Friendship Sure is Complicatedby AlesiopdvChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Extra Chapter: Couples NightExtra Chapter: Fifteen FlavorsFinal ChapterChapter 1Friendship is Complicated Rainbow Blitz stretched his wings, letting the warm summer breeze caress them. He took a deep breath and covered his eyes with his hoof to look at the cloudless sky. This was a great day, no! It was an awesome day! And the best way to spend those was doing exercise. “All right, let´s do this! Ready, Scotch?” “Uh? Oh sorry, I wasn´t paying attention…” Blitz growled at his friend who was distracted tending to a pack of hyenas. “Wake up Scotch, I need you focused…and take these things out! What the hay are they even doing in here? Shouldn’t they be in whenever Zicor comes from, Zebratopia or something?” he shouted. “You mean Zicornia and you are right, these little fellows are from a zoo in Baltimare. I´m merely taking care of them while Mr. Grin and Mrs. Crackled mate!” and Butterscotch grabbed the tow hyenas by their heads and squished them together, the poor animals putting a very awkward expression. “Yeah right…” “What was it again you wanted me to do?” “I need you to keep the numbers. Take my time, my weight, my performance, all that boring egghead stuff I can´t be bothered with.” Blitz explained and handed a metronome to Scotch. “Okay but shouldn’t you ask Duskshine for this? He´s better with the numbers and stuff.” “It´s not that difficult, Scotch. Besides, if I asked Dusk for help, he´ll try to change my routine and will go on for hours about statistics and equipment or even worse…he´ll try to feed me one of his special juices.” The mere memory of Duskshine´s special “enhancement beverages” was enough to drag all the color out of the pegasi faces. That was one Running of the Leaves they will never forget, nor will Prince Solaris for that matter. The sun literally was green for a few days after that. Leaving unpleasant memories behind, Rainbow Blitz placed his hooves firmly in the ground, took another deep breath and took off. His routine was simply but effective, circle some clouds, punch them with an ascending uppercut, do a lighting shaped loop and finally land with what he dubbed the “Blitzkrieg Special”. “Way to go!” was Butterscotch reaction after being blow up along with the hyena’s pack by the shockwave. “Yeah, still got it! Now let´s check those numbers!” Blitz took the papers out of Scotch’s hooves and did a littler reading, his face slowly falling down as he kept reading. “This can´t be right…” he double-checked the list. “This can´t be right!” he triple-checked the list. “No way!” “Something´s wrong?” “Scothc, did you made the mistake? Are these numbers right?” he shoved the list on his friend face but the poor yellow pegasus have no answer to give. “This can´t be true! We must have made a mistake somewhere!” “I still don’t get what’s wrong…” “Look at this! It says I weight 98kg. now when I used to weight 90kg.! You understand what this means?!!” “Ehhh how much is that in pounds?” “Who cares? The important thing is that I gained 8kg. in three days and that can only meant one thing, dramatic pause, I´m fat!” “Oh please, Rainbow! You are not fat!” “Am not? Check this dewlap!” and he stretched his face down. “Not to mention this huge belly!” and he grabbed his stomach. “And look at my flank, you can build an entire town on this thing!” and he shook it left and right. “Rainbow…” “I can´t believe this is happening to me! I took so much care to stay in shape and now I´m nothing more than an obese blob! My career, my dreams of joining the Wonderbolts, my entire life is ruined!!!!! And why the hay are you laughing Scotch?” “Huhuhu oh? Sorry, it´s just huhuhu you look just like Elusive when you overreact like th-“ Butterscotch didn’t get to finish that sentence because Rainbow Blitz punched him right in the face. Butterscotch looked up and found the hyenas licking at his black eye. “…was it something I said?” **** “Okay Spines, I need you to remain perfectly still…” “Are you sure about this Duskshine?” Spines concerned tone was due to the fact that she was strapped to an operation table with Duskshine menacing looming over her, holding a vial filled with a strange glowing liquid. “Don´t worry Spines, if I have made the correct calculations, this formula will only change the color of your scales.” “And what if you forgot to carry the one or something?” “Well, you most likely will burst into flames or something but don’t need to worry, my number one lab rat…” “You mean assistant.” “That too, I will only apply a tiny amount of formul-“ “DUSKSHINE!!” Startled by the sudden outburst, Duskshine lost control of the flask that fell on top of Spines, bathing her on the sickening green fluid that, on contact with the air, exploded in flames. “Aww shoot! Rainbow Blitz, don´t just barge into my house like that!” he reprimanded his friend. “Sorry sorry but you wasn´t upstairs so I figured you´ll be in your mad scientist lair.” “You weren´t upstairs…” he corrected him. “And it´s not a lair, it´s a laboratory!” “Whatever, don´t care! Listen, I well I…I have this friend…” “What friend?” “It´s one of my friends, okay? And he needs help with something…” “Who is it, Bubble Berry?” “No, he is a pegasus…” “Oh, then Butterscotch!” “No, look, he´s not one of our friends…” “You have other friends beside us?” “Well, I do have a life unlike you Mr. I-never-leave-the-library-even-if-it-is on-fire!” “Hey, don’t insult me! And that only happened once!” Speaking of fire, poor Spines was the whole time they were talking running around covered in flames, screaming for help with Owloysius and Peewee doing their best to put her out. “Look, are you going to help me out in here or not?” Blitz demanded. “How can I help you when I don’t even know who I´m supposed to be helping?” Duskshine retorted. “Look, it doesn’t matter who this pony is!” “Is that girl you used to date, what was her name? Lightning Bolt?” “It´s not her…” “Thunder Lane? No, that´s a guy name…” “Duskshine…” “Oh, now I remember. Lighting Row!” “…yes, that’s her name.” “I can’t believe you dumped her just because she gave you wing flu…” “Would you please shut up? Look, it´s me, I am the one who needs your help, okay?!” Blitz desperately screamed. “And why do you need my help, Blitz?” “Because I have…gained some weight.” “Sorry, didn’t hear you. What did you said?” “I have gained some wright…” Blitz voice was a mere angry whisper. “Didn’t quite catch that…” “I said I gained some weight, now would you please stop torturing me and help me get back in shape!?!!!!” “Of course I will, Blitz my good friend; all you had to do was ask.” “…yeah, thanks.” “Now let´s go upstairs to start taking some measures…” “I´m fine!” Spines proudly proclaimed cone the birds managed to put her out of the flames. “Hey Duskshine, did you know that we dragons are a hundred percent fireproof? I never tried to put myself on fire, it didn’t hurt that much but I´m guessing my scales are harder than they look after all, dragons do swim in lava, do they? Duskshine? You did know that, right Duskshine? Cause last time I asked you about dragons you said you didn’t know anything…Duskshine…I´m going to say yes to preserve our friendship.” **** Duskshine forced Rainbow Blitz to a series of tests, connecting him to wires while he ran in a treadmill. “Okay Blitz, I have checked the numbers again and you have positively gained some weight. Have you been eating more lately?” “Stupid Applejack and his apple pie eating contests!” he murmured. “No need to put that worrying face, Blitzy-Witsy!” and Duskshine patted the pegasus´ head while doing his best impression of Bubble Berry. “With my patented exercise program you´ll back in shape in just ten days, I guarantee you!” “What did I get myself into…” Blitz lamented. “It´s time for a montage!! Montage, a weight-loss mont-” To spare the readers the suffering of dealing with Duskshine awful singing, Rainbow blitz took the microphone before the song started. Suffice to say, that the unicorn put his friends to an exhaustive routine of exercise, trotting with weights attached to his hooves, not using his wings for days and several of his special “boosting drinks!” By the end of the ten days, poor Rainbow Blitz was a shadow of his former self. “I don’t understand. You have been working non-stop these days and yet you don’t only not loss any weight but you actually gained some more!” Duskshine incredulously said while scratching his head. “Are you sure you have been drinking my energetic beverages?” and he levitated the glass filled with some brown…thing. “Please…no more.” “Maybe I forgot to carry the one again…” “Maybe it´s my fault!” Rainbow exclaimed while getting up. “I should have asked somepony whoa actually cares to stay in shape!” “What are you implying? I go to the gym with you guys ever week!” “Oh yeah? Then where does this come from?!” and he grabbed Duskshine’s belly. “Oh no! This can’t be! Spines, take some measures!” Duskshine consulted the numbers and his face dropped. “It´s true…I´m fat! I can’t believe this is happening to me! How can I dare to say I´m the Prince´s most faithful student? I should call myself the Prince´s fattest student!” “heheh you know? This is funny!” “No! We can´t let this defeat us! We must lose this extra weight! Rainbow Blitz!” and he extended his hoof to his friend. “You are right! We´ll do it, together!” and he crossed forelegs with Duskshine. “Awww you look so cute with your little bellies!!” and Spines picked don the ponies bellies who in response hit her on the head simultaneously. “AUH!” **** The next day bot ponies were at the top of a hill, all ready and set on their exercise clothes which looked ridiculous in Duskshine. He had planned an exhaustive routine of joint exercises that will need them both to be tied by a rope. That, coupled with a strict diet, was sure to make them regain their shapes. Spines, of course, was the first one to point out this wasn’t going to work. “All set?” “Yeah, let´s go!” At first, it seemed like a good idea. Duskshine had to keep up with Blitz´s rhythm and Blitz had to fly while carrying Dusk´s weight, all the while both avoided several obstacles set across town. It all seemed to be working. They only failed to realize that doing this in town in the middle of the day could lead to some unforeseen events; like for example Macareina walking in with a wagon full of hay. They both tried to avoid it, forgetting they were tied by a rope and stretch it was a terrible idea. The red mare was caught by the rope along with her wagon and they all went downhill. Rainbow tried to pull the rope and stop the thing but he was out of strength. Duskshine was similarly tired and even with his magic he couldn’t slow it down. “Don’t worry Macareina, we´ll save you!” Duskshine announced The red mare was about to say something when Rainbow Blitz took the rope with his teeth. “Less puff tofeter!!” Assuming he said let´s pull together, Duskshine grabbed the rope as well and they both tried to stop the falling carriage but they only ended up removing the rope and they both fell and got tangled together. They looked up to see Macareina still going down with the carriage set right into collision crash with his little brother who was calming walking down the street. “I can’t watch this!” and Spines covered her eyes. Applejack turned over to see the wagon coming right at him and once it was merely inches of his face he…simply stop it with his right hoof, not even moving from his place as the wagon slowly stopped moving. “Thanks, bro.” “No problem, sis.” Bot ponies watched as the earth ponies went their separate ways, without even bothering to mention the issue. Once the danger was cleared, they let out a sigh. “Are you oaky guys?” Spines asked, running down the hill. “Yes we are Spines, but I think this little accident was a wake-up call…” Duskshine said. “Yeah so, I gain a little weight, so what? It´s not like it is the end of the world or anything! I´m still awesome!” Rainbow Blitz proclaimed. “Yes and I don’t need to be a muscled pony! I´m happy with the way I am!” Duskshine proclaimed as well. “You still could loose some pounds, Dusk…” Spines murmured. “What do you say we throw all this away and go grab some pastries at Sugarcube Corner?” Duskshine suggested and dropped half the equipment on Spines head. “Sounds good to me!” and Blitz dropped the other half on her. Once they were inside the bakery, both friends shared a chocolate shake and some definitely diet-forbidden pastries. “Ahh, this is delicious! I can’t believe I have been drinking nothing more than those horrible juices of yours for the last twelve days!” Rainbow Blitz said after finishing his drink. “They’re not supposed to be tasty they´re were chemically mixed to drive your best performance and burn any extra calories!” Duskshine offended explained while holding one of the beverages Blitz hadn’t drink. “All I know is that they’re poison, dude.” “You simply don’t value the benefits of applied science!” “That’s not true! I dated a scientist mare once!” “That doesn’t count!” “Uuuh frothy mug of water!” Bubble Berry said and gulped the entire drink. He turned red, blue, black and several other colors before exploding in a rainbow cloud. Once it finished, Bubble Berry got up no colored white with a blond mane. “…what?” Nonchalantly, Duskshine consulted his notes. “Uhh, I did forget to carry the one.” Chapter 2“All right! Saddlebags…check! Shopping list…check! Bow-tie to impress the ladies…chekity-check! I´m all set to go…to the market!!!! I´m leaving Spines!” Dusk Shine shut the door close before even bothering to hear his convalescent assistant. Usually she handled the shopping but last night she broke both legs or something and now it was up to Dusk Shine to gather some food. A task he found pointless, accustomed as he was to spend days without a single bite if he was in the middle of a big experiment. That was Spines´ biggest fault, she was a good assistant but has all those needs like sleeping and eating on a regular basis, not to mention that annoying tendency to get hurt in the important part of an investigation; how was Dusk Shine supposed to finish his research on bringing the death back to life if his guinea pig keeps getting poisoned on every single trial? Oh well, there was no helping now. Since Owloysius had fly off somewhere after the last time Dusk Shine tried to attach some electrodes to her head, it was up to Dusk Shine to get the groceries. The market was, like usual but Dusk Shine had no way to know it, flooded with ponies, all bickering and bargaining prices. Dusk Shine remembered his sister talking about Saddle Arabia and the markets there where camels where quick to trick a pony selling some piece of garbage at excessive prices but he was sure this one was even worse. Since he wasn’t used to deal with a crowd so big he moved to the only stand he fell comfortable with, the one that sold apples. “Hey Applejack…” “Well howdy there, haystack! This sure ta be a strange sight, yah doing ta house choirs?” the mocking tone of the cowpony was obvious. “Spines is bed-ridden because…I don’t know can´t remember. So yeah, I´ll be doing the shopping today.” “Sure yah can handle it, haystack? It´ can get pretty rude out ´ere…” “I defeated three evil monsters who tried to take over Equestria…” “We helped too, Dusk…” “I´m sure I can handle something as simple as the groceries as buying groceries. Now, how much for that bucket of apples?” “Ten bits.” “What? That´s outrageous! Five bits!” “That ain´ going to work with me, haystack.” “All right then, seven bits.” “Ten bits.” “Eight bits!” “Ten bits.” “Twenty bits!” “All right then, twenty it is.” “Great. No, what? Damn you Berry, this didn’t work at all!” “Told ya.” “Anyways, I´m your best friend Applejack! How come I don’t get a special discount for friends?” “Ta was the discount. Them apples here cost thirty bits!” “You´re unbearable!” “One thing is friendship, another is business.” “Argh!” Frustrated, Dusk Shine left the stand, cursing out loud. He couldn’t believe this! Some friend Applejack was, scamming him right in his face! If this was the kind of crap Spines had to deal with on a daily basis he had a new respect for his assistant, well he wouldn’t go that far but yeah this was outrageous! “Umm…Dusk Shine?” And he still had a full list of things to buy he didn’t even know what they were. What the hay was a cabbage? “Dusk Shine.” And what if every stand was the same? He didn’t want to argue with every single pony in town but seriously, it was that difficult to just buy some apples? “Dusk Shine!!!” He turned around to greet a strange pony wearing a purple scarf, tainted sunglasses and an oversized hat. Dusk Shine may not be an expert of fashion as Elusive but that was certainly the most ridiculous outfit he had seen. “Umh do I know you?” “It me, Dusk Shine. Butterscotch.” And he put the glasses down to reveal his pristine sky-blue eyes. “Oh it is you. Why are you wearing that, Scotch?” “Umh I didn’t want to make a scene. Last time I came to the market some ponies recognize for my brief stint as an actor and well things get a little out of control…” “Yeah I remember it. I was there too.” “Oh you were? Sorry, all I remember where that pile of mares kissing me and pulling my mane.” “Yeah poor thing…” Dusk Shine rolled his eyes in contempt. “Ummh are you busy, Dusk Shine?” “No, I was just shopping but turns out its more difficult that I think, especially because every sales pony it’s a scammer!” He shouted out loud. “Though luck, sugarcube.” “Shut up!” “Umh mind if I join you? I have to get some carrots for Angela.” “Sure. Let´s go.” While they walked down the market, Dusk Shine noticed that every pony, both male and female, turned over to see at Butterscotch. Even in disguise he still was the center of attention, ironic for a pony so shy. Dusk Shine cared deeply for his friend but couldn´t help feeling a little sting of jealously which was clearly visible on his face. “Something´s wrong, Dusk Shine?” worried, Butterscotch asked. “ Uh nothing it’s just…you´re so lucky for needing to wear a disguise.” “I don’t think I´m lucky at all…” “I mean, I´ll give my own right front leg to get mares jumping all over me!” “Umh it’s not that great, Dusk Shine. Actually, it’s pretty annoying…” “Remember all those problems I get with the gala tickets? How crazy I was to get that plus one?” “I thought we agreed we didn’t need to take a date to the gala…” “Yeah, and how that turned out for us? Let me remind you…” Dusk Shine took a deep breath and put on a crazy face. “YOU WILL LOVE ME!!!!” “…was that really necessary? I´m not proud of that at all.” “Sorry Scotch but my point is you guys have it easy. You´re all good looking or funny of can do impressive trick in the air. All I have it´s a stupid library full of dusty books nopony gives a feather about!” “That’s not true, Dusk Shine! You have made some impressive feats this last year!” “Yeah well, its ture but my life hasn’t improved at all. I´m still being ignored, no matter what I try. Even this stupid bow-tie isn´t working!” and he tossed it aside in contempt. Butterscotch looked at his friend, trying to think about something to say to cheer him up when suddenly the unmistakable chatting of a group of mares came closer. Elusive was coming to his direction surrounded by his parade of female admirers. “Great, just what I needed…” “Greetings my friend and may ask, who is this lovely mare next to you Dusk Shine?” “Mare? Wh-“ Before he could finish, Butterscotch grabbed Dusk Shine and held him closer. “Hi, I´m Sun Flower. I came to visit from Canterlot.” He said in a rather impressive effeminate voice. “Oh Canterlot? Dusk Shine, shame on you! You never told you have such and adorable acquaintance!” Dusk Shine was dumbfounded but he quickly caught up with the act. “Oh yeah, Sun Flowers is…a very special friend form uh Solari´s school for Gifted Unicorns!” “But she is a pegasus…” “Uhh I met her during a mix camp with a umh Cloudsdale Flight School…” Butterscotch almost facehoofed but luckily Elusive was too enthralled with Sun Flower to neither notice nor care. “Well miss Flower. I´m Elusive, charmed to meet you.” And he kissed “her” hoof.” Since you´re new to town may I give you the official welcome tour or perhaps skip right into the finale…a dinner in my boutique?” “Oh I´m terribly sorry Repulsive but Dusky here promised to take me shopping, right Dusky?” “Umh yeah, he did I mean I did so umh see ya Lucy.” And they trot off. “It´s…Elusive.” Once they felt at a safe enough distance they both burst out in laughter. “HAHAHA I can´t believe you did that. It was hilarious!” “Sorry, it was the only thing that occurred to me.” “No it was great but Lucy haha how come he didn’t notice?” “Why? You think I don´t make a fine impression of a mare?” and he tossed his mane and blinked seductively. Dusk Shine blush a little. “Well oh why don´t we uh move on?” Before Butterscotch could ask what was bothering his friend, they ran into a familiar zebra. “Good morning to you, my dearest friend; I must say that you being in the market it’s a sight indeed rare.” “Oh hi Zicor!” “And who may be this lovely lady next to you? Such a charming mare I have yet to know.” “My name is Sun Flower and meeting you is such a delight.” “That didn’t rhyme at all…” “Judging for how tight is her embrace; I´ll said you no longer need that potion to ensnare mares.” “What potion?” Butterscotch asked while Dusk Shine nervously gestured to Zicor to be quiet. “Something is wrong, Dusk Shine? I was under the impression yo-“Dusk Shine put his hoof inside the zebra´s mouth to shut him. “That I needed one of your potions for my mane. He he. I have dander.” Butterscotch obviously didn’t believe that but played along, saying goodbye to Zicor as he took Dusk Shine foreleg and trot away. “Dander, huh?” “Let´s not dwell into that, please.” Butterscotch giggled in a very feminine way as they passed next to Applejack’s stand. “Howdy partner, came fer more apples? Well there, how you do miss? I think I´ve never see you around town before…” Applejack said and took his hat out. “Well, what a gentlecolt. My name is Sun flower and I would love to have some apples.” “She” said, blinking flirty. “Help yourself, ma’am.” “How much is for this apples bucket?” “For you, ma´am; just five bits.” “You got to be kidding me…” “Thank you, kind sir.” “Applejack at your service, ma´am.” “Woah, who is this fine lady, big bro?” “Applebuck, be quiet.” “Good day to you, Applejack.” “Good day, ma´am.” Applejack said while still pushing his little brother behind the stand. Dusk Shine couldn’t help but laugh. Applejack’s stupid goofy grin as he watched “Sun Flower” ´plot was simply ridiculous. Butterscotch was indeed a convincing actor but it also helped that all these ponies lost their head when around a pretty mare. Dusk Shine laughed at the complicity of knowing that said “mare” was actually one of their friends. If they knew the truth Applejack and Elusive will most likely exchange coat colors. “You seem happy.” “Yeah. Thank you Butterscotch. You really lift up my day.” “Don’t mention it. It was funny playing a prank on Jack and Lucy. I always thought Blitz and Berry were hurting other ponies feelings but some pranks may be a little funny.” “And speaking of Tyrek, look who’s coming…” Butterscotch turned over to see Rainbow Blitz calmly trotting in their direction. “Time for some payback. Come here Sun Flower.” “Dusk Shine, wh-“ Butterscotch didn’t get to finish that sentence because his tongue get stuck with something. “Hey Dusk. Hey Scotch. Glad to see you finally came out of the cloud.” “Damnit, how come such a clueless pony never falls for any disguise? I even once used my magic to turn Berry into a pegasus once to fool him and he still recognize him! Oh well, guess four of four was beign too ambitious. Still, it was a fun day and I get mostly everything in the list. Although I´m sure Spines will find something to complain…well see ya later Scotch!” And Dusk Shine calmly trotted back to the library. Butterscotch, in the other hoof, stood there with a blank expression, his mouth still wide open and crooked sunglasses. “…call me.” Chapter 3Applejack woke up with the rooster call like every morning. The first thing he did was a little exercise, some small stretches and push-ups, then, a hot and nice shower, a nutritive breakfast, give Grandpa Smith his medicines and finally, coming out to the open field. He took a deep breath, absorbing all that fragrance of fresh apples. He looked at the orchard, at the old battered barn, at his big sister plowing the land, the giant birds sleeping in that tree, his little brother trotting away from the cow ba- “What in tarnation?” The giant bird crowed or something and peeked its wing, seemingly unaware of the ponies gathering under the tree. “Well?” “Well, it’s a big bird.” “Ah already know that, Dusk Shine! Ah want to know what type o bird it is!” “I don´t know! Butterscotch here is the expert in animals!” “So he´s an expert in ponies because ponies are animals, right Dusk Shine?” “…shut up Spines.” “Oh my, it´s that I think it is?” “Scooteroll´s mom?” “I heard you!” “No Applebuck, it’s a roc.” “Ta ain´no rock! That´ a rock!” Inside the boutique, a romantic dinner was taking place. “Oh Susan, I´m so terribly sorry we have been separated for so long! I just couldn´t let my friends found out about us, they wouldn´t unders-Excuse me Mr Narrator but this is a private meeting!” and Elusive closed the curtains. “…creepy.” “Oh come on! Even a giant boulder?” “My love…” Ignoring all of his friends Applejack demanded for an explanation. “And what ta hay it´s a roc?” “According to this book, a roc it´s a giant bird from a faraway land that preys on innocent horses.” “So this here is dangerous?” Applebuck asked, trying to hide his fear. “I don’t know. Let’s check.” “Woah!” Dusk Shine magically levitated Spines and tossed her to the roc´s beak. The bird swallowed the little dragon but soon spitted her back. “Guess she is not hungry.” “Well if it ain´ hungry, what does it want?” “I´ll go ask her…” and Butterscotch slowly hovered to the giant tree. “Her?” Since Butterscotch was a soft spoken pony they couldn´t hear what he was saying so they have nothing else to do but wait. “…so Macareina, doing good?” “Eeeyup.” “Doing anything this weekend?” “Eeenope.” “So, want to hang out?” “…Applejack, I´ll be leaving to uncle Orange house for the next two weeks. Make sure that Grandpa Smith takes all his medicines and that Applebuck does all of his homework. The cows have been having nightmares these last few days so make sure to throw away all the milk and the door of the sheep´s fence it´s broken. And don´t get into any more fights with that Rainbow Blitz! I´m sick of fixing the barn roof every time you two get into a hooves fight, understood? Good!” she took her saddlebags and hat and leave for the train station. “…” Finally Butterscotch descended. “So, what did it want?” Without uttering a word, Butterscotch put on a hard hat, placed some warning tape and beacon and flew back to the tree. “…well, ah´m off ta get some milk!” the little caped pony proudly announced. **** The next few days were a war turf that neither side was willing to loose. Butterscotch had entrenched inside the apple tree while Applejack had brought all the Apple family to his side. “Scotch, take that damn bird outta mah tree!” “No! This roc has every right to make a nest for her!” “She invaded Apple family territory! She is trespassing!” “She is just acting on her natural instincts! And I have a lawyer to defend them!” “Ah brought mah own lawyer! Rotten Apple, your turn!” “Oh you brought your cousin? Solaris forbide you for spending two bits in some professional service!” “Don´ call me a niggard! And he´ a fine lawyer!” “Actually that´s not true, cuz. I´m pretty bad…” All the ponies in Ponyville gathered around the farm, worried about the outcome of this conflict. “Come on everypony! Place your bets! Who´s going to budge first? Will the animal lover win and turn the Apple farm into a poor pony zoo? Will the Apple had a Summer Sun Celebration with a really big bird on the table? You decide!” “Rainbow Blitz!” The cyan pegasus put down his sunglasses and hovered a little to greet his lavender friend. “Oh hey Dusk! Wanna bet?” “Shame on you, betting over your friends´ misfortunes!” Dusk Shine reprimand him but Rainbow Blitz did not take the hint. “…I´ll place ten bits on Butterscotch.” “Sure you will.” “What was that?” “Nothing nothing…” “Ah had enough! Time fer action!” Tired of all the peaceful negotiations and talking, Applejack decided to take matter on his own hooves. He jumped at the old family tractor and rammed against the apple tree. The tree had been for generations in that land, since Grandpa Smith was but a small pony fighting the Cyberpony army or whatever crazy adventure the Professor kept dragging Equestria into, so its roots were firmly in place. The roc cackled again as her house trembled. Just when everypony was wondering where Butterscotch was he showed up wearing nothing but a lion skin. Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses again, this time with reluctance. Around the yellow pegasus was an army of small critters led by Angela Bunny. Butterscotch roared or more like meowed and the creatures attacked Applejack, easily subduing him and hogtied him. “Now, are you going to let that poor creature alone?” “No! She invade mah land!” “How can you be like that, Applejack? Can you respect the needs of toher creatures?” “Bu-but that ´what ya doing! Ya forcing me to give up ma house and livelihood because tha ´what yah think it´s right!” “I…I…Oh my, that’s exactly what I´m doing! Oh I feel so terrible! You´re right Applejack, nopony should force other pony their own beliefs!” “And ah shouldn’ go straight into a fight over a disagreement, especially with a dear friend of mine. Talking is always ta best solution!” “I’m sorry Applejack.” “I´m sorry Butterscotch.” And since the animals had untied him they both shared a hug. “…okay, who bet on they resolve their difference and learn a valuable moral lesson? Nopony? Of course not. You see? This is exactly why Tv these days its filled with girly shows about friendship and whathaveyou. That´s not how boys solve things! You should put your hooves in the air and get ready to rumble!” “You´re right, Rainbow Blitz! Picture if that time we pretended to be Stallion Do-Good we have took your feeling in consideration! We will have never done that knowing you´ll be public humiliated!” Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses a final time, this time with tears on his eyes. “W-why did you bring that up?” “No wait, Blitz! I didn’t mean too! Come back!” Unaware of this whole drama, Applejack and Butterscotch placed a hoof on each other shoulder and pose for the local diary. Just then the roc cackled a final time and left the apple tree. They peeked inside the leaves and found a nest with two big eggs inside. “So that´s what she does? Leave the eggs behind?” “Yes, she brood the eggs for a few days but once they´re close to hatch the mother leaves the nest so the roc chicks learn to take care for themselves.” “Well, mother nature knows best!” “So, what are you going to do with the eggs?” Spines asked. “Ah know exactly what tah do!” … “Soups on everypony!” The smell of fried eggs was enthralling and the food was enough for the whole Apple family plus a few guests. “Ah, don´be like that Scocth! Ah leave one of the eggs back in the barn!” “You´re a horrible pony…” Inside the barn, the cows were peacefully sleeping when suddenly a huge green monster jumped in. “Booga-booga!” Chapter 4“Oh, how I got myself into this?” Elusive´s lamentations came because he was being circled by two hyperactive foals, Pumpkin and Pound Cake were happily playing around him, the pegasus mare chewing on his mane and the unicorn colt using his magic to levitate all the toys in the room. Elusive sighed because he remembered exactly why he was there. Just the other day Bubble Berry entered the bakery, happily humming to himself. “I´m the D and the U with the S and K too. Right into the S H I N E also and ain´t no other pony trolling down like me. I´m Duskshinilicious! Huh, Dusky can be pretty funny too, when he´s not moping around that no mare loves him. Hey Mrs. Cake I´m baAAAAAARGHHHH!!! Elusive, what the hay do you think you´re doing?!!! “Berry my man! This isn´t what it look like!” “I can´t believe you! Mr. Cake has been out of town for just one day and you already have your hooves all around his wife!!!” “Please Berry it´s not like that, Elusive was helping me and then I trip an-“ “Don´t try to defend him, Mrs. Cake! He´s just a big pervert!” “Please Berry, I´m not like that! I was merely comforting Mrs. Cake and she really just trippe-“ Berry put a hoof on his friend mouth, trying to suppress the urge of putting that on his eye. Instead, he came with an idea. “Mrs. Cake, get your luggage.” “What?” “You´re going to visit Mr. Cake and I won´t take no for an answer. You tow are going to enjoy a second honeymoon in Baltimare and that´s it. Now go, go!” The confused Mrs. Cake do as she was told and an impressed Elusive praised his friend. “Berry, that wa-“ that praising was cut short by a hoof right into his throat. “Since I´ll be doing all the work in the store, you will be taking care of the twins.” “Who, me? Oh please Berry, you know I´m no-“ “That´s not negotiable.” “Understood.” So now Elusive was stuck trying to keep those restless foals in place, a task seemingly impossible. “Please children, stop! Pumpkin, stop chewing on my horn! Pound, please release that stallion! I´m quite sorry sir! Please let´s ju- argh, this is impossible! I thought that taking you tow to a picnic will do better but you are simply unbearable!” “Oh how cute! These are your little brothers?” Instead of correcting the lovely mare in front of him, Elusive grabbed the unicorn and hold him closely. “Yes, well actually they’re are my nieces but I love them just as much as I love my brother!” “Oh it´s so nice to see a colt so close to his family!” “Well, what can I say? I just love foals!” even if one of those foals just puked on his head. After the mare was gone, Elusive hugged the babies. “Oh you precious things! You just got me a lovely date for tomorrow´s evening. Oh I remember the days when I could use Sweepie Bell for that, you know, before he got into that goth phase argh! I wonder when he´ll outgrow that! But now I have you tow, you lovely little duo, especially you my Pumpkin Cake, you´re such a delight, I´m sure that you grow up to be a splendid mare. I can hardly wait for that! Ugh, Berry is right. I´m a big pervert…” The sudden shriek of a dragon passing by scared them. Elusive hugged the babies and waited for the enormous shadow to fly by. “Oh, my stars! There’s still some of that terrible creatures around! I´m so glad my dear Spines doesn’t resemble those at all, don´t you agree Pound Cake?” the unicorn baby merely drooled a little in response. “Ah, where´s your sister, dear?” Elusive didn´t need to look up and see the baby happily chewing into the dragon tail. Cursing his luck, he grabbed the proper attire and ventured into the woods, heading to the dragon´s lair. He was stopped mid-track by a pony covered in a black armor. “Halt! Who goes there?” “Please, I´m in a hurry. A baby foal ju-“ “Stop! Before you pass, you must answer the three questions!” “I said I have no time for this!” “What is your name?” Elusive rolled his eyes. “Elusive.” “What is your mission?” “I´m searching for a baby.” “What is the speed of the average seagull?” “…Klutz, just leave me trough, will ya?” “Oh come on! I´m bored! Ever since they chased me out of town I have nothing to do all day!” “Well, they warned you about talking again, Derpy!” “They still mad for that?” “You´re offensive.” “I´m not offensive! I has a condition!” Ignoring the grey pegasus complains, Elusive continued into the dragon territory, the scenery slowly changing to became more barren and desert. He suddenly was stopped by a group of female dragons. “Well well, what do we have here?” “Oh hi, my dears. How lucky of me to run into a group of such gulp lovely ladies?” The dragons were anything but lovely being some of the hideous specimens of her races, still Elusive gentlecolts ways prevent him from pointing that out so he instead gulped some more as the lead dragonesses caressed his mane. “And what is such a handsome pony doing here all on his own?” “Well I was looking for a little pegasus foal, she got caught in a umh adult dragon tail and I saw him coming this direction. Have you ladies seen him?” “A dragon with a baby pony on his tail? No, I don’t think so. You girls?” the other dragons say no with her heads. “Well, in that case…” but he was stopped by the dragon grabbing his neck. “Oh wait! I think I did saw him!” “Really? Where?” “Oh my memory is terrible! Maybe I need some help to remember…” Sensing the tone Elusive sighed and put the bay in the ground. “Double standards. This is exactly why I hated Ed, Edd and Eddy…” “What are you murmuring?” “I´m coming woman! Wait right here, Pound Cake!” Elusive sighed again and went inside the cave along with the three dragons. Left alone and without company, Pound Cake soon grew bored and began using his magic to gather a bunch of stone and create a fake pony. Using his magic he infused it with life. “I´m alive! I can feel! I can think! Father!” Pound Cake giggled and smashed the rock pony with a head-butt, giggling some more. Finally Elusive came out of the cave, covered on lipstick, his mane disheveled and a thousand years stare. “Come on, dear. We´re going…I hate this series some times.” Finally, they reached a gian cave where the dragon rested atop of his pile of gems, casually palying with the pony still chewing on his tail. “Good afternoon sir. My name is Elusive and I´m the guardian of that baby foal and I´ll be eternally grateful if you could return her to me.” The dragon inspected the baby for a few seconds. “You want this?” “Yes, please.” “…no.” “Oh please, kind sir! I just have a terrible day, can´t you please open your gargantuan heart and help a poor fellow creature?” “…no.” “Look pal, I just got molested by a bunch of terrible dragons so I don’t have the patience to deal with another one of you scaly punks, now give me that baby back!” The dragon took the baby and toss her inside his mouth, swallowing her whole. “…no.” “…oh, it. Is. On.” *** Applejack was calmly trotting through town when he saw Elusive coming his way. “Heya haystack, woah, what´s all that green thing yah covered with?” “Shut up.” Elusive went into Sugarcube Corner but before opening the door a certain cyan pegasus came out, covered in sweat. “Thanks for helping me in the kitchen, Blitz!” a voice came from the kitchen. Elsuive took a good look at the terrified Rainbow Blitz who looked back. “…me too.” “Yeah.” And he took off. “Hiya Elusive, you had a good day watching the babies?” Elusive didn’t answer him; he just put the sleeping babies back in the cradle. He took a good and long look at them… “Yes, it was fun.” Ten years in the future… “Elusive, I´m going to kill you!!!” “Wooooaaahhhhh!!” “Uncle Berry, please! Don’t kill him! I love him!” Pound Cake merely rolled his eyes. He knew Berry will react like this upon hearing the big news. “Hey girls, you’re friends of Pumpkin right? My name is Dusk Shine, I’m a professor at Canterlot University!” “Yeah, we need to do that thing with the thing….” “Oh come on! Not even now?” Inside a dusty and dark cave, a lonely pegasus was crying. “Hello? Anypony there? Can I come out now? It´s been ten years! It´s Derpy still a offensive word! Anypony still mad at me?! Auhhh….” Chapter 5Loud noises and manic laughs were heard from the basement under the library while Dusk Shine completed his greatest creation. “It´s done, it´s done!! MUAHAHAHAHA!! I finished…a sandwich!” Dusk Shine took a bite of his lunch and went back to his work table. “Lunch, check! Now, let´s get back to work! Once I finish my latest machine all the mares in this town will be fighting over me! The experiments I made to Spines were successful, now I can change the color of ponies coat at will! Just imagine the possibilities! Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, maybe even zebras! If I can talk Elusive out of selling this at his store, there will be a line of hundreds of mares, eager to get a complete re-coloring and all of them will want to thank the genius responsible for this revolution in the fashion industry! Muahahaha!!” Too entranced on his fantasy of being surrounded by grateful females, Dusk Shine failed to notice the magical whirlwind forming behind him. “Well, fancy that…” “Woah, who the hay are you?” The grey haired unicorn took a look around the basement, ignoring the confused Dusk Shine. “Well, if it isn’t my old laboratory? This certainly brings back memories!” “Your old laboratory? Wait a minute…” Dusk Shine looked at the pale purple unicorn. “You are…me, right?” “I suppose I am.” “Oh no, not this again.” Dusk Shine facehoofed. “Oh yes, my very first experience with time-travel was a wasted effort. But I´m afraid, younger me; that this time my displacement wasn´t intentional.” “Meaning…” “Probably a tearing on the space-time continuum. Or that burrito Spines cooked for me last night. Either way, my presence here must obey to some life-changing decision you are currently facing…aha!” the older Dusk Shine grabbed the unfinished experiment. “Ah yes, I have forgotten about this little thing. This was my key to a life of success and recognition.” “You mean it worked? I mean, it will work? Work for me, it worked for you. Ugh, tenses confused me.” “Yes, after seeing this little gizmo on action the Headmaster form the Canterlot University named me Head of the Mechanics department and since then my life has done nothing but improve.” “Head of Department? I work at the University?” “Yes, and it is a wonderful life. Dedicated to study and learning.” “Ugh but what about the mares?” “Oh who needs mares when you have a photonics displacer? By the way, you need to invent that…” a sudden crack was heard and a bright light engulfed the older Dusk Shine. “Ups, gotta go!” “Wait! I still have so much questions about the future!” but older Dusk Shine was already gone. “Will I ever get married?” Still confused but somewhat relived, Dusk Shine went upstairs and noticed the big pile of letters at the door. “What´s this? An invitation to another of Berry´s parties. Well, I suppose I could go. Now that I know that my experiment will work and lead me to a lifetime of success there´s nothing to worry about!” It seemed like destiny was listening because another crack of bright lights appeared, dropping another pony in the living room. “Ouch! Now where in tarnation am I?” Dusk Shine took a good look at the poncho covered Dusk Shine. “What happened to you?” “What happened tah me? Ah tell yah what happened! Ah just got tramped worse than a scorpion during a buffalo stampede!” “What? I don´t understand just half and hour ago you were a professor at Canterlot University and now…” “Professor? Ha, ah wish! The closes ah have been to that was moving Applebuck´s luggage when he left ta farm!” “You live in the farm?” “Ah live in the barn! Damn Applejack gave the room to tah dog instead of me!” and poncho Dusk Shine spitted a bit of tobacco. “…what? I don´t…when did my life turn into…this?!” “Well, ah reckon it all started at Berry´s. Ah went to one of his parties instead of checking on one of mah works. Next thing ah know this whole place was in flames!” Dusk Shine was too confused to say anything. “Ah lost everything. Mah house, mah reputation; the fire spread to all town and since it was magical the pegasi couldn´t put it down. The Prince himself hatta come and fix everything and of course, he punish me! Goodbye studies, goodbye element of harmony! Ah ended up working for the Apples, cleaning the pig´s gutters! Now listen tah me, partner! Don’t go to tah party! Focus on your studies and finish that damn contraption!” and with that, this Dusk Shine disappeared as well. “Oh sweet Solaris, I have to get back to work!” Dusk Shine rushed back downstairs and began working on his experiment again. He quickly fell asleep and was awaken by a sudden punch to his head. “Ouh!” “What do you think you´re doing, punk?” Dusk Shine was still confused and sleepy but the Dusk Shien in front of him definetly looked diferrent. He had an eyepatch, wore a helmet and armor and haven´t shave in days. “Wh-“ before he could finish a hoof was pressing his troath. “Listen well, you blockhead! You better not be working on that damn color changing gizmo!” Dusk Shine managed to nodded, despite the lack of oxygen. “You idiot! You have any idea the problems these things will bring?” Since Dusk Shine was unable to make any sound, the mean Dusk Shine let him go. “It´s…gah! Just a fashion accessory!” “Sure, that´s how it started! But then Elusive started making suggestion. Why simply change the color of coats, my friend?” his imitation of Elusive was pretty bad. “Let´s change manes, eyes, Cutie Marks! Eventually you ended up creating a device that allows you to change the species of the pony!” “I did? I mean, I will? Wait, you wi-“ “Stop that! Listen, what did you think all those mares first thought when you said you can turn them into whatever they want?” Dusk Shine didn´t answer. “They changed into alicorns! They wall wanted to be special and pretty and have pretty wings and pretty horns so we ended up with over a hundred useless princess! There aren’t that many stars in the sky! They eventually run out of titles!” mean Dusk Shine let Dusk Shine on the ground. “Listen, nimrod; you better destroy all these things before Prince Solaris exiles you into the Everfree Forest! You think it´s nice living in there? Well, guess again! I have to sleep in a cave with an Ursa Minor!” “Couldn´t you just live in Zicor´s hut?” “You kidding? The guy snores. Just get rid of that thing!” and he punched Dusk Shine before leaving. “Oh and more thing. Don´t eat Berry´s banana muffins. They will get you sick.” Terrified, Dusk Shine went back upstairs. While he was thinking how to get out of this problem, another magical portal appeared, bringing back a familiar face. “You again? You look even worse than before!” “Well, thank ya kindly partner!” the poncho Duks Shine burped. “And ah have to thank ya all tah you! Dumping the prototypes into the lake was a great idea, except for the pollution ya caused! They sent straight tah Appleeeeloosa” “Dear Solaris…” “Ah, it ain´t that bad. Ah married a buffalo.” After poncho Dusk Shine left, Dusk Shine entered a psychotic break. “Okay okay. I can’t finish my experiment, I can’t get rid of it neither. So I just won’t do anything. I´ll stay here in the living room, doing nothing, I´ll just sit here, hehehe!” Mean Dusk Shine suddenly pop in “What did I tell you about the muffins?” “Gah, I can´t stand this! I´ll just go back to bed and put an end to this nightmare!” Sitting on the bed, a manticore was chewing explorer Dusk Shine. “Great idea, smarty pants.” “Okay, I´ll just stay under this shelf! This shelf is safe, I won´t make any life-changing decision standing under a harmless bookshelf!” His answer came in the form of yet another Dusk Shine. “Well, you could decide that wasting your life categorizing all this books was a bad idea and embrace the pursuit of happiness instead, right honey?” Rainbow Blitz put awing over his lover shoulder. “You bet ya, honey!” Another portal opened at Dusk´s right. “Or maybe you will discover that instead of running around in a wild goose chase, you could find happiness right under you won roof, isn’t that right my lovely wife Spines?” this Dusk Shine rubbed noises with Spines almost making Dusk Shine puke. “I have to get out of here!” “I rather if you didn’t!” said the Dusk Shine with an anvil over his head. “This is insane! Things can´t possibly get any worse!” “Think again, hot stuff!” Twilight Sparkle said. “Please, make it stop!” “No, is not that much to ask.” another Dusk Shine said. “Please, why is this happening? I only wanted to get mares to like me. Was that too much to ask? Oh, stop doing that!” “Stop doing that!” another Dusk Shine said, “Why you keep repeating everything I said?” “He´s five seconds behind. I´m twelve seconds ahead of you!” another Dusk Shine said. “You what? Would you stop repeating everything I said?” “You what? Would you stop repeating everything I said?” another Dusk Shine said. “Oh, my ears!” another Dusk Shine said, “Could you please stop doing that? And tell the other one to stop answering question before I ask them!” “I´m sorry, what? Oh my ears!” another Dusk Shine said. “I´M NOT FROM ANY PARTICULAR TIME-FRAME. I´M THE DUSK SHINE THAT SPEAKS ALL THE TIME IN THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE. FROM WHERE I CAME FROM EVERYPONY SPEAKS LIKE THIS!” “Oh my ears! Please, I can’t stand this anymore, just tell if I should finish my experiment or not!” The library was filled with dozens of Dusk Shines, half saying “Finish it!” and the other half saying “Don´t finish it!” In tears, Dusk Shine ran back to the basement to hide. “Woah, I´m here. And you are me!” Dusk Shine looked up at this other Dusk Shine. “Who are you?” “I´m you from a few months ago. I just got permission from Prince Solaris to live right here, in Ponyville. But I don’t know if I made the right decisions. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe the guys don´t like me that much. Tell me something, did I make the right decision coming here? What is going to be my life in Ponyville?” “…you are going to have amazing friends.” The other Dusk Shine smiled. “Maybe that´s all that I need to know.” And then he disappeared. Dusk Shine grabbed he experiment and went back upstairs. “Okay, all the Dusk Shines gather right here! Listen, I don´t care what you think or if I´m making the wrong decision or what, I´m going to talk and you will all listen, okay? I just realized something about life and friendship, they´re both really complicated but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on any of them! I can´t base my entire life on one simple decision, I have to learn to cope with both the bad and the good that might come later so I will stop making wild plans about the future and instead focus on the here and now; and right now the best decision I can take is get rid of this thing once and for all!” and Dusk Shine levitated his experiment on the air, ready to smash it. “NOOOO!” all the other Dusk Shines yelled but it was too late. Dusk Shine destroyed his experiment and with that thing gone, all the possible consequences, both bad and good disappeared, taking the Dusk Shines with them. **** “Woah, that´s quite a story Dusk Shine!” Bubble Berry said. “Indeed, Berry! And I´m glad I stopped listening to the future me, these banana muffins are delicious!” “Glad you like it! Hey, I have a question. What happened to all the other Duskies?” “Well, I suppose that now that all their respective time-liens disappeared they did as well.” **** Over at his cottage, Butterscotch woke up when he heard a strange noise. He turned the lights on and found his bedroom filled with dozens of Dusk Shines. “…oh my.” Extra Chapter: Couples NightCouples Night “Come on Dusk Shine!” Spines got tired of walking around the library, waiting for her legal tutor/big brother figure to come down. “I´m ready Spines!” Dusk Shine, the colt librarian, stroke a pose hoping to impress his number one assistant/little sister figure with his costume. All he got was a chuckle. “Why are you dressed like a nerd?” “I´m not a nerd! I´m Harry Trotter, the colt who lived!” “Yeah, no idea who you´re supposed to be.” Dusk Shine growled in frustration. “Now come on, we´re wasting precious candy time!” the little dragon shouted. “Hang on, we still have to wait for Berry!” “Oh, he´s already here!” “He is?” “Yeah, he´s hiding under the couch.” and she pointed there. Dusk Shine crawled under to find the bright blue eyes of the pony baker popping out in the darkness. “Berry, what are you doing?” “I´m a mouse!” he announced in a squeaky voice. “Don't you think you're taking this role a little too seriously, Berry?” “But I´m a scaredy mouse, Geek Shine!” “The expression is scaredy cat...and don´t call me Geek Shine!” the sudden yell made Berry crawl even further behind the couch. “Sorry, what does it takes to take you out Berry?” “How about...a kiss?” “What? Bu-but Spines is right here...” he whispered, hoping she wouldn't listen. “I don´t mind. You two are the cutest couple in Ponyville!” Blushing with embarrassment, Dusk Shine leaned over and gave a quick kiss to Bubble Berry who right away turned it into a passionate make out. Dusk Shine had to use his magic to get the pink pony away from him. “We better get moving!” When they opened the door they ran into a pony with a hoof raised, his knocking suddenly interrupted. “Oh, hi egghead.” “Hello Rainbow Blitz and I´m not dressed as an egghead!” “I know.” While Dusk Shine growled again, Berry jumped right into the door. “Hi Blitzie! Nice chick costume!” “Chick costume?” Spines asked. “Oh I get it now, you´re wearing a Daring Do costume!” Dusk Shine gloated to his blushing friend. “Why are you wearing that?” Spines asked again, trying to hold her giggles. “You lose a bet again, don´cha?” Berry chirped. “That he do!” the melodious country folk tone of Applejack sounded really strange coming from a pirate mouth. “He bet me he could clean the orchard in ten seconds flat, well it took him ten seconds flat to crash against a tree!” “Shut up, I miscalculated...” Rainbow Blitz mumbled. “Sure, I forgot you´re an expert in math.” Dusk Shine mocked him. “Hey, you wanna a fight brainiac?” “You look good in an eye patch, Jacko!” “Thanks Bubbles! Ah thought trying something different tonight, its Nightmare Night after all! We can get lost in our fantasies like say, Daring Do meeting Captain Jack Apples.” and he put an arm over his coltfriend. “Oh, would he make me walk the plank?” “More like check the ship´s hold...” “Guys guys! Must I remind you there's a child present?” and Dusk Shine nodded at Spines. “I don't mind that. I´m a big dragon. The only thing that matters me is...” and small tears began to form on her eyes. “Oh Spiny-twiny!” and Bubble Berry rubbed her head like a big brother will do. “I´m okay, I´m okay! If Elusive is happy I´m happy and there's no other pony in town to make him happy like Butterscotch.” “Besides, you already have Sweepie.” Dusk Shine said. “WHAT? I don´t !” “Oh come on! I saw you two during my sister wedding, dancing together...” “That was only protocol! I was the flower girl, he was the ring bearer! We were supposed to dance together!” “Sure sure...” “Stop it!” and Spines jumped to bite on Dusk Shine neck, not really making any damage. “Heya Butterscoth! Lucy!” Applejack greeted the incoming couple. “Greetings my dearest friends!” Elusive said in his usual loud self while Butterscotch merely nodded. “You all look lovely tonight!” “Umh Elusive, aren't those the costumes from the Heart´s Warming Eve Play?” Dusk Shine asked wiht a dragon still chewing on his head. “Why yes, I feel the need to be like a prince tonight and have my knight in shining armor to look up for me!” “Please Elusive...” Butterscotch said in a whisper. “Besides, you know me. I would never dare to get rid of a fantastic costume! Ohohohoho!” Dusk Shine and Applejack rolled their eyes, Rainbow Blitz stick his tongue out, Bubble Berry beamed like usual, Spines looked dreamy at the stallion and Butterscotch just smiled a tender smile at his loved one antics; all while Elusive laughed along. “Well, we better get going. Zicor told me the show starts in about an hour.” Dusk Shine said. “Think Prince Artemis will be there?” Blitz asked. “Ah hope he doesn´ make a ruckus like last year...” Applejack said. “Fracas.” Berry corrected him. Butterscotch then asked the question that was in everypony´ minds. “Umhh Spines dear, what exactly are you?” “Why, I´m the Evil Queen Chrysalis! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!” … “I don't know, some character she created. Let´s go, guys.” Dusk Shine took the lead again. “Wait!” and Spines jumped at the unicorn´s back. The Core Cools as they were called, the Elements of Harmony, the ponies who stopped the terrible Star Stallion, the all powerful Queen of Chaos, and the dreadful King of the Hive; marched down Ponyville to enjoy a night in peace in quiet. They had many adventures in the past and many more to come but right now, just this night, they were just three couples enjoying a night together. Extra Chapter: Fifteen FlavorsFifteen Flavors DuskBerry: A baker and a scholar make an odd pair but they bring the best of each other. One fills the cold library with the warm of laughter and the other brings a standing ground to his odd behavior. Once the pink bouncer gets tired he knows he has a soft lilac pillow to lay his head, falling into tender sleep as he listens to a bedtime story. AppleScotch: The sweet tastes of apples on his lips as they met, the warm embrace of the golden sun on his wings as he spread them over his lover tired shoulder, the softness of his pink mane as he lays his head to rest. The orange bathes the orchard, matching his lover sweaty coat. He wishes for nothing else but this moment to last forever. EluBlitz: Truly dashing! Truly smashing! Truly passionate! Their love is not subtle at all, it´s loud and bright, as astounding as his performances,as impressive as his outfits. The rainbow streak clashes against the white void and everypony knows their names. The Wonderbolt and the Fashion Star, the couple that all of Equestria watches. AppleShine: I never knew what friendship was about and certainly have no idea about love. I never questioned this comfort, I never doubted of this warm when he was close to me, I just accept it as Solaris´will. But then it wasn´t enough anymore. I needed more, I needed him closer to me, I needed him to say goodbye to the Dark Prince and to greet the White Prince with him at my side. I needed him because I love him and now that he is with me, I will never let him go. BubbleBlitz: ♪ We are rainbow colored candy canes ♫ Two lovers chocolate chips ♪ We stick together as bubblegum....” “....ugh, and we´re the sweetest couple in town.” XOXO ButterSive: When I first saw him I felt like my feet were melting! He was so dreamy! I promised I would do anything to make him happy. I got a little crazy about it, with that whole turning into a giant monster thing but that was because I still didn´t understand what being generous means! It means making others happy and...and he makes him happy. He is the pony he needs, the one who can make him stop and just smile, that smile that makes him looks so beautiful. He seems weak but he is actually pretty strong so I know he would take good care of him. And the truth is, I like him a little too...but seriously, I´m happy for them! I really am! With just one look at those two smiling, I felt like if my heart is burning with happiness. I´m happy. DuskBlitz: My happiest moment as a writer? Well, it must be the day I met these two fans in a convention. They were quite an odd pair. One was your typical sports jock, you know the pegasus who spends the entire day training his wings and all that. But the other one was your classical library mouse, that ridiculous bow tie, a saddlebag bursting with fantasy books. I first, i thought they were siblings, the little brother draggins the big brother around but turns out they were a couple. A romantic couple. Not that it surprises me much but, these two? They didn't look like they had anything in common! Turns out they had, my books. The pegasu became a fan of my work and he began visiting the unicorn library to read them and well, one thing led to another, you know the drill. I never thought my books will help some ponies find love, just that it will entertain some colts and pay the bills; but seeing those two together? Yeah, the happiest moment in my life. BubbleScotch: “Hey, what you think? BubbleScotch or ButterBerry?” “Umh what for?” “Well, if we´re sending holiday cards together we need a cute name portmanteau couple name!” Umh, what about BubbleButterScotchBerry?” “....HAHAHAHAHAHA!!” “What, what did I say? Berry!” EluJack: “Hey Sweepie...” “Yeah, Buck?” “Since our brothers are an item and all that guess that makes us family, right?” “I guess, you want me to be your family?” “Sure ah do! Yah are like another brother to me or a cousin or..or...” “...hey Buck?” “Yeah?” “Want to go to Sugarcube Corner?” “Sure!” ButterShine: And the little bunny ran back, leaving the dark forest behind. He returned to the cottage where the yellow pegasus and the purple unicorn awaited her return. And she kicked the librarian in the head, still an intruder on her eyes, and hugged the caretaker with love, her one and loved Butterscotch, AppleBlitz: The leaves keep falling around them as they ran. The race was long over but they kept running. They didn´t had any reason too, they just wanted to run. Run together and never stop. BubbleSive: He gave him burnt marshmallows. He gave him a giant taco costume. Bubble Berry and Elusive agreed that the next anniversary they will rather just buy the gifts. ButterBlitz: “YOU WANT TO BE MY COLTFRIEND?!” The scrawny colt looked at the short cyan one with a confused look. What was he saying? They have been friends for months but nothing more. After all this time the girls had mocked them for spending so much time together, he never thought he would hear those words from his mouth. “WELL; DO YOU?!” He took another glance. The little colt had groomed his mane, applying a ridiculous amount of grease, he was wearing a tuxedo and holding a bouquet of roses, obviously thinking the rules for girls also applied to boys. “You...don´t?” He looked once more, at those big reddish eyes that trembled with the shadow of water forming. He remembered how brave he was the day they met, how he defend him from those bully cheerleaders, how he said that Scotch was as handsome as any other colt in the school, in fact he was the handsomier! “Butterscoth...” “Yes Blitz, I would.” BubbleJack: “And the last gift for Prince Solaris on his birthday, coming from Ponyville, an apple-cherry pie! And it comes with a card! Euh, ♪ Happy Happy Birthday to you to you today! ♫ Can´t believe it seems like yesterday you were born but you are a thousand and a hundred thirty two today! ♫ ...my apologies, your majesty. EluShine: I asked Berriswainer and I only got a silly song; I asked Butterscotch and got a sappy novel in result; I asked Applejack and got a tacky looking ring; I asked Rainbow Blitz and got a ridiculous proposal; I even asked Prince Artemis and ended up deaf. I have asked everypony I could, How? But I have realized that was silly, the best option is just come straight to you and just ask...will you marry me?” “Yes.” Final ChapterDusk Shine levitated the final items into his saddlebags and double-checked his list a final time. According to his notes, he had everything he needed but still, he couldn´t help but feel like he´ll never be truly prepared for this. “Spines! Come down here!” he shouted from the basement. The little dragon assistant came down the stairs, shuddering at the thought of the next crazy experiment she will be subjected to. “Yes, Dusk Shine?” “I need you to send a few letters,” he said and levitated four scrolls. “This one it´s for Prince Solaris, this one it´s to my parents, this one for my sister back in the Crystal Empire and this last one…” he held the letter away from her fiery breath. “This last one is for you.” “For me? Why would you send me a letter? We live in the same roof, you dumb colt!” Dusk Shine didn´t answer back. He looked at Spines with a serene and quiet face. “Dusk Shine?” He then took the little dragon and held her in a tight embrace. “I love you very much, little sister.” Spines had no idea what was going on. Dusk Shine let her go, levitated his saddlebags and went up the stairs. Before he left the room he looked back once more. “Take care.” Once she heard the sound of Dusk Shine opening the front door and going outside, Spines opened the scroll, hoping to make some sense to all of this. "Dear Spines..." Dear Spines Writing this letter is the most difficult I have ever done. It breaks my heart to do so but I´ve come to realize that certain circles need to be closed and all good things must eventually end. You have been with me your entire life, which was a sizable portion of mine too; but the time has come for us to say goodbye ***** Dusk Shine was walking across the town square when a familiar raspy voice called him from above. “Hey Dusky!” Rainbow Blitz said as he flew down to the ground. “What´cha doing so late at night, egghead?” “You know I´ve always been a bit of night-owl, Blitz.” “So, mid-night strolls, uh? Cool, I like taking mid-night flights. They keep my babies here fresh!” and he kissed one of his wings. “I was actually heading to Elusive´s but luckily I found you first, that way I can give you this now…” he reached inside his saddlebags and pull out a dusty object. “Here you have.” “Dudeeeeeeee! A Wonderbolts Cap?! 19th edition! These are out of stock, how did you get one?!” “My father bought it for me when he took me to the races once, back in the days when he was trying to get me into sports. He eventually gave up. I´ve forgotten I have it until two days ago when I found it inside my old vault.” Dusk Shine explained. “Awesome! But wait, it isn´t my birthday, is it?” “No Blitz, but I wanted to give you that. I know how much the Wonderbolts mean to you.” “Woah, thanks dude…” “Blitz, ever since I met you, you have been a serious pain in my flank. Always crashing in my library or on me, always showing-off, always getting all the mares attention, never listening to reason or orders…” “I hope there´s a but coming soon…” “But…” and Dusk Shine placed a hoof on the pegasus shoulder. “You have always been a loyal friend and taught me to never give up. Thank you.” For the first time on his life, Rainbow Blitz was actually speechless. He just stayed there while Dusk Shine walked away. “Oh and stop worrying about your weight so much.” Rainbow Blitz looked at Dusk Shine go down town. He felt like he should go after him but another part, deeper inside his heart, told him not to. He gave a final look at the battered cap, smiled and put it on before taking flight. ***** My latest experiment brought to my attention the unquestionable fact that there are infinite possibilities to explore. Every decision we made could be a radical different one, just one step away in the grand scheme of the multiverse. There isn´t a single line of events and yet, every event is so unique and different to the rest. The point I´m trying to make is that I´ve been wondering about the decisions in my life and what could have happened have I took a different path. And that’s why I must leave. **** Elusive put his cup of tea down. “Well my friend, I understand your decision and although I can´t say I approve it...” “Sorry Elusive, but my decision it’s final.” Elusive got up of his chair and reached a hoof. “Well my friend, I guess there´s nothing more to say then. Godspeed to you, Dusk Shine.” Like true gentlecolts, they shook hooves but halfway they decided instead to hug, like true friends. Dusk Shine was leaving the store when Elusive said “Remember this, Dusk Shine. The end of the road it’s merely the first step to your journey back home.” “Thanks. I´ll try to remember that.” **** I´ve already make accommodations for you to live with Elusive. I´m sure you´ll love that. You´re probably angry and wondering why I won´t take you with me. The truth is that I´m not sure when I´ll come back, If I would come back; and I can´t tolerate the idea that something may happen to you. I need you to be safe Spines so please, accept this selfish demand from your big brother. **** “…and that’s the last one of those dimensional-displaced Dusk Shines. Sorry for all the troubles I caused you, Butterscotch.” “I-it was no problem at all…” “Well, goodbye Scotch.” Butterscotch scratched his arm nervously, having an epic battle of wills inside him. Finally, one side won. “Dusk Shine, wait!” He rushed to Dusk Shine and gave him a deep, passionate kiss. Once he finally let go, Butterscotch said “Umh sorry for my boldness. I know this maybe won´t make you change your mind or anything but the truth is…umh the truth is that ever since we first met, I´ve a sort of a crush on you, I mostly ignored it but lately…” Butterscotch was interrupted by another kiss, only this time Dusk Shine was the bold one. His kiss lasted much longer and was definitely most passionate. “Thank you for being such a good friend, Butterscotch. I´m sorry I don´t feel the same way about you, but I appreciate your feelings and your friendship. Who knows, maybe in another reality, we could be a great couple.” Butterscotch smiled. *** ¿Have your ever wondered how different our lives could be if we did something as simply as turning left instead of right? We could live in an Equestria where dragons are the norm and you´ll be the one pony in Dragonville. We could live in a world where Prince Solaris turned bad or where Queen Tenebra never banished the Crystal Empire. Hay, we could live in a world where I was a mare and all the other boys are in love with me! There are simply too many possibilities and no way to know them all. **** Bubble Berry was standing in a street corner, waiting for Dusk Shine to pass by. He didn´t asked any question, didn´t need to. He simply nodded. Dusk Shine nodded too and kept moving. **** Sorry for all the times I´ve treated you like a guinea pig, wasn´t my intention; you know I can get a little absent-minded at times. Guess nopony is perfect. *** “Goodbye, Derpy Hooves.” The cross-eyed pegasus looked down, as best as he could, and saw a lavender unicorn waving him goodbye. Derpy waved back and kept flying straight to the horizon. **** Please don´t be sad, Spines. I don´t want you to cry. Even if we don´t see each other again, we still have all the memories of our good times together. Hold to that memories Spines. Hold them close. **** Applejack was putting the last pile of haystack inside the barn when Apple Buck came in. He took his scary mask off and said: “Big Bro…Dusk Shine is at the hill and he´s talking kinda funny.” “He always talks funny, little seed. Ah better go check him out though,” and he went outside. “And yah better stop scaring the cows!!” Apple Buck pouted and threw the mask away. Applejack walked to the tallest hill in Sweet Apple Acres and found his friend staring at the night sky. “Hey-a haystack! What bring yah so late at night ´ere?” “Hi Applejack. I was just looking at the stars. Remember the last time we sit here and watched the stars?” “Ah remember a bunch of mean ponies playing pranks on me…” Applejack joked but Dusk Shine kept looking up. “They looked so bright. They always do…” “Buddy, you okay?” “I´m leaving, Applejack.” “Uhh okay.” Applejack looked at Dusk Shine´s eyes and suddenly understood what he meant. “Wait, yah mean leaving Ponyville?” “Leaving Equestria.” “What? Ho-how? What do yah mean? Did Solaris send yah across the sea or something?” “Much further than that and this has nothing to do with the Prince,” Dusk Shine explained. “Then yah better speak the truth! Yah know ah don´t like to go ´round the bush, just get to ta point!” “I´ve created a new type of teleporting spell, the most powerful yet. If my calculations are right, it will tear apart the barriers between worlds and send me to another universe.” “What do yah mean with if mah calculations are right?” “Well, there’s always the possibility that instead it would just kill me.” “KILL YAH? Then why in the hay would yah want to try something that dangerous?” Applejack yelled. “I have to, Applejack. I´ve had been here for far too long. It´s time for a change.” Applejack scratched his head. “Ah don´ get it. Don´ yah like being in ´ere? With us in Ponyville?” Dusk Shine laughed. “I loved it in here! I can´t imagine a better life than this!” “Then why are yah leaving?” “Because, there must be a better life somewhere.” Applejack sighed. “There´s nothing ah can say to make yah change your mind, isn´? Dusk Shine shook his head. “Well then hays- Dusk Shine, ah guess this is the end. Ah wish yah luck, mah friend,” and he reached a hoof to him. Dusk Shine shook his hoof and said “Applejack, you were the first friend I made, ever. Before I met you, I had no idea what it meant to have a friend. Somepony who will remain by my side, no matter what. Thank you, Applejack.” “…same here, partner.” Dusk Shine asked Applejack to move a few steps aside as he casted the magic for his spell. Cracks and purple lightings appeared in the sky as magical energies formed in a whirlwind above his head. Small orbs of light began to surround Dusk Shine and before they covered him completely, Applejack asked a final question: “Dusk Shine, ah always wanted to ask yah. Solaris send yah ´ere to learn about the magic of friendship. Tell me, after all this time, what have yah learned about friendship?” Dusk Shine smiled. “That friendship sure is complicated.” And with that he disappeared, leaving behind just a few small orbs of light, that blinked in the night like fireflies and vanished in the cold wind.
Chapter 1Friendship is Complicated Rainbow Blitz stretched his wings, letting the warm summer breeze caress them. He took a deep breath and covered his eyes with his hoof to look at the cloudless sky. This was a great day, no! It was an awesome day! And the best way to spend those was doing exercise. “All right, let´s do this! Ready, Scotch?” “Uh? Oh sorry, I wasn´t paying attention…” Blitz growled at his friend who was distracted tending to a pack of hyenas. “Wake up Scotch, I need you focused…and take these things out! What the hay are they even doing in here? Shouldn’t they be in whenever Zicor comes from, Zebratopia or something?” he shouted. “You mean Zicornia and you are right, these little fellows are from a zoo in Baltimare. I´m merely taking care of them while Mr. Grin and Mrs. Crackled mate!” and Butterscotch grabbed the tow hyenas by their heads and squished them together, the poor animals putting a very awkward expression. “Yeah right…” “What was it again you wanted me to do?” “I need you to keep the numbers. Take my time, my weight, my performance, all that boring egghead stuff I can´t be bothered with.” Blitz explained and handed a metronome to Scotch. “Okay but shouldn’t you ask Duskshine for this? He´s better with the numbers and stuff.” “It´s not that difficult, Scotch. Besides, if I asked Dusk for help, he´ll try to change my routine and will go on for hours about statistics and equipment or even worse…he´ll try to feed me one of his special juices.” The mere memory of Duskshine´s special “enhancement beverages” was enough to drag all the color out of the pegasi faces. That was one Running of the Leaves they will never forget, nor will Prince Solaris for that matter. The sun literally was green for a few days after that. Leaving unpleasant memories behind, Rainbow Blitz placed his hooves firmly in the ground, took another deep breath and took off. His routine was simply but effective, circle some clouds, punch them with an ascending uppercut, do a lighting shaped loop and finally land with what he dubbed the “Blitzkrieg Special”. “Way to go!” was Butterscotch reaction after being blow up along with the hyena’s pack by the shockwave. “Yeah, still got it! Now let´s check those numbers!” Blitz took the papers out of Scotch’s hooves and did a littler reading, his face slowly falling down as he kept reading. “This can´t be right…” he double-checked the list. “This can´t be right!” he triple-checked the list. “No way!” “Something´s wrong?” “Scothc, did you made the mistake? Are these numbers right?” he shoved the list on his friend face but the poor yellow pegasus have no answer to give. “This can´t be true! We must have made a mistake somewhere!” “I still don’t get what’s wrong…” “Look at this! It says I weight 98kg. now when I used to weight 90kg.! You understand what this means?!!” “Ehhh how much is that in pounds?” “Who cares? The important thing is that I gained 8kg. in three days and that can only meant one thing, dramatic pause, I´m fat!” “Oh please, Rainbow! You are not fat!” “Am not? Check this dewlap!” and he stretched his face down. “Not to mention this huge belly!” and he grabbed his stomach. “And look at my flank, you can build an entire town on this thing!” and he shook it left and right. “Rainbow…” “I can´t believe this is happening to me! I took so much care to stay in shape and now I´m nothing more than an obese blob! My career, my dreams of joining the Wonderbolts, my entire life is ruined!!!!! And why the hay are you laughing Scotch?” “Huhuhu oh? Sorry, it´s just huhuhu you look just like Elusive when you overreact like th-“ Butterscotch didn’t get to finish that sentence because Rainbow Blitz punched him right in the face. Butterscotch looked up and found the hyenas licking at his black eye. “…was it something I said?” **** “Okay Spines, I need you to remain perfectly still…” “Are you sure about this Duskshine?” Spines concerned tone was due to the fact that she was strapped to an operation table with Duskshine menacing looming over her, holding a vial filled with a strange glowing liquid. “Don´t worry Spines, if I have made the correct calculations, this formula will only change the color of your scales.” “And what if you forgot to carry the one or something?” “Well, you most likely will burst into flames or something but don’t need to worry, my number one lab rat…” “You mean assistant.” “That too, I will only apply a tiny amount of formul-“ “DUSKSHINE!!” Startled by the sudden outburst, Duskshine lost control of the flask that fell on top of Spines, bathing her on the sickening green fluid that, on contact with the air, exploded in flames. “Aww shoot! Rainbow Blitz, don´t just barge into my house like that!” he reprimanded his friend. “Sorry sorry but you wasn´t upstairs so I figured you´ll be in your mad scientist lair.” “You weren´t upstairs…” he corrected him. “And it´s not a lair, it´s a laboratory!” “Whatever, don´t care! Listen, I well I…I have this friend…” “What friend?” “It´s one of my friends, okay? And he needs help with something…” “Who is it, Bubble Berry?” “No, he is a pegasus…” “Oh, then Butterscotch!” “No, look, he´s not one of our friends…” “You have other friends beside us?” “Well, I do have a life unlike you Mr. I-never-leave-the-library-even-if-it-is on-fire!” “Hey, don’t insult me! And that only happened once!” Speaking of fire, poor Spines was the whole time they were talking running around covered in flames, screaming for help with Owloysius and Peewee doing their best to put her out. “Look, are you going to help me out in here or not?” Blitz demanded. “How can I help you when I don’t even know who I´m supposed to be helping?” Duskshine retorted. “Look, it doesn’t matter who this pony is!” “Is that girl you used to date, what was her name? Lightning Bolt?” “It´s not her…” “Thunder Lane? No, that´s a guy name…” “Duskshine…” “Oh, now I remember. Lighting Row!” “…yes, that’s her name.” “I can’t believe you dumped her just because she gave you wing flu…” “Would you please shut up? Look, it´s me, I am the one who needs your help, okay?!” Blitz desperately screamed. “And why do you need my help, Blitz?” “Because I have…gained some weight.” “Sorry, didn’t hear you. What did you said?” “I have gained some wright…” Blitz voice was a mere angry whisper. “Didn’t quite catch that…” “I said I gained some weight, now would you please stop torturing me and help me get back in shape!?!!!!” “Of course I will, Blitz my good friend; all you had to do was ask.” “…yeah, thanks.” “Now let´s go upstairs to start taking some measures…” “I´m fine!” Spines proudly proclaimed cone the birds managed to put her out of the flames. “Hey Duskshine, did you know that we dragons are a hundred percent fireproof? I never tried to put myself on fire, it didn’t hurt that much but I´m guessing my scales are harder than they look after all, dragons do swim in lava, do they? Duskshine? You did know that, right Duskshine? Cause last time I asked you about dragons you said you didn’t know anything…Duskshine…I´m going to say yes to preserve our friendship.” **** Duskshine forced Rainbow Blitz to a series of tests, connecting him to wires while he ran in a treadmill. “Okay Blitz, I have checked the numbers again and you have positively gained some weight. Have you been eating more lately?” “Stupid Applejack and his apple pie eating contests!” he murmured. “No need to put that worrying face, Blitzy-Witsy!” and Duskshine patted the pegasus´ head while doing his best impression of Bubble Berry. “With my patented exercise program you´ll back in shape in just ten days, I guarantee you!” “What did I get myself into…” Blitz lamented. “It´s time for a montage!! Montage, a weight-loss mont-” To spare the readers the suffering of dealing with Duskshine awful singing, Rainbow blitz took the microphone before the song started. Suffice to say, that the unicorn put his friends to an exhaustive routine of exercise, trotting with weights attached to his hooves, not using his wings for days and several of his special “boosting drinks!” By the end of the ten days, poor Rainbow Blitz was a shadow of his former self. “I don’t understand. You have been working non-stop these days and yet you don’t only not loss any weight but you actually gained some more!” Duskshine incredulously said while scratching his head. “Are you sure you have been drinking my energetic beverages?” and he levitated the glass filled with some brown…thing. “Please…no more.” “Maybe I forgot to carry the one again…” “Maybe it´s my fault!” Rainbow exclaimed while getting up. “I should have asked somepony whoa actually cares to stay in shape!” “What are you implying? I go to the gym with you guys ever week!” “Oh yeah? Then where does this come from?!” and he grabbed Duskshine’s belly. “Oh no! This can’t be! Spines, take some measures!” Duskshine consulted the numbers and his face dropped. “It´s true…I´m fat! I can’t believe this is happening to me! How can I dare to say I´m the Prince´s most faithful student? I should call myself the Prince´s fattest student!” “heheh you know? This is funny!” “No! We can´t let this defeat us! We must lose this extra weight! Rainbow Blitz!” and he extended his hoof to his friend. “You are right! We´ll do it, together!” and he crossed forelegs with Duskshine. “Awww you look so cute with your little bellies!!” and Spines picked don the ponies bellies who in response hit her on the head simultaneously. “AUH!” **** The next day bot ponies were at the top of a hill, all ready and set on their exercise clothes which looked ridiculous in Duskshine. He had planned an exhaustive routine of joint exercises that will need them both to be tied by a rope. That, coupled with a strict diet, was sure to make them regain their shapes. Spines, of course, was the first one to point out this wasn’t going to work. “All set?” “Yeah, let´s go!” At first, it seemed like a good idea. Duskshine had to keep up with Blitz´s rhythm and Blitz had to fly while carrying Dusk´s weight, all the while both avoided several obstacles set across town. It all seemed to be working. They only failed to realize that doing this in town in the middle of the day could lead to some unforeseen events; like for example Macareina walking in with a wagon full of hay. They both tried to avoid it, forgetting they were tied by a rope and stretch it was a terrible idea. The red mare was caught by the rope along with her wagon and they all went downhill. Rainbow tried to pull the rope and stop the thing but he was out of strength. Duskshine was similarly tired and even with his magic he couldn’t slow it down. “Don’t worry Macareina, we´ll save you!” Duskshine announced The red mare was about to say something when Rainbow Blitz took the rope with his teeth. “Less puff tofeter!!” Assuming he said let´s pull together, Duskshine grabbed the rope as well and they both tried to stop the falling carriage but they only ended up removing the rope and they both fell and got tangled together. They looked up to see Macareina still going down with the carriage set right into collision crash with his little brother who was calming walking down the street. “I can’t watch this!” and Spines covered her eyes. Applejack turned over to see the wagon coming right at him and once it was merely inches of his face he…simply stop it with his right hoof, not even moving from his place as the wagon slowly stopped moving. “Thanks, bro.” “No problem, sis.” Bot ponies watched as the earth ponies went their separate ways, without even bothering to mention the issue. Once the danger was cleared, they let out a sigh. “Are you oaky guys?” Spines asked, running down the hill. “Yes we are Spines, but I think this little accident was a wake-up call…” Duskshine said. “Yeah so, I gain a little weight, so what? It´s not like it is the end of the world or anything! I´m still awesome!” Rainbow Blitz proclaimed. “Yes and I don’t need to be a muscled pony! I´m happy with the way I am!” Duskshine proclaimed as well. “You still could loose some pounds, Dusk…” Spines murmured. “What do you say we throw all this away and go grab some pastries at Sugarcube Corner?” Duskshine suggested and dropped half the equipment on Spines head. “Sounds good to me!” and Blitz dropped the other half on her. Once they were inside the bakery, both friends shared a chocolate shake and some definitely diet-forbidden pastries. “Ahh, this is delicious! I can’t believe I have been drinking nothing more than those horrible juices of yours for the last twelve days!” Rainbow Blitz said after finishing his drink. “They’re not supposed to be tasty they´re were chemically mixed to drive your best performance and burn any extra calories!” Duskshine offended explained while holding one of the beverages Blitz hadn’t drink. “All I know is that they’re poison, dude.” “You simply don’t value the benefits of applied science!” “That’s not true! I dated a scientist mare once!” “That doesn’t count!” “Uuuh frothy mug of water!” Bubble Berry said and gulped the entire drink. He turned red, blue, black and several other colors before exploding in a rainbow cloud. Once it finished, Bubble Berry got up no colored white with a blond mane. “…what?” Nonchalantly, Duskshine consulted his notes. “Uhh, I did forget to carry the one.”
Chapter 2“All right! Saddlebags…check! Shopping list…check! Bow-tie to impress the ladies…chekity-check! I´m all set to go…to the market!!!! I´m leaving Spines!” Dusk Shine shut the door close before even bothering to hear his convalescent assistant. Usually she handled the shopping but last night she broke both legs or something and now it was up to Dusk Shine to gather some food. A task he found pointless, accustomed as he was to spend days without a single bite if he was in the middle of a big experiment. That was Spines´ biggest fault, she was a good assistant but has all those needs like sleeping and eating on a regular basis, not to mention that annoying tendency to get hurt in the important part of an investigation; how was Dusk Shine supposed to finish his research on bringing the death back to life if his guinea pig keeps getting poisoned on every single trial? Oh well, there was no helping now. Since Owloysius had fly off somewhere after the last time Dusk Shine tried to attach some electrodes to her head, it was up to Dusk Shine to get the groceries. The market was, like usual but Dusk Shine had no way to know it, flooded with ponies, all bickering and bargaining prices. Dusk Shine remembered his sister talking about Saddle Arabia and the markets there where camels where quick to trick a pony selling some piece of garbage at excessive prices but he was sure this one was even worse. Since he wasn’t used to deal with a crowd so big he moved to the only stand he fell comfortable with, the one that sold apples. “Hey Applejack…” “Well howdy there, haystack! This sure ta be a strange sight, yah doing ta house choirs?” the mocking tone of the cowpony was obvious. “Spines is bed-ridden because…I don’t know can´t remember. So yeah, I´ll be doing the shopping today.” “Sure yah can handle it, haystack? It´ can get pretty rude out ´ere…” “I defeated three evil monsters who tried to take over Equestria…” “We helped too, Dusk…” “I´m sure I can handle something as simple as the groceries as buying groceries. Now, how much for that bucket of apples?” “Ten bits.” “What? That´s outrageous! Five bits!” “That ain´ going to work with me, haystack.” “All right then, seven bits.” “Ten bits.” “Eight bits!” “Ten bits.” “Twenty bits!” “All right then, twenty it is.” “Great. No, what? Damn you Berry, this didn’t work at all!” “Told ya.” “Anyways, I´m your best friend Applejack! How come I don’t get a special discount for friends?” “Ta was the discount. Them apples here cost thirty bits!” “You´re unbearable!” “One thing is friendship, another is business.” “Argh!” Frustrated, Dusk Shine left the stand, cursing out loud. He couldn’t believe this! Some friend Applejack was, scamming him right in his face! If this was the kind of crap Spines had to deal with on a daily basis he had a new respect for his assistant, well he wouldn’t go that far but yeah this was outrageous! “Umm…Dusk Shine?” And he still had a full list of things to buy he didn’t even know what they were. What the hay was a cabbage? “Dusk Shine.” And what if every stand was the same? He didn’t want to argue with every single pony in town but seriously, it was that difficult to just buy some apples? “Dusk Shine!!!” He turned around to greet a strange pony wearing a purple scarf, tainted sunglasses and an oversized hat. Dusk Shine may not be an expert of fashion as Elusive but that was certainly the most ridiculous outfit he had seen. “Umh do I know you?” “It me, Dusk Shine. Butterscotch.” And he put the glasses down to reveal his pristine sky-blue eyes. “Oh it is you. Why are you wearing that, Scotch?” “Umh I didn’t want to make a scene. Last time I came to the market some ponies recognize for my brief stint as an actor and well things get a little out of control…” “Yeah I remember it. I was there too.” “Oh you were? Sorry, all I remember where that pile of mares kissing me and pulling my mane.” “Yeah poor thing…” Dusk Shine rolled his eyes in contempt. “Ummh are you busy, Dusk Shine?” “No, I was just shopping but turns out its more difficult that I think, especially because every sales pony it’s a scammer!” He shouted out loud. “Though luck, sugarcube.” “Shut up!” “Umh mind if I join you? I have to get some carrots for Angela.” “Sure. Let´s go.” While they walked down the market, Dusk Shine noticed that every pony, both male and female, turned over to see at Butterscotch. Even in disguise he still was the center of attention, ironic for a pony so shy. Dusk Shine cared deeply for his friend but couldn´t help feeling a little sting of jealously which was clearly visible on his face. “Something´s wrong, Dusk Shine?” worried, Butterscotch asked. “ Uh nothing it’s just…you´re so lucky for needing to wear a disguise.” “I don’t think I´m lucky at all…” “I mean, I´ll give my own right front leg to get mares jumping all over me!” “Umh it’s not that great, Dusk Shine. Actually, it’s pretty annoying…” “Remember all those problems I get with the gala tickets? How crazy I was to get that plus one?” “I thought we agreed we didn’t need to take a date to the gala…” “Yeah, and how that turned out for us? Let me remind you…” Dusk Shine took a deep breath and put on a crazy face. “YOU WILL LOVE ME!!!!” “…was that really necessary? I´m not proud of that at all.” “Sorry Scotch but my point is you guys have it easy. You´re all good looking or funny of can do impressive trick in the air. All I have it´s a stupid library full of dusty books nopony gives a feather about!” “That’s not true, Dusk Shine! You have made some impressive feats this last year!” “Yeah well, its ture but my life hasn’t improved at all. I´m still being ignored, no matter what I try. Even this stupid bow-tie isn´t working!” and he tossed it aside in contempt. Butterscotch looked at his friend, trying to think about something to say to cheer him up when suddenly the unmistakable chatting of a group of mares came closer. Elusive was coming to his direction surrounded by his parade of female admirers. “Great, just what I needed…” “Greetings my friend and may ask, who is this lovely mare next to you Dusk Shine?” “Mare? Wh-“ Before he could finish, Butterscotch grabbed Dusk Shine and held him closer. “Hi, I´m Sun Flower. I came to visit from Canterlot.” He said in a rather impressive effeminate voice. “Oh Canterlot? Dusk Shine, shame on you! You never told you have such and adorable acquaintance!” Dusk Shine was dumbfounded but he quickly caught up with the act. “Oh yeah, Sun Flowers is…a very special friend form uh Solari´s school for Gifted Unicorns!” “But she is a pegasus…” “Uhh I met her during a mix camp with a umh Cloudsdale Flight School…” Butterscotch almost facehoofed but luckily Elusive was too enthralled with Sun Flower to neither notice nor care. “Well miss Flower. I´m Elusive, charmed to meet you.” And he kissed “her” hoof.” Since you´re new to town may I give you the official welcome tour or perhaps skip right into the finale…a dinner in my boutique?” “Oh I´m terribly sorry Repulsive but Dusky here promised to take me shopping, right Dusky?” “Umh yeah, he did I mean I did so umh see ya Lucy.” And they trot off. “It´s…Elusive.” Once they felt at a safe enough distance they both burst out in laughter. “HAHAHA I can´t believe you did that. It was hilarious!” “Sorry, it was the only thing that occurred to me.” “No it was great but Lucy haha how come he didn’t notice?” “Why? You think I don´t make a fine impression of a mare?” and he tossed his mane and blinked seductively. Dusk Shine blush a little. “Well oh why don´t we uh move on?” Before Butterscotch could ask what was bothering his friend, they ran into a familiar zebra. “Good morning to you, my dearest friend; I must say that you being in the market it’s a sight indeed rare.” “Oh hi Zicor!” “And who may be this lovely lady next to you? Such a charming mare I have yet to know.” “My name is Sun Flower and meeting you is such a delight.” “That didn’t rhyme at all…” “Judging for how tight is her embrace; I´ll said you no longer need that potion to ensnare mares.” “What potion?” Butterscotch asked while Dusk Shine nervously gestured to Zicor to be quiet. “Something is wrong, Dusk Shine? I was under the impression yo-“Dusk Shine put his hoof inside the zebra´s mouth to shut him. “That I needed one of your potions for my mane. He he. I have dander.” Butterscotch obviously didn’t believe that but played along, saying goodbye to Zicor as he took Dusk Shine foreleg and trot away. “Dander, huh?” “Let´s not dwell into that, please.” Butterscotch giggled in a very feminine way as they passed next to Applejack’s stand. “Howdy partner, came fer more apples? Well there, how you do miss? I think I´ve never see you around town before…” Applejack said and took his hat out. “Well, what a gentlecolt. My name is Sun flower and I would love to have some apples.” “She” said, blinking flirty. “Help yourself, ma’am.” “How much is for this apples bucket?” “For you, ma´am; just five bits.” “You got to be kidding me…” “Thank you, kind sir.” “Applejack at your service, ma´am.” “Woah, who is this fine lady, big bro?” “Applebuck, be quiet.” “Good day to you, Applejack.” “Good day, ma´am.” Applejack said while still pushing his little brother behind the stand. Dusk Shine couldn’t help but laugh. Applejack’s stupid goofy grin as he watched “Sun Flower” ´plot was simply ridiculous. Butterscotch was indeed a convincing actor but it also helped that all these ponies lost their head when around a pretty mare. Dusk Shine laughed at the complicity of knowing that said “mare” was actually one of their friends. If they knew the truth Applejack and Elusive will most likely exchange coat colors. “You seem happy.” “Yeah. Thank you Butterscotch. You really lift up my day.” “Don’t mention it. It was funny playing a prank on Jack and Lucy. I always thought Blitz and Berry were hurting other ponies feelings but some pranks may be a little funny.” “And speaking of Tyrek, look who’s coming…” Butterscotch turned over to see Rainbow Blitz calmly trotting in their direction. “Time for some payback. Come here Sun Flower.” “Dusk Shine, wh-“ Butterscotch didn’t get to finish that sentence because his tongue get stuck with something. “Hey Dusk. Hey Scotch. Glad to see you finally came out of the cloud.” “Damnit, how come such a clueless pony never falls for any disguise? I even once used my magic to turn Berry into a pegasus once to fool him and he still recognize him! Oh well, guess four of four was beign too ambitious. Still, it was a fun day and I get mostly everything in the list. Although I´m sure Spines will find something to complain…well see ya later Scotch!” And Dusk Shine calmly trotted back to the library. Butterscotch, in the other hoof, stood there with a blank expression, his mouth still wide open and crooked sunglasses. “…call me.”
Chapter 3Applejack woke up with the rooster call like every morning. The first thing he did was a little exercise, some small stretches and push-ups, then, a hot and nice shower, a nutritive breakfast, give Grandpa Smith his medicines and finally, coming out to the open field. He took a deep breath, absorbing all that fragrance of fresh apples. He looked at the orchard, at the old battered barn, at his big sister plowing the land, the giant birds sleeping in that tree, his little brother trotting away from the cow ba- “What in tarnation?” The giant bird crowed or something and peeked its wing, seemingly unaware of the ponies gathering under the tree. “Well?” “Well, it’s a big bird.” “Ah already know that, Dusk Shine! Ah want to know what type o bird it is!” “I don´t know! Butterscotch here is the expert in animals!” “So he´s an expert in ponies because ponies are animals, right Dusk Shine?” “…shut up Spines.” “Oh my, it´s that I think it is?” “Scooteroll´s mom?” “I heard you!” “No Applebuck, it’s a roc.” “Ta ain´no rock! That´ a rock!” Inside the boutique, a romantic dinner was taking place. “Oh Susan, I´m so terribly sorry we have been separated for so long! I just couldn´t let my friends found out about us, they wouldn´t unders-Excuse me Mr Narrator but this is a private meeting!” and Elusive closed the curtains. “…creepy.” “Oh come on! Even a giant boulder?” “My love…” Ignoring all of his friends Applejack demanded for an explanation. “And what ta hay it´s a roc?” “According to this book, a roc it´s a giant bird from a faraway land that preys on innocent horses.” “So this here is dangerous?” Applebuck asked, trying to hide his fear. “I don’t know. Let’s check.” “Woah!” Dusk Shine magically levitated Spines and tossed her to the roc´s beak. The bird swallowed the little dragon but soon spitted her back. “Guess she is not hungry.” “Well if it ain´ hungry, what does it want?” “I´ll go ask her…” and Butterscotch slowly hovered to the giant tree. “Her?” Since Butterscotch was a soft spoken pony they couldn´t hear what he was saying so they have nothing else to do but wait. “…so Macareina, doing good?” “Eeeyup.” “Doing anything this weekend?” “Eeenope.” “So, want to hang out?” “…Applejack, I´ll be leaving to uncle Orange house for the next two weeks. Make sure that Grandpa Smith takes all his medicines and that Applebuck does all of his homework. The cows have been having nightmares these last few days so make sure to throw away all the milk and the door of the sheep´s fence it´s broken. And don´t get into any more fights with that Rainbow Blitz! I´m sick of fixing the barn roof every time you two get into a hooves fight, understood? Good!” she took her saddlebags and hat and leave for the train station. “…” Finally Butterscotch descended. “So, what did it want?” Without uttering a word, Butterscotch put on a hard hat, placed some warning tape and beacon and flew back to the tree. “…well, ah´m off ta get some milk!” the little caped pony proudly announced. **** The next few days were a war turf that neither side was willing to loose. Butterscotch had entrenched inside the apple tree while Applejack had brought all the Apple family to his side. “Scotch, take that damn bird outta mah tree!” “No! This roc has every right to make a nest for her!” “She invaded Apple family territory! She is trespassing!” “She is just acting on her natural instincts! And I have a lawyer to defend them!” “Ah brought mah own lawyer! Rotten Apple, your turn!” “Oh you brought your cousin? Solaris forbide you for spending two bits in some professional service!” “Don´ call me a niggard! And he´ a fine lawyer!” “Actually that´s not true, cuz. I´m pretty bad…” All the ponies in Ponyville gathered around the farm, worried about the outcome of this conflict. “Come on everypony! Place your bets! Who´s going to budge first? Will the animal lover win and turn the Apple farm into a poor pony zoo? Will the Apple had a Summer Sun Celebration with a really big bird on the table? You decide!” “Rainbow Blitz!” The cyan pegasus put down his sunglasses and hovered a little to greet his lavender friend. “Oh hey Dusk! Wanna bet?” “Shame on you, betting over your friends´ misfortunes!” Dusk Shine reprimand him but Rainbow Blitz did not take the hint. “…I´ll place ten bits on Butterscotch.” “Sure you will.” “What was that?” “Nothing nothing…” “Ah had enough! Time fer action!” Tired of all the peaceful negotiations and talking, Applejack decided to take matter on his own hooves. He jumped at the old family tractor and rammed against the apple tree. The tree had been for generations in that land, since Grandpa Smith was but a small pony fighting the Cyberpony army or whatever crazy adventure the Professor kept dragging Equestria into, so its roots were firmly in place. The roc cackled again as her house trembled. Just when everypony was wondering where Butterscotch was he showed up wearing nothing but a lion skin. Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses again, this time with reluctance. Around the yellow pegasus was an army of small critters led by Angela Bunny. Butterscotch roared or more like meowed and the creatures attacked Applejack, easily subduing him and hogtied him. “Now, are you going to let that poor creature alone?” “No! She invade mah land!” “How can you be like that, Applejack? Can you respect the needs of toher creatures?” “Bu-but that ´what ya doing! Ya forcing me to give up ma house and livelihood because tha ´what yah think it´s right!” “I…I…Oh my, that’s exactly what I´m doing! Oh I feel so terrible! You´re right Applejack, nopony should force other pony their own beliefs!” “And ah shouldn’ go straight into a fight over a disagreement, especially with a dear friend of mine. Talking is always ta best solution!” “I’m sorry Applejack.” “I´m sorry Butterscotch.” And since the animals had untied him they both shared a hug. “…okay, who bet on they resolve their difference and learn a valuable moral lesson? Nopony? Of course not. You see? This is exactly why Tv these days its filled with girly shows about friendship and whathaveyou. That´s not how boys solve things! You should put your hooves in the air and get ready to rumble!” “You´re right, Rainbow Blitz! Picture if that time we pretended to be Stallion Do-Good we have took your feeling in consideration! We will have never done that knowing you´ll be public humiliated!” Rainbow Blitz put down his glasses a final time, this time with tears on his eyes. “W-why did you bring that up?” “No wait, Blitz! I didn’t mean too! Come back!” Unaware of this whole drama, Applejack and Butterscotch placed a hoof on each other shoulder and pose for the local diary. Just then the roc cackled a final time and left the apple tree. They peeked inside the leaves and found a nest with two big eggs inside. “So that´s what she does? Leave the eggs behind?” “Yes, she brood the eggs for a few days but once they´re close to hatch the mother leaves the nest so the roc chicks learn to take care for themselves.” “Well, mother nature knows best!” “So, what are you going to do with the eggs?” Spines asked. “Ah know exactly what tah do!” … “Soups on everypony!” The smell of fried eggs was enthralling and the food was enough for the whole Apple family plus a few guests. “Ah, don´be like that Scocth! Ah leave one of the eggs back in the barn!” “You´re a horrible pony…” Inside the barn, the cows were peacefully sleeping when suddenly a huge green monster jumped in. “Booga-booga!”
Chapter 4“Oh, how I got myself into this?” Elusive´s lamentations came because he was being circled by two hyperactive foals, Pumpkin and Pound Cake were happily playing around him, the pegasus mare chewing on his mane and the unicorn colt using his magic to levitate all the toys in the room. Elusive sighed because he remembered exactly why he was there. Just the other day Bubble Berry entered the bakery, happily humming to himself. “I´m the D and the U with the S and K too. Right into the S H I N E also and ain´t no other pony trolling down like me. I´m Duskshinilicious! Huh, Dusky can be pretty funny too, when he´s not moping around that no mare loves him. Hey Mrs. Cake I´m baAAAAAARGHHHH!!! Elusive, what the hay do you think you´re doing?!!! “Berry my man! This isn´t what it look like!” “I can´t believe you! Mr. Cake has been out of town for just one day and you already have your hooves all around his wife!!!” “Please Berry it´s not like that, Elusive was helping me and then I trip an-“ “Don´t try to defend him, Mrs. Cake! He´s just a big pervert!” “Please Berry, I´m not like that! I was merely comforting Mrs. Cake and she really just trippe-“ Berry put a hoof on his friend mouth, trying to suppress the urge of putting that on his eye. Instead, he came with an idea. “Mrs. Cake, get your luggage.” “What?” “You´re going to visit Mr. Cake and I won´t take no for an answer. You tow are going to enjoy a second honeymoon in Baltimare and that´s it. Now go, go!” The confused Mrs. Cake do as she was told and an impressed Elusive praised his friend. “Berry, that wa-“ that praising was cut short by a hoof right into his throat. “Since I´ll be doing all the work in the store, you will be taking care of the twins.” “Who, me? Oh please Berry, you know I´m no-“ “That´s not negotiable.” “Understood.” So now Elusive was stuck trying to keep those restless foals in place, a task seemingly impossible. “Please children, stop! Pumpkin, stop chewing on my horn! Pound, please release that stallion! I´m quite sorry sir! Please let´s ju- argh, this is impossible! I thought that taking you tow to a picnic will do better but you are simply unbearable!” “Oh how cute! These are your little brothers?” Instead of correcting the lovely mare in front of him, Elusive grabbed the unicorn and hold him closely. “Yes, well actually they’re are my nieces but I love them just as much as I love my brother!” “Oh it´s so nice to see a colt so close to his family!” “Well, what can I say? I just love foals!” even if one of those foals just puked on his head. After the mare was gone, Elusive hugged the babies. “Oh you precious things! You just got me a lovely date for tomorrow´s evening. Oh I remember the days when I could use Sweepie Bell for that, you know, before he got into that goth phase argh! I wonder when he´ll outgrow that! But now I have you tow, you lovely little duo, especially you my Pumpkin Cake, you´re such a delight, I´m sure that you grow up to be a splendid mare. I can hardly wait for that! Ugh, Berry is right. I´m a big pervert…” The sudden shriek of a dragon passing by scared them. Elusive hugged the babies and waited for the enormous shadow to fly by. “Oh, my stars! There’s still some of that terrible creatures around! I´m so glad my dear Spines doesn’t resemble those at all, don´t you agree Pound Cake?” the unicorn baby merely drooled a little in response. “Ah, where´s your sister, dear?” Elusive didn´t need to look up and see the baby happily chewing into the dragon tail. Cursing his luck, he grabbed the proper attire and ventured into the woods, heading to the dragon´s lair. He was stopped mid-track by a pony covered in a black armor. “Halt! Who goes there?” “Please, I´m in a hurry. A baby foal ju-“ “Stop! Before you pass, you must answer the three questions!” “I said I have no time for this!” “What is your name?” Elusive rolled his eyes. “Elusive.” “What is your mission?” “I´m searching for a baby.” “What is the speed of the average seagull?” “…Klutz, just leave me trough, will ya?” “Oh come on! I´m bored! Ever since they chased me out of town I have nothing to do all day!” “Well, they warned you about talking again, Derpy!” “They still mad for that?” “You´re offensive.” “I´m not offensive! I has a condition!” Ignoring the grey pegasus complains, Elusive continued into the dragon territory, the scenery slowly changing to became more barren and desert. He suddenly was stopped by a group of female dragons. “Well well, what do we have here?” “Oh hi, my dears. How lucky of me to run into a group of such gulp lovely ladies?” The dragons were anything but lovely being some of the hideous specimens of her races, still Elusive gentlecolts ways prevent him from pointing that out so he instead gulped some more as the lead dragonesses caressed his mane. “And what is such a handsome pony doing here all on his own?” “Well I was looking for a little pegasus foal, she got caught in a umh adult dragon tail and I saw him coming this direction. Have you ladies seen him?” “A dragon with a baby pony on his tail? No, I don’t think so. You girls?” the other dragons say no with her heads. “Well, in that case…” but he was stopped by the dragon grabbing his neck. “Oh wait! I think I did saw him!” “Really? Where?” “Oh my memory is terrible! Maybe I need some help to remember…” Sensing the tone Elusive sighed and put the bay in the ground. “Double standards. This is exactly why I hated Ed, Edd and Eddy…” “What are you murmuring?” “I´m coming woman! Wait right here, Pound Cake!” Elusive sighed again and went inside the cave along with the three dragons. Left alone and without company, Pound Cake soon grew bored and began using his magic to gather a bunch of stone and create a fake pony. Using his magic he infused it with life. “I´m alive! I can feel! I can think! Father!” Pound Cake giggled and smashed the rock pony with a head-butt, giggling some more. Finally Elusive came out of the cave, covered on lipstick, his mane disheveled and a thousand years stare. “Come on, dear. We´re going…I hate this series some times.” Finally, they reached a gian cave where the dragon rested atop of his pile of gems, casually palying with the pony still chewing on his tail. “Good afternoon sir. My name is Elusive and I´m the guardian of that baby foal and I´ll be eternally grateful if you could return her to me.” The dragon inspected the baby for a few seconds. “You want this?” “Yes, please.” “…no.” “Oh please, kind sir! I just have a terrible day, can´t you please open your gargantuan heart and help a poor fellow creature?” “…no.” “Look pal, I just got molested by a bunch of terrible dragons so I don’t have the patience to deal with another one of you scaly punks, now give me that baby back!” The dragon took the baby and toss her inside his mouth, swallowing her whole. “…no.” “…oh, it. Is. On.” *** Applejack was calmly trotting through town when he saw Elusive coming his way. “Heya haystack, woah, what´s all that green thing yah covered with?” “Shut up.” Elusive went into Sugarcube Corner but before opening the door a certain cyan pegasus came out, covered in sweat. “Thanks for helping me in the kitchen, Blitz!” a voice came from the kitchen. Elsuive took a good look at the terrified Rainbow Blitz who looked back. “…me too.” “Yeah.” And he took off. “Hiya Elusive, you had a good day watching the babies?” Elusive didn’t answer him; he just put the sleeping babies back in the cradle. He took a good and long look at them… “Yes, it was fun.” Ten years in the future… “Elusive, I´m going to kill you!!!” “Wooooaaahhhhh!!” “Uncle Berry, please! Don’t kill him! I love him!” Pound Cake merely rolled his eyes. He knew Berry will react like this upon hearing the big news. “Hey girls, you’re friends of Pumpkin right? My name is Dusk Shine, I’m a professor at Canterlot University!” “Yeah, we need to do that thing with the thing….” “Oh come on! Not even now?” Inside a dusty and dark cave, a lonely pegasus was crying. “Hello? Anypony there? Can I come out now? It´s been ten years! It´s Derpy still a offensive word! Anypony still mad at me?! Auhhh….”
Chapter 5Loud noises and manic laughs were heard from the basement under the library while Dusk Shine completed his greatest creation. “It´s done, it´s done!! MUAHAHAHAHA!! I finished…a sandwich!” Dusk Shine took a bite of his lunch and went back to his work table. “Lunch, check! Now, let´s get back to work! Once I finish my latest machine all the mares in this town will be fighting over me! The experiments I made to Spines were successful, now I can change the color of ponies coat at will! Just imagine the possibilities! Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, maybe even zebras! If I can talk Elusive out of selling this at his store, there will be a line of hundreds of mares, eager to get a complete re-coloring and all of them will want to thank the genius responsible for this revolution in the fashion industry! Muahahaha!!” Too entranced on his fantasy of being surrounded by grateful females, Dusk Shine failed to notice the magical whirlwind forming behind him. “Well, fancy that…” “Woah, who the hay are you?” The grey haired unicorn took a look around the basement, ignoring the confused Dusk Shine. “Well, if it isn’t my old laboratory? This certainly brings back memories!” “Your old laboratory? Wait a minute…” Dusk Shine looked at the pale purple unicorn. “You are…me, right?” “I suppose I am.” “Oh no, not this again.” Dusk Shine facehoofed. “Oh yes, my very first experience with time-travel was a wasted effort. But I´m afraid, younger me; that this time my displacement wasn´t intentional.” “Meaning…” “Probably a tearing on the space-time continuum. Or that burrito Spines cooked for me last night. Either way, my presence here must obey to some life-changing decision you are currently facing…aha!” the older Dusk Shine grabbed the unfinished experiment. “Ah yes, I have forgotten about this little thing. This was my key to a life of success and recognition.” “You mean it worked? I mean, it will work? Work for me, it worked for you. Ugh, tenses confused me.” “Yes, after seeing this little gizmo on action the Headmaster form the Canterlot University named me Head of the Mechanics department and since then my life has done nothing but improve.” “Head of Department? I work at the University?” “Yes, and it is a wonderful life. Dedicated to study and learning.” “Ugh but what about the mares?” “Oh who needs mares when you have a photonics displacer? By the way, you need to invent that…” a sudden crack was heard and a bright light engulfed the older Dusk Shine. “Ups, gotta go!” “Wait! I still have so much questions about the future!” but older Dusk Shine was already gone. “Will I ever get married?” Still confused but somewhat relived, Dusk Shine went upstairs and noticed the big pile of letters at the door. “What´s this? An invitation to another of Berry´s parties. Well, I suppose I could go. Now that I know that my experiment will work and lead me to a lifetime of success there´s nothing to worry about!” It seemed like destiny was listening because another crack of bright lights appeared, dropping another pony in the living room. “Ouch! Now where in tarnation am I?” Dusk Shine took a good look at the poncho covered Dusk Shine. “What happened to you?” “What happened tah me? Ah tell yah what happened! Ah just got tramped worse than a scorpion during a buffalo stampede!” “What? I don´t understand just half and hour ago you were a professor at Canterlot University and now…” “Professor? Ha, ah wish! The closes ah have been to that was moving Applebuck´s luggage when he left ta farm!” “You live in the farm?” “Ah live in the barn! Damn Applejack gave the room to tah dog instead of me!” and poncho Dusk Shine spitted a bit of tobacco. “…what? I don´t…when did my life turn into…this?!” “Well, ah reckon it all started at Berry´s. Ah went to one of his parties instead of checking on one of mah works. Next thing ah know this whole place was in flames!” Dusk Shine was too confused to say anything. “Ah lost everything. Mah house, mah reputation; the fire spread to all town and since it was magical the pegasi couldn´t put it down. The Prince himself hatta come and fix everything and of course, he punish me! Goodbye studies, goodbye element of harmony! Ah ended up working for the Apples, cleaning the pig´s gutters! Now listen tah me, partner! Don’t go to tah party! Focus on your studies and finish that damn contraption!” and with that, this Dusk Shine disappeared as well. “Oh sweet Solaris, I have to get back to work!” Dusk Shine rushed back downstairs and began working on his experiment again. He quickly fell asleep and was awaken by a sudden punch to his head. “Ouh!” “What do you think you´re doing, punk?” Dusk Shine was still confused and sleepy but the Dusk Shien in front of him definetly looked diferrent. He had an eyepatch, wore a helmet and armor and haven´t shave in days. “Wh-“ before he could finish a hoof was pressing his troath. “Listen well, you blockhead! You better not be working on that damn color changing gizmo!” Dusk Shine managed to nodded, despite the lack of oxygen. “You idiot! You have any idea the problems these things will bring?” Since Dusk Shine was unable to make any sound, the mean Dusk Shine let him go. “It´s…gah! Just a fashion accessory!” “Sure, that´s how it started! But then Elusive started making suggestion. Why simply change the color of coats, my friend?” his imitation of Elusive was pretty bad. “Let´s change manes, eyes, Cutie Marks! Eventually you ended up creating a device that allows you to change the species of the pony!” “I did? I mean, I will? Wait, you wi-“ “Stop that! Listen, what did you think all those mares first thought when you said you can turn them into whatever they want?” Dusk Shine didn´t answer. “They changed into alicorns! They wall wanted to be special and pretty and have pretty wings and pretty horns so we ended up with over a hundred useless princess! There aren’t that many stars in the sky! They eventually run out of titles!” mean Dusk Shine let Dusk Shine on the ground. “Listen, nimrod; you better destroy all these things before Prince Solaris exiles you into the Everfree Forest! You think it´s nice living in there? Well, guess again! I have to sleep in a cave with an Ursa Minor!” “Couldn´t you just live in Zicor´s hut?” “You kidding? The guy snores. Just get rid of that thing!” and he punched Dusk Shine before leaving. “Oh and more thing. Don´t eat Berry´s banana muffins. They will get you sick.” Terrified, Dusk Shine went back upstairs. While he was thinking how to get out of this problem, another magical portal appeared, bringing back a familiar face. “You again? You look even worse than before!” “Well, thank ya kindly partner!” the poncho Duks Shine burped. “And ah have to thank ya all tah you! Dumping the prototypes into the lake was a great idea, except for the pollution ya caused! They sent straight tah Appleeeeloosa” “Dear Solaris…” “Ah, it ain´t that bad. Ah married a buffalo.” After poncho Dusk Shine left, Dusk Shine entered a psychotic break. “Okay okay. I can’t finish my experiment, I can’t get rid of it neither. So I just won’t do anything. I´ll stay here in the living room, doing nothing, I´ll just sit here, hehehe!” Mean Dusk Shine suddenly pop in “What did I tell you about the muffins?” “Gah, I can´t stand this! I´ll just go back to bed and put an end to this nightmare!” Sitting on the bed, a manticore was chewing explorer Dusk Shine. “Great idea, smarty pants.” “Okay, I´ll just stay under this shelf! This shelf is safe, I won´t make any life-changing decision standing under a harmless bookshelf!” His answer came in the form of yet another Dusk Shine. “Well, you could decide that wasting your life categorizing all this books was a bad idea and embrace the pursuit of happiness instead, right honey?” Rainbow Blitz put awing over his lover shoulder. “You bet ya, honey!” Another portal opened at Dusk´s right. “Or maybe you will discover that instead of running around in a wild goose chase, you could find happiness right under you won roof, isn’t that right my lovely wife Spines?” this Dusk Shine rubbed noises with Spines almost making Dusk Shine puke. “I have to get out of here!” “I rather if you didn’t!” said the Dusk Shine with an anvil over his head. “This is insane! Things can´t possibly get any worse!” “Think again, hot stuff!” Twilight Sparkle said. “Please, make it stop!” “No, is not that much to ask.” another Dusk Shine said. “Please, why is this happening? I only wanted to get mares to like me. Was that too much to ask? Oh, stop doing that!” “Stop doing that!” another Dusk Shine said, “Why you keep repeating everything I said?” “He´s five seconds behind. I´m twelve seconds ahead of you!” another Dusk Shine said. “You what? Would you stop repeating everything I said?” “You what? Would you stop repeating everything I said?” another Dusk Shine said. “Oh, my ears!” another Dusk Shine said, “Could you please stop doing that? And tell the other one to stop answering question before I ask them!” “I´m sorry, what? Oh my ears!” another Dusk Shine said. “I´M NOT FROM ANY PARTICULAR TIME-FRAME. I´M THE DUSK SHINE THAT SPEAKS ALL THE TIME IN THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE. FROM WHERE I CAME FROM EVERYPONY SPEAKS LIKE THIS!” “Oh my ears! Please, I can’t stand this anymore, just tell if I should finish my experiment or not!” The library was filled with dozens of Dusk Shines, half saying “Finish it!” and the other half saying “Don´t finish it!” In tears, Dusk Shine ran back to the basement to hide. “Woah, I´m here. And you are me!” Dusk Shine looked up at this other Dusk Shine. “Who are you?” “I´m you from a few months ago. I just got permission from Prince Solaris to live right here, in Ponyville. But I don’t know if I made the right decisions. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe the guys don´t like me that much. Tell me something, did I make the right decision coming here? What is going to be my life in Ponyville?” “…you are going to have amazing friends.” The other Dusk Shine smiled. “Maybe that´s all that I need to know.” And then he disappeared. Dusk Shine grabbed he experiment and went back upstairs. “Okay, all the Dusk Shines gather right here! Listen, I don´t care what you think or if I´m making the wrong decision or what, I´m going to talk and you will all listen, okay? I just realized something about life and friendship, they´re both really complicated but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on any of them! I can´t base my entire life on one simple decision, I have to learn to cope with both the bad and the good that might come later so I will stop making wild plans about the future and instead focus on the here and now; and right now the best decision I can take is get rid of this thing once and for all!” and Dusk Shine levitated his experiment on the air, ready to smash it. “NOOOO!” all the other Dusk Shines yelled but it was too late. Dusk Shine destroyed his experiment and with that thing gone, all the possible consequences, both bad and good disappeared, taking the Dusk Shines with them. **** “Woah, that´s quite a story Dusk Shine!” Bubble Berry said. “Indeed, Berry! And I´m glad I stopped listening to the future me, these banana muffins are delicious!” “Glad you like it! Hey, I have a question. What happened to all the other Duskies?” “Well, I suppose that now that all their respective time-liens disappeared they did as well.” **** Over at his cottage, Butterscotch woke up when he heard a strange noise. He turned the lights on and found his bedroom filled with dozens of Dusk Shines. “…oh my.”
Extra Chapter: Couples NightCouples Night “Come on Dusk Shine!” Spines got tired of walking around the library, waiting for her legal tutor/big brother figure to come down. “I´m ready Spines!” Dusk Shine, the colt librarian, stroke a pose hoping to impress his number one assistant/little sister figure with his costume. All he got was a chuckle. “Why are you dressed like a nerd?” “I´m not a nerd! I´m Harry Trotter, the colt who lived!” “Yeah, no idea who you´re supposed to be.” Dusk Shine growled in frustration. “Now come on, we´re wasting precious candy time!” the little dragon shouted. “Hang on, we still have to wait for Berry!” “Oh, he´s already here!” “He is?” “Yeah, he´s hiding under the couch.” and she pointed there. Dusk Shine crawled under to find the bright blue eyes of the pony baker popping out in the darkness. “Berry, what are you doing?” “I´m a mouse!” he announced in a squeaky voice. “Don't you think you're taking this role a little too seriously, Berry?” “But I´m a scaredy mouse, Geek Shine!” “The expression is scaredy cat...and don´t call me Geek Shine!” the sudden yell made Berry crawl even further behind the couch. “Sorry, what does it takes to take you out Berry?” “How about...a kiss?” “What? Bu-but Spines is right here...” he whispered, hoping she wouldn't listen. “I don´t mind. You two are the cutest couple in Ponyville!” Blushing with embarrassment, Dusk Shine leaned over and gave a quick kiss to Bubble Berry who right away turned it into a passionate make out. Dusk Shine had to use his magic to get the pink pony away from him. “We better get moving!” When they opened the door they ran into a pony with a hoof raised, his knocking suddenly interrupted. “Oh, hi egghead.” “Hello Rainbow Blitz and I´m not dressed as an egghead!” “I know.” While Dusk Shine growled again, Berry jumped right into the door. “Hi Blitzie! Nice chick costume!” “Chick costume?” Spines asked. “Oh I get it now, you´re wearing a Daring Do costume!” Dusk Shine gloated to his blushing friend. “Why are you wearing that?” Spines asked again, trying to hold her giggles. “You lose a bet again, don´cha?” Berry chirped. “That he do!” the melodious country folk tone of Applejack sounded really strange coming from a pirate mouth. “He bet me he could clean the orchard in ten seconds flat, well it took him ten seconds flat to crash against a tree!” “Shut up, I miscalculated...” Rainbow Blitz mumbled. “Sure, I forgot you´re an expert in math.” Dusk Shine mocked him. “Hey, you wanna a fight brainiac?” “You look good in an eye patch, Jacko!” “Thanks Bubbles! Ah thought trying something different tonight, its Nightmare Night after all! We can get lost in our fantasies like say, Daring Do meeting Captain Jack Apples.” and he put an arm over his coltfriend. “Oh, would he make me walk the plank?” “More like check the ship´s hold...” “Guys guys! Must I remind you there's a child present?” and Dusk Shine nodded at Spines. “I don't mind that. I´m a big dragon. The only thing that matters me is...” and small tears began to form on her eyes. “Oh Spiny-twiny!” and Bubble Berry rubbed her head like a big brother will do. “I´m okay, I´m okay! If Elusive is happy I´m happy and there's no other pony in town to make him happy like Butterscotch.” “Besides, you already have Sweepie.” Dusk Shine said. “WHAT? I don´t !” “Oh come on! I saw you two during my sister wedding, dancing together...” “That was only protocol! I was the flower girl, he was the ring bearer! We were supposed to dance together!” “Sure sure...” “Stop it!” and Spines jumped to bite on Dusk Shine neck, not really making any damage. “Heya Butterscoth! Lucy!” Applejack greeted the incoming couple. “Greetings my dearest friends!” Elusive said in his usual loud self while Butterscotch merely nodded. “You all look lovely tonight!” “Umh Elusive, aren't those the costumes from the Heart´s Warming Eve Play?” Dusk Shine asked wiht a dragon still chewing on his head. “Why yes, I feel the need to be like a prince tonight and have my knight in shining armor to look up for me!” “Please Elusive...” Butterscotch said in a whisper. “Besides, you know me. I would never dare to get rid of a fantastic costume! Ohohohoho!” Dusk Shine and Applejack rolled their eyes, Rainbow Blitz stick his tongue out, Bubble Berry beamed like usual, Spines looked dreamy at the stallion and Butterscotch just smiled a tender smile at his loved one antics; all while Elusive laughed along. “Well, we better get going. Zicor told me the show starts in about an hour.” Dusk Shine said. “Think Prince Artemis will be there?” Blitz asked. “Ah hope he doesn´ make a ruckus like last year...” Applejack said. “Fracas.” Berry corrected him. Butterscotch then asked the question that was in everypony´ minds. “Umhh Spines dear, what exactly are you?” “Why, I´m the Evil Queen Chrysalis! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!” … “I don't know, some character she created. Let´s go, guys.” Dusk Shine took the lead again. “Wait!” and Spines jumped at the unicorn´s back. The Core Cools as they were called, the Elements of Harmony, the ponies who stopped the terrible Star Stallion, the all powerful Queen of Chaos, and the dreadful King of the Hive; marched down Ponyville to enjoy a night in peace in quiet. They had many adventures in the past and many more to come but right now, just this night, they were just three couples enjoying a night together.
Extra Chapter: Fifteen FlavorsFifteen Flavors DuskBerry: A baker and a scholar make an odd pair but they bring the best of each other. One fills the cold library with the warm of laughter and the other brings a standing ground to his odd behavior. Once the pink bouncer gets tired he knows he has a soft lilac pillow to lay his head, falling into tender sleep as he listens to a bedtime story. AppleScotch: The sweet tastes of apples on his lips as they met, the warm embrace of the golden sun on his wings as he spread them over his lover tired shoulder, the softness of his pink mane as he lays his head to rest. The orange bathes the orchard, matching his lover sweaty coat. He wishes for nothing else but this moment to last forever. EluBlitz: Truly dashing! Truly smashing! Truly passionate! Their love is not subtle at all, it´s loud and bright, as astounding as his performances,as impressive as his outfits. The rainbow streak clashes against the white void and everypony knows their names. The Wonderbolt and the Fashion Star, the couple that all of Equestria watches. AppleShine: I never knew what friendship was about and certainly have no idea about love. I never questioned this comfort, I never doubted of this warm when he was close to me, I just accept it as Solaris´will. But then it wasn´t enough anymore. I needed more, I needed him closer to me, I needed him to say goodbye to the Dark Prince and to greet the White Prince with him at my side. I needed him because I love him and now that he is with me, I will never let him go. BubbleBlitz: ♪ We are rainbow colored candy canes ♫ Two lovers chocolate chips ♪ We stick together as bubblegum....” “....ugh, and we´re the sweetest couple in town.” XOXO ButterSive: When I first saw him I felt like my feet were melting! He was so dreamy! I promised I would do anything to make him happy. I got a little crazy about it, with that whole turning into a giant monster thing but that was because I still didn´t understand what being generous means! It means making others happy and...and he makes him happy. He is the pony he needs, the one who can make him stop and just smile, that smile that makes him looks so beautiful. He seems weak but he is actually pretty strong so I know he would take good care of him. And the truth is, I like him a little too...but seriously, I´m happy for them! I really am! With just one look at those two smiling, I felt like if my heart is burning with happiness. I´m happy. DuskBlitz: My happiest moment as a writer? Well, it must be the day I met these two fans in a convention. They were quite an odd pair. One was your typical sports jock, you know the pegasus who spends the entire day training his wings and all that. But the other one was your classical library mouse, that ridiculous bow tie, a saddlebag bursting with fantasy books. I first, i thought they were siblings, the little brother draggins the big brother around but turns out they were a couple. A romantic couple. Not that it surprises me much but, these two? They didn't look like they had anything in common! Turns out they had, my books. The pegasu became a fan of my work and he began visiting the unicorn library to read them and well, one thing led to another, you know the drill. I never thought my books will help some ponies find love, just that it will entertain some colts and pay the bills; but seeing those two together? Yeah, the happiest moment in my life. BubbleScotch: “Hey, what you think? BubbleScotch or ButterBerry?” “Umh what for?” “Well, if we´re sending holiday cards together we need a cute name portmanteau couple name!” Umh, what about BubbleButterScotchBerry?” “....HAHAHAHAHAHA!!” “What, what did I say? Berry!” EluJack: “Hey Sweepie...” “Yeah, Buck?” “Since our brothers are an item and all that guess that makes us family, right?” “I guess, you want me to be your family?” “Sure ah do! Yah are like another brother to me or a cousin or..or...” “...hey Buck?” “Yeah?” “Want to go to Sugarcube Corner?” “Sure!” ButterShine: And the little bunny ran back, leaving the dark forest behind. He returned to the cottage where the yellow pegasus and the purple unicorn awaited her return. And she kicked the librarian in the head, still an intruder on her eyes, and hugged the caretaker with love, her one and loved Butterscotch, AppleBlitz: The leaves keep falling around them as they ran. The race was long over but they kept running. They didn´t had any reason too, they just wanted to run. Run together and never stop. BubbleSive: He gave him burnt marshmallows. He gave him a giant taco costume. Bubble Berry and Elusive agreed that the next anniversary they will rather just buy the gifts. ButterBlitz: “YOU WANT TO BE MY COLTFRIEND?!” The scrawny colt looked at the short cyan one with a confused look. What was he saying? They have been friends for months but nothing more. After all this time the girls had mocked them for spending so much time together, he never thought he would hear those words from his mouth. “WELL; DO YOU?!” He took another glance. The little colt had groomed his mane, applying a ridiculous amount of grease, he was wearing a tuxedo and holding a bouquet of roses, obviously thinking the rules for girls also applied to boys. “You...don´t?” He looked once more, at those big reddish eyes that trembled with the shadow of water forming. He remembered how brave he was the day they met, how he defend him from those bully cheerleaders, how he said that Scotch was as handsome as any other colt in the school, in fact he was the handsomier! “Butterscoth...” “Yes Blitz, I would.” BubbleJack: “And the last gift for Prince Solaris on his birthday, coming from Ponyville, an apple-cherry pie! And it comes with a card! Euh, ♪ Happy Happy Birthday to you to you today! ♫ Can´t believe it seems like yesterday you were born but you are a thousand and a hundred thirty two today! ♫ ...my apologies, your majesty. EluShine: I asked Berriswainer and I only got a silly song; I asked Butterscotch and got a sappy novel in result; I asked Applejack and got a tacky looking ring; I asked Rainbow Blitz and got a ridiculous proposal; I even asked Prince Artemis and ended up deaf. I have asked everypony I could, How? But I have realized that was silly, the best option is just come straight to you and just ask...will you marry me?” “Yes.”
Final ChapterDusk Shine levitated the final items into his saddlebags and double-checked his list a final time. According to his notes, he had everything he needed but still, he couldn´t help but feel like he´ll never be truly prepared for this. “Spines! Come down here!” he shouted from the basement. The little dragon assistant came down the stairs, shuddering at the thought of the next crazy experiment she will be subjected to. “Yes, Dusk Shine?” “I need you to send a few letters,” he said and levitated four scrolls. “This one it´s for Prince Solaris, this one it´s to my parents, this one for my sister back in the Crystal Empire and this last one…” he held the letter away from her fiery breath. “This last one is for you.” “For me? Why would you send me a letter? We live in the same roof, you dumb colt!” Dusk Shine didn´t answer back. He looked at Spines with a serene and quiet face. “Dusk Shine?” He then took the little dragon and held her in a tight embrace. “I love you very much, little sister.” Spines had no idea what was going on. Dusk Shine let her go, levitated his saddlebags and went up the stairs. Before he left the room he looked back once more. “Take care.” Once she heard the sound of Dusk Shine opening the front door and going outside, Spines opened the scroll, hoping to make some sense to all of this. "Dear Spines..." Dear Spines Writing this letter is the most difficult I have ever done. It breaks my heart to do so but I´ve come to realize that certain circles need to be closed and all good things must eventually end. You have been with me your entire life, which was a sizable portion of mine too; but the time has come for us to say goodbye ***** Dusk Shine was walking across the town square when a familiar raspy voice called him from above. “Hey Dusky!” Rainbow Blitz said as he flew down to the ground. “What´cha doing so late at night, egghead?” “You know I´ve always been a bit of night-owl, Blitz.” “So, mid-night strolls, uh? Cool, I like taking mid-night flights. They keep my babies here fresh!” and he kissed one of his wings. “I was actually heading to Elusive´s but luckily I found you first, that way I can give you this now…” he reached inside his saddlebags and pull out a dusty object. “Here you have.” “Dudeeeeeeee! A Wonderbolts Cap?! 19th edition! These are out of stock, how did you get one?!” “My father bought it for me when he took me to the races once, back in the days when he was trying to get me into sports. He eventually gave up. I´ve forgotten I have it until two days ago when I found it inside my old vault.” Dusk Shine explained. “Awesome! But wait, it isn´t my birthday, is it?” “No Blitz, but I wanted to give you that. I know how much the Wonderbolts mean to you.” “Woah, thanks dude…” “Blitz, ever since I met you, you have been a serious pain in my flank. Always crashing in my library or on me, always showing-off, always getting all the mares attention, never listening to reason or orders…” “I hope there´s a but coming soon…” “But…” and Dusk Shine placed a hoof on the pegasus shoulder. “You have always been a loyal friend and taught me to never give up. Thank you.” For the first time on his life, Rainbow Blitz was actually speechless. He just stayed there while Dusk Shine walked away. “Oh and stop worrying about your weight so much.” Rainbow Blitz looked at Dusk Shine go down town. He felt like he should go after him but another part, deeper inside his heart, told him not to. He gave a final look at the battered cap, smiled and put it on before taking flight. ***** My latest experiment brought to my attention the unquestionable fact that there are infinite possibilities to explore. Every decision we made could be a radical different one, just one step away in the grand scheme of the multiverse. There isn´t a single line of events and yet, every event is so unique and different to the rest. The point I´m trying to make is that I´ve been wondering about the decisions in my life and what could have happened have I took a different path. And that’s why I must leave. **** Elusive put his cup of tea down. “Well my friend, I understand your decision and although I can´t say I approve it...” “Sorry Elusive, but my decision it’s final.” Elusive got up of his chair and reached a hoof. “Well my friend, I guess there´s nothing more to say then. Godspeed to you, Dusk Shine.” Like true gentlecolts, they shook hooves but halfway they decided instead to hug, like true friends. Dusk Shine was leaving the store when Elusive said “Remember this, Dusk Shine. The end of the road it’s merely the first step to your journey back home.” “Thanks. I´ll try to remember that.” **** I´ve already make accommodations for you to live with Elusive. I´m sure you´ll love that. You´re probably angry and wondering why I won´t take you with me. The truth is that I´m not sure when I´ll come back, If I would come back; and I can´t tolerate the idea that something may happen to you. I need you to be safe Spines so please, accept this selfish demand from your big brother. **** “…and that’s the last one of those dimensional-displaced Dusk Shines. Sorry for all the troubles I caused you, Butterscotch.” “I-it was no problem at all…” “Well, goodbye Scotch.” Butterscotch scratched his arm nervously, having an epic battle of wills inside him. Finally, one side won. “Dusk Shine, wait!” He rushed to Dusk Shine and gave him a deep, passionate kiss. Once he finally let go, Butterscotch said “Umh sorry for my boldness. I know this maybe won´t make you change your mind or anything but the truth is…umh the truth is that ever since we first met, I´ve a sort of a crush on you, I mostly ignored it but lately…” Butterscotch was interrupted by another kiss, only this time Dusk Shine was the bold one. His kiss lasted much longer and was definitely most passionate. “Thank you for being such a good friend, Butterscotch. I´m sorry I don´t feel the same way about you, but I appreciate your feelings and your friendship. Who knows, maybe in another reality, we could be a great couple.” Butterscotch smiled. *** ¿Have your ever wondered how different our lives could be if we did something as simply as turning left instead of right? We could live in an Equestria where dragons are the norm and you´ll be the one pony in Dragonville. We could live in a world where Prince Solaris turned bad or where Queen Tenebra never banished the Crystal Empire. Hay, we could live in a world where I was a mare and all the other boys are in love with me! There are simply too many possibilities and no way to know them all. **** Bubble Berry was standing in a street corner, waiting for Dusk Shine to pass by. He didn´t asked any question, didn´t need to. He simply nodded. Dusk Shine nodded too and kept moving. **** Sorry for all the times I´ve treated you like a guinea pig, wasn´t my intention; you know I can get a little absent-minded at times. Guess nopony is perfect. *** “Goodbye, Derpy Hooves.” The cross-eyed pegasus looked down, as best as he could, and saw a lavender unicorn waving him goodbye. Derpy waved back and kept flying straight to the horizon. **** Please don´t be sad, Spines. I don´t want you to cry. Even if we don´t see each other again, we still have all the memories of our good times together. Hold to that memories Spines. Hold them close. **** Applejack was putting the last pile of haystack inside the barn when Apple Buck came in. He took his scary mask off and said: “Big Bro…Dusk Shine is at the hill and he´s talking kinda funny.” “He always talks funny, little seed. Ah better go check him out though,” and he went outside. “And yah better stop scaring the cows!!” Apple Buck pouted and threw the mask away. Applejack walked to the tallest hill in Sweet Apple Acres and found his friend staring at the night sky. “Hey-a haystack! What bring yah so late at night ´ere?” “Hi Applejack. I was just looking at the stars. Remember the last time we sit here and watched the stars?” “Ah remember a bunch of mean ponies playing pranks on me…” Applejack joked but Dusk Shine kept looking up. “They looked so bright. They always do…” “Buddy, you okay?” “I´m leaving, Applejack.” “Uhh okay.” Applejack looked at Dusk Shine´s eyes and suddenly understood what he meant. “Wait, yah mean leaving Ponyville?” “Leaving Equestria.” “What? Ho-how? What do yah mean? Did Solaris send yah across the sea or something?” “Much further than that and this has nothing to do with the Prince,” Dusk Shine explained. “Then yah better speak the truth! Yah know ah don´t like to go ´round the bush, just get to ta point!” “I´ve created a new type of teleporting spell, the most powerful yet. If my calculations are right, it will tear apart the barriers between worlds and send me to another universe.” “What do yah mean with if mah calculations are right?” “Well, there’s always the possibility that instead it would just kill me.” “KILL YAH? Then why in the hay would yah want to try something that dangerous?” Applejack yelled. “I have to, Applejack. I´ve had been here for far too long. It´s time for a change.” Applejack scratched his head. “Ah don´ get it. Don´ yah like being in ´ere? With us in Ponyville?” Dusk Shine laughed. “I loved it in here! I can´t imagine a better life than this!” “Then why are yah leaving?” “Because, there must be a better life somewhere.” Applejack sighed. “There´s nothing ah can say to make yah change your mind, isn´? Dusk Shine shook his head. “Well then hays- Dusk Shine, ah guess this is the end. Ah wish yah luck, mah friend,” and he reached a hoof to him. Dusk Shine shook his hoof and said “Applejack, you were the first friend I made, ever. Before I met you, I had no idea what it meant to have a friend. Somepony who will remain by my side, no matter what. Thank you, Applejack.” “…same here, partner.” Dusk Shine asked Applejack to move a few steps aside as he casted the magic for his spell. Cracks and purple lightings appeared in the sky as magical energies formed in a whirlwind above his head. Small orbs of light began to surround Dusk Shine and before they covered him completely, Applejack asked a final question: “Dusk Shine, ah always wanted to ask yah. Solaris send yah ´ere to learn about the magic of friendship. Tell me, after all this time, what have yah learned about friendship?” Dusk Shine smiled. “That friendship sure is complicated.” And with that he disappeared, leaving behind just a few small orbs of light, that blinked in the night like fireflies and vanished in the cold wind.
