> What Comes After
>  by dracone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		Lovestruck stood before the throne of Princess Cadance, why the alicorn ruler of the Crystal Empire wanted to see her was a mystery to the light pink mare. Lovestruck was a unicorn mare with a very light pink coat that could confused for white, in fact the father of her foal had made that very mistake when he told her how he would describe her, her dark pink mane and tail could easily be mistaken for that of another pink mare in Ponyville, and her cutie mark showed just how dedicated to romance she was. Her cutie mark was a dark pink bow with an arrow that had a heart shaped head notched in it with three smaller hearts near the the bow (one near the grip and two by the drawstring). 
Lovestruck was nervous, she had left her daughter with Valiant Heart in the royal nursery and was worried why the Princess had insisted she be alone for this meeting with her. She didn't mind Valiant Heart, on numerous occasions he had taken the time to foalsit for Lovestruck while she attended to urgent matters at the Princess's behest. Before she had lived in the Cyrstal Empire Lovestruck had lived in Ponville and made it her mission to use her magic to make sure couples had a truly authentic loving Hearts and Hooves day every year, but in the Crystal Empire she had the prestigious duty of being the Hoof of the Princess and the Princess's proxy in times of urgency, on some occasions she had even been asked to act as a stand-in for the royal couple while they attended to other other matters. Love didn't hate her job, she actually found it enjoyable at times, but she also missed her activities of going around Ponyville or one of the major cities of Equestria to help make sure the love stayed alive. 
Those activities became something of a series of fond memories when she met her special stallion and had a foal with him, to her knowledge only one other pony was only half crystal pony and she had only heard about the crystal mare that had the filly. Her husband had been a crystal pegasus in Princess Cadance's royal guard, but as comes with all guard ponies he fell victim to an accident. When he had awoken he couldn't remember everything for as far back a whole year before he met Lovestruck properly, and by that time she had been carrying their foal for a good seven months. No matter what the healers in and outside the Crystal Empire did they couldn't restore his memory, and every attempt to do so when it came to Lovestruck caused his memory to reset to how it was after the accident. They had asked Princess Twilight to look into situation, she did remarkably well considering the tendencies she had during her own pregnancy at the time. What she had discovered related to several other crystal ponies as well, King Sombra had cursed the lines of thirteen crystal pony families to always forget everything involving the ponies they had the greatest love for if they ever suffered an immensely powerful traumatic event, which unfortunately for Lovestruck the love of her life did hence why his memory kept resetting back to how it was before the two had gotten to know each other properly.
She was sure this meeting had something to do with her should-have-been husband, but was entirely sure. "Ah, you're early," said Cadance as she trotted in behind Lovestruck and trotted with the regalness that Love had come to know about the Princess of Love. "You are no doubt wondering why you are here," Lovestruck gave an affirming nod, "well since every attempt to bring the father of your daugher back to you has proved to be... ineffective, and everytime your daughter told her father she was we had to start all over again," Lovestruck started crying silently, Cadance knew this would be painful and had resolved to do all this without sneaking things around Lovestruck, the two had become fast friends due to the similarities in their magics and natures, "I have decided your time as the 'Hoof of the Princess' shall end as of this coming sundown as you and your filly will be returning to Ponyville. I am sorry, but all the pain you have had to endure is just too much for everypony that knows you, and your husband is one of our best when we aren't expending our resources to bring him back up to speed on current events. As we agreed with you the knowledge of who your daughter's father is kept from him on grounds that the knowledge could to dangerous for him."
"We know all this already Cadance," said Lovestruck with sorrow seeping through her loving toned voice, "you could move us anywhere, so, why Ponyville?"
"A number of reasons," said Cadance, "the two biggest being that my sister-in-law resides in Ponyville with her family and I want you to try becoming good friends with her, the second reason is I think that Ponyville is just the kind of setting you need to finally calm your aching heart. I do not wish to forget your love, I just want you to find a way to come to terms with this tragedy in your life and I believe Ponyville is one of the best places for you to do that. I have always a believed that a love that is true and begets something as wonderful as the gifts we have will always find a way to overcome hardships, and have yet to encounter anything to contradict that. So I urge you to not lose faith in the love you shared with everypony in your life."
"I understand your majesty," said Lovestruck with a hopeful voice, "my greatest wishes right now are for Sky Emerald to no longer be afflicted by his curse and for my daughter to know her father."
"Both are good wishes," said Cadance with a smile, "and I hope that one day they can be answered in the way you hope.
“It's been so long since I was in Ponyville,” said Lovestruck with a bit of nostalgia, “I think Sweetheart Tale will do well there,” she gave a soft smile and said, “will your colt come to visit us?”
“Of course,” said Cadance, “he has somepony that he says might be very special to him in Ponyville,” she gave a smile that said she knew that it could be more than that.
“Mom,” came the worried voice Valiant Heart, “Story's disappeared again, I can't find her anywhe... there you are, what do think were... where did you get those?” What sounded like a Valiant Heart hitting the ground hard followed shortly after that.
The two mare rushed out of the Crystal Throne Room to where the colt and young filly were. When they found the two on the walkway that lead to the royal gardens it was hard not to laugh, they couldn't hold it in for more than five seconds before bursting into laughter at the sight. Valiant Heart was on walkway like he had just been hit with a paralysis spell while a bright green unicorn filly with a dark pink mane and tail was holding a collection of steamy romance novels in her pinkish violet magic and jumping about trying to get them out of the air. After watching the scene for about a minute Cadance undid the paralysis spell on Valiant while Lovestruck took the books from her daughter, Lovestruck's dark pink aura caused her daughter to giggle.
“Alright Lance,” said Cadance, “tell us what happened just before we got here,” she was lightly giggling between words.
“Vlance fall down,” said Story with a giggle.
The two mares giggled at the nickname Story used for Valiant.
“Well,” said Lance, “I was looking for Story after she managed disappear when I told her we wouldn't be playing hide and seek today, and then she shows up with those adult romance books in her saddle bags, I made a move to gently remove the books from her possession when she had a surge that full incapacitates me and some how made it so the books are floating just out of her reach. It was like that for a few seconds before you both made a go at showing up, sorry I did a bad job auntie Love.”
“You did just fine, Lance,” said Lovestruck, “I just thought she was out of the magical surge stage since the last surge was over five months ago.”
“So,” said Cadance with a smirk, “she's hopeless romantic like her mother?”
“No, she just likes reading different kinds of character interactions,” said Lovestruck, “Sweetheart, you aren't ready for those kinds of books.”
“She's not ready for books at all,” said Lance as he rubbed his legs, “she can barely read anything more than three sentences long.”
“She's five years old, Lance,” said Cadance, “you could barely read that much at her age, although you had stopped having surges at around where she is now. However, your aunt Twilight was so dedicated to learning magic at that age that she became capable of reading some of the more complex tomes after a few months of dedicated study.”
“I doubt Story will be up to Twilight's level of educational advancement, but I suppose she could help with her magic lessons.”
“Why is that?” Inquired Lance, seeing as he hadn't been present when Cadance had made her announcement to Lovestruck.
“Sweetheart and I will be moving to Ponyville tomorrow,” said Lovestruck, “your mother insisted on it.”
“Oh,” said Lance before he ruffled the filly's mane a bit, “I guess I won't be watching this little tyke then, I'll see about visiting you both when I'm in Ponyville.”
“I know, I just hope Sweetheart does well at making friends. I remember when she just met you both, the poor dear was so scared of you she tried to always keep me between the two of you.”
“One she was two years old,” said Valiant Heart, “and two she warmed up to us after a few weeks.”
“Yes well,” said Lovestruck, “I'm worried how she'll take meeting Twilight's family after all this time, the last time I saw Twilight was before Story was even born.”
Sweetheart Tale looked at her mother curiously, but didn't say anything. As much as she would like for her daughter to talk, Lovestruck had only heard her daughter twelve words over the filly's whole life. Those four words being mommy, daddy (which caused her husband to return to his affliction), auntie and Vlance being the most common, basic words like up, fall, down and in were among the words she attached to words associated ponies.

******************************

It hadn't been hard to pack up their belongings that night, the two had very little in the way of personal possessions. Lovestruck looked out the window as she saw the landscape speeding by. After observing the scenery change she turned her attention back to her daughter, Sweetheart was still curled up next to her mother, the filly would tap her mother and point in the general direction of either the dining car or restroom when she wanted to leave their seat, and only if her mother did so with her. Wherever Lovestruck went her daughter followed, other passengers made comments about how cute the filly was, but she always shied away when those ponies drew closer.
The train ride took several hours, it was almost noon when they arrived in Ponyville and the two had caught the first train at just after sunrise. Twilight and her family were there to meet the two, and offered to help move their things into the house Cadance had prepared for them. Sweetheart was doing her best to hide behind her mother during the whole ordeal.
Starburst, the orange coated pegasus filly of Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry, had her large wings tied to her sides with a pink ribbon in addition her mane and tale which were almost identical to her mother's. In a foal carrier on Twilight's chest was the infant foal of the couple, Night Light, the little purple unicorn colt was giggling at the sight of Lovestruck and her daughter.
“Good to see you again Twilight,” said Lovestruck as she gave the purple alicorn a friendly nuzzle, “I would like you to meet my daughter, Sweetheart Tale, she's a little shy,” she gestured to the filly trying to hid behind her, “I know who these ponies are, you sent Cadance pictures with them all accompanying letters, some of which she shared with me.”
“You two have abilities that complement each other, it's no surprise that you would be among her counsel,” said Twilight.
“I was also he proxy, and stand-in when needed,” said Lovestruck in her usual gentle voice.
Night Light waved at the two and Starburst gave the two new ponies a curious look. “So,” said Flash, turning their attention to him, “ready for the start of your new Ponyville life? I know a few things have changed since you were last here.”
“Cadance let me know about all the big changes,” said Lovestruck, “I just want to settle down and see my little filly grow into a good pony.”
“That's all any parent really wants,” said Twilight with a smile, “come on we got everything ready for you, we made sure to do some little touch ups before your arrival.”
“Will Pinkie be throwing one of her infamous surprise parties?”
“Maybe, she's been a little busy with her daughter she was born.”
“How old is she?” Inquired Lovestruck.
“Eight,” said Flash as they gathered up all her luggage and began their trot through Ponyville, and towards her new home, Sweetheart keeping as close to her mother as possible, “Cotton Candy she was born around two years before Star here,” he gestured to the orange filly keeping pace with them, “She's a bundle of energy and her personal tastes are a bit more organized than most foals her age.”
“How old is Sweetheart Tale?” inquired Twilight, “Star's just barely six years now.”
“Sweetheart's five years old, she'll turning six around this time next month.”
“I see,” said Twilight, “well then, let's get you to your new home.”
> Sweetheart  and the Apples
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Lovestruck and Sweetheart Tale, along with Twilight and her family, came up on the little two story building that was just a short trot away from the park Cadance had decided to prepare for them. The building itself was in the aesthetic of the rest of the town, the only notable difference being the bright pink front door and dark pink heart shaped mailbox out front. “Care to explain this?” Said Lovestruck with an arched brow as she stopped in front of the house.
“Pinkie's idea,” said Twilight as she motioned for he unicorns to follow her, Lovestruck gave an exasperated sigh before following the purple alicorn into the house. The light's were out, that was no surprise since nopony was living there, what concerned Lovestruck was that she could hear shuffling in the dark.
Suddenly the lights came on and a mass of ponies, including Twilight and her family cried, “Surprise!”
Sweetheart gave a scared yelp and dove behind her mother. Lovestruck gave an annoyed look towards the ponies in the room, Twilight included. She saw Pinkie Pie, Pokey Pierce, a bluish gray earth pony filly with a mane colored in waves of pink and white, Fluttershy was next a pink unicorn filly with a light green mane and tail, Rarity, Spike (he had gotten pretty big), what looked like a young purple twin horned cross between a dragon and pony, what looked like a young green cross between a dragon and pony with no horns and a pair of wings that looked more like those found on a dragon or bat than a pegasus.
“You do realize you just scared my daughter, right?” Lovestruck deadpanned, the sound of a set of small hooves dashing out the still open door caused her look where Sweetheart Tale should have have been, “and now she's scared, alone and probably lost in a community she's never encountered before. Seriously, Twilight I sent you a letter seven months ago explaining how Story is scared of new ponies and spooks easily, did you fail to mention it to your friends?”
“Um, actually I did tell them, this whole party was set up by Cotton Candy.”
The bluish gray filly gave a dejected look and started sniffling as she said, “this was my first surprise party, and I ruined it before it even began!”
“No, Candy,” said Pinkie Pie with a gentle reassurance, “you just got so wrapped up in making everything set perfectly you forgot to take the ponies into account, I tried to tell you about the two, but you were so focused on the set pieces you wouldn't let me tell you about the ponies.”
“Oh,” said Candy, “why didn't you tell me that when we were getting ready to surprise them?”
“You kept shushing us,” said Pokey Pierce, “honestly speaking the best way to learn these sorts of things is firsthoof, I just wish it hadn't been this potentially traumatic.”
“Especially with the family curse Story inherited,” said Twilight, “it's why her father can't remember all the good times with her mother or her.”
“Oh no,” said Fluttershy, “will she be okay?”
“As far as we could tell it involves ponies in love, some kind of twisted sense of humor from King Sombra, so Story should be fine for a few years.”
“And you'll be seeing if you can free her from that curse,” said Flash, “that is, once she gets used to being around you.”
“So, her name is Story? That's an interesting name,” said Starburst.
Lovestruck gave sigh and said, “No, her name is Sweetheart Tale, Lance started calling her Story after she warmed up to him as her foalsitter, it's a bit of an in joke for us.”
“How so?” Inquired Starburst.
“Because story is a synonym for the word tale,” said Twilight to her confused daughter.
“And she really likes listening to ponies she trusts read her stories,” said Lovestruck, “now if you'll excuse me I need to go find my daughter.”
“Just stay here,” said Twilight, “the town's changed more than you realize since you were last here, let my friends and I handle this one.”
“But, she'll be scared of you,” said Lovestruck, “she needs to be found by somepony she feels safe around, and as it stands the only pony that meets that criteria is me!”


***************************************

Sweetheart Tale didn't know where she was going, she just had to get away from that crowd. All those new ponies, all those possible expectations of her, all those ideas about her, all those things they would ask of her; it all scared her so much. This fear stemmed from her believing that other ponies had thought the same things as her, just in different ways, growing up in close proximity to the royal family in the Crystal Empire didn't help her either. Before she knew it she was at the entrance to a barn on a farm with more trees in one place than she had ever seen before. Looking around frightendly she ducked into the barn and curled up in a corner and started crying, she wanted her mommy, but mommy hadn't followed her.
She didn't know how long she had been crying in that corner, a gentle tap on her head caused the green filly to look up and see a young purple earth pony mare that looked like she was around twelve or thirteen years old with a red bandanna on her head and a pair of apple shaped cherries on her flank, “Are ya alright sweetheart,” said the mare, Sweetheart shook her head slowly and tried to back further into the corner, “scared uh new ponies, huh? Ah'm not gonna hurt ya, what's yer name? Care ta tell me where yer home is?” Sweetheart looked at the mare for moment before she realized the word sweetheart was used as an expression and not the new pony magically knowing her name. Sweetheart uncurled from her ball and just sat staring at the pony.
After what felt like hours she finally said, “Sweetheart,” pointing to herself before scooting a bit further back and sitting down to observe the new pony. She usually wasn't this social, but something about this young reminded her of her mother.
“Yer name is Sweetheart,” said the mare with a sudden realization, “no wonder ya gave me that confused look when Ah asked ya if ya were alright. Ah'm Red June, and yer currently in one uh tha barns on Sweet Apple Acres, home uh tha Apple clan in these here parts.”
Sweetheart pointed to herself again and said, “Sweetheart Tale,” then went silent again, she had very much done the same thing to Lance when the two had first met. Although to be honest, the second time she said anything to him was a full day after the first time, she was a bit more talkative around this “June” pony and didn't know why.
“Is tha' yer full name?” Sweetheart gave a firm set of three nods.
“Et's uh nice name, ya should know all tha ponies around these parts are real friendly like. Ya jus' move ta town?” Sweetheart gave a nod, “the surprise party for new ponies scare ya?” Another nod, “ya hungry?” A rumble from the filly's stomach answered that, June gave a light chuckle before saying, “ya came ta the righ' place fer that, we supply produce ta tha whole town, and mah cousin and Ah just finished 'r chores, come on, Ah'll intraduce ya ta tha family. Then ya can git sumthin' ta eat. We should always show proper manners an' hospitality.”
Sweetheart got up and followed the mare out, right into the old farmhouse that the family shared. Granted it had gotten a few renovations since the whole marrying and having foals deal by the three Apple Siblings.
When they trotted in they heard Apple Bloom saying, “All Ah'm sayin' is we should et least have one uh us go, Ah can't on account uh the younins.”
“Ah'm not disagreein',” said Applejack, “but this is one uh our busiest times uh tha year, we need ta git ready fer Cider makin' a few days early this year so we dun't run out as fast.”
“Which is why Ah keep tellin' ya an automated system would be best, Ah know ya got uh bad taste in yer mouth fer that sorta thing on account uh those no good huckster brothers, but at tha very least we should be considerin' et.”
“Sounds like the cider dispute again,” whispered June to the filly, “it's been this way wid aunt Bloom fer abou' six years now, every time cider season is on the brink uh happenin' she and aunt AJ have this little debate. As I like to call it the 'tradition versus progress debate', but honestly Ah don't think tha family would really care either way, aunt Applejack is just really stubborn, and she's been our clan matron fer about seven years now.”
Sweetheart just looked at the mare confused and the sound of her rumbling tummy actually caused all the ponies involved in the argument, who were in the kitchen for some reason during their debate, to turn their attention just quick enough to see the unicorn filly duck behind June.
“Sumthin' ya wanna tell us June,” said Applejack with concern, Apple Bloom came over to get a closer look, she saw a green and pink blur dive behind the couch.
“Did Annie somehow make et here on 'er own?” Said Apple Bloom with confusion.
“No,” said June moving over to the couch and silently coercing Sweetheart out, “although her colors are similar to Annie's, you can come out Sweetheart. Nopony's goin' ta 'urt ya.”
“Still callin' foals those cute pet names Ah see,” said Applejack with a chuckle.
“Actually that is her name,” said June, “she's new ta Ponyville and she also just so happens ta 'ave gotten so scared uh the surprise party she ran all the way ta tha farm an' hid in tha barn until Ah found her a little while ago, she's also a bit hungry.”
“Ah'll whip up sumthin' fer 'er,” said Applejack as she headed for the kitchen, “was gettin' ready ta make lunch when Bloom ambushed me with the cider proposal this year, an' since Del wuh near 'er at tha time some of mah choice words fer 'er actions weren't sumthin' Ah could say.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and said, “she's a little cutie.”

**********************

A few minutes later Del came down the stairs from his after work nap, he looked to be about a few years older than Sweetheart. When Sweetheart saw him arriving she tried to hide behind June again. June just chuckled and said, “Del's one uh the most safe colts ya'll could ever meet, he's a perfectly safe foal, just like you.”
Del gave the unicorn filly a confused look before his mom, Applejack, said, “she just looks lahk uhn Annie wid her mane an' coat colors switched, she's new en town an' Ah expect ya ta treat her with the respect she deserves.”
Del just nodded and made a motion to be friendly, Sweetheart shied away from the colt, “Did Ah do sumthin' wrong?” Asked Del looking at the filly with confusion.
Sweetheart shook her head before pointing to June, June quickly picked up on what the filly was motioning for and said, “she feels scared aroun' new ponies, in fact she was so scared by tha surprise party she ran all tha way here in blind terror,” Sweetheart nodded.
“Where is yer new 'ome? Maybe we can help ya get thar,” said Del.
Sweetheart stared at the colt for a moment before saying in timid little voice, “Park,” and moving to hide behind June again.
Applejack stopped stirring the stew she as making and set it to simmer and turning to look at the filly before saying, “Were ya outa breath when ya got 'ere?” Sweetheart shook her head, all four earth ponies had their eyes shoot up in surprise.”
“Sweetheart,” said Apple Bloom from the table, “that's 'alf way across town from 'ere, an' the farm is a good seventeen minute trot from tha edge of town. Are ya sayin' ya ran all that way 'ere an' ya weren't tired et all?” Sweetheart nodded again.
“Well bless mah Orchards,” said Applejack, “a unicorn wid stamina ta spare, yer a rare breed little filly.”
Sweetheart stared at the orange mare before quietly going over to the table.

****************************************

It was while Sweetheart was on her third bowl of Applejack's spiced carrot and broccoli stew that Pinkie showed up at the door and knocked in her distinctive manner. “Pinkie's at tha door, Del could ya get et fer us, the rest of us are tryin' ta see just how much she's lahk yer uncle.” Del nodded and headed to the door.
When Del opened the door he was face to muzzle with Pinkie's party cannon, “Mrs. Pinkie,” said Del in a surprisingly level voice, “Ah only 'ave two things ta say. Please move yer party cannon from mah face, and if yer lookin' fer Sweetheart Tale she's in tha kitchen wid mom, mah cousin an' mah aunt.”
“Oh good,” came Candy's voice from inside the cannon before she rolled out, “mom got a feeling that she might be here. Learn anything about her?”
“Otter than 'er name, the general location uh 'er abode, and the fact she's probly as quiet as mah uncle Mac not much.”
“She doesn't talk much, huh?” Said Pinkie as she seemed to tuck the cannon into some strange pocket of reality.
“All she's said since June found 'er in tha barn other than where 'er abode is was and 'er name,” said Del as he lead the two inside, Pinkie gently closed the door behind them.
Sweetheart seemed relaxed around the Apples, but soon as she noticed Pinkie and Candy she made a go at ducking behind June. In mid stride she was snatched up by Pinkie at a speed that was intense nopony had even seen her move.”
Pinkie looked over to see the unicorn filly peering out from behind June. “I see Junie's good with foals!”
“Actually June was just the first pony she met 'ere,” said Applejack.
Candy tried to get close, but the green filly kept trying to keep her distance from the grayish blue filly. Candy stopped and stared before saying, “Do you want to make friends?” Sweetheart stared at the other filly for a moment before nodding, “do you want to be friends with us?” Said Candy gesturing to Del and herself. Sweetheart stared at the two for a moment before nodding.
“Why ya so skittish then? Ya should be tryin' ta intraduce yerself,” said Del.
Sweetheart sighed and started looking around for something to write with, Applejack recognized the actions and stepped out of the kitchen for a minute before returning with a notepad and a pencil, something she learned was useful over the years of knowing Twilight.
Sweetheart started scrawling with her hoof holding the pencil as wrote on the pad while holding it close to herself with the other hoof. When she was finished she slid it across the floor to the filly and colt. Pinkie looked at it as well and said, “Oh, that is pretty bad!”
“What's et say?” Asked Applejack.
“She's afraid of meeting new ponies because the first time she remembers meeting anypony new she was kept from her mom,” said Pinkie, “I'm guessing a bunch of stallions trying to put the moves on her mother while ignoring the filly. She also says to not to take it personally, she was the same way with some pony she calls 'Vlance', who the the hay is Vlance?”
The sound of a mare's laughter erupted from the front door and they all turned to see Twilight and Lovestruck, Twilight was giving the pink mare a confused look, after calming her giggle fit down a bit Lovestruck said, “That's what she calls Valiant Heart, since half the time she hears me call him Valiant and the other half she hears me call him Lance she sort of merged the two into one word, and that word is 'Vlance'.”
Sweetheart rushed over to her mother and did her best hide herself from the other ponies.
How much ya hear uh Pinkie's readin' tha note?” Inquired Apple Bloom
“Enough to get the gist of her experience,” said Lovestruck, “to be fair it was only three drunk stallions, the kind that get hammered in the middle of the day, but the thing is two of them focused on me while the third kept trying to shoo Sweetheart away so he and his buddies could 'put the moves' on me. It was her first time walking outside our home, we were going to see Cadance after I had helped her memorize the city.”
“And that one experience is what makes her so scared of meeting other ponies, not just stallions?” Inquired Twilight.
“It didn't help that the more friendly ponies at all the places we went that day kept trying play pinchie with her face,” said Lovestruck.
“That would make any foal nervous,” said Apple Bloom, “Ah would hate fer et ta happen ta mah foal once Ah 'ad 'er.”
“What makes ya so sure yer first foal is gonna be a filly?” Said Applejack, “ya could end up wid a colt lahk Ah did.”
“Ah want ta believe Ah'll 'ave uh filly befer Ah 'ave any colts,” said Apple Bloom, “because Ah think et's nicer ta think uh et that way.”
June facehoofed before saying, “Fillies an' gentlecolts please disregard the family debate at this time.”
Twilight and Lovestruck started snickering, Sweetheart just stared at her mother in confusion.
“So who's Sweetheart's father?” Said June, mostly out of an effort to divert conversation topics away from family matters.
“His name is Sky Emerald, he's crystal pegasus in Cadance's royal guard. I married him seven years ago, but when I was seven months along he suffered a tragedy that...” she started crying and hugging her daughter close.
“Sombra's influence is still present in the Crystal Empire,” said Twilight, “Sweetheart's father is under curse that was activated before she was born, Sky Emerald will continually have his memory reset to before he got to the point of marrying Lovestruck and waiting with anticipation for his new foal alongside her, every time either of them say or do something that constitutes as family love it causes his memory to undergo the reset,” everypony, including Sweetheart while excluding Lovestruck, gasped, “I looked into it while I was carrying Star, it's pretty complex, but I think since Sweetheart is still young I can remove the curse her and relocate its essence for study in a secure environment.”
Lovestruck said nothing, she just hugged the purple alicorn crying tears of joy.
“So 'er dad will always ferget 'er ef she ever tries to get affectionate wid him? That aint right,” said Applejack.
Sweetheart was crying against her mother's leg, this was the first time she had heard of anything like this. Candy trotted over try and comfort the younger filly, but unlike before Sweetheart was completely unresponsive to the other filly. In her choked up sullen voice Sweetheart said, “mom, why?”
Lovestruck stared at her daughter for few seconds in awkward silence before saying in a sad tone, “Because of how much it hurts me inside to see your father return how he was a year before he truly got to know me every time, it only happened to you once Sweetheart, it happened to me dozens of times.”
“And every time it broke another piece of your heart out,” said Twilight, “the only thing keeping it together right now is Sweetheart.” Lovestruck just nodded.
“Ya were happy wid everything up until tha accident,” said Applejack, “Ah can't imagine wut et would be like ta 'ave something like that 'appen ta Caramel.”
“Well I could if it happened to Pokey, but I really don't want to think about that sort of thing,” said Pinkie.
Twilight looked over and Sweetheart curled up in a ball next to Lovestruck, “Girls, I think this really upsetting the foals.”
Pinkie looked over at her daughter and noticed the not so happy face on Candy. Applejack saw a similar look on Del, “Ah think et's time fer a topic change,” said Applejack.
“So,” said Pinkie, “what's her favorite thing to eat? Candy seems to really like parfaits and salads.”
“Del likes apple dishes best,” said Applejack.
The mares, and June, rolled their eyes and Twilight said, “Everypony in your family has that distinction, Star seems to really like watermelons.”
“Sweetheart really doesn't say what she likes most,” said Lovestruck, “she just gives nods or head shakes when you ask if likes what she's eating.”
Candy bounced over to Sweetheart, who was now out of her little ball and looked like she'd just pulled her face out of a full sink and looked all around the other filly, she even sniffed around the filly's face before saying, “I think I know,” and bounced back to her mother. During the whole thing the only action Sweetheart performed was a flinch when the other filly drew near.
“So,” said Lovestruck, “what do you think she likes most?”
“Nuh uh,” said Candy, “it's a surprise. Besides, you're her mommy, you should know what she likes more than any other pony, ever.”
“Sweetheart is a little different than most other ponies,” said Lovestruck, “she's never said outright to me what she likes, never made any reactions towards anything to indicate she might like something. It's almost as if...”
“She's trying wall herself from the outside,” said Twilight.
“I probably shouldn't have tried taking her around the town as soon as she could walk, but I wanted her to know what the Crystal Empire really looked like very early on. She hadn't reached the point where she could say anything before then, and I think her bad experience may have stunted that development.”
“A fair assessment,” said Twilight, “but she seems like a smart filly and...” suddenly Sweetheart had a magic surge and everypony was standing on the ceiling, with their manes as they normally would be. “And she just reversed gravity in the house, or rather I would think that if the furniture had joined us.”
“This ever happen ta ya Twi? 'Cause Ah would rally like ta know how get back ta tha floor withou' a whole lota pain, or hurtin' tha foals when et coulda been avoided,” said Applejack.
“I kind of had another magic surge shortly after I got my cutie mark, I ended up putting all our furniture and breakfast on the ceiling in the dining area of the house. Fortunately it had been a few days since Princess Celestia had taken me on as her personal student, she was actually coming by that day to have breakfast with us.”
“And she undid the spell in a way that didn't damage anything,” said Lovestruck finishing the explanation, “please tell me you learned how to do the same in years since then.”
Twilight just smiled and her horn glowed before they all appeared on the floor unharmed.
“Nice ta see tha' knowin' uh princess has benefits,” said June, “Ah hope tha' we don't 'ave ta deal wid tha' sorta thang again.”
Sweetheart just stayed clinging to her mother's leg. “We need ta find uh way ta 'elp 'er git used ta everypony,” said Applejack as she started moving Del over to the couch.
“To be honest, this is the most social she's been since the incident,” said Lovestruck, “she usually won't respond to anypony she hasn't known for a few months, Ponyville is just where she needs to grow and learn,” she looked down to see Sweetheart had fallen asleep, “the adrenaline flood she got from her fear probably dropped enough to get her to a point where here body just needs a little rest,” she placed the filly on the couch and smiled as the little bundle of green and pink curled up into the sleeping position that most foals found comfortable.
“Wait, are ya sayin' she ran all tha way 'ere on adrenaline, an' most of her interactions wid us were because et hadn't thinned out enough in her system?” Said June, “Miss Lovestruck, she ran all tha way 'ere from yer house near tha park, an' 'ad three bowls uh aunt AJ's stew befer we knew any uh this. Ah found 'ere curled up and shiverin' en fear en a corner uh tha barn. She wuh usin' me like some kinda barrier from tha res' uh tha family.”
Twilight and Lovestruck looked at each other before Twilight said, “it's surprising she was so trusting of you so fast.”
“Ah think et had ta do wid a combination uh mah kindly demeanor an' a timely question jus' befer 'er stomach growled. She started treatin' me like a wall when she met tha res' uh tha family, she started warming up ta when we showed 'er we were safe and she had some good food in 'er.”
“That's good,” said Lovestruck with smile as she turned her green eyes to her daughter who was now trying to hide behind her mother and motioning, in her sleep, looking at the other ponies with a mix of confusion, curiosity and fear.
“She really does live up ta tha first part uh 'er name,” said Applejack, “she really is a sweetheart, when she gets passed the whole bein' scared uh ya.”
“That she does,” said Lovestruck.
“I want to make up to her, what kind of party is best for that? I want to get it right next time,” said Candy.
“Maybe parties aren't quite your thing,” said Lovestruck, “maybe you should try something that's a bit less hooves on next time, like a fair.”
“Ooh, an I'm sorry carnival would be great,” said Candy with excitement, “although it might take a bit of time to organize and get everything just so.”
“Well by the time that happens she'll probably have already warmed up to you,” said Lovestruck. With that the mare carried her  filly in her magic out the door and towards home.
> Preparations and a New Acquaintance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It had been about five months since their moving to Ponyville and Lovestruck was happy to see Sweetheart had warmed up to other ponies quickly. The filly's first friend in town had turned out to be Del, not surprising as it had been the Apples that had first started to make the filly feel comfortable, her second had been Anthea, the two had actually started playing pranks on other ponies because of how similar their colors had turned out to be, and it had been during one of these excursions that Sweetheart had managed to bond with Cotton Candy, it wasn't soon after that she had warmed up to Starburst as well, and then all their other friends. 
It had been while Sweetheart was helping out at Sugarcube Corner that the filly had found herself with a cutie mark, she had been transcribing a mess of recipes that Pinkie never really had taken the time to write down. When asked what the heart shaped book an cupcake shaped quill on her flank meant Sweetheart just said something about baking and stories in a manner that only Pinkie and Candy seemed to understand. Turned out that while Del was her first friend, Candy and Annie had quickly become her best friends, for entirely different reasons.
Over the months all of their friends had gotten their cutie marks, except for Candy. This was made more evident with the fact that her carnival plans kept getting delayed because something she ordered was lost or sent to the wrong town, and the ponies that had received her orders while surprised by the thing they hadn't ordered didn't want to give it up. Candy would fume about how much she had paid in advance and how she would never find a talent in entertainment if all her plans kept getting derailed by somepony consistently doing clerical errors. At first she thought had been the company she ordered from or the delivery companies she used, so after each third botch from them she would switch only to have a similar result with the new combination. Candy came over to the home of Sweetheart and Lovestruck to fume, mostly because she didn't want her other friends to see what an annoyed pony she was at this last botch, especially since she had heard from some highly reputable sources that both companies she had used were excellent at keeping to their agreements.
The scent of caramel and apples hit Candy's nose and she gave a little smile, Sweetheart was probably making a whole mess of caramel apples to take down to Sugarcube Corner, the bakery only had so much space it could dedicate to certain things and the cakes were more of the bake it type than a cheap treat en mass ponies. What surprised the bluish gray filly was the fact that Sweetheart had actually come out of the kitchen with a cake that had been fully decorated with members of the Apple clan and a number of large decorative apple trees.
“Um, what's with the cake that smells like caramel apples?” Said Candy as Sweetheart lowered the cake in her magic onto a stand that had a sign that said that if anypony touched what was on the stand they would be sorry.
After the cake was set down Sweetheart turned to her friend and said, “You sound like you're in a bad mood, and to answer your question it's for Mrs Applejack and Mr Caramel's wedding anniversary tomorrow. Del wanted to do something special for them, but he was worried they would spot his work, and we both know how much of bad liar he is,” Candy nodded, “so instead he passed me the recipe and told me to keep it for him until tomorrow morning. Also he wants this to be a surprise for them.”
“Oh,” said Candy, “it's that time of year again. Ah, pony feathers, mom and dad have their anniversary in three months!”
“Not to mention Mrs Twilight and Mr Flash have there's the month after that,” said Sweetheart with a shake of her head, “Mrs Rarity and Mr Spike have their anniversary the month before your parents too.”
“Why is it all their anniversaries are so clopping close together?” Cried Candy.
“Please watch your language,” said Sweetheart, “mom doesn't like it when you use harsh words, and I really don't want your negative outbursts ruining the freshly baked cake that Del labored Celestia knows how long over when it came to the recipe. A lot of ponies don't realize that the recipe can be harder than the dish itself.”
“I guess, but I just wasted another mass of bits, mom doesn't mind, but I'm going to owe her half our home when this is over. And you've seen the Party Palace.”
Sweetheart chuckled a bit before saying, “How long did it take you to get here?”
Candy gave a despondent sigh and said, “Half the day, I just found out last night the materials I ordered for the food stands got sent to Baltimare instead. I swear somepony really doesn't want me to get these deliveries.”
“Could I make some suggestions?” Inquired Sweetheart as she plopped herself down next to Candy.
“Sure,” said Candy, “what else do I have to lose?”
“Instead of paying them all of it in advance try half for the commission and half on delivery, that way even if the delivery is a flop  you aren't out as much as you would be, and two why not have somepony you trust go and get what you've ordered instead of trusting a bunch of strangers to get what you need to you.”
“Heh,” said Candy, “look at you, a few months ago you were cringing at the the thought of interacting with new ponies and now you're giving advice on how do better business.”
“Too be fair it wasn't new ponies that scared me,” said Sweetheart, “it was my belief that everypony I met had some overarching expectations that I'd never be able to follow through on, I associated new ponies with unknown expectations, and it scared me. Yes, those mean stallions in the Crystal Empire were the catalyst for my fears, but it was my fears of what I thought they had wanted from me that galloped all over the place and settled in my fear center. You all helped with my fear over expectations, now the only expectations I care about are the kind that help motivate me to do better. I have you in part to thank for that, too me you are my best friend.”
“Thanks,” said Candy, “I was starting to think that everything I did up 'til now was pointless, you're right on both accounts, why should I pay them all my bits if it's not guarantee anything I asked for gets to Ponyville,” She got up and did dramatic pose as she said, “I am Cotton Candy, and nopony will get my way of making somepony smile! Besides, I still have give you your promised 'I'm sorry I scared you' carnival.”
“Mom just suggested a fair,” said Sweetheart as she rolled her eyes, “you're the one who jumped straight into a carnival for what to do. Now shoo, Annie's coming over later to help with a personal project of mine, and I really want the final to be a surprise for everypony.”
“Why Annie? Surely any of us could help,” said Candy.
“Yes, well Star's in Canterlot for the week, when Prism's actually being useful he tends to be a bit of blabber mouth, Del's got his chores, you've just told me what's occupying your mind and you really do need to head out to make it happen, Claire is pretty busy, T is helpful when he's not being a klutz, Whirlwind is busy today, and I really don't want any of our moms getting in on this yet.”
“Right, and Nighty's still too young to do anything beyond look cute.”
“To be fair I did ask missus Twilight if she and Nighty could occupy the the area in front of the house in about an hour, we need something to distract other ponies from what we're doing in here, and Nighty really does need to get more fresh air.”
Candy nodded and headed for the door. Just before opening the door she said, “This surprise better be super-rific, or I'm going to have to tell mom about it all, and you know how she gets when you don't do a surprise right!”
Candy opened the door to see Annie and T at the door, “So, is she she in?” Inquire Annie.
“Yuppers,” said Candy, “hey T, Sweetheart says this is project for just her and Annie right now, how about you escort me home, you know how I am with directions sometimes.”
This caused Annie to Snicker and roll her eyes as she trotted into the house and closed the door behind her, the first thing the supposedly blind unicorn 'saw' was the outline of a four tiered cake in the shape of an apple and done in colors that were found in a frighteningly accurate set of proper proportions of the colors found on Sweet Apple Acres, with the added bonus of little blurs the colors of Applejack, Caramel and Del near the top and blurs of the rest of the Ponyville Apples on the layer below. “Wow,” said the blind unicorn as she breathed in the apple and caramel scent of the cake, “this was Del's recipe?”
“Well,” the initial cake under the frosting and decorations,” said Sweetheart, “he said what he wanted in terms of decorations, I just put it all together the best I could, Del and June will be over tomorrow before their morning chores to pick it up.”
“What about missus Cheerilee and mister Big Mac?”
“They'll be running interference for the two, Del also insists that all of their friends not have any knowledge of this before it's picked up tomorrow, that's why I told mom she should spend some time bonding with missus Twilight. They trust all missus Applejack's friends, they honestly do, they just don't want to let anything slip and ruin the surprise.
“You're not worried Candy will blab about it?”
“I told her Del wanted it to be a surprise, and you know how missus Pinkie and Candy get with surprises.” Annie gave a nod.
“So, how have you been adjusting to school here in Ponville, you always seem to get pulled away by somepony and never come to be with us during free time or after the final bell.”
“You would not believe how many ponies think mom has the same ability as Princess Cadance, and how many think I have the same power,” she huffed, “fact is, every day during and after school somepony wants me to do love magic for them. I'm a baker and an author, not a love machine! No mater how many times I tell ponies this they keep asking for the same thing. Of the sixty plus odd ponies in our class forty-six have asked for me to use love magic, among those I've had thirty-nine repeaters. Of the entire class roughly seventy percent have asked me for love advice, I can only compare it to romance in novels and make a decision from there, of the fifty-two fillies in our class thirty-seven of them have asked me for relationship advice, I've yet to have a coltfriend. But enough of my ranting, we have a project due this coming Thursday, and weekends are usually the best time to get them done.”
“I'm surprised you can keep everything in order.”
“Part of my talent involves keeping things organized, that said my filing system is a total mess! I organize things based my general feelings more than some empirical system, missus Twilight would be horrified and really want me to learn a proper filing system, I just know it.”
Annie giggle a bit before saying, “if we manage to finish this project early is there anything in particular you want to do?”
“Well, I heard about what you and the princess did last week, thank the princesses mom dragged me out to Manehattan for that week, I would have probably been in the middle of making something when it hit me,” a light bulb went off in her head, “do you know any spells for changing the color of something?”
“What are you getting at?” Said Annie, “how does it relate to me?”
“Well, you know how our colors are basically the reverse of each other?”
“Um, yes,” said Annie, not entirely sure where this was going.
“What if you used a spell to have our coats and manes literally match each other, Candy and Prism wouldn't be able to us apart. And if we have you follow my basic routine, which I will provide you, and I follow yours they might think I'm you and you're me. We could fake them out, and maybe I could actually get a non-joke week for once in my life around here. While I appreciate those acts, they actually make me feel accepted around here, I would like just one day that doesn't involve an incident that almost causes me to lose my hoofing. However, project first, mind games second.”
“So, this where you were friend Anthea,” came a commanding female voice to their right.
Sweetheart looked over to the side and saw an alicorn with bat wings, “um, hello,” said Sweetheart, “I don't think we've been formally introduced.”
The alicorn smiled and said, “an illusion of a pony that is your colors reversed, how amusing.”
“Um, no she's real,” said Annie, “Nidra, this is Sweetheart, Sweetheart this Princess Nidra.”
“What are you two up to?”
“School science project,” said Sweetheart, “our assignment is to graph and name all the kinds of bugs around Ponville that aren't in the Everfree Forest. We've mad some pretty good progress.”
“Just five or six more and we're done,” said Annie, “Story and I work well together.”
Nidra cocked her head and looked at Sweetheart, “I thought you were her special somepony, she did call you Sweetheart.”
“Everypony makes that mistake a few times a month with me,” said Sweetheart, “my name is Sweetheart Tale, but Vlance called me Story when I was little, the nickname stuck.”
“Who's Vlance?” said both mares in unison, “Prince Valiant Heart,” said Sweetheart, “he was my foalsitter before we moved to Ponyille, “I called him Vlance when I was little.”
Nidra gave an amused smile before saying, “I think I just found a fun way to mess with him for a few days. So, you were planning on messing with your friends, I want in!”
“Schoolwork before play,” said Sweetheart, “the sooner its out of the way the sooner we can spend as much time as we want doing what we want, with the added bonus of having what everpony wanted us to do out of the way.”
“How do you find your little bugs anyway?” Inquired the bat winged mare.
“I read a book on entomology and as soon as I find a bug that lives in a habitat that's similar to that around Ponville I describe the bug in detail to Annie while drawing it in our field journal. The whole thing is due near the end of next week, but we know everypony else will usually waits until the last few days before their projects are due and make a bunch of stupid mistakes, we're making sure we do this right.”
“You're no fun,” said Nidra sticking out her tongue.
“Actually we should check our log before continuing,” said Annie, “How many did the teacher say we needed for this assignment?”
“Twenty or so,” said Sweetheart as she flipped through the journal, “and we have,” she slammed the book shut, “forty-seven, we're home free to do whatever we want all weekend and all of next week.”
“Good,” said Nidra with excitement, “now tell me about this little prank you two were cooking up, also explain why I should avoid that delicious smelling cake in the other room.”
“The cake is for Applejack and Caramel's wedding anniversary party, you can have a slice at the party tomorrow, until then DO NOT TOUCH and TELL NOPONY about any of what you have experienced and witnessed here,” said Sweetheart.
“Well, Story,” said Nidra, “I'll see what I can do, but no guarantees. Now, tell me about this prank of yours.”
“Since I really want to get pranked by Candy and Prism, and she wants a break from their foalishness, Story suggested we switch our colors and go about each others routines for a whole week.”
“Ooh, when?” Said an excited Nidra.
“After this coming week,” said Story, it'll take time to teach each other the nuances of what it means to be each other.”
“And you're going to need a few more ponies to help sell the act,” said Nidra, “T and Annie are almost always together,” she gave a dejected look that Story caught, but Annie was still unable to see, “so he'd know almost instantly if you weren't Annie.”
“And since I've only been seen with T a total six times since my coming to Ponville everypony seeing T suddenly spending an extortionate amount of time with 'me' might prove problematic,” said Story.
“Quick question,” said Nidra, “why are you acting like it's no big deal that I'm here? Usually ponies that learn who I am do the whole bowing to appease the princess thing, which I enjoy a great deal.”
“Three reasons,” said Story, “one, this is the place I call home, which you entered without the expressed permission of me or my mother. Two, I had Prince Valiant Heart for a foalsitter, he talked a bit about you as a way of keeping me entertained,” Nidra smiled at this, “and three, just because you're royalty doesn't mean you're entitled to everything you want. If we had met a few months ago I'd have been trying to hide from you in some corner or cubbyhole the moment I was aware of you.”
“What changed that?” Inquired Nidra.
“My friends and I, mostly Candy and me though,” said Annie, “we found just the right thing to do in order to make her feel comfortable, and she turned into a total social butterfly.”
“I guess,” said Story, “now we need to prepare for the game the week after next, since Princess Nidra clearly wants to get in on this, and I sincerely doubt we could keep her out of this I suggest she help with the preparations, and she might as well get whomever she thinks should also be in on this, just remember to keep this little circle very small. Since we're ultimately trying to prank Candy and Prism it should be a rule they can't be in on this prank, but maybe we can torture them with hinting that it's something that will involve them.”
“So, you want to play a long running prank on them,” said Nidra, “not just for the original planned time, I know just who get in on this, it's gonna be one of the best plays ever.”
“When this is over Prim and Candy will have probably pranked Annie, which is the whole point of the prank, that is to say we want to trick them into pranking Annie.”
“You are a special kind of genius,” said Nidra with a mischievous grin.
“Well, thank you, I think,” said Story, “I'll be writing the whole story down and having it transcribed for everypony to read, I am an author after all, I'm still trying to find the right kind of story to fit for me in terms of writing.”
“And why would you write about it all and make a go at publishing it?” Inquired Annie.
“Because,” said Story with a smile and pausing for dramatic emphasis, “it'll be funny to see how far we can embarrass them.”
“Oh,” said Nidra, “I really like her!” With that she was gone in a flash.
“Well, looks like Nidra has taken a liking to you,” said Annie.
“Is that good or bad?” Inquired Story.
“Both,” said Annie, “will this really get Prism and Annie to try pranking me?”
“That's the plan,” said Story, “Now let's guard the cake to make sure nopony tries to sample it before the appropriate time.