//------------------------------// // The Second Of The Untold Secrets // Story: Pegasus Feathers // by Vanilla Mocha //------------------------------// "Apple Bloom! I have been waiting to see you!" Loviatar said as she raced towards the door. "You... have?" The country pony asked, confused. "Why of course! You are my friend, and that is what friends are for!" Apple Bloom smiled for the first time in a long time. What no pony knew was that her smile was fake. "Want a piece of cake?" Loviatar asked Bloom. "Oh, no thank you. I'm fine." Apple Bloom replied. "Hello, hello!" Diamond Tiara interrupted, walking up next to Loviatar. "Hiya... Diamond." Apple Bloom nervously responded. "So, how old are you exactly?" Diamond asked Loviatar, no longer paying any attention to the country pony. "I am- what was that?" Loviatar turned her head in the opposite direction of Diamond Tiara. Her face looked worried, but behind her concerned-looking face was a huge grin. "What?" Diamond asked. "Shush! I'm trying to listen!" Loviatar said loudly. The room became quiet. "You guys stay in here- I'll be right back." Loviatar left the room and went outside the bakery. "Huh, that was weird, don't ya think?" Apple Bloom asked. "I guess." Diamond Tiara replied, lifting her head higher, as if making herself more dignified. "Hey, where's your friend, Silver Spoon?" "I don't know." "And you aren't gonna go look for her?" "Why would I care? Look, Bloom, I know this isn't really your thing, but when you are in the big leagues, friendship doesn't matter. It's everypony for themselves up here. And if you would like to be yourself again, then don't lower my own standards in the process." Apple Bloom was shaken by this. Does she really not care about Silver anymore? "Where's Loviatar?" Sweetie Belle asked, still sitting in the corner of the room with Silver Spoon by her side. "She went out those two doors." "I know that- but where is she now? It's been almost ten minutes." Sweetie gasped. "Oh no..." "What?" "Nothing... I, uh... I've gotta go home now..." Sweetie mumbled as she stood up and ran outside where Loviatar was last seen. Silver Spoon did not hesitate on following the suspicious pony. "Where are they going?" Diamond Tiara asked, noticing the two ponies leave the room. "I don't know, but it seems pretty fishy to me. I'm gonna go check it out." "Do you think they're going to find Loviatar?" "My guess is as good as yours." Apple Bloom followed them, with Diamond right behind them. Scootaloo sat alone in the same meadow from the Sunday before school started. This time it was different. I am alone... nopony wants me... it's all my fault... why is this happening to me? She pondered. She heard hoofsteps behind her. A lot of hoofsteps. Turning her head to see what was behind her, she noticed a grey silhouette walking slowly into the Everfree forest. Then, she saw... Sweetie Belle? The unicorn filly was almost to the forest, looking in between the trees, as if looking for the silhouette. Not too far behind her was Silver Spoon, and Apple Bloom with... Diamond Tiara? Nopony seemed to realize that they were being followed (except Apple Bloom, who had been talking to Diamond). None of this added up to Scootaloo, yet it caught her curiosity. As soon as all of the ponies were inside the Everfree forest, Scootaloo wanted to see for herself what was going on. Sweetie Belle stopped as she recognized where she was. This is where Irothrust had taken her only days ago: The Sorcerer's Field. She gasped as Loviatar began to sing her song. "I wish and I get the world to fall asleep My thunder makes a howling roar, as my lightning strikes down so that I can take the throne, the storms are my own!" At once the clouds appeared out of nowhere like before, and the Sunset Gates opened. Sweetie Belle climbed up, and ran in behind Loviatar, yet careful to not let her notice she was there. Silver Spoon also crept inside, and though the doors closed slowly, she wanted to hurry as to not be seen. Apple Bloom had to push the doors open to allow Diamond some room to get inside, but they all made it. The doors were only inches away from closing. Scootaloo climbed the tree anxiously. She pried the door open as it was almost closed and locked. She gasped. Sweetie gasped as well. Only a few days ago the tree trunks were white, but now they were almost black. The big tree in the middle of the garden had bright colorful leaves. Now most of them, mainly the blue and orange ones, had fallen had were shriveled. "Loviatar... what have you done?" She whispered. "Oh, hello Stinky Belle. I'm glad you've noticed me." Loviatar said, her smile growing wide. "My name is Sweetie Belle," the unicorn mumbled, "What have you done to the Sorcerer's Field? And the United Sorcerers Tree?" Loviatar gasped. Her jaw dropped, and her face went blank. Everypony stared at Sweetie with awe. Suddenly, everypony realized that they were all inside the Sunset Gates. "Silver Spoon, why are you here?" Sweetie asked the earth pony. "I- I couldn't help it- you were too suspicious and I only wanted to find out what was going on..." "What is this place?" Diamond Tiara asked as her big, blue eyes scanned the forest, "It needs a total makeover." "This, my old friend, is my home." Loviatar finally said to Diamond Tiara. "'Old friend'? But we just met this week-" "No, you're right. But you aren't my friend anymore, darling." Loviatar then flapped her wings and hovered above the ponies. Her red party dress and golden party crown seemed like the most colorful things in the forest. Loviatar had been so dignified, so recognized- and now, she was about to throw it away.