Morning in Ponyville

Chapters

Chapter 2 - Stallions and mares
Chapter 3 - Dress and Candies
Chapter 4 - Pancakes
Chapter 5 - School
Chapter 6 - Stars
Chapter 8 - Friends, family or duty
Chapter 9 - Date day, part 1
Chapter 9 - Date day, part 2
Chapter 10 - Princess Dinky
Chapter 11 - Twilight day
Chapter 12 - Meeting
Chapter 13 - Life is Unfair
Chapter 13 - Part 2
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 7 - Secrets and Lies

Chapter 2 - Stallions and mares

It was saturday evening in Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna was at her writing desk when a knock on the door announced the arrival of her usual guess. She put her quill down and said, “Come in Cadance.”

The pink alicorn entered the room and moved to sit on one of the cushion near a small table with a tea set “Good evening auntie Luna.”

Luna left her desk and joined the other alicorn at the table “Good evening, we requested to have some infusion herbs from our servants, we don’t want to trouble thy sleep with tea.”

“Oh thank you” Cadance levitated some of the box containing the said herb that rested on a shelf near by.

“Yesterday thee talked about Twilight Sparkle’s birthday we realised we did not gift her nor she receive a proper reward for saving Equestria”, Luna paused to make her usual mix of tea, “Dear sister said she stopped giving land or title.”

After choosing some herbs Cadance replied, “I don’t think Twilight is interested in this kind of thing.”

Luna pointed to a shelf of books in the corner of the room, “Maybe we can gift her with the hoof of our nephew like in the stories we found in some of the books thee lend us” the lunar princess giggled and raised a hoof in the air.

“Sir Knight Twilight Sparkle, by thee heroic action thee had saved our kingdom from great foes, thee proof thyself worthy of the hoof of our dear nephew Prince Blueblood.”

Cadance put one hoof in front of her muzzle to hide the start of a laugh “Twilight and Theodore? That would be rich.”

It was sunday in Ponyville, for Twilight Sparkle strict schedule it was usually her free day, when she could spend time for herself. Saturday was friends day where she tried to mix study and random things her friends wanted to do. She knew her friends found funny her obsession to be so organised, but even with Princess Celestia giving her less work, she still had to take care of the library and Spike, so organisation for Twilight was not only a hobby or a bad habit it was just needed.

Sunday was precious to Twilight, before she was forced to move to Ponyville it was the day of the week she could spend with Morning Star outside of holidays. This sunday she had originally planned to do a tour of Ponyville with Morning, but waking up aside of the precious filly, she just wanted to spend all day with her showing her the library, explaining the rule of the place, and just do whatever the filly would want to do. It was actually better to wait tomorrow, her friends would be working and Twilight did not want them to ask too many questions to Morning.

Twilight was alone in the kitchen, she usually didn’t go to bed that early but she could not deny the understandable request of a little filly changing home, and the excitement of the party made them both drift to sleep very quickly.

She opened a drawer where she had stored small bags containing different blend of coffee, a gift from her father for her birthday. He was the one that initiate her to the precious beverage that make long night of study possible. She pick up something with a lot of flavor but not strong, she just wanted to enjoyed the taste for once and started making coffee.

The coffee was half way ready when she heard some knocks coming from the window, she could have wondered who could knock at seven in the morning on sunday but the pink hoof knocking happy birthday was a good giveaway. She opened the window to face a smiling Pinkie Pie.

“Good morning Pinkie”

“Hey! Hi Twilight, you look funny in the morning”

Twilight passed a hoof to her disrupted mane, “Ho, I didn’t want to wake up Spike and Morning. But what are you doing here?”

“I realised yesterday we did not clean up, and a Pinkie Party is not right if I let the attendant clean! So I wanted to be here before you do it”, the party pony said with a small frown on her face to make her claim very serious.

“It’s kind of you Pinkie, but It’s fine”

“Nuh Nuh Nuh, silly. It’s my honor of party pony at stake!”

“Alright, you don’t mind waiting for everypony to wake up?”, Twilight said as she watched the party pony enter from the kitchen’s window that was obviously not large enough to let a grow up pony pass, especially a grow up mare balancing a white paper box on one hoof.

“I brought some cupcakes, donuts and I wanted to talk with you!”

“Talk?”, There was a bit of surprise in Twilight voice as she was pouring herself a mug of coffee now that it was done.

“What do you know about stallions?”

Twilight was taken aback by the question, nearly letting the pot of coffee felt of her levitation.“WWhat?”

“You know the birds and bee!”, the pink pony found a mug for herself and grabbed the pot of coffee without Twilight noticing it.

“I am not sure what are you talking about Pinkie.”

“Don’t play innocent with me Twilight, you were not that prude yesterday, so how many stallions?”

“It’s just”, Twilight bit her lips, she was not uncomfortable with the idea of sex but talking casually about it was still weird, “Why are you asking me that?”

“Oh sorry, when Spike told me you were turning twenty one, I was like, no way she so much older than me and I thought you have a coltfriend I was curious how you get one? and when I saw you reaction to your presents I thought, no way, she must had more coltfriend that all of us together, but that make no sense if you don’t have friends before us”, Pinkie put one hoof under her chin like she was trying to solve the great mystery of life.

“I still don’t understand, do you want sex advice? It’s maybe not the right time and I am not the right pony”

“OOh, you are stupid Pinkie, maybe I should say”, Pinkie paused and winked at Twilight, “marefriends?”

“Pinkie, what do you want?”

“Sorry, it’s just it’s spring.”

Twilight knew with the return of more sun in a day at the beginning of spring and the natural reminder of the need to mate, some mares choose to just take that as a push to start a family, she did not picture Pinkie wanting to do that so young, she was only nineteen, but she never really aborted the subject with her friends so she threw a blind guess, “You want foals?”

“No way! I am too young for that, it just Mma Cake is due soon and I see those two love each other make me think. I like fun, I mean sex for fun, but sometime I wish I had more you know? I don’t know, I wanted to know if you had some advice, since I really thought you were bringing a coltfriend”

“Oh I see, I can’t really help you”, the unicorn replied while nursing her cup of coffee.

“Because you prefer mares?”

Twilight sighed, it was the main reason she was glad her friends never bring up these type of discussion until now, gay relationship was still not well perceive by most ponies but Pinkie did not look upset, “if I say no you will bother me all the morning with mares or stallions?”

“Yep!”

“Listen Pinky, my sex life is probably the same as your, I never had a serious relationship. I only had fun when I was younger”, Twilight paused to take a sip of her coffee, “Why you don’t ask Rarity? it’s the only one I heard talking about seeking a relationship”, Twilight smiled a little at Rarity poor attempt with Prince Blueblood at the Gala.

“Na, Rarity is fine advice if you want to stay single.” Pinkie giggled a bit “Sorry, it’s just she like to give advice but she never had a coltfriend”

It was a bit weird for Twilight, it was no wonder Spike had a small silly crush on Rarity, she was objectively a beautiful mare that took a great care of the way she look, she probably had a lot of colt and stallion trying to woo her. “Really?”

“Really. But more important, you like mares?”

Twilight had avoided answering Pinkie’s question twice but she did not denied it either so she simply replied, “Yes.”

“But not us?”

It was the obvious question she wanted to avoid, “Not like that”, Twilight looked at her cup and looked back at Pinkie “I don’t want to have fun with you Pinkie if it’s that what you ask.”

“Nop silly, I am not fan of mares in bed! but what abouuuuuuut Rainbow Dash?”, asked Pinkie with a teasing tone.

“RRainbow Dash?”

Pinkie tried to make an impression of the voice of a filly by pressing her mouth with her hooves “Twilight talk a lot about you” and resumed with her normal voice and a big smile “Did they say the truth come from the mouth of foals?”

Twilight giggled and blushed a bit “Ok, Ok” then she collected herself “she impress me.”

“Impress you? Because she is”, Pinkie paused and crossed her foreleg, “awesome?”

“Maybe. it’s more, you know Canterlot has a majority of unicorns and earth ponies. The sky is under very stick regulation when you are not an official service like guards, delivery or weather control. So when I saw Rainbow Dash doing the stunts she does, yes it’s impress me because I never see something like that”, Twilight eyes were glittering with a bit of passion and a small blush was still visible on her cheek.

Pinkie pondered the answer and a grin formed on her face “Oh, it’s not her lovely athletic, svelte sculpted body?”

Twilight’s blushing intensify a lot “It’s…maybe?”

“Want a piece of her well toned flank?”

“PPinkie, I thought you didn’t like mares”

“Just teasing you!”

Twilight tried to collect herself one more “MMaybe we can talk about something else. I don’t want Spike or Morning walking us talking about that.”

“Oh right, but one day you will tell me everything!”

“Everything?!”

“Like how many mares, what do you like, what is my rating as a mare.”

“Ok, ok, but not now?” Twilight grabbed a donut from the box and start nibbling on it, she was not the one to refuse fresh pastries in the morning especially brought by a friend.

“Yep! Actually there two other things I wanted to ask.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow “It’s not about stallions or mares?”

“No No” Pinkie grabbed and ate a cupcake in one go “Can I borrow you Spike to help me with some party?”

It was an unexpected question for Twilight, but so far she did not expected to have Pinkie to show up to talk about stallions or mares at seven o’clock of the morning on a sunday. She had no reason to object since it was probably an activity more safe that digging gems “Well If he is ok with that but you will have to stole his precious time with Rarity” she rolled her eyes thinking of Spike crush for Rarity and added “But why?”

“He was the only one helping me with your party, he helped me a lot and he is funny!”

“Funny?” Twilight knew Spike could be a bit playful and foalish but she was curious what Pinkie found funny in him.

“He is a bit like you, like “hey Pinkie you forget that!”, “or Pinkie you are so silly”, but he said that with a smile so I know he is just joking and not being a meany pant.”

Twilight had trouble figure how that could be called funny, but it seem an honest answer from her pink friend “Well, just ask him when he wake up”

“Yippy! It’s more fun to plan a party with a friend!” both mares take a pause to sip some coffee and finished their pastry.

“And the other thing?”

Pinkie brought a hoof to her chin “This one, it’s more delicate” she paused to do what seem to think “I know you don’t like to show off, but Snip’s parents asked me if you could do a magic show for his birthday.”

Twilight just sighed, “I don’t really know if I will have time to work to prepare a show, and I am bad at it.”

“Bad at it? You, the smartest unicorn I know, bad at magic?”

“I am maybe good at academic and some practical magical field, but” Twilight stopped to take a bit of another donut ”Do you remember Trixie?”

Pinkie get out her chair and took a sherif pose and said with something close to Applejack’s accent “She was a big meany to everypony but ya show her ya were the most smart and powerful unicorn in town”

Twilight giggled a bit “Yet. When Spike tell this story to Morning, she asked me to do the same thing than Trixie, and...I had to admit, I know the base spells she used, but I was not able to reproduce what she did, At least I get some laughs from Morning, because “You look silly with a hat””

“Ha. Is that a no?”

“It’s more I don’t know. I will try to see what I can do and give you an answer later in the week, ok?”

Pinkie pulled Twilight for a hug “Thank you Twilight” she sat back in her chair and poured orange juice in her mug “Hey, maybe we can find Trixie to teach you!”

“Good luck with that, I tried to write to her, but I never found her”

“You have a crush on her too?”

Twilight sighed, it was bad enough that Cadance tease her every time she mention a mare she shown a bit of interest in, now it was Pinkie “And that why I did not want you know I like mares. You will try to pair me with every mare I met, don’t you?”

“Maybe”

“Maybe I should start pairing you with some stallion let say…” Twilight paused to think, actually she did not know a lot of stallion name in Ponyville, at least not one that were not married or too old “Big Macintosh?”

“Eeyup.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the evasive answer “Eyup?”

Pinkie started giggling like a filly “Oh don’t tell Applejack, but her brother is not innocent. He does not talk that much but he know how to fill a mare, if you get my catch” the pink pony winked.

Twilight tried to suppress the image of the big red stallion taking Pinkie somewhere in his own farm, he was large and she didn’t want to imagine what he could do to a mare if the rest of the anatomy was that...bulky “Too much information” she whispered to herself.

“But wow really? I mean I thought he was...”

Pinkie completed her sentence for her “More prude? like her sister? But I thought you were more prude! We were expecting to embarrass you yesterday! Maybe we should do a sleepover to talk about stallions and mares!”

That was a dread though for Twilight. On her first sleepover she was just too focused to get the sleepover right and seeing Applejack and Rarity fight was a good distraction from this topic, but having all her friends talk about this specific subject close to her, she was scared what she could do. And there was still the possibility some of her friends did not take well the news “I don’t know, I don’t want you to feel nervous around me, I prefer if you don’t tell the other I like mares.”

“Oh right silly me, that’s not a good idea”

“Really?”

“The rest of my family had a very strong opinion of how a couple should be and some farmer on Ponyville could share the same view.”

“Applejack?”

Pinkie’s mane deflated a bit “I am not sure, but… I had a bad fight with one my sister, she was bullying one of my friend because of that”

Twilight’s brain take a while to process this, she considered Pinkie a pony a bit carefree, yes not stupid but just carefree, always smiling and enjoying life, she had expected the party pony to said she didn’t have to worry, that her friends would be understanding, so Twilight was grateful she did not go full party mode to rush a sleepover “Thank you Pinkie, I did not think you could be prudent.”

“Thinking I am always crazy? Like I thought you were all pure and innocent and you are not!”

“Sorry, It seem we still have a lot to learn about each other.”

“It’s always fun to have surprise to keep to your friends, like your lovely sister! And you already sound less grumpy.”

“Grumpy?”

“I never see you smile that much yesterday! And trust me, I am specialised in smiles, plus you kept giggling and smiling.”

They both paused to finish their respecting mug and pastry, Pinkie was humming a small melody on her own, Twilight was reprocessing this whole conversation in her head to try having a better understanding of her friend. Twilight’s thought were interrupted as her ears perked as she heard the sound of tiny hooves step and realised something. She was chatting with a pony she just told the day prior Morning was her sister and the same filly walking in the kitchen saying, “Good morning mommy”, was probably not the best idea to keep her friendship.

She had to make a decision, but too late she heard some sobs and something that sounded like “Mommy? Where are you mommy?” Leaving the bed was not a good idea after all, Twilight instantly dropped the donut she was eating to rush upstair.

Waiting in front of her room was a little filly sobbing while holding a pillow, she noticed the older mare and raised her head too look at her “Mommy?”

Twilight grabbed the filly in a hug and with a smooshing voice tried to calm the filly “Mommy is here, little star, ssh.”

The filly just said between sobs, “You promised you won’t leave me”

Twilight keep stroking the mane of the filly “I know. I know” and when Twilight felt the filly could listen to her she continued “Mommy was in the kitchen, I should have wait for you to wake up., Can you forgive your stupid mommy?”

After some more smoothing, the filly calmed and the sob stopped “I forgive you, just...don’t leave me”

Releasing the hug Twilight lowered her head at the height of the filly, “I will never left you anymore, I promise. Do you want to have breakfast?”

She was answered by a shy nod of approval, but before Twilight could lead the filly in the kitchen she met a stunned Pinkie Pie, a small smile on her face.

Twilight’s heart skipped a beat, she had forgotten about Pinkie. There were no way she could escape a real explanation if Pinkie had saw the whole scene, but first she had a filly that need her mother, she just looked at Pinkie with a sigh and went to the kitchen, keeping a smile on her face to appease the filly. Twilight purposely ignored the pink pony while she helped the filly to sit on a chair, then she pour some milk in a bowl and grabbed a box of cereal.

Twilight waited for the filly to start eating before talking again “Mommy need to talk to Pinkie, I am just in the next room, it that ok with you Morning?”

“Yes mommy.”

Twilight closed the door of the kitchen before facing her friend and sighed “She is not my sister.”

Visibly the pink pony did not really know how to react and just said “Wow.”

Twilight take some deep breath to calm herself, it was a conversation she eventually wanted to have but not that soon “My birthday was important for me because twenty one is the age you can legally adopt a foal”

“Oh, you adopted this little filly! That is fantastic!” after beaming with glee the pink pony stopped and she pointed an accusing hoof at Twilight ”But why not telling us? Why she was crying?”

“It’s… complicated” Twilight bit her lips “The Princess did not want I take her in Ponyville sooner. She was too afraid I spend most of my time with her and not you. That why she was crying, she thought I was gone again”, Twilight paused, “I did not want to scare you girls with me having a filly. I was hoping you get used to have her around me before I tell you she is my daughter.”

“I don’t understand, you already have Spike and we never complained.”

“It’s different, Spike doesn’t need that much attention. But please Pinkie, can you promise me to not tell the other?” Twilight was anxious “I… don’t feel ready”

Pinkie brought a hoof to her chin “I don’t know.”

Twilight tried to make a puppy face like Morning could do when she want something, it feel foalish but she really did not want Pinkie to spray the word “Pinkie Promise?”

Pinkie giggled at the unicorn attempt to look cute especially with her still slightly distraught mane “Ok, but with some conditions”

Twilight was a bit afraid of what Pinkie would impose on her, but she did not really had a choice so with reluctance she said, “I listen.”

“I want the exclusivity for planning all her birthdays’ parties”

“All?”

The pink pony just nodded and added “ALL”

“Ok. ok. that’s all?”

A small grin was forming on Pinkie’s face sending the message to Twilight that it was clear she was not finished “Oh no silly! You will also do the magic show and you will have to ask Dashie on a date.”

Twilight sighed “And if I agree with that, you will tell nopony?”

Pinkie put a hoof on her chest “Pinkie Promise!”

For Twilight it was not a too bad deal only the date part was kinda intimidating “For the date...can that wait a bit? I mean, I will do it, but I need time for settle Morning to Ponyville”

“Okie dokie lokie” Pinkie replied and proceeded to do the Pinkie promise motion.

“Thank you Pinkie. I need to stay with Morning, do you want me to wake up Spike and he help you clean? It’s not I don’t like you Pinkie, but” Twilight made a small motion with her head toward the door of the kitchen.

“You need some quiet time with your daughter? of course!”

Twilight nodded in appreciation with her head and get back in the kitchen, leaving Pinkie Pie alone in the main area of the library.

When Twilight get back in the kitchen Morning had nearly finished her bowl of cereal.

“See, Morning I am still here”

Morning lowered her head to the table “Sorry.”

Twilight levitated a glass and the bottle of orange juice then poured a glass to Morning “Oh no, don’t be sorry” she went near Morning “Please don’t be sorry when I do something wrong”

When Morning finished her glass of orange juice and her cereal, Twilight levitated everything in the sink “Do you want to wake up Spike?”

Morning left her chair and replied cheerfully, “Yes!”

When Twilight and Morning get out the kitchen they were welcomed by the sight of a Pinkie Pie resting her head on a small groom and loud snore noises coming from her muzzle. The unicorn mare looked at Morning with a smile “Or maybe we can go back to bed?” did she really stay up all night?

Receiving a possible answer from the filly, Twilight grabbed Pinkie in her magic and put her in the bed of the guest room and installed herself and Morning in her own bed.

Twilight had some final thoughts after watching Morning fall back at sleep Why did I trust one of these ponies that quickly? Maybe making friends here was a good thing?

Author's Note

I promise they will be more Morning Star in the next chapters.

There are probably lot of grammer error, but english is not my native language

Chapter 3 - Dress and Candies

Princess Luna was at her balcony watching the night sky and was smiling at her last subtle addition in the ocean of star when she heard the door of her room open.

“Good evening, Prince Blueblood.”

The white stallion with a nice groomed blond mane answered her “Good evening Princess Luna.”

The princess left the balcony “Excuse us for-”

The prince interrupted the lunar Princess “Me.”

“Excuse me for the… Let’s us move to our-my desk room”

Both ponies took a sit on the coffee table. Princess Luna levitated two empty glass and a bottle of red wine and filled the glass with a bit of the liquid.

Prince Blueblood tasted the wine first “A bit too sweet for my taste, but it’s a fine choice.”

“Thank thee.”

Without leaving his eyes from his glass, the stallion corrected again “You.”

“Thou art infuriating, thou know that?”

“Your sister want you to use modern speech.” the white stallion levitated two stacks of paper from his saddlebag “Anyways I brought you two documents for your night court.”

The lunar princess looked at the first small stack “We are” before being interrupted by the prince she began again “I am quite unfamiliar with the value of bits, but that seem quite a lot.”

The white stallion kept a stoic demeanor as he simply replied, “A rough estimation tells me you could probably buy the whole Canterlot and still have some spare change for buying another small city or building a castle. But it would be unwise to inject that much money in Equestria.”

Princess Luna paused to ponder the information “And all these bits are ou- mine? Let’s said I want to build a castle even our dear sister can not stop us- me?”

Prince Blueblood raised an eyebrow at the implication, he had researched Luna’s personal fortune so she could finance at her leisure, artistic project or research if a request of that nature reaches her in court, but the lunar Diarch seems to have some other ideas and it was not building a castle.

“Well, I suppose if she really wants to prevent you for doing so she could find diverting means like delaying the arrival of supplies and workforce. But aside from that it’s your bits, she had no say in what you do with it.”

Twilight was walking across the street of Ponyville, the baby dragon on her back was replaced by a pink filly. Like every Monday she was doing her groceries for the week. Twilight had feared Morning would be afraid to interact with ponies because she was a bit shy and comparing to the day of her arrival there were more ponies on the street.

Morning had not been afraid of her friends because Twilight had already shown her pictures and talk about them and the presence of Spike was probably reassuring for her, but she rarely met other ponies. But seeing the filly waving back at ponies that were giving them good morning, filled the young mare’s heart with warmth and pride.

Twilight stopped at Applejack’s stand and the earth pony mare greeted both of them “Howdy Twilight, howdy Morning.”

“Hello, Applejack.”

“We did not see you yesterday” Applejack stated while putting apples in a paper bag for Twilight, the unicorn always took the same amount nearly every week so the farm pony did not need to ask how many she need.

“I am sorry Applejack. Morning was a bit sad so we stay all day at the library.”

Applejack leaned her head toward Morning “Missing yer mah and pah, sugarcube?”

“A little, but Twilight is here!”

“Good”, Applejack gave a warm smile to the filly before giving the bag of apple to Twilight, “Too bad Applebloom wanted to meet her for yer Crusader thing” the farm pony emitted a chuckle.

Twilight levitated some bit from her saddlebag and gave them to Applejack “She is too young for these three fillies.”

“I agree. Have a nice day.”

After her groceries were finished Twilight made a stop to Carousel Boutique, she let the filly leave her back after pushing the door of the boutique “Good morning Rarity.”

The owner of the place was at her counter drawing something Twilight could not see “Oh good morning Twilight dear, It’s not often I see you in working hour.”

Twilight was nervous, she found herself her request a bit weird, “Well, I have an unusual request I think?”, she look at Rarity that gave her a small nod to let her knew she had her attention, Twilight bit her lips before adding, ”I need an outfit, for a…”, for some reason it was a bit embarrassing and whispered, “magic show.”

“I did not hear that darling”

There was no point to make her friend wait more, maybe she was worried of making Rarity remember Trixie, Twilight took a deep breath to regain some assurance “A magic show, I promise Pinkie I will do a magic show for a birthday.”

“That not like you,” Rarity noticed the giggling of a filly, “And why your sister is laughing?” she added with a smile

Twilight facehoofed, that why she did not want to bring that in front Morning or Spike, “Don’t mind her, I maybe tried once to imitate Trixie, using my Nightmare Night costume was maybe not a good idea.”

The filly pushed herself on her two hind leg and was making a gesture to push and invisible cape with her front legs “The great and powerful Twilight the bearded!”

“Thank for remind me what dad say” it was really an embarrassing moment for Twilight, trying to imitate Trixie and get laughed by her whole family, but at least that make Morning happy so it was not that bad, but really her father remark make the whole thing worse, now Twilight could not look at her costume of Starswirl the Bearded without thinking about that event.

At least Rarity was trying hard to not laugh at Twilight distress, she calmed herself and continue “Why you want to imitate this rustre pony?”

“Like I told Pinkie, she was maybe an awful pony but she is good with her craft”, Twilight paused to look for a change in Rarity reaction, sometime Twilight felt a bit sad at her friend lack of advanced knowledge in magic, not sad for Rarity but for conversation she could have talking magic with someone that understand more than basic stuff.

“Make me wonder how Pinkie convince you” was all the fashionista replied.

Twilight was still nervous about the idea of a magic show but part of her found interesting what she could learn from the experience like the Warming Heart pageant, “I thought it could be fun to try, no? Anyways, I have no idea what outfit I could need, I was thinking, maybe the same than Trixie?”

Rarity paused to think, “Hum, that will not do it, yes I can use the base, but the colors are all wrong with you”, Rarity eyes became wide open as an idea struck her, “Maybe we can replace the hat with your tiara?”

Twilight frowned “I don’t have a tiara” then she thought what Rarity could mean and her face light up ”Wait you mean my Element? The elements are not really fashion accessory.”

“Too bad, it adds you a little bit of prestige. I wish I could keep mine. I have so many ideas of wonderful dresses to go with it. You think I could ask the Princess to have mine for the next charity gala of Fancy Pant?”

Twilight switched to a more serious face before replying, “Sorry Rarity, we can only get them outside the vault in case of emergency.”

Rarity forced a smile “I know Twilight, I was just jesting. Do you have a deadline? I am quite busy even if I can make an exception for a dear friend”

While the two adult mares were talking Morning wondered a bit in the boutique. She passed some of the dresses that were in display. Some were pretty, but some were overstuffed with gems and Morning wondering if it was dresses for a dragon to eat. Maybe it was gifts for Spike. Morning remembered finding a dress that smelled like cookies in mommy Velvet’s closet, before she could taste it Velvet had caught her and explained it was for some special ‘grow up’ occasion and not for little fillies.

Passing another dress, Morning remembered what mommy said about cloth and ponies. Ponies mostly wear clothes when the weather was too bad like in winter or when it was raining. Some ponies have to wear a uniform like the guards or the mail ponies. Morning had asked why she could see ponies with pretty outfit outside. Apparently it was a way for some ponies to show they had money or just because they like to look pretty.

Cadance had a lot of pretty dresses, Morning was not sure if it was because it was her job as a Princess to have pretty dresses or just because she had a lot of money. Morning was excited for Cadance’s wedding, a friend of Cadance was making a beautiful dress for Morning and mommy.

But the thing that had intrigued the most was Nightmare Night. Everypony disguise herself and pretend to be somepony or something else to collect candies. Morning had been eager to try that with mommy but the mean princess had kept mommy away. She still had the chance to do it with mommy Velvet and daddy Nighty but it was planned to do it with mommy for her first time, they were supposed to be Starswirl the bearded and her cute assistant.

When her tour of the dresses ended, she stopped at the pile of fashion and gossip magazine that were resting on a coffee table.

Noticing a familiar face on one of the covers she shouted “Cady!” and put a hoof on her mouth, remembering that mommy said to not talk about Cadance. Morning was not sure why, mommy had said it was something because Cady was a princess and she did want ponies though she was an important pony for being friend with a princess.

The shout got the attention of the two mares in the room. Twilight’s eyes went wide as Rarity levitated the magazine close to her and looked at Morning with curiosity.

“Cady?” Rarity looked at the cover picturing the head of a pink coated mare with a nice curled mane of three different colors adorned with a small crown “Oh that Princess Cadance, do you know her?”

Twilight replied for the filly, “No, No, I mean yes. She sometimes make some public appearance in some schools. Morning saw her once.”

The fashionista let the magazine fell off on her counter “Oh it’s a shame, her wedding is the place to be, but I heard you can only get an invitation from Princess Cadance or the family of her fiancé.”

Twilight said sheepishly, “Oh she is getting married?”

Rarity chuckled “You should really get out more your library darling.”

“Yes. Anyways I need to go” Twilight made a mention with her head toward the filly that was looking annoyed “Come on Morning” and both left the boutique.

Later in the library Twilight was seated in front her desk. Two sets of quills and ink pot laid neatly on top of it. The unicorn’s eyes were drifting between the calendar she had pinned on the wall in front of her and a blank scroll, a quills levitating ready to write her thought. Her eyes sometimes wandering to other scrolls with her hoofwriting in it. On one scroll there was what the Princess wanted her to study this month, it was a little bit shorter than usual. It was hard for Twilight to know if it was some gift for her birthday or just the realization Twilight would have less time for her studies with having to take care full time of Morning. A second scroll was her old schedule for the week, including what she had to do with Morning Star and Spike. A third scroll was the list of books and document concerning anything related she had on magic. On a corner of the desk was two reference books, one containing the list of books of the Canterlot Library and the other one of the magic section of the Royal Archive and Library.

Twilight’s attention drifted to the pile of crumpled papers laying on the floor next to the desk and sighed before starting making a new attempt at forming a schedule. It was one thing agreeing to do a magic show, it was another thing finding the proper material and finding time to properly study and practicing for it.

It had become quite tedious and annoying to borrow books by mail instead of just walking a bit. Not that happened often when she was still in Canterlot, the amount of knowledge in her room in the Castle was some time overwhelming. Twilight remembered the first time she was introduced to her room, the feeling of sadness to leave her parent’s home had be replaced by the excitement of living near the Princess and all the books. But many times she wished she let Spike burnt the place, not that it probably changed something.

Chasing this though, she get back at her blank scroll and sighed again. She also wanted to find a way to have the talk Pinkie wanted to do about mares and stallions. It was not really a surprise to learn Pinkie was sharing more than greeting with the numerous ponies she knew. Twilight had read some book and had some discussion about the place of sex in social interaction between ponies. She knew that could be a good bonding experience, but could she trust Pinkie enough? Or more important who she could add to the conversation to help Pinkie with her relationship issue?

Remembering a bit of her past Twilight just put a name on her blank scroll, then processed to throw random idea for the magic show, she was interrupted when she felt a hoof on her back that startled her.

“Ah!” she turned in her chair and was surprised by the sight of a small dark blue head with green eyes and a light blue mane, there was also a small crown on top on it

“Woona!” the enthusiasm voice of Morning brought a small smile to Twilight now that she could make sense at the sight, it was plush of what looked like a filly version of Princess Luna, the small horn, wings and moon cutie mark were a good giveaway, but it was closer to the way she was after being free with the Elements than her now more regal appearance.

“Oh, where do you find that young filly?”

“Spike give it to me. It’s Princess Woona!”

Twilight giggled at the name Morning was calling the plushie “I see. Did you thank Spike?”

“Yes!” The filly left and start running in the library and levitating the plush in the air “Look mommy. Woona is flying!”

“I see that, be careful” Twilight get back working at the paper in front of her, some time sensing a passing Woona. One might found that annoying, but Twilight could not stop smiling. It was how she pictured her life, feeling her filly close to her.

She finished recopying her previous schedule and add some blanks in it, then she called for Spike that was reading a new issue of one of his comic book.

“Yes Twilight?”, he replied removing his face from his comic.

“Where did you find that?” said the unicorn pointing at the flying Woona.

“I get it by the mail today, was expecting that last week. it’s my welcome home gift for her” Spike replaced the comic in front of his face to continue his reading.

“I asked where, it look hoofmade” Twilight was not a specialist but having seen some other plush she could see this one was of very good quality, the stitches were nearly invisible and the fabric looked expensive.

“I have my way”, the dragon replied not looking away from his comic.

“You will not tell me?” Twilight knew the answer but still she asked for good measure.

“Nop” Spike turned a page of his comic “Do you need something else?”

Twilight looked at the paper in front of her “Yes, I saw an old friend from school here in Ponyville, do you don’t know where she live? Lyra Heartstring, a mint unicorn with a golden lyre cutie mark”

“No, but you should ask Pinkie. But an old friend?” Twilight did not have difficulty imagining a raised eyebrow on Spike face at the last part.

Twilight nearly facehoofed, of course, Pinkie would know, and of course Spike had to ask who she was “I helped her studying...doing homework”

Once she learned from Pinkie Pie where she could found the mint unicorn and had lunch, Twilight decided to bring Morning Star with her. After all whose filly or colt did not like to go in a place like this?

It was a two-story house typical of country town like Ponyville. The first floor was dedicated to a store and the second was probably for living. The store was quite plain on the outside with a lone sign saying “Bonbon’”. The large two windows showed you a glimpse of the good you could find inside. It was large glass jars containing small coloreds good of all shape and color, delicious treats for fillies: Candies.

Upon entering the candy shop, Twilight and Morning were greeted by a cream colored earth pony mare with a colored candy cutie mark “Good afternoon, welcome in Bonbon’s bonbons.”

Twilight had thought it was some sort of nickname Pinkie Pie had picked up for the mare but apparently she used it for her business and maybe it was her real name.

“Good afternoon, you are Bonbon, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well I want to talk to Lyra Heartstring and a friend told me she is living with you.”

“Wait here, I will call her.”

“Thank you.”

The earth pony disappeared behind a curtain and climbed some step before shouting “Lyra, somepony for you.”

“Bring them upstair.”

When Bonbon came back from behind the curtain Twilight spoke to her “Can you watch Morning while I talk with Miss Heartstring?”

The cream colored mare just put a vendor smile on her face “Only if you bought something”

“Fair enough” Twilight smiled at the mare and lowered her head toward Morning while putting bits on the shop counter “Ok, Morning. I will talk with Miss Heartstring, you promise to behave?” she continued after receiving a small nod from the filly “Here five bits, you can choose what you want, but choose well”

The visage of the filly bright up at the prospect of being allowed to buy candies “Thank you!”

Twilight climbed the stair that lead at the second floor of the house, she was greeted by the face of the mint unicorn, “Good afternoon Miss Sparkle”

The previous smile Twilight wore at the idea of meeting an old friend faded quickly “You can call me Twilight, Lyra”

The mint mare chuckled “That a good one, you forbid me to call you Twilight after you kinda dumped me” her face became more serious as she continued ”But if you want a bounty call, I am with Bonbon, I am sorry.”

Twilight lowered her head and ear at hearing the words bounty call, remembering how poorly her relation with Lyra was at the time. It was not even what ponies called ‘friends with benefits’, that imply there was friendship at some point “About that, I am sorry.”

Lyra was a bit surprised by the other unicorn display “Sorry for what?”

Twilight sighed “Maybe we could have been closer at the time, I mean outside a bed.”

“It’s alright, you just wanted a good time. But come in, I don’t think you just came to apologize” Lyra opened the door of a nice living room, showed the couch to Twilight and take a cushion for herself “I learned you make yourself some friends here, look like you changed, I was surprised to see you here far away from the books of the Canterlot Library and Archive” Lyra laughed.

Twilight smiled sheepishly, “I live in a library so...”

Lyra emitted a small giggle “Yeah, but why are you here?”

“I need your help”

Lyra levitated two glass from a cupboard and a pitcher of water “My help?”

Twilight let Lyra pour her a glass of water before replying, “You know Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes, who doesn’t know her in Ponyville?”

“Yeah, stupid question. Well, I think she wants to have an evening to talk about stallions and mares, this kind of stuff. We never really talk about that with my friends and-”

The mint mare finished Twilight’s sentence ”Let me guess, they don’t know you like mares?”

“Yes, Pinkie knows, maybe the other figured but I don’t want to startle them. And since you know about me, I thought maybe you will maybe interested to join me and Pinkie.”

“Sure, can I bring Bonnie?” Lyra brought her glass to her mouth.

“That actually a good thing, Pinkie seem interested in a having a relationship, and I don’t really have experience with that, but I want to help her.”

Lyra nearly strangle herself with the water, “Wow, you mean you really never hang out with a mare for more than just sex?”

“Yes” Twilight took another sip of her glass “I have another request, but this one I can paid you. I need help with magic.”

Lyra stopped moving for a while then shook her head, “Hold on, are you really Twilight Sparkle? First you want to be my friend and now you want help with magic?”

“I...am serious, you remember Trixie?” Twilight rolled her eyes before putting her foreleg in the air “The Great and Powerful Trixie.”

“Yes.”

“You remember her act? I meant outside her infamous personality” Twilight was a bit annoyed, it felt like it’s the third time she said something like that in the past two days.

Lyra started playing with her glass of water by levitating it in circles in front of her “Yes, it was quite good actually. I rarely see somepony that good with illusion and her levitation control was very good too, she must have practiced a lot.”

Twilight smiled and nodded at Lyra analysis “I am kinda engaged of performing a magic show and I have no idea where to start really, I remembered some artists learn some illusion spells from each other. I feel a bit shameful, I never was interested in this branch of magic”

Lyra lip curl again in a smile “You know what? I could do that for free, I don’t think it’s everyday Twilight Sparkle ask help with something magic related.”

The remark from Lyra was genuine, sadly Twilight knew it was right, she always seek the comfort of book or the Princess when she had to deal with something magic related when she was younger “Please, I am not that great, I have a lot to learn yet.”

“Sorry I am just teasing you.”

Meanwhile in the candy shop, Morning was eying all the glass jar containing a lot of variety of colored candies, not moving from the middle of the shop just staring with her eyes wide open and turning her head, contemplating the shelves. Most shelves were near the ground so the jars were are at foal level eyes, some other were at grow up reach and other make the content of the jar only reachable with magic, flying or a ladder.

Morning snapped out her amazement to look at the cream colored mare that was watching her with a bright smile, she beamed to her.

“You have a lot of candies!”

“Thank you”, Bonbon paused to think, she only had heard the lavender mare call her Morning, she tried to be friendly with foals since they were her customers, but she was not the one to use names they may be used only with their friends or their family “What is your name?”

The filly straightened her pose taking a more forced polite tone “My name is Morning Star.”

That remembered Bonbon of some fillies of Canterlot when she was only working as an apprentice candy maker in the great city but that was not the full snooty typical pose and tone that she did not like in the most important ponies that give Canterlot the bad reputation of being full by stuck up noble full of themselves. Just a proper educated filly, that was something she missed from Canterlot, fillies not too excited barely saying hello. With a smile Bonbon continued the conversation “You are a polite filly, how old are you Morning Star?”

“I am eight-year-old.”

“I never see you around, are you in vacation here?” It cost nothing to know if a foal could be a regular new customer or just passing by.

“No, I just came Saturday with Twilight” Bonbon smile grew wider at hearing the filly answer.

“Did you already be in a candy store?”

“Mommy take me only before Hearth's Warming day”

“That not very often” Bonbon was not surprised, most ponies bought only candies in the shop they went for their usual groceries and only went to traditional shop only for specials occasions like birthdays or Hearth's Warming day. That why she had developed a contract with Sugarcube corner and the local grocery store.

“She said candies are bad for my teeth.”

“Yes, she is right, but if you brush your teeth you are fine, do you brush your teeth?”

“Yes, three time a day!”

“Good filly, now what do you want? since it’s your first time here, I give one bit of candy for free.”

Morning scanned the room again spotting some candies that caught her eyes or one she had already tasted, but there was so many choices and she didn’t know if she had enough money “I don’t know.”

“I can show you what I have.”

Back upstair the two unicorn mares were making arrangement to found compatible dates for their future meeting.

“So, Friday is fine for you two?”

“Yes, that should be-”

Lyra reply was cut by a shout from downstair “Attention!”

Twilight and Lyra rushed in the shop area at recognizing the voice of Bonbon, they heard a crash sound when they were in the stairs. When they reach the shop they could see that one of the jars of candy was now laying in the floor broken, round red candies were spread across the floor.

Noticing the presence of Twilight, Morning Star started watching the floor with great attention.

“Is everything alright?” asked Lyra looking at Bonbon.

Twilight stated the situation and her attention fell quickly on Morning avoiding her gaze. She moved closer to the filly seeing she was not harmed “What did you do Morning?”

“I…”

“I wait”

The filly finally held her head up “I tried to pick up the candies, but it tickles, so I tried harder”

Twilight’s stern expression shift a bit to show curiosity “It tickles?”

Lyra answered for the filly drawing Twilight’s attention to her “That’s maybe me Twilight. Bonbon asked me to protect her most expensive candies to avoid unicorn fillies pick them up. The enchantment is just supposed to provoke discomfort if you try to pick the candies with magic if you are a foal”

“I see” Twilight had similars enchantments on the upper shelves on the library but mostly to avoid accidents of filly hurting themselves. She got back looking at Morning “and what did you do Morning?”

“I try to get through and I lost control, I am sorry.”

“Good, but what do you say to Miss Bonbon?”

The filly looked at Bonbon that was just listening to the conversation “I am sorry Miss Bonbon.”

“And?”

“I will help clean up?”

“Good” Twilight patted the filly on her head “We will take more about it later. I am sorry Miss Drop, Morning’s magic is growing up and she a bit too curious sometime.”

Lyra levitated a broom and a small shovel from behind the counter and give them to the earth pony mare. Bonbon grabbed them before addressing Twilight “It’s alright Miss, she does not need to clean up. It’s not the first time a foal made a mess.”

After the purple mare and her filly had left the shop, Lyra and Bonbon were still a bit confused by what just happened. They had clean up the mess and Bonbon had replaced the broken jar with a new one.

Lyra was reapplying the enchantment on the new jar while Bonbon was refilling it with news candies. The mint unicorn mare was the first one to broke the silence “That was weird.”

“What was weird honey?”

“First Twilight Sparkle ask for my help and invited us for a mare evening. Second who is this filly? It’s her daughter or something? And how she manage to overcome the enchant?”

Bonbon paused in the filling of the jar “I don’t know. She looks young to be a mother. And for the magic part, you are the expert here.”

Lyra brought a hoof to her chin “You are right, she can’t be her daughter, she is like two years younger than me. Maybe it’s her sister or something. I guess we could ask her Friday.”

Chapter 4 - Pancakes

It was Friday evening, Princess Luna was at her desk working on some scrolls in front of her. She heard some small knocks and per usual Princess Cadance entered the room. She left her desk to welcome her. This time the pink alicorn was not alone, she was accompanied by a white unicorn stallion with a proper trimmed blue moustache, a monocle resting under his left eye was attached to an elegant suit.

“Good evening, Auntie Luna! I brought you some company”, Princess Cadance said with a cheerful tone.

Princess Luna made a small bow to greet the two ponies before speaking “Hum, We are sure it’s a nice pretendant Cadance, but we-”

The white stallion was the one to cut the Princess “Thank you for the compliment your highness, but I am already engaged, I will only be your tailor.”

“A tailor niece? I am sure the element of generosity already made us a gown for thy wedding.”

The stallion’s eyes light up as he remembered the picture of a plain dress with visibly hastily sewed streamers and feathers “Ah I see. I fear Miss Rarity is a bit inexperienced to do this kind of work. She sure has some talent, but expensive fabrics do not do a proper dress fit for a Princess.”

Cadance scowled and poked the stallion in the rib “You are too kind of word, Fancy, her dress was a disaster.”

“And I forget my good manners, Fancy Pants at your service tonight your highness” the stallion bowed deeply again at Princess Luna.

Cadance was slowly backing toward the door “He did my dress and the suit of Shining! I am sure you will like him!” she rushed out the room “Bye!”

Fancy Pants chuckled at the surprised and amused expression of Princess of the night “She has a date.”

When Morning wake up the sun was already set in the sky, mommy had put her to bed early because she wanted to talk with some friends, and she said it was not talk for little fillies. Morning did not understand a lot of thing about what adult do, but she he had already be scolded gently the few moments she walked back downstair at her house in Canterlot when she was supposed to be in her room, so she had complied, not that she had a lot of thing to do outside her room.

She hopped off her bed, looked at the Luna plushie that was still in her bed, she levitated it on her nightstand to make her bed freely. It did not take long mostly because there was only the pillow to set straight and the blanket. She executed her small task, putting everything neatly in place with the help of her magic and her hooves.

Once happy with the result she put the plushie on the pillow and said “I will pick you up later Woona!”. Mommy had said it was ok to keep Woona all the time except when they had to eat, something about that it was not easy to clean up.

Morning opened the door of her bedroom and made her way toward the stairs that lead to the main room of the library. It was weird to live in a house where anypony could enter, but it was even weirder to be in the middle of the town with no garden. Morning liked the small garden in her house in Canterlot, it was the rare place she could be outside the house when not in vacation and she enjoyed that she could run without having to take care of bumping into something. This week she already had be scolded for making fall the horse head sculpture that stand in the middle of the library, well the third time mommy had throw the sculpture aways in the basement saying it was dangerous for foals anyways and had apologized for yelling at her.

She descended carefully the stair that mommy had covered with a red carpet especially for her, it tickled a bit, but it was a nice comfy feeling on the morning. When she reach the bottom of the stair she could hear Spike humming happily and her nose was assaulted with the sweet aroma of-

“Pancakes!” remembering today was a pancake day, she shouted with glee. Spike had said he made pancakes for mommy when she was gloomy at the start of the weekend when she could not get back at Canterlot to see her, and it had became an habit to do it every Saturday. Spike had learned to make pancake from mommy Velvet and mommy Velvet make the best pancake ever.

She rushed in the kitchen and met a baby dragon on top of a stool with a small apron watching a frying pan. In the middle of the room was the dining table where a plate containing three fresh pancake was resting that diffused the sweet aroma in the library.

Without turning his head to the new occupant that enter the kitchen, Spike greets her

“Hey, good morning. sleep well?”

“Yes” the filly looked around the room, scanning for something “Mommy is not awake?”

“Don’t worry. You should eat the pancakes before they get cold. Your mommy will probably wake up with the smell.”

Morning knew her mommy could sometimes study late and wake up late, but she promised to try to be always there for her to start the day. But Spike had a valid point, cold pancakes are sad. She installed herself in her attributed chair, Spike turned around to give her a plate and some toppings to put on the pancakes like honey or whipped cream.

Morning ate her first two pancakes with honey. For the third one she grabbed the can of whipped cream with her magic, it was an easy task for her but pushing the button to release the precious cream was more delicate, she tried a few time, shaking the can on top of her pancake gave no result.

She brought the tip of the can in front of her to see if there was something that prevent the cream to goes out. She started fidgeting the button with one hoof, and when she put enough pressure she send a stream of whipped cream all over her face. She yelped in surprise and lost hold on the can.

Spike turned his head from the stove hearing the sound of can hitting the table, he was met with the sight of a filly with whipped cream all over her head “Are you alright Morning?”

The answer of the filly was a small giggle. Spike grabbed a rag “Alright, let me clean your face.”

Spike cleaned the face of the filly and helped her put whipped cream on her pancake. He installed himself at the table; he was starting to get hungry and he had made enough pancake for now.

Morning looked at Spike that was eating pancake mixed with gems. Morning never understood how he could eat gems, She tried once and she would never it again, because everypony get worried for her, but aside for a broken teeth she ended fine.

When the plate containing the pancake was empty, Spike asked, “Want more? I can make more” pointing at the bowl containing the preparation for pancake.

“No, I want to wait for mommy” Morning liked breakfast and pancakes but it was always better with mommy, especially if eating pancake on Saturday make her happy she wanted to see it.

“Ok, maybe I should see to wak-”

Spike did not have the time to finish his sentence as he was cut by a loud sound of hooves rushing in the kitchen and shouting “OOoooh, that smell like delicious pancakes!”

“GGood morning Pinkie” the somehow scared baby dragon managed to say recognizing the voice of the pink mare.

The pink pony entered the kitchen looking to the surprised face of Morning “Hey little Morning, Is that you that make the pancakes?”

“No, no, it’s Spike”, Morning liked Pinkie Pie, she was funny and she could call mommy ‘mommy’ when she was around. Morning was not happy to call her mommy by her name, but she was used to it every time she had to go on a public place. Pinkie was one of the ponies that were here yesterday, the other two mares were the mares that were working in the candy shop. The mint one was very nice, she gave her a bag of candies!

“I would gladly take one, or two, or twenty, but I need to prepare something for Twilight!”, said cheerfully the pink mare.

Spike raised an eyebrow “Hu, Pinkie? What are you preparing for Twilight? I mean I already made breakfast.”

“She had... some sort of adult sickness! But don’t worry she will be fine after I give her my special treatment.”

“Ooh, she got drunk, that why she was not in her-” Spike looked at Morning before cutting his sentence.

Pinkie Pie looked at the direction of Spike before grabbing a bowl and random ingredients from the fridge. Spike could have swear he saw her use ingredients that were not in the fridge at all. Morning was watching in awe at the speed Pinkie Pie could prepare something.

When the pink pony was done she put everything in a large glass. “And done! I will be back with your mommy Morning!”

Once Pinkie gone Morning asked to Spike “Is mommy alright? Pinkie said she was sick.”

“Don’t worry Morning, it’s something adult get when they do something stupid, I bet she will be fine soon.”

“Maybe I can bring her pancakes in her bed!”

“That… actually a good idea. Let me show you how you can help me”. Spike was happy with Morning providing her own distraction to not check immediately on Twilight. He helped the filly brought her chair near his stool.

Morning hopped on the chair and put all her focus on levitating the ladle from the bowl with pancake batter to the frying pan. Spike guided her to put the right amount of batter in the pan.

“Good, you can stop Morning.”

Morning was watching the batter being transformed in delicious pancake in the pan but soon growing tired of waiting she asked Spike “How is school?”

“I don’t know, It’s the same for me than you, I only have tutors or your mommy” Spike was continuing moving the frying pan to prevent the pancake from burning while thinking of what Morning was really nervous about, she was a bit like him in a degree, smarter than pony of her age “Afraid of other fillies?”

“I...mommy said it’s for me a chance to make friends and do thing like” Morning ears lowered “a normal filly.”

Spike flipped the pancake with his spatula to have the other side cooked “This one should be ready soon, can you brought the plate?”. Spike tried to get Morning back in a good mood by keeping her participate in the making of the pancakes.

Later a dragon holding a tray containing a plate with five pancakes, a glass of orange juice, a fork and a knife climbed the stair of the library. He was accompanied by a smiling Morning holding the honey pot and a pot of strawberry jam with her magic, Twilight’s favorite. Spike stopped in front of the guest room and made a gesture toward Morning for her to knock.

“Mommy is not in her bed?” the filly asked before knocking with her right hoof.

“She… get lost yesterday I think”, replied Spike.

The door was opened by a smiling Pinkie Pie “OOhh breakfast in bed; you are lucky Twi Twi” then she gestured for the pair to enter while she left the room.

In the bed of the guest room was a frowning lavender unicorn, her head laying on a pillow that was against the wall behind the bed. The frown changed into a smile at the sight of Morning and Spike at the entrance of the room but said nothing.

Spike put the tray at rest on the nightstand and Morning put the honey and jam in the tray. Spike nodded to Twilight and left the two alone.

“I made the pancakes with Spike!”

Twilight looked at Morning with a loving smile “That sweet of you little star.”

Spike was in the kitchen cleaning the tablewares he and Morning used, Pinkie was making herself pancake with the rest of the batter while humming a silly song about pancakes and mommies.

Spike wiped the plates and glass clean and put them back in their assigned cupboard before speaking “So, you and Twilight, you are a couple or something?”

Pinkie Pie launched a pancake very high in the air, nearly touching the ceiling “No silly Spike... we did not want to wake you up.”

“Wake me up?”

Pinkie’s voice was more hesitant for her next answer “Hu, Twilight was… very tired and I…-”

Spike waved one hand to cut Pinkie “You were doing adult stuff, I get it. So are you with Twilight now? I… had nothing against this, you are funny to be around, it’s just, I am curious.”

Pinkie gasped and nearly missing to catch the pancake that she had thrown once again into the air “Oh, no, Twilight is a great friend, I am more into stallion, wait how you know about… adult stuff?”

Spike puffed his chest “I live in a library. I mean you were cuddling while sleeping?”

“Oh, yeah cuddling” Pinkie trail off the word as she was putting her last pancake on a plate “Oh before I forget, are you free at the end of the afternoon? There is a small party for some friends.”

Spike looked at the kitchen’s clock, put a claw on his chin to think and start panicking “Oh, no I promise Rarity I will help her today for her gems, I am late!” he throw the apron he was still wearing somewhere in the kitchen and leave in a rush.

Pinkie was smiling at the display and giggled “Silly Spike and his crush on Rarity” then she sighed after eating one of her pancake “Must be sweet to love somepony.”

In the guest room Twilight had finished eating a pancake covered by strawberry jam “Thank you for the breakfast” she said with a smile toward Morning that was watching her eating quietly.

She drunk the glass of orange juice and put it back on the tray “You look gloomy Morning, something wrong?”

Morning looked at her mother “It’s… nothing.”

Twilight paused to think, she did not like to force Morning to spoke her mind, noticing a bit of whipped cream in the filly mane and her own disarray mane and the smell from her previous night activity an idea form in her mind.

“You did not clean up yet?” when the filly answered with a small nod she continued “How about we take a bath together?”

Twilight get out her bed following the filly that was heading to the bathroom, her hangover was not that bad, thank to Pinkie Pie weird mixture, she would probably feel a bit off until lunch still. She knew she should not have accepted to drink alcohol, but the three mares had been a bit forceful.

When reaching the bathroom, Twilight turned the faucet of the bathtub and helped Morning get out her pyjamas. “How you end up with whipped cream in your mane?“, she asked the filly to keep her busy until the bath was ready.

Morning told her mother her misadventure with the can of whipped cream electing some giggle from the older mare.

Twilight entered the bathtub and helped the filly to join her, they both washed each other in silence. Twilight was thinking of yesterday evening, she remembered that after some glasses of alcohol Pinkie asked what the other mares were thinking of her, and Twilight replied she would not mind having a taste of the pink’s flanks. After that it was a bit fuzzy, according to Pinkie Pie retelling of the evening, the pink pony agreed to escort her drunken form to her bed but she stopped her in front of the guest room and started kissing the earth pony mare.

Twilight was kind of glad that her drunken self had thought of stopping at the guest room, she did even know what to explain to Spike if he was witnessing Pinkie and her in action, even if he would probably manage to sleep through the whole thing

Once both ponies were bathed, Twilight picked up some clean towels to dry herself and Morning. Twilight was grooming the filly mane with a small brush, knowing the filly was in a better mood as she was appreciating being taking care by her mother, she asked, “So what is the matter Morning? It’s school?”

“Yes.”

Twilight kept brushing the mane of the filly “You are a smart filly and I already helped to be on part with Ponyville school’s program this week.”

“I know.”

“You are worried about the other fillies?”

There was no answer from the filly, Twilight had finished with her mane and moved to her tail.

When she felt the brush let her mane Morning turned to look at her mother “I prefer like you.”

“Morning, I thought you liked you manestyle?”

“Yes, but you have the same than mommy Velvet, why not me?”

Twilight sighed “Morning, I” she had two choices, reminding Morning why she could not have the same manestyle as her, and Morning was clearly not in the mood for this kind of conversation, or found a compromise “Alright, how about for the weekend I let you have like me and my mom?”

The filly smiled at the older mare before nodding.

“But, Monday you get back to your usual manestyle, does that sound fair to you?”

“Yes, mommy.”

“Alright, let me start over.”

They walked together in the main area after a stop to Morning’s room to put away her pyjamas and grab Woona. At the entrance of the library a pink pony was talking to a grey pegasus mare with a blond mane and tail carrying a saddlebag on her back.

“-working today Ditzy?”

“I know but somepony mess up at the weather’s schedule and request the help of the reserve yesterday, so we have to delay the delivery of the mail of yesterday. My boss was angry-”, the grey pegasus stopped and waved a hoof at two new arrivants “Good morning Miss Sparkle!” then noticing the filly “Good morning!”

Pinkie turned her head at Twilight and Morning, giggled seeing the nearly identical manecut -even if Morning shorter mane on the front was not making a long bang like her mother- “Hey she look like a mini you.”

Twilight heart nearly stopped at Pinkie sentence, that was part of why she did not let Morning had the same manecut than her. Her worrying thoughts get cut when Morning marched upon the mail mare and pointed with a hoof at her head.

“Your eyes look funny!”

At least it was a proof the filly was feeling better, but Twilight could not let this one slip “Morning Star, your manners young filly.”

“It’s alright Miss Sparkle” the pegasus mare leaned her head at the height of the filly “Tell me little muffin, what is your name?”

“My name is Morning Star. I am sorry for your… eyes”

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I know there are funny” the pegasus give a hoof tap on her cap, symbol of her profession “It had been a pleasure, but I have other ponie that wait for their mail!” she walked past the door before taking off. “You sure have a cute filly, Miss Sparkle.”

Author's Note

As you can guess the next chapter(s) is about Morning first day of school :)

Fun fact: I write the draft of this before season five started

Thanks to Typerpony and Crystal Wishes, they give me some pointers with some English rules

Chapter 5 - School

Like every Sunday evening, Princess Luna was waiting for the arrival of her sister’s nephew, Prince Blueblood. She knew he was also her nephew, but he was more distant than Cadance; he didn’t really share a lot of personal information.

But this time the white stallion entering the room was not the usual delicately-groomed Prince of Equestria. It was a stallion in full parade armor. The cutie mark on the front of the armor and the insignia on the shoulder bore the sign of the highest ranked officer of the Royal Guard, leaving no doubts as to his identity. He stood at attention after entering the room.

“Good evening, Captain Shining Armor,” said Luna.

“Good evening, your Highness.”

Luna made a gesture to an empty table “At ease, Captain.”

The stallion still didn’t move and Luna giggled at his reaction “You are wedding a Princess and can’t be at ease in the presence of another? ‘Tis an interesting reaction for somepony that will became Royalty himself.” she paused “But We must ask, why is Prince Blueblood not here?”

“He and Cadance wanted me to talk a bit with you, your Highness.”

“Then please call me Luna or Princess Luna shouldst thou insist on using some formality.” she gestured to the cushion near the coffee table.

The captain removed his helmet from his head and put it on a table near the door.

“Dost thou want something to drink?”

“I am fine, thank you.”

There was a small silence before the Princess speak again “So, Prince Blueblood is ‘showing you the ropes’ for your future role as co-ruler of a nation?”

“Yes.” Shining Armor replied as he watched the Princess making herself some tea.

“It must be something new to you. I was always more comfortable with leading ponies to battle than dealing with politics. ‘Tis more straightforward.”

That perked the stallion’s attention and didn’t go unnoticed by Princess Luna. “I suppose I could retell you some battle of the not-so-glorious past of Equestria.”

“I am more interested on getting details about your battle against Sombra. Your sister seems unwilling to share any knowledge that can help prepare my ponies.”

Princess Luna was clearly surprised by his answer, but her surprise was quickly replaced by a small frown. “Thou put us in a conflicted position. Thy request is understandable but at the same time We trust in our sister’s judgement.”

The stallion get up of cushion and put his helmet back on his head “Permission to leave, your Highness?”

There was a bit in sadness in Luna’s eyes when she said, “Granted.” She watched the stallion leave her room.

The library was in a rush this morning, Spike was yawning a lot, having woken up one hour earlier than usual. Twilight and Morning were faring better, Twilight was probably running on adrenaline, anxiety and coffee while Morning was… Morning, That was something a bit weird about the filly, she always looked like she had slept a full night even after a one hour nap. So Spike had to deal with two energetic fillies panicking over the prospect of the first day of school for the youngster.

Twilight asked him with a concerned tone, “Breakfast?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I finished cleaning up the bowls twenty minute ago already.” He said, receiving a disapproving glare in return. He wrote in the scroll he was holding, “Check…”

“Grooming?”

“You’ve groomed yourself and Morning three times... check.”

“Saddlebag?”

“Again? You’ve made her saddlebag two times already!” Spike grabbed another scroll detailing the saddlebag contents while the purple unicorn unpacked the saddlebag. “I got it.”

“Writing supplies?”

“Check.”

“Extra writing supplies”

“Check...” Spike rolled his eyes at this one.

After another series of doing and undoing the saddlebag, Morning added “Princess Woona!”

“Check” Twilight automatically responded; at some point Spike and Twilight had reversed their roles. “Wait, Morning, you can’t bring Woona to school.”

“I know but,” Morning paused to look at her mother with huge teary eyes. “Please?”

“Nice try,” she patted the filly on the head. “But I am not daddy, so no.”

Spike giggled at Morning’s attempt to use the ‘cute filly stare’. It was very effective against stallions or non-related mares, but for some reason most mothers developed a sort of immunity against it.

After the triple verifications were done Twilight and Morning were at the door ready to go to Ponyville Elementary school. Spike gave a last hug and offered some cheering words to Morning.

“Good luck Morning.”

“Thank you, Spike.”

Spike waved goodbye and winked at her.

Twilight started trotting in the direction of the school followed by Morning. She was happy to have Spike supporting the filly; she had been worried the first time she introduced Morning Star to Spike. When she had to start taking care of Spike, she wasn't sure she could trust him with the truth about the filly. Morning was a very important part of her life.

A modest-sized building all painted in red with small touches of pink and white came into view. By any standard Twilight had about schools, it was very small and a far cry for the huge multi-classroom schools of Canterlot. But in a sense, it was maybe more fitting for Morning. She wouldn’t feel overwhelmed by the presence of lots of colts and fillies her age.

When she stopped hearing Morning’s hoofsteps at her side, Twilight stopped too and looked at the filly’s nervous face.

“It’s gonna be ok sweetie.”

Morning’s muzzle fell down, her eyes watching the dirt road as she whispered “I don’t want to.”

Twilight wasn’t sure if Morning was afraid of the other fillies, school itself or just to be without ponies she knew. “Don’t worry sweetie, Cheerilee is a kind mare and I will pick you up for lunch.”

The filly lifted her head to look at Twilight. “You promise?”

“Yes, now let’s get a move on so I can introduce you to Cheerilee.”

Morning tried to get back on her four legs; it wasn't easy as she was not used to carry saddlebags laden with school supplies. Luckily for her, Twilight went to her rescue by pushing her rump with her muzzle.

It was then Twilight noticed a small blue tail poking out one of the bags, certainly belonging to a certain plushie. She sighed, internally reminding herself to have a talk with Spike, but didn’t say a thing about it to Morning.

When they arrived at the schoolhouse there was only Cheerilee at her desk. She left the book she was reading upon hearing the approaching hoofsteps.

“Good morning, Twilight.” She paused looking at the filly at the side of the mare “You must be Morning Star? Good morning to you Morning Star!”

“Good morning, Miss Cheerilee,” replied the nervous filly.

Cheerilee kept her cheerful voice and lowered her head to be on level with Morning. “So, your sister tells me it’s your first time in school, you must feel a bit nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry, the fillies and colts here are nice. Do you mind waiting here so I can introduce you to the class?”

“Ok Miss Cheerilee.”

Twilight that was watching the small exchange silently till the end, then put a foreleg on Morning’s back.

“You’re going to be alright. Can I count on you to not give Miss Cheerilee any trouble?”

“Yes, Mo-Twilight.”

Mother and daughter shared a last nuzzle. Then the older mare left the classroom but stayed in sight. She kept smiling to give Morning comfort and a sense of familiarity for the incoming trial that was her first day of school.

Morning remained seated on her rump near Cheerilee’s desk. Her gaze lingered between the classroom and her mother outside. She watched the flow of fillies and colts filing into the classroom. She was nervous and had no idea what to do with them. Some of them smiled at her, some ignored her, most were surprised and lot of them kept watching her after sitting in their chairs.

Luckily, to fight her nervousness she could look out the door to see her mother waving and smiling at her. Morning give a last wave when Cheerilee closed the door after all her students were in.

The teacher tapped one hoof on her desk to bring the class to attention and interrupt their chatter.

“Good morning, everypony.” Cheerilee paused.

A chorus of fillies and colts replied with various degree of enthusiasm “Good morning, Miss Cheerilee.”

Cheerilee clapped her hooves together and spoke “Today I want to introduce you to a new student that will stay with us for a part of spring. It’s her first time in school so I want all of you to be nice to her.”

The mare looked to the filly, an encouraging smile on a her face. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Morning raised her head to look at the classroom, opened her mouth once. She looked at the windows trying to see any traces of her mother, but found none. She was too small to really see outside.

She took a deep breath, remembering what she had to say. Her gaze fixing the back of the classroom. “My name is Morning Star. I am from Canterlot. I am in Ponyville with my sister, Twilight.”

She was answered with silence from the rest of the class. Morning looked at Cheerilee wondering what her next step was.

“Alright Morning Star, why don’t you pick a seat so we can start class?”

Morning found an empty seat near a grayish pink unicorn with a blond mane. She trotted to the desk, used her magic to remove her saddlebags, and put them on one side of the desk. Then she hopped on the seat.

Before she could proceed to open her saddlebags, Morning was interrupted by the filly at her side, a hoof pointed in her direction.

“My name is Dinky Doo.”

Morning looked at the hoof, confused. The other filly whispered to her, “You’re supposed to shake it.”

Morning did what Dinky told her, reaching out for the pinkish hoof she shook it timidly. “Hu-hello, nice to meet you, Dinky Doo.”

Dinky smiled at her and nodded. Morning refocused her attention on her saddlebags and opened the first bag. She retrieved a pen, an ink pot, a notebook, a quill and a red pencil by levitating them one by one and organizing them neatly on her desk. Quills, inks and pencils were placed on the top edge of the desk, the notebook in the center of it.

Once satisfied with her arrangement, she opened the other bag and was a bit surprised to see Woona. She took it in her magic and put the plushie on her lap.

Cheerilee, who was watching the filly get comfortable at her desk, drew closer to her. A small frown crossed her face. “Sorry Morning Star, but you can’t bring toys or plushies to school.” Then she extended her hoof toward Morning.

Morning looked at the plushie, then at Cheerilee. “Woona said she wanted to learn new thing.”

There was some snickers from the other foals but they died down quickly receiving a stern glare from the teacher. She went back to a more neutral expression before refocusing on Morning. “That may be, but those are the rules of school.”

Morning hoofed her the plushie and Cheerilee added, “Normally I’d keep it until the end of the year, but since it’s your first day, I’ll you give you her back at lunch break. Understood?”

Morning’s ears dropped. “Yes, Miss Cheerilee.”

Cheerilee went to her desk and put Woona in one of the drawers. Not wanting to let the pause continue and give the youngsters the occasion to start talking amongst themselves, she quickly took a piece of chalk and taped it on the chalkboard. “Alright, today we start chapter 8. Open your books to page 112.”

There was the sound of books opening but Cheerilee paid extra attention so see if her new student had any trouble. Morning had grabbed her history book and was searching for the right page. Cheerilee was surprised to see the filly using only her magic to do so, most of her unicorn students were still mostly using their hooves and mouth.

The lesson started when the teacher considered everypony ready. But after thirty minutes in, when she turned away from the chalkboard, having previously written some important date on it, she noticed that the fillies and colts were watching Morning curiously.

“Looks like the new baby is better than you, Sweetie Fail.” Snickered a pale magenta earth pony filly.That sent the other fillies and colts into giggles, while the white unicorn filly in question tried to hide under her desk.

Morning looked at Cheerilee, blinking a few times, and dropped the pen she was holding in her magic. It fell to the side of the notebook she was using to take notes; her ears slowly folded against the back of her head. She raised a hoof.

“Yes, Morning Star?” said Cheerilee.

“Did I do something wrong?”

It was a hard question to answer for Cheerilee. The filly had done nothing wrong. Sure she was younger than most of the fillies and colts in the classroom. She was more proficient at magic, but Cheerilee could not tell if it was from a better education or just a better family environment. From what she had gathered from Twilight Sparke, all her family were unicorns with high concerns for good education.

“No, Morning Star, you did nothing wrong.” A frown formed on Cheerilee’s face and she gave a stern glare to Diamond Tiara and the rest of the class. “Now I expect no more interruptions except questions about the class.”

The teacher resumed her lecture, but something caught her eyes. Before Diamond Tiara’s remark, Morning was smiling while listening and taking notes. Now the filly was struggling writing with her pen in her mouth, frowning at was visibly an unusual act for her.

Before she could do something, Cheerilee saw Dinky whispering something to the filly that made Morning regrab her pen in her magic. Everything went normal after that until it was recess time.

Cheerilee clapped her hooves. “Alright everypony, it’s recess.” Then she looked at her new student. “Morning Star, can you stay before going out?”

The filly nodded and watched as the other fillies and colts rushed out the classroom. When it was only her and the teacher she moved to the desk, her ears folded back on her head.

Seeing the slightly downcast expression of the filly, Cheerilee kept a bright smile. “Don’t worry. We are in the middle of a session of Family Appreciation days. Do you know what that is?”

“No, sorry.”

“It’s alright; if you were tutored at home it make sense you didn’t hear of it. The idea is you can bring a member of your family and he or she will explain their work to the rest of the class.”

Morning paused to think for a bit and spoke. “Mommy Velvet and Daddy Nighty are in vacation.”

“Yes, Twilight already told me that, maybe you have somepony else?”

Morning beamed and gave the name of another member of her family before the teacher let her leave the classroom.

***

When she was out Morning walked to the pink grey filly that was waving at her, ears shifting at the sound of other foals already playing.

“Hum, Dinky Doo?” She asked her, the other filly noded in reply. “What are we suppose to do during recess?”

“You can call me Dinky,” giggled Dinky before gasping at the question, ”You don’t know what recess is?!”

Morning ears folded back again. “I never went to school before. I had Mister Sage to teach me at my house in Canterlot.”

Dinky pointed at the schoolyard toward the swings. “Well we can play with the swing. It’s my favorite game!”

Morning looked at the other filly with surprise “We?”

“Duh, it’s more fun to play with a friend,” replied Dinky before walking to the swing. But she quickly noticed the other filly not following her. “Something wrong… Morning?”

“You called me a friend?”

Dinky shrugged “Well, if you want to, we could be friends.”

Morning’s face was slowly slipped into a smile as she was now following the enthusiastic filly.

In a well-lit basement, with various clean and organised science equipment, a mint unicorn asked the other unicorn in the room, “Twilight, are you alright?”

Said unicorn had her head resting on one of her hooves, her gaze focusing nothing specific. She snapped back to reality and looked at the other mare. “Huh? It’s over?”

Lyra snickered. “Yes, so what do you think?”

Twilight shook her head. “Oh, sorry. I was lost in a memory.”

The other unicorn levitated her lyre back on the table holding their notes and books on Twilight’s future magic show. “You are too distracted, maybe we can just continue next time?”

“No No, I don’t have that much time.”

Lyra put a hoof on Twilight’s right shoulder. “You have too much on your mind. You can’t get a thing done.”

Twilight sighed. “You are the expert here. I guess I am too worried about Morning, I don’t know how I thought it was a good idea to start today.You can go home while I catch up on some studies.”

The other unicorn beamed, intercepting Twilight before she got up to get out the basement “Nope. I say we can’t work on the magic show. Now tell me, did your future sister-in-law teach you your technique?”

Twilight’s eyes opened wide at the sudden unrelated question “What? Who?”

Lyra sat back on the cushion she was using before getting up to play her instrument. “Princess Cadance. Please, I have to learn from some newspapers that you have a brother and he will marry her.”

“Oh, me and Cadance?” Twilight eyes closed and she shook her head. ”Eww. she is like my big sister. Eww.”

Lyra’s face wore a huge grin when she said, “I can picture you giving tips to your brother then!” She started making lewd motions with her hooves and tongue.

Twilight crossed her forelegs on her chest. “Can you stop this? You already spent twenty minutes bothering me with my night with Pinkie.”

The mint unicorn laughed at the serious face on the purple mare. “Yes, yes, sorry.” She wiped her tears, “You are still cute when you’re a bit mad.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “You are worse than Cadance.”

Lyra gave a last giggle before talking again. “Oh, speaking of Princess Cadance. Did you know I am playing at the wedding?”

Twilight clapped her hooves together. “Oh that’s great for you!”

Lyra waved one hoof in the air. “It’s not big deal. I am the spare harpist It sounds like it’s you planning her wedding actually, with spares musicians for every position.”

Twilight smiled a bit. “Haha, no I am just my brother best mare, I am forbidden to touch anything in their preparation.” She paused to add, “Princess Cadance’s orders.”

Lyra tried to make another small joke but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Come in, Spike,” shouted Twilight at the door.

The door opened and a small dragon appeared at the top of the stairs.

“It’s just to remind you, like you asked. It’s nearly time to pick Morning up.”

Twilight looked at the clock in panic. “Oh wow, it’s already that’s late. Sorry Lyra, I have to go.” She rushed upstairs and patted Spike on the head. “Thank you, Spike.”

Outside Ponyville elementary school, two fillies were standing near the alley that lead to the school where already some fillies and colts were leaving with their differents relative. The younger one of the two wearing a plush on her head.

Twilight spotted them and was a bit surprised to see Morning talking with the grey pink unicorn filly. She trotted to the two of them.

“Hey little star, how was school?”

Morning rushed to hug the older mare’s foreleg. “It was weird, but Dinky taught me a lot about school!”

Twilight’s morning worries of finding a Morning in tears were washed away. She wore a huge smile and said. “I see you made a friend!” When her daughter released the grip on her foreleg, she looked at the other filly. “You must be Dinky?”

“I am Dinky Doo, nice to meet you Miss Twilight.”

“Nice to meet you too.” She said giving a last smile to Morning, “Come on Morning, Spike is waiting for us for lunch.”

Morning’s ears fell on the back on her head, eyes wide open. “Mo-Twilight, can Dinky eat with us?”

The request surprised Twilight. She looked at Dinky; the filly was almost as surprised as she was. “Your parents don’t pick you up for lunch?”

Dinky shook her head. “No, my mommy is working, I usually eat at school.”

Twilight looked around and spotted a table where some fillies, like the CMC, were starting to unpack their lunch. She should have guessed that in a small and quiet town like Ponyville, there wouldn’t be a proper cafeteria. She looked back at the pleading eyes on Morning and sighed.

“Do you want to eat with us Dinky?” Twilight got a small nod in return, “Alright, let me ask Cheerilee first.”

***

After a short discussion with the teacher, a small walk toward the library and turning the sign to indicate it was closed; two fillies, a young drake and a mare were seated at a table.

Levitating a bit of the salad Spike had prepared to her plate, Twilight asked the fillies, “So you had history this morning, what is the program for this afternoon?”

Morning beamed at the question. “Math!”

Dinky was less enthusiastic and shrugged, Morning saw it and asked her, “You don’t like math?”

The filly pouted. “It’s more like math does not like me.” Spike and Twilight giggled at the cute answer.

Spike finished to serve Morning her share of the salad and filled her glass with water. “I am sure Morning could help you.”

While Morning, Twilight and Spike were eating, Dinky was just staring at them. Occasionally she glanced at the other filly using her silverware to eat, picking the ingredient with her fork heldin her magical grip, while sometimes using her knife to cut a piece of salad too big to eat directly.

Twilight noticed the strange behavior of the filly and her untouched sandwich she had brought with her, so she asked, “Something wrong Dinky? You’re not hungry?”

Dinky pointed a hoof at Morning and Twilight’s heads. “It’s just, you all use magic like it’s nothing.”

Twilight let her fork rest on the table before speaking, “Well my family have a lot of talented unicorns, but Princess Celestia taught me every unicorn is different. Magic does not come the same way to everypony and you are still young.It will come one day.”

Dinky pouted at the evasive answer. “Mommy said it’s because she can’t afford to get me lessons.”

Morning interjected, “You can teach her M-Twilight!”

Twilight turned her head toward Morning, “Hey Morning, you know I don’t have time and it’s not my decision. Plus I don’t want every unicorn foal to come to ask me the same thing.”

Spike frowned, “You already thought of that?”

“Yes Spike. You remember when Rarity asked me to help Sweetie Belle with her magic?”

“Oh yes, she was not happy.”

“It’s her parent’s job to take care of that.” Twilight rolled her eyes. ”Sometime I wonder if my friends think I am in vacantion here.”

Dinky, ears folded back on her head asked. “You don’t want to help?”

“It’s not that Dinky, I can teach one filly, but I don’t think I can handle lots of fillies. It takes a lot of time and preparation. Why do you think teaching is a job?”

Dinky paused to think, “Oohh, like Cheerilee?”

“Yes exactly.” A smile formed on Twilight’s face. “I will talk to your mother, maybe I can lead you to some books, but don’t expect too much, okay?”

Dinky beamed. “Thank you!” She grabbed her sandwich with her two hooves.

Later in the day, after the library was closed somepony knocked at the door. Twilight opened the door and her eyes fell on the mare she recognized as the mare who delivered the mail and various packages.

Twilight found the mare unusually nervous when she greeted her “Hum, Good evening, Miss Sparkle.”

“Good evening what can I do for you Miss...?” Twilight paused realising she did not know the grey mare’s name at all, even if she did remind her of another pony. “Sorry, you deliver my mail every day and I don’t even know your name.”

One of the wandering eyes of the mare focused on Twilight, “I am Ditzy Doo, Dinky’s mother.”

“Oh I see, yes she does look a lot like you. Do you want to come in? I can make some tea.”

The pegasus mare waved a hoof to dismiss the proposal. “It’s alright. Did she bother you with magic?”

“Yes.”

“I am sorry about that, she started doing things with her horn two weeks ago and now all she does is worry about that.”

“It’s quite normal for a unicorn filly to be eager to use their horn. It’s like wings for pegasus I guess.”

Ditzy sighed. “Yes I know, but, she knows I can’t teach her and I can’t afford to get her lessons.”

“Yes, that’s what Dinky told me.”

“So I can’t probably afford your help too. And no offence to you, but… I don’t want Dinky to wreak chaos in the town.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the incident with the doll, ponies said you casted a spell. It sounds dangerous”

Twilight winced at the reminder of her use of the ‘Want it, need it’ spell. She had only used this spell twice and it was when she was in some sort of distress. She shook her head to chase these memory away, then put a hoof behind her neck. “Err, I maybe overreacted a bit. But don’t worry, that spell requires a lot of studying.”

The right eye of Ditzy looked at the floor while the other stay focused on Twilight. “Sorry, that must’ve sounded stupid; I am not a smart pony like you.”

“Oh no, it’s alright, even most unicorns don’t really know all the theory behind magic. Just using magic to manipulate things is almost an instinct.” Before she could launch into a lengthy explanation Twilight remembered the mare’s request. “But on the matter of helping Dinky, my concern is more finding free time than money. I would love teaching magic to her, really, I know Morning will be happy to help too.”

“I wouldbe stupid to refuse help especially for free, but is there anything I could do for you?”

“Hum, this will sound like a weird request but...can you give me advice on how to take care of a filly? I...” Twilight bither lips, she did not want to give away too much to a mare she did not know. “I talked with my mother on how to take care of Morning when they’re not here, but she… well it’s kind of embarrassing.”

The other mare beamed. “Oh sure, Miss Sparkle. I don’t work Saturday. Is that fine for you?”

“Yes.”

Before she knew what hit her, Twilight was brought into a hug by the other mare. “Thank you so much!”

Author's Note

Sorry for the huge delay!
This chapter has been edited by Averageamazingme. Thank to him for making my mess more readable.

Next chapter will come sooner (I hope)

Chapter 6 - Stars

Princess Luna was at her desk, staring at a letter, there was some moisture at the corner of her eyes. She went through a lot of letters from the stack at her side, but this one was confusing and make her very sad. Or maybe it was just the accumulation of the content of the others. It also brought a lot of questions to her mind. Doubts were crippling at the edge of her conscience.

There was a knock at her door. “Wait a minute,” the night princess replied. She composed herself, drying her wet cheeks, and let her magic open the door.

“Good evening, auntie! I bring you your dress!” The seemly endless cheerfulness of the Princess of Love brought some warmth to Luna.

“I just hope it was not a bother for Mr. Pants. He seems to be a very busy stallion.”

The mare that was trailing a bit behind Cadance walked in the room, carrying a nice blue box, she chuckled before saying, “Are you kidding me, your highness? The poor stallion was waiting for an occasion like that since we had news of your return.”

Princess Luna sighed. “We- I suppose the fame of making attire for a Princess is always welcome.”

The white elegant mare waved with one hoof. “Well, I will not lie, it’s always good for business, but there’s more. Having to work with darker tone is a nice change of pace, if you get what I am saying.”

The night princess raised an eyebrow. “I am sorry, I am not sure to understand, and you are?” there was more wit that Luna wanted in the last part of her tirade.

The other mare’s eyes opened wide open and she bowed. “Pardon me, I am Fleur de lis, your highness.”

Luna lift her hoof to signify that the other mare could rise.

“Well, I was a professional model, and there is a certain canon in this work. You could easily guess on whom it is based.”

It was not hard to understand for Luna what the mare wanted to say. Fleur was a tall mare with a pearl coat, an elegant posture. Luna sighed again. “My sister.”

“Exactly! Even with Crystalbutt here,” Fleur slapped the flank of Princess Cadance, “millions of colts still wet their bed thinking of Sun’s flanks while fillies and mares dream of looking like her.”

The yelp from Cadance and the brashness of the mare brought a small giggled from Luna.

Fleur continued “You should’ve seen Fancy’s reaction when he learned there was a new Princess. ‘Yes, finally enough with all these white maresl!’” The mare chuckled again “Obviously he slept on the couch that night.”

The mare opened the box she had previously deposited on one of the tables. “But enough chitchat, this dress won’t finish herself!”

Following the ordering tone of the mare, Cadance removed everything from the nearby coffee table and invited Luna to stand on it. Fleur levitated the dress from the box aside some pins, scissors, a measuring tape and a notebook.

“You have quite an interesting friend,” said Luna to Cadance while watching the dress rise out of the box. “Mind if I ask why it’s not Mr. Pants that is here?”

Fleur put down the notebook on the desk and began helping the dark alicorn to get in the dress. “The poor dear has a charity event tomorrow. He is taking a rest. Don’t worry, I worked with Fancy enough to get the basics.”

After, the white mare fell into a routine of taking notes, repositioning some pins and taking new measurements, Cadance asked the silent Luna, “Something on your mind, auntie?”

Princess Luna gave a quick glance at her desk and muttered, “Nothing.”

Cadance raised an eyebrow, visibly not convinced by the other alicorn’s answer but said nothing.

Princess Luna’s ears perked then she shook her head “We should not bottle up our feelings. That lead to an unpleasant memory.”

Fleur planted a pin between two layer of tissue and spoke while noting something on her notepad. “I can leave if you want. I am nearly done.”

Luna ignored the mare’s offer. “I… maybe I am not ready as I thought I was.”

Cadance pointed at the many scrolls on her desk. “Is it about these letters? What are these, maybe I can help you.”

“I don’t know. I added some constellations in the night sky as a gift to the mares that freed me.”

Cadance beamed. “That’s a wonderful intention!”

“I…” Luna cleared her throat and pointed at a small stack of letter in the corner of the desk. “Some ponies think so,” she then pointed at the other bigger stack. “Feel free to take a look yourself.”

Fleur and Cadance picked some letters, some were from angry astronomical ponies complaining that she had no right to change their stars, some from nobles demanding similar attention with a lengthy detail of their stupid accomplishments to justify it. Fleur was a bit amused, but Cadance was quite mad.

The unicorn mare showed the folded letter on the middle of the desk. “And this one.”

“I… don’t know what to think about this one. It confuses me as much as it makes me sad”, Luna walked to her balcony watching the incriminating star pattern.

Meanwhile Cadance took the letter and read it to herself.

Dear Princess Celestia’s sister,

I have a lot of fond memories watching the night sky. That’s how I found my husband, Nighty. I was just getting out of the library after an evening of reading and I saw a poor colt alone with three telescopes around him. He stopped me and asked me if I was there for the astronomy club meeting. I said no, but upon seeing the sadness in his eyes, I let him explain to me some star’s name. I was probably more thrilled by the passion from the colt than the night sky itself. The night sky is also a reminder of our first kiss, the night he asked for my hoof in marriage, and other activities my foals would probably wouldn’t want to hear about.

But during our vacation, we both were very shocked to find a new constellation, especially finding stars arranged in an unflattering pattern that is an insult to our family.
I request that you remove this offending constellation so I can enjoy the night sky again.

Your loyal subject, Twilight Velvet.

Cadance did something unbefitting of a pony wearing the title of Princess, she swore and then called a name angrily. “Velvet!” Then she marched toward Luna, who was currently hanging her head toward the floor muttering.

“I am sorry for Velvet’s words, I-”

The Lunar Diarch raised her head looking at Cadance. “Please explain me what we did to wrong her.”

Luna saw the other alicorn took her time, the pause was long enough for Luna to guess that Cadance was choosing carefully what she wanted to say.

“I… what did you do? I am sorry I should have paid more attention to your work.”

A scroll was levitated toward Cadance, showing a drawing of a big purple star, nearly between each branch of the star was a the picture of simplified version of cutie marks: an apple, a diamond, a butterfly, a bolt and a balloon. On the drawing, Luna’s had put black dot to represent, of what Cadance could guess, the correspond stars. She sighed “I understand why Velvet reacted like that. I well..”

Cadance stopped, using her horn to draw in the air with magic her fiancé’s and his sister’s cutie marks -a spell she learned from Luna. That drew Luna and Fleur’s attention. She pointed at the shield shaped form. “Shining got his cutie mark trying to protect his baby sister as I already told you. The thing is,” Cadance’s hoof moved at the top of the shield “For a while they came up with the belief that the three stars represented the family member he was protecting.”

Fleur clapped her hooves together. “Oh, I love this story, it’s so cute! Crystalbutt little star.”

“Yes. Well, Twilight was all crazy when her cutie mark showed five small stars like her brother.” Cadance chuckled and replaced some stars in Twilight’s cutie mark with ponies, a doll and a book. “Obviously Twilight being Twilight she filled it in with what she loved the most.”

Luna looked at Cadance changing the drawing and telling how the little stars changed meaning as both siblings grew up. There was a small blush on Cadance’s face when she talk about the day Shining said that she was one of his stars.

It was now obvious to Luna why their mother could be mad. Again she acted without thinking, maybe it was the proof that getting back at a ruling position was a bad idea. After Cadance finished her story and some questions about the dress from Fleur, she dismissed them.

As she watched the two mare go out the room, Princess Luna had one final thought: Why didn’t Cadance talk about Spike?

Air was knocked out of Twilight’s lungs when she left the realm of sleep, or rather was forced out by a filly bouncing on her.

“Mommy! Wake up! Wake up!”

“Oof,” Twilight said.

Seeing the positive result of her action, Morning got off her mother but kept talking. “Hurry up! We are gonna be late! I don’t want to be tardy!”

Twilight heard a chuckle coming from the young drake wearing an apron and holding a spatula, Spike watched the scene from the door leading to the kitchen.

“Hu, oh,” mumbled Twilight, then she grabbed the excited filly with her magic and brought her near her chest and kissed her on her forehead. ”Good morning, little star.”

Morning giggled, surprised by the impromptu forced hug. After a while of basking in her mother embrace, she wriggled out. “I love you mommy, but we must hurry!” she said and hurried toward the kitchen.

Twilight had slept on the couch near her desk in the library. She got on her four legs and yawned; she remembered falling asleep after working on preparing Dinky’s magic lesson. “Alright, let’s have some breakfast.”

The mare looked the filly rush in the kitchen and noticed a grinning Spike. He had his claw on his mouth. He blurted while laughing “She is so like you!”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but smiled. She was happy to see Morning being excited at the prospect of something she denied herself: going to a friend’s house. She had always turn off other ponies from her life when she was Morning’s age, figuring that her family and books were enough. Sadly her moving out from her parent’s house and her status as Celestia’s prized students did not help in any social endeavor. As she grew up, becoming close to a pony had became a problem.

She walked at a lazy pace to the kitchen, she was still sleepy, freeing all her saturday put her in the situation of studying very late at night. Before entering the kitchen she winced as an old scar make herself known. Twilight was a little worried, she had that nightmare again. But this time instead of holding a picture of the filly to remember her choice, she had taken the real pony. She shrugged those thought away and went to her seat.

Spike served pancakes to the mares in room. That was welcomed with smiles.

Morning was at her second honey covered pancake when she talk “You are gonna tell, Dinky?”

“Yes, yes” Twilight sighed. Morning had insisted for telling the truth to Dinky and she could not really said no. After all she had promised the filly that she would let pony knows she was her daughter after her birthday. She felt a bit silly lying to everypony about Morning, but it was what the Princess had proposed to get her friends comfortable with the idea of having a filly around Twilight.

The filly nearly jumped of happiness in her seat then grabbed another fresh made pancake. Twilight made herself another mug of coffee. “So Spike, not going with Rarity today?”

Spike keep watching his frying pan, “Nah, she is in Canterlot for one of Fancy’s party.”

Twilight continued “I thought you will want to go to Canterlot with her. Don’t you have a new series of comics to buy?”

Spike flipped the pancake “Hm, Shining will buy them probably. And I will spend the morning with Pinkie, it’s not that bad.”

Twilight took a sip of her coffee “What are you doing anyway?”

Spike put his last pancake on his plate and joined the mares at the kitchen table. “I help the Cakes with some order and I help Pinkie checking if she does not forget stuff for her parties. I think today she planned on repairing her welcome machine.”

The ears of Morning perked, she was finishing her glass of orange juice while listening to the exchange “Welcome machine?”

Spike answered “Oh yeah, it’s a weird box on wheels, you pull and lever and like… bam” Spike throw his arms open in the air. “It welcome you with confetti and cakes! I should ask Pinkie to show you one day.”

Morning giggled at Spike mime. Twilight just smiled behind her mug.

After eating breakfast, Twilight went to check on the saddlebags she had prepared the previous day. She had ordered two copies of Your unicorn foal and you, a book dedicated to parents of a unicorn foal that were not unicorn themselves. Twilight was a bit sad to discover the library did not already have a copy and since she wanted to give a copy to Ditzy, she also took one for the library.

Spike joined Twilight with a foiler emballed package “Here your sandwich for the picnic. I made the usual.”

Twilight grabbed the proffered package and put it in her saddlebags “Thank you, Spike” She patted the drake on the head “I don’t know what I will do without you.”

Spike blushed at the praise but replied ”I am sure you will find a way.”

Morning get back from her room with her own saddlebags filled with school homeworks and Woona resting on her head “I am ready!”

Twilight smiled, hide a yawn with one hoof and trotted out the library with Morning at her side.

After leaving Morning Star with Ditzy and Dinky at their modest house, Twilight went a scheduled picnic with her friends. With some fruit of hazard or Pinkie’s clever manipulation, she was seated near Rainbow Dash. But she was currently thinking about her morning. It had been a new experience for the mare. Telling the official truth about Morning had been surprisingly easy, Twilight did not even had issue convincing Ditzy to not tell other ponies.

She was still amazed how thing went for Morning. On her first day of school Morning had made a friend and herself gained a student, she had see Dinky at lunch the whole week, she was very different than Morning. Dinky was less demanding and could take care of herself, probably because she had only her mother and she was often left alone. Twilight liked Dinky, she was maybe not the smartest filly, but she was seriously invested in school.

She understood more about Dinky and her mother after spending a few hours at their house. It was a very modest house located on the edge of town. Twilight figured the mare did not earn that much money because there was little few fourniture and the wall could have be bare if not for the multiple pictures of Ditzy and her filly. It was not that much of a surprise, taking care of a Morning had put a nice strain on her own budget.

Twilight managed to learn a bit more about Ditzy when they left the two fillies play together. The pegasus mare left Cloudsdale when she learned Dinky was not a pegasus. She quickly find a job as the mailmare of Ponyville, it was not a great paid but she did not have much qualification to work for.

Twilight had spent most of the morning explaining to Dinky and Ditzy her plan for magic lessons and how Ditzy could help Dinky in her magic development even if she was not an unicorn. For Twilight, learning how to use your magic in daily thing was a good way to bond with your relatives, even if it was by simple encouragement from a non unicorn. She did not tell Rarity, but it was her main reason to not teach Sweetie Belle, she had hoped Rarity took the hint and guide her sister herself or see with her parent.

“Twilight?” her thought get interrupted by the gentle voice of Fluttershy asking her something.

Seeing a thermos in the yellow pegasus grasp, Twilight answered “Oh sorry. Yes Fluttershy I would like some tea.”

“You are not freaking out over a missing report?” Rainbow Dash said with a grin on her face

“Oh, I thought I would never be able to finish everything on time before today. Taking care of Morning full time pull me really on a stray. This last assignment was a nightmare I have to,” Twilight paused to yawn “finish yesterday because of Dinky’s lesson.”

Most of her friends smirked but Fluttershy beamed “Is so nice of you to help Miss Doo with her little Dinky.”

Applejack, who was polishing an apple remarked “Sugarcube, I will be mighty lost I don’t get a little bucker out of me.”

Rainbow dash grinned at the earth pony mare,“You need to find a stallion for that AJ.”

An angry frown appeared on the farm pony “I am not talking about that with ya.”

While their friend were friendly arguing or teasing each other, time seem to slow for Twilight as she felt the wings of Rainbow Dash touching her occasionally.

‘Rainbow Dash’s wings... must be soft too, it’s like a soft warm pillow’ The tired mind of Twilight thought. She unconsciously shift position and her head quickly found a nice position in Rainbow Dash’s side before falling asleep.

Fluttershy put a hoof in front of her mouth “Oh the poor dear.”

The other pegasus turned her head when she felt the unicorn hit her “Hu, Twilight?”

Pinkie grabbed Rainbow’s head and whispered in her ear, “No no no Dashie, don’t wake up her, she look so tired.”

***

A few hours later Twilight awake from a good nap. The soft pillow and the warm blanket were a nice feeling to wake up. The pillow was strangely soft and warm and- Twilight’s mind managed to process what the pillow was, she jerked from Rainbow side.

“Oh no, no, no!”

“Finally up, egghead?” Rainbow Dash, freed from the unicorn pressure, rise up and start stretching herself.

“I am so sorry Rainbow! So sorry!”

Rainbow Dash chuckled “I am the last pony to blame another pony to take a nap.”

Twilight face flushed with a tint of red “I… slept on you.”

“I am an awesome pillow, hey.”

“No, no, it’s not alright… I need to do something for you”

The pegasus waved one hoof in front of her, “Nah it’s fine.”

Lot of naughty ideas passed on Twilight’s head on how she could repay the pegasus, but this was not how she pictured the start of a normal relationship. She put a hoof on her chest to calm herself before talking “I...have two tickets for the Wonderbolt opening-”

Rainbow’s ears perked straight and she ended Twilight’s sentence “Tour? You are kidding me? You get tickets for this?”

“Yes?” Twilight herself was not a great fan of the Wonderbolts, it was a gift from Cadance. She remembered that it was the start of their new tour across Equestria.

Rainbow Dash did a small circle in the air “But all the tickets were sold in nearly two days!”

Twilight tried to not stutter too much her next sentence, her heartbeat was clearly higher than some minute ago “Well, wwould you like to come?”

“You bet I want!” She other mare replied. She took flight and start doing random trick in the air.

‘She say yes! Thank you Cadance!’ beamed Twilight internally while trying to not blush or smile too much.

Rainbow Dash landed, she placed a hoof behind her head “Thank you, Twilight. You really are a great friend.” she paused, watching behind Twilight “It’s not like the Gala… you know?”

“No, no, no. I mean, I don’t think I can have other tickets” In a sense Twilight was glad Rainbow brought this question, she did not want the others to know “Just don’t tell the other?”

“Yeah, sure!”, she took off leaving Twilight alone.

Twilight walked with a spring on her step, smiling and waving at everypony that greeted her on her way to Ditzy’s house. A huge smile on her face.

The gray pegasus opened the door when Twilight knocked “You look happy.”

Twilight hugged the mare and beamed “I have a date!”

Author's Note

Hm, this chapter took too much time to get done. It also appear that my editor hasn't a lot of free time now. That's delay a bit more it publication.

I will try to get the next one come out faster.

There is also a game for you: Who are the white stars in Twilight's cutie mark?

Chapter 8 - Friends, family or duty

In front of the moon princess was various pastry, freshly baked from the royal kitchen. It was probably a filly’s dream seeing donuts, tea, coffee, waffle cookies and all the Equestria modern patisserie could offer, especially so late in the day. Generally, Luna would be partaking generously in all of this -discovering new pastry was a guilty pleasure of hers- but like every dinner/breakfast with her sister it was a tense affair.

Even with her sister trying to make it a casual meal, with small talk about the mundane news of Canterlot or Ponyville. Luna was not at ease. She still did not felt like she deserved Celestia’s forgiveness about Nightmare Moon, and her sister refused to have a real talk about it. She kept saying that it was the past and they should focus on the future.

“Is something wrong, Luna? You still haven’t eaten anything.”

As much as she did not really like the idea of going against her sister -she was afraid it could be see rebellious act- she was concerned.

“Sorry, we...” Luna cleared her throat, it was still hard to stick to ‘modern’ equestrian especially when she let her feelings meddle in the conversation. “I learned that you force your student to stay in Ponyville. I was curious of why. That sounds harsh, did she do something to receive a harsh punishment? Cast away from her family here in Canterlot.”

There was an almost imperceptible flick on the left ears of the regal sun Princess, but it was enough for Luna to know it was maybe something she did not really want to talk about.

“I...Twilight is a wonderful pony. But I was afraid that without a nudge she will get back at shutting herself away. I might have told her firmly to stay in Ponyville for a while to enjoy the company of her newly acquired friends.”

“That seems to bring the ire of her family upon us. Could I dare say Captain Shining Armor and Mme Twilight Velvet were strongly hostile to this decision?”

Princess Celestia sighed. “I am afraid it’s an unfortunate consequence.” Her serene smile make its way back on her face. “But I am sure it was the best decision, after all, she is still in Ponyville and her diligent study of the magic of friendship allows her to overcome challenges like Discord.”

Princess Luna mused on the answer of her sister, on one hoof it was hard to deny the result of her actions, on another Twilight Sparkle seemed close to her family and breaking the bonds with what will officially be their family after Princess Cadance’s wedding was a concern. Maybe a small price to pay for Equestria peace?

“So do you feel ready to resume your duty, Luna? My nephew thinks you will do fine and I trust in you.”

Twilight was tucking Morning in her bed. It had started with a good day, especially after the previous relaxing day at the lake and the happy event of Dinky getting her cutie mark. The fillies had been really ecstatic when Twilight and Lyra came back with ice cream, happy to share the story and happy to devour the cold treat. But today quickly everything went dire after Twilight picked up Morning at school.

There was whispering among the foals and Dinky explained what happened during Granny Smith’s intervention. Other parents gave weird looks at Twilight and Morning. Surprisingly none asked her for an explanation and Twilight was fine with that.

Then, one hour after she was back at the library, an angry Applejack barged in and required her presence tomorrow at her farm to apologize to Granny Smith. Twilight agreed, but it was the start of more shouting when Applejack insisted that Morning should come too.

For Twilight, Morning had nothing to apologize and it was something that should be settled between adults. If she had somepony to blame, Twilight would choose her own mother that told this story to Morning. Dinner had been a quiet affair. Spike kept talking about the Cake Twins and Twilight promised to see them tomorrow after school since Morning was curious about them.

Twilight placed a kiss on the forehead of her filly “How you are feeling, sweetheart?”

“Tired.” replied shyly Morning.

“Tired? You look gloomy,” asked Twilight with concern.

“I said something I should not? Are you in trouble? I don’t want to lose you, mommy.”

Twilight get closer to her filly and said softly “Don’t worry, little star. I am sure everything will be fine tomorrow.”

Twilight was ready to leave the room when Morning interrupt her “Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“You are going to study, aren’t you?”

“Yes” Twilight could guess what Morning will say next, it was a question she asked herself more often lately.

“When are you done, will we get back in Canterlot with daddy?”

It was not the question she expected, but it was close enough “I don’t know, sweetie” Twilight looked at one of the pictures on the nightstand of Morning. She knew that in the drawer was pictures of the whole family, including her father. But this one was a picture taken by Lyra. It showed Dinky, her flank on display; a hoof passed around Morning neck. On the background were Ditzy and Twilight smiling.

“You are not happy to have Dinky here?”

Morning yawned and looked at the picture “Oh. Good night mommy.”

Twilight was surprised by her filly reaction. She planted a kiss on her forehead “Good night, little star.” and parted hoping tomorrow would be as she promised Morning.

Twilight was not alright. She had deposed Morning at school and went straight to the Apple family barn. Was waiting for her: two angry mares, a familiar orange one and her old grandmother. First
Applejack blamed her for not bringing Morning, considering school was not an excuse for proper apologies, then it was the older mare that just throw every insult she could imagine, including lot of tribalism against unicorns.

Twilight was a patient pony, but the verbal assault had been very violent. And after being told to never put a hoof on Sweet Apple Acre again, she teleported in her room to cry.

She cried, then stopped still unsure of why she was crying. Spike came check on her probably after hearing the pop of the teleportation.

“Did not go that’s well, hey?” he asked, his expression matching the small sadness of Twilight.

She simply nodded.

“There are still some of Ditzy’s muffins in the kitchen, do you want me to reheat one with some coffee?”

The ears of Twilight perked from their previous position of hanging low and she said with a small smile “Yes.”

“On it.” replied Spike and hurried out the bedroom.

Before the dragon closed the door, Twilight interrupted him, “Oh, one last thing Spike.”

“Yes?”

“I… am here for nopony, tell them... ”

“You are very busy.” he finished for the unicorn.

Spike get back later carrying a board with a muffin and a hot mug of coffee. Twilight caught everything with her magic and put them on her desk. She was currently eying a scroll, it was still blank. She took a bit of the muffin that tasted amazing, that bring another small smile on her face.

She crumbled what should have been a letter to the Princess, and picked up some comfort reading. She was still not sure about a lot of thing. Did that was the end of her friendship with Applejack? Her and Rainbow often bickered and there were still friends?

She was too conflicted in her head to even read the book she picked up. She was sad and mad at the same time, Granny Smith had insulted her family, and even if she probably did not go at length like the old mare to “protect mah family from inbreeding, good-fer-nothin’ unicorns lies” She cared a lot for her family. She would not mind just hugging Morning right now to get some comfort.

After one hour or more of brooding and not finding a comfortable position either on her bed or chair, somepony knocked on the door. Since it was not the sound of Spike’s claw, she did not answer immediately. But the repeated action brought Twilight to answer.

“I am not here.” she shouted at the door.

Twilight hear a small voice but did not manage to make what was said. “I did not catch that,” she said loudly at the door. After another inaudible mumble, she decided to open the door.

“Fluttershy?”

The butter coated pegasus emitted a meep of surprise at the other mare appearance, but she quickly regained her composure “I am sorry, I know you don’t want to be disturbed, but It’s important.”

“Ok?” answered Twilight, inviting the other mare to elaborate.

The eyes of Fluttershy opened wide “Oh? It’s Rainbow Dash. She is in the hospital. It’s… you should see her. I was at...” Fluttershy was not able to finish her explanation as Twilight disappeared in a flash of magic.

Asking the nurse at the reception where was the pegasus had been easy, Navigating the hospital have been easy. Excusing herself about bopping into other pony while dashing like a mad pony had been easy too. But now that she was in front of the right door she was worried. Was Rainbow Dash in danger? Did she crash again and this time it was more serious? Twilight took a calming deep breath like Cadance taught her before opening the door.

On the hospital bed was the pegasus mare with a bandage around her head, an eye patch and one of her leg was set in a cast. There was also a lot of paper forms scattered across the bed. At the side of Rainbow Dash was a dark coated pegasus with a straight mane, helping the mare with the form.

“Rainbow Dash! AAre you alright?” stammered Twilight, moving close to her friend.

“Hello, Twi. Don’t worry for me I am fine.”

Twilight was relieved seeing her friend talk and not sad, neither in pain “This does not like nothing” she said pointing at the eye patch and the cast.

Rainbow tried to bring her free hoof behind her neck, but she winced as she moved her head “Yeah, I should say you should see the other mare, but I got a good beating.”

Twilight gasped in shock “You get into a fight?! With who?”

“Duh, Applejack, who else?”

Twilight was not sure if she should be angry, happy or worried “Why?”

Rainbow did a small gesture to the stallion at her side and he poked the unicorn in the chest with one hoof. “Thank ‘Lane. I was moving some clouds near her house and I hear everything her stupid grandmother says to you. Really nasty stuff. So I after you were gone I went to Applejack to give her my two bits about her saying nothing. I mean come on! You don’t let your friend get spit on like this!”

The blue punched her bed with her free hoof “She just blathered her usual stupid family shit and well, we fight.”

Twilight felt on her rump. She was doomed, she could probably repair in some way her friendship with Applejack, but she made two of her friends fight and considering Rainbow Dash state it was not small bickering. Worse Princess Celestia could consider that she failed her mission at keeping her friendship and take her away Morning.

Thunderlane spoke “Miss Sparkle, are you alright?”

Twilight wiped the moisture at the corner of her eyes “I… am fine. I happy you are fine. Everything is fine” she eyed the paper forms providing a welcome distraction “What are these?”

Rainbow smiled with a large grin which looked really weird with one bandage holding a small ice pack on her cheek “Oh, you will like this! You see AJ always bother us to prioritize her farm because her family founded the town, and Cloudsdale always bothers us with complaints from the other farmers. So with Thunderlane, we were reviewing his mess of paperwork.”

“Your mess, boss.” the stallion smirked.

“Yeah, yeah, I though I paid you to do it for me?”

“You don’t pay me” jabbed back Thunderlane.

Twilight interrupted the exchange “So, what are you doing?”

“I don’t know yet, maybe found something to make them paid additional taxes or something.”

“You should not do that, friends don’t seek revenge upon other.” Twilight nearly shouted but quickly deflated “I was so worried for you, and you are you here…” She did not finish her sentence and broke into a sobbing mess on the floor.

She slowly curled into a ball on the floor muttering, “I don’t want to lose you.” while stroking her tail.

Thunderlane poked the mare “Are you alright?” getting no answer from the mare, he carried her on the empty bed near Rainbow Dash.

“Should I call a doctor?” he asked the other pegasus in the room, worries clear in his face.

Rainbow Dash just shrugged “Don’t know, first time I saw her like this.”

They decided to do nothing and after hearing Twilight muttering words like “my little star” between “I don’t want to lose you”. Then she quickly felt asleep.

Rainbow Dash punched again the bed in anger “I am gonna murder AJ and her dumb family.”

“Gonna gets out here first, boss,” the stallion chuckled.

The mare glared at him “Yeah, yeah. I should fill the form to make you the boss so you can stop calling me that.”

Thunderlane laughed, expecting the other mare to join in, but she remained fixed at one form in front of her.

“Seriously?” he asked.

“Dunno, maybe. Let’s find something in this first.”

Thunderlane and Rainbow Dash kept tossing paper around, Thunderlane was trying to organize everything in stacks, but it was hard with the lack of free space and Rainbow tossing occasionally a form in annoyance.

After an hour, there was a knock on the door and another pegasus entered the room.

“Hello, Ditzy.” Thunderlane smiled at the mare.

“Hi, Derpy” simply said Rainbow Dash.

Constating the state of the blue pegasus, Ditzy gasped “Oh Celestia, are you alright?”

Rainbow waved a hoof “I am fine, don’t worry.” then pointed at Twilight.

Derpy noticed the sleeping form of Twilight, rushed to her side “Oh the poor dear, what happened?”

Thunderlane answered, “We are not sure. Too much stress? She is not hurt, just sleeping.”

Ditzy nudged Twilight with her muzzle to see if she was responsive, she saw a small reaction of the mare and said softly “Wake up Twilight.”

The unicorn slowly opened one eye groggily “Hu.”

“Are you alright?” Ditzy said stepping away from Twilight but she got grabbed by the two forehooves of the mare.

“I don’t want to lose her” cried the mare, her head buried in Ditzy neck. Confused the pegasus mare put her wings on the unicorn back and started smoothing her like she could do with her filly after she had a bad dream.

After getting some smoothing, Twilight realized what she was doing and blushed “Oh, I am sorry, Ditzy.”

“Even big filly need a hug some time” Ditzy replied with a smile, offering a tissue from her saddlebag for the mare to wipe her tear.

Ditzy turned her head toward Thunderlane “Well, I have a letter for the one of you” She dug in her saddlebag to retrieve a letter and the notepad.

Thunderlane rise up from his sit, grabbing the proffered notepad, sign it and took the letter.

The gray pegasus noticed Twilight getting up from her bed “Would you like to stay?” She winked at Twilight making a mention of her head toward Rainbow Dash “I can take care of the fillies if you want.”

Twilight smiled at the implication, but shook her head “No, no. I think it will be fine. Don’t run into problems with your job for me.”

After Ditzy was gone, Twilight apologized for her nervous breakdown. Rainbow Dash had just laughed and said that at least she did not mess up with the whole town. The small nap had been relaxing and calming, but it had the insidious effect and forcing Twilight’s body to tell her mind to get more rest.

She was still worried about her friends, but she had to put a smile on her face to not worry Morning and Dinky. She did not want the Morning to feel guilty for something out of her control.

She reached the school and like this morning, there were many parents that give her weird look. Twilight knew that they wanted to probably hear the story Granny Smith was hiding. She sighed internally, knowing that she could not excuse herself this time. The fillies and colts were more interested in leaving the school.

Morning and Dinky joined her, but they were accompanied by a smiling Cheerilee. The smile was not totally genuine. “Ha hello, miss Sparkle, may I have a word with you?” She gestured at the school house with her muzzle.

“Sure, can you wait here quietly?” Twilight smiled to Morning and Dinky. Both nodded and Twilight followed Cheerilee inside the school.

The teacher brought her, not in the classroom, but her own desk that was more isolated than the classroom. She invited the mare to sit on a chair while she took place in her own.

“Sorry, to bring you here, but I have some questions for you. Since a lot of parents bothered me with that. Why Morning said that Granny Smith was lying?”

Twilight crossed her hooves, she was a bit nervous. “You want the whole story?” Cheerilee nodded so she started “Alright. You have to know that it’s from my mother doing some research. After Princess Celestia moved the capital to Canterlot and the Everfree started growing wild, the lands in the area lost most of their values. The owners, mostly noble, managed to sell parcels to anypony dumb to think it was a good deal. It quickly worth nothing. But some time ago, A rich stallion decided to fulfill his dream of owning land and offer more than money to his family. He spends a lot of bits in studies to see how viable what will become Ponyville could be, and after some time convincing the authority and the crown, he finally gets everything to start his project of building a new town.”

Twilight paused in her lecture “The stallion was generous and was willing to sell parcels of the land to ponies willing to follow him in his project. That when the Apple family came. They were not willing to pay a single bit, considering that the zap apple tree were the mark of the land belonging to them. Well, that what was considering their motive for the whole ordeal. They send one of their younger members to seduce the son and the heir of the family”

Cheerilee interrupted her “Sorry, but I am not a foal. who was the stallion?”

Twilight sighed “Trevor Rich from the Rich family.”

The teacher’s eyes opened in shock and brought a hoof in front of her mouth. “Oh, so...”

“Well, the rest is not really a foal tale. The son get convinced to give the whole Ponyville area as a engagement gift, and some months after, his father die, then himself disappeared in the Everfree Forest. Luckily for the Rich family, the brother of Trevor asked the crown for preventing the Apple Family to get his brother dream. But there was not enough direct evidence against them. Princess Celestia decided to let the Apple Family have the orchards, but they always had to work with the Rich family to sell everything outside Ponyville.”

Miss Cheerilee closed her mouth, “Wow, you are sure about that? I never heard of that before. We always had Granny Smith version.”

“Yes, I know it does not depict the Apple Family in a bright way, but as the Princess teach me, don’t judge ponies from their past.”

“A good lesson.” Cheerilee paused to fidget with a paper on her desk “Now, you put me in a bad situation. You know I am in the city council?”

Twilight was not sure why Cheerilee asked that, she was the one that helped the town to bring the school students to visit Canterlot so she deal with some ponies of the council, Cheerilee included “Yes.”

Cheerilee pushed the document in the sight of Twilight who panicked a bit seeing what was the paper “I did not want to pry into your private life, but I found that while searching something. Why lying about Morning Star? It’s a noble task to adopt a filly.”

Today was definitely not a good day for Twilight, at least, this was something she could handle, she just had to tell Cheerilee what she told Ditzy.

“I know that will sound crazy, but… Princess Celestia does not like this to be know. You see Morning was originally an exercise for me. The Princess wanted to see if I was able to teach what I was taught. Morning was a young orphan gifted with magic, but the more and more I was giving her lesson, the more I get attached to her.”

“I can relate to that,” said Cheerilee with a smile.

“When I asked if could adopt her, the Princess thought I was too young, not ready for what come taking care of a filly and that she will be a distraction from my studies. I was sad, but my parents adopted her in my stead. Now that I legally have the age for adoption, well she is… mine. But please don’t tell ponies yet… Princess Celestia thinks it could hurt my credibility as her student if I was hiding thing.”

Cheerilee put the paper back in one of the drawer “Don’t worry. I was just worried something happened to your parent and you were forced to take care of her. Still that sounds silly. I don’t know why Princess Celestia will be against such a kind act.”

Twilight forced a smile “Thank for your concern. Is that will be all?” she asked while rising from her chair.

“Yes, don’t make your daughter wait.” Cheerilee winked at the mare.

“No, No, Twilight. You are distracted, again. Let’s stop for today.” said Lyra firmly.

“I don’t have time for that!” shouted in reply Twilight.

Lyra put a hoof on the purple mare chest “Listen, Twilight. I live with the most stubborn earth pony alive, she can lose herself in work to avoid talking out her issue. You have the same look and nothing good will came out of practicing. I am not dealing with that.”

Twilight was taken aback by Lyra hardened stance, she shook her head “Sorry, I am sorry. I should not have shouted at you.”

Lyra smiled “It’s alright. So let’s stop?”

“Yes, yes, you are right.” Twilight moved upstair where was napping Spike. On a normal day, she would have scolded him, but she closed the library after lot of ponies came, more interested in gossip than books.

She watched the water boil in the kettle. Lyra was right, she had too much on her mind to work on anything. She was a bit scared too, what if ponies get curious about her own private life? There was no way they could learn the truth, the Princess was covering her track since it could harm too many ponies, including her. The whistling of the kettle pulled out her thought.

She got back in the basement with two mugs, a bag of tea leaves and the kettle. She was welcomed with the sound of the harp. She took a seat in silence to listen to Lyra. It was something she enjoyed. Lyra had moved her harp from Canterlot to her basement to practice from the wedding. The mint mare had asked because it was probably one of the safest places in Ponyville and was annoying to take the train just to practice.

When Lyra stopped, Twilight offered her a mug of tea. The other mare grabbed it with her own magic.

“I loved that in you,” Twilight said abruptly blowing on her mug.

“Sorry?”

“I could some time watch you practicing your lyre. You always have this small smile. I was tempted to told you about Morning.”

Lyra smiled “Bonbon told me the same thing, You loved me, then?”

“Maybe. Cadance asked to either trust you or stop our relation. But I was too confused, too risky. what if you didn’t like me? What if you told ponies about Morning?” Twilight sighed.

“Yes, I can understand” replied Lyra, she then finished her tea and get back at practicing the harp.

Morning was leaning on the border of the crib as was Dinky, their hooves resting on the top of it. They both watched the sleeping form of two foals, a small unicorn and a small pegasus. Both fillies eyes were wide opened in wonder.

“Girls, don’t put your hooves on the crib” scolded softly the voice of Twilight.

Morning complied, getting back on her four, followed by Dinky. But seeing that the bar of the crib blocked the view she levitated Woona on the head of her mother and hopped on her back. Twilight rolled her eyes but moved her barrel closer to the crib to let the filly have a better view.

“They are so tiny!” blurted Morning.

This time, it was Dinky that scolded her whispering from a similar post on her mother back “Ssh, don’t wake them.”

“Sorry” apologized the pink filly while the mares in the room giggled. She continued to just watch while the adult were whispering among them.

Morning and Dinky witnessed one of the foal fluttered her eyes open, opened her mouth wide and started crying, waking her twin brother. Morning looked at Dinky “Did we do something wrong?”

Mrs. Cake was the one the answer as she moved closer to the crib “Oh no, they are probably hungry.”

“And in need of a change” giggled Ditzy after taking a quick sniff with her muzzle.

Morning pinched her muzzle with her hoof and backed away from the crib, followed by Dinky. She watched Mrs. Cake picked the filly with her mouth and put her on the changing area. Her own mother picked up the colt with her magic.

“Let me help you with that,” Twilight said.

Dinky moved near Morning and whispered “You are lucky, Woona does not potty.”

“Woona is a grow up filly” giggled Morning while levitating back to her said plushie.

“Magic is very handy!” said Mr. Cake watching Twilight helping his wife with changing the twins.

Mrs Cake finished changing Pumpkin and picked up his brother to put them back on the crib “You sure are used to doing that Miss Sparkle. You must have helped your mother with your sister.”

The unicorn replied sheepishly “Oh, right, hehe. I helped my mother.”

Luckily for Twilight, Dinky poked her with a hoof “Yes, Dinky?”

“Why they are not earth pony?” this was the start of an improvised lesson on genetic from Twilight, to which Morning listened attentively.

***

Twilight was putting Morning in her bed after this tiresome day. For once she would be going to bed shortly after the filly, she did not really feel like studying too late. Before she left the filly bedroom, Morning asked her a question:

“Do you think I will have a little brother or sister one day? I want a little brother!”

Twilight giggled and smiled at the thought “I am pretty sure your daddy will work on it after his wedding.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the loooooong wait for this chapter.

For people figuring who is Morning Star father, what Twilight said is that it is very likely that he has a foal with his future wife :) (So not Twilight)

Chapter 9 - Date day, part 1

Previously on Morning in Ponyville:
Twilight Sparkle get back after her 21st birthday in Ponyville with a filly, Morning Star, introduced as her little sister but it turns out it's really her daughter. The filly made friend with Dinky Doo and Twilight made new friends in form of Lyra, Bonbon and Ditzy Doo. During a day at school, the filly reveals that Granny Smith was lying about the founding of Ponyville. The truth is the Apples tricked the Rich family and stole their land. Meanwhile, Twilight managed to set a date to spend a day with Rainbow Dash with whom she had a crush

Princess Luna ears barely flicked when she heard the door of her room open. Since her guards were here to filter any unwelcome visitor that only left three ponies that could enter unannounced, Prince Blueblood enjoyed his title and everything that went with it so he could not let the occasion of a formal announcement from her guards goes by. Her sister would mindful to startle her by just entering without even knocking. That only left one mare, a mare she was happy to get visits from.

Princess Cadance was the pony she misjudged the most on her first meeting. Luna had been surprised at how the other alicorn had just been happy to welcome another pony in her family. Cadance was the sole pony that talk to her like a friend and family. Princess Luna was not sure if it was because she had no history with the pink alicorn or Cadance was just a very welcoming pony. But she had a faint idea that she had another hidden goal in mind that just sharing time with a family member.

“Good evening, Cadance. I am over here” Luna called from a side room where she stored various art supplies.

“Ooh, what are you trying today?” a pink head entered the field of vision of Luna.

Luna stared at her painting, it was a tame scenery, a unicorn and a pegasus sited near a lake, their tails interwove, an obvious sign of two ponies in love. “Nothing, I just remembered an old painting that got his creator killed.”

Cadance craned her head above the easel to have a peek at the painting “How so?”

“It’s a story for another time.” as much as she was happy to talk about the ponies of old time, Princess Luna was not always in the mood for it “How was your day at this exchange fair?”

Princess Cadance groaned “Tiresome” she flopped ungracefully on a cushion she levitated from the main room “Sometimes I feel like this is some sort of punishment your sister gave to me and Blueblood. Maybe you should go next time.”

“Pass, I think that is the saying?”

Cadance smiled “Yes, yes. Anyway, it was like always, setting arguments between ponies that can’t use their brain most of the time,” she rolled her eyes “I swear.” she paused “At least I traded a lot of my stuff!”

“Your stuff. Is that a replacement word for your belongings?” Princess Cadance nodded “So what was your stuff?”

The pink mare beamed “Love letters and poems!” she laughed.

Princess Luna ears flickered “You write poetry?”

“Oh no no, I am pretty bad at it. I leave that to other. It was stuff I wrote when I was a teenager.” Cadance cleared her throat and raise her head.

“You are hot
Like your white coat
I want to feel you in my arms
So I can smell your mane”

Luna put a hoof in front of her mouth to hide the beginning of the laugh “A wise choice.”

Twilight was combing her mane for what was maybe the tenth time. It had to be perfect, this was an important day, she was nervous.

“You should stop doing that, you will just make it all dry.”

The mare stopped her movement, pointing the brush she was holding to her number one assistant. “Since when you know things in mane and tail care?”

“Hehe,” he just replied.

The mare smiled “You read a book to impress Rarity, don’t you?”

Spike gaze dropped to the floor “Yeah” He looked at the brush pointed to him “am I that predictable?”

Twilight released her magic hold on the brush and it felt on the floor “Are you alright?”

“Don’t worry about me. You have enough to worry about your date and all the Apple stuff.”

Twilight grabbed the brush again and put it on a nearby bookshelf. It was one thing to be nervous for what was maybe her first real date, but another to let down somepony from her family “Listen Spike, you are may not be my son, but I care for you. I can stop worrying about me for five minutes and listen to my number one assistant problem.”

“I told her” Twilight opened her mouth to speak but Spike cut her “Nah, not that.” He paused to let the mare recompose herself.

“She was talking again about Fancy and I tell her he was already engaged with Fleur.”

“Ho, did you…?”

“Na, I told her I saw that in one of her magazines.”

Twilight let out a sigh of release, Spike caught the action “You should stop worrying for nothing, you are Princess Celestia’s student. Why do you think ponies will mind you knowing other important ponies, especially your friends.”

“You don’t understand Spike. It’s… whatever, what happened them?”

The ears of Spike dropped on the back of his head “Not much. She cried and I told her I was always here for her.”

Twilight smiled “Oh that’s sweet.” but seeing the downcast expression of the dragon she restated “It did not go well?”

“I don’t know. She said that was cute, but I was maybe not a good partner for her.”

Twilight was a bit confused, it was something she expected to have to deal one day or another: Spike getting back in tears after Rarity finally stopped playing with his feeling for her. But he was not doing a big drama like Morning could do when something minor happened to her.

“You don’t feel so sad.” Twilight finally concluded.

“Yeah, I don’t know.” He paused looking at his claws “Lately I have been thinking of what Cadance told me.”

Twilight was a bit curious and asked: “What did she tell you?”

“To look at other pony interaction. Yes, I know it sounded like one of Princess Celestia advice.” He chuckled to himself.

Twilight pondered Cadance’s advice trying to know how it was relevant to Spike. Cadance had been a bit worried about Spike’s crush on Rarity, not because it was wrong for Spike to have young crushes but she had been concerned with Rarity toying with Spike’s helpful nature.

“I think I got it now.” continued Spike “When I help Pinkie Pie, she asks and listens to my advice, or just laughs. Like she is really a friend? Rarity, she just kinda orders me. Well, a bit like you.”

A frown formed on Twilight head “I am not sure to follow. But are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah” Spike extended one arm toward the mare “Don’t twist your head with me and enjoy your day, ok?”

“Ok, ok” concluded Twilight and watched Spike grabbing a broom. She watched her brush, considering another pass to her mane and tail. but it got snatched by Spike.

“Nope. Now out while I clean here so I have time to make lunch!” He pushed the hindlegs of the mare “Hush Hush, and no using your spare brush in the bathroom too.”

Twilight found herself outside her room, in front of her door that got slammed on her face. She sighed and looked at the bathroom door, where she could find another brush and giggled to herself. Spike knew her too well.

With nothing left to do, she decided to head to Morning’s room. When she opened the door, she was welcomed with a mess. Morning’s case was on her bed, half open and overloaded as if the filly had put everything in her room inside.

“Ooh, I see a filly eager for her first sleepover!” Twilight smiled and clapped her hooves, interrupting the excited mass buried under a blanket that managed to land on the floor.

“Haa!” shouted Morning in surprise. She fumbled with her magic and her hooves to get out the blanket. When done she faced her mother “Don’t scare me, mommy! I need to be ready!”

Twilight levitating the blanket and folded it neatly in a corner of the bed. Revealing that on the floor was the book on sleepover she already used.

“Someone has been studying,” she said levitating the book toward her, and grabbed everything that the filly had throw in the suitcase “You are not moving to Ditzy’s house, just staying for the night.”

Morning frowned at her mother having removed everything she put lot of efforts to fit in. “Mommy! I spend the whole morning doing that!”

Twilight smiled at the filly “Let me help you.”

***

After packing a more reasonable number of item in Morning bag like her toothbrush, her pyjamas and obviously the book on sleepovers, Morning and Twilight took a quick lunch. Then Spike departed to help Pinkie Pie with a party and Ditzy came to take Morning for the day and the night. But before Twilight could relax or do more preparation for her big day she got a surprise visit from Lyra and Bonbon.

“No, too much,” said Lyra after Bonbon tried to curl Twilight’s mane.

“You don’t have to do that.” sighed Twilight for maybe the fourth time. She felt like the first time she met Rarity, transformed into some sort of play doll. She was surrounded by mare care product, reminding her of Cadance’s bathroom. She was not sure if most of it belonged to Lyra or Bonbon

“Tutut” Lyra waved a brush toward her. When she was not criticizing Bonbon’s work she was working on the unicorn’s tail. “Knowing you, you either would go overboard with the whole thing, or just too casual. It’s a date, even if the lucky mare doesn’t know it, you have to send some sort of signal.”

Twilight didn’t even realize when it was over. She had to admit Lyra and Bonbon knew what they were doing. They helped her choose a casual dress, redo her makeup and they just add a bit of curl and luster at her usual tail and mane style. It’s not like she could have asked Rarity for help, for all her qualities, the mare was too curious.

The whole process had been relaxing and a bit funny hearing the two mares bickering with each other over small details. They helped her set up her air balloon to reach Rainbow Dash house. She had been careful to not mess her casual pink spring dress while waiting for the balloon to have enough altitude.

After casting the cloud-walking spell on herself, Twilight got out the balloon and knocked on the wooden door.

“Wow, Twilight you look great” just said Rainbow Dash after opening her door “You know, it’s not a fancy Canterlot party.”

Twilight refrained herself from telling the pegasus that she was dressed like this for her but she already had time to find an excuse during her small trip. “Well, it’s VIP ticket, and we can meet the team after the show.” She smiled “I wanted to look presentable.”

Rainbow eyes widened “For real? Wow, let me fix myself real quick.”

Twilight hear a lot of strange noises coming from the pegasus house, and after some, what she guessed was muttered curses, the door of Rainbow Dash’s house opened again.

Twilight stared month agape at the mare in front of her. The pegasus had a light pink short dress that covered her barrel from her foreleg sleeves to her back legs. She had laced a semi-translucent blue cape on top of it. The tip of the cape had a ribbon of yellow lace. The mare also had combed her mane a bit. It was not as elaborate as her Gala dress but in Twilight’s opinion it was fitting her well

Twilight blushed “You look good with that.”

“Oh yeah. I guess it’s alright. My dad offered me that” She looked around and chuckled “Don’t tell Rarity I have that. I am pretty sure she will make it all froufrouty or whatever.” She looked at Twilight’s air balloon “Want me to pull that?”

After finding a place to park Twilight air balloon, Rainbow Dash guided them to the stadium that was hosting the Wonderbolts premiere. They quickly make their way to the V.I.P lounge and were greeted by the 2 stallions guarding the entrance upon seeing their tickets.

“Twilight cherie!” a white unicorn rushed to place a kiss on each cheek of Twilight. Then she did a courtesy nod to the blue pegasus “Miss Dash.”

Visibly that surprised Rainbow Dash “Hu, Hello. Mme?”

“It’s only Miss for now” she giggled grabbing the foreleg the white unicorn stallion at her side “Fleur de Lis, but you can call me Fleur. And this one is mine.”

The stallion bowed “Fancy Pants, a pleasure to meet a fine athlete such as yourself.”

Rainbow blushed at the compliment “Ho Thank. Hey, oh it’s you the Fancy Pants!”

The stallion readjusted his monocle “Well, I am not sure what bring the ‘the’, but yes it’s my name.”

“You are the stallion Rarity all talk about.” comprehension hit Rainbow of the previous mare words “Oh I can’t wait to tell her you already found a mare.”

“Found is a great word. My dear Fleur can be quite entreprenante.” He received a violent blow from Fleur and continued “We are actually engaged.”

“Oh well. Congratulation” replied Rainbow Dash.

Somepony cleared his throat and a masculine voice make itself heard “Can you move out the way.” Everypony turned their head to the stallion and quickly move out and bowed to the white unicorn with a blond mane, except for a confused Rainbow Dash.

Instead of moving immediately toward a seat, the stallion stopped in front of Twilight and took her hoof to place a kiss on it “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sparkle.”

“The honor is mine, your highness,” replied Twilight, a small blush on her face, despite being more into mares it was hard to deny the charm Prince Blueblood radiated. She never figured if it was because he took an extreme care of his appearance or it was somehow natural.

The prince looked at Rainbow Dash, then back to Twilight “I hope this one is a more pleasant company than your other friend.” he concluded while making his way on an isolated part of the VIP lounge.

Rainbow Dash wings were tense and if she did not have her left hoof in a cast he would not thought twice before imaging planting a hoof on his face.

Twilight sighed but fixed her gaze on some seats on the front row. She pointed the seats to her pegasus friend. Rainbow took off and hovered to take place in one of them.

Fleur leaned toward Twilight “Je peux te donner l’adresse d’un bon hotel si tu veux finir la soirée avec ton amie” she winked. Twilight felt her cheek heated at the suggestion, but before she could scold her, Fleur was already back to clinging Fancy Pant to share a small laugh at her expense.

Twilight finally took a seat after trying to get her heartbeat back at a normal rhythm, I am on a date with Rainbow Dash!

“You know all these fancy ponies? And who was this stallion?” said the mare, a frown on her face.

“He is Prince Blueblood. Princess Celestia’s adopted nephew. But I am not sure why he is not in the royal lodge.”

Rainbow Dash straight up on the comfy cushion seat “It’s him Blueblood! The one that makes Rarity mad? He sounds like he likes you.” the mare teased.

“Oh, uh” She tried to dismiss the idea even if the Prince already showed some interest for her “And don’t worry about what he said to you, he has his humor.”

“Na I get it. I guess Rarity did not leave a good impression on him. She went full gold digger mode.” the pegasus faked a laugh. “Sorry about that.” she looked at the rest of the stadium that was slowly filling with ponies, mainly pegasus.

Twilight looked at Rainbow that was smiling, she followed her gaze. The last time she was in this stadium she was both worried and excited to see the pegasus performance and did not pay much attention to the rest of the crowd. There were a lot of ponies bringing their foals, wearing Wonderbolts related merchandise.

“Man, That reminds me when my dad brought me the first time to one of their shows. It was so amazing! I saw them and I was like, I want to be like them! I even bothered my dad to buy all their stuff.” the mare chuckled.

That hit a sour spot on Twilight as she understood the parental pride to show new things to your foal, something difficult for her without having ponies asking questions about Morning. That did not prevent to try to project herself at some mares dragging their pegasus foals. Imagining being with Morning and the filly’s father. Maybe she could bring Ditzy and Dinky too, the pegasus mother probably did not have the money to pay for someone to cast a cloud-walking spell on her filly to keep her safe.

“Oh, I almost forgot. My dad wants to meet you. He was mad that I gave you girls a visit of the factory without introducing you to him.” Rainbow’s ears perked.

“The factory? Your father works at the weather factory?” inquired Twilight

“Yes, he is one of the managers. He is in dispatch. You know, what goes where and stuff?” Rainbow waved her hoof from left to right.

“Wow, that must be a big responsibility.” Twilight was surprised, she did not expect a job so serious for the father of a quite careless mare.

“Yeah, mostly complicated paperwork.” said dismissively the pegasus.

Twilight was happy to have Rainbow talking about her family, it was maybe a sign she was “What about your mother?”

“I don’t have a mother.” replied flatly the other mare.

“Oh, I am sorry. Rainbow.”

“Na. She is not dead or anything, actually I don’t know. She left my dad after I was born. My dad said she was scared of being a mother.” she frowned “Seriously, that’s lame, if she loved my dad she would had stayed?”

“Oh. Well raising a foal is stressful and can be scary.” the unicorn said with certainty.

“You sound like my father.”

Realizing her mistake Twilight stuttered “I mean I looked my mother raise Morning. It looks like a lot of work.”

“Probably.” Rainbow Dash just shrugged “Hey, is that Princess Luna up here?” she pointed at the royal lounge where had just entered the Night Princess and two thestrals guard in their purple armor.

Twilight looked in the direction , she was surprised to see the Princess here. Cadance told her that she was mostly a recluse, spending a lot of time studying history and modern mores.

“Her guards look so awesome. Hey, egghead, are they really batpony or it’s magic stuff like all guard?”

“Don’t call me egghead, please?” Twilight cursed herself, she nearly talked like she was scolding Morning, the whole Apple family business had put her in edge. “Sorry.”

“Oh, yeah? Smartflank?” Rainbow chuckled

Twilight smiled, “Well, to answer your question. They are called thestral. They are their own race of pony but they share some similitude with other, mostly with pegasus. They use their inner magic to fly, but from what I gathered it’s very different from pegasus flying. Ponies associate them with bats because of their fangs and leathery wing, but they don’t drink blood, neither they eat meat, and...”

During Twilight lecture on thestrals society, the stadium was getting full. A pegasus gathered clouds toward the center of the stadium and make them take the shape of a larger platform. When he was done, another pegasus came carrying a microphone on a pole. A yellow pegasus mare with a fierce orange mane landed in front of it and cleared her throat.

Rainbow Dash cut Twilight lengthy explanation of the history of the thestral “Hey, look it’s Captain Spitfire!”

Twilight stopped and looked down at the mare in her official Captain uniform where some pinned medals were reflecting the sun.

“Greeting, Wonderbolts’ fan.” she paused, waiting for the audience to calm down “It’s a pleasure to see so many of you today for the launch of our new show, but before we start. A special guest has some words for you.” the mare did a gesture toward the royal lounge.

Princess Luna took off and landed gracefully near the smaller mare. “Thank thee, Captain Spitfire.” the Princess give a courtesy nod to the captain. Spitfire put herself on the back of the stage. Without approaching the microphone, the princess shouted loud and clear for the whole stadium to hear.

“Good afternoon, citizens of Cloudsdale” she paused, looking at the the various non-pegasi in the crowd “citizens from all over Equestria” the Princess gaze moved again “And we have people from other nations as well.” she said cheerfully.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be here among you for the incoming performance of accomplished flyers, the Wonderbolts. Like many ponies here and probably foals, it’s my first attendance to a spectacle like this one.”

“Maybe I can share with you a bit of the history of Equestria, Not about the Wonderbolts, because I am pretty sure a lot of, fans, I guess is the word for that?” she looked at Spitfire who nodded in agreement “know probably better than the Wonderbolts themselves.” the Captain chuckled.

“In the old Equestria, It was rare to see pegasus show their aerial mastery for the behalf of other. Showing incredible maneuver was mostly used to find a mate if you were a stallion, I hope it’s still a common practice.” She turned her head toward a stallion that was seated near a mare and winked, both of them blushed having gathered the attention of the crowd “I was always fond of pegasus suitors doing their best to impress me or my sister.” The princess took a more serious face “Or in the Equestria Air force as training against the numerous skrimishes with the old griffon Empire. Being proficient in the air was a matter of life and death.”

Singing a silly tune that was stuck in his head because of Pinkie Pie, Spike dried his claws before moving to the main area of SugarCube Corner. He took an empty chair near the counter where Mme Cake was rearranging the freshly baked goods with the one already there. According to Pinkie, it was the time for a small respite between two rushes. But for Spike, Ponyville rush was not really impressive, he often went to Donut Joe in Canterlot and in some hours the place could be crazy crowded.

“And here two donuts with surprise filling and extra ruby sprinkle!” Beamed Pinkie Pie bringing a tray with some treats for her and the donuts for Spike.

“Thank you, Pinkie. Should I ask what is the surprise filling?”

“Nope, silly!” She seated in the chair facing Spike and start nibbling on a cupcake without leaving her gaze off him to pray his reactions.

Spike took a bit of the donut and smiled, the flavor was really interesting “Hey, that’s good, it’s sweet and spicy.” He took another bit and put the donuts in front of him to think. “Apple?”

“Oooh close!”

Spike paused, he took a guess “Granny smith?” He looked at the color of the filling and proposed “Rainbow Dash Apple?”

Pinkie Pie almost split her cupcakes and laughed her heart's content. That even gathered the attention of Mme Cake that stopped in her task but the older mare just shrugged

“Oh Spike, that a good one.” She grabbed another cupcake “but nope, It’s zap apple jam.”

“Zap Apple? It’s great. You don’t sell that stuff?” Pinkie Pie always taught Spike some recipes before getting into planning stuff, it was also a way to help the Cakes a bit. It also had the perk to get free samples that make some fillies happy.

It was Mme Cake that answered “Oh. Well with ponies not trusting the Apples now, it was a bit risky to sell some.”

Pinkie enthusiasm deflated a bit at the reminder and she finished her cupcakes silently. The ponies of Ponyville did not take well the news of being lied about the founding of Ponyville. But the worse was that Pinkie tried to have Applejack to apologize for her silly words toward Twilight and Morning. All she got was silly talk like unicorns should not be trusted. For Pinkie, that sounded like the means ponies during the Heart’s warning pageant. Pinkie did not understand this, everyponies were awesome. Unicorns were awesome with their magic! Pegasus were awesome with their wings! Earth ponies were awesome for growing flowers and baking cakes! She looked at Spike. Baby drakes were also awesome for… she did not know what, but his claws were awesome!

“Hey Spike, what do you want to do later?”

Spike, who had just finished another donut answered: “I don’t know, are we supposed to check Snails’ birthday stuff?”

“No silly, and yes silly” the pink mare giggled at her own joke “I mean later, you know when Twilight finishes her studies.”

“I don’t know. I will stay with Twilight?” Spike put down the last donut in the plate and stared at it while thinking of Pinkie question. He did not have time to think much as a loud bang signaled the opening of the bakery door with too much force, or without care.

“Ha, Spike! Mighty lucky to find ya here.”

Mme Cake glared at the orange earth pony mare “Your hat, please.”

Applejack grumbled and removed her hat, taking a letter from it, she trotted toward Spike “Ya will send that letter to the Princess, Spike. So she could confirm mah family is honest like an apple.”

Spike crossed his arms “No.”

She raised her tone “Ya good for nathing vermit, ya will send that letter, l’right now. Or I swear to Tartarus-.”

She did not manage to finish her sentence as Pinkie moved in front of Spike holding a cupcake “Cupcake? Apples! Your favorite!”

“Not right now, Pinkie.” she slapped the hoof holding the pastry.

Everypony in the room watched as the cupcake slowly descended to the floor. In the time it takes for the cupcake to land, various thing happened: 2 customers rushed around Applejack, Mme Cake grabbed a dishcloth, Spike got up his chair to stand at Pinkie Pie side.

“What now?” Applejack looked angrily at the stallions.

“I think it’s better if you get back to your farm to, you know, to do apple stuff?” said one of them.

“Ain’t talkin to ya. I have a letter to send.”

Spike looked at the upset mare. Applejack already had bothered Twilight to contact the Princess, but Twilight not sure what to do, just tried to reason with the farmer. Himself had felt insulted by Applejack, especially by fact that the earth pony tries to involve Morning. Spike himself felt sorry for Morning. She had felt guilty for the whole disaster. Luckily for the filly she had Twilight and Dinky to console her. Spike knew the situation was tense especially considering he could see moisture forming in the corner of Pinkie eyes.

He decided to offer a solution to the farmer “Hm. Applejack. If you want to discuss with the Princess. I am sure she will welcome you during her court.”

“Ain’t no time for that. I have an honest job to do.” she stomped a hoof on the hard floor on the bakery “Now send this letter, or-”

“Out of my shop!” said sternly Mme Cake, she was only carrying her wipe cloth as a weapon, but she had the look of somepony that patience was already strained, like a new mother having twins under her care.

Applejack took less time than the 2 ponies around her to react. She put her hat back and grumbled while getting out of the bakery.

“I was speaking to all of you” the angry mother glared at the two stallions that tried to help.

“We were just-”

“I am not in the mood, out!”

When the two ponies were out she sighed “This is getting annoying.” she looked at Pinkie who was crying but had already Spike giving her a warm hug. Mme Cake felt sad for Pinkie, she was glad Spike was often here because she barely had time with her twins to cheer up the young mare lately.

As far as she remembered, the Apple family always had a strong influence in Ponyville and their members were respected. You needed to be on good terms with them to have a successful business in Ponyville.

But now it had changed. Every foal had told their parent about Twilight’s sister refuting the story Granny Smith liked to tell everypony about the founding of Ponyville. Spike had told her a lot of ponies passed at the library to have the full story. And with the gossip everypony were quickly in the know. Every inhabitant of Ponyville was taking any occasion to split on the Apple family.

Personally, Mme Cake blamed Twilight Sparkle, the poor mare was maybe too honest for her own good, maybe the Apples were not that honest but they never did something really wrong. And to see them now nearly lowered to the same level as demons just because of something that happened in the past was sad.

Author's Note

I am really sorry for the long wait and sorry to separate this chapter in two. I have to because editing over 4000 words is a bit of a struggle for me. I am not sure when the next chapter will come (I hope not after 6 months) The good news is I finally planned all the remaining chapters :)

Rainbow Dash dress looks like this https://derpibooru.org/854885 minus the accessories.

Chapter 9 - Date day, part 2

Morning was in the bathroom of her friend house, specifically in the bathtub. It was smaller than the one of Cady and Daddy but it was big enough for two fillies. Dinky was brushing vigorously her coat to remove what was a mix of flour, eggs and sugar.

“I am sorry. Mommy is so clumsy.” sighed Dinky her ears hanging low.

“It’s okay” replied Morning her eyes closed “When I do some cakes with Mommy Velvet, she does not like when the kitchen get dirty.”

“It must be easier when you can use magic.”

Morning nodded and replied with enthusiasm “But, you are getting better every day!”

“Yes.” Dinky paused in her scrubbing “But Mommy Velvet is your grandma no? It’s weird!”

“I am a weird filly?” the younger unicorn asked in reply, her ears lowered on her head and not only from being wet.

Morning felt a hoof land on his head, startling her more than hurting her “No sad filly here! Mommy number one rule!” said Dinky before giggling “And I don’t know. It’s like you have two mommies!”

Morning smiled, Dinky had always words to cheer up in what was a very confusing world for the young filly.

Dinky get back at scrubbing the other filly coat “You know what is weird?”

“No?”

“Diamond Tiara.”

Morning had noticed said filly bothering the other foals at school, especially the group of fillies that call themselves the Cutie Mark Crusader “She is not very nice.”

“Yeah! That the point. She always bullies other but not you!”

Full of energy Dinky pulled Morning mane eliciting a small “Ouch”

“Sorry. But she did not even make fun of my cutie mark like she did to Berry! I just don’t get it.”

“I don’t know. I never saw her bully you.”

“Nop! She made fun of my mom once.”

Morning ears dropped low again, Dinky’s mother was not like other ponies, but for the filly she was the kindest pony she ever met, maybe kinder than Cady! “Ho.”

“I give her a muffin.”

Morning mood lightened and she giggled. She looked around her, eyeing the muffin shaped shampoo bottle. The muffin themed wallpaper. Even the soap Dinky was using smelled of muffins.

She felt another hoof poking her head “Muffins are serious business!” before hearing a fit of giggles.

It was the end of the first part of the show, mainly the reserve team doing smooth but not hard death-defying trick, it was still impressive and they get many cheers from the ponies in the crowd including Twilight.

“Wow that was great, I can probably show them 1 or 2 tricks but the rookies are good. A bit slow.” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

“That was really something!” beamed Twilight stopping clapping her hooves. She had been really engrossed by the show, occasionally cheering on the most exceptional display.

“Hey Twilight, can I ask you something?” The pegasus excitement and smile had vanished.

“Anything.” Twilight was nervous now, maybe her friend had feelings for her too and was impressed by the date!

“You remember Discord? I mean of course you remember, but what he did to us?”

Twilight heart skipped a beat, she did not like talking about Discord and it shattered her silly expectation “You mean, not acting like yourself?”

“Yeah. I” the pegasus mare looked left and right “Is that bad to leave your friend to check on your family? I, you are all crazy with your sister and… nevermind, you stayed.”

“Are you alright Rainbow Dash?” Twilight was taken aback by her friend lack of usual confidence.

“Yeah fine” she left her seat by hovering with her wings “Want something to drink? I see there is a nice bar.”

Twilight eyed Rainbow Dash looking at the various drink the luxury bar of the VIP Area had to offer. She sighed and throw her gaze on the stadium below. She still did not understand how she did not leave for Canterlot to check on Morning, was she a good mother? Rationally Twilight knew the filly had been safe, Ponyville seems to attract every mayhem and Canterlot was full of guard dedicated to the protection of ponies. But she had probably been afraid with all this confusion, crying for her mother, while said mother was worrying about her… friends.

“Hey, Twilight. They really have nice drinks.”

Twilight barely acknowledged the return of her friend, her eyes still fixed on a young pegasus foal resting on the lap of her mother. He was babbling and gurgling, reminding Twilight of easier times.

“Equestria to Twilight.”

“Yes?”

“Here you drink, I took you some Cloudsdale speciality: Cloudberries juice.”

Confused, Twilight grabbed the proffered glass in her magic. “Cloudberries?”

“You don’t know what Cloudberries are?” the pegasus asked with a big grin.

“No. There are a lot of berries, but I doubt Cloud can produce berries. Maybe if you mix a Cloud with some fertile soil, but how do you hold soil in something non-solid like gas. Or maybe Clouds can be dense enough? Since you can build houses with it, It’s probably doable? I wish I did more reading on...” Twilight stopped, blushing “...am I rambling again?”

“No, you just ruined the joke.”

Ears dropped on Twilight head “Ho, I am sorry.”

The pegasus chuckled “Nah, it’s alright. But taste it now.”

Twilight levitated the glass in front of her. Trying to figure what was in it exactly, It was purplish with some white strains. The white swirled in the glass. She took a sniff of the drink, it smelled very sweet.

“Just drink it!”

The unicorn nodded and took a small sip “Oh,” she paused “I never drink something like this. It’s really good! So what is this?”

“Actually I don’t know. I think my dad knows.”

***

After the show was over Rainbow Dash and Twilight entered the area where most of the Wonderbolts were drinking and chatting with each other.

A bright yellow pegasus with a fiery mane easily recognisable as Captain Spitfire marched toward the duo to greet them “A pleasure to have you here, Miss Sparkle.” she looked her pegasus friend “Rainbow Dash, I did not expect you there.” She poked the mare on the chest with a hoof “I expected to see you at the last recruit trial session.”

“Oh, My Gosh. Oh My Gosh Spitfire.”

“Let me deal with that.” said a grinning white grey stallion. He grabbed Rainbow Dash neck with a hoof.

“Oh, My Gosh. Oh My Gosh Soarin.”

“Yes, ponies often called me that.” he replied leading her toward a nearby table where was already chatting other Wonderbolts.

Twilight looked with a small dose of envy, she wished she was confident like this Wonderbolt stallion.

“Soarin is good with fans.” grunted Spitfire.

The unicorn realised the company she was with “Ho, Ho. The show was amazing! The way you manage to flight in such a tight formation while keeping a flawless group synchronisation!”

Spitfire smiled “Thank you. I will take that as a great compliment coming from the sister of Captain Shining Armor.”

Twilight’s eyes darted left and right “You know my brother?”

“The question is more how you are not as famous as my team across Equestria. Miss Sparkle, Element of Magic and already twice saviour of Equestria. You alone make the whole military feel like foals.” the mare smirked.

The unicorn blushed as the praise. “I was not alone and I merely did what a pony will do in the same position.” Twilight already knew this concern, her brother made a similar remark, but with more anger and hurt.

“Every group work with a great leader.” Not pressing the issue, Spitfire continued “Anyways what are you doing here? I did not take you for the kind of pony to came see one of our show.”

“Ho, I… I am here with Dashie! She… I had two tickets and...” stammered the unicorn.

“Oh, that explain the dresses. You two are an item? That’s cute.”

“Ho, no, no, no!” Twilight clapped her mouth shut with a hoof then resigned herself seeing the grin on the other mare grown “She… well, not yet?”

Spitfire looked at the cyan mare talking with the other Wonderbolts “Maybe not the best choice, but good luck.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, most of the best Wonderbolts don’t have a serious relationship or even friends outside the team.”

Ears on Twilight’s head dropped “I guess it’s hard work and a hard commitment.”

Spitfire patted the other mare on the back “Hey, you seem to defy all odds. Like I said to all recruit, don’t give up without even trying. So put a confident smile on your face and invite her for a nice dinner or something after you two are out of here.”

Twilight felt her confidence boosted and she replied: “Thank for the advice.”

Twilight slowly walked behind her crush. She had followed Captain Spitfire suggestion and asked Rainbow Dash if they could eat in a restaurant that offers Cloudsdale speciality. Lyra had emitted the same idea but the Wonderbolt captain words comforted her choice.

She avoided looking at the pegasus flanks in front of her. The dress she was wearing was frustrating for that as the translucent cape was not hiding enough while showing too much. And it probably was not a good idea to become all flustered before meeting her father. So instead she looked at the bare cloud wall.

They were in a less attractive part of the factory. What she visited with her friends was more on the outside. The building they were heading was clearly more for management and office ponies.

Twilight was surprised that a lot of ponies greeted Rainbow Dash as they passed in front of offices of various size. Some ponies were taking coffee and stopped their conversation to ask how she was doing.

“I kinda grow up here, my dad could not afford a babysitter. So he brings me to work. It was so booring” was the pegasus reply when Twilight inquired the reason.

Finally, they stopped in front of a massive door with bold black writing Rainbow Blaze, head scheduling manager. Rainbow Dash knocked on the door.

Twilight heard a voice “Come in.”

Rainbow Dash did not wait more and pushed the door open, inviting Twilight to follow.

“Hey Dashie, I did not expect you.” said a pegasus stallion, his coat had a darker blue hue than the younger pegasus, the mane was the same but cut much shorter and trimmed in a tamer way. “I see you are wearing the dress I offer you for Hearth Warming. What the special occasion?”

“Ho, I was at the opening show of the Wonderbolts!”

The stallion raised an eyebrow “I thought you did not manage to buy tickets, always getting things done at the last minute. You did not pay an expensive price from some weird seller, ain’t you?”

“What? No! Wait. This is Twilight, she had two VIP tickets.”

Twilight step up to greet the stallion “Good afternoon, my name is-”

She was cut by a powerful hug coming from the stallion, it felt like hugs she could get from her own father. Unlike her father, he did not linger and was quick to give the mare some space.

“Twilight Sparkle!” he watched one on his hoof before raising it toward the mare “A pleasure to meet you.”

Twilight grabbed the hoof and shook it normally “The pleasure is mine.”

“Sorry for the… hug. It’s not all day I can meet the mare that keeps my little Dashie safe.”

“Dad you are so awkward with ponies, it’s not a surprise you are still single.”

”Ho hush now… wait” the stallion walked again toward his daughter, he poked the leg that was in the cast eliciting a wince from the mare.

He asked with a disapproving glare “How did you do that? Did you go to the hospital? Did you follow your doctor's recommendation? Did you have a bad crash again? Did you drink lot of milk?”

Twilight watched with a hint of amusement Rainbow sheepishly backing up like a filly.

“Yeah, No I did not crash this time. And yes I follow the doctor instruction to the T. Happy?”

“Happy is not the word, if you want to become a Wonderbolt you need perfect recovery and...”

“...a perfect diet. I know, jeez.” finished Rainbow Dash.

“I worry about you, that’s all. But you did not answer my question. What did you do?”

Twilight saw Rainbow avoiding the gaze of her father. She felt that she should give a way out to her pegasus friend, but the stallion looked determined like… a mother scolding a foal.

“So?” he repeated.

“I went into a fight.”

“What? How many times do I have to tell to not fight ponies.”

“She hits me first!”

“You always say that… Wait, did you fight with friend Applejack again? I thought it was always good-natured.”

“She insulted Twilight and her family!”

Twilight reacted immediately, she really did not want for this story to spread “I am not sure your father wants to hear that.”

The stallion backed away from Rainbow “Hm. We will talk about this later. So how was the new Wonderbolt show?”

“It was awesome, I thought I saw all of their tricks, but they pull off even more crazy stunts. You should have seen when Spitfire did a corkscrew just inside Soarin barrel roll!...”

Twilight watched with amusement and envy father and daughter talking about the flying stunts she saw at the stadium. They probably could relate better than her with them being pegasus. If she was with her brother she would likely talk about the formation and the impressive coordination of the Wonderbolts.

“Miss Sparkle, do you want to stay for dinner?”

“Sorry?”

“Yes, Dashie told me you want to taste some of Cloudsdale specialities. I could order some and we eat at home. That way I could know you better.”

That totally went against her plans of a nice romantic dinner with Rainbow Dash, but she did not have a good excuse to say no.

“Yes. Thank a lot for the offer.”

The stallion clapped his hooves “Great.”

Twilight was seated on a chair around a great table, Rainbow Dash’s father house was surprisingly less impressive than her friend house, no extra rainbows fountains or other embellishments outside. Still, it was definitely bigger, large enough to host a sizable family which was confusing for Twilight since they were only 3 around the table. She nearly expected more siblings or maybe some servants.

On the walls were pictures of either Rainbow Dash alone or father and daughter together at various place and different age. Mainly starting at her teenage years but still was lost 2-3 pictures of a younger Dash. Twilight though that maybe Rainbow Dash had removed the more embarrassing one or her father keep them in a photo album for later embarrassment or blackmail.

She was both amused and frightened at the thought since her own mother was keeping a similar album and she was here when her mother shared the one about Shiny with Cadance. It had been a cute moment for the mares involved, including a lot of giggling, but a great emotional turmoil for the lonely stallion.

They had eaten various dish trough dinner, surprisingly not all of them were cloud themed like Twilight expected. Though the desert was a very light pastry done with cloud mixed in the batter if Rainbow Dash father words were to be trusted.

The stallion wiped his face “So. When are you applying for the Wonderbolt?”

“Meh, you know me, they are pleading for me to join them.”

“Dashie?

“Yeah, yeah I will. Happy?”

“No. You should already be at the academy. I paid you all the flight school you wanted.”

Twilight felt out of place, it was likely the start of a conversation she should not be listening to. She was also aware of a rare moment of Rainbow Dash, the confident, running to every danger, Rainbow “Danger” Dash being very uncomfortable in her chair, clearly trying to avoid the questioning glare of her father.

“You know why.” was the reply of said pegasus, avoiding the sight of her father.

The stallion sighed “I know you care for your friend, but don’t throw your life away for her.” he paused “And I was asked again why Thunderlane is not the manager of Ponyville branch since, I quote ‘The current manager has no concern for doing proper paperwork’.”

“Paperwork is boring.” she retorted.

Twilight half listened to the rest of the conversation. It was puzzling, she did not know the age limit to enter the Wonderbolt Academy, but she was sure Rainbow Dash would have no issue to attempt such a thing, sure the routine of the “rookies” she saw was well oiled to perfection probably from dedication to practice it every day, but Rainbow Dash own tricks and small routine she had displayed on occasion showed great promise, Or maybe it was just the part of Twilight that had a crush on the mare that makes her judgement biased.

“So did you find a new stallion?” asked the father to his daughter, this time it was more with a teasing tone.

“Dad…” the pegasus mare sighed.

“A shame you broke up with Thunderlane. He is a good stallion and he is a strong candidate for the Wonderbolt too.”

“I guess he is okay. He lacks in style!”

“I bet you will find one that suits your style at the academy.” he teased.

“They will probably line up to go out with me” she braved in reply.

Her father laughed then turned to the sole unicorn on the room “And you Twilight. Did you find a nice stallion in Ponyville?”

She had nearly again drifted from the conversation. She had to swallow a lump that was forming in her throat. She had ruined her opportunity of a dinner date accepting the invitation of her father, now she just learned that Rainbow Dash was interested in stallions. It was very unlikely she had a chance now.

“Twilight?”

“Uh? Ho, err..., stallion, Yes lot of stallions!” she stammered.

“I never saw you with a stallion” chuckled Rainbow Dash “So who caught your eyes?”

Twilight answered the first name that came to her mind “Rainbow Dash!”

Her eyes grown wide with horror at what she just said. She looked at Rainbow Dash face but quickly averted her gaze. “I… uh.” and in a poof of magic, she was gone.

***

Twilight was confused and sad. She blowed her chance, she was not sure why she did not manage to lie, but it was over now. She leant on a wall tears formed at the corner of her eyes. She realised that she teleported at a random location so she was also lost, but it did not matter.

“Ho, here you are.” came the voice of Rainbow Blaze.

She lifted her head toward the pegasus that just landed beside of her. He had a hoof behind his head “I… am sorry. You are not the first mare to fall for my daughter.”

Twilight did not respond, it was too painful to think of a reply “She does not like mares, well for all I know, she always rejects them, for stallions it depends, but…”

“Home.” Twilight lifted her head and looked at the stallion “I want to go home.”

Author's Note

I can't believe it took me so much time to finish this one. It took me forever to figure a way to make this date does not work.
I changed the romance tag by a drama one since it fit better the story.

Chapter 10 - Princess Dinky

Princess Luna walked through one corridor that leads to the one passing in front her sister chamber. She was followed by a young light gray earth pony mare, one of younger Blueblood aids. The Prince had assigned her to see if she could fit as a secretary for her future court. The princess was glad her nephew assign her somepony young, as Luna knew first hoof old ponies had a harder time adapting to change.

The mare was lecturing the Princess about some recent law change, a scroll in her hoof ”As you could see here-”

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!” interrupted a scream.

Both ponies stopped walking.

“Is that Princess Cadance’s voice?” asked the earth pony, looking confused at the direction of the shout.

“DO YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THIS FAMILY?”

“Stay here,” Princess Luna said to the other mare before trotting toward her sister bedchamber. She was also very confused. Cadance was, unlike her sister, a very emotional pony but showed mostly positive emotion, still, she did not appear to be a pony prone to losing her temper.

The two royal guards posted at the large door were seemly also worried. They did not react when Princess Luna approached. She got close enough almost got it by one of the doors as it opened violently. A pink alicorn storming out of the room after shooting “-out of my family.”

Princess Luna watched as Cadance trotted quickly in the opposite direction. She kept watching until she disappeared from view.

“Excuse me, your highness?” asked one of the guard stallion, ready to close the door “Do you want to see your sister?”

Princess Luna did not answer immediately, she was not sure if she should intervene between what was likely a dispute. Still, she respected Princess Cadance too much to just ignore it.

“No, maybe later.” she replied calmly to the guard.

She trotted slowly in the direction the other alicorn has taken. After getting direction from the occasional servants she came across, she felt on Princess Cadance, her crown on top of a hoof, watching at the garden below the balustrade she was leaning on.

“How do you feel by presiding a wedding?” she asked without turning her head when Luna get closer.

“I….” Princess Luna hesitated “Cadance, are you alright? I don’t want to pry...”

“This thing is heavy.” was Cadance reply, holding her crown just above the balcony.

Luna did something she did not do in a long time, she opened her wings and put one at rest around the other alicorn “Yes, we know the burden of the crown. But, please allow us to know what distress our dear sister brought to you.”

Princess Cadance finally looked the other princess in the eyes and sighed, she put her crown at rest on the balcony “Your sister being herself.”

Twilight was having lunch with Spike. She was not really in a good mood and on top of it, she felt weird to not have Morning to provide some distraction or comfort. It was a feeling even worse now that she had Morning always around. And Spike story with Applejack was not helping to try to recover from the conclusion of her previous day. She spent most of the morning trying to do chores or read to distract herself, but it barely helped.

“...and that when Mr. Cake chase her off and...”

She sighed in front of her half-eaten lunch. She cried enough last night and now she needed to be happy for the small party to celebrate Dinky cutie mark.

“Want me to put that back in the fridge?” asked Spike.

“Duh?”

He pointed at her plate “You are not gonna finish this?”

Twilight looked at her salad, she only munched on some leaf and most of it was still in the plate “Ho, probably not.”

“Hey, cheer up! Your friends are coming this afternoon!” Spike said while picking up her plate of half finished salad. “And no dessert for you young filly! You did not finish your salad.”

Spike remark triggered a small smile on Twilight’s face. She levitated a donut to her, sticking her tongue to the young dragon.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” pouted Spike, but quickly smiled as a donut was levitated toward him.

They both ate their treats in silence before heading toward differents place in the library to wait for Ditzy, Dinky and Morning.

Twilight was in the middle of cleaning her room, eyeing for the tenth time her closet with her dress. It was not the dress fault, Rainbow Dash simply did not like mares this way. And even Captain Spitfire had a good point, if she was going to be on the Wonderbolts she could not have a sedimentary relationship.

She was interrupted by a knock on the door, she dried her tears before getting downstairs to answer.

Upon opening the door, Morning rushed to her. Twilight grabbed the filly, hugging her then said after releasing her. “I hope you have been a good filly?”

“Huhu” replied the filly.

Twilight eyed Ditzy that nodded. “She cried a bit after you left, but she quickly cheered up.” The pegasus mare turned to her filly “Hey muffin, why you don’t help Morning unpack in her room?”

“Ok!” both fillies rushed upstairs in Morning’s room saying a quick hello to Spike when crossing him near the stairs.

When Twilight heard the door of Morning room closing, her smile flattered. She noticed on the back of Ditzy her saddlebags full of supplies “Do you want some help?”

Ditzy made her way past the unicorn and moved toward the kitchen “I carry the mail all day. But with the look on your face, yesterday did not go well I guess?”

Twilight sighed and lost all the small happiness she managed to display. “She... She does not like mares.”

“I am sorry to hear that. Maybe, maybe we should cancel the party?”

“No, No. I can’t do that to Dinky. It’s important for her.”

Ditzy put her saddlebags on the kitchen table and hugged the mare. “Thanks for doing all that. Despite what happened to you.”

Twilight lost herself in the hug and started crying again.

***

Ditzy broke the hug when Twilight was done crying. She emptied her saddlebags containing leftovers muffins made yesterday and a present for Dinky. She heard a knock on the front door, looked at Twilight still washing her eyes “It must be BonBon and Lyra, I will open.”

She moved to the main room of the library and opened the door. Instead of the expected mint unicorn and a beige earth pony mares, was standing a couple of a unicorn.

The first one was a bright pink mare with a beautiful three coloured mane, she was taller than Ditzy and maybe taller than any other mares she knew. At her side was a tall -and in Ditzy opinion- handsome white stallion, he had an electric blue mane, reminding her of something.

The mare beamed “You must be Ditzy!” said pegasus mare tried to focus both eyes on the mare, trying to figure if she already meets the mare. She extended a hoof “Sorry, sorry, you must be confused I am Cadance. I am a friend of Twilight.”

Before she could form a reply, Ditzy was nearly put off balance by a zooming filly. Said filly nested herself against the stallion, hugging his neck. Ditzy recovered and was surprised to see her own daughter was behind and moved to mimic Morning.

“He is very popular with fillies” Cadance statement was followed by a giggle.

“Hey, Hey Morning!” The stallion said, he lifted his leg where Dinky was attached. “And you must be Dinky.”

“Yep!”, Dinky released her grip on the leg, landing with a small thud “Who are you?”

“I am Shining Armor. I am Twilight big brother.”

Ditzy looked at her daughter and scold her “Why did you hug mister Armor?”

“Morning was all huuuuggy, so I figured he must be very huggable!”

Ditzy sighed, Dinky was a very optimistic filly and could trust everypony too quickly, but it seems it was some of Twilight family.

She did not delve very long on these though as she witnessed a strange thing: Morning was in the front of the pink mare lowering herself to the ground and started singing “Sunshine, sunshine...”

She watched with amusement as Cadance mirrored the filly gestures: Hiding their eyes then clapping their hooves together “Ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake.”

She blushed at the part where they showed their rump to each other, but it’s when she noticed something odd about the mare.

“You are a princess!” gasped Dinky at the view of the wings on her back.

Ditzy realized this too and lowered her head quickly to bow, she pushed a wing on the back of her daughter to force her to bow too.

She felt a hoof raising her head and Cadance soft voice said to her “Ho no. no. no.” Cadance pointed to her head “No crown, no Princess today.”

“Yes, Cady is Cady” stated Morning.

They were interrupted by Twilight entering the main room “Shiny?! Cady?! What are you doing here?” she said loudly upon seeing the newcomers.

“Yes, happy to meet you too, Twilight.” replied dryly Cadance.

The exchange made Ditzy realize different things, first Twilight never talk about her family outside her parents, and she did not remember the unicorn talking about surprise guests. Maybe it made sense if she was friend with a Princess.

The stallion whispered something to the alicorn.

“Hey, Morning. I am sure Mommy made you a beautiful room,” she said cheerfully.

“Yes! I will show you!” replied the filly.

Ditzy watched as Shining Armor rushed to her sister to brought her into the kitchen. That left Ditzy, Dinky and Spike in the main room.

Spike get closer to Ditzy “I am glad they are here.”

“You invited them?” Ditzy asked in reply.

“No, No. Shining was supposed to come tomorrow for the school job thingy.”

***

Shining Armor muzzled his sister when the door closed. He looked at the small traces of tear on her cheeks “So, it did not go well, yesterday?”

Twilight looked at the stallion with sadness in her eyes “No...”

He reached to hug her, but she pushed off softly with a hoof. “I run out of tears already. I am don’t know what to do Shiny.”

“Hey, you know I am always here for you. I am not Cadance but-”

She cut him “No, no it’s fine. You are fine. I… it was stupid of me. It was obvious that could not work. She-”

“Nop” Shining Armor forcefully grabbed her sister in a hug “Love is not logical and can make you do silly stuff, right?”

Twilight relaxed “Right… You are always right.”

She rested for a while in his powerful arms. She felt like a filly like this, and she had to admit, it was what she needed to forget all her worries.

“So, how Morning is doing here, in Ponyville?” asked the stallion to engage a lighter conversation.

***

“You have a crazy life, Twilight,” concluded Bonbon after had been told the official truth on Morning. Cadance convinced Twilight it would make the whole afternoon more comfortable for Morning to be able to call Twilight ‘mommy’.

“I mean, I thought mine was crazy when I moved out Canterlot to live here with Lyra. But you? You are the Princess’s prized student, your brother is marrying a Princess and you adopt a filly.”

“Hey, we are here for the cutest filly of Equestria!” beamed Cadance. She leaned toward Morning and said softly “Sorry, today it’s not you”, the filly giggled from her spot on Shining Armor laps. Cadance continued “Not to talk about boring adult stuff.”

“Yes. Dinky, so how did you get your cutie mark?” asked gently the only stallion around the table.

“Ho, Ho. It was at the lake!”

“The lake?” asked Shining.

“Yes, Ponyville has a super lake! It was Wednesday. So we were at the lake with Mommy, Twilight and Morning” Dinky looked around her “and Lyra!”

Lyra put a hoof on the filly head and ruffled her mane “Thank little Dinky.”

Dinky put her front legs on the table “I am not little, I have my cutie mark!”

“Hooves off the table,” said Morning.

Dinky glared at Morning while the adults at the table giggled. “You are just jealous.”

“Dinky!” scolded Ditzy.

Morning pouted and pull her tongue out before bursting into a fit of giggles. She was quickly followed by Dinky.

Shining’s eyes went wide. Cadance giggled, but Twilight was surprised too. Ditzy sighed “It was like this all morning. And I thought a filly was hard enough to handle.”

“You are the best mommy!” beamed Dinky.

Ditzy blushed at the praise “Thank you muffin.”

Most ponies around the table dawwed while some emitted a small giggle.

Cadance cleared her throat “So the lake?”

Dinky started moving again in her seat “Yes, the lake! It was all sunny, so we went to the lake.”

Dinky tale continued with the whole series of event that leads to her cutie mark appearing. It was occasionally punctuated with other rounds of Morning remarks about behaving properly while seated at the table since Dinky was having trouble containing her excitement. She concluded by jumping on the table to display her cutie mark to all the ponies. Morning started to frown but any remarks were stopped by Shining Armor.

“You will see when you will get your mark.”

Still, the filly crossed her hooves looking at Cadance, but the alicorn simply ruffled her mane “You will teach her good manner another day. Stop the frowny face and smile!”

Morning mumbled to herself “Still you don’t put your hooves on the table.”

The ponies close enough to hear laughed at her expense.

Lyra smiled at Dinky excitement. “Haha You should have seen me when I get my cutie mark. I strung a lyre giggling like a possessed pony and I ended breaking the strings. My parents had to be brought me to the hospital since it cut my hooves. Since that day I am a little sensitive on the hooves.” she concluded showing her hooves that bear no trace of the accident.

“She just has lazy hooves” pointed Bonbon seeing the face of a confused Dinky trying to see some scars of some sort.

Dinky giggled at Lyra expense.

“Ok, It’s time for cake,” interrupted a proud Spike carrying a big platter with a cloche on it. He climbed into his seat and put the platter in the middle of the table. He lifted the cloche letting ponies discover a plain white cake decorated with Dinky cutie mark.

“Ho, that looks like a nice cake, Spike” smiled Cadance “And living with a cake addict as an aunt I know my cakes.”

Spike put a claw behind his head “Oh, it’s nothing, I made it yesterday with Pinkie.”

Twilight cut the cake and everypony adult and foals eat it with various degree of enthusiasm. Cadance and Shining Armor eating small bites at a time, while the 2 foals and Spike were more eager to get as much as possible in their mouth.

“And now it’s time for presents,” said Ditzy, she produced a warped box she has stored nearby. She proffered it to Dinky “Here.”

Dinky eyes grew wide “Oh.” She grabbed eagerly the package with her hooves and looked at it. She stared for a while at it.

“You are not gonna open it?” asked Morning.

“Oh. I just did not expect gifts!”

“Well it’s not every day you get your Cutie Mark.” Ditzy smiled at her daughter then nodded “Go on. Open it.”

Dinky teared the package, the eyes of everypony and dragon were on her. It revealed “A book!”

“Not just any book.” Ditzy pointed at the cover of the book.

“Ho. It’s the first aid book we have at home. But this one is new!”

Ditzy blushed “Well, I figured you wanted a version where most pages are not loose or covered in blood.”

The filly reached to hug her mother “Thank you, mommy!”

Bonbon smirked, “If it was not from Ditzy I would say it’s a weird present.”

Lyra jabbed the earth pony “That not very nice.”

Bonbon grumbled then produced a bag “I made a little something for you too Dinky.”

Dinky grabbed the proffered bag and opened it “Candies!” she grabbed one “Oh... My favorite!”

“Look a bit closer” nudged Bonbon

“There is my cutie mark on it!” she took another one and give it to Morning “Look, look!”

Morning levitated the candy toward her but it was snatched away by a blue aura.

“Ho it’s true,” said Cadance just before throwing the treat in her mouth, but it was saved from its fate as alicorn snack by a pink aura. The candy levitated again toward the hooves of Morning.

“What did I say about stealing candies from fillies?” scolded Shining Armor.

Cadance grumbled quietly “Don’t do it.” she lowered her ears on her head, looking Shining Armor in the eyes, moisture forming in the corner of her eyes. She concluded by making a poutty face “Buuut they must taste soo good.”

That made both fillies giggle while Bonbon, Lyra and Ditzy were rather confused. For her part Twilight just facehoofed.

Bonbon proposed “I can make some for you if you want, Princess.”

Said Princess waved her hoof at the candy maker “It’s fine. And don’t call me princess.” Her horn glowed and a small golden crow came levitating toward Dinky. She put the crow on the head of the filly “Today. It’s Dinky the Princess.”

Dinky started probing her head with her hooves and felt the crow “Really? Is that your?”

“Nop, today it’s your!”

Dinky stopped for a while, then a smile formed on her face. She jumped on the table, luckily free of any dishware “Bow to me my subject!”

Morning reacted immediately “Hooves of the table.”

Dinky replied, “Princess Dinky says that she can put her hooves wherever she wants!”

Morning grumbled before joining the adult on lowering their head to bow while seated around the table.

“You may rise my subjects!” Dinky continued before giggling and getting back on her seat.

Twilight hide a giggle behind a hoof, she was now smiling, sure it was still hurting to think too much about yesterday but today silliness of Cadance and the apparent joy of Dinky made all her bad feeling goes away. If she thought about it she rarely felt happier in her life. She was with her family and some friends sharing an important moment of pony dear to her.

She looked at Morning enjoying herself in her father laps. Her ‘Woona’ plushie was on his head giving him a silly look. But he did not seem to mind.

“I have a present for you, Dinky,” Shining Armor said while levitating a small blue box with a nice red ribbon.

“Hoo,” said Dinky. Every mare in the room shared the same surprised expression at the unexpected source of the gift.

Dinky looked at the perfectly well-made gift box. The paper looked expensive and there was no flow in it. So unlike her mother gift, she took extra care to properly untie the bow first then turned around the box to find the duct tape holding the paper.

When she finally unwrapped the present she saw a nice red paper box. The eyes of everypony were on the box, Dinky opened it and was met with a purple piece of clothes laying on a white cushion.

“It’s a ribbon.” stated Shining Armor.

“Ohhh. It’s pretty!” replied Dinky. She approached her hooves toward it, then lit her horn in the hope of getting a more soft grip.

“Let me help you little Dinky,” said Lyra before grabbing the ribbon with her magic. She levitated it toward the filly mane and started fiddling with the ribbon and the blonde hairs on Dinky’s mane.

When she was done Lyra smiled then Morning beamed “You look so pretty!”

Dinky eyes crossed toward her horn, turning her head everywhere. Twilight came to her rescue by bringing a mirror. “Here Dinky.”

“Hoo,” said Dinky, turning her head in front of the mirror.

“Do you like it?” asked Shining Armor.

“Yes, I love it!” she bounced out her seat to hug the stallion. Nearly knocking off Morning.

Morning groaned and mumbled, “He is mine.”

Cadance leaned toward Morning and whispered loud enough for everypony to hear “No. He is mine. All mine.”

“I heard that” the stallion replied.

Dinky let’s go of the stallion and looked at Cadance “I give you back your fiancé. He is very huggy!” she got back at her seat giggling.

Everypony laughed at the filly antics. Even Morning smiled and was quick to follow with a laugh of her own.

***

The two fillies, Spike and Shining Armor were playing mikado, a game requiring patience and dexterity. For Dinky, it was a great occasion to work her levitation skill, for Morning just an occasion to play with her best friends. Spike was indulging the fillies and Shining Armor was just enjoying himself, coaching the youngsters.

Cadance thanked Twilight that brought tea to the mares of the gathering. “It’s so nice to see them like this” she turned her head toward Ditzy “You have a very nice and cute filly.”

Ditzy blushed at the praise but Cadance continued “I foalsitted lot of fillies and colts. Trust me, a lot of Canterlot families had spoiled brats.” she eyed Twilight “Well not all. This one was easy to handle, give her a book and you were set. Easiest bits ever!”

“You got paid?” asked Lyra.

“Yes. Auntie Celestia was pretty miser when I was young.” Cadance rolled her eyes “To teach me the value of bits.”

“Thou for Twilight I was not really into the bits” she giggled looking at Shining Armor patiently waiting for Dinky to pick up a stick.

Lyra and Ditzy looked at the stallion with dreamy eyes. “He is also good with kids,” said Lyra. Ditzy nodded along,

Bonbon poked her “Ahem. I am here, honey. And I think his fiancé make it clear of whom he belongs.”

Cadance nodded strongly then looked at both mares “Ho, you two are a couple!” She clapped her hooves “You go so well together!”

Bonbon blushed while Lyra grabbed her strongly with one hoof “Yes, she is mine! She is my own Candybutt.”

The earth pony blushed fiercely and whispered: “Don’t call me like this in public.”

Cadance laughed at the display “It’s so rare to see mare couple assuming their relationship.” she looked at Twilight “You see, if you were willing to give a chance to Lyra you could have been her Starbutt or whatever.”

“Sparklebutt” blurted Lyra with a cauff. She whispered to Ditzy “I called her that when she was doing her magic under my tail”

The pegasus mare snorted, making the tea she was drinking goes through her nostrils “Ow, Ow.”

“I am sorry, Ditzy” panicked Lyra, she looked left and right “Let me grab some napkins.”

“Are you alright, Ditzy?” asked Twilight, worry showing on her face.

“Are you alright, Mommy?” asked Dinky that had rushed from the game, throwing every piece everywhere.

Ditzy cleaned her muzzle with a napkin provided by Twilight, “I am fine everypony. You can get back at your game little muffin.” she said ruffling the mane of the filly trying to not make her new bow fall off.

“Ok!” Dinky looked at Morning and Spike and beamed to them “All clear!”

Bonbon glared at Lyra “What did you say to her?”

Lyra finished wiping the table of tea strain “Nothing, nothing!” she looked at Twilight “something private.”

Twilight was halfway through eating one of Ditzy muffins when she asked “Do I have something on my face?”

Ditzy burst in laughter, tears were coming from her eyes “Lyra!”

“What?” asked a confused Twilight. But that just leads in Lyra joining in Ditzy mirth.

***

Shining Armor smiled, they had to start the game all over since Dinky scattered everything rushing to her mother. But it didn't really matter to him, seeing Morning playing happily with a filly close to her age was new and it brought warmth to his heart. It was what normal fillies her age were supposed to do: playing with friends, running outside making a mess of themselves, not stay inside confined.

It had been a sad necessity to hide the filly from the world, but now it was over he hoped. So he smiled. Smiled at Morning guiding the older filly keeping a good hold with her magic on the sticks of the game. Smiled at Spike who was probably utterly bored trying to sneak peek at a nearby comic book.

He levitated the comic to Spike that smiled and gratified him by what the dragon called a Thumbs up. It was both making sense and no sense for the stallion since he has no opposite claw to compare or do the gesture.

He was also happy to hear her sister having a good time with other ponies than her family even if from what he was guessing from the laughs of other mares and Twilight confusion, there were making fun of her.

“It’s your turn Shiny,” said Morning.

“Alright.” he looked at the state of the game. There was still a lot of sticks easily removable. In the previous game, he contented himself to pick 1-2 stick with a low score. He removed an obvious free stick and fake stumbling a harder pickup.

Morning frowned at him. She probably had picked up of him not playing seriously. But it was not the most engaging game for unicorns with great mastery of their telekinesis. “Hey. Why don’t we play without magic except for Dinky?” the stallion suggested.

“But it’s too hard!” complained Morning.

“Hey, at least you have tiny hooves. Look at Shining with his big hoof. I still can’t figure how you do without these babies,” said Spike flexing his claws.

Dinky beamed “Yay, I am gonna win.” That elicited a chuckle from Shining Armor.

They were interrupted by Ditzy’s voice “Actually, muffin. Princess Cadance has a gift for you.”

Shining Armor smiled, She knew Cadance did not bring something, but he had an idea of what it was.

Dinky followed her mother toward the kitchen. She was confused. Cadance had given her a small crown and her fiancé an awesome bow. Maybe it was a special muffin reserved to Princess and Cadance would give her a bite to taste! Dinky giggled, it was something her mom would dream of.

Dinky liked muffins but it was more because her mother loved to make them for her. Still, she would not say no to Royal Special Muffin.

She entered the kitchen and watched everywhere, there were Twilight, Princess Cadance and her mother. She seems as confused as her. There was no sight of new things from the last time she saw the kitchen. She sniffed the air and there was no scent of muffin etheir.

“You will have to wait a bit. Twilight are you ready?”

“Yes, just hold your hooves together please.” Dinky grabbed a hoof of her mother that grabbed a hoof of Twilight. On the other side of Twilight, Cadance followed suit.

Dinky felt a huge amount of magic forming nearby. It was something she recently was able to feel. She could feel when an unicorn nearby was casting something. Twilight told her that it was perfectly normal but it could take a while to tune it down.

When the spell reached its peak she heard a popping sound and Dinky felt very dizzy. It lingered for awhile, all she could see was green.

“Hoo. This is so confusing” she heard her mother said.

“Sorry, getting teleported for the first time is quite the experience,” Cadance beautiful voice said.

Dinky vision cleared, and she looked in the direction of her mother and giggled “Your eyes are so funny!” the golden eyes of her mother were converging to look at her, it was a rare sight and only happened when Ditzy was really mad at her.

“How so?” as she said that one eye of Ditzy started to focus on another thing.

Dinky heard another pop and when she looked in the direction of it, she noticed Twilight was gone. It was when she realized that she has teleported a lot of ponies. In the book Twilight give her about magic, she read it said it was a nearly impossible feat, only doable by a master of the arcanes. Twilight was really awesome!

Ditzy shook her head to remove the last of dizziness “What are we doing here?”

“Ho. You will see! But I asked for a place a bit isolated. Twilight does not really want ponies to see me here” sighed Cadance.

“Why that?”

Cadance rolled her eyes “She doesn't like ponies knowing she is involved with important ponies. To be honest it’s rather silly.”

“But she is Princess Celestia’s student!” blurted Dinky.

“Yes, Yes. Anyways, that should be...” there was another pop “Good.”

“Hello ladies.” said the newcomer. He was tall like Shining Armor and was wearing a royal guard armor.

He looked at Dinky “Ho, I guess you are the lucky filly getting a Princess ride. I am Steel Wings” he presented a hoof toward Dinky.

She looked at the hoof, eyeing the stallion. She did not shake the hoof but said “You are handsome! You could be my daddy!”

He looked confused as Dinky was holding a hoof in front of her muzzle to hide her laughter. Her mother had tried in the past to find her a father without success. Now she had made a game of it!

It was always funny to look at the face of the confused stallion. She noticed that Princess Cadance was amused too.

Her mother planted a kiss on the cheek of the confused stallion and whispered something in his ears but it was loud enough for everypony nearby to hear “She is messing with you. But you are quite the looker.”

The stallion smiled and ruffled Dinky’s mane “We have quite the jester here.” then he looked at Ditzy “Sorry but I already have a mate. I hope you will find somepony to take care of this cute filly with a beautiful mother.”

“Always the sweet words, Steel” replied Cadance.

Dinky turned toward Twilight as she was casting another spell “Anyways, have fun Ditzy and Dinky!” and with a pop, she was gone.

“What is a Princess ride?” Dinky asked, eyes full of curiosity toward Cadance.

“Well. I foalsitted some fillies and colts that were not pegasus with pegasus parent, often the parents are afraid to take their foals to fly on their back.”

“I am so afraid I will drop my little muffin or not be able to catch her if something happened.” confirmed Ditzy.

“Exactly. But I have something you don’t have” Princess Cadance pointed at her horn.

“You have a horn!” beamed Dinky, liking where this was going!

“Yes. I can only catch Dinky with my magic and in case something happens to me. Steel Wing is trained to catch falling ponies.”

Dinky did not need to hear any more to jump with joy. She was going to fly! She was going to fly! Like not just hovering one or two meters above the ground!

“But it’s up to you Ditzy,” concluded Cadance.

“I don’t know,” replied the pegasus mare.

There was no way her mother should refuse the offer! She put her best puppy eyes when her mother looked at her.

“I guess I can’t say no.” Ditzy patted her head “You will have to stop doing that. Grows fillies does not do that.”

“Alright.” Cadance lowered herself at Dinky level “hop on.”

Dinky giggled at her mother remark and jumped with glee on the back of Cadance, but to her dismay the alicorn did not start flying at all.

“You give the rhythm, Ditzy. Steel Wing will follow below us.”

“Are you sure?” asked her mother.

Getting antsy, Dinky shouted “Mommy!”

“Alright, Alright” her mother replied before finally slowly taking off. She was finally going to fly! Well not on her own. But she could see how her mother saw the world from up in the sky!

Except her mother was still hesitating. They were flying in a circle maybe 2 or 3 meters above the ground. “Come on mommy! I want to see the clouds!”

“Alright muffin. But you don’t let go of the Princess.”

Dinky tightened her grip on Cadance’s neck “Yes, mommy!”

Slowly Dinky could saw the ground going farther and farther away. She finally could saw the forest that surrounded the clearing they starting taking off. It was breathtaking. In every direction there were trees! More important she was above the trees.

“Wow” she said. “So much tree!” she looked at more tree “Mommy. Do you see all these trees?”

Her mother smiled at her “Yes muffin.”

Dinky looked below and was surprised to see the pegasus guard flying just below Cadance. She waved at him and he waved back.

“You should keep your hooves on me before your mother decides to stop.” whispered Cadance to her.

Dinky stopped waving and quickly put back her hoof around Cadance neck. “Thanks!”

“What was that, muffin?”

“Nothing! Nothing.” she giggled and tightened her grip.

***

Ditzy smiled. She could not dream of a best way to celebrate Dinky’s cutie mark. She neither have the bits to throw a big celebration like Filthy Rich did for his daughter, neither did Dinky would probably have liked it. Despite being a cheerful and open pony, her daughter did not have that many friends, and she preferred to celebrate things with ponies that mattered to her.

She had originally thought of just a small celebration between Dinky and her, eating a special muffin, but it looks too much like when they celebrated another one birthday. Thankfully, Twilight has insisted to do a bigger celebration at the library. She invited Lyra and Bonbon because they occasionally foalsit Dinky, and Lyra was here when Dinky gets her cutie mark.

She did not expect a couple of additional ponies to show up nor them being so important. How could she have guessed a Princess and a high officer of the guard would show up?

She had no word to describe how lucky she felt. Especially now. Flying had always been part of her life and her being, even if she knew she was not the best flier in town. But she had never really been able to share that with Dinky. Like Princess Cadance had said she was too afraid to have Dinky fall to the ground.

But now she was flying at her side. Not by her own mean but still, she could see the world like her. And seeing her daughter’s mouth open agape and her eyes full of wonders brought endless happiness to her.

There were now flying maybe 50 meters above the ground and soon the first clouds could be seen. She noticed that Dinky was disobeying her order of keeping her hold on Princess Cadance as she was releasing one hoof to try to catch the clouds. She said nothing because you could not expect a filly to not express herself when discovering something for the first time.

She continued circling above the forest. Ponyville was not far from here, but Ditzy did not want to risk for ponies to spot the alicorn flying at her side. While she was pondering where to go, she was surprised to feel something land on her back.

“Mommy!” she heard.

Ditzy looked on her back and panicked at seeing her daughter here. “Dinky! What...” she turned toward the princess, she noticed her glowing horn and the glow surrounding Dinky.

“It’s so awesome to fly!”

“I know muffin.” eased Ditzy just smiled.

“I wanna touch the clouds!”

“Ok” Ditzy looked around and spotted a large set of clouds not too far away. She got close and hovered nearby the cloud formation. She heard her daughter beamed of excitement.

Princess Cadance got closer and whispered to her “Land on the clouds. One last surprise.”

Ditzy complied and the princess cast a spell on Dinky.

“Is that a Cloud walking spell?” asked Dinky.

“Yes, you are very clever.” praised Princess Cadance.

Ditzy did not have time to react as she felt her daughter leave her back and land on the clouds. She panicked but quickly recovered as hearing Dinky just landed with a soft poof sound.

She smiled again, seeing her daughter enjoying the sensation of softness that cloud provided under hooves.Today was really an amazing day for her and her daughter.

After saying goodbye to all Twilight’s guess. The small family shared a light dinner then Cadance and Shining Armor excused themselves to go to bed early. Cadance had a good time but she was still exhausted from her morning dealing with her aunt.

She was now watching with a smile Morning nested between her and her fiancé. They were sitted with their back against the wall. She could feel the love Shining had for Morning and she did not need special power for that. The smile on her stallion’s face was enough when interacting with her. It was for Cadance, another proof that he was the right stallion for her.

The filly was sharing some of her school days with Shining Armor when she said, a serious look on her cute face “Mommy said you will make me a brother after your wedding, is that true?”

Cadance giggled at seeing Shining almost froze at the implication.

“Mommy said that?” the stallion looked with a smile at Cadance “Well it’s very likely.”

“A brother you said?” Cadance added, then teased Shining “Already tired of fillies?”

He just smiled and planted a kiss on her cheek “Never, but a small colt could be nice.”

Cadance was caught off guard without the filly on the bed, she would have some idea on how to start providing a colt for her stallion.

Morning ignored the flirting adults and added: “But a sister like Dinky will be fine too!”

“You really like Dinky” smiled Shining Armor.

“She is my best friend!” Beamed the filly, but it was quickly followed by a yawn “Good night Cady and Daddy.”

Cadance and Shining planted a kiss on her forehead “Good night sweety.” And just like that, the filly was asleep.

Cadance was used to Morning tendency to quickly fall asleep. It was cute seeing the filly nested at the side of her stallion. It was hard to not project too much on the filly and see her as her own daughter. It was Shining Armor’s daughter, not her and Twilight sacrificed enough for her to be removed this right.

She looked at Shining that was slowly stroking Morning mane, she expected a smile on his face like he always has when doing this but there was a thin line on his muzzle. “Something on your head?” she said softly.

“Yeah. You still want Twilight back in Canterlot or somewhere else than Ponyville?”

“And who was the pony that was thinking the same thing?”

“It’s not that Cadance” he eyed Morning “Do I want to remove Morning from her first friend? It hurts me to think of that.”

Cadance’s ears lowered on her head. She looked once more time at Morning thinking ‘Should I?’

Chapter 11 - Twilight day

Princess Luna stared at the huge stack of folders, papers, documents and other feuillets. She never expected that. Both the sheer volume of everything and how neat everything was. Folders had colours. Everything had a label. Even was seems to be floating papers were actually tied to a specific folder with coloured strings.

“Is that everything, Tulip?” she asked her aid.

“Yes.”

“Is that the commons proceeding to a wedding?”

“I don’t know, I had never been wed, your highness. But it’s a royal wedding.”

“I see,” she concluded. When she accepted Cadance’s offer to preside over the incoming Royal Wedding she did not expect to receive a thorough documentation of everything involved in and around the event. She thought she only had to give a few words and bless the sacred union.

She seated herself on a one of chair around the desk and levitated a folder toward her.

“Do you require my assistance, your highness?”

Luna paused, she looked at the whole order, pride tell her she could handle everything and prove she was ready to take on huge and important matters. But she knew she would need help if she wanted to go through everything in a timely manner.

And Prince Blueblood would be disappointed if she did not use the aid. He already had scolded her for not using the resources she had available once. Despite being quite young, the Prince had a way similar to her sister to make her feel… inadequate.

“Yes. I think that would be wise.”

She opened the first folder while her aid took her own seat on the other side of the desk. It was a list of ponies. There were detailed informations on not only the profession of the pony but also his or her ties with other ponies of importance. She re-read the title and it said Refused Guess. She skimmed mostly through profession and was surprised to see relatively highly placed ponies, like mayors. She put the folder aside, there was probably no point to learn about ponies that would not be here.

She picked a very slim folder and smiled. There was just one piece of paper labelled Ponies I want. She did not know every name on the list but it was easy to figure why there were here. ‘Twilight Sparkle, Morning Star, Twilight Velvet, Night Light... Fleur de Lis…’ most were likely friend and family.

Other folders concerned every pony and other organization involved in the preparation of the wedding like the orchestra and more curiously for Princess Luna, it also included a lot of extras and backups.

“Did Princess Cadance take care of everything alone?”

“From what I heard, she oversaw most of it, but discharged things like prefiltering to trusted organizations.”

The two other notable folders were one with Celestia cutie mark on it and included ponies Princess Celestia wanted to be here, mostly for political reason. One page stood out as it was crumpled. It contained the name of the Element of Harmony. ‘Odd’ though Luna.

The last one was a summary and the definitive list of every ponies sorted by role. It was a good starting point to learn about ponies she probably would need to greet the day of the wedding.

“What is that?” her aid pointed to a pink folder with a lot of heart glued on it and the words ‘My wedding’ written in pink glossy letters. Luna had ignored it because it looked too private. Probably something Cadance forget to remove. Sadly her aid was not so considerate and took it to have a closer look. “Ho, it’s cute” she beamed looking at a drawing that had slipped out of the folder.

Princess Luna leaned on the desk to look at it. It was not what a foal would draw but clearly not the work of an artist, it was not hard to assume it was from a younger Cadance. At the bottom of the drawing were stairs leading to a dais, in front of the altar was 4 ponies; 3 were easily identifiable: Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were kissing in the middle, Twilight Sparkle was on the side watching them.

The last one was intriguing for Luna, The pony was clearly a filly, based on her round nuzzle on the drawing, she had a pink coat, a blue mane and tail with a streak of purple. She was holding a cushion with 2 oversized rings, likely the engagement rings.

She was clearly an important filly for the couple “Does Shining Armor and Princess Cadance have a daughter?”

“No. But I heard they are pretty close to a distant relative of Shining Armor.”

Princess Luna levitated back the list of pony, Ring holder: Morning Star. It was probably the name of the filly. She stared at the paper for a while. Cadance never talked about her, that was odd: Cadance always shared gossip or stories about her friends or her futurs in law.
Was there more to it?

Shining Armor left the bed of the guest room of the Golden Oak Library, the sun was barely up in the sky. He was never an early riser pony when he was a colt, but years in the royal guard has ingrained this habit in him.

Some years ago it would be time to make his bed, but moving with Cadance in special quarters for them made this very hard to do. It was not really the size of the bed the issue, not even the fact there were servants for that. The main issue was the other occupant of the bed or the occasional visiting filly.

He smiled at the sight a small ray of light coming from the window was offering him. A pink alicorn holding what she probably thought was a strong unicorn stallion and a filly just happy to have something to cuddle to while sleeping.

He left the room, climbed down the stair and met a sight he wished was not so familiar. Her sister was asleep at a desk surrounded by books of various kind. He sighed and walked toward the desk. He nudged gently her sister “Twily, wake up.”

She fluttered her eyes open and muttered a simple sound.

“Should I put you in bed like a filly?” He got an intelligible sound as a reply, took that as a yes and just levitated her up to her rightful place to sleep: a comfy bed.

That taken care he moved to the kitchen and start making coffee. Since the coffee machine was a gift from their father, he did not have trouble to make it work. He grabbed some mugs from a cupboard and moved outside, coffee pot in a firm magic hold.

And it was the start of his duty as Captain of the Royal Guard. Outside he surprised the unicorn guard posted near the door that immediately stood at attention “Sir, Good morning, sir!”

“At ease,” replied Shining Armor, and levitated a mug toward the guard “Coffee?”

“Yes, sir.” the guard grabbed the mug with his magic and waited for the Captain to fill his mug.

A pegasus stallion landed from his post hidden in the foliage of the library “Hoo coffee, thank you, your highness.”

Shining Armor rolled his eyes, some of his ponies have taken to call him Prince, his (or her) highness since he had been officially receiving education on the matter of governing for his future position of Prince Consort.

He passed a mug to the pegasus and fill it too. They stayed in silence watching as two other guards were walking toward the library. An earth pony mare and another unicorn.

“Do I smell coffee? Nice, Captain!” the mare said grabbing a cup directly from Shining Armor.

The first unicorn guard asked “Hm... Where did you sleep Ruby? That was not the way from the guard outpost.”

Shining Armor would have facehoofed or reprimanded the sergeant straight away; the where was more with whom. It was a breach of protocol, every member of a squad must be located easily even when off shift. Sadly she was the leader of the squad and since he was under their protection he could not directly act upon them. Plus it would displease Cadance.

“Filthy Rich. Not bad estate and not bad in bed.”

All the guards laughed at her statement. The guards affected to Princess Cadance had been chosen by Cadance herself and were a weird bunch. It was something Shining Armor had been surprised to learn that when he was put in charge of the whole Royal Guard. He had expected Command to just put the best and more competent ponies to protect the most important ponies. But they were actually some hidden rule to the affectation.

Princess Celestia was assigned the most royal guard looking, understand well build and imposing stallions. Prince Blueblood had some weird criteria of elegance. Princess Luna had obviously chosen theastral and Cadance was picking guard by affinity or to protect them.

Shining Armor understood quickly enough that it was to protect them from the Royal Guard itselves. The two unicorns stallions had been caught fraternizing. It was ok to ‘fraternize’ if you were a mare and a stallion, as you only get a blame, otherwise you were expelled for moral issues.

For the earth pony mare, it was from her bad habit of seducing older and often married stallions. She managed to piss off high ranked officers and even managed to have some reassigned.

All of that managed to create a group of ponies very loyal to Princess Cadance. And weirdly Shining Armor was grateful for that. He could trust them with his own life and also the knowledge of who was really Morning Star.

He was halfway through his coffee when an earth pony mare appeared, startling every Royal Guard, professionally trained to spot every potential treat around them.

“Hooo coffee, Can-” She tried to reach for the coffee pot but swatted her own hoof with the other one “No bad pony, bad Pinkie you promised Mrs Cake to not drink coffee ever again. Anywoooo, here some donuts for you guys. Bye!”

And like that she was gone. The only trace of her passage was a white box on the hoof of Shining Armor. Having heard story about Pinkie Pie from his sister, Shining Armor did not go into panic mode like the other.

Quickly he said to deescalate the situation “Easy ponies. It’s just Pinkie Pie, a local.”

They all relaxed and promptly opened the box of donuts. When every guards present were equipped with coffee and donuts. The earth pony mare turned toward the 2 guards that were here for the night “Alright, report.”

The pegasus started the report “Around 0200. 2 stallions, both earth pony. They were concealed enough to make descriptive feature hard to figure. One with a large build and the other more regular. They spent 10 min studying Steel’s patrol and tried to get closer to the library...”

When the report was done and the day guard took the place of the night guard, Shining got back inside the library. He did not know what to make of the news of ponies visibly prying etheir on Princess Cadance and him or his sister.

He did not think too much as he hears the sound of claws on the floor of the main room “Hello, Spike. Rising early today?”

“Today? Nah. You think I can let Twilight take care of everything alone? She is lost without me.” he grinned.

Shining moved to ruffle his spines “A bit harsh, don’t you think?”

“Nah, just telling the truth” They both shared a laugh before moving to the kitchen.

***

“So the whole kitchen caught fire?” Cadance asked

“Yes, Pinkie was like all panicked while Mrs Cake just grabbed a fire extinguisher. It was just the paper protecting the cupcakes that caught fire.” Spike replied. He was retelling an accident that happened when Pinkie make him taste a cupcake with too much pepper on it. That made him sneeze badly.

“And what?”

“Pinkie Pie apologized to me after Mrs Cake scolded her.” they also learned that making a dragon sneeze was not a good idea Spike though in insight.

Spike turned his head upon hearing hooves approaching. Twilight entered the kitchen, she looked half awake but tense.

“Good morning, did you saw Morning?” she asked.

“Morning Twilight, she is already at school with Shiny” replied Cadance.

Spike could see the mare relax. He had woken up before her just a bit after Shining put her to bed. He had been careful to avoid making a sound, the mare deserved to sleep more than usual. “Wait, what time is that?” she asked.

“It’s time to relax today!” replied cheerfully Cadance.

Spike glanced at the clock it was 9:30 am. He could already see the gears turned in Twilight head as she took a glance too.

“I need to open the library! Ho no! I must look like a mess and I did not-”

Cadance shut her off with her magic “Nop, today the library is closed by Royal decree.”

“But you can’t-”

She was cut again “Nop, nop, nop. Today is ‘Twilight relax and do nothing day.’”

Spike smirked, he had agreed with Cadance plan of forcing the mare to laid down for at least a day. Well, yesterday had been also a day off, but it was not a ‘Twilight day’.

Twilight sighed and moved toward a seat. Grabbing a mug with her magic. “I still have” she raised a hoof toward Cadance before being interrupted “to finish some assignments for tomorrow.”

Spike knew she would say that and sadly she was right. She got more work lately, probably in anticipation of a big test.

Cadance smile flattered “Alright, I will help you this morning to finish.” then she beamed again “but this afternoon we are going to the Spa!”

Spike watched as Twilight open her mouth to protest “You….” she looked strongly at Cadance “You are not going to let this go?”

Cadance took a sip of her tea “Nop!”

“Alright, Alright” Twilight smiled “Thank you.”

There was a knock on the main door interrupting the peaceful moment.

“I got this!” said Spike and rushed out the kitchen toward the door of the library.

He opened the door and meet somepony unexpected. Spike put his hand on his hips, trying to be more intimidating “Rainbow Dash.”

“Hey, squirt. Is the Princess here?” She pointed at the royal guards posted at the side of the door “Like these guys are only here when she is… Wait are we in trouble?”

Spike could see that she was nervous, she was watching in every direction “No. Princess Celestia is not here. And last time I checked there was no impending doom of Equestria this week.”

Rainbow Dash relaxed “Fiou” then tensed again, She looked left and right, then at the guards, then at Spike. She lowered her head to whisper to Spike “Is Twilight here? I...” she passed a hoof behind her neck and said in an even quieter voice “need to speak to her.”

Spike paused before speaking “I don’t know. What do you want?”

Again she whispered, “I just want to speak to Twilight.”

Spike crossed his arms over his chest “Today is a relaxing day for Twilight. I don’t think she wants to see you.”

Rainbow Dash groaned “Come on, Spike.”

Spike stayed strong, keeping his stance. He probably had no chance if the pegasus decided to just pass him. But still, she looked ensure, occasionally making glance outside.

“Alright.” conceded Spike. He directed two claws toward his eyes, frowning and then pointed toward her eyes “but I am watching you.”

Instead of a brash retork like Spike expected, she simply nodded “Yeah, ok.”

One of the guards closed the door and Spike led the pegasus in the kitchen.

“Hu, Hello. Twilight I need-”

“You must be Rainbow Dash!” greeted Cadance. She approached the mare and offered a hoof “I am Princess Cadance.”

Rainbow Dash raised a hoof, visibly surprised and confused, she grabbed the other mare hoof and shook it timidly “Hu, Hello.” she paused “your highness.”

“Don’t mind me. You were saying?” replied Cadance.

The pegasus looked at Twilight “Hu” put a hoof behind her neck “I need to talk to you. You know for…”

Cadance grabbed Spike in her magic and moved out the kitchen “We will be out of your mane.”

Before they left Spike made another ‘I am watching’ you gesture but all he got was a remark from Cadance “Yes mini Shiny is watching you.”

Twilight stared silently at the pegasus mare, did she come to said she still had a chance? It was very unlikely. Did she want to stop being friends? It was sad but Twilight thought it was the normal course of action, that it then?

“Hu, yeah… I need, we need to- Who was that?”

“My brother’s fiancé. And yes, she is a princess.”

“Ho, ok. Err, yeah talk, need to talk.” she paused for a while, rubbing her neck “Yeah, my father told me to talk, so… talk to you. I mean” she shook her head and took a deep breath.

“I don’t like mares. I mean not like you are not pretty or something. I just only like stallions… so there… that.”

Twilight’ ears folded down on her head. “Ho”

“Yeah. Ok, this is weird?” Rainbow chuckled nervously “I mean, when a mare tells me she had a crush on me and just tell her I am not interested and I shrug off, but… I like you, ok? Not like, like like but you are my friend… so it’s weird.”

Twilight ears perked and muttered “Friend...”

“Yeah. I… yeah.” she hesitantly moved a hoof toward Twilight “Still friends?”

Twilight slowly lifted and moved one leg forward to meet Rainbow Dash hoof. Upon contact, the pegasus beamed “Awesome.”

She turned her head toward the door then back on Twilight “Don’t worry. I will not tell the other you are… are homo…”

“Homosexual” Twilight finished for her.

“Yeah I know that. I know you ground ponies are not fan of fillyfoolers.” she made a waving with one hoof.

Twilight sighed in relief, at least Rainbow Dash would keep it secret “ground ponies?”

“Yeah” the pegasus shook her wings “No wings: ground ponies.”

“Ho, yes. Make sense,” she concluded, leaving them both silent again.

“Uh. I… ” Rainbow Dash wings shook nervously then her eyes light up “I need you today for the tornado duty. You know to measure pegasus wingpower. We are totally beating Equestria record this year!”

The kitchen door was enveloped in a blue glow and a pink head peeked from the gap created “Nop!”

Twilight looked at the head of Cadance “Were you listening?” her only answer was the smiling face of the alicorn “Of course you were listening!”

Cadance entered the kitchen and grabbed both mares with her hooves “I am so glad you two are still friends!” the nudged Rainbow “And that you came to talk! But Twilight is taken for today!”

When she was released Rainbow Dash looked at the alicorn “Ok?” she sighed “I was hoping to have Thunderlane to train the other but I guess he can do it.”

“I can do it!” said somepony or rather some dragon.

Rainbow turned her head toward the back of Cadance “Spike?”

“Yes?” Spike put his fist on his chest “I mean yes! You need somepony to read the anemometer and do the calculus to get the wingpower?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah awesome!” beamed the pegasus.

“Hold on.” said Twilight, she looked at Spike “Wait, you can do that?”

“I am your number one assistant!” he declared proudly.

“Anyway. I can’t let you go alone.”

“Come on Twilight.” groaned Spike “There will be like a thousand of pegasus!”

“Alright, Alright.” Twilight conceded.

“Awesome!” was Rainbow Dash reply before she grabbed Spike and flew off the kitchen window.

***

Princess Cadance was reading an outdated fashion magazine. It was not really engaging, but she did not find the will to start a real book. She had offered to help Twilight finish some assignments, but she had to be honest with herself, she could not bring much help when it was pure magic theory. Luckily it was only a fraction of her assignments but -and that worried Cadance- some other were too familiar to her.

Princess Celestia was very cunning, what was a seemly history lesson about what seems a semi-random heroic act of a pony could end up on a deep politics and diplomacy analysis. It had been the core of her own lessons. Analysing history and tried to get in the mind of every side of a conflict.

Cadance managed the feat to have Twilight let her draft most of the work for these assignments. As much as Cadance respected Twilight diligence to study a lot of fields, she prefered when she was focusing on magic. She had a rare talent for magic and it was kind of a shame to see her focus lost on too many topics.

Princess Cadance was a patient pony but even she was getting too bored where she was sure she could be something fun “Hey, do you know that I lose another bet with your mom?”

The only reply she got was a “hm, hm.”

The pink alicorn groaned “I should have known this”, she cleared her throat “Shiny and I planned to use your bed for a huge orgy!”

“Hm, hm.”

“Morning broke a leg and put the library on fire!”

Twilight turned her head toward Cadance. But she was not wearing a panicked expression like Cadance expected “Ok. What bet did you lose against my mother?”

“Oh, you did not panic.” Cadance clapped her hooves “Does my little Twilight grew up?”

“Do you know how many time Morning or Spike use the same trick?”

“You should ask yourself why they do it.”

Twilight sighed, “I know, I know. Anyways. The bet?”

“Sooo. I heard Pinkie Pie stayed a night here, hm?” Cadance raised an eyebrow.

Twilight stammered “I.. no. yes? Wait. How do you know?”

“I don’t know, maybe…” she did a dramatic pause ”in one of Morning letter to her father? ‘Pinkie did a sleepover with mommy! I wonder what kind of games they played but mommy looked tired. I want to do a sleepover!”

Twilight sighed “I… should have known. And yes-”

“You get drunk, went all huggy like always and sleep with Pinkie Pie! I don’t know how I did not foresee this! Velvet is the devil.”

“I am happy to know there is still bet on my life. Could I get back to work now?”

“Fine” Cadance grumbled internally. She knew that Twilight did not want to give a reason for Princess Celestia to get back on her deal with Morning Star, and she should let Twilight finish her homework. But she knew the mare was worth more than doing assigned work.

After 30 minutes of musing, Cadance moved in the basement of the library. There was some machinery in a corner of the room, but what caught her attention was the main workbench. It was covered with notes on top of 2 silvers plaster. In a corner was a basket with different objects, a ball, a pen, a nut and so on.

She started reading one of the paper randomly and smiled. She did not understand most of what that was written, but she smiled. It was likely a research project. She levitated a nearby chair and searched for what appeared to be the beginning of the notes.

Later Twilight entered the basement “I am done with my magic assignment, maybe we can review the historic stuff now?”

Cadance turned her head “How about you explain what is this?”

Twilight’s face light up “Ho! Well it’s not close to working yet.” She got close to the workbench “I am trying to transport objects between the 2 platters.”

“That what I figured, but that just a variation of a common conjuration spell.”

Twilight levitated an apple, put it on the plater, lit up her horn and the apple appeared on the second plater. “Yes, that the issue. It’s an unicorn spell, every unicorn could learn it with a bit of time.”

“Now, imagine if every pony could do that!”

Cadance’s eyes opened wide “That would be great! Did you manage to do that too?”

Twilight put the apple back on a platter “I… not yet. I don’t have much time to work on it, and I am kind of stuck. My idea was to use some gems or crystal to store and power the spell.”

“Like you can store a lightning spell in some crystal.”

“Yes exactly. But…”

“The spell is too complex and require more power than usual crystals could store.” finished Cadance.

“Yes, I feel like I am stuck.” confirmed Twilight “And I don’t have the funds to buy more expensive crystal, but it defeats the purpose of the project.”

“I don’t think even the best crystal could work. Did you try with your Element?”

Twilight frowned “Why would I do that? The Elements are not for my personal use.”

Cadance patted Twilight on the back with a wing “It was a joke.”

Twilight was at the spa, lunch had been very agitated with Dinky and Morning retelling Shiny presentation of his job as the Captain of the Royal Guard at school. It had been a huge success and the stallion had to answer a lot of questions from the colts and fillies ranging from what was the higher grades or if the Royal Guard fought monsters. The highlight for Cadance has been when Sweetie Belle asked if he was single and if he wanted to date Cheerilee.

And of course, she was retelling everything to the Spa Twin Sister. Twilight never really understood gossip, sure she could understand the social aspect of it, but not the appeal.

“Apparently Cheerilee blushed like crazy before Shiny tell her he was already engaged.”

That elected a giggle from both Aloe and Lotus.

“You still did not tell how you get a stud like this,” said Lotus. “Was he was just one of your guard?”

“Shining?” Cadance laughed “Poor colt was barely able to speak to me when I meet him. He said something like ‘Blarrgo’ to great me the first time he tried to ask me for a date.”

Twilight could not hold a giggle, she had been here when it happened, it had been so awkward!

Cadance clapped her hooves, sending water on Twilight “Anyways, do you have some gossip for me? I love gossip.”

Twilight sent a bit of water in reply “Fleur has too much influence on you. She is the one that loves gossip.”

“Oh phss. Enjoy the water and think of some books or how your brother is probably cantering all the mares in town at the Pegasus training.”

Aloe giggled “That will be the talk of the town for a month at least!”

Cadance chuckled while Twilight just sighed. Shining Armor was with Spike overseeing the training and it was not hard to imagine what just Cadance had stated. Twilight was half listening to Aloe and Lotus. She admired the capacity of Cadance to mingle easily with ponies. It was a big part due to her effort to always appear as an open and accessible pony and not an untouchable Princess like Princess Celestia. Still, Cadance was not afraid to use her royal status, like booking the spa for the whole afternoon for the two of them.

Twilight never used her status as the student of Princess Celestia. Maybe not if you count the use of the isolated Royal Lodge in Canterlot Opera and Theatre when she was pregnant, courtesy of Prince Blueblood. But mostly for her, it was more a source of trouble that she liked.

Her relaxing bath was interrupted by somepony barging into the large room.

“Princess Cadance! You are here!” Everypony head turned to the intruder.

Aloe was the first to reply, she frowned at the white unicorn “I am sorry Miss Rarity, today ze spa is closed to other customers, even regular like you.”

But her reply felt on death ears as Rarity continued “I can not believe how hard to find you! I know you are probably very busy preparing for the best day of your life and-”

“No” cut dryly Cadance.

“Your Highness, I-”

“No. You will not get an invitation from me for my wedding, and don’t even attempt to get one from my fiancé.”

“But I....” she turned toward Twilight “Twilight, you did not tell me it was your brother getting married. I-”

Twilight sighed and interrupted her “Sorry Rarity, I cannot invite you either.”

“But I am your best friend! And I am of the most important pony in Canterlot.” she turned toward Cadance “I must… no. It should be an honour for you to have me at her wedding.”

“It’s still no. I am sorry. It’s my wedding and you are not invited. Can you just...?” Cadance waved a hoof toward the exit

“I am zorry Miss Rarity, I think ze Princess want you to leave.”

Rarity looked at Aloe and said “hrm mph, fine.” then she stomped heavily toward the exit.

“We are so sorry your highness. We did not lock the door, usually ponies of Ponyville respect the closed sign.”

Princess waved to the Spa duo “It’s not your fault.”

***

They moved to the sauna, Cadance has taken the full spa treatment. Something Twilight could guess would eat all her afternoon. She probably would have worked all day to escape what happened these past few days. Her failed attempts at romance with Rainbow Dash was probably the least worrisome, in a sense she felt relieved, sad but relieved. She probably could have issues looking at the mare in a normal way for a while, but she was not rejected totally like she imagined in her worse nightmares.

“You are lucky.” stated Cadance somehow reading her mind “Lot of ponies could have shut you off totally for not being like every pony.”

Twilight just sighed in reply, it was the annoying part to know a pony for so long and had shared a lot of good and bad moments. Cadance could read her like a book.

“I know. She is amazing...”

Cadance clapped her hooves but that produced a wet sound with all the sweat she had accumulated from the hot atmosphere instead of a clear slap. “Yes, Yes. But enough about mopey stuff. You know what I do when I want to forget something?”

“No?” asked Twilight, a bit intrigued.

“I imagine a future that makes me happy!”

“Oh.”

Cadance continued, “picture that: Me and Shiny on a super comfy couch near a fireplace. I just solved 4 ponies problem in the same afternoon.”

“4 ponies?”

“Yes. You have no idea what time it could take to just figure what one pony problem is, let alone start solving it”

“Ok, ok, so?”

“We are on the couch, watching our 5 foals play together.”

“5 foals?” Twilight giggled

“Yes, 4 fillies and a colt. You know, so your brother has one to play royal guard with.” She smiled “Actually most of his sisters are grooming and combing his mane and tail, much to his dismay. You should see the pink hoof polish it clashes so bad with his blue coat. They probably steal one of my hoof polish, I would have to reprimand them later, but for now, it’s too funny. ” Cadance openly laughed and Twilight joined soon, memories of her own brother getting makeovers either by a young Twilight and Cadance or Morning and Cadance.

Cadance kept telling the story of their foals, which was mostly all the tribulations and misadventures they could get into. The timer telling the end of sauna ringed and both mares exited it. They moved back to the main room of the spa were was waiting the spa sisters.

After taking a quick cold shower and drying themselves with the help of Aloe and Lotus they relaxed in chairs, getting massaged before being groomed.

“You have a lot of tension,” Lotus said while working on Twilight. “You should do more exercise.”

“You should work less too” added the princess.

“You have a perfect zilhouette.” Commented Aloe while running her hooves on Cadance back. “How do you do that?”

“Princess secrets” she giggled.

The sisters continued their work while humming. After they were done with the massages they grabbed various brushes of all sizes and started working of mane, tail and coat. Of course, Aloe did not have much work to do on Princess Cadance, so they were mainly exchanging beauty tips. Lotus on the other hoof had lot of on work on the coat of Twilight.

Twilight was just enjoying the relaxing experience. She was again half listening to the world around her and followed Cadance example.

She pictured herself in a nice house, probably in Canterlot. It was not really important. She just got home after a day at Canterlot University Research Center, overseeing the work on students. Morning was just out of school doing her homework in the main room. Twilight was watching her while reading a book, a light reading. It was more peaceful than Cadance fantasy. Still, something was missing. Spike was not here but in Twilight head he had a job and his own house, close by obviously. Twilight could easily picture him teaching foals or tend for a library on his own.

She frowned trying to figure what was missing, obviously, Rainbow Dash was not here to cuddle with her, or could be? Twilight was not sure on what rule a fantasy could relate to reality. Finally, she figured what was missing, and she could hear in her head Morning talking with Dinky about their journey at school.

With a smile on her face, she felt asleep at the hooves and brush of the spa sister taking care of her.

Author's Note

Me one year ago: "I should write shorter chapters so it's less a struggle to edit"

Feel free to leave comments :)

Chapter 12 - Meeting

Twilight was quietly doing some homework, if she was honest it was becoming more and more a chore than a pleasure. Sure the heavy load of magic studies was pushing her sharp mind to her limits and she enjoyed the challenge, but the rest was time she was not spending with Morning or even her friends. Well, what was left of her friends, Applejack did not seem to have cool down about the revelations Morning made, Rarity, well she was rarely seen in Ponyville nowaday and Twilight feared she did not take well to not get invited to Cadance wedding.

She sighed after putting the last dot on her essay about one of the minor battle of the numerous war between Equestria and the Gryphon Empire. She did not even bother double check. She called Spike to send it along the other finished work.

“Hm, already done?” asked a surprised Spike, getting pulled off a book about the history of pastry.

“Yes” she proffered the various scroll to him “I am going to check on Morning homework.”

Spike eyed the last scroll, it looked a bit ruffled, well ruffled by Twilight standard, a normal pony could take it for a very important official document to take with gloves and put behind glass “Are you sure, it was-”

“Yes, I am sure.”

“Sure!”

Twilight smiled and moved to a desk closer to the center of the library where was seated Morning. She was visibly struggling with something as she shifted nervously on her seat.

“Hey sweety, having trouble with something?” since Morning finished most of her homework before playing with Dinky, Twilight has a good idea on the last assignment that was giving her trouble.

“History” she pouted “Writing 200 words on this dumb war is not fun!”

“Morning, you don’t call a war dumb, think of all ponies that gave their lives to protect Equestria.”

The filly mumbled “Sorry.”

“It’s alright. Let me have a look.”

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was past the closing time of the library and Twilight was not expecting somepony to show at this hour, especially with this week weather. Nearly all the pegasus of Ponyville caught the feather flu and as a consequence, the wild weather of the Everfree forest was making itself know. It was very windy and humid and the weather service announced a likely risk of thunderstorms this night.

That why Twilight was very surprised to find a shivering filly at the door.

“Sweetie Belle! Come in, it’s not a weather to stay outside!”

The filly only made one step toward and asked “Can… I stay for the night?”

Twilight nudged the filly inside while closing the door behind her then asked: “Your parents are not here?”

“No there are on a trip, but I was supposed to sleep at Rarity’s place” the ears of the filly dropped “but she is not here and locked the boutique. I… can’t even ask Apple Bloom.”

“Of course you can stay.” replied Twilight with a smile “Hey Spike, can you prepare the guess room for Sweetie Belle?”

Spike put his book on a shelf near him and hoped from his seat “I am on it!”

Twilight lite the fire of the fireplace with a flicker of magic and levitated a blanket toward the filly “Here, you can wait here. It’s almost dinner.”

“Thank you.” smiled Sweetie Belle tightening the blanket around her.

Once she was warmed, the filly looked around her. She noticed that Morning was being helped by Twilight on what she could hear was the dumb essay on the third griffon war. She sighed, her mother occasionally helped her with her homeworks, but never her sister. She thought that after the Sisterhooves Social they would spend more time together, but since her trip to Canterlot to make a dress for Princess Luna, she barely spoke to her.

And Spike also stopped going to the boutique. Sweetie Belle found Spike cool as Scootaloo would say. She giggled because she was sure Scootaloo had a crush on him. But she liked Spike because he was smart and she could speak with him about stuff the Crusaders was not interested. She found silly his crush on her sister, she was too old for him!

Sweetie Belle grabbed a book to pass time, she comes to the library regularly, but she never really stayed to read, she looked at a nearby bench but opted to stay on the rug near the fireplace.

She was interrupted by Morning “Do you want to play? Mo… Twilight is making dinner.”

“Sure! What games do you have?”

“Checkers, chess, Shiny gave me a Genga too! You stack up pieces of wood to form a tower then you tried to pick parts of it without it falling down. If somepony make it fall down he lose!”

“Ok, that sound fun,” concluded Sweetie Belle and followed Morning to a nearby table. She levitated the box of the game and Sweetie Belle looked with envy, she was barely able to levitate a fork to eat.

“Hooves only?” asked Morning with a smile.

Sweetie Belle nodded, she probably had no chance against Morning with her crazy magic. She was younger than her and aside from doing more foalish things and being smaller it was not really showing.

She watched Spike built the tower for them and sighed, He was probably going to win with his claws.

***

Once seated at the table after helping to set the table, Sweetie Belle smiled at the improvised soup Twilight fixed with the help of Spike. It was fitting the outside weather. It had just started to rain.

“It’s hot!” shouted Morning after taking her first sip.

Sweetie Belle heard Spike snickered and then he took a large gulp of the soup and said: “Meh, it’s freezing.”

In doubt Sweetie Belle grabbed the spoon, filled it with soup and blew on it to cool down the fuming liquid. When it looked good enough she bring the spoon to her mouth “It’s good! It’s warm.”

“I am glad you like it. Ditzy gave me the recipe.” replied Twilight.

“Velvet will make a scene when she will realize you use other recipes, not hers.” teased Spike.

Morning giggled but Sweetie Belle was confused. “Who is Velvet?”

“My mother” replied a nervous Twilight “And don’t tell her, Spike.”

***

Sweetie Belle finished her dessert, she wiped her mouth with a napkin like she had been taught by her sister. She stayed in her seat watching Morning and Spike getting out of the kitchen to finish cleaning the library.

When they were out, she says to Twilight, that had started cleaning the dishes “Thank you for having me.”

Twilight replied “It’s nothing. I will have a word with your sister.” she paused “Remind me I need to see if she finished my outfit for the magic show.”

“I would have normally asked Apple Bloom to stay at the clubhouse but…”

“Something wrong with Apple Bloom?”

“Morning did not tell you? She doesn’t go to school anymore, and I am not allowed to go to their farm.”

Twilight nearly dropped what she was cleaning. “But… how can somepony not go to school?”

Sweetie Belle should have been jealous, but she figured her friend was probably spending all her time working in the farm “Yes…” she trailed. Something was the filly but she did not know who to ask, Scootaloo was not much into feeling stuff, so she just chooses to kept watching Twilight doing the dish.

She watched in awe the unicorn dried the clean dish and put everything at the same time in their respected place with her magic.

“Something wrong Sweetie Belle? I thought you would go back to play with Morning and Spike.”

“... can I ask you something?”

“Yes, anything.”

“Are you still friend with Applejack?”

“I… of course, friends fight some time, but they get over it because their friendship is more important.”

Sweetie Belle threw her forehooves in the air and whined “That does not help me at all!” then she planted her face on the table and groaned “Maybe Scootaloo is right.”

Scootaloo wanted to just gave up on Apple Bloom, they already knew each other since forever, and if the earth pony filly did not want to see them it was hard to stay friends. But they had a lot of fun together and the clubhouse was awesome.

“Don’t worry Sweetie Belle, I am pretty sure Applejack will see how silly is to forbid her little sister to see her friends” patted Twilight.

Later at night, Twilight was in her bed thinking. She was worried about Sweetie Belle. She understood Rarity wanting to spend more time in Canterlot to carry on her dream of designing the best dresses for prestigious ponies, but she was ignoring the trust her parents put in her to take care of her own little sister. It was curious since according to Rarity they managed to build a better bound at the Sisterhooves social.

Still leaving a filly alone to freeze outside was making Twilight a bit furious at her friend. She was also furious at Applejack for forbidding Apple Bloom to go to school and see her friends. But was she supposed to be mad at her friends? Princess Celestia would probably not be happy when she will learn that Twilight Sparkle, her faithful student is not doing her work to keep her friendships alive. That worried Twilight even more, maybe she would want to take Morning away from her? It was easy, most ponies only knew the filly as being her sister, not seeing her again would not raise suspicions, and even, what can ponies do against Princess Celestia wishes?

A white flash followed by the sound of thunder interrupted the unicorn from her musing. It had started raining just after dinner and now the weather had grown stronger. It made falling asleep even more difficult than usual. She turned and her bed and sighed, why was life so complicated?

After another flash, Twilight heard tiny hooves sounds followed by a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer the door opened revealing Morning’s head.

“Can I come in, mommy?”

Twilight made some light with her magic and could see that the filly was trotting on three legs, holding her Woona plushy to her chest.

Morning looked at the plushy in her grip then said: “Woona is afraid of the thunder.”

Twilight smiled at the attempt of bravery from her daughter. She started picking up the plush from her leg “I can take Woona with me if you want, Spike will protect her” she pointed at the snoring Spike in his basket.

That made the filly pause but she replied “I think, it will be better if she slept with me!”

Twilight moved in her bed to make place for Morning “Alright, I guess you can sleep with Woona with me.”

Princess Luna gave a glance at the book currently resting on her study. It was an old book with a stylized cover representing the head of an unicorn. If she was to trust her sister it was the latest book left by Starswirl the Bearded. As much as she respected her old mentor, Luna knew the stallion was not always sane especially at the end of of his life. She had been both curious and cautious about the content.

His writing style brought Luna founds memories, it was dry, barely readable by the average pony and it was in old Equish, very much like the stallion himself when he was ranting about ideas about magic. It was mostly at this time during their lesson that Luna stopped writing down and drawn on her notebook.

Anyways, in the middle of many rants of the stallion complaining about the lack of time to pursue all the research, there was a spell supposed to give immortality based on his cursed research about the Element of Harmony. And according to her sister, her student was worthy to complete his work.

It was not hard to understand what was the meaning of this. It had been the same Elements that transformed herself and her sister into Alicorns. Princess Luna was strongly opposed to this decision. Twilight Sparkle was too young for this. Getting the burden of leadership tended to make you miss a lot of what life has to offer, especially it tended to make casual and personal relationships very difficult: Princess Cadance has been lucky to find a stallion that loved her for her personality and not her status.

“Princess, it’s almost time.” her aid called.

It was the first day, or night, of the return of her Night Court. Princess Luna levitated the book back in a drawer and straighten her posture. She gave a glance at her guards, she was sure they gave an extra polish to their armor for the special occasion.

“Alright, let’s…” she trailed when she felt an unpleasant sensation. It was one of the wards she put in the dreams of the Element’s bearer. She had not resumed her duty as protector of the dream yet, she felt too weak to face the danger of this duty, but she put protection to know if something wanted to influence these very important ponies.

“Something wrong, your highness?”

“Gave me a minute.” she closed her eyes and braced herself for the sensation of having her mind enter the realm of dream. She hopped it was something minor, something she could easily deal with.

She was very wrong sadly. She had quickly identified the issue coming from her sister student. This was very worrying. She braced herself before opening the doorway to the mare dream.

Princess Luna entered a non-descriptive bedroom, only the multiple blurry bookshelves were notable, but her attention fell immediately on the bed. On the bed was 2 ponies engaged clearly on the act of intercourse.

The pony at the top was a white stallion with a blue mane, he was close to a fully grown stallion. A stark contrast to the filly under him, she was at the weird stage of life where you start growing a lot, not a filly anymore but not close to a mare still. Luna recognized the filly as Twilight Sparkle.

It was not unusual for her to be the witness of pony lust, especially in dreams where the mind could break the boundaries of the real and indulge in any kind of way to express its desires or fears. But what attracted the attention of Princess Luna was the expression on Twilight’s face. Her eyes were closed but tears escaped from it, her muzzle open, screaming.

She should have been unfazed, it was not uncommon for young mares to be wary of their first sexual experience and have nightmares about being in great pain. But what worried Princess Luna was the other pony in the room.

She was an unicorn filly, clearly younger than the young version of Twilight Sparkle, she had a light pink coat and a two-toned blue mare. She was crying, trying to reach for the young Twilight with a hoof while trying to look at the stallion.

“Daddy, stop hurting mommy.” she sobbed.

Her voice wake up the Princess from the mini stupor she found herself, she realized something fearful: the filly was not a construct from the dream, it was a real pony. To confirm her suspicion she put a hoof on the head of the filly.

Princess Luna sighed and gently said to the filly “Rest child.” Her horn light up, and she chased the filly from the dream. She gave a last look at the scene in front of her, gathered her force and stopped the dream before getting back on the real world.

“Are you alright, your highness?” asked her aid when she opened her eyes.

“We... I must make haste for Ponyville” she looked at all her guards “Sorry everypony, but this is important.”

“Do you require a chariot, Princess?” asked the guard in charge.

“No, this is no time for protocol.” then the princess trotted toward her balcony and took off. She knew her guards would follow her from a distance. That let her time alone to think.

She had so many questions from the short time she spends in this dream. Sure she did not let the dream play for long before putting Twilight Sparkle in a dreamless sleep. But the other being in the dream was very concerning. It was a real pony for that she was sure, but who exactly? In the dreamscape, everything was illusions or could be.

Before her exile she only met a handful of ponies who managed to enter the dreamscape consciously, the majority of them used powerful artefacts or potions made with rare components. The Princess made sure to either destroy or hide such means to enter her realm, not that she wanted to keep it for herself, but it was easy to influence other ponies mind in it, and she had a hard time trusting ponies with this kind of power.

During her exile on the moon, the Nightmare make it impossible to fulfil her duty as protector of the dreamscape, but she managed to monitor for intrusion as the Nightmare was too trying to find another target to influence, but luckily nopony entered the parts the Nightmare was preying. When she inquired her sister, she discovered that her Night Guard kept their duty to seek for any mean to enter the dreamworld and hide them or destroy them.

That made her even more worried, who was the pony behind the filly? What was her or his goal? Influencing Twilight Sparkle would give her/him a great deal of power and influence, probably even weakening the Element of Harmony.

She still not have the beginning of an answer when she landed on the balcony of the Golden Oak Library. It leads directly to the main bedroom of the library. She shook slightly her wings to remove some of the rain that managed to stick to them during her flight.

On the bed was Twilight Sparkle sleeping, this was expected. But Princess Luna was surprised to found another head peeking out the blanket near the mare own head. It was the head of a light pink unicorn filly with a two-toned mane. The same filly she saw in the dream.

This was even more confusing. She only had one way to get more answers.

She knew a lot of spells to wake up a pony, but she chose the more gentle approach. She nudged slowly the mare with a hoof “Twilight Sparkle, wake up.”

The mare fluttered her eyes open “Hmm.” then her eyes grew as big as plates “Princess Luna!” she looked between her foreleg and noticed the filly, gently she levitated her off her so she didn’t wake her when leaving the bed.

She bowed and said, “How can I help you, Princess Luna?”

“No need to be so formal, Twilight Sparkle. Thou we-I come here under a dire emergency. I am not sure now.”

The unicorn looked ensure “I, would you like some tea?”

The princess raised an eyebrow at the unexpected inquiry, but from what she learned from her sister and Cadance, It was better to talk to Twilight Sparkle in a familiar setting for her for she was less prone to panic. And tea sounded like a nice idea after flying in the middle of rain and thunder.

“Yes, I had a long flight from Canterlot.”

“WWould you like to follow me to the kitchen?” she pointed at her bed “Morning is sleeping and Sweetie Belle is in the guest room and both have school tomorrow. I don’t want to wake them up.”

“A sound reasoning, Twilight Sparkle. Lead the way.”

Once in the kitchen, Twilight put the kettle on the stove to boil water. Princess Luna took one of the offered seats. She looked as the mare in front of her was fidgeting, occasionally biting her lips.

After a sigh, she asked “So. You talked about an emergency.”

“Indeed. I was on the verge of opening Night Court when the wards I placed on you and your friends’ dreams triggered. They either trigger on a very nasty nightmare or if something is trying to intrude your dream.”

“You can enter dreams of ponies? Can-” started inquiring the mare.

Luna raised a hoof silencing the unicorn “Yes, I am still unsure what even exactly trigger your ward. What I saw in your dream, neigh, your nightmare was… not unusual, alone.” she paused. “Maybe I be bold and inquire you, do you still have your purity?”

“My purity?”

Luna put a hoof under her chin “Are… did you already shared a bed with another pony?”

“You mean, am I a virgin? No…” trailed Twilight.

“You see. I... “

“What did you saw?” cut Twilight.

The princess explained what she saw in the nightmare. Twilight reactions were mostly horror and shock but what surprised the alicorn the most was that the mare ended in tears.

“I… she should not have seen that. I… mess up I...”

Princess Luna hesitated, she should maybe hug the mare, but she did not feel that close to her savior. She instead simply levitated a tissue toward the unicorn.

While she watched Twilight Sparkle trying to calm herself, Princess Luna try to pierce the puzzle in front of her. She heard the mare calling the filly in the bed Morning… could that be Morning Star, the flower filly of Cadance wedding? How she was related to Twilight Sparkle?

“I am sorry,” said Twilight after dropping the last tissue in a bin.

“No need to fret, Twilight Sparkle. This is dire news, thy reaction is normal.”

“It’s a memory.” continued the unicorn. She paused “The filly, she...” then sighed, “is my daughter. My biological daughter.”

“I…. see.” This statement was so simple and yet so full of implications. She frowned at this newly gain knowledge, but now was not the moment to be angry at being in the dark about such an important information.

There was a long silence as both mares stared at each other. Twilight waiting for the Princess reaction and Luna for a way to face this situation. The kettle whistled and Twilight silently finished serving tea.

Princess Luna was the first to talk after her first sip of tea. “This nightmare, do you have it very often?”

“I… sometime when I am really stressed.”

“Is that the circumstance that lead to… Your filly?”

“Yes,” Twilight replied silently.

Princess Luna eyes narrowed. “I hope the sire is in jail for abusing you like that.”

“No! It was my fa…” she stopped herself and looked around her in search for invisible ponies “I think you need to hear the whole story.”

Twilight told her everything, to the event that lead to her bedding her own brother then later how she managed to persuade Princess Celestia to keep the filly.

“I see…” The situation was even more complex that it seems, now it was not hard to imagine why the filly had such a special place in Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor life. “Can I see her?”

Twilight looked at her finished cup of tea “I… she has school tomorrow. But-”

Princess Luna raised a hoof “I have a few inquiries before.” then mentally scolded herself for interrupting the mare.

The unicorn nodded in reply.

“Do she has trouble with her slumber?”

“No, she can pretty fall asleep when she wants.”

“Does she prove to possess strong magic?”

Twilight snorted “She is worse than me at her age. Sometimes is hard to keep her in check.”

Princess Luna pondered the answers, what she suspected was very likely to be true. She must see the filly now.

The unicorn levitated both empty teacup to the kitchen sink “Is something wrong with Morning?”

The princess put a reassuring smile on her face “Nothing to fear, but hopefully good news.”

Princess Luna followed the young mare back in her bedroom, now that she was not in a hurry to solve a crisis she could have a more appreciating look of the decor. At the bottom of the bed was a basket where Spike was curled on himself, holding his tail still sleeping loudly.

That sparked a thought in Luna’s mind “You must have your hooves full, raising a filly and a baby dragon.”

“Yes, but Spike is more independent. I just need to be careful of him not overdoing things.” Twilight replied while moving to her bed.

The unicorn nudged the filly gently with a hoof “Morning, wake up.”, she repeated the gesture multiple time but the filly refused to rouse from her sleep.

“I am sorry, Princess, usually she wakes up easily.”

“Don’t fret, Twilight Sparkle. This is my doing. I put her in a deep slumber” the Princess cursed herself for doing something so dangerous while moving toward the sleeping filly. She lowered her head to have her horn touch the head of the filly. She lighted her horn and undone her work.

Immediately the filly woke up and screamed “Daddy stop!” and as fast as it happened, Twilight Sparkle hold her in her embrace while saying words to calm her.

“It’s ok little star, it was just a bad dream. Daddy is in Canterlot”

Princess Luna heart filled with warmth at the motherly display. She actually never saw what happen when a foal wakes up after a nightmare or even after she chased a bad dream off. It was a long time ago since she helped a filly, but it seems so close. Her time as Nightmare Moon made everything so fuzzy.

“There is somepony to see you.”

The filly left her mother embrace and looked at her “Princess Luna!”, the filly swept the bed and levitated a plush looking like the princess toward her “Look Woona, it’s your big big sister!”

“Hello, little Woona. I did not know I have a little sister, nice to meet you”, she offered a hoof toward the levitating plushie.

Not losing a bit, the filly focused part of her magic into the right hoof of the plushie to make it look like it shook the big hoof of the princess.

Princess Luna smiled, foal imagination never ceased to amaze her. She was also curious how she get her hoof on one of the very few plushies she made for an orphanage and some close friends… mostly Princess Cadance.

“You are so tall! Taller than Cady!” said the filly from her spot on the bed. “You are my favorite Princess”, she looked at Twilight “after Cady.”

“Princess Cady? You mean Mi Amore Cadanza, I guess is an honor to be placed after such a kind pony.” and be placed before her sister for a change, Princess Luna though for herself.

It was nice to meet the filly, but she was here to confirm something “Morning Star, that it?” The filly nodded “Will you let me check something?”

Morning Star looked at her mother “Did I do something bad?”

“No no, sweetie, The princess just want to see… if your nightmare is gone.”

The filly paused for a moment “Ok.” her ears lowered on her head “Will it hurt?”

“Do not fret, Morning Star. I will only put my horn on your head and cast a harmless spell.” she grinned “Maybe it will tickle a bit.”

That elicited a small giggle from the filly and that provided a distraction for the princess when her horn made contact with the head of Morning Star. As she feared she found what she searched: traces of dream magic. The easiest traces to find were her own since she blocked the filly out of the dreamland, but now she had her confirmation: The filly could dreamwalk

Twilight looked at her with worry when she was done. The Princess looked at Morning “You are very special filly” she looked past the head of the confused filly to see her flanks noticing-

“Come on. that not fair!” screamed a white unicorn filly that entered the room “She even got her cutie mark now!”

Author's Note

I am not dead yay~
I should really do smaller chapters or try to put less stuff in one chapter ^^

Chapter 13 - Life is Unfair

Princess Luna smiled. She was in one of the most private dining rooms of the castle with her sister and the Captain of the Royal Guard Shining Armor. Both had a questioning look on their face, though her sister was hiding it well by sipping her first tea of the morning. They had just raised the sun and lowered the moon.

It was especially a relaxing routine after all the events of the night. After her meeting with Twilight Sparkle and Morning Star, she still opened the Night Court since she expected a low attendance but that had suited her just fine, so she had time to think.

Of course, it was now obvious who Cadance’s flower filly was. It sheds some light on Shining Armor’s parents not wanting Twilight’s friends at the wedding, Twilight Velvet probably blamed them for stealing Twilight Sparkle and her daughter. It was not hard to also understand Princess Cadance's reaction to her sister's proposal to have these ponies participate in the preparation of the wedding itself, not that Cadance seems to dislike them.

A servant brought the special treat she ordered to the Royal Pastry chef. It was hidden under the typical silver cloche.

“Hm, do you have an announcement, Luna?” inquired her sister, putting back her cup of tea on the table.

“Yes, exactly!” smiled Luna. Once the servant left, she lifted the cloche revealing a quite plain vanilla cake with frosting on the side. The centrepiece was composed of a grey moon made of mascarpone and vanilla and a purple star composed of blueberry.

Celestia’s eyes lit up, and her lips curled in a sly grin “Did you intend to court my student, sister?” She brought a hoof to her mouth “Think of the scandal!”

Shining Armor snorted but quickly regained the stoic face he had kept since entering the room. Luna had summoned him without saying why and he looked upset.

“What?! No sister.” She replied surprised.

“Then, if you seek out our dear Captain addition to your harem, do I need to remind you that I abolished this practice a long time ago?”

Luna did not like the scolding tone, she had already been informed of this after asking a particularly appealing stallion if he was part of her sister’s harem. The poor stallion had been all confused, especially when his commanding officer asked him to ask the Princess herself.

“Of course not. And I think Princess Cadance is not willing to share his beloved” she giggled then put a happy smile on her face “Thou, I think the news I bear is as grand as their love.” she paused before continuing “Our dear Shining Armor’s daughter got her cutie mark!” she clapped her hooves together and expected the other to share her excitement but the result of her revelation had mixed results.

Her sister only sighed “I guess it was a matter of time before you find out.” she quickly put a smile on her face, Luna was not sure it was a genuine one. “Congratulation Captain Shining Armor.”

“Thank you.” replied the stallion, who wore a genius and honest smile. He looked at the cake “So I guess, it’s her cutie mark?”

“Yes. It’s quite lovely don’t you think? I always have a soft spot for moon themed cutiemark.”

“Yes, I can’t wait to see it.”

“Anyways, it’s time to taste this cake” interrupted her sister, holding a silver knife in her magic. With surgical precision, she cut three slices then put them on plates before serving them

***

Sadly for Princess Luna, there was no real conversation after the cake was consumed, everypony just ate in silence and when it was time for the first duties of her sister and the captain, they just left the room.

She started walking toward her bed chamber for a well-earned rest when she was quickly stopped by Captain Shining Armor “May I speak with your highness in private?”

She was annoyed by the formal speech from the stallion but nevertheless followed him toward another privatised room.

He closed the door, then looked around before marching toward her. Keeping a stern face he put a hoof in her peystral, which made her recoil more from the surprise than the physical push “Don’t ever do something like that again.” Another hit “I will not have my daughter serve in any kind of scheme or plan anymore. Is that understood?”

After the stallion backed away a bit she answered “No.”

The stallion grumbled “Don’t play stupid with me. What was that with this… party and the cake?”

“I mean yes” she sighed “I suppose I was trying to get under my sister's skin” she looked at the stallion in the eyes “but what about plans?”

“You know nothing really? My sister did not explain the whole ordeal to you?”

“Well, only how your daughter came to life.”

The stallion sighed and walked toward the window to look outside “The Princess, your sister… She uses Morning as a way to make my sister do her bidding.”

“I thought Twilight Sparkle was a dedicated student. Pray, tell me.”

“Do you really think my sister wanted to stay in Ponyville? When she has a whole family in Canterlot?” he cut her before she could think of a reply “Yes friends are important but you don’t abandon your daughter for friends.”

It was easy to follow the reasoning “So I guess my sister threatened your sister to remove her Morning Star or a similar fate?”

He paused to think “I… am not sure, probably. Actually, the only reason Princess Celestia allowed Twily to keep Morning was for her to stay faithful…” the stallion assurance started to melt as he keeps talking “It makes hard to disobey a pony that can, on a whim, put your daughter away from you in an orphanage or something.”

He sat on his flanks and looked at the princess with sadness in his eyes, “So please don’t complicate this anymore?”

Princess Luna closed on the stallion and put her forearm around his barrel, she added her wings for extra grip “Ssh, I am sorry for my sister's actions.”

Shining Armor did not react nor gave a reply so she continued “But I am afraid now that I am involved I should help you. Is that not what Princess Cadance wanted?”

The stallion tensed and talked “I told her it was not a good idea. I don’t want you to fight your sister.”

Luna sighed “Siblings often fight, yes” she paused “I know what you imply. But you are family, something my sister has apparently lost the meaning of.”

She tightened her grip on the stallion, having the confirmation that his stature matched his fitness, a fine stallion indeed, lucky Cadance “Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Can you let me breathe?” he simply replied.

“Sorry”, she giggled. “But you are very huggable.”

Shining Armor snorted “I hear that a lot, especially from fillies.”

Sweetie Belle awoke slowly, she did not sleep well because of the dumb storm and the dumb filly, and the dumb cutie mark and the dumb comfy bed that was not silk and… She jumped out of her bed and groaned in frustration. “This is so unfair!”

She caught a glimpse of her reflection and groaned again, of course her mane also chose to misbehave and it would be a nightmare to put it back in order. “This is so unfair!”

“Is everything alright, Sweetie Belle?” she heard from behind the door, this sounded like Spike.

“Yes, yes.” She sighed and resigned herself to have to spend one hour brushing her mane in submission, she sure loved her curly bouncy mane, but beauty has a price.

“Wow, you look wild,” said Spike holding a pillow under his arms, it was kinda cute.

“You look sleepy,” she replied.

“I think Morning is stealing my sleep every night,” he replied. She was not sure what that was supposed to mean “so breakfast? Twilight made some celebrating pancakes.”

“Ok.” celebrating? She sighed and passed a hoof through her mane, she was ready to say ‘This is so unfair’ again and just groaned, another filly that got her cutie mark before her “This is so unfair!”

“What?”

She stomped and hoof on the floor “Gah”

“Hey! I waxed this floor last week, geez you are so like Rarity.”

“Sorry!” and now she was bothering Spike for nothing, she wanted to stomp again but restrained herself, “Breakfast!”

She followed Spike toward the kitchen, trying to calm herself. She hummed a cheery tune to try to calm herself descending the stairs. Her spirit was lifted when she entered the kitchen, “Pancakes!”. On the table, there were multiple plates with hot steaming deliciousness.

“I know that will cheer you up,” said Spike, but Sweetie Belle was not listening as she moved to an available seat. She grabbed a fork and started blindly picking up a pancake, but her fork hit the table instead.

“They are mine.” Sweetie Belle could see traces of magic around the plate as it slid toward the other filly of the room.

“That’s not very nice, Morning.” chided the only adult in the room.

Sweetie Belle paid no mind and tried to reach a pancake from another stack.

“They are mine!” shouted Spike before grabbing the plate away from the filly’s fork.

That woke up Sweetie Belle from the enticing smell of pancakes permitting the room. She gave a puzzled look at Twilight Sparkle.

“Here, you can take those ones.” A fresh stack was placed in front of her muzzle and it smelled good. She tentatively gave a poke with her fork, expecting to have them vanish before she could reach one, but no. She nearly brought the pancake to her muzzle but stopped, plain pancakes were silly “Do you have some syrup?”

“Of course.” A bottle of maple syrup was levitated toward her, the lid already removed.

“Thank” as she poured the syrup on her first pancake Sweetie Belle had a better look on the pancakes she had been denied. The ones in front of the lucky filly had a half-moon pattern in the middle, but she could not make it exactly make what was different from the one in front of Spike.

“There are some crushed gems in them” smiled Spike, he made a no no gesture with his claws “No good for fillies.”

“Yes, don’t try it, Sweetie Belle, you could cut the inside of your mouth.” injected Twilight, still working a pan full of pancake batter..

Sweetie Belle tried to imagine what it could feel to have the inside of her mouth full of tiny cuts, it was probably not nice. “What the… moon are? Cheese?” She giggled at her own joke.

“It’s blueberry jam!” beamed the other filly to the surprise of Sweetie Belle.

“It’s her favourite,” added Spike.

“Ok” she got back at her own pancake and realized she poured too much syrup on it, annoying clumsy hooves, and now Morning was watching her funny.

“I love syrup!” She cheered for herself to give herself an excuse for her clumsiness.

After washing her hooves and having eaten probably a Rarity non approved amount of Pancake, Sweetie Belle was reading one of the few magazines in the library. Seated nearby was Spike reviewing a checklist of some sort.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Preparing for the tornado!”

The filly tilted her head “But you are not a pegasus.”

“I am the head coordinator.” He looked again at the paper in front of him. “The numbers are not that great with so many ponies having caught the feather flu.”

Sweetie Belle got back at her magazine, that sounded like boring math, and she was not a fan of math at all.

There was a knock at the door of the library and she followed with her eyes an excited Morning Star rushing to the door to open it. Sweetie Belle was confused about who would want to go so early to the library.

It was the mailmare and her daughter, Dinky. Sweetie Belle tried to hide behind her magazine, that was two fillies that got their cutie marks before her! It was so unfair! They were younger than her too!

“Sweetie Belle, what are you doing here?” asked Dinky, putting Sweetie Belle out of her loop of unfair monologue.

“Huh, I slept here, my parents are out of town... again,” she said the last part for herself.

Dinky tilted her head then her head ears perked up, she threw her saddlebag on the ground, open it and grabbed a bag and rummaged her hoof inside it. “Here is a candy to cheer you up.”

Sweetie Belle picked the candy with her hoof and before she could put it on her mouth she was taken in a hug from Dinky. It was nice. She saw Dinky make a hoof gesture toward the door where Morning Star was, and soon the other filly joined in the hug.

It was a bit awkward for Sweetie Belle but she could not deny that she felt so much better.

Author's Note

I decided to split this chapter in two since I have trouble finishing the other part of it. I hope I don't take another year to publish the rest :)

Chapter 13 - Part 2

Spitfire looked at the gathering of pegasus in front of her. She could easily recognize the most athletic ones, mostly the weather ponies and the occasional pegasus carrier, the first ones were more fit than the average pegasus while the other had a more bulk frame, the sign of a long time of flying carrying heavy loads.

It was a regular occurrence to see so many pegasus gathered to do a tornado. It was also the first time she saw the thing transformed into a celebration of some sort. There was even what she guessed to be the whole school here, judging by the group of colts and fillies. She had laughed when Rainbow Dash told her Ponyville was going to break the record, that was the reason she came herself to oversee the event. Now she was not really laughing, the number she received from, surprisingly, a baby dragon, about the last count of wingpower was too close to the limit.

“Come on everypony, we don’t want to look bad in front of a Wonderbolt.” a very ‘Bolt-worthy black stallion said to the group of pegasus gathered in front of him.

Spitfire turned her head toward the mare under the baby dragon “You are not in charge?”

Rainbow Dash, a very promising future recruit grumbled, “I can’t fly, so no point to lead them.”

The fierce yellow pegasus looked at the small bandage holding the other mare's foreleg “I thought you only broke your arm.”

Rainbow Dash snorted “Heck, I know, but Captain of the Royal Guard Shining Armor said that it was a risk.”

Spitfire laughed “Yes, I can see that” she poked the injured foreleg, smirking when she saw the other mare wince at the touch “a bad landing will make your injuries worse.”

“He is stupid. Come on! You know that I could ride a tornado without any legs.”

The Captain frowned “Are you sure you did not break something up there?” she pointed at her head. “That would be reckless.”

To Splitfire surprise the baby dragon slapped the mare behind the head “Typical Rainbow Dash, nothing up there.”

“Hey that was uncalled for”

“You insulted Shining Armor.”

“You two are so cute. You should do a comic duo!” peeped a pink mare. She put a cupcake in Spitfire’s hoof “A pre-welcome in Ponyville cupcake!”

Spitfire looked at the cupcake and then back where the pink pony appeared but she was already gone. She looked at the group of civilians that was 50 meters away where she spotted the same mare talking with a group of fillies. “How-”

“Don’t question it” interrupted the baby dragon. “Just don’t”

Spitfire shrugged, Ponyville was the host of a lot of weird stuff, recently she had to deal with a dragon rampaging the town and it was like nothing happened. She just took a bit at the cupcake. It was good “Not bad.”

“Thank you. I made them.” replied the baby dragon.

“You made them?”

The baby dragon narrowed his eyes and made a show of his teeth. “Yes” he smashed one fist into the other “I crushed the skulls of thousands of ponies to make the flour.” he paused dramatically “I hunted a hundred phoenix to steal their eggs” he paused again, then roared “and I baked everything on the top of a raging volcano.”

Spitfire's jaw opened wide.

He switched back to smiling “Na, I baked them with Pinkie Pie…oven.”

Spitfire smirked, this little guy was fun “I love your style” she paused “When you grow wings, came by to get some free lessons”

“Awesome.”

“Hey, that's my line,” complained Rainbow Dash.

Spitfire looked at the black stallion that was coming back to them “It seems your team is ready.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Ok” she looked at the baby dragon that hopped from the pegasus and stood aside from the anemometer “good?”

He gave a perfectly executed small salute “Yes, ma'am.” she really needed to learn more about this little guy.

The pegasus gathered, then slowly started walking in a circle, on a predefined signal, they took off one by one. They soon started flying in circles with enough coordination to never collide into each other. It was always a marvel to see this, even if it was kind of a routine for a weather pony.

As they gained speed Spitfire was worried, she looked at the big anemometer that displayed the accumulated wingpower and it was clearly not enough to make it work at all. It was all written in Rainbow Dash face and also by the frantic scribbling of the young dragon on his notepad.

To Spitfire surprise, his face lights up when he taped on his notepad one last time “Rainbow Dash!”

“Hu, yes?” replied the aforementioned mare.

“Not you, featherbrain!”

“You called my name,” grumbled the mare.

“Yes, no, I mean… Captain Spitfire?” inquired Spike.

“Yes?”

“I added Rainbow Dash wingpower for my calculation and it should be enough.”

Rainbow Dash started trotting in place “You mean, I am allowed to fly now? It’s about time.”

“No. But I figured Captain Spitfire has probably more wingpower than you, being… the captain of the Wonderbolt.”

The little guy plan made sense for the Captain, except Spitfire was not sure she could compare to Rainbow Dash, sure she was more fit than any pegasus in Equestria but she was not able to perform a Sonic Rainboom.

Still she could not admit that in public “Ok, kid. But only because you asked nicely” she removed her jacket and gave it to Rainbow Dash. “Don’t mess with it.”

Slowly she took off to join the others that were giving her earnest to try to build enough speed for the tornado to form properly. “Come on ponies, we need the water up there.”

Maybe it was some magic aura about seeing a Wonderbolt join them, but Spitfire noticed some nods and most pegasus trying to flap a bit harder to gain the precious extra wingpower needed to get the tornado going.

It took some time, mainly for Spitfire to fall into a good position where she could use her full strength and for the other strong flyers to adjust their pace, but slowly the water started to rise toward the center of the tornado. Now it was mainly a matter for the stronger flyers to keep the tornado rolling while the more weather proficient ponies ensured the water kept flowing properly up to Cloudale.

She was getting tired but Spitfire was glad it was time to disrupt the tornado, it was still not an easy step, you had to correctly slow down the whole thing to avoid it getting out of control and causing issues to civilians, but she could see that it was getting hard for a lot of pegasus to even keep flying. “Alright ponies, it’s time to wrap this up.”

Sadly, as her follows flyers were trying to slow down correctly the strong winds, it became apparent that will not go smoothly, some were struggling to stay focused and not bump into each other. And eventually, it happened, the more tired ponies provoked collisions and it quickly went out of control. Luckily the winds were already slow enough to not damage anything seriously, but it sent a lot of pegasus spiralling out of control.

Spitfire recovered fast enough herself, years of training would do that, but watched with horror as some were going too fast toward the ground, she wanted to close her eyes to not watch them crash, but it did not come. A magenta magic aura caught them all and they all were levitated toward a clear area near a medical tent.

Spitfire landed down near the unicorn that had just accomplished this feat, she knew some royal guards trained specially to catch ponies crashing, but it was at most 1-2 ponies, not a whole flock of pegasus.

“That was impressive, Twilight Sparkle. Probably a record of some sort.”

“Ho, good afternoon Captain Spitfire.” The mare wobbled “It was nothing. I have a test soon and I practised various things.”

“Or does it have to do with catching some cute little muffin filly?” asked a bouncing Pinkie Pie with Spike now at her side.

“Maybe” replied Twilight before one of her legs gave out and she fell to the ground. “Hoo the ground feels nice.”

Spitfire noted the Medical tent nearby and shouted: “Medic, Medic needed here!”

Soon enough a nurse rushed toward them. She looked at the unicorn on the ground “Again?” She looked behind her and soon enough a filly with a small nurse cap joined her “Assistant Nurse Dinky, what do you see?”

“A severe magic ex..... thing caused by an intense use of magic! Symptoms are patient showing…, feeling weak and can even pass out.`` The filly looked at the nurse.

“Magic exhaustion, good job, assistant Nurse Dinky. And what do you prescribe?”

“A big nap!”

“It’s called bed rest, but you get the idea. So now what do we do?”

The filly scrunched her nose and then looked at the nurse with a smile “Hm, we give a muffin to the patient for recovery?”

“A muffin would be nice, assistant nurse Nurse Dinky” giggled lightly Twilight Sparkle from the ground.

The nurse laughed then called “Stretcher, Stretcher needed here.” she looked at the unicorn on the ground “And you, Miss Sparkle, just rest. If l saw you walking out the tent before I said so, I put you in restraints.”

She nodded weakly when a massive white pegasus stallion passed nearby Spitfire. He was carrying a stretcher under his foreleg. He laid down the stretcher on the floor, put the mare delicately on it, then with one flick of his hoof put the whole thing above his head and ran away toward the medical tent.

“Show off” snorted the nurse.

“Can he even fly?” asked a shocked Spitfire, this town was crazy.

“Yes, but be my guess as to how” she smiled “but seriously he looks tough but he is a nice stallion.”

“Interested?” smirked Spitfire.

The nurse blushed slightly but replied “... I have other patients to see.” and trotted away toward the tent.

“Drink?” proposed Pinky Pie to Spitfire “You must be super-duper thirty after flying like super duper fast, going round round round...” she kept repeating doing the motion with her head.

Spitfire took the offered drink, not sure if it was to make the other mare stop or because she was actually thirty.

“Thank you, Miss Pie.”

“No problem, ma'am!” the mare gave a sloppy salute before starting to run off.

She felt a tap on her hind leg, she spun and met a nervous baby dragon “Hello again,” he said.

He looked nervously around “Twilight is not here, but she would want me to apologize.”

“Apologize for what?”

“For trapping you and your squad under a roof piece?”

She remembered being called to fend off a huge dragon in Ponyville, but he had been smart and quickly disposed of her squad, in a quite humiliating fashion. And he was apparently this little guy?

“That was you?” Spitfire asked.

“Yes. It’s a weird story.”

Spike told his crazy birthday story to the Captain of the Wonderbolts, he apologized profusely and received an autograph from the pegasus in return. He then went back to meet with Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the weather team to do a debrief.

“I can’t believe you make the Captain of the Wonderbolt join us” Thunderlane gave him a light jab on the back. “Smart thinking Spike.”

“Thank you, Thunderlane.” he tapped his notepad and looked at everypony “Good job everypony. It was a close call. I mean it’s obvious why you barely made it” he pointed a claw at Rainbow Dash “You pushed ponies too hard so it weakened them and they easily caught the feather flu.”

The accused pegasus grumbled something along the line “that not how the flu work”

The other pegasus nodded, especially the one who was still missing some feathers from the flu and had not been able to participate.

“Ok team” continued Thunderlane “Aside from ponies with the flu, we have no casualty this year.”

“I landed on my butt!” complained Rumble, rubbing his flank. That was replied with some snickers.

“Even counting my little brother hurt pride, we did better than last year.” the group of pony gave a small cheer. “Still we need to work more on breaking formation next time.” he raised his hoof to cut reply “Anyways, let’s go enjoy the small party, I will fill the paperwork for Cloudsdale, tomorrow.”

“Woohoo, you are the best, boss.”

Rainbow Dash shouted at the quickly disappearing crowd of pegasus “Hey, I am still your boss..”

Spike patted the mare on one leg “Hey, now you know how I feel when you girls go save Equestria.”

“What does it have to do with everything?”

“Nothing, come on, let’s grab something to eat, that will cheer you up!” smiled Spike.

“You talk like Pinkie Pie. I hope there is some apple cider, I am thirsty!”

Spike glared at her friend that flinched slightly.

“Oh right, freaking stubborn Applejack.” she sighed “I never saw her so upset so long. Nor she...” she looked at her foreleg and remained silent for a while.

“Are you alright Rainbow?” Spike asked, looking at what was probably a rare sight: a silent, not excited Rainbow Dash.

The mare looked around, they were getting closer to a stand selling food that was usually found in a fair that had been stormed by the weather team. They were probably not served soon.

“Dunno, Can you keep a secret?”

“You have no idea.” Spike muttered “Yes. Do you want me to make a Pinkie promise?” Spike liked Pinkie, but sometimes she was a bit too silly.

“Na, it’s fine. I got invited to the Wonderbolts to perform a Sonic Rainboom at the end of their show for the Royal Wedding.”

“Hey, that’s great”

“Not so loud” Rainbow sushed Spike.

“I don’t get it” It was not a real secret that it was Rainbow Dash's dream, Spike was not sure he could find a single pony in Ponyville that did not know that. “Or are you afraid of not being able to do it?”

“What? No way!” “It’s more, you know, if Rarity learns about it she will get mad. And I already have Applejack mad at me.”

“She probably has a spot near the palace, don’t worry.”

Rainbow Dash put a hoof behind her head “Well, that's the thing, Soarin wants me to go to the wedding with him!”

Spike smiled, seeing an occasion of teasing the mare, “is that a date?”

The pegasus blushed “What? No!” she looked around “Just forget it”

Spike got back to the library, he was tired after helping various ponies clean, he longed for a comfy chair, one of his favourite comic books before going to bed. Maybe he could read one with Morning, even if she was more into foalish thing.

He really likes the filly, he was never really jealous of her, because he was only to be Twilight assistant and she was her daughter, and to be honest she was so cute he had a hard time getting mad at her.

Lately, she had become a bit wilder, especially when she was with Dinky, but at least the library was filled with laughter on a daily basis and not only when Pinkie was around. It was a nice change in Twilight mood, she was a bit melancholic before Morning was here, it mostly showed at the end of the day, when she had some free time to think after all the usual craziness of Ponyville. Now Twilight was mostly annoyed or happy. Annoyed when the 2 fillies decided to mess up with the books in the library and happy that Morning feels comfortable enough to go along.

He almost fell tumbling on a book on the floor when he noticed that something was wrong, aside from the obvious fact that a book was laying on the floor. The library was in disarray, shelves had been moved, and there were also cushions everywhere.

Spike shouted with a trembling voice “I… am a trained Dragon, I can harm you” as he moved deeper in the library. He noticed that the kitchen door was open, and inside were two ponies, which made him relax.

But it was not a reassuring sight, Twilight was half looking at a book, half crying. Next to her was Dinky.

“No, No, No” Twilight kept repeating while nearly tearing each page of the book turned them forcefully.

Meanwhile Dinky rushed toward Spike. She looked scared and was holding Morning’s plushie.

“What is wrong, Dinky?” asked Spike half looking at the afraid filly and Twilight.

Dinky dropped the plushie and was fast to hug Spike while crying “Morning is missing.”

Author's Note

The last part took me forever to finish, it's still rushed :(

Chapter 1 - Introduction

It was a nice morning in Ponyville. Spike was doing his usual chore of re-shelving the library for the fourth time this month. Twilight conducted a study to see if there was any correlation between the positioning of books with the time it took to dust them. Obviously for Spike that meant Twilight created each new shelving system and he was doing the rest of the experiment. Spike did not complain that much, he could become easily bored with the library’s low level of activity and with Rarity gone in Canterlot to make a dress for Princess Luna, he had a lot of time to kill.

It was nearly time to stop for lunch when a pink pony appeared at the already open door of the treehouse.

“Hello, Spike! My left foreleg was dancing a polka solo, my tail was twitching and my left ear was itchy, which means something great will happen to a friend, soooooooo--” the pink pony paused to take a great inhalation “--so I went to see all my friends and that took me all morning, because I got caught discussing pranks with Rainbow Dash and I forgot to stop by Sugarcube corner to take some cupcakes for a picnic with Fluttershy, and I remembered that I did not stop by the library to get a book on the Great Royal Pantry War and I was like: ‘Oh my gosh I can stop and see Twilight at the same time,’ so I am here. Is Twilight here today?”

Spike rolled his eyes at Pinkie’s antics and replied, “I’m sorry, Pinkie Pie. She’s not here.” He finished climbing down the ladder he was using to reach the upper shelves and continued looking at the pony. “She didn’t tell you girls? She’s in Canterlot to celebrate her birthday tomorrow.”

Pinkie gasped in shock. “Oh! It’s Twilight’s birthday, I need to plan a party, when is the next train for Canterlot? Maybe if I don’t sleep and I take some extra super duper Pinkie Cupcake with extra extra sugar for an energy boost I will be on time, I need to go now, thank you, Spike!”

Before Pinkie managed to leave the library Spike grabbed Pinkie by the tail. “Hold on, Pinkie, you will have to wait until she returns. This day is very important for her. She wants to be with her family.”

Pinkie turned around to face Spike with a deflated expression. “Oooh, she doesn’t want her friends to celebrate her birthday?”

“No, no. Just do it when she get back in three days.” Spike paused to think of something to get the party pony back to her cheerful self. “Hey, you can throw her a double party. She will have a guest.”

“Oh, double party, double the fun! Thank you Spike!” Pinkie hugged Spike before leaving in a rush.

“You are welcome,” Spike replied to the empty entrance of the library before heading to the kitchen to make lunch for himself.

Three days later at the Ponyville train station, a lavender unicorn mare was levitating her luggage. The train that brought her from Canterlot had just departed and she was watching the nearly empty train station. Its emptiness was not really unusual; not a lot of ponies take the train in the middle of the afternoon even on a Saturday, especially the train to Ponyville.

After rechecking that she did not forget something on the train, she spoke more to herself than to the light pink unicorn filly that stood at her side. “Nopony at the train station? Not even Spike?” Then she turned her head to look at the filly with a stern expression on her face. “You remember what I said, Morning?”

“Yes, ‘be nice and polite to other ponies,’” the filly replied with the bored tone you could expect from a filly answering this question for probably the tenth time that day.

A cheerful smile replaced the frown on Twilight face. “Good filly, now let’s go to our new home.”

The trip to the library took longer than expected for Twilight Sparkle as she was adapting her pace to the filly admiring her surroundings. For the most part, Twilight was just smiling, watching her reactions, and wondering how the filly was seeing Ponyville with her lively cerulean eyes. The filly had only seen some pictures of the town and it was very different from Canterlot or the places they went for the rare vacations they took. Twilight had been afraid the filly would not like Ponyville, but she only read curiosity and a bit of amazement in her reaction.

When the library came into view, Twilight passed a hoof through the filly’s night blue mane, eyeing with worry the violet stripe while she groomed some out of place hair. Once satisfied with the small task, the duo resumed their walk to the oak tree.

Twilight opened the locked door of the library, but she did not have the time to notice that the library had been redecorated with streamers and balloons everywhere as she was immediately welcomed by a cheerful Pinkie Pie.

“Happy birthday, Twilight!” Pinkie spotted the unicorn filly that went hiding behind Twilight. “Oh, who is this cute little filly?”

“Thank you, Pinkie.” Twilight smiled. She should have expected something like this when she noticed Spike was not at the train station. After her heartbeat calmed down a bit, she turned her head behind her, toward the filly that was gripping one of her hind legs. “Come here, Morning, and introduce yourself to my friends.”

The filly complied and placed herself at Twilight’s side. Looking inside the library where five mares and a dragon were waiting for her, she caught her breath and looked into Twilight’s eyes. Twilight made a small motion with her head to encourage her. The filly turned her head toward the other mares and straightened her pose. “Good afternoon. My name is Morning Star. I am Twilight’s sister.”

The ponies in the room went with different variations of ‘Awwww’ or ‘she is so cute,’ but Pinkie, still maintaining her cheerful self, asked, “How old are you, Morning Star?”

“I am eight years old,” the filly replied timidly.

Before a storm of question could fall on the poor filly, Twilight said with a smile to her friends, “Thank you for the party, girls. You don’t mind if I spend a few minutes getting Morning set up in her room before we start?”

“Of course darling.” Rarity answered while the others just nodded.

Twilight thanked her friends and made a small gesture with her head to Morning. “Follow me, it’s upstairs.” And they started climbing the wooden stairs with red carpeting.

Before Twilight got out of sight, Pinkie called her. “Oh Twilight, we thought you would bring back a handsome stallion and have a romantic birthday with him. I need to change the second party!”

Twilight turned her head and give a suspicious glare at Spike, who was wearing a small innocent smile on his face. “Hum, stallion? Second party?”

Pinkie replied for him, “He said it was a surprise! Seems like we guessed wrong! Oh, we had a special gift too,” the party pony added with a wink.

Twilight rolled her eyes and resumed her walk to Morning’s assigned room.

The Golden Oak Library had a lot of room upstairs. Aside from her own room when she moved in Ponyville, Twilight found a guest room which was sometime used when her friends wanted to do a sleepover. Another room was designed to store copies of book or books too precious to be in direct contact with the public. Sadly for Twilight most ponies in Ponyville were not great fans of literature or history instead they were mainly interested in practical books like “how to grow stuff.” She had expected to find interesting books only to find copies of said practical books. In the end, the room was used as a personal library for Spike and her.

Twilight opened the door of a smaller room she had been glad to find. It was a room clearly designed to host a young filly or colt. The room had been bare of any decoration when she found it, but the childish wallpaper and the small sized bed were a good giveaway.

Upon entering the room Twilight put piece of luggage on the bed and the other in a corner of the room, “Alright Morning, apparently there is a party for you.”

“A party for me?” Morning replied with a confused look on her face.

“Yes, it’s Pinkie Pie, remember? I told you she like to throw parties for everypony.”

“Yes.”

“Can you wait for me here? The bathroom is the room next to yours. I will send Spike to help you unpack.”

“Ok”

“I promise I won’t be long, just enough time to open my ‘present’”, Twilight let out a small sigh as she left the room, she was not really happy to let Morning alone like that but if she read Pinkie’s expression correctly her ‘present’ was not meant for a young audience to see.

Twilight went back to the main room and now she could see the giant Happy Birthday banner was accompanied by a smaller one holding the words ‘Welcome to Ponyville Morning Star.’ She gave up trying to understand how Pinkie managed to put that up in the short time she was away or why the paint looked already dry.

“Thank you girls for the wait.” Twilight looked at Spike with a smile. “Spike can you help Morning and keep her company?”

“Sure Twilight, if you leave me some cake,” he replied cheerfully while leaving the girls.

Rarity was the first to speak to Twilight as the lavender mare approached the drink table. “You never told us you have a lovely sister.”

“Sorry girls, I don’t like to talk too much about my family.” Twilight poured herself a glass from the non-alcoholic punch bowl.

“It’s alright darling, we all have our little ‘down’ moments with our family.” Rarity’s tone was comforting.

Twilight drank a bit of her punch. “Oh no, my family is alright, don’t worry. My parents are on vacation for a while, they wanted to go when I was old enough to keep an eye on Morning.”

Applejack got closer to Twilight and give her a pat on her shoulder. “Glad to hear that sugarcube.”

A bouncing Pinkie Pie cut the conversation, “Hey it’s a party! Happy birthday Twilight!” At that, the other girl joined Pinkie in wishing Twilight a happy birthday.

“Thank you girls.” Twilight took a look at the other side of the table where five wrapped boxes sat. What surprised her about them was that the five presents for her looked nearly identical, just plain red paper with a nice golden ribbon. Only the size and shape of the presents were different.

Rainbow Dash noticed Twilight’s confused look. “Pinkie had an awesome idea. You will have to guess who gave you each of the presents.”

Twilight looked at Pinkie a small smile on her face. “That sounds fun, can I start?”

“Of course silly!” Replied Pinkie cheerfully as she proffered the first present to Twilight. The unicorn unwrapped the present with her magic and was surprised to find a small bottle labeled, “Special ginger root and apple mix.”

Twilight turned her head toward a smiling Applejack. “Hm, Applejack?”

“Yep”

Wearing a small grin Twilight asked with an innocent tone. “It that a new drink?”

Applejack started fidgeting with her hoof and blushed a bit. “It’s...for the fertility of stallions.” Pinkie Pie giggled, Rarity let an amusing chuckle at Applejack’s small distress.

“Ok,” replied Twilight with a slightly annoyed tone, “Let’s see the next one.”

Twilight opened another present, the package was the size of a book. When Twilight finished unwrapping it, it was indeed a book. “The pony sutra?” Twilight looked at the book’s spine. “it’s a nice edition. Rarity?”

“No dear, it’s not from me”

After asking each of her remaining friends, Twilight found it was Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow, really? I am surprised.”

“Hey, some book are… cool.”

When she finished this little game with her presents, Twilight make a quick recap. “So a pony sutra, some lingerie, some ‘toys’, some stallion’s stimulant. Fluttershy’s sweater is maybe the most normal present.”

Fluttershy hid her face behind her mane to not show her slight blush “It’s...a pregnancy sweater.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, “Even better, you all really though I was bringing a stallion?”

Applejack was the one to cut the following silence, “Shoot, sugercube; it's spring after all. You look happier than a freshly sheared sheep when you leave for Canterlot, but come back lookin' mighty blue.”

“Which I can understand, Canterlot is such a marvelous city. It was nearly heartbreaking to just stay for one week.” added Rarity while inspecting Fluttershy’s work.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and with a playful tone said, “Yes, we know Rarity. Canterlot is great, or was it that stallion? What is his name again? Panty pants?”

Rarity replied with a small ‘humph’ and a hoof gesture to push her mane back, “It’s Fancy Pants and he’s just a friend.”

Pinkie Pie interrupted the friendly argument by looking at an imaginary watch on her right foreleg, “It’s time for cake!”

“I’ll bring Spike and Morning back out.” Twilight rushed upstairs. Rarity took care to hide the opened presents out of reach of a baby dragon and a foal.

Rainbow Dash was talking with Applejack while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were preparing the cake and some plates, “She got us all, I really thought she would be crazy embarrassed, but nothing. But really A.J.? A fertility drink? You want her pregnant?”

“Shoot Dash, Fluttershy had the same idea.”

“Yeah, but you know ‘Shy, for her stallions mean foals.”

Twilight reappeared with a slightly nervous filly and a cheerful Spike. Once she was at the bottom of the stairs, her friends gathered around them with great smiles. “So Morning, these are my friends, I already told you about them, but it’s better if they introduce themselves.”

Applejack removed her hat and made a small bow. “Howdy Morning Star, I am Applejack.”

Morning paused and looked at the hat. “You are the crazy apple farmer!” It was said with a mix of enthusiasm and innocence.

The ‘crazy apple farmer’ raised an eyebrow at Twilight, “Crazy?”

“She...is very natural.” Twilight was a bit embarrassed at Morning’s answer, but she knew the filly was merely acting as she was putting the right name with the right pony.

“I am Rarity dear, you have a lovely mane cut.”

“Mommy chose it for me! You are the beautiful mare Spike talks a lot about.”

“Spike talks a lot about me?”

Spike tried to hide his blushing cheeks with his claws when the little filly nodded in agreement.

Rainbow Dash stroke a pose, foreleg crossed, wings on display. “Hey kiddo, I am Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer of Equestria!”

“Twilight talks a lot about you!” There was a small blush on Twilight’s cheeks, but Rainbow Dash failed to notice.

The other pegasus of the group of friends got closer to the filly. “Um. Hi, I’m Fluttershy.”

“You’re the shy one!”

“And I am Pinkie Pie, premiere party pony,”, said Pinkie with prime enthusiasm and a big smile.

“The crazy one!”

“Oh, I love crazy, you love crazy?”

Morning looked at Twilight and continued. “Twilight says crazy is good sometimes.”

“Yep, let’s party!” Pinkie put a party hat on Morning Star’s head and made a gesture for ponies to start gathering around the cake.

“She is very different than you.” Rarity said to Twilight while pouring herself another glass of the alcoholic punch.

“Oh no, I was like that when I was younger, but not for the same reason.” Twilight giggled, “She is more like her father.”

***

Cake was shared, birthday songs were sung, Twilight’s attempt at dancing got some laughs from both the young mares present and the younger audience, but she didn’t care. She was happy to have a small part of her family and her friends to celebrate her twenty-first birthday, even if it was a bit late.

The second party was mostly the same with just more foalish games in which Spike and Morning participated. Pinkie Pie brought too many things to snack on; they all could skip dinner.

When the sunlight started to fade out, Twilight stopped the party, to the agreement of everypony.

“Thank you, girls, it’s time to put Morning to bed, I will see you tomorrow.”

After saying goodbye to all of her friends and thanking them for their presents, Twilight headed up with Morning to the filly’s room.

The walls of the room were decorated with a nice blue wallpaper with various pattern of stars. The curtains added to this night blue ambiance with smalls yellows stars on them. The ceiling was painted with a replica of a real picture of the night sky. The bedding covering the bed and the pillow shared the same star pattern as the curtain. On the opposite side of the wall was a small bookshelf holding books varying from bedtime stories to basic magic studies.

Twilight grabbed Morning’s toiletry and lead her to the bathroom. They both brushed their teeth and after Twilight checked to see if the filly’s teeth were clean they went back in the filly’s room. Twilight helped Morning put her pajamas on; despite being spring the nights were still a bit chilly.

Once she was ready to go to bed, Morning hid a yawn with one hoof and looked at the older mare with pleading eyes. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Hm, I should be cleaning the library, but I guess I could do that tomorrow.” Twilight replied with a smile.

They both left the small room to head to Twilight’s room. The bigger mare installed herself in the bed, sliding near the wall to offer room for the filly. She patted the free side of the bed and the filly hopped up, facing the young mare.

“Twilight?”

“Yes?” Twilight was wearing a bright smile.

“Can I call you mommy now?”

“Of course my little star.” The mare planted a kiss on the filly’s forehead and grabbed her with her forelegs in a tight hug.

The filly buried her face in Twilight’s chest. “I love you, mommy.”

“I love you too,” Twilight replied before turning the light off.

Chapter 7 - Secrets and Lies

Princess Luna was seated at her desk. She had multiple files open and was taking note about ponies she thought would fit a future project. She was interrupted by one of her thestral guard announcing the arrival of the pony she summoned to have to some feedback.

A white pegasus entered the room, he had a blue mane and thing a bit unusual, the tip of his feather were also blue. He wore the purple armor of the night shift.

“Good evening, Major Silent Knight.” greeted the Princess.

The stallion bowed “Good evening, your highness.”

Luna let the stallion seat in the offered cushion before speaking “You are the officer in charge of the night shift, right?”

“Not for long, as you probably know.” The stallion pointed at the file encased in the alicorn aura “And I am pretty sure a thestral will took my place, considering the boost in their desire to serve in something else that dark ops. With your return.”

Princess Luna laid down the file in front of her “Yes. Sorry if they are a bother. They stayed quite protective toward myself, despite all these years.”

The stallion chuckled “They are a bit zealous, but they respect the hierarchy.”

Luna tapped the file “So you are in line to be the new Captain of the Royal Guard. You are recommended by Shining Armor himself, I see.”

“Yes” replied the stallion.

“Excuse us to be so blunt, but usually the Captain is a powerful unicorn” Luna flipped a page of another file “trained to power the shields of the city.”

The stallion brought a hoof to his chin “You must have an outdated document. Captain Shining Armor and his sister managed to tweak the spell so multiple unicorns could be used. It’s actually a better security approach. Relying only on one pony was a big weakness.”

Luna paused, eying the date on her folder “It seem that you are correct. Still it must not be easy to take the place of a stallion that receive high praise from all his superior during his career.”

The stallion straightened his posture on his seat “If the Captain said I fitted for the position, I am fitted. I trust his judgment. But I don’t think you have summoned to talk about this.”

“Yes, indeed. Don’t feel like you are a bad choice, but I had a hard time having a meeting with Captain Shining Armor. He is probably avoiding me. Also, my first choice was Commander Wings. But my first impression of him let me think his zeal toward me will be a hindering for an objective discussion.”

“I listen.”

“Good, good. A long time ago, after the defeat of King Sombra. I realize that we… Equestria always relies on improvisation when facing against powerful foes. You could say it started with the Windigos then it was Discord. But King Sombra had put a toll on my sister and I moral. A whole civilization disappears because we were not really prepared.” The luna princess paused to look the reaction of the stallion, but he remained impassible.

“I suggested at this time to try to form a specialized squad to train and come with ideas to deal with this kind of threat. My sister was not thrilled with the idea and for a good reason. Equestria was not that peaceful and there was more concrete use of bits than the unknow possibility of a powerful foe attacking us.”

“You want to bring back this idea to life?” asked the stallion to the surprise of Luna.

“Yes. My personal funds are quite high according to my nephew. But We-I am curious you seem not that surprised?”

“Captain Shining Armor had a similar idea after you…” he trailed trying to avoid the gaze of the alicorn.

“Nightmare Moon got back.” finished Luna for him.

“Yes sorry.” Silent cleared his throat “He did not like the idea his sister was put in danger with no support. He had a very heated argument with your sister when he learned that his own sister has to stay in Ponyville. I think the Discord accident put a final stretch with his relation with Princess Celestia. So he wanted to train guards to deal with things like King Sombra, but she never gave the authorization for it.”

The eyes of Luna open wide before she regained her composure “That could explain his unease in my presence. Wait did you said about Twilight Sparkle and Ponyville?”

Two fillies and a mare were seated around a coffee table. On a nearby bench lay a young purple drake, a comic book in his claws. Everypony was focused in their tasks in their own way. The mare was surrounded by books on equine anatomy and drawing. The younger of the two fillies was biting her lower lips while levitating a colored pencil. The pink gray coated filly had her eyes crossed following the pen she was holding in her mouth while letting a small trail of red with the other crayon she held in her left hoof.

There was a fifth participant, but she was serving as a model for one of the fillies. It was not a hard as it consisted staying still on top of a book pile, something easy for Woona.

“You forget her wings!” said Dinky, looking at Morning’s drawing.

Morning blushed but blurted “I haven’t finished!” she peered at Dinky’s drawing, it was a big brown circle with small black squares and rectangles on it, the filly was working on various round shape “Is that a giant muffin?” asked Morning.

“It’s a muffin house!” beamed the other filly.

“A muffin house?” questioned Morning.

“Yes. There is the door.” Dinky pointed at the lower rectangle with a small circle representing a door handle. “And here a window”, pointing at one of the black crossed squares.

Twilight watched with a small smile on her face Dinky going through the intricate detail of muffin house architecture, which mainly consisted on what batter to use for each part or if black chocolate chips were harder than regular chocolate. Dinky was also talking how she planned to draw the ponies she liked on it which included Morning and Twilight.

It was a nice distraction to watch the two fillies interact with each other. Drawing was not something easy for Twilight. For her magic show, Lyra and she had agreed to tell the story of the rescue of Princess Luna using something similar Trixie had used to tell her fake story of the Ursa Major defeat. It ended the base spell was not really hard to learn, especially for somepony so astute with magic like Twilight, but it rely a lot on the caster imagination. So Lyra had proposed for the purple unicorn to try to draw what she would represent with her magic.

But it was hard, first it felt weird for Twilight to draw herself and her friends. Nightmare Moon was also a challenge and for somepony more used to draw graphic or magic formula, trying to draw semi-onirique pony was a struggle. At least it looked like ponies concluded Twilight.

“Is that Rainbow Dash?” asked Dinky, interrupting the mare’s thought. The filly looked at the blue pegasus with a rainbow mane having her muzzle glued to a lavender unicorn “Is she kissing you?”

Blood rushed at the tip of Twilight’s ears. “No, No, No, she.. “ but no explanation came quick enough to her mind before Morning started singing.

“Rainbow Dash and Mommy under a tree, kissing!”, soon enough she was joined by Dinky while Spike was laughing behind his comic book.

Twilight managed to get out her embarrassment and sighed “You spend too much time with Cadance, I swear” that earned a giggle from a Morning and a puzzling expression for Dinky.

“Who is Cad-”

Dinky was interrupted by a loud sound of shattering glass coming from one of the library window, followed by a crash in the floor. Without giving a glance from his comic book Spike turned one page “Well, it’s your friend Rainbow Crash.”

Twilight and the filly rushed at the source of the sound and felt on the sight of a pegasus, but not a rainbow maned one.

“Mommy!” shouted Dinky.

The pegasus rise on her hooves and shook her head to remove eventual shard glass stuck in her mane. She put a smile on her face while her eyes tried to focus on the ponies looking at her “Hey, muffin.”

“Are you alright, Ditzy?” asked Twilight while levitating the shards scattered on the floor into a nearly bin.

The gray pegasus did not reply but followed with one eye her filly while the other eye remains focused on Twilight.

Meanwhile, Dinky probed with a hoof her mother’s right front leg “Right hoof!” she shouted.

“Fine” replied Ditzy with a small giggle.

Dinky scolded her mother “It’s serious, Mommy!” then proceed to do the same with the next leg.

Twilight looked in puzzlement the small routine of Dinky probing various spot on her mother, while the pegasus was smiling and saying fine when asked.

Morning watched the same thing, but her curiosity was stronger than her mother, she asked Dinky “What are you doing?”

“Mommy is clumsy, she fell or crash a lot! So the doctor tells us to check if something hurt before going to see him.”

Ditzy blushed before grabbing Dinky with one foreleg and ruffling her mane with the other “Thank you, muffin.”

Twilight smiled at the display but she was not expecting Ditzy at all. It was Wednesday at the beginning of the afternoon, Cheerilee had a family obligation so the fillies didn’t have school. Twilight was supposed to watch Dinky while her mother was working “Why are you here? Something wrong?”

Ditzy released her filly “Nothing! I took the afternoon because this weekend will be a rainy and I though. Why spend all day cooped inside when we can go to the lake!”

Dinky beamed “The lake!”

Morning following Dinky enthusiasm beamed too “The lake!”

Twilight was quick to reply “No, I mean it’s a nice idea but I have a lot of studies to catch up this afternoon and the fillies haven’t done their homework yet.”

Ditzy tried to focus both of her eyes on the lavender mare. Dinky made a sad face and looked at Twilight with her big, glossy eyes. Morning recognized the familiar expression followed suit and put her own puppy eyes impression.

The three of them said at the same time “Please?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow looking at Ditzy, but the pegasus started pouting like the fillies and pull out a muffin from her mane “I made muffins?”

Twilight looked at the obviously fake teary eyes of the two fillies, she sighed and smiled “Fine, fine. Lake it is.”

The sad expression on the two fillies and the pegasus disappeared as quickly as a filly could eat a candy and was replaced by a cry of joy “Yay!”

Twilight pointed the table they were previously seated “But let me help clean up first.”

Dinky, Morning and Ditzy followed suit. Dinky showed her drawing to her mother that looked with a smile while Morning was trying to finish in haste her portrait of Woona.

“Ha, a muffin house. What batter did you use for the roof?” asked Ditzy and it was the start of another discussion on the merit of muffin architecture. It left mainly Twilight to sort out the currently unused pencils and paper and put them in the nearby drawer for later use.

Ditzy then gave a look at the other mare drawing and grinned “Somepony eager for her date.”

Twilight tried to hide her small blush “Hu, I was… practicing…,” she heard a snort from Spike “drawing, drawing. that it!”

Luckily for the unicorn, her filly nudged Ditzy to get her attention “Look, it’s Woona!”

Ditzy ruffled the mane of Morning “Oh, she look beautiful, sweetie.”

After a while, Twilight sent the fillies in the kitchen to wash their hooves. There was a knock on the door, Twilight looked at a clock and panicked when she realized they were few pony knocking at a public library door “Ho no, I forget about Lyra.”

The mint unicorn entered the library “Hello there.”

“I am sorry Lyra. I forget about you coming and I just promised to take Morning and Dinky to the lake.”

Lyra noticed the smiling gray pegasus near Twilight, she giggled “I see. Did she bribe you with muffins and puppy eyes?”

Ditzy was the one to reply “Yep. Guilty as charged!”

Twilight sighed “Now, we will have to reschedule our lesson. I am really sorry.”

The other unicorn shrugged “Well, now I have nothing to do this afternoon. I can come with you at the lake. I can make you practice a bit like that.”

An hour later, Spike was enjoying the now silent library. For once he was not worried about Twilight being in danger or not coming back. He had smiled when he watched the mare that partially raise him departed to spend some well deserved time with her filly and friends.

He was seated at the small counter near the entrance of the library that was used as reception. He traded his comic book for a book about the history of pastry, something he planned to interest Pinkie in.

So far he only got two visits: one from Carrot Top borrowing a book about taxes and the Rich family butler returning a history book. Despite being mainly Twilight’s assistant Spike was acting as the secondary librarian, or primary librarian according to lot of patrons. Most of them were kind enough to not bother the mare when she was busy at her desk and went for the lot less busy drake.

But that did not bother him, Spike liked to help ponies. And he was not the most illiterate pony or drake. Hell, the Ponyville library was so much smaller than the old Twilight’s room and since Morning was here, Twilight was making a point at doing more chore herself. Probably to set a good example for Morning.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Spike almost fell off his chair when a pink blur entered the library. But the blur caught him before the chair lost totally its balance. “Sorry, Spike!”

“Hey, Pinkie Pie. Thank” replied Spike “What do-”

“No time to explain. Is Twilight here? Miss Cake is at the hospital delivering her own little Cakes! I already gathered Fluttershy, Rarity and Dashie!”

“No, she is at the lake with Ditzy and Lyra.”

Pinkie grabbed the drake and threw it on her back “Too bad! Let’s go!”

Spike could have complained, but he knew that when the mare had an idea on mind it was hard to stop her, so he went along. Grabbing the mare mane while she galloped at full speed in the direction of Ponyville hospital.

“You sure love to ride mares” giggled Pinkie when the drake hop off her back in front of the group of friends and Mr Cake that were gathered in a waiting room.

“Way to go.” shouted a laughing Rainbow Dash.

Spike looked at them eyes wide open before blushing.

“Poor dear;” said Fluttershy while hiding her giggling behind a hoof.

“Twilight is not here, Spike?” asked Rarity unphased by Pinkie and Rainbow Dash antics.

Spike regained his composure “She is at the lake with Morning and Dinky.”

After one hour of waiting where Rarity was turning the page of a magazine about fashion. Rainbow Dash taking a nap or watching the poor Mr. Cake pacing around the room. Pinkie had enough of humming to herself seated near Spike.

“You are not sad to not be at the lake with Twilight?”

Spike that had picked up an old magazine on gardening just shrugged “Why should I?”

“Isn’t she like your mother too? And she even let you at Ponyville for her birthday!”

Spike scratched the large spike on his head “I am just her assistant. I mean, I never thought about it” he brought a claw under his chin “Princess Celestia is my mother. She was the one in charge on me before she place me on the care of Twilight.”

That raised the curiosity of Rainbow Dash “Hu, how is that to be raised by a Princess?”

Spike replied, “I mostly remember my nanny. The Princess is a very busy pony.” He paused “I should pay her a visit one day.”

“Princess Celestia?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Spike sighed “No, my nanny.” then he muttered in a lower voice “Wonder what Twilight see in you.”

Pinkie Pie giggled at hearing the last remark on the drake.

Twilight and Lyra were laying on a blanket near what was called the “lake” Twilight had expected a long trek to reach the mountain where lay the dam that provided the electricity of Ponyville and Canterlot. But it was totally in another direction, with only twenty minutes or so of walking -It was hard to tell when you have two energetic fillies going around you, or stopping to watch something that caught their attention- they arrived at the lake even if it was more a pond.

“What your poison?” asked Lyra.

“Poison?” Twilight peeked her head off her book.

Lyra pointed at said book.

She showed the spine to the other unicorn.

“The Sparkle Household? I never knew you were from a noble family.”

“What? No.” Twilight sighed “It’s a gift from Prince Blueblood for my birthday. He managed to gather a lot of information about our bloodline and ponies in the family with the purple star as main part of their cutie mark.”

Lyra looked at the flank of the mare “Oh yeah, your brother has the same. Is that something all your family has?”

“No, our father does not have it, neither his mother. According to her it the mark of a pony specially gifted with his special talent.”

Lyra pondered the other mare words when a realization hit her “Wait you said Prince Blueblood? As the second most eligible bachelor of Equestria? And he offers you a gift! Lucky mare.”

“What? He is just Cadance’s family” Twilight turned a page of her book and asked “Who is the first bachelor?”

The mint mare poked Twilight “Duh. Your brother of course!”

“You realize he is with Cadance for almost ten years?”

Lyra looked at the sky, waving a hoof “I still dream of him rejecting Cadance at the wedding ceremony, declaring his undeniable love for me. And after a nice ride to the sunset he will take me passionately all night long.”

Twilight sighed “I thought you were only into mares, and you have Bonbon.”

“Everypony is straight for Shining Armor!” laughed Lyra.

Twilight was confused for a moment before emitting a small giggle.

When Lyra laugh died down she pointed at the two fillies and mare in the pond having what was the time of their life. Ditzy was used as an improvised diving board as she picked one filly on her back and hovered a bit above the water, hen the filly jumped in the water.

“So, your sister is going to have the purple star too? She is super good with her magic for her age.”

Lyra though she saw Twilight flinch, but the mare asked “And you, what is your ‘poison’?”

“Oh, it’s a magazine on-” the mint unicorn was cut by a wet pink filly rushing in their direction.

“Mo-Twilight! Come play now!”

Twilight closed her book and put a smile on her face “Yes, yes, I am coming.”

Lyra looked at Twilight being dragged by Morning and hide a giggle with her magazine. She was always impressed how fillies and colts were able to coerce their relative into doing something when they really want to.

She watched at the inevitable action when a new participant join in an activity involving water: The lavender unicorn being attacked by said liquid from Dinky and Ditzy as she reached the border of the pond. Soon enough the semi drenched mare entered the water and started forming small bubbles of water with her magic to splash the others.

For Lyra, it was a side of the mare she never saw before. Even after or before their intimate moments she never saw the mare happy, smiling or playing without a care like that. Their rapports were albeit enjoyable, rather mechanical.

She got back at her reading. It was a special edition of a well know magazine that talk in simplified term of the last progress in research. Lyra was interested because there was some progress about something called DNA. It could hold the secret of the equine nature.

As she progressed through the article Lyra enthusiasm deflated, for now the main practical use was to found stuff like which sex your baby is. For the occasion, the magazine did a big series of article about pregnancy. It was still something interesting for Lyra, since Bonbon had expressed the possibility to have a foal to strengthen their bond.

She flipped the pages, most of the first articles were a remember of their sex ed class, with added technique to improve the chance to get pregnant. She smiled when she reached the article about all the symptoms mares had to go through during the pregnancy. But something caught the eyes of Lyra when reading the article about the different delivery technique. She recognized a familiar sight.

“It can’t be” she muttered while looking at Twilight and Morning Star.

Making up her mind, Lyra rises up and moved to the border of the pond “Hey, Twilight. I was thinking, maybe we can go buy some Ice cream.”

That particularly caught the attention of the fillies “Oh yeah. Ice cream!”

Twilight get out the pond and shook herself “Well. sure”, she looked at Morning “Be careful while I am gone. Ok?”

“Ok!” replied cheerfully the filly.

Morning watched her mommy drying herself with a towel and walking with Lyra toward Ponyville. She got back at playing ball with Dinky on the area of the pond where they had hooves. Ditzy had switched to just hover above them to keep her eyes on the two fillies.

“You swim pretty good.” said Dinky to Morning “I though you never went to a lake.”

“I went to the sea already with Cadance and ... Shiny.” she paused to open her foreleg very wide “It’s like huge!”

Dinky ears flattened on her head “I never went to the sea.”

Morning said after catching the ball in her magic “Maybe I can ask them to bring you next time.” She threw the ball at Dinky again but the other filly throw it too far away and Morning galloped in the direction of the ball without looking where she was going.

She did not see a small rock that was in front of her left forehoof. The filly tripped on it and fell head first on the grass. Dinky rushed to her friend to see if she was alright, but Morning was holding her forehead with one hoof while crying.

Ditzy came to see what was the issue but Dinky shouted to her “Get the first aid kit, Mommy!” the mare saluted and flew toward the blankets with their belonging nearby.

Dinky put a foreleg on the shoulder of the other filly and said with a soft voice “Let me see.”

Slowly Morning removed her hoof, letting show a small cut just under her horn.

Dinky looked in her eyes “It’s very small! It’s gonna be alright.”

The tear of Morning stopped. She brought a hoof to her eyes and she sniffed “You promise?”

Dinky kept smiling and nodded vigorously “I promise!” she noticed her mother flying over her with the first aid kit in her mouth. “Thank” with the help of one hoof she opened the box and grabbed the antiseptic gel with her mouth.

“It’s gonna hurt a little, but it’s ok?” she asked Morning. She received a quiet nod for reply then grabbed the bottle of gel with her right hoof and apply a bit of the gel on the small cut.

Dinky saw the other filly winced, but she was happy seeing Morning held her tears. “Nearly done!” she said while putting back the bottle and grabbed in its stead the band-aids box. She pulled one from the box and put it carefully across the cut.

“And done!” she beamed after making sure the adhesive parts were holding correctly.

“Thank you” replied shyly the pink filly.

Meanwhile Ditzy was watching the whole scene with a smile on her face, but the smile quickly changed in a gasp of surprise when the flank of her sweet filly flashed.

***

Lyra was walking in silence near Twilight. She wanted to talk to the mare alone without risking somepony hearing or interrupting. Her plan was simple with the pretext of ice cream, but now she had no idea how to confirm her suspicion. It was especially hard looking at the serene smile on her face.

Still she tried something “I don’t remember, why did you miss nearly two years of school?”

One of Twilight’s ears twitched “I… there was something with my family.”

Lyra shut herself, there had been a lot of theory about the top student absence. It varied from the filly giving up or more absurd stuff like the filly turning evil and was imprisoned or banished to the sun. But one theory worked too well now in her mind.

Lyra put a fake smile on her face “It’s…” she paused to look at a tree for inspiration but just simply asked “Morning Star is your daughter?”

Twilight eyes opened wide. She did not answer immediately. She lowered her head and sighed “Yes.”

Lyra froze. It was one thing to have a suspicion about something, but to have it confirmed like that. She stopped trotting, thousands of questions went through her mind. “So your scar under your belly…”

“Yes, It’s a scar from a c-section. I was too young to give birth normally.” Twilight ears fell down on the back of his head, she brought a hoof to her chest “Can you… please, not tell other ponies, please?”

Lyra replied “Hu, of course. I mean…Does she know? Not that it’s-”

A frown make her way on Twilight face “Of course she knows! What kind of mare disown her own daughter?!”

Lyra took a step back at Twilight outburst “Sorry, sorry.”

The other mare sighed again “It’s… sorry. It’s… “

Both mares felt in silence and simply resumed walking. Lyra absorbed this new information about a mare she admired for her mind. It explained a bit of the mare attitude. Before her break the filly had little interaction with the other student but was not really dismissive. After, it was clear she avoided other ponies.

“You… could not trust ponies? I imagine that will not give a good image for the Princess if her protege was pregnant. That’s why you were not making friends?”

Twilight looked at the floor “I...yes. I feel stupid” she raised her head to look at Lyra “I always thought getting close to a pony mean I will have to tell about Morning… but even know I have a cover story. It’s still not easy.”

It was Thursday afternoon at recess. Dinky had told to the class the story on how she get her cutie mark the morning. Most of the foals cheered for her and Cheerilee was also proud of her. Dinky was happy about the stethoscope on her flank and had a renewed vigor for school. Her mommy told her that if she wanted to be a doctor she would have to study a lot and with Morning helping her with the thing she had trouble with, it was not that bad.

She was seated on a bench playing checkers against Morning. Morning still had the proof of her cutie mark story on her forehead, in the form of a new band-air and of course she was at three wins in a row.

“No hooves,” said Morning to her, a small frown on her face while pointing at the left hoof of Dinky.

Dinky removed her hoof from the piece she had reached on the board “Sorry” The hardest thing with magic was to think to use it instead of your hooves or mouth. Checker was a great exercise for Dinky because it was not a difficult task to just push the pawn with the help of her telekinesis, comparing to lifting something.

Their game was interrupted by Cheerilee “Alright, recess is over.” she said cheerfully while clapping her hooves.

All the fillies and colts complied and get back in the classroom. In the class was waiting Granny Smith. Dinky loved the family appreciation days, she liked to learn about what ponies do for a living, it was like a whole world to discover.

Like all the foals, she was hooked to Granny Smith story about the foundation of Ponyville. Dinky turned her head toward Morning to see how the filly was listening, but she could see that the filly was lost thinking about something, a small frown on face.

Granny Smith finished her story and Cheerilee asked if somepony had a question. Dinky could see that Morning has indeed a question with her hoof raised.

“Yes, Morning?” inquired Cheerilee.

The filly lowered her hoof and pointed it at Granny Smith “Mommy Velvet said the Princess didn't give you the land, you took it from the ponies who built it."

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait. I changed the opening scene twice and what should have been a 3k words chapter ended in nearly 5k words.

And finally the story take off :)