The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: 2,500 years ago, The Young Fillies
Chapter 2: Modern Day, Zecora
Chapter 3: Rainbow Dash
Chapter 4: Applejack
Chapter 5: Fluttershy
Chapter 6: Rarity
Chapter 7: Pinkie Pie
Chapter 8: Trouble
Chapter 9: Princess Twilight Sparkle
Chapter 10: Princess Cadence
Chapter 12: The Lesson Learned
Chapter 11: Princesses Celestia and Luna
Chapter 13: Epilogue

Prologue

Prologue

Many, many moons ago, or to be more specific, about 2,500 years ago, and 500 years before the first Hearths Warming there was

to be found in the Everfree Forest a small meadow. In the middle of this green and flowery meadow, there was a single, small house. In the

House there lived three alicorn ponies.

The Mistress, and only adult of the house was Lauren. She had previously been known as Lady Lauren, but that was years ago, in a

time long gone, when she was the official scribe of the Imperial Court of the Canterhorn Empire.

In those days there were many alicorns. They ruled the lands of the empire and its citizens, all the different kinds of ponies justly, and

wisely. The empire was ruled by the beloved King Cosmos, and his Queen Galaxy. It was a Golden Age. But then the dark times came. Rebels

who resisted the alicorns rule attacked the alicorn city of Canterhorn and prevailed. This was the fulfillment of a sad prophecy to the King

and Queen that many had hoped would never come to pass. The ponies of the empire understood friendship, but only because, on the

inside, they feared the power of the Alicorns. This was not true friendship, and the only way the ponies would come to know true friendship

would be when the empire ceased to be. It would take some time, but true friendship would someday come to be. The Alicorns had never

done anything to wrong the ponies, before or after the prophecy had been given, but the dark times came. The rebels, under their leader,

Strong Hoof laid waste to the city. Everything was destroyed and burned. However, before the rebels attacked the palace, the Queen

entrusted to Lady Lauren her and the King’s greatest treasure: their two daughters. With skill and good fortune, Lady Lauren slipped out of

the palace and the city with the two little princesses along with a small bag of supplies and a few possessions. As she climbed over the hills

surrounding Mt. Canterhorn, Lady Lauren looked back at her home one last time. The city of Canterhorn was either in flames or rubble.

Even the palace was now on fire. Lady Lauren knew that she would never see home again or her friends or the King or Queen. Many

Alicorns fell that day, Lady Lauren never knew for sure how many. She could only hope that some others had also escaped and fled. The

truth was worse than she could imagine: She and the little princesses were the only survivors. Lady Lauren turned away and disappeared

into the forest. Neither she nor the little princesses would be seen again for 500 years, but she would never forget.

But as mentioned before, that was a time long past, and the subject shouldn’t be dwelt upon too long. Since then, Lady Lauren had

found life and light in the forest. She built a small house in a small meadow close by a running brook and settled in her new home. From

there she raised the two little fillies as her own. She started calling herself simply ‘Lauren’, but to the little fillies, she was ‘mother’.

The two little fillies that lived with her in the house were named Celestia, the older and Luna, the younger. These were the names

their parents had given them upon birth. Lauren had thought it best, at the time, not to tell them who they were, or who their family was. In

the best way thought, it almost didn’t matter. She couldn’t have loved her adopted children better even if they were her own, and the fillies

returned that same love to their mother, Lauren.

Lauren raised Celestia and Luna with wisdom, kindness, and the best guidance that she could give. As they grew, Lauren educated

them in the Alicorn ways, such as how to gain strength, how to fly, and how to use magic, and of course how to read, write, and speak. As to

be expected there were a few bumps along the way, such as Celestia and Luna occasionally getting lost in the surrounding forest until they

learned their way around, but everything always turned out all right in the end, and all three were happy for many years. There were a

number of adventures for Lauren, Celestia, and Luna, and it is here where this adventure began.

Chapter 1: 2,500 years ago, The Young Fillies

One day, as Lauren was preparing lunch for herself and her two daughters, Celestia bounded into the room with the biggest smile.

She rushed up to the table, and nearly upset it shouting, “Mother, Mother, Look what I found!”

“Celestia calm down,” said Lauren, “Take a breath first.”

Celestia did so, but she was still excited. “Look at this”, she said as she put an unusual yellow and orange object on the table.

Lauren peered at the object, and Luna came over to see herself.

“What kind of rock is it mother?”, asked Celestia. “I found it on the ground close by the forest.”

“It isn’t a rock,” said Lauren as she examined it with her hooves. “It’s an egg, a phoenix egg.”

Celestia and Luna’s eyes popped wide open. “What’s a phoenix?” they asked in unison.

“Well a phoenix is a wonderful bird with bright feathers that seem to be on fire,” said Lauren. They are very cleaver birds, and they

sometimes like to pull practical jokes on unsuspecting creatures, but they are nice creatures overall.”

“Wow” said Celestia, “Can I keep it when it hatches? Mother? Please?”, as she put on her cutest face.

“Well I suppose so.” Said Lauren, “But if its parents don’t come looking for it, then it’s your responsibility.”

“Yes, mother I will,” said Celestia.

“Can I help?”, asked Luna.

“Of course you can,” said Lauren, “Now make sure you put the egg in a nice, safe place so it can stay warm and not break.”

Celestia hurried away with her treasure with Luna right behind.

Weeks went by, and Celestia and Luna made sure they took the best care of the egg. Then one morning, Celestia woke to a strange

cracking sound. She looked up to see the egg beginning to hatch.

“Luna,” she whispered to wake her sister up, “come here, it’s time.”

Luna rolled over on her bed, the suddenly sprang to Celestia’s side when she heard the cracking sound too.

“It’s hatching, It’s hatching,” said Celestia excitedly.

Both ponies watched closely, their excitement growing every second. The suddenly the Egg burst open with a crack. Celestia and Luna both

looked away to avoid the shell’s burst then back again to see a cute, little yellow, and orange bird were the egg had been. The baby phoenix

opened her eyes and looked straight at Celestia. Then she gave a little chirp.

“Oh, she’s so cute,” said Celestia. “I’ll name her Philo-…Philo-…” She paused, thinking.

“Philo- what?”, asked Luna.

“Philomena” said Celestia a last.

“Philomena” repeated Luna, “that’s a good name.

By now, Lauren was awake and looking over the fillies’ shoulders.

“Well now, Celestia”, said Lauren, “You and Luna have done a good job, but now you must feed her. Taking care of a live creature is a lot

harder than taking care of an egg.”

“Yes mother, I will mother, I’ll take care of everything,” said Celestia happily.

“I’ll help too,” said Luna.

Again week’s passed, and Philomena grew bigger and stronger with Celestia and Luna’s nourishment. In time she even figured out

on her own how to fly, but always came back to Celestia. This was something that Lauren, Celestia, and Luna began to notice. Although both

fillies had taken care of her, it was clear that Philomena showed much more affection to Celestia rather than Luna. Luna began to feel left

out.

One day, while Celestia was playing with Philomena out side, Luna walked into the house to talk to Lauren.

“Mother,” said Luna sadly, “Philomena doesn’t like me.”

“Yes she does,” said Lauren, “She’s just around Celestia so much, because she believes that Celestia is her mother.”

“But Celestia now has a pet and I don’t,” said Luna. “I want a pet of my own.”

Lauren stopped sewing the blanket that she was working on, and turned to face Luna.

“Now Luna,” said Lauren kindly, “Philomena may be Celestia’s pet, but she does like you, and you can still play with her.”

“But mother,” continued Luna, “I want a pet too!”

“Luna”, replied Lauren, “Getting a pet is just like getting your cutie mark. It will come in time if you really want it, but you must be patient.

You can’t just grab any creature and say it’s your pet.”

“But Celestia got a pet easily,” said Luna.

“Actually she didn’t,” replied Lauren. “Ever since she hatched, Philomena and Celestia have come to accept one another. Philomena could

have left the moment she learned how to fly, but she stayed because she accepted Celestia as her owner and friend. Do you understand

Luna?”

“Yes,” said Luna “I understand, but I still want a pet of my very own,” she persisted.

“If you really want a pet, then one day you can be sure it will come to you,” said Lauren. “Now go on and play outside.”

Luna turned away and began walking toward the door. Then she suddenly turned back.

“So if I wait long enough for a pet, it will come to me?” she asked.

“Yes”, replied Lauren.

“Then I’ll do just that,” said Luna, and she ran quickly outside.

“I wonder what she meant by that,” said Lauren to herself after Luna was gone.

Outside, Luna found a comfortable spot to sit, and there she stayed for the rest of the day.

Celestia noticed her and walked over with Philomena on her back to ask her what she was doing.

“Mother said that if I wait long enough for a pet, it will come to me,” said Luna happily with a beaming smile.”

“Uh, Luna,” said Celestia, “I don’t think it works quite like that.”, as she pondered her mother’s words and how Luna was interpreting them.

“Yes it will,” said Luna determinedly, “you’ll see I’ll have my own pet any minute now.”

“All right,” said Celestia “but don’t be disappointed.”

“I won’t,” said Luna, “This is sure to work.”

Luna stayed where she was until it was dark, and still no pet had come. She did the same thing for most of the next day, and the

next and the next, for a whole week but still no pet arrived. At the end of each day Luna felt more and more discouraged. Finally at the end

of the seventh day, she walked back to the house for dinner defeated. She barely ate anything that night, and went to bed without a word.

The next morning she sat sadly at the table. A small tear came into her eye. Lauren noticed, and tried to help.

“Luna,” Lauren began, “why don’t we find a cave we haven’t explored yet, and have some fun today? What do you think?”

“I think maybe the animals don’t like me,” said Luna beginning to cry.

“That’s not true Luna,” said Celestia trying to help, “I’ve seen you with animals and they like you, you just have to wait for the right one to

come one day and be your pet.”

“That’s right,” said Lauren, “Just give it a little time. I’ll happen.”

“I’m not so sure,” said Luna and she slowly walk away from the table and out the door.

“I wish we could help her,” said Celestia.

Lauren was already deep in thought thinking the same thing. She wanted to Luna to be her happy self again. But “how?” was the question.

Then she remembered the old wooden chest by her bed and what was in it “Maybe I can,” said Lauren. And she walked back to the

bedroom.

Later that night when Lauren called for Celestia and Luna to come in for dinner, she asked Luna to follow her back to the bedroom.”

“Why?” asked Luna.

“I want to show you something,” said Lauren.

Luna did as she was told.

When she was standing in the bedroom, Luna froze in her own tracks. Lauren was opening the wooden chest. Celestia and Luna

both knew that they were never allowed to open the chest ever. It was one of the biggest rules of the house. Luna didn’t want to see what

was inside and get in trouble so she looked away.

“It’s alright Luna,” said Lauren “you can look.”

Luna looked to see that Lauren had shut the chest again. In front of Lauren there was a folded cloth on the floor.

“What’s that?” asked Luna curiously.

“Come here,” said Lauren, “I’ll show you.”

Luna walked cautiously over, then laid down on the ground beside her mother. Using her magic, Lauren unfolded the cloth until the

contents were revealed. Inside was a set of four silver pony slippers. Luna had never seen anything so beautiful before. As long as she could

remember, she, her sister, and her mother had always walked bare-hoof, so she did not no what exactly she was looking at.

“What are they mother?” Luna asked.

“These are my silver pony slippers,” said Lauren. They’re shoes that can be worn on your hooves, and are easy to slip on and off. Lauren

demonstrated for Luna by putting the slippers on her hooves and then walked once around the room. The slippers sparkled on her hooves.

Luna’s eyes were wide with wonder again upon learning something.

“They look wonderful Mother,” said Luna.

“That’s not all though” said Lauren. “These slippers are magical. When I’m wearing them, if make a good, reasonable wish, by saying ‘I wish’

first, my slippers will make it so.

“Wow,” said Luna, “can they do anything?”

“No”, said Lauren, “If I made a wish that would hurt someone else, or wish that was unreasonable it would not happen even if I said ‘I wish’.”

Lauren then took off her slippers and placed in front of Luna.

“Now Luna, I want you to try them on yourself,” said Lauren.

“But won’t they be too big for me mother?” asked Luna.

“Go ahead Luna,” said Lauren, “and wait and see”.

Luna walked cautiously up to the silver horse slippers. They still seemed much too big for her. But as she slid her left fore-hoof into the first

one, she was surprised to see it shrink until it was exactly her size. She then tried another on her right fore-hoof, and then the other two on

her hind-hooves. They did the same as the first. Luna looked down at the silver pony slippers, then tried them out by walking around the

room the same way her mother had done. They didn’t sparkle, as they had done for Lauren, but Luna wasn’t thinking about that. A smile

appeared on her face.

“Do you like them?” asked Lauren.

“Yes,” said Luna, “their very beautiful, and comfortable.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Said Lauren, “Because they’re yours.”

“Oh mother,” said Luna humbly, “I can’t do that, they’re your slippers.”

“No,” replied Lauren, “From this day forth I give my slippers to you. They are yours to have, and to wear, and use whenever you wish. Also,

the slippers always sparkle when their owner is wearing them.”

Luna looked down and noticed that the silver pony slippers were now sparkling on her hooves.

“Really, mother!” said Luna, “Thank you! So that means if I make a good reasonable wish, they will make it come true?”

“Yes,” said Lauren “They will. But use them wisely, and never lose them.”

“Yes Mother,” said Luna “I’ll be careful. Thank you so much! I love you mother!” With that Luna wrapped her fore-legs around Lauren neck

for a hung. “And not just for the slippers,” said Luna laughing.

“I know”, said Lauren “I love you too. It makes me very happy to hear you say that.” And it truly did, every time Lauren heard her daughters

tell her that they loved her, and especially now since she had succeeded in making her little filly Luna happy again. Her idea had worked.

From then on, Luna was her happy self again. She wore her silver pony slippers all the time, except when she slept and when she had to

take a bath. Luna was proud of her slippers. She sometimes jokingly teased Celestia about them, after all Celestia had a pet, while she had

magic slippers, but she never became conceited over them. Luna even came up with a new game in which Celestia would try to get Luna’s

slippers. At first Luna made quite a lot of wishes to see what would happen, most of them came true, but Luna quickly found the wisdom

that she didn’t need to make a wish for everything that she or someone else did. Although still a filly, Luna had already learned how and

when to use her magic, sliver pony slippers.

A few years later, in Pegasopolis, a group of pegasi were conducting a few experiments on wind patterns in particular making a tornado.

They had repeated this experiment several times before and so today was no different than any other. That is no different until one of the

pegasi caught some dirt in his eye and fell out of line. The Pegasi tried to compensate, but they quickly discovered that they had already lost

control of the tornado. It became so violent that it spat the rest of the pegasi out, and then began to move away on its own. The pegasi

regrouped in preparation to take the tornado down, but then stopped when they observed that the tornado was moving toward a forested

area, and not Unicornia or Earth. They decided to let the tornado “do it own thing” and it would eventually die off on its own.

Elsewhere in the Everfree Forest Luna had only recently left home, wearing her silver pony slippers as usual, and was in the forest looking

for nuts that she could gather up. Suddenly the wind picked up speed, and it only got faster and faster. Luna became very scared and

hugged a nearby tree thinking she might be blown away.

“Mother! Celestia!” she called “Help!”, but the winds blew harder and faster. Luna suddenly realized that it seemed as though someone was

pulling her from behind. She glanced back to see a large funnel that looked like it was made of wind. She hugged the tree tighter, but the

winds blew harder. Then suddenly she lost her grip and went flying backwards into the funnel. Luna tried to fly away from the funnel, but

found that her wings were useless against the surging storm. Luna shrieked in terror and put her fore-hooves over her eyes. Then she

suddenly began to feel strange. She looked down at her hind hooves just in time to see one of her beautiful silver pony slippers be blown

away by the wind, and then the other. She gasped, and tried to hold one to her last two, but putting her hooves together, but then the

winds flipped her upside down, and she let go. As soon as she did the winds blew her remaining silver pony slippers off. But Luna, fearing

for her life, covered her eyes again thinking the end had come. Then, as suddenly as the winds had swept her up, the windy funnel suddenly

spat her right out. She landed on a tree branch and hung on as she watched the funnel move away over the forest and disappear into the

distance.

Luna couldn’t believe what we had seen, and what she had went through. More than anything else she was surprised and thankful to be

alive. Luna spread her wings and flew gently to the ground.

“Was I dreaming?” Luna asked herself.

It was at that moment that Luna realized that she could feel the ground beneath her hooves. She looked down at her hooves and gasped

with horror. Her magic, silver pony slippers were gone.

“Oh no!” shrieked Luna, “My slippers! Where did they go? How did they come off?” Then Luna remembered, “The wind, the funnel! Oh my

goodness! I’ve got to get my slippers back!”

Luna ran the direction she had seen the funnel go, but she couldn’t see the funnel. She then remembered her wings, and tried to catch up

to the funnel flying, but she still couldn’t see it and, as fast she flew, she soon realized that there was no way she could catch it if she

couldn’t even see it.

Luna landed softly back on the ground. It was very clear now. Her magic, silver pony slippers were gone, and there was nothing she could

do about it. Luna began to walk back towards home. She still found it hard to believe that this had actually happened. After she had gone a

ways, she sat down by a big, round tree for a rest. She then began to talk to herself.

“I can’t believe this has happened”, said Luna, “There must be some mistake.” She looked again at her hooves. They were still bear. “No

there isn’t”, said Luna beginning to cry. “Oh, my beautiful slippers! How could I have lost them! What am I going to do without them!” Then

she realized something else. Her eyes opened wide and her muscles stiffened in fear. “What is mother going to do?!”, She asked

herself. “What is mother going to do to me!?”, said Luna beginning to panic. She looked wildly in all directions to see if her mother was

anywhere near. She was nowhere in sight. Luna crouched down next to the tree. She was a little filly in the middle of the woods, and now

she was too afraid to go home, and it was beginning to get dark.

It was well into the night before Luna heard anything besides the wind or the leaves rustling.

“Luna! Luna!” Someone was calling her. They were still quite a long ways away but Luna knew for certain that some pony was apparently

looking for her, and they knew her name. Then she realized something else. She only knew two other ponies in the world, and they were the

only two ponies that knew her name. That meant it was either Celestia or her mother.

“Luna! Luna!”, came the voice again. It was nearer now, and Luna knew who it was. It was Celestia. Luna wasn’t sure what she should do.

Should she go to her sister, should she stay hidden, or should she run?

“Luna! Luna!”, Celestia’s voice was even closer. Luna was too afraid to do anything so she stayed crouched behind the tree.

Celestia finally walked into view around some trees. She was using the magic of her horn to light her path. Luna looked up to see her sister.

There were tears streaming down Celestia’s face.

“Luna!”, called Celestia “Where are you? Come home! Come back to… me!” She faltered and began to cry where she stood. Luna realized that

hiding hadn’t been the best idea after all. She shouldn’t be afraid of her own sister.

“Celestia?”, said Luna. Celestia’s ears immediately perked up.

“Luna? Luna! Where are you?”, called Celestia more frantic than ever before.

“I’m here.”, Said Luna, as she lit the magic in her horn to make it glow. Celestia instantly recognized her and came rushing over. Celestia

hugged Luna tighter than ever before.

“Oh, Luna. I was so scared. We both were. Are you hurt? We saw the funnel and we thought…” Celestia couldn’t talk anymore. She broke out

crying again.

“I’m sorry” said Luna, joining her sister in tears.

“No I’m sorry” said Celestia. “I should have been there when I knew something was wrong.”

“No I’m sorry” repeated Luna, “I lost them.”

“What?” asked Celestia.

“I lost my silver pony slippers” explained Luna, “The wind took them.”

“Oh, never mind about that!” said Celestia trying to stifle a laugh. “I’m so glad that you’re all right.

Celestia finally recovered, and stood up. Luna stood with her.

“Come on”, said Celestia, “Let’s go home.”

“But what about Mother?”, asked Luna.

“Mother?” asked Celestia.

“What’s mother going to say when I tell her I lost them?” asked Luna looking down at her bare hooves.

“Don’t worry about it,” reassured Celestia. “I’ll be all right. We split up after the storm passed to look for you.”

Luna felt better and walked back toward home with her sister.

Celestia and Luna were just coming out of the woods, when Lauren galloped up to them, seemingly from nowhere.

“There you two are. At last,” said Lauren “I’m so glad I found you. Luna are you hurt?”

“I’m… all right Mother,” said Luna “Physically,” she thought to herself.

“Thank goodness,” said Lauren. “Hurry lets go in and clean you up.”

The three ponies entered the house, and Lauren shut the door behind them. Celestia went to fetch some water and some towels. Lauren

then began to light a fire in the chimney to warm the room up. Luna felt she could no longer keep silent about it.

“Mother, I have to tell you something.”, said Luna.

“What dear”, asked Lauren.

“In the storm… I lost my slippers, the wind took them, and I couldn’t catch it. I’m sorry Mother!”, said Luna as she crouched down on the

ground, waiting to see what her mother would do.

Lauren walked over to her daughter. She towered over Luna. Luna finally looked up to see her mother’s face. To her surprise, her mother

smiled, and crouched down in front of her.

“It’s all right,” said Lauren.

“Really Mother,” asked Luna. “You’re not angry.”

“I might be a little upset,” said Lauren, but after what you’ve been through I’m not angry at all. How can I be? I was so worried about you, but

you’ve come back to me. You’re here, are you’re all right. That’s all that matters to me. You and your sister.” With that Lauren pulled Luna

into a big hug. Luna couldn’t help but smile. Celestia walked in just in time to be pulled into the hug as well by Lauren.

Dinner that night was just a few scraps from the day before, but to the three alicorns it was like a feast. They were silent as they ate. Finally

Celestia broke the silence.

“It’s too bad about your slippers Luna,” Said Celestia. “I know how much you liked those shoes.

“Oh well,” said Luna “Maybe it was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” said Lauren. “But what I am sure about is that my two daughters are safe, and that makes me happy, so I can

look forward to tomorrow without worrying. Besides, the magic pony slippers always come back to whoever owns them, eventually.

“They do?”, asked Luna.

“Yes,” said Lauren. “Someday. Maybe not tomorrow or the day after, but you can be sure that since you own them, they will eventually find

their way back to you.”

Luna sat thoughtfully. “So I will get them back, but it will take some time and patience.”

“That’s right” said Lauren.

“Just like waiting for a pet,” continued Luna.

“Just like that,” replied Lauren.

All this time Philomena had been perched on top of a shelf in the corner. At that moment she suddenly flew to the table, and upon landing

she picked one of her own feathers off of her wing and lightly placed it in Luna’s mane.

“Thank you Philomena” said Luna.

Philomena squawked cheerfully.

Luna smiled. She couldn’t have been happier. She was home.

Chapter 2: Modern Day, Zecora

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 2: Modern Day, Zecora

It was another bright and glories day in Equestria. Ponyville, one of the youngest and fastest growing towns in modern day

Equestria shone in Princess Celestia’s sunlight almost as brilliantly as Canterlot, the capitol of Equestria on Mt. Canterhorn, itself. Ponies of

different kinds were laughing and playing in true friendship while others happily conducted their regular daily business.

A streak of rainbow suddenly zipped across the sky. For most ponies, this was typical, nothing out of the ordinary, but for some,

such as Scootaloo, this was once again the ‘greatest moment ever’, because everyone knew that it could only be one pony: Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow was undoubtedly the best, and fastest Pegasus in Ponyville, and everyone knew it. Not because she said so herself quite a bit, but

because it was true. The streak did a few loop-the-loops, and a couple of zigzags through the clouds, and thus, evaporating them, before it

finally slowed. The long streak disappeared, and Rainbow Dash herself could now be seen gliding toward the ground. Rainbow settled to a

stop right in the middle of the main street, right in front of Sugar Cube Corners. She then bolted right to the front door where Pinkie Pie was

waiting with a stopwatch.

“Did I do it Pinkie?” Rainbow asked, “Did I make it? What’s my time?”

Pinkie Pie had stopped the watch the moment that Rainbow Dash had touched ground.

“Your time was 7.2 seconds Rainbow Dash,” said Pinkie with her usual, beaming smile. “That’s .15 seconds faster than your last

record.” She continued so as to encourage her friend.

“Ahhh… that’s just not good enough.” Said Rainbow Dash once again disappointed. “I’ll never be able to clear the sky in five seconds flat.”

Rainbow Dash had been trying to complete her entire sky clearing and cloud busting job in only five seconds for the past three

weeks. She had pushed herself harder today than ever before, but still she hadn’t made it. Not that 7.2 seconds was bad. In fact, before she

started going for five seconds, she hadn’t known that she could do her job in less than ten, but 5 seconds would surely impress the

Wonderbolts, and that’s why it mattered to her.

“Don’t worry Dashie”, said Pinkie “You’ll get there. Same time tomorrow! I’d love to stay and help you train,” Pinkie continued, “But I have

to pass out all the invites to Mayor Mare’s birthday party tonight, and I’ll take me all day to pass them out to everypony in Ponyville. See you

later Dashie!”

“Yeah I guess so,” said Rainbow Dash as she walked away, still discouraged.

She walked until she came to the small stream that passed right beside Ponyville. She looked down at her reflection, considering

her options. Should she stay with her new record or keep trying for her goal- record. In the water she took a look at her reflection, it was

indeed hers, Rainbow Dash’s reflection. “Rainbow Dash” she thought to herself. Suddenly she brought her head back up, and stood at

attention.

“Rainbow Dash,” said Rainbow aloud, “That’s right, I am Rainbow Dash. That’s my name and flying’s my game. I can do it, no, I will do it!”

Her resolve restored, rainbow spread her wings and pushed herself as high and as fast as she could. She had to train and train

hard. The sky outside of Ponyville was filled with rainbow sings that would appear and disappear, and Rainbow kept pushing every move

she had to the limit. Five minutes later, she finally allowed herself a chance to breath by fixing herself in a glide.

Rainbow Dash looked below her. She was now over the Everfree Forest. After a minute or two, she turned around, and was just about to fly

back to Ponyville, when she heard someone yelling far below. Being the brave and bold pony that she is, Rainbow swooped down just above

the trees so she could take a closer look. What she saw surprised even her. There was Zecora, the Zebra that lived in the Everfree, and she

was being chased by timber wolves, strange wolf-like creatures made of sticks and wood splinters. This was rather odd for Zecora. Most

everypony who knew her, including Rainbow, knew that Zecora was very resourceful, and could take care of herself. Yet, sure enough, as

Rainbow watched, there was Zecora running away from the timber wolves. Rainbow counted the timber wolves as they ran by.

“Three, four, five, Six, Seven…whoa”, said Rainbow Dash as timber wolves kept running by. She missed a few, but she counted at least

twelve. Timber wolves usually travel in packs of three or four, maybe five, but twelve, no wonder Zecora was running. Zecora wasn’t making

kidding around, she was really in trouble.

Rainbow Dash followed the chase from above, looking for the right hole to swoop down and help her zebra friend out. Rainbow

looked ahead. Zecora was running straight for a steep, rocky cliff. Even if Zecora had the ability to climb it, the timber wolves would catch

her half-way up since they could dig their claws into the sediment, and gain the advantage in their grip. A pony could out-run a timber wolf,

but climbing was completely different. Rainbow Dash had to think of a better plan, and quick.

“If Zecora tries to climb it, she will be caught unless…unless…”, thought Rainbow Dash.

Meanwhile, Zecora had made it to the bottom of the slope. She charged it, made a few steps, but her hooves wouldn’t grip, and she

slid back down. She was just about to try again, when she heard a timber wolf howl. She turned around to face her foes. The timber wolf

that howled was the leader. He, or rather it, snarled at Zecora at grinned. It knew she was trapped. The other timber wolves joined their

leader in a tight crescent surrounding the Zebra.

Despite being trapped Zecora still kept her posture, and defiant spirit.

“Stay away you foul beasts of wood, or I’ll give you a lesson in manners that’ll fix you up good.”

The timber wolves began to advance, their line became tighter.

“If you think you’ve beaten me by might, you’ll soon find out I have not yet begun to fight!” yelled Zecora, and with that She began throwing

small rocks over her head, and with the greatest skill, used her tail to flick them as fast as arrows directed right at the timber wolves faces.

All of Zecora shots hit their marks, but the timber wolves were re-facing themselves faster than Zecora could deface them, and they kept

advancing. The timber-wolves were not less than ten feet from Zecora, who was now reduced to desperately throwing the rocks with her

hooves as fast as she could. It looked as thought it would be a fight till the finish.

“If you beasts come once inch closer, you will not live to become one year…!”

“Slower!” interrupted Rainbow Dash, as she suddenly swooped above the timber wolves heads from behind, locked her forelegs around

Zecoras and flew her right to the top of the cliff with lightning speed. Zecora and Rainbow Dash looked back down at the dumbfounded

faces of the Timber wolves.

“Hey slowpokes!”, called Rainbow Dash, “You all look like a banana down there! How about you all split, huh?” With that she flew up and

landed hooves first on the lever she had fastened under a large, heavy boulder. The bolder leaned forward and then tumbled over the edge

of the cliff. It fell down right on the spot where the timber wolves were standing crushing all but four. The boulder rolled forward slightly,

then came to rest on its flatter side with a loud boom.

“Whoa…, that was Awesome!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash and Zecora turned to greet each other.

“Many thanks Rainbow Dash, you’ve saved my life as quick as a flash,” said Zecora bowing to Rainbow.

“Ah, it was nothing, just a simple trick really. Nothing I wouldn’t do for a friend,” replied Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, but even still you’ve shown yourself true blue, and therefore I have a gift for you,” said Zecora.

“Gee thanks”, said rainbow dash, “I don’t need anything.” She paused for dramatic effect, then excitedly said “Oooo…What is it!”

Zecora dropped her satchel on the ground, and began fumbling through it with her muzzle. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but grin in

anticipation.

After a few seconds, Zecora pulled a small, cloth bag out of her satchel. She placed the small bag on the ground and untied the knot keeping

the top tightly closed. Finally, she opened the bag, and placed its contents on the ground in front of Rainbow Dash. The contents were a set

of four silver pony slippers.

Rainbow’s smile faded. She wasn’t upset, but a set of pony slippers wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. She hardly ever wore

shoes at all, except at really formal celebrations such as the Grand Galloping Gala. Whenever Rarity made her a dress for such an occasion it

always came with shoes.

“These slippers of silver are not just shoes”, explained Zecora, “they are magic, and grant wishes of whatever you choose. The Zebra elders

said they fell right out of the sky, one strange day when a storm came rushing by. From generation to generation these shoes have past

until fate chose me to have them at last. And so, Rainbow Dash, for coming to my rescue, these slippers, for your hooves, are my gift to you.”

Zecora smiled when she finished her story and rhyme.

Rainbow Dash stared at Zecora with a confused look on her face. She thought for a moment trying to piece together the basics of what

Zecora has said. Zecora, waiting for Rainbow to accept her gift kept smiling.

“O…K,” said Rainbow Dash at last with a smile. “Silver shoes for me. I’m not sure about the magic and falling out of the sky part, but

anyways, I accept. Thanks Zecora.”

Zecora nodded in approval.

Rainbow Dash the tried on the silver pony slippers. They fit her perfectly.

“Well”, said Rainbow, as she examined her new slippers, “They are… kind of awesome. She walked around in a circle. No doubt about it, the

slippers fit her just fine.

Rainbow Dash spread her wings to take flight, but turned back to Zecora.

“Catch you later Zecora,” said Rainbow, “And thanks again. If you ever need me again, just call.” With that Rainbow flew upwards into the sky.

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash, my friend, may we meet again when it does not look like the end,” Zecora called back as she watched Rainbow

Dash fly away, and up into the sky.

Chapter 3: Rainbow Dash

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 3: Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash flew high above the Everfree forest and headed back toward Ponyville. It was only 9: 45 in the morning, so that gave her

a lot of time to do whatever she wanted to. In particular, she wanted to get back to training, but instead, she decided to take a break first.

Taking care of a large pack of timber wolves was hard work after all. So after she strode down the main streets of Ponyville a few times

while “looking awesome”, she decided to get back to training. Just before she took off though, an idea came into her mind. What if she knew

her time before tomorrow? Meaning, she should have somepony watching the clock for her. Pinkie Pie did it for her every day when she was

cloud busting, but she had plans for the rest of each day. It was hard to believe, but Pinkie Pie actually planned her days with a schedule,

and Rainbow already knew that asking her to stop whatever it was that she was doing and time her again would be nearly impossible.

“Who else can I get to time me?” Rainbow Dash asked herself.

She didn’t have to think very long, or twice for that matter.

“Of course,” said Rainbow Dash aloud, “Who else?”, and with that she headed straight for the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders: Applejack, Sweetie Bell, and especially Scootaloo were more than happy to help. In fact Scootaloo, so excited

to see her adopted big sister and number one hero nearly pushed Rainbow Dash through the wall when she ran up to give her a big hug.

Scootaloo quickly regained control of herself.

“Sorry Rainbow Dash,” said Scootalloo with an embarrassed smile. “It’s just so great for you to drop by. Sort of like a surprise. The best

kind.”

“That’s ok Scoots” said Rainbow, as she as Scootaloo helped her stand back up. “I’m happy to see you too.”

“Oh, hey I like your shoes.” Said Scootaloo.

Rainbow looked down at her hooves. After “being awesome” she had forgotten that she was still wearing the silver pony slippers.

“Oh. Thanks”, replied Rainbow Dash.

“Actually their pony slippers”, corrected Sweetie Bell. “Horse shoes are shaped like an upside-down U and only fit on the bottom of the

hoof. Pony slippers, like those, fit over the entire hoof so you actually put your hooves in them.” She explained.

Scootaloo and Applebloom gave each other a confused look.

“There goes the dictionary again”, said Applebloom as she and Scootaloo shrugged their shoulders.

“Well that’s what my sister said.”, replied Sweetie Bell, defending herself.

“Anyway,” said Rainbow Dash, “What I came her for was to ask you three if you would like to time me while I practice for my new-cloud

Busting record. What’d ya say?” she asked.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other. Their faces broke out into smiles, as all three nodded their heads in approval of what

the other two thought. With out saying they were all thinking of the same thing.

Then they suddenly yelled in unison “Cutie Mark Crusaders Stop Watch Holders Yay!” and they whizzed outside almost before Rainbow

knew what was happening, almost. She had kind-of expected something like this to happen.

“Great! Let’s go!” said Rainbow Dash as she followed them outside.

A little while later, Rainbow Dash, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were standing in a field not too far away from Sweet Apple Acers. Rainbow

was preparing herself by doing some simple stretches. After a minute she was ready to go. Apple Bloom was holding the stopwatch that she

and her friends managed to “borrow” from Sweetie Bell’s sister, Rarity. Rainbow hunched down ready to take flight.

“On yer mark, get set…go!” said Apple Bloom as she started the watch. Rainbow Dash was off the ground instantly, zipping her way

through the clear sky. She did a few stunts, to compensate for the time she needed to actually bust the clouds, then came right back down

to earth. Apple Bloom stopped the watch.

“What was my time”, asked Rainbow eagerly.

“7.8 seconds,” said Apple Bloom.

“Augh!” said Rainbow Dash, that’s way slower than 7.2 and not even close to five seconds. I gotta pick up the pace.”

Rainbow got ready again, and when Applebloom said ‘Go”, she was off a second time. This time Rainbow’s time was 7.5. They kept

doing this for about half an hour. All the time, Scootaloo was cheering for Rainbow Dash. Yet, every time she landed, Rainbow was

disappointed to find that her time was always either or over 7.2 seconds. Rainbow could also tell that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell were

starting to get board. They had pretty much come to the conclusion that they were probably not going to get their cutie marks in stop-watch

holding, even though they weren’t doing a bad job. Scootaloo looked as though she could be out here the rest of the day, and night too.

“All right girls,” said Rainbow Dash after a rest. “Three more, and we’ll call it a day.”

“All right,” said Apple Bloom.

“O.K.” said Sweetie Bell.

‘Awww…” said Scootaloo.

Rainbow got ready to go again, but looked up to the sky before she hunched down.

“I think I know what the problem is.” Said Rainbow Dash. “There are no clouds. I’ve been trying to practice my routine without them, and

that’s actually taking longer. If there were clouds I would be able to see exactly what move I need to do next. Oh well.”

Rainbow Dash crouched into position.

“I wish there were a few clouds up there right now.” Said Rainbow Dash.

As Rainbow ducked her head to the level of her forelegs, she suddenly became aware that her shoes were glowing.

“On yer mark, get set, go!” yelled Apple Bloom.

Rainbow was almost caught of guard, she flapped her wings as hard as she could as she flew straight for a….cloud.

“A cloud!” said Rainbow Dash. “Where did that come from?”

Rainbow quickly flipped around, as she would in her usual morning cloud busting, and gave the cloud a good kick, evaporating it. At

that moment, she realized that the sky was full of clouds.

“Where did all these clouds come from?!” She asked nobody in particular.

Never the less, it was her job to keep the skies clear, and so she proceeded to do her job. She broke and busted the clouds with the

greatest of ease and perfect precision before coming to a quick land in front of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Wow”, said Apple Bloom, “Your time was 7.3 seconds, you nearly beat you current record!”

“Way-ta-go Rainbow Dash!,” yelled Scootaloo.

“I wonder where the clouds came from though,” said Sweetie Bell.

“Who knows,” said Rainbow Dash, “but I wish there were more of those clouds, wherever they came from!”

Instantly the sky was full of clouds again.

“Whoa!,” said Rainbow Dash.

“If I didn’t know any better,” said Sweetie Bell, “I’d say there was magic a-hoof here.”

“A-hoof.” said Rainbow Dash to herself. She looked down at her silver shoes. They were glowing again. She thought back to what Zecora

had said. “What was it again,” she thought, “She said something about my shoes being somehow magic, and granting wishes or something.

Is it possible that she was serious about...?”

“Are you ready to go again?” Asked Apple Bloom.

“Wait, what?” Asked Rainbow dash.

“Are you ready to go again?” Repeated Apple Bloom.

‘Uh, yes. Absolutely. Said Rainbow Dash as she crouched into position. “All I could wish for now is if I could somehow fly faster.”

“What was that.” asked Sweetie Bell?”

“Ready, set…” began Apple Bloom.

“I said I wish I could fly faster!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Go!” said Apple Bloom.

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, but before even she knew it, she was off the ground, and plowed head first into a cloud evaporating

it. Rainbow turned around and flapped her wings. She suddenly found herself flying faster than ever before. It took a moment for her to get

used to it, and at that moment it all suddenly clicked as she figured out why. Rainbow looked down at her shoes again, and sure enough

they were glowing just like before.

“Aw…Yeah!” yelled Rainbow Dash. “Zecora was right. These are magic shoes. This… Is… Awesome!” She cleared the sky so fast, it

seemed like a blur, even to her. She landed in front of three dumbfounded Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Well what was my time?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Apple Bloom looked down at the watch. It was still ticking. She immediately stopped it.

“The watch says…4.8,”said Apple Bloom but you landed like a second ago.

“Yes,” yelled Rainbow Dash, “I did it! I knew I could do it! Five seconds flat! Actually, less than five seconds. Sweet!”

“Wow, Rainbow Dash that was totally cool.” said Scootaloo.

All right Crusaders, want to see me clear the sky the awesome-est way?” asked Rainbow.

“Absolutely!” Said Scootaloo.

“Uh, what is the awesome-est way?” asked Sweetie Bell as Rainbow crouched down for one more go round.

“Don’t you know?” asked Scootaloo. “Rainbow Dash is about to do a sonic rainboom! It’s totally epic!”

While the Cutie Mark Crusaders were talking, Rainbow Dash quietly wished on her silver slippers for the clouds to reappear, and to fly

with super speed again. Now that Rainbow knew that she had magic on her side, she wanted to test it to the limit.

“On your mark, get set…”began Apple bloom.

“Go!” yelled Scootaloo. She couldn’t wait any longer.

With that Rainbow Dash flew up into the sky, and above the clouds like a rocket until, from the ground, she was just a tiny speck. Then

she charged right straight down, heading for the exact center of the cloud patch. Faster and faster she flew. This was going to be the fastest

sonic rainboom she had ever done. The sound barrier began to bend. Rainbow made one final thrust with her wings before folding them,

and burst through the sound barrier making a giant ring of all the colors of the rainbow that spread out and evaporated the clouds on

impact. As soon as she was through, Rainbow kicked her forelegs back and spread her wings to come out of the dive. She did so just in time,

making a near 90 degree turn. She glided until she had slowed enough to land and came to skidding stop in front of the three little fillies.

“4.3 seconds,” called Apple Bloom. “That was ya best time ever!”

“Yeah, it was pretty amazing wasn’t it?” said Rainbow Dash trying to act humble and proud at the same time.

“Totally Rainbow Dash,” said Scootaloo. “It was so cool how high you went up, and then how fast you came down, and how you kicked

your shoes off when you broke the sound barrier, and then the rainboom, and the…

Rainbow Dash was just taking in all the admiration and attention she was getting, when she suddenly something that Scootaloo said

caught her attention.

“Wait what was that again?” she asked.

“The rainboom?” asked Scootaloo.

“No before that.” Said Rainbow.

“When you kicked your shoes off when you broke the sound barrier?”

Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves. Her hooves were bare. Her magic silver pony slippers were gone. She had flown so fast

when she made her sonic rainboom that the sudden force of the boom had blown her shoes off. Her eyes popped wide open.

“What the…?” she began as she looked wildly in every direction for her slippers. “Where’d my shoes go!?”

Chapter 4: Applejack

The Silver Pony Slippers
Chapter 4: Applejack

After they fell off Rainbow Dash’s hooves during her sonic rainboom, the silver pony slippers fell swiftly down toward the earth below. Actually, to be more specific, they fell in the direction of a rather large farm. The silver pony slippers finally came to rest on a haystack at this farm. The farm was none other than Sweet Apple Acers.

The barn door flew open as Applejack stepped out to do her usual chores. It wasn’t usual for her to start her chores this late. She usually began only a few minutes after dawn, but today she had decided to take over Apple Bloom’s chores as well as her own as a favor for her little sister. Apple Bloom had said that she had an “important” meeting with her friends, and had left the farm early, and in quite a hurry. So thus, Applejack was finally getting to her own chores at last. Her dog, Winona, had been waiting for her to come outside all morning. As soon as she did, she came rushing over barking cheerfully.

“Well hello Winona,” said Applejack “Wanna help me buck the apples today? Huh? Do ya?” All the while Winona became more and more excited, and she began jumping up and down while barking to so it. Harvesting apples was hard work, but Winona was more than happy to help, especially if she was helping Applejack.

“Well alright Winona,” said Applejack as Winona finally jumped high enough to lick her face. “Let’s go make sure the sheep aren’t eating up all the hay, and then well go to the orchard. O.K.?” Winona barked in agreement.

Applejack and Winona walked briskly over to the haystack field. Sometimes a sheep or two managed to get out of their pen at night, and they would nibble way to much hay that they should. Applejack walked casually through the haystacks looking for any signs of life, while Winona sniffed around using her nose to find any trace or scent of anyone else that might be in the field, or anything out of the ordinary. Neither one found any sheep, but as Winona walked by one of the haystacks at the end of the field, she suddenly sniffed something rather unusual. Winona looked up and saw something strange on top of the haystack. She then turned and barked to let Applejack know that she found something. Applejack hurried over.

“What is it girl,” asked Applejack. “Did you find something?”

Winona pointed up to the top of the haystack by straitening her body, and pointing with her nose at the object.

“Huh, I reckon you got something there,” agreed Applejack. “I’ll go get a ladder and see what it is.”

Applejack ran back to the barn, and hurried back to Winona with the ladder balanced on her head. She straitened the ladder against the haystack, steadied it, and then cautiously climbed up, not knowing what to expect. Winona watched her, concerned for her mistress’s safety.

Applejack reached the top of the latter and look over the edge of the haystack.

“What in the hay…?” Applejack began. “Well I’ll be…; you don’t see something like this every day do ya?” she asked herself.

On top of the haystack was a set of four silver pony slippers. Applejack picked up one of the slippers and turned it over with her hooves as she examined it.

“I would think that somepony must be playing a joke on me,” said Applejack. “But this seems different. Why would anypony just through a perfectly good pair of pony slippers in a haystack?” she asked thoughtfully. “These look like something Rarity would wear, but I don’t see her anywhere,” said Applejack as she looked around in every direction from the top of the ladder. “And she’s not one to play jokes.” “Besides she would never leave her fancy shoes in a haystack.”
Applejack thought about all her friends and everyone she knew. “The only ponies I know of that play tricks are Trixie, Rainbow Dash, and maybe my sister and her friends, but I haven’t seen Trixie for a while now, and this doesn’t seem like anything Apple Boom and her friends would do. And… come to think of it if this is a joke, it seems too simple of a joke for even Rainbow Dash unless…” Applejack quickly turned to look behind her, half expecting so see Rainbow Dash on top of another haystack laughing her tail off, but she wasn’t there.

Applejack looked again at the slipper she was holding in her hooves, and then at the other three. She scratched her head thoughtfully.

“Well, if this isn’t a joke, then I guess it’s just coincidence,” said Applejack finally. “Oh well, finders’ keepers.” She said as she took off her had and put the silver horse slippers inside so she could carry them back down the ladder.

Applejack carefully climbed down from the ladder and put her hat on the ground so Winona could see what she found. Winona sniffed at them and then looked up at Applejack questioningly.

“They’re pony slippers,” explained Applejack, “Ponies sometimes wear them on their hooves to look fancy. Don’t know where they came from, but I guess their mine now to decide what to do with.” She added as she brought down the ladder. She was about to balance it on her head, when Winona barked.

Applejack turned around to see Winona pick up one of the silver pony slippers in her mouth and place it in front of Applejack. Winona barked again. Applejack figured out what she wanted. Winona wanted her to try her slippers on.

“O.K. Winona,” said Applejack. “I told you about ‘em, so I might as well show ya.” Applejack slid her hoof into the slipper Winona had brought her. She then walked over to her hat, and tried the other three on. Applejack looked at her hooves. The silver pony slippers fit her hooves perfectly. Applejack hardly ever wore anything fancy, except on special occasions, but she couldn’t help but admire her new slippers.

“I guess they are kind-a prutty.” Applejack said to Winona. “For farmwork, I would have preferred goulashes, but I suppose these’ll do for now.” She added. Winona barked in approval.

“All right,” Said Applejack, “I recon I’ll keep ‘em, seeing as how they fit and all.” Applejack then put her hat back one and she carried the ladder on her head back to the Barn with Winona running right beside her.

Applejack and Winona soon reached the barn where the found Big Macintosh just leaving for the apple orchard.

“Hi-ya Big Mac,” Applejack greeted her brother as she put the ladder back in its place. “Ya like my new shoes?” she asked.

“Eyup” said Big Mac with a smile.

“See ya later out in the orchard?” asked Applejack.

“Eyup.” Said Big Mac again as he walked out of the barn with a load of several baskets on his back bound for the apple orchard.

Applejack put a few empty baskets in the family apple cart, then hitcher herself in front of it.

“Come on Winona,” Applejack called, “Time to go buck them apples.” Winona barked twice and followed Applejack and the cart out of the barn.

A little while later Applejack was happily bucking the apple trees, causing the apples to fall into the baskets she had already placed underneath to catch them. Winona ran around catching the strays, and bringing them back to the baskets. After an hour, Applejack and Winona decided to take a break.

“Whoo-wee”, said Applejack as she and Winona lay down in the grass. “I sure like bucking apples but as fun as I make it, even I gotta admit it’s hard work.” Winona turned toward her and tried to help by licking the sweat of Applejacks cheeks. Applejack couldn’t help but laugh.

“Thanks Winona. O.K. That’ll do. That tickles.” Said Applejack. Winona just smiled.

After a few minutes Applejack and Winona went back to work.

“You know Winona,” said Applejack, “It may sound crazy but, sometimes I wish I could buck all the apples down in the entire orchard with just one buck.”

Applejack laughed as she walked to the next three. She didn’t notice that her silver pony slippers were glowing. She turned around as usual, and gave the tree a good kick with her hind legs to knock the apples out. The apples fell, but to Applejack and Winona’s surprise the apples in all the nearby trees suddenly fell out too. Applejack jumped out of the way, and she and Winona backed a few paces as they watched every apple tree in the orchard dropped their apples. Applejack didn’t have baskets under all the trees so they just fell and rolled on the ground. Neither Applejack nor Winona could believe what they had just seen.

“Whoa Nelly!” said Applejack. “Great bushels of apples in the morning! Did I do that?” she asked Winona. Winona simply shook her head slowly up and down.

“Yes I suppose I did”, said Applejack, “but I’ve never done that before. I wonder what happen. How did I do that?”

As Applejack looked down at the ground while she was thinking, her gaze fell on her silver pony slippers.

“Hum.” She pondered. “I wonder...na.” said Applejack “It couldn’t be.”

“Well, Winona,” said Applejack “We’d better start picking up all these apples. I wish we had brought enough baskets to hold all of them though.”

Then suddenly, in a flash, several loads of baskets appeared in front of them, as if out of no where. Applejack jumped in her tracks.

“Whoa doubles” she yelled. “Where did…” She looked down at her silver pony slippers just in time to see them still glowing. Everything suddenly became clear to Applejack.

“Call me a cab with a capital C, but I think these slippers are magic.” Said Applejack. “Hum,” she thought to herself again. “I wonder if…”

Applejack stood in front of the baskets like a general addressing her troops. She looked down at her slippers then back at the baskets.

“I wish that all the apples from my trees were in these baskets.” said Applejack.

She then looked down at her slippers, and sure enough they were glowing again. Applejack then looked at the baskets, and in a flash, they were all filled with the apples from the apple trees. Not one apple was left on the ground.

“Ye-ha,” called Applejack felling very proud of her self. “What’d you know about that? She asked Winona. “Were going to have all the apples bucked, gathered, and harvested, all in one day! Ye-ha. How do ya like them apples?!” Winona joined in the quick celebration by barking excitedly.

Applejack filled the cart with all the filled baskets it could hold, and hitched herself to the front again to pull it back to the barn.

“We’ll be back for the rest after we unload these.” She told Winona as she began to pull. The cart was a lot heavier now, and Applejack had to pull very hard. With a bit of bit of a struggle got the cart rolling, and was on her way. She had to pull the cart across the road first. This wouldn’t have been so difficult if there hadn’t been a mud puddle right in the middle of the road that day. Applejack was so busy making sure the cart kept rolling that she didn’t see it until it was too late. She tried to stop, but the cart was so heavy that it pushed her right in, and then came to a stop itself in the middle of it. Applejack was all right, but she was now faced with a new problem: getting the cart out of the mud and rolling again at the same time.
“Oh horse feathers.” Said Applejack. She pulled her hardest, but she couldn’t move the cart out of the mud.

“Winona,” Applejack called, “could you help me by pushing from behind?” Winona barked, ready to do her part, and ran to the back of the cart.

“On Three,” called Applejack, “One, two three!” Applejack pulled her hardest, and Winona pushed her hardest. The cart moved.

“Again,” said Applejack, “One, two, three!” The cart moved again. Apple jack was now out of the mud, but the cart was still stuck.

“On more time, Winona.” Said Applejack, “One, two, three!” They pushed and pulled their hardest, and at last the cart came free of the mud and was rolling again.

“Thanks Winona.” Said Applejack, as Winona ran up to join her at the front. Winona smiled and barked twice.

Applejack pulled the cart the rest of the way with another incident, but neither she nor Winona noticed that Applejack had lost her silver pony slippers in the mud puddle. Applejack had been pulling so hard, and the mud had been so thick that it pulled her slippers right off.

Chapter 5: Fluttershy

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 5: Fluttershy

No sooner had Applejack left, when who should come down the road but Fluttershy. She was just coming back home from a tea party with some of the woodland creatures when something in the road caught her attention. In front of her was a mud puddle. There was nothing unusual about that, she could just walk around it, but there was something unusual in the puddle that aroused her curiosity, something shiny, or at least partly shiny.

“I wonder what this could be”, said Fluttershy as she inched closer to the puddle.

Fluttershy reached out with her hoof, and picked the object out of the puddle. She observed the object now in front of her.

“Why, it’s a pony slipper” said Fluttershy surprised. “I wonder what it’s doing all the way out here,” She wondered, “and where are its mates.”

Fluttershy looked back at the mud puddle, and was almost surprised to see two more slippers and pulled them out. After a minute or two she finally found the fourth. It had sunk deeper than the rest, and could barely be seen at all. Fluttershy dug it out and reunited it with its mates. Fluttershy now looked at the full set of horse slippers in front of her.

“Oh, my,” said Fluttershy, “I wonders who lost them, they must have gotten stuck in the mud, and couldn’t pull their slippers out,” She said worried about the slippers owner. Fluttershy knew that horse slippers were usually worn by ponies of importance, or ponies that liked to look nice like Rarity, but Rarity wasn’t one who would lose her slippers in a mud puddle.

Then Fluttershy considered the other hoof. “Or maybe they just didn’t want them any more.” Said thought aloud to herself. “It’s really too bad too. These slippers look like they’re lovely, or at least they were.” She said as she considered the fact that they were now covered in mud. Fluttershy had met some mares before in Canterlot who would never touch mud, even if they had lost something in it. Rarity would, she would never lose something that belonged to her to a simple mud puddle, but there were lots of other ponies who liked fashion that believed if it fell in the mud, it’s worthless. The more Fluttershy thought about this, the more option two, as to why four pony slippers were in the middle of the road, made more sense than option one. Somepony who thought highly of herself probably stepped in the mud by accident, and threw away the rest of them thinking they were now garbage and left them there in the road.

“My, what a wasteful thing to do,” said Fluttershy as she imagined this scene. “And there are laws against littering too” she added.

“Oh well,” said Fluttershy, “By-gones, be by-gones. I guess they’re mine now, if I want them, and it wouldn’t be right to leave them in the middle of the road. So… O. K. I’ll take them home and clean them up.”

Fluttershy pulled out a handkerchief from her saddle bag and wiped some of the mud off the horse slippers before she placed them, one at a time, in her saddle bag. With that accomplished, she continued her journey home.

It wasn’t long before she arrived at her cottage. The birds came out of their houses and gave her delightful chirps as she entered.

“Oh…Thank you,” said Fluttershy shyly, “Your all too kind.”

Fluttershy went into the kitchen, and lightly dropped her saddle bag on the floor. She pulled out the horse slippers and placed them on a towel next to the sink, and filled the sink with water and soap suds.

“Nothing a little soap and water can’t fix.” Said Fluttershy as she picked up the first muddy horse slipper and began washing it.

As she worked she sang a little song to herself. When she finished scrubbing she rinsed the slipper in fresh water, and looked at what she was holding. “Sweet Celestia!” She gasped. She could hardly believe her eyes. In her hooves was the most beautiful slipper she had ever seen. It was silver, and it shone brightly in the sunlight. Fluttershy had guessed that the horse slippers would look pretty when she cleaned them, but this was magnificent.

“Oh my goodness” said Fluttershy, “Why in Equestria would anypony throw these away?” she asked no one in particular. “This is beautiful, and the others must be just like it.”

Fluttershy soon found that she was right. She washed, scrubbed, and rinsed the rest of the slippers, and before she knew it, Fluttershy was looking at the most beautiful set of four silver horse slippers that she had ever seen in her life.”

“Oh my,” said Fluttershy as she admired them. “These slippers look fit for a princess.”

Fluttershy dried the slippers off with another towel, and then, since they were hers now, she tried them on. They fit her hooves perfectly. She tried them out by walking around her cottage, and found them to be as comfortable as they were dazzling.

“I must be a very lucky pony.” Said Fluttershy. “To find something as lovely as these. I just don’t know what to say.”

The birds and creatures living in her house chirped and chatted in agreement. The moment was suddenly broken though by a constant thudding noise. Fluttershy looked across the floor to see Angel Bunny thumping his foot and angrily pointing to the clock. It was now two o’clock. That was two hours too late for lunch, and Angel wanted to eat.

“Oh dear.” said Fluttershy. “I’m sorry Angel. I’ll be right back.” And she went back into the kitchen to look for anything to give Angel to eat.”

Fluttershy looked through all her cabinets and drawers for vegetables, but she couldn’t find anything anywhere. All the while Angel was getting more and more impatient. He began to bang his dinner bowl on the ground. Fluttershy didn’t want to disappoint Angel, but she was becoming more and more desperate, but she still couldn’t find anything. She after all went to the tea party this morning, instead of the market, but she had previously thought that she still had a few lettuce leaves left. Finally she realized that she was simply going to have to hurry down to the market, and buy something for Angel’s lunch, and she was going to have to tell Angel. Fluttershy turned and left the kitchen. She found Angel still standing under the clock holding his dinner bowl.

“Now Angel,” said Fluttershy, “I know that your upset, but if you’ll just wait a few more minutes I’ll have your lunch ready, but I have nothing here right at the moment and so…”

She didn’t get to finish, because Angel suddenly threw his dinner bowl right at her head. She ducked in time, and the bowl clattered on the other side of the room. Angel thumped his foot harder than ever. He was beginning to throw a tantrum.

“Oh dear.” Said Fluttershy. “How I wish I had something to give you to tide you over until then.”

At that moment a carrot appeared in a flash out of thin air and landed on the floor in front of Fluttershy. Fluttershy jumped back surprised. She didn’t notice her silver pony slippers glowing, but Angel did. Angel stopped making a fuss and stood quietly where he was looking up a Fluttershy. They both looked at the carrot.

“Um…well, I uh, I guess this is for you Angel.” said Fluttershy with a smile as she pushed the carrot toward him.

Angel quickly picked up the carrot and ate half of it in one bite. He smiled approvingly.

“Well, I pleased to see you’re in a better mood now,” said Fluttershy. “I hope you won’t mind if I go now to Ponyville and get your lunch.”

Angel didn’t mind at all. He was now happy as a parakeet. When Fluttershy put her saddle bag back on and walked to the door, he even hopped on to her back with a beaming smile.

“Aww… you want to come with me?” asked Fluttershy.

Angel nodded his head.

“That’s so sweet,” said Fluttershy as she departed walked through the door.

Fluttershy cantered down the road from her cottage toward Ponyville. Her silver pony slippers gleamed as she walked along, and she began so sing again to pass the time.

It wasn’t long before she reached Ponyville, and she headed straight for the town market place. There she bought a wad of carrots, a couple of celery stalks, and a hoof-full of lettuce leaves. She was just about to leave for home when she heard someone calling her name.

“Fluttershy! Fluttershy my dear.” Said Rarity as she galloped up beside her.

“Oh, hello Rarity” said Fluttershy, “How are you today?”

“Oh I’m feeling fine.” Said Rarity. “I’m so glad I ran into you.”

“Why?” Asked Fluttershy.

“Well, you see,” said Rarity, I was on the other side of the market when I saw dear friend Fluttershy and you were wearing the most stunning silver pony slippers that I’ve ever seen. Tell me. Where did you get those?” she asked.

“Well, Um, I just found them in the road today,” said Fluttershy, “I, uh, cleaned them and here they are now.”

“In that case, I’m so glad you found them. I simply must have those slippers. I’ll buy them from you. I give you 10 bits for them.”

Fluttershy looked back at Angel for advice. He was shaking his head side to side dramatically at her.

“Well, Um…” said Fluttershy.

“20 bits,” said Rarity.

“Well, I…” said Fluttershy.

“30 bits,” said Rarity. Rarity was getting desperate, this was the highest price she could offer.

“Well, I…” said Fluttershy again.

“Please,” said Rarity dramatically. “Please, Please, Please, Please, Please!” she pleaded.

Fluttershy felt she couldn’t help but consent. She didn’t want to disappoint her friend.

“O. K. Rarity” said Fluttershy. “I’ll give you my slippers.”

“Oh Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,” said Rarity.

Rarity bounced up and down as happy as a foal at Hearths Warming. Fluttershy took off her silver horse slippers and placed them in front of Rarity. Rarity eagerly slipped them on with a beaming smile. They fit her perfectly.

“Oh, thank you Fluttershy,” said Rarity. “Oh and here’s the price I promised” she said as she pulled a bag full of bits out of her own saddle bag.

“There’s 30 bits in there,” said Rarity “I counted them this morning. Ooh, I must go no, I have to get back to my shop. Thank you again Fluttershy, I’ll see you later.”

“Good-bye Rarity. Thank you,” called Fluttershy as she watched her friend canter away in her new silver pony slippers.

Chapter 6: Rarity

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 6: Rarity

Rarity cantered down the main street of Ponyville. She smiled proudly as her new silver pony slippers shone brightly in the sun with each hoof step. It wasn’t long before she arrived at her boutique. She entered quietly thought the front door and placed her saddlebags neatly next to a hat stand that had a quite a lot of hooks, each one with a differently designed hat. She then walked over to the first morrow she saw to admire herself wearing her new slippers.

“Oh my stars,” said Rarity, “these are absolutely the most glamorous pony slippers I’ve ever seen. I just love how they shine. Such exquisite sheer. I wonder who made them. Fluttershy said she found them lying in the road. Anypony would have to be a complete imbecile to just throw these away, and why would they anyway? Oh never mind about that. It’s a good thing dear Fluttershy has such a good eye, and they fit me undeniably perfectly. And…”

Rarity stopped as she realized something she said didn’t sound quite right.

“That’s odd,” said Rarity. “Fluttershy was wearing these when I stopped her, and they clearly fit her, but now I’m wearing them, and they fit me as well.”

“Strange,” she continued, “The last time I checked, Fluttershy’s hoof size was two sizes smaller than mine. I should know. I make all my friends dresses for the Grand Galloping Gala including the pony slippers that accessorized the dresses. Interesting, if I was inexperienced, I would have assumed that we apparently have the same size hoof, but that doesn’t sound right at all. I must look into it. For now though, I should find a place to put these I suppose.”

Rarity began to walk around the main floor of her boutique. She was looking for a place that she could leave her new silver pony slippers and remember them later. She was walking toward a collection of shelves filled with accessory items, when her reflection in another mirror caught her eye. She paused for a moment, and then decided to try a few poses so she could see herself wearing her new slippers from every angle.

“Hmm…,” Rarity thought out loud, “I wish I had an astounding dress that could go with these slippers. Not that they really need to go with a dress, but a dress might compliment them, and perhaps… Yipe!”

Rarity was cut off by a sudden bright light that suddenly surrounded her. She closed her eyes tight not sure what was happening. She heard a small ‘pop’, but didn’t open her eyes again until she dared herself to look. Rarity looked again at her reflection, half expecting to see her mane had turned green or something of that nature. What she did see, was far from any such thing.

“Whaaa…,” she began, but she was so surprised she couldn’t even finish the word, much less the sentence. In her reflection, Rarity was wearing a beautiful gown of silver and white. It was a streamlined dress, studded with small jewels on the hems. It was fit for a princess, and was just the dress that Rarity had in mind to go with the silver pony slippers.

Rarity stepped back and looked down at herself. The mirror didn’t lie. She was indeed wearing a beautiful silver and white ball gown. She walked a few steps to the left then to the right to try it out. She looked again at the mirror then back down at herself.

“How did…,” Rarity began again before stopping in mid-sentence. She closed her eyes again, took a deep breath, and counted to ten. Then she opened her eyes again and once more looked down at herself. She was still wearing the dress. Rarity’s look of confusion finally turned into a smile.

“This…is…fabulous!” said Rarity at last. “First the slippers, and now the dress, and it’s perfect. If I didn’t know any better I would think that I made it myself. Only…”

Rarity again turned thoughtful, “How did it just suddenly appear?” she asked herself, “A complete outfit can’t just appear out of thin air. Can it?” she asked nopony in particular.

“All right,” said Rarity, “Let’s retrace my steps. Dress, mirror, inspiration, light, wish, slippers…wait,” she said at last. “There’s something, I said ‘I wish’, and then three was that bright light, and then I was wearing a dress. That’s magic, but I know it wasn’t my magic, so…” Rarity trailed off as she looked down at the floor while she rubber her chin with her hoof. Then her eyes saw it. Her slipper. She quickly put her hoof down and examined her pony slippers.

“Of course,” said Rarity, “It must have been the slippers. I was wearing them the whole time. I said ‘I wish’, and then the gown appeared. That is it. These are magic pony slippers!” Rarity then caught herself and paused once more. “Or, I could be just wishful thinking. I mean, if these slippers are magic, how would I know for sure?” She mused over the question for a moment or two. “Well…,” She began, then caught herself again and shook her head a few times. “First, I’ve got to stop trailing off at the beginning of my sentences. A proper mare always finishes what she’s saying, and second, I obviously need a quick test.”

Rarity looked back at the mirror. “Something small, but something that would prove one way or another if I’m right,” she then suddenly, inspiration presented itself to her. “Ideaaa!” said Rarity in her song-song voice of excitement. She stood up straight and tall and said, “I wish I had a tiara to go with the dress.”

A bright light similar to the one before appeared above Rarity’s head, but this time she didn’t close her eyes. Instead she looked down at her pony slippers and noticed they were glowing. She then looked back up and noticed that the light was gone, but her reflection in the mirror showed that she now bore a sparkling tiara on her head, just behind her horn. She was right.

Rarity burst into the biggest smile ever. “Squeeeeeeeee,” was all she could say at first as she began jumping up and down with excitement. “I can’t believe it,” she said, I actually have a set of magic pony slippers! I must be the luckiest mare in Ponyville, no, in Equestria. And I have the most gorgeous gown to go with it.”

At that, Rarity suddenly remembered that she was, after all, wearing a dress. She quickly stopped bouncing and regained her composure. “I must keep myself together,” she said, “I wouldn’t want to muss the material.”

“Oh, but it’s so exciting!” she said breaking out into a smile again. “I absolutely must wear this at the next Grand Galloping Gala. Ooh… I can try it out tonight in fact at the Mayor’s Birthday Party.”

“Speaking of which,” Rarity continued, “I must finish my present for the Mayor.” Rarity resumed her search for a place to leave her new slippers, and now her new dress. She saw a couple of pony manikins on the far side of the room. “That’ll do for now,” said Rarity to herself as she lightly trotted over. Using the magic of her horn, Rarity removed the shimmering new dress from herself and fitted it on the manikin as if it was wearing it. She then removed her pony slippers and placed them on the manikin’s hooves, before finally taking the tiara from her own head and placing it on the manikins. Rarity then turned back toward her saddlebags to collect her final materials that she had just bought for the Mayors present, a few clips, and a fresh spool of cerulean (blue) tread. Rarity carried the items with her magic to her work table, and upon sitting down, she put on her glasses, and began to complete her project- a splendid new collar and tie for the mayor.

As she worked, she concentrated on what she was doing, but her thoughts began to drift back to her new outfit and she began to day dream. She imagined herself at the Grand Galloping Gala. She was wearing her new ball gown, slippers, tiara, and a few other extra pieces of jewelry. Her friends were all there, and the best part, Trenderhoof was there. She had had a crush on him for the longest time now. They danced together, then took a walk in the Canterlot Gardens laughing at what the other had to say. Rarity decided to be a little clever, just to see how much of a gentlepony Trenderhoof was, and pretended to “accidentally” lose one of her front pony slippers when she lifted her left foreleg to laugh (actually she had kicked it off). Trenderhoof did exactly what she’d hoped he would do, he quickly rushed over to the slipper, picked it up with his magic, and returned it to Rarity by slipping it back onto her hoof. They were sitting on a bench, just about to kiss in the moonlight, when the loudest bell in Canterlot suddenly rang with a number of loud dongs.

Rarity snapped back to reality. She was still in front of her work table with a needle and tread in one hoof.

“Hey-ya Rarity,” said a loud squeaky voice behind her. Rarity knew it could only be one pony.

Pinkie Pie has just walked into Rarity’s Boutique. The “loudest bell in Canterlot” was actually just the bell over the door jingling merrily as Pinkie walked in.

“Oh, hello Pinkie Pie,” said Rarity quickly recovering as she turned around to greet her friend. “Sorry I didn’t see you come in.”

“Of course you didn’t silly,” answered Pinkie, “You heard me come in.”

“Excellently pointed out,” was all Rarity could say in response. “Well my dear, how may I help you?”

“Well,” said Pinkie, “I was just getting my party supplies ready so I could throw Mayor Mare’s Birthday party at the town hall, but then I remembered that you said that this is kind-of a formal party, so I should attend wearing a formal get-up, but I didn’t have a formal get-up, and then I so remembered that your place is so full of get-ups that I decided to come over and see if I could possibly get a get-up, so I came over to your place, opened the door and found you leaning across you work table. What were you looking at any way? It’s just a bit of wall, but anyways, here I am ready to find a nice get-up to war to the party, with half an hour to spare.” Pinkie smiled when she was through speaking.

Rarity wasn’t exactly thrilled that Pinkie had kept referring to her dresses as ‘get-ups,’ but suddenly that wasn’t so important when something else Pinkie has said got her attention.

“Wait!” said Rarity quickly, as she wheeled around to look at the nearest clock, “It’s only half an hour to the party starts!” She usually didn’t daydream while she worked, but today she had apparently daydreamed for longer than she had though, and was now on the verge of running late. “Oh dear,” cried Rarity, “I still haven’t finished the mayor’s present. I must do so quickly, oh, but not too quickly. Must get stitching, must get stitching.” With that Rarity turned her full attention back to her work, giving it her undivided attention. “I have never been late before, and I most certainly will not be late today,” said Rarity.

“So… about that get-up?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“I’m so sorry,” said Rarity, “Unfortunately I can’t stop right now, but tell you what, if you see anything that you like, you can have it, free of charge, whatever you decide.”

“Really?” asked Pinkie Pie, “Are you sure, anything?!”

“Yes darling,” said Rarity as she continued working, “Go right ahead.”

Pinkie Pie began to walk around the room looking at all the ‘get-ups’ that Rarity had on display. Some were on manikins, and some were on hangers. There were so many designs, and colors, but strangely Rarity didn’t seem to have anything in pink today.

“Hum…,” said Pinkie Pie aloud, “I wonder what I would look fancy in.”

Rarity’s cat Opalescence, or Opal for short, walked over to Pinkie and motioned for her to follow her. Now in truth, Opal really did like Rarity. She after all had given her a home with a bed, the best food to eat, kept her neatly groomed, and had spoiled her with toys and other things. Rarity however, sometimes was a little to eccentric for Opal’s taste. Opal didn’t mind helping Rarity with her dressmaking for the most part, but sometimes she would have her help a bit more than she would have liked to. Also, when she had accompanied Rarity on a trip to Canterlot, Rarity had soaked her in a shower to save face with her friends while she was trying to live two lives at the same time. Opal still hadn’t quite forgiven Rarity for that incident, even though she had apologized, and today she saw her chance to get vengeance for it. She had been silently watching Rarity since she had come in, and a sneaky plan and presented itself to her. Opal walked over to Pinkie Pie and tapped her foreleg with her paw to get her attention.

“Why hello Opie,” said Pinkie, “Ahh…you’re such a cute kitty. Would you like to help me?” she asked. Opal grinned and nodded her head.

“Ok Opie,” said Pinkie what do you think I would look fancy in for the mayor’s birthday party tonight?”

Opal walked over to the manikin that was wearing Rarity’s new silver dress, tiara, and pony slippers. She tapped it with her paw and then pointed over to Pinkie Pie.”

“So, does Opie think I would look fancy in this?” asked Pinkie.

Opal grinned again and nodded her head. Opal knew that in all likelihood that if a pony such as Pinkie Pie wore something as grand as this, it had little to no chance of coming back in one piece, and the tiara and slippers would probably end up lost, but this was too perfect of an opportunity to miss.

“Okie dokie lokie,” said Pinkie Pie, “Thank you for your help Opie.” Opal meowed and walked back to her bed.

“So Rarity,” called Pinkie, “Is it OK if I take this?”

Opal tensed. If Rarity looked back, her whole plan would be blown sky high, but luck was on Opal’s side.

“Sure, go right ahead darling,” said Rarity without looking back. She was almost done, but she didn’t want to stop until she was finished and absolutely satisfied with her work.

Pinkie Pie pulled the silver and white dress off the manikin and stuffed it into her saddle bag. She then put the tiara on her own head, and slipped her hooves into the silver pony slippers. Opal had to cover her mouth with her paws. This was hilarious. If Rarity had turned around, she would have had a heart attack.

“Thanks Rarity,” called Pinkie Pie as she rushed out the door, “Gotta run. See you at the party tonight,” and with that she was gone.

“Your welcome Pinkie Pie,” said Rarity. She was finally finished, and turned around. “Happy to...” she stopped when she realized that Pinkie was already gone. “Help,” she finished. “Huh…,” Rarity said to herself, “I wonder what she chose.”

Chapter 7: Pinkie Pie

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 7: Pinkie Pie

Pinkie Pie hopped all the way from Rarity’s Boutique to her home at Sugar Cube Corners. Hopping on all four hooves was her usual gait, especially when she was happy, which was practically all the time. In any case, she had a good reason to be happy today. Today, or rather tonight, she was hosting Mayor Mare’s birthday celebration.

It was half an hour till six (dark) when Pinkie arrived at sugar cube corners she found Gummy, her toothless pet alligator sitting on the coffee table next to the front door, exactly where she had left him three hours ago.

“Hey Gummy,” said Pinkie as she threw her saddle bag in a corner, “I got a fancy dress and stuff from Rarity’s and now I just have to collect all the party supplies and I’m ready to go throw Mayor Mare’s bash. Whoa wait just a second. I just realized something. Mayor Mare rhymes. Both words sound exactly alike, you know, mayor and mare. Cool huh?” she asked Gummy who just blinked his eyes.

Pinkie smiled and set to her work. Parties were a lot of fun, but planning them, preparing them, and running them were a lot of work, and Pinkie took her job seriously, but still found ways to make the work fun. She went into her closet and reappeared five seconds later carrying and covered with all kinds of party materials and a long list in her mouth.

“Now let’s see,” said Pinkie as she took the list out of her mouth and studied it in her hooves. “Balloons, check, bubbles, check, table cloths, check, confetti, check, cupcakes, check, party cannon, check, streamers, check, party favors, check, and…”, Pinkie paused to take a quick look into the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were just putting the finishing touches on Mayor Mare’s birthday cake. They would be on their way to deliver it within the next five minutes. “Cake, check,” finished Pinkie with a triumphant smile. She collected everything she was bringing and was just about to leave when she realized something.

“Oh, wait,” said Pinkie, “I almost forgot to put my new party dress on.” She quickly set everything on the coffee table next to Gummy (the balloons she tied to a chair), and trotted over to the corner where she had left her saddle bag. What she did then, some ponies would have called gymnastics with style, but to others including Pinkie herself, it was just Pinkie being Pinkie Pie. Pinkie pulled out the silver and white dress, tiara and silver pony slippers from her bag. She placed the pony slippers on the floor exactly where she wanted them, and then threw the tiara and dress into the air. Pinkie then jumped up, completed a successful front flip into the dress (head and hooves through the sleeves), landed on the floor with each hoof sliding perfectly into the waiting pony slippers, and simply stood still while waiting for the tiara to land in exactly the right spot on top of her head, between her ears.

“There we are,” said Pinkie, “Now we’re ready. Wait, who exactly is ‘we’? I mean there’s only one of me. Am I talking to myself? I thought I decided to stop doing that.” Pinkie paused for a moment to muse the thought, but only for a moment. “Oh, well,” she said, “It’s time to go throw a par-ty!” With that she picked up her party supplies again, and hopped merrily out the door with the balloons trailing behind her. Gummy remained standing where he was, still staring straight ahead.

Pinkie hopped down the road singing to herself as she went. Of course, everypony saw her, she was after all covered in party supplies, but they didn’t mind. Everypony liked Pinkie Pie, and besides everypony knew what she was doing and where she was going. All the ponies in Ponyville had been invited to Mayor Mare’s birthday party at the town hall ballroom. Pinkie had passed out the written invitations to everypony herself all that day. Guests would start arriving at 6:00 p.m. just as the sun was setting, and the moon was rising. That gave Pinkie only twenty minutes to prepare the whole party, but for Pinkie Pie, twenty minutes was all the time in the world.

Twenty minutes later Pinkie was just straitening the finishing touches (table centerpieces) of her work and the party was ready to begin. Tables, streamers, balloons and the like were all set, and live music was playing from the band that she had hired. Since the mayor’s party was more-than-less a formal occasion, most of the guests arrived at 6:00 p.m. sharp to show punctuality and most of them were dressed in their finest. On the other hoof, it was after all a birthday party, so Pinkie was able to bring some of her usual party gear and a few surprises to make the evening more eventful. One of the first ponies to enter the town hall was Pinkie’s friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, who was always on time for everything. Pinkie and Twilight exchanged greetings and smiles before Pinkie directed her friend to the guest of honor’s table. Yet as all the guests begin to settle into their seats or mingle in open conversation Pinkie couldn’t help but look among the crowd and miss the four faces she couldn’t see. Where were the rest of her friends? Not that there wasn’t a pony, dragon, or donkey in Ponyville that wasn’t her friend, but she had five best friends that she would go to the ends of the world for, and she knew they would do the same for her. One of them Twilight Sparkle was here, but the other four were strangely missing. She knew she had delivered an invitation to each of them they should have been here by now. Pinkie scanned the room again with a slow passing turn of her head from where she stood on the stage, but then quickly snapped back when she noticed a latecomer slowly enter through the front door. The latecomer was a yellow pegasus with a light pink mane and tail.

“Oh wait, there’s Fluttershy,” said Pinkie to herself as her serious gaze broke out into a grin again. She quickly bonded over to greet her friend.

“Hey Fluttershy,” said Pinkie, “Glad to see you could make it. I’m so happy to see you.”

“Oh, hi Pinkie Pie,” said Fluttershy. “I’m sorry I’m a little late, but I had to help Mr. Bear find his honey pot first. He can get just a teeny bit cranky when he can’t find his favorite snack.”

“Well, that’s OK,” said Pinkie, “I’m just so glad that you’ll get to join in the fun. Oh did you see Applejack, Rarity, or Rainbow Dash on your way here?” she asked.

“No I’m afraid I didn’t.” said Fluttershy, “But… Oh my… Pinkie Pie that is a lovely dress you’re wearing.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Pinkie, “But since this is supposed to be a fancy-shmancy party, I thought it would be a good idea to wear a fancy-shmancy get-up; so I did. I can’t help but wonder where everypony else is thought. I wish they were here, they’re going to be sorry that they missed this.” At that moment Pinkie’s pony slippers glowed.

“I was in such a hurry to get here that I wasn’t able to put a dress on, or anything,” said Fluttershy. As she looked around the room she noticed that she was one of the very few ponies that hadn’t bothered to wear anything fancy. She looked down at her hooves, beginning to feel shy, and a little embarrassed.

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” said Pinkie encouragingly, “You always make everything lovelier by simply being there.”

This made Fluttershy feel better. She smiled and glanced from her own hooves to Pinkies. Suddenly something occurred to her.

“Um Pinkie Pie,” began Fluttershy, “Where did you get those…?” She unfortunately didn’t get to finish because at that moment, the band played Pinkie’s queue to alert her that the Mayor was about to make her grand entrance and she was needed at the front.

“Oh, sorry Fluttershy,” said Pinkie, “Gotta run, see you later.” With that Pinkie spun around and dashed back to the stage at the front of the ballroom, but stopped briefly to open one of the ballroom’s tall windows.

“Strange,” said Fluttershy aloud to herself, “Those pony slippers she was wearing look just like the one I found and gave to Rarity.” At that moment there was a soft, lady-like knock on the door behind her, and Fluttershy turned to answer it.

Once Pinkie was back on stage she nodded to the band to begin playing the mayor’s into music, and tapped the microphone to get everyone’s attention.

“All right everypony, here she is, the filly of the hour, who’s birthday we are here to celebrate, Mayor Mare!” With that Mayor Mare walked calmly onto the stage next to Pinkie wearing a beaming smile as the audience of ponies gave her thunderous applause by stomping their fore-hooves on the ground.

Pinkie then led the crowd in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ while Mr. and Mrs. Cake brought out the birthday cake they had prepared onto the stage with candles already lit. Just as the song was coming to its conclusion, Pinkie quickly reached back behind the stage and brought out her party cannon. She then climbed into the cannon and lit the fuse. While she was doing this, she thought for a moment that she heard someone call her name, but over the singing crowd, she really couldn’t tell. None-the-less, everything for the party’s climax happened exactly how Pinkie had planned it. The song ended. The crowd cheered. Mayor Mare blew out the candles. And right at that moment, the canon fired with a roar showing confetti on the audience and sending Pinkie soaring through the air, above the crowd and out the window she had carefully prepared.

Pinkie landed outside the town hall with a somersault and gently rolled to a stop. She did this all the time at parties so she wasn’t hurt at all. She was soon standing again and walking back to the town hall to re-join the celebration. Although she wasn’t hurt, her dress was. In fact it was ruined. The blast from the cannon had taken its toll on Pinkie’s dress. It was now all ripped and tattered with popped seams and a few burn marks. The once emasculate ball gown was now rags. Her hooves were bare. Another result of the blast was that it had knocked Pinkie’s silver pony slippers right off her hooves. They had fallen somewhere in the crowd. Amazingly the tiara was still in place on Pinkie’s head. Pinkie didn’t mind any of this. It was after all just a dress to her, and she was having fun at a party. She would go back, find her pony slippers, and re-join the party for some of that cake as if nothing had happened.

Pinkie soon returned to the town hall and pushed the door open. The party was still in full swing. There were more ponies standing than sitting. Many were waiting for their turn to get a piece of the cake. Pinkie crouched down to the floor to locate her pony slippers.

“There they are,” she said when she noticed them lying close to each other just off-centered from the room’s midpoint in the middle of the crowd. “No problem-o.”

Pinkie squeezed her way through the crowd until she was just able to reach the first of the four silver pony slippers. She was about to reach out for the other three when they were suddenly all snatched up by three different hooves. The hooves belonged to none other than Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity.

Chapter 8: Trouble

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 8: Trouble

Pinkie Pie stared at her friends. She had hoped that they would make it to the party, but her thoughts were mixed. Although she was happy to see them, their sudden appearance had startled her. To top it off it seemed like there was something tense in the air. None of her friends were smiling. Rather they were frowning and looking suspiciously at each other, and at her, and each was holding a silver pony slipper.

“Oh, Hi girls…” Pinkie began, but she was immediately cut off by what seemed like an explosion.

“PINKIE!” yelled Rarity, “WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME DID YOU DO?!!!”

Pinkie was taken a-back. “Wha- What do you mean Rarity?”

“DON’T PLAY GAMES WITH ME PINKIE PIE!” screamed Rarity, “FIRST YOU TAKE MY FAVOIRITE DRESS WITHOUT ASKING, AND THEN YOU DESTROYED IT!! YOU BLEW IT UP!!!”

“But…but wait a minute Rarity,” said Pinkie defending herself, “You said I could take anything I wanted when I saw you earlier.” Pinkie then switched her mannerism from defense to offense. “And I did ask you if I could take this,” said Pinkie. “And you said, and I quote, “Sure go right ahead darling”, said Pinkie in her best imitation of Rarity’s voice.

A small bell rang in the back of Rarity’s mind. She remembered saying that, but even still that didn’t make this completely her fault.

“Don’t give me that, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity continued. “I meant that you could take anything you wanted but that dress. You didn’t show me what you were taking when you took it. You just up and left before I could see what we were talking about, and furthermore what kind of pony just jumps into a cannon wearing a perfectly spectacular dress? I’ll tell you who, AN OUT OF CONTROL PARTY ANIMAL LIKE YOU THAT’S WHO!”

“HEY!” responded Pinkie, “what kind of pony just shows up to a party and starts yelling for no good reason? A FANCY-SMANCY, FULL OF HERSLEF, SNOB THAT’S WHO!”

“Please stop”, said Fluttershy quietly. She had tip-hoofed up behind the ponies as they had been arguing, but they ignored her. Princess Twilight Sparkle joined Fluttershy. Like Fluttershy she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Enough of this!” said Rarity. “First you destroy my dress, and then you insult me.”

“Well you apparently think it’s just OK to insult me.” Argued Pinkie.

“Pinkie!” said Rarity, “I don’t want to hear it. Now give me my slipper I’m going home.”

“No,” said Pinkie, “not if you ask like that, and last I checked you also gave me the slippers with the dress, so give me my slipper and then you can just leave!” Pinkie slid her hoof into the slipper she has been holding in defiance.

“Oh, your slippers?!” retorted Rarity. “Now this is ridiculous. They’re my slippers, and I can prove it. Isn’t that right Fluttershy? She asked suddenly brining Fluttershy into the discussion.

Fluttershy almost panicked. It was scaring her that her friends were acting this way, and now they wanted her to take part in an argument.

“Girls…” said Twilight but she was ignored.

“You tell her Fluttershy.” Said Rarity. I bought these from you earlier this afternoon.”

“Well I, um…oh…yes.” Said Fluttershy weakly.

“There that’s settled,” said Rarity pleased with herself, “Now I’ll just be taking my slippers back and leave.” She slid the slipper she had been holding on her hoof and started to walk toward Pinkie. As far as she knew she had won the argument, and if Pinkie wouldn’t willingly give her back her slipper she would force it from her with her magic. But then just as she was about to close the gap, Rainbow Dash suddenly jumped in front of her.

“No it’s not settled Rarity,” said Rainbow Dash, “Or should I call you ‘thief’. Now I know what happened to my shoes this morning, YOU STOLE THEM!” Rainbow reached out to grab the slipper Rarity was wearing, but she jumped back.

“Hold on Rainbow,” said Rarity confused. “What are you talking about I didn’t steal anything. Didn’t you hear what I said just a minute ago? I bought them from Fluttershy.”

“Girls…” said Twilight a little louder, but she was still ignored.

“Is that true,” said Rainbow as she zipped over Fluttershy and hovered above her. Her face only inches from Fluttershy’s. Fluttershy cowered down to the floor, her eye’s wide with fear.

“Y-y-yes.” Fluttershy stammered.

“So then you’re the thief that stole my shoes said Rainbow.”

“N-n-no. R-rainbow. I didn’t. I-I found them in the street.”

“A likely story.” Said Rainbow.

‘It’s true Rainbow,” said Fluttershy. “I’m telling the truth. Please don’t hurt me.”

“Wait a minute.” Said Applejack suddenly. “Are ya sayin you’re the thieven vermit who stole my apple-bucking slippers? I was wonder-in what happened to them. I know I was wearing them in the orchard, but when I got to the barn theys was gone. Which means they must have come off while I was crossing the road, and you stole them before I could retrieve them Fluttershy.

“Oh no, Applejack I couldn’t, I wouldn’t. I just found them in a mud puddle and I-I…” Fluttershy was near tears. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack were all now glaring at her. She thought they were about to pounce on her, when suddenly they almost seemed to pounce on each other.

“A MUD PUDDLE!” Yelled Rarity to Applejack. Are you implying that you walked through a mud puddle wearing my slippers?”

“Girls…” said Twilight louder than before. Her patience was wearing thin, but she was still ignored.

“First of all they’re my apple bucking slippers, not yours,” said Applejack “and second, yeah, I kinda did by mistake.”

“What-dya mean your shoes” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. They’re my shoes. I got them from Zecora this morning. They just accidentally came off while I was flying. “Are you saying that you’re the real thief Applejack?”

“Now hold on partner,” said Applejack, “I ain’t no thief. I found them this morning on top of one of my haystacks.”

“Hey!” said Pinkie suddenly, “Would you all just give me back my slippers and take this outside already? Your ruining the party!”

“PINKIE!” said Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity in unison, and Fluttershy finally broke into tears.

Pinkie Pie did have a point thought. The ponies had completely forgotten that they were having their argument in the middle of a party, and for that matter they were all talking very loud. Everypony was looking at them. Mayor Mare walked cautiously over to try to help.

“Ladies, please,” said Mayor Mare, “I think you should…” but she was cut off.

“Would you stay out of this!?” said Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity in unison as they temporarily stopped arguing to look at the Mayor. Then they resumed their argument.

At this point, Twilight’s patience finally ran out. “EVERYPONY STOP!!!” she yelled as she spread a magic wave from her horn that swept over the arguing ponies and froze them in place. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy instantly became silent and calm. They all felt the tension that had been building diminish and melt away. They all began to take in the reality of the situation as they looked around the room. Everypony was staring at them. They couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and look sheepishly at each other.

“Oh dear.” Sighed Fluttershy.

“I’m terribly sorry about this Mayor.” said Twilight. “I’ll take care of everything. Everything will be all right.”

“Thank you Princess,” said Mayor Mare relieved.

With that, Twilight used her magic to perform her teleportation spell. There was a brilliant light that consumed Twilight and her friends and in the next moment they had vanished. The guests at the mayor’s birthday celebration mumbled to each other for a minute or two, but soon the party was in full swing once again. After all, this wasn’t the first time Ponyville had witnessed a friendship problem.

Chapter 9: Princess Twilight Sparkle

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 9: Princess Twilight Sparkle

Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends reappeared the next instant inside Princess Twilight’s Friendship Castle. Twilight looked sternly at her friends. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity all looked as though they had a lot to say, but weren’t sure where to start. Fluttershy simply crouched down to the floor, worried that her friends were about to start shouting again, but they didn’t.

“Throne room. Now.” Ordered Twilight. The five ponies obeyed. Once each was sitting in her throne, Twilight spoke again.

“All right,” said Twilight. “Would anypony like to explain to me what happened back there?” Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity all started at once, but quickly became silent again when they realized they were all talking at the same time.

“Well I…” said Rainbow Dash,

“You see,” said Applejack,

“As I understand…,” said Rarity,

“What happened was…” said Pinkie Pie.

“One at a time please,” said Twilight. “Yes Applejack?”

“I’m sorry you had to see us actin that way sugarcube,” said Applejack, “but earlier today, I found this here set of pony slippers in one of my haystacks at Sweet Apple Acers. I used them when I was bucking apples, and then I accidentally lost them while crossing the road. When I came back for them, they was gone. Then I showed up at the party and found my slippers on the floor and we all started arguing over then.” Applejack stuck out her hoof to show Twilight the silver pony slipper she was wearing. Twilight observed that Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were each wearing one of the silver pony slippers that were in question.

“Thank you Applejack,” said Twilight. “Now Rarity.”

“Early this afternoon darling,” said Rarity. “I bought these pony slippers from Fluttershy. I brought them home and was admiring them when I discovered that they were magic. The dress that Pinkie is wearing was the result of a simple wish I made while I was wearing them. I was going to wear it and the slippers to the Mayor’s party, but then Pinkie Pie paid me a visit. I must have been too wrapped up in my work though, because I accidentally allowed Pinkie Pie to take the dress and the slippers to the Mayor’s party, and now the dress is…” Rarity pointed over to Pinkie who was still wearing the tattered remains of the silver and white dress.

“Thank you Rarity,” said Twilight, “Your turn Rainbow Dash.”

“Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash, “This morning, I was flying over the Everfree Forest when I noticed that Zecora was being chased by a pack of Timberwolves. I saved her and as a reward she gave me this set of shoes, or pony slippers as everypony keeps calling them. Anyways, I was practicing my flying when I found out that if I wished to fly faster while I was wearing the shoes, they made me fly faster, and made could just suddenly appear out of nowhere. I flew so fast that I cleared the entire sky in less than five seconds. But then I did a sonic rain-boom, and I guess the blast knocked my shoes off. When I landed they were gone. I spent the rest of the day looking for them, and was just about to give up when I arrived at the Mayor’s party and found Rarity and Pinkie Pie arguing over my shoes.”

“Thank you Rainbow.” Said Twilight. “Now Pinkie Pie.”

“What happened Twilight,” said Pinkie Pie, “Is that when I finished passing out invitations to the Mayor’s birthday party, and was about to go back to Sugar Cube Corners to pick up my party supplies, when I remembered that yesterday Rarity suggested that I should wear a fancy get-up to the Mayor’s party, but I didn’t have a fancy get-up so I went by Rarity’s to pick one out. She was staring at the wall when I found her. Can’t imagine why. So I came in and woke her up, and told her that I wanted a get-up for the party. But then Rarity got so busy with the tie she was making for the Mayor when I told her that the party would start in half an hour, that she didn’t have time to help me find a get-up, so she offered that if I found something in her shop that I liked I could have it. I spotted this dress and the pony slippers with it and decided that I liked it so I took it. I asked Rarity if it was all right, and she said “sure, go right ahead.” So I took the dress and slippers to Sugar Cube Corners where I grabbed my party supplies, put the dress and slippers on and went to decorate the town hall for the party. Then the party started. I met Fluttershy, introduced the Mayor, and then shot myself out of my party cannon. I wasn’t thinking about the dress, and it kinda-got burned up, and I lost pony slippers. I came back inside to get them, and found Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack each holding one of my slippers and then Rarity started yelling at me, and well, you know the rest.”

“Thank you Pinkie,” said Twilight, “and now Fluttershy.”

“Um well,” said Fluttershy. “I was just on my way home after having a tea party with the woodland creatures, when I found four pony slippers in the middle of the road. They were stuck in a mud puddle. I had no idea where they had come from, but I didn’t think it was right to just leave them there. So I took them home and cleaned them up. I found that they were much more beautiful than I thought they would be so I decided to keep them. I wore them to market today to buy lunch for Angle bunny, and that’s where I met Rarity, who really, really wanted to buy them from me, so I gave them to her and she was happy. Then I went home to do some cleaning around my house, and I must have forgotten about the time because I didn’t stop until I realized I was going to be late to the mayor’s party so I hurried over and met Pinkie Pie, and then, oh, everypony started arguing. I’m sorry if I did anything wrong.”

“No need to apologize Fluttershy,” said Twilight. “But now I think I have the full story. “You were all arguing over the same set of pony slippers. Which, early this morning Zecora gave Rainbow Dash the slippers, but she lost them, and they landed in Sweet Apple Acers where Applejack found them. Applejack then lost them while crossing the road from her orchard to her barn, where Fluttershy found them. Fluttershy then cleaned them and sold them to Rarity, who was very busy and gave them to Pinkie Pie, who wore them to the Mayor’s Birthday Party, where we all met and you raised a ruckus over them.”

“Rackus.” Corrected Pinkie.

“Quite.” Said Twilight even though ‘ruckus’ was correct.

“You do realize how silly that was, right?” asked Twilight. Her friends nodded.

“We’re sorry.” Twilight, said Pinkie Pie.

“We sure made a spectacle of ourselves,” said Rainbow Dash.

“It was like we suddenly weren’t ourselves anymore,” said Applejack.

“And it definite wasn’t ladylike.” Said Rarity.

“I’m glad to see that you all realize that,” said Twilight. “But now the question is, who owns the silver pony slippers you were arguing over. By the information I’ve been presented with. It would seem that they belong to Rainbow Dash.”

“Yes!” exclaimed Rainbow flying out of her throne.

“Indeed not!” retorted Rarity standing up, “They belong to me!”

“Girls!” said Twilight.

Rainbow and Rarity sat back down and took control of themselves. “Sorry.” They said in unison.

“Better,” said Twilight. “Now I know all of you claim you own the slippers…

“I don’t,” said Fluttershy.

“OK,” said Twilight as she corrected herself, “I know four of you claim you own the slippers, but you can’t all own them, only their true owner, and coincidentally, I believe I can help with that. Something that I also pick up from your stories is that these silver pony slippers are magical. Rarity, you said that while you were wearing the slippers you wished for a dress and it suddenly appeared?”

“Yes darling.” Said Rarity. “It’s true and they glowed when I made my wish. I knew they had to have some sort of magic.”

“And Rainbow,” Said Twilight, “You said that while you were wearing them they made you fly faster.”

“Well, yeah.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“Come to think of it,” said Applejack, “I never really bucked any apples today. I kind-of wished for them to all fall off the trees and they did. And then I wished I had enough baskets to carry them all, and they just appeared.”

“Oh, I made a wish too,” said Pinkie Pie. “At the party, I wished for Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity to be there because I didn’t see them when the party started, and I didn’t see them until after I blew myself out of the cannon, which was after I made my wish.”

“Strange,” said Fluttershy, “I think I also made a wish. I didn’t have anything to give Angel bunny for lunch, so I desperately wished that I had something to give him and a carrot appeared out of nowhere. I didn’t think much of it, but I know I was wearing the slippers then.”

“Ah, ha. Just as I thought.” Said Twilight with a smile. “It thought so, and now I know so.”

“Know so what?” asked Applejack. She and the other ponies were just as confused.

“Spike!” Twilight called. A moment later, Spike, Twilight’s faithful, number one baby-dragon assistant poked his head through the throne room doors.

“Yes Twilight.” Asked Spike.

“Could you bring me the Advanced History of the Canterhorn Empire? I was up late reading it last night, and it may still be on my bed.”

“Sure thing Twi,” said Spike as he hurried away.

“I was reading something in one of my books about ancient magical artifacts, and I think the pony slippers you found may very well be one of them.”

Just then Spike re-entered the room carrying the book Twilight had asked for. “Here… it…is.” Said Spike as he carried it over to the round table in front of the ponies. It was a big book and rather heavy. Spike was struggling with it a bit. When he reached the table he put the book down with a loud thud.

“Thank you Spike,” said Twilight as she opened to book and began flipping through the pages with her magic.

“So, Twilight has a book about magic pony shoes?” asked Rainbow Dash to nopony in particular.”

“As I’ve said before,” Said Spike, “Twilight can find a book on anything.”

“Here it is,” said Twilight at last with a beaming smile. “It isn’t much, but right in the middle of the chapter concerning ancient alicorn artifacts the book mentions that there was a set of four silver pony slippers, that when worn would grant the reasonable wishes of their wearer. They would magically grow or shrink to fit the pony wearing them, but they would only sparkle whenever their true owner was wearing them. That’s pretty much it.” Said Twilight as she closed the book.

“Now Rainbow,” continued Twilight. “You said earlier that Zecora gave you the slippers?”

“Yes,” replied Rainbow Dash.

“Did Zecora say where she got them?” asked Twilight.

“Yeah, she said something about them falling out of the sky a long time ago, and being passed down from generation to generation until she ended up with them. She also said something about them being magic, but I didn’t pay much attention to that part until I found out for myself.”

“Very good,” said Twilight, “That more than less answers my question, but now if, you wouldn’t mind, may I see the pony slippers please?”

“Why,” asked Rainbow Dash.

“I would like to make a quick scan over them with my magic to verify the facts.” Said Twilight, “and so we can determine once and for all who owns them.”

“Will I get them back?,” asked Rarity.

“If they are yours, then yes, you will.” said Twilight.

Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash each took off the one silver pony slipper they were wearing and placed them on the table in front of Twilight.

Using her magic Twilight carefully scanned over the four silver pony slippers. At once she got her answer. She could feel the magic flowing in them.

“Yes,” said Twilight when she was finished. “There is no doubt about it what so ever. These slippers have magic. Now we need to determine who owns them.”

“How do we do that?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Well,” Said Twilight, “it said in the book, that although the silver pony slippers will fit any pony who wears them, they only sparkle when their true owner is wearing them. So each of you will have to try them on, and if they sparkle then they’re yours. Fair enough?” she asked. The ponies all nodded in agreement.”

“Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight, “Since you were the first to have them today, you’re first, and in all probability, they should be yours.”

“You bet they are,” said Rainbow Dash as Twilight used her magic to place the silver pony slippers in front of her.

“Very well,” said Twilight “Then we will know in a moment.”

Rainbow Dash slid her hooves into the four slippers smiling ear to ear, but her smile faded when she realized that the slippers weren’t sparkling.

“I guess not,” said Twilight.

“But, but how?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” Said twilight, “But I do know that they are not your slippers.”

Defeated, Rainbow Dash took off the pony slippers and pushed them back toward Twilight. Next it was Applejack’s turn. Twilight laid the pony slippers in front of her, and she tried them on. They didn’t sparkle.

“Ah, shoot.” Said Applejack, “but I guess that’s that.” She said as she removed the slippers.

It was then Fluttershy’s turn. She carefully slid her hooves into the slippers, but they didn’t sparkle.

“Oh, well, OK then.” Said Fluttershy as she took them off.

Rarity came next. “I’m sure they’re mine.” Said Rarity. “A set of pony slippers like these should always compliment a lady.” She said as she gracefully slid her hooves into the slippers. She closed her eyes and smiled, sure of herself, but when she opened them and looked down at the slippers they weren’t sparkling.

“What? That can’t be,” exclaimed Rarity. She looked over at Twilight who had a patient look on her face. Rarity reconsidered the other option. “But…If they’re not mine, then they’re not mine.” She sighed as she took them off and passed them back to Twilight.

It was now Pinkie Pie’s turn. She didn’t waste any time at all. She jumped right into the pony slippers looked down. Just as with her friends, they still didn’t sparkle.

“Ahhh,” said Pinkie, “Oh well,” she said as she lightly kicked them off.

“Well now we’ve settled the fact that none of you are the owner of the slippers,” said Twilight as she picked up the silver pony slippers and sat back down in her throne. “With that out of the way, I believe it is up to us to find the owner of the slippers and give them back to that pony. All the ponies agreed.

“Wouldn’t that be Zecora?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Twilight shook her head. “No. If Zecora was the true owner of the slippers, then when she gave them to you, that should have made you the new owner, and they should have sparkled when you put them on, but they didn’t so they are not yours, and in truth, they really were not Zecora’s to give, but from what I’ve heard, I seriously doubt that she knew that.”

“But,” Said Twilight, “I believe we do have a clue as to who the true owner of the slippers is.”

“We do?” asked Rarity.

“What clue?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“The answer is in the question.” Said Twilight. “These silver pony slippers are undoubtedly the silver pony slippers mentioned in my book, the Advanced History of the Canterhorn Empire. The Canterhorn Empire is where all the Alicorns used to live in olden days, back before Hearths Warming. The original ‘Equestria’ before it was Equestria.”

“That’s quite a long time ago.” Said Fluttershy.

“It was,” said Twilight, “but the point is, since these pony slippers are from the former Canterhorn Empire, I believe the true owner of the slippers is an alicorn.

The other five ponies looked at each other as they considered what Twilight had just proposed. Then they all realized what Twilight meant. “Oooooh,” they all said together.

“Well that sure brings down the list of suspects,” said Applejack.

“Applejack’s right,” said Rarity, “We only know of four alicorns. There’s you, Twilight, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna…

“Oooh, and Princess Cadence,” Finished Pinkie Pie.

“That’s right,” agreed Twilight. “So the owner of the slippers has to be one of those four alicorns.”

“And since you’re right here,” Said Pinkie Pie, “You should totally try then on first.”

“Me?” asked Twilight, “but I sure I’m not their owner. If fact, I don’t remember ever owning a set of silver pony slippers.”

“That may be so,” said Rarity, “but Pinkie does make a valid point. You are an alicorn, and like us, we won’t know for sure if they’re yours or not until you try them on.”

“Besides, sugarcube,” said Applejack, “If you try them on and they’re not yours then four possible suspects becomes three.”

“Well, you all do have a point,” said Twilight, “And when you’re right, you’re right. All right I’ll try them on, and we’ll see.”

Twilight slid her hooves into the silver pony slippers. The ponies all waited and held their breath in anticipation, but the slippers didn’t sparkle.

“Just as I thought,” said Twilight as she removed the pony slippers from her hooves and put them on the table. “I am not their owner, so now we have Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Cadence try them on.”

“It’s almost too bad we have to go all the way to the Crystal Empire to find Princess Cadence,” Said Rainbow Dash. “Especially if we go there and find out that they aren’t hers. Not that I don’t mind going, but it is quite a long ways away.”

“Actually, you won’t have to.” Said Spike, “Twilight just got a postcard in the mail today from Princess Cadence saying that she and Shining Armor are in Canterlot right now, and she invites Twilight to come visit her.” Spike showed them the postcard he was holding. He had been sitting quietly in his own throne next to Twilight’s reading the mail.

“Let me see that Spike,” said Twilight. She quickly read the postcard.

“Yes, he’s right,” said Twilight. “This is perfect, we can go to Canterlot tomorrow, and meet with Cadence, and Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna all in one day. I’ll arrange for seven tickets for the morning train to Canterlot tomorrow. That is, you are coming right?” she asked her friends.”

“Of course we are sugarcube,” said Applejack.

“We all agreed that we would find the owner of the pony slippers”, said Rarity, “So we’re going to Canterlot!”

All the other ponies cheered in agreement.

“Thank you,” Said Twilight.

Chapter 10: Princess Cadence

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 10: Princess Cadence

The next morning at ten o’clock sharp, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike met their five pony friends at the Ponyville Railroad Station where they boarded the morning train for Canterlot. Spike was carrying a brown box. Inside were the silver pony slippers. Two hours later the train arrived in Grand Canterlot Station and they disembarked on their quest, to find the other three alicorn princesses and to determine one and for all who was the owner of the silver pony slippers.

“I’m feel certain that we’ll find the slipper’s owner here in Canterlot,” said Twilight as she and her friends walked away from the station.

“And if we don’t,” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Then we’ll journey all over Equestria until we find the owner,” said Twilight. “But I’m sure it won’t come to that.”

Upon arriving at Canterlot Castle they found a long line waiting to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Quite a number of dignitaries from Prance had also arrived that day to discuss matters with the princesses, and it was clear that they wouldn’t get their chance to speak to them for several hours. The ponies then decided in the meantime to find and visit with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.

Princess Cadence was in her and Shining Armor’s private rooms of the castle lounging on a sofa and reading a book when there was a knock on the door. The butler answered it. A moment later he returned to Princess Cadence and with a small bow said “Your Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle and company wish to see you.”

Cadence sprang off the couch, completely forgetting about the book which fell behind her. “Twilight’s Here!” exclaimed Cadence, “This is wonderful, she actually came, and with her Ponyville friends too.” “Shining!” she called, “Twilight’s here!”

The sound of a rushing pony could be heard before Shining Armor, burst into the room and skidded to a stop next to Cadence. “Twilie’s here? Really?” He asked.

“Positively.” answered Cadence. “Please,” she said turning to the butler, “Let them in.”

A moment later, Princess Cadence was greeted by her sister-in-law Twilight Sparkle upon which they proceeded to do their special greeting/chant/dance saying “Sunshine, sunshine. Lady bugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake.” They had barely stopped laughing when Shinning Armor suddenly grabbed Twilight and gave his little sister a big brotherly hug. Princess Cadence and Shinning Armor then proceeded to greet Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy.

“It’s so wonderful to see you all here.” Said Princess Cadence. “We were just about to have lunch, won’t you join us?”

Twilight and her friends agreed.

A royal lunch, usually, consists of only the best ordure’s served in small amounts, but a private royal lunch is no different than any other lunch consisting of hay sandwiches, fruit and vegetables on the side, and, as a special treat, cake for desert. So lunch was enjoyed by all, including Applejack, who was concerned for a few moments that she wasn’t going to get a hearty meal that day. There was also plenty of conversation. Twilight, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Spike had quite a lot to catch up on. The Crystal Empire, Cadence’s kingdom was, after all, a long way away, and they didn’t get chances to talk like this very often. The other ponies joined in with bit of news of their own from Ponyville. After lunch, the ponies retired to the den where, once everyone was sitting comfortably, Shining Armor asked,

“So what brings you and your friends to Canterlot Twilie?”

“Well, actually,” said Twilight, “We’re here on a self-appointed mission.”

“You mean like a quest?” asked Shining Armor.

“Exactly.” Said Twilight.

“What kind of quest?” asked Cadence.

“Well, you see, said Twilight opening the box that Spike and left on the floor and pulling out its contents, “My friends found this set of silver pony slippers and…”

“We all thought, they were ours, but when we found out they weren’t we came here to find who’s they were.” Said Pinkie Pie.

“Yeah,” said Twilight thoughtfully, “that does sum up a good deal in one sentence, but anyways I did some research and I found that these are the magic, silver pony slippers from the Canterhorn Empire, and if our hunch is right their owner must be an alicorn, and other than me, we only know of three alicorns in all of Equestria. I already tried them on, and I proved that they’re not mine. So we came here to see if they are yours Cadence.”

Cadence picked up one of the slippers with her magic to examine it.

“So these are real relics from all the way back to the Alicorn era?” Cadence asked.

“No question about it.” Said Twilight. “Do you recognize them?”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t Twilight,” said Cadence. “They’re beautiful, but I don’t remember ever owning a silver set of pony slippers. I’ve always worn golden slippers like these.” She said as she stuck out one of her hooves to show one of the golden pony slippers she was wearing. Twilight and her friends had seen them before. Cadence was always wearing her golden pony slippers. They went so well with her gold necklace and tiara.

“That’s what I said too, before my friends asked my to try them on,” said Twilight, “But there is a way to prove whether they’re yours or not.”

“How is that?” asked Cadence.

“The book,” said Twilight, “said that whenever the owner was wearing the slippers, they would sparkle. So, if you wouldn’t mind trying them on…?”

“Oh, I don’t mind.” Said Cadence. She sat up on the couch and was just about to take off her slippers when Shining Armor suddenly rushed over.

“Please,” said Shining Armor, “Let me darling.”

“Of course Shining,” Said Cadence as she gingerly extended her left hind leg toward him. He always insisted on doing things for his wife, even things that she was perfectly capable of doing herself, but Cadence thought it was cute. Shinning Armor sat on the floor, as he carefully removed Cadence’s golden slipper from her hoof and after placing it on the floor, she proceeded to remove the other slippers as Cadence extended them to him. Shinning Armor then picked up the first silver slipper and slid it carefully on Cadence’s left hind hoof, and then proceeded to fit the other silver slippers on Cadence’s hooves. They fit her perfectly, which Twilight and her friends had expected.

“Thank you Shining,” said Cadence as she stood up, and then took a few steps to try the slippers out.

“Wasn’t that just romantic?” asked Rarity “I’m suddenly reminded of the story of Cinderstar.”

Applejack shrugged, and Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

“It was nice.” Said Fluttershy.

The others didn’t answer. The ponies all waited, their eyes glued to the silver pony slippers, but just as before the slippers still didn’t sparkle.

“I guess the answer’s no again.” Said a disappointed Pinkie Pie.

“I’m sorry Cadence.” Said Twilight.

“No need to apologize Twilight,” said Cadence. “I didn’t think they were mine anyway. Oh, well” she said as she sat back down and Shining Armor began to remove the silver pony slippers and replace them with Cadence’s golden slippers.

“Don’t worry about it honey,” said Shining Armor “You look just as beautiful in silver as you do in gold.” He said with a kiss to her cheek.

“Ah, thank you sweetie.” Said Cadence.

Twilight picked up the silver pony slippers and put them back in the box with her magic.

“Well, I guess that means we have to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as soon as possible then.” Said Twilight.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be much more help,” said Cadence. “I hope you are successful in returning those slippers to their owner.”

“Thank you” said Twilight. “Well, it’s been wonderful to see you again, thank you for this time to chat.”

“Thank you,” said Cadence as she and Twilight shared a parting hug. “Come see us in the Crystal Empire sometime. We’ll be going back in two days.”

“Hopefully we will soon,” said Twilight as she hugged her brother.

“Bye, Twilie,” said Shining Armor.

“See you later B.B.B.F.F.,” said Twilight.

The ponies and Spike all exchanged their farewells, then Twilight and her friends turned to leave.

“Good luck,” called Shining Armor as they passed through the door.

Chapter 12: The Lesson Learned

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 12: The Lesson Learned

It was just before nine o’clock when Twilight Sparkle and her friends finally left Canterlot Castle to catch the late night train back to Ponyville. Each of them was feeling rather content and good of themselves having been successful in performing a good deed. It wasn’t until they left the busiest streets in Canterlot, still alive with activity at night before Twilight spoke.

“I’m glad we were all able to pull together to accomplish this,” said Twilight. “I’m so proud that you all came together to reach a goal despite the little spat that happened yesterday in Ponyville.”

“It wasn’t too much trouble,” said Rainbow Dash. I always knew we had it in the bag.”

“Oooh, what bag? Where?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Never mind,” answered Rainbow Dash.

“It really is too bad that we had to go through that before,” said Rarity. “But we already learned that Friendship isn’t always easy, but I do believe that we’ve a learned something valuable from this experience.”

“I have an idea on what it could be,” said Twilight. “But you say what you had in mind first.”

“Well it’s quite simple really,” said Rarity. Everypony stopped walking to listen to her. “You should never allow a physical item to come into your life and destroy your love for a friendship.” Said Rarity.

“Yep, that’s exactly what I had in mind.” Said Twilight.

“Gee Rarity.” Said Applejack. “I recon you said that just perfect. When we get home we should write that down exactly like that in our Friendship Journal.”

“Sound’s nice,” said Fluttershy.

“Totally all rights,” said Pinkie Pie.

Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie, I’m really, truly, sorry that I yelled at you. I said some really hurtful things that I really didn’t mean and all over something silly. Can you forgive me?” she asked.

“Well, I don’t know.” said Pinkie. She was pretending to act serious but she just couldn’t hold it in, and her face exploded into a smile. “Of course I forgive you. Only a true friend would use their wish for a friend, and I can’t wait to get a bite out of that cake. But can you forgive me?” asked Pinkie. “I said some things too that I didn’t mean, and I could have been a little more careful when I was in your shop.”

“Oh, I do forgive you Pinkie,” said Rarity. “And please accept my gratitude for spending your wish for my sake. Thank you very, very much.”

“Oh, and by the way, here’s your crown,” said Pinkie as she pulled the tiara that was hidden in her mane and gave it to Rarity.

“Still friends?” asked Pinkie.

“Till the end!” answered Rarity.

Pinkie Pie and Rarity met each other with a hug.

Applejack then turned to Fluttershy. “On that note, I sorry I called you a thievin vermit earlier. I didn’t have all the facts, and I had no idea what was going on.”

“Oh, that’s OK Applejack.” Said Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash then spoke to Applejack and Fluttershy. “I didn’t do too well either. I’m sorry I called both of you thieves. And you too Rarity. That wasn’t awesome no matter how you look at it.”

“We all forgive you,” said Rarity.

“Sure thing Sugar Cube,” said Applejack.

“If it makes you all feel better,” said Fluttershy, “I probably wouldn’t have done any different.”

Everypony stopped what they were doing and looked at Fluttershy with facial expressions that mixed confusion, surprise, and disbelief.

“Or, maybe not.” Said Fluttershy.

The ponies couldn’t help but giggle at that. After a few seconds even Fluttershy saw the humor in what she said. Spike couldn’t contain it, and burst out laughing.

“Oh, sorry” said Spike when he realized everypony was looking at him and quickly stopped.

“It’s ok Spike,” said Fluttershy. “Oh and Rarity, when we get back home I’ll return the 30 bits you gave me for the slippers.”

“Thank you,” said Rarity, “but keep it all, I insist.”

“But Rarity,” said Fluttershy, “they weren’t mine to sell.”

“That may be true,” said Rarity, “But I want you to keep the bits so you can buy yourself something wonderful. Besides, I was probably just going to spend them on something unimportant anyway.”

“Well, if you say so,” said Fluttershy. “Thank you Rarity.”

“Isn’t it wonderful how we all can come back together as friends, make up, admit what we did wrong, and everything turns out just fine.” Asked Twilight.

“You are so right Twilight,” said Pinkie. “Me and Applejack went on a road trip not to long ago where we and the whole Apple family leaned that. It was fun.”

“It’s true.” Said Applejack.

“Sure is,” said Rainbow Dash, “Even if it’s a little sappy.”

The ponies resumed their walk toward the station.

“One thing I don’t quite get,” said Rainbow Dash, “Is if the shoes came off my hooves while I was doing a sonic rainboom, shouldn’t they have be spread out all over the place? I mean how did they all end up in the same haystack on Applejack’s farm?”

“That was also in the book I read to you,” said Twilight. “At the very bottom of the passage it said that the silver pony slippers have a special connection that keeps them together. Even if their owner lost them, each slipper would remain close to the others until they returned to their owner. So two of the slippers wouldn’t end up on opposite side of Equestria.”

“Well that makes sense,” said Pinkie Pie.

“That also explains why the slippers all ended up in the Zebra country when Princess Luna lost them in that tornado years ago.”

“The tornado.” Said Rainbow Dash who suddenly realized something, “Oh, that’s what Zecora was talking about when she said the shoes fell from the sky.” The she realized something else. “Huh, what do you know? I actually figured out something Zecora said.” Everypony laughed.

“Well that’s another adventure, and another friendship problem resolved.” Said Twilight.

“Um huh.” Said Everypony. Then they all burst out laughing all over again.

“You know something else?” said Twilight, “I’m sure somewhere a wise, old mare is laughing.”

Chapter 11: Princesses Celestia and Luna

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 11: Princesses Celestia and Luna

It was just after two in the afternoon when Twilight and her friends returned to the Castle throne room. But when they arrived they found the hall still empty meaning that Princess Celestia was still busy, and Princess Luna was probably asleep in her chambers getting some much needed rest since she would be up all night. Twilight was able to convince one of the castle guards to take a written message to Princess Celestia saying that she and her friends were here and wished to see her. The guard soon returned with a reply from Princess Celestia saying that she wouldn’t be able to see them until after she lowered the sun at six o’clock. That meant all Twilight and her friends could do was wait until then. Luckily Pinkie Pie had a deck of playing cards in her mane just in case of a playing card emergency.

Finally, the clock stuck six, and just as it did the ponies stopped what they were doing to watch the sun set and the moon rise. Minutes later, Princess Celestia walked into the throne room and greeted the six ponies and dragon.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” said Princess Celestia, “What a pleasure it is to see you in Canterlot, and with your friends. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet with you earlier. Today has just been one thing after another. I’ve finally gotten a chance to relax, and seeing you has made it even better.

“Thank you Princess.” Said Twilight. “It’s wonderful to see you too.”

“So Twilight,” said Princess Celestia, “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

“To these actually,” said Twilight as she levitated the box from Spike and put it on the floor in front of her.”

“My friends and I found these yesterday,” continued Twilight as she used her magic to lift the silver pony slippers out of the box and place them on the floor in front of Princess Celestia. “After some research I have determined that these are the magic, silver pony slippers from the Canterhorn Empire, and we have come to believe that they belong to an alicorn. Do you by any chance recognize these?”

Unlike Princess Cadence, the ponies were astonished to see Princess Celestia’s eyes open wide and on her face she wore an expression of surprise rather than confusion. She stood staring at the pony slippers for several seconds before Twilight brought her back to reality.

“Um, Princess?” asked Twilight.

“Oh, sorry Twilight” said Princess Celestia. “I was just remembering something.”

“You look as though you’ve seen these slippers before,” said Twilight. “Do they mean anything to you?”

“Yes they do.” Said Princess Celestia. “I haven’t seen these in over a thousand years.” The ponies leaned forward in anticipation, each one smiling.

“So they’re yours,” asked an excited Pinkie Pie.

“No.” said Princess Celestia. The ponies fell back. “But I do know who they belong to.” Finished Princess Celestia. The ponies brightened up again at once.

“You do?” asked Applejack.

“I do.” Said Princess Celestia. “These are Luna’s silver pony slippers!”

“So Princess Luna is their true owner?” asked Twilight.

“She is.” Said Princess Celestia.

“Are you sure?” asked Rarity.

“Absolutely.” Said Princess Celestia.

“How do you know?” asked Applejack.

“Because I was there when mother gave these to Luna when we were fillies,” said Princess Celestia.

Twilight’s eye’s widened. “Mother?” she asked.

“That’s another story,” said Princess Celestia “and there will be plenty of time for it later, but for now I can’t believe that you actually found these. Oh wait until Luna sees these. She’ll be so surprised.” Celestia used her magic to put the slippers back into the box.

“Excuse me for breaking the excitement,” said Rainbow Dash, “but we still won’t know for sure if these are Princess Luna’s shoes or not until she tries them on and…”

“And they sparkle.” Finished Princess Celestia.

Rainbow Dash stared in amazement. There was no doubt now that Celestia indeed knew all about the silver pony slippers.

“I know for a fact that they will.” said Princess Celestia. “Luna will be here any minute. Please, Twilight,” she asked as she levitated the box to Twilight, “will you give these to her?”

Twilight Smiled. “It would be an honor.” Said Twilight, “we all will,” she finished as she was joined by her friends. Princess Celestia smiled.

They didn’t have to wait long. Only moments later the doors to the throne room opened and Princess Luna trotted in. Having raised the moon she was ready to take care of other matters pertaining to Equestria’s night. She was surprised to see so many ponies in the throne room besides her sister, whom she had come to relieve, but she was pleased to see her friends none the less.

“Greeting’s friends,” said Princess Luna as she smiled. “Tis a delight to see you all again. A wonderful evening to make conversation is it not Twilight Sparkle?” she asked.

“Yes, wonderful, Princess Luna.” Said Twilight.

“What brings you to Canterlot this evening? Is there something I can help you with?” asked Princess Luna.

“Luna,” said Princess Celestia, “I believe Twilight and her friends have a gift for you.”

“A gift? For me?!” asked Luna excitedly. “What a wonderful surprise. What is it?”

Twilight used her magic to carry the box over to Princess Luna with her friends at her sides.

“This is for you Princess Luna,” said Twilight. “My friends and I found these recently, and Princess Celestia says they belong to you. I hope you like them.”

Princess Luna opened the top of the box with her hooves, looked inside, and gasped. Her face showing both disbelief and recognition. She closed her eyes and looked again. Then she looked at Celestia, her mouth hanging open with surprise.

“Celestia,” Princess Luna began. “Are these…?”

“They are.” Said Princess Celestia.

“My magic slippers.” Said Princess Luna. Her face broke into a wonderful smile.

“I’d almost completely forgotten about these,” said Princess Luna as she used her magic to pull the silver pony slippers out of the box. “I haven’t seen these since I was a filly. I can’t believe it. Mother was right. They did find their way back.”

Princess Luna wasted no time in removing her usual fleur-de-lis styled silver pony slippers and slipped her hooves into her magic silver pony slippers. They fit perfectly, and as soon as she fit the last one on the slippers at once began to sparkle merrily like the stars in the night sky. The silver pony slippers had at last returned to their owner, Princess Luna.

Twilight and her friends let out the breath they hadn’t realized they had been holding. Pinkie Pie did more than that though. She broke out into a big smile, jumped into the air, and yelled “We did it!”

“Ah, yeah,” said Rainbow Dash as she did a high hoof with Applejack.

“Mission accomplished.” Said Applejack.

“They look fabulous on you princess,” said Rarity.

“Yes, lovely.” Agreed Fluttershy.

“I’m glad we were able to get these back to you Princess Luna” Said Twilight.

“Thank you everypony.” Said Princess Luna. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Princess Luna used her magic to pull all six of the ponies and Spike close to her so she could give them all a big group hug. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were a little surprised at first, and Fluttershy was shy, but they all soon accepted her embrace. Pinkie Pie enjoyed every moment of it.

When Princess Luna finally let them go she said “Fair friends, since you went through all the trouble to get my slippers back for me. Is there anything thing I can do for you in return? Anything? Any wish at all?”

“Thank you for the offer princess,” said Twilight, but I don’t think there’s anything that I need.”

“I don’t need anything either,” said Fluttershy. “I’m just happy to help.”

“I’m already tons of awesome.” Said Rainbow Dash. “I’m good.”

“Don’t reckon there’s anything I need that I don’t already got.” Said Applejack, “But thanks for offering.”

Rarity and Pinkie Pie were silent.

“Is there anything I can do for you fair Rarity, or you fair Pinkie Pie?” Princess Luna asked.

“Well, actually, there is something.” Said Rarity.

“I have one small something too.” Said Pinkie Pie.

Twilight gave the pair a questioning look.

“Please name it.” Said Princess Luna.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” said Rarity, “I wish Pinkie Pie had the biggest, and tastiest cake she could possibly eat waiting for her back home in Sugar Cube Corners in Ponyville. Oh, but not too big, of course.”

This made everypony look at Rarity. Nopony had expected her to wish for something like that. Pinkie Pie’s eyes were beginning to fill with tears of joy, before she remembered what she almost forgot.

“Oh,” said Pinkie Pie, “And, if it’s OK, I wish that Rarity had a set of pony slippers that looked just like those and a matching fancy dress to match them waiting for her in her shop.”

Everypony was amazed all over again. Rarity and Pinkie Pie hadn’t wished for anything for themselves, rather they had made a wishes for somepony else.

“Done and done.” Said Princess Luna. She quietly made the two reasonable wishes on her silver pony slippers, then looked up again. “They are both ready and waiting for you.” she said.

“Thank you Princess,” said Rarity.

“Thanks a bunch,” said Pinkie Pie.

“You’re welcome,” Said Princess Luna. “Anytime.”

Princess Luna then looked back to Twilight. “I have a bit of time, before I’m needed, Twilight Sparkle, would you please tell me how you came to recover my slippers. I would very much like to hear the story.”

“It’s kind of a funny story when you think about it.” Said Pinkie Pie.

The other ponies couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle.

“Well, I suppose so” said Twilight with a clever grin on her face. “If you and Princess Celestia tell us about your mother, whom you both mentioned before. That’s a story I’m sure we would all like to hear.”

“I don’t mind,” said Princess Celestia. “As long as you all promise not to tell anypony else what we tell you.”

“We promise.” Said the six ponies and dragon in unison.

“It’s a deal.” Laughed Princess Luna. “Let’s go to the Castle Library where we’ll all be more comfortable.”

The ponies were just beginning to walk toward the throne room doors when Princess Celestia looked out the window and suddenly said, “Luna! Look out! A tornado!”

Princess Luna jumped. Her body tensed. She looked wildly from one window to the next, looking for what Celestia had seen, when she realized something. There was nothing there.

“Celi!” Said Princess Luna. “That’s not funny.”

“Just kidding.” Said Princess Celestia. “Sorry.”

The two Princesses stared at each other for a few moments before they both realized how funny it actually was and burst out laughing together. Since laughter, as they say, is catching, Twilight and her friends couldn’t help but start laughing too, and Pinkie Pie laughed loudest of all.

Chapter 13: Epilogue

The Silver Pony Slippers

Chapter 13: Epilogue

And she was. High above Canterlot, in a cave at the top of Mount Canterhorn, Lady Lauren watched Twilight and her friends leaving Canterlot through her magic ice pond. Through this pond she could see everypony, and everything that happened in Equestira. This was where she lived. Although she had seen her beloved daughters, whom she was proud of, restored to their rightful thrones as Princesses of Equestria, and they had restored her to her Ladyship, she had chosen to take residence here so she could find peace, and watch over her daughters and everypony else in her retirement. After a long live of five thousand years, age was beginning to show in her, but she was still beautiful on the outside and inside. Lady Lauren couldn’t help but laugh to herself as she saw Twilight and her friends make up and learn another friendship lesson. She had watch Twilight and her friends grow and learn from each other, and she was proud of them. From here, She had watched them rescue Princess Luna, defeat Nightmare Moon, defeat and reform Discord, learn the meaning of true friendship, and, as to be expected, she had watched their latest adventure which involved her daughter’s slippers.

Lady Lauren’s horn glowed and in a moment the picture in her ice pond changed so that she now saw her daughters Celestia and Luna standing together on the balcony of Luna’s bedroom in Canterlot Castle. Lady Lauren left her pond and walked to the entrance of the cave and outside to the edge of the Mountain. Far below she could see Canterlot and the castle, and sure enough, she could see her two daughters standing together on the balcony she had seen.

Far below in Canterlot Castle Princess Luna walked out on to her bedroom balcony. She was still wearing her magic silver pony slippers which sparkled and gleamed in the moonlight. On her back was Tiberius, or Tibbles for short, her pet opossum. She had found him several months ago, or rather he had found her. The cute opossum was a loyal friend to Princess Luna and loved her.

Luna heard a noise and looked behind her. Her sister, Princess Celestia, joined her on the balcony and stood beside her. On her back was Philomena, her pet phoenix. The Princesses smiled at each other and nuzzled each other’s cheek in sisterly love. Luna looked down at her silver pony slippers and then back at Tibbles. She couldn’t have been happier. She was herself, she had her loving sister Celestia, she had friends that cared about her, she had a wonderful pet, she had her mother who watched over her and her sister, and she even got her magic, silver pony slippers back. Luna and Celestia looked at each other again, and then they looked high up toward the cave at the top of Mount Canterhorn, and in the distance, they could see their loving mother looking back down at them.

“Thanks Mother,” said Princess Luna, “You were right about everything. I love you Mother.”

“I love you too Mother,” said Princess Celestia as she and Luna leaned against each other and each waved up at her with one of their wings.”

High on Mount Canterhorn, Lady Lauren saw her daughters’ wave and she waved back with her wing. She knew what they were saying. She smiled.

“I love you too.” Said Lady Lauren, “and always will, my little fillies.”

The End