Leapling day

by Feefers

Rating: teen
Tags: Derpy Hooves, Sex, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Main 6, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders
Length: 8142

Leapling day happens once in a great whilst and bring changes for everypony

Once in a great while Leapling day affects all the ponies of Equestria, Earth ponies become unicorns, Unicorns become pegasus and Pegasus become Earth ponies until the sunsets!
How will this effect the mane six and worse, how will leapling day ever end if nopony knows where Princess Celestia is!

Contains some mild adult themes in one scene describing the connection Earth ponies feel to every other pony.

Published 2012-05-10 06:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-05-10 06:24:01 UTC

Prelude

Spike scampered towards the door, as there was a loud second knock.
"I'm coming already just hold on!" He shouted from behind the large oak door, as he looked at the wobbling stack of books he had just placed down
"Happy Dinky-Derp day Miss Sparkle!" The rather dim voice of Derpy Hooves the mail pony proclaimed as Spike peeked out the door.

"Oh ... hello! Twilight is busy just now, sorry," Spike said; thinking how he'd like to be busy doing the same as she was right now.
Sleeping in.
"That's okay! I just got some mail for her," Derpy said as she smiled softly at the small dragon.
Spike smiled back, there was something not quite right about Derpy, more not right then usual at least.
He also had no idea what Dinky-Derp day was.
Perhaps it was a special day, for those special ponies; that have the very special talent of making work for others.

"I can take that then..." Spike offered.
"Okay Miss Sparkle!" Derpy beamed happily as a soft grey glow flowed from her horn, opening the mail backpack.
Two small envelopes surrounded by grey magical energy floated down into Spike's waiting paws.
"There you go Miss Sparkle; you have a good Dinky-Derp day! Okay?" Derpy grinned before starting to trot off.

"I guess she is just really pleased that they named a day after her," Spike muttered as he closed the door.
He looked curiously at the top envelope; it had a royal canterlot seal!
Spike sniffed at the Canterlot seal and licked it; he even tried to pick a little off with his claw a little.
It looked like the royal canterlot seal, but it was not; there was something strange about the design.
It was not the seal of princess Celestia that was for sure!
He had seen enough of those to be able to tell it right away.

He waddled past the stack of wobbling books and up to the bedroom. Quietly he knockied on the door. "Uh...Twi?" Spike asked waiting to see if there was a response.
"Spiiiiiiike...." Twilight's tired voice came from inside, "You were the one that said I needed to rest today."

"I know Twilight but the mail mare was just here," Spike replied digging his claws subconsciously into the wooden floor.
"That grey pegasus, what did she want?" Twilight asked, Spike could her starting to trot across the floor of the bedroom towards the door.

"Oh she had a letter for you, it's got a pretty weird royal seal on it, I think it's from Princess Luna," Spike replied thinking hard about the meeting earlier; something jarring in his mind. "... Grey Pegasus?" He asked out loud to nobody in particular.
"Yeah what's her name? Derpy maybe?" Twilight replied unsure of her answer, Spike was suddenly realised what had been so wrong with the Derpy he saw earlier.

"Uh ... But the mail pony that came today was..." Spike started to say before blinking in disbelief; he stared directly at Twilight as she stood in the doorway, soft feathery purple wings fully outstretched.

"Was what Spike?" Twilight asked, her mane still out of place from sleep.
"T.t.t.t.t.t.t...." Spike stammered his clawed hand pointing towards Twilight dropping the second envelope without realising.

"What is it ..." She didn't need to finish the question as Twilight looked back to where Spike was pointing seeing her full wings stretching out.
"Oh my..." She exclaimed.

A My Little Pony : Friendship is Magic fan-fiction
My Little Pony : Friendship is Magic is (C) Lauren Faust and (TM) Hasbro.
This document is copyright (C) 2012 Fionacat (Fionacat@hotmail.com)
No profit on the part of the author is made from this document, and this document is used only for entertainment purposes.
If there are any legal problems with this document or any part of this document, please contact the author to make arrangements to amend these legal difficulties.
This work may be freely distributed in any media as long as no money is charged for the document itself.
It may be included on any archive collection under the same terms.

My Little Pony, My Little Pony

Ahh ahh ahh ahhh…

[Twilight Sparkle]

(My Little Pony)

I used to wonder what friendship could be

(My Little Pony)

Until you all shared its magic with me

[Rainbow Dash]

Big adventure

[Pinkie Pie]

Tons of fun

[Rarity]

A beautiful heart

[Applejack]

Faithful and strong

[Fluttershy]

Sharing kindness,

[Twilight Sparkle]

It's an easy feat

And magic makes it all complete

You have my little ponies

Do you know you're all my very best friends?

1

Twilight’s Tree Library

"Twilight! What happened to your horn?!" Spike asked in shock.
"Oh Spike don't panic;" Twilight stopped realising Spike probably had never been told about this.

"It's just leapling day," Twilight explained; as if this would clear up everything to Spike.
"Leapling day huh? What's that? Where everypony jumps about lots?" Spike snidely grinned.
"Not quite, it happens once in a great while, it affects everypony in Equestria!" Twilight looked towards Spike her wings splaying out for emphasis.

Spike shuffled closer to her outstretched wings they were darker than the rest of her, now he was really close to Twilight he noticed there was some other differences; She was taller, more slender and her muscles looked more bulky than usual.
She curled the wingtips down before folding them in neatly against her body.

"So, I guess you need me to open this for you then?" Spike asked holding up the letter.
Twilight nodded, "I could try with these, but if it's from Princess Luna then it could be urgent."
Spike carefully popped the seal off, quickly glancing at the contents, "Should I read it in the Royal Canterlot voice?"
Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"I'm gonna anyway!" Spike teased before starting, "MY SISTER'S MOST FAITHFUL STUDENT TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" Spike paused resuming his normal voice, "I must apologise for the arrival of this letter in this form; but I was unsure if Spike would be affected by Leapling day. As I am sure you are aware, Princess Celestia and myself are also affected. However my sister has ran off to find somepony to raise the sun. I will be unable to find her as I am."
Spike looked for more text; but the letter just finished.
"Uh .. that's all there is Twilight," Spike said, even turning it over and upside down to double check, "That doesn't sound so bad Princess Celestia should be allowed to enjoy herself sometimes, right?"

Twilight nodded but the realisation of the terrible news she had heard sunk in, "Spike... Unless we find Princess Celestia, Leapling day will last forever!"
Spike gulped not liking the sound of that one bit.

Sweet Apple Acres

“Heeeeeeeey Sis!” Apple Bloom giggled, levitating herself off the ground; a cool aura of light green eminating from her small stubby horn.

“Now Apple Bloom, Don’t be using up all yer leapling day magic at once!” Applejack warned whilst Apple Bloom slowly floated the ground.
“You don’t get another chance to be a unicorn for a good long time; so try enjoy it whilst you can,” the older sister warned.
“Eyup!” Big Macintosh commented, trotting in struggling significantly with a much more fancy longer horn than the two girls.
“Why I do say big mac, you look quite delightful!” Applejack teased her older brother .
“Looking pritty good yourself there AJ, I like the hat.” Big Macintosh retorted, Applejack had resorted to finding one of her older smaller hats and making a hole in it for her horn.
“Mail’s here!” Granny Smith suddenly cried from somewhere out of sight up-stairs.

“Oh oh oh! Can i get it please please please please pleeeeeeeeeeeease?” Apple Bloom asked trotting around anxiously.
“Sure thing kiddo.” Big Macintosh replied, a soft red cone of magic clumsily pouring some oats into a bowl on the table.

“Happy Dinky-Derp day Miss Jack!” Derpy grinned widely as Apple Bloom opened the door.
Apple Bloom felt suddenly nervous, the mailmare opened her bag and a magical grey nimbus of energy floated a small envelope in the air towards the filly.
“I got it! I got it!!” She proclaimed excitedly, the light green aura from her horn extending around the mail as she scrunched up her face; focusing all her attention on this task. She could feel the magical energy as part of her like, raising up a hoof and simply needing to grasp the letter.
“Have a great Dinky-Derp day Miss Jack!” Derpy smiled, heading off back on her mail route.

“Am doing it Applejack!” Apple Bloom exclaimed happily, the small piece of mail floating delicately in the air; supported only by the light green magical energy which suddenly cut off. The letters dropping onto the table surface only just avoding some spilled oats.
“That was mighty good sugar!” Applejack praised, she concentrated herself; a darker green magical energy lifting up the envelope.
“I can do this!” Applejack shouted, focusing totally on the envelope only for it to burst into flames!
“Oh horseapples!” Applejack exclaimed, Big Macintosh blowing the flames out in a single large pff.
“Apple Bloom you made it look so easy, "Applejack said, looking to her younger sister.
Apple Bloom flustered, “It’s not so hard, I think you just gotta relax sis.”

Fluttershy’s tree

“O...o..my A...angel?” Fluttershy meekly cried out, there was yet another knock at the door from the mailmare.
The ever brave and reliable bunny companion of Fluttershy rolled his eyes; hopping up to the door and jumping up onto the handle to open it.
“Happy … … Miss Fluttershy?” Derpy asked confused at the mysterious door opening.
“I’m not in!” Fluttershy quitely yelped, summoning all her courage to break the silence.
“Okay Miss Fluttershy i’ll come back later with your parcel than!” Derpy replied, starting to walk off already.

“D..d..d.id she go yet Angel?” Fluttershy said cautiously, peeking her head out.
Angel took a little run up before body slamming the door to get it to close, noding proudly of his achievement.
Fluttershy let out a quiet whimper, “O...okay let’s … just stay in a bit longer.”
Angel shrugged in frustration, hopping up onto Fluttershy’s back to nestle into her soft wings, only to slide off and land on the floor.
Fluttershy’s wings, were missing.

Rarity’s Boutique

“You simply must not fuss Rainbow Dash, you know this happens every so often;” Rarity impatiently glared towards the surprisingly bashful Rainbow Dash.
“Easy for you to say, you don’t have to be an Earth pony this time round,” Rainbow Dash snorted, shivering a little as Rarity worked a strange contraption on to her back.
“Well it’s just a good thing you came to me yesterday to get these done, I would be no use at all with these clumsy things...” Rarity allowed the soft light almost gossamer wings; which she had taken extensive time to colour and dye to resemble beautiful butterfly wings, to unfurl with a soft puff of light down and dye filling the air.

Rainbow Dash was not impressed at all with her friend’s attitude.
“CLUMSY THINGS?!” Rainbow Dash shouted looking at her friend’s wings, “These are NOTHING like the wings Twilight gave you! These might be only for a day, but they are precision instrument of power and accuracy, perhaps if you did more than just preen them, you could be...” Rainbow Dash stopped herself mid-outburst.
“... As good as me.” She sighed, Rarity finishing strapping the strange device onto her friend.
“I understand, Leapling day can be hard. I simply can’t imagine how terrible it must be, to have the freedom of the sky one moment and then be land bound the next.”
Rainbow Dash took a tentative step forwards, large sheets of soft silk billowed out mechanically.
She sighed a little whilst there was a soft whir of activity, artificial wings in a myriad of colour sheets stretched out from her body.

“I think you went a bit over the top with the colours, my wings don’t look like this.” Rainbow Dash ground her hoof against the floor, a little powder of dust emerged from her powerful new Earth pony hooves. only to be distracted by a knock at the door.

“Let me just get that,” Rarity said looking to Rainbow Dash, delicately trotting across to answer the door.
“Happy Dinky-Derp day Miss Rarity!” The familiar voice of the mail mare came.
“Oh hello!” Rarity replied as Derpy dug out a bit of cloth, floating it across to the elegant now pegasus pony.
“This is superb, such a light fabric!” She declared happily, looking to Derpy as it dropped on the floor.
“Of course;” Rarity gritted her teeth , “No horn.”
She unfurled her wings and managed to use the light feathers to slide the fabric up into them, then as she trotted across to Rainbow Dash ignoring the poor mare mail; as Derpy trotted off happily to deliver more mail.
“You know Rainbow... This fabric gives me an idea.” Rarity said looking to the confused Rainbow Dash.

Sugarcube Corner

“Wheeeeeeere’s PINKIE PIE?!” Pinkie Pie giggled, a pink nimbus of energy pulled a pair of curtains away; revealing her to the two cake children.
“HERE I AM!” She giggled loudly, almost falling over as she suddenly blinked out of existence in a soft pink light, only to re-appear behind the colt and filly.
The pound children span around clapping their hooves together, happily giggling and falling over as well in excitement.

“How are you all getting on?” Mrs Cake trotted in with a tray of two bottles, they were surrounded by a bright pink field of magic energy as Mrs Cake set it down, levitating the bottles into the two hungry mouths of Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

“Thanks for letting me come look after them again!” Pinkie Pie giggled, making silly faces even whilst the cake children were paying no attention at all and drinking milk.
“Well Pound cake became an earth pony, Pumpkin became a pegasus and we all became unicorns, so i’m going to go see how Twilight is getting on being a pegasus as well, i’ll be back later!” Pinkie Announced vanishing again in a soft pink light.

Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse

Scootaloo tiphoofed carefully up to the clubhouse ;looking nervously in the building before taking a deep breath.
“Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? You guys around?" She shouted into the building.
A light wind brushed through the small glade where the Clubhouse stood rustling the leaves in the trees, but there was no answer from inside.

“You guys in here?” Scootaloo asked as she stuck her head into the clubhouse ,looking around inside and huffing a bit.
“Thought we were gonna meet up for leapling day, show off how awesome being another kind of pony was.” She complained to her Rainbow Dash poster on the wall.
Kicking a loose bit of stone in anger, she frowned looking at her smooth wingless back, “Mebbe I can go see Rainbow Dash. See how she is coping with it.”

Twilight’s Tree Library

“Twiiiiiiiilight?” Pinkie Pie called out, looking up for a potentially flying pegasus pony.
She reached the door just as Spike opened it with a sigh.
“Hey Pinkie, perhaps you can help her?” He said, looking behind him to an exasperated Twilight who was still trying to make minute adjustments to her telescope, using her wings; each time she nudged the telescope it spun off wildly in the other direction.

“Oh Pinkie Pie I’m so glad to see you,” Twilight let her wings flop to the floor before folding them back, “You have to help me!”
Pinkie Pie looked to the telescope and nodded, trotting up to it and placing a hoof carefully on it; pointing it in the direction Twilight needed.

“Oh... of course, I don’t need to use my wings....” Twilight said bashfully looking out along the telescope.
“I’ve been trying to tell you that for about an hour...” Spike complained.
Twilight ignored him, using the telescope to look up towards Canterlot castle.
“Well I see Princess Luna...” Twilight announced as she peered into the telescope, seeing Princess Luna looking back towards the tree library, through a telescope.
“Pinkie ... how long will it take me to fly to Canterlot?” Twilight asked, looking away from the telescope to Pinkie Pie.

“Oh ... uh... I dunno! We could ask Rainbow Dash, she flies a lot,” Pinkie Pie suggested, “Here come on!”
Pinkie Pie grabbed Twilights hoof as there was a build-up of magic around them both, a soft pink hue surrounding them as they both vanished into nothingness.

2

Rarity’s Botiuque

Rainbow Dash waited impatiently as Rarity carefully folded the fabric over the mechanical wing skeleton.

“You really think this has any chance of working?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking to Rarity as the material was carefully attached.
“I can not see any reason why it would not, now are you ready to try it out?” Rarity asked, slipping into a little elegant harness with reins on it.
Rainbow looked apprehensive but nodded, “Thank you ... Thank you for this Rarity. I ... won’t forget it.”

“We best get outside, Sweetie Belle dear?” Rarity called as the little filly flew clumsily into the room.
“Eeek! I can see why Scootaloo doesn’t use these too often!” Sweetie Belle complained as she collided into a tailor horse.
Rarity looked back at the broken pile of tailor horse and Sweetie Belle, carefully helping extract her younger sister from the mannequin.
“I need you to keep Rainbow here from getting out of control... just like that,” Rarity said wondering if this was such a great idea.
Sweetie Belle nodded, “I can do that,” She looked up to Rarity hopefully, “I won’t get another chance at this for a while after all.”

Rarity nodded, “That’s right, next Leapling day we’ll be Earth ponies for the day, relying on Rainbow here for magical support.”
Rainbow Dash looked a little bashful at that before eagerly heading outside, tugtuging on the reigns dragging Rarity out into the warm sunshine and cool light breeze.

“Ready Rainbow?” Rarity asked, carefully testing her wings against the air currents; tilting them forward just the slightest bit and feeling a slight lift, she realised her hooves were no longer quite touching the ground.
“Ready!” Rainbow Dash cried excitedly, pacing on the ground as the strange artificial wings suddenly started to strain and whistle softly, the wind catching it as it started to lift.
“Hold on tight Rainbow Dash!” Sweetie Belle wrapped her arms around Rainbow Dash’s neck, holding on starting to flap her wings adding to the lift.
Finally Rainbow Dash felt the ground under her fall away, nothing but air under her hooves.

“This is BRILLIANT!” Rainbow Dash declared, Rarity starting to fly higher as Sweetie Belle tugged carefully on her neck, providing some steering. A large smile starting to form on Rainbow Dash.
Rarity found the wind whistling all over her gave a feeling of freedom, her wings soared higher carrying the Sweetie Belle steered Rainbow Dash kite into the perfect clear sky.

Rainbow Dash cloud house

“Awww come on!!” Scootaloo grumbled, looking up at the empty cloud house that Rainbow Dash usually hung out in.
“Should have realised she can’t fly either, so why would she be in her house...” Scootaloo sighed more; feeling rather down.
“Well it’s not like I know any other pony …” She let the thought trail off, instead she thought of the time herself and the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders had stayed with Fluttershy.
“Would be best I have somepony to talk to.” Scootaloo said, starting to walk towards Fluttershy’s tree house.

Canterlot Castle

Princess Luna backed away from a glowing spot of pinkish light, suddenly from nothingness Twilght Sparkle and Pinkie Pie appeared.
“Tada!” Pinkie Pie announced showering some confetti into the air with a flourish.
Twilight blinked looking around in amazement before stammering, “Pinkie ... we are in Canterlot!”
Pinkie Pie nodded and explained, “Yupyupyup! I thought this would be the best spot, becuase I thought Rainbow Dash has no wings so wouldn't be in her cloud house. Also I remember Princess Luna and Princess Celestia sometimes come here to look out for trouble!”

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna intoned, “I’m so glad you could make it!” Luna trotted across as Twilight and Pinkie Pie both stared at her in amazement.

Sweet Apple Acres

“What in tarnation is that?” Applejack asked, confused as she released the large amount of apples she had gathered up magically from the trees, somewhat missing bucking the trees as she normally would.

“Applejack!” Apple Bloom yelled, scuttling across to where her sister was, “I think your friends are coming to visit!”
Applejack peered carefully up at the strange approaching shape, “ I think I gonna need yer help here Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom nodded and concentrated, threads of magical energy starting to pour from her horn; interlacing with magic from Applejack’s horn as a magical net of protective energy formed in the air, just as the panicking screams from Rarity and Sweetie Belle came to be heard just over Rainbow Dash’s manic giggling.

“Come on girls faster!!” She yelled over the screams, the frame of the artificial wings had collapsed forwards turning it from an elegant soaring kite, into a fast wing that gave Rainbow Dash her ability to fly, even if she didn’t have her normal wings.

All three ponies tumbled into the magical net made by Applejack and Apple bloom, which vanished as quickly as it had been created, preventing any damage to the ponies or any of the Sweet Apple Acres apple trees.
“Is everypony okay?” Applejack asked dusting herself off.
“We need to do that again!” Rainbow Dash cried jumping up enthusiastically.
“I’m sorry sugar...” Applejack said, nuzzling against the ruins of Rainbow Dash’s broken artificial wings, “I don’t think you going to be doing any more flying today.”

Fluttershy’s tree

Fluttershy whimpered looking out from under the seat she had hidden the room in darkness as there was another knock at the door.
“I...I said I wasn’t in Derpy.” Fluttershy whimpered, hoping to convince the mail mare to leave.
“F...fluttershy?” A soft quiet voice asked, “It’s Scootaloo here can I come in?”
“Well I ... it’s not a good time just now;” Fluttershy sniffled, “Maybe you can come back tomorrow?”
Scootaloo whined a little, “Please Fluttershy, I can’t find anypony else to talk to.”
Fluttershy peeked out from under the chair, her soft eyes darting around as she tip-hoof trotted across to the door.

“O...okay Scootaloo but... i’m not myself..” Fluttershy warned as she opened the door, looking down at the scared looking Earth pony.
Fluttershy looked over herself, trying to ignore her lack of wings as she shuffled uncomfortably backwards; making room for Scootaloo as the young fillies eyes adjusted to the dim light in Fluttershy’s house.

Scootaloo looked back to Fluttershy trying not to gasp, “I... think you look good Fluttershy.” She managed to force out quietly as the adult pony might have spoken.
Fluttershy flustered grinding her hoof in the ground damaging the floor as she stood up straight properly for the first time, her powerful new Earth pony body rippling with new strength and energy.

There was also a something Fluttershy couldn’t quite place her hoof on, as she looked down in shared sympathy to Scootaloo she could feel a slight pang of warm empathy from the small pony, Fluttershy just somehow knew; she was telling the truth.
“Oh ... Oh my this is so much more confusing than being a unicorn.” Fluttershy shivered happily.
Scootaloo’s ears perked up at this, “You were a unicorn?!” She eagerly enquired.
Fluttershy nodded, “Yes it was last leapling day, I would have been, oh gosh, a little younger than you are now,” She started to explain.
Scootaloo nodded excitedly settling down to listen.

“I didn’t know what was going on at first; I woke up not in my cloud house with my parents, but in a hotel and then of course I tried to go see my parents, not realising that I had a horn instead of wings I leaped out of bed;” Fluttershy demonstrated with her hoof before bashing it to the floor, “Before dropping like a stone! My parents realised I’d woken up and came through to comfort me, they were both unicorns as well! I was stunned as they told me all about Leapling day.”
Scootaloo looked on entranced her eyes glimmer with wonder.

“So what’s being a unicorn feel like, it can’t be any worse then this.” Scootaloo whined .
“Oh...oh but being an Earth pony feels good too, maybe even better then being a unicorn or maybe even a pegasus,” Fluttershy replied softly.
“Say what?” Scootaloo said in shock and disbelief, "How could this be better than the freedom of the air or magic!"

Fluttershy nodded however and took the little fillies hoof softly in hers, smilng as a slow warmth formed in Scootaloo as she looked up to Fluttershy.
“W....what is that?” Scootaloo blinked looking at her hoof, her insides felt a little like indigestion, but not uncomfortably so.
“Applejack says all Earth ponies, have a special connection to others;” Fluttershy said giving Scootaloo’s hoof a little squeeze, “It’s a deep connection that you can feel how everypony around you is feeling."

Scootaloo looked in amazement, feeling the compassion growing from Fluttershy, the realisation that being an Earth pony for a day might not be so bad when you were hanging out with the element of kindness.

Canterlot castle

Princess Luna of Equestria, the infamous pony that had once absorbed the element of darkness to keep her sister safe; stood before Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie as they stared at the elegant Alicorn in stunned disbelief.

Her mane glistened, reflecting soft silvery light around, her body was covered in soft bright golden colouring and her wings were light but most importantly; she was not an Alicorn, her elegant regal horn missing, the only thing that remained unchanged was her cutie mark.
“You might call this my Leapling day clothes,” She smiled softly stretching her wings out over the two ponies and giving them a soft hug in her feathery wings.

“Princess Luna, you look faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaancy!” Pinkie Pie giggle snorted happily.
“Why thank you my little pony, I assume you are here to help Twilight find my sister?” Luna asked looking to Pinkie.
“Is that what we are here for? Oh I thought we’d just come to visit,” Pinkie Pie replied looking to Twilight.
“No Pinkie this is quite serious, Princess Celestia has gone missing, without her to lower the sun, this day could last forever!”
Pinkie Pie gasped, “If you are a pegasus now, does that mean you are still the element of magic?”

Twilight blinked at that, “Well I ... if I don’t have magic; can I still be the element of magic?” She looked to Princess Luna as if she might know the answer.
“Don’t be silly Twilight!” Pinkie Pie suddenly interjected, “Your magic is that of friendship, not just silly old sparkles and fancy effects!” She illustrated the point as a glimmer of pink confetti exploded from her horn.
“Anypony that’s a unicorn can do magic, what you did to bring us all together, that was really magic.”
Twilight blushed at the praise, “Thank you Pinkie, but we have to turn to the matter at hand, where is Princess Celestia!”

Princess Luna pointed with her hoof, “I’ve searched using this telescope all of Equestria from there, to this point here so far.” She swept her hoof around in a large arc ending up pointing at just past Pinkie Pie.
“Ooh oooh oooh! I know I know!” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down a little excitedly.
“... You do?” Princess Luna asked somewhat surprised.
“Yupyupyup! It’s easy now I’m a unicorn; watch!” Pinkie Pie stuck out her tongue, concentrating as a nimbus of bright pink energy shot from her horn; suddenly turning at a right angle as it led back into the castle.
“What is this leading us to Pinkie?” Twilight asked as she and Princess Luna unfurled their wings taking up off the ground and flying after the beam of pink light.
“It’s my finding Princess Celestia spell of course!” Pinkie Pie announced, leaning into the rapid turns Twilight was performing as she raced around the castle.
“Of course...” Twilight mumbled as the beam of pink light vanished into a room.
“I think she is inside there...” Pinkie Pie whispered.
Twilight nodded in agreement looking to Princess Luna.
“How do you want to handle this, I’m too young to recall what happened to her last time but your letter made it sound ... pretty bad.”
Princess Luna nodded, “It’s not so much bad, I just miss her. She will have found someone to raise the Sun as she will have been changed too.
Twilight nodded, “Okay... I’ll go in myself she might respond better that way.”

Fluttershy’s tree

Scootaloo smiled and nudged Fluttershy again.
“Come on, three more steps and we’ll be outside!” Scootaloo announced, as Fluttershy gulped looking to the large wooden door, it had never been more terrifying going outside then today.

Normally Fluttershy was rather timid, even when she had the ability to fly away; but without her wings she was certain something abominable would happen to her and Scootaloo, and there would be no way to get to safety.
“You are right of course...” Fluttershy nodded, trying to convince herself as she suddenly jumped and hid behind Scootaloo, there was a loud solid knock on the door.
“Miss Fluttershy! I still got you that package!” Derpy Hooves cried from the other side of the door.
“Oh... oh my okay Derpy I’m just coming out.” Fluttershy meekly replied, clinging tightly onto Scootaloo’s hoof for support.

“It’ll be fine,” Scootaloo said, as Fluttershy reached for the door handle and slowly opened it.
“Hi Miss Fluttershy!” Derpy grinned happily looking to the pony, “Did you want your mail today?”
Fluttershy nodded and looked directly at Derpy, she could feel the same soft warmth growing inside her again a shared connection to Derpy.

“Thanks Miss Fluttershy! I can go home now i’m all done!” Derpy beamed as her light grey magic opened the mail saddlebags, pulling out a small package for Fluttershy.
Fluttershy looked to Derpy, feeling the warmth growing in her further, feeling the joy Derpy was experiencing not just of finishing her rounds but something deeper, something much more powerful then Fluttershy had ever felt before.
“N..n..no not at all,” Fluttershy broke into a wide smile and suddenly cuddled into Derpy.
“Awww gosh Miss Fluttershy, it’s just the mail.” Derpy said confused, cuddling back softly before finally being released by Fluttershy.

“N...no you just made me realise, how much love earth ponies feel all the time.” Fluttershy admitted, “I....I am ... very sorry but ... I couldn’t help but share the feelings you have for your daughter.”
Derpy’s eyes lit up with joy, “Dinky is the best thing that ever happened for me!” She said proudly before adding, “Oh I forgot to wish you a happy Dinky-derp day!” She nodded softly causing Fluttershy to blink in confusion.
“Dinky-derp day? W..why are you calling it that?” Fluttershy asked in return.

3

Sweet Apple Acres farm

Rainbow Dash kicked away the ruined remains of the mechanical wings ,spraying them with dust, “Awww man, they really are bust!”
“They are now anyway...” Applejack rolled her eyes, as she carefully levitated the ruined device away from everypony for safety.

Rarity continued to hover close to the ground, looking down at the other ponies, “This is certainly easier on my mane and hooves.” She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her wings catch a little draft of breeze flowing over and around her as she continued to flap slowly above the ground.

“What were you up to anyway, looks like somepony could have been hurt!” Applejack turned her attention back to Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle.
“It’s not my fault... Rainbow Dash and Rarity insisted that I steer!” She protested looking as cute and as sad as possible.

“Now now sugar, I know it ain’t your fault but, and i’m looking at you here for this Rainbow, what was the idea! You couldn’t even try being an earth pony for the day?”
Rainbow Dash shook her head, “Nope! No way! It’s fly way or no way for me!”
Applejack frowned, “Well amma sorry for you sugarcube, being an earth pony ain’t so bad if yer willing to give it a try.”
Looking towards Applejack there was suddenly a deep empty hollow feeling inside Rainbow Dash, a feeling of sadness that just swept over her.
“... I didn’t think about it that way," She admitted looking to Applejack frowning a little, “I heard leapling day was coming and was so sure I was going to be a unicorn, I got Rarity there to make me some wings I could magically use.”

Applejack nodded placing a hoof on Rainbow Dash for reassurance.
“But ... when I woke up an Earth pony. Honestly Applejack; I thought about staying in bed all day long!” Rainbow Dash continued, “But ... I wasn’t going to let a lack of wings get the better of me, I might as well try and enjoy it right and i’d made all these preparations, I never really thought about being an Earth pony until now.”
Applejack smiled softly, patting Rainbow Dash softly on the muzzle, “Don’t that feel better now sugar?”
Rainbow Dash blinked, the deep empty feeling started to shrink being replaced by a fluffy soft warmth all over.
“That there you are feeling right now is how Earth ponies feel when two friends are getting along after a fight,” said Applejack but Rainbow Dash wasn’t paying attention as the soft warmth filled her completely.

Twilight’s Tree Library

Spike grumbled softly, he had finally managed to tidy up the last of the books; taking a step back to admire his masterwork, Twilght Sparkle’s tree library was at last for once; Clean.
“Maybe now I can get my feet up for a bit,” He said looking to Owlicious.
"Who?" The owl hooted softly preening his feathers.

Carefully, Spike walked up the stairs stretching a bit and scratching at his tummy scales; he arrived up in the bedroom plopping into his bed with a happy sigh.
“Ahhhhh Twilight should go off flying more often.” He muttered happily, he slid his arms behind his back relaxing finally glad to get off his feet.
As he lay there relaxing, he turned over onto his side his vision blinking; as he focused on a small white envelope.

He rolled over picking it up, there was no name on it which was very odd for pony mail, carefully he opened it.
“My most faithful student;” he read aloud, recognising the hoofwriting of princess Celestia right away.
“Uh oh, This is pretty bad,” Spike gulped reading on.
“I hope this Leapling day finds you well, as is traditional I take this day to go and live with one of my many subjects, experiencing what is one of the most nice relaxing happy days I can. This year I will be staying with the mail mare, Derpy Hooves and her daughter Dinky. Please do tell my dear sister as soon as possible, I was carried away and forgot to leave a note.”
Spike rubbed the back of his head and sighed, before pinning the note up in plain view, scuttling as fast as his small legs could carry him towards Derpy’s house.

Fluttershy’s tree house

Derpy beamed proudly starting to explain, “Well every so often all ponies switch around, this year Earth ponies become Unicorns, Unicorns become Pegasi and Pegasi become Earth ponies.” She nodded looking to Scootaloo and Fluttershy.
“But you are normally a Pegasus. Shouldn’t you be a Earth pony as well?” Scootaloo suddenly asked.

Derpy grinned, “I’m special!” she announced happily, “So when I realised it was leapling day I went outside and realised something was wrong, I shouldn’t have been a unicorn and Dinky. Well she is super extra special!”
“How exactly?” Scootaloo asked.
“Today she is a princess!” Derpy replied.
“O..oh my you shouldn’t have left her alone Derpy, with such powerful magic terrible things could happen.” Fluttershy said.
“I didn’t leave her alone silly!” Derpy responded, “Princess Celestia is looking after her.”
“Maybe we should go check up on her anyway?” Scootaloo suggested.
Fluttershy nodded, “I think that might be for the best.”

Canterlot castle

Twilight carefully opened the door peeking in, “Princess Celestia?”
No reply came from within, the room was dark and quiet as Twilight peered into the darkness beyond.

“Uh Pinkie... I don’t think she is in here...” Twilight said backing out of the room a little.
Pinkie pie peeked into the room, “Princess Celestia! Why aren’t you where the spell said you would be?”
Pinkie Pie focused again, the pink nimbus of light from her horn shooting into the library room.
“Follow it!” she cried, galloping forwards only for the light to point to a book on the shelf.
“That doesn’t look like Princess Celestia....” Pinkie Pie complained.
Twilight approached the book, peering at the title, “Well … it is in a way Pinkie.”
Pinkie Pie levitated the book towards her, reading the title aloud, “Princess Celestia.”
“WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!” She cried, the book dropping the the ground, “Who calls a book just Princess Celestia!”

Princess Luna coughed and blushed, “It’s by me, I wanted my sister to have something nice, to show her how much she means to me.”
“Oh....” Pinkie Pie looked around, concentrating as a beam of pink light suddenly bent around her pointing directly at Princess Luna, “You should get a book about you as well...”
Princess Luna glanced down at where the pink light hit her, “Try Princess Luna, the book it might be closer.”
Pinkie wiggled her nose, the pink light shot off deep into the library, “Aha!!”
Twilight Sparkle sighed, “This isn’t really helping us!”
Princess Luna nodded in agreement, “Almost half the day is gone already, we must find my sister soon.”
“But where can we look for her I mean she could be anywhere in...“Twilight suddenly gulped, belching loudly as a plume of sparkles and flame ushered from her, a scroll fell to the ground just in front of her.
“That has never happened before;” She blushed, looking to the scroll, picking it up in her wing carefully struggling to open it.

"I got it!" Pinkie pie said happily, pink light surrounding the letter as it rolled open.
“Dear Twilight,” Pinkie started reading aloud, “It is Spike here; I hope this works, I have never tried sending mail via pony before. I am here with Princess Celestia and she thinks it should work. I am doing fine and have finished tidying the tree library. Waiting for you at Derpy’s house and I saved some cake for you. Spike.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled thankfully, “Well let’s get to Derpy’s place! Pinkie if you would do the honours?”
“Oki Doki Loki!” Pinkie said, happily shuffling closer to Princess Luna and Twilight Sparkle, a bubble of pink light surrounded them all before they blinked out of existence; leaving only a scroll on the floor where they left.

Derpy’s house

The air rippled with energy, a pink glow formed and into existence popped Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna and a rather exhausted looking Pinkie Pie.
“Oooof... You guys; both together, are magically heavy!” She complained staggering, looking to the rather ramshackle house belonging to Derpy.
It, despite looking quite a mess, was a rather large and elegant, if somewhat confusing house, there were more windows then there should be, doors that appeared to just open on the second floor, and several chimney pots more then was really needed.
“Good evening Miss Sparkle, Miss Pie, Miss your majesty Princess Luna!” The happy voice of Derpy said; not from the house but from behind them, Derpy arriving back at her house followed by Fluttershy and Scootaloo.
“Derpy!” Twilight exclaimed happily, “Have you seen Princess Celestia?”
Derpy nodded, “She’s inside I think, I just got home!”

Twilight nodded and sprinted to the door, her wings arching out and back; as she approached the door swung open.
Spike stood there smiling happily, running out to give Twilight a hug, “Twilight! You got my note! I was worried it wouldn’t work.”
“I was worried as well,” The regal voice of Princess Celestia said as she stepped out of the house, her elegant royal horn and large feathery wings missing her coat was dark and she looked more like Princess Luna normally did, only her cutie mark remained unchanged.

“Oh Princess,” Twilight bowed, as Princess Luna stepped forward nuzzling against her sister.
“I apologise for causing a panic with everypony,” Princess Celestia said, “I wanted to find somewhere to stay for Leapling day and with no magic or wings I had no way to send a message.”
“It is I who are sorry sister,” Princess Luna said, “I am so unused to the day, I just wanted to be with you to share it.”
Princess Celestia nodded and smiled, “I understand sister, now there’s somepony very special we all have to meet.”

Princess Celestia stood aside, as she bowed to the door; Dinky Hooves trotted out, a small stubby horn and little tiny wings sprouting on her back.
“Leapling day Princess Dinky!” Celestia announced, to the confused small group who found themselves bowing anyway.
“Hiiii Dinky!” Derpy Hooves said, happily trotting across to her daughter, “Did you have a good Dinky Derp day?”
Dinky nodded, smiling lovingly up towards her mother, “Yes mom, Princess Celestia was preparing me to lower the sun!”
“Well I guess it is time, I liked being a unicorn but I think i’d have rather been an Earth pony.” Derpy said.
“It is rather amazing, feeling the connection that you have to everypony.” Scootaloo admitted stepping forward, “I know I will miss it but I will be glad to have my wings back too.”
Pinkie Pie panted, “And being magical is really exhausting!”

Twilight Sparkle looked to Princess Luna and then to Dinky, “Uh .. Princess Dinky, Do you think you could give us just five minutes, I’d very much like to try flying properly; I've been so busy I never got the chance.”
Dinky looked up to Princess Celestia, as Celestia nodded, “I don’t think anypony will notice ten more minutes of leapling day then normal.”

Twilight jumped up and down excitedly, “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” She exclaimed, bumping softly against Princess Luna and giggling, “Tag!” She said spreading her wings, swooping up into the sky rapidly.
“Ahha!” Princess Luna stretched her wings out, taking off after Twilight, starting to give chase at high speed in the air.

Fluttershy looked up to the two darting ponies in the air, her eyes welling up with tears of joy at how free they were, how much fun they were having.
Promising herself that as soon as she had her wings back, she would try experience the same.

“So Princess Celestia!” Pinkie Pie paced around the regal pony, glaring at her, examining her, “How come Derpy isn’t a Earth pony and Dinky is a princess; and you are an Earth pony, and Princess Luna is a pegasus? Huh?!” She asked as Princess Celestia simply smiled.
“I’m sorry my little pony, I don’t have the answers for you, Leapling Day is from the dark times, before Luna and myself ruled Equestria; when we found that so many of our subjects not only enjoyed a chance to experience life as another type of pony, something not even Luna and myself together would be able to perform, at least on not such a grand scale; We simply never worked on getting rid of it.”
“Soooo.... Why isn’t Derpy a earth pony?!” Pinkie Pie demanded.
“Oh well, of course we still need somepony to lower the sun, end Leapling day so we can all wake up normally tomorrow, the night before a Leapling day, I cast a spell to find somepony pure of heart and strong of will. This time it found Dinky and to ensure she stays safe, Derpy becomes a unicorn, it’s that simple.” Celestia explained rather unconvincingly.
"You mean you don't know either?" Pinkie Pie asked looking to Celestia.
"No, All I can think is they both must be very special." Princess Celestia mused.

Pinkie Pie beamed with excitement, “Righty oh, i’ll keep that in mind, or write it down somewhere for next time.”
Princess Celestia laughed happily nodding, “Very well my little pony, you can be archivist of Leapling Day from now on.”
“Thanks Princess, I’ll be right on it!” Pinkie Pie quickly levitated a bit of paper and a quill, starting to write many long notes at an amazing pace.

“Princess Celestia,” Dinky Hooves quietly stepped up to the princess, raising her small horn, “I think it’s time now I can just feel that now is right.”
“Okay my little pony, now; just nice deep breaths. You can do this,” Princess Celestia placed her hoof beside Dinky smiling as Derpy nuzzled at her daughter softly, “I believe in you sweetie.”

Dinky smiled happily, “Love you momma.” She stepped forward, lowering her horn, slowly pointing it directly towards the sun, focusing all her energy, as it started to set in the sky.

Sweet Apple Acres farm

Rainbow Dash picked herself up off the ground outside the barn, dusting hay off from herself as she saw the sun starting to redden on the horizon.
“Oh hey!” She ran towards the main house, stopping at the back door, “Sunset’s coming everypony!”

Applebloom trotted around Rainbow Dash frowning a bit, “I like being a unicorn Rainbow Dash. Not all the time but for a day for sure it’s been pretty fun, you didn’t enjoy being an earth pony at all?”
Rainbow Dash sighed, “It wasn’t allllllll bad I guess.” She felt a little twitch, she looked to the sun starting to sink below the horizon now, the last rays of light starting to fade.
“I can feel it!” She proclaimed happily jumping up into the air, she hung there hovering her wings erupting outwards in a spray of feathers.

“Awww... “ Applebloom shook her head as the small horn on her head shrunk away the last spark of magical energy fading away.
“I’m BACK!” Rainbow Dash soared up into a semi-circle, before touching down on the ground again folding her wings back, allowing them to snap forwards with a crack of air, “I missed you guys...”
Applebloom rolled her eyes, trotting with Rainbow Dash into Sweet Apple Acres kitchen, where a lavish meal had been prepared.

“Happy Leapling night everypony!” Applejack said looking at the extensive meal her and Big Macintosh had prepared.
“Happy Leapling night indeed!” Rainbow Dash cried happily, her wings fluttering by her side.

Derpy’s house

Princess Celestia’s elegant wings swept outwards, she soared up into the sky helping her sister levitate Twilight Sparkle down to the ground with magical energy.

“Thank you Princess, Princess;” She bowed to them both as she finally reached the ground.
“You were obviously enjoying yourself, it just felt wrong to interrupt you,” Princess Celestia said.
“Thank you. I … can’t remember when i’ve last felt so free,” Twilight replied.
“Felt so free!” Pinkie Pie struggled to write down with her hoof what Twilight had said, “There! Record of Leapling day complete!”
Princess Celestia nodded and smiled, “Thank you Pinkie Pie. I will make sure it's added to the royal records."
“No problems your maj! I’m looking forward to doing it next leapling day!” Pinkie Pie said.
“I promise next time sister, I’ll leave a better note,” Princess Celestia turned to Princess Luna apologising.
“I understand, perhaps next time it will be I that vanishes to be with the people.” Princess Luna mused.
“Come on everypony,” Derpy said trotting back to her house, “I have muffins for Leapling night feast!”
“Ooooh muffins!” Pinkie Pie bounced excitedly scooping Dinky Hooves up onto her back.

In the excitement, nobody notice Dinky Hooves still had small wings on her back.

The end

Thanksto...

Huge thanks to the following amazingly awesome people;

Loganberrybunny and Huskyteer for offering to proof the story.
Koku for being lovely as always.
TF Nelson Scraton and everyone from Fanfic Friday, this is for you!
Loupy, Becca, Zephyrr, K’irimi and Neko the lights of my life.
Lauren Faust, for making this all possible.