Chapter 6
Clover looked out the window of Meadowlark’s car as she rode in the passenger’s seat. She saw this school before but there was something about this particular visit that felt a little… different. It felt more exciting, but at the same time, she was a little nervous. This could be the thing she wanted to do for the rest of her life, and she didn’t want to mess it up.
“You okay, Sis,” Meadowlark asked.
“Huh? Oh. Yeah.”
“Okay...it’s just you don’t seem real excited.
“Oh I am. It’s just… Nevermind.”
“What?”
Clover didn’t answer.
“Okay… When you’re ready to tell me, let me know.”
“Okay…”
“Do you want me to go in with you?”
“I think that would be good.”
“Okay...cuz we’re almost there…”
“Really?”
Meadowlark turned the car into the parking lot, and located a parking spot, “Yup.”
“Oh…”
“Do you want to wait a bit?”
“Yeah…”
“Okay. Is anything wrong?”
“No...I’m just a little nervous.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Well… I guess it’s just that I’m… well…”
“What?”
“What if they expect a lot from me just because you’re my sister?”
“Oh, I don’t think you should be nervous about that, you’re a wonderful dancer.”
“But...I’m not THAT good.”
“Yes you are, you just need more confidence.”
“I guess…”
“And besides, you’re just scheduling a try out, you aren’t going to be trying out today.”
“Well, I guess you’re right…”
“Yeah...so you ready?”
“I am,” Clover grinned.
“Okay then.” Meadowlark turned the car off and followed her sister into the school.
******
Sweetheart was out of breath as she made it to Sweet Apple Acres. She knocked on the door and nearly collapsed doing it. Fluttershy opened the door. “Oh, hello, Sweetheart. Are you alright?”
“Uh...yeah,” Sweetheart panted, “Sorry I’m late, I was talking about-” It just occurred to her it would be weird if she told Fluttershy she was talking about her.
“Talking about what?”
“Just...history.”
“Oh… Okay.”
“Yeah… So what do you need help with?”
“We’re still waiting for the truck to come.”
“Oh… I guess I’ll hang around here for a bit, if that’s okay…”
“Okay.” She let Sweetheart inside the house.
“Thank you.”
“Oh you’re quite welcome.”
Sweetheart sat down on the couch in the living room and exhaled hard.
“Would you like something to drink, Sweetheart?”
“Could I have some water? If it’s not too much trouble?”
“Sure, I’ll be right back,” Fluttershy went into the kitchen and after a few moments came back with a glass of cold water. “Here you are,” She gave the glass to Sweetheart.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sweetheart took a few sips of the water. She set the glass down and started to relax. “I really, truly needed that…”
"You're welcome, Sweetheart."
“Hey there, Sweetheart," Fission said as he walked in.
“Hey Fission.”
"So how are you?"
“I am well. How are you?”
"Good... Just Working on an experiment...."
“Oh?”
"Yeah, I'm trying to see if I can transport an egg using a paper airplane."
“How’s it going?”
“I’m on attempt number twenty-four…”
"Oh...well I'm sure you'll get it."
"Maybe..."
“Ace said that you don’t normally score a goal on the first try.”
“I know, it’s basically trial and error from here. Maybe I need to change the material…”
"And you'll need to pick up more eggs at the store," Fluttershy said.
“I know, I already plan to get some tomorrow."
"Okay...just remember it'll be out of your money..."
“Figured.” Fission shrugged.
There was a knock at the door. Big Mac walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Spike and Applebloom.
“Long time no see, Big Mac,” Applebloom said.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac said, “Come on in.”
The couple did so and sat down next to each other on the loveseat. "We came over to help with the delivery,” Spike said.
"Oh, thank you, but you didn't have to," Fluttershy explained.
“We did. After all, you are family,” Applebloom replied.
"Well, thank you, anyway."
"No problem, library's been slow anyways," Spike explained.
Sweetheart giggled.
"But it'll probably pick up during school, what with kids havin’ to do research n’ all."
“I know that’s for sure,” Fission said.
"Yeah," Sweetheart nodded, “Oh and Mrs. Fluttershy?”
"Yes?"
“Can you tell me what it was like before you and your friends separated?”
"Um...I'll tell you some other time, when it's not as hectic."
“Oh, okay.”
*******
The three griffons walked out of the train. Katsumi and Garuda are holding two bags while Gilda was rolling a suitcase. "So we're meeting Princess Cadence where again," Garuda asked.
“Yes,” Gilda replied, “and she said that she has something very interesting to tell us.”
“Oh really…”
“Yeah… something about a ninja on the news.”
Garuda swallowed hard. "Must've been some kid..."
“Yeah… Think you know him?”
"Maybe..."
“Especially since you were gone when he appeared. and was wearing YOUR suit.”
"Ugh! That little thief!"
“And then you magically put on the suit when you came to me.”
“FINE! It was me, but that creep was groping that girl. What else could I do?”
"I never said you did anything wrong… Just be a little more careful."
"Fine..."
“But let’s see what Cadence has to say when we see her."
“Alright.”
******
Bright Eyes burst into Zecora’s hut. Zecora nearly jumped out of her skin. “Have you gone mad?! You know you could have knocked just a tad."
Bright Eyes was breathing heavily. “Sorry about that, and sorry I’m late. Had a little issue with a friend that I needed to work out and I lost track of time.”
“No need to apologise, your schedule will change soon, Bright Eyes.”
“I know. Anyway, what will we be learning today, once I catch my breath.”
“Today, I have to take this question from the shelf, have you ever wanted to talk to yourself?”
“Um… Is that a trick question?”
“I assure you it is not, for it is from another dimension that another you can be sought.”
“Okay then… This will be interesting…”
Zecora grabbed a few items off a shelf and placed them in the mixing bowl. She then put on some gloves and added poison joke leaves to the mixture.
"Um... Miss Zecora? Doesn't poison joke deform you in some way?"
"Yes, but once it is boiled down, the result will not be a frown."
"Okay... If you say so."
Zecora mixed the ingredients together and placed the bowl over a fire. Bright Eyes took note of the ingredients that went into the bowl. ‘Poison joke, Heart’s Desire, Clone Cologne, Universe blender...’
Bright Eyes swallowed at the last one, “This won’t hurt anything or anyone, will it?”
Zecora didn’t reply, she was continuing to stir the ingredients. This made Bright Eyes all the more nervous. ‘Maybe she’s just thinking of a rhyme to reply with,’ Bright Eyes hoped.
“May I have the bee’s knees, please,” Zecora asked.
“Uh...okay.” Bright Eyes went looking for the “bee’s knees.” She eventually found them and gave them to Zecora.
“Thank you.” Zecora took a pinch of the bees knees and put them in the mixture. A violet puff of smoke followed. “I now require a mint leaf, it should be with the Liquid Beef."
“Liquid beef?”
"It is used in transformation a potion, but is also good griffon lotion."
“Okay…” She grabs the mint leaves and hands them to Zecora. “Have you ever had a griffon visit you?”
"Plenty of times, they bring over the best limes."
Bright Eyes was not about to ask about the limes. “So how are the mint leaves connected to the potion?”
“The mint leaves soak in the potion to give it flavor. Otherwise, the potion would not be easy to savor.”
Bright Eyes was silent for a moment before she said, “Oh.”
"Now, I believe this is done, but be careful it does not run."
Bright Eyes took the potion and took a sip. She waited a moment. “Hm… Now what?”
A small whimper was heard. Bright Eyes looked to see a wolf, but it looked very much like her. She had that same aquamarine fur with an orange mane, but the tail was the same color as the rest of her body. She even had a notepad and pen illustrated on her flank.
“Is that me,” Bright Eyes asked.
Zecora nodded.
“Wow… Now I can play fetch with myself.”
The wolf looked at Bright Eyes. She was not amused.
“Sorry. No offence intended.”
The wolf sighed.
“So when does it wear off, or do I have to do something?”
“The potion’s effects will wear off in half an hour, but it is no reason to be sour.”
“And I have a feeling she’s not housebroken…”
A growl was heard.
Bright Eyes looked at the wolf. “What?”
The wolf moved over to the door and lightly scratched at it.
“So what do we do with her?”
"Let her out, she's beginning to pout."
“Okay.” She looked to the wolf. “Don’t go too far.”
The wolf's tail began to wag. She ran out the door once Bright Eyes opened it enough for her to slip through.
After the she-wolf left, Bright Eyes asked, "Should I go with her?"
“It would be a good idea to go with her, we wouldn’t want her to return to her dimension with a harmed strand of fur.”
"Yeah..." she said to Zecora, then thought, 'Her Lancer might not appreciate it.' She immediately walked out and followed the wolf.