Rest of Their Lives

Chapters

Pinkie Pie's Moving Day
Rarity Confronts the Problem
Rainbow's Free Spirit
The Pie Family Reunion
The Sweetie Bell Rings
Applebloom Begins to Grow
Twilight's Unseen Future

Pinkie Pie's Moving Day

It was a peaceful, sunny, nothing out of the ordinary day in Ponyville. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and no fifty-foot-whatever was rampaging across the town square. It wouldn’t necessarily stay that way for long, but for now everything was peaceful.

Today was also the bi-weekly lunch-time get-together the Mane Six had, just to spend time as a group about their goings on. Rainbow Dash would talk about her training regimen, Rarity would talk about her latest designs, Applejack would talk about the farm, they each had a subject near and dear to them to bring up at every meeting.

Pinkie Pie’s subject was typically the parties she’d planned for the week, or the ones she was getting ready to plan, or the parties coming up, or perhaps Sugarcube Corner and its inhabitants.

That she had not yet begun drowning her friends in party supplies worried them.

“Uh, Pinkie Pie, is something wrong?” Twilight ventured.

The pink mare startled and looked up into the concerned eyes of her friends. Each of them was giving their own patented Concerned Frowns. Pinkie Pie appreciated the feeling, but she still had a great distaste for the frowning part of the equation. There was only one way to alleviate the concern to allow an eventual return to the smiles though, and that was to talk about the problem.

Until that point in the meeting, about two minutes in but who was counting, she’d been absently staring at her plate of cinnamon buns, extra cinnamon, but she’d yet to eat any of them. Now she sat up straight and turned to the first pony who might understand her dilemma.

“I’ve kinda been thinking about a change, but I’m not sure how to inform everypony.” She admitted.

“What sort of change, dear?” Rarity questioned.

“Uuuhhmm,” She put on her best Thinking Face, absently eating a few cinnamon buns, they were great! “I’ve been thinking about moving out of Sugarcube Corner.”

“Why dear,” Rarity put a hoof over her beating heart. “What made you consider such an action?”

“The Cakes are great, and being around Pumpkin and Pound all the time is the best!” She quickly assured them, before continuing on a teensy eensie bit more seriously.

“But I’ve been living with them since I moved here as a filly, and the Corner really isn’t all that big.” She furrowed her brow further, turning her thinking power to ten. “Plus, lately the attic has seemed too small for me.”

“I guess I feel it’s just,” She groped for the word. “Time.”

“I understand the feeling, darling.” Rarity was quick to reassure her, as Pinkie had hoped she would. “It’s perfectly natural for every young mare to want to step out on her own someday!”

“Sure, ain’t no harm in it if you’re ready.” Applejack nodded. “You told the Cakes yet?”

“Not yet.” She shook her head. “I guess I don’t know how. I mean, they practically raised me! How do you tell ponies who act like your parents that you want to move out?”

“I actually didn’t tell my folks.” Rainbow shrugged indifferently. “They’re kinda, like, free spirits. They were hardly ever home anyway so when I felt like moving out I just did it.”

“O-Oh, it was very emotional for me.” Fluttershy blushed. “It’s not really a goodbye forever, but it was really scary to think about living away from her, and I was still very young too. But I knew it was what I had to do for my animal friends, and my mother supported me.”

“Wait a second,” Twilight held up her hoof, a hold over from spending most of her life as a student. “Pinkie, how did you tell your parents you were moving to Ponyville? Wouldn’t you do it the same way?”

“I didn’t really part on good terms with my father.” She hunched down and her mane seemed to lose half of its volume. “For a long time he wouldn’t reply to any of my letters.”

“But my mom and sisters were supportive, and he eventually came around.” Even if it had only been really recently.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Twilight’s wings fluttered in agitation. Pinkie was very good at reading wings, even if it wasn’t a skill most Earth ponies needed. “I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

“It’s okay, I think things are really turning around!” She beamed. “I’m even planning to go back to the Rock farm for a family reunion soon. The whole family will be there!”

“That’s good to hear, sugar-cube.” Applejack perked up. “It anything like an Apple Family Reunion?”

“Not as big, and the music is usually different, and there aren’t a lot of games, but totally!” Pinkie nodded.

“Oooh, but that’s not for another three weeks.” She put on her Thinking Face again. “What about the rest of you? How did you tell your parents you were leaving?”

“I moved into the castle after Princess Celestia took me on as her student,” Twilight recalled. “…My parents were pretty excited for me and helped me pack, and they were always visiting so it didn’t really feel like I moved at all.”

“Ah was born at Sweet Apple Acres and ah’ll die there, that’s that!” Applejack shrugged, unconcerned. “Can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

“I believe my situation is quite similar to Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said thoughtfully. “You are all of course aware of the fact my parents regularly go on vacations and outings, leaving Sweetie Bell in my care.” They all nodded, though it wasn’t a question. Lately Rarity had been less than cordial when telling them about how her parents had once again gone to some resort, using the funds she had made from the opening of the Canterlot Boutique.

“Well, it was the same when I was still a filly, although they had a different source for their travel fund. I’d only just graduated from the local schoolhouse and rented the Boutique from its previous owner while they were away.” That had been the most stressful four weeks of her life, juggling finances, her newborn sister, and designing clothes.

“They were skeptical of me making it on my own and attempted to convince me to move back, but I was adamant about staying exactly where I was.” She stomped her hoof as if to emphasize her point. “And, as you all know, I’ve done swimmingly for myself!”

“But your parents supported your decision once they realized you were doing alright, didn’t they?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, not at all, dear.” Rarity sighed regretfully. “Although my store did well for the first year, as well as could be expected at any rate, they didn’t stop trying to persuade me for two more years. Only once I started bringing in enough money to fund their continued adventures did they relent.”

“I guess none of us are normal in anything.” Rainbow Dash groaned. “AJ won’t ever dig up her roots, my parents couldn’t have cared less, Fluttershy’s mom was supportive, Twilight’s parents hung around so much it was like she never left,” She ignored a protest from Twilight that she’d been little more than a foal, it was natural for her parents to have stuck around.

“Pinkie basically had to run away to follow her dream, and Rarity’s parents mooch off her.” She finished.

“I wouldn’t call it mooching!” Rarity gasped. “They can be incredibly trying at times, especially when sales are down and when they go off for months on end leaving Sweetie Bell with me during all seasons and they never apologize for dipping into my account without my permission and they—!” She paused. There were quite a few more things she could’ve said, and indeed had said before, but they weren’t helping her case.

“It really ain’t right that they’re benefiting from all your hard work there, Rares.” Applejack tried to be tactful. As tactful as the Element of Honesty could be.

“I don’t know how to get them to stop!” She teared up. “Every time they leave Sweetie gets oh so depressed and she’s always missing them, and whenever I try to hint that they could try to take fewer trips or at least less expensive ones they bring up all the things they did to raise us, and even if they’re riding on my coattails and being such an inconvenience I still love them!”

“That’s perfectly fine, Rarity.” Twilight hurried over to hug her friend. “But you and Sweetie Bell shouldn’t have to deal with their negligence. If they really love you, I think they’ll understand.”

“Oh dear, look at me.” Rarity sniffed, dabbing herself with a handkerchief. “Getting so worked up about something I already knew, especially when we’re supposed to be giving Pinkie Pie advice.”

“It’s okay, Rarity.” Pinkie gave a Small Reassuring Smile. “We can give you advice too!”

“Yeah, like gettin’ them off your approved account list.” Applejack said seriously. “Once they’re off it, corner’em and give’em a stern talkin’ to about using your bits.”

“I believe I must.” Rarity cringed. She’d have to have a talk with Sweetie first, just to give the filly a head’s up in case they tried pressuring her like they’d done Rarity all these years.

“What about me?” Pinkie inquired. “How do I tell Mr. and Mrs. Cake that I want to move out without hurting their feelings?”

“Uhm, if I could make a suggestion?” Fluttershy nervously spoke up. “The way I did it, I asked my mother if I could speak to her privately and explained my reasons, being closer to the ground and my animal friends.”

“She did want me to prove that I’d know what to do when I was alone, so I showed her the available listings in Ponyville, I reminded her that I’d been saving my bits up since I first got my cutie mark, and I proved that I could make a living by acting as a pet salespony and growing herbs.” She continued. She was aware that everypony was staring at her, but coming from her friends it didn’t feel aggressive or accusatory.

“A-After that, we both got very emotional but she fully supported my decision and told me I could come back anytime, even if it was just to visit.” She finished with a sigh of relief.

“Okay!” Pinkie looked at her notes, a colorful rendition of Fluttershy and a pony she pictured as Older Fluttershy With A Hat sitting at a table. “Ask to speak to them privately, explain my reasons, and prove I can live on my own! Got it!”

“Have you taken a look at the local listings? How much do you have saved up in your account?” Twilight felt better now that they were on literature footings and looked ready to run to the library for references.

“Oh, I don’t have an account.” Pinkie informed them, before continuing on as if ignorant to their shock. “Every bit I make from working the register or from throwing a party is hidden away in a lockbox in my room!”

“But, Pinkie, why don’t you use a bank? Banks generate interest for your investments, they’ve got enough anti-theft spells to stop anypony from stealing their bits, and they’re quickly becoming the best way to store your money without anypony you don’t want getting it.” Twilight was shocked and disturbed. She’d had an account set up for her before she’d even been born, almost on the same day banks had been invented, and couldn’t imagine not using it. Keeping large quantities of bits on hoof gave her the shakes.

“I know all that,” Here Pinkie uncharacteristically blushed. “Nopony ever taught me how to set up an account and I was too embarrassed to ask.”

“No reason to be embarrassed.” Rainbow snorted. “I didn’t have an account until two years ago, and I didn’t have five awesome friends to help me out then.”

“So you girls will help get me set up at the bank?” Pinkie grinned ear to ear. “That’s a relief because my lockbox filled up a while ago, I’ve been using Mason jars since!”

“How much ya reckon ya got?” Applejack asked.

“About two thousand eight hundred and forty two bits.” She answered.

“Sweet Celestia!” The cowpony gawked. “An’ you’ve got all that sitting in your room?” It was probably a good thing nopony ever expected a party pony to make a lot of money, that many bits would’ve made a tempting target for thieves.

“Well,” Twilight coughed into her hoof, the signal that a lecture was about to begin. “There is a main type of account, with four sub-types attached to it.” Pinkie brought out her notes again, drawing a Hearthwarming tree with a big present and four little presents.

“The main type is the Savings Account, that’s where the majority of your bits should go and preferably stay, then you’ll have a fund in case of emergencies.” Twilight teleported a chalkboard and several books into the dining room. “A Savings Account generates interest depending on how much is in there. The first two sub-types attached are the Future Foal Fund Account and the Loved Ones Fund Account. The FFFA is an account you should start up if you have any intention to have foals someday, just put a few extra bits inside whenever you can so you’ll never have to worry about how you’ll be able to afford their education or health costs.” Pinkie drew a little pink foal with a poofy mane next to one of the little presents.

“The LOFA is usually inactive, meaning you can’t draw or put in funds like you normally would.” She explained. “This account is where any extra bits left in your Savings account will go when you die, to be distributed to your friends and family as expressed by your Will.”

“Yeah, I had to rewrite my Will for one of those after we beat Tirek.” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “All of you girls are in it, including your families.”

“Really? I didn’t know you had written a Will darling!” Rarity said in surprise.

“I signed up for it when I first made an account, instead of the Future Foals one.” She shrugged. “I don’t plan on ever having foals, but even back then if anything had happened to me I wanted whatever I left behind to go to Flutters here.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy gasped. “You never told me this!”

“I knew you’d get upset and tell me I was worrying about nothing.” Rainbow defended herself. “But It’s the smart thing to do if you want to be a stunt’s pony. There’s no telling if I’ll get hurt or worse, lots of Wonderbolts get hurt during their shows.”

“Anyway, after Tirek I remembered about it and switched it so all of you are in it.” She flicked her mane out of her eyes.

“That’s sweet, sugar.” Applejack nudged her playfully. She turned to the rest of their friends. “Ah don’t have a Loved Ones account, but ah do have the Future Foals one, two of’em actually, since that’s as many as ah reckon ah’ll have.”

“I actually have both.” Twilight blushed. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have foals, I haven’t really decided yet, but I wanted to be prepared in case I ever make that decision.”

“Very responsible, darling.” Rarity agreed. “I have both as well, although my Will may need updating, I haven’t looked at it since I first wrote it.”

“Ahem,” Twilight coughed again. “We’ve gotten a bit off topic.” She turned back to the board and Pinkie picked up her notes again.

“The second group of sub-accounts are the Parent-Child Account and the Charity Account.” She began. “The Parent-Child Account is for when your foals are old enough to start their own accounts, it gives them a taste of what the future has in store without pushing all the responsibility of a Savings account on them, it also prevents them from spending more than what you have approved in order to teach them finance management.”

“You can’t withdraw any bits from the Charity Account, all the money you put into it will go to a randomly selected charity group at the end of each quarter.” Pinkie drew herself and a swaddled foal next to one little present, and a care package next to another.

“As for how we’ll divide your bits, that depends on which accounts you want to sign up for.” Twilight faced her again to hear her input.

Since this was ultra mega super important, Pinkie put on her Thinking Face and furrowed her brow and stuck out her tongue. That was turning the thinking power to eleven!

“Definitely Future Foals and Loved Ones,” She nodded seriously, though the effect was somewhat lost by her poofy mane flip-flapping every which way. “Um, how much do I have to put into the Charity one?”

“Not a lot,” Twilight assured her. “Every little bit counts so you don’t have to worry about putting bits in if you can’t afford it.”

“Okey dokey Lokey!” She wiped off her Thinking Face, using it too much in one day made her mane overheat. “And after that I’ll go to Town Hall to look at the listings!”

“Well, before you do that you should decide what sort of house you’re looking for, sugarcube.” Applejack slowed her down. “How big, the yard, how many rooms, stuff like that.”

“Oh!” Pinkie reluctantly put her Thinking Face back on. “Hmm, three rooms I think, but I can handle two. Hmm, I don’t mind if the yard’s not too big because there’s lots of places for little foals to play in town. What else should I think about?”

“How long you’ll be staying there, for one.” Rainbow groaned. “When I first moved here I couldn’t afford the Material Cloud for my home right off, so I rented in town. I made the mistake of renting a place bigger than I needed because I didn’t think it would take that long to save up the bits I needed, but it took me twice what it should’ve because I had to pay so much in rent.”

“Well, I think I’d like to stay in my future home forever and ever, so I guess I’d do Rent-To-Own!” Pinkie considered. “How do I do that?” She turned expectantly to Twilight.

“First you contact the pony who owns the property, then you negotiate the final price of the property, then you break down how much you’ll need to pay each month and see how long it’ll take you to pay that amount plus 10-15% interest in order to gain full ownership.” She summarized.

“Not all places do Rent-To-Own, but ah know Rapid Fire does.” Applejack suggested. “He makes a lotta bits buying and selling property like that, his family’s almost as rich as Filthy Rich’s family.”

“Wowza, that’s a lotta bits!” Pinkie giggled.

Their first trip was to Sugarcube Corner to get Pinkie Pie’s money. None of them had a saddlebag big enough to fit it all, so they divided it between three saddlebags. At the bank they sat down to help walk Pinkie through the paperwork.

“Name? Pinkie Pie. Age 20. Tribe? Earth.” She stuck her tongue out as she wrote. “Dependents?”

“That’s anypony who depends on your income.” Twilight explained. Pinkie nodded and checked the No box.

The paperwork didn’t require much personal information beyond that, so it didn’t take long for her to move on to writing a Will. That had to be done privately, although a lawyer pony was available if she had any questions and to witness it.

Pinkie Pie first put her five best friends, it was only right and they all meant so much to her, next she wrote in her parents and sisters and the Cakes. She would have to update it when she finished paying off the property and when she started a family, but for now everything she owned would go to somepony she cared about in the event of her untimely demise.

Once that was finished Rarity had to return to the Boutique and Applejack had to get home to do the chores, but everypony else accompanied her to Town Hall.

There were four listings that had everything she needed and were available for Rent-to-Own. Rapid Fire owned three of them, so they visited him first.

She eventually signed a deal, with Twilight as her witness, that every month she would pay eight hundred bits to rent a three bedroom house with two baths. The price was even knocked down because it needed a few repairs that Pinkie figured she could ask Applejack for help on. In two years she’d be able to fully pay off the 20,000 debt and the extra ten percent.

She had a property, she’d already paid two months in advance, now all she had to do was talk to Mr. and Mrs. Cake.

“Good luck, Pinkie.” Each of her friends gave her a swift hug before dropping her off. “Let us know how it goes.”

“I will, thanks for all your help today!” She smiled at each of them and went inside. It was getting late now, those who wanted baked goods had already bought them so all that was left was to put today’s earnings safely away and pack the goods not bought into a care package to be donated the next morning.

Pumpkin and Pound Cake were sitting in their playpen, winding down after a long day of play. Soon she’d have to put them to bed, a trial every night, but for now she went straight to Cup and Carrot Cake.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cake, could we talk privately please?” She thought that sounded polite and serious enough. For some reason most ponies didn’t take her seriously, even when she was trying really hard to be serious.

“Of course, Pinkie.” Carrot quickly agreed. “Is something wrong? You were gone much later than we thought you’d be.”

“Uh, well, not exactly.” She suddenly didn’t know which way to go. She panicked and quickly pulled out her notes again, but it didn’t say exactly how to do this.

“Pinkie dear, you know you can tell us anything.” Cup gently drew her over to a table and brought out dinner that had been kept warm on the stove. Carrot took his cue to gather the twins and put them in their high chair.

“I know, I’m just not sure how to do it!” Pinkie huffed, but the frustration couldn’t stay on her face for long. She Seriously gathered up her options and took a deep breath. Finally, she was ready.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cake, first I want to say thankyouthankyouthankyou for taking care of me for so long!” She whipped around the table to give them both a hug, and then of course Pound and Pumpkin both wanted their own hug so she had to give one to them too.

“But, I’m not a little foal anymore, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to move out.” She peeked through her lashes, not sure when she’d closed them but afraid to see the looks on their faces.

They didn’t look upset though. It wasn’t a look she’d seen very often, but to Pinkie it was almost as good as a Happy Smile. Mr. and Mrs. Cake looked pleased and proud of her, even if their eyes were a little misty.

“Oh Pinkie Pie,” Cup Cake led the charge to give her a hug, but Carrot was close behind and wrapped them both in his firm embrace. Hugs had to be given to Pound and Pumpkin to afterwards, but it went a long way to soothing all of Pinkie’s worries.

“We always knew one day you’d want to strike out on your own.” Carrot said softly. “And we just want you to know, if you ever need anything, we’ll be right here.”

Now even Pinkie had to wipe a few tears out of her eyes. Maybe this is what Fluttershy had meant by getting emotional.

“Do you need any help getting started?” Cup Cake fretted. “Do you have enough bits to rent a place?”

“I do, I even talked to Rapid Fire today.” She pulled the necessary papers out of her mane. “See, there’s this place just one street away, with three bedrooms. I even paid two months in advance for Rent-to-Own!”

“I’m booked solid all this month and most of next month with parties, so I’ll be able to support myself fine!” She bit her lip. “And I’ll still work the register and be your go-to foalsitter, so you’ll see me every day!”

“Just know, we love you so much!” Cup Cake squeezed her tighter. “If you need any help or get lonely, you come straight to us, understand?”

“I understand, I love you too!” She sniffled.

It took a while to renovate a new Super Secret Party Cave beneath her new house, but overall it only took two weeks for Pinkie Pie and Gummy to have everything packed and ready to move. Pinkie threw herself a Welcome to My New Home party and invited everypony in Ponyville, and soon life settled into a new norm that included paying her own taxes and trotting to Sugarcube Corner every morning.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Author's Note

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd be happy to look them over to see what I can include. I have a very basic idea of what I want to happen, but who knows, maybe somebody else has an even better idea! I'll do my best to answer any questions!

Rarity Confronts the Problem

Today was a normal day in Ponyville, which was not the same as saying it was a normal day in Equestria. Ponyville’s normal involved regular attacks by monsters, neurotic unicorns turned princesses, royal visits, and the occasional disaster caused by three fillies.

But today had already had its usual chaos as those same fillies had finally earned their cutie marks and hopefully, the townsponies prayed, put away their crusader capes for good. So other than the biggest cutsienera party that would be thrown first thing tomorrow morning, everypony was eagerly awaiting it and had marked the anniversary on their calendars for the next ten years, it was a normal day.

Rarity and Sweetie Bell had finally made their escape and returned to the boutique to prepare for tomorrow. Every few seconds the filly would twist her head around to look at her flank, and if possible she smiled even brighter each time she confirmed the mark was still there.

“All of us at once, can you believe it?” Her sister kept saying. “It’s just like the Sonic Rainboom from your story!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Rarity sighed, remembering the day perfectly. “A sure sign you’ll all be friends forever, dear.”

“I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad! I’m going to write to them right now!” Without another word, but a lot of happy squealing, Sweetie bounded up the steps to do just that.

Rarity though had lost her enthusiasm. Oh, she still planned on designing three new outfits for the fillies in commemoration, of course, but now it felt like someone had smudged a delicate silk in front of her. The day wasn’t ruined, not entirely, but it was more than she could fix.

She had taken their names off her approved account list earlier that day. Helping Pinkie prepare to move out on her own, becoming her own mare (Not that anypony could say with a whit of honesty that Pinkie Pie wasn’t her own mare already) had convinced her it was time to make a change for herself. She would no longer push herself to the breaking point trying to reach extra deadlines to make up what their fraudulent spending lost.

She’d meant to talk to Sweetie Bell about it today, but with this momentous occasion she couldn’t bring herself to mar such a perfect day for the filly. Not today, and maybe not tomorrow, would she spoil her sister’s happiness. Every filly deserved everything to be perfect for their cutsienera.

She wouldn’t hold off any longer than that though. It would only take a day for her parents to realize what she’d done, and a week or more for them to walk back home and confront her about it. She needed to have a serious discussion with her sister about the kind of ponies their parents were, and she couldn’t allow herself to shy away from it.

For years she’d been avoiding the problem, working herself to the bone, but she was 23 years old now and she was not going to be their piggy bank for the rest of her life!

And she was sure that someday Sweetie Bell would make it big, she’d be a happy successful mare with friends who would stand by her through thick and thin, and Rarity would rather slave away for Diamond Dogs for the rest of her days than let her parents do to Sweetie what they’d done to Rarity.

Rarity retreated to her inspiration room and began the designs for the new dresses, but she couldn’t help but think of how she would explain everything to her sister and wonder how Sweetie would take it.

The next day’s party was one of the biggest Ponyville had ever seen. Rarity had cornered Pinkie about it, worried her friend might have spent bits she didn’t have to set it all up in time, but the pink mare revealed that a lot of the townsponies had donated bits for the occasion. More than she’d needed, actually, but none of them would accept their bits back.

Rarity had a feeling the townsponies weren’t trying to highlight their generosity, but let sleeping dragons lie.

The girls looked absolutely dazzling in their new dresses. It was worth the sleepless night making them! They weren’t as formal as their gala dresses had been, and she’d been careful to leave their flanks bare given the occasion, but it was rather nice. Rarity decided to give thought to starting a casual line for next season.

Scootaloo had fine, downy feathers lining her mini-dress and high net stockings for her back legs, bringing attention to her flank and the proud symbol adorning it. Rarity thought a blushing red went very nicely with her mane and tail, even if she hadn’t been able to convince the filly to let her style it.

Applebloom was resplendent in her simple frock, it was longer in the back and instead of stockings Rarity had chosen to use gold gilded high horseshoes. Instead of her usual pink bow Rarity had convinced her to use a pink band that matched the dress to pull her hair out of her face for the day, giving her an older, more mature look that only highlighted the family resemblance to her sister, who hadn’t stopped gushing over her since yesterday.

Rarity might have been biased, but she considered Sweetie Bell to be the most beautiful of all. Her hair was up in a meticulous bun with a few tresses peeking out, her dress was silver sheen and her black horseshoes matched the eye-shadow Rarity had applied before they left the house. She normally didn’t approve on fillies so young wearing make-up, but she’d made the exception today.

It seemed the whole town really had shown up to the party, but Rarity would have been hard pressed to confirm it. Her eyes continuously bounced over the other ponies, focusing on her sister again and again. The only reason she ever looked away was because she had to mop her eyes before her mascara began to run.

By the time it was over, and that wasn’t including the after party which went on until morning from what she heard the next day, they were all exhausted. Rarity had to carry Sweetie Bell home as fatigue had caused the poor dear to almost fall asleep on their hooves.

“Today was the best day ever, Rarity.” The filly yawned as she was tucked into bed.

“Indeed it was.” Rarity nuzzled her. “Now get some sleep, we have ever so much to talk about tomorrow.”

Tomorrow seemed to be a long time in coming, at some point the party must have moved to the boutique because the place was an absolute mess, but eventually she was able to roll into bed. So great was her exhaustion that even worry about the discussion she’d have tomorrow could not keep her awake.

“Rarity, Mom and Dad wrote back.” Rarity blurrily pulled away her sleeping mask, too sleepy to do it with magic. She turned tired eyes first to the clock by her bed, it was but six forty eight in the morning, much too early to be awake.

“Dear, why are you up so early?” She asked as she stretched and hid a yawn behind her hoof.

“Derpy broke my window while she was delivering the mail.” Rarity made a note to get that fixed but didn’t hold it against the gray mare.

“Rarity, Mom and Dad wrote back.” Sweetie repeated, and this time Rarity heard the suppressed sobs in her voice.

Instantly wide awake, she hopped to her sister’s side immediately and instinctively looked for some glass shards or splinters that would explain her sister’s pain. Only when Sweetie Bell levitated the letter in front of her face did Rarity realize the pain was emotional, not physical.

Dearest Sweetie Bell,

First, we’ll just let you know that we’re happy you have your mark now. You said your talent was helping other ponies understand their marks? How will you make money doing that? Anyway, we’re writing this letter to tell you that our trip will be unfortunately cut short. Your sister has seen fit to cut us off from our money and now our vacation has turned into a disaster, we can’t afford hotel rooms, food, or even a carriage ride home.

Your father and I have no idea why she’d do this to us, especially now of all times when this should be a happy occasion. Please tell her to fix this mistake as soon as possible, we were planning to board a six month cruise to view the Isles of Dragons next week but can’t afford the tickets now. Be good, see you both when we get back!
Sincerely,
Silver Bell.

Her first thought was that she was glad she hadn’t waited before cutting them off. A six month cruise could not be cheap. In fact, Rarity was going to be extra careful in making sure she never found out just how expensive it would’ve been.

“R-Rarity?” Her second thought was that she hated her parents.

She didn’t mean it, not really, but she was indeed very upset with them.

“Let’s go down to the kitchen, Sweetie, we need to have a talk.” She folded the letter up, and thought about burning it, but the words were already seared into her mind.

“Sweetie dear, do you know why I am so often busy trying to make last minute deadlines?” Was her opener once they were both seated with a plate of French toast with powdered sugar topping in front of them. Rarity normally wouldn’t have something so sweet in the morning, but they were Sweetie’s favorite.

“Be-Because a lot of ponies like your clothes?” Her sister ventured.

“That’s why I am able to get those assignments, but not why I take them, my dear.” She sighed and set the letter on the table, where they could both see it.

“I take them to make back the thousands of bits our parents spend on trips and vacations.” She explained. “I’ve been doing this ever since you were two months old, in fact that is when I first started the boutique.”

“But, they always told me you made plenty of money for their trips.” Sweetie Bell was stunned.

“In their eyes, I do.” She said regretfully. “You’ve seen for yourself how often I’ve worked myself to exhaustion, now you know why I always push myself to the very limit.”

“Sweetie dear, they’ve been doing this even longer than you’ve been alive.” She knew it wasn’t ladylike to play with her food, but Rarity didn’t have much of an appetite at the moment. “I believe they’ve been doing it longer than I’ve been alive.”

“When I was a foal I was often left in the hooves of a live-in nanny while they were away, and they got their funds from winning the lottery then. When I was about ten and I first got my cutie mark they inherited a vast amount of wealth from one of our relatives, on mother’s side I believe.” She brought out a photo album and held it open for them both to look at, breakfast forgotten. There was a picture of Rarity right after she’d gotten her cutie mark, and then one of Rarity at about thirteen holding Sweetie Bell as a swaddled foal.

“You were born on one of their trips, and they came back just long enough to drop you off and dismiss the nanny, claiming I was old enough to take care of both of us.” She’d been completely out of her depth, especially when Sweetie had begun using accidental magic.

“That is when I moved out and bought the Boutique. It was incredibly difficult making enough to live on, designing and selling clothes, juggling finances, and all the while taking care of a newborn foal all by myself, without even any close friends to call on for help.” Just remembering those frantic days made her want to shake and quiver down to her horseshoes.

“As soon as our parents returned from that trip they tried to order me to move back home, but I wouldn’t do it. I’m afraid I was rather rebellious.” She admitted bashfully. “But it was the right choice.”

“They didn’t like the boutique? Why? They love it now!” Sweetie gasped, Rarity reached over and tapped her chin to remind her that ladies did not gawk with their mouths open.

“They love the money it makes.” She said bluntly, hoping that by channeling some of Applejack’s bluntness it would make the whole thing easier to accept.

“Because I was underage at the time they had full access to the accounts I’d made, and once the inheritance money ran out they began dipping their hooves into it.” When she’d first realized what was going on she’d been at once outraged and horrified. All the money she’d spent an entire year earning, gone to pay for a trip to Neighagra Falls!

“I was certainly upset to see my bits disappear like that, but when I tried getting them to stop, well,” She winced. “You know how mother gets when she’s upset, and you know how father gets.” Rarity had unfortunately inherited her mother’s tendency to whine and cry when things became too much, she was a big enough pony to admit that, Sweetie took after their father though, and would just quietly ask the perpetrator why they were doing such awful things, just as she’d done in her room earlier.

“They convinced me that I owed them after they’d paid for my schooling and the nanny for thirteen years, and since I was underage I couldn’t take them off my approved list.” By her fifteenth year she’d been counting down the days to her seventeenth birthday.

“When I came of age I tried again, you were only four at the time, perhaps you don’t remember what happened then, or else were too young to understand.” She paused.

“What happened?” Sweetie didn’t look like she wanted to know, but Rarity had already determined that she needed to.

“I took them off the approved list and was set on not allowing them to take anymore of my money, but they convinced me to let them on again for your sake.” She admitted.

“My sake?” Sweetie repeated, an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of her stomach.

“Neither of them have jobs, you know, without my money they couldn’t afford to take care of you. They couldn’t afford to even feed you, let alone pay for your schooling or anything else you might need.” She braced herself. “Once again, I told them no. I told them that if they were so concerned they could find paying jobs to take care of you.”

“But then the Red Fever hit Equestria.” Later it was discovered the epidemic had been caused by the enormous flea population that year. It struck young and old alike and had taken one in every five ponies to the grave.

“You got sick, and they couldn’t afford the bills, and they wouldn’t allow me to pay for them.” She’d been too shocked to even be furious. “They said that if I couldn’t afford their trips surely I couldn’t afford the expensive treatment you needed.”

Sweetie remembered something like that. She remembered being sick and seeing Rarity a lot in a white room. She didn’t remember her parents being there, and now she wondered if they’d even bothered.

“I put them back on my approved list, and they’ve been there ever since,” She took a deep breath. “Until now.”

“Sweetie dear, our parents aren’t necessarily bad ponies, but they are irresponsible ones.” She reached out and hugged her sister, and was relieved when the hug was returned.

“In the last five years they’ve been back three times, I’m afraid that qualifies as neglect.” She sighed.

“I can’t let them take you back.” Sweetie pulled away to look at her sister’s face.

“W-Why? They’re our parents, they love us.” She tried to sound convincing and was afraid she only sounded like a foal.

“I know dear, but I have no guarantees that now will be better than six years ago.” Rarity tried to explain around the lump in her throat. Now was not the time to degrade into a fit of hysterics.

“Back then, I caved into their pressure for your sake, when I should have reported them as soon as you started losing weight.” A few tears broke through the surface. “You have no idea how many nightmares I’ve had about that plague, thinking of how I almost lost you to it.”

“I can’t keep letting them do this, for both our sakes.” Sweetie’s tears began soaking into Rarity’s coat.

“S-So, what’s gonna happen?” Sweetie Bell hiccupped.

“When they get back, I take them to court with Mayor Mare.” Paying for a good lawyer would be much more preferable to paying for a luxury cruise. “And fight for custody.”

“Y-You’ll keep me?” She asked with a quivering lip.

“Of course, darling!” Rarity swept her into another hug. “I’ve spent the last ten years raising you, watching you grow up to be the pony you are today. I simply couldn’t bare to let anypony else have you.”

“Sweetie,” She lifted the filly’s chin to make sure she paid attention to her next words. “Promise me you will never let anypony else use you as our parents have used me.”

“I promise.” The filly sniffled.

“Thank you dear, and I promise I’ll do everything I can to make you into the happy mare you deserve to be.” Rarity swore.

That wasn’t the end of it, not in the least, but it was the start Rarity had been waiting for since she was a foal. Finally, things were changing.

She closed the boutique for the day and dropped her sister off with Applejack to spend the day with her friends first off, and then she trotted straight to the Mayor. After acquiring the services of a lawyer pony from Trottingham she began explaining her circumstances, and what she wanted done.

She had travel receipts that provided more than enough evidence of her parents’ behavior, and although it had been years the hospital still had detailed records of Sweetie’s bout of fever and who had paid for the treatment. Rarity had nearly bankrupted herself paying for that medicine and the three months of physical therapy Sweetie had needed once she’d recovered.

“Well, Ms. Rarity, there’s more than enough evidence to prove your claims of foal negligence.” The lawyer, Steady Hoof, informed her as they sat in his office. “And you have an extremely good case for custody of your sister.”

“I thought I would but it is nice to hear confirmation.” She allowed herself to relax a bit.

“Since your parents have evidently used emotional and physical abuse to force you to cooperate in the past, I would suggest filing a restraining order against them.” He continued seriously.

“A restraining order?” She hadn’t considered what she’d do, beyond slamming the door in their faces, if they showed up to try talking her out of this. A restraining order felt a bit mean spirited.

‘And using a deathly ill foal is not?’ She shook the thought away.

“This would keep them from approaching both Sweetie Bell and myself?” She made sure to clarify.

“More than that, they will not be able to make any sort of contact with either of you under any circumstances, if they move within fifty feet of either of you it will be seen as a threat against your person and they can be arrested.” He explained the ins and outs of it.

“When Sweetie Bell comes of age she can request to have contact with them, but the order will remain in place for yourself and she can choose whether or not she’d like to withdraw her protection.” He finished.

“Would you like them to pay Foal Support?” He asked her.

“No. I do not require it and want nothing at all to do with them if I can help it. Besides, I do not believe either of them has ever been employed, they will be working hard enough just supporting themselves.” She sniffed.

“Very well, that’s pretty much everything.” He handed her some papers. “Please look those over and sign them if you agree with everything, feel free to come to me if you have any questions.”

“The court date can’t be set until your parents arrive, but I can tell you about what typically goes on in family court cases like these.” He offered.

“Thank you, Mr. Hoof, truly you’ve been a great help to me.” She smiled and put the papers safely in her saddlebag. Those papers were worth more to her than the brightest gems. “But I believe that’ll be all for now. Rest assured, if I come across something I don’t understand I’ll come to you, but for now I’d like to run home to make dinner.”

“Of course, may I walk you there?” He stood up. Rarity’s nostrils flared and a slight chill swept up her spine. It wasn’t unpleasant by any meaning of the word, and Steady himself was a fine blue roan unicorn stallion.

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind having a gentlecolt walk me home.” She looked sidelong at him.

Perhaps this day wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Author's Note

I'm now trying to imagine what Pony Court looks like. Trust me, fillies and gentlecolts, this isn't going to be pretty.

Rainbow's Free Spirit

It was the sort of day that made every feather on her wings bristle. The storm clouds had taken two entire hours to position over Ponyville, and although it was leagues better than most other teams could do it was still slower than their all-time record. Rainbow gave it a six, at best.

Her cloud home was surrounded on all sides by angry, gray clouds. Rainbow wasn’t worried though, she’d built this house with her own two hooves and had used the best grade of Material Cloud she could afford. It wasn’t as good as Silver Lining brand cloud, but Heavy Smog brand was nothing to sniff at.

It had five rooms, a large den, a study, an exercise room, and three rainbow waterfalls. It was pretty much her dream house. Rainbow had spent most of her fillyhood after graduation designing it, getting the floor plan the exact way she wanted it.

It was miles above better than the house she’d grown up in.

‘Whoof, gloomy weather brings gloomy thoughts.’ Or maybe the weather had nothing to do with it. It was just weather, it had been on the mandated schedule for two weeks. Rainbow had even been looking forward to it so she could test her weather captain replacement, Drizzle.

Her sub-captain had done pretty well with the formation and stuff previously, but hard weather was where you made it or broke, and Rainbow was pleased to say Drizzle had made it.

How could she not when she’d been trained by Rainbow Dash herself? As if there was ever any doubt.

Being a Wonderbolt Reserve paid well, not as good as full membership would, but enough that she could afford to give up her weather management job if she cut back a bit. She wouldn’t always be available to work the weather if she was on call for the Wonderbolts, and it was only a matter of time before she was given a place on the main team.

In two weeks, Rainbow would no longer be working the weather except as an occasional volunteer.

Rainbow looked out the windows and watched the storm for a while. She couldn’t remember Cloudsdale ever being in a storm, it always hovered above the clouds. When she was little she’d loved to look over the edge and watch the thundering blanket cover the earth.

Probably why she’d done something so stupid as to fly straight into one before she’d even attended flight camp.

A filly even younger than Scootaloo, she’d never dreamed that weather could be dangerous before. Rainbow was lucky she hadn’t been struck by lightning.

‘Yikes, there I go again. Get with the program, Brain!’ She fiercely shook her head and went in search of entertainment.

Tank was fed and chilling out in her bedroom, she’d already read all the Daring Do novels she had, and she had already performed her daily exercise regimen twice today, any more than that could strain her muscles.

She didn’t really feel like taking a nap either, so she was at a loss.

Times like this she almost wished she lived on the ground. At least she wouldn’t be risking a zapping if she stepped out her front door right now.

Pinkie was probably in her new party cave, planning some parties to surprise them all with, or maybe getting ready to leave for her family reunion in three days. Rarity was probably either still working at the boutique or at that law pony’s office, it was awesome how she was finally putting her hoof down and getting rid of her leeching parents.

Geez, with Pinkie Pie moving out on her own and Rarity suing her parents, it seemed a lot of their personal issues were circling back to the family theme.

Rainbow hadn’t even seen her family since she’d left home.

Her dad had been part of a surveyor team, exploring new prospective settlement sites to see what the weather was like there and how it could be improved without compromising the ecosystem. Her mom was an artist who specialized in landscapes, she flew all across Equestria looking for a new view to put on a canvas.

They were good ponies who were good at their jobs, and Rainbow never doubted that they cared for her, but they hadn’t been in love.

Hadn’t even been married.

Rainbow, to put it bluntly, had been a mistake during their wild years. The two ponies had been dating, getting closer, and when Color Splash had been in heat they’d decided to stay together and raise a foal to satisfy Quick Dive’s ESC.

The ESC was a dumb rule as far as Rainbow was concerned. Since the ratio of stallions to mares was so messed up there was a law in place that said every stallion must sire at least two foals in their lives, otherwise known as Every Stallion Contributes. It was the only way to keep their population up since hardly anypony did herds anymore.

So ten months later Rainbow Dash had been born, a little early but perfectly healthy. Her parents had originally traded off foal-sitting responsibilities, Quick Dive would take care of her for a few months, then Color Splash would, but as Rainbow had gotten older they’d more and more gone back to their old jobs, hardly remembering or caring about the filly they’d made together.

Well, that wasn’t fair. Color Splash and Quick Dive had loved her, and probably still did, but it was the love you would reserve for your niece or nephew. The kind of love that had you buy presents and send cash occasionally, but taking care of the foal was always somepony else’s responsibility.

By the time she was eight, just stretching her wings for the first time, it had been solely Rainbow’s responsibility.

Rainbow was 21 years old, and she hadn’t seen her parents since she was seventeen.

She was at peace with their current relationship, such as it was, and felt no need to track them down. She was comfortable with her life as it was, with friends, work, and the occasional quest to save all of Equestria.

So why was she doing everything in her power to distract herself from the letter she’d found in her mailbox this morning?

It was sitting innocently on the kitchen counter, she hadn’t even paid much attention to it earlier. She’d gathered it with the rest of her mail and dumped it in the kitchen to read after work. As soon as she’d raced home ahead of the storm she’d sought out her mail, intending to get all responsibilities out of the way so she’d be free to spend the afternoon as she pleased.

The letter was from the Equestrian Bureau of Exploration and Settlement, the place her dad worked for.

She opened the letter and began to read.

To whom it may concern,

The pegasus stallion Quick Dive has unfortunately died in the line of duty while surveying the Bad Lands for possible settlement. You have our deepest condolences for your loss, he was a well respected pony who always put the betterment of Equestria first. His body was unable to be recovered, but a memorial ceremony will be held in Canterlot on the 14th of June. As his oldest remaining family member you are expressed in his will to inherit everything he left behind in death. Please speak to a representative in Canterlot at your earliest convenience.

It was cold, clinical, and hurt worse than the time she’d sprained both wings doing a stunt she wasn’t ready for.

The next morning came all too soon. It was the morning of the 13th, if she was going to the ceremony she had to leave today. She would need to get everything squared away, figure out what was left to her, and figure out how she felt about this.

She needed her friends.

She flew without thinking to each one’s house, telling them she was calling an emergency friendship meeting. She didn’t stay long enough to answer their questions, beating her wings to take her straight to Twilight’s castle.

She was pacing the library floor when the others came in, panting and wheezing and strangely carrying an assortment of travel supplies.

“Rainbow, can you tell us what this is about?” Twilight prompted her as the others caught their breaths.

“Yeah, you’ve got everypony in a panic!” Spike hovered uncertainly near Rarity as she tried to fix her mane.

“I…Uh, I got a letter this morning.” She pulled it out. Twilight levitated it in front of the group so everypony could read it. Rainbow only completed four laps around the library before they were done, she was a little off her game.

“We’re mighty sorry to hear that, Rainbow.” Applejack was the first to lay a hoof on her shoulder.

“Ah, come on, I mean he….We never really…” She gulped and tried again. “I don’t even feel like crying.”

That had not been what she’d meant to say. What the hay, brain? Did you have to make her sound like a heartless monster?

Frankly, Rainbow felt worse for not feeling worse.

“They were never around. I don’t even know where mom is, haven’t seen her since I was seventeen.” She tried to find the words to explain the mix-up in her head. “Same with him. They made sure I had enough money to buy food and stuff, paid for school, but other than that we never really spent time together.”

“The fact that you called an emergency meeting about this shows that you do care, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight reassured her.

“I don’t know why I don’t feel worse, but I don’t!” She plopped down and tried not to scowl. “I mean my dad just died but I can’t even shed a tear for him?”

“Everypony grieves differently.” Rarity came up to softly nuzzle her. Rainbow had really good friends.

“Nopony can tell you how to feel.” She added.

“We’re going to need seven tickets to Canterlot on the next train.” Twilight announced. “Spike, you take care of that while the rest of us go home and pack a few things. Pinkie, you might want to bring everything you were going to take to your family reunion, you can head straight there afterward.”

“Okey dokey lokey!” The pink mare saluted, teleporting to Rainbow’s side to give her a quick squeeze before disappearing again, presumably to her house.

“Applejack, do you think Granny Smith would mind terribly if I left Sweetie in her care while we are away? I don’t want her to be alone if my parents arrive ahead of schedule.” Rarity followed the cowpony to the door.

“Shucks, she won’t mind. You should probably tell that law pony yer gonna be gone for a bit too.” AJ advised.

“Rainbow?” Rainbow snapped her attention away from her retreating friends to look at her oldest one. Fluttershy was crying the tears Rainbow couldn’t, and when she saw she had the rainbow mare’s attention she came in for a warm hug, wrapping her yellow wings around her entire body. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”

“Yeah, I know.” She puffed up her chest. “This is me we’re talking about here.”

“Um, will you be okay packing your things?” She asked hesitantly.

“Sure, no prob, I only need a few things. It’ll fit in a saddlebag easy.” She should probably get some bits out of the bank for a hotel, and to pay Twilight back for the tickets.

Rainbow officially had the bestest, coolest friends in all of Equestria. If there were some kind of Friendship Games she knew hers would win hooves down. No competition! On the train ride they were all respectful, only talking about her dad when she brought him up first and changing the subject whenever she got uncomfortable.

Best. Friends. Ever.

Spike knew where the Bureau was located and they found it without much trouble. Rainbow led the way inside and asked to speak to the representative.

“Ms. Rainbow Dash, daughter of Quick Dive and Color Splash, correct?” A matronly unicorn questioned her in her office. Rainbow wished she’d been allowed to bring her friends inside, but they were all waiting out in the hall, just on the other side of the door.

“Yeah.” Her voice broke.

“First, the company is very sorry for your loss, it is an occupational hazard but each of our surveyors are precious and losing even one is a terrible tragedy.” The unicorn didn’t look sorry.

“Second, our surveyors are required to keep up to date Wills in the event of such a tragedy, but I’m afraid your father fell through the cracks in that respect. He hasn’t updated his Will in seven years, you were still underage then.” She continued.

“So we will not be turning full custody of you to your mother, naturally, nor will we be holding the full funds until you turn of age.” She pulled out a scroll and unrolled it on the desk.

“To his name, Quick Dive held two plots of Cloud Real Estate in Cloudsdale, one of which is currently being rented, and after his final dues are paid there will be 36,780 bits to be transferred to your account holdings.” Here the mare paused and looked over the brim of her horntoad glasses.

“All underage foals are left with a blood relative, if possible.” For the first time the unicorn mare didn’t seem to know how to proceed.

“I’m of age, what’s the problem?” Rainbow asked.

“You have a brother.” Oh my gosh! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! “A step-brother, actually.”

“O-Oh, scared me there for a second.” Rainbow sighed. “He can just go to his mom, right?”

“I’m afraid his mother, a mare named Gem Polish, died two years previously.” The unicorn gave her a level look. “Do you need a moment to process this?”

“Ye-Yeah, just—!” She dashed out the door and straight into the arms of her friends.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight gasped as she was nearly run over. “What’s wrong?”

“Foal! A foal!” She knew she probably wasn’t making any sense, but none of this made any sense anyway. She had a brother, who was at least seven years old. Rainbow would’ve been fourteen when he was born but she’d never even heard of him!

“Rainbow, calm down!” Applejack grabbed her before she could flap her way through a glass window. “Take it from the top, what’s this about a foal?”

“I-I…My dad had a son!” She felt her throat closing up in her panic. “No relatives! H-How do I—What do I do?”

Oh gosh, the foal, where was he? In Cloudsdale, probably. With her dad’s assets frozen while they organized his funeral the foal wouldn’t be able to afford food. Who was taking care of him?

“Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie’s tone brought flashbacks of drill sergeants at Wonderbolt training, Rainbow immediately shifted into a ready position. “What are you willing to do?”

“Huh?” She blinked.

“You said you never planned on having foals, but now you’re in a position to gain custody of one.” She continued on, as serious as she’d ever heard her pranking buddy. “Are you willing to raise him to adulthood, pay for his schooling? Or pay for a nanny mare to raise him for you?”

“A nanny?” Just the thought almost startled a laugh out of her. “I couldn’t let somepony else raise my flesh and blood!”

“Then you’ll have to do it.” Pinkie nodded, as if she’d expected that answer. Which, uh doy, it was obvious. Rainbow was way too loyal to leave a foal stranded like that.

“Okay, okay, I don’t even know his name but I’m going to adopt my own half-brother.” She breathed in and out. “I can do this, I can do this!”

‘I can’t do this.’ She was back in the office, going over the Will. Half the money Quick Dive had would go to Rainbow, the other half would be held for her brother, Fast Pace, until he came of age. Quick Dive had invested stocks in settlements all across Equestria, including Appleloosa, she was going to have to get a lawyer to look at those.

It was all simple, really, she was done before lunch time. Not that Rainbow had much of an appetite at the moment. Her stomach felt a little uneasy and she didn’t want the extra weight for what she was going to do next.

“Fly to Cloudsdale? NOW!?” Twilight gasped.

“Yes, now.” She said firmly. “I have to. If it’s anything like my situation as a foal then he’s alone right now, with nopony to take care of him, and he can’t buy any food without dad’s account.”

“You girls find out when the ceremony is taking place, I’ll be back before dinnertime and we’ll meet ya at the hotel, okay?” She got their agreement, tenuous though it was, and took off.

A foal, she had to take care of a foal now.

Any burgeoning grief for her father lost, Rainbow flew to Cloudsdale.

The property that was being rented was the same house she’d lived in as a foal. A single mare was living there and gave her directions to the second property, occupied by Fast Pace.

Rainbow raised a hoof to the door and knocked.

A little colt with her blue fur and a striking sea foam green mane answered.

“Hey, your name’s Fast Pace, right?” She coughed nervously.

“Yup.” He wrinkled his nose. “Who’re you?”

“My name’s Rainbow Dash, did Quick Dive ever tell you about me?” From the way his eyes widened to the size of saucers, Rainbow was betting he had.

The colt practically dragged her inside and proudly showed her the eastern wall of the living room.

There were newspaper clippings, old photos, achievements, everything Rainbow had ever done or accomplished. She didn’t even need to read them to know which ones were featured, she had the same thing in her study.

“This is amazing! Dad always bragged about you when he was home! He said you were the fastest pony in Equestria and you’re the Element of Loyalty and you’re a member of the Wonderbolts!” He galloped back and forth in glee.

“Not a full member just yet, but I’ll get there.” She chuckled. Then she sobered.

“Hey, kid.” She snagged him on his next run around and set him in front of her. “I got some bad news.”

“Our dad, he…..He ran into some trouble in the Bad Lands.” She choked up.

“Is that why I couldn’t buy any food yesterday?” He asked.

“Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, kid, but dad’s never coming home again. He’s dead.”

“Dead?” Pace repeated. “Bu-But he said he was going to teach me how to fly when he got back. He promised.”

Rainbow remembered similar promises, ones that had never been kept.

“I’ll teach ya, kid.” She promised, and she meant to keep it. “But not right now.”

“Right now we need to get you packed up and head back to Canterlot for the ceremony tomorrow.” Fast Pace began to cry.

Rainbow joined him.

After a good long cry, that she made Fast Pace swear to never tell anypony about, they packed his things. Rainbow would have to arrange for somepony to come here and deliver most of the stuff to her house later, for now they had the essentials and it was time to get back.

Fluttershy was waiting for her outside the hotel. Together they trotted to the dining room and filled Fast Pace’s plate twice before the foal felt full.

“How’d he take it?” Twilight asked her as soon as he’d fallen asleep in her room. The girls, plus Spike, were all congregated in the rooftop garden.

“He cried a bit, but I think it went okay.” She carefully did not mention her own bit of mourning. Any redness could be explained away by the flight back.

“We found out where and when the ceremony is taking place.” She held up a clipboard. “Eleven AM tomorrow, at the Canterlot Tribal Memorium.”

“Thanks.” She nodded. It seemed incredibly unfair that this day wasn’t over yet. Something told Rainbow she’d be going sleepless tonight.

“We tried to locate your mother as well, but I’m afraid it only led to a dead end.” Rarity sighed dramatically. “Although perhaps that was for the best. No mare likes to hear that their beloved was having an affair whilst they raised a foal together.”

“They were never really together.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. Trust Rarity to turn this into a bad romance novel. “I was just Quick Dive’s ESC foal.”

The conversation after that was light, nopony really knew what to say. Perhaps nopony ever does in these types of situations.

Regardless, Rainbow had been right when she thought it would be a very long night.

The ceremony was small, and short. Only a few ponies that Quick Dive had worked with showed up, Rainbow’s was the largest group. For a moment when she watched them lower the casket she felt like she might cry, but her breath only shuddered and hitched. She kept one wing draped over her brother for the whole ceremony.

Rainbow did silently wish her mourning dress was a little uglier. She didn’t feel like it was right to look so awesome at a funeral.

She really wanted to know how Rarity had gotten Fast Pace’s size though.

“Hey Rainbow Dash, do you want me to stay a little longer? I’m sure my family won’t mind if I’m a little late to the party!” Pinkie offered as they gathered their things from the hotel later that same day.

“Nah, you go ahead and visit your folks.” She laughed without humor. “Besides, I’ve got the rest of the girls to help out while I get everything settled.”

“Okay, but if you need a laugh you can just visit Gummy! He’s a great Party Gator!” The pink mare beamed. This brought out a more authentic chuckle.

“Right, I’ll definitely do that.” Pinkie boarded a train that would take her to Rockfalls town and the rest of them boarded the train to Ponyville.

“So I’m really gonna live with you from now on?” Pace had already asked that question thirty two times. Rainbow was counting.

“Yup.” She said uncomfortably. What did one do with grieving foals anyway? She’d hugged him, sheltered him with her wings, made sure he ate, did he not want to live with her? Was that the problem? She couldn’t let him live alone, but this was going to be a major adjustment for both of them.

“I might leave for Wonderbolt training every now and then, but never for more than a couple of weeks. You can decide if you want to come with me on those trips or, if you’ve got school or something, then you’ll probably stay with one of my friends.” She looked questioningly at her friends, who each gave her reassuring nods.

“Can I call you Sis?” She looked between Rarity and Applejack in sheer panic. They both gave frantic nods.

“Yeah, sure.” She tried for a smile and was afraid it came off as a grimace. Luckily he was looking out the window, not at her. “You can call me Sis if ya want.”

“Dad said you learned to fly when you were my age. I don’t know anypony else who flew so early, dad said it must’a been a record!” He chattered on, never stopping to come up for air.

“Yeeeaaahh,” Hadn’t that been the year she’d flown into a storm?

“Dad said you fought Nightmare Moon too, that must’ve been so cool!” He continued.

“Uh well, that was only a one-time thing. Princess Luna is cool now.” She informed him.

“And you helped fight Discord and Tirek!” Huh, this kid really knew how to appreciate the important things in life.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Author's Note

Hang onto your hooves, wings, horns, and any other appendages you may have because the next chapter is going to be a doozy.

The Pie Family Reunion

It was probably a bright, sunny day in Ponyville, but Pinkie didn’t know for sure. She just hoped that if anypony threw a party that they’d at least think of her while they did. Right now she was on the train station of her old hometown, Rockfalls!

It was just as dark and somber as she remembered! Even that rock themed playground still had the same rock where Maud had gotten her hoof stuck when she was twelve!

Nopony was there to greet her, but that was fine. Her mom and sisters were probably really busy getting everything ready! Pinkie’s mouth watered as she thought of all the rock candy she was going to eat. Hopefully Maud would remember to get that special dissolving string for the necklaces, in case Pinkie accidentally swallowed one again.

She’d thought nopony was there to greet her, which is why she was so surprised when she saw her father standing by a tree.

At first she thought maybe he was waiting for another relative, one who didn’t know the way to the old rock farm, but she was proven wrong when he noticed her and trotted right over.

“Pinkamena.” He nodded slowly to her.

“Father.” She smiled. “It’s really good to see you again!” He looked, older. Of course, she’d known he would, it had been years since they last saw each other, but this was worse than she’d imagined.

He was thinner, his skin hung from his frame where muscle should have been. He hadn’t shaved and there were deep bags under his eyes.
But most worrying of all was his hooves.

They looked fine.

“Oh my gosh!” Pinkie gasped and rushed to his side. “Are you okay? Are you sick?” Even up close she couldn’t see any cracks or chips, no evidence that he’d been working in the fields.

But Igneous Rock Pie always worked the fields.

“Pinkamena, calm down!” The old stallion waved her off. His reassurance was lost as he bent over and coughed, hard and dry.

“Yes, I’m sick.” He admitted. “But don’t fret so, your mother’s already been doing enough of that to last a lifetime.”

“Come now, your mother will have supper waiting on us and your cousins have already mostly arrived.” But Pinkie did not stop worrying. She also did not stop asking him what was wrong.

“Alright, alright, thou would drive a saint to drink.” He gave in and led them off the road to a flat bedrock.

“Pinkamena, first let me say that I am sorry for the way I acted when you were a foal.” He began. “Your parties and laughter brought light to our fields, but I felt it was too soon for you to leave the farm to share them.”

“I am sorry for making you believe I did not support your dream, I have supported all my children in the lives they wish to lead, though none as soon as you.” He sighed with regret.

“I’m sorry for leaving so soon.” Pinkie sniffed. “I felt like I had to. Something was calling me.” Friends, destiny, many things had called for a pink furred foal.

“Pinkamena, don’t apologize for where life takes you unless you can honestly say you would not do it again, if given a second chance.” He scolded her. “Because you would have left again, just the same, if you felt the call of your cutie mark.”

“Tell me about the life you’ve led.” He requested.

“Well, I traveled to Vanhoover first, it’s the closest big city!” She said as if he did not already know. “I only stayed there long enough to get another train ticket though,”

“My mark was calling me to a town called Ponyville.” As soon as she’d stepped off the platform she’d known this was the place she was meant to be.

“I threw a huge party and invited everypony in town!” Though only fifteen or so had accepted the invitation. “After that, I started looking around for work.”

“That’s when I saw a Helping Hoof Wanted sign in the window of a bakery called Sugarcube Corner.” Mr. and Mrs. Cake had been newly wed then, and hadn’t been sure about hiring a filly who hadn’t even finished school, but they’d given her a chance.

“After a couple weeks of working there they offered to let me rent the attic room, and I lived there until a few weeks ago. I’m renting my own house now!” She continued with a tale of the Summer Sun Celebration, giggling at ghosties, fighting dragons, Twilight becoming a princess, and generally spreading friendship across Equestria.

“First mare in our family to ever lead such an exciting life.” Igneous shook his head with an unwilling chortle. “What will your Aunt Filly think?”

“Aunt Cream Filling is going to be there?” Pinkie gasped in horror. Her mother’s sister, who never approved of anything Pinkie or her sisters did or said and who wasn’t nearly as sweet as her name implied.

“I don’t think I brought enough party supplies.” She tapped her chin.

“It’ll be fine.” Igneous promised. “She’s promised to keep the peace given the, err, circumstances.”

“What circumstances?” Pinkie asked.

“Pinkamena,” He paused to order his words. “The reason we’re having this reunion is so I can say goodbye to all our kinfolk.”

“Goodbye?” She repeated in a whisper.

“Pinkamena, we heard from the doctor that I have only three months to live.”

There was gray. There were rocks.

But there might never be smiles again.

Her sisters took one look at her and swept her towards their mother, the only one among them who knew how to truly express what she felt.

“He told thee, did he not?” She nodded wordlessly and was pulled into a bone crushing hug. If Pinkamena had not been born an Earth pony she would have needed an emergency trip to the hospital.

If Pinkamena Diane Pie had cared to notice, she would have realized that her mane was flat and dull. But Pinkamena Diane Pie did not care to notice.

Cloudy Quarts felt fresh tears soak the fur of her face. Her husband, father of her four wonderful fillies, was dying by inches without a cure. Quarts had demolished mountains, moved boulders, survived avalanches, but she did not know how to stamp out a disease.

Slowly, she released her second youngest filly and looked her over. Pinkamena didn’t have the same solid build that Maud, Limestone, and Quarts had, but her legs were fit and trim, her teeth strong, hooves hard as rocks.

Of her four foals, only one was set to inherit the rock farm to use Earth pony magic to turn rocks into magic gems. It was the only way to get enough gems for everypony’s purposes without digging mines underground in Diamond Dog territory.

Limestone loved the rock farm as much as Igneous did, and Quarts knew the farm would do well under her leadership. Marble seemed content to follow her sister’s lead and had not chosen her own path just yet. Maud was doing well at school and would become a celebrated geologist or some other lauded scholar, Quarts was sure.

And Pinkamena was a party pony who sometimes saved Equestria.

This was the first time she’d seen her second youngest since she was twelve, Pinkamena looked well.

“Welcome home, daughter.” She smiled through the tears.

Her sisters were there, her parents were there, but the old farmhouse was even fuller with the visiting family members. Aunt Cream Filling had remarried, this time to a straw colored stallion named Roam, and had brought her five children, Metal Shine, Sherbet, Daffodil, Berry Pie, and Tonic Mix. There was also her father’s younger brother, Filbrick Stone with his pegasus wife Coral Reef, and their triplet foals, Steady Heart, Racewind, and Ruby Garnet. Multiples ran in the family.

There was also Aunt and Uncle Marble with Ring Soft and Chime, Cousin Breaker, second-cousin Saw Blade, and then there was Flour Touch, Apron Strings, Billy Boy (Pinkie noticed he’d gotten the new surgery) Charmer, Beatrice Audry Gem, Sapphire Gem, Mineral Gem, Rock Roller, Wide Load, Soft Touch, and Forge.

The Pie Family Reunion began bright and early the next morning as the stragglers arrived. Pinkie had added her own touch to the festivities. If this was going to be her dad’s last reunion ever then she was going to make it the best one in history! She’d even arranged games!

There was Gem Rolling to see who could make a gem out of a rock the fastest. Rock Breaking to see who could smash boulders the best. A Rock Candy eating contest had been added too!

She’d made lots of sweets she’d learned from the Cakes for the lunch table, cakes, pies, cupcakes, buns, creams, she’d been up half the night baking everything! And then she’d spent most of the morning putting up the decorations!

So yes, Pinkie was heavily invested in this reunion going off without a hitch. So getting voted as the sister who had to sit next to Aunt Cream Filling, otherwise known as Equestria’s biggest party pooper, put a bit of a cramp in her style.

“What? Why me?” She turned imploring eyes on Maud.

“She requested you.” Which was Maud speak for I’d take your place if I could but please, please, please don’t make me.

“Oh, but she’s so—“ She searched for the right word. “Proper!”

Wait, no. That wasn’t a good word. Rarity was proper too but Rarity never insulted everypony in hearing. Or caused fights. Or bragged about non-existent achievements.

Pinkie did not like Aunt Cream Filling, she didn’t think anypony did.

“Well Pinkamena, you’ve certainly grown.” Cream Filling had a butterscotch colored coat and a white-whipped mane, though strands of gray had begun intruding on it. She stood rigidly straight with her nose lifted just a little higher than everypony else’s and kept it wrinkled, like she smelled a dirty diaper everywhere she went.

“Well yeah, I mean it’s been years since we’ve last seen each other!” She smiled nervously.

“Hmm, yes.” From the way her eyes looked pointedly at her mid-section it didn’t seem as though she’d been talking about Pinkie’s height.

“It was quite a scandal when you ran off like that. Sneaking away in the dead of night.” She hmphed. “My foals would never do anything like that.”

“But then, you seem to have done well for yourself.” Aunt Cream Filling changed her tone. “The Element of Laughter, I believe? Close personal friend of Equestria’s new Princess, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh yeah!” Pinkie cheered, glad for the topic change. “She’s great! She’s got this amazing library and she’s super smart!”

“Have you considered how your relationship with the Princess Twilight is affecting the family business?” She questioned, giving a discreet nod to one of her daughters.

“Oh yes, when ponies hear the name Pie they automatically think about Pinkie Pie!” Sherbet came up to say. “Business at the bakery has been doing extremely well since we put a picture of you in the front window.”

“Even our gems have been selling better.” Metal Shine added, his baritone voice surprising her for a second. “Ponies seem to think that the family of a mare powerful enough to be chosen as an Element of Harmony must provide exceptionally pure gems.”

“Huh, I think Applejack mentioned something like that happening at Sweet Apple Acres too!” She beamed. “I’m glad I was able to help!”

“Yes, you just,” Aunt Cream Filling seemed to gulp down something hard to swallow. “Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing. For the sake of the family.”

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” She Pinkie Promised.

“…I believe we’re finished here.” Aunt Cream Filling turned away.

“You handled that well.” Marble sighed in relief. “Honestly, they’re sooo…difficult to get along with.”

“I know the feeling, but her heart’s in the right place!” Pinkie grinned. “Besides, I really am happy to know everypony’s doing well.”

“Oh, Pinkie, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” She started. “Well, me and Limestone.”

“Where is she anyway?” They both looked up and down for their third triplet and found her refereeing the rock breaking contest.

“These games were a great idea, Pinkie.” Limestone had to shout a little to be heard over the sounds of crumbling gravel. “The foals are having a lot of fun, even some older family members have joined in. They just better not think about leaving this for me to clean up!”

“A job well done is its own reward.” Pinkie nodded in satisfaction. The farm had come a long way from being the dreary place of her foalhood. “You and Marble wanted to talk to me about something?”

“Yes,” They moved away from the other party goers.

“Alright, here’s the story.” Limestone grumbled, still the same old grumpy pants. “Father’s been spouting some load that Marble and I need to leave home and ‘discover’ ourselves or something. Says we should get a chance to see the rest of Equestria before we’re tied to one place.”

“I don’t like that idea.” Her sister snorted. “But it is what father wishes, so I will abide by his request for a few weeks. But no more than that!”

“So you guys want to come to Ponyville with me?” Pinkie lit up in glee, reading between the lines. “This’ll be great! You can meet all my friends and we’ll see each other every day!”

“There’s….more.” Marble drooped. Pinkie frowned, looking between her sisters.

“After father’s diagnosis, we all had ourselves tested to make sure we did not inherit it through his blood.” She stumbled over her words. “Limestone and I are infected, we believe you might be as well.”

“Wh-What? Infected?” She repeated.

“When caught early, it can be treated.” Marble quickly reassured her, so much like Fluttershy. “Neither of us have developed symptoms yet, so we know it is not yet active. If we keep an eye on ourselves and have regular check-ups we should catch it in the early stages if it ever activates.”

“Maud did not inherit it, good for her.” Limestone sighed. “But you’d better get tested as soon as possible!”

“Right.” She nodded glumly. “What is it exactly?”

“Shrinking Magic Syndrome.” Marble informed her. “When it activates it makes the magic inside you start weakening, lesser and lesser the longer it goes on until your body eventually cannot produce enough magic to keep you alive.”

“As your magic gets weaker, so does your immune system.” Limestone continued. “Father has had that dang cough for six moons now.”

“It can lie dormant in a pony’s body their whole life, but the doctors are not sure what causes it to activate.” Marble picked up where she’d left off. “It could happen at any moment for no reason at all.”

“Scary.” She shivered.

“Yes.” Her sisters agreed.

“There is….yet more.” Marble started hesitantly.

“Ugh, more? How much bad news can one mare take?” Pinkie grumbled.

“Marble and I have chosen never to bare foals, so this disease never continues. Maud will just have to bear foals for the farm, or you if you don’t have it too.” Limestone said bluntly.

Pinkie imagined a little pink furred foal, but rather than bouncing beside a colorful hearthwarming present the foal lied on a hospital bed, dying for the blood in her veins.

“Oh.” Pinkamena shook.

Her father had only three months to live, and Pinkie might never have a foal.

The Sweetie Bell Rings

Chapter 5: The Sweetie Bell Rings!

Her parents had indeed arrived while Rarity was away. Luckily they had been found and informed of their impending trial before they’d been able to find her. Steady Hoof promised that they wouldn’t let her parents get to her, but Sweetie wasn’t sure that was very reassuring.
She kind of wanted to talk to them. She wanted to hear their side of the story, get some kind of explanation.

But Rarity and Steady Hoof were right when they said her parents had done bad things, and would continue doing bad things if they could. Sweetie Bell didn’t really want to risk breaking her promise just because she wanted to believe her parents really loved her.

“Come on, Sweetie Bell, cheer up!” Scootaloo urged her. “Come on, we’ll play whatever you want!” She tried to bargain.

“Yeah, tea party, dress up, you name it!” Applebloom agreed.

“I don’t really feel like playing.” She shrunk back.

“Is there anything that will cheer you up?” Scootaloo sighed, stumped.

“No.” She turned away.

“Sweetie Bell, talk to us.” Applebloom laid a hoof on her shoulder. “We’re your friends, we hate seein’ ya all hurt like this.”

“We could go to Sugarcube Corner? Come on, I’ll buy!” Scootaloo tried again.

Sweetie was incredibly glad she had such good friends. The crusade for their own mark might be over, but they had a bright future full of helping other ponies ahead of them. They’d even started redecorating the clubhouse to symbolize this.

One of the walls of the clubhouse was now dedicated to Success Stories, ponies they’d helped with their marks and destinies. Trouble Shoes was there, and now so was Diamond Tiara. Sweetie was excited to find out who they’d help next.

“Okay,” She relented. “Sugarcube Corner does sound good.”

“Alright Crusaders, to Sugarcube Corner!” Applebloom whooped. They ran out of the orchard, laughing and smiling.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They skidded to a halt outside the Rich Family General Store. Diamond Tiara trotted over to them quickly, a smile they were still getting used to on her face.

“I’m glad I found you so quickly, there’s someponies here who want to talk to you!” She informed them.

“Talk to us?” Scootaloo gasped in joy. “Maybe they want help with their cutie marks too!”

The Corner all but forgotten, they followed Diamond Tiara into her family’s store.

“They were trying to buy something on credit, but daddy doesn’t accept credit accounts without a bank statement to tell him they’re good for it.” She explained as they wound through the aisles towards the grocery customer help counter.

“But dad recognized them and said he was surprised to see them back in town, then he told me that they’re your parents!” She finished just as they rounded the corner.

Sweetie Bell gasped in shock. Her mother and father were both there, staring back at her.

“Uh-oh.” She heard Scootaloo mutter. “Uh, Diamond Tiara? You didn’t know so it’s not your fault, but there’s some trouble with Sweetie Bell’s family right now.”

“Sweetie, darling!” Her mom scooped her up before Sweetie could decide what to do. “Look at you, so big!”

“We’re glad you’re here, dear.” Her father sighed in relief. “Seems your sister’s been making mountains out of mole hills again.”

The mention of Rarity shocked her out of her stupor. With a cry of rage her horn lit up and she pushed her mother off her.

“Mole hills?!” She demanded. “You think spending my sister’s money so you can go on your stupid vacations so you’re never home is a mole hill!?”

“D-Did I do something wrong?” She heard Diamond Tiara whisper.

“Not your fault.” Applebloom reassured her. “But do us all a favor and find a guard pony, NOW!”

“When I was sick with the Red Fever you two couldn’t even get jobs to help me! You blackmailed Rarity so she could help me!” Sweetie Bell was not in the mood to be calmed.

“There were things going on you wouldn’t understand!” Silver Bell tried to reason with her.

“The last time you were here you didn’t even stay for a full day before leaving again!” She screamed. “Do you have any idea how many nights Rarity has stayed up trying to make back the money you spent going sight seeing?”

“Hi, glad you’re here!” Scootaloo sounded oddly panicky but Sweetie Bell didn’t turn around to see what the problem was. As far as she was concerned, it was right in front of her and named Silver Bell and Copper Trim.

“Our friend has a restraining order on her parents and they tricked our other friend into bringing us here!” Applebloom rushed to explain.

“Sweetie, that’s enough! Can’t you see you’re blowing this out of proportion?” Copper Trim tried to quiet her.

“What’s going on here?” She thought she heard Diamond Tiara’s dad show up.

“Silver Bell and Copper Trim, I’m going to have to ask you to step away from the foal.” A new voice ordered.

“This is preposterous!” Silver Bell cried. “Why should I be barred from seeing my own foals? What lies has my daughter been spreading?”

“Rarity isn’t a liar!” Sweetie thought her voice might crack if she screamed any higher. “You’re both horrible and I never want to see you again!”

She turned around and galloped as fast as she could away from that scene.

If her eyes hadn’t been clouded by tears she might have noticed that her parents were strangely covered in produce due to the accidental magic she’d used.

“Sweetie Bell, wait up!” She heard two voices calling after her. They were the voices of two ponies she knew she could trust with anything, they would never let her down.

“How come..pant…You never move that fast in gym class?” Scootaloo’s sides were heaving when they caught up to her.

Sweetie Bell burst into tears.

“I didn’t mean it!” Scootaloo back pedaled.

“I-I-I w-want Rarity!” She sobbed into her hooves.

“It’ll be okay, she’ll be back tomorrow.” Applebloom said softly, nuzzling her. Scootaloo folded a wing protectively over her flank from the other side.

When she calmed down a little they went back to Sweet Apple Acres. This day had turned into a disaster that no amount of cupcakes could fix and she just wished it would end already.

Applebloom and Scootaloo had to explain what had happened to Big Mac and Granny Smith. The old mare had been thoroughly disgusted by the actions of her parents and Big Mac had gone into town to find out what was being done about it.

“C’mere, poor foal.” Granny Smith swept her into a warm hug. “Everything’s gonna be alright, y’hear? Yer sister will be back tomorrow afternoon and we’ll make sure those ponies don’t hurt ya.”

“Yeah, you’ve got nothing to worry about, Sweetie Bell.” Scootaloo promised.

“Granny Smith?” Sweetie Bell sniffed and wiped her eyes. “They’ll leave again after the trial, right? Even if they don’t have money for their trips anymore?”

“They will if they know what’s good for’em.” The old mare scowled. “By end of the day the whole town’ll know what sorry folks they are.”

“They will?” She gulped. She hadn’t thought about that. Everypony was going to know about her parents?

“Come on, Sweetie Bell, it’ll be fine!” Applebloom reassured her.

It was definitely not fine. It had taken Applebloom ten minutes that morning to convince Sweetie Bell to come to school, but they were now five minutes late already because everypony kept stopping them and telling Sweetie Bell how she didn’t have to be afraid because her parents had been put on house arrest.

They hadn’t even passed Sugarcube Corner yet! Ms. Cheerilee was going to be so upset!

“Oh, Sweetie Bell!” She flinched as Mrs. Cake’s voice stopped them.

“For the love of Celestia!” Applebloom angrily muttered beside her.

“Poor dear,” Mrs. Cake swept her up into another hug. That was sixteenth hug Sweetie Bell had gotten today. “Don’t worry, as soon as that trial’s over those mean old ponies won’t be able to bother you or Rarity ever again!”

“Okay, thanks for your concern but we’re kinda late, gotta go, bye!” She and Applebloom raced for the schoolhouse.

“Oh, Sweetie Bell!” She flinched as Derpy’s voice stopped them.

“Not again!” Applebloom groaned.

“Hey, are you doing alright?” The gray mail-mare asked. “I heard about your parents.”

“Everypony has.” She mumbled.

“I just wanted to let you know if you ever need anything, even just to talk, I’m all ears!” The mail-mare flew off again, thankfully without giving Sweetie her seventeenth hug for the day.

“Let’s make tracks!” Applebloom shoved her. “Ah don’t wanna be any later than we already are!”

“Hold up there Sweetie Bell!” Both fillies groaned.

“Applebloom, Sweetie Bell,” Ms. Cheerilee greeted them as they came in. “Given the circumstances I’ll let your tardiness slide just this once, but please try not to make a habit of it.”

“Yes ma’am!” They nodded frantically.

“Oh, and Sweetie Bell, would you please stay in for a few minutes of recess?” Sweetie Bell flinched.

“Yes ma’am.”

Even when class began again there was no reprieve. Notes fell like snow over her desk as everypony asked the same questions over and over again. Was she okay? Were her parents scary? Did they ever hurt her? Only Diamond Tiara’s was different, it just apologized for yesterday.

Sweetie didn’t feel like she’d learned anything by the time the recess bell rang.

“Ms. Cheerilee, you wanted to speak to me?” She gathered all her courage, though it was starting to feel like it was in short supply.

“Yes,” The mare sat down so they could have a serious conversation. “How are you taking all this?”

“I wish Rarity didn’t need to go to Canterlot.” She sighed. “I also wish everypony would quit stopping me on the streets!”

“I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time.” Her teacher offered. “All these changes must be pretty rough on you.”

“It’s not that bad.” She fidgeted, unsure how to explain herself. “I’ve always mostly lived at the boutique with Rarity, once they leave this time it’ll be for good, and Rarity won’t have to work so hard anymore.”

“What bugs me is that everypony is treating me different!” She admitted.

“The foals of Equestria are precious to us.” Ms. Cheerilee lifted her chin. “To hear of one of them being abused brings out the herd instinct in all of us.”

“Herd instinct?” Sweetie Bell asked.

“You don’t usually learn about it until your final year, but herd instinct is actually a big influence on Equestrian Society.” She explained. “Ponies are by nature a herd species, that’s why there are so few colts born compared to fillies, and why we tend to group together unlike the Dragons or Gryphons who prefer traveling alone most of the time.”

“Our first instinct is always to take care of the herd, the group.” She lectured. “When one of us feels threatened, the others come in rearing to defend them.”

"Sometimes herd instinct can work against us, provoking us to avoid those we see as different.” Sweetie Bell was reminded of Zecora. “Since we are a prey species our first reaction to any threat is to run away or avoid it, but that only goes so far.”

“When one of our foals are threatened, that instinct makes us very aggressive towards the threat and protective of the foal.” Ms. Cheerilee took out a diagram from an older class. “This is because ancient ponies weren’t able to outrun the dangers if they had foals with them, so they had to focus on eliminating the threat.”

“So everypony is acting different because of their herd instincts?” She clarified.

“That’s part of it, yes. That’s really only one aspect of herd instinct, but I think the rest can wait until you’re a little older.” Ms. Cheerilee smiled at her. “Now, I’ll bet your friends are waiting for you outside. There’s still plenty of recess left.”

“Thanks, Ms. Cheerilee!” She ran out the doors, eager to share with her friends what she’d learned.

“There you are!” Scootaloo noticed her first. “What did Ms. Cheerilee want to talk to you about?”

“Do you girls know what herd instinct is?” Sweetie asked.

“A little,” Applebloom shrugged. “Applejack said it’s what drives family to stick together.”

After she’d repeated everything Ms. Cheerilee had said they all sat down to think about it. The girls had heard mentions of herd instinct before, but they’d never considered it to be important. It was an adult thing, they thought. They hadn’t known that all Equestrian society was based on it.

“Some ponies still do herd marriages.” Scootaloo reminded them. “One stallion marries a bunch of mares at once and they have foals together and stuff.”

“Ya know, Crusaders,” Applebloom hummed. “Looking just at the playground, there sure aren’t a whole lot of colts are there?”

“What’s your point, Applebloom?” Sweetie asked. That was the way things were, more girls than boys.

“Well, if it takes a mare and a stallion to make a foal, then how come there are so many foals when there aren’t a lot of stallions to go around?” She quizzed them.

They’d never considered that before. They knew, thanks to Applebloom’s farmer wisdom, how foals came into existence, but they’d never thought more of it than that.

“Uh, the stallions sire lots of kids?” Scootaloo guessed.

“But not everypony is brother and sister.” Applebloom shook her head.

“Maybe they use magic to get a foal inside them if they can’t get a special somepony?” Sweetie suggested.

“I don’t think so.” Scootaloo rejected that idea. “Twilight said unicorns can’t create new life, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” She frowned. This was turning out to be a pretty big mystery.

“You three are talking about foals?” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked up to them.

“Yeah, we can’t figure out how there’s so many foals when only one colt is born for every five fillies.” Applebloom informed her.

“Oh!” Silver Spoon lit up. “I know that!”

“You do?” Scootaloo perked up. “Tell us!”

“It’s called ESC, Every Stallion Contributes.” She explained. “My mom explained everything to me when I asked why I didn’t have a father like Diamond Tiara.”

“ESC is a law that says every stallion has to sire at least two foals to keep Equestria’s population up.” She continued. “There are special places in big cities where mares go when they’re in heat and they have to fill out a bunch of papers before they pay for a service stallion, a stallion who’s job is to help mares have foals.”

“When a stallion sires a foal he has to file it with the mare to confirm it for his ESC, that way the government knows he did his part.” She finished.

“Huh, so that’s it.” Applebloom rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “So that means I’m guaranteed to get at least two nieces or nephews from Big Mac! Cool!”

“Wait, so it’s possible for everypony to have half-brothers and sisters that they don’t even know about?” Scootaloo asked incredulously. “They might go their whole lives without realizing they’re family!”

“If you want to find out if you have half-siblings just ask your mom who your dad was,” Diamond Tiara suggested. “Then you just need to look up his records to see if he sired anypony else.”

“Huh, yeah!” The pegasus filly beamed. “I’m definitely gonna ask her when I get home today!”

“Ah know who both my parents are, even if they’re not around anymore.” Applebloom frowned for a minute before shaking her head. “Do you think Twilight and the others know their daddies?”

“I know Twilight does.” Sweetie spoke up. “I saw her parents at Shining Armor’s wedding.”

“I don’t know if Rainbow Dash does, I’ll ask her when she gets back from Canterlot.” Scootaloo said.

“Didn’t Pinkie say she grew up on a Rock farm?” Applebloom asked. “I think she mentioned her parents in her cutie mark story.”

“So that just leaves Fluttershy, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her mention her parents.” Sweetie said.

“Silver Spoon, do you know who yours is?” She asked the silver filly.

“I know his name is Finder and he’s an Earth pony like me.” She nodded.

“Ah wonder if the other ponies in our class all know who they’re daddy is.” Applebloom turned a speculative eye on the rest of the class.

“We could ask.” Sweetie Bell suggested.

“Yeah, we can do a survey!” Scootaloo quickly pulled out some pencils and paper from her saddlebag.

They five of them each chose a hooffull of their classmates and raced off. Peppermint Twist didn’t know her father, Snips and Snails were half-brothers by Wild Streak and knew it, Lazy Susan didn’t know, Funny Frankie didn’t know, Sugar Plum knew her father was named Blue Moon, Pipsqueak’s dad was married to his mom and was named Tiny, they were expecting another foal soon, Dinky didn’t know who her dad was but knew her sister Sparkler had a different one.

By the end of recess they knew which of their classmates knew their dad and which ones didn’t.

“So…Why did we do all that?” Scootaloo asked as they trotted back inside. “It’s kinda cool to know this stuff, but what do we do now?”

“A lot of the foals said they were interested in knowing if they had brothers or sisters.” Applebloom pointed out. “Ah say we go to Town Hall and look up the birth certificates of the ponies that don’t know their dads, then we can find out how many other foals they had.”

“That’s a great idea!” Sweetie Bell cheered. “But I don’t think we should do it today.”

“Why not?” Scootaloo asked as they sat down.

“Rarity and the others will be back soon.” She reminded them.

“You’re right, we haven’t even asked Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy about their dads!” Applebloom considered. “You can go to your sister, Scootaloo and ah can handle them.”

“Alright, tell me how it goes tomorrow.” She agreed.

Rarity was waiting for her at the school gates when class let out.

“Sweetie Bell!” She latched onto the filly with a grip that promised to never loosen. “Oh dear, I heard everything from Steady Hoof! Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine!” She groaned. “Everypony keeps asking me that!”

“So sorry, dear.” Rarity set her down. “Well, it won’t happen again, I can assure you of that!”

“See ya tomorrow, Sweetie Bell!” Applebloom and Scootaloo waved as they ran off to find their targets.

“Bye girls!” She waved back.

“Well then, dear, tell me everything.” So Sweetie Bell launched into a re-telling of the last two days’ events.

Author's Note

I'm back, have a chapter as an apology, followed closely by another chapter.

Applebloom Begins to Grow

Chapter 6: Applebloom Begins to Grow!

Applebloom made her way towards Fluttershy’s cottage by the edge of the Everfree forest. The day was warm and sunny, the birds were chirping, and nothing was moving on the edge of the forest so she probably wouldn’t get attacked by a manticore again.

Fluttershy was outside saying hello to all her animal pals, so Applebloom marched right on over.

“Howdy, Fluttershy!” She made sure that she didn’t come up in the nervous pegasus’ blind spot.

“Oh, hello, Applebloom.” Fluttershy returned her greeting. “How was school today?”

“It was good!” She smiled, pleased they’d gotten to the subject already. She would be the first to say she wasn’t the best at beating around the bush. “The Crusaders and Ah learned something new about Equestrian society today.”

“Really? What did you girls learn?” Fluttershy looked around curiously when she couldn’t find the other two fillies.

“Scootaloo went to find Rainbow Dash to tell her about what we learned, and Sweetie Bell wanted to be with Rarity for a while.” Applebloom explained. “Anyway, we learned about herd instinct today.”

“You did?” She seemed surprise. “Huh, I don’t think herd instinct was even mentioned until final year.”

“Ms. Cheerilee explained it to Sweetie Bell because everypony’s been real worried for her since yesterday.” She explained again.

“I heard about that as well.” Now the timid pony looked uncharacteristically hostile. Applebloom hadn’t seen her so mad since the cockatrice. “It’s just awful!”

“Oh, but, you were saying you learned about herd instinct.” She blushed.

“Yeah, we learned of how ponies used to fight monsters and stuff whenever they had foals because they couldn’t run away.” She nodded. “And we learned how so many foals are born when there aren’t a lot of stallions!”

“You did?” She gasped. “My, that certainly is…uhm, progressive of Ms. Cheerilee.”

“Oh no, she didn’t tell us that! Silver Spoon explained all about the ESC law!” Applebloom corrected her. “All of us went around the playground asking the other foals if they knew both their parents, but most of them didn’t!”

“Then Scootaloo got to wondering whether or not any of us had any half-siblings we didn’t already know about and—!” She was interrupted by Fluttershy’s horrified gasp.

“You said Scootaloo went to find Rainbow Dash?” She asked worriedly.

“Uh, yeah?” She was suddenly swept onto the back of the yellow mare as they flew faster than Applebloom had ever seen Fluttershy go before.

“This is terrible! Applebloom, we went to Canterlot to attend Rainbow’s father’s funeral!” She yelled over her shoulder.

“What!?” Now she understood Fluttershy’s panic.

“Yes, and Rainbow only then found out that she has a half-brother!” She continued as they neared town. “If Scootaloo brings that up without being sensitive she could hurt Rainbow’s feelings and poor little Fast Pace!”

“Who’s Fast Pace?” She asked.

“He’s Rainbow’s brother, he’s going to be living with her from now on!” She told her. “Quick, we have to find Scootaloo!”

“There!” Applebloom cried, pointing to the orange filly on her scooter. She must still be looking for Rainbow Dash.

“Scootaloo, stop!” They both cried.

After a hasty explanation they were both taken to Sugarcube Corner for milkshakes. Fluttershy paid for both of them and gave them the longer version of the past few days’ events. Scootaloo was appalled that she’d nearly been so insensitive to her mentor’s feelings.

“Phew,” She sighed in relief. “Good thing you caught me when you did. I’d just heard that somepony had seen her flying towards her house!”

“Yeah, dodged one there.” Applebloom agreed.

“It’s alright, girls.” Fluttershy reassured them.

“We just wanted to know if you and Rainbow Dash knew who your dads were.” Scootaloo slumped in her seat.

“Oh well, Rainbow’s always known her father, Quick Dive, but wasn’t particularly close to him. She only recently found out about Fast Pace and she’s taking custody of him now.” She told them. “And, um, I’ve only met my father once.”

“Really?” Applebloom asked, interested.

“Oh yes, I met him after I graduated, when I first moved to Ponyville.” She smiled at the memory. “My mother had written to him telling him about me and he’d wanted to meet me because I inherited his talent.”

“He’s a zookeeper in Las Pegasus, his name is Lion Tamer. We’re pen pals now.” She explained.

“That reminds me,” Scootaloo spoke. “I’ve still got to run home and ask my mom about my dad. Thanks for the milkshake, Fluttershy.”

“Ah should get home to do my chores too.” Applebloom stood up. “Thanks again for the milkshake, Fluttershy.”

“Any time, girls.” She waved them both off.

Applebloom couldn’t believe how crazy the last couple of days had been. She’d thought things would slow down a bit once they had their cutie marks, but it didn’t look that way. One thing was for sure, she was going to give Applejack a huge hug when she got home, and one for Big Mac too! She couldn’t imagine ever living life without knowing she had a big brother and a big sister.

“Aw shucks sugarcube, ah wasn’t gone that long.” Applejack laughed as Applebloom latched onto her.

“Ah know, ah’m just really glad you’re my sister and ah know you!” She smiled.

“What do you mean by that?” Her sister blinked.

A few minutes later the three Apple siblings were bucking trees together. Applebloom didn’t have the muscle or stamina to do it full time just yet, but she was learning all the same.

“Hey Big Mac, are ya gonna sire any foals soon? The ESC says ya have to!” She asked excitedly.

“Not yet I don’t.” He shook his head. “I want to raise my foals with a good mare, not just sire’em.”

“Ah didn’t think of that.” She sobered. Why would a stallion ever want to have foals if they weren’t gonna raise them with the Ma?

The next day the Cutie Mark crusaders went to Town Hall to look up the birth certificates. As they worked, under the careful eye of Mayor Mare, Scootaloo told them about what she’d learned from her mother.

“His name is Slap Dash and he’s some kinda repair pony, but mom said he wasn’t a very good one.” She informed them.

None of their classmates had any half-siblings in the same town, but a few were listed as having brothers and sisters in other places.

“Ya know, Crusaders,” Applebloom looked over the papers they’d collected. “This gives me an idea!”

“What is it?” Sweetie asked excitedly.

“Family trees!” Applebloom told them. “We’ve always got to do one really big end-of-the-year project, remember? Last year we did that whole Circle-of-Life thing.”

“Oh yeah, we made some of the younger foals cry.” Scootaloo winced at the memory.

“This time, Ah say we do a family tree. A huge one for everypony in Ponyville!” She proposed. “We go around get everypony’s family tree written down!”

“Hey yeah!” Sweetie Bell seemed to get the idea. “But that’d take a lot of paper, what if we just paint it on some plywood instead?”

“Good thinking.” Applebloom nodded. “But for now let’s worry about getting those family trees.”

Her sister always said family and friends were the most important things in Equestria. Maybe it was time to make sure everypony else knew it too.

Author's Note

Ta-da! Little bonus chapter! I'll try not to be away for so long this time but we'll see.

Twilight's Unseen Future

It was not a normal day in Ponyville. Normal days, at least in Twilight’s experience, involved monster attacks, dangerous spells, friendship conflicts, and somehow finding the strength of will to keep going, even when everything down to her bones drooped in fatigue.

So no, this wasn’t a day that could be described as normal. It was even better! This was a great day and she couldn’t wait to share it with her friends.

Once more for prosperity, Twilight read the letter she’d just received from the Crystal Empire.

Dear Twily,

Cadence and I are coming to do a tour of Equestria for a couple of weeks. Conventions, speeches, the usual dignitary things. And it just so happens that we’ll have a couple days free during our travel time to spend with you and all your friends in Ponyville. We’ll be arriving on the sixteenth, after a convention in Baltimare. It’ll only be for a couple of days, but I’m sure we can make the most of it. Anyway, we’re both really looking forward to seeing you.

Your BBBFF,
Shining Armor.

She squealed in glee and did a quick hoofy dance around the room. This was perfect! The surprise she’d planned for him was almost ready and now she didn’t need to think of an excuse to convince him to visit sooner! He’d be here tomorrow morning!

Or afternoon, he hadn’t exactly set a time. He really should’ve, he had to know the train schedules and be able to hypothesize his arrival time.

Either way, she was excited enough to almost forget about the reshelving she’d planned for the whole library to make room for the new books she’d ordered! She rescheduled it to take place after Shining Armor and Cadence left and went to find Spike.

“Spike, call the girls!” She ordered as soon as she found him in the kitchen. “Tell them I have exciting news!”

“What news?” He asked, putting away his apron.

“That will be a surprise.” She trotted away to look at the room she’d been preparing for Shining Armor. She was almost certain that she had the placement of everything exactly right, but she wasn’t able to remember well. She’d moved out so early and then Shining Armor had joined the Royal Guards as soon as he’d graduated, she didn’t want anything to be out of place. She just knew he was going to love it!

“Howdy, Twilight.” Applejack nodded as she entered the throne room. “What’s this ah hear about some exciting news?”

“You’ll hear it as soon as everypony else arrives.” Twilight took her seat. No sooner did she sit down before Rarity and Fluttershy arrived together, judging from the state of their glossy hooves and slightly damp manes, Twilight guessed they’d been coming back from their weekly spa trip.

“Rarity, Fluttershy, glad you could make it.” She greeted them. “Rarity, how did things go with…” She paused, suddenly not sure that had been the best thing she could say.

“Hello, Twilight.” Rarity smiled. “And it’s….Well, Sweetie is taking this extremely well and I’m thankful for that. A date hasn’t been set yet, it seems my parents are kicking up a bit of a fuss due to the scene caused by Sweetie’s accidental magic.”

“I’ve been doing a little research,” Twilight sighed quietly as she thought of those new law books due to arrive next week. “And in all cases, accidental magic caused by emotional distress of the foal is laid at the hooves of the stressors.”

“Yes, Steady Hoof said the same thing.” Rarity nodded. “I just wish this could be wrapped up already. I just hope word of this doesn’t spread far past Ponyville, that kind of scandal could damage my sales!”

“I’m sure everything will turn out fine.” Fluttershy reassured her.

“Hey guys, sorry I’m late, I was still dragging clouds when Spike found me.” Rainbow came in through a window.

“Rainbow Dash, how’s Fast Pace settling in?” Twilight turned to her.

“Uh, alright I guess. Had to set a few ground rules after he had a little accident stretching his wings this morning, but nothing I can’t handle.” The rainbow mare made sure to add.

“Ooh, Dashie, you have to tell me when it’s a good time to throw Fast Pace his Welcome to Ponyville party!” Pinkie said as she bounced, literally and Twilight was very carefully not thinking of how she was doing it, into the room. “So what’s up!?”

“Alright, now that everypony’s here we can begin.” Twilight pulled up the letter.

“Shining Armor and Princess Cadence are coming to Ponyville!” Twilight paused. She hadn’t expected to hear herself in stereo.

Pinkie looked across the table at her excitedly.

“Uh, right, and” She continued. “They’ll be arriving tomorrow after they attend a convention in Baltimare.”

Everypony looked at Pinkie. Pinkie looked at Twilight.

“AAANNNDDD?....” The pink mare prompted.

“And? What? That’s it.” She blinked.

“Oh.” Her bouncy friend deflated.

“How’d you know all that stuff?” Rainbow asked curiously.

“U-Uuhh….Pinkie sense?” Without another word Pinkie reappeared in her throne and began nervously chewing her lip.

Which, was pretty par the course for Pinkie Pie. Twilight was never sure she was interpreting Pinkie’s body language right. Everything the pink mare did was always excessively exaggerated.

“Anyway,” She coughed to get everypony’s attention. “Since they’ll be arriving tomorrow, I’d like your help with something.”

“Why, of course, Twilight.” Rarity smiled. “You need only ask.”

“Come on, I’ll show you guys the surprise I’m planning for Shining Armor’s visit!” She eagerly led them to one of the many guest rooms in the castle. Slowly, Twilight was drafting a basic floorplan of the castle tree, but every time she thought she was finished with one floor she suddenly discovered a trap door or secret compartment.

“Ta-Da!” She flung the door open.

“It’s his foalhood room!” She explained with a laugh. “He’s going to freak when he sees it!”

“A little juvenile for castle décor, but it is a very sweet act, Twilight.” Rarity inspected the thread count on the blanket and sheets. Twilight had gotten Shining Armor’s actual old bedding from her parents and used a rejuvenating spell to restore it.

“Oh my, look at the little ants!” Fluttershy admired the ant farm. Twilight had only bought it yesterday, it was the newest addition to the room.

She went from friend to friend explaining all the items they found or were curious about. None of these items had the sentimental value for them that it would have for Shining, but they were a good gauge so she had a general idea of how Shining would react when he saw everything.

“Giving the surprise is almost better than being the one surprised!” Rainbow laughed as she flew from poster to poster.

“…But what if a mare knows the surprise and she really needs to tell the mares next to her or she might explode!?” Pinkie jumped out of the old toy chest to wrap herself around Fluttershy.

“Uhm, I would say,” The shy mare shook her head. “No.”

“The pony who ruins a surprise has to live with that guilt forever!” Rarity said ominously.

“EEEEEKKKKK!” Twilight made a note to repair that wall before Shining Armor arrived.

“I know the bar’s set pretty high, but did any of you think Pinkie was being extra weird today?” Rainbow asked.

“It is a little concerning.” Twilight allowed. “But she’d tell us if something was really bothering her, right?”

“She told us about her decision to move.” Fluttershy reminded them.

“Right.” Twilight nodded. “Pinkie Pie knows that if there’s anything troubling her she can come to any of us for help or advice.” That decided she repaired the wall and turned back to her friends.

“So, do you girls think you could help me with the final preparations?” She received a chorus of affirmations.

“Great!” She pulled out a list. “I was going to have Pinkie Pie cater, I’ll have to find her to tell her later.” Another thing to add to the list.

“Applejack, do you think you could make a bookshelf? I have a picture of the one Shining used to have but I wasn’t able to find a duplicate of it.” She held up the picture for inspection.

“Yeah, this looks doable.” The farmer agreed. “Ah can do this lickity split!”

“Thank you.” Twilight turned towards Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, I’m not sure what to do with an ant farm. I was hoping you could give me some tips?”

“Of course!” The pegasus nodded.

“Rarity, I don’t want Cadence to feel left out so I thought maybe you could suggest something from your store?” She asked hopefully.

“Darling, say no more!” The unicorn held up a hoof. “By the time I’ve finished Princess Cadence will look even better than she did on her wedding day!”

“And me?” Rainbow rubbed her hooves in excitement.

“You know I’m not the most sporty type,” She raised her wings a little. “So I wanted your help with organizing some activities we could do together.”

“No prob!” Rainbow smirked. “Do you know how to play hoofball?”

“I know the rules.” Twilight confirmed.

“Great, I’ll set up a field for that, and maybe a little relay.” Rainbow considered it. “With eight ponies we’ll have even teams.”

“You’re pretty excited about this.” Spike commented after they’d separated. Fluttershy had needed to run home to grab a book on etymology. It galled Twilight that she didn’t have a book like that in the entire library and she made a special note to make sure that wrong would be rectified.

“Of course!” She giggled. “Shining Armor always used to give me little surprises growing up, it feels so good to finally be able to do something special for him.”

“Tell me about it?” Her assistant requested. Lately he’d been asking for stories of her fillyhood, things she’d done, things she used to enjoy doing with her family. And in childlike curious fashion he’d even asked about things when he’d been a new hatchling.

“Well, one of the things he’d do was set up a scavenger hunt for me.” She remembered how much fun she’d had puzzling out the clues. “There’d be little riddles leading me to each new location, at first only around our street, but he branched all over Canterlot when we were both older.”

“And at the end there’d be a prize, like a new book, or several new books!” She didn’t have those books anymore, they’d been lost with the old library.

“Sounds pretty cool.” Spike commented.

“It was.” There hadn’t been as many scavenger hunts after he’d joined the Royal Guard, but sometimes she’d just step outside and find a rolled up scroll sitting innocently outside.

Those scavenger hunts had made her feel a lot better about living in the castle with Princess Celestia as a filly. Far from home without her friends, with only an infant Spike for company, she’d been lonely.

Finding that first note had told her that she might be moving on, but she wasn’t out of reach just yet.

“Was it tough, moving to the castle and all?” He asked her.

“A little,” She admitted. “I had to learn fast how to take care of a dragon hatchling, first off.” Burps that set her mane on fire, waking up to find he’d gnawed through the bars of his crib as his teeth came in, taking care of a baby dragon wasn’t easy when she was only eleven years old.

“I had to get used to the castle too, I always used to get lost.” Which is why she was making a floor plan of her castle. She’d put maps at strategic locations once she was finished.

“But living by myself wasn’t as challenging as you’d expect. My parents came by every day before and after my lessons, Shining Armor would poke his head in whenever he had the time, and even Cadence would visit.” She smiled at those fond memories. “Not to mention all the servant ponies who took care of everything until I was older.”

“Yeah, and then I took care of everything.” She heard Spike huff good naturedly.

“I thought you liked cooking and cleaning?” She asked mischievously.

“More cooking than cleaning, but I do like a job well done.” Her little drake laughed. “But what I really like is helping you organize things.”

“And you’re very good at it.” She acknowledged.

Twilight worked with her friends getting everything ready, and twice she tried to hail Pinkie on her deliveries down but the mare was obviously busy. Sugarcube Corner must have gotten more deliveries than it could handle, but Fluttershy reported that she’d been able to get Pinkie’s attention and ask her to bring the food.

“Thanks Fluttershy.” She sighed with relief. “Applejack, do you need any help there?” The cowpony was bringing in a freshly carved bookshelf, an exact replica of the one in her old picture!

“Might on the stairs, don’t want to scratch the varnish.” She tipped her hat. “Thank ye kindly, Twi.”

“I’ve got the hoofball field set up, and a relay race with four parts!” Rainbow swooped in, carrying Fast Pace on her back. It was remarkable how much effort Rainbow was putting into bonding with her brother.

“It’s got a hurdle part, a guard crawl part, a bucket-step part, and a target practice part!” The colt informed them. “I helped!”

“Ya sure did.” Rainbow nodded. “Take a look at it and tell me if you want to change anything later, alright, Twi?”

“Sounds good. As soon as we get this bookshelf in we can go.” She promised.

The field and relay looked excellent. Hay bales for hurdles, a garden lattice had been set on top of some barrels to make a part where the participants had to do the guard crawl underneath it, some buckets for the bucket-step, and a few baskets of apples for a target section at the end. It was remarkably similar to a training field she’d seen at the guard barracks during some of her visits.

They all moved inside to tidy up and put on the finishing touches, and Twilight looked up from her dusting to notice Pinkie lingering by the door.

“Pinkie Pie, here let me help you with those.” She levitated the plates onto the table. All her brother’s favorites, along with a few extra sweets here and there. She shouldn’t have expected anything less from Pinkie Pie.

“I’d better cover these up so they don’t spoil.” She quickly got a few covers from the kitchen.

“Heh, yeah.” Pinkie gulped. “Wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise!!!” She laughed nervously.

“Pinkie, there something wrong there?” Applejack asked worriedly.

“Wrong? Nothing’s wrong!” Pinkie stated, as she jumped twenty meters in the air to land on the chandelier roots.

“You’ll probably feel better if you get it off your chest.” Spike pointed out.

“Yeah, come on you can tell us anything! We’re your pals.” Rainbow flew up, half in curiosity and half in worry that the mare would fall.

“FINE!” Pinkie inhaled a deep breath. “SHINING ARMOR AND PRINCESS CADENCE ARE GONNA HAVE—!”

“A great weekend with their friends.” Twilight forgot all about Pinkie in favor of her brother who’d just trotted through the door.

“BBBFF!” She accosted him with a flying-tackle hug. “You’re early!”

“The convention we were supposed to attend today got rescheduled for next week.” Cadence laughingly informed them. “So we got here even earlier than planned.”

“This is fantastic!” Twilight gushed. “Just wait until you see the surprise we set up for you!”

“I’ll take your bags.” Spike came in and gathered the luggage. “Whoof, how much did you pack?”

“Don’t mind him,” Twilight began leading them down the hall. “Come and see what we did!”

“We’re coming, we’re coming!” Cadence laughed.

“Ta-da!” Twilight cried for the second time that day. She was glad they’d gotten all the last minute touches out of the way so everything was just right.

“I-Is this?” Shining Armor gaped at the room. “I can’t believe it! It’s my old room!”

Twilight joined Cadence in giggling over her brother’s dorky excitement as he ran around inspecting everything. She was so glad her surprise had gone over well, and Cadence seemed to like the present they’d hidden in the closet for her as well. Rarity had outdone herself with that new hat.

“This is amazing, Twilight.” Her brother wrapped his strong legs around her. “I can’t believe you managed to get everything, I know some of this stuff is pretty rare now.”

“Yes, the collectibles were a challenge, but I’ve been preparing this for a while.” She admitted to him.

“Everything’s wonderful, Twilight.” Cadence sighed. She gave a wordless nod to her husband. It still made Twilight giddy inside to remember that her brother was married to the single greatest foal-sitter ever.

“There’s more!” She said eagerly. “Rainbow set up a hoofball field and a relay race!”

“That sounds great!” Shining Armor lit up even brighter if that were possible.

“But,” Cadence gestured again.

“Oh, right.” Her brother blushed. “Cadence and I still have a few things to take care of for our itinerary since the plan changed. Is it alright if we meet up at the town square in an hour before we get started?”

“Of course!” She was relieved to know they understood how serious it was to reschedule everything to account for the changes.

She could hardly wait for the hour to pass before she led them all towards the square. Pinkie herself seemed especially impatient.

“I hope we can grab some food before we play.” Rainbow groaned, holding her stomach. “I’m starving!”

“Huh, that’s odd.” Twilight looked around, but nopony was there. “They’re usually very punctual.” Cadence was such a good influence on her brother.

“Ugghhh!” Rainbow groaned. “I need a hayburger, stat!” She pounded the head of the fountain statue, drawing Twilight’s attention to the scroll held in its mouth.

“Could it be?” She gasped. “It is!” She held the scroll in her magical field.

“It is what?” Pinkie demanded suspiciously.

“A scavenger hunt!” She’d just been thinking about that earlier too! “He used to set these up for me all the time when I was a filly! And there was always a book prize at the end!”

“Read it, read it, read it!” Pinkie begged on her knees.

“Alright, it says,” She held it up. “You’ve got a scroll, you’re on a roll.”

“Why don’t you take a peek, where young ones spend their week. A piece of paper will continue this caper.” She read.

“Well, Ah’m stumped.” Applejack scratched her head. “Ah’m no good at riddles.”

“Where young ones spend their week.” Twilight repeated slowly. Instantly she knew the answer. “The school!”

They all raced there, Pinkie taking the lead and attempting to sniff out the scroll. Twilight wasn’t sure if Pinkie’s nose was good enough to scent it out, but she didn’t think it would be necessary to find out.

“What now?” Rainbow asked, hungry belly temporarily forgotten in favor of a challenge.

“A piece of paper will continue this caper.” She pointed towards the foal Featherweight who was toting the newest issue of the Foal Free Press. Shining Armor must have planned this out beforehoof to put the next note in the newspaper.

“My, that dress the mayor is wearing is simply stunning!” Rarity complimented.

“Didn’t you make that there dress?” Applejack questioned.

“Yes. What’s your point, darling?” The unicorn mare smirked.

“Read faster!” Pinkie urged them, appearing in the middle of the paper to scan all the pages at once.

“You know, there’s not really a time limit on these scavenger hunts.” Twilight tried to reassure her. For naught, apparently, as Pinkie had already located the next note.

“Though this hall, is rather small. In it you’ll find, files of all kinds.” The party pony read. “Take a look on the back, of the birth certificate of Applejack.”

“Ah don’t like where this is going.” Applejack said bluntly.

“Oh relax, dear,” Rarity waved her off. “Granny Smith has already shown us the baby pictures.”

“Come on, come on, come on, hurry!” Pinkie urged them towards Town Hall.

“Here!” Pinkie must have already organized the filing room for the mayor. She found the certificate with ease and nearly shoved it down Twilight’s throat.

“Easy, Pinkie Pie.” She scolded lightly. She should’ve guessed something like a scavenger hunt would make her extra excited.

“Aw, would you wook at the widdle hoovsies.” Rarity cooed beside her as they took in the picture of infant Applejack. Born on August seventh to Apple Tart and Farm Fresh, there was Applejack gazing adoringly up at the photographer.

“Alright, that’s enough.” Applejack turned it around to reveal the note, suddenly bashful.

“The next place is where, you can buy a table or chair.” Twilight acquiesced with grace. “Or some comfy beds, to rest little heads.”

“Rest little heads?” She repeated. The wording seemed a little different from what she would expect from her brother. Had Cadence had a hoof in helping out this time?

“Seriously, nopony!?” Pinkie groaned in frustration. Twilight yelped as she was herded out of the building with everypony else. She frowned and made a note to return Applejack’s birth certificate at her earliest convenience.

“A furniture store, it’s obviously a furniture store!” Pinkie stopped right outside a popular furniture store. Twilight had gotten the twin bed for Shining’s room just last week from the same place.

“Are you sure?” She asked skeptically. Pinkie screamed in inarticulate rage and rushed inside. Twilight made a note to apologize to the owner for the trouble later and gasped when Pinkie came out riding a brand new crib, price tag still attached, and wordlessly pointed to the note taped on.

“It seems we’ve saved the best for last, now it’s time to take a break, we even get a slice of cake!” She read victoriously.

“Sugarcube Corner!” They all cheered and galloped off.

“Surprise!” Shining greeted them warmly as they stepped inside.

“Did you have fun?” Cadence asked.

“It was great.” Twilight swelled with happiness. “It was even better because I was able to share it with my friends.”

“There’s just one thing missing!” She jokingly looked under and around her brother. “Where’s the book prize?”

“There’s still a prize, but it’s a little different this time.” He assured her with a nervous grin.

“I don’t understand.” She cocked her head to the side.

“All the places we sent you to had something in common.” Cadence told her. “Can you figure it out?”

“Well,” She thought about it for a moment. “We went to the school, read the foal free press, looked at a birth certificate, and then a cr—gasp!” She looked disbelievingly at her brother and his wife. They both nodded.

“Y-You mean,” She couldn’t bring herself to say it until she knew it was true.

“We’re having a baby!” They moved aside to reveal a special foal shower cake.

“I’m going to be an aunt?” She realized. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

“This is the greatest prize ever!” She hugged them both.

“A BABY, TWILIGHT! SHINING ARMOR AND PRINCESS CADENCE ARE GONNA HAVE A BABY!” Pinkie finally exploded with what Twilight realized she must have been holding in all day.

So not only did she get a blast from the past with the scavenger hunt, she also found out their family would be growing a little bigger. It was certainly something worth writing in the Friendship Journal about after everyone turned in for the night.

Today my brother gave me some exciting news. He and Cadence have chosen to have a foal, and she is confirmed to be two months along. She hasn’t really started showing yet, but it’ll happen soon. I can’t wait to meet their foal!

My friend Pinkie Pie found out even before I did, but she kept it a secret so as not to ruin the surprise. I’m very grateful that she tried to keep this day special for me, even though it must’ve been hard to keep from sharing with the rest of us. It’s true what Rainbow Dash says, giving a surprise is sometimes even better than receiving one, and I did both today! I can’t wait to find out what other surprises are in store.

With a satisfied sigh Twilight put away her quill and ink. The hour was late, Shining and Cadence had already retreated to their suite. Twilight knew Spike had fallen asleep hours ago, exhausted by playing referee for the hoofball game and race. Now it was time for her to go to bed too.

Tomorrow would have more wonderful surprises in store, she was sure.

Author's Note

I have no excuse.