//------------------------------// // The Unpredictable // Story: Celestia's Daughter // by The Conflicted Writer //------------------------------// Chapter 5: The Unpredictable The crow of a rooster filled Celestia’s ears. He eyes opened as fast as she shot out of bed, landing on the floor with a loud thunk. She sat back up and rubbed her head, glaring out the window at the rooster waving at her. “Thank you, Alfred. As usual, you caws are blaring and could awaken a bear from hibernation.” Alfred gave a bow. “I know I asked you to help me wake up early in the morning, but do you think you could tone down how loud you are? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble?” A series a chuckle-like clucks escaped from Alfred as he fluttered off of the roof. Celestia stood up and twisted her neck, trying to get the kinks out. “Day four; let’s see how terrible you can mess things up this time.” She dragged herself out of her room and walked down the stairs. “Mornin’, Celestia!” Applebloom said, bouncing down the stairs while at her side. “How’re ya doin’ today?” “Tired as usual,” Celestia said with a weary smile. “Alfred does his job well. I just wish he would be a bit gentler.” “Nah, Alfred’s the loudest rooster we got, an he’s proud of that fact.” Applebloom sat at the table. “Good mornin’, everypony.” “Mornin’,” Big Macintosh said, bring a steaming pot over. “Mornin’, Applebloom. Mornin’, Princess.” “Good morning, Applejack, everypony. Oh, I smell cinnamon in that oatmeal. Please, extra helpings if it’s alright.” “Sure ya can.” Granny Smith poured a bowl piled rather high, the contents threatening the fall out he it was pushed over to Celestia. “You really are jus’ like little Applejack. Where the hay do you put it all, anyway?” Celestia waved a hoof. “Oh, you know, a farmer needs the extra strength. Especially since lunch is not an option anymore.” Applejack’s eyes widened, and Granny Smith’s jaw set in a scowl. “Now who told ya a silly thing like that? Lunch is waitin’ here fer ya ev’ry day. Ah’ve been wonderin’ why ya ain’t comin’.” Celestia turned to Applejack. “But... you told me that farm ponies don’t have time for lunch... and Applebloom wasn’t getting food, either.” “I’m sorry,” Applebloom looked down at her bowl. “Applejack made me promise not ta tell ya. I thought I’d skip ta make ya feel better.” “So that’s why my hard work has been gettin’ cold on me!” Granny Smith whacked the back of Applejack’s head. “Ya got some ‘splainin’ ta do, little missy.” Applejack’s lips scrunched as her eyes darted around. “Applejack...” “Alright, alright, fine, ya got me. Yeah, I tricked her into not eatin’ at lunchtime. I wanted ta see how she’d handle it.” Celestia’s ears drooped. “Dangnabbit, ya know a pony’s gotta eat with all the hard work we’re doin’ around here. Jus’ fer this, you ain’t gettin’ lunch fer a week.” “What!? It’s only been four days!” “I should make it at least two, since Applebloom was nice ‘nuff ta not eat with her. Now quit yer belly achin’ and eat yer oatmeal. Yer gonna need it.” Granny turned back to Celestia. “Tia, ya can go ahead an’ go back to sleep. Yer probably tired as ya can be.” Celestia sighed. She then furrowed her brow and looked up. “No, thank you. I was told to repair the fence today, so repair the fence I will.” Applejack blinked. “Are ya sure?” Granny said, rubbing her chin. “If I can come back for something to eat, I’ll be just fine. In fact, I’ll go around the whole of the acres and fix everything up.” “That’s a pretty big task, dear. Even with magic, that’s gonna take a while.” “No problem,” Celestia said, smiling in Applejack’s direction. “Nothing is too much for the farm.” Applejack gave a frown, though not an angry one like Celestia had expected. “Good luck with that...” Applejack got up and pushed her bowl away. “Ah’m not hungry anymore.” She walked off, heading outside. “She still doesn’t like me,” Celestia said, sighing and magically stirring her breakfast with a spoon. “She’ll warm up to ya,” Applebloom said, leaning over to nuzzle Celestia’s side. Celestia smiled and pulled Applebloom into a hug. “That was incredibly kind of you to skip lunch with me, little one. You didn’t have to.” “Well, ya know... Applejack wasn’t bein’ very nice.” “Come on now,” Granny Smith said, smiling softly. “Applebloom’s gotta git to school, and Ah need ta show ya where the supplies are.” “Do you like school, Applebloom?” Celestia asked. “Sure do! Cheerilee is teachin’ us about the creatures in the Everfree forest today.” “Ah yes, the Everfree.” Celestia took a bit of her oatmeal and swallowed. “I remember when Luna and I still lived there. Back then, the forest was more like a woods. And the creatures there were a lot more friendly.” “Oh, wow!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Ya saw what the forest was like ‘fore it was a forest! Ya should come ta class and talk about it fer everypony.” “Not today, Applebloom. I made a commitment, and I need to stick to it. But I’ll tell you all about it later, alright?” “Okay,” Applebloom said in a sigh. “But Ah’m gonna go crusading today.” “Then I’ll make it a bedtime story,” Celestia said. Her spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl. “Oh my.” Her face turned red. “Great light in the sky, ya really can eat.” Granny chuckled. “Seconds?” “If you please.” “Gah!” Celestia screamed, dropping the hammer to the ground. She stuck her hoof in her mouth and sucked at the latest batch of swelling. “My aching hoof. How do Earth ponies do this?” She once again brought a nail up to a wooden post and pressed as hard as her teeth would allow. Hoof next to the nail to keep it steady, she raised the hammer up and brought it down. “Ahh!” she yelled out. “Darn it, every time!” She brought hoof close to her chest and sighed. “Well, I’m doing okay. How much have I done, anyway?” She looked back at the fence she had hammered and nailed, and smiled. The house was far, far away from where she stood. “Excellent. All I need now is a doctor to mend my breaking hoof and I might be done by next century.” Celestia fell onto her back, looking up at the sky. “Oooh, my aching body...” She looked up at the sky, looking up at the sun. “Hmm... that used to be mine, wasn’t it? The things we do for those we love.” “Oh, howdy Celestia...” Applebloom said as she slowly walked by. “How’s the fence comin’?” Celestia jerked her head up. “Applebloom? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” The filly turned her head to Celestia. “School’s been out fer an hour, ya know.” Celestia looked back up at the sun, realizing she had mistaken the sun’s position in the sky. Her head fell back and she groaned. “Hey, ya finished what ya were supposed ta do today. That’s pretty good fer bein’ on yer own, right?” Celestia rolled over, looking back at the fence. “I... I did, didn’t I?” she stood up and grinned. “What do you know, I did something!” “Great...” Applebloom said, going back to walking. “Applebloom, are you okay?” Celestia began walking alongside her, lowering her head to meet Applebloom. “No. We’re having a fight an’ Ah don’t wanna hear it anymore.” “We? We who?” “Me, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Pipsqueak. It ain’t important.” Celestia put a hoof in front of Applebloom, stopping her from moving forward. “If it’s friends, it’s always important. Tell me about your problem and maybe I can help.” “Well...” Applebloom shuffled her hooves. “See, everypony wants to do something different. Scoots wants to try and get our cutie marks, Sweetie Belle wants to have a tea party, and Pipsqueak wants to have an adventure.” “And you, Applebloom? What do you want?” “Ah jus’ want everypony ta get along an stop fightin’ so we can have fun!” Applebloom frowned and looked at the ground. “Ah jus don’t know what to do.” “The thing you should never do is give up,” Celestia said, kneeling down. “What do you say I try and talk to your friends and see if I can make peace with you all?” Applebloom grinned. “Really? You’d do that?” “Friends are important. And right now I see a friend that is in need of another friend. Climb on my back and I’ll fly us there.” Applebloom danced around a bit before jumping onto Celestia’s back, wrapping her forehooves around Celestia’s neck. “Hold on tight,” Celestia said as she started flapping her wings. She raised herself into the air, ascending until she reached just a little ways over the treetops. “Which way?” Applebloom point out into the orchard. “Out there, in the clubhouse. Jus’ a little ways. Wow... is this what pegasuses always see?” “It is,” Celestia replied. “It is interesting to see things with a new view, isn’t it? I bet you’ve never seen Sweet Apple Acres from up here.” “No way! Ah wish Ah could fly like this.” “Hmm, but don’t think being an Earth Pony is any less special. You get to see things a Pegasus never will.” “What do you mean? They get ta fly an’ walk around, an’ all I can do is walk. What makes me so special?” “It’s a little hard to explain. Think of it like this; Pegasus ponies have the option to fly, so they do. You have to walk. You have to do things differently than they do. You see the world in a different way the Pegasi do, even though they can walk just fine. Sometimes what you have limits you just as much as want you don’t.” Celestia came to a landing outside a small wooden building. “Wait, having wings let’s ‘em see less? How’s that work?” “I know it doesn’t make much sense.” Celestia held up her reddened hoof. “But you never see a unicorn hammering with their hooves, do you? At least, not completely. They don’t know how. You, however, do.” The filly tilted her head. “Ah guess so... huh. Never thought about it that way before. How’s yer hoof, anyway?” “It hurts to walk.” Celestia smiled and lowered herself to let Applebloom get down. “Now, let’s see what I can do to help.” Applebloom walked up the steps and sighed. “Alright, here we go.” She pushed the door open. “I want to go on an archeology adventure!” “I thought it was a pirate adventure.” “That was before, now I want to find a hidden city!” “But that’s not going to get us out cutie marks!” “We’re always trying to get our cutie marks, Scootaloo. When can we do something I wanna do?” “Tea parties are stupid. They’re girly and lame.” “How would you know? We’ve never even had one before.” “Cause Rainbow Dash says so!” “You’ve never heard her say that!” “I don’t need to. I know how Rainbow Dash is, and she know teas parties are stupid.” “But she wouldn’t think an adventure is lame, would she?” “No, but we need to get our cutie marks!” Applebloom turned to Celestia. “See what I mean?” “As a matter of fact, I do.” The children looked over at Celestia each of their eyes widening. “C-celestia?” “Indeed, that is my name,” Celestia said with a smile. “Oh wow!” The colt in the room said. “You’re Princess Luna’s sister!” Celestia tilted her head to the side. “Luna’s sister?” Sweetie Belle’s mouth was agape for a while before she spoke. “Your mane is so... different.” “I think you mean normal, Sweetie.” Scootaloo looked dubious. “Hold on. Applebloom said Celestia was here, but how do we know you really are her? You got a horn and wings, but you don’t look like the Celestia I saw once. Where’s your rainbow mane and tail? And why aren’t you as tall as her?” Celestia involuntarily took a step back, unable to speak for a moment from the surprising hostility from such a little pony. Applebloom stepped forward. “Look, Scootaloo, ya remember when Luna first came back from the moon, don’tcha? She doesn’t look like what she looks like now. This is jus’ Celestia when she ain’t got all her powers.” Scootaloo turned back to Celestia and sighed. “Sorry, Princess. I’m just mad is all.” “You’re mad? We’re all mad here!” “Please, call me Celestia. Now what seems to be the problem here.” She raised a hoof. “And if you please, no fighting.” Sweetie Belle stepped forward as Scootaloo opened her mouth. “We’re always doing things to try and get our cutie marks, but I wanna do something different for once. We never do what I wanna do.” “I want to go on an adventure!” said Pipsqueak as he jumped up and down. “Raging seas! Treasure to find! Lands to discover! But nopony here feels like having fun.” He furrowed his brow towards Scootaloo. “I want to get our cutie marks,” Scootaloo said. “That’s the reason we formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the first place. To, you know, crusade for our cutie marks! Oh, and Applebloom brought Pipsqueak for some reason.” “Hey, he’s a nice pony!” “But he’s not a Cutie Mark Crusader.” “Can’t we do something besides look for our cutie marks? I wanna have a tea party!” “Tea party’s are stupid, and so are the ponies that go to them.” “Wh-wha?” Celestia looked back and forth between the fighting fillies. “Little ponies, please calm yourselves for a moment.” “What did you just say to me?” “You heard what I said. Ponies who go to tea parties are stupid.” Pipsqueak stood in front of Scootaloo and pushed his nose against hers. “Hey, don’t be mean to Sweetie like that! She just wants to have fun.” “You’re not even welcome here, you don’t get a vote.” “I’m trying to find my cutie mark too, you know.” “No, you want to go play pretend when we could be looking for our special talent.” “Little ponies,” Celestia said, feeling rather powerless. She wanted to end this fighting, but didn’t want to resort to force. “Let’s talk about-” “You wouldn’t know your special talent if it came and hit ya right in the flank!” “Hey, Scoots isn’t that dumb.” “What do you mean that dumb? I’m not as dumb as you!” “Please, let’s just-” “At least I’m not a chicken like you.” “I’m not a chicken! Rainbow Dash doesn’t do tea parties and she would go looking for her special talent if she needed to.” Celestia brought a hoof to her chin. “Hold on a moment...” “Tea parties aren’t stupid, they can be fun! I just want to take a break from crusading, but you don’t care because you’re dumb.” “No, you’re dumb!” “You’re dumb!” “You’re dumb” “Shutit!” Applebloom suddenly blurted out. Everypony stopped and turned to her. “We’re supposed ta be friends, here. Why the hay are we fightin’?” Scootaloo let out a ‘hmph’ before making her way towards the door. “Whatever. You guys have your fun without me. I’m going to try to do something useful.” Celestia put a hoof in front of Scootaloo. “Now wait just a moment. That’s not how friendship works.” Scootaloo furrowed her brow but didn’t say anything. Celestia assumed that she didn’t want to argue with Equestria’s ruler, and furrowed her own brow. “Your friends want to do different things, and you all,” Celestia looked at Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle, “need to make compromises.” “But Scootaloo never wants to do anything else.” “And Pipsqueak wants to only play pretend.” “And Sweetie Belle wants to do boring stuff.” “An Ah jus’ wanna have fun...” “Everypony, take a deep breath with me.” Celestia inhaled deeply and motioned for the others to do the same. Applebloom blinked twice with a blank face, “Seriously?” she asked Celestia as she furrowed her own eyebrows and raised a forehoof in the air. Pipsqueak coughed slightly, “I say we take a vote: Whoever wants a pretend tea-party, raise your hoof.” he said as he raised his, followed by Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. “Who doesn’t?” he asked and saw Scootaloo raised hers proudly. “The tea party it is then. Now then, we-” “That vote doesn’t count!” Scootaloo interrupted, stepping forward and standing before Pipsqueak. “First of all, tea parties are lame. Second of all,” she said as she prodded him with her hoof against his chest, “you’re not even a member.” “He’s gonna be one soon, so Ah say that vote does count!” Scootaloo’s mouth hung open as her eyes dilated, “W-what?! He can’t be a member! He-” “Doesn’t have his cutie mark yet and he has been cool to us lately, so Ah I thought he could join our club.” “I think that’s a good idea too!” Sweetie Belle added. Scootaloo rolled her eyes as she sighed, “Why do I even bother?” Celestia just stood in the background observing the bickering of friends. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tapped her chin. She slowly closed her eyes to concentrate, a diplomatic solution forming in her mind. “My little ponies, I have a suggestion.” The young ponies all turned their heads to Celestia. “You go crusading for your marks on a regular basis, correct?” “That means all the time, right?” Sweetie Belle asked. “A bit, yes. Scootaloo, I’d like to make a deal with you. If you will postpone your crusading for the time being, I will get Rainbow Dash to come and partake in whatever you decide to do.” Scootaloo’s eyes widened quite a bit as she looked up to Celestia. “You’ll get Rainbow Dash to come here?” “Indeed I will. But, as I said, you need to do what your friends want to do. Deal?” “Deal!” Scootaloo shouted, jumping into the air and buzzing her wings. With a nod, Celestia turned to the others. “Can you all decide on something to do together?” “Tea party!” “Adventure!” “Ah, please...” “Applebloom, it looks like you’re the deciding vote. Any suggestions?” Applebloom looked between Sweetie and Pipsqueak, both of whom looked back with expectant smiles. “Uh... pretend adventure tea party?” “Wha?” “Huh?” Celestia giggled. “Yeah, sure! Like we’re adventurers who jus’ came back from an expedition, an’ we’re showin’ off our treasures and sharing stories.” The other two grinned. “Sounds like fun!” Sweetie said. “I’ll give it a try,” Pipsqueak said. “Then it’s decided.” Celestia leaned down next to Applebloom and winked at her. “You’re not a bad diplomat, deary. I might just make you a part of my royal council.” “Really?” Applebloom said, her eyes sparkling a bit. “With some practice, I think you could.” Celestia made her way to the porch of the clubhouse and spread her wings. “Hey, wait!” Scootaloo said. “Rainbow Dash won’t come to a lame old tea party.” Turning her head and smiling, Celestia took off into the air. “You didn’t answer my question! Hey, come back! I hate it when grown-ups do that.” Celestia came to a gentle touchdown on the edge of the Everfree Forest, a little cottage just a little ways away from her. She was careful not to disturb any of the little animals playing as she walked. “Fluttershy?” Celestia called out. “Fluttershy, are you in?” “Hi-ya!” A loud roar sounded from behind the cottage. Without a thought, Celestia charged to the source of the noise, expecting to find trouble. She did. Sort of. “Yah!” Fluttershy shouted as she grabbed a flailing lion’s neck and twisting into onto its side with a heavy thump. The beast roared and struggled to get up, but the little pony flew up into the air and came crashing down, a sickening crack filling the air. Celestia watched, mouth agape and stock still, not able to fully comprehend what she was seeing. Was this Fluttershy? The shy little pony Celestia had seen struggle to hide herself from crowds of ponies? The one who loved and cared for animals and couldn’t hurt them anymore than she could move a mountain? And here the pony was, taking down a lion as though it were a kitten under her powerful hoof. The lion roared and tried once more to get up, but Fluttershy would have none of that. She shoved the lion onto its stomach and proceeded to stomp on its back, the lion very visibly crying as it squirmed and struggled. Just as Celestia was about to save the poor creature from any further suffering, another crack sounded out and the lion seemed to melt. Fluttershy’s movements became much more gentle as she began to rub its back. “How many times do I have to tell you all to come to me as soon as it starts up? All this tension in your shoulders is going to be absolutely dreadful if you let it sit.” The lion’s tongue lolled out and it gave a thankful purr, breathing steadily and a picture of calm. “F-Fluttershy?” Said pony meeped and ducked behind the lion. She poked her head up and sighed in relief. “Oh, Celestia, you startled me.” “I could say you did the same to me.” Celestia took a few tentative steps forward. “What exactly was that?” Fluttershy tilted her head. “That!” Celestia motioned her hoof to the lion. “You just wrestled a lion to the ground! My guards are trained to fight creatures like these, and that takes years of dedication.” “Wrestling? Oh no, I think you misunderstand.” Fluttershy smiled and rubbed the lion’s back again. “Tibbiths here had some horrible knots in his back, and it took some very intense massage therapy to work out the kinks.” The lion huffed, closing its eyes and stretching as it curled for a nap. “You keep... lions here?” Fluttershy walked around the lion and proceeded toward her cottage. “I don’t keep him, he comes and goes as he pleases. Just like all the other animals I take care of. Little critters like rabbits and squirrels and mice. Big critters like lions and tigers, bears.” “Oh my... I’ve never been able to talk to such volatile creatures.” Celestia’s mind wandered to all the times she had met Fluttershy, and all the times Twilight had written about her. Not once in any of her imaginings of the shy pony did she see her befriending such wild beasts. “Is there any way I can help you, Celestia?” “Hmm? Oh, yes! I actually came because I need your help. Well, more specifically there are some little fillies that need your help.” “Oh dear, nothing is wrong, is it?” Celestia followed Fluttershy to a little table and say down. “Nothing terrible. It’s just that Applebloom and her friends are having a little bit of a fight and I think you and Rainbow are just the ponies for the job.” “Me?” Fluttershy turned her head and tried to hide her eyes under her mane. “I don’t really know if I can help. I’ve never been good with dealing with ponies.” “Maybe not. But I bet you are good with dealing with Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy brushed her mane aside. “Rainbow?” “The biggest problem the crusaders face right now is Scootaloo. She refuses to do anything her friends wish to do because she feels Rainbow Dash wouldn’t do it.” “But why do you need me?” “I fear that Scootaloo is right. Dash would never do something like attend a tea party. I was hoping you could convince Dash to attend and show Scootaloo that sometimes, you need to make compromises with your friends.” With a smile, Fluttershy stood and nodded. “Oh, now I see. In that case, I’ll head over to the clubhouse and wait for you there. I’m sure Dash will feels lots better having a friend there with her.” “That’s not quite what I meant, though that is appreciated. I mean I need you to tell her to come with you, or else I feel she will make herself look ‘lame’, as Scootaloo put it.” Fluttershy frowned. “Celestia, I’m sorry if I sound a little mad, but are you trying to use me to manipulate Dash?” “I... manipulate? No, I just...” “Just what?” Celestia was once more gripped by shock as she looked at Fluttershy. Disappointment and judgement the likes of which Celestia had never felt before poured from Fluttershy’s eyes and made her feel like she had done every wrong imaginable in the span on a few seconds. “I-I’m sorry, I just w-wanted to get Scootaloo to see th-that sometimes...” Fluttershy blinked and quickly turned away. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to use my stare on you.” As the gaze was broken, Celestia’s breath returned to her and warmth filled her again. Her thoughts raced. “Goodness, that was an experience.” “I didn’t mean for that to happen, it just kind of happens when I... get sort of mad.” Taking a few calming breaths, Celestia gave her plan a second look. When she really thought about it, what had she planned on doing? She wanted to get Dash to come, and she planned on having Fluttershy to do it for her without really saying why. Celestia was going to have Dash come for Fluttershy, not Scootaloo. Why did that seem like a good idea? “What exactly was that, Fluttershy?” “It’s just something I do when I get kinda mad. I didn’t mean to look at you that way.” “Mad, hmm? And I think I see why.” “No, no, you didn’t really--” “I did.” Celestia stood up. “Please, do you know where Rainbow Dash is? I think I need to go and talk to her myself.” Fluttershy gave a little whine and nodded towards the direction of Applejack’s farm. “She’s, um, kind of busy right now, actually. Maybe I should go and talk to her.” “Fluttershy, please. You’re right, I was going to manipulate her using you.” I wonder just how many times I’ve done that. “If she’s going to come, it should be her decision.” The other pony bit her lip and remained silent for a moment, looking down at her hooves. “Alright. I don’t know what she’s doing, but she’s somewhere between here and Whitetail Woods. She always spends Wednesdays out there. I’ll see you at the tea party.” With a giggle, she flew off towards the woods of the farm. Celestia took off as well, leaving Fluttershy to herself. She kept her sight on the woods below searching for the telltale colors of Rainbow’s mane. She found the colors, alright, but they weren’t of a pony’s mane. Celestia came to a gentle touchdown by a large bed of flowers that must have spanned about fifteen feet or so. every color of a rainbow was present, arranged exactly like one, in a bend. The sweet smells of nectar and honey filled that air, Celestia finding a wonderful sense of peace that the royal gardens brought to her as she breathed in deep through her nose. A slight rustling caused Celestia to break out of her trance. Turning her head she saw Rainbow Dash walking into the little grove, a watering can held in her mouth as she hummed a tune. She completely froze mid step when she saw Celestia, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks and her mane and tail standing on end. Celestia blinked once, then twice before finally working up the words to speak. “Rainbow Dash. This is your garden.” Dash shrunk a bit at the claim and set the can down, sighing. “Great, I thought I kept this place a secret.” “Not as well as you could have.” Celestia took a few steps closer to the flowers and bent her head down to get better acquainted with their smells. “Fluttershy sees you come into the woods every Wednesday, apparently, and sees you leave.” “Horsefeathers,” Dash said, kicking at the ground. “I thought I was being sneaky.” “Rainbow, I don’t understand why you are frustrated, these are beautiful.” Celestial stood back up. “I would never have believed you to be such an avid gardener.” “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Rainbow said, picking the can up with her hoof and sprinkling the flowers as she hovered over them. “Go ahead, your royalness, laugh it up. You didn’t expect super fast and awesome Dash to do something as girly as grow flowers, right?” “Well... no, I can’t say I would. But I’m not going to laugh at you because you have a hobby.” Dash came to the other side of her rainbow of flowers and turned to sprinkle them again. “It’s not a hobby. It’s... it’s something my mom liked to do. Look, can you just leave?” “Please don’t be cross with me, I just wanted your help with something.” Her eyes wandered across the flowers. “But you know, this is lovely. I never would have guessed...” Guessed you could create something so beautiful? Guessed you had such an eye for detail? Guessed you would have the amount of patience it takes to grow a garden? But why wouldn’t I have guessed. I thought I knew who you were. “Please stop talking about the flowers.” An intense blush formed on Dash’s cheeks. “What do you need, anyway? It better be important.” “Well, it might be. You see, the Cutie Mark Crusaders needs some assistance.” Dash groaned and set the watering can down and she landed. “Seriously? Look, no disrespect, but the last time I helped those guys I wound up covered in chicken feather and stuck in a mountain.” “...” “Don’t ask.” “Yes, well. Nothing like that should happen. You’ve been invited to a tea party.” “Seriously?” Dash shook her head. “That’s what you want?” “Now, Rainbow, I know that’s not exactly your cup of tea, as it were. But please understand that they could really use a role model.” “Wouldn’t Rarity be better for the fru-fru kind of thing? I ain’t exactly what you would call fancy.” “It’s not that. Scootaloo refuses to do anything with her friends that doesn’t involve looking for their cutie marks. Her friends want to do something different, but Scootaloo won’t because she thinks it would disappoint you. I implore you to--” “Stop right there.” Dash leapt into the air. “Rainbow, wait, they really need somepony to teach them the value of loyalty!” “Yeah, and?” Celestia sighed and turned away. “Very well. I suppose I’ll let you be on your way, then.” “Cool. You go and get some cake or something from Pinkie Pie, I gotta make a quick stop by Rarity’s place. See ya at the clubhouse!” She flew up into the sky, leaving Celestia to wonder what the heck had just happened. Celestia balanced the cake box carefully on her back as she walked her way closer to the clubhouse, a somber look upon her. How did I not notice how much the Cakes panicked when I was nearby? Was I really that blind? Pinkie Pie was the only one who didn’t look like she was about to have a heart attack while I was there. Maybe I should have planned out my stroll through Ponyville a bit better. As she walked up the steps and made her way to the clubhouse, she heard sounds of furniture being arranged and plates clattering together. She stepped into a rather surreal image. Fluttershy was helping a few of the younger ponies set up the single room to look slightly more posh, with some crude paper decorations to look like things one would find in the Canterlot halls. Pipsqueak was wearing a little brown dress coat and a green top hat with a card on it showing ‘10/6’, Applebloom was wearing a surprising elaborate red dress that looked as if styled from times long past, and Sweetie wore a bits and pieces of winter garb, of all things. Fluttershy was the only one without a costume, but clearly was enjoying herself as she sang a wordless tune while the four of them set the picnic blanket clothed table in the center of the room. Scootaloo, though, was sitting on a bean bag chair in the corner, looking at her friends with a fair bit of contempt. That look intensified the slightest bit when she saw Celestia. “‘Ello, Ma’am!” Pipsqueak said. “A thousand salutations to ya, an’ welcome to the first royal gathering of the Royal CMC Royal tea party!” “It’s royal!” Sweetie squeaked as she bounced about. “Glad I didn’t miss the party,” Celestia said, magically pulling a simple strawberry cake from the box and setting it on the table. “I brought us a treat to help set the mood.” “Very good, Miss Tia,” Applebloom said is a clearly fake posh accent. “The royal society of the CMC thank you for your contribution.” “Oh, you are very welcome, Lady Bloom,” Celestia said with a bow and a giggle. Sweetie Belle took Celestia by the hoof and led her to a chair. “Come and sit with us please, there is always room at the table for Royal guests.” “How very kind, but please,” she pulled her hoof away and made her way towards Scootaloo, “I think somepony needs another invitation.” Scootaloo huffed and looked away as Celestia came closer. “Well, Rainbow Dash wasn’t with you when she walked in. She thought it would be too lame, just like I knew she would.” “Scootaloo, even if Rainbow doesn’t come, are you really going to spend all your time in this little corner? I don’t think anypony likes being left out while their friends are having fun.” Scootaloo kept her ground and didn’t budge from her spot. “That wasn’t the deal, though! You were going to get Dash and then we’d have this dumb party, but Fluttershy came and they started doing it without me.” “And that’s another thing you need to learn. It’s not alway what everypony wants to do. It’s what your friends want to do. You must either let them be or join in the fun. It’s not as simply as voting or time. Things change, feelings most of all.” Scootaloo looked over at her friends sitting around the table, talking about silly adventures that they had made up. With a soft from, Scootaloo looked up at Celestia. “They started doing it without me. I didn’t even get to help with the decorations.” “Didn’t get to or refused to?” Celestia countered with a raised brow. Scootaloo said nothing for a few moments, and just as she was about to say something there came a knock at the door. “Excuse me? Is this were the get together is happening? I seem to have misplaced my directions to the party.” All present stared at the door, questioning looks about them. “Um, hello?” Fluttershy asked. “Ah, Lady Fluttershy! So I have found the correct residence! Would somepony please open the door, as it’s rude to barge in unladylike.” They all looked at each other before Fluttershy walked to the door. “I’m so sorry, ma’am, but you might have the wrong- oh my.” “Thank you so much, Lady Fluttershy.” Rainbow stepped inside, her fine blue dress bobbin a bit. “R-Rainbow Dash!?” Scootaloo shouted. Running a hoof through her well combed mane, Dash gave a little curtsy. “Lady Rainbow presiding and at your service.” Applebloom fell back in her chair, laughing loudly as she tried to right herself. “Ya sound jus’ like one’a them ponies at a them Canterlot theatres!” she said, dropping her own fake accent while failing to remain composed. Rainbow snorted as well, making her way to the table and sitting down. “Come, come, is that any way for a proper lady to act? One must stick up their nose so it’s hard to see where they are aiming their hoof.” Her nose held high in demonstration, she Rainbow tried and failed to grab her teacup as her hoof flailed about in an attempt to find it. Sweetie and Pipsqueak broke into giggling fits, and Celestia couldn’t resist laughing at Rainbow’s accurate representation of a noble pony. Pipsqueak was the first to stop laughing and speak. “Lady Dash, your dress is looking particularly fancy today. Might I offer you some tea?” “Oh yes please, darling, with two lumps if you don’t mind, and anything at the table that tastes absolutely terrible.” Celestia snorted some more before setting herself at the table, levitating a top hat and a monocle over and putting them on. “Yes, yes, right, right, cheerio! Though I hope you don’t mind, but I’m afraid all we have available is tasty cakes from the Kingdom of Sugarcube.” “Oh, darn, and here I was looking forward to some roasted kelp with a side of roasted wood.” Once again, almost all ponies present laughed. Fluttershy sat back down and the table as well, failing to stifle her giggles. “We are so pleased you could join us, Lady Dash. I hope the strole wasn’t too much for you.” “Pish posh! A good time with friends is always worth a short flight.” “How goes the days in the Mad Kingdom, Sir Squeaks?” Sweetie asked. “Oh, it’s an absolutely wonderful time! Somepony stole all of the horseshoes and I can’t seem to remember where I put my stopwatch!” “I thought you said you were havin’ a wonderful time,” Applebloom said. “I know! Isn’t it grand? Say, would you like to hear a riddle?” “Certainly,” Dash said, sipping at her tea cup. “Compliments to the chef, I must say.” “I didn’t pour your tea yet!” Sweetie said, to which Dash turned her cup upside down. “I could have sworn there was something in there.” “How is a raven like a writing desk?” Pipsqueak asked. “Don’t tell me, I’ve heard this one,” Celestia said as she brought a hoof to her chin in thought. Scootaloo watched the scene unfold for a little while before she slowly trotted up to the table staring intently at Rainbow Dash. “What the heck are you doing?” Dash took a bite of cake and dabbed a napkin at her lips. She then turned to Scootaloo and smiled wide. “Madam Scoots, won’t you please join us? There is always a seat at the table for a good friend.” “Come on, what’s the joke?” Scootaloo pointed a hoof at Celestia. “Did she make you do this?” Celestia turned her head away and frowned, looking partly at Fluttershy. “Why would such a thought cross your mind, dearest Scoots? Can’t a mare just enjoy some tea and cakes once in awhile?” “But that’s... I thought...” Rainbow placed a hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder. She spoke again, but her fake posh accent fell away and her familiar voice sounded. “Hey, pipsqueak.” “Yes?” Pipsqueak asked. “Uh... sorry, my pipsqueak. Kid, take a look at me. What am I doing?” “You’re at a tea party! A sissy, stupid tea party!” “Scoots, all I’m doing is wearing a dress, sipping tea, and talking with a goofy accent.” Dash picked Scootaloo up and sat her between herself and Fluttershy. “But you know what else I’m doing? I’m hanging out with friends.” “But this isn’t cool. This is lame.” “More tea, if you wouldn’t mind,” Dash said in her fake accent before slipping back to her real voice again. “Take a look at me and Fluttershy for a moment, kid. We’re super different. I’m fast, I’m awesome, and kinda loud, and Fluttershy in a quiet wimp. No offence, Fluttershy.” “None taken... I think.” “But we’re friends cause we like each other a lot. There are some things we do like, but a lot we don’t. And I really hate a lot of the things Rarity likes. But you know what? Sometimes when you’re friends, you gotta do lame stuff with them because that’s what friends do.” “Not exactly how I would put it,” Celestia said with a snicker. “But close enough.” “Like that time you had me help you set up that obstacle course and I got caught in that cloud trap?” Fluttershy asked. “Right, or the time we went on that Butterfly Migration trip thing and I had to stand perfectly still for five hours?” “And there was that time we went on a racetrack and I almost got hit because you were going so fast.” “Or the time we went on a trip to help some bears and I got covered in honey and was licked clean.” “Come on, Dash, you know the cubs loved you.” “Yeah, I guess they were kind of cute.” Celestia smiled as she took note of Scootaloo’s curious expression as she absorbed the small stories. And she found that, oddly, she had a greater sense of satisfaction than the many other times she had taught this lesson. And she knew exactly why. Warping a quill and scroll in front of her, she began to write. “Or the time in Junior Flyers Camp when you had me help you pull a prank on the camp director and I became soaking wet when the rain cloud backfired?” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on,” Scootaloo said. “That’s right, you knew Dash when she was a filly!” “That’s right. We’ve been friends since we were younger than you,” Fluttershy said as she stirred her tea. “Tut tut, Lady Scoots,” Dash said as she smoothed out the filly’s mane. “A proper mare doesn’t shout at the table. At long last, Scootaloo broke out into a smile. With an accent every bit as fake as Rainbow’s, Scootaloo said, “Of course, Lady Rainbow, how foalish of me. Please, Lady Fluttershy, I would love to hear more of your stories.” “Come now, don’t keep us waiting,” Applebloom said. “You simply must share with us tales from your youth.” “Why not, Lady Fluttershy?” Rainbow said as she once more used her fake posh tone. “We were such rambunctious little fillies, weren’t we?” “Quite, Lady Rainbow. Shall we share the tale of how we stole all of the volleyball equipment and used it to make a trampoline?” Sweetie giggled. “How do you even do that?” “Oh, a moment! Sir Pipsqueak, I’m afraid I’m completely stumped. How is a raven like a writing desk?” “Oh, I haven’t the foggiest idea,” said Pipsqueak, swinging his spoon wildly. “Ahh, now I remember this accursed puzzle,” Celestia said as her horn lit up and the scroll vanished in a poof of smoke. “The fellow who made it simply loved to stump ponies or confuse them and made that riddle just to spite those who he couldn’t confound.” “Why you little...” Dash said, breaking character and flinging some cake at the colt. Pipsqueak got hit in the nose, but simply licked it off. “Delicious! Thank you, Lady Rainbow.” “I propose a toast,” Sweetie said, raising her cup. “A toast to what?” Applebloom asked. “Uh, I dunno. Isn’t that a thing you do at tea parties?” “That’s usually something reserved for feasts,” Celestia said as he cup became shrouded in gold light and was levitated up. “But I believe a toast is grand idea. A toast to friends, shall we?” “To friends!” Pipsqueak shouted. “To friends,” Fluttershy said. “Ta friends,” Applebloom said. “To my dearest friends,” Rainbow said. “Friends!” Sweetie said. Their tea cups all clattered together, the resulting force sending tea everywhere and splashing them all. In response, they all simply laughed. “Alright, we’re doing good so far. When a princess asks if she wants to come for a visit...?” “I assume she wants to come for a visit, not some secret agenda.” “And if she asks for something to eat and you don’t have it?” “I politely tell her we don’t have it.” “And suddenly the princess gets angry and threatens to send you away because you don’t stock her favorite type of ice cream!” Twilight took a deep breath and released, closing her eyes in the process. “A princess wouldn’t abuse their power like that. If I didn’t have what she wanted, she wouldn’t eat it.” Spike clapped his hands. “Alight, Twilight! I’m so proud, it only took us a week to get everything down.” “And about five-hundred, thirty-two shocks from the buzzer.” Twilight stood up, stretching her back and arching her neck. “Can I go to bed now?” “Hold on a moment, I think you deserve a reward for all your hard work.” Spike slid over to the kitchen and returned instantly returned with a platter which he set on the table in the center of the library. The scent of fresh baked cookies filled the air, and Twilight looked at spike with grateful eyes. “Oh, Spike, you shouldn’t have.” “You’re right, so be sure to think about that the next time you decide I should do some cleaning.” Twilight giggled and happily chomped down on a sweet treat. Just as Spike was about to do the same, his eyes widened and he grabbed at his chest. “Spike?” “Ooohh, why can’t she use softer paper?” With a loud belch, a burst of green flame shot from his maw and reformed into a scroll that fell onto the table. “A letter? From the princess?” Twilight began to hyperventilate. Spike groaned. “Twilight.” With a jittering jolt, Twilight snapped back into a much more calm state. Smiling as though she hadn’t just been suffering a panic attack, she picked up the scroll and unraveled it. “Oh, It’s from Princess Celestia! I wonder what she wants?” “Okay, that worked a little too well...” Twilight’s eyes ran across the parchment as she began to read. Dear Twilight Sparkle, Today I learned a something that sounds pretty simple when you say it out loud. You don’t know a pony until you know them. I had thought I knew everything about Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy that I needed to know, and could predict how they would act and respond to certain situations. As one little filly happily learned, there’s a lot more to Dash than a brash pony who merely wants to fly fast, and Fluttershy has some strength somewhere deep down in her. One must truly get to know a pony before they make assumptions. But not just that; a pony must share of themselves in order to be known. That’s something I need to do. Your faithful mentor, Celestia Twilight flipped the scroll over a few times, checking the front and back for seemingly something. “Well?” Spike asked. “What is it?” “It’s... it’s a friendship report. I think.” “No way, let me see.” Spike grabbed the letter from her magical grip. “Huh. What do you know, it is a friendship report. That’s kinda cool, huh?” “Yeah... cool...” “Twilight?” He waved a hand in front of her face as she stared at the spot where the letter had been. “Twilight?” Her brow furrowed in thought, and a frown creased her lips. “Twilight!” “Huh?” She blinked a few times and shook her head. “Oh, uh, sorry. I was just thinking.” “Well, that’s not anything new.” He rolled up the scroll and tucked it under his arm. “What should I do with this?” “Do?” “You know, this is where we rearrange the whole library in order to incorporate the crazy filing system you make?” Twilight once more furrowed her brow. “Just leave it on the table. I’ll take care of it later.” “Okay...” With a raised brow, he placed the scroll on the table, which Twilight quickly took and carried to a window, reading it over and over again. “I didn’t think a friendship report would bother you so much. Want me to leave you alone?” “Yes please. I really do need to think.” Spike shrugged and made his way upstairs, yawning and stretching his arms out. “Alright, try to get to bed early and don’t stay up too late. You remember the last time I woke you up after an all nighter.” “Yeah, yeah,” Twilight said. The door to their room closed, but she didn’t seem to react to it. Her eyes followed the words again and again, and with each time she got to the end her brow creased just a little bit more. “Princess Celestia... learned something. But I thought...” Shaking her head, Twilight rolled the scroll and looked out the window to the skies above, knowing the setting sun wasn’t her teacher’s. “I thought you knew...”