It was lonely in the library, and well a little too quiet for my liking. Shining and Cadance had went back to Canterlot before they headed back to the crystal kingdom, and Spike was out with Rarity and Sweetie Belle.

“Jeez what a hectic week.” I muttered, I was debating closing the library early today and go for a walk around town. Ever since my older brother left everything seemed to slow down to a crawl.

I had changed twice in the past two days, and I didn’t have another episode like I did with my brother and Cadance. If I have to guess the more often I change, then the less likely I am to lose control like that. I frowned at what this actually meant, I had no control over how long and how often I changed but there must be a pattern to it. The closest I have to a time frame is based on how long it takes between transformations, say if I changed into Twilight and stayed that way for say eight hours and I changed back after those eight hours then would it be another eight hours before I changed again?

I pondered this conclusion for a moment, then if that was indeed the case, what causes the changes to be so unpredictable?

I looked at the clock that hung on the wall between some bookshelves, it read just after half past one in the afternoon.

“Closing early today is definitely sounding like a good idea right now.” I chuckled a little, as I put a sign by the window that said the library was closed for the rest of the day.

I got changed into something a little more casual for a trip down the market, I don’t know why but I felt like dressing a little more daring. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and gave a tiny smile, maybe Cadance was right I should be proud of my body. I stripped out of what Rainbow calls my egghead clothes, I shook my head and snorted at the name.

“Egghead huh?” I smirked, “Maybe I should change into something to shut her up?”

I got changed into a white sleeveless dress top that clung to my body and fell mid-thigh, I admit I felt a little awkward wearing something like this. The little curves I had were obvious in a top like this. I put on some jeans that hugged my hips and backside, and thankfully that...thing...between my legs was hidden well by my clothes. I did my make up, and mane. I debated wearing some glasses and decided to got for it. I finished up by putting on a short purple scarf around my neck.

I grinned when I saw my reflection, I made mental note to hunt down Rainbow later just to see her reaction...maybe that was Twilight talking there.

Luna had snuck out, she knew her sister was expecting her to do so during the night so she decided to do it during the middle of the day. It surprised her how easy it was to sneak past the palace guards, well at least she had an excuse should her sister find her.

Luna had a plan, a rather simple one but one she was sure wouldn’t fail...at least due to somepony interfering. If Dusk said no, then the offer she had in mind still stands. The plan question was to simply convince Dusk to become her student instead of Celestia’s. Luna knew her sister would find out eventually, as the second Dusk accepted Dusk would lose all rights and benefits of being Celestia’s student. To be fair as much as Luna knew Dusk never took advantage of those benefits.

Luna never doubted her sisters teaching ability, after all Celestia had taught her most of what she knew. So Luna could teach Dusk how to expand on that for one.

There was however a catch, depending on how you looked at it. As she was the princess of the night, a different sort of pact would have to be made. With Celestia it was more of a traditional bond of mentor and student, like what happens in most places of education today. Luna however would have to take Dusk on as an apprentice, which was a lot more...intimate so to speak.

“You’d think the same disguise would not have worked twice.” Luna deadpanned, “Maybe we shall bring this up with our sister the next time we see her.”

As I walked down to the market, I noticed I was getting a few funny looks from some of the ponies I passed by. It was like they were wondering if I was new to Ponyville or have they seen me before, I wasn’t going to say anything so they would have to figure it out themselves.

The market itself was busy, as it typically was at this time of day. AJ and Mac seemed to be struggling with dealing with so many customers, well Mac more as he seemed to be swamped by mares swooning and fighting over him. I frowned at their stupid behaviour, could they see they were making him uncomfortable.

“U-umm could please c-calm down...” A familiar shy pony spoke up as loud as she could, “T-that is if you don’t mind...” As to be expected poor Fluttershy was ignored by the huge crowd, I doubt anypony even heard her over the racket they were making.

“Well what do we have here?” Another far more annoying voice spoke up. I turned around a realised it was Iron Lance, that idiot of a stallion who harassed me the other night. He was accompanied by a young colt who looked no older than 8, given the resemblance I would guess that he was his son.

“What do you want Lance?” I asked, “Don’t you have somepony else to bother?” The small colt looked up at his father in confusion.

“Iron Lance!” Another mare spoke up from behind the pair, which caused Iron Lance to freeze in his tracks before he could say anything, “I thought you knew better than this! What kind of example are you setting for Flash and Kindling?”

The mare in question stood a head shorter than Iron Lance. She had a golden brown mane and tail, a dull shade of light blue plush fur, bright golden brown eyes. Her cutie mark clearly marked her as an artist. She was accompanied by a small colt who looked the same age as Iron Lance’s son.

“I’m terribly sorry about my friend here.” She apologised, “He can be a bit too much of a hard headed idiot sometimes.”

“It’s not a problem.” I replied, “I really haven’t got a clue what his problem with me is.” I shrugged, “It was a pleasure meeting you but I’ve got help out over there.” I pointed over to the apple stand swarmed by fanatic mares.

“Are the apples really that good?” She asked, not quite getting what the problem was.

“You could say that...” I trailed off, to be fair she wasn’t exactly wrong.

Fluttershy, AJ and Mac were having a hard time fighting off the crazed mares.

“Gosh darn it Mac! Why’d ya have to come now with the delivery!” AJ shouted at her older brother, “Could ya have least left yer shirt on!”

“Um...I-I’m not complaining...” Fluttershy squeaked, “I-I...uh think he looks rather handsome with out one...”

“...” Mac shook his head, “Well could yer blame me? It’s too darn hot out today.” AJ could barely hear her brother over the wolf whistles and squeals of all the mares around them. I took a moment to survey the situation, and grinned a little evilly as an idea came to mind.

“Hey what’s going on here?” I asked with a smile, “There’s so many ponies here, oh I know is this...a party without Pinkie Pie?” The exact second I had said that last word, everything went silent. Everypony froze in fear at the utter hell that was about be unleashed.

The silence rung heavy on the air, nothing dared to make a sound not even the chirping of the birds. One pony noticed a glass of water slowly shaking as the oncoming pink doom was soon to fall upon them.

“I suggest you all start running.” I said with a sincere smile, and not a moment sooner everypony began running for their lives with the exception of myself, Fluttershy, AJ and Mac. They all were out of sight with in a few moments, I looked over the horizon and giggled, “I may have set a new record there.”

In a utter flash of speed that would make Rainbow jealous, a pink blur stopped between us and looked around.

“Heya Duskie where’d the party go?” Pinkie Pie asked, bouncing around like a hyperactive child. I simply smiled and pointed in the direction everypony had run off to, “Thanks Duskie, now if ya excuse me I got a party to catch!” And in another pink blur she went after the crowd of mares that was hassling Mac, Fluttershy and AJ.

“It’s darn scary how she can do that.” AJ commented, “Ah’m grateful for the assist there Dusk, but don’t ya think that was a tad harsh?”

“Maybe, but it was all I could think of on such short notice.” I admitted, I looked in the direction Pinkie had run off to, “I’d give them ten minutes tops before Pinkie catches up to them all.”

“Um...I have to ask but why are you dressed like that Dusk?” Fluttershy asked timidly. I kind of grimaced a bit at this question.

“The accident I had a couple of weeks ago kind of had a few side effects Fluttershy,” I explained as best I could.

“Ah’m not complainin’” Mac spoke up, “I rather like Dusk’s new look.” I kissed Mac on the cheek for the compliment. Fluttershy just went bright red as a particular thought came to her mind.

“Snap out of it Flutters.” AJ clicked her fingers, snapping Fluttershy out of her fantasy, “Ah swear yer need to lay off the anime a tad.”

“W-when did this happen?” Fluttershy squeaked, “I-I mean if you don’t mind telling me.” I smiled at Fluttershy’s panic of being caught in her own world again.

“We’ve been together a little while now.” I explained, leaving out some of the more crucial details, “You weren’t interested in him were you?” I was worried a little that Fluttershy would be heartbroken when she found out.

“Erm...Macintosh and I have never really saw each other more than close friends Dusk. I mean we dated a little when we were younger but it just didn’t work out between us.” She explained.

“What why?” I inquired, “I always thought you two would make a cute couple.”

“Yer just saw how those mares went all crazy over me Dusk,” Mac spoke up, “Somepony found out about me and Flutters, and they all started harassing her. So we decided to split up so she wouldn’t be hurt by them. Ah personally saw to the asshole who couldn’t keep his trap shut.”

“Iron Lance?” I wondered.

“Eeyup...” Mac replied, “Besides we...kinda have an agreement of sorts.” Mac hesitated, I looked confused not quite getting what he was getting at.

“What mah older brother is trying to say is that he and Flutters are friends with benefits, yer get me Dusk?” AJ explained, I didn’t know what to say to this.

“Please understand Dusk, I do want a relationship with you.” Mac continued, but I cut him off and said something that Twilight would be proud of much to my chagrin.

“Well if that’s the case I don’t mind if I join from now on.” I gave a awkward grin, and everypony just looked at me in complete utter shock. Mac was about to say something but was cut of by a happy squee and the sound of a thud.

“Flutters, ya’ll okay there?” AJ asked her shy friend as she lay on the floor with a happy grin on her face.

Author's Note

First part of the next part of the story. hope you enjoy.

• Silent out.