Faulty Hoofcuffs

(Authors note: Thanks to Cytotoxin for the Russian translation and help. I always return a favor FYI. Peace, Sam Cole)

"Oh my gosh, this is bad Twilight. Very very bad. Monumentally bad! What am I going to do? Think Twilight!" The lavender mare beat her self up subconsciously, berating herself for the turn of events. Rarity thought it was a hoot, along with the curtains on the bed.

"Twilight!" Rarity exclaimed, nuzzling the black fabric, "We should so make something out of this! Like, like a blanket!"

"Hehe, yeah, sure Rarity," Twilight nervously laughed. What am I going to do? I can't take her out of here, just look at her! I need a place to let her get right. Maybe I can magically help her out! A purifying spell! Twilight reasoned, rallying her mind. She tried her best to gather Rarity, which could be compared to Rainbow Dash trying to heard cats, and made her way out and up to her old room. There Twilight was able to sit Rarity down with an old doll to dress while Twilight searched.

"Purify water, purify the magic, ah ha! Purify the body! Types of aliments... alcohol, poison, germs... Better remember that one... Self doubt? Really? How would that even..." Twilight began reading as Rarity lost interest. She was having a ball, and all Twilight wanted to do was read! Maybe it was a cook book. Rarity walked over and started cuddling with Twilight, nuzzling the mare and playing with her hair. Twilight responded well to the attention, it meant Rarity was still in the room. After 20 minutes of playing with a rather hoofs on Rarity, Twilight had found the section she needed. "Drug purification from the body! Erm..." Twilight hummed as she read. "There is no spell, but it does have a potion! Come on Rarity, this is easy, we need to go to the kitchen." Twilight and Rarity gathered themselves up, and opened the door to find trouble.

"There you two are, come along now!" Velvet said taking Twilight by the hoof and leading her down stairs. Twilight had to do an odd jumping canter as she was on three legs, and Rarity found this to be absolutely hilarious. Velvet set Twilight down, next to Thorough of course, and set Rarity half way down the table, with a distinct lack of care.

"Fancy meeting you here," Rarity laughed as she was set down. Twilight was sweating bullets, trying to figure out a way to help the poor mare out. She could try teleporting, but her mind was a mess, there's no way she could control her magic like this.

"Twilight," The universe spoke through her mother, hearing that she had all she could handle right now, "Is there something wrong with that Hussy you brought?"

"That does it,Mother," Twilight growled as her magic swelled, making her horn glow white along with her eyes, "No Pony Insults Rarity." What happened afterwords, or before for that matter, no pony was ever really sure. But whatever it was, the guard showed up.

Shining Armor and Cadence where enjoying their nice warm home, most of all their nice warm bed, when a day of hooky caught up with them.

"Shine, you remembered to disable your message forwarding spell, didn't you?" Cadence asked the captain as she floated over a fresh scroll.

"Maybe, I dunno. Why?" He sleepily asked his wife. "Come here, it's nap time."

"Shine, this just came for you," Cadence said brandishing the scroll at him, to his groans of protest. She read it, and very quickly changed her tone, "It's about a break in at 42 Adams St." With those words, Shining's eyes shot open and he took to his hooves.

"Is everypony alright?" He asked throwing on his coat of armor and helmet.

"Yes, they just found a random mare in their house, and an uninvited guest that a few ponies know. Says it's Rarity?" Cadence questioned, as if the scroll would reply.

"Rarity? Something is off hun, I need to go," Shining said moving in for a kiss from his wife. She kissed him and followed him to the door, magically pulling on her own scarf and boots. "Um, Cadence?" Shining asked to be waved off by his wife.

"I'm coming with, this is my family we're talking about too you know," Cadence said to be a matter of fact, to which Shining smiled and lead the way. Upon arriving, they found about ten royal guards arguing with Shining's dad out front, and it was not going well.

"Listen to me, I know my rights. Take her away, and that stupid seamstress whore also!" Night yelled at one such guard, who was wearing a rather taxed expression.

"I got this," Shining said to the relief of the guard, "What's up Dad?"

"There is my boy. My only boy, and his beautiful wife! The closest I have to a daughter!" Night screamed at the guards, all looking around like they wished to Celestia they were any where else.

"Dad, what's going on? Where's Twiliy?" Shining asked, the fear in him rising that some terrible fight had finally happened between them all.

"Son, when did I raise you to address you mother by name!" Night yelled turning on the captain.

"Dad, Twilight Sparkle. My sister, your daughter," Shining pleaded as Cadence saw what was happening. She ran inside to find her sister-in-law and figure this mess out.

"What daughter? Son, you are an only child, always have been," Night said placing a concerned hoof on his son.

"Twilight!" Cadence yelled as she ran up to her and Rarity sitting at a small table in the kitchen, Twilight was passed out, and Rarity was nibbling her ear?

"Cadence, darling, please, you know I prefer Velvet," Velvet said standing in the corner, watching the two like a hawk.

"Oh, hi mum," Cadence sheepishly said, she had forgotten that they shared a first name, but why did Velvet forget that? "What happened?"

"I don't know, we were all settled in for lunch, then suddenly there was this little intruder, right next to the Duke! She magically placed herself in several of our photos as well," Velvet cried, it was quite a shock. But now Cadence knew what was going on.

"Cadence," Shining called to her, "There you are, we have a problem. I think-" Shining started but Cadence finished.

"Twilight magically made every pony here forget her," Cadence said in a hushed tone. She looked around to the sleeping mare, and felt her heart break.

"I didn't forget, I couldn't!" Rarity supplied happily, taking her mouth off of Twilight's ear.

"You didn't? But how?" Shining asked, confussed.

"Cause," Rarity said rocking back and forth with a smart ass grin.

"Because..." Shining pried as Twilight shifted and answered him unintentionally.

"Rarity, please. Please don't forget me..." Twilight muttered as she slipped off the table and into Rarity's lap. "I love you. I love Rarity."

"Mmm, I love you too smarty glowing eyes," Rarity said laying backwards and stroking Twilight's mane. Shining and Cadence both felt the light dawn on them, but for different conclusions.

"Twilight and Rarity are in love!" Cadence piped, doing a rather nice 'yes dance' around the kitchen. But Shining's face was full of fear.

"She lost control. She lost it and made them forget. All of them. Her own parents. She just made them forget ever loving her..." Shining muttered, turning to his parents. "Mom, Dad, I think you should come with me, we need to see Princess Celestia."

"The Princess, why?" Night asked, shaken.

"How are we going to see her on such short notice?" Velvet asked trailing in the conversation.

"Oh, we got this. She has some great connections," Shining said motioning to Twilight.

"She did What!?" Celestia barked at Shining as he gave the ruler of Equestria the run down.

"Yeah, I know. She lost control and erased herself from every ponies memories, except Rarity's," Shining said from his seat. He reclined a little, tired of being in here. She yelled at him a lot these days. She needs to get laid, Shining thought.

"Well, I'll see what I can do, but I doubt I can fix this. Twilight's magic is rather stubborn. How is she?" Celestia asked with true concern in her voice. She sat forward as she awaited the answer, wringing her hooves all the while.

With a sigh Shining started, "She's still out. We checked her eyes, they're still white. She is responsive to Rarity leaving the room though."

"And Rarity?" Celestia asked, afraid for the answer.

"High as a kite, but otherwise fine," Shining said to a sigh of relief from the princess.

"So what caused her to lose control like that?" Celestia asked sitting back.

"No pony can remember. My parents can't even tell me why there are pictures of her in the house," Shining said looking down at his hooves, shifting awkwardly in his seat.

"So Rarity is the only pony who saw what happened, and is tripping bales right now... damn," Celestia mused. "Call Luna, I will need her help with this. And inform me imediatly of a change in either Twilight or Rarity's condition."

"Of course your Highness," Shining said as he stood and left to fetch Princess Luna. He felt sick, worried that not even the two alicorn rules could help him regain his family.

Luna walked in briskly to the small chamber that housed the confused Night Light and Twilight Velvet, taking a seat next to her sister, Celestia. They exchanged a glance, enough for Celestia to gather that Luna had not found a spell to help.

"Greeting dearest sister, shall we begin?" Luna asked looking to the parents.

"Let's. Mr and Mrs Light, do you know why you are here?" Celestia asked the two ponies.

"You said that girl in our house, she was our daughter?" Velvet said, almost in tears.

"You seem about to cry my lady. Tell me, does the loss of her make you saddened?" Luna asked. Velvet nodded, but her face was blank to the right emotions. "No, tis something else, my mistake." Luna mumbled, but loud enough every pony heard her.

"I thought you were going to..." Night started, but trailed off, unsure himself of what was supposed to happen.

"Do what exactly? I haven't a clue," Celestia confessed. "This has never happened before. No pony has ever been this strong, and I doubt you could handle Luna and I picking about your minds trying to restore the lost knowledge if we could. So we will try it this way. Do any of the pictures look, I don't know, familiar? Happy?"

"Yes," Velvet said looking at a few, tears rolling down her checks she did not even know she was spilling, "This one. Shining's graduation from the royal guards academy. She is with Shining, both of them look so happy. But we're not in it..." Velvet said holding back the waterworks as best she could.

"Here's one, it's her being accepted here, as your student. I sure look proud. And you're crying hun, look," Night said passing the photo to his wife. She burst into tears seeing the photo, proof of their daughter lost.

"Oh Night, I want to remember, I do!" She sobbed into her husbands shoulder, hitting him with her hoof as her pain gave way to anger. "Why are we not together in any pictures after this?"

"We are, look, here," Night said levitating a small picture to his wife. She looked at it and cried again.

"No," Velvet cried, "We're not happy. We're just there. She made us forget being her parents Night! How? How did we do so wrong that she would do- do this!?" She pleaded with him as tears started to roll down his check. He just hugged his wife, looking at the picture of Twilight's acceptance, her happiest moment, the last they had ever been a family. This continued for an hour, each time they saw their daughter and son, it stung worse, the knowledge that they had once been a close knit family, and now...

"I think that is enough. I can't restore your memories, but it sounds like now, you can meet your daughter, and love her as you should," Celestia said, looking to Luna for thoughts.

"Yes, we are happy to see that thy heart is in the right place, is that not true dearest sister?" Luna said. Celestia blinked as she worked out the old language word puzzle. Then chuckled.

"Yes Luna, I do believe so. We will let you know as soon as she awakens, so that you may meet your daughter," Celestia said standing to leave. It was not what they wanted, but it was for the best. Twilight would get her parents back after years of pushing them away. Maybe this time, she could keep them in her life.

"I love when they visit..." Celestia mused, more for herself than anything else.

"As do I sister. That Pinkie Pie is a great kisser," Luna said walking next to her sister through the royal halls.

"What? You sly devil you," Celestia teased, but inwardly she was furious. She had been untouched in over 300 years. It was her turn damn it.

Else where in Canterlot, the Mysterious Mare Do Well was entertaining a guest. Of course to mean she was dangling him over a pitch black chasm.

"I'm Moscow born, dis is nothing," The stallion named Ivan said, forelegs bound together. "I will break you little pony... What is noise?" He asked as he heard a rapid clicking sound.

The Mare Do Well said nothing, just jabbed the rapist with the electric rod. He yelled and wriggled, and after a moment the mare with drew the rod to his relief. "You will pay you filthy Aaaahhhhhh!" He yelled as the Mare touched him again with the rod.

"I Vill Keel You!" He screamed at the masked mare, his accent getting thick with rage. "Ну ничего, блядь, щас ты мне отсасывать будешь! (translated: Just you wait, whore, I`ll make you suck me off!)" He screamed in his native tongue. The masked mare just stuck him again, his cries of anguish filling the air.

"What do you Vant you stupid whore!?" He yelled, but was just shocked, again and again. For over an hour, til he pleaded and cried, his sanity gone. She shocked him again, making the thug weep, begging for his life. Then the masked mare leaned in close and spoke to him.

"You are their warning, their chance to change. For after today, none shall know the mercy I have shown you, Ivan," She said, her teeth clenched under the purple hood.

"Who are you?" The big stallion cried.

"Salvation," The Mare Do Well said as she cut the rope suspending the thug. He screamed as he fell, all four feet she had had him hanging. He looked up to the top of the shallow pit, but found no pony was there. He curled up and cried now, not caring anymore, he just let the fear take him.

Applejack and Pinkie, along with Fluttershy lead the girls and Spike along to see Twilight and Rarity now, talking all the while.

"I hope they're okay..." Fluttershy said as the climbed.

Applejack sighed, "Shy, we told ya, they're fine."

"Yeah," Pinkie said bouncing up the stairs with the girls, "Rarity is the worse off, she's been all loopy-ed."

"Loopy-ed?" Fluttershy asked in a rather odd tone, one that begged if Pinkie was serious.

"Yepperunie, Loopy-ed," Pinkie said before leaning in to Fluttershy to whisper, "Some colt got her stoned. She's a riot!"

"Pinkie," Applejack warned, "Ya know weed mellows ya out right?"

"Yes, why?" Pinkie said as she bounced again.

"We think you need some," Applejack said to Pinkie's laughter. They entered the room and found Twilight and Rarity on the bed, Twilight asleep in Rarity's lap of all places, with Rarity talking to her lovingly? Fluttershy blushed seeing this, and the kids just rolled their eyes. Spike looked a bit confused though and Applejack had her ideas. Pinkie... was Pinkie, no change.

"Well, look'it this, Rarity caring for the sleepy mind eraser," Applejack laughed. No pony joined in, making Applejack blushed and muttered that it was not a bad joke, but no pony answered. "So Rarity, how is she?" Applejack asked hoping Rarity was a bit better. But the answer she received said otherwise.

"She is soooooo cute when she sleeps. Girls, we should totally make her a cake! Lots of cake!" Rarity giggled, but never once shaking Twilight, just gently stroking her mane.

"Awe, you two are the cutest couple!" Pinkie cooed from the side of their bed as all the kids climbed up to see them.

"Sis," Sweetie hesitantly asked, "are you okay?"

"Sweetie! I'm fine.... No, I need cake. Cake with like, marble frosting. Can you do that? Vanilla and Chocolate frosting? What about Strawberries? Oh I want a strawberry shortcake! With chocolate chips!" Rarity said clapping her hooves before returning to petting Twilight. "How does that sound my love?" Pinkie had been writing down the cake order and stopped when she heard.

"What?" Applejack and Spike said, mouths hanging open. Spike rallied first from this.

"What did you say Rarity?" He asked, his voice cold and sharp, but Rarity could not tell.

"My love. I love Twilight, yes I do. Twilight loves books, she's so cute, but she loves me more, yes it's true!" Rarity sang, badly, bobbing her head. Spike started to shake with anger.

"So Twilight, who knew I had feeling for you just a few days ago, just started loving you!" Spike said angrily, but calmed as Sweetie took his claw in her hooves, and looked at him like he had yelled at her. "I'm sorry Sweetie," Spike said hugging his marefriend, "I'm just so hurt. Why would Twilight do that, and not tell me, did she think I would just roll over for this now? She never trusted me with her feelings."

"Actually, my little dragon," Rarity cooed leaning in and putting her nose to Spike's, "I came on to her. It was all me. I stole Twilight for myself. I just loved her soooo damn much."

"Pinkie, tell me Ah'm dreamin," Applejack said shocked to the pink mare that was still all smiles.

"Nope, they are finally out! Congratulations!" Pinkie shouted.

"You knew!" Fluttershy said at her loudest, which was not very.

"Y'all knew?!?" Applejack said turning to them, not sure which surprised her more.

"Yes, I um, oh my..." Fluttershy said shrinking back.

"Yep. I knew for a while. It was pretty obvious actually," Pinkie said. Despite everything, every pony knew she was extremely perceptive, so that made sense. But Fluttershy did not.

"Fluttershy," Applejack said, turning and stopping the shy mare from escaping out the door, "How did you know?"

"Oh, well, you see um..." She started.

"She saw us kiss at the corner, when we shared the bed drunk. Shy here was scared," Rarity said making a big show of waving her forelegs to illustrate the story, "So I told her everything. Twilight never gets to tell anypony..." Rarity said, looking at her marefriend sadly. "Girls, when she tells you, act surprised!"

"Should we be talkin bout this in front of the kiddos?" Applejack asked, rather calmly, a sign she was pissed.

"We know already. We caught them kissing once," Scootaloo said from the side of the bed, reading a book of Twilight's with Apple Bloom.

"See, they know. These girls are really smart," Rarity said in a loud whisper to no pony in particular. She just started giggling again.

"Still, what in Tarnation where y'all thinkin? Ya know better than to hide this crap! Ah get the fillies not talkin, but come on everypony!" Applejack tried to throw her hat off, only to remember she didn't have it. She figured now was the best time for the truth as well. "Ah have a confession too actually. Last night, Ah meet the Mare Do Well."

"Oh, what's she like! Was she all whapa, bam, klunk, swoop!" Pinkie said, dancing around making the fight noises.

"Well, she's a great..." Applejack started strong, but finished in a mumble.

"A what, Applejack? Please tell us, we're your friends," Fluttershy coaxed. Courage talks from 'Shy? Guess she's heard enough in her lifetime. Applejack thought.

"A great kisser," Applejack said looking down at the floor shuffling her hooves. Every pony but Rarity was speechless, but Rarity was talking about cakes again, so it didn't count.

"Applejack! You kissed a mare? Willingly? And the M-M-Mare Do Well at that!" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Yeah. She saved me from being- being hurt. So Ah told her who Ah was, that Ah was the Masked Mare once, and she just kissed me, and stole my hat," Applejack said, the lie eating away at her. But she could not tell Apple Bloom, not now, not like this.

"Applejack... " Everypony said, knowing how heavy this weighed on her.

"Did you kiss back?" Pinkie asked finally. Applejack sighed, she knew her friend would say that.

"Yes, yes ah did. Ah liked it, alright!" Applejack said puffing up her chest in defense, but found herself to be hugged by Fluttershy instead.

"You're just a mare, and nothing more. A good kiss is a good kiss," Fluttershy said finally breaking the hug. "You are still the same AJ you always were. Granny Smith is not right about liking mares."

"Ah-Ah put so much faith in what Granny always said. And now, everything is just, just a damn mess," Applejack said slumping to the floor. Scootaloo was sitting there with a look of righteous indignation on her face.

"The Buck!?" She yelled, getting everyponies attention, "Why are me and Apple Bloom the only two not getting any!? I want a love life too!" Scoot yelled, only to be pulled in by Rarity.

"Well I love you, my little foster girl!" Rarity said trying to plant a kiss on Scootaloo's cheek.

"Wrong love! Wrong love! Abort!" She cried as she struggled against her captor, laughing with everypony. It had been a long day, they needed this.

Princess Celestia was sorting through some papers, patently awaiting any news on her favorite student. It had been 3 hours since her meeting with Twilight's parents, and still no change. So when there was a knock at the door, she bolted over, eager to hear something good.

"Yes, is it Twilight? What's happened?" She asked throwing open the doors to find a rather exhausted guard.

"She's up, and still has the white eyes," He gasped as he tried to catch his breath, looking down and he leaned against the door frame. When he looked up, the princess was already gone. She raced down the halls, flying over the stairs, scared about the implications of her student still being so magically empowered. She bolted through the doors of Twilight and Rarity's chambers, to find the rest of Twilight's friends and loved ones laying on the floor, asleep. Twilight looked to the princess, regarding her like one would an odd musical instrument, with those blank white eyes.

"You must be their ruler," Twilight said. It was her voice, but not her words, as if something else was speaking through her. "An alicorn, hmm, very interesting. Past my time though."

"Who exactly are you, and what have you done to my student?" Celestia said watching the mare stroke Rarity's mane gently. Twilight is still in there, Celestia recognized.

"I am Magic," She said not looking up from the sleeping mare in her lap.

"Magic? Like the magic, that is gifted to all unicorns?" Celestia asked stepping around to the foot of the bed. She sat and pulled her legs under her, looking at the mare with a smile awash with concern.

"Yes," The Magic said simply, "Tell me, why do I care about this one?" The Magic asked as it continued to stroke Rarity, lovingly almost. It looked so lost, so confused.

"The mare you are speaking through, she loves that one. Her name is-" Celestia answered but was cut off.

"Rarity. I know all unicorns, for I am their magic, as well as yours, Celestia," The Magic said, continuing her petting. "If one uses magic, then I am a part of them. I am Magic, in name and in form. I do not speak through this pony, I am this pony. She is Magic incarnate, as I shall do once per generation. When this one dies, I shall pass on to a new born foal," The Magic said smiling. It rather liked that part. "Ah, rebirth. New life, new hope. Rather poetic, no?"

"Who else have you been?" Celestia asked, raising her eyebrow in suspension. She had heard stories of powerful casters before, could the Magic have been them?

"Mostly noponies. Most often, I manifest, but am never discovered. The pony just carries me through life, then passes me at death. Some find me, hidden in their hearts. Like Starswirled the Bearded. Or the pioneer of hearts and hooves day, a great potions master. And the pony that made the arc reactor," The Magic told, never stopping it's loving actions.

"The what now? Who?" Celestia asked, not keeping up with the conversation very well.

"He has not yet been born. I see time as an outsider. All the twists and turns it shall take," The Magic said with a slight chuckle.

"Yet you did not see me?"Celestia asked, thinking she had won this bout.

"I saw, but did not care. Rulers tend to come and go. Brilliant minds like this one's are the things worth knowing," The Magic said.

"Very well, then please give Twilight back her mind now, we are all truly concerned for her," Celestia said, hoping the Magic was a cooperative being.

"Of course. But she will pay my toll. She stole many ponies memories, so I shall take one of hers," The Magic said as Twilight's eyes dimmed and she fell back. Twilight blinked, and sat up, looking around to her waking friends.

"Princess! I'm so happy to see you!" Twilight said throwing her hooves around the ruler as Rarity sat up, looking like a complete mess.

"Hello Twilight Sparkle. I just had an interesting conversation. Sit down everypony, I need to tell you all this," Celestia said as everypony took a seat and listened intently, Twilight looking grim by the end.

"So my power, is just this- this thing? The Magic?" She asked, looking at the mirror, rubbing her horn.

"Yes Twilight. You are the same as your favorite historical mage, Starswirled the Bearded. He too housed the magic," Celestia said placing a concerned hoof on her shoulder. Rarity gave a look, and the Princess made way for her to hug Twilight from behind.

"Well Darling, I see a very beautiful mare, that just happens to be the seat of all magic," Rarity said as she kissed Twilight on the cheek.

Twilight smiled and then realized where she was again. "Rarity!" She cried, "What about-"

"We know already sug," Applejack said from her spot on the floor, "Rarity told us all while she was higher than Rainbow Dash on a cloud. We... understand, Ah guess..."

"Oh please darling. You kissed the Mare Do Well," Rarity said hanging off of Twilight's shoulder. Applejack blushed and murmurer agreement. The mares laughed and shared stories about what had happened that morning, from finding out about Pinkie and Luna's kiss to, innocently for the kids now, how Rarity and Twilight were 'hiding' and Rarity was caught, so she smoked to uphold the ruse, and got high by accident.

"Chancellor Drummer?" Celestia asked hearing the story.

"How did you know?" Rarity asked as she lay on her belly with Twilight on the bed.

"You should have been there for when he got Luna," Celestia laughed at the memory, it had been a good party.

"Scoot, let that show you, never trust chancellors," Twilight said to a round of laughter. There was a knock as five ponies came in, Shining and Cadence, Twilight's parents, and a pony that Twilight didn't know at all.

"Twiliy, we have a situation," Shining said as they all took a seat.

"I know, Celestia told me. I'm sorry Mom, Dad, I hope that one day you can forgive me," Twilight said looking down.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it I guess, but first I want a chance to know you," Night said.

"We saw pictures, and after your acceptance here, we were never really a family again. so we gathered all of our family here in the city to help us all learn together," Velvet said. She had the smile she used to have, from Twilight's foalhood.

"That sounds wonderful. But then who's the new pony?" Twilight asked pointing with a hoof at the new comer, a white mare with a two tune blue mane and rocking shades.

"Ummm," Everypony said, looking away awkwardly.

"Wow, thanks cuz, that feels great," Vinyl Scratch said looking down, rather hurt.

"Cuz? As in cousin? I think I would remember... my... own..." Twilight started but stopped realizing the pain she almost caused. Celestia put her hoof to her lips, a sorrowed expression on her face.

"Twilight," Celestia started, "The Magic said it would take from you a memory, because you stole theirs. The Magic stole her Twilight. A piece of your family."

"What?" Twilight whispered. "Why did you not tell me sooner... I... No, I get it," Twilight said looking up, her eyes filled with tears.

"Get what Twiliy?" Shining asked.

"The Magic punished me for me theft, so it took from me what I took from them," Twilight said looking at her parents, tears rolling down her face. She wanted to ask Vinyl so many questions, but was afraid to. She didn't want to hear they had been close. Nor did she want to she was nothing, so the Magic took her thinking it was a worthless memory. She knew the pain her parents felt now, knowing that this pony, sitting mere feet from you was a part of you, your past, and was now lost to you forever. Had Twilight been alone before coming to Ponyville? Now her very existence was subject.

"Wow... That sucks," Vinyl said at last. "Well, lets get learning then," She said magically opening up her photo album and pulling out random pics from Twilight's early foalhood at family reunions, and every pony was soon filling in the story, but for three of them, they wore false smiles, as this only furthered the pain in their hearts. Twilight's even more, as she thought where would the magic stop? Would it leave her Rarity if she was to slip again?

After a long evening of teaching her folks about her, as well as learning about her cousin, Twilight, along with Applejack and Pinkie were going out to dinner. Rarity stayed back with the girls, still felling a bit ill from the drugs, and Fluttershy was with Rainbow Dash again. Twilight was not very hungry, but she did want to stretch her legs some.

"This place is great," Twilight said leading them into a small southwestern style restaurant. "They make this mango salsa here, mmm!"

"Sounds great sugar cube, Ah'm famished," Applejack said looking over the menu. "Hey wait Ah know this place."

"Really? How so?" Twilight asked reading her menu, unsure what to get.

"They get their apples from my farm," Applejack said flipping through the drink menu. "Ah think I hear a warm apple cider ah callin me girls," She laughed, and both her friends agreed. Soon the waitress was upon them, with a great smile and pleasant attitude.

"Evening ladies, I'm Amethyst, and I will be your server tonight," Said the server, a pink-lavender unicorn about Applejack's age, with two tone purple hair and silly sombrero, which Pinkie wanted.

"Hey, it's Amethyst Rose, right? You used to live in Ponyville," Twilight asked her.

"Yeah, I moved out here this summer for my mom, she was not doing too well," Amethyst said looking down.

"Well Ah hope she's better soon," Applejack said, trying to tip her hat. "Ah keep forgetting Ah don't have that hat right now.."

"Ha ha ha. Yeah I remember you all now. Applejack," Amethyst said pointing, glad to get a nod, "Pinkie, nopony can forget you," She said correct again, "And Twilight, right?"

"Oh, you're good," Twilight said, genuinely impressed. Right now it felt good to be remembered.

"What can I say, I have a gift," The mare said, then jotted down their orders. The mares talked and laughed, and shared food for hours, stealing away Amethyst, who insisted on being called Amy, and also kept flirting with Applejack, til they needed to go, and Amy needed to close. They mares walked out, leaving a more than generous tip for their friend. After Amy closed down shop though, she left the cantina for her true work. She slipped on the purple suit that her little sister loved so much, tucking away the ropes she would use tonight to save some pony. She slipped the mask on and magically placed the new hat on her head. She took to the shadows, stealing away as the darkness welcomed her into it's sweet embrace. Soon she had a hoof to a thugs throat, growling in his ear.

"Did you think you could pull this crap, in my city?" She asked. The thug was fighting for air, not paying attention to the Mare's words.She eased off the criminals throat so that he may say a few words.

"The Buck are you lady?" He rasped, his hoofs trying to peel away the one at his neck.

"I'm the Mare Do Well," She said, hitting him with her foreleg, knocking out a tooth, along with his lights. She grabbed the bag of loot he had, making sure to drop it right at the hooves of the owners, and the thug at the nearest guardhouse. It was a dark night, just what she needed.

Celestia was making her rounds, visiting several ponies in the royal hospital, when she came in upon Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. She smiled at the two mares, deep in conversation.

"Hello my little ponies," Celestia beamed, striding in and taking a seat next to Rainbow and Fluttershy. "You're looking well today Miss Dash."

"Yeah, thanks..." Rainbow said looking down at her hooves. They all talked for a while, but Dash was increasingly distracted, almost avoiding Fluttershy.

"Whats the matter?" Fluttershy asked eventually.

"Shy, I can't do it. I have to spill. I know," Rainbow said looking out the window to the sky she used to own.

"Know what?" Fluttershy asked, a little worried. Her fear was spot on as Rainbow Dash spoke those four words.

"That you love Rarity," Rainbow said, looking back to Fluttershy with a tear in her eye. Fluttershy just ran from the room, not wanting to be seen. Celestia sighed, shaking her head.

"The heart is a fickle mistress, is it not..." Celestia said to herself more than anything.

"I'm sorry, I thought with you, she might want to talk about it, and I just..." Rainbow started but was waved off.

"I'll talk to her Rainbow. She needs to face this," Celestia said rising and following Fluttershy's path. Soon the Princess found the shy mare in the private room from last night, and sat next to her.

"My child," Celestia said lifting Fluttershy's chin with her hoof, "You are in good hooves. Please, talk with me."

"I-I waited. I waited and lost my chance. Now I-I-I w-w-w-will never know love!" Fluttershy cried, hyperventilating as the tears rolled out for the first time. She had bottled this up for so long now.

"My dear, Rarity love's you like a sister, but fate was cruel to you. You fell in love with her, but she did not feel that way towards you," Celestia said hugging the shy mare, holding her tight against her as the tears rolled. Fluttershy eased her sobs as the gentle beat of the Princess's heart reached her ears, the warm legs around her become all there was. Neither mare remembers leaving the hospital that night, all Fluttershy remembered was walking up the next morning, wrapped up in the caring rules embrace, her lips pressed gently to the Princess's. If it was all going to end after this, Fluttershy would just let this serenity last as long as possible. Plus Celestia's lips were beautifly soft when Fluttershy stopped to think about it. Maybe she could even enjoy this... But the hoof sliding down her back and slapping her flank told her otherwise, but Celestia would enjoy it.