A Little Get Togetherby Story blossomChaptersChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter OneShe stretched her wings as the sun warmed her back. The weather was perfect for flying. “Couldn’t have chosen a better day. You ready, Whiplash?” From behind her bright rainbow-colored tail emerged a small blue colt who wore an unsure expression upon his face. A small frown came over Rainbow Dash’s face. It was uncommon to see her boastful and, at many times, over-confidant son look so uncertain. “What’s wrong ‘lash? You seemed so excited this morning.” The small Pegasus shifted uncomfortably on the fluffy cloud he and his mother stood on. Rainbow looked at her son waiting impatiently for an answer. “I still am, honest!” her son replied quickly. “It’s nothing mom, let’s get started.” However, Rainbow Dash knew her son better than anyone, including his father, and she could tell he wasn’t being fully honest with her. “Okay well if you want to be secretive about it,” she slowly crept towards him, “the tickle-pony will just have to uncover the truth!” She then pounced on her son tickling his ribs. “Okay!” he gasped between giggles, “Okay! I’ll tell you!” She withdrew her tickle attack and Whiplash shakily stood up. “It’s just,” he started “I was thinking about how awesome of a flier you are. What if I can’t fly as good as you do, and I make a foal of myself.” Rainbow’s maternal instincts quickly took over and she hugged her son. “Don’t you ever think that again!” she said, her embrace getting tighter with every word. “Your flying is awesome for your age! And your cutie mark proves it!” Whiplash examined his cutie mark with pride at his mother’s words. “And you might not be as awesome as me yet, but I have had years more of experience than you and one day you might be even better than I ever was!” Whiplash stood tall. His mother always knew just what to say to make him feel better. “Yeah!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “Someday I’ll even become a wonderbolt just like you!” Rainbow Dash grinned proudly, “That’s right! Now are you ready to start?” “Absolutely!” The mother and son duo then took off from the small cloud, speeding through the sky dodging the occasional cloud. Rainbow dash loved the feeling of flying and she especially appreciated it today. Since, having her second foal she hadn’t been able to fly that often, her over-protective husband had her on bedrest for quite a while after it’s birth. She had to constantly remind herself to slow down so that her son could keep up. However, she noticed that she wasn’t having to slow down nearly as much as she did the last time she flew with him before his sibling’s birth. They flew like that until Whiplash showed signs of becoming tired. “You wanna take a break?” Rainbow questioned. Whiplash didn’t her to think he was weak, but he had grown very tired and decided to swallow his pride for the moment. “Sure,” he said nonchalantly. They landed on a nearby cloud to rest. Rainbow then noticed how hard she had begun to breath. “I guess my break from flying for a while has gotten to me,” Rainbow dash thought. “Hey mom, I haven’t seen you do any of your awesome tricks in a while you think you could do one now?” her son questioned. Rainbow dash thought it over for a moment. “I don’t think you-know-who would like me straining myself so much on my first flight in a while. But then again, you-know-who isn’t here right now.” “You know what, yeah I’ll do one,” Rainbow dash said defiantly. Rainbow collected herself quickly and leaned her front half down preparing for takeoff. Her wings flared out behind her and a smirk appeared on her face. She jumped off the cloud and, “RAINBOW DASH!!!” Her wings quickly snapped out in front of her to stop her mid-air. A blue Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail flew in from above, on his back sat a young cyan foal wearing a diaper. “Uh-oh,” Whiplash said quietly as his father approached. Rainbow turned around slowly to face her husband. “You were about to do a trick weren’t you?” he questioned knowingly. “Oh come on Soarin! I was only going to do a little one, honest!” Rainbow cried out sheepishly. “Like mother like son,” Soarin thought to himself. “You know you shouldn’t be trying any tricks yet, you have barely flown in months you’ll strain yourself!” he exclaimed. Quickly trying to change the subject, Rainbow dash flew over to his back and picked up her daughter, scruffing her rainbow colored mane. The foal giggled in response. Slightly annoyed at his wife’s carelessness Soarin sighed. “You shouldn’t use Warp’s cuteness as a way to get out of your situation.” Rainbow dash smirked and lifted Warp Fusion into the air. “But just look at this face!” Warp gurgled and stretched her hooves into the air as if to say “Higher!” Soarin smiled warmly, he just couldn’t stay mad at her. Suddenly he remembered why he had flown out to find them. “Oh yeah! We have to hurry!” He said as he pushed Rainbow and Whiplash forward, “We’re going to be late!” The loyal pony looked confused until she remembered the commitment she made earlier that week. “Twilight will kill me if we don’t get there on time!” she exclaimed her thoughts outwardly. Rainbow zoomed through the sky tightly holding her daughter against her chest. Finally, Soarin and Whiplash caught up to her as she flew slower due to her extra passenger. Together they arrived at their cloud home and quickly gathered the things they promised the princess to bring to the picnic. Chapter TwoTwilight Sparkle panted heavily in her crystal home. She had chased her daughter all around the castle and had finally tired out in a hallway. “Daybreak!” She yelled between deep breaths. An orange Pegasus snuck her head around the corner at the end of the hallway, “No! I refuse to attend another of your princess sessions!” She stomped her hoof against the crystal floor. Daybreak had never enjoyed her mom’s weekly meetings. “All I do is sit there while she bores me to sleep with her lectures on How to Behave Mare-like in front of crowds or the latest From Filly to Mare, Your changing body.” She shuttered. That last lecture was what caused her rebellion, and her refusal to leave her room for an entire day. Twilight sighed exasperated. “Daybreak please!” she pleaded, “We need to get this over with so I can begin preparations for the picnic!” “Why do I have to!?” Daybreak argued, “Comet never has them!” “That’s because he is not a princess, you are!” Twilight yelled back. “Why do I have to be a princess?!” Daybreak yelled in frustration. She immediately wanted to suck the words back into her mouth. Twilight had been pushed to the brink. She teleported to her daughter and grasped her in the magic glow her horn emitted. Daybreak struggled, but gave up knowing that there was no escape now. Twilight carried her daughter into her bedroom and locked the door only dropping her after it locked. Daybreak groaned and slumped to the floor. “What is wrong with you? Is it what we talked about in the last meeting?” she interrogated. “No!” Daybreak responded hastily. “Then what is it? Why are you acting this way?” Twilight demanded. Daybreak was silent. To be completely honest, she wasn’t exactly sure. “Well,” She started “I just don’t want to be a princess, okay!” Her mom was quiet for a moment. Twilight realized that they had been raising their voice level and if they kept it up they would probably alert the guards. “If they haven’t already been alerted,” She thought bitterly. She calmed herself and replied “Day, I understand that it’s not your dream to become a princess but could you just try for me?” The princess pleaded. Her daughter’s dream, to her confusion, was to become a wonderbolt. Daybreak desperately dreamed to be like her loyal friend Rainbow Dash. Daybreak looked up to Rainbow Dash as a role model, and though she dreaded to admit it, it made her somewhat jealous. Daybreak’s lavender eyes were brimmed with tears. “Can’t I just go be with dad and Comet and Spike?” she asked. Twilight Sparkle excelled in academics and magic. She was the princess of friendship for crying out loud, there wasn’t much that she just flat out couldn’t understand. Her daughter, however, was an exception. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn’t understand her. Her husband had the opposite relationship with her, they went together like Pinkie Pie and frosting. “I know how you feel,” Twilight finally replied. “At first, I didn’t think I was fit to be a princess.” She walked forward and hugged her daughter who was too busy crying to protest. “But then I realized that there was a reason for me to be a princess, that I was meant to be one. And, even though you haven’t figured it out yet, there is a reason that you are a princess. But, that’s not to say that one day you won’t become Equestria’s greatest wonderbolt.” They sat in the middle of the room for a bit until Twilight continued. “I’m gonna tell you a secret.” Daybreak’s ears perked up at this. “When I found out that I was going to be a princess, I freaked out. I felt totally unprepared for the first time in my life.” Day giggled through the tears. The thought of her mom not prepared for something really was something to laugh at. Daybreak hugged her mom back. A knock at the door broke the silence. Twilight used her magic to unlock the door. Flash Sentry entered the room along with Daybreak’s younger brother, Comet gazer and Spike. “What’s going on in here?” Twilight’s husband asked. “Are you guys okay?” Spike questioned. “We’re fine” Daybreak answered. “Just mare stuff.” “Ew!” Spike and Comet replied in unison. Twilight giggled at their response. “Well, I hope you ponies can get ready in a hurry because we need to get to the picnic right away,” Flash informed them. Twilight jumped into the air in shock. “The picnic!” She shouted. She quickly teleported to a different room, leaving her husband, kids, and assistant in Daybreak’s bedroom. They all rushed to the door knowing that if they didn’t get there quick Twilight would have left them at home absentmindedly. Chapter ThreeFluttershy hummed a tune happily while she carefully placed a flower in her basket. It was beautiful outside, and she planned to make the most of it. Angel, her pet bunny, hopped around her hooves demanding her attention as always. “What is it Angel? Are you hungry again?” she questioned softly. He shook his head in response and began trying to pull her hoof back towards the cottage. “Angel bunny, what is it?” she said while walking alongside him. Angel did not respond, but continued to pull her forward towards her home. “I wonder what is so important,” Fluttershy thought to herself. They entered the cottage and still she could not tell what was bothering her little friend so much. Fluttershy then noticed a faint whimper in the otherwise quiet room. Quickly, she began searching for the source of the noise. She then saw a light pink tuft of hair poking out from behind a chair. Fluttershy’s face turned to one of concern as she gently flew over to her daughter. She gently lifted the small earth pony out of the corner she was curled up in and brought her to the couch. “What happened Apple Butter? Why are you crying?” Fluttershy hated to see anyone cry, especially her little filly. Between quiet sobs the filly answered, “I was walking down the road from the market, and some mean ponies that I go to school with started picking on me and called me names.” Fluttershy stroked the small filly’s creamy orange coat. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry.” Apple butter had inherited her father’s physical strength, but her mother’s meekness. Despite her mother’s words of kindness she continued to cry. “Oh, what can I do to make her feel better?” Fluttershy wondered. She then remembered that her husband could always make her feel better. “Maybe he can do the same for Apple,” she guessed. Without a word, Fluttershy lifted her into the air and placed her on her back. She slowly made her way out of the cottage and down the road. She made it only a little ways until the filly began to question their destination. “Where are we going, Mom?” she enquired faintly. Fluttershy turned to examine her daughter as she continued to walk. Her eyes were still puffy from the tears, but she had ceased from crying at the moment. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there,” Fluttershy replied, not providing a true answer. Apple Butter looked at the landscape surrounding them. She recognized it and immediately realized where they were headed. Soon, they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. The familiar smell of apples filled the nose of the filly. She loved the smell, as it reminded her of her father. Through the rows of trees filled with nearly ripe apples she saw movement. Big Mac looked at a small apple and frowned. Fluttershy knew exactly what he was thinking, “Looks like this apple isn’t gonna be as big.” Fluttershy carefully glided over to her husband. He looked surprised to see them, and upon noticing the worried expression on his wife’s face, his muscles tensed up out of habit. “What’s wrong?” he asked in his signature deep voice. Fluttershy turned to show their small daughter laying gloomily on her back. Apple Butter looked up shyly at her father. Big mac made his way over to his daughter lifting her off of her mother’s back and into his embrace. Big mac rarely expressed himself with words and, in this instance, there was no need for them. He hugged his daughter tightly, and then looked up and brought Fluttershy into his embrace as well. Fluttershy was right, it made Apple Butter forget entirely about the teasing foals from earlier that day. “I love you both,” Apple Butter said in her quiet voice. With that both of her parents hugged her tighter. They only released when rushed hoof steps hurried towards them. “Uncle Mac!” A pale orange colt with a green neckerchief yelled out, “Aunt Fluttershy!” “What is it Apple Crumble?” Fluttershy asked her nephew in law. Apple Butter looked up at her older cousin and saw the fear in his face. “It’s Crisp he’s hurt!” Apple Crumble said frantically. The trio then quickly jumped into action. Fluttershy took to the skies following the sprinting colt from above. Big mac and Apple Butter raced after him on the ground. They all finally reached the scene. A small golden ball of fur laid at the foot of an apple tree. Fluttershy quickly swooped down to assess the damage. She lifted the small colt off of the ground. “Where does it hurt?” she questioned. Apple Crisp sniffled. “My leg,” he said fighting back tears. Fluttershy looked over his legs and noticed that one looked a little different. “Go get your mom,” Big mac said to Apple Crumble. Apple Crumble took off running full speed towards the barn. Fluttershy tenderly rubbed the injured leg. “I don’t think it’s broken. It just looks sprained,” Fluttershy observed quietly. “What happened?”Apple Butter asked. “Me and Crumble were out here just playing around, and he dared me to try and buck all the apples out of a tree in one buck. I must’ve hit my leg too hard or somthin’,” he answered. “What’s goin’ on here?” Apple Jack said as she ran towards them. “Crumble’s hurt his leg,” Fluttershy informed her. “I think it’s just a sprain.” “Don’t worry Crisp, it’ll be alright,” Apple Jack soothed her son. “Where’s Crumble?” Apple Butter asked. “He’s gettin’ his dad,” her Aunt answered. Apple Jack sat next to Fluttershy while she held Apple Crisp. “It’s startin’ to feel better,” Crisp said while he shifted into his mother’s hooves. Just then, Caramel came running into view carrying a first-aid kit in his mouth, with Crumble not too far behind. “Irsh evrypony oka?” he asked trying to keep the kit in his mouth and check on them at the same time. “He should be okay, we just need to splint it,” Fluttershy informed him. In no time at all, the young colt’s leg was wrapped in white cloth. Apple Jack lifted her son onto her back and they began walking towards the house. Crumble walked slowly towards the back of the group with his ears folded and his head hung in guilt. Seeing her usually strong willed cousin looking so down made Apple butter heavyhearted. She slowly made her way beside him. “Are you okay, Crumble?” she asked timidly. He sighed, “I just feel so bad ‘bout Crisp gettin’ hurt, it never woulda’ happened if I hadn’t dared him to do it.” Apple butter tried to think of something comforting to say, but struggled. “How is Mom so good at this?” she thought to herself. “Well,” she started, “I don’t think it’s entirely your fault.” The unchanged look on his face showed that her efforts had made no progress in making him feel better. “I mean, Crisp should have known his limits,” she tried again. Crumble shook his head, “But I’m his big brother, I shouldn’a never put him up to it in the first place.” Apple Butter had done nothing but make him feel worse. She saw her mom walking beside her aunt ahead of them. She trotted to catch up to her. Her mom was taller than she was, so she had to walk on her hoof tips to reach her ear. “Mom, I don’t know what to do. Crumble thinks that it’s his fault that Crisp got hurt and I hate to see him so sad,” she whispered. “Have you tried to cheer him up?” Fluttershy inquired. “I tried to, but I’m just not good at it, I only made it worse,” Apple Butter admitted. Fluttershy pondered for a moment, “If only Pinkie Pie were here to cheer everyone up,” she thought. “Sometimes there isn’t anything you can say to cheer ponies up. Just be there for him Apple Butter, Crumble will appreciate it I’m sure,” she offered. Apple Butter was a bit bummed that there wasn’t anything she could say to help her cousin feel better. Then, an idea struck her. She quickly whispered in her mother’s ear again. “I have an idea!” she hastily explained her plan and asked for permission to put it into action. “That sounds like a great plan, just make sure you hurry back soon. We have to go to a picnic later on,” Fluttershy advised. “Okay, I love you,” she said. “I love you too Apple Butter. You two be safe,” her mother replied. Apple Butter quickly returned to her cousin’s side and told him to follow her. “Where are we going?” he yelled ahead. “You’ll see!” she yelled back. They raced down rows of trees full of apples nearing the time to harvest. Apple Crumble could tell that where ever his cousin was leading him to, she was awfully excited about it. She may have been a small weak looking filly, but she had the stamina and strength of her dad, Big Mac. She hardly ever showed her true strength, but sometimes when she felt comfortable it shined through. It brought a small smile to his lips. At least she’s happy. Even if I feel crummy inside. He let out a small chuckle at the irony of his thought. They galloped out of the farm and into the town. They both slowed their pace, being that it was considered rude to run through crowded areas “Now will ya tell me?” he questioned. She turned around and grinned at him. “We’re almost there.” They came upon their destination, Sugarcube Corner. “Why’d ya take me here?” he asked. “Well, I thought it might cheer you up. I really hate to see you sad and I couldn’t think of anything I could say to make you feel better. Plus, there’s no way you can escape auntie Pinkie Pie without smiling,” she informed him. Though Pinkie Pie was of no relation to her, she had insisted that Apple Butter should refer to her as Auntie Pinkie Pie. They walked through the pink door, Pound and Pumpkin Cake greeted them from behind the counter. “Hey you two. What are you guys doing here?” Pumpkin questioned. “We, um, well we we’re wondering if Pinkie Pie was here,” Apple Butter said shyly. “Uh, Pound, do you know where Pinkie Pie went?” Pumpkin asked her twin. “Well, last time I saw her she was playing hide and seek. So she could be anywhere,” he told them. “Well I guess you’re just gonna have to join in the seeking. You can check anywhere you’d like,” Pumpkin offered. “T-Thanks,” Apple Butter said. “Well whudda’ we do now?” Apple Crumble questioned. “I guess we’re just going to have to look for her. Let’s check upstairs first,” she said. They walked up the stairs into Pinkie Pie’s home to find three ponies seeking for her as well. “Search hard, Swirl! There’s no way she can win this time!” said the peach colored colt. All three ponies were sniffing the ground with their tails in the air like bloodhounds. “Jelly’s right,” said the adult pony “we’re close, I can tell!” “They really seem to be professionals at this,” Apple Butter whispered to Crumble. “They sure do,” he replied. “Uh, ‘scuse me.” The three ponies simultaneously looked up to see their company. Only when they looked up did the pair fully recognize them. “Well if it isn’t the Apple cousins,” said Cheese Sandwich. “Hey!” Jelly Roll and Cinnamon Swirl greeted together. “H-Hi,” Apple Butter managed. “Howdy,” Crumble said, still rather gloomily. Jelly caught the sadness in his friend’s voice and gave Apple Butter a questioning look. She shook her head as to say “I’ll tell you later”. “What can we do ya for?” Cheese asked. “W-well we we’re just looking for auntie Pinkie Pie, that’s i-if you don’t mind,” Apple Butter mumbled. “Absolutely-dutely!” Cheese expressed with great enthusiasm. He began humming a little tune while looking under various objects in the room. Apple Butter found it quite strange that he was even looking under the smallest items. Then again, it is Pinke Pie we’re looking for. All five ponies were searching for the curly maned pink party pony quite thoroughly, but no pony had found even a trace of her. “Are ya sure she didn’t leave?” Crumble asked solemnly. Jelly’s curly mane drooped at his friend’s depressed tone. And with a heart full of determination, he made it his personal mission to find his mom, the hide and seek professional. Cinnamon Swirl picked up on her brother’s new manifestation of heart and decided to help him further the search. The fuzzy maned duo began to search frantically, even re-checking places, just to be safe. They continued on like this for a few moments before Cinnamon suddenly jumped straight up in the air and immediately took off in full sprint. “What is it Swirl?” Jelly yelled after his younger sister. “I know where she is!” Cinnamon yelled, her voice full of triumph. They all followed her as she quickly lead them down the stairs to the bakery below Pinkie Pie’s home. Once she reached the back of the bakery where the cooking supplies was held, her eyes began to swiftly skim the shelves. “What are we looking for?” Apple butter questioned. Giving no answer, Cinnamon quickly found what she was looking for. “AHA!” she yelled, as she pile drove a giant bag of flour. The two apple relatives stared agape at their friend who was now fully submerged in the white powder. “You found me!” a familiar voice, Pinkie Pie’s they guessed, protruded from inside the flour bag. The two ponies jumped out of the bag shooting flour all around them on the floor. Both completely covered from head to hoof in flour fell into the floor in a fit of giggles. The whole group joined in the laughter, including Apple Crumble. After the laughing faded, Pinkie Pie noticed the new company, and enveloped both of them in a huge, flour filled hug. “Wow you guys are getting so big!” she said fawning over the two. Apple Butter smiled meekly, but her cousin did not, displaying his melancholy. Pinkie Pie promptly shook the flour off, causing a large cloud to enter the air around her. “Alrighty, what’s with the frown?” she asked cracking her “knuckles” in preparation. Crumble’s ears drooped beside his head as he retold her about the recent events with his brother. “Well that’s not your fault Crumble, and it’s fine, it sounds like Crisp isn’t that hurt. You just need to be more careful next time.” She explained. Apple Butter didn’t expect for Pinkie Pie to take such a serious point of view on it, but it did seem to help her cousin. “Thanks Mrs. Pie, but I still feel bad about it.” “And that’s fine,” she smiled, “but there’s no use in frowning and being all sad about it!” “Yeah Crumble, as a wise monkey once said learn from it!” Jelly added while playfully patting his friend’s head. Apple Crumble had no clue what his friend was getting at, but none the less it made a smile come to his face. Apple Butter was satisfied at the smile of her previously down-in-the-dumps cousin. “Yay! A smile!” they all beamed. Pumpkin and Pound then entered the room. “You guys found her, huh?” Pound asked. “Yep,” Jelly said, “actually it was really Swirl who did it.” “I think we have a super duper hide-and-seek seeker pony on our hooves.” Cheese Sandwich said. The twins then brought their attention to Cinnamon Swirl, who was still covered in flour. At this new, but familiar sight, they giggled uncontrollably. “Like mother like daughter!” Pinkie yelled through her own laughter. After the group’s giggles died down, Apple Butter remembered her mom’s warning. “Um, Auntie Pinkie Pie,” she said, gaining Pinkie’s attention. “What is it Apple Butter?” she inquired cheerfully. “Well, it’s just, Mom said that we have a picnic to go to and …” her faint voice trailed off. “Oh yeah!” Pinkie Pie yelled. “Come on every pony!” she said as she gathered some boxes of treats and took off at sonic speed out of Sugar Cube Corner. They all ran off after her, except for the Cake twins who only shook their head at Pinkie’s antics. Chapter FourIt was a lovely day outside, warm weather, birds chirping sweet little tunes, and it was overall peaceful in Ponyville. Everywhere in Ponyville it seemed, except at the carousel boutique where fussing could be heard from outside the door. “I said to hold still!” Rarity yelled at the small colt. “Ugh,” he groaned at his mother. “I’ve already told you, Azure,” she said as she finished a seam on the small tuxedo that the he was modeling, “the sooner you sit still, the sooner we finish. Besides, we wouldn’t be having to do this at all, if you weren’t so rough in your nice clothes.” “But Mother, I only wanted to play with the others. I didn’t mean to tear them,” he pleaded. Rarity sighed, “I understand well enough darling, but what is broken must be fixed.” In defeat, Azure Beam stood still, taking shallow breaths so that he wouldn’t incidentally get pricked with the needle his mother was mending his clothing with. After a few moments of sewing, Rarity cut the string and removed her red glasses. “Alright darling, you are now excused. Go take off the suit,” She said. With that he took off running into the dressing room, blatantly eager to get out of the uncomfortable clothes. Very quickly, he ran back out of the dressing room handing Rarity the suit carefully with his mouth. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you use your magic?” she asked. “Well you know I’m not good with magic,” he said sheepishly. “If you don’t practice you won’t get better,” she sounded concerned. Their conversation was interrupted by a loud burst of laughter from Sweetie Belle’s room above them. “Azure, will you be a dear and go get your aunt for me?” Rarity asked her son. “Okay,” he said galloping up the stairs. He enjoyed spending time with his aunt and her two lively friends. They always had the best stories to tell, and sometimes they would let him hang out with them while they had fun. He stopped in front of her door, and gently knocked with his hoof. “Come in,” his aunt yelled through the door. He entered and looked around the messy room. Posters littered the walls, most of which displayed famous singers on the front. The three former cutie mark crusaders laid on Sweetie Belle’s bed. “What’s up squirt?” Scootaloo greeted. “Mom just sent me up here to get Aunt Sweetie Belle,” he informed. “Uh-oh,” Apple Bloom said. “What did you do this time?” Scootaloo asked. “Nothing!” she tried to convince the Pegasus, “At least, not that I know of.” “She didn’t seem mad when she asked me to come get you,” Azure tried to help. “Okay well we better get down there,” Apple Bloom said. With that the four ponies left the room and went back downstairs to see Rarity. “What is it, sis?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Oh, I just wanted to remind you that Azure and I will be going to a picnic a little later on. So, you will have to either send your friends home, or go over to one of their houses,” She said. “Okay, Scoots do you mind if I come over to your place?” Sweetie asked. “Sounds fine to me,” Scootaloo replied. “Apple Bloom you wanna come too?” “I’m sure AJ won’t mind,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s settled then, we’ll be at Scootaloo’s,” She told Rarity. “Alright then,” She agreed. “Was that all you needed?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Uh, actually, Sweetie Belle could I talk to for a moment in private?” Rarity asked. Sweetie, though unsure as to why, shook her head yes, and made her way across the room. Azure immediately knew exactly why his mother asked to speak to his aunt. It was about his unwillingness to use his magic. It’s not that I don’t want to, He thought, I’m just not good at it. Last time I tried, the other ponies at school laughed at me. He failed to remember, however, that Apple Crumble, Jelly Roll, Whiplash, and Daybreak, who were all also in his grade, did not laugh at him. After the two sisters finished their conversation, Sweetie Belle returned to her friends who looked at her questioningly. “What was all that about?” Apple Bloom asked. “Don’t worry about it,” Sweetie Belle replied. They began to go back to Sweetie Belle’s room, when Sweetie Belle noticed that Azure wasn’t following them. “Are you coming or not?” she winked. Without responding he followed behind them upstairs to her room. Usually he would be more than happy to hang out with them, but he knew why she was inviting him to join this time. On their way there, Sweetie Belle quietly whispered to her two friends what was going on. “So Az, what’s been going on lately?” Sweetie Belle asked once they had gotten into the room. “Nothing really,” he said unconvincingly. “Are ya sure?” Apple Bloom pushed. “This is about the whole magic thing, isn’t it?” Azure asked. “Why don’t you want to use your magic?” his aunt questioned. “I already told Mother, I’m not good at using magic. It doesn’t come as easy to me as it does to you and her,” he said. The trio of friends then erupted into a large burst of laughter. This made him furious, he believed they were laughing at him. With this Sweetie Belle enveloped her nephew into a warm hug, with some protest. Between chuckles Apple Bloom managed, “Ya mean ya never told him?” “No, it never came up!” Sweetie Belle’s voice squeaked. “Look squirt, if you think that your aunt was always good at magic, you’ve got another thing coming,” Scootaloo added. Now completely confused, Azure asked, “What are you talking about?” “You see, I was the same way you are now. When I was younger, I wasn’t good at magic either. I actually took magic lessons with Princess Twilight for a while,” she informed. “Yeah, and we saw how those turned out,” Scootaloo said earning her a hit from Apple Bloom. “What she means to say is, Sweetie Belle struggled with magic too, but she worked real hard. And now, she’s good at magic, you’ve just gotta work hard at it like she did,” Apple Bloom told him. “It’s just so frustrating. When I try to use magic, everypony at school laughs at me,” he admitted. “Now that can’t be right,” Apple Bloom argued, “I know for a fact that Crumble knows better than to laugh at you for somthin’ like that.” “Yeah, Whiplash too,” Scootaloo added. “Well maybe they didn’t,” he admitted, “but the rest of them did. Why is it so important anyway?” The three were stunned at his question. “Magic is a part of who you are, Az,” Scootaloo said. “Your friends, ‘lash, Crumble, all of them, they want to be friends with you because of how awesome you are, magic and all.” “Scootaloo is right,” his aunt added, “and we, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, have now made it our mission to help you get better at using magic!” she said as she wrapped her hooves around her two best friends. At this, Azure smiled warmly. They were right, his friends didn’t care if he wasn’t good at using magic, and with their help he was sure to get better at it. He led the group back down the stairs, where Rarity stood waiting rather impatiently. “Mother, guess what!? Aunt Sweetie Belle and her friends have offered to help me get better at magic!” he said, not giving his mother enough time to guess. “That’s lovely, dear!” Rarity replied. “I am proud of you, and your father will be too, once I tell him when he returns from his business trip in Canterlot.” He ran to his mother and embraced her in a hug. Sweetie Belle quickly joined them, dragging the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders into the hug with her. “Now, grab your things, we have to go to the picnic,” Rarity concluded. The five ponies scrambled around the boutique collecting different items and exited, breaking off into two groups outside. Chapter FiveRainbow Dash, now accompanied by her husband, son, and daughter, was the first to arrive at the picnic spot. “What gives?” she asked with a puzzled expression. “I guess we’re the first ones here,” Soarin remarked. Whiplash let out a triumphant laugh. “Daybreak is gonna be so mad that we beat her!” he boasted. His little sister gurgled in agreement. “I can’t wait to see the look on Twilight’s face when she finds out we beat her to her own picnic!” Rainbow laughed. On que, the princess appeared, in a purple cloud of magic. “I’m here!” she sighed. Daybreak with Spike riding on her back, and Flash Century with Comet Gazer on his, arrived seconds behind out of breath. “You could’ve waited on us!” Spike pointed out. “Oh, sorry everypony, I just wanted to make sure I got here on time,” she replied. “Looks like your two minutes late,” Rainbow Dash said, making her, as well as her family’s, presence known. “Ha-ha yep, I beat you Daybreak!” Whiplash bragged. “Bite me!” Daybreak teased at her friend. “I just might!” he teased back, flying swiftly towards her. Daybreak, prepared for his attack, dodged causing him to fly past. She stuck her tongue out at him. “Alright you two,” Twilight interrupted. “Yeah no fighting without me!” Pinkie Pie jumped on the two, taking them by surprise. She blew raspberries onto their tummies, as they giggled. “Is that my little Warpy?” Rarity, who had also just arrived, asked referring towards the cyan filly. “Yep, it is,” Soarin replied, handing his daughter to her. “She’s just a cutey-wutey, yes she is,” Rarity played with the diapered foal who tittered in response. “Rarity,” Rainbow Dash groaned, “how many times do I have to tell you, she’s a wonderbolt-in-training, we aren’t cutey-wuteys.” “You may be a tom-filly, but I have a feeling that this one will be visiting me quite often for fashion advice,” Rarity commented. Warp Fusion clapped her hooves together. “You traitor!” Rainbow joked as she rubbed her daughter’s colorful mane. “Um, sorry we’re late, Princess Twilight,” Apple Butter apologized to her mother’s friend. “That’s perfectly fine,” Twilight grinned, finding it comforting how much like her mother Apple Butter was. “Apple Butter,” Fluttershy said as she approached, “did everything work out okay?” “Yes, it did. Is Crisp feeling better?” she inquired. “Actually, he’s here now. He said he felt good enough to come, so Apple Jack let him, as long as he promised not to rough-house and hurt himself again,” Fluttershy answered. Apple Butter looked to her aunt Apple Jack and cousin Apple Crisp. He sat close to his mother, looking out longingly towards his friends as they played worry free. However, his ears perked up as his brother, Crumble, came up to him. She hadn’t noticed that her cousin had left her side, but by the look of determination on his face, he intended to apologize, so she went on as if she never took notice. “Crisp,” Crumble said, “I’m sorry ‘bout you gettin’ hurt. I’d a never dared you to if I knew.” Apple Jack, who listened to her two son’s conversation, wore a proud smile upon her face. “It’s alright Crum, it don’t even hurt that much anymore. We both shoulda’ known better,” Apple Crisp reassured his brother. “Yeah, you’re right,” Crumble said as he embraced his younger sibling into a hug, careful not to bother his injured leg. “My boys,” Apple Jack said as she joined. “Now that we’re all here,” Twilight Sparkle announced, “why don’t we start the picnic?” A chorus of agreement followed. Everpony helped in the setting up. In a matter of minutes, an extra-large white and red checkered blanket laid on the ground, shrouded in cuisine and ponies. The adult ponies sat around eating and conversing while their children did the same. Chatter and laughter was carried by the wind, on this peaceful day. Though it did not start off this way for most of the ponies, the day had all returned to it’s serenity in the end. “It’s so nice to get everypony together every once in a while,” Fluttershy commented. “Yep,” her husband Big Mac concurred. “Couldn’t agree more,” Rarity added. “Yeah, getting together like this is awesome. We should do it more often,” Rainbow Dash said, gaining a nod from her husband. “I think that’d be a swell idea,” Apple Jack replied. “Hopefully, next time there won’t be an injury count,” Caramel stated. “Yeah, and next time we can bring more sweets!” Pinkie Pie said patting her stomach. “Here, here!” her husband, Cheese Sandwich shouted. The friends laughed at their playfulness. Surrounding them, their children played. The sun lowered in the sky, it’s warmth held no candle to the warmth shared between the families. It was almost jovial how complex, yet simple the day had unraveled. Issues resolved, the ponies focused their attention on enjoying their time together. Though they all had their own separate lives, at this time the lives were intertwined. All sorrows, and misgivings forgotten, and in return replaced with friendship.
Chapter OneShe stretched her wings as the sun warmed her back. The weather was perfect for flying. “Couldn’t have chosen a better day. You ready, Whiplash?” From behind her bright rainbow-colored tail emerged a small blue colt who wore an unsure expression upon his face. A small frown came over Rainbow Dash’s face. It was uncommon to see her boastful and, at many times, over-confidant son look so uncertain. “What’s wrong ‘lash? You seemed so excited this morning.” The small Pegasus shifted uncomfortably on the fluffy cloud he and his mother stood on. Rainbow looked at her son waiting impatiently for an answer. “I still am, honest!” her son replied quickly. “It’s nothing mom, let’s get started.” However, Rainbow Dash knew her son better than anyone, including his father, and she could tell he wasn’t being fully honest with her. “Okay well if you want to be secretive about it,” she slowly crept towards him, “the tickle-pony will just have to uncover the truth!” She then pounced on her son tickling his ribs. “Okay!” he gasped between giggles, “Okay! I’ll tell you!” She withdrew her tickle attack and Whiplash shakily stood up. “It’s just,” he started “I was thinking about how awesome of a flier you are. What if I can’t fly as good as you do, and I make a foal of myself.” Rainbow’s maternal instincts quickly took over and she hugged her son. “Don’t you ever think that again!” she said, her embrace getting tighter with every word. “Your flying is awesome for your age! And your cutie mark proves it!” Whiplash examined his cutie mark with pride at his mother’s words. “And you might not be as awesome as me yet, but I have had years more of experience than you and one day you might be even better than I ever was!” Whiplash stood tall. His mother always knew just what to say to make him feel better. “Yeah!” he exclaimed triumphantly. “Someday I’ll even become a wonderbolt just like you!” Rainbow Dash grinned proudly, “That’s right! Now are you ready to start?” “Absolutely!” The mother and son duo then took off from the small cloud, speeding through the sky dodging the occasional cloud. Rainbow dash loved the feeling of flying and she especially appreciated it today. Since, having her second foal she hadn’t been able to fly that often, her over-protective husband had her on bedrest for quite a while after it’s birth. She had to constantly remind herself to slow down so that her son could keep up. However, she noticed that she wasn’t having to slow down nearly as much as she did the last time she flew with him before his sibling’s birth. They flew like that until Whiplash showed signs of becoming tired. “You wanna take a break?” Rainbow questioned. Whiplash didn’t her to think he was weak, but he had grown very tired and decided to swallow his pride for the moment. “Sure,” he said nonchalantly. They landed on a nearby cloud to rest. Rainbow then noticed how hard she had begun to breath. “I guess my break from flying for a while has gotten to me,” Rainbow dash thought. “Hey mom, I haven’t seen you do any of your awesome tricks in a while you think you could do one now?” her son questioned. Rainbow dash thought it over for a moment. “I don’t think you-know-who would like me straining myself so much on my first flight in a while. But then again, you-know-who isn’t here right now.” “You know what, yeah I’ll do one,” Rainbow dash said defiantly. Rainbow collected herself quickly and leaned her front half down preparing for takeoff. Her wings flared out behind her and a smirk appeared on her face. She jumped off the cloud and, “RAINBOW DASH!!!” Her wings quickly snapped out in front of her to stop her mid-air. A blue Pegasus with a dark blue mane and tail flew in from above, on his back sat a young cyan foal wearing a diaper. “Uh-oh,” Whiplash said quietly as his father approached. Rainbow turned around slowly to face her husband. “You were about to do a trick weren’t you?” he questioned knowingly. “Oh come on Soarin! I was only going to do a little one, honest!” Rainbow cried out sheepishly. “Like mother like son,” Soarin thought to himself. “You know you shouldn’t be trying any tricks yet, you have barely flown in months you’ll strain yourself!” he exclaimed. Quickly trying to change the subject, Rainbow dash flew over to his back and picked up her daughter, scruffing her rainbow colored mane. The foal giggled in response. Slightly annoyed at his wife’s carelessness Soarin sighed. “You shouldn’t use Warp’s cuteness as a way to get out of your situation.” Rainbow dash smirked and lifted Warp Fusion into the air. “But just look at this face!” Warp gurgled and stretched her hooves into the air as if to say “Higher!” Soarin smiled warmly, he just couldn’t stay mad at her. Suddenly he remembered why he had flown out to find them. “Oh yeah! We have to hurry!” He said as he pushed Rainbow and Whiplash forward, “We’re going to be late!” The loyal pony looked confused until she remembered the commitment she made earlier that week. “Twilight will kill me if we don’t get there on time!” she exclaimed her thoughts outwardly. Rainbow zoomed through the sky tightly holding her daughter against her chest. Finally, Soarin and Whiplash caught up to her as she flew slower due to her extra passenger. Together they arrived at their cloud home and quickly gathered the things they promised the princess to bring to the picnic.
Chapter TwoTwilight Sparkle panted heavily in her crystal home. She had chased her daughter all around the castle and had finally tired out in a hallway. “Daybreak!” She yelled between deep breaths. An orange Pegasus snuck her head around the corner at the end of the hallway, “No! I refuse to attend another of your princess sessions!” She stomped her hoof against the crystal floor. Daybreak had never enjoyed her mom’s weekly meetings. “All I do is sit there while she bores me to sleep with her lectures on How to Behave Mare-like in front of crowds or the latest From Filly to Mare, Your changing body.” She shuttered. That last lecture was what caused her rebellion, and her refusal to leave her room for an entire day. Twilight sighed exasperated. “Daybreak please!” she pleaded, “We need to get this over with so I can begin preparations for the picnic!” “Why do I have to!?” Daybreak argued, “Comet never has them!” “That’s because he is not a princess, you are!” Twilight yelled back. “Why do I have to be a princess?!” Daybreak yelled in frustration. She immediately wanted to suck the words back into her mouth. Twilight had been pushed to the brink. She teleported to her daughter and grasped her in the magic glow her horn emitted. Daybreak struggled, but gave up knowing that there was no escape now. Twilight carried her daughter into her bedroom and locked the door only dropping her after it locked. Daybreak groaned and slumped to the floor. “What is wrong with you? Is it what we talked about in the last meeting?” she interrogated. “No!” Daybreak responded hastily. “Then what is it? Why are you acting this way?” Twilight demanded. Daybreak was silent. To be completely honest, she wasn’t exactly sure. “Well,” She started “I just don’t want to be a princess, okay!” Her mom was quiet for a moment. Twilight realized that they had been raising their voice level and if they kept it up they would probably alert the guards. “If they haven’t already been alerted,” She thought bitterly. She calmed herself and replied “Day, I understand that it’s not your dream to become a princess but could you just try for me?” The princess pleaded. Her daughter’s dream, to her confusion, was to become a wonderbolt. Daybreak desperately dreamed to be like her loyal friend Rainbow Dash. Daybreak looked up to Rainbow Dash as a role model, and though she dreaded to admit it, it made her somewhat jealous. Daybreak’s lavender eyes were brimmed with tears. “Can’t I just go be with dad and Comet and Spike?” she asked. Twilight Sparkle excelled in academics and magic. She was the princess of friendship for crying out loud, there wasn’t much that she just flat out couldn’t understand. Her daughter, however, was an exception. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn’t understand her. Her husband had the opposite relationship with her, they went together like Pinkie Pie and frosting. “I know how you feel,” Twilight finally replied. “At first, I didn’t think I was fit to be a princess.” She walked forward and hugged her daughter who was too busy crying to protest. “But then I realized that there was a reason for me to be a princess, that I was meant to be one. And, even though you haven’t figured it out yet, there is a reason that you are a princess. But, that’s not to say that one day you won’t become Equestria’s greatest wonderbolt.” They sat in the middle of the room for a bit until Twilight continued. “I’m gonna tell you a secret.” Daybreak’s ears perked up at this. “When I found out that I was going to be a princess, I freaked out. I felt totally unprepared for the first time in my life.” Day giggled through the tears. The thought of her mom not prepared for something really was something to laugh at. Daybreak hugged her mom back. A knock at the door broke the silence. Twilight used her magic to unlock the door. Flash Sentry entered the room along with Daybreak’s younger brother, Comet gazer and Spike. “What’s going on in here?” Twilight’s husband asked. “Are you guys okay?” Spike questioned. “We’re fine” Daybreak answered. “Just mare stuff.” “Ew!” Spike and Comet replied in unison. Twilight giggled at their response. “Well, I hope you ponies can get ready in a hurry because we need to get to the picnic right away,” Flash informed them. Twilight jumped into the air in shock. “The picnic!” She shouted. She quickly teleported to a different room, leaving her husband, kids, and assistant in Daybreak’s bedroom. They all rushed to the door knowing that if they didn’t get there quick Twilight would have left them at home absentmindedly.
Chapter ThreeFluttershy hummed a tune happily while she carefully placed a flower in her basket. It was beautiful outside, and she planned to make the most of it. Angel, her pet bunny, hopped around her hooves demanding her attention as always. “What is it Angel? Are you hungry again?” she questioned softly. He shook his head in response and began trying to pull her hoof back towards the cottage. “Angel bunny, what is it?” she said while walking alongside him. Angel did not respond, but continued to pull her forward towards her home. “I wonder what is so important,” Fluttershy thought to herself. They entered the cottage and still she could not tell what was bothering her little friend so much. Fluttershy then noticed a faint whimper in the otherwise quiet room. Quickly, she began searching for the source of the noise. She then saw a light pink tuft of hair poking out from behind a chair. Fluttershy’s face turned to one of concern as she gently flew over to her daughter. She gently lifted the small earth pony out of the corner she was curled up in and brought her to the couch. “What happened Apple Butter? Why are you crying?” Fluttershy hated to see anyone cry, especially her little filly. Between quiet sobs the filly answered, “I was walking down the road from the market, and some mean ponies that I go to school with started picking on me and called me names.” Fluttershy stroked the small filly’s creamy orange coat. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry.” Apple butter had inherited her father’s physical strength, but her mother’s meekness. Despite her mother’s words of kindness she continued to cry. “Oh, what can I do to make her feel better?” Fluttershy wondered. She then remembered that her husband could always make her feel better. “Maybe he can do the same for Apple,” she guessed. Without a word, Fluttershy lifted her into the air and placed her on her back. She slowly made her way out of the cottage and down the road. She made it only a little ways until the filly began to question their destination. “Where are we going, Mom?” she enquired faintly. Fluttershy turned to examine her daughter as she continued to walk. Her eyes were still puffy from the tears, but she had ceased from crying at the moment. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there,” Fluttershy replied, not providing a true answer. Apple Butter looked at the landscape surrounding them. She recognized it and immediately realized where they were headed. Soon, they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. The familiar smell of apples filled the nose of the filly. She loved the smell, as it reminded her of her father. Through the rows of trees filled with nearly ripe apples she saw movement. Big Mac looked at a small apple and frowned. Fluttershy knew exactly what he was thinking, “Looks like this apple isn’t gonna be as big.” Fluttershy carefully glided over to her husband. He looked surprised to see them, and upon noticing the worried expression on his wife’s face, his muscles tensed up out of habit. “What’s wrong?” he asked in his signature deep voice. Fluttershy turned to show their small daughter laying gloomily on her back. Apple Butter looked up shyly at her father. Big mac made his way over to his daughter lifting her off of her mother’s back and into his embrace. Big mac rarely expressed himself with words and, in this instance, there was no need for them. He hugged his daughter tightly, and then looked up and brought Fluttershy into his embrace as well. Fluttershy was right, it made Apple Butter forget entirely about the teasing foals from earlier that day. “I love you both,” Apple Butter said in her quiet voice. With that both of her parents hugged her tighter. They only released when rushed hoof steps hurried towards them. “Uncle Mac!” A pale orange colt with a green neckerchief yelled out, “Aunt Fluttershy!” “What is it Apple Crumble?” Fluttershy asked her nephew in law. Apple Butter looked up at her older cousin and saw the fear in his face. “It’s Crisp he’s hurt!” Apple Crumble said frantically. The trio then quickly jumped into action. Fluttershy took to the skies following the sprinting colt from above. Big mac and Apple Butter raced after him on the ground. They all finally reached the scene. A small golden ball of fur laid at the foot of an apple tree. Fluttershy quickly swooped down to assess the damage. She lifted the small colt off of the ground. “Where does it hurt?” she questioned. Apple Crisp sniffled. “My leg,” he said fighting back tears. Fluttershy looked over his legs and noticed that one looked a little different. “Go get your mom,” Big mac said to Apple Crumble. Apple Crumble took off running full speed towards the barn. Fluttershy tenderly rubbed the injured leg. “I don’t think it’s broken. It just looks sprained,” Fluttershy observed quietly. “What happened?”Apple Butter asked. “Me and Crumble were out here just playing around, and he dared me to try and buck all the apples out of a tree in one buck. I must’ve hit my leg too hard or somthin’,” he answered. “What’s goin’ on here?” Apple Jack said as she ran towards them. “Crumble’s hurt his leg,” Fluttershy informed her. “I think it’s just a sprain.” “Don’t worry Crisp, it’ll be alright,” Apple Jack soothed her son. “Where’s Crumble?” Apple Butter asked. “He’s gettin’ his dad,” her Aunt answered. Apple Jack sat next to Fluttershy while she held Apple Crisp. “It’s startin’ to feel better,” Crisp said while he shifted into his mother’s hooves. Just then, Caramel came running into view carrying a first-aid kit in his mouth, with Crumble not too far behind. “Irsh evrypony oka?” he asked trying to keep the kit in his mouth and check on them at the same time. “He should be okay, we just need to splint it,” Fluttershy informed him. In no time at all, the young colt’s leg was wrapped in white cloth. Apple Jack lifted her son onto her back and they began walking towards the house. Crumble walked slowly towards the back of the group with his ears folded and his head hung in guilt. Seeing her usually strong willed cousin looking so down made Apple butter heavyhearted. She slowly made her way beside him. “Are you okay, Crumble?” she asked timidly. He sighed, “I just feel so bad ‘bout Crisp gettin’ hurt, it never woulda’ happened if I hadn’t dared him to do it.” Apple butter tried to think of something comforting to say, but struggled. “How is Mom so good at this?” she thought to herself. “Well,” she started, “I don’t think it’s entirely your fault.” The unchanged look on his face showed that her efforts had made no progress in making him feel better. “I mean, Crisp should have known his limits,” she tried again. Crumble shook his head, “But I’m his big brother, I shouldn’a never put him up to it in the first place.” Apple Butter had done nothing but make him feel worse. She saw her mom walking beside her aunt ahead of them. She trotted to catch up to her. Her mom was taller than she was, so she had to walk on her hoof tips to reach her ear. “Mom, I don’t know what to do. Crumble thinks that it’s his fault that Crisp got hurt and I hate to see him so sad,” she whispered. “Have you tried to cheer him up?” Fluttershy inquired. “I tried to, but I’m just not good at it, I only made it worse,” Apple Butter admitted. Fluttershy pondered for a moment, “If only Pinkie Pie were here to cheer everyone up,” she thought. “Sometimes there isn’t anything you can say to cheer ponies up. Just be there for him Apple Butter, Crumble will appreciate it I’m sure,” she offered. Apple Butter was a bit bummed that there wasn’t anything she could say to help her cousin feel better. Then, an idea struck her. She quickly whispered in her mother’s ear again. “I have an idea!” she hastily explained her plan and asked for permission to put it into action. “That sounds like a great plan, just make sure you hurry back soon. We have to go to a picnic later on,” Fluttershy advised. “Okay, I love you,” she said. “I love you too Apple Butter. You two be safe,” her mother replied. Apple Butter quickly returned to her cousin’s side and told him to follow her. “Where are we going?” he yelled ahead. “You’ll see!” she yelled back. They raced down rows of trees full of apples nearing the time to harvest. Apple Crumble could tell that where ever his cousin was leading him to, she was awfully excited about it. She may have been a small weak looking filly, but she had the stamina and strength of her dad, Big Mac. She hardly ever showed her true strength, but sometimes when she felt comfortable it shined through. It brought a small smile to his lips. At least she’s happy. Even if I feel crummy inside. He let out a small chuckle at the irony of his thought. They galloped out of the farm and into the town. They both slowed their pace, being that it was considered rude to run through crowded areas “Now will ya tell me?” he questioned. She turned around and grinned at him. “We’re almost there.” They came upon their destination, Sugarcube Corner. “Why’d ya take me here?” he asked. “Well, I thought it might cheer you up. I really hate to see you sad and I couldn’t think of anything I could say to make you feel better. Plus, there’s no way you can escape auntie Pinkie Pie without smiling,” she informed him. Though Pinkie Pie was of no relation to her, she had insisted that Apple Butter should refer to her as Auntie Pinkie Pie. They walked through the pink door, Pound and Pumpkin Cake greeted them from behind the counter. “Hey you two. What are you guys doing here?” Pumpkin questioned. “We, um, well we we’re wondering if Pinkie Pie was here,” Apple Butter said shyly. “Uh, Pound, do you know where Pinkie Pie went?” Pumpkin asked her twin. “Well, last time I saw her she was playing hide and seek. So she could be anywhere,” he told them. “Well I guess you’re just gonna have to join in the seeking. You can check anywhere you’d like,” Pumpkin offered. “T-Thanks,” Apple Butter said. “Well whudda’ we do now?” Apple Crumble questioned. “I guess we’re just going to have to look for her. Let’s check upstairs first,” she said. They walked up the stairs into Pinkie Pie’s home to find three ponies seeking for her as well. “Search hard, Swirl! There’s no way she can win this time!” said the peach colored colt. All three ponies were sniffing the ground with their tails in the air like bloodhounds. “Jelly’s right,” said the adult pony “we’re close, I can tell!” “They really seem to be professionals at this,” Apple Butter whispered to Crumble. “They sure do,” he replied. “Uh, ‘scuse me.” The three ponies simultaneously looked up to see their company. Only when they looked up did the pair fully recognize them. “Well if it isn’t the Apple cousins,” said Cheese Sandwich. “Hey!” Jelly Roll and Cinnamon Swirl greeted together. “H-Hi,” Apple Butter managed. “Howdy,” Crumble said, still rather gloomily. Jelly caught the sadness in his friend’s voice and gave Apple Butter a questioning look. She shook her head as to say “I’ll tell you later”. “What can we do ya for?” Cheese asked. “W-well we we’re just looking for auntie Pinkie Pie, that’s i-if you don’t mind,” Apple Butter mumbled. “Absolutely-dutely!” Cheese expressed with great enthusiasm. He began humming a little tune while looking under various objects in the room. Apple Butter found it quite strange that he was even looking under the smallest items. Then again, it is Pinke Pie we’re looking for. All five ponies were searching for the curly maned pink party pony quite thoroughly, but no pony had found even a trace of her. “Are ya sure she didn’t leave?” Crumble asked solemnly. Jelly’s curly mane drooped at his friend’s depressed tone. And with a heart full of determination, he made it his personal mission to find his mom, the hide and seek professional. Cinnamon Swirl picked up on her brother’s new manifestation of heart and decided to help him further the search. The fuzzy maned duo began to search frantically, even re-checking places, just to be safe. They continued on like this for a few moments before Cinnamon suddenly jumped straight up in the air and immediately took off in full sprint. “What is it Swirl?” Jelly yelled after his younger sister. “I know where she is!” Cinnamon yelled, her voice full of triumph. They all followed her as she quickly lead them down the stairs to the bakery below Pinkie Pie’s home. Once she reached the back of the bakery where the cooking supplies was held, her eyes began to swiftly skim the shelves. “What are we looking for?” Apple butter questioned. Giving no answer, Cinnamon quickly found what she was looking for. “AHA!” she yelled, as she pile drove a giant bag of flour. The two apple relatives stared agape at their friend who was now fully submerged in the white powder. “You found me!” a familiar voice, Pinkie Pie’s they guessed, protruded from inside the flour bag. The two ponies jumped out of the bag shooting flour all around them on the floor. Both completely covered from head to hoof in flour fell into the floor in a fit of giggles. The whole group joined in the laughter, including Apple Crumble. After the laughing faded, Pinkie Pie noticed the new company, and enveloped both of them in a huge, flour filled hug. “Wow you guys are getting so big!” she said fawning over the two. Apple Butter smiled meekly, but her cousin did not, displaying his melancholy. Pinkie Pie promptly shook the flour off, causing a large cloud to enter the air around her. “Alrighty, what’s with the frown?” she asked cracking her “knuckles” in preparation. Crumble’s ears drooped beside his head as he retold her about the recent events with his brother. “Well that’s not your fault Crumble, and it’s fine, it sounds like Crisp isn’t that hurt. You just need to be more careful next time.” She explained. Apple Butter didn’t expect for Pinkie Pie to take such a serious point of view on it, but it did seem to help her cousin. “Thanks Mrs. Pie, but I still feel bad about it.” “And that’s fine,” she smiled, “but there’s no use in frowning and being all sad about it!” “Yeah Crumble, as a wise monkey once said learn from it!” Jelly added while playfully patting his friend’s head. Apple Crumble had no clue what his friend was getting at, but none the less it made a smile come to his face. Apple Butter was satisfied at the smile of her previously down-in-the-dumps cousin. “Yay! A smile!” they all beamed. Pumpkin and Pound then entered the room. “You guys found her, huh?” Pound asked. “Yep,” Jelly said, “actually it was really Swirl who did it.” “I think we have a super duper hide-and-seek seeker pony on our hooves.” Cheese Sandwich said. The twins then brought their attention to Cinnamon Swirl, who was still covered in flour. At this new, but familiar sight, they giggled uncontrollably. “Like mother like daughter!” Pinkie yelled through her own laughter. After the group’s giggles died down, Apple Butter remembered her mom’s warning. “Um, Auntie Pinkie Pie,” she said, gaining Pinkie’s attention. “What is it Apple Butter?” she inquired cheerfully. “Well, it’s just, Mom said that we have a picnic to go to and …” her faint voice trailed off. “Oh yeah!” Pinkie Pie yelled. “Come on every pony!” she said as she gathered some boxes of treats and took off at sonic speed out of Sugar Cube Corner. They all ran off after her, except for the Cake twins who only shook their head at Pinkie’s antics.
Chapter FourIt was a lovely day outside, warm weather, birds chirping sweet little tunes, and it was overall peaceful in Ponyville. Everywhere in Ponyville it seemed, except at the carousel boutique where fussing could be heard from outside the door. “I said to hold still!” Rarity yelled at the small colt. “Ugh,” he groaned at his mother. “I’ve already told you, Azure,” she said as she finished a seam on the small tuxedo that the he was modeling, “the sooner you sit still, the sooner we finish. Besides, we wouldn’t be having to do this at all, if you weren’t so rough in your nice clothes.” “But Mother, I only wanted to play with the others. I didn’t mean to tear them,” he pleaded. Rarity sighed, “I understand well enough darling, but what is broken must be fixed.” In defeat, Azure Beam stood still, taking shallow breaths so that he wouldn’t incidentally get pricked with the needle his mother was mending his clothing with. After a few moments of sewing, Rarity cut the string and removed her red glasses. “Alright darling, you are now excused. Go take off the suit,” She said. With that he took off running into the dressing room, blatantly eager to get out of the uncomfortable clothes. Very quickly, he ran back out of the dressing room handing Rarity the suit carefully with his mouth. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you use your magic?” she asked. “Well you know I’m not good with magic,” he said sheepishly. “If you don’t practice you won’t get better,” she sounded concerned. Their conversation was interrupted by a loud burst of laughter from Sweetie Belle’s room above them. “Azure, will you be a dear and go get your aunt for me?” Rarity asked her son. “Okay,” he said galloping up the stairs. He enjoyed spending time with his aunt and her two lively friends. They always had the best stories to tell, and sometimes they would let him hang out with them while they had fun. He stopped in front of her door, and gently knocked with his hoof. “Come in,” his aunt yelled through the door. He entered and looked around the messy room. Posters littered the walls, most of which displayed famous singers on the front. The three former cutie mark crusaders laid on Sweetie Belle’s bed. “What’s up squirt?” Scootaloo greeted. “Mom just sent me up here to get Aunt Sweetie Belle,” he informed. “Uh-oh,” Apple Bloom said. “What did you do this time?” Scootaloo asked. “Nothing!” she tried to convince the Pegasus, “At least, not that I know of.” “She didn’t seem mad when she asked me to come get you,” Azure tried to help. “Okay well we better get down there,” Apple Bloom said. With that the four ponies left the room and went back downstairs to see Rarity. “What is it, sis?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Oh, I just wanted to remind you that Azure and I will be going to a picnic a little later on. So, you will have to either send your friends home, or go over to one of their houses,” She said. “Okay, Scoots do you mind if I come over to your place?” Sweetie asked. “Sounds fine to me,” Scootaloo replied. “Apple Bloom you wanna come too?” “I’m sure AJ won’t mind,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s settled then, we’ll be at Scootaloo’s,” She told Rarity. “Alright then,” She agreed. “Was that all you needed?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Uh, actually, Sweetie Belle could I talk to for a moment in private?” Rarity asked. Sweetie, though unsure as to why, shook her head yes, and made her way across the room. Azure immediately knew exactly why his mother asked to speak to his aunt. It was about his unwillingness to use his magic. It’s not that I don’t want to, He thought, I’m just not good at it. Last time I tried, the other ponies at school laughed at me. He failed to remember, however, that Apple Crumble, Jelly Roll, Whiplash, and Daybreak, who were all also in his grade, did not laugh at him. After the two sisters finished their conversation, Sweetie Belle returned to her friends who looked at her questioningly. “What was all that about?” Apple Bloom asked. “Don’t worry about it,” Sweetie Belle replied. They began to go back to Sweetie Belle’s room, when Sweetie Belle noticed that Azure wasn’t following them. “Are you coming or not?” she winked. Without responding he followed behind them upstairs to her room. Usually he would be more than happy to hang out with them, but he knew why she was inviting him to join this time. On their way there, Sweetie Belle quietly whispered to her two friends what was going on. “So Az, what’s been going on lately?” Sweetie Belle asked once they had gotten into the room. “Nothing really,” he said unconvincingly. “Are ya sure?” Apple Bloom pushed. “This is about the whole magic thing, isn’t it?” Azure asked. “Why don’t you want to use your magic?” his aunt questioned. “I already told Mother, I’m not good at using magic. It doesn’t come as easy to me as it does to you and her,” he said. The trio of friends then erupted into a large burst of laughter. This made him furious, he believed they were laughing at him. With this Sweetie Belle enveloped her nephew into a warm hug, with some protest. Between chuckles Apple Bloom managed, “Ya mean ya never told him?” “No, it never came up!” Sweetie Belle’s voice squeaked. “Look squirt, if you think that your aunt was always good at magic, you’ve got another thing coming,” Scootaloo added. Now completely confused, Azure asked, “What are you talking about?” “You see, I was the same way you are now. When I was younger, I wasn’t good at magic either. I actually took magic lessons with Princess Twilight for a while,” she informed. “Yeah, and we saw how those turned out,” Scootaloo said earning her a hit from Apple Bloom. “What she means to say is, Sweetie Belle struggled with magic too, but she worked real hard. And now, she’s good at magic, you’ve just gotta work hard at it like she did,” Apple Bloom told him. “It’s just so frustrating. When I try to use magic, everypony at school laughs at me,” he admitted. “Now that can’t be right,” Apple Bloom argued, “I know for a fact that Crumble knows better than to laugh at you for somthin’ like that.” “Yeah, Whiplash too,” Scootaloo added. “Well maybe they didn’t,” he admitted, “but the rest of them did. Why is it so important anyway?” The three were stunned at his question. “Magic is a part of who you are, Az,” Scootaloo said. “Your friends, ‘lash, Crumble, all of them, they want to be friends with you because of how awesome you are, magic and all.” “Scootaloo is right,” his aunt added, “and we, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, have now made it our mission to help you get better at using magic!” she said as she wrapped her hooves around her two best friends. At this, Azure smiled warmly. They were right, his friends didn’t care if he wasn’t good at using magic, and with their help he was sure to get better at it. He led the group back down the stairs, where Rarity stood waiting rather impatiently. “Mother, guess what!? Aunt Sweetie Belle and her friends have offered to help me get better at magic!” he said, not giving his mother enough time to guess. “That’s lovely, dear!” Rarity replied. “I am proud of you, and your father will be too, once I tell him when he returns from his business trip in Canterlot.” He ran to his mother and embraced her in a hug. Sweetie Belle quickly joined them, dragging the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders into the hug with her. “Now, grab your things, we have to go to the picnic,” Rarity concluded. The five ponies scrambled around the boutique collecting different items and exited, breaking off into two groups outside.
Chapter FiveRainbow Dash, now accompanied by her husband, son, and daughter, was the first to arrive at the picnic spot. “What gives?” she asked with a puzzled expression. “I guess we’re the first ones here,” Soarin remarked. Whiplash let out a triumphant laugh. “Daybreak is gonna be so mad that we beat her!” he boasted. His little sister gurgled in agreement. “I can’t wait to see the look on Twilight’s face when she finds out we beat her to her own picnic!” Rainbow laughed. On que, the princess appeared, in a purple cloud of magic. “I’m here!” she sighed. Daybreak with Spike riding on her back, and Flash Century with Comet Gazer on his, arrived seconds behind out of breath. “You could’ve waited on us!” Spike pointed out. “Oh, sorry everypony, I just wanted to make sure I got here on time,” she replied. “Looks like your two minutes late,” Rainbow Dash said, making her, as well as her family’s, presence known. “Ha-ha yep, I beat you Daybreak!” Whiplash bragged. “Bite me!” Daybreak teased at her friend. “I just might!” he teased back, flying swiftly towards her. Daybreak, prepared for his attack, dodged causing him to fly past. She stuck her tongue out at him. “Alright you two,” Twilight interrupted. “Yeah no fighting without me!” Pinkie Pie jumped on the two, taking them by surprise. She blew raspberries onto their tummies, as they giggled. “Is that my little Warpy?” Rarity, who had also just arrived, asked referring towards the cyan filly. “Yep, it is,” Soarin replied, handing his daughter to her. “She’s just a cutey-wutey, yes she is,” Rarity played with the diapered foal who tittered in response. “Rarity,” Rainbow Dash groaned, “how many times do I have to tell you, she’s a wonderbolt-in-training, we aren’t cutey-wuteys.” “You may be a tom-filly, but I have a feeling that this one will be visiting me quite often for fashion advice,” Rarity commented. Warp Fusion clapped her hooves together. “You traitor!” Rainbow joked as she rubbed her daughter’s colorful mane. “Um, sorry we’re late, Princess Twilight,” Apple Butter apologized to her mother’s friend. “That’s perfectly fine,” Twilight grinned, finding it comforting how much like her mother Apple Butter was. “Apple Butter,” Fluttershy said as she approached, “did everything work out okay?” “Yes, it did. Is Crisp feeling better?” she inquired. “Actually, he’s here now. He said he felt good enough to come, so Apple Jack let him, as long as he promised not to rough-house and hurt himself again,” Fluttershy answered. Apple Butter looked to her aunt Apple Jack and cousin Apple Crisp. He sat close to his mother, looking out longingly towards his friends as they played worry free. However, his ears perked up as his brother, Crumble, came up to him. She hadn’t noticed that her cousin had left her side, but by the look of determination on his face, he intended to apologize, so she went on as if she never took notice. “Crisp,” Crumble said, “I’m sorry ‘bout you gettin’ hurt. I’d a never dared you to if I knew.” Apple Jack, who listened to her two son’s conversation, wore a proud smile upon her face. “It’s alright Crum, it don’t even hurt that much anymore. We both shoulda’ known better,” Apple Crisp reassured his brother. “Yeah, you’re right,” Crumble said as he embraced his younger sibling into a hug, careful not to bother his injured leg. “My boys,” Apple Jack said as she joined. “Now that we’re all here,” Twilight Sparkle announced, “why don’t we start the picnic?” A chorus of agreement followed. Everpony helped in the setting up. In a matter of minutes, an extra-large white and red checkered blanket laid on the ground, shrouded in cuisine and ponies. The adult ponies sat around eating and conversing while their children did the same. Chatter and laughter was carried by the wind, on this peaceful day. Though it did not start off this way for most of the ponies, the day had all returned to it’s serenity in the end. “It’s so nice to get everypony together every once in a while,” Fluttershy commented. “Yep,” her husband Big Mac concurred. “Couldn’t agree more,” Rarity added. “Yeah, getting together like this is awesome. We should do it more often,” Rainbow Dash said, gaining a nod from her husband. “I think that’d be a swell idea,” Apple Jack replied. “Hopefully, next time there won’t be an injury count,” Caramel stated. “Yeah, and next time we can bring more sweets!” Pinkie Pie said patting her stomach. “Here, here!” her husband, Cheese Sandwich shouted. The friends laughed at their playfulness. Surrounding them, their children played. The sun lowered in the sky, it’s warmth held no candle to the warmth shared between the families. It was almost jovial how complex, yet simple the day had unraveled. Issues resolved, the ponies focused their attention on enjoying their time together. Though they all had their own separate lives, at this time the lives were intertwined. All sorrows, and misgivings forgotten, and in return replaced with friendship.
