//------------------------------// // Pegasi // Story: Breaking Cute // by GoldenState3 //------------------------------// It had taken all of Twilight's strength to visit Luna on the Madness ward of the Canterlot Royal Hospital for Sick Foals. To see her friend locked up was terrible, and it was even worse to hear her rage against Celestia like that. Part of her had been relieved when Celestia had told her that Luna's insistence that Babs had been killed was madness. That was till she'd met Luna in her dream last night. They'd sat and talked for what seemed like hours. The subject had only worked it's way over onto Bab's death towards the end of the conversation. Luna had been telling Twilight some interesting tidbits about Starswirl that she'd read in a book that even Twilight had never read. "Did Celestia tell why she put me in the hospital?" Luna asked. "She said that you had a nervous breakdown. She wasn't too specific." She'd replied. "She is convinced that there wasn't any foul play." Luna said. "She feels that the Nightmare is driving me to believe that there is foul play." "Why would she believe something like that?" She'd asked the Princess. "Because the Nightmare was born of my anger and paranoia." Luna said. "The forces that birthed it are still a part of me." "Well, she has to know you're better now. The elements cured you." Twilight said. "The elements freed me. The Nightmare is still inside me." Luna replied. Twilight had hugged the Princess then. She'd expected Luna to push her away. Luna didn't, instead extending a wing over the Unicorn. "I have a proposal for you, Twilight Sparkle. You will investigate the foal's death, and I'll let them treat me like a foal." Luna told her. Twilight had explained to Luna that she had no interest in investigating any murders during the incident with Spitfire. Luna had shrugged, and started to try and convince her. Then they'd heard about Scootaloo's Cutie Mark, and they'd headed in to congratulate the Pegasus. Still, Luna had seemed so desperate, so alone, that Twilight couldn't help but get involved. Celestia had been right. Ponies just didn't kill each other. Nopony had died at another ponies hoof since the time of the Heartswarming Eve Pageant. That would make it easy. She'd just talk to Applejack, and Applejack would tell her that Babs had been seen in the Castor Beans, and that would be that. Luna would have to accept that there was nothing to be investigated, and she cooperate with her treatment, and everypony would be friends and live happily ever after. No, there was something digging at Twilight's soul. She trusted Luna. Yet, here was Celestia telling her that everything was okay. Now, Celestia had believed Flatfoot about her and Spitfire having an accident, and that was obviously false. Twilight Sparkle was confused. Whatever had happened to the world, she wanted it to turn back. The wheels of the train screeched as it ran through a tight curve. She was almost to Ponyville now. There had to be a solution that would let everypony win. But, if there wasn't a murder, than Luna would be crazy. Even worse, if Luna was right, then there were forces at play in Equestria that Twilight didn't even want to imagine. They were pulling into Ponyville now. Twilight stood up, and headed down the aisle. She jumped to the platform. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were there to greet her. Rainbow Dash had just gotten out of the hospital, but she was still too weak to fly, so Fluttershy was taking care of her. Dash had wanted to go to Canterlot with Twilight Sparkle, but Twilight had forbidden it. "What did Luna say?" Dash asked. "She'll cooperate with her treatment if we can prove that nothing bad happened." Twilight said. Twilight started walking. She was tired, but she'd decided to get this over with fast. She knew that Luna would be visiting her dreams again tonight, and she wanted to have a definitive answer for the princess. The faster that she got the princess to comply with her treatment, the better things would go. Dash was laggging behind, and Twilight slowed so her friend wouldn't feel too bad about being sick. Dash caught up. They were in town square. Trixie's wagon was still parked in it. Trixie had been trying to acquire lodgings in town, but no pony was willing to rent space to the braggart. Twilight wasn't so sure why Trixie was here, or what exactly a lawyer did. All she knew was that Trixie had been paying Raindrops and Derpy to fly over the town with banners. "That stupid Trixie, she tried to get me to demand that the Cakes give me money for giving out bad cupcakes." Dash said. "I told her where she could shove her silly ideas, but from what I hear, there are a few ponies that want to go along with her." Dash said. Trixie was stepping out of Silver Zephyr's store. She hurried to her wagon. The Crusaders exited the store a few seconds later. "What are the Crusaders doing with a butthole like Silver Zephyr?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Maybe Sweetie Belle is buying Rarity an early Hearth's Warming Eve present." Twilight Suggested. "Uhm, it's September." Rainbow Dash said. "If you're so curious, why don't you ask them?" Twilight said. The Crusaders high hoofed each other, before splitting up. Twilight sped up a little to catch up to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom had been actting oddly since her little friend had died, and Twilight was determined that she was going to comfort her. Then she could write a friendship report about how the magic of friendship could help Ponies through anything. "What's going on?" Twilight asked Apple Bloom. "Nothing." Apple Bloom said nervously. "What were you guys doing in Silver Zephyr's shop?" Rainbow Dash asked? Apple Bloom looked like she was terrified. She glared at Twilight, as if she was expecting the Unicorn to hurt her. "Rainbow Dash! Don't pry into other's business!" Twilight said. Apple Bloom looked calmer now, but she was still keeping her distance. Twilight studied the earth pony. "So you and Babs were very close?" Twilight asked. "We were cousins. Us Apples stick together." Apple Bloom replied. "Did you ever see her try to eat any plants out in the fields?" Twilight asked. Apple Bloom didn't answer, and Twilight didn't want to push her. She'd caused enough trauma two weeks ago. They were almost at Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash was still following her. Apple Bloom was heading for the crusader's club house, while Twilight and Dash headed for the farm house. The main door was open, and TWilight could see Applejack and Granny Smith inside. Granny Smith was telling another one of her long winded stories, and Applejack was listening halfheartedly. "And that's how Ponyville got its library." Granny Smith finished. "Uhm, that's a right interesting story, Granny Smith." Applejack said. Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood by the door, waiting to be noticed. "Hey Twilight! You're just in time for dinner. We've got apple dumpling soup! It'll be mighty tasty." Applejack said. "That sounds 20% cooler than what Fluttershy was having for dinner." Rainbow Dash said. The Pegasus looked embarassed. "Did I really say 20% cooler." she asked. "Eyup." Big Mac said from the stairs. "Why would that bother you now? It's like your catch phrase?" Twilight asked. "I don't know, it just seemed silly for a second. It doesn't anymore." Rainbow Dash said. She galloped towards the kitchen to ease the tension. "Hey Applejack, do you know if Babs was eatting random plants out in the fields?" Twilight asked. "Don't rightly know. I already told Celestia that I didn't know anything. I don't want to talk about it." Applejack said. "We've gotta talk about it. I've got Luna to agree to cooperate with her treatment if I can prove that Bab's death was an accident." Twilight said. "Well, that is good news. Celestia will be mighty happy to hear that. She seemed down right depressed at your little tea party the other day." Applejack replied. Big Mac headed outside to go call Apple Bloom inside for dinner. Twilight went to the kitchen to help Applejack put the finishing touches on the meal. Out in the rapidly fading daylight, Apple Bloom was walking towards the house with Big Mac. "All this death is taking a serious toll on the little ones." Applejack said. "Rarity says that according to their parents, Sweetie Belle's been cryin' herself to sleep every night. Rarity has even offered to let her stay at the boutique to see if that improves her mood a little." Rainbow Dash was setting the table. "What do you have to say about what Luna was saying?" Twilight asked. "That's not the kind of thing that ponies do to each other. It's far too horrible to imagine." Applejack said. "But still, if she's right, then maybe this is some kind of new threat to Equestria. What if it's some kind of slug that could poison ponies?" Rainbow Dash said. "That could explain Sugar Cube Corner." "Rainbow Dash! Now you're startin' to sound like Pinkie Pie!" Applejack said. "Sugar Cube Corner was an accident. We'll never know what happened." Twilight said. The back screen door slammed, as Apple Bloom and Big Mac entered the house. "Is Twilight stayin' for dinner?" Apple Bloom asked. "Eyup!" Big Mac said. Twilight could have sworn that Apple Bloom looked she was panicking as she left to go wash her hooves. Applejack pulled the pot of soup off of the stove, while Twilight levitated the bread out of it. Normally, Applejack would have yelled at her for using magic for such a mundane task, but Applejack didn't. Eventually, Apple Bloom returned, and Big Mac helped Granny Smith into the kitchen. Everyone sat down at the table and Applejack served Granny Smith some soup. For the first few minutes, everypony was too busy eating to say much of anything. Dash was greedily sucking down soup, she'd already finished her first bowl, and was well into her second. Of course, that was counting the roughly quarter of a bowl of soup that she'd spilled on the floor and table. Twilight levitated her glass of milk to her mouth, before putting some apple butter on the apple bread. She took a bite. "Why don't we eat anything that isn't apple related!" Apple Bloom screamed from the other side of the table. "Whatever do you mean?" Applejack asked. "Is there one thing on this table that doesn't have some kind of apple in it?" Apple Bloom said. "Well, there ain't any apples in the silverware." Granny Smith said. "That don't count!" Apple Bloom said. "Young lady! Go to your room now!" Applejack said. Apple Bloom was pouting as she left the table. "What's gotten into her?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I thought every Apple loved apples." "Apple Bloom loves apples as much as the next pony, but she's been moody over the last few days. All those foals dyin' it's taken a lot outta her." Big Mac said. His eyes darted around, it was clear to Twilight that he was afraid that some pony might not like what he'd said. "It's taken a lot out of me too. You don't see me complaining about delicious apple dumpling soup." Dash said. "You're older Dash, it's bound to be easier." Applejack replied. The table returned to silence. Everypony ate their fill, and Twilight helped Rainbow Dash cleared the table while Applejack got an apple pie out of the kitchen. "Twilight! You mind bringing some soup up to Apple Bloom? She hardly touched hers." Applejack said. Perfect! This was just the chance she needed to comfort Apple Bloom. Twilight had been reading up on psychology, like she'd told Luna. She had a few tricks that she wanted to try out on Apple Bloom. She took the bowl from Applejack in her mouth, and headed upstairs. This was actually Twilight's first time going upstairs at the Apple house. However, the Cutie Mark crusaders cape on the door made it clear which door was Apple Bloom's, and Twilight knocked on it. "Apple Bloom, it's Twilight. I know you've been through a lot, and that you blame yourselves. It isn't your fault." Twilight said. "Go Away!" Apple Bloom shouted. "I'm just going to leave some soup here for you. If you ever want to talk, just come to the library some time. I'd love to talk to you." Twilight said. She was halfway down the hall before Apple Bloom responded. "I guess I'll come by sometime..." Apple Bloom said.