//------------------------------// // Act I: Chapter 7 // Story: Miss Sparkle, Psychopath // by Adda le Blue //------------------------------// Fluttershy watched the first gray haze of sunlight seep through her window. She had crawled so far beneath her covers that her nose peeked out at the foot of her bed. There she had lain all night, hoping beyond hope that any unhappy thoughts would pass over her without her having to face them until the morning. It hadn't worked; thoughts of conspiracy and dreams of blinding pink lights had chased her awake each time her eyes had closed. She knew she wasn't a strong pony. She sometimes had trouble handling everyday problems, let alone a problem like one of her best friends maybe going crazy and brainwashing other ponies. The pegasus knew one thing for certain, though, and it was that if her friends really needed her, she'd be there to help them however she could. Yet again she found herself thinking over the results of their fruitless investigation: Pinkie Pie hadn't returned that night. Rarity had wondered aloud if foul play was involved, but she'd decided that it wasn't likely if Twilight had been out cold or talking to Applejack until an hour after the train was scheduled to leave. Maybe the Princesses were just busy, or maybe they would arrive in the morning. Rarity, for her part, hadn't stopped reading all evening. She had been too busy researching to give the other girls any details, but she said she was making some progress and that's what really mattered. She'd had a busy night ahead of her too, since she had insisted (or demanded) that Twilight and Rainbow Dash stay with her. Applejack's chat with Twilight had gone as expected. Twilight had said she knew nothing about anything, but she was determined to find out. Applejack had seemed frustrated and confused and soon left to attend to her chores at the orchard. Fluttershy hadn't hoped for much, so at least she couldn't say that she was disappointed. Her talk with Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, had brought up some feelings Fluttershy wasn't sure she was ready to face. Rainbow's story was the opposite of Twilight's: it was detailed, it was confident, and it pointed a hoof directly at the unicorn. But what if she was wrong? What if it really was an imposter pretending to be Twilight? The changelings could look like anypony they wanted to and they had every reason to want Twilight out of the way. The changelings were south of the Badlands, but then again, what if they weren't? Twilight had said so, but if Twilight was a liar then maybe she was lying about the changelings too... But if Twilight really was behind this, then it wasn't the changelings she needed to worry about. She shook herself and gave up that train of thought. “I just don't know what to think anymore,” she mumbled miserably. Her ever-present little companion, Angel Bunny, stirred fitfully in his bed a -few feet away. With the light of dawn in her eyes, Fluttershy buried her hopes of sinking into slumber. She had obligations to her other friends, after all: feeding and watering, bathing, petting, having nice little chats with them and maybe collecting some eggs from the chickens in return. The animals were her friends too, and she couldn't forget about them just because her pony friends needed help. She yawned widely, stretched her limbs, and trodded down the stairs. After a few familiar minutes of caring for the animals, Fluttershy was surprised to find herself smiling as she lost herself in her routine. At her cottage there was no reason to fear her neighbors, or wonder if she could trust anypony anymore, or hide behind her hooves and cry... Her home and the grounds around it were a safe place. Nopony could hurt her there. She was on her way back from the hen house, shivering at the sensation of her feathers and fur ruffling in the cool breeze, when a sharp crack nearly made her drop the basket of eggs she carried. She spun, fearing the worst, but no purple devil waited for her. Instead she saw a familiar stetson-clad farmer trotting past her land into the Everfree Forest, equipped with a large flask, a furious grimace, and enough rope to snare a manticore. “Oh! Good morning, Applejack!” Fluttershy called. “You scared me.” Her friend didn't even turn to greet her as she passed. Fluttershy lifted a hoof to hail her, but it hesitated at shoulder height. “Applejack, are you okay?” she called instead. “Did you sleep well?” The mare's ears fell back against her mane. “Leave me alone, Fluttershy,” she said tiredly. The pegasus chewed her lip. Applejack didn't look like she wanted company; maybe she was still angry with her about what she'd said yesterday. Then again, maybe she just needed somepony to talk to. She approached carefully. “Do you want to talk about it?” she tried. “Nope.” Fluttershy's nose wrinkled as the wind blew Applejack's scent toward her. She reeked of sweat and apples mostly, but there was no mistaking the pungent undertone. “How much did you drink last night?” she asked. The earth pony's shoulders tightened at the sound of her friend's disappointment. “A lot,” she said finally. Fluttershy nodded. “I understand,” she said comfortingly. “Yesterday was–” “Look, Fluttershy, I've got something I've got to do,” Applejack growled, exasperated. “Just leave me alone for a while, okay?” Her hooves carried her after the other mare for a few steps. “Are you sure you won't talk to me about it?” she called. “Sure as sugar, Fluttershy,” she said firmly. “Just go home.” Her ears wilted as she stared after her. “O...okay?” The mare crossed the treeline without a backward glance. “Okay,” the pegasus said sadly. “Goodbye.” Applejack just kept walking and soon she was lost between the trees. Fluttershy had two choices: she could either stand there and watch her friend go, or she could gather her courage and follow. She sighed and turned back to her cabin. “Applejack can take care of herself,” Fluttershy said certainly. “She's a grown mare.” It took her another hour to finish her chores and two more to satisfy a band of playful mice and raccoons. The numerous times she stopped and stared out the window didn't help. By the time she and the critters were finally through with their games of tag and hide-and-seek, Fluttershy could no longer ignore the questions that burned in her mind. With a few tender pats and a few firm words she took her leave. The air had warmed considerably in the hours since dawn; its soothing touch eased away the knots in her shoulders as she walked into town and threatened to lull her to sleep on her hooves. It was fighting a losing battle; she was still far too worked up to even consider a nap. Ponies hailed her from all sides as she wandered through the market: stallkeepers with whom she'd been known to exchange a few words; Mr. Cake, apparently on his way to buy ingredients; a few ponies she was friendly with after caring for their sick or misbehaved pets. Each waving hoof made her sink lower into herself. There was one face she wanted to see more than any other, and it was nowhere to be found. Where was Pinkie Pie? Where were the Princesses? She plodded off to the one place she could think of that might have answers for her: Golden Oak Library. The six of them had decided to to leave Twilight's note on the door of the library, since opening it for business would have been rather difficult, given the... um... circumstances. Surely anypony who hadn't read the latest Daring Do novel yet could wait another day or two. If Fluttershy was right, though, the Princesses would go there before they tried any other building. It was worth a try. Nothing waited for her there but a handful of letters in the mailbox. After a moment's thought she decided that she may as well take them, since her next option would be Carousel Boutique. She sighed as she headed across town for the second time. An eternity later Fluttershy rang the Boutique's doorbell. She had grown accustomed to its volume, but she still felt bad about causing such a racket. She stood waiting at the front door, shuffling her hooves for a solid minute before she decided to try it again. Suddenly somepony's colorful head popped out of an upstairs window. “Come on in, Fluttershy!” Rainbow shouted. “I doubt Rarity's gonna wake up. You know how much she likes her beauty sleep!” Then the Princesses hadn't come to the Boutique either. “I was only bringing the mail,” she almost-shouted back. “I could come back later.” “What?” her friend asked loudly. “Just come inside!” She gave the door a nervous glance. “Well, if you think it's okay...” Her hoof gripped the handle, but the door wouldn't give. “It's locked.” The other pegasus smacked her forehead with a hoof. “Fluttershy, you've got wings!” she shouted in frustration. “Get up here!” “Okay!” she squeaked. She hopped gracefully into the air, flapping slowly until she reached the upper level of the boutique. “Here's your mail maybe I'll come back later when Rarity wakes up!” “Come on, Fluttershy, don't be like that!” Rainbow complained. “It's big enough for two ponies to fit through. You'll be fine.” “But I don't want to enter uninvited!” she insisted. A devilish grin crept onto her face, one that Fluttershy knew well and didn't trust one bit. “Okay then, I guess I'll just take those letters...” Rainbow Dash extended a hoof. “Um...” She extended the hoof just far enough for the other pegasus to reach. “Here–” Rainbow missed the letters, grabbed Fluttershy by the pastern, and yanked her through the window. Fluttershy cried out in panic as she fell atop her friend and her limbs locked around the other mare instinctively. Twilight was resting on the bed, giggling quietly to herself at the sight. “Well, I suppose that's one way to invite her in.” She squealed again when the door snapped open, revealing Rarity's bedraggled form standing in the hallway. Her robe hung loosely from her shoulders, her eye shadow was smeared down her cheeks and the left side of her precious mane was a tangled mess.“Rainbow Dash, some of us are trying... Why is the window open?” Rarity barked suddenly. Without waiting for an answer her horn slammed it shut. “Were you trying to leave without me noticing?” she aked Twilight angrily. “Do you think me a fool?” Twilight simply pointed at the two ponies on the floor. The drowsy unicorn's eyes finally spotted the tangled pegasi. “Oh.” Rarity blinked away the fog in her eyes. “Good morning, dear. When did you arrive?” “The front door was locked, so we let Fluttershy in through the window,” Twilight said angrily. “That's why Rainbow Dash was shouting. Not everything we do is part of some megalomaniacal conspiracy.” An easy smile spread across Rainbow's muzzle. “Yeah, Rarity, chill out,” she laughed. Rarity blushed. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to overreact, but after a day like yesterday, can you truly blame me?” “It's okay,” Twilight muttered. “I understand.” “Twilight, I know that I can be... hasty, at times,” she admitted. “I may have used poor judgment and jumped to conclusions. I'm not saying I've changed my mind, but I promise I'll try to keep an open mind to what you have to say. The other girls were right, after all. You and I have been PFFs for a long time now, and I should give you the benefit of the doubt.” Twilight smiled weakly. “I guess that's all I can ask for.” Rarity nodded. In the ensuing silence the mares tapped their hooves and searched for something else, anything else, to talk about. Rainbow rolled her shoulders uncomfortably. “So, uh... So Fluttershy brought us the mail from the library,” Rainbow explained Her comment reminded the other pegasus to pass the envelopes to Twilight. “Um, yes. But I can come back later if it's a bad time...” “No, Fluttershy, please stay,” Rarity said kindly. “I was having a difficult time sleeping anyway.” Her houseguests nodded, one with sympathy and one with a roll of her eyes. “Me too.” Fluttershy hid a dainty yawn behind her hoof. “I didn't sleep a wink.” “Pinkie Pie!” The other mares spun toward Twilight, who stared excitedly at one of the letters. “This one's from Pinkie Pie!” she exclaimed. “How did it get here so quickly?” Rarity asked, looking positively baffled. “She only brought the letter to Canterlot personally because the postal service is so slow!” “I find it easier to deal with Pinkie if I don't question how she does what she does,” Twilight said. “I think I learned my lesson on that one, don't you?” Rarity gave her a forced chuckle and a tense smile. The four of them examined the envelope as Twilight pried it open. It was a generic white rectangle addressed to 'My bestest friends!' in hurried but practiced letters. The return address simply said 'Pinkie'. Twilight began to read aloud: Hey girls! I'm in Canterlot. I can't see the Princesses because they're really busy and I don't think anypony told them I'm here but they should be done soon. I wanted to tell the guards about what's going on because then they'd let me see the Princesses sooner, but then I thought maybe it would be bad if everypony heard about it before we figgured out what was really going on. Everypony would go crazy! Right? So I might have to wait until tomorrow. I don't like waiting! Maybe I'll do the whole tourist thing while I'm here. You know, see the sights and waste too many bits on stuff I don't really want. How are things in Ponyville? Has anypony confessed to ainwashing-bray Ashie-day yet? I still don't think it was Twilight. I should know because I've known her longer than everypony else in Ponyville by at least a few minutes! But if it really was her, then tell her I said she's a really bad pony and I will never ever forgive her. But I really don't think it was her. Love, Pinkie Pie PS. I know I said I don't think it was Twilight, but can you pretty please keep an eye on her for me? Just in case. PPS. I'm sorry, Twilight! I love you so much. Please don't be mad. Twilight, whose voice had grown harder and harder as she forged through the second paragraph, glowered at the postscript. “She misspelled 'figured',” she muttered scathingly, but Rarity shushed her with a look. Rainbow's hoof idly stroked her back. “Wait... This one is also from Pinkie.” Fluttershy said, shuffling through the other five letters. “They all are!” Rarity stretched out a hoof. “May I?” she asked Twilight. She made no move to intercept the mail. “Go ahead,” she replied offhand. “They're for all of us, anyway.” With practiced ease Rarity sliced open all five of the envelopes with her magic and rotated the unfolded documents in and out of her hooves as she skimmed them. “Nothing... nothing... Oh, look, she met a colt at Donut Joe's and she's... She's getting married?” Twilight shrugged and Rarity, whose lips were moving soundlessly in shock, moved on to the next letter. Before she finished the first line her distress dissipated. “She's not getting married,” she smiled. “Well, at least she's keeping herself entertained!” As she scanned the last letter her smile quickly faded. “But she still hasn't spoken to the Princesses.” “They know Pinkie Pie,” Twilight mused. “They should have recognized how important the matter was as soon as she arrived.” “What could be taking them so long?” Fluttershy asked. “The Princesses were planning to meet with representatives of the neighboring nations to discuss trade agreements,” she explained. “I can understand why that would be important, but can't they ever take a break?” “Matters of diplomacy can be quite delicate, Twilight,” Rarity explained. “Why, even blinking at the wrong time can ruin their chances for a favorable compromise.” “I know that,” Twilight said, tapping her hooves together nervously, “but this is important too.” “Speaking of important matters, so long as I'm...” She tried to hide a huge, graceless yawn behind a hoof. “So long as I'm not going to be getting any sleep, I for one could use a nice, hot bath,” she said, patting at her ruined coiffure with a hoof as she retreated to the hallway. “I shall return shortly to prepare breakfast. Ta-ta!” The other ponies watched her go. “You know she's gonna fall asleep in the tub, right?” Twilight stifled a giggle. “We might as well let her. She needs it. Why don't we handle breakfast?” Soon the lower level of the Boutique was filled with the enticing aroma of an omelette au fromage with asparagus and mushroom. The omelette itself was sliced into quarters and separated onto blue and white china. Twilight thoughtfully pulled a cover from the cupboard and placed it over one of the portions. “Rainbow Dash, could you check on Rarity?” Twilight asked. “We don't want her eggs to get cold.” Her friend, having finished hers in one minute flat, complied with gusto, leaving the unicorn to chew happily on a particularly crunchy piece of asparagus. All was as it had been before. Two friends dining together in the midmorning light... At the breakfast table, there was no reason to mistrust your friends or panic at the thought of being alone with them. “...think Rarity will want to accompany us?” Fluttershy stared down at her glistening breakfast. She'd carved one bite out of it and the thought of any more made her stomach roil. “Fluttershy?” She nearly jumped out of her chair. “Yes, Twilight?” The unicorn's smile fell away. “I'm sorry. I was lost in thought. I'm listening now.” “Fluttershy,” she asked slowly, “does being alone with me bother you that much?” “No!” she squeaked. “You're my friend!” She put on a brave smile. “I... I love spending time with you!” “Then why do you look as though you want to run away?” She straightened in her chair self-consciously. “I'm... um... I'm just... worried,” she said finally. “About what I might do?” the unicorn needled her. “About... Pinkie Pie,” she lied. “And Applejack!” “Pinkie's fine,” Twilight assured her. “You saw her letters. I know the Princesses will speak to her as soon as their trade negotiations are through. They should be here by this afternoon.” “I know...” “And I don't see why you'd be worried about Applejack,” she continued. “She was fine when she went home yesterday. We'll probably see her at the market on the way to the library.” Fluttershy chewed her lip and couldn't quite meet the unicorn's eyes. “Is there something you're not telling me?” There was no avoiding it. “I saw her this morning. She was headed into the forest.” Twilight froze. “Did she tell you why she was going into the forest?” “No! She just said it was something she had to do.” Twilight's hooves slapped onto the table, startling the anxious pegasus. “And you let her go alone?” “Um... yes?” The hooves slid from the tabletop. “What reason could she have to go into the forest? Perhaps she went to talk to Zecora,” Twilight wondered aloud. “If anypony would have heard stories of magic like this, it would be her.” She filled her muzzle with the last of her omelette. “Should I go and find out?” Twilight shook her head and swallowed. “If Applejack learns anything she'll come straight here to tell us.” Fluttershy nodded uncertainly. “Maybe...” But that had been hours ago. “I'm just glad she's staying productive,” she said. “To be honest, I was expecting her to hit the cider last night.” The pegasus raised a hoof. “I'm so sorry, girls!” Rarity's dulcet tones interrupted. The mare swept into the kitchen with a blush and a flourish. “I didn't mean to keep you all waiting.” “Don't worry about it,” Twilight smiled. She lifted the cover from the remaining plate on the table and slid it toward and empty chair beside her. “I'm sorry we didn't wait for you.” “Don't be, dear.” She settled herself in Rainbow's seat. “It's my own fault.” “Done, Miss Sparkle?” Rainbow asked from the doorway. “Yes, Rainbow, I'm finished.” She lifted their plates into the sink. “Rarity, we would like to go back to the library. We need to check on Spike, and we were hoping to get some more research done. Do you want to come with us?” Rarity shook her head. “No, Twilight, I...” She studied her fork as she twirled it in the air. “I will trust you. In any case, there are a few books here at the Boutique that require my attention.” She wasn't prepared for the hug. Her fork clattered to her plate as Twilight's forelegs snaked around her from behind. “Thanks, Rarity,” she said softly. She reached a hoof back to pat her friend's shoulder. “Goodbye, Twilight. I'll be sure to visit in a few hours.” “Of course you will,” the other mare sighed as she pulled away. “Come on, Rainbow, let's see if we can find any clues before then.” Alone with her best friend, Rarity allowed herself a deep and shaky breath. “Goodness,” she whispered. Her hooves were trembling. “I do hope this is over soon.” “Me too,” Fluttershy muttered. She pushed her plate away. “I'm sorry, Rarity, but I have to go too. I've...” “Yes, Fluttershy?” the unicorn asked curiously. The pegasus lowered her eyes. If she broke the tenuous bond Rarity and Twilight still shared, she didn't know if she could take it. “I've, um... I've got something I've got to do.” Rarity blinked at her. “Why so mysterious, Fluttershy?” She shook her head as she stood and headed toward the door. “It's nothing... I think. I'll tell you when I get back,” she promised. “Alright, dear, if that's what you want,” she frowned. “Good luck!” Handled by horn, cleanup went quickly. In no time at all the breakfast dishes were washed and organized and Rarity was back in her armchair. A large mug of tea sat beside her, a tea specifically chosen to help her stay alert as she forged further into last night's text on disassociative identity disorder. Within minutes she found herself shaking her head. “I don't know,” she muttered to herself. “Something doesn't feel right.” She snapped it shut and levitated it to the pile beside her chair, only to replace it with another from the stack. The hour disappeared as she lost herself in the text. Soon she was halfway through the book and her brow was pinched with worry. “Fascinating,” she mumbled. “And... fitting...” She blinked at the pages before her, then lowered the book and stared off into space. “Oh, no.” Somepony broke the door. The unicorn threw herself away from the noise with a screech of terror. Her horn flared to life and hefted her teacup into the air. “Rarity!” a hoarse voice cried from the entrance. She looked up from the floor to find Fluttershy standing in the doorway. Her chest was heaving and the foam of overexertion had gathered at the corners of her mouth. Her ferrets and songbirds danced around her in agitation and were peppered by tears that fell like gentle rain. Rarity immediately threw herself to her hooves. “What happened?” “Applejack,” her friend panted. “The forest.” She jumped backward and spread her wings. “Hurry!”