CKF

by Doctoroctagonapus21

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Romance
Length: 7684

A stubborn hotel owner runs across an unusual pony who must work to pay off her new debt.

Cassie, a hotel owner in Tallahorsey has a knack for turning away wealthy ponies who wish to purchase it. One night, a drunken, glowing pony named Fluoresence stumbles in and wrecks the place. So in order to pay off the debt, the oddball equine must now work at the hotel full-time but this pony's hiding a big secret....

Credit for the image goes to: Darkmagiciangirl100

Published 2012-03-26 23:44:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-15 17:30:29 UTC

Ch 1: The Usual Treatment

In the city of Tallahorsey, a small, modest looking 3 story hotel sat along the beach. It had windows all around the outside and the sides looked like they were made of stone and wood with a stone chimney coming out the top. However, despite not looking very impressive, the hotel was built on top of what many in the real estate industry considered a prime location.

One day, a large green unicorn mare dressed up in feathers and fur, holding her nose up as if she were more important than Celestia, trotted up to the main desk. Nearby, a red unicorn mare with green eyes behind her glasses, a well kept brown mane put up in a ponytail, and a dollar sign, a broom, and a pillow as her mark was humming away as she used her magic to sweep up the lobby. The lobby floor was covered in carpet, and the main desk stood opposite the glass doors with wooden stairs leading up on the left and the cafeteria on the right. To the left of the cafeteria was a hallway leading to a pool and to the outside.

The red unicorn set down the broom and walked up to the main desk and said, "Hello, welcome to the CK Hotel. My name is Cassie. How may I help you, miss?"

The green unicorn haughtily said, "Where is the owner? I wish to purchase this establishment."

"And you are?"

"Madam Moneybags." The green unicorn stated with a huff.

"Well, Madam Moneybags." Cassie said, jokingly imitating the snobby pony standing in front of her, "I'm afraid the owner won't be back until tommorrow. However, we have a special offer for those wishing to purchase the hotel." Moneybags stood there, saying nothing. "I can offer you one night free, with service. However, if the owner decides not to sell, you must pay the bill."

Moneybags pondered the proposition for a minute. "Very well, I accept your offer. I wish to take the best room you have."

"I'm afraid all the rooms are the same, but we always leave one open for those such as yourself. Did you bring luggage?" Cassie asked.

"Out in the carriage."

"Alright. Here's your key." Cassie said, magically levitating over to Moneybags. Cassie rang the bell to call for the bellhop but nopony appeared.

Cassie rang it again and a small voice yelled out, "Wait!" A small, blond, pink unicorn filly ran as fast as she could into the room wearing a bellboy outfit that was clearly too big for her. The hat covered up part of her blue eyes and she couldn't get her hooves through the sleeves so it dragged on the floor. "Bellhop Kylie, Reporting for duty!" the filly answered enthusiastically.

Cassie sighed, "Where's Kody?"

"Outside surfing, ma'am."

"Figures." Cassie turns to Moneybags. "Forgive me, ma'am. I'll go get your things."

"No!" Kylie interjected, "I can do it! I've been practicing! Look!" The bell on the desk glowed pink and began to float for a few seconds before landing gently back on the desk. Kylie had to put quite a bit of effort into it.

Cassie thought for a minute, hesitant to entrust the task to the filly.

"Pleeeeeeeease?" Kylie pleaded.

"Oh, alright. But be careful." Cassie said, giving in.

"Whoo-hoo! I won't let you down, auntie!" Kylie replied as she rushed out to the carriage.

Cassie's gaze returned to Moneybags and said, "She likes to help out. Please enjoy your stay."

As Cassie left Kylie to the task of bringing up the luggage of their esteemed guest, she went outside to the beach where she saw a sky blue pegasus with a seafoam green mane out in the water on a surfboard riding a sizable wave. She sighed and walked up to the shoreline, watching him enjoying the wave.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kody saw Cassie standing at the shore and said to himself, "Well, that's my cue." as he quickly manuvered his board towards the beach. After landing he saw Cassie walking towards him and said, "Hey there!" No response on her end, just walking. "What's up?" Cassie looked at him and shook her head. "What?"

"YOU," Cassie began lecturing by pointing at Kody, "are supposed to be the bellhop. Not Kylie."

"Aw come on, it's a slow day today. You can't seriously expect me to sit inside in that stuffy outfit can you?"

"The correct answer would be 'yes'."

"And I guess we have a customer."

"Correct. Another pony looking to buy the place."

Walking towards the hotel, Kody began, "Ah, giving them the usual then?"

"Two for two." Cassie responded in following.

As the two went back inside they noticed that the carriage was still there and Kylie was having trouble getting the first bag through the entrance.

"Knew it." Cassie said to herself as she trotted over to the young filly and levitated the bag for her. "Let me handle it, sweetie."

"Okay..." Kylie moaned dejectedly as she slowly walked off, head hanging, occasionally tripping over the uniform.

Moneybags huffed and said, "I can't believe you'd let such an inexperienced brat try to handle this."

"And so it begins..." Cassie thought to herself as she and Kody brought the luggage up to her room without a tip or even so much as a "Thank you."

"How many strikes is that so far?" Kody asked as the two companions descended the staircase.

"Two, and judging by her attitude, there'll be plenty more before tomorrow arrives."

"Something tells me the owner won't exactly be thrilled with her behavior." Kody stated with a cheeky smirk.

"Something tells me you're right." Cassie responded with the same smirk.

The following hours cemented in the staff's mind how the owner would react to Moneybags' proposal. Moneybags had gone to the small restaurant for some supper, and when the waiter came by, accidentally spilling water on her, she flipped out and viciously told him off. When her food did come in, she remarked that it was subpar at best. As she left, she bumped into one of the cleaning staff who politely said, "Sorry, excuse me madam." and she just huffed off outside to do some sightseeing.

In the morning, when the housekeeping pony came by, Moneybags yelled at the pony to come back later. During breakfast, she again remarked about how the food was lackluster and then went up to the front desk where Cassie had just checked out a couple on their honeymoon.

"Good luck, you two!" Cassie shouted to the couple, smiling. She turned her attention back to Moneybags."Good morning, Madam. The owner arrived overnight." Cassie pointed to a simple wooden door behind her. "Please wait in the office until she arrives."

Moneybags quietly walked around and into the office room as Cassie turned to the speakerphone on the nearby wall that acted as the intercom. "Staff meeting ASAP."

Moneybags impatiently waited a good thirty minutes. The office was small and bare except for the cushions and a single desk. Then, Cassie walked in the door carrying a small stack of papers with her.

"Well?" Moneybags huffed. "Where's the owner?"

Cassie walked around and sat behind the desk. "Right here." Cassie said, her face showing just how unamused she is, as she set the papers down on the desk.

"What?!" Moneybags exclaimed.

"Don't worry. I do this to everypony seriously wishing to buy the hotel because, so far, all of them have been stuck-up snobs such as yourself."

"Why... this is most unorthodox!" Moneybags blurted out.

"Let me tell you something windbag. I couldn't care less about the money I could make by selling this place. I've made enough to keep the hotel afloat for twenty years without a customer if I need to. What I want is to know is that I'm leaving the hotel in good hooves. Which clearly aren't yours."

Moneybags stuttered as she tried dealing the fact that she was being told off.

"I'm going to have to decline your offer, the bill is up front. Thank you and have a nice day..."

Ch. 2: An Uninvited Guest

After Moneybags' departure, the day went on like any other: checking customers in and out, preparing the rooms, etc. Soon, night fell and everypony went home or to their rooms. Around midnight, Cassie brought a couple towels out to the beach for her and Kody to lay on as they took in the scene. After a long day of dealing with customers, something like this was a nice break.

"Kylie give you any trouble tonight?" Kody asked as he saw his long time best friend walking towards him.

"Not tonight. She's getting better about going to bed on time. However..." Cassie began with a sigh, "I just wish I didn't have to change the sheets every time she does." and finished as she laid out the towels on which the two ponies perched themselves.

"She'll grow out of it." Kody responded.

The moon was full that night and the stars were shining bright as the gentle sound of waves caressed their ears. For what seemed like forever, the two sat in each other's company. Neither wanted it to end as such moments didn't come very often. Cassie looked over at Kody, bathed in moonlight, his coat glistening. The blush that came to Cassie's face was well hidden because of her red coat as she said to him, "You're glowing."

"Hm?" Kody turned his gaze to her.

"The moonlight makes it look like you're glowing." she said with a smile. He smiled back and Cassie began to lean in. "You know, I never told you..." but before she could finish the thought, a small voice behind them called her name.

"Auntie Cassie?" Cassie and Kody turned around and saw Kylie standing a short distance away from them, looking embarrassed. "I had a nightmare and..."

"Did you wet the bed again?" Cassie asked, slightly exasperated. Kylie nodded shyly. With a sigh, Cassie stood up and trotted over to Kylie, patting her on the head. "Don't worry. I was the same way at your age. Come on, let's go change the sheets. It's bedtime for me anyway."

"Wait!" Kody called out. "What were you going to say?"

"Uh, it's not important right now." Cassie quickly stated, urging Kylie forward. "Come on, pumpkin." Kody sat there, looking somewhat confused.

"What were you talking about?" Kylie asked as the two went inside.

"Nothing you need to worry your cute little head about right now." Cassie responded.

A couple hours later, Kylie and Cassie were in their room, on the first floor sound asleep, when a sudden crash rouses both of them from their sleep.

"What was that?" Kylie asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Not sure." Cassie responded, putting on her glasses and not bothering to put her mane up. "Stay here. I'll go check it out."

As she walked out into the hall she ran into Kody, who was also woken up from the noise. as well as the other guests staying on that floor. "Don't worry everypony!" Cassie addressed the crowd, "We'll go check it out, just go back to your rooms."

Cautiously, the pair crept downstairs to examine the situation. As they entered the lobby, they found a beer can in the middle of the floor. Looking over at the dining room, they thought they saw something moving so they quietly trotted up to the doorway and turned on the lights. A number of tables had been overturned, broken glass and crushed flowers littered the floor when another crash happened in the kitchen.

"A burglar?" Kody asked.

"Not sure. They might just be drunk."

Slowly, they peeked into the kitchen and noticed there was an unbalanced pegasus at the wine rack, but what was surprising was they appeared to be giving off a purple glow.

"What?" Kody said to himself. "How is that possible?"
"We can figure it out later." Cassie stated as she turned on the kitchen lights and moved in to apprehend the strange figure.

The pegasus turned around with some difficulty and it was clear she was drunk: trouble even moving around, slurred speech, eyes seemed bloodshot. "Hey there." the glowing pegasus said to Cassie as she approached. "You got anything stronger than this stuff?" The pegasus had green eyes, a messy purple mane, and a glowstick for a cutie mark.

"Who are you?" Cassie demanded.

"Hey, hey, hey. No need to... be so harsh. I tell ya what. Let's play hide and seek. If you find me, I'll tell you." and suddenly, the pegasus vanished except for a shadow on the floor which effortlessly breezed past them and up the stairs. Not long after, various thuds, crashes, and screams are heard and Cassie and Kody rush upstairs as fast as they can, carefully navigating the glass-riddled floor of the dining room.

As soon as they get up the stairs, virtually every guest in the hotel was up and out their doors complaining about how they're trying to get some sleep and things like that. Cassie again addressed them, "We have a... very... unique situation going on right now. All of you, tomorrow, breakfast is on the house. Now please, go back to your rooms and we'll get the situation taken care of."

The guests grumbled as they all trotted back into their rooms. As soon as the last door had closed, a short yelp came from Cassie's room and they ran in as fast as they could only to behold a rather awkward situation: the glowing pony was passed out, head surrounded by vomit and hindquarters sticking up in the air...

Kylie looked up and Cassie, hoping for an explanation. Cassie only said, "This is why you shouldn't drink."

Ch. 3: Responsibility

Buzzing. For several minutes, that's all she heard over her pounding head: buzzing. Gradually though, the buzzing went away and she heard voices. One, which was heavily southern, said, "So that there gal's the one what caused all the ruckus last night? Shoot, she really DOES glow."

Another gruff voice with a thick New Horse accent began, "Yeah, and da boss has been up all night crunchin' da numbahs. She ain't too happy 'bout da cost, neither."

A feminine voice chimed in next. One with a trottingham accent, "I can hardly believe she managed to cause that much damage in such a short amount of time."

"Well, what do you think she's gonna do?" said a normal sounding feminine voice as her sense of sight returned and she opened her eyes.

"She's waking up."

The glowing pegasus looked around at the group of ponies gathered around her: a hefty orange earth stallion with green eyes, a short brown mane and mustache and a ladle cutie mark, a buff dark blue pegasus with brown eyes, a really short orange mane and stubble with a box cutie mark, a slim, bright lavender unicorn mare with purple eyes with a platter cutie mark, and a tall pink earth mare with purple eyes, a curled white mane with a green stripe, and a coconut half cutie mark.

The orange stallion was the first to speak to her directly. "Howdy miss!" He said, the glowing pegasus covering her ears as her head pounds harder than ever. "Sorry. Name's Crock Pot. I'm in charge o' soups and stews here."

The dark blue pegasus introduces himself next, "I'm Boxer. I keep da place stocked."

The lavender pony approached and politely bowed. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Sylvia Platter. A humble waitress and housekeeping pony."

"Nice to meet you all." The glowing pegasus said through her pounding noggin. "My name's Fluorescence. Sorry for causing all the trouble last night."

"Well," said a sky blue pegasus with a seafoam green mane and brown eyes walking up to the group, "better tell that to the owner. She's not happy and wants to see you. Name's Kody, by the way."

"Well, Kody. Nice to meet you. So where..."

"Through the door behind the main desk."

Fluorescence got up and carefully made her way to the office, head still pounding. Opening the door, she saw a desk lit by a single hanging lamp covered in papers. In the middle of those papers was a red unicorn with a messy brown mane with her face lying on the desk.

"Hello?" The glowing pegasus asked timidly. Just then the unicorn shifted and shot her a glare that would beat Fluttershy in a staring contest. For a second, Fluorescence thought she saw red, flaming eyes, but looked a bit closer and saw green.

The unicorn put her face back down, held her hoof to the cushion and calmly stated, "Please have a seat." The newcomer did so hesitantly. "Name?"

"Fluorescence... ma'am."

"Well, Fluorescence," Cassie began as she lifted her head "my name is Cassie. I own this hotel and, as you can tell, I'm not happy. Do you have any idea why?" The calmness in her voice, paired with the anger in her eyes, was unnerving.

"Because I caused a lot of damage?" Fluorescence again said timidly.

"And I don't like staying up several hours filling out paperwork. Let's review the damage, shall we?" Cassie asked rhetorically as she levitated several sheets of paper into the air. "You knocked down several walls, broke well over a dozen hoofmade vases as well as a few doors, disturbed the guests, broke some of THEIR personal items, and on top of that, a carpet cleaning bill." Fluorescence covered her eyes with her hoof in embarrassment. "You should thank Celestia that I didn't have you arrested."

"Okay, look. I'll pay for it." Fluorescence began.

"Yes you will. By working for me full-time until you've paid back every bit." Cassie interrupted.

"But, I have the money to-"

Cassie slammed her hoof on the desk and yelled, "Screw the money, I have rules! And my #1 rule is 'take responsibility for your actions.' You messed up, so, as punishment, you're working for me. Do you need a place to stay?"

"No."

"That's near here."

"... Yes."

"Okay, I'll give you the room right next to mine, free of charge. I'll give you three days to get settled in. Then you start working. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am." Fluorescence replied.

"Welcome aboard."

Ch. 4: Day 1

Summoning what little memory she had of the previous night, Fluorescence left the office with her cheeks literally glowing red as she heard snoring coming from the pony who had just reprimanded her and gave her a job at the same time. As she walked into the lobby, the other ponies she had just met were there waiting.

"Well, sugarcube?" Crock Pot asks. "How'd it go?"

"The good news is I have a job and a new place to stay. The bad news is I won't actually be getting paid." Fluoresence reported.

"We all got our debts ta pay ta miss Cassie."

"Yeah, but at least we didn't make a mess o'da hotel." Boxer stated.

"BOXER! Not helping." Sylvia shouted as she walked over to Fluorescence. "Don't mind him. He just says whatever's on his mind. So, how are going to help out around here?"

"She didn't say anything specifically, but she did say I have three days to get settled in."

"Then what we SHOULD do is start training immediately." Sylvia suggested.

"Actually, there's something I'd like to retrieve from my... previous residence, first. It shouldn't take too long."

"Go to it then." Sylvia ordered as Fluorescence flew out the door.

An hour went by and most of the guests were up and having breakfast by the time Fluorescence returned wearing a gold necklace with a glowing, spherical emerald no bigger than a jellybean. When she walked in the door Kylie was practicing her magic in the middle of the lobby by trying to lift a broom. She managed to get it a couple inches off the ground when Fluorescence startled her and broke her concentration. "Hi there." Kylie turned to Fluorescence, and was a bit hesitant to say anything back. "Listen, I'm sorry if I scared you last night. I wasn't exactly myself..." "There's a lie for ya." She thought to herself. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm working off the debt now."

Kylie bounded up to her and said with a smile, "Hi! I'm Kylie. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. My name's Fluorescence."

"That's a pretty necklace you have." Kylie said, raising her hoof to touch it.

"Thanks, it's a family heirloom."

"Heirloom?"

"It's been passed down through my family for many many years. It once belonged to my ancestors."

"There you are!" Sylvia said as the trotted into the room.

"Hi Sylvia!" Kylie said enthusiastically.

"Hello Kylie dear. Fluorescence, I could use a little help in the dining room. It's quite busy what with the free breakfast and all."

"Free breakfast?" Fluorescence asked as she felt somepony poking at her.

She looked down at Kylie who said, "Auntie Cassie promised everyone free breakfast after what happened."

"Oh...Better get in there then..."

Fluorescence quickly got to work taking orders and was just as quickly met with glares from the patrons whose peaceful rest she had disturbed last night. By the end of breakfast she had apologized and asked for forgiveness from just about everypony in the room. By the time a number of the guests had checked out and left, she and Sylvia went up the stairs to clean up and get the rooms ready for the next set of guests. While helping clean up, Fluorescence reflected on what she had done... at least, what she could piece together.

"Again, I'm sorry for making such a mess of the place..." Fluorescence stated regrettably, "Probably makes your job that much harder."

"Yes, but I've lived in much worse conditions than this."

As they hardened their nostrils to the smell of vomit (which had been Fluorescence's) Fluorescence began to wonder about what Crock Pot had said earlier. "What exactly did he mean by 'we all have our debts to pay to miss Cassie'?"

Sylvia paused for a second and then said, "I owe my life to her. If she hadn't given me this job, there's a chance i'd be six feet under at this very moment..." before continuing to clean up in silence. Fluorescence began to wonder just what dark pasts these ponies had and if she would ever have to reveal her own.

Ch. 5: Day 2: Pt.1

Fluorescence woke up from a dreamless sleep and laid, zombie-like in her bed. Her mind registered the patting of the rain on the window pane, the warmth of her blanket, and the sight of the ceiling. Yet it took a few minutes for her first thought to come to light: "An unfamiliar ceiling..." She slowly sat up and looked at the nightstand to her right.

On this nightstand was her necklace, which she picked up and stared at for several minutes. As she stared into the green glowing gem memories of her past slowly filtered back into her mind, driving her to tears, before she slammed the necklace back down on the nightstand and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day.

As she looked out the glass doors at the pouring rain, Kylie sighed, she had hoped to go outside for lunch that day. Before long, she heard the office door opening and closing. Turning around, Kylie saw her aunt looking incredibly tired and her mane looking messier than ever.

"Auntie? You alright?" Kylie asked.

"Yeah." Cassie replied as she she walked past her niece. "Couldn't sleep so I decided to get some work done. I'll see you later, I have some ponies to go talk to."

"But Auntie..."

"Not now..." Cassie said as she steps outside and gets soaked by the rain. Cassie growled and stepped back inside to see Kylie walking down the stairs holding a towel and brush.

Fluorescence made her way downstairs and was met with the sight of a still wet Cassie getting her mane brushed by the little pink filly she had just met yesterday. She let out a small snicker as she bade them good morning.

"Good morning to you too." Cassie stated calmly. "Apparently, it's raining pretty hard today."

"You don't say? Well, got anything for me to do?"

"Anything to do? I gave you three days to get settled in. I hope you realize that you're not getting payed until after tomorrow."

"Well, time flies when you're having fun."

"Well then," Cassie began, "Kody's in the dining room having his breakfast. Go ask him to train you. That ought to provide plenty of fun."

"I'm sure it would." Fluorescence said as she walks into the dining room.

"Yeah, don't get any ideas."

As Fluorescence walked into the dining room, she saw that Kody had face-planted into his stack of pancakes which were covered in syrup. She giggled as she gets a wet rag and pokes him. Kody suddenly woke with a start. "I DON'T WANT TO WEAR A BOW! ..." He turned to Fluorescence, his face and part of his mane covered in bits of pancake and syrup. "Don't do that..."

Fluorescence giggled as she set the rag on the table. "Sorry. I just thought you might want to clean up a bit."

"Is there something on my face?"

"You could say that..."

Kody turned to his now broken breakfast. "Oh. Thanks, Flo." he said as he cleaned off his face.

"Flo?"

"Nickname for you that Boxer came up with."

"Well that was nice of him." Flo said. "May I ask why exactly you were using your breakfast as a pillow?"

"Well, I was up all night playing hide-and-seek with the little pink ninja."

"... WHAT?!" Fluorescence said with a look of shock and slight disgust.

"Kylie was pretty adamant about not going to bed so I spent most of the night trying to find her. I swear, it's like she knows this place better than any of us."

"Oh."

Kody asked confused, "What did you think I meant?"

"Never mind. Doesn't matter. By the way, Cassie sent me to you for more training."

"I see. Well, perhaps we should start with dealing with customers. From what Sylvia told me, you did a pretty good job, but just to be on the safe side..."

Fluorescence agreed and they quickly got started.

"Now, pretend I'm a hungry customer and I'm having trouble deciding what to order." Kody explained.

Fluorescence began speaking in an incredibly elegant way. Every word seemed to flow together into a smooth sentence as if it were somepony else speaking. "Our sandwiches are made with the freshest bread and only the finest hoofpicked flowers. In addition,I would recommend a simple little salad sprinkled with sunflower seeds. As for the drink, while it may seem like something just for breakfast, a glass of orange juice compliments the meal quite nicely."

"Nicely done." Kody said after a few seconds of amazement. "You do this often?"

"Act? You could say that... You should see me with a mask..."

"Are you any good at baking?"

"Sort of..."

"How about some cookies then?"

Fluorescence then began going about the task of making cookies. She looked around for all the things she needed, trying to remember what goes into cookies. She remembered chocolate chips, milk, eggs, flour and sugar. After a few minutes she managed to gather up all the ingredients as well as the tools. She knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Okay... Eggs." She looked around her pile of ingredients for the eggs, and dumped the whole dozen in the bowl, shells and all. "So far so good. Next we need... milk I think." she says as she pours in a whole bottle. "Now, sugar." The nearby bag of sugar was half empty in seconds. "And now for the chocolate chips." She poured in as many chocolate chips as she could until the rest of the bowl was full. "Stir it together." Fluorescence grabbed a spoon and began stirring everything together, getting the dough all over the counter. "And now we put it on a sheet and bake it..."

It wasn't long before Kody smelled smoke and rushed into the kitchen where black was billowing out of the oven with a purple glow standing right next to it. He quickly turned off the oven and pulled out the pan covered in piles of black, crusty mass.

"Sorry." Fluorescence said sheepishly. "I was trying to make chocolate..."

Kody carefully examines the black masses.

"... chip."

"Okay... cooking's not exactly your strong suit." Kody said out loud.

"I'll stay out of the kitchen." she says as she walks back into the dining room.

Ch. 6 Day 2: Pt. 2

As Kody cleaned up the kitchen, Fluorescence sat in the dining room staring out the window at the raging storm. As she sat there gazing at the pounding rain and lightning flashes. She was lost in thought. Just as there was a flash of lightning she felt somepony tap her on the shoulder. Fluorescence yelped as she turned around and saw Kody.

"Whoa, sorry." Kody said with a chuckle.

"It's okay." FLuorescence replied. "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Home."

"I see... come to think of it, where ARE you from?"

"Well..." Fluorescence began as she noticed smoke pouring out of the kitchen. "Uh, I think you missed a spot."

"What are-" Kody turned around. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me." And dashed off to take care it.

"Awww..." groaned Kylie as she entered the room.

"What's the matter little one?"

"Oh, I have school tomorrow and everyone'll make fun of me just because I don't have my cutie mark."

"Don't worry about it. You'll get yours eventually."

"AAGH! I'm so sick of hearing that!"

"That may be, but I'm afraid it doesn't change a thing."

"... Hey, how did YOU get your cutie mark."

Fluorescence thought for a second. "Oh... you don't want to hear THAT story."

"Yes I do."

"Well that's too bad, cause I have an even better story."

"A better story?" Kylie asked, eyes practically sparkling.

"The story of Hearth's Warming Eve."

"Oh..." Kylie looked a bit disappointed.

"What? It's a good story."

"And I've heard it like a gajillion times."

"Oh? Well I bet you don't know what REALLY happened." Fluorescence said with a cheeky smirk.

Kylie perked up again. "What really happened?"

"Uh-huh. You said yourself you've heard the story a gajillion times so let me ask you: why did the three tribes dislike each other?"

"Because all three were selfish, and the pegasi and unicorns demanded food for the rain and the day and night." Kylie recited from memory.

"Very good. Now, let me put it this way: Plants NEED water and sun in order to grow, right?"

"Yeah."

"So it seems only fair that the pegasi and unicorns get a cut of the food, right?"

"Well when you put it that way..."

"So if that were the case, what reason would the tribes have for not liking each other?"

"... I don't know."

"Come closer and I'll let you in on a big secret." Kylie leans in, anxious to know something nopony else would. Fluoresence whispers in her ear, "There was a fourth tribe."

"No way."

"Way. A fourth tribe who lived in the shadows. The only ones who knew were the leaders. For the longest time, the 3 tribes lived together in the same harmony as they do today though each keeping to their own tribes with the fourth blending in among them. In fact, the pegasi and unicorns were given EXTRA food just for this fourth tribe, though they didn't know it."

"seriously?!"

"Yeah. The trouble all started when Puddinghead became Chancellor. Yeah, she was a bit crazy but she was also pretty nasty. She was suspicious of everypony who wasn't an earth pony and forced several members of this fourth tribe to spy on the pegasi and unicorns."

"That's awful."

"It gets worse. She learned that some of the pegasi and unicorns were STEALING food."

"Wow."

"Some of those spies got caught and were forced to working for the pegasi and unicorns. THAT was why the mistrust started. Once the blizzard started the fourth tribe hid even more than usual."

"What about when the leaders went out and found Equestria?"

"Well, as far as I know, what you think happened is what happened. But I DO know that after the three tribes left, the fourth tribe stayed and made the land their own. To this day, the only ones in this whole country who knows this fourth tribe exists are the princesses and yours truly."

"How did YOU find out?" Kylie asks.

"I'll tell you some other time." Fluorescence replied with a wink.

"Wow, I can't wait to tell everyone!"

"No no no no no. You can't tell anyone. This is our secret."

"Oh. Okay." Kylie said as she happily pranced off.

"Then I guess it's my secret too." Kody said, walking up to her.

"I guess so."

"I take it you know all this because your ancestor belonged to this fourth tribe?"

"Don't you worry about that. Just remember, our secret."

"My lips are sealed..." Kody said with a wink.

Ch. 7: Meanwhile in Ponyville

"Everypony's just staring at me..." thought a red pegasus, with his mane put up in a manly ponytail, as he trotted through a village. He thought maybe the scar over his now milky white right eye contrasted with his deep purple left eye was putting them off, or perhaps it was his enchanted obsidian armor and prosthetic back-left leg that made him seem a bit menacing. Where am I, anyway?

Just as he thought that a pink pony entered his field of vision as if from nowhere. "HI THERE!"

"AGH!"

"Wow! I've never seen a pony like you before. You must be new, cause I know everypony in town and I've never seen you before so you must be new here." The pink pony bounced around him, her cotton candy mane bouncing with her. "Do you know anypony in town?"

"Actually, that's why I'm here, I'm looking for somepony. Perhaps you can help."

"Sure, I can help. And if I can't, I can find somepony who can."

"Wait, pink pony... cotton candy mane..."

"Why does everypony keep thinking my mane is cotton candy? I mean yeah, it looks like cotton candy, smells like cotton candy, and probably tastes like it too, but that doesn't mean it is. Actually that reminds me of the Nightmare Night after I got my cutie mark, one group of kids thought my mane was made of cotton candy, it hurt when they bit me..."

"...and constant nonsensical rambling. By chance, are you Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie? The pony representing the element of laughter?" he asks.

"Wow great guess! My turn!"

Pinkie began guessing names as the red pegasus continued his train of logic. "If you're Pinkie, that means this must be Ponyville. And if this is Ponyville..."

"Danny? Denny? Tommy? Tito?"

"Can you lead me to the library? I wish to speak with Twilight Sparkle."

"But I haven't guessed your name yet!"

"Oh, forgive me. Where are my manners? My name is Arthur." he said with a quick and courteous bow.

"Nice to meet you! Library's this way, follow me!" Pinkie said, bouncing away.

"...So they're fighting in a pack. I'm not really surprised. Often alliances are formed in the early stages of the Games..." Twilight was nose deep in the new hottest selling book in Equestria. "...The strong band together to hunt down the weak then, when the tension becomes too great, begin to turn on one another..."

All of a sudden there's a knock on the door which makes her jump, breaking her concentration. "TWILIGHT! ARE YOU THERE?!"

"Just keep quiet and maybe she'll leave..."

"Hi!" Pinkie's voice came from behind her. Twilight turned to see Pinkie's front half sticking out of the bookcase, one of the impossible things that she's come to expect from her friend.

"Can I help you, Pinkie?"

"No." She said, reaching into the bookcase and pulling out Arthur, looking stunned and confused "but maybe you can help my new friend."

"... Wha... How..."

"Okay, may I help you, sir?"

"Oh, right. My name is Arthur. Nice to meet you, Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia's personal pupil, sister to the captain of the Equestrian Royal Guard, and the pony representing the element of magic."

Twilight looked a bit confused. "I'm sorry, but how do you know all this?"

"Let's just say Celestia and I are on friendly terms. Anyway, I have a few questions for you."

"Ask away." Twilight said.

"First question, have there been any strange goings on lately?"

Twilight blinked. "I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific."

"Any stories of any glowing and/or ghost ponies?"

"Well, I remember last cider season Applejack told us about a glowing pony repeatedly breaking in and drinking up the cider but that's ridiculous. Glowing ponies. Pffft."

"'Pffft.' eh? Close the curtains."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

"Okay..." As Twilight closed the curtains, the entire room was bathed in a red glow coming off Arthur's body. Her eyes suddenly grew wide. Glowing ponies. A discovery like this could end up putting her in the history books. She could be the next Star-Swirl.. except female.

"OHMIGOSHOHMIGOSHOHMIGOSHOHMIGOSH..."

"This is a secret between the three-" as he looks around he notices that Pinkie has disappeared. "Er... the two of us."

"WHAT?! WHY?!"

"Long story. However, I must insist that you keep this a secret."

"Then why bother showing me this?!" Twilight shouted, agitated by having to keep a secret, and a big one.

"To convince you that your friend's story may actually be true so that I might locate who I believe is that same glowing pony. Second question: did your friend specify what color this pony was?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I can't remember."

"Final Question: How do I find your friend Applejack?" He asked as he noticed what book Twilight was reading.

"You'll want to head to Sweet Apple Acres. When you leave, head right, then take the second left, and keep going straight til you get there."

"Thank you very much. And one thing before I go: they both win."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You'll see." Arthur said with a cheeky smirk as he left.

"The discovery of a lifetime and I have to keep it secret... I hate keeping secrets... Oh well, back to my book. ...I don't have to wonder too hard who has made this alliance. It'll be the remaining Career Tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4...

As Arthur walked down the road, he kept getting stares from various ponies. "Take the second-" Before he could finish he bumped into somepony magically carrying several rolls of fabric and multiple bags of gems.

"Pardon me." they both said at the same time. When Arthur looked, he saw a white unicorn with a curly purple mane. "Ah, you must be Miss Rarity. The element of generosity and one of the best fashion designers in Equestria." Arthur gave a polite bow. "My name is Arthur, 'tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance m'lady."

"Oh my." Rarity said, blushing. "Uh, the pleasure is mine, good sir."

"And I hear you stood up to Blueblood at the Gala. Bravo."

"Oh. That." Rarity's face turning a bit more red.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing. Though I admit... I didn't expect such a... battle-worn pony to be quite so... polite."

"I happen to be more than your run-of-the-mill soldier." He says with a wink.

"I see... well, stop by my boutique later and perhaps I can whip up something to go with your armor. It's just down this road."

"Then I'll stop by. Farewell, m'lady."

"Farewell, Arthur."

Arthur walked up the path to Sweet Apple Acres, a nice cool breeze passing through with the warm rays of the sun beating down on him. As he entered the farm, he walked up to a large red stallion. "Excuse me. This is Sweet Apple Acres, correct?"

"Eeyup."

"You are... Big Macintosh, correct?"

"Eeyup."

"Do you know where I might find your sister Applejack?"

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said as he pointed towards the orchard.

"Thank you very much."

"Eeyup."

"Talk about a broken record..." Arthur thought as he walked in the direction Big Mac had pointed. As he walked he looked at all the apple trees. Admiring them until he finally heard a voice.

"Howdy!" said an orange and blonde pony in a cowboy hat. All of a sudden, a loud and enraged yell rang out from the library. "Spike must've burned another book. Anyway, welcome ta Sweet Apple Acres, what can ah do fer ya?"

"You are Applejack, the element of honesty, right?"

"Yessir."

"I hear you have quite the story from last cider season."

"Oh, you talkin' 'bout that glowin' ghost pony? Ya'll don' wanna hear that story, do ya?"

"Perrhaps. May I ask what color this pony was?"

"It was more purple 'n grape juice."

"Purple?" Arthur asked, suddenly seeming more attentive. "Please. Go on."

"Well, alright. It was early in the mornin'. That day was beginning o' cider season..."

Applejack yawned as she slowly opened her eyes. "What time is it?" She asked as she looked out the window. "Can't be later 'n one. 'Course. Every cider season." She yawned again as she got up and began walking out the door. As she looked out the window she spotted something said to herself, "What in tarnation is that glow? It's comin' from the cider storage shed."

She quickly galloped out to the shed, the night air breezing through her mane. "That shed's supposed to be locked up tight." As she got closer, she decided to tiptoe quietly, hoping to catch the perpitrator red-hoofed. She tried pulling the door open but, surprisingly, it was locked. "How in Equestria..." She pulled the key out from her hat and unlocked the door, slowly pushing it open with a somewhat quiet yet prolonged sqeaing noise. For the shortest second, Applejack looked in, surprised at seeing a purple glowing pegasus with green eyes who suddenly vanished. Applejack shook her head and rubbed her eyes."It's early. I must be seein' things. Better get back to bed."

Later that day, the cider stand was set up and tons of ponies were in line to get a cup. Applejack walked up to her friends, minus Rainbow Dash who was still in line. "Howdy. Ya'll ain't gonna believe what happened this mornin'." Applejack recounted her story to her friends. At the end, the five of them all laughed at the implausable tale. "Ridiculous, right?"

"No kidding." Twilight replied. "Glowing ponies. Heheh. The chemical mixtures required to make a pony glow would be impossible for the body to produce naturally. And any artifical application would be lethal."

"Applejack!" Applebloom called out from the stand. "We got a problem!" Rainbow Dash was next in line, tapping her hooves impatiently.

"Comin'!" Applejack said as she galloped up to Applebloom. "What's wrong, Applebloom?"

"Two of the barrels are empty. Now we're all out." At hearing this, Applejack froze.

"WHAT?! ALL OUT?!" Rainbow Dash shouted with groans from the other ponies in line following suit. "Why am I not surprised?!"

When all the customers had gone back to town, the apples gathered in front of the stand and Applejack told her tale to the family.

"Glowin' ponies? That's silly." Applebloom said, dismissing the story.

"Eeyup." Big Mac agreed.

"Then how do ya'll explain the empty barrels?" Applejack challenged.

"Maybe some greedy unicorn used their magic to teleport." Applebloom suggested.

"I saw wings, no horn."
"Besides, two barrels is an awful lot o' cider."

"Yeah, an awful lot o' MISSIN' cider... Tell ya'll what. I'll take care of it. Let's make some cider."

Later that night, Applejack and Winona stood guard around the cider storage shed, keeping a vigilant lookout. "I'm watchin' fer ya, Cider Sneaker. Ya ain't gettin' past me tonight." Not once, the entire night did Applejack or Winona so much as daze off and there was little sign of activity. Surely, all the cider would be there for the next day.

"Applejack! Problem!" Applebloom shouted out to a watch-weary Applejack.

"Ya can't be serious..." Applejack said as Rainbow Dash approached.

"Now there's FOUR barrels empty."

"FOUR?! But- but how?! I stayed up all night. Winona was right there with me!"

"Maybe YOU'RE drinking all the cider." Rainbow Dash said, getting in Applejack's face.

"No way!"

"Maybe some o' the barrels are leakin'." Applebloom suggested.

"I'm tellin' ya'll it's that glowin' pony."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. The mysterious glowing pony. Show me this pony and I'll believe you."

"Help me with the watch tonight and maybe you'll see it..."

"She helped me that night. Nothin' happened, but cider still disappeared. We kept upin' security, even resortin' ta movin' the barrels, but the cider still disappeared. On the last night of cider season, we practically had the whole town on guard duty. Every inch of the farm was covered. We had ponies stationed wherever the cider was stored, but it was no use. That night, one barrel was drained o' cider. Everypony still blames us for the cider shortage."

"I see." Arthur said, paying close attention to the story. "Let's say, hypothetically, that this pony left town. Where might it go?"

"Canterlot, probably ta taste their fancy-pansty wine. Ya'll can see it right over there." Applejack said pointing to the mountain where Canterlot rests.

"Canterlot eh? Thank you very much, Applejack. And if it makes you feel better, I believe your story." Arthur said as he began trotting off.

"Thanks! Ya'll are the only one. Come back soon!"

"Canterlot." Arthur thought to himself. "Time to visit an old friend... but first I should stop and see Rarity. After all, I want to look my best..."