Journal of an Alicorn Clone

Chapters

This Court Had No Tennis Rackets, But I Made a Racket Anyway!
Bonding Over a Moon Dust Mishap
A Safe is Never Safe From Prying Eyes
A Pink Pony Visited Me Today!
Sampling Local Blends to Blend With the Locals
Second Opinions Are a Good First Step for Perspective
I'm Going On an Adventur...ous Field Trip!
The Crystal Empire is Pretty, Sweet, and Pretty Sweet
Unfortunately, the Crystal Castle is Not so Sweet
Beyond the Door Lies... My Castle?
Counseling Couples is so Easy, a Dummy Could Do It!
The Long Ride Home (Wasn't so Long, Actually)
The Key is in the Details!
And, uh, so is Paying Attention to Key Words.
For Every Action, Something Something Opposite Reaction
When You're in Big Trouble, Don't Stay In the Rubble!
The First Slice of Life Is Definitely the Tastiest!
Having a Birdbrain is Okay if You're Part Bird!

This Court Had No Tennis Rackets, But I Made a Racket Anyway!

Dear Journal,

Celestia gave me a new challenge today. She said if I behaved for a whole week, I’d learn a few things about how to carry myself around others in the castle. What was it… manners? I think it was manners I had to learn, but I was definitely ready for it!

Except I didn’t quite get the challenge, as Celestia explained to me while I carried her on my back through the castle. I asked her why she didn’t stop me from doing that if that was wrong, and she said it would just be easier this way… which worked for me! If she didn’t have a problem with it, why should I?

Anyway, being a princess isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. We have things we have to do, ponies to listen to (and ignore if necessary--she made that sound SUPER important), and a land to rule over with ‘benevolence’, which is a long word meaning we do good by others in our domain.

It sounded easy! How hard could it be to do the right thing all the time?

As it turned out, that can be very difficult. Especially when the right thing is sitting and listening to a court thing Celestia said was ‘sometimes’ boring.

Except it wasn’t just boring! In fact, if boring was a pony, they’d probably think listening to their grandma talk about their denture cleaner was more exciting! Because at least that has fizzy bubbles, and I couldn’t even bring a soda pop into the room!

I did bring my journal though, and drawing doodles of the ponies talking to Celestia helped a little. Most of them weren’t that interesting, but there was a big white pony with yellow hair that gave Celestia a funny-looking eye tic, and I think an extra wrinkle on her cheek. And then a light red, not-pink-but-maybe-peach? pony with a rose on her butt came in and my front hooves got all tingly like they wanted to touch her face. Hard. Multiple times.

And I almost did! I touched her face once before Celestia pulled me out of the courtroom. Apparently, what I did was not the right thing, even though she agreed that it was a good gut feeling to have. Even so, she sent me to my room and promised she would fix things while I reflected on my bad manners.

But I think there’s only one thing to reflect on. And that’s if you really feel like hurting someone, it’s probably not a good idea to actually do that. Nopony likes to get hurt, no matter how much they might want to hurt others.

Except if you’re not physically hurting them. Celestia did say she had a punching dummy with peachy pony’s face on it, and I get to use that next time! YES!

Bonding Over a Moon Dust Mishap

Dear Journal,

This is the second day of trying to behave and learn manners. Celestia decided I shouldn’t leave the castle at all today. I knew why, of course.

Buuut I didn’t plan on staying in my room the whole day, either. So I checked to see what Luna Two was doing!

I have never seen a dusty room before I entered hers. Moon dust was everywhere--the ground, on the furniture, in the air, and even some in the hallway just outside the door! The guards outside wore these little blue masks around their mouths, too. Are they allergic? I could breathe it in just fine.

Anyway, she was busy making a bunch of moon dust castles. But I guess she put one near the door that I knocked over when I entered, because she made a huge fit over it! “It was a replica of the old castle! Augh!”

“Well, you shouldn’t have put it next to the door, silly! Why didn’t you put it somewhere else?”

“Because I ran out of room!” She said while gesturing to other dust models of other places in Equestria. Places like Canterlot, Manehatten, and even a floating Cloudsdale!

“I couldn’t find any other spots, and I wanted to save the best one for last…”

Then she started tearing up, and that made my chest hurt. I hated making her feel terrible, so I offered to help fix it, you know? “It’ll be just like it was before, except with a massive, sturdy wall in front of that door so it never touches the castle again! How does that sound?”

She looked up at me… and smiled. “Y-Yeah. Yeah! We’ll make it better!”

I nodded. “Yeah. We will.”

And so, I spent the whole day helping her with the new-and-improved old castle. I helped with the foundation and some of the basic construction, and her eye for detail was incredible as she carved out each archway and hallway with a set of tiny chisels. She even etched out a lot of the stained-glass window designs in the walls!

Meanwhile, my wall wasn’t as refined as the castle. It was thick and wide, and about half as high as the door. It wasn’t as tall or appealing as the old castle, but Luna Two said it had a “rustic charm” to it, and that put a smile on my face! I also built it so sturdy there was no way it would ever break or crumble, so this shouldn’t cause any more problems for Luna Two whatsoever!

And just so I don’t forget about the wall next time, I’ll write this reminder: The wrong door is not right, but the right door is on the right!

A Safe is Never Safe From Prying Eyes

Dear Journal,

‘Tis the third day of learning manners, and today I decided to spend a bit more time with Luna Two. However, we did not mess around with her dust castles this time. She said she wanted them to dry after spraying them with a bit of water, so we couldn’t alter them while they were setting.

But that was okay, because I had a plan! We had yet to fully explore this big castle we call home!

Did I truly know how huge this castle was before today? Not really, not even when I had to look for the library! Celestia restricted me to just looking through one wing of the castle for that, which meant I had a whole other wing to explore! In addition, Luna Two hadn’t gone out of her room too much, so this new wing was as foreign to her as it was for me. That means we got to learn about this new place at the same time!

And we learned lots of things. They had a big dining hall that looked like the best place to host a party, a lounge place with a big sofa I could stretch my whole body over--I’m not sure why that is here, but posing in that chair felt oddly natural--and a kitchen that we will absolutely visit… later. When the chef isn’t around--she was absolutely livid when we took some grapes from the fruit salad bowl!

“Noooooo! Now the ratio is ruined! How am I supposed to fix this?!”

I shrugged and said, “Just add more apples!” before I popped one of those tasty little grapes in my mouth.

“What?”

“If you’re short on fruit, add a different fruit! Easy-peasy! I don’t think this is supposed to be hard!”

While she was busy stumbling through some kind of response, we scurried out of the kitchen. We couldn’t spend our whole day discussing the composition of fruit salad when there was basically eighty percent of a whole castle wing left unexplored!

Or as we discovered, a huge hallway with a huger door at the end of it. It was ornate, thick, and locked up tighter than Celestia’s nightstand stuffed with super secret sweets! Neither of us had any idea of how to open it other than an odd little hole in the middle of the door.

Now, I know Celestia said that I shouldn’t use my head horn willy-nilly. Just because it’s a pointy thing I can put in any nook, hole or cranny doesn’t mean I should. And I did have a tiny voice in my head say I shouldn’t open that door.

Buuut that tiny head voice was also curious to know what was in there, so they allowed it! And to my complete surprise, the door opened!

What lied beyond was a treasure trove of all sorts of interesting and/or confusing items. Golden bits, ancient relics that could really use a dusting, little toys that looked very, very old but still functional (Note to self: ask Celestia if I can have one of them. Luna Two wants one too), and even half an eggshell in a box… for some reason!

But despite all the things in there we could have touched or taken, we left the vault with nothing. Why? Because it was all Celestia’s, and I am not her. If she put all of this behind such a big door, she really wanted to keep it safe. Taking any of it out without her permission is something only a terrible person would do.

I didn’t know how to close the door though, so as soon as I write this entry, I need to find her. She said she would be busy talking with Luna about something, but as soon as I see her, I’ll tell her everything that happened today.

...OH! There she is! Hi Celestia--Hey, that looks like a piece of Luna’s door and my dust wall! Why are they hanging from your horn?

Wait, you use that door too?! Wow, I… actually should have seen that coming.

Yes, and I should have told you about the wall. I’m sorry.

Um… so is this a bad time to tell you that I messed with another door today?

A Pink Pony Visited Me Today!

Dear Journal,

It’s been four days since starting this manners exercise, I learned exactly how confusing things can get when I look exactly like somepony else.

Why? Because I went into Celestia’s bathroom at noon for a little potty break. I was happily doing my business, looking around at all of her fancy shampoos and conditioners and duckie…

...when all of a sudden, I heard this funny giggling sound. It echoed in the room for a while, and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. The open window, the door, the weird pink splotch on the shower wall, the cabinet under the sink, and even the pink pony standing inches away from me!

Wait. Uh, she was the source. Yes. Anyway, she asked me some odd questions. What did I do last week? Did I enjoy the gift two days ago? What am I going to do for my birthday party in a month? That last one’s a strange question to ask me--I don’t even know what mine is supposed to be! Is it Celestia’s, or the first day we met? ...What if it’s BOTH?! Do I get a double birthday?!

Honestly, I couldn’t tell her any answers to those questions. She tilted her head, and started squinting at me. Looking reeeal close at me, and even sniffing my hair. “Doesn’t smell like toothpaste,” she said, which is weird because that’s for your teeth, right? She paced around me, giving me more looks that suddenly made me want an adult.

Then she asked me something I could answer.

“You’re not her, are you?”

“Me? Nope!”

“Then who are you?”

“I’m her! ...but, uh, not actually her? I mean, I look like her if she is the same ‘her’ you’re talking about, but she is not who I am, because I am… me?”

I don’t know if that was a good explanation, but she thought about it and seemed to like it! “Ooh, this will be fun!” she said with a great big smile and twinkling eyes. “I’ll keep my eye on you, Tia lookalike!”

And then I blinked, and she completely disappeared! I think I saw a pink blur just outside the bathroom window, but I can’t be sure of that.

But I am sure of one thing.

I... have a FAN! I don’t know about a friend yet because I don’t even know her name, but I think that’ll change soon when she visits me next time! I’m not sure when it’ll happen, but that seems guaranteed! I can’t wait to see her again.

Oh, Celestia! Guess what?! A funny pink pony saw me today!

Huh? Yeah, we talked for a little bit. She wanted to know about me, something about birthdays, and then she grinned as wide as the moon! I didn’t even know we could make a huge smile like that and--hey, why are you getting all sweaty? Is it hot in here?

Yeah, she’s totally coming back! She didn’t say when, but I think it’ll be on your birthday! Isn’t that great?!

Sampling Local Blends to Blend With the Locals

Dear Journal,

Celestia took me to one of her favorite spots to wind down today. She said this would be the next step in learning proper manners, and it involved a good friend of hers! I had no idea who that was, but I was so happy to find out!

Except there was a dilemma. Two Celestias walking the streets would have been a big problem, but Celestia saw this coming and said she’d monitor me while in disguise. But how?

Apparently, all she had to do was change her hair color! And her smell. I pointed out that her hair still smelled like toothpaste, so she spent a few seconds more to make it smell like strawberries! I really want to learn how she did that, and she promised me she would tell me how later.

I’m holding her to that promise. I want my hair to smell like vanilla!

In the meantime, she wanted to introduce me to some of her habits, to understand how she functions. To that end, she escorted me to a small café that smelled like coffee and tea leaves! I know, it didn’t sound all that appealing to me, but she promised me the owner would know just what to make for me!

Curious, I walked inside. Behind a bar with fancy little stools was an odd, lanky-looking tan pony wearing a brown apron that I think wasn’t actually brown to begin with. He turned around and greeted me like I was a diligent patron, which was super strange because it was my first time here, you know?

“Oh, Celestia! Glad to see you!”

“Y-Yeah! Great to see you too!” I said, because I’m supposed to be her right now!

Then he glared at me for a moment. “You’re not her. I’m talking to the one with the pink hair next to you that--” he sniffed the air “--smells like strawberries?” He shrugged. “Well, at least it isn’t toothpaste this time.”

Apparently, Celestia said he’s some kind of shapeshifting bug, so he knows what a good disguise is supposed to be! I guess that also means he knows how to spot fakers. I guess that meant I had a long way to go before I can act proper like Celestia.

“I’ll consider that a compliment, Cuppa Joe.” Then she turned to me. “And this is my double. Her name is, uh, Tia Two.”

“...You really need to come up with a better name for her.”

“I know, I’m working on it. In the meantime, how about something to start off our morning?”

He nodded, and turned around to a bunch of fancy machines that made coffee... I think. “Same as always, Celestia?”

“Hold the fudge, as always,” Celestia said with a small smirk on her face. “And what will you have, Tia Two?”

That was the hardest question today! Just looking at the menu made my head spin from so many options. Hot and cold teas and coffees of so many blends and mixes my head felt all screwy just from reading all of them! But the strange thing is that all of them incorporated fudge, and yet Celestia didn’t want any in hers. Weird… but it couldn’t hurt to try it myself!

“One mocha latte, extra fudge please!”

The barista pony froze for a moment, and turned his head. “Are you… certain you want that?”

Celestia shook her head at me with wide eyes, as if what I had just said was the worst thing I could have possibly ordered. But how could I? It’s on the menu, so it’s gotta be tasty! Who would put awful-tasting food on a menu on purpose?

“Of course!” I replied.

“...I see.” He faced Celestia again. “I know this is on your tab, but I gotta be sure. Are you okay with her getting that?”

She mulled it over for a while, even bringing a hoof to her head while thinking it over. Then she sighed. “Let her have it. Do your worst.”

Cuppa blinked, then went back to brewing our coffees. “Alright then. I hope you enjoy it.”

A few minutes later, and we enjoyed our drinks. I don’t know why they seemed so concerned--that coffee was awesome! They made it sound so crappy, but I showed them! Even so, Celestia made it clear that I shouldn’t order that coffee too often. So I won’t get it the next time I visit. Or the next time. Or the time after that, I guess.

I’ll order it at least once a week, though. That doesn’t sound often at all!

Second Opinions Are a Good First Step for Perspective

Dear Journal,

I’m writing this entry in the current absence of your owner and my sister, Tia Two. She would be here to write this, if she wasn’t busy pulling every curtain off the rods and tipping every potted plant in sight.

Simply put, whatever she had yesterday gave her energy. A lot of energy. ‘Bashed a hole in my door and cracked her dust wall screaming, “Here’s sister!”’ levels of energy. I didn’t know how loud and strong my screaming could be until I blew the door off its hinges and sent her and the door flying. The dust wall was still mostly intact though. I give credit to my sis--she knows how to build a wall.

Anyway, Celestia and Luna have spent every minute since last evening trying to contain her. Twenty eight attempts later, and they’re still no closer to getting her quarantined.

Their last attempt came close with some special Moon Cookies though! At least, I think they were special since they mentioned putting sleepy stuff in them, and I know Luna normally doesn’t do that. I haven’t gotten tired from eating them, at least.

Neither had my sister. She had maybe four cookies from the plate those two placed in the hallway, and I guess Celestia doubted Luna actually put the sleepy stuff in them because they didn’t slow down Tia Two at all.

So she tried them herself.

She promptly faceplanted into the carpet one minute later.

With her out of commission, Luna and I had to take up the reins. And together, we came up with a plan. A simple, crazy plan that involved rope, some cream puffs, and a large cardboard box.

First, we hid in the box in the throne room. Then we ate a few cream puffs, joking and giggling and making a commotion inside a very unusual location! Soon enough, Tia Two showed up and demanded entry into our box!

We refused at first. This was our snacking box, and not just anypony could gain entry for such delicious cream puffs! If she wanted in, she had to calm down, say pretty please with sugar plums, and maybe we’d let her in.

Which we did eventually, and then when she was about to take a bite out of the first cream puff, we tackled and hogtied her! She didn’t see it coming, nor did she see us still sharing the cream puffs with her once we got her under control.

A few hours after her capture, she finally weaned off her sugar high. Her face was as bittersweet as her words, but at the same time, she realized how out of control she became. Unfortunately, Celestia was still sleeping, so her lecture on my sister’s behavior would have to wait.

Until then, we still had some cream puffs left to eat. Tia Two only got two more--getting her wound up again would wind up causing further disaster.

I hope she's learned something important from this. I doubt it, but hope all the same.

Huh? Yes, I did break the door off its hinges, Luna. Was that a bad thing?

Shouting lessons? Really?! YES!

Oh, uh, sorry Luna. Should I do something about your indent in the wall?

I'm Going On an Adventur...ous Field Trip!

Dear Journal,

Day seven is here! It’s the last day of my behavior training, probably! I have almost no idea of what happened for most of day five and six in quite a few spots, but I must have done plenty for Celestia to send me away for some foreign relations practice!

Except I’m not actually going across an ocean or anything like that. Celestia still wants me on the mainland, so she’s sending me to the Crystal Empire instead!

This is my second time on a train… and the first time going alone. Initially, I was completely scared at the idea of doing something this big all by myself, but she said I wouldn’t have to worry. Her niece would we waiting for me when I arrived, which I guess technically also makes her my niece from another aunt that’s also me?

However it’s supposed to sound, this means I’m getting to meet more of her family! Well, when I get there, because I’m on the train right now.

I had no idea a train could move this fast. Trees become blurs, ponies become blurs, even my projectile vomit from getting all woozy on this train became a blur out the window! A mare in the room behind me screamed after the vomit left my sight. I bet she’s finding this as exciting as I am right now!

…Oh. My. Goodness! There’s a pony with a cart loaded with candy and sweets walking right down the aisle. And they’re calling for customers! Where is that bag of bits Celestia gave me for the trip? Where did I put it where is it WHERE--oh no he’s coming closer and I can’t find it!

I really want some of those treats on his stand! That means I got to stall him… but how? How do I slow him down--AAAA he’s almost at my seat! Quick thinking time!

Hi there, mister candy pony. Is there something wrong?

Well, I’m lying down in the middle of the aisle. I’ve, uh, fallen and I can’t get up. Yes. That is exactly what’s happening right now.

If I wanted to get up, I could. But I can’t, not while my bag of bits is missing. I think it’s on the floor, but it could be anywhere and--huh? No, I haven’t checked my travel bag. Do you think it could be in there?

Hey, it really was in there! Thanks, candy pony! And yes, I do want to buy some candy. How did you know that?

I do this all the time? Wow, I really must love your candy if I’ve stopped you this much!

Uh, half the cart please. No, not the whole cart--I’m trying not to be selfish.

Thanks, and--wait! Actually, I have one more request. Do you have any pillows? I’d like to take a nap later since I’m starting to feel sleepy.

Thank you!

The Crystal Empire is Pretty, Sweet, and Pretty Sweet

Dear Journal,

Magic sheep are the cutest, smartest little creatures ever! Why jump over a fence when you can just magic the fence out of the way? Or you just magic it right out of existence so that you never ever have to think about it again! They must really hate jumping or really, really love walking!

Either way, the fence is gone, and I didn’t get much rest on the way to the Crystal Empire. But that’s okay! I woke up with a lot of energy to burn thanks to all those cart snacks!

The train just arrived at the Empire’s train station. It is exactly as shiny as I thought it would be! Oh, the ponies are shiny too! Well, some of them are. Some of them seem like tourists--like me, because I’m not shiny, and neither are they.

Many of these shiny crystal ponies move around through the streets, buying and selling, talking and smiling! Most of them don’t seem to mind me as I move around the city, although there are a few that cast me some odd glances. They’re just as shiny as the hard candies I’m eating as I walk the streets… mmm, watermelon!

And then there’s a pony so clear I can see right through them! Hello! Do you know where I can find a “crystal princess”? Do they sell it at one of the market stands? Or is it the princess of this empire?

What’s the matter, did I get it wrong? …What if it’s both? It’s both, isn’t it? Wow, you are really quiet for a crystal pony I can see right through unlike all of the other crystal ponies. And you haven’t even moved since I approached you! Are you a mime? If you’re pretending to be a statue, you are very good at it!

Wait. Upon closer inspection, you are actually just a lifelike crystal pony statue. Oh well, at least you were honest with yourself, and I should have seen right through you! Well, I am already. Sort of.

...but I can’t see through the other crystal ponies. Does that mean… they have something to hide? I wonder about that.

Oh darn, this watermelon candy’s finished. Let’s see… ooh, grape is a nice color and flavor! It even looks just like that house right behind mister statue. It’s nice and purple and… and…

It looks just like this candy. It couldn’t be, could it--no, Celestia said it’s not candy. Yet if she knows it’s edible and she’s telling me it isn’t just so I won’t try it just like she did with her super secret sweets hidden behind her nightstand…

There’s only one way to get to the bottom of this. It’s time to have a taste.

Unfortunately, the Crystal Castle is Not so Sweet

Dear Journal,

I sampled a dozen or so houses, and thus far, none were made out of candy. I would have sampled more, but Celestia’s--er, my pink niece found me and quickly escorted me to her castle before I could try any more. Such a shame--I was certain the fourth tasted like snozzberries, but that’s been the only exception to the other salty, earthy crystal houses.

I suppose that experiment will have to wait. For now, Cadance has just shown me my room to stay in for the night. I made myself perfectly clear that I was not going to eat her castle during my stay, and I mean it. I bit a piece off of a corner pillar when she wasn’t looking.

Still salty. Still earthy. Palatable, but nowhere close to sweet!

Anyway, I have some free time left until dinner’s served, so I’m using it to explore the castle right now. Or at least I would, if there wasn’t this obnoxious orange guard pony following me around who says he’s here to make sure I don’t eat anything.

The nerve of my niece! It’s not like I’m going to walk by the kitchen this instant and--oh my stars, I smell a fruit parfait just past that door!

What do you mean I can’t enter? It smells ready to eat right now!

I have to wait? Well, then I’ll just wait until it comes out that door and I’ll devour it as soon as it clears the door frame. And you’ll still get in my way?

Listen up… what’s your name? Okay, let me restart. Ahem, listen up Flash Scenty! I will get through that door one way or another and eat that parfait. If you insist on stopping me, then you better keep an eye on that door at all times! Because the second you stop guarding it, I’ll get in. It won’t matter if you know I got in--it’ll be too late then.

So you are going to stay right there? Good, because I’m not interested in eating anything but that parfait, I can guarantee you! Now, I’m going to walk away from this door, okay? I know you won’t move, right?!

...Wow, I can’t believe that worked! Now I have free reign to explore this place! And it looks like my first stop is the throne room!

Wow, and I thought the roof of Celestia’s throne room was too dang high! The floor is pretty much the least interesting spot to see, just a carpet, a standing sign of some kind, and a crystal chair, but this roof feels like it could go on forever and ever and--OW!

Ouch! Owie! Wow. This. Is. A. Long. Flight. Of. Stairs! When. Is. This. Going. To. End?! Seriously?! It. Is. Still. Going!

Whew. Okay, I’m at the bottom now. Who thought it was a brilliant idea to just cover a stairwell in carpet and hope no one noticed?! They should have left a warning sign--OW!

Oh, there’s the warning sign. “Danger! Carpet for decoration only. Do not walk on!” Well, what’s the point of a carpet like that? Was it really just there to cover up that hole? I guess the ponies here must really like hiding things like--huh. There’s a door here.

I don’t know why, but I don’t like this door. I want to open it, but at the same time, leaving it closed sounds like a good idea.

Wait, who am I kidding? Of course I’m going to open this door! What’s the point of a door if it’s never opened? It might as well be a wall!

Beyond the Door Lies... My Castle?

Okay. So, this door just opened up into Celestia’s bedroom.

I am so confused right now, because I have opened and closed every door in her room, and not one has led to some spooky basement stairwell in her niece’s castle! Oh sure, there was a secret entrance that kind of looked like a hidey hole (note to self: use for hide and seek with my sister later), but that’s all!

Opening the hallway door, I notice something missing: guards. Weird, because I usually see guards somewhere in the hallway at all times, especially guarding the doors to our bedroom during naptime!

Wait, does this mean I’m alone? Nopony’s here to tell me I can’t do things… right? I wonder...

Celestia, if you’re here, I’m getting into your secret snack spot! I know you really don’t want me in there, so if you wanna stop me, you better do it right now!

...Right… now!

I-I’ve opened the door! These cupcakes are right in front of my face!

~~~<

Elsewhere, in a different but equally familiar castle…

“Sister, is something the matter? You’re spilling your tea on the table.”

“I-I’m not sure why, but I feel remarkably perturbed right now, Luna.”

“Is the tea not to your liking, Biggest Sis? I didn’t mess up your Moon Tea, did I?”

“No no, the tea is fine, Luna Two. It’s to die for, but I just… I need to go.”

“Sister, where are you going?”

“You haven’t even tried the biscuits yet!”

“I need to go check on something this instant. It’s for my peace of mind. I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Very well, but don’t keep us waiting long. Littlest Sister here has worked hard on this lunch, you know.”

“I promise, I’ll be quicker than lightning!”

“Wow, you’re going to move faster than a thousand feet per second?!”

“...Luna, you really need to teach her what a metaphor is.”

<~~~>

Oh. My. Goodness! I really am alone! I ate every last cupcake and nopony stopped me! I’m free, I’m free, free to do whatever I please!

Folded bedsheets and neatly placed pillows? Ruffled and tossed about! Neatly organized regalia drawer? Nuh-uh, not anymore! I can be as messy as I want and no one will stop me--Oh hi Celestia! I guess I’m… not alone, am I? Also, you seem surprisingly calm even though I ate all of your secret cupcakes and ruined your bedroom!

Huh? Dinner? But I already ate, so I’m not--okay, I guess we teleported to the dining table right this minute! And she’s bringing out… oh no.

No no no no no! NOOOOOO!

~~~<

“Okay, I must be going crazy. I could have sworn this room looked like a total and complete mess right now, but it isn’t. Everything is where it should be, my regalia drawer is still organized perfectly, and my cupcakes are still neatly tucked away behind the nightstand… so why did I think…

“It must be the nerves. Paranoia, that’s it. Tia Two isn’t even here, so of course nothing happened… I hope she’s doing alright out there…”

<~~~>

A bowl of peas?!

I hate peas! You hate peas! This punishment is way over the line! I refuse to open my tunnel for this choo-choo train! I would rather take a bath with you cleaning me again!

...Wait. I didn’t, uh, mean that at all! I can bathe myself, you don’t need to--whoa, it’s suddenly wet now! But of course it is, since I’m in the bathtub!

...I’m in the bathtub. She’s humming right outside the door, and it’s not a fun humming!

Celestia, no! Not the loofah! That’s too much soap and--AAAAHHH I’m sorry I ate your cupcakes, just don’t scrub me with that lathered thing! Please! NOOOOOOoooooo...

…Ah… Haa… is this… the stairwell again? Cadance? Is that you?

Yeah, that door showed me things. Fun things, then nasty things! Peas, a mountain of peas and… and a sudsy loofah! It was horrible! Get me away from that… that monster of a door!

Thank you. And yes, I’m still hungry. I’ll eat… so long as it doesn’t have any peas.

Counseling Couples is so Easy, a Dummy Could Do It!

Dear Journal,

Despite dinner being a vegetable medley soup served with salty crackers, it did not have peas, much to my relief. It had shredded baby carrots instead, which were quite welcome in my eyes… but now that I think about it, couldn't they have used shredded regular carrots? It’s shredded either way, so what’s the difference? Flavor, maybe? It was quite tasty.

Cadance and her husband, Shiny Armor, couldn’t stop staring at me as I ate--was I eating the soup wrong? I couldn’t be, since I ate the appetizer salad just fine with a spoon. The other utensil was a fork, and Celestia taught me to never use the same utensil for different meals (something about proper dining etiquette?), but there were only two utensils available, so what choice did I have?

Anyway, I barely managed to hold a conversation with them. Who knew they would be so talkative, telling me all about their state of affairs. Or they would have, if I didn’t interject with a simple question.

“But you seem like a nice couple! Why would you have an affair?”

Suddenly, the air became thick and cold. Like jelly, except you breathe it because it’s still air? It wasn’t fun to breathe, however, since Cadance had a glare that could melt a cold, frosty mountain of ice cream. And it wasn’t directed at me.

I did not like this situation one bit, and neither did Shiny. But I had a foolproof plan to fix this, and Celestia taught me just what to do for a tense situation like this:

I know her, and she knows I can get under her skin, and she hatesthat. So if you say something that gets her riled up, play it off as a joke before bla blah bluhblah bla bli blahblah blah.

I still can’t believe I memorized most of that warning! Usually I only make it halfway before everything just sounds like different pitches of “blah”. Anyway, her advice sounded… well, sound, so I followed it.

“Hah! I’m kidding! Of course Shiny wouldn’t do such a thing to my dear niece, right?”

“Never, Princess Celestia! Not in a million years!” he quickly replied just as Cadance’s eyes drilled divots into the back of his head.

I smiled as wide as I could, almost as wide as that pink pony from before. It kind of hurt to smile that wide though, so I settled for a smaller smile that didn’t stretch my mouth so much. “Good! Because you should never do it behind her back, you got that?!”

“I would never!”

“And if you ever consider it, you ask for permission first! Understand?”

“I will! ...Wait, what?”

“You better wash your hooves and brush your teeth afterwards too!”

“Uh…” Whatever Shiny Armor had to say died on his tongue. Even Cadance’s rage fizzled away into confusion equal to her husband. Did I say something wrong again? I hoped not, but now things were weird again, and this time I did not want to stay. I quickly came up with a foolproof plan.

“Anyway, thank you for the meal. I will go to my room, and absolutely not sneak into the kitchen later when the Flashy pony isn’t looking. Toodles!”

Best. Escape Plan. Ever. Now, about getting past that kitchen door… I have another idea of how to do just that.

~~~<

“Shining, dear?” Cadance finally uttered after what seemed an eternity passed in the dining hall.

“I would never cheat on you!” came Shining’s rapid-fire response.

“Huh?”

He took a deep breath. “Sorry. I just wanted to say that one more time. I mean it.”

Cadance smiled softly. “Thank you, Shining. That means a lot to me… well, it means a lot to us, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it does.” Shining looked back to the doorway Celestia left through. “And, uh, now that I got that off my chest, what are we going to do about Celestia?”

Cadance pondered on this for a small moment. “I think I’ll just write a letter to Luna about this. Tell her that her sister is… not feeling well.”

“Is that all you’re going to say?”

“No, of course I’ll give details! Like the fact that she’s taken a bite out of at least a dozen homes.” Cadance paused. “And probably ours when we weren’t looking.”

“You think she did?” Shining asked.

“You think she didn’t?”

“Fair point.” Shining began trotting toward the doorway. “Alright, I’m going to make sure she went to her room. You can write--”

“Out of the way!” The warning shot down from one end of the hallway seconds before Celestia zoomed by, pushing a service cart filled to the brim with delectable strawberry fruit parfaits. Angry shouting chefs (plus one very frustrated guard) chased her down to the other end before they rounded a corner and vanished from Shining’s view.

Cadance had a hoof firmly planted on her forehead as she groaned, “Shining, what happened now?”

“Celestia just ran down the hallway with a service cart full of fruit parfaits,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Shining hadn’t turned his head, but if he did, he’d see his wife’s eyes enlarging into dinner saucers as he continued, “Are you going to mention that in the letter too--”

“Are you sure you saw that?” she interrupted.

Shining turned his head, and raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Is something wrong?”

“Do you think she’s going to eat them all?”

Shining smirked. “Do you think she won’t?”

Shining had never seen his wife move faster in his life. Blasting by him in a pink blur, she turned down the hallway to give chase. Shining merely stood in awe as he heard her bellow out, “She is NOT going to eat all of those! I will find her, and I will have one!”

The Long Ride Home (Wasn't so Long, Actually)