The fourth installment of a What If series, that involves the rewriting of episodes. This collection contains episodes from Seasons 1-6 (Warning!: Episodes rewritten based on personal opinion, please respect it. Thank you.)
It's back for a fourth time, that series that seeks to answer the question "What if that episode had been written differently?"!
This is the biggest installment yet, sixteen episodes are up for a rewrite, and among them are six episodes from Season 6. Including one episode being stretched into a two parter, and another two parter being rewritten. But which episodes are among the sixteen will that be featured here? You'll have to read to find out.
Once again you must all remember that the episodes included here are the result of personal opinion, so don't get upset if an episode you didn't like doesn't appear here or an episode you did like does appear. I will gladly respect your opinions if you promise to respect mine. And as always, you are not obligated to read any of these chapters.
Yet again I must mention that I mean no disrespect to Hasbro, the DHX staff, or anyone who likes the episodes that will be included here. The intent of this fic is for entertainment purposes only.
Want to see what episodes have already been re-written? Check out volumes 1-3! Volume 1 can be found here, Volume 2 can be found here, and Volume 3 can be found here. Apologies for the image, it was the best I could find for Season 6.
"Ding, dong!" Rang the school bell, announcing the end of another day of classes at Ponyville Elementary. All the colts and fillies poured out of the one room school house, already talking amongst themselves, making plans to hang out, or just walk home.
For three fillies in particular, the school walk home was always a chance to not just hang out, but also come up with plans. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo had only recently formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but they were determined to get their cutie marks as soon as possible. For them it was never a bad time to discuss how they might get those cutie marks they so desired.
"So girls, whadya wanna do today?" Apple Bloom asked her friends, as they left the school house. "I'm just buzzin' with ideas that are sure to get us our cutie marks. But I wanna hear if either of you have any really good ideas."
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other and exchanged nervous glances, then they looked at Apple Bloom. Reluctantly Sweetie Belle spoke up first as she said to Apple Bloom. "Uh, we can't really hang out today. Rarity says Mom and Dad don't like me staying out late all the time, and that I need to start concentrating more on my school work. I guess my grades have kind of been slipping."
"Oh," Apple Bloom replied, lowering her head and frowning for a moment. But she then perked right back up as she cheerfully commented. "Well, at least Scootaloo and I can still hang out together."
But Scootaloo sighed and shook her head. "Can't, my parents are going out of town for the next week and they don't want my sitter worrying about me doing anything dangerous. I know they mean well, but they can be so overprotective sometimes. It's not like I can't take care of myself, the worst that's ever happened is I've come home covered in tree sap and pine needles once or twice."
"But! But!" Apple Bloom protested, she could not believe her two best friends were already telling her they couldn't hang out. It was just like when Twist had gotten her cutie mark. Apple Bloom had nothing against Twist and still considered her a friend, but when one friend had a cutie mark and the other didn't, it was sort of hard to find common ground. Not to mention the fact that Twist had been spending a lot of time at her aunt Bon Bon's bake shop since getting her cutie mark.
"Sorry Apple Bloom, but parents are.... well parents," Sweetie Belle replied. "Spring break is coming up soon though, then we can hang out all week long! Won't that be fun?!"
"Y-yeah, I guess," Apple Bloom sighed. "See ya girls tomorrow?"
"Same time, same place." Sweetie called, and the three fillies reluctantly split up.
Apple Bloom was more than a little unhappy at the thought of not being able to hang out with her new friends as much anymore. "I know we can't hang out all the time, but I was really hoping we'd have more time to spend on our cutie mark adventures." The farm filly thought to herself, as she made her way into town, trotting the familiar path to Sweet Apple Acres.
But as Apple Bloom trotted along, she found it hard not to notice something. Usually the streets of Ponyville were very busy in the early afternoon, ponies of all sizes and species would be trotting to and fro, and various stands would be set up offering all sorts of products. It had become so common that Apple Bloom had gotten used to the sounds of ponies chattering, laughing, and sometimes arguing with each other. Today was different.
For some reason, the streets of Ponyville were completely empty. There wasn't a single pony anywhere in sight, and not a sound to be heard. Apple Bloom found this quite odd. "Today's a lovely day, Rainbow Dash actually woke up early and cleared away the clouds for once," She said to herself, her voice easily carrying amidst the abandoned streets. "Where could everypony be? Is there some kind of holiday goin' on that I don't know about? Is everypony plannin' some kind of surprise party or somethin'?" She gulped as the next words left her mouth very slowly. "Or maybe it's zombie ponies?" A noticeable shiver ran down the filly's spine as soon as she had spoken those words.
Apple Bloom looked around, something was definitely not right. The doors and windows of every building in Ponyville were shut, giving the impression of a ghost town instead of a thriving melting pot of ponies and non-ponies alike. "Hello? Is anypony there?" Apple Bloom called, but the only response was the wind as it blew past her in a gentle breeze, a lone dust ball tumbling past.
Suddenly, Apple Bloom's ears picked up the faint sound of breathing! Someone or something was out there! Who or what Apple Bloom didn't know, and to be honest she could care less! All she knew was that she was not alone! So without hesitation, the filly dashed towards the source of the breathing! But when she finally laid eyes upon on who it was coming from, she froze in her tracks! Standing just a few hoofsteps away was a mysterious figure whose face was obscured by a thick brown cloak, which also covered the figure's back and most of its legs (though Apple Bloom could see enough to determine that the figure had only four). "H-hello?" Apple Bloom greeted, hoping to catch the figure's attention.
The figure seemed to notice Apple Bloom's call, for it suddenly turned around and faced the farm filly, casting a glare that seemed to penetrate deep in the soul of the one it was focused on! Apple Bloom didn't bother to stick around to see what was underneath that cloak, she instantly turned around and ran, screaming at the top of her lungs! "No wonder everypony's disappeared," She thought to herself, her heart racing a mile a minute. "With a creature as scary as that, out on the streets is the last place a pony should be!" And she began to look for a place to hide!
Apple Bloom hadn't been running for very long when a voice suddenly called out to her! "Psst!" It whispered.
Apple Bloom froze in her tracks, but she couldn't see anyone. Even the mysterious cloaked figure from earlier seemed to have disappeared. But just as Apple Bloom was about to shrug off that whisper and head home, it came again. This time it was a little louder. "Psst! Apple Bloom, over here!" It called out.
Now Apple Bloom knew she wasn't imaging things, and it sounded like the whisper was coming from Sugarcube Corner. The filly carefully trotted closer. Sure enough, the whisper was coming from Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie to be precise. "Apple Bloom, in here, quickly!" Pinkie frantically whispered.
Against her better judgement, Apple Bloom obeyed. She trotted up the steps and dashed inside Sugarcube Corner as quickly as her legs would let her. Almost immediately, she noticed that all the lights were off and only Pinkie Pie could be seen amidst the inky darkness. "What's goin' on, Pinkie Pie?" The farm filly asked. "And what are ya doin' all alone in the dark?"
"Oh, I'm not alone in the dark, silly." Pinkie replied with a chuckle, and opened the curtains just a little. The amount of sunshine that seeped in allowed Apple Bloom to recognize all of her classmates, and a couple of adults.
Apple Bloom blinked and rubbed her eyes. No, she wasn't seeing things. "Uh, what are ya all doin' here? If this is supposed to be a surprise party, my birthday's not for several weeks still." She said to everypony gathered.
"This isn't a party, we're hiding!" Scootaloo protested, to which all the colts and fillies nodded.
"Hidin' from who? Is this some kind of game?" Apple Bloom asked.
Scootaloo groaned and pointed her hoof to the window. "Her!" She accusingly exclaimed.
Apple Bloom looked towards where Scootaloo's hoof was pointing, and she nearly gasped in surprise! There was the same cloaked figure from earlier, and said figure was now mysteriously digging at the ground with what looked like a hoof. Before Apple Bloom had a chance to say anything though, the figure removed the hood of the cloak, revealing a creature with fur in alternating stripes of white and black. "Is that a zebra?" She asked, recognizing the creature from picture books she had read.
"She goes by the name of Zecora, or at least that's what everypony says," Sweetie Belle replied. "I don't really get why she looks like that, Rarity would surely consider black and white stripes a terrible fashion choice."
"Zecora, huh? Don't see why everypony seems so afraid of her. She's different, but I don't see why that's such a bad thing." Apple Bloom innocently commented.
All of the colts and fillies gasped in shock, they could not believe Apple Bloom had stated such a thing! "Have you been living under a rock for the past few weeks or something?!" Ruby Pinch complained. "Zecora's an enchantress, whatever that means!"
"She lives in the Everfree Forest, and she only comes down here every so often for reasons nopony wants to find out!" Dinky Doo added. "The only reason my mom found out is because on one of her mail delivery rounds, she saw Zecora heading into the Everfree Forest. She says she overheard her mention something about a hut or something."
"It's true, Derpy wouldn't stop talking about it for weeks," Rainbow Dash replied, sounding noticeably frustrated. "She just kept going on and on like a broken record about that hut. I didn't think she'd ever shut up! Normally her energy isn't so bad but these past few weeks it's been quite frustrating to say the least."
"So, this 'Zecora' lives in the Everfree Forest in a hut, and that's why everypony's so scared of her?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Uh-huh." The colts and fillies nodded one by one.
"She's so creepy and mysterious that I've heard lots of stories about her," Pinkie added. "Heck, I even wrote a song about her."
"Oh boy, here we go." Rainbow Dash sarcastically replied. But Pinkie didn't seem to mind the complaint, she just began to dance as she sang:
She's an evil enchantress
And she does evil dances.
And if you look deep in her eyes
She puts you in trances!
Then what will she do?
She'll mix up an evil brew!
Then she'll gobble you up
In a big, tasty stew!
SO, WATCH OUT!
Pinkie concluded her song by standing on one of the tables, raising her front hooves into the air, and panting. For a moment, everypony was silent, before Apple Bloom commented. "Wow... that's... uh... catchy... I think. But, you don't actually believe any of that stuff, do you?" She asked Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, hoping that she wasn't the only pony who wasn't convinced Zecora was so creepy.
"It all sounds like good ghost story material, but even for ghost stories it sounds a bit too silly," Pinkie confessed. "I just keep things dark because nopony else really bothers to come around when Zecora shows up. No sense keeping the lights on if nopony's in the mood for tasty treats."
Rainbow Dash just shrugged. "A little hard to say for certain either way when you don't even live on the ground."
"If she lives in the Everfree Forest, it's no concern of mine. But I've tried to talkin' to her and she doesn't seem interested in chit chattin'," Applejack confessed. "Probably why she chooses to live in the Everfree Forest in the first place."
"Well, I think it's completely ridiculous," Twilight finally spoke up, a noticeable frown on her face. "I get that she's a stranger, but isn't everypony technically a stranger until you get to know them? I mean, what have any of you ever actually seen Zecora do?"
"Well, every so often she comes into Ponyville." Ruby Pinch explained.
"Oooooh." Twilight exclaimed in an overly dramatic tone.
"Y-yeah. And then, she lurks by the stores." Dinky Doo added.
"Oh, my." Twilight exclaimed, once again in an overly dramatic tone.
"And then, she just digs at the ground for a bit." Truffle Shuffle finished.
"Good gracious!" Twilight exclaimed, yet again in an overly dramatic tone. Then in a normal tone she added. "I'm sorry. But how is any of this bad? Maybe she comes to town to visit?"
"You think so?" Apple Bloom asked, she really wasn't sure what to think of Zecora. She was glad to see none of the grown-ups she knew believed Zecora was evil, but she had to admit her classmates had a point about Zecora's aloof and mysterious nature. If the zebra really wasn't bad, why did she live in the Everfree Forest and avoid everypony?
"The only way anypony would know for sure is if they were to approach Zecora and get her attention." Twilight affirmatively replied.
"That doesn't sound so bad, all anypony would have to do is just go find that hut of hers and pay her a visit," Apple Bloom suggested. "Heck, I'll bet I could do it."
Applejack quickly shot down Apple Bloom's suggestion. "Absolutely not, Apple Bloom! You know the Everfree Forest is a dangerous place! It ain't natural! Plants grow, animals take care of themselves, and clouds move all on their own! If Zecora chooses to live there, she probably knows how to take care of herself in spite of those problems! But that doesn't mean you can just go waltizin' in there to look for her!"
"But Applejack, you've been in the Everfree Forest before and you turned out alright!" Apple Bloom protested.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I liked goin' in there in the first place!" Applejack replied, sounding noticeably angry. "There's all kinds of dangerous creatures that call that place home! Manticores, ursa minors, ursa majors, I could go on and on."
"Besides, Zecora lives there! Do you really want to find her if there's even a chance that she might be evil?" Sweetie Belle asked, shuddering slightly at the very thought.
"Honestly, I don't see any proof that she's evil. Sounds like everypony's just makin' a big deal out of nothin'." Apple Bloom replied, even though she wasn't too sure of her statement.
"That's only 'cause you don't know what ponies are saying about her," Truffle Shuffle protested. "They say she eats hay."
"Uh, I eat hay, and you eat hay! We all eat hay!" Twilight corrected.
"Yeah, but I've heard about the evil way she eats hay!" Truffle Shuffle immediately replied.
Twilight groaned and face hoofed. "Okay, now you're just being completely ridiculous! There is no evil way to eat hay! Do you even realize how stupid that sounds?! If anything, the fact that Zecora eats hay means she's like us in more ways than we think. It's true, I've read about how ponies and zebras are part of the same family of creatures."
"If that's true, why does Zecora live in the Everfree Forest?" Scootaloo innocently asked. "You have to admit, that's pretty suspicious for someone like her."
"So what if she lives in the Everfree Forest?" Twilight replied, trying to keep her anger under control. "Until you know for sure you can't actually say Zecora is evil."
"But how's anypony supposed to find out what she's actually like? She only really comes into town once a month and even then she doesn't stay for long." Noi protested.
"That's a discussion that's best left to the grown-ups," Applejack seriously declared. "Now come on, it's high time ya'll went home to your folks. I'm sure they're worried sick about ya. Zecora's probably already left." And she was right, the zebra had disappeared, presumably back into the Everfree Forest she seemed to call home.
As Apple Bloom followed her sister home, she couldn't help but think to herself. "What if my classmates are right after all? What if Zecora really is an evil enchantress?" But she never mentioned this to any of her family members, largely because she wasn't sure they could help her. The grown-ups had proven before that they didn't have all the answers, but did that mean that the colts and fillies were any better?
Reluctantly, Apple Bloom decided to sleep on these concerns. But even in sleep she did not know peace, her concerns about Zecora manifested themselves in vivid nightmares. She dreamed of Zecora laughing wickedly, of innocent ponies running and screaming, and of crazy magic spells the likes of which nopony had ever seen.
Apple Bloom woke up the next morning and made her way to school, hoping to maybe forget about Zecora for a while. "She can't really be an evil enchantress, can she?" She wondered to herself, as she made her way up the steps and into the school house.
As usual, the first item of importance for every school day was attendance. Cheerilee stood at her desk with a sheet of paper and read off the names of her students in alphabetical order. Each colt and filly she called raised their hoof and answered "Here.", and Cheerilee checked their name off the list.
But when Cheerilee got to Twist, there was silence. Twist was clearly sitting at her desk, but she hadn't said a word since she'd arrived. "Twist, is there a reason why you can't speak?" Cheerilee asked the filly, her eyebrows slightly slanted. She didn't want to be hard on a filly who might have a sore throat, but she also didn't want to fall for the possibility that one of her students might be playing tricks on her.
Twist remained silent, even as Cheerilee and the rest of the class stared at her. Beads of sweat worked their way down the filly's face, but she seemed determined not to speak no matter what.
Adopting a gentler tone of voice, Cheerilee softened her expression and said to Twist. "If there's something you want to talk to me about after class that's fine, but I can't help you if you don't speak up. I know some ponies laugh at the way you speak, but that's no reason to just clam up. Please, just open your mouth and say something. Anything. I'll even take a rude comment if it'll get you to start talking."
That unexpected offering seemed to do the trick, for Twist suddenly opened her mouth and in a squeaky, high pitched voice she asked. "Really?" She quickly realized her mistake, and clamped a hoof over her mouth, but it was too late! Ponies stared at Twist for a moment, before several of them started giggling and laughing.
"What's wrong with your voice? You sound like you inhaled a whole tank of helium or something!" Ruby Pinch chortled.
But Apple Bloom wasn't laughing at Twist, she was too focused on what nopony else seemed to have noticed. "Your lisp, it's gone!" She exclaimed.
"I know," Twist replied, continuing to speak in her high pitched, squeaky voice. "I don't know what happened to my voice, honest. I went to bed just fine, but when I woke up this morning my voice was squeaky and high pitched." She blushed bright red and covered her mouth with her hooves to keep herself from speaking anymore.
Cheerilee quickly silenced the giggles of the rest of the colts and fillies by clearing her throat and tapping her ruler against her desk. "That's quite enough, children," She told them quite sternly. "Just because Twist's voice changed doesn't mean you can make fun of her for it. Now, if you'll kindly refrain from any further 'interruptions' let us begin today's lesson."
The children refrained from saying anything about Twist's new voice during class, but as soon as lunch recess was announced and all of them filed outside, Twist was all they could talk about.
"You think Twist is telling the truth about her voice changing overnight?" Noi asked to nopony in particular, in between bites of her peanut butter sandwich.
"Probably, I mean why would she have any reason to lie? She almost never leaves her aunt's sweet shop anymore," Ruby Pinch replied, munching on some crackers and oats. "You wanna know what I think? I think that wicked enchantress Zecora changed her voice! She probably put a curse on her as a warning to the rest of us!"
"A curse?!" Truffle Shuffle gasped. "But what did Twist ever do to Zecora to do deserve being cursed?!"
Ruby Pinch put down her apple and gritted her teeth. "She's an evil enchantress, she doesn't need a reason! She just likes to put curses on ponies for the fun of it! It's only a matter of time before she curses us as well!"
Sweetie Belle gulped. "Do you really think so?!"
Ruby Pinch nodded. "Zecora's probably already whiping up incantations in that hut of hers, I'll just bet she's going to come after all of us eventually. Heck, she probably won't stop there. She won't stop until she's cursed the entire town with her voodoo magic!"
"Have you all lost your marbles?!" Diamond Tiara complained. "You should hear yourselves! Everypony knows there's no such thing as curses or hexes! Twist probably just went to Sugarcube Corner for a Pinkie Pie party and didn't tell any of us."
"If there was a Pinkie Pie Party, we'd know about it," Ruby Pinch replied with a glare, practically nopony ever really believed anything Diamond had to say. "Just because you don't believe in curses doesn't mean they don't exist! What's next, you gonna say Santa Hooves isn't real?" Everypony but Diamond got a good laugh out of that.
Diamond rolled her eyes. "I'm surrounded by idiots," She said outloud. "My daddy is a very smart pony, he runs the most successful business in Ponyville. And if he says there's no such thing as curses, then that's good enough for me."
"You're such a daddy's girl!" Scootaloo taunted.
"I am not!" Diamond protested quite loudly, she always hated it whenever anypony talked badly about her relationship with her father. She loved being his little princess. "I just happen to have a little something called 'Common Sense'. Maybe you should try it sometime."
"Uh, I don't know, Di..." Silver Spoon nervously replied, tapping her gal pal lightly with a hoof. "I mean... what if everypony's right about this? How else do you explain Twist's voice suddenly changing overnight? That doesn't just happen."
Diamond groaned in frustration. "Not you too, Silver Spoon. I thought you were better than that," Barely resisting the urge to bang her head on the picnic bench she was sitting at, the pink coated filly directed her cornflower blue eyes towards all of the colts and fillies. "Seriously, what's it gonna take for you all to stop talking about these silly curses?"
As soon as those words had left Diamond Tiara's mouth, a light bulb went off inside Apple Bloom's head. "That's it!" She realized. "If I can't go find out for myself if Zecora's evil or not, maybe I can make Diamond Tiara do it for me!" Against her better judgement the farm filly then said to the bully. "How 'bout you prove it? You go into the Everfree Forest today after class and look for Zecora's hut. Then bring back somethin' that'll prove once and for all what she really is. And if she's not an evil enchantress, then we'll gladly admit you were right all along and you can gloat as much as you like."
"Are you crazy, Apple Bloom?!" Scootaloo exclaimed, eyeing her friend as if she were a total stranger. "You want to give Diamond Tiara yet another reason to rub it in our faces about how much better she is than us?!"
"Hey, if it means we can finally get some answers about Zecora then I say Apple Bloom's idea might just be crazy enough to work," Sweetie Belle replied, then she added. "Plus, if Zecora really is an evil enchantress, then that means she'll probably put a curse on Diamond Tiara and shut her up for us. It's a win either way."
"I'll just pretend I didn't hear that last bit," Diamond snorted. "If you ponies want proof I'll gladly give you proof! Just be prepared to start admitting how wrong you were when I show you the truth about Zecora."
And so it was that, as soon as school had concluded for the day, everypony followed Diamond Tiara to the edge of the Everfree Forest. Most of them were doubtful she'd actually go through with her plan, but they still wanted to see what would happen.
Diamond trotted forward, putting one hoof into the forest entrance. Nopony said a word, they just waited with baited breath. There was a long silence, only interrupted by the faint breeze and the occasional animal call.
"Well?" Sweetie Belle asked, finally daring to break the silence.
"Well what?" Diamond angrily replied, not bothering to look at Sweetie Belle.
"You actually gonna do it, or you just gonna chicken out and go home?" Snips taunted.
"Maybe she just doesn't want to get eaten by some kind of monster or something." Snails suggested, remembering his own experience with the dangerous creatures of the Everfree Forest.
"If she does, would it be a bad thing if I said it served her right for being a brat?" Scootaloo asked in as innocently a tone as she could muster.
"I heard that you feather brain!" Diamond growled, her teeth clenching in fury that was anything but subtle. "You've got some nerve saying that to me!"
"Feather brain?!" Scootaloo exclaimed, her wings buzzing out in frustration. "Why you little-"
Apple Bloom quickly jumped out in front of Scootaloo and shook her head. "Just ignore her. You won't prove anythin' if you pick a fight with her now."
"That, and we know who'd win," Diamond taunted. "But by all means, go ahead. I'll tell my daddy on you if you do."
Scootaloo wasn't intimidated by Tiara's threat, but even so she reluctantly knew that picking a fight with her was a bad idea. Reluctantly, she said to the spoiled filly. "Just get going already, either step into the forest or leave, I don't care."
"If it'll get you to shut up, I'll go! This'll just take five minutes, ten minutes top!" Tiara boasted, and with that the pink coated filly reluctantly trotted into the Everfree Forest, before long she could no longer see or hear any of her classmates. In fact, all she could see, were trees so tall that they blocked out the sunlight completely.
Now, everypony in Ponyville knows that going into the Everfree Forest by yourself is something you should never do no matter what! Even the most careless of ponies obeyed that unwritten rule, and Tiara knew this fact very well. It didn't take long for her to regret ever opening her big mouth, but she was not about to admit defeat. "I'll find some proof Zecora's not a threat even if it takes me all day and all night to get out." She told herself, while her eyes scanned the horizon for any trace of the zebra, or the alleged hut that she lived in.
Diamond searched, and searched, and searched. But minutes ticked by and she found nothing. The pink coated filly quickly realized just how much she was in over her head. "Hello?" She called out, hoping that someone would hear her.
In the distance there came an unfamiliar and ominous voice that sounded like nothing Tiara had ever heard before in her life. "Beware, beware young pony folk. For those leaves of blue are no joke." The voice warned. Was it Tiara's imagination, or did it seem like the voice had come from a cloaked figure that looked almost zebra like?
The figure retreated into the fog before Tiara had a chance to see who it was, and against her better judgement she ran after it. "Wait, come back! Don't leave me here by myself!" She pleaded in the most drastic tone she could muster up. Diamond was never one to beg, but under the current circumstances all she cared about was getting home. If begging meant that would be accomplished sooner, she was willing to reluctantly swallow her pride and do so. There was no reply, but Tiara pressed on anyway. Deeper and deeper into the forest she trotted, the darkness only increasing as the sun began to set.
Now Diamond was starting to lose her composure, The Everfree Forest was dangerous enough in the day time, but at night it became even more dangerous. "Hello? Is anyone out there?!" She frantically called out. "Please, I just need help finding my way back to Ponyville! I'm lost!" But again the forest gave no reply, no acknowledgement that there was anyone there but her! It was only when the pink coated filly finally collapsed from exhaustion, the cloaked figure she had indeed spotted sooner came to her rescue.
Without saying a word, the figure quickly scooped up the filly and carried her away.
All of the colts and fillies had stayed at the edge of the Everfree Forest all day, waiting for Diamond Tiara to come back out. When she never did and the sun began to set, they had all set off for home. All of them (or at least most of them) were worried about the filly, even if they wouldn't admit it. But they also knew better than to try and wander into the Everfree Forest by night to search for somepony.
Even so, Apple Bloom couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving Tiara behind. "If I'd kept my big mouth shut she wouldn't be lost in the first place," She thought to herself, as she entered the classroom the next morning. "I sure hope Diamond Tiara somehow got home okay. She might be pretty bad, but that doesn't mean she deserves to be lost in that spooky forest for ages."
Everypony took their seats as usual, though Silver Spoon did so reluctantly. With Diamond Tiara's whereabouts still unknown, she had become withdrawn and shy, not daring to say a word to anypony. Either because she was really worried about the pony she considered her best friend, or because she felt that with Diamond missing, she was the next target of scorn for the colts and fillies of Ponyville Elementary.
Cheerilee was just about to begin roll call, when to everypony's surprise Diamond Tiara stumbled in! There were noticeable bags under her eyes, and her mane and tail looked disheveled, as if she hadn't bothered to brush them after getting out of bed. Needless to say, there was a collective series of gasps from all of the children!
Silver Spoon practically leaped for joy upon seeing her friend again! "I knew you'd come back, that Everfree Forest is no match for you!" She exclaimed, embracing her friend in a hug.
Diamond returned the hug, but said nothing. She seemed to make an effort to say nothing at all as she took her seat, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the class.
"So what happened to you, yesterday?" Snips asked in an innocent tone.
"Did you find any proof that Zecora is an evil enchantress bent on cursing us all?" Ruby Pinch added.
Diamond did not respond to either question, aside from shaking her head at Ruby's comment.
"Hey, what's with you being quiet all of a sudden?!" Scootaloo demanded of Tiara. "I don't buy for one second that you're not going to rub your victory in our faces! Now talk, what did you find out yesterday and why are you acting so weird? Come on, say something! Call me a feather brain again, I won't mind it, I promise."
Tiara finally opened her mouth, but instead of words all that was heard out of her was a simple "Woof.".
"Uh, what was that? If you're trying to trick me by acting like a dog, cut it out!" Scootaloo protested. "You can think I'm stupid, just don't talk to me like I'm stupid."
As if in response to Scootaloo's comments, Tiara opened her mouth again. "Woof, woof. Woof, woof, woof." She barked quite furiously.
Just like with Twist it didn't take long for all the children in the classroom (except for Silver Spoon, Twist, and Apple Bloom) to start laughing. "I'm sorry, I don't speak dog." Truffle Shuffle teased.
"I guess you can say your voice has gone to the dogs, eh, Diamond Tiara?" Sweetie Belle snickered, putting a hoof to her mouth in a vain attempt to stop further giggles.
"What's the matter?" Scootaloo said to Diamond Tiara in between fits of laughter. "Cat got your tongue? Or should I say: Dog got your tongue? Get it?" She proceeded to laugh so hard that she fell out of her seat and tears even began to form in her eyes.
The laughing fit went on and on until Cheerilee furiously stomped her hooves and whinyed loudly! That got everypony's attention, and when they looked at Cheerilee they were terrified! She looked about ready to charge, her eyes were narrowed and steam was blowing out of her nostrils! That quickly clammed everypony up. Clearing her throat, Cheerilee sternly lectured. "That's quite enough of that, children. And Scootaloo, you can spend your lunch period writing about how wrong it is to make fun of somepony for the way they speak, at least one hundred times on the blackboard."
"Ah man!" Scootaloo complained.
"Well, maybe that will teach you to think twice before you make fun of somepony like that," Cheerilee scolded. "As for the rest of you, I'm very disappointed in you all. You should know better then that. Now then, Diamond Tiara.... why don't you go see the school nurse, okay?"
Clamping a hoof over her mouth, Tiara nodded in obedience and dashed out of the classroom.
As soon as Tiara had left, Cheerilee turned her attention back to the class. "I think you all need a reminder of how to treat other ponies with kindness," She seriously spoke. "Now then, open your history books and turn to page fifty five. And I DON'T want to hear any more rude remarks about Diamond Tiara's condition, understand?"
The colts and fillies gulped. "Yes, Miss. Cheerilee." They reluctantly replied.
When class was dismissed later that day, Apple Bloom could only think about one thing, and that was the guilt she thought she carried for causing Diamond Tiara to end up the way she was now. Tiara had shook her head no when asked if she'd found any evidence that proved Zecora was an enchantress, but Apple Bloom felt that Diamond's current condition couldn't be explained any other way. And that meant there was only one thing to do!
"Apple Bloom, wait up!" Sweetie Belle called, as she and Scootaloo followed their friend to the edge of the Everfree Forest.
"Are you crazy?! You know you're not supposed to go into the Everfree Forest by yourself!" Scootaloo added, attracting Apple Bloom's attention.
Apple Bloom turned to her friends and told them. "But this is all my fault. I was the one that suggested Diamond Tiara go into the forest in the first place. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be barkin' like a dog right now. I have to find Zecora and make her undo whatever it is she did to Diamond Tiara, maybe even get her to undo whatever she did to Twist. Even if she's not an enchantress, she's bound to know how to turn everypony back to normal."
"But what if you get lost, or worse?" Sweetie Belle asked with concern.
"Or what if Zecora puts a curse on you as well?" Scootaloo added. "Come on, let's just go home. I'm sure within a week everything will be back to normal, and Diamond Tiara will be back to her usual bratty self."
Apple Bloom didn't listen, she just trotted further and further towards the forest entrance. Any hesitation she might have normally had, was replaced by determination. Determination to get to the bottom of things and hopefully make everything right.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle tried to call out to Apple Bloom again, but she didn't reply or even acknowledge their presence. Not willing to leave their friend and fellow crusader alone, the two fillies reluctantly took off after her, following her into the Everfree Forest.
"You girls didn't have to come along ya know," Apple Bloom complained, as the three fillies trotted through the foliage. "I can manage just fine by myself, I'm not a baby."
"Are you kidding? We crusaders have to stick together, no matter what!" Scootaloo said serious, her wings buzzing at the statement.
Sweetie Belle, for her part, looked all around. She was quite worried, everywhere she looked she could see nothing but trees. "So, uh, what's the plan?" She nervously asked.
"Simple, we find that hut or whatever it is that Zecora calls home and confront her," Apple Bloom seriously replied, taking the lead. "And we don't leave until we get some answers and a way to turn everypony back to normal."
"You really sure we should be doing this?" Sweetie Belle asked, shaking ever so slightly. "I mean, this place is dangerous. Maybe we should just turn around now and go back? Nopony will ever have to know about this but us."
"Come on, don't be such a baby," Scootaloo said to Sweetie Belle. "We've got to be brave, like Rainbow Dash. She's not afraid of anything."
"And neither is Applejack!" Apple Bloom boldly proclaimed, before she spotted a cloaked figure in the distance, obscured by a mysterious fog. "Look, there's Zecora!" She shouted.
If the zebra was at all concerned about the crusaders spotting her, she didn't show it. She simply retreated back into the fog while shouting to them. "Beware, beware, you young pony folk. For I tell you, those leaves of blue are not a joke. I ask that you please listen to me. Heed my warnings, turn around and flee!"
"You and your curses are the ones that better beware, Zecora!" Scootaloo bellowed, even as Zecora vanished from sight.
"Come on, girls! We can't let her get away!" Apple Bloom shouted, racing towards the fog. "Follow me!"
The three fillies trotted deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest for what felt like ages. But at last they came upon a tree that had a door and a window carved out of its trunk. A strange green glow was coming from the window, which quickly attracted the fillies' attention. They scrambled to the window, but it was too high up for them to see through it.
"Now what will we do?" Sweetie Belle asked, before she heard the sound of leaves rustling and hooves clip clopping on the forest floor. She gasped! "It's Zecora! Quick, hide!" She dove into a nearby bush and pulled her friends in, just seconds before Zecora came trotting past.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched from the safety of their bush, as Zecora trotted right up to the door and went inside, locking it shut behind her. She began to chant something in a language that the fillies couldn't understand, but it sounded rather creepy.
"I have an idea!" Scootaloo suggested, and whispered it to her fellow crusaders. "Sweetie Belle, you get on top of Apple Bloom, then I'll climb up and use my wings to boost me up to the window."
"But I thought you said you couldn't fly yet?" Sweetie Belle asked Scootaloo.
"And I still can't just yet, but I can buzz my wings enough to lift me off the ground for a few seconds. And a few seconds should be all I need," Scootaloo explained. "Now come on, it's the only way we're gonna find out what Zecora's up to."
Reluctantly, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle did as Scootaloo requested, the two fillies found it hard to keep their balance but somehow they managed. Jumping up into the air, Scootaloo strained herself a little, but managed to buzz her wings enough to give her some upward momentum. And that proved to be all she needed to reach the window ledge, and grab hold of it. Her back legs still dangled, but her front legs firmly clenched the window ledge, allowing the tomboyish pegasus to peer into the room.
"Scootaloo, what's goin' on in there? Can ya see anythin'?" Apple Bloom called.
"Hang on, give me a second," Scootaloo called back, before she began to scan the room. Her eyes immediately noticed a couple of wooden masks that lay scattered on the ground, they looked like nothing Scootaloo had ever seen before and even looked like they were staring into the filly's soul. Then her eyes spotted a rack with all kinds of bottles and jars, their contents unknown. But most noticeably of all, the filly spotted a giant black cauldron in the center of the room. "There's all kinds of creepy, voodoo stuff in here. And a giant cauldron of some kind," She whispered to her friends. "Wait, I see Zecora! She seems to be chanting something."
"What's she saying?" Sweetie Belle nervously asked her friend.
"I don't know, it's in some kind of foreign language that I don't speak." Scootaloo replied.
Seemingly unaware that she was being watched, Zecora poured an entire jar of some unknown substance into her cauldron. She chanted for a little bit, before she looked at the cauldron and said to herself. "Ah yes, this is the right temperature for ponies, I presume. Now then, where did those fillies get to?"
Scootaloo gasped, and in her shock she lost her grip on the window sill! She fell to the ground with a thud, fortunately she wasn't harmed. Rushing over to her friends she shouted at them. "Zecora's trying to cook us in a stew!"
"What?!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shouted together.
"Come on, we've gotta stop her!" Scootaloo shouted, rushing to the door. "No one's turning the Cutie Mark Crusaders into zebra food!"
Reluctantly, Apple Bloom realized that if Scootaloo had seen and heard those things, they must be true. Zecora really was an evil enchantress. So she joined her friends in rushing to the door and with a mighty kick, the farm filly knocked it down!
"It's over, Zecora! We won't let you eat us!" Sweetie Belle shouted at the top of her lungs.
"You messed with the wrong ponies!" Scootaloo added, as she and Sweetie Belle rushed to the cauldron. It proved difficult to budge. "Apple Bloom, give us a hoof here!" Scootaloo called.
Apple Bloom looked at Zecora and said to the zebra. "I didn't want to believe you were evil but the evidence speaks for itself!" Then she rushed to join her friends, and despite Zecora shouting protests in the language they couldn't understand, they eventually managed to knock the cauldron over and spill it!
Zecora was horrified! "No!" She exclaimed, her voice shaking the room and causing some of the bottles and jars on the shelf to tip over. "Young ponies, you know not what you do! Now you've gone and spilled my lovely brew!" She complained.
"Serves you right for trying to eat us!" Scootaloo stubbornly protested. "Now talk, why are you trying to eat us?! What did we ever do to you to deserve this?!"
"And what did you do to Twist and Diamond Tiara?!" Sweetie Belle demanded.
"What?!" Zecora angrily snorted, her eyebrows narrowing. "You barge in here and ruin my work! Yet you dare accuse ME of being a jerk?!"
"Don't try to confuse the issue, we want answers and we want 'em now!" Apple Bloom stubbornly protested. "I held out hope that you weren't so evil, but everythin' I've seen and heard is proof that you really as evil as everypony says you are! Now change Twist and Diamond Tiara back to normal!"
"Young ponies, it is very unwise to venture down this road!" Zecora warned, glaring at her intruders. "Your actions will only make my anger explode!"
"That supposed to scare us or something?" Scootaloo mocked. "Just give the answers we want and we'll leave you alone."
"That's quite enough of that, young mares!" A familiar voiced called out, soon revealing itself as Twilight who looked rather unhappy if the slant to her eyebrows and the frown on her face was any indication. And standing beside her was Applejack, who also looked most unhappy.
"Twilight, what are you doin' here?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Funny, I could ask you all the same question," Twilight replied in an unhappy tone. "You three have a lot of explaining to do."
Applejack glared at Apple Bloom and furiously shouted. "Just what in tarnation were you thinkin' runnin' off into the Everfree Forest with your friends?! Didn't I tell you the forest was too dangerous for a pony like yourself?!"
Apple Bloom gulped, suddenly feeling much smaller. "I was just tryin' to find out how to undo the curses Zecora put on Twist and Diamond Tiara that made 'em talk so funny."
Twilight, Applejack, and Zecora stared at the fillies for a moment. Then they all threw back their heads and laughed.
"What's so funny?" Sweetie Belle asked the grown-ups.
Zecora was the first one to speak when the laughter had died down. "If you will remember a while back, those words I said were quite exact." She told them.
"Uh, what do you mean?" Scootaloo asked, scratching her head in confusion.
"Maybe it's better to show you than to tell you," Twilight replied, and used her magic to levitate over a book displaying a picture of a strange, blue leafed plant. "Do you see this plant here? It's called poison joke."
"It is similar to poison oak, but its effects are simply a practical joke." Zecora explained.
It took a moment for those words to sink in, but once they did everything suddenly made sense for the three fillies. "Oh." They realized.
"That's why Diamond Tiara and Twist were talking the way they did," Twilight told the crusaders. "Diamond Tiara stepped in some poison joke yesterday while she was wandering the forest on her own. It's a good thing Zecora found her when she did and brought her home."
Apple Bloom breathed a small sigh of relief, even as a whole new wave of guilt washed over her. She didn't want to think about what might have happened if Zecora hadn't found Diamond Tiara.
"So Zecora was trying to warn us!" Sweetie Belle realized. "She was trying to tell us to watch out for the poison joke! But, what about Twist? She didn't go anywhere near the Everfree Forest, how did she end up coming into contact with the poison joke?"
"Well actually, I had a talk with Twist's aunt. And it turns out that Twist actually did go into the Everfree Forest," Applejack explained. "She was collectin' leaves for her aunt's favorite tea. But she decided to do it on her own instead of askin' her aunt to go with her. Needless to say, her folks ain't too happy about that."
"Is there any way that poison joke's effects can be cured?" Apple Bloom asked, hopefully.
Twilight and Applejack nodded. "A special herbal bath," Twilight told the fillies. "Zecora came to see me today because every time she comes into town, all the stores carrying the plants and supplies she needs are mysteriously closed."
"And indeed, that cure was what was in my brew. But now it has been spilled thanks to the likes of you." Zecora added.
"That explains the cauldron and those words were you saying," Scootaloo realized. "But what about the chanting, and the masks?"
"Treasures of the native land where I am from. This mask means 'hello', and this one means 'welcome'," Zecora explained. "As for the chanting, they are words from olden times. But it's something you ponies might call a nursery rhyme."
"Oh." Was all Scootaloo could bring herself to say.
"Gosh, I feel so stupid now," Apple Bloom complained. "If I hadn't jumped to conclusions like that, we could've avoided all of this. And now I've ruined the only chance Twist and Diamond Tiara have of goin' back to normal."
But Twilight smiled as she said to Apple Bloom. "It's alright, Zecora and I have been working with the spa to develop a poison joke remedy on a larger scale. And I just got word from Aloe and Lotus that the first batch of the cure has been successfully tested. Twist and Diamond Tiara are back to their usual selves."
"So then, why was Zecora makin' another batch of that herbal bath?" Apple Bloom asked. "None of us feel any different."
"Poison joke's a delayed reaction," Applejack replied. "You may feel fine now, but in a couple of hours you might start breakin' out in spots or find yourself growin' an extra tail or two. Chances are you three ended up unintentionally steppin' in some poison joke on your way here. It's pretty easy to miss if you're not payin' attention."
"But if I have some help cleaning up my spilled brew, I should have time to mix up another just for the three of you." Zecora suggested, looking at the three fillies.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked around, they were reluctant to say yes due to how much of a mess they had made. But Apple Bloom simply said. "I guess that's a fittin' punishment considerin' we jumped to conclusions," Looking up at Zecora the farm filly added. "And Zecora, we're sorry we judged you without gettin' to know you. I guess we were all just so fearful of you 'cause we didn't know you, and that caused us to start makin' up rumors."
"It is quite alright, my dear Apple Bloom," Zecora reassured the filly, patting her on the head. "Mistakes can be made by me or by you. But maybe next time you will take a second look, and know not to judge the cover of a book."
"Yeah, I sure won't make that mistake ever again, I hope," Apple Bloom replied. "Now come on, crusaders! Maybe cleanin' up this place will get us our cutie marks! It's worth a shot don't ya think?!"
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shrugged, and reluctantly along with Apple Bloom they set to work on cleaning up Zecora's hut.
"Oh, and one more thing, Apple Bloom," Applejack added. "You ever go off into the Everfree Forest again without tellin' me, I'll tell Big Macintosh on you. And I can imagine he'll have quite a few choice words for your behavior."
It was night time at Sweet Apple Acres, and everypony was fast asleep. But all of a sudden, the peace and quiet was interrupted by the sound of howling far off in the distance.
And then there came the sound of pots and pans banging over and over again, that was enough to get everypony to wake up. The source of the disturbance soon revealed itself to be Granny Smith, who was running about shouting, "The timberwolves are a-howlin'! The timberwolves are a-howlin'!" over and over again. "The zap apples are comin'! The zap apples are comin'!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh all cheered. They knew what Granny Smith was talking about, zap apple season had arrived! "Yay, the zap apples are comin'!" They happily shouted.
"That's what I said," Granny Smith called back. "And I got a feelin' this is gonna be the best zap apple season yet." Little did Granny Smith know that she was right, it really was going to be the best zap apple season the Apple family had ever known. But not for the reasons Granny Smith thought.
The entire Apple family had to pitch in for zap apple season, the zap apples were quite demanding and had to be harvested just right in order to ensure quality.
Granny Smith knew all about this, so she began to boss around the other Apple family members. Before long you could hear her starting to shout out commands such as "Hey, silly goose! Quit your gawkin' and move your caboose!" whenever she noticed Big Macintosh starring at the zap apple trees instead of helping out.
Big Macintosh and Applejack, as they had been doing for the past several years, did most of the hard work. They tended to the trees and moved crates of jars to and from the orchard.
As for Apple Bloom, Granny Smith decided she Apple Bloom was finally ready to start learning how to make zap apple jam. "Zap apple jam is one of the most important products we make here at Sweet Apple Acres!" She was fond of saying to Apple Bloom. "Without it we Apples wouldn't be livin' here. Heck, I don't know if there'd even be a Ponyville at all. I remember that this place used to be forest land once upon a time."
Apple Bloom didn't pay any particular attention to this, Granny Smith was fond of telling stories but many of them sounded too outlandish to be true. "So, what exactly do I have to do to make the best zap apple jam possible?" Apple Bloom asked her grandmother.
Granny Smith chuckled and patted her granddaughter lightly on the head. "I can tell you're eager to learn, that's good. 'Cause what I'm gonna teach you is probably gonna seem really out there and crazy. But I tell ya, I've been doin' every one of these steps for years and they've always produced zap apple jam of the finest quality. You understand what I'm sayin', youngin'?"
"Yes, ma'am. I can't wait, ma'am!" Apple Bloom eagerly replied.
"Darn tootin'!" Granny Smith cheered, and gave Apple Bloom a broom. "Here, get to sweepin' whilst I get to figurin' out where I left my bunny costume."
"Uh, what was that, Granny Smith?" Apple Bloom asked, as she began sweeping the floors.
"Oh, nothin'. Nothin' at all. You'll see." Granny Smith replied, and disappeared.
As Apple Bloom soon found out, she hadn't been hearing things when Granny Smith mentioned a bunny costume. And not only did Granny Smith put one on for herself, she also had Apple Bloom dress up in one.
"Just follow me and do what I do." Granny Smith instructed to Apple Bloom, and she began to hop over a bunch of watering cans while singing the alphabet.
Apple Bloom followed, already feeling a bit uncertain about repeating Granny Smith's actions. "Is all of this really necessary just to make zap apple jam?" She thought to herself.
Granny Smith didn't stop singing, until a voice familiar to her but unfamiliar to Apple Bloom spoke up. The voice's owner soon revealed itself to be an earth pony stallion with a well groomed black mane and tail, a light brown coat, blue eyes, a red neck tie combined with a blue collar, and a cutie mark consisting of three money bags. Shedding her bunny costume, Granny Smith trotted up to the stallion. "Well, howdy-doo there, Filthy Rich!" She greeted. "Always a pleasure to see ya."
Filthy Rich smiled. "Hello, Mrs. Smith," He greeted. "So, did I hear right that there's a zap apple harvest comin' in a few days?"
"Absolutely, four days to be exact." Granny Smith replied.
"Good, good," Filthy Rich said with a smile. "That's excellent news. And as usual, I get your first hundred jars, right?"
"'Course Filthy, same as always." Granny Smith said, shaking Filthy's hoof.
Filthy seemed to be blush at the comment. "Uh, Granny, you know I prefer Rich, don't ya?"
"Sorry, old habit," Granny Smith apologized. "So, how's your pappy doin'?"
"Doin' fine, thanks for askin'," Filthy Rich warmly replied. "I take it everypony here's doin' just fine too?"
"Absolutely, we're all as fine as a fiddle," Granny Smith boasted. "Ain't nopony got time to be sick, not at a time like this!"
While Granny Smith and Filthy Rich chatted between themselves, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stopped by Sweet Apple Acres. They had hoped to see if Apple Bloom was available, but were quite surprised to see her in a bunny costume.
"Apple Bloom? What are you doing in that get up?" Sweetie Belle asked, drawing Apple Bloom's attention.
"Oh, this?" Apple Bloom replied, suddenly wishing she was invisible. "Granny Smith says it's part of makin' zap apple jam, and I've been lookin' forward to makin' it for years."
Scootaloo eyed Apple Bloom's costume suspiciously. "Uh-huh," She nodded slowly. "Look, don't take this the wrong way or anything, but your grandmother's weird. Like really, really weird. She's even weirder than my parents, and that's saying something."
"At least your parents are always home," Sweetie Belle complained. "Seems like I spend more time with Rarity than I ever do with Mom and Dad. I keep begging for them to take me on their vacations but they keep saying I'm not old enough. I love spending time with Rarity, but would it really kill my parents just to spend a bit more time with me?"
"Hey, I'd take parents who are away all the time over parents who embarrass me any day," Scootaloo replied. "That's why I don't like talking about my parents too often. I love them, but they seem to have a tendency to embarrass me way too often. It's bad enough Diamond Tiara teases me for being a blank flank, I don't need her getting any more ammunition to use against me."
Apple Bloom silently pondered what Scootaloo had said earlier for a moment while Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle seemed to focus their attention on Granny Smith and Filthy Rich. It was only when Apple Bloom cleared her throat that they turned back to her. "I suppose Granny Smith can be a bit embarrassin' at times, but I don't see what the big deal is."
"Hasn't Granny Smith ever embarrassed you in public at all, even unintentionally?" Scootaloo asked.
"You know, now that you mention it, there was this one time." Apple Bloom recalled, and flashed back to a scene from the previous zap apple harvesting season.
Granny Smith had allowed Apple Bloom to accompany her to the center of town, and the older mare was currently busy exploring some of the booths that had been set up by local merchants. "Shake a leg there, slowpoke! We got a gaggle's worth of goods to gather before the harvest," Granny Smith called to Apple Bloom, and she began to sing. "Gonna make zap apple jam, hoop-dee-hoo! Gatherin' my goodies now, hoop-dee-hee! Singin' and dancin', diddley-hoo, flippity-floo, my darlin!" She didn't stop singing, until she laid eyes on one of the newest pots ever made. She eyed the creation quite suspiciously, before she remarked. "They don't make 'em like they used to." And bit into the pot with her teeth.
The store merchant was, needless to say, not thrilled with Granny Smith's behavior. "Hey! You bite it, you buy it!" She complained. "Now pay up!"
Granny Smith didn't seem to be bothered by what she'd just done, she happily hoofed over the bits required to pay for the pan and took it with her. A short time later, she stopped at a stand being run by a bee keeper that was selling honey. Surprisingly, Granny Smith let the bees come out of their hive and swarm around her, rather than try the usual approach for honey gathering. In fact, she started talking to the bees as if she could understand them. "Whoo! Why, hello, Bea, Beatrice, Beecher!" She greeted, her voice being almost drowned out by the sound of buzzing. "Ooh, you've all been busy little bees, haven't you?" She asked, and the bees replied with a series of buzzes.
"Uh, Granny, isn't there maybe a less... silly way to get the honey?" Apple Bloom asked. She really didn't like the fact that her grandmother was drawing attention to herself.
Granny Smith didn't hear Apple Bloom, or if she did she payed no attention. She just said outloud. "Oh, isn't this just precious?"
"Please stop, I'm beggin' you!" Apple Bloom pleaded.
Granny Smith didn't acknowledge Apple Bloom's plea. "This is perfect! It'll be just the thing for makin' our zap apple jam!"
Apple Bloom quickly realized Granny Smith wasn't going to listen to her pleas, but she wasn't about to let herself be embarrassed anymore if she could help it. "Are we done shoppin', Granny?" She asked, hopefully. "'Cause I'd like to get back to the farm, and fast."
Much to Apple Bloom's surprise, Granny Smith actually acknowledged her this time. "All done, smellybelly. Thanks for accompanyin' me, next year I'll let you help out with the makin' process as well," She said to Apple Bloom, and she trotted back to the farm singing happily to herself. "I got my honey, gooey-goo! Got my honey, gooey-ooh! Got my honey, iddley-hoo!" Apple Bloom thought for sure she was going to die of embarrassment.
"I guess I never really thought about it until you brought it up," Apple Bloom realized. "I'm sure Granny Smith means well and all, but I think her age is gettin' to her. If I ever start actin' that way when I have grandkids, knock some sense into me."
"Yeah, grown-ups can be so weird sometimes," Scootaloo commented. "I just hope I don't grow up to become one of them."
"And I hope I won't grow up to be like my parents, always leaving my kids behind with somepony else," Sweetie Belle added, and changed the subject. "So, I take it you're going to be busy for the next couple of days, Apple Bloom?"
Apple Bloom sighed and frowned. "Yeah, unfortunately. I won't be able to attend any Cutie Mark Crusaders meetin's or anythin'."
"That's a shame," Scootaloo replied. "I was hoping for something to take my mind off the fact that Diamond Tiara got her dad to come in for Family Appreciation Day tomorrow. I still can't believe your family's business partners with him."
"He doesn't seem to be as bad as Diamond Tiara, though that's not really saying much considering how much of a brat she is," Sweetie Belle commented. "I just wish his presentations weren't so boring, I can never stay awake for them."
"Same here," Apple Bloom agreed. "Guess it's a good thing Diamond Tiara's next turn isn't for a long time after that. Anypony's better than her dad." But little did the farm filly know that she was going to come to regret those words, and sooner than she might have expected.
The very next day, Filthy Rich came in and talked to all of the colts and fillies in Cheerilee's class. But like always, they all found his talk about his business boring, and many of them quickly fell asleep. Even Silver Spoon couldn't fake interest, business was part of the reason why she almost never saw her father these days, and why her mother had moved to Ponyville shortly after her birth.
Filthy Rich didn't seem to care that almost nopony was paying attention to his presentation, he just kept droning on. He'd come to talk and that's exactly what he was going to do. In his mind it was never too early for children to start learning about business. "And so, by capturin' the whole sale market, purchasin' in bulk and slashin' all prices, we outperform every other gift market in town, and that's why Rich's Barnyard Bargains has become the cornerstone of retail in Ponyville," He explained in great detail. "And we're always lookin' to expand. I reckon it ain't long before shares of Barnyard Bargains are sold world wide."
The only pony who bothered to clap when Filthy Rich had finished his presentation, was his daughter, Diamond Tiara. If any of her classmates were still awake, they would've wondered how she could even "pretend" to care about what her father had to say.
Cheerilee, who had remarkably not dozed off during Filthy Rich's presentation, came up to the stallion and said to him in as polite a tone as she could. "Well, thank you, Mr. Filthy—I mean, Mr. Rich. What a wonderful day of sharing! And thank you for being a part of Family Appreciation Day!" In her mind she was thinking. "It's so much easier dealing with you than it is dealing with your wife. How a pony like you could marry a pony like her I'll never know." Of course, Cheerilee knew not to say this outloud. Part of being a teacher meant keeping some of your more personal opinions to yourself, if you didn't you typically didn't last long. "Now, uh, let's see who will be bringing in a family member for next Monday's Family Appreciation Day," She announced, looking at the list. After careful examination of it she declared. "Oh yes! Apple Bloom, you're up next!"
"But Miss. Cheerilee, Monday is zap apple harvest day, and Applejack and Big Macintosh will be too busy to come in and speak," Apple Bloom protested. "Can I switch with somepony else? Like what about Scootaloo, hasn't it been a long time since she brought either of her folks in?"
"Hey, my parents just happen to be busy every time my turn comes around," Scootaloo protested. "I can't help that!"
Quickly breaking up the discussion before it could escalate, Cheerilee cleared her throat and suggested to Apple Bloom. "Well, is there anypony else in your family that could spare some time?"
"Uh, nope. No idea what you're talkin' about." Apple Bloom quickly replied.
Cheerilee raised an eyebrow at Apple Bloom's statement, she knew the truth. "What about your Granny Smith?" She suggested. "I know she doesn't work the harvest. Surely she can come in and talk to the class."
"Oh!" Apple Bloom realized, before she remembered what that was sure to mean and began to protest. "But, uh, no, that wouldn't–"
"-Apple Bloom, you shall bring in Granny Smith on Monday," Cheerilee interrupted, trying not to sound too forceful. "Is that clear?"
"Yes." Apple Bloom sighed, admitting defeat.
"Good, make sure she knows," Cheerilee replied with a smile, before the bell rang to announce the end of school. "Have a great weekend, everypony!" She called, as the colts and fillies all rushed out the door.
"Hey, Apple Bloom," Diamond Tiara whispered. "That's right, I'm talking to you."
"Whadya want?!" Apple Bloom asked through much gritting of teeth. "Can't it wait 'til Monday?!"
Diamond Tiara did not acknowledge Apple Bloom's comment and simply whispered back. "Best of luck to you and Granny Smith, it'll be interesting to see what kind of tall tales she'll spin. But don't get your hopes up, nopony's gonna be able to top my father's presentation. No way, no how." She then slipped out the door without another word.
Apple Bloom was slow to leave her desk, she still couldn't believe her luck. "Granny Smith? Come Monday, I'll be the laughin' stock of Ponyville!" She complained to herself, as her slumped onto her desk.
As soon as she finally left school and came home, Apple Bloom immediately ran out to the zap apple fields to talk to Applejack and Big Macintosh, in the hopes that one of them might be spared from the harvest so she could use them in place of Granny Smith.
Applejack was quick to shoot the idea down. "I'm sorry, Apple Bloom. But I already told you that we just can't take a break from harvest to come to your school. You know what'll happen." She said, trying not to sound annoyed.
Apple Bloom sighed, she'd heard the reason several times already. "I know, I know," She complained. "After the fifth day, the zap apples disappear."
"Exactly, we only get a small window of time to harvest them apples before they're no good anymore," Applejack replied. "It's just unfortunate that this year it falls on the same day your school's havin' Family Appreciation Day."
Just then, the wind began to blow, and a flock of crows began to caw. The zap apples (which had recently obtained their rainbow colors), began to sizzle with electricity. It crackled and popped, as the rainbow colors grew brighter and spread to every apple in the orchard. The entire Apple family was amazed!
"Look! The third sign! And right on time too! Hot diggity!" Granny Smith cheered. "I was a little worried when the electricity and color were slow to come yesterday, but it looks like I'll have nothin' to worry about. This is gonna be our best zap apple crop yet! Now then you lazy daisies, move your caboose!" She ordered, and Applejack and Big Macintosh went right back to tending to the zap apple trees.
"I'm really sorry, Apple Bloom," Applejack repeated, then she added. "But don't you fret. Granny Smith's got no shortage of entertainin' stories to tell. Just you wait."
"I know," Apple Bloom replied, and under her breath she added. "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Unsure of who else to turn to for help, Apple Bloom complained to her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders inside their clubhouse the next day. "I'll be embarrassed, shamed, disgraced, mortified, humiliate–" She began, before she had a hoof placed in her mouth by Scootaloo.
"What are you, a dictionary or something?" Scootaloo interrupted. "First Sweetie Belle and now you, Apple Bloom."
Sweetie Belle gave Scootaloo a stern glare before she said to Apple Bloom. "Snap out of it. We're here to help you!"
"After all, we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. And a crusader in need is a crusader in deed! So we'll figure out a way to postpone your presentation." Scootaloo boasted.
"But how are you gonna do that? You've only got the weekend to stop it," Apple Bloom whined, and began to shake a bit. "Ugh! All this worry is makin' me sick!" She complained.
That comment seemed to spark an idea in the minds of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, as they exchanged glances before Sweetie Belle spoke up and said. "Sick, huh?"
"That's it! That gives me an idea!" Scootaloo exclaimed, jumping up in excitement. "C'mon! This is gonna work, I know it!"
While Scootaloo prepared to put her plan into action, Granny Smith had assembled a collection of jars and placed them on the kitchen table so that they were all lined up in a row. "Attention!" She cried out, having dawned a solider's hat. She began to walk back and forth, eyeing each of the jars like a drill sergeant would eye a line of recruits. "Now listen here, troops! And you listen good!" She bellowed. "I don't want to see any whinin' or cryin' or crackin' under the pressure! Do I make myself clear?!"
She pounded the table, causing one of the jars to start to crack. "Cadet J-4!" She shouted at the cracked jar. "You've got six seconds, exactly six seconds, to uncrack yourself! Do you understand?!" Of course, the jar didn't reply. Granny Smith wasn't phased. "Fine, have it your way. You are officially court-martialed!" And she threw the cracked jar into the trash, it landed with a clang.
Unbeknownst to Granny Smith, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were already working on their plan. And when Granny Smith wasn't looking, they had slipped a thermometer into a kettle of hot water, leaving it there until the inside had turned almost completely red.
"Stay still, Apple Bloom! You have to look sick!" Scootaloo complained. She had already applied some make-up so that Apple Bloom's face would look a sickly green, and she now slipped the spiked thermometer into Apple Bloom's mouth.
"Aaah!" Apple Bloom complained, nearly spitting out the thermometer right then and there. "Hey, this is hot!" She whined.
"It has to look convincing or Granny Smith's not gonna buy it!" Scootaloo complained and explained. "Now hold still, Granny Smith's coming!"
Sure enough, just seconds after Scootaloo had spoken, Granny Smith came trotting up to Apple Bloom's bedroom. "What in the hayseed is going on in there, silly billy?" She asked, surprised at how different Apple Bloom had looked compared to just a short time ago.
"Oh, Granny Smith! Thank goodness! We were just about to come get you!" Scootaloo exclaimed, sounding quite concerned.
"Apple Bloom's sick!" Sweetie Belle anxiously added. "Like really sick! Looks like she might have to stay home all week! Can't risk her passing it on to her classmates!"
"That so, huh?" Granny Smith asked with suspicion, as she examined Apple Bloom carefully. Nopony dared to say a word, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the room. At last, Granny Smith chuckled as she said. "Ooh! Perfect as a Piccadilly pear!" To Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle she added. "You fillies didn't think I wouldn't see through that 'fake bein' sick routine' did ya? I used to do that all the time with my folks when I was your age, and eventually they started gettin' wise to it. If Apple Bloom really were sick, you fillies wouldn't be hangin' around her the way you were, not unless you wanted to get sick yourselves." And with that, she went back downstairs.
Apple Bloom removed the thermometer from her mouth and washed off the face paint that had been applied to her. "Well, so much for that," She said with a sigh. "Now what are we gonna do?"
"It's already almost sundown!" Apple Bloom complained that evening, sulking to herself in the clubhouse. "Tomorrow is Sunday, and I only have one more day to figure somethin' out before Granny Smith embarrasses me forever!"
"Hey! Look! Something's going on in the orchard!" Sweetie Belle cried out, attracting the attention of both of her fellow crusaders.
Electricity began to crackle loudly, as the zap apples grew brighter than ever, their rainbow colors shining brightly amidst the setting sun. Apple Bloom knew what that meant. "That's the fourth sign! The zap apples have appeared!"
"And that gives me an idea," Sweetie Belle smiled, and whispered her plan to her friends. "We'll do it tonight."
Indeed, just a short time after the sun had set on Sweet Apple Acres, Sweetie Belle put her plan into action. Emerging from a bush with Scootaloo she explained to Apple Bloom. "I figured 'Since we can't move Family Appreciation Day, then let's move harvest day instead!'."
"Uh... I don't know about this," Apple Bloom nervously commented. "They don't look... quite ripe."
"Well, harvesting apples early never hurt an apple. I say it's worth a shot." Scootaloo suggested.
Apple Bloom couldn't shake the bad feeling she was having about Sweetie Belle's plan. " I don't know... Zap apple trees aren't exactly like normal apple trees. They're magical." She said, as she looked up at the tree. The electricity seemed to crackle ominously.
"They're still apples, how different could they possibly be?" Sweetie Belle asked, as she bucked one of the trees hard with her back hooves. But much to Sweetie Belle's surprise, the tree trunk not only absorbed the energy of the kick, but responded by giving the filly a nasty shock that sent her flying! Her mane and tail became frazzled, as she picked herself up.
"Well, since we can't buck 'em, let's just pick 'em!" Scootaloo immediately suggested.
The three fillies stacked themselves into a pile to try and reach up and grab one of the apples, but it was impossible for them to maintain their balance long enough. Just as soon as Apple Bloom had grabbed one of the apples off the branch, the pile collapsed! The apple fell from Apple Bloom's grasp and hit the ground with a splat!
"Any other bright ideas?" Apple Bloom remarked, as she looked at the smashed apple. "I'd rather not put my family out of business if ya don't mind."
"This is the only thing I can think of that'll work. This is our last chance!" Apple Bloom said seriously, as she double checked to make sure Granny Smith was indeed still asleep. If she wasn't, the entire plan would fall apart.
Just as Apple Bloom determined that Granny Smith was out like a light and wouldn't be waking up anytime soon, there was a knock at the door. "Granny Smith, it's Miss Cheerilee!" Cheerilee called. "Apple Bloom said you wanted to speak with me?" She waited for a moment, but there was no reply. Cheerilee found this most odd, but she didn't suspect something might be up. "Hello? Granny Smi–" She called again, only to be amazed when Granny Smith suddenly seem to rise from her chair and talk to her!
"-Well hello there! Howdydoo!" Apple Bloom spoke, throwing her voice to try and sound like her grandmother. All the while maneuvering Granny Smith's sleeping body around with a series of levers to (hopefully) make it look like Granny Smith was awake.
Cheerilee was a bit disturbed by Granny Smith's actions, but she tried her best to keep her composure as she asked. " Hi... uh... Granny Smith... is, uh, everything okay?"
"Of course it is! I mean, why wouldn't it be?!" Apple Bloom replied, before Granny Smith let out a rather loud snore. Quickly trying to cover for it, Apple Bloom added nervously. "Oh, er, excuse me. So sorry about that. Uh, pickles always give me the hiccups!" This was it, time to deliver the message Cheerilee needed to hear! "I called you here, 'cause I need to tell you that I can't make the presentation on Monday after all! Terribly sorry to back out last minute like this!"
"Oh no, is that so?" Cheerilee asked. Her tone and facial expressions seemed to convey that she believed she was actually talking to Granny Smith.
"No doubts about it!" Apple Bloom affirmatively spoke. "I gotta shear the flowers and water the sheep! Er, I mean, I have to water the flowers and shear the sheep! Sorry, got things mixed up for a second there! Happens all the time!"
"Oh, well, that's too bad," Cheerilee said, sounding a bit disappointed. But she quickly switched back to her usual cheerful self as she suggested. "We can reschedule. Thank you for telling me this. A shame though, I was really looking forward to having you come in."
Apple Bloom, thinking the coast was clear, let Granny Smith's body go with a thud! The thud was so loud that it caused Granny Smith to stumble awake! "E- whut- hai- where am I?" She asked, the older mare taking a moment to realize where she was. Once she did, she spotted Cheerilee who was just about to leave, and called out to her, seemingly unaware of the levers attached to her. "Well, howdy, Miss Cheerilee! You window shoppin' or somethin'?" She asked. "If you want some zap apple jam, you're gonna have to wait for it just like everypony else."
Cheerilee was surprised to see Granny Smith talking to her again, and quickly turned around. "Uh... no? You asked me to come here to tell me that you wouldn't be making it to Family Appreciation Day this Monday?" She asked, trying to piece together what was going on.
"Fiddlesticks!" Granny Smith replied. "I wouldn't miss it for all the tea in Canterlot!"
Cheerilee was quite confused by Granny Smith's sudden change in opinion. "But didn't you just say...?" She began.
"You heard what I said. I'm gonna be there on Monday no matter what, you can be sure of that!" Granny Smith said seriously, and she waved to Cheerilee as she added. "See you Monday!"
Apple Bloom had all but given up after that, despite her best efforts to stop Granny Smith, it seemed fate was determined to make her talk at Family Appreciation Day and embarrass Apple Bloom forever.
Thinking there was little she could do to change what seemed to be an inevitable fact at this point, Apple Bloom was sulking to herself in the clubhouse. Come Monday, she was sure it was the only place she could even hope to hide in without being reminded of the life changing event. "I can't believe she woke up from her nap. She never wakes up from her nap!" She complained, and in a muffled voice the farm filly added. "I wish I could just run off and hide somewhere! Preferably forever!"
Surprisingly, despite the dire circumstance, Sweetie Belle still managed to get an idea. "Maybe you can't run off... but somepony else can!" She suggested. "It's a long shot, but if it works you shouldn't have to worry about Granny Smith coming to school tomorrow."
The very next day, the wind began to blow across Sweet Apple Acres, accompanied by the sound of lightning cracking, and electricity crackling. Granny Smith recognized it at once as the fifth sign. "Yee-haw!" She cheered loudly!
"The zap apple harvest has begun!" Applejack chimed in, setting some crates down with a thud. "I gotta say, Granny Smith, I think you're right about the crop this year. It looks like the best we've ever had!"
"Darn tootin'!" Granny Smith said happily. "And tomorrow we will be makin' up some zap apple jam!"
But just then, a pegasus that looked to be about the size of a filly with a suspiciously familiar looking orange coat came trotting up to Granny Smith. In a deep voice, the pegasus said to Granny Smith. "Granny Smith Apple? I have a telegram with your name on it."
Granny Smith accepted the telegram, opened it, and began to read it. Pretty soon she exclaimed! "Well, bust my buttons. Uncle Apple Strudel wants me to pay him a visit. Funny how that's happenin' the same day as the zap apple harvest."
"It's probably just coincidence, you're thinkin' too much about it, Granny Smith!" Apple Bloom hastily replied. "You can just make the 8AM train if you hurry. I even already packed you a bag!"
"Well, that was considerate," Granny Smith commented, before she looked at the telegram delivery pony and asked. "By the way, I didn't catch your name. What was it?"
The telegram pony flinched, as if she hadn't been expecting that answer at all. "Uh, that's not important. You should get going!" She encouraged.
A rather odd smile found its way onto Granny Smith's face as she replied. "You don't have to lie to me, I know it's you, Scootaloo. You didn't really think you could fool me with a costume and a deep voice, did you?"
Scootaloo gulped. "Uh, maybe?" She nervously answered, slowly backing away.
Granny Smith turned to Apple Bloom. "Consarn it, this has gone far enough! Apple Bloom, what's got your goat?! Why you keep tryin' to avoid goin' to school or lookin' for ways to get rid of me?!"
"Because, you're gonna embarrass me, like you always do," Apple Bloom confessed. "I don't want to become the laughin' stock of the entire town because of you."
"Is that all?" Granny Smith asked, sounding rather surprised. "Apple Bloom, I can't believe you. Did you really think you could keep that concern a secret from me? I'm your grandmother for Celestia's sake, I practically helped to raise ya ever since your folks passed on. I have ways of findin' out when my grandkids ain't happy."
"You knew all along?" Apple Bloom asked, her eyes widening.
"From the moment you faked bein' sick it was pretty easy to guess why you didn't want to go to school," Granny Smith explained. "I kept waitin' for you to tell me, but instead you kept tryin' to find ways to stop me from goin' to school. I know what it feels like to think the ones lookin' after you are embarrassin' you. I went through the same thing when I first learned how to make zap apple jam. But you know what I learned? I learned that there's a reason why we Apples always do what we've done when it comes to harvestin' the zap apples. It may seem silly and way out there, but it works."
"Really? But, that can't be! Talkin' to jars and singin' to waterin' cans?! That's crazy!" Apple Bloom remarked.
"Trust me, once I tell the story I'm goin' to tell at that Family Appreciation Day, you and everypony else will understand," Granny Smith said firmly. "Now come on, time's a wastin'. You and your friends better get to school, and I'll meet ya there!"
Apple Bloom reluctantly made her way to school alongside her friends, but she was still unsure if she was making the right decision. Was it really true what Granny Smith had told her earlier? Could she really trust her grandmother not to embarrass her in front of the entire school?
The farm filly didn't have long to wait, not long after she'd taken her seat Cheerilee cleared her throat and announced. "For today's Family Appreciation Day, we are pleased to welcome Granny Smith."
"Howdy, y'all! I'm as happy as a pig in a fresh mudpile to be here!" Granny Smith greeted, as she trotted into the classroom. A few ponies waved and greeted her, but most remained silent. They had no idea what Granny Smith was going to tell them, and while most of them thought it would be better than the previous Family Appreciation Day Celebration, that didn't necessarily mean they thought it would be interesting.
Diamond Tiara in particular muttered under her breath. "There's no way Granny Smith's going to top my daddy's story. But it'll interesting to see what kind of crazy story she makes up this time."
Normally, Apple Bloom would've resented such a remark about her family. But she was so nervous about what Granny Smith was going to say that Diamond's comment flew right over her head.
Granny Smith cleared her throat, attracting the attention of all the school ponies. "Long ago, when I was a little pony, things were very different here in Ponyville, 'cause there was no Ponyville!" She narrated, that immediately drew everypony's attention! "That's right, my little ponies. Me and my family were pilgrim pony folk, back when I was a little filly," Granny Smith narrated, while recalling the events in her head. "My pa was the finest seed collector in all of Equestria, he'd travel far and wide in search of new seeds to collect and sell. Then, one day, my family found itself in the most brilliant, most grand, most magnificent of all cities. A place called... Canterlot. And it was in Canterlot that we met her majesty, Princess Celestia herself. I still remember how elegant she looked back then, and I tell ya, even to this day it looks like she ain't aged a bit. Anyways, Princess Celestia saw that we were plumb-tuckered and hankerin' to find our forever home. And bein' a royal Princess and all, she knew exactly the place for us to lay down our stakes. A patch of recently cleared land near the Everfree Forest. So we packed our bags, moved onto the land, and built our first home."
"Is that it?" Diamond Tiara interrupted. "Sounds boring."
"I ain't even close to bein' done yet, whippersnapper! In my day we youngins' were taught to respect our elders," Granny Smith protested. "So save your comments til my story's done, if ya don't mind," She then resumed her story as if nothing had happened, she could still remember the details of it very well. "Soon we planted our first orchard. But an orchard don't grow overnight, and we were gettin' mighty short on food. Now mind you, we were cautioned about the forest, and we knew that it was not fit to enter," As Granny Smith spoke the next line she could still vividly remember the howl of the timberwolves. "But I knew there was critters livin' there. So's I figured there must be somethin' to eat. It was dark and musty, and I won't lie, it was scary. But every inch was covered in plant life, and before I knew it, I was standin' in front of the most incredible apple trees I'd ever did see. I had never seen anythin' that bore that kind of colorful fruit! Oh I started pickin' apples quick as a whip! That's when I heard the most frightenin' growl," Granny Smith could still picture the growl in her mind as if the events had only happened yesterday. "I turned, and there before me stood the timberwolves! I'd never run so fast in my life. I ran all the way back to my house, and I did the only thing I could think of."
All the colts and fillies gasped and listened intently. Some of them felt tempted to ask what happened, but they all decided to keep their mouths shut (though Tiara did so reluctantly).
Granny Smith continued. "I started bangin' on some pots, and it did the trick! It scared them timberwolves half to death and they ran right back into the forest from which they came.My pa and I planted those special apple seeds, and before our eyes they grew like wildfire. Why, we had full grown trees faster than you could say 'lickety split'. Then each year, I paid close attention to the signs of the zap apples' special harvestin' times. How the weather affects the Everfree Forest, how the timberwolves howl when the zap apples first start growin', and how they zapped away if you didn't pick 'em all in one day! And the fruits of our labor were the best fruit we ever tasted. Soon enough I was mixin' up batches of zap apple jam," Granny Smith then added as she looked at Apple Bloom. "Just like harvestin' the zap apples had their own special rules, and so did makin' zap apple jam. I learned that you gotta be extra friendly with the bees, otherwise their honey won't taste rightly sweet enough to mix in with the zap apples. Who'd'a thought that glass jars needed talkin' to? Or that zap apples like pink polka dots? But magic is as magic does. Just funny that way. Then ponies started comin' to our farm from far and wide just to get a taste of my zap apple jam. Some of them decided to stay, like Stinkin' Rich, Diamond Tiara's great grandfather. Matter of fact, the first thing he ever sold when he opened his store, was my zap apple jam. And before we knew it, we had ourselves a nice little town, bustling with all kinds of ponies. And that is how Ponyville was founded."
Much to Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara's surprise, Silver Spoon was the first one to applaud at Granny Smith's story. But she wasn't alone for long, soon just about everpony in the classroom was clapping their hooves in appreciation.
Granny Smith was more than happy to bask in the applause. "Oh, thank you kindly, little ponies. Oh, now now, let's settle down." She replied.
"So if it weren't for you and the zap apples, Ponyville wouldn't even exist?!" Scootaloo asked, suddenly having a new appreciation for Granny Smith.
Granny Smith nodded. "Darn tootin', little filly! I don't like to brag, but without my family none of your families would've ever settled here."
"If it weren't for my Granny Smith, your daddy wouldn't have Barnyard Bargains." Apple Bloom boasted to Diamond Tiara, delighting in putting the rich filly in her place for a change. The rest of the colts and fillies nodded, even Silver Spoon had to agree that Apple Bloom had a point.
Diamond was speechless! "But, but!" She protested, before she finally found the words she wanted to use. "But she's just a... kooky old lady! She's making the whole thing up!"
All of the colts and fillies gasped, they could not believe what Tiara had just said!
Apple Bloom quickly came to her grandmother's defense, leaping out of her chair and standing beside her. "She is not a kooky old lady! She is the most amazing pony in all of Ponyville! And if she says that stuff happened, then it happened! Just ask your daddy, I'm sure he'll tell you!" She said loudly and proudly, that was enough to intimidate Tiara into silence.
When school had let out for the day, all the colts and fillies rushed to Sweet Apple Acres. They could hardly wait to try some delicious zap apple jam.
"I think this is the best zap apple jam I've tasted yet!" Scootaloo exclaimed, after polishing a spoonful of the tasty jam.
"Must be 'cause you had something to do with it, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle suggested.
"You betcha. Apple Bloom is one humdinger of a zap apple jammer!" Granny Smith boasted.
"I am?" Apple Bloom asked, sounding rather surprised at the statement.
Granny Smith smiled. "Darn tootin'. It took me years to make the finest zap apple jam I could possibly make, and yet you've surpassed me on your very first try."
Applejack came trotting up. "So I take it Family Appreciation Day went well?" She asked with a smile.
"Did it ever!" Apple Bloom cheered with delight. "My Granny Smith is super special! I just forgot that for a little while."
"Aw, don't fret. I forget things all the time," Granny Smith replied with a laugh. "Now, I'll getcha... er... somethin'," She returned shortly with Apple Bloom's bunny costume and helped her into it. She couldn't resist letting out an aw.
Applejack just smiled as she announced. "Who here wants to help Granny Smith sing to the water?"
"We do! We do!" The colts and fillies all chanted, and they happily joined Granny Smith in bouncing around the watering cans while singing the alphabet.
Suddenly, Filthy Rich came trotting up and cleared his throat. "Got room for one more participant?" He asked. "Diamond Tiara and I had a long talk about her behavior in school today, and I figured she needs to learn a little respect for the pony who's family made us so wealthy. Ain't that right, Diamond Tiara?"
Diamond Tiara had a pair of stuffed bunny ears attached to her head, and she was anything but pleased. "But Dad!" She protested.
"Ah ah, no buts," Filthy Rich playfully scolded. "Like I said you can either do this, or I can ground ya for an entire month. So what's it gonna be?" He then nudged his daughter forward.
Diamond sighed. "Fine, I'll do it. But I won't like it." She pouted, and trotted off. Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Filthy Rich just laughed.
It was a dark and rainy night in Canterlot, as a figure obscured by a thick black clock and matching hood dashed along the rain soaked streets of Equestria's capital city. Said figure was navigating their way through the back alleys, taking great care to avoid running into anypony. For the figure was searching for a rare and powerful artifact that promised to solve all its problems.
At last the figure found the location it had been searching for, a lonely little shop that would've been hard to distinguish amidst the shady buildings surrounding it. But upon entering, the cloaked figure could see that it was no ordinary shop, it was a mysterious pawn shop full of strange objects and knick knacks never seen before.
But the figure was looking for a particular object, and nothing it had seen so far matched the description. The figure began pushing and shoving various objects aside, frantically searching for the one thing it had sets it sights on. "Where is it?!" The figure thought angrily to itself. "It has to be here, it's nowhere else!"
Suddenly, the darkness was decreased a little, as a candle was lit. Emerging from the light, was a stallion with a pale grayish coat, amber eyes, and a dull purple mane and tail styled so that the mane had a single lock sticking out, and the tail looked like it had been cut short. The stallion had a pair of round glasses with a purple frame, a brown coat, a red and yellow beany hat, and a red scarf. "May I help you, traveler?" The shop keeper asked.
The figure didn't reply, so the shop keeper just went up to the counter and said to his guest. "Looking for something? I'm sure I've got just what you need. I've got stuff here that you won't find anywhere else in Equestria, and that's a gurantee."
The figure pointed a hoof off to the left of the shop keeper, eyeing a glass display case featuring an amulet with a red jewel in the center, and a black winged and horned pony displayed on the outside.
"Ah, the Alicorn Amulet," The shop keeper said, realizing at once what his client wanted. "I see you have fine taste my friend, this amulet is one of a kind. They say the wearer is blessed with powers beyond your wildest imagination, but be warned that it comes at a terrible price. Naturally I'm afraid I can't just sell it you, it's far too dangerous for anypony to wield. And besides, I don't think you could meet the offering price."
Not phased by the shop keeper's reluctance even the slightest, the figure simply tossed an entire bag worth of bits onto the counter. The shop keeper eyed the gold coins very carefully and reluctantly, as if debating whether he should turn down the offer. At last he made up his mind. "Well, I suppose if you want it that badly I'd be more than happy to part with it," He reluctantly said to his customer. "Would you like me to gift wrap that for you? Normally I'd charge extra for it, but for a customer like you I'd be willing to do it for free."
The figure only shook its head, and laid its eyes upon the amulet resting in its glass case. "At last, the greatest power amplifier ever known, and it's all mine!" The figure thought to itself, a rather fiendish smile forming on its face. "Now I'll show them all what REAL magic is! They'll regret ever making a fool of me!"
On the outskirts of Ponyville, leading towards the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy and Spike were watching Twilight practice her magic. More and more often she'd been coming to places like Fluttershy's cottage to practice in peace. Usually it was to master some new spell Princess Celestia had assigned to her as part of her advanced studies, but today it was for a different reason.
Fluttershy and Spike watched in silence, as Twilight concentrated all her energy into levitating the water out of a small pond, looping it into a figure eight. All the animals watched too, awestruck by what they were witnessing.
Twilight was visibly straining to hold the magical figure as she manipulated the water, but somehow she willed herself to continue on even as the pressure grew more and more intense. But at last, Twilight reached the limits of her ability, and the water dropped back into the pond.
Fluttershy was relieved to see that her animal friends were unharmed, and joined Spike in applauding Twilight's efforts. Spike was quick to speak up and compliment Twilight. "You're getting better and better all the time. Your magic has increased tremendously since you came to Ponyville."
"Thanks, Spike," Twilight replied, before she nervously added. "But do you think it'll be enough to impress Princess Celestia when she brings those Saddle Arabia delegates here tonight? She seems quite insistent on using this diplomatic visit as a chance to see just how powerful I've become. But I don't know if I'm ready for her 'magical pop quiz'."
Spike immediately shut down any concerns Twilight might have had, he knew her well enough to know what happened when those concerns went unaddressed. "Don't be so modest, Twilight," He told her with an honest smile. "You'll do great, I know it. Trust me, few know you better than I do. I've been by your side for years."
"I think Spike's right, Twilight," Fluttershy added. "I'm sure you'll easily impress Princess Celestia and the delegates. You've been practicing for days now, you're more than ready."
Twilight smiled as she looked at Spike and Fluttershy. "Thank you, both of you. I needed to hear that," Then she added. "It'll be nice to see Princess Celestia without some big crisis brewing for a change."
But just seconds after those words escaped Twilight's mouth, she was suddenly tackled to the ground by a rainbow blur! Said blur quickly revealed itself as Rainbow Dash, who looked as if she had just seen a ghost! "Twilight, come quick! It's an emergency!" She shouted.
"What are you talking about?!" Twilight asked, as she picked herself up.
"No time to explain! We've got to get to town square, stat!" Rainbow Dash frantically replied, and zoomed away in another rainbow blur!
Reluctantly, Twilight sighed, as she trotted into town. "I've really gotta learn not to jinx myself like this." She thought to herself.
By the time Twilight had arrived in town, there was already a commotion! A large crowd had gathered, and there were shouts of panic and confusion!
"Stop, leave me alone!" Rarity cried out, before she was struck by a dark red beam of magic. There was a puff of smoke, and Rarity found herself in the most unattractive and ugly looking dress consisting of clashing brown and green colors. "You monster!" She shrieked. "This shade of brown should only be used for accents! How could you do this to me?!" And she began to faint, fortunately for her Applejack and Pinkie Pie rushed forward and caught her.
"Quick, Applejack!" Pinkie shouted. "Let's get Rarity into a nice, soothing pink." And the two earth ponies trotted off, carrying their unicorn friend with them.
"What's going on here?!" Twilight asked, making her way to the center of the crowd.
"Well, well. If it isn't, Twilight Sparkle!" A voice called, revealing itself as belonging to an individual that wore a cloak and hood. Suddenly, the hood was removed, revealing a familiar light blue coated unicorn mare with an even lighter two tone blue mane and tail. However, her eyes were red instead of dark violet like they had been last time. And also, unlike last time, she had shed her hat and cape in favor of what appeared to be a necklace with a red jewel in the center.
Twilight gasped! She recognized that unicorn! "Trixie?!" She remarked, stepping back a bit. "How... surprising! I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Trixie glared at Twilight quite harshly, almost as if she were about to throw daggers at Twilight. "It's been a while, Twilight. But at last I've come back to settle our score."
"You can't possibly mean..." Twilight began.
Trixie laughed rather wickedly. "That's right, Trixie has come to get her revenge! You ruined The Great and Powerful Trixie! Humiliated her and turned her into the biggest laughing stock in all of Equestria! And Trixie doesn't like that at all!"
"What are you talking about?!" Twilight protested. "We're not enemies! Do you realize what you're saying?!"
Trixie's only response was to coldly reply. "Don't act all innocent, you know what you did. Or perhaps, you need a reminder of what you did to Trixie!" She proceeded to light up her horn, which glowed a menacingly dark red. In a flash, a giant projector screen appeared and began to display images from Trixie's last appearance in Ponyville. "Ever since you showed me up with that Ursa Minor incident, Trixie's life has been nothing but terrible! I became known as the biggest laughing stock in all of Equestria!" As she spoke the projector screen started to show images of Trixie being publicly humiliated and heckled, even to the point where her wagon was being defaced with spray paint and crudely drawn images. "No matter where I went I was laughed at, all because of you! I even had to take a job on a rock farm, just to make a living! A rock farm!" The projector screen switched to show an amber coated earth pony stallion instructing Trixie, who was picking away at a huge rock with a tiny pick axe.
"Hey, you're lucky a rock farm would take the likes of you!" Pinkie protested, she recognized the rock farm as the one she had been born and spent part of her childhood on. "Don't you dare talk badly about my family's rock farm! Leave the Pies out of this!"
Trixie's response to Pinkie's comment, was to use her magic to remove Pinkie's mouth, and drop it into a trash can that then vanished. "That's enough out of you, blabber mouth! Next time, don't interrupt Trixie while she's speaking!"
Now it was Twilight's turn to glare. "Trixie, you give Pinkie her mouth back right now!"
"Gladly, once I defeat you!" Trixie taunted with a smirk.
"What?! Defeat me?! You're not making any sense!" Twilight protested.
"Then allow Trixie to put it in terms your feeble brain will understand," Trixie replied. "You versus Trixie, a magic duel! The loser leaves Ponyville, FOREVER!"
To the surprise of no one Twilight refused and shook her head. "Trixie, I don't want to fight you! There's no reason why we have to prove who's the best!"
"Yeah, Twilight never did anything to you." Snips nervously commented.
"S-she saved your life." Snails added. He and Snips were terrified of Trixie's behavior.
"Shut up, both of you!" Trixie bellowed to the two colts. "You were the ones who brought that Ursa Minor into town in the first place! You're just as guilty as Twilight!" She then turned back to Twilight. "Perhaps you need more convincing. If you can't think of a reason for us to fight, Trixie shall give you one!" Trixie surrounded Spike with her magic, and turned him into a ball.
"Hey, let go of me! Whatever your grudge against Twilight is I want no part of it!" Spike protested, even as he was tossed around.
"Put him down, Trixie!" Twilight demanded, then she added. "If you lay so much as one hoof on my son I'll never forgive you! You hear me?!"
"Trixie shall gladly release this so called son of yours," Trixie said with much eye rolling. "But not until you've agreed to face her! But if you don't want to play, that's fine. I'll just spend the rest of my time getting some well deserved payback from the town that dared to mock me. Trixie can hardly wait to see them all beg for mercy."
"You wouldn't dare!" Twilight said angrily.
"Try me!" Trixie retorted, glaring so hard at Twilight her eyes could stare directly into her rival's soul.
Twilight looked all around, she could already see the devastation that Trixie's actions were causing to her friends. It was becoming increasingly clear that Trixie was not going to take no for an answer. Reluctantly, Twilight finally looked at Trixie and said to her. "Fine, you win! I'll take your challenge, but I won't go easy on you! Now then, if you're finished picking on my friends please leave them alone. Your fight is with me, not anyone else. Got that?!"
Trixie sighed, but obeyed. "Fine, have your way," With a powerful flash of magic, all of her current act of malicious intent were undone. "There, are you happy now?" She asked, sounding rather unconcerned.
Pinkie spoke up before Twilight had a chance to say anything. "Taking my mouth away?! You've got some nerve, Trixie!"
Trixie glared and growled at Pinkie, causing the party pony to recoil slightly. "Zip it, or so help me Trixie will sew that big mouth of your shut! Same goes for the rest of you, anyone who dares to speak to Trixie without being spoken to will be punished severely!" That statement was more than enough to intimidate the crowd into silence, which only made the current situation even more tense.
"Alright, Trixie, let's duel!" Twilight declared.
It didn't take long for the magic duel to get under way. "Anything goes, and there is only one rule, we go until there's only one pony left standing." Trixie said with a smirk.
"Fine by me," Twilight replied. "You make the first move."
"Very well, but you'll soon regret it." Trixie said in a tone that sounded almost sadistic. She proceeded to envelope a nearby cart in her magic, and effortlessly hurled it through the air! Desperate ponies screamed and ran, hoping to get away from the cart before it crashed! But in the panic, one pony stumbled and soon found the shadow of the cart covering them! Terrified, the pony let out a scream!
Reacting quickly, Twilight caught the cart with her magic and moved it out of the way! The pony didn't hesitate to flee! "That was close!" Twilight thought, then she realized something else too. "Trixie really isn't playing around! I'm gonna have to be extra careful, something's not right here!"
Twilight then retaliated against Trixie by shooting a powerful magic beam at Trixie's face, there was a puff of smoke and Trixie grew a gigantic mustache. Everyone laughed, except for Trixie.
Trixie used her magic to cut off the mustache, and tossed a couple of pies in Twilight's direction. Twilight blocked the pies by summoning a parasprite with her magic, but then used her magic to send it away when the pies had been eaten, so as not to allow the parasprite to multiple.
Twilight then took the offensive again by dumping a huge pile of snow on top of Trixie, completely burying her. But Trixie quickly melted it with a powerful artificial sunlight spell.
The two unicorns briefly engaged in a beam struggle, but to the surprise of Twilight she found them evenly matched. "You're pretty good, Trixie. I'll give you that much."
"Are you surprised, Twilight?" Trixie asked with a smirk. "You didn't really think Trixie would be foolish enough to come here if she wasn't sure of victory, did you?"
"What else have you got up your sleeves?!" Twilight demanded of Trixie. "And just how did you become so powerful?!"
Trixie only make a tsking motion as she told Twilight. "As if I would be dumb enough to tell you," She then turned to Snips and Snails, and shouted at the two colts! "Snips! Snails! Front and center, NOW!"
"B-but Trixie-" Snips and Snails protested.
"I said NOW!" Trixie bellowed, dragging them into the center of town with her magic. "Now, this won't hurt a bit. Provided you two dunderheads hold still that is." She instructed, as she enveloped the two unicorn colts with her magic and lifted them into the air. With a sudden poof, Snips was turned into a foal, while Snails became an old stallion (he had even grown a beard).
Twilight was shocked, her jaw nearly dropped open right then and there! "What?! An age spell? But... how could you do an age spell? That's only for the highest level unicorns!" She exclaimed.
"Trixie is more powerful, or did I not make that clear before?" Trixie taunted. "What's the matter, Twilight Sparkle? Is a double age spell too much for you? Ready to give up?"
"No!" Twilight protested, even though she wasn't sure if she could actually reverse the spell. Swallowing hard, she enveloped Snips and Snails with her magic, and began to lift them into the air. But she was doing so rather slowly, and it was clearly taking a great deal of effort for her to do even that.
"Come on, Twilight," Spike quietly pleaded. "You can do this."
Twilight strained against the increasing pressure, as she tried to focus on turning Snips and Snails back to their original age. At first it seemed like she would be successful, a powerful light began to appear around the two and everypony shielded their eyes. But all too soon the light faded, Snips and Snails remained unchanged, and Twilight looked exhausted. Her legs looked ready to give out at a moment's notice, and indeed they did. "Darn it. Not here, not now." She weakly exclaimed, as she collapsed onto the ground.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Spike bellowed at the top of his lungs, immediately rushing to Twilight's side. "Come on, Twilight! Get up! You can't lose! You can't!" He tried to no avail to get Twilight to stand up, but he didn't have enough strength to do so. The reality slowly sank in.
"Trixie is the highest level unicorn!" Trixie boasted, cackling in delight. "And you, Twilight Sparkle! You were a fool to ever challenge The Great and Powerful Trixie! Now, it's time for you to leave Ponyville, forever!"
Twilight lacked any strength to stand up, so her friends quickly stepped in front of her and each of them glared at Trixie. "Now hold on just a minute there, Trixie!" Applejack protested. "Twilight ain't goin' anywhere, not while we're here for her!"
"You've proved your point," Rarity added. "Now leave her alone. You can't possibly expect Twilight to leave Ponyville!"
"You fools! As if you had a choice in the matter!" Trixie replied, grasping Twilight with her magic and effortlessly dragging her out of town, tossing her like a rag doll onto the path leading to the Everfree Forest. She then lit up her horn, and a huge, red bubble enveloped Ponyville. Twilight was completely cut off, unable to break through the bubble. And her friends soon found that they couldn't either.
Spike was practically hysterical, breaking down and sobbing loudly. "I-I promise you this isn't over!" He said, looking at Twilight. "Somehow, someway, I'll find a way to bring you back!"
"I know you will, my son," Twilight replied, struggling to hold back her own tears. "I know this is going to be hard for you, but this isn't the first time we've been seperated either."
"B-but it's different now!" Spike protested, still sobbing. "Please, don't leave me! Without you, I-I don't know what I'll do!"
"Spike? Spike?! Spike, please look at me!" Twilight instructed.
Spike somehow forced himself to do so, even though it pained him greatly. Looking at Twilight from inside the bubble only reminded him of what he was trying desperately not to think about. "M-M-Mom! Mom!" Was all he could bring himself to say, as he kept pounding on the bubble in the vain hopes that somehow he might break it.
Twilight looked at Spike and put on the bravest face she could muster up under the current circumstances. "Please, my son. You have to be strong, for your sake and for mine. We'll figure something out eventually, but for right now I need you to be brave. Be that noble dragon you've always wanted to be. Do you think you can do that for me?"
"..... I'll.... I'll try! Believe me, I'll try my hardest!" Spike said as bravely as he could, but he didn't bother to wipe away his tears. "Please, promise me you'll come back. Promise me that."
With tears of her own streaming down her face, Twilight nodded at Spike as she replied. "That's all I can ask for, my son. Be brave for Mommy," She then blew a kiss, even though she knew it wouldn't be able to reach through the barrier. "Now you know that I will always be with you, in spirit. As long as you remember that, we are never truly alone. Trixie may have us seperated physically, but she can't break the bond we share," Then she turned to her friends and said to all of them. "Don't worry about me, girls. I'll figure something out, just give me time."
"Of course you will, egghead," Rainbow Dash nodded, even though her tone of voice made it clear how concerned she was. "You always find a way out of tight spots like this. We'll do our best to hold down the fort until you come back."
Twilight smiled, wiping away her tears. "Thank you all, you truly are the best friends I could ask for. Just take care of each other, and Spike as well. I know this is going to be a very difficult time for him."
"For you, Twilight, we'll do our very best to be there for him," Rarity promised. "And if Trixie dares touch a single scale of his, we'll make her sorry!"
"Good," Twilight said in a somewhat happy but still somber tone. Then she added. "And keep an eye on Trixie. I can't put my hoof on it, but there's something strange about her. If you need to contact me, I'll probably be with Zecora, training for a rematch." And with that, she turned and trotted off towards the Everfree Forest.
"Twilight?" Spike asked, as he watched the pony he'd come to know not just as someone to assist and as a friend, but also as a mother, trot away. Before long, she was gone. Already, Twilight's absence weighed heavily on Spike's heart. To the dragon, it felt like he had been punched in the stomach over and over again, it hurt badly.
Applejack sighed, as she wrapped a hoof around Spike. "Come on, there's no sense hangin' around here. Best we start tryin' to find out how in the hay Trixie became so powerful, and if there's anythin' we can do about it."
But in his mind, all Spike could think about was Twilight, and how Trixie had taken her away from him. "Just you wait, Trixie!" He thought, clenching his claws. "When Princess Celestia finds out about this, you won't have anything to gloat about! And if it's the last thing I do, you'll pay for kicking my mother out of town!"
True to her word, Twilight immediately sought out Zecora. She knew the only way to get back into Ponyville was by defeating Trixie in another magic duel, but to do that she would need to become more powerful and fast. Cut off from her only source of contacting Princess Celestia, and without any way to reach Princess Luna or Princess Cadence, Zecora was the closest source of magical advice that she could find.
Zecora was more than happy to take Twilight in, and calmly listened while Twilight explained her story. It was only once Twilight had finished speaking that Zecora finally made a comment. "Twilight, your tale of woe does upset me so," She told the unicorn. "No wonder you're so sour, it's an abuse of power!"
"I know," Twilight complained, pacing back and forth. "But I don't know what to do, Zecora. I feel like I've abandoned all of my friends, to say nothing of my only son, Spike. But I can't take Trixie on horn-to-horn again, not in my current state. She'll wipe the floor with me."
Zecora was silent for a moment, as she sipped her herbal tea. When she had finished and set the mug down, she finally spoke. "There is little you can do now to match Trixie's power. You must trust that your friends will not cower. But if you train with me, so good you'll be. I'll gladly teach you all that I know, and then you will able to put an end to her show."
Twilight was relieved, but also concerned. "So you'll train me then?" She asked, to which the zebra nodded. "But Trixie was doing age spells, weather spells, you name it! You really think I could improve enough to win a rematch?"
"When it comes to magic, it would be tragic if somepony licked me, especially Trixie." Zecora replied, sounding surprisingly angered for a change. Twilight had seldom seen the enchantress so worked up before.
"Okay, I suppose I have no choice. Zecora, I am officially your student from here on out!" Twilight proudly declared. "Now then, when do we start?"
Back in Ponyville, things were already not going well for any of the inhabitants. Mere moments after her victory over Twilight, Trixie stormed into town hall and took over, trapping Mayor Mare in a cage.
"Just you wait, the princesses of Equestria will not stand for this aggression!" Mayor Mare vowed, rattling the bars of her cage. "If you had asked nicely, I might have been willing to relinquish power! But now you've only ensured that nopony will support you! This town is tougher than you think!"
Trixie wasn't bothered at all by Mayor Mare's statement. "Let anyone foolish enough to challenge Trixie try!" She boasted loudly. "They'll only meet the same fate as Twilight!" She then turned her attention to The Cakes. "You two! Hurry up with my throne," She ordered. "Prove you're good for something."
Pinkie wanted nothing more than to open her mouth and protest Trixie's treatment of The Cakes, but she didn't dare for fear that Trixie would retaliate by shutting her up for good. All she could do was stand and glare at Trixie, narrowing her eyes in frustration.
Trixie didn't seem to pay any attention to the nasty looks and comments she was receiving from the inhabitants of Ponyville. All she did was turn her attention to the next item on her agenda. "And you, how long do I have to wait for my applesauce facial?" She demanded of Applejack. "Trixie wants an answer, and she wants it now!"
Applejack looked Trixie right in the eyes and stubbornly told her. "Forget it, Trixie! You ain't the boss of me! I'm only gonna say this once: Bring back Twilight, or else I ain't doin' anythin' for you! No way, no how, no chance!"
"Stubborn fool! Perhaps I need to teach you a lesson!" Trixie growled in frustration, as she used her magic to produce a feather and tickle Applejack relentlessly. "Face it, Applejack. This is happening one way or another. So you gonna do what I ask, or are you going to be difficult? Either way works for Trixie, but can you stand to be tickled until it hurts? Trust me, it's very painful."
Applejack tried her hardest to resist, but the giggles soon slipped out anyway. "Okay, okay, enough already!" She complained with tears in her eyes. "I'll do it! Just make it stop, please! Hoo!"
"As you wish," Trixie smiled, ending the tickle torture and placing Applejack on the ground again. "Now was that so hard?" She asked with a voice that sounded so sweet you almost forgot who it was coming from.
Applejack didn't say anything, she just gritted her teeth and went back to grinding up apples with her bare hooves.
Just then, there was a crash. In her haste to remain silent, Pinkie had tripped over some boxes. And unfortunately, it gave Trixie an idea.
"I thought I told you to dance!" She complained to Pinkie, before she used her magic to force Pinkie into all sorts of crazy dance steps against her will. "That's right, dance! Dance for your new master! You're like a puppet in a play, and I'm the puppet master. So let that serve as a warning to you all, defy Trixie at your own risk."
Rarity was more than horrified by what she was witnessing, and it didn't help that Trixie had forced Rainbow Dash to bring in dark clouds filled with thunder and lightning. In just a short time, Ponyville had quickly become a terrible place to live. "Oh, Trixie's cruel magic is ruining Ponyville," She said to herself, before she accidentally jabbed herself with a sewing needle and her hoof turned red as the puncture bled slighlty. "Ow! Son of a-" Rarity began, before she willed herself to grunt and scream. "Oh, somepony has to help us!" She thought outloud.
Fluttershy was outside, watching the whole thing unfold. She wasn't sure why Trixie had decided to spare her for the time being, but she couldn't stand seeing her friends in pain. It especially didn't help that she had seen Spike lock himself up in the Golden Oaks Library, desperately searching for something to explain why Trixie had become so powerful. "Please, hurry Twilight," The shy pegasus thought to herself. "We're just barely holding together without you. It's worse than we thought, Trixie has gone stark raving mad!"
Twilight was busy training with Zecora, the zebra had instructed Twilight to stand in the middle of a pond and levitate herself slightly above it. She had also told Twilight to close her eyes and concentrate on moving some bubbles of water around in a circle.
Zecora herself was perched on a stick, calmly meditating. "Ah yes, no noise, no sound, no din, and no fuss must interfere with your focus," She instructed. "Unlearn what you have already learned. For only then can victory truly be earned."
Twilight attempted to do as Zecora had instructed, and clear her mind of all distractions. She attempted to push out her thoughts and concerns, so she could focus solely on the training. But it was impossible, Trixie's words and actions still rang clearly in her mind and she couldn't forget about them. Twilight lost her focus, let out a yelp, and fell into the pond! Fortunately, it wasn't very deep, and she quickly climbed out. But she was soaking wet, and Zecora was not pleased.
With a shake of her head Zecora simply lectured. "Twilight, there is much, much that I can teach, but it seems the answer you need is still out of reach."
"I'm sorry, Zecora," Twilight apologized. "I don't mean to disrespect you or your training methods, but I just can't do what you do. I can't change who I am, not even if I thought it would make me stronger. My friends and my son are counting on me to come back and save them, I can't just push them out of my mind. Not after the promises I made. And that doesn't even begin to cover Trixie. I'm trying my best, but... I can't stop thinking about her. There was something different about her. Last time she was here, she spent half her time toying with her opponents and constantly mocking them, but now it's like she's gone from pretending to be high and mighty, to actually being mean and nasty. She's changed somehow, and I wish I knew why. This doesn't feel like the kind of rematch she wanted."
Zecora said nothing for a moment, before she finally looked at Twilight and calmly said. "I appreciate your concerns but for now your thinking needs to readjust. If you wish to defeat Trixie, total concentration is a must."
Back in Ponyville, Spike had called all his friends to a secret meeting in the Golden Oaks Library. Everypony was surprised, but decided it was best to hear him out in case he had discovered something that could help them.
Each of the girls knocked on the door in the secret code Spike had instructed them to use. They waited for a minute or two, but there was no reply.
"Well, I guess that's it then. No point hanging around if there's nothing to see," Rainbow Dash spoke up. "I may not like Trixie at all, but even I know it's too dangerous for us to give her reason to think we're plotting against her. If Spike doesn't have anything that can help us, we'll just have to go back to working for Trixie and hope that Princess Celestia shows up soon to put Trixie in her place."
But before anypony could think of turning around and leaving, the door of the library swung open. "Good, you're here." Spike whispered, and quickly ushered them inside, locking the door.
"What's going on, Spike? Why all the secrecy?" Rarity anxiously asked. "I don't know if you've noticed but Trixie has completely lost her mind."
"I know," Spike replied. "And I think I know why. It's that thing she has around her neck, it's corrupting her thoughts."
"Now hold on just a minute there, Spike," Applejack protested. "I don't like the way Trixe's actin' any more than you do, but that ain't a good reason to start jumpin' to conclusions."
Spike groaned. "I'm not making this up, I can prove it! Just an hour ago while I was sorting the books out to distract my thoughts, I found one that had a picture of that thing Trixie's wearing," He rushed to grab the very book, it was very old, worn, and torn. Spike picked it up, brought it before the five mares, and flipped it to the page depicting what Trixie had been wearing around her neck. "There, now do you believe me?" He asked them.
Everypony was speechless, none of them dared to say a word. In just the span of a few hours, they had been cut off from perhaps their closest friend, and had questioned another (albeit for good reason).
Spike read aloud from the page. "The Alicorn Amulet: According to legend it was among the artifacts created by the evil King Sombra during his brief reign over the Crystal Empire. Wearing it grants the user untold magical powers beyond your wildest imagination. Even the most complicated of spells are reduced to child's play. But all that power comes at a terrible cost. The amulet is infested with dark magic and said to posses a fragment of Sombra's spirit. Naturally, whoever wears the amulet is possessed by it, unable to break free of its corruptive influences. They are slowly driven insane and even paranoid. As a result, it has been declared illegal to wear the amulet or have it in your possession, for it is too dangerous to be used."
"So that's it!" Pinkie gasped, and everypony else did the same. "That explains everything. But, how are we gonna get that information to Twilight?"
"I hate to admit it, but Pinkie's right," Rarity spoke up. "Trixie's made it clear that with the bubble in place no one's getting in or out of Ponyville without her permission. There's no way she'll just let us go, not even if we try to lie."
"We'll just have to sneak past that bubble somehow!" Rainbow Dash suggested. "Once Twilight finds out about the amulet, she's sure to have a plan to get it away from Trixie and put an end to this nightmare!"
But before anypony could think of a plan, the door was knocked off its hinges and Trixie came dashing into the room accompanied by Snips and Snails. By now her red eyes had become increasingly obvious to spot. "Oh my my, what have we here?" She scoffed. "Six subjects plotting treason against Ponyville's new empress? Well, we can't have that, can we?"
"Trixie, I know you're in there, somewhere!" Fluttershy pleaded. "Please, you've got to take off that amulet! It's controlling you, making you do stuff you wouldn't normally do!"
Trixie only laughed. "Take it off? Ha, fat chance! This little amulet of mine has given me incredible powers, and now I plan on using them! Don't even think about trying to trick me into getting rid of it, I'm smarter than any of you and more powerful to boot! So, are you going to come quietly and serve as an example for others? Or are you going to resist and make this more difficult for all of us?"
Naturally, everyone decided to run. They quickly dashed past Trixie, running out the front door, and into the streets of Ponyville. Trixie sighed. "Why do they always run? It never ends well," She turned to Snips and Snails. "You two, fetch my chariot, on the double! We're going after those traitors!"
"Um, y-yes ma'am! Right away ma'am!" Snips and Snails reluctantly obliged, and soon returned with Trixie's chariot. It had all the makings of a fine chariot, except for one thing, it had no wheels.
Trixie wasn't bothered by that fact, she just jumped into the chariot and cracked the whip loudly. "Pull, you fools!" She ordered.
"But... wouldn't it be faster if we had some... wheels?!" Snips reluctantly asked.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't trust wheels. Now pull!" Trixie ordered, cracking the whip again!
"I'm telling ya, Snips, she's getting weirder and weirder! I'm starting to miss the days when she was just a magician!" Snails complained, as he and Snips reluctantly began to move, pulling the chariot with them.
"Don't you dare care Trixie a magician!" Trixie bellowed. "Trixie is no mere illusionist playing simple parlor tricks! Trixie is the soon to be rightful ruler of all of Equestria!"
Unfortunately for Trixie, Snips and Snails could only pull so fast. And it wasn't long before all six traitors had slipped away. Trixie was, needless to say, anything but pleased by this. "Unbelievable! They've made a fool out of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She muttered to herself. "They'll pay dearly for their acts of betrayal! When I find them, I'll make them pay! Pay for everything they've done to me!"
With a little bit of help from Fluttershy's beaver friends, the girls and Spike were able to smuggle Applejack out of the bubble and send her deep into the Everfree Forest to find Twilight and Zecora. Upon arriving, Applejack wasted no time in telling Twilight everything that had happened.
"And that's the whole story, Twilight. That there amulet's made Trixie as crazy as a coot," Applejack said, taking breaks only periodically to sip the herbal tea Zecora had provided to help calm her down. "You've got to come back to Ponyville and defeat her, it's the only way she can be stopped."
"What about Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked. "Surely, Spike would've sent this information to her as well."
Applejack sighed and shook her head. "He tried that, Twilight. Whatever kind of protective spell went into that bubble, it's a darn good one. Not even scrolls can get past it. Hay, we're lucky it was possible to tunnel underneath it. We're in real deep horseapples here, Twilight. The more Trixie uses that amulet, the more it corrupts her."
"But, how am I supposed to defeat her?" Twilight pondered out loud. "And even assuming I could, how am I suppose to get her to take off that amulet? I don't want to hurt her, I know she's not acting like herself."
To the surprise of both Twilight and Applejack, Zecora spoke up and said. "Twilight Sparkle, I have taught you all that I know. I've seen for myself how much your power can grow. Much work have you done. You learned all of my lessons; all but one. However, if Trixie's attitude is what has you in a fix, then the time has come for you to nix your own magic and trust the magic of six."
"What in the hay does that even mean?!" Applejack complained. "We could really use a straight answer here, Zecora!"
But Twilight just pondered what Zecora had told her, until at last she realized it. "Trust the magic of six, that's it! I see what you mean now, Zecora! You're a genius!" Then she started scribbling something down on a piece of paper as she said to Applejack. "Now then, we'll need to get you back into Ponyville. Once there, gather up everypony you can find and tell them the plan."
"You think it will work?" Applejack asked.
"It's a long shot, but if it does work we should have Trixie back to her old self in no time." Twilight nodded.
Sometime later, Trixie was alerted to someone touching the protective bubble around Ponyville. And so she reluctantly set off in her chariot to investigate. "This had better not be a false alarm!" She complained, as she neared the edge of town. "Or the Great and Powerful Trixie will–" Then she gasped, as she saw Twilight staring right back at her. "You again! What's the matter, Twilight Sparkle? Not enjoying your exile? You do realize you're not coming back in, right?"
Twilight just glared at Trixie, eyeing the amulet wrapped firmly around her neck. "I know about the Alicorn Amulet, Trixie. I know you cheated," Twilight accused. "I'm pretty sure power amplifiers weren't part of the deal."
Trixie feigned innocence. "Cheated? Moi? You've got a lot of nerve. So let's say you're right, what's a powerless pipsqueak like you going to do about?"
Twilight smirked, as she pulled out an amulet with what looked like a green orb in the center. "Oh, I don't know. I mean, I thought you might wanna see what a real magical amulet looks like. Zecora gave it to me. It's from beyond the Everfree Forest, and it's way more powerful than your measly little Alicorn Amulet."
"Ha, a lie if I ever heard one!" Trixie boasted. "Nothing's more powerful than the Alicorn Amulet! And nopony's more powerful than the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
"Care to put your money where you mouth is, Trixie?" Twilight asked with a grin. "How about another duel? I know I can beat you this time, I've been practicing."
"Why should I? I already beat you, and as much as I'd love to humiliate you more I've got better things to do," Trixie replied. "Besides, it doesn't matter how powerful you think you've become. You're still no match for me!"
"Your loss," Twilight replied, pretending to be unconcerned. "But I guess you'll never see the totally awesome magic from beyond the Everfree Forest. Come on, Zecora. Let's just go back to your hut and leave the not so powerful Trixie to stroke her ego."
Those words played right to Trixie's ego, just as Twilight had anticipated. So it was of little surprise when Trixie teleported outside the bubble and said to Twilight. "Okay, okay, you're on! A second duel. And when I crush you, not only I will kick you back to the Everfree Forest, but I'll take that amulet of yours and crush it in my bare hooves."
"We'll see about that, Trixie. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched." Twilight warned.
Twilight and Trixie once again took their rightful places in the center of town, and just like before a huge crowd had gathered to watch the duel take place.
A few minutes passed without a word being said, Twilight and Trixie just stared at each other as if daring the other to say something. At last, following a clap of thunder, Trixie spoke up. "Let's start with a simple age spell, shall we? Maybe this time you'll have better luck."
"Go ahead, make your move." Twilight firmly replied.
"Gladly," Trixie smirked. "It's a pity, but I guess some ponies just never learn. Don't say Trixie didn't warn you though," Then she turned to Snips and Snails and said to them. "Snips, Snails."
"Not again!" The two colts complained, as they were transformed into babies and began to cry.
"An oldie, but a goldie, ha," Trixie laughed. "This time the rules are a bit different, since you're so convinced that amulet of yours is stronger than mine. Show me just what it can do, and I'll decide for myself which amulet is stronger."
"Very well then, and the winner is whoever has the stronger amulet," Twilight agreed, then she turned to the audience and called out. "Um, Applejack, Rarity? Could you come help me, please?"
Applejack and Rarity seemed surprised, but they reluctantly agreed and stepped forward. Twilight lit up her horn, and zapped them both, causing them to disappear in a puff of violet red smoke. When the smoke cleared, they had been replaced by filly versions of themselves, even their cutie marks had vanished.
Trixie was a bit surprised, but tried not to let it show. "Oh, ho-hum. So you can do an age spell, big deal."
"Perhaps you need more convincing," Twilight replied. "Very well, watch closely." She lit up her horn again, and turned Applejack and Rarity back to normal. Then she did it again, this time turning Applejack into an old mare, before turning Applejack back to normal.
Trixie's mouth dropped open in shock! "That's... That's impossible! There's no way you're stronger than I am!"
"Still need more proof? Fine," Twilight simply replied and fired a beam of magic at Rainbow Dash. "Check this out."
"Yow!" Rainbow Dash screamed, before a second Rainbow Dash suddenly appeared behind her and stood next to her.
"What?! But how did you-" Trixie exclaimed.
"Just a simple duplication spell," Twilight smirked. "And not that I mean to change the subject, but you ever see one pony play ten instruments before?" She then fired her horn at Pinkie, and in a puff of smoke Pinkie started playing an entire one pony band with no trouble at all.
Trixie was speechless! All she could bring herself to say was. "This... just can't be! The Great and Powerful Trixie will not settle for second best!"
Twilight ignored Trixie's comment and simply laughed as she said. " Ooh, one more. I can turn a mare into a stallion."
Applejack was horrified at the idea. "W-what?!" She exclaimed, before she was hit by Twilight's magic. When the smoke cleared, there stood a male Applejack who blushed and simply said. "Eeyup." Applejack was quite relieved to be turned back to normal a few seconds later.
Twilight smiled, it was clear who had won this magic duel. "Well, Trixie, looks like my amulet is more powerful than yours– " But all of a sudden, Trixie surrounded Twilight's amulet and yanked it off! "Hey! Give that back!" She demanded.
"If that amulet is really so powerful, than Trixie must have it for herself! And with said amulet, I shall now rule all of Equestria!" Trixie bellowed, as she removed the alicorn amulet and slipped Twilight's amulet on. A few ponies noticed that when she did so, her eyes stopped glowing red, but most were in too great a state of shock and worry to pay any attention! "Witness, my subjects. Gaze upon an ever greater and 'powerful-er' Trixie!"
All of a sudden, one of the Rainbow Dash's swooped down and snatched the Alicorn Amulet out of Trixie's hooves. "I'll take that, thank you very much!" She called out, as she flew up into the air.
"Hey!" Trixie shouted, before she realized what she still had on her. "Forget it, I don't need the Alicorn Amulet. I have this!" She shot off a beam of electricity at Rainbow Dash!
Rainbow Dash stopped flying, but to the surprise of everyone she started to laugh! "Stop it! Tha— that tickles!" She said in between giggles.
"Tickles?!" Trixie asked in frustration. "But that was supposed to make you writhe in agony, not tickle you! I put everything I had into that attack! This amulet must be defective or something, give my old one back!"
Rainbow Dash ignored Trixie, simply flying over to Zecora and placing the Alicorn Amulet in a box that Zecora locked shut! "Sorry, Trixie. But that amulet's going back into hiding, where it rightfully belongs. You ain't ever getting it back!" She said in reply.
"And by the way, Trixie," Twilight added, approaching the defeated magician. "I hate to tell you this, but that amulet around your neck? It's just one of Zecora's doorstops, it doesn't have any actual power." As soon as she spoke those words, the orb slipped from the necklace and shattered to pieces.
"I... don't believe it!" Trixie exclaimed. "But... how the heck did you do all those spells? Nopony can do all those spells!"
"You're right, Trixie. Even a pony like me couldn't have done all those spells alone," Twilight replied and explained. "But you see, Zecora taught me so much about magic while I was in exile. She even taught me when not to use it. I realized that my magic alone wasn't powerful enough to take on the Alicorn Amulet head to head, so I needed to use a different kind of magic – the magic of friendship. With a little help from the town and some smoke and mirrors, I was able to fool even a well trained magician like yourself. I also knew that the only pony who could get the amulet off your neck was you."
Trixie's mouth dropped open in shock once again, she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "Beaten at my own game," She realized. "I've never been so humiliated in all my life," Then she added. "But... what about the pony with the ten instruments?"
Twilight just laughed. "Oh, that wasn't my magic, it was Pinkie's own brand of magic. Just ask her yourself, it's an old trick she picked up from her family."
"Oh." Was all Trixie could bring herself to say, as the sky cleared and ponies began to cheer and celebrate Twilight's victory.
But before Trixie had a chance to think of escaping again, Princess Celestia arrived with the Saddle Arabia delegates. "Did I hear somepony mention the Alicorn Amulet?" She asked, showing a rare display of seriousness that unnerved almost everyone.
Reluctantly, Trixie stepped forward, bowed her head, and confessed. "It.... was me, princess. The Weak and Powerless Trixie."
"Is that so?" Princess Celestia asked, the look she gave Trixie was so powerful that it could've frightened even an Ursa Major.
Trixie gulped. "I... have no excuse for what I've done. I obtained the Alicorn Amulet, put it on, and used it to seek revenge and take over Ponyville. As soon as it was on, it clung to my mind and wouldn't let go, generating all kinds of terrible, horrible thoughts. Deep down, I knew what was going on and what it was making me do, but I tried to tell myself I didn't care. All I could think about was proving I was stronger than those who dared to heckle me. I wanted to show that Trixie really could be Great and Powerful again," With a sad sigh she added. "But I suppose that will never happen now. Whatever punishment you wish to bestow upon Trixie, I shall rightfully accept it. Heck, turn me to stone if you want. I know I deserve it."
Princess Celestia was silent for a couple of minutes, as she looked upon Trixie while weighing what she had been told. At last, she opened her mouth to speak.
But before any declaration of punishment could be given, Twilight shouted. "Wait!" She then approached her mentor and after bowing to her she said as firmly as she could. "Please, you must understand, Princess Celestia. What Trixie did was horrible, no one will deny that. But nopony got hurt, the worst she did in her brief reign was lock Mayor Mare in a cage, and tickle torture Applejack for a little bit. The amulet drove her mad, made her power hungry. But everything she did can be undone, and the last time she was here she showed a willingness to do what was right. I know that she can be a good pony. She turned to the amulet not out of a desire for revenge, but simply out of an act of desperation. Take that into consideration when you punish her."
"Thank you for your input, Twilight," Princess Celestia nodded, but firmly replied. "That still doesn't change what she did, or the fact that she still put the Alicorn Amulet on. There's a very good reason why I said nopony was to wear it, even the strongest minded individuals cannot resist its dark influences. In more powerful hooves, it could've caused untold amounts of devastation and suffering," Then she looked at Trixie and asked her. "So, do you not deny that you chose to wear the amulet in spite of the warnings?"
"Yes." Trixie softly replied, unable to think of anything else to say.
"Okay," Princess Celestia said firmly, and then she cleared her throat. "Trixie, as punishment for your actions, I want you to assist Zecora in the next month. And then I expect you to write a reflective letter addressed to me about what you have learned, about the dangers of seeking power you can't control, and why putting on the Alicorn Amulet was wrong. I will also be expecting you to give an apology to everyone you wronged while you were under the effects of the Alicorn Amulet. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Princess." Trixie nodded.
Princess Celestia smiled. "Very well then, you may rise. I don't expect you to stick around here for long, but I do hope you'll at least stay for Twilight's magic show tonight. You are a magician, are you not?"
"Yes. How did you know?" Trixie asked.
"Word of mouth spreads pretty fast," Princess Celestia replied, before she added in a serious tone. "And one more thing. Spike's scroll told me everything about what you've done, including what you did to Twilight. So let me warn you, that if you ever hurt Twilight again for any reason, I may not be so forgiving. Twilight is very much like a daughter to me, I love her possibly more than I have ever loved any of my students. And I would literally move mountains if I thought she was in real danger."
Trixie gulped, she would've never imagined that Princess Celestia could be so scary. "Trixie shall keep that in mind, your majesty. And she is truly sorry that all of this had to happen."
"I'm sure you are," Princess Celestia agreed. "But I am not the only one to whom you should be apologizing."
Trixie quickly set about apologizing, first doing so with Snips and Snails (after getting Princess Celestia's help to turn them back to normal of course). "I'm.... really sorry about all of that. You two were the first fans I ever had, and I treated you like servants." She apologized.
"Whatever, just don't ever turn us into foals or old ponies ever again," Snips complained. "Come on, Snails. I think it's time we rethink our hero worship."
Snails reluctantly agreed. "Sorry, Trixie," He said to the magician. "I do hope you'll put on that hat and cape again someday, but for right now it's probably best if you stay away from us. It's gonna take some time for us to get over what you did."
"I don't blame either of you." Trixie replied, and went to find Spike.
Spike barely managed to look Trixie in the eyes without getting angry. "I know what you're gonna say to me, I know you're gonna say 'I'm sorry', and I know Twilight would want me to accept your apology. But just so we're clear, I don't really forgive you for what you did. You hurt my mom, and for that I don't think I can ever forgive you!"
"Fine, but can we at least agree to let bygons be bygons and not bring it up again?" Trixie asked the dragon.
"If it'll get you off my back, of course," Spike agreed. "But this changes nothing. Words can't heal the wounds you inflicted on me, in fact I don't think anything you say or do will. I don't hate you, but I'm certainly not going to just forget what you did."
Accepting the 'apology' she got from Spike, Trixie next had to answer to Mayor Mare, who was still a bit furious about being caged.
"I'm only accepting your apology because it's the right thing to do," Mayor Mare said firmly. "If it were up to me, I'd probably bare you from entering this town again for quite some time. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's being made a fool of."
"Trixie shall keep that in mind if she ever does come back here." Trixie replied, before she left town hall.
Trixie spent the next two and a half hours apologizing to everyone in Ponyville, even including Twilight's friends. For the most part, everyone's response was more or less the same. "I accept your apology, but I'm not going to forget what you did today." (Though Pinkie did mention she was sorry for her outburst when Trixie had first showed up).
At last, Trixie had only one being left to apologize to, and it was the hardest one of all. The very pony who had bested her twice, Twilight Sparkle.
"I can't just apologize to her," Trixie thought to herself, as the sun began to set. By this point she had put her hat and cape back on, and was now dressed in her magician attire once again. "After everything I've said and done to her, and everything she's done for me, simply saying sorry won't be enough. But how can I truly make it up to her? How I can truly show Twilight that I'm sorry for everything, and that I'm not ungrateful?"
As the sun slowly began to sink in the west, Trixie looked down upon Ponyville from her spot atop a nearby hill. It was then that she noticed the stage set up for Twilight's performance, and that was when an idea came into her mind.
The silvery light of Luna's moon shone down upon Ponyville, as Twilight began her performance. Everypony was amazed at the impressive display Twilight was putting on, as she effortlessly manipulated the water from two buckets into forming a looping figure eight. Even Princess Celestia and the Saddle Arabia delegates were impressed.
Suddenly, a series of fireworks shot off into the night sky, attracting the attention of everyone.
Twilight spun around and recognized that the fireworks had come from Trixie. All the same, she was surprised. "Trixie?" She asked softly.
"It's the least I could do. I treated you and your friends so horribly when I was wearing that Alicorn Amulet," Trixie said sadly. "What I don't get is, why did you stick up for me in front of Princess Celestia? I was a terrible pony, and you had every right to be mad with me. But you stood up for me. Why did you do it?"
Twilight smiled. "Because, Trixie, I know that deep down you can be a good pony. And I know you know that too. If you were really in so much trouble, all you had to do was ask for help. I wasn't about to let a pony like you be punished without the good and the bad both being accounted for, so that you could be judged accordingly."
"Does this mean you forgive me? I mean, you can forgive me, can't you?" Trixie asked, looking up at Twilight with the most pleading eyes she could muster up.
Twilight pondered for a moment or two, before she looked at Trixie and said. "I guess so. But I take it you're still intent on that rematch you promised me last time you left town?"
Trixie nodded. "You know me too well, Twilight. I wanted an honorable duel between the two of us, no amulets, no threats. Just a simple 'last pony standing' contest between you and I. But it's abundantly clear that the gap between our magical powers has only gotten stronger. So once Trixie's punishment is up, she shall be going away to train and perfect her magical abilities. And when she is certain that she has closed the gap, she will be coming back to settle the score once and for all."
"I'll look forward to it, Trixie," Twilight replied. "Just make sure to write to me when you issue your challenge, I'd rather not be caught off guard if you don't mind."
"That's a promise, so you best watch out, Twilight Sparkle," Trixie said firmly. "Because when you least expect it, The Great and Apologetic Trixie shall return." And with that, she ran off, once again disappearing in a puff of smoke that only partially covered her exit.
Twilight just laughed and smiled, as she watched Trixie stumble, before the magician picked herself up and ran off again. "Some things never change," Twilight thought to herself. "All the same, Trixie has a point. I need to keep my magical abilities just as sharp as my other abilities. Friendship may be the most powerful magic in existence, but it's not the only magic that's out there."
S3 E9: Keep Calm and Flutter On, Part 1 (What If?)
It was a beautiful and peaceful Spring day in Ponyville, hardly the kind of day that you would expect a life changing event of great importance to happen on. But such would be the case for a group of six ponies and their dragon friend.
Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Spike, were all waiting on a hill on the outskirts of Ponyville. They had been told by Princess Celestia that she would be paying them a visit on this particular day, in order to formally ask for their assistance with a very important task.
Naturally, Pinkie Pie was excited. "Oh I just love it when Princess Celestia comes to Ponyville!" She happily exclaimed. "I even got my hooves all shined up and polished like Rarity for the occasion. You like?" She asked the fashionista.
Rarity could easily see Pinkie wasn't lying. "Ooh! I most certainly do!" She replied happily, then she turned to Twilight. "Say, Twilight, did Princess Celestia specify when she would be here? No offense, but we've been waiting for some time now and she hasn't shown. I sure hope she knows it's rude to show up late without an explanation."
In response to Rarity's question Twilight nervously shook her head. "No, she made no specifications. She was oddly vague about the task she was hoping we could help her with it. I'm sure she has her reasons, but I have to wonder what she could possibly want to keep secret from us? Heck, I'm surprised she's not here yet. I sure hope everything's okay on her end."
Spike sighed and groaned in frustration, he was never really good at waiting. "I wonder what's taking her so long? Doesn't she know that we can't be kept waiting all day?" He grumbled. "Given the choice I'd rather be stuck at another boring town meeting."
"I'm sure Princess Celestia will be here soon," Twilight reassured Spike, and she asked Rarity. "And where are Applejack and Fluttershy? Princess Celestia wanted us all to be here."
While styling herself a bit Rarity responded to Twilight's question by saying. "Fluttershy's currently detained helping Applejack with a creature mishap at Sweet Apple Acres. But they'll be along shortly."
"But, I still don't get why the Princess would ever be so late?" Spike grumbled. "Between this and the secrecy I'm beginning to wonder if this is her idea of a joke."
"I know the Princess enough to know she wouldn't joke about something like this," Twilight replied. "She did say she was bringing an important visitor with her. That could be part of it."
"A visitor who's important but so slow." Rainbow Dash complained.
"Well, maybe it's somepony so terribly important, he or she still had many more terribly important things to do before they got here," Rarity suggested. "Trust me, it happens far more often than you might think. Even yours truly is guilty of this."
All of a sudden, Spike let out a huge gasp! "Maybe that's because visitor has a deer antler, a goat leg, a bat wing, and a snake tail!" He blurted out!
Twilight couldn't help but laugh at Spike's remark, her son was getting older but he still sometimes had those moments of childishness. "Yeah, right. That's Discord. And you know he was turned to stone."
"Come now, Spikey-Wikey, be serious," Rarity added. "Why in the wide, wide world of Equestria would Princess Celestia ever bring along someone like that?"
"M-m-maybe you should ask... her!" Spike suggested, pointing a claw to Princess Celestia's approaching chariot. But accompanying it at a close distance, was the stone statue prison of Discord, still stuck in that terrified pose!
Everypony's eyes grew wide, even Rainbow Dash felt like she would've jumped right out of her fur if such a thing were possible! Discord was perhaps the toughest threat to Equestria they had ever encountered, and for him to be standing before them (even if he was still in his prison of stone) was most unsettling!
Only one thought rang in the mind of everyone on that hill that had just seen the statue. "Has the Princess lost her mind?!"
It did not take long for Twilight to approach Princess Celestia and question her mentor's judgement. "With all due respect, Princess Celestia, how could you bring Discord here?!" She shouted, before she cleared her throat and added. "Your majesty."
Celestia didn't reply until Twilight had finished. "I understand your concerns. I'm fully aware that the last time Discord was here, he created serious havoc during his brief stay." She told everyone.
"If by 'serious havoc' you mean 'turning Ponyville into the chaos capital of the world'-" Rainbow Dash remarked.
"-And tricking us all into being the exact opposite of our true selves-" Rarity added.
"-Not to mention making yummy delicious chocolate milk rain all over the place without a single dollop of whipped cream to go with it anywhere in sight!" Pinkie Pie complained. "And that wasn't even the worst thing he did."
"I know, you made those concerns quite clear when you last defeated him," Princess Celestia replied. "But recently, I have come to the belief that Discord, if reformed, could use his magic to serve good and not evil. That's why I've brought him here, because I believe that you are the ponies who can help him do just that. I know it will not be easy, but I have faith that you'll find a way."
Spike wasn't convinced. "This will never work! This is a disaster in the making! How will we ever even control him?! We're doomed!" He cried.
"A control method already exists," Celestia firmly nodded. "You six ponies were the ones who turned him back to stone in the first place. And I'm sure you know what was used to do that."
Twilight reluctantly said to the Princess. "Well, I suppose we could always use the Elements of Harmony again if he gets out of control."
"Uh, w-w-we probably need a volunteer to run away from here right away to get them. I'll do it!" Spike volunteered, he wanted to be as far away from Discord as he possibly could.
"No need for that, Spike," Celestia told him. "I already have them right here," As she spoke, two royal guards brought forth a large chest and inside rested five familiar necklaces and a familiar tiara. "And don't worry, I made sure to cast a spell so that Discord can't take them and hide them again," Then she looked around and asked. "Now where is Fluttershy? I believe that she may know best how to begin reforming Discord."
The Fluttershy comment caught everyone by surprise. "Fluttershy? What could she possibly know about how to reform Discord?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"From what I was told, Fluttershy was the only one Discord had to forcibly brainwash," Celestia explained. "That means if he tries anything, she is the most likely to resist. So, where is she? And where is Applejack? The elements won't work until all six bearers are together."
"Oh, they're held up at Sweet Apple Acres," Spike commented. "Something about a beaver problem, I think."
On the other side town, at Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy and Applejack were indeed tending to a beaver problem. A family of beavers had set up a dam on a river near Sweet Apple Acres, inadvertently flooding the orchard. Applejack had asked Fluttershy to talk the beavers into taking down their dam and setting up somewhere else.
"What's he goin' on about now?" Applejack demanded, as one of the beavers chattered away.
Fluttershy translated and said to Applejack. "Good news. Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth has agreed to take his dam apart and move it."
"Well, it's about time," Applejack remarked. "My apple trees are so waterlogged, I can practically hear 'em gargle! And you make sure he knows not to set up shop 'round here again!"
The beaver complained loudly, and Fluttershy again translated. "But he says first you'll have to apologize for calling him 'a nuisance'." She told Applejack.
Applejack could hardly believe such a thing was being asked. "What?! Apologize?! He's lucky I didn't call him a varmint!" She protested.
The beaver didn't take kindly to Applejack's refusal to apologize, and started chattering loudly. Fluttershy gasped upon translating! "Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth! Such language!" She scolded. "Do I have to wash out that filthy tongue of yours?!"
Reluctantly, Applejack decided it would be best to apologize after all. "Fine, fine. I apologize. Ya happy now?" She asked the beaver.
The beaver responded by blowing a raspberry at Applejack, making her growl. But he still took down his dam anyway, and the water began to flow normally again, providing some relief to the soaked apple orchards.
Applejack breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Fluttershy. Don't know what I would've done without you," With a sigh she added. "I just hope those apple trees aren't completely soaked and useless."
"I'm sure they aren't," Fluttershy replied. "And I'm glad I could help."
Just then, Rainbow Dash flew down and said to the two. "Hey, slackers! Double time it on over to Ponyville, would ya?! We're all waiting on you! Princess Celestia says it's urgent!"
Once Applejack and Fluttershy had arrived on the hill, Princess Celestia explained to them what she had told the others. She made sure to specifically specify her intent to have Fluttershy be the one to lead the reformation process. "I realize that this is a tall order, but I wouldn't ask if I weren't confident you could get him to use magic obediently of his own free will." She told Fluttershy.
"And... you really think I'll know best how to do that?" Fluttershy nervously asked. "This sounds more like something Pinkie Pie or Twilight would be suited for."
Celestia smiled a bit as she said to Fluttershy. "The thought of asking them to do it did cross my mind, but the fact of the matter remains that you are the only one Discord couldn't manipulate or trick. He had to resort to force to break you. So you are the one most likely to resist any sort of tricks he might try," Climbing into her carriage she then said to all the ponies. "Now then, you may release Discord when ready, and I await your reply informing me of the results."
Twilight and Spike were especially surprised by Celestia's sudden announcement. "Wait, aren't you gonna stick around in case we need you?" Twilight asked her mentor.
Celestia sighed as she reluctantly confessed. "Unfortunately, since I am no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony, I fear that Discord may try to get some revenge on me for turning him to stone the first time. I believe he still holds something of a grudge against me for it, even though I didn't do it alone."
"Sounds like you two had quite the past." Twilight commented.
Celestia nodded. "But that is a topic for another time and another place. For the time being, I shall return to Canterlot to host Equestria's royal summit. And with any luck, by this time next week Discord will be allied to our side." And with that, she and the royal guards departed from Ponyville.
For a few minutes following Celestia's departure, there was an uncomfortable silence. Even though the Princess trusted them, no one was in any rush to release Discord, especially when they had no real plan as to how to reform him.
At last, Twilight cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Okay, ponies, guess it's time to get started," She reluctantly said, as she passed the elements to their respective bearers. "Let's just hope that this releasing spell works."
"Or, you know, let's not!" Spike nervously protested. "Maybe we should consider the fact that Princess Celestia doesn't know what she's doing?"
"I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want Discord to be set free unless she was convinced there was a good chance he could be reformed," Twilight concluded. "I suppose she realizes that eventually we too will lose our connection to the Elements of Harmony, and when that happens Discord will surely break free and have to be sealed away again. She must be hoping to break the cycle before it starts," Then she said to her friends. "We'd best keep our elements on at all times 'til further notice. No telling what Discord might try to do."
"Right!" The girls all agreed, and then the elements began to light up! A most dazzling display was carried out, as the magical energy lifted the girls into the air, and a long chain of rainbow energy began to link the elements together. At last, it reached the gemstone representing magic on the tip of Twilight's tiara, and the energy beam struck Discord's stone prison! There was a blinding flash!
But when the flash had faded, the stone prison was still standing. The girls slowly came back down, and the elements deactivated. But nothing happened.
"It.... didn't work," Twilight realized, and then turning to the rest of the girls she reluctantly said. "Well... I guess we've seen the last of Discord after all. Nothing left to do but write to Princess Celestia and tell her the releasing spell was a dud."
However, just seconds after those words had left Twilight's mouth, the stone prison began to crack. With a tremendous scream, Discord burst forth shouting! "Oh contraire, my little ponies! I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!" He groaned, as he wiggled around and exclaimed! "Oh! Ooh! Ooooh! Who would've guessed being stuck in stone, even just for a little while, would give you such a pain in the neck?! It's about time somepony got me out of that prison block. What a relief to be free again!" He snapped his fingers, and as he stretched, a twig snapped.
Everyone gasped, and Twilight demanded of Discord. "Just what do you think you're doing, Discord?"
"Why, stretching, of course," Discord replied, sounding completely unconcerned. "When you're a creature of chaos like yours truly, stone bodysuits aren't exactly your typical go-to fashion choice." He yawned and stretched again, this time his finger snaps turned a cuddly bunny into a rather monstorus creation.
This time it was Pinkie made a demand, as she gasped and said to Discord. "You make that bunny cute again, right now!"
Discord seemed to ignore Pinkie's request. "Oh, I don't know," He snickered. "I think this little guy's adorable just the way he is," The bunny didn't seem to think so, it tried to bite Discord's paw. Fortunately, Discord pulled his paw back and blew a raspberry at the bunny, then he taunted. "And you wanna know what else is adorable? Well, do ya? You ponies truly believe that you can actually reform me, and that you're putting all your faith in this one here to make it happen," He said, as he pointed at Fluttershy, before he transformed into a weird outfit and added. "Makes me wanna pinch your little horsey cheeks."
"Wait, how did you know about that?!" Twilight demanded. "We never said anything!"
Discord chuckled. "I suppose Celestia never bothered to tell you. A pity, I expected somepony as smart as you to figure it out," Then he explained. "Look, being turned to stone doesn't keep me from hearing every last word Celestia says. Although I must admit it does make rolling my eyes a bit of a challenge." As he spoke that, his eyes literally rolled out of his face and along the ground, before he picked them back up and put them into place.
"Oh really?" Twilight remarked, raising an eyebrow. "Well unless you want us to turn you back to stone, you'll zap all those animals back to the way they were, pronto!"
Discord wasn't concerned at all. "Oh, you wouldn't dare turn me back to stone and risk disappointing your precious princess." He taunted.
"Try us, 'Dip-cord'!" Rainbow Dash angrily replied. "We're not gonna let you push us around again!"
"You really think you can treat poor defenseless animals like that and get away with it?!" Fluttershy exclaimed, flying right up to Discord's face.
"Yeah, you go, Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash cheered. "Show him who's boss!"
"You'd best watch your step, buster!" Fluttershy warned Discord. "Or else I'll give you... the Stare!" She proceeded to glare angrily at Discord, looking him square in the eyes.
"The Stare?" Discord asked, before he gasped and seemed to suddenly become filled with regret. "Oh no, please, not that! Anything but your disapproving eyeballs!" He said with what sounded like a nervous laugh. "Please, have mercy!" He pleaded, as Fluttershy increased the intensity of her stare. "Oh no! No no no, stop! No, no!" He exclaimed, as he made a bunch of strangling noises. "Stop! I can't take it anymore! I'll do whatever you say!"
"Oh, you will?" Fluttershy asked of Discord, thinking she'd already made a breakthrough.
Discord appeared to nod as he dramatically said. "Yes. Because," But then he burst out laughing, flying into the air. "You are hilarious! Fool, did you really think I would be defeated so easily?!"
Twilight quickly silenced Discord's laughter as she said to the spirit. "You know, Discord. If it turns out we need to use our elements against you and turn you back to stone, I'm sure we can convince Princess Celestia it was for a good reason. So, care to try your luck already?"
Discord pondered the situation for a bit, before he reluctantly said with a sigh. "Oh, alright. I suppose that's correct. Very well, I'll turn them back to normal," He snapped his fingers, turning the bunnies back to normal. But unbeknownst to the ponies, he then secretly snapped the fingers on his tail and caused a group of nearby beavers eyes to turn red. "Oopsie," He muttered under his breath, before he said normally. "Well then, there is the issue of room and board, I certainly can't just sleep out here while I'm being reformed now can I?"
"So what are you suggesting?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow at Discord.
Discord laughed. "Oh, not much. In fact, I've already decided where I'll be staying while I'm in the process of being 'reformed'," He grabbed Fluttershy and began to give her a noggie as he added. "With you, Fluttershy! You're the one Princess Celestia has singled out for this, so it's only natural I should be with you."
Fluttershy gulped. "Oh dear." Was all she could bring herself to say.
Fluttershy reluctantly tried her best to accommodate her unexpected guest. "Now, he may be horrible, but that doesn't mean we have to act the same way," She suggested, as she set about cleaning up her cottage and making some room for Discord. "We should at least try to be hospitable," Then she looked down at Angel and asked her pet bunny. "You don't mind giving up your favorite spot on the couch, do you, Angel Bunny? It's just for a little while."
Angel was less than thrilled at the thought of losing his favorite spot on the coach, especially when Discord shoved him aside to lay down on it. The bunny let out an angry squeak.
"Now Angel, Discord didn't mean to do it on purpose," Fluttershy lightly scolded. "He's our guest, so we must do our best to be nice to him. If we're mean to him it only proves we're as bad as he is," Then to Discord she apologized. "I'm really sorry about Angel, he can be a bit fussy with strangers. Are you alright?"
Laying down on the couch Discord replied to Fluttershy with a smile. "Oh, yes. Thank you, Fluttershy, for your concern," Then he added. "Now if only your pony friends could be as considerate as you are, that would be lovely."
"Don't think we're going to just forget what you did to us last time," Rainbow Dash spoke up, glaring at the spirit. "And Fluttershy, be careful not to believe everything he says. He's lied before and there's a chance he'll do it again. For his sake, I hope he doesn't, but you never know."
"Oh come now, Rainbow Dash," Discord retorted. "You make it sound like I'm a bad guy. I much prefer the term, agent of chaos. It's nothing personal, it's just my job. You need a little chaos in your life."
"Not the kind of chaos you bring," Rainbow Dash said with a huff, and then she said to Fluttershy. "He's just trying to drive a wedge between us like he did before."
Feigning innocence Discord replied. "Now why in the world would I ever try to do a thing like that?"
"So that we can't unite and use the Elements of Harmony against you, that's why!" Rainbow Dash explained.
"Oh, I never thought of that." Discord innocently replied, but in his mind he was thinking. "Oh Rainbow Dash, you really shouldn't be giving me ideas. Not that it matters, I was already planning to do that anyway. Fluttershy is far too trusting for her own good, I almost feel sorry for her."
Rainbow Dash didn't buy Discord's excuse. "You big liar! You can think I'm stupid, Discord. Just don't talk to me like I'm stupid. Got it?!"
Discord shrank in size in response to Rainbow Dash's comment. "Ooh, now look who's a liar," He teased. "Anyone can plainly see that I'm not big at all," But as he returned to normal size, he accidentally knocked over Fluttershy's table lamp. "Oops," He hastily apologized, as he snapped his fingers and replaced the lamp with one depicting him holding a light bulb. "There, all better." He said with a smile, as he cracked his tail like a whip.
"Good grief, I can't watch," Applejack remarked. "He's an ego maniac."
"Yeah, we're just gonna step outside." Rainbow Dash added, and everyone but Twilight left Fluttershy's cottage.
Twilight looked at Fluttershy and asked her. "Not that I mean to question your judgement, but you sure you're okay with this? Remember, this is Discord we're talking about here."
Fluttershy nodded, much to Twilight's surprise. "I know it's not gonna be easy, but Princess Celestia's counting on me," The timid pegasus answered. "And... I think I actually know what to do."
"You do?" Twilight asked.
Disregarding the angry squeaking from Angel (who was frustrated by Discord constantly moving the couch to keep him from climbing onto it), Fluttershy explained. "I think the key is to befriend him. Being kind to him and letting him be my house guest is probably the best way to do that. If I can find out what makes him tick, I might know what's needed to get him to be good."
"And you really think that will work?" Twilight asked Fluttershy.
"I think it's at least worth a try." Fluttershy answered.
Twilight reluctantly agreed. "Okay, I guess it couldn't hurt to let you have a crack at him. But if you ever need us, all you need to do is whisper 'help', and we'll be back here with our elements," Then she said to Discord. "So you best watch that goat-legged step of yours, pal! One false move and it's back to stone!"
Discord didn't take lightly to Twilight's threat, but he simply made himself look rather elegant as he held a tea cup and retorted. "Wh-what?! Why of all the nerve! Look at me! I'm practically reformed already."
"Against my better judgement, we're gonna give you a chance, Discord," Twilight warned. "So don't give us a reason to have to spring the elements on you, got it?"
"Sure, sure, whatever." Discord replied, as the door to Fluttershy's cottage was slammed shut.
Outside the cottage, the rest of the girls debated what to do. "She's really alright with him staying there?" Rarity asked. "I suppose it's for the best he's not in the center of town or anything like that, but still."
"It's what she said, and we did promise to give reforming him a genuine chance," Twilight replied. "Befriending him is probably worth a shot."
"True, but I think we should come up with a backup plan, in case this whole 'befriending' business doesn't work out," Rainbow Dash suggested. "With Discord, it's not a bad idea to have something else in case Plan A fails."
Rarity nodded. "Rainbow Dash is right. This is Discord we are talking about, girls. I want to believe Princess Celestia sees something in him if she trusts us to reform him. But even so, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a trick up our sleeves. A trump card if you will."
"Very well," Twilight agreed. "And I think I know just the spell that can help us. I can't guarantee it will work, but it's better than nothing."
Fluttershy made sure that Discord was comfortable, before she asked him. "So, is there anything I can do for you at the moment? Anything at all?"
"Oh no, I'm fine. Absolutely, positively fine," Discord replied. "I must say, it's a surprise you're still willing to work with me after what I did. I mean, you know it was just a game, right?"
"Maybe, but you didn't exactly play fair," Fluttershy said to Discord. "No one likes a cheater any more than they do a sore loser."
Discord shrugged. "Well, maybe I do feel a bit guilty for tricking you all and brainwashing you. But like I said before, I'm an agent of chaos. Heck, agent is putting it mildly, I'm practically the master when it comes to chaos. And chaos is the spice of life."
"Yes, yes, I've heard it all before," Fluttershy commented, raising an eyebrow. "So then, if there's really nothing that I can do for you at the moment, I think I'll just head out."
Discord seemed surprised by Fluttershy's announcement. "Where are you going? You're not already turning your back on me by going to those friends of yours, are you? And after all that talk about trusting me and giving me a chance."
Fluttershy shook her head. "I'm not going to see my friends, I just have a couple of things I have to pick up and some shopping that needs to get done. I was going to do it even before I knew I'd be helping to reform you. Just make yourself at home while I'm gone. Okay? I promise I'll be back soon."
Discord waved at Fluttershy, as she exited the cottage and trotted out towards town. "Buh-bye, have a nice time! Everything is fine here. Bye bye... Bye bye..." He called, until Fluttershy was out of sight.
Once the cottage door had closed, Discord turned to Angel Bunny. A fiendish smirk formed on the chaotic spirit's face as he asked in a menacing tone. "Say, you like carrots, Angel?" He dangled a carrot in front of the bunny as he added. "Well, guess what? I'm playing your owner for a fool!" With a laugh, he transformed himself into an actual carrot and asked. "How d'ya like them carrots?"
Angel screamed as the Discord carrot landed in his paws! He dropped it, and ran off, while Discord laughed, before he turned back to normal with a snap of his fingers. "Oh, this is all too easy! Princess Celestia was a fool to think Fluttershy of all ponies could reform me! I am what I am and that's never going to change! Too bad old sunbutt is gonna learn that lesson the hard way."
Sometime later, Fluttershy came trotting back up the path to her cottage. But unknown to her, one of the beavers that Discord had affected earlier, had broken away from the group.
That beaver was the very same one that Fluttershy had scolded earlier at Sweet Apple Acres, and he still held some resentment for that. "I'm going to make her pay for trying to tell me where I can and can't set up a dam!" He thought to himself.
From one of the cottage windows, Discord watched as the beaver began to draw closer to Fluttershy, and she was completely unaware of the imminent danger lurking nearby. "Oh, this is perfect!" He happily said to himself. "That beaver's going to solve all my problems for me! With Fluttershy out of the picture, the Elements of Harmony will be useless, and I'll be free to do whatever I want!"
Angel Bunny was watching too, but he was watching in horror! His master was in real danger and she didn't even know it! He wanted nothing more than to run out, squeaking and screaming in protest, and telling Fluttershy to watch out! But he knew he was no match for a beaver, and despite his concerns, Angel wasn't willing to risk his life for somepony else. "I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy!" He thought to himself, and began silently hoping and pleading for Fluttershy to turn around and notice the danger she was in.
But as the beaver began to prepare to attack Fluttershy, Discord suddenly found himself feeling inexplicably guilty. "Why do I care if she gets hurt?" He thought outloud. "I don't owe her anything, it's her own fault if she can't see what should be obvious." However, it was then that a thought struck him. "If I actually save Fluttershy from this threat, she'll come to trust me completely unconditionally and everyone will start to think I've actually reformed. They'll be so surprised, that they won't think to use the elements against me. And even if they do, Fluttershy will stick up for me and the lack of trust will break apart their friendship, leaving me free to do as I please." And with this thought in mind, the spirit charged out the door, dressed in battle gear!
Fluttershy was most surprised when she heard a voice cry out from seemingly nowhere! "Fluttershy, quick, behind you!"
Fluttershy spun around and nearly fainted in horror at what she saw! A vicious beaver with rather sharp teeth was about to lunge at her! Reacting quickly, Fluttershy dove out of the way, just a second before the beaver's teeth would've clamped onto her tail!
Discord came charging forward. "Leave Fluttershy alone!" He demanded, as the beaver prepared to attack Fluttershy! This time, Discord managed to get in front and take the blow. The beaver bit into his tail, and Discord struggled to hold back the screams of pain!
"Discord!" Fluttershy exclaimed, and immediately turned her full fury on the beaver. "Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth, I can't believe you! Just what were you thinking attacking someone like Discord?! Didn't your mother ever tell you not to pick fights?!"
The beaver wasn't concerned, but he found his will to strike again and fight back be drained as soon as Fluttershy hit him with a full force stare. If Fluttershy had looked behind her, she would've seen Discord snap the fingers on his tail and break the spell he had placed on the beaver.
The beaver seemed dazed and confused, as he wondered where he was. He then retreated back into the woods in search of his fellow beavers.
Fluttershy was quite amazed, she could hardly believe what had just happened! "Discord! You..... saved me!" She realized.
"Yeah, I did. I mean... isn't that part of what being reformed is all about?" He asked, trying to sound surprised and innocent.
"Are you hurt?" Fluttershy asked, as she ushered Discord back inside the cottage and shut the door.
"I'll live," Discord replied with a groan. "It'll take more than some out of control beaver with a temper tantrum to keep me down."
"Well even so, thank you," Fluttershy replied kindly. "I don't want to even think about what would happen if you hadn't stepped in when you did."
Discord laughed. "Oh, it's nothing. In fact, being a hero has made me quite famished. And I know just the pick me up." He snapped his fingers and a bowl full of paper appeared before him.
"Um, are you eating... paper?" Fluttershy asked Discord.
"Am I?"" Discord asked after a gulp. "Huh, how odd of me." And he began to chew again.
Meanwhile, at the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight was busy flipping through the pages of a book. She was looking for a particular spell, but so far she hadn't found it. "That's weird. The spell I had in mind isn't in here," She said to herself. "I thought for sure it was right here. Spike, where are the other books I asked you to pull for me?"
"Right here, Twilight." Spike offered, holding up a stack of books.
"Thanks, Spike," Twilight replied, levitating the books out of Spike's grasp. "I appreciate the help. I really want to have a reforming spell prepared A.S.A.P. That way it's up and running if we need to use it on Discord."
"You really think a reforming spell will be necessary?" Spike nervously asked. "I mean, that sounds a bit unethical to me."
"I don't like it any more than you do, Spike," Twilight admitted. "I never thought the day would come when I'd actually have to use one, and I still hope Discord won't require me to do it. But with a guy like him, he just never know."
"But what if he makes the Elements of Harmony disappear like he did last time?" Spike asked with concern. "What happens then? Is there a Plan B for that?"
Twilight shook her head as she told Spike. "That won't happen. Princess Celestia cast a spell protecting them, remember?"
"Oh yeah, forgot." Spike nervously chuckled.
Twilight turned her concentration back to scrolling through the books, but all of a sudden her eyes widened as she said. "Uh-oh." And the books thudded to the floor.
"Uh-oh as in funny, or uh-oh as in we're in trouble?" Spike asked, before he added. "Oh please, let it be the first one."
Twilight explained to Spike as best she could. "Princess Celestia didn't cast a spell protecting any of our books! Everywhere I thought I'd find a reforming spell..." She proceeded to show Spike books that looked like pages had been hastily torn out.
"But then... that means..." Spike realized, before he and Twilight gasped in horror!
Back at Fluttershy's cottage, Discord was polishing off the last of the paper in his bowl. Fluttershy had no way of knowing that the paper was actually pages from books that contained information about how to perform a reformation spell. "Nice try, Twilight," He thought to himself, barely restraining himself from giggling. "But you can't reform me that easily. You'll have to do better than that."
(To be continued)
S3 E10: Keep Calm and Flutter On, Part 2 (What If?)
Last time, the ponies were given their most difficult task yet. Princess Celestia had asked them to reform Discord, the spirit of chaos and disharmony. "I'm fully aware that the last time Discord was here, he created serious havoc during his brief stay," She had told them all, and after listening to their complaints, the Princess expressed her belief that. "Discord, if reformed, could use his magic to serve good and not evil."
Celestia's method for reforming Discord, revolved around Fluttershy. Much to the surprise of everyone! "What could she possibly know about how to reform Discord?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Fluttershy was the only one Discord had to forcibly brainwash." Princess Celestia had explained.
But even Fluttershy was surprised and concerned by the Princess' trust in her. "This sounds more like something Pinkie Pie or Twilight would be suited for." The pegasus had mentioned, before learning why Princess Celestia believed she could reform Discord.
Of course, Discord wasn't at all convinced. He felt for sure that the ponies wouldn't be able to reform him. "You ponies truly believe that you can actually reform me, and that you're putting all your faith in this one here to make it happen." He had mocked, until finally convinced that he had to at least consider the possibility.
To that end, Discord made the decision to stay at Fluttershy's cottage. "You're the one Princess Celestia has singled out for this, so it's only natural I should be with you." He had argued, and Fluttershy couldn't think of a valid counterargument.
But although Fluttershy was willing to let Discord stay with her, the rest of the ponies were weary of trusting Discord. "He's just trying to drive a wedge between us like he did before." Rainbow Dash accused, even though Discord claimed he hadn't thought of such a thing.
Fluttershy seemed to not be troubled by such a thing, for she told Twilight that her plan was as follows. "I think the key is to befriend him. Being kind to him and letting him be my house guest is probably the best way to do that."
However, Discord had his own plans for Fluttershy. "I'm playing your owner for a fool!" He gloated to Angel Bunny. But, in an attempt to gain Fluttershy's trust, Discord ended up putting himself in harm's way to protect her.
"Discord! You..... saved me!" Fluttershy had exclaimed.
"Yeah, I did. I mean... isn't that part of what being reformed is all about?" Discord had asked, effectively gaining Fluttershy's trust or so it seemed.
Meanwhile, Twilight and the rest of her friends had tried to prepare a reforming spell to use in case Fluttershy's plan failed. But Discord was one step ahead of Twilight. "Everywhere I thought I'd find a reforming spell..." She had exclaimed, before showing Spike the torn out pages.
The torn out pages had ended up being a tasty meal for Discord. "Nice try, Twilight. But you can't reform me that easily. You'll have to do better than that." He thought to himself.
Discord had just polished off the last of the reforming spell pages, and wiped his mouth with a napkin he had produced from out of nowhere. He had now set Fluttershy's cottage spinning and tumbling over and over again. "Are you absolutely sure this isn't overdoing it?" He asked the pegasus. "You specifically said to make myself at home, but I wouldn't want to overstep my bounds."
Fluttershy had to force herself to give a nervous smile. "I did say that," She acknowledged. "So I guess.... if this makes you more comfortable... by all means, please feel free to do so. Just, maybe don't do this if guests come over."
Discord smiled, he couldn't believe how much Fluttershy was letting him get away with, but he wasn't going to complain. In fact, this incredibly passive behavior from the one supposedly in charge of reforming him was working out quite well. "Oh. Well, it does, very much so," He replied. "You seem to know just what a spirit like myself needs. You're so very kind, my dear Fluttershy. I always knew that you were the understanding one, not like those nasty friends of yours."
"Oh, yes, yes. Of course," Discord replied, sounding rather unconcerned. "Figures that you would say that. I guess it just goes to show how understanding you truly are," Then he added in the sweetest tone of voice he could muster up. "You know, I think Princess Celestia was right when she singled you out as the one who could reform me."
"You think so? I'm still not entirely sure I'm the best qualified for something like this." Fluttershy confessed.
Discord shrugged off the concern, he was intent on buttering up Fluttershy as much as possible. That was the entire point of his plan. "Oh come now," He told Fluttershy kindly. "You really have to learn not to sell yourself so short. In fact you're off to such a good start, that I'm seriously considering actually being reformed." But what Fluttershy didn't know, was that a second face had formed on the other side of Discord and was currently blowing a raspberry.
Fluttershy wasn't sure what to make of Discord's comment. She hadn't gotten to know him for that long, but then she had apparently touched on something if he was willing to save her from harm. "Am I really making this much progress already?" She thought to herself. "I expected Discord to be a tougher nut to crack than this. But maybe he's more insecure and vulnerable than he lets on. In a lot of ways, he's kind of like a kid that never fully grew up."
But then Fluttershy's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling out. "Fluttershy! Fluttershy, can you hear me?"
At once, Fluttershy recognized who the voice belonged to. "Goodness! I hear Twilight!" She realized, and flew down to greet her friend.
Twilight and Spike were waiting for Fluttershy on the ground leading up to her cottage, they had been quite concerned to see it spinning around and around. "Fluttershy, what's going on? Are you okay?!" Twilight asked, hoping for some kind of progress report.
Angel didn't really say anything, he was too dizzy and disoriented to think properly.
Twilight cleared her throat and spoke up. "Listen, I think it's time we face facts. We've got to get you away from Discord! He's just terrible and, from the looks of it, completely out of control! I know you tried your best, but perhaps we need to accept that Discord can't be reformed. He already had his second chance when he broke free of his prison last time, and he used that second chance to brainwash us all. We've given reforming him a shot, but I don't think it's going to work, not like this."
Fluttershy wasn't about to give up on Discord, not when she sensed she might have actually made a breakthrough. "Oh, but you're wrong! We're making great progress!" She insisted. "I think we're already on the verge of making him good."
Twilight and Spike looked up at the spinning cottage, it seemed like Fluttershy's words didn't match reality. "Seriously?!" They asked.
Fluttershy nodded, and explained. "I know it looks bad from an outsider's perspective, but I'm earning his trust by giving him a little space to be himself. If that means spinning my cottage around for a while, then I'm willing to put up with it."
"Uh, hate to break it to ya, but I'm afraid he used that 'space to be himself' to tear out all the reforming spells from the library!" Spike complained. "It's true, he took every last one. And I'll bet he'll deny it if you ask him."
"Hm, that does explain the paper eating earlier..." Fluttershy realized.
Twilight could hardly believe her ears! "What?! He ate them?! Ugggghhhh!" She groaned and rubbed her head in frustration.
"So don't you see?" Spike suggested to Fluttershy. "He's taking advantage of you, he's doing all these nasty things behind your back and then running to you for protection! You can't let him do that, you need to put your hoof down and tell him to clean up his act if he doesn't want to go back to stone! Quite frankly, I don't know why Princess Celestia ever thought reforming him was a good idea! He seems to be incapable of changing."
"We can't think like that, he hasn't even been free for half a day yet," Fluttershy protested. "And he did save me from an angry beaver earlier."
"Wait, is that so?!" Twilight and Spike both asked at once.
Fluttershy nodded. "I was just as surprised as you two were, but if he was truly evil he would've let Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth have his way with me. Even if Discord might have done it to gain favor with me, the fact that he was willing to protect me has to be a good sign."
"Uh, I don't know about that," Spike nervously commented. "And it doesn't change the fact that he ate all the reforming spell pages."
"But, we aren't gonna need a spell," Fluttershy optimisticly suggested. "He said he's already considering being reformed! Ask him if you want and I'm sure he'll tell you!"
"And do you actually believe him?" Twilight asked Fluttershy. "You know that he has lied before, right?"
"I'm well aware of that," Fluttershy firmly nodded. "But if I'm going to be his friend, I have to start by giving him the benefit of the doubt! The paper eating is suspicious, but other than that he hasn't done anything outright evil," Then an idea came to her. "Tell you what," She suggested. "How about you bring everypony over to my place tonight for a dinner party? I'm sure Discord's manners will have improved by then. Watch, I'll even get him to put the cottage back on the ground first." Fluttershy flew back up the cottage, and sure enough Discord did just that.
Twilight and Spike exchanged nervous glances, before Twilight reluctantly sighed. " Alright. Dinner it is."
"Do you think Fluttershy knows something we don't?" Spike asked, as he and Twilight walked back to the library.
"Let's hope so, Spike," Twilight replied. "Because otherwise, come tonight, things could get ugly."
When Twilight and Spike got back to the library, they called the rest of their friends and when they had all gathered they informed them of Fluttershy's intent to host a dinner party that evening.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Dinner with Discord?! I'd rather be in Tartarus!"
"I like a good party, but I'm not so sure I'll like one where Discord's on the guest list," Pinkie spoke up. "Are we really sure there's no other way to reform him?"
"Unfortunately, without the right pages I can't gurantee a reforming spell would work," Twilight explained to everyone. "I don't really like it any more than the rest of you do, but we did agree to give reforming Discord a chance. So for now, we'll have to accept, and trust that Fluttershy knows what she's doing."
"And if she doesn't?" Rarity asked.
Twilight was silent for a moment, before she replied. "Then I guess it's back to square one, we'll use the Elements of Harmony to turn him back to stone, and tell Princess Celestia that we weren't able to reform him."
"You think they'll still work with Fluttershy bein' so trustin' of Discord?" Applejack anxiously asked. "Without her, the elements won't have any power, and Discord will be free to do whatever he wants."
"Let's just hope Fluttershy knows not to believe everything Discord says," Spike commented. "With a guy like him, it's best not to trust him as far as you can throw him."
"So that's it then, huh?" Pinkie asked, hoping that there might be more of a plan. "We're just gonna go to the dinner party, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst?"
"It seems like that's our only option at this point," Twilight replied. "I just hope that if we have to turn Discord back to stone, Fluttershy and Princess Celestia will forgive us."
Twilight, Spike, and the rest of their friends were not the only ones who had their concerns about what would happen at the dinner party. Discord himself was surprised to have the announcement sprung on him without much advance notice. "A dinner party? Tonight of all nights?" He asked Fluttershy. "You know those friends of yours can't be trusted, they only see what they want to see."
Fluttershy refused to believe what Discord had just said. "You're wrong about my friends, Discord!" She protested. "If you want them to believe you're actually capable of being reformed, you've got to trust that they'll see the good in you! If you don't, how can you expect them to trust you?!"
"But, how are we even supposed to prepare for a dinner party on such short notice?" Discord questioned. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were conspiring to sabotage me."
"Come now, Discord," Fluttershy said reassuringly. "With your powers it should be a snap to redecorate the place and get everything ready with plenty of time to spare. Surely a spirit as high and mighty as you isn't afraid of a little dinner party?"
Those words touched off something deep inside Discord! "Afraid?! Hah, as if!" He boasted. "Watch, I'll transform this place in the blink of an eye! Even the finest dining establishments in Canterlot won't be able to compare!" And with a snap of his fingers, he did just that! Fluttershy's cottage had never looked so splendid before! The walls were repainted and made to look a bright green in color, a magnificent table with a fine white cloth appeared in the center of the room, plates, candles, and all sorts of fine dining nick knacks appeared atop said table!
Fluttershy smiled. "Very impressive, Discord! You actually managed to put your magic to good use for a change! Now doesn't that feel good?"
"I... guess." Discord replied uncertainly.
Fluttershy clapped her hooves in applause. "See, you don't have to sell yourself short either. If you stay on your best behavior and keep up the good work, I'm sure you'll surprise everyone tonight with just how much you've changed. Now then, I'm going to start preparing the food for our party guests. Feel free to join me in the kitchen when you're ready. Oh, and since it's a dinner party, before the guests arrive you should probably slip into appropriate attire."
Fluttershy trotted to the kitchen, leaving Discord alone in the re-decorated living room to ponder to himself. He hadn't anticipated being tricked into using his magic for a good purpose, and neither did he imagine that it would give him a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It was barely noticeable, but he still felt it. "What's happening to me? Am I actually starting to grow to care for Fluttershy?" He thought to himself, looking into a mirror. "The only reason I'm getting close to her, is so I can gain her trust and render the Elements of Harmony useless." He kept trying to convince himself of that, but he always found himself wondering the same question. "Am I actually starting to become a 'good guy'?" Unable to find an answer, he shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts.
"Oh for goodness sakes," He complained loudly. "I've just got to focus on the dinner party. If I can put on a good enough act for Fluttershy, everything else will be taken care of and it won't matter what I feel inside." He then snapped his fingers and teleported into the kitchen, hoping that cooking would keep him distracted from these feelings.
The dinner party dawned sooner than anyone would've liked. Even knowing that they had promised to give the party a chance, Twilight, Spike, and the rest of their friends were not really looking forward to it.
"Ugh, I still can't believe we're having a dinner party with Discord of all creatures!" Rainbow Dash groaned. "I just don't get what Fluttershy sees in him!"
Rarity found herself agreeing with Rainbow Dash's statement. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm sure this evening will prove to be a disaster," She complained. "It's just a good thing I didn't bother to wear my fanciest outfit, at least if anything happens to it I can hopefully wash it off." Rarity had put on a purple dress with a pink collar.
"Well who knows, maybe things won't be as bad as we thought?" Pinkie suggested, trying to be optimistic.
"I sure hope so, but somethin' tells me that ain't gonna be the case." Applejack said with a frown.
Twilight paused just before the group arrived at the doorstep of Fluttershy's cottage, turned to face them, and told them. "Well, Fluttershy thinks this is the way to reform Discord and asked us to give it a chance. Like it or not, that's what we've got to do. If there's even a chance that this could work, we have to try it."
But before Twilight or anyone else could knock on the door, the door swung open and Discord appeared dressed in a black butler outfit complete with a tie. He had also given himself a mustache. "Oh, our pony guests have arrived, and right on schedule too!" He greeted, before adopting a polished upper class tone as he added. "We're so delighted that you've come," As he spoke, a red carpet appeared out of his mouth and rolled towards the girls and Spike before stopping and unfolding. "Please, do come in and make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be served shortly."
"See what a beautiful job he did helping to decorate?" Fluttershy called from inside. "Discord even set the entire table himself and helped with the cooking. I'm so proud of him."
Discord smiled, as he offered. "Now then, may I take your..." He cleared his throat before he added. "Hats, ladies?" He guested to the Elements of Harmony necklaces (or tiara in Twilight's case).
"No thank you, we're keeping them on until further notice," Twilight replied to Discord, and then said to the others. "Hang on to your elements, girls. Looks like it's gonna be a bumpy night."
"Maybe, but we don't know that yet, now do we?" Discord asked with a faint smirk, as the girls and Spike took their seats.
At first dinner proceeded uneventfully for all involved. Fluttershy sat next to Discord, while everyone else sat across from them. They mostly occupied themselves with food and drink, and said nothing to Discord.
But the uneasy peace didn't last long, for soon Fluttershy cleared her throat and spoke up. "You all remember that Princess Celestia hoped we'd help Discord use his magic for good instead of evil," She declared. "And this dinner party should hopefully do just that," She then turned to Pinkie Pie, who was stuffing her face full of mashed potatoes. "Pinkie Pie, care for some gravy?" Fluttershy asked her friend.
"You bet! I love gravy with my mashed potatoes!" Pinkie happily exclaimed.
Discord looked across to Fluttershy and then said. "Allow me." With a snap of his fingers, the gravy boat came to life and started barking and panting like a dog. It went over to Pinkie and poured some gravy on top of her mashed potatoes.
Pinkie was both amazed by the gravy boat coming to life, and thrilled to see it acting like a dog. "Oh, what a cute little gravy boat you are!" She happily cooed. "Yes you are! Yes you are!"
"That's one creepy little gravy boat if you ask me." Rainbow Dash protested.
"Oh come on now, Dashie," Fluttershy angrily replied. "You're not even giving this a chance."
"Is it wrong of me to find it creepy that a gravy boat of all things just came to life?" Rainbow Dash remarked. "What's next, is he gonna start a song with the dishes or something? Because if he does, I'm outta here."
Suddenly, the gravy boat came over to Rainbow Dash and poured some gravy onto her leg, just missing her crotch area! Rainbow Dash flew into the air! "Hey! That's hot!" She remarked. "You almost spilled that on a very sensitive area!"
"Whoops!" Discord apologized, though he couldn't help chuckling. "I'm so sorry, really! I don't know how that could've happened."
Rainbow wasn't convinced even the slightest. "I wasn't born yesterday! He did that on purpose!" She accused.
"Oh, well, I don't really know about that," Discord sheepishly replied, trying to sound as innocent as possible. "I mean after all, mistakes do happen. Oh, look, everypony, dancing candles!" And sure enough, a bunch of dancing candles appeared at the center of the table.
Rainbow flew to the center of the table and glared at Discord as she said. "I'm not falling for that! Discord's just trying to distract us from–" But suddenly the candles started to poke at her. "-Hey! Knock it off!" She complained, before she looked at Discord and asked him. " I suppose that's another 'mistake'?"
"Oh no, I think you just made them mad," Discord replied. "You really shouldn't have done that. You're lucky they didn't use their flames."
"There's something fishy going on here." Twilight spoke up, before she was suddenly hit by a blast of soup from the fish shaped tureen.
Fluttershy immediately turned to Discord. "Discord?" She asked him.
"Well, it's hardly my fault if the soup tureen finds the term 'something fishy' to be offensive." Discord replied.
"Can't you stop it?" Fluttershy asked.
"I would, but it's rather difficult to make something alive become unalive." Discord told Fluttershy, hoping she'd buy the explanation.
The soup tureen targeted Rarity next. "No! Not the dress! Please, not the dress!" She insisted, but the tureen ignored her! It splashed Rarity, then turned its attention to Applejack.
Applejack blocked the tureen's blast with a hoof, while glaring at Discord. "That tureen's only doin' what you're makin' it do!" She said to him. "Don't think you can fool me!"
Fluttershy tried to break up the tension. "N-now now, let's not jump to any conclusions here." She insisted.
Rainbow only glared at Fluttershy as she asked her friend. "Come on, Fluttershy! Even you can't be this ignorant! Can't you see what he's doing right now?! He's playing innocent with you so that you'll agree to never use the Elements of Harmony against him!" Before she had a chance to get a response, she was splashed by the soup tureen.
"Oh, well, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?" Discord innocently asked.
Rainbow didn't bother to respond to Discord's question, she simply placed a container over the soup tureen to stop its splashing spree. Then she looked at Fluttershy as she asked. "You see what I'm saying, right, Fluttershy? Fluttershy!"
Much to everyone's surprise, Fluttershy responded by saying to them all. "You know what I see? I see that Discord's far from perfect, but I also see none of you giving him a chance!" That comment caused all of her friends to complain quite loudly, they thought they'd given Discord more than enough of a chance.
"Just what's gotten into you?!" Rainbow demanded of Fluttershy. "Why do you keep cutting him so much slack, even when he's taking advantage of it?"
Fluttershy simply replied. "Because that's what friends do."
Discord seemed to be surprised by Fluttershy's comment, as he looked at her and asked. "We're friends?"
Fluttershy nodded, she could tell by Discord's expression that he was genuinely surprised to see anyone stick up for him and trust him. "Why, of course!" She told him. "I can't remember my house ever being this lively before you came along. And I certainly couldn't have done any of this stuff without your help. You made this dinner party possible."
"Oh..." Discord replied, uncertain of what else to say. Somehow though he managed to force out: "Well, I've... never really had a friend before."
"Well, now you do!" Fluttershy told him. "And trust me when I say, having one friend is better than having no friends at all."
Discord opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. "This.... wasn't supposed to be part of the plan." He thought to himself.
Just then, Angel came crawling in through an open window, climbed onto the dinner table, and started to chatter in a worried tone. "Now is not a good time, Angel. We're having a dinner party." Fluttershy protested.
But Applejack replied. "Hold up! I-I think he's tryin' to tell us somethin'! You'll have to translate, Fluttershy!"
Fluttershy reluctantly did so, as Angel explained to the best of his ability what he needed to tell everyone. When he had finished, Fluttershy nearly gasped! "There's flooding at Sweet Apple Acres, a bunch of beavers just moved in and built a massive dam there!" She told her friends.
"Well, we all know who's behind that now, don't we?!" Rainbow Dash asked, as she glared at Discord.
"Who, me?" Discord replied, feigning innocence as a halo appeared over his head.
"Oh, give it a rest! You're not fooling any of us!" Rainbow angrily proclaimed, as she and the rest of her friends got up from the table and prepared to head to Sweet Apple Acres. "What do you think of your 'friend' now, Fluttershy?" She asked.
Fluttershy looked at Discord, who seemed rather worried. Fluttershy sighed, she could easily tell Discord was likely behind the flooding, but there was no way he'd confess. "I'm going to go to Sweet Apple Acres and get to the bottom of this," She told him. "Hopefully it's just a misunderstanding."
Discord watched Fluttershy as she left. "The plan is working!" He realized, though he didn't dare to say this outloud. But deep inside he swore he could feel his heart sinking. "So, why am I suddenly regretting it?" He wondered.
Sweet Apple Acres was completely water logged, the entire orchard was covered with water thanks to the massive dam of sticks the beavers had set up. Fortunately, the Apple family was unharmed. Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Big Macintosh were all floating in an upside down umbrella, surveying the damage.
"I've never seen floodin' this bad!" Applejack said seriously, as she looked out over the soaked orchard grounds. "They've built dams 'round here before, but never like this! Just what's goin' on? I want answers!"
Fluttershy attempted to talk to the beavers, but their angry chittering didn't seem to sit well with her. "Such language!" She gasped and exclaimed, before she sighed and said to her friends. "It's no use. They won't listen to a word I say!"
Rainbow flew up to Fluttershy and immediately asked her. "You see that Discord's behind all of this, right?"
Fluttershy surprised everyone when she replied with: "Oh, of course I do! Do you all really think I'm a just silly, gullible fool?"
There was a long and uncomfortable silence, as the rest of the group struggled to figure out what to say. It was Rainbow who nervously commented. "Um... you don't actually want us to answer that, do you?"
Fluttershy decided to drop the issue, convinced she'd made her point. "I've just been trying to gain his friendship any way I can, so he'd come to trust and listen to me!" She explained. "That's been my plan all along!"
Just then, Discord came up on a pair of water skis being pulled by an invisible force of some kind. "Hey there, Fluttershy!" He greeted, waving a claw to her. "You want a turn? The water's great!"
"Well, time to see if it worked." Fluttershy said to her friends, before she approached Discord.
Discord, suspecting nothing, innocently greeted. "Fluttershy, oh, there you are. Aren't you just a site for sore eyes?"
Fluttershy cleared her throat and looked at Discord quite sternly. "No need for formalities, let's get down to business," She told him, and then moving her hoof out across the sky she added. "As you can see, there's a big mess down here at Sweet Apple Acres, as a result of the beavers that you afflicted with your chaos magic."
Discord tried not to look guilty. "Oh, yes. Awful business, that. Mm." He muttered.
"It IS awful!" Fluttershy scolded, her tone sounding not unlike that of a parent lecturing a child. "This is Applejack's home, and it's being destroyed by innocent creatures who would never be acting this way if it weren't for your reckless behavior. You need to fix this, now!"
Discord quickly replied to Fluttershy's request by saying. "Oh, yes, very well, I will fix it at once."
"Good." Fluttershy smiled.
"But, there is a teeny tiny little catch. One thing I ask in return." Discord added.
"Yes?" Fluttershy asked, suspecting nothing.
Discord sprung his trap! "I ask that you never use your Element of Harmony against me. As a sign of our friendship," He demanded of Fluttershy. "That's not going to be a problem, is it?"
Fluttershy looked at all of her friends, they were shaking their heads in silent protest. But Fluttershy looked at Discord and reluctantly she decided to accept his request. "Very well, you have my word. I will never use my Element of Harmony against you."
Everyone else was speechless, they couldn't believe Fluttershy had made such a promise!
"Excellent!" Discord cheered, and snapped his fingers. The water vanished, but it was replaced by ice. "There, much better! I do prefer ice skating to water skiing! Don't you?" He laughed, as he skated along, performing a few spins as a panel of judges that were all copies of him gave him a perfect score of 10!
Fluttershy was quite furious! "Discord! That's not fixing it!" She complained, and raced out onto the ice! "Why, I oughta..." But the rest of her sentence was cut off as she slid uncontrollably on the ice.
"Where are you going?" Discord laughed. "What's the matter, pal?"
"Don't call me your pal!" Fluttershy protested. "I told you to fix this!"
Discord shrugged off Fluttershy's complaint, it didn't mater to him anymore. "Oh come now, why can't I have a little fun?" He asked, then materializing a pair of ice skates he offered. "Come skating with me, and we'll let bygones be bygones. Then maybe I'll change it back."
But just then, Spike came skating up to Fluttershy and offered her the Element of Kindness necklace! "Here you go, Fluttershy! Game on!" He told her. "Playtime is over!"
"He fixes this or he goes back to being stone!" Twilight demanded. "Princess Celestia will understand! You don't owe him anything!"
There was a long pause, as Fluttershy mentally weighed her options. Before she at last proclaimed. "I made a promise not to use my element against him, and I'm going to keep it." She rejected the necklace, much to the gasps and groans of protests from her friends.
"What are you doing?! You're making a mistake!" Twilight protested.
Discord laughed and began to gloat! "Hahaha, victory is mine! You see? She wants to have fun with me because we're friends. She can't use the elements against me because we're friends. I'm free forever, Equestria will be mine once again! Your princess was a fool to think I could ever be reformed!"
Fluttershy's eyes narrowed in anger, and she growled as she tossed away the ice skates! "Not. Your. Friend!" She protested, and slowly trotted away, taking great care not to go too fast and slip.
"Who cares? I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. I'm Discord, the master of chaos!" Discord boasted, and skated towards Fluttershy. "I don't know who you think you are, Fluttershy, but you're nopony compared to me! You think you can boss Discord around? You think I'm just going to turn all this back because you say so, hm? Because if I don't, I'll lose the one friend I've ever had?" But then he paused, as he suddenly realized the impact of those last words! He looked over at the tossed aside ice skates, somehow by looking at them he began to feel guilty. He'd never thought about it until now, but he'd finally gained the first real friend he'd ever had and now his own actions had cost him that very friend. "Oh," He said slowly and sadly with tears in his eyes. "Well played, Fluttershy. Well played indeed. Never imagined I'd be beaten at my own game."
Discord somberly skated over to one of the trees and perched himself on top of it. He joined his paws together, and a powerful magic wave washed over Sweet Apple Acres, turning everything back to normal. Everyone cheered, except for Fluttershy who remained silent. "I liked it better my way, but... I guess when you're friends, you can't always have things exactly your way all the time, eh?" He asked Fluttershy.
Fluttershy nodded. "Glad you've finally come around. Friendship is truly a wonderful thing."
Sometime later, all six ponies and Spike were present, as Discord approached Princess Celestia in the center of Ponyville.
"So, is it true?" Princess Celestia inquired of the spirit. "Have you truly seen the light?"
"Yes, Princess, I'm ready to use my magic for good instead of evil," Discord said with a bow, though under his breath he added. "Most of the time."
Celestia smiled and in a warm tone she announced. "Congratulations on your success, ponies. I definitely sense a big change in Discord," She then whispered to Twilight. "I'll leave the Elements of Harmony with you, Twilight. Just in case some other threat pops up. Seems like they're safer in Ponyville than they are in Canterlot."
Twilight acknowledged her teacher's comment, before she replied. "You were right when you said Fluttershy would be the one to find the way to reform Discord. By treating Discord as a friend, she got him to realize that friendship was actually very important to him. And it was something that, once he had, he didn't want to lose. I don't think that's something either Pinkie Pie or I could've done."
Fluttershy nudged Discord slightly. " Go on. Say it..." She encouraged.
Discord groaned but obliged. "Oh, alright," He then quickly said. "Friendship is magic. There, are you happy now?"
Fluttershy smiled, as did everyone else. "See? He can be a real sweetheart once you get to know him." She said outloud.
As everyone began to celebrate, Princess Celestia thought to herself. "I sensed this day would come eventually. With the help of her friends, Twilight has succeeded where I could not. No doubt about it, she's ready for the next step, despite what Luna and Cadence might think."
The ringing of the school bell normally signaled the end of class for the day, and all the school colts and fillies were free to go home and enjoy time doing whatever they wanted. But today was different, it had just been announced that one group of ponies from Ponyville Elementary would be given the honor of carrying the flag for Ponyville at the Equestria Games, a position that promised to bring fame and glory to whoever got the nomination.
Naturally, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were among the groups hoping to win. Scootaloo especially was thrilled with the idea from the moment it was announced, and learning that Rainbow Dash would be coaching the teams only sweetened the deal further. "If this is a dream, please don't wake me up!" She thought, as she giddly bounced out the classroom door and start buzzing her tiny wings in excitement. "So, whadya say, Crusaders?!" She asked her friends. "You ready to win this or what?!"
"Ya'll bet we are," Apple Bloom eagerly agreed. "Representin' Ponyville in the openin' and closin' ceremonies? We'd have to be crazy to say no!"
"But you remember what Ms. Harshwhinny told us?" Sweetie Belle nervously commented. "We need to come up with a routine guranteed to impress the judges, and they'll be judging us very harshly! We need something that's a surefire bet if we're going to win, especially since the other teams are probably not gonna go easy on us! I'm sure even Snips and Snails don't plan to lose!"
"Yeah? Well neither do we!" Scootaloo boasted. "If Rainbow Dash could represent Cloudsdale in the ceremonies as a filly, I'm sure the same will hold true for us! We've been all over Ponyville in our pursuits for our cutie marks, so who better than us to show just what makes Ponyville so unique? Somepony in our class is gonna carry that flag, so it might as well be us!"
"And just what's so special about Ponyville?" Sweetie Belle asked. "And how are we gonna show that with our routine?"
Scootaloo smiled the biggest smile she had ever smiled. "I knew you'd ask that. It's simple," She explained to her fellow crusaders. "Ponyville is a place where different kinds of ponies live together as friends!"
"Earth ponies like me!" Apple Bloom realized.
"Unicorns like me!" Sweetie Belle added, also realizing what Scootaloo was suggesting.
"And pegasi like me!" Scootaloo replied. "So somehow we got to figure out a way to show that in our act. And we gotta do it on our own, this is our big moment to leave a lasting impression on all of Equestria!"
"Right you are," Apple Bloom nodded.
"So I guess we're gonna need a plan." Sweetie Belle suggested.
"And it'll take a whole lot of work, probably more than even our most demandin' crusades!" Apple Bloom added.
"And a whole bunch of practice!" Scootaloo encouraged. "Mom and Dad always say: 'Practice makes perfect', and that's sure to hold true here. But take it from me; Crusaders! We may just be little ponies, but we have hearts as strong as horses!"
The Crusaders' rather excited celebration was only interrupted, when they heard what sounded like clapping. They turned around, and were surprised to see that the applause was coming from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, or at least Diamond Tiara. Ever since Silver Spoon had come back to being by Diamond's side, the silver coated filly had been very reluctant to say or do much of anything (a fact that did not go unnoticed).
"Very impressive, too bad you're going to lose," Diamond said with a smirk. "If that's really the best you've got, then we're going to win for sure."
"We already have the most divine routine planned." Silver Spoon suggested.
"It's absolutely sure to crush everyone else – and I mean crush." Diamond boasted, bringing her hooves together.
Scootaloo was hardly phased by the comment. "But we're winners!" She replied, then began to burst into song as she added. "And we have hearts-"
"Yes, yes, we heard you the first time," Silver Spoon remarked. "But you wanna know what you don't have?"
"Let me guess, it starts with cutie." Sweetie Belle muttered under her breath.
"Your cutie marks!" Diamond and Silver said together, then they shouted "Blank Flanks!" over and over again! But their words failed to leave any kind of impact.
"Just what does that have to do with flag carryin'?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Don't take this personally, but having cutie mark-less ponies represent Ponyville would be unthinkable," Silver replied. "And I'll be darned if I let this town become a laughing stock after my mother and my big sister moved here with me, because they believed it had potential."
"And of course, we already have our cutie marks," Diamond smugly commented. "So we know who's going to be in the winner's circle."
Scootaloo didn't take kindly to that remark, and made a decision that would later push her and her fellow Crusaders' friendship almost to the breaking point. "Don't count your chickens before they've hatched, and don't you dare call me a chicken again! I've heard it before, and it wasn't funny the first time!"
"Oh, are you suggesting that you three will somehow defeat us and win the contest?" Diamond asked, sounding rather unconcerned. "Because I'd love to see you try. You won't win, but I'll welcome the challenge all the same."
"May the best ponies win!" Silver added.
Scootaloo grinned and with bold faced determination she shouted. "Game on!" And so the stage was set for the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to participate in their greatest conflict, one that would lead to unexpected developments for all involved.
The very next day, the Crusaders had set up on a stage in the park, and quickly worked on putting together a routine. Rainbow Dash was watching them, have put on her coach's hat and whistle. "Show me what you got, Cutie Mark Crusaders, and make it good!" She told them.
"Don't worry, we will!" Scootaloo promised. "You'll be so impressed!"
But Rainbow Dash wasn't the only one interested in watching the performance, from a nearby bush Diamond Tiara was also watching though she had vastly different intentions compared to Rainbow Dash.
"Uh, Diamond," Silver Spoon nervously called, tapping her friend on the shoulder. "Should we really be doing this? I thought this was going to be an honorable contest, just the two of us against them and we won't know who's doing what until it's time to actually do the routines?"
Diamond shrugged off Silver's concern. "You want to win, don't you? We need to know what we're up against and how to counter it," She told her friend, and eyed the Crusaders very carefully. "Worse comes to worse, we'll have to find a way to get under their fur," But it was then that Tiara's eyes focused their gaze upon Scootaloo's wings, and an awful idea came to her mind. "Or maybe I should say, under their wings."
"What was that?" Silver asked, hoping she'd misheard.
Diamond just laughed as she replied. "Nothing you need to worry about, Silver Spoon. Now come on, let's watch the Cutie Mark 'Goof-saders' do their little routine. Knowing them it'll be a hot mess."
Silver seemed to be worried about what her friend was doing, if the constant nervous glances were anything to go by. But she was too afraid to speak up. "Why do I feel like, whatever Di's going to do, I won't like it?" She thought to herself, all the while hoping she'd be wrong.
From behind the curtain, Scootaloo began to narrate. "Since the dawn of recorded time, in one town of amazing amazingness, three types of ponies have coexisted!"
The current pulled back, revealing a crudely drawn depiction of Ponyville. Then a spotlight began to shine down on Apple Bloom, waving a trail of green ribbons tied to her ankles. "We are earth ponies!" She shouted!
Sweetie Belle appeared next, bouncing around in the spotlight as she waved her trail of purple ribbons as she shouted! "We are unicorns!"
Resting atop a wooden cloud, Scootaloo flapped her wings up and down, waving her trail of blue ribbons as she shouted! "We are pegasi!" Then she narrated. "And the town where friendship reigns is our home. Now, welcome to the stadium, the flag of the place we love best..." Scootaloo burst through a hoop with her scooter, skidded to a halt, and allowed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to climb on top of her so she could hold them up.
All together the three fillies shouted at the top of their lungs! "Ponyville forever, yay!"
Rainbow Dash, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon all dropped their mouths open! The Crusaders' display was unbelievably good!
When the routine was finished, Scootaloo approached Rainbow Dash and asked. "So? What did you think? It's still a work in progress, so I'll understand if we've got to improve. Think it's a good start though?"
Rainbow wanted to open her mouth to speak, but she quickly stopped herself as she remembered what had happened in the classroom earlier that day.
Just after class had come back from lunch recess, Cheerilee had tapped a ruler against her desk to draw the attention of all her students. When they were all focused on her she told them with a smile. "Today, we have two special guests with a very special announcement! Everypony, welcome the head of the Equestria Games, Ms. Harshwhinny!"
Ms. Harshwhinny strolled into the room, looking rather stiff and grump. She made her way to the front of the class and cleared her throat as she spoke. "Thank you, Miss Cheerilee. Now, I'm sure by now you all know about the Equestria Games, where ponies from all over the land compete for glory in various athletic pursuits. Well, now you littlest ones will have the chance to compete for a weighty responsibility of your very own."
"Oh come on, Ms. Harshwhinny! You're gonna bore 'em to death!" A distant voice complained. "Tell 'em the fun part already!" Into the room flew Rainbow Dash, fully decked out in her coach attire including her hat and whistle. "That's right! All you gotta do is show Ms. Harshwhinny the coolest, most spectacular, most rocking routine and you're going to the Games!" She announced. "I can tell you're gonna love it, it's a great honor that only comes once in a lifetime!"
Ms. Harshwhinny frowned and glared at Rainbow Dash. "Ms. Dash, will you please curb your over-enthusiastic outbursts?" She lectured, temporarily intimidating the pegasus into silence. "Now, if I can get back to where I was before I was so rudely interrupted," She grumbled with a slight snarl in her voice. "Allow me to be clear on the rules," She drew a few sketches on the chalkboard as she explained. "You ponies will all form teams. Each team will create their own flag carrying routine to show off. Everypony will be judged on grace, style and originality. And they will judge you very strictly, so there can be little room for errors."
"Ah, details!" Rainbow shrugged, speaking up. "Bet you're all wondering who's going to be coaching you all? Well, you're looking at the very pony! And you know why I'm qualified to coach you? Because yours truly carried the flag for Cloudsdale at the Equestria Games when I was just a little filly! And just ask the local pegasi whose coaching made it possible for Cloudsdale to get water for the weather factory last Spring, they'll tell you it was me. So take it from me, carrying the flag for your home country is a great honor! I'll never forget my experience, I burst into the stadium, spreading my wings, the flag flapping in the breeze. I did tricks with that flag the likes of which nopony saw before and nopony's seen since!"
Ms. Harshwhinny pressed her snot up against Rainbow's as she severely scolded. "Ms. Dash, if you want to keep your job as coach of these ponies, then you must maintain a professional attitude and keep your emotions in check! Am I making myself absolutely, one hundred percent crystal clear?"
"Yes, Ms. Harshwhinny," Rainbow replied. "After all, professionalism is my middle name. If anypony tells you it's danger, they heard it all wrong."
Ms. Harshwhinny rolled her eyes at Rainbow's comment, before she cleared her throat. "Well, in three days time, Ms. Dash will accompany everypony wishing to compete to the Crystal Empire, where you will demonstrate your routines for the other judges and myself, who will all judge you very professionally."
"Yes. Quite correct," Rainbow spoke up, trying to sound more professional. "In the meantime, get ready to train, and train hard. So meet me after school tomorrow, and show me your flag carrying skills."
As Rainbow left, Ms. Harshwhinny looked out at the crowd of children and told them all. "The most important thing you should all remember is this: Your routine needs to show what your town means to you. So, do Ponyville proud. Work hard, be bold, and wow me. That is all." And she then left, as the school bell rang, announcing the end of class.
"Be sure to get your parents' approval before signing up," Cheerilee called, as the children raced out of the classroom. "And try to take turns with your only coach, she's going to have a lot of teams to supervise so be patient."
Recalling her exchange with Ms. Harshwhinny the previous day, Rainbow Dash knew she would be in trouble if she let her emotions control her. Ms. Harshwhinny had told Rainbow Dash that the pegasus couldn't show clear preference to any one group she coached, she had to provide unbiased feedback regardless of personal relations. "Gotta stay calm, cool and collected." She thought to herself, before adopting the most neutral body language and professional tone she could manage. "So, if you want my clear, unbiased, professional opinion--" She began, before she remembered what Scootaloo had just told her. "Wait. You whipped that act together just yesterday?!" She asked.
"Yeah, that's why it's a work in progress," Scootaloo replied. "So, what did you think? It's okay if we've still got a long way to go, that's why the grownups say 'Practice makes perfect.', right?"
Rainbow again opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter anything she thought in her mind. "Professionalism, Dash, keep those emotions in check! Remember what Ms. Harshwhinny said." When she finally opened her mouth she rather passively said. "Overall, it was... kinda, sorta.. how do I put this?" She then quickly added. "Overall, it was pretty okay. Just keep working hard and, who knows? You might have a shot. Gotta go!" She then fly away to find another group to coach.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged looks of confusion, even Scootaloo seemed to be scratching her head. "Just what was that all about?" Apple Bloom wondered. "Do y'all think she liked it? Sounded like a lot of fancy talk."
"I don't really know, it didn't sound negative." Sweetie Belle mentioned in an uncertain tone.
Perking up, Scootaloo eagerly said. "You heard her! If we keep working hard, we might have a shot! So let's keep working! Trot to it, ponies! Glory's just around the corner!"
Diamond and Silver, watching from their nearby bush, quickly grew worried. It didn't take a genius for them to see who had the better routine. Heck, they hadn't even agreed on one yet. "I can't believe I'm saying this. They could actually win!" Tiara realized.
"They're pretty good, that's for sure," Silver replied. "Guess that means we'll have to work double time to even stand a chance. For a couple of blank flanks it's scary how great they can be when they work together."
In her mind, Diamond was struggling to comprehend what was happening. "That isn't supposed to happen, it's not supposed to be like this!" She thought. "This isn't happening, this is NOT happening! I finally have the chance to prove myself to my mother, and now those wretched little brats are going to ruin everything again! Why can't they ever just let me win?!" Glaring at the crusaders, she began to form a plan. "Silver Spoon, it's time we step up our game. Those Cutie Mark Crusaders have made a fool of us for the last time."
"Uh, Di, you okay?" Silver asked with concern. "You're scaring me a little here."
Tiara brushed off her friend's comments, all she could think about was how to break up the crusaders so they wouldn't be able to stop her! "Come on, Silver! It's time to play our trump card!" She said, as she eyed Scootaloo's wings.
"Diamond, you sure that's a good idea?" Silver asked, realizing what her friend was focusing on. "Shouldn't we be worried about our own routine?"
"That'll come in due time!" Tiara retorted, refusing to abandon her plan. "Once the only competition is out of the way, we can come up with a routine free of pressure. The only question is, are you in or not? You came back to me, offered to be my friend again. So don't tell me you're gonna back out when I need your support. Don't forget, I was the first pony to ever befriend you. Without me, you'd have no one."
"It was one thing when we were just teasing them about their blank flanks," Silver protested. "Something about this just doesn't feel right. You're not acting like yourself, Di. Is this really how you wanna win?"
"I'm going to win this no matter what it takes!" Diamond growled, glaring at Silver Spoon. "So for the last time, are you going to help me or not?! Because I can do this with or without you, it's your choice!"
Silver looked at Tiara, then at the Crusaders, then back at Tiara. For the longest time, she'd be content to be a follower. Diamond had been her first friend, and while she wasn't perfect she had been the one to reach out to Silver Spoon when she most needed it. And it had seemed that, in the wake of recent events, Tiara had finally seen the light and become nice. Sure, they still had that rivalry with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but Silver Spoon had seen it as more of a friendly rivalry then anything else. They'd maybe jab at each other and try to outdo each other, but it was all in good fun.
And now it seemed like Diamond was about to escalate that rivalry, for reasons Silver couldn't begin to imagine. But at the same time, the filly wasn't sure what to do. "Even if I break off our friendship, Diamond's still probably going to do what I think she's going to do," She thought, and reluctantly decided. "Maybe if I stay with her, I can do some damage control and keep her from going too far. Besides, those crusaders are tougher than they look. They can handle whatever Tiara throws at them, right?". With a reluctant sigh, Silver Spoon looked at her friend and said. "I... guess I'll play along a little. But, it's just for this one time. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Diamond replied with a grin. "Now follow my lead and do exactly as I tell you."
As the Crusaders were preparing to make adjustments to their routine and practice it again, Diamond and Silver approached them. "Hello Crusaders," Diamond Tiara greeted, her voice sounding sickeningly sweet. "Silver Spoon and I just wanted to say your act is quite impressive!"
"Wait.... what?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Um... Thanks, I guess?" Apple Bloom added in confusion. She could sense something was up, but she didn't know what that something was.
"Oh, you're quite welcome," Silver Spoon replied, trying to make her smile sincere. The whole thing made her feel very uncomfortable. "As a matter of fact, we think you're very brave."
Suspecting nothing, Scootaloo asked the two. "Brave? Why?"
Diamond Tiara grinned rather maliciously as she spoke up. "Isn't it obvious already, or have you been living in denial all this time? You're showing all three types of Ponyville ponies, yet you have a pegasus pony, who can't even fly!"
Scootaloo immediately buzzed her wings in protest as she shouted. "Liar! You know nothing about pegasi, what makes you two such an expert?! For all you know I could fly if I wanted to, maybe I just don't choose to do so!"
"Whatever helps you sleep better at night," Diamond taunted. "I mean, a pegasus pony at your age? You should've been flying long ago. Try talking your way out of that!"
Scootaloo looked at her wings and tried her hardest not to show how much she was worried. Adopting the bravest face she could she protested. "So what if my wings can't get me off the ground? What does that even have to do with flag carrying?"
"I'd say it has everything to do with it," Silver Spoon commented. "I mean, your flag carrying career's not going to be getting off the ground if you can't fly."
"Ms. Harshwhinny will never pick a pegasus pony who can't fly to represent Ponyville in front of all of Equestria," Tiara added.
"Ms. Harshwhinny never said anything about that!" Sweetie Belle protested. "I heard every word she said!"
"She didn't have to say it, it should've been obvious," Silver Spoon said in reply. "After all, isn't flying part of what makes a pegasus pony so unique?"
Scootaloo just glanced back at her wings, trying to hide how hurt she was. Meanwhile, with a snicker, Diamond said to all three Crusaders. "Well all the same, have fun practicing anyway, even if your routine will never—how shall I say—take off!" She and Silver Spoon then exited the stage, leaving Scootaloo to dwell on the hurtful comments.
"Don't listen to them, Scootaloo. Diamond doesn't know what she's talking about," Sweetie Belle protested. "I mean, I'm a unicorn and yet I can't do magic. All I can do is spark," But Scootaloo didn't seem to be listening to Sweetie Belle, even though the two were close friends. "Scootaloo? You okay?" Sweetie asked, hoping for a reply.
Looking out at a group of pegasus children, Scootaloo could only focus on one thing, the fact that they could fly and she couldn't. But that was about to change. "This routine isn't working how it currently is," She told her fellow Crusaders. "We've gotta rethink my part in the whole thing if we want it to work."
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked, hoping she'd misheard.
"Why?" Apple Bloom demanded. "I thought the routine was good as it was and just needed some fine tunin'."
"Well, you thought wrong!" Scootaloo boldly declared, determination flashing in her eyes. "If we wanna win, then I'm gonna have to fly!"
"Is that even possible in such a short amount of time?" Sweetie Belle wondered.
"We've only get 'til tomorrow, do you seriously think you're gonna be able to fly by then?" Apple Bloom added.
Scootaloo nodded and started flapping her wings, managing to lift herself off the ground a little but no more than she could at any point prior. "It should be doable if I just train twice as hard. See? It's working!" She exclaimed, before she landed roughly on the stage as her wings gave out. She quickly brushed herself off. "Okay, maybe... three times as hard. Yeah, that's it. These wings need a good workout if they're gonna get into flying shape!"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged nervous glances with each other as Apple Bloom commented. "Golly, I don't know, Scootaloo, I don't think that's the problem. I ain't an expert, but I don't think you can just shock your wings into lettin' ya fly in the span of a few hours! Even Rainbow Dash probably didn't just wake up one day and found herself able to fly! It's like you said before 'Practice makes perfect.', and ya ain't got much time to practice."
"Yeah, well it's worth a shot," Scootaloo protested. "The only way we're going to win that competition, is if I fly! So it's back to practice! You two are gonna help me get these lazy wings working properly."
"Is this really a good idea? Shouldn't your parents or an actual pegasus be helping you with that?" Sweetie asked, watching Scootaloo again try lift herself into the air, only to crash a short time after take-off.
"Fine, wings, have it your way!" Scootaloo groaned. "I'll work four times as hard if I have to! One way or another, you're gonna do what you were meant to do all along! I've been patient long enough!"
Apple Bloom groaned, as she looked at Sweetie Belle. "This is gonna be a long day." She muttered.
Apple Bloom turned out to be right, Scootaloo kept insisting on changing the routine to include an entrance for her while flying. And she refused to take no for an answer. "Come on, girls! Get it right this time!" She said to them, as the afternoon started to give way to the evening.
Apple Bloom yawned and complained to Scootaloo. "But we've been rehearsin' all the livelong day! We're gettin' tired!"
"Alright then, guess we'll just skip to my big flying entrance with the hoop," Scootaloo instructed, getting into position and flapping her wings. "So you've done the do-si-do to the left, then to the right, and then there's the hoop. Then I come in--" She tried to fly through the hoop, only to smack into it and land with a thud on the stage once again. "Not quite what I had in mind. We'll just... try that part again." She replied, and went back to straining herself as she tried to fly.
"Ya know, I liked the routine just fine the way it was!" Apple Bloom complained in a hushed tone.
"Me too! But all she cares about now is flying!" Sweetie complained, also in a hushed tone. "And all because of what Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon said! I can't believe she'd actually believe a word they say, pretty sure they're no experts on pegasi."
Scootaloo neither heard or acknowledged her fellow Crusaders' complaints, as she simply said while continuing to strain herself. "Don't worry, I'll be flying high tomorrow on our final run-through for Rainbow Dash. I'm gonna get this, you'll see." But neither Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle were convinced.
And the very next afternoon, the Crusaders spent all day working on their routine. But Scootaloo was still determined to fly, and wouldn't accept that it just wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So naturally, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle started to lose focus.
"Okay, Cutie Mark Crusaders, this is your final run before you show it at the stadium tomorrow," Rainbow Dash called. "Now show me how much you've improved. I know you're gonna absolutely, positively--" She paused and caught herself as she went on to say. "Have a lot of fun," Then after a nervous laugh she blew her whistle and shouted. "Okay, go!"
The routine proved to be very disorganized, having spent so much time focusing solely on the flying aspect of the routine, Scootaloo struggled to even remember the opening narration. "Ponyville! Home of the, um..."
"Friendship!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle reminded in hushed tones.
"Ah, friendship, right! Uh, there are four-- no, three kinds of ponies." Scootaloo narrated, as Apple Bloom came onto the stage and began to yawn.
Sweetie Belle had to remind Apple Bloom where she was supposed to be. "Left, left!" She called out.
"Sorry, I'm just so tired, I can't think straight!" Apple Bloom apologized in a hushed tone, then added as the routine was being carried out. "And then I dip, and then we turn, and--" But she was so distracted that she bumped into Sweetie by mistake. "Sorry!" She apologized.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ended up tumbling and had to quickly correct themselves to hold up the hoop for Scootaloo. Scootaloo leaped up, but instead of flying through the hoop she just knocked it over. "Ta-da!" She exclaimed, managing to hover in the air only briefly before she landed with a thud. "So? What'cha think? It's totally an improvement, right?" She asked Rainbow Dash.
Nervously, Rainbow Dash replied to Scootaloo by telling her. "That's uh... y'know... good and all, hehehe... I just thought that... well maybe possibly you might wanna go back to, say, the first version of the act, which was, I dunno, what's the word, better? Yeah, that's it! Just do the routine as it was! Don't mess with success, right?" She then excused herself by saying. "Now I need to uh... go coach these other ponies over here! Oh, and don't forget, we've got to catch the early train for the Crystal Empire tomorrow. See you all in the morning!" And she flew off as fast as she could.
If Apple Bloom and Sweetie had been hoping Rainbow Dash's comments would knock some sense into Scootaloo, they were quickly disappointed when Scootaloo gasped and started to panic! "What are we gonna do?! We're competing tomorrow, and I still can't fly!" She complained, and started trying to think of any number of ways to correct that problem. "Unless..." She began.
But Sweetie Belle interrupted. "I'm just too tired! I can't keep going, Scootaloo!" She protested.
"Me too! I'm tired, I'm hungry, and now I hate this whole routine!" Apple Bloom complained. "It feels like it's all about you now!"
"You know, Apple Bloom's right!" Sweetie Belle agreed, trying not to glare at Scootaloo. "It's like you don't even need us anymore!"
"Don't be silly, of course I need you two!" Scootaloo happily replied. "Without you two, who's gonna hold up the hoop? I can't do it myself you know."
Shocked at Scootaloo's statement, Apple Bloom finally snapped! "Rrgh! That's it, that's enough! That's all I can stand, I can't stand any more! You don't even listen to yourself do you?!" Rather than wait for a reply, she stormed off the stage in protest as she added. "Forget this. I'm goin' home to get some sleep, and I hope you'll do the same."
Surprised and even a little uncertain, Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle and asked with pleading eyes. "So? Are you gonna leave me too? After all we've been through together?"
Sweetie Belle reluctantly nodded. "I'm sorry, Scootaloo. But you heard what Rainbow Dash said, we've gotta catch the early train to the Crystal Empire. I'd better get some rest. See you in the morning, Scootaloo." And with that, she too trotted off the stage.
"Fine then, be that way! You'll see!" Scootaloo protested, and then she said to herself. "Come on, Scootaloo! Do it for Ponyville! You've just got to try twenty times as hard!" She started trying to lift herself off the ground yet again, only to quickly fall back to the ground. Her wings were strained from constant use, but she refused to give up! "Thirty times as hard!" She told herself, picking herself up and flapping even harder. And she repeated the process several times over. "Just... a little... harder!" She would say every time she fell down.
Scootaloo stayed out all night long, and even into the morning! But by daybreak, she was exhausted! At last, she fell onto the stage and with a sigh she reluctantly said to herself, while watching a butterfly fly past. "I can't fly. I just... can't. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were right after all."
The train station in Ponyville was bustling with activity, all the major groups participating in the flag carrying contest were either onboard or preparing to step aboard. And many adults were boarding too, some were parents or legal guardians, others were family members including siblings and cousins, and some were even just close friends or trusted mentors.
However, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were looking around the train station with worry. So far they had seen no sign of Scootaloo.
"Last call for the 9:00 A.M. express to the Crystal Empire!" The conductor announced, trotting up and down the platform. "All aboard!"
"Where's Scootaloo? She should've been here by now." Sweetie Belle said with concern, despite what had happened yesterday the Crusaders couldn't bring themselves to just leave one of their own behind.
Apple Bloom looked all around, hoping that maybe Scootaloo would appear. "She'd better get here soon! This here train is about to leave!" She nervously said to herself.
Just then, Scootaloo reluctantly came trotting up to the platform. "Here I am..." She said weakly, as she knew what she had to say.
"There you are!" Apple Bloom sighed with relief. "We were scared you were gonna miss the train! Now come on, it'll leave at any minute!"
But Scootaloo said rather reluctantly. "About that. The thing is...I... I'm not going."
"WHAT?!" Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exclaimed, they could not believe their ears!
"Let's face it, I'm the weak link in this chain," Scootaloo told them both. " If I go out there, and fall, flop, or do anything but fly, I'm gonna blow it for you two, and I don't want that."
"I can't believe you're just up and quitting on us like this, Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle complained. "This isn't like you at all!"
"You're better off without me, Sweetie Belle! Just forget about me!" Scootaloo insisted.
"But that's not true, and you know it! You're not making any sense!" Sweetie Belle protested.
But Apple Bloom only shook her head and with a glare she said to Sweetie Belle. "You know what, Sweetie Belle? Forget it! If she's gonna quit on us like this, then we don't want her, and we don't need her!"
"Fine by me, now get out of here!" Scootaoo stubbornly said.
"We were just leavin', come on, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom called, and turned away.
Sweetie Belle reluctantly looked at Scootaloo, before she sighed and said. "I guess this is goodbye, Scootaloo." Then she joined Apple Bloom as the two fillies boarded the train.
"All aboard!" The conductor shouted, as the train car doors slid shut, and with a puff of steam and blowing of the whistle, the train departed the station.
Scootaloo just stood on the platform, watching as the train slowly disappeared over the horizon. It was too late to change her mind even if she wanted to. Reluctantly, she left the station and began the slow and sulking walk back to her house.
It didn't take long after the train had left Ponyville for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle to feel guilty about leaving Scootaloo behind. Without her, they doubted they could actually do their routine even half decently.
"Hey, how's my favorite routine going today?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying into the car Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in. She was noticeably more cheerful and upbeat compared to the previous two days. "Oh, I just can't keep it in! I want you to win so bad!" She exclaimed, and starting making a bunch of motions to the beat of the music the Crusaders had used two days ago. "And then Scootaloo does that," She did something of a whistle before she added. "Thing, right through the hoop!" Then she noticed something. "Hey, where is Scootaloo, anyway? Isn't she supposed to be with you two?"
"She's staying home." Sweetie Belle announced.
"Oh, is that all?" Rainbow asked, before the realization hit her! "Wait, she's what?!"
"Thanks to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, she got it in her head that the only way to represent Ponyville was by flyin' in our routine! When she couldn't do it, she told us that she was quittin'." Apple Bloom explained.
"But didn't you try to stop her?" Rainbow Dash asked them.
Sweetie gulped. "Well, actually, we kinda told her..."
"...Uh, that we didn't want a quitter on our team." Apple Bloom finished.
Rainbow Dash's shock was replaced by anger! "Are you two nuts?!" She protested. "You're a team, and a team never leaves a friend behind!" She quickly reached up and pulled the emergency brake cord, causing the train to come to an immediate stop in the middle of an uninhabited grassland. "Come on, put on some speed, girls! Scootaloo's counting on us!"
As the train resumed its journey, while Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were on their way back to Ponyville, Diamond Tiara couldn't help but smirk and gloat. "That worked out even better than I thought! They might as well be throwing in the towel, they'll never make it back to the Crystal Empire in time to compete!"
Silver Spoon was shocked by her friend's complete lack of concern about what she'd just learned! "Excuse you?!" She loudly exclaimed. "Do you even realize how mean that sounds?! You proved your point, you drove a wedge between them! So why can't you just leave them alone?! They never did anything to you!"
Diamond spun around, surprised to see Silver Spoon looking so angry. "And why do you care so much, you went along with this whole plan."
"A mistake from the very beginning, and one I'm going to regret forever," Silver Spoon complained. "How can you be so conceited?! Is this REALLY how you wanna win?! Simply by preventing them from showing up?! What would that even prove?! That you had to play dirty just to win?! Is that what you want?!"
"As long as I get my victory, I don't care how I win! And you shouldn't either!" Tiara protested. "They've always been one step ahead of us, upstaging us at every turn! And after they nearly drove us apart forever, you still feel sorry for them?!"
Silver growled and gritted her teeth! "It wasn't their fault we broke off our friendship in the first place! I only came back because I thought you had changed and become a better pony! But I suppose I was wrong, you only care about yourself!"
"That's not true! I befriended you out of the kindness of my heart and defended you when nopony else would!" Tiara replied. "You don't know what I have to put up with at home! This was my big chance to shine and finally do something to get my mother off my back! So what if I had to bend the rules of our little game?! There will be other Equestria Games, they'll get another chance someday."
"Someday may not come soon enough for them," Silver said with a glare. "Open your eyes. Regardless of the circumstances, winning this way won't prove a thing except that you're willing to go to any lengths to achieve victory. Is that really the kind of victory you want or deserve? Do you think anypony's actually going to say you earned it?" With a huff she added. "You got to make your demands earlier, now it's my turn to return the favor. My friendship has a price, and I draw the line at breaking up a friendship just to win some stupid flag carrying contest! So what's more important to you: Friendship, or victory? You can't have both, Di! Not anymore!" And with that, she turned and trotted into another car, leaving the pink coated filly alone.
Diamond said nothing, she just stood there with the most shocked expression on her face. "Since when did Silver Spoon grow a backbone like that?" She thought to herself.
Scootaloo sat in her bedroom, tears in her eyes. Everywhere she looked she was reminded of her failure to do what all pegasi should be able to do. Frustrated beyond all belief, she tore up her Wonderbolts and Rainbow Dash posters that lined her bedroom walls, tossing them and her scooter into the nearby trash can!
"Throwing away your scooter? Kid, just what's gotten into you?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle entered Scootaloo's bedroom.
Scootaloo spun around, surprised to see them. But even more surprised to see that the one who had let them in, was a familiar pegasus mare with an amber coat, eyes a moderate rose in color, a pink mane and tail styled curly with pale raspberry highlights, and a cutie mark consisting of three tornadoes. It was her mother, Dizzy Twister. "Mom, why did you let them in?!" Scootaloo demanded. "I didn't invite them, and I didn't want to see them!"
Dizzy Twister shook her head. "Scootaloo, they're worried sick about you!" She told her daughter. "And I've been worried sick too! Last night when you didn't come home, I thought something awful had happened to you! So imagine my surprise when I learned that not only were you at the park all night, but you also weren't going to the Crystal Empire with your friends and role model! I know something's bothering you, but you don't have to keep it to yourself! You've got ponies who want to help you, but they can't do that if you don't tell them what's wrong! They're not mind readers."
"I don't care, they should already be at the Crystal Empire," Scootaloo pouted. "I didn't ask for them to care about me or come back for me."
"We ain't goin' to the empire." Apple Bloom said firmly.
"Not without you, this isn't like you at all." Sweetie Belle added.
"Just what the hay's gotten into you, Scootaloo?!" Rainbow Dash demanded. "I shouldn't have to be finding out from your mom that you were out all night in the park! Don't you know how dangerous that was?! What if you got hurt or sick?!"
"I would've been fine, I'm not some baby that needs constant protection." Scootaloo complained, turning her head.
"Scootaloo, please," Dizzy Twister said in a kind but firm tone. "You don't have to push others away. It's not a weakness to let others see you when you're vulnerable. Keeping your defenses up will only drive others away. Please, just tell us all what's bothering you. We just want to help."
"Come on, kid, listen to your mother," Rainbow pleaded. "She's the very pony who takes care of you all the time. This is just like when you kept coming up with excuses as to why I couldn't see her, and I had to find out for myself the day before our big camping trip. Whatever it is, we're not going to think any less of you."
Scootaloo sighed, sensing that her friends and family were not going to go away until they got an answer. Reluctantly, she confessed. "I didn't want to ruin their chance to win just because I couldn't fly."
Rainbow immediately flew over to Scootaloo and wrapped a wing around her. "And whoever said you had to? Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?" When Scootaloo nodded, Rainbow Dash added. "So if they told you to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?!"
"N-no, of course not!" Scootaloo replied. "I'm not stupid! But flying's what pegasus ponies are supposed to do! You flew when you carried the flag in the games! Heck, even Mom could fly when she was my age!"
"Yes, but I knew plenty of ponies who didn't fly for years afterwards," Dizzy told Scootaloo. "You'd be surprised at how many pegasi are late bloomers."
"Yeah, take Bulk Biceps for example. He had the same kind of problem you had," Rainbow said to Scootaloo. "For the longest time he couldn't get his wings to lift him off the ground. Some even said he'd never ever fly. But you know what he did? He didn't give up! He kept practicing a little bit, day by day, slowly building up his wing muscles! And now look at him, he made it into the Wonderbolts Academy, and his wings are still as tiny as they were when he was your age," She then added. "Besides, when I flew while carrying the flag, that was me! You're you! And it just doesn't matter if you can fly or not. Your routine was amazing 'cause it represented exactly what makes Ponyville special. You do still know what that is, right?"
"It's friendship." Sweetie Belle immediately answered.
"Three kinds of ponies livin' together as friends. Just like us," Apple Bloom added, then she said. "Earth ponies..."
"...Unicorns..." Sweetie Belle chimed in.
" ...And pegasi," Scootaloo finished, before she nervously turned to Rainbow Dash and her mom and asked. "But ... what if... what if my wings never grow? What if I never fly?"
To the surprise of Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash only tightened the wing hug as she told the tomboyish pegasus. "Listen, Scootaloo. Maybe you'll fly someday, or maybe you won't. You're all kinds of awesome anyway, and don't you ever forget that!" After ruffling Scootaloo's mane a bit she asked. "So, who's the toughest little pony in town?"
"Got the moves, got the mojo..." Sweetie Belle began to sing.
"No harder workin' pony around." Apple Bloom joined in.
Dizzy Twister looked at Scootaloo and winked. "Go on." She encouraged her daughter.
"We are a trio, work as a team..." Scootaloo reluctantly sang, before she found her optimism as she joined her fellow crusaders in singing. "We'll be the first ponies out on the flag-waving scene!"
Dizzy Twister and Rainbow Dash both smiled, the Scootaloo everypony knew and loved was back!
"Okay, let's get to the Crystal Empire and we'll do the routine as it was! And let's win this thing!" Scootaloo encouraged, as she and her friends high hoofed each other.
"Come on! If we hurry we can still make it!" Rainbow Dash encouraged, as she fished Scootaloo's scooter out of the trash can. "You'll need this!"
"Go ahead," Dizzy Twister encouraged. "I've seen how fast you can go on that scooter of yours! I'm right behind you!"
With the encouragement of her friends, mother, and mentor/big sister, Scootaloo had no trouble going even faster on her scooter than she had ever gone before!
When the rag tag group reached the Crystal Empire, they were surprised to learn that Silver Spoon of all ponies had managed to convince the judges to wait for Scootaloo and the Crusaders to show up. "I don't care if I lose," She said to them. "Ponyville deserves the best representation possible, and after what Diamond Tiara did I can safely say she won't meet that criteria, not with the way she wanted to win."
Rainbow Dash and Dizzy Twister took their seats and watched the flag carrying contest get underway. They delighted in the thunderous applause and deafening cheers when the Cutie Mark Crusaders finished their routine and shouted out! "Ponyville forever! Yay!"
Once all the groups had finished their display, the judges debated amongst themselves for a little bit, before Ms. Harshwhinny approached the podium to declare the winner. The entire audience was at the edge of their seats. "In the upcoming Equestria Games, the Ponyville flag will be carried by..." She paused, before she declared. "'The Cutie Mark Crusaders'!" The crowd's applause and cheering began again, as the winning group had its picture taken for the local newspapers!
Diamond groaned in annoyance, but Silver didn't care a bit. "Don't forget, you owe them an apology. Especially Scootaloo," She reminded her friend. "If you don't apologize, I'm not going to be your friend ever again."
Tiara just groaned once again. "Whatever."
Scootaloo delighted in having a wreath of flowers placed around her neck, as Rainbow Dash showed up to congratulate her and the other crusaders. "Ahem. Look. What you three did was... acceptable." She told them in the most professional tone possible.
To the surprise of everyone, Ms. Harshwhinny then exclaimed! "Acceptable? Acceptable?! Why, it was totally stupendously the single most amazing thing I've ever seen!" And she started laughing like a giddy school filly.
Ms. Harshwhinny blushed and nervously laughed as she tried to regain her composure.
Meanwhile, Dizzy Twister, as well as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon came forward to see Scootaloo. Dizzy drew Scootaloo's attention to the latter. "Well, looks like some ponies have a few things they wish to say to you, Scootaloo." She said seriously, while eyeing the approaching fillies cautiously.
Silver Spoon nudged Diamond Tiara forward as she cleared her throat and said. "I'm sorry again for everything that happened these past few days. And Di, I believe you have something you wanted to say as well?"
Tiara was silent for a moment, even as she opened her mouth. She really didn't know what to say, what could she say that could make up for what had happened? At last, some words formed on her tongue and she reluctantly said. "I'm..... sorry. You know, for.... everything."
"Di!" Silver warned, rolling her eyes.
"Ugh, fine!" Tiara groaned, and apologized in greater detail. "I'm sorry for making fun of you and making that comment about your wings. I had no right to do that. And it was wrong of me to drive a wedge between you three, just so I could win some dumb flag carry contest. I know I promised to be nicer to you three after what happened with Babs Seed, and I know this was a violation of that promise. All I'm asking is, don't hate me. You don't have to forgive me or anything, but if you agree not to bring this up at all I won't either and hopefully we can let bygons be bygons. More or less."
Scootaloo wasn't sure how to respond, she looked at her friends, at Rainbow Dash, and at her mother, but she couldn't read their body language for any clues as to what she should say or do. At last, after a long and awkward silence, she looked her "friendly rival" square in the eyes and said to her. "I suppose I can let it slide... just this once, if only because I know it's the right thing to do. But I don't know if I'll ever fully forgive you for what you said... it really hurt in ways you probably wouldn't understand. And if you ever do something like that again, I may not forgive you at all. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to go wait at the train station until it's time for us to go home. And as far as I'm concerned, this whole thing never happened. You three were the only ones to enter, I was too busy with other things to participate in the contest." Diamond replied, and trotted off into the distance.
"You'll have to forgive Diamond Tiara," Silver Spoon apologized. "She's actually not as bad as she appears to be, though that isn't saying much. From what I can gather, she's under a lot of pressure at home. Some of it's from her father, but a lot of it's from her mother and from what I know she is a very unpleasant pony. Supposedly she's president of the school board or something, but the only thing I know for sure is her name, Spoiled Rich. I've never met her face to face, and for your sakes I hope you never do." She then went off to try and comfort her friend.
Dizzy Twister pulled Scootaloo into a full body hug, even lifting her daughter into the air by flapping her wings! "I'm very proud of you, Scootaloo!" She told her daughter, a massive smile having formed on her face! "It isn't easy to forgive those who do bad things to you, but doing so makes you a better pony."
Scootaloo blushed. "Well, I have an awesome mom like you to thank for that. You raised me well."
"Indeed I did, Scootaloo," Dizzy happily replied. "And I'll be looking forward to coming with you to the Equestria Games. I know you and your friends will do Equestria proud!"
A cold breeze swept past Rainbow Dash, as she and her pet tortoise, Tank, were watching as a group of Pegasi towed the city of Cloudsdale in all its majesty. It wasn't long before the magnificent cloud city was hovering directly over Ponyville.
Rainbow Dash could hardly contain her excitement. This was going to be her first winter with Tank, and she wanted to enjoy every moment of it (last year she had entrusted the care of Tank to a friend and had not seen Tank until Spring, something the athletic Pegasus found odd but didn't question). "Look at that, Tank! Cloudsdale's here! That means Ponyville is next up for winter!" She told her tortoise, hugging him close.
Ponies of all species were rushing about on the ground below, even though the Running of the Leaves had already taken places weeks ago, there were still some that had yet to fall off the trees. Rainbow swooped low, shouting encouragement to the runners. "You're doing awesome, everypony! Keep up the good work!" She flew back up to a cloud to rest, as she said to Tank. "Once we get autumn cleared away, it'll be hello, winter! And this time we're gonna spend it together."
But all of a sudden, Tank unexpectedly let out a yawn. A noticeable snot bubble formed on his nostrils, and he seemed to shiver ever so slightly. Rainbow Dash was quite concerned, she'd never seen Tank act like this before. "Uh, Tank, you feeling okay little buddy?" She asked him. "You're not coming down with something, are you?"
Tank yawned again, the shiver faded and the snot bubble burst, but he still seemed to be tired for some reason. This didn't make Rainbow Dash feel any better, her concerns only grew.
"What's the matter? I know you've gotten plenty of sleep, you can't possibly be tired already," Rainbow commented. "The most exciting time of the year is right around the corner and we're finally gonna spend it together! That's the best part about it, you and me enjoying the best that winter has to offer! Once those ponies bring in the big, fat clouds full of snowflakes, we'll have a ton of snow for our extreme sledding!" She then pointed to a nearby lake. "And over there, we can play horse hockey, with no shoulder or arm pads! Scootaloo says her father's coming home for the holiday and he's looking forward to a re-match for that defeat I served him last year. He just better not expect me to go easy on him because I'm friends with his daughter. If he wants his team to be the best it can be, even a manager like him has to get some hooves on experience on the ice."
Ponies down below started cheering, they were already anticipating the arrival of winter and were working hard to make sure it would come as soon as possible. But none of their energy seemed to inspire Tank, he just yawned and another snot bubble formed on his nostrils, though this time it wasn't as big and he didn't shiver.
"This isn't good, I'd better have Tank looked at by somepony." Rainbow Dash thought, concerned that Tank might be getting sick somehow.
Just then, Twilight flew by. "Hey Rainbow Dash, everything's looking great from up here, wouldn't you agree?" She asked her friend. "It's always lovely when things are running smoothly and on time for a change."
"I guess, but does Tank look okay to you?" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight suddenly. "He's been yawning a lot lately, and now there's stuff like these bubbles and shivers."
Twilight looked at Tank, and she could see the tortoise wasn't looking as great as he usual was. But at the same time she couldn't really tell much. She turned to Rainbow Dash and told her. "I can't really say for sure if there's something going on, his behavior is troubling but I don't know much about tortoises and without a book or guide I can't make any qualified statements."
"That's.... not very helpful." Rainbow complained.
Twilight sighed as she looked at her friend. "Look, Fluttershy is the animal expert. Why don't you ask her? If there is something wrong with Tank, she should know how to fix it." She then flew off.
Rainbow Dash sighed in defeat. "Guess Twilight has a point," She said to Tank. "Let's just hope Doctor Fluttershy has whatever you need to start feeling one hundred percent again."
Rainbow wasted no time in bringing Tank to Fluttershy's cottage, and although Fluttershy was a bit surprised to see her friend on such short notice, she was more than willing to help.
Fluttershy set Tank on a sofa cushion on the floor of her cottage, and pressed a stethoscope up to his chest. She listened carefully to his heart beat, while Rainbow Dash anxiously stood, waiting for news.
At last, Fluttershy removed her stethoscope and looked at Rainbow Dash. "Well, I've got good news, and bad news." She reluctantly confessed, trying to put on the bravest smile she could possibly muster up.
"Okay, so what's the good news?" Rainbow Dash asked, she was pretty sure she didn't want to hear the bad news.
"Tank's not sick, at least not seriously or anything," Fluttershy told Rainbow Dash, her smile growing slightly wider as she hoofed a capsule to her friend. "Just give him a few pills from in here and he should get better, to some extent."
"What do you mean 'to some extent'?" Rainbow Dash asked, which prompted Fluttershy to gulp. "Don't tell me, that's the bad news isn't it?" She nervously questioned.
"Unfortunately, yes." Fluttershy confessed, her smile fading.
"I hate it when I'm right." Rainbow thought, as she reluctantly asked Fluttershy. "So, what is it?"
With another gulp, Fluttershy looked at Tank, then back at Rainbow Dash as she declared. "This cold weather isn't good for him, Tank is getting ready to hibernate."
The very mentioning of the word prompted a look of confusion from Rainbow Dash. "Wait, what are you talking about? Tank's not a bear or some woodland critter. Tortoises don't hibernate!"
Fluttershy shook her head. "Oh they do, I'm afraid. That's exactly what Tank did last winter, and it's what he'll do this winter as well. He needs to hibernate. It's healthy for him, just like sleeping is healthy for us."
But Rainbow Dash wouldn't listen, she was firmly convinced hibernation meant something else, something far worse! "I'm not an idiot, I know tortoises don't hibernate in the winter!" She thought to herself, snatching up Tank and leaving Fluttershy's cottage. "Fluttershy's just trying to tell me that to cover up for something! She must know Tank's worse than he looks, she must know he's going to die!" Then she boldly promised herself. "Well, I've got news for her! Nothing's taking Tank away from me, no way, no how! Somehow, someway, I'll find a way to keep him warm and alive!"
"Come on, Tank!" Rainbow Dash said, once she was certain she had left Fluttershy's cottage. "Nopony knows you like I do. All you need is some hard work to get the old blood pumping, and that'll warm you up real good," But then she noticed the medication she'd been given by Fluttershy. "But I guess we should go home and make you take your medicine first, and maybe let you curl up by the fireplace for a while."
Rainbow Dash went home and gave Tank some time to rest after taking the medication Fluttershy had prescribed for him. But although Tank did indeed warm up, Rainbow knew she needed some way to keep Tank from losing all that warmth the moment they set hoof and foot outside in the cold. Remembering what her parents had always encouraged her to do as a filly before going out to play in the snow, the athletic Pegasus mare put a hat on Tank's forehead, and hastily tied the blanket she'd let him rest on around his shell. To cover up his little toes, she placed a few small pot holders on them.
"There we go," Rainbow smiled, as she observed how cute Tank looked. "Normally I'd be a bit embarrassed to let anypony see me dress you up like this, but as long as you're warm I'll put up with the...." She struggled not to gag as she added. "'Compliments' to the best of my ability. Now come on, we've got work to do!"
Soon, Rainbow was hard at work pushing some clouds into place to prepare for the first snowfalls. "These things sure are heavy!" She huffed, trying to push the clouds into their proper position. "Boy, I'll bet they're just full of white snowflakes! All the better for our winter fun! We're gonna have such a killer time in the snow, right, Tank?" There was no reply, so Rainbow looked around. "Tank? Tank!" She cried out, before she finally noticed Tank digging around in the dirt.
As luck would have it, Pinkie Pie was nearby and she happened to notice what Tank was doing. She found it irresistably cute. "Aww, look at the cute wittle Tankie, all snuggly-wuggly, getting ready to hibern—" She began, but was cut off as Rainbow Dash swooped down and put a hoof in her mouth!
"Don't you dare say that word!" Rainbow Dash demanded. "I don't need you thinking I'm an idiot too, I know what's really happening!"
"What are you talking about? I don't even know what you're getting so upset about," Pinkie innocently replied. "All I said was cute wittle Tankie, all snuggly-wuggly, getting ready to hibern-"
Rainbow glared at Pinkie quite harshly. "Come on, stop pretending it's something else. If you really think that hiber... – you know, that 'thing' – is so cute, why don't you go do it?! Somewhere far away from here?!" She said, a little too loudly, as all of her friends overheard. "What are you all looking at?!" She demanded. "Pinkie Pie and I are just having a conversation, that's all!" But she refused to lower her voice or change her expression.
Twilight reluctantly trotted forward and said to Rainbow Dash. "Look, Rainbow Dash, we all know how upset you are about what's happening to Tank. We know it upsets you that's going to be hiber-"
"I thought I told you not to say that word?!" Rainbow demanded. "Can you stop pretending and just tell it to me straight?! I know what death is, and I can tell you that Tank is most certainly NOT dying! Not on my watch!"
Twilight shook her head. "We didn't mention anything about death, no one's implying that's the case. You don't understand, hibernation is a natural thing for tortoises."
"No it isn't and you know it!" Rainbow complained. "All of you are trying to make me feel better by pretending Tank's just going to dig a little hole in the ground and go to sleep for the next few months. But you all know he's not doing that, that if he falls asleep like that he'll never wake up again. And I already said I'm not letting that happen! So either help me, or stay out of my way!"
"Now Rainbow Dash, there's hardly any need to take your anger out on your friends," Rarity said with a glare. "If Fluttershy says tortoises hibernate I think I'm very much inclined to believe her. You really can't argue with experience."
"So what if the expert's wrong, just this once?" Rainbow asked. "You think I haven't been wrong before even though I could be an expert on things like weather? And whoever said anything about anger, huh?! I didn't say anything about anger! I'm not upset! And I am not angry! Do I look angry?!" She protested, her face contorting into a glare that could give even Fluttershy's stare a run for its money. Without even waiting for a reply, she turned to Tank and scooped him up. "Come on, Tank! Let's get out of here! We're done for the day!" She then flew off quite rudely.
"Well, that sure went well," Applejack grumbled with a frown. "I swear, Rainbow's a good pony and all but sometimes tryin' to reason with her is like talkin' to a brick wall."
Fluttershy just sighed and hung her head. "It's all my fault, I should've told her about hibernation when Tank did it last winter. I just hope she'll realize her mistake before she does something she'll regret."
Rainbow took Tank home and warmed him up again, but it seemed to have little effect on him. This frustrated her to no end, especially as she watched a Pegasus named Sunshower argue with two other Pegasi named Open Skies and Clear Skies about where to move the clouds. "They do this every year," Rainbow thought with a giggle. "You'd think by now they'd have learned," She then sighed. "They're probably expecting me to go out and help sort out the mess they've caused. Well, right now I've got more important things to worry about."
Rainbow Dash turned her attention to Tank, who still looked a bit tired. "Come on, I need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, not sleepy-eyed and scaly-tailed!" She grumbled. "I'm doing everything I can to keep you warm, okay? The least you could do is make my job a little easier."
Tank yawned, as he tucked his head into his shell to try and stay warm.
Frustrated with her lack of progress, Rainbow Dash groaned. "Tank, please! You can't hiber– you know," She complained, quickly catching herself. "Great, now they've got me doing it! I'm not gonna let you die, no way, no how! Think about how all the primo cool things we're gonna do together this winter. They'll be a lot of fun, I promise you! We're gonna be building snow ponies, starting snowball fights, sipping hot cider by the fire. I could go on."
But Tank snorted to snore, which only made Rainbow Dash even more frustrated and concerned. "Come on, Tank. Don't you wanna do those things with me?!" She pleaded, but her words seemed to have no impact on her pet. She began to pace back and forth in her cloud house, trying to think of a plan. "Think, Rainbow Dash, think!"
Rainbow quickly realized what seemed to be the problem, and why her efforts to warm Tank up weren't working. "Tank's only doing this because it's getting cold out, right?" She thought outloud, looking towards the tortoise. "Well, I'd much rather have him awake in the heat than asleep in the cold... " And that was when she got an idea, a wonderful yet truly awful idea but still an idea all the same! She started rubbing her hooves together as she realized what needed to be done. "I'll just have to stop winter! That should be simple enough."
Looking out at the trio of arguing Pegasi, Rainbow Dash called out to them. "You three are needed elsewhere, I'll take it from here and get everything over to Fluffy Clouds."
"Okay, can do," Sunshower replied, and barked at Open and Clear Skies. "Come on you two, I think the ground crew needs help with the leaves."
Once the trio of Pegasi had left, Rainbow Dash looked all around to be sure that no one was watching. She then quickly and effortlessly busted all the clouds with her kicks. She laughed and chuckled, as she flew back to her cloud house. "Stopping winter is gonna be a breeze!" But in the back of her mind she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "Pegasi usually aren't supposed to tamper with the weather," She recalled. "But they did tell me exceptions can be granted in circumstances where lives are at stake. And if Tank's life is in danger because of the cold weather, I'd say that's just the exception I need."
Tank yawned a little, as Rainbow Dash came back inside. "Rest easy, Tank," She told him. "Because pretty soon, winter will be gone!"
Unfortunately, despite her best sabotage efforts, Rainbow Dash soon found that she wasn't making any progress in delaying winter, let alone stopping it from coming. In fact, it seemed like her efforts were only accelerating winter's arrival, and the thought of what that would bring only further frustrated her!
Sunshower, now back in charge of the cloud team, was directing the next shipment of snow clouds. And after Rainbow Dash's little cloud busting stint and other sabotage efforts, the Pegasi were taking no chances. An entire group watched over the clouds. "Here comes the next shipment! Move those clouds over!" Sunshower ordered. "Come on, let's move it! One way or another winter is coming."
Rainbow watched from a distance, snarling at her seeming inability to prevent the arrival of winter. "Ugh, I just don't understand it!" She complained to Tank. "Somehow, for every hoof step back, they go three hoof steps forward! Nothing I try is working! What are we gonna do, Tank? Help me out here, buddy."
Tank just yawned again, indicating that he would be of no help to his master. All he knew was that it was getting colder, and that meant he wouldn't have much time left to spend with her.
At last, just when she was ready to give up and admit defeat, Rainbow looked up and saw the very source of her troubles! Right then and there, she knew what she had to do! "Cloudsdale, of course!" She realized! "That's it, Tank! If I can't stop winter here in Ponyville, then maybe I can stop it at the source!"
The next day, Rainbow carefully snuck into the weather factory, taking great care to stay out of sight. At one point, she was forced to duck into a nearby locker, as the whistle blew to signal lunch break for the factory workers. Rainbow hid in the locker, and waited until all the workers had passed.
Rainbow exited the locker, with her and Tank now in official weather factory uniforms. Tank was on a leash, but despite the journey he was barely awake, and yawning quite a bit. "Looks like we got here just in time! Come on, Tank! We don't have much time!"
Working her way through the factory, Rainbow crept past room after room responsible for various weather events, until at last she stumbled across the room she'd been searching for. Snowflakes were being moved along a conveyor belt attached to a machine, another machine was busy cranking out clouds full of snow, and in the center of the room was a huge water tank filled to the very top.
"Alright, we're in, Tank!" Rainbow Dash happily exclaimed, tying Tank's leash firmly around the door so he wouldn't fly off and get hurt. "Now we just gotta figure out a way to shut it down." In her mind, however, the athletic Pegasus was starting to feel rather guilty. "This goes against everything I ever learned in school," She thought to herself. "Messing with the weather without permission is always a big no no. Guess that means I'll have to shut it down quickly and get out of here before anypony has a chance to see me."
Looking all around the factory, the rainbow maned Pegasus mare examined the different machines and all their nuts and bolts. She occasionally peeked a glance at the door to make sure Tank was still there. If he got loose, Rainbow didn't even want to think about what could happen to him. The weather factory could be quite dangerous, which is why no pets were to be allowed on the factory grounds.
Rainbow frowned, as she turned her attention back to the machines. "Just sabotaging one of these won't be enough, they'll easily be able to repair the damage. And there's no way I can keep sneaking back in here and doing it over and over again, they'll catch me for sure," It was then that her eyes fell upon the huge water tank, which was held in place by a series of well bolted tubes. "Slam dunk!" She exclaimed, as she realized what had to be done. "With no water, they can't make clouds or snow! They can't make winter!" She flew over to the first tube, and began to tug on it in the hopes of loosening the bolts. "I hate to do this to those weather ponies, but desperate times call for desperate measures!" She said to herself, as she started to strain quite heavily.
But then, all of a sudden, the factory lights flickered on, and a spotlight shined down on Rainbow Dash! The Pegasus froze, and looked up! Her eyes fell upon the angry and confused look of Fluffy Clouds, the manager of the weather factory.
"Rainbow Dash? What in Equestria are you doing here?" Fluffy Clouds demanded. "And why did you bring your pet with you? And don't get me started on why you're trying to sabotage the water supply here."
"Uh.... I....I.....I...." Rainbow stuttered, she wanted to say more but for some reason she suddenly found herself tongue tied and unable to speak.
Fluffy Clouds just sighed. "Look, I'm not going to pretend I understand why you would do something like this. What you're attempting to do could have serious consequences for all of Ponyville, not to mention Cloudsdale," He paused, then added. "However, since you haven't actually done anything yet, and all your sabotage efforts from earlier have actually sped up the process for winter's arrival, I can't really punish you with anything besides trespassing on factory grounds and violating the factory's 'No Pets' rule. So, if you leave now, I might consider letting you off with a warning and a slight fee. I suggest you take it, or I'll have you arrested."
Realizing she really didn't have any other options, Rainbow reluctantly flew away from the water tank and picked up Tank. "Come on, Tank. Let's go home," She unhappily said to herself. "At least maybe we can spend your last few days together."
After the incident at the weather factory, no one saw Rainbow Dash for several days. She remained holed up in her cloud house as the weather grew colder and snowier. Any attempts to reach out to her were only replied with a simple, "I'm fine, now go away." followed by a door slam.
Rainbow's friends were starting to grow worried, they knew Tank had yet to hibernate but that didn't make things any easier for them. At last, they decided that they would have no choice but to force Rainbow Dash to accept the reality, and say goodbye to Tank.
To the surprise of everypony, it was Fluttershy who volunteered. "She'll never get past this until she lets it all out," She told them all, before flying off to see Rainbow Dash. Under her breath she added. "This is partially my fault for not telling her the truth about Tank's whereabouts last winter."
It didn't take Fluttershy long to find Rainbow's house, and when she knocked on the door she was surprised to find it open. "Dashie couldn't possibly have been expecting me, could she?" Fluttershy thought, as she made her way inside. She carefully fluttered her way up to her friend's bedroom, and what she saw nearly melted her heart.
Rainbow Dash had curled up on her bed, wearing a dark purple robe with white on the collar and leg areas, as well as a pair of tortoise themed slippers. Tank was clutched firmly in her hooves, a sky blue blanket covered his shell, no doubt an attempt to keep him warm.
Fluttershy cleared her throat, announcing her presence.
Rainbow slowly turned to face her guest. "I know why you're here, you've come here to tell me to get over the fact that Tank's gonna die," She said in an unhappy tone. "But I don't care what you have to say, I'm still not letting that happen, not even if you have to drag me away kicking and screaming."
Fluttershy sighed, she hadn't expected it to be this difficult. "Rainbow Dash, your winter is going to be pet-less." She firmly declared.
Rainbow Dash was silent for a moment, before she started to sob. "I don't want him to go!" She wailed.
Maintaining her serious expression, Fluttershy looked her friend firmly in the eyes as she explained. "But it's not going to be forever, Tank isn't dying. Tortoises really do hibernate, it's necessary for them to survive. In fact, part of the reason why Tank got so sick last winter, is because he didn't hibernate when he was supposed to. So Blossomforth had to spend time getting him back up to health before he could finally hibernate until spring," She paused, then added. "Trying to stop winter is reckless and irresponsible, regardless of what your intentions are. And if you don't let Tank hibernate, then he really will die. Is that what you want?"
Rainbow Dash continued to sob, more because she finally realized how selfish and short sited she had been. She hadn't imagined her actions would've been counter productive.
Fluttershy hopped up on the bed and scooted next to Rainbow Dash, smiling a bit. "Feeling better?" She asked. "If not, I'm here for you. Sometimes it helps to have a shoulder to cry on."
Rainbow's sobs gradually decreased, until finally she could only sniffle. "Thank you, Fluttershy. I needed to hear that, and I needed your advice. I feel like such an idiot now," She said, her voice strained a little from the crying. "I don't know what I'd do without a friend like you."
"It's alright, that's what friends are for," Fluttershy smiled in reply. "You've always been there for me, so I figured it was my turn to return the favor. You ready to say goodbye to Tank now?"
Rainbow reluctantly nodded, as she got down from the bed and looked at her tortoise. Fighting back the tears, she bent down to Tank's level and said softly. "Oh, Tank... I'm sure gonna miss you," To Fluttershy she then asked. "You're sure this hibernation thing is only until winter is over?"
Fluttershy nodded. "It's for the best anyway, he wouldn't have really enjoyed all those high speed winter sports."
The very next day, as snow covered the ground and the lakes and rivers were frozen solid, everypony gathered on a nearby hillside to help Rainbow Dash say goodbye to Tank. Each of them had dressed in winter weather attire, Applejack had simply put on a blueish-green winter jacket, Fluttershy had a two toned purple sweater and a set of blue ear muffs in the shape of flowers, Rarity wore her red sewing glasses, a white furry hat and matching white jacket with three purple diamonds stitched onto the front, and a set of fashionable grey boots, Pinkie Pie had a multi-striped puffball hat, a blue layered jacket, and blue boots with white spots, and Twilight had a yellow scarf and matching boots, and a set of ear muffs.
Rainbow Dash came trotting up to the group, dressed in a purple puffball hat, a matching set of purple boots with rainbow colored spots on the heels, and a red scarf with hints of orange and yellow on it. Tank was tucked into her saddle bag.
"You guys ready to say goodbye to Tank?" Rainbow Dash asked. "He's finally ready to hibernate."
Pinkie Pie smiled. "Ooh, you're using the word!" She happily exclaimed! "Just wait, when Tank finishes hibernating, I'm gonna throw him the biggest welcome home party ever! Or wait. Should it be a 'welcome above ground' party? Or perhaps a 'happy wake-up' party? Maybe an 'it's about time!' party would be more appropriate?!"
"And I'll design him a very special suit just for the occasion," Rarity offered. "Whichever one it ends up being."
"I'm glad you're feelin' better, sugarcube," Applejack said, patting Rainbow Dash on the back. "Glad to have with ya with us again."
"Feeling's mutual," Rainbow Dash replied, as she set Tank down on the ground and watched him start to dig into the snow. "So, you really wanna do this hibernating thing, huh?" She asked him, as he started to dig a little hole to curl up in. She already knew the answer.
"Goodbye, Tank." Rarity called.
"Happy winter." Fluttershy encouraged.
"See ya later, little feller." Applejack chimed in.
"Have a good sleep, Tank!" Pinkie beamed.
"Goodbye, Tank! We'll miss you so much!" Twilight added, before Tank completely dug his way in and was covered up by the snow. After a moment of silence, Twilight approached Rainbow and asked. "Well? You ready for some winter fun?"
"Uh, I'm gonna hang here and read to him for a bit," Rainbow sheepishly replied, sitting down next to the snowbank and pulling out a Daring Do book. "That little guy can never get to sleep without a bedtime story."
"You sure you'll be okay?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow nodded. "I'll be along shortly, I promise. Go ahead and enjoy the season."
"Alright, just don't wait too long. And remember, we're all here for you if you need to talk to us." Twilight offered, and went to go join her friends.
S5 E17: Fillydelphia Follies (Made In Manehattan What If?)
Inside her crystal castle in the center of Ponyville, Twilight was busy packing up some suitcases with her magic. Ordinarily she would pack some books in there as well, but books were the very reason why she was packing up for a trip in the first place. For you see, Twilight had gotten bored of the books she'd currently read, a fact that she made perfectly clear on multiple occasions.
She had just finished packing the last of her suitcases, and was about to check on Spike's, when Rarity came bursting in with Applejack following at a short distance.
"Twilight, the map has called us!" Rarity exclaimed, happily. "Oh, I hope it's going to call me somewhere nice! Like Canterlot or Manehattan!"
Applejack was a little less thrilled, but she still had a smile on her face as she asked Twilight. "So, where we goin'? I hope it ain't anywhere too far away, this here's a busy time of the year for us Apples."
Twilight took notice of the glowing cutie marks of her two friends, and was dismayed when she saw that her cutie mark wasn't glowing as well, meaning she wouldn't be able to take part in the map mission. But she tried her best to hide her dissatisfaction, as she said to her two friends. "Well, there's only one way to find out, to the map room!"
The three ponies trotted into the map room without hesitation, the glowing table map of all of Equestria was still impressive even after the many times they'd all seen it. And circling around a city, were the cutie mark symbols of Rarity and Applejack. More specifically, the city encircled was Fillydelphia.
Rarity's happy mood faded, while Applejack's smile grew slightly wider. Both realized that, in a way, they'd gotten what they wanted. But at the same time they were being presented with a mission at a time they would've rather preferred to stay in Ponyville.
But both friends could only think about one thing when they first saw that they were being called to Fillydelphia. "I've got to be more careful what I wish for."
"So, Fillydelphia huh?" Spike commented, looking at the map. "First the map sends all of us to this odd town nopony's ever heard of before, then it sends Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash to the crumbling city of Griffonstone, and now it's calling Applejack and Rarity to one of the biggest cities in all of Equestria? It seems like it gets more and more mysterious with each passing day."
"You two had better start packing right away," Twilight encouraged her friends. "No telling what kind of problem you'll run into."
Rarity and Applejack exchanged glances before Rarity spoke up. "Um, don't take this the wrong way darling, but are you sure the map isn't perhaps on the fritz? Fillydelphia hardly seems ideal for somepony such as me."
"And as much as I'd appreciate the chance to see some of my old relatives again, I don't really know if I've got much time for a friendship problem." Applejack added.
"Well, the map hasn't been wrong yet, and I'm not about to question its judgement," Twilight replied. "If it says there's a friendship problem meant for you two, there probably is. Which means you'd better get going at once."
"Couldn't you maybe tag along and help out?" Rarity suggested. "Fillydelphia is a big place, and surely you would love a chance to get out and about. It has been rather peaceful around Equestria since that tantibus incident a few months back."
Twilight shook her head. "As much as I would love to, I can't. Even before all this map business, I'd already made plans for the next few days. Since things are so quiet, Minuette invited me to come back to Canterlot and see her and the rest of my old friends again. Even Lyra's going to be showing up. I especially can't wait to discuss the recent Daring Do books with Moondancer."
"And you know me, if it's not official princess business Twilight doesn't want me staying home alone," Spike added. "I was gonna ask Big Mac if he'd be up for another guy's night, but he said he'll be busy for the forseeable future," He grumbled a bit as he looked at Twilight and said. "I know I'm your only son, but you don't have to treat me like a baby. I can take care of myself for a few days."
Twilight tried not to giggle. "I'm sure you could, Spike. But the last time I left you alone, you were at the mercy of a bunch of angry delegates, and intentionally or not you seem to have a knack for getting into trouble, as a certain timberwolf and 'noble dragon code' incident will attest."
"You're never going to ever forget that, are you?" Spike asked Twilight, as he rolled his eyes.
"Certainly not, the timberwolf attack alone almost gave me a heart attack," Twilight replied seriously. "And I'm not taking any chances this time. Besides, a change of scenery will do us both some good."
Rarity and Applejack reluctantly sighed. "Guess it's off to Fillydelphia for us then," She unhappily remarked. "I was hoping to set up shop there someday, but not until I'd built up quite the reputation in the fashion industry. Not knowing any big shot fashion icons like I do with Canterlot and Manehattan only makes it harder," Then another thought crossed her mind as she asked Applejack. "What about the Sisterhooves Social?"
Applejack looked at Rarity, and reluctantly told her. "We'll just have to miss it, ain't no tellin' how long this here map mission'll take. Poor Apple Bloom, she was really lookin' forward to competin' this year."
"So was Sweetie Belle," Rarity replied with a slight frown, as she and Applejack left the castle. "I do hope she won't hold it against me. When we come back we'll undoubtedly have to find a way to make it up to them."
Applejack and Rarity were hoping that whatever problem the map had called them to solve in Fillydelphia would become noticeable as soon as they arrived in the big city. After all, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had mentioned that upon arriving in Griffonstone, they were shocked to find it all run down and full of grouchy griffons, when the books had mentioned it was a thriving hub for what promised to be a grand empire.
But when the two left the train station, not only did they not see any signs of trouble related to friendship, they found the streets completely empty. The city of Fillydelphia, though not as grand as Manehattan, still boasted a huge population. Its factories and skyscrapers, as well as its many ports, were supposed to be thriving and full of life. There was supposed to be a huge crowd of ponies big and small alike, rushing to and fro, trying to get from one place to another.
But instead, everything was still and there was not a pony or other creature in sight. Even Applejack couldn't spot a single relative. It seemed as if the city had mysteriously become a ghost town with no explanation.
"Now this is most odd indeed," Rarity remarked, as the two wandered the empty streets. "It's the middle of the day, and I know there aren't any major holidays being celebrated today. Where could everypony be?"
"That's what I'm wonderin'," Applejack added. "This hard workin' city should be awake and movin'. Just what could have happened to cause the entire town to shut down like this?"
The two didn't have long to wait to find out, as the wind blew a flyer right into Applejack's face! Rarity pealed it off with her magic and examined it, it was a campaign poster depicting an earth pony stallion that a somewhat aged appearance to him but still seemed determined to project youth and vigor! His neck looked slightly crooked if you squinted really hard, but otherwise the only physical feature of his that stood out was his rather large nose. His coat was chestnut brown in color, with his mane and tail being firey streaks of red even though his mane only covered the exterior of his head. His eyes were dark brown, and his cutie mark depicted a top hat. The poster showed the stallion wearing a black suit with a noticeable white neck collar, but no tie or bow. The poster read: Support Mayor Big and his recently passed cider ban. Together, we will make Fillydelphia a shining example for the rest of Equestria to follow.
Upon reading the words "Cider Ban" Applejack felt her blood begin to boil! "Just who in the hay is this here Mayor Big, and what makes him think he has the right to pass such an outrageous and silly ban?!"
"Terrible, isn't it?" A familiar female voice called out, soon revealing itself as belonging to earth pony mare about the same size as Rarity, maybe a little smaller. Said mare had a beautiful white coat, a pale light cyan mane and tail with light opal stripes, and eyes an innocent light cyan in color. Her cutie mark was a simple feathered hat colored pink.
Rarity recognized the mare at once. "Coco. What an unexpected but pleasant surprise."
"You live here?" Applejack asked Coco.
Coco shook her head. "Oh no, Manehattan has always been my home town and that will never change. I was just here to pick up supplies for my store back home," Then she sighed. "But it looks like that and my little pet project will have to wait. The whole town's shut down in protest over this controversial ban, nothing's running except the trains and that's only because the railroad brought in replacement workers from other cities. Everything is a mess, and nopony knows what to do."
Applejack looked across to Rarity. "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin', Rarity?" She asked her friend.
"Applejack, surely you're not suggesting we get involved in this political issue," Rarity retorted. "We don't even have the full story. For all we know, there's a perfectly good reason why Mayor Big would want to have cider banned in his city."
"It ain't exactly a workin' ban if the whole town's shuttin' down in response," Applejack replied, frowning a bit. "I can't even imagine why anypony would want to ban cider. It's been an Apple Family staple for generations, every branch in every city's made it at some point or another."
"Times are a changing, I guess," Coco unhappily shrugged, and turned to leave. "Just how do I get into these situations? I thought my luck had changed for the better once I stopped working for Suri. I should've known it was too good to last."
Rarity hated to see Coco so upset, for whatever reason she felt guilty seeing a pony she had once helped now down on her luck. "I suppose I owe her one for sorting out everything during Fashion Week." She thought to herself, and called out to Coco. "Coco, dear, please don't give up so easily. Applejack and I want to help."
"Really?" Coco asked, freezing in her tracks and turning back around.
Applejack nodded. "We came to this city for a reason, and I think Rarity and I just figured out what that reason is. If this here Mayor Big really thinks his ban can go unopposed, he's got another thing comin'."
"But, what are we going to do, Applejack?" Rarity asked with concern. "Between the three of us, there's hardly enough money to organize a campaign, and even then we wouldn't be able to compete since we're not native to Fillydelphia. Going up against a ban is sure to result in disaster, and we'll return to Ponyville as failures! Oh, how can this be?!" She would've fainted onto the ground had Applejack not caught her immediately.
With a sigh, Applejack put a hoof to Rarity's mouth and told her and Coco. "Look, let's not worry about what we can't do, and just focus on what we can do," Clearing her throat she then asked Coco. "Do you know of any good places where we can stay for a few days? Maybe a week or two if we must?"
Coco nodded. "There's a hotel just a few blocks down the road," She told Rarity and Applejack. "It's not the most glamorus and it has seen better days, but it's relatively cheap as far as hotels go."
"Then take us to it," Applejack instructed. "That's gonna serve as our base for a little resistance movement."
Rarity was quite concerned when Applejack made that statement. "Um, are you suggesting we try to make our own cider and sell it in defiance of the ban?" She asked.
Applejack shook her head. "I may think that ban is silly, but I ain't about to land us in jail for tryin' to defy it. Just not likin' the law is no excuse for breakin' it," She then explained. "What we're gonna do, is we're gonna assemble as many towns ponies we can, and form a group to decide how to best get Mayor Big to change his mind. Maybe once he sees how little support he has, he'll be willin' to reconsider and maybe work on somethin' more reasonable."
Applejack and Rarity followed Coco to the hotel, and they soon discovered that Coco hadn't been exaggerating. The hotel looked like it hadn't been maintained in years, as if whoever owned it had been content to just let it fall into decay.
"I know it's not the greatest or anything, but it's better than nothing, right?" Coco asked her two friends, as they made their way up to their designated room on the top floor, which had a balcony that looked out over the city. The emptiness caused by the cider ban could be seen even more obviously from high above.
"So, what's our plan?" Rarity asked Applejack. "Exactly how do we go about getting word out about our plan to challenge the cider ban?"
Applejack looked around, and scratched her head. "To be honest, I don't really know. I was reckonin' we could try to find some of my cousins, like Apple Cobbler, and Apple Brown Betty, and gettin' them to spread it from ear to ear until word of mouth brought the crowds to us."
Rarity was silent for a moment, before she looked at Applejack rather seriously and replied. "Well, that's hardly a bad idea, Applejack. But if we truly want to make a difference, we need to have a clear plan of how to get information out to our supporters. We need them to be able to know what we stand for, what we want, and how they can help us. You think Mayor Mare or any other politican ever got where they were solely by word of mouth?"
"So, what, is this supposed to be our campaign headquarters or somethin'?" Applejack remarked. "I thought we weren't gonna be throwin' our hats into the ring to challenge Mayor Big?"
"We're not, but even the best of resistance movements need good publicity and recruitment strategies," Rarity explained. "Whether you're an up and coming fashionista managing your first boutique, or issuing a call to action for an entire city, it pays to have good PR. And fortunately, I think I know just how to get word out across this city in a matter of days!" She then instructed Applejack and Coco to come close, and she whispered her plan to them.
"Do you think it will work?" Coco asked, hopefully.
"Knowin' Rarity, you bet your boots it will!" Applejack proudly boasted. "That cider ban's as good as gone!"
But Coco replied. "Oh, I don't really wear boots. I find they chafe my calf when I walk."
Applejack barley resisted the urge to facehoof. "It's just an expression." She said in a deadpan tone.
Coco blushed. "I knew that, I did." She said with a nervous laugh, even though she knew that wasn't true. Thankfully, Applejack didn't press her on it.
The next two days passed in a blur for the three ponies, as they spent time working on flyers and posters to distribute all over town, announcing their intention to challenge the cider ban.
Rarity was mostly busy with designing the flyers and posters so they would look appealing, while getting the message across. She also made it a point to distribute some of them to a few key population areas she had heard about.
Applejack focused on distributing the flyers and posters to everypony she could, not only her relatives (who quickly promised to help) but also many of the average citizens and even some of the wealthier ones.
As for Coco, she dealt with the response letters mailed to the hotel room she, Rarity, and Applejack were staying in. Some were offers to donate, others asked questions about when and where to show up, and at least one was a letter from city hall issued by Mayor Big's secretary which read as follows:
While it's great to see the citizens of Fillydelphia organizing themselves and becoming interested in the issues affecting their great city, your actions will only make it harder to enforce this cider ban.
The mayor will gladly hear any complaints you wish to deliver to him, but you are notified to stop this protest gathering at once. Failure to do so may result in legal action.
Kind regards,
The concerned office of Mayor Big
"What are we gonna do now?!" Coco frantically asked Applejack and Rarity, showing them the letter. "I can't risk getting tangled up in court, I'm not even supposed to have stayed for this long," She sighed as she added reluctantly. "Things were so much simpler under Suri. At least when I was an assistant I didn't have to worry about things like this."
But Applejack was quite firm in her commitment to challenging the ban. "We've come too far to turn back now!" She replied, stomping her hooves in frustration. "If we give in now we'll just prove that the mayor can threaten us and we'll fold! We haven't really done anythin' wrong so far, and the meetin' is already gonna be held tomorrow! If the mayor wants to stop us, he'll have to come and do it himself!"
"And you think he'll fight to protect that ban of his?" Rarity asked Applejack. "Not for nothing, Applejack, but surely it wouldn't hurt to at least take him up on his offer to discuss things with him face to face."
Applejack sighed and groaned. "Normally I'd agree with you, Rarity. But I've seen firsthoof how things are run with our own Mayor Mare in Ponyville. Things are never that simple, there's always somethin' that gets in the way. Mayor Mare's been workin' to improve response times and make city hall more open, but it's clear that all the big cities have mayors who need time to decide what they'll actually work on and what they'll ignore. Mayor Big doesn't seem any different. If he truly wished to talk to us, he wouldn't be tellin' us to stop what we're doin', he'd have come over here and done it already. So either he comes to us, or we'll go to him. Either way, we're havin' a talk whether he likes it or not!"
Rarity reluctantly realized that Applejack had made up her mind, and there was little she could do to change it. "You know, if Mayor Mare ever decides to take a vacation, I think she could put you in charge and nothing would change," She remarked. "It's scary how that stubborn determination of yours can sometimes be right."
"We promised the folks a meetin' and a chance to talk to Mayor Big, and we're gonna give it to 'em or my name's not Applejack," Applejack said with a grin, as she then added. "Which it is, so there."
The next evening, there was no sign of Mayor Big or anyone associated with him. A letter from his secretary arrived in the morning, once again expressing his hopes that Applejack and Rarity would not hold their meeting after all and talk to him instead, but it seemed that either nopony wanted to enforce Mayor's Big request, or Mayor Big himself secretly wanted Applejack and Rarity to approach him and talk to him.
Either way, by the time Celestia's sun was beginning to set, almost the entire town had shown up at the front door of the hotel. When the door was opened, they began pouring into the front lobby, many of them pushing and shouting as they struggled to get a good view of the ponies responsible for bringing them together.
Rarity and Coco looked out at the crowd with looks of concern and partial dismay, the crowd looked ready for a fight and it seemed like very little would be needed to set them off. "Goodness, we sure know how to bring a crowd," Rarity remarked and turned to Applejack. "Not too late to change your mind and send them home. I'm sure there's another reason why the map called us here."
But Applejack only shook her head. "We ain't turnin' them away now, not after we went through all the trouble of bringin' em together! Friendship problem or not, we owe it to these ponies to give them what we promised them. You're good at attractin' customers, so use that to help keep 'em under control."
"And what about me?" Coco asked.
"You'll come out with me and help keep an eye on things," Applejack explained to Coco. "When the march kicks in I'll need you at the back to make sure they're under control. I'll be leadin' from the front."
"I.... guess I can handle that, but what kind of signal should I use if it looks like trouble's about to start?" Coco asked Applejack.
"You can whistle, can't ya?" Applejack asked Coco, who nodded in response. "So, just give a little whistle if things threaten to get out of hoof."
With those arrangements set, Rarity trotted out in front of the crowd and stood behind the abandoned front desk. "Uh..... attention everypony," She nervously called, only for her voice to be lost amidst the chanting and chattering of the crowd. Rarity then pressed the bell mounted on the front desk, that caught everyone's attention. They all turned to look at her, and even with her years of experience of pitching ideas and concepts, Rarity couldn't help but feel a little nervous. What she said next would be most important, if she said the wrong thing she risked setting off an angry mob. "Thank you," Rarity said, clearing her throat. "Now, you all know why you're here... correct?"
"Yeah, we're here to make that good for nothing mayor pay for passing such a stupid ban!" One pony at the back of the crowd shouted, and several others started chanting in agreement.
Rarity shook her head. "Close but not quite. We are going to see Mayor Big, but we're simply interested in talking with him and making him see why the ban should be lifted." She told the crowd.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the crowd, everyone looked at each other, whispering and chattering. That was when Applejack came trotting out and stood next to Rarity. "Look, we ain't gonna promise we'll be able to get that ban to go away," She honestly explained. "But we're gonna see to it that the mayor hears straight from the horse's mouth about why his ban isn't workin', and why we want it gone. However, if we're gonna do this, then we need to all work together and be on our best behavior. We won't prove anythin' if we get rowdy and start yellin', screamin', and fightin'. We don't want our message to be lost because of the actions we choose to take. The discussion with the mayor will be a polite one."
"Why should we be polite and calm when this ban is hurting our profits and has caused our city so much grief?" Apple Brown Betty demanded (she was an elderly earth pony with a dark brown coat, a white mane and tail, red eyes, and a cutie mark depicting the treat for which she was named). "Mayor Big didn't listen to our complaints when he passed this ban, what makes you think he'll listen to us this time?"
"Because this time we're all together and all united," Applejack explained. "Individually we may not be much, but together we're a force that cannot be ignored. We have the power to bring about change, but it's our responsibility to use that power wisely. If we try to force our way down Mayor Big's throat, we're no better than he is," That point seemed to silence those who had desires for a more vocal and more dramatic demonstration of their disapproval of the ban, and Applejack smiled as she saw that the crowd seemed to be pleased for the time being. "Okay then, the time for talk is over, now's the time for action. Together, let's march on over to city hall and make our voices heard. Are ya'll ready?!"
"Yeah!" The crowd shouted.
"Then follow me!" Applejack instructed, waving a hoof, as she trotted out in front of the crowd while Rarity stood next to her. The hotel door swung open, and with Applejack and Rarity leading them, the crowd of ponies marched out into the streets of Fillydelphia as Luna's moon began to rise into the night sky.
The march to city hall passed mostly uneventfully, Coco and Rarity worked to keep the crowd under control and notified Applejack whenever it seemed like someone had plans to break off and attempt a more radical approach.
Eventually, the bright red brick roof and walls of Fillydelphia's city hall came into view. And standing right there on the steps, was Mayor Big himself dressed up in the finest outfit imaginable. His expression was hard to judge, but it seemed he was both relieved but also troubled at the fact that such a huge crowd had assembled peacefully but angrily.
Applejack trotted right up to the mayor with Rarity and Coco beside her, and eyeing the mayor she asked him. "You the one who passed this here cider ban into law?"
"Y-yes," Mayor Big stuttered slightly while trying to stay calm, he didn't want to seem weak. "I take it you're the ones who've organized this protest march that's become a major pain in my flank?"
"It was mostly Applejack's idea, though I did have something to do with it." Rarity confessed.
"Same here, I'm not actually from around here and would've really liked to have avoided this," Coco added and apologized. "I'm sorry in advance for any trouble this causes you."
Mayor Big wanted to laugh, but he could only chuckle nervously. "Oh, it's quite alright. When you're mayor, you gotta get used to ponies hating your guts no matter what you do. Gotta say though, I knew the ban was controversial, but I didn't expect such a huge backlash."
"What did you think was going to happen when you ignored us and passed that ban?!" Apple Brown Betty shouted, but was quickly silenced with a shush from her family.
"Look, we don't want any problems," Applejack said to Mayor Big. "All we want is for you to see for yourself just how terrible this ban has worked out. And also, we want to know, just why in the hay did you pass such a ban in the first place? Cider sales are part of what gets this city movin'."
Mayor Big sighed, he had expected the protesters to be mad but he hadn't expected them to make such a huge demand of him. Still, he knew he had to offer them at least some kind of explanation, they seemed unlikely to leave until they had gotten that. "You're right, cider sales are part of what made this city what it is," He spoke in his booming voice. "But here in Fillydelphia, we've always prided ourselves on innovation and advancement. We always like to be on the cutting edge of progress. Lately, some of the new drinks being cranked out here in our factories haven't been selling well. Ponies just don't want to buy 'em."
"Is that why you enacted this ban in the first place?" Rarity asked the mayor.
"Yes and no," Mayor Big answered, and reluctantly he explained. "I knew I had to do something to encourage ponies to try drinks like orange juice and grape juice. But I was told by the council members that it would take something big, like a ban on cider, to get ponies to stop drinking it so much. But, it appears that there was not much research put into the ban to see if it would be supported or work as intended."
"So, would you be willing to consider droppin' the ban?" Applejack asked him. "If you do, we promise to leave ya alone."
"I would like that very much," Mayor Big replied. "But it wouldn't solve the issue the ban was intended to correct in the first place. How do I encourage ponies to try those new drinks if they can easily get access to cider?"
Surprisingly, it was Apple Cobbler, an earth pony mare with a dark green coat, a brown mane and tail, brown eyes, and an apple cobbler for a cutie mark, who spoke up and said to Mayor Big. "Why not just put a tax on the cider so it's at the same price as the other drinks? Those new drinks are tasty, but cider's so cheap that we've got more of a demand for it than we can keep up with. With even just a small tax on cider, we could improve production in our factories and make enough for those who it want, while also letting ponies who want to try the new drinks have a chance to do so."
The crowd began to stomp their hooves in approval, creating a deafening noise. But even so Applejack still managed to chuckle as she said to Mayor Big. "Guess the crowd has spoken."
Mayor Big reluctantly agreed, and after calling for and receiving quiet, he made his announcement. "While it is not up to me to pass the laws, I shall be submitting the idea for the tax to city hall effective the following day. And once the tax has been passed, I shall sign it if that is what you wish of me. And the tax shall last until the end of the next month, at which time we shall vote to decide whether the tax should be kept or dropped."
Everyone seemed to agree that was the best course of action, and the crowd departed town hall in peace.
Once back at the hotel, various ponies thanked Rarity and Applejack. "I used to think I didn't have any time to get involved with what was going on in this city," One pony announced. "But now, thanks to you, I realize that I don't have to make a huge commitment. I can just devote a little time to the issues that most concern me, and play a role in how my city grows."
"Same here," Another pony chimed in. "I'll be sure to spend more time in the community getting to know ponies, that way I can find out if there's something I can do to help them, and catch up on news that I might not otherwise hear about."
Once the crowd had left, Rarity and Applejack were surprised to see that their cutie marks were glowing. Coco was amazed! "My cutie mark NEVER does that!" She exclaimed! "What's your secret?! Please, you must tell me!"
"It ain't anythin' we do, sugarcube," Applejack chuckled. "That's just a sign of the map that we've accomplished what we were sent here to do."
Coco scratched her head. "I don't get it."
Rarity snickered and smiled. "It's a long story, my dear," And she changed the subject. "It was nice running into you again, you were a big help in making all this possible."
Coco blushed a bit. "Well, it's because of my role model and inspiration," She pulled out her wallet and showed a picture of an older earth pony that seemed to have a few noticeable wrinkles on her light yellow coat. Her dusty blue mane and tail had a few bangs out of place, and her blue eyes were hidden behind a pair of noticeable red glasses, but she didn't seem to care much about her exterior appearance, as she stood besides a filly that looked like Coco herself. Coco explained. "That's Charity Kindheart. She was a well-known costume designer on Bridleway. She started the Midsummer Theater Revival in Manehattan as a way to share her passion for theater with the neighborhood. No matter how busy she was, she always made time for the Revival. She always told me it was important to take time to be part of your community, even if it was just a small contribution. She believed that even the smallest acts of compassion could have a long lasting impact," She then sighed. "She moved to Baltimare to be closer to her grandchildren not too long ago, and left me to take over the Midsummer Theater Revival. I came here to Manehattan to get some supplies to fix up the old stage in the park."
"Well, we can help with that," Rarity offered, elbowing Applejack. "Right, Applejack?"
"I guess it couldn't hurt," Applejack replied. "Coco, we'll help ya get those supplies ya need. But then Rarity and I are gonna be on the first train back to Ponyville tomorrow. I want to check in with Apple Bloom and find out how the Sisterhooves Social turned out."
Coco hugged Applejack and Rarity. "You girls are the best!" She happily commented. "Come on, if we hurry we can still make it to the stores before they close down for the night!"
But Applejack only chuckled. "We've got all the time we could ever need. After a victory like the one we had tonight, the whole city's gonna be celebratin' like there's no tomorrow. Every buildin''s gonna be open til midnight, maybe even later." Even so, she followed Rarity and Coco as they frantically trotted out of the hotel.
All in all, the trip to Fillydelphia promised to be one that neither Applejack or Rarity were likely to forget anytime soon. And unknown to Applejack, a big surprise was waiting for her back in Ponyville.
Twilight stood before a podium in a classroom at Celestia's School of Magic (a spin-off of her School for Gifted Unicorns), it was hard not to feel the pressure of being in the spotlight and being asked to give a speech. Fortunately, Twilight had decided to come prepared with a set of note cards, and she kept them close by as she spoke. "If somepony had told me when I was just a blank flank that one day I'd give a speech to a class at Celestia's School of Magic, I wouldn't have believed it, but..." She paused, as she struggled to remember what she wanted to say next. She nervously shuffled through her note cards, before she found what she wanted to say and continued. "I just hope that I have been up to the task, because I can tell that all of you are and that the future of Equestrian magic is in good hooves."
Spike clapped his claws together, he was the only one in the audience so it wasn't hard to notice him or hear him. "Wow, hehe. That was even better than the first eleven times you gave it." He complimented, before clearing his throat.
Twilight wasn't so convinced. "Eh, I don't know, Spike. I'd like to be able to get through the whole speech without looking at the cards. I want to project the utmost confidence in my words."
"Come on, Twilight! You can't be nervous about giving a speech to a bunch of magic students!" Spike remarked. "This is nothing compared to all those big threats you and your friends have faced down, not to mention the many friendship problems you've helped to solve. Take it from someone who's been there from the very beginning of your journey, you can do this!"
"Oh, I'm not nervous, Spike," Twilight replied, though her words and body language didn't exactly reassure him. "But I do have to set a good, professional, scholarly example, especially for those magic students. And that's why this speech has to be..."
Spike rolled his eyes as he groaned and sighed. "Perfect?"
Twilight smiled. "Exactly. Now let's go through it one more time," After clearing her throat, she began to speak once. "When Princess Celestia asked me to speak to you today, I was honored to have the opportunity to talk about my favorite subject: magic."
Spike just sighed. "This is gonna be a long night." He thought to himself. But what he neither or Twilight knew, was that from a distance, a mysterious figure was watching them. And this figure was finalizing its plans to get revenge on Twilight, a revenge scheme that would threaten the very future of Equestria.
The very next day, the classroom was packed with ponies of all ages. Many of them were magic students, but some (such as Twilight's friend Moondancer) had come simply because they heard Princess Twilight was going to speak, and they didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Twilight stood before a podium, while behind there was a screen projecting a series of slides. The one currently on display, was the one showing the three Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, along with their recently obtained cutie marks. "Obviously, the long term effects of the simultaneous acquisition of cutie marks has yet to be determined, but," She began, before she took a break to sip her water. She had expected to be the cue for the slides to change, but nothing happened. Reluctantly, she had to clear her throat and say. "Ahem. Next slide, please."
Spike had been snoring away almost from the minute Twilight had started talking, so Moondancer had to rub the dragon's belly with a hoof to get him to wake up (something she found rather adorable, it made her wish she had her own dragon assistant to interact with. It would certainly give her someone to talk to when the rest of her friends weren't available). Spike stumbled awake, before he realized what he had to do! "Huh? Huh! Oh, just a second!" He hastily spoke, and started changing out the slides. Unfortunately, he accidentally inserted the wrong one (a slide depicting him on the beach, relaxing), and he had to swap that one out for the correct one (and even then he had to put in the right way, the first time he inserted it, it was upside down).
Twilight apparently didn't notice any of this, as she just continued to speak. "I can speak from my own experience that the power of Cutie Mark Magic is very real, and in the instance of my friends and I, it can be traced to a single event!" The slide changed to show the once thought to be a myth Sonic Rainboom. "Without Rainbow Dash's race to defend Fluttershy's honor, this rainboom wouldn't have happened," She explained, as the slide changed to show each of the cutie marks of her friends one by one. "Fluttershy might never have discovered her love of animals. Applejack might never have realized that she belonged on her farm. And Pinkie Pie might never have decided to leave hers. It must be hard to imagine Rarity without her sense of fabulousness. But it's even harder to fathom what my life would be like,"
The slide changed once again, this time depicting the aftermath of Twilight's entrance exam at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. "Without this rainboom, I might not have gotten into magic school. Celestia wouldn't have taken me on as her pupil or sent me to Ponyville to meet my friends," The next part was something that she hadn't originally planned to add, but in the heat of the moment it was something she knew she had to say.
"To say nothing of how my life might be different without Spike. I can't imagine what my life would be like without my number one assistant, my only son, and the first friend I ever truly had. In many ways, Spike has always been there for me when I've needed him most, and our lives are so connected now that I find myself actually dreading the day when he will grow up and no longer need me," That prompted quite a few chuckles from the audience, while some gave out a few awws. Getting back on topic, Twilight then explained. "And the most powerful thing about Cutie Mark Magic that I found is the connection I share with them." She pointed to the slide depicting each of her friends.
Twilight struggled to remember what she wanted to say next, the added part about Spike had thrown her off course. As she looked around at the audience, she could swear she saw a familiar light grayish purple coated unicorn! She blinked, and the unicorn seemed to vanish. Struggling to get back on track, Twilight started nervously shuffling through her cards as she said. "But, um..." And after a moment she added. "The real question about... Cutie Mark Magic is... who it seems to affect."
After the speech, Twilight and Spike returned to Ponyville. When Spike asked why Twilight had seemed to hesitate in the middle of her speech, Twilight told him about what she'd thought she had seen.
"Starlight Glimmer? You actually saw her?" Spike asked with concern. "I mean, you've been stressing out about this speech for a while now, maybe the pressure made you see something that wasn't there?"
Twilight shook her head. "I was sure I saw her, Spike. But when I looked again, she was gone!" Then she added in a worried tone. "I'm just worried what she could be up to, I would've thought for sure she'd go back to her old village and cause trouble, but nopony in the village has seen hide or hair of her."
"Well, whatever she's up to, it's probably no good!" Spike growled.
Twilight somewhat glumly commented. "Forcing everypony in her village to have the same cutie mark wasn't right. We had to do something! I just wish I would've thought to put some kind of tracking spell or something on her, or at least maybe told Princess Celestia about her. But in the heat of the moment, I couldn't really think of much beyond making sure everypony was safe."
"And now she's coming back for revenge," Spike said in a low tone, before he noticed how much the thought of that made Twilight uneasy, so he rushed to reassure her as he added. "Uh, or she was just really interested in your speech! Maybe she's just content to wander from place to place like Trixie, except you know without the whole 'Great and Powerful' shtick."
Twilight chuckled. "Last I heard, Trixie's hung up her cape for good," She then added. "And to be honest, Spike, I'm not really sure what I saw. But as long as I have my friends, I know everything will be alright."
Twilight and Spike entered the castle, and after Spike had tucked away their suitcases, they made their way to the throne room. "Maybe I was just more stressed about that speech than I thought," Twilight said to herself. "If Starlight was going to try anything, I'm sure she would've done it by now. She'd have to be crazy to think she could get the best of me again."
"Yeah," Spike laughed. "That sounds way better than Starlight Glimmer coming back with an evil plot for revenge."
Twilight had to agree with Spike's comment, as she chuckled. "Well, when you say it like that, it does sound kinda silly." And she pushed open the doors to the throne room.
"Or it's totally true after all!" Spike suddenly suggested, as he and Twilight both laid eyes on a unicorn mare with light grayish purple coat, and moderate blue eyes.
"Welcome home, Twilight!" The mare greeted, lounging in Fluttershy's throne with her legs resting on the table map.
Twilight was shocked, as Spike immediately dashed behind her for protection! "You again?!" She exclaimed to Starlight. "I'll have you know that breaking into the castle of a princess of Equestria is a big no no! So I suggest you scram, before I have to throw you in the dungeon!"
Starlight just chuckled. "Relax, princess," She delivered the last line with a great hint of malice in her voice. "I'll be out of your mane soon enough. You actually wouldn't believe how hard it was to find my way around this place, seriously do you not have any kind of map besides this stupid table one?"
Twilight watched, as Starlight pulled out a scroll and zapped it with her magic. "What are you doing, Starlight?!" Twilight demanded. "And where did you get that scroll?!"
Starlight only laughed wickedly. "I'd tell you, but I don't want to ruin the surprise! Trust me, it's gonna be a real doozy!" After cackling, she tossed the scroll aside as she said. "Won't be needing that anymore. So long, suckers!" And after casting a beam of magic at the table map, Starlight was sucked up into what appeared to be a giant, magical bubble, with ticking clocks all around it. In a blinding flash of light she disappeared!
"Where'd she go?!" Spike asked, looking all around.
"I don't know, Spike, but I think we better find out!" Twilight anxiously replied. "And I need to write myself a reminder to invest in some castle security next time I get a chance."
"Well, I don't know about castle security, but I think we can start search for Starlight Glimmer with this." Spike spoke up, eyeing the scroll Starlight had tossed aside earlier.
Twilight's eyes grew wide as she realized what that scroll contained, and what it would do! "Spike, no! Don't touch that!" Twilight cried out, but it was too late! Spike grabbed the scroll with a claw, and a bubble similar to the one Starlight had been sucked up into appeared! Twilight and Spike were unable to avoid being sucked up into it, and they disappeared!
Just a few seconds later, Pinkie Pie entered the throne room pushing a cart filled with sweets. She'd thought she'd heard screaming, but there was no one in sight. "Huh! Odd." She said to herself, then started chewing rather loudly on the sweets. "Feels like somepony was just here," She thought to herself in between bites. "Is my mind playing tricks on me again?"
Twilight and Spike kept on screaming, as they tumbled through what could only be described as a time bubble. At last, the bubble spit them on the familiar grounds of Cloudsdale, though it looked like they were at some kind of camp.
"Cloudsdale? Starlight doesn't even have wings! Why would she come here?" Spike wondered outloud. "What could she possibly be after?"
"I don't know, Spike, but it looked like she could fly with just magic!" Twilight replied most anxiously. "Keep your eyes open. We don't know what she might have planned."
Just then there was a woosh, and a filly and two pegasus colts zipped past. The filly seemed to be oddly familiar for some reason.
"Hey, isn't that, Rainbow Dash?" Spike asked.
"Did Rainbow Dash look really young to you?" Twilight asked in reply. "And I didn't see a cutie mark on her. You don't think..."
"...We traveled back in time to when Rainbow Dash raced the bullies who made fun of Fluttershy and performed her first sonic rainboom?" Spike guessed. "Sure looks that way to me."
Twilight was most puzzled by this, as she recalled her own time travel experience from back when she was only a unicorn. "Spike, only Star Swirl the Bearded could do something like that, and even his spell just went back a week! How could Starlight do more than the greatest wizard in Equestria?" She pondered. "There's no way she just happened to get that good in the span of a few months, even if she trained a lot time travel wouldn't come naturally to her. Something must explain how she could pull this off, but what?"
Just then, the rustling of paper caught Twilight's eye, as she saw Spike pull the scroll that had brought them here in the first place. "Perhaps, with this." Spike suggested, giving the scroll to Twilight.
Twilight examined the scroll, and instantly recognized what it was! She gasped! "Star Swirl's spell?! Oh, no! This is worse than I feared!"
"Come on, let's go!" Spike immediately suggested.
"Go where?" Twilight asked. "In case you haven't noticed, we need to be extra careful here. If we do anything that interferes with the race, history could be completely changed, forever!"
"I know that!" Spike replied. "But there's no way I'm gonna miss that Sonic Rainboom, not this time!" He dashed off, only to lose his footing and start to stumble through the clouds, before Twilight quickly caught him. "Oh right, forgot about the need for a cloud walking spell." He realized.
Twilight and Spike quickly found a good vantage point on a lone cloud, from which to watch the race. It took Twilight every ounce of determination she had not to leap off the cloud and rescue Fluttershy when she was knocked off at the start of the race.
Before long, the fateful moment of the Sonic Rainboom was drawing near.
But suddenly, from out of nowhere, Starlight appeared and started rubbing her hooves together. "Aw, so sorry about this." She said, lying through her teeth. She then fired off a magical beam that imprisoned Rainbow Dash in a giant crystal!
"Hey! What gives?" The young Rainbow Dash demanded, but Starlight had already flown off. She had managed to prevent the rainboom, and that was good enough for her.
Twilight immediately flew up to confront Starlight, glaring angrily at the unicorn. "Do you even realize what you just did?!" She shouted.
Starlight laughed. "I'm sure you'd tell me, but it looks like you're needed elsewhere. Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough what I have planned." And she watched as another time bubble sucked up Twilight and Spike, before it disappeared. "Starlight: 1, Twilight: 0." She thought to herself.
The time bubble deposited Twilight and Spike with a thud, and already they could tell things were different. But Twilight could only think about Starlight at the moment. "Ugh... I don't know what Starlight's hoping to accomplish to by stopping the rainboom, but we'd better figure it out before it's too late to stop her." She said to herself.
"Um, Twilight? Look around you," Spike suggested. "I think it already is."
Twilight did as Spike had suggested, and she instantly noticed things were indeed different, and far more so than she'd first thought. "Where's my castle?!" She asked outloud.
"I don't know, something's not right here." Spike nervously commented.
"The map pulled us back, but whatever Starlight did in the past must've changed things here!" Twilight realized.
"But why? And how did we get here?" Spike asked, as he looked around. "And for the record, where's here? I don't recognize this place."
"Not where, when!" Twilight concluded, and explained. "Starlight must've altered Star Swirl's spell, then somehow used it on the map to travel into the past and change history by stopping the rainboom! And once she did, the map pulled us back to the present!"
Spike was a bit confused at Twilight's statement. "So then, we're back to where— I mean, when we started?" He asked, scratching his head. "Who knew time travel could be such a headache?"
Twilight nodded. "Trust me, I know," Then she looked at the map, which had somehow not been removed despite the lack of a castle. "The map doesn't even make sense anymore! The Crystal Empire takes up half of Equestria, that is not supposed to happen! What in the wide world of Equestria is going on?!"
"Whatever it is, I'll bet it has to do with the whole missing castle thing." Spike added.
"Right! This is too big for us to handle on our own!" Twilight realized. "We need to find our friends, assuming they exist in this timeline, and get help! With any luck, maybe they can tell us just what's going on."
Twilight and Spike made their way into the center of Ponyville, but they were shocked to find just how different things were! It seemed that even recognizable locations like Sugarcube Corner and Carousel Boutique had changed. The entire area felt more urban, almost like Manehattan or Fillydelphia, and it seemed like any traces of the quaint and friendly little town it had once been were gone.
"This isn't good," Spike nervously commented. "Ponyville's completely unrecognizable now, I don't understand how things could change like this."
"Nothing we know is probably the same anymore," Twilight reluctantly concluded. "But there's no point crying over spilled milk. Besides, I know one place that could never change! Come on!"
Twilight and Spike made their way through town and came upon Sweet Apple Acres, but they were dismayed to see that even it had changed! The area had been converted into a factory to make canned apple products for whatever reason, and Applejack and Big Macintosh had traded in their farm attire for face masks and factory uniforms.
Just then, Applejack came out, pushing a barrel of some substance onto a cart. Realizing she was probably the best option at the moment, Twilight approached her. "Applejack?!" She called out.
Applejack turned and looked at Twilight, but whatever reaction Twilight had been expecting was not the one she caught. "You look like an alicorn, what's your deal?" She asked Twilight. "Can't you see I'm busy?!"
"You... don't know who I am?" Twilight asked in confusion. "What about Pinkie Pie, or Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash, or even Rarity? Where are they?"
"Did you bump your head on a crate of cider or somethin'?" Applejack remarked rather bluntly. "Who in tarnation is Pinkie Bow and Flutterdash? Or you for that matter? If you ain't gonna answer my questions, I'm not gonna waste my talkin' to ya, I've got more important things to worry 'bout."
"I know this is hard to believe, but you and I and those other ponies I mentioned are friends! Or at least we were, in another timeline," Twilight explained to Applejack. "We're time travelers."
Applejack just snorted. "You been hangin' out with that clock maker Time Turner again? Everypony calls him the doctor but that's because they all say he's lost his marbles from workin' on clocks all the time. There's no such thing as time travelers. I don't have time for these lies of yours, either tell me the truth or get out of my sight! The only name in that bunch I recognize is Rarity, and last I heard she went to Manehattan to help with the cause like everyone else."
"The cause wouldn't have anything to do with why the Crystal Empire takes up half of Equestria, would it?" Twilight asked Applejack. "My... son and I aren't from these parts, our homeland was taken over by the Crystal Empire a long time ago, but we just recently decided to come here."
Applejack eyed Twilight and Spike suspiciously. "I can't put my hoof on it, but you two look awfully familiar, as if I should know ya. Where have you two been? Tell me honestly, I ain't gonna sabotage the war effort by tellin' spies!"
"What war?! Equestria's at war?!" Spike nervously asked.
Applejack sighed. "The war against King Sombra and the Crystal Empire? Tell me if that don't ring any bells for ya?"
"No, sorry," Twilight apologized. "I don't suppose you could tell us what the war's about it, right?"
"I can tell ya this much, it all started when King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire. Which happened shortly after the empire returned after 1,000 years of absence," Applejack spoke up. "But I reckon it's easier to show ya, then to tell ya. There's a projection reel in the barn, it'll tell ya all you need to know." And she led Twilight and Spike into the barn, turned on the projector, and then dimmed the lights. A voiceover reel started to play, showcasing what was going on!
"My beloved subjects of Equestria," The reel began, showing Princess Celestia as she stood in the gardens of Canterlot Castle and speaking directly to the citizens of Equestria. "I know I have asked a lot of you already, with the threats of Discord, Queen Chrysalis," She paused and seemed to struggle not to shed tears as she then said. "And Nightmare Moon, in the span of not even a year. I know you are all weary of further conflict, but we must all stand strong and united, for now we face our greatest threat yet!"
As Celestia spoke, the reel changed to show footage of King Sombra reigning over the Crystal Empire and laughing wickedly. "King Sombra has forced all his subjects to fight for him on his behalf, and we must show him that we are not afraid to stand up for what we believe in!" Celestia's voice seemed to project a sense of pride, anger, and above all else authority. "Know that I would not ask you to do something I was not willing to do myself. I will march into battle with the bravest of you, and do everything in my power to protect you."
The reel changed to show Princess Celestia marching onto the battle field alongside her royal guards. In addition, however, a stream of pegasi surrounded her in the air. One of them was an instantly recognizable rainbow maned mare, Rainbow Dash! But although she had her cutie mark, she looked quite different. There was a scar across her left eye, and her left wing had been replaced by one made of metal (Twilight and Spike didn't dare to imagine what injury could've required such a thing). Even more surprising was when she was saved from a huge boulder that would've crushed her, by two earth ponies with similar manes and tails, not to mention outfits. But one had a gray coat, and the other a pink coat.
"But even with the might of our finest unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, we can only do so much," The next reel showed Fluttershy helping to shave sheep in order to collect their wool, and Rarity was working to convert the wool into blankets and outfits to be shipped off to the front lines. "It will require great scarifice, even from those of you who will stay in your cities and towns and support the war effort. It will take every last pony in Equestria doing their part, working day and night, to keep up the fight!"
The last reel showed Celestia gazing up at Sombra, who was perched on a massive crystal podium amidst a battle field full of soldiers from both sides combating each other. Sometimes with weapons, and sometimes with their bare hooves. "We shall not be cowered into submission! Together, let the spirits of harmony, and the almighty maker above, give us the strength to repel this threat to our world!"
Twilight and Spike were speechless, as the reels came to an end! The horrors of war were a lot more terrifying when actually witnessed instead of just hearing about them. "I can't believe it, to think that such a thing could happen," Twilight glumly commented. "We stopped King Sombra! You and I and all of our friends!"
"But we ain't friends, at least not here," Applejack replied, leading them out of the barn. "Look. I hope all this helped, but I really need to get back to cannin' those apples. Ma and Pa put themselves out on the front lines and they payed the ultimate price for it, I'll be darned if I let their scarifice be for nothin'!"
"I'm sorry to hear that, really," Twilight commented to Applejack. "I know all of what I've told you may seem like a lie, but if you come with me, I'll prove it."
Applejack reluctantly followed Twilight and Spike to where the remaints of Twilight's castle stood, along with the table map. "Here we are, home sweet home," Spike said to Applejack. "Or at least, it was home in the timeline we came from. Funny thing is, it wasn't our first home. Long story short, our old home kind of blew up."
"Blew up?!" Applejack exclaimed, as if this was the first time she were hearing such a thing.
"It's true, and I'd rather not talk about it, the experience was... difficult to say the least," Twilight said, struggling to hold back tears. "So tell me, does any of this ring a bell? Even just a little?"
"Well, I'll admit. I've lived in these parts my whole life and I've never seen this before," Applejack confessed, looking around. "Although, now that I think about it, somethin' about it...... is vaguely familiar. Like somehow I'm supposed to know what this is," Looking at Twilight and Spike she asked them. "So, ya really come from another timeline huh? And where you're from, there's no war with Sombra or the Crystal Empire?"
"Nope," Spike boasted. "In fact, in our timeline, I'm a hero to the empire. It's actually kind of embarrassing how much they adore me."
Applejack reluctantly asked. "So, what happened to change all this?"
"A pony named Starlight Glimmer," Twilight explained, gritting her teeth in frustration. "She used this map to travel through time and change things in the past. For some reason, the map's here but everything else is different! But we're going to set things right, I promise you!"
Spike looked across to Twilight as he asked her. "So... how are we gonna set things right, exactly?"
Twilight didn't answer, she just looked at the map for a minute, before she gasped and realized! "Of course, why didn't I think of it before?! It's so obvious!"
"Enlighten me." Spike suggested.
Twilight tried to explain to Spike and Applejack to the best of her ability. "The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony! So it must sense that something isn't right! That's why it's still here! We'll just have to use Starlight's version of the spell, go back a little earlier, and stop her before she even knows we're there!"
"And you think it's gonna be that simple?" Spike asked Twilight. "I mean, Starlight already managed to slip past us once before."
"She won't be so lucky a second time!" Twilight said rather seriously. "Messing with the flow of time is a grave offense, the penalty can easily be banishment for life! And if we don't stop Starlight, there's no telling who will or what other changes she might make!"
Applejack smiled. "Sounds like you have a mission, and I wish you both the best of luck. I hope that, if there is a timeline where we're all friends, it's every bit as nice as you say it is," Then she reluctantly asked. "And uh.... where you come from, my folks are still.... you know?"
It pained Twilight greatly to say to Applejack. "I'm afraid so."
"Part of me figured as much, guess some things are set in stone no matter what," Applejack replied, shedding a few tears. "Well, either way, I hope you'll teach that no gooder Starlight what's her face a thing or two."
"We will, and thank you," Twilight called, as she began to focus her efforts on the scroll Spike had held onto. "You've been a bigger help than you'll ever know." Concentrating her magical powers on the table map, Twilight soon produced a new time bubble that sucked both her and Spike up, and they disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
When the flash faded, Twilight and Spike were back in Cloudsdale, and a quick look around assured them they were on the grounds of the flight camp.
"Okay, all we have to do now is find Starlight and—" Twilight began only to be cut off, as she and Spike were hit by a magical beam that trapped them inside a giant crystal prison.
"Well, finding her will be easy! But stopping her's gonna be harder than you think," Starlight smirked, emerging from her hiding place and perching on top of the crystal prison. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I rewrote Star Swirl's spell so that even if you go back in time, I go back in time with you. I must admit it wasn't easy to tweak the spell, let alone combine it with the powers of that table map, but I might've known you'd try to follow me and stop me. Now you're going to pay for ruining my life!"
As Starlight began to rant on and on about her village, Twilight waited until the crystal prison had dipped below the cloud base and then teleported her and Spike out of it. Without hesitation, Twilight immediately hit Starlight square in the face with a magical beam, knocking the unicorn backward a little.
Starlight groaned, but managed to rise to her hooves without much trouble. "Oh, you caught me in the middle of monologuing," Starlight realized. "You should really give yourself a pat on the back, princess. Because I assure you, you're not gonna get lucky a second time!"
"Starlight, please, enough of this! This isn't a game!" Twilight pleaded. "Tampering with the past has serious consequences, do you even realize the trouble you could be in if you're caught?!"
"Spare me your overblown ego," Starlight snarled, glaring at Twilight. "Not everypony's lucky enough to get her cutie mark at the same time as her friends. That's why I created that little village, it was supposed to be a sanctuary of equality, but you and your friends took it all away! So now it's my turn to take something special from you! Cutie marks for cutie marks! Sounds like a fair trade to me!"
Twilight narrowed her eyes, as she glared at Starlight and sighed. "I really didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice. You have to be stopped!"
Starlight just laughed. "You can't stop me no matter what you do, princess! In fact, you weren't supposed to be here! So all I want to know is, how did you get back here in the first place?!" It was then that she noticed the scroll clutched in Spike's claws, and the realization dawned on her. "How could I have been so stupid?!" She thought. "I sensed that boy was hiding something from me, that wretched little brat swiped the scroll when I left it behind! Well, I think it's time he gave it back to its rightful owner, me!"
All of a sudden, Spike was hit by a blast of magic and nearly lost his footing. "Hey! What was that for?!" He shouted at Starlight, before he felt the scroll being yanked out of his grasp by her magic.
"Hey, Princess!" Starlight smirked. "Maybe you oughta teach your so called son not to take things that don't belong to him!" She began to concentrate her attention and magical powers on Spike.
Twilight was alarmed, and jumped in front of Spike to protect him! "Don't you DARE hurt him, Starlight!" She bellowed. "He's done nothing to you, leave him out of this!"
Starlight only laughed. "Relax, I've got what I came for. And since I'm feeling 'generous', I'll let the two of you walk away in one piece. But get in my way again, and you won't live to regret it! I'm stopping that rainboom, and there's nothing you can do about it!" The unicorn taunted, before she disappeared in a flash of blinding light.
When the light faded, Starlight was nowhere to be seen. Twilight and Spike exchanged nervous looks. "Come on, Spike! We need to track down Starlight before it's too late! She couldn't have gotten far!" And flapping her wings, Twilight took off in pursuit of the unicorn.
Finding Starlight proved to be harder than either Twilight or Spike had thought, but at last they found her. Unfortunately, when they did, Starlight had already found a way to stop the rainboom!
"Just remember how you would feel if someone said such mean and hurtful things to you." Starlight lectured to the young Hoops and Dumb-Bell, in a tone that sounded surprisingly sweet (almost sickeningly in Twilight's case).
"What's going on here?" Twilight asked, feigning innocence.
Knowing Twilight couldn't do anything to her in the vicinity of children, Starlight just grinned at her and explained. "Oh, I was just reminding these two colts here how hurtful teasing can be."
"Well, don't!" Twilight replied, before she realized what she was implying. "I mean, you all of ponies shouldn't be lecturing them."
Starlight only laughed, as the two colts and Fluttershy exchanged confused looks. "Oh come now, princess. In a world where everypony is unique, some are bound to feel more special than others. But that isn't a license to be cruel, now is it?"
"No, of course not..." Twilight began, but was cut off before she could say anymore.
"Oh, isn't it a shame we don't live in a world where everypony is equal? No one would ever tease anyone there! Wouldn't that be nice?" Starlight asked, looking at the colts and Fluttershy.
Twilight couldn't believe Starlight was attempting to manipulate children, so she quickly shouted out. "No, it wouldn't!" She then quickly added. "I mean, it'd be nice not to be teased, of course, but that's not the same thing as having everypony be equal!"
Alas, Twilight's words failed to convince Hoops, Dumb-Bell, or Fluttershy. Hoops broke the silence by saying to Fluttershy. "Come on. Maybe I can help you get through the course this time, and I'm sorry about earlier."
"It's alright, and thank you," Fluttershy replied, flying off with Hoops and Dumb-Bell. "I mean, I could probably use the practice."
Once the children were out of sight, Twilight approached Starlight and glared at her. "You don't fool me, Starlight. I know you only convinced those bullies to not tease Fluttershy in order to stop the rainboom!"
Starlight laughed and feigned innocence. "Oh, that's not true. I convinced them not to be bullies because everypony should be equal," But then in a malicious tone she added. "Stopping the rainboom is just a nice little bonus. But what are you gonna do about it, huh? Surely the Princess of Friendship wouldn't dare break up a blossoming friendship between two former bullies and one of their victims."
Just then, there was a whoosh, and a filly Rainbow Dash zoomed past. That gave Twilight an idea. "This isn't over yet!" She vowed to Starlight.
Starlight just chuckled. "If you say so, but I wouldn't count on it."
Twilight and Spike payed her no mind, they just took off in pursuit of Rainbow Dash. There was still a chance they could make things right.
Rainbow Dash was flying across the sky without a care in the world, and not particularly motivated or inspired to fly fast. She had a little time to herself, and she intended to make the most of it. But all of a sudden, the filly was surprised to see what appeared to be an alicorn fly up alongside her. "Hi there!" The alicorn greeted.
"Um... hi?" Rainbow reluctantly greeted, unsure of what else to say or do. Her parents had warned her not to talk to strangers, but then again wasn't everypony you hadn't met yet a stranger?
"You think you can stop for a moment or two?" The alicorn asked Rainbow.
"Sure, just make it quick." Rainbow replied, and came to abrupt halt. The alicorn apparently hadn't been expecting that, as she ran into a cloud.
The alicorn (with what looked like a small dragon of some kind clinging to her tail) recovered, and approached Rainbow as she said to the filly. "So, I hear you're pretty fast!"
"Pretty fast? Please! I'm even faster than that!" Rainbow boasted.
"Wanna prove it?" The alicorn asked the filly. "You know, you and me, a race to the finish line?"
"Um, that wouldn't really be fair. I mean, you're a full-grown pony, and aren't you an alicorn?" Rainbow asked in reply.
"Come on, I thought you were fast!" The alicorn taunted. "What's wrong, you chicken?"
Rainbow didn't really like being mocked, but something in the back of her mind was telling her that racing a fully grown alicorn was no a win situation. "Uh, actually, I just remembered I have somewhere I need to be." She nervously replied, and bolted away from the alicorn.
However, the alicorn merely chased after Rainbow Dash and said to her. "Come on, I'll hold back on you if that'll make it fair."
"You'd still beat me, there's no way I can beat an alicorn!" Rainbow complained. "I may be crazy but I'm not stupid! It's one thing to race a pegasus, it's another thing entirely to race an alicorn! Especially one I've never heard of before! You could hold back all you want, you'd still beat me! And even then, how would I prove anything if I won because my opponent went easy on me?"
The alicorn seemed to consider this, before it said to Rainbow. "Okay, listen. You don't have to race me. I just need you to fly fast enough for a Sonic Rainboom!"
Rainbow was shocked to hear such a thing! "What?! I can't do that! Nopony can! It's not even a real thing! It's just an old mare's tale!" She protested.
"But it's not! I know it's not! And I know you can do it!" The alicorn insisted.
"Really, how do you know?!" Rainbow demanded of the alicorn.
"Because.... I just know!" The alicorn answered. "Come on, please! You don't know how important that rainboom is!"
Rainbow decided the alicorn was crazy and it was better to just get way from her entirely. "Ooookay... I'm gonna go now. Bye." She nervously replied, and zipped away.
"Wait, no!" The alicorn cried, but it was too late, Rainbow Dash was gone!
Starlight just stood on a cloud and clapped her hooves, she had seen the entire thing. "Gee, Twilight, what's the matter? Couldn't convince her to do the impossible? That's too bad," She taunted, rubbing her victory in Twilight's face. Just then, another time bubble appeared in the sky. "Ah, I believe that's for you. Enjoy your one way trip, because this time you're not coming back!"
But Twilight was quite furious, and she knew she couldn't leave Starlight to keep messing with time! Rushing forward, she managed to grab hold of the unicorn just before she and Spike were sucked into the time bubble! "You're going to see for yourself just what your actions have caused!" She said to Starlight, and the three of them disappeared just a few seconds later in a blinding flash of light.
When the flash of light faded, Twilight, Spike, and Starlight all landed with a thud in what seemed to be the Everfree Forest. The map was still intact, but once again the castle was gone.
"Ugh. Well, that didn't work." Spike remarked, picking himself up and dusting himself off.
Starlight looked all around, she didn't recognize anything. "Where am I now?" She wondered outloud.
"I don't know, this doesn't look at all like the future I saw last time." Twilight realized.
Starlight growled and glared at Twilight. "You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you, princess?! No, you had to play the big darn hero and ruin everything again! I don't know what this place is or why you brought me to it, but I don't care! I'll find a way out of here and make sure you and that dragon of yours can never follow me again!"
Twilight lost her patience, she was getting fed up with Starlight's behavior. "Alright, that's it! You've pushed me far enough, Starlight! I tried to reason with you, tried to make you see sense, but if you insist on provoking me I'll show you no mercy!"
"Bring it on, grandma!" Starlight replied, lunging at Twilight. The two began to tussle with each other, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
"Uh, girls?" Spike called, as he looked around.
"Not now, Spike! I have to teach a certain somepony a thing or two about messing with time!" Twilight replied, and went back to attacking Starlight.
"Girls?" Spike called, a little louder, hoping they'd listen. They didn't.
"Just shut up, no asked for your opinion anyways, dragon!" Starlight shouted back. "It's your fault we're in this mess to begin with!"
Spike groaned, and shouted at the top of his lungs! "GIRLS!" That did the trick, Twilight and Starlight stopped fighting and looked at Spike. "Yes?" They asked him at the same time.
"Uh, don't look now but, we've got company." Spike nervously explained, before he, Twilight, and Starlight found themselves facing down the business end of a bunch of spears.
Twilight looked at the ponies wielding the spears, and gasped! Two of them were instantly recognizable, one was a pink coated earth pony, and the other a yellow coated pegasus. "Pinkie? Fluttershy?" She asked them.
Pinkie just pointed her spear further towards Twilight. "Silence, changeling!" She said in a rather ominous tone of voice.
Fluttershy then spoke up. "All servants of Queen Chrysalis found in these woods must be... destroyed!" Prompting Twilight, Spike, and Starlight to gulp.
When we last left Twilight and Spike, they along with Starlight Glimmer, found themselves facing down the business end of spears directed by a group of angry ponies cloaked in green paint markings.
And as they stood there, wondering just what would become of them, their minds started to flash back to how they ended up in such a predicament.
It all started when Twilight was invited to give a speech about cutie marks to students at Celestia's School of Magic (a spin-off of her School for Gifted Unicorns). During the speech, Twilight swore she saw the familiar face of Starlight Glimmer amidst the crowd, and confessed this fact to Spike on their way back to Ponyville.
"Starlight Glimmer? You actually saw her?" Spike had asked.
Twilight had replied by saying. "I was sure I saw her, Spike."
And upon returning to her castle, Twilight (along with Spike) found that she had a rather unexpected guest in the form of Starlight Glimmer. "Welcome home, Twilight!" She had greeted, shortly before disappearing in a time bubble.
With the help of a scroll Starlight had left behind, Twilight and Spike chased after Starlight, and soon found themselves travelling to the past. "We traveled back in time to when Rainbow Dash performed her first Sonic Rainboom?" Spike had asked, when the two discovered they were at the very flight camp Rainbow Dash had attended as a filly.
Unfortunately, Twilight and Spike found out too late about what Starlight planned to do, and were unable to prevent her from stopping the rainboom from ever happening. Thus altering history. "Now it's my turn to take something special from you! Cutie marks for cutie marks!" Starlight had vowed.
Twilight and Spike ended up being pulled into an alternative timeline where Equestria was at war with the Crystal Empire. But fortunately, the table map survived. "The map is connected to the Tree of Harmony! So it must sense that something isn't right! That's why it's still here!" Twilight had realized, and she and Spike then traveled back in time to stop Starlight before she could stop the rainboom, a task that proved to be easier said than done.
"Finding her will be easy! But stopping her's gonna be harder than you think." Starlight had boasted, and managed to ultimately convince the bullies not to pick on Fluttershy. Twilight's attempt at convincing a young Rainbow Dash to fly fast enough for a Sonic Rainboom also didn't work, much to Starlight's delight.
"Couldn't convince her to do the impossible? That's too bad." Starlight had taunted. But her celebration proved to be premature, as Twilight managed to drag the powerful unicorn into another time bubble with her, and that was when the three ended up being held at spear point.
"All servants of Queen Chrysalis found in these woods must be... destroyed!" Fluttershy warned, and so it was that the three time travelers were now in a predicament from which they didn't know how they were going to escape, let alone how they'd make it back to their own timeline.
Unsure of what else to say or do, Twilight spoke to the ponies wielding their spears, hoping to get them to back off. "Wait! We're not changelings!" She gestured to herself and Starlight as she explained. "We're ponies," Then she gestured to Spike. "And he's a dragon, a baby dragon."
"A likely story! You think we were born yesterday?!" Pinkie asked, poking Spike with one of her spears. "Do something dragonish!" Spike's response was to let out a belch and envelope Pinkie's face in a puff of smoke. Pinkie wheezed and retreated. "That works." Was all she could bring herself to say.
Fluttershy, however, wasn't convinced. "He probably ate some chili peppers or something to make it look like he has fire breath. The servants of Chrysalis will do anything to save their evil skins!" She angrily spoke up.
But before anyone could think of doing anything to the three unexpected guests/prisoners, a voice cried out! "Stop!" Emerging from the shadows was a zebra instantly recognizable to Twilight and Spike, though Starlight had no idea who she was. However, Twilight and Spike were surprised to find said zebra decked out in the same green face paint as the soldiers staring them down, and had somehow styled her mane into a mohawk. "If they are changelings we'll soon see. Though I think they're not what they appear to be."
"Zecora! Please, you have to listen to us." Twilight pleaded, calling the zebra by name.
"She knows your name, she must be a spy!" Bon-Bon spoke up. "And the same must be true for the others, we must destroy them, now!"
But Zecora merely put up a hoof to stop Bon-Bon, before she took out a small bowl containing what appeared to be the source of the green face paint she and the soldiers were wearing, and dipped her hoof into the mixture. "Beneath this salve, no changeling hides, for it reveals the truth inside." Zecora explained, and placed some of the paint on the faces of Twilight, Spike, and Starlight.
Much to the surprise of everyone, the three strangers began to glow brightly. "So, what does it mean?" Pinkie asked Zecora. "If they're not changelings, then who are they?"
Zecora replied in an ominous tone. "The meaning is far worse, I see, for it is we who should not be."
As the soldiers debated amongst themselves about what Zecora meant, Twilight spoke up. "I think I can explain, about all of us." She said to Zecora.
Zecora nodded. "I'm sure you can, but let's not talk here. Chrysalis and her army will soon draw near!"
"Besides, even if you're not changelings, that could still mean you're working for Nightmare Moon!" Fluttershy warned. "She and Chrysalis will stop at nothing to find us!"
Twilight and Spike gulped, it seemed things were even worse in this timeline than they were in the previous one. But Starlight was scratching her head. "I have no idea what any of you are talking about," And she glared at Twilight. "If this is supposed to be your idea of scaring me straight, it's not gonna work!"
"Shut up, it's your fault we're in this mess to begin with!" Spike snapped at Starlight, effectively getting the unicorn to clam up.
Twilight, Spike, and Starlight trotted along close to Zecora, doing their best to ignore the rather sharp spears from the ponies surrounding them. "So, in this timeline, Equestria is facing two threats?" Twilight asked.
Zecora and the spear holding soldiers nodded. "They both appeared within a few weeks of each other," Fluttershy explained. "First Nightmare Moon returned and ousted Celestia from Canterlot, taking over and creating the First Lunar Empire. We retreated into the Everfree Forest and set up a resistance camp with Zecora, but then an even worse threat surfaced just as we were starting to make plans to take back Canterlot."
"The changelings appeared not long ago. Though I'll wager in your world that isn't so." Zecora spoke to Twilight, Spike, and Starlight.
Twilight nodded. "Same goes for Nightmare Moon, both threats were vanquished by my friends and I."
"Those friends as you know them are not here, alas. But tell me how all this came to pass." Zecora asked of Twilight.
Twilight sighed. "Well, it all started when a certain somepony," She glared at Starlight, prompting a gulp from the unicorn who still harbored feelings of revenge. "Decided it would be a good idea to mess with the flow of time. She managed to gain access to and tweak one of Starswirl The Bearded's spells, and used it to travel back in time. She then made sure to stop my friends and I from ever coming together! This is actual the second bad timeline Spike and I have come back to as a result. In the first timeline, Equestria was at war with the Crystal Empire ruled by the evil King Sombra."
"Ah yes, him," Pinkie replied, a faint hiss seemed to register in her voice. "Apparently he thought he could pick us off while we were struggling with the changeling threat, a mistake that cost him dearly. Nightmare Moon captured most of his forces and brainwashed them into serving her, while Chrysalis and her army led him into an ambush that completely wiped him out! And all before we could lift a hoof to do anything to him. He's lucky though, Celestia would've shown him no mercy. At least Chrysalis gave Sombra a chance to beg."
"And what about Discord?" Spike asked. "Is he still stuck in stone?"
"I don't know who this Discord is that you speak of," Pinkie said in reply. "But there are rumors that Nightmare Moon is working on a secret weapon to wipe us and the changelings off the face of the world. But we haven't been able to get inside information. That is, unless the three of you are defecting servants of Nightmare Moon."
"Just who in the hay are all these creatures?!" Starlight spoke up in complaint. "Seriously, the only one I recognize is Nightmare Moon, but she's just an old pony's tale meant to scare little foals! Whoever they are, their might is nothing compared to mine!"
Twilight and Spike just looked at Starlight and shook their heads. "You'd change your tone pretty quickly if you knew what they were like. Trust me, alongside Lord Tirek they are threats on a level you couldn't begin to comprehend. The only difference is, they were a lot less subtle about their goals, even Chrysalis didn't conceal her true ambitions the way you did back in that village."
"Thank you for reminding me of that, because as soon as this whole 'war' thing blows over, I'm still going to make you pay for destroying my sanctuary of equality!" Starlight hissed. "If you think you can scare me with these made up threats I've never heard about, you've got another thing coming!"
"Will you two shut up, please?!" Spike demanded. "You're not helping the situation! In case you haven't noticed, we're in deep doo doo here and if we're not lucky we could get ourselves killed!" Once both Twilight and Starlight had stopped arguing (albeit reluctantly), Spike looked at Zecora and asked her. "So, if Starlight keeps ultimately accomplishing the same thing in the past, then how could the present we come back to each time be so different?"
Zecora smiled as she explained. "Ah. Time is a river, where even the tiniest changes seen can lead to a cascade of effects downstream." She demonstrated this by putting her into a small run-off, and Twilight, Spike, and Starlight observed how Zecora's hoof redirected the flow of water.
"So, everything we do in the past affects the future? That's a lot different from the time I tried it, then again I only went back once and only for a few minutes." Twilight commented.
"Ugh, thanks for reminding me of the ice cream incident. I feel sick just thinking about that." Spike complained, no one said a word.
At last, after what felt like an ages long trek through the Everfree Forest, Zecora approached a set of leaves and with a smile she said. "This part of the forest is dark and damp, but it's done well to hide our camp." She pushed back the leaves, and the three time travelers were amazed at what they saw! Somehow, an entire resistance camp had been set up in the heart of the Everfree Forest, with ponies of all ages and all species rushing about or just relaxing.
But before the trio could even think of resting easy and possibly getting back to where they had started, Bon-Bon called out. "Hey, Captain Armor, we've picked up a few mysterious strangers near the forest entrance. Zecora thinks they're time travelers."
Twilight gasped, as she saw the pony she recognized as her older brother approach her, Spike, and Starlight. He too was coated in the green face paint, and was without his usual captain attire. In the back of her mind Twilight knew that this Shining Armor was different from the one in her own timeline, and thus he probably wouldn't recognize her. Even so, Shining Armor seemed to be surprised when he inspected the prisoners and his eyes fell upon Twilight! "You look strangely familiar, almost like my sister. But that can't be, my sister disappeared the day Nightmare Moon returned and nopony has seen or heard from her since! Who are you, and why do you look like my sister?!"
"Bon-Bon told you, I'm a time traveler," Twilight insisted. "And the same goes for Spike and Starlight. In the timeline we come from, Equestria is a lot more peaceful, and you and Cadence are married."
Shining seemed to glare at Twilight rather harshly. "How do you know about my mare friend?! She's supposed to resting in the Crystal Empire and nopony is supposed to know she exists!"
"What do you mean she's resting in the Crystal Empire?! Shouldn't she be here with you, helping to fight the changelings?" Spike asked Shining.
Shining shook his head. "There's not much love around these parts, and there hasn't been since Nightmare Moon took over. Since Cadence is the Princess of Love, if there's not very much of it she becomes sick. Plus, it's too risky, we couldn't risk her being captured by either Nightmare Moon or Queen Chrysalis and being used as bait! Now for the last time, who are you?! You can either tell me, or you can tell Princess Celestia, and I doubt she will be as merciful!"
"We're time travelers, honest!" Twilight pleaded. "Please, you've got to believe us!"
Shining was silent for a couple of minutes, as he looked into the eyes of Twilight. He wanted to believe what she was saying was true, but something in his gut told him it was all lies.
"Well, Captain, what are we supposed to do with them?" Fluttershy asked Shining Armor.
"Take them to Princess Celestia, if they're lying she'll know in an instant." Shining instructed, and turned and trotted away. Twilight could almost feel her heart breaking. Even if this Shining was different from the one in her own timeline, his words still stung greatly.
Twilight's thoughts of depression were only interrupted by the poking spears of the rebellion soldiers. "You heard him, let's move it!" Pinkie instructed. "No funny business."
The three time travelers turned prisoners were escorted into a large tent, and seated inside was the familiar imposing and commanding figure of Princess Celestia. Like with everypony else in the camp, she was coated in the green face paint. Her expression seemed difficult to read to Twilight, as the mighty alicorn rose and greeted the three individuals standing before her. "And you are?" She asked of them.
"They say their names are Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and Starlight Glimmer, in that order," Pinkie Pie said to Princess Celestia. "They claim to be time travelers brought here by Starlight's alteration of the past. They seem to have no knowledge of the war, but they have mentioned the likes of Discord, King Sombra, and Princess Cadence. Captain Armor believes they might possibly be lying."
Princess Celestia said nothing at first, she just looked at the three individuals and eyed them very closely. The silence became so thick you could cut it with a knife. No one dared to say a word, least of all Twilight. She wanted to speak up, to try and present her case to the one mare who likely held the power to destroy her, Spike, and Starlight in an instant if she so chose.
At last, Princess Celestia broke the silence by clearing her throat. "Thank you for bringing them here, Pinkie Pie. You may go. I will deal with these three myself."
"Are you sure? I can easily stay and guard you in case they try anything." Pinkie suggested.
Celestia shook her head. "That will not be needed, you are dismissed."
"Alright, but you just say the word and I'll be by your side in an instant." Pinkie replied, bowing her head, before leaving the tent.
"So, you really do come from another timeline?" Celestia asked the three.
Twilight nodded. "Yes, and in our timeline you and Luna rule Equestria together after my friends and I free her from being Nightmare Moon. Also, in the timeline we come from, Discord is reformed and on our side, more or less. And the likes of Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, and Lord Tirek are all either defeated or destroyed. As to how we ended up in this timeline, it was not by choice, at least not for my son and I."
"Yeah, Starlight Glimmer over here thought it would be a good idea to mess with time as an act of revenge," Spike explained. "And that's pretty much how we ended up here."
"None of this would've happened had you and your friends left my village alone," Starlight hissed at Twilight. "And once we're back in our timeline, I'm making sure you can never follow me again!"
"Silence!" Celestia bellowed in her royal Canterlot voice, her shout echoing through the tent. "Even if you three are who you say you are, I doubt I have the power to send you back to the timeline you all came from! Right now, Nightmare Moon controls half of Equestria, and most of the rest belongs to Queen Chrysalis!"
"But, we just need to get back to the map near the forest entrance," Twilight spoke up. "If we can do that, we'll out of your mane for good."
Before Celestia had a chance to consider the offer Twilight had made, there came a shriek from outside! Celestia got up, and alongside Twilight, Spike, and Starlight, rushed to investigate the source of the disturbance.
As it turned out, the shriek had come from Rarity. Alongside Applejack and Rainbow Dash, she looked rather messy and worn out. "Zecora, thank goodness!" Rarity exclaimed. "Please! You have to help us!"
"What's going on here?!" Celestia demanded, eyeing the three ponies suspiciously.
"The changelings attacked Ponyville! We barely escaped with our lives!" Rainbow Dash explained, panting heavily.
Zecora glared at the three ponies, she knew there was something off about them. "The only changeling attack I see, is the one that has come here looking for me!" She said to them.
To the surprise of everyone, Applejack stepped forward with a smirk on her face. "So, you figured it out? Well, congratulations, too bad you're powerless to stop me. It's taken quite a while to finally find you, Zecora." Then Applejack's voice faded away, and a rather creepy and malicious laugh replaced it, as Applejack was surrounded a circle of green flames.
Twilight jumped back in horror. "No, it cannot be!" She exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?!" Starlight asked. "What's wrong with Applejack?"
"You don't get it, that laugh can only mean one thing," Spike explained, shivering in fright. "We're in big trouble!"
When the circle of green flames had faded, the familiar presence of Queen Chrysalis appeared before everyone, and she let out an echoy laugh. When she spoke, the echo persisted with every statement she made. "What a lovely village you've chosen to stage your little resistance, Celestia. Why it looks absolutely delicious!"
"You dare to show your face in my presence, are you mad?!" Celestia demanded, as Zecora stepped forward to protect the princess.
Chrysalis just laughed. "Mad? Me? I don't think so," And then to Zecora she said. "Oh come now, Zecora. You're vastly outnumbered." All of a sudden, not only did Rarity and Rainbow Dash transform into changeling soldiers, but so did several ponies in the camp, much to the surprise of the resistance!
"Very clever, Chrysalis! But you're still no match for Princess Celestia!" Twilight spoke up. "I see you're just as careless in this timeline as you were in the one I know you from. I guess some things just never change."
Chrysalis hissed. "You're a smart aleck, I HATE smart alecks! Did you really think I'd be dumb enough to come here without a plan?" She then spoke to Zecora as she said to the zebra. "I know you don't want to see any of your charges hurt. So come quietly to the dungeons, and I promise to leave the others alone."
"Why would she ever trust you?!" Fluttershy demanded of Chrysalis. "Give us one good reason why we shouldn't just let Princess Celestia crush you?!"
"But, if there's even a chance Chrysalis will honor her word, then shouldn't you try?" Starlight nervously asked.
"You don't know Chrysalis like I do, she can NEVER be trusted with anything!" Twilight replied, her eyes narrowing in anger. "In the timeline I come from, she tried to attack Canterlot by posing as Princess Cadence during her royal wedding, and she nearly succeeded. But she proved to be a terrible actress, and a terrible liar. Whatever she says, it's best not to trust her as far as you can throw her!"
Princess Celestia simply stepped forward and said to Twilight. "This isn't your fight, leave this to Zecora and I. You three just run back to the map, we'll hold them off as long as we can."
"But-" Spike began.
"Go! Now!" Celestia commanded.
"Even if what you are saying were true, we'd never surrender to a creature like you!" Zecora shouted, and she and Princess Celestia charged into battle, with the resistance following close behind!
Taking advantage of the confusion, Twilight, Spike, and Starlight ran off!
The fighting quickly grew in intensity, and it wasn't long before Zecora and Chrysalis found themselves combating one anoter face to face.
All of a sudden, Zecora stepped back, before she turned around and delivered a swift kick right to Chrysalis' face! The changeling queen stumbled back and groaned. "How dare you! I think you actually broke my nose! That does it, I've gone easy on you for long enough! Your precious little princess isn't here to save you this time!" She began to charge up her horn, and quickly fired off a powerful magical blast!
"Zecora, out of the way!" Pinkie shouted, rushing forward and leaping in front of the beam just seconds before it would've hit Zecora! Pinkie screamed in pain!
"Pinkie Pie!" Fluttershy gasped, knocking a few changelings aside and rushing to her friend's side. Pinkie was severely bruised and had noticeable scratch and scorch marks across her body. "Are you okay?!" Fluttershy asked.
Pinkie coughed and tried to move, but when she did so the pain proved to be too much for her and she collapsed. "Ouch! Well, that was... not a bright idea." Was all she could bring herself to say.
"Now you see what happens to those foolish enough to get in my way!" Chrysalis warned. "Now it's time to end this, say your prayers!"
But before Celestia, Zecora, or anypony in the rebellion had a chance to act, a few changeling drones came buzzing up to Chrysalis. "Uh, your majesty?" One of them nervously called.
"What is it?! Can't you see I'm busy?!" Chrysalis demanded.
"It's just, those three mysterious individuals from earlier, we've managed to surround them!" The drone explained. "But we need your help to subdue them, they're giving us more than we can handle!"
Chrysalis smirked, as she began to flap her wings. "Consider yourselves lucky," She said to the rebellion. "As much as I would love to stay and chat, I've got pressing business elsewhere. I'll leave my most trusted soldiers to finish what I started." And she began to sink through the ground in a sickly green glow.
Everyone cheered, except for Celestia and Zecora. They knew where Chrysalis was heading, but they also knew they could not break off to track down the time travelers, their help was needed to repeal the current invasion force. Even so, Celestia silently pleaded. "Please, let them escape before Chrysalis gets to them."
Unfortunately, Twilight, Spike, and Starlight, were unable to reach the map before Chrysalis caught up with them. And despite their best efforts to resist, they were easily defeated and captured. Chrysalis couldn't help but rub her apparent victory in her captives face, as she led them towards the ruined remaints of the Castle of the Two Sisters. "Oh, this is going better than I could've ever imagined," She fiendishly cackled. "The three of you will make much better prisoners than that measly apple farmer I impersonated. She's too stubborn to provide a proper meal."
"But what about Rarity?" Spike asked Chrysalis.
"And Rainbow Dash?" Twilight inquired.
Chrysalis only laughed. "Those two are of no concern to me, they belong to that pathetic would be tyrant Nightmare Moon. Once I've finished off that little resistance movement, I'll be sure to crush Nightmare Moon and establish a glorious new kingdom for me and my subjects. No longer will changelings be the inferior species, we will rule all and I will reign supreme!"
"It'll never work! You were defeated once before and you'll be defeated again!" Twilight insisted, even as she, Spike, and Starlight were thrown into the dungeons at the bottom of the castle.
"Shut up!" Chrysalis snarled. "You three can just rot here until I can figure out just what to do with you! Oh, and if you were thinking of escaping, don't bother! My guards are under strict orders not to let you out of their sights, not even for a second. Right, boys?"
"O-of course, y-your majesty." One of the changelings shuddered slightly, giving off a rather reluctant vibe.
"We will not let you down, your majesty." Another changeling replied.
"Those prisoners are safe and secure with us on duty, your majesty." A third changeling finished.
Chrysalis smiled, and locked the door of the dungeon cell that Twilight, Spike, and Starlight were in. "Excellent, and now I shall return to my throne and await news of the destruction of Celestia's rebellion." And the evil queen left the dungeons, laughing wickedly to herself.
Spike sighed, as he paced back and forth in the dusty and dimly lit dungeon cell. "Seriously, how do we end up in these situations, Twilight?"
"Your guess is as good as mine," Twilight replied glumly. "And this time I think it's safe to say, that this is quite the fine mess we've gotten ourselves into. And it's one I don't see how we're going to get out of."
"Who cares?" Starlight scoffed. "Queen Chrysalis, Nightmare Moon, King Sombra, Discord, whoever they are their might is absolutely nothing compared to mine! I will crush them all with my bare hooves!"
Spike rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't last five minutes, heck with Discord you'd be lucky to last five seconds. Don't you get, Starlight?! This is all your fault, and it's not something you can just power your way out of!"
"Shows what you know!" Starlight boasted. "I was able to go hoof to hoof with the Princess of Friendship and match her strength down to a t! I could easily get us out of this situation, and quite frankly I don't need either of you two to help me! I could defeat Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon in the blink of an eye!"
One of the changelings hissed at Starlight and banged on the cell bars. "Hey, be quiet, inmates! You will not speak unless spoken to!"
"Oh, am I annoying you? Gee, I'm ever so sorry." Starlight sarcastically replied.
The changeling guard shot off a quick blast of magic at Starlight, and when Starlight tried to block it with her magic she was quickly pushed back against the cell wall. "Consider that a warning, pipe down or I will make you pipe down!" The guard hissed again.
"See? Not so easy now, is it?" Spike asked Starlight.
"He just got lucky!" Starlight insisted. "If these dungeon walls weren't so narrow I'd have plenty of room to move about and get into a better position to attack! And for the record, I still haven't gotten an apology from you for stealing that scroll from me."
"Considering what you're using it for, I'd say Spike had every right to take it," Twilight angrily said to Starlight. "Just look around and see for yourself, this is the future that your actions have caused. Everything we do in the past affects the future, even the smallest change can quickly snowball out of control and into an avalanche of trouble for the future."
Starlight wasn't convinced. "Oh, next I suppose you'll be telling me that 'The fate of all of Equestria hangs in the balance!'! How stupid do you think I am?!"
Another changeling guard tapped on the cell bars. "What part of 'Be quiet, inmates!' don't you understand?!" He demanded. "If I have to, I will get the queen to come down here and deal with you herself, and she won't be happy about that!"
Ignoring the changeling's threat, Twilight said to Starlight. "It's like talking to a brick wall, how thick headed do you have to be not to see the writing on the wall?! I can't really explain it, but my friends and I are important to Equestria, and stopping the rainboom leads to bad futures like this. Is that really the price you want to pay just because you lost your village?"
"It's like I said, cutie marks for cutie marks! If Equestria must suffer a little in order for me to get my revenge, so be it!" Starlight vowed. "One way or another, you will pay for ruining my life!"
Twilight and Spike were shocked at just how much hatred Starlight seemed to have inside of her. Spike even asked. "Starlight, do you even realize what you're saying?! How can you treat others like this?"
To the surprise of both Spike and Twilight, Starlight coldly replied after a moment of hesitation. "Because, it's the way they've always treated me. Sorry to break it to you, but not everyone is born the chosen one who gets to have everything in life just delivered to them on a silver platter. Most of us aren't so lucky, and some of us go through life bouncing from one misfortune to another. The entire point of my little village was to stop the pain and suffering cutie marks caused, equality was the only solution," She then sighed. "But I suppose there's really no way to make that clear to the likes of you."
"Starlight," Twilight said seriously. "Let's say you do find a way out of here all by yourself, what happens then? Even if you could find Chrysalis, you know she won't fight you fair and square. She has an entire kingdom of subjects willing to fight alongside her, and strength in numbers means you won't stand a chance. And don't think for a second Nightmare Moon will play fair either, because she won't. She has her own subjects willing to fight for her, to say nothing of the fact that she's an alicorn with powers equal to those of Princess Celestia. Just look around, there's no way you can just solve all of these problems. And if you travel back to the past and stop the rainboom again, you'll likely face a different threat in the future you create. Face it, you can't win."
"Let's say I believe you, and I don't in case you're wondering," Starlight snarled. "What am I supposed to do, hm?"
"I think, what Twilight's trying to say, is that we're only going to get out of this if we work together," Spike commented. "I don't like the idea anymore than either of you two probably do."
"That's putting it mildly, there's no way in Tartarus I'm working with the likes of you!" Starlight accused, pointing a hoof at Twilight.
The pounding on the cell doors grew louder. "For the last time, shut up!" The first changeling guard bellowed. "Don't make me have to come in there and straighten the three of you out personally!"
Lowering his voice, Spike said to Starlight. "Look, like it or not this is the only way we can even hope to get back to the table map and make things right. If we DON'T cooperate, then we'll never get out of here."
"So, Starlight, truce?" Twilight asked, extending a hoof to the unicorn.
Starlight accepted the hoof very reluctantly. "Fine, truce. But only a temporary one. Once we're back in the past, it's no more Miss Nice Mare, got it?"
"Very well," Twilight nodded, and instructed Starlight and Spike to huddle close to her. "Now here's what we're going to do."
The peace and quiet of the dungeon cells was suddenly interrupted, as the sounds of angry bickering reached a new high!
Twilight and Starlight's arguement quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. "Hey, don't shove me!" Twilight protested.
"You shoved me first! Fair's fair!" Starlight angrily replied.
"Go get her, Twilight! Show her who's boss!" Spike cheered.
"Hey, no fighting in there, inmates!" The first changeling guard shouted. "Pipe down!"
The guard's comment went unacknowledged, as Twilight and Starlight just continued to fight it out. Suddenly, Starlight shot off a beam of magic that hit Twilight square in the face and appeared to knock her out cold! "That's what you get for getting in my way!" Starlight taunted.
"Twilight!" Spike frantically exclaimed, and rushed to her side. "Come on, wake up! Wake up, please!"
The changeling guards were panic stricken, and they immediately unlocked the door of the dungeon cell and rushed in. "Alright, alright, break it up you two!" They hissed, immediately rushing over to Twilight.
But suddenly, Twilight opened her eyes. "Hey, geniuses, way to leave the cell door unlocked while tending to an inmate!" She cried out, before she pushed the changelings aside and lit up her horn. "Spike! Starlight! To me!" The two rushed over to join her, and in a flash of blinding light they had disappeared!
"Oh no!" The guards exclaimed when the flash faded. "The queen's not gonna like this!"
"Not going to like what?!" Chrysalis snarled with a sneer. "I just received word that those incompetent soldiers somehow screwed up and were defeated by that rag tag rebellion! What else could go wrong?!"
The changeling who had not spoken to the prisoners gulped and nervously explained. "Uh, don't get angry, my queen, but the three prisoners have.... escaped."
"What?!" Chrysalis exclaimed. "No, no, no! This can NOT be happening! Haven't I been embarrassed enough for one day?!" She began barking out orders! "You morons mock me with your incompetence! I will conduct my own personal search of the castle, but all of you are to spread out and go after them at once! If they are not standing before me within the hour, I shall hold all you personally responsible and punish you severely! So if I were you I'd track them down with all due haste! Is that understood?!"
All three changelings gulped. "Y-yes your majesty, right away!" They replied, and zoomed away.
Chrysalis sighed and groaned, the stress of the last few hours was given her a headache. "I'm surrounded by idiots. Just when it seemed like victory was within my grasp it slipped right through my hooves!" She thought to herself. "Maybe I need to start doing a better job training those incompetent nitwits."
Twilight's teleportation landed her, Spike, and Starlight deep in the heart of the Everfree Forest. They took just a minute to get their bearings, and they took off running!
"Shouldn't we be heading back to the table map?!" Spike asked, as he noticed they seemed to be running deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest.
"They'll be expecting that, Spike!" Twilight called in reply. "We've got to go someplace where they'll never think to look for us!"
"And I can only think of one place they wouldn't dare to go!" Starlight spoke up. "I just hope my hunch is correct! After all, as the old saying goes: 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'!"
Spike's confusion was quickly replaced by worry, as he realized what that meant. "Wait a second, you're not actually suggesting we..."
"-I'm afraid it's only our only option, Spike," Starlight interrupted. "If Nightmare Moon is really as powerful as Twilight says she is, then the changelings won't think to cross her path. We've got to get to Canterlot, and with any luck once we're in there we can find that secret weapon she's working on and take it for ourselves."
"And if it isn't?" Twilight asked Starlight. "In case you haven't noticed, we're really winging it here. If that weapon's just a myth, we're pretty much up the river without a paddle."
"We'll just have to hope that weapon does exist!" Starlight called. "And that there'll be a way for us to steal it!"
Spike gulped, as the Everfree Forest began to give way to what looked like unending darkness, which seemed to coat all of Canterlot. "Well, I guess we're about to find out."
Sure enough, as the three exited the Everfree Forest and entered Canterlot, the sky seemed to change from fairly bright sunshine, to dimly lit moonlight. And it was very eerie and ominous.
"Guess we should make our way to the castle," Twilight suggested. "I just hope Nightmare Moon isn't actually there."
The journey to the castle in Canterlot passed in silence, no one dared to say a word for fear that there might be a few undercover changelings lurking in the shadows. They didn't know if word had gotten out about their escape, so the three refused to take any chances.
At last, they reached the castle, and to their surprise they found the castle doors open. Surprisingly, the inside of the castle was lit up with torches that lined the walls, alongside tapestries depicting Nightmare Moon in all her wicked glory.
Spike started to shiver, in spite of all the torches the castle felt strangely cold. "Is it just me or is anyone else getting chills right about now?" He asked Twilight and Starlight.
"It isn't just you," Starlight nervously responded to Spike. "I thought Nightmare Moon was just an old pony's tale, but I'm starting to think the stories are true."
"Just keep your eyes pealed," Twilight said to the two. "And whatever you do, don't touch anything! There's no telling what kind of security Nightmare Moon has set up, and we don't want to let her know we're here if we can help it."
Suddenly, in the distance, Twilight and Spike recognized a familiar white coated unicorn with three diamonds for a cutie mark. But her mane didn't seem to be in its usual curly state, it seemed to have been tied back in a bun. "Rarity?" Twilight greeted.
The unicorn seemed to acknowledge Twilight's comment, but she didn't appear to be very happy. She had a noticeable frown upon on her face and seemed to be decked out in what appeared armor similar to the ones worn by the night guards in the normal timeline. "The castle isn't open for viewings today. The tapestries all need changing. Again. Such is the life of a caretaker such as I." Rarity called, and went back to her work.
Twilight gasped "But Rarity-!"
Rarity then turned to Twilight and said to her. "-I don't know how you know my name, but I am far too busy to entertain some tourist. Go away!"
"But we're not tourists!" Starlight protested. "We're..... uh..."
"If you must know, we're time travelers," Twilight finished. "And we've come here for an important reason."
But just then there was a cackle, as a sinister yet familiar voice called out. "Time travel, you say? Now that's something I would like to see," Rising up from her throne and staring down at the three, was none other than the wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. With a laugh she then demanded. "Tell me how you came by this magic to travel through time, so that I might use to go back and ensure that my sister does not escape my clutches!"
Before Twilight, Spike, or Starlight could think of any kind of response, one of the guards ordered. "Hey, the princess just asked you a question! And unless you wanna end up in the castle dungeon, you'll tell her what she wants to know!" Said guard turned out to be Rainbow Dash, whose mane had somehow been styled into a straight buzz cut.
"Rainbow Dash?!" Twilight and Spike exclaimed.
"You know my name but you refuse to answer the question!" Rainbow replied quite furiously. "Our princess will NOT ask you again! Tell her what she wants to know!"
"Nopony in my kingdom but me should possess a magic powerful enough to change time," Nightmare Moon remarked. "So tell me how it works and I might be willing to let you live."
"Only if you agree to tell us one thing," Twilight demanded. "Otherwise, you'll get nothing out of us."
"Oh, are you trying to cut a deal with me?" Nightmare Moon asked, as if she were surprised. "Fine, name your price, just be quick about it. I have little patience for those who waste my time."
Twilight, Spike, and Starlight all exchanged glances with each other, before Twilight spoke up and demanded. "What is this secret weapon you're working on, and how does it function?"
Nightmare Moon seemed to be silent for a moment, before she threw back her head and laughed. "Is that really all you want out of me?" Once she had stopped laughing she said in a sinister undertone. "I suppose I can tell you, seeing as you won't be leaving here to tell anyone about it," She pointed a hoof out one of the castle windows, directing the attention of her guests to a statue that Twilight and Spike instantly recognized. "It took some very complicated magic spells, but I was able to maintain the stone prison Discord was trapped in by my sister and I thousands of years ago. But even as we speak, I know he is working to claw his way out, without the Elements of Harmony he believes he will be free to do as he pleases. Unfortunately for him, I've already set to work on a series of spells that will place him under my command. He is the final solution with which I wipe out Celestia, Chrysalis, and anyone else foolish enough to stand in my way!"
Twilight, Spike, and even Starlight gasped! The rumors were true!
Nightmare Moon laughed once again, and grabbed Spike. "Now that you've seen what you've seen, I'm afraid I can't let any of you leave here!" To Twilight and Starlight she then said. "And if you were thinking of trying to escape..." She clamped a set of chains around Spike's body. "...it would be very unfortunate for your friend here."
"You're going to regret this, Nightmare Moon!" Spike vowed, even as he struggled in vain to break free of the chains.
Nightmare Moon didn't seem worried at all by Spike's statement. "Guards, take these 'time travelers' to the dungeons. I'll be along shortly to brainwash them, they'll make fine soldiers for our army."
"Yes, your majesty." The guards obeyed, including Rainbow Dash and surprisingly enough Rarity, as they led Twilight and Starlight away.
"Come on, girls," Spike mentally pleaded. "Now would be an excellent time to figure out how we're going to escape with Discord's statue."
Twilight and Starlight were silent for a while, as they were led through the castle hallways. But at last, when they were certain they were beyond the hearing range of Nightmare Moon, they looked at each other and winked. Starlight then whispered to Rarity, "Say, do you mind telling me something?"
"Whatever it is be quick about it." Rarity hmphed.
Starlight just whispered back. "You're not really happy here, are you? Am I right?"
Rarity seemed to flinch ever so slightly, but she quickly regained her composure as she replied. "And what would give you such a ridiculous idea?"
"Just a simple observation," Starlight explained, still whispering. "But surely you've dreamt of becoming something better, something besides a lowly maid for a castle."
"Well, I.... have always fantasized the possibility of being able to make my fashions, instead of repairing the works of others." Rarity confessed.
Starlight smiled, and looked at Rainbow Dash as she asked (while still whispering). "And what about you? Haven't you ever wished you could be something besides a random castle guard?"
Rainbow reluctantly confessed. "I.... suppose I've always wanted to be an amazing flyer, like The Wonderbolts. I pitched my idea for something to rival them in the form of The Shadowbolts, but Nightmare Moon shot it down. She said there was no need for such a thing, but what does she know?"
"Well, what if there was a way you could get a chance to live out those dreams?" Starlight suggested. "A way to be free from working for Nightmare Moon for who knows how long?"
"But that's impossible," Rainbow Dash replied. "Nightmare Moon would have our heads if we even thought of deserting her."
Twilight just winked. "Well, what if you were 'defeated' and 'captured'? If Nightmare Moon thought you were forced to defect, she probably wouldn't come after you."
"What are you suggesting?" Rarity asked.
Twilight explained in a whisper. "It's complicated, but if it works we can end this nightmare once and for all." She proceeded to whisper her plan to the two, making sure the other guards didn't overhear (and they didn't, they were too far away).
"Alright, I suppose it's worth a shot," Rainbow nodded in response. "But make it look convincing."
Nightmare Moon sat on her throne, gloating to her newest prisoner. "It won't be long now. Discord is almost completely under my control, and with him at my disposal Celestia and Chrysalis are good as mine! Soon, the known world shall bow before the might of its new princess, the almighty Nightmare Moon!"
"I wouldn't count on it, you were defeated in the timeline Twilight and I come from, and you'll be defeated here too," Spike replied, just before there came the sound of screams and magical beams firing. "Ah, looks like the cavalry has arrived." He said with a smile.
Sure enough, Twilight entered the throne room just seconds later, towing the immobilized forms of Rarity and Rainbow Dash with her magic. "You really need to train your henchponies better, Nightmare Moon," Twilight smirked, before she adopted a more serious tone as she added. "Now then, you have something that belongs to me."
Nightmare Moon looked at Spike. "Oh, the dragon? You want him so badly? Well too bad, he's mine!"
Twilight just smirked, as she teleported over to Spike just as the dragon managed to melt the chains holding him captive. "For the record, Nightmare Moon. Spike isn't just my friend, he also happens to be my son." She said to the dark alicorn, and quickly teleported away before Nightmare Moon could hit her with a beam of magic.
"What?!" Nightmare Moon exclaimed, when she noticed that Twilight and Spike weren't in the throne room. "Where could they have gone?! What could they possibly..." Then she gasped, as she looked out the window and saw Twilight, Spike, and Starlight standing in front of the stone statue prison of Discord. "NO, STOP THEM!" She cried at the top of her lungs, but it was too late!
"So long, Nightmare Moon!" Spike taunted, sticking his tongue out at the tyrant. "Hope you don't mind us 'borrowing' this!" And the three time travelers (along with Rarity and Rainbow Dash), then disappeared in a combination teleportation effort by the magical powers of Twilight and Starlight.
The rag tag group managed to teleport themselves back into the Everfree Forest, and once they had done so they all let out a sigh of relief.
"Okay, we escaped. But now what?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes, please tell me you have a plan." Rarity said to Twilight and Starlight.
Twilight and Starlight both panted, teleporting so many beings to one location had been quite taxing even for ones as magically gifted as them. Still, Twilight found the strength to speak up. "Now we just need to get back to the resistance and deliver Discord to them. With any luck, he'll be just what we need to stop Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon for good."
"So, how long do you think it'll take us to find that little rebellion?" Starlight wondered outloud.
Just then, there came the sound of leaves rustling, and before anyone had a chance to react a bunch of ponies with green face paint leaped out from the bushes and branches, surrounding the group! "Hold it right there!" Fluttershy commanded.
"Not long at all from the looks of things." Spike commented to Starlight.
"Well well, today is our lucky day," Pinkie spoke up. "Not only do we fend off an attack from Queen Chrysalis' army and capture one of her newest prisoners, but now we've got defectors from Nightmare Moon's forces. And it looks like they were nice enough to bring us a gift."
Fluttershy looked at Twilight, Spike, and Starlight, and asked them. "Why you have three come back here? I thought you were time travelers, why should you care what happens to us?!"
"Because as long as Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon are standing, there's no gurantee we can get back to the map," Twilight explained. "Please, we just want to speak to Princess Celestia."
Shining Armor stepped forward, eyeing the trio suspiciously. But he still said to them. "Follow me, but you'd best hope whatever you have to tell the princess is important, for your sake!"
Twilight, Spike, and Starlight (along with Rarity and Rainbow Dash) were led through the Everfree Forest at spear point. A few other ponies were towing Discord's statue close behind. At last, they all arrived at the camp from earlier. The place was quite a mess, with several tents having been burnt up or tipped over and ripped apart, and ponies either trying to repair the damage or tending to the wounded.
Princess Celestia was quite surprised to see Twilight again, but still agreed to hear her out. Twilight told the princess everything, from running away from the changelings up to escaping with the statue of Discord.
When the story was finished, Celestia somberly said to Twilight. "Well, I appreciate that you thought to bring Discord here, but what makes you think he can be trusted to fight alongside us? He could easily decide to exterminate us all, and without the Elements of Harmony we have no means by which to stop him."
"Please," Twilight insisted. "I know this sounds crazy, but it has worked before. In the timeline from which I come from, my Princess Celestia allowed Discord to be set free and with the help of my friends and I, we were able to reform him. He later proved to be a big help in dealing with a new threat in the form of Lord Tirek." She decided to leave out the part about Tirek manipulating Discord into betraying the ponies.
"And you think it will work here as well?" Celestia asked Twilight.
Twilight nodded. "It's worth a shot at least. The key in my timeline was Fluttershy, and I think she might be the key here as well. But in order to release Discord, we'll need the Elements of Harmony, and this timeline's Applejack."
"Funny you should mention those," Bon-Bon spoke up, stepping forward. "Applejack is the very prisoner we managed to get our hooves just a short time ago. And in her possession were a set of stones that Princess Celestia confirmed are the Elements of Harmony. But how do you propose to use them? In case you haven't noticed, they're trapped in stone!"
Twilight scratched her head, then suddenly an idea came to her. "I think I know what to do, just get Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy here."
A short time later, the five ponies Twilight had suggested were brought to the center of the camp. Placed before the stone statue of Discord, were six stones, and Twilight instructed each pony to touch one. One by one, each of the elements found their way to their rightful bearers, with the Element of Magic once again resting with Twilight.
"Okay everyone, stand back!" Twilight instructed, and everyone but the six ponies backed up. One by one, the elements began to glow, and in a matter of seconds a powerful rainbow beam of light struck the stone statue prison Discord resided in, setting him free.
"I LIVE AGAIN!" The powerful spirit of chaos thundered, as he broke free. "Who has released me from my stony prison?! I want names and I want 'em now!"
Twilight cleared her throat. "It is I who has freed you, Discord. But it is Fluttershy here who wishes to speak with you."
"Her? That timid pegasus? Whatever for?" Discord pondered. "I hope you're not trying to trick me, I'm in a very bad mood right now."
"It's no trick, I assure you," Twilight explained, and nudged Fluttershy forward. "Tell him why he has been freed."
But it was Princess Celestia who stepped forward and said to Discord. "Against my better judgement I have freed you so that you might help me end this war I find myself tied up in. Accept my offer, and you will be free to roam Equestria once again. Decline, and I will personally see to it that you go back to stone, this time for good!"
"Such a tempting offer," Discord replied, cackling a bit. "Ordinarily I would be reluctant to help out the very one responsible for breaking my heart and turning me to stone, but considering what that sister of yours tried to do to me, I'm all for a little payback! Very well, I'll lend my skills."
Celestia smiled. "Excellent, now here's what I want you to do."
Nightmare Moon was still fuming, pounding her hooves into the ground and firing off magic beams without regard for where they ended up! "I can't believe this! I, the mighty Nightmare Moon, am being pushed!" She growled, as she then said to her guards. "That's it, I've gone soft on Celestia for long enough! It's time we went on the offensive and crushed her and her little rebellion once and for all!"
"My my, you really must work on that temper of yours," A familiar voice called out. "You're acting like quite the child."
Nightmare Moon spun around, in the blink of an eye Princess Celestia was standing before her! "YOU!" Nightmare Moon hissed. "Have you come to beg for mercy? I assure you it's quite futile."
Celestia just tsked. "You really think I'd come all this way here just to surrender to the likes of you?" She asked Nightmare Moon. "If so, then you really don't know me at all." She effortlessly pushed the guards aside and knocked them out, leaving only her and Nightmare Moon standing.
"You're a fool, Celestia!" Nightmare Moon taunted. "You know you're no match for me, especially without the Elements of Harmony."
Much to Nightmare Moon's surprise, Celestia began to laugh. Nightmare Moon couldn't stand such a reaction, she thought for sure Celestia was mocking her! "What's so funny?!" Nightmare Moon demanded.
"If you really believe I'd be foolish enough to come here alone then you're the one who's a fool," Celestia explained, regaining her composure. "Let's just say I ran into an old acquaintance, and after what you tried to do to him, he's rather peeved off."
Nightmare Moon's confidence faded, replaced by true fear as she gulped. "No, you didn't."
A smirk crossed Celestia's face as she replied. "I did."
Just then, there was a mighty clap of thunder, and Discord appeared. "Hello, Nightmare Moon. Thought you'd seen the last of me? Well I'm afraid not." He said, a growl registering in his voice.
"I'll leave you two to catch up," Celestia smiled, as she backed away. "But remember our deal, Discord. I want my sister back, so try not to have too much fun."
"Party pooper, but fine have it your way. This'll just take a couple of seconds," Discord replied, snapping his fingers as he made a huge boxing ring appear in the throne room. "Alright, Nightmare Moon, put up your dukes!" The spirit taunted.
Nightmare Moon tried her hardest to fight back, but she was powerless to stop Discord. In a matter of seconds she was overwhelmed and defeated. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She cried, as she was then hit by the powers of the Elements of Harmony. After a blinding flash of light, standing before Celestia and Discord was a small light blue coated alicorn, with an even lighter blue mane and tail, and blue eyes. "Sister?" Princess Luna asked, her voice sounded a bit high pitched.
Celestia ran up and nuzzled her little sister. "Luna, how wonderful to see you again. I've missed you so much," Once the happy reunion had ended she turned to Discord and said to the spirit. "Thank you for your help. Now, there's one more thing I need to ask of you."
"Figures, I knew there would be a catch," Discord sighed. "Fine, name your price."
Celestia nudged Luna forward, as she asked Discord. "Could thou..." She cleared her throat. "I mean, could you give me back my old body, just for a little while? I'll need it to help my sister to defeat those meanie pants changelings and their bully of a queen."
"I can try," Discord replied, snapping his fingers. In a flash of light, Luna's body changed. She was still smaller than Celestia, but now the size difference was not as noticeable. Her coat was now dark blue in color, and her mane and tail were blue with faint shimmers of purple around the edge, both of which now flowed like Celestia's mane and tail. "Good enough?" Discord asked Luna, who nodded. "Okay, good. But it's only for about two hours, after that you're back to being little Lulu, got it?"
"Got it," Luna nodded, as she stood beside her sister. "Now it's time to put an end to the changeling menace!"
Chrysalis was every bit as furious as Nightmare Moon had been. "Why can't things ever go right for a change?!" She complained. "It seems like every time I'm close to succeeding, something comes along and disrupts my plans."
"Oh, I know how that feels." An unfamiliar voice snickered.
Chrysalis looked up, and nearly dropped dead. Not only was Princess Celestia standing before her, but so was Princess Luna. "What?! Impossible! T-this can't be! This can't be happening, I'm in a nightmare!"
Luna just laughed. "Well there won't be any waking up from this nightmare."
Celestia then added. "This is your last warning, Chrysalis! Surrender now, or suffer the consequences!"
"NEVER!" Chrysalis bellowed at the top of her lungs, shooting off the most powerful magic beam she could muster up. "I WILL CRUSH YOU BOTH WITH MY BARE HOOVES!"
Celestia and Luna effortlessly dodged the blast. "Ready, sister?" Celestia asked Luna.
"Ready!" Luna replied, the two alicorns lit up their horns, and combined their powers. Chrysalis was blasted away just seconds later!
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF MEEEEEEEE!" The evil changeling queen cried, before she disappeared with a twinkle.
The changelings all gulped, many of them ran off. Without a queen, they had no idea of what to do or who would lead them. The rest, reluctantly, surrendered. At last, peace could come to Equestria.
By the time Celestia and Luna made it back to Canterlot (which by now had been freed from the cloak of eternal nighttime), Luna was back to her filly sized body, something she found most embarrassing. Celestia chuckled. "Relax, sister, you'll get your old body back soon enough. You need time to relax and readjust."
Luna frowned. "But Tia, I want to be a grown-up again, now!"
Celestia chuckled. "That's not the way to ask, Lulu."
"You're a poopy head." Luna remarked, prompting a few giggles from Celestia.
Celestia then turned to Twilight, Spike, and Starlight. "Thank you for your help. Without your quick thinking and clever strategies, I wouldn't be enjoying this victory. In fact, I shudder to imagine how this might have turned out without your help."
"It was nothing," Spike shrugged in reply, then a thought struck him. "But wait, if we go to the past and prevent history from being changed, what will happen to all of you? Won't you..... you know?"
Celestia seemed to wipe a tear from her eye as she said to Spike. "It's fine, we're not supposed to exist anyway. But at least you've given us a chance to know happiness."
"We'll never forget you, any of you," Twilight promised. "And I hope that, somehow, even when the Sonic Rainboom is allowed to happen, your timeline will still be allowed to stand."
Starlight wanted to say something, but no words would come out of her mouth. She was silent the entire time the trio made their way back to the table map in the Everfree Forest.
Spike sighed, as he looked at the map. "Well, guess the truce is over," He commented to Starlight. "So, what do we have to do to stop you this time?"
"One way or another, that Sonic Rainboom is going to happen!" Twilight said seriously. "And once it does, you're coming back to the present with us, and you're going to be in big trouble!"
But to the surprise of both Twilight and Spike, Starlight only replied by saying in a somber tone. "I know, and you don't have to worry. I'm finished, there's no point fighting back anymore. I see now, that the more I continue down this path, the more pain and suffering I'll cause everyone. My village is gone forever, and it's never coming back. I just can't believe it's taken me until now to realize that fact."
"Starlight?" Twilight asked, surprised to see the unicorn looking so glum and unhappy. It was as if she'd been drained of all her arrogance and confidence. "I don't know what happened that led you to make your village without cutie marks, and I'm sorry my friends and I had to take it away."
"You want to know what happened to me, huh?" Starlight asked Twilight, as she took the scroll out of her bag. "Well, I suppose I can show you. It's not like it'll change anything though." She lit up her horn, and cast the spell on the table map. A time bubble appeared, and sucked her, Twilight, and Spike up. The three disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
When the flash faded, Twilight and Spike found themselves in an unfamiliar village populated with a huge variety of ponies, most of them school aged foals.
"Where are we?" Twilight asked Starlight. "Why have you brought us here?"
"That map of yours is connected to every part of Equestria, and this part is my home," Starlight explained, pointing to a small house just off to the right of the village center. Peering in through the window, Twilight and Spike saw what looked like a filly version of Starlight Glimmer (the only difference being that her mane was styled into two pigtails instead of its straight down the center style that Starlight currently had), and a unicorn colt with an orange coat, except for light green patches on his legs and a small similarly colored spot on his face. His mane and tail were a two toned orange in color, styled into a loose curl, and his eyes were dark blue. "That's Sunburst," Starlight told Twilight and Spike, a hint of sadness reflected in her voice. "He was the first friend I ever had. We did everything together. In fact, I don't remember us ever being apart. Until today."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, concerned about what Starlight was going to say next.
Starlight just hung her head. "Just watch." Was all she said.
The young Starlight and Sunburst were playing a game, a game in which they stacked up books on top of each other by using their magic. Unfortunately, the pile began to wobble and tilt! Without warning, it began to fall towards Starlight! But before the filly had a chance to react, she found the books caught up in a pale yellow magical aura, the very aura that belonged to Sunburst. Sunburst proceeded to effortlessly put the books back on the nearby shelves, and when he had finished there was a great big flash of white light! When said flash faded, Sunburst looked at his flank and let out a happy whinny! On his flank was an orange sun with bursting yellow rays, and six blue stars.
The young Starlight could only watch, speechless, as Sunburst rushed past her and started prancing around in the town in delight!
"And just like that, my friend was gone. His family recognized his magical talent and sent him off to Canterlot. I never saw him again," Starlight sadly narrated to Twilight. "All my letters were never answered, he went on to no doubt become this 'Big Important Wizard' he always dreamed of being, and forgot all about me. He moved on, and I didn't. I remained stuck in this village, unable to ever make another friend again."
"Why not?" Twilight asked. "Seems like there were plenty of ponies your age to hang out with."
Starlight shook her head. "But they all had cutie marks, Sunburst and I were the only blank flanks left in town. And when he got his cutie mark and moved away, nopony wanted to make friends with the only blank flank left in town. It took me years before I earned my cutie mark, but by then it was too late. Late one night I packed my bags, ran off, and didn't look back," She then added in a glum and somber tone. "I told myself: 'Sunburst was the only good thing in my life, and then a cutie mark took him away from me. I don't care what I have to do to get him back.' But now I see, it wasn't a cutie mark that cost me my friendship with Sunburst, or prevented me from making new friends. It was me and me alone, nopony wanted to befriend me simply because of who I was, and seeing the monster I've become now, I don't blame them."
"Starlight." Twilight commented, unable to think of anything else to say.
Starlight didn't reply, she just lit up her horn and another time bubble whisked the three time travelers away.
The time bubble deposited Starlight onto one cloud, and Twilight and Spike onto another. "Well, now you've seen too much, and you know the sad story of my life," Starlight said to Twilight. "I'll bet you feel sorry for me. Well, don't! It's my own fault!" She then used her magic to toss the scroll to Spike. "Here, you hold onto it for me, I don't need it anymore! And when you get back to the present, rip it up so that nopony else may do what I have tried to do!"
A long silence passed, interrupted only by the occasional gust of wind. "Well, go on, what are you waiting for?!" Starlight asked Twilight. "I stole one of Starswirl's The Bearded's master spells, broke into your castle, and rewrote the course of history. I know what kind of fate awaits me for actions like that. Destroy me! I'm nothing but a monster, too dangerous to be allowed to roam free!"
"No, I won't do it, Starlight!" Twilight replied. "You're not a monster, not like Chrysalis, Sombra, or Tirek. A true monster wouldn't be expressing regret for what they've done, they'd still think they'd have done nothing wrong."
Starlight only persisted. "Oh, what? Suddenly you care about me and think I'm better than I really am? Perhaps you need the proper motivation, maybe you just can't bring yourself to fire the first shot." She then fired a beam of magic at Twilight, who dodged it very easily.
"Hey!" Twilight cried.
"There, at least now you can say you had no choice, that it was justified," Starlight said to Twilight. "I refused to be taken in and attacked you, you just did what anypony else would've done in such a situation. Come on, finish the job and go back to your happy little world."
Twilight still refused. "Starlight, for the last time, I won't do it! You have the potential to be good, I saw it for myself. You were a big help in that alternative timeline," Then she added. "You can't blame yourself for what happened with Sunburst, I'm sure he didn't intend to forget about you."
Starlight only shook her head. "None of that matters now. I thought Sunburst and I were one and the same. But we turned out different, and it tore our very friendship apart! And it was all my fault!"
Twilight flew up to Starlight's cloud and said to her. "So try again! Make new friends! And if something that you can't control happens that changes things, then work through it together! That's what friendship is, Starlight! And it's not just my friendships that are important to Equestria! Everypony's are! When yours ended, it led us here. But just imagine all the other friendships that are out there waiting for you if you just give them a chance! Please, take my hoof. Allow me to show you a better way."
With tears in her eyes Starlight reluctantly looked up at Twilight and asked. "But how do I know that they won't all end the same way mine and Sunburst's did?"
"They won't, not if you work hard to make sure they survive and thrive," Twilight replied with a smile. "Now come on, let's go back to our time and leave the past in the past, where it belongs."
Starlight hesitated for a moment, before she slowly reached out and accepted Twilight's hoof, just as a young Rainbow Dash pulled off her first ever Sonic Rainboom! Twilight, Spike, and Starlight then returned to the present, as the whoosh of the rainboom echoed across Equestria.
Twilight, Spike, and Starlight arrived back in the throne room of Twilight's castle, and one final time bubble sucked up the scroll, thus ensuring it would never be found!
Spike was so pleased to back in his own timeline, that he started kissing the ground! "One Castle of Friendship – check!" He said to himself.
Just then, the throne room doors creaked open, and all of Twilight's friends came trotting in. "What in Equestria was that flash for?!" Rarity asked.
"Are you both okay?" Fluttershy asked Twilight and Spike.
"Can you do it again?" Pinkie squealed!
"One group of amazing friends – check!" Spike said to himself.
Twilight smiled. "Yes, Spike. It looks like we're finally home!"
Just then, Applejack noticed Starlight Glimmer standing next to Twilight, and she gasped! "Uh... what's she doin' here?" She asked, hoping for an explanation.
"Ah yes, about that," Twilight nervously laughed. "Actually, it's kind of a long story," She turned to Starlight and said to her. "Can I trust you to wait outside for a bit?"
"I.... guess." Starlight managed to say, and left the throne room.
Once Starlight was gone, Twilight turned to her friends and said to each of them. "Have a seat, girls, because do I have a story for you!"
Twilight and Spike explained their entire adventure to their friends, all of whom were very surprised by what they heard! "And that's the story," Twilight said, finishing her explanation. "I know it must be a lot to take in, but it all happened."
Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak up. "Wow, sounds like you two have been to Tartarus and back! I actually lost a wing in that first alternate timeline?! That sounds painful!" She commented. "I knew my rainboom was amazing and what not, but I never would've imagined that all of Equestria depended on it! You sure you're not just stroking my ego? I mean, not that I'd have a problem with that or anything."
"I can't believe I was actually part of an army, or that I fought in a war!" Pinkie exclaimed. "I never even imagined how important we were to all of Equestria, if I didn't know better I'd say this was all some elaborate story imagined by these crazy alien creatures intent on selling toys of us. But you'd have to be beyond crazy to believe that."
"Well, I think it's more than that, really," Twilight concluded. "Friendship connects all of Equestria, and undoing one group of friends made its magic less powerful. In the cases I mentioned, it was probably enough of a reduction in power to enable those threats to emerge."
"I can't believe y'all were able to travel through time like that," Applejack said to Twilight. "That Starlight must be pretty magical!"
Twilight nodded at Applejack's statement. "She obviously has more talent for magic than almost anypony I've seen. My magic couldn't stop her. I had to convince her to stop on her own. And I think that magical talent could be put to good use. However, I wanted to know what you girls all think, and even what you think, Spike. Starlight is very powerful, and sending her on her way would be dangerous. But I don't know for sure if taking her under my wing is the best option."
"To be honest, sugarcube, we really can't help ya on that," Applejack replied, and each of the girls nodded. "We weren't there to see those impressive feats you claim Starlight pulled off. Maybe you see somethin' we don't, but if you're askin' us to judge Starlight's potential as a student just based on what we know, we ain't gonna be much help. All we know about her is that she was the leader of that village, and a mighty powerful one at that. But power alone doesn't mean you're capable of great things."
"I think I agree with the girls on this one, Twilight," Spike added. "You are the only one who saw the best and worst that Starlight had offer, you're the only one who can decide what to do with her."
Twilight sighed, the girls and Spike both brought up good points. "Very well," She reluctantly spoke. "I suppose there's no point beating around the bush. The time has come for us to vote and decide Starlight's fate."
Outside the throne room, Starlight was pacing nervously back and forth, wondering to herself what was going to happen to her.
At last, Spike poked his head out of the throne room doors and said to Starlight. "They've reached a decision, your presence is requested at once."
Reluctantly, Starlight trotted into the throne room and stood before the six ponies (and one dragon) who now held her very future in their hooves. "I know there's no excuse for what I did, but I want you all to know that I'm ready for whatever punishment you think is fair," She said to them. "I know I can't take back the things I said and did, and quite frankly I don't expect you to forgive me or show me mercy. Even saying I'm sorry wouldn't be enough to make up for what I've done. So whatever you decided, I shall respectfully accept."
Twilight cleared her throat and looked Starlight firmly in the eyes as she said seriously. "I've been thinking a lot about how badly Equestria fared without just one group of friends. Because even when one friendship dies, the results can be disastrous."
Starlight was confused by why Twilight would mention this, but could only bring herself to say. "I know first-hoof how true that can be."
Twilight then said with a smile. "And that's why I've asked you here. If you're willing to learn, I'm willing to teach you what I know about friendship. I can teach you how to understand it, and hopefully discover the magic inside it," She then said seriously. "I can't promise it will be easy, or that we'll always agree. I myself am new to this teaching game, so I can't promise my lessons will always be straightforward or my methods precise. I'm certain we'll have plenty of disagreements, some perhaps more serve than others. Knowing all that, knowing the difficulties that lay ahead, do you still wish to accept my offer? I won't mention the alternative, but I think you have a pretty good idea of what that entails. The choice is yours and yours alone though, I can't force you to decide one way or the other."
Starlight looked at Twilight, then at Spike, then at the girls. She put a hoof to her chin and pondered to herself for a couple of minutes, before she at last said in a somber tone. "I.... suppose I could give this whole teacher/student thing a try. But how do I start? What do I do?"
Twilight smiled and laughed. "Starting is easy, Starlight! All you have to do is make a friend!"
"But, I don't have any friends." Starlight protested.
Twilight put one of her wings around Starlight as she said in a warm tone of voice. "Well, you do now, you have me. And trust me when I say: 'Having one friend is a lot different than having no friends at all.'."
"T...thank you." Was all Starlight could bring herself to say.
"You're welcome," Twilight replied, patting Starlight on the head. "Now then, while we're still working out this whole teacher/student relationship, I think it's time we closed the book on your past, and I'm sure you know what that means."
Starlight gulped. "You can't possibly mean...."
"-I'm afraid so," Twilight interrupted. "You owe them an apology at the very least."
Twilight, Spike, and the girls, all accompanied Starlight on the train ride back to her village. Twilight then encouraged Starlight to approach the ponies she had wronged before in her obsession with equality.
Starlight very reluctantly took a few steps into the village, and was surprised when she almost immediately locked eyes with the four ponies who had been responsible for ousting her from her village in the first place, Double Diamond, Party Favor, Sugar Belle, and Night Glider.
Nopony said anything, their eyes and expressions conveyed all the emotions needed. At last, it was Double Diamond who reached out and pulled Starlight into a group hug. It became clear that, whatever hostilities the four may have harbored against their former ruler, they were at least not so cold as to turn her outright.
As the four ponies led Starlight away to show her just what had become of the village since her departure, Twilight just smiled. In the span of just a day, she'd not only thwarted another attempt at destroying Equestria, but had gained a new student, and a new friend.
Inside the familiar crystal walls of her castle, Twilight was giving (or rather trying to give) Starlight Glimmer a friendship lesson, while setting the table for an important dinner that was to take place the following evening.
"Okay, first lesson of the day," Twilight began. "We very carefully set the table without using magic, so that-" But the rest of her sentence was cut off, as Starlight used her magic to set the table in a matter of seconds, plates and silverware whizzing past Twilight's head! "Yikes!" She cried, and ducked down. She only peeked her head back out when she was certain everything had been set. "Did you...?! How? When? What?!" She exclaimed.
"What do you mean 'what'?" Starlight asked her teacher.
Twilight sighed. "I said no magic. You were supposed to do it by hoof so that I could work in a friendship lesson."
Starlight shrugged as she replied. "Oh, is that all? I kind of heard 'set the table' and just went for it. Besides, how is setting the table supposed to teach me about friendship?"
Trying to maintain her composure in the face of her student's "selective hearing", Twilight looked at Starlight and told her. "Well, if you hadn't used magic, you'd have heard me say, uh...." She paused, as she realized she hadn't really thought of how she was going to work that friendship lesson in. "This plate represents your head, this spoon is your heart, and the knives... are sharp! Always be careful with knives," She then sighed. "Okay, so maybe not everything needs to be a friendship lesson, but you've been on an extended break ever since reuniting with Sunburst. You've been overdue for another lesson for a while now."
Feeling a bit guilty Starlight asked Twilight. "Well, should I... change it back?"
Twilight shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary, I didn't exactly have a lesson in mind anyway. But I just want to make sure you're ready for this dinner. Princess Celestia will be joining us tomorrow night to see how your friendship lessons are going!" She then added. "So you'd better be on your best behavior."
Starlight tried hard not to gulp, she'd only seen Princess Celestia once and while the sun princess had seemed pleasant and friendly, Starlight didn't know if she was always like that or if she was only friendly when the situation called for it. Looking over the set silverware, something caught the unicorn's eye and she asked. "So, if it's just you, me, and Princess Celestia, why are there four seats? I thought you said Spike wouldn't be attending?"
"He isn't, formal dinners aren't really his thing," Twilight replied, and then with a smile she told Starlight. "That plate is for a friend of yours. But the whole point is for you to bring a new friend. That way, the princess will see for herself just how far you've come. And how good a teacher you have."
"Can't I just bring one of your friends instead?" Starlight asked Twilight. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but it seems a lot of ponies in this town have already kind of heard about what I used to be like. Can't say I blame them for being weary of my sudden change of heart, sometimes I've actually been tempted to go back to the old ways, just a little."
Sensing that her student was already stressing out a little, Twilight walked to her and said to Starlight. "I know it's tough, but the only way for ponies to see that you've changed, is for you to get out there and show them. Making a new friend could probably help, having multiple friends is never a bad thing."
"A new friend, huh?" Starlight pondered, then a thought struck her. "Hey, maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!"
"Starlight!" Twilight scolded. "Please tell me you were joking, please!"
"Of course, of course, I was just kidding! Can't you take a joke?!" Starlight responded, even as she was laughing nervously. "I'm in way over my head here," She thought to herself. "How am I supposed to make a new friend when everypony seems to know about my past?" She had no idea that not only she was going to make a new friend in the matter of a few hours, but this new friend would put a very serious strain on her relationship with her teacher.
Starlight trotted through Ponyville, quite concerned. It felt like she'd been sprung a pop quiz on friendship, and she had no idea how to even begin. "Let's see. Make new friends in Ponyville, the friendliest place in Equestria. Shouldn't be hard..." She said to herself, and began weighing her options as she trotted through town. Before long, her gaze fell upon Sugarcube Corner. "I could try befriending one of The Cakes," She thought outloud, but then she remembered something. "But after the way I introduced myself, would they really want anything to do with me?" She began to flashback to when Pinkie had introduced her to The Cakes, just days after Starlight had agreed to become Twilight's student.
"That new mane style looks good on you, Starlight," Pinkie said with a smile, commenting on the newly acquired mane style Starlight Glimmer had taken on. "Kind of reminds me of Twilight."
"It does, does it?" Starlight nervously asked, as she followed Pinkie to Sugarcube Corner. "So, uh, why exactly are we stopping here? I'd kind of like to get back to the castle, Twilight's probably expecting me."
Pinkie just continued to smile. "If you're gonna be living in Ponyville, you've got to get to know The Cakes. They're like a second family to me, not that there's anything wrong with my first family or anything."
"Didn't you say you grew up on a rock farm?" Starlight asked Pinkie, as the two made their way into Sugarcube Corner.
Pinkie nodded. "Yesarooni! It wasn't really bad or anything, but it just wasn't the kind of life for yours truly. Maybe next time I go back to Ponypalooza to see my parents, I'll bring you along for the ride. They're a bit weird, but once you get to know them they're rather enjoyable. But for now, it's time for you to meet the Cakes. Or at least one Cake," She then smiled, as she pointed a hoof to the counter and said. "Starlight Glimmer, meet Mrs. Cake. Mrs. Cake, this is Starlight Glimmer, a new friend of mine."
"Well howdie do, any friend of Pinkie Pie's is a friend of mine," Mrs. Cake greeted. "So, you're that new student Princess Twilight took on? You look a bit old for the part, but then again who I am to judge?"
Starlight tried to keep a friendly appearance on her face, but that was easier said than done. She was still new to friendship, and she wasn't sure how much the rest of Ponyville knew about her. "So, uh.... what do you like to do for fun?" Starlight asked, hoping to make some small talk and strike up a conversation.
"Oh, all sorts of things. But mostly, I love baking, especially for myself," Mrs. Cake warmly replied, then she giggled. "I have a bit of a sweet tooth, which can be a problem. I suppose that's part of the reason why I decided to work in a bakery with my husband, lately he's been telling me I've gotta cut down on the 'free samples' I make for myself."
"Oh, you like baking, huh?" Starlight asked, hoping she'd found a connecting point. "Can I help?"
Mrs. Cake looked at Starlight and said to her. "Baking isn't easy, Starlight. It's not just something you can do with a thought," But she had no sooner spoken those words, when Starlight used her magic to whip up a cake in the blink of an eye. "Howza-wowza!" She exclaimed, then she realized something. "Say, did you just use my baking tools without permission?"
Starlight blushed, realizing that she'd forgotten to ask. "Oh, oops." She hastily apologized.
Mrs. Cake just sighed. "Dearie, just because you have magic doesn't mean you can take shortcuts. Friendships are like baking a cake, if you try to cut corners the final product is going to be sloppy and more often than not it's not going to last."
"I'm terribly sorry, it won't happen again, I promise," Starlight insisted, before she felt a slight twitch on the tip of her nose. She suddenly let out a sneeze, her magic momentarily failing and causing her to dump the cake on Mrs. Cake's forehead. "Oops!" Was all Starlight could bring herself to say.
Mrs. Cake said nothing, she just excused herself to wash off the frosting.
"So.... uh, did I mention the Cake Twins?" Pinkie asked Starlight, but Starlight had already dashed off and had run all the way back to the castle.
Trotting past Sugarcube Corner, Starlight decided it was best to go to Sweet Apple Acres and talk to Applejack. "She'll probably know somepony who's more approachable and hopefully doesn't know much about me." She thought.
As it turned out, Applejack already had someone in mind for Starlight to meet, and the two friends made their way out to one of the orchards, where Big Macintosh was busy bucking apple trees with his back legs.
"New friend, huh? I think I have just the pony for you, Starlight. Meet Big Mac!" Applejack said with a smile, and cleared her throat. "Big Mac, we've got company."
"Howdy." Big Macintosh greeted, but said nothing else.
Starlight trotted forward and tried to start up a conversation with Big Macintosh, remembering some tips she'd read in a book about good conversation starters. "Nice weather we're having, right?" She asked Big Macintosh.
Big Mac replied with his trademark, "Eeyup." but again said nothing else.
Starlight was most puzzled by this, until Applejack explained to her. "He's not much of a talker, not 'round strangers."
"Eenope." Big Macintosh firmly nodded.
"Oh, that's too bad. I love a good conversation." Starlight replied, then an idea came to her mind. She lit up her horn, and a small stream of magic found its way into Big Mac's mouth. Applejack was concerned and confused, but Starlight just smiled, she knew what was going to happen.
Big Macintosh had to shake his head to clear his thoughts. But when he opened his mouth to talk, something rather unexpected. "Eeyup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-y-y-y-y-you did something!" He shouted at Starlight, suddenly unable to keep himself from talking. "Whoa! What's happening? I feel really weird! I'm talkin' so much! And I'm so articulate! Enunciating with such precise pronunciation!" He put a hoof in his mouth to try and stop himself from talking, but it didn't work. "Annie Apple awoke and accidentally ate an auburn azalea!" He spoke, then he screamed and ran off while shouting! "Make it stop!"
Applejack glared at Starlight, Starlight knew what that meant. "What? I can't exactly be friends with somepony who doesn't talk." She explained.
Applejack only glared harder at Starlight. "And I guess my first instinct probably shouldn't be to magically command ponies to act the way I want them to?" Starlight concluded, hoping that would satisfy Applejack.
For the third time in a row, Applejack glared at Starlight and this time the gaze was so fierce it could've killed if looks were capable of doing so. Reluctantly, Starlight realized what she had to do. "Alright, alright, I'll change him back!" And went to find Big Mac.
After correcting her mistake with Big Macintosh, Starlight trotted back into town just as her ears picked up a familiar whooshing sound. She looked up, and saw The Wonderbolts zooming past overhead.
Just then, a second whooshing sound followed, and Rainbow Dash landed in front of Starlight. "Hey, what's up? Something on your mind?" She asked.
Starlight sighed. "Well, Twilight wants me to find a new friend in time for an important dinner tomorrow, and that's proving to be easier said than done," She looked at herself as she then asked. "You think something's wrong with the way I look? You think maybe I should ask Rarity for a new hat? She already gave me the new mane style, but maybe I need to go beyond that?"
Rainbow Dash only laughed. "Come on, Starlight. Nopony's gonna make friends with you just because of your outfit. The only thing that you want a new friend to be draped in is coolness."
"Like you?" Starlight asked Rainbow.
Rainbow nodded. "Well, yeah, but you already know me," Then she gasped, as an idea came to her. "I've got it, Spitfire!" She unintentionally spit a bit of saliva onto Starlight's face as she said this, and quickly apologized. "Heh. Sorry about that."
"Oh yeah, her," Starlight realized. "Not entirely sure the captain of The Wonderbolts has time to make friends with somepony who just a few weeks ago didn't even know she existed."
"Don't remind me!" Rainbow remarked, recalling what had happened when she'd first told Starlight about The Wonderbolts.
"Spitfire? Soarin? Just who in the hay are those ponies?" Starlight wondered, it had been about a week since the whole time travel incident and she was still not sure how she was going to fit in around Ponyville.
"Only the most awesome and Wonderboltiest of all The Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash boasted. "They're captain and co-captain respectively! Come on, I'll introduce you!" She zoomed away, prompting a small sonic boom. She returned a few seconds later when she saw Starlight wasn't following her. "So, you coming or what?" Rainbow asked.
"Um, I guess my first question would be, 'What's a Wonderbolt, exactly?'" Starlight nervously said to Rainbow.
Rainbow gasped, she could hardly believe her ears! "What?! Please tell me you're joking!" When Starlight didn't laugh, Rainbow reluctantly realized Starlight was telling the truth, which just left her shocked and confused! "You've never heard of the Wonderbolts before?! Where have you been?!" She asked.
Starlight laughed nervously as Rainbow got up close to her face. "Enslaving villages, I guess..." She shrugged, unsure of what else to say.
"Right." Rainbow replied.
"Well, I'll see what I can do, but no promises," Rainbow said to Starlight. "Probably best if you find somepony else to be your friend."
But Starlight replied. "That's the thing though, I've been trying and trying, but I've had no luck. And the dinner is tomorrow night."
Rainbow reluctantly said to Starlight. "Then I wish you the best of luck, cause it looks like you're up the river without a paddle."
"But you promise to at least try to get Spitfire to come and see me?" Starlight asked Rainbow Dash.
"Of course," Rainbow replied to Starlight. "And I'm also gonna see if any of the other Wonderbolts are available. I've got my work cut out for me though, the next Wonderbolts show is just around the corner." And with that the athletic pegasus mare zoomed away.
Starlight trotted around town for a while longer, but she seemed to have no luck with befriending anypony. Only a few ponies actually avoided her, but it seemed like just about everypony Starlight encountered was looking at her with looks of worry, concern, and most of all suspicion.
"What is going on? This is Ponyville, for crying out loud! If I can't make a friend here, there's gotta be something wrong with me!" Starlight groaned, as she looked all around. It seemed like everypony had a friend, except for her, which did not help her nerves at all. "Okay, calm down, Starlight," She said to herself. "Nopony's gonna wanna make friends with a total nutcase, you've got to relax."
But the more Starlight looked around, the more she felt isolated and alone. "Stop stressing..." She said to herself, before she loudly shouted out for all to hear! "Stop stressing!" All eyes immediately fell upon the unicorn mare, who quickly zipped away!
Starlight didn't know what she was going to do, but she didn't have the heart to go back to Twilight and tell her that she didn't think she could make friends with anypony. "Maybe I just need to rethink my approach, somehow," She thought to herself. "And figure out a way to calm my nerves." It was then Starlight's ears picked up the sound of a ringing bell, and her eyes fell upon the the Ponyville Spa. The mare decided that a little bit of pampering probably wouldn't hurt, and made for the spa as fast as she could.
Pretty soon, Starlight was resting on one of the spa beds, her face covered in a green make-up facial and her eyes covered by cucumbers, while Aloe and Lotus worked on filing her hooves. With a sigh, she said to herself. "This is just what I needed."
To Starlight's surprise a voice that sounded like it was right next to her replied with a sigh. "Tell me about it, I've never felt so relaxed in all my life."
"Oh, you ever have one of those days?" Starlight asked, hoping that whoever the voice belonged to would reply.
Sure enough, the owner of the voice did, and said. "For me, they're all one of those days. Can't say I'm shocked though," That prompted Starlight to giggle, before the owner of the voice went on. "I'm gonna start coming here every time I visit Ponyville. Were it not for some personal issues, I'd probably settle in here permantely."
"Well, I'm new to here myself," Starlight confessed to the voice. "I've been trying to make some new friends, but it's not easy. They're not exactly saying it, but I think everypony knows about my past," She then explained to the voice's owner. "The thing is, I may have been a tiny bit... completely and utterly evil?"
"Sounds a lot like me, ponies judge me on my past as well," The voice replied. "Let's just say I've done some things in the past that I'm not exactly proud of, and they all have to do with this town here."
Starlight removed the cucumbers from her face. "Finally, a pony I can relate to," She said, and looked over her shoulder to see what looked like a light blue coated unicorn mare, with an even lighter blue mane and tail styled into a curl. Her eyes were obscured by cucumbers though, so Starlight didn't know what color they were. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, but you can call me Starlight. What's your name?" She asked the unicorn.
Back at the castle, Twilight was readjusting the silverware on the table. She wanted to make double sure that everything was in its proper place. "Soup spoon, salad fork, pasta spoon, strawberry pick," She said to herself, as she made sure each item was where it should be. With a smile she added. "I'm beginning to think that after friendship, the greatest magic of all is proper silverware placement!" She then giggled at her comment.
Just then, Starlight came dashing into the castle with a huge smile on her face! "Twilight, guess what? I made a new friend!" She proudly declared!
"That's fantastic news!" Twilight replied, patting Starlight on the head. "Mind telling me who he or she is?"
"Well, she's great!" Starlight began.
"Great!" Twilight smiled.
"She's powerful!" Starlight added.
"Powerful?" Twilight asked, confused a bit by Starlight's statement.
"She's..." Starlight began, only to be cut off.
"Hello....princess." A familiar voice greeted, and into the room trotted a familiar light blue coated unicorn mare, with an even lighter blue mane and tail styled into a curl, dark violet eyes, and (to Twilight's surprise) a light purple hat and cape with white stars and swirls on them.
"Trixie?!" Twilight realized, as if surprised to see the unicorn again, especially with the grin registered on the unicorn's face.
Starlight seemed to be quite surprised by the looks Twilight and Trixie exchanged, it seemed like the two had some "bad blood" or something if the unfriendly grins they gave each other was anything to go by. "You two know each other?" Starlight asked them.
"You could say that, though I must admit it is a surprise to see Trixie again." Twilight said to Starlight, while eyeing Trixie carefully.
"We've had our differences, as I'm sure the princess will tell you," Trixie explained. "What matters is Twilight gave me a second chance, and I appreciate it." She paused for a moment, as she and Twilight seemed intent to just stare each other down, before she made her way over to Starlight.
"So, um, what brings you to Ponyville, Trixie?" Twilight asked.
Trixie smiled. "Oh, I was hoping you'd ask, princess. For you see, The Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrrixie has come to perform a new stage show of grand illusion!" She boasted, waving her hoof through the air in a dramatic gesture. "I am calling it 'The Humble and Penitent Trixie's Equestrian Wide Apology Tour'!"
"Gee, that's kind of a mouthful." Starlight commented in a hushed tone.
Trixie replied in a tone equally as hushed. "It's a working title."
Meanwhile, Twilight was eyeing Trixie's hat and cape, and was scratching her head. "Say, Trixie, about your hat. Don't quite know how to tell you this but it kind of, got burnt to a crisp when the library blew up."
"A pity, but as they saw in the performer's world 'The show must go on!'" Trixie exclaimed. "This hat is a simple clothing spell, I can take it off and put it on with just a thought, and I can change it and my cape at will if I so choose, observed!" She lit up her horn, and her hat vanished. She lit it up again, and her hat returned to the top of her head. Lighting up her horn a third time, her hat and cape transformed into a formal dress, and with a fourth lightning of her horn, her hat and cape came back.
Twilight was amazed, but even so she was a bit concerned about Trixie's behavior. Something didn't make sense when she considered how she and Trixie had parted ways last time. Clearing her throat, Twilight said in a serious tone. "Starlight? A moment? Over here?" She then used her magic to pull Starlight and whisper to her in a hushed tone. "I know I said you could make friends with anypony, but, well, with Trixie's past, and your past, I'm not sure she's the best... choice for the first you've made on your own. Did she tell you about the alicorn amulet incident?"
Starlight nodded. "I'll admit that did give me cause for concern, but then again it's not like you and your friends haven't done bad things in the past. Besides, you've forgiven her, right?" She asked her teacher.
Twilight nodded and said to Starlight. "Of course, I'm just trying to look out for your well being. Trixie isn't exactly the nicest pony, and I'm concerned she might be a bad influence on you."
Starlight replied by saying. "I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but if this is going to work I need to know you're willing to trust me to make friends on my own. After all, I assume that's the same way Princess Celestia trusted you, isn't it?"
Twilight sighed, Starlight had a point. "You're right, I do suppose a teacher has to be willing to step back every once in a while and trust their student," She then cautioned. "Just be back in time for the dinner tomorrow, okay?"
"Thanks, Twilight!" Starlight said happily. "I promise you, you won't regret it!"
"I sure hope not," Twilight sighed, as she observed the little figurine Trixie had made out of the silverware. Clearing her throat she turned to Trixie and said. "Trixie, you listen and you listen good, okay? Starlight trusts you, and for better or for worse I'm going to trust her judgement. But I'm only gonna say this once, you treat Starlight well, understand? Because if you give me one good reason to think you're using Starlight, or that you might hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I won't hesitate to take her away from you and send you packing. So for your sake, I hope you'll prove to me that you can be trusted."
"Relax, princess," Trixie taunted lightly. "You have my word that no harm shall come to your student while she is with me. Now if it's all the same to you, Starlight and I have some things to take care of, so we'll see you later." And with that, the two unicorns left the castle.
"Just what was all that about?" Spike asked, having just woken up from his nap, as he came into the throne room.
Twilight sighed and said to Spike. "Trixie's back, and apparently she hasn't quite given up on being a showmare after all. And for better or for worse, she's struck up a friendship with Starlight."
Spike was more than a little concerned upon learning about Trixie. "Oh great, just when I thought we'd finally seen the last of her. Do I have to get a restraining order or something?"
Twilight tried her best to reassure Spike. "Now, now, let's not jump to conclusions, Spike. Hopefully there's a perfectly logical explanation for all of this. I just hope Starlight's trust isn't misplaced."
"Well, one thing's for certain," Spike said seriously, puffing up his chest. "Looks like you'll have to make room for an additional guest at that dinner tomorrow, because if Trixie tries anything to you or Starlight, I want to be there to stop her!"
Normally, Twilight would've giggled at Spike's dramatic display of heroism, but she was too worried to even think about laughing. All she could think about, was Starlight hanging out with Trixie. "I hope I don't come to regret letting Starlight hang out with Trixie," She thought to herself. "Knowing Trixie, she's bound to get carried away sooner or later."
Trixie and Starlight quickly made their way to the park near the center of town. Trixie planned to use the stage to kickstart her apology tour, though she refused to say why she was doing it. By this point, she had taken off her hat and cape (she didn't want them to get dusty or covered with sweat).
While decorating the stage for her performance, Trixie boasted to Starlight. "This magic show's gonna be the greatest thing Ponyville's ever seen! It'll totally blow their minds!"
As Starlight and Trixie worked on preparing the stage, a couple of ponies walked by. Although they tried to whisper to avoid being overheard, Trixie could still here some of the adverse comments they were making. "Everypony always says they'll give you a second chance, but deep down, they never forget," She complained loudly. "Never, ever!"
"That's what I'm worried about," Starlight commented to Trixie. "You already know what I told you about my past, right?"
Trixie nodded. "I'd like to say I would never dream of such actions, but then again who knows what I'd do if I were as powerful as you or Twilight. It just burns me up how she's always better than I am. I know it's wrong of me to think that way, especially after she saved my life and came to my aid on at least three seperate occasions, but I just can't get over the fact that she was the first pony to beat me at what I thought I did best."
"Trust me, I know what that feels like," Starlight replied, expressing her concerns. "It never does good to dwell on those feelings, it only leads to pain and suffering. In my case, I was lucky I didn't end up destroyed or thrown in a dungeon for the rest of my life. I get the feeling that anypony else wouldn't have been so forgiving."
"Yeah, you should consider yourself lucky." Trixie said, before she sighed.
"What is it? You feeling okay?" Starlight asked Trixie. "You're not coming down with something again, are you?"
Trixie shook her head. "No, no, I'm perfectly fine. I've learned my lesson about trying to press on when I'm under the weather," She then explained with a sad look. "I heard what Twilight said about me, and she's right. I wasn't very nice. So I'd understand if you didn't want to be friends. Truth be told, I've always been kind of a loner by choice."
But Starlight only replied. "Are you kidding? You're the first pony I've met all day who has any idea how I feel!"
Trixie looked all around, before she whispered to Starlight. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Uh, sure? What are friends for?" Starlight asked Trixie. "What is it?"
After looking around again to make sure she wouldn't be overheard, Trixie said in a hushed tone. "You know how I said I was jealous about Twilight? Well, just this once I'd like to be able to beat her at something. That's part of the reason why I'm putting on this tour, I'm sincere about the apologies but if I could somehow best Twilight, that would be a nice little bonus."
"I guess your secret's safe with me." Starlight whispered to Trixie.
"Thanks," Trixie said, then smiled as she asked Starlight. "So, wanna help me unpack my wagon? I should warn you though, I tend to spend a lot of time on the road with my wagon, so it might be a tad messy."
"Well, maybe I could help with that?" Starlight suggested. "I'm pretty good at organizing stuff. Magic props, brainwashed crowds, you name it." Then she and Trixie laughed.
Meanwhile, from the safety of a nearby bush, Twilight and Spike observed the two unicorns as they went off together. "You think Starlight will be mad if she finds out we're spying on her?" Spike asked Twilight.
"Definitely," Twilight whispered. "But we're just doing this until I can be sure Trixie's not up to something, so far it's looking pretty good for her case. Maybe she has changed."
"Yeah, well knows for sure?" Spike commented, before he noticed something and nearly gasped! "Uh-oh, don't look now, but we've got an angry Starlight at twelve o'clock!"
Starlight then came trotting over, and was quite dismayed when she spotted Twilight and Spike in the bushes. "So back at your castle when you said 'I trust you', you meant 'I don't trust you', is that it?" She asked Twilight.
Twilight nervously laughed. "Okay, so maybe I'm a little more weary of Trixie than I let on. Can you really blame me given what she's done in the past? I trust you, Starlight, but you're still new to friendship. Trixie hasn't always been the most honest or straightforward pony in the past."
Starlight just sighed. "Look, I appreciate your concern and all, but you're wrong about Trixie. She's just like me. We have a real connection."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Spike commented under his breath.
Reluctantly, Twilight looked at Starlight and said. "I did give my word to trust you, and against my better judgement I suppose I have to keep that promise. But if you ever have any cause for concern or think things aren't working out, don't hesitate to tell me."
Just then, Trixie called out. "Hey, Starlight! You coming?!"
"In a minute, Trixie!" Starlight called back, then turned to Twilight and Spike. "So, if I promise to come talk to you if I have a problem, do you promise to stop following me around?"
Twilight reluctantly nodded. "Just don't tell Trixie we were here, let's not let a few past misunderstandings ruin the possibilities of the future." And she and Spike then left the bushes and headed back to the castle.
"That's better." Starlight said to herself, and went to catch up with Trixie.
Over the course of the next day, Twilight and Spike reluctantly stayed in the castle and prepared for the dinner with Princess Celestia. Meanwhile, Starlight helped Trixie with unpacking her wagon, which included all kinds of magical props and even a few heavy boxes and trunks.
"You know, Trixie," Starlight spoke up, as she pushed yet another heavy trunk out of the wagon and onto the ground. "I was thinking. You said Twilight is better than you at everything, but that's not actually true. You're better at magic."
Trixie shook her head. "Only when I'm wearing a soul-sucking evil amulet, so I don't think that counts."
"I meant stage magic," Starlight explained. "That's why you call yourself The Great and Powerful Trixie, right?"
"Well, of course!" Trixie smiled. "Great? Yes. Powerful? Obviously. But I'm not the best."
"Is that so?" Starlight asked Trixie.
Trixie nodded as she told Starlight. "As great and powerful as I am, there's one trick I've never been able to do – the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive! Only one magician has ever pulled it off!" She pulled out a few old photographs, all of them depicting a unicorn stallion who looked to be in the prime of his youth.
"Who is that?" Starlight asked.
Trixie smiled. "My hero, Hoofdini! The greatest escape artist Equestria ever knew, and one taken before his time by a ruptured appendix. He was the entire reason I became a magician, I wanted to be able to do the things he did," She then showed a series of photographs depicting the magician doing his most famous trick. "The Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive works as follows," She explained to Starlight. "You are supposed to blast yourself into the open mouth of a hungry manticore! And after the manticore chews you up and swallows you, you magically step out of a box on the other side of the stage! Completely unharmed!"
Starlight was quite amazed at the detail of the photographs, and what she saw of the trick Trixie had just described. Even so, she was a bit nervous. "That sounds very..." She began.
"Dangerous?" Trixie interrupted. "Because I know it is, that's why I've never attempted it."
Starlight shook her head. "I was gonna say cool! I'd actually like to see that!"
Trixie smiled at Starlight's enthusiasm. "I knew I liked you for a reason, Starlight," She then added. "For the life of I can't figure out how Hoofdini did that trick. If I tried it, I'd get chewed up and swallowed by that manticore. And I can only think of one way out after that." She cringed at the thought of what that would involve.
"Well, not if you could use real magic." Starlight concluded.
"Obviously. Way to rub it in." Trixie complained.
"No, that's not what I meant!" Starlight replied, and explained. "I could help! You could start the trick, and right before you got chewed up, I could use magic to save you..." She lit up her horn and teleported Trixie into a nearby black box. "And make you appear in the black box on the stage!"
"I guess that would work," Trixie realized, before an awful thought struck her. "But if you made even one mistake, I'd be a goner for sure."
Starlight laughed and boasted. "Believe me, when it comes to magic, I don't make mistakes," Then she pondered as she put a hoof to her chin. "Maybe I could be your... magic show helper pony, or whatever you call it!"
"We call it 'assistant' in the magician biz. And... nopony's ever offered to help before." Trixie said, surprised that anyone was willing to do such a thing for her.
"Well, I'd be honored to be the first," Starlight offered, and even chuckled. "Maybe you could give me an assistant's outfit and give me a cool stage name or something. Like The Amazing Stardust Shimmer or something like that."
Trixie was delighted, as she pulled out a flyer for her magic show. It depicted her in her magician's hat, with a giant organeish-yellow ball with a red star in the center of it. "You may have just made my great and powerful magic show even better! Which I didn't think was even possible!" She then happily proclaimed. "We're gonna blow them all away tonight!"
But Starlight suddenly groaned and put a hoof to her forehead, as she remembered what else was to take place that evening! "I can't! Tonight's this incredibly important dinner with Twilight and Princess Celestia, and I'm suppose to bring my new friend along. I kind of forgot to tell you that earlier."
"Oh." Trixie realized, her happy mood fading in an instant.
"Hey, uh, mind if I vent for a second or two?" Starlight asked Trixie.
"What are friends for?" Trixie replied, echoing Starlight's statement from the previous day.
Starlight sighed. "I'm sure she means well and is just trying to look out for me, but even after she said she trusts me, Twilight was still watching me yesterday. It's like she thinks I'm a little kid who needs constant supervision, it's so annoying. I'm a grown mare, I can make decisions for myself!"
"A pity, but I can't say I'm shocked," Trixie commented. "Well, lucky for Princess Twilight, I have my magic show tonight."
"Can't we just postpone it til the next night?" Starlight offered. "It'll give us a chance to practice and make sure we're ready, plus we can decide whether or not we're gonna attempt to do the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive. And I already kind of promised Twilight I'd be there for the dinner."
Trixie shook her head. "I've already put up flyers all around town advertising the show for tonight. Even if I could take them all down before going to the dinner, I'd be the laughing stock of the town. I'm sorry, Starlight, but it's too late to stop the show. If you have to go to the dinner, I completely understand," Dramatically she then added. "I just hope I find a way to pull off the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive without my new assistant! Alas, such is the life of the student of a princess I guess."
That night, inside the throne room at the Castle of Friendship, Princess Celestia was sitting at her designated spot, alongside Twilight and Spike. An ice sculpture had been placed on the table to add to the mood, but already it was starting to drip, and there was no sign of Starlight anywhere or her new friend.
"Huh, I thought for sure they'd be here by now," Spike commented out loud. "I mean if Trixie doesn't want to come to this fancy dinner, I'm all for it, but there's no way Starlight just forgot."
"She probably just got a little lost on the way back from, wherever it is she currently is," Twilight nervously laughed, looking at Princess Celestia who seemed to have an impatient look on her face. "Trust me, Princess Celestia, Starlight will come."
Princess Celestia just sighed, it was obvious that she really didn't like being kept waiting, especially without any advanced notice.
But the princess wasn't the only one losing patience, Spike was starting to get a little impatient as well. "Just what could be keeping Starlight? Doesn't she know I'm starving?! If this is her idea of a joke, it's not funny!"
"You're sure you didn't see any kind of note or anything from her, not even just a comment or out of context statement?" Twilight asked Spike, who shook his head. With a reluctant sigh, Twilight got up from her seat at the table. "I really didn't want to do this, but I guess I have no choice. I'll have to go find Starlight, and when I do we're gonna have to have a little chat about neglecting her responsibilities." And she left the castle, leaving a nervous Spike to try and make small talk with Princess Celestia.
"So, uh.... anything new or exciting on your end?" Spike asked the sun princess.
As for Twilight, she was soon trotting through the streets of Ponyville looking for her student. But no matter who she asked, she failed to turn up any leads about Starlight's location. That is, until she approached the park and noticed the stage had been re-decorated, with a couple of posters advertising a magic show. It didn't take Twilight long to figure out where Starlight was. "I might have known it!" She said to herself.
Meanwhile, inside the park itself, a huge crowd had gathered for Trixie's show. A few ponies were even still finding their seats, which is just what Pinkie Pie and Applejack were doing at that very moment. "Huh, so this is the Humble and Penitent Trixie's Equestrian Wide Apology Tour?" Pinkie asked Applejack.
"Well ain't that a mouthful? Really rolls off the tongue there." Applejack commented.
Trixie poked her head out from the curtains and said quickly (and rather grumpily). "It's a working title!" Peaking her head back behind the curtains, Trixie could barely contain her excitement, bobbing up and down as she said. "Oh, this is gonna be the greatest night of my life!" Before she added. "Excuse me. Our lives."
Starlight tried her best to smile, but a part of her still felt guilty for neglecting the dinner with her teacher. However, she'd decided that helping Trixie was more important (and truth be told Starlight felt the dinner would be boring and pointless). "Yeah, I guess," She nervously chuckled. "So, uh, perhaps now would be a good time to discuss my stage name and outfit?"
But just then, who should come trotting in but Twilight? Her eyes were narrowed, as she looked at the two unicorns rather angrily. "So, this is where you've been all this time, Starlight?" Twilight scolded, looking her student sqaure in the eyes. "You just decided to skip our dinner without telling me? I thought something bad might have happened to you! Was it so hard to at least leave a note or something explaining where you'd be?!"
Starlight gulped. "I knew I was forgetting something." Was all she could bring herself to say.
Twilight sighed. "I trusted you, Starlight. I gave you a chance to prove you could manage things on your own. But I guess my trust was misplaced! I shouldn't have to constantly supervise you, but it seems I have no choice!" She said to her student. "How could you be so irresponsible as to just bail on me without any prior notice?! Are you aware that, at this very moment, Princess Celestia is waiting for you at a table with exquisite silverware placement?! She and Spike can't be kept waiting!"
Starlight tried to open her mouth, but nothing would come out.
Twilight shook her head. "Come on, we're going back to the castle, and you owe Spike and the princess an apology for making them wait!" Then to Trixie she said severely. "And Trixie, I don't know if you knew about this or not, but all the same you deserve some of the blame as well! I gave you a chance, and this is how you repay me?! By stealing my student to help with your magic show and without my permission?! I thought maybe you'd changed after our last encounter, but it seems I was mistaken!"
However, at that very moment, Starlight spoke up and protested. "Twilight, I agreed to be Trixie's assistant! She needs my help to perform this very rare and very dangerous trick! Without me, she can't pull it off!"
"All the more reason why I was right to be worried!" Twilight scolded. "I can't believe Trixie dragged you into helping with something so reckless! And Trixie, you know the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive is too dangerous, Hoofdini specifically said he never wanted anyone else to attempt it after he was gone! He vowed to take the secret of it to his grave, and he kept that vow!"
Starlight, however, put her hoof down and said firmly. "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I've already promised to help Trixie! You'll just have to tell Princess Celestia that the dinner is off! And to be honest, I didn't really want to go to that dumb dinner anyway!"
With a smirk Trixie than boasted! "Well, well, princess. It doesn't matter if you want to give me a second chance or not. Starlight had to choose between you and me, and she chose me! So it looks like I finally win!" But as soon as those words escaped Trixie's mouth she instantly regretted them and put her hooves to her mouth. "Wait, that came out wrong!" She insisted, hoping Starlight would believe her.
Starlight didn't. "You win? That sounds like you just made friends with me to beat Twilight. And after all that talk about how much you appreciated being my friend." She said, glaring at Trixie.
Trixie spoke up and protested. "Starlight, you don't understand! I got caught up in the moment! I meant everything I said before, beating Twilight is just a nice little bonus!" She then gasped as she realized what that implied. "Oh, wow, I can NOT shut up when I'm excited." She said, and immediately put her hooves to her mouth to avoid saying anything else.
Those words stung Starlight harshly, and with tears her eyes she looked at Trixie and said to her. "I should've known. Nopony else in Ponyville wanted to be my friend. Why would you? Twilight was right to warn me to stay away from you, I should've listened." And she bolted out the stage door, sobbing to herself with tears in her eyes.
"Starlight, wait!" Twilight and Trixie both called as they ran after her! It was no use, Starlight was gone!
Twilight turned to look at Trixie, an entirely new wave of anger washing over her. "Well, Trixie, I hope you're happy! You broke my student's heart and betrayed her trust! I can't believe you actually proved I was right to not trust you, what do you have to say for yourself?!"
Now it was Trixie's turn to sob, as she trotted past Twilight and back up to the stage. "Looks like The Great and Powerful Trixie is back to being a solo show," She said with a sigh. "The entire point of this show was to close the book on my past and start anew. My nephews, Tom and Nolan, they said I had to do it before I could truly leave behind my career as a magician and a performer," With tears in her eyes she added. "If only they could see what has become of their Great and Powerful Aunt now, they'd be ashamed to even look me in the eye. But I suppose that's just how life is supposed to be, Trixie is destined to be a solo act forever. Which is exactly the way she likes it! Thank you, Princess Twilight, for getting rid of that annoying pony who wanted to be my first friend! I am not sad at all! I definitely don't feel as if my heart is breaking into a million pieces! I suppose there's no point attempting the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive, but the show must go on one way or another."
Before Twilight had a chance to react, Trixie shut the stage door and locked it tight! Twilight began to frantically pound on the door, hoping for an answer. "Trixie?! Trixie! Come on, Trixie, open this door! Don't do something you'll regret! There are children in the audience for Celestia's sake!" Twilight pleaded. But her efforts were only rewarded with a muffled, sad voice calling back. "Forget it, princess! These ponies came here for a show, and Trixie must deliver! Might as well get it over with now, rather than turn and run like a coward once again."
Realizing her efforts to talk sense into Trixie weren't going anywhere, Twilight reluctantly turned around and walked away from the stage. "I've got to find Starlight, and fast!" Twilight thought to herself, and took off running in search of her heartbroken student.
The stage curtains parted, and Trixie trotted out on the stage as a spotlight shined down on her. "Come one, come all. Come and see the Pathetic and Friendless Trixie's 'Way-To-Go-Dum-Dum-You-Really-Messed-It-Up-This-Time Repentance Tour'," She said, her tone of voice indicating that she had no drive or passion to perform, she might as well have been sleepwalking through the whole thing. The crowd exchanged glances and words, both at the sudden title change and at Trixie's behavior and appearance. "It's a working title!" Trixie bellowed in a screechy voice, and began to perform her tricks and illusions. It soon became obvious that she wasn't actually bothering to do them even halfway decently, every last one of her tricks failed and the audience jeered at her with a series of increasingly audiable boos!
Reluctantly, Trixie decided to move on to the grand finale, the one trick she knew she couldn't even pretend to attempt. The audience's boos stopped, replaced by gasps of concern as they saw a chained up manticore appear on the stage. "Behold, your fears come true. A pony-eating manticore. Now, feast your eyes and ears, fillies and gentlecolts. For tonight, the Great and Powerful Trixie will be performing the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive."
The crowd started to gasp, only Hoofdini had been able to do that trick and when he died the belief amongst the magic circuit had been, that the trick could never again be replicated, it was too dangerous. The gasps didn't seem to stop Trixie, she knew they would be only temporary. "Now, now, save your gasps for when I defy the beast's jaws of doom and appear inside that black box," She said to the audience, as she dawned a helmet and climbed into a nearby cannon. Suddenly, her tone of voice changed from uninterested to sorrowful and regretful as she added. "I was supposed to perform this trick with my great and powerful assistant, who was also my great and powerful friend! Starlight? If you're out there and you still want to be friends, let's be great and powerful together!" And then she just sat there inside the cannon, unable to bring herself to light the fuse, for she knew that doing so would only end one way.
While the audience was worried about what Trixie was trying to do, and waited anxiously to see if she would come to her senses and abort the trick, Starlight was sitting on a nearby hill, watching the show from afar. She thought watching Trixie fail to perform would give her some satisfaction, but all it did was make her feel more hurt and alone than she had been when Trixie had made bare her true intentions. "Was it really all just a lie? It felt so real." Starlight thought to herself.
Just then, Twilight came trotting up to her student. Recognizing the look of sadness on her face, Twilight cleared her throat and said to her student. "Starlight, when I first came to Ponyville, Princess Celestia gave me room to make my own decisions and my own friends. I need to give you the same freedom. Just like me, you have to make your own decisions and your own friends, even if that means you might get hurt."
Starlight looked at Twilight and sadly asked. "But... what if Trixie really was using me just to one-up you? What if she never actually wanted to be friends with me?"
Twilight shook her head. "From what I've seen, she's the real thing. But it's not my place to judge. It's all up to you. So look inside yourself, it's there that you'll find the answer. Whatever you choose, I'll be here for you." She said, offering her student some comfort.
Starlight looked at Twilight, then looked down at Trixie. Several minutes passed, before she concentrated her magic on the fuse of the cannon.
Trixie was most surprised to see the fuse on the cannon light up all by itself, she realized what has happening! But did that mean Starlight had forgiven her?! Unfortunately, before Trixie had a chance to reconsider what she was going to do, the cannon fired and launched her through the air! Trixie shrieked and shut her eyes, certain she was going to end up in the manticore's mouth!
The audience was shocked too, as it the manticore appeared to swallow Trixie whole and let out a belch! But suddenly, there was a flash of magic, and the black box on the stage fell apart! There stood Trixie, her hat and cape torn in several places, but otherwise she appeared to be unharmed! "Behold, the Peat and Growerful Triskie...!" She said, wobbling slightly. Fortunately, Starlight was quickly at her side to support her, helping her to stand up. The crowd cheered, as Starlight winked at Trixie, who smiled and said to the audience. "And now, I'm proud to introduce my great and powerful assistant!" In a normal tone of voice she added. "And best friend," Then going back to her booming voice she said. "Starlight Glimmer!"
Starlight then helped Trixie backstage and quickly checked her for any sign of injury. Fortunately, Trixie was dazed but not harmed. However, when Starlight took a closer look at Trixie's hat and cape, she noticed that they seemed to be coated in something that had a rather strong smell to it. "Oh!" Starlight exclaimed, fanning her nose with a hoof. "What is this stuff?!"
"It's my insurance policy in case that Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive ever went wrong," Trixie explained to Starlight. "Hoofdini was no fool, even he knew not to depend on his magic all the time. I found out that in secret, before each show he attempted that trick, he coated himself in a substance that would make him taste repulsive to the manticore. That way, if he ever messed up on the teleport, the manticore would quickly spit him out unharmed."
"I see," Starlight remarked, plugging her nose. "Please tell me it washes off."
Trixie laughed. "Don't worry, it does. It's really only noticeable if you stand right next to me. Probably should've warned you about that earlier though," Then she asked. "So, does this mean you forgive me?"
Starlight nodded. "This was partially my fault for neglecting that important dinner. Had I just left Twilight a note, we could've avoided all this trouble."
"Indeed." Trixie nodded, and she and Starlight embraced each other in a hug.
Just then, Twilight appeared backstage and called out. "Trixie!"
"What do you want? Come to rub in your victory?" Trixie asked. "Go ahead, tell me what a fool I was for thinking I could betray the trust of your student and get away with it."
But Twilight instead said to Trixie. "I was wrong. I'm sorry. And I have to hoof it to you. I could never have pulled off a trick quite like that. I just hope you'll reconsider giving up your career as a magician, I think you've got what it takes to be the true successor to Hoofdini's legacy."
Starlight smiled at Trixie, who took off her hat and said to Twilight with a bow. "Thank you, princess." She and Starlight then set off some celebratory fireworks.
As the fireworks lit up the sky, Twilight cleared her throat and said to the two unicorns. "Well, now that this little magic show is over, you two are coming with me back to the castle. We still have that dinner party to attend."
Trixie nodded. "Just give me a second to get changed," She used her magic to take off her hat and cape, and set them aside. "I'll wash and sew them later." She said, and she, Starlight, and Twilight then set off back to the castle.
By now, the ice sculpture had all but melted, and both Spike and Princess Celestia were more or less stuck making small talk.
"Say, how do you get your mane do that all the time?" Spike asked Princess Celestia. "I've been meaning to ask for some time."
Celestia sighed and tried her best to keep a decent smile on her face as she said to Spike. "It's a long story, one I'm sure would bore you to death."
Before Spike had a chance to speak up and protest that comment, the throne room doors swung open and in trotted, Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie, all of whom took their respective seats at the table.
Twilight cleared her throat and apologized to Princess Celestia. "Sorry about bailing on you and being gone for so long. But I managed to track down Starlight, and her newest friend, The Great and Powerful Trixie."
"Please, just Trixie, will do." Trixie insisted in a quiet voice, her eyes still stained with red rings from her earlier crying.
Celestia smiled. "Ah yes, Trixie. It has been quite a while since we last met. I believe our previous encounter had to do with a certain magical amulet if I'm not mistaken," She turned and coughed into a hoof. "So, you are the friend of Twilight's new student?"
Trixie nodded. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, your majesty. I... apologize for any inconvience I might have caused you tonight. Had I not found out just this very afternoon, I would've gladly postponed my show."
Celestia just chuckled. "Oh, you have nothing to be sorry for. I wish I'd known you were performing, a magic show sounds much more delightful than a fancy dinner party. I attend plenty of those back in Canterlot."
Twilight blushed. "Well, maybe we could've worked something out. But the show's over, at least for Ponyville. But Trixie says this is going to be an Equestrian wide tour, so chances are she'll come to Canterlot to perform sooner or later."
"Perhaps with me in tow," Starlight spoke up. "I've kinda sorta become her assistant, at least for the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive."
While the four magical users took turns engaging in conversations with one another, Spike just sat there at the table and more or less just sighed.
At last, Trixie turned to Spike and said to him. "Ah, I see you've gotten a bit bigger since last I saw you. How has life been for you as the son of Equestria's newest and most popular princess?"
Spike scratched his head, unsure of how to best respond to Trixie's comment. "Well, it... kind of has its ups and downs," Spike replied with a nervous laugh. "And uh... if you ever make it to the Crystal Empire, I suppose you should know that the ponies there see me as some kind of hero, Spike The Brave and Glorious."
"You?! A hero?! Since when?!" Trixie asked, her jaw dropping open in shock.
"Ever since I saved the empire from the evil King Sombra," Spike explained, and when Trixie looked at him with confusion he just said. "It's a long story, one you'll probably hear straight from the horse's mouth if you go up to the Crystal Empire. It's a nice place, if you don't mind the crowds."
The rest of the dinner passed in silence, with only an occasional comment or question breaking said silence. Once it had finished and everypony was satisfied, Trixie stood up and clearing her throat she announced. "While The Great and Powerful Trixie appreciates your hospitality, and has most enjoyed this dinner, she regrettably cannot stay in Ponyville for the night. Such is the life of a travelling performer such as I."
"Uh, you could sleep in my room if you'd like," Spike offered Trixie, much to Twilight and Starlight's surprise. "I think we could arrange something now that I've no longer sleeping in that baby basket."
Trixie shook her head. "I'm used to sleeping on the road, my wagon is more or less my home away from home. In fact, I can't remember the last time I ever truly had a town I called home. But it's fine, I've been used to it for a very long time."
"Well...." Spike began, unsure of what else to say. At last, he managed to get out. "If you're ever in Ponyville again and need a place to crash, feel free to stop by here. Who knows? Maybe the next time we meet, I'll actually be a fully grown adult dragon?"
Trixie chuckled. "That would be quite the sight to see. Now then, it is time for The Great and Powerful Trixie to depart."
Twilight eyed Trixie with concern. "You're not going to escape by throwing down a smoke pellet again, are you?"
Trixie laughed and shook her head. "No escape tricks this time, and no teleportation either. I'll be leaving the way all normal pones do, through the front door. Once again, thank you all for what you've done. And Starlight, when Trixie is next in need of your services, she shall call." And with that, Trixie left the castle. Princess Celestia left shortly afterward.
Twilight smiled, as she looked at Spike. "Looks like you've finally managed to forgive Trixie for all the things she did to us in the past," She nuzzled Spike as she told him. "I've very proud of you, my son."
Spike blushed a little, even though he really didn't mind the affection. "Well, I couldn't stay mad at Trixie forever. This time I really think she's turned over a new leaf. Believe me, I'm just as shocked as you are."
Starlight chuckled. "I can't believe you actually offered to let Trixie sleep in your room. Don't tell me you've got a crush on her."
"Haha, very funny," Spike remarked, rolling his eyes. "I was just trying to be a good friend and show a little hospitality, that's all. Besides, we all know about you and your not so secret feelings for Sunburst."
"We're just friends, Spike!" Starlight insisted. "And he's a royal crystaller now, he's probably far too busy to even think of romance. Besides, look who's talking mister 'I have an insultingly obvious crush on one of my mother's best friends', or does Rarity not ring any bells?"
Spike ignored Starlight and went on teasing her as he snickered and said. "Starlight and Sunburst sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G!"
"That's it, you're gonna pay for that!" Starlight shouted, as she narrowed her eyes on Spike with a playful laugh.
"Catch me if you can!" Spike playfully shouted, and took off running with Starlight in hot pursuit.
Twilight just laughed and shook her head. "Those two argue so much they're practically siblings. The only question is, who's the more mature one? The big sister, or the little brother?"
It was a fine Spring day in Ponyville, the perfect kind of day for a Wonderbolts show! A decent sized stadium had been built not too long ago, and on this particular day it was packed to near capacity. Ponies and non-ponies of all ages lined the stands and seats, waiting for the show to begin.
But none were more excited than a small group of friends, including seven fully grown mares (one of whom was an alicorn), a baby dragon, three school aged fillies and their families (or at least the families of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom had her big sister but her older brother and grandmother had stayed behind to work the fields and Scootaloo had opted to sit with her friends instead of her family, mostly because she had a reputation to keep up as head of the Rainbow Dash fan club).
The reason for this small group to be seated so close to the action and be so excited, was because today was the day when their good friend Rainbow Dash was slated to make her grand debut as the newest member of the Wonderbolts! The news had been all they'd talked about for days leading up to the show!
Starlight sat next to Twilight, her teacher, but she couldn't help but feel nervous. It was her first Wonderbolts show, and one of the first big social events she was attending since agreeing to become Twilight's student. "You really sure it's a good idea for me to be out here, especially like this?" Starlight asked, looking around.
Twilight smiled and patted Starlight lightly on the head. "I know you're worried, Starlight, but you need to relax. This is Rainbow Dash's big moment, what she's always dreamed of. She'd be crushed if you missed out on it! You can always make up your friendship lessons later on," She then added. "Besides, you need a little fresh air after what happened with Trixie. I think the entire incident proved being cooped up in the castle hasn't done either of us good."
Starlight tried her best to smile. "Yeah, I suppose if you put it like that it's not such a bad idea after all," But she still whispered to Twilight. "It's just, I feel like everypony knows the truth about my past. I guess nothing stays secret in this town forever."
Twilight just chuckled. "Well, even if they do know they don't seem to be making a big deal out of it. Give it time, Starlight, you'll get used to being a part of Ponyville before long. Trust me, I used to think everypony in this town was crazy, but now I could never imagine living anywhere else," Deciding it best to change the subject she added. "Now come on, keep watching the skies! The show's going to start at any minute!"
Pinkie jumped up from her seat! "Which means it's the perfect time to go get some snacks, the lines will be super short!"
"Mind if I come with you?" Spike asked Pinkie Pie, hoping the pink party pony would let him ride on his back. "I had a few gemstones earlier, but I didn't imagine they wouldn't tide me over for very long."
Pinkie smiled. "Of course, the more the merrier! Come on!"
"We'll be back soon, and that's a promise!" Spike called, as he climbed onto Pinkie's back and the two took off for the concession stands.
Shortly after Pinkie Pie and Spike had left to get snacks, a booming voice announced through the stadium loudspeakers: "Mare and gentlestallions, colts and fillies of all ages! Look to the skies and prepare to be awestruck by the incredible flying prowess of... the Wonderbolts!" There came a deafening roar, and the elite flyers came soaring in! Everyone cheered, as they watched the Wonderbolts start their impressive feats of aerial acrobatics, some even recognizing such familiar members as Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. But only a few seemed to take note of the rainbow maned and tailed member of the group, despite the fact that said pony hadn't been seen before.
"I sure hope Pinkie Pie and Spike are done getting their snacks, at this rate they're gonna miss Rainbow Dash's big debut!" Fluttershy commented to her friends.
"Oh, don't worry, Fluttershy. Nothing would keep Pinkie Pie from missing this!" Rarity reassured her friend. "I'm certain they're on their way right now."
As it turned out, Pinkie and Spike were indeed on their way back to the stands. There had been a slight hold-up due to a request from Pinkie. "Sure took that vendor pony long enough," Pinkie slightly scoffed, as she used her tail to hold a gigantic serving of pink cotton candy. "Want some?" She asked Spike, as she took a bite of the tasty treat.
Spike shook his head. "I think I'll stick with popcorn," He proceeded to dig his claws into a bag of the aforementioned confection, and pop a few kernels into his mouth. "Now come on, the show's already starting and we're gonna miss Rainbow Dash's debut!"
"Just hang on, Spike! We'll get there, somehow!" Pinkie declared, as she took as fast as she could while holding the giant stick of cotton candy with her tail.
By the time Pinkie and Spike were able to rejoin their friends, the Wonderbolts were already partway through their routine. "You're just in time, Rainbow Dash has been doing well with the team so far," Twilight mentioned, just as the Wonderbolts zoomed past on another trick. "Everything's looking great! And it's almost time for her official public debut!"
The Wonderbolts zipped back up into the sky and began to fan out so they would fly side by side. This routine would end when, on cue from the captain (Spitfire) the new Wonderbolt would break off, perform some tricks of her own, and rejoin the group, at which point the announcer would make public said Wonderbolt's name.
However, just as Rainbow Dash was getting into position and awaiting her signal from Spitfire, her eyes widened in horror! Somehow, a lone storm cloud had found its way into the airspace, and it was directly in Rainbow's path! To make matters worse, it was closing in so fast that Rainbow knew none of the other Wonderbolts would see it, to say nothing of her chances of successfully flying up or around it. "This can't be happening! This is a nightmare!" Rainbow Dash thought to herself, as she prepared for the worst!
Rainbow flew right through the storm cloud, letting out a yelp as electricity began to crackle all around her! At last, with a loud zap, she was shot out of the cloud and flung into a nearby tree! The recoil caused the tree to fling the pegasus back into the air, dislodging some leaves in the process! Rainbow struggled to regain control, an effort that was easier said than done given the wet leaves that clung to her suit and weighed her down!
The audience suddenly gasped, as Rainbow Dash sputtered out of control and went into a spiral from which it seemed impossible to recover! She got closer and closer the ground, and by now the other Wonderbolts realized what was happening! But it was too late for them to do anything to stop what happened next! There was a loud thud as Rainbow hit the ground hard, kicking up a thick cloud of dust! Everyone leaped from their seats, as they waited anxiously to see what would happen!
It took only a minute or two for the dust cloud to clear, and when it did there lay Rainbow Dash, looking quite beaten up!
"Captain, we've got a bolt down!" Soarin shouted to Spitfire!
"I can see that!" Spitfire shouted back. "Don't just stand there, get a medic over there, NOW!"
"I'm on it!" Fleetfoot replied, zipping away to fetch the nearest doctor or nurse she could find! Meanwhile, Misty Fly and Surprise were quick to fly down to Rainbow Dash's side, by now the show had stopped completely!
Spitfire just sighed as she looked at the sorry state Rainbow Dash was in. "Kid, what are you doing?!" She thought to herself. "Please don't make me regret putting you on the squad! You looked so promising, was it really a bad idea to give you a position so soon?"
The Wonderbolts weren't the only ones who were concerned about what had happened to Rainbow Dash! Her friends had all come running the second the dust cloud had subsided, and while they were relieved to see that she didn't look too bad considering her impact, they were still quite troubled by the fact that she didn't seem to be moving!
Scootaloo was the most frantic of all, she'd heard horror stories of pegasi who crash landed or smashed into something, but this was her first time seeing such a thing up close! The injuries looked horrific in her young mind! "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash, get up! Come on, stop fooling around! You're tougher than that!"
Dizzy Twister reached out a hoof to Scootaloo and tried her best to comfort her daughter. "Scootaloo, I'm sure Rainbow Dash will be fine. I know her well enough to know she's too stubborn to let something like this keep her down. But you need to let the Wonderbolts and the medics do their job."
"But... but..." Scootaloo protested, a few tears forming in her eyes.
Dizzy hushed Scootaloo, wrapping her daughter in a wing hug. "There's nothing you can do for her, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want a lot of ponies hovering around her," Just then, Fleetfoot returned with Nurse Redheart and a stretcher. "Come, let's leave Nurse Redheart alone. Why don't you and your friends come back to our house and play there? And when Rainbow Dash is feeling better, we can go see her."
Scootaloo sighed, but reluctantly agreed. "Come on, girls. Let's at least tell the Rainbow Dash fan club that today's meeting will have to be cancelled." And she, her friends, and her family (along with Sweetie Belle's family) left the stadium.
As Rainbow Dash was loaded onto a stretcher and carried off, Twilight spoke up and asked. "Spitfire, is Rainbow Dash gonna be okay?"
"I wish I knew, but I'm no doctor," Spitfire somberly replied. "Still, with any luck your friend will be back up and flying within a few weeks. And don't worry, we Wonderbolts have a strict 'no stealing' policy for hospital visits."
A few nervous giggles were exchanged, before even Rainbow Dash's closest friends reluctantly left her to the care of her teammates. Now alone in the stadium (some of the Wonderbolts had gone back to headquarters, while others opted to stay either to manage the crowds, or to see how Rainbow Dash was coming along), Spitfire sighed to herself, as she reflected back on her decision to make Rainbow Dash part of the Wonderbolts. And the question she was asking herself was. "Did I really make the right choice? She's only been in the reserves for about two years."
About a week ago, Rainbow Dash had still officially been just a reserve. Even after filling in for Wind Ryder in Canterlot when the now ex-Wonderbolt was stripped of his rank and kicked out, she was still just the go to back-up pony in case any sudden vacancies presented themselves.
Walking by herself through Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was quite surprised to suddenly see Scootaloo approach her. "Hey! Rainbow Dash!" She called out.
Rainbow Dash smiled, seeing her number one fan and honorary little sister was always a treat. "Hiya, Scootaloo! What's up? You need my help with something? Your mom yelling at you again?" She joked, she knew Dizzy Twister was the kind of parent that seldom raised her voice.
Scootaloo shook her head. "Nah, I just wanted to let you know, The Rainbow Dash Fan Club just decided – everypony's coming to see you when the Wonderbolts' new tour comes through Ponyville!" She buzzed her tiny wings in excitement.
Rainbow tried to be modest, as she downplayed Scootaloo's enthusiasm. "Well, it's great that you guys are going to the show, Scoot, but I won't actually be performing in it," She then quickly explained. "Wind Ryder was going to retire for good anyway after that little show in Canterlot, and I already made it clear I'm not taking Spitfire's place without permission. Reservists aren't in the show unless one of the real Wonderbolts can't fly for any reason," She nervously chuckled as she added. "I'll probably just be working crowd control or something, and only for the Ponyville show. Twilight insisted I be on call twenty four/seven as much as possible for any map missions, even though it's been pretty quiet for almost a year now."
Scootaloo was not deterred by Rainbow's comment, she just replied. "You're still gonna be wearing a Wonderbolts uniform though, right?"
"A Reservist one, but yeah." Rainbow nodded.
"That's good enough for me," Scootaloo smiled. "And I think it'll work just fine for the rest of the fan club. We all have to begin somewhere, don't we?"
"Yeah, I guess we do. I mean, it's not like an opening's just going to magically present itself," Rainbow chuckled. "I mean, what are the odds of that?"
Just then, there was a familiar whooshing sound (almost like the roar of the engines on an airship). Both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo looked up to see a trio of Wonderbolts flying past, including Spitfire. Suddenly, Spitfire broke off from the other Wonderbolts, hovered close to the ground, then landed in a dramatic pose, kicking up dust in the process!
Scootaloo was amazed, she'd never seen such a stunt before! "Whoa! That is so cool!" She exclaimed, before she asked Spitfire. "But isn't that kind of painful on the legs, Miss. Spitfire? I mean, what, were you trying out for a Power Ponies movie or something?"
Spitfire chuckled, it always delighted her to see a young fan. It was one of the best perks of being a Wonderbolt in her book. "Heh, don't worry about me, kid. Didn't even break a sweat, and last I checked there weren't any auditions for a part in a movie," She then took off her flight goggles and approached Rainbow Dash as she said to the reserve member. "Rainbow Dash! Glad we found you. We need you in the show when we get to Ponyville. Flying."
"But, she's only in the reserves," Scootaloo wondered outloud. "Are you saying there's an opening she needs to fill?"
Spitfire shook her head. "She ain't a reserve anymore, kid." She said with a smile.
But Scootaloo ended up saying it first! Hugging Rainbow's face, she happily exclaimed! "Rainbow Dash! You're finally a full-fledged Wonderbolt! Woo-hoo!" She started to laugh in excitement, happily dancing around and do a few little poses to show off her delight! "Yeah, Rainbow Dash! Whoo!" All the while, Rainbow just stood there, speechless.
Spitfire looked at Rainbow and said to her with a slight laugh. "Heh. What she said. Welcome to the team, newbie!" Rainbow didn't say anything, she just stood there as the smile on her face grew bigger.
Rainbow proved to be a very eager new recruit for the team, she quickly impressed Spitfire with her knowledge as she led across the academy grounds to the bunker.
"Alright, seems you know quite a bit," Spitfire said to Rainbow Dash. "Just remember team briefings are every morning at—"
"-0720, because there were twenty ponies in the original E.U.P. Guard that became the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash replied. "And there have been seven captains since the group was founded by General Firefly, with you being lucky number seven!"
Spitfire smiled. "Got that right, nice to see you know the basics of the pecking order. It's good to see a newbie with her head in reality and not in the clouds for a change. Now, I know you've seen the academy bunks, but these are the official Wonderbolts barracks." She pointed a hoof to a set of buildings just across the academy runway.
"Built by Admiral Fairweather himself!" Rainbow explained. "At last, I finally get to go inside!"
"Just remember one thing, newbie," Spitfire cautioned. "Be careful when crossing the runway, most of the Wonderbolts like to make a flashy entrance, so stay alert. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had because someone forgot to check twice before crossing."
"Right, no problem! I'll remember!" Rainbow promised.
"See that you do," Spitfire replied. "Now come on, your suit's waiting."
Spitfire led Rainbow Dash across the runway (after making sure none of the other Wonderbolts were approaching) and into the official Wonderbolts bunker. There was Rainbow's official Wonderbolts flight suit, along with all sorts of relics from past Wonderbolts generations.
"Whoa! Is that General Flash's cap?!" Rainbow asked, eyeing an old, beat up cap that had seen better days.
Spitfire nodded. "And the original crest with the Wonderbolts motto on it no less," She and Rainbow Dash then both said at once. "'Altius volantis! Soaring higher!'"
"Wow!" Rainbow commented, before she gasped as she realized she probably shouldn't have bothered to reveal she knew about that (she didn't think such a thing would impress anypony). Changing her composure she casually remarked. "I mean, ha, cool."
Spitfire smiled, as she unlocked the case displaying the suit and hoofed it to Rainbow Dash. "Here you go, your very own Wonderbolts flight suit! Let us know if it needs adjusting. We contacted Rarity for your measurements but her most recent ones were from months ago."
Rainbow blushed. "Sorry, not really one for dresses or anything, except when the situation calls for it."
Spitfire just smiled and nodded, then she cleared her throat as she said. "Okay, newbie, time to get down to business. We've got a show in two days, which means you gotta hustle your haunches to learn this routine. You got five minutes to get dressed and get outside to meet the rest of the team. Got it?!"
Rainbow firmly nodded. "Yes, ma'am! I'll have all of the moves down by the end of the day! I promise!"
"Let's hope so," Spitfire replied. "We're all expecting you to make quite an impression." She then zoomed away, but not before she saw Rainbow Dash slip the flight suit on, admire herself in the mirror and say. "Lookin' good!" Had she stuck around, she would've also heard Rainbow Dash say. "Okay, Rainbow Dash, you're about to take your first flight as an actual Wonderbolt," She sighed as she added. "No pressure," Stretching and groaning a little she slipped the flight goggles on over her face before she said. "Just gotta go out there and knock 'em off their hooves. Okay, Wonderbolts, get ready to meet your most awesome member ever!"
Rainbow had proved to be a very quick learner, impressing even the most skeptical of Wonderbolts. Surprisingly, she seemed to have no trouble with following orders or obeying commands, something unheard of for almost all new recruits.
And she had been perfectly content to wait for her moment in the spotlight, something that even Wonderbolts like Fleetfoot and Misty Fly found rather surprising. They even joked a little. "Who are you, and what have you done with the real Rainbow Dash?" It was all in good fun though.
But now, here was the newest and youngest member of the Wonderbolts, lying on a stretcher in a medical tent while Nurse Redheart tended to her. Fortunately, not for long.
The first thing Rainbow Dash asked upon coming to her senses was the following: "Did anypony get the number of that cloud?" She had to shake her head to clear the cobwebs of confusion, and she found that all of her fellow Wonderbolts (except for Spitfire and a few others) were staring at her. "What? Is there something on my face?" She asked them.
"You're pretty luck, kid, you know that?" Soarin said to Rainbow Dash. "A crash like that would've put any other Wonderbolt out of commission for months, maybe even forever."
Nurse Redheart smiled as she explained to Rainbow Dash. "It looks like been flung by that tree absorbed some of the impact, to say nothing of that last second crash protection pose you assumed. You'll only be grounded for about a week, and you should be back to full strength within a month. Though I would recommend you avoid any shows until your next check-up at the end of next month, there's no telling what prolonged extreme stunt flying could do to you."
Rainbow groaned a little, she was glad to not have permanently damaged her wings or anything, but the idea of being unable to fly in any Wonderbolts shows for at least two months was a huge downer for her. "Well, it could've been worse. I could've lost a wing entirely and needed a fake one made of metal," She laughed, trying to lighten up the mood. When the other Wonderbolts looked at her with odd looks she replied nervously. "It's a long story."
Surprisingly, Fleetfoot laughed and said. "Oh, I'm sure we've got time to hear it. Doesn't look like you'll be flying with us anytime soon, huh, Rainbow Crash?" Rainbow couldn't believe it when some of the other Wonderbolts actually started laughing along with that comment. The name "Rainbow Crash" brought back some rather unpleasant memories from her childhood.
A young Rainbow Dash was excited, it was her first day of flight school, and she was eager to prove herself! A little too eager, as she being careless and not paying attention. "Okay, flight school! Get ready for Rainbow Dash!" She announced, and without thinking she leapt into the air against the advice of her instructors! Needless to say, this quickly proved to be a bad move on her part, as she lost control and crashed into a trash can that rolled to a stop in front of her classmates (and unfortunately it was not empty).
"Rainbow Dash, are you okay?" The main teacher (her name was not yet known to Rainbow Dash or anypony else for that matter) asked, as she pulled Rainbow Dash out of the trash can.
"More like Rainbow Crash!" A young Hoops mocked, and it wasn't long before all the colts and fillies at flight school were doing the same (except for a noticeable filly in the back with a yellow coat and pink mane and tail styled into bangs that hid her face).
"My name's not Crash!" Rainbow protested, to no avail! The taunts and jeers from her classmates only increased, regardless of what she did! It would ultimately be part of the reason why she would drop out of the school after that fateful summer at flight camp.
Though only a few Wonderbolts seemed to repeat Fleetfoot's "Rainbow Crash" comment over the next few days, their words and laughs stung Rainbow far worse than any pain she'd suffered during her crash landing earlier.
Rainbow Dash was glad when she was allowed to fly home and rest, she couldn't believe just how quickly things had gone south for her in the span of just a few days (she was firmly convinced that if things went any further south, she'd hit the bottom tip of Equestria). Being more or less grounded from performing (at least for the next two months) was bad enough, but being called a nickname from her childhood that she thought she'd outgrown (and by her idols no less) only made things even worse.
After checking up on Tank and making sure her tortoise was okay, Rainbow dragged herself off to bed as she thought. "And to think I started so well too, where did it all go so wrong?" And she recalled the conversation she'd had with her friends just a few days ago, when she was busy packing up for the Wonderbolts Academy (while she wouldn't be living there full time, she still wanted to have a room in the barracks for the times when she would need to stay on academy grounds).
Just over a week earlier, Rainbow Dash had been busy zooming around, packing up the last of her stuff to take to the academy. "Uh, anypony seen my wing balm?" She asked her friends. "I don't want to be stiff when I show up at Wonderbolt headquarters."
"Got it, right here!" Spike called, tossing a tube of the balm to Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash quickly placed in with everything else in her suitcase, and forced it shut with a click!
Starlight was still a little bit confused by everything that was going on. "So, exactly how did you graduate from just being a reserve member? Do you have time to tell us what happened?"
"Oh, yes, we must know every detail if possible." Rarity encouraged.
Rainbow just chuckled, as she told Starlight. "Well, if you want the whole story, just ask Scootaloo and she'll tell you. But there's really not much to say. Spitfire told me the Wonderbolts want me to go on tour with them, and I couldn't say no to that."
Fluttershy smiled, she was delighted to see her childhood friend achieve the dream she'd long dreamt of. "That's really great. I know how long you've been waiting for a spot to open up." She said kindly.
"That still doesn't explain how you got promoted to be part of the team though." Starlight spoke up.
"And does this mean you're going to be leaving already?" Pinkie asked Rainbow Dash. "If so that doesn't give me much time to throw a 'Going Away' party, or give any of us the chance to say goodbye. Had I known a party problem was going to show up, I'd have brought my party cannon."
Rainbow replied and explained. "Don't any of you worry, I'm not leaving Ponyville forever. I just have to train for this show, then I'll come back here. But I do have to report to Wonderbolts headquarters this afternoon. It's only two days 'til tour starts, and I need to learn the routine. And to answer your question, Starlight, it's simple. Fire Streak decided to retire and teach full-time. Cloudsdale Flight School will probably be churning out Wonderbolts with him there. But guess who was at the top of the Reserve list, and your first two guesses don't count."
"Let me guess, that was you." Starlight concluded.
"Oh no, it was another pony entirely," Rainbow jokingly replied. "Her name was Duh, first name No."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Oh hardy har har, you're even less clever than Spike and I thought he'd never shut up about Sunburst."
"Are you still mad about that? I said I was sorry," Spike apologized. "Can't you take a joke?"
"Oh I can, that joke was so funny I forgot to laugh." Starlight replied, seemingly casting daggers at Spike with her eyes.
Fluttershy quickly defused the tension by clearing her throat and saying to Rainbow Dash. "I hope everything goes well. Sounds like an awful lot of pressure having to learn everything so quickly."
"Yeah. Good luck, Dash," Applejack encouraged. "And send us a post card whenever you're stuck at the academy, we'll do our best to keep ya posted."
"Will do," Rainbow agreed. "I can't believe it's taken this long for the Wonderbolts to recognize my awesomeness, but better late than never."
Twilight quickly warned Rainbow Dash. "Everypony knows you're a great flyer, Rainbow Dash, but so are the rest of the Wonderbolts. It might be more challenging than you think."
"Aw, you're right," Rainbow replied. "I'm the new recruit, which means I'm just gonna have to work even harder than usual to make sure they notice me. But I'll bet it won't be long before I'm among the true elites, the best of the best! Who knows, I might even work my up to second in command alongside Fleetfoot and Soarin!" And with that, she took off, her suitcase in tow!
Rainbow's thoughts turned to her friends as she tried to fall asleep and forget about the day's events. "Maybe I should tell them what happened in the medic's tent," She thought to herself for a moment, before she shook her head. "They've all got their own lives to lead, and their own problems to tend to. Twilight's busy with her new student. Starlight's got those friendship lessons to work on, along with whatever it is Twilight keeps pulling her away for. Rarity has her boutiques to manage, including that one she's going to open in Manehattan in the near future. Pinkie Pie has The Cakes and Sugarcube Corner, plus she's always busy either planning and throwing parties, or babysitting. Applejack's always either got farm related issues to work on or her own rodeo interests to keep her tied up, in more ways than one," She giggled at the idea of Applejack tying herself up in a knot by mistake, before her thoughts drifted to Fluttershy, her first and quite frankly closest friend. "And Fluttershy, well when she's not busy entertaining Discord, she's got her animals to keep her busy."
Rainbow also considered talking to Scootaloo or any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but she shook her head and rejected that idea too. "Nopony can help me on this issue, not my friends and not my fans. This is a problem between the Wonderbolts and I, and it's going to stay between us! I'm sure by tomorrow the whole thing will be a fond memory and they'll have forgotten all about it." And with that, the badly battered (physically and emotionally) young Wonderbolt drifted off to sleep, in the hopes that tomorrow would be much better. One thing was sure, tomorrow certainly couldn't be any worse than what had happened since the day of her debut.
Although the Wonderbolts were slated to tour all over Equestria, Rainbow Dash knew they had at least a few more days before they would need to leave for the rest of Equestria (the first stop was all the way out in Appleloosa, and the last stop was scheduled to be the Crystal Empire). Even so, she was hoping that they'd be too busy preparing for the tour to keep calling her Crash. She'd expected a little bit of a rough reception at first, but nothing along the lines of name calling. "If I speak up about how much hurts, they'll just think I'm being a big baby and tell me to get over it," Rainbow thought to herself, touching down on the grounds of Wonderbolt headquarters at the edge of the academy. "I'll just have to try and blend in until they leave for the tour, then I can spend time getting back into shape and impressing them with my speedy recovery when they come back!"
At first, it seemed like the Wonderbolts were indeed too busy to really pay attention to Rainbow. Spitfire was the noticeable exception, but as captain of the team it wasn't too big of a surprise to Rainbow. "Ah, good to see you out and about again, newbie," Spitfire greeted in a somewhat warm tone. "Glad to see you're not calling it quits just 'cause the going's getting tough."
Rainbow did her best to casually play it off. "It's no big deal, I've been in far worse scrapes then that. And hey, you gotta be tough to be a Wonderbolt, right?"
Spitfire nodded. "Just don't expect any favorable treatment from me, or anypony else. We're still your superiors, and you're still fresh meat. With your injury, we may not be able to work you 'til you drop and then some, but that doesn't mean we're going to let you slack off. We don't want your skills getting rusty just because you're not gonna be flying with us. So you'd better be ready, we're gonna whip you back into shape as best we can! That way, when you're ready to start flying alongside us again, it'll be like second nature to you! Do I make myself clear, Rainbow Dash?!"
"Yes ma'am!" Rainbow firmly replied. "I won't let you down!"
"See that you don't," Spitfire commented, and blew her whistle. "Okay, everypony, start lining up for flight practice! From now until it's tour time we're gonna push ourselves as hard as our wings will let us, and I don't wanna hear any complaining about it! So finish whatever you're doing, suit up, and meet me on the runway in five minutes! No ifs, ands, or buts!" And with that, she flew off.
Soarin immediately took charge in Spitfire's absence. "You heard the mare, let's move it! Single file please, let's do this like civilized ponies!" He ordered, and all the Wonderbolts started scrambling to get in line and head outside.
While standing next to Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot whispered. "You've got a lot of guts, I'll give you that. Hope you're ready to get back to boot camp, Crash."
Rainbow growled, and pretended she hadn't heard. She hoped that Fleetfoot would be the only one who would make such a remark about her.
Unfortunately, throughout the rest of the day, Rainbow was quickly proven wrong. It seemed like every single Wonderbolt (except for Spitfire) was repeating the nickname of Crash. Whether it was Fleetfoot calling out, "Higher, Crash! You're breaking formation! Come on, shape up there!" when Rainbow struggled to lift herself up to the same altitude as the rest of her fellow Wonderbolts, Soarin shouting, "Check your nine, Crash! You've gotta pay attention to your surroundings!" when Rainbow appeared to veer off course, or Misty Fly barking out the command, "Tighter, Crash, get in there! What's the matter, you asleep or something?!" when Rainbow wasn't flying close enough to either of her partners.
Each time, Rainbow would growl, "My name's not Crash!" or occasionally mutter it under her breath. But each time it seemed like her complaint went unaddressed. It didn't help that when Misty Fly said it, she ended up smacking into Surprise and sending them both spiraling into a cloud.
"Your name's not Crash, huh?" Surprise asked Rainbow afterwards. "Well, you could've fooled me. Just what's going on, your flying's starting to stink worse than the Wonderbolts locker rooms after a long day of practice. I'm starting to wonder if Spitfire was wrong about you, you're not living up to all that potential she seemed to see in you."
The day seemed to stretch on forever for Rainbow Dash, and she was glad when at last the sun started to set and the day's flying routines were over. However, upon entering the locker rooms and changing out of her flight suit, Rainbow was more than a little confused when she was given a mop and bucket, along with some cleaning supplies. "Hey's, what the big idea?! Is this some kind of joke or something?!" She complained loudly.
"Sorry, Crash, it's the rules around here," Fleetfoot explained. "Tell 'em, Soarin."
Soarin sighed as he said to Rainbow Dash. "I know you've been a Reservist for quite a while, but the 'Bolts have a few of their own rules you might not know about. Like worst flyer of the day has to clean up the whole compound. Better get to it, Crash, Spitfire's gonna want this place clean as a whistle."
Rainbow growled and her eyes narrowed in frustration, as she loudly proclaimed! "For the last time, my name's NOT Crash! It's Rainbow Dash!"
"Call down, Crash," High Winds replied. "I know you're probably upset about your rough day of performance, but you'll get better. Besides, cleaning the compound isn't all bad. Be thankful you're not on mess hall duty, that's a job you really don't wanna get stuck with."
"Perhaps you need some motivation," Blaze suggested to Rainbow, and opened her locker. "Here, maybe this will help motivate you." She stepped aside, as Rainbow's eyes fell upon an official Wonderbolts jacket.
But when Rainbow looked at the jacket more closely, she noticed that among the badges stitched onto it was the nickname she'd been given by the Wonderbolts that she still hated! "Crash?! Couldn't you just put my regular name on it?!" She demanded.
Fleetfoot laughed as she replied. "That's not how it works around here, Crash. We all have our nicknames on our jackets. Right, Clipper?"
"Clipper?" Rainbow asked.
"Right, Flatfoot," Soarin responded. "And Hoof in Mouth has a point, they don't call it mess hall for nothing."
"Hoof in Mouth?" Rainbow asked again, wondering who could be called that.
High Winds spoke up as she said. "Yeah, just ask Dizzy or Slowpoke."
"Dizzy? Slowpoke?" Rainbow asked once more.
Misty Fly spoke up as she said to High Winds. "You just got lucky because Clipper happens to be your cousin."
Surprise then added. "You really need to watch what you say, Hoof in Mouth. Unless you wanna end up like Flatfoot and have to fly five hundred laps around the academy."
Rainbow could hardly believe her ears, all her fellow Wonderbolts were not only calling her a nickname she despised, but they were tossing around insulting nicknames for each other as if it were part of their alphabet. Rainbow could contain her anger no longer, at the top of her lungs she screamed as she threw down her jacket! "That is ENOUGH! I can't believe you, all of you! I looked up to you guys, idolized since my fillyhood, and all my life I've been working my way up to joining you! I tried to let myself think you guys were still okay after what happened with Lightning Dust and Wind Ryder, but now I see I was just kidding myself! You're all nothing but a bunch of bullies and stuck up jerks who'd turn on each other the first chance you get! You claim you're all about pushing yourselves in the right direction, but really you only care about being the best by punishing anyone who can't keep up! I can't believe I ever wanted to be like you!" As tears started to form in her eyes, she turned around and said. "That does it, I'm out of here!"
"Wait! Crash!" Soarin shouted, but it was too late! Buzzing her wings, Rainbow zoomed away, generating a small sonic boom that knocked all of the Wonderbolts down like bowling pins!
As the Wonderbolts picked themselves up and looked at the discarded jacket Rainbow had left behind, Spitfire came on the scene. She had overheard the sonic boom from her office and had come running. "Just what happened here?!" She demanded of the Wonderbolts. "I want answers!"
"We told Crash that the worst flyer of the day has to clean up the entire compound, and she completely flipped out," Soarin explained to Spitfire. "She said stuff about how her name wasn't Crash and that she didn't want to be a part of us if we were gonna be mean to each other, and she flew off before any of us could explain what was really happening."
"Did any of you actually tell her why we really call each other by those names, or did you all just assume she'd be okay with it?" Spitfire asked, glaring at her fellow Wonderbolts. "You guys do remember what happened the last time you started calling a newbie a nickname without telling her how things work, right?" Each of the Wonderbolts hung their heads in shame. Spitfire sighed. "I thought so, guess it's up to me to do some damage control yet again. I'm getting too old for this, and I haven't even been captain for that long."
"We're really sorry, Spitfire. It was just supposed to be in good fun," Fleetfoot apologized. "We didn't think she'd take it so personally. I guess we just sort of got used to wearing those embarrassing nicknames as a symbol of honor and playful teasing, that we forgot how hurtful they were to us the first time we heard them."
"You think?" Spitfire commented, and then without waiting for a reply she added. "Look, I'm gonna go catch up to the newbie and try to straighten things out. And next time, at least hold off on the nicknaming until I have a chance to explain how we do things around here." She exited the compound without wearing either her instructor's suit or her flight suit, and as she zoomed out onto the academy grounds she thought to herself. "You were right, Mom. Sometimes The Wonderbolts can really lose sight of what's important, and being the captain just means it falls to you far more often to clear things up."
It didn't take too long for Spitfire to find Rainbow Dash, luckily for the captain Rainbow had yet to leave the academy grounds, but the fact that she was at the very edge of them indicated just how serious she was about leaving the Wonderbolts. "Rainbow Dash, wait!" Spitfire called out.
Rainbow spun around, surprised to see Spitfire without any sort of clothing on for what had to be the first time in her life. "What do you want?!" She demanded. "Don't tell me you're here to talk me out of leaving the Wonderbolts, I've made up my mind!"
"Just hear me out!" Spitfire pleaded. "You must understand, we Wonderbolts have something of a tradition. Our own little culture if you will. The embarrassing nicknames a part of it."
"Oh, you mean like Flatfoot, Dizzy, and Hoof in Mouth?!" Rainbow remarked. "Really, the only nickname that doesn't sound insulting is Clipper, and I'm betting that's because Soarin joined before any of you guys started that stupid tradition!"
Spitfire shook her head. "Look, don't tell Soarin I told you this, 'cause I kind of made a promise not to tell anyone. But you wanna know how he really got his nickname?" She asked Rainbow, after looking around to make sure nopony was around to hear them.
"What difference does it make?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, I'll tell you anyway," Spitfire replied and said in a soft voice. "At the end of his first week with the Wonderbolts, he clipped one of his wings on a flagpole. He was actually in the hospital for a month, and it took him three more months before he could fly at one hundred percent again."
"So he got his nickname because he clipped his wing? That just further proves how mean you guys are!" Rainbow snapped. "I mean really, even if Soarin used to be an ego-maniac that's hardly an excuse to make fun of him for something as painful as clipping his wing!"
"I didn't really like it either," Spitfire said to Rainbow. "Honestly, I wanted to have it stricken down. But Soarin wouldn't let me, he decided to take the nickname and use it as a motivation to do better. That's what we've all done. Whether it was Fleetfoot misjudging a landing and coming down right on my front right hoof, or High Winds causing an entire formation to fall from the sky because she was too busy making funny faces, we Wonderbolts have more or less regarded the embarrassing nickname thing as something of a little initiation ritual. And as much as I hate it, I can't deny that it has worked for us. But can I ask you why the nickname Crash seems to make you so upset?"
Rainbow looked around before she asked Spitfire. "You promise not to tell?" Spitfire nodded, and Rainbow took that as her cue to explain with a sigh. "Look, it's a nickname I got when I was a filly. I crashed into a trash can on my first day of flight school, and a couple of bullies starting calling me that everytime they saw me. I tried my best to ignore them, but when the entire school started chanting it and teasing me with it, it was hard to ignore. After I pulled off the Sonic Rainboom at the Best Young Flyers Competition, I thought I'd managed to put that name and its meaning behind me for good. I felt like being called Crash again, just served as a reminder that I couldn't escape that past no matter how I tried to leave it in its rightful place."
"I see," Spitfire commented. "Well, if it's any consolation, it's hardly the worst nickname they could've invented. Though perhaps if we'd called you Rainbow Trash or Rainbow Smash, that wouldn't have been as personal?" Rainbow nodded, and then Spitfire looked at the pegasus as she added. "And you're not the only one who has a nickname they'd rather forget about it. You don't wanna know what they call me." She whispered it to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow could hardly believe such a harsh nickname would exist, and decided it was best not to ask Spitfire how she'd gotten such an "unfortunate" nickname. Instead, all she said was. "Whoa! That is so much worse than Crash. It sounds nasty."
"I know, right?" Spitfire asked. "So, if I get the other Wonderbolts to apologize for taking things so far with the nicknames, do you still wanna be part of the team? We've been waiting for a spot to open up ever since you joined the Reserves! And you've saved all of Equestria at least half a dozen times or so. I can't exactly give you favorable treatment and change your nickname, but at least if we keep it confined to what it was originally supposed to be used for, can you be part of this team and not try to showboat like you have a tendency to do sometimes?"
Rainbow was silent for several minutes, as she pondered her decision quite carefully. She'd truly longed for a chance to fly with her idols, but she wasn't sure if she was comfortable with the idea of calling her teammates by embarrassing nicknames (or letting them do it to her). At last, however, she sighed and said to Spitfire. "I suppose so. I've spent my whole life trying to be a standout flyer, but now that I'm finally a Wonderbolt, it's time to be okay with fitting in!"
"Good," Spitfire smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief. "But you're still gonna have to be on probation for a month, I'm afraid. Flying off on your superiors the way you did is a violation of Wonderbolts code. Rules are rules, newbie, and I can't change them. Who knows though, maybe someday, you'll become captain and you'll get to decide what rules to keep and what rules to throw out?"
Now it was Rainbow's turn to smile. "That would be lovely, and when I'm captain that silly nickname rule is going to be the first thing to go!"
Just then, a familiar masculine voice chuckled and said in a teasing voice. "Well, just make sure the current captain's looking to retire first. And don't expect to be the only one who wants the job either." Said voice revealed itself as belonging to Soarin.
"There's always a few Wonderbolts eager for a chance to move up, myself included," Fleetfoot added, as she and Soarin emerged from where they'd been hiding. "We're sorry about what happened at the compound earlier, we got a little carried away."
"It's okay," Rainbow replied with a smile. "You guys had good intentions, you were trying to help me out all day long but all I could think about was that nickname you kept calling me by. Maybe if I'd paid more attention to your advice and not the name you used, I wouldn't have gotten stuck with cleaning duty, or probation for a month."
"Man, you're getting off easy! The first time I broke a rule, I was on probation for half a year!" Soarin commented, then he noticed the look on Rainbow's face and asked her. "Hey, if you're stuck with cleaning the compound all month long, why are you in such a good mood?"
"Duh! Because I'm a Wonderbolt!" Rainbow happily replied. "I'm finally going to live the dream! But now I see that it's not the end of my story, but rather a new beginning, a new chapter! I know I've still got a lot to learn, but I'm not gonna stay a newbie forever! So you all better watch out, because once my probation is over and I'm back in flying shape, you guys will have to work extra hard to keep up with me!"
"That's a challenge we're all looking forward to, Crash!" Spitfire happily expressed, and then all four Wonderbolts flew back to the compound.
Inside the Ponyville spa (the steam room to be precise), Rarity was waiting impatiently for somepony to arrive. She'd already been in the steam room for quite a while, and was getting more and more impatient with each passing second.
As Rarity continued to wait, Aloe poked her head into the steam room as Rarity sighed. She proceeded to ask. "Um... Miss Rarity? Eh, how much longer are you planning to stay in here, darling?"
Rarity lifted her head to face Aloe, she'd already lost of track how long she'd been in the steam room. "Oh, dear. Is somepony else waiting?" She asked.
Aloe shook her head. "Oh, no, no. I just don't want you to get all... What is word? Pruney. Yes, pruney, that's it." She said to Rarity.
Rarity explained to Aloe. "Oh. Uh, well, I'm just waiting for Applejack. It's been so long since we've had a relaxing day at the spa together. But I'm quite certain she'll be along at any moment."
Aloe reluctantly decided that since nopony else needed the steam room at the moment, she would let Rarity stay. "Very well, just try not to wait too long." And she closed the door, allowing steam to pour in with a hiss.
How long Rarity was kept waiting, she was not sure. But at last, the steam room door opened and Applejack came bursting in. "Hey, there, Rarity. I really tried to get here earlier," She apologized to her friend. "I just can't believe how much time my chores are takin' up these days. But at least now we'll finally get to spend some quality spa time together. Right?"
But just then Aloe called. "Okay, fillies, that's it. We are closing up for the day." Before she shut the steam room door again.
"Aw, shucks, Rarity. I guess I missed the whole day. I sure am sorry." Applejack apologized, before she noticed Rarity seemed to have a towel wrapped around her face.
Rarity removed it to reveal that her coat had been gotten "pruney" as Aloe had tried to warn her. She also happened to have a pocket watch with her, that had somehow not melted despite the intense heat. "Me, too." Was all she could bring herself to say.
Rarity was still more than a little upset about the fact that Applejack had blown off another one of their spa days together. It seemed like the apple farmer kept coming up with excuse after excuse to avoid going to the spa. Rarity was starting to lose her patience entirely. "Just what is so wrong with taking some time off to pamper yourself?" She thought. "Doesn't Applejack realize she's gonna drive herself to exhaustion again? I swear, sometimes I think she's more stubborn than Rainbow Dash. At least she knows to slow down every once in a while."
And so it was that when the time came for the next trip to the spa, Rarity was determined to drag Applejack to it no matter what. It didn't even make any sense how her chores could take so long, Applejack was a hard worker and had lived on Sweet Apple Acres for nearly her entire life, just how could she not be able to get her chores done in a reasonable amount of time?
On her way to Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity actually came across Twilight and Spike, who were carrying a bunch of empty pie tins. "Good morning, Rarity!" Twilight greeted. "Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Morning Twilight, morning Spike," Rarity greeted, and eyed the pie tins. "Good heavens, what's with all those pie tins? Aren't there only three of you living in the castle?"
"Well, I guess someone really loves pies," Spike nervously laughed. "We were just on our way to Sweet Apple Acres to pick up some fresh ones. But what brings you this way?"
Rarity sighed, as she explained while complaining. "I'm on my way to pick up Applejack, hopefully. It's time for our next spa appointment, but knowing her she's going to blow it off until the last minute and leave me waiting until the spa is about to close." She frowned.
"I'm sure you're exaggerating just a little," Twilight replied to Rarity. "I'm pretty sure Applejack doesn't mean to make you wait so long."
"And yet she does," Rarity complained. "I'm quite sure she'll be too busy once again. If she doesn't want to go to the spa, she can just say it to my face. She doesn't have to lie about it, especially when she's so bad at lying."
"You two really should set aside some time," Twilight advised. "Kind of like how I've been setting aside time to help Starlight with her studies."
Rarity snorted and hmphed. "Darling, I have been trying for ages! But Applejack is so busy these days, it's next to impossible. At this rate, she's gonna work herself to near death, again!"
Twilight and Spike were both surprised to hear such a thing, like Rarity they were confused as to how a hard worker like Applejack could take all day to get her chores done. "Wow. I didn't realize Applejack had so much to do," Twilight commented. "I wish you'd have said something sooner, this isn't healthy for her." Twilight had no idea that she was about to proven right.
Twilight, Spike, and Rarity approached Sweet Apple Acres, and when they did they could hardly believe their eyes! Applejack was running around, acting like a complete fool! She was standing on the side of the pig pen, babbling and making ridiculous motions with her hooves, apparently trying to scare the pigs! Then she started trotting around, clucking like a chicken for some reason. And then to top it off, she dashed up to the top of the barn and suspended herself on a rope, knocking over a bucket of slop for the pigs to eat.
"Applejack?" Twilight asked, wondering if her friend had already been driven crazy from exhaustion.
If Applejack was concerned by how she acting in front of her friends, she didn't seem to show it. She just turned to Twilight, Spike, and Rarity, and greeted. "Oh, howdy there. I wasn't expectin' company today, looks like ya caught me in the middle of feedin' the pigs."
"Just what was all that stuff about? And was it even necessary?" Spike asked Applejack. "I mean, why couldn't you just open the gate and take the slop directly to them?"
Applejack chuckled. "'Cause, Spike, it's all part of the necessary routine," And she explained. "See, this gate here used to squeak so loud, the pigs would run to the other side of the pen and never come out! So now I open and close it to let them know it's safe."
"But it doesn't even squeak anymore, does it?" Twilight asked.
Applejack laughed as she shook her head. "Of course not! Big Macintosh fixed that gate ages ago. But then I realized puttin' a little fright into the pigs got 'em all hustlin' out of the pen. That's why I made that there face."
"Well, they don't look scared to me." Spike commented, as he swore he saw Rarity roll her eyes at Applejack.
"Well, no. They got used to it. Which is why I started doin' the chicken dance!" Applejack explained. "To show 'em that if they didn't get to eatin' their food, the chickens would. 'Course, bein' a chicken, I couldn't very well open the gate. So I had to think of another way to feed 'em."
"And let me guess, that's where the dangling rope part comes in?" Rarity asked in a skeptical tone.
Applejack nodded. "Bingo! Although, gettin' the food bucket to spill into the trough was just a happy accident because one time I left it there by mistake. Since then however, it's what I've done to get the pigs fed."
Rarity could hardly believe her eyes and ears, nothing Applejack did many any sense at all. "Applejack, once the gate was fixed, there was no need to do anything else to feed them," She remarked. "Do you even realize how unnecessary all that stuff is?"
"Don't you lecture me about unnecessary!" Applejack protested. "We Apples do our chores on our own without fuss, every family member does their fair share! I developed my own routine to get my chores done properly, and they've never let me down!"
Rarity sighed and snorted. "Well, Twilight and Spike came here to pick up some pies from you. But I guess you're too busy having a field day. I suppose I'll just have to come back when you're not busy, although from the way things look now, that's not going to be anytime soon."
"Rarity, I know how much you like them spa dates and all, but they just ain't my thing," Applejack protested. "Besides, even if I wanted to go I've got way too many chores to do, and barely anytime to get 'em done. It ain't my fault that to do a good job, I gotta take my sweet time!"
But Twilight spoke up in response. "Just look at what you're doing, Applejack! You don't have time for anything anymore because you're taking too long to do your chores. Trust me, I know what it's like to get stuck in a routine, but you've got to snap out of it! Don't you remember what happened the last time you tried to do everything by yourself and refused to stop? You practically worked yourself to the bone before you agreed to let anypony help you," She then offered. "Look, I know these chores are really important to you and all, but you need to take a break before you hurt yourself. Spike and I can probably manage some of your chores for you, while you and Rarity go to the spa for some much needed rest and relaxation."
Spike giggled. "You should really listen to Twilight's advice, you're acting just like she was when she was trying to avoid our new castle. And we all know how that turned out, don't we?"
Applejack sighed, she opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word Rarity said with a smile. "Good, then it's settled. Applejack, you and I will go to the spa together, while Twilight and Spike get your chores done. Trust me, by the time today is over, you'll be asking yourself just how you allowed yourself to go on like this."
Reluctantly, Applejack was forced to agree. "Oh, alright. I suppose at least a steam bath couldn't hurt," Then she remembered something and shouted. "Just a sec, gotta get somethin' for the two of ya!" She returned shortly with a large scroll. "This here's a list of all my chores and how to get 'em done. Follow them to the letter."
"Even if they're unnecessarily complicated?" Spike quipped.
Twilight added. "I think we'll manage just fine on our own, Applejack. If we run into a roadblock, we'll check the list and see what we need to do. But don't be surprised if we find a way to streamline some of your chores for you."
Applejack sighed, but agreed. "Fine, just don't be surprised if I slip back every once in a while to make sure everythin' is okay. Can't help bein' a little worried, it's who I am." And she then reluctantly trotted off with Rarity, even if she'd much rather stay and do her chores on the farm.
Rarity led Applejack across the country roads and through the outskirts of Ponyville, deciding it would be best to take the indirect approach to the spa to really give Applejack time to adjust being away from the farm. "Just you wait, by the time our spa date is done, you'll feel like an entirely different pony," Rarity said to Applejack. "I should know, I've come here with Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy several times. Heck, sometimes I run across a client while I'm at the spa. It happens more often than you might think."
Applejack was silent for most of the trip, but when at last she spoke up she said to Rarity. "Ya know what? I'm actually glad we're doin' this, Rarity. I've been puttin' work before our spa time for too long. I can't wait to have a nice steam."
"Oh, a steam is just the start," Rarity replied to Applejack. "I know exactly what we'll do. We'll make sure to get the utmost care for you, so you can go back home rested, refreshed, and ready for whatever life throws at you."
As the two ponies approached the spa Applejack nervously commented. "I just hope Twilight and Spike can handle things until I get back."
Rarity immediately replied. "Now, Applejack, if we are really to enjoy this time together, you simply must give yourself over to the idea that you are off-duty and try to relax. Everyone needs a little bit of pampering every once in a while, even the most hard working of ponies will agree to that."
"I suppose you're right," Applejack considered. "It's just so hard not to think about my chores when I've been doin' them for so long. I'm sure everythin' will be just fine though. Twilight and Spike know what they're doin'."
Rarity nodded. "Exactly. Now kindly step this way. Rest and relaxation awaits."
Rarity and Applejack trotted through the spa door, as the jingling of the bell announced their arrival. The two looked around, all sorts of ponies and even several non ponies were either lining up for various treatments, ordering a treatment, or waiting in the lounge for their designated time. One of those ponies just happened to be Rainbow Dash, who was dressed in a purple robe with green tortoise slippers, something that both Rarity and Applejack found odd. "Rainbow Dash! What are you doing here?!" Rarity gasped, before she and Applejack giggled to each other.
Rainbow Dash seemed horrified, as Applejack said to her. "Yeah. I didn't think spa treatments were your thing exactly."
Rainbow quickly kicked off her slippers and tossed aside her robe, as she immediately protested. "Oh, they're totally not. At least, not the froufrou kind."
Applejack and Rarity exchanged glances that made it clear they didn't buy Rainbow's excuse for a second.
"Yeah, it's.... not what it looks like!" Rainbow insisted. "You saw nothing! The only reason I'm here is because I, uh, I think I tweaked something at Wonderbolts practice the other day. Yeah, that's it! Think I pulled a muscle or something! So I just came in for a deep tissue sports massage."
But just then, one of the spa workers (an earth pony mare with a lavender coat, a pink mane and tail styled in the same style as Aloe and Lotus, blue eyes, and a cutie mark depicting candles) approached Rainbow and said to her. "Ah, Miss Dash, I am so sorry, but we are running just a tad behind, and we are not quite ready to start your pampered muscle massage just yet. Our deepest apologies."
Rainbow seemed to be horrified, and a faint blush formed on her cheeks, as she realized she'd been caught! Not one to give up without a fight though, she quickly protested and said with a nervous laugh. "Oh! I-I'm pretty sure that wasn't what I signed up for."
The spa worker looked at her clipboard as she claimed. "But it says it is your usual."
Rainbow quickly added. "And it seems like you're really busy today anyway! So I'll just come back tomorrow," To Applejack and Rarity she shouted. "Uh, see you two later! Have fun!" And zipped away. The spa worker just shrugged and said. "I guess I'll put her down for the same thing at her next appointment. A shame, she is one of our best customers, never makes a fuss." And she turned and trotted away.
Applejack couldn't help but chuckle at what she'd just seen. "Too bad Rainbow Dash just hates those 'froufrou' spa treatments. She probably could have joined us for a nice steam bath. Hoo-wee! I can't wait."
Rarity laughed at Applejack's comment. "Indeed," Then a thought struck her as she pondered. "Although, if they couldn't fit Dashie in, I wonder just how far behind things are running. It does seem odd for the spa to be this crowded at this time of day," She and Applejack went to join the line for the steam room, only for Rarity to bump into the tail of a stallion just a few seconds later. The line was quite long, longer than any line Rarity had ever seen before. "Oh dear, this is quite a problem." She said to herself.
"Indeed," Caramel replied. "Everypony wants a steam, but it's taking forever for the line to move. Oh, I hope you're not in a hurry."
Rarity sighed. "Well, Applejack, I guess we'll just have to start our spa treatment with something else for a change."
Applejack put her hoof down as she firmly scoffed. "Nothin' doin'. I came here to have a steam, and that's just what I'm gonna get! You convinced me to come here, so now it's my turn to make a demand!"
Rarity groaned. "Figures, even when trying to relax you're stubborn."
Just then, Aloe approached Rarity and Applejack. She was quite delighted to see them again. "RRRRarity! My favorite customer!" She greeted, kissing Rarity, before she turned to Applejack. "And Appleyack? Well, it certainly has been a long time since you two were here together! So lovely to have you back."
"Well, I wish I could say the same," Rarity commented. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Aloe."
Aloe sighed. "Yes, the wait time for the steam room certainly has been getting worse lately. Such is the problem with budget cuts, you have to make do with less. But I'm sure we'll be able to accommodate your usual treatments, somehow."
"Not without my steam bath!" Applejack insisted firmly.
"She's quite hung up on it, I'm afraid," Rarity said to Aloe. "Even if it'll take almost an hour just to get through the line."
Meanwhile, Applejack had gotten out of line, and was monitoring the gauge just outside the steam room door. The needle was currently pointing to the red, indicating a lack of steam. And it didn't seem to be going up at all.
"Geez, if I had known it was gonna take this long I would've brought a magazine or something," A familiar snooty voice exclaimed, soon revealing itself to be the towel wrapped form of Spoiled Rich. "Without steam, a steam room's just a room, and I've got plenty of those at home. Because I live in a mansion," There was a long silence, and no one said a word. "Well excuse me for living!" Spoiled complained. "I can't help it if I married into luxury."
"Mrs. Rich, I'm terribly sorry, we are working as hard as we can to get the steam room operational," Aloe apologized. "In the meantime, would you kindly help yourself to some of our warm towels?"
Spoiled Rich and several other ponies accepted the warm towels from a cart pushed one by one of the spa workers, and tossed their old, cold ones, onto the cart. "It's about time. I had half a mind to go home and tell my husband to buy you out, I'm sure he could get this mess straightened out in no time," She then grumbled. "All I wanted was a little escape from the pressures of putting up with my stubborn daughter, was some rest and relaxation really too much to ask for? For once I'm actually glad she's not with me, and that's something I'd never thought I'd say. Honestly, a rich pony deserves far better than this."
"Just what is the problem?" Applejack asked Aloe. "I'm no spa expert, but from what this here gauge is showin' me, you can't seem to build up any steam. You got any leaky pipes or anythin'?"
Aloe tapped a hoof to her chin. "Now that you mention it, the pipe just down the hall has been sputtering and we believe it could be leaking steam. But the local plumber is booked solid for the next two and a half weeks, and unfortunately we have no plumbing experts of our own to correct the problem."
"Well, ya do now!" Applejack offered. "Part of livin' on a farm means you learn a thing or two about stuff most ponies take for granted. I'll take a look at that pipe and if it's leakin', I'll fix it right up for you!"
"That will be lovely, especially if it means we can stop the warm towel service. It's putting quite the strain on our laundry department." Aloe replied.
Rarity was surprised to see Applejack return from checking the pipe a short time later. "So, is it leaking or not?" She asked Applejack.
Applejack nodded. "I can't just leave things like this. I'm gonna need my tools. And that means I'm gonna have to go back to Sweet Apple Acres to get 'em."
"You just wanted an excuse to pop back and check up on Twilight and Spike, didn't you?" Rarity asked Applejack, who only nodded in reply.
Applejack dashed back to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping that at least Twilight and Spike were making good progress with her chores. She didn't think they'd be able to actually streamline them, since they knew nothing about farming.
But she was quite surprised when she came back and saw that not only were Twilight and Spike already done feeding the pigs, but Starlight was helping to give the pigs a bath, including Piggington. "Oh, hello Applejack," Starlight greeted, turning her head while using her magic to levitate a brush over to Piggington. "How come Rarity's not with you? Is something wrong?"
Applejack shook her head. "Oh no, everythin's just fine. But what are you doin' out here, Starlight? Shouldn't you be busy with your friendship lessons and all?"
"Twilight figured she could use another set of hooves to help things go faster," Starlight explained. "Plus, she says I need to get out and do some stuff in the sunshine for a change. I have to say, farming's actually a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I think I'm doing okay so far. You need something from me?"
"No, I'm just here for my tools. I'm gonna do a little bit of repair work at the spa." Applejack said to Starlight, before she went into the barn and retrieved her tool kit.
"Don't worry," Starlight called, as Applejack ran back to the spa. "Everything's just fine here," But when she turned her head she saw that Piggington was gone. "Oh come on!" Starlight groaned. "How can something so big move so fast?! Please don't tell me she rolled into the mud again!"
Applejack returned to the spa, and quickly set to work on fixing the leaking steam pipe. Rarity assisted a little, but for the most part she was just content to occupy herself with other spa treatments.
With her safety goggles securely fastened, and her tool belt buckled firmly around her flanks, Applejack loosened and then tightened all the bolts on both the top and the bottom of the pipe. She then pulled out a role of scotch tape, and used it to patch up the holes from which the steam was escaping. Lastly, she gave the wheel used to turn the steam on and off a spot of oil, just to make sure it would turn easily. At last, her work was done, and the needle on the gauge outside the steam room had moved firmly into the green.
Wiping the sweat from her brows, Applejack said to Aloe. "Now that that leak's fixed, ponies won't get so cold they use up all those towels! And without all that laundry, there'll be plenty of hot water for all the steam anypony could want!"
The spa worker who had been responsible for delivering the warm towels happily exclaimed! "And I only have to be doing vash once a day!" He then zipped inside the steam room and closed the door.
Even Spoiled Rich seemed to be impressed. "Well, it looks you Apples are good for something after all," She commented with what seemed to be a smile (whether it was sincere or not was hard to tell). "Perhaps my husband was right to do business with your family. At the least I suppose anypony who has access to indoor plumbing can't be all bad. Next time there's a leaky pipe or a blocked drain at my place, I might just have to give you a call."
Nopony was more impressed than Aloe though, who approached Applejack and happily exclaimed. "Wow, Appleyack! Have you ever considered a career in the spa industry? I'm sure I can find something for you."
Applejack laughed and shook her head. "No, thanks. I'm just relieved I can finally relax in the steam."
"Oh, but I insist, we really do need a pony like you. Having an outside eye to spot problems we're too busy to notice could be quite helpful," Aloe claimed. "At the least you must let me pay you for your services, we were losing a lot of money thanks to that leaky pipe."
"Forget it, you don't owe me anythin', I was just glad to help," Applejack replied. "But maybe if I ever find time between my chores on the farm, helpin' to buck apples, and practicin' my rodeo tricks, I could pop down here and see if there's anythin' that needs fixin'. After all, why monitor a problem if ya don't plan on fixin' it?"
"I'd never considered that." Aloe realized, and went to inform her sister Lotus that there wouldn't be a need to run laundry to have hot towels all the time.
"Well, now that we've solved the steam mystery, can we please get to some actual relaxation?" Rarity asked Applejack. "Honestly, you spent so much time fixing that steam room, so at I least hope you're going to use it."
Applejack spoke up and protested. "First I gotta drop my tools off back at the barn, plus I reckon now's a good time to see how Twilight, Spike, and Starlight are comin' along with the chores. They may need my help."
Rarity groaned, as she watched Applejack set off again. "You know something?" She said to Aloe. "You're lucky Applejack is too stubborn to relax. Otherwise, who knows how long it would've taken you to get that leak fixed?"
"She does seem to be overly concerned, a common problem for a lot of ponies," Aloe commented. "Even Mrs. Rich sometimes has trouble remembering she needs to take a break. We've even had to let her stay the night because she fell asleep in the middle of one of her treatments."
Applejack was expecting to come back to find Sweet Apple Acres in completely disarry, and for Twilight, Spike, and Starlight to be in so far over their heads they would be begging Applejack to take charge again. It wasn't that she didn't trust her friends or thought they were stupid, they were skilled at things Applejack couldn't even begin to understand. But farming was never as easy as the pegasi and unicorns might think, even earth ponies had a tendency to underestimate how much effort went into keeping a farm running smoothly. Applejack was just fortunate enough to grow up in a family that provided the real experience needed to know farming was a serious job, and that not just anyone could do it.
"Twilight, Spike, and Starlight are many things, but farmers ain't one of 'em," Applejack said to herself, as she neared Sweet Apple Acres. "So I've been overcomplicatin' things a little, what's the difference as long as I get the chores done right? If I tried to speed 'em up or do 'em poorly, I'd have to do 'em over again multiple times, and then I'd take even longer to get anythin' done. Ain't anythin' wrong with takin' time to do your job right the first time."
However, Applejack was most surprised to find that upon reaching Sweet Apple Acres, things seemed to be just fine. It looked like Twilight, Spike, and Starlight had everything under control. There were some clear signs of exhaustion on their faces, Twilight and Starlight's manes and tails were a bit disorganized, and Starlight had some brown smudges on her that were likely mud, to say nothing of the fact that Spike had just wiped some sweat from his brows. But nothing was out of place, nothing was destroyed or close to being in that state. It was as if everything was the way Applejack had left it, if not better.
"Hey Applejack," Spike greeted, waving a claw. "What are you doing back from the spa so soon? I thought you were going to fix that leak."
"Well I did, and then I reckoned since I had come back to drop off my tools I could check up on ya all and see if ya needed any assistance," Applejack explained, as she put her tool kit away in the barn and then came back out. "But from the looks of things, ya'll are doin' just fine as it is. Or are ya just tryin' to pull the wool over my eyes so I'll stay at the spa longer?"
Twilight eyed Applejack with concern. "Haven't you gotten around to relaxing yet? You're sounding like you don't think we can manage for a few hours. If we get into trouble we have our friends we call for help, not to mention your family."
"Ya really sure you don't need my help?" Applejack offered, in a tone that sounded almost like she was begging to stay on the farm. "Ya don't have to lie to me if you're really stuck on somethin', I just want to be helpful."
"Will you relax and quit worrying already?" Spike asked Applejack. "We've already taken care of feeding and bathing the pigs, all the apple trees have been tended to, and all the crops have been watered as needed."
"Then why's Starlight all muddy?" Applejack inquired. "I ain't ever gotten muddy bathin' the pigs, and neither has anypony else."
Starlight blushed. "Well it's not my fault you've got a massive pig that hates baths more than I did as a filly!" She complained. "I just haven't had time to hose off yet."
Twilight looked at Applejack and said to her. "Thank you for being so concerned, but we're making good progress and everything is one hundred percent under control. If we need your help, we'll let you know. But in the meantime, just go back to the spa and relax like Rarity wants you to. Don't you realize how much you're getting yourself worked up over nothing?"
"This comin' from the mare who freaked out everytime her teacher gave her a test, and let's not forget the whole yak fiasco." Applejack commented.
"That was different, there were very real stakes," Twilight insisted. "Plus I've been trying to get that under control ever since what happened with Trixie. Being a little worried is one thing, but being overly paranoid is another."
Applejack groaned and sighed. "I ain't bein' paranoid, but I guess I know when I'm not wanted. But if I think there's somethin' you need my help on, I'll be back here in the blink of an eye." She then left Sweet Apple Acres to get back to the spa.
Rarity was waiting impatiently for Applejack when the farm pony returned. "Well it's about time," She complained. "At least this time I wisely decided not to wait in the steam room for you. Honestly, how long are you going to keep blowing off your relaxation time? You've done more than enough work for one day, surely a few hours of relaxation will make no difference."
Aloe then spoke up. "Appleyack, your steam bath is waiting for you. And Rarity is quite insistent on signing you up for a muscle massage," She pointed her hoof towards the steam room door. "If you would kindly step this way, we can begin the pampering."
But even knowing that she'd fixed the steam room problem, and that she wasn't needed back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack still wouldn't accept Rarity and Aloe's requests. "I'd love to take a steam bath, really I would. But if you've got a leaky steam pipe, then you've probably got some other problems you ain't noticed that I can help ya with. I just love bein' helpful ya know."
"While we appreciate the offer, I assure you that we have everything under control," Aloe replied. "Why do you think we have ponies like Bulk Biceps working for us? My sister and I know that just two ponies alone cannot run a spa. And we understand the importance of checking for problems before they start costing us money. We only overlooked the pipe because we had so many other things to worry about, including the customers."
"Which is exactly why you need a pony like me to look over everythin' for you!" Applejack firmly insisted. "This is a big spa, and you've only got so many hooves to do everythin'. Plus an outside eye can catch things you may not even notice. I already proved that with the pipe, and I reckon there's probably some other problem that needs fixin' that you didn't know about."
"Applejack, please!" Rarity pleaded. "You think these spa dates are just because I like pampering myself? If that was the case I would do it myself whenever I could. I arrange these spa dates for your benefit. Why can't you just relax and spend a little time not worrying about everything?"
"I'll let myself be pampered when I know there's nothin' anypony else needs my help with," Applejack firmly replied. "If I can't find any problems at Sweet Apple Acres, then I'll just have to check the spa, and then I'll double check Sweet Apple Acres, and then double check the spa. I'll check as often as I have to until I know I've checked everywhere I could for problems, and there's nothin' that requires my attention. The longer you ignore a problem, no matter how small, the worse it becomes when you ultimately try to fix it."
Rarity snorted, she was losing her patience extremely fast! "Applejack, it's not a crime to be pampered! Even Rainbow Dash comes here when she needs some downtime, and she's in the Wonderbolts, a very demanding job!"
"So, she always still finds time for power naps, and at least if she take some time for herself the Wonderbolts have plenty of reserves to take her place," Applejack protested. "I ain't got anypony who could replace me, even for a few hours. I'm a one of a kind hard worker, always have and always will be."
"You just don't get it, do you?!" Rarity complained loudly, gritting her teeth. "I have been trying and trying and TRYING to get you to relax! Because I've seen for myself what happens when you don't allow yourself to take any breaks when working, it ends with you exhausted and no help to anypony, least of all yourself! Do you want to work yourself to the bone and then some before you'll admit you need to relax?! Do you have to keep going until you break a bone and need to let it heal?! I'm bringing you here so you can relax and unwind before you hurt yourself, or worse! So why won't you help yourself and just RELAX already?!"
Rarity's words managed to touch something deep inside Applejack, as she started shaking uncontrollably and tears started to stream down her face. "I can't Rarity, I just can't!" She insisted. "When I was just a filly all I ever could think about was playin', even when my family kept tryin' to tell me that hard work is important! I never listened, I just keep foolin' around and gettin' into trouble! Until one day my ways finally caught up with me, and by then it was too late! By the time I learned what happens when you slack off, my folks were gone forever! If I'd just listened instead of thinkin' about how much fun I could have, I'd have never gone near that bridge, and Ma and Pa would still be alive! So that's why, Rarity! That's why I can't relax! If I'm not workin' myself to the near breakin' point each day, I'm only lettin' the memory of my parents and the lesson they taught me go to waste!"
Both Rarity and Aloe were surprised by Applejack's statement, and both placed a hoof around her as she slowly stopped sobbing and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Appleyack, you have worked harder than anypony I have ever known, and that is saying a lot considering some of my toughest customers are the ones who come here thinking they have no time to relax. That is why my sister and I started this spa, we wanted ponies to have a chance to relax so that they could be more productive and think more clearly." Aloe insisted.
"Aloe is quite right," Rarity nodded in agreement. "Just look at how much unnecessary stress you're causing yourself, simply because you feel like you have to always be doing something work related. A little bit of pampering every once in a while isn't going to kill you, but working yourself to exhaustion probably will. Do you think that's what your parents would want? For you to work yourself to such a point?"
Applejack paused, she hadn't ever really thought about that. She'd been so caught up in working herself to the best of her ability, because she'd believed it was the best way to make up for her youthful foolishness. But here she was, making the same mistake she'd made during that fateful Applebuck season a few years back, and the Apple Family reunion the year after that. If even Twilight could learn how to relax, then why couldn't she? Hadn't her parents always taken a little time out of their days to play with her and Big Mac when they were younger? Wouldn't they be doing the same if they were still around today? Reluctantly, Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat and hung her head in shame. "You're right, Rarity. I guess I was so caught up in my beliefs about hard work, that I couldn't see the problem I had. But you were the outside eye that caught it and intervened to fix it before it became a big problem. And yet I kept pushin' you away, focusin' on my chores and how to make myself helpful to others. How could I have been so foolish as to think a little bit of pamperin' wouldn't do me any good?"
Rarity just smiled slightly, as she said to Applejack. "Trust me, I've been where you've been. I've made this mistake a few times myself when working on an important dress for an important client. There are times when I push myself to exhaustion before I admit I need to take a break. But you'll find that, sometimes, being pampered can be the best thing that's ever happened to you. Like a good night's rest, it can make you refreshed and give you a new idea or perspective on how to approach your problems. Now, are you going to finally allow yourself to unwind with some rest and relaxation? Because if not, I'm going to keep dragging you to the spa until you do."
Applejack laughed slightly. "Well, when ya put it like that, how could I possibly refuse?" And then she turned to Aloe. "And ya know, since I need to take a bit of a break from my farm chores so I don't get stuck in those pointless routines, perhaps I could come down here more often to look for problems and do any sort of maintenance. And ya won't even have to pay me."
"That will be lovely, but my sister and I will still be quite insistent on paying you," Aloe replied. "But we can discuss those arrangements later. For now, I believe your long overdue steam bath awaits."
Applejack enjoyed the rest of her day at the spa, and she soon discovered just how good it felt to unwind. The muscle massage especially proved useful, as her limbs were quite sore from months of constant field work and rodeo practicing. As she and Rarity were making arrangements for the next spa date, Applejack sighed happily and asked Rarity. "Think you can come up with enough things for us to do now that we have more time to relax?"
Rarity smiled and replied. "Oh, please. I could plan a week's worth of treatments! And if you're going to be working part-time at the spa from now on, I think I'm going to have adjust our spa date timetables to compensate for that fact."
"True, and I reckon checkin' all those pipes for leaks, and makin' sure there's no floodin' or power outages anywhere is gonna keep me quiet busy and leave me in need of even more pamperin'." Applejack commented.
Just then, both Rarity and Applejack heard a sigh, and to their surprise they saw Rainbow Dash emerge into the waiting room with her purple robe and tortoise slippers, accompanied by Aloe. "Thanks for letting me know there was an opening. I don't know if I could make it without my pampered muscle massage," She said to Aloe. "It's just what the doctor ordered after a long day of Wonderbolts flight practice."
Aloe just smiled. "Don't vorry about it. Shall I put you down for another one tomorrow?" She asked her rainbow maned client.
"Oh, absolutely!" Rainbow agreed, pressing a hoof to her cheek as she fondly expressed. "Sometimes a girl just has to pamper herself, am I right?"
"You certainly are." Rarity commented, drawing Rainbow's attention to the presence of two of her friends.
Gasped at having been caught at the spa twice in one day, Rainbow became flustered and tried to stammer out an explanation. "Oh! Hey! I was just, uh, uh..." She struggled to figure out how to explain why things weren't what they looked like.
Applejack lightly jabbed at Rainbow as she teased. "Gettin' a 'sports' pamperin'?" She then giggled.
Rarity giggled too before she replied. "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. We were just heading in for some pampering ourselves," Then an idea came to her. "You know, you could always join us."
"That is, if you don't mind sufferin' through one or two froufrou' treatments." Applejack teased.
Convinced she had nothing to lose and hoping that perhaps she might talk her friends into not revealing her secret, Rainbow agreed as she said to them. "Uh... well.... I suppose I could take it. You know, for you ponies." The three friends then giggled to each other, as they headed off for some more pampering.
Twilight, Starlight, Spike, and all their friends had gathered in the throne room of Twilight's castle, though only Twilight, Starlight, and Spike knew of the real reason why they'd been called.
"This better be important, Twilight," Rainbow commented. "It seems like everytime I try to take a little time off from the Wonderbolts these days, it's always 'friendship crisis' this, 'family issue' that. All I want is a little time to laze about and rest."
Twilight simply explained. "Well, this should hopefully not take long. But have any of you noticed that it's been quite a while since the map has called any of us on a friendship mission?" She asked her friends.
The realization slowly sank in. "Now that you mention it, it does seem odd that the map has been silent these past few months." Fluttershy spoke up.
"Yeah, I think it's been shut off ever since Starlight messed with it to go back in time," Spike suggested, tapping one of his claws on the table. "Funny, I didn't think a thing like this ran on a power source."
Starlight frowned, it had been a while since she'd turned over a new leaf but she still didn't like being reminded of her past misdeeds. "Yes, Spike, since then. Thank you ever so much for that dosey doe down memory lane." As she watched Twilight pull Spike off the map with her magic.
Twilight coughed into a hoof and changed the subject. "Anyway, as part of her studies, Starlight's been assisting me. And together, I think we've come up with a plan that will get the map working again," She turned to her student and asked. "Are you ready, Starlight?"
Starlight nodded. "Ready and waiting!" And both student and teacher lit up their horns, combining their magical powers into an orb that flowed down and hit the table. It took a few seconds, but the map managed to glow back to life, impressing everyone in the room.
Pinkie took notice of the symbols on the map, specifically the cutie mark symbols hovering over one of the locations on the map. "Fluttershy and Twilight in Appleloosa!" She commented, before the symbols faded and moved somewhere else (albeit with different cutie marks), "No! Me and Rainbow Dash in Los Pegasus!" The symbols moved again and reappeared at a different location (again with different marks), "No, Rainbow Dash and Twilight in Yakyakistan!" The process repeated itself a fourth time. "No, Twilight and Twilight in Twilight's castle!"
It was then that the map seemed to finally correct itself, as the symbol representing Pinkie's cutie mark appeared, delighting the party pony like no tomorrow! "Ooh... me... me...me!" Then she noticed who the map was selecting to go on the mission with her. "And Rarity! Ooh, I hope it's some far away place that noone's ever been to before!"
But Rarity protested and tried to downplay the situation, she wasn't exactly eager for a map mission so soon. "Well... maybe not too far away," She suggested. "A place with modern conveniences would be preferable," As if the map had heard Rarity, it had her cutie mark symbol and Pinkie Pie's hover over the city of Canterlot. Rarity let out a happy gasp! "Canterlot! This is perfect! I can check on the boutique and see how Sassy's coming along! Perhaps there'll even be some social events to attend! What will I wear?!"
"Y'know, someponies get excited over the silliest of things." Pinkie giggled, despite how much she hung out with Rarity she had to admit her friend had a tendency to be unnecessarily dramatic at times. What neither of them could've suspected, was that the friendship problem they were being called for, was one that would put their own friendship in jeopardy in a way that neither could've imagined.
Pinkie Pie and Rarity made their way to Canterlot on the first available train, and it didn't take long after they'd left the train station in the city to discuss how they were going to find the friendship problem. Rarity made the first suggestion. "Now then, as far as finding a friendship problem, I suggest we start at the castle and begin to question the proper-" She began.
But Pinkie interrupted. "-Oh, Rarity, you don't find a friendship problem. It finds you," She then added. "We just need to go with the flow, and eventually, kablam! We get friendship problem'd right between the eyes," She pointed a hoof to her forehead to emphasize her point. "So why don't we check on the boutique first and then just wander around town while we wait for that friendship problem to find us?"
Rarity shook her head. "Sassy can manage things just fine on her own, she's done a bang up job so far. Checking the boutique can wait until we sort out whatever it is we've been called here for," She then added. "Besides, this is a team effort, so if you feel we should go with the flow, then with the flow we shall go. But where's the flow saying we should go?"
Pinkie replied to Rarity. "You know Canterlot better than anypony else. So what do you think we should do?"
Rarity smiled, though not a native to Canterlot she liked to pride herself on knowing how the big city worked, and it was nice to see some acknowledgement of that fact. "Hm. Take your pick. Culture, couture, cuisine!" Just then, both heard Pinkie's stomach let out a rather audible rumble. "Oh, my. Well, it sounds like your stomach is saying we should flow towards some lunch? I know just where to go," She insisted, and led Pinkie through the streets of Canterlot, until at last they came to an area that was unfamiliar to Pinkie. "Restaurant Row, the absolute best place for fine dining in all of Equestria!" Rarity boasted, as restaurant after restaurant lined the horizon.
Pinkie was delighted at the concept, an entire area consisting entirely of restaurants sounded like her cup of tea. "Ooh, so many choices! So where should we go?" She asked Rarity, before she started pointing to random restaurants and asking. "This one? That one? Those ones?"
Rarity pointed her hoof up to a sign above her that contained three horseshoe symbols, and she said to Pinkie. "Any establishments that have this – the three-hoof rating."
"Why, Zesty Gourmand, the Queen of Cuisine of course," Rarity boasted. "When it comes to food, she is the ultimate authority in Canterlot. Without her approval, a restaurant here simply cannot survive for long."
Pinkie was still a bit confused, she'd never even heard of Zesty Gourmand until now. "And just what's so important about her approval?" She asked Rarity. "Sugarcube Corner and all the restaurants in Ponyville function just fine without any kind of rating system. Why does Canterlot have to be depend on some critic's opinion?"
Rarity explained to Pinkie. "Zesty was born and raised here in Canterlot, she's never traveled outside the city in her entire life. She grew up around fine dining, and everypony hangs on her every word when it comes to cuisine."
Pinkie appeared to be convinced thanks to Rarity's words, if that was indeed true of Zesty then it was easy to see why everypony focused on getting her approval for a restaurant. "Wow! Then the food here must be amazing!" She exclaimed and then said to Rarity. "Lead the way, partner! Whee!" She bounced into the restaurant after Rarity, giggling all the while.
Rarity and Pinkie were soon seated and placed their order, it didn't take long for the food to be brought to them. And all the while, Rarity seemed to be impressed by how the restaurant looked. "Oh, my! Such presentation," She exclaimed, before the food was presented to her and Pinkie. "Mm. Oh," She smacked her lips and started eating. "Ah. Yes. Very nice..." She began, but struggled to think of how to best describe what she tasted, the food didn't seem to particularly fascinate her (though that wasn't to say it was bad).
Pinkie, however, immediately planted her face into her food and started eating. But before long she gulped and gagged, the food's low portion size hadn't particularly interested her but the taste was far worse. "Maybe, I'm not in the mood for..." She then whispered to Rarity. "Whatever this is. Can we try someplace else?"
Rarity obliged, opting for the next three hooves restaurant the duo could find. But the presentation and the portion size seemed to be no different from the previous one, and Pinkie fond it hard to keep her displeasure for this fact in check. "Ugh. Maybe one more stop? Third's time the charm." She suggested.
But the next three hooves restaurant was the same story as the previous two, same presentation, same portion size, and same bland tasting food (at least for Pinkie Pie). "Blech! Nope," She protested, and she and Rarity left the restaurant a short time later. Convinced they were making no progress, Pinkie suggested to Rarity. "Maybe instead of trusting somepony else's hooves, I should pick the next place? I'm just not feeling anything with tasteless food like this."
"I don't really know what's going on, Zesty's three hoof rating was supposed to mean the best in dining experience," Rarity commented. "But very well, I guess it couldn't hurt to let you try. We won't be able to solve a friendship problem on an empty stomach."
Pinkie put her nose to the air and started sniffing, before long she picked up the strong smell of something that was very distinct and that easily stood out compared to the aromas wafting from all the other restaurants. She gasped in delight, as she traced the smell through Restaurant Row and Rarity followed. At last, she located the source, a rather unusual looking building that stood out for its red and orange tones, and the elephant sign hanging over the front door.
Rarity looked at the restaurant sign, it wasn't something she recognized. "The Tasty Treat. It's very... rustic," She commented, then whispered. "I know it's different, but perhaps we should be concerned that it has no rating?"
Pinkie only giggled, the lack of a rating meant Zesty's influence hadn't gotten to this restaurant yet. "Thank goodness for that! Hee-hee!" She replied, as she trotted up the steps. Rarity, against her better judgement, followed Pinkie inside.
The interior of the restaurant matched the exterior in standing out, sporting the same tones that somehow hadn't managed to draw attention to this building tucked into an alley in the middle of Restaurant Row.
"Are we sure they're open?" Rarity asked Pinkie, truth be told Rarity didn't particularly mind bland food. She still preferred good tasting food, but certain types of cooking didn't exactly appeal to her (she had a profound distaste for a couple of sugary sweets, though she would occasionally eat a tub or two of ice cream if she got stressed).
Pinkie sniffed the air, drawing in the scents of delightful dishes being prepared in the kitchen. "It smells open." She replied.
Just then, there was a bit of clattering and a familiar silver coated filly with glasses came trotting out. She seemed to be very surprised if the expression on her face was any indication. "Pinkie Pie, Miss. Rarity, what a pleasant surprise," Silver Spoon politely greeted, regaining her composure. "I thought nopony was going to come here."
"Silver Spoon? You work here?" Rarity asked the filly.
"Well, just for today," Silver replied, sighing a bit. "Dad wants me to take over the family business someday, and he felt now was as good a time as any for me to get some hooves on experience," She then turned her head and whistled into the kitchen. "Saffron, we have guests."
From the kitchen emerged a young unicorn mare that seemed to be about the same age as Rarity and Pinkie, she had an orange coat, magenta eyes, a two shaded dark purple mane and tail that had rather poofy curls, and a cutie mark depicting a purple flower. She was dressed in a light yellow dress with an orange scarf, and a matching yellow headband and earpieces. "Oh! Are you here for lunch?" The mare asked Pinkie and Rarity.
Pinkie nodded. "Yes, indeedy!"
The mare was delighted! "I'm Saffron Masala, the chef here at The Tasty Treat, the most exotic cuisine in Canterlot." She introduced herself.
Silver Spoon then led Pinkie and Rarity to a table as she asked them in a polite tone. "So, would you like to hear about today's specials?"
"Oh, yes please!" Pinkie insisted. "As long as it's not like all those three hoof restaurants!"
"Well, you'll be happy to know that's not the case," Silver replied. "Today's specials include, a curried oat cake."
"We'll take one!" Pinkie immediately shouted.
Silver nodded, jotting the order down on a notepad, before she added. "And we also have a grass sandwich that has been marinated overnight in a mustard Dijon dressing. Shall I put you down for that as well?"
Pinkie nodded. "How can you say no to that?"
Silver wrote down the second item of food, then turned to Rarity and asked. "And for you, Miss. Rarity?"
"Oh, I'm fine, really," Rarity insisted. "Spicy foods and I don't really get along."
Silver only chuckled. "It's a bit of an acquired taste, but once you get used to it you'll find our spices to be so good you'll wonder how you ever lived without them," But then she frowned as she added. "Or at least, that's what my dad always says."
"I'll get started on the order," Saffron said, picking up Silver's notepad with her grayish purple magical aura. "I'll whip up something on the house for Rarity to try. Make sure my father doesn't start stacking up the tables around our guests. This could be the break we've been longing for."
Just a few seconds later, two stallions came out into the restaurant, while Saffron was busy in the kitchen. The first stallion was a unicorn and a rather pudgy one at that. He had the same magenta eyes as Saffron, but his mane and tail (as well as his eyebrows and noticeable mustache) were a dark two toned raspberry in color, his coat was a light orange in color, his cutie mark depicted a bowl of cumin powder, cinnamon sticks, and coriander seeds, and he had an orange shirt on. "Hello, I am Coriander Cumin, I will be your host." The stallion grumbled.
"Oh come now, Coriander, that's no way to treat guests," The other stallion, who was an earth pony with a dark grey coat, a light green mane and tail, violet eyes, and a cutie mark depicting a wooden spoon replied. Said stallion happened to be dressed in a black suit and red bow tie. Turning to Rarity and Pinkie Pie he greeted. "I'm Greasy Spoon, but please just call me Mr. Spoon, everypony does."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Spoon," Rarity greeted, shaking the stallion's hoof. "I'm Rarity, and this is my friend Pinkie Pie. And I believe your daughter and my little sister are friends."
Mr. Spoon nodded and seemed to smile briefly. "It's a delight to finally see some customers in here for a change," Then he sighed as his smile faded. "When I took over this establishment from Coriander and Saffron, I thought for sure I'd struck it big time. But alas, it seems I was wrong. I hope you two enjoy your meal though, it may be the only meal this restaurant will ever serve."
Saffron brought the food out a short time later, but she was already losing her patience when she saw her father, Coriander, stacking up the chairs on the other tables. "Father, stop it! Don't close up the restaurant around our guests."
But Coriander protested. "What does it matter?! When they leave, nopony else will be coming in!"
"I'm afraid Coriander is right," Mr. Spoon agreed. "I have tried everything to keep this place in business, but to no avail. I'm afraid I'm going to have to close up shop and shut down The Tasty Treat."
Silver Spoon glared at her father, particularly being provoked by what he'd just said. "With an attitude like that you'll certainly never get anypony in here! Can't you at least pretend to be positive?! This is exactly why Mother moved to Ponyville and took my big sister and I with her, shortly after I was born! Heck, this is why big sister Octavia chose to move back to Ponyville after the Gala, they both couldn't stand putting up with your attitude!"
Pinkie was busy slurping down her food, she was delighted in how well it tasted. "So good!" She exclaimed.
"You are doing enough pretending for the both of us. Nopony here wants to try anything new!" Mr. Spoon protested to his daughter. "When you've been in the business as long as I have, Silver, you learn when to cut your losses and move on! Perhaps Manehattan will prove more profitable."
Concerned by the rising tension in the room, Rarity nervously whispered to Pinkie. "Um, Pinkie, perhaps we should excuse ourselves and go look for that friendship problem."
But Pinkie only whispered to Rarity as she pushed a plate of food towards her friend. "Oh, Rarity, try this! It's the bomb!"
Rarity reluctantly took a bite of the food, and to her surprise it tasted far better than anything she'd had to eat since coming to Canterlot. "Ooh!" Was all she could bring herself to say, but she never the less forgot about trying to leave.
Silver Spoon complained to her father. "I can't believe you! You bring me here to learn how to be a waitress even after I said I didn't want to be one, and now you're going to shut down your dream just because business is a little slow?! Maybe if you would listen to my ideas for once..."
Mr. Spoon snorted as he replied. "Oh, yes! I most certainly haven't constantly traveled back and forth between here and Ponyville, just to spend time with my youngest daughter, who I never listen to! I'm trying my best to get you to understand how the business works, so that when you take over, you will have as much experience as I do!"
Pinkie spat out her food as she realized it wasn't just coincidence she'd been lured to The Tasty Treat. "Rarity, I think that friendship problem just kablammed us right between the eyes!" She whispered, as she put a hoof to her face to emphasize her point.
Rarity seemed surprised by such a suggestion. "These two? Oh, I don't know, darling. Don't get me wrong, the food is excellent, but I'm not sure there's much you and I can do to help them. You may live and work with The Cakes, but they do all the managing stuff, and running a successful boutique or three doesn't mean you can automatically do the same for a restaurant. Especially one that belongs to somepony else."
"But don't you see, that's exactly why the map called us here!" Pinkie insisted. "Nopony else would've sensed the wonderful cooking and decided to try it like I did, and nopony knows their way around Canterlort like you do. There must be something we can do for them."
In a scoffing tone, Mr. Spoon protested to his daughter. "What would you have me do? We couldn't even get Zesty Gourmand to come to our restaurant. She said it wasn't even worth rating!"
That turned out to be the suggestion that Pinkie and Rarity needed to realize what they could do to help. "That's it!" Rarity exclaimed, as she and Pinkie threw up their hooves.
"Yes! Uh, what's it?" Pinkie asked.
Rarity quickly explained. "The flow has led us here! This is our mission!" She then approached Mr. Spoon and Silver Spoon, as well as Coriander and Saffron, and said to them. "We are going to get you a three-hoof rating and save your restaurant! I'm sure I can get Zesty Gourmand here to rate it!"
"And I can pack this place with ponies no matter what!" Pinkie boasted. "I know something as unique as this will sell easily!"
"You two have quite the reputation for problem solving from what my daughter tells me," Mr. Spoon said to them. "Though I must admit some of the stories sound rather outlandish to say the least. Neither of you are even native to Canterlot, do you really think you can do what I couldn't?"
"Mr. Spoon, just leave it to us!" Pinkie and Rarity both said at once.
Rarity left a few minutes later to locate Zesty Gourmand, leaving Pinkie with the restaurant employees and owner. To pass the time, Coriander started packing up dishes and plates, much to his daughter's protest. "Father, will you please stop packing things?!" Saffron complained.
"Exactly, we'll need them when Zesty comes here tonight!" Silver Spoon added. "Just because my dad wants to give up doesn't mean you can do the same!"
Coriander remained unconcerned. "You don't know Zesty, if she says a restaurant isn't worth rating she really means it. So, when the lovely pony comes back and says that she couldn't convince Zesty Gourmand to come visit us, we will need to pack all this up. I am just getting a head start."
Pinkie only laughed at Coriander's remark. "You really don't know Rarity if you think that, Rarity has a way with words."
Just then, Rarity came back into the restaurant and happily boasted in a singsong voice. "I've done it!"
"See? I told you." Pinkie replied, and everyone gathered to hear what Rarity had to say.
"It wasn't easy, in fact it took all of my charm and cajoling, but I was able to convince Zesty Gourmand to come and try the food!" Rarity happily proclaimed.
"So Zesty's coming? Well, what is the catch?" Mr. Spoon asked. "Zesty wouldn't just say yes, her decision had to come at a price."
Rarity adopted a more serious tone as she said. "Ah, yes. Well, um, there is a bit of a challenge. The only time she could make herself available is tonight."
"I knew it wasn't that simple!" Mr. Spoon remarked, as Coriander just snorted.
"What's so wrong about Zesty coming here tonight? Don't we have enough time to get everything ready?" Silver asked Rarity. "We just need to get Zesty to see how good the food is, and we're in business!"
But Rarity explained. "If only it was that simple. The thing is, Zesty rates a restaurant on cuisine, decor, and presentation, and she has very specific tastes. So if she's coming tonight, then there is quite a bit of work that needs to get done before then." She reluctantly mentioned.
"Like what?" Pinkie asked Rarity.
"Oh, a tweak here, a tuck there, and maybe some slight modifications to the menu," Rarity replied with a nervous laugh. "We just need the place to feel a bit more cosmopolitan."
"Might as well as pack up now then, 'cause it's not gonna happen!" Mr. Spoon protested. "With Zesty's specific demands there's no way I'll just nab that three hooves rating and I doubt bribing her will work!"
Silver, however, snorted and shouted at her father. "Dad, after Rarity went through all this trouble just for us, can't we at least give it a shot?!" She asked him. "I love the food you serve here, I want this place to stay in business, and so do Miss. Rarity and Pinkie! Come on, what have we got to lose by trying?!"
"Well, how about I stay behind with Coriander and Mr. Spoon, to get the restaurant ready for Zesty's arrival?" Rarity offered to Silver Spoon, then she added. "And you, Pinkie, and Saffron can drum up some business before then."
"One packed restaurant coming right up!" Pinkie proudly proclaimed. "I already know some ponies that will gladly give this place a try, we just need to find them!" And she, Silver Spoon, and Saffron exited the building.
"Now don't you worry, Mr. Spoon," Rarity said to the stallion. "I promise you, with a fresh coat of paint and a little bit of diversifying the menu, we'll be able to get those hooves and make this restaurant a fine addition to Restaurant Row. Zesty will be pleased!"
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Saffron and Silver had their own concerns. "I hope my father doesn't drive Rarity crazy." Saffron sighed.
"I'm more worried about what my dad might do," Silver commented. "It sounds to me like he's giving up without even trying to fight."
Pinkie smiled. "Oh relax, Rarity's gonna make sure that The Tasty Treat is the most unique and beautiful restaurant in Canterlot! Not like all of those stuffy places on Restaurant Row. Now come on, let's go find Minuette and her friends!"
As it soon turned out, Mr. Spoon wasn't too pleased with Rarity's touch up efforts. "A fresh coat of paint isn't going to change anything, and neither will adjusting the menu ever so slightly," He said to Rarity. "The only way this place will succeed, is if it's just like all the other restaurants on Restaurant Row. It's clear that's what Zesty wants."
"Uh, Mr. Spoon," Rarity nervously commented. "I don't think Pinkie Pie or your daughter would very much approve of that. And to be perfectly honest, I have to side with them. This place stood out for better or for worse because it was so unique. Making it just like every other restaurant in Canterlot would take that away."
Mr. Spoon was quite insistent, however! "You don't know anything about restaurants, I do! And this is my establishment! So I'll decide what's needed to please Zesty, thank you very much!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't do that!" Rarity protested, stomping her hooves down firmly. "Maybe it's not always good to stand out, but I've come to learn that it never does any good to confirm to old or outdated standards! Every restaurant Zesty's given her approval to has had terrible food and the same generic decorating! I'll be darned if that's what Pinkie, Saffron, and Silver Spoon come back to!"
But Mr. Spoon only said to Rarity. "Well I'm afraid it's not up to you to decide what the restaurant looks like! I own it, so I can decide to decorate it however I please! I'm being generous as by letting you decorate, but I could easily do it myself if I wanted to," He sighed as he then added. "I was a fool to think standing out would get you ahead in the restaurant business here in Canterlot. Everypony hangs on the word of the elite, and whatever they approve of is what it becomes in style. If I don't please Zesty, I'll never draw in the crowds needed to keep this place running so I can pass it onto my daughter. Her cutie mark is a symbol of just how good a cook she can be, and she gets that from me. I'm sorry, but I'm going to decorate it the way I feel Zesty will approve of, and I'm gonna do it with or without your approval."
Reluctantly, Rarity decided to comply. "There's no need for such theatrics, Mr. Spoon. I suppose it's not too late to change this place a little. But it's only until Zesty has been pleased, then we're going right to back how it was before."
"We'll just see, okay?" Mr. Spoon replied.
Meanwhile, out on the streets of Canterlot, it was nearing sundown. Although Pinkie had managed to convince not only Minuette and her friends (including Lyra who had come to Canterlot with Bon Bon, the two celebrating an important milestone), but also Fancy Pants and Fleur, as well as Sassy Saddles, that was still far from a packed restaurant.
"The day's nearly over, and we still only have a small hooful of guests," Saffron sighed. "What are we going to do?"
"Try harder of course! We really need to push the uniqueness!" Pinkie insisted, holding up the paper sign for The Tasty Treat as she shouted. "Fillies and gentlecolts! Check out the super stupendous and amazing cuisine of The Tasty Treat! Grand re-opening tonight!" But everypony seemed to just pass by without noticing the sign, a few even commenting that since they hadn't heard of it it must not be rated. "Rrrgh! Stupid hooves!" Pinkie complained, throwing the paper sign! The wind caught it, and blew it across the street, where it landed in front of two earth ponies.
"Oh, look at this, hun!" Said a green coated stallion with black and gray hair styled into neat locks, a mustache, oragnish-yellow eyes, a white shirt with black straps, and a cutie mark depicting what looked like slices of bred.
The stallion's wife, an orange coated mare with a reddish-orange mane and tail styled to look bushy, a green shirt, brown eyes hidden behind a pair of red glasses, a purple hat, a red shoulder strap bag, and an orange slice for a cutie mark commented. "Oh, The Tasty Treat! Do you think that's a restaurant, sugar?"
"Yes! Yes, it is!" Pinkie happily exclaimed, picking up the paper sign. "And you two are?"
"Chargrill Breadwinner," The stallion introduced himself. "And this is my wife, Orange Slice. We came to Canterlot from Whinnyapolis to be adventurous. But so far, the food in all these hoity-toity places tastes like somepony cooked up nothin' with a side o' nothin'."
Silver then bowed as she politely said to the two. "Well, please, come try the Tasty Treat. I think it's going to be exactly what you're looking for."
"We most certainly will, come along, hun." Chargrill said to his wife, and the two followed Pinkie, Saffron, and Silver back to The Tasty Treat.
But when the trio of somewhat successful ponies returned to The Tasty Treat, they were shocked to find it looking just like every other restaurant on Restaurant Row! "Rarity, what did you do?" Pinkie asked, hoping she was somehow misseeing things. She wasn't.
Even Coriander had changed, he now had a pale gray shirt on as he unenthusiastically said. "Welcome to The Tasty Treat. You can eat here if you want. Or not. Who cares?"
"Rarity, I thought we were trying to make this the most unique and beautiful restaurant in Canterlot! Not make it exactly like every other restaurant!" Pinkie complained.
Rarity sighed as she reluctantly said to Pinkie. "I'm sorry, Mr. Spoon forced my hoof. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was quite insistent on his right to decorate it in his way."
Saffron was shocked and horrified to see that all the unique food items of The Tasty Treat had been replaced by a generic cuisine like substance! "Father, what is this?!" She shrieked.
Pinkie was equally as horrified. "No, not that! Anything but that! Rarity, how could you do this?!" She demanded.
Mr. Spoon however was quite insistent on getting his point across. "This is what we must cook if we're going to succeed here! I'm sorry, it's not my fault Zesty is so picky!"
With tears in her eyes, Silver Spoon pushed away the cuisine plate and shouted at her father. "But this isn't what I wanted! I wanted Canterlot to like your restaurant for what it had to offer in uniqueness, not more of the same! I wanted it to like you for being yourself!"
Rarity turned to Pinkie and reluctantly asked her. "So, where are the other guests? How many other ponies are coming besides the two following you?"
"Well, we were able to get Minuette and her pals, plus Lyra and Bon-Bon, then there's Fancy Pants and his wife, oh and we can't forget Sassy Saddles." Pinkie replied.
"Only nine other ponies?! That's not even enough to fill this place up halfway!" Rarity complained and said to Pinkie. "I thought you said that you could pack the place with ponies no matter what!"
Pinkie however fired back and shouted. "And you said you would make the restaurant better, so I guess we both didn't know what we were talking about!" She then added. "How could you just cave in like that?! You got into Canterlot and Manehattan's fashion markets because you dared to defy the norms, not follow them!"
"Like I said, it wasn't my call to make. I really wanted the restaurant to succeed on its own merits," Rarity sighed, before she heard a knock at the door! "Zesty Gourmand!" She gasped. "Everypony, places!" Reluctantly, everyone took up their designated spots, and just seconds later into the restaurant trotted a unicorn mare with a gray coat, a two toned silver mane and tail styled largely flat, grayish raspberry eyes, and gray eyebrows. Rarity gulped, this was the critic that would affect the future of The Tasty Treat, and already she didn't seem impressed!
Just about everyone in the restaurant, except for the guests, seemed to be intimidated into silence by Zesty's appearance, even though she hadn't said anything yet. It was Mr. Spoon who reluctantly broke the silence by greeting. "Um, hello, Miss Zesty Gourmand. I am Greasy Spoon, owner of The Tasty Treat. What can my fine chef Saffron and my wonderful host Coriander get for you tonight?"
Zesty just sighed and in a rather bored sounding tone she said. "I hardly think it matters, but by all means, try your best to impress. Whatever you'd recommend will do, I'll decide if it's worthy of recognition."
"Uh, then I guess I'll just put you down for our nightly special, whatever that is." Mr. Spoon nervously replied, now wishing he'd spent more time learning about his new menu.
"Well, we'll both try the special this evening. Maybe with a little kick to it, eh? Yeah, we've been craving some food with actual taste." Orange Slice happily proclaimed, sitting next to her husband.
"Same here, I'm itching for something that'll rival Lemon Hearts' treats at those lavish balls she hosts!" Minuette cheerfully commented. The rest of the customers ordered the same thing.
Surprisingly, when Pinkie, Rarity, Mr. Spoon, and Coriander made their way to the kitchen in the back, they were surprised to find Silver Spoon helping Saffron. "Saffron Masala, what are you doing?!" Coriander demanded, upon seeing the two near the stove.
"I'm trying to save our reputations!" Saffron stubbornly exclaimed.
Silver Spoon took a sip as she explained. "We added a little bit of flavor to the dish, so hopefully it won't taste completely bland. I mean, what kind of food critic doesn't like food with a taste to it?"
"Please, let me be the one to do it!" Rarity insisted. "Maybe I can smooth talk Zesty into not rejecting it outright!"
But Pinkie scooped up the dish and stubbornly said to Rarity. "You had your chance, now I'm trying to fix what you ruined for everypony!"
Mere seconds after Pinkie had announced said intention though, Mr. Spoon leaped up and shouted "Noooooooo!" Inadvertently knocking the bowl out of Pinkie's hooves, and causing it to fly through the air and splatter onto Zesty's face! That certainly prompted something of a reaction, as the harsh glare on her face caused everypony looking at it to flinch.
Zesty sighed, as she levitated the bowl away and wiped herself clean. "I believe I'm done here. I said it once and I'll say it again, The Tasty Treat isn't even worth rating." She then got up and prepared to leave.
"Zesty! Please wait! Allow me to explain!" Rarity pleaded.
Zesty just turned to Rarity and said. "Rarity, I highly respect your expertise when it comes to fashion, you and Sassy Saddles make a fine team. But take some advice from a friend – keep your opinions out of restaurants, especially ones like this. Recommending a disreputable place such as this could do serious damage to your social standing. Just look around and you will see why. Substandard food, laughable service, and I would think even you could recognize that the decor here is trying desperately while desperately failing. Do you really think I give out three hoof ratings for establishments like this?"
Pinkie burst out in protest. "Yes, because that's exactly what every restaurant bearing your three hoof ratings is like! They're all the same, bland decor, bland food, and no originality whatsoever! But I guess that's all you're good for, imposing your will onto others!"
Zesty was most shocked by this accusation! "What?! Surely you must have heard wrong, I most definitely do NOT preach conformity, such an act goes against the very nature of my profession!" She then demanded. "Just where do you even remotely entertain such fantasies?!"
Silver Spoon opened her mouth and shouted at Zesty. "Just look at Restaurant Row, you'll see! My father hoped to please you by being just like those other restaurants that got your three hoof rating! Don't tell me you don't know what's going on?!"
Zesty seemed to be confused and even beyond puzzled to hear such a thing. "Well, I'm not sure what is going on with Restaurant Row, but regardless it does not excuse you and your father from the same problems you have already had, young Spoon," She said to Silver Spoon. "There is a lot going on here that anyone can see, problems that a menu change and a fresh coat of paint won't solve. As long as those issues exist, there is no way I can even 'pretend' to give even a one hoof rating," She then added. "But, I suppose I can give you a rare second chance to impress me. I will look into these so called 'problems' at Restaurant Row, which should buy you and your father time to figure out how you will hope to impress me next time. Do note that you will have to work hard for that three hoof rating though." And she left, slamming the door in the process.
"That's Zesty for you," Sassy commented, approaching Rarity. "I'm sorry to say I took a lot of inspiration from her, and you can probably see where that led me."
Rarity just sighed. "I thought I could be just like you, Sassy. Taking a fledgling business in the heart of Canterlot and turn it into a success story, even I adopted your idea of a pattern for success. But look where it got me, stuck having to please somepony who wanted conformity over creativity."
"Oh, do chin up, Miss. Rarity," Fancy Pants reassured her. "Celestia knows I've made more than a few mistakes in my time, even as a delegate. Least you forget what happened at the last Canterlot Royal Summit, or that lovely garden party we attended together. Even when you become older and more experienced like I have, you never stop making mistakes. It's a fact of life I'm afraid."
Minuette spoke kindly to Pinkie. "And just what does Zesty know about food? She agreed to give a second chance, but does that really mean she wants this place to succeed?"
"Honestly, I can't tell," Pinkie commented. "Either way, I don't know if we can just turn everything around so suddenly."
Silver Spoon smiled. "Well maybe some good food will help you think," She continued to smile as she looked at her father and said. "I actually remember how we'd bake cookies or brownies together when I was younger and you were home more often. Heck, even big sister Octavia would help out sometimes, and we'd make lots of messes together. I miss those days, Dad. I know I can't bring them back, I know you have your career now, and I know you want me to follow in your hoofsteps like Diamond's dad expects her to do someday. But did you ever consider I might want a different life? My cutie mark may be a spoon, but if there's one thing the Cutie Mark Crusaders have taught me, it's that a cutie mark doesn't define who you are. Nopony but you can make that decision, it's up to you to determine what your cutie mark is telling you to do, not the other way around."
Mr. Spoon smiled back at his daughter. "I can't believe I could ever forget those experiences, everything's been so busy with the restaurant lately that I've lost sight of what it meant to be part of a family," Scooping his daughter into a hug he asked her. "Can you ever forgive your old stallion for being so blind?"
"Of course, Dad." Silver replied, delighting in getting some affection from her father for once.
"You know what?" Rarity suddenly realized. "Regardless of what Zesty thinks, what's important is that we let the ponies themselves decide how good the food is here. Pinkie, we are the perfect team for this! We were just doing the wrong jobs! I will go out and bring the crowd! You stay here and make sure this place is every bit as unique and rustic as it was the moment we walked in!"
"Now that I must certainly can do!" Pinkie agreed. "And we've already got quite a few guests ready to give the old menu a shot! But what about the rest? How do we attract them?"
Rarity only laughed. "Leave that to me. You do the cooking, and I'll work on the promoting. I intend to bring a crowd!" And indeed she did, she went out into the very streets of Canterlot with the paper sign attached to her, and when ponies recognized her she said to them. "Would the owner of one of the premier boutiques in Canterlot put a stamp of approval on something that wasn't fabulous?" It worked like a charm!
Pinkie stayed in the kitchen to help Coriander, Saffron, Silver Spoon and her father make all the food, though she also went outside to retrieve the old Tasty Treat logo from the trash.
At last, a huge crowd had gathered just outside the restaurant doors, and inside everypony was a little on edge. "It's almost time! Is everypony ready for the grand re-re-opening?" Rarity asked, trying to stay positive.
"Well, before we open, my father and I just wanted to say... Thank you for all of your help. We've both been so stressed about the restaurant succeeding that we forgot what it was we or at least he loved about it in the first place." Silver Spoon said with a smile, standing besides her father and feeling proud to do so for the first time since she couldn't remember when.
Mr. Spoon nodded as he added. "Cooking is something we used to love to do together. No matter what happens next, thank you for reminding us of that."
"Oh, you guys! Group hug!" Pinkie exclaimed, pulling the entire restaurant staff into a powerful group hug. When it had ended she then said. "Now come on! We've got a party to throw!"
Coriander opened the door, while Saffron mostly set to work on cooking, though she came out occasionally to help Silver and Mr. Spoon wait on tables. Before long, comments such as, "Welcome to The Tasty Treat! Make yourselves comfortable!" and "Please, feel free to sample the food!" Were being heard quite frequently.
Everyone was having such a good time, that the arrival of Zesty Gourmand almost went unnoticed. "Well, this is quite a welcome surprise," Zesty commented. "Ponies trying a new restaurant without my stamp of approval or even recommendation. Did Rarity and her friend tell you?"
"We most certainly did," Rarity replied, glaring at Zesty. "You've got a lot of nerve to come back already, Zesty. I do hope you're not going to shy away from trying the new or I should say old menu of The Tasty Treat, after all ignoring a unique and fresh establishment such as this could do serious damage to your social standing."
Pinkie then added. "And just because you like your food a certain way, there is no reason to tell these ponies that they need to do the same!"
But Zesty surprised everyone present by saying after clearing her throat. "I must apologize for any misunderstandings that might have been caused by our earlier encounter," She then explained. "I know it must sound hard to believe, but I truly did have no idea what was going on with Restaurant Row in my absence, a mistake I truly did not intend to let happen intentionally. Should it continue to prove troublesome, I believe I shall have to step down from my role as a critic, for my intention was to bring out the art of fine dinning here in Canterlot. Draw attention to places nopony else might be willing to look into. I most certainly did not want every restaurant to change itself to please me," She then added. "I can already sense a lot has changed in just a short span of time. Alas, I do not have time tonight to sit down for a full meal. However, I shall make myself available to visit as early as noon tomorrow and as late as sundown the same day. While I cannot gurantee The Tasty Treat a three hoof rating, I can already sense that it will not matter what I rate, ponies will flock to it regardless. So my thanks to you, Miss. Rarity, and to you Miss. Pinkie Pie, for helping me to see what I could not see before." And with that she departed, the crowd cheered in delight at this scene.
Even Silver Spoon and her dad were impressed. "Thank you so much! Both of you!" Silver Spoon happily exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "I can't wait to tell all my friends about my dad's business, it'll totally blow their minds!"
Mr. Spoon smiled, as he watched his daughter's happy bouncing. It always delighted him no matter how many times he saw it. "You are both truly amazing," He said to Rarity and Pinkie Pie. "I believe one of these days you two must introduce me to the rest of your friends. I've no doubt that they're every bit as unforgettable as you two are."
Just then, Pinkie Pie and Rarity felt a slight tingle on their rumps, and they saw that their cutie marks were glowing, thus signifying a job well done. "Oh yeah, we're on fire! Nothing can stop the dynamic duo of Pinkie and Rarity!" Pinkie exclaimed, before she and everypony present laughed.
S6 E15: The Cart Before The Ponies (What If?) (Bonus Chapter)
It was a typical Spring day in Ponyville, and inside Ponyville Elementary all the children were talking amongst themselves about various subjects of importance. They all stopped when they saw their teacher enter, they made sure to give her their full attention and smile as they all said. "Good morning, Miss Cheerilee!"
Cheerilee smiled back at the children and said to them. "Good morning, everypony! I hope you brought your thinking caps, because today we're going to learn about physics!"
"Wait, physics?" Scootaloo asked.
Cheerilee nodded. "In an interesting way no less, and trust me it's going to be very important. The knowledge about the use of force in energy conversions! In this case, using mechanical work to convert potential energy into kinetic energy, and without it you probably won't fare well tomorrow!"
"Beg your pardon, the what now?" Diamond Tiara asked. "Not that I mean to question you, Miss. Cheerilee, but this stuff sounds like it's gonna be way over our heads."
Cheerilee only smiled, as she presented a rotating chalkboard and said to her students. "You'll need to have at least a basic knowledge of force if you want to participate in the..." She kicked the chalkboard and it rotated to show a picture of a cart. "Applewood Derby!" She proudly exclaimed, prompting a chorus of cheers from her students.
Silver Spoon breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. For a moment there, I was actually thinking we were going to learn all about physics." She commented to herself, but everypony in the classroom seemed to share her statement.
"So we get to race in the Applewood Derby tomorrow?! That is so cool!" Scootaloo happily exclaimed, once the students had settled down a little.
"My family's talked about it for years, and now I'm finally old enough to take part!" Apple Bloom cheered. "This will be so much fun!"
"Yeah, I'll bet it'll be just like those racing games down at the arcade," Diamond Tiara commented, before she added. "Uh... that I most certainly never play." Despite having turned over a new leaf at school, the pink coated filly was still somewhat reluctant to let others know about what she was doing, least she give her mother reason to be suspicious (or worse yell at her for not behaving like a proper rich pony).
Cheerilee knocked one of her hooves against the rotating chalkboard as she announced. "Now hold on to your horseshoes, everypony. You've got a lot of work to do before you're ready to race."
"Yeah, but... not schoolwork, right?" Snips asked Cheerilee. "I mean, not that we'd have a problem with that. It's just, cart racing sounds more exciting is all."
Cheerilee smiled. "You're quite right, Snips. Which is why you all need to listen carefully to these instructions," She then explained. "There'll be a block of applewood just like this one waiting for you at Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow, and you've got one day to turn it into a race-ready cart to enter in the derby."
All the students groaned. "Oh, yeah... That is a lot of work." Silver Spoon commented.
Cheerilee nodded. "Which is why you'll each get to pick one older pony to help you with your cart. But choose wisely, because they'll also have to ride in the cart with you during the race," She then trotted over to her desk and added. "Oh, and one more thing. Your cart has to cross the finish line if you want to win one of the three awards from the derby," She opened up a case displaying three glistening silver colored ribbons with gold trim, each one styled to look a bit differently to represent what their award signified. "Fastest – for winning the race, naturally. Most traditional – for the best working replica of an original Applewood cart. And most creative – for the cart with the best overall design."
"Hoo-wee! Those ribbons are the bees' knees." Apple Bloom spoke up in a dreamy tone of voice, and all her fellow students agreed with her.
Cheerilee snapped her students out of their dream like states as she declared in a kind but serious tone. "All right then, class! You've got a lot to learn if you want to build a race cart."
"Aww... I knew there was gonna be a catch!" Snails complained. "I just hope this physics stuff isn't too boring."
When class had let out for the day, each and everypony went home to start on their plans for their derby carts and think of who they wanted to ask to race with them. Everypony that is, except for Diamond Tiara and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Ever since she'd told off her mother in front of all her classmates, Diamond was much too fearful of what her mother might say or do to risk walking home alone (though she tried to keep her friends out of range of the Rich family estate, least Spoiled Rich have any reason to suspect more than she already did). "So, you three probably already know who you're gonna ask to race with you, aren't you?" Tiara asked.
Not surprisingly the three Crusaders nodded and each said. "Yup."
"I'm actually kind of interested in those old fashioned carts they used for the derby back in the old days," Sweetie Belle commented. "So hopefully Rarity won't mind if I try to go for most traditional instead of most creative."
"Funny you should mention those old carts," Apple Bloom replied to Sweetie Belle. "When Ponyville started the Derby, they decided to use the wood from our apple trees for the carts. The race has been a part of Sweet Apple Acres ever since. And honestly, every Apple who's ever raced has always gotten most traditional, I'd rather try my luck with fastest cart! Just 'cause it's Apple themed doesn't mean it has to go slow, and I hope either Applejack or Big Macintosh will understand that."
"Well, you won't have to worry about trying to beat me," Scootaloo said to Apple Bloom. "I zoom around on my scooter so much that winning fastest cart doesn't really feel like a big deal, I could probably win that easily. I want to truly stand out and finally shed that annoying chicken label I keep seem to get stuck with. I was thinking about asking my mom, but Rainbow Dash and I haven't really done anything together since the Sisterhooves Social, and I kind of owe her for keeping quiet about her crash landing during her big Wonderbolts debut."
Diamond coughed. "For the record I didn't hear it from you, in case anypony asks."
"Sounds like we're all gonna try somethin' a little different this time around." Apple Bloom commented, changing the subject.
"Yeah, it'll be a nice break from looking for cutie mark problems," Scootaloo added. "Plus we can probably talk with some of the derby participants and see if they're having any kind of cutie mark problems."
"So, what about you, Diamond Tiara?" Sweetie Belle asked, noticing that the pink coated filly had not mentioned any sort of plans for the derby yet. "You gonna join in or just sit on the sidelines?"
Tiara sighed. "Well, everypony else is getting involved, so I might as well do so too. I just hope I can get either Father or Randolph to work on the cart with me," She shuddered as she added. "Getting stuck with Mother would be the worst possible thing that could happen."
"How have things been going with her ever since, well you know?" Scootaloo inquired.
Tiara hung her head. "We haven't really talked, lately Mother and I have just kind of ignored each other unless we absolute can't pretend the other one doesn't exist. At least I'm glad when she takes those monthly spa trips and leaves me alone in the house for the day, even though I'd probably love to go with her and be pampered, if only so I could say we have something in common."
"Wow, I thought for sure she'd have learned her lesson by now," Apple Bloom commented. "If I had a mother like that, I'd have probably run away from home by now."
"Oh believe me, the thought has crossed my mind more times than you'd think," Diamond replied. "Were it not for the fact that Mother would surely hunt me down and drag me back, I'd probably do it," She reluctantly added. "I can imagine she'll probably be pretty furious no matter what award I try to go for, but hopefully bringing home one will be enough to shut her up for a while. Maybe most traditional would be best, I wouldn't have a lot of competition. Though maybe fastest cart would be easier, since all I have to do is cross the finish line first. Then again, maybe most creative would be more worthwhile, then if I lose I can say I had a lot of tough competition."
"Well, whatever award you decide to shoot for, we wish you all the best of luck," Sweetie Belle said to Diamond Tiara. "And if you need to talk to us, just let us know."
"Thanks for the offer, and hopefully I won't need it anytime soon," Tiara replied to the Crusaders. "So, guess I'll see you all the derby tomorrow. May the best fillies win."
"You mean, may the best Crusaders win, you're one of us now!" Scootaloo proudly proclaimed. "Sure, you're technically an honorary member like Babs, but if we can keep calling ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders now that we have our cutie marks, there's no reason why you can't be a part of our group too!"
Diamond smiled, but on the inside she was still very nervous as she bid her friends goodbye, and parted ways as she approached the path leading up to her family mansion.
Diamond Tiara was quite relieved when she managed to slip inside her home without detecting even a hint of her mother's presence. With any luck, her mom was either at the spa or out doing Celestia knows what. Either way, as long as she wasn't likely to be home anytime soon, Tiara could rest easy and hopefully get either her dad or Randolph to start helping her on her cart (and maybe figure out which award to try for).
"Today's my lucky day!" Tiara thought, as she approached the hallway leading to her father's study. "No sign of Mother anyway! Maybe Dad's finally wisened up and told her off for being such a brat, and now she's off blowing off steam somewhere far away!" She nearly leaped into the air in celebration, even feeling tempted to burst into song at this wonderful fact. But her happy mood turned out to be premature, for all of a sudden as she rounded a corner, there was the familiar raised snout and stern glare of her mother. "Shouldn't have looked that gift horse in the mouth!" She thought, as she realized there was no way she could just avoid her mother now.
Spoiled Rich seemed to be just as surprised to see Diamond Tiara, as Diamond Tiara was surprised to see Spoiled. But that didn't seem to stop her from casting that harsh glare that seemed to penetrate deep in Tiara's soul. "Oh, it's you," Spoiled commented, not even bothering to hide how much she didn't like seeing her daughter. "What do you want from me?! Come to beg for another advance in your allowance perhaps, or maybe you're hoping I'll help you with your homework? Whatever it is, you can forget it! After spitting in the face of everything I taught you and befriending those 'Cutie Mark Losers', you're hardly even worthy of being a rich pony! Were it not for the simple fact that it would ruin my reputation, I'd throw you out on the streets!"
"Nice to see you too, mother. Glad to know the feeling's not mutual." Diamond sarcastically mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that!" Spoiled hissed. "How stupid do you have to be to think that even though I'm in the same room as you, I somehow can't hear you?!"
Diamond just sighed. "Look, you don't like me, I get that. And I really don't like you. So can we just agree to stay out of each other's way for the rest of today?" She asked her mother. "There's something I'd like to discuss with Father, alone."
But Spoiled immediately blocked the path in front of her daughter. "And just what is so important that you can't talk to me about? I am still your mother whether you like it or not."
"It's nothing that would interest you, it's not a trip to the spa or even a luxury cruise. It would involve mingling with common ponies." Diamond replied, hoping that would persuade her mother to leave her alone.
"Oh, don't tell me you're actually thinking of participating in something so silly as the Applewood Derby." Spoiled remarked.
"Wait, how did you know I was going to take part in the derby?" Tiara asked, before she realized what she'd just done and put her hooves to her mouth. "Wait, I mean-" She protested.
Spoiled chuckled (though to Diamond it sounded like a super villain laugh). "Because you just told me, silly filly. You're still my daughter, and I can read you like an open book," But her moment of joy was soon replaced by disgust. "You really want to waste your time with that stupid derby, getting your hooves all greasy and dirty?"
"All the more reason why I think you wouldn't care about it," Diamond remarked. "I still don't even know what my cart's gonna be, or what award I want to have it possibly win."
Spoiled's ears perked up upon the mentioning of an award. "Award huh?" Suddenly she appeared to sound much more interested in the derby than she had been just a few minutes ago.
"I've really gotta learn to keep my big mouth shut!" Diamond mentally cursed, before she reluctantly explained. "Yeah, there are three different awards given out by Miss. Cheerilee. Fastest Cart for the cart that wins the race, Most Creative for the cart with the best overall design, and Most Traditional for the cart which is the best replica of the original slot cars used to race the first derby. Miss. Cheerilee also said I could have an older pony help me with my cart, and I'm pretty sure she meant an older pony who actually cares about racing with me, like Father or Randolph."
But suddenly, Spoiled threw back her head and began to laugh. "Oh Diamond, you should've mentioned those awards from the get go. You're going to enter that derby, and I'm going to race with you! Together, we'll design the best cart anypony's ever seen!" She boasted.
"What?! Are you out of your mind?!" Diamond exclaimed. "On second thought, don't answer that."
Spoiled continued to laugh and boast. "Come now, Diamond, haven't you wished we could do something together as mother and daughter?"
"Yeah, but not something like this. You just care about the awards!" Diamond complained. "I don't care if I win or not, I just want to have some actual fun for a change! You know, instead of constantly being forced to attend these 'etiquette culture' lessons that last for hours!"
"And whoever said I only cared about the awards?" Spoiled lied, not even trying to hide it. "Besides, is it really so wrong to want my daughter to be the best at everything? And don't you dare answer that, because the only acceptable answer is 'Yes'."
Tiara sighed and face hoofed, her mother was being incredibly persistent. "You're going to help me whether I want you to or not, aren't you?" She asked.
"Of course, and with my help you'll become the first pony in derby history to take home all three awards!" Spoiled boasted with a smirk. "I have a foolproof plan that's so simple and straightforward, even an ungrateful brat like you won't be able to mess it up. And for your sake I hope you won't try."
Tiara gulped hard, it seemed her mind had been made up for her. "So, what did you have in mind, Mother?" She reluctantly asked.
"Well, first we need to get our hooves on that block of applewood and come up with an acceptable entry that's also fitting of rich ponies such as myself," Spoiled said, leading her daughter away from the study. "And then we can work on ensuring you get all three awards."
"Okay, now I know I'm hearing things," Diamond replied, eyeing her motherly suspiciously. "You do know that a cart can't both win Most Creative and Most Traditional, right? To say nothing of the chances a traditional cart has of winning Fastest Cart. I think they specifically intended for each of the awards to be won by different ponies, Mother."
Spoiled only laughed at the statement. "Well, some rules were meant to be broken. Once you've made some 'adjustments' to the other carts, your cart will be the only one left on the track that can qualify for them."
"You're not actually suggesting cheating, are you? Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Diamond commented.
Spoiled just laughed again, as she practically pushed Diamond Tiara out the front door of the Rich family mansion. "All's fair in love, war, and cart racing. As long as you're taking home all three awards tomorrow, I don't particularly care what happens to the other racers, though I promise they'll be unharmed," She then added. "And if you try to tell anypony, well in their right mind is going to believe you over me?"
And so it was that a VERY reluctant Tiara snuck out to the derby track that night, per her mother's instructions. With the cart they were going to enter completed (and Spoiled insisted on driving it to ensure her daughter didn't try to throw the race and prevent them from winning any of the awards), now it was time to "Eliminate The Competition" as Spoiled had not so subtely put it.
"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," Tiara thought to herself, wondering if perhaps this was all just a really bad dream or something. "I'd say 'The things I do for my mother's love' but if she truly loved me even half decently, she wouldn't be making me do this. She probably would do it herself if she wasn't so lazy. And just when I thought she couldn't sink any lower."
The sabotaging mostly revolved around subtle tweeks to the cart that you'd have to look closely to notice, or more often just removing some of the air pressure in the tires. A couple of carts required more obvious changes, including attaching special devices for Spoiled to activate at will.
At last, Diamond came upon the carts of the three ponies responsible for her change in personality and behavior (though it seems the hope of a better mother had been too much to ask for), and the ones who had risked everything to help her when nopony else would. Was she really about to possibly ruin it all again, just by listening to her mother? The carts all looked beautiful to the pink coated filly, Apple Bloom's cart appeared to have been model out of a barrel but it had apple themed wheels and looked like a typical race cart, Sweetie Belle's cart supported a beautiful yellow fringe around the roof but otherwise it seemed like an almost exact recreation of the first Applewood Derby carts, and Scootaloo's cart had an amazing falcon theme to it with its blazing red wings and orange neck. All three carts seemed poised to win the award their respective owners wanted.
"Whatcha doin' out here so late, Diamond Tiara?" Apple Bloom asked, spotting the filly from a distance. "The girls and I just came down to put some finishin' touches on our carts before tomorrow's big race."
"Where's your cart? Don't tell me you're backing out, racing with you was going to be so much fun!" Sweetie Belle claimed.
"And why are you eyeing our carts?" Scootaloo inquired of her friend. "You thinking of copying them or something?"
Just then, Apple Bloom noticed something sticking out of Diamond's saddle bag. "Hey, whatcha ya got there?" She asked, as Sweetie Belle used her magic to pull the mysterious object out.
"Wait, please, don't!" Diamond shouted, but it was too late.
"Hey, wait a second!" Scootaloo commented, upon noticing how strange the object looked. "You're trying to sabotage our carts, aren't you?! And to think we actually thought you'd turned over a new leaf!"
"It's not like that, I swear!" Tiara pleaded. "Don't you girls trust me?"
"You have to admit, this is pretty suspicious," Sweetie commented to Tiara. "Even if you're somehow NOT trying to cheat, what reason could you have for needing a dohickey like this?"
"You'd better have a darn good reason for us not to revoke your honorary crusader title right here and now!" Apple Bloom said seriously. "Friends don't do this to other friends!"
Tiara leaped up, grabbed the device (freeing it from Sweetie Belle's magical grip) and threw it as hard as she could on the ground! The device broke into pieces! "If you must know," She reluctantly confessed. "Mother's dead set on racing with me, or rather she's intent on making sure that I win all three awards tomorrow, and by extention she'll have something to brag about. I was hoping to race with Father or Randolph instead, but alas Mother found out and I guess the awards were enough to make her overcome her distaste for dirtying her own hooves," She then sighed. "I'm sorry, girls. Looks like this derby's not gonna be an honorable one, Mother seems intent on taking over this whole thing and unfortunately there's little I can do to stop her. You'd think being told off by her own daughter, her own fur and blood, would snap some sense into her, but no!"
"How do we know for sure you're not lying?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, no offense but I haven't exactly gotten over the lie you told me during the flag carrying tryouts. Those words cut pretty deep you know."
Diamond didn't bother to open her mouth to speak, Scootaloo brought up a good point. "You don't have to believe me, and quite frankly I don't blame you if you decide to do so," She said to her friends. "If you want to kick me out of the club you can, I don't really know if I can call myself a true Cutie Mark Crusader after this. And if your carts somehow malfunction or something, you'll probably know who's to blame." Rather than linger any longer at what would likely end up becoming the scene of investigation once somepony learned the derby carts had been tampered with, the pink coated filly turned and left.
But just before she was out of hearing range, Sweetie Belle called out to the pink coated filly. "Diamond, if your mom's making you do something you don't want to do, you can just say 'No'. If you know this is wrong, then you don't have to do it."
"I thought standing up to her and telling her off would put an end to her bad behavior," Diamond sighed, not bothering to turn to face her friend. "And well, look how well that's turned out."
"Look, crusader or not, we ain't just gonna turn our backs on you without a good reason," Apple Bloom replied. "And this ain't one of 'em. If somethin''s botherin' you, we want to help. But we can't do that if you're not willin' to trust us. Don't you get it, you have friends now, and friends look out for each other."
Tiara really didn't know how to respond to that. Should she tell them everything? Would they even believe her? But on the other hoof, was there really any point trying to please her mother when the mare had appeared to fixated on winning at all costs? Reluctantly, after several minutes of silence, she simply said. "Well, I'll tell you. But it's your choice if you want to believe me or not."
The day of the derby attracted a significant crowd to the site of the race track, which weaved all around Ponyville with only hay bales to truly block off areas the carts could pass through. Cheerilee herself had a big bow tied to the back of her head, that was purple and yellow in color, and she had on a white cheerleader outfit with yellow trim, and yellow and purple stripes, as well a yellow skirt with purple lines to it. She also had two yellow pom-poms currently in her hooves, and it was obvious she was even more cheerful and upbeat than she normally was.
From high above, the familiar presence of the hot air balloon carried Pinkie Pie and Spike, as they looked down at the racers below. As well as at Twilight and Starlight, who were standing off to the side and uniting their horns to generate a powerful magical projection screen.
"Hellllllllloooooooooo Equestria!" Spike greeted from up in the balloon, using a microphone! "It's time once again for the annual Applewood Derby! I'm Spike!"
"And I'm Pinkie Pie." Pinkie announced.
"And together we're gonna be bringing you all the non-stop action and excitement that this derby race has to offer," Spike eagerly commented. "And with a little help from Princess Twilight and her student Starlight Glimmer, both of whom happen to be my family by the way, we've got a live broadcast being played all over Equestria! So even those of you who can't be here to see the race, won't have to miss the memorable moments!"
Pinkie beamed, as she looked down and noticed a huge cloud of dust. "Ooh, and here come our young wacky racers. The most daring little dare devils ever to rev their wheels on this all out cart showdown!" She commented. "We now take you live, as all the racers and their carts take their position at the starting line!"
Spike and Pinkie looked down at the carts as they approached, and announced each one as it arrived. "First up we have Apple Bloom and Applejack driving the Apple Turbine," Spike called out. "Apple Bloom's looking to take home the award for Fastest Cart today, and with a cart like that I think it's safe to say she's going to be a blur out on the track. But will speed alone be enough to cut it?"
"Well, time will tell, and speaking of time, we've got a cart that looks like it came right out of the past!" Pinkie happily exclaimed. "It's Sweetie Belle and Rarity, and they're driving the Fashionable Old School Cart. It seems they're more interested in endurance than speed, perhaps that will prove useful today?"
"Useful, maybe, but it's definitely not going to win any beauty contests," Spike commented. "Now this next vehicle is another story. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash will be driving the Falcon Racer, a true majestic swan of the track. Will the fat lady singing be the sound of a swan song carrying these two to victory?"
"Maybe, but this next cart probably begs to differ," Pinkie announced. "It's Snips and his father Ed, driving the Barber's Pole. I guess the two have decided to promote the family business with their cart, but it's too bad this race doesn't have sponsorships or commercial breaks. It's gonna be non-stop racing and cart action until the last of them is across the finish line or has dropped out of competition."
"Speaking of competition, I think we've got our underdog cart to watch out for!" Spike declared! "Snails and his father Tailer are driving what looks like to be the Snail Mobile. You've heard the old saying 'Slow and steady wins the race'? Well it seems that's what these two are betting on to carry them to victory."
"But they'll have to watch out, because this next cart is a true delight. Not just to the eyes, but the nostrils!" Pinkie commented, licking her lips. "We've got Twist and her Aunt Bon-Bon driving the Candy Cart, and already you can see Lyra and her friends rooting on Bon-Bon's cart to win!"
"Well now it seems we have a cart that is truly without equal," Spike commented. "Button Mash and his brother Gibson are driving what looks like a pipe framed cart with big wheels. They're calling it the All Star."
"Definitely a cart worth keeping an eye on," Pinkie declared. "And up next is the Cloud Cruiser driven by Rumble and Thunderlane, seems like someponies took inspiration from the derbies Cloudsdale used to host every year."
"Perhaps, but this next card doesn't have its head in the clouds, it's worth its weight in silver!" Spike replied. "It's the Silver Roadster, driven by Silver Spoon and Octavia, no doubt adding a touch of class to the derby."
"And last but most certainly not least, we have a cart that's not even trying to hide the family that made it! It's the Diamond Mobile," Pinkie announced. "Driven by Diamond Tiara and Spoiled Rich," But she suddenly gasped and shook her head when she noticed something. "I mean, Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara?"
"What?!" Spike exclaimed, eyeing the cart. He noticed that Spoiled Rich was in the driver's seat, the only older pony currently doing so. "Spoiled must be crazy! Doesn't she know the entire point of this race is for the colts and fillies to do the driving themselves?!" He asked.
"I don't know, but it looks like Cheerilee's not thrilled with this rules violation even before the race begins," Pinkie declared. "It seems the Diamond Mobile's racing career could be over, before it even began."
Meanwhile, down below, Cheerilee was eyeing Spoiled Rich with suspicion. "Just what is the meaning of this, Spoiled?" She asked. "I hate to be Captain Obvious, but usually the younger ponies drive the carts."
Spoiled just laughed. "Cheerilee, I assure you, this is far from your usual cart. Which is why a well oiled machine like this should be driven an expert, like me!" She then smirked as she added. "I know what you're thinking, you're thinking: 'That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Does Spoiled Rich think I'm stupid or something?!'."
"Not how I would've put it, but however you look at it, it's a violation of the rules," Cheerilee said sternly. "So unless you're willing to get in the back seat and allow Diamond Tiara to take over driving duty, I'm afraid I'll have to scratch you both from the race. It's a shame, to think I'd actually have to do such a thing."
Spoiled threw back her head and laughed hard! "Come now, Cheerilee! Surely you realize who you're talking to! The very mare who, at great personal expense I might add, so generously allowed for all that new playground equipment to be donated, when your Student President couldn't scrape together the bits to pay for it. And don't forget who served as president of the school board until just recently."
"My only regret was not kicking you off sooner," Cheerilee said as she rolled her eyes. "I can't just ignore this violation of the rules. Rules are rules, and if I didn't enforce them then what would be the point of having them?"
"Cheerilee, after all I did for your measly little school, this is how you repay me?" Spoiled commented. "Besides, do you really want to ruin my daughter's first derby simply because I'm looking out for her safety."
"Somehow I doubt that's your real reason for doing this," Cheerilee commented. "But you just won't take no for an answer, will you?"
Surprisingly, it was Diamond Tiara who spoke up and said. "It's okay, let Mother drive, just this once. If she really thinks she knows this cart better than I do, who am I to question her?"
"See?" Spoiled smirked at Cheerilee. "Even my own daughter agrees with me, so surely you could let this slide, just this once."
"They're not paying me enough to deal with the horseapples coming out of your mouth, Spoiled!" Cheerilee thought, but she knew better than to say such a crude remark out loud. She just rolled her eyes and said. "Fine, but I'm warning you, Spoiled. You give me one good reason to think you're up to no good, and I'll have you yanked from the race along with your daughter and the cart you rode in on. So don't try any funny business."
"Oh believe me, Cheerilee, if I try anything it won't be funny." Spoiled insisted.
Cheerilee only sighed, as she reluctantly trotted away from the cart and made her way over to the starting line. "Derby racers to the starting line. Derby racers to the starting line!" The carts all lined up in a row, as Cheerilee said. "Racers: On your marks, get set, go!" And she blew a horn, signaling the start of the race!
"And they're off!" Pinkie announced. "And while they weave their around this track of crazy twists and tight turns that leads them from Sweet Apple Acres through the center of town, past Sugarcube Corner and Barnyard Bargains, zooms around town hall, and then comes back to Sweet Apple Acres, we'll be covering all three laps worth of this derby racing action!"
"I just hope that whatever Spoiled's probably got planned won't work," Spike replied nervously. "I'd hate to see something as fun and exciting as this turn into a disaster."
The race started off uneventfully, through the first turn Spoiled was perfectly content to just focus on driving and passing as many of the other carts as she could. As for Diamond, she could only sigh and hope that by the time this was all over, she wouldn't be banned from the Applewood Derby for the rest of her life.
As the carts started to move away from Sweet Apple Acres and towards the center of Ponyville, Spoiled decided it was time to put her secret plans into action. "Alright, Diamond Tiara!" She grumbled, tossing a device similar to the one from last night to her daughter. "Time to start thining the ranks a bit. You know what to do."
"Is this really necessary?" Tiara asked her mother, even though she knew such a question was in vain.
"Absolutely, you're going to win those three ribbons whether you want to or not! My family will be the talk of the town for years to come!" Spoiled proclaimed. "Now press a button and unleash havoc on the other racers. Why don't you start with slowpoke Snails and his father? They don't seem to know speed is necessary to win a derby."
Diamond hesitated for a brief moment, as she looked at how much fun Snails and his dad were having. It was the kind of fun she wished she could be having right about now. But alas, the pink coated filly knew if she wasn't the one to press the button, her mother certainly would be. It was time to see if her secret plan was a success.
Tiara pressed a red button on the square like device. Snails and his father were suddenly surprised to see a change in their tire pressure, but not for the reason they might have thought! Somehow, their tires had inflated a little, and as a result their cart was starting to pick up speed.
"Hey, look at that!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It seems like the Snail Mobile just got a speed boost! It's starting to move up on the racers in the center!"
"Could we possibly be seeing a come from behind victory from the slowest cart in the race?!" Spike pondered.
"I don't know, but something tells me we haven't seen the last of surprises like that," Pinkie replied. "One thing's for sure though, this is gonna be a derby to remember!"
Down below, Spoiled was surprised and furious to see that rather having grounded to a screeching halt with flat tires, Snails and his father were cruising along just fine. "You pressed the wrong button!" Spoiled shouted at Diamond.
But Diamond protested. "I did exactly as you told me, something must've happened on their end to cause the deflation to fail."
"Whatever," Spoiled scoffed. "Let them enjoy their brief taste of glory, we'll deal with them soon enough," She then eyed Twist and Bon-Bon and added. "But for now, I think it's time we show those candy delighters that revenge is sweet!"
"You're still mad about Twist being friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders during my cute-ceañera?" Tiara asked, even though she knew she shouldn't be surprised. Her mother's middle name may not be Grudge, but that didn't mean her mother was the kind of pony who just forgave and forgot.
"Nopony upstages my daughter and gets away with it!" Spoiled firmly replied. "This time, make sure you press the right button! I want to see that Candy Cruiser spin out of control like it hit an oil slick!"
Diamond once again hesitated, before she pressed a button on the device (this time the blue one). But just like before, the opposite affect of what Spoiled had intended occurred. Rather than spin like crazy, Twist and Bon Bon's cart spun around in a full circle, then it did a 180 so that the back of the cart was facing forward, but it lasted only for a little while until Twist was able to get everything straightened out again.
"Did you see that?! For a moment there it looked like the Candy Cruiser was going to suffer a spin out!" Spike exclaimed, as both he and Pinkie's mouths dropped open in shock. "I feel dizzy just watching that thing from up here!"
"Well, that little spin show has cost the Candy Mobile precious time," Pinkie explained. "Ooh, I sure hope they can recover, I was really counting on it to win! Then again, I wish all the carts could win something!"
Spoiled was once again furious! "What is going on here?!" She exclaimed. "Why isn't anything I'm telling you to do working?!"
"I have no idea, Mother," Tiara replied, trying to sound as innocent as possible. "Maybe we should take this as a sign to just play fair and square."
"Absolutely not! We didn't come all this way just to go home empty hoofed!" Spoiled remarked, as the carts started to weave past Sugarcube Corner. "Well, this time I know everything will go according to plan! It's time we clipped the Falcon Racer's wings and knocked it out of the race! And I know just the surprise to do the job!"
"Mother, please, you know Scootaloo can't fly yet! She could get hurt, or worse!" Diamond protested.
"Relax, I'm merely trying to help her achieve her dream," Spoiled fiendishly smiled. "Now do as I say and press the yellow button!"
"The yellow button?" Tiara asked.
"Yes, the yellow button. Do I make myself clear?!" Spoiled shouted at her daughter.
Diamond gulped and pressed the yellow button. "I hope that plan of ours works, Crusaders!" She thought, hoping for the best.
A seat in the Falcon Racer suddenly ejected itself into the air! But it wasn't Scootaloo's seat, it was Rainbow Dash's! "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo cried.
"I'll be okay, squirt!" Rainbow shouted back, as she unbuckled herself and took to the air. "Just go on without me, I know you can do it! Make me proud, kid!"
"I will!" Scootaloo vowed. "I'll do it for you, Rainbow Dash!" And she pressed down on the gas pedal, her cart began to go faster!
"Scootaloo's cruising along on her own!" Spike exclaimed. "But it looks like Rainbow Dash is monitoring her from the air!"
"Hey, I thought we were the only eyes in the sky in this race!" Pinkie protested.
Spoiled yanked the device from Diamond's hooves! "You must've tampered with it somehow!" She exclaimed in fury! "Well, too bad your little counter sabotage efforts end here! It's time to end this and leave them all in the dust! Then I'll make sure none of those other racers can reach the finish line!" She eyed the green button and prepared to press it.
"DON'T!" Tiara screamed, for she knew what would happen if the button was pressed! But it was too late!
All of a sudden, Spoiled and Diamond's cart began to accelerate rapidly and out of control! Spoiled attempted to press on the brake pedal as hard as she could, but the cart only continued to gain speed! Worse was to come, ahead was a sharp turn leading to the back half of the track (from here on it was a race back to Sweet Apple Acres to complete the first lap)! Spoiled yanked the steering wheel as far to the right as she could, hoping to make a sharp turn and stay on the track! The cart began to turn, but not in time, the back end of it struck some haybales and began to spin around like no tomorrow! At last, it had turned so that it was completely blocking the track, and that was when it finally stopped!
Some of the carts that were neck and neck with the Diamond Limousine had been forced to make a hasty stop, but had still bumped into the cart, and the rest of the carts were forced to break hard to avoid the huge pile-up blocking the road! Everypony was very angry and annoyed, mostly with Spoiled since she was the driver!
"Well, folks, it looks like our little derby has been brought to a screeching halt," Spike nervously commented. "We're still awaiting word from race officials as to when things will resume."
"In the meantime, we apologize for any inconvenience this delay has caused," Pinkie added. "Cheerilee is currently checking with the derby officials and should be over shortly to assess the damage."
Meanwhile, down on the race track, Spoiled was trying in vain to defend herself from the heckles and jeers from the angry racers of the other carts. All of whom were mad with Spoiled for cloging up the roadway.
Turning her attention away from the other racers for a moment, Spoiled noticed her daughter trying to slip away without being noticed. It didn't take long for her to conclude just why every sabotage attempt had backfired. "And just where do you think you're going, Diamond Tiara?!" She exclaimed.
"Anywhere, as long as it's away from you!" Diamond replied. "You've ruined the derby for everypony, and likely gotten me banned for life! I hope you're happy with yourself!"
Spoiled only glared at Diamond Tiara as she commented. "It may be a first but it's far from a pleasure. You've made me look like quite the fool, and yet all you can do now is just stand here and yell at me. Well, go on, say whatever you want, I don't care! If this is how you repay me for trying to do something nice for you, I suppose I should never bother to do anything for you ever again!"
Tiara growled. "First of all, that cart you just crashed isn't even supposed to be your cart! I was supposed to be the one to drive it!" She then remarked. "Second, even if this plan of yours worked, there is no way I've could've won all three ribbons! What part of "Most Creative and Most Traditional are two different things" didn't you understand?! Heck, could you even be sure that my cart would've qualified for Most Creative?! The reason the ribbons were created and titled the way they were, is because they wanted different ponies to win each one!"
"So you decided to sabotage our cart, while allowing the other carts to perform even better than they already were!" Spoiled realized. "I should've known you'd find some way to screw this up for the both of us!"
"And I should've known better than to trust the likes of you to play by the rules, Spoiled Rich." Cheerilee said with a glare, as she approached Spoiled and Diamond.
"I'm really sorry about all of this, Miss. Cheerilee," Diamond apologized. "I know nothing I say or do can make up for this. So if you're here to tell me I've been banned from ever participating in the Applewood Derby again, I already know and I understand."
Cheerilee shook her head. "While I would've appreciated it if you'd just come to me and told me what your mother was planning, in the end you managed to thwart her sabotage attempts. So I'm not going to ban you, Diamond Tiara. You and the rest of the young racers shall have a second chance," But she then added. "However, in the wake of what Spoiled Rich has done, I think nopony will mind if all the grown-ups stay on the sidelines this time around. You can help fix up the carts, but after that you're to either spectate or leave. And Spoiled Rich, if you try to interfere with the race at all, I won't hesitate to have you banned from the Applewood Derby permantely. As it stands, you will not be allowed to help Diamond Tiara if she enters the next one, and I think she'd much rather prefer having somepony she trusts to help her."
That was when Randolph walked up. "Greetings, Mistress Diamond," He politely greeted. "I wish you had simply come to me sooner, I would've delighted in helping you prepare for the derby," He and his young charge than walked off together, carrying the damaged cart with them as he added. "Now then, let us what can be done to get this cart back up and running."
"I sure am glad Miss. Cheerilee decided to run the race again," Apple Bloom said to Diamond Tiara. "Now we can finally have an honorable race between crusaders with no strings attached."
Diamond Tiara smiled. "And this time it truly will be 'May the best crusader win!', but don't think I'll go easy on you girls just because of that."
"We wouldn't have it any other way." Sweetie Belle happily replied.
"Come on, let's get going! The race is about to start!" Scootaloo said eagerly, as the four fillies rolled their carts to the starting line.
Cheerilee smiled as she said. "Well, it isn't every year I get to say this twice but... Derby Racers to the starting line! Derby Racers to the starting line!" Once all the carts and their racers had lined up, she said. "Racers: On your marks, get set, go!"
"And they're off for the second time in a day!" Spike announced. "And this time there should hopefully be no sudden surprises."
"Yup, just three whole laps worth of derby racing goodness," Pinkie commented. "And once again, Spike and I will be bringing you every minute of it."
Spoiled just stood behind the hay bales blocking access to the derby track, and scowled. "All I ever want is for my daughter to be the best at everything, but between this and the Student President election, I'm starting to wonder if she actually cares about being a rich pony at all." She thought to herself.
The race lasted nearly the entire day, but at last the checkered flag was waved and the carts zoomed across the finish line one by one! Then it was time for the awards, Apple Bloom took home the award for Fastest Cart, Sweetie Belle the award for Most Traditional, and after a very close contest between many of the racers, Scootaloo was given the award for Most Creative (though Diamond Tiara took home third place for both Most Creative and Fastest Cart).
Twilight and Starlight were quite relieved when they were told they could end the broadcast, for the both of them it had been a long and taxing day. "Don't know about you, Twilight, but I'm bushed," Starlight yawned. "You can wait for Spike and Pinkie Pie if you want, I'm just gonna go back to the castle and get some rest."
Twilight nodded. "Okay, but I hope you won't be too tired to accompany Spike and I to the Crystal Empire in a few days. I hear Sunburst is really looking forward to seeing you again." She said with a wink.
A faint blush formed on Starlight's cheeks. "Well, I suppose I can probably get my strength back by then. It'll be nice to see how Sunburst's managing with his royal crystaller duties." She replied, and walked off.
Meanwhile, the Cutie Mark Crusader and Diamond Tiara were marveling at their ribbons. "That was a great race, it was truly an honor racing against you, Diamond Tiara," Scootaloo commented. "And that was pretty cool how you outsmarted your own mom like that, I know I couldn't have hopped to do something like that. My mom knows me way too well."
"You know, we really should hang out more often, now that you're an honorary crusader and all," Apple Bloom suggested. "It would be a nice break from havin' to hunt for cutie mark problems all the time."
"Do you think maybe the three of us could come over to your place tomorrow?" Sweetie Belle offered. "I mean, I've heard rumors from Button Mash that you have games just like the ones at the arcade."
"Well, that would mean having to get permission from Mother, unfortunately," Diamond frowned. "And after what happened today, I doubt she's just going to say yes."
"Can't hurt to ask," Scootaloo encouraged. "If she says no, we can just hang out in the clubhouse. Maybe play some truth or dare, or even spin the bottle."
"That would be nice, better start making plans now," Diamond replied, as she trotted over to her mother, who still looked unhappy. Clearing her throat, Diamond asked. "Um, Mother?"
"What?! What could you possibly want from me now?!" Spoiled demanded.
"Uh.... is it.... is it okay if I let my friends come over to my house tomorrow for a little while?" Tiara reluctantly asked. "I mean, it would be nice if they could see the kind of luxuries a rich pony can afford."
Spoiled frowned as she reluctantly said. "I have a feeling you're not going to take no for an answer," She then sighed and added. "Fine, you can bring them over, just this once. But I'm not feeding them, or neither are any of the butlers or maids! And they're certainly not raiding my fridge and pantry! If they want snacks, they'll have to bring their own! And they'd better not leave any messes behind for their sakes!"
Diamond nearly felt tempted to reach out and hug her mother right then and there. "Thank you, Mother. Nice to see you can actually be kind of tolerable sometimes." She commented, and went to tell her friends the good news.
It was early in the morning in Ponyville, and inside the familiar confines of Twilight's castle, Twilight and Starlight were preparing for another one of their teacher/student sessions.
Starlight let out a yawn, as she and Twilight entered the castle library. "Are you sure we should be doing this so early?" She asked Twilight.
Twilight yawned but nodded. "When we fought in the past, I was shocked by how well you could match my power," She explained to Starlight. "I realized that, even if you're my student, I can't afford to start slacking off. I need somepony like you to help whip me into shape and keep me firmly on my hooves. Now then, I've prepared a full day of spells for the two of us. You've been doing great, but now it's time for a real challenge!"
Starlight felt a surge of energy wash over her as she exclaimed. "Oh-ho-ho! It is on! So, where do we begin?"
"We'll start with something relatively simple," Twilight announced. "Teleportation! Multiple locations! Try to keep up!" And she and Starlight lit up their horns! They teleported to all sorts of locations, including under water, the balcony of the castle, and even a cave full of bats.
Once the two were back in the castle library, Twilight decided it was time to move on. "Transfiguration! Keep up with me if you can!" She instructed, and she and Starlight focused their horns on a bunch of random objects, turning them into things like fruit and insects. The hard work was already proving to be a little bit taxing on Starlight, as she had to blow the smoke off her horn.
"Hope you're not slowing down already, 'cause I can still go for more!" Twilight said to Starlight. "Shields!" She effortlessly deflected a blast from Starlight, then fired off a powerful blast from her own horn, pushing hard against the shield Starlight had thrown up at the last minute. Suddenly, there was a huge magical explosion, and a blinding flash of light!
Starlight panted a little and wiped the sweat from her brows. "Whoo! I am on fire! What's next?" She asked, trying to hide how tired she was becoming. As skilled as she was at magic, she could only do so much.
"Well, maybe there is such a thing as too much studying." Twilight admitted, as a bunch of books fell down from their shelves and littered the floor.
"I guess that means practice is over, huh?" Starlight asked her teacher.
Twilight nodded. "Yeah, I think next time we'll need to find some place with a little less delicate materials," She then sighed. "But I guess we'd better clean up the mess we made."
"No problem, I've been working on some new spells in my spare time," Starlight smiled. "Just watch!" She lit up her horn as she said to Twilight (and Spike, who had just entered the room). "Now, speed spells like Accelero are not easy. But if done correctly, they can allow you to be much more efficient with your day." Casting the spell, Starlight zoomed around the library, quickly putting the books back on their proper shelves.
"Way to go, Starlight!" Spike cheered. "That kind of learning rivals even Twilight when she was just a unicorn!"
Starlight smiled and even laughed a bit. "Oh, but I'm not done yet. I've got something I just discovered a short while ago, and I've been itching for a chance to try it out! I've discovered a very old spell, Similo Duplexis. And when combined with Accelero in just the right way," She then split into two equal versions of herself as she said. "You can literally be in two places at once!" She returned to normal and sighed as she then said. "Now I'm finished. I must admit, I wasn't too sure that was gonna work, but it looks like I had nothing to worry about."
"Combining speed and duplication spells is quite impressive, Starlight," Twilight smiled. "I have to agree with Spike, your skills with magic really are nothing short of amazing."
"Well, I've always been something of a natural I guess." Starlight laughed, trying not to boast.
Twilight then commented. "However, it doesn't look like you've tackled any friendship lessons since you met Trixie."
That comment caused Starlight's happy mood to fade, replaced by one of worry and concern. "Are you sure? I could've sworn there were a couple in there somewhere."
"I'm absolutely sure," Twilight replied. "I know you've been busy, between Rainbow Dash's big debut as a Wonderbolt, keeping an eye on Spike while Rarity needed help with her Manehattan boutique, helping with Applejack's chores, fixing the table map, broadcasting the Applewood Derby, the changeling scare at the Crystal Empire, and of course getting turned into a damsel in distress during Guy's Night, you've been through a lot. But even so, I took you on specifically so you could learn the magic of friendship."
"Of course, how could I forget?" Starlight frowned. "Look, I'm really sorry, Twilight. I meant to schedule some friendship lessons, really I did. It's just.... well...."
"Well, what?" Twilight asked Starlight. "Is there something I should know about it?"
Starlight seemed to hesitate, as if she suddenly regretted having said anything. But she quickly shook her head and protested. "It's nothing, never mind," Quickly changing the subject she added. "So, friendship lessons huh? I'll uh... get to them soon enough. But I'm really quite busy this week. So many commitments. I'll try and find some time in my—"
Twilight teleported in front of Starlight and said to her. "No time like the present! You'll have the castle all to yourself today, because Spike and I are headed to Canterlot. Princess Celestia has asked me to give her students a quick overview on the history of enchanted objects in Equestria. We'll be back after the presentation, which should be..."
Spike looked up at the cards and notes and remarked. "A week from now?"
"Tonight," Twilight replied, pretending she hadn't heard Spike's comment. "It's going to be a quick presentation."
Spike simply muttered under his breath. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."
Twilight turned her attention to Starlight and said to her. "So it's simple, you can tackle a friendship lesson or two today, and we can review your progress when I get back later this evening. How's that sound?"
Nervously Starlight replied. "Of course! No problem! Friendship lesson... On it..."
"There's no need to be anxious, it's not like it's a pop quiz or anything," Twilight chuckled. "Think of this as a progress report so we can see how you're coming along." But Starlight didn't hear a word, she'd already left the library.
Starlight lay upon her bed in her bedroom, absent mindedly levitating some blocks with her magic while she stared up at the sky. "Should I really tell Twilight why I've so reluctant to try and do any friendship assignments on my own?" She thought to herself. "What would she say if she found out? She's the princess of friendship, and she has plenty of friends, I don't think she's ever experienced anything quite like this. Maybe I could tell Sunburst or Trixie? But Sunburst is too busy babysitting, and Trixie, well I don't really know where she is or what she's gotten up to. Would they even care, or just laugh at me for such a stupid fear?"
Just then, Starlight's thoughts were interrupted, as there came a knock on her bedroom door. This caused her to drop her blocks, and zoom over to her little desk, absent mindedly muttering to herself as she looked over a couple of hypothetical friendship assignments she could tackle.
"Hey! Twilight and I are about to head to Canterlot," Spike called, as he opened the door and entered Starlight's room. "Just checking to see if you need anything before we leave."
"Nope, not at all! I'm good here. Oh, not good – great!" Starlight protested. "Besides, shouldn't you be helping Twilight instead of fussing about your big sister?"
"Twilight can handle things on her own for a little while," Spike replied. "It's not some major crisis or dangerous mission. And I just wanted to be sure you're okay, Twilight may not always notice these things but I do. I know when someone's worried about something but doesn't want to talk about. So, what's got you acting so nervous?"
"What?! Nervous?! Me?!" Starlight insisted, and began to laugh. "Oh Spike, you truly are hilarious. You honestly think I'm worried about some friendship assignments? If I wanted to, I could probably combine five into one and get them all done at the same time."
Spike only shook his head. "You must be crazy if you think that'll work," Then he added. "Look, if you're worried about your friendship lessons, it's perfectly okay to say so. No one can help you if you won't tell anyone what's wrong, trust me I've been where you've been and I've made the same mistakes."
"Somehow I doubt you and I are on the same page," Starlight replied. "Besides, it's fine. I'll just schedule one quick friendship lesson and be done with it in plenty of time to impress Twilight. Then I'll start trying to get a pace going of one a week, assuming no big events are coming up like a town wide prank or a buckball game. Though it seems like there's always something going on in this town."
Spike sighed, he sensed that there was noway he could get through to Starlight. "Well, if you change your mind, just let me know," He said to her, and left her bedroom while he thought outloud. "And I thought Twilight was the master of the freak-out. Why do I get the feeling Starlight's going to do something crazy while my mom and I are away?"
Starlight just sat at her desk and looked over the possible friendship assignments she could tackle, even after Twilight and Spike had left. She had a really hard time deciding what she would be comfortable with, especially since most of the assignments revolved around not using magic. "Is it really such a bad thing to use what I'm good at?" Starlight thought to herself.
Suddenly, Starlight heard a bunch of noise and commotion coming from the main entrance of the castle. Curious, she left her desk and her room, and went to investigate. Much to her surprise, she saw Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, and each of them were bringing something with them. Whether it be baking supplies, fabrics, or a bunch of animals.
"What are you all doing here?" Starlight asked them.
"Don't you remember, Starlight?" Rarity replied. "You invited us here to work on our friendship assignments. Though, from the looks of things, it seems you ended up scheduling too many appointments for the same day."
Starlight facehoofed upon realizing this. "Oh of course, I knew I was forgetting something!" She groaned as she said outloud. "I never meant to have all five of you meet me here on the same day at the same time!"
"Well, we're here now, sugarcube," Applejack said to Starlight. "And after all the trouble I went through gettin' all these old photographs to put in the scrapbook, I ain't about to just turn around and put 'em back. I reckon there's a good three days worth of memories to sort through."
"And many of my animal friends are really impatient," Fluttershy commented. "It wasn't easy to round them all up so you could have the best selection possible. Some of them shouldn't need too much help, Harry for example probably just needs a good neck message. But some of the others need perhaps a day's worth of attention."
"Don't forget about the cake baking!" Pinkie exclaimed, revving her legs in excitement. "We're gonna need time to get all set up since we're not going to use magic. But trust me, baking a cake is.... well, a piece of cake. I even wrote a song about it."
But before Pinkie could even utter a single syllable of her song, Starlight interrupted. "Uh, we're on something of a schedule here, no time for a song."
"Oh, but a song is hardly the least of your troubles if you're going to bake with Pinkie," Rarity replied and whispered to Starlight. "She can be a bit messy I'm afraid." As if to prove Rarity's point, Pinkie sprayed a bunch of decorative frosting into her mouth and made a face.
"I see," Starlight frowned, and asked Rarity. "So, what about you?"
"Well, since I very well can't just bring over my sewing machine and ponyquins, dress making's gonna take some time," Rarity said to Starlight. "Plus, we need to agree on what exactly we're going to design, and that could take a while."
"Hey, don't forget about me!" Rainbow Dash spoke up. "You invited me here so we could learn to chillax together, but I'm gonna need to know when you're gonna have time to do it! Then I can find a proper place to set up for the most ideal chillaxing conditions."
"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but it seems like you ended up taking on more friendship problems than you were prepared to handle," Fluttershy said to Starlight. "Perhaps you should send some of us home and save our problems for another day? That's what I would do."
"But who to send away?" Starlight asked. "I mean, all of you already came all this way and brought all your things. Can I really just send even one of you home? Maybe we could work something out together so that everypony benefits?"
"Perhaps," Applejack pondered. "You have somethin' in mind though? 'Cause I don't exactly think you're gonna have time to do things like chillax if you're focused on bakin' a cake or helpin' an animal."
Starlight looked around and scratched her head while trying not to hyperventilate (and failing miserably). Then suddenly an idea came to her, albiet one she wasn't entirely thrilled with. "Well, there is one way we could maybe get all this done in time for Twilight's return tonight," She then added. "But, it's very risky."
"Can't be anymore dangerous than all the threats we've faced down over the years," Rainbow Dash said boldly. "Let's hear it."
Starlight sighed. "Okay. Basically, it's a combination of spells I recently learned about. It combines Fiducia Compelus which can speed things along a little, with Cogeria so that you're more open to suggestion, and then I aid in a hint of Persuadere just to make sure it sticks," But she added. "However, I haven't had a chance to even practice this combination, let alone test it. So I don't know what will happen, in fact maybe we should just scrap the idea and try to work on each friendship lesson as best we can?"
But the five mares only said all once. "We trust you, Starlight."
"Really? You sure this is a good idea?" Starlight asked with concern.
"Heh, Twilight nearly afflicted a whole town with one of her spells once. The results were not pretty to say the least," Rarity explained. "As long as it's not a 'Want It, Need It' spell, I think we'll be okay."
"As long as that cake gets baked and all the lessons are completed, I say give it a shot!" Pinkie encouraged.
Starlight sighed and reluctantly obliged. "Alright, here goes nothing. Oh, I hope this works!" Starlight's horn began to glow, and several spirals of magic seeped out from it, forming a giant magic ball that grew and grew. Once Starlight felt it was big enough, she held it up and dove for cover as the ball burst open, casting a blinding white flash of light!
When Starlight emerged from her hiding spot, she noticed that nothing had appeared to happen. Her friends all just stood there, looking straight ahead. But a closer inspection revealed that their eyes were narrow, and swirls of magic flowed all around them. "Odd, that should've produced some kind of reaction, not total paralysis," She commented, examining each of her friends. "Hello, anypony in there?" She asked, hoping for a response, there was none.
Now Starlight began to panic! "Oh no! I should've known this was a bad idea! What I was even thinking casting a spell combination I'd never tried before?!" She zipped away to the library as she said to herself. "Oh please let there be some way to reverse this, please!"
Starlight looked through every book she could find on the three spells she'd cast, hoping to find something that could at least explain a possible way to reverse them. But she found nothing, there was no information she could find that detailed how to undo any one of the spells, let alone all three of them combined! "Oh this is bad, this is bad, this is just SO bad!" She exclaimed. "Oh, I wish Twilight was here! She'd probably know how to undo this, and probably give me a lecture for being so careless!"
Reluctantly, Starlight left the library while thinking to herself. "Well, maybe I can still find a way to make this work out somehow. Twilight's not coming back until this evening at the earliest, and hopefully she won't be delayed. But in the meantime, perhaps I can at least get my friends to start moving. I certainly can't just leave them standing there like statues, those looks they're giving freak me out."
Starlight looked at her friends again, while trying to think of how to get them to snap out of their catatonic state. "Perhaps it has something do with the way the spells were combined?" She pondered, and began to think of each spell in its individual component state. "Cogeria... Persuadere... Fiducia...Hmm," She said outloud, and a few seconds passed before it dawned on her what the problem was. "Ah! Of course! How could I forget?! Fiducia Compelus needs a trigger," Lighting up her horn and causing her eyes to glow white Starlight said in an amplified voice. "Ponies! Hear my voice and listen! You will obey my commands!" There was a magical zap, and the magical auras surrounding her friends vanished. Starlight then went to each of her friends and instructed them as follows: "Pinkie, kitchen. Rarity, Applejack, library. Fluttershy, stay here. Rainbow Dash, find somewhere inside the castle and set up a place where we can chillax. Got it?"
All five ponies nodded and set off for their respective areas. Starlight smiled a little. "Okay, maybe this won't be so bad," She thought to herself. "I'll probably get some of the friendship lessons done before Twilight gets back, and she'll be so impressed she probably won't be too upset about having to undo the spells I cast. Or who knows, maybe the spells will wear off before Twilight gets back?"
Starlight first decided to work on the cake baking with Pinkie in the kitchen, figuring that assignment would take very little actual work. "Alright, let's get to work, Pinkie!" She declared.
"Okie-dokie! What would you like to do first?" Pinkie asked, her tone sounding uninterested and void of any real emotion.
Starlight was a bit confused by this, perhaps the combination of spells was more complex than she thought. But she couldn't worry about that now, there was nothing she could to fix it. "Uh, what are we supposed to do first?" She asked Pinkie, hoping for some kind of proper response.
But Pinkie just said in the same tone as before. "Whatever you want to do first, Starlight Glimmer."
Starlight sighed, but decided it would best to just continue as planned. She opened up the book and said aloud. "Get a medium sized mixing bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, and two teaspoons of vanilla," As she spoke she could've sworn she heard the sounds of Pinkie's hooves doing the assigned tasks. "Mix in flour," She added, and this time she was certain she could see Pinkie mixing the batter together in the bowl. Deciding to test her theory, Starlight memorized the next lines in the book and quickly said. "Add baking soda, salt and cinnamon!" She found that Pinkie obeyed without question, and so she shoved the cookbook in front of Pinkie and said with a smile. "Well, I think you can take it from here, Pinkie."
"Take what from where, Starlight?" Pinkie asked in that same emotionless and uninterested tone,.
"Why, the baking of course," Starlight replied, before she uncertainly added. "Uh, just keep following the instructions in the book until I get back. Okay?"
"Abso-tively, Starlight Glimmer!" Pinkie obliged. "Instruction following starting... now!" And her hooves began to perform all the tasks in the cook book at an incredibly fast pace.
"Okay, baking a cake is taken care of," Starlight said to herself as she left the kitchen. "Now let's see if sewing will be just as easy."
Starlight was on her way to the library to meet with Rarity and Applejack, but as she passed through the castle foyer, she noticed Fluttershy just standing there without any animals beside her. "Fluttershy, where are all your animal friends?" She inquired.
"They ran away." Fluttershy replied, speaking in the same emotionless tone as Pinkie Pie.
"Uh-huh, and why didn't you stop them?" Starlight asked Fluttershy.
"Because you didn't ask me to do so." Fluttershy simply replied.
Starlight sighed and groaned a bit. "Can these ponies do anything without me telling them to do so?! The spells were supposed to make them more efficient and open to suggestion, not totally compliant with my words and nothing else!" She thought, but she quickly regained her composure and said to Fluttershy. "Can you please go round up all of the animals in the castle and bring them back here to the foyer for me?"
"All of the animals. Got it." Fluttershy obeyed in her emotionless tone, and flew off.
Just then, Rainbow Dash came swooping in, which gave Starlight a chance to ask. "So, did you find a good place to chillax, Rainbow Dash?"
"Sure thing, Starlight." Rainbow replied, speaking in the same tone as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.
"Great! Let me know when it's ready, okay?" Starlight asked, and under her breath she muttered. "I have a feeling I'm going to need it."
"Of course, Starlight Glimmer." Rainbow Dash obliged, zooming away before Starlight could ask for any details.
Starlight arrived in the library, and was a bit surprised to see that neither Rarity or Applejack had made any sort of progress with their expected tasks. Deciding to focus on Rarity first, Starlight approached the unicorn and asked her. "So, what did you have in mind, Rarity?"
Rarity replied in the same emotionless tone as the others. "Why, whatever you want me to have in my mind, Starlight Glimmer. I await your command."
Starlight eyed a simple checkered dress in one of Rarity's books, in her mind it seemed like it would be simple enough to do in a short amount of time. So she presented the page to Rarity and asked her. "Can you make a dress exactly like that one?"
"Just like this one?" Rarity asked.
"Yes, just like it. And let me know when it's done." Starlight instructed.
"Absolutely. It will look perfectly divine." Rarity replied in the emotionless tone, and went to get her sewing supplies.
Starlight then went over to Applejack and her collection of photos, deciding it would be best to stay in the library until Rarity was done with the dress. Looking over the photographs, Starlight exclaimed. "That's a whole lot of photos," And to Applejack she asked. "So, how do you usually organize them?"
"However you want me to organize them, Starlight." Applejack replied, her tone of voice matching that of the others afflicted by the spell combination.
"Okay," Starlight commented in an unsure tone. She pointed to a picture of Granny Smith shrugging, while a pig floated on what looked like a make-shift inner tube, and instructed to Applejack. "Tell me about this one."
Applejack began to narrate as she said. "Sweet Apple Acres, a few days ago. Granny Smith was lookin' for her favorite pie tin. She looked in the kitchen, but it wasn't there. She looked in the barn, but it wasn't there."
Starlight groaned as she protested. "I don't need every little detail, Applejack," She then instructed. "Just sum up the story in one sentence, okay?"
Applejack nodded and simply said. "Huh. Turns out that Granny Smith didn't really know how to make a pig do the backstroke."
Starlight sighed, she tried her hardest but she just couldn't feign interest in such a thing. "Uh, just put them in chronological order and you can keep giving me highlights as necessary." Starlight instructed, hoping one of the next stories might be more interesting.
Applejack nodded, and narrated while pointing from picture to picture. "Granny Smith knew she was gonna need a bigger boat," She said as she pointed to the one depicting Granny Smith appearing to be shipwrecked on a pond. "So Goldie Delicious says, 'If you can't say anythin' nice about anypony, come sit by me!'," She commented, pointing to the picture of Goldie Delicious surrounded by cats. "Big Mac knew if he just covered himself in mud, the creature wouldn't be able to see him!" She narrated, pointing to the picture of Big Macintosh coating himself in mud and hiding in the pig pen.
Starlight was quite thrilled when she heard Rarity call out. "Starlight Glimmer. I have finished the dress," But Starlight's happy mood soon faded when she saw it was just a copy of the page in the book and not an actual dress. "Isn't it gorgeous?" Rarity asked.
"What is that?" Starlight questioned, even though she knew the answer.
"You wanted me to make a dress exactly like the one in the book, and that's what I did," Rarity replied with a nod. "I await your next instructions."
Starlight sighed as she said to Rarity. "Go make a real dress out of fabric, exactly like the one in the book."
"Ah. I see. Yes, of course, Starlight Glimmer." Rarity agreed, and got out her sewing materials.
Starlight quickly added (upon seeing Rarity was making a dress for a mouse and not a pony). "Rarity! Make it bigger than the one in the book. Got it?"
"Oh, of course, darling. Bigger it is." Rarity obliged, as Starlight walked away.
"She was just a pony standin' in front of another pony askin' him to love her." Applejack narrated, not seeming to notice that Starlight was nowhere near her.
Starlight went back to the kitchen to check on Pinkie Pie, and was quite surprised to find that when she opened the door, an entire stack of cakes came crashing down on her! Forcing them aside with her magic, Starlight looked upon Pinkie, who was still making cakes, and demanded! "Pinkie, what are you doing?!"
"Following all of the instructions in the cookbook in order, Starlight Glimmer!" Pinkie replied, not taking her eyes off the cookbook.
"I meant just the one cake!" Starlight protested in frustation! "I was only gone for a couple of minutes at best! How in Equestria did you get all of this done so fast?"
"First, I combined three eggs," Pinkie replied. "Then I-" But the rest of her sentence was reduced to random mumblings, as Starlight used her magic to silence Pinkie.
"Okay, I think the baking lesson is done," Starlight commented, before she heard a growl coming from the foyer. "Oh, what now?" She wondered outloud, and left the kitchen while still levitating Pinkie in the air. Unknowingly, she left the ovens still in the process of cooking cake!
"They can take our farm, but they can't take our freedom!" Applejack shouted in her emotionless tone of voice, as Starlight raced back to the foyer.
"What's going on?!" Starlight asked, as she saw all the animals Fluttershy had come in with huddled together and looking quite frightened.
Harry growled and pointed to Fluttershy, who was covered in bugs and spiders of all sorts. "I have gathered all of the animals like you asked to me, Starlight Glimmer." She said, not appearing to be bothered at all by any of the six and eight legged creatures crawling all over her.
This statement actually caused Starlight to drop Pinkie on the floor, at the very same moment that Rarity came into the foyer and enveloped the rug the animals were on with her magic. "Oh, yes, this will do nicely," She said to herself. "A much bigger dress, just as Starlight instructed!"
From the library Applejack cried out. "It was the best of apples, it was the worst of apples."
Starlight sighed. "Well, this isn't going at all how I hoped. And what's even worse, I think Twilight's going to be back soon. Dare I ask what else could go wrong today?"
As if to answer Starlight's question, smoke began to envelope the castle! Horrified, she asked outloud! "What's that?!" The answer to her question seemed to be a muffled response from Pinkie. Curious, Starlight brought her close and unmuffled her as she asked. "What did you just say?"
In the same emotionless tone that had been at the forefront of all her statements since being placed under the spell combination, Pinkie said to Starlight. "The cakes are burning. You left the ovens on."
Starlight shook Pinkie and dropped her back on the floor as she shouted! "We need water, now!"
"Yes, Starlight Glimmer." Rainbow replied and zipped away, she returned shortly with a bunch of dark clouds.
"Storm clouds?!" Starlight exclaimed. "That's not what I meant by water!" But she was too late to prevent the downpour! With a clap of thunder from the storm clouds, it began to rain! The rain water quickly extinguished the fire, but it also flooded the entire castle from top to bottom, until at last some of it poured out of the castle windows! The entire castle was now completely a mess!
"Big Mac always told me, 'With a whole lot of power comes a heck of a lot of responsibility.'" Applejack called, as she remarkably drifted past on a table, holding onto one of the photos (the rest of which remained on the table and had not gotten wet).
Starlight groaned. "I just had to open my big mouth!" She complained. "Twilight is going to kill me when she sees this!"
And Starlight was right, at that very moment Twilight came trotting up to the castle foyer and was completely shocked by what she saw! "What is going on here, Starlight?!" She demanded. "I leave you here for not even a day, and I come back to a disaster!"
For the rest of the day and on into the next day, Starlight said and did nothing. All the while, Spike and Twilight tried their best to at least begin to clean up the mess in the castle.
"I had no idea we had spiders in the castle!" Spike commented, as he brushed aside a spiderweb with his broom stick. "I'm never sleeping again!"
Starlight didn't react even a little to Spike's statement, she just continued to sit there with that blank look on her face, as if she'd been hit by the very spell combination she'd used on her friends.
"Hello, Starlight? You there?" Spike called, only for Starlight to remain silent and unexpressive. "Equestria to Starlight, come in!" Starlight still didn't react even a little, which made Spike very worried. "Come on, Starlight! Say something, you're really freaking me out here! Please, say something, anything, just don't sit there looking like that!" But alas, despite his best efforts Spike could not get Starlight to respond to him, so he reluctantly went back to sweeping and hoped that the unicorn would snap out of whatever state she was in soon.
Just then, Twilight entered the library, sighing as she said to herself. "I finally untangled that mess of a spell and got everypony home. It was really powerful stuff. They're sure gonna feel that in the morning," Turning to Starlight she then asked. "Now please try to explain to me how in the name of Celestia things got this out of control. I wasn't even gone for a day, and yet you nearly burned down the castle! I shouldn't need to have to foalsit you, Starlight! I should be able to trust you to manage things on your own! So just what happened?"
All Starlight could bring herself to say was. "Well, it was the first time I cast that particular spell, and I didn't fully think it through, let alone have time to practice and perfect it. It was all just a stupid mistake, and all because I didn't double check my calendar before making arrangements for all of the friendship problems."
"Ah, so that explains why you had everypony meeting you at the castle all at the same time," Twilight realized, and then seriously she added. "What made you think that casting an untested spell on your friends to make them do your bidding was even remotely a good idea? Tell me, I really need to know. Just what were you thinking?!"
Starlight sighed. "Look, I know what I did was bad. I really messed up."
"That's putting it mildly," Twilight commented, and then she added quite seriously. "Despite what you might think, Starlight, I'm not mad at you, but I am disappointed. Disappointed that I apparently couldn't trust you to manage on your own for not even a day. I thought it would be best to give you space to be yourself, especially after what happened with Trixie. And you were doing so well, I just don't understand how a friendship lesson turned into all of this. Especially not when you've managed to do so many other things on your own already."
Starlight seemed to hesitate at Twilight's remarks, it was clear her teacher was looking for an explanation into how things had gone so far south. But was it really worth telling her about the reason behind all of this? Would Twilight even believe Starlight's "excuse" made sense?
"Well, I'm waiting. I want an explanation and I would like it sometime within the next hour or so." Twilight commented, trying not to sound too impatient.
Reluctantly, Starlight decided that she had no choice. She would have to confess, and hope that Twilight wouldn't believe she was completely lying. "Alright, I suppose I can't get away with not telling you anymore," She said to Twilight, and then sadly confessed. "The truth is, I just wasn't comfortable trying to schedule any of those friendship assignments on my own. I kept putting them off until I could find time to ask you what you wanted me to do and how should I go about it. I don't think I'm ready to be a leader on that level just yet."
Twilight seemed to be surprised at Starlight's statement. "And why is that such a problem?" She asked her student. "It's not like you haven't tackled friendship assignments on your own before, or did you forget about Sunburst and Trixie?"
"That was different, both of them were at least started under your guidance and instruction," Starlight explained. "Same goes for helping Applejack with her chores and looking after Spike, I did both of those according to your instructions. When you asked for my help I agreed to lend it. And unlike with my magic, which I can control, I don't know if I'm ready to take charge and tackle friendship lessons without your help. I mean, do we really know for sure I won't slide back into my old control freak ways? You saw how the entire conflict with Trixie happened because I never bothered to leave a note telling you where I'd be, or tell her about the dinner until the day of. And it was really Spike who encouraged me to go back to Sunburst and confess my past. If it had been up to me, I'd have probably just sulked to myself and the Crystal Empire would've frozen over completely. Both times, when it was up to me to take charge and do the right thing, I completely failed. So that's why I did what I did, because I was afraid of going back to my old ways if I was allowed to take charge of my own free will. Well, go ahead, have your laugh. Tell me how pathetic I am for having such a fear."
But Twilight only replied. "Starlight, I'm not going to laugh at you. And I wish you had told me sooner that you felt this way," She added in a soft tone. "Look, everypony makes mistakes. There things even I've done in the past that I wish I could take back that go far beyond just casting a spell on friends. But I can't take them back, I can't undo them. What's important is that you don't dwell on your mistakes and your past, it never does you any good. During that time travel fiasco, we both saw what happens when you cling to the past too hard. But not everypony has to be a leader all the time, many of us go through our lives without truly having to make important decisions affecting anyone but ourselves. But when we are faced with those exceptions, all we can do is examine our options and try to pick the best one. You may not always get it right, but it never hurts to try. Had you just told me sooner how you were feeling, we could've avoided all this trouble."
Starlight sighed. "Well, assuming there's still someway I can salvage what's left of the assignments, what should I do?" She asked Twilight.
"Well, right now, it's time for a pretty advanced friendship lesson. It's called apologizing." Twilight encouraged.
"Do you really think that after everything I did they'll be willing to forgive me?" Starlight asked Twilight. "I wouldn't blame them if they never want to speak to me again for taking advantage of them at a vulnerable moment."
Twilight simply said in a serious tone. "I'm not a mind reader, it's not my place to say whether or not they should forgive you. It's up to them to decide if you deserve forgiveness or not, all you can do is try to make the best case for yourself as to why you think you deserve to be forgiven. This is something you have to do by yourself, it's part of what friendship is all about."
Starlight reluctantly set off to find her friends, and as luck would have it they were not too far from the castle. They were at a few outside tables of a local restaurant, most of them having their manes and tails disshelved and disfigured, as they were still recovering from the events of the prior day.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of ya'll, but after that whammy Starlight put on us, I feel like I got shoved straight through the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000." Applejack groaned.
"Ugh, tell me about it," Rainbow Dash remarked. "I am so out of it, I don't think even my usual sports pampering could get me back to one hundred percent."
Rarity (who was dressed in a yellow hat and had sunglasses similar in color to her sewing glasses) commented in a hushed tone of voice. "If everypony could just speak in a whisper for the next few days, that would be most delightful. My head is thumping!"
"I was up all night calming the animals down." Fluttershy spoke up, her voice sounding tired and exhausted.
"Fluttershy, please! Not so loud." Rarity complained.
Pinkie Pie, though fairly exhausted too, was quite furious. "Starlight's spell made me burn perfectly good cake! I never burn cake!" She complained, before her face ended up impacting the table (luckly she wasn't hurt).
"Yeah, about that... Things got a little out of hoof last night." Starlight nervously commented, approaching the five mares.
"Well, ain't that the understatement of the day." Applejack remarked, glaring at Starlight.
Pinkie pounded the table as she shouted. "Tell it to the cake, sister!"
"Can we all please argue at a lower volume?" Rarity pleaded. "My poor head can't take much more of this."
Starlight tried her best to sound as sincere as possible as she said to the five mares. "I really messed up back there. I know you ultimately agreed to let me try out that spell combination on you girls, but I think you all deserve to know why I cast it. Well, as stupid as it sounds, I did it because I was afraid of trying to manage friendship lessons on my own."
"Oh is that so?! Well then, here's a little friendship for ya," Rainbow glared and then angrily shouted. "Next time, don't cast untested spells on your friends! And then don't turn around and try to make them do your biding when they can't say 'No'!"
Starlight sighed, she had expected a reaction like that. "Believe me, I know. What I did was wrong, a-and I can't take it back. You're right to be upset, and I hope one day I can make it up to you," She apologized. "I'm not asking you to forgive me or anything, I wouldn't expect you to anyway. I wish I could say more, but all I can really say is: 'I'm sorry'. Yes, I know that's not going to fix anything or magically make it all better, and if you don't ever want to hang out with me again, that's fine. For now though, I have to go clean up the castle that's still covered in wet cake batter and spider webs." And she turned to leave.
The five mares were silent for a little bit, as they considered what Starlight had said to them. After a few minutes of silent pondering, Rainbow Dash broke the silence as she commented. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that was a good apology."
"But can we truly just forgive her after all of that?" Rarity wondered. "What she made us do can't just be forgotten, even if it was unintentional on her part."
"Forgivin' her might be a bit much at the moment, but at the least we should help her clean up the mess. We're kind of responsible for it, and besides we do have some stuff we left behind last night," Applejack replied, then rushed to catch-up with Starlight as she called. "Hey, Starlight! Most of the Apple family photos are still layin' around in the wreckage. I think I'll come along and help ya hunt 'em down. With any luck, maybe I can still salvage some of 'em."
"And it's my fault those spiders and bats showed up, I was the one who disturbed their nests per your instructions," Fluttershy added, as she joined Applejack in approaching Starlight. "The least I can do is help you put them back where they belong, that way you'll know for next time."
Rarity commented. "Ah, yes, and I left some lovely fabric lying about. I should come and move it to that nice quiet library before it gets damaged anymore. Plus there's the issue of the rugs and tapestries that need repair."
Rainbow Dash sighed as she sheepishly said to Starlight. "Uh, I'll come and get those storm clouds out of the bathroom. Since you're not a pegasi you probably can't use them for showers, to say nothing of the damage the lightning might cause. Although, the lightning could be helpful with another thing, if you know what I mean."
Pinkie Pie was the last one to join, and she did so very reluctantly. "Fine! I guess somepony was technically responsible for that fire. And all the poor cakes that sacrificed their batter last night need something to honor them." She said to Starlight.
"Uh, thanks," Starlight replied to all of the mares. "So, does this mean you forgive me?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, sugarcube," Applejack cautioned in a somber tone. "For now, let's just focus on cleanin' up the castle, and see where we go from there."
Thanks to the help of all her friends, Starlight was able to clean up the castle relatively easily and in the span of just a few hours. But she could sense that even after that was accomplished, things were hardly back to normal.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused everypony," Starlight said to Twilight, as she finished sweeping the dust away with a broom. "I'd understand if you wanted to break off our teacher-student relationship and send me away. I don't think anypony's going to really trust me again anytime soon, not that I'd blame them."
Twilight sighed, as she said to Starlight. "I'm not just going to end our agreement because of one mistake on your part. We've already been through too much to let this be the end of it," However, she then added. "But, the girls and I are going to have to have a discussion about your behavior. They seem to think there's cause for concern, and after what happened last night I think I agree with them. I'll try my best to put in a good word or two for you, but I can't gurantee the girls will be willing to let me keep teaching you about friendship."
"Well, whatever they decide, I just want to say that it's been an honor to have you as a teacher. And I'm sorry if I didn't live up to the potential you probably saw in me." Starlight replied, and slipped away to her bedroom without another word.
"Are we really going to have to get rid of Starlight?" Spike asked Twilight, as the two made their way to the throne room.
"I don't know, Spike. I really don't know." Twilight commented, as she pushed open the doors to the throne room, and she and Spike took their respective seats.
"Well, no sense beatin' around the bush," Applejack bluntly said to Twilight. "You know what we need to talk about. Starlight Glimmer, and what's really best for everypony."
With a sigh, Twilight replied. "Look, I'm not going to try and defend her decision to cast that combination of ancient spells on you all. But all I can say is, are we really fit to judge her when we've all done things just as bad or even worse?"
"That's not what has us concerned, Twilight," Rarity said in a hushed tone of voice. "Even if she was somewhat reluctant to cast the spell, she still didn't hesitate to take advantage of us once the spell was cast. Rather than try to contact you for advice or even possibly send Princess Celestia or Princess Luna a letter, she tried to work the situation to benefit her. And I'm not entirely sure it was wise of you to have magic practice lessons with her, surely any of the princesses or even your brother would be better suited to the task."
"Maybe you see something we don't, Twilight," Rainbow said seriously. "We weren't there to see this 'change of heart' from her. But the fact of the matter is, she's still got issues. Issues that perhaps can't just be solved with friendship."
"It was nice of you to try, and I know you really wanted a student to teach, so that your role as a princess would have a greater purpose," Fluttershy commented. "However, maybe Starlight wasn't the right pony to take on and teach. Maybe it would've been better to turn her over to Princess Celestia. Despite what you claim, I'm sure the princess would've given Starlight a chance to make her case be heard."
"I know," Twilight said, and sighed. "But Princess Celestia took me under her wing without a second's hesitation, even when nopony would've blamed her after what happened with her previous student. I though that, perhaps I could do for Starlight what Princess Celestia ultimately did for me. Got me to move past my limitations, open up, and see the benefits of the magic of friendship that I would've been too blind to see if I still had my nose in the books all the time. After I almost couldn't solve that friendship problem with you, Fluttershy, I was starting to wonder if maybe I was truly worthy of being the Princess of Friendship. Starlight was my chance to prove that Princess Celestia's judgement wasn't misplaced. Perhaps that blinded me to seeing Starlight for who she was, and not what I wanted her to be."
"We're not saying you have to get rid of her, Twilight," Pinkie spoke up. "We're not so mean as to just turn on a pony for one mistake, even one as serious as that spell casting. But even you have to admit, Starlight's a bit more loco in the coco than the rest of us. All of us were lucky to grow up in life with at least one pony who cared about us, somepony we could consider a friend. Starlight lost her only friend at a young age, and I think it's easy to see that it drove her crazy. That's not something you can just get over. It's just like moving into a new home after you've gotten so used to your old one, the pain never truly goes away for good. Some wounds never heal no matter how much time you allow to pass. Is it really possible that friendship can fix a broken heart, or do you suppose that even friendship has its limits?"
"Since this was the first time such a problem happened, we'll let it slide with a warnin'," Applejack cautioned. "But should it happen again, or should it look like Starlight truly hasn't changed, we're probably gonna have to be forced to take action. So the only question is, are you willin' to take that risk? If not, then perhaps it might be best to get Starlight some professional help, somepony can truly decide what's best for her."
"Trust me when I say, it's not something we're comfortable with," Rarity added. "We really do hope it will never have to come to that. But we've had too many close calls already to not have a plan in case the worst case scenario does occur. In the end, it's up to you. Do you still see something in Starlight that we don't? Or do you think that maybe you're not the kind of pony who can truly give Starlight what she needs most?"
The five mares left the throne room and castle just a few seconds later, giving Twilight time to think it over. "Do you think the girls are right, Spike?" She asked. "Do you think it was wrong of me to take Starlight under my wing? Did I truly have her best interests at heart, or was I just trying to feel better about myself?"
Spike really didn't know what to say, but he had a way of sensing when Twilight was getting worked up. So he reached out a claw and lightly stroked her back as he said to his mother. "You were the one who was willing to take her even after everything she did to you and your friends. You said it yourself, you'd never seen much magical potential in a unicorn."
"I know, and that's what has me worried," Twilight explained. "I thought maybe if I just took Starlight in and trained her, I could help her learn to use that magic for good instead of evil. And I felt that just like me, all she really needed was to make some friends to learn what she'd been missing in her life. Perhaps I was wrong though, perhaps Starlight truly would've been better off turned over to the likes of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, ponies more qualified and experienced in judging if somepony is truly sorry for what they did."
"Twilight, your friends are right to be concerned, but you can't take that as a sign that what you did was wrong," Spike encouraged. "Starlight's only been living here for just over a year, and this is the first time she's truly messed up. You made an effort to reach out to her and redeem her, you have to be the one to decide if you made the right choice. For better or for worse, you have to stick by your decision, at least for now. Give it a chance, see where things go from here. You're the only one who's seen both the good and the bad of Starlight, so you're really the only one qualified to determine whether friendship is what Starlight needs."
Starlight was resting in her room, feeling quite sorry for herself, when she heard a knock on the door. "It's open." She called, not particularly caring about who might come in.
To Starlight's surprise, it was Twilight who entered the room. The expression on her face was hard to read, but she didn't seem to be very upset or angry. "Well, Starlight, I've been thinking it over," She immediately said, attracting Starlight's attention. "I know you really messed up last night, but I also know that you really are sorry for what you did. As it stands, I'm not going to revoke our teacher student relationship just yet."
Starlight was quite relieved at such a statement. "Oh, thank you, Twilight!" She happily exclaimed.
"But," Twilight added. "I can tell that perhaps I've been putting too much pressure on you. Between our magical training sessions and everything that's been happening since you moved to Ponyville, it's only natural that adding friendship assignments to the list would complicate things. So for now, I think it's best if we put your friendship studies on hold. What you need most right now, is a change of scenery. So, I've made arrangements with Princess Cadence, and you can stay in the Crystal Empire with Sunburst for a while. Then, when you are rested, refreshed, and ready, you can come back to Ponyville and we can pick up where we left off."
"I.... guess I can deal with that," Starlight nervously replied. "At least now I don't have to put up with Spike's constant teasing and jabbing, and I'm sure Sunburst will be glad to see me again."
"If he's not too busy babysitting of course." Spike teased, prompting Starlight to roll her eyes,
"So, when do I leave?" Starlight asked Twilight.
"They're not expecting you until tomorrow, you're booked on the first train to the Crystal Empire from Ponyville," Twilight explained to Starlight. "So if I were you, I'd start packing. And don't worry, we'll keep in touch through letters. Do give Princess Cadence and Shining Armor my regards when you meet them, and make sure to tell them I'll try to visit them again soon. Oh, and be sure to let me know how my favorite niece is doing, it's amazing how quickly she's growing."
"Can do, Twilight," Starlight replied with a firm nod. "And this time, I promise I won't let you down."
"I'm sure you won't, Starlight," Twilight smiled. "Now get to packing, and the girls and I will see you off at the station tomorrow." And with that, she left the room and closed the door.
Starlight sighed, and began to pack a suitcase to take with her on the train. "Never thought I'd be sad to leave this place, even just for a little while," She thought to herself. "But at least now I'll probably get a break from all the crazy things that seem to happen in this town on a weekly basis."
