Author's Note

Sorry it took so long I had a lot of stuff going on.

Chapter 11

The two young mares screamed and ran around the room causing the old mare at the door to sigh and roll her eyes. Sunrise and Golden Apple keep running in circles, not looking where they were going, and eventually ran into each other. Both falling on the floor in a pile of dust.
The old mare giggled. "You two are as energetic as usual," the mystery mare walked up to them with a grin trying not to burst out laughing.
The two ponies looked up at her "Scarlet!" They said together getting up and giving the pony a hug.

"What are you doing here?" Sunrise asked with a tone of happiness and relief in her voice while showing no sign of letting Scarlet go.

“I should be the one asking you two that! You know it’s dangerous out here!" She said pushing the energetic mare away from her. "And in the Castle of the Sisters? You two should go back to Ponyville this insist!" She slammed her hooves on the concert floor of the castle.

"But I wanted to show Golden Apple the castle...." Sunrise blushed slightly looking down rubbing her hoof around on the floor of the not being a huge fan of the scolding from the mare.

"I feel like your mother sometimes, Sunrise," She sighed looking at her. "Oh I guess I should introduce myself to you Ms. Golden Apple, I'm Scarlet a friend of you moms. I haven't seen you since you were a little filly.”

"Oh n-nice to meet you, or I guess long time no see," She giggled. She was more than happy to get out of the dark gross dusty castle the Rarity in her shining though a little. She took a deep breath in relief. "S-so which way out?"

"Whats wrong you scared or something?" Sunrise asked teasingly.

"Now, now girls don't start that behaviour. I'll show you the way out come on," Scarlet started walking away.

Golden started closely following her with Sunrise rolling her eyes. The sun was starting to set and it was getting harder to see as the darkness of the trees was already making it difficult. But after a few minutes Golden smiled as she saw Ponyville not to far away in the distance.
She ran past Scarlet, "Finally out of the dreadful forest!" she took a deep breath and smiled. as Sunrise walked next to her giving her a blank expression.

"You know we weren't in the for very long right? Like maybe a hour?"

"Okay so you two go back home before it gets too dark."

"You're not coming with us?"

Scarlet shook her head, "No I still have things to do here. I need a herb for my....well things for my store, you girls are too young to know what I'm talking about, so don't worry about it," she said while playing with her mane blushing a little.

"But it's my birthday!"

"Oh is it? I'm sorry sweetie I didn't know...," She put her hoof on her chin "Hey I know I'll get you a gift soon okay?" Sunrise said nothing and just glared at the older mare, unhappy with the answer. "Look I will go home soon, as I’m already getting sick of seeing you," She said jokingly, sticking her tongue out. "Also I think your friend is ready to go home."

"Please Sunrise can we go back home?" Golden asked, the bags under her eyes were quite large. "I'm dirty and...dirty," the pony let out a shudder just thinking of the dirt on her. She knew Rarity would have a talk with her about it too.

"Okay, okay lets go home then. Bye Scarlet," The enthusiastic pony waved as they walked back Scarlet gave them an awkward smile.

"That mare soo has problems," She giggled. "Must keep Twilight and Rainbow on their hooves."

The sound inside the Golden Oaks Library was oddly quiet, but broken by the occasional yawn from the younger ponies.
"Where the hay are they?" The silence finally ended by Rainbow Dash, while Twilight looked at the tired pony on her back.

"Maybe we should put the kids in bed don't you think?" She looked at Rarity and Fluttershy who both had young mares among themselves.

"Quite. Ot seems the party will have to be held tomorrow," Rarity was going annoyed by absence of her filly. "I'm sorry Twilight, but after they get back Applejack and I should head home it's already late and I can't possibly keep Ruby up like this," she nuzzled the foal lightly who as already fast asleep.

"Ah'm really sorry Twilight, you know how foals can be," Applejack rubbed the back of her head. Then without a seconds notice Sunrise and Golden Apple bursts through the door.

"We have arrived!"

"Sunrise where were you!" Rainbow went over to her and lightly hit her head more playfully than from punishment and Twilight pulled her into a hug. She wasn't sure why, as this wasn't her daughter, but something inside her made her do it. “Your mom was worried sick," Rainbow pointed to Twilight who was smiling giggling a little.

"Golden!" Rarity followed Twilight's lead and hugged her daughter as well, "You are in big trouble young lady!"

"S-sorry mom..." Golden looked down sad a bit, "We accidentally feel asleep Sunrise helped me with my chores and so we laid down for a while and I guess we lost track of time, by the time we got up Luna had started raising the moon," Golden Apple lied, not wanting to get in trouble with her mothers. Unlike Applejack she was able to lie well.

"Is that true Sunrise?"

"Y-yeah I just thought it would be a quick nap,"

"Come on Dashie, it's her birthday right? Give her a break," Pinkie said with a smile.

"Fine, fine, whatever. But you're not off the hook completely,"