//------------------------------// // The Truth // Story: Newsworthy // by _Medicshy //------------------------------// Ink Well cowered under the gaze of the five ponies. Applejack and Rainbow Dash advanced on him menacingly, a cold anger in their eyes. He closed his eyes, prepared for the thrashing he was about to receive. Pinkie Pie bounced in front of the fillies. “Hey! Have you guys met Ink Well? He's from the Equirer!” “Yeah, we know Pinkie, We've met him.” Applejack took a step forward. “Now step aside, I got a score to settle about Braeburn.” “And I've got to kick his rump for the lies about the Rainboom!” said Rainbow Dash, rearing up and jabbing her hooves forward. Pinkie Pie looked at them, confused. “Why? You got to be featured in a huge magazine! I'd love to be in the Equirer, whatever the reason!” Rarity had the most exquisitely puzzled look on her features. “But the Equirer printed lies about my shop! How can you think I'd want that kind of publicity?” Twilight Sparkle stepped in front of the others. “Girls, girls, calm down! Why are you all so angry at him?” Applejack said, “He's from the Equirer, and they've been printin' lies about us for months! Now I don't know 'bout you, but I wanna teach him a lesson about lyin'!” Twilight pointed to Ink Well. “Why are you so angry at him, though? Did he actually write all those things? Did you even let him tell you why he wanted to talk to you?” Rainbow flustered where she was flying. “Well... no, but I- he- He's from that magazine! He must be here to write SOMETHING bad!” “Maybe not. We don't know until we ask.” Twilight Sparkle turned to Ink Well, her pink six-pointed star cutie mark confirming her identity. She smiled at him, offering a hoof up. “Hello there, sorry about the girls. They can be a bit... aggressive. Why are you here?” Nervously accepting the hoof, Ink Well stood. “I'm on an assignment from the... er... National Equirer to ask you six about the events at the Grand Galloping Gala last night.” Twilight went rigid. “You want to know about what?” “The... err... Grand Galloping Gala. I just want to know if what was said was true... some, um, bad rumors running around and... uh...” Ink Well stammered to a halt as he looked past Twilight. “If Rainbow Dash could just stop glowering at me I might be a bit more... um... comfortable.” Twilight looked at the scowl on Rainbow's face, then back to Ink Well, a matching scowl on hers. “You know, I'm tempted to just get out of her way. I don't want anything printed about Princess Celestia.” Rainbow Dash lunged forward, barely held back by Twilight Sparkle. “Yeah! Let me at him!” Fluttershy stood in the back of the pack, trying to get the attention of the others. “But he didn't do it.” “Quiet sugar cube. He's got a mess of trouble coming his way. And I wanna be the one to give it to him.” said Applejack as she stepped forward, prepping herself to kick. Ink Well held up his hooves defensively. “Wait! I didn't write a story on any of you! I swear! The only one I wrote was on Braeburn, and I was given the facts and told to 'make it an interesting read'. It wasn't my fault. Really. If you just had the articles, I'd show you, but-” “Oh! I can help there!” Pinkie disappeared up the back stairs of Sugarcube Corner, only to reappear a few seconds later with a pile of National Equirers. “Here you go! This is all of the issues for the last year!” Ink Well grinned in relief as she put down the magazines. “Great! Start with the one on the Rainboom.” Pinkie tossed one magazine seemingly at random off the pile. “Page 7, 'The Sonic Scam!'” Ink Well flipped the magazine to the page. “Here! Right here! 'The Sonic Scam.' Lead reporter: Cool Star. See, not me!” He showed the magazine to all of them. “Now, Pinkie, do you know where Rarity's story is?” “Yup! 'Sapphire's Wardrobe Fiasco,' Page 5.” Pinkie Pie held up the magazine. “Rarity, read the name of the reporter.” Rarity magicked over the magazine and flipped to the page. “Pinny Cushion, fashion desk... Oh... hmm.” Ink Well held up his hooves calmly. “Honest mistake, you all made it. How about Fluttershy's piece?” Fluttershy raised her hoof. “Um... It was called 'Lies on the Runway', it was written by Papermoon. I already knew that...” Ink Well looked at her, puzzled. “Then why'd you run when I tried to talk to you earlier?” She padded at the floor. “I panicked... I didn't want another bad story about me...” The six ponies all looked at her, then at Ink Well, anger slowly draining from their faces. That is, for all except Applejack. She took a threatening step forward. “But that don't change the lie you wrote 'bout Braeburn!” Ink Well sighed. “I did write that. And I'm sorry. I didn't even know what it was about! I was just given some notes on Appaloosa and told to write an interesting story, just like the rest of these writers. I mean, these stories are all so obviously fake! The Equirer's a rag, a giant gossip piece writing spectacle stories just to get readers! It's not like any of it is supposed to be... taken... seriously...” Ink Well's ranting stalled as his brain made the connections. He thought about how he was received all around town. The pampering at the spa, the excitement behind his arrival, the mob that fought over his things... “Oh my gosh. The whole town believed them, didn't they?” Rarity nodded. “I had ponies coming into my shop all the way from Manehattan to ask me about that story! Nopony would buy my dresses for a month! It was a nightmare!” “And I couldn't hardly fly around town without somepony asking if I'd faked it! That Rainboom story was not cool. Ponies still ask me about it!” said Rainbow Dash. “Heck,” said Applejack, “Braeburn's still sending me letters askin' fer help stoppin' the protesters in Appaloosa. He hasn't had a single visitor since that ain't asked about that story. It's drivin' him plum crazy!” Ink Well stared at them in disbelief. “I am so sorry. I... I didn't know the kind of impact the Equirer had! I mean, all those ponies believing the words of a bunch of fiction writers.” He laughed, a short, mirthless laugh. “It's amazing what ponies will believe... A greedy pony would take advantage of it.” His face hardened. “But I am not a greedy pony. Look, I'm sorry. I am so very very sorry. I came to get a story on you six not even thinking about the impact it would have on you. It's not right to go on like that.” Twilight put her hoof on his shoulder. “It's alright. You didn't know, and it was your job. I'm sure we can forgive you for it, right?” The ponies nodded, all except for Rainbow Dash, who kept an angry look on her face. Twilight glared at her until she nodded too. “See, it's fine.” Ink Well shook his head. “It's not fine. I need to do something for you, to make up for what happened... And to thank you for not killing me.” He paced to the side, thinking on it. A few moments later, the idea struck, and he turned to the other ponies. “I know! This problem was caused by the Equirer, it can be solved with it!” Twilight looked at him, confused. “How?” “Easy! Instead of writing a story about you at the Gala, I'll write a correction story ones written about you! If I explain it to Photoshop, I'm sure she'll agree that what we did was wrong and let the corrections go to print. Then ponies will stop bugging you and the Equirer will have it's story!” Ink Well smiled at the group. “It's a win-win!” Twilight gave him a skeptical look. “Don't you think that's a little optimistic? Do you think you can actually do it?” Ink Well's smile quickly fell. “I have no clue... but I know that I can try! I'll meet with you each tomorrow to get your sides on the story, and that'll give me just enough time to write it before the deadline. What do you all say?” “Sounds like a plan to me, scrawny.” said Applejack. “Seems like a good idea.” said Twilight. “Sounds divine.” said Rarity. “Aw yeah!” said Pinkie Pie. “Um. Okay.” said Fluttershy “I still don't see why we don't just beat him up!” said Rainbow Dash. Applejack gave her a stern look. “What?” The other ponies joined Applejack in glaring at Rainbow Dash. She sighed, crossing her front hooves as she hovered in the air. “Fine. We'll do it the lame way.” Ink Well bowed to them. “Thank you. I promise I'll do my best to make it up to you.” “And with that,” said Pinkie, moving the needle of the record player back onto the disk. “It's time to PARTY!” The music started right back up, and Pinkie started dancing immediately. Fairly soon the others joined in, and they all started to enjoy themselves once more. Ink Well stayed at the edges of the party, watching the others dance and have fun as he nibbled on the various party sweets. The others stayed away from him, giving him strange looks and whispering between themselves at they partied. With all of the negative attention, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. After a half hour of him on the sidelines, Pinkie Pie bounced over. “Come on! Don't you want to party? At least dance or talk or something! You look like you're not having any fun.” Ink Well shook his head. “No, I'm having a great time. I'm just not very good at parties, especially with ponies I don't know that well.” “How can you not be good at parties? All you have to do is have fun! It's okay, really, we don't bite.” Pinkie stopped for a moment, considering what she just said. “Well, actually, we do bite, but we don't bite ponies, 'cus that would hurt, and it wouldn't be any fun at all.” Ink Well stared at her, surprised at the sincerity behind what she just said. “No... no it probably wouldn't be fun. By the way, these cupcakes are delicious! What's your secret?” “Secret? I don't have a secret. I'm good at keeping them though! Do you have a secret?” “Uh... no, what? Never mind. You throw a great party.” Pinkie smiled and sprang back onto the dance floor. Ink Well looked around the party, seeing where he could try to insert himself into the festivities. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were off to the side playing Twister with Twilight Sparkle calling out the moves. Dash had managed to tie herself into a pretzel, while Applejack seemed to be balancing on the edges of her hooves. On the other side of the room, Rarity and Fluttershy were deeply engrossed in conversation, talking in a way that suggested gossip more than friendly banter. Ink Well wondered what they could be talking about. As he made a move to hear their conversation, Rainbow Dash collapsed laughing onto Applejack, pulling all attention to her. “Hey! No fair! You were tickling me with your mane!” “Ticklin' you? How? My head's all the way over here! 'Sides, you were the one who kept hittin' me with yer wings.” “I was just off balance. I want a rematch! Twilight, spin that spinner!” Applejack untangled herself from Rainbow Dash and brushed herself off. “Not now, sugar. I gotta get in on that dancin' while the music's goin' strong. Maybe in a bit.” “Aw, c'mon! I need to beat SOMEPONY at this!” Rainbow scanned the room, eyes locking onto Ink Well. “Hey! You! Up for a round of Twister?” Ink Well backed away from the gaze. “What? No. Not me.” Rainbow Dash flew over to him, staring him down. “Why not? You scared or something?” Ink Well met her gaze, slightly uneasy. “No. I'm not scared, I was just thinking of heading out.” “What?!” Without her seeming to pass through any of the space in between, Pinkie Pie appeared next to him from the dance floor. “No! You can't leave already, the party's just getting started!” Ink Well was aware that everyone was looking at him. “I'm really sorry, but it's a long flight home, and I'm coming back tomorrow...” “Yes, but there won't be a party tomorrow! And this is a time to have fun and celebrate friendship! Please stay?” Pinkie Pie started circling around him. “Please please please please please please-” Ink Well tried to maintain eye contact as he talked. “Well, yeah, but I'm not really your friend yet, am I? More of an acquaintance.” “-please please please please please-” “And I'm just bringing the party down by being here, and-” “-please please please please please-” “-you're not going to stop until I say I'll stay, are you?” “-nope please please please please please please-” Ink Well gave in. “Fine! Fine, I'll stay. I'll play a round of Twister. Just please stop doing that.” Pinkie Pie froze mid-jump, falling to the floor. “YAY! So glad you can stay!” Pinkie skipped back to the dance floor, joining Applejack. Rainbow Dash grabbed Ink Well and pulled him over to the Twister mat. “Alright Twilight, spin that thing!” She grinned at Ink Well. “Try not to fall all over the place.” Ink Well returned a competitive smile. “I'll do my best. One question, are wings allowed?” “No. Applejack always insists no wings, and we're gonna go by her rules.” She looked at him strangely. “Aren't you going to take off your bag and stuff?” “No. I'd rather not if it's all the same. I had a bad experience putting it down before.” Twilight spun the spinner. “Front right, green.” Both ponies moved their hooves to a green spot. “Back right, green.” Ink Well turned himself around so that green was on his right side as he put his hoof down. Rainbow Dash kept herself oriented the other way. “Front left, red.” Ink Well simply reached across the mat, while Rainbow Dash flipped herself over, facing her back to the mat. “Back left, blue.” Both ponies placed their hooves accordingly. The moves continued for many spinnings, both ponies slowly working their way into a more comfortable position. As the game continued on and on, the whole party ended up spectating, enjoying the battle raging on the mat. This would have been just fine in Ink Well's mind if only Rainbow Dash wasn't currently located under him, having had to reach far beneath him to put her third hoof on red. This put both ponies in a strange balancing act, and Ink Well found his bag threatening to topple him over. Rainbow looked up into the face of Ink Well, who was sweating nervously. She stuck her tongue out at him. “You ready to give up yet?” He shook his head, smiling determinedly. “Not yet. I'm going to do my best to give you a run for your money.” He looked down at her, wondering how the others would react if he fell on their friend. The dreaded spinner sounded again. “Front left, green.” The spectators collectively held their breath, seeing the difficulty of the move. Both ponies looked to the spots far to their right, worry on their faces. Rainbow Dash moved first, pushing herself up as she reached her hoof over herself, determined not to lose. She closed her eyes in the effort, causing her not to notice her face slowly getting closer to Ink Well's. He stared down, flustered as his vision rapidly filled with Rainbow Dash's face. Madly blushing, his wings kicked into gear, pulling him away from her, and off of the Twister mat. “I give! I give. You win.” He backed up and into a corner, trying to check his embarrassment as the spectator ponies raised up Rainbow Dash, congratulating her. “Yeah! I knew I'd win! I am the greatest!” She flew overhead, celebrating and showboating. “Take that, Ink Well! Nopony can beat me!” He stood up, forcing a smile for her victory. “Nope. Nopony can. You sure showed me.” He tapped his hoof on the floor, annoyed at the manner of his losing. Applejack walked up to him, a sly smile on her face. “Nice playin' there, scrawny. And good move stoppin' before it went too far.” Ink Well started blushing again as he explained himself. “I swear I didn't mean for it to even look like anything! It was just the way we were positioned! I-” Applejack held up her hooves. “Whoa there lover boy. I know, I know. I'm just messin' with ya'. Can't you take a joke?” “Yeah. A joke. Ha.” Applejack walked away, moving over to the rest of the ponies. Ink Well stood alone again when he heard the clock tower tolling, marking ten o'clock. “Is it really that late? Dang, I've got to get moving.” He quickly moved to the door. Turning back to the party, he saw that the other ponies had gone to the dance floor, enjoying themselves and grooving to the music. Taking his chance, he quietly pulled open the door and slipped out into the night. --- A few minutes after ten, Fluttershy was talking to Rarity, who was dominating the conversation. “...and I simply can't think WHY somepony from something as fashionable as a magazine would wear something as atrocious as that fedora! It was so worn and threadbare! Doesn't he know that they haven't been in style for years now? Almost as long as he's been beating on it, the state its in. And that bag! All those rips and tears, you'd think he never took care of the thing. I just can't believe that Pinkie would invite such a crime against fabulousness to her party!” “Oh... I don't know about that. He looked nice, and he did have a certain style to him.” Fluttershy looked around the party. “But, where is he? Wasn't he just here?” Rarity scanned the party. “Yeah, you're right! Where did he go? He must have just gone and sneaked off. And good riddance too. I for one can't wait to get the corrections done and have that magazine out of my mane!” Fluttershy's ears pressed against her head. “Oh... yeah... Me too...” --- The next day at midday, a very tired Ink Well walked into Sugarcube Corner. The party decorations were gone, the place set up to once more be a sweets shop in all it's gingerbread house goodness. He walked to the counter and rang the bell, Mr. Cake arriving a few seconds later. “Hello, welcome to Sugarcube Corner, how can I help you? Hey, you're the colt from yesterday, aren't you? Did you get what you needed from Pinkie?” “Sort of. Is she around? I need to ask a couple follow ups.” Ink Well tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. “No she's not, I'm afraid. I think she said that she was going to the park.” Ink Well yawned. Mr. Cake raised an eyebrow. “You okay son?” “Yeah! Yeah. Just a bit tired from last night. Got home really late, had to fly out early. Anyway, thank you for the information.” Ink Well turned and left. A few steps away from the counter, he turned around. “Actually, do you have any cookies? I need something with a lot of sugar if I'm going to keep going.” “Yes, we do. It's two bits for one, or ten for a half dozen.” Ink Well dug around in his bag. “Um... I guess give me one.” He pulled two coins from the bottom of his bag and placed them on the counter. In return he was given a cookie with pink sprinkles. “Thank you.” He took a bite. “Mmm. So very sweet, that's nice. Did Pinkie bake it?” “Yes. These are some leftovers from yesterday.” “Still good. Thank you again. Have a nice day!” Ink Well finished the cookie and walked outside. It was yet another beautiful day, the sun shining and the few clouds in the sky decorating it perfectly. Taking in the sunlight, he trotted to the park. There, smelling flowers next to the path was Pinkie Pie, humming to herself without a care in the world. Ink Well walked up to her. “Hello there Ms. Pinkie Pie. You threw a wonderful party last night.” “Hi Ink Well! Call me Pinkie. You left so early, and so quietly! Why didn't you say goodbye?” “I'm sorry. If I didn't go, I would have only made it home in time to leave again. I needed to get some sleep.” He yawned. “I kinda failed at that, but oh well. Anyway, I came to find you first hoping that you'd be the easiest to get notes down on.” Ink Well took out his notebook, ready to write. “Do you have any story you want a correction on?” Pinkie Pie looked at him with her giant blue eyes and a smile on her face. “Nope! Not a thing! I'd have loved to be in the Equirer though, whatever they wrote! All their stories are fun!” Ink Well closed his book. “Ah, well then. I guess that's that. Thank you for your time!” He tipped his hat to her and began to leave, then stopped. He pulled his book open once more. “Actually, I do have another question. Knowing the magazine, if I want to get the corrections printed, I'm going to have to write about the Gala and hide the corrections in there. So could you tell me what happened at the Gala?” “Huh? Oh sure! No problem at all! What do you want to know?” “Well,” said Ink Well, checking his notes, “the rumor was that you made a ruckus at the Gala, which disturbed a lot of ponies.” “A ruckus? Me? I just tried to make it into a party! I'm the best pony when it comes to parties! All of those snooty ponies were just standing there not having any fun. So I just sang a song and played some music. But they were all so angry, refusing to dance or sing or anything. It was so boring. I just livened it up!” Ink Well finished his notes. “Just livening it up, eh? No nefarious plots to ruin the dance or anything?” “Plots? Me? Do I look like a pony who could plot?” Pinkie Pie smiled at him, a huge, lovable smile. Ink Well shook his head. “No. No you don't. Just figured I should ask.” Ink Well snapped his book closed again. “So, do you know where Rarity is? I think I'll ask for her side next.” “Rarity's at her shop! At least, I think she's at her shop. I know she would be at her shop normally. But she might be in the Everfree Forest! Or the Library! Or Canterlot! Or maybe she's nowhere at all. Ooh, that would be frightening!” Pinkie looked him in the eyes, genuine fear in hers. “How would you know where you are if you were nowhere?” She shuddered. Ink Well watched her reaction to her thoughts, trying to make sense of them. “I don't know...” The ponies sat pondering this for a moment. Eventually he started talking again, having finished his train of thought. “If I were nowhere, I'd look for landmarks, and if there weren't any, then I'd know I was nowhere, and would no longer be afraid, 'cus I know exactly where I am.” Pinkie gasped, eyes widening in admiration. “Oh wow, I would have never thought of that. They hire some smart ponies at that magazine of yours!” Ink Well smiled, digging his hoof into the ground. “I don't know about that.. But I like to think of myself as clever.” He tipped his hat to her. “Thank you for your time, Pinkie. I'll chat with you later.” He turned and trotted down the path, leaving her to frolic in the flowers again. --- Ink Well walked up to the Carousel Boutique just as Rarity was closing the front door. She was wearing a flowing blue dress and matching feathered hat. Ink Well stopped, admiring the beautiful way the light shone off of her clothing. “Hello Rarity, are you ready to make your corrections?” Rarity turned around, dress swirling around her perfectly. She looked at him, a flicker of disgust on her face before she smiled. “Ah! Ink Well... still wearing that hat I see. Well, I was actually stepping out for lunch. I hope you don't mind.” 'I still don't see what's so wrong with the hat.' Ink Well muttered under his breath. “What was that?” Ink Well smiled. “Just going to lunch? You look like you're going to a ball dressed like that.” “Well why not? A lady must look her best at all times, and if I can advertise my store at the same time, why wouldn't I?” She began to walk away, revealing the matching heels that went with her dress. Ink Well hurried to catch up to her. “Well, I could join you for lunch. I could get your story over food, if you'd like.” She looked at him like he was crazy, and he just grinned in return. “It will only take a small portion of your time, and then I'll be on my way. Would that be acceptable?” She looked him up and down. “Oh... fine, but you do mind your manners, will you? I won't be seen eating with anypony who doesn't understand proper etiquette.” “I shall do my best, Ms. Rarity. Lead the way.” Rarity led Ink Well to a large, green trimmed cream building with a thatched roof. A sign out front read: Garden Cafe. Outside, purple and white tables spotted like mushrooms were scattered before the front of the building. A cream colored pony with slicked back blue hair and wearing a white tuxedo walked between tables with an aloof air, observing the customer's satisfaction with their meals. Rarity walked to the waiter, a stunning smile on her flawless face. “Table for two, please, Horte.” The waiter led them to an open table far from the door, near the edge of the outside eating area. As they were seated, Rarity was provided with a gold laced purple pillow to sit upon, while Ink Well sat on a provided pile of hay. After they were seated, the waiter bowed to Rarity and walked away. “Ah, there are privileges to being a pony of class. Now then, what would you like for your story, Ink Well.” Ink Well pulled out his notebook, placing it on the table. “Yes, well, first off, your corrections. Tell me about the story they printed and what actually happened, and I'll take notes as best I can.” “Oh, well it's just the funniest thing. They said that since there was a bank robbery that happened in Manehattan a few days before Sapphire got her dresses, I had stolen gems from that bank and used them! Isn't that absurd? Just the day before I had won the gems from a pack of diamond dogs outside of town. I worked hard for those, getting kidnapped and saved and pulling the carts back to the shop. It simply wasn't right for such slander to be thrown against me.” Rarity thanked the waiter as he brought the menu. He placed another one before Ink Well, a condescending look on his face. “Thank you Horte.” The waiter walked away. Rarity opened the menu, holding it up before her. “Of course, the attention of all those ponies asking how I broke in was exciting, but nopony wanted to buy dresses! It was terrible for business.” “Ink Well! What are you doing at the Cafe?” Ink Well put down his pen and turned around. There, just out of the dining area, stood Rose waving. “I thought you'd be long out of town once you had your story. What brings you back?” Ink Well looked at Rarity. She sighed. “Oh very well, go talk to her. But remember it isn't polite to keep a lady waiting.” Ink Well nodded and slipped away from the table. He walked over to Rose. “Hello there! Nice seeing you again. Things didn't quite go according to plan, so I'm doing my interviews today. What brings you by here?” “I was heading back to the shop. You're eating at the Cafe? You must be rolling in money to be doing an interview here.” “Oh, well she was already coming here for lunch, and I just sort of tagged along...” Ink Well looked over to Rarity, sitting alone at the table. “I really should be getting back. 'It's not polite to keep a lady waiting.' Is it alright if I talk to you later?” “Sure thing! Have a nice lunch, moneybags!” Rose trotted on her way and Ink Well went back to his table. He opened the menu and browsed over it, color draining from his face as he looked at the prices. As he tried not to show his shock, the waiter came back. “May I take your orders?” Rarity put down her menu. “Yes, can I have the rose hip salad? And some ice water with a lemon twist, if you could.” “Of course Miss. And you?” Ink Well slowly put down the menu. “I'll just have water, thank you. Plain, ordinary nothing in it water.” The waiter almost sneered at him as he picked up the menus. Rarity watched the color return to Ink Well's face as he prepared to take notes again. “Um... diamond dogs, you were saying? A pack of them? How did you manage to escape?” “Now now, Ink Well. As a lady I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say they found me very persuasive when negotiating for my release.” “Uh huh...” He could feel that she was avoiding his questions, but he was thrown off guard from the dreamy look she was giving him. “Yes, well, there is one more thing I need to ask you about. I would like to know what happened at the Grand Galloping Gala.” Rarity waved the topic away dismissively. “Why would you want to know about that? I thought you were going to write corrections, not a story.” “Oh no, I'm not, don't worry. It's just that I have a feeling that the Equirer won't run a story on corrections when they wanted a story on the Gala. Therefore I'll need details on the Gala to hide the other story in, and perhaps I can quell the rumors that popped up. Is that alright?” “I suppose so. Well then, tell me what you wish to know.” Ink Well checked his notes. “Right, well the rumor is that you assaulted Prince Blueblood, injuring him quite badly.” Rarity looked as though she had been attacked. “What? No no no! I spent a... memorable evening with the prince, and when, over the course of the evening he proved to be an,” he could hear the venom in her voice as she spat out the next words, “unchivalrous narcissist, I may have... raised my voice at him. But I did not touch him. The only thing that I could have injured was his pride. And my beautiful dress, getting cake stains all over it. I shall never be able to wear it again...” “Cake stains?” “Yes. He hid behind me when a cake projectiled itself through the air, causing my beautiful dress and hair to be covered in frosting while he walked away clean. I... lost my temper at this, and may have covered him in cake, but I did not assault him.” Rarity looked worried. “Oh dear, could you promise me not to print all of that? It would be so very embarrassing. Just make it clear that I didn't assault him.” Ink Well took down notes on all of it, a smirk on his face. “I promise no more of this will be printed than needs to be to make the story clear.” As he wrote down the last of her story, the orders arrived. A large, beautifully garnished salad with rose petals spread around the bowl was placed in front of Rarity, with a decorative pink glass of water with lemon slices floating in it placed alongside. In front of Ink Well was placed a small, blank glass of water. Ink well put away his notebook while Rarity delicately unfolded her napkin and got ready to eat. He could hear his stomach grumbling as he looked at his glass of water, which he drank down in one quick gulp. It was warm. “Well... this has been pleasant, but I really should be moving on.” Ink Well moved to stand up. Rarity floated her napkin in front of him, stopping his exit. “You can't leave! You haven't paid your bill, and a true gentlecolt would wait until his companion finished eating.” Ink Well was incredulous. “What bill? I got a glass of water. And yes, a gentlecolt would, but you're not my 'companion.' I was a tag along you didn't even want here.” Rarity looked shocked, but Ink Well kept going. “Yeah, I got the hint. I'm leaving before the waiter comes back and sneers at me again.” Pushing away the floating napkin, he stormed away from the table. A few feet away, he turned and tipped his hat to her. “I hope you have a nice lunch, Ms. Rarity.” With that, he left the restaurant. --- Ink Well hurried into the marketplace, looking around for Applejack and her stall. Walking through the area it soon became clear that she wasn't there today, that pleasant accent of hers missing from the ambient noise. He puttered around until he caught the smell of flowers on the breeze. He turned to a nearby shop, a green and ivy building with a thatched roof and pink trimming on the doors. A sign hung above the door with blue and while daisies on it. There were flowers in stalls in front of the building. Beautiful, fresh and newly picked flowers filling the air with a wonderful aroma. Ink Well stood outside, enjoying the smell of the flower shop. “Can I help you?” Ink Well turned to the source of the voice, a pink pony with a blonde mane. She had a lily in her hair. “Oh! It's you! Ink Well, what are you doing here? Do you still need help with your story?” Ink Well shook his head. “Oh, no. I don't. I'm sorry... Lily, wasn't it? Is Rose here?” “Rose? No. Why does everypony think she works here? She's at the shop across the street. 'Daisy's' is run by Daisy and me. She runs 'Rosewater,' the perfume store.” Lily the walked over to the flower stall. “Would you like some flowers?” Ink Well shrugged. “Sorry, don't have any money on me...” He looked into his bag. “You up for a trade? Because I've got some apples.” “Sure, I'll trade. What flower?” “Hmm... a rose, yellow, if you have it.” Ink Well gave her an apple, getting a rose back. As he walked away, he tipped his hat to her. “Tell Daisy I said 'Hi.'” He went into Rosewater, looking quizzically at a small watermelon stall outside. Within the air heavy with the smell of flowers, oils, and watermelon. “Hello? Anypony here?” Rose perked up behind the counter, face lighting up. “Ink Well! What brings you to my shop?” “Oh, nothing major. I said I'd talk to you later, and it's later. So what's up?” Rose leaned against the counter. “Nothing much. Slow day.” “Well that's too bad.” Ink Well pulled the rose out of his bag. “I brought you a flower, maybe that could make things better?” “Aww, thank you! That's very kind.” Rose accepted the rose, placing it behind her ear. As she did that, Ink Well motioned to the stall outside. “So, what's with the watermelons?” “Watermelon is a very popular scent lately, but I kind of overstocked. Just selling the excess. Not a lot of ponies needing perfume these days, but sales were good before the Gala, so it's to be expected.” She moved her hooves, showing the flower in her mane. “How do I look?” “Very nice. I should have gone with red though, it would have matched your mane much better.” She smiled. “Oh well, it's the thought that counts. So how was the cafe? Is the food actually any good?” “I don't know. I didn't actually have any. After looking at the menu, it was all waaaaay out of my price range.” He pulled an apple out of his bag. “Besides, I'm sure that Applejack's apples are better than anything they cook there. You want one?” Rose shook her head. “Oh well. They're good.” He bit into the apple, glad to be eating after sitting at the cafe. “I had to get away from that cafe. Rarity was just so... snobby. Spent the whole time talking about how ladylike she was and how she had to be so classy. It was getting on my nerves. And that waiter just wouldn't stop sneering at me like I was some street rat. I just can't stand ponies like that.” Rose frowned at him. “You shouldn't be so down on her. She's not actually so bad once you get to know her. She's really generous, and she's normally very kind, she just focuses on the details and the aesthetics more than the big picture. She made dresses for all of her friends for free, and made team vests for everyone for the last Winter Wrap Up. She likes to dress and act high class, but she's truly a kind pony. You just need to give her a chance.” “Then why does she treat me so oddly?” Rose looked him up and down. “It's probably your clothes.” Ink Well glared at her. “What? Are you going to start talking about my hat too?” “No. Don't get me wrong, it's very stylish in it's own way, but it's not exactly fashionable. I think she thought somepony from something as trendy as a magazine would be dressed in the latest fashions. And even you have to admit that that hat has seen better days.” “Hey now, I've had this for years! I love this hat. The only way I'm losing this is if it's the hat or my life!” Rose laughed at his reaction. “Alright, alright. Nothing wrong with that.” Rose smiled at him. “Do you have any time to hang around? I could show you around town, if you like.” Ink Well shook his head. “Thank you for the offer, but I've got to get going. A lot of interviews to do.” Rose looked slightly disheartened. “Of course. You've got your story to write. Good luck with it!” Ink Well tipped his hat as he left. “Thank you. Have a great day, Ms. Rose.” --- Ink Well walked from Rosewater to the library, a very large tree growing at the edge of town with many windows and a door set into it. He knocked on the door, confused as to why the design on it was a candle and not, say, a book. “Hello? Twilight? Are you here?” After a brief wait the door swung open, revealing a small purple dragon with green spines. The dragon looked at him inquisitively. “Twilight's inside. Who's asking?” Ink Well stared at him in amazement. “A... are you a dragon?” The dragon's eyes rolled. “Wow, good guess Sherlock. Yes, I'm a dragon. Now why are you asking for Twilight?” Ink Well ducked down, bringing his face onto the same level as the dragon's. “That is so cool! Twilight has a baby dragon? How was this never mentioned before? And you talk! Can you breathe fire?” The dragon pushed him away. “Hey! I'm Twilight's assistant, thank you. And you're going to find out the answer to the fire question really soon if you don't tell me why you're here.” From within the library a door swung open and Twilight's head peaked out. “Spike! Who's at the door?” “Some weird pegasus in a hat!” Spike yelled to her. “Should I send him away?” “Oh! That's Ink Well. Bring him down to the basement, I'm just finishing up preparations, the timing couldn't be better.” Twilight's head disappeared back into the door, which closed behind her. Spike turned back to Ink Well, who was still staring at him excitedly. “Alright, you heard Twilight. Come on in.” Spike led Ink Well to the door, swinging it back open. Ink Well talked as he walked through the doors and into the basement. “Oh wow, a dragon! I've always wanted to see one, but there's only ever the old stories and the museum pieces, and those look so fake compared to the real thing. I mean, look at you! You're adorable! And you look like you could get hit by a train and walk out fine! Those scales look tough. How fantastic, dragons. Such majestic and powerful creatures.” He was led down the stairs and over to a small table in the center of the basement. Twilight called down from a balcony running around the room. “Please place your front legs on the table.” Ink Well did so, jumping slightly as metal rings snapped around his legs. For the first time he looked around the basement, the small hearts painted on the stairs very out of place with the hanging roots above. All around the room ran roots and wires and strange machines blinking and spilling paper into awaiting bins. A tape reel spun on one side of the room, a large microphone hanging over the room the only thing wired into it. Against another wall bubbled beakers and test tubes filled with various liquids running from container to container. Electricity crackled around a Tesla coil and up a Jacob's ladder placed near the beakers. Ink Well gulped anxiously as Twilight Sparkle walked towards him dressed in a white lab coat and floating a large helmet covered in lights, switches and antennae with her magic. She placed it over his hat, clicking a chin strap into place. “Uh... Twilight? You seem to be hooking me up to a... rather ominous looking machine, if I may say so. Um... Any reason for it?” A spark flew from the helmet as she plugged a curled green wire into it. “Oh yes. This is a lie detector. I just want to know what you know and what you don't before I go giving away compromising information.” She held up a red wire and a blue one, looking at a book floating next to her. “Now was it red on the right or the left that caused the short? Don't want another charred pony on my conscious.” She looked at the pure fear that was plastered onto Ink Well's face. “Don't worry, she's just fine! It was years ago when that happened, I was so much less experienced than I am now. No major damage apart from her eyes going a little silly and a slight IQ decrease. But that's why we record our mistakes.” She closed the book and plugged the blue wire into the right side of the helmet, where it clicked into place, then moved the red wire to the left side. Ink Well shut his eyes tight, preparing himself for the worst. *Click* “There! Good! All set!” Ink Well sighed, glad to still have his mental faculties. Twilight trotted to a giant knife switch set into a wall of machines. “Now then, time for answers!” She threw the switch, causing electricity to crackle and surge through the room. Ink Well trembled in his bonds as lights blinked and dials rose. Then, slowly, everything quieted down, culminating in a hum that filled the room. Twilight walked over to the machine that was spewing paper from it, a jagged ink line running along the middle of it. “Mr. Ink Well, tell me, do you know who keeps writing the stories on Princess Celestia?” Ink Well started to shake, suddenly feeling far, far out of his element with these ponies. “I... um...” He took in a deep breath. 'Easy there. Just cooperate, it'll get you out of here faster.' “The stories are each written by different writers.” Twilight watched the lines carefully, not taking her eyes far off of the readings. “And who decides what each one is written about? Where do they get their 'information?'” “The stories are written based on whatever rumors are floating around, though if I had to guess I'd say that many of them originate from the magazine and are just invented for sales. What little information is 'factual' comes from anonymous sources.” Twilight nodded as she observed her subject. “Indeed. Well, do you know who wrote the lies about her stealing from the treasury, dating a hydra, and torturing innocent ponies in her dungeons?” “They wrote all of that? Wow... Um, no. No, I have no idea who wrote the articles. I actually don't really know any of the other writers at the Equirer. I only know that it wasn't me.” Twilight's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Ink Well. He began to sweat under her cold gaze, praying internally for it all to end. She then returned to the paper readouts, carefully following the line with her hoof. After what seemed like an eternity, she put the paper down. “Alright. One more question. What are you going to do with the information you get from us? Will you actually print the corrections, or are you going to just turn us into another spectacle piece?” Ink Well could feel the sweat dripping down his face from under the helmet. He locked eyes with Twilight, who had no emotion in her gaze, only keenest observation. “I will write the correction piece, though I will need to use some other information to hide it. I will not write anything more than what is needed for the story, and whether or not anything goes to print is truly out of my hooves.” Twilight held his gaze forever, watching for any hint of deception. Ink Well felt another drop of sweat slowly roll down his forehead and into his eye. He jumped in his restraints, trying to rub his eye futilely. “Ah! Ow, that stings...” Ink Well held that eye closed and looked back to Twilight, who was looking at the readings on the paper. After a few seconds, Twilight turned back around. “Thank you! You've been very helpful. Sorry to scare you with the lie detector, but you can't be too careful.” She swung the knife switch back up and pulled the wires from Ink Well's helmet. The machinery around the room all slowed to a stop with an audible whir. The helmet floated off of Ink Well's head, his hat springing back a bit worse for wear. She then tapped a button on the wall, releasing Ink Well's legs. He quickly pulled his hooves away, flying himself to the wall behind him and far away from where he'd been held. “I am going to need some sort of therapy once this story is done. Between this whole set up and being mobbed by fans, I'm going to have nightmares... The ponies in this town are crazy.” Twilight tilted her head when he said this. “That's odd. That's the first thing I said when I got here. I think it's something in the water, but all my readings are negative. Anyway, what do you need for your story? Just the corrections, right?” Ink Well slowly got into writer mode, pulling out his notebook and pen automatically. “Right. Just the truth on the stories you want corrected, as well as your take on events at the Gala. Now the only rumor on you at the Gala was that you were harboring the other ponies and helped them get in and escape, but I'd still like your take on it, if you could.” He could feel himself returning to normal, the fright of the experience leaving him. Twilight smiled, an alarmingly cute smile considering what she had just been doing. “Of course. That's easy. I just want it printed that Princess Celestia isn't stealing from the treasury, isn't torturing anypony, doesn't even have dungeons, and is not dating a hydra! She isn't dating anything. She is just being a kind and caring ruler, and all of these rumors are pure nonsense! There are hundreds of those stories, and they are doing nothing but making her tired of ruling. Even she can get overwhelmed when all she hears are degrading rumors.” She sighed, looking pensive as she removed her lab coat. “She only invited all of us to the Gala in the first place to liven it up and brighten her day. And she spent the whole evening welcoming guests for hours on end, keeping herself formal and smiling despite her want to be elsewhere. And when she finally got to enjoy her own party, all she could do was help us leave before things turned more sour.” She turned to Ink Well, motioning to him that they should go upstairs. “It was her that brought all of us together, her that even let us attend the Gala, her that keeps the sun rising each day and the seasons going in their turn, and her that helped us escape even after ruining her palace instead of punishing us. Don't you think she should be given some more recognition and love than she gets?” Ink Well wrote down his notes, but even within his writing the sad tone was bleeding through. “She deserves the unending love of a nation, not just her student.” He put away his pen and notebook, walking with Twilight up the stairs. At the top he looked around the library, a well kept place with shelves upon shelves of book, and stairs and doors leading to many balconies and an upper level. He could feel the knowledge of centuries lining the walls around him. “Twilight... I was just wondering, do you read for fun, or just to study?” “Mostly to study, I don't have time to read made up stories when the world is such a complex place. Though I do find studying very fun. Why?” Ink Well lowered his hat over his eyes. “Oh, nothing. Doesn't matter now...” He walked to the door. “Thank you very much for your insight, Ms. Sparkle. Hopefully things will only get better from here.” He walked outside, stopping as he went to close the door. “Oh, and apologize to Spike for me. I think I freaked him out, and I didn't mean to.” He left, making his way out into the early afternoon air. --- As he walked through the center of town Ink Well could feel the stares of the townsponies following him. The hype around him seemed to have fallen considerably, since they weren't mobbing him like the day before, but there was still interest. “Well, at least I got some peace. Now if only they'd stop staring...” He sighed. “Oh well, I can survive a few days of fame.” He looked up into the skies, trying to catch sight of Rainbow Dash as he made his way to Sweet Apple Acres, and almost walked into the grey pegasus that had landed in front of him. “Oh! Sorry. Almost ran into you there.” The pony looked at him with slightly skewed golden eyes. “Um, are you alright?” The blonde maned pegasus nodded. “Yes Mister Ink Well, I'm alright. I was just wondering if you would like your story back. You dropped it last night at the spa, and I thought you might miss it.” She pulled a bundle of papers from the carrier's bag she had on and dropped it at his feet. “I didn't read it. I didn't think you'd want me to before it was printed.” “That's very kind of you. I'd forgotten I'd thrown that. It would have been inconvenient to find it gone.” As he moved to pick it up, he looked up to find the pegasus staring at him expectantly. “I'm sorry, what was your name?” The pony smiled. “My name's Ditzy Doo, but all my friends call me Derpy.” Ink Well looked at her watching him with her big crossed eyes. “Is it because of your eyes? Because, honestly, I see nothing wrong with them. They're sweet.” He thought about it for a second, then laughed as an idea struck him. “Ditzy, tell me, do you know a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle?” “Twilight? Yeah, she lives near here! She has a lot of friends! Though I knew her in Canterlot before. She was nice there too.” Ink Well's smile faded, slightly shocked as his personal joke proved itself true. Ditzy kept talking, oblivious. “She didn't have a lot of friends there though... Kept all of her time on her studies.” She looked down at the papers still at her feet. “Don't you want your story Mister Ink Well?” He looked down at the bundle at his feet, feeling bad for laughing. “You know what, you keep it Ditzy. One day I'm going to be a famous writer, and then you'll be the only one with a memento. The Equirer never wanted to print it anyway...” He looked up at the sky, watching the sun slowly sink towards the horizon. “I'm sorry, but I need to cut this conversation a bit short. I still have a few interviews I have to do today. But I'll say 'Hi' if I see you around, okay?” Derpy happily grabbed up the story and put it back in her bag. “Thank you mister Ink Well! Thank you so much! Dinky will love this! She likes the Equirer's stories a lot.” He tipped his hat to her as he flew away. “My pleasure. Enjoy it, and have a pleasant evening, Ms. Doo.” --- Ink Well flew to Sweet Apple Acres, landing just outside of the barn. Applejack exited it with two empty buckets on her back and waved at him as he landed. “Howdy there Ink Well. You're only now turnin' up? I thought you'd be by a might sooner.” “I'm sorry. It's a longer flight than I remembered to get here, and I got a late start on the day.” He pulled out his notebook. “So, are you ready to work on the corrections?” Applejack shook her head. “I've got a bit more work to do. Just a few dozen more trees to buck today, then I'll be done. Can you wait 'till after that?” “I can, but I really would like to be home in time to actually write this thing. I'll just go interview the others while you do your work.” He closed his notebook. “Do you know where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are?” “Sorry hun. Ain't seen 'em all day. Twi said Fluttershy ain't even at her cottage, left a note sayin' she was goin' somewhere, won't be back 'til late.” Ink Well kicked a rock across the ground. “Drat. I'm gonna have to come back. That's gonna be a pain...” He looked at Applejack preparing to go back into the fields and sighed. He walked over to her. “I know I'm going to regret this, but would you like help?” “Well sure! If you help me, I'll be done a lot faster. And I'll be able to yammer my story out at you, if'n you think you can take notes while working.” She hurried into the barn, an empty harness with two buckets flying out at him soon after. He looked at it, smiling uneasily. “Sure. I can multitask. Been known to do it before.” Applejack walked back out of the barn, huge grin on her face. “Then let's get goin'!” --- Ink Well dragged the full bushels of apples behind him, the harness having slipped down his back when he couldn't keep it off the ground. “How is this thing so heavy? They're just apples!” “Apple buckin' ain't easy. Nopony would say it is. But I ain't ever seen anypony struggle as much as you with these! All my friends could carry two easy. Heck, even Applebloom can pull the empty cart without as much trouble as you go through!” “Hey! I'm no work pony. I'm a writer. I don't carry around anything heavier than my bag if I can avoid it. All I've got going for me is endurance, and that's only 'cus I've spent a lot of time running from crazy readers.” He fixed his hat, then tugged on the harness, dragging it another few feet. “No offense.” Applejack looked down on him, carrying her harness without any sign of strain. “Ain't my fault your magazine makes us crazy. You're the one writin' for it. But you'd better build up some muscles, scrawny, if you wanna keep helpin' me out. They way you kicked that tree, it looked like it was winnin' the fight.” “I'm not going to make a habit out of working for you, so that won't be an issue.” He pulled the harness again, getting just enough momentum to keep the bushels moving. “Alright, we need to talk about something else, keep my mind off of the work. Yell at me about, who was it, Braeburn? I'll take mental notes.” “Right. I'd plum forgot why you were around.” Applejack looked back at him as she walked. “The Equirer said that Braeburn went an' planted his apple orchard on a buffalo burial ground. It also said that doin' this caused the spirits of the buffalo to rise outta the ground an' attack Appaloosa. But you know that, you wrote it.” Ink Well strained against the harness. “I remember that. All I was given was that the buffalo had attacked Appaloosa because of a land dispute over an apple orchard, and I was told to make this into an interesting story. What was it actually about?” “There was a land dispute, but it was over the buffalo's stampeding grounds. And there was a fight, but it was resolved with sharing, not an exorcist.” “Sharing?” “The buffalo let Braeburn keep his orchard, and he cut down a path for them to stampede through and gave 'em apple pies when they wanted 'em.” Applejack smiled back at him. “Amazin' what a good pie can do.” “Yeah... Speaking of which, there was a rumor that you were selling tainted food at the Gala. Now I've tasted your apples, and they're fresh as can be, so I'm guessing it's a lie, right?” “You're darn sure it's a lie! Everythin' I had there was the finest food the Apple family can cook! I even went and made a cake when them ponies were all high an' mighty about my 'carnival fare.' Woulda blown their socks off if they'd tasted it. But it got flung across the room 'fore anyone could even get a bite. A real shame there.” Applejack swung open the barn door, a frown on her face. “Now how'd you go an' get me to talk about that. You better not do anythin' I wouldn't like with what I just said.” Ink Well pulled the bushels into the barn and walked out, legs aching from the work he just did. “Don't worry. Ponies just talk to me. I've got a trust-able face. And what you said isn't going very far. I don't even have it written down.” He tipped his hat to her. “Thank you for the information, and please don't take it personally when I say I hope I never have to work on your farm again.” “Oh, quit your complainin' scrawny. You'll be fine. Now get outta here.” She tipped her hat in return as Ink Well flew away. --- Ink well landed at Fluttershy's cottage to the frightened fluttering of many animals. Birds flew, rabbits ran, and squirrels squirreled in every direction from his landing. He watched in dismay as the critters scattered from him. “Oh no! I'm sorry! No, don't run. I don't want to hurt you.” He followed one of the bunnies towards the cottage. “Please don't run. I'm really very kind to animals. I just want to know if Fluttershy is here. Do you know?” He skid to a halt as the rabbit bolted through a hole in the door. “All I wanted was...” He sighed. “I'm talking to a bunny... I've gone crazy.” The rabbit appeared within the leaves above the door, throwing the end of a carrot at Ink Well. He glared up at it, only then noticing the note pinned to the door. 'Gone to Manehattan to help relocate mice after flood. Won't be back until late. Please don't touch anything, and don't scare the animals. -Fluttershy' Ink Well looked at the many hiding animals around him. “Well... Looks like I didn't manage that one. I didn't mean to break the rules...” Hanging his head, he took to the sky. --- Ink Well landed in front of the Library as the sun was setting and knocked on the door. Spike opened it and rolled his eyes. “Twilight! It's Ink Well again!” Twilight walked up to the door. “Hello. Back again? Did you forget anything?” “No, I was just wondering if you knew where Rainbow Dash was?” “Oh, no. I think she left. Some sort of emergency in Cloudsdale. They called in all the weather ponies to stop a large storm that was coming in. It was big enough to send Cloudsdale from the sky, and they're being kept through for most of the night. Why?” “I never got her story. Fluttershy's either. And I can't stick around until all hours of the night to wait for them, and I really can't fly back here tomorrow. I'll never get the story written in time if I do that.” He leaned against the door frame. “I guess... can you give them a message when they get back?” “Sure! What's the message?” Ink Well took out his notebook and quickly jotted something down. He then tore out the paper and gave it to her. “Here, I'm giving you a set of directions. It's to my house. Tell them that if they want their corrections written, they're going to have to come to me. Just tell them any time tomorrow and I'll be ready.” He held it out to her. She looked at him suspiciously. “You're not going to try anything, are you?” Ink Well looked like he'd just been stung. “Ouch. Your accusations pain me, Ms. Sparkle.” He placed a hoof over his heart. “I promise that nothing bad will happen to either of them. You have, for what it's worth, my word as a writer.” He noticed the disbelieving look on Twilight's face. “Look, I just gave you my address. If I'm lying, my house is on the ground. You and whoever you want to bring with you can personally come and kick my flank.” Twilight still looked at him strangely, but took the note. “Okay. I'll give them the message tomorrow.” “Thank you so much.” He hopped into the air, then turned back to Twilight. “Oh, and please tell them that I'm sorry to make them fly all the way out there. I wouldn't if I could avoid it.” “I'm sure they'll understand.” Ink Well nodded to her, then began his long flight home. --- The next day Ink Well spent the entire morning at his small cottage beneath Cloudsdale, examining his notes, planning out how the story would go. He arranged them, rearranged them, and wrote down what he thought the best possible story would be, but there were two glaring holes he needed filled. As noon passed he ate the last of Applejack's apples, still marveling at just how wonderful they were. “That girl sure can grow 'em.” His lunch over, Ink Well looked at the many paper piles and bundles scattered around his house and covering every seat and surface. “This is no state for the house to be with visitors approaching. I should probably-” A knock came at the door. Ink Well put on his hat and flew over to it, pushing aside papers along his path. “Oh shoot. Maybe I can just hurry up and clear off a few seats before-” The knock came again, more agitated this time. Ink Well moved a few more papers, hearing talking outside. “Maybe he's not home...” “Don't be stupid! Of course he's home! Come on Ink Well!” “We should go... We probably have the wrong house. We don't want to disturb them...” Ink Well flew over to the door and pulled it open. “Hello! Sorry, didn't me-” “Yeah, yeah, don't you go apologizing, just hurry up and get to the writing.” Rainbow Dash flew past him, knocking him into a pile of papers as she knocked another off of a chair and sat down. As Ink Well pushed the papers off himself, Fluttershy walked into the house. “Um. Hello Ink Well.” “Hi Fluttershy. Just... uh, sit anywhere.” He brushed himself off and moved over to his writing table on the far side of the room. “So then, about your-” Rainbow flew right up to his face. “Now you sit there and write why that Rainboom was real, because it was! I trained so hard, and I'm the only pegasus ever to do it! Anypony at the competition could tell you it was real!” “Ms. Dash, please, calm down.” Ink Well pushed her back from his seat. “I believe you. I never doubted for a minute that it wasn't clouds and fireworks and mirrors, because I'd felt it. I was here, and that Rainboom went off just over the next hill. Almost broke my windows, and the light... every color streaming solid through my house.” He shook his head, clearing away the memory. “But I would like to know what made you do it, what it took for you to actually make it happen. What was going through your head?” “What? My feelings?” Rainbow Dash rubbed her mane. “I don't know. I just HAD to do it. Rarity was falling and the Wonderbolts were in danger and there was the whole Cloudisseum with all my friends watching and... I just focused on moving fast enough to catch Rarity and it happened!” “Wait. Rarity was in Cloudsdale? How did a unicorn get up there?” Fluttershy spoke from her seat, carefully perched between three stacks of papers. “Twilight cast a magic spell that gave Rarity wings. She also found one to let earth ponies stand on clouds. All of our friends were there.” “Wow. Way to go Twilight.” Ink Well noted down what she said. “Now then, I do actually have one more question, and it's about what happened at the Gala.” He held up a hoof, stopping Dash's rush towards him. “Before you ask, I'm doing it to hide the correction story in, because otherwise it'll get just flat rejected, and I can get corrections on what happened there too. Now, the rumor is that you destroyed the dance hall. What actually happened?” “I didn't destroy anything! I caught that statue when it fell! I would've had it too, if it hadn't moved. I lost my balance and it crashed into the pillars. That's what destroyed the hall!” Rainbow flew around the room, circling in the air and kicking papers everywhere. “I caught it! It was my one chance! The Wonderbolts said we were going to hang! I'd saved Soarin's pie and Spitfire's life, and we were SO going to hang at the Gala! But no, everypony else was hogging them. I just wanted to hang! So I went and caught the statue as it fell, and that just ruined everything!” She flew to the door. “I need to fly. Fluttershy, are you coming?” Fluttershy shifted, tipping over one of the stacks. She quickly grabbed it and stabilized it again. “I still have to do my story.” Rainbow circled by the door, causing a small flurry of papers to flit outside. “Can't you just hurry that up? I need to fly! I just can't stand staying still anymore!” Ink Well stood, trying to calm the paper storm in his house. “Why don't you go and fly around for a bit, and I'll get Fluttershy's story. We'll be done by the time you get back.” Fluttershy shook her head. “Don't worry. I just want the interview, and she'll only be gone for a few minutes. Nothing will happen, I swear.” “Cool! Awesome. Back in a flash!” Rainbow Dash shot from the room, soaring up and quickly disappearing into the sky, leaving behind a rainbow trail and papers slowly drifting to the ground. Ink Well turned to Fluttershy, who sat quietly in the same place. “Now that we don't have a tornado in here, what corrections do you need, Ms. Fluttershy?” Again she didn't talk, merely sitting quietly. Ink Well frowned. “Now now, none of this. If you just sit there then this whole flight out was for nothing.” She looked at him, still carefully keeping herself from knocking the papers around her over. “Just pretend like I'm one of your friends. Just talk to me like you're talking to Twilight or Rarity. I won't bite. That wouldn't be fun for anypony.” Fluttershy shifted uneasily. “Okay... I'll try.” Ink Well smiled. “There we are! Good going! Nice to hear you talking to me, not just near me. Now then, tell me about the story. What did the Equirer print about you?” She started slowly, but picked up speed as she eased into talking with her airy, angelic voice. “Well, they said that the only reason that I was liked so much as a model was because I was a creation of magic, and that I had magical enhancements to both my beauty and my grace, and that my disappearance was because Photo Finish had angered the unicorn that made the illusion.” She stood up. “But I wasn't magic. There was never any magic involved except for Twilight's intervention, and even that didn't do what we wanted...” She stomped down a hoof in anger, which barely caused a ripple in the papers around it. “I'm not just an invention of magic! I am a real pony!” She looked up and into Ink Well's face, a determined expression on hers. She then hopped back, ears folding against her head. “Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so angry...” “No! No, it's fine. Really. And I can attest to your existence. Your grace has shown in everything I've seen you do, so that story is not true, and I'll get right on correcting it.” Fluttershy sat down, blushing. “Thank you.” Ink Well nodded. “Don't mention it. Now then, last bit of business. The rumor at the Gala was that you started a stampede, but after meeting you and seeing you with the animals at your cottage I find that incredibly hard to believe. So what really happened there?” “Actually... um...” Fluttershy drew little circles on the floor with her hoof. “That IS what happened.” Ink Well laughed. “No, you're pulling my wing.” He looked at Fluttershy, who stared at the floor. Her expression didn't change. “You're serious?” She nodded. “But, how? The animals in Ponyville love you! I went to your house yesterday and they all fled without you there.” “I know. It's my special talent. That's what confused me at the Gala. The animals in the garden all just ran away when I got near, no matter what I tried. I tried begging, and pleading, and beseeching, and being kind and nothing was working! It was infuriating, so I tried giving gifts, and setting traps, and chasing them, and... I don't know what came over me... I was just so angry that the animals wouldn't love me that I just... I'm just so embarrassed that I lost control like that, and they just sort of... ended up in the dance hall...” Ink Well sat at his desk, a huge grin refusing to leave his face. “Wow... just wow. There's more to you than looks would tell.” Fluttershy flew over to him. “Oh, please don't print the story on that. Just write that I'm really sorry for ruining their party... I didn't mean to.” Ink Well put down his pen. “Fine. I won't write any of it.” “You have to promise me. You have to Pinkie Pie swear.” She backed up, landing and leaning into the floor. “Um... if you could.” Ink Well shrugged. “Uh, I don't know the Pinkie Pie swear.” Fluttershy acted out the motions. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She looked at Ink Well's confused expression. “Please say it...” Ink Well repeated the motions and the swear exactly as Fluttershy did it. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Fluttershy sighed in relief. “Thank you.” She went over to the door and looked up into the sky. “I wonder what's taking Rainbow so long...” “I'm sure she's around somewhere.” He walked back to his desk. “If you want to leave, don't let me keep you.” “Oh, I couldn't do that. I need to wait until she comes back.” She looked around his house, a rather small room cluttered with paper. She didn't see any other doors. “Is this your whole house?” “Huh? Oh. Yeah. Sorry. How rude. Would you like a quick tour of the house?” Fluttershy nodded. He gestured to the room. “This is the foyer, study, kitchen, writing room, guest bedroom, dining room, and living room.” He gestured to the piles of papers along the left wall. “Over there are old stories and articles. Over on the right are the abandoned and half-planned stories. On the table are current projects, and by the door is the pile of rejection letters.” “Oh... my. Why do you keep all of those letters around?” “They keep me from getting a swelled head. Remind me I'm not some big fancy writer, no matter how much luck I had at the beginning... Which actually brings me to the last part of the tour. Upstairs, if I'd been able to afford stairs, is my bedroom. Boring place really. Just a bed and my unused paper.” Fluttershy flew over to his writing table, looking at the golden ink pot and the fountain pen sitting on the desk. “Well these are very nice, and they match your cutie mark. Where did you get them from?” Ink Well flew over as well, looking fondly on the ink pot. “I won them in a competition back when I was just a little colt. I entered the New Equestrian Writer's Competition with a short story, just trying to see if anypony would like my work. I won the junior division, which got me the pen, and then I managed to take the whole competition, which won me the ink pot. Only nice thing I have in this house...” His fond look turned wistful. “'One source, endless possibilities.' I believed that... Took it to heart. I got my cutie mark when I got those. After I won the competition, I went and wrote a book, trying to use my special talent, you know? The publisher took it on because I'd won, a fiction book, just a story to entertain. 'Of Wings and Horn,' a story of two friends.” He sighed. “Nopony bought it. Who wants to read a work of fiction when the world's such a complex place? Shot down my writing career, leaving me with just the pen and the well. All I could do with that was journalism, and the only place that'd hire me was the Equirer. They always need bad fiction writers. It was a perfect fit...” He turned to Fluttershy, who was looking at him sadly. “Now Fluttershy, please don't go telling everyone that. I won't make you promise, 'cus I've no reason not to trust you, but I don't want everypony knowing about my failure.” “No. You're no failure. I-” Rainbow burst in the door, causing a small whirlwind of paper around her. “Hey there Fluttershy. Ready to head out?” Fluttershy looked at her, then back at Ink Well. He nodded. “You go on back home then. It's a long flight.” He tipped his hat to both pegasi. “Thank you fillies for your time. The story should be printed in the next edition of the Equirer.” Rainbow Dash went back outside and took off. Fluttershy followed, but stopped in the doorway. “Thank you for doing this for us Ink Well. It means a lot.” He smiled at her. “Of course. Thank you for talking to me Miss Fluttershy. Have a good day.” Fluttershy smiled back before leaving. Ink Well turned back to his notes, penning in the missing information. He looked to the side, seeing the warning on the Equirer's letter. “Severe consequences... Well, the Equirer wanted a story. Time I gave 'em one.”