The sixth installment of a What If series that involves the rewriting of episodes. This covers an episode from Seasons 4 and 6 and eight episodes from Season 7. (Warning!: Episodes rewritten based on personal opinion. Please respect it. Thank you.)
It's back yet again, that series which dares to ask the fateful question: "What if that episode had been written differently?"
With the show's seventh season now wrapped up, Season 7 episodes are fair game and we've got eight of them awaiting a rewrite within this installment. But first we have an episode from Season 4, and an episode from Season 6. And some of the rewrites will be bonus chapters, exploring what would happen if a different character was made the focus of the episodes.
As always, I must reiterate that all of the episodes that appear here and end up rewritten are the result of my personal opinion, so don't get upset if an episode you like appears on the list or an episode you didn't like doesn't make the cut. I'll gladly respect your opinions so long as you respect mine, and like always you are not obligated to read any of these chapters if you don't want to.
And while it probably goes without saying at this point, I should mention that I bear no ill will and mean no disrespect to Hasbro, the DHX writing and directing staff, or the people who like any of the episodes that appear here. The intent of this fic, like all of its predecessors, is for entertainment purposes only. (Apologies for the image, once again it was the best I could find.)
At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Big Macintosh were assisting Granny Smith with an important task: Moving some old boxes around. Naturally, they couldn't resist taking a peak inside the boxes, just to make sure nothing was broken or missing.
Suddenly, Applejack noticed what looked like an old scrapbook buried in one of the boxes. The farm mare was quick to pull it out, dust it off, and let her curious mind examine its contents. What she saw surprised her! "What in tarnation?! Is that... Granny?!" She exclaimed!
Big Macintosh spun around, noticing his sister completely entranced by the old photo album. And when he got a good look at it, he was entranced too.
"Hey now, what are you youngin''s up to?" Granny Smith snapped when she noticed her two eldest grandchildren slacking off.
Applejack presented the old scrapbook to Granny, pointing to a picture of her as a young mare dressed in what appeared to be a red swim bonnet with white polka dots, and a matching suit. "I thought you told Apple Bloom the other day that you could never go near the water without gettin' sore." She inquired of her grandmother.
Granny Smith sighed. "It's true, I can't, not anymore anyways. Guess I gotta tell you whipper snappers the story now, don't I?"
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh firmly nodded.
"I know I'd wanna hear about this, and so would Apple Bloom," Applejack added. "Seems like you've had quite the past, Granny."
Granny Smith just sighed again. "I suppose the time has come to share a part of my past I hoped to take to my grave. Guess that's just how life works."
A short time later, the elderly mare had set the well worn scrapbook down on the kitchen table, and motioned for all her grandchildren to gather round. "I wasn't always so opposed to settin' hoof in water," She told them. "Back in my youth, I was an Aqua Pony Champion, broke many swim records in my time."
Apple Bloom in particular became fascinated by the story. "Wow, I had no idea you used to do all that stuff, Granny! And I thought I knew all your stories."
Granny Smith shook her head. "There's a reason why I don't like thinkin' 'bout this part of my life. You youngin''s better listen and listen good," Clearing her throat, the elderly earth pony then explained. "I once came close to breakin' the Equestria High Dive record, that meant divin' off a huge board and into a small tub of water. That was a mistake, I missed the tub and I think you can guess what broke my fall."
"That why you gave it up?" Apple Bloom inquired.
Granny Smith nodded. "I never said bein' an Aqua Pony Champion was a smart idea. After that incident, I figured it was time to leave the thrill seekin' behind and settle down. I took over Sweet Apple Acres from my folks, met your grandpa, and the rest is history," She then closed the old scrapbook with a thud. "Still, much as I'm glad to leave my Aqua Pony days behind, there are times where I wish I was just a wee bit younger with more of a spring in my step. Why I tell ya, things would be a lot different 'round here if I could take a more active role on the farm, 'stead of just havin' my grand kids do all the work."
That comment got Applejack to thinking. "What if there's a way to give Granny Smith what she wants? Maybe there's some kind of spell or potion that could make her young again?" And that line of thought would unintentionally lead Applejack to an unexpected test of her greatest attribute, her honesty.
Applejack headed out towards town not long after that thought entered her head. The idea of turning anypony young was not something she had ever considered before. But the farm pony knew there were some options to at least consider.
"Maybe Twilight would know, seeing as she's so smart and all?" Applejack thought. But then she began to recall the last time she'd seen her friend mess with age spells, back when she was a unicorn. Even with the advanced magical abilities of an alicorn, it didn't seem likely that Twilight would have the means to grant Granny Smith's desire. Assuming there were even spells that didn't extremely age or de-age the intended pony, as Applejack had seen both extremes during the Alicorn Amulet incident.
It was then that the mare started thinking of the next most magically gifted individual she knew, Zecora. But that would mean having to go on a long trek through the Everfree Forest, and Applejack didn't even know if the zebra would be home when she arrived. All the same it wouldn't hurt to ask, maybe Zecora would have some advice she'd be willing to share.
But before any plans could be finalized, the cow pony's ears picked up a faint sound coming over the horizon. It started out low, but soon it was growing as it made its way over the hillside. It sounded almost like... music.
Now music in and of itself was hardly suspicious, after all Applejack was friends with two members of the Ponytones (to say nothing of the fact that her brother was one of its members) and she could attest to many instances of having burst into song herself. But this music sounded a lot different from the kind of tunes the orange coated mare was used to hearing, it sounded rehearsed, as if the one (or ones) performing it had practiced the tune many times.
Her curiosity aroused, the earth pony took off towards the source of the music. And soon she came upon a most unexpected sight. A massive tent had been set up somehow, all be unknownst or so it would seem.
"That tent being here can't be a coincidence. Wherever or whoever that music is coming from, it's inside." Applejack thought to herself. She made her way inside, just as her ears were sure they could pick up a stallion's voice belting out: "I won't need these crutches to dance out the door!" But her eyes had little time to try and locate the voice's owner, for they were locked onto a more important sight. Namely, two very familiar unicorn stallions with light yellow coats and red manes and tails. The one on the right had a mustache, whereas the one on the left did not. But both wore matching yellow hats.
Applejack gasped! She recognized those two stallions at once! "The Flim Flam Brothers!" She exclaimed, but no one could hear her over the production going on inside the tent. A nagging thought lingered in the farm pony's mind as she kept her eyes focused on the brothers. "What are they doing in Ponyville? It's not cider season, and I don't see that fancy contraption of theirs anywhere. What is going on here?"
An answer did not present itself to the mare until after the song had ended, and everypony in the tent had dispersed for wherever they had originally come from. Now alone in the tent, Flim and Flam quickly spotted Applejack and waved to her. "Well well, what a pleasant surprise, brother of mine," Flim commented. "One of those fine, upstanding Apples has come to pay us a visit."
Flam flashed a toothy smile as the two brothers approached their one time rival. "Miss. Applejack was it? A pleasure to make your acquaintance on this lovely day. May we ask what brings you our way?"
"Couldn't help but overhear the little ditty you had beltin' out of this here tent," Applejack answered as she eyed the brothers very carefully. Despite the pleasantness of their last visit, their attempt at driving her family out of business was a wound that still stung for the mare. "What in tarnation was that all about anyway?"
Flim chuckled as he and his brother nodded together. "Oh it was nothing that need concern you, Applejack. We came to Ponyville for a fresh start with a new business product, and that's all you need to know."
"'New business product'? But whatever happened to your old one? What was it again? The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 or somethin' like that?" Applejack inquired.
Flam sighed and shook his head. "Alas, it seems no buyers were interested in our machine, and nopony would go into business with us either. And while we pride ourselves on having built it with our own hooves, a well oiled machine like that costs money, money we didn't have. So we decided to cut our losses and put the thing out to pasture."
"I see. That's... quite unfortunate," Applejack replied, unsure of what else to say. Though she did manage to force out. "I hope you don't blame my family and I for that, we were just defendin' our home. We had no intention of makin' ya look bad."
Flam shook his head again. "Perish the thought, dear Applejack. We certainly don't blame you. Such is how business works I'm afraid."
Then a gleam seemed to come into Flim's eyes, before he gave a small vial of some kind to Applejack. "Here, take a look for yourselves at our newest product. We call it: The Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic, patent pending of course."
"'Curative Tonic'?" Applejack pondered aloud. "What could you possibly be hopin' to achieve with somethin' like that? For your information, I happen to be perfectly healthy, thank you very much!" She barely resisted the urge to blow steam out of her nostrils.
Flim playfully laughed and patted Applejack on the forehead, messing up her stentson a bit. "Come now, Applejack, surely you know we know that."
Flam was quick to add. "Why don't you give this to your dear old granny? Think of it as a gift of best wishes of you will," And with a toothy smile he explained. "Hasn't Granny Smith ever desired to feel just a wee bit younger? Before her back pain and the replacement surgery for her saggy old hip? This might be just what the doctor ordered to give her a small spring in her step."
"You tryin' to poison Granny or somethin'? I won't stand for it." Applejack threatened with a glare that would've been deadly if looks could kill.
"Now why in the wide world of Equestria would we do such a thing?" Flam innocently remarked. "Our intentions are pure. We just want Granny Smith to know we harbor no hard feelings for the cider making contest all those years back. And since we're here in Ponyville to make a new name for ourselves, we thought it'd be nice to settle old accounts. The past is in the past, let's bury the hatchet and let bygones be bygones."
Applejack eyed the vial very suspiciously, as if she suspected it was some kind of prank or trap. But no matter what angle she looked at it from, nothing about the tonic seemed off. On the surface at least, it was legitimate. "How much do I owe ya two for this?" She asked the brothers as she stored the tonic away inside her hat.
Flim shook his head. "Who said anything about money? We're giving this sample to you free of charge, after all it is a gift," Then he questioned. "That is, unless you'd like to buy more. Why not stock up on tonic now in case your granny really takes a shine to it? It won't be long before this tonic will be flying off the shelves, and it's going to be a 'First Come, First Served' basis."
"Thanks but I think I'll hold until after I know this tonic of yours is the real deal. I've got my eye on you two," Applejack cautioned. "We may not be enemies anymore, but somethin' about your sudden return seems off." And then she turned and trotted out of the tent.
As Applejack made her way back to Sweet Apple Acres later that day, the farm pony continued to find her thoughts drifting to that supposed "Miracle Curative Tonic" the brothers had given her. She hadn't taken it to Twilight, the mayor, or anypony else even though she had considered doing so.
After all, while Flim and Flam had been pushy, the last time they were in Ponyville they had run a legitimate business with their mechanical cider press. What reason would they have to peddle a fake concoction, especially if they were going to such elaborate lengths to promote it?
At the same time though, it seemed almost too convenient that the brothers had come back to Ponyville with that "tonic" in tow. If they had really wanted to start fresh, why come back to the town where their reputation had already been damaged once before?
These nagging questions lingered in the orange coated mare's mind as she entered the farm house, Granny Smith immediately taking notice of the vial her granddaughter held in her hooves. "Say, what's that ya got in your hooves there, Applejack? Some kind of medicine or somethin'?"
"Huh, this?" Applejack hastily replied. "Well, it's kind of like that I suppose. It's actually supposed to be a tonic though, at least that's what I was told."
"A tonic? Where'd you get that?" Granny Smith inquired. "You get Zecora or Twilight to brew that up after hearin' about my youngin'' days?"
Apple Bloom looked at the vial quite closely. "This doesn't look like any sort of potion or tonic I've seen before, especially not the vial. Who gave this to you, Applejack?"
"Oh, uh, that's not important right now!" Applejack defensively answered. "I was just thinkin' 'bout whether or not to give to you, Granny Smith. I don't actually know what it can do yet, but it's supposed to be a 'miracle curative tonic' from what the seller told me. You do wanna feel young again, don't ya?"
Granny Smith raised an eyebrow. "Don't go gettin' any crazy ideas about shrinkin' me back into a filly or anythin' like that!" She protested. "If anythin' happens and I can't change back, we'll all be up the river without a paddle so to speak!"
Applejack shook her head. "No no no, it shouldn't do anythin' like that, Granny. And if it can make you feel young again, don't you think there's no harm in tryin' it?"
There was a long silence, no one dared to speak a word. At last, the silence was broken by Granny Smith, who took the vial containing the tonic and declared. "Well, I'll think it over, Applejack. Don't wanna just down somethin' I got from an unknown source."
Applejack nodded. "I understand, Granny. That's all I can ask for."
The next day, the Apple siblings awoke, had breakfast, and went about their chores like usual. But there wasn't much to do at this time of year, the apples were growing splendidly on the trees and a few of 'em were ready for harvesting, but otherwise the crops were coming along just fine on their own and would not need tending to.
So the three earth ponies were down by a small stream they often frequented for swimming and fishing, opting today for the latter.
It didn't take long for conversation to drift towards the "tonic". Apple Bloom was the first one to ask. "Applejack, do you really think that tonic could actually work? That it could actually make Granny Smith young again?"
Applejack let out a sigh. "The thing is, Apple Bloom, if it sounds too good to be true then it often is. I wanna believe that tonic's the real deal as much you and Big Macintosh do. But a part of me is skeptical and probably always will be."
Then, all of a sudden, who should come swimming past but Granny Smith herself?! Somehow she'd found her old swim bonnet and suit, and was floating down the stream without a care!
"Granny!" Applejack exclaimed, instantly leaping to her hooves! "Quick, Big Mac, throw your harness!"
"My what?!" Big Macinotsh exclaimed with shock!
"Just do it! Hurry!" Applejack instructed, and then she called out to Granny Smith! "Don't worry, Granny, we'll get ya out soon! I promise!"
Reluctantly, Big Macintosh removed his shoulder harness, opting to toss it into the stream just ahead of where Granny Smith would be. But instead of grabbing hold of the object, Granny Smith opted to instead effortlessly swim around it. A short time later, she came up on dry land with the harness in tow. "Howdy, Big Mac. You dropped this in the stream. Really gotta be more careful or one of these days you might lose it for good."
"Wait just an apple pickin' minute there, Granny," Applejack protested, trotting up to her grandmother. "I thought you've given up on swimmin' after your Aqua Pony days. And what about all your back pain you still have?"
Granny Smith scoffed. "Well, I reckon it might have been a problem before I had myself a dose of that there Flim Flam Tonic! That's right, I found out who you got it from. Kind of hard to miss when it's right on the label," She then fondly exclaimed. "Why didn't you just tell me the brothers were the ones who made it? Seems like an awful nice thing for them to do."
"Wait a second, the Flim and Flam?" Apple Bloom inquired of her big sister. "As in the same Flim and Flam that tried to take over the farm?"
"Eeyup." Was all Big Macintosh decided to say on the subject.
But Granny Smith quickly spoke up in protest. "Now hold on, ya'll. That was a long time ago, and we Apples don't usually hold grudges."
"But what about the Pears?" Applejack questioned.
"That's different, and you'll understand the reason why when I think you're all darn good and ready," Granny Smith replied, moving quickly to silence the discussion of the feud. "And as for the brothers. Well, if they can make a whipper of a tonic like this, they can't be all bad. Why, just look at me. I'm fit as a fiddle!" She hummed a little tune to herself as she moved her hooves in time to the beat and ended in a pose.
"I'm glad you're feelin' good and all, Granny, but how do you know for sure it's from the tonic?" Applejack protested. "What if somethin' else is responsible? Somethin' you had for breakfast, maybe?"
Granny Smith shook her head. "You all saw what I had for breakfast, same as it always was. And you know how I know it's the tonic doin' all this?" The elderly mare proceeded to explain at length. "I looked out at the water this mornin' and I felt the same old terrifyin' aches and pains I always do. But one sip of that magic tonic and it all went away, just like that! Why, I might even get a head start on my chores today! What do you say, Big Mac-a-doo? Up for a little afternoon applebuckin' with your Granny?" She reared her back legs in the traditional applebucking pose to demonstrate her new physical dexterity.
Nervously, Big Mac answered. "Uh, no." Seeing Granny Smith like this was quite a bit more than he could currently handle. It was such a huge contrast to how she usually was.
Feeling offended by her grandson's comment, Granny Smith retorted with a spit. "Oh, quit your bellyachin'! Ya'll should appreciate gettin' to see a pro in action! With me on the team, our applebuckin' woes'll be a thing of the past!"
"Granny, it's great that you wanna help out and all. But you shouldn't push yourself," Applejack cautioned. "We don't even know what's in that tonic, or how long the effect lasts."
"You got this from Flim and Flam, didn't ya?" Apple Bloom inquired. "Maybe you should ask them."
A light bulb went off in Applejack's mind when she heard that statement. "What a great idea, Apple Bloom. We'll do that tonight."
"You think Flim and Flam will just tell you what's inside it?" Apple Bloom pondered aloud.
"If it's a genuine cure then maybe. But somehow I doubt they'll be keen on sharin' the recipe. Might have to press 'em on it." Applejack told Apple Bloom.
The two siblings set off that very evening and it wasn't long before they were able to track down the location of the tent. The music revealed its location.
But when the two earth ponies arrived, they saw a sight that they had never imagined seeing. A light turquoisish gray stallion with blueish-gray eyes, a cobalt bluish gray mane and tail loosely styled, and a cutie mark depicting two silver bits was singing. "-To dance out the door!"
Applejack nearly gasped in surprise upon seeing the stallion! "Wait a second! That's the same voice I heard yesterday!"
"You think he knows somethin'?" Apple Bloom pondered. "Just 'cause you heard his voice doesn't mean he's involved with whatever the brothers are pullin'."
"There's only one way to find out, Apple Bloom. Come on!" Applejack declared, and the two quickly went around back to confront the stallion, who was in the middle of dressing. In fact, he had a small trailer of sorts consisting of what looked like crutches, glasses, and various costumes.
Applejack quickly confronted the stallion. "Beg your pardon, Mister.... ?"
The stallion gulped and spun around to face his unexpected guests. Trembling, he confessed. "Shill. Silver Shill. Ooh, what do you two want?"
"Nothin' much, just some answers," Apple Bloom quickly replied. "Our Granny took some tonic this mornin', and now we wanna know how it works. Granny couldn't swim before, and now she can."
Silver Shill gulped, unable to stop his shaking. "What makes you think I'd know anything? Just look at me, I-I'm only part of the act!" He gasped in alarm and put his hooves to his mouth upon saying that! "Wait, you heard me wrong! What I meant to say was..."
But Applejack just shook her head. "Don't bother, I can see for myself what's goin' on here. There's not a thing wrong with you, is there? You don't need crutches, or glasses, or anythin' of the sort. You're pretendin' to be cured. And I got a pretty good idea of who's tellin' ya to do it."
"You mean he's...?" Apple Bloom began.
Applejack nodded. "I reckon he is. Flim and Flam put him up to this. So, Mr. Silver Shill, mind tellin' me what they're tryin' to accomplish with you?"
"I, uh..." Silver Shill began. "... I've already said too much! You can't know the truth! Just pretend you didn't see me and I won't tell Flim and Flam!" Then he pulled a lever. A steam whistle blew loudly, and the ensuing cloud it belched out gave the stallion the chance he needed to escape!
"After him, quick!" Applejack ordered to Apple Bloom! "We can't let him get away! He knows what's goin' on here!"
"But he could anywhere by now!" Apple Bloom protested. "Probably best if we split up, you search around the tent and I'll see if I can't track him down around here. Give me a shout if you find him."
"You sure that's a good idea, Apple Bloom? I think we'd do just as well if we stayed together." Applejack suggested.
"We'll cover more ground this way! Come on, we're wastin' time!" Apple Bloom barked out! "This is just like the movies! If we don't act fast, the bad guy's gonna get away and tell his boss everythin'!"
Reluctantly, the two Apple siblings split up. It didn't take long for Applejack to spot Silver Shill, but unfortunately for her he had already run straight to Flim and Flam, and was now cowering behind them.
"Well well well, if isn't our favorite Apple," Flim commented in a seemingly friendly tone, but if one listened closely it sounded almost like venom dripping from a fang. "Snooping around our little 'enterprise' are we? Now what did curiosity do to the cat again?"
Flam then added. "Surely you're not here to accuse us of anything. You've got no proof. And besides, why would we want to get on your bad side at a time like this?"
Applejack tried to keep her composure, determined not to let the brothers unnerve her. "I know you two are up to somethin', and don't think you can play innocent with me. You tricked me into givin' my granny a fake tonic!"
"'Tricked'? Why, you make it sound as if we made your granny buy the tonic. When in fact we merely offered it to you, and you were the one who took it home," Flim protested. "Are you saying you have buyer's remorse all of a sudden? We gave you a free sample you know, we could've easily charged the usual price."
"Don't change the fact that I know your little 'partner' here has been dressin' up differently every day and night, so he can 'pretend' to be cured." Applejack accusingly pointed a hoof at the brothers.
Flam gasped and seemed to express genuine surprise! "What's this?! A repeat customer trying to get out of paying what he owes us?! The very nerve of that stallion!"
"Drop the act! You've gotten my attention!" Applejack firmly demanded, planting a hoof in the ground. "You knew that tonic was a fake the moment you gave it to me, and against my better judgement I took it home and let Granny have some! If this is supposed to be your idea of a joke, it's not funny!"
"And what's so wrong if Granny believes the tonic is working?" Flam inquired. "We just thought it'd be nice to do her a favor. Let her feel young again, as a way to make up for our past misunderstanding. It's not like there's anything wrong with that, now is there?"
Applejack just growled. "But if Granny keeps gallavantin' around like a yearlin', then she's apt to drop from exhaustion or worse! To say nothin' of the fact that I don't even know what you really put in that vial!"
Flim looked across to Flam, the two stallions exchanging glances for a moment, before Flim sighed. "I suppose we might as well come clean, brother. Should've known we couldn't pull the wool over Applejack's eyes. What with her being so smart and all."
"Enough with the compliments, spit it out already!" Applejack demanded firmly. "I have half a mind to rat your little scheme out to the mayor, I don't think she'll take kindly to a stunt like this!"
"Relax, Applejack. The tonic is harmless," Flim reassured the mare. "Let's just say, hypothetically..."
"Theoretically..." Flam added.
"Even if our tonic were nothing more than a mixture of apple juice and beet leaves. And again, that's just a hypothetical question," Flim sort of confessed to the farm pony. "Granny Smith is the one who chose to drink it, and you're the one who chose to give it to her. So the fact of the matter is..."
"Granny Smith is happier now than she was before she tried it," Flam finished. "So, I suppose the question we ought to ask you is. Do you really want to be the pony who takes all that happiness away from her? And all because of a hypothetical, theoretical proposal? Sometimes isn't it better to not know everything and let others have their fun?"
Unprepared for the brothers question, Applejack froze up, unable to think of a response. "W-well I..."
But before the orange coated mare had a chance to think of an answer, Apple Bloom came trotting up on the scene. She hadn't overheard a single word, so she had no idea what was going on. "There you are, Applejack! Any luck findin' Mr. Silver Shill, or what's in the tonic?"
Applejack spun around. "Uh, about that, Apple Bloom," She nervously replied, while trying to keep a straight face. "Honestly, as long as it works, I... don't suppose it really matters what's in it. Granny Smith is happy, and that's good enough for me."
"Well, if it doesn't matter to you, then it doesn't matter to me either, sis. I know you wouldn't lie to me." Apple Bloom replied, unaware of what her sister knew.
The two siblings then departed from the tent without a word, and Flim and Flam just waved goodbye to them. "That's the spirit!" Flim encouraged.
"Come back any time you'd like! We've always got more!" Flam added.
The very next day, Granny Smith opted to join her grand children down at the swimming hole they frequented. But while Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Big Macintosh were all enjoying themselves, Applejack couldn't bring herself to set a hoof in the water. She was too busy thinking about what Flim and Flam had said to her. "What if they're right?" She thought to herself. "Often times it seems like knowing the whole truth, means learning about things you'd rather forget. But then, what about that one time with Rarity?"
The mare shook her head. "That was different, I was young and didn't know better," She thought. "Just like when I was fooling around near that bridge, and the next thing I knew my folks were gone forever. Wasn't it better to keep that faint hope that they'd somehow made it, rather than accept the truth that they were dead? Maybe there's a limit to how honest you have to be."
But the farm pony was snapped out of her mental ponderings, when she overheard Apple Bloom calling. "Hey, Granny! Think you can buck me over the water?"
Granny Smith smiled, clad in her swimming attire once again, as she happily called out. "Why not? I ain't ever got a chance to do it with ya, or any of my grand kids for that matter. Come on, Big Mac, toss her this way! I'm open!"
Forgetting all about the "belief" Granny had about the tonic, Applejack frantically called out! "Granny, wait!"
But her warning fell on deaf ears, as Apple Bloom was tossed right to Granny Smith, who happily (but carefully) bucked her back across, shouting happily all the while. "Sorry, didn't hear you, Applejack. You wanted to say somethin'?" Granny asked a moment later.
Applejack hesitated for a moment. Flim and Flam's words still rang clear in her head. "Do you really want to be the pony who takes all that happiness away from her?" Reluctantly, all she could bring herself to say was. "Granny, don't you think maybe you should take it kinda easy?"
Granny Smith was quick to retort. "I've been takin' it easy for far too long! And now, thanks to that Flim Flam Tonic, I don't have to!" She splashed back into the water a second later.
It was then that Apple Bloom decided to ask. "Hey, Granny, you think I could be an Aqua Pony like you?"
Granny Smith smiled. "Maybe not exactly like me, but you bet your boots you can, saplin. There's nothin' to it but to do it! Why'd you ask?"
"'Cause the Ponyville swim meet is comin' up. We could enter together! Think about it, a legendary water pony like you? We'd be a cinch to win!" Apple Bloom boasted. "I might even get my cutie mark in it!"
But Granny Smith's happy expression faded, the old mare seemed to frown as she hesitantly replied. "Mm, ee, uh, I don't know about that... Bein' back in the water is one thing, but a competition is a pony of an entirely different color. Besides, I'm still a bit rusty on my Aqua Pony routine."
Against her better judgement, Applejack protested. "I don't know, Granny. A swim meet sounds pretty safe. And if that tonic lets you swim in a river and a swimmin' hole, a pool should be no problem at all. Right?"
Those words were all that was needed to convince Granny Smith, whose eyes lit up like the night sky! "Well, I'll be a tart turnover, you are right! All we need now is more of that tonic!"
As "luck" would have it, Flim and Flam were holding another show at their tent. And ponies were already lining up to buy their tonic, unaware of what it really was.
Granny Smith approached the brothers and plopped down an entire sack worth of bits as she proudly declared! "We'll take the whole case!"
"Are you saying this stuff actually works?" A pegasus mare in bandages asked.
"Well... it seems to work for Granny." Applejack answered, hoping to satisfy her guilt with that half-truth. But it only made the knot in her stomach grow deeper.
What was even worse was when Flim boasted for all to hear. "You heard it here first, folks! The Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic is Granny Smith-tested and Applejack-approved!"
"Don't delay, buy yours today!" Flam chimed in.
The pegasus mare who had previously questioned the tonic's legitimacy, smiled and proudly declared. "Well, if Applejack says it works, then that's good enough for me!"
"What have I done?!" Applejack thought to herself. "Now I've got the whole town believing in Flim and Flam's cure all tonic! Is this REALLY better than telling the truth?!"
The day of the swim meet arrived far sooner than Applejack would've liked. But despite what Flim and Flam were doing, she still couldn't bring herself to tell the truth. Every time she tried, she kept thinking about how happy Granny Smith was, and how close she and Apple Bloom had become as a result. It just didn't seem right to take that all away, even if the happiness was based on a lie. There had to be some way to tell the truth without hurting their feelings.
Sadly, all Applejack could bring herself to say to Granny Smith and Apple Bloom on the day of the swim meet. "Just remember, you two. The most important thing is to be safe and have fun, right?"
Apple Bloom nodded, but Granny Smith retorted. "Fiddlesticks! With the routine we've been workin' on, I'll be a plum puddin' if we don't win this thing! Those rank ameatures are about to get schooled!"
"Well... uh... good luck, then!" Applejack reluctantly encouraged.
"Luck? Pfft, who needs luck? We got tonic on our side!" Granny Smith proclaimed, as she and Apple Bloom made their way to the edge of the pool. Several ponies had already gone before them, but only one routine had gotten high marks from the judges.
Flim and Flam were also at the swim meet, pushing their tonic as if to flaunt their victory in Applejack's face. "Get your Applejack-approved tonic right here!" Flim called to various ponies of the crowd. "Granny Smith drinks it – why shouldn't you?"
"It's just what the doctor ordered to make you feel better!" Flam added.
Applejack tried to pay the brothers no attention, even as she sighed to herself. "If only they knew."
"Well now, if'n you'll excuse us, we got some swimmin' to do!" Granny Smith declared, and she and Apple Bloom dove into the water. Ponies watched from the stands in delight, as the two flawlessly performed their routine. Even the judges were impressed, giving tens across the board!
Naturally, once Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had finished, reports swooped down in droves to cover the success story. Cameras feverishly clicked as one reporter asked. "I have to say, that was some of the most amazing aquabatics I've ever seen! Tell me, what's your secret? How in Equestria did you do it? Hard work? Lots of practice?"
"Yeah, all of that. But mostly it's the tonic!" Granny Smith proudly declared.
Flim and Flam quickly rushed over, eager for another chance to promote their product. "That's Flim Flam Miracle Curative Tonic, to be precise." Flim chimed in.
"So buy it now, while supplies last. Better hurry, this thing's flying off the shelves!" Flam declared. And the cameras clicked like mad.
But Applejack's eyes were drawn to the presence of Silver Shill, no longer wearing crutches but still sporting his fake glasses. "What are you doin' here?" She gasped!
Silver Shill smiled. "Oh, things are going so well that Flim and Flam gave me a promotion! Just made my first bit as a salespony. No more costumes for this pony," He was quick to correct. "This is more of a uniform."
Applejack only replied with. "If you say so."
Silver Shill nodded. "I do. But you know, I used to wonder if I was doing the right thing. Pretending to be cured, basically lying to folks about this tonic. But thanks to you, I realized that sometimes honesty isn't the best policy."
Applejack gulped. Those words made her feel as if she'd been stabbed with a dagger. "Thanks to... me?"
Silver gave a firm nod. "I don't even care that the tonic was originally my creation. Flim and Flam approached me and offered to help me turn it into something ponies would buy. I thought they were crazy trying to pass it off as a tonic, especially one that can cure all your ills. But having you give your stamp of approval, now ponies can't get enough of it. As long as it's not actually harming them, who cares if they don't know the whole story behind what they're drinking?"
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom was giddily bragging to reporters about the tonic. "With Flim Flam's magical Curative Tonic, my granny can do anything! Just ask Applejack! She says the one who gave it to Granny originally!"
But at that moment, Granny Smith suddenly pushed past all the reporters, amidst gasps from the crowd! "She's actually gonna do it! She's gonna break the high dive record!" An excited audience member exclaimed in delight, and the crowd fell into an awed hush!
"Granny!" Applejack shouted, rushing after the elderly mare to try and stop her from doing something she'd regret! "Can't believe I let it go on for this long! What was I thinking?!" She mentally complained to herself!
Even Flim and Flam seemed worried about Granny Smith's decision. "Now, Granny Smith. You just won your first swim meet in who knows how many years," Flim protested. "You've more than demonstrated our tonic's effectiveness. There's no need to push yourself even further!"
"I have to agree with my brother on this one!" Flam added in a nervous tone of voice as beads of sweat poured down his face! "Please, Granny Smith, think about what you're doing! Just because you can do anything, doesn't mean you should do everything!"
But Granny Smith refused to listen! "Why should I stop now?! I'm finally about to accomplish what I should've accomplished years ago! All thanks to your wonderful tonic!"
Just as Granny Smith was about to climb up the ladder and make her attempt, however, Applejack protested. "Granny, you gotta stop! Please, listen to Flim and Flam! If you mess this up, not even the tonic's gonna help you get better! You'll be sore for who knows how long?! Heck, you might even end up in the hospital, or worse!"
"Relax, sugarcube, that tonic's made the impossible possible!" Granny Smith boasted. "You said it yourself! And you're the one who first gave it to me! I know you, Applejack. You ain't a liar. If you say the tonic is what it is, then I believe you. And if this tonic can really do all these wonderful things, why shouldn't I take advantage of it?" She proceeded to take a sip from the vial containing the tonic.
And in that moment, the sun glared off the vial and a rainbow reflected in Applejack's eyes. The farm mare knew what she had to do. She swatted the vial away and loudly declared. "I hate to disappoint everypony, but there's no way Granny could have made that dive, because this tonic is a fake!"
Everypony gasped, as the bandaged pegasus from a few days ago inquired of Applejack. "A fake?! But you gave it your stamp of approval!"
Amidst whispers from the crowd, another mare spoke up and asked. "Are you saying you lied? You, the most honest of all ponies?"
Applejack sighed and reluctantly confessed. "... I am," The crowd gasped all over again, and Applejack waited for the gasps to die down before she explained. "I didn't mean to! But everypony seemed so much happier, I couldn't bring myself to tell any of you when I found out the tonic wasn't real. I know it was wrong. And I just hope with time, I can win back everypony's trust."
"You sayin' this stuff doesn't actually work?" Granny Smith asked with a raised eyebrow. "Then how do you explain all that aquabatics stuff I just did with Apple Bloom? Or the fact that I can swim no problem and without any pain?"
"Yeah. If it wasn't the tonic doin' that, what was it?" Apple Bloom added.
Applejack put a hoof to her chin. "Maybe it was the tonic, but not in the way we think. I reckon sometimes you can forget what you're capable of, and it just takes a little extra confidence to remember that it was inside of you all along. That doesn't mean you can just lie to others about what your tonic can do though."
"Okay, okay, so maybe we went a little overboard with the marketing," Flam confessed. "Still, even you are admitting that tonic can boost confidence."
"And besides, it's good for you. So you should drink it anyway," Flim added. "A mixture of apple juice and beet leaves is actually quite healthy."
"But it's not yours, you didn't make it!" Silver Shill loudly spoke up, removing his glasses and uniform. "In fact, it's not even a tonic at all! I should know because I was the one who made it originally! All this time I've been afraid to speak up and let the two of you call the shots! Watching Applejack save Granny from a reckless decision and then admit to lying, well, that made me realize I too was making ponies believe in a thing that just wasn't so!"
Flim and Flam both gulped. "Looks like the jig is up, brother," Flim commented. "Now we're gonna have to pay all these ponies back, we're right back to square one."
"I told you we should've just gone to Las Pegasus instead!" Flam grumbled under his breath. "At least there we could've made a name for ourselves instead of being reduced to this low. Before, we ran a legitimate business."
"And yet nopony would do business with us," Flim complained. "Besides, this was your idea. Maybe it's time I started calling the shots around here. And I say that, as soon we as we pay back what we owe, we hightail it out of here and never come back."
Meanwhile, Silver Shill trotted up to Applejack and gave her a bit. "Thank you, Applejack. You really inspired me with your willingness to admit you were lying," He then told her. "Here, I got this bit through dishonest means, by tricking an innocent pony with a con that went on far long than it ever should have. That was a mistake I won't be making again! I'd like you to have it, as a reminder of how you helped me finally see the truth."
Applejack was skeptical of accepting the gift. "I don't know about this, Silver Shill. It ain't mine."
But Silver Shill was quick to reassure the mare. "Oh, don't worry. I'll track down the pony I sold that worthless tonic to and give him another bit to replace this one! Honest." And then he left to go do just that.
Applejack then turned to Granny Smith and apologized. "I'm sorry for all of this, Granny. I thought somethin' was up when Flim and Flam gave me the first batch of tonic for free, but I didn't say anythin'. Then I just the whole thing spiral out of control, just 'cause I wanted to see you be happy again. I hope this doesn't mean you'll stop swimmin'."
Granny Smith replied. "Why in tarnation would I do that? Besides, this is partially my fault for not askin' the right questions. If I'd really wanted to, I could've found out for myself what was in that tonic at any time," Then she smiled. "But it's funny, seems like this is the second time in your life you've come to value honesty above all else. And that alone makes me feel almost ten years younger."
Applejack tried not to blush.
Later that day, Applejack was jotting down a journal entry detailing her experience and the lesson she had learned. It went something like this:
Bein' honest sure gets hard when it seems like the truth might hurt somepony that you care about.
It can be temptin' not to ask questions if it means maintain' an innocence about somethin'. Ignorance can seem like bliss, and maybe sometimes it is.
But when you refuse to be honest and let yourself be part of a lie for no good reason, all you do is make the truth hurt even more.
Learnin' when to tell the truth can be just as hard as learnin' how much of it to tell. In the end, honesty may not always be the best policy, but for me at least, it's a policy that's worth livin' by.
Applejack then left to go join Granny Smith and Apple Bloom down at the watering hole. And as she left, she was unaware that the bit she had gotten from Silver Shill, gave off a rainbow glow.
Applejack and Fluttershy had been called to Twilight's castle as a result of the table map. But when they learned where they would be going, they were anything but thrilled.
"The map is sendin' us where?!" Applejack loudly exclaimed!
"Las Pegasus? Surely there must be a mistake." Fluttershy protested.
"But Las Pegasus is a wild vacation spot. It's just one big party." Applejack joined in the protest.
Fluttershy shuddered. "All those lights and sounds, not to mention the crowds... Oh, just the thought of it is overwhelming!"
"Look, I know Las Pegasus doesn't seem like either of your cups of tea," Twilight lightly spoke up. "But I have total faith you wouldn't have been called unless you were the perfect ponies for the job. The map's never been wrong before."
"Guess it can't hurt to trust its judgement in this case," Applejack said with a reluctant sigh. "Who knows? It's probably not as bad as we think. It can't just be a loud, obnoxious party all the time... right?"
When the two ponies arrived in the bustling city, however, they soon learned that they were mistaken. The entire city consisted of massive buildings with neon signs, and sported that pegasus like feel with the ground designed to look like clouds.
"Um, Applejack, about what you said earlier," Fluttershy commented. "It isn't as bad as we thought."
A huge crowd of tourists rushed past the mares a second later, screaming and shouting loudly!
"You're right, it's worse!" Applejack exclaimed! "Just what have we've gotten ourselves into this time?!"
Applejack and Fluttershy made their way through the crowds, checking out the first building they laid eyes on. It was almost like an indoor amusement park, complete with rides, arcade games, and even a fountain. The two were in awe of the sight, but taken aback quite a bit by the huge crowd of ponies checking out the attractions. Suffice it to say, Las Pegasus more than lived up to its name.
"Do you think maybe the map could be on the fritz again or something?" Fluttershy asked her friend, as they trotted through the establishment. "I know Starlight 'fixed' it, but are we sure it's completely back to normal? I mean, this place seems a lot more suited to Pinkie Pie or even Rainbow Dash. This is the last place the map should be calling us."
Applejack just sighed and shook her head. "If Twilight trusts the map than so do I, like she said it's never been wrong before. So all we have to do is solve our friendship problem and get back home. 'Course, we have to find it first. And that might be a problem."
Just then, a random stallion dressed up in a show pony's hat barked out. "And make sure to experience our signature show,Ponet Fantastique! Trust me when I say you've never seen anything like it! Unparalleled acrobatics! Unique animal antics! Your only regret will be that you didn't see it sooner! And just like everything at this amazing, incredible, I-can't-believe-it-even-exists hotel, Ponet Fantastique is brought to you by the chairpony of kindness – Gladmane himself!"
The crowd's eyes were drawn to a massive golden statue of an earth pony stallion wearing a business suit and tie, and sporting a mane that looked almost like a powdered wig.
Even Applejack and Fluttershy were impressed. "Wow. This Gladmane sure seems impressive," Fluttershy commented. "I wonder if we'll get to meet such an upstanding pony."
"Well, uh, it is a little embarrassing, but the crowds seem to like it. Uh-huh-huh." A voice barked out, revealing itself to be the very pony depicted in the statue. He had a grayish-persian blue coat, grayish-green eyes, a white mane and tail that had some streaks of a blueish-gray shine to it, and a cutie mark depicting three golden bits surrounded by sparkles. He wore a dark blue business suit with a white collar, a blueish-green cape with diamonds in various colors of blue and white, and an orange polka doted bow tie. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this was the very Gladmane the barker pony had been talking about just a few seconds earlier.
"Mr. Gladmane?" Applejack greeted, offering a hoof.
But Gladmane not only accepted the hoof but also replied. "Just Gladmane'll do. And it's a pleasure to meet actual cohorts of the Princess of Friendship! Thank you for coming. Thank you very much."
"Wait, you know who we are? Most ponies outside Ponyville don't tend to recognize us." Fluttershy commented.
Gladmane kindly replied to Fluttershy. "Oh, I'm what you might call a friendship connoisseur, so naturally I'm familiar with the friends of the great Twilight Sparkle! Applejack, Fluttershy, it's an honor to have you here. Uh-huh-huh."
Applejack smiled and told the stallion. "I have to admit you're not the type of pony I expected to find in Las Pegasus, Gladmane."
"Glad to be the exception to the rule," Gladmane replied to Applejack, and then he chuckled. "And while my guests may be looking for lights, music, and parties, working hard and making friends is how I turned this here hotel into what it is today, and how I plan to make it even bigger. Uh-huh-huh!" Then he pulled down a microphone as he motioned to his guests. "Uh, excuse me for a second would ya?" Then he took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone. "Wise ponies may say the folks that come here are just customers, but I can't help but thinkin' of each and every one of you as friends. That's why there's a three-for-one special on apple fritters in the cafe for the next hour! Enjoy! Uh-huh-huh!" The crowd reacted eagerly to the statement, many ponies opting to make a mad dash for the cafe.
Lifting the mic up, Gladmane then offered to his guests. "Would you two like to take a tour of the place? I'm just about to do my rounds and check on my friends who work here."
"Well, we do have a friendship problem to find." Fluttershy mentioned in a hushed tone of voice.
"Lead the way, Mr. Gladmane!" Applejack declared.
Gladmane corrected. "Just Gladmane now, you hear? We're friends now."
"Already? But we've barely even met you." Applejack protested.
"Doesn't matter to me. Far as I'm concerned, you became my friends the moment you walked in the door," Gladmane replied to the two mares. "Now come on, let me show you around. There's a lot that goes on backstage."
It wasn't long before Gladmane led his guests to the backstage area of the performance theater. And soon after entering, he came upon a bright yellow coated earth pony mare dressed in a glamorous pink tutu and wearing matching make-up. "Good day to you, Molly. Just checkin' to see how things are coming along." Gladmane greeted.
Molly seemed to be extremely excited, as she let out a gasp! "Gladmane, you're just in time to see my newest move! I've been working extra hard on it!" She boasted.
"New moves or not, I'm glad to have a star like you working for me." Gladmane complimented.
"Oh, don't make me blush!" Molly fondly replied. "Please, Gladmane, I'd be honored if you saw what I'm working on! It's just what this show needs!"
Gladmane nodded. "Oh I'm sure it is, I'll make certain to see it when I have the time. You know me though, always gotta be checkin' up on things to make sure everything runs smoothly. Somepony has to do it, might as well be me, the friendliest of friends in this establishment."
Just then, a cobalt blue coated earth pony stallion with an even darker blue beard came trotting up. And he exclaimed through his accent! "Oh! Oh! Monsieur Gladmane himself is here! Come, Molly, let's run through the whole routine!"
But Gladmane protested. "Now, don't make a fuss for ol' me, Quinn. I'm just gonna keep on giving a tour to my new friends Applejack and Fluttershy. Feel free to rehearse on your own time though, I won't stop you."
"Ah, you must be ze the associates of her highness, Princess Twilight herself," Quinn flashed a warm smile. "So nice to meet you."
"Howdy!" Applejack greeted.
"Hi." Fluttershy whispered.
Quinn went on to say. "If zis pony calls you friend, then you're welcome backstage anytime! I owe him my entire career after all. And any friend of Gladmane is a friend of mine."
"Aw, shucks," Gladmane replied, as if he'd heard such compliments a hundred times before. "Come on, friends, let's leave the artists to their work. I've still got a lot to show you."
Applejack and Fluttershy followed Gladmane, and Applejack whispered to Fluttershy. "Doesn't seem like there's any friendship problems here. I'm startin' to think maybe you were right about the map bein' on the fritz."
The three ponies entered the next room, and Fluttershy squealed in delight at the adorable sight her eyes fell upon! "I've never seen a pink prairie dog before!" The yellow coated pegasus exclaimed, as she rushed over to the cages housing the tiny animals.
Gladmane smiled. "I like the folks that come here to have a unique experience. Uh-huh-huh."
"Und we love him for it!" Exclaimed a voice. And then who should appear but two unicorns of similar build, even down to their white jackets with pink stripes. But one had a white coat, and the other a black coat.
"Ah yes, Sprigfield and Roar Horn. So nice to see you again," Gladmane greeted to the stallions (speaking first to the black coated one). "I was just telling my new friends here about my pink prairie dog show."
Sprigfield smiled. "With Gladmane's help, we've been able to take care of all these little guys! We're glad to work for such a nice pony."
"Now this place is overwhelming in a good way!" Fluttershy fondly exclaimed. "I could get used to Las Pegasus if it had stuff like this."
"Glad you like it," Gladmane replied. "It's been one of my staple attractions for years. Now come along, there's still so much to show you two."
"Fluttershy? You comin'?" Applejack cleared her throat. The pegasus had been busy eyeing the pink prairie dogs.
"Hmm? Oh, um, coming!" The timid pegasus answered.
Having left the backstage area, Fluttershy was commenting to Applejack. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong around here at all. This looks like a dead end."
"I figured lookin' for a friendship problem in Las Pegasus would be like tryin' to find a needle in a stack of needles. But everypony seems to be gettin' along just fine," Applejack added. "I guess we're gonna have to go back to Ponyville and tell Twilight that map needs some fine tunin' or somethin'."
But before either mare could think of leaving, a familiar male voice cried out. "Ladies and gentleponies, despite what my competition might say, I know you've come to this fair city to be entertained, and I assure you there is nothing more entertaining than the astounding acrobatics in Gladmane's Ponet Fantastique!"
Another familiar male voice retorted. "Now, I suppose that might be true if it weren't for the existence, and far superiorly entertaining presence I might add, of the show-stopping exotic animal act that Ponet Fantastique includes!"
Fluttershy and Applejack spun around. "Those voice sound awfully familiar, don't they?" The pegasus spoke up first.
The farm pony narrowed her eyes, there was no mistaking who those voices belonged to. "They sure do, and I don't like it one bit. Flim and Flam. Should've figured they'd turn up here eventually."
Sure enough, Flim and Flam were on separate podiums. But they seemed to be arguing with each other, a stark contrast to the togetherness that had defined them the previous two times Applejack had seen them. "Wonder what they're trying to pull by fighting each other. Did the fallout from the tonic scam drive them apart?" She thought to herself.
"Why, I won't even dignify that assertion with a response! Except to say that if you were to consider buying your tickets from me," Flim spoke up. "I might consider offering them to all of you at a substantial discount!"
But Flam retorted. "But I've always thought you get what you pay for, and in my humble opinion, these tickets are a value at twice the price! They're practically a steal!"
Flim marched towards the center and pointed a hoof at Flam as he accusingly shouted! "Don't let this price-gouging charlatan take you for a ride! Pay him no attention, lest you be conned out of a wonderful deal!"
"Charlatan?" Flam gasped! "How dare you, former brother of mine! Of all the insults you've hurled my way, that has to be the lowest of lowest!"
"Hah!" Flim laughed. "How dare I?! I simply call 'em like I seem 'em, former brother! You were always the one who believed rising the price was the best way to seal the deal!"
"You've got some nerve! If it weren't for my brains, you wouldn't know how to work your way out of a wet paper bag!" Flam coldly remarked. "I'm two minutes older than you – don't you ever forget that, former brother of mine!"
The twins went on arguing back and forth, while the various ponies who had previously been lined up to buy tickets from them drifted off to other areas of interest.
"They certainly don't seem to be getting along," Fluttershy commented, and then she let out a gasp as a thought came to her! "Wait a second! You don't suppose we've been brought here to help them?"
But Applejack immediately shot down the idea. "Absolutely not, never in a million years!"
Unaware of the presence of Gladmane, or Applejack, Flim and Flam went on arguing. But nopony payed their quarrel any attention.
Fluttershy tried to plead her case for helping the brothers. "Applejack, I know you and the rest of the Apple family have had your issues with Flim and Flam in the past, but they're definitely having trouble now, and solving a friendship problem is important, no matter who's having it."
"Well, of course that's true..." Applejack replied, before the farm pony then added. "For anypony but them! I don't know why they're fightin' like this, but after that stunt they pulled with the tonic, I see no reason why I have to help 'em. We Apples make it a point not to get involved in the personal affairs of other families. And I reckon Flim and Flam aren't askin' for me to butt in on their silly little quarrel."
"Applejack, isn't it time to let go of the past?" Fluttershy retorted. "If they're the reason why the map called us here, we owe it to them to help them out."
"It's not that I hate 'em or anythin', I just don't see why their argument could possibly be a friendship problem," Applejack replied. "I mean, they're at Gladmane's. Sounds to me like he should be gettin' involved in this."
Gladmane shook his head. "Oh believe me, I tried my hardest. Those two boys have been fighting almost since the day they showed up here with hardly a bit to their names. I thought that giving them these jobs might help, but I... I guess it just made matters worse. Oh well, can't blame a stallion for tryin' I suppose."
"No argument there," Applejack agreed. "Flim and Flam may have meant well in the past, but they never know when to back off or give up. If the two of 'em were together, they'd probably end up cheatin' the hooves out from under you, Gladmane."
Gladmane sighed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Flim's such a showpony, and Flam has such a head for business. Why, if they ever did work together, they'd be running this whole place in two shakes! Ah, speaking of which, I'd better get back to work. But y'all enjoy your stay now, you hear? Hope you find that friendship problem you're lookin' for." And with that, the business stallion departed, leaving the two mares to watch Flim and Flam continue to argue with one another.
"I'm pretty sure we should help Flim and Flam out..." Fluttershy suggested.
"And I'm pretty sure there's another friendship problem here, and I'm gonna search this entire resort top to bottom 'til I find it!" Applejack vowed and stormed off. "You feel free to do whatever you want with those two, Fluttershy. But don't expect to get anywhere with 'em."
Fluttershy just sighed. "Guess I'm on my own with this one. Applejack, why must you be so stubborn? Holding onto a grudge for all this time, even Rainbow Dash wouldn't do that." She thought to herself.
Unwilling to give up without an honest effort, Fluttershy decided to try and solve the friendship problem on her own. She sat down for separate talks with Flim and Flam, trying to determine what had caused their quarrel, and what could be done to mend the broken bond.
But the brothers were of little help. They remained hostile whenever the subject shifted to one another. "I sure hope you didn't travel all the way from Ponyville just to get me to reconcile with my no account brother!" Flim protested. "After all the years of insults and being looked down on, I finally see him for the dirt bag he always was!"
"Brother? Why, I don't believe I have one of those anymore," Flam coldly commented. "A real brother wouldn't be as ungrateful as that low life."
"Oh, I already know what he thinks of me," Flim snorted. "All show and no substance! Well, fine! If he's so smart, then he should have no trouble becoming a big success on his own! And if he can't manage, well he better not come crying to me."
"Ooh! Why, he's just the greatest sales pony who ever lived of course," Flam remarked, changing his voice to sound mockingly snobbish. "Don't believe me? Just ask him, I'm sure he'll tell you all about it."
Fluttershy tried to help by telling both brothers. "I'm sure you two could work out your differences easily if you just sat down and talked to each other. Understanding is a key part of any friendship, after all."
But both brothers had the same reply. "I'm never speaking to that pony again! He's dead to me!"
With a sigh of defeat, the butter yellow coated pegasus had to admit that this attempt at family therapist was going nowhere at all. "Guess I can see why I didn't get my cutie mark in it." She thought unhappily to herself.
Meanwhile, Applejack was searching all of Gladmane's establishment for any trace of a friendship problem. But all she had to show for her search so far, was a bunch of general noises coming from the various rides, games, and performances featured throughout the building.
Suddenly, while trotting past the backstage area, she heard the director cry out. "No!" She rushed into the backstage area, where she saw Quinn and Molly apparently arguing.
Quinn was loudly complaining. "You are ruining my show, Molly!"
Molly snapped back. "Quinn, despite what you think, it isn't just your show! And I'm improving it!"
Quinn protested. "But it's ridiculous. You don't pull a rabbit out of a hat on the trapeze!"
"That's the whole point – to give the audience something they've never seen before!" Molly retorted. "Acrobatic magic! Watch!" She proceeded to twirl around on a trapeze, and once standing up on it she pulled a rabbit out of her top hat.
"Ta-da!" The rabbit appeared to exclaim.
"It's called 'blending genres', and it's awesome!" Molly shouted down to Quinn.
"Whatever." Quinn snorted and stormed off somewhere.
Applejack flagged down an orange coated stallion with a green shirt and glasses, holding up a clipboard with his magic. "Uh, excuse me but shouldn't somepony do somethin' about that?" She inquired.
But the stallion only replied. "I'm just the coordinator, Back Stage. And I'm sorry to say, that feud is way outside my line of expertise. They've been doing this since they started working here. It's too bad, really. If they ever stopped shouting at each other, we could take the show out on tour. They'd be way more successful than staying at Gladmane's." Then he trotted off somewhere.
Applejack smiled with delight upon hearing this. Her hunch had turned out to be correct. "Heh-heh. Now that sounds like a real friendship problem! Can't wait to tell Fluttershy about it."
However, Quinn and Molly were not the only ones in the theater that were quarreling. Roar Horn was training the pink prairie dogs, having them jump through a hoop and into a formation. "Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup!" He instructed.
Suddenly, Sprigfield came running up to his partner, shouting! "Stop! What are you doing?! It's supposed to be a pink prairie dog pyramid! It's alliterative!"
"Wha— But you said a tower! Why do you keep changing everything?" Roar Horn protested.
Sprigfield snapped back. "I'm not changing anything! You said pyramid! Stop trying to confuse the issue!"
At that, Roar Horn let out a shriek! "Sprigfield, I swear, you are driving me crazy!"
Having seen everything, Applejack questioned Sprigfield. "What was that all about? I thought you two got along?"
Sprigfield sighed. "Well, we used to, but we just can't seem to agree on anything anymore. A shame really, we used to perform all over Equestria, but if we can't agree on a new act, then we might as well stay at Gladmane's forever." Then he stomped his hooves and the pink prairie dogs followed him.
Applejack was ecstatic, she could hardly believe her luck! "Two friendship problems in the same theater? Now we're talkin'!"
The two friends met back up in the cafe to exchange all their news. Fluttershy was not phased to learn about the friendship problems in the theater. "If you count Flim and Flam, then that's three big friendship problems all in the same place! So much for the map being broken."
"Well I don't quite count Flim and Flam's quarrel as a problem. If they can't work it out between themselves, I don't see why I have to step in," Applejack protested. "Big Mac and I got into fights a lot as kids, and even now we've had our differences and held a grudge for a while. But our feuds never last as long as Flim and Flam's has."
"You don't suppose Gladmane's got something to do with their breakup, do you?" Fluttershy suggested. "After all, them being at each other's throats seems to benefit Gladmane a lot."
"Hm, now that you mention it, the other ponies' problems seemed to be good for Gladmane too. Both the trapeze show and the animal act would be better off if they left, but everypony's so busy arguin' that they can't." Applejack realized.
"Do you think he knows?" Fluttershy wondered aloud.
"If he does, there's no way he'll just tell us," Applejack said with a shake of his head. "We don't have any proof he's actually behind all this."
But Fluttershy spoke up. "Actually, I talked with Flim and Flam. And while I couldn't get them to reconcile with each other, they did share some important information. Flim told me that every other morning, Gladmane tells Quinn that Molly wants total control of the show, even though it's not actually true. And he also keeps changing the act on Sprigfield but claims Roar Horn is the one who ordered it. And Flam mentioned that every other afternoon, Gladmane tells Molly that Quinn's going to get rid of her. And he also changes the act on Roar Horn while claiming Sprigfield is behind it. And they started quarreling with each other once Gladmane told Flim that Flam thought he wasn't smart, or told Flam that Flim didn't think his ideas were any good."
"He must've exploited the wounds from the tonic incident, they probably spilled the beans to him when they first met him," Applejack realized. "And keepin' them apart meant he could keep them in the dark about his deceptions, 'cause if they ever stopped fightin' each other they'd see what Gladmane's doin' to the other acts. And that all his talk about friendship is just a load of applesauce! He's gettin' them all to fight with each other on purpose!"
"If that's true, that must be what we're here to solve," Fluttershy concluded. "But how can we get everypony to believe that's what he's doing?"
Applejack sighed. "I don't like the thought of it at all, but we're gonna have to trick him. Gladmane's not gonna just confess, and he's no doubt made sure to cover his tracks so nopony suspects a thing. Somehow, we're gonna have to trick a confession out of him. Even if it means bein' dishonest."
"Gee, if only there was a pony who knew how to trick a trickster," Fluttershy commented, a knowing smirk formed on her face as she turned to Flim and Flam, both of whom were still arguing to kingdom come. "Or maybe a pair of ponies?" She suggested.
The farm mare sighed and reluctantly accepted her pegasus friend's line of thinking. "Okay, fine. Guess bringin' Flim and Flam back together might be why we're here. Maybe. For the record, I think this is a bad idea."
"It's the only option we have, Applejack. But if you don't want to be a part of it, you don't have to," Fluttershy replied to her friend. "I'm sure I'll find a way to get Flim and Flam to cooperate on my own."
But Applejack shook her head. "No, Fluttershy. We were both called by the map. That means we both gotta work to solve the friendship problems. Like it or not, if trustin' Flim and Flam is the only way to do that, so be it."
The two mares approached the quarreling brothers a short time later, hoping to convince them to stop fighting and that their entire argument was the result of an external influence.
Neither of the brothers seemed even the slightest bit convinced, however. "Sorry if I don't take the word of somepony right off the street, Ponyville or otherwise." Flim protested.
"But think about it. Gladmane is behind so many other friendship problems. How can you be sure he isn't the cause of yours?" Fluttershy questioned.
"I'll tell you why," Flam hissed. "Because the only problem I have is standing right there."
"Same here, buster!" Flim snapped back. "Gladmane isn't responsible for this, and you've got some nerve accusing him like that! He took us in out of the kindness of his heart!"
"If you're trying to get us to turn on him, you might as well not bother!" Flam added.
"But do you even remember why you're fightin'?" Applejack asked.
"Of course we do, Gladmane told me just what my so called brother really thinks of me." Flim explained.
"I denied all those accusations, because of course I never said them. But Flim believed them," Flam retorted. "And then when Gladmane told me what Flim thought of me, that was the straw that broke the camel's back!"
"I told you, I'd never say such things about you in a million years. But of course you never believed me!" Flim snapped.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "So you're both sayin' you never said the things Gladmane says you said about each other. And yet you don't think he's behind all of this?"
"Well... perhaps the thought may have crossed our minds once or twice." Flim began.
"But why would he lie? He has no reason to do so." Flam finished.
Fluttershy spoke up. "Because he's afraid that the two of you together could move in and take over his resort. Think about it. Isn't it a little too convenient he showed you all those things AFTER you two fell out with each other?"
Realization struck the two unicorns square in the face upon hearing this! "It was right there in front of us the whole time, and we never even realized it!" Flim realized. "Well now, that Gladmane's got some nerve. The only ponies who should be plotting schemes should be us, the original tricksters."
"Oh, brother of mine, I think it's time for a little payback!" Flam suggested. "Now, how should we do it?"
"The Canterlot Two-Step? That's a personal favorite of mine." Flim recommended.
Flam shook his head. "Mmm, we don't have the chickens. How about the Baltimare Flair? That's an oldie but goldie."
Flim sighed. "Ah, my flair isn't what it used to be. No, we need something that he'll never see coming," Then, suddenly, a rather fiendish smirk formed on his face as he looked across to his brother. "Are you thinking what I am, brother?"
Flam nodded. "The High Roller Hustle! I like your style, brother."
"The what now?" Applejack exclaimed in confusion.
Flam simply smiled and explained. "Trust us. When we're done, there won't be a pony in town who doesn't know the Applejack-iest truth about Gladmane! That is, assuming you two are willing to help."
"Uh, what kind of 'help' do you have in mind?" Fluttershy asked with a gulp.
"Oh, nothing much," Flim said with a wink. "Now, what size gown do you wear?"
Some time later, Gladmane came out of his office to discover a most unexpected sight. There was a massive throng of ponies, all of whom had cameras that were clicking furiously. And others were taking notes. Something or someone had caught their attention, and Gladmane was quite concerned by it. He made it a point to know all that was going on in Las Pegasus. "Wh-What's all the fuss, now?" He asked, trying to keep his composure.
Flim pointed a hoof to an earth pony mare with a seemingly familiar yellow coat. But she had a rather curly green mane, and her eyes and cutie mark were obscured by thick, purple sunglasses and a dazzling, sparkling purple dress. She even had high heels. "It's the grand matriarch of the Rich family, Impossibly Rich! She's one of the wealthiest ponies in all of Equestria, second only to her son who runs the most successful business in all of Equestria." He explained.
"Well, why didn't somepony tell me she'd be stopping by for a visit?" Gladmane burst out. "You know how I like to give VIP guests my personal touch."
But Flim nervously gulped. "Well, she's not exactly a guest. Word is she's planning a resort of her own," He whispered to his boss. "I think she's here to scout the competition."
"Oh, really?" Gladmane nervously replied, a bead of sweat pouring down his face.
Flim nodded. "And with her bits, she could take over the whole strip if she wanted to, hire anypony she wants!"
Gladmane growled at Flim, as if accusing the shifty unicorn of planing to do what he'd just said. Flim quickly protested. "Uh, not me, of course! I love it here. Now my good-for-nothing brother, on the other hoof..."
"I see," Gladmane snorted. Then he adopted his usual friendly persona and approached Impossibly Rich, warmly greeting the matriarch. "Impossibly Rich, what an honor it is to have you at my humble five-star resort. I'm sure Flam has done an excellent job showing you around, but nothing could beat a personalized tour from the big mane himself. Uh-huh-huh."
Impossibly Rich didn't answer, she just whispered something to Flam who then told Gladmane. "You'll have to excuse Ms. Rich, boss. She saves the energy other ponies spend talking out loud and uses it to make more money. That's how she operates."
Impossibly Rich whispered again, and Flam then added. "She'd love a personal tour! Say, in, uh, about an hour?"
Gladmane nodded. "Well, that sounds right pleasant. And if you can break away for a moment or two, Flam, I'd love to see you in my office so I can get ready." And with that, the so called "friendship connoisseur" departed. He was doing his best not to show it, but deep down he was terrified of the kind of bit strings Impossibly Rich boasted. "If she's really come here to steal away my employees, she's got another thing coming!" He mentally vowed.
Once Gladmane and the crowd had both departed, Impossibly Rich made her way back behind the curtains of the backstage area. There, she revealed her true identity, Fluttershy. The pegasus had dressed up in the fancy attire so as to look similar to the actual pony that was Impossibly Rich. All for the purpose of Flim and Flam's scheme.
"Not to be rude but, are all of you sure this is a good idea?" The pegasus questioned.
"Abso-tively!" Flim declared.
"Gladmane is one fish that's hooked but good!" Flam added. "We've got him right where we want him. Now it's just a matter of getting him to slip up!"
All Applejack could bring herself to say to the two con artists was. "I sure hope you two know what you're doin', for your sakes."
"Oho, don't you worry about that. When it comes to throwing ponies off their game..." Flam boasted.
"No two ponies do it better than us!" Flim finished.
"Can't argue with that, I suppose." Applejack reluctantly replied.
About an hour later, Flam arrived in Gladmane's office overlooking the entire hotel. It even had glass windows that let him see everything going on down below. Quite a lush place for an "office". "Hey there, boss, Impossibly Rich is just about ready for that tour. So what did you want to see me about?" Flam asked, feigning ignorance. Working in Las Pegasus and for Gladmane, it didn't take long for one to learn why such a pony would call you in for a private audience in his office.
Gladmane beamed. "Actually, there's something I want you to see – the Grand Plan. Take a good look," He unrolled a blueprint that depicted plans for more hotels in his name on the Las Pegasus strip. "Just think, every hotel on this strip as amazing as this one, and every one of 'em mine and mine alone."
Flam whistled, and Gladmane chuckled at his employee. "I knew you'd like it. And all it'll take is a little salesponyship to seal the deal, like this," He stepped over to his intercom and clicked a button, allowing his voice to play out over the loudspeakers. "Hey there, friends. Uh-huh-huh. If you think my resort is fantastic, wait 'til you see Ponet Fantastique! Tickets are on sale right now. And for the next hour, they're two for the price of one! Thank you. Thank you very much."
When the loudspeaker clicked off a second later, Gladmane looked Flam in the eyes and sternly told him. "Now I know Impossibly Rich has probably made you a tempting offer to come work for her at her new resort. Wherever that is."
"Well uh, now that you mention it..." Flam stuttered.
The earth pony stallion droned on. "And as your friend, I'd never tell you what to do. But nopony's gonna stand in the way of my plans, no matter how rich they are! I've worked too hard to see some rich upstart try to take away what's rightfully mine! And I sure wouldn't want to see you to end up on the losing side. Think you might consider staying here with me?"
"Um..." Flam stuttered once more.
Gladmane didn't bother to wait for a reply, he was confident he'd intimidated a would be defector into abandoning their attempt. That was part of how he'd built the foundation for his entertainment empire, knowing how to keep his employees loyal to their boss. "Well all right then. Glad you understand. Now come along, let's not keep Impossibly Rich waiting."
Impossibly Rich was waiting when Gladmane arrived. Unknown to him, Applejack and Flim were already hiding out of sight, prepared to catch the business stallion in the act, assuming all went according to plan of course.
"And last but not least, Ms. Rich, the jewel in my crown. This here theater is home to my best acts," Gladmane proudly boasted. "Now tell me, are you impressed or what?"
Impossibly Rich just whispered to Flam, who quickly translated. "Well, Gladmane, Impossibly wants you to know she's very impressed so far but doesn't think you can keep a resort of this caliber going for much longer."
"Oh? And why's that? You threatenin' me, Ms. Rich?" Gladmane questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I don't take kindly to folks who threaten my establishment. If you got somethin' to say, say it to my face."
Impossibly Rich didn't flinch in the slightest, the mare just whispered to Flam who answered back. "She meant no offense, Gladmane. It's just, the way she sees it, you've got all the best talents in the industry. But what stops them from just leaving to join any competitor that comes along?"
"Aha, so you admit it! You're here, hopin' to swipe away talent to start your own hotel!" Gladmane exclaimed, pointing a hoof to Impossibly! "I knew you had another reason for your visit!"
"But you admit you have no leverage over your employees? Nothing that could keep them from defecting if somepony offered them a better deal?" Flam questioned.
Gladmane flashed a toothy smile as he laughed. "Well, you see I have a trick for that, I must confess. Uh-huh-huh. And it all has to do with how I treat my employees." He didn't seem to be aware that he was making this statement into a microphone, and it was carrying his statement over the loudspeakers.
"Now we've got 'em! Time to spring the trap!" Flam thought. And he questioned with trained innocence. "And how is that, Gladmane? What's the secret to your success?"
"The secret of my success, huh?" Gladmane remarked. "Well if you must know, I treat my employees the only way anypony should treat them. Like friends, of course! And I treat every one of my employees with the kindness they deserve. Just ask them, they'll vouch for me."
The unexpected response caught Flam by surprise! Struggling to keep a straight face, he stammered back. "That's it? That's your secret, heh-heh? There's..." He paused and cleared his throat. "...nothing else you wanna share? Nothing at all?"
Gladmane shook his head. "Nope, just friendship," Then with a sinister grin the business stallion marched over to Impossibly Rich and added. "But you know all about friendship, don't you... Fluttershy?! That's right, your little confession scheme didn't work. I know what Impossibly Rich looks like and how she acts, you two really oughta do your homework."
"Darn it! We've been conned! You knew the whole time?" Flim reluctantly spoke up.
Gladmane gladly boasted. "Uh-huh-huh. I saw right through your little scheme the moment you put it into action. Never try to con a con-pony. Uh-huh-huh, now you boys get back to work," And then with a laugh he proudly boasted. "Yes! Score one for Gladmane! I still got it!"
Gladmane was scooping bits into a massive bag, when there came a knock on his office door. "Come in," He called, and the door knob turned. Who should come trotting in but Applejack and Fluttershy? "Oh, it's just you two," He greeted with a smug grin. "Why, I'd have thought you'd both have hit the road by now. Yet you insist on hanging around."
Fluttershy sternly scolded Gladmane. "Well, whether we were able to fool you or not, you can't just go on keeping ponies from getting along! It's just... mean!"
"Now, maybe it is," Gladmane casually confessed. "Though honestly, can you really say I'm a bad guy? It's how we do things out here I'm afraid. I've done nothing wrong. I'm not some monster like Sombra or Tirek."
"But even Flim and Flam have more integrity than you do, and that's sayin' a lot." Applejack remarked with a glare.
Gladmane just sighed. "Oh you poor, naive country girls. You've no idea how the world really works, do you? Las Pegasus is hardly the place where you get ahead by bein' friendly," He laid back in his chair and shook his head. "No, out here it's the meanest of the mean who get ahead. You grab your moment and do whatever it takes to hold onto power! So maybe I keep my employees in line with lies, I'm sure you'll find that the rest of Las Pegasus is just as cruel. And look at all the nice things I still do, I give my employees a home, let them keep their hard earned bits. And I still manage to pass along the savings to my customers."
"You can drop the act, you're not foolin' us," Applejack demanded with a stomp of her hoof. "I don't care what the rest of Las Pegasus is like, that doesn't give you a license to be cruel anymore than it does anypony else."
"And since when did you decide to get on my case? You think you've got me all pegged out, don't you?" Gladmane retorted. "I do what I must to ensure my establishment remains the best of the best. Heck, you'll find I'm far better nowadays than I was in my youth. Matter of fact I practically invented the 'High Roller Hustle', that pathetic little ploy you used on me," Then he got up from his desk and smiled. "But still, I suppose I should be impressed. You're the only ponies to ever truly figure out the secret to my success," He proudly boasted. "Yes sir, it takes a lot of work keepin' everypony fightin'. But as long as I keep 'em convinced that I'm their only friend, all of Las Pegasus will be mine," Then he strolled back over to his desk as he finished. "Oh, you can't trick a confession out of a pony like me I'm afraid! I'm always one step ahead."
But Applejack just grinned as she told the business pony. "Well then, you better check your hooves, because you've just stepped in a confession!"
Fluttershy grinned, revealing that while Gladmane was rambling on, she had pressed the button on his desk that carried his words over the hotel loudspeakers. Now the real Gladmane had been exposed.
Gladmane's calm and collected persona shattered like glass! "Oh, no," He gasped, sweat trickling down him as he rushed up to the glass window over looking the establishment and protested. "No, no, w-w-wait, wait!"
But Fluttershy only asked over the loudspeaker. "Did that sound okay?"
"Never better!" Flim and Flam proudly declared.
Applejack, meanwhile, laid it into Gladmane about how he'd been tricked. "Flim and Flam told us you'd see right through the fake rich pony bit, and that once you did, you wouldn't be able to resist gloatin' about it! This was all part of the plan! And you fell for it without a second thought!"
Gladmane gulped! Frantically he pleaded to the performers. "Oh, now, now, friends! Listen, I-I can explain everything!"
But Quinn raised up a hoof and shouted. "I think you've done enough of that!" Turning to Molly he asked. "Darling?"
"Hmph! Good riddance!" Molly declared.
"Oh, I cannot believe we let him almost ruin our friendship!" Roar Horn sighed.
"And our act," Sprigfield added, then gave a parting shout! "Good luck finding another one! We're out of here for good!"
Gladmane pounded on the glass window, all the while shouting at the fleeing performers! "Wait! No! Y'all come back now! Come on, I-I'm gonna be ruined! This is Gladmane's, y'all! Come on, you can't do this to me!" He ran out of the office in tears.
With a smile, Applejack proudly declared. "Mares and gentlestallions, Gladmane has left the buildin'!"
His reputation now permantely shattered, the gold statue of Gladmane was pulled down with a crash.
"Well, I guess the map wasn't on the fritz after all," Fluttershy concluded, right before she and Applejack noticed their cutie marks were glowing. "If it weren't for your history with Flim and Flam, you never would've been so determined to find somepony else to help, and we never would have found out what Gladmane was doing." She told her friend.
And the farm mare quickly replied to her pegasus friend. "And if it weren't for you wantin' to show even those two kindness, we never would have been able to trick the trickster and get him to confess," Then to Flim and Flam she added. "Sorry for the hostility earlier, though I suppose it worked out for the better in this case."
Flim just nodded. "We don't blame you for not wanting to help us, nopony's really thought much of us besides our sketchy reputations. Still, we do owe you a debt of thanks for helping us see through Gladmane's lies. If not for you, we'd probably still be at each other's throats."
"But don't expect to get on our good side because of it," Flam warned. "We think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"With emphasis on the 'once' part, dear brother." Flim added.
Suspiciously, Fluttershy asked. "What do you mean?"
Flim just laughed. "Why it's simple. Somepony's got to fill the void now that Gladmane's gone, and it might as well be us. He taught us all the tricks of the trade, but I'll bet he never imagined we'd use his own tools against him like that."
Flam then added. "Oh well, that's what he gets for letting his guard down. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got to start scouting for new talent," Then into a microphone he declared. "While this establishment undergoes a slight change in management, my brother and I want to assure you that it remains the pinnacle of Las Pegasus entertainment! Which is why we invite each and every one of you to experience the wonder of the Ponet Fantastique Theater – at half the normal cost of admission!"
"And while you're appreciating this historic venue totally devoid of any performers of any kind, we invite you to use the wonder of your own imaginations to fill the space at no additional charge! Open auditions will be held for any wishing to secure a part." Flim added over the loudspeaker. And then a huge rush of ponies started to descend on the theater.
Furious at this betrayal, Applejack shouted at the top of her lungs! "Flim and Flam!"
Despite it having only been a day or two since the award ceremony and Starlight's "graduation" from her friendship studies (the mare considered it more of a promotion to learn on her own timetable, rather than an outright revoking of her learner status), the light grayish-purple coated mare was making the most out of the new developments in her life. Thorax and Discord had left, but Trixie apparently had some time off from her magic show and wanted to hang around.
It soon turned out that the magician had another motive for staying, she wanted to put that horn of hers to good use and learn some actual magic. However, she was finding it so hard. "Come on, stupid horn. Work!" She complained, as she tried to no avail to transform a tea cup into a poodle.
Starlight was busy frosting some cupcakes to give her friends, so she at first payed little mind to Trixie. Still, she took the time to correct her friend. "You're not gonna get anywhere if you force it. Magic happens when it happens."
"But it's just not fair!" Trixie pouted. "You can do magic, Princess Twilight can do magic, heck even Rarity can do magic. So why can't the Great and Powerful Trixie do the same?! It'd be just what she needs to spice up her magic show."
Starlight sighed, setting the froster down. "Look, Trixie, if you're really that torn up about it I'll be glad to give you some lessons later on. But for right now, I really need to put the finishing touches on these cupcakes."
"What are they for? And how come you are gonna teach me? Why can't Twilight do it?" Trixie inquired, shooting off questions a mile a minute.
Starlight groaned, struggling to keep herself from getting too angry. "I already told you, Trixie. Twilight and her friends are going on a friendship retreat in Manehattan. Twilight mentioned something about Manehattan Escapes, whatever that is."
"Shouldn't you be going with them? I mean, you're part of their circle of friends now and everything." Trixie questioned.
"I've never been on a friendship retreat, and Twilight says I need to rest and think about the next phase of my life," Starlight replied to her friend. "We'll have the whole castle to ourselves to practice magic. Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get back to my cupcakes. If I can't go on the friendship retreat, at the least I wanna contribute to my friends having a good time."
The grayish-purple coated unicorn mare groaned again. "I was just about to say that, Trixie. And the more you keep bugging me, the longer this is gonna take," She then suggested. "Why don't you go bother Spike or something, okay?"
Trixie blinked, she swore she'd just seen what looked like a red cloud of some sort seep out of Starlight's horn. But the magician shook her head. "No, it couldn't be. I must be imaging things." She mentally convinced herself.
Starlight, meanwhile, was giving herself a little mental pep talk of her own. "Deep breaths, Starlight, deep breaths. Trixie's not doing this on purpose. You know she gets excited easily, but you were the same way once upon a time. Besides, you know what happens when you let your temper get the best of you." Unfortunately for Starlight, that little secret of hers was not going to stay secret for long. By the end of the day, Trixie was going to learn just what happened when Starlight's emotions got the best of her. And their friendship would be pushed almost to the breaking point!
The two unicorns stood on the platform at the train station about an hour later, watching as Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity all boarded the train bound for Manehattan.
"Are you sure I can't come along with you, Twilight?" Starlight pleaded to her teacher. "I'd really like to get away from Ponyville, even just for a little while."
Despite shaking her head, Twilight kindly replied to her student. "Normally I'd be all for it, but you've been through a lot the past few days. I think it'll help if you stay behind and rest, give yourself time to adjust. Just try not to nearly burn the castle down this time."
The grayish-purple coated unicorn mare whined. "Twilight, for the last time, it was an accident! It won't happen again!"
"I'm sure it won't, but I can't help but worry. Especially since you and Trixie will have free range of the castle all day," Twilight replied in a tone of caution. "You both mean well, but trouble seems to always follow you around."
But Spike (who was also on the platform) vowed to Twilight. "Relax, I'll keep an eye on them for you. You go ahead and have your little friendship retreat. I'll just catch up on some reading."
"Forgive me for asking but, what's a friendship retreat? Is it some kind of code word or something?" Trixie wondered aloud.
Starlight whispered. "A friendship retreat is exactly what it sounds like, a get away for friends. And if I know Twilight and the girls, they're probably gonna end up singing a song or two. Don't ask, I can't explain," And then the unicorn remembered. "Oh, before you all go, here. I packed some cupcakes for you to enjoy."
Twilight smiled. "Thanks a bunch, Starlight. Don't bother waiting around for us, we'll probably be gone all day." And then she stepped aboard the train, just before the doors to the coaches closed. And with a puff of steam, the locomotive chuffed out of the station and down the tracks, soon disappearing over the horizon.
"Now can we get to the magic lessons, mini-Twilight?" Trixie playfully ribbed, lightly jabbing a hoof at Starlight.
"'Mini-Twilight'?" Starlight questioned, seemingly flinching at the comment and Trixie's reaction.
"What, can't Trixie give a nickname to her best friend?" Trixie questioned. "In many ways, you're like Twilight when she was just a unicorn. If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were her clone or something."
Starlight tried to laugh genuinely, but a hint of malice still slipped out. "Haha, you're hilarious, Trixie. But how about we cut the jokes?"
The magician nodded. "Suit yourself, Trixie was just trying to lighten the mood a bit. In fact, here," The light blue coated unicorn dug into her saddle bag and used her horn to float a gold pendant around Starlight's neck. "A little symbol of our special bond, and a thank you present for being the best assistant a magician could ever have. So long as you wear this, you can rest assured we will always be, the best of friends."
"Wow, that's.... surprisingly thoughtful of you, Trixie. Thanks," Starlight smiled as she accepted the pendant without question. "You're not just saying all that to butter me up before the lessons, are you?"
Trixie shook her head. "Perish the thought, Starlight. You know that I know that you know Trixie too well. You'd see right through my tricks in a heart beat."
The two unicorns made their way back to the castle, and Spike soon wandered off to tend to his comics. Though not before he warned both mares. "You be careful not to leave anything out of place. Remember, this isn't just a castle, it's my mom's home, and my home too. If Twilight comes back and finds anything other than it was when she left it, I have a feeling she won't be very happy."
Starlight and Trixie made their way to the throne room, and Starlight asked her friend. "So, what were you thinking we should learn first? Any preferences?"
Surprisingly, Trixie actually had one. "Yes, Starlight Glimmer," She said with an exceptionally bright smile. "Trixie wants to learn how to do teleportation. You and Twilight make it look so easy, and it would be just the thing to add to Trixie's shows. Think about it, no more smoke bomb exits or relying on an assistant to pull off impossible feats of amazement! And Trixie could teleport to wherever she needed for supplies, without having to haul her wagon with her everywhere she goes!"
Starlight wasn't so certain. "Teleportation is quite an advanced thing, Trixie. It's not something you can just learn in a flash, let alone a day. Twilight attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and learned from the princess herself, I had years of book lessons and the occasional tutoring from my parents whenever they could spare time. And if you mess up a teleportation spell, the results can lead to disaster. Maybe we should try something a little more basic first, like levitation or transfiguration."
Trixie refused to listen. With a shake of her head she boldly asserted. "The Great and Powerful Trixie knows what she wants, Starlight Glimmer! She never does thinks halfway! It's everything or nothing! And if Trixie wants to try teleportation, she's gonna try it whether you want to help her or not!"
"Well when you put it like that, I guess I don't have much of a choice," Starlight reluctantly conceded. But a sigh escaped her lips as she stated. "For the record, I think this is a very bad idea."
Trixie giggled. "Oh come on, don't be such a don't be, Starlight. Be a do be, like Trixie."
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Starlight cautioned to her best friend. "Now then, since teleportation is such a high end thing, we'll start with something basic. Luckily, I planned ahead," She levitated her saddle bag from earlier into the air, and pulled out an apple, setting it down gently on the table map. "I was hoping we'd use it for transfiguration, like say turning something into a teacup."
Trixie lightly scoffed. "Pah, something as basic as that Trixie could do in a heartbeat, watch!" But although she had no trouble lighting up her horn, she found that she couldn't get it to aim at the apple, let alone transform it. "Stupid horn! Why isn't it working?!" She grumbled.
For what felt like the tenth time already that day, the grayish-purple coated unicorn standing next to the frustrated magician ended up sighing. "Look, Trixie. I find magic is tied to my emotions, and I reckon the same is true for a lot of other unicorns, and even Princess Twilight. The stronger my emotions, the more powerful my magic becomes," She then advised. "Try to think happy thoughts, clear your mind of distractions and just focus on the apple. Think you can handle that?"
Trixie nodded. "Of course! Now get ready, Starlight! And prepare to be amazed as Trixie not only turns that apple into a teacup, but teleports it effortlessly across the room!"
"Wait, what?!" Starlight exclaimed! But it was too late to stop Trixie, who lit up her horn again! Taking Starlight's advice, she tried to think of nothing but happy thoughts. She thought of how delighted she was that Starlight was teaching her magic, and how wonderful it would be when she could do all the cool things she'd seen her best friend do on so many occasions. Nothing else mattered, she was going to pull off the teleport and impress Starlight.
With a pale, light pink glow, Trixie fired a beam of magic at the apple! But instead of transforming and telporting the apple as intended, the table map the apple had been resting on disappeared in a flash! "Uh-oh, was that bad?" Trixie innocently commented, as the apple fell to the ground and splattered.
"Bad? BAD?!" Starlight hissed, before all of a sudden it seemed like a huge red cloud of some kind was sprouting up from her horn.
Trixie blinked and rubbed her eyes. That gave Starlight just enough time to dash out of the throne room in a panic! "Was it something I said?" Trixie wondered aloud. "I didn't mean to teleport the table map if that's what Starlight's thinking." Alas, Starlight wasn't around to hear.
Starlight didn't bother to look back towards the throne room! Her mind was practically on auto-pilot at this moment, her destination already clearly in mind, the library. Upon reaching it, she unceremoniously tossed book after book aside in search of something! "Come on, come on! Where is it?! WHERE IS IT?!" She frantically commented! In her panic stricken state she didn't care that she was making a mess that she'd have to clean up later! Right now, all that mattered was finding that important something. "I hoped it would never come to this! But desperate times call for desperate measures!" She thought, all the while it was not hard to notice the huge red cloud that loomed over her head, clearly emanating from her horn.
"Starlight, what's going on here?" Spike asked with concern as he entered the throne room. To see the mare he'd come to consider as something of a big sister figure in such a desperate state, and overturning the whole library like there was no tomorrow, it was definitely not something he had any familiarity with. Never had he seen Starlight look so upset.
"Can't talk now, Spike! I gotta find a scroll! A very important one at that!" Starlight all but shouted back, not even bothering to turn around and acknowledge the little dragon with eye to eye contact.
"A scroll? What are you talking about? What's going on here?" Spike questioned. "Starlight, what did you do?!"
"It wasn't my fault, it was Trixie's! Now the table map's gone and I have no idea where to find it and I really really really need to find that scroll!" Starlight angrily and frantically shouted! "So either help me or get out of my way!" Seconds later, the mare found what she had been looking for, hidden away behind two rather old books. "Aha, here we go! Just what I needed!" She declared and snatched it up with a hoof. In her current state, she didn't dare use her magic.
"Now will you tell what this is all about?" Spike pleaded. "You said something about the table map?"
"I'll... tell you in a minute, Spike! I need to do something really quick here!" Starlight interrupted, her eyes frantically scanning the scroll. She began to chant something to herself in a language Spike couldn't understand. All the dragon knew, was that one moment there was a huge red cloud of some kind coming from Starlight's horn, and the next it had vanished. Starlight breathed a sigh of relief. "That was too close!" She declared, wiping the sweat from her brows.
Convinced it was now safe to approach the troubled unicorn, Spike carefully walked up to her. "What was all that just now? You know, with the red cloud and everything?" He inquired.
With a sigh, Starlight confessed. "I didn't want you to have to find out, Spike. Twilight and I agreed you were too young to worry about such things," In an ominous tone she narrated. "Not long after Twilight took me under her wing, we ran some 'tests' for lack of a better term, trying to figure out the source of my insanely strong powers. What we found... was anything but pretty."
"Why? What did you find out?" Spike reluctantly asked.
"My emotions power my magic, Spike, just like any other unicorn," Starlight told the dragon. "But the problem is, my emotions are incredibly volatile and unstable. You saw them close up during the time travel incident, and the spell combination when I scheduled all those friendship lessons for the same day by accident. But that's just the tip of a much bigger iceberg."
Spike gulped. "So you're saying..."
Starlight nodded and confessed. "In the worst of circumstances, like what you saw just moments ago, my emotions all but overtake me. I become a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at a moment's notice. And then there's no telling what I'll do, or who I'll unleash my fury upon. I don't know what my magic's going to do in those circumstances and I don't wanna find out. So Twilight and I came up with a scroll that, in case of an emergency, could surpress my emotions. I'll still have them to some extent, but they'll be much more controlled. And when the stressful situation wears off and I can calm down, all I have to do is read the spell backwards, and everything goes back to normal."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Spike questioned with noticeable concern. "Couldn't you just find a pillow and give it a good punch or two? That always works for me whenever I get mad or upset."
Starlight shook her head. "In my case, I'd end up punching right through the pillow, destroying it. And if I could do that to a pillow, just imagine what I could do to a pony. I've got to get that map back one way or another and... I don't wanna lose Trixie," She hung her head in sorrow. "If she knew what I was thinking right now, she'd probably think I'm a freak and never wanna talk to me again."
"So what's all this about the map? Did you two do something to it?" Spike questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Trixie teleported it to somewhere. Where, I haven't a clue," Starlight answered. "But I could barely even think straight back there, my anger was all but ready to explode. Now that the spell has helped calm me down, hopefully I can get some leads out of Trixie, and we can track down the map before Twilight gets back from Manehattan."
"So uh, what exactly happens if something makes you feel really angry or sad or frightened? What happens then?" Spike pondered. "Does the spell take care of that too?"
"It bottles everything up inside of me, and only when I undo the spell does it all leave me. But I don't feel a thing the whole time it's part of me," Starlight answered. "I'll just keep it close at hoof, just in case I have to redo it. I've never field tested it before, so I don't know how long it will last."
Spike reluctantly responded with. "O...kay. I guess if it helps calm you down it's not bad. I'll see if I can't find the map on my own. If I do, I'll be sure to let you know. Best of luck." And then he departed the library.
Trixie was waiting for Starlight when she finally came back to the throne room. "Is everything alright, Starlight? I thought I saw a red cloud of some kind coming from your horn."
Starlight shook her head. "You must be imaging things," She commented in an almost flat tone of voice. "I just... needed to use the little filly's room was all. And you know how hard it is to find your way around this castle."
Starlight's excuse completely fooled Trixie, she suspected nothing. "Well why didn't you just say so? The Great and Powerful Trixie completely understands," She flashed an innocent smile. "So, good news. The table map is definitely not in any of the surroundings rooms of the castle."
"So you teleported it somewhere outside the castle?" Starlight concluded, immediately following up this statement with. "Any idea where it might have gone?"
"Well, that's the bad news," Trixie confessed. "You should've asked me that earlier, Starlight. Because now it's totally slipped Trixie's mind. My bad."
Starlight's face appeared to briefly contort itself into a glare and a snarl, but when Trixie looked again her friend's face was as it had been before. It must've been another illusion of some kind, one that the magician would hopefully learn on her own time.
As for Starlight, she just calmly declared. "Well then, I guess we'll just have to search every nook and cranny of Ponyville til we find it. And you know what they always say: 'Two heads are better than one.'"
"We should probably check my wagon first," Trixie suggested. "I might have been thinking of all the useful things I could store in my wagon with a teleportation spell."
The two unicorns trotted out to the wagon, which just so happened to be parked not far from the castle entrance. But although they searched both the exterior and the interior of the wagon thoroughly, they failed to find a trace of the table map.
"Great, back to square one," Starlight grumbled. "But it's fine, just a... mild setback. I can roll with that."
"Uh, Starlight. You're talking to yourself." Trixie spoke up.
Starlight nearly flinched and seemed ready to jump, but then her body language suddenly shifted to a more relaxed state. Almost as if her emotion had been magically surpressed.
"Sorry, bit of a habit," Starlight nervously chuckled. "And besides, who doesn't talk to themselves every now and then? A-heh-heh-heh."
"Starlight? Are you feeling okay? You're kind of starting to unnerve Trixie a little," Trixie questioned her friend. "Is there something you want to tell Trixie? Or maybe some kind of secret you're trying to hide?"
Starlight shook her head. "What would I have to hide, Trixie? We're best friends, remember?" And the grayish-purple coated unicorn quickly changed the subject. "So, any ideas at all where that table map might be? Any leads, clues? Anything at all you can remember?"
"Hm, now that you mention it," Trixie pondered as she put a hoof to her chin. "I think I remember thinking something about apples and apple trees. Maybe Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Any lead's better than no lead, Trixie! Come on, let's hightail it over there and see if anypony's found it!" Starlight declared and raced away as fast as her legs could carry her! Or rather, she would've, but the instant she took the first fast paced step, her eagerness seemed to drain away. "Let's go, Trixie." She said in a more neutral tone.
"Okay, that was definitely not normal. Something's going on with Starlight, and Trixie intends to find out what." Trixie thought to herself, as she followed her best friend on the path towards Sweet Apple Acres.
"A what now?" Granny Smith uttered in bewilderment.
"Table map. Trixie may have been thinking of this place when she teleported it here," Starlight explained to the elderly mare. "Have you seen it? I mean, you can't really miss it. It's big, and round, and glowy, and... well I'm sure you'll recognize it if it's here."
But Granny Smith shook her head. "Sorry, Starlight. I got plenty of tables and maps in my house, but I ain't seen or heard anythin' 'bout this here 'table map'."
"What about the orchard? Anything there?" Starlight asked, hoping beyond hope for the answer to be yes.
Granny Smith firmly replied. "Nope, afraid not. Big Mac's been out workin' in the fields all day. If he saw somethin' that wasn't supposed to be there, he'd have mentioned it to me by now. How'd you youngin''s manage to teleport somethin' so heavy anyways?"
Trixie boasted. "For the Great and Powerful Trixie, nothing is too heavy! With just a little bit of practice, she was able to teleport such an object with the greatest of ease! And she'll be glad to show off those talents when next she performs!"
"Trixie, is now really the best time to be boasting?" Starlight questioned, her tone of voice briefly reflecting what sounded like harsh anger, before it went to something a bit more subdued.
The magician just smiled. "Starlight, Trixie was merely building up your talents as a teacher. She was just about to mention you, her best friend."
"Sounded more like you were tooting your horn to the high heavens." Starlight mumbled under her breath.
"What was that, Starlight? You say something?" Trixie questioned. Her ears had apparently not overheard Starlight's latest statement.
Starlight hastily answered with a nervous giggle. "O-oh, nothing, absolutely nothing. Heh heh. Just more of that talking to myself stuff. No need for you to worry."
"Are you sure? Because it sounds to me like-" Trixie began.
But Starlight cut off the magician by immediately asking. "So, what others leads do you have, Trixie? Come on, give me something, anything."
"Maybe something about the town in general," Trixie commented, before a powerful smell reached her nose and the magician licked her lips in delight. "Ooh! Or maybe something else was on my mind!"
"You got a lead?!" Starlight hopefully asked.
Trixie just continued to lick her lips. "Even better! Follow me, Starlight!"
"At last, we're finally getting somewhere!" Starlight thought with delight! She would've expressed it outwardly, but her spell would've taken the emotion away. Speaking of which, it was a good thing the unicorn mare had had the foresight to bring the scroll containing spell along with her. It was getting harder and harder for the spell to contain her emotions, so that meant a re-doing of it would be necessary in the near future. Assuming they didn't find the table map before then.
Trixie's "lead" turned out to not be on the table map's location like Starlight had hoped. Instead, the magician had become entranced by the smell of cinnamon nuts, which just so happened to be in a cart that was being pushed around by the buff pegasus stallion himself, Bulk Biceps. "Nuts! Get your nuts here! Fresh, cinnamon coated nuts!" He called out.
"Cinnamon nuts are my most favorite of favorite snacks, besides peanut butter crackers of course!" Trixie fondly declared, rushing up to the cart.
Starlight, for her part, could hardly believe her eyes. "Trixie? Why are you doing this? We have more important things to be thinking about." She complained. By now, her mane and tail were all but flat against her face, as if someone had drained all the energy out of them.
Trixie, unaware of anything being wrong, just smiled as she said to her friend. "Trixie's taking a bit of a brain break to re-energize. Even The Great and Powerful Trixie can't think on an empty stomach. Maybe something in the nuts will jog her memory."
"Seriously?" Starlight weakly commented.
Trixie nodded. "I'm close to a realization, I just know it. It's on the tip of my forehead, I just need something to remind me," Then, after purchasing a bag of nuts from Bulk Biceps, she looked at Starlight. It was now that the magician noticed just how... exhausted for lack of a better term, her friend seemed to be. Her usually curly mane and tail hung limp, and her brilliant blue eyes seemed faded. Heck, it looked like bags were starting to form under them. "Maybe I should get something for you as well, Starlight?" She asked with concern. "You look like you need some kind of refreshment or something. Are you sure you're feeling okay? Maybe you should go back to the castle and rest."
Starlight weakly protested. "No. I can't rest. Not until we get that map back. Just hurry it up with your snack."
Trixie was about to do so, when her dark grayish-violet eyes were drawn to something that seemed to be sticking out of Starlight's saddle bag. "Starlight, what's in the bags?" She innocently questioned.
"Nothing, Trixie. Just go back to stuffing your face." Starlight insisted with almost no emotion.
The magician wasn't content with the answer, she wanted to find out for herself. It was part of her curious nature after all. The unknown was always a fascinating thing for her. "Come on, Starlight. Just let Trixie take a good look at it. Please."
Starlight could feel Trixie's magic tugging on her saddle bag, and she tried to use her own magic to fight back. It was a losing battle. "Trixie, don't, please!" She pleaded, only for the scroll to glow brightly as Starlight's sudden emotional outburst was drained away.
"Ooh, what have we here?!" Trixie grinned in delight, suspecting nothing.
"Trixie, if you know what's good for you, don't open the bag." Starlight weakly insisted, as she felt her magical grip loosening.
Everything seemed to happen at once! Starlight's saddle bag was flung open, the scroll inside it tumbled out, and a gust of wind caught the scroll and blew it far away! Surprised by the unexpected outcome, Trixie stumbled back and fell on her rump, fortunately not very hard. "Well, that was disappointing. All that for some silly piece of parchment." She declared.
And those very words, coupled with the loss of the scroll, triggered a devastating reaction from Starlight! Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she loudly screamed! "Trixie, you idiot! Can't you ever leave well enough alone?!"
Trixie gulped, hastily rising to her hooves. "S-Starlight, please don't yell at Trixie. Whatever she did, she's sorry."
But Starlight only narrowed her eyes at Trixie and bellowed! "Oh, now you're sorry! But you sure weren't sorry when you were treating this all as a joke! You kept acting like it's no big deal if we don't find that table map! But if it's not there when Twilight gets back, she'll kill me! And it'll all be your fault! You didn't listen to me!"
"Starlight..." Trixie began in a desperate plea.
"Twilight was right all along about you!" Starlight went on. "Ever since you came into my life you've been nothing but trouble! And I've been too blind to see the reality for myself until now! But if this is how you treat me when I'm in a jam, by blowing off my concerns and stuffing your face, I guess our friendship isn't that important to you! Admit it, all this time you've just been using me to try and settle your score with Twilight!"
Trixie protested with a gulp. "That's not true, Starlight. Trixie has been sincere about wanting to be your friend, you know that."
"But you didn't listen to me!" Starlight snapped, her eyes glowing an ominous shade of red! "You ignored my warnings, bugged me while I was trying to make cupcakes, and now you're dragging me all over town because you can't remember where you sent that map that I HAVE to get back! And on top of that you decided to just snoop through my saddlebags like it's no big deal, dismissing the one thing keeping me under control as 'some silly piece of parchment'!"
"T-the Great and Powerful Trixie had no idea that scroll was so important to you, Starlight, honest," Trixie insisted. "Please, this isn't the Starlight Glimmer I know and love. Something's come over you."
"You're right, something has, YOU!" Starlight accusingly pointed a hoof! "You are the worst! I befriended you against Twilight's initial wishes, and all this time I led myself to believe that you really, sincerely cared about me! But now I see it was all just another one of your acts, and like a foal I believed it! Well now my eyes have been opened, I see you for the below-average illusionist you truly are!" She then grabbed the pendant Trixie had given her earlier that day, yanked it off, and threw it on the ground!
Trixie was most frantic, rushing forward to grab the pendant before Starlight could do anything to it! "Starlight, please! Whatever's causing all this, you must let it go!" She pleaded in desperation! "Trixie's sorry if she caused you any stress, she really didn't mean to make you upset!"
"It's too late for that! You're too late! You only wanna help yourself!" Starlight coldly retorted! "Now give me that pendant so I can smash it! Maybe then you'll understand that your actions do have consequences! That you can't just run away from your past mistakes and pretend you never made them in the first place! From this moment onward, I am no longer your friend! And I don't ever want to be AGAIN!"
That did it, Trixie's composure was completely shattered! With tears in her eyes, Trixie dropped the pendant to the ground. "Do whatever you want, Starlight, Trixie doesn't care anymore. It seems she has brought this upon herself." She sadly declared, and prepared herself for whatever sort of punishment her former friend was about to inflict on her.
But as luck would have it, at that moment, Spike came upon the scene! Clenched firmly in his claws, was the very scroll that had been blown away earlier! "Starlight, quick! Read the scroll backwards! Let it all out!" He called, as he chucked the parchment at the unicorn's front hooves.
Despite her anger, Starlight obeyed the request. Struggling every step of the way to hold the scroll steady, she started chanting again. And like magic, the red glow in her eyes faded completely. A massive red cloud formed above her head for but a second before a gust of wind blew it away completely, as it if was never there to begin with.
When Starlight returned to normal with a shake of her head, she saw the pendant now laying on the ground before her, slightly broken as a result of being dropped not once but twice in the span of only a few minutes. And to make matters worse, she saw the clearly frightened and depressed form of her illusionist friend, the same one who had considered her a "best friend". And in the heat of the moment, because of a spell, Starlight had said words she would never have dared to say otherwise.
But Trixie wouldn't believe that. And even if she did it didn't take away the impact those words had had. Some friend Starlight had turned out to be, Trixie deserved better. Somepony who was more "stable" with their emotions.
Without saying a word, and with tears in her eyes, Starlight ran off back to the castle. She didn't care who saw her in this current state, all that mattered was that she get out of here before she suffered another emotional outburst.
"Trixie, are you alright?" Spike questioned the magician, helping her to her hooves. "Whatever Starlight said to you earlier, she didn't mean them. There's something about her you need to know, something Twilight or I should've mentioned sooner. About her emotions..."
But Trixie threw up a hoof and said sadly. "Save it, Spike. The Sad and Pathetic Trixie knows what she heard and what those words meant. They were clearly intended for her, and every statement rings true. Trixe is no friend, not to Starlight anyways."
Having seen everything and sensing that things were getting most uncomfortable, Bulk Biceps innocently whistled. "Uh, I think I'll just get out of here. I'm gonna be late for my other job."
"Hang on, don't you work at the spa?" Spike questioned. "I swear I remember Aloe saying something about you."
"What? I wear many hats," Bulk Biceps acknowledged. "A stallion's gotta make a living somehow." And the buff pegasus took off without another word.
Having overheard Spike's conversation with Bulk Biceps about the spa, something suddenly came flooding back into Trixie's mind! In an instant, a major realization struck her square in the muzzle! "Of course, that's it!" She exclaimed!
"What's it?" Spike wondered.
"I know where the map is!" Trixie declared! "And this time, Trixie is telling the truth."
Spike barely managed to keep up with Trixie as the magician madly dashed across town to the spa! By the time he'd made his way inside the spa proper, the little dragon was out of breath and panting heavily.
But sure enough, just like Trixie had said, there was the table map. It was right in the center of the reception area, and Bulk Biceps was currently using it to give a massage to an earth pony mare with a light brown coat, and a cutie mark depicting a heart and a baby bottle.
"So, mind telling me how the hay the table map ended up here?" Spike questioned Trixie.
"When Trixie was preparing her teleportation spell, she was thinking back to when she and Starlight first became friends," Trixie explained. "And she recalled our fateful meeting right here, at the Ponyville Spa," A sigh of longing escaped her lips. "Oh how long ago such happy memories seem. If only Trixie had known they were too good to last forever."
"We'll worry about that later," Spike protested. "For right now, let's just focus on getting this table map back to the castle before Twilight comes back!"
"Oh, right," Trixie realized and started to light up her horn. "Trixie will get it right this time! Teleportation spell, take two!"
"Or we could just haul it back, and not risk sending it somewhere else entirely," Spike remarked with a groan. "And I thought Starlight was trigger happy with her spells."
It took a great deal of effort to move the table map all the way from the spa to the castle, especially since Starlight running off meant one less unicorn to aid in the attempt. But eventually, with a great deal of effort from pony and dragon, the table map was back in the throne room and not even an inch off in any direction. If one didn't know better, they would assume it had never moved at all.
Trixie then departed from the castle, though not without first writing down something on a piece of paper and planting it on the table. "If Starlight asks, just have her read it." Was all the magician bothered to say.
Not long afterward, Twilight and her friends returned from their friendship retreat. They were most surprised when it was Spike who was there to greet them. "Hey girls," He innocently greeted. "So, how was the friendship retreat?"
"You mean, to Manehattan Escapes?" Rainbow Dash replied with a slight groan. "'Cause that's where Twilight ended up taking us. An escape room was... an interesting change of pace."
"Ooh, ooh, don't forget about the fact that we almost broke the record for fastest escape!" Pinkie Pie mentioned. "Seriously, we were off by two whole seconds! Just two whole seconds!"
"And all because we sang a song and forget to turn the key." Applejack frowned.
"Wow, that's... unfortunate," Spike commented. "But hey, second best isn't bad, right?"
"The experience is what mattered the most. And I for one don't intend to go back to that escape room anytime soon," Rarity declared. "If the others wish to try their luck in it without me, they're most certainly welcome."
Fluttershy, meanwhile, noticed something. Or rather, a lack of something. "Um, where are Starlight and Trixie? Shouldn't they be here to greet us too?"
Spike sighed and his shoulder slumped. "Well, about that... Don't quite know how to break this to you..."
Starlight hadn't left her room at all since she'd arrived back at the castle, and neither had she payed any sort of attention to the sights and sounds. For if she had, maybe she would've been aware of what had transpired in her absence.
As it was, the unicorn was attempting to distract herself with her usual stress relief, floating wooden blocks while laying in her bed and looking up at the ceiling with a forlorn look.
Suddenly, there came a knock on the door. And the next thing the mare knew, her teacher (or former teacher as the term might best apply now) came trotting in. "Starlight?" Twilight called, attracting the unicorn's attention. "I heard about what happened with Trixie and the map."
Glumly, Starlight turned and buried her head into her pillow. "It's all my fault, Twilight. I thought there'd be no harm in teaching Trixie magic, but it all did it was cause me to blow up in her face and reveal my big secret. Now I've gone and chased the first friend I ever made on my own away, probably forever," Amidst tears of sorrow, she muttered. "What did you ever see in a freak like me in the first place? I couldn't even make a friend on my own without ultimately driving her to tears."
Twilight approached the bed and lightly stroked Starlight's backside with a hoof. "Starlight, you're not a freak, or a monster. We've been over this already," She softly added. "So you have a little bit of trouble controlling your emotions, and that spell we created worked a little too well. I'm sure if you just explain everything to Trixie, she'll understand. That's what friends are for, best friends especially."
"Easy for you to say!" Starlight retorted. "You've never truly had trouble making friends, be they new or old! Even your friends from Canterlot were willing to still hang out after all the years of never acknowledging their presence. You're the princess of friendship, and I'm just some freaky unicorn with out of control emotions."
"Starlight, your emotions are what make you what you are. You can't surpress them forever and lock them away, that is the same as denying who you are," Twilight explained. "What you can do, is work to overcome them, control them instead of them controlling you. Whatever happened with you and Trixie while I was gone, it doesn't have to be how your friendship ends. And you should know that I'm not mad about the map getting teleported. Trixie and Spike were able to track it down, and even if they hadn't I'd have understood. It was an accident, nopony intended for any of this to happen."
Amidst the sobs, Starlight croaked out. "And yet it all did. Just what am I supposed to do now? Even if I wanted to make amends with Trixie, I'm still mad at her for all the unnecessary stress she put me through. How do I let her know I didn't mean what I said, but I'm still upset with her for something? I don't just want bygones to be bygones and pretend like it never happened, but is that what I must do to preserve our friendship?"
"Well, I don't know the exact answer for that. But I do know you can start by coming out from under that pillow," Twilight coaxed her student. "We may no longer be teacher and student in the traditional sense, but it's obvious you still have much to learn about friendship. Just as I still have much to learn about being a teacher. And whenever you need my help, you need not hesitate to ask me. That's part of what it means to be friends."
Reluctantly, Starlight forced herself to emerge from beneath her pillow. Her eyes had been stained red from all the crying she had done, and her mane and tail still remained in their flattened state (she hadn't bothered to groom herself, she was too distraught to even think of doing so). Her breathing was quite heavy. "So, what happens now?" She asked her teacher, barely mustering up the courage to look her in the eyes.
Twilight levitated over a piece of paper. "Spike told me that Trixie left this for you. I haven't had a chance to look it over yet though, seeing as I had more pressing concerns."
The still distraught mare read the paper carefully. By the time she had finished, her still redened eyes widened to very nearly the size of dinner plates! "I have to go, now!" She declared and rushed out of her room without even a second's thought to her appearance! In the process, she dropped the paper she had read, allowing Twilight to pick it up and read it. It went like this:
Starlight,
By the time you receive this letter it'll probably already be too late. Spike filled me in on your emotional issues and how you supposedly didn't mean what you said.
Well we both know that's a load of sour apples.
I'm sure you meant every word of what you said, and even if you didn't the accusations still ring true. You were right about me, I could never truly care about you more than I care about myself.
Knowing what I now know about you, I realize that there's little hope for us to just move on from this, and no way I can pretend it didn't happen. We both deserve better friends, ponies who are more on our level.
Trixie has decided to pack up her things and leave Ponyville, probably forever. If she hangs around here for too long, she's likely to cross paths with you, and right now it's best if we never meet again.
If someday, a long time down the road, we've both matured and become better ponies, perhaps it'll possible for us to become friends again. Maybe even best friends.
Until now, enjoy the friends you already have. The ones who truly understand you, and the ones you can count on to be there for you when you need it most.
Wishing you well,
The Lonely but Humbled Trixie
Twilight gasped in horror! "Trixie, what are you thinking?! Abandoning Starlight now will only makes things worse for both of you!" She thought to herself! But the alicorn knew it was out of her control. Starlight and Trixie would have to try and patch things up on their own.
Starlight was frantically running across town! With all the running she'd already done today, her hooves were aching all over, pleading with her to stop any further movement! But the mare ignored the pain, there was a more pressing concern at the moment!
Namely, she had to stop a friend from making the worst decision she could possibly make.
The unicorn rushed across town, following the wagon tracks left along the roads. All the while she was mentally pleading. "Please don't let it be too late! Please!"
Sure enough, just on the outskirts of town, Starlight was relieved to catch up to Trixie. The magician was still hauling her wagon, but it was remarkable had far she'd gotten in what seemed like a short amount of time.
Not willing to let the stroke of good luck go to waste, Starlight shouted out! "Trixie!"
Trixie stopped in her tracks and spun around. But when she saw Starlight, she only hung her head. "Starlight, didn't you get Trixie's note? Our friendship is through, I'm no good for you. Forget about me."
"Trixie, please, I'm sorry about all I said today!" Starlight pleaded! "I was under a lot of stress and... and I lashed out!"
"But all of it was true, Starlight. I should've listened to your advice, and I should've taken everything more seriously," Trixie sadly protested. "And yet because she didn't, here we now are."
"Darn it all, why do you have to be so stubborn, Trixie?!" Starlight complained, and held up the pendant Trixie had given her earlier. The same pendant that had been on the receiving end of Starlight's outburst fueled actions. "Do you see this, Trixie? It's the very same pendant you gave to me as a sign of our friendship. That we would always be best friends, no matter what."
Trixie shook her head. "Things change, Starlight. And it's time Trixie started changing. Until she does, she isn't fit to be your friend, or anypony else's. Trixie needs to be able to think of others before she thinks of herself."
Starlight groaned. "You were overeager, Trixie, and I wasn't in my best state of mind. We both made mistakes," She pleaded. "At the least can we start over as friends? Maybe if we both try our hardest and agree not to keep such big secrets, these kinds of things won't happen."
Trixie contemplated this for a few minutes, before she managed to force out. "I... shall... think about it, Starlight. Maybe our friendship can still be salvaged, but for right now Trixie needs some time to think. Besides, The Great and Powerful Trixie has been away from the show circuit for too long," And she declared. "The Great and Powerful Trixie cannot give up her life on the road, even if she would appreciate getting to spend more time with you, Starlight Glimmer."
"Then... I'll come with you!" Starlight insisted quite firmly. "You still need me to be your assistant, and you still need me to teach you about magic!"
But the magician mare protested with a firm shake of her head. "No, Starlight, your home is in Ponyville. It's where you've made a new name for yourself. I can't ask you to uproot that, even for me. But," She added. "Trixie will return someday, just as she promised the last time she departed. And when she comes back, you'll know. And then, hopefully, we'll be able to resume our friendship anew."
"Then at the least you should consider taking this with you," Starlight suggested, floating the pendant over to Trixie. "That way you'll always have something to remember me by while you're out on the road."
Trixie firmly nodded, as she clutched the pendant preciously in her hooves. "Oh Starlight, you're truly the best of best friends! Trixie doesn't deserve you!"
"Maybe I'm not the friend you deserve, but I'm most definitely the friend you need right now," Starlight smiled and embraced her best friend in a hug. "I'll never forget you, Trixie, and that's a promise."
"For once, The Great and Powerful Trixie is at a loss for words." Trixie commented, as she returned the hug full force. And the two friends just stood there, enjoying the hug. Whatever tomorrow might bring, at least their friendship would still be intact.
S7 E3: A Flurry of Emotions (What If?) (Bonus Chapter)
Being the organized and "neat freak" pony that she was, Twilight often had a schedule. She would often make a list of all the important things she had to get done in a single day.
And so it was that the young princess was talking with Spike as they trotted through the castle together. "Okay, Spike. Remind me again what I have to get done today." Twilight told her assistant, first friend, and more or less adopted son.
Spike unraveled a scroll, cleared his throat, and began to read. "Well, you're visiting the sick foals from Cheerilee's other class today."
"Ah yes, I remember. Nurse Redheart stopped by this morning to tell me about it," Twilight recalled. "I still can't believe an entire class worth of ponies came down with the Horsey Hives, and on school picture day too. It's a real shame."
Spike nodded. "So, since you volunteered to go read to them, you're going to pick up some reading material from Cheerilee at the school house. And you're also going to buy some toys for them at the local foal store. On top of that, you're going to order some cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner to take to the hospital staff."
"Whew!" Twilight exclaimed. "Seems like I've got my work cut out for me today, that's a lot to squeeze in. Even with teleporting, it'll still take quite a while. But I can't let those foals down, not after I gave my word I'd be there," After this bold declaration, the alicorn opted to change the subject a bit. "So, how's Starlight doing today?"
"Trixie's absence is definitely hitting her hard, but I think she's slowly coming to terms with it," Spike commented. "It's only been a few days after all."
"Still, I'm worried about her. She hasn't left the castle since that day," Twilight recalled with noticeable worry in her eyes, as she and Spike made their way to the entrance hall of the castle. "She really needs to get out and see the world. And maybe even make a new friend or two."
Spike just replied. "I'm sure Starlight will come around eventually, and she'll be as eager as she always was," Then a thought struck him. "You're not planning on dragging her around with you on your rounds today, are you?"
Twilight shook her head. "I'm not sure it'll do the foals any good to see Starlight moping around. Plus, she's not much of a story teller. At best, I might ask her to answer the door if anypony shows up while I'm gone."
Just then, there was a knock at the door, which struck both castle occupants as odd. "I wasn't expecting company," Twilight commented, as she trotted to the door. "Better see who it is."
And as soon as the young alicorn had opened the front doors of the castle, she was surprised to be greeted by a trio of familiar ponies: Her older brother, Shining Armor, his lovely wife Princess Cadence, and their infant daughter Flurry Heart! "Surprise!" Shining Armor and Cadence both called, as Shining held Flurry in his hooves! But the two adults looked quite frazzled, as if they'd just gotten out of bed.
"Ah, a visit from family. How nice." Spike commented with a smile.
Twilight immediately took hold of Flurry with her magic and opted to blow her favorite niece a raspberry, right on her little tummy. Flurry giggled in delight, even kicking her tiny legs about a bit. "Hiya, Flurry Heart. How're you doing?" Twilight playfully cooed, before setting the tiny alicorn down in her stroller.
"Oh, I'm fine," Shining Armor spoke up in a mock foal's voice. "But I was hoping my favowite aunt could watch me fow a few houws."
"A few hours?" Twilight asked.
"Yes. Apparently, one of Shining's old friends from the royal guard, Spearhead, has a pop-up art show at the Ponyville Cafe, and he invited us to attend," Cadence explained. "It was sort of a last minute decision, so we haven't had time to arrange a foalsitter for Flurry."
"I assume Sunburst is unavailable?" Twilight questioned.
Cadence nodded. "Flurry played a little too rough with him last time she was in his care. He wasn't hurt or anything, but we figured he needed some time off from foalsitting."
Satisfied with the knowledge, Twilight happily declared. "I'll gladly watch Flurry Heart for you guys. I'm sure she'll appreciate getting to spend some quality time with her Auntie Twily. Isn't that right, Flurry?"
Flurry giggled and babbled, which Twilight took to interpreting as a yes.
However, Spike spoke up and unfurled a scroll. "Twilight, there's no time in the schedule for a foal, especially not Flurry Heart. We'll be all over town today."
"Then we'll just have to make time," Twilight declared. "I'm not missing out on the chance to spend time with my favorite niece."
"But what about the hospital visit and the foals sick with horsey hives?" Spike protested. "You promised to read to them."
"Horsey hives?!" Cadence exclaimed with fright! "I don't want Flurry Heart to be anywhere near foals if they have that, I don't want her getting sick before she's had all her shots!"
Shining sighed and hung his head. "It's okay," He said to his wife. "We'll just have to tell Spearhead we can't make it. It's kind of our fault for not planning ahead and making arrangements before we got here."
"No, it isn't fair that you have to miss a chance for the two of you to do something together, just because I can't watch Flurry Heart all day," Twilight protested, before suddenly a thought struck the alicorn. "But I know somepony who does, somepony who hasn't set hoof outside this castle for several days now."
"You mean..." Spike began.
Twilight winked. "I sure do," She teleported away and came back seconds later with Starlight in tow. "Starlight Glimmer."
"Huh, wha... what's this is all about?" Starlight questioned, her eyes darting all around.
Twilight whispered into Starlight's ear, explaining everything. "Oh," The grayish-purple coated mare commented. "A-are you sure that's a good idea? I don't have a lot of experience with foals, especially not on Flurry's level."
"Relax, it'll only be for a couple of hours," Twilight reassured her student. "And Flurry won't give you too much trouble, will you, Flurry? You'll be a good little foal for your Auntie Twily's friend, right?" She winked at the foal, who tried to wink back but found it hard to do so and ended up squinting her eyes to achieve the intended effect.
"I still don't know if this is a good idea, Twilight," Starlight nervously commented. "I mean, what if I mess up, or worse?"
But Twilight protested with a shake of her head. "Starlight, look, I know you're still upset about everything that happened between you and Trixie. But you can't stay cooped up in the castle all day everyday, you need to get out and interact with other ponies. Think of this as a distraction, a chance for you to take your mind off your troubles," Then she added. "It doesn't even have to be for the entire day, I just need you to keep an eye on Flurry Heart while I run my errands and read to the sick foals. That shouldn't take more than three to four hours tops."
The unicorn looked down at the tiny alicorn, who was looking back up at this grown-up rather curiously. She'd seen her around a few times before, mostly with Mr. Sunburst. Anypony who knew Mr. Sunburst couldn't be all bad. Maybe she'd be just as fun as her Auntie Twily? She certainly couldn't be as stuffy as her aunts Celestia and Luna, they were no fun at all.
Starlight was surprised when Flurry levitated herself out of her stroller, and hugged Starlight's leg. An "aw" escaped the mare's lips, she just couldn't say no to such an adorable face. "Well, I guess a few hours of foalsitting won't be so bad. You're sure the spells Sunburst cast at her crystalling are still holding up?"
Cadence nodded. "They do keep her power fluctuations under control, but she can still levitate and teleport if she wants to, so keep a close eye on her."
"And if you're gonna be taking care of her, you'll need some supplies," Shining spoke up and levitated over some jars of green colored goop. "Mashed Peas, her favorite."
"And Diapers," Cadence added, levitating over an entire box worth. "Uh, extra diapers. Oh and backup extra diapers."
"Mashed Peas, her favorite," Shining declared as he brought over more jars of the foal food. "Wait, didn't I just say that?"
Starlight was trying her hardest not to roll her eyes. "Are all of these foal supplies really necessary?" She questioned.
"Okay, so maybe not the backup extra diapers," Cadence commented with a slight giggle. "We're not gonna be gone that long. Oh, and one more thing," Lighting up her horn, the princess of love levitated over a stuffed snail. "This is Whammy, her favorite toy. If she ever gets antsy or fussy, just give it to her and it should calm her down."
Twilight cooed. "Oh, I see, just like I had Smarty Pants and Shining Armor had Brutus Force."
Shining blushed. "Which I totally don't still sleep with by the way."
"It's okay, B.B.B.F.F, I still sleep with Smarty Pants sometimes. That is, whenever I can 'borrow' her from Big Macintosh." Twilight teased with a giggle.
"You're sure everything's under control, Twilight?" Cadence asked. "You're certain Flurry Heart won't be too much trouble for Starlight?"
Twilight nodded. "You two deserve a day off from parenting, and like I said I won't be gone for long. You guys just go ahead and enjoy yourselves."
"Okay then, I guess we'll see you later," Shining declared, then he and his wife departed though not before calling out. "Goodbye, Flurry Heart. Be nice for Auntie Twily and Miss. Starlight."
"Come on, Spike," Twilight spoke up a moment later. "Let's get going! We need to pick up toys, a book, and some snacks for those sick foals! The sooner we leave, the sooner we can be back to relieve Starlight of her foalsitting duties," But before she departed, she quickly pulled her student aside. "Don't hesitate to call if Flurry proves to be too much to handle, I can always cut short my reading time or send Spike back to help you out."
"How am I supposed to contact you?" Starlight wondered.
"Just use this," Twilight instructed, giving Starlight a small, earring shaped device. "I'll have this on the whole time I'm gone. If you need to reach me for any reason, just put it on. I'll instantly be able to hear your thoughts. But remember, it's for emergencies only."
The student lightly scoffed, waving a hoof. "Oh relax, Twilight. Everything will be just fine. Like you said, you'll be only gone for three to four hours. I'm sure one foal won't be too much trouble for that span of time. Heck, I'll probably wear her out and have her ready for a nap by the time you come home."
"I wouldn't be sure if I were you." Spike commented under his breath.
"What was that?" Starlight questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh uh, nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Spike protested, and then quickly he said to Twilight. "Can we go already?! I've got a really good story we could tell the foals, The Dashing Dragonlord!"
Twilight playfully laughed. "You would like that, my son. But I don't think the kids will be very interested. I was thinking more along the lines of Gusty the Great. It was one of my all time favorite stories as a filly." And then pony and dragon departed the castle.
"Okay, looks like it's just you and I now, Flurry Heart," Starlight commented as she turned to the foal. "What do you wanna do first?"
The answer to the question soon revealed itself, as Flurry's stomach began to grumble. "Hungry already?" Starlight questioned, before she realized something. "Actually, I don't know when you usually get fed. Still, guess we'd better satisfy your rumbly tummy. Good thing your folks left plenty of Mashed Peas, your favorite."
Starlight gently scooped the foal up with her magic, unaware of the fact that the little alicorn made a face. Why didn't her parents understand, she HATEDMashed Peas!
Shining Armor and Cadence made their way to the Ponyville Cafe, the art show already in full swing by the time they arrived. Fortunately they had taken the time to clean up their appearance, so their manes and tails were back to their usual well kept state. But they both soon discovered that Spearhead had a rather "unusual" sense of art, one that they could not really comprehend.
At least that's what the royal couple thought as they observed a rather unusual and contorted art piece. Shining even went so far as to comment. "Is this art or... a mistake?"
"Honestly... I have no idea," Cadence replied with a most puzzled look upon her face. "But who cares? At least we're not changing diapers."
Just then, Spearhead himself made himself known. He was a sturdy pegasus with a coat a moderate tangelo in color and eyes the most brilliant cyan. He had a light and moderate blue mane and tail styled almost like a mohawk, and wore a dark pink scarf with lighter shades of pink. His cutie mark was (fittingly) three spearheads. "Shining Armor! Cadence!" He happily exclaimed as he rushed up to them. "How are the new 'rents? Gimme some hoof," After high hoofing both of his guests, the pegasus embraced them both in a hug. "Oh, it is so good to see you dudes! And Shining Armor, my it's been a long time! You haven't aged a day."
Shining chuckled. "Trust me, I may not look it, but on the inside I feel like I've aged a good year or two. Being a father will do that to you," Then he added. "And we're glad to be here, we're having a great time! I can't even remember the last time Cadence and I had some time to ourselves since Flurry came into our lives!"
"She's adorable, but she's also quite the hoofful," Cadence commented. "I thought my experiences with foalsitting had me prepared for motherhood. Boy was I was wrong."
Spearhead chuckled. "A shame you couldn't bring the little one with you, I'd love for her to get to meet her Uncle Spearhead."
"Honestly, I don't think looking at art's Flurry's thing. She prefers to make her own, in more ways than you might imagine," Shining replied to Spearhead. "But I gotta say, Cadence and I wouldn't trade this for the world. We're loving all the... art!"
"Uh, that's actually a trash can." Spearhead commented as he noticed where Shining's eyes were drifting.
Realizing his mistake, Shining hastily corrected with a laugh. "So it is! I knew that!"
Spearhead then added. "Ah, but hey, who's to say it's not art? Art can be anything that speaks to you. It changed my whole world," Leading Shining and Cadence along to a huge, black piece of paper, he added. "Check it out, this is my latest piece - 'A Thousand Nights in a Hallway'."
Staring at the empty paper, all Cadence could say was. "Wow, I guess nighttime in a hallway can be pretty dark."
"Indeed, there is none more dark." Spearhead declared in a completely serious tone. It seemed that his sense of artistic vision was... an acquired taste.
"Yeah. Totally." Shining remarked, hoping his friend wouldn't notice how beyond baffled he was.
"Hey, it's better than the alternative," Cadence spoke up, attempting to be optimistic. "Usually we're covered in Mashed Peas by now. Or worse."
Using her magic, Starlight carefully taped a new diaper to Flurry Heart's rear, breathing a sigh of relief when the job was done. Unfortunately, that was only one problem that was taken care of. There was still the matter of Mashed Peas that were splattered over all the dining room walls.
"When they said Mashed Peas were your favorite, did they mean your favorite to decorate an entire room with?" Starlight questioned the foal, who just laughed and clapped her hooves as if it were all a game. With a groan, the unicorn realized she wasn't going to get any answers out of her charge. She just lit up her horn and summoned over several sponges, and a bucket of warm, soapy water. With a flick of her horn, the sponges started scrubbing the walls, removing all traces of the disgusting green mush that had been plastered onto it during the feeding session earlier.
All the while, Starlight kept one eye on Flurry, as if she thought the alicorn would get into more trouble the second she wasn't looking. "Seriously, how does Sunburst put up with you?" She remarked, looking the foal square in the eyes. "No wonder your parents need a break, you must drive them completely crazy. Especially when you..." The mare trailed off, not even bothering to continue the thought.
At last the walls were clean, as were Starlight and Flurry. "Swear to Celestia, if I ever have foals, they better not be as troublesome as you," Starlight remarked, as she again took Flurry into her magical embrace. "Well, feeding time's done, finally," But just then, the unicorn's stomach let out a huge growl. "For you anyway, not for me. We'd better fix that," And suddenly, a thought struck the mare. "You know what, why don't we go to Sugarcube Corner? Pinkie can probably give me some pointers on how to take care of foals, since she watches the Cake Twins all the time. And you could probably make some new friends."
Flurry seemed to be satisfied with her caretaker's decision, as she more or less cooperated as she was placed into her stroller and buckled in securely. Starlight made sure to levitate over Whammy to keep the foal occupied. "Can't forget that. She'll need it when I set her down for a nap later." She thought, and then pushed the stroller out of the castle doors and into the bright sunshine. Stored inside a small pouch, was the earring shaped device Twilight had given Starlight earlier.
As luck would have it, Sugarcube Corner was mostly unoccupied as Starlight carefully parked the stroller near the entrance and took Flurry out of it, carrying her inside.
Pound and Pumpkin Cake were off to one side near the counter, playing with their toys and paying no attention to the world around them. And behind the counter was none other than Pinkie Pie herself.
Starlight carefully placed Flurry next to the twins, gently encouraging her. "Go on, introduce yourself. They're only a year or two older than you."
Pound stared at Flurry with his brown eyes, and Pumpkin the same with her blue eyes. They eyed the newcomer in their midst suspiciously. Flurry, for her part, just sat there and maintained an innocent expression. For a moment or two, not a sound was heard, the three foals just looked at each other, as if daring the other to say something. But the moment passed, and the twins accepted the newcomer without hesitation. Happy giggles and gurgles could be heard from the tiny trio, as they played with the toys.
Satisfied with this scene, Starlight turned her attention towards Pinkie Pie as she made her way up to the counter. Only now did the unicorn notice her appearance was a bit... disheveled. Her mane had a few bangs sticking out. But there wasn't time to fix that, she trotted up to Pinkie and greeted. "Hello, Pinkie. Sorry to drop by on such short notice. But you won't believe the day I've been having."
Pinkie took no notice of Starlight's appearance at first, she cheerfully greeted. "Hey, Starlight, glad to see you out and about again. I was starting to get worried about you," Then she added. "Here for a treat? Don't worry, I've got your favorite already prepared. Strawberry cupcakes with lavender frosting and a hint of vanilla! My 'Pinkie Sense' told me you were coming."
"But how did it know my favorite sweet?" Starlight questioned.
"It didn't, but the file in my party planning cave did," Pinkie explained. "Speaking of which, I gotta dig up some files. Let's just say, somepony has a lot of apologies to make," She then pulled on a lever and declared. "B.R.B!" Before she disappeared down a trap door, only to resurface a moment later with a huge stack of paper files that she plopped down onto the counter.
Meanwhile, unknown to either pony, there was trouble. Pound and Pumpkin both wanted to play with a toy balloon, and they refused to share it. They both tugged at it back and forth alternatively.
Flurry tried to get the attention of Starlight, tugging at her tail. But the unicorn payed no attention, she was too busy paying for her cupcakes to take any notice. And the mare she was talking to wasn't going to be of any help either, she was busy chatting with Starlight.
Well, if the grown-ups weren't going to be any of help, Flurry decided that she would just have to take matters into her own hooves. Since there was no second toy balloon in sight, the alicorn went for the next best option to stop the fighting. She grabbed the balloon with her magic and carefully broke it in two. "That way," The foal figured. "They'll both have half of the balloon to play with." She gave the basket to Pumpkin Cake and the canvas to Pound Cake, smiling at the two as she felt confident that she had solved the problem.
Unfortunately for Flurry, the twins didn't share in her opinion. As far as they were concerned, she had ruined their toy. Immediately, they chased after her, determined to get back at her. Flurry, with the help of her magic and her wings, stayed one step ahead of the foals. But the twins were not so easily bested. Since they couldn't get Flurry themselves, they opted to grab some cupcakes that had been left out, and fling them in Flurry's direction!
Flurry dodged the cupcakes, which splattered against the walls, staining them with various colored frosting!
By chance, Pinkie happened to glance in the direction of the mini food-fight, and her eyes widened enormously! In the process, she accidentally ripped up a paper that had been held in her hooves!
"Oh no, not that face!" Starlight exclaimed. "Please tell me it's not what I think it is! Tell me it's not..." But then the unicorn turned around and saw that indeed it was!
The Cake Twins continued to hurl cupcakes at Flurry, who kept dodging them as they splattered on the walls behind her. The interior of Sugarcube Corner was quickly being decorated with various colors of pink, blue, and yellow frosting.
"Pound Cake! Pumpkin Cake! You stop that at once!" Pinkie sternly called with a whistle! That did the trick, the Cake Twins stopped right in their tracks. Of all the ponies they didn't like to upset, Pinkie Pie was the one they went out of their way to try and be nice for. Something about her behavior when she stopped being all sweet and silly, frightened them.
Starlight, for her part, pulled Flurry close with her magic. Then she turned to Pinkie and asked. "Uh, what's your favorite dish, Pinkie?"
"The sampler platter." Pinkie glumly answered.
Starlight sighed. "Then, I guess Flurry and I will take two of those, to go."
While Starlight and Pinkie Pie were dealing with the aftermath of the great cupcake war, Shining Armor and Cadence were trying to find something to be intrigued by in Spearhead's art exhibits. The parents couldn't help but feel like perhaps they had chosen wrong, maybe this wasn't worth a day off from parenting.
Their thoughts were interrupted, as Spearhead showed off a display of hoof prints covered in what looked like a chocolate substance. "Feast your eyes. This one's called 'A Kitchen Guard's Journey', and it's based on a true story," Spearhead boasted. "Shining Armor can tell you all about it."
"Oh..." Was all Cadence could bring herself to say. She hadn't even really been paying attention to Spearhead's words.
But the art seemed to stir something deep inside Shining Armor, as he stared down at the art piece and suddenly commented. "This reminds me of the time Flurry got into the chocolate pudding, and we found little chocolate hoofprints all over the carpet."
Cadence giggled. "Oh, that took forever to clean up! But remember how cute her little face looked when we caught her in the act?"
Shining chimed in, fondly remembering that event as if it were yesterday. "Yeah, she was like 'Uh-oh!'" And then both he and his wife laughed. "Gosh, that feels like it was only yesterday. Has it really been almost half a year since then?" The stallion thought to himself. "Next thing you know, she's gonna be outgrowing her crib in the blink of an eye."
Spearhead, for his part, just commented. "Whoa, art is so evocative! But I wasn't even going for that memory! Score!"
Back at Sugarcube Corner, Starlight held the two parts of the broken toy balloon in the light turquoise glow of her magic. With a flick of her horn, the balloon was put back together as good as new, like it had never been broken in the first place. "There we go. Better?" Starlight asked the Cake Twins, as she carefully presented the toy to them.
Pound and Pumpkin eyed the balloon suspiciously for a moment and gave it an inspectory tug or two. The balloon held. They looked back up at Starlight and gurgled something akin to a "Thank you."
Meanwhile, Pinkie (with Flurry held in her grasp) had just finished scrubbing the walls clean of cupcake frosting. She had exhausted several buckets worth of soapy water, and at least two brushes that would need to be cleaned out.
Starlight then carefully levitated Flurry back over to her, breathing another sigh of relief as she sat down on one of the chairs near the tables. "I am so sorry about all that, Pinkie Pie," She sincerely commented. "Honestly, I don't know you do it with the Cake Twins. You make it look so easy."
But Pinkie only laughed. "Experience makes all the difference, Starlight. Trust me, the first time I foalsat these two bundles of joy, they practically drove me up a wall. Compared to them, Flurry's a piece of cake."
"Great, so it's just my own inexperience that's causing all these problems," Starlight sarcastically remarked. "That makes me feel so much better."
"Hey, I'm sure Sunburst had it just as rough as you do the first time he had to take care of Flurry Heart," Pinkie chimed in, as she went over and picked up the twins. "I'm sure you'll get better eventually. At least now you know not to take your eyes off a foal. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to give the twins a bath and set them down for their afternoon nap."
"Then I guess a playdate with Flurry is out of the question." Starlight frowned.
"Afraid so. Sorry I can't be of more help," The pink party pony apologized. "But foalsitting these toddlers is gonna keep me very busy. And then there's all those apology treats to tend to. Enjoy your sampler platters though."
Starlight watched her pink party friend disappear up the stairs with the twins in tow, then turned back to the young alicorn she was still tasked with watching. "She's still not worn out yet. But maybe a quick tour of Ponyville will do the trick?" The inexperienced foalsitter thought to herself.
With that goal in mind, Starlight was now wheeling Flurry through town in her stroller. But the foal showed no signs of tiring out anytime soon, it was almost as if she had no "off" switch.
"Okay, things aren't working out... quite like I hoped they would," The unicorn nervously chattered to herself, all the while pushing the stroller around with no particular destination in mind. "But it's okay, it's okay. I can manage," She began to ramble. "Everything's going to be okay. I mean, it's all gone bad so far. But I can't imagine it possibly getting worse. It CAN'T get worse! It just can't! If it does I'll... well I don't know what I'll..."
But before the unicorn could say anything more, she was cut off by a huge spray of milk right to her face, courtesy of Flurry Heart. The foal apparently had tried to drink from the bottle, unaware that Starlight had presented it the wrong way (the nipple facing away from the foal). And as a result, the milk had squirted out when the alicorn tried to unseal the top.
Starlight shook her head, shaking off the milk. She took one look at Flurry, whose eyes seemed to be full of worry, and told her charge. "It's alright, that was Auntie Starlight's fault. It's what she gets for not paying attention. Besides, I needed that squirt to the face."
Flurry just continued to babble, before all of a sudden the stroller zoomed past the hospital. The very same hospital where Twilight was more than likely inside, reading to all those sick foals. Now that the alicorn thought about it more, she swore she could faintly remember hearing the grown-ups mention something about a hospital. But a hospital was for sick ponies and doctors and nurses, and Auntie Twily wasn't one of those.
She didn't belong in that hospital, she was supposed to be tending to her favorite niece.
Well, there was only one way to rectify that problem. Flurry was prepared to seize control of her stroller, crash it through the front door, and get her Auntie Twily out of that place.
Starlight, however, was one step ahead of the foal. "Oh no you don't! Not this time! Auntie Starlight's not letting you get away!" Starlight firmly declared, enveloping the stroller in her magic, pulling it close, and locking its wheels with a flick of her horn.
Furious at being thwarted, the little alicorn pouted and turned her head. This Starlight was not her auntie, not if she was going to spoil her fun like this. Even Mr. Sunburst never tried to stop her from seeing somepony, he just took the liberty of taking Flurry there himself. So what if this Starlight pony had been with Mr. Sunburst and Auntie Twily a couple of times? She didn't owe this stranger anything, and her parents had told her to be careful around strangers.
Sensing that the foal was going to be difficult, Starlight began to dig through her saddle bag. She'd taken the liberty of packing some supplies, just in case. "No, no, no. Come on, where is it?! I know I didn't forget it!" She complained, tossing aside a box of diapers, jars of Mashed Peas, empty baby bottles, and even a pacifier. Of course, she made sure to keep the objects enveloped in the light turquoish glow of her horn. At last, she pulled out the object she'd been looking for. Whammy, Flurry's stuffed snail.
"Look who I have, Flurry Heart!" The weary foalsitter called out, holding out the stuffed snail and shaking it a little. "It's Whammy, your favorite toy!"
Flurry snatched up the toy in a heartbeat and clutched it tight, she LOVED Whammy! Wait a minute, what was she doing? Starlight was just using the toy to exert control over her, trying to prove that she was an auntie. Flurry wouldn't give her the pleasure. The foal picked up the stuffed snail and without a second thought she threw it out of the stroller!
At that very moment, a stallion dressed in a white gown of some kind came strolling along, whistling a tune to himself as he wheeled a cart. He didn't even notice when a stuffed snail landed right on it, as he wheeled his cart right through the front door of the hospital.
But Starlight had noticed! "No! Not Whammy! Of all the things to lose, it can't be that!" She cried out and rushed after the stallion while shouting at him! "Stop! Please!" But it was no use, all she got for her troubles was a door slam to the face! The stallion was gone, and Whammy with him.
The news was slow to sink in for Flurry, but once it did her reaction was swift! Tears welled up in her eyes and she began to wail loudly, kicking her legs all about! Her horn began to glow its bright yellow aura, and she suddenly disappeared right before Starlight's horror stricken eyes!
"Oh no! Flurry, you get back here!" Starlight demanded, before she lit up her own horn and tried to follow Flurry!
But without a lead on the foal's destination, keeping up with the young alicorn proved difficult. Especially when she seemed intent on turning the whole hospital upside down to find her plushie.
As luck would have it though, just as Starlight was beginning to tire out from the constant teleporting, she spotted the cart Whammy was resting on just outside a room on the first floor. Apparently, the stallion wheeling the cart had stopped there and parked the cart outside for whatever reason.
Taking advantage of the situation, Starlight quickly snatched up the plushie. That was one problem taken care of, but how to solve the matter of finding Flurry?
Well, Starlight needn't have worried. Because at that moment there came a crash down from the hall! "Could it be?" Starlight wondered aloud. She ran to the source of the disturbance, finding an overturned janitor's cart, and the stallion from earlier holding Flurry firmly in his hooves while she kicked about. But he wasn't the only one there, Nurse Redheart also happened to have stumbled upon the scene, as had Doctor Stable. All of them had pronounced frowns, as a huge puddle of water covered the floor from the cart right up to where the ponies were standing.
"Miss, I believe this foal is yours," Doctor Stable said quite sternly. "And I kindly suggest you keep a closer eye on her from now on. You're just fortunate the only thing she spilled was water."
Starlight carefully pryed Flurry from the janitor's hooves, still clutching Whammy in her magic. Then she teleported back outside the hospital, though not before apologizing. "Sorry for the mess."
Once outside the hospital, Starlight plopped her charge back into the stroller and sternly scolded. "That was a very bad thing to do, Flurry! Somepony could've gotten hurt!"
Flurry didn't seem to notice, she was too busy holding onto Whammy as if she feared she would lose it again if her grip at all loosened for any reason.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, and you will look me in the eye!" Starlight demanded, stomping a hoof down in protest! "Didn't your parents teach you any manners?!"
Flurry's response was to stick out her tongue and blow a raspberry at Starlight.
Unfortunately, the little taunt proved to be too much for Starlight. Already on edge and stressed out from everything else she'd put up with all day, she angrily shouted! "You little brat! You did a very bad thing, Flurry! And I have half a mind to tell everypony just how ill behaved of a trouble maker you are! And I hope if I ever have foals of my own, they don't turn out to be as spoiled as you are! You're a bad baby!"
Almost immediately, the unicorn regretted her outburst. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..." She began to apologize, but Flurry just wrapped her wings around her tiny body and started to sob softly.
Starlight gulped. "Sweetie, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, that wasn't very nice of me. What you did was wrong, but I shouldn't have raised my voice and called you a brat and a bad baby," In a sincere tone of voice she added. "You're young yet, you don't know better. I should know better. All day long I've been so focused on how you drive me up the wall, and I never even stopped to realize I don't know the first thing about you. You weren't trying to give me a hard time, you just wanted somepony to be your friend," And she hung her head. "Some auntie I turned out to be. I never should've agreed to foalsit you in Twilight's place, not when I don't know a thing about foals," Digging into her saddlebag, she pulled out the earring device Twilight had given her earlier in the day. "I'll get somepony who actually understands you, somepony that can be trusted to keep you out of trouble and be there for you when your parents are not. You'll have a much better time with Auntie Twily."
However, as the unicorn mare moved to place the device on her left ear, Flurry carefully fluttered up and snatched it away, shaking her head. She then lightly booped her caretaker on the nose and made a funny face, before lowering herself to Starlight's chest and nuzzling her.
It didn't take a genius to realize what Flurry was trying to say. "You forgive me? You actually wanna spend time with me, even after all that?" Starlight inquired.
Flurry looked up and nodded, trying to wink again but only managing to succeed in nodding her head.
Reluctantly, Starlight put the earring shaped device back in her saddlebag and sealed it shut. "Well, I guess if you wanna give me another chance, who am I to disagree? Now, are you gonna be a good little pony for your Auntie Starlight?"
Flurry babbled something incoherent, which Starlight took as a sign that the little alicorn would obey. "Alright. Well, we'd better clean up the mess you made. And then I think we need to put you down for a nap, you don't wanna be all cranky when your parents come to pick you up."
Back at the art display, Shining and Cadence were finding it hard to forget about Flurry. Everywhere they went they saw things that reminded them of her. By now, tears were starting to fall from their eyes. But they didn't care.
"This one kind of reminds me of Flurry's hair." Cadence commented as she looked at a picture of a purple and blue icing colored cake.
"Uh-huh," Shining nodded, before he stared at a small golden shield. "And this one reminds me of Flurry too."
"How so?" Spearhead asked.
"It's small... like her!" Shining answered. And then he declared. "I-I can't do this anymore! Spearhead, not that this hasn't been great, but—"
"Say no more, man," Spearhead interrupted. "I get what you're trying to say. My art has always spoken to me about what I love. But knowing that it spoke to you about what you love speaks to me."
"What...?" Shining questioned. "Spearhead, this isn't the time to be vague."
"Then go to her, man!" Spearhead encouraged. "Cherish all the time you can get! Those memories are more important than my art!"
"Thanks, Spearhead! Sorry to drop out like this!" Shining replied, and then he and Cadence rushed away to find Flurry!
The two parents returned to the castle a short time later, and as they opened the door they heard sounds of giggling and magic zaps echoing through the halls of the castle.
"Flurry?! Where's our little foal?!" Shining called. Before all of a sudden the little alicorn appeared before him. "Ah!" He briefly exclaimed, before he pulled his daughter close and cooed. "Oh, we missed you so much! Yes we did! Yes we did!"
Flurry excitedly babbled as Starlight and Twilight appeared in the front hallway, clearly trying to convey something.
"But it looks like you had a great time without us." Cadence concluded.
"Well, not entirely," Twilight explained, nudging Starlight forward. "But I think it's best if you hear from Starlight, like I did."
Starlight swallowed a lump in her throat and explained. "I'm afraid Flurry got into some mischief, but it wasn't all her fault. I thought I could handle her for a few hours, and didn't take the time to really get to know her. I thought she was just trying to give me a hard time, when in reality she didn't know better. But Flurry taught me an important lesson today. It turns out that being the best aunt ever isn't about spending the most time with your niece, but spending quality time with her. Oh, and she taught me a really cool bear game, so I guess I learned two things."
Twilight smiled and then added. "I found the two of them playing that bear game when Spike and I came home. She should be all tuckered out now and ready for a nice, long nap."
"Where is Spike, anyway?" Cadence wondered. "I don't see him with you."
"Well, let's just say I needed a special apology delivered to some ponies. And Spike had a story he wanted to read to the foals," Starlight answered. "Twilight was okay with it, dragons can't catch pony diseases, just like ponies can't catch dragon diseases."
At the hospital, Spike was reading to the sick foals from his favorite novel The Dashing Dragonlord. "'The dashing dragon warrior breathed a scorching flame from his snout, then chuckled to himself as he flew into the sunset. 'If you can't stand the heat, don't fight a dragon!''" He narrated, standing atop a cart with his fist clenched up not unlike the hero himself.
"Wow, you're even cooler than I'd thought you'd be!" A random foal commented. "You should read to foals more often, Mr. Spike."
"Thank you, Peach Fuzz," Spike replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd better see how the hospital staff are enjoying their apology cake."
Sweetie Belle was straining with all her might to pull back a giant slingshot, as Scootaloo was lining up her scooter before a giant ramp aimed directly at Cloudsdale, saddlebags strapped to her shoulders and her trusty helmet fastened around her head.
"Scootaloo, are you sure this is a good idea?" Sweetie Belle inquired of her pegasus friend. "I know you need to go up to Cloudsdale to do your report, but this seems a little extreme, even for you."
"I have to agree with Sweetie Belle on this," Apple Bloom commented quite nervously. "What if your aim's off or somethin'? What happens then?"
But as was usually the case for the young daredevil, once she made up her mind about something she seldom changed it. "Relax, girls, everything's going to be just fine. I've got it all worked out."
"How do you even know about Rainbow Dash's parents in the first place? I don't remember her ever sayin' a word 'bout 'em." Apple Bloom questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Pictures, duh," Scootaloo explained. "I saw a few in her house the one time and asked her about them, she told me all I needed to know," Then she told her fellow Crusaders. "I'd totally take you with me to see them if I could, but you know non-pegasi can't walk on clouds without a spell."
"Kind of hard to do it for three ponies." Sweetie commented under her breath.
"And since I can't fly yet, this is the next best option," Scootaloo finished, as she gave everything one final glance. "Okay, I'm all set. You may fire when ready."
But Apple Bloom protested. "You do know there's the hot air balloon, right? Far less of a hassle, and much more reliable."
"Now that you mention it, that hot air balloon does sound like a safer option," Scootaloo spoke up, now having second thoughts about her rash judgement. "Maybe this isn't such a good-" But before she could think of changing her mind, the slingshot snapped back, propelling the tomboyish filly forward at high speed! "-Iddddddeeeeeeeaaaaaa!" She screamed, as she was shot into the air!
In a matter of seconds, Scootaloo reached her destination, managing to poke her head up through the clouds. "Nailed it." She declared, just as a lawnmower like object came to a stop just before it would've impacted her head.
"Uh, pardon me young ma'am, are you alright?" Said a voice. Its owner soon revealing itself as a pegasus stallion who seemed to be of modest build and middle age. He sported a pale, light grayish-blue coat, moderate amber eyes, and a rainbow mane and tail in a buzz cut. As well as a green jacket which almost covered up his cutie mark, a rainbow and a cloud with a horseshoe in front.
Scootaloo took one look at the stallion, and her eyes lit up like a Hearth's Warming Tree! "Y-you're... Rainbow Dash's... dad!" She exclaimed with sheer joy!
The stallion nodded. "Mr. Bow Hothoof Dash at your service, but you can call me Bow," Then he asked his guest. "But how do you know Rainbow Dash is my daughter?"
"It's a long story, but I'm her honorary little sister!" Scootaloo fondly exclaimed as she pulled herself up through the cloud and planted her hooves atop it. "Oh, I've been looking forward to meeting you for a long time! This is the luckiest day of my entire life!"
"Is everything alright, hun? I thought I heard a scream." A pegasus mare declared, as she came rushing outside to see what was the matter. She had the same coat color as Rainbow Dash and the same eye color of moderate deep reddish-pink, not to mention the same mane style (though it was light scarlet in color with orange streaks). She wore a bright yellow jacket, and had a cutie mark depicting a cloud with what seemed to symbolize the wind whistling past.
Scootaloo recognized this mare at once. "Rainbow Dash's mom?! I must be in heaven!" She exclaimed once again!
The mare nodded. "Windy Whistles Dash, though you can call me Windy. And yes, I happen to be Rainbow Dash's mother. But how did you know? Have we met before somewhere?"
"It's alright, honey," Bow spoke up, introducing their guest. "This is Scootaloo, she says she's Rainbow Dash's little sister."
"Honorary little sister," Scootaloo corrected. "I mean, you guys aren't my parents, though I kind of wish you were."
"Your folks live up here in Cloudsdale? 'Cause I don't think I've seen you around before, kid." Bow questioned the filly.
The tomboyish pegasus shook her head. "I come from Ponyville, and so do my parents. I kind of slingshot my way up here," Then she gasped as realization struck her! "Oh no! I don't think my scooter made the trip up here! It's probably in pieces somewhere on the ground!"
"A scooter? I thought most pegasi fly." Windy commented.
A sigh escaped the filly's lips as she confessed. "I can't fly, at least not yet. They say there's nothing wrong with me, I'm just a late bloomer. And for the most part it doesn't bother me. But today, being able to fly would've been a big help."
"Well, we'll look for your scooter a little later," Bow offered. "In the meantime, why don't you tell us why you came all the way up here, and put a hole in my lawn?"
"Oh yeah, sorry about that," Scootaloo apologized with a nervous laugh while she massaged the back of her neck with a hoof. "I'm doing a report for school, we're supposed to do a presentation on a pony who means something special to us. And Rainbow Dash has always been special to me, I'm her number one fan! So I figured if there's anyponies who can tell me what she used to be like, it would be you two," She then dug into her saddlebag and pulled out a camera, which gave off a flash. "Awesome! That's going right into the scrapbook!" She proceeded to place the photograph into a heavy, red colored book that already contained a few pictures of Rainbow Dash that the cyan coated mare had allowed Scootaloo to take.
Bow and Windy just looked across to each other, before Bow declared with a laugh. "So, you're Rainbow Dash's number one fan, huh? That's funny, because here I thought my wife and I were the only fans of our little Dashie." To emphasize his point, the stallion unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a Rainbow Dash t-shirt underneath.
"Cool, right?" Windy added with a wink.
Scootaloo, for her part, was all but speechless. "Wow! I can't tell you how great it is to meet ponies who share my appreciation for Rainbow Dash! And you're talking to the head of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club!"
"Well then, why don't you come on inside and we'll give you a tour of our house?" Bow offered to his guest. "Maybe we'll even let you see Dashie's baby pictures if you ask nicely. Even as a foal, our little Rainbow was incredibly energetic. Never held still for a moment."
Windy half laughed, half groaned. "I remember the time she tied me up by accident when I took her outside to play. I still can't believe we held onto that photo," And she quickly changed the subject as she asked Scootaloo. "You must be starving after your trip up here. Whaddya say we start the tour in the kitchen, and I'll fix you up Rainbow's favorite snack, a pasta and potato sandwich on sour dough?"
True to her word, Windy soon had the sandwich prepared and offered it to Scootaloo, who after snapping a picture of the sandwich (she wanted to take part of it with her for the scrapbook, but Windy told her they didn't have any airtight bags to keep it preserved) devoured it in seconds.
After that, Scootaloo was given a tour of Rainbow Dash's childhood home. She was quite surprised at how "luxurious" it seemed to be. It wasn't like the mansion Diamond Tiara lived in, but it was a lot nicer than the place Rainbow now called home, to say nothing of Scootaloo's modest home in Ponyville. "Why would Rainbow Dash ever wanna leave such a nice place? Especially with such supportive parents?" The filly thought to herself, and made a mental note to try and bring up that subject the next time she and her big sister met.
Taking pictures as needed for the scrapbook, the tomboyish filly soon noticed something, or rather a lack of something. "Where's Rainbow Dash's Wonderbolt stuff? You can't be a Rainbow Dash fan and not have it." She commented to the adults.
"Hmm? Oh, you must mean her shrine of Wonderbolts' merchandise," Bow explained. "Well, lucky for you, we saved the best for last."
Bow and Windy led their guest up to what looked like the door to Rainbow Dash's bedroom when she still lived in the house. Opening the door, the filly's grayish-purple eyes took in a sight of pure wonder!
The entire room that lay before her was coated with all sorts of Wonderbolts memorabilla. Plushies of the various flyers, motivational posters, bed sheets, an alarm clock, a commemorative lunchbox, you name it. But the jewel in the crown of this display (which also included several ribbons and trophies from various flight meets) was a framed set of tickets to a Wonderbolts show in Cloudsdale Stadium.
"Her first ever Wonderbolts show," Windy fondly recalled. "She was their biggest fan from day one, and after that first show she kept on talking about how some day she'd join their ranks. We of course never doubted our little Wonderbolt for a second, and we cheered her on every step of the way."
"Until she decided it was time to leave the nest so to speak," Bow added in a slightly unhappy tone of voice. "Last we heard, she was going to try out for a spot in the academy. She's probably already risen through the ranks by now."
"So, you don't have any stuff from her actual days as a Wonderbolt?" Scootaloo questioned (after snapping a photo of the framed tickets to put into the scrapbook).
"What are you talking about? Dashie's not a Wonderbolt yet," The stallion commented to his guest. "If she was, we'd know."
Windy silently nodded.
But Scootaloo just flashed a bright smile! "Sweet! So now I get to show you guys something you've never seen before! Rainbow Dash is officially a full fledged Wonderbolt, suit and everything! Oh, you should totally see the looks on your faces right now!" She then flashed a picture with her camera and showed it to the two elder pegasi. "See? That's what your faces look like!"
"Our little Rainbow, a full fledged Wonderbolt? It sounds too good to be true." Windy commented, once she regained her composure.
Scootaloo just grinned. "Guess there's only one way to show you."
High above Wonderbolts Academy, several of the elite flyers (Rainbow Dash among them) were practicing their moves. A big show was coming up in Canterlot, and Captain Spitfire wanted all of the Wonderbolts to be at the peak of their game.
All of a sudden, however, the young captain spotted a trio of figures on the ground below. She recognized one of them as Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash's biggest fan and little sister. But the other two were unrecognizable, despite one being a pegasus stallion with a rainbow mane, and the other being a pegasus mare with a cyan coat just like Rainbow Dash's.
"Hey, what's going on here? Civilians aren't usually allowed on academy grounds," Spitfire protested, causing the other Wonderbolts to slow to a halt. "Okay, I want names and I want 'em now. Who let these guys come onto the academy in the middle of flight practice?"
"Maybe it was Thunderlane? He's only been with us for a week now, hardly enough time to learn all the dos and don'ts of being a Wonderbolt." Soarin suggested.
But Fleetfoot shook her head. "They don't look anything like Thunderlane. And one of 'em's Rainbow Dash's little sister, Scootaloo. If anypony knows how they got here, it would have to Rainbow Dash."
"Hey, don't look at me! I have no idea what Scootaloo's doing here!" Rainbow protested. But then she took one look at the two pegasi with the filly, and Rainbow's mood changed from one of frustration, to one of fright. "Oh no! It's them!"
That comment did not go unnoticed by the other Wonderbolts, especially Spitfire. "What are you saying, rookie? You know these two?"
With a gulp, the cyan coated speedster reluctantly confessed. "I do, Captain. They're my..." She paused, before she finally forced out. "Parents."
"Parents? As in, Mr. and Mrs. Dash?" Soarin questioned. "How come this is the first time I'm hearing about them? We all thought you didn't have parents anymore."
"I was gonna tell you guys eventually, honest," Rainbow insisted. "I just sort of... forgot to bring it up and none of you ever asked," Then she sighed. "I might as well introduce you all," She flew down towards her parents and then said to her fellow Wonderbolts. "Everypony... meet my parents: Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles," And to her parents she said. "Mom, Dad, these are the Wonderbolts, my teammates."
Bow and Windy were practically beside themselves with joy, especially in seeing their own daughter in a Wonderbolts navy blue flight jacket and goggles. "Ooh, just let me get a good look at you!" Windy fondly exclaimed, as she and her husband rushed over to their daughter and examined her quite thoroughly.
"If this is a dream, please, don't wake me up!" Bow added, as he pulled his daughter close with a wing. "Long time no see, little Dashie. Did you miss us?"
"Dashie?" Fleetfoot snickered, and some of the other Wonderbolts did the same (though they all tried to varying degrees to silence the giggles).
Spitfire, for her part, managed to keep herself from laughing. Still, she had a goofy grin plastered on her face as she approached Windy Whistles and shook wings with her. "Well, it certainly is a pleasure to finally meet you both. Usually we don't allow civilians on academy grounds without prior permission, and this is no exception."
"Oh but Spitfire, we won't get in the way. It'll be like we're not even there, I promise." Windy replied as she returned the wing shake.
Spitfire responded by saying. "I'd like to believe that, but I'm not taking any chances. At the least I'm gonna have to ask you to wait inside until practice is over. Why don't you visit the mess hall and grab yourself a bite to eat? Our newest member's cooking today, and let's just say he's no slouch in the kitchen."
"Sounds like a deal," Bow agreed. "I for one am famished after flying all this way here."
"Come on, Scootaloo. Let's leave Dashie to do her thing," Windy encouraged. "And then we can catch her after practice is over."
Scootaloo nodded. "Okay. And while we wait, I can tell you all about how Rainbow Dash got to be a Wonderbolt."
But the filly hadn't gotten far before Rainbow Dash landed in front of her and whispered. "Um, Scootaloo, I'd like a word or two with you. Alone," She then turned around and told her fellow Wonderbolts. "You all get back to practice without me, I'll be along shortly. Just gotta take care of a small detail first."
"Alright, but don't take too long. Otherwise, I'm scratching you from the show and replacing you with Thunderlane." Spitfire cautioned. And then she, Soarin, Fleetfoot, and the remaining Wonderbolts took off into the sky.
Scootaloo couldn't help but feel anxious as she was pulled aside by her honorary big sister. Usually that only happened if she did something wrong. "Am I in trouble, Rainbow Dash? I mean, I know I'm probably not supposed to be here, but I didn't think there'd be any harm if I came with the parents of a Wonderbolt."
Rainbow Dash shook her head, looking her honorary little sister and number one fan in the eyes. "You're not in trouble, squirt. I just wanna know one thing," She folded a wing up to her face and pointed at her parents. "Why in Celestia's name did you have to bring these two along?"
"They're your parents," The tomboyish pegasus answered. "It's not like there's anything wrong with that. You don't hate your parents, do you?"
"'Hate' is such a strong word." Rainbow responded.
Scootaloo gasped! "So you DO hate your parents!"
"What?! No, no, no! It's nothing like that!" Rainbow retorted with a shake of her head. "It's just, my parents and I have a delicate relationship, that's all. I mean, you don't always see eye to eye with your parents, do you?"
"Well no, but..." Scootaloo began.
"So, the thing is, they mind their own business and I mind mine." Rainbow interrupted.
"Is that why you didn't tell them you were a Wonderbolt?" Scootaloo questioned with a face that indicated she didn't seem to believe her big sister at all.
Rainbow gulped. "I didn't mean to, I was gonna tell 'em eventually. It just sort of slipped my mind was all. But between being a Wonderbolt, getting called away on map missions all the time, and dealing with friendship problems, informing my parents of the change in my life sort of took a back seat."
The tomboyish pegasus sighed and commented. "Your parents seem pretty nice, if a tad bit fanponyish. But you don't seem to have a problem when I come to cheer you on."
Rainbow groaned in frustration, sensing that she was getting nowhere fast with her little sister and number one fan. "Look, squirt, I'll explain everything as best I can later on. But for right now, I've gotta get back to practice and you need to keep my folks out of trouble. I don't wanna die of embarrassment after I've finally shed the whole 'Crash' label. Think you can manage that?" She requested.
Reluctantly, Scootaloo nodded. "We're still going to have to talk about this. I get the feeling you're not telling me the whole story."
"Just be patient, okay?" Rainbow replied, as she headed back up into the sky. "For now, just keep an eye on my parents and work on that report of yours, okay?" And with that, she took off to join her fellow Wonderbolts in practicing for the show.
For the rest of the afternoon, Scootaloo waited in the mess hall with Bow and Windy, watching the Wonderbolts zoom past on occasion. She tried to pay attention to the conversations going on in the building, per Rainbow Dash's instructions. But her mind kept drifting to her conversation with her big sister.
Why did Rainbow Dash seem so opposed to the idea of having her parents around? They seemed to be incredibly understanding and supportive. And compared to Scootaloo's parents, Bow and Windy seemed tame by comparison in regards to potential embarrassment.
So then, what was the source of the rift between parent and child? Especially one that seemed so one sided?
Talking to Bow and Windy yielded no answers. They hadn't a clue as to why their little Dashie would want to be distant from them. The best they could come up with, was simply that Rainbow had wanted to have a reunion with them in a more private setting. One where she could be more in control of what would be discussed.
The afternoon stretched into the evening before the Wonderbolts concluded practice for the day. And unfortunately for Scootaloo, it was quite the trek from the academy grounds to her home, and her parents had always made it quite clear that she was to be home by sundown unless they said otherwise (or she was attending a sleepover).
"If only I hadn't misplaced and probably wrecked my scooter," Scootaloo thought to herself, as she reluctantly set off for home. "I'll just have to remember to ask Rainbow Dash tomorrow about what's going on with her and her parents."
But the very next day was the day of the Wonderbolts' performance in Canterlot, and Scootaloo had already reserved a ticket for that. So she made her way to the stands in the stadium that day, knowing full well she'd have to wait until after the show to ask her questions. Even family members of Wonderbolts were not allowed in the dressing rooms.
However, as the tomboyish filly took to her assigned seat, she was surprised to be greeted by Bow and Windy, clad in Rainbow Dash attire. Both had Rainbow Dash flags, and Windy even had a Rainbow Dash hat that covered her entire upper body. "When we mentioned we were parents of a Wonderbolt, we got this stuff half off!" Bow proudly exclaimed! "And it was well worth it, right hun?"
"Oh yes, definitely!" Windy agreed. "Now we can cheer on Dashie in style. I just can't believe it's taken us this long to get around to attending a Wonderbolts show. Seems like it's been forever since we attended one, and now Dashie's out there, living the dream!"
"I'm just hoping for a good picture of Rainbow Dash strutting her stuff," Scootaloo commented. "It'll be just the thing to complete my report. I'm sure to get an A+ on it, everypony else's reports will pale in comparison."
Soon, the loudspeakers blared to life, and then one by one the Wonderbolts came roaring out onto the track!
Bow and Windy were so enthusiastic with their cheering upon seeing Rainbow Dash flying, that they ended up inadvertently creating some cheering turbulence (much to the annoyance of some of the other Wonderbolts).
The two kept on cheering the entire duration of the show, seemingly unaware of the looks they were getting from some of the other fans in attendance.
When the show ended and Scootaloo was just leaving the stands, she was surprised to be greeted by Rainbow Dash once again. "Looking for your parents?" The filly asked. "You just missed 'em, they're waiting in line for your autograph."
Rainbow just sighed. "I was afraid you'd said that," Then, pulling her little sister close she asked of the tomboyish pegasus. "Can you do me a favor, squirt?"
Eager to help, Scootaloo nodded. "Of course, whaddya need me to do?"
"Just keep an eye on my parents and keep them from embarrassing themselves, or worse," The cyan coated speedster requested. "I'm gonna be pretty busy with Wonderbolts stuff for the next few hours, and I'd feel a lot better knowing that I have somepony I can trust to keep my parents under control. Can you handle that for me, please?"
The orange coated pegasus eagerly nodded her head! "You didn't even have to ask! I LOVE spending time with your parents!" She finished her statement with a salute. "I won't let you down, Rainbow Dash! Crusaders honor!"
"Good, I knew I could count on you." Rainbow commented as she watched her little sister trot off. All the while, in her mind the mare was thinking. "I sure hope you can keep my folks in line. The other Wonderbolts are starting to become concerned, and I don't blame them."
But it seemed that Scootaloo was unable to keep her word. Bow and Windy showed up at every little event that Rainbow Dash and her fellow Wonderbolts were involved in after the show.
Whether it was signing autographs, distributing t-shirts, or even just posing for pictures, it seemed like Bow and Windy were intent on making their presence known.
They even followed their daughter back to the academy, following her about and talking to the other Wonderbolts whenever their daughter was busy.
It got so bad that Spitfire had to call an emergency Wonderbolts meeting in her office, and all the Wonderbolts still on academy grounds were to meet with her.
When Rainbow Dash arrived (the last of the Wonderbolts to do so), she immediately closed the office door and locked it tight, breathing a small sigh of relief. "I didn't think I'd ever be able to get away from my parents. It's like they've been taking lessons from Pinkie Pie or something." The second newest member of the flying squad commented.
But the cyan coated mare took one look at her teammates and she could sense that she'd gone from one bad situation to another.
Spitfire broke the tense silence that enveloped the room. Sitting upright in her desk chair, she firmly declared. "Rainbow Dash, we need to have a talk about your parents."
Rainbow gulped. "I had a feeling you'd say that," And she immediately apologized. "If this is about their behavior, I'm really sorry. I told Scootaloo to keep them in line for me. I guess the kid wasn't quite up to the task. Guess it's up to me to set my folks straight."
"I'm afraid it's a bit late for that," Spitfire commented. Then she paused for a considerable length of time, before the captain managed to add. "We've been thinking it over, trying to decide what to do with your parents. And the decision we've come to... was not an easy one for us to reach."
"Your folks are gonna have to leave the academy," Fleetfoot explained. "They're proving to be a distraction, a really big one at that. Their cheering is so loud, it's hard to hear anything else."
"And that doesn't even cover the dozen or so complaints we got from Canterlot, all of 'em from angry fans," Soarin added in a glum tone of voice. "Your parents are taking all the fun out of our shows for the rest of our fans. And if we don't do something, nopony's gonna be willing to show up to our performances."
With a nod, Fleetfoot finished. "We were hoping you might best know how to break the news to them. We really hate that we have to do this, but our hooves have been forced."
"And what about Scootaloo? She's been hanging out with my folks, so what happens to her when they have to leave?" Rainbow questioned. "Are you gonna kick her out as well and tell her not to show up to events anymore?"
Spitfire shook her head. "You're being too hasty, rookie. It's not a permanent ban, only a temporary one. But until your parents can get their behavior under control, we have no choice but to ask them to stay away," And then she added. "We were already stretching the rules as it was by letting them stay on academy grounds for this long. But the rules exist for a reason, and if we didn't enforce them then there would be no rules. Like it or not, this is the only solution. Believe me, if there was another way, we'd pursue that option in a heartbeat."
With a long, drawn out sigh, the rainbow maned pegasus looked at her superiors and told them. "Then... I guess it's best if my parents hear it from me. That way the message will have a better chance of sticking."
"You sure you're up for this, Rainbow Dash?" Misty Fly questioned, looking at the still relatively new member of the team. "You don't have to do this, you know. Any one of us could do the deed, and we don't want to ask you to do something we're capable of doing ourselves."
But Rainbow would hear nothing of such counter-arguments, her mind had already been made up. "Thank you, all of you, but my decision is final. My parents are only here because of me. I inadvertently caused this mess, so it's only fitting that I clean it up," She then trotted to the door as she added. "I'd better go find them before they cause any more trouble. Wish me luck." And she departed the office a moment later, still somewhat hesitant despite knowing what had to be done.
Despite searching high and low, however, Rainbow found that all of a sudden, it seemed as if her parents had disappeared into thin air. Perhaps they'd already gotten the message?
Immediately settling on that hopeful scenario, the cyan coated speedster abandoned her efforts to track down her parents. She just went back to the locker room, took a quick shower, dried off, and then went to hang up her towel in her locker.
However, as she was sticking her head into the locker, she heard a pair of familiar voices cheering! "That's it, Dashie! Show that towel who's boss! You're the best towel folder ever!"
"I should've known." Rainbow mentally thought to herself. The voices were unmistakably those of her parents. But when she turned around to face them and break the bad news to them, she momentarily forgot she had her head inside a locker. This caused the pegasus to bang her head against the interior of the metal object, much to her frustration. And because of that, she lost patience! Pulling her head out of the locker and her eyes now locked firmly on her parents, she accusingly pointed a hoof! "That is enough! I'm getting sick of the two of you constantly showing up in my life, just to cheer me on over every little meaningless thing I do!"
"B-but." Bow and Windy stuttered together, holding each other for comfort.
"And not only that, but you're distracting me from my Wonderbolt duties!" Rainbow firmly added, as she unfurled one of her wings and used the tip of it to count. "Don't either of you get it?! I'm not your little Dashie, and I don't need your support! This is part of the reason why I kept putting off telling you two I became a Wonderbolt, because I knew you'd probably do stuff like this! Now do me a favor and go away, now!"
Recoiling in shock at their daughter's bold declaration, Bow and Windy were silent for a moment. Then their looks of fear were replaced by looks of sadness, complete with pronounced frowns. Bow was the first to speak up. "You make a good point Das-er Rainbow Dash. But then, we raised you so well, so that shouldn't come as a surprise. Should it, hun?"
"Not at all, dear," Windy unhappily replied. "I guess it was silly of us to go so overboard with the cheering. We'll respect your wish and leave. Still, it was nice to see you again, for the brief amount of time it lasted." And then she and Bow left the locker room.
Scootaloo was surprised to see her big sister's expression change from one of stern anger, to deep sadness once Bow and Windy had departed. The cyan coated speedster even started to shed tears, something she rarely allowed herself to do in public. "R-Rainbow Dash?" The tomboyish filly nervously inquired.
"I... need to... go... somewhere! Just... leave me alone!" Rainbow choked out, before she too fled from the locker room!
"Rainbow Dash, wait!" Scootaloo cried in vain. In a matter of seconds the filly was all alone in the locker room, having witnessed a family quarrel the likes of which she'd never anticipated getting caught in the middle of. And to make matters worse, she had no idea who to side with.
Then, out of the corner of her grayish-purple eyes, the little pegasus spotted something resting on the floor of the locker room. She trotted over to it, picked it up, and examined it carefully. When she did so, she almost let out a gasp! "How come nopony ever told me about this?!" She thought to herself.
After blowing up on her parents, Rainbow didn't have a particular destination in mind. All she knew was that she wanted to put as much distance between herself and the locker room as she possibly could. She couldn't let anypony see her cry like this, she had a reputation and an image to keep up.
But just after hastily drying her tears, the cyan coated mare was surprised to see what looked like an orange colored blur come rushing towards her! The next thing she knew, the mare was tackled by none other than her honorary little sister! "Scootaloo?" She questioned.
"We need to talk, about a lot of things, but especially about your parents." The filly said firmly.
Rainbow gulped. "Well, I suppose this was inevitable when you found out who my parents were. But can I ask you a question first?" When Scootaloo nodded, the speedster asked. "Why are you so fond of my parents? I mean, they're nice ponies most of the time, but you already have a family. I've met your parents a few times, or at least your mom. And she seems nice."
"Well, yeah, when she's not constantly reminding me to do stuff I already know I need to do," Scootaloo commented. "And Dad, usually he's too exhausted to ever really pay attention. Plus, he and Mom aren't really home all that much anymore. Mom got a new job that keeps her out of the house often, and Dad's got his hockey team to keep him busy for most of the year. So I've been living with my aunts."
"Your aunts, huh?" Rainbow questioned. "First time I've ever heard of them. What are they like?"
"Well, there's Aunt Holiday, she's my dad's older sister," Scootaloo explained. "She's actually an earth pony and she runs her own travel agency. Then there's Auntie Lofty, she's a pegasus mare with a more bulky build. She used to be a flying instructor, but now she mostly does odd jobs like Mom used to do. And Holiday always calls Lofty 'dear', but she won't tell me why. She just says it's something I'll understand when I'm a bit older. Anyway, my aunts are usually nice and supportive. But they still insist on things like telling me not to bungee jump, or go scootering without a helmet. I get that they care for me, but at times it gets really annoying."
"So, are you aunts the reason why you took such a liking to my parents?" Rainbow concluded.
Scootaloo nodded. "They remind me of when I was younger and both of my parents were home more often, not to mention a little more supportive."
Rainbow sighed. "That's my parents for you, always one hundred percent supportive. It wasn't so bad at first, but when they kept doing it for every little thing I tried, or every little goal I achieved, it kind of got on my nerves. It felt like they were smothering me with affection, even though I did kind of like being the only child."
"So how could you just blow up on them for that?! They meant well!" Scootaloo firmly retorted, stomping her hoof down in frustration and blowing steam from her nostrils.
The cyan coated mare responded with. "I didn't mean to, I was in a bad mood after banging my head on the locker. Haven't you ever gotten really mad because of that?"
The tomboyish pegasus nodded, before protesting. "But not to the point where I'd yell at my parents and tell them to go away."
"Well, unfortunately, that was an order from the Wonderbolts, though if I wasn't so mad I'd have phrased it differently," Rainbow explained. "My parents' behavior was starting to become a problem, and I volunteered to be the one to tell them they had to leave and get their act under control. I'm really sorry you had to see all of that. Are you satisfied now?"
"Almost," Scootaloo spoke up. "There's one more thing I want to understand," She held up what seemed to be an old and worn scrapbook, and she pointed a picture to a much younger Rainbow Dash (one without her cutie mark) standing in front of her parents, while behind them stood an empty podium and a torn ribbon. "What is this?"
Examining the picture quite carefully, Rainbow nearly gasped! "I don't believe it! I'd almost forgotten about this! It was my first ever competition, the annual 'Junior Speedsters Rely'!" The memories came flooding back to her in an instant. "I didn't win, let alone make the top three, and at first I couldn't understand why my parents were celebrating. But then I remembered that, the days leading up to the rely, I was a nervous wreck. I thought for sure I was gonna choke, get dead last, and end up a laughing stock. I wanted nothing more than to quit, but my parents wouldn't let me. They told me that they believed in me, and that no matter what, I'd always be awesome in their book. They encouraged me to stay in the rely, even when my wings ached and I felt like I was ready to pass out. And when I broke through that ribbon at the end and got sixth place, my parents said that was an achievement. Maybe I hadn't won a medal, but I hadn't quit, I'd toughened it out. And that was a cause worth celebrating, a chance for me to be inspired to do better next time."
"And you did, didn't you?" Scootaloo concluded.
"You forget who you're talking to? Of course I did better! My parents coached me and supported me as I worked my way up the podium with each rely and race I entered," Rainbow explained. "In a way, it was like they knew how awesome I could be, long before I ever realized it myself! They never stopped believing in me, even when that was all I wanted to do! And I can't believe I just treated them so horribly!" Rising to her hooves and flapping her wings, the cyan coated speedster declared. "I've got to find them and set things right! Let them see just how much their support really means to me!"
Rainbow Dash wasn't the only one going through a realization. While Scootaloo was getting some answers from her big sister, Bow and Windy were trying to piece together what had caused their daughter to snap at them so harshly, all the while respecting her wishes for them to leave.
But they hadn't gotten far when Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts suddenly landed in front of them. "I see Rainbow Dash gave you the message." Spitfire commented.
"Loud and clear, like always." Windy acknowledged.
Bow let out an unhappy sigh and stared at the ground. "Where and how did we go so wrong? All we wanted was to make up for the fact that we hadn't been there to see our daughter achieve her dream, we never wanted her to hate us."
"Hate you? What would give you that idea? I'm the one who told her to tell you two to leave the academy, and even I don't hate you," Spitfire questioned the parents. "Sure, you've been getting on my nerves lately, but I couldn't hate you guys. I've dealt with far worse in my years as captain, but I'm sure Rainbow Dash could tell you all about that."
"Not anymore, she snapped at us and told us in no unclear terms to just go away," Windy confessed. "And frankly, I'd say she has every right. We were trying to cheer her on and support her, but it seems like we ended up having the opposite effect. Some parents we are."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so hard on yourselves. We've put up with worse." Soarin said with a chuckle and gave a knowing wink towards Spitfire.
The wink did not go unnoticed by the other Wonderbolts. Misty Fly in particular commented. "Yeah. I can think of one example. Right, Captain?" She nudged Spitfire with a wing.
Spitfire seemed to briefly scowl at Misty Fly, before she sighed and looked at Bow and Windy. "Guess there's no harm in telling you two, just so long as you promise not to repeat it," She advised in a very stern tone of voice. "When I first became a Wonderbolt, my own mother was a lot like you guys. I knew she meant well, and I just couldn't bring myself to tell her how I really felt. That is, until her cheering got to the point where it was distracting not just me, but others as well. At that point I realized, like it or not, I had to do something about my mom's behavior. And now, whenever she comes to shows to cheer for me or for my kid sister Blaze, she does it with restraint. Now tell me if any of what I just said rings any bells."
Bow barely managed to comment. "You're talking about us, aren't you? I can see why you'd want us to never show up to any of your shows or events if we're that bad."
But Spitfire shook her head. "I don't think so, your cheering never got to the point where it was truly a problem. I just felt you two needed to understand that you're not the only fans in the stands. You're welcome to cheer on your daughter to your heart's content, but you don't have to go so overboard with it."
Windy sighed, also staring at the ground. "Yeah, it sure took Bow and I long enough to figure that out. We really should've been setting a better example as adults, and yet we ended up acting like a bunch of overgrown kids. Frankly, I'm ashamed of myself, and so is my husband."
"Hey, at least you two realize your mistake now," Spitfire encouraged. "If you're willing to tone down your enthusiasm to a reasonable level, I'm willing to let you guys come to as many shows as you want. But I'm still gonna have to ask you guys to leave the academy. It's just not safe having civilians stay on academy grounds for such a prolonged period of time."
However, at that very moment, a familiar voice cried out. "Wait, let 'em stay for a little bit longer!" The owner of the voice soon revealed itself as Rainbow Dash, with Scootaloo following close behind.
"You got something in mind, rookie?" Spitfire questioned, her eyes reflecting a look of deep skepticism.
"Yeah, and it's gonna need the whole team." Rainbow replied with a smile, and whispered her plan into her captain's ear.
Spitfire grinned. "I like your thinking, Rainbow Dash. But are you sure we can pull off something like that without practice?"
"Don't worry, I'll guide you all through it," Rainbow giggled in reply. "This time I get to be the leader!"
A short time later, Bow, Windy, and Scootaloo, were all seated on a small stand of bleachers that had been erected.
Rainbow stood before the small crowd with a microphone, having changed into her Wonderbolts flight suit. After a quick tap on the microphone to confirm it worked, she announced. "Mom and Dad, welcome to the... 'I Love My Parents and I'm Sorry I Took Them for Granted and I Know They Made Who I Am Today so I Really Wanna Make It Up to Them... Event.'" The cyan coated speedster wished more than anything that she'd been able to think of a better title than that. But for now it would have to do. The event itself was more important.
And what an event it was! With Rainbow Dash in the center giving out orders, the Wonderbolts formed all sorts of aerial formations, much to the delight (and surprise) of all gathered. To top it off and give the private performance a fitting finale, Rainbow guided the Wonderbolts through a nearby rainbow waterfall, each member being covered in two different colors of it and then lining up to form a rainbow of their own.
When it was all over, Bow and Windy were stomping and clapping their hooves in delight. The performance had worked to perfection.
"You know, you really didn't have to do all of that just for us." Windy commented to her daughter.
Rainbow shook her head. "I knew I needed some way to show you how sorry I am. I didn't mean to snap at you and Dad like that earlier. I was just so frustrated, and hitting my head on that locker didn't help matters."
"Well as your parents, we never should've let it get that far in the first place," Bow replied. "We should've realized our actions were annoying you and distracting you. You're not the little filly who needs a good nudge to stay in the race til the end, you're more than capable of flying laps around the competition by now."
But the cyan coated speedster just said to her parents. "Doesn't mean I don't want you to come to my shows and cheer me on. You're my parents, and your support means a lot to me no matter how loud or how quiet it gets. I'm sorry I've been so distant lately."
"And we're sorry we made you feel like you had to get away from us," Windy commented. "I can see now why you chose to move all the way to Ponyville."
"Ponyville is a nice place, but every now and then I still thought of you two," Rainbow declared. "It's not too late for us to be a loving, happy family again, is it?"
"Of course not, it's never too late!" Bow declared, as he, his wife, and his daughter all shared a hug.
Scootaloo took advantage of this opportunity to snap a photo with her camera. "Awesome! This is just what I need to close out my scrapbook and finish my report!" She proudly declared. And then she looked across to Bow, Windy, and Rainbow, and asked them all. "You'll all be there tomorrow when I give the report, won't you?"
"Are you kidding?! You're an honorary family member now, Scootaloo! We wouldn't miss your report for the world!" Rainbow said proudly. "Heck, if it wasn't for you, this reunion would've never been possible." And Scootaloo just beamed.
S7 E9: An Honest Diamond (Honest Apple) (What If?)
Starlight was following Rarity around town, using her magic to help put up posters which read: "Rarity's Fabulous Fashion Contest".
"How many more of these are there?" Starlight asked with a groan, as she held an entire stack of posters in her magic.
"Just about a hundred or so to go, Starlight," Rarity declared. "These posters need to go up everywhere possible."
Starlight groaned. "You're kidding me, right?! One hundred?! Now I'm starting to wish I hadn't said yes when you asked me to help."
"Oh, don't worry, darling, I'll gladly help you out. You'll see, it'll go by in the blink of an eye," Rarity said with a smile, and then fondly sighed. "This fashion contest is going to be the best in town, it'll be all ponies talk about for weeks!"
As the two unicorns passed by Sugarcube Corner and hung up one of the posters, Pinkie observed from a nearby window. "Ooh! Whatcha advertising, Rarity? Music lessons? I already brought my guitar!" The pink party pony emerged a moment later, scattering some posters while she strummed a small guitar with her hooves.
"You play the guitar? Since when?" Starlight questioned. "And how come this is the first time I've seen you so interested in music?"
Pinkie just laughed. "Oh Starlight, there's more to yours truly than just planning and throwing parties. Music can have very magical properties in the right hooves," Then she added. "Besides, compared to some of the other musical instruments I play, learning the guitar's a piece of cake. I'm still working on a song to go with it though."
Rarity smiled, even as she shook her head. "To answer your question, Pinkie, these flyers aren't for music lessons or anything of the sort. They're to advertise a special fashion contest I've arranged to host right here in Ponyville," She proceeded to explain. "Ponies will create their own dresses and show them off to myself and the judges I've hired."
"Why aren't you gonna judge? If anypony knows about fashion, it's you." Starlight commented.
"I'm a professional, it'd be too easy to find fault in other ponies works even if they seemed well put together," Rarity explained. "Besides, I'm busy as it is just getting everything ready for the contest. The stage still needs some work, and there's another problem. One of my judges ended up backing up. I had planned to have Hoity Toity, Photo Finish, and Sapphire Shores as my judges. But Sapphire Shores declined, she's too busy touring."
"Why not just ask one of your co-workers at the other boutiques? You know, like Coco or Sassy?" Starlight suggested.
Rarity shook her head. "I tried, they're both far too busy to drop everything and come down to Ponyville to judge. Not to worry though, I've already got somepony in mind to be my third judge. It's a bit of an unconventional choice, but I think it'll work out just fine."
"Ooh, who did you have in mind?! Is it somepony I know?" Pinkie asked with a bright smile, eagerly prancing in place.
Rarity smiled and cleared her throat. "Oh yes, somepony I'm sure you're both very familiar with. It is none other than..." She paused for a moment, before she declared proudly. "Diamond Tiara!"
"Rarity, not that I mean to question your... judgement or anything but HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND OR WHAT?!" Starlight bellowed at the top of her lungs. "Diamond Tiara is but a filly. A rather talented filly, but still a filly mind you."
"I kind of have to agree with Starlight here," Pinkie chimed in. "Diamond Tiara's turned over a new leaf in recent years, but I don't see how she could be a judge for a professional fashion contest. You might as well be asking Applejack or Rainbow Dash to be a judge while you're at it."
The fashionista sighed, she had expected such a reaction to her announcement. "I know it seems like a stretch, asking someone so young to take on such a big responsibility. But Diamond is a very remarkable filly born into wealth, and that means she has prior experience with fashion."
"You mean her parents made her dress up in those fancy and stuffy outfits all the time?" Pinkie questioned. "'Cause I overheard her say how much she hated those boring dinner and garden parties her parents hosted. And that was before she ever thought about standing up to her mom."
Confronted with this counter-argument, Rarity opted to explain. "That is hardly her only experience with fashion. As of lately, she has taken an interest in learning how to sew. So I have been tutoring her on the side, with the blessings of her parents, and the lessons have been conducted at my boutique. I've seen first hoof that Tiara has a keen eye, and fine taste in simple but stylish clothing. I feel it's only natural that she take Sapphire Shores' place on such short notice."
"And you'll think she'll say yes? What about her parents? I know at least one pony who's going to have objections, and I think you know who I'm talking about." Starlight vaguely commented, but all involved in the discussion need not have guessed to who she was referring. The pony they had in mind had a reputation which spoke for itself.
Rarity chuckled at Starlight's question. "You really think Spoiled Rich would be so naive as to deny her daughter a chance to mingle with the uppercrusts of the fashion world? The likes of Hoity Toity and Photo Finish are splendid company to be around. And just think of the connections Diamond could forge in later life if she got a chance to work with them now. So long as that is the only part of the contest I mention to Spoiled, I have every right to believe she'll give her consent to allow her daughter to participate."
And indeed, Spoiled did. In fact, she all but fainted on the spot when Rarity broke the news to her. "My daughter, associating with such celebrities as Hoity Toity and Photo Finish?! Never in a million years would I dare say no to such an opportunity!" She fondly exclaimed. "Celestia knows my little Diamond is in need of some fashion sense, lest the influences of her new 'friends' cloud her mind and ruin her taste. Just because we do business with common ponies, doesn't mean we have to dress like them."
Rarity pretend not to hear that last statement. "I assume there'll be no harm in double checking with the intended judge herself, just to be sure?" She asked Spoiled.
"Go right ahead, I've no objections. And you make sure to lay out in broad detail how lucky Diamond is to have such an opportunity dropped into her lap," Spoiled instructed. "She should be upstairs in her bedroom, assuming she hasn't sneaked out again."
Satisfied with Spoiled's response, the fashionista trotted down the hall of the luxurious Rich family mansion, and turned and trotted up the carpeted stairway that led to the bedrooms. Diamond Tiara's bedroom was the first door to the right after the staircase ended.
The bedroom itself was actually a modest affair all things considered. The bed was quite big for a filly, large enough to fit an entire alicorn princess if one wanted to, and adorned with soft, un-detailed sheets. A small chest and nightstand rested off to the left hoof side, featuring three wooden drawers that housed unknown content, and sporting a mirror for its user to stare at her own reflection if she so wanted. There was a small walk-in closet, currently shut but no doubt filled with dresses of all sorts. And scattered across the floor were a series of stuffed animals, including a giant teddy bear that rested at the foot of the bed.
Diamond took the news of Rarity's decision quite well. "Me? A judge for a fashion contest?"
"Only if you want to," Rarity made sure to explain. "Your mother has already given her okay, largely on the basis that you'll be working not only with me but also with Hoity Toity and Photo Finish, who will also serve as judges. But the contestants will be local, up-and-coming fashion hopefuls, a far cry from the type of contestants that usually sign up for these sort of contests."
"Not that I'm not flattered, but why me of all ponies? Surely there were better choices." The pink coated filly inquired.
Rarity shook her head and explained. "I want someone with an outsider's perspective, someone who doesn't work with fashion for a living but knows a thing or two about it."
"And you think I could fill that role?" Tiara questioned, her cornflower blue eyes reflecting back a look of uncertainty.
"I've no doubt in my mind," The fashionista confirmed with a nod. "Besides, it would give you an excuse to get out of the house and away from your mother. I understand the two of you are still sorting out your..." She paused and coughed into a hoof. "'Differences'."
Tiara's happy mood faded upon being reminded of this. "Yeah, we are. I thought things would get better, but it seems like they've only gotten worse. I just wish I knew what my father sees in Mother."
"I can't answer that I'm afraid, but I take you will be serving as a judge?" Rarity spoke up. "I don't want to pressure you into anything, if you'd rather decline that's okay by me."
But Diamond shook her head, and the pink coated filly firmly declared. "If it gets me away from Mother, I'm all for it! Besides, I used to be Student Pony President and ran The Foal Free Press. Compared to those pursuits, being a judge for a simple fashion contest should be a walk in the park."
"Great!" Rarity happily exclaimed, eyes all a glow! "Now come along, we must introduce you to your fellow judges, and the contestants."
"Why? Isn't the contest not until tomorrow?" Diamond questioned.
Rarity eagerly explained. "Yes, but we're going to be doing a dry run. A rehearsal if you will. That way we can break the contestants and judges in, and everypony gets an idea of how things are going to work out. Plus, it gives those builders a chance to put the finishing touches on the stage."
Rarity led Diamond Tiara straight to Carousel Boutique, Hoity Toity and Photo Finish were already waiting when the two arrived. Both were adorned in their usual attire, and Photo Finish had even brought along some of her interns.
"Ah, Miss. Rarity, a pleasure to see you again," Hoity Toity greeted. "It has been quite a while."
Photo Finish happily exclaimed. "Ach, yes! I have not seen you zince your wonderful performance in Manehattan during Fashion Week! Iz it true what they zey, zat you have opened a boutique in ze heart of that bustling metropolis?"
Rarity nodded. "It was in all the papers. And not that I mean to brag, but I've also got a successful boutique in Canterlot, run by my wonderful business partner, Sassy Saddles."
"Oh my, you really went for her?" Hoity Toity exclaimed. "I hear Sassy can be quite difficult to work with."
Rarity chuckled and flipped her mane with a hoof. "Oh, Sassy was no trouble at all. She just needed a bit of a guiding hoof to set her on the right path. The next time you're in Canterlot, you should stop by Canterlot Carousel and see just how well she manages."
"Perhaps we zhall zomeday," Photo Finish declared. "But for now, where is ze third judge? Zapphire Shores haz quite ze nerve to make us all wait like zis!"
"Actually, Sapphire Shores had to back out. Apparently she's facing some unexpected competition from a pony calling herself Songbird Serenade and needed more time to rehearse," Rarity explained. "Not to worry though, I've taken the liberty of making other arrangements, and I found a willing volunteer right here in Ponyville. She's a bit on the young side, but I assure you she is well qualified to judge a contest on this scale."
"Ach, youth and in-experience do not always go in hoof in hoof," Photo Finish commented. "Whoever zis new judge iz, she need not worry. As long as she helps to judge da magics, she zhall do fine. Now where iz she?"
Hoity Toity had to remove his sunglasses and rub his eyes to be sure he wasn't seeing things. And as for Photo Finish she just exclaimed! "I faint!" Right before she did just that, and one of her interns desperately tried to revive her.
"Miss. Rarity, I know you are known for your out of the box thinking, but this is beyond insane!" Hoity Toity remarked. "Asking a filly to judge a professional contest?! Are you out of your mind?!"
"For the record, I am most indeed in my mind, thank you," Rarity retorted with a harsh glare. "I felt that since the contest would be taking place in Ponyville, and there weren't many qualified candidates available on short notice, Diamond Tiara was the best option."
Having just come to, Photo Finish trotted up to Diamond Tiara and removed her sunglasses (something she rarely did) revealing a pair of deep purple colored eyes that gave off an icy cold stare. "Why would Rarity ask you to be a judge? You are far too young for zuch a thing. Your mother, Ms. Zpoiled Rich, would have been a better choice. Zurely she waz available too, no?"
Rarity trotted forward, the white coated unicorn protecting her surprise third judge from the harsh, judgemental stares of the two older (and more experienced) judges. "Mrs. Rich does have some knowledge about fashion. But she also has quite an infamous reputation around these parts," She explained. "I personally don't put too much stock into gossip these days, but having interacted with Spoiled on a few occasions, I can safely say that her reputation precedes her and not in a good way," The fashionista then added. "I wouldn't have done this if my hooves weren't forced. Both Sassy and Coco were busy with the boutiques, and I myself couldn't possibly be a judge on top of everything else I have to do. This was the best I could do. And if you have a problem with that, I won't hesitate to dismiss you and cancel the contest all together."
Hoity and Photo both exchanged glances, neither bothering to say a word for several minutes. All the while, Diamond just stood there, her legs trembling. This was worse than any of the times she and her mother had come to blows, because at the least the filly could take comfort in the fact that whatever her mother did, her father would intervene before long. Here, however, only Rarity was willing to go out on a limb for her. And from what the tiara wearing pony understood, both Photo Finish and Hoity Toity held much more sway in the fashion world than Rarity did at the moment. They could easily walk away and that would be it.
But at last the silence was broken. Photo Finish was the first one to speak. "Ah, zeems I have no choice. Never have I backed out of zomething after giving my word to be zere."
"And I can't deny your dresses still sell quite nicely in my shops," Hoity Toity acknowledged to Rarity. "Very well. I suppose I can reluctantly play foalsitter to this young mare for the next day or so. At least this one won't be pulling on my tail every five seconds and slobbering all over me."
"For your information, I happen to be almost ten and a half years old!" Tiara snorted. "And I've been working with Rarity for the better half of a year now. She was kind enough to give me sewing lessons."
"Well why didn't you just say so in the first place?!" Hoity exclaimed. "Miss. Rarity has a keen eye for fashion apprentices!"
Photo nodded. "Indeed! Why, just last week I had ze great honor of attending Coco Pommel's debut az her own fashion designer! I even preserved a photo for Miss. Rarity's eyes!" She proceeded to hold up the picture, displaying a blueish-gray coated mare with a long and flowing mane of yellow and orange locks, and sporting blueish-green eyes. Her entire body seemed to be consumed by a huge, round dress.
Diamond threw back her head and laughed loudly! "That looks like a disco ball! Why in the world would anypony dress up like that? Even my friend Apple Bloom wouldn't be caught dead wearing that, and she lives on a farm!"
Photo shook her head and scowled. "Ach, you kids today have no zense of fashion! Zis is all ze range in Manehattan!"
"Really? I'll bet if somepony so much as moved in that thing, they'd topple it over!" Tiara laughed again. "How could it NOT be a disco ball?! The resemblance is totally there!"
Hoity seemed to agree, as he approached Photo Finish and declared. "You know, now that Miss. Tiara mentions it, it does look like a giant disco ball."
"I zuppose it does after all," Photo reluctantly conceded. "Not entirely zure I underztand Miss. Pommel's intent, but all I do iz zhoot, not ask questions."
"Well I'll say this much, if Coco is betting on disco to make a comeback, she's sorely mistaken," Hoity declared with a mornful sigh. "Disco stopped being popular long ago, and for the best I might add."
"Indeed, zuch a terrible mistake that everyone went along with." Photo acknowledged.
"If we can get back to the matter at hoof," Rarity declared, coughing into a hoof to be heard. "Perhaps it might be best to meet the contestants and see what they have planned, before they must go home for the day."
Hoity and Photo both blushed upon being reminded of this, while Diamond was just left wondering. "What was so wrong with disco? Are they talking about the crazy way everypony used to wear their mane? Is that why Miss. Cheerilee seemed so ashamed of that one photo of her?"
Rarity and the three judges made their way up to the room that usually served as Rarity's workshop. Three small desks adorned the room, and each had a ponyquin with a dress that rested on it.
On the right side of the room, standing behind a desk was a unicorn mare with a coat not unlike the sun in the early morning, a pale yellow in color. She sported an extremely light lavender mane and tail in a free flowing style of curls, and had eyes a gentle light blue in color. Her light purple dress did not conceal her cutie mark, a heart attached to a ribbon.
In the center of the room stood an earth pony stallion with a tanish-brown coat, green eyes hidden behind a set of glasses with red lenses in the shape of upside down triangles, a curly mane (but a tail cut extremely short) in shades of pink and blue, and a white button jacket that did not conceal his cutie mark of a multi-plaid colored star in a violet-purple lightning bolt.
And on the left side of the room, was a rather tall but thin pegasus mare with an almost grayish-purple coat, a mane and tail in two shades of gray that hung limp and lifeless (with black bat bows in the mane), purple eyes, and a black coat with matching spider-web decorations that matched a cutie mark of a black rose with ink dripping out from the center.
Rarity greeted the three contestants warmly. "Designers, welcome! Today you will work on your designs, and the judges under my watch will offer guidance and advice as you prepare for tomorrow's big show."
The three designers all murmured excitedly, as Rarity and the judges approached the unicorn mare first. "Lilly Lace, we'll start with you," Rarity announced. "Tell us about your inspiration."
Lilly Lace smiled, proudly displaying a a dress made up entirely of yellow, complete with a yellow veil for the neck. "Oh, totally," She proudly declared. "This morning, on my way here, I heard a bird singing literally the most beautiful song I'd ever heard! And I wanted to capture not so much the bird's song exactly but more like how the wind carried the bird's song! That's why the dress flows out towards the back. Thoughts?"
Hoity Toity smiled and complimented. "Powerful yet at the same time fragile and delicate. Liking what I see so far."
"Ach, yes. A fine vision, one I look forward to zeeing in its completed state." Photo Finish nodded.
Diamond Tiara just silently nodded and said. "Uh... huh?"
The group then moved on to the earth pony stallion. "Next up, meet Starstreak," Rarity declared. "Care to explain the idea for your dress?"
"It's not finished, but it'll be spectacular!" Starstreak answered. "I'm not interested in what's already been done. Only what will exist... in the future!" He held up a drawing of what seemed to be a series of shapes hastily made to resemble a dress. "Go ahead, tell me what it still needs."
"Mmmm... Tomorrow's fashion belongs to those who hear it coming. Execution is where it all matters though, don't forget that." Hoity Toity advised.
Photo Finish added. "Keep a firm grip on zat vision, make it a reality! Zat is how you go places and make da magics happen!"
Diamond again opted to just nod. "Mm-hmm."
"And last up, we have the literal dark-horse, Inky Rose." Rarity announced, pointing to the pegasus mare.
"I am Inky Rose, and this is my dress." Inky Rose commented very briefly, motioning an entirely black dress complete with a black hood.
"You have a very focused vision! A ztrong zense of what you want! It's gut!" Photo Finish declared. "Zimple, but effective! You just might pull off ze upset."
Hoity Toity added with a smile. "It seems like there's room for improvement, but not much really needs to be done to make this any better than it already is."
Rarity turned to Diamond Tiara, asking the young judge. "Diamond, you've been rather quiet since the judging began. Care to share your thoughts?"
Diamond gulped. "Uh, do you really wanna know what I think? I'm not an expert like you, or Hoity Toity, or Photo Finish. I don't think my opinion will mean much."
"Nonsense, your opinion is the most crucial of all," Rarity encouraged. "After all, you go shopping for clothes, you know what trends are in and what trends are out. A consumer's perspective can be just as helpful as a designer's perspective."
Tiara sighed. "Well, if you really insist on knowing," She paused to clear her throat and then said to Inky Rose. "It's a lot of black. It's kinda... depressing. Not sure if that's what you're trying to go for."
"No problem, I can fix that," Inky Rose dryly commented, before she flew off and returned with a dark cloak to drape over the dress. "How's this?"
"Makes a world of difference! That's just what the dress needed!" Hoity declared as he raised a hoof.
"Yes, it compliments the hood zo very nicely." Photo agreed.
But Diamond protested. "Maybe to fashion experts like you. But to ponies like me, it's still black. I guess that's fine if you're into the whole dark and brooding thing though."
Hoity and Photo both gasped!
"And to be completely truthful, I don't entirely know if songbirds or the future are workable concepts," Tiara reluctantly added. "They're not bad for inspiration but you can't exactly wear them if you know what I'm saying."
"A fair point to be made. But these dresses are a work in progress, plenty of time for concepts to be refined." Hoity commented.
Photo nodded. "No dress iz perfect from ze start. Your opinions are not bad, Miss. Tiara, but zey lack usefulness," And the mare then added. "One cannot simply zay what they don't like and expect it to work. You must also know what does work."
Tiara sighed and hung her head. "Yeah, I kind of figured as much. I'm starting to think you two were right not to approve of Rarity recruiting me."
"Now hold on just a minute there, young filly," Hoity advised. "We're not saying you're a bad judge of fashion, or even a bad judge in general."
"You just need more time to get comfortable with ze role, more time to underztand what is expected of you. And zat is why we are here," Photo declared. "Learn from us, match your critiques to cover what we cannot. Our goal as judges iz not to tear zhese possible fashion stars apart, but to guide zem to a final product zat will create da magics."
Rarity nodded in agreement. "Fashion needs a healthy dose of practicality now and then. And that's where you come in. Just keep at it and you'll get better."
"Well, I guess this is better than just avoiding Mother all day long," The pink coated filly reluctantly commented. "Alright, I guess I can stick around and give this judging thing another go. I mean, I can only get better, right?"
Diamond Tiara followed Rarity and the other judges around, as they observed the contestants making some adjustments to their dresses. All the while, she tried to think about how she could refine her criticisms to be more effective, without bringing the ire of the more experienced fashion ponies down on her.
Suddenly, a chance for criticism presented itself, as the four ponies noticed Inky Rose using a hammer to drive nails into a pair of black socks and then drag them across the desk, intentionally making holes in them.
"Are you actually putting holes in the clothes?! On purpose?!" Tiara exclaimed to the pegasus.
Inky Rose flatly replied. "Yes. It's to create a distressed look, it matches the blackness of the hood."
"More like an old and tattered, worn-out look!" Diamond declared. "Not sure about you, but I know most ponies wouldn't wanna replace their old, hole filled clothes, with new clothes full of even more holes. It defeats the whole purpose of buying them!"
Rarity reluctantly acknowledged. "Okay, yes, not a very practical choice. Fashionable, but not practical. And a bit of waste of fabric."
"The holes are a bit extreme," Hoity Toity conceded. "The blackness alone conveys distress without needing to waste fabric. But I suppose small holes in socks might be acceptable in certain cases."
Next up was Lily Lace, whose dress flowed even more out the back and seemed to have extra layers sewn into it. "Simply shtunning!" Photo Finish proudly declared! "Mine eyes have never beheld zuch a marvelous sight before!"
"Sure, it looks pretty, I'll give you that," Tiara spoke up. "But that's a whole lot of fabric. With the way it drags behind, it'll be covered in dirt in no time. I should know, I've had quite a few dresses that got dirty, and Mother made me wash them out by hoof. Not an experience I care to repeat."
"Perhaps a layer or two can be subtracted, ze extra bulk is optional," Photo Finish agreed. "All ze same, looks are a vital part to any dress. Nopony buys zometing if they think it looks ugly."
"Okay, so maybe the dresses need a little more fine tuning," Rarity concluded, desperate to change the subject and put an end to the uncomfortable atmosphere that was slowly building up inside the boutique. "But of course, no look is complete without mane and makeup! Let's see how well Jet Streak is coming along on that department, seeing as he hasn't unveiled his dress quite yet."
Starstreak proudly displayed his model, a light purple coated earth pony mare with pinkish-purple eyes. Her mane was a darker purple, with hints of a lighter fuschia, and hung down at the sides almost to where the two parts connected into one.
"So, uh... when are you gonna do her mane? It looks like it's gonna need a lot of work." Diamond questioned.
But Starstreak groaned. "It's already been done! You have no idea how long it took to mold the mane into this shape! It's going to match the dress perfectly!"
"You mean the dress you haven't started on yet?" Tiara questioned with a raised eyebrow. "All I saw was a bunch of shapes. At least the other two contestants have some idea of where they wanna go. You, on the other hoof, seem to be going off of this 'vision'. I think Apple Bloom would call it: 'Losing the forest for the trees.'" She delivered that last line with a bit of malice, malice that the filly instantly recoiled in shock from once it had escaped her mouth.
Rarity and the other judges were speechless!
Sensing that things were quickly going badly, the pink coated hastily spoke up. "I... uh... think I'm gonna call it a day! See you all tomorrow, I think... maybe!" And she bolted from the boutique before anypony could say a word!
It took but a moment for the filly's absence to register through the boutique. The contestants breathed a small sigh of relief, but Hoity and Photo exchanged nervous whispers as Rarity declared. "I think we've given the designers more than enough guidance for today. So let's, uh, let them finish their work." And she departed the boutique without saying a word, she just chuckled nervously and sighed.
As Rarity was trotting past Sugarcube Corner a short time later, she was spotted by none other than her party planning friend Pinkie Pie. "Hey, Rarity! How'd the first day of the contest go?" Pinkie called out.
Rarity sighed and answered. "Well, it's going... okay I suppose. I mean, it's not turning out absolutely terrible but," She took a long pause, before she added. "Have you ever wished you could go back and talk some sense into your past self before she does something foolish?"
"You thinking of time travel?" Pinkie questioned. "Only Twilight and Starlight have pulled it off. But hey, if they can do it, then so can you."
The fashionista shook her head. "Oh no no no, nothing of the sort. It's just... forget it. I'm just thinking that maybe it was wrong to bring Diamond Tiara onboard for something so ambitious. She's more leadership oriented than fashion oriented, despite her preferred head wear."
"Where is Diamond Tiara anyway? Shouldn't she be with you?" Pinkie asked, noticing a lack of the pink coated filly.
"She was until just a short time ago. But now I don't know where she is," The fashionista admitted to her friend. "You wouldn't by any chance happen to have seen her, would you? I wouldn't want her parents to start worrying about her being out past whatever sort of curfew she has assigned."
The pink party pony shook her head and answered. "Sorry, haven't seen her. But I wouldn't worry, she'll probably turn up eventually. Worst case scenario, she's spending the night at a friend's, letting off steam. And she's not the only one," She proceeded to pull out her guitar. "You seem a little stressed," Offering up the musical instrument she added. "Wanna try? Music is very relaxing." To demonstrate, she strummed a few chords.
Rarity took up the guitar with her magic. "Sure," She flatly replied. "Hmm," Then all of a sudden she started to strum the guitar quite hard, unleashing a hard, rock solo! Her hooves moved vigorously back and forth, working off the stress at lightning speed! And she displayed a harsh glare the whole time! When she had finished, her composure returned to normal, but the guitar was smoking ever so slightly. "Much better." The unicorn declared with a sigh, offering the guitar back to Pinkie, whose mane and tail were all disorganized and standing on end, while she blew the smoke off her guitar.
The next day, Rarity was trying to give herself a mental pep talk and reassure herself after the previous day hadn't gone according to plan. "I can meet my goals. Today is a fresh start," She declared to herself, while breathing in and out very slowly. She then trotted up to her workshop and pushed the door open, greeting the contestants. "Good morning, everypony! Time for final adjustments before the show!"
"Ach, Miss. Rarity, zplendid to zee you zo bright and early." Photo Finish happily declared.
"Indeed, and I must say your show is coming along quite well," Hoity Toity added. "Already, we're seeing significant improvements in the dresses."
But Rarity wasn't focused on either of the fashion hot shots' comments, she was concerned about the absence of a certain filly. One she'd expected to have show up. "Where is Diamond Tiara? Shouldn't she be here with you two?"
Both Hoity and Photo shook their heads. "I'm afraid we haven't seen her since she stormed out of this place yesterday," Hoity declared. "Such a shame though, with a little bit more polish I think she could've come into her own as a judge."
Photo nodded. "She needs to phrase her words more delicately, but zere is no denying she brings a unique perspective to ze table."
"But, I need her to be the judge!" Rarity declared, frantically looking around. "There's nopony left I can turn to on such short notice! My contest won't work with only two judges!"
"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm 'fashionably late' if you'll excuse the pun." A familiar young voice called out. Everyone turned to look, and who should come trotting into the workshop but Diamond Tiara? Compared to yesterday, she seemed to have a more noticeable mark of self confidence, if the smile and the spring in her step were any indication.
Rarity nearly gasped in surprise! "Where have you been, Diamond Tiara? Have you any idea how worried I was that you might have backed out?"
Diamond just laughed and replied. "Sorry to make you worry, Miss. Rarity, I just needed some time to get into the mindset of a judge. But now I'm wide awake, and ready and raring to go!"
"You zeem quite confident in yourself today. What iz responsible for zis zudden change?" Photo Finish questioned the filly.
"I must agree, it's like you're an entirely different pony now." Hoity Toity commented.
With a smirk, Tiara explained. "A pep talk from Silver Spoon, as well as a trial run at her place, gave me all the experience I needed to understand what a fashion judge needs to be like. I just wish I'd thought to try it sooner," And then she confidently strolled past the other judges. "Now come on, let's check up on the contestants and let 'em know what they're doing right, and what they need to work on."
With the pink coated filly leading the way, the three judges (and Rarity) stopped in front of Inky Rose's cloak. "I decided the hood was not needed, now it's just a simple cloak." She informed the judges.
Hoity Toity examined the cloak very carefully, taking note of the many buttons all over the still black colored garment. "If buttons could convey sadness, you've done it."
"Ze loss of ze hood is unfortunate, but ze cloak alone speaks volumes." Photo Finish declared.
Diamond only shook her head. "Well to me, they convey waking up an hour early just to button 'em all. Surely, you could do more with less, couldn't you?"
Inky Rose looked at Tiara with bewilderment and skepticism, before she pulled all the buttons off her dress. "Is that better?" She asked with a hint of scorn contained within her tone of voice.
"Maybe, but no buttons at all means it's easy for the dress to slide off if you're not careful," Tiara commented. "I didn't mean take all the buttons off. Now that cloak is just like a poncho."
The judges then went over to Lily Lace, who presented a hat that was intended to match her dress. "Hope you like it," She declared. "I attached each feather individually! It took me forever to do!"
Removing his sunglasses, Hoity Toity looked at the hat, and exclaimed with great fondness! "Ohhhhh. You used hoof-cross-double-over stitches! They're perfect!"
"It definitely zuits ze bird theme!" Photo Finish declared. "Keep zis up and you will win for zure."
Diamond was not so convinced. "Sure, it's stitched perfectly, but feathers on your head is for the birds! It doesn't matter how well you stitch 'em together, one gust of wind and 'Whoosh!' they're gone! Next I suppose you'll tell me you wanna build a set of wings or something! My advice to you, keep your hooves firmly on the ground and get your head out of the clouds."
Lily Lace gasped, as did Rarity, Hoity Toity, and even Photo Finish!
"Sorry if that was a tad excessive," Diamond apologized. "I'm just trying to save you the embarrassment of having your hat fall apart the second the wind blows through. Maybe you should look for an easier source of inspiration next time, Lily Lace."
Lily just whimpered, as the judges (and Rarity) approached Starstreak. "My vision is finally ready for viewing eyes! Behold!" He proudly declared, showing off an avant grade dress of white, red, and yellow.
"A good start, but it needs more. Like zay, a belt!" Photo Finish declared. She trotted over to a nearby bucket and tossed aside several chain belts all the while shouting. "No. No. No. Yes!" At last, she held up one that was light gray and had a lightning bolt shape on it.
"I'd go with this one, personally!" Hoity Toity suggested, holding a belt that seemed to be identical to the one Photo Finish held in her hooves. The only difference seemed to be a slightly darker shade of gray.
"Nei, zis one!" Photo protested.
"They both look the same to me," Tiara interrupted. "I really don't see why you two are gonna argue over the same exact chain belt. Either one will do."
"To the untrained eye that would seem so," Hoity remarked. "But that one completely changes the look. And this one complements it. There's a difference."
"Could've fooled me," Diamond remarked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm beginning to wonder just how much you two actually know about fashion. Sure, you're highly respectable in your fields, but you seem to follow patterns instead of making them."
Rarity quickly stepped up in to break up the argument. "N-now now, that's quite enough of that, Diamond Tiara. Hoity Toity and Photo Finish both came down here at great personal expense. Without them we wouldn't have a fashion contest to begin with."
"And maybe that would be for the better," Tiara suggested. "The more I see of fashion, the less I understand about it. It all seems so needlessly complicated if I'm being honest."
Gulping, Rarity pleaded. "Then, perhaps you'd like to step outside and talk it over with me? You know, before we make a scene?"
The pink coated filly happened to look around as Rarity made that comment. And she saw for herself just how hostile the tensions in the room had become. Photo Finish and Hoity Toity were staring at her with their eyes casting daggers (or at least that's what it seemed, it was hard to tell when they always wore sunglasses), the contestants all seemed on the verge of tears as they hastily redid their outfits, and Rarity herself seemed to be barely holding together.
At that moment, guilt started to well up inside the filly. "What I am doing?! I'm making a mistake!" She thought, and ran off, trying to hold back the tears!
"Diamond, wait!" Rarity called in vain! It was no use, the tiara wearing filly had fled the scene.
"Well... that was unexpected." Hoity commented.
"So, does this mean that little twerp is done being a judge?" Lilly Lace questioned. "Because I'm starting to wonder why anypony ever thought she was qualified to be one in the first place."
"Well actually, she did have a very unique vision and sense of direction," Jet Streak commented. "Sure, she could be pushy about it and may have been taking things too far, but she was just trying to help make our outfits the best they could be."
"We probably should've taken her advice with a grain of salt, or at least not been so dismissive of it," Inky Rose added. "I think that poncho comment was intended as a way to suggest the hood again."
"I guess now that you mention it... the feathers thing wasn't entirely untrue," Lilly Lace considered. "Perhaps there's a better way to capture a bird's song as it's carried on the wind."
Photo Finish spoke up. "And zhe technically had a point on ze belts. There was not much a difference between zem, either one would've fit the dress nicely."
"And I never even considered how many buttons were on that cloak," Hoity Toity conceded. "I got so caught up in what they were conveying, I didn't even look at the obvious."
"Ztill, she lacks a filter. A sense of knowing how to frame what she zays in ze proper way," Photo Finish remarked with a shake of her head. "Zhe does not zeem to understand zat zhere is more to a judge than just judging."
Rarity sighed as she hung her head. "If anyone's to blame for all of this, it's me. I should've been more clear with that filly from the start, and told her just what she was expected to do. I also should've let her get some practice in before thrusting her into something she was woefully unprepared for," She then immediately decided. "I've got to go after her! I need her to know that nopony harbors hard feelings toward her for going overboard! And maybe I can still find a way to make this all work out!"
"But ze contest starts in mere hours!" Photo Finish protested. "And zhe could be anywhere in town by now!"
"Then you'll just have to go on without me, or Diamond Tiara!" Rarity firmly insisted, dashing out of the boutique! Leaving a bewildered Hoity Toity and Photo Finish to exchange looks of confusion.
The fashionista searched high and low throughout Ponyville for her young charge and "hopeful" third judge. But it seemed as if the filly had dropped off the face of the world, for over an hour and a half ticked by without even a trace of the filly's presence.
At last, just when Rarity was ready to give up and admit that Diamond had run away (thus resigning as a judge), she spotted something she had overlooked before. Namely, a series of hoofprints that were in the size of a filly. Could it be?
Hoping beyond hope that she was, the unicorn mare followed the prints as they led right to a bridge overlooking a small river. And there, slumped ever so slightly over the side, was none other than Diamond Tiara herself. The little earth pony staring down at her reflection, as she sobbed lightly and tears streamed down her face and into the pond below.
Clearing her throat, Rarity made her presence known, causing Tiara to jump back a bit in surprise! But her sorrow returned when she noticed who it was now standing next to her. "Oh, it's just you, Miss. Rarity."
"Darling, please, Rarity will do just fine," Rarity insisted. "And I want you to know you're not in any trouble. Not with the contestants, not with the other judges, and not with me."
"You don't have to lie to me to make me feel better. I know I messed up," Diamond sorrowfully confessed. She didn't even bother to turn to look at the mare to whom she owed her position. "I thought my opinions mattered, when in fact I knew less than anypony in the entire room about fashion."
"They were a tad... excessive," Rarity admitted, approaching her young charge. "But at the same time they were honest. Honesty isn't always a bad thing, sometimes the truth is what ponies need to hear, even if it hurts."
But Tiara only sighed, looking down at the water again. "And what if that's all it does, hurt others without actually making anything better? What good is it to be honest if everypony would be better off if I lied?"
"There's a time to be honest, but there can be times when the truth isn't what others want or need to hear. You're not likely going to know the difference the first time it stares you in the face," Rarity explained. "More importantly though, judges are expected to be honest and impartial, but that doesn't mean you can just rip somepony a new one. The goal of criticism isn't to make others feel bad or ashamed of what they've done, it's to offer suggestions for what they can improve or do better. Even if it's absolutely terrible, you can still put a positive spin on it by saying 'Now you know what not to do for next time.' Does all of that make sense?"
"Sort of," The filly acknowledged with a sigh. "But if it's all the same to you, I'd rather just stay here for the rest of the day and keep as far away from the contest as possible. What I did back there, is something I told myself I'd never ever do after my redemption! Heck, it's something I told myself I'd never ever do at any point in my life! That I'd sooner take off my tiara than let it come to that. I acted like my mother. All of those things I said, those are just the sort of 'criticisms' she'd dish out to others without a second's hesitation. After being on the receiving end of it for so many years, I swore to myself I would avoid giving them out no matter what. I know that doesn't seem like much considering all the other things I did before I saw the light, but it's true."
A long and rather uncomfortable silence hung over the bridge as the two ponies stood there, moments passing without a word from either of them.
At last, Rarity declared. "Well, it's your decision. But I just thought you should know that Hoity Toity and Photo Finish hold no ill will towards you for your spur of the moment comments. And you're more than welcome to come back and judge the contest if you so wish." And with that, she departed, leaving the pink coated filly alone with her thoughts.
Trotting back into town, the fashionista could've easily chosen to head back to her boutique to check up on her remaining judges and the contestants. But she didn't feel like it, there was nothing she could really do in there, she was not going to be a substitute judge. If Diamond Tiara wasn't going to come back, she'd just have to run her contest with two judges and hope for the best.
With that thought in mind, the unicorn decided to instead see how her stage was coming along. She hadn't checked on it since deciding to host the contest, and she suspected she might not get another chance. Best to see if it was to her specifications. And hopefully it would be just the thing to take her mind off the uncertainty of her third judge, or the (hopefully) slim possibility that there wouldn't be a contest at all.
The stage was marvelous and to the mare's exact specifications, even down to the search lights and the long walkway. The curtains were a splendid velvet red with gold trim for the rope holder. It looked absolutely stunning.
Now hopefully it would be put to use.
For several minutes, Rarity just sat there, thinking to herself. "Was it really a good idea to make Diamond Tiara a judge? Perhaps it would've been better to just make myself a judge, or ask Fluttershy to do it?"
The sun was beginning to set off to the west by the time Rarity decided the time had come to head back to the boutique, and see just what had transpired in her absence (and whether or not she would have a contest in the first place). It seemed like Diamond Tiara had backed out, and with such a short time frame before the content (to say nothing of the fact that Rarity couldn't even be sure it would go on) there was no time to scout out a replacement.
The trot back to Carousel Boutique took longer than it normally seemed to take for some reason, not that the fashionista unicorn was paying any thought to it. More pressing concerns lingered in her mind.
Upon entering her boutique and trotting up to her workshop, the pristine white coated mare let out a gasp at the sight that greeted her!
There stood Diamond Tiara, a satisfied and confident smile on her face, chatting with Hoity Toity and Photo Finish as if nothing had gone wrong. And all three contestants seemed satisfied with their overall outfits that they were to present, if the looks on their faces were any indication.
Rarity was speechless! This had to be a dream! And yet, it all seemed and felt so real.
"Ach, Miss. Rarity," Photo Finish called, attracting the dress maker's attention. "Zo glad you're here, ze contest is all but ready to begin."
"Indeed, and all that remains is one final look of approval for the contestants," Hoity Toity added. "We've finished our final critiques, and all the adjustments have been made. All thanks to Diamond Tiara here."
Diamond beamed happily. "I figured it would help to show them what they could do better, instead of just telling them. So I worked with them to sew and stitch any adjustments."
"It's true, she literally has the best sense of needlework I've seen in like, forever!" Lilly Lace proudly declared.
Starstreak smiled. "Without her help, this vision wouldn't be a reality. So sleek and futuristic!"
"And with her help, I was able to attach the hood back to the cloak," Inky Rose added. "And I decided to leave the buttons off, so it's less of a hassle to put on."
"I... I don't understand! How could you do all of this in such a short amount of time?!" Rarity gasped in amazement.
Tiara just winked. "Those sewing lessons you gave me really paid off! I busted my tail because I know how much this means to you," And then to Hoity and Photo she added. "And I'm sorry I said what I did earlier. I never should've questioned your expertise, I should've accepted that you knew stuff I didn't."
Hoity just chuckled and ruffled the filly's mane. "Oh it's quite alright, we did get a little swept up in our own self-confidence. No hard feelings."
"Indeed," Photo declared and then stomped her hoof down quite firmly. "We ztart now!"
Night fell as a crowd gathered around the stage outside Carousel Boutique, DJ-PON-3 started playing the techno music she was always known for. Bobbing her head up and down to the beat.
"Okay then, let's get this show on the road!" Rarity proudly declared. "First up, Lily Lace!"
Lily's clothes were worn by a greenish-yellow coated mare with soft blue eyes. They consisted of a long pink gown, the flowing greenish-yellow dress Lily had worked on the day before, and the feather hat with a matching green feather dress. The model posed as cameras clicked all around her.
"Next up, Starstreak!" Rarity announced.
Starstreak's outfits were modeled by the same mare he'd used earlier in the day. Her mane had been trimmed to have a neat set of bangs on both sides, matching the simple but sleek avant grade dress of yellow, green, red, and white. Then she modeled a simple white skirt with blue, purple, and bluish-green stripes, alongside a crystal hat. And finally, she wore a sea green dress with lighter green pants. The cameras continued to click.
"And finally, Inky Rose!" Rarity called out.
Inky Rose's model was a light-grayish coated stallion with dull red eyes, a spider cutie mark, and a midnight blue mane and tail that was mostly styled into a curl except for a patch on the mane that hung limp. He just stood there with a flat expression on his face, showing off the black cloak, the black hood, and a black jacket with a spiky collar. The cameras went into a frenzy!
"And now, judges, it's time for your votes!" Rarity informed, as she spun around to face the three judges. "We'll start with you, Hoity Toity."
Hoity Toity, with a smile on his face, commented. "Simplicity is the keynote of true elegance. That is why I vote for Inky Rose. She knows what she wants, and her designs are straightforward and to the point."
Inky Rose bowed and replied. "You've... made me so... happy?"
"Okay. Now, Photo Finish, your pick if you please." Rarity instructed.
Photo Finish shot up a hoof and declared. "Fashion is ze art! I, Photo Finish, vote for Starstreak! Looking towards ze future is always a path forward!"
"Wonderful to hear, darling. I knew you'd see my vision for what it is." Starstreak boasted.
"One vote each for two of the contestants. It all comes down to you, Diamond Tiara," Rarity spoke to her youngest judge. "Who do you feel has the best designs?"
"Well... gosh... I really don't know," Tiara pondered, putting a hoof to her chin. "All three of them have some really good ideas, and their outfits all looked nice. But... if I had to pick one... it would have to be Lily Lace. Starstreak has a nice vision, but it's a little too simple, and the future is always changing. What's in one second may be out the next. And Inky Rose, well maybe there are some who like all black clothing, but ponies usually prefer vibrant colors to make them stand out."
Lily Lace just smiled. "It means sooooo much to me! Oh, I can't believe it!"
"Ah, we have a tie," Rarity realized. "Well, I guess it's up to me to pick a winner. And I have just the option in mind," She clapped her hooves, and seconds later a black top hat was caught in her magical grasp. Taking out a quill, the unicorn scribbled something on three pieces of paper, before she stuffed them all in a hat. "Whoever's name I pull out of this hat, shall be the winner. No matter what though, I trust there'll be no hard feelings. You're all winners in my book, but alas there's only room for one at the moment."
A tense silence filled the air, as all eyes were drawn to the hat that Rarity shook quite thoroughly (but carefully). "And the winner is..." The fashionista declared, as she closed her eyes, reached into the hat, and pulled out one piece of paper. She unfolded it and opening her eyes she read aloud. "Lily Lace! Congratulations!"
The spotlight fell upon Lily Lace, as the crowd burst into deafening applause! The unicorn found herself at a loss for words!
"See, Diamond Tiara? Being a judge wasn't so bad after all." Rarity talked to the filly after the contest had ended.
"Maybe so," Tiara agreed. "But I think I'd rather stick to the sewing lessons with you, and leave the judging to more professional ponies in the near future."
"I see," The fashionista commented. "Well, if you ever change your mind, just let me know. But for now, why don't we focus on getting the boutique ready to showcase Lily Lace's works?"
"Now that is a good idea!" Diamond proudly declared.
Pinkie Pie came racing through the front doors of Twilight's castle, eagerly looking for the young princess while shouting happily at the top of her lungs! "Twilight! Twilight! Where are you?!"
"I'm in here, Pinkie!" Twilight called from the throne room, getting up from her chair as the pink party pony came zooming in. "What is it? What's so important you had to tell me?"
Pinkie beamed happily. "Oh, it's the best news ever! You'll never guess what I just got!"
Just then, the throne room doors swung open, as Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity all came trotting in. Each having heard Pinkie's excited screams earlier. "Is everythin' okay? We heard a lot of shoutin' and 'Oh-my-gosh'in', and we weren't really sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing." Applejack asked.
"A good thing!" Pinkie declared, plopping down a scroll. "I just got the best news I could've ever received! Well, second best maybe, nothing tops my sister staying in Ponyville! I mean Ponyville adjacent, technically, but you get the idea."
Twilight picked up the scroll and read it aloud. "'To pink pony who lives with baked goods.'," The princess let out a small gasp! "It's from Prince Rutherford and the yaks! 'Yaks cordially invite pink pony to Yickslurbertfest. Come. Now. Signed, Prince Rutherford.'"
"Yours truly has been invited to Yakyakistan for their annual Yickslubertfest!" Pinkie proudly declared! "It's a dream come true!"
"Just one question if you don't mind my asking," Rarity spoke up. "What is Yickslurbertfest, exactly?"
"All I've been able to find is that it's a sacred yak holiday, but it's one that's very important to them," Twilight explained. "How did you get Prince Rutherford to invite you, Pinkie? There's no records of yaks ever inviting ponies to one of their holidays before."
Pinkie was all too eager to explain. "Once I learned about it from Rutherford, I subtly hinted for an invitation in my letters to him. They all went like this: 'May I please come to Yickslurbertfest? Pretty please? Pretty please? Pretty please? Pretty-pretty-pretty-pretty-pretty please?!' And after just my seventeenth scroll, I think he picked up on what I was putting down if you know what I mean." And then she started to giggle excitedly, while the rest of the ponies all exchanged various looks of confusion. They didn't know what to think of such an announcement.
Pinkie continued to giggle and prance as Twilight re-examined the scroll. "You know, we still don't know a lot about the yaks. So I think you should definitely go to Yickslurbertfest, Pinkie." Twilight encouraged, and the rest of her friends nodded.
"I won't let you down, Twilight!" Pinkie proudly declared as she stood up tall! "It's an honor to be the official friendship ambassador to the yaks!"
"Um, actually, that's not an official position." Twilight corrected.
"Yet," Pinkie corrected as she waved her hooves while moving backward. "You're the princess of friendship, Twilight," In a singsong voice she then added. "You can make it happen."
"Okay, you got it," Twilight declared. "Enjoy your new title."
"Ahem?" Pinkie commented with a stern glare. "You have to make it official, or it doesn't count!"
Twilight sighed but obeyed, pinning a ribbon on Pinkie. "Right. I, Princess Twilight, hereby make Pinkie Pie the official friendship ambassador to the yaks! May you serve with honor."
"This is officially," Pinkie began, then paused for a moment before she added. "The most exciting day of my life! Well, maybe the second most exciting, I mean that I went 'Gasp!' is pretty hard to top!" Then, looking around, she asked. "Say, where's Starlight? I thought she still lived with you."
"Oh, she's up in the Crystal Empire helping Sunburst with something," Twilight explained. "She won't be back til later today at the earliest. But I'll be sure to inform her what she's missed out on. Now you better get going, you don't wanna be late for Yickslurbertfest, do you?"
Pinkie shook her head. "Oh no no no, of course not! I'd better get going!" She dashed out of the castle as quickly as she had arrived, though not before shouting! "Don't worry, I promise I'll keep in touch!"
Soon, Pinkie (with Gummy in tow) was high in the sky in a hot air balloon. The very same balloon most ponies in Ponyville rented out whenever they needed a balloon ride of some sort. "Can you believe it, Gummy?! Me?! The first ever friendship ambassador to visit Yakyakistan!" Pinkie proudly declared.
Gummy just blinked.
"You're right, Gummy!" Pinkie realized. "This trip has to be perfect! After all, we're not just visiting as friends. We're on official friendship ambassador business! And just like I showed the yaks all our Equestrian customs and traditions, now it's the yaks' turn to do the same for me. I don't wanna seem rude or disrespectful, there's too much at stake. Ooh, just thinking about it has me all nervcited! I need a way to relax!"
Gummy blinked again.
"Great idea, Gummy!" Pinkie happily replied. "What would I ever do without you?! A road game will be just the thing to take my mind off my troubles! I'll go first," And she cleared her throat. "Okay. I spy with my official friendship eye something that is blue!"
Gummy said nothing for the entire trip, but Pinkie didn't mind. If she knew Gummy, he was probably deep in thought about a million different things, and thus had no time to really think about what his owner might have spied.
At last, the balloon landed on the outskirts of Yakyakistan in the Frozen North, touching down lightly in the snow. "We're here!" Pinkie declared, as she jumped out of the basket and tied the balloon firmly to the ground so it wouldn't float away. "Oh, and by the way, Gummy, the answer was sky. I win!"
Gummy didn't reply, there was a long pause.
"Yeah, yeah, I know that was a hard one. But it's okay, what counts is taking part," Pinkie declared to the baby alligator. "You're the best official friendship travel companion ever! Now come on, let's go see Prince Rutherford! I'm looking forward to seeing what Yickslurbertfest is all about."
Bouncing her way through the large drifts of snow, the pink party pony soon reached the gates of Yakyakistan. But when she did, she saw something was not right.
Last time she'd been here, the mare clearly recalled there being a large, bustling village made of huts built out of sticks and straw. But now everything seemed to be covered in snow, without a trace of civilization anywhere. Had Yakyakistan come under attack somehow? Were the yaks maybe in the middle of relocating to a better location?
Or maybe Pinkie herself had accidentally landed in the wrong place? She knew she should've been paying more attention, a gust of wind probably blew the balloon off course!
"I don't know how we got mixed up like this. I could've sworn Yakyakistan was right here," Pinkie said out loud. "Come on, Gummy. Let's get back up in the air and see if we can't find the real Yakyakistan. Just hope they don't start the festivities without us."
But before the party pony had a chance to do so, the gates swung open and a loud, gruff voice shouted out! "Pink pony!"
Pinkie spun around! Sure enough, she found herself looking right into the unmistakeable presence of Prince Rutherford himself. "Prince Rutherford?" She greeted in an unsure tone. "Am I in the right place? I thought Yakyakistan was around here."
"Yakyakistan is around here, pink pony in right place," Prince Rutherford explained. "Apologies for confusion."
"But if this is Yakyakistan, why is it all covered in snow and ice?" Pinkie wondered aloud. "I know for sure there were huts the last time I was here."
Prince Rutherford sighed. "Yaks careless while celebrating Yickslurbertfest, yaks stomp too loud," He explained in an unhappy tone of voice, completely with a slouchy posture. "Stomping cause avalanche, bury entire village in snow."
Pinkie became alarmed upon hearing this, her blue eyes grew enormously wide! "Oh no, that's horrible! Why didn't you say something, sooner?! I'll go get help, the Crystal Empire's not far from here!"
But Rutherford stomped a hoof and protested! "No. Yaks no need ponies help. Yaks deal with avalanches before, much worse than this. Yaks dig our way out eventually, Yickslubertfest will go on!"
"You sure? It's no trouble at all if I just get a few Crystal Ponies to come and dig you out," Pinkie said to Rutherford. "It won't even take an hour, and it'll be like that avalanche never even happened."
Rutherford shook his head. "Yaks pride themselves on being independent. Yaks never need to rely on others for help. Avalanche builds character, makes horns grow. Yaks will dig our way out! And pink pony can either wait with yaks and celebrate Yickslubertfest with yaks, or leave and never come back to Yakyakistan again. Pink pony must decide soon."
"But-" Pinkie began.
Rutherford interrupted loudly! "Those are rules! Pink pony must respect yak culture! Yaks no tolerate ponies disrespecting yaks! If pink pony not like the way yaks live, pink pony can leave."
And the pink party pony just stood there in the snow, unsure of what to do. She really wanted to get help, it was what ponies did. But at the same time, she was now an official friendship ambassador, and that meant she had to respect how yaks functioned. She hadn't liked it when the yaks insisted on getting their way in Equestria or they destroyed everything they deemed "imperfect". Was she about to do the same to them?
The more the mare thought about it, it seemed like Rutherford wasn't bothered by the avalanche. And if what he said was true and they'd dealt with worse and survived, surely the yaks could indeed dig their way out. Sure, it might take longer than it would've with help, but maybe this was a lesson in patience for the yaks, to learn that good things did indeed come to those willing to wait.
Reluctantly, the party pony looked the yak prince in the eyes and told him. "Hey, as long as there's a Yickslubertfest to celebrate, I don't mind. But how do you guys plan to celebrate when there's nothing but snow all around?"
"Yaks stomp of course! That's what Yickslubertfest is all about!" Prince Rutherford happily explained. "Stomping relaxes yaks."
"Ooh, really?!" Pinkie exclaimed. "And all this time, I thought you guys stomped only when you got upset or something. I'm learning so much already."
"And pink pony will learn so much more once she takes part in Yickslubertfest," Rutherford smiled. "Come, pink pony. Yakyakistan and Yickslubertfest await."
Upon arriving in the heart of Yakyakistan itself, Pinkie discovered that despite the avalanche having buried all the huts, that hadn't stopped the yaks. Some of them were hard at work, digging away the large drifts of snow with their bare hooves.
And others, for whatever reason, were stomping about like there was no tomorrow. Something that Pinkie found most odd.
"What's with all this stomping? I thought Yickslubertfest was going on." Pinkie questioned Rutherford.
Rutherford laughed. "Pink pony not understand. This is Yickslubertfest! Yaks get together and stomp around! Yaks destroy all the old stuff to make way for the new stuff, useless sticks and hay bales that yaks no longer need, or old sticks and hay when yaks feel like redecorating," Then he added. "And yaks not just use Yickslubertfest for destruction. Yaks also tells stories around campfire, listen to music in music hut, and enjoy delicious yak cooking and yak treats made from ancient yak recipes. For now though, all yaks can do is stomp, but we stomp for long as we need to until Yakyakistan digs out of avalanche. Pink pony is welcome to observe the digging."
"Actually, I was hoping you'd let me be part of Yickslubertfest," Pinkie pleaded. "Stomping and smashing sounds like fun. Maybe not as fun as a party, but still fun."
"Rutherford hoped pink pony would say that," Rutherford declared with a smile and clapped his hooves. "Make room for pink pony. Pink pony honored guest who wishes to participate in fun of Yickslubertfest. Let the destruction begin!"
The yaks all began stomping about, destroying small twigs and the occasional bigger stick. Pinkie needed no incentive to join in. She hopped over to a nearby stick that no one else had touched, and started smashing it, taking great care not to get splinters in her hooves! "This is fun! If this is what Yickslubertfest is like, I need to ask to come to it more often." The party pony thought, resuming her stomping while forgetting all about the avalanche and the yaks still digging their way out of the snow.
But all of a sudden, Prince Rutherford cried out! "Stop!" All the yaks ceased their stomping, and an ominous silence filled the air. Rutherford then approached Pinkie and declared. "Pink pony had better check self before wreck self. That is century old twig of tradition, passed down from generation to generation. Yaks not allowed to destroy it."
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know!" Pinkie profusely apologized. "Um... maybe I can p-put it back together!" Gathering up the pieces of the stick with her hooves, the party pony tried to hastily reassemble it as best she could. "Uh... tada?!" She nervously declared, presenting the repaired stick to Rutherford. It crumbled apart a second later.
However, instead of shouting at Pinkie, Rutherford smile and laughed. "Yak kidding! There is no such thing as century old stick, yaks not keep such a thing. Yak got Pinkie good. Horn bump!" He exchanged the gesture with a fellow yak.
A sigh of relief escaped the party pony's lips. She then went back to stomping on the twig, satisfied with the knowledge that the prince was a prankster at heart, just like her.
The stomping and destroying went on for quite a while, during which time the few yaks not participating slowly but surely made progress in digging away at the drifts of snow. It seemed like they were going to dig themselves out entirely in less than a day.
But just when some of the huts started to become accessible, there came a loud rumble, and shock waves shook the ground (courtesy of the stomping yaks). All of a sudden, the huge mounds of snow that had been built up around the huts, gave way! The huts were buried again under the snow, though fortunately no one was hurt.
Rutherford quickly sized up the situation. "Yaks stop destroying! Yickslubertfest must be put on hold!" He called out. "Too much noise cause snow to slide downhill. Yaks not be able to dig their way out and participate."
A few of the yaks grumbled, but most obeyed the command without question.
"Perhaps now it might be a good idea to get some help?" Pinkie suggested to the prince. "It's gonna take even longer to dig through all that fresh snow, and it's getting late."
Rutherford protested! "Pink pony was told before, yaks no need help! This is but temporary setback."
"Seems like quite the big temporary setback to me," Pinkie commented, observing the yaks now frantically trying to dig away the snow, only for more snow to slip down every time they did so. "You look like you're in over your head."
"Maybe to pink pony, but not to yak," Rutherford declared with a snort. "And what yak says goes! If pink pony is too impatient to wait for Yickslubertfest to resume, pink pony can just leave and never return! Yaks celebrate Yickslubertfest with or without pink pony's participation!"
"But what about heat? You guys need a fire, and I don't see a ton of sticks, or anywhere to really set up a pit," Pinkie protested. "Are you just gonna sleep on the snow?"
Rutherford nodded. "Yaks used to roughing it and surviving without heat. Yaks fur keep them warm. Pink pony's concern is appreciated, but not necessary. Yaks always prepared. Or does pink pony think yaks need help because yaks can't do things on own?"
"No no no, I don't think at all! I'm an official friendship ambassador!" Pinkie firmly protested, flailing her hooves. "It's just... usually when something like this happens in Equestria, we ask for help. That's kind of what friendship is about, helping others."
Rutherford only snorted. "But pink pony also said that friendship about respecting differences and showing what makes your world yours. And in yak world, yaks no need help of ponies or any other species. Yaks always survive on own. Avalanches stop Yickslubertfest before, but yaks always persevere and endure. This avalanche be no different."
"But-" Pinkie began.
"No buts! Rutherford made his bed, and now he shall sleep in it! Yak recommends pink pony do the same if she wishes to stay!" Rutherford declared quite firmly, clearing away a spot in the snow just big enough for him to fit. "Yak tired, going to sleep. Yak prince shall see pink pony in morning, assuming pink pony is willing to stay."
"If only there was some way to get these stubborn yaks to admit they need help," Pinkie thought to herself. "If only Applejack or Rainbow Dash were here, they'd know how to fight stubborn with stubborn. But if they did that, that wouldn't be very 'friendship ambassadory' of them. And I'm the official friendship ambassador. What am I supposed to do?"
Unable to come up with an answer, the pink party pony went unhappily to sleep.
But next morning, Pinkie awoke to learn that things were no better. Some of the yaks were still trying to dig the snow drifts away, but most of them seemed to just be sitting there and doing nothing. Soon, Pinkie knew why. A chorus of loud rumbles could be heard amidst the silence of the snow.
Even the children were starting to grow hungry. "What was yak?" A boy yak questioned.
Clutching her tummy, a girl yak answered. "Yak stomach rumbles. Yak hungry."
"Shhh! Prince yak will hear yak! Yak will get in trouble!" The boy yak warned.
The girl yak shook her head. "But snow worse than yak ever seen! Yak not sure yak can wait for snow to melt!"
"Yak know. Yak hungry, too. But prince yak say yaks must be patient." The boy yak insisted.
Having overheard this conversation, Pinkie gasped! If children were starving, the situation was a lot worse than she'd imagined! "Gummy, did you hear that? They can't make it work! These children are starving, they can't hold out until all the snow goes away!" She then groaned. "Curse that Prince Rutherford, why must he be so stubborn? What right has he to make these children suffer for his own pride? If Twilight and the others knew what was going on, they would be here to help in a pony's heartbeat, they'd clear away the snow in no time at all! We have to somehow convince Prince Rutherford that asking for help is totally okay. Will you help me, Gummy, please?"
Gummy let out a low gurgle, which Pinkie interpreted as a yes.
"Thank you!" The pink party pony eagerly replied. "And see? Asking you to help wasn't hard at all. We make a great team you and I. What would I ever do without a friend like you?"
Pinkie bounced away to find Prince Rutherford. It didn't take long, the prince was lightly digging away at some snow near what Pinkie could only assume was the leader's hut.
"Prince Rutherford! Prince Rutherford!" Pinkie shouted, trying to get the prince's attention.
Rutherford spun around. "Pink pony have something she wishes to say to yak?"
Pinkie nodded. "You bet I do! I just overheard some children complaining, they're starving, and so are the other yaks! They can't wait until the snow melts!" She firmly told Rutherford. "You have to let me go and get help! My friends in Ponyville could clear away this snow in a heartbeat!"
But Rutherford snorted and turned his head. "Bah! Ponies are not to meddle in the affairs of yaks, ponies keep noses where they belong, out of yaks' business! Yaks no need help, yaks fine on our own!"
"But the children are starving!" Pinkie firmly protested!
"Unfortunate, but now is time to build character," Rutherford coldly replied. "Other yaks will teach yak children how to hunt and survive on own. Yak children learn not to depend on others to help them out. Pink pony welcome to observe hunting, so long as pink pony does not intervene."
"But Rutherford-" Pinkie began.
Rutherford slammed his hooves down and yelled! "Yak told pink pony once, yak tell pink pony again! Yaks don't ask for help!"
"Darn it all!" Pinkie complained, kicking the ground with her hooves. "Why do you have to be so stubborn and uncooperative? Asking for help isn't always a bad thing. Why can't you see that? I just don't understand why—"
"Pink pony wish to understand why yaks no depend on others, and no accept help from others?" The yak prince remarked, stomping over to the pink pony. "Fine, yak tell pink pony. And then pink pony understand," A hint of sadness seemed to be adopted by the prince as he explained. "Once when yak was little, before yak became yak prince, yak stomped on ground too hard. Ground give way beneath yak and yak fall into deep hole. Yak wait on family and friends to come rescue yak, but yak family and friends never come. Eventually, yak climb out on his own. Yak survived without help, so yak learn never to depend on help from others. Others never come through for yak, so yak not let them have chance to disappoint him."
Pinkie found herself taken aback by the prince's story, the pink party pony had never imagined she would hear such a thing from the yak prince.
"Now pink pony understand?" Rutherford remarked with a snort. "When yak sought help from others, they never helped yak. So yak not repeat mistake, once yak became prince, yak tell other yaks his story. Yaks listen, yaks agree."
"I'm sorry to hear your family and friends never came to your rescue when you fell down that hole," Pinkie apologized to Rutherford. "But maybe there was a reason for that? Maybe they didn't know you'd fallen, or maybe they thought you hadn't survived your fall? Did you ever ask them if they knew where you were?"
Rutherford just remarked. "What difference does it make? The point is, yak learn other yaks cannot be trusted to help in time of need. So yak learn not to accept help from others, the only way yaks survive is on their own."
"Well it's fine if you think that way, you stubborn prince!" Pinkie snapped, looking the prince square in the eyes! "But you can't possibly tell me you think all the yaks should think the same way! Children are starving because of you! If there was ever a time to admit you're wrong and accept help, this would be it! If anything happens to those children because they're starving, it'll be your fault! Not even you would want that, right?!"
"Yak already told pink pony, yaks will teach their children to hunt! All yaks will survive without help from others!" Prince Rutherford shouted back in protest! "Is clear now that pink pony does not understand yaks at all. Honorary yak status rescinded! Bang!" He turned his back to his guest and declared. "Pretend there is door! I just slammed it!"
"Fine! Be stubborn for all I care!" Pinkie shouted back. She then turned to Gummy. "Come on, Gummy. Let's go home, Twilight and the others will want to hear about this."
The balloon ride back to Ponyville passed mostly in silence, aside from Pinkie thinking in her mind. "Those yaks are so darn stubborn! They refuse to ask for help, even though they clearly need it! Well just let them wait, this official friendship ambassador is gonna take matters into her own hooves! I'll show them! Show them that it's not a bad thing to accept help when you have no other options!"
Upon arriving back in Ponyville, Pinkie went straight to Twilight's castle and told all her friends about her time with the yaks. She made sure not to skip out on the details over how she and Rutherford had come to blows.
"Then Prince Rutherford said, ''Bang! Pretend there is door! I just slammed it!" Pinkie narrated, imitating Rutherford's voice.
"Pinkie Pie-" Twilight began.
"So then pink pony said, 'Fine! Be stubborn for all I care!'" Pinkie went on in a high pitched tone of voice. "With my honorary yak status revoked, I had no choice but to come back here."
"This is serious, Pinkie! We have to help the yaks." Twilight declared.
Pinkie didn't seem to notice what Twilight had just said, as she finished her little speech with. "So in conclusion, we have to help the yaks!"
Twilight was more than a little confused by this. "Huh? But that's what I just..." She began.
But Applejack quickly silenced any will the princess had to protest. "Just go with it, sugarcube. Otherwise we'll be here all day."
Twilight sighed, but managed to sincerely smile. "Great idea, Pinkie. We'll be happy to help the yaks. This is what friendship is all about after all."
"I've always wondered what Yakyakistan was like," Starlight commented. "Guess I got back from the Crystal Empire just in time," Then she added. "Clearing away snow should be easy peasy."
"It's an avalanche, so there'll be a lot of it." Twilight cautioned to Starlight.
"Nothing I can't handle!" Starlight boasted, flexing her muscles a bit. "Besides, I need the exercise."
Applejack then chimed in. "If those yaks are starvin', I'll be sure to bring plenty of apples. This season's batch are extra juicy."
"And I shall provide the yaks with Equestria's finest textiles. They'll be silky and warm with hints of gold to complement their horns—" Rarity began.
But Pinkie cut her off and protested. "Stop! We can't bring the yaks any pony stuff!"
"Why not?" Fluttershy asked.
"The yaks are very proud. If we bring them pony stuff, they're gonna feel insulted," Pinkie explained to the others. "We're only going there to clear away the snow, that's it. It's like they say: 'You can lead a yak to water, but you better not let him know you're doing it.'"
"Uh, nopony actually says that, do they?" Rainbow wondered aloud. No one bothered to answer, they all just shrugged it off.
"Very well then," Twilight replied with a nod. "This'll be an official covert friendship mission. The yaks won't even know we're there."
Pinkie smiled. "Great! Now come on, the yaks need our help!"
The seven ponies arrived in Yakyakistan in the middle of the night, all the yaks were sound asleep and snoring away.
"Remember, girls," Pinkie whispered. "You're just clearing away the snow, nothing else. I don't like having to do this behind Rutherford's back, but he leaves me no choice. I draw the line at letting children starve."
Throughout the night and into the wee hours of morning, the ponies all worked together to clear away the snow and ensure that the village was as it had been before the avalanche.
By the time they had finished, the sun was beginning to rise.
Applejack wiped the sweat from her brows as she declared. "Hoo-wee! Helpin' to fix an entire yak village sure takes a lot outta ya."
"I'll say, I wasn't expecting that much snow," Starlight added. "I'm exhausted. I don't think I'll be going anywhere or doing anything for the next few days, thank you very much. Though, I have to ask, Pinkie. Why didn't you just go to the Crystal Empire instead? It's a lot closer."
"You girls would understand better than Shining Armor and Cadence, they'd send in an entire guard unit to clean up Yakyakistan," Pinkie explained. "Rutherford would never get over that."
"Alright. Well, we'd better get out of here before anyone spots us," Twilight whispered. "What about you, Pinkie? You're still the official friendship ambassador to Yakyakistan, and Yickslubertfest will surely be back on when Rutherford sees the village has been cleared of snow."
"Maybe I'll stay for a little while, assuming Rutherford doesn't find out about any of this," Pinkie whispered in reply. "And if he does, well he can take it up with me. I'm the one who dragged you girls into this."
"You didn't drag us into anything, Pinkie. We agreed to help." Fluttershy protested.
Pinkie nodded. "I know that, and so do all of you. But if Prince Grumpypants finds out, it needs to look like it was all my doing and nopony else's. If he's gonna be mad with someone, he's gonna be mad with me and me alone."
"Well, hopefully it won't come to that," Twilight replied to Pinkie. "Now come on, let's get out of here before—"
But just then the calm of the early morning was broken by Prince Rutherford calling out. "Oh, pink pony!"
Pinkie let out a nervous gasp. "Uh-oh, looks like he caught onto us!" She quickly whispered to her friends. "Just play it cool, and remember what I told you."
A moment later, Prince Rutherford appeared before the ponies. His expression was hard to read, but he didn't appear to be in a particularly good mood. "When pink pony left, yak village was still covered in snow. Yet now pink pony shows up with friends, and suddenly snow all gone," He spoke quite sternly to Pinkie. "Does pink pony have something she wishes to confess to yaks?"
Pinkie nodded and stepped forward. "I roped my friends into cleaning up the village for you while you were all asleep last night. I'm sorry, but you left me with no other choice. I couldn't let those children starve because of you."
"Yak sees now," Rutherford acknowledged. "Pink pony decided to help yaks after all, and without yaks even asking. But why would pink pony do that? Pink pony knows yaks too stubborn to accept help, yaks always survive on their own."
"It's like I said, Rutherford, sometimes asking for help isn't a bad thing," Pinkie explained. "You yaks are prideful, I get that. It's great that you've lived for so long on your own with no help from anyone else, and it's great that you're willing to tough it out when things go bad. But sometimes you have to admit that there are situations you can't overcome on your own. There are times when you have to accept that others helping you isn't such a bad thing. My Granny Pie used to say: 'It takes a strong pony to endure hardships all on their own. But it takes an even stronger pony to admit when they need help.'"
"So, pink pony wish to question prince's leadership? Is that it?" Rutherford snorted. "If so, then pink pony can leave, and never come back to Yakyakistan."
Pinkie shook her head. "I wasn't trying to question your leadership, you're a great yak prince, Rutherford," She then explained. "But a leader shouldn't force his subjects to starve because he doesn't want to admit he needs help. If you want to tough out an avalanche and dig your way out on your own, fine. But don't drag others into your struggle. If they want to wait it out with you on their own, they're welcome. But you didn't give them a choice, you forced them to wait with you until the snow melted. Maybe in yak culture that's a respectable trait, but it's not something I can agree with."
Everyone let out a gasp! Pinkie appeared to have just questioned yak culture and Rutherford's beliefs!
But to the surprise of the ponies, Rutherford spoke (after a moment of silence). "Pink pony makes a good point. Prince was stubborn and short-sighted. Prince should not have forced others to starve with him. Yak prince should have accepted help when it was given to him. Maybe all this is so yak prince can learn that accepting help can be okay in certain situations. Pink pony is truly a friend of yaks, the best kind of friend. One that can reign in even the most stubborn of yaks when yak gets too big for his horns. Speaking of horns, pink pony is officially honorary yak!" He held up a hoof and motioned for two yaks to come forward with a massive chest, resting inside it was a pair of yak horns.
The yaks all cheered, as the horns were placed on Pinke's forehead. "Yippee! My own honorary yak horns! Now I can officially horn-bump!" Pinkie proudly cheered and attempted to do just that. But when she horn bumped Rutherford, she lost her balance and fell in the snow with a light thud.
Pinkie struggled to get back up. "Yeah... You know, Rutherford, this is a little heavy for my small pony head. I don't think they make yak horns in pony sizes."
With a chuckle, Applejack asked. "Need some help with that, Pinkie Pie?"
In her best yak voice, Pinkie protested. "Pink pony no need apple pony's help!" Then in her normal voice she giggled, snorted, and added. "Just kidding! Pink pony got apple pony good!"
Everyone laughed, before Pinkie commented. "Seriously though, this is heavy." And she fell back into the snow with a thud.
Twilight was trotting through Ponyville, enjoying the fine Spring day. It had been quite a while since any major events had happened (the last one she could recall involved helping Pinkie Pie with some stubborn yaks) and things had been peaceful.
But all of a sudden, the peace of the Spring day was disturbed, as Twilight found herself having to avoid barrages of ice cream! "What the-?!" She exclaimed, turning her attention to the source of the disturbance!
"Oops. Sorry about that, Twilight," Lyra apologized. "That wasn't meant for you. That was meant for my ex-friend Bon Bon. Or should I say Special Agent Sweetie Drops?"
"I'm not your ex-friend, Lyra, you're my ex-friend!" Bon Bon hissed, hurling ice cream at the green coated unicorn.
Twilight refused to let the ice cream battle go on any longer, largely because she herself was getting caught in the crossfire. "Both of you, stop!" She protested, throwing up a shield barrier to stop anymore ice cream missiles. "I'd expect this kind of behavior from children, but not from the likes of you. You're both fully grown ponies, and it's time you started acting like them."
"Yes, Princess Twilight." Lyra sighed.
"Sorry, Princess Twilight." Bon Bon also sighed.
Twilight smiled. "That's better. Now will the both of you please tell me what this is all about? You two are the bestest of best friends, everypony in towns knows that. What in the name of Celestia could be causing you two to have an ice cream fight?"
Lyra pouted and folded her hooves across her chest. "Well if you must know, a certain somepony decided it would be a good idea to go back to her agency and start working undercover again, without telling me."
Bon Bon firmly replied with. "Lyra, I let you join me that one time, but this is different. S.M.I.L.E is an off the books agency, and the work we do is very dangerous. If anything happened to you because of me, I'd never forgive myself."
"Aw come on, Bon Bon. I don't need you watching over me, I can take perfectly good care of myself you know." Lyra snorted.
Bon Bon sighed. "I'm sure you can, Lyra. But I need to be free of distractions if I'm going to do my job. Besides, somepony has to keep an eye on my niece and my sweet shop while I'm gone."
"Why do you even want to work for S.M.I.L.E again anyway?" Lyra questioned. "Twilight and her friends can always handle anything that comes their way."
"Because S.M.I.L.E keeps the small threats at bay before they become big threats," Bon Bon answered. "We are the last line of defense against things like the bug bear."
Twilight listened intently, and then commented. "If I may butt in, it seems like this is a failure to compromise. Bon Bon, you need to understand that Lyra is a part of your life, and like a good friend she wants to help you out from time to time. Surely, if she tags along on a mission or two, or even just gets a desk job at the agency, there's no harm to that, right?"
"I... guess not." Bon Bon agreed.
"And Lyra," Twilight added. "You need to trust Bon Bon to be able to handle things on her own, and to have a life independent of you if need be. Friends don't always have to do everything together to be friends. It's not the amount of time you spend together, it's how you spend that time together that counts."
"I suppose that's true," Lyra concluded and looked across to Bon Bon. "Sorry for the fighting. Can you ever forgive me?"
Bon Bon smiled and hugged Lyra tightly. "Oh, what the heck? I can't stay mad at you, you big silly unicorn."
Lyra smiled, even as she declared. "We're still going to have to talk about your double life, you know. I thought we had things worked out, but it seems there are some details we overlooked."
Bon Bon agreed. "Well, we'll work through them together, because that's what best friends do," Then she said to Twilight. "Thanks for your help, princess. You seem to have a knack for sorting out these friendship problems."
"What can I say, I've had years of experience," Twilight replied. Then all of a sudden, a light bulb of sorts went off in her head! She'd gotten an idea! Taking off at a break neck speed, the princess rushed to her castle and shouted! "Spike?! Spike?! Where are you, my son?!"
"I'm right here, Twilight. You don't have to shout," Spike called, appearing in the hallway. "Something the matter?"
Twilight shook her head. "No time to explain, Spike. I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia, tell her I need copies of every friendship report my friends and I ever sent to her, and I need them A.S.A.P!"
"What for?" Spike pondered.
"I'll explain later, right now I need to find something!" Twilight declared and dashed off to the castle library! "Come on, come on! Where is it?!" She remarked, tossing aside books with her hooves (though using her magic to carefully sort them into piles, so it would be easier to place them back in their assigned spots later).
Having heard the commotion, Starlight entered the library, ducking under the flying books as necessary. "Twilight? What are you doing? I haven't seen you this worked up in ages." She questioned the alicorn.
Twilight didn't respond to Starlight's question, for at that moment she shouted! "Aha! Here it is! Right in the last place you'd think to look!" She pulled out a well worn (and quite dusty) book that had a purple colored horseshoe logo on it along with a golden spine.
"Forgive me for asking the obvious but, what is that... thing?" Starlight asked Twilight. "I've been in this library hundreds of times and never seen such a book before."
Twilight giggled and snorted. "Oh Starlight, this is no ordinary book. Oh no no no, it's so much more!" Holding the book in her hooves she proudly declared. "Within the confines of this journal, are a series of friendship lessons my friends and I learned before I got my new castle. Heck, even Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders got to write some entries."
"And that's important because?" Starlight questioned in a most uncertain tone.
But before Twilight could explain, Spike shouted out! "Hey, Twilight! You've got mail! Lots and lots of it!"
Twilight smiled and rushed back into the hall, finding Spike surrounded by an entire mountain of scrolls. "Yes! This is just what I needed!" She happily declared. "Now I just need one more set of documents, and I'm golden!" She trotted off to find her friends, leaving Spike and Starlight to wonder just what had gotten into the princess.
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were all quite surprised when Twilight not only asked them to come to the throne room, but to bring along any records they had of the lessons they'd learned after Twilight got her new castle. They obliged of course, but they still wondered what Twilight had in mind.
They soon found out, for Twilight slammed a very familiar book down on the table map.
"What's that old thing doing here?" Rainbow Dash wondered aloud.
"And why is it so smelly?" Rarity added, plugging her nose with a hoof.
Twilight smiled as she eagerly explained. "I was wondering for the longest time what to do with this journal after we stopped using it. And eventually, I forgot we even had it. But today, after helping to solve a friendship problem right here in Ponyville, I realize that there are so many ponies all over Equestria that could benefit from studying the lessons we've learned over the years," She proudly added. "But just the entries we wrote in this journal wouldn't be enough. So I took the liberty of adding all the lessons we learned after we stopped using it, and tossed in the friendship reports we sent to Princess Celestia. Every last one of them!"
Spike groaned. "She's not kidding. I thought for sure I was gonna get sick again, belching up all those scrolls like that." The little dragon remarked.
"Not that this isn't nice, Twilight, but exactly how is one journal supposed to go all over Equestria and back again?" Rarity questioned the alicorn. "Especially in its current condition."
But Twilight giggled. "Oh Rarity, I never intended to send this journal out there. It's seen better days. But with a little help from Starlight, I've made duplicates of the journal. All of them in pristine and polished condition, so they're good as new! They'll fly off the shelves like they're the newest Daring Do book!"
"Goodness, it must've taken a lot out of Starlight to make so many exact duplicates of the old journal," Fluttershy commented. "But she doesn't look like she's worn out one bit."
"It was pretty easy, actually," Starlight confessed. "I used that spell before when I had to er... make quick copies of a certain..." She paused and coughed into a hoof before adding. "Manifesto. Compared to that, making copies of this journal was a piece of cake."
"And that brings me to why I gathered you all here," Twilight chimed in. Looking at all of her friends, she asked them. "Whaddya say? You willing to spread the magic of friendship and have the pages of the journals put to good use? I wanted to make sure you're all on board with this, because chances are that once ponies read these journals, we'll all become household names. We'll probably have fans from every corner of Equestria, and might even have letters written and addressed to us."
"We'll be horse famous!" Pinkie proudly declared!
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I've got plenty of fans as it is, seeing as I'm a Wonderbolt and all. A few hoofffuls more won't be anything I'm not used to."
"And you know, we originally did plan on having others find that old journal and learn from us," Fluttershy commented with a smile. "Besides, now that I've got my sanctuary, I'm more than okay with ponies knowing my name. Some of them might even write to me for help with animal problems."
"Oh what the heck, guess I'm all for it too," Applejack nodded in agreement. "But you did make sure to get Apple Bloom and her Crusader friends' permission to use their entries too, right?"
"Yup, and Spike as well," Twilight added. "Heck, even some of Starlight's lessons are getting put into the journals. We're all going to be included."
On the subject of Spike, Rarity couldn't help but comment. "And you're one hundred percent sure Spike and the Crusaders are okay with this? I am of course worried about what they might think of Spike, seeing as he's the only dragon among us, and he's still a 'baby' dragon."
"Maybe in dragon years, Rarity. But for me at least, Spike's a big dragon and he's more than capable of taking care of himself," Twilight reassured her fashionista friend. "He's been part of my life for many years, and if anyone has a problem with him, they can take it up with me. After all, what mother wouldn't stick her neck out for her son?"
"Twilight, not in front of Rarity, please!" Spike playfully whined. "I already said I don't mind being in the journal, you don't have to embarrass me."
"I meant no disrespect to you, Spikey-Wikey, darling," Rarity commented. "As long as you're okay with it, so am I. I just hope ponies don't get the wrong idea about you, or us for that matter."
Now it was Starlight's turn to laugh and smile. "Come on, Rarity. I thought you and the girls were pretty weird the first time I met you, but now I'm part of the circle of friends and I can't imagine my life without you all. Considering all the stuff I've seen since moving to this town, you seven are hardly the weirdest. If anything, they're probably gonna have it out for me. I'm still kind of the outsider in all of this."
"No need to sell yourself short, Starlight," Pinkie declared to the unicorn. "Don't forget, you're friends with two of my sisters. That makes you an honorary Pie in my book, and we Pies stick together and look out for each other no matter what."
"So then," Twilight spoke up as she cleared her throat. "I take it there are no objections? Nopony has any other concerns they want to bring up?" No one answered. "Good!" Twilight smiled. "Now there's just one more thing I need to ask all of you."
"What is it?!" Twilight's friends all asked.
"Can you help me get these journals out to all the book stores and stands?" Twilight sheepishly asked. "Even with my wings I can only go to so many places."
The seven ponies (as well as Spike) traveled all over Equestria to promote the release of the journals. Book stores and stands in every city and town were glad to accept copies.
The journals sold fast. Within days of them being put on shelves and display stands, eager ponies descended in huge waves to scoop up a copy. After all, when the journals featured the written accounts of Princess Twilight and those closest to her, no one in their right mind could possibly object to wanting one.
Newspaper articles from cities such as Las Pegasus, Applewood, Southern Equestria, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and even the Crystal Empire all wrote about the journals. By the end of the week, they were all that social circles were talking about. Some even declared that it was the hottest sensation since Princess Twilight was officially crowned just a few years ago.
But as always happens when ponies start to gossip, the discussion inevitably turns in directions that were not intended. And when attention is given to public figures, it's not always automatically positive.
Twilight, her friends, and Spike, were all about to learn this the hard way.
It all started about two weeks after the journals were first put up in book stores. Nowhere were the journals more talked about than in Ponyville, the very town that Princess Twilight and her associates called home (and had known as home for many years).
Everywhere Twilight went, it seemed that someone had a copy of the friendship journal and was talking about to anyone who would listen. Naturally, it was impossible not to overhear at least parts of the conversation, even when she knew it was not polite to eavesdrop.
Over a chorus of laughter from several ponies, one smartly dressed stallion declared. "I must say, I found the journal to be an enlightening experience. But I have to ask, just what is it that Rarity saw in Trenderhoof of all ponies? If her attempt at romance with a prince fell flat, why would she expect different results with a different object of affection? And just where does she go off thinking she's so fabulous anyway? Organizing the Ponyville Days Festival had nothing to do with her appearance. And yet she's the Element of Generosity?"
A simply dressed mare replied to the stallion. "Did you miss the part where her friends learned not to question her judgement when it comes to fashion, even though she was willing to make new dresses for each of them according to what they wanted? That sounds awfully generous if you ask me. You wanna talk about somepony who doesn't know what she's talking about, might I suggest Fluttershy. How come after she learned to stand up for herself and stop being such a scaredy pony, she still didn't want anything to do with Nightmare Night?"
Another mare retorted. "Hey, I'm with Fluttershy, Nightmare Night's not my cup of tea. All those foals running around, screaming their heads off? Not for me, thank you. And I can't believe Pinkie Pie is the honorary friendship ambassador to the yaks, all she ever seems to do is throw parties and do things that nopony even understands. I don't even think she's being truthful about growing up on a rock farm. A pony that crazy coming from such a dull place? She must think I was born yesterday."
"Speaking of dull," A tall, yellow coated stallion with blue eyes commented. "I find Applejack's entries to be rather dull if we're being honest. Just what does she mean by 'Friends are your family'? I've made many friends, but none of them are like family to me. And she doesn't even explain if Pinkie Pie is related to her or not, she just says they might be related. Isn't there someway she can prove it for sure?"
The first stallion declared. "Rainbow Dash is the one who seems to have a hard time proving she deserves everything she's got. How did a pony as ego-obsessed as her ever get into the Wonderbolts? And does she honestly think she's fooling anypony with her 'Daring Do is real' nonsense? Everypony knows Daring Do is a made up hero, and A. K. Yearling's stories are full of feats that would be impossible for a real pony to do."
The simply dressed mare added. "Personally, I don't get what Spike and Starlight Glimmer are doing in that friendship journal. They hardly ever seem to be part of the group. Spike's supposed to be Princess Twilight's son, and Starlight her student. How can she say they're her friends when clearly they're not?"
The other mare concluded by saying. "Well regardless of some 'questionable entries' and writing choices, I think we can all agree that the journal is quite worth checking out. I myself have learned a thing or two from reading it, and it sure beats the countless gossip magazines on ponies like Sapphire Shores or Countess Coloratura."
Twilight was unsure of how to feel about the conversation she'd overheard. She'd never intended the journal to become a subject of debate about her friends personal qualities. It wasn't supposed to be a biography. And it wasn't a work of fiction to be debated as if her friends were characters in a made up world. But at the same time, ponies seemed to enjoy it, so who was she to complain? She could always correct them if they got out of hoof.
Still, the young princess became more than a little concerned. "I hope this isn't how most ponies are discussing the journal. I don't want them getting the wrong idea about my friends," She thought to herself. "Maybe I should've been more clear about what the journal was intended to be?"
But at that moment, Twilight's thoughts were interrupted as Starlight came trotting up and declared. "Uh, Twilight, I think we've got a problem."
Not far from the cafe from where Twilight had overheard the conversation about her friends, she was shocked to find a whole bunch of ponies young and old alike, and from all three of the pony races, and they seemed to be arguing rather furiously. One side held up anti-Rarity signs, complete with an image of the unicorn inside a red circle with a line through it. And another side held up pro-Rarity signs, some even wore t-shirts that said things like "Rarity's number one fan" and "Defenders of Rarity" in large letters.
"Everypony knows that Rarity is by far the weakest link of the friendship chain," A member of the anti-Rarity group declared. "How many times has she cared more about her ego than about those friends she claims to care so dearly about?"
"Don't forget how she strings Spike along and plays with his affections, rather than tell him straight up it'll never work," Another member added. "If you were smart, you'd all switch your allegiance to Princess Twilight. She was cool even before she got her wings."
But a member of the pro-Rarity group marched right up to the anti-Rarity group and shouted. "Twilight may be a princess, but she doesn't do squat anymore! When was the last time you ever saw her act princessly?! Rarity on the other hoof, runs three successful boutiques!"
"And as for Spike, haven't you ever heard of letting them down gently?" Another member remarked. "Besides, she's maybe just waiting until he's a little older and ponies a little bit more accepting, before she and Spike decide to become a thing. Nopony batted an eye when a donkey and a mule got married!"
"See what I mean?" Starlight whispered to Twilight. "Things are getting out of hoof. And if somepony doesn't do something about it soon, I will. I don't like seeing my friends being treated this way."
"Easy, Starlight," Twilight cautioned, throwing up a wing to block her student. "No need to do something drastic. What everypony needs is just a quick little talking to. It's partially my fault for not anticipating this outcome sooner."
The two sides continued to argue with each other, their shouting match threatening to boil over into something worse, when Twilight cast a spell to amplify her voice and declared! "SILENCE!" So loudly that all stopped to look at her. "That's better," Twilight said with a sigh. "Now will everypony kindly stop with this nonsense? You can both like and dislike parts of the journal. But you are talking about actual ponies in actual life, their lessons are intended not for you to discuss and argue like kids, but for you to learn from them. The journal is to promote friendship, not to undermine it."
Starlight came trotting up with a stern glare on her face. "I suggest you all listen to what Twilight has to say. Because she just so happens to be one of the ponies who wrote lessons in that journal. You wouldn't do this to A. K. Yearling if she were here, or Princess Celestia if she wrote a book."
"You're one to talk, you got a second chance you didn't deserve!" A member of the pro-Twilight group hissed at Starlight. "In fact, far as I'm concerned, you're just like Twilight before she got her wings. But unlike Twilight, you get away with bad behavior!"
Starlight flinched and recoiled in horror at the accusation! Painful memories of her many magical screw-ups came flooding back to her in an instant! She found herself at a loss for words!
Twilight quickly came to her pupil's defense. "I don't disclose the details of her punishments to the public. She's my student, and I make sure that when she does wrong, she's held accountable for it. But none of you have the right to judge her for her mistakes, when all of you have no doubt made similar ones," She said quite sternly, stomping a hoof down. "You don't have to like that she's living with me, but I won't have you insulting her to my face! The same goes for the rest of my friends, including my son, Spike! Whatever problems you have with them, be civil and polite about it! And don't go around acting like you're somehow better! The purpose of the journal was to teach friendship, and I'm starting to see that the moral was lost on ponies like you," In a calmer tone of voice, she then added. "You're giving other fans of the journal a bad name. Even those who might normally agree with you. So what do you all have to say for yourselves?"
The ponies reluctantly disbursed a moment later, none of them daring to say a word. Twilight, for her part, sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see and hear that, Starlight. I know not all fans are like those ponies. I just didn't think it was possible to interpret the journal so harshly, and to lose sight of what it was trying to teach."
"Well, cheer up," Starlight encouraged. "So a few ponies got the wrong idea. You can't help that. And didn't you learn from Rarity that you can't always please everypony?"
"True, true," Twilight considered. "I just hope my friends can be more civil in dealing with their critics. Shouting like that wasn't the best way to get my point across," Then she began to turn. "I'd better go check on the Cutie Mark Crusaders and make sure they haven't run into any of those nasty groups." In her mind she was hoping. "Maybe the students there will have learned something from the journal."
Twilight arrived at the front yard of the school to find that everything was as it should be. Compared to the scene near the cafe, there were no loud and bitter arguments, and no debates. All she could see, was a couple of interested colts and fillies huddling around the Cutie Mark Crusaders. But Twilight wasn't worried, she knew they'd learned their lesson about abusing their connection to her.
But then suddenly, she overheard what sounded like angry chatter coming from around back. Curious, the princess tiphoofed towards the source, finding a crudely drawn hop-scotch figure in the dirt. And there were Ruby Pinch and Dinky Doo, the two of them looking at each other with narrowed eyes and frowning faces.
"For the last time, my answer is no! I don't wanna play with you anymore!" Ruby Pinch hissed.
Dinky Doo replied. "Why not, Ruby?! You love playing hopskotch!"
"No, you do because you always win, Dinky!" Ruby remarked and turned her head. "Why can't we play something else for a change?! Something I actually have a chance at winning!"
"Oh come on, it's not my fault you're so bad at everything!" Dinky angrily commented to Ruby. "Mom always says you'll never get better at anything if you don't try."
Ruby retorted with. "Of course your mom would say that. Your mom's weird, always crashing into things and losing letters."
"Hey, don't you talk about my mom like that!" Dinky stomped her hoof down in protest!
Twilight decided it would be best to intervene before anypony said or did something they'd regret. "Hey, girls. Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear your little 'argument'," She apologized. "Might I suggest you take a breather? Perhaps read an entry or two from this journal? I'd recommend Rainbow Dash and Applejack's chapter on The Running of the Leaves, I think it might help."
"If it'll get you off our backs, sure," Ruby replied, and then said to Dinky. "Maybe later we can read the Rainbow Falls chapter, and you can tell me how your mom got drafted to be Rainbow Dash's replacement with her poor eyesight."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at how well she can see." Dinky chuckled, and she and Ruby went off together, a copy of the journal held up in Ruby's magic.
Twilight came back around to the front, only to come face to face with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom spoke up. "Just wanted to thank ya', personally, Twilight! Your friendship journal's gotten a ton of our classmates interested in our little club."
"Oh, is that so?" Twilight questioned.
Sweetie Belle nodded. "And thanks to Diamond Tiara's advice, our club is now like a business. We've got a ton of potential new clients lined up."
Scootaloo then added. "But your journal's really popular around here too. Ponies can't stop talking about you, and about your friends. They're all talking about who they think is the best. But of course, you know me, I'm in Camp Rainbow Dash one hundred percent!" She eagerly buzzed her wings in excitement.
"That's... lovely, I guess," Twilight commented, unsure of what else to say. "But you do know the purpose of the journal isn't supposed to be solely for marketing, right? It's supposed to be educational."
"So, who says it can't be a little of both?" Apple Bloom protested. "We're enjoyin' the free publicity, 'cause we know it ain't gonna last long. You and your friends should too. Trust me, in a couple of weeks, ponies'll forget all about the journal. And we'll go back to just bein' known as The Cutie Mark Crusaders. But until then, we're enjoyin' our fame."
"Besides, even Miss. Cheerilee is getting in on the publicity," Sweetie declared. "She's started using it in class as examples of what we can achieve if we strive to live by the virtues upheld in the Elements of Harmony."
"O..kay then," Twilight reluctantly replied. "Well, as long as you remember what the purpose of the journal is, I guess there's not a problem here." And with that, she left.
Twilight caught back up with Starlight on the path in the center of town, informing her about what she'd witnessed down at the school. "I just hope those foals actually learn something from our lessons. They're the ones most likely to learn by example. Young minds are especially vulnerable."
"Oh, they will! Give it time," Starlight encouraged Twilight. "I'm sure ponies all across Equestria will—" But then suddenly she and Twilight found their path blocked by a quartet of ponies! "Whoa!" Was all Starlight could bring herself to say.
The one on the left was a blueish-grey unicorn stallion with similar colored eyes. He had brown hair covered by a dark blue cap. Next was a unicorn mare with a dull-brownish coat, blue eyes, and a braided mane and tail in light shades of pink and blue. The third was an earth pony stallion who was the tallest of the group. His coat was grey in color and he had a wavy black mane, grayish-green eyes, and a red necklace. And finally, there was a unicorn stallion a light yellow in color, wearing a two shaded purple jacket. He had blue eyes hidden behind a pair of black glasses, and sported a neat, sea-green mane. All four ponies had copies of the friendship journal in their possession.
For a moment Twilight didn't say a word. She just looked at the ponies and tried to judge their intentions from the looks on their faces. Then she broke the silence as she reluctantly asked. "Uh, hello there! Can I... help you?"
"We're here all the way from Fillydelphia because we got copies of your friendship journal!" The blueish-grey unicorn stallion declared!
Twilight felt herself swelling up with pride! "Wow! How wonderful!" Convinced she'd made a difference in these ponies lives she decided to ask. "What was your favorite friendship—"
"Will you sign them for us?!" The stallion asked, as all four copies of the friendship journal were presented to Twilight!
Not one to turn down eager fans, Twilight agreed without hesitation. Using her magic to hold a quill and sign her signature in each journal. "So, what did you think of the lessons?" She asked the ponies. "Any lessons that resonated with you? Maybe a favorite lesson you'd like to share?"
But the stallion just laughed. "Oh, we haven't read them. These are keepsakes. So we gotta keep them in mint condition, know what I'm saying?" He proceeded to cover his journal in a special case intended for preservation. And the other ponies did the same as he laughed. "Ha-ha."
"Wow, that was so worth the trip!" The light brown coated unicorn mare exclaimed! And then she and the other ponies in the group departed.
Twilight, for her part, just sighed and hung her head. "Autograph hounds. Just what I didn't need to see. The journals aren't like Daring Do books or Power Ponies comics. They're not supposed to be collectors items. I'm starting to wonder if I didn't advertise the journals properly or something."
Twilight soon found herself sulking in the same cafe where she'd overheard ponies debating the contents of the journal not even half a day ago. Already it seemed like so many of the cafe patrons were consumed by gossip surrounding the journal. Babbling on and on about things they'd overheard and talking about who they felt was truly "the best".
The princess sighed, slumping her head down onto a table as she muttered in defeat. "It feels like everypony in Equestria is missing the 'friendship' part of the 'friendship' journals. Maybe it was wrong to put so much content out there for ponies to consume and call it a 'journal'."
Just then, a loud swoosh broke the alicorn out of her downtrodden state. She looked up, and nearly fell backwards in surprise at what she saw!
There was Rainbow Dash, zipping past at a frantic speed! She was clearly being pursued by what seemed like a ton of pegasi old and young alike! All of them chanting things like: "Tell us about your Sonic Rainboom! Are the rumors true?!" and "What do you mean Daring Do is real?! Isn't she a made up character?!", or even "You're a Wonderbolt now! Can you tell us what Spitfire's embarrassing nickname is?!"
Rainbow Dash shouted back! "For the last time, stop asking me all these questions! Go bother somepony else! I gotta get back to work, chasing those storm clouds away before they band together!"
Twilight immediately flew up to her friend's rescue. "What is going on here?! Why are you all nagging my friend when she has more important things to do?!" She demanded.
"We wanna hear more about her awesome exploits that she wrote in the journal!" Ponies eagerly replied! "Rainbow Dash learns the best lessons, because she's the only one who goes on adventures or gets to do cool things!"
"We've all done incredible things," Twilight retorted. "And if you all read the journals in their entirety, you'd know that," Then, raising up a wing she told the gathered crowd. "I get it. You're all very impressed with Rainbow Dash and you wanna show your appreciation. But this is beyond what's appropriate, bugging my friend when all she wants to do is her job."
The crowd reluctantly dispersed a moment later to varying curses and groans of frustration. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief, wiping some sweat from her brows. "Thanks, Twilight, you're a life saver!" She declared, all but hugging the alicorn. "I'm used to mega fans, but nothing like this! Not even my parents were this obsessed."
"You didn't happen to mention the whole story behind your adventures with Daring Do, did you?" Twilight asked the cyan speedster, looking all around to be sure the coast was clear. "If you gave away her secret identity in the journals, we could be in big trouble with A. K. Yearling."
Rainbow shook her head. "Have a little faith in me, Twilight. Of course I wouldn't expose the truth about Daring Do. All ponies know is, I met her and we went on adventures together, during which I learned lessons about friendship," She then pondered. "I wonder if Quibble Pants got a copy of the journal."
"Let's hope not. Knowing him, he'd come here to talk at length about what he thought about the lessons," Twilight chuckled, and changed the subject. "Don't you have some storm clouds that need to be chased away?"
"Oh my gosh! I totally forget!" Rainbow exclaimed and zoomed off! "Oh please, don't let them have joined together!"
When Twilight landed back on the ground a short time later, she was surprised to see Starlight picking a pony up with her magic and scolding. "I can't believe you! Fluttershy's one of my friends, and here you are, pestering her for no good reason!"
"I just wanted to ask why she doesn't wanna take part in Nightmare Night festivities, not even a party," The pony replied. "If she can be friends with someone as crazy and chaotic as Discord, why should something like Nightmare Night be something she doesn't like? It doesn't make sense."
"I just wanna know how she got that sanctuary up and running without any help from the 'experts'," A random pony from a gathered crowd shouted. "Pinkie Pie says that Hard Hat and the others were being stuck up jerks. But what does she know? She's a party pony, not a construction worker. She only met Hard Hat once."
"And speaking of Pinkie Pie," A third pony chimed in. "What's the deal with her and Applejack?! Are they related or not?! You can't just leave it at 'Nopony knows'. There's gotta be some kind of test you can run to prove or disprove a connection!"
"Why are you all doing this to my friends?" Twilight protested to the ponies, glaring at them. "Does it really matter if Pinkie Pie is related to Applejack when the connection is already so faint as it is? Fourth cousins twice removed is as faint as you can get before you can't say there's much of a connection. And if Fluttershy doesn't want to participate in Nightmare Night-"
But Fluttershy cleared her throat and spoke up. "Thank you, Twilight, Starlight, but I'm more than capable of standing up for myself. I took assertiveness lessons for a reason," Looking her critics firmly in the face, the pegasus then declared. "I gave it a try and decided it was not for me. There's nothing wrong with that. I didn't say I wasn't going to be involved in the holiday at all, or pretend it didn't exist. It's true I used to be scared of Nightmare Night, but I'm willing to bet each of you have things you were scared of once upon a time that you wouldn't want others to find out about. Yet you don't hear me judging you for it, do you?"
An uncomfortable silence fell over the crowd, everypony had been intimidated into silence.
Fluttershy just went on to say. "Now you're quite welcome to disagree with my decision, and if you want to take part in Nightmare Night, I'm not gonna stop you. My friends understand and respect my decision, as I respect their decision to enjoy Nightmare Night each year. So unless anypony has something else they want to ask me about, I'll be leaving." And she trotted off with a straight look on her face.
"Wow," The glasses wearing stallion from earlier declared. "She's way different from the Fluttershy in the book. It's like she suddenly grew a spine."
Twilight just sighed unhappily and thought. "Which you'd know about if you read all of her entries more thoroughly."
On her way to Carousel Boutique to check up on Rarity, Twilight happened to stop by Sugarcube Corner. She was shocked to see a line stretching all the way out in the door and down the street! Did everypony suddenly want treats?
Twilight soon got her answer, for she was tackled by a pink blur! "Twilight, this is going horribly wrong!" Pinkie frantically exclaimed, panting heavily! "Sugarcube Corner's packed to capacity, because everypony wants me to plan parties for them!"
"I thought that's what you did for a living, Pinkie?" Twilight questioned. "You plan parties everyday."
"Yes, because I have time to plan them!" Pinkie explained! "I have time to gather information and find out who likes what and who to invite and not to invite! But now I'm so booked, I'm planning multiple parties for the same day at the same time! And what's worse, nopony actually to buy anything from Sugarcube Corner and support the Cakes, they just wanna see me! It's getting so bad that Pound and Pumpkin Cake can't take a nap because of all the noise!"
Twilight looked back towards the huge line that had formed. Was it her imagination, or did it seem to have suddenly gotten longer? "Have you thought about shifting the load to other party ponies, or maybe cancelling some parties?" She suggested to Pinkie.
"I've tried, but I don't know how to get in touch with Cheese Sandwich, and these ponies aren't taking no for an answer!" Pinkie protested. "i don't know what to do, Twilight! You've gotta help me!"
But there was no need for the princess to take any action, for at that moment Mrs. Cake loudly cried out! "I'm sorry, everypony, but Pinkie Pie is on an official party planning break! And Sugarcube Corner is now closed to all non-paying customers!" Much of the crowd scattered in a heartbeat, only a few stragglers hung around.
Pinkie gulped. She knew that Mrs. Cake was not usually a pony to raise her voice. "Ooh boy, sounds like Mrs. Cake is super peeved! Excuse my language," The party pony declared. "I'd better make sure she's alright. Publishing those journals is starting to look like a bad idea."
Now more concerned than she had been earlier in the day, Twilight frantically rushed to Carousel Boutique! She had yet to see either Rarity or Applejack, and she could only hope that they were not suffering the same fate as the rest of her friends (though she did find it a bit odd that no one had yet said a thing about Starlight. But then again, it seemed like a lot of ponies hadn't read the journals all the way through, and Starlight's entries came late into them).
Starlight was waiting for Twilight at the boutique entrance. "I've tried knocking and ringing the door bell," She informed Twilight. "But Rarity won't answer. I think she's holed up in her workshop for whatever reason."
Twilight gulped. "Oh no! Don't tell the journal entries are affecting her too."
"I'm almost too afraid to find out," Starlight said with a nervous laugh. "But I guess we'll have to find out, whether we like it or not."
The two ponies made their way up to Rarity's workshop, the entire boutique was ominously silent, as if it were completely unoccupied. But that couldn't be the case.
Pushing open the door to Rarity's workshop, Twilight nervously called. "Rarity, are you alright?" Then she let out a yelp as something flew past her head and impacted the wall behind her with a smash!
Rarity was clearly present, and the sound of the sewing machine whirring away indicated the fashionista was hard at work on something. But that something was, Twilight had no idea. "What are you doing?" She asked her friend.
Rarity spun around, revealing that she was not even wearing her ruby red sewing glasses that she wore whenever she made something. Her eyes were shrunken, her mane was frazzled, and her make-up was clearly running as could be evidenced by the grey streaks streaming down her face. "Why, I'm creating a gown, darling!" She loudly proclaimed!
"For what?" Twilight asked.
Rarity only replied. "I don't know! I'm stress-sewing!" She forced the fabric through the sewing machine amidst heavy sounds of frustration.
"Stress-sewing?" Starlight questioned.
Rarity nodded. "I've got so many orders from the 'Rarity Forever' fan club, I've had to funnel them through Canterlot Carousel and Rarity For You just to keep up," She explained. "Oh, my poor hooves have never worked this hard before. And poor Sassy and Coco, I hate to dump so much on them on such short notice."
"Why are you taking on so many orders, Rarity?" Starlight inquired of her fashion loving friend. "Surely, these fans of yours can wait if you're backed up on more important projects."
But Rarity only hugged one of her gawdy dresses tightly and proclaimed! "And go out of business?! I think not! Without their support, my detractors would have me forced to close up shop for good!" She opened a blindfold to reveal a huge group of ponies with anti-Rarity signs standing in front of the boutique, and they were arguing with ponies that had pro-Rarity stands.
"Relax, Rarity," Twilight advised with a smile. "I'm sure if I just go out there and talk to those ponies, they'll see that they're being unreasonable."
But at that very moment the door opened again, Twilight letting out a yelp as she was pressed up between the door and the wall, as Applejack came bursting in! She looked quite exhausted, even her mane and tail seemed to have gone a considerable amount of time without care! "I need a hundred blankets, and I need 'em now!" She panted, and then apologized. "Sorry, Twilight."
"Right away, Applejack! This is just what I needed to break away from all these dress orders!" Rarity declared, setting to work on her sewing machine.
Applejack, however, just opted to take some rolls of fabric down from a nearby shelf. "I don't need anythin' fancy, just a few hooffuls of blankets'll do."
Having managed to peel herself away from the door, Twilight asked her farm friend. "What's the matter, Applejack?"
Applejack panted and confessed. "I'm popular, Twilight! I'm popular, and I don't like it one bit! This group callin' 'emselves 'The Sweet Apple Acres Admirers' showed up and now they're askin' me 'bout Rara, or you, or any other celebrity pony I happen to know. Or they just wanna know 'bout the time I went missin' after the rodeo in Canterlot and ended up in Dodge Junction. Heck, they're even askin' my brother 'bout the time he posed as Cousin Orchard Blossom to compete in the Sisterhooves Social with Apple Bloom."
"And nopony wants to hear about any of your stories or lessons?" Starlight concluded.
"Nope, they all think I'm a one trick pony who only cares about family and apples," Applejack complained. "And the worst part is, I can't get 'em to leave! And neither can the rest of my family!" And then she departed the boutique, leaving Twilight to feel as if she'd just had her heart crushed into a million tiny pieces.
Disappointed and downtrodden at the damage her decision had done, the princess of friendship did the only thing she felt was sensible in this situation and retreated back to her castle. She was starting to regret ever publishing those journal copies and compiling all those friendship reports. It seemed like all it did was cause more problems than it might have fixed.
But right as she approached the steps of the castle, she was shocked to find a mob of angry ponies had already gathered! Spike was currently fending them off! "For the last time: Yes, I am adopted. Yes, Twilight legally filed the paperwork to do so. Yes, Starlight's living with us. Yes, technically she's no longer Twilight's student. Now will you all stop complaining that we're all one and the same? We're not the same at all!"
"Oh no, not you too, Spike!" Twilight frantically exclaimed, rushing up to the little dragon.
"I'm afraid so, Twilight," Spike sighed. "At first it wasn't so bad. The ponies who showed up here were nice and civil, they just wanted to know if you were around to sign their journals. But then more ponies showed up and it started spilling over into a discussion about what my role is, and why we ever let Starlight into our lives."
"And how long have you been dealing with this without me?" Twilight asked Spike.
"Probably almost since you left the castle this morning," Spike concluded. "I haven't been able to get a moment's rest, let alone tend to the fan mail."
Twilight almost gasped upon hearing that! "Fan mail?! You mean there are ponies who still like us?!"
"Yup! They're writing in from all over Equestria!" Spike boasted! "And some of 'em even made the trip to Ponyville just to see you!"
But Twilight just groaned. "Normally I'd be all for it. But I'm not in a good mood today, I've been dealing with crazy mega fans and fan clubs, and it's turning into one big mess!" She scooped Spike up and rushed through the doors of her castle to seek comfort inside!
Outside, the crowd of ponies shook their heads in confusion. Just what had gotten into the princess of friendship?
Twilight, Spike, and an exhausted Starlight (who arrived at the castle via teleportation) were not alone for very long before there came a knock at the castle doors.
Twilight opened it and saw Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity all looking upset and worn out. Behind them, it was possible to hear varying shouts of joy and frustration from the crowd.
Once inside, it didn't take long for the five ponies to all start arguing and complaining. Applejack was the first to speak up. "I just don't understand it, why are they doin' this to me?! I don't just wanna be know for my ties to whatever celebrity they care about," The farm pony snorted. "And they're makin' it impossible for my family to do our chores! They're gonna drive us out of business!"
"They've sucked all the joy out of party planning!" Pinkie complained. "Something I didn't think was even possible until now. And what's even worse is that they've made the Cakes mad, I've never seen Mr. and Mrs. Cake so worked up before."
"You think you have it bad?" Rainbow bitterly remarked. "Now I can't even do my job or go five inches without somepony telling me how awesome I am, or asking me for dirt on the Wonderbolts. It doesn't matter how many times I tell them no," Then she looked across to Rarity, who was wearing a rather tacky and hastily thrown together outfit that consisted of a long, flowing dress, and a stuffy hat. "Uh, Rarity, what are you wearing?" She asked the fashionista.
"My emotions, darling! Stress couture!" Rarity loudly replied. "If I'm going to be a public spectacle, I might as well look the part."
With a glare in her eyes, Fluttershy complained. "Ponies keep hounding me, and I don't know what I'm gonna do if I have I to explain myself one, more, time!" She then noticed Rarity floating some measuring tape around her neck, and the pegasus turned and glared at her fashion loving friend.
"I was lucky to even get in here. It seems like my very presence puts ponies on edge now," Starlight remarked with a frown. "And just when I felt like I was finally fitting in around here."
"This is all my fault," Twilight sorrowfully declared, hanging her head and letting out a long sigh. "I got the 'bright idea' to gather up all those friendship lessons and publish them in the journal, then make copies of it. I thought it was a good idea, a chance to leave a lasting impact on Equestria for generations to come. But it looks like it was all a mistake. Ponies don't seem to care about the friendship lessons, they just wanna use the book for their own pursuits."
"Twilight..." Spike began, reaching a claw out to her.
Twilight just shook her head, looking out a castle window at the huge crowd that continued to linger. Various signs, posters, and even balloons decorated the landscape. All the while, ponies could be heard bickering back and forth, shouting all sorts of things at each other.
"What are we gonna do, Twilight?" Starlight asked with concern. "We can't all stay in this castle forever."
"But if we step one hoof outside, those crazed fans will all but tear us to shreds!" Rarity complained. "They'll either ask us a ton of questions, or ask us to sign whatever random merchandise they've acquired!"
"If only there was some way to get 'em to leave." Applejack pondered.
"What do you think, Spike? You're always the one to come up with ideas in a tight spot like this," Twilight suggested, turning to where she expected to see the baby dragon. But he wasn't there, it was like he had vanished. "Spike?" She called. There was no reply. Twilight began to worry! "Has anypony seen Spike?!" She asked with alarm!
A tense silence fell over the room as Starlight replied. "No. I thought he was with you."
The seven ponies frantically searched the entire castle from top to bottom, searching for any sign of Spike. But there was not a trace to be found, it was like he had vanished into thin air!
Rarity let out a gasp and nearly fainted! "He must've gone out to face the crowds on his own, just like you said he did at the royal summit!"
"Oh no!" Twilight exclaimed with alarm, her eyes widening! "Why would he do such a thing?!"
Just then, there came a frantic knock at the castle door! "Oh, what now?!" Twilight complained. "Like it wasn't bad enough being surrounded by mega fans and losing track of Spike!"
But a familiar voice called out. "Twilight, open up, quickly!"
Twilight's heart skipped a beat, there was no mistaking who that voice belonged to! Without a second thought, she rushed straight to the castle door and opened it.
Spike strolled in, but he wasn't alone. Several familiar faces followed him, including: Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, The Cakes, Cheerilee, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Lyra, Bon Bon, Octavia, Vinyl Scratch, and tons of school colts and fillies.
"I couldn't let you give up on your dream so easily, Twilight!" Spike firmly and proudly declared. "The Twilight Sparkle I know wouldn't throw in the towel just because someponies got the wrong idea about your friendship journals. That's why I knew I had to go out there, and find ponies who'd actually read them in their entirety."
"But, how did you manage to get past the crowd?" Fluttershy asked the dragon.
Spike smiled. "Easy, I snuck out through a back window. I just couldn't do it on the way back since not everypony is small enough to fit through a window."
"All of you learned something from the friendship journal?" Twilight reluctantly asked, hoping beyond hope that Spike was being truthful and hadn't just been making up something to cheer her up.
"Eeyup, we sure did." Big Macintosh nodded.
"If only I'd have heard these lessons sooner," Diamond Tiara happily declared. "I might have stood up to my mother so much sooner than I did."
"And we wouldn't have that nasty falling out." Silver Spoon added with a smile.
Lyra hugged Bon Bon tightly as she declared. "We were having a hard time trusting each other, even after you broke up our argument the other day."
"But reading your friendship journal, we came to understand that trust and honesty are important virtues for any friendship," Bon Bon added. "And that sometimes, keeping a secret does more harm than good."
Octavia smiled. "Take it from a pony who's been where you seven are now, you can't let all the negative publicity detract from the positive publicity. You're always going to have fans who support you, and others who can't stand you. The important thing is not to let it get under your skin."
Cheerilee added. "I myself learned more than I ever imagined learning through those journals, and the same holds true for a lot of my students. I hope you'll make another edition someday, when you've got even more lessons to write down and record."
"And as long as you're doing that-" Ruby Pinch began.
"-It doesn't matter if someponies miss the point of the journal," Dinky Doo added. "My mother always says: Focus on the positive differences, and try not to worry too much about the negative differences."
With tears of liquid pride welling up inside her, Twilight pulled Spike close and gave him a big wing hug! "Oh Spike, what would I do without you?!" She proudly told the little dragon.
Spike blushed. "Aw shucks, it was nothing, really. But would you mind letting go? You're kind of crushing me."
"Oh, right. Sorry about that." Twilight chuckled and ended the hug. Now it was her turn to blush.
"But what about all those ponies out there? They're not gonna go away anytime soon." Applejack spoke up.
Twilight sighed and took a deep breath. "There's only one thing we can do. Go out there and face them head on. We'll have to be civil and polite, and do our best not to let them get to us," And she then added. "There's no reason why we need to punish all our fans for the actions of the most vocal members. We don't know for sure that everypony thinks like them."
So the seven ponies (along with Spike) reluctantly trotted out of the castle, prepared to face down the hecklers and sign autographs or whatever other sort of merchandise that would be presented to them.
But when they got out there, the group was surprised to find that the crowd had dispersed entirely. Whereas just a short time ago it had been so loud you could barely hear yourself think, now there was not a sound to be heard.
"Where is everypony?" Pinkie wondered aloud.
As if to answer the party pony's question, a quartet of ponies came trotting up. Twilight recognizing them at once as the collectors from Fillydelphia who'd asked her to sign their copies of the journals. "They got tired of waiting for you to come out and went away." The blueish-grey unicorn stallion explained.
"And we wanted you to know, we're not like them," The dull-brown coated unicorn mare added with a nod. "We finally got around to reading those journals because we each reserved an extra copy to keep for ourselves."
The tall, grayish earth pony chimed in. "We didn't like all of the entries, there were some we thought could be done better. But we just wanted to let you know, we think the journals were a wonderful product. Truly a one of a kind."
Twilight beamed with pride upon hearing this! "Thank you so much! You have no idea how glad I am to hear that."
Then the yellow coated unicorn stallion finished. "We'll be sure to tell all our friends about the journals, and the lessons we learned from them. But we also understand you have your own lives and want to be left in peace."
"So if you'll excuse us, we'll be heading back to Fillydelphia now. But we hope to see you all again someday," The blueish-grey unicorn stallion declared and then turned to his friends. "Come on, everypony, let's go home." And they did just that.
"Well, today was certainly an 'adventure' I'll never forget." Rainbow Dash commented.
"You think things will go back to normal before long?" Starlight asked, hopefully.
Twilight nodded. "And even if they don't, at least we can all rest comfortably knowing we've made a difference in so many ponies lives."
In the center of Ponyville, Spike was anxiously supervising preparations for an important ceremony. Dragon Lord (or Dragon Lady if you wanted to be technically correct) Ember was to arrive in Ponyville that day, and the little dragon wanted to make sure everything was as it should be for her arrival.
Twilight and Starlight were pitching in as well, as were several other ponies. All the while, Spike was barking out orders. "Is the banner even? Are the flowers in place? By which I mean 'completely out of the line of view.' I'm pretty sure other dragons don't like flowers the last time I checked. And what about the Ceremonial Dragon Fire Flame of Friendship? Is it still flaming? Come on, help a dragon out here!"
Not far from town hall, a massive blue flame roared and crackled atop a podium. All the while, banners and decorations surrounded the immediate area.
"Spike, everything looks great!" Twilight commented to the little dragon. "You're getting yourself worked up for no reason. And if anyone knows what that feels like, it's me. Just relax, everything's going to be fine."
Spike was anything but convinced. "Oh I have lots of reasons to be worried. In fact, I wrote them down." He pulled out a small scroll to emphasize his point.
Starlight came trotting over with a sigh. "You've been hanging around Twilight for too long, Spike. She's rubbed off on you."
Twilight gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, I did more or less hatch him and raise him. He was bound to pick up on my habits sooner or later."
"Ehm, I'm still talking," Spike cleared his throat, calling attention to himself. "Here are my reasons: Reason number one – I invited Dragon Lord Ember to Ponyville today. Reason two – the Dragon Lord is a dragon. Reason three – she's coming here to learn more about friendship."
"We know, Spike," Twilight replied, trying not to sound annoyed. "You told us already about Ember's letters, how the dragons are trying to be friends but their competitive nature keeps causing fights."
"Which brings me to to reason number four," Spike continued. "The Dragon Lord wants my advice, and as the new official Equestrian friendship ambassador to the dragons, I can't let her down. I owe it to her to make sure everything runs smoothly."
Twilight then spoke up. "I know you feel a lot of pressure, my son. But you've got this, Spike! Everything will be okay."
"I'm sure it will but," Spike began, before he started to trail off. "I... I just want things to be perfect," Then he suddenly felt two quick taps on his shoulder. The dragon spun around and nearly jumped back in surprise! For staring back at him, was an insect like creature with a bright green coat, orange antlers, purple wings, and red eyes that glistened in the sunlight! He recognized who it was at once, the new leader of the changelings! "Thorax! You're in Ponyville!" He gasped!
"Of course I am, silly!" Thorax smiled as he pulled Spike close. "You invited me. And I'm not one to back out of an invitation. Hey, Twilight! Hey, Starlight! Good to see you again."
Twilight and Starlight both waved back to Thorax as they nervously greeted. "Hey!" And. "Hello!"
Thorax then took a look at his surroundings, and his eyes lit up like stars in the night sky! He'd never seen so many beautiful things before. "Oooh! I can't believe you did all just this for me!" He happily declared to Spike. "Great banner! Love the stage! Say, what's this flame thingy? Oh, it's so pretty!" After rushing around for a bit, Thorax found himself drawn to the huge, blue flame on a podium. And he gazed longingly into it.
"You invited Thorax over to Ponyville on the same day as Ember?!" Twilight whispered to Spike, hoping beyond hope that she was wrong.
"Apparently." Spike whispered back with a gulp.
Starlight couldn't help but comment. "Uh-oh, that doesn't seem like a good idea. How are you gonna entertain them both?"
"I have no idea," Spike whimpered. "Oh, what have I gotten myself into this time?!"
While Thorax was occupying himself with the various "attractions" in the center of town, Spike was piecing together his mistake. "How could I have forgotten?! Thorax wrote and said he needed to talk, and I just told him to come over. I didn't realize it was the same day I invited Ember! What am I gonna do?!
"Well, who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll like each other." Starlight suggested.
"Probably not," Spike protested. "Ember is tough and self-assured and intimidating. And Thorax is..."
Thorax came walking up to Spike and hugged him tightly as he happily exclaimed! "Spike, I'm so glad you invited me! You are one of my closest, nicest, most caring, most understanding friends ever! Oh, what would I ever do without you?! Ooh! Is that ice in the shape of a dragon? How nice!" He flew off to get a better look at the sculpture.
"Okay, I see your point," Starlight reluctantly admitted to Spike. "Thorax is way too nice. Ember's too pushy. They're not going to get along very well."
"Or worse – they'll hate each other!" Spike gasped in horror! "And if the two of them don't get along, they'll probably get into a fight! And if they get into a fight..." He gulped. "I could be responsible for starting a war that could ruin all of Equestria as we know it!" Images started to flash in his mind of changelings and dragons locked in battle, punching and kicking as the land around them became consumed by fire! He began to hyperventilate.
Drawing on her own experiences with fear induced panic, Twilight calmly told Spike. "Calm down, I'm sure that won't happen. I won't allow it. Now pull it together, and let's try to think of a way out of this."
"Might wanna keep Thorax occupied so he doesn't suspect anything," Starlight added. "Even a nice guy like him's gonna catch on eventually. And it'll look pretty suspicious if you keep avoiding him."
Spike managed to take a few deep breaths and calm his nerves. In doing so, he felt a little bit better about the situation. The dragon then approached Thorax and greeted. "So, Thorax... everything good with you?"
Thorax sighed as the changeling king confessed. "Well, honestly, no. Not really. I mean, I have indigestion. Not sure if it's just the new diet, or stress."
As Thorax was speaking at length, Spike happened to glance up and saw the outline of Ember appear in the distance! But she was closing in fast, and that was enough to make the little dragon panic! Without even thinking he exclaimed! "No!"
Thorax didn't suspect a thing. "You're right, it's probably both," He replied with an unhappy sigh. "And it might be affecting my sleeping, too. Which isn't a good thing when you're supposed to be leader of an entire hive."
Twilight, meanwhile, noticed the fast approaching figure of Ember. And she too was becoming worried! "Uh-oh! Not good!" She whimpered, while in her mind she was thinking. "There's gotta be a way to get Thorax out of here before Ember shows up!"
Fortunately, it seemed that Spike already had an idea in mind. "Sounds like you really need to unwind, Thorax," He commented, and then immediately suggested. "How about a trip to the castle? You didn't get a chance to see every nook and cranny last time, you won't believe how many broom closets and secret hideouts there are. It's easy to get lost."
"Which is why you'll need somepony who knows the castle like the back of her hoof!" Twilight declared as she came trotting up to Thorax. "And who better to do so than the very Princess of Friendship herself?!"
"But what about Spike, I came here to talk to him." Thorax protested.
Twilight groaned, as she mentally thought. "Why can't you just talk to someone else? You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"You go on ahead, spend some time with Twilight," Spike encouraged to his guest. "I've uh... gotta go and pick up some ice cream. Yeah, that's it! I ordered ice cream for our special visit!"
Thorax smiled. "Oh, Spike, you're such a good friend. You really didn't have to do that just for me. But I guess I can't say no to your hospitality."
"Yeah, you can't," Twilight laughed rather nervously. "Now if you wouldn't mind coming along?" She trotted off with Thorax a moment later, giving Spike a wink to reassure him that she would keep an eye on the changeling and help to keep him out of Ember's sight.
Just seconds after Twilight and Thorax left, Ember descended with a loud whoosh, her cyan scales standing out boldly in the sunlight.
Music began to play, as Spike cleared his throat and approached the dragon. "Dragon Lord Ember, as the official Equestrian friendship ambassador for the Dragon Lands and for Ponyville, I, Spike of Ponyville, welcome you to... uh, Ponyville," Under his breath he muttered. "Knew I should've worked on that speech more." Luckily, Ember didn't notice.
"Okay, thanks," Ember greeted, as Spike hugged her. "Right. The hug thing. Still takes some getting used to," Spike just laughed, as Ember went on to comment. "Wow, nice place you've got here. So many beautiful colors. Out in the dragon lands, we certainly don't have stuff like this. It's all just grays from rocks, or the color of ash," She proceeded to sniff the air and let out a sneeze from the pollen, as several ponies gasped, seeing her torch several of the decorations. "Whoops, sorry about that," She apologized. But the ponies just screamed and ran off. "I thought Ponyville was more welcoming than this. I'm harmless, really." The dragon lord commented with a snort.
"It's not everyday you see a fire breathing dragon do stuff like set fire to colorful banners," Spike commented. "It's okay though, ponies will get used to you eventually. It took a while before I felt like everypony didn't live in fear of me. Allergy season was a big pain though."
"You've really outdone yourself with these festivities," Ember replied to Spike, before she spotted Starlight out of the corner of her red eyes. But from afar she thought the pony looked like Twilight. "Hey, Twilight! Good to see you!" She called out.
Starlight turned towards Ember. "Sorry, you have me confused. I'm Starlight. Starlight Glimmer to be precise. Nice to meet you, Ember."
Ember quickly realized her mistake and blushed. "Oh, sorry. I remember Twilight mentioning something about having a student in one of her letters. I'm really gonna have to get used to these pony names. Lots of "-lights" and shiny things for some reason," Then she asked. "So, where's Twilight then? I expected her to be here."
"Oh, she's in her castle," Starlight answered without even thinking. And then she immediately realized her mistake. "And why did I just say that?!"
Spike glared harshly at Starlight for the slip-up, but Ember took no notice. All she'd heard was that Twilight was in her castle, meaning she wasn't here. "Oh I see, she must've mentioned that in the letter. I knew I was forgetting something. I hope she doesn't mind if I pay her a visit. Part of friendship is saying 'hi' to your friends, right?"
Spike gulped. He knew that if Ember went to the castle now, she'd be sure to run into Thorax, and that was the last thing he wanted. But he was at a loss as to how to convey to Ember that she shouldn't go to the castle. "Um... a-actually, Twilight's... um... busy."
"Busy entertaining guests," Starlight hastily added, trying to play along. "T-that's why she sent me here to greet you in her place."
But Ember wasn't satisfied with the response. She had come to Ponyville specifically to have an audience with the princess (and Spike). "Well whoever her guests are, they're just going to have to come back some other time! I'm here on official dragon lord business!" She impatiently snorted.
"Can't you just wait a few minutes, please?!" Spike urged. "Twilight's guest is very important, and doesn't like to be disturbed."
Ember huffed in response. "More important than me?! I'm the lord of all dragons for crying out loud! I won the Gauntlet of Fire! And princess or not, Twilight can't keep me waiting! Besides, I though the point of this visit was to learn about 'friendship'. I don't see how I can learn that by standing around here, doing nothing."
For a minute, Spike didn't answer Ember. He was too busy stuttering and muttering something to himself.
"Well, are you coming or not?" Ember impatiently asked. "I could go to her castle with or without you. It's your choice."
"That won't be necessary," Spike protested, walking up to Ember. "Come on, I'll take you to the castle. Just bear in mind, Twilight might be not be able to come and see you right away."
"I'll wait all day if I have to," Ember declared, folding her shoulders across her chest. "I'm not leaving until I have a chat with Twilight and have my questions answered."
Starlight couldn't help but laugh as she observed Ember flying off. "Ah, I think I like her already," She giggled. "You sure you too don't have something going on?"
"For the last time, she's not my girlfriend!" Spike angrily blurted out to Starlight! "Now are you gonna help me keep her under control or not?"
"Can't you take a joke?" Starlight teased, but still followed Spike. Along the way, she decided to ask the little dragon. "So, what's your plan, exactly?"
Spike shook his head. "Haven't had time to think of one. For now, I just have to keep Ember and Thorax apart until I can get one or the other to leave."
"Doesn't sound like much of a plan to me." Starlight commented.
"Well if you've got a better one, I'd sure love to hear it!" Spike snapped at the unicorn. Starlight didn't answer. "That's what I thought," The dragon replied, then apologized. "Sorry for the yell, but you're getting on my nerves."
"Hey, it's what big sisters do," Starlight sheepishly replied. "But fine, I'll go along with your little scheme for now. I just hope you know what you're doing."
Spike rushed ahead to the castle, hoping that he wouldn't find any trace of Thorax or Twilight in the main hallway as he opened the front door. He glanced around, and saw to his relief that such was the case. "Twilight must be keeping Thorax busy in the library." He realized, but didn't dare to say it out loud. Still, he declared with a sigh of relief. "Good. They're not here."
"What was that, Spike? Were you talking to yourself?" Ember asked, as she approached the front door.
Realizing his mistake, Spike quickly answered to Ember. "Uh, I... I said, 'It's all clean in here!' Twilight must've known you were coming and tidied up," Then he immediately asked his guest. "Uh, you must be hungry from your travels, Ember."
Ember nodded, rubbing her stomach. "A long fly does take a lot out of you. I'm famished!"
"Awesome! Now's my chance to stall for time!" Spike realized, and in a saluting pose he said to Ember. "Please, I'd love to present you with an official friendship welcome banquet. If you'll kindly step this way."
Ember and Starlight followed Spike to the castle dining room, Spike opting to quickly grab some fruit and place it into a crystal bowl for Ember to enjoy.
But Starlight and Spike were surprised (and a bit disturbed) to see Ember instead opt for the crystal bowl. She tore into it with a series of loud crunches, and between bites she commented. "So this is something friends do, right? Hm, I could get used to this."
"A-actually, that's not food." Starlight corrected.
But Spike whispered to the unicorn. "Dragons love gems, remember?"
"Okay," Starlight replied in a deadpan tone. "But you're telling Twilight what happened to her wall." She pointed a hoof to one of the dining room pillars, which Ember was currently chomping loudly away on.
Normally, Spike would be worried about anyone doing anything to the castle. But all he could think about was keeping Ember occupied. So he whispered to Starlight. "Just keep her here, okay? I've gotta check on Twilight and Thorax," Then he loudly called out to Ember (so as not to make the dragon lord suspect anything). "Okay, yeah!" With a laugh he added. "Enjoy all the, uh... crystal... things!"
"And where are you going?" Ember questioned, swallowing her bite. "I thought this was an official friendship banquet. And I was the guest of honor."
Spike nodded. "You are. I uh... just gotta use the little dragons' room! Be right back, 'kay?" And he sped away as fast as his little legs would let him.
If Ember was at all puzzled by Spike's abrupt exit, she didn't acknowledge it to Starlight. She just went back to munching on the crystal pillar, while Starlight was left to wonder how she was going to keep the dragon lord content.
Spike was right about Twilight, she was indeed in the library with Thorax, keeping him occupied. "So this is my comfy chair for fictional reads," She explained to the changeling king, groaning as she wiggled about and tried to get comfortable. Then she hopped down from the soft, lush red arm chair and approached one made of solid crystal as the princess explained. "And this is my studying chair because the hard back keeps me awake." To emphasize her point, she pressed her body up against the backside and tried to force a smile.
Just then, the library door opened and Spike came in. Thorax immediately dashed over to greet his friend! "Oh, Spike! I'm so glad you're here! I was starting to think you'd gotten lost or something," Then the changeling whispered to his dragon friend. "Between you and me, this castle visit is getting really weird really fast. Twilight really likes chairs apparently," He glanced over to Twilight, who was currently levitating three wooden chairs with a nervous smile plastered on her face. Then he turned back to Spike and asked him. "Oh, what happened to the ice cream?"
"The what?" Spike replied, before he remembered what he'd told Thorax earlier. "Oh, right! Uh, they ran out, terribly sorry."
"Oh, I see," Thorax briefly sighed. "Well, that's okay. I'm not really in the mood to eat with the indigestion and all."
Spike then looked at Thorax and told the changeling. "Um, I'm really sorry, but I gotta borrow Twilight quickly. Friendship emergency."
The little dragon dashed up to Twilight and grabbed her, yanking her away before she could do anything but scream! "Be right back!" He called, departing the library.
"Wait! We didn't get to talk yet!" Thorax shouted in protest, but it came too late for Spike to hear. He let out a defeated groan.
Spike pulled Twilight into the throne room, frantically explaining his dire situation to her! "Ember's here, at the castle!" He cried out.
Twilight nodded. "I saw you coming and had to distract Thorax by showing him chairs. Why did you bring Ember to the castle of all places, Spike? Why not anywhere else?"
"It was Starlight's fault, not mine!" Spike protested. "I didn't know what else to do! But Ember was asking for you, and Thorax wants to talk with me. We need to switch places! They might be getting suspicious."
Twilight shook her head. "Even if we do that, they'll still both be in the castle and might bump into each other. What we need to do is make both Thorax and Ember feel special and keep them apart for a few hours, until we can get one of them to go somewhere else."
"Why don't I do that with Thorax?" Spike suggested.
"And risk you getting lost?" Twilight protested. "Even I still lose my way around this huge castle sometimes. Besides, where will you take him where he won't attract attention?"
Spike gulped. "I... I hadn't thought of that."
"It's okay, we can do this," Twilight reassured Spike. "I'll go find Ember and see what she wants. You talk to Thorax and keep him occupied until we can decide who to take where."
But at that moment, Spike felt a tingling sensation on the tip of his scales! All of a sudden, they began to glow brightly, not unlike the way his whole body did when he was called by the dragon lord. This time was different though, he could feel it. "Dah! What's happening to me?! Feels like I'm on fire!" He cried out and began to whimper!
Twilight spun around, noticing that the map was glowing brightly! "I think it's the map, Spike!" She commented. "It's calling...you! It looks like you have to solve a friendship problem!"
"What?!" Spike gasped! "Why now?! Where does it want me to go?!"
"Seems like... Ponyville!" Twilight exclaimed in awe. "Oh, amazing! The map is really reaching out! This is a momentous occasion! My son, embarking on his first map mission!"
Spike didn't answer, he was too busy whimpering from the tingling sensation.
Twilight quickly realized her mistake. "Not a good time? I get it. Sorry. Now let's see whether we can pin down where in Ponyville the friendship problem is and how to sneak you out."
Just then, Starlight happened to peak into the room. "Is something wrong?! I heard a bunch of chattering and shouting. Ember's eaten all of Twilight's decorations, and—oh! Hey, Twilight!" With a nervous chuckle, the grayish-purple unicorn turned her attention towards the map. "Glowing map... and glowing scales," She commented with a gulp. "That's not good."
"I know! And the worst part is, it could be anywhere in Ponyville!" Spike protested. "This map picked a heck of a time to call me!"
"A...actually," Starlight gulped. "I think it's calling you to Twilight's castle. Look!" She pointed a hoof to the map symbol for Spike, a smaller version of his face. It was hovering directly over Twilight's castle, as though indicating that was where Spike was needed most.
"Wait a minute!" Spike realized in horror! "If you're here, and Twilight is... also here... then..." He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
He needn't have bothered, Twilight properly concluded. "No one's watching Thorax or Ember!" She then let out a gasp! "Oh no! You don't think..."
"Only one way to find out!" Spike firmly declared, dashing out of the throne room while praying. "Please don't let them have met! Please don't let them have met! Please don't let them have met!"
Alas, Spike's hopes were soon dashed. For as he rushed into the main hallway, what should his eyes behold but the very angry and narrowed eyes of both Ember and Thorax. The two leaders glared at each other harshly, as though locked into a tense staring contest and daring the other to blink. They grit their teeth and seemed ready to make a move at a moment's notice.
"I won't ask you again, you overgrown bug!" Ember snorted, a small flame escaping her nostrils. "I don't care what you're here for! Just don't get in the way of my meeting with Spike and the princess!"
"Fat chance!" Thorax retorted. "I came here to talk to Spike, and that's just what I'm going to do! So you better get out of my way!"
"No!" Ember protested with a shake of her head. "Spike invited me and prepared a banquet in my honor! I'm his guest!"
"But Spike wrote to me, and set up a festival just for me!" Thorax angrily remarked! "And I'm pretty sure he did all that before he invited you! But if you've got a problem with that I'll... I'll.... well I'll be very angry for sure, I know that much!"
"Oh, it's a fight you want is it?!" Ember asked, beating her chest with her claws! "Fine by me! You asked for it!"
Thorax backed up nervously, his teeth chattering as he pleaded. "Uh... c-couldn't we maybe settle this somewhere else, in some other way? We changelings are a peaceful race now, I-I don't want any trouble!"
"Well too bad, you just found it!" Ember roared! "We dragons never back down from a challenge!"
Thorax transformed into a fearsome bear and let out a huge roar, hoping to frighten Ember into ceasing her attack. It didn't work.
Fortunately, Spike rushed forward and threw up his claws to block the two leaders! "STOP!" He cried at the top of his lungs! "Please, don't fight because of me! I don't wanna be responsible for starting a war!"
"War?! What war?! What are you talking about?!" Ember questioned, before glaring at Thorax. "Is that changeling playing mind games with you?!"
"You're the one picking fights! I'm only doing what I must to defend myself!" Thorax retorted. "I detest violence!"
"Cut it out, both of you!" Spike interrupted with a groan. With a sigh, the little dragon then confessed. "There's been a misunderstanding. The both of you were invited here by me, because I made a mistake. I never intended to have you both come to Ponyville on the same day, let alone be in the same room. And yet, here we are, the perfect storm of screw-ups."
"And you two really should know better than to get into fights over silly arguments," Twilight spoke up with a shake of her head. "My castle is NOT a wrestling ring. So if you insist on fighting, at the least have the decency to take it outside, where it belongs. And for both your sakes, I suggest you reconsider. Spike has something he needs to confess. Isn't that right, my son?" Twilight proceeded to trot up to the little dragon and prod him ever so delicately with a hoof.
Spike gulped, swallowing a massive lump that formed in his throat. He looked back to Twilight and pleaded with her. "Do I have to?"
Twilight nodded. "You caused this mess, Spike. And you know I taught you that when you make a mess, you've got to clean it up. Go on, explain everything to your friends."
With a reluctant sigh, Spike looked rather nervously up towards Ember and Thorax, trying his best to look both leaders in the eye. "I'm sorry I lied to the both of you and kept you both in the dark about each other," To Ember he confessed. "I never planned on giving you a banquet, that was just so you wouldn't try to look for Twilight and run into Thorax," Then turning to the changeling king Spike added. "And Thorax, that festival was supposed to be for Ember, not you. I wrote to you and told you to come here, not realizing it was the same day I'd already invited Ember over. I had Twilight keep you busy so Ember wouldn't spot you."
"But why would you do all of this?" Ember wondered aloud.
"Yeah, I'm with her on this one," Thorax commented, finally turning back to his normal state. "Why go through all this trouble instead of just explaining it to us?"
"You know, I've been wondering the same thing myself." Starlight remarked.
Spike explained. "Well... just look at what you two were about to do to each other before I stepped in. You were about to fight each other. I thought for sure with your different personalities and styles of leadership, you'd never get along."
"Oh, I see!" Ember furiously snorted, turning her angry glare towards Spike! "You think just because I'm a dragon, I'm absolutely terrible at friendship and always love a challenge! Next I suppose you'll be telling me you never intended to make me lord of all dragons."
"No, it's not like that!" Spike insisted.
Thorax just angrily remarked. "So what, you think I'm a total pushover because I'm having leadership issues? I may not like starting fights, but I can sure finish them if I have to! I thought you understood me, Spike! After you stood up for me in the Crystal Empire."
"I get it now. I was wrong to think the way I did, and I'm sorry," Spike sincerely apologized, bowing down before the two leaders. "Please, you can take it out on me all you want later. But for right now, you're both here because of me, and the both of you could learn a lot from each other if you learned to look past your differences. Why don't you two sit down together and talk it out? You could even forge an alliance between the Dragon Empire and the Changeling Kingdom."
Ember and Thorax didn't respond, they both looked at Spike as if they thought he was crazy.
Spike dropped down to his knees and pressed his claws together as he pleaded. "Please! If not for your sakes, then for mine! I want both of my international friends to be friends with each other. I don't want there to be bad blood because of a silly misunderstanding."
Both leaders still remained silent, but they shifted their gaze away from Spike and towards each other. True, they only really had one shared connection, and that hardly seemed like the sort of thing you could build off of for a possible friendship.
But at the same time, Ember and Thorax couldn't help but feel guilty. They recalled how Spike had trusted them even when no one else would, and because of him they'd risen to the ranks they now held. They realized that they owed it to their friend to at least try.
"Alright, I suppose we could at least try." Thorax suggested at last, the tense silence finally fading.
Spike all but leaped into the air in relief! "You mean it?! Oh, you guys are the best!"
"But we're not promising anything!" Ember cautioned quite sternly, folding her arms across her chest. "We'll talk for a while, but that doesn't mean we're going to become friends. And we're both still pretty mad with you for lying to us, Spike."
"I said I was sorry!" Spike protested.
Thorax nodded. "And I know you meant it, but it doesn't take away the confusion," He sagely added. "We need some time to think about things and kind of be mad with you. Once we've worked everything out, you'll know whether we decide to be friends and if we're ready to forgive you."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Ember remarked. "Now come on, shapeshifter. I think a little change of scenery is in order."
"Don't suppose I could make a suggestion?" Spike spoke up, catching the leaders as they prepared to flap their wings and fly off. "If you need somewhere private, you could try the lake. It's not that far from here, actually, and ponies don't tend to frequent it."
"Ah, sounds like a fine place for a heart to heart. Thanks, Spike." Thorax acknowledged the request, then with a flap of his wings, he took off. Ember following at a much faster pace.
"Okay... so I guess we just leave the two powerful leaders to talk I suppose?" Starlight pondered with a confused look.
Spike nodded very slowly. "I've done all I can. The rest is up to them." In his mind, the little dragon was thinking. "It looks like my hunch was right after all. And I hate it when I'm right."
Down at the lake, Thorax and Ember didn't bother to speak to each other at first. They preferred to focus on other things. Thorax even picked up a rock and kicked it, the small boulder skipping across the waves until it finally landed with a splash.
At last, it was Ember who broke the silence. Turning to Thorax, she asked the changeling king. "Why are you here again? Why would you come all this way just to talk to Spike? You're a king."
Thorax sighed, looking down at his own reflection. "Some king I am. I'm having trouble leading my pack, no one listens to me. And I don't know what to do."
Ember was taken aback by Thorax's surprise statement, her red eyes grew wide! "Wait, you're actually in charge? You're not just some figure head?" With a chuckle, she then told him. "Oh, boy. You need to be more assertive if that's the case."
But Thorax replied with a shake of his head. "Well, that's my problem. I don't know how! I'm not even sure if I could, I'm not like our previous leader, and I don't want to be. The changelings deserve better!" Then in a low tone of voice he added. "I've tried everything I can think of to get my subjects to obey. I tried asking them to please follow my directions. I even offered a prize, and then—"
"Shhh! Stop talking," Ember commanded, throwing up a claw to silence Thorax. Thorax obeyed and spoke not a word. Ember smiled. "That's how you do it. That's how you're gonna get others to listen."
"Whoa!" Thorax commented, observing his newfound authority. "That felt... different. It gave me chills."
Ember nodded. "It should. Because if it gives you chills, it'll give your subjects even colder chills. I know you have it in you. You turned into a bear."
"Well like I said, I can hold my own if I have to, especially if I have to defend my friends," Thorax explained to Ember. "But when I'm just enforcing my rules, I-I feel unsure of myself. I guess taking over the throne unexpectedly will do that to you."
"Hey, the same thing happened to me, but I made the most of it," Ember boldly remarked, pounding her claws together. "There's nothing to be unsure of. You're the leader for a reason. Make a decision and let it be known that the decision is final. And if that doesn't work, turn into a bear. Give them a reason to fear you, and they won't question your judgement so easily."
"I... suppose that's good advice," Thorax acknowledged. "I guess I do need a bit of force behind my words if I'm to be king."
Ember nodded again. "It's excellent advice. Don't you ever forget it."
"O...kay," Thorax commented and changed the subject, coughing into a leg. "So what's your deal? Why'd you come to talk to Spike and Twilight?"
But Ember suddenly clammed up, she turned her head and folded her arms as she declared. "I don't want to talk about it."
Thorax shook his head. "Oh, you have to! How else are you gonna solve your problems?"
"Through feats of strength and fire duels, of course. That's how we always do it." Ember boldly declared, as she lifted up a huge boulder and crushed it effortlessly with her claws!
"Mind me telling how that helps? I don't see how it does." Thorax remarked with profound skepticism, all but raising an eyebrow to Ember's statement.
"Because," Ember huffed. "Crushing another dragon in competition establishes my dominance and makes me feel great. It's how I ensure others don't try to undermine my rule."
Thorax shook his head. "Right, but, uh, how do you think they feel afterwards?"
"Humiliated! Ashamed!" Ember proclaimed, before a realization struck her and her voice changed from loud and assertive, to soft and withdrawn. "They'd probably wanna run away and bury themselves under a rock and... never come back out. They're probably sad. Kinda low. Definitely not happy. Wow, I guess I never thought about it like that before."
"That's because that kind of competition can divide you. And it doesn't get to the heart of the issue," Thorax explained, and pointed to Ember's chest as she landed in front of him. "But talking about your feelings does."
In response to that statement, Ember let out a sneeze, accidentally breathing soot into Thorax's face. "Ugh! I think I'm allergic to feelings or something." She remarked.
If Thorax was aware of what Ember had just done, he showed no signs of acknowledging it, even as Ember blew on his face. He just told her. "You know, you don't have to be all sappy or huggy-feely about it! But you should at least let your friends know how you feel. Talking about your feelings isn't a sign of weakness. You can lead with compassion, not by force."
"Are you trying to say the two of us are friends now?" Ember asked Thorax in a confused tone of voice.
Thorax nodded. "Spike wants us to be friends, and I think we owe it to him to try."
Spike was pacing nervously back and forth in the throne room of the castle. Twilight and Starlight just watched him, unsure of what to say.
"It's out of my claws. Everything's up to Ember and Thorax," Spike thought to himself. "I just wish I knew how the talks are going. Oh, why couldn't the map have given me an easier friendship mission to solve? One I didn't create."
Finally, Spike's ears picked up the sound of buzzing wings, and it sounded like they were fast approaching! He rushed out of the throne room as fast as his little legs could carry him! One way or another, he was finally going to get an answer.
Sure enough, out in the hallway stood Ember and Thorax. But the expressions on their faces gave the little dragon no indication as to how they were feeling or what they had talked about. Which meant there was only one way to find out. "So... uh..." Spike began, trying not to lose his composure. "H-how did... the talks go?"
Thorax, surprisingly, spoke up first. "Oh, it went well. My friend Ember is teaching me to be more assertive and confident! Those rogue changelings that are trying to defy my leadership, won't be doing so for much longer."
"And my friend Thorax has made me realize, I need to talk about my feelings and tell others how I feel," Ember commented. "Not sure if the other dragons will understand it right away, but at least I won't have to keep challenging anyone who tries to depose me as Dragon Lady."
"So, you're friends now, right? You're not just pulling my leg or anything?" Spike pleaded. Ember and Thorax both nodded, and that caused Spike to breath a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness," Then to both of his friends he added. "I'm sorry about the mix-up earlier, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys the truth from the start, like I should've."
Ember sighed, and slightly huffed. "I'm still kind of mad you didn't trust me, Spike. And I think it's gonna take some time before I get over that. But I understand you were trying to protect another friend and prevent a crisis. Besides, in a lot of ways, your mix-up worked out for the better."
"It... did?!" Spike exclaimed, stepping back a bit! Surely, he had misheard.
Thorax nodded and explained. "If you hadn't invited us both to Ponyville on the same day and the same time, we'd never have met and talked to each other. And we wouldn't have learned what we needed to learn in order to be better leaders," Then the changeling added in a stern tone of voice. "But next time, don't lie to me and promise me stuff like ice cream just to keep me out of sight. I didn't like it when we changelings used to operate on lies and deception, and I certainly don't like my friends doing it to me for silly reasons."
"W-well, you can rest assured that won't happen again," Spike apologized. Just then, his scales started to glow brightly. He knew what that meant! "No way! It's finally happening! I solved the friendship problem!" He happily exclaimed! "Well, technically, I created the problem by accident, and then made it worse. But then I solved it by learning my lesson about trusting my friends!"
Twilight smiled and clapped her hooves. "Good job, Spike. I'm very proud of you."
Ember arched an eyebrow upwards as she questioned Spike. "Is this another part of pony friendship? Telling each other what you learned all the time?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Starlight answered. "Trust me, you'll get used to it." And then she, Spike, and Twilight all shared a laugh.
Later that day, Ember and Thorax had departed back to their home lands and the rays of Celestia's sun were beginning to set. And inside the castle, Spike finally allowed himself to relax.
"Man, I'm beat!" The little dragon exclaimed, letting out a yawn. "Entertaining two friends on the same day sure takes a lot out of you."
Twilight just smiled, rubbing Spike's scales lightly with a hoof. "You did well for your first map mission, my son. And you tackled it all alone too."
"Yeah? Well next time, I think I'd like it if the map could at least call a friend to help me out," Spike commented, yawning again. "But for now, I'm just gonna lay in bed and catch up on my Power Ponies comics."
"You go ahead and do that, Spike," Starlight encouraged. "You've earned a rest. Just hope you won't be too tired to fly kites with Maud and I tomorrow."
Spike didn't reply, he'd already walked up the stairs to his bedroom. Meanwhile, Twilight was wondering to herself. "How much do I really know about that map? If it can call on Spike, then who's to say it can't call on anyone with a connection to the castle, or to Ponyville? And I thought I had my hooves full just getting everything ready for the upcoming Friendship Festival in Canterlot. This new development clearly warrants further study. I wonder if Starlight will be up for assisting me?"
In a poof of light turquoise magic, two unicorns appeared on the outskirts of the new changeling hive. Compared to their previous visit, it looked so much nicer (not to mention more friendly and welcoming). And the landscape surrounding it was now filled with lush plant life and vegetation.
"Ah, here we are," Starlight happily declared, looking across to Trixie. "It's a good thing I learned the location of this place from the last time Thorax visited. Otherwise, I'd swear we were in the wrong place. Everything's so bright and beautiful now."
Trixie nodded. "Amazing what a new leader can do for the surrounding environment. And this time, there's no annoying spirit of chaos to ruin the mood," Then the magician changed the subject. "I really wish you'd have let me try the teleportation spell, Starlight. Trixie's been practicing every day since you started teaching her magic. She can even teleport small distances, when she's not hauling her wagon."
"You're getting better at short range teleportation, that much is true," Starlight agreed, as she and Trixie trotted down the path leading towards the changeling hive. "But your long distance teleportation still needs a lot of work."
Trixie couldn't help but whine a little. "It's just not fair! You and Twilight make it look so easy! Why can't The Great and Powerful Trixie pull it off?! I try and I try, but I always miss the mark!"
"We make it look easy because we've gotten skilled at it," Starlight explained to Trixie. "Trust me. When I first started out, I'd teleport myself all over the place, but never where I wanted to. In time, if you keep practicing and never give up, you'll get the hang of it. Then you won't even need me to teleport you into the black box every time you pull off that Moonshot Manticore Mouthdive."
"Well, Trixie has to keep the audience entertained somehow," Trixie commented. "And you know a magician must always attract a crowd. Such is in our calling."
"I just hope Thorax doesn't mind the two of us stopping by for a surprise visit," Starlight paused in her walking, putting a hoof to her chin. "Last time I saw him, he mentioned that he was dealing with some changelings that still hadn't gotten used to him being their leader. I wonder if the new changelings are more welcoming towards ponies."
Trixie smiled. "What's not to like about us? We helped them overthrow that nasty Queen Chrysalis, and now look at how far they've come in such a short amount of time. I'd say they owe us a great debt of thanks. Why, any changeling should be glad to see us."
But no sooner had Trixie spoken those words, when a black skinned changeling with dark blue eyes appeared. He looked like he hadn't undergone the transformation that had been enveloped the other changelings! In fact, he looked quite terrifying! Terrifying enough to frighten Trixie when he let out a hiss!
"S-stay away from me, monster!" Trixie nervously shouted, struggling to no avail to keep from shaking. "T-The Great and Powerful Trixie is not a force to be trifled with!"
Starlight opted to step forward, hoping to ease any tensions. "Please, we come in peace," She insisted to the changeling. "We don't want any trouble."
"Too bad," The changeling angrily hissed. "You're both intruders in my eyes! And there's only one thing to do with intruders like you!"
Before either Starlight or Trixie had a chance to properly react, they found themselves enveloped in a huge sack with the opening tied shut! Try as they might, they couldn't escape!
"Let us out of here this instant!" Starlight firmly demanded! "You can't do this to us! What would Thorax have to say?!"
"You fools! Where do you think I'm taking you?!" The changeling remarked. "I'd love nothing more than to dispose of you both here and now, but it's not my place to decide how to deal with intruders! You'd best hope King Thorax has mercy on the both of you, because you'll get none from me."
Starlight and Trixie immediately tried to force their way out of the sack they were in, to no avail. It took a moment for Starlight to even consider lighting up her horn.
But before the unicorn had even a chance to think of teleporting, the sack was opened and both mares came tumbling out!
"Thorax, I found these stragglers lurking near the hive!" The changeling reported in a rather rude tone. "What shall we do with them?! Shall we throw them in the dungeon and interrogate them? Or trap them in cocoons and make copies of them?"
Thorax rose from his throne and shook his head. "That won't be necessary, Pharynx. I know these two quite well," He then greeted in a friendly tone. "Hey Starlight, hey Trixie. What an unexpected but pleasant surprise. It's not often I get visitors."
"Trixie can most certainly see why," Trixie remarked with a slight humph. "If this is your idea of gratitude, it's not funny."
Thorax only sighed. "It wasn't my idea. Pharynx was the one who captured you, and he did it against my orders I might add."
"Who's Pharynx?" Starlight asked.
"Me! Who else could it possibly be?!" The changeling from before growled! "And for your information, I so happen to be head of security around here, and Thorax's elder brother!"
"Thorax has a brother?!" Starlight and Trixie collectively gasped!
"Yeah, Pharynx is my elder broodmate," Thorax explained with a smile, a smile that lasted for but a second before he hung his head. "He used to be head of patrol. But now we're peaceful and there's no need to patrol. And unlike the other renegade changelings who didn't wanna change, I can't get him to accept love and friendship. He says he doesn't want to change."
Pharynx scoffed. "Of course you'd say that, oh brother of mine. You make me out to be the bad guy, when I'm the only one around here who cares a hooting holler about keeping the hive safe! In the old days, I would've already feasted on these intruders' love."
"Well, that's why they're called 'the old days', brother," Thorax scolded. "We don't do that anymore and you know it! We've worked to change our reputation, and look at all the good things we have in life now because of it!"
"And what good is it if we can't even defend ourselves?!" Pharynx angrily remarked. "I swear, we may have been hatched from the same egg group, but we share nothing in common! You won't even let me paint the new changelings black."
"Because they don't like it, Pharynx! How would you like to be painted bright green and yellow?!" Thorax threatened. "You'd be horrified!"
Pharynx hissed again. "And an easy target for anyone looking to take down the hive. Some of our own can't even fly anymore because of the transformation, and they didn't even get a say in the matter!" Then he buzzed his wings and added. "I'm not going to stay here to be insulted. I know when I'm not wanted. I don't even know why you keep me around, brother."
Once Pharynx had left, Thorax approached Starlight and Trixie and told them. "I'm really sorry about the welcoming committee. I assure you, Pharynx isn't usually this grumpy."
Trixie rolled her eyes. "Somehow I doubt that very much."
"I actually kind of agree with Trixie on this one, and I know I'm not one to talk about such things," Starlight commented quite glumly. "If it weren't for you both having the same eye shape, I'd never believe you two were at all related. Why do you keep him around? It sounds like he'd do just fine on his own."
"You'd have me banish my own brother just for disagreeing with me?!" Thorax gasped, his eyes widening. "NEVER! I'd sooner relinquish the throne than do that! I'm not like Chrysalis, she tolerated no defiance. Even Pharynx knows that."
"A pity he can't seem to share that compassion with others," Trixie remarked. "I'll have you know, getting kidnapped is not Trixie's idea of a fun time."
But Thorax replied in a somewhat mornful tone. "The thing is, like it or not, Pharynx is the only one among us with any military experience. We're a peaceful race now, but even peace lovers have to know how to defend themselves. Ember taught me that," Then he shook his head. "Oh, silly me. Here I am, blathering on about personal matters you two don't even care with. And I'm not even asking why you came here in the first place."
"Well, we hoped to surprise you," Starlight confessed and then sheepishly added. "So uh... surprise, I guess?"
Thorax's sorrowful demeanor slowly morphed into a more upbeat one as he smiled brightly. "Oh, you girls didn't have to do that. But all the same, it's nice to see old friends again. How about I show you the rest of the hive? There's so much I wanna tell you about!"
Thorax traveled around the hive, happily showing off all the new sights and sounds to his visitors. "There've been a lot of changes since you were here last," The king explained. "I'm trying to start some new activities since the only things we did before were hunt and patrol," He pointed a hoof to various attractions as he went on, including a small stage for performance arts, a huge table housing all sorts of food, and a smaller table involving changelings working with paper and glue. "There's classic theatre, swing dancing, a once-a-week potluck lunch. Ooh! And who can change shape and organize craft time?" Transforming into a flamingo, he proudly boasted! "This guy!"
Starlight and Trixie's eyes were all a glow with amazement! The hive had undergone an unbelievable transformation in their absence. To think that it hadn't even been a year yet, and all this progress had been made!
"Wow, Thorax!" Starlight exclaimed. "You arranged for all of this yourself?"
Thorax nodded. "It took quite a lot to pull off, at first most of the changelings were skeptical. But once they gave it a shot, they were all wondering how they ever survived without it."
"Why didn't you tell me you'd set up a stage, Thorax?!" Trixie commented. "The Great and Powerful Trixie would be more than happy to perform for the changelings, all you need to do is ask. Trixie can gladly make room in her schedule, now that she's taking a break from touring Equestria."
Thorax laughed. "We'd be honored to have you perform, Trixie. Spike's told me quite the interesting stories about some of your magic acts."
"He didn't happen to disclose my secrets, did he? I specifically told him not to." Trixie remarked.
Thorax winked. "Your secrets are safe, I didn't pry," But then he added in a more worried tone of voice. "If only you'd come at a better time. Right now, I don't know if we can really afford to keep doing all these things."
"Why? Everything seems perfectly fine to me." Starlight commented to Thorax.
"I'm afraid we're currently dealing with a maulwurf problem," Thorax confessed. "I didn't want to say anything earlier, because so far it hasn't actually come near the hive. But it's been sighted not too far from here, and even Pharynx is getting worried about it. The best we've been able to do is keep the maulwurf at bay, by setting up plants for it to munch on."
"And that's why you keep Pharynx around?" Trixie questioned. "Why not just write to Princess Twilight for help?"
Thorax shook his head. "That maulwurf may not seem like much of a threat, but it's completely immune to magic. Nothing seems to hurt it, and you almost never see it coming til it's too late," He gulped as he added. "I shudder to think what would happen if it got a hold of either of you. And to make matters worse, Pharynx seems intent on using this issue to defy my authority. I keep telling him to be gentle on the new recruits and not interrupt our activities, but he never listens. I'm starting to fear he may try to take on the maulwurf all by himself, just to prove he's a better leader."
Starlight looked across to Trixie upon hearing this. Trixie immediately knew what Starlight was implying, the two had their own non-verbal communications system that they'd developed. "Uh-uh," The magician protested. "We're way out of our league here, Starlight."
Starlight's response was to laugh. "Ha! Come now, Trixie, have a little faith in the both of us. We know a thing or two about what it's like to be outsiders. Maybe we could talk to Pharynx in a way that Thorax can't."
"And since when did we become qualified to play family therapists?" Trixie remarked. "Have you forgotten what happened the last time someone left us to our own devices?"
"That was more my fault than yours, I should've told you what was going on from the start," Starlight apologized. "Besides, think about all we've accomplished together. Compared to perfecting a new magic trick, rescuing our friends with just a few magic props at our disposal, and hunting for a missing table map, resolving a family dispute will be easy."
"Do you really think you can help? It's okay if you can't," Thorax spoke up. "I could try to have a more sincere talk with Pharynx, maybe even try some of the more extreme tips Ember gave me."
But Trixie spoke up. "Well, Starlight hasn't exactly steered Trixie wrong before. And it's not like this is the first time we've had to solve a problem on our own. It may take a while, but I guarantee you we can do it. I think."
"Well, if you're sure," Thorax commented, a tiny hint of skepticism reflected in his voice. "I have to head outside. You sure Pharynx can change?"
"Absolutely! We got this!" Starlight winked. And she and Trixie waved as Thorax flew off with a buzz of his wings.
But when the two mares turned back to Pharynx, they found him angrily grunting and tearing up empty space. "The hive was better with holes," He muttered. "Whenever we didn't get lost that is."
Trixie gave a nervous smile as she whispered to Starlight. "Yeah... we totally got this. Right, Starlight?" She nervously chuckled.
"I... I think so." Starlight chuckled back.
Reluctantly, Starlight and Trixie approached Pharynx, hoping they'd be able to reach out to him in a way that only they could. A task that seemed like it was going to be quite difficult given the nature of who they were talking to.
Pharynx saw the two ponies approaching from afar, and turned his head. "Why are you idiots here? Can't you see I'm having a great time on my own?" He sarcastically remarked. "Or have you come to rub it in about how nice it is if I just cooperate and be what everyone wants me to be?"
"I can see he's going to be difficult," Trixie whispered to Starlight. "Still think it was a good idea to tell Thorax we'd help?"
Starlight nodded her head. "Absolutely. Now come on, we can't let him intimidate us like this," She then approached the lone changeling and clearing her throat she called out to him. "Hey, uh.... Pharynx, was it?"
Pharynx hissed. "Leave me alone! I want nothing to do with you ponies! Especially when you're gonna tell me how to do my job!"
"Would you just listen for a few seconds?!" Starlight groaned. "We're trying to help you out here."
"Do I look like I actually want your help?" Pharynx rudely remarked. "I know what you're about to say. Thorax put you up to this."
"Actually he didn't, we 'volunteered'. Or rather, Starlight did and I'm along for the ride," Trixie confessed. "Please. Can't you just hear us out really quick? What do you think you're going to gain from this 'Tough Guy' 'Go It Alone' attitude?"
Pharynx just turned his head. "I wouldn't expect you two to understand, no one ever does. I'm a soldier by nature, and there's no room for soldiers like me in this new hive," A depressed sigh escaped his lips as he added. "Sometimes I wonder why I stay in this stinking place. Even my own brother doesn't have a use for me, he just keeps me around 'cause he feels sorry for me."
"Well you know what, Pharynx?" Starlight asked with a smile.
"No, and I don't really care. But you're going to tell me anyway, aren't you?" Pharynx rudely commented.
Starlight nodded, keeping up her smile. "Trixie and I, we're a lot like you. We were once outcasts as well, looked down on by everyone else."
"Starlight!" Trixie whined.
"Just play along," Starlight whispered to her friend and then turned back to Pharynx as she continued. "Trixie was a down on her luck magician who couldn't catch a break, and she even briefly turned to darkness out of desperation. And I used to run a town where everypony was the same, right down to their cutie marks. But you know what happened in both our cases? We changed, and now we've made amends with our past misdeeds. I am, or at least I was a student to Princess Twilight. And Trixie has settled for the title of second best when it comes to magic."
"Hey, I resent that!" Trixie snapped. "Trixie may be second best at ordinary magic, but she is second to nopony when it comes to stage magic! Even Princess Twilight admits it!"
Starlight coughed into a hoof, changing the subject before things got too far off track. "Anyway... the thing is, we've both made changes for the better, even when no one thought we could. Surely, you can do the same."
But to Starlight and Trixie's surprise, Pharynx coldly commented. "Congratulations, you're both losers!" Both unicorns recoiled in shock at the statement, they had not expected such a bitter remark. "Stop acting like you know me, because you don't!" The changeling went on, his eyes narrowing in anger. "You probably even think you have me pegged, that I'm just some sore loser changeling who wants to go back to how everything was before we changed. Well, you're wrong!"
"Could've fooled me." Starlight muttered under her breath.
Pharynx shook his head. "I should've known, no one else understands me, why should you two be the same?"
"But if you're not opposed to the changes, why do you seem to resent them so much?" Trixie questioned Pharynx. "It makes no sense."
Pharynx sighed. "It's because we're total pushovers now, whereas before we were feared. We had an army, and we could defend ourselves against anyone who'd dare try to stop us. Now, we can't even so much as defeat a maulwurf."
"Uh not for nothing, Pharynx, but you do know why you used to be fear, right?" Trixie asked, shuddering a bit at the thought.
Pharynx nodded. "Despite what you're both thinking, I didn't like Chrysalis as our leader. Starving us of love to make us loyal to her was bad enough. But refusing to listen to any changeling but herself was even worse," He then confessed. "If I'd have been able to have my way with her, the attack on Canterlot never would've been conducted. Especially not in such a sloppy manner. But Chrysalis just told me I was but a soldier and not fit to question her judgement. I was glad when word reached my ears that she'd been overthrown."
"You sure don't show it now, Pharynx. You even said it yourself, your brother is the only reason you're still around," Starlight commented. Then she suggested. "Why can't you lighten up and be happy? You don't have to be a soldier anymore, you can lead a new life, a better one at that."
"I don't recall asking for your opinion!" Pharynx rudely hissed. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it's not going to work. I know where I'm not wanted, and it's clear there's no room for me in this new, peaceful hive. The other changelings don't trust me at all, and I suspect it's only a matter of time until they kick me out behind Thorax's back. So if I were you two losers, I wouldn't concern yourselves with my own well being. It's clear that I don't belong here." And with that, he buzzed his wings and flew off somewhere.
With Pharynx gone, Starlight and Trixie were left in the center of the hive. Wondering to themselves just what had gone wrong.
"What now, Starlight?" Trixie asked her friend, hoping for some kind of reassurance.
Starlight paused and hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I'm... not really sure. But it looks like we might have made things worse instead of better."
"Thorax will probably have to hear about this, whenever he gets back that is," Trixie nervously commented with a gulp. "He's not gonna be happy when he finds out."
"Well what I wanna know is, why does Thorax keep sticking up for his brother?" Starlight wondered aloud. "The two hardly seem to have a close bond. In fact, it seems like Pharynx and Thorax are as different as can be. And if Thorax keeps defending his brother, the other changelings are gonna start questioning his leadership."
Trixie nervously added. "I guess we'll have to have a talk with Thorax about all of this. And to think, this all started just because we wanted to surprise a friend."
When Thorax returned a short time later and returned to his throne, he was most surprised to see Starlight and Trixie already there, waiting for them. "Hey girls, why the long faces?"
Starlight and Trixie sighed, and exchanged glances of nervousness. But neither one said a word, they each wanted the other to speak up first.
"It's about Pharynx isn't it?" Thorax guessed, to which both Starlight and Trixie nodded. "Oh no. Don't tell me your talk didn't go well?"
"Well, in Trixie's defense, the Great and Powerful Trixie is not a miracle worker," Trixie finally forced out. "Family therapist is far outside her calling."
Starlight opted for a slightly more positive tone. "It's not that we didn't try, Thorax. But it seems like Pharynx is dead set on not wanting to change, no matter what. He seems to think he's an outcast in his own hive."
Thorax unhappily sighed, shifting his head to rest it on a hoof. "That Pharynx, why does he have to be so stubborn? Why can't he ever let down his tough guy nature every once in a while?" He unhappily remarked. "I'm starting to think maybe I was wrong to take pity on him. I thought I was doing him a favor, letting him keep his old position and train our army. But it seems like it just made him even more unhappy than he already was."
"He didn't seem intent on going back to the way things were, at least not completely," Starlight commented with a nervous laugh. "But what I don't get is, why are you cutting him so much slack? Even he wonders why you've taken pity on him, and I'm starting to wonder just how you two could be related when you're so different."
"You really wanna know?" Thorax asked with a sigh, and both Trixie and Starlight nodded. "Well, I guess I can tell you the story. It all stems back to when we were younger, just little changelings." And the king started to flash back to that time, in particular he was recalling an occasion in which his older brother had defended him from some bullies.
A younger Thorax was happily playing with miniature dolls, the only toys he'd been able to hold onto. And so play he did, playing to his heart's content without a care in the world. It was the closest he could ever come to happiness.
The other changelings didn't think Thorax such was a happy sight though. In fact, a trio of older changelings saw a chance to bully and belittle him. They walked right up to little Thorax, and sinisterly they laughed and teased. "Oh, look at little Thorax playing with his dollies." Before one of them snatched them up, holding them out of reach.
"Hey, give those back!" Thorax protested to the bullies, jumping up to try and grab at his dolls. But to no avail!
"What's wrong?" The other two changelings taunted. "Don't you wanna have playmates?"
"Not the likes of you! Give me back my dolls already! Come on!" Thorax pleaded! "Why are you picking on me? I never did anything to you, did I?"
The changelings just laughed, cackling with glee. "You're an easy target, Thorax. You gotta learn to act like a proper changeling," They all added quite sternly. "And proper changelings don't have time for childish distractions. They growl and hiss, and feed on love. That's what we do, that's what our queen commands. And those who don't follow Chrysalis' orders, leave the hive!"
"But I don't wanna leave the hive!" Thorax whined, tears starting to form in his eyes. "And I don't wanna growl and hiss! Please, just give me back my dolls and let me be! Don't you have somewhere else you need to be?"
"Oh we do," Laughed the changeling who was still holding the dolls out of Thorax's reach. "But we've got a couple of minutes to spend tormenting you. And no way are we gonna miss out on our favorite pass time."
Thorax shut his eyes, trying in vain to hold back the tears that were now flowing freely down his face. Why did every single changeling he met have to be so mean to him? What was wrong with being different?
All of a sudden however, the laughs, chortles, and giggles coming from the bullies came to a halt. From out of the blue a voice of fury cried out quite sternly. "Leave my brother alone!"
The voice alone was enough to make the changelings stop dead in their tracks. Against their better judgement, they chose to turn towards the location in which they'd last heard the voice. A mistake on their part, for the sight that greeted their eyes, filled their very souls with terror! A massive bugbear stood before them, the creature letting out a roar so powerful and terrifying it could fill even the bravest of souls with fear!
The bullies didn't bother to stick around after that. They turned around and ran off deep into the hive, screaming at the top of their lungs! One of them even dropped the dolls he'd previously been holding. They landed on the ground in front of Thorax, unharmed.
Thorax himself wasn't frightened or intimidated by the bugbear, he just smiled as he approached it and pet it. "Thanks, big brother." He said with a goofy grin plastered firmly on his face. By now, his tears had dried up.
Pharynx transformed back to his original changeling state in a flash of sickely, lime-green magic. "No one takes away my brother's dolls but me," He insisted. "If any changeling is going to tell you to stop with the games, it's going to be me and me alone."
"Big brother, can't you afford to lighten up every now and then?" Thorax cheerfully commented. "You're always so serious."
Pharynx remarked with a humph. "It's because I have to, it's how we changelings survive. You may not get it yet, brother of mine. But someday you'll understand that there's no time for childish games when our very survival is at stake," Then he added. "Be lucky I even bothered to hold onto those dolls for you, instead of destroying them like Queen Chrysalis insisted I do."
"I don't like her, she's not very nice," Thorax commented, sticking out his tongue. "She stinks, and I mean that literally. When's the last time she ever took a shower?"
Pharynx couldn't help but suppress a slight giggle at his brother's childish remark. "I don't like her anymore than you do, Thorax. But I also know it's not wise to mouth off where she might overhear. Like her or not, she is our queen, our mother. She hatched us and cared for us, and we owe her our lives. That means, what she says goes."
"But isn't there a better way to survive? One that doesn't involve stealing love from other creatures?" Thorax questioned. "It seems like we're always hungry for more love."
Pharynx only shook his head. "It's in our very nature to feed on love, Thorax. It's how we've always been. Chrysalis does what she must to look out for us, and we must do the same for her," With a sigh, he added. "Putting your personal feelings about our queen aside, you could stand to grow a backbone. I can't spend all my time being your guardian."
"B-but your my big brother, Pharynx!" Thorax whined. "You're supposed to protect me!"
"I have to do nothing of the sort. I just don't like other changelings thinking my brother is such a weakling," Pharynx sternly lectured to his younger brother. "But the only way those bullies are gonna stop pestering you, is if you fight back against them. They shove you, you shove back. Scare 'em off, like I do and make 'em regret that they ever tried to pick on you. That's the only way you defeat bullies."
Thorax protested. "I can't do that. I'm not a fighter like you are, Pharynx."
"Then at least start acting like one," Pharynx insisted. "One of these days I'm not gonna be there for you. And if you depend on me to bail you out all the time, you're going to get into real trouble. Now come along, I'm going to be late for my patrols. And it's time you learned how to patrol like a changeling as well, Chrysalis says you're old enough."
"Wow, that was... sweet... I think." Trixie commented.
Starlight nervously added. "I've heard about 'tough love' before, but that sounds like the toughest of tough love."
"But he had a point, as much as it may pain me to admit it," Thorax sighed. "Pharynx protected me so much when I was younger. It's in his nature to defend others. I just wish I could get him to understand that doesn't mean putting on a tough guy act all the time and lashing out at others."
"That's putting it mildly," Trixie remarked. "He even called us losers just because we tried to help him."
Thorax rose slowly from his throne, frowning a bit. "Guess I'll have to have another talk with him. Between this and the maulwurf, I'm staring to see why they say: 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown.'" And the changeling king departed without another word.
"What are we supposed to do now, Starlight?" Trixie pondered aloud to her friend. "This is usually the part where one of us comes up with a brilliant idea that magically solves all our problems, and then we have a laugh or two and share what we learned today."
The unicorn mare with a grayish-purple coat, however, didn't answer right away. She was deep in thought, trying to piece together a solution to the problem that presented itself. She thought, and thought, and thought some more. But nothing came to her, prompting her to let out a groan of frustration. "Ugh! I've got nothing! I'm drawing a complete blank! If only there was some way we could magically compel those two to put aside their differences and work together!" Then she frowned. "But I gave up on that kind of stuff after that doozy of a spell combination."
"Then perhaps it's time for a different sort of magic," Trixie suggested with a wink. "If traditional unicorn magic isn't the solution, maybe a bit of stage magic is."
Starlight arched an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, Trixie? You don't exactly have the best track record for 'bright ideas. And don't you remember what happened the last time stage magic got involved in our friendship?"
The magician just smiled and patted Starlight on the back. "Oh, but this time shall be different. Allow Trixie to explain."
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Starlight thought to herself. "It seems like every time Trixie and I are together, one of us suggests something that gets us both into trouble."
"It's simple," Trixie explained. "With some of my props and some clever acting, we can set up a threat greater than the maulwurf. Something that's so great a threat, that Thorax and Pharynx will have no choice but to work together to defeat it?"
"And you think that'll help restore their brother bond?" Starlight questioned.
Trixie nodded. "Why wouldn't it work? Now all we need is to come up with a convincing monster name."
"I sure hope Trixie knows what she's doing." Starlight wondered aloud to herself, as she teleported away from the hive a few moments later. She returned shortly, with several of Trixie's magic props (including several smoke bombs) and a huge, purple tarp.
Taking great care not to be spotted, the mare lugged the props and tarp in her magic to the very doorstep of the hive, all the while keeping a look out for any sigh of the maulwurf.
But when at last Starlight reached the entrance of the hive undetected, Trixie had bad news for her friend. "Pharynx is gone!" She cried.
"What?! Gone?! What do you mean, gone?!" Starlight gasped, the surprise causing her to lose her focus and her magic to fade.
"I looked all over the hive for him and can't find him anywhere," Trixie explained. "Either he's really good at hiding, or something else has happened."
"Then what are we supposed to do with all these things?" Starlight wondered. "We were supposed to stage an Ursa Major attack."
Trixie put up a hoof to silence Starlight. "Shh, don't let any of the changelings overhear. This has to be a surprise, or it won't work," She then whispered. "We'll store the supplies out of sight somewhere and come back for them after we find Pharynx."
"How about that bush over there? No one would ever think to look in there." Starlight suggested. She didn't even wait for a response, she quickly tossed all the magic supplies and the tarp into the bush (though Trixie decided to hold onto a few smoke bombs).
No sooner had the unicorn done so, when a lime green coated changeling appeared and clearing his throat declared. "Thorax is holding an emergency meeting! Everyone's to attend, changeling or non-changeling!"
"Oh no! What else could be wrong?!" Starlight thought to herself, as she and Trixie were whisked away to see Thorax for the second time that day!
All the changelings stood in a line, as Thorax was looking them over and pacing nervously back and forth. "My fellow subjects!" He spoke in a booming tone of voice that barely masked how nervous he was. "I regret to be the bearer of bad news, but Pharynx has gone missing!"
A few changelings gasped, but most reacted with indifference. As far as they were concerned, Pharynx was little more than an annoyance.
"Effective immediately," Thorax continued. "The entire hive is under a mandatory quarantine! No one comes and no one goes until we find Pharynx, or a clue to his location! Is that clear?!"
"But you'll never find him!" Trixie protested, speaking up. "The Great and Powerful Trixie already searched the whole hive from top to bottom and found nothing! It's like he's disappeared into thin air!"
Thorax shook his head. "I know Pharynx, and I know he wouldn't just up and leave without telling anyone where he was going. There must be some place in the hive where he's either hiding out, or hid a note of some kind. I won't rest until I find either one!"
"But where would he go if not the hive?" Starlight pondered, before she gasped as an awful thought struck her! "Wait a minute! Could it be?!"
"Could what?" Trixie asked.
Thorax chimed in. "What is it, you know where my brother might be?"
Starlight gulped. "It's just a hunch, but when Trixie and I talked to him earlier, he mentioned something about being a soldier by nature. And that he felt he didn't belong here," She began to trail off as she added. "It's a very slim possibility but..."
Thorax gasped in alarm, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates! "...You think he went after the maulwurf all by himself?! Is he crazy?! He's going to get himself killed!"
The other changelings all exchanged various glances of concern, but none bothered to say a word.
Starlight immediately stepped forward and stood beside Thorax, as she called out to the changelings. "I know you've all had your differences with him, but Pharynx is still one of your own. Think of this as your chance to be better changelings than him, to show him that even though you're a peaceful race, you still know how to fight."
"But we don't have an army! Against the maulwurf we'll be sitting ducks!" A forest green coated changeling protested!
"Not if we come up with a plan!" Starlight encouraged. "Besides, Thorax, Trixie, and I will be right there alongside you."
Now it was Trixie's turn to gasp! "Starlight, what are you doing?! The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't want to be a maulwurf snack!"
"You really don't have to do this," Thorax insisted. "The maulwurf isn't interested in any of you, Pharynx is out there because of me. I didn't try to help him or stand up for him like he did for me. But now it's time I finally payed back that outstanding debt! And I'll do with or without the help of my hive! Now who's with me?!"
"So, what exactly is the plan, Starlight?" Trixie nervously asked, as she, Starlight, Thorax, and the changelings all set off to find Pharynx (hopefully the maulwurf hadn't gotten to him yet). "You do have a plan, right?"
Starlight gulped, the mare hesitating to answer. "Uh, I'm working on one."
"You don't have a plan?!" Trixie exclaimed with fright!
"Who's had time to think of one in this situation?!" Starlight retorted. "I'm doing the best I can!"
Trixie struggled to keep her teeth from chattering. "Great," She sarcastically remarked. "We're winging it again. Just how do we keep getting into these situations?"
"We'll have time to worry about that later, Trixie!" Starlight retorted.
Suddenly, Thorax's eyes detected a very familiar outline! "Is that who I think it is?!" He exclaimed and rushed forward without a second thought!
Sure enough, there was Pharynx. And it was now that Trixie and Starlight got a good look at a maulwurf. What they saw, was enough to make them instantly understand just why such a creature was feared.
The maulwurf looked not unlike a gigantic mole, but it had razor sharp fangs, sharp claws, and it constantly seemed to burrow its way under ground only to pop back up again. Every time it did so, the ground beneath it shook and crumbled!
Pharynx was indeed fighting the fearsome creature, but he seemed to be making no real impact. Whenever he got close, the maulwurf would swipe at him with one of its paws, forcing the changeling to duck! And even when he was lucky enough to get off a hit, the maulwurf shrugged it off as if it were no big deal.
True to his nature though, Pharynx kept on fighting, all the while refusing to show any fear. "Whoa!" He shouted, as he barely ducked under yet another paw swipe from his opponent. He quickly recovered though, and taunted. "I-I mean, is that all you've got?! I can still go for more! So come on, tall, dark, and ugly! You're not getting past me, not in a million years!"
"Pharynx!" Thorax shouted, hoping to be heard above the commotion! Buzzing his wings, he flew towards his older brother!
"Thorax?!" Pharynx remarked, as he landed a blow against the maulwurf, then flew down towards his brother. "What are you doing here?! I had everything under control, and I didn't ask for your help!"
"Well it looks like you sure need it," Thorax commented. "What do you think you're trying to prove, taking on the maulwurf all alone like this?"
Pharynx shook his head. "I'm not trying to take it on to satisfy my own ego, I'm trying to drive it away from the hive for good. No one else had the capacity to make such a sacrifice, and let's face it, the hive doesn't want me anymore."
"Doesn't mean we don't need you, brother," Thorax explained. "You're the only one with any military experience, the only one who knows what it's like to hunt and patrol."
"Exactly why I don't belong in the new hive. They love peace, they don't love me," Pharynx glumly remarked. "I don't know why you stick up for me, brother."
"Because you did it for me when no one else thought I belonged," Thorax firmly replied. "I couldn't call myself a good brother if I wasn't willing to do the same. I know you feel like you have to put on a brave face and act tough all the time, but you can open up your heart without being soft."
Just then, the maulwurf roared, bearing its teeth before the changelings! "Uh, now's probably not the best time for a heart to heart!" Starlight protested. "We've gotta stop that thing!"
"Then it looks like it's time for a hasty retreat, courtesy of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie cried out! And rushing forward, she threw down a smoke bomb just before the maulwurf was about to bring down its sharp claws! Taking full advantage of the confusion, Trixie managed to light up her horn! In a flash of pale, light grayish-magenta, the magician teleported herself, Starlight, and the changeling brothers to safety!
Starlight was (needless to say) impressed with such a feat! "Trixie... you... you teleported?!"
Trixie nodded, panting heavily. "Friends don't let friends become maulwurf chow! But I can't do it again, that was all that Trixie had!"
Starlight shot off a blast of her own magic, hoping to at least stun the maulwurf. But the maulwurf shrugged it off as if nothing had happened. "It really can resist magic!" She exclaimed with fright! "What are we supposed to do now?!"
Fortunately, the answer soon presented itself, as dozens of changelings in different colors swarmed all around the maulwurf! They effortlessly dodged the swinging paws and claws, ramming the massive beast as hard as they could.
"That's not going to work. That maulwurf is darn near invincible!" Pharynx groaned. "I mean it! I threw everything I had at it, but nothing phased it."
"It's gotta have a weak spot though, every creature does!" Starlight insisted quite frantically. "If only there was some way to find out that weak spot was!"
Just then, one of the changelings happened to fly out of the way of the maulwurf's paw, causing the monster to hit itself on the head with it. That appeared to have an effect, the maulwurf stumbled back, briefly stunned.
"Of course! The head!" Thorax realized at once! And then a grin formed on his face as he turned to Pharynx. "Hey, brother. Remember that game you used to play with me? The one I always said I hated?"
"What are you talking abou-oh!" Pharynx exclaimed, realization striking him in the face not unlike how the maulwurf had struck himself. "You really think that'll work?"
Thorax grinned. "Oh it will! Ready, brother of mine?!"
Pharynx nodded and chuckled. "This is gonna be sweet!" To Starlight, Trixie, and the other changelings he then called. "Stand back, everyone! My brother and I will handle this!"
And indeed they did. Thorax and Pharynx flew back and forth, attracting the maulwurf's attention (and his claws). But whenever it tried to swipe at one (or even sometimes both) of them, they would fly up towards the creature's head. And each time the maulwurf would clunk itself and stumble back.
All the while, the brothers taunted the creature with chants of. "Why are you hitting yourself?! Why are you hitting yourself?! Why are you hitting yourself?!" Over and over again.
At last, with one final blow to the head, the gigantic mole like creature lost its balance. It stumbled briefly, then fell to the ground with a loud thud! Several changelings surrounded it and carried it off, as Thorax and Pharynx landed to a chorus of cheers and whistles!
Pharynx wiped the sweat from his brows. "Whew. Well, I don't think that maulwurf will be coming back anytime soon," Then he turned to face his brother. "Thanks for not giving up on me, even when I was ready to give up on myself."
"That's what brothers do," Thorax nodded. "You stood up for me when I was an outcast, it was only natural I did the same," Then he asked. "Does this mean you finally accept love into your life, instead of trying to feed on it?"
"I... guess I do," Pharynx commented. "But to tell you the truth, I always did love the hive. That's part of why I attacked the maulwurf, I didn't want any of you peace lovers getting hurt." Immediately after saying that, a huge glowing ball of energy surrounded the changeling, prompting several gasps from the changelings!
But Starlight and Trixie just smiled, they'd seen this before and they knew what was happening. Pharynx was finally transforming.
When the process faded after a few minutes, Pharynx emerged looking noticeably different. He still had his black coat and purple eyes (though both were of lighter shades than they'd been before), but now he had light purple on his ears, two red horns on the top of his head, a red collar similar to Thorax's, red and purple butterfly wings, and red on his back with a light purple undersection. "Whoa! This is... different!" He commented. "At least I'm not some sickly bright green color though."
"Pharynx!" Thorax scolded.
"What?" Pharynx remarked. "It looks good on other changelings, but not on me. At least the new wings look cool though."
Thorax nodded and smiled. "They sure do, and I hope you'll continue to serve as the head of the changeling hive's military. This maulwurf incident has made it clear we need some form of defense, even if we're a peaceful race now."
Pharynx smiled back, hugging his brother. "You didn't even have to ask, I'll gladly serve you oh brother of mine."
Starlight and Trixie observed the hug between brothers, the both of them smiling happily. "You know something, Trixie?" Starlight commented. "We actually make a pretty good team, despite how often we seem to get into trouble."
Trixie nodded, before a thought struck her. "You think we'll have to tell Twilight about this?"
"Probably," Starlight said with a sigh. "Better if she hears it from us rather than from Thorax."
"And we probably should go pick up all those... 'supplies'," Trixie coughed into a hoof. "Wouldn't want the changelings to get the wrong idea."
"What? Oh yeah, yeah, of course," Starlight nervously laughed. "Almost forgot," Then she looked at her magician friend and said to her. "It was nice to see you again after so long. Would you maybe consider moving to Ponyville, at least for a little while? It could be your home away from home so to speak."
"Trixie shall... consider it. Ponyville does seem to be a fairly welcoming town," Trixie commented. "Whenever there's not some crazy event going on that is."
"Excellent!" Starlight smiled. "And you living in Ponyville means it'll be much easier to work on your magic lessons. I must say, you're getting to be a fast learner."
Trixie shook her head. "Short range teleportation was one thing, but long distance teleportation is another. Trixie's still got a long way to go to master that. And that is something she's okay with. She has... made her peace with being second best in traditional magic."
Starlight winked. "But like you said to Pharynx, you're second to none when it comes to stage magic."
Trixie nodded and boasted. "Of course. When it comes to the performing arts of magic, there is none more great and powerful than Trixie herself!"
