> A Day In The Life
>  by A Wild Magikarp
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> I’m Not So Sure About This...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Knock Knock Knock*

Sky woke from his unintended nap with a start. Checking the clock hanging on the wall he frowned in confusion; it was still an hour or so until Blueprint and his crew were due to continue work on repairs. While it would be nice to think they were getting an early start, it seemed unlikely they were THIS early.

Whoever it was knocked again and Sky got up and moved for the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. It wouldn’t do to just sit there and guess.

On the other side was a not in fact a burly construction worker, but a small, bow wearing filly. Apple Bloom, the youngest of the Apple clan, stood patiently with a big grin on her face. The yellow filly waved energetically at him as he answered the door for her.

“Mornin', Sky!” She greeted loudly. Sky chuckled a bit at her enthusiasm.

“Good morning Apple Bloom. ‘Yaaawn’... What are you doing here so early?”

That drew a confused look from the girl. “Early?” She asked, tilting her head and looking back at the rising sun. “Ain’t it like, seven or something?”

“... I guess early is subjective.” Sky responded, rubbing his eyes once more. “I just got up a little bit ago. I was up late using the new facility for the first time last night.”

Apple Blooms ears folded back at that. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would be workin’ yet, since you just got out of the hospital a couple days ago and all. I can come back later if ya want...”

Sky shook his head. “Nonsense! I don’t actually have any work assigned until after they finish repairs, I was just getting familiar with the place. I have to be up when the construction crew comes, and a cup of something hot will do just fine waking me up. Come on in.”

He stepped aside and let the little pony in, smiling at how she wiped her hooves at the door despite the state she had last seen the living area in. The ponies from Canterlot had arrived the other day, and begun work almost immediately. The entire back half of the living room was walled off temporarily, and the damaged furniture had been thrown out. He had been using one of the untouched chairs from the dinning area to sit at the table and read.

Overall, it was looking a lot less destroyed and a lot more empty.

“Wow,” She said as she looked around. “Looks at this place! I bet it’ll be fixed up in no time!”

“Yes, they certainly don’t mess around. I actually know the pony in charge of the repairs, if only by reputation. He worked with my dad back in Canterlot on a couple of jobs. He has a good reputation for getting work done fast and done well. I’d say this place will be back to normal in a week or so.”

“That’s great! I meant to come and see how ya were doing sooner, but Applejack told me not too. Said to wait some and let you get better before ‘bothering ya’. just wanted to make sure you were alright... and say thanks."

"Hehe. Well thank you for your concern, Apple Bloom. As you can see, I'm doing fine, thank you for checking."

"Mhm!"

The stood there for a moment, Apple Bloom simply smiling and rocking back and forth on the tips of her hooves. His sisters had taught him what this behavior usually meant. She wanted something, but was waiting for him to bring it up first. His smile was practiced and patient as he urged her on with a hoof.

"Is there something else you wanted to say while you were here?"

She stopped rocking and peeked towards the stairway to the second story. "Weeell~"

Ah, and there it was. To be honest Sky had been hoping that she had forgotten about that promise with all the recent excitement. It looked like luck was not in his favor however. Still, the smile never left his face as he awaited her answer.

It was, however, much harder to maintain with the worry that was now nagging at him.

"I was KINDA wondering if it was still alright fer the Crusaders to use your fancy telescope. I know a lots happened but I just kinda got a feeling this could be it, you know? The chance to finally find our cutie marks! It's all just so excitin' and I know that the others feel the same. Well, 'cept for Nyx and Twist, they already have their cutie marks, but they're ALMOST as excited as the rest of us!"

Halfway through her thoughts the little Apple had begun bouncing in earnest, her excitement palpable. Sky was reminded why he had originally agreed to their request as he thought it over once more.

He wanted to say yes. A chance to share his life's passion and inspire others? He was not a teacher by any means, but the thought made him slightly giddy himself. Also, he had already promised to show them around last week, and he hated going back on a promise.

He knew he should just tell her that it wasn't possible. Having minors around the equipment was a bad idea, and with the recent monster attack he was just a little concerned about the facilities' well-being. He was fairly certain that tours of the Canterlot observatory where pretty much run on tracks, and for adults only. No reason it should be different here.

Still, this was an amazing opportunity. Young ponies, interested in the sciences, curious about the stars. And he was the one running this facility. He couldn't just tell them no and walk away, not with good conscience. Everypony deserved the chance to learn, and he had the means to teach them. That was a noble cause, right?

Though wouldn't it be an abuse of his new position to give free tours to anypony he saw fit? Without the input of his superiors? Probably. Clockwork would have no problem with it, but there were other higher ups that would squirm at the idea of foal using a MW950 for stargazing... Not that he wasn't guilty of doing the same last night, but still, he knew what they would say.

Looking down to the hopeful fillies wide eyes, Sky made his decision.

"Apple Bloom..."





"Hello, Mister Sky!"

"Hey girls, how are you all doing tonight?"

'I REALLY need how to learn to say no to children...'

Sky moved aside to make room for the party of five Crusaders and one Twilight Sparkle to enter the building. Sweetie Belle gave a little squee of excitement before running in, while Apple Bloom, Nyx, and a new filly, Twist, all giggled and chased after.

The pegasus of the group however, took the opportunity to look at the jagged scar still punctuating his brow with unabashed interest.

"Whoa..."

Sky turned and mussed his mane slightly, hiding the wound a bit.

"Scootaloo, I don't think Sky would appreciate you staring at him like that, do you?" Asked the town librarian, breaking the filly out of her wonderment.

"Oh... Sorry 'bout that."

"It's ah, no problem. Come on in."

As Scootaloo bolted indoors after her friends, Sky turned his attention to his last guest.

"Good evening, Miss Sparkle. I'm sorry for the short notice, I wasn't expecting that Apple Bloom get the okay from everyone's guardians so early."

Twilight chuckled. "I told you already, it's just Twilight, not 'Miss Sparkle'. And it's fine, really. I didn't have plans tonight anyways. At least, nothing that couldn't be rescheduled. To be honest, I'm very excited to be here as well."

"In that case, I'm glad you could make it. Come on in."

Twilight nodded her appreciation as she walked past. "I of course have a telescope of my own on top of the library, but it's nothing compared to this. I was hoping to get peek through it myself, if that's alright," She asked hopefully.

"Of course not, its no trouble at all!" Sky replied as he moved into the kitchen where he had prepared some snacks and set them out for the fillies. Of course they all went for the moderate pile of Sugar Cube Corner cookies, leaving behind the perfectly good celery sticks and peanut butter. Sky clicked his tongue and grabbed one of those for himself. He really should have known better.

"Nyx, didn't I see you and Spike share dessert earlier tonight?"

The fillies all froze and stared at the alicorn of the bunch, chocolate chip goodness inches from her mouth, as she looked at her legal caretaker with pleading eyes. Twilight raised a brow, but her eyes where smiling as she lit her horn and all but one of the sweets in her charge's hoof returned to the table.

"Just one, okay?"

"Yes, Twilight," Nyx responded before digging into her last remaining treat. The other fillies, seeing that the coast was clear, did the same, but made sure to carry their snacks close to their chests. Sky chuckled; it all reminded him so much of Mom and the girls. That realization gave him pause, and he looked between Twilight and Nyx with new, curious eyes.

Scootaloo looked around the living area, taking everything in. "So you have this whole place to yourself huh? You don't have anypony else coming here to work with you?"

Sky blinked as his train of thought was momentarily derailed. Sky looked around himself, for the first time really considering how large a space it was. The living area and kitchen alone where probably larger than his place back in Canterlot. Of course owning, or even renting a house of any kind in Canterlot was expensive. He had been lucky enough to have a small place of his own coming out of school thanks to the help of his family. It wasn't anything compared to the large majority of the capitol, but he lived moderately, and never wanted for room.

Now, it seemed that he had more room than he knew what to do with. Not a bad problem to have, but it would still be difficult finding ways to keep the space from feeling empty.

"No, it's just me here. I suppose it is a rather large amount of space for just one pony, isn't it?"

The bespectacled filly, Twist, finished scarfing down her snacks before wiping her muzzle clean. Turning to him, she asked the real question that was on everypony's mind.

"Tho is it alright if we go upstairs now?" She asked with a prominent lisp. "I really want to thee what it looks like!"

Sky nodded and finished his mouthful before responding.

"Yes, but before we do, I need to explain some things first." Everypony stopped what they where doing and gave him their attention, Twilight included. "Don't worry, its pretty straightforward; I ask that you don't touch anything unless Twilight or I tell you it's okay. There is a lot of equipment up there, and some of it is delicate, so please try to be careful." The group all nodded their heads, and Sky looked around to be sure they understood before continuing. He couldn't help but grin as he continued.

"That being said, I encourage curiosity, and the chance to learn! You all are lucky enough to have come on a particularly good night for stargazing. There's a crescent moon out tonight, and the weather team has done a great job of keeping the skies clear. I'll adjust the telescope a couple times through the night to show you some different spots, and if you have any questions feel free to ask. So, is everypony ready?"

The group nodded their heads eagerly, Twilight included. Sky opened the door to the second story and took the lead. "Follow me then, and watch the platform! It sneaks up on you."

The group quickly complied, traveling up the spiral staircase to a second door into the workplace. Unlocking the last barrier, Sky couldn't help but show a little flare, swinging the door wide and sweeping a hoof in invitation. The foals took him up on his offer, dashing inside tailed by Twilight, for her part bouncing on her hooves. Sky chuckled and followed them in, only to freeze as he saw Sweetie Belle already somehow atop the telescope's optical tube and peering upside down into the eyepiece. Scootaloo looked to be attempting to join her up top while the other three looked on excitedly. Twilight looked like she was going to say something, but she was beaten to the punch.

"Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Get off of there right now!"

Sky worked hard to keep the fear out of his voice. His tone was stern, garnering no argument, if a little higher than usual. Startled, the foals quickly removed themselves from the device and joined their companions a safe distance away. All eyes where now on him as he took a few breaths to calm his nerves before continuing. He had expected something like this may happen. No need to freak out.

"Girls, I know your excited, but I NEED you to listen to me when I tell you to be careful with the equipment. The stuff in here can be VERY expensive, and I don't own any of it. I could lose my job if don't take proper care of it. I need you to be cautious around it for me, or I can't allow you in here anymore. Am I clear?"

The fillies all looked down, ears flat against their skulls as they nodded their understanding. Sky closed his eyes and let out another breath as he relaxed slightly. Upon opening them, he noticed one of the fillies, Sweetie Belle, was looking somewhat worse for wear, head down and sniffing.

Sky felt his stomach drop at the sight of it. He wanted them to listen to him, but not like this.

Sky walked his way over to the dejected filly, her eyes downcast as she refused to meet his gaze. The others moved away, eyeing him with varying levels of concern. That hurt even more to see. Laying down, he tucked his legs underneath him and lowered his head to her level.

"Hey now," he said softly. "There's no need for that. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier, you just scared me there for a second. I'm not really mad, I promise."

Sweetie chanced a look up at him, and Sky gave her a gentle smile. She returned it and wiped her nose. her ears no longer flat against her head.

"Tell you what. I'll teach you all how to point the telescope as well as look through it. I'll even let you do it, so long as you listen to my instructions. How's that sound?" He looked to the others as he asked, making it clear the offer was for all of them, not just the unicorn. They all began to smile at this, nodding their heads in agreement.

Standing up, Sky made his way past the group of young ones, urging them to follow him. "Alright then, lets do this the right way. Everypony please follow me, I'll show you all the different parts of the telescope and how to use them. Sweetie, you can look first."





Sky watched with a big grin on his face as the group of five fillies gathered around eyepiece, taking turns looking out into the stars and giggling among themselves. They had each gotten a turn being walked through the process of using the device, and after his outburst and following apology, the entire group had been very calm and respectful of the equipment. He had left the aperture pointed at a particularly thick patch of stars and backed off for a moment, simply letting them enjoy. Twilight was sitting in a chair to his side, doing the same.

"I'm impressed," She said quietly, as to not disturb the girls. "Normally they need to be reeled back in a couple times by now, but they are doing quite well so far. You certainly have a way with them. Even if they started the night out a little... rambunctious."

Sky winced. "Yes, I'm terribly sorry you had to see that. I just, well..."

Twilight raised a hoof to stop him. "It's alright. I get why you where upset, I don't blame you. And you made it up to them in the end, which is what matters. I was a little bit worried you would call it off there, but like I said, you seem to have some talent dealing with them. Not to mention when you first got here. I never got the opportunity to thank you for what you did."

"I was glad to do it, really. There isn't any need to thank me."

Looking back at the five as Nyx attempted to guide Twist's gaze towards a particular star in the sky, directing her friend where to look in the glass. A warm feeling welled up inside him at the scene. He loved seeing others interested in his work, even if it was just something as small as this.

"I have girls back in Canterlot. Sisters, I mean. The youngest is actually around their age. I would take care of her to give Mom and Dad some time off every once in a while. I grew up along with the others, and I love them all, but Sunny..." He shook his head. "Sunny is something special. I was finishing up my general education when she came around, and I learned a lot about foals by dealing with her. Guess I can thank her for my 'talent' with kids."

Twilight simply hummed in response, and continued to watch the fillies. One filly in particular, as Sky noticed, bringing back a thought from earlier in the night.

"So, what's it like taking care of Nyx?"

That drew the mare's attention away as she blinked and looked at him with intrigue. After judging him simply curious, she smiled and returned her gaze to the alicorn in question.

"Nyx is a wonderful little filly. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age, curious, careful, has a love for knowledge and reading. She of course has more friends than I did at the time, but still, there's just so much in common. I'm glad Princess Celestia and Princess Luna let her stay here with me."

"So she's... the sister you never had?"

"Not... not exactly," Twilight responded somewhat evasively, watching the midnight foal and her companions. Nyx looked back at them, grinning widely and waving at Twilight, who responded in kind. Something in her eyes told Sky everything he needed to know. He nodded and wondered at how such a relationship came to be.

"Also, there's something I was meaning to ask earlier. You guiding a group of foals through a tour of the observatory is one thing, but letting us use it? I can't help but feel like you're just a little too trusting here. I mean, their foals, and you barely even know me. What made you so sure we can be trusted with all of this?"

"Besides you being a national hero that saved my life from an angry monster just a few days ago?" Sky asked, causing her to snort in amusement. He grinned. "I know about you from your time in Canterlot. You're the princess' personal protegee. Graduated from the general education program at fourteen. You have some form of degree or credential in more fields than I can remember. Not to mention that you are supposed to be the most magically gifted pony since Starswirl himself. Honestly, I would be hard pressed to find somepony I trusted more to know how to handle the equipment in here. You're overqualified if you ask me."

Twilights cheeks continued to darken through his explanation, embarrassed by the praise. She looked away and pawed at the chair below her.

"I-It's nothing THAT special. Just because I dabble in a bit of everything doesn't mean I have nearly the qualifications you do. I'm just... Well read is all. I'm not the next Starswirl or Clover, despite what everypony thinks. I'm not going to make any groundbreaking discoveries, or develop a new spell or anything like that."

Sky stared at her in confusion for a moment, until some advice he had received a couple nights ago came to him. He hoped nopony would mind if he borrowed a line from a princess.

"Somepony recently told me that 'humility is a commendable quality, but it is not pride to acknowledge your own accomplishments.' Some good advice if you ask me."

The pink was beginning to leave her cheeks, and was replaced by a small but sincere smile. "That does sound like good advice. Thank you. Who was it that gave it to you?"

"Oh, uh... Princess Luna actually. She came by the night I was released from the hospital to check up and... help with the monster problem. She and I talked for a little bit before she returned to Canterlot."

Twilight blinked at this, looking at him in excitement. "Oh, you know Princess Luna? She visited Ponyville last Nightmare Night! She came to see you you said? I knew she had taken an understandable interest in astronomy and funded this observatory, but I didn't know you two were in contact with each other. Is that anything like me and Princess Celestia?"

Sky thought about that for a moment. "No. No it isn't like that, she isn't my... teacher or anything, and I don't think she sees me as any kind of student. We just... talk. We have a friend in common who introduced us, and I think... I think she wants us to be friends too." A moment of silence. "I'm... not sure what to think about that. It seems... improper, maybe just a little bit crazy. I mean, how am I supposed to treat her? Like royalty? Like one of my other friends from Canterlot? Maybe some weird middle ground? I just don't know where to start."

Twilight hummed. "I understand that. She is a princess after all, and it's hard even for me to talk with Princess Celestia sometimes, despite knowing her most of my life. She's never been what I would call a friend, and I don't think we ever will be. It's a different sort of relationship we have."

There was a moment of quiet where Twilight stared into the distance, Sky waiting for her to say what was on her mind.

"I've learned a lot about friendship since I moved to Ponyville. The girls have helped me grow and develop in ways I didn't think possible. I wish I had some sort of experience with what you're going through, but I've never had a report quite like this before. I would just say that if she really wants to be your friend, don't turn her away. She should understand how uncomfortable this may be for you. Just... be the best friend you can be I guess."

Sky looked up to the starry sky above, visible through the open dome of the observatory, and thought on that. A grin slowly took form, and he chuckled.

"I was expecting it to be a challenge, but you make it sound so simple."

"You never know."

Twilight looked over at the girls as Apple Bloom ushered Sweetie Belle over to the eyepiece, sharing with her something she saw.

"Thank you again for doing this for them. I know how big of a deal this is, considering their reputation and this place's importance. I wouldn't have thought anything of it if you had told them no."

Sky shook his head. "I honestly considered it, but I couldn't do it in the end. Like I said, I encourage the chance for them to learn.  While having them here made me nervous at first, I am glad they get the chance to discover. Besides," he said, watching as Sweetie Belle gasped in wonder at something within the eyeglass, "How could I possibly say no to an opportunity like this?"

Twilight didn't respond, instead opting for a companionable silence as they all enjoyed a peaceful evening watching the stars.
> That's Not Funny!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack grinned as she emptied a bucket of apples into her latest customer's saddlebag. Today had been a good day for business, the best in recent memory. Her cart was already nearly empty and the clock tower hadn't even struck two yet! Shaking the bucket for good measure, she set it down next to her dwindling supply of produce and gave a friendly smile.

"Thank ya for the business! Don't be a stranger, and remember we still got fresh produce through next week!"

Pokey Pierce adjusted his bags straps, then returned the smile. "I'll keep it in mind, Applejack, thanks. Have a good rest of your day!"

Waving goodbye to the unicorn, Applejack turned her gaze to her lock-box. Yep, definitely a good day. Sales always went up this time of year, when the days got shorter and the weather colder in preparation for winter. Next week would be the last week to get a good harvest out of the orchard before things started winding down for the colder part of the year, and ponies were stocking up on everything in preparation.

Looking at how many apples were left, Applejack considered turning in for the day and using the afternoon to work on some of the more pressing matters on the farm, when an approaching set of hoof steps caught her ear. Putting on another winning smile, Applejack looked up to see another familiar face arriving at her booth.

"Well howdy there, Rose! Mighty fine day today isn't it?"

Roseluck gave her market stall neighbor an attempt at smiling, but something about it seemed forced. Applejack felt her own smile slip a little at the sight.

"H-Hey, Applejack. Yes, I guess it is rather nice. A little cold though."

"I hear ya. How are things going over at your stall? Getting much business?"

"I can't complain. Pretty average day if I am honest." The cream colored mare looked around for a moment, seeming unsure of herself, before continuing.

"Applejack? I was kinda wondering if you... Well... You know Night Sky, right?"

"Sky, the astronomer that lived over by the forest? Sure do! His place is actually on the way between here and Sweet Apple Acres. Don't talk to each other much, but he's an agreeable sort, and he helped quite a bit with that whole monster incident a few weeks back, so he's an alright fella."

"You... wouldn't have happened to see him recently, have you?"

"Hmm... Can't say that I have. Been 'bout a week since I've seen him in town. Reckon he spends most of his time in that fancy lab of his if what Apple Bloom told me is right. Why do ya ask?"

Rose's ears lay back. "I-I-It's just that... Well he came into town a few days ago, when Mac was running your stall. He came over to talk, and, well... W-We were talking about meeting for lunch the next day when Zecora came over to buy some ingredients or something from Lilly. They started talking, and when Zecora left, Sky went with her. H-He was interested in her potion making you see, and I... I may have told him how Zecora lives in the Everfree, and how good she is at finding her way there and Zecora told him how safe she had made the path to her hut and Sky decided hewantedto-!"

"Whoa there girl, whoa! Take it easy!" Applejack put a hoof on the flower pony's shoulder, trying to calm the panicking mare. "Just calm down. Tell me what happened."

Rose took a couple calming breaths, and shook her head. "N-Nothings! At least, I don't KNOW anything happened, its just... He didn't show up for lunch the next day, and I haven't seen him in town since. I-I suppose he could have just forgotten, or gotten busy or something, but I know how dangerous the forest can be, and... well..."

Applejack nodded in understanding. "I get ya. Makes perfect sense for ya to be worried. Honestly, its a mite disturbing to hear." Applejack scratched her chin as she thought about it. "Tell ya what. I was just thinkin' 'bout packing it up for the day. How bout I close up for the afternoon, and we can go over to Sky's place and see if he's there? If not, I'll see if I can't get some of the girls together and we can go find Zecora and ask her about it. If'n he's lost in the forest somewhere, we'll want some ponies to help us look."

Rose visibly relaxed at the idea, breathing a sigh of relief. "Oh thank you, Applejack! Thank you so much! I'm sorry for making such a big deal about it, I know I worry too much over all sorts of things. Its just, I just don't know what to do with missing ponies! That's more you and your friends' thing."

"Well don't worry TOO much, we don't know if he's missing just yet. Lets not jump to conclusions now." Applejack reminded, closing the top of her stall and latching it down to keep the remaining apples safe from falling out. Moving around, she quickly strapped herself in.

"Alrighty then, lets get a move on, find out whats happening."





The farmer and the florist arrived quickly at the observatory. The trip there had been mostly a silent one, as Applejack moved with a quiet determination, and Rose spent her time silently fretting.

But soon enough they arrived at the large white building, its walls unmarred by  claws or gaping holes. The construction team had done their job well, and there was no evidence pointing towards a recent monster attack.

Though perhaps more unsettling was the lack of any sign of life. The newspaper, two days old, was sitting on the front porch, untouched. The curtains were drawn, and you could see through the small window in the door that the lights where out. The place appeared abandoned.

It did not sit right with the apple farmer one bit.

Shrugging of her cart, Applejack made her way up to the door, and looked over to a equally worried looking Roseluck before knocking loudly.

"Sky? Sky, are ya in there? It's Applejack and Roseluck! We uh, haven't seen ya in a few days, and just wanted to make sure everything is alright."

A weight lifted off of both ponies shoulders as there came a sound of shifting and muttered words. There was somepony in there, and Sky was the only one living here. A moment of silence passed before a shuffling could be heard approaching the door. The sound stopped at the other side of the barrier, but the door did not open.

"A-Applejack? Rose? W-What are you doing here? I'm... not expecting company."

Applejack raised an eyebrow at that. "Like I said. We came to check up on you. Rose here says you missed your lunch a couple days back, and hasn't seen hide nor hair of ya since then. Anything we should know about?"

"No! No, no everything is fine, Applejack, thank you, I'm just... I'm very busy at the moment, so I haven't been able to come into town recently. I'm sorry I missed our lunch, Rose, you understand, right?"

The two mares looked at each other. Applejack had a skeptical look on her face, while Rose sported one of concern. It didn't take a master at reading social cues to know that Sky was hiding something. Rose looked back to the door, while Applejack quietly made her way around the outside of the building, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

"Are you sure you're okay, Sky? You sound like you're," She looked for a word other than lying. "... Worried."

"I-I'm fine, Roseluck, thank you. I'm just... really busy, like I said."

"Would you mind if we came in real quick? We won't bother you too long, and I think-"

"NO! No-I mean-that's... I have a lot to catch up on, Rose. I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing anypony right now. I think you and Applejack should leave. I'm... perfectly okay, as you can see, and I have research to do."

Applejack returned from making her way around the house, with nothing to show for it. She furrowed her brow at the still locked door in front of them.

"No can do, partner. I may be no good at lying myself, but I can tell when somepony ain't being honest with me either. Why don't you tell us what's REALLY going on, Sky?"

It was quiet for a moment, and if you listened carefully, one could hear him shifting nervously.

"It's nothing, Applejack, honestly. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a LOT of studying to do."

Applejack heard the sound of retreating hoofsteps, and couldn't help the look of indignation. She was trying to be neighborly, and he had just walked off? A scowl formed, and she once again began knocking on the door, this time with more force than strictly necessary.

"Sky? Sky, you get back her right now! We ain't done here yet, mister! I-"

Rose, not wanting to see this escalate, stepped in. "Applejack, enough! If... if he doesn't want to see us, that's okay. We can just go."

"What? Rose, he's hiding something! You heard 'em when I asked what was happening, that stallion was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs! He ain't telling us everything."

"And that's his business, not ours. We don't have any right to bother him over what he doesn't want to share. He's not lost in the forest somewhere, and that's what we came here to find out, right?"

"Well, ya but... Well I... Dagnabbit, fine. This whole thing stinks something fierce though."

With that, Applejack tugged her hat down over her eyes and made her way back to her cart, strapping herself in and making her way down towards the farm. Rose looked once more at the closed blinds of the observatory, before making her own way back to town.





'Six days,' Applejack thought to herself as she stood behind her stall, scowling off into space. 'Six day, and still nopony has seen Sky in the market.'

Sure, he could have just not come to shop recently. But if what Rose had said was true, it would have been over a week since he had been to town at all! Even Twilight made it out her library more often than that! Something was going on, and she didn't like it one bit.

Huffing in frustration, she drew the attention of Berry Punch, passing by the stand. She quickly put on a smile, which the mare reciprocated before continuing on her way. As soon as she was gone, Applejack's foul mood reappeared.

She didn't even understand why she was still so focused on the whole thing. Plenty of ponies had things they didn't want to share. Everypony had secrets, even the Apple family, much to her chagrin. So why did it rub her the wrong way when Night Sky had lied to her from the other side of that door? It was something in his voice, she decided, something that made her coat itch. Why did it bother her?

'It's cause he was afraid.' She realized, blinking at the realization. 'He wasn't angry, or even nervous. He was scared. What was he scared of?' This new question gnawed at her. She stared down at her stand, deep in her own contemplation's. 

That was how a burly, red and orange stallion found her, eyes darting back and forth, muttering to herself. He slowly moved the piece of straw in his mouth to the other side, seeing if she would notice him, before he decided to take a more active approach.

"AJ."

The cowpony jumped in surprise, looking up to find her brother waiting patiently as ever for her.

"Oh, Mac, you're here. Done gettin' all them supplies to fix the fence?"

The stoic draft pony looked over his shoulder at the wagon of tools, lumber, and nails he had just picked up from the hardware store. "Eeyup."

"Sorry I didn't notice you, I was a mite distracted as you could see."

"Eeyup."

"Ya see, it's the new pony, Sky, the one who moved here from Canterlot a while back? Ah went with Roseluck a few days ago to check on him since he hadn't shown in town recently, and she was growing a bit nervous over it, since he missed a meet up they where going to have. But when we got to his place, he was home, just wouldn't come out to greet us! Had a whole conversation with him through the door, and when I asked him to open up and let us in, he just walked away! Can you believe that?"

"Nope."

Applejack raised a brow a little at that. "Well, I MAY have been just a LITTLE bit pushy about it. I was just concerned about what was going on is all, no need to be smart about it."

Macintosh raised an eyebrow of his own, and Applejack's ears folded back.

"Well okay, maybe more than a LITTLE pushy." She sighed. "It's just... he was hiding something, Mac, and ah don't like it. Whatever it was had him worried, scared really."

Mac shifted the hay in his mouth again, giving her time to think it over.

"... Whatever it is that has him worked up, he still hasn't come back into town since then. Rose said to leave it be, but..." A moment of contemplation, then she stomped her hoof in determination. "Aw hooey, whatever it is, he obviously hasn't figured it out yet. No telling what it is but I ain't about to sit here and do nothing." She stepped out from behind the stall. "Big Mac? I need ya to watch the stall when I go figure this whole thing out."

"AJ..."

"I'm just trying to be a good friend here, Mac. Sky's done right by us, and whatever is going on, I want to return the favor. It started right after Sky came back from the Everfree, and no good comes from that forest. You good to take over for a bit while I try to figure this out?"

Mac mulled it over for a second, before letting out a near imperceivable sigh and nodding his head.

"Eeyup."

Applejack threw a leg around him in a quick hug. "Thanks, Mac. I'll be back as soon as I'm done to take over."

She trotted off in the direction of the flower mare's stalls, before pausing mid step, and after a moment of thought, adjusted course towards the shops outlying the market. Macintosh raised his eyebrow at that, but still moved his wagon over next to the stall and got behind it, just as another pony approached with an empty saddlebag and a bag of bits. His sister had good intentions, but she could be a busy-body sometimes.





"Sky? Sky, its AJ and Rose again! Its been almost a week and nopony's seen ya!"

No response. It was all quiet, but that didn't dissuade her. The lights were on this time, and the paper was still there. Looking over to her companion in this, Applejack gave Rose a grim-faced nod, which was returned by the excitable mare. They had already talked on the way here, and Rose knew what that look meant.

'Don't interrupt, I'll handle this.'

"Listen, I'm sorry I raised my voice at you last time, Sky, but we know you went inta' the forest with Zecora last time you came to town, and I think I know why you're so scared to see anypony. I promise I can help, but I can't do nothin' unless you come out." She took a deep breath. "That being said... If you aint' out here in the next ten seconds, I'm going to personally bust down this door and drag you out of there myself!"

Rose looked at her in concern, but said nothing, choosing to trust the farm pony. Silence was once again her answer, and one she took as a challenge.

"ONE!... TWO!... THR-"

"Okay, okay! I'll open the door, just... don't break my house... again."

The clop of hooves approached the door, before they heard Sky stop at the other side. Neither of them heard any attempt at unlocking it however, as Sky seemed to hesitate on the other side.

This time, Rose did speak up.

"Sky? I know we haven't been friends for very long, but... you trust us, right?"

"... You promise you won't laugh?"

Applejack allowed herself a small, smug grin upon hearing that, while Rose blinked in surprise.

"Laugh, why would I... I mean, yes, of course. I promise."

A moment, and the clack of the deadbolt and the swish of a security bolt later, and the door opened just a crack. Looking out at them however, was not a dark stallion with messy mane and amber eyes, but a pale coat, perfect coiffure, and baby blues.

The girls blinked in surprise, and Applejack cocked her head in confusion.

"Err... Prince Blueblood?"

Rose jumped as if she had been shocked, turning to her companion in horror.

"P-P-Prince?!"

A sigh left the royal's mouth as he opened the door to fully reveal himself, in all his perfectly kempt glory. "No, thank Celestia."

Rose had never met Canterlot royalty before, but that voice was familiar to her all the same. It was hard to believe what her ears where telling her.

"Sky? That's you?"

The stallion hung his head and nodded, while the florist scratched her own. Applejack took the opportunity to clarify.

"I take it ya woke up like this the day after ya visited Zecora's place?" Sky looked up at her in surprise, which she took as a yes. "You ain't the first pony to wind up changed after a trip into that forest." She said with a grin. "The gals and I got ourselves all kinds of weird and unnatural the when Twilight first got to town. Followed Zecora into the woods and got ourselves in a patch of this no-good weed, 'poison joke'. It's a blue flower with some sort of magic to it, pulls some mean spirited prank on ya when you wake up the next day." Looking him up and down, Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Can't say I understand yours though. From Rarity's account the prince was a bit of a sleaze, but why would it change YOU into him?"

"Because he is everything wrong with Canterlot..." Sky muttered.

"Huh?"

Sky's face darkened as he explained. "I knew the prince. At least, I knew him as well as anypony knows their schoolyard bullies. He hasn't changed much since then." He huffed and looked down at his own hoof, foreign, but not unfamiliar. "Lord Blueblood the Sixth was a good sort of pony, for a noble at least. My dad worked for him on a couple of projects, and he say's he was always fair. Even enjoyed working for him he said. Unfortunately the same can't be said for his son." Sky paused as he remembered his childhood in the capitol. "He didn't hire a tutor like most other nobility, said he wanted the prince to learn how to 'interact with the common pony.' Sent him to public school with the rest of us." Sky scoffed at the memory, his tail swishing in irritation.

"Feh. Of course the young prince took that as he should learn how to elevate himself above the rest of us. Had a group of foals throwing themselves as his every beck and call within a week, and anyone else was either not worth his attention, or in cases like mine, all the wrong kinds of attention."

"That's awful! Why didn't you say anything?" Rose asked.

"To who, the faculty? They were all terrified of him! His allowance was more than some of their paychecks, and if he cried to mommy they where treating him poorly, they where out of the job for sure. No way was I ever going to manage to talk to his parents, their private estate is practically a gated community. No, I just had to suffer him through my public school years."

The mares looked at each other in concern, then back to Sky, who saw their faces. He sighed.

"I guess it wasn't THAT bad. I may be remembering it through tinted lenses. I wasn't his only target, it just felt like it sometimes. He eventually left me mostly alone after a couple years, and if it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't be friends with Clockwork today. I probably wouldn't have meet Quick Write if not for him either. It's just... Every time I remember that he is supposedly the 'Elite of the Elite' in Canterlot society nowadays, well... I guess it explains why this 'poison joke' did what it did to me." 

His eyes quickly lit up at that, and he looked to Applejack with hope. "You said you could help? I've been trying everything I could think of, but I don't really have a lot to work with, and well... I haven't been really eager to be seen in public recently."

Applejack smiled. "Sure can! Well, not me, but I know ponies who can! Lotus and Aloe, they run the spa in Ponyville. After the first time this happened, they got the recipe for the cure from Zecora, and have it stocked at their shop. Nopony really goes into the forest at all to get affected, but apparently its super relaxing or somethin' ta take a bath in."

"Bath?"

"Yup. Ain't no potion or poultice or anything fancy! It's more like a soap or something. Just take a bath with the stuff. I actually picked some up before getting Rose on a hunch. Here." Reaching into her saddlebag, she pulled out a bright pink bottle labeled 'natures remedy', with an artistic depiction of a beautiful blue lily.

A lily that look suspiciously familiar as he eyed it more closely.

"Looks familiar?" Applejack asked, apparently reading his face. Sky snorted and shook his head in disbelief. Not that he didn't trust Applejack, it was just that the whole thing seemed ridiculous.

"So what, fill the tub and put some of this in it? That simple?" Applejack nodded, holding the bottle out to him, which he gladly accepted. "I'll make it priority number one."

"It really bothers you that much?" Rose asked quietly, looking him over once again. Sky shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, Applejack taking that as a yes. She snickered, before putting a hoof around Rose's shoulders.

"Come on girl, let stop ogling the poor fella and let him get 'decent', hmm?"

Both of the others jumped at the farm pony's words, and a rosy color entered the cheeks of the florist.

"W-What?! No, I-I wasn't... I mean Sky is nice and all but... It's just..." She looked down, slightly ashamed of herself. "I've never been so close to the prince before." She looked back up at the transformed Sky, eyes wandering to his flank. "He can't be all THAT bad, right?"

Sky for his part managed to maintain composure, putting on a straight face as he considered for a moment what his new friends was saying, before shaking his head vigorously.

"Nope. Using this now. Thanks for all your help, Applejack, I'll see you in town tomorrow."

Laughing so hard she was beginning to tear up, Applejack lead a blushing Rose back to town, while Sky made a B-line for the bathroom. The sooner he was back in his own coat, the better.
> Back To School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Actually, Clover never apprenticed under Star Swirl."

There was a moment of silence before Twilight processed what she had heard. Blinking in surprise, she turned from her organizing to stare at the stallion who had spoken.

Night Sky, for his part, was blissfully unawares of this new scrutiny. He continued down the bookshelf, closely studying each ones spine for something of interest. He had apparently decided the conversation was over, and carried on. Twilight briefly shared a look with Nyx, who was now confused as to what she should write down on her current school project, before turning back to the earth pony currently plucking a textbook of some kind out of its assigned spot on the shelf.

Spike, who had been in the kitchen preparing snacks, returned to find the Sparkles in such a state, and raised a brow at in question, but was largely ignored.

"Umm... No offense Sky, but I am pretty sure that Equestrian history says otherwise."

"No, actually, it doesn't." Sky replied offhandedly, depositing his selected reading material on the center table and flipping it open. Not once had his eyes left the book, and he was apparently only paying half attention to the conversation.

"W-What?"

Finally looking up in curiosity at the outburst, Sky noticed that he was suddenly the center of attention in the room. His ears folded against his skull at the sudden interest and looked around at his apparent audience.

"Er, I mean... W-While Clover did in fact say that Star Swirl The Bearded taught her, there are no records of her, or Star Swirl for that matter, mentioning anything about an apprenticeship."

"Isn't that the same thing?" Nyx asked, confused as to what he was arguing. Her response did not come from Sky however.

"No, actually," Twilight answered. "While they are similar, there are major differences. A teacher, at least in the more modern interpretation, is someone who educates a group of ponies on academic subjects. A mentor, or 'master', as the ponies would have called it back then, had a more personal relationship with their apprentice. It was generally one on one, and concerns a certain field of study. Ponies would, upon getting their mark, find a pony with a similar talent to learn from, and spend time learning from them for many years before going out on there own. Like me and Princess Celestia."

Sky nodded, about to return to his reading.

"And while I will give you that in the literal use of those words it sounds like they had no personal training together, that is really just semantics. Several of Clovers works she accredits heavily to Star Swirl. There are several secondary sources that mention they were quite close to one another and stayed in contact up until his disappearance. Evidence is clearly in favor of the two of them continuing her training AFTER her general studies under him."

"Well of course she recognized him for his contribution! Star Swirl revolutionized the field of arcane study and developed magical theories that we are still using today! If it we not for him, we would probably still think ley lines were the source of what is ultimately a ponies inborn magical potential! Star Swirl went on record saying that he took on Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as students, but nopony else is ever mentioned."

"That does not mean it didn't happen! Something like one of the greatest mages of the pre-classical era mentoring the other does not just get 'made up.'"

"And why not? The ponies that write history are fallible. Why can't the stories they write be the same?"

"I am quoting very near every historian to ever study that time! Who are you referencing?!"

"I'm not referencing anypony! I'm simply saying they have incomplete facts! During The Reign Of Discord, much of the history that followed the tribes from their native lands was lost or corrupted! You can't jump to conclusions based on secondary, not to mention unreliable sources! That's just bad practice! I'm hardly the only pony who thinks the same about this!"

Spike and Nyx looked back and forth as the two adults slowly grew more and more worked up. Looking down at her homework, the little alicorn wondered how a simple multiple choice question could cause so much trouble. Spike wringed his claws nervously, eyeing the two arguing scholars with discomfort. A moment of silence came as Twilight and Sky stopped arguing to simply stare at one another,  and Spike  took the moment to speak up.

"Why not just ask?"

The two blinked in surprise at the question, turning to look at the dragon in confusion.

"W-Well, you said that Princess Celestia and Luna studied with him right? So why not ask them what happened?"

"..."

"..."

"Spike, take a letter."





The Golden Oaks Library was quiet, except for the clopping of hooves on hardwood. Twilight had defaulted to her usual way of expressing stress and was pacing around the centerpiece, while Sky sat off to the side, trying and failing to read his book while tapping quietly on the floor in a repetitive four beat rhythm.

Nyx was back at her homework, opting to ignore the offending question until they received and answer back from Canterlot. Spike was next to her, munching quietly on the snacks that had been all but forgotten in the light of the current debate. As he was reaching for the next mouthful, a sudden churning in his stomach made him think twice. He felt a familiar pressure build, holding it briefly before releasing it in a loud belch, spitting fire and parchment. Deftly grabbing it out of the air, Spike looked around to see that everypony had turned their attention to him, before opening the scroll and reading it's contents.

"My dearest Twilight," he began. "I am pleased as always to hear from you, so please do not worry about the interruption. I am more than happy to take some time out of the day to respond to any questions you may have."

Twilight blushed lightly in embarrassment, and Spike rolled his eyes at her before continuing.

"And on the topic of your question, I am very pleased you asked. I realize that it is something of a misconception in the world of history and magical studies, and will gladly clear it for you."

At that, the unicorn straightened in surprise, eyes wide as she looked over to Sky, who gave her a satisfied smirk.

"Many ponies nowadays are under the assumption that Clover The Clever studied directly under Star Swirl for a time as his apprentice. A small number have read what hasn't been said and claimed they had no involvement past her formal education, as your 'unnamed third party' has. In reality, both are wrong. The facts of their relationship is much different than history would let on, and has been a closely guarded secret of mine and Luna's for many years."

Spike paused as he, and everypony in the room, took a moment to process that. The ponies where at rapt attention now, all smugness gone from Sky's face, and Nyx was now fully turned around and leaning forward slightly in her seat.

"The truth, as unbelievable as it may sound, is that they were... they were... spa... buddies..."

You could hear a pin drop from the other room. Silence reigned as everypony attempted to process what had just been read. It must have been some sort of joke, right? Spike continued.

"S-... Star Swirl was a very quiet pony, and had few friends to speak of. One of them happened to be his one time student, Clover. Not many new of this friendship due to his reclusive nature, and their preferred way to meet. Star Swirl, while embarrassed to admit it, was terribly self-conscious about the state of his beard. He was also a nightmare with a comb, so Clover would bring him with her when she went to the local spa to get it 'maintained'. They would discuss their private studies there, and Clover would sometimes use what she learned there in her own work. When Luna and I found out, his response was that 'such glorious bristles cannot keep themselves,' and asked that we never speak of it with anypony."

"I hope this clears things up for you, but would ask that you keep the number of ponies privy to this information small. sincerely, Princess Celestia. P.S, Clockwork says hello, Sky."

Spike help the scroll open for a moment longer, before letting it drop to his side and looking too Twilight with an unreadable expression. Twilight shared the look, before turning to Sky, who was now looking at her with a flat look of his own.

Then, as if on cue, every pony and dragon in the room burst into laughter.

The good humor lasted for several more minutes as they all recovered from this new information, Nyx and Sky in particular making a couple of attempts before managing to get themselves under control. Once they had more or less settled down, Twilight.

"I never would have thought that S-Star Swirl was 'b-beard conscious.'" She giggled at the thought, prompting another small bout of laughter from the others.

"So should I put all that down on my paper?" Nyx asked with a grin.

Sky shook his head. "I-I think its better that we respect the Princess' wishes and just go with the 'official' story. Don't you Twilight?"

Giggling once again, Twilight nodded her head. "Yes, that would probably be best." She looked over to Sky. "So I guess that means you where right, huh?"

"I wouldn't say that. She didn't apprentice under him officially, but I was more under the impression that they never talked at all after the academy. This..." He said grinning. "This is much better. I think we can both stand to be wrong here."

"Agreed," She said, her grin turning slightly sheepish. "I'm sorry about earlier, I got a little to heated over something so simple."

"Same here, I shouldn't have gotten so defensive about it. Are we still good?"

Twilight nodded. "Definitely. I'm impressed that you knew enough to debate in the first place. How do you know so much about Star Swirl anyways?"

"Well, I don't really. I mean, not really about him in particular. I know a LITTLE more than most, but that's mostly from spending time with friends at the university with a little more history background then me. I'm a scientist at heart, but history is a lot of fun as well. I love a good story, and history is just that, isn't it? The story of how we got here today."

Twilight hummed her approval, before turning to look back at the large piles of books she still had to re-shelf.

"... Say, if you wouldn't mind Sky, would you stick around a little longer and help Nyx? I would love to, but I need to finish this fast so I still have to make a trip to Zecora's today to get some ingredients from her before it gets dark. It would be a big help if you could answer any questions she has."

Sky actually perked up at this. "Of course, I actually enjoy helping with academics! I've gotten fairly used to it as well. Melody LOVED that my cutie mark is 'being massive nerd' and was always bothering me to help her out. Not that I minded, I even volunteered to help Sunny as well when she got into grade school."

Dropping his unfinished book back in its respective spot on the shelf, Sky walked over to the table with Nyx, grabbing one of the muffins on Spikes snack tray on the way. Sitting down next to the little alicorn, Sky gave her a small smile before looking over what they would be working on. History, math, and some biology.

All in all, not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
> There’s A First Time For Everything
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laying on his couch with a book between his hooves, Sky grimaced and shifted in his seat. He was uncomfortable, but he could not tell the reason why. His tail seemed to have a mind of its own, occasionally flicking this way or that, and he found himself fidgeting with his hooves. Finishing the final page of the chapter, he put the book aside and took a moment to consider things. What was it that had him so worked up?

Things were fine around the house. The repair ponies left for the final time last week, and there was no sign of there having ever having been a monster attack.

Work was great, if a little lonely. Without a partner to work shifts with, Sky found himself taking more frequent trips into town to break the silence, and also to rest his eyes from staring through the telescope. Still, it was a minor thing compared to the benefits of having complete access to a state of the art facility and an unobstructed view of the entire sky. 

He had no real personal issues, in fact he was finding the local ponies to be perfectly agreeable, and was quickly making friends with many of them. He mostly saw them when making trips into town for supplies, or when visiting the library to get new reading material and help Nyx Sparkle with her schoolwork, which was becoming a more frequent event.

Nothing was particularly wrong. In fact, things seemed incredibly... slow.

Groaning, he let his chin come to rest where his reading material once sat.

"I'm bored."

Normally to fix such things he would go visit Quick Write, or perhaps go say hello to the family. There where also no shortages of events or celebrations going on in Canterlot at any one time. Here, not so much. While he was enjoying Miss Twilight Sparkle and her families' company, simply wandering in when he was out of things to do seemed a bit much for how well they knew each other. Everyone else was likely busy at work at the moment, so there was no such luck there. And while he had already been invited several times to a party of Pinkie Pie's invention (along with the entire town, he assumed), there was no such letter sitting on his front step today.

Closing his eyes, Sky considered taking a nap to pass the time, but quickly decided against it. He wasn't tired, and trying to get some rest anyways would ruin his very delicate sleep schedule, what with having to balance day and night work hours for study and observation. Thinking for a few more moments, he eventually huffed, rolling off the couch and moving towards his saddlebags.

"Well, I've been meaning to explore the town a little more. No time like the present."





"Unf! Consarn trubleshim' piesha' junk! Git n' there already!"

'Well, someone is having a rough day.' Sky thought to himself as he came towards the bridge into town. It wasn't hard to imagine who either, the accent making it fairly obvious. Coming over the top of the bridge, he could indeed see Applejack, the source of the frustration. He found her positioned underneath the front end of a wagon, the transport itself carrying a large variety of tools, supplies, and wood. He had a moment of panic, thinking for a second that she was stuck there, before getting a better view on the situation.

While she was indeed underneath the wagon, Applejack seemed to be so under her own volition. Positioned so that she was perpendicular with the thing, she had her head down, what looked like a wrench in her mouth, muffling her words. She was doing... something with the front left wheel, turning her head at an odd angle while supporting the front end of the wagon with her back. Her face was pinched in concentration and discomfort, beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. It was fairly easy to figure out what was going on.

"Er, good morning, Applejack. Need some help there?"

The apple farmer's ear twitched at that, and she started to look his way before stopping herself. The damage had been done however, as the bolt she had been trying to screw in fell to the dirt. Growling in frustration, she spat out the wrench and looked up. Seeing Sky, who was now sporting an apologetic smile, her annoyance faded only slightly as she slowly removed herself from under the carriage, taking the unsecured wheel off and carefully set it all down with a grunt.

"Hey Sky. Sorry bout the ruckus, I'm just having a mite bit of trouble with this wheel here, as you can see."

Walking over to the side of the road, she drew Sky's attention to a now well and thoroughly broken wagon wheel sitting in the grass. Giving the thing a kick, her scowl returned.

"Don't know how the thing coulda' rotted, but it's the only thing I can think of. Darn near feel apart when it hit a bump in the road. Whole thing about came crashing down, scared the life outta me."

"Yikes. Sound like you got lucky, this thing looks like it was meant to be pulled by somepony twice your size. If it had fallen on you, you could have been seriously hurt."

Applejack winced at that, rubbing at her shoulder nervously. Sky raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Ya, its actually Mac's wagon. Uses it for haulin' lumber and big orders. Normally he would be doing this run, but he's pullin' a dead tree outta the southern orchard right now, so I went this time. Rotten luck I guess. Still, we carry spares for situations like this! Just gotta get it on is the problem..."

"Well, my offer stands. You need some help getting the new wheel attached?"

Applejack grinned and nodded her head. "Help would be mighty appreciated. Ifin' you could just put it on the axle and tighten it down when I lift the front end, I would be much obliged."

"Of course!" Sky replied, heading over to the fallen parts, standing ready. Applejack made her way over to the left side again, putting herself under the carriage and taking a couple breaths before putting her legs into it.

It didn't last long. About halfway up, her face contorted, and she dropped the wagon, its cargo leaping from the impact. Sky gave a yelp of surprise, dropping the wheel and moving to her side.

Her head shot up and she shook it fiercely. "Fine! I'm fine, just gimme a second!"

"You are not 'fine!'" Sky responded, urging her out from under the damaged transport with a hoof. Once she was fully out from under, Sky looked her over. Barely visible under her orange coat, he could see the starts of a large bruise on her right side. She also seemed to be favoring her left hoof slightly. When he looked up at her and gave a questioning look, she simply scoffed.

"So maybe I wasn't quite so 'lucky' when the thing fell over. It ain't nothing serious."

"Applejack if that thing fell on you, that's got to be at least a two hundred pounds with all the stuff in there!"

"It didn't! The shaft just caught me in the side when it toppled, twisted my hoof a bit. I've worked through worse! I ain't some delicate flower or nothing, and this need to get fixed!"

Sky frowned at that. "I never said you were. Applejack, I work in a lab, you probably put more physical work in during a day than I do in a month. But you could really hurt yourself if you get under that thing again and it falls on you. At least let me try once?"

The apple farmer opened her mouth to retort when something gave her pause. Her eyes narrowed and she looked past him, her mind apparently elsewhere. A couple seconds later she sighed, letting her hat cover her eyes.

"Fine. You're right, I shouldn't be so stubborn accepting help. Just... don't hurt yourself either, ya hear?"

"Of course," Sky replied once more, switching places with her. Getting under the wagon, Sky took a moment to adjust and widen his stance in preparation. Copying what he had seen her do, Sky took a couple deep breaths before putting all his strength into a lift.

Sky grunted under the weight, his cheeks puffed out and his eyes clenched shut as he slowly straightened out his legs for better support. For a moment it seemed he would drop it, before he took another quick breath and with a final burst of effort brought it all the way up.

Fully standing at last, Sky let out an explosive breath of air and tried to keep his knees from shaking too much. Applejack quickly got to work, attaching the wheel and locking it in place with the bolt. as she tightened it down, beads of sweat began to form on Sky's brow. He silently pleaded with her to hurry up.

She did not disappoint, easily tightening the bolt down without the extra effort of lifting the carriage as well. Giving one last turn on the wrench, she confirmed it was on tight before dropping her tool and putting her front hooves under the bed of the wagon to help him ease it down. Sky willingly accepted the assistance, quickly, but carefully, dropping his load and moving out from under it before taking a moment to lay down and recover.

Applejack took a moment to marvel at the sight.

"Hoowee! Boy, you weren't kidding! I mean, you got a kinda skinny look about ya, but I guess being a fancy professor up in Canterlot hasn't done much for your legs neither, huh?"

"Thanks, Applejack... Glad I could help." He grumbled between breaths.

She walked over and gave his shoulder a light punch. "Aw I was just ribbing ya, Sugarcube, ya did fine. Not half bad for a city pony to be honest." She offered him a hoof, which he happily took and righted himself with. While she returned to the wagon to hook herself back in, Sky took a moment to compose himself and wipe the dirt off his coat.

"Though you can probably thank your genes for that. Good ol' Earth Pony magic is a beaut, ain't it?"

"Are you complimenting me, or my EPM?"

Applejack blinked in confusion at that. "EP-What now?"

"Er... EPM. Ya know, Earth Pony Magic? It's an acronym."

"Speakin fancy nonsense, I getcha."

Sky scowled at her, drawing a laugh in response.

"You know what I meant, smarty-pants! And as for what I was saying before, I just meant you could do to practice it a little more!" She grinned, tipping her hat. "I better get going. Still plenty of work waiting for me back home, and these supplies ain't going to deliver themselves. Thanks for the help."

Sky stood by for a second, watching her go, before following after, coming up to her side and looking at her curiously.

"What do you mean by 'practice?'"





"So it's like a muscle?"

"That's how all magic is as far as I know! Twilight doesn't just practice spells cause there hard to learn, it's like working out her horn. Or her brain, or... whatever. Same rule with earth ponies and pegasi. The more you use your innate magic, the more you get used to it, the stronger it gets!"

Sky took a moment to chew on that. "So... if I worked out a lot, I would get even more strong?"

Applejack looked over at him and raised a single eyebrow.

"Not uh... not exactly. I said it was LIKE a muscle, not that earth pony magic WAS their muscles. We also tend to be much closer to nature than others, helps with gardening and animals and the like. You mean you never heard none of this before?"

Sky coughed into his hoof. "Biology and magical application. I may have... slept through parts of that class."

Applejack suddenly burst into laughter, slightly startling Sky before realization brought a blush to his face. He grumbled under his breath as she stopped their trip to recover, her glee calming into a light chuckle.

"Just because I make a living out of a laboratory doesn't mean EVERY branch of science has to interest me. I found the entire topic kinda dull to be honest... Besides, I wasn't really talking about the farming part of it, just the other part. Is there really a difference between working out your muscles and your, uh, earth pony strength?"

"Well  course! It's way more than just pushin' really hard or liftin' a ton of weight! It's... um... well it's kinda hard to explain ta be honest. Mac and I have talked about it before, and Pa is the one who taught me, but the way he described it... I get the feelin' its different for everypony. Mac's way of explaining it was quite the earful to hear, let me tell ya."

"Well, what is it like for you then?"

Applejack bore a distant look on her face as she thought on that, slowly starting back down the road towards the farm. After a minute of deliberating the best way to put it, she spoke.

"...It's just this feeling I get, down in my gut, like... like warm fire keeping out the chill on a cold night. It's comforting. I delve deep into it, and so long as I don't let myself give up, I know I can do anything I put my mind too. And as for the using it part, it's like adding fuel to the fire. It just gets stronger the harder you push it. I know in my head I have limits, but when I find it in me to give it my all... I can't really say that I care what they are, I just keep going. It don't feel weird, or foreign like unicorn magic on the coat. It's just a part of you, something that you gotta find deep in yourself. It's... really an amazing feeling to be honest."

A moment of silence was shared between the two before Sky answered that.

"Wow Applejack. That was strangely poetic."

"Don't go spreading THAT around. Ponies may start to talk!"

"Hehe! Well I agree with you, I don't think I have ever felt like that before. Of course I don't know if I have ever been put into a position where I've needed to push myself like that before, so it makes sense that I wouldn't know... Well, with one, notable exception a few weeks ago."

The barn started to come into view over the hill, and the two ponies had settled into a companionable silence when Sky spoke again.

"But I would be willing to learn," he said quietly with a glint in his eye.

"What was that, Sugarcube?"

"Say, Applejack, how would you and Big Macintosh feel about a little extra help on the farm?"

The farmer's eyes widened in surprise, catching on to what it was he was really asking.

"Um... Listen, Sky, I don't mean no offense, but you probably shouldn't drop everything and come work for us. It ain't as easy as you may think is it..."

"I get that! Besides, I didn't really mean it in a full-time sense. It's just, I realized today that other than work, I don't have a whole lot to keep me occupied."

Applejack said nothing in response, opting to just give him a curious look.

"And sure, I have a TON of books I could read, but that's already so much of my job, I need something else to do, you know? something to give my eyes a rest, change things up a bit. I could do that here, helping you guys, learning how to control my magic better!"

"..."

"..."

"... You SURE you know what your getting yourself into, partner?"

Sky blushed a little at her disbelief. Granted his earlier display may not have painted him in the most favorable by comparison, but it was hardly as if he was made of glass. He huffed slightly and attempted to put on a look of indignation.

"I understand I may not be a... a very imposing figure, but I would like to think I know myself and my limits well enough to say I can handle helping around the farm a little. I promise I'll follow all the rules and I won't complain, honest!"

Applejack grinned at that. "Don't go makin' promises you can't keep. Mac's been doing his part since before I could walk, an' he still finds time to vent sometimes." Making a show of mulling it over some more, Applejack gave a resigned sigh, but the grin on her face told a different story. Coming to a stop in front of the barn, she turned to look at the scientist.

"Well alright, I guess it couldn't hurt to have an extra hoof every once in a while. If you really want to help, I wont stop you. Don't feel obligated to keep going if it turns out to be too much either."

"I understand. So, when can we start?"

"Right now!" She responded, dropping out of the harness and nodding towards the supplies. "You can start by getting all this stuff unloaded. Tools go into the barn on the left, materials go out here on the right side. Once you're done with that, meet me out in the orchard. If you want to learn how to channel that magic of yours, no better way to practice than bucking some apples! Head that way till you get to the top of the hill, then a left. You'll be able to see me from there."

Looking at the large pile of cargo he had been ordered to start with, Sky let out a nervous chuckle.

"Uheheh... Don't you normally, I don't know, begin slow during a workout? Should I be doing stretches or something?"

"Haha! What do you think I have you starting with the wagon for? Best get movin', you'll be fishing today, not cutting bait!"

"What does that even mean...? Applejack?! What does that mean?!"





Selene was quite beside herself at the moment. She had no idea where that pony had gotten off to, but Sky had been gone far too long for a simple walk around town. The sun was low, and dinner was not about to serve itself. She could hardly be expected to open the cans herself now could she? The cat had half a mind to go find his saddlebags and give them a good clawing just so he would understand her displeasure.

As that one half was trying to convince the other, a sound at the door drew her attention. Somepony was at the door, fumbling with the lock it seemed. She was just about to bolt for a place to hide and observe when they finally seemed to get it, opening the door to reveal none other than the source of her ire.

Or at least, what was left of him. It was a sorry sight to be sure. Night Sky looked forward into his living room with a vacant expression, mouth hanging slightly ajar and his eyes focused somewhere beyond the walls of his home. The rest of him was not much better, both mane and tail sticking out in odd places, his coat matted and grimy. It looked to Selene at least that he had spend the entire day rolling through the dirt of all things!

Sky slowly trudged his way into the living space, closing the door behind him almost as an afterthought, before deciding the couch was too much effort and simply laying down on the floor, face down in the rug. Selene slowly made her way over to the sweaty, dirty, foul smelling pony. Both concerned for his well-being and unwilling to sully herself to much, as she had just finished bathing herself not long ago, she reached out a paw and gave him a bat on the ear and a light meow.

"Mwrr?"

Her efforts where rewarded with a loud groan as he turned his head to look at her out of the corner of his eye. He then proceeded to make all her efforts to remain unsullied in vain, as he reached a weak hoof out and pet her shakily atop her head, spreading dirt and perspiration all over her perfectly groomed fur.

"What have I gotten myself into, girl?" He asked, not expecting a response.

"One torn up saddlebag, that's what." Was her silent reply.
> Who’s Party Is It Anyways?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Excuse me! Sorry! Pardon me miss I just- Oh, that's my bad, I don't-"

If it where a few octaves lower, Rainbow Dash would have thought that Fluttershy had wandered her way into a field of poison joke. Seeing as Fluttershy had more sense than to walk through a patch of those horrible blue flowers though, not to mention a near deathly fear of the forest they where found in, that was fairly unlikely. Besides, she was fairly certain she recognized the voice regardless.

Finishing up her purchase from Carrot Top, the speed demon gave the farmer a quick 'thanks' before pumping her wings, launching herself into a hover just above the crowed.

Their she saw him, the new egghead in town, Night Sky, making his way through the mass of market going ponies like the pale horse itself was behind him. Almost anypony else and she wouldn't have given the display more than a second thought, but this was unusual for the scientist.

It was unusual, because Sky was NEVER out this early. In the last couple months since his arrival, Rainbow Dash could count the amount of times she had seen Sky anywhere but Sweet Apple Acres before noon without all four hooves Faust had given her. He slept even later than she did! The only reason she was up this early in the morning was to get her shopping done and out of the way before all the good stuff was gone. He apparently worked late into the night in that observatory of his, and slept late to make up for it.

When he wasn't sleeping off his late nights, he was up early at the farm helping out the Apples. Mostly he made his appearances in the afternoon, buying groceries and hanging out with the Sparkles at the Golden Oaks. She only ever really talked to the pony when she was getting her latest Daring Doo book from Twi (Which she had forced him to swear to secrecy. Nopony else but her closest friends and a couple of hospital ponies had any idea that's what she was there for).

She wondered what could possibly have him out here so early, and so worked up? Her curiosity piqued, she ignored the irritated looks of a few of her fellow fliers as she distractedly made a beeline through their flight paths towards him to investigate.

Oddly enough, Sky came to a stop in front of the party store of all places. He pulled what looked like a checklist out of his saddlebags and gave it a once over, before quickly stowing it back in its proper place and rapidly entering the store.

Now even more intrigued, Rainbow made her way in after him, seeing his tail disappear behind one the far shelves. Landing  to avoid clipping her wings on the narrow aisles, she followed behind the stallion, who seemed completely oblivious to being tailed. He was muttering something about streamers and paper as she came up behind him and, in a moment of inspiration, gleefully made her presence known.

"Hey Sky! How's it going?!"

The stallion yelped in surprise, nearly jumping out of his cobalt blue coat as he rounded on her, his look of shock giving way to one of mild frustration as she began to laugh at his reaction.

"Good morning to you too, Rainbow Dash. Sorry if I'm not in to much of a mood to talk, I have a lot to do, and not much time to work on it."

"Ya, that's kinda why I'm here in the first place. Whats got you so worked up SO early in the morning?"

Sky arched a brow, and looked back at the shelf he had been inspecting, before turning back to her.

"Mind if we talk while we walk?" Rainbow shrugged, and Sky quickly grabbed a pack of birthday candles before setting back off, forcing the pegasus to follow.

"My little sister, Sunny Day, is coming over this afternoon. Summer break is almost over for the year, and she told me and my parent that she wanted to come and visit me sometime before I left Canterlot. Mom and Dad figured it was as good a time as any for her to stop by, so I cleared my schedule a bit and gave them the go ahead to send her over. Apparently she's been begging for a while to see me."

"Daaaw, that so sweet!" Rainbow said in a cheeky, overly enthusiastic voice.

Sky rolled his eyes, unseen by his slightly aggravating tag-along. "Yea, yea, mushy and cute, whatever. Anyways, it was her birthday last week, and I missed it. I didn't feel it was prudent to take vacation days and leave the observatory unmanned so soon after it was built. Then destroyed. Then rebuilt. Got to show something for the time I've been here after all." 

Sky stopped, briefly looking between two different packs of balloons before grabbing the bright yellow ones and moving on.

"Decided I would make it up to her by hosting a little party for her when she stopped by today. I know that sounds ridiculous, considering she doesn't have any friends in town and it would be just us, but... I've been there for everything, ever since she was a foal,  and missing out on her birthday for work just felt... wrong. Had to make it up somehow."

He grabbed a thing of colorful napkins, groaning.

"But then I messed up. Went to help Applejack with the fence on Saturday, was so exhausted I accidentally fell asleep before I could go get supplies afterwards. Anywhere I could get the stuff I needed was closed yesterday, so now I'm trying to purchase, set up, and bake for a celebration that I am trying to host in around seven hours."

Sky expected a response. A smart remark on how he had goofed this one up, how crazy an idea this was, heck, even an offer to help with some ribbing involved. Instead, there was absolute silence from Rainbow Dash. He stopped his march, looking back to see she was not even looking at him, instead she had sat herself down in the middle of the store, one hoof on her chin as she looked down at the tile contemplatively.

"So your telling me, your sister is coming to town, and not only are you throwing her a bash, but a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY bash?"

"I wouldn't call it a bash, but it's definitely proving to be a surprise to all parties involved, so... ya."

Rainbow looked up at him with his response, and he saw the cocky grin he had been expecting early form on her face. Preparing for the snark, he was surprised when she instead turned around, running out of the store, yelling behind herself on the way out.

"Don't go anywhere Sky, I'll be right back!"

"Don't go any-! Rainbow Dash, I have seven hours to be at the train station! I can't... just... *sigh*."

Looking back at his saddlebags full of party supplies, Sky sighed again before making his way to the cashier, who was looking between him and the door with a look of confusion. He didn't mean to leave Rainbow high and dry, but he REALLY didn't have the time to spare. This had a high chance of being a disaster, what with his baking skills. He couldn't afford to wait around and see what the flighty mare had in store. Dropping his bags on the counter, be began emptying them for the stallion at the cash register.

"Please don't ask, I'm as confused as you are."





"Eggs eggs eggs... Fluttershy? No, feeding time at the cottage. Barnyard Bargains, faster, in bulk."

Sky was feeling frantic at this point. He had only a couple hours left till Sunny was due at the station, and he was STILL out getting supplies. His bags had not been up to the task, and he was forced to make a second trip out. He was on his way to his final stop, but he still had to set everything up, be their for the train to arrive, not to mention figure out how to bake a respectable cake in that time. If he left it in the oven when he went to the station, would it be fine on its own?

"Skyyy-"

His ear twitched at the distant buzz, but Sky was too caught up in his own planning to pay any attention. Others around him, however, began looking around in alarm.

-yyyyy-

Both ears now turned to the growing sound, as the stallion realized it was not a fly or some other pest. It was a voice, and it was getting closer. Looking over his shoulder, Sky saw what was coming to late. A large, pink blur, blazing its way straight towards him. Muscles locked up in preparation for what was to come.

"-YYYYYY!"

"NOT AGAIN!" Sky wailed.

*wump*

To Pinkie Pie's credit, he did not roll far. She had learned the first time that he did not enjoy high speed tag/hide and seek quite as much as Rainbow Dash did. After only three tumbles the two of them came to a stop, Pinkie on top, muzzle to muzzle with the scientist.

"Night Sky! WHY am I hearing the most important news of the day, possibly the last thousand years, from Dashie and not from you?!"

She sounded hurt, but looked mad. Sky was too busy trying to stop his eyes spinning to properly respond to either, and responded with intelligence befitting his position.

"Bwa? Wahawhat?"

"No time for guessing games, you silly pony!" The Pink Menace responded in a tone that brooked no argument. "We have two hours, four minutes, and twenty five seconds until the twelve o'clock from Canterlot arrives! That leave me with two hours, four minutes, and twenty- NO, FIFTEEN! Fifteen seconds to set up this 'Happy Welcome To Ponyville Birthday Party!' It will be a close one, but I've dealt with worse."

Not waiting for a response, Pinkie grabbed Sky's fallen saddlebags, with her tail no less, and flung them into the air, where their arched perfectly to settle themselves on her own haunches.

"YOU go get the observatory ready! Let Auntie Pinkie deal with everything else! Two thirty! Sugar Cube Corner, you and your plus one! Be there, or be a chair, and not one of the fun swively kinds either, the boring, school-desk kind!"

Without another word, or a chance for the stallion to get a thought in edgewise, the frantic fuchsia filly was gone in a puff of confetti. Sky blinked in utter bewilderment for a few moments, before his brain caught up with what had just happened and he bolted upright, searching the crowd of witnesses that where already dispersing, having grown used to Pinkie's antics long before him.

"What?! WAIT, PINKIE PIE! THAT'S my stuff-oh forget it..."

Deciding it was more time and energy to track down the crazy ball of sugar than it was worth, Sky heaved a tired sigh and decided the only course of action left to him was to do as she had said. He still had to fix the guest room up for Sunny after all, and the living room could do with some tidying while he was thinking about it. He only hoped Pinkie could manage the birthday party for a filly she had never even met before.

Oh who was he kidding? If there was a pony in all of Equestria that could set up a party Sunny Day would love, it was Pinkie Pie. He only hoped he could remove the two once the party came to an end.





"First stop, Ponyville! Next stop, Dodge City!"

It wasn't hard to find Sunny once the train had finally arrived at the station. The doors swung open to reveal only a half dozen ponies stepping off in Ponyville today, and of those few only one in particular was practically bouncing on her hooves out of excitement as they stepped out into the worn wooden platform. Sky had missed that irrepressible smile she always wore, the sparkling blue eyes that never seemed to run short on joy. He couldn't help but smile himself at the simple joy she radiated. She had a way of spreading her happiness wherever she went.

It was good to see some things never changed.

Those eyes finally fell on him, and all that energy finally had an outlet. Her smile growing even wider, the yellow filly dropped all pretenses of self control and made a run for it.

"SKY!"

Being charged for the second time today, Sky handled this one much better, as the pony in question was not as big as he was, or going mach one for that matter. Sky only grunted as the energetic little unicorn leaped at him, latching onto his leg in the biggest hug she could manage. He quickly returned the favor, reaching around her for a gentler hug and nuzzling the top of her head.

"Hey there, Little Sunbeam! How's my favorite filly in the whole world doing? How was the trip?"

Sunny looked up at him, giggling at his own personal nickname for her. "It was great! I've never been on a train before, it's so loud and rumbley and it felt so funny when we went down the hill on the way here! We went through a tunnel and we were moving so fast and when I was getting on the conductor was all like 'ALL ABOARD' like everypony says and stuff!"

The conductor in question looked briefly at his fob watch before closing it, turning too both ends of the station with one hoof to the side of his mouth, shouting; "ALL ABOARD! ALL ABOARD!"

Sunny giggled and nodded. "Yeah! Just like that!"

Sky chuckled and gave his sister's mane a little ruffling. "Sunny, you've been to the train station before when Dad or I went out of town. You know what the conductor sounds like."

"I know, but its just so much cooler when he's talking about you, isn't it?"

"Heh, I guess it is. You ready to go? We can go drop off your bag at the observatory, then we can go to the bakery, Sugar Cube Corner, for something to eat."

"Yea! Can we go see that farm you were talking about in your letters too? I bet the apples are even better when you get them right off the tree! Or the library you said was MADE out of a tree? That sounds so cool! Did you say there's a pony in town that-"

Sky simply smiled and started making his way towards home. Sunny continued to talk, following after him with a hop in her step.

Yep. Some things never change.





"-and she was all like 'there's no way you can get twenty of them up there!' So I got Silver Stream to help me put them up when I focused on balancing them and we got too like, thirteen or fourteen, then the whole tower kinda just started to tip, so I tried to follow it right? But I guess that was the wrong thing to do, cause then Silver panicked and his magic kinda flared and sent all the cookies flying! One hit Marble right in the face and it got crumbs and chocolate all over her mane! She wasn't mad though, and Misses Margarine thought it was really funny when she found us, so everything was okay. I still think we could have done it, but we didn't have enough cookies afterwards to try again, so we just ended up eating them all."

Sky chuckled at the latest story in a series of exchanged tales that he and his little sister had been trading. Life back in Canterlot did not stop as soon as he left, obviously, and there was only so much one could fit into a bi-monthly letter exchange. She would tell him about life in Canterlot, her latest adventures and what the family was doing when he was away. He in turn told her of his time at Sweet Apple Acres, of his visits to Fluttershy's cottage and all the animals she took care of, and of the different antics that would go on in town, most of them involving either a certain chromatic pegasus or a particular party pony.

Sugar Cube Corner looked no different on the outside than it normally did. Of course Sky knew from experience that Pinkie loved her surprises, so it was no shock that the exterior would not give anything away. Despite the concern he had voiced during their 'encounter' a few hours ago, Sky had to admit he was feeling much more hopeful for what was on the other side of the bakery's doors.

Sure, Pinkie and Sunny had never met before, but if one took that out of the picture, Sky could not think of a better pony to plan a party at such short notice. He had attended two parties since getting to town, the first being on the night he had arrived, the second a few days after his release from the hospital. The bizarrely titled 'Welcome To The Cast' party. He hadn't worn a cast at any time during his time in our out of Ponyville General. None of her friends could tell him what it meant either, and had suggested he just role with it. 'It's just Pinkie being Pinkie,' as they had told him.

Regardless, the party itself had proven that the first had not been a fluke. Not to mention she was a baker, and his time in town since then had shown him that the energetic mare was capable of doing things he had once thought, quite frankly, impossible. If anypony was going to pull this off, it wasn't going to be him, but Pinkie.

With that in mind, Sky hoped for the best and opened the door for Sunny, who trotted in without a second thought.

There was something akin to a cannon going off, confetti and streamers suddenly clouding the entryway. Sky had been much more prepared this time than the last, and took the opportunity to witness his younger siblings shocked reaction as she jumped at the noise, eyes wide and shooting around in confusion.

"SURPRISE! WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!"

Brother and sister both looked to the source of the cheer, finding to Sky's surprise not one, not two, but SEVEN ponies and a young drake gathered around a snack table.

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were to be expected. They where the reason this was all possible after all. Who Sky had not been expecting was the full force of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sweetie Belle, Apple Boom, Scootaloo, Nyx, their friend Twist, if he remembered correctly, and Spike, who oddly enough had a party favor in one hand, and a feather duster in the other.

Pinkie took the opportunity to charge the pony of honor, who to her immense credit did not flinch back at the sudden advance.

"Hi there! My name is Pinkie Pie and I heard that a certain somepony had a birthday not soooo long ago?"

"I-I um... Yes?"

"Well that's just funtastic! Yasee, my friend Dashie here-" Pinkie said, reaching a ridiculous distance to hook Rainbow and pull her in close, "-heard from my other good friend Sky (Nickname Pending)-" Sky found himself pulled up cheek to cheek with the Pink Powerhouse, "that a certain somepony was feeling bad about missing a very special day for a certain somepony, and wanted to make it up to them! The silly pony that he is though-"

"Hey!"

"-Seemed to forget that he had a premier party planning pony in the neighborhood, and didn't even bother asking for help! Buuut since I throw a 'Welcome To Ponyville' party for every new pony in town anyways, and we're such good buddies and all that jelly, I figured I would let it slide just this once and give him a helping hoof! Then I got a couple more friends I thought might want to meet you real fast, but I mean, who doesn't like being invited to a party?! Sooo, welcome to your 'Welcome To Ponyville Birthday Party!'"

Releasing her two captives, Pinkie launched into the air and blew into a party favor she had pulled from... somewhere. The invisible cannon went off again at the same time, filling the air once more with a cloud of confetti and streamers. Sunny had begun to connect the dots through Pinkie's explanation, and once it was finished looked to Sky with equal parts joy and curiosity. His response was to simply grin and nod his head in agreement with what the mare had already said.

"Eeee! This is so awesome," Sunny cheered and began bouncing on her hooves with excitement. "How many ponies can say that they got TWO birthday parties?! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Sky! You're the best!"

Sunny launched herself once again to his leg, giving the biggest thank you hug she could muster. Sky couldn't help but smile at this, but felt a small amount of discomfort at being giving all the credit. While the idea had been his, Pinkie had been the one to set everything up. Looking up at the pony in question however, and seeing the satisfied smile on her face as she looked on at the two of them, he got the impression that she didn't mind. Noticing his gaze, the party pony looked him in the eye and gave a knowing wink. She was perfectly fine with how things had played out. He would have to think of a way to thank her for this later.

The ecstatic yellow filly removed herself from Sky's and acknowledged the other ponies in the room. Sensing an opportunity for introductions, Sky guided her through his small crowd of friends.

"So you've already meet Pinkie Pie. She's the town's local Party Pony and a baker here at Sugar Cube Corner. That's Rainbow Dash, resident weather captain and aspiring Wonderbolt," Rainbow puffed out her chest as she was introduced before doing a quick backflip through the air and striking a pose. A quiet 'wow' could be heard from the direction of the snack table. "Then over there we have Spike the Dragon, he works at the library as the assistant librarian. And finally we have the Cutie Mark Crusaders. This is Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Nyx Sparkle, Apple Bloom, and Twist, right?" 

The frizzy haired filly nodded an affirmative, and all the aforementioned waved a hoof/claw in greeting to Sunny, who was trying to split her time staring at a proud looking Spike, and Nyx, who was looking distinctly uncomfortable with all the attention. Sunny didn't seem to notice however, and was all smiles.

"Hi everyone! My name is Sunny Day, I'm Sky's little sister, and It's SUPER great to meet all of you! You're a dragon huh? Like the real, fire breathing, rock munching kind? That's so cool! And are you an alicorn?! That's amazing! You look kinda like Princess Luna! Is she your mom or something?"

Nyx reeled back as if the question had physically hit her.

"W-What? No, Luna isn't my mom! She's my... she's... I'm... But she... um..."

A moment of silence came over the room as the young alicorn's eyes glazed over, apparently considering the confusing nature of her conception. She pale for a moment, her mouth moving up and down as she talked quietly to herself, before shaking free from her stupor and squaring herself in a show of confidence.

"No, Princess Luna isn't my mom. Twilight's my mom. Princess Luna is... more like my... sister?"

Sunny's wonder took on a whole new level, eyes wide and mouth open.

"Whoa! Does that make you a princess or something too?"

"Well, she WAS queen for a couple weeks. Ow!"

Scootaloo glowered over at a stern looking Apple Bloom, drawing a giggle from the watching birthday girl. Seemingly unconcerned with what Scootaloo's comment actually meant, Sunny carried on to the next in her long line of questions.

"So what is a 'Cutie Mark Crusader?'"





The party had been going on for a couple hours now. Songs had been sung, the cake cut, and games were merrily underway. Sky found himself watching contentedly from the corner as Sunny and her newest group of friends gathered around the board game they had pulled out. Spike had stayed for some cake, but had excused himself and his feather duster soon after to continue with the chores he had been in the middle of when Pinkie had whisked them away. Rainbow had left just a few minutes ago too get some extra sleep before the early morning shower she and her weather team had planned tomorrow.

Taking another sip of the punch, the sound of approaching hooves drew his attention as Pinkie moved in an uncharacteristically normal fashion towards his table. She had a grin on her face as apposed to her usual face splitting smile, and Sky realized he had never seen Pinkie Pie smug until this very moment.

"Sooo, what have we learned today?"

Sky let out a surprised laugh at that. Pinkie was always so straightforward in her endeavors. At least, in their purpose, if not execution. He hadn't thought it possible for her to use sarcasm. Shaking his head with amusement, Sky put up his hooves in submission.

"Alright, alright, I get it. This town isn't big enough for two party ponies. I'll be sure to ask for assistance next time I have a celebratory emergency."

Her regular, overly cheerful smile made its way back to her face as Pinkie giggled at his response, petting him on his head like a dog.

"Just don't be afraid to ask for help, silly! You got ol' Pinkie here in case of any bash, birthday, blowout, or bar mitzvah! It's what I do, no trouble at all!"

Sky blinked, cocking his head in confusion.

"What's a bar-"

"WHAT?!"

The two ponies jumped in surprise at the sudden commotion. Fearing the game may have gotten out of hoof, Sky turned to remind Sunny to watch her volume when he noticed that all eyes where on him, Apple Bloom pointing his direction. Sunny looked between him and the offending hoof before shooting up and rushing over to Pinkie and his position. She quickly made a scene of jumping up on the stool next to him and grabbing at his face, prompting the larger pony to jerk back in shock.

"Lemme see! Lemme SEE!"

"Sunny?! What are you-?"

Finally grabbing a hold of his mane, Sunny brought her older brother to a halt long enough to get what she wanted. Staring intently at the right side of his face, her eyes lit up in a strange mixture of wonder and horror at what she found. A jagged, somewhat faded scar running up from his eyes towards the bottom of his ear. It had faded with time, as the doctors had said it would, but it still stood out somewhat, a slightly lighter shade of blue against his dark coat.

"Sweet Celestia, you weren't lying! Sky, YOU FOUGHT A DRAGON?!"

"Inside voice please, Sunny. I'm right here you know..."

Of course, even as he admonished her, he was kicking himself. Naturally it would come up sooner or later if she and the Crusaders got to talking. He should have asked them to keep quiet before leaving them to their own devices! The last thing he needed was for his parents back home to catch wind of his little adventure the first week in to town. Mom would have a panic attack if she knew all the details. As far as his family needed to know he had dropped a shelf on his face or some such. Knowing Sunny however, it looked like that secret wasn't long for this world.

"Sky! Sky you fought a dragon?! H-How? When? How big was it?! Is that a claw mark?! THIS IS SO COOL!"

"S-Sunny, please, calm down! It's not as big a deal as it sounds, really."

"Not that big of a deal?" Scootaloo asked, sounding affronted. "Sky, I woke up just in time to see you charge that giant lizard and kick it right in its ugly face!" She turned and gave a mighty buck for Sunny's reference, forcing a glaring Nyx to duck under her friend's strike. "I think you gave it a black eye or something, it screamed and everything! You saved Pinkie Pie and Applejack! Then you got it to chase you almost all the way around the field before it got you and sent you flying! Then you got up and stared it in the face and we all teleported away! It was like, the seventh coolest thing I've ever seen anypony do!"

Sky shrunk lower and lower at each heaping of praise. He knew a fair portion of that was highly exaggerated, but there was no way for Sunny to know. There was no way the story was NOT getting spread around Canterlot now. He could already imagine the amount of suffocating attention his mother was going to bury him in when she got wind of all of this.

Sunny, on the other hoof, only got more and more worked up with every proclamation. Following Scootaloo's defense of his 'coolness', the unicorn seemed to glow with excitement. Bouncing up and down on her stool, Sunny squealed.

"Why didn't you write any of this in your letters?! You had a big adventure book style quest your first day here and you didn't TELL us?! You fought a DRAGON, like Flash Magnus! Well he fought two, but still. Was it anyone Spike knew? How many dragons live around here anyways?"

"Just two." Sweetie Belle offered. "Spike and some big one out in the Everfree. The third one got scared away by Fluttershy a while ago."

Sky was about ninety percent certain he had heard that wrong, but decided he could ask the animal whisperer herself at a later date. Right now was damage control. Rubbing his head, Sky let out a sigh.

"First off it wasn't a dragon Sunny. It was something called a drakon. A lot smaller than you're probably thinking. Also, all I really did was distract it for a moment when Twilight finished her spell. I'll tell you about it later, but you have to promise me not to tell Mom, alright?"

"Why not?"

"... Why don't we talk about it on the way home? It's getting late, and everyone here was there for it already. Lets get out of the Cakes' manes and I can explain when we work on getting your stuff unpacked."

Various sounds of distress came from the gathered fillies at the news.

"Awww, do you guyth really hafta go?" Asked Twist with a sad look. "We were in the middle of our game..."

Sky looked to the game of Monopony sitting unfinished on the floor of the bakery. It was obvious by the large pile of leafs in front of her why Twist wanted to finish the game before they parted ways. The game didn't look too far from over though, so Sky nodded his agreement. Leaving could wait a little while longer.

"Alright, you all can finish your game when I help Pinkie Pie clean up, then we can go."

More groans floated around the room with the exception of an excited cheer from Twist, as Sky made himself busy gathering silverware and lose garbage from the festivities. Hopefully he could convince Sunny to at least keep the story on the down low.





The game ended predictably, with one bespectacled filly reigning supreme across the game board. While there was some grumbling to be had the other foals were generally good sports and stuck around till the end, allowing Twist her fun, but more likely just attempting to milk out a little more time together.

Alas, the game had been finished, the tables cleared, and the trash thrown away. Pinkie had excused herself to clean up the last of the dishes before taking the other fillies home. All that was left was to bid company farewell.

"I'll still be in town for tomorrow! Well I mean... I'll be spending most of it with Sky of course, but you guys could come and hang out too if you want! That's okay, right, Sky?"

"Yea! We hang out with Sky all the time, he's totally down to chill!"

"Well I don't know if I'd say-"

"And besides! With you leaving in two days, that only leaves us ONE DAY to work on finding your cutie mark together! We'll have to pull all stops, no mountain too high, no valley too deep, NO ROCKET TOO-"

"I THINK Scootaloo means it would be great to hang out and do some fun, safe, and not at all dangerous things together before you go. Would that be alright Sky?"

Sky looked down at the midnight alicorn with a worried look. Nyx generally had a good head on her shoulders, but considering the amount on shenanigans the crusaders still managed to get into in the few months he had been here, the scientist wasn't to sure whether she was being serious, or just attempting to appease him.

Still, if he was there, he could at least mitigate the risks. Better to have them supervised than not, right?

Before he could respond, Sweetie Belle lit up and bounced excitedly.

"Oh yea! I almost forgot, Sky! My sister Rarity said that she wanted you to come by her shop tomorrow! She would have gone and asked you herself, but she had something she was working all day that had her busy. I was going to go tell you when Pinkie got me."

Well, from what little experience he had with Miss Rarity, she seemed a level headed kind. If he were to go and visit her tomorrow, it would give the foals a place to meet up and play while he discussed whatever it is Rarity wanted. Nodding his head in agreement, Sky smiled.

"Alright. I'll stop by tomorrow and you all can meet while I talk with Rarity. You both live in that tall building near the market, right? The one with the ponyquins on it?"

"Yep, the Carousel Boutique! You can't miss it!"

"Sounds like a plan. Alright everyone, now that we know what's going on tomorrow, it really is about time for us to go. It'll be dark soon, and I can't imagine your parents would be too happy if you stayed out much longer either. Pinkie?" Sky called. "Are you still alright bringing them all home?"

"Don't worry about it Sky, aunty Pinkie's got it aaall taken care of. You just go home and get lil' Sunny here settled in."

It was to Sky's credit that he only flinched in surprise when Pinkie put her arm around his shoulder, seemingly from nowhere. Deciding simply to move on rather than try and understand the enigma that is Pinkie, Sky smiled nervously at his eccentric friend.

"You know, I'm pretty sure I'm at least a couple years older than you."

"DETAILS! Now go on, enjoy the rest of your night!"

"Alright, alright. Let's go Sunny. Goodnight everypony, see you all tomorrow."

With that, a round of farewells were exchanged as with little sister in tow, Sky made is way back home.





"So I really have to keep it a secret?" Sunny asked pleadingly as she adjusted herself into her bed. She could understand Sky didn't want anyone to panic, but it wasn't like he was fighting monsters ALL the time right? He had beaten ONE monster. Surely nopony would be TOO scared of that?

"Yes Sunny, I would REALLY appreciate if you kept this just between us. I can't imagine mom would be to keen on me staying in Ponyville after hearing about what happened in my first week here, and while I don't plan on leaving my job here anytime soon, I also don't want to cause her any undue stress. Please?"

"Yea, I guess that makes sense."

"Great, thank you for listening. You really are the BEST SISTER EVER," Sky said, laying it on thick while pulling the covers over her and giving her forehead a vicious nuzzle. Sunny giggled as his behavior, lightly pushing him away.

"Don't let Autumn, Mel or Green hear you say that!"

"So you're not the best little sister in the whole wide world? Is that what I'm hearing?"

"Weeell..."

The two shared a laugh before Sky gave her one more nuzzle and moved towards the door. As he was about to say his last goodnight, Sunny spoke up, her voice somewhat... subdued.

"Sky? You beat it right? That means it's not, you know... coming back?"

Sky's beaming smile softened into a more comforting one as he turned back to his sister, taking in her nervous expression. Sitting down next to the bed Sky shook his head.

"No, Sunbeam, it isn't coming back. Princess Luna made sure that it wont be coming back to bother anypony anymore."

"But there are other things like it still out there, aren't there? Out in the forest?" Sunny looked out to the treeline, visible from the bedroom window, with visible uncertainty.

"Don't you worry, Sunny, we're safe as can be right where we are. And besides, if you ever need me, I'll be right across the hall, alright?"

"... Okay," She responded, not sounding all that convinced. Sky frowned slightly at that, trying to come up with some way to assure her. Finally, his smile returned as he thought of the simplest solution. Getting back on all four hooves, Sky made his way to the other side of the bed, the side closest to the window, before gently getting up himself and laying atop the covers next to her.

"Tell you what? I'll stay right here with you till you fall asleep, just to make sure everything is A Oh Kay. Does that sound alright to you?"

Sunny rolled over to her side, checking his eyes for any sign of fear or deceit, before finding none and letting her nervous look give way to a grinning one like his own.

"Yea. Yea that sounds okay. Thanks, Sky."

"No problem, Sunbeam."

Scooting closer, Sunny put her head against his chest as she finally closed her eyes and made her attempt to enter into the realm of dreams. Feeling a warmth in his chest at the sight, Sky smiled down at her before a thought came into his head and, almost unbidden, a song came to his mind.

Humming it quietly to himself, Sky closed his eyes and simply relaxed.

They stayed that way until the peace of the moment, and his own tune, finally sent both of them to sleep.
> Snooping Seamstress
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Despite her name, Sunny Day was not a morning pony. Sure, fill her with enough sugar, and just like every foal, she would be bouncing off the walls. The first couple hours of the day were generally a slog for her though.

For this reason, Sky found himself walking down the streets of Ponyville with a somewhat bleary-eyed filly slowly making her way beside him. They had not gotten to sleep till much past her bedtime, and it seemed even waking at eight had been a challenge for her. Still, the promise of friends and a chance to explore the town had proven enough to rouse her, and even as they moved closer towards the boutique, the excitement of today's activities was gradually bringing Sunny more fully into the land of the living.

"Do you think we could go to Sweet Apple Acres today? Apple Bloom told me about the clubhouse they have in the orchard and I REALLY want to see it. They said they had a surprise there too, and I love surprises!"

"I don't see why not. The Crusaders should be waiting for us at Rarity's. When I'm done with whatever it is that she needs from me, we can go see what the girls have for you, hm?"

"Awesome. *Yawn*... Hmph."

"Hopefully whatever the girls have in mind will wipe some of that sleep from your eyes, hmm?"

Sunny grumbled quietly at his ribbing, choosing to continue taking in the town rather than respond. Rounding the corner, they came into view of their destination, the Carousel Boutique standing as the central building of a small plaza. Sunny apparently recognized the shop, likely from talking with Sweetie Belle the night before, and took off ahead.

Catching up to her at the front door and gently tugging at her tail to get her to stop peeking in through the window, Sky politely knocked before stepping back. It was still the weekend after all, and it would be rude to barge in when the store was closed.

"Just a moment!~"

There was a moment of silence, followed by approaching hooves as the doorknob glowed a pale cerulean and the door swung wide to reveal Rarity. The mare took a moment to toss her hair and inspect its curls, and seemingly happy with what she found, turned her full attention to her guests.

"Good morning, Doctor Sky! Oh, and you must be this Sunny Day Sweetie Belle was telling me about, aren't you just a darling! So very nice to meet you dear!"

Sunny giggled at the unicorns antics, offering a hoof which the older mare took with a gentle smile. "Yep, that's me! Sky told us about you in one of his letters! You make dresses right?"

"Among other things, yes. Sweetie should be upstairs with the others doing... something. Its been unusually quiet for a while now actually..."

The two adults looked up to the ceiling with trepidation.

"I'm... sure they are just... enjoying a conversation about all the... non-dangerous and totally normal things they plan on doing today?"

"..."

"Sunbeam, why don't you go upstairs and join the others? And uh... if there's anything dangerous involved, please come down and tell us?"

"Dangerous?"

"Like say... sharp objects, ladders, or gunpowder?"

Sunny looked up at her brother with a mixture of shock and confusion, before it finally clicked for her, and she let out a snort of laughter.

"Your so silly, Sky! I'll see what the others are doing. See ya later!"

As she took off up the stairs, the two adults simply waited for a few moments longer, listening and waiting. hearing the door to Sweetie's room open and close without any loud or disastrous sounds following, they both breathed a sigh of relief before turning to one another.

"Well then, I certainly hope that is a sign for how the rest of the day will go. If you would follow me then, Doctor, we can take this someplace more private."

Without waiting for a response, Rarity quickly made her way to the door at the back of the living space, forcing Sky to follow after. Stepping into the new room after his hostess, Sky looked around at what he could only describe as a picture of absolute chaos. Bolts and swaths of cloth lay scattered all around the room, along with lace, gems, and tools of many shapes and sizes. Piles of seemingly unrelated items lay strewn out together, and life-sized ponyquins with half finished ensembles stood against the back wall. Honestly, it all made the mess from his middle school bedroom seem tame! Looking past the mess, the most prominent features of the room itself lay with the small stage that stood near the center, and a series of thick curtains in the back, blocking the view of whatever lay behind.

"Now then, where to start..." Rarity asked herself, turning Sky's attention back to the seamstress. She was staring at him now, looking up and down with a critical eye that reminded him of when they had first met. "Hmm... yes, this shouldn't take long at all."

"Pardon me?" Sky asked, not quite following. Rarity blinked at his words, looking up at him as if just now recognizing that he was also in the room.

"Oh! Excuse me, darling, I just realize that Sweetie doesn't know why I called you here. Naturally, you would be just as in the dark as she is."

"I wouldn't mind a little bit of clarification. I must warn you, the last time I worked with a needle was in home ec, so I don't see me being much help in here."

"Oh, posh dear! As if I would invite you over to my home simply to set you to work! No no, this is all about YOU, Night Sky."

"Ummm... me?"

"Why yes!" She responded with another throw of her mane. "I'm sorry to say that I have been terribly busy lately. The boutique has been absolutely swamped with special orders and requests this season. Now I won't complain about the additional clientele, but it HAS left my social calendar somewhat neglected." As she continued to speak, she began to circle him, carrying on with her examination of him. Like when they first met, that feeling of exposure overcame him, and Sky had to fight the feeling that he was now somehow a minnow in a shark tank. "Now that the summer season is OVER, however, I have time to myself before the winter season hits, and I realized that I never did get the chance to properly thank you for all your help with that brutish drakon. I simply HAD to find a way to express my gratitude."

She finished her explanation while closely eyeing his flank, and Sky did not resist the urge to cover himself with his tail like the first time they had met. His eyes widened as the situation suddenly took an uncomfortable turn. He wasn't sure he was ever in control, but he certainly wasn't now. Apparently happy with what she had found, Rarity nodded her head before turning to the table, facing away from Sky, and giving him an opening. Now was his chance to escape.

Unfortunately, the stallion's brain was to busy short-circuiting to capitalize on the situation. Sky simply stared off into the middle distance with a look of shock and mortification. Only when he felt a prick on his flank did he move, giving a yelp and jumping back in surprise.

"Oh! So sorry dear, I shouldn't multitask when dealing with needles."

'Needles?!'

Looking back at the source of his discomfort, Sky was confused to see several pieces of dark blue, almost black cloth draped over his back, held together by pins. Hovering over his back half was a pincushion, a measuring tape, a marker, and a mare, her focus dancing between him and the clipboard floating next to her, and a pair of bright red designer glasses perched on the end of her nose.

With the seamstress preoccupied with her work, Sky was left to watch in confusion until his brain finally caught up with what was happening. Letting out a relieved sigh, the stallion relaxed and let his head hang for a moment. Rarity took exception to this action and extended her magic to him as well, correcting his posture manually as the measuring tap made its way to his chest.

"Now now, Sky, I need you to stay as still as possible, otherwise these measurements come out inaccurate, and you should now I NEVER do anything less than perfection."

"Sorry, it's just... you're making me a suit." Of course she was making him a suit, that was her job after all!

Rarity looked up at this and gave him a questioning look over the rim of her glasses, her lips twitching ever so slightly. "Yes... yes I am. What else would I be doing, dear?"

"Nothing, nothing! It's just... you know, a bit much, don't you think? If the dresses I saw out front are any indication, I'd imagine anything in your shop is easily out of my price range. This looks like the stuff you would see the well-to-do's wear to all the high society events back home!"

The faint smirk turned into a full, radiant smile at the indirect praise. Finishing up the last of her measurements, the mare moved the orbiting cloud of tools away from Sky and over to a workbench, where scissors, threads, and needles went to work on the pieces of what would soon be a tuxedo jacket if Sky was not mistaken. She worked at a blazing speed despite her almost unnatural precision, and Sky could only watch in wonder.

"That's why it is a gift, darling! I can hardly put a price on you keeping my friends and family safe, so please do not try and bring money into all of this. What kind of lady would I be if I let you go on your way with a simple thank you?" She looked over her shoulder at him and nodded towards the series of curtained rooms in the corner. "Would you be so kind as to step into one of the changing rooms back there, Sky? This part should not take overly long, and I will need to do a final fitting afterward."

Following her orders, Sky silently nodded and made his way over, snaking around the creative carnage strewn about. True to what she had said, by the time he stepped into the first stall she was already done, giving it a final look over before floating over the drape to him. Sky allowed himself a moment to admire the soft silk inner lining, the subtle floral design on the lapel and sleeves, and the nearly invisible breast pocket, marked only by a small, intricate 'R'.

'Easily a few months salary.' He thought to himself before carefully putting it on. Once he was sure everything was in its proper place, he stepped out to once more face Rarity's piercing gaze.

The seamstress looked up and down at her work, lips puckered and eyes squinting, before allowing a self-satisfied smirk to appear. 

"I dare say you've done it again Rarity," She said quietly to herself, giggling and clapping her hooves together lightly. "I must admit, Sky, I was somewhat worried about the choice of color, but I think that oxford and your cobalt ended up doing quite well together. If you wouldn't mind stepping up on the stage, I can get that finale adjustment done under the lights."

Sky simply nodded, understanding how this next part would work. Stepping under the lights, he straightened his posture and stood as still as possible for his host, as once more measuring tools were brought to bear on him. Rarity hummed quietly to herself for a moment, seemingly caught up in her work, before a loud call from outside the open door interrupted her tune.

"RARITY?! SKY?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WE'RE GOING TO THE CLUBHOUSE NOW!"

"We're back here, Sweetie Belle, no need to be so loud! I have no problems with that so long as Sky is okay with Sunny going."

Sky gently bobbed his head in agreement, careful not to move too much as Rarity had a measuring tape around his neck at the moment.

"That's fine, I know where that is. So long as you all stay together, its no problem. Just be sure to be back before dark!"

"We won't be gone that long. Thank ya' Sky! Let's go girls!"

A cheer rang out from the gathered fillies, followed by the pounding of hooves and the slam of the front door. Rarity flinched at the sound, frowning slightly.

"Honestly, I TRY and put some propper manners into those four, but nothing I say ever seems to stick! I understand that they are young, but that does that mean they can't act with just a hint of decorum every once in a while?"

That drew an amused snort from Sky, to which Rarity gave him a questioning look.

"You mean as a foal you weren't running around, looking for adventure? I'm sure you enjoyed getting a little loud and rambunctious just like the rest of us. Maybe just a little dirt?"

"Dirt?! Never!... Well, not intentionally at least. I will admit, I wasn't ALWAYS so ladylike. Applejack was perhaps not the best of fillyhood influence for that. Oh, she dragged me into more than one little escapade. The memories we made... Lift your forehooves out for me would you, darling?"

"So, Miss Rarity Belle wasn't always so prim and propper, huh? Care to share a tale or two?"

"Oh, I suppose it couldn't hurt. So long as you don't mind sharing some stories of your own. I am quite curious to hear what kind of misadventures one could get into in Canterlot. National emergencies non-withstanding. And not a word of this to the others, this is purely between us!"

"Of course."





"No!"

"Yes! There was paint absolutely everywhere, oh Alla Prima was absolutely livid! I thought for sure Quick was going to faint on the spot from the look on his face!"

"So what did the two of you do?"

"The two of us? I took the chance to get out of there the moment she started on him! Discretion is the better part of valor, and I had every intention of living to see tomorrow."

Rarity had to stop mid-sip and set her tea down, covering her mouth with one hoof as she attempted to resist laughing at Quick Write's expense. An attempt she appeared to be failing at.

"O-Oh my, I can't imagine he was all that pleased with you afterward."

"He held it over me for months! Of course, I didn't get away with it. At this point, we lived just a couple of streets away, and his mom and mine were already well acquainted. We spent days scrubbing that studio clean together. I'm sure Quick was so terrified of ink for the longest time afterward, its a miracle he ever found his talent for writing."

Rarity let out a dainty laugh and raised her cup once more to her lips, enjoying her tea. Sky took advantage of the companionable silence to take another of the muffins she had set out. While he felt somewhat cheated out of his limited time with Sunny, she was having fun with new friends, and Sky could hardly complain about the current company. Today was proving to be very relaxing all things considered.

"Are you seeing anyone, Sky?"

It took all of the stallions willpower not to choke on the muffin he was in the middle of enjoying. Instead taking a sharp breath and closing his eyes for a moment, Sky schooled his expression into a calm, hopefully, unreadable one, before finishing his bite and looking at the questioning unicorn.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just making conversation, dear, that is all," She said with an evasive look, gazing up at the lights instead of directly at him. Sky stared in confusion until it clicked for him, his eyes narrowing.

"You're messing with me, aren't you?"

"... Perhaps just a bit," She replied after a moment of holding her silence, a sly grin forming. "From what Twilight and Applejack have said, you fluster quite easily when uncomfortable, and I simply had to see for myself. It is quite endearing if I am honest."

Rolling his eyes, Sky slumped slightly in his seat.

"So glad I could be of some amusement to you."

"Oh don't be so dramatic, doctor, it was all in good fun. Besides, friends tease each other all the time, do they not?"

Friends? Not that he was opposed to the idea, but they hardly knew each other. Sure, their social circles overlapped quite a bit, and as one of the elements he knew her to be of the upstanding sort, but friends after a single lunch? It seemed a recurring theme that the ponies of Ponyville were all so eager to make close connections.

Though, was that really a bad thing?

"... I guess you're right," he finally said with a grin of his own. "And I told you, you don't have to call me doctor, I bearly finished my internship before being assigned here, it makes me feel... well I've hardly done anything to earn it."

"Well, if you have the credentials somepony must think you have earned it. Not to mention that they sent you out here all by yourself, so they certainly must think you reliable enough to handle yourself."

Sky puff up slightly at the implications before a sudden bought of confusion hit, causing his brow to furrow. She was right, he HAD been chosen out of all the staff to be the one in charge of the new facility. Night Sky, the junior researcher only a few months out of his studentship and into an employed position. Clockwork had told him when he first got the job that they were lucky to have him, that he was just the kind of pony the institute was looking for. He had also been the one to sponsor his enrollment and had personally gone to PRINCESS LUNA to set him up at the Ponyville observatory. Looking back though, how many times had Clockwork been involved? 

An unwelcome feeling settled in Sky's stomach. Had he truly EARNED anything? Perhaps seeing the dark musings in his expression, Rarity politely coughed to bring him back to the present.

"Anyways, why don't we get back to my earlier question. While I admit it was in part in the spirit of some light teasing, I am indeed curious, and gossip has always been somewhat of a vice of mine. Is there a lucky mare out there, hmm?"

Thoughts of a particular raven maned beauty successfully derailed his brooding thoughts, and Sky had to fight down the blush that was worming its way onto his face.

"No! Well I mean, there is but I... It's complicated."

"Mhmm. Complicated how?"

"Can we talk about ANYTHING else, please?"

"Oh, but we're having so much fun, aren't we?" Rarity asked with a wink.

"Maybe you are," Sky grumbled, looking down at the half-eaten treat in his hooves. "Look I... there is a mare, but she... she's not really interested in a relationship at the moment. We've known each other for a while, and I'm not willing to lose her friendship over a crush, so it's for the best if things just stay this way for now."

A muffled squee of excitement jerked Sky's attention back to his hostess, looking up to see her covering her mouth once more, this time in barely contained joy, of all things.

"Oh, unrequited love, held back for another! Sky, that is SO romantic! Wait, tell me, does she even know how you feel?"

The blush fought its way back into prominence at her enthusiasm as Sky fumbled with what to say.

"Umm, yes, I may have asked her out on a date once. It was a while ago, but-"

"And she refused?!" Rarity tisked at this, shaking her head. "That simply won't do at all. Sky, I promise, the next time you see her, you'll be sweeping her off her hooves! We just need to work a little on your confidence, and with that new piece you now have in your possession, you can-"

"W-Woah there! I mean I... T-Thank you, Rarity, very much for the offer but... I don't think this is something I really want help with. This is a personal matter just between the two of us, and I would like to keep it that way. Can I ask you to forget about it for me, please?"

Making an unladylike harumph at this, Rarity gave a little pout but after a moment of consideration, lightly nodded her head regardless.

"Oh very well. In any other case I may have put up a fight, but I know how delicate matters of the heart can be. You have my word to leave you be on the topic, Sky." That mischievous glint made a reappearance in her eyes as she grinned widely at him. "But I cannot say I will extend her the same courtesy."

"Well... It's a good thing she lives in Canterlot then. Also, I never told you her name."

"Yes, a shame that."

The two of them carried on for a few minutes more, the conversations mercifully not centered around Sky and his personal life until they heard the bell to the boutique's entrance chime.

"Sky! Sky! Sky, come and see, come and see, quick!"

Sunny's voice rang out from the other room, the joyous tone reflecting a more positive surprise than was normally attached to a CMC outing. Setting down there respective china and snacks, the two adults left the kitchen and made it into the foyer, where waiting was the four usual suspects where standing back by the door grinning. Sunny herself stood front and center, a whole other league of smile on her happy face, and across her back a new addition.

"Look! Isn't it so cool?!" She asked spinning in circles to show off her red and gold cape, a yellow filly rearing up in the middle of a blue crest at its center. "They let me join there club! I am the first official member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Canterlot branch! That's so cool, right? I have my own branch!"

The other fillies finally broke their silence and joined Sunny, laughter and excited babbling filling the room as they talked among themselves. Sky simply watched with a smile of his own as the five fillies pranced around and welcomed their newest member. After some time, the group had finally settled down, and Sky took the opportunity to step in.

"That's great, Sunbeam, I'm glad you're making friends here. I take it you all went on a little tour of your own while you were at it? You were gone for a while longer than it takes just to get to the treehouse and back."

"Yep! Just around the farm though. Apple Bloom showed me her house, and the barn, and the pond, and the orchard, and we had some fresh apple right off of the trees, they were SO GOOD!"

"Hah, I bet they were. Maybe next time we can get Granny Smith to make you one of those amazing pies of hers. You up for a little more adventuring around the town? There's a lot to see, and not a lot of time to do it." Some of the cheer left Sunny's face at that proclamation, and Sky shook his head softly while ruffling her mane a bit. "Oh don't be like that. You can still see me as often as school allows, and now you have a ton more reasons to come and visit, right? Now come on, my friend Fluttershy mentioned last time I saw her she had a family of badgers staying with her that just had a cub. Never seen a baby badger myself, it'll be fun. The girls can come too if they like."

With spirits once again lifted, Sunny and the others gave their assorted agreements before making there way out back out the door. Sky turned his attention back to Rarity, bowing his head. "Thank's for having me over, Rarity, I had a great time. Maybe we should do this again sometime when I'm not playing host myself?"

"Absolutely, darling, it was my pleasure. Oh, don't forget your suit, and might I suggest taking that back home before visiting our dear Fluttershy?" She said, lighting her horn and laying it neatly across his back. "As well mannered as she may be, some of her furry friends are less so, and I am rather proud of the work I put into that one."

"Of course. All right, girls, let's stop by the observatory, then we'll head for the cottage."

As he stepped outside to join the others, Sunny noticed that her brother had his own new clothing as well. Her eyes sparkled at the sight and she giggled to herself.

"Wow, Sky, that looks so nice! I bet Miss Octavia will LOVE it!"

"Ack!"

Sky felt his heart stop. After a moment of shocked horror, he looked back through the door to see an evil smirk had begun to form on Rarity's face. Her horn glowed as she slowly closed the door behind them all, and called out in a sing-song voice.

"Ta-ta Sky! Have a good rest of your day!~"

The door closed and there was a moment of silence.

"... Who's Octavia?"