//------------------------------//
// Research and Development 
// Story: Love Your Difference 
// by BronyDad 
//------------------------------//


 Chapter 3
 
Research and Development


Suddenly, accompanied by another strong gust of wind, Fluttershy was hovering right in front of them again.  "How about that?  That was much more impressive, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, um...quite impressive," Twilight replied uncertainly.

Quickly stepping forward, Applejack said, "Twilight here was just sayin' how much she liked watchin' ya doin' them fancy tricks in the air, but she has to head on back to the library now.  How's about ya come with us so she don't have to miss any of them moves ya been workin' so hard on?"

Fluttershy contemplated this, then shrugged.  "Yeah, sure, why not.  Then everypony in Ponyville can check out my awesomeness."

Watching Fluttershy shoot back into the air, Rarity complimented, "That was exceptionally quick thinking, Applejack."

Applejack smiled and tipped her hat in appreciation.  Then, checking to be sure that Fluttershy was following, led the way to the library.

A few minutes later, as they rounded a turn, the Sugercube Corner came into view.  Aside from being the most popular dessert shop in town, it was also the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cake, their twin babies, and Pinkie Pie, who was a live-in employee.  

Like most other structures in Ponyville, the Sugercube Corner was constructed of timber wood, but its roof resembled that of a gingerbread house, complete with icing eaves.  The second and third floor resembled a pair of stacked cupcakes with pink icing, complete with three candles stuck in the top.  The door and window shutters were the same color as the cupcake icing, and to either side of the door were candy cane posts.  Beside the steps that led to the front door was a small cluster of pink flowers, and on the opposite side hung a yellow sign that featured a large cupcake.   

As the friends were walking by, the front door opened and Lyra Heartstrings carefully descended the stairs, carrying a pitcher of milk in her mouth.  Directly behind her came Sweetie Drops, who was balancing a box of cookies on her back.  Without warning, Sweetie Drops missed a step and stumbled into Lyra, causing her to tumble down the remaining steps and dump the milk onto the ground.  Staring at the small puddle on the road, Lyra began to weep silently.

Just then, Rainbow Dash came skipping out of the alleyway beside them, followed closely by Daisy Jo the cow.  "I hear that you need some mooore milk, eh," Daisy Jo said pleasantly.  As Lyra and Sweetie Drops expressed their appreciation, Rainbow Dash smiled gleefully and hopped away.

Crossing the street, Rainbow Dash headed toward Sea Swirl, who was struggling with a grocery bag that was a little too full.  As she approached, Sea Swirl lost her balance, causing several oranges to fall to the ground.  Quickly scooping them into the air, Rainbow Dash jumped up, and bumping them with her flank, bounced them perfectly back into the bag.  Grinning widely as Sea Swirl thanked her, Rainbow Dash then sprinted down the street a little ways and forced herself between Cranky Doodle and Matilda, who had been having an argument.  Splitting them apart, she then broke out into a very silly, and very random dance that soon had the both of them chuckling.  Rainbow Dash beamed brightly as the two donkeys continued to laugh and quickly made up with each other.

Speechless, Twilight could only stare at this new Rainbow Dash as she pranced down the street.  Suddenly realizing that they were about to lose her once again, Twilight quickly called out, "Hey, Rainbow, over here!" 	

Upon noticing her friends, Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt and hopped toward them.  She then proceeded to hop around them in a tight circle.  "Oh, hiya gals!  Whatcha doin'?"

"We've been looking for you," Twilight told her.  "Would you please come with us to the library?"

"Of course!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, coming to a halt.  "There is nothing I like more than being with my very besty best of bestest of best friends!"

"Uh, Rainbow Dash?"  Applejack spoke up.  "Do ya happen to remember anything about this mornin'?  Anything that made ya feel any different?"

"Nope.  I can't remember anything at all about this morning," Rainbow Dash said, smiling brightly.  "I just woke up all of a sudden in the Town Square, a little bit strange now that I stop and think about it, and there were a bunch of foals there so I played with them for a while.  Then I took a walk around town so I could say hello to all of my friends and spread some smiles, but you know, everypony has been giving me funny looks today."  Tapping her chin with her hoof, she looked off into the distance.  "Hmm...I wonder why."

Behind Applejack, Twilight and Rarity exchanged looks, then Twilight said, "Well, I'm sure we'll figure it out, Rainbow.  Let's get back to the library so we can find a way to fix this problem."

Even though she was already facing Rainbow Dash, when Twilight turned around, Rainbow Dash was right in her face.  "Oh, oh, there's a problem?  Can I help?  I love helping with problems, especially when they're my friend's problems!  Can I help?  Oh, can I, can I, can I?"

"Uh, sure," Twilight said, stumbling back.

"Yipee!" Rainbow Dash shouted, then went skipping off toward the library.

Although she was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the changes her three friends had undergone, Twilight couldn't help but smile as she followed the happy-go-lucky mare down the street.

Located north of the Town Hall, near the center of Ponyville, the Golden Oaks Library was an enormous hollowed-out tree.  It had numerous windows throughout its trunk that helped flood the main reading room with natural light, and two balconies, one halfway up the tree, and the other, which was often used for the study of astronomy and came equip with a telescope, was at the very top.  A large sign standing next to the tree portrayed an open book.

Thankful to have finally reached the library, Twilight tilted her horn toward the door and as it swung open on its own, stepped aside to allow the others to enter. 

The main reading room was a huge, circular room with a large round table at its center, and on the far side, a curving staircase that led to Twilight and Spike's living quarters.  Standing on the center of the table was a finely detailed wood carving of a horse's head, its ears up and attentive, as if it were listening to a story being told.  The bookshelves, which were masterfully carved from the wood of the walls, were crammed full of every type of book that could be imagined.                 

Inside, a restless Fluttershy awaited, tapping her hoof impatiently.  "What took you so long?" 

Before Twilight could respond, Rarity rushed forward, her face a mask of dismay.  "Oh, darling, just look at what all that flying around has done to your mane."  Turning to Spike, who was busy dusting the bookshelves, she asked, "Spike, would you be a dear and fetch a brush?"

Immediately dropping the feather duster, Spike dashed across the room and bounded up the stairs.  In only a moment's time, he was back with a brush.

Toying with the large green spine on the top of his head affectionately, Rarity said, "Thank you so much, Spikey-wikey."

"Anything for you," Spike replied in a love struck voice. 

Rolling her eyes, Twilight reached out with her magic and dragged Spike across the room by his tail.  Stepping around him to block his view of Rarity, Twilight said, "Hello, lover boy, I have a job for you."

Spike blinked.  "A job? Sure, what do you need?"

"I need you to go over to the Carousel Boutique and fetch Pinkie Pie and bring her back here, but try the best you can to keep her hidden."  Seeing the confusion on his face, she explained, "She has had a rough day, and would rather not have the attention that everypony usually gives her."

Still perplexed, but always determined to get Twilight's tasks done perfectly, Spike nodded.  "I'll get her here without anypony seeing her."

Twilight smiled sweetly.  "I knew I could count on you, Spike."

As Spike headed out the door, Twilight became aware of the argument between Fluttershy and Rarity.  While Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat and watched, Rarity, hoof stomping with frustration, heatedly said, "Now, Fluttershy, you are such an elegant and graceful pony that it is simply unacceptable for your mane to look anything less than perfect.  If you do not let me brush those knots out, things are going to get very ugly very quickly."

"You'd better let Rarity have her way," Applejack warned.

Scolding, Fluttershy flopped down on the floor.  "Fine."  

As Rarity's horn began to glow with a bluish light, the brush floated above Fluttershy's head and began making long strokes down her mane.

Slightly amused by Flutteshy's grunts as the brush caught on the knots in her mane, Twilight realized that, now that they were together in the library, except for Pinkie Pie who would arrive shortly, she was feeling much better about their current situation.  Her horn glowing magenta, Twilight selected a book from one of the top shelves and guided it onto the pedestal next to her, and began flipping through the pages.  

Moving beside her and watching in silence as the pages turned themselves for a few moments, Applejack finally said, "Shouldn't ya be lookin' in your book about the Everfree Forest?  I reckon that's where the answers we need are gonna be."

Twilight frowned.  "How so?"

"Really, Twilight?" Applejack indicated the others.  "Where else round here can a pony go to get this messed up in a single mornin'?"

"Good point."  

Letting her current book fall to the floor, Twilight pulled an entire bookshelf's worth of books out and while they hovered over her head, let them slowly glide in front of her so that she could read the titles.  After a few minutes, she had four very large stacks on the floor behind her and was starting to get annoyed.  

Twilight stomped a hoof in frustration.  "Urgh, why can't I find it!?"

Applejack gave her a quizzical look.  "Twilight, didn't ya just have your monthly re-shelvin' day last week?"

Appalled, Twilight answered, "No, no, no, that was my reorganization day.  That is way different than re-shelving day."

"Ah."  Applejack scratched her head.  "Okay then, my mistake."

Just then, Owlowiscious, the overnight library attendant and Twilight's pet owl, swooped down carrying a book in his talons.  "Hey, this is it!" Twilight exclaimed.  "Thanks Owlowiscious!" 

As Owlowiscious hooted gleefully, the front door opened and Spike stepped inside, followed by a very timid Pinkie Pie.  As soon as she saw that she was alone with her five best friends, Pinkie Pie smiled shyly and stood up a little straighter, obviously feeling safer in their company.

"Oh, good," Applejack said, relieved.  "I'm as happy as my ole Granny Smith in the kitchen now that we're all finally back together."

Smiling her agreement, Twilight turned her attention back to the book.

Titled 'The Magics and Mysteries of the Everfree Forest,' the book contained information on all of the known life forms that resided in the Everfree Forest.  However, since much of the Everfree Forest remained unexplored, the information within the book was extremely limited.

Slowing leafing through the pages, Twilight skimmed over poison joke, manticores, the cockatrice, and various other plants and creatures and the ill effects that they could inflict upon ponies before finally coming to a halt.

"Hey, I think this is it," Twilight said, looking up and seeing all of her friends lean forward anxiously.  

Noticing that Rarity's attention had just shifted from her, Fluttershy slowly edged out from under the brush and discreetly moved to sit beside Rainbow Dash.    	

"It's called the Sleeping Weeping Willow," Twilight told them.

Blinking, Applejack repeated, "The Sleeping...Weeping Willow?"

Nodding, Twilight read, "The Sleeping Weeping Willow is the largest known willow tree in Equestria, and is identifiable by an unmistakable face found on its trunk.  Its eyes are usually closed, but if they are open, beware.  Its eyes are capable of hypnosis and those that find themselves caught in their gaze will be put to sleep.  Then the Sleeping Weeping Willow will place a spell over its sleeping victim, causing them to become whatever they had last come into contact with, be it creature or pony."

"Oh, what a horrid tree," Rarity said distastefully.  "Just casting spells on innocent ponyfolk who are passing by.  What nerve!"

"Does the book say how to break the spell," Applejack asked.  When Twilight remained silent, she pressed, "Twi?  Is there a counterspell?"

"No," Twilight finally replied as dread knotted her stomach.  "Nopony knows exactly what spell the willow casts, so it is unknown how to counteract it."  

There was a long silence as the three of them gazed anxiously at their troubled friends while the implications of what Twilight had just said sank in.

Rarity was the first to break the silence.  "Do you know of any spells that could possibly switch them back?"

Ever since she was a young filly and had witnessed Princess Celestia raise the sun at the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight had been obsessed with magic.  She had studied hard and eventually enrolled in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, but lost control of her power during an entrance exam in which she was supposed to hatch a dragon egg.  Her magic not only hatched the egg, it also caused the baby dragon inside to grow enormous, turned her parents into potted plants, and levitated the four teachers giving her the exam.  Princess Celestia herself had arrived and set everything right with her own magic, and had been impressed by the enormous power Twilight had released.  That day Twilight gained a very special place as Princess Celestia's personal pupil, as well as a wonderful new friend, Spike.  That was also the day she received her cutie mark, a pink star with five small white stars surrounding it symbolizing that her special talent was magic itself.

Despite all of this, she didn't know if she could reverse this particular spell.  She could perform memory spells, time spells, transfiguration spells, and she knew of aging spells, although they were currently too difficult for her, but she had never even heard of a spell that completely changed who a pony was.  She thought long and hard, recalling every magic book she had ever read, but could think of nothing.  

Hanging her head miserably, Twilight flopped down on her rump and admitted, "No, I've never even heard of a spell like this before."

Panic gnawed at the back of her mind, threatening to consume her rational thoughts.  How could this be happening?  Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control, was there really nothing she could do?   

Come on, Twilight think!  She desperately urged herself.  Your friends are counting on you for the solution!  How could you possibly let them down?  But I've never heard of a spell like this before.  It doesn't matter, you are intelligent, resourceful, find a way!  I can't.  Yes, you can!  What are your friends going to think of you if you can't solve this problem? 

Without her even being aware of it, Twilight's ears and eyes began twitching as she began to frantically pull at her mane.

Recognizing the symptoms of a Twilight Sparkle mental breakdown, Rarity rushed forward and batted her hooves from her mane.  "Now stop that this instant," Rarity commanded sternly as the brush zipped across the room and hovered over Twilight's head.  "You are obscuring your stripes."  The stripes Rarity was referring to were two stripes, one pink and the other magenta, on her otherwise dark purple mane and tail.  

As Rarity fretted over her mane and muttered to herself, Twilight immediately began to calm down.  It wasn't that somepony fixing her mane made her feel better, it was because she understood that Rarity was doing the only thing she knew to do to help her friend cope, and that generous gesture heartened her much more than the deed itself.  

"I don't know if that book is entirely right," Applejack said.  "Rainbow Dash has been answerin' to her name just fine.  According to the book, shouldn't she think she's Pinkie?"

Frowning, Twilight glanced over at Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.  The three of them had moved closer together and were now listening to their conversation with concern, as if they only just now realized that something was wrong. 

"Somethin' switched all right," Applejack continued.  "But what?  I think they know their names, so it can't be their identities, maybe their memories?"

Tapping her chin with a hoof, Twilight contemplated what Applejack said.  

As she focused on identifying what the problem was, instead of her inability to solve it, the last of her panic dissipated.  Suddenly, Twilight smiled as she realized that Applejack had purposefully kept her mind trained on a solution for this very reason.  Feeling a warm glow within, Twilight beamed at Applejack and nuzzled Rarity's cheek fondly, thankful to have such great friends that always knew what to do when she was feeling down.

Feeling confident once more, Twilight announced, "I'm going to test them and see who is who."  

Mental breakdown averted, Twilight stood up.  Looking Fluttershy squarely in the eyes, she said, "Hey, Rainbow Dash, come here."

Smiling broadly, Rainbow Dash hopped forward.  "What can I do you for?"

Returning her smile, Twilight said, "That's all I needed, Rainbow.  Please go back to your place beside Fluttershy."

"Okey-dokey-lokey!" Rainbow Dash responded happily, and skipped back to her spot.

"So they do still know who they are," Applejack observed.

Stepping up to Fluttershy, Twilight inquired, "Do you remember the dragon migration?  How did it make you feel?"

Without hesitation, Fluttershy replied, "No, I missed it...because..."  Seemingly confused, she shook her head, then continued, "Because I was scared.  But...why would I be scared of a dragon migration?"

Frowning at Fluttershy's apparent confusion, Twilight moved on to Rainbow Dash.  "Do you remember the time that Rarity had wings and they melted and she-"

"Oh, really," interrupted an annoyed Rarity.  "How many times must you all bring this back up?"

With a mischievous smile, Applejack asked, "Would you rather her ask Dash what she remembers about Tom?" 

Making angry, sputtering noises, Rarity hoof stomped in frustration.  Flopping down heavily on her rump with her forelegs crossed against her chest, she refused to meet any of their gazes.

Taking a moment to ensure Rarity would not interrupt again, Twilight repeated, "Do you remember the time that Rarity had wings and they melted and she was falling to her doom?  Can you tell me what happened?"

"I went into a super neato dive!" Rainbow Dash answered with an enormous grin.  "And performed the Sonic Rainboom for only the second time in my whole life, and saved Rarity just before she went KER-SPLAT!"  Rainbow Dash emphasized the last word by slamming her hooves together forcefully.  Practically vibrating with excited energy, she added, "I won the Best Young Flyer Competition, and got to spend a whole day with the Wonderbolts!"

Giving Twilight a puzzled look, Rainbow Dash asked, "But, how could I have done that?"  Then, with an extremely loud gasp, she exclaimed, "I have wings!  I do, I do!"  Then, leaping into the air, she flew in circles over their heads as she broke out in song.


I can fly, fly, fly
Through the sky, sky, sky
It's as easy as pie, pie, pie
I have wings and can fly, fly, fly!

"How in tarnation could Rainbow forget she has wings?" Applejack inquired in amazement as she watched Rainbow Dash continue to fly circles and sing.

"I don't think she did," Twilight replied.  "She just forgot to remember them until now."  

"Now that doesn't make even an ounce of sense!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Sure it does," Applejack disagreed.  "Her head has been all fuddled like from that blasted tree.  Why, I bet she's been as confused as a goat on astroturf." 

Believing that she now knew what the true problem was, Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie.  "When is my birthday?"

Eyes suddenly growing wide, Pinkie Pie cowered away.  "Oh, I don't know," she whimpered, covering her head with her hooves.  "Please don't be angry with me."

"I think you do know," Twilight pressed.  "You are just forgetting to remember, like Rainbow Dash and her wings.  You're Pinkie Pie, you have an eidetic memory, and you know everypony's birthday in Ponyville.  Just take a minute and try real hard, and don't worry, no pony will get upset with you if you can't remember."

"She has a what now?" Fluttershy asked, bewildered.

"An eidetic memory," Applejack explained.  "It's what some ponies call a photographic memory.  It means she can remember things much more clearly than the rest of us.  Like, she never forgets a face, or anything ya tells her.  It all gets stored away in her little poofy head, like a big ole stack of photographs."

Eyes squeezed shut in concentration, Pinkie Pie was silent for several moments.  Suddenly looking at Twilight, she said, "Your birthday is in ninety three days, eleven hours, and twenty two minutes." 

Twilight beamed.  "Great job, Pinkie, I knew you could do it."  Turning to the others, she explained, "They didn't become anypony else, they've retained their identities and memories, it was their personalities that were switched."

"So..." Spike said slowly.  "We now have Pinkie Shy, Flutter Dash, and Rainbow Pie."  Rubbing his temples, he added, "This is giving me a headache, and I'm late for my nap.  Good luck with everything."

Watching Spike climb the stairs with amusement, Twilight said, "This is great, now that we know it was just their personalities that-"  

At that moment, Rainbow Dash swooped by exceptionally low, causing them all to quickly duck to avoid a collision.  Twilight heard her singing, "Oh, I believe I can fly-" as she passed overhead.

Standing back up and flipping her mane, Rarity asked, "Forgive me for being such a negative Nancy, but how does knowing this help us?"

"We know exactly what the problem is now," Twilight replied.  "And it isn't anything near as bad as I feared.  I was so worried that they wouldn't remember their names, or who they were, or anything, but they know perfectly well who they are.  And they seem to be remembering things just fine."  Turning to Pinkie Pie, she asked, "Are you remembering more now?"

Pinkie Pie nodded.  "Yes, I'm remembering how I used to be, and why everypony was calling out to me earlier.  And I remember the tree now too."

"You do!" Twilight exclaimed.  "What do you remember?"

"Not much," Pinkie Pie answered.  "Just its eyes.  They were a beautiful amber, like pools of fresh honey." 

"Pools of fresh honey?" Rarity remarked.  "They sound absolutely fabulous."

Pinkie Pie shrugged.  "Yes.  But I got drowsy when I looked into them, and next thing I knew, I was back in town." 

"Oh, they must be simply dazzling to hypnotize you so," Rarity stated.  "I am quite interested in meeting this willow tree."

Applejack turned to Pinkie Pie.  "Would ya be able to lead us all back to it?"

Swallowing hard, Pinkie Pie replied, "I think so...but do we really have to go back into the Everfree Forest?"

"We do if y'all wanna be right as rain again," Applejack told her.  "It'll be just fine, sugar cube, we're all gonna be right there with ya."  She turned to Twilight.  "I say we all go to that confounded tree and demand it fix our friends."

"I think that is an excellent course of action," Rarity agreed.

"It's settled then," Twilight declared.  "Let's go find this willow and make it help our friends."

As the others made their way to the door, Twilight looked up and saw that Rainbow Dash was slowly floating across the room, completely upside down and still singing.

"Are you coming, Rainbow?" Twilight hollered to her.

"Of course," Rainbow Dash called, then bolted for the door.  Unfortunately, she misjudged her angle of approach and slammed into the wall right next to the door.  	Standing up and shaking her head, Rainbow Dash said thickly, "I'll be right there."  Stumbling awkwardly through the opened door, Rainbow Dash tripped over her own hooves and landed face down in the street. 

Rolling her eyes, Twilight stepped outside with the others, then paused as she realized that somepony was missing.

Glancing around with concern, Twilight asked, "Where's Fluttershy?"