I chewed on a chocolate muffin, eyes closed, as the smell of fresh-baked goods filled my kitchen. I washed down the mouthful of chocolatey deliciousness with some orange juice, and considered the small basket of the things Derpy had brought to my house that morning.

It had been two days since forming a pack with Twilight and Luna, and I had decided that both of them should have accommodations ready at my house if the need arose. Unfortunately, between my job appointments and reconstructing my bed, I hadn't had time to go shopping. In a town where almost all the food is perishable, shopping is a near-daily trip, so it didn't surprise me to find out that I didn't have anything for dinner the previous night and had to go out for food. Derpy and Time Turner happened to see me at one of the smaller restaurants, and upon finding out about my predicament, said pegasus had promised to bring muffins so I would have something somewhat substantial for breakfast.

And bring muffins, she did! A dozen of the delicious little bastards, delivered to my door along with my mail. There were times when that mare could honestly be too nice for her own good. That was part of my reasoning for getting her with Time Turner: Neither of them would make a move to defend themselves if they could avoid it, but I was able to tell the first time I saw each of them that they would both put their lives on the line for a loved one. So of course, when Timmy, as I like to call him, asked me to help him get with her, I didn't hesitate, and although I joined them on multiple occasions, I never had any intention of being a permanent part of their relationship. As long as they had each other around, they could deal with most problems themselves.

Although... I thought to myself as I continued eating, They could use a unicorn. Hmmm.... I remember Colgate saying something about wanting a more stable relationship. Even better, she has a talent for time magic, so she and Timmy would probably get along well. But what about Derpy? Can't have her feeling inferior. She already gets that enough as it is. I guess I'll just have to talk to Timmy about it. I can't have him freaking out over every little thing, though, even if he does agree to it. Maybe Zecora has something that could help? Probably. I should have enough time to make it out there and back after I go to Berry's. I just hope it's not too bad. The last time one of her barrel spigots started leaking, it took me over two hours to get it all apart, fix it, and put it back together. I scarfed down what little remained of my muffin, and chugged my juice to get it all down properly. Once my dishes were rinsed and in the sink, I grabbed my shades and tool bag, and headed out to my first stop for the morning, Sweet Apple Acres. Once again, the roof of the barn had gotten a leak. A couple of slats had rotted away, and needed to be replaced. Not a tough job, but dangerous, and therefore slow for safety needs. I readjusted my bag in my hand, and picked up my pace, hoping to cut the time as short as possible by decreasing travel time.

--

When I got there, I saw Applejack and Big Mac outside, apparently arguing about something. Big Mac noticed me first, since he was facing me, and his eyes went wide with fear. Applejack seemed to notice this, however, and spun around. Upon seeing me, she began stomping forward, looking and sounding rather cross.

"You two-timing, no-good, dirty Timberwolf!"

Ooh, she's pulling out the 'Timberwolf' insult. She is pissed.

"Just what in the hay is this all about, huh?!"

She shoved a newspaper into my face, too close for me to read it. I took hold of it, and my eyes focused on it properly.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

At the top, the title read "Foal Free Press". Right in the center of the page, was a picture of Twilight and me kissing, with the headline "Love Behind the Curtain". What followed was an entire article of how we had been seeing each other for the entire time I had been here behind the backs of every other mare I had been with. By the time I finished reading the article, I had nearly ripped the paper apart clenching my fists. I looked up to see Applejack staring at me expectantly, hands on her hips.

"Well?"

I scowled.

"Lies, mostly. Twilight and I only got together two days ago. She said she wanted to be the one to tell all of you. This, though...." I crushed the paper in my hand. "This is a complete violation of both our privacy." I unfolded enough of the paper to check the author name. "And it looks like the ones responsible don't want credit. 'Gabby Gums' is obviously an alias. How long has this been going on?"

Applejack sighed, apparently satisfied that I was being honest.

"Close to a week, now. There's been some other private stuff in there too, but most of it was true, at least, so I kind of assumed-"

I cut her off with a hug, and she relaxed, knowing I wasn't mad at her. I pulled back, still unhappy, but at least now able to do my job as I passed her.

"Come on, Big Mac," I called, "Show me where the problem is."

--

Fixing the roof, as it turned out, was the easy part of my day. By the time I made it to Berry's house to fix the wine barrel, I had been harangued by no less than six mares, most of whom had been actively looking for me. After explaining myself, they had been less likely to hurt me, but obviously still unhappy. I knocked on Berry Punch's door, hoping her last name wasn't going to be appropriate for today. She opened the door a moment later, and slumped against the frame, wine bottle in hand.

"Oh,he-hic-ello, Zzzephyr. Glad ta see you're not-hic-not staying inside. Saw the paper this mornin', got worried ya wou-hic-wouldn't be comin' by."

She upturned the bottle for another drink, then pulled it away and stared at the opening for a second before deciding it really was empty and putting it on a side table.

"So, you're not mad, too?"

She shook her head drunkenly, mane flopping about as she did.

"Nah. You know how my brain works better once I start drinkin'. I figured, 'Zzephyr's too nice for summin' like that. Gotta be ano-hic-another 'splanation.' Am I right?"

"Yeah. I don't know how they got that picture, but Twilight and I just got together two days ago."

Berry smiled as one ear decided it had had enough of standing up straight and fell to the side of her head.

"'S good ta hear. She needed someone who could fuck her properly. And you ain't gotta-hic- ain't gotta worry 'bout kids, neither. Ya can give her what she needs when she-hic- when she's gotta have some. 'Nuff about that, though. I still need my spigot fixed." She snorted at what I guessed was a sexual analogy she thought of. "You're gonna have ta help me there, though. My brain works fine, but my body...-hic- Not so much."

"I can see that."

I hooked one of her arms over my shoulders, and followed her directions to her back yard, where the wine barrel sat upright next to a tree.

"I figured ya might like ta see what you're workin' on, so I brought it up here."

"Thanks, Berry. This shouldn't take too long, so how about you just sit back so you can sober up a bit and walk again, okay?"

"Mmkay. I'll just... take a little nap... Zzzzzzz."

With Berry asleep, I got to work on the barrel. After taking it apart, I found that the valve on the spigot had rusted slightly, creating a breach in the seal when it was closed. Replacing the valve was quick, and I left some medicine and a glass of water where Berry would find them, along with a note about the problem and how much she owed me.

On my way back through town, I had several mares I recognized begin to approach me like they had something to say, but a quick scowl and bared teeth sent each of them away before they could say anything. I dropped off my bag at my house, and made my way to Twilight's. the sign was turned to 'closed', but I let myself in anyway. I could hear crying from upstairs, and someone was moving around in the kitchen. It didn't take a genius to figure out which of the building's two residents were where. As expected, I found Spike making sandwiches in the kitchen.

"Hey."

He turned, obviously unhappy about the situation, and I saw a flash of anger across his face before he fought it down.

"Look, Zephyr, I already know that the newspaper isn't true, but it's getting to me anyway, so-"

"It's all lies."

He started at my interruption, then sighed and relaxed visibly.

"Thanks. I needed that."

"I understand. You think she'll want to see me?"

"Definitely. Go ahead up, and tell her I made sandwiches, if she wants any."

"Can do."

I climbed the stairs quickly but quietly, and opened the door to Twilight's room. The curtains were closed, and the lights were off, making the quivering form on the bed barely visible, although the sobbing was still plenty loud enough to be heard. I climbed up to the small landing that contained the bed, and approached carefully.

"Twilight?"

My shirt was unexpectedly yanked forward, throwing me on top of the sheets separating me from my mare, and I felt a pair of arms grab me as soon as I landed, crushing me against her as she buried her head into my neck, pointing her horn to one side so as not to hurt me as she sobbed.

"Sshhhhh, sshhh. I know, Twilight, I know. Just let it out. I'm here now."

My shirt quickly became soaked as she cried. I held her close, gently running my fingers through her mane to straighten it out. After a few minutes, she finally calmed down enough to speak.

"Sorry, I just.... I've been dealing with a lot today."

"I have an idea. The newspaper, right?"

"Yeah. Five other mares came up to me at various points today, and they all were treating me like I stole something from them. The last one actually slapped me. She said I should have never come here...." She started crying again, and I squeezed her tightly. "Why are they being so mean? I saw the article, but still. How could they just believe that without even asking about it, first?"

"I don't know, Twilight. People back home did the same thing, actually. I never understood it then, either. Don't worry, though. I already have a plan to fix this."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I saw the article, too, and I read it through twice while I was walking around. It has a very odd style."

Twilight pulled away a bit and wiped her eyes so she could see again.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, every writer has a style. Read enough fiction, and it becomes possible to notice these differences at a glance. Some writers use larger words, or better analogies, or their characters have things in common with each other. That article, though, is strange, because the style changes, twice."

"So, there are three different styles being used by the same author?"

"No. There are three authors working together under a pseudonym. And I only know of three foals in that school who would be desperate enough to try something like this."

Twilight's eyes went wide as realization hit.

"The CMC?"

"The CMC."

--

Twenty minutes later, I had gathered Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack, and we were outside the clubhouse the Crusaders used. I could hear them talking inside as we approached. I knocked on the door, and the talking abruptly ceased.

"Open the door, girls. I already heard you in there, so no point hiding."

A couple seconds later, the door opened, and all three stepped out before quickly shutting it again. All three were grinning nervously, and Apple Bloom's speech was shaky as she greeted us.

"H-hi, guys. What's up?"

I scowled at them, and they flinched slightly.

"I am going to give you one chance, girls. Have you been writing for the school newspaper as 'Gabby Gums'?"

They looked up at me innocently, attempting to keep up the charade.

"Gabby Gums..." Sweetie Belle said it like she was trying to place the name, "No, I don't think I've ever heard that name before. Sorry."

I sighed. Well, I was hoping they'd make this easy, but...

I suddenly moved forward, and pushed open the door to the clubhouse. All three of them tried to stop me, but were too slow. The door swung in, revealing the floor covered with pictures of other ponies in their private moments and sheafs of paper filled with writing. I glared down at the fillies, and they moved aside so I could walk in. I sifted through the stacks, reading a line or two here, taking a closer look at the pictures there....

"So what did you expect to happen, doing this?"

The question took them off-guard, as I continued to push papers around with my foot disinterestedly. Finally, Apple Bloom spoke up.

"Well, we thought we might be able to get our cutie marks..."

"In what, precisely?" She started as my attention suddenly focused in on her. "Ruining reputations? Destroying the friendships and lives of others?"

All three of them looked at me in horror.

"Yeah. You three have been so busy trying to put together your next big story, you haven't bothered to find out what your stories were doing to the ponies around you. You want to know why only these three are here?" I gestured to Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow. "It's because they feel like they need to be responsible about making sure this doesn't happen again. Fluttershy wouldn't even come out of her cottage, Pinkie is so busy trying to keep everyone friendly to each other she can't take the time to come out here, and you want to know where Twilight is right now, after dealing with the fallout of your story about the two of us?" I was bent over now, my head just above theirs.

"Where?" Sweetie Belle managed to squeak out.

"She's at the library, which has been closed for the day, hiding in her room. She's been crying almost non-stop after several mares went there and verbally assaulted her. One of them physically slapped her because of what you wrote." All of them sagged as the consequences of their actions set in. "You did not ask us for any information regarding our relationship, and the town now believes that neither she nor myself are trustworthy. Through your carelessness, both of our reputations have been demolished. Now what do you have to say about that?"

All three of them started crying as Scootaloo spoke up.

"We didn't know ponies would take it that seriously! We didn't mean for anything bad to happen!"

I shook my head.

"That's irrelevant, to be honest. Actions have consequences, intentional or not. And in something like a newspaper, everyone will take what is written at face value. Lying in a newspaper is a good way to start riots. You three did not think about the consequences of your actions, and so you have done damage that is quite possibly irreversible to all of us."

Sweetie Belle was crying openly now, and the other two weren't far behind. None of the mares I had brought with me moved, though, as I had asked them not to interfere beforehand. I straightened up, and folded my arms.

"Now, do you three want to tell me what's been going on, or do I have to keep figuring it out myself?"

They shook their heads, and got control of their crying.

"No, Zephyr," Apple Bloom said as she wiped away the last few tears, "we'll tell ya."

The next half an hour was spent listening to them talk about how the idea got started, how they had gotten a colt named Featherweight to take pictures for them, and how Diamond Tiara had goaded them on. What little remained of my good mood from that morning vanished when her name came up.

"I thought that brat might have something to do with all this. As for you three..." The Crusaders flinched as I paused. "I think you've learned your lesson, yes?"

They nodded.

"Good. You are going to write one last story, though. A retraction and apology article, so the town knows what really happened. Any complaints?"

"No, Zephyr," they chorused.

"Alright, then." I exited the clubhouse, noting that the sun had sunk nearly to the horizon.

Crap. I still need to talk to Time Turner and Zecora, too. Well, at least I can trust those three to fix everything. They wouldn't let a mess this big stick around very long. They care about others too much. I started walking towards the Everfree, hoping to make it to Zecora's and back before dark. I had already managed to hold my own against most of the creatures that inhabited the forest, but an ambush probably wouldn't end well for me. I'm just glad those three respect me like they do, or I wouldn't have been able to convince them of anything. Probably helps that I was able to hold Big Mac back for a good ten minutes during that love poison fiasco. Helps that he isn't a pegasus. I doubt throwing him would have done me any good, then. I continued my musings as I walked the path to Zecora's hut, occasionally glancing at the sun to make sure I wasn't falling behind my time limit. Fortunately, the trip was uneventful, and Zecora happened to have a few bottles of a potion she claimed would calm even the most panicked of ponies. By the time I got back to town, though, the sun had set. I decided against going to the house Time Turner and Derpy shared, and went home so I could talk to them tomorrow.

Entering my house, I froze. I had very little furnishings, since I didn't need them, which made it easy for me to remember where everything was the last time I had been home, and one of the chairs had moved. I put the potion and my tools in my rec room, and pulled my hammer out. I had seen firsthand how violent some ponies could be during the early days of my residence on this world, and the abilities of the other creatures that inhabited just the area around Ponyville a dangerous place. It wasn't unthinkable that something or someone with ill intent had managed to get in. I left the lights off, allowing my eyes to adjust instead of giving away my movements to any potential attackers, and stealthily moved through the house, checking every room for disturbance before moving to the next. Finally, I opened the door to my own room, and saw a lump underneath the covers that looked like a sleeping pony. I moved closer and to the side, allowing me to see a dark, straight mane with a bright streak running through it. Fairly certain of the intruder's identity, I put my hammer down on the floor next to my nightstand, and moved to the front to confirm my idea.

Sure enough, I walked around to the other side of the bed to see Twilight's face, sleeping peacefully. Upon closer inspection, I could see newer tear streaks in her cheek fur. She obviously hadn't spent the entire night in peace. I stripped down to my boxers, and threw my clothes in the laundry hamper in the hallway for later washing. Once more, I moved silently into my room, then slipped under the covers, wriggling close to Twilight so I could hold her. She squirmed for a moment, but a gentle nuzzle on her neck calmed her down.

"Don't worry," I whispered, "nothing will hurt you here."

Author's Note

I tried several times to give Zecora some lines, but I just could not make it work. Sorry.