Pony POV Series
Fluttershy
"Under The Stars"
My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic fanfiction
By Alex Warlorn
Edited by Kendell2 and Louis
Part 2 of 2
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): I'm back. Well, I got the two, three, ponies to bed. Jeez, Pinkie Pie should lay off on the sweets, I know Earth Ponies weigh more but come on. Couldn't we have left them in the field?)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Yeah, they looked so adorable.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): As much as Fluttershy is friends with the animals, I'd rather they didn't catch a cold.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Hey! As long as we're here, I should feed Pee Wee! There you go, good phoenix, you're a great phoenix aren't you?)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Stop saying such things, filly. Remember he's supposed to go to Spike eventually.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Ah, does he have to? I've gotten to really like him. Heheheeheheh, hey, that tickles! And I think he really likes me now.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): We don't belong here remember? Even if we've been forced to stay a lot longer than we were supposed to, we are still only a transient presence. Pee Wee is from this world, it's where he belongs.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Technically he's supposed to be dead since Spike was never there to save 'em. We kind of cheated, hence why the Wolf was after him.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): That is not the point. The point is that he's key to Spike learning how to raise and care for another, which is important for his own growth and maturity.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Then we should have put the egg under Spike's pillow with a note saying for the dragon to take care of him. Not hold onto the little guy ourselves.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): It has to be the right time and place. Ee have to do it in a way that allows Pee Wee to gain a concrete existence, or the timeline will reject him. Since Spike didn't go on the dragon migration, that means, as you said, never saved Pee Wee, so it needs to be a position where Spike will come to see Pee Wee as something he feels it's his duty to protect, before becoming emotionally connected to him and raising Pee Wee as a pony.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Uh, new flash, sis, this world's Spike sees himself as a dragon at heart, not a pony.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Again you're missing the point. The point is for Spike having to raise and teach another from scratch, teaching him the joy, and anguish, that comes with such a responsibility.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): You mean like she's doing?)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): There there, Pee Wee, I'll make sure you're all healthy and happy for when...for when we give you to Spike like my sisters say we need to.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): I said to stop that.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Somepony needs to look after him in the meantime.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): You're supposed to remain emotionally indifferent. So he doesn't become connected to you.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): But that would be cruel.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): It's a cruelty to be kind.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Hey, don't be so hard on her; what did you EXPECT her to do when given an adorable little animal to take care of? And in case you forgot, Pee Wee did kinda imprint on what he first saw, which happened to be her.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Don't worry, if need be, I can just regress him back to an egg, and have him imprint again.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): You can't do that!)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Hey, I'm all for helping Spike, but don't you think that'd be going too far?)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): It's what has to happen, for Spike. Not for any of our selfish personalized reasons or goals. He might NEED to be a clean slate when we insert him so time will accept him.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Didn't mom want us to do things that were the happiest, not the way we wanted?)
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): This is not about that! This is not about I want, this isn't about what any of us want. This is about what Spike needs! And Pee Wee being with us is cheating. We can't take him with us when we go. This timeline's Wolf considered him a low level target, our timeline's Wolf will view him as an alien presence and not even we might be to protect him then. It's better this way.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Then maybe I don't want to go.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Now hold on, kiddo. That a no go! N! O! We -can't- stay here, we don't belong here. We're like bandages, we can't stay on forever.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Then maybe I don't want to be a bandage anymore.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): You don't get to decide what you are, kid.)
+++
Huh? Wha? I'm sorry the library is already closed, but if you really need something I'm sure Owlowiscious can get it for you if it's something simple. Oh, I guess I do look a little under the weather, well it is late. Why am I not in bed then? Well, I've been feeling too distracted for sleep.
Why would I be afraid of next Tuesday? Did I forget something on my schedule?
Oh, it's you. All of you.
Yes, I'm focused now, thank you for asking.
Whatever it is, can't it wait until morning? I'll be sure to work it into my schedule.
Because if you're going to put me through the gut-wrenching hassle and mind-bending inconvenience of dropping yet another world-shattering truth on my head, I'd much I'd like to have my day in order first. Uuuuugh.
No, nothing terrible happened recently, some terrible things almost happened, but this is Ponyville. Yes, I remember what the Crusaders said about dwelling on things. But this is something that is, not something that was.
Well, you see I was going over my schedule for one of Pinkie Pie's parties, when I realized I am dangerous. I always knew I was powerful, but as long as I kept myself in control it was no big deal right?
But what if I wasn't in control?
I never liked alcohol the first place. I prefer coffee and tea. I like having my wits sharp, thank you. The one time I drank was an experiment, that went horribly wrong. I told my friends it was because I hadn't gotten enough therapy for the Day of Chaos. But what if it was more than that?
All it would take is some pony slipping enough salts into a drink of mine...and I become something dangerous.
I considered simply building up a tolerance, since tiny amounts of spirits and salt are good for the body. But the thing with spirits, is that tolerance doesn't change the long term damage, and after you've built up a tolerance, if you stop drinking, it can take months for your body to adjust not having alcohol in your system and it wrecks havoc with your nervous system. It's a trap.
Just look at Berry Punch. She didn't chose to drink, she needed to. Drinks alone, hides bottles around the house, drink early in the morning, shaking when she don't have any. I'm glad she got help and Cheerilee supported her through her rehab.
But that doesn't change the reality: if my magic gets out of control just from some chemical induction...I'm a danger to those around me, just like when I was a foal. I'm trapped. Last time it was just a dancing house-tree, what if I'm, what if everypony isn't so lucky next time? What if I lose control like I did when I was a filly and Celestia isn't there to stop me?
Fluttershy got drunk, found out something depressing and turned into a Nightmare! Fluttercruel warned me about Trixie not getting depressed while drunk, but I didn't think about the full scale. After all, depressed, salt, and being an Element couldn't be all that's needed to make a Nightmare right? Right? Or that's what I told myself.
But I've been having nightmares, with a lowercase 'n.' Three of them, and I don't know which is worse.
In the first nightmare, I dumbed us all down, so we were all just smart enough so the only things we knew was that we were friends, what our Elements meant, and that we should always do what Princess Celestia told us. We had just enough collective brain-power to use our Elements on whatever or whoever Princess Celestia told us to and that it was always the right thing to do. We just smiled. Sometimes in these nightmares somepony impersonating The Princess tricks our limited selves.
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): And the next nightmare?)
...I become a Nightmare.
...
...
...
...You all look so pale. I can't blame you. Can imagine me a Nightmare? It would be the end of the world!
It was horrible! I made ponies shackled to books and made them just read forever! I was Nightmare Library!
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Oh.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Nightmare Library?)
And I had Origami Wings! And my origami horn was made out of study book pages!
And my knights wore bookmarks and little reading glasses and carried about big 'overdue' stampers! But why would they do that when ponies can't leave the library anyway?!
I tortured 'rule violators' by reading them Equestria's Most Boring Facts then assigned an ESSAY on that book! And my book forts! They dotted Equestria towering over everything!! And I refused to let poor ponies read them because they might get out of order! I was completely evil!
Then Rainbow Dash turned into Nightmare Mare-vel-DC-IDW when I tried to ban comic books!
Why are you all face hoofing?
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Can there be a Nightmare that ridiculous?)
++++
"Why are we all going on two hooves? And why are our front hooves acting like magnets?" Roseluck asked Daisy as she held a cup of tea with one hoof.
Bonbon in royal armor shouted, "Tis the gifts of the beautiful and totally relevant Nightmare Anthro!"
"Lyra! Where'd you get those cheap wings?"
"It's Nightmare Anthro now! And we shall do as our ancestors and honor humans by imitating them!" The green Nightmare shouted. "And remember! It's not Nightmare Night anymore! It's Halloween!"
++++
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Sadly, yes.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): I don't think Nightmares are funny at all.)
You are a smart filly! So you can see why I'm so worried! And how could you risk showing me Razzaroo and Bon Bon's diaries? Imagine if the shock of learning all that made me go Nightmare like what happened with Fluttershy? How could you risk that?
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): There is no kind way to say this. But Fluttershy already had damage inside she was struggling with before that day.)
And the rest of us don't?
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): That's why we waited to show you until you had matured enough to begin asking the right questions instead of jumping to conclusions. Trust us, Twilight Sparkle, if there's one pony we know, it's you.
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Pinkie Pie's memories of her previous self and before were going to return on their own regardless of what anypony did. She needed one of her best friends to understand the full truth of what she knew. The others, we hate to say it, wouldn't have been able to handle it as much as you could, and AJ is able to accept the truth, but sadly would not have been able to do as good a job. And Celestia, Her Parents bless her, has too many responsibilities to be there for her as much as you can.)
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): And just because it would drive most ponies crazy, still doesn't mean it should just be totally swept under the rug. Besides, it inspired you to get grants for those archeological digs right? That happened to know just where to dig, and how to properly interpret what they found right? Ponies can be inspired to reach for the stars again. And know not to grow proud because they know that they fell once already. And those ponies at the museum finally know what a 'DVD player' is. Heck, maybe finding and analyzing lost technology could start a new Golden Age!)
Then why didn't you explain that to me?
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Because Princess Celestia is the better teacher.)
The point is that what am I supposed to DO? I can't simply do nothing.
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): You said you were having three different nightmares, what was the one you didn't mention?)
...I dreamed that Ponyville took a vote. I dreamed my parents discussed it with the doctors. I dreamed everypony petitioned princess Celestia until she signed the mandate. They didn't cut my horn off. I was too valuable as an Element of Magic for that, and they couldn't know how losing my horn might affect my Element if at all.
So they stuck a seal on my horn so powerful and so restraining that my magic and my mana sense were all effectively dead. Imagine of somepony shut off the nerves to your legs. And the worst part was? I couldn't argue with their logic or their reasoning. It was like I was back at the academy all over again as a filly. When the adults were telling my parents I was simply too dangerous to keep my horn or interact with other ponies, I thought if I was able to learn and grow as much as I have, that I'd always be in control. And somepony someday could pay for me losing control! And all because I'm not strong enough where it counts to control the power inside me! Because I'm just flesh and blood with a power that makes mages decades older than me green with envy. And all because I can't trust myself when my body is overwhelmed by a chemical.
...Thanks for the hug, filly, but I'm afraid hugs aren't the answer to everything.
You know there was a law for thousands of years that mage unicorns were forbidden to be intoxicated, they were seen as a danger to themselves and those around them. It lasted so long because unicorns aren't supposed to be able to cast complex or powerful magic when drunk in the first place! So no pony even examined it!
I considered trying to erase all alcohol and salt from Equestria, but that would include rubbing alcohol and the like used by doctors, and salt is NEEDED for ponies to survive. And I've SEEN what extremism can do.
Any of my friends could go Nightmare under the right circumstances. A slight chemical imbalance in my brain from a common drink is all I need to lose the control I've become so proud of, and I'd turn a pony's liver into custard.
Maybe those who have been scared of us in Canterlot have been right from the beginning. We're simply too dangerous to have around. And I'm several times more dangerous than all my friends put together. Who protects Equestria from Equestria's protectors? We're all walking time bombs, and I'm the biggest of the lot.
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Twilight?)
Yes?
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Listen and think LOGICALLY to what I'm about to say.)
But-
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Sit...Good. Look, Twilight. Trixie is an Element of Magic, Fluttercruel is an Element of Kindness. Celestia and Luna are both Bearers of THREE of the Elements. Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie, and Private Pansy did something every bit as powerful, so who knows, maybe they were Bearers. How many of you have turned Nightmare?!)
...Two...But-
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Two in 10, maybe 13. You know from Bonbon's Diary that Patch and Logan fit the profile of Bearers because the Shards reacted to them, even if they weren't forged into the Elements yet. Can you say any of this was wrong?)
No...
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): During that several-hundred year period, multiple ponies used the shards, many for good ends. They changed hooves who knows how many times...and yet not ONE Nightmare was born. And during that time, salt and wine were a REQUIREMENT to survive due to water quality after The Day. And that's not even talking about the Paradise Ponies who were chosen by the Rainbow and thus in no different a position than you and your friends. Now, after this history lesson, does the existence of two Nightmares a thousand years apart from one another, one of which could have NOT been a Bearer and STILL became a Nightmare, compare to the countless ponies who were in the same exact position you eight are right now who DIDN'T?)
20 to 15.38% of the chosen ones turning into end of the world monsters is NOT encouraging.
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Ok, let's look at this more closely then. How many years have the Elements existed? Three thousand years. How many years did the Rainbow of Light, which chose the Paradise ponies, who contained dozens of members over their several THOUSAND years of existence? From the beginning of the Age of Myths till the beginning of Discord's reign. In all that time, how many people connected to them have gone Nightmare? Two. One of which would've gone Nightmare whether or not she was a Bearer PERIOD.
(Which means the ONLY Bearer in the history of the Elements and the Rainbow of Light to have gone Nightmare that we can decisively say went Nightmare BECAUSE she was a Bearer was Fluttershy; who was ALREADY an emotionally vulnerable wallflower who was already repressing the pain of what Discord did to her, got drunk, and was FORCED to witness the CAUSE of all that repressed pain, the Cruel Side of Nature, be presented to her in all its gory detail, in a manner that could ONLY happen to her. ONE Nightmare born from an Element Bearer in what amounts to LONGER than recorded history. How are THOSE statistics?)
Ok, so the Elements do not equal Nightmares...And I guess neither does drinking...
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Do you have any idea how much it takes to get an Alicorn drunk anyway? Celestia would need to drink an entire liquor store, on a solar eclipse, to get drunk.)
That doesn't change the matter that I'M still a dangerously powerful unicorn that could destroy the town if I get drunk! Or that...I'm dangerous period...
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Twilight, take a look at this.)
Huh? A tabloid...
'Local pegasus filly performs what is being called the 'Sonic Rainboom.' Rainbow Dash, a Cloudsdale native filly, performed the legendary Sonic Rainboom during an unofficial race at the Junior Speedsters. One of the school instructors, speaking on condition of anonymity, is of the humble opinion that...that her wings should be clipped because no one pegasus should be able to generate something so destructive that no pony else can even replicate?! In particular when held in the hooves of a filly! Even more so one known for impulsiveness and making friends with unsavory sorts, violent emotional outbursts, and an aggressive attitude with no respect for authority with the longest demerit list in the school's history?!'
That's terrible! By that logic, Trixie's mother should have her horn chopped off just for having the potential for destructive magic! Rainbow Dash is the most trustworthy pony around! She'd never use her Rainboom where it'd hurt someone by accident! She's reckless but not careless!
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Look at it from their point of view.)
Frankly, I don't see the point of that.
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn):...An anti-social filly delinquent known for not having a grip on her emotions suddenly being powerful enough to shatter boulders miles away. That kind of power would seem rather dangerous to any outside observer for an adult to have. Maybe it's better Rainbow Dash couldn't do the Sonic Rainboom again until she was a mare.)
'Maybes' and 'What-Ifs' are for idiots like this...this...fear-monger, hiding behind anonymity! Too cowardly to attach his own name to his beliefs! As well he should! Mutilating a foal because they might do something destructive with an unknown power? THAT'S INEQUINE! The day that happens is the day the Equestria I know is dead! I hope that stallion got found out and lost his job.
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Actually he worked there until he retired, he wrote a bestselling book, and is enjoying a job as a lifeguard on a tropical island.)
But did he get found out? Did he ever have the guts to own up to this awful proposition of his?
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): No. And there are pegasi even today who are very worried about Rainbow having that kind of power.)
They don't know her! I do. She is not that kind of pony who'd use what she can do to hurt others.
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Even though Rainbow has a big desire for hard cider.)
She never gets drunk without having one of her friends come with her to keep an eye on her...or at least I think she doesn't. Her flying is too precious to her for her to risk crippling herself flying drunk! That much I know!
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): What if somepony slips something in her drink?)
Then it's not her fault! It's the blasted jerk that slipped it to her! And...oh...
(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Often times, Twilight, the only thing we need to solve a problem we can't overcome, is to see another in the same position. You said it yourself, Twilight; destroying something just because it MIGHT be a threat is jumping to a conclusion, and few things are more dangerous.)
...
I did say that, didn't I? Back when I was told the Flashstone was destroyed so it couldn't be misused. You're right, it would be foolish to give into paranoia. Be stupid to fear others just because their abilities are beyond that of the rank-and-file. That's racist logic. We'd be damning our society to mediocrity forevermore, because we'd be too scared of the exceptional. I really need to stop jumping to conclusions...
And I guess you're right about being able to help another with a problem we can't deal with ourselves...like at the Winter Wrap Up and with the tornado, I never once thought to try helping organize things to help MYSELF fit in...but then I saw how badly the others needed help and realized I could provide it, and later I had no problem encouraging Fluttershy to try something she didn't think she could help with...I think that might be a good friendship lesson...When Spike wakes up maybe I'll have him take a letter.
Uh...why do you seem so confused, my little pony?
(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony):...Why are you so worried about drinking? Don't you need to drink water to live?)
...If you don't know, I won't be the one to tell you.
...Oh, and about Rainbow....
(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Don't worry. As a filly most ponies were more surprised at her NOT being able to do it again. Then 'Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom Saves Wonderbolts (And Fashionista)' hit the headlines, and THAT is how the Sonic Rainboom exists in everypony's mind!)
Happy to hear it....And I think I might be able to sleep better tonight. I really needed that. Thank you.
"Who-who!"
"Yes, Owlowcious, I think I will have sweet dreams tonight."
I hope you three have sweet dreams too. And that's a nice phoenix chick you have little filly, you look cute together. Maybe I should write the letter myself for once.
'Dear Princess Celestia, I have so many fears and worries, they can rise up at random either when I'm sleeping or awake. But I have friends to help me face them rather than bury them...even if I didn't know they were my friends.'
There. Hello Smarty Pants, nice to have you back in bed with me, hope you don't mind me hiding you in the pillow during the day. What a beautiful night, goodnight Princess Luna.
++++
You're welcome Twilight Sparkle. Young Silver Spoon and her father lay under my moon and stars, staring up at the Heavens. Silver Tongue takes pains to point out the beauties of my night and make it interesting for his daughter, something for which I am grateful. I remember when the filly's dreams were filled with nightmares of her father attempting to murder her. Helping ponies with their nightmares is not always an easy feat, particularly when they are not simply bad dreams but nightmares stemming from that which they have refused to face.
Thankfully, the young one has faced her monsters.
"Alright, Silver Spoon, I think it's time to go to bed," Silver Tongue tells his daughter.
"...Do we have to?" the young one asked, she seemed to relish the moment and not want it to end, despite the rather large yawn she gave.
It is ironic...for the longest time I hated hearing ponies say 'time for bed' worse than any foal...in my insanity, I'd forgotten that many ponies loved my night because they could sleep and dream. And I had forgotten that even living concepts need sleep, if only to rest their weary minds...I suppose I was acting like a foal after all.
"Sorry, but how about we go to a play tomorrow night?"
"...Ok, Daddy..."
With that, father takes his daughter and puts her to bed. I know her dreams will now be far sweeter than they previously were.
Now I can enjoy a little reading. Hmmm. Chess through the ages? Couldn't hurt...Wait a minute. You can't castle while in check! CELLY!
++++
"So how was it?" Scootaloo asked from under the bed, crawling out, apparently Cutie Mark Crusader Boogie-Mares was a dud.
"Pretty," Silver Spoon said, "Thanks for giving me that private time, girls."
"Don't mention it," Sweetie Belle said, giving a small smile. "I know what how important time with your dad is."
"No prob," Applebloom finished. "...Ah do too."
"Me three," Scootaloo said in a low whisper.
"And it's great ya've figured that out too." Applebloom nuzzled her.
"Thanks guys." Silver Spoon returned the nuzzle.
"...Can I keep the bits I found under here?" Scootaloo asked after letting the moment pass.
Silver Spoon chuckled. "...Sure...so, what exactly do you do at a normal sleepover?"
"But you had them with Tiara," Sweetie Belle said in a way that wasn't a question.
"Yes...but it was always just the two of us. And I was still trying to be a lady, not a filly. I want to learn how fillies have a sleepover."
"Ya tell spooky stories," Applebloom said, making a ghost noise.
The fillies looked at each other, considering Applebloom had lived a ghost story according to her, they were surprised she'd suggest that first.
"What? Ah still like a scary story. Unless yah all are scared."
"What? Me, scared? No way!"
"Yeah! bring it on!"
"Alright, anypony have one?"
Silver Spoon spoke up. "Alright, I think I know a few..."
++++
"Remember dear you're going back to regular school tomorrow!" Derpy said tucking Dinky in. Derpy had considered trying to get her little muffin into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns after realizing how smart the filly had become on their trip to Canterlot...but the idea of her baby being so far away...it just scared her. Sure, the Doctor said he could make sure she'd see her all the time, but...it wouldn't feel right.
"Yes mama!" Dinky actually thought it might be fun to hang out with the foals in class instead of homeschooling like she had been doing for most of the year. And she couldn't wait to show Miss Cheerilee everything she knew now! "Miss Cheerilee says she'll be happy to have me back!"
"Goodnight my little muffin." Derpy kissed her goodnight.
++++
"Your cutie mark is for being graceful isn't it, Alula?" Ask the giant feather for a face.
I look back at it, I wasn't wearing the flower sticker today. "Y-yeah, it is. But it's nothing special. I mean, so many pegasi have feather cutie marks too."
The feather frowned at me, looking sympathetic, or I thought it was. "Oh, I know how awful that must be; after all, what could be more horrible than being the same as everypony else?" The feather then got a smile. "Well, what if your cutie mark was super extra special? What if your wings were special? If you dislike you cutie mark, then you must dislike being graceful, won't worry, your wings will make sure you'll be anything but graceful now! And don't blame me, blame that big dumb sister of yours, after all, who pressured you and made sure you always practiced whether you wanted to take a day off or not?"
--
"What that big dumb meanie Discord did to you was awful Alula, you don't need to feel that pain anymore. Just look around at the crowds cheering for you, they love you, you are special."
"Thank you Mama Princess Gaia!"
I did, and I smiled so wide! They all loved me! "Alula is coolest!" Shouted a filly Cloudkicker.
I know a lot of ponies hated Miss Fluttershy for making all the adults foals, but what's wrong with being a foal? I've been one all my life after all. And it was all that weird darkness alien thing's fault, the newspapers they sell next to the banana flavored gum said so!
I kept this from my big sister Cloudkicker, she didn't like Fluttershy for making her my age for some reason. Until after Fluttershy saved the water tornado that Equestria needed for all the rain. Then she seemed to accept her back as part of the herd. I know my big sister isn't really mean now too. Mama Princess Gaia helped me see that too.
"I had another dream about Diamond Tiara last night, big sister."
"That's...interesting little winglet."
"I wonder if I'll have one tonight too."
"Only one way to find out you know."
"Oh! Right. I guess. But this time we were flying."
"An Earth pony flying without wings, that sounds interesting."
"Oh she wasn't an Earth pony in my dream."
"She was a pegasus?"
"Kinda. She had a horn too. She was saying how she'd need me for something important."
Big sister went super silent for a bit before saying. "Alula. I'm worried. Diamond Tiara's been gone since last year. I'm worried that she's...erm, not as nice as you dream about her being."
"She's just lonely, big sister, she's not sure how to make friends. I'm sure she'll be making lots of friends when she comes back."
"Alright dear, you should see what Diamond Tiara has for you that's so important then. Goodnight, little winglet."
"Goodnight, big sister Cloudkicker."
++++
"Thanks for letting me sleep over tonight Twist!" Truffle said, formerly Chubby Cheeks before his Mark-Mitzvah.
"Ith's perfecthly fine!" Twist whispered to the little colt. Her parents had seemed surprisingly delighted at the idea of the sleepover. Truffle's were more surprised than anything and mostly just nodded.
However, Applebloom was confused and upset when she was not invited. Twist promised they were still friends, she just wanted a chance to get to know Truffle better. After all, if Applebloom could make new friends, why couldn't Twist?
Silver Spoon was genuinely sad she couldn't invite the CMC for a sleepover at her house in return, but she already had gotten time to spend with her father, which was few and far between and very much needed.
Then Silver's father changed his schedule and choose to help her have both, acting like a typical father with a duty to spoil his little girl. Silver Platter hadn't seemed thrilled, but politely relented.
Twilight was worried about Spike being upset about missing this with his new friends, being too tired to attend himself (Twilight had giggled to herself at Spike WANTING to sleep over with a bunch of fillies), but planned to make up for it with a sleep over with Spike possibly at the library (and had begun CMC-proofing the shelves and putting a double lock on her lab).
As far as Twist herself was concerned, right now she was just helping the pudgy colt grow out of his shell. He certainly liked her sweets, and she did love making sweets. But he said she was cute too. That was nice. He was cute too! Mayor Mare's husband even attended Cubby's Mark-Mitzvah.
Speaking of cutie marks...Twist suddenly wondered where Diamond Tiara's parents were when she had HER party. Oh well, they likely had some super giant party at her house with guests from all over Equestria waiting for her after Applebloom finally stood up to that bully.
But Twist wasn't going to let things like that distract her. Nothing would spoil this.
"Did you sneak that book out like I asked?"
"I don't think adults want us reading this kinda book," he said.
"Who cares what adults thinks right now? This is the night, it's all ours."
"We're not vampire ponies."
"Nope but this is a sleepover!"
"Shouldn't we be sleeping then?"
Twist giggled, "Chubby, I mean Truffle, you should know, all girls do, and so should boys, nopony sleeps at a slumber party! Now open the book. Oooh, oooh, this is delicious, I could eat this right up, don't you want to try this Chubby?"
"Aren't we a little small to do this?"
"You're never too young! Come on now, aren't you just a little bit curious?"
"...I guess. Okay. Let's do it!"
"Okay! This recipe is gonna be great! Don't worry, my parents trust me with the kitchen. I swear one day I'm gonna put Sugar Cube Corner out of business!...Or just sell them the royalties to my whistle candies and make a fortune!"
"Then you'd be rich like Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara!"
"Naw. Not like them. I'll never start treating ponies like junk. You can count on me staying Twist!"
"That's great to hear. I like Twist the way she is."
"Oh you." They nuzzled.
++++
Trixie looked over her mail. She had had not gone over it today yet. Mostly cause she was busy, but really cause she was lazy about that sort of thing. While she liked to pretend before that she got tons and tons of fan mail a day, the reality was much more humble. Besides, if Twilight or the others had something to tell her she'd notice a floating scroll appearing out of a burst of green flame. Or Twilight would just appear at her window in the middle of the night again. And her friends in Hoofington...oh right, she didn't have any.
"Sis you really need to start making friends in Hoofington, not just long distance relationships with mares in Ponyville," Nyxie had told her.
"Trixie is...I'm not quite sure how to make friends who aren't friends of friends who saved Trixie from a catatonic state then helped in saving Equestria."
"Then maybe Pixie and I can start teaching you. You've already really improved Trixie, I'm sure we can find someponies willing to socialize at one of her concerts or one of Lexy's performances."
"Lexy? You mean HEXY," Trixie said with alarm at the imp she had for a little sister who had never quite grown out of her 'mischievous filly' stage. The trickster characters she often played as were a natural to her. Lexy claimed she had learned from watching Trixie. Trixie would have to introduce her to Fluttercruel, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash, they'd get along swimmingly. Trixie shuddered, perhaps too swimmingly. She wasn't sure if Ponyville would survive the resulting prank war...
"Now now, that was never a nice name to call her."
"She loves it and writes it on her personal checks. She'd've legally changed her name to that, except Mom and Dad didn't approve remember?"
"I'm saying you shouldn't think of her like that. You know she loves you. All of us do. And you're finally able to make bonds with a good pony outside the family."
"Trixie is not giving mother grandfoals."
"I NEVER SAID THAT!"
"Sorry. Been spending too much time around some ponies..." Trixie didn't say who might have been trying to set her up on dates she couldn't have had less interest in, and Nyxie chose not to pry. "...We'll see what happens..."
"Well." She hugged Trixie, "Goodnight big sister, sleep tight."
Trixie returned the hug and finally looked at her mail. Nothing out of the ordinary.
There was a knock at the door. She opened the door to find a strongly familiar gray pegasus with a bubbles cutie mark. What was the blue shed from Ponyville doing here?
"Special delivery!" She handed the letter to Trixie, not even asking for her name or signature and rushed into the blue shed that vanished.
Trixie stared for a few moments at the blank space Ponyville's shed had just occupied, then sighed. "After Discord, Loneliness, Princess Gaia, and discovering she is an Element of Magic, Trixie believes that seemed almost normal."
Trixie didn't know the Doctor would be getting another lecture, from Princess Luna this time, about abusing his TARDIS and meddling in mundane pony affairs.
Trixie looked at the letter and all other things were forgotten. The royal seal?! Address from Canterlot?! Her magic shaking, all sleepiness gone, she cracked open the letter and began to read,
"Greeting Trixie Midsummernight of the Lulamoon Clan,
You are cordially invited..."
~Fin