Author's Note

If you've already read this series beyond chapter nine, I ask you to go back, and reread it, for I changed a few lines in there that change these chapters.

Sharp Minds

"Thunderlane!"

"Yes, Lord Argon?"

"A change of plans... We will attack today!"

"Yes, Lord Argon! Shall I update Chrysalis?"

"Yes, do that now."

"At once, Lord Argon!"

"Now... I must return to Ponyville..."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metal Blade groaned quietly as the first annoying rays of Celestia's sun struck her closed eyelids. She attempted to roll over to block the sunlit from her eyes, but only succeeded in falling off of her bed, onto the floor.

"Ow." She groaned as she pushed the covers up off of herself.

She picked herself up, and looked around the room she was in.

"Oh, right." She muttered aloud as her memories of the previous day came flooding back to her. "I'm staying in Projcess Twilight's Castle now."

After she remade her bed, she opened the doors of her room, and made her way to Ruby's room. She tentatively raised a hoof, and knocked on the door three times. The door opened with a small creak, and, to Metal Blade's delight revealed Ruby, who, upon seeing Metal Blade's face, gasped in delight, and wrapped her hooves around Metal Blade in a fierce hug. Metal Blade giggled at the sudden outburst of affection, but simply said "Good morning, Ruby."

"Good morning!" Ruby cheerfully responded.

"Did you sleep well?" Metal Blade inquired, unlocking herself from Ruby's hold.

"Yes!" Ruby said, with a voice so happy it could rival Pinkie's. "What about yourself?"

She is so polite. Metal Blade thought inwardly. Their conversation might have continued, had it not been for the loud cheering that came from the dining room. Both Ruby and Metal Blade looked up in alarm, both staring in the direction of the noise.

"Well I guess the day started without us, huh?" Metal Blade joked, turning back to face Ruby, who chuckled in response.

"I guess so." She replied.

Metal Blade made their way towards the dining room, each relatively nervous at the prospect of finding out who, or what had caused the noise. When they arrived, they saw Twilight, Luna, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all gathered around Rainbow Dash, and congratulating her for something. A quick look around the room revealed Shining Armour and Celestia, engaged in passive conversation, while Cadence sat away from them all, beaming at the sight. Upon noticing Ruby and Metal Blade, however, Cadence waved them over with a happy, "Good morning!"

"Good morning!" Metal Blade called back to Cadence, earning her the attention of everypony else in the room.

"Oh, hello, Metal Blade! Good morning, Ruby!" Twilight called out.

After a round of plesant 'Good mornings', everypony got themselves settled around the dining table, save for Twilight, who disappeared into the kitchen momentarily, only to come back with plates of eggs. After everypony was given their eggs, Twilight sat down. The breakfast continued in silence for a moment, before Metal Blade voiced a question.

"Ummm... Princess Twilight?"

"Yes, Metal Blade?" Twilight responded uncomfortably, putting down her fork and knife as she did so.

"If you don't mind my asking, what was with the cheering a few minutes ago?"

"Oh, that?" Twilight asked, turning to look at Rainbow, who put down her fork and knife as well, a smile on her face. After a moment of smiling, Rainbow spoke up.

"I'm going to ask Thunderlane out on a date!" She proclaimed confidently.

Metal Blade and Ruby exchanged looks. Finally, Metal Blade broke the exchange, and turned back towards Rainbow with a smile on her face.

"Congratulations." Metal Blade began. "When are you going to ask him?"

"I was sort of thinking today." Rainbow responded lazily.

"Wow. Today?" Metal Blade began. "You must really have the hots for him, huh?" She teased.

Rainbow's cheeks turned a deep shade for red at that particular comment, and hastily replied with a "Shut up.". Earning her a glare from Twilight, and a snort of laughter from Luna who, in turn, received a glare from Twilight. The others just sat, staring at Rainbow with flabbergasted looks on their faces, save for Celestia. Who was calmly eating her eggs, displaying just how different she was from her sister.

Feeling the tension in the room rise, Metal Blade quickly excused herself, and pushed open the doors of Twilight's Castle, and out into the world.

Metal Blade was quite happy to breathe the outdoor summer air. Quite happy to feel the wind in her mane. Quite happy to hear the chirping of the birds. A quick glance at the sky showed her that it was a clear, sunny day. The perfect weather for a walk. She thought to herself.

Whilst walking through the still unfamiliar roads of Ponyville, she couldn't help but feel like there was a certain... Awkwardness, in the air that wasn't there before. She shrugged it off as her food not agreeing with her, and continued walking. Walking to one place. Walking to where she had first met Ruby.

. . .

Metal Blade could feel the grass under her hooves as she arrived at her destination. This is where I first met Ruby. She thought to herself. No matter how many times the told herself that she wasn't that mare anymore, she kept thinking of how, when they had first met, she had tried to foal nap Ruby for Argon's own underhooved reasons.

"Metal Blade!" a voice sounded from behind her.

She turned around, only to find herself facing Ruby, who wore her usual happy look whenever she was around Metal Blade. Metal Blade felt her lips pull themselves into a smile. She didn't know why, but every time she laid eyes on that filly, she could feel a smile come to her face.

"Hey, Ruby." She greeted. "Was I missed?"

"Sort of." Ruby replied. "We were going to Sugarcube Corner for a treat! Do you want to join us? Celestia offered up the idea."

Metal Blade mulled the offer over in her head. It wasn't like she really had anything planned for today, anyways, but the fact that Celestia of all ponies had proposed the idea intruiged her.

"Sure." She replied, much to Ruby's delight.

"Yay!" Ruby exclaimed, then she galloped off, leaving Metal Blade to catch up.

She really is quite something. Metal Blade thought, putting on some speed in order to catch up to Ruby. Even though she acts responsible, she really is still a playful little filly on the inside.

Once Metal Blade caught up to Ruby, she noticed Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, prince Shining Armour, and princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, and Twilight, all waiting for them.

"There you are, Metal Blade!" Twilight greeted happily.

"Hello, Twilight!" Metal Blade responded, however, her attention was diverted to Celestia, who seemed to be glancing around every few seconds at passing ponies, and ruffling her wings impatiently while she did so.

"Princess? Is something wrong?" Metal Blade inquired towards the sun goddess.

To her alarm, Celestia visibly jumped at Metal Blade's question.

"Hmm? Oh, erm... It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Metal Blade." She quickly said.

She gave Metal Blade a nervous, and obviously forced smile. Metal Blade was unconvinced, but played along all the same. "Oh. Pardon me, princess. I didn't mean to interrupt your train of thought."

"It's quite alright, Metal Blade." Celestia said hurriedly.

Metal Blade nodded, and waited for the rest of her friends to enter Sugarcube Corner, so she could watch Celestia for the briefest of moments.

It was then, when she entered the shop, Metal Blade noticed Celestia give a small, sharp nod to the pony next to her. It was then that the ponies face lit up in the most evil of grins. As soon a she saw that transaction, something in Metal Blade's mind clicked. The reason Pknyville felt so awkward, the reason why Celestia had seemed so distracted that morning, the reason why Celestia had proposed that they all go to Sugarcube Corner for a 'treat'. It was a trap, and a clever one at that.

"GIRLS!!!" Metal Blade roared towards her friends. "WE HAVE TO LEAVE, NOW!!!"

But for all her warning, she had figured it out all to late. For it was then that the move was made. All because of one simple nod of the head.

It was then, that Ponyville pounced.