack trotted up to her. “Pinkie? Y’alright?” the orange pony asked worriedly, patting her on the shoulder.
“No, AJ...” she mumbled.
“What happened?”
“I ha-haven’t slept for... like three da-days,” she stammered out silently.
“Why won’t ya get some sleep then?” AJ asked, quite confused despite being aware of Pinkie’s weird behavior.
“I just... never sleep during a day. That’d be a loss of time...” she spoke quietly in a manner resembling somepony on the edge of death.
“Well, it’s not easy to me either. Ah can’t get up early ‘cause no rooster’d crow,” Applejack explained. “Gotta get used to the sun up there all the time. Alright, Pinkie, I’mma take ya home,” Applejack said firmly and then hoisted the party pony on her back.
“How to make a late-night party during day...” Pinkie whispered and then dozed off on the orange pony’s back.
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Fluttershy was staggering around her house, visibly exhausted.
“Please, bunnies, it’s time to sleep, I think... Please, you need some rest, oh...” she said quietly and then passed out.
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Only Rainbow Dash seemed to enjoy the neverending day.
“Wooohooo! Now I can perform my tricks all day long. That means, all the time! Whenever I want!” Rainbow shouted to herself, flying between houses in Ponyville. “Hey, watch out, sleepyhead!” she shouted at some grey pegasus, who flew just in front of her. Rainbow, thankfully, managed to avoid the crash.
*******
“I think I know what happened,” Twilight stated firmly, still frowning at Luna, who was trying not to look at the purple unicorn.
“Oh, do you? Well, we think we should not look for the scapegoat right now, when there are ponies in need of shelter and food. Guard! I order you to deliver a message to the Welfare Department of Equestria that we insist on sending supplies to Manehattan immediately,” Luna commanded the stallion. He nodded and then left the chamber.
Twilight was still frowning.
“Have you seen that? We solved the problem. We are just as good as Celestia,” Luna said, smiling proudly.
“But that was you who caused the problem, Princess,” Twilight said firmly.
“HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO US DIRECTLY!? HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE US OF RUINING THE WHOLE CITY!?” Luna shouted, using her Royal Canterlot voice. Blue flames apperead around her, making Spike and Twilight shrink back, cowering in fear.
“Yeah, Twilight, how could you?” Spike scolded his legal guardian.
“Princess Luna?” Twilight squealed.
The Princess of the Moon gave them a confused look. She blushed and then slowly put out the flames, returning to her normal self. She grinned sheepishly.
“But, how could she have caused the flood, actually? She’s been with us the whole time!” Spike asked, obviously confused.
“Didn’t you even read that book about tides I gave you on your birthday three years ago?” Twilight gave his assistant a castigatory look.
“Not even a page. I’m not an egghead,” Spike answered with brutal honesty.
“Great. I’m not gonna give you any book again!” Twilight said coldly.
“Yes!” Spike exclaimed happily. Twilight seemed to be heartbroken by this. She loved books and couldn’t understand why her assistant didn’t want to read.
“Anyway, Twilight started her lecture, “Princess Luna caused the wave because she was moving the Moon around. As you ought to know, the Moon’s gravity influences tidal waves in Equestrian oceans and seas. Princess Luna inadvertently moved the Moon in such a way as to cause a giant wave of water, which resulted in the annihilation of Manehattan. Any questions?” Twilight finished, grinning proudly.
“Yep. One. What’s a tide?” Spike asked uncertainly, making Twilight facehoof.
“We suppose it was not the brightest idea,” Princess Luna admitted sadly.
“I’d even say it was quite dumb,” Twilight retorted. “Um. Sorry, Princess. I didn’t mean to...” Twilight realized she couldn’t address the Princess in such a manner.
“You should weigh your words, Twilight Sparkle. But believe us, we would like to undo the disaster,” Luna said, blinking away tears.
Spike felt terrible for the alicorn. He couldn’t tell why but his heart raced. It resembled the way his heart beat whenever he saw Rarity. Could he fall in love with her? No, no way! She didn’t even look like Rarity!
Something, however, made him want to defend the crying Princess.
“Twilight! How can you be so... insolent!? That was your fault!” Spike shouted angrily.
“Spike! What do you...” Twilight was taken aback by his outburst.
“You were the one, who wanted to see how Luna moves the Moon!” Spike continued his rant.
“Please, address us Princess Luna. We do have a title after all,” Princess Luna interjected quietly.
Spike had not listened to Luna (being busy with looking at her), so he shouted “Yeah!” to confirm whatever she said.
Twilight’s frown deepened. “Great. Just great. Now it’s all my fault? Maybe it’s my fault that the sun is still in the sky?” Twilight groaned. “I’m going back to the Archives. Maybe I’ll find the solution. You can stay here and do whatever you want!”
Twilight left the chamber, slamming the door as loudly as she could.
Spike and Luna gazed confusedly at the door for a while.
“So, what do you do in your free time?” Spike suddenly asked Luna, adding to her confusion.
TO BE CONTINUED