The Return of the Everfree Kingdom

Chapter 3: The Disoriented Memory

A storm had just passed over the settlement of Ponyville, leaving the town drenched and full of puddles, the dark clouds have been replaced with Luna’s starry night sky. All the houses in Ponyville had their lights turned off, all of the buildings except for the Ponyville Library.

Spike had awakened from his nap a little earlier than what he would’ve liked when he heard yelling which made it impossible for him to sleep peacefully, but he quickly stopped his grumbling when he walked into the kitchen to see Twilight sitting at the table with a black coated colt with a brown cloak covering his body who was drinking some teat the other end.

“Umm Twilight, what is going on?” He asked looking back and forth between the two ponies at the table “who is that?”

Twilight turned her head towards Spike slowly with a nervous smile on her face “remember that pony who the Princess sent?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“You mean that stupid foal who thought it would be a good idea to not take the pegasi chariot?” Spike crossed his arms his he stared at Twilight “what about him?”

Twilight turned her head back to face their guest “well umm he’s here.”

Spike having just woken up was not in the mood for jokes, he walked over to the colt as he rubbed his right eye “who? You mean this kid?”

“Yes she means this kid” the colt replied still sipping his tea, Spike glared back at the colt “and before you say anything little dragon, this is not a joke nor is this some crude prank.” He set his empty tea cup down onto the table “I am the one sent to help you.”

Spike just continued glaring until he stretched and yawned as he walked back to his bed “must be some type of dream” he concluded as he let his tiredness take over and fell asleep.

Now the two unicorns were once again alone at the kitchen table, Twilight still unable to determine whether she was dreaming or that the Princess was playing a prank of some kind.

“He seems like a nice assistant” The mysterious child announced “but how about we finally cut to the chase.”

Twilight gulped as she tried to assess the situation, a strange colt with magical prowess had appeared and is supposedly the one who is meant to help train us to defend Equestria. Twilight still couldn’t understand what was going on as she let out a sigh as she gave up.

“I see you’ve grown since last time I saw you” the colt stated making Twilight even more confused.

“Just who are you?” Twilight finally managed to ask “I mean you’re a colt who can clearly have enough magic power to render me paralysed as long as you wanted, and you say you were sent by Princess Celestia.” The colt stared her in the eyes as she continued “all of this doesn’t make any sense, just answer me, who are you?”

The colt shot Twilight a look that told her he was unimpressed for some reason then he let out a sigh “I admit that we only met the once and that you wouldn’t remember me, but really I thought I at least left some kind of impression, especially with those cookies I gave you.” He jumped out his chair and started making his way to Twilight’s door.

He stopped as he turned his head towards Twilight as he glared her down “all I have to say after observing you and your friends is this.” The colt opened the door of the library, the storm outside had started up again and the rain looked heavier than before and thunder could be heard in the background.

“In all my time as mentor for the Elements of Harmony not once have I come across a generation as awful and appalling as you and your friends.” Twilight watched as the colt put his hood back on as he disappeared into the storm slamming the door behind him.

___________________________________________________________________________

“HE SAID WHAT?” an angry Rainbow Dash yelled out as she stood with her friends in Twilight’s library.

Twilight had gathered her friends the next day after the storm and retold them the events of last night including the two new ponies Diglet and Steady Skies as well as her encounter with the colt who said he was the mentor of the Elements of Harmony.

“How could he say that about us?” Rainbow continued to yell “we are the embodiment of the elements aren’t we? We defeated Nightmare Moon AND Discord using the Elements! And yet some little kid tells us that we aren’t good enough!”

“Calm down Rainbow” their cowpony friend calmly said “what you’re doing is only proving his point.”

“Applejack has a point darling” Rarity insisted “if we get flustered by his statement then we only falling into his trap.”

“I don’t know” Twilight announced “I believe he was telling the truth about him being the one the Princess sent, but why would she send a kid?”

“Yes I wonder that too.”

Everyone in the room, except for Spike who was still napping turned their heads to one corner of the room where a brown cloaked colt was sitting on the floor.

“Well say something, I don’t like awkward silences” the colt Mentor said to the six stunned ponies.

“SAY SOMETHING?” Rainbow yelled “you insult us then appear out of nowhere and expect US to say something?”

“There you go, see was that so hard?” the colt replied “well at least now I know you can at least form a sentence.”

“Urgh, what am I doing yelling at some kid?” she asked herself sighing.

“You’re back?” Twilight asked as she stepped closer to the colt Mentor “why are you back?”

“Well I am back to ask you all a question” he lifted his hood back, revealing his face to the others, a big grin on his face “and depending on how you answer this question, I may or may not help you ponies.”

Twilight and her friends looked to each other, hoping somepony would come up with a reply.

“What’s this question of yours?” Applejack finally asked breaking the silence.

“Do you believe I am the one the Princess sent to help you?” he said with a straight face “that is my question.”

“What kind of question is that?” Pinkie asked “you said you’re the pony the Princess sent, but then again you did say we were not good, but then again I can’t stay mad for long.” Pinkie kept listing off different reasons then countering with another reason.

The others let Pinkie continue rambling as they thought up of their own opinions.

“I think you’re a liar and that this is some kind of sick joke.” Rainbow said aloud with a huffed chest “there’s no way I am the worst element of loyalty!”

“Wait!” Twilight said making everypony stare at her “if he said we are the worst elements, doesn’t that mean that there were others who were the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight and her friends remained silent as their thought about their lavender friend’s conclusion.

The silence was broken by clapping that came from the colt, “bravo, you always were a smart cookie, but sadly that is irrelevant to the question, and speaking of cookies I need to buy some more later.”

“Your Rainbow friend answered the way I expected her to, I wonder if you will do the same” the colt said with some glee.

“You expected her to not believe you?” Pinkie asked “wow, you must be magical; I believe you are telling the truth.”

“Well seems like that now leaves four more ponies to answer a simple question” he turned his head towards the yellow pegasus who was hiding behind a table.

“Don’t be worried frightened one, all you have to do at the moment is answer a simple question.” He said in a soothing tone.

“I…I... don’t know” Fluttershy meekly said “you said something bad, but I can’t stay mad at a weak defenceless pony.”

“Perfect” he said “you answered perfectly, now it’s time for you three, although I’m not as weak as I look.” He said looking at Rarity, Applejack and Twilight.

“But darling, you’re just a kid” Rarity had a motherly look on her face “and you should stop playing these weird games and change into something more decent, that cloak looks absolutely tacky.”

The colt Mentor looked over his cloak then turned to Rarity with an unimpressed look “no one says my cloak is not decent, but you answered exactly the way I expected.”

He again look at his cloak “I think it’s good” he muttered.

“Well ah don’t know one bit what to make of this nonsense.” Applejack said scratching her mane “so my honest answer is that I don’t have an answer.”

“You girls are on a roll, you’re answering exactly as I had anticipated” he said grinning “now it’s time for the bookworm to answer.”

Everyone turned to Twilight who just crept away from their glances.

Twilight sighed as she stared the colt in his bright red eyes “although you’re very confusing and that you may be lying I believe you though.”

The colt just smiled as everypony turned their attention to him. “Exactly as I said, the worst generation to date.”

“Why?” they all cried in unison “we answered your question.”

“Let me finish” the colt stared daggers into their eyes, making them all back away “BUT, I’ll give you a chance to change my mind.”

___________________________________________________________________________

The next day the storm had finally passed leaving puddles and mud everywhere in Ponyville. Little fillies were everywhere, all of them playing in the mud and puddles, some parents having to drag their children away to clean them.

Twilight had her saddlebags set up on one of the tables, neatly putting in several items.

“Twi” a sleepy Spike asked as he walked down the stairs rubbing his eyes “what are you doing?”

“We’re going on a trip Spike” Twilight answered packing away books into her bags “and don’t worry I’ve already packed your stuff as well.”

Spike slowly made his way to Twilight as he let out a long yawn, he climbed onto her back “will Rarity be coming?”

Twilight let out a sigh but smiled and brushed the dragon’s head with her hoof. “Sure, we’re all going; we decided that we should go on a camping trip.”

Spike immediately woke up, all sign of drowsiness disappearing in an instant “well we shouldn’t keep them waiting shall we, onwards to fair lady Rarity!”

Twilight just shot an unamused look at Spike before galloping out her library’s door.

___________________________________________________________________________

Twilight arrived at a single tree on the outskirts of Ponyville. She looked around seeing her friends making their way to the tree, Scootaloo was rapidly following Rainbow Dash with both Sweetie Bell and Applebloom in the red wagon attached to her scooter, Rarity and Applejack was in turn rapidly galloping after their little sisters, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both arrived from different directions, Pinkie bouncing along like usual.

“Well looks like we’re all here” Rainbow announced coming to an abrupt stop next to Twilight. “Still don’t know why we have to bring these guys.” She motioned towards the small group known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“He said to bring them along, as well as Spike, I don’t know why if all he said was to go on a camping trip.” Twilight replied.

“I’m not so sure about the girls coming along with us, what if something happens to them?” Fluttershy asked as she approached them with a worried expression.

“Yeah Twilight” Rainbow added looking back at the speeding scooter “why would he want them to come along?”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CAMPING EXPERTS!!!!” the young fillies shouted with glee as they all jumped off from their transport.

“Sweetie Bell!/Applebloom!” the fashionable unicorn and cowpony both said in unison “we told you to wait for us and to not rush off” Applejack’s accent making her voice very distinguishable from Rarity’s.

“But we wanted to get here first” Scootaloo responded defending her friends “but it seems like we won’t be able to beat Rainbow Dash.”

The two older sisters sighed as they gathered up the Crusaders and joined the rest of the group.

“Mornin’ Spike!” Applebloom said waving her right forehoof at the dragon assistant “are ya comin’ with us?”

“Yeah, yeah” Spike answered while he sat on Twilight’s back “what are you three doing here?”

“We heard about it from some weird boy who told us about it” Sweetie Bell replied “then after he told us our sisters started to pack some of the essentials and here we are.”

“We’re going to be Cutie Mark Crusader Campers!” Scootaloo shouted puffing her chest “and I know we’re going to get our cutie marks, I can just feel it.”

“You say that about every crusade you little fillies have” Rarity said getting the attention of the Crusaders “can’t you just wait until you get you figure out your special talent?”

“No!” the Crusaders shouted “we’re going to try everything until we get our cutie mark.”

“Most you be so intolerant to advice?.”

Everypony turned to see the cloaked colt once again, a saddlebag on his back. “Well don’t everypony try to talk at once now, it’s not like I’m a ghost.”

He quickly turned in a circle on the spot looking himself over “Or am I? Quickly! Tell me, am I a ghost?”

“Um no, you’re not a ghost” Twilight replied “and what are you doing here?”

“What? Who doesn’t like a good camping trip” the colt replied “besides, it would be unfair for Spike since he is the only boy here.”

“Well he does have a point, it does get a bit annoying when I have no one to talk to” Spike said, Twilight nodded in agreement.

“Okay you can come with us” Twilight looked to the others before looking back to the colt “so-” was all she could say before being cut off from the colt Mentor.

“We’re going to an inn a few hours away, a nice place full of nice ponies” the colt said taking the lead of the group “also just to make things easier for everyone here, just call me….”

He scratched his white mane in thought “ummm, hold on it’s coming to me” he started to furiously scratch his head with both of his forehooves.

The assembled ponies plus Spike looked at each other, some confused while most were just trying to make sense of the situation.

“I know!” he stated out loud “call me Cookie Monster!”

The other ponies and Spike all turned to each other then back to the colt, Rainbow facehoofed “What?” he asked, then he let out a long sigh “oh fine call me Clyde.”

“What kind of name is Clyde?” Rainbow asked “And secondly why are YOU picking where we go, all you did was tell us to go on a camping trip with these four as well.”

Twilight shook her head as she approached Rainbow and Clyde “look Rainbow, I’m sure he has his reasons however weird they may seem.”

“Are you sure you’re okay Twi?” Rainbow shifted her attention to her lavender friend “you seem different ever since the letter from the Princess.”

“I think it may be stress” Twilight said sighing “the Princess sent a letter telling us that Equestria is in danger and here we are having a colt who says he is here to help telling us that we have to go on a camping trip.”

“Don’t talk as if I am not here girl.” Clyde interjected “and you seriously don’t believe I am here to help do you?”

“I believe that this is some kind of joke” Rainbow answered “This could all be some kind of prank, a really, really bad prank.”

“COME ON!” Sweetie Bell shouted grabbing the attention of the three bickering ponies “LET’S GO!”

Clyde walked on ahead of everyone else “okay to the inn it is then.”

___________________________________________________________________________

“How much longer do we have to go?” Scootaloo complained, having been the one to drive the Crusader Mobile since the start of the trip “my wings are getting tired since we’ve been going for two hours now.”

“Hey! How about this” Clyde said not even turning to look at Scootaloo “maybe you’re special talent is complaining, since you just LOVE to do that.”

Scootaloo brought her scooter right alongside Clyde “well maybe it IS my special talent.” Scootaloo shoved her face into Clyde’s, her muzzle dangerously close to his “how about this for a complaint? I don’t like you.”

He pushed her away, again without even turning to look her in the eyes. He chuckled as Scootaloo was no longer in his personal bubble “you do know that wasn’t complaining? You were stating a fact, get it right.”

“Hmph” was all that Scootaloo said as she continued to drive the Crusader Mobile.

Sweetie Bell tapped her muzzle in thought before asking “Do you have your cutie mark?” which made the other two crusaders and the other ponies plus Spike turn their attention towards Clyde.

Clyde turned his head to see that the three Crusaders was intently staring at him, he let out a heavy sigh as he stopped and face hoofed “since when was I so important?” he asked to no pony in particular “fine, I have one and then again I don’t have one.” He turned towards Sweetie Bell “now can we move on now?”

“That doesn’t make any sense” Applebloom stated as the group continued to march on “what do you mean you have one and you don’t?”

“Complicated” he answered “don’t want to talk about it, and now this discussion shall now be forever locked and the key will be tucked away and shall only be brought out when I feel like it.”

The Crusaders looked at each other before replying in unison “what?”

“Meaning I will only discussion when I damn well feel like it okay?”

“Whoa calm down there, no need for the language” Applejack said cutting into the conversation.

“I just don’t want to talk about my cutie mark” Clyde replied, the anger in his voice becoming more evident “so let’s just drop it, probably in a ditch somewhere and then burnt, just in case.”

“You’re insane” Scootaloo said sighing

“I take that as a compliment” Clyde said chuckling “it proves that I’m different.”

“I give up” Applebloom said slumping further into the red wagon she was sitting in “I can’t make heads or tails of most of the things you say.”

“Let’s keep it that way” Clyde said with a smile.

Twilight looked to the rest of her friends, each of them shrugging their shoulders indicating that they didn’t know either.

Twilight sighed as they continued to the inn “what in Equestria are we doing?”

___________________________________________________________________________

It took the group another half hour of walking and some minor complaints from Rarity about how she was going to have the first shower once they arrive until they finally reached their destination.

“Wow, it’s huge” Sweetie Bell commented as Scootaloo pulled the Crusader Mobile to a stop in front of the inn.

“Yeah it is big” Applejack agreed “bigger than what I expected it to be at least.”

“The GAP Inn” Applebloom read the sign hanging above the door to the inn out loud “what kind of name is that?”

“It’s the name of the inn, duh” Scootaloo replied “everypony can see that.”

“Well what if the pony looking at it doesn’t have very good eyesight” Clyde said in response to Scootaloo “would they be able see that?”

Rainbow walked in between the two little ponies before an argument could break out “hey it’s getting late, we should probably just go inside.” She insisted “we all could use a good rest after that long trip.”

“Uh huh” Scootaloo happily replied “anything you say Rainbow Dash.”

Rarity took charge and entered the inn first “hello there, we need a couple of rooms for the night and a good warm bath ASAP.”

The other ponies followed her lead and entered their destination, they were greeted by a large interior filled with chairs, tables, a small reception t the left of the entrance and a large stage which was surrounded by the tables.

“Hello there” the assembled group of ponies turned to see a dark pink mare with a mane of a bright purple colour with indigo coloured streaks running through it, she also wore a pink beret, she also had a warm, greeting smile on her face.

“Welcome to the GAP Inn” she said with her big smile “we have enough rooms for all of you, it’s four ponies per room and the cost is 4 bits per room, I see there are eleven of you here so that’ll be 12 bits please, oh and dinner is 2 bits per pony so now your cost is 36 bits in total.”

The six older ponies nervously looked at each other. Twilight was the first to speak “umm did any of you girls bring any money at all?”

“I’m really sorry Twilight” Fluttershy bashfully said staring at the ground.

“Ahm sorry too sugarcube” Twilight’s orange friend said “I forgot to bring some on the fact I had to rush so I can catch Applebloom.”

“The same could be said for me too” Rarity spoke up with an ashamed look on her face “I must say I am quite ashamed of myself for having forgotten to bring any bits at all dear.”

“I wanted to be at the tree first so I flew as fast as I could after waking up” Rainbow Dash nervously smiled and chuckled.

“I brought bits of string by accident” Pinkie said as she pulled out some string from her saddlebag and started to play with.

“Oh can I have one?” Clyde asked with utter glee in his voice.

“Sure you can” Pinkie answered “here you go.”

Clyde eagerly took a long piece of string in his hooves “these can be real fun if you know what to do.” he stated as he tucked it into one of his sleeves.

“Well what are going to do? I only brought a couple bits with me but I didn’t think it would cost this much, I mean we came all this way for nothing.”

“I swear ponies these days” Clyde said shoving his way through them, “here are your bits miss” he reached into a pocket in his cloak and pulled out the required amount of bits and passed them over to the Inn Keeper.

“Thank you very much, glad to see you’re back and with friends this time.” The Inn Keeper said as she took the bits “and I told you please call me by my nickname, Insi.”

“Every other pony who visits seems to call me that” Insi handed Twilight three keys and a note “here’s the keys to your rooms and a list of what will be on the menu for dinner, also like always my friend will perform a show on that stage while everypony is enjoying their meal.”

Twilight skimmed through the menu as the others figured out who was sleeping in which room, it was quickly decided that the three fillies should sleep in separate rooms lest they cause a disturbance for the inn much to the annoyance of the three fillies in question. It was also decided that Twilight and her friends split up into groups of two so they can all watch over the small filly in their room to make sure that she doesn’t sneak out to do any crusading.

“Okay so in room five we have Rarity, Fluttershy and Sweetie Bell.” Twilight announced after the group discussion was over “next in room six we have me, Spike, Applejack and Applebloom and then that leaves room seven to Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Pinkie Pie and Clyde.”

Twilight handed a key to Rarity and Rainbow Dash, “and remember girls no crusading” Rarity firmly said putting her hoof down “do you promise not to?”

“We promise” the Cutie Mark Crusaders replied in unison.

“Well if anypony needs me I’ll be finding a good table so I can get a good view of the magic show.”Clyde said as he started searching “and don’t worry I’ll make sure I find a big table for all of us.”

“Wait, it’s going to be a magic show?” Spike asked “I wonder if the magician is gonna pull a rabbit out of his hat” he started to follow Clyde as the two of them searched for a table with a good view.

“Oh, I hope the magician won’t hurt the rabbit” Fluttershy said as she looked to her friends for answers.

“Urgh, Fluttershy he’s not going to hurt the rabbit” Rainbow Dash face hoofed again for the second time that day “it’s all just an act.”

“Oh thank goodness” Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief as she made her way up towards the second level where the rooms were located.

“Wait for me darling” Rarity called out as she strode to Fluttershy’s side “I do have the key remember, and I do believe that I have to have the first bath, I’m all sweaty from that walk.”

“That’s okay Rarity, I’ll take a bath after you and then we can go and watch the magic show.”

Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack and Twilight were left with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, “Well” Twilight started to say “we should get into our rooms and rest for a little bit until dinner.”

“Don’t worry about us Twilight” Applebloom confidentially said “we’re not tired at all.”

“That’s because I did all the work” Scootaloo said stretching her hooves “all you and Sweetie Bell did was sit in the back.”

Applebloom leant in towards Scootaloo “shush, do you want to go find our cutie marks or not?” she whispered into Scootaloo’s ears.

“I-uh mean yeah we’re not tired at all.” Scootaloo quickly said correcting herself.

“Yeah so can we please go exploring?” Sweetie Bell asked as they each tried to pull off their best sappy face.

“Oh fine.” Twilight answered with an unamused expression “but just make sure you don’t wreck anything.”

“Yeah we’ll make sure.” The three fillies replied in unison as they galloped away.

“Now I don’t want to hear any stories of you three girls doing anything wrong now you hear” Applejack called out to the Crusaders as they disappeared from sight “ah swear ah worry for those three fillies.”

“Well Applejack let’s go to our rooms now” Pinkie mused as she bounced towards the stairs “my bags are full of string and I want to put it down.”

“Wait for me.” Applejack called out as she chased after Pinkie Pie.

“Well I guess I’ll follow Pinkie since she can’t get in the room without me, I think I’ll go take a little nap” Rainbow said as she stretched her forehooves “I think I’ll need it in case Scootaloo and “Clyde” have another little fight again.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you at dinner time” Twilight said to Rainbow Dash, as she too trotted to her room

___________________________________________________________________________

The Crusaders sped off as they all decided to help Spike and Clyde find a table.

“Well, well, well look at what the Ursa Major just dragged in.” a snobby young voice came from near the Crusaders. The three ponies turned to see Diamond Tiara with her faithful lackey Silver Spoon in tow.

“Oh brother” Sweetie Bell moaned as the bullies came closer.

“Is that anyway for a blank flank to treat a pony that already has their cutie mark?” Diamond Tiara asked smugly, “I think the three of you will never get your cutie mark.”

“Like yeah” Silver Spoon added.

“Oh just leave us alone already” Applebloom insisted “we don’t to hear your stupid nonsense.”

“Nonsense?” Diamond Tiara asked back sounding offended “what about the nonsense YOU pulled at my cute cenera.”

“You three!” A voice called out “I found us a table not too far away it’s actually at the front of the stage, we can get a REAL good view of the show from there.”

“Don’t you know not to interrupt ladies when they’re having a conversation?” Diamond Tiara smugly said to Clyde “and what’s with the outfit? Is your face so ugly you had to hide it?”

“Nope” he answered flatly “I’m pretty sure you might have been looking in a mirror when you said that cause last time I checked my face was of normal standards.”

“Oh look at him” Silver Spoon commented “he’s trying to come up with an insult; you could at least try to think of like something better?”

“Oh put a sock in it” Clyde replied bluntly “I know your type, you two are the kind of ponies who will one day end up with no friends and you’ll have no pony to blame but yourself.”

“I think you’re just jealous since you’re probably wearing that cloak to hide your blank flank.” Diamond Tiara “a pony that has no cutie mark doesn’t deserve to talk to us.”

“Well okay here, how about a little bet?” Clyde proposed “this little string that you can see coming out of my sleeve, if you can pull all of it out then I will do whatever you say for an entire year, if you can’t then you have to leave us alone.”

“Hey isn’t that the string he got from Pinkie?” Sweetie Bell asked as she watched the scene unfold.

“Then it’s his fault then” Scootaloo commented.

“Maybe he has something up his sleeve.” Applebloom said as she focused on the string, both Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo stared at Applebloom “what?”

“That has to be the most stupidest bet ever” Silver Spoon insisted “of course we’ll win it’s just a piece of string, how stupid are you?”

“Then prove it” he challenged, the piece of string hanging from his sleeve.

“Just be prepared to lose once I prove how worthless you are, then you’ll be my slave for a WHOLE YEAR” Diamond Tiara stepped forward and grabbed the string with her teeth and tugged on it as hard as she could.

Clyde somehow didn’t budge, but a whole metre of string flew out of his sleeve which landed in a pile in front of Diamond, but it still lead back to Clyde, “Nope, you haven’t pulled it out yet.” All three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were shocked at first but quickly started to laugh at Diamond Tiara.

“You’re cheating!” Silver Spoon accused “you’re just hiding a bunch of string in your sleeve.”

“I SO AM NOT!” Clyde replied imitating her voice “all she has to do is to get the string out of my sleeve, how hard is that?”

“Well show us your sleeve then!” Diamond Tiara demanded as she spat out the string and graved Clyde’s sleeve.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you” Clyde warned her “I’m very fragile and can break easily.”

“What are you-“ Diamond started as she grabbed Clyde’s forehoof only to have it fall right out of his sleeve.

“Warned ya” he said with a smug tone as Diamond Tiara backed away from his fallen limb “but no, nopony listens to me, it’s almost as if I’m a mute or something.”

Both of the bullies screamed in shock as they galloped away, Clyde laughing as they rounded a corner “oh how I love teaching lessons.” Clyde’s supposedly fallen limb disappeared into a cloud of smoke which flew by the surprised Crusaders.

“How did you do that?” Applebloom asked excitedly.

“Magic”

“But what kind of magic?” Sweetie asked insistently.

“As I said before” Clyde restated stomping his hoof “magic!”

“Well I’m just glad you got rid of those two” Scootaloo said sighing in relief “sorry if I bugged you before.”

Clyde held out one of his forehooves to Scootaloo “so let’s agree not to fight anymore, until such time as when we are both really mad at each other.”

“Agreed” Scootaloo replied taking his hoof in hers and shaking in agreement “it’s not going to fall off again is it?”

“No it won’t, that was just an illusion.” Clyde explained “You know the things Magicians do?”

“Is that why you’re so excited about the show?” Applebloom enquired.

“Yes and as I was saying before I had to deal with miss silverware and miss sparkly headgear, Spike and I found a table, so make sure to go there when dinner starts.”

“Sure” the three Crusaders said in unison as they rushed off to find something to do so they can find their cutie marks.

“Have fun there, hope you get your cutie marks one day, you little Buccaneers” Clyde said to himself as he made his way back to the table.

___________________________________________________________________________

“So is the show starting soon?” Pinkie Pie asked as she jumped up and down in her chair.

“Oooooh Pinkie” Rainbow Dash moaned as she pat her stomach “I can’t see how you’re not full after a meal like that.”

“Oh don’t be such a sour puss” Clyde said as he stopped bouncing in his chair “cheer up, this magic show is gonna be so awesome!”

“And how do you know?” Rainbow asked trying to sit up in her chair.

“Because I know the pony that’s performing the magic show tonight, you’re going to love her, she pulls off the best illusion based magic shows.”

“Well she must be really talented then” Twilight said as she pushed her plate away “maybe I’ll learn a thing or too.”

Suddenly the attention of everypony in the dining hall was directed towards the stage when a fanfare started to resonate from there.

“Wait a tick” Applejack said as she sat back on her chair after her trip to the toilet “this sounds familiar, don’t ya reckon?”

“Yeah it do-” Twilight started before she was cut off by a voice which echoed throughout the entire hall.

“PREPARE TO BE ASTOUNDED AND IN AWE OF THE MAGIC OF-” the echoed voice began, some of the fillies and colts in the room were excited except from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon who were with their families in the corner of the hall.

“No…..” Twilight stated as the pupils of her eyes and that of her friends shrank in size when they recognised the introduction.

“THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!”

___________________________________________________________________________

“Well looks like they left town this morning” Rain Prancer sang as he lay sprawled out on a couch “what do we do now?”

“We stick to our orders” Diglet answered setting up his digging harness “if you’re bored then why not go out and socialise”

“What about you? You’re not socialising at all!” Rain Prancer said sitting up “All you’re going to do is what you did back at the castle.”

“I like having an escape route whenever possible” Diglet said as he levitated his digging tools into place on his harness “and I could get around town quicker.”

“But Diggy why do you need to make tunnels underneath this town? Why don’t you just man up and explore Steady’s tunnel already?”

“HEY!” Diglet yelled back, his cheeks blushing a bright red “you keep out of my personal affairs.”

“But Diggy, everypony in our group knows about how you two feel about each other, I say you should just go for it.”

“I can’t” Diglet sadly said sighing “there are certain things a colt must do if he wants to court a mare.”

“No way!” Rain Prancer yelled in astonishment “You’re one of those old fashioned ponies? I never would have guessed.”

“Well now you know” Diglet turned away from Rain Prancer as he trotted away “oh and by the way, how are our other friends doing?”

Rain Prancer sat up and opened his notebook that was lying next to him “the last report from them said that the targets checked into an inn.”

“Good, we need to always keep tabs on them so we know what they’re doing.”

“Hey Diggy, what do you think of the boss’ orders?”

“Remember he told us not to refer to him as somepony who is above us, he is our friend, an equal.”

“Who sometimes tells us what to do, right” Rain Prancer said sounding unconvinced “So do you know why he stayed in the castle?

“He told us that the Everfree Kingdom was never overrun with forests and dangerous beasts when he last saw it” Diglet answered “he’s researching on what could have caused this kind of outcome, he’s also looking into more magic spells.”

“Yeah okay, I understand that part now” Prancer said scratching his mane “but why did he say we’re not allowed to harm, let alone touch the Rainbow Maned one?”