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// Realizing one's Feelings 
// Story: Naruto in the Land of Equestria 
// by Striker Flash 
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Naruto woke to the smell of dew and a strange yet wonderful scent. He sprang up and noticed that Luna wasn’t in her bed, at first he panicked thinking something had happened to her during the night. But then he got another whiff of the smell floating in the air and began to wonder if she was possibly cooking. He ran down the stairs to the still messy first floor where the wondrous smell got even more potent in its scent. Naruto darted past the entrance to his kitchen and found himself slamming into a wall. Luna came out from the kitchen wearing an apron that had small splotches of batter. Naruto looked at her from the ground as his butt faced the sky his tail fell into his face.
Luna giggled lightly, she was happy with how goofy he was because that added to his ‘charm’ at least to Luna anyway. Naruto got up and walked into the kitchen where he saw waffles with eggs. Their smell was spectacular. Naruto ran up to them his eyes beaming with hunger, “Luna did you make this?” Naruto asked feeling like there was no way she could have done this. Luna gave a sly grin and winked at him. “Are they for me?” He asked slightly nervous.
“Of course they are.” Luna acted like she had been doing this all her life but the truth is this was the first time she had ever cooked anything in her life. Naruto sprang at the food throwing his face into it like a dog. He hadn’t eaten in hours and his stomach wasn’t going to wait any longer for food. 
“Luna this is amazing!” Naruto said lifting his head for air. “These are the best ever!” Luna smiled on the outside, but on the inside she was cheering because she was desperately hoping that he would like it. She wanted to tell him it was her first time cooking but she felt like he would think this was a lucky batch. Then again she was up since one in the morning after using teleportation magic to fetch the materials she needed from the castle fridge.
The fridge was more of a maze how the chefs did anything in there was beyond Luna’s comprehension. She let out an exhausted sigh unfortunately caught by Naruto. He looked at her and finally got a look around the kitchen. It looked like she had brought in some new items mainly the pots and pans…she must have brought them from her sister’s. At least that’s as far as Naruto thought.
It wasn’t until he saw batter on the cabinets that he realized how many times she must have tried to do this. He looked to her again and could see that her mane and coat seemed to shine, ‘Did she just taken a shower?’ Naruto questioned. Then he had to think for a second…until one thing came to mind.
“Luna is this your first time cooking?” Naruto asked feeling a slight bit curious on why she appeared so happy.
“How did you know?” Luna gasped with fright. How was she so easily found out? She couldn’t believe that all her hard work would be put to waste. 
“You are amazing!” Naruto said slightly jumping in the air. “You don’t need to hide anything from me. I won’t think of you any different. I would have still eaten it if it was bad. You took the time to make this for me, the least I can do is eat every bite of it. No matter how bad it could have been I would eaten every last inch of this dish and licked the plate clean.”
Luna looked down smiling feeling like she was about to explode with happiness. “Thank you Naruto.” She said looking back up at his smile. “What are you doing today, I have nothing planned.”
“I was going to head out into town and look for work. I got to make money if I want to get you an actual bed.” Naruto said placing the plate of emptiness in the sink. “I wouldn’t mind if you came with, we’re friends after all.”
Luna felt her heart pump faster when she heard that he would protect her from anything just because they were friends. She began thinking how much he would care for her if he liked her. Luna found it hard to keep herself from thinking about him liking her. The more she tried to stop the thoughts the more they came. “Luna are you coming?” Naruto asked making Luna look up to see him waiting outside. 
She ran outside feeling slightly embarrassed that she may have looked stupid shaking her head the way she was. She was so scared that she may like him that she wanted to make sure that her feelings wouldn’t be rejected. Naruto looked at Luna and saw that she looked depressed. “Hey are you alright?” He asked her feeling concerned.
“Yeah just thinking about some stuff.” Luna looked at him with a half-smile that pretty much said she wasn’t.
“Tell me what’s wrong Luna?” Naruto said jumping in front of her. Luna looked at him with wide eyes. Naruto wanted to know what was wrong with her because she was his friend however she couldn’t help but think it may be more than that.
“Well,” She had to say this right or he might get the wrong idea, “have you ever liked anypony Naruto?” Naruto blushed at the question because he didn’t expect that kind of question. “I don’t know whether I like this stallion or not and it has my head spinning like crazy. I don’t know what to believe, I want to tell him but the fear of him rejecting me or these feelings that I’m not even sure of has me so confused.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Luna looked at him with surprised eyes. “I haven’t ever felt love if that’s what you’re asking or at least I don’t remember ever, but if I did I would hope it would be with a girl as pretty as you Luna. I’m lucky to call you a friend and whoever this stallion is he should be lucky. He has no idea that someone like you likes him. We need to get to town though. Don’t worry, if he hurts you I’ll knock him around a few times with my hooves and then we’ll see what he has to say.”
Naruto had no idea what he had just done. By saying those words he had pretty much sealed Luna’s heart and he didn’t even know it. Luna watched as he walked away with eyes glowing in the sun. Her heart leapt with joy but at the same time she felt destroyed. Naruto didn’t have the feelings she had for him. No matter how much she may have wanted to deny it, she liked him, she liked him with all of her heart. For once somepony cared for her in a way no other pony did. 
She would have to live with him not liking her for now but she wanted more than anything to have him say that he liked her. Luna ran to catch up with him as her heart beat faster the more he smiled and talked to her.
They arrived in the main square of Ponyville and started to look for a job. Naruto looked around and noticed that some ponies were whispering to each other as they looked at the two of them. Luna was slightly nervous because anyone could spill the fact that she was a princess and that could ruin everything for her. She prayed that no one did but as those words crossed through her head Rainbow Dash walked up.
“Princess Luna what are you doing here?” She asked Luna causing her to freeze in fear because Naruto heard exactly what Rainbow Dash had said.
He looked at Luna with wide eyes and she looked afraid of him at that point. “You’re a princess?” He asked making Luna back up slightly, “Why didn’t you tell me that?” 
Luna didn’t know what to say but she didn’t want him giving her the royal treatment now, not after yesterday and this morning. She flew away not looking back, her heart felt like it had been hit with a hammer. She landed in the Dark Forest where he would never find her. “Naruto will never like me now.” Was all that played through her head. Tears began falling down from her eyes as her heart felt like it was crumbling away millimeter by millimeter.
…………………..
“Rainbow Dash what did you do to Luna?” Naruto was furious at her because Luna flew away without telling him anything. “Why did Luna look like she was about to cry?”
“I don’t know,” She said confused, “I was only wondering what Celestia’s sister was doing here in Ponyville.”
Twilight entered with Applejack at that point. (Curse you plot conveineces!) “What’s wrong guys?” She asked seeing Naruto look angry. 
“Rainbow Dash called Luna a princess and she flew off,” Naruto said feeling a strange power flow through him No one saw it but the seal of his demon powers began to appear where his red swirl was. “Twilight whose Celestia and why did Luna look like she was hurt? Tell me now or so help me…” 
“Celestia or Princess Celestia rules over the land of Equestria. She’s Luna’s older sister. She is also what you would call the sun of Equestria, Luna would be the moon. Celestia is also my teacher in the magical arts.” Naruto didn’t really care about the fact that Celestia was some big Princess figure he was worried about Luna. “Luna came to my place last night telling me that she wanted to stay here so that she could watch over… something.” Twilight withheld the fact that Naruto was the reason for her wanting to be here because she didn’t want him thinking of her as weird or anything really.
“Applejack do you have any idea why she would have flown away?” Naruto now realized why she was here, because she wanted to watch something and she wanted him to help her. Most likely that boy who she liked was here in the town, however if only Naruto was a little more bright he may have realized that it was him she liked.
“She said that you were treating her like any ordinary pony and that she liked it.” Applejack began explaining what happened last night, “She said that she felt strange, happy even. I guess she didn’t want you to find out that she was a princess because she told us not to mention that stuff around you but you know now so it doesn’t really matter if we hide it.”
“Wait are you telling me that she flew off because she was worried that I might start treating her like a princess?” Naruto looked at the ground, his seal disappeared as the power began to stop coming. “I wouldn’t have done that. I would have treated her the same but why didn’t she tell me for real?”
“That was the reason she gave us.” Twilight said to him trying to get him to realize that she never wanted him to find out her secret. “For her you were the first pony to make her feel normal, wanted by somepony other than the kingdom for her powers. She really wanted to be your friend not somepony that you would kneel to.”
“I think I understand now.” Naruto said, but they weren’t done explaining. Why are girls always like this he thought to himself as they wouldn’t be quiet. “I would never want her to feel like that I’m not like other ponies here. I would’ve still treated her the same.” Naruto looked off in the direction that Luna had flown off in and wondered what could be that way. “Twilight, where would someone go, in that direction, if they didn’t want to be found?”
“The Dark Forest but she wouldn’t do that her magic wouldn’t work, but it is very thick and the deeper you go the more horrifying it gets. Similar to the Everfree only worse.” Naruto couldn’t help but feel that’s exactly where Luna had gone. He couldn’t really say but he knew that she was there. Then it felt like something hit him, that’s when he began thinking that Luna could be in danger. He ran off in the direction of the Dark Forest not caring what lied within its trees. He was going to save his friend no matter what.
……………………..
Luna looked at the sky with her eyes dripping tears. She wanted to stay here and just never show her face again. All she wanted was Naruto but that would never happen now. He was going to think of her as some royal pony that wanted to be spoiled and he wasn’t going to have that. At least not after yesterday.
Suddenly the bushes around her began to rustle and a pack of timberwolves appeared. Luna mentally cursed whatever power constantly brought out timberwolves the moment a pony entered this or the Everfree woods. She wanted to use her powers, but she her mind kicked in reminding her that the Dark Forest stops all magic from happening. A barrier appeared over- head making it impossible for her to fly out of the dark forest. She wondered where the barrier had come from but she had to run from the wolves before they got to her. She started running away on her hooves as all her thoughts were on whether she was going to survive this or not.
She ran but the more she ran the more timberwolves showed up. Then what looked like an armored gorilla appeared from the trees. “Well if it isn’t Princess Luna.” Luna stopped moving and looked at the large ape that was bigger than her own sister. “Our master has been looking for you. He wishes for you to return to the darkness and he isn’t one to say no to.”
Luna looked at the ape with horror filled eyes and felt like this was the end of her. “Naruto…help…me.” Was all that her throat would let by as the ape grabbed her and took her away with the wolves right behind. A single tear ran down her cheek as her regrets began to pile up. She never got to redeem herself of her past misgivings, and even if they had only known each other for the lesser part of the day, she was going to miss Naruto more than anything and with her unresolved feelings still hanging within her chest she prayed she would die quickly.
“Let Luna go!” Luna heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Naruto in a tree standing over all the timberwolves. 
The armored ape laughed at him feeling like he was a pushover. “Wolves it’s your lucky day. Looks like breakfast found you.” He said laughing as he knocked Luna unconscious.
Naruto watched as his friend fell to the floor. His anger took hold of him and he felt a massive surge of energy. Anger filled him as his demonic seal appeared and his orange fur became blonde like his hair. “You’re going to pay for that you monkey.” He snarled as his eyes became more demonic and turned completely red with a fox’s eye pupil.
Naruto didn’t know what he was about to do but all he knew was that he was going to make this stupid primate pay for hurting Luna. The wolves attacked landing on him. The ape laughed as he thought that Naruto was finished. However he had no idea how powerful Naruto was at the moment. 
Naruto just pushed up with his body and sent all of the wolves flying into trees and the sky. The ape couldn’t believe that a mere pony could defeat a pack of timberwolves by just pushing his body up. Naruto zipped across the forest grabbing a hold of Luna and pulled her away from the ape. The ape was shocked by the speed Naruto now possessed and was now uneasy. 
“Wait here Luna I’ll be done in a few seconds.” He said looking like he was about to pounce on top of the ape. Naruto didn’t know how strong he was but by the look of how the ape was terrified he could make a fair judgment he was definitely stronger than most things this ape has seen.
“I am not a monkey!” He said slamming his fists into the ground, “I am Captain Carnac of his royal darkness’s army. I will make you pay for insulting the name of Captain Carnac!”
However Naruto didn’t really care about who this idiot was, all he wanted was to drive his head into the ground. Naruto vanished and Carnac started looking around for Naruto but he really should have just looked above him. Naruto came crashing down from the sky driving the ape’s head into the ground with his front hooves. He didn’t stop though he continued pounding on the ape’s head until he was sure that he wasn’t getting up and to be absolutely sure he back kicked him into the sky. He then jumped after him and put all his power into one final downward kick that sent him plummeting into the ground.
Carnac fell seven feet into the ground where he passed out. Naruto knew he wasn’t getting up and went over to the still unconscious Luna. He put her on his back and began walking out of the forest as his powers faded away along with the seal and his hair turned back to orange. He felt the sudden change in power but that truly didn’t matter to him, he didn’t need the power to defeat that monkey but he didn’t resent it. The power was a great help to him and it only locked in his victory.
When he walked out of the forest Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Applejack were waiting for him. “What happened?” Was what they all asked at the same time.
“This ape had her in his arms and I stopped him. He said something about serving some royal darkness guy but I doubt that person even exists.” Naruto wanted to get back home and take care of Luna before she woke up. 
“I’ll ask Princess Celestia who this royal darkness could be, but what do you plan on doing with Luna?” Twilight asked feeling like she should stay with Luna.
“I plan on taking care of her until she wakes up, she’s my friend and I want to tell her that she’ll always be the same in my eyes nothing more.” The girls looked at each other and had this look of worry because they knew that Luna liked him and he was completely dense if he didn’t see it.
Naruto left the girls and headed for his home with Luna still on his back. When he got to the house he had to push the door open with his head because he didn’t want to drop Luna not until he got her to her bed. He walked up the stairs backwards so that he could keep her on his back. He got to the room and softly placed her on her bed of leaves. He rushed down to the kitchen and got a cloth and soaked it with water. He rushed back up to the room and placed the cloth on her forehead hoping that it would help her body relax a little.
Naruto heard a knock at the door and he didn’t really have time for visitors. However he couldn’t not answer it. “Luna I’ll be right back just wait.” He whispered into her ear however if anyone was there and saw how he did it they would have sworn he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Naruto headed down the stairs and opened the door to find a white pony with large wings, a crown, a sun on her legs, pink eyes and her hair was a mix of pink and sky blue streaks. “Is my sister here?” The pony or stallion whichever you decide to call her really asked.
Naruto quickly realized that this was Princess Celestia, “Yeah she’s upstairs follow me.” Naruto treated Celestia the way he would always treat a pony the same as anyone else. “She was knocked out by an ape and—”
“Twilight told me what you told her but I don’t know who this royal darkness could be.” Her voice was majestic and pure similar to Luna’s, no wonder they were sisters. “I’m very happy to hear that you were able to save her. She can be like this sometimes, but like the other girls told you, you are the first to treat her like a normal pony. Some may think that it should be the other way but her history has a dark past and she doesn’t want you to know about that. She fears that you’ll think of her differently.”
At that moment Luna awoke on her bed and was about to walk out when she heard Naruto. “That’s stupid why would she fear me? I would never think of her any differently than I have. Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean I’m going to treat you any differently than I would Twilight or any of the girls. We’re all the same, sure your status might be different but when you look at each other from a certain view like me we’re all alike. If Luna doesn’t want me to treat her like a princess than I won’t, I had no intentions of doing that anyway.”
Luna’s heart began throbbing against her chest. She just heard that Naruto would never hate her or see her differently. She was the same pony in his eyes. She couldn’t believe that she had run off the way she did. She felt horrible that he risked his life for her.
“May I ask you something Naruto?” Celestia was intrigued as her heart was now beginning to pound from such a profound pony. “Why did you go after my sister so quickly even though Twilight told you the dangers?”
“Because Luna was in danger!” He shouted shutting his eyes, “I can’t explain how I knew I just did and I wasn’t going to let that danger hurt her, but I was too late. I blame myself for her getting hurt and I’ll never forgive myself. I would have done the same for the others even you. Since you’re Luna’s sister that makes us friends.” Celestia smiled lightly at him but she couldn’t understand why her heart was beating so hard.
“I know we’ve just met but if you were in trouble right now I would go through the Dark Forest without a second thought to get you. Luna thought I was going to hate her because I found out that she was a princess. I would and will never hate her!” Naruto’s words spoke with such truth that Celestia couldn’t help but feel jealous of Luna that she had a boy like this.
“Thank you for taking care of my sister.” Celestia bent her neck and placed her lips on Naruto’s cheek. He blushed immediately never having a girl do this and for this beautiful pony to do that was shocking. Luna couldn’t help but feel hurt by her sister because she knew how she felt. “That was a thank you, that is what most would call priceless as is my sister.” Luna quickly gave a breath of relief and returned to her bed placing the cloth back on her head.
Although Naruto had and still hasn’t felt love, he couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed by the fact that he had been given a small kiss. Celestia didn’t understand what it was about him but she felt drawn to him like she had to be with him. She knew how Luna felt but she now began to believe that she might actually like this pony. They walked in and went to go check on Luna whose eyes opened slowly. Although it wasn’t the first time they had opened they were the first that Naruto had seen.
“Naruto!” She called out hugging him because she couldn’t help herself anymore. Naruto blushed heavily when she wrapped her front hooves around the back of his neck. He stared outside as she began to get on all four hooves. “Thank you Naruto. I hoped you would come to save me.” She said as a small tear escaped her eye.
“Hey it’s alright I would do it a thousand times if I had to. Listen I’m sorry that I now know you’re a princess but just so you know I will never think of you as some spoiled mare or some other thing.” Naruto’s words had this sort of gentle feel as they flowed into Luna and Celestia’s ears. “I will always be your friend no matter what okay.”
“Thanks Naruto that makes me feel a lot better. I don’t ever want you to think of me as anyone greater than you, I want you to think of me as you would anyone.” Luna was just happy that she was going to be able to stay with Naruto a little longer. Celestia couldn’t believe how serious Naruto was as her face blushed red with embarrassment. Never has any male pony made her feel this way.
“Naruto please continue to watch out for my sister if you would please.” Celestia said as she walked out of the small house. She flew off but couldn’t help but look back as the house got farther away and so did Naruto. The further she got the more her chest hurt. 
The thought of having a pony just like Naruto at her side sent her heart into a frenzy of beats. As she flew her head turned back and her face read confusion as she placed one hoof over her chest. “Could that pony have stolen my heart?” She asked openly as though she expected someone to answer her. She shook it off and flew back to her castle where much work needed doing.
“Naruto,” Luna said as her sister left, “why is your cheek red?” She asked although she already knew why. 
“Oh, your sister gave me a small kiss for looking after and saving you today.” He said scratching his head laughing, “I certainly hope that doesn’t put a damper on our friendship…I wouldn’t want you to hate me over this.”
“I could never hate you Naruto. Why would you even say something like that?” Luna felt a little insulted because how could he even say that. (Luna he’s a boy we’re not that good at talking to girls).
Naruto felt a little scared because of the look that Luna was giving him. She had this look of irritation as she whipped back her tail and walked out. “What did I say?”
That night Luna tried making dinner and she succeeded where she thought she would fail. Although Naruto had questioned whether or not she hated him she finally knew how she felt about him. She liked him truly liked him and she couldn’t be happier. She began praying as she continued cooking while Naruto was cleaning the upstairs rooms of junk.
She then remembered that ape that had grabbed her and how he said his master wanted her to go back to evil. The only magic strong enough to do that would be the Elements of Harmony but they would never get their hands on them not if her sister had anything to say about it. She also had Naruto to protect her and that eased her worry. She felt her heart beat when she thought of him and couldn’t help but smile at her feelings. She had finally decided to embrace them, but she was far from showing them.
Naruto had finished cleaning up the room where he and Luna were sleeping next to each other when Luna called for dinner. Naruto raced down and sat at the table next to Luna who pretty much insisted upon it. He ate with a smile as anything she made was just good. She was an excellent cook even if people said she wasn’t. Naruto felt lucky that Luna was okay and that he had so many friends but did he really deserve them or was he some monster.
He remembered how he felt when he was kicking Carnac’s butt that he wanted to shed that ape’s blood but he didn’t want Luna to fear him so he went easy on him. However he couldn’t deny how he felt. He felt angry, he felt like he wanted to kill everything in sight if it meant keeping Luna safe. He was slightly afraid of these powers that just appeared for him but he thanked them because they helped him save Luna.
Luna fell asleep rather fast and Naruto couldn’t. He just couldn’t get his mind off the royal darkness guy. He got up and headed outside and saw Pinkie Pie up on a hill. He was wondering why she was up there and decided to go check. “Hey Pinkie Pie,” He called over to her making her look in his direction, “what are you doing out here?”
“Watching the stars, what are you doing out here?” She was a little more calm than usual and that scared Naruto a little.
“I just came out to think. I can see why you came out here to look at the stars they are beautiful.” He wished that he was with Luna looking up at this sky but he was just fine with Pinkie Pie because they were friends as well. “Hey why are you so hyper all the time?”
“I like being me.” She said smiling at him, “I know that I’m a little crazy at times but I won’t steer away from who I am. I’m going to stay true to myself. I don’t care if the world knows the real me and doesn’t like it. I have great friends like you and the other girls. I’m happy all the time because it’s much better to be happy than it is to be sad.”
“I can respect that.” Naruto said smiling at her. “So I’m guessing that you’re going to head home now?”
Pinkie Pie was a little surprised by this. Naruto just wanted someone with him until he went back inside but that’s not what Pinkie thought. “Are you asking me to stay with you, oh Naruto you already have Luna don’t cheat.” She said playfully. 
Naruto was confused, what did she mean by he had Luna? “Um…. Luna isn’t mine. I don’t own anyone Pinkie Pie, and well yeah I’d like to look at this sky a little longer it helps calm me down.” He said a little sheepishly, he never really wanted to ask her but he just did.
“Okay but no tricks.” Naruto picked up his left front hoof in defense because Pinkie Pie had this look of suspicion about her. He didn’t know what she meant but he smiled.
After five minutes of sitting there and looking at the sky together Pinkie Pie started to feel a little tingle in her heart. She looked over to Naruto and the tingle got stronger. She looked away and the tingle softened. She looked to and from several times and her heart tingled in response. She smiled because she realized how cool Naruto looked right now. She was happy to be next to a guy that was so cool.
Pinkie Pie immediately knew she liked Naruto. Pinkie was elated that she had something that she could really focus on and now she had someone to put all of her time into. Naruto is in for it.
Pinkie rested her head on Naruto’s shoulder which made him freeze up a little because girls have never done this to him at least as far as he knows so why did these girls do this? Naruto was confused but he felt at ease as though Pinkie was supposed to be on his shoulder. He didn’t want to but he soon found his head nestled against hers. Pinkie’s face blushed up along with Naruto’s but they didn’t look at each other. 
Pinkie Pie now knew what she would be doing tomorrow. She was going to go out of her way to be with Naruto. However she would have to plan it. Naruto left a while after looking at the stars a little longer with Pinkie Pie and he felt sort of guilty because Luna may get angry with him, but he didn’t know why he thought that. When he returned to the house he went to bed where he found Luna sleeping.
Pinkie Pie went over to Twilight’s to ask her what the best course of action would be to get Naruto to look at her. “Twilight!” She screamed barging in.
“Pinkie Pie what’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she rubbed her eyes. Pinkie darted to what some would call too close.
“I like Naruto I need some advice in how to get him to look at me. Mind helping me out a little.” She said pulling on Twilight’s face.
“I don’t think I’m the one you should be asking after all I’ve never had a boyfriend. I think Rarity would know more than me don’t you think?” Twilight said yawning she really just wanted to go back to bed.
Pinkie Pie ran out of Twilight’s house and headed for Rarity’s house where she was doing a little cleaning. “Rarity I need some help.” Pinkie said surprising Rarity a little.
“What’s wrong?” She asked as she put her cleaning materials away.
“I like and I mean really like Naruto and need some tips on how to get him to look at me and no other pony.” Pinkie Pie was basically not hiding anything from her.
“Oh dear,” Rarity said somewhat joyfully as she used her powers to pull some clothes and styling equipment, “well you’ll need a new look if you want him to look at you so let’s see here.”
Rarity began going through different styles and clothing. However when she finished she had only flattened her hair down. “How’s this supposed to get him to look at me?” Pinkie asked a little confused with the look.
“Simple he will notice that your hair has changed and you can start up a conversation that way. From there he’ll be in the palm of your hands.” Rarity sounded like some love doctor but she had confused Pinkie Pie. “Basically he won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”
“Yeah! Thank you Rarity you’re the best!” Pinkie Pie headed outside where she couldn’t wait for tomorrow and she made sure that nothing happened to her hair.