Waking Up Different

Chapters

The First Chapter
The Second Chapter
The Third Chapter
The Fourth Chapter
The Fifth Chapter
The Sixth Chapter

The First Chapter

Twilight's POV

Twilight Sparkle woke up in Canterlot Castle, Celestia's sun shining in from a window. Her wings rustled uncomfortably, and Twilight folded them neatly on her back, resolving to ask Rainbow Dash for some flying lessons later. After all, that's what friends are for, giving help when it's needed - and she should know, she was the Princess of Friendship… or something like that.

She trotted onto the balcony, and watched the sunrise. However, something pink barreled onto her balcony, and she jumped back in surprise.

It was Pinkie Pie, but the last time she checked, she was pretty sure Pinkie Pie didn't have wings and a horn.

Twilight shook it off. "Pinkie Pie, why do you have wings and a horn?"

Pinkie giggled. "Oh, I don't know. I woke up this way! And flying's so much fun!" Her horn glowed bright blue, and she teleported onto the roof. "Ooh, and this is fun too!"

I have a really bad feeling about this... Twilight smiled nervously. "Let's… go and see Princess Celestia and ask why you're an Alicorn, okay?"

"Okey dokey lokie!" Pinkie Pie teleported back to her previous spot and gave a wide smile.

"Whoa, don't leave without me!" Rainbow Dash landed on the balcony as well, grinning.

Twilight glanced back towards her chromatic friend - to find a horn on her forehead. Ohh boy. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie as Alicorns? We may as well say goodbye to Equestria as we know it.

Not bothering to address them, too weirded out by the fact that two of her friends were now Alicorns, Twilight turned around and began a hasty trot back inside. Behind her, she heard one pair of wings flapping and Pinkie Pie's trademark bouncing. Princess Celestia's got the answer... I'm sure of it!

Rarity's POV

Rarity awoke in the castle. My, what a night! After Twilight's coronation, Pinkie had thrown a hastily-thrown-together-but-still-fun Hooray-You're-An-Alicorn-Princess party. There were even fake horns and wings that could be strapped onto one's forehead and back, respectively.

Something rustled uncomfortably underneath her, and she grumbled, "I must've left the fake wings on." She got out of bed to take the wings off, and took a moment to marvel at how clean and shiny the floors were. Twilight's soo lucky - she's an Alicorn princess now, she gets to wear beautiful - no, Rarity, you mustn't think that way, be happy for her!

But as she reached back with her magic to take off the wings, they simply wouldn't come off. So she trotted into the bathroom with her makeup bags and her toiletries and took a good look in the mirror, to assess just how stuck they really were, and yes, Rarity admitted to herself, so she could get ready for the day.

But to her surprise… they were real.

Rarity screamed, her magic failing her in the shock. The bags clattered as they fell to the ground, no longer suspended by her magic, but her scream drowned out the clatter.

Only three thoughts remained in her head. The first, Why the buck do I have wings? The second, Does this mean I'm a Princess now, with immortality and everything? The third, I hope my mane goes all flowy and beautiful like Princess Luna's and Princess Celestia's!

Oh, where was her fainting couch when she needed it?

Applejack's POV

Applejack bolted awake at the sound of a scream. "Huh?" Something rustled on her back, and there was a strange weight on her forehead that certainly hadn't been there the night before.

She stood up, trotting into the bathroom that she shared with Rarity - their rooms were connected by that bathroom, for some unexplained reason - to see just what was on her forehead, and to see if Rarity was alright. "Rares, are you alright?" she called.

Rarity's scream lingered uneasily in the air, but both of said fashionista's hooves were pressed over her mouth. Her silly bags of makeup and such that Applejack personally thought weren't needed - since when did a mare need more cosmet- make- things - buck the proper term, whatever it was - to look beautiful than could be carried by hooves? What nature gave a mare should be all a mare needs! - were scattered all around her on the ground, completely forgotten; Rarity must've dropped them. Applejack looked in the mirror - and Rarity had a pair of wings that looked nothing like the fake, lavender wings Pinkie Pie'd had at last night's party.

Speaking of horns and wings… Applejack couldn't help but glance at herself in the mirror to find a horn and wings that were exactly the shade of her own orange fur. What the buck?

Her jaw dropped. Rarity glanced over, and, with a tiny smirk, pushed it back up with one hoof.

Applejack aimed a glare at Rarity. "Ah can move mah own limbs, Ah'll have ya know."

The smirk remained. "Good, because I think Princess Celestia has the answers to why we're now Alicorns." Rarity rescued her bags from the floor, and began putting on some makeup and fixing her mane and tail.

Applejack rolled her eyes, fished out some red ponytail bands, tied her mane and tail, and trotted out.

Fluttershy's POV

Fluttershy stretched as she woke up, her wings extending widely, enjoying their freedom. Last night's party was really wild... and startling... Hmm, I wonder where Discord is, I bet he'd like it if I said good morning.

But that would be later. For now, she had some business to take care of. Teal magic threw back the blankets, and she yelped. Whose magic was that? Oh, is someone in here with me? Oh no... oh no oh no...

"Is... is somepony there?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Oh, hello my dear Fluttershy." Discord hung upside down from the ceiling. "And I must say, your new horn looks very nice."

"What? My horn? I don't understand..." Fluttershy gave him a confused look.

"Let me help you." He dropped from the ceiling, and called into existence a rather gaudy hoof-mirror, adorned with pink butterflies that somewhat resembled her cutie mark, and held it up for her. She gasped.

"You seem to be an Alicorn, my dear!" Discord grinned. "Oh, hooray!"

"I... I don't understand." Fluttershy whispered. "How?"

Discord called into existence another item - a red baseball cap with holes for his horns. There were two large words emblazoned in white on it - Thinking Cap. He put it on, and summoned an identical cap - except this one only had one hole for Fluttershy's horn, instead of two - up for Fluttershy. "Let's put our Thinking Caps on."

Fluttershy smiled at her friend's usual randomness. "Maybe Princess Celestia would know?"

"Splendid idea." The Thinking Caps vanished. "Let's go and see her, shall we?" He graciously offered her his paw, and after a moment, she took it. They set off for the throne room, and Fluttershy was glad she had a friend like him.

Twilight's POV

Twilight Sparkle trotted uneasily through the castle. Pinkie Pie bounced along, her wings out and in full display for all to see. Rainbow Dash flew along overhead lazily.

"We've got to go and see Princess Celestia. I've got no idea how you got your wings and horns, but I'm sure she's got a reasonable explanation for this." Twilight's face was the very epitome of worry.

"Well, if we're Alicorns now, obviously we're the Princesses of something!" Rainbow commented.

"Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie Pie gasped. "What if… we're meant to be the Princesses of Harmony, and Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity are also Alicorns, and Princess Celestia made us into Alicorns because Equestria would be left defenseless without its Elements of Harmony and now I'm the Princess of Laughter, Rainbow's the Princess of Loyalty, Fluttershy's the Princess of Kindness, Applejack's the Princess of Honesty, and Rarity's the Princess of Generosity?"

Rainbow and Twilight stopped.

"Pinkie, that is so random!" Rainbow chuckled. "They have to let me become a Wonderbolt now! I mean, I'm an Alicorn!"

We all know how Pinkie Pie is random, but what if she's right? What if we're now the Princesses of Harmony? Twilight smiled, but it was rather forced. And if Pinkie's now an Alicorn… she's probably gonna give Discord a run for his money with all the pranks and parties, and that wouldn't be good. We have to get to Princess Celestia as soon as possible, find out what it all means!

The Second Chapter

Princess Celestia's POV

Princess Celestia trotted through the halls, her morning sun shining in through a window. Her goal? A nice cupcake from the kitchens. Maybe vanilla with golden icing, warm and plump… or chocolate, topped with minty green icing… Her stomach growled angrily upon sensing her wishful thoughts, and she quickened her pace. A cupcake a day… what was that saying she'd made up? A cupcake a day keeps the stress away, that's it!

Princess Luna joined her, and yawned. "Hello, sister."

"Hello, Luna. I'm off to fetch a cupcake from the kitchens, care to join me?"

"I should be getting to bed, but one cupcake can't hurt." Luna smiled; walking alongside her sister was something she hadn't gotten to do for a while.

In the distance, there was a crash and a splatter. Something pink and white exploded against the window. Luckily, the window was unharmed.

Luna's eyes flicked to Celestia's. "Should we go and inspect that?"

Celestia considered it. "Nah…"

They reached the kitchens, and opted to look at the chef's selection of cupcakes.

Twilight's POV

Twilight skidded out of the throne room, worry beginning to give way to panic. "Where, oh where could the Princesses be?" she exclaimed.

Rainbow landed next to her. "I don't know, but why don't we go and find the others?"

"Yea!" Pinkie paused in her bouncing. "I bet Rarity loves her new wings!"

"Ohhh Faust," Rainbow groaned. "She's gonna be obsessed with those for weeks, trying to weave gems in between the feathers and stuff!"

Rarity's POV

Rarity trotted through the halls, trying not to break into a run for fear of ruining her mane. Applejack had already raced on ahead - Silly AJ, she's going to knock something over.

Something crashed.

Knew it.

Suddenly, Rarity got a better idea than finding Princess Celestia. What if I go and find Prince Blueblood and give him a piece of my mind?

With a devious look in her eyes, she teleported away - and ended up in his bedroom.

The lazy prince was still snoring away. For a second, she felt regret. Should I even be doing this? Buck it, he ruined my dreams and I'm gonna get payback!

Rarity tip-hoofed over to Prince Blueblood's ear and screamed, "WAKE UP!!"

He woke with a start.

Rarity's magic dragged him out of bed and slammed him onto the ground. "Why, good morning, Blueblood."

Prince Blueblood took one look at her and recognized her as the mare from the Gala a year ago or so. "S-Stay back!" Then, another glance showed that she had wings… as well as a horn. True fear filled his eyes. "Sh-Show mercy on me! I- I-"

She silenced him. "Shut up." Something inside of her scolded her for using such unladylike language, but she shoved it down. Rarity's blue magical aura surrounded him, and threw him into the air. He flailed helplessly, then was caught by Rarity's magic - but it slammed him down mercilessly onto the ground. This cycle was repeated many times until he was absolutely covered in bruises. That should be enough punishment...

He quaked in fear on the ground with the last shreds of his energy, shaking so miserably that she felt a shred of pity. A shred that was quickly stamped out.

"You don't deserve to be a Prince." Rarity's blue magic plucked him up and catapulted him right out of an open window.

With that dealt with, Rarity trotted out. Something inside of her was slowly nodding its head and clapping its hooves together in satisfaction, and she would've done the same were she not in public. The guards outside his door did a double-take at seeing this fashionable Alicorn who certainly did not look familiar to any Alicorn they'd ever seen walk out calmly, only a little exhausted from the punishment she'd just served.

Fluttershy's POV

"More tea, Discord?" Fluttershy's new teal magic lifted up the teapot.

"Why yes, thank you Fluttershy. And would you like a cucumber sandwich?"

"Oh, thank you! Those are my favorite." Fluttershy gladly took one.

Indeed, Discord and Fluttershy were having a tea party. Instead of looking for Princess Celestia like the rest of her friends, Fluttershy had decided to wait. Discord had suggested the tea party while they waited.

Splat.

Something impaled itself on Fluttershy's horn, and she squeaked and hid beneath a tree.

She took a second glance at it… and saw it was a slice of cake.

"Discord?" Fluttershy directed a condescending glance towards her friend, who was still sipping at his tea. "Why is it raining cake?"

He looked at the sky. "Why, so it is."

"Yes, but do you know why?"

"Afraid not, but I can assure that this isn't my work." The Thinking Caps appeared again. "Who else do we know who would want to make it rain cake?"

"…" Fluttershy thought. "… Pinkie Pie?"

Discord thought, then slowly nodded. "Yes, that sounds right." The Thinking Caps vanished with a snap of his fingers.

Pinkie Pie's POV

She could literally feel the magic buzzing through her. Being an Alicorn was awesome! She grinned widely. Let's make it rain cake!

As soon as that thought flashed through her mind, cake began to rain from the sky. Below, the citizens of Canterlot were taking shelter. Pinkie frowned. Did they not like her cake? Was it too hard? Meh, who cares?

Pranking would be so much easier now, with magic, and wings, and… Oh wait! Discord liked pranks, right? And chocolate milk, right? And cotton candy, right? Well, would he like a cake baked with chocolate milk and topped with cotton candy? She licked her lips. That sounded delicious!

A cake gently fell from the sky, and landed right in front of her. It was exactly how she'd thought Discord's favorite kind of cake would look! Now to take it to him - oh wait, she could use magic to float it to him!

It floated down, a magical shield around it to protect it from the other falling cakes, and landed directly on Discord's plate, where he was having a tea party with Fluttershy. Oh goodie, they can share! They'd make a great couple, now that Fluttershy's an Alicorn and Alicorns are immortal, so he'll never have to worry about her untimely death! She clapped her hooves, grinning evilly. Out of nowhere came a pair of goggles, which she put on.

Hey, wait, I have shipping goggles? This is gonna be great!

*sigh* Pinkie, please don't break the fourth wall!

Oh, I am? Sorry!

*sigh* And now, back to your regularly scheduled reading.

A weariness took over Pinkie, and she yawned. Nonononononononooo, I can't be tired! I need… um… what did Twi call it again? Oh yea, COFFEE!

Celestia's POV

Princess Celestia walked calmly to her throne room. Outside was complete and utter chaos, what with cake raining from the sky. Personally (ponyally? Wait, that doesn't make sense…), she liked it. Her Canterlot was full of spoiled nobles, and it was time that they'd had a little excitement.

She sat on her throne - the sun had already been raised - and called to a guard, "Let them in."

The tall doors swung slowly open… to admit what must've been all of Canterlot, trying to lodge complaints about the new weather. Celestia inwardly sighed.

And finally, at the back of the crowd… she saw Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, and Applejack come bolting in. They soared - well, at least Rainbow soared, Twilight and Rarity simply teleported, and Applejack took a majestic flying leap across the crowd. Each landed in front of the Princess. The nobles stopped in their complaining to gawk at the once-country, now-ascended Alicorns.

"Princess, what's happened? Why are we all Alicorns?" Twilight asked.

One noble snorted. "It's raining cake outside, and all you can think of is how you're Alicorns?"

"D'you LIKE the cake?" The doors slammed open.

Pinkie Pie stood there, 5 mugs of coffee floating beside her. Four were empty, and as she finished the fifth off, her body gave a shudder.

"Oh Faust…" Rainbow whispered. "It's Pinkie Pie with caffeine!"

Everything ground to a halt, the nobles shuffling and unsure of what to do, the Princess with her jaw dropped, and Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack were all thinking the same thing. Pinkie Pie on caffeine is gonna make what Discord did to Equestria seem like foal's play.

"There seems to be some trouble in the castle," Discord remarked. After the cake had fallen on his plate, he had shared it with Fluttershy - it tasted rather interesting, but overall Discord-y.

"Oh my." Fluttershy stretched. Floating in her magical grasp was a magically reinforced umbrellas; most umbrellas couldn't last long in a storm of cake. "I think we'd better go in, make sure everything's okay."

"Just what I was going to say, my dear." Discord's tail took hold of the umbrella, holding it over both of them, and they walked inside together.

At the entrance, they saw Pinkie's back, both wings flared.

"Um, Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked, but it came out more as a whisper. Pinkie heard anyway, turning around slowly. On her face was a very creepy grin. Her mane and tail were frizzier than ever, and her pupils were tiny.

"Are… Are you… okay?" Fluttershy hadn't seen this side of Pinkie in a while. "Am… Am I interrupting something?"

"Did you like my caaaaaaakeeeee?" Pinkie's grin grew even creepier.

"Oh… Um…"

"We loved it, Pinkie." Discord assured her.

"Oh goodie." Pinkie slipped down her Shipping Goggles. "Because… I SPIKED it with… some EXTRA STRONG LOVE POTION!"

There was complete and utter silence. Not even breathing could be heard.

Discord broke the silence. "Who gave Pinkie the caffeine?"

"Oh, I BOUGHT IT from PONY JOE!!'" Pinkie gave an evil giggle. "Caffeine is SO MUCH FUN!"

"Should we get the guards?" Twilight whispered to Celestia.

"Not even guards can halt this." Celestia buried her face in her hooves. "What was I thinking, making Pinkie an Alicorn?"

"You WHAT?!" The mane six (except for Pinkie) exclaimed.

The Third Chapter

Princess Celestia's POV

"Yes." Princess Celestia raised her head. "Guards, escort the nobles out."

The guards formed a circle around the nobles, herding them out amid protests.

"Back to business." This certainly isn't the way I wanted to tell them, but it's too late now. "I'm the pony who ascended you all to Alicorns. My reasoning? Well, Equestria needs its Elements of Harmony, and the six of you have done many things for Equestria - saving Equestria from Nightmare Moon and redeeming her to Princess Luna, saving Equestria from Discord and reforming him, saving Equestria from Queen Chrysalis and casting out the changelings far away, saving the Crystal Empire from King Sombra… I could go on all day, but I don't need to." Princess Celestia took a large breath. "And I decided that you all deserved to be Alicorns. Your coronations will be tomorrow."

"Well." Applejack snorted. "That's all fine and dandy, but what are we gonna do now? Pinkie's on caffeine, and Ah haven't the slightest idea how we're to save Equestria from her."

"My thoughts exactly," Rainbow agreed. "It's not like we can use the Elements on a fellow Bearer."

"Well," Rarity began, "we could place her in a padded room, lock the door, and make it so she can't teleport out."

"That seems a little extreme…" Fluttershy said.

"Then what's your suggestion?" Rarity asked, a little pointedly.

"Well, we could give her lots of oranges and apples and lemons and things like that," the yellow Pegasus suggested. "It works for me…"

"Yes, but Pinkie's not you."

"It might work!" Fluttershy insisted.

"It's worth a try," Discord supported her.

"Well, Ah can get some apples," Applejack added. "Ah'm not sure where to get oranges or citrus-y fruits."

"The kitchen has plenty," Princess Celestia assured.

"And I read somewhere that plenty of water will help." Twilight galloped away, presumably to get some oranges and water.

Twilight's POV

So apparently, Celestia made us all Alicorns because of our many achievements? So why didn't she make Starswirl the Bearded an Alicorn? He's achieved many more things than we have! Twilight frowned. While her hooves were on the ground, racing through the castle to the kitchens, her head was spinning through the clouds. It just… doesn't make sense!

True, a small voice in her head said, but he hasn't ever wielded the Elements of Harmony, has he?

Bump.

She hustled away from the pillar. How had she not seen it?

After a few more pillar-greetings (with her face), she made it to the kitchens.

"I need citrus-y fruits, diced please!" Twilight gasped, out of breath. For all the running she'd been doing the past few years, she certainly wasn't in shape. "And a large container of water, please."

Only moments after she spoke, a chef diced up some grapefruits and different varieties of oranges. "Here ya go," he said, pushing the cart towards her with one hind leg. A jug of water joined the fruit. "Lots o' citrus and a large jug o' water."

"Thanks," Twilight called. The jug rose next to her, captured in Twilight's magenta magic. She nosed the cart along, trying to go as fast as she could without spilling anything.

The trip back felt much shorter than the trip to the kitchens had, and when Twilight returned to the throne room, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were holding Pinkie down. A magic restrainer rested at the base of Pinkie's horn, and Pinkie's wings flapped in vain.

"Glad to see you're back," Rainbow commented. Pinkie gave one mighty heave, but she managed to hold the party mare down. "How long do we need to keep her held down?"

Twilight opened her mouth, then closed it. "Wait a second… isn't there a spell to neutralize the effects of caffeine?"

Everypony sighed. Even Discord and Pinkie Pie sighed. It was the kind of sigh that just says 'And you couldn't have told us earlier?' Of course, Applejack voiced what they were all thinking.

"And ya only just now remembered it, sugarcube?" Applejack shook her head slowly.

"Yep." Her horn glowed, magenta sparks flying from it as she aimed her horn towards the pink Alicorn. A thin beam shot towards her, and Pinkie relaxed, her body settling so much that she apparently decided to fall asleep.

"That spell would've been nice about 10 minutes ago," Rainbow remarked.

"… I guess we're not going to need all this fruit, then?" Fluttershy asked. Her teal magic enveloped some diced up oranges, delivering them into her mouth. "If not, that's okay... I really like oranges..."

Rarity's POV

She unfolded her wings, stretching them. I'll need to remember to revise Applejack's, Pinkie's, Twilight's, and my Gala dresses. While that was a terrible night indeed, that doesn't mean that I can't spiff them up a bit!

Princess Celestia cleared her throat. "Your coronations will be in three days. Invite whoever you wish - it is your coronation, after all."

"Girls, would you like me to make coronation dresses for you?" Rarity's mind was whirling with hundreds of designs - and this time, she wouldn't allow them to interfere... well, much.

Pinkie stirred in her sleep, murmuring something about cake. I'll take that as a yes...

"Just... make sure it's cool." Rainbow replied. "This coronation is going to be 20% cooler, because, well, I make everything 20% cooler!"

"Seein' as you did such a fine job on our Gala dresses, Ah'd say you're the best pony for the job." Applejack hugged her.

Fluttershy and Twilight made noises of agreement, both enjoying an orange-y snack.

"I'd better get designing, then. Princess-"

"Not a problem," Princess Celestia finished. "I'll have lots of cloth, threads, needles, and other sewing necessities brought up to your room."

"Oh, thank you!" Rarity gave the room in general a nod, then galloped away.

Rarity, that's not how you're supposed to exit! one voice in her mind scolded.

Oh hush, you, she replied. The young Alicorn trotted to her room, her gallop from earlier long forgotten. Entering it, she brought parchment, a sturdy quill, and an inkwell out of her many, many suitcases. The parchment found a home on a sturdy surface, her quill dipped into the inkwell, and the scratching of a quill on parchment could soon be heard in the room as Rarity's creative skills went to work.

Princess Luna's POV

"Ugh…" groaned the Princess of the Night. "Why doth it rain cake?"

She staggered into the throne room, blinking in exhaustion. "Sister of mine, Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, *WHY DOTH IT RAIN CAKE WHEN THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT TRYETH TO SLEEP?!*"

"I'm sorry, Luna," began Princess Celestia, but Luna stamped her hoof down loudly.

"WE SHALL ACCEPT THY APOLOGY WHEN WE RECEIVE OUR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT DOTH RAIN CAKE!"

"LUNA!!" Celestia screamed. "HUSH THY PROTESTS AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE THY EXPLANATION!"

Her words echoed in the near-empty throne room. Fluttershy was covering her ears and shaking on the ground, while Discord attempted to comfort her. Applejack was trying to stretch her wings (in vain) to cover her ears, Rainbow's ears were flopped as far down as they could go, Pinkie was still - miraculously - sleeping, and Twilight was moaning "My ears…"

"Um… ow?" Rainbow massaged her ears with her hooves. "Note to self: do not make Princess Celestia mad enough to use her Royal Canterlot Voice."

Princess Celestia sighed. "I'm sorry, everypony."

Why is she sorry? I'm the one who started with the Royal Canterlot Voice. Princess Luna lowered her gaze to the ground. "We may have overreacted a little, but We are very tired and it was… quite the experience to see a slice of cake splatter against Our window when there were no showers to be scheduled… especially not cake showers."

Pinkie Pie slept on, twitching in her dreams.

Twilight chuckled. "Well, Princess Luna, it seems that Pinkie Pie is the one who made it rain cake."

"Is that so?"

"Eeyup." Applejack nodded.

"…" Luna took a second look at Pinkie. "Sister, why is Pinkie an Alicorn??"

"Well…" Celestia retold her story as to why she'd made the main six Alicorns.

"Ah. We see."

Silence filled the room, until Pinkie awoke from her deep slumber.

"Hiya, everypony!" the pink Alicorn chirped. Upon seeing the bemused faces of Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Celestia, and Luna, her excitement waned a bit. "Um… it's still raining cake, isn't it?"

Splat. One particularly enthusiastic cake smashed against one of Princess Celestia's stained glass windows; to be exact, the one of the main six defeating Discord and turning him back to stone.

Pinkie's horn glowed bright blue, and the storm of cakes halted. All the cakes that had fallen vanished, and the odd, chocolatey looking clouds above Canterlot faded away, until there was only blue sky.

"Now that the rain of cakes is done, We shall head back to Our chambers for sleep." Princess Luna turned and trotted away, aiming for her bedroom and the extremely soft bed that would welcome her.

The Fourth Chapter

Twilight's POV

"Food?" she called, a clipboard floating beside her.

"Eeyup," Applejack and Big Mac answered in unison as Applejack's green magic gently set the last apple in place. Check!

"Dresses?"

"Got them all, dear." Rarity trotted in, a rack of six dresses faithfully following her, towed by her blue magic. They were oddly reminiscent of their Gala dresses, enhanced and repaired after any damages that might have been done to them, and the dresses sparkled with new gemstones.

"They're beautiful, Rarity," Twilight gasped. Check! "Crowns, seating, choir?"

Princess Celestia entered the room, a pillow with six crowns resting on it floating beside her. "Got them all, Twilight." All of their crowns had some resemblance to their Element of Harmony - Rarity's crown was adorned with sapphires and amethysts, Applejack's with fire opals and emeralds, Twilight's was, of course, her Element of Harmony, seeing as it was already a crown, Rainbow Dash's with rubies and rainbow topaz, Fluttershy's with pink tourmaline and aquamarine, and Pinkie Pie's with sky-blue topaz and pink sapphires. Check!

Ding! Many chairs appeared, all neatly in rows. "Ooh! How about these?" Pinkie asked. Ding! The chairs became pews, like what you'd see at a church. "Mmm, too uptight," Pinkie decided. Ding! The pews became long, comfy couches, and Pinkie nodded in satisfaction. "Got them, Twi!" Check!

"And the choir's ready, Twilight." Princess Celestia added. Check!

"Alright, then we should be ready to begin." Twilight's clipboard vanished. Not going to need that anytime soon.

"Wait!" Rarity called. "We have to put on our dresses! We can't get crowned princesses if we're naked."

"Rarity, we hardly ever wear clothes anyway," Rainbow pointed out.

"That certainly doesn't mean we should be crowned naked!" Rarity's magic enveloped those of the mane six who were not already in their dresses - in this case, all of them - and led them into a room on the side, where they all changed.

They emerged looking fabulous.

Princess Celestia trotted over swiftly to them. "The coronation begins soon - come and stand up here." They took their places at the top of the pedestal.

"Guards, let in the audience."

The two guards who stood by the large double doors nodded. Their magic - seeing as they were both unicorns - pulled open the doors, and many ponies galloped in, taking seats and settling in. Among them, Twilight was able to make out Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, some members of the Apple family, the Cutie Mark Crusaders…

"Fillies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion. My most faithful student and her friends, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie have done many extraordinary things since they met in Ponyville. They've reformed Discord, they've reunited me with my sister, and they've saved Equestria multiple times! Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle of Magic and Friendship, Princess Applejack of Honesty, Princess Fluttershy of Kindness, Princess Rarity of Generosity, Princess Rainbow Dash of Loyalty, and Princess Pinkie Pie of Laughter! Together, they are… the Princesses of Harmony!"

Each stepped forward as their name was called. Princess Luna levitated Rainbow's, Pinkie Pie's, and Applejack's crowns onto their heads, and Princess Celestia levitated Twilight's and Fluttershy's onto their heads, but just as she was about to levitate Rarity's…

"Stop!" cried an all-too-familiar voice. The doors flew open, and a white stallion stepped in. He was covered in dirt, twigs, and bruises, and his golden mane was unkempt and messy. Sky-blue eyes gazed with anger and hate upon the only Alicorn who did not wear a crown. It was Prince Blueblood.

Princess Luna's POV

What is that spoiled 'nephew' of Celestia's doing here? The Princess of the Night snorted. "Prince Blueblood, why dost thou interruptest the coronation of Equestria's greatest heroes?"

"Because that… that beast does not deserve to be a Princess!"

Celestia stepped forward - Tis good to see that she is doing something about it. "Prince Blueblood, whatever do you mean?"

"I mean what I say!" He pointed an accusatory look at Rarity. "She came into my room and treated me most horribly, and I demand that she be punished for it!"

"And what did she do, if anything at all?" Princess Celestia's normally serene gaze was cold. The Prince shivered, but pressed on foolishly.

"She entered my room, woke me from a beautiful slumber, and slammed me against the floor! Multiple times! Then, the ruffian hurled me out the window!"

"Rarity, is this true?" Celestia's gaze flicked to Rarity.

"It is." Rarity scoffed. "He deserved it! He is a pompous, spoiled brat!"

Sweetie Belle called, "He did, Rarity! He deserved it for crushing your dreams at the Grand Galloping Gala!"

Luna could've sworn she saw an amused smile fly across Celestia's face for a split second, but it vanished. "Prince Blueblood, Princess Rarity, you will meet me outside after the coronation."

"No! I demand that she be punished *now*!" Prince Blueblood stamped a hoof, a loud, angry snort flying out of his nostrils. "And why aren't I an Alicorn! I'm a Prince too!"

The Princess of the Night was annoyed. How dare he interrupt a coronation? The anger rose up in her, and she stamped a hoof. It made a loud crack. Her wings spread, Luna confronted him. "How darest thou interrupt the coronation? Thou dost not deserveth to be a Prince! Go and lie down and cry like the foal thou art!"

Everypony was shocked.

The Prince stepped forward as well. He looked much angrier now. "Begone, you fool of a princess!"

Celestia's gaze turned a little colder. "Princess Rarity, Prince Blueblood, we will talk about this after the celebration. Until then, Blueblood, hold your tongue."

Blueblood's jaw dropped. "Wait 'til my father hears about this!" Blueblood stomped off.*

Fluttershy's POV

Princess Celestia placed the last crown on Rarity's head, and the choir began to sing. Their director has done a great job with them.

When the choir finished, they filed out professionally.

"Everypony, there are refreshments on the tables if you so choose. You're all welcome to stay a few hours and wait for your trains home. Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Rarity, I would like you all to follow me."

They followed Celestia into another room.

"Now, as you may have noticed, Princess Cadence has a castle and Princess Luna and I have a castle."

"Eeyup, we've noticed," Applejack assured her.

"Now, I'd like to ask you all a serious question - would you like castles of your own or a large castle together or…?" Princess Celestia's voice trailed off, waiting for their answer.

"Why, I would love to have a castle!" Rarity gushed. "With lots of beautiful tapestries and stained glass windows and - "

"Eh." Rainbow shrugged, cutting Rarity off. The white Alicorn - Rarity, not Celestia - shot her an annoyed glance. "I'm fine in my cloud house, but if the rest of you want to live in a castle together, I wouldn't mind joining you."

"Ah don't know if Ah can leave the farm…" considered Applejack. "Ah love it a lot there, and goin' off to some castle wouldn't exactly be the same. Big Mac needs me at the farm, and so do Granny Smith and Apple Bloom."

"Couldn't you just get some ponies in from town to help you?" Rainbow cocked her head. "And I'm sure Apple Bloom's big enough to help."

"Well… She helps already, and what if Big Mac gets hurt? Who'd harvest the apples?" Applejack's ears went down. "Apple Bloom can hardly buck, and the other branches of the Apple Family would be busy with their own apples!"

"Would it really be so hard to just hire some work from town?" Rainbow challenged.

The two continued bickering.

"It would be a lot of work relocating my animals, but I could make it work…" Fluttershy cast her gaze out the window. Of course, the castle would have to have very expansive gardens for them all, and possibly near the Everfree Forest, because that's where many of my animals live...

"Would there be a large library at the castle?" cut in Twilight. "If so, I'm all for that idea." How did I know she was going to ask that question? Must be because of how much she loves books. I'd hate to meet any sorry soul who takes any one of her books...

Pinkie Pie was silent, a rare occurrence for her. Her pink hair was slightly deflated - not like it had been when no pony would come to her party for Gummy, but not fully inflated either. "I like it at the Cake's… I'm so settled in there, and they need me whenever they can so I can foalsit Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake."

"I'm sure you could just fly over there if needed," Rarity reassured.

"True…" Pinkie brightened up, and her hair returned to its normal state. "Then, I absolutely want a castle!"

"So that's a Yes, a Yes, an Undecided, a Yes, a Yes, and a Yes?" Princess Celestia checked.

"Sounds about right."

"Now, would you each like your own individual castle, or to share one? You didn't really answer my question - yes, you confirmed that you want one, but you didn't specify what type." Princess Celestia chuckled, an amused smile spreading over her face.

"I'd much rather share a castle! One big, lonely, empty castle can get really lonely!" Pinkie's big smile grew. "And you said in your big speech-y thingie that together, we're the Princesses of Harmony! We can't be the Princesses of Harmony if we're apart!"

"That's a very valid argument." Twilight nodded in satisfaction. "I myself agree with Pinkie."

"Me too," Rainbow said in unison, Rainbow and Applejack having finally emerged from their argument.

"Well, Ah suppose the farm can last without me," Applejack decided.

"As do I." Rarity shrugged. "It's not like I'm going to need my fashion business or Carousel Boutique, now that I'm a Princess. I may still make dresses for fun, though."

"But then where will Sweetie Belle live?"

"With her parents, who also live in Ponyville."

"Ah."

"So it's decided?" Celestia asked. "One large castle that you'll share?"

"Yep!" Fluttershy snapped out of her daydream. "Can the castle be built near the Everfree Forest? I'm still going to have my animals, and as many of them live in the Everfree Forest… and there will be plenty of gardens, right?"

"And a large balcony?"

"And a - "

"Ponies, ponies," The regal white Alicorn chuckled. "It will take a few years for the castle to be built, so don't move out just yet. Plan out how you want the castle to look, both inside and out. Then give your plans to the head builder, and let them build it. Be as precise as you like."

"I brought extra parchment and quills," offered Rarity. "We can map it out on that!"

"Is there anything else, Princess?" Pinkie asked. "I'm kinda hungry for some apple!"

"No, of course not, Pinkie. You all may rejoin the festivities if you wish." Celestia poked the door gently with her horn, and it swung open dramatically, slamming against the wall. Everypony's head turned towards them.

Rarity chuckled sheepishly. "So much for a quiet re-entrance, eh?"

Applejack's POV

The orange Princess trotted to the refreshments table. To her surprise, most of the treats were untouched. She shrugged, and ate a wide selection of them.

As she did, Princess Cadence and Shining Shield - no, his name was Shining Armor - trotted over.

"I must say, congratulations on becoming a Princess," Shining Armor said with a grin. "Now if only I had some wings…"

"Why, thank you both," Applejack nodded towards the treats. "Ah'm surprised nopony's touched the apple products."

"We were waiting for our newly crowned Princesses to take the first bite," Cadence admitted.

"Is that a new custom 'round these parts?"

"Well, no, but we always did that at birthday parties when we were foals."

"Ah see." Applejack's green gaze swept over the lonely-looking apple treats. "Well, there's a wide selection for you to choose from, so take your pick."

"Where do I start?" demanded Shining Armor. "It all looks so good!"

Applejack smirked. "Ah'd say start small, have a slice o' pie."

Rainbow Dash's POV

She trotted out onto the balcony, then launched herself off it. Just as she was about to touch the ground, the cyan Alicorn flew back up again, flapping her wings to bring her into the sky.

They've got to let me become a Wonderbolt now! I'm a Princess! Rainbow whooped, and performed a Sonic Rainboom. They'd have to be mad not to let me in. Since I'm a Princess now, I can just order them to let me in! And who wouldn't want the mare who can perform the Sonic Rainboom for a teammate?

Rainbow landed on the balcony, and trotted inside. The party had completely stopped, and a record scratched loudly somewhere.

"What's everypony lookin' at?" she asked.

Twilight didn't answer. She only pointed a hoof at the Rainboom.

"Oh yea, that!" Rainbow struck a pose. "Aren't I fabulous?"

The doors slammed open once more, and Lightning Dust stalked in.

"Why hello, Rainbow," Lightning growled. "Why wasn't I invited? I, your friend from the Wonderbolts camp?"

"We stopped being friends when you only started a tornado that could've killed my friends!"

"Yea, but it didn't!" Lightning smirked and glanced to her crown. "Oh, and congratulations, Princess Rainbow Dash." With a flourish, she stepped onto the balcony and flew away.

What a bitch. Rainbow rolled her eyes, and helped herself to an apple fritter. The party started again as usual, but Dash mainly stayed at the refreshments table, eating apple-y stuff - she couldn't bother to remember the names - and mainly just chilling. Because chilling was cool.

"Rainbow Dash!"

She'd recognize that voice anywhere, and turned to see. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom were there, Scootaloo with a massive camera.

"I figured since we're like sisters now, d'you wanna take a picture together?"

"Absolutely!" Rainbow posed with Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom took the picture. "Did you like my Rainboom?"

"We did!" Sweetie Belle chirped, bouncing up and down. "D'you know where Rarity is?"

Rainbow scanned the room for her, and found her talking to some members of the Apple family. "She's right over there," the Alicorn pointed. Sweetie Belle rushed over, Apple Bloom on her heels.

"I can barely believe you're an Alicorn!" Scootaloo reached up to touch her horn. "What does your magic look like? How many spells can you do? Actually, can you do any spells?"

To answer her question, Rainbow lifted an apple pie with her magic.

"Whoa…" Scootaloo stared in awe. "I bet you can fly even faster now that you're an Alicon… Alicororn… Alicorn!"

"You wanna come flying with me?"

"But…" Scootaloo flapped her small wings. They got her a few inches off the ground. "I'll just fall."

"Pfft, I'll catch you!" Rainbow started a trot towards the balcony, and the sound of a second set of slightly smaller hooves alerted her that Scootaloo followed.

Rainbow stood on the edge of the balcony. "Come on, squirt, you'll never be able to fly if you don't even try!"

"O- Okay!" Scootaloo took a deep breath and jumped off. Rainbow leaped after her as the young filly twisted and turned. Finally, she got a good wind, and it brought her up. She flapped her wings some more.

"Doin' good, squirt!" Rainbow grinned. "I gotcha if you fall, don't worry."

But she didn't need to catch Scootaloo at all. She was able to fly, albeit shakily, but it was still flying.

"I can't believe it!" Scootaloo gasped. "I'm flying!"

The Fifth Chapter

Princess Celestia's POV

Inwardly, she sighed. Oh, Rarity, even if he can be a spoiled brat at times, was that really necessary? She beckoned Rarity and Blueblood, who followed her through the hallway into a room. It held a low table and three squashy arm (foreleg?) chairs. They seated themselves.

"Now, Blueblood, I want to hear your side of the story." Princess Celestia directed her gaze into Blueblood's eyes. "Starting from when you woke up."

The Prince tossed his mane dramatically. "Well, when I woke up, I was rudely dragged from my bed by Rarity, who then proceeded to brutally slam my body against the ceiling, then the floor, then the ceiling, then the floor. And as if that wasn't enough for her, she had the rudeness to hurl me out of my window! Had I not flown into a cake that cushioned my impact, I would probably not be here!"

"Rarity, your turn. Begin from the moment you entered his room."

"I entered his room," Rarity began, "and the memories of the anger from being treated so rudely at the Gala overtook me. I… may not have been in the right state of mind. And yes, I did do all that he said."

Celestia gave a long, exasperated sigh. "Rarity, although I do understand that he can be a jerk sometimes, what you did to him wasn't fair."

"What?!" Rarity spluttered. "But-" she began protesting vehemently, but Celestia held up a hoof to stop her.

"If every mare he's ever been a jerk to did what you did, Prince Blueblood would have been dead a long time ago. He was only mean for one night. You, however, sank to his level and could've killed him. I expect that you'll give him an honest apology and I hope that this kind of thing can be avoided in the future. You're an Element of Harmony! You're supposed to act better than this." On the last sentence, her voice took on a disappointed tone, and Rarity hung her head in shame.

"Rarity." Blueblood sighed. "It appears that I, too, owe you an apology."

Her head shot up quickly. "You have nothing to apologize for… it's completely my fault for hurling you out a window." She sighed. "What was I thinking?"

"But I do. I ruined your dreams back at the Grand Galloping Gala, and you deserve to at least know why."

"Then… why?"

"It's because... my heart's set on another mare. In the past, I've found that simply explaining to the mares who chased me that I loved another did nothing; they just assumed I was playing hard to get and chased faster. So I had to resort to the rudeness that you saw at the Gala to get them away. It was the only tactic that worked, short of demanding a guard to escort them out."

Rarity was silent. "But - "

"The only reason you wanted me was because I was a Prince. The only reason you went to the Gala - you were singing about it for Celestia's sake - was to marry a Prince, become a Princess, become Canterlot Royalty. I saw it in your eyes; the same thing I saw in every other mare's eyes. All you've heard of me is from the tablets and the newspapers, not from friendship and truly knowing me."

"… Blueblood, I'm sorry for throwing you out the window and slamming you high and low in your own bedroom."

"Apology accepted." Blueblood rubbed a bruise, wincing. "And I'm sorry for the rudeness I showed you at the Gala and for interrupting your coronation like that."

Celestia's stomach growled rather loudly, to the amusement of the other two ponies in the room.

"Shall we return to the festivities?"

"Yes, we shall."

Prince Blueblood's POV

That Rarity mare wasn't such a bad mare. She'd apologized for hurling him out the window and nearly killing him. I don't quite hate her, but I'm not her buddy... just somewhere in between.

On the other hoof… he hadn't been lying when he said he liked another mare.

The Element of Magic, to be precise. He'd heard of her many times from Celestia, and from seeing her in the time she'd spent in Canterlot Castle, she actually looked quite cute. Plain, yes, but still cute. Even better, she was excellent in her magical skills… but never took the time to pay him any attention. He, the Prince of all ponies, wasn't as important as her books were!

He'd gone to as many social gatherings as he could, trying to see which ones the object of his affection - Twilight Sparkle; even her name was regal! - attended, in vain.

Blueblood trotted to the refreshments, where he spotted… common carnival fare? The mare of his dreams ate this? Well, if this is what she eats, perhaps I can encounter her here. A few bites of a food I don't normally eat will be worth it for a conversation with… *her.***

But as he trotted over there, he saw Twilight with another mare - a light yellow Alicorn with a long, flowing mane and tail, but not quite like his Auntie's. Perhaps I shall go and socialize? That mare she's with must be a friend, and if I can befriend one of her friends, I'll have a link to Twilight! Quickly, the handsome stallion changed course, unaware that he looked like a school colt with his first crush, a stupidly silly grin on his face.

"Why hello, Twiflash Glimmer." Mentally, he facehooved and screamed at himself as he addressed Twilight. "I mean Twiglimmer Flashle… No!… Ugh…"

"It's Twilight Sparkle," she corrected. "And aren't you Prince Blueblood?"

She knows my name! She knows my name! She knows my name! Prince Blueblood shoved his ecstatic feelings down. "Yes, I indeedily am." Yet another fail. Shining Armor would get a good laugh out of this later.

Speak of the devil and he doth appear... Shining Armor suddenly appeared, glaring at him. "Why are you talking to my sister?"

"Shining, it's okay," Twilight began, but Shining interrupted.

"No it's not. You're my little sister! I'm supposed to protect you! That's what big brothers do!"

"We're merely conversing." Blueblood protested. "Am I not allowed to have a conversation with a mare?"

"Not when it's my sister," Shining growled.

"Shiny!" Twilight stepped between them. "It's fine! I'm a grown mare and a Princess! I can handle myself. If I can help defeat Discord and Nightmare Moon, I can certainly defend myself against Blueblood if I need to."

"If you say so…" He walked away slowly, ears pricked.

Twilight sighed. She looks hot even when she's disappointed - this must be the secret to marriage: find some pony who looks sexy when sighing. "Did you need anything, Blueblood?"

The mare next to her - Flutterfly? Shutterfly? No, Fluttershy - gulped loudly. "Uhm… I think he's staring at it."

The beautiful - in his opinion - mare followed his gaze… which led her to her flank. "Well, he's not getting any." Twilight sighed. "Fluttershy, wanna get something to eat? I'm hungry."

"Oh, absolutely."

Blueblood shook himself. How did she catch me staring at her flank? It's not my fault she's so cute!

Why were you even looking there in the first place? a voice asked in the back of his head; sounded like Celestia.

"Wait, Twilight!" he called.

She turned back to him. "What?"

"I was… I was admiring your… cutie mark!"

"Yea, and?"

"And… your cutie mark!"

"And…?"

Busted. "Your flank."

"That's what I thought." She rolled her eyes, and got a slice of apple pie.

Twilight's POV

The nerve! And to think I thought he had at least a shred of respect for mares… Twilight chomped on her pie.

"Twilight? Is anything wrong?"

"No, not at all," Twilight reassured her friend. "Just annoyed. I mean, he's the Prince of Canterlot! Surely he has better things to do than to stare at my flank!"

"What is this I hear?" Rarity trotted up. "Prince Blueblood was staring at your flank?"

"Um, yes."

She snorted. "You must be the other mare he was speaking of - the mare he was supposedly in love with."

Twilight choked on her pie. "Pardon? Blueblood, in love with me? Rarity, I believe you've got the wrong mare."

"Certainly not, darling. It's clear! Was he stumbling over his words when he spoke to you?"

"Yes," supplied a Shining Armor who appeared out of nowhere, aiming a scowl at Blueblood. "And staring at her flank, and he got her name wrong twice."

"Head over hooves," Rarity confirmed. "Oh, Twilight, I can't believe it! Blueblood loves you! Oh, your foals would be the cutest!"

"Whoa, back up," Twilight said. "Blueblood and I certainly aren't getting married or having foals."

"She's right, you know," Blueblood bumped Rarity out of the way, a relaxed grin on his face. Normally, it would make mares swoon, as Rarity did, but Twilight was unaffected. "Our foals would indeed be the cutest."

"Hello?" Twilight asked, a scowl steadily forming on her face to match her brother's. "Do you even know how to flirt? Most stallions don't flirt with mares by saying 'Our foals would be hella cute.'"

"Eh, just saying." Blueblood sighed. "You're right. Then how would you like me to court you? Roses on your doorstep? A romantic dinner at the finest of Bitalian restaurants?"

"First of all, I'm not even romantically interested in you."

A record scratched loudly again.

"Say what?" Blueblood gasped. "A mare not romantically interested in me?"

"Better believe it!" You may be handsome, you may be a Prince of Equestria, but that doesn't mean I want to date you!

His ears flopped down in sadness, and he slowly walked away. "I guess I'll die a bachelor, then."

"There are plenty of mares out there, much more beautiful and talented than me."

"Not! Lavender is such a beautiful color, and your mane is... feautibul, and your talent - it's stumming! You're the Element of Magic!" Blueblood threw himself onto the ground at her hooves, sobbing. "I'll do anything, for even the lowest of relationships with you!"

"Sugarcube, don't you at least think you should give 'im a chance?" Applejack had overheard the conversation, and she trotted over. "Ah mean, you do know a lot about Friendship."

"..."

"I think Applejack's right," Fluttershy admitted. "You should at least get to know him before you flat-out reject him."

"Absolutely not!" Rarity gasped. "They must get married and have foals now!"

"When's your foal shower? Or showers? Or your wedding?" Pinkie Pie slid on some rose-colored goggles. "Ooh, I can totally see you two together!"

"Fine, I'll give him a chance," Twilight relented.

"You will?" Blueblood began erratically kissing her hooves.

"As friends, nothing more," the lavender Alicorn tentatively raised a hoof, obviously not used to ponies kissing them erratically as Blueblood had been. This... Ugh, what did I just agree to?

"Ugh, who gave him love potion?" grumbled Rainbow.

Pinkie and Rarity gasped, looking into each other's eyes.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Rarity whispered.

"I think I'm thinking what you're thinking, or do you think that I think that I'm thinking what you're thinking?"

The two mares huddled, whispering furiously.

Pinkie turned to Fluttershy. "Say, you willing to help us with something?"

Fluttershy reluctantly nodded, and they began whispering even more fiercely.

"... I wonder what they're up to." Twilight remarked.

"I don't know, but that's okay, since I'm with the most beautiful mare on the planet." Blueblood sighed dreamily.

Oh, great. His crush on me is worse than Spike's crush on Rarity!

Pinkie Pie's POV

"So, Rarity, what are you thinking?" whispered the pink Alicorn.

"I'm thinking we cook up a Love Potion, and serve it to the two of them. They'll be married before you know it!"

"What if it goes wrong?" Fluttershy whispered.

"It shouldn't," Rarity assured her.

"But think of the consequences. Twilight and Blueblood are royalty; surely they have duties!" Fluttershy squeaked. "Without their duties, who knows what would go wrong?"

Pinkie scoffed. "Silly Fluttershy, I thought everypony knew that all Blueblood does is go to parties, and Twilight's not going to have any since Celestia and Luna practically take care of everything."

"Oh."

"See! It'll all be fine. I believe we need..."

"A tuft of cloud, a Pegasus' feather, and a bright rainbow's glow? Of course, you'd only need the Pegasus feather to stir it with," suggested Pinkie.

"How did you know?" Rarity's jaw dropped, but she pushed it back up.

"I dunno, maybe the author looked it up on the MLP wiki!"

PINKIE!! Stop breaking the fourth wall!

Oopsie! *giggle* Sorry!

How many more times do you plan on breaking the fourth wall? I just repaired it!

Silly Author, I can break the fourth wall as much as I want!

Get back in there and stay there!

If you insist! *hops back into story*

*deep, heavy sigh as she fixes the fourth wall* And now, back to your regularly scheduled - or not, I dunno, I don't control your lives.

"Darling?" Rarity was staring at Pinkie with a concerned look on her face. "Are... are you alright?"

"Yep! Why wouldn't I be?" Pinkie said. "So, can we start making the potion?"

"Certainly!"

The three mares galloped off, Pinkie giggling like mad.

The Sixth Chapter

Shining Armor's POV

The white stallion glared towards Blueblood. Who does he think he is?

Currently, Blueblood was trying - and failing, might he add - to make small talk with Twilight.

"So, uh, read any bloods lately? No, I mean books!"

"You can't read a blood," Twilight pointed out, taking a bite out of an apple treat. Those are good... the Apple Family could teach the cooks at the Crystal Empire a thing or two about cooking.

"Uh, no, no you can't. How are you this fine yesterday?"

Twilight facehooved. "Blueblood, don't you mean 'this fine day'?"

"Uh, yea! That!"

That stallion's struggled enough. Poor Twily, she shouldn't have to try to converse with him. Shining strode over. "Blueblood, I'd like to talk to you. In private."

"Who do you think you are, peasant?" Blueblood aimed a glare at Shining Armor. Aaand there goes my thoughts that Blueblood's a decent stallion on the inside.

"Blueblood, that's my big brother. He's no peasant." Twilight looked very exasperated. "And he gives good advice."

"Oh." Blueblood sheepishly followed Shining.

Once they were out of earshot of other ponies, Shining turned to face Blueblood, ears flat.

"I suggest you leave Twily be."

"Why should I?" Blueblood glared angrily at the other Prince.

"Because it's obvious that were the two of you to marry, it wouldn't go well. She's not your type, and besides, she's immortal now! She'll eventually outlive you, and it'll just cause the both of you pain!"

"That's rich, coming from you!"

"That's different. Cadence and I were made for each other." Shining matched his glare.

"I can just get Auntie to make me an Alicorn!"

"Have you contributed as much to Equestria as Twilight has? Have you done things that actually benefit other ponies, not just yourself? Have you saved Canterlot with your friends from a changeling invasion?"

"That doesn't matter!" Blueblood hissed.

"It does. Say she were to make you an Alicorn, but Twilight won't love you! That's centuries of misery, chasing a mare who'll never love you back!" Blueblood opened his mouth to protest, but Shining pushed his jaw back up, effectively silencing him. "I may not like you very much, but that doesn't mean that I want you to spend, who knows, eternity chasing a mare when you can have plenty others. There's other fish in the sea."

Blueblood pouted. "I don't care!"

"So, if Princess Celestia were to make you an Alicorn - which is a big if - and Twilight never has the same feelings for you that you do for her, you'd be absolutely fine spending close to eternity chasing her endlessly and having your heart broken countless times when you could just live out your life how it is, and find another mare?"

"... I don't care!"

"Suit yourself." Shining sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you if that's how that all turns out."

The two white stallions trotted out, barely sparing each other a glance.

Rarity's POV

The three mares trotted quickly away to Pinkie's room. It was covered in streamers, balloons floated around wherever they wished, and confetti littered any uncovered surface - even the bed.

"Darling, like you said, we'll need a tuft of cloud, a bright rainbow's glow, all stirred with a Pegasus feather." Rarity glanced around the room. "We have the feathers, but not the cloud or the glow."

"Do you think Rainbow would let us borrow a bit of her tail? It's bright and rainbowy!"

"No, that's just hair."

"Oh."

"Um, I'll go and get the tuft of cloud," offered Fluttershy, flying out the window.

"Okey dokey!"

"I have absolutely no idea where we're going to get a 'rainbow's glow'," Rarity admitted.

Pinkie reached into the closet, and brought out a jar of rainbow liquid. "Right here! I keep hard of bright rainbow's glow all over Equestria in case of a bright rainbow's glow emergency!"

"Where did you even... Never mind, I'd rather not know."

Fluttershy returned, a tuft of cloud suspended in her magical field. "Here it is," she called.

"Excellent," Rarity took the cloud, blue magic replacing teal*.

Pinkie felt around in her mane, and pulled out a comically large cauldron.

"... How did that fit in there?" Fluttershy inquired.

The pink Alicorn giggled. "Silly Fluttershy, I'm Pinkie Pie! Anything is possible with me!"

"... That's very true."

Rarity idly hummed. She poured in the rainbow's glow, added the tuft of cloud, and plucked out one of her own feathers to stir it with.

When the potion was finished, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy spent a few minutes admiring it.

"It's PINK!" Pinkie squealed.

"There are hearts floating up from it..." Fluttershy murmured.

"It's just how it should look." Rarity separated the drink into two goblets. "I'll serve these to them tonight at dinner and say that it's an exotic, fruity drink. Twilight, not wanting to insult me, will of course drink. Blueblood will obviously want to drink whatever Twilight's drinking, and voila! They'll be together faster than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialadocious."

"Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious!" Pinkie chirped. "Are they together?"

Rarity coughed to cover her chuckle. "No, that'll be tonight."

"Wait," Fluttershy said, "what if something goes wrong?"

"Nonsense!" Rarity scoffed, but Pinkie cocked her head to the side.

"No, not nonsense, I think Shy has something to say!"

"Yes, but what could go wrong?"

"Many things, Rarity! What if they end up falling in love with the wrong pony?"

"W-Well, they won't!"

"They both have royal duties, Rarity. What if they become so in love with each other that they can't properly do their duties?"

"That could become a problem..." Rarity admitted. "But it won't!"

"How are you so sure that everything will work out just as planned?" Fluttershy's teal eyes were worried. "I for one find this plan to be very risky."

"Hmm... Fluttershy has a point," Pinkie said.

Rarity sighed. "Then what do you suggest we do to get them together if the potion doesn't work?"

"... We could just leave them be, and not interfere in their love lives."

"Unacceptable." Rarity's blue eyes blazed. "They're meant for each other, Fluttershy! And no matter what you say, I'll carry out my plan tonight."

"... Okay." Fluttershy's ears folded down as she said it, and her voice was full of quiet disappointment. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

That Night...

Pinkie Pie's POV

"So sorry that I'm late," apologized Rarity. "I was merely bringing up this delicious, exotic, fruity drink from my room. Blueblood, Twilight, I'd like you two to sample it."

"If she's having it, I'll have it," announced the white stallion, grasping the bottle of love potion in his magic. He poured some in Twilight's cup and in his, then handed it back to Rarity, who smiled.

There was still some in the bottle, so Rarity stowed it away under one wing. Rainbow saw it, and exchanged a knowing glance with Pinkie, who furiously beckoned her over.

"Pinkie, how good are you with your magic?"

"I'm great with it, Celestia gave me a bunch of pointers on how to use basic spells like levitaviteviation!"

"Do you think you can slip that bottle to me?"

"Yea! It's got love potion in it."

Rainbow's eyes widened, and an evil grin spread over her face. Pinkie saw, and she realized what her friend had planned. "Nonono, Dashie! We can't spike it!"

"But wouldn't it be fun?"

"Well..."

"This prank could be better than any Discord's ever played!"

"Alright, I'm in! We must defeat that silly trickster at his own game of pranks!" Pinkie grinned. The bottle glowed blue like her eyes, and a magic aura surrounded it. It slipped out, and Rainbow caught it. She winked at Pinkie, then silently trotted around the table, and made sure not to spill any as she poured some into everypony's goblets. Surprisingly, nopony questioned it. Rainbow landed in her seat.

And right in time too. The food was carried out on platters, and everypony took what they liked.

The meal went rather uneventfully. Discord was there, along with Shining Armor and Cadence - whose drinks had not been spiked, seeing as they were married.

Rainbow grinned, rubbing two hooves together. "This is gonna be the best prank ever."