> The Big Payback
>  by GlueFactory
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Burn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The morning sun was like a warm blanket as its rays fell across Fluttershy’s face.  She stood outside her front door, the sweet smell of her garden flowers blew in from a gentle breeze.  She looked out at the new day towards her destination, Ponyville, the quiet town just starting to awaken.

“Today is going to be special,” thought Fluttershy.

“Okay Angel.”  The pegasus said as she turned towards her pet bunny, who thumped his foot impatiently on the wooden floor.  “I’ll only be gone a short while.  You promise to behave?”

Rolling his big black eyes, Angel crossed his heart, obnoxiously pretended to fly and then placed a paw over his left eye.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she smiled.  “Oh, and before I forget...”

Angel had no time to move before he found himself snatched up and assaulted with a barrage of hugs, cuddles and kisses.

“Happy Birthday, Angel Bunny!” she cried.

Fluttershy skipped out of her cottage, leaving Angel thoroughly humiliated amidst the snickers and giggles of his fellow animal roommates.


---


“C’mon Twilight,” whined Rainbow Dash, hovering around her friend.  “Let’s fire this baby up!”

“Will you calm down already?  I need to go over the calculations one more time,” replied Twilight Sparkle, pouring over a scroll filled with equations, measurements and numbers that’ll would give Dash a headache.  “I only need a few seconds.”

“A few seconds!?  But that’ll take a million years!”

“Just...” Twilight loudly sighed, “Just standby.  We’re starting the countdown and I need you ready.”

“Okay, fine.  But you better not be pulling my wing like the last three times,”  Rainbow huffed before bolting skywards.

The blue pegasus rubbed her hooves in anticipation as she gazed down at the massive storm cloud floating over the outskirts of Ponyville.  Dash couldn’t help but shiver with excitement as a smile beamed across her face.

“So... totally... awesome!”

“Okay Rainbow!  All set on this end!” shouted Twilight from below.

“Woo-hoo!  Roger, Twilight!”  

“All right then.  Countdown in T-minus-- oh morning, Fluttershy.”

Her attention diverted, Twilight put down her scroll and trotted over to the yellow pegasus passing by.

“Good morning, Twilight,” said Fluttershy, looking skyward.  “What’s going on?”

“Oh, not much,” replied Twilight, puffing up her chest.  “Just the culmination of diligence, persistence, forward-thinking and good old-fashioned Ponyville elbow grease.”

“Oh.  That’s nice,” smiled Fluttershy.

Twilight gave Fluttershy an extra second to realize the gravity of the situation.  No dice.  Twilight gave her throat a good clearing and pointed towards the sky.

“Ahem, heh heh.  Let me show you what I’m talking about.”

The storm cloud Twilight pointed towards was three times bigger than what’s usually manufactured in Cloudsdale, not to mention it was shaped into a nearly perfect sphere.  From Fluttershy’s perspective, the cloud looked like a large black boulder hanging in the sky.  She could also make out Rainbow Dash in the distance, waving her hooves around and yelling for some reason.

“Well that’s... a very big cloud,”  stated Fluttershy.

Twilight turned away just in time for Fluttershy to miss her eyes rolling.  Taking a deep breath and fixing a showmare’s smile, she threw a hoof around her one-pony audience, waving the other toward the cloud like a presentation.

“This cloud, Fluttershy, is what’s going to put us on the map.  This cloud has been meticulously researched and exhaustively engineered.  After tomorrow night, this cloud will put Ponyville in the same breath as Manehattan or even Canterlot.”

“Oh,” cooed Fluttershy.  “When you put it that way...”

“Yes?” said Twilight, grinning.

“That’s very...”

“Yes!?”  Twilight jittered in place.

“... nice.”  

And promptly stopped.

“Nice.” muttered Twilight, flatly.  “Yes.  I guess it is rather... hrmmph... nice.”

Fluttershy darted her eyes about, coming to grips with her slight social hiccup.

“Oh, I’m sorry.  Um, yes.  That’s a very... um, round... raincloud?”

“Rain nothin’!”  Rainbow zoomed down between Twi and Fluttershy.  “This sucker is a one hundred percent lightning cloud!” she boasted.

“Lightning?” gulped Fluttershy.  “Like... lightning and, th-thunder?”

“Not just any lightning,” continued Rainbow, blind to Fluttershy’s trembling.  “Ball lightning!    Beyond sweet!”

“Beyond... scary,” squeaked Fluttershy as she sank closer to the ground.  

“Aw, Fluttershy.  There’s nothing scary about it,” reassured Twilight, putting a friendly hoof on her shaken friend.  “Rainbow and I have reproduced an unexplained weather phenomenon that’s typically more luminous than your average lightning.  It’s theorized that ball lightning is comprised of super-heated plasma, which is-”  

Twilight’s scholarly explanation was punctuated, or rather thrown off track, by Rainbow as she swooped up and smashed the ground on all fours, leaving short but potent echo rolling over the hills.  It left Twilight nearly tripping over Fluttershy who ducked behind her.

“Boom!” shouted Rainbow, loudly emphasizing the point.  “Three times as bright and five times as loud!”

“Rainbow!” scolded Twilight.  

“Ugh,” snorted Rainbow.  “What?”

“I was in the middle of explaining everything to Fluttershy until you cut me off.”

“Yeesh, you call that explaining?  You’re the only pony I know who can take something totally fantastic like ball lightning and make it totally boring.”

“Oh well pardon me,” sneered Twilight, with practised sarcasm.  “Clearly, I’m speaking to the expert who did all the painstaking research and grueling calculations.  Not the grunt pegasus who did some simple cloud work.”

“Oh yeah?” shot back Rainbow.  “Well then... eggheadsaywhat?”

“... what?”

Rainbow gave a small snicker.

“I said... eggheadsaywhat?”

“Um... what?”

Twilight scrunched her face at Rainbow, who nonchalantly floated away until she heard Twilight finally reach an epiphany.

“H-Hey!” she blurted, causing to Rainbow to guffaw with laughter.

“Um, uh, why are you trying to make ball lightning?” asked Fluttershy, trying to defuse the growing tension.

Twilight signed before giving a half-hearted smile to the pegasus who wasn’t being a total jerk.

“As much as I’d like to say it’s for the good of science,” she replied.  “The truth is we’re making the cloud for for the big concert tomorrow night.”

“C-concert?”

“Uh, yeah,” butted-in Rainbow.  “The big Sapphire Shores concert in Ponyville!  She’s wrapping up her big Equestiran tour and Ponyville just got added as a last minute show before she hits Canterlot.”

“Rainbow and I have been working for the past two weeks on building a cloud that can produce ball lightning for the light show,” added Twilight before giving Rainbow her best stink-eye.  “And we’d be done sooner if somepony would stop rushing me when I’m trying to work on some very sensitive measurements!”

“Really?  I’m stalling?  By the time you’re done with your precious numbers, I coulda built this sucker solo, easy-peezy-shmeazy,” said Rainbow, clomping her hooves like she just finished a job well done.

“Oh now you’re just asking me to pop that overblown ego of yours, aren’t you?” asked Twilight with mean smirk and a crooked eyebrow.  

“How’d you’d like end up scrambled, egghead!?” shouted Rainbow.

“Stop calling me-!”

“But don’t you need each other?” interrupted Fluttershy, quickly looking aside.

“Huh?” replied Twi and Dash.

“Well... Twilight, you’re one of the smartest ponies I know, so it makes sense that you’d do the technical stuff.  And Rainbow, you’re one of the best weather ponies I’ve ever seen.  So uh, really if you both wanted to make ball lightning, then it makes sense that’d you’d want to work... together?”

Fluttershy looked back at the bickering duo as neither one would meet anypony’s eyes.  One could almost see the steam coming off of Twilight’s head as she calculated any possible outcome involving her not apologizing.  Rainbow, simply crossed her hooves and gave another defiant snort.

It only took a second before they looked toward each other.

“Heh...,” chuckled Rainbow Dash.  “Ha ha... she’s right.”

“Yes,” added Twilight.  “I know.  Rainbow, I’m really sorry for being so snippy.  I know I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Yeah, I’m real sorry for getting in your face.  This whole thing would be just a dream if it weren’t for that big beautiful egghead of yours.  I’ll bet when it’s done you can see it all the way from Las Pegasus!”

“Thanks,” replied Twilight with an exasperated sigh.  “But we’re adding to Sapphire Shores’ concert, not upstaging her.”

“Pffft!  Not my fault when the so-called ‘pony of pop’ gets blown away when we light up the night.”

“Looks like you two still have a lot of work to do,” said Fluttershy.

“And not a moment to spare,” answered Twilight, looking to Rainbow.  “Ready for testing?”

“You know it!” smiled Rainbow, as she blasted upwards.

“Good luck,” said Fluttershy as she trotted toward Ponyville.

“Yo Fluttershy!” called Rainbow.  “Thanks!”

Turning skyward, the unicorn saw her blue cohort in a giddy holding pattern over their big weather project.

“Okay!” announced Twilight.  “Counting down at T-minus thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven, twenty-six, twenty-five...”

Rainbow signed.  “Hey!  Twilight!” she yelled.

“Twenty-four, yes Rainbow?  Twenty-three...”

Winding up her back hoof, Dash gave the cloud a sound kick right at its top.  The sudden rumbling inside could be heard immediately, causing Rainbow to smirk.

Wide-eyed, Twilight stood mouth agape for a few seconds before catching herself.

“Rainbow!” she yelled, before taking deepest breath she could.  

“Twentytwotwentyonetwentynineteeneighteenseventeensixteenfourteenthirteentwelveeleventennineeightsevensixfivefourthreetwoone!”


---


Fluttershy wasn’t sure if she should be thankful or worried that she didn’t hear Twilight and Rainbow’s giant cloud rumble across the land.  She’d hate to see her two friends disappointed, but she wasn’t keen on spending the next few hours shivering behind a bush.

The town was abuzz with excitement.  Makeshift vendors were selling Sapphire Shores t-shirts, records and glamor shots.  Her high-energy pop ballads were heard from every sidewalk diner and storefront.  

Fluttershy founder herself taken with the sweet, fluid vocals of Shore’s singing.  Though the constant thumping beat felt a bit rough on her ears.  All the sights and sounds were a major distraction for anypony coming into town.  Yet, Fluttershy remained focused as she continued to walk to the marketplace.

It took a familiar yellow Earth-filly with big red bow in a terrible panic to fully grab Fluttershy’s attention..

“Fluttershy,” shouted Applebloom.  “Ya’ll gotta come quick!  Applejack and Big Macintosh ‘r makin’ a real ugly scene by town hall!”

“Applejack and Big Macintosh?” blurted Fluttershy.  “Whatever for?”

“Ain’t got time to explain,” pleaded the little filly as she pushed Fluttershy from behind.  “But ya gotta do somethin’, it’s gettin’ embarrassin’!”

Fluttershy ended up having to fly just to keep up with Applebloom as she scampered toward the town hall.  The idea of Applejack and her big brother having an argument was as strange a thought as she could have.  But she was too much in a hurry to ask questions.

As they arrived at town hall, Fluttershy could quickly notice the long winding line of ponies that started at the top of the mayor’s podium, wrapped around the hall and stretched endlessly down the nearest road.  Each pony had with them a glamor photo of Sapphire Shores.

“Grr!  Move those lazy hindquarters of yours Big Mac!” shouted Applejack.

“Nnnnope.”

At the front of the line, like an immovable rock, stood Big Macintosh.  Tied to his back was a rope leading to a wagon filled to capacity with albums, posters and all sorts of merchandise sporting the name and likeness of The Pony Of Pop.

“I said move!  Else you can forget about me making you your favorite apple fritters for the rest of the year!” bellowed Applejack.

“Nnnnope.”

Also at the front, like an unstoppable force, was Applejack trying to budge her big brother out of the line.  Though she pushed and shoved with her famous buckin’ hooves, she may as well have been trying to move the town hall itself.

“If you don’t get to steppin’ right now,” gasped Applejack as she tried to put Big Mac in a headlock.  “I’ll... I’ll... I’ll tell Granny Smith on you!  Won’t you be in trouble then?  Yessir!”

“Nnnnope.”

“Applejack!” begged Applebloom.  “Please stop!  Everypony’s starin’...”

“Well why wouldn’t they!?  A grown stallion actin’ like some giddy little filly cause his favorite singer came to town.  It’s downright humiliatin’, ain’t it?”

“Nnnnope.”  

“Who asked you?!”

“Um-,” whispered Fluttershy, trying her best to play the peacemaker.  She gave a startled jump when she was quickly accosted by Applejack as she leapt off her statuesque sibling.

“Fluttershy!  Thank Celestia!  Maybe you can talk some sense into this big lug brother o’ mine.”

“Uh-”

“Big Mac shirked all his chores this mornin’ just so’s he could burn’ perfectly good daylight waitin’ for some ‘ol crooners’ John Hoofcock.”

“Er-”

“Well y’all should know Big Mac’s the biggest Sapphire Shores fan in Ponyville,” interjected Applebloom.  “Probably in all Equestria.”

“Yeeeup!”

“You keep otta this!” glared Applejack back to Big Mac.

Fluttershy coughed slightly for Applejack’s attention.

“H-Have you tried saying... please?” she asked.

“Please?” shouted Applejack, incredulously.  “Please!?  Why in the hay would I want to use ‘please’ on my stubborn sibling?”

“Well, they say you catch more flies with honey,” smiled Fluttershy.

“Yeah?  Same goes for manure,” glowered Applejack.

Fluttershy tried to hide her wince.

“Well, in that case,” she continued.  “It looks like Big Macintosh has his heart set on an autograph.”

“Yeeeup.”

“It must be a once in a lifetime chance if he’s here this early.”

“Yeeeup.”

“I’m sure he’ll come home right when he’s done.”

“Yeeeup.”

“Why you-,” growled Applejack.  “Now whose side are you-”

“Applejack,” whimpered Applebloom.  “Pleeeeeease?”

It’s hard enough to act the tough mare when Applebloom turns up the innocent filly routine.  But it was doubly worse for Applejack to get the same pair of wide eyes from Fluttershy.

“Mrrrrph.  Rrrrph.  Eeeeeeeccchh... fine.”

“Thanks, Fluttershy,” signed Applebloom as she quickly hugged the pegasus then ran alongside her sister.

“You better be home ‘fore I start on the Southern fields,” shouted Applejack, stomping her backhoof.  “Else yer backside’ll get an autograph courtesy of ol’ Kicks McGee!”

Big Mac rolled her eyes at her sister’s empty threats before giving a friendly nod to Fluttershy, who smiled back in return before she trotted off.

“Excuse me everypony!” said a stagehoof.  “Ms. Shores will arrive in approximately one hour!”

“Yeeeup!”


---


“Fluttershy!” cried Rarity.  “How fortunate of you to show up!”

“Heh, you know me...” signed Fluttershy, trying not to sound too exasperated.

The white unicorn bounded out of the front door of the Carousel Boutique and threw her hooves around Fluttershy.  Though she’d been sidelined from the market errand for what seems like the whole day, Fluttershy was never one to turn down a hug from a friend.

“You couldn’t have arrived at a better time, darling!” beamed Rarity.  “I’ve just put the final accoutrement to my latest masterpiece and I’m desperate for somepony’s opinion!”

“Oh Rarity,” smiled Fluttershy.  “I’m sure whatever you’ve made will be stunning.”

“You’re far too kind, Fluttershy.  But you simply must give me your thoughts on my newest conception.  Oh please say you will!”

Feeling that pouts and puppy dog eyes were on their way, Fluttershy quickly nodded and headed inside the boutique with her fashionista friend.

Fluttershy immediately took note at the center of the boutique, where stood a small platform surrounded by a showcase curtain.  Looking back, she saw Rarity close her front door and move from window to window, drawing the curtains and throwing the room into deeper and deeper darkness.

“When I found out that Sapphire Shores would be performing in Ponyville, why I had a wave of pure inspiration!  Her endorsement last year left my business booming as you well know.  So just imagine if the pony of pop steps out tomorrow night in my latest, greatest original work.  Better yet, imagine her donning my masterpiece when she finishes her tour in Canterlot!  Oh, I can hardly stand it!”

“That would s-sure be g-g-great...”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but shake a little as the final curtain was drawn, giving boutique and eerie feeling of nighttime.  She felt a little better with Rarity standing close by, yet suddenly confused when the unicorn shoved something into her hoof.

“You’ll need to wear these,” she said.  “To... let’s say, fully appreciate my latest work.”

“Are these... welder goggles?”

“Yeeeees.  I may have gone a little overboard with the gemstones, but I think once you see it for yourself you’ll agree this dress perfectly encapsulates the radiance of Sapphire Shores.”

“Um, okay...” said Fluttershy as she slipped on the goggles along with Rarity.

“Also” added Rarity, her magic surrounding the curtain.  “Try not to look at the dress for too long, alright sweetie?”

“Wha-?”

Unfurling the curtain, Fluttershy felt herself overtaken by an explosion of piercing white light...

---

“Welcome, welcome, welcome, to Po-ny-ville to to-day!”

And like statues, the small mob of cheery ponies stood in place with their front hooves in the air.  At the center was Pinkie Pie, with the biggest smile of all, frozen hoof to hoof with her backup singers.

Fluttershy was still blinking the last few spot from her eyes when she realized the impromptu musical number was over.  Realizing this, she lightly tapped the ground with her front hooves.

“Yay,” she muttered.  “Um, bravo...?”

“Woo hoo!” whooped Pinkie Pie.  “What did I tell ya!?  She totally loves it!”

Pinkie bounded away from the other singers towards her friend, giving everypony else a chance to exhale and stretch out.

“Sooooooo,” cooed Pinkie, batting her eyes.  “What didja like?  What was your favorite part?”

Fluttershy gulped.  She didn’t have the heart to tell her friend that, after visiting Rarity, she saw next to nothing.  Much like how she didn’t have the heart to tell Rarity that, for the sake of her eyes, she didn’t see much of the fashionista’s masterwork.

“U-uh, well,” stuttered Fluttershy.  “It was very... um... loud?”

The pegasus found herself scooped up by Pinkie in a crushing hug and spun around, leaving her feeling dizzy and short of breath.

“Thank you thank you thank you, Fluttershy!” beamed Pinkie.  “You always know what to say!”

With an about face, Pinkie spun around and bounced toward her impromptu back up singers.

“Okay, everypony!  Let’s go give a great big Ponyville welcome to our new guest!”

“Wow, Pinkie.” said Fluttershy.  “I didn’t know you were such a big fan of Sapphire Shores.”

Pinkie didn’t even blink.

“I have no idea who that is!” she smiled.  “Charge!”

Like the happiest little general on a battlefield, Pinkie led the stampede of showponies toward the town square, leaving behind a befuddled Fluttershy.

Fortunately, she was across the street from the market.  More importantly, she was right across from the stand of Ms. Golden Harvest.

“Afternoon Fluttershy,” called out Harvest, seeing the pegasus approach her stand.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Harvest,” she replied.

As the carrot-topped mare set down the last bushel of carrots at her stand, Fluttershy said a silent thank you to Celestia as it looked like she’d get first pick of Harvest’s freshest crop yet.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” said Harvest, looking over Fluttershy.  “But you look beat and it’s not even lunch.  Have you been sleeping well?.”

“Oh, no no, it’s just been a... surprisingly busy day.”

“Well you’re in luck, hon.  Big carrot yield this month, so I’m having a special sale.”

“That’s perfect,” gasped Fluttershy.  “I’m making a carrot cake for Angel’s birthday.  Won’t he be extra surprised when I make him carrot muffins too.  He can even wash it all down with some carrot juice.”

“Hey, glad to help out,” smiled Harvest.  “I’m sure the little rascal earned it this time.”

Before she could grab the first bunch, Fluttershy noticed Harvest looking past her.   

“Um, can I help you?”

Fluttershy turned around to meet the eyes of another yellow pony, like her.  Yet, unlike her, she was decked out in a dress made of blue sequin gems.  Her blue hair was done up in a frilly bouffant with small crystals dotting her mane.  With all of the sparkles of her wardrobe, it made sense that she also wore a pair of black sunglasses.

This level of fashion wasn’t typical Ponyville folk, as her dress reminded Fluttershy of the piles of fashion magazines she read at the local spa.  

But it wasn’t the clothes of the mare that Fluttershy focused on.  If she felt a little tired, the stallion behind the decked out mare looked like he hadn’t slept in days.  Dark circles were under his eyes and his manes was an uncombed, sticky mess.  Fluttershy doubted the hairstyle was the latest rage.

“Will this take long?” grumbled the fashionably dressed mare.  “We’re sort of in a hurry.”

“We won’t have to wait long S.S., I promise,” meekly replied the stallion.

“S.S?” asked Harvest.  “... Oh!  Sap-!”

“Shhhhhhh!” hissed the mare, putting a hoof between her lips.  “You wanna start a riot!?  I just want to buy a carrot, okay!?.”

“It’s getting close to S.S.’s mid-morning snacktime,” gulped the stallion, prompting a glare from Sapphire.

Fluttershy, empathetic as ever, couldn’t help notice the stallion shivering under Sapphire’s eyes.

“Um,” she whispered.  “Are you alright?”

“Well I-” began the stallion.

“Listen, kid,” interrupted Sapphire.  “I am gracing this nowheresville for one night, so if it’s all the same to you, no questions, no autographs and absolutely no gushing, okay?  I know, you’re my biggest fan.  Yes, I write all my own songs.  Sure, we can be friends.  You happy now?”

It was one of those rare moments for Fluttershy where she felt she heard, what did Twilight call it?  Too much information.  From what she remembered from Rarity, Sapphire Shores sounded much, much nicer.  Still, her little heart couldn’t help but reach out to the shivering stallion beside her.

“I don’t want you to be late, so why don’t you both go ahead of me?” she said.

“Wow.  Thanks lady,” said the stallion, who looked like he was going to burst into tears.

“Appreciate it, kiddo” answered Sapphire, she looked like this was the first piece of good news she heard in weeks.

“Alright you two,” said Harvest as they both approached the stand.  “What can i do Ms.- oh, I mean, S.S.  Hee hee, so cool...”

“Hmmph.  I can’t decide... I’ll take ‘em all.”

“What?” blurted Golden Harvest and Fluttershy.  

“It’s hot.  I’d rather pick my morning snack in my trailer,” said Sapphire to nopony in particular as she threw a very large bit pouch onto Harvest’s counter.

Harvest could barely lift the bag of bits.  Her face shifted from a confused shock to a delirious smile.

“I... I think you just brought out my store three time over,” she laughed.

“Then it’s enough,” said Sapphire.  “Let’s bolt, someponies are starting to notice me.”

As the stallion quickly hefted the carrot baskets on his back and staggered down the street after Sapphire, he could only give the briefest of pauses as he turned to Fluttershy.

“Sorry,” he whispered, before slumping away.

Fluttershy was left dumbfounded.  She turned to Harvest who could only give a slightly guilty shrug and went back to happily counting her newfound wealth.

Turning back to the two ponies, they disappeared rounding the street.  In her mind, Fluttershy saw all of Angel’s desserts vaporizing, one by one.

“I... I’m sorry Angel,” she whispered.
> The Scheme
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy couldn’t bring herself to be mad at Golden Harvest.  Though the carrot-topped pony apologized, going so far as to offer Fluttershy a raincheck with a generous discount, the pegasus meant it when she said she wasn’t angry.  After all, Harvest was just doing her job and selling out her entire daily stock at three times the cost was a fantastic deal.

However, that knowledge did little to change Fluttershy’s mood.  In her funk, she lost track of how many times she wandered around the market.  Only now she notice “closed” signs hanging from stall to stall as the once baby blue sky had gradually changed to a deep orange.

Fluttershy could already feel her lip quivering, she still didn’t have anything for Angel’s gift.  A new food dish?  A hare brush?  Should she finally give in to his demands and get the expensive terrarium he’d been eying?  Despite every attempt to think on more important matters, her train of thought always brought her back to Sapphire Shores and a surprise birthday dinner utterly ruined.  

It didn’t help that all of Ponyville was caught up in Sapphire fever.  Every street corner had a small troupe of fans blaring her music, gushing about her looks over a magazine or chatting up a storm over tomorrow night.  Fluttershy’s heart almost hit rock bottom when she found Ms. Cherilee sporting a Sapphire Shores t-shirt, and even worse when Ponyvile’s favorite teacher planned to take her class to the concert for a special field trip.

The very thought of Sapphire Shores, the big jerk who wasn’t nearly as nice as Rarity said she was, being showered with undeserved adoration put a scowl on Fluttershy’s face.  

“... She’s not so great...” she uttered under her breath.

With a gasp, Fluttershy covered her mouth and quickly looked around to see if anypony heard her.  Though she barely heard her own words, to Fluttershy she may has well yelled into a bullhorn.  Rubbing her face and trying to shake the terrible thoughts away, she hung her head low, continuing her trek at a much slower, somber pace.

“What’s wrong with me?” she finally said after a few deep breaths.  “I should know better than that.  I-I hate being angry.”

Not wanting to face a disappointed pet back home, Fluttershy continued her walk through town, trying to put the last few hours, memories and feelings behind her.  It wasn’t until she saw Twilight Sparkle at her favorite street side cafe amidst a small pile of scrolls and papers that Fluttershy began to perk up.

“Hi, Twilight,” she said, taking a seat next to her.  “Are you busy?  I could really use somepony to talk to right now.”

“Fluttershy,” began Twilight, flatly.  “Do you know what it’s like to have your dreams crushed?”

“Wh-wha?” blubbered Fluttershy.

“To have one pony look at all the sweat, tears and magic you’ve poured into something for the better part of a month, place it between her hooves and then just... smash it?”

“Is this a trick question?”

“I mean have you ever had all your hard work rendered meaningless with a single word from somepony who never lifted one hoof in her entire life!?”

Twilight was glaring at Fluttershy, who was finally noticing the dark circles under the unicorn’s eyes and her frazzled mess of a mane.

“Twilight...” whispered Fluttershy.  “Y-you’re shouting.”

“Oh, who am I kidding?” sighed Twilight, turning away to lean on her hoof.  “I should’ve known you’d never understand.”

Normally for Fluttershy, this was her cue to slink away back to her cottage.  But when put between a sad pet and a fuming friend, she’d rather take a verbal assault from Twi then bear one tear falling from Angel’s eyes.

“Um, Twilight?” said Fluttershy, trying to read her friend’s unreadable grimace.  “Is this about your ball lightning cloud?”

Fluttershy felt herself freeze from the sharp look Twilight gave her.  But before any sort of apology was formed, she saw Twilight bite her lip.  As tears began to roll down her purple cheeks, the unicorn loosely threw her hooves around Fluttershy, forcing the pegasus to keep her unicorn friend from falling on her.

“Yeeeeeeeee-heeeeee-heeeee-heeeeeees!” bawled Twilight.  

“Um... there there?” stammered Fluttershy.

Pulling away from her impromptu sobbing fit, Twilight grabbed a handful parchment strewn with calculations and manically waved them in Fluttershy’s befuddled face.

“It was ready!  It was perfect!” snarled Twilight.  “All that work Rainbow Dash and I put into that cloud!  How could she say it was ‘obnoxious!?’  She just... she just... oooooh!”

Fluttershy looked aside as Twilight loudly blew her nose in the gripped batch of papers.  Bringing her face back up with a loud sniff, the pegasus tried to ignore the lone page stuck in her mane.

“But you and Rainbow worked so hard,” said Fluttershy.  “I can’t imagine anypony saying something so mean.”

“Anypony?” growled Twilight with a twitch of her eye.  “Try Sapphire Shores!”

“Sapphire Shores!?”

“Thanks to her, Ponyville will miss out on seeing a fully-functional ball lightning cloud!  I never knew one pony could make me feel so miserable!”

“Oh Twilight,” whispered Fluttershy, putting a hoof around Twilight and giving her friend the best snuggle she could.  “I’m so so sorry.”

“Yeah, I know,” sniffed Twilight, hugging back.  "I’m just... I’m just so frustrated right now.”  

“I know the feeling,” smiled Fluttershy.  

“I don’t know about that,” replied Twilight.  “I can’t imagine you feeling the way Rainbow Dash does right now....”

“Oh no!” realized Fluttershy.  “I almost forgot!  Poor Rainbow, she must be devastated.”

Twilight sighed.  “She was pretty broken up about it, sure.  I just hope she doesn’t do something...”

“I said lemmie in!” shouted a familiar scratchy voice from across the street.  “Ya overgrown bulldozer!”

“... something like that...,” finished Twilight, holding her head in her hooves.

“W-what’s going on?” asked Fluttershy.

“I don’t know?” flatly replied Twilight.  “And I don’t want to know.”

Gulping, Fluttershy glanced at Twilight before gingerly getting up and headed across the street.  Just across the street from the cafe was a large, wheeled trailer.  Not unlike the one Trixie used during her visit.  That is, if Trixie was a wildly successful musician who could afford a trailer that could easily dwarf Fluttershy’s own cottage.  

Standing at the front entrance were Rainbow Dash and Applejack.  Both looked like they were ready to charge at the large security stallion barring them inside.

“I want a couple of words with your boss,” shouted Rainbow, flaring her wings.  

“Sorry ma’am,” answered the security stallion with a cool nonchalance.  “Ms. Shores is not taking autographs at this time.”

“Autographs!?” yelled Applejack, grinding her trusty backhooves into the dirt.  “That prissy little so-n-so didn’t sign diddly-squat today!  Tell your boss-lady she done broke my brother’s big ol’ heart, so’s I’m here ta break a few things o’ my own!”

“Ma’am,” stated the stallion.  “Ms. Shores is having her ‘me time’ from now until midnight.  Please keep any and all personal threats to yourself or else I will take action.”

“You’ hearin’ this rent-a-goon?” sneered Rainbow.  “How about we ‘take action’ all over your face!?”

Maybe he was hard of hearing and seeing, because the stallion hadn’t even looked in their direction and Rainbow hated to be ignored.

“Oh, that’s it!” she shouted.  “You’ve got the count of five to move, or else!  One!”

The stallion cleared his throat.

“Two!” yelled Applejack.

“Five,” coolly said the stallion.

CRASH!  POW!  BOOM!

Fluttershy swore all she saw the stallion do was take off his glasses.  The next moments were figuratively and literally, a blur.

“Wha...,” said Rainbow Dash, looking around and wondering when did she ended up in an alley and whey Ponyville suddenly moved upside down.  “What just happened?  Did we win?”

“Doubt it,” answered Applejack, her voice echoing from inside a nearby garbage can.

As Rainbow helped Applejack out of her temporary abode, the Earth-pony grabbed her misplaced stetson.  As she bent down, Rainbow quickly noticed a very-sizable lump forming at the very top Applejack’s head.  The sight of it made her wince.  

The Pegasus’ eyes went wide with realization as she slowly brought her hoof to touch the top of her own head.  She recoiled at the sudden flash of fresh pain upon grazing her own lump.

“Owwwwwwww!” she cried.  “Ow ow ow ow ow!”

Dusting off her stetson, AJ raised her eyebrow at her whimpering friend.

“What’re you goin’ on abooooooow!”

Applejack flipped her stetson off her head just as quickly as she flipped it on.  Fighting the urge to rub her already sore lump, she and Rainbow instead focused back on the stallion from across the street.  

“No ma’am, nothing serious,” she heard him speaking to somepony inside the trailer.  “Just a couple of over-enthusiastic fans.”

“Did he just call us ‘fans?’” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Yep,” nodded Applejack.  

“I’m gonna knock his block off.”

“Y’all can have whatever blocks ‘r left.”

However, any more impending violence was brought to a sudden conclusion as the two saw Fluttershy frantically putting herself between them and their antagonist.  

“Um, hi Applejack.  Hi Rainbow.?” gasped Fluttershy, forcing a friendly smile.  “W-would you both like to sit down with Twilight and me?  Please?”

Both had an emphatic “No!” ready to let loose.  But looking at Fluttershy’s pleading look and seeing that were in no shape for round two, it was clear their fight was over.

“Ugh,” signed Applejack.  “All right.”

“Tch,” grumbled Rainbow.  “Whatever.”

Left to carrying her stetson on her back, Applejack unceremoniously flung it on the table and nursed her headache alongside Rainbow Dash.  

Twilight looked up at Rainbow, who narrowed her eyes back.  Shaking her head, Twilight gave a condescending sigh reserved for just such occasions.  “Well that sure accomplished a lot,” she muttered.

“I didn’t see you do anything,” growled Rainbow, crossing her hooves and slouching in her seat.

“So a frontal assault on a pony swarming with security guards is better than nothing?” lectured Twilight, crooking an eyebrow.  “You know, I expect this from you Rainbow, but Applejack?  Really?”

“Hey, this was a matter ‘a kin, Twilight!” shot back Applejack, rubbing her sore head.  “Better than sittin’ on ma’ fanny with ma’ tail ‘tween ma’ legs.”

“Pft!” snorted Rainbow.  “Some egghead.  Best idea you’ve got is crying in your notes.”

“Stop calling me...!” hissed Twilight before giving a might huff and turning her chin up at AJ and Rainbow.  “Forget it... just... forget it.”

It was a silent mutual consensus as the three ponies sulked in their seats, refusing to meet each other’s eyes.  

“Applejack,” asked Fluttershy, trying to put a hoof on her shoulder.  “What’s wrong?”

Sliding out of Fluttershy’s reach, Applejack glared at her hat, her face contorted with seething anger.

“Don’t feel much like talkin’ ‘bout it,” answered Applejack through tight lips.  

Before Fluttershy could think of something to say a waiter sauntered to the table, pad and pencil in hoof.

“Would anypony finally like to  order?” he asked with a hint of impatience.

Fluttershy shook her head, while Twilight refused to answer and RD and AJ glanced at each other before looking back at the waiter.

“Two ice cream cones,” said Applejack.

“What flavor?” said the waiter, writing away.

“Doesn’t matter,” retorted Rainbow.

Before the waiter dotted the last period for the order, his pressed shirt was gripped by a wild-eyed white unicorn who glared at him with teeth fixed in an almost permanent grimace.

“I need a root beer float with as much ice cream as equinley possible!” cried Rarity, her voice cracked and broken.

Unhoofing the waiter who bolted back into the cafe, Rarity plopped herself next to Fluttershy.  The unicorn looked glassy eyed and confused, like everything about life, happiness and most importantly, fashion, was revealed to be a lie.

Though she looked as helpless as a newborn foal, Fluttershy could hear the subtle sound of teeth grinding.

“Rar-” was all Fluttershy could utter before the unicorn threw up a hoof to silence her friend.  Several, confusing, awkward and uncomfortable minutes rolled by until a very nervous waiter returned with a large root beer float and two ice cream cones.

As the waiter quickly left, Rarity’s lower lip quivered as she stared at the float.  As if it denied her one last chance for happiness.

“Um...,” Fluttershy tried again.  “Rarity?”

Rarity sniffed, then sniffed again, only louder.  Fluttershy knew that look.  Her friend was on the cusp of a waterfalls worth of tears.

“I’m not hungry,” blubbered Rarity.  “Not even ice cream can help.”

“Speak fer yourself, sister,” replied Applejack.

With that, AJ and Rainbow gave each other the slightest of nods before they ducked their heads, flipped over their cones and stuck the ice cold dessert onto their stinging heads.

“Aaaaaaah, there we go,” signed Applejack.

“That’s the stuff,” joined in Rainbow.

Both managed slight, yet still pained smiles as the ice cream melted in their hair and down the sides of their face.  

Fluttershy felt like a fish living in Cloudsdale, like a snowpony lost in the desert, or a bear visiting the beach.  Completely and utterly out of her element.  

Normally, she was the one who needed comforting.  She wasn’t sure if she had was it took to bring smiles back to the faces of her friends.

“Smiles?” thought Fluttershy.  “Smiles!”

“Everypony wait right here, I’ll go find Pinkie Pie!”

“Don’t bother,” answered Twilight.

“Huh?” answered Fluttershy.

Likewise, Twilight was getting strange looks from everypony else at the table.  Looking at her friends, she rolled her eyes and looked underneath the table.  As everypony else did the same they found Pinkie Pie.

Surrounded by dozens of bowls, sundae glasses and spoons, Pinkie was sporting a very noticeable pudge and a splattering of chocolate and whip cream on her mouth, face and mane.

“Uuuuuuuuuuuugh,” she gurgled, her eyes rolled in the back of her head.

“She’s been like that since I got here,” signed Twilight.

Fluttershy was left flummoxed.  Give her a squirrel with a broken heart, a badger with an inferiority complex or a manic depressive otter and she knew how to turn their moods around with a kind word and a gentle hug.  Cheering up her fellow ponies on the other hoof was daunting and a little scary.

Applejack and Rainbow looked like they were gearing up to weakly bum rush the security pony again.  Twilight, through her face softened a bit, still stubbornly refused to look at anypony.  Rarity had slumped her head on the table, her glazed eyes staring blankly at the untouched root beer float.  Pinkie let out a burp, followed by a painful groan as she shifted among her next of bowls and spoons.

It was then that Fluttershy felt the overwhelming need to help.  Her friends have always been there every time she felt helpless or scared.  So in a word, she came to depend of them quite a bit.  Today though, today it was time for her repaying them.  Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy prepared her to trek into unknown social waters.

She’d start with a guess.

“I don’t mean to pry,” said asked, trying to put some actual volume and confidence in her voice.  “But is this all about Sapphire Shores?”

“Sapphire Shores,” growled everypony.

The simple question brought out a myriad of emotions from frustration to sadness to blood-boiling anger.  Twilight and Rarity were first, the two finally meeting each other’s eyes, then suddenly jumping out of their seats and loudly bawling in each other’s hooves.  Rainbow stood up quickly, her eyes burning back toward Shores’ trailer, but she was quickly forced back down in her seat by Applejack.  Before she could voice any sort of objection, Rainbow turned to see Applejack giving her a hard look.  A moment past before two gave each other a single, understanding nod, with Rainbow putting a friendly hoof on AJ’s.  

As Twilight and Rarity took their seats, Rainbow gave a friendly nudge to the purple unicorn, who reciprocated with full hug.  Even Applejack gave a hug to Rarity, who took great lengths to make sure she didn’t get any melted ice cream on her.

It was then that Fluttershy felt a sharp tug on her mane and hooves, as though something was trying to pull her under the table.  Pulling back, she looked down and saw a goggilly-eyed pink pony groggily groping her way back into the sunshine like a sugar-fueled zombie.  Fluttershy would have screamed in terror if she didn’t already know it was Pinkie Pie.

But Fluttershy didn’t mind chocolate syrup on her coat and sprinkles in her mane as she accepted a tight hug from Pinkie.  

Fluttershy sighed with a smile.  They may still be miserable, but at least now they’re miserable together.  Not too bad.

“So...” she finally said.  “Does anypony want to talk about it?”

Through everypony looked apprehensive at first, leave it to Applejack to break the ice first.

“Sapphire done cancelled her autograph signin’ before it even began,” sighed Applejack.  “Poor Big Macintosh has been beside himself all day.  I can’t get more than two words out of ‘em.”

“Sapphire Shores made me a has-been!,” whimpered Rarity.  “She found some new exclusive fashion designer in Manehattan.  Manehattan of all places!  I only just started making dresses for her concerts and now I’ve been replaced!  It’s humiliating is what it is.  My career’s been set back by years!”

“Nopony calls my ball lightning baby ‘obnoxious!’” growled Rainbow Dash.  “Especially in front of my main brain, Twilight!”

“I’ve never let down so many friends,” choked Pinkie Pie.  “I thought a singer likes to turn frowns upside down, but Sapphire Shores turned them right-side up again!  She said that I was stupid.  Even worse, she said my ‘Welcome, Welcome, Welcome’ song was stupid!  Even worser than that, she said all my singers were stupid.  It was a tragedy!  A travesty!  A mockery of everything happy!  It... it... it was a tragvastymockery!”

“Oh my goodness!” said a wide-eyed Fluttershy.  “Sapphire Shores did all of that?”

“Looks like it,” replied Twilight.  “I just wish there was something we could do.  Is it too late to start a petition to have the concert moved into the Everfree Forest?”

“What are the odds of me meeting a rival world-famous pop-sensation and becoming her exclusive fashion designer by tomorrow?” mused Rarity.

“We could sing a song!” squeaked Pinkie.  “What rhymes with ‘Big Jerk Face?’”

“I’m so sorry everypony,” said Fluttershy.  

“Aw we know you are sugarcube,” smiled Applejack, shaking off her ice cream ice pack and gingerly putting on her stetson.  “Ow.  Today just took a sour turn for all of us.”

“Sour turn indeed,” added Rarity.  “I’ve never felt so depressed.”

“I know,” replied Twilight.  “Who knew a pop-singer could make us feel so low?”

“I don’t even think a party could get me outta my funk,” sniffed Pinkie.

“Oh dear,” said Fluttershy.  "If only there was a way Sapphire Shores could somehow learn that you shouldn’t treat others so badly.”

“Pffft... yeah,” scoffed Rainbow, rolling her eyes before going wide with sudden lightning-bolt quickness of a bright idea.  “Yeah... hey!  Hey, yeah!”

“Um, care to share?” inquired Rarity.

“Fluttershy’s got a point,” pointed out Rainbow.

“She does?” asked Twilight.

“I do?” asked Fluttershy.

“Yeah, it’s obvious,” answered Rainbow.  “Sapphire Shores should learn that you can’t go messing with anypony, especially these ponies.  So maybe we could... y’know... ‘teach her a lesson.’”

Fluttershy was silent.  Though her friends were just as quiet, gears were already turning in their collective minds.

“You mean...” asked Pinkie.

“What do you say, Pinkie?” smirked Rainbow, throwing a hoof around her.  “Wanna prank the pony of pop?”

“Wow,” gasped Pinkie, in awe of the idea.  “That’s just... wow.  We’re gonna need a big whoopie cushion.”

“Now hold up,” interrupted Applejack.  “You two ain’t goin’ out and pulling a prank on Sapphire Shores!”

“Awwww,” whined Pinkie.

“Why not!?” argued Rainbow.

“Y'all need ta let me finish,” replied Applejack with a grin.  “Ya ain't doin' it without me.”

“You?  Ha!” laughed Rainbow.  “Leave the pranking to the pros, country girl.”

“This ‘country girl’ has pulled off a few good pranks in her time,” shot back Applejack with a light thump of her chest.  “‘Sides, if you two are taking a shot at Sapphire, then I want in.”

“LIkewise,” interjected Rarity.

The unicorn was responded with a tableful of odd looks.

“Yes, well... granted, I know more about the fashion business then funny business.  Still, I have just as good of a reason as anypony else.”

“You sure yer up for it, Rarity?” asked Applejack.

“If it means taking Sapphire Shores down a peg, then I’ll learn fast,” the unicorn said with a smirk.

“Yay!” cheered Pinkie.  “This is gonna be fun!”

“Yeah,” replied Rainbow.  “I’m starting to like this team-effort thing.”

“Sapphire Shores won’t know what hit her,” said Applejack, throwing a hoof in the air.

“Indubitably,” smiled Rarity.

Fluttershy, again, felt like the lone pony out.  She didn’t like the idea of being mean to somepony else, even if that pony was Sapphire Shores.  Still, everypony was looking happier now... even if it wasn’t for a very good reason.

“Has everypony at this table lost their minds!?” interrupted Twilight, startling Fluttershy.  

The high spirits were halted as Twi glared at her friends across the table.

“Do any of you have any idea what you’re talking about?”  From Twilight, it wasn’t a question.  “You’re talking about pranking Sapphire Shores.  Sapphire Shores!  I know we’re angry, sad even hurt over everything that’s happened today.  But I will not sit here and watch my friends plot some cockamainme revenge scheme that’s sure to blow up in their faces.  I hate to remind everypony, especially now.  But... we’re better than this.”

Fluttershy finally breathed out.  “Thank you so much, Twilight,” she thought.

From the looks on their faces, the four conspirators were looking very embarrassed.  With the exception, of course, being Rainbow Dash.

“Spoilsport...” she grumbled, joined in by a slight whine from Pinkie.

“There’s no sport to spoil!” half-scolded Twilight.  “Besides, we won’t be doing anypony any favors.  Pranking the premiere pop-sensation in Equestria?  We’d be run out of town, probably out of the kingdom.  Despite what we think, she’s universally beloved by everypony.”

“But Twiliiiight,” whined Rarity.

“Nuh uh, Rarity.  This is not up for debate.  Sorry, but it’s just not going to happen.”

“Twilight’s right,” reassured Fluttershy.  “But I can completely sympathize.”

“We know you do,” smiled Twilight.  “I’d find it hard to forgive somepony if they did anything to hurt my friends, even if they were Sapphire Shores.”

“Uh... yes,” answered Fluttershy, clearing her throat.  “Of course.”

“Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.  “Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” added Applejack.

“I wasn’t going to say anything” said Twilight.  “But it looks like something’s still bothering you.”

Fluttershy mentally kicked herself before she plastered on her best smile.  “Me?  Bothered?  Ha ha!  No, no.  I-I’m completely fine, honest!”

“Okay,” interrupted Rainbow.  “Even I know something’s up.  You’re never this loud.  So what gives, Fluttershy?”

“W-well, you know.  Heh, e-everypony’s talking about Sapphire Shores and, w-well I...”

“No!” gasped Rarity, knocking her untouched float off the table.  “Not you too!”

“Not that mean ‘ol Sapphire!” jumped in Pinkie, doing a mid-air recovery of the float, which she then started enjoying.

“It’s not a big deal,” Fluttershy mewed.

“Hey!  Anypony messes with you, they answer to me!” shouted Rainbow, pounding the table.

“It’s nothing to be angry about,” whispered Fluttershy over deaf ears.

“Out with it, girl!” demanded Applejack.  “What happened?”

Fluttershy gulped hard.  “Just relax,” she thought.  “I can do this.”

“W-well, Angel’s birthday is coming up and I wanted to surprise him this year with a carrot cake.  S-so I went to the market to get some fresh carrots from Golden Harvest, b-but Sapphire Shores was in line after me so... so I-I let her go ahead and... and... ha ha!  It’s such a silly thing, really.  She brought all the carrots at the stand, so I guess that means I can’t make Angel’s cake now can I?  Ha ha...”

Despite having to relive such an unpleasant moment, Fluttershy still found it in herself to work up a smile.  

“That’s terrible,” said Rarity, putting a friendly hoof on Fluttershy’s back.  “I’m so sorry for-”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!” bawled Fluttershy, tears gushing out of her eyes.  “I’m soooooo sorry Angel!”

To say the least, the sudden mood swing gave everypony a start.  But just as quickly as it started, after a few buckets full of tears, Fluttershy toned it back down to gentle sniffles and sobs.  

“Whoa, nelly,” commented Applejack.  “You gonna be okay, sugarcube?”

“I’ll be okay, really.  I promise this time,” whispered Fluttershy as she tried to stifle a hiccup.  “Everypony else has bigger problems than me.”

“Aw horsefeathers,” waved off Applejack.  “That ain’t the point.”

“Yeah,” joined in Rainbow.  “Nopony gives a hard time to our friend!”

“Especially when she’s the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, nicest, animal friendly-est pegasus in Equestria!” chimed in Pinkie.

“More especially when she’s been wronged by that utterly horrible Sapphire Shores,” concluded Rarity, shaking her head.

“She is going down!” thundered Twilight, smacking the table.

Twilight scanned the confused faces staring at her before continuing.

“Look.  I know what I said.  But... right now, I can’t just accept what’s happened.  Fluttershy’s shown me that.”

“Buh-wha!?” stuttered Fluttershy.

“Sapphire Shores has done more than just hurt me, she’s hurt my friends, she’s hurt the relations of my friends.  I won’t let her get away with it.  So if the prank is still on... I’m in.”

The mood quickly changed to that of surprise and smiles.

“Well now.  Somepony’s not afraid to get their hooves dirty,” said Applejack with a knowing nod.  “Not bad, Twi.”

“Looks like the egghead’s getting herself a mean streak,” said Rainbow with a sly grin.  

“I, for one, find it quite a refreshing turn of character, Twilight,” replied Rarity.

“You’re gonna love pulling pranks,” bubbled Pinkie.  “It’s totally the best!”

“Well, nopony hurts my friends,” said Twilight looking hard at her wasted notes.  “So as far that I’m concerned, this is payback.”

“Yeah,” added Rainbow.  “The big payback!”

The other three responded with a resounding cheer.

“But we can’t do anything here,” quickly whispered Twilight.  “Not now.  Too many witnesses.  Let’s meet at the library just after midnight.”

“Wait!” interjected Rainbow Dash as everypony got up to leave.  “Before we go, let’s make this official.  C’mon ladies, put your hooves in!”

Rainbow put her hoof in the center of the table.  She was quickly joined by Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack.  Nodding to her friends, Twilight put her own hoof in the circle.  

All eyes then turned to the silent yellow pegasus who hadn’t made so much as a peep.

“C’mon Fluttershy,” said Rainbow.  “You’re in right?”

“M-m-me?” asked Fluttershy.  

“We need to do this as a team, Fluttershy,” said Twilight.  “And this team won’t be complete without you.”

“But I... I...”

“Think about poor Angel,” said Rarity, narrowing her eyes.  “You can’t just let Sapphire Shores get away denying him his just desserts.”

“I... w-well...”

“We ain’t lookin’ to hurt nopony, it’s just a harmless practical joke is all,” reassured Applejack.

“Well...”

“Sure,” smiled Pinkie.  “Pranking is always all in good fun!”

Fluttershy took a deep breath and with as much gusto as she could muster, she put her hoof in the center of the table.

“Okay, I’m in.”

“Okay!” cheered Rainbow.  “Ready?  One.  Two.  Three!”

“Gooooooooo team!” shouted everypony.

“... team,” whispered Fluttershy, a half second off.

Fluttershy tried to calm the nervous beating of her heat as her friends said their good-byes.  She then felt a nudge as Rainbow gave the fellow pegasus a gentle punch in the shoulder.

“Atta girl,” smiled Rainbow.  “I knew you had it in you.”

“Of course,” said Fluttershy, working up a smile.  “Anything I can do to help.”

“Awesome.  See you tonight!”

“Sure.”

As Rainbow trotted away she was quickly joined by Pinkie Pie.  

“Hey Dashie?  I gotta question.”

“Shoot, Pinkie.”

“You gonna eat that?” asked Pinkie, pointing to the melted ice cream cone on Rainbow’s head.
> The Rogues Gallery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.  “Just how long are you going to keep making that face?”

“What do you mean?” said Fluttershy.

“You look more nervous than a rodeo clown in the bull pen,” replied Applejack.  “Honestly, I’ve never seen you this jumpy, unless dragons ‘r involved.”

“I-I just hope we don’t get into any trouble for this,” said Fluttershy, with a shiver.

Applejack gave Fluttershy a reassuring nudge, which was well timed as Fluttershy just missed Rarity rolling her eyes.

“Now don’t tell me you forgot about this afternoon,” said Applejack.  “Remember what Pinkie said?  We’re just gonna pull a little practical joke on somepony, that’s all.”

“Exactly,” added Rarity.  “We’re just having a bit of fun.”

“Are you sure?,” asked Fluttershy.  “Everypony sounded so... angry.”

“Ahem, well...” coughed Rarity, looking aside.

Applejack gave a slight shrug and adjusted her hat.

“I’ll admit.  We all had our ire up when we came up with the idea.  But I promise, it’s just a joke.”

“Sure,” happily added Rarity.  “Sapphire Shores is just a rude little pony who needs to be taken down a peg.  It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”

The trio arrived at their destination, Twilight’s treehouse library.  Typically by midnight, everypony would be snug in their beds.  But tonight was a night for late night scheming.  Thankfully for Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity acted as escorts, giving the pegasus just enough courage to make the late night trek.

Upon knocking on the front door, the three heard what sounded like the door being unlocked, several times.  The door opened by a crack, revealing a pair of pink eyes staring back.  Fluttershy instinctively ducked behind Applejack.

“What’s the password?” said the pair of eyes.

“Password!?” responded Applejack.

The door flung open, showing the owner of the eyes to be an irritated Rainbow Dash.

“See?” she said, glaring at Pinkie Pie.  “I told you.”

“Lucky guess,” shrugged Pinkie.

Inside the library, the lights were turned down low, almost pitch black.  In the center sat a six-sided table surrounded with a handful of candles, along with some late night tea and treats.  As Rainbow and Pinkie took their seats next to their new arrivals, Rarity did her best to stifle a yawn.

“Oh dear,” she said, covering her mouth.  “I hope this doesn’t take long.  All this midnight skullduggery is cutting into my beauty sleep.”

“Rainbow,” said Applejack.  “What gives?  What’s with all the low lights and passwords?”

“Hey don’t look at me, AJ!  This is all Twilight.”

“Twilight?” answered Fluttershy.  “But why?”

“To set the mood,” said Twilight as she stepped out of the shadows, throwing her hooves into the air with dramatic abandon.  “Welcome everypony, to the first meeting of the Midnight Hexagon of Revenge!”

Twilight, her hooves still skyward, looked across the befuddled faces staring back at her.

“The what?” asked Fluttershy.

“The who?” asked Applejack, flatly.

“The...” Twilight paused.  “Us!  Look a hexagon has six sides, and there are six of us.  It’s perfect!  Plus I finally get to use the six-sided table I brought last week.”

“Jeez, Twi,” snickered Rainbow.  “How corny can you get?”

“It is a rather... busy name, darling,” added Rarity.

“Your clock says twelve o’ five,” pointed Pinkie.  “So wouldn’t that make us ‘The Five Minutes After Midnight Hexagon of Revenge?’”

“There’s nothing wrong with the name,” huffed Twilight.  

“But, but, we’re getting revenge on somepony?”  mewed Fluttershy.  “I really don’t like the sound of that.”

“Ain’t nothing to worry about,” replied Applejack, patting her on the back.  “It’s just a name, right Twilight?”

“Of course.  I’m just being dramatic.”

“More like melodramatic,” half-whispered Rarity, prompting duel snorts from Rainbow and Pinkie.

“Anyway,” said Twilight through her teeth.  “Let’s get down to business.”

Twilight flipped a glamor photo of Sapphire Shores onto the table.  The moods of her friends quickly soured at the sight of the “pony of pop.”

“Tomorrow is Sapphire Shores’ one night only concert in Ponyville.  It’s a safe bet that the whole town will be out for the show.  In my educated opinion, the perfect time to strike has to be during the concert.  There’ll so much commotion, we could sneak in and out quite easily.  The question is, the prank itself.  If anypony has any ideas...”

The table looked toward Rainbow, who had made herself comfortable.  She leaned back on her chair, kicked her back hooves up on the table and munched on a hooffull of cookies.

“I’m in no rush,” she smirked as she chewed.  “Anypony can go ahead.  Course, mine’ll still be the best.”

“Well ain’t you modest?” grimaced Applejack before turning to the others.  “Not to brag, but I think my idea’ll be a real doozy.”

Conjuring a feather pen and parchment, Twilight simply nodded to Applejack.

“Very well,” said Twilight.  “You have the floor.”

Pulling down the brim of her hat, AJ glanced to her left and right.

“Okay, ya’ll know how know I use all them bruised or rotten apples to make pig feed, compost, whathaveyou?  Well what do you think about taking some of that slop, loadin’ onto one o’ them pumpkin chuckers from Nightmare Night, and goin’ all catapult-like on Shores right in the middle of her show?  Sounds better then a couple boos and rotten tomato huh?

“Crude, but very effective,” mumbled Twilight as she wrote on her parchment.

“If we’re resorting to barbarism,” snuffed Rarity.

“Oh, and I suppose the prissy little dressmaker can do better?” smirked Applejack.

“You suppose correctly,” smirked Rarity, as she pulled a small bit of blue fabric from under the table, laying it out for all to see.

“Ahem.  May I recommend a less clumsy, brutal method and more stealth and sabotage?  Observe.”

Floating up her teacup with some magic, Rarity let a small drop fall onto the fabric.  The transformation was almost instantaneous.

“What the..?” blurted Applejack.

“Oh my,” shivered Fluttershy.

“Ha!” laughed Rainbow Dash.

“Hmm,” pondered Twilight.

“ooooOOoooo!” bubbled Pinkie.

What was a patch of soft blue fabric had rearranged itself into a garish mish mosh of colors and designs.  Zigzagging stripes covered in polka dots and smeared with blotches of mismatched colors.  There was no flow, no rhyme or reason, it was the antithesis of everything Rarity worked for.

“It’s perfect,” cackled the unicorn.  “A month ago, with just one color spell gone awry I learned  how to turn a brilliant ensemble into the kind of drek not even fit for the bottom of the barrel.  Since Sapphire Shores is famous for her stunning sharp fashion sense, I could easily replicate a dress and all she’ll need is just one drop of moisture to turn her into a fashion catastrophe!”

“Intriguing,” murmured Twilight, still writing away.

“Not bad for a first try,” sighed Rainbow.  “Anypony else?”

A pink hoof slammed on the table, shaking teacups, plates of treats and the nerves of several ponies.

“Me!” roared Pinkie Pie.  “I’ve got a doozy of a plan!”  

“And that is?” asked Twilight.

“There’s nothing doozier!”

“Pinkie?”

“It’s the dooziest!”

“There she goes again...” mumbled Applejack.

“It’ll be the dooza-ramma-lamma-ding-”

“Sheesh, while we’re young, Pinkie,” said Rainbow.

“I’m gonna mush a pie right in her face!” yelled Pinkie, with an appropriate crack of thunder.  “Moo hoo ha ha ha haaaaaa!”

“A... pie?” said Twilight, raising her eyebrow.  “Really?”

“And just to show I’m a good sport,” added Pinkie, setting her hooves on her sides.  “It’ll be a banana cream pie.  That’s my favorite.  Course, I love coconut cream pie.  And pecan pie, blueberry pie, peach, chocolate cream... and apple!  Oh I looooooove apple pie!  Oh man, I’m gonna need to rethink everything now.”

Pinkie set a personal record by going from pride, to inquisitiveness to unconstrained joy to doubtful thoughtfulness within the span of a few seconds.  She plopped back down, deep in concentration.

“Huh,” finally uttered Twilight.  “Well, at least it’s... direct.”

“Ah, Pinkie,” smiled Rainbow.  “Gotta love the classics.”

“That’s doesn’t sound... too horrible,” whispered Fluttershy, trying to add to the conversation.

“Speaking of which,” interjected Rainbow with an eye to her fellow pegasus.  “What have you got for us, Fluttershy?”

“M-m-me?” she blurted.

“Yeah.  You’ve got an ax to grind just like we do.  So c’mon.  Whattya got?”

“Um, well.  I-I was sort of thinking about it.  And... um...”

“Go ahead Fluttershy,” smiled Rarity.

“I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be a good idea,” added Twilight.

Fluttershy gulped.

“I was thinking of... of... not saying ‘hi’ to Sapphire Shores if she passed me by.”

Fluttershy looked down, not noticing her friends’ shaking heads and rolling eyes.

“Ha ha, perfect,” snickered Rainbow.  Oh yeah, that’ll learn her.”

“That’s it!” shouted Applejack.  “I’ve had about as much as I could stand!  You’ve been smart-mouthin’ us the whole night.  Time to put your bits where your mouth is.”

“Indeed,” added Rarity.  “Though I can’t imagine any plan that warrants such a smug look.”

Rainbow was looking pretty smug.  She finally leaned forward, finally taking a place among her circle of friends.  From beneath her share of the table, Rainbow procured a small bottle.  Inside, was a swirling green mist.

“Well since everypony’s so curious,” said Rainbow with a smrik.  “Lemmie just say that the big problem I’m seeing, is that nopony’s come up with a plan that sticks.  AJ, I’m digging the catapult and Rarity’s wardrobe malfunction sounds like winner too.  I even like Pinkie’s pie plan.  But see, all Sapphire Shores needs is a shower and a change of clothes.  Now, if we’re really gonna get her.  We gotta get her good!”

With that, Rainbow pops the cork on the bottle, covering her nose and mouth as the green mist rises and dissipates in the air.  It only took a few short seconds before...

“Blaaaagh!” choked everypony except Rainbow, whose laughs were muffled by her hooves.

“That’s the foulest thing I’ve ever smelled!” cried Twilight.  “And I had to change Spike when he was a baby!”

“Hoooo-weee!” went Applejack.  “That smells worse than the South side of a sow in the Summertime!”

“My nostrils,” cried Rarity.  “My beautiful nostrils!  It’ll take months of aromatherapy undo such an offense to my sense of smell!”

“Peeee-yeewwww!” blurted Pinkie.  “That’s gotta be the third worst smell I ever smelled!”

Fluttershy reply was nothing but a series of stifled coughs as she tried to see through teary eyes.

“Breathe it in ladies,” announced Rainbow.  “You’re getting a whiff of some of the best swamp gas the Everfree Forest has to offer.  Not too shabby, huh?”

“Plenty shabby,” coughed Applejack.  “How’re you gonna get that close to Sapphire to open that bottle?”

“Pffft!  Leave it to one of you groundhogs to be totally clueless when it come to making weather.  All I need is a small cloud to soak up enough swamp water and I can nail Shores with a downpour of the stuff.  See what I mean by making it stick?  She’ll have to spend a week in a bath to get the smell out!”

“It’s impressive,” said Rarity.  “But how in Equestria did you come up with such a bold plan in so little time?”

“Well to be honest,” admitted Rainbow.  “I’ve have this prank in my head for a while.  I just never tried it out.”

“Um, because it was too mean?” asked Fluttershy.

“Uh, no,” replied Rainbow.  “Cause I couldn’t find the right pony to use it on.”

“Heh,” snickered Applejack.  “Normally, I’d be mighty cross at you for just thinking of a scheme like this.  But, well, color me jealous.  Heh.”

“Hmm,” added Twilight, putting the final touches on her paper.  “Not bad.”

The comment was like a slap in the face for Rainbow.

“Not bad!  Not bad!?  This is my best, prankiest prank ever Twilight!  I’d love to see you do better!”

“Calm down Rainbow,” sighed Twilight, like Rainbow was a rambunctious student.  “What I mean to say is that all of you came up with some really great ideas.”

“Nice of you to say,” said Applejack.  “But whose plan are we going with?”

“Why even discuss it?” pleaded Rainbow.  “Duh!  Mine’s clearly the winner!”

“Let me finish,” continued Twilight.  “I think all your ideas are perfect.  Which is why...”

Twilight unfurled her parchment across the table.  It displayed a detailed illustration showing Sapphire Shores wearing a ridiculous dress, while being rained on and about to be hit with a large flying pie.”

“We’re doing all of them.  We’ll switch out one of her dresses for a sabotaged copy from Rarity.  Then we drench her with stinky rain, which will in turn her dress into unfashionable gobbledigook.  She’ll be taken by surprise long enough not to notice a huge pie filled with pig slop fired from a catapult from a hidden location.  And I suppose for the coup de gras, we’ll snub her the next day if she says ‘hello.’”

“... Dang,” said Applejack.

“What she said,” added Rarity.

“Ooooo,” marveled Pinkie Pie.

“Beautiful,” sniffed Rainbow with pride.  “It’s like poetry...”

“Wait!” shouted Fluttershy.

Though she was one of many ponies who rose their voice that night, it was always a surprise when Fluttershy had something she wanted to say.

“We’re going to do all those things to Sapphire Shores!?  It’s too much, it’s... it’s insane!  My goodness, it would be the most humiliating moment of her... of anypony’s life!”

For the moment, all Fluttershy could hear was her own labored breathing.  Her friends looked to her, then to each other.

“She makes a good point,” said Twilight.

“Can’t argue the truth,” replied Applejack.

“And it does make sense,” added Rarity.

“Sure does,” threw in Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy nearly slumped out of her chair, as she felt all the gathered tension start to leave her.  She looked towards Rainbow with an exasperated smile.

“Sooooo...,” said Rainbow, looking at everypony else.  “Where totally doing this right?”

“Of course,” said Twilight

“Heck yeah,” replied Applejack.

“Naturally,” added Rarity.

“Totally!” threw in Pinkie.

“Awesome!” laughed Rainbow.

Fluttershy felt her stomach tie itself into a knot as her friends joined in the laugh riot.  It felt so much different than the other times she laughed with her friends.  It felt, wrong, cruel and bitter.  It also didn’t help that every started with a hearty “Mhua ha ha...”

The lights suddenly blinking on, was only a tiny respite, though it caused confusion among her friends and brought an end to their villainous cackling.  The six saw a small robed dragon walk down from upstairs, pass them by with a yawn, head into the kitchen and then return upstairs with a glass of water.

“Um,” said Twilight.  “Good night, Spike.”

“Mmm... night,” mumbled Spike.

“Well then,” said the unicorn.  “Maybe we should turn in?  Busy day tomorrow after all.”

After a few quick, yet quiet goodbyes, everypony cleared out of Twilight’s tree.  Fluttershy felt like she was in a daze as she walked back to her cottage.  She was reminded on how much she didn’t like the dark after Rainbow Dash offered to walk with her.

“Mind some company?” asked Rainbow.

“Huh?  Oh, not at all,” replied Fluttershy.

“Honestly?  I’m nervous.”

“W-what?  You’re nervous?”

“Sure.  I mean, can we really pull this off?”

“Oh.”

“But I know we’ll be fine.”

“How... how do you know that?”

“Easy,” smiled Rainbow.  “Cause we got you.”

“Me,” balked Fluttershy.  “I don’t see what I can do...”

“C’mon Fluttershy.  The sleepy dragon?  The cockatries?  Heck, do I have to mention the tornado we made?”

“Um, what?”

Stopping Fluttershy, Rainbow put a hoof on her friends’ shoulder and smiled.  It wasn’t her classic smirk, or a sarcastic grin.  It was a genuine friendly smile.

“Every time push came to shove, we could always count on you.  I’ll admit it takes a lot of pushing to get you shoving.  But you always come through for us.”  

Fluttershy couldn’t even begin to find the words.  She could only mumble as Rainbow took off, as they were close enough to Fluttershy’s cottage.

“B-b-but...”

“You’ll be fine, Fluttershy.  I trust you.”

As she flew away, Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile at her friend.  

“Awwww, Rainbow...”

Then frown as she felt the pit in her stomach that never left.

“Now what am I gonna do!?”
> The Big One
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time Celestia started raising the sun, Rainbow Dash was already awake and engaging in the one activity she was never quite used to, keeping a low profile.  Having to slow herself down to a reasonable speed and hold back on buzzing every home in Ponyville made the flight from Cloudsdale to Fluttershy’s cottage positively tedious.  But if was for a good cause.  Well, maybe not a cause that would be considered ethically “good,” by any means, but it was still crazy important.

Rainbow Dash was anxious, nervous and most of all, excited.  In all the time of knowing her friends, this was thing that got her heart pumping and her wings flapping.  All of them, together, working hoof in hoof to take down another evil villain who’s got it coming.  Though, Sapphire Shores is hardly Nightmare Moon or Discord.  But she was a jerk to her, and even worse, she was a jerk to her friends.  That was villainous enough for Rainbow.

As she finally glided down to Fluttershy’s cottage, Rainbow hovered toward the portal window that lead into the bedroom.  On any other day, this was Rainbow’s welcome mat to dive in with a proper dramatic entrance, usually sending Fluttershy scrambling under her bed.  Today, unfortunately, Rainbow had to play it more sneaky like.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” called Rainbow as she gave a few taps on the window before deciding that was a enough politeness and barged in.  “You up?  C’mon, it’s time to get to some serious funny business.”

Pulling the blanket off of Fluttershy’s bed revealed some nice clean sheets on what was once a well made bed, but no Fluttershy.  Heading downstairs to the den, Rainbow saw and heard little else except for rhythmic breathing of numerous animal tenants sleeping away.

“Fluttershy,” called out Rainbow.  “Where are-”

“Shhhhhh, you’ll wake everyone up.”

“Huh?  Fluttershy?”

Tucked away in her kitchen nook, Fluttershy sat holding a cup of tea.  Though she appeared to be looking out the window, as Rainbow got closer, she saw her friend just staring.  At what she couldn’t hope to guess.

“Hey...” muttered Rainbow, now noticing the dark circles under Fluttershy’s eyes.  “You okay?”

Fluttershy blinked, snapping her out of wherever she was.  “Oh!  I’m... I’m fine,” she finally answered.  I’m still pretty jumpy after tonight... so I made myself some tea.”

“Uhhhhh,” was all Rainbow could answer with.  Glancing down, Fluttershy’s tea looked untouched, not to mention ice cold.  She must have noticed it too, as Fluttershy glanced back outside, fully taking in the brand new day.

“D-did I stay up all night...?” she murmured.

Fluttershy suddenly felt very, very tired.  Looking at her reflection in the stillness of the tea, she could make out a mane strewn with split ends and a pair of puffy eyes..

“Wow, kiddo,” said Rainbow, putting a hoof on her friends’ shoulder.  “You don’t look so good.”

“To be honest, I don’t feel so good,” said Fluttershy, looking back and sighing.  “To be extra honest, I’m really nervous and really exhausted.”

“I know why,” said Rainbow, with a smile.

“You do?  Oh thank Celestia, because I don’t think...”

“You’re just as jazzed about tonight’s prank as I am!”

“Buh-guh... uh...”

Once again, Rainbow demonstrated her bull headed obliviousness, not even noticing Fluttershy’s eye starting to twitch.  Rubbing her hooves in her face, Fluttershy took a deep breath, mustering up a more defiant response.

“Rainbow,” squeaked Fluttershy.  “There’s something I need to tell you...”

“Is it how you’re crazy excited about us working together to take down another bad guy like we did with Discord, Crysalis and Sombra?  Cause that’s how I feel!  Nothing better than the six of us working together to take down another villain!  Is that what you were going to say?” asked Rainbow with the biggest smile on her face.

Fluttershy had long learned her lesson about putting her hoof down.  She didn’t need to shout, scream or show any unpleasantness if she needed to be firm.  She was fully ready to let Rainbow know that she didn’t care much for their plan to prank Sapphire Shores.  But Fluttershy’s empathy got the better of her.  Rainbow just looked so... happy.  

“... you always came through for us,” remembered Fluttershy.  “... I trust you...”

“S-s-sure... exactly,” whispered Fluttershy.

“Well get those lazy-hooves moving!” bellowed Rainbow, pulling her fellow pegasus out of her seat and pushing out of her cottage.  “We’ve got a ton and a half of work to do before tonight!”

“B-but where are we going|?” stammered Fluttershy.

“Where else?  Everfree swamp!”

“But why... oh... oh no...”


-----------


“I think I’m going to be sick,” choked Fluttershy.

Scratch that, Fluttershy knew she was going to be sick.  She only needed to find the right time and place to be sick.  The rag she tied around her mouth and nose did little if anything to stifle the nauseating stench of rotting vegetation and what smelled like spoiled eggs coming from the Everfree bog.  Breathing in took herculean effort, paid off only with wet, hacking coughs.

“Ugh... heh, heh, wow,” gagged Rainbow, blinking back tears.  Her attempts at making light the situation failed as soon as they were in nose shot of the swamp.  “This smells a lot worse then I remembered.”

Even as the two of them nestled in the small cloud to start sponging up the putrid slimy liquid, the once cavalier Rainbow Dash couldn’t get the sickly green colored cloud out of the swamp and into its hiding place, a small tuft of innocent clouds just outside of Ponyville, fast enough.

It was already the early afternoon by the time they reconvened outside of Twilight’s library, as per her explicit orders.  When they arrived the two pegusai found a washtub filled with soapy water with their co-conspirators a healthy distance away.

“Oh har har,” sneered Rainbow, loud enough for everypony else to hear.  “C’mon you guys, we don’t have all day!”

“Exactly!” called out Twilight.  “Now clean yourselves off!”

It only took one whiff under her foreleg to realize, yep, the smell had traveled right alongside them through their mane and fur.  At least it explained the pained looks Fluttershy was giving.  The pink-maned pegasus bolted to the washtub, jumping in and vigorously scrubbing out the stench.  

“Oh thank you thank you thank you!” blubbered Fluttershy.

As soon as Rainbow took her turn to wash out her mane, they were joined by the others.  Twilight immediately took note of Dash’s sour look.

“I knew something like this would happen.  Since both of you touched the swamp water, I figured a quick wash was all you needed to get the smell out.  Besides, it’s way too inconspicuous with you two stinking like a bog.  So... how goes phase one?”

“No prob!” chirped Rainbow before quickly dunking her head in the wash tub to rinse.  “Me and my main mare got it all set!”

“Great!  Phase two?”

“Just sewn the last threads into my disasterpiece,” responded Rarity.

“Excellent!  Phase three?”

“Done and dusted!” answered Applejack.

“Yeah,” added Pinkie.  “No problem for the two best bakers in Ponyville!”

“Perfect!” cheered Twilight, unfurling a map of Ponyville Square, scribbled with the pegasus-eye view of a stage, backstage, wardrobe trailer, audience seats and three red “X’s” dotting key points.

“So far, everything is going according to plan.  As you can see, I’ve drafted a map detailing the when, where and how we’re going to strike.  I see the best time to move is when they put on the last-minute touches before her encore.”

“Great idea,” said Rarity.  “Sapphire Shores always puts on at least one encore for every concert, there’ll be way too much commotion to notice us.”

“Exactly,” responded Twilight.  “And in all the confusion, nopony we’ll see us moving in or out.  Plus it’ll be night, so we’ll have a better chance at making a clean getaway.”

“Getaway?” blurted Fluttershy finally drying off her tail with a towel.  “You mean, we’re not even staying to say we’re sorry?”

“Ah’ agree with Fluttershy,” added Applejack, scratching her head.  “Don’t seem right ta just cut and run like that.”

“Yeah,” joined in Pinkie.  “I thought we we’re all gonna have a big laugh together.  That’s the best part!”

“Well... considering how many will be there tonight, I’m not sure if everypony will get the joke,” said Twilight.  “Least of all Sapphire.”

“I’m sure, Pinkie, that the very next day we’ll all have a good giggle about the whole thing,” added Rarity.

“C’mon,” butted in Rainbow.  “Let’s not forget why we’re doin’ this.”

AJ and Pinkie could only glance at each other before giving a quick nod.  

“Okay,” spoke up Twilight after a few awkward moments.  “Everything’s ready, all we have to do now is set up before the big encore.  We’ll split up to cause less suspicion and meet up back at the town square.”

Twilight and Rarity took the East road at a brisk pace.  Before Fluttershy knew it, she was being dragged West alongside Pinke Pie.  It left Rainbow and Applejack to take the center road, straight into town.

“Ya seem mighty sure o’ Fluttershy,” mused Applejack as they ran alongside each other.

“You know it,” replied Rainbow.

“Look, ya know how she can be a bit... iffy, right?”

“She’ll be fine, you just watch.”

“But this ain’t like setting up a festival or starring in a play, this is... well this feels a bit more...”

“Ugh, AJ, seriously.  You’ve seen her before.  She hems and haws about doing something scary and then, it’s no big deal.

“Yeah, but...”

“Just watch, she’ll come through.  She always does.”


-------------


Ponyville Square was in full swing with ponies galloping from place to place.  Some were putting the finishing touches on a massive stage that seemingly sprung up overnight, Other were testing lights, testing the sounds and going over Sapphire’s show wardrobe.  Dotting across the square were a number of security ponies keeping close guard, with several standing guard outside Shore’s trailer.

What nopony saw, were six mares skulking in an alleyway just a block from the action.

“Hoo-wee,” chimed Applejack.  “Looks like Sapphire’s goon squad is out in force fer tonight.

“Oh my,” preened Rarity, batting her eyes.  “It couldn’t have been because of two little mares who thought assaulting a visiting celebrity was a good idea, could it?”

“I’m jes gonna ignore that,” muttered Applejack, mustering a good stink eye at Rarity over the low growl coming from Rainbow Dash.

“Good thing I thought ahead,” announced Twilight.  “Rarity, if you please?”

“Why certainly Twilight,” smirked Rarity as she uncovered the large basket she brought along, revealing several pairs of green overalls with matching caps, and a pair of dark suits with a pair of dark shades each.

“The best way we can set up is to go out in plain sight,” said Twilight, floating the clothes up with her magic.  “Thanks to these disguises Rarity whipped up last night.”

“But doesn’t everypony already know who we are?” asked Rainbow.

“Not these ponies,” pointed out Twilight.  “See?  Sapphire Shores always has a sizable entourage of her own workponies and security wherever she goes.  Thanks to the mayor, the whole town is staying clear until the show starts.  It the perfect chance to set everything up, right in plain sight!”

“B-b-but now we’re breaking and entering!?” stammered Fluttershy.  

“It’s not B and E, Fluttershy,” assured Rainbow.  “Sides, we’re not breaking anything.”

“Sure,” chirped Pinkie.  “It’s more like D and E!  Get it?”

“Now then,” said Twilight, getting everypony’s attention.  “Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash.  You three will take on the roles of stagehooves.  That’ll allow us to bring in the pie and pumpkin chucker and allow you three to get close enough to switch the dress and set up the stinky cloud.”

“Hmmm,” sighed Rarity.  “I’ll definitely be playing against type, tonight.  But I could always use another lesson in method acting.”

“Oh this is gonna be hoot ain’t it?” grumbled Applejack.

“Pinkie,” continued Twilight.  “You and I will be taking on the roles of two security mares.  Our job is to deflect any suspicion and to keep an eye out.”

“Ooo, fun!” squeaked Pinkie.  “Oh I say!  Can I play a mare with a Trottingham accent?  Spit-spot, eh?  Wot wot?  Or whaddya say I’s got a Manehattan accent for ya’s?  Fuggedabadet!  ‘R how ‘bout I be a maraudin’ scallywag of a pirate fresh from da seven seas, yearrrrrr!  Savvy?”

“...,” went everypony.

“Or... heh, ya know.  I could always just... follow Twilight’s lead...?”

“Do that,” smiled Twilight.

“What do I have to do?” whispered Fluttershy.  “I don’t think I’m a very good actress...”

“That won’t be a problem,” assured Twilight as she took out a pair of binoculars and thrust them into Fluttershy’s hooves.  “You’ll be our eye in the sky.  It you spot any trouble, or anything that could blow our cover, just signal us from above.”

“Oh... okay...”

“Alright everypony,” announced Twilight.  “Remember!  Nopony starts doing anything until the concert begins.  It’ll divert all the attention from us.  We’re shooting to make this an encore Sapphire Shores won’t forget.  Now let’s move!”


----------


“Maybe I should be grateful,” thought Fluttershy as she hovered over the town square, carrying the binoculars around her neck.  “At least I’m not down there.”  It was one of those rare moments where Fluttershy felt better off in the sky.  Looking through the binoculars, she spotted her friends rolling in a large contraption draped under a big blanket.  Fluttershy gulped when she remember that underneath the blanket was weapon of warfare designed to launch a pie filled what was supposed to be lunch of Applejack’s pigs.

“Oh, those poor piggies,” whispered Fluttershy.

What she didn’t see, or hear, were the tired grunts and groans from Applejack and Rainbow Dash, decked out in their stagehoof regalia, heaving the heavy siege devise down the road and behind a patch of trees inside a park right across from Sapphire’s stage.  

“Grrrf,” blurted Applejack and she leaned her shoulder into the back of the catapult.  “Thanks for the help, Rarity!” she snarled.

“I am helping, this is helping!” huffed Rarity as she trotted alongside, occasionally touching the catapult in a weak show of assistance.  “It’s called, ‘supervising.’”

“Hey!” yelled Rainbow Dash, who pulled catapult with a rope in the front.  “I thought I was supposed to be in charge!”

“Nopony’s in charge!” scolded Twilight.  Alongside Pinkie, the two of them were dressed in their black, official looking suits with matching sunglasses.  For Twilight, it was hard enough to keep Pinkie’s attention away from the concession stands.  Standing side by side with Pinkie, Twilight kept a vigil on the comings and goings of other ponies while the others set up the re-purposed pumpkin chucker.

“Just some routine maintenance,” said Twilight occasionally to anypony giving a glance in their direction.  “Nothing to see here, move along.”

So deep was Twilight into her role that she didn’t notice Pinkie Pie until she was offered a box of gumdrops from her pink friend, who also somehow procured a taffy apple, popcorn, a steaming hot pretzel and bunch of balloons.

Twilight thought it best not to force the issue.  Besides, she was a bit hungry.

Back in the sky, things were getting a bit boring for Fluttershy as she sat on a tiny puff of cloud keeping watch over her friends.  This was a good thing.  In Fluttershy’s case, boring meant safe, boring meant calm, boring meant nothing was going to come out and startle her.  But still...

Fluttershy gulped as she looked through the binoculars again down towards her friend.  She spotted them making their way down towards the stage, sans chucker.

“Hellooooo, Ponyville!” yelled Sapphire Shores to the thundering of cheers and stomps.

The yellow pegasus nearly slipped off her cloud with the sudden burst of noise.  She was so focused on her friends, Fluttershy was oblivious to the fact that the concert has just begun. Swinging her view to the stage she found Sapphire Shores trotting from one side of the stage to the other, waving and blowing kisses to a throng of adoring fans.  Fluttershy wanted to feel mad, seeing her again, she really did.  But as the music kicked in and the audience jumped and danced to the beat, she couldn’t help but smile.

“It does look like everypony’s having a good time...” she said to herself.

With the exception of Pinkie Pie, the rest of the team was having a miserable time.  With the entire town out for the concert, it would only take one glimpse to blow their cover and thus the mission.  Having to creep through more alleyways and sideroads in order to circumnavigate around the concert to the backstage was hard enough, but having to wait for what felt like over an hour to make their next move was the real torture.

As the afternoon turned into evening it gave them time to prepare.  According to Twilight, there was a five minute break between the concert and Sapphire’s first encore.  It would be the one and only window of opportunity.  Rainbow hovered in place with nervous energy, eyeing the green cloud floating just above town, hidden in a marked batch of clouds.

“C’mooon!  How long is this gonna take!?” whined Rainbow.

“You’d think with all the energy she puts in her songs Sapphie would be exhausted with these concerts,” observed Twilight.

“Well what can you say?” replied Rarity.  “When you’re a professional... you... Pinkie Pie!?  How could you!?”

“Pinkie...,” scolded Applejack.  “For shame...”

“Why you turncoat!” thundered Rainbow.

“I... can’t... help it!” cried Pinkie Pie before doing one last twirl on her hind legs before shaking her hindquarters in an impromptu dance routine.  “She’s too catchy!  I’ve... I’ve got the music in me!”

“Hey, c’mon you guys,” assured Twilight.  “Leave her alone, she can’t help it.”

It was a silent, grouchy agreement, but was still an agreement.  Twilight sighed, quickly glaring at her left hoof which for some reason wouldn’t stop tapping.

“Stop it,” she whispered.  “Please stop...”

After a few more agonizing minutes, the music abated as the ground rumbled with the stomping of a mass amount of hooves.  From their perspective, the group could see Sapphire give a few more waves before disappearing behind the curtain.

“Now or never ladies,” said Twilight.  “Let’s do this!”

From on high, Fluttershy kept a bead on her fellow saboteurs scrambling towards the back stage.  She gulped for what felt like the hundredth time that day as she watched Rarity make her way to the long row of dresses hiding just behind the curtain.  Just below the stage were Pinkie and Twilight, running interference.

Scanning upwards, she quickly spotted a batch of stormclouds being put into place on stage.  Their arrangement was in the likeness of Sapphire herself.  Fluttershy couldn’t help but note that the likeness was quite impressive.  It was near the cloudy sculpture where she found Applejack either talking or arguing with several other stagehooves while Rainbow Dash, unnoticed, glided in pushing in a green cloud.

Flutterhshy didn’t know what to feel worse about.  Was she more queasy about her friends getting caught or was she more sickly over what they we’re doing?  She didn’t have too much time to think as somepony exiting the trailer behind the stage caught her eye.  

“Oh no,” said Fluttershy to herself.  “Sapphire?”

No, it wasn’t Sapphire.  First off, he was a stallion and quite big and built for one.  He sauntered over to the stage with a cool demeanor, slightly adjusted his dark glasses.  He looked familiar to Fluttershy, almost like she recognized that swagger, that...

… nonchalance.

“Oh!” gasped Fluttershy.  “Oh no!”


------------


“No,” cooly continued Rarity.  “No no no no no no no no, oh really now, no no no...”

“Rarity?” whispered Twilight.  “Can you speed things up please?”  It was hard enough for her and Pinkie to keep any attention off of Rarity’s back, but it looked doubly so seeing Rarity acting like she was doing some casual shopping.

Looking back again, Twilight noticed Rarity finally removing a beautiful blue sapphire encrusted gown and replacing it with its disastrous double.

“Apologies Twilight,” admitted Rarity.  “It’s just... well just look at these costumes!  Horendous, ametaur, clearly someone had fallen asleep at their sewing machine.”

“Duly noted,” signed Twilight.  

“Besides, I’m not the one you need to worry about.”

“Huh?”

Rarity’s crooked eyebrow was all Twilight needed to turn around to see Pinkie waving at what looks like nopony in particular.

“Hi!” squeaked Pinkie.  “Hello!”

“Pinkieeeee,” went Twilight in a voice that started as a bellow and deflated into a pitiful whine.  “We’re supposed to avoid attention, not invite strangers over to talk!”

“Since when is Fluttershy a stranger?” huffed Pinkie.  “Seriously Twilight, you’ve only been friends since forever.”

Looking towards Pinkie’s line of sight, Twilight quickly found Fluttershy wildly waving her hooves and pointing towards the ground.  

“What has gotten into...” began Twilight before looking down.  “Oh... that’s not good.”

Twi recognized him instantly, or rather, what he did yesterday to Rainbow Dash and Applejack.  From the pace of his casual trot, he was on his way to the backstage.

“Pinkie!” cried Twilight.  “You have to get Rainbow Dash away from here, now!  Go, go, go!”

With a salute and about face, Pinkie zoomed towards through the wardrobe, past Rarity and towards the stage.

“What’s wrong?” asked Rarity as she hastily stuffed Sapphires replaced dress into her overalls.

“That!” answered Twilight, pointing to the imposing stallion.  “He’s the one who roughed up AJ and Rainbow, and if he finds them backstage, we’re sunk!  We need to get Applejack out of there, ASAP!”


--------------


“So which is it, miss?” asked a stagehoof carrying a clipboard.  “Are you the maintenance mare or the inspector?”

“Inspector?” asked another stagehoof, carrying a ladder.  “She told me she was the new carpenter.”

“That’s weird,” said another.  “She said she’s the new supervisor.”

“But I’m the supervisor!” said yet another.  “What’s goin on here?’

Applejack fanned herself with her hat, but it did little to stop the sweat beading up on her forehead.  

“Well shucks,” she muttered.  “Feels a little warm in here don’t it?”

“Ma’am,” said the clipboard stagehoof with a bit more sternness.  “Mind telling us the truth?”

“The t-truth!?”

“Aw no,” thought Applejack.  “Not the ‘T-word!’”  She was already wrestling with her naturally honest nature when she started spinning yarns to take everyponys attention off of the Sapphire cloud so Rainbow could do her stuff.  But now, she could feel the honesty boiling over, ready to erupt out of her mouth and clean up her conscience.

The earth pony desperately looked up towards Rainbow, hoping her partner in pranks had that stink cloud nice and snug so she could beat a retreat.  Everything looked ready, but why was Rainbow talking to Pinkie Pie...

“Wha..?” stuttered Applejack.  “How in the world did she get up...”

“Stop that pony!” shouted a high-pitched voice.  “S-she’s not supposed to be here!”

“Indubitably!” yelled another.  “Er, I mean... yeah!  Yo!  Let’s throw the bum out, and what not!”

Before Applejack could turn around, she found herself being pounced on by flurry mess of purple and white.

“Ah’ve been made!” thought Applejack before she sprang into action.  When you live with a big brother and little sister who love to roughhouse, you learn a trick or two.  Without even thinking she already had her two attackers firmly subdued in her family-famous double headlock.

“Ya’ll won’t take me without a fight!” she barked.  “Ya hear... uhhhhh...”

“Can’t... breathe...” choked Twilight.

“Blacking... out...” added Rarity.

Sheepishly letting her friends go, Twilight did what she could to put herself between the other stageponies and Applejack.

“We’ve...” she gasped.  “We’ve got...” she gasped again.  “We’ve got everything under control!” she finally said after a series of coughs.  “Right?”

“Where am I?  Who is that?” sing-songed Rarity, as Applejack tried to shake her stupor away.  “Mother?  Mother is that you?”

“No, it’s Auntie Applejack,” she hissed in Rarity’s ear.  “Now snap out of itl!”

“Applejack,” cooed Rarity.  “I don’t have an aunt named...”

A quick shake of her head brought the unicorn back the here and now, surrounded by a gaggle of confused stagehooves and two familiar, pleading, faces.

“Y-yes!  E-everything’s under... control,” answered Rarity, gingerly standing on her own four legs.  “No worries, we’ll throw this little troublemaker out on her tail!”

“Well uh, shoot,” smiled Applejack, turning towards Twilight.  “Looks like I’ll never get Ms. Shores’ autograph now.  Guess I-eeeeooowch!”

Applejack glared at her tail, squarely under the crushing hoof of Rarity..

“Silence, prisoner.” commanded Rarity, with a quick raspberry.

“Grrrrr...”

“Eh, ha ha!  See?  We’ve got everything covered,” grinned Twilight.  “So back at it everypony!”

The trio left into a slow trot.  That is until they saw nopony looking, then they bolted in a full on gallop.

“I was gonna say sorry, y’know,” grumbled Applejack.

“Well you should have said it sooner,” snuffed Rarity.

“Argue later!” snapped Twilight.  “Right now we need to regroup with the others.”

All the running, moving and conning left the six ponies feeling good and exhausted.  But it still didn’t stop them from wearing a satisfied smile.  At least for five of them.

“Looks like everything’s set,” said Twilight, giving her map one last pass.  “I’ve got the pie chucker on a magical trigger.  If there’s a discharge of lightning in a given area, it’ll send that mucky pastry flying.”

“Say for instance, a lightning show that happens to hold a cloud filled with swamp water,” smirked Rainbow Dash.

“Which in turn will transform little Ms. Shores from fashion queen into a tacky vagabond,” tittered Rarity.

“By the way, thanks you two,” said Applejack.  “I woulda been in a fine pickle if’n you two hadn’t stepped in.”

“Yeah,” added Rainbow.  “Thanks Pinkie Pie.”

“No prob, Dashie,” replied Pinkie as she high-hoofed Rainbow.  “But it was actually Fluttershy.”

“That’s right,” realized Twilight.  “If it weren’t for her, we would have been found out!”

All eyes fell to Fluttershy, who was at the moment doing her best slink behind the group unnoticed.  A blur of rainbow swirled around her as was taken in a big bear hug by her fellow pegasus.

“Woo hoo!” cheered Rainbow, holding out Fluttershy like a proud parent.  “What did I tell ya!?  I knew she wouldn’t let us down!”

“I-it really wasn’t anything...” mewed Fluttershy.

“Nonsense Fluttershy,” said Twilight.  “If it weren’t for you, why this whole operation would have been a disaster.”

“You really came through for us sweetie,” beamed Rarity.  “Thank you.”

“I’ll admit I had my doubts,” said Applejack, tipping her hat.  “But I’m glad I was wrong.  You really saved my skin.”

“I’m gonna call you the new Pranking Princess of Ponyville!” chirped Pinkie as she bounced toward Fluttershy for a hug.  “I’ll get you a crown too!  One with a arrow through it that shoots water at other ponies!  What a riot you’ll be!”

“Well... you know...” whispered Fluttershy, looking out at all the friendly faces.  “Anything for my friends, right?”

“Well,” said Twilight.  “Looks like there’s only one last thing to do.”

“Good grief Twi,” sighed Applejack.  “We’d done everything we set out ta do, what in tarnation is left?”

Twilight smirked.

“Only getting the best seat in the house.”


-------------


The view from atop the roof brought out a number of “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s” from Twilight’s company.  The view was like having private skybox seats with a perfect view of the action.  To complete the scene, the roof was also decked out with chairs and a picnic basket full of treats.

“How in the world were you able to convince Mr. Waddle to let us use his roof?”

“More to the point,” added Applejack.  “How’d you set all this up in the first place?”

“Well first,” smiled Twilight, ”All I did was ask.  Besides, that’s what Mr. Waddle is doing with his friends?  See?”

Only a block away, the group saw Mr. Waddle and several other elderly ponies relaxing on the balcony of the Ponyville Retirement Home.  Both sides exchanged a pleasant wave hello..

“Second, I made sure to get up early and set everything up.  It’d be a real shame if we didn’t get the best view of our handy work.”

Rainbow rewarded Twilight with a gentle headlock and a not so gentle noogie.

“Ha!  A mare after my own heart!” she laughed.

“And look at all these super yummy goodies!” said Pinkie Pie, already ransacking the basket and munching on a donut.  “MMmmm!  You really went all out Twilight!”

“Well this is sort a special occasion,” replied Twilight.  “And if you going to do something fun, do it right.”

With that, the rest of the group took advantage at their chance at rest and relaxation.  Applejack and Rarity toasted the night with a couple bottles of apple juice while Twilight couldn’t help but laugh as Pinkie landed a perfect donut ring toss on her horn.  

“Here,” said Rainbow, hoofing a bottle to Fluttershy.  “Drink up, you deserve it.”

“Um, thanks,” whispered Fluttershy, who hadn’t moved since they came to the roof.

“C’mon,” smirked Rainbow.  “Drop that modesty for two seconds and bask in the glory.  I’m real proud of ya.”

Clinking their bottles together Rainbow led her friend towards the others.

“C’mon you guys!” she called out.  “Don’t think you can have this shindig without the mare of the hour here!  And for once I ain’t talkin’ about myself!”

Fluttershy preferred to sit in the soft yet sturdy hay that comprised the roof as opposed to the others relaxing in their lawn chairs.  Looking at her untouched bottle of juice, she glanced over to Pinkie Pie happily munching away on another helping of treats.

“Um... Pinkie?” asked Fluttershy.

“Nomf, nomf,” chewed Pinkie before swallowing her fifth cookie.  “What’s up?”

“Do... do you really think this prank will... well... do you think it’ll be funny?”

“Well of course it’ll be funny silly,” smiled Pinkie.  “That’s why I’m getting my tummy ready for a big ol’ belly laugh!”

“Oh.. okay.  But... do you think Sapphire Shores will find it funny?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that the point?  Aren’t we all supposed to laugh together?  Even Sapphire?”

“Well... sure!  I’m sure she’ll be laughing harder than any of us!”

“Really?  Because... well... what if somepony did what we’re about to do... to you?  Would you still laugh?”

“Aw, of course I’d...!  Um, er... gee... when you put it like that...”

“Fluttershy, darling,” purred Rarity as she took another sip of her juice.  “Those are just nerves talking.  You’ll see.  This will all work out splendidly.”

“Will it?” asked Fluttershy, taking a hard pull off her apple juice.  “I-I mean, what if we did too much?”

“Yeah,” joined in Pinkie.  “What if?”

“Oh come now you two,” said Rarity, taken aback that she now had Pinkie looking worried.  “Look, I know that at the worst this comes off as a bit... overkill... but, but this is tit for tat.  Sapphire needs to learn her lesson and that’s what we’re doing.”

“But wait,” continued Fluttershy.  “How is this... all of this... going to teach her anything!?”

Rarity briefly flubbed her response with the surprising amount of force Fluttershy put into her voice.

“F-Fluttershy, sweetheart.  You make it sounds as though we’re being downright malicious!  I swear to you, this is just an innocent joke.  Nopony here has any interest in tormenting Sapphire Shores.”

“Okay guys!” announced Twilight.  “I’ve got the camera all set up!”

Fluttershy’s jaw nearly dropped upon hearing Twilight.  Glancing at her neighbors only prompted Rarity to start chugging the rest of her apple juice and Pinkie to fill her mouth to cookie overcapacity.  With a deep huff, Fluttershy got up and trotted over to the purple unicorn as she finished angling the camera at the stage.

“Twilight?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s the camera for?”

“This?  Well, y’know...”

“No, Twilight.  I don’t know.”

“So we can capture the big moment!” said Rainbow, throwing her hooves around Twilight and Fluttershy.  “Right, Twi?”

“Big... moment,” whispered Fluttershy, putting two and two together.  “Wait... you mean...?”

“When our prank goes off, we’ll snap a picture,” said Twilight with a smile.  “Something for posterity.”

“I... I... I don’t know what to say...” stammered Fluttershy.

“Well if ya want you could thank Applejack,” pointed out Rainbow.  “Her camera.”

“W-w-what!?  Applejack?”

“Sure is,” said AJ, who couldn’t pin exactly what emotions Fluttershy was going through.  “I mean, it’s hardly what you’d call a precious moment, but still...”

“But... but...” was all Fluttershy could respond with.

“Hey I wanted to ask,” jumped in Rainbow.  “What’re ya gonna do with your photo, AJ?”

“Me?” replied Applejack.  “Not much, probably just keep it in ma’ dresser when I need a good laugh.”

“Hee hee, same here,” giggled Twilight.  “Though I was thinking of turning mine into a bookmark.”

“Sheesh,” signed Rainbow over the rise of chuckles.  “Borning and even more boring.  I’m gonna blow mine up into a poster and hang it on my wall!”

The absurd idea brought out even bigger laughs from Twilight and Applejack, with Rainbow joining for good measure.  The sudden mirth quickly re-energized the  dulling moods of Rarity and Pinkie.

“Ha ha, that’s ridiculous Rainbow!” laughed Rarity.  “How about I use that photo to make T-shirts for all of us!”

AJ and Twi we’re now leaning on each other to keep from falling over with laughter and Rainbow was faring no better on her own legs.

“Ha ha ha ha, I-I got one!” guffawed Pinkie.  “Let’s send a bunch of copies to every newspaper in Equestria!”

That did it.  What started as a small laughing fit had blown out into a full on laugh riot.  Tears rolled down faces, hooves banged on the roof and ponies held tight to their splitting sides.

“Ha ha ha!  You’re killin’ me!” cackled Rainbow.  “I-I can hardly breathe!  Ha ha ha!  Oh wow, so... so what’re you gonna do with yours Fluttershy... Fluttershy?”

By the time Rainbow picked herself up off the ground, she saw Fluttershy standing on the opposite end of the roof.  As Rainbow trotted over, she couldn’t help but notice how much her friend was shaking.

“What gives?” chuckled Rainbow.  “What?  Were we too loud or something?”

“Terrible...” whispered Fluttershy, not even bothering to turn around.

“What?”

“It’s terrible... what all of you said...”

Fluttershy could hear how loud Rainbow facehoofed.

“For crying out... lighten up, Fluttershy!  Jeez, we didn’t mean anything by it.  It’s just a joke...”

All Rainbow saw was a whirl of pink mane and then two piercing eyes.

“It’s not a joke!” yelled Fluttershy.  “Jokes are supposed to be funny, and that’s not funny!”

The mood changed as fast as lightening.  Gone were the smiles and laughter, replaced now with confusion and dumbfounded looks.

“Whoa... Fluttershy,” blurted Rainbow.  “What’s eatin’ you?”

“Me?  Me!?” barked Fluttershy.  “How can you ask me that?  How can any of you ask me that with what we’re about to do!?”

“Fluttershy, please,” said Twilight, taking one side of Rainbow.  “You need to calm down.”

“Twi’s right sugarcube,” added Applejack, taking the other side.  “It’s just a harmless prank, remember?”

“But it’s not!” cried Fluttershy.  “It’s not harmless!  It’s mean and nasty and very very cruel!  This whole thing’s gotten completely out of hoof!”

“Outta hoof!?” shot back Rainbow, finally having enough of Fluttershy’s mood.  “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Sapphire!  This is payback!  The big payback!”

“I don’t want payback!” screamed Fluttershy.  “This is wrong... so very very wrong.  And... and I’m so ashamed of myself to be part of it.”

In spite of herself, though she fought back with all her heart, the tears began to flow.  They came as fast as Fluttershy tried to wipe them off or shake them away.  All Rainbow could do was stretch out a hoof to her.

“Hey... hey,” reassured Rainbow.  “Take it easy, okay?  It’ll be...”

Rainbow’s friendly hoof never found its mark as Fluttershy moved back, letting her wings carry her upward.

“I can’t...” sniffed Fluttershy.  “I... I just... can’t...”

Before anypony could speak another word, she flew down and disappeared down a nearby alley.

“Fluttershy...” Rainbow whispered.  

“Oh my,” said Twilight.  “I’ve... I’ve never seen her so upset.”

“Poor gal,” replied Applejack.  “Think all the excitement got to her?”

“Probably?” was all Twilight could respond with.

The mood took a much more somber tone as the trio returned to their seats beholding Sapphire’s stage.  As Rainbow took her seat, she glared at the sullen faces of Rarity and Pinkie Pie.

“Hey!” growled Rainbow.  “Thanks for the back up you two!  Way to leave us hangin’!”

“Well... I... I,” stuttered Rarity.

Pinkie wasn’t even making eye contact.  Instead pushing the basket of treats away from her.

“Dial it back, Rainbow,” scolded Twilight.  “Things are bad enough with Fluttershy just up and leaving.”

“That’s what I don’t get!” argued Rainbow.  “Why did she go off like that?”

“Well to be fair to her,” said Applejack, scratching her head.  “Maybe we are being a little... nasty.  What do you think Twilight?”

“Me?  Gosh, I don’t know.  Regardless of what I think, it’s too late to do anything now.”

“That’s right!” yelled Rainbow, stomping her hoof.  “We made a plan and we’re stickin’ to it!  We agreed to get back at Sapphire Shores for all the lousy things she did to us and doggoneit that’s what we’re gonna do!  C’mon everypony, put those hooves in one more time!  That’s it!”

Compared to yesterday at the cafe where they made their vow, the energy was slightly lacking.  The hooves were stacked at a much slower pace and everypony outside of Rainbow had a hard time making eye contact.

“Alright!” she thundered.  “Ready?  One, two, three!  Goooooooo team!”

“... team.” said everypony else, a half second off.

“There she is!” pointed Pinkie.

Looking up the group found Sapphire back on stage to a very prolonged applause as the cloud likeness of Ms. Shores floated over her head.

“Oh man,” shuddered Rainbow.  “This is it!”

“Looks like she’s getting ready for her big finale,” said Twilight, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.

The eyes of the group zipped from Sapphire to the cloud formation, fully aware that with one swift kick their plan would be in full motion.  Where once would stand the pop goddess of Equestria would instead stand a smelly pony mashed with a pig slop pie, with horrible taste in fashion to boot.

Of the five ponies, some began to sweat, some trembled in their seat, one or two gulped and one in blue grinned larger and larger as the crowd died down and the spotlights came down on Sapphire.

The stage was set, for Sapphire and for her fate.

“Hey...” whispered Applejack.  “What’s all the hubbub down there?”

It looked as though something was pushing its way through the audience.  

“Who cares AJ!?” cajoled Rainbow.  “We’re about to see...”

“Wait!” interrupted Twilight.  “I see it too... it looks like...!”

“Fluttershy!?” said the ponies in unison.

“My stars!” cried Rarity.  “What’s gotten into that pony!?”

“I wish I knew,” replied Twilight.  “But it looks like she’s trying to make her way to the stage.”

“In the middle of the show!?” balked Applejack.  “She’s gonna get up and clobbered by them security types!”

“I can’t watch,” blubbered Pinkie.  “But I need to cheer for Fluttershy!  Wait!  Why am I cheering for Fluttershy?  Should I be cheering!?”

In the distance, the company watched as one of their own ducked and weaved around security, making a mad dash to close the distance between her and the stage.  Though the yellow pegasus was even able to get the pony diva’s attention, she was finally cut off by a pony made shield around the stage.

”If they touch one hair...” snarled Rainbow.  

“They wouldn’t dare,” said Twilight.  “Not with the whole town watching.”

“But it looks like she’s still trying to get through,” observed Rarity.  “Is she... yelling something?”

“I don’t know what she said,” added Pinkie.  “But it’s making Sapphire look like a super duper meanie mean pants!”

“Yikes,” grimaced Applejack.  “Wonder what she’s saying...”

“I wish I knew,” answered Twilight, shaking her head.

“I’m done watching!” thundered Rainbow, flapping her wings.  “I’m goin’ down there and...”

“Filles and Gentlecolts, may I have your attention!” came a voice over the speakers.

“Hey,” said Pinkie.  “Where’s Sapphire going?  She’s... she’s leaving!”

“Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, our encore presentation is cancelled for this evening.  We apologize for the inconvenience.”

A respective chill was shared by the five fillies, and it wasn’t from the night air.  Though the sounds of ponies, moaning, groaning, booing and generally complaining was heard throughout the town, Mr. Waddle’s roof held a frightful silence.  Where the town felt a sense of disappointment, the feeling on the roof was one of gnawing, growing panic.

“What... in... tarnation...?” whispered Applejack, unable to take her eyes off their now failed prank.

“I... I...” Twilight couldn’t even find the words.

“What did she say!?” cried Rarity, before she went rigid with a sudden fright.  “Oh no... Twilight... you don’t then she... but she couldn’t...”

“I know what you’re thinking and... and... I don’t know...”

“What’re y’all talkin’ bout!?” said Applejack.  “Fluttershy...”  Her eyes went wide with the same terrible thought.  “No!” she yelled.  “This is Fluttershy we’re talkin’ about!  She wouldn’t just... just...”

“We gotta abort!” yelled Pinkie, grabbing and shaking Twilight.  “Game over man!  Game over!  Situation is MUBAR!”

“MUBAR?” asked Twilight.

“Messed Up Beyond All Recognition!” clarified Pinkie.

“She’s right!” realized Twilight.  “We’ve gotta scramble!  C’mon!”

“Head to the park,” called Applejack.  “We need to ditch the chucker!  You comin’ Rainbow?”

Out of all the sudden commotion, Rainbow continued to stare out at the dispersing crowd.

“Rainbow?”

Her eyes slowly panned from the stage to the crowd, like a lost filly looking for her mother.  

“Rainbow!”

“Wha-?” she half uttered.

“Get it in gear, girl!” ordered Applejack.  “We need to hoof it to the park, pronto!”

“Yeah,” mumbled Rainbow.  “Yeah, okay.”


-----------


Back at the park, where Phase 3 was supposed to take place, the five conspirators spent the the wee hours of the night disassembling the pumpkin chucker and the now cold (and even worse smelling) slop pie back under its counsealing blanket.  With some not so subtle encouragement from Applejack, even Rarity helped with the breakdown.  By the time they finished, it was already well past midnight.

“Uuuuuugh,” groaned Rarity, fighting the urge to slump down and sleep right on the grass.  “What a night.”

“What a waste,” moaned Twilight, trying and failing to stop a yawn from coming.

“What a bust,” grumbled Applejack, catching Twilight’s yawn.

Though she helped with the break down, Rainbow continued to be mum about anything.

“What... SNOOOOOORE...”

“Pinkie!” poked Applejack.

“What now?” finished Pinkie, snapping back awake.

“Well,” yawned Twilight again.  “We put the chucker back in AJ’s barn and the pigs get a special dessert.  Rarity told me her coloration spell makes the threads super brittle so they’ll be in tatters by tomorrow.  As for the cloud, I know enough about weather control to know our stink bomb will evaporate by the first light.”

“Okay,” said Pinkie, not paying attention at all.

“Um, Twilight?” interjected Rarity.

“Huh?” replied Twilight.

Rarity made a motion for everypony to turn around.  As the entrance to the park stood Fluttershy, slowly trotting towards them.  To say it was awkward for everypony would be a gross understatement.  For everypony else, it was tug of war with emotions.  They knew who they were dealing with, how sensitive Fluttershy could be.  But it didn’t stop the boiling anger and resentment.

It also didn’t help that Fluttershy wouldn’t look down or nervously cross her hooves.  As if she didn’t understand all the problems she caused.

“Hello,” Fluttershy finally said.

“.... Hi,” sneered Rarity, mentally scolding herself for the outburst of attitude.

“I... I know you’re all still pretty mad over everything,” continued Fluttershy.

“Thank you for noticing,” coldly answered Twilight, resecuring the wagon even though it didn’t need securing.

“I just hope that you’ll understand why...”

“Ya lost yer nerve,” interrupted Applejack, helping Twilight with her busy work.  “Ain’t nothing to be ashamed for.”

“No, it’s not that.  Pinkie, you understand right?”

“Um, uh, sure!” said Pinkie, fixing a forced half hearted grin, unable to meet Fluttershy’s eyes.  “Yeah... I’ll figure it out... uh, eventually...”

“C’mon Pinkie,” called Applejack, not wanting to see the awkward moment drag on.  “You can help me move the chucker and ditch the pie in the hog pen.  Ain’t got much use fer it now.”

“Oh thank Celestia...” whispered Pinkie under her breath as she turned her back on Fluttershy.  “Uhhh...” she paused, straining out the next word.  “Lllllllaaater?”

“Sure Pinkie,” waved Fluttershy, though she didn’t notice.  “Later.”

“I’ll retire as well,” huffed Rarity, who took the long way around Fluttershy as she headed toward the exit.  “I’ve wasted enough time here.”

“Bye,” said Fluttershy.  The farewell wasn’t returned.  Turning to Twilight, the pegasus made a motion toward her.  “Twilight, I need to tell you...”

“I don’t want to hear it,” growled Twilight.  Fluttershy was frozen from the icy glare Twilight was giving her before the unicorn closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  “Fluttershy,” she finally said.  “I’m tired, okay?  I just really want to go home.”

“O-okay,” gulped Fluttershy.  “Good-”

A flash of purple light, and Twilight was gone.

“-night,” finished Fluttershy.

Though the silence was thick, Fluttershy still wasn’t alone.  Though she might as well have been, as Rainbow hadn’t budged since she showed her face.

She didn’t even turn around to face her.

“Rainbow,” said Fluttershy moving to face Rainbow.

She was once again met with a backside as Rainbow turned again.

“Rainbow Dash, please!” cried Fluttershy.  “I know you’re mad, but I had to do it!”

Silence.

“Rainbow... It wasn’t nice.”

Rainbow whirled on her haunches and glared at Fluttershy, who nearly tripped on her backhooves in shock.  The cyan pegasus opened her mouth, like she had a shout ready and waiting to fly.  Only more silence came out as Rainbow stomped her hooves and turned around once more.

“Rainbow... I...”

“I trusted you,” whispered Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy had to put a hoof to her chest to make sure her heart didn’t stop as she watched Rainbow bolt off into the night sky.  Fluttershy strangely didn’t feel like crying, not yet anyway, but she did feel in that moment, terribly cold.


----------


“I’m home,” Fluttershy whispered as quietly as she could so not to disturb her slumbering tenants.

With so little energy, Fluttershy didn’t have the strength to carry herself up the stairs and into her bed, cozy as it was.  Curling herself up on her couch, she couldn’t help but run the entire day in her mind, painful as it was.  Opening her eyes, she stared into a pair of black beady eyes worn by a small fuzzy face.

“Hi Angel,” said Fluttershy, taking a breath before she smiled.  “I guess I should tell you.  I couldn’t get your surprise, I’m sorry.”

With a tiny huff, the bunny cross his paws and turned his back.

“I know,” laughed Fluttershy, fighting to stop her cracking voice.  “I broke a promise and I’m sorry.  You have every right to be mad.  Ha ha, seems like everypony’s mad at me right now...”

As tired as she was, Fluttershy could still feel her chest heave and her eyes start to get wet.  But before she could let out a single sob, she felt a fuzzy face bury and nuzzle into her cheek.  As fast as her sadness came, it passed.

“Happy Birthday, Angel Bunny,” cooed Fluttershy, wrapping her hooves around her furry friend.

Closing her eyes, Fluttershy quickly fell into a peaceful, quiet and long-deserved slumber.
> The Sting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack woke up with a groan as the sunlight hit her face.  Even after spending all of yesterday galloping, sneaking, fibbing, building up contraptions and breaking them down again, she couldn’t sleep worth one wink.  Too exhausted to move yet not comfortable enough to finally drift off, Applejack could feel every agonizing minute she was awake.  How many times did she change her position in bed?  How many times did she flip her pillow over?  How many times did she kick the covers off her bed?

Yawning, the earth pony grabbed her stetson off the nightstand, revealing her alarm clock.

Her alarm clock she forgot to set and now said it was past mid-morning.

“Aw, consarn it!” cursed AJ, rubbing her noggin in a failed attempt to hold back a headache.

Tromping downstairs to the kitchen, AJ spotted Applebloom cleaning up the plates of what previously looked like a delicious breakfast.

“Welly well well,” said Applebloom, trying her best to scold despite her grin.  “Look who’s finally up.”

Applejack grimaced from another sting in her head.  An earful from her smug sister was the last thing she needed today.

“Y’all coulda tried wakin’ me,” she grumbled.

“Granny went to the market, Big Mac has chores and I tried all day to wake you,” huffed Applebloom, carrying a stack of dirty dishes to the soapy sink.  “But all ya did was turn over and cover yer head.  We thought you caught a cold or something last night.  Ya never did tell anypony where you were.”

Applebloom was right.  With all the hush-hush from last night’s botched prank, Applejack didn’t even tell her family where she was going or what she was doing.  Even in her sour mood, she could still never bring herself to lie to her sister.

“Well... uh,” murmured Applejack, grasping for words.  “Ya see... well... truth is...”

“Oooo!” chirped Applebloom, ignoring her big sister’s uneasiness.  “Were you at Sapphire Shores big concert?”

“Yeah... I guess you could say...”

“I heard it was loads o’ fun,” said Applebloom who now was looking down, lightly pawing the floor.  “I didn’t go cause I was still mad for Big Mac.  I... I was even hoping something bad or humiliatin’ would happen to her on stage, on account of breakin’ ma’ big brothers’ heart.”

Applejack felt her heart drop into her stomach.  She hadn’t seen Applebloom look this ashamed since she tried to prank her cousin, Babs Seed.  In that moment, Applejack felt that if she could, she’d give herself a well-deserved buck right in her own hindquarters.

“Applebloom... I,” she whispered.

“But hoo boy was I wrong!” beamed Applebloom, giving a small cheerful bounce.  “That’s why I wanted to wake you up so bad.”

“Huh?”

“Ya just missed her!”

“Missed who?”

“Who do ya mean who!?  Sapphire Shores!  Duh!”


--------


She didn’t know now, but somehow Applejack’s figured her eyes were spinning yearns to her brain.  The South field was completely bucked with each tree accompanied with two large baskets full of apples.  Not only that, the North fields were plowed, the hogs were fed, the wood was chopped and even the barn was given a fresh coat of paint.  It wasn’t even the afternoon yet.

“Tarnation,” gasped Applejack, looking out at what looks like a full days worth of chores done in a few scant hours.

“Yo Big Mac!” called Applebloom.  “Look who’s up!”

From out of another crop of apple trees, half of which looked already bucked and collected, came Big Macintosh.  His mane looked matted down with sweat, his hooves and legs were stained with dirt and soot and his coat was splotched with paint and mud.

He never looked happier.

“Uh, good mornin’ Mac,” said Applejack, still unable to wipe off her stunned face.

“Eeeeeeeup!” answered Big Mac, grinning from ear to ear.

“You did... all this?”

“Eeeeeup!”

“With no help from nopony?”

“Eeeeeeup!”

“Even though you hate feedin’ the hogs!?”

“Eeeeeeup!”

“Applebloom?  Is our big brother okay?”

“Eeeeeeup!” smiled Applebloom.

“What gives?”

“It’s like I was sayin’” said Applebloom.  “Sapphire Shores showed up just this morning.”

Galloping over to the side of the house, Applebloom pushed out a familiar small cart loaded with records, pictures and various memorabilia.  The little filly pulled out a record cover and stuck it in her big sisters face.  Across the cover was the smiling, winking profile of Sapphire which still made Applejack tighten her jaw.  But right underneath was something that caused her jaw to suddenly drop.

“To Big Macintosh, my number one fan.  With love, Sapphire Shores.”

“She signed every record, every picture, every piece of merch-en-dice Big Mac had!” said Applebloom.

“She did all that for Big Mac?” asked Applejack.  She knew for a fact that Big Mac had been avid Sapphire fan for years, so his collection had to be more than substantial.  

“That’s not all she signed,” smirked Applebloom.  The filly leaped onto her brother, grabbing his head and tilting the left side to her sister.  Right on Big Mac’s bright red cheek was a sparkly blue lip imprint.  Somehow, Applejack knew her brother was blushing through his red fur.

“Ain’t he a sly dog?” laughed Applebloom, giving Mac a hug.  

“Heh,” chucked Applejack.  “That’s... well... real nice o’ her.”

“Eeeeup,” answered Big Mac, hiding his face under a large hoof.

“What’s wrong sis?” asked Applebloom.

Even with all the smiling faces, Applejack couldn’t find herself wanting to join in.  With a snort, she pulled the brim of her stetson down.

“I wouldn’t normally ask this,” said Applejack.  “But could y’all cover fer me for a awhile?”

Her siblings shared a confused glance before looking back at their mutual middle sister.

“Eeeup,” smiled Big Mac.

“Sure,” added Applebloom.  “But what fer?”

“I got somewhere important I need to be,” answered Applejack.  “But first...”

AJ turned and headed back to the house with determination in her eyes.

“I gotta bake somethin’...”


---------


“Looks like we all had the same idea,” said Twilight, giving a sheepish grin to Applejack.

On the path to Fluttershy’s cottage, AJ found herself joining up with Twilight Sparkle, who had happened to trot into Rarity, who just so happened to be traveling alongside Pinkie Pie.  All four ponies sported saddlebags.

“What did you bring?” asked Pinkie Pie, trying her best to stay cheerful.  “Smells nice.”

“Not much,” replied Applejack.  “Just a batch of my apple turnovers.  I remember them being her favorite.  You?’

“Banana walnut and honey macaroons,” answered Pinkie.

“Whoa.  Don’t those take a while to bake?”

“Yeah... I... I couldn’t sleep.”

“Same here,” joined in Twilight.  “I have a book on the flora and fauna of Saddle Arabia.  Do you think she’ll like it?”

“I think so,” assured Rarity.  “I just hope she’ll like my alpaca crocheted scarf.  She always had her eye on it, so I thought... well, you know...”

“She’ll love it,” smiled Applejack, before looking down in thought.  “So, uh, what happened to y’all?”

The three ponies looked at each other.

“She visited me at Sugarcube Corner,” beeped Pinkie Pie.  “She apologized for what happened asked if I do my ‘Welcome’ song for her.  She even stayed for the encore!”

“I got a letter this morning at my boutique,” tittered Rarity.  “Ms. Shores asked me to breakfast and  asked me to bring a bunch of my latest designs with as well, including my latest work.”

“I get a knock at the library door at mid-morning and it’s Ms. Shores offering an apology and said she’d love to use the ball lightning cloud Rainbow and I made for her next concert!” said Twilight.

“Wow, that’s great,” commented Applejack.  “Uh... speaking of who...?”

“We were about to ask you the same thing,” admitted Twilight.  “But we haven’t seen Rainbow Dash at all today.”

“Do you think she knows about anything that’s happened today?” asked Rarity.

“Is she still mad at Fluttershy?” squeaked Pinkie.

Twilight wished she had some sort of answer.  “I hope not,” was all she could offer.

“Welp,” said Applejack.  “Looks like we’re here.”

All the conversing passed enough time that Fluttershy’s home now stood before them.  While typically one could make out all sorts of activity through the windows; scurrying critters, birds and the occasional bear, today the cottage looked vacated of any and all animals.

Twilight, taking the initiative, trotted up to the front door, giving a quick but solid rap.

“Fluttershy,” she called out.  “Are you home?  It’s...”

Twilight looked back at her assembled group.

“Well... it’s everypony.”

“Almost everypony,” whispered Applejack.  “Where the hay is Rainbow?”

“I wish I knew,” fretted Rarity, eliciting a gulp from Pinkie Pie.

“Listen!” continued Twilight.  “I think I speak for everypony when I say we’re really really sorry about last night.”

“I can vouch for Twi,” joined in Applejack.  “I feel terrible for what we almost did.”

“We almost made the biggest mistake of our lives,” added Pinkie Pie.

“You were completely in the right to try and stop us,” added Rarity.

“Sapphire Shores apologized to each of us this morning,” concluded Twilight.  “But even if she didn’t, it was wrong of us to want to get back at her like that.  I hope you can forgive us.”

Silence.

“Fluttershy,” cried Twilight.  “Please, just talk to us!”

“C’mon, sugarcube!” called out Applejack, respectfully removing her stetson.  “I know we done ya wrong, but please don’t hold it against us!”

“You have every right to be upset!” cried Rarity.  “But please don’t shut us out like this!”

“Fluttershy!” yelled Pinkie, her voice cracking.  “Please... please don’t hate us...”

“Will you guys knock it off already!?”

Everypony took two steps back, a stunned quiet shared between them.  Until...

“Wait,” muttered Twilight.  “That didn’t sound like Fluttershy.”

“Uh, yeah!  That’s cause it wasn’t!”

Flying just above Fluttershy’s cottage was a familiar blue pegasus with a familiar blue scowl.

“Rainbow!” yelled everypony.

“Yeesh,” she sighed.  “Try being a little louder next time.  If you four wanna make some noise then meet me round back, the party’s just getting started.”

“Did she just say,” began Rarity.

“Party!?” finished Pinkie as she zoomed past the others toward the backyard.


-------------


It may not have been a Pinkie Pie level party, but Pinkie was never one to judge.  Fluttershy’s backyard was teeming with every manner of animal from the surrounding nature.  From the look of things, it felt like a miniature birthday party.  The center of which sat Angel bunny, holding court atop a old log covered with some comfortable moss.  As the four ponies trotted in, Rainbow fluttered over the birthday bunny.

“Hey big guy,” said Rainbow.  “Sorry ‘bout the racket.  Can I get you some more juice?”

Angel shoved a small hollowed out acorn in Rainbow’s hoof before unceremoniously waving her away.

“Comin’ up!  Hey Fluttershy, you need anything else?”

Carrying a basket of acorns, peanuts and other various pet foods was Fluttershy.

“Oh, no thank you.”

“Aw, c’mon Fluttershy, I told you I’ve got this.  Go be with your birthday bunny.”

“Well, if you say so.”

With a quick swoop, Rainbow took the basket of treats in her mouth and flew back to the cottage, distributing treats as she went.

“Fluttershy!” screamed Pinkie.

“Oh hey - ooof!”

With a tackle that could’ve gotten Pinkie scouted by Fillydelphia Flyers, Pinkie buried her face into Fluttershy’s stomach.

“Oh you beautiful, wonderful, morally upright pegasus!” cried Pinkie.  “We’re so so soooooo-

“It’s okay, Pinkie,” strained Fluttershy.  “I heard everything..”

“So this is where Rainbow ended up,” observed Twilight.

“It’s funny,” said Fluttershy getting back on her hooves despite a Pinkie still attached to her.  “She showed up at my door first thing in the morning.  I mentioned to her about Angel’s birthday and she insisted on putting together a party.  She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Aw,” cooed Rarity.  “That so very kind-hearted of you Rainbow.”

“No big,” stated Rainbow, carrying a tray of carrot juice filled acorns.  “I was a total jerk, so I’ve got a lot of making up to do.”

“So when did you hear about Sapphire taking back our lightning cloud?”

“She did!?” shouted Rainbow, nearly spilling the tray.  “That’s awesome!”

“Wait a sec,” asked Applejack.  “Ya mean ya didn’t even know about this morning?”

“Know what?’ puzzled Rainbow.

“Rainbow...” sniffed Twilight.  

As the pegasus put down her tray she was overtaken with a pair of purple hooves thrown around her neck in a tight hug.

“You really are a true blue friend, you know that?” said Twilight.

“Heh, I’ll give you the blue part,” replied Rainbow.  “But if you’re looking for true, try the other pegasus.”

“Oh Rainbow,” blushed Fluttershy, dragging a still hugging Pinkie alongside.  “I didn’t really do anything...”

“Still little miss modesty,” smirked Rainbow, shifting around Twilight’s hug.  

“Oh,” blubbered Rarity, her hooves near her mouth.  “This is just too precious.... Applejack?”

“Uh, yeah Rar-?” AJ paused.  “Oh boy....”

With a sigh, AJ was bound up in a hug from the white unicorn as she smushed their cheeks together.

“This time, I don’t even care that you smell like a barn!” cried Rarity.

“Gee thanks,” sneered Applejack.

“Um, I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” said a voice from behind.

Everypony turned to see a yellow mare.  Though from what she usually wore, her dress could be considered much more conservative, though the added jewels were a nice touch.

“S-sapphire shores,” said Rarity, dropping Applejack.

“Hey Rarity,” smiled Sapphire as she shook hooves with the unicorn.  “I just wanted to stop by to talk to your friend.”

“You mean, Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.

“That’s your name?” said Sapphire, trotting over to the pegasus.  “It’s pretty.”

“Thank you,” said Fluttershy as she shook hooves with the pop star.

“That’s Sapphire Shores?” whispered Applejack.

“Who did you think...?” replied Rarity before struck with a realization.  “Wait a moment, you were ready to come to hoofticuffs with Sapphire Shores and you didn’t even know what she looked like?”

“I figured I’d just clobber the posh-ist looking pony,” mused Applejack.

“Unbelievable,” grumbled Rarity.

Thankfully, Sapphire Shores didn’t hear the exchange.

“Fluttershy,” she said, nervously rubbing her front hooves.  “I just wanted to thank you for last night, and to say I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay, really,” said Fluttershy.  “I dumped a lot on you, so I don’t blame you for being upset.”

“But that’s just it.  When you’re on tour for months on end, yeah, you start to get a little testy at someponies.  But I had no excuse for what I did and what it almost led to.  So, thank for being so honest with me.”

The word, “honest,” brought a sudden sense of foreboding among the other ponies.  

“Um, I’m sorry to butt in,” said Twilight.  “But what exactly did you tell Ms. Shores, Fluttershy?”

“She told me everything,” replied Sapphire.

Without thinking AJ and Rainbow were on the lookout for any burly stallions wearing shades. Rarity thought out fast she could cobble together an impromptu vacation and Twilight considered staying in the library for the rest of the year.

“So she told you e-everything?” gulped Twilight.  

“Yeah, about how I acted the when I arrived in Ponyville,” said Sapphire.  “About how her friends were angry and miserable because of what I did.  She said she didn’t blame me, but all the same, she said I should know that her friends were really hurting.”

“What?” whispered Twilight.

“Granted, I didn’t react well when she told me.  I even cancelled my encore I was so mad.  But then... when I started thinking about it.  I felt really terrible.  Here I was having to face up to what I did and instead I up and cancel my show, disappointing the whole town.  So, I guess I’m trying to make up for being a real lousy guest.”

“So...” inquired Rarity.  “She didn’t tell you anything else?”

“There really wasn’t much else to say,” said Sapphire.

“The pie was my idea!” proudly announced Pinkie.

“Pie?”

Fluttershy ducked as a barrage of hooves of every color covered Pinkie’s mouth in a pathetic attempt to look like a impromptu group hug.

“Ha ha ha!” laughed Twilight, a little too loud.  “Isn’t she a kidder?!”

“About what... never mind,” replied Sapphire.  “I just wanted all of you to know that you’re all real lucky to have a friend like her.”

“Yeah,” smiled Rainbow.  “We know.”

“Well,” Sapphire cleared her throat.  “I’ve gotta hit the mayor’s office, see if I can squeeze in a last minute show tonight before we go to Canterlot.”

“Wait please,” mewed Fluttershy, flying in front of Sapphire.  “If you have time, would you like to stay for a minute?  We’re having a birthday party.”

“Really?” asked Sapphire.  “Whose?”

“Him,” pointed Fluttershy.

“Um.... the rabbit?”

“Technically he’s a still a bunny, but yes.”

“You’re having a party for your pet bunny?’

“Oh I don’t think of him as a pet, more like a roommate.”

“..... eh.  Why not?  I’ve done stranger concerts.”

As Sapphire trotted towards the now fully blown away Angel, seeing as a world-famous singer just gatecrashed his party, Fluttershy was surrounded by her very confused friends.

“So...” whispered Applejack.  “You didn’t tell her anything else?”

“About.. you know?” added Twilight.

“Well,” said Fluttershy.  “Nothing bad happened, right?  No sense in making things even more complicated.”

“Goodness,” sighed Rarity.  “We really owe you for this.”

“That’s okay,” cooed Fluttershy.  “But if it’s okay with you, could you all promise never to do something like that again?”

“We’ll do better than that,” grinned Pinkie.

Together, the five mares cross their hearts, pretended to fly with their hooves and then placed one hoof over their eye.  Twilight even did it right this time.

“Hey everypony!” called Sapphire.  “Who wants to sing happy birthday to the birthday bunny?”

“Me!” screamed Pinkie.  “Me me me me meeeeeee!”

As the others joined around Angel, Fluttershy was stopped by Rainbow throwing a hoof around her.

“I knew I could trust you,” she grinned.

“Huh?” balked Fluttershy.  “But I stopped... you know...”

“Not that.  I mean, I should have know that we could always trust you to look out for us.  Even when we don’t know it.”

“Rainbow,” sniffed Fluttershy, giving her friend a hug.

“Yeah yeah.  C’mon, let’s go have some fun.”

“You got it!”