Friendship and Secrets

by Jiray

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life
Length: 7932

Everypony has secrets. The Elements of Harmony are no exemption.

Everypony has secrets. The Elements of Harmony are no exemption. I take a look into the issues the Mane Six and Spike have with their secrets.

I have seven chapters planned, and an additional chapter considered.

This is my second attempt at writing fiction and my first fanfic. I am also trying various writing styles, so please leave feedback on grammar, writing style and story construction.

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own MLP: Friendship is Magic or any of its characters. All rights belong to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-05-06 16:55:19 UTC

Fluttershy

MLP: Friendship and secrets

Chapter one: Fluttershy

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own MLP: Friendship is Magic or any of its characters. All rights belong to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.

Have I lost her?

Rainbow Dash looked around from her treetop, but either Scootaloo had learned to become invisible. (She shuddered at the thought.) Or she had finally gotten away.

Well, better to be on the safe side.

She dove back into the Everfree Forest and made her way to Fluttershy’s Cottage, jumping from treetop to treetop always listening for the dreaded humming. She really needed her fellow pegasus’s advice on something, that was bugging her since Twilight had given her the most recent set of Daring Do books and some personal recommendations as well. She shook her head. There was time for that later. She continued stealthing towards her friend’s cottage.

After a while she saw the familiar building and prepared to – WAIT A SECOND. Fluttershy was standing at her backdoor, with a pair of saddlebags on her flanks, and talking to Angel. He saluted her and went back inside while Fluttershy trotted towards the Forest and entered it.

Hmm, I’m sure she can handle anything between here and Zecora’s, but better to better to be safe than sorry. But why is she going alone? ... I’ll follow her.

Now where the hay is she going? Zecora’s hut is more to the south and to get to old castle in the east she had to cross the river. So why are we going upstream? Weird. ... Is that Steven Magnet, the serpent dragon? Yup, that’s him. I wonder what they are talking about.

She snuck closer until she heard:

“... distance seems right, but I think a spot like you are looking for is more in that direction.”

Meanwhile he was pointing somewhere to the northwest.

The yellow mare replied something that our weatherpony couldn’t understand and the dragon responded by chuckling and saying:

“No need to thank me. You and your friends have done me a very big favor.”

Following the river further upstream the cyan pony flew from treetop to treetop, always in pursuit of the pink mane.

Later Rainbow Dash looked to the sky and saw how low the sun was hanging. Quickly she raised her hoof to check how much time was left till dusk.

Not much. At most half an hour. Just what the hay is she doing here that requires something as stupidly dangerous as going into the forest at night. I can outfly anything in these woods, but Fluttershy? Well she can be fast, but there is still her small problem with wing lock.

She sat in her treetop for a while, gauging the time left and then reached a decision:

This is getting too dangerous. I’ll talk to her and we’ll get the hay out of here. Now, where is she? ... Okay, panic time. She’s neither upstream nor downstream. And I can’t see her from down here. Time to show this filly what a born flyer can do.

Ducking to the ground she readied herself for takeoff, when suddenly she heard a howl nearby. Timber wolves!

Well, buck you. If you harm her it’s time to taste the painbow.

She jumped into the air and took off into the direction, the howl came from.

Nothing, but trees. Well this plan worked better in my head. How shall I rescue her when I can’t even see her? Damn, even more trees. Howl you stupid wolves! Wait, there’s a clearing over there. It’s her. Now let’s get the hay out of here.

But Fluttershy was already surrounded by the wolves. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and prepared to dive:

It won’t be a sonic rainboom, but still. Fast in, even faster out. Easy peasy.

Then something happened, that made her stop in midair. Her ears pricked themselves and she felt a strong and rising desire to fly away. The yellow Pegasus hadn’t even budged, but something was strange. Her ears were hidden under her mane so Dash couldn’t tell what the other mare was thinking.

The wolves meanwhile had stopped in their tracks, carefully eyeing their prey. They slowly spread out, ears pricked, the alpha still in front of the pink-haired pegasus. His head tilted, he snapped and growled at the beastmaster.

“Would you please leave?”

Fluttershy had spoken so quiet that Rainbow Dash had nearly missed the word, but her tone left no doubt that this wasn’t a request. The wolves didn’t flinch and instead closed in. The alpha growled and lifted his tail into the air. Fluttershy spoke her next two words in the same tone:

“I. Said. LEAVE!!”

Something shifted and her shout made it clear to everypony nearby, that the most dangerous thing down there wasn’t the pack of the 12 deadly hunters, but the yellow mare. They whimpered and ran with tucked tails as if Nightmare Moon herself chased them, all the while chased by echoes of the shout. Even Rainbow Dash was frozen with fear, but after a few seconds the crushing fear subsided and she steadied her flight, just before crashing to the ground.

“Well, I suppose this place is as good as any other.”

The harmless and weak pony, that had just scared a whole pack of Timber wolves away, looked around and seemed to find the object of her desire. Gently she deposited her saddlebags on the ground and walked towards a giant oak tree. She examined it and nodded. Then she jumped into the air, retreated a little way and dashed towards the tree, faster than anypony, besides herself of course, Dash had ever seen.

What in Celestia’s Na- OH NO! she dove down to stop her friend from killing herself.

Just as the ‘poor’ Flyer was about to hit the tree, she coiled and bucked it with the full force of her hind legs.

Terrible snapping noises filled the air as the oak tree fell, but the yellow mare wasn’t satisfied.

“TREAT ME LIKE A PUSHOVER, HUH?” she looped and tore the bark cleanly off, by sliding along the trunk.

“YOU LAUGH AT ME, I WRATH AT YOU!” with those words she bit into the thickest branch and tore it right off. “RAAGH!” she continued ripping of branches whenever she got them between her teeth.

“WHO’S HIGH AND MIGHTY NOW, TREE?” the feeling of absolute terror returned to Dash as this pony, that just couldn’t be Fluttershy, STARED at the mangled wreck that was all what remained of the proud and old tree.

“GRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!” and with a toss of her Head she flung one of Twilight’s new fire starters on the tree, that immediately caught fire.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahaaaa….”

Finally Fluttershy calmed down and stared into the flames for a while. Breathing heavily she sang to a slow, almost chorale, tune:

“My fire, hellfire, will burn you to the ground!”

When she turned her eyes widened at the sight of her rainbow-maned friend, shivering and cowering on the moss.

“You? … What? … When?”  The yellow pegasus shook her head and started from scratch:

“Since when have you been there, Dash?”

When the cyan pegasus wouldn’t stop shaking, Fluttershy went to her and nudged her a little.

“Huh? What? AAAAAHHH!” the frightened mare jumped backwards, ducked and was just about to jump into the air, but when she heard Fluttershy say:

“Wait!” she realized that the pony in front of her was not an enemy, but rather a dear friend of hers and stood up.

“Fluttershy, just what in Celestia’s name was that just now?”

“How long have you been here?”

“Since you went into the woods. Now please tell me what, in Celestia’s name, was that all about!”

Fluttershy stared down and scraped at the ground.

“Fluttershy, I don’t want to doubt you, but you scared me pretty hard just now. You literally weren’t the filly I’ve known since flight school anymore. So, please tell me just what is wrong. I want to help you if I can.”

The yellow mare fidgeted a little and muttered something below her breath. Her expression became stern.

“And just why did you stalk Fluttershy all the way from my home?”

“I was worried about you. You went into the Everfree Forest all on your own and I thought that you might need help.”

“Well, obviously Fluttershy doesn’t, but why didn’t you just ask if Fluttershy need’s help?”

“Umm…”

“Was it, because you doubted Fluttershy’s ability to take care of herself?”

“No, listen…”

“You were waiting for trouble to find Fluttershy, SO YOU COULD TEND TO YOUR LITTLE HERO-COMPLEX AGAIN, RIGHT?!”

“No, I was just...”

“IS FLUTTERSHY RIGHT?”

“No…”

“IS FLUTTERSHY RIGTH?” she STARED at her and Rainbow Dash dropped to the Floor, shut her eyes and whimpered:

“No. No. No….”

After a few seconds the pressure faded and Rainbow Dash opened her eyes again. Her friend stared at the ground and whimpered. Suddenly she hugged Dash and began to sob.

“Dash… I’m sorry… the rage… overwhelmed… uhuhuhuhuuu…”

Uncertain what to do, she returned the hug and comforted her friend.

After the sun had set and the only light source left was the burning oak trunk, Fluttershy finally calmed down enough to tell her fellow pegasus what had been bothering her.

“Well, it all started last week. You remember those flyers that Iron Will distributed? … Iron Will, you know, the self-help-guru? … He’s a minotaur. … So you have heard of him. Anyway Rarity and Pinkie Pie encouraged me to take his course to become more assertive. And it worked very well, too well actually. Before long I was not just being assertive, but I channeled a whole lot of pent up rage, more than I ever would have imagined having. And then when Rarity and Pinkie were trying to stop me, I…I…”

At this point she fell silent and visibly strained herself to keep it together. With a sight she continued:

”I called Pinkie stupid and Rarity petty and then I told both of them how useless and pointless their talents and passions were. And the worst part of it was that I meant every single word of it…”

At this point she stated sobbing again.

A few minutes of bawling her Eyes out later she was finally able to finish her story:

”*Sniff* At that point I realized what a monster I truly was. I think you know how the rest of the story goes.”

Rainbow Dash nodded.

“But that was not the end of it, the rage was still there and it seemed to grow ever stronger, so I left Angel in charge at home and headed into the forest to find a way to vent it.”

Both fell silent after that and just stared into the flames. Rainbow Dash lifted a wing and tucked her friend in, just like any pegasus mare would do with her foal.

“Why didn’t you tell us? We would have found a way.”

“At first I ignored it and when I thought about asking you, it had grown too strong. I was afraid to snap at one of you and do something I would regret.”

“Why do you doubt us, ‘shy? Even Rarity and Pinkie forgave you your words and I heard you told them pretty hard to buck off.”

“…”

“Where have you learned to fight so well? I would have never guessed, that you had it in you.”

“... The same place you did.”

“Really? You received military training? That’s incredible. Uhm, I mean you really are not the best flyer there is, so I always thought that you were exempted from military training.”

“Well, I got basic training, but that’s not all of it.”

“Huh?”

“Well, you’re right my flying is at best below average. But I made up for it with body control and my special talent is caretaking, so I received both close combat and paramedic training.”

“I never would have guessed.”

“I know, so please keep it a secret from the others.”

“Why?”

“Because there are things about me, that I don’t want everypony to know.”

“...”

“...”

“You know you’re not the only pony with secrets. Even I have some.”

“I know.”

“Yes, I know you don’t believe... How much do you know?”

“I know everything about Las Pegasus.”

Pause.

“Fluttershy, who spilled the beans?”

“Scootaloo did.”

“...”

“You know, you really should talk to her. Do you even realize just how much she idolizes you?”

“She shouldn’t. Not after what I did, or rather didn’t do, to her.”

“Yet she still does. Just go and talk to her and if you don’t know what to do, talk to your mother!”

“... Please tell me, that I have at least this secret left.”

“I never found anything about her or your father.”

“... I’m going to tell all of you who my mother is, as soon as I get into the wonderbolts, by my own skills.”

“Why then? You could tell us before.”

“If you knew who she is, you wouldn’t need to ask why.”

“I won’t pry, but please ask her what to do with Scootaloo. You know I can’t help you with that.”

Again the cyan mare fell silent.

“Ok ‘shy, I will.”

“Great. I already feel much better, thanks to you.”

Both mares fell silent, while Rainbow Dash thought about her reason to see Fluttershy.

Damn, now I can’t ask her for her opinion. That leaves only AJ, but I’ll have to think about how to tackle it.

“Wanna go home, ‘shy?”

“Not yet. Let’s just stay here for a while.”

End of Chapter 1.

Pinkie Pie

Friendship  and Secrets

Chapter 2: Pinkie Pie

Hmm, seems like the author’s away. . . . Good, let’s get this party started.

Yesterday was the bestest party EVER. Hmm, maybe second best or third, but definitely in the top three.

I mean, what was not to like, all of my friends were there, we had a Piñata, pin the Pony on the tail (poor Twilight, maybe she can sit again tonight), then I opened the fridge and when we peaked inside, we were suddenly on this crazy party, where there were only those really strange ponies, (Or were they even ponies? I mean one of them had like 8 legs.) were around and  they had the weirdest drinks. One of them, nice guy that Zaphod, gave me a drink that whacked my brain out with a gold bar wrapped in lemon slices. Luckily I was able to swallow it back down, before it hit the floor. That would have been a mess. Oh, and while I am at messes, he invited us onto his strange shiny carriage, where he gave us these special sugar cubes, that we tasted and while I didn’t notice anything unusual, except that Discord had suddenly joined us again and the others somehow became normal. I mean they started to see the screen and the viewer’s, they noticed the hidden ledges on which you can walk, handy things especially those in midair, and they were finally able to use my shortcuts.

Twilight called Celestia over to Sugarcube Corner and let me tell you, you have never been to a party until you have seen a drunk alicorn. Then we started the drinking games, Discord strangely kept winning, until we found out he was cheating. Celestia was furious and things nearly got out of hand, before I slipped Disco a Gargleblaster and all of us just had to laugh, when Disco juggled his brain, the gold bar and the lemon at the same time. Shortly after that, Fluttershy fell asleep, Applejack and Dashie wrestled in the remains of a cake, with Rarity passed out on the sideline, as she had taken the big part of the splash. When I had tucked Fluttershy into bed, I called Surprise over, we woke Rarity and gave her a really strong drink. Then we had a last drink, before calling it a day. Rarity was too drunk to care about her Mane or coat, so she was able to head home, with Applejack’s help, without fainting. Dashie was too smashed to fly anymore, so she staggered to the library, together with Twilight, Discord and Celestia. All four of them wanted to go to cabterlot today, so that was convenient. Still, those four were not finished with the night, I had listened to their plans and they wanted to –

PINKIE!

Oh, hi Jiray.

I thought you didn’t want to narrate a Chapter.

Yeah, right. But honestly your Account of the party was not all of it, you forgot Discord for ex-

I was there, and there was not a paw of Discord to be seen.

No, he was there! I mean we all saw him!

Pinkie, you and the others got some strange drug from Zaphod. Later you slipped Princess Celestia some. I don’t know what it was, but I want some of it.

Oh, but that means that Dashie, Celestia and Twilight-

No details! I want to keep this things age rating low. Also, what happened to my already written description of the Party?

It was boring, so I deleted it.

WHAT?

Come on, you know that your writing sucks.

*Sigh* Can we please get back to the story?

Okie-dokie-lokie.

Finally!

Fluttershy stirred uneasily under Pinkie’s blankets. Her pink mane, which had bewitched a certain germane photographer, was a mess. It was all tangled up, with bits of cake frosting, potato chips and other substances that best remain unnamed. It was tangled up within itself and around the yellow mare. The party pony warmly looked upon her shy friend with her right eye, her left one hidden by her straight pink mane.

Not very long after Pinkie had left to clean up after the party and grab a few drinks at the party in the fridge-

Seriously, those ponies know how to party.

Pinkie, I don’t think the Cakes will appreciate that the shortcut to the never-ending-party is in their fridge. So please fix that!

Fine, but you owe me a gargleblaster!

I can give you a hellfire, that’s the most spiced drink I can make.

Oooohhh, whats in it, tell me, tell me, tell me!

It’s nothing spectacular, just Straw-Rum with grinded Habaneros, canned in it for half a year, with lots of caffeine and a little adrenaline.

Mmmmhhh, sounds delicious. Tonight?

Only if you don’t mind watching Game of Thrones.

Winter is coming.

Ahem, back to the story.

Not very long after Pinkie had left to clean up after the party and grab a few last drinks in the fridge before closing the portal, the pegasus woke up. Yawning and stretching her cramped wings, she got out of bed and tumbled to Pinkie’s restroom. Automatically she grabbed her toothbrush glove and began her morning routine.

An hour later, she had finally managed to tame her hair and went down for breakfast. She remembered Dash’s tips for flight training and fluttered down the stairs, expecting a serious mess of bottles, lemons and flamingoes, yet when she took the last turn the room was halfway through tidying. There were no bottles, no body pillows and not a single pink feather. The only thing left from the party was the big metal spike statue.

Where did that even come from?

She squinted, there were still small bloodstains on it to be seen.

Looking around she noticed that the resident pink baker was nowhere to be seen, so she called out just as loud as she would cheer for Rainbow Dash:

“Uhm, Pinkie? I know the bakery is closed on Tuesday, so the Cakes are away, but uhm... Oh get a grip Fluttershy!”

After clearing her throat she tried again, but much louder (meaning normal speaking volume for everypony else):

“Pinkie, where are you?”

A light grumbling noise came from the kitchen, sounding just like after the Baked Bads incident. She followed the noise.

The kitchen was a mess, parts of the cake were still everywhere; glass splinters, confetti and a surprising amount of lemons and gold bars were on the floor. Just in front of the fridge lay the pink pastry chef.

Fluttershy drew her breath when she saw the straightened mane, a perfect marker for Pinkie’s lost sanity, and began looking for escape routes, before she remembered that there was no escaping Pinkie. Swallowing hard, she hovered towards her friend.

“Pinkie, is everything alright?”

“Fluttershy, can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember what Dash told you after you returned from the Butterfly migration?”

“Of course I do! I still owe her for that.”

“Good... Do you remember Applejack’s remark at the whole affair?”

“Uhm...” she paused, but no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t even remember if Applejack

had been there at all. “I have to pass.”

“‘Cosarn it, ah bet it wasn’t the flyin’ kind o’ buttahflies, she was watchin’.’ ”

“What did she mean by tha- Oh.” The yellow mare blushed.

“Exactly.”

Fluttershy stared at her own hoofs, “Well, at least I know by now, that this isn’t true. Dash and I went to flight school together. She did experiment there and found out that she didn’t ‘like’ mares or rather griffins that way.”

“Huh, who would’ve thought? Well, just another useless thing I’ll never forget.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I said.”

“You don’t forget anything?”

“Ding-Dong, we have a winner.”

“But that’s great! I mean you don’t have to write shopping lists, or worry about forgetting to get a friend a present, or-“

“Forget any embarrassing thing I ever did, or the times I was mean, or when others were mean.”

There was something different about Pinkie. Normally she would be rambling about anything that crossed her mind, or have strange thought trains nopony else could follow and she would always have a bubbly, cheerful demeanor.

Normally.

But not this time.

“You look surprised, but you already saw me in a similar state once. I was only a few hours away of reenacting Cupcakes.”

The way Pinkamena spoke the last, quite innocent word, send shivers down her spine and made her wing joints ache, although she had no idea why. She decided not to pursue the topic.

“What do you mean with state?”

The pink baker didn’t answer.

“I don’t want to stick my muzzle into things I have no right to, but you’re different than usual.”

Still nothing.

“Please, I just want to help.”

The apprentice baker sighted, and looked her dead in the eye. It was a unique sensation, kinda like what her Stare must be like, only the look didn’t incite fear, but rather sadness.

“When some ponies drink, they try to forget. I am one of them. It works if I drink enough, but it has an interesting effect.”

“What do you mean?”

“I become sane again.”

“Huh?”

“I have a true photographic memory, I literally always remember anything. Have you ever wondered, why I could ramble on and on, without pause? It’s less a blessing and more a curse. Just the same as my useless talent."

She spit in disgust.

“If I start to remember too much, which is practically whenever I’m sober, my mind goes into a state, that I call my happy place. I go slightly insane, by making everypony happy, being constantly happy, jumpy and ... well, being Pinkie.

“Do you know that I envy the rest of you? You can be yourself at all times, with all of your memories. You don’t have to go insane to function in society. For me the choice is being happy or being myself.”

She started sobbing, not the usual, waterfall-like, completely over the top crying, but a soft, quiet wail.

Oh, what do I do? Nasty Fluttershy did quite a number on her, so how do I fix this?

"Uhm, think about it for a minute and you'll see that it isn't that bad."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the party after we defeated Nightmare Moon? Or the party you prepared for Gilda? Then there was that day in Cloudsdale. Oh and don't forget the party you threw for Dash and me, when we met!"

"Really, 'don't forget'?"

"You know what I mean. Those are also moments you won't forget. You don't just remember your bad times forever, but also the best times of your life."

Pinkie pondered that for a while, before -POOF!- her mane sprung back to normal.

“Thanks, I completeletely forgot about that.”

“Well Pinkie, now that you’re back on your hoofs, do you know what this calls for?”

“Yes, A PARTY!!!!! ... But not today. Today's a day for memories."

End of Chapter 2

Twilight Sparkle

Friendship  and Secrets

Chapter 3: Twilight Sparkle

...

Your faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

Princess Celestia sighed after finishing Twilight's letter. They were coming less frequent now, but she had expected that, especially after the stern talk she gave them, regarding a certain team of well-known concolts. Nevertheless she read every letter, which Twilight and her friend sent her.

She is growing up to be a very fine mare, a better mare than myself, she thought bitterly.

Hopefully she will realize her potential while she is still so pure. She would make a fine sovereign one day.

“Captain Shining Armor, I trust that this letter will have your interest.”

Meanwhile, in Ponyville:

“Whew, that was some crazy stuff today.”

“No kidding Twilight. But I would still like to know, why Pinkie is dying her mane and her coat. Next thing we will discover is that she’s a pegasus.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Spike. I ran a complete physical on her and she has no wings. A pegasus without wings.” She chuckled a little. “There has been no case of that for centuries. Not since the war against Wolvenguard...” She trailed off.

“...”

“...”

“Sooo, do you need me for today? I still have to get those books to Rarity.”

“Huh? Oh no Spike, take the rest of the day off. And get Peewee out a little!”

“Ok, see you tonight.”

“Bye Spike. Have fun.”

After Spike left, she closed the Library down for ‘reshelving'. She locked the door, closed all curtains and made off to the lab. Down there she opened an inconspicuous cupboard.

It wasn’t that big and only filled with two photo albums, one held some pictures from Fluttershys modeling streak, specifically those unsuited for minors, while the other held similar photos of Rarity. How did I even get these? It mattered not, they were there for Spike.

She took the distractions out of there and put them on top of the safe. Of course she had *ahem* ‘catalogued' them, when they came here, but since then they had only become bait for anyone snooping around, so that they would not inspect the cupboard further. Knowing herself to be alone, she opened the back panel.

Twilights scream was only heard just outside the library. Ditzy Doo cocked her head slightly.

Oh dear, she has found out about my accident with the tomato soup. I need to get Dinky and fly far away. I can’t let my little muffin grow up an orphan.

The gray and blonde mailmare dropped her bag and made for her daughter. Twilight was not to be taken lightly.

“...no no no no no no no no no no NO! Where are they?”

The lab was a mess. Everything had been thrown across the room during the frantic search. She looked into the cupboard, but it didn’t spontaneously conjure up the missing books.

Okay, Twilight. Calm down. ... More... More... Okay. Now let’s assess the damage. What is still here and what is missing.

She took out the books in the cupboard and inspected the titles.

As it turned out, there were five missing books, two of which could destroy everything she had achieved in her life, while the other three were mostly harmless. But they would still make life with her friends awkward for a while, so she needed them locked away.

Now, where could they be?

It took her a while to remember that they were on her desk, mixed into a few stacks of books her friends had asked her for. She smiled and went up into her room to get them.

Whew, that was a scare. Maybe I should go to Canterlot to make copies of a few of them. If they don’t know that I have written them, then maybe I can get some interesting criticism. Of cours, I will have to change the names and some places. And... WHERE ARE THE BOOKS?

She glanced at her desk and dimly remembered that she had given the stacks out. As she had already checked out all the books, she didn’t go over the titles again, which meant that her friends now had the most compromising pieces of literature Twilight owned.

She fell onto her haunches. She had to get them back.

That went surprisingly well.

She sighted.

Thankfully Applejack didn’t ask any questions, when I explained to her, that this book wasn’t finished yet and that I didn’t want anyone to read it, before I published it.

Thanks to the farmers understanding nature, ‘A Juicy Apple Pie was back in her possession, without Applejack knowing anything about its content.

The light from her teleport spell died out and she fell straight through the clouds that made up Rainbow Dashs house.

STUPID MOTHERBUCKING CLOUDWALKSPELL.

She teleported again and managed to cast the walk-on-clouds spell, before she hit the ‘ground. Swaying a little, she quietly listened for any noise coming out of the house.

And she listened.

“Hello?” she called out, expecting no answer.

She wasn’t disappointed. Dash wasn’t here, so she just blinked behind the front door and looked around. As far as she knew, Fluttershy was the only other friend of hers, who had been in here before.

The house was just one big room.

In one of the niches was a big bed, with a giant Daring Doo poster on the wall behind. Besides the bed was a basket, in which Tank was sleeping. On the opposite wall was a closet.

Next to the bed was a kitchen. It was stocked better than she expected. There were a stove with an integrated oven, cupboards with neatly stacked and ordered dishes, a cyclone fridge from Cloudsdale and a table with three chairs around it.

The opposite wall held a guest niche with two beds and a terrace opening up to a field of clouds, which seemed to form some sort of garden.

Upwards were mostly shelves circling around the room and the ceiling was a dome of transparent clouds.

The central area before her seemed to be the living room, judging by the couches and the armchair. And there were Dashs saddlebags. She hastily opened them and found all books still in it, untouched. She found 'Sunshine and Rainbows, A goddess and a weatherpony,' still wedged in between the meteorology books.

She stuffed the book into her own bags and started to turn around, when she noticed Dashs I.D. lying on the table. Curious she took a look and noticed two things, that weren’t as they should be. The name on the I.D was Tempesta instead of Rainbow Dash and the birthplace was listed as Canterlot. Yet it was undeniably Rainbow Dashs I.D., the photo was unmistakenly her.

Weird.

She turned around and was met with an unexpected sight.

The room had a fourth wall, which she hadn’t looked at before, that was hung with photos.

She recognized a few of them, mostly those with her and her other friends on them, or the giant one, where the princess had granted her the grand price of the Best Young Fliers Competition. But there were also pictures she couldn’t identify, but only two caught her eye.

One of them was a picture of Rainbow Dash with a young earthpony foal, orange coat and purple mane, on her head, while the other was with Scootaloo in the same position and her father, a pegasus with neon orange coat and deep purple mane, besides them. In fact both foals looked really similar, but it was impossible for them to be the same pony. After all Scootaloo was a pegasus.

The weirdest thing with these three pictures was that they were enlarged and prominently displayed above the door.

She made her escape, while quietly chuckling about the uncanny resemblance between the foals.

The next place on her list was Fluttershys cottage. On the way she had a brilliant idea on how to get the book back. All that was left to do was to convince Fluttershy. So, as soon as she entered the yellow pegasus property, she called out to her friend.

“Hey Fluttershy. Do you have a Minute?”

The mare in question looked up from behind her chicken coop and answered.

“Oh. Hi Twilight. What can I do for you?”

“Well Fluttershy, do you remember those books I gave you? I accidently lend you one that was already reserved and I would love to get it back, before someone notices.”

“Oh, that’s no problem at all. I’ll fetch it in a minute.”

“No need to, just tell me where the books are and I’ll be out of your mane in no time.”

“Well, they are still in my bag in the kitchen, but I really wouldn’t mind get...”

“Oh, no problem then.” She teleported into Fluttershys kitchen and opened the bag in question.

There it was: The Moonshine Aria. The second book, that nopony must ever see. She stuffed it into her bags and teleported back out.

Thank Calestia, that I got the two dangerous books back. The other two books can wait.

Applesack And Charity is actually a pretty decent romance novel, while I can pass of A Bakers Guide To Fillies as a parody.

“I’m done, Fluttershy. Do you need any help?”

“Just one thing, could you please stop cutting me off? I was just explaining that I would fetch you your Moonshine Sonata.”

“It’s actually Moonshine Aria, but- WAIT! How did you know what I was looking for?”

Fluttershy blushed, but spoke without fidgeting:

“I might have taken a small peak inside; it was a very steamy scene between Selini and her stallion Ilios. I didn’t know you had the experience to write this stuff.”

“... When I last visited the princess a week before Discord,” both faces darkened for a moment, “Princess Luna bemoaned the fact, that I was so inexperienced in the ways of love and lust. After Nightmare Night, Luna summoned me to Canterlot for ‘training as she called it, but I had no idea what I was getting into. Let me just tell you that I know Coltvids works by heart and can recite the Karmaresutra.

“She has instructed in all the ways I can pleasure either mare or colt of any pony race. Take this for an example.” She twisted her hoof at a place just behind Fluttershys wing joint. Her friend moaned out in pleasure and blushed even further.

“Just keep all of this between us, ok? It’s not something I want Ponyville to know.”

“Ok Twilight.”

“Pinkie Swear?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Great, thanks Fluttershy.”

“You’re welcome.”

Back at the library, she weighted her options. She knew there was hardly any danger for Rarity or Pinkie Pie to read the books, both were busy tonight, so it would be better to wait until tomorrow. She still had to clean up the basement, preferably before Spike got back.

She had just locked the door to her lab, when she heard Spike unlocking the front door.

Okay, panic now!

She rushed down the stairs, jammed her books into the hidden storage room, locked it put the bait back in and closed the cupboard. After that, she flared her horn and nearly everything in the room started to float. Broken things mended themselves and everything went back to its original place.

Spike chose to knock right in the middle of this difficult spell. “You down there, Twilight?”

“Spike, what have I told you about interrupting my me time?”

“Geez, Twi. Keep it cool! I hope you got a towel in there, because I sure as hell won’t mop the floor.”

“Wait, what do you think I’m doing down here?”

What a quiet and peaceful mor-

„AAAAAAHHH, MY MAAAANNEEEEE!!! “

Scratch that, now it's business.

Rarity’s scream woke everypony between the windmill and Sweet Apple Acres. For a few moments everything went quiet again, before the first ponies ran out of their houses, assaulted by their manes. Before long, pandemonium was about.

Nearly everpony struggled with their seemingly sentient hair. Fluttershy and Angel tried to keep her pink mane from strangling her. Bonbon was pummeled by her curls. Applejacks tail kept jabbing at anyone getting too close.

Only a few ponies were unaffected: Pinkie Pie was standing just outside Sugarcube Corner and laughing her flank off at the sight of the best prank she had ever seen.

Ponyvilles mailmare Ditzy Doo, jokingly called Derpy Hoves by everypony, was delivering the mail, completely oblivious of the chaos around her, but that was most likely attributed to her little ‘muffin Dinky, who was riding on her back.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood around Rainbow Dash, with Scootaloo on her back, right next to Carousel Boutique and looked around confused, while the adult weatherpony was nearly suffocating from laughter.

Weird, Dash should be affected; the spell has targeted every adult pony on the ground.

She modified the spell slightly and shot it onto Dash. Both she and the orange filly on her back were unaffected, but Applebloom and Sweetie Bell were beginning to have trouble with their manes.

I should look into this. And with that thought, she canceled the spell on the small group.

Twilight was lurking in the bushes near them, waiting for a certain somepony to finally get out of her house. The small experiment with Dash had only been a small distraction.

“Come on Rarity.”

Her mane in disarray but inanimate, she peeked towards the boutique. There were still thrashing sounds from within the tailor shop, but the unicorn with her silky indigo mane refused to get out of the house.

“Okay, time for Plan B.”

Her horn flared briefly. ... Nothing happened for a few moments, but then everyponie’s second main piece of hair joined the fray as well. Yet despite all the commotion caused by the spell, nopony would be injured. That was the most important component of the spell.

There were more crashing sounds inside the boutique, but still no sing of Rarity.

Hmm, maybe if I do this.

Her horn flared and she modified the spell. Now Raritys mane and tail would specifically tip her creations over.

A few seconds later, Rarity fled her shop, while Twilight snuck in behind her.

Now, where is that book?

After a few seconds she spotted the pile of books, that she had lent out to Rarity yesterday and grabbed her notebook.

Safely back in the bushes, she undid the spell and returned to her library.

Why did Rarity have to get Applesack and Charity, if it had been the Bakers Guide, I could have simply gone to Pinkie Pie and speculated, when Applejack and Rarity would drop the act and get together. Anypony with eyes can see the looks on their faces, when they look at each other, and even Spike has realized that he has better chances with her sister.

Now, how do I get that last book back? I can’t trick Pinkie, so I have to get her to swear secrecy.

“You can do this!”

She entered the bakery and was immediately hugged by Pinkie Pie.

“Twilight, you won’t believe just how glad I am to see you, well I’m always glad, but that’s not the point. Did you notice anything of the chaos with everyones manes? I mean my own hair was only tickling me, so I didn’t have it as rough like the others, besides Derpy, but she was in the air when the trouble began, so I guess that’s why she wasn’t affected. But enough of me, what can I help you with?”

Twilight couldn’t pinpoint what had made her more dazed, the hug, the shaking or the speech barrage, but she shook her head and pushed through.

“Actually Pinkie, I’m here to get a book back and I need you to promise to me, that you won’t tell anyone about it.”

“Which book is it?”

“’A Bakers Guide To Fillies.’”

After the formalities of the oath were taken care off, Pinkie handed her the book.

“By the way Twilight, that’s awesome writing, you really captured my spirit in that story.”

“You’re not mad?” She didn’t even ask when Pinkie had read it.

“Why would I? I know that writing makes you happy, so your writing also makes me happy.”

“Thanks, Pinkie Pie.”

“No problem, but there is something else I need to talk to you about and it’s not as happy.

Twilight froze. She can’t know about my other writing. SHE CAN’T.

“I know that I really am in no position to advice you on your relationship to Princess Celestia, but this is some important stuff.

Dear Celestia, she knows!

“And you should remember that we, as your friends, will always love and support you, so keep that in mind.

SHE KNOWS!

“To cut it short: Derpy misdelivered a letter for you and I read it. Here take it, it’s better if you read it by yourself.”

Thank Celestia, she has no clue. Wait, this letter is from the princess and Pinkie made it sound like I was... going... away. ... Dear Luna, please let Celestia be ignorant about my books.

She took the letter out of Pinkies muzzle and asked slightly hearse: “Why do you sound so serious?”

“Read it!”

I,

Princess Celestia,

Ruler of Equestria, Grandmaster of the Order of the Secret Flame,

Headmaster of The Royal Academy for Gifted Unicorns, The Imperial Flight Academy and The University of Life, Daughter of Unity and Life, Student of General Hurricane and Clover the Clever,

hereby name you,

Twilight Sparkle,

Element of Magic, Hero of Equestria, Knight Commander of the Night Guard, Alumna of the The Royal Academy for Gifted Unicorns, Daughter of Midnight Sparkle and Day Moon, Student of Princess Celestia,

my daughter by choice.

This decree is law, by authority of the sun and the moon.

“I’M WHOSE WHAT NOW?”

“Calm down Twilight and read the other page before you panic!”

My beloved and faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

I’m writing to you in a most delicate matter, in which I require your absolute secrecy,

until you have reached a decision.

The required secrecy is also the reason I am sending you this letter by mail instead of dragon fire, as not even Spike must know of this arrangement.

Luna has done some digging into the laws of Equestria and pointed out to me, that by ancient law I can name a mortal heir.

And I would like you to be that mare.

Besides the legal implications, there is bigger reason for this.

I have recently been reminded of my own, very real, mortality and I think that, should something happen to me, you are the only pony capable enough to handle both my powers and my duties.

Should I pass on without a magically aligned heir, my powers are enchanted to drift to the nearest non-alicorn pony.

And it would give me the right to call you my dear daughter, a place in my heart you already own.

I have packed the formal announcement within this letter, so please be discreet with it, unless you want to accept my offer.

If you want to call yourself my daughter, send me a letter, but don’t rush your decision.

Your loving teacher,

Princess Celestia

She dropped the letter. Princess Twilight Sparkle, huh?

They both sat still for a few moments, well Twilight sat still, but Pinkie started shaking more and more until she literally exploded.

“Isn’t this GREAT, Twilight? I mean you’re going to be a princess and stuff, this is so great, it must be the bestest thing ever!!!  PRINCESS SPARKLE! Hmm, doesn’t sound very regal, but what about Spark? YES, THAT’S IT! Your royal highness, Twilight Spark. Now it’s awesome, what do you think?”

The future princess didn’t answer, while she slowly reread the letter a third time. Her eyes glanced over the words, without her brain processing their meaning. She required a lot of nudges from Pinkie, before she managed to look up.

“Huh? Yeah, whatever you said. Now listen, don’t talk to anyone about this. I need to think about it and talk to some ponies, first.”

“Alright. And now for something completely different, do you know anything about Scootaloos mother?”

“No and why do you ask?”

“Nopony knows anything. She lives with her dad; They moved here some time ago, but nopony knows from where. Dash has seemingly been friends with them even before they came here, because she helped them move in. When she’s not busy with anything, she takes care of Scootaloo, but ever since you two returned from Canterlot, she even neglects her training for it.”

“Now that you mentioned that, it reminds me of something. Did you know that Scootaloo has a twin sister, who is an earthpony? Dash has pictures from both of them on the wall of her living room. She could know something, because they seemed really close.”

“Strange, this brings me to my second point. Did you know that Dash is living under an alias?”

“WHAT?”

To say that Twilight was shocked, would have been a massive understatement.

“She said she was born in Cloudsdale, but the only pony born there, which was ever named Rainbow Dash, had no known parents. There wasn’t even the usual notice for orphans of ‘parent unknown, the birth certificate only held RD’s name and birth date.”

“Weird, normally such a document should be invalid. Hmm, was the numbering in the list off?”

“Now, that’s the strangest part. It fit perfectly into the numbering. So whoever set this up did so on Dashies birthday.”

Twilight stood still for a moment, her left hoof beneath her chin. Then she told pinkie: “If it fits into the catalogue, it must be real. So Rainbow Dash is her legal name. The only explanation I can think of, is that Rainbow Dashs parents don’t want anypony to know, who she really is. Her parents must be either highly influential, extremely rich or both, to be able to manipulate the public account.

“Hmm... Oh, that reminds me I found an I.D. with her picture on it. It states that her name is Tempesta and that she was born in Canterlot, but it must be fake, as you found a valid birth certificate.

“Still if she doesn’t want to tell us, then she must have a reason. So, please Pinkie Pie, leave it at that.”

“Okie-dokie.”

“Great, now what about a small party for all of your friends? I know it’s been a while since the last one.”

Pinkies smile threatened to behead her, when she drew out her party cannon and fired.

“Oops, maybe we should clean this up; I mean you’re still technically at work and the party won’t start until tonight.”

End of Chapter 3