I woke up slowly, my eyes opening up drowsily. Oh nelly, I haven’t slept that hard in years. Fluttershy’s couch is so comfortable, I wish I could sleep here every night for the rest of my life. That would be awesome. I then suddenly felt my hoof again, still in a lot of pain from the avalanche incident yesterday.

I then suddenly inhaled deeply, and smelled something cooking. I got up, stretched, yawned, and walked into the kitchen. There, I saw the butter-colored Pegasus herself at the stove.

She turned around and looked at me, smiling. “Morning sleepyhead. You slept a long time, you must have needed the rest.”

I gazed at her curiously. “How long was I asleep?” She shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s 10:30 now. Sit down, I just finished cooking breakfast.” I nodded at her and sat down. My mouth watered as I smelled the food, but I was also in shock. I slept over twelve hours. I must have needed it.

A moment later, Flutters laid all the food out on the table. There were waffles, syrup, toast with butter, eggs (not sure if ponies would eat eggs, but why the heck not?), etc. I smiled at Flutters gratefully.

“Fluttershy, if I keep eating your meals, I’m going to gain like 500 pounds.” I said in a joking tone of voice as my mouth started to water. We both nabbed a plate and started to eat, occasionally glancing at one another and turning away, blushing.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I gasped and dropped my fork, making her yelp in fright. “Fluttershy, I just realized we never went butterfly catching like we were planning to. Would you like to after breakfast?” She nodded slowly with her mane covering one eye, making my heart ache from cuteness. I smiled like a buffoon. Why does she have to be so cute?!

In the next while, we finished up eating breakfast. As she was gathering the plates, I used my magic to make them levitate to me. “Nope, you did dishes twice yesterday Fluttershy. It’s my turn now.” I started walking towards the sink. She tried to grab the dishes, to no avail.

“But it’s my home, and I’m the host. I do the dishes.” She said softly. Suddenly, I quickly turned to her and gave her a peck on the cheek softly, making her blush a deeper shade of crimson than I’d ever seen.

“Well, I’m the guest, and this guest says you’ve done more than enough Fluttershy. It’s your turn to sit on the couch and relax, ok?” She sighed in defeat and nodded, walking gracefully into the living room.

Right then, Elise strolled in and rubbed against my leg. I smiled at her. “Hey Elise, when did you wake up?”

She smiled. “A few minutes ago, geez louise ah was tired.” I leaned down and pet her, smiling as she sprinted out the front door of the cottage. I then put on a hairnet and got to work on the dishes, humming softly as I got to work on them.

It wasn’t exactly a day at the beach, but I got the dishes done reasonably quick. I put them away, and walked to Fluttershy in the living room. “Fluttershy, I-“ I stopped as I realized she was sound asleep on the couch. The scene made me feel warm inside. She was taking such small little breaths as she slept, her chest barely moved at all, and her mane was right in front of her face. She looked so cute she didn’t even look real!

I smiled and put a blanket over her, as it was a little bit cold today, even in the cottage, and an idea formed in my head. I grabbed a paper and quill, and wrote on it. “Dear Fluttershy: you fell asleep while I was doing dishes. I decided I would do you a favor and feed the animals for you. If you wake up and see I’m not there, don’t freak out. Just ask Elise to lead you to me. Talk to you later. Jordan.”

I laid the note on the coffee table, where I was sure she’d see it, and put the food for the animals in the picnic basket before heading outside. I packed some fruit, vegetables, nuts and even a few sandwiches for the bigger creatures. I walked first to the meadow.

There, I sat down on the grass. “Come on out little critters. Fluttershy’s asleep, so I’m feeding you today. Come on out, I won’t hurt you.” There was no response, no movement, nothing. “Please little guys, come on out and eat. I promise I’m a friend.” There was again nothing but silence, and I was beginning to feel discouraged. That is, until a lone rabbit came out of the tall grass.

He walked up to me slowly, cautiously, his button-like nose twitching delicately as he surveyed his surroundings. He then sat on the picnic blanket I had laid out and started eating, making happy sounds as he nibbled on a grape.

Slowly, more and more animals came out of hiding to eat. I smiled at them. “Do you guys mind if I join you?” They made a collective sound that sounded like it was ok, so I sat down on the blanket.

I watched them eat, relaxing and nibbling on a few grapes myself. Then, something wonderful happened. One of the squirrels came up to me and offered me one of the tree nuts he had gathered. I took it gladly and smiled. “Thank you little guy.” I then stood up. “Thanks little critters, but I have to go feed the forest animals now. See you guys later.”

After I gave those animals their food, I then went to the forest. I did the same thing as before and laid the basket and blanket down. “Come out now critters, time for lunch!” I then sat down on the blanket, and let them come out of hiding slowly.

Then, I felt the ground shake again. My eyes widened, pupils shrunk, and breathing hitched. No mistaking it, that had to be Hairy. I wanted to run, but I fought the instinct, as I actually wanted to talk to him, I had no idea why exactly. He trotted up to the basket and grabbed a sandwich.

“H….hey Hairy, how are you?” He made a soft roar, and somehow I could interpret it as “Good, where’s Fluttershy?” I smiled. “She’s taking a nap, she’s very tired. Care to have lunch with me?” He nodded and sat down on the opposite side of the blanket.

For the next while, he and I ate our lunch, and struck up a very interesting conversation. Then, I heard Fluttershy. “Jordan!” She called out as she walked up the dirt path. “Jordan, where are yo-“ She stopped as she saw where I was, on the blanket with Hairy. She gasped and looked at me. “You….You’re eating lunch with Hairy? Does this mean you’re over your fear completely?!” She said in excitement.

I nodded at her, and she flew over to me and tackled me, giving me a tight hug. “Oh my goodness, I’m so happy. I knew you could do it, I knew you’d like Hairy if you just gave him a chance. From the look of things, I’d say you two were best friends.” She giggled slightly, and I rolled my eyes playfully.

“I was wrong about him, he’s not a big scary monster, he’s a teddy bear if anything. So, how was your nap Fluttershy?” She then smiled. “It was great. Thank you so much for doing the chores, you really didn’t have to.” She said as she nuzzled my cheek. I smiled and nuzzled back. “You deserve a break, you do so much all the time, you run yourself ragged. I was glad to help out.”

She then smiled again. “Are we…going to go butterfly catching?” I smiled and put my hooves in the basket, grabbing two butterfly nets I had packed, in case she came to find me.

“Got the nets right here, shall we go to the meadow?” She took the net as I handed it to her and nodded. We walked side by side to the meadow, where a big collection of all kinds of different butterfly and moth species were.

She then looked at me with the caretaker look in her eyes. “Now listen, it’s very important that we don’t hurt or startle the butterflies. Be careful when you swing the net to catch them, and don’t hold them hostage. Study their beauty for a few seconds, then let them go. Ok?” I nodded at her and smiled. “Gotcha. Let’s go!” I said as I walked towards the crowd. I stopped once I got in range and started to carefully trot, trying not to make them alarmed.

I softly and slowly raised my arm and the net, and in one fluid motion, swiped it into the herd of butterflies and moths without hurting them. With that one swing, however, I forced them to flee, and didn’t catch any!

I looked at Fluttershy, who was instead using her mouth to wield the net, and was being very gentle as she skipped merrily in the meadow. “Hmm… that might work better.” I said aloud. I caught the net in between my teeth and tried again. This time, I caught about five butterflies, and a moth.

As I stared at them and studied them, my mind was in pure wonder. They were all such different, vibrant colors, and had such intricate, detailed patterns on their wings. It blew my mind. It made me think about how amazing nature is, how beautiful it is. These colors, and designs were all made by Mother Nature. In those few seconds, I truly appreciated life, and the beauty of it. It made me happy inside.

I then let the little fliers loose out of my net. I had assumed they’d be mad, or in poor spirits that I had trapped them like that, but to my surprise a monarch butterfly flew to me and landed on my nose, tickling me. I laughed and tried to shake it off.

“Hey, that tickles, haha, stop it!” It finally flew off my nose and fluttered for a bit, staring at me. I smiled at it. “Thank you, I needed a reason to be happy.” I swear, if it’s possible for butterflies to smile, that one did to me.

I looked over at Fluttershy after the butterfly fluttered away, and smiled at what I saw. She was lying on the grass, surrounding by butterflies who were all either fluttering around her, or lying on her stomach and chest. The scene was heart-warming.

I walked over to them slowly, and smiled. “Got room for one more, everypony and butterfly?” I took the chittering sounds as a yes, and lay on the grass next to Fluttershy.

I propped my arms behind my head and looked up, towards the clouds. Today was the most perfect, gorgeous, amazing day ever. The sun was shining, it was warm with a slight breeze, and the grass smelled delightful. “Hey, wanna do some cloud spotting as I call it?” I pointed to a cloud. “Look, that one looks like the number three!” She giggled and pointed to one. “That one looks like a quill.” I laughed.

This went on for about an hour, cloud watching and talking. Then, I got an idea for a question, but I was too afraid to ask it.

Still, I decided to try my best to ask my question. “Hey, Fluttershy?” She looked over at me.

“I’m just thinking really deep right now, for some reason, and a question came to my mind. Have you ever crushed on anypony?” She immediately blushed an intense red and hid her face behind her mane. I sighed. “Sorry if I over-stepped a boundary. You don’t have to answer.”

I was prepared to just drop the subject if she wanted, but she shook her head. “No, no. It’s ok, it just caught me off guard. Yes, I have… a long time ago.”

I looked at her curiously. “Can I know who?” She blushed more, seeming to think about how to tell me. “Her name was…” She gulped nervously. “It was Rainbow Dash…” She hid behind her hair and I gave a look of shocked disbelief.

“Rainbow?! Really? Wow. I never thought you liked both teams, Fluttershy.”

She blushed a bit. “D…don’t tell anypony, ok?” I smiled. “Cross my heart” I swiped my hoof over my chest. “Hope to fly.” I did a fake fluttering with my hooves. “Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Now I have a headache.

She looked at me for a second. “What about you? Do you like anypony?” I opened my eyes wide at the unanticipated question and blushed a deep red.

I thought about how to reply for a second, before I finally spoke. “Yes. But nopony would ever believe who. And if they did, they’d laugh at how silly of a crush it is.” Fluttershy nodded.

“I promise I won’t laugh. You can tell me.” She said in the gentlest, most reassuring voice she could. I took in a deep breath before I finally spoke.

“IT’S PRINCESS CELESTIA!” I said very swiftly and hid my face behind my hooves. Fluttershy gasped quietly before she turned to look at me.

“You have a crush on the princess?” She questioned softly. I groaned.

“Told you you’d laugh!” I said with a little resentment in my voice. She shook her head.

“I’m not laughing. I’m just astounded. If anypony, I thought you had a crush on Twilight.” She said softly, again. I laughed a little.

“Twilight? Well, Twilight’s a very nice pony, and if she were to ask me out, I’d never say no. But I just don’t know about that. I’ve had a huge fondness of the princess for a while, and when I was dared to kiss her at my birthday, it was like… a dream come true. I felt lighter than air, I felt… joyful. And it hurts because I know she’s royalty, and she would never fall for a regular unicorn like me.”

Fluttershy sat up next to me and rubbed my cheek softly. “You are anything but a regular unicorn, Jordan. Trust me. Don’t think that way, you just might be surprised. Life can shock you in more ways than you think.” She snuggled up to me, nuzzling her head into my side below my armpit and, I’ve got to say it. My heart exploded, twice.

I then sighed. “Yeah, as if. As if Celestia and I would ever be anything. That’s a laugh.”

We then cuddled up like this and, before I knew it, I was asleep. I guess Fluttershy carried me back to her cottage, because I woke up in her bed. Yes, not the couch, her actual bed. I woke up slowly, and walked downstairs carefully.

I saw her reading a book on the couch and surprised her by sitting next to her. “Hey, whatcha reading?” I asked. She showed me the cover, which read “The Incredible Flotsam”. Apparently, it’s about an alicorn named Flotsam, who goes on an adventure to a faraway land. She told me it was one of her favorites.

Just then, me and Flutters were startled by the front door slamming open. It was Applejack. “JORDAN, ah need you to come to Ponyville park right away, ah’ll explain the details later!” She said as she galloped away. I gave a look of pure confusion before I sighed.

“Guess I gotta go, huh? I’ll see you around Fluttershy. Th….thank you for the amazing past few days. I can never thank you enough for the amazing time. I’ll visit you as soon as I can, ok?” I waved goodbye at her as I walked out the door and walked slowly to town. My hoof was still injured and I couldn’t run/gallop. But I eventually got there, and met up with AJ.

I looked at her curiously. “Ok, I’m here. Now, what is so important I had to hurry here and leave Fluttershy?”

She gave me a sorrowful look. “Ah’m a might sorry about that partner, but ah need all the help ah can get. The Pegasus ponies missed a storm last week, so they’ve scheduled a mighty downpour for tonight. We gotta round up all the fire hazards and get rid of them, in case there could be lightnin.”

“But AJ, I have a hurt hoof. What can I do to help you?” She then gave me a grin. “You got your magic, don’tcha? You can take down the loose branches. Get to it, the storm is gonna start soon!” She said as she galloped away to make sure the others were working also.

I got to work and used my magic to levitate the loose branches off each tree, essentially trimming them. I got through five trees, before Rarity showed up and gasped.

“What in the name of Celestia are you doing?” Rarity asked with wide eyes. I gave her a confused look.

“Uh… getting the loose branches off the trees, like Applejack told me to.” Rarity shook her head and used her magic to levitate a branch BACK ONTO the tree.

I looked at her. “Uh, Rarity? Don’t you think-“ I was cut off by Applejack.

“Just take the broken limbs down, Rarity. Don't y'all care about nothin' other than prettifyin'? I had Jordan takin’ down them loose branches for a reason!” Applejack asked/said in irritation.

“Somepony has to. You were making an absolute mess of the town square, Applejack.”

“Yeah, well, the storm's gonna make an even bigger mess if we don't prune all these loose branches so they don't tumble down on anypony.” I nodded, she had a point.

“Yeah, and we need to make sure that if a tree catches fire, the fire can’t travel from tree to tree. Then all of Ponyville would be in danger.” Applejack nodded. “Exactly!”

“I simply cannot imagine why the Pegasus ponies would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day.”

I sighed. “I know, I was having the most amazing day ever with Fluttershy, and AJ called me here to help. I was hoping I could go back to her cottage, but there’s no point now.”

Rarity gave me a look of shock before she smirked. “A nice day with Fluttershy, you say? My my, the both of you seem VERY friendly.” She smirked and winked at me, and I turned bright red.

“Wh….why does everypony keep thinking she and I are together? I mean, Fluttershy’s nice, and sweet, and kind, and caring, but-“ I groaned as I realized I said the same thing I had said to Rainbow yesterday. Rarity gave me another wink. Applejack then cut in.

“We’ll talk about love later. Rarity, think more practical-like, will ya? They accidentally skipped a scheduled sprinkle last week, so we need a doozy of a downpour to make up for it, is all.” All of a sudden, it started raining fiercely!

“Oh no! My wonderfully styled mane shall be ruined!” Rarity cried out in despair as she tried to cover her mane.

“Ya shoulda hurried up and finished the job already.” Applejack stated in a little bitter resentment.

I scratched the back of my neck with my hoof nonchalantly. “Sorry AJ, I was trying to hurry, but then Rarity interrupted me.” She nodded. “It’s fine sugarcube. It’s Rarity’s fault more than anything.”

Rarity gave us an angry look as she tried to cover her mane. “I did not do anything wrong! I was simply beautifying the trees!”

I rolled my eyes. “And ruining my work, and slowing me down.” She rolled her eyes back, and continued to freak out as her mane got rained on.

“Oh! Ah! Oh! Ph! It's coming down too fast! Ah! Oh! Oh! Ah! Help me!” She cried out again in despair.

“Uh, there. Hunker down to yer heart's content whilst we finish things.” Applejack said to Rarity and pointed to a bench nearby, as she motioned me over. As we started to walk to the tree near us, we heard Rarity again.

“Oh, no, no, no!” She yelled as she got to the bench. “What now?” AJ asked in serious annoyance.

“I prefer not to get my hooves muddy.”

Applejack was about to say something, but I cut in. “Oh for the love of Celestia Rarity, you’re being difficult! It’s a little mud, so what?”

Rarity scoffed. “Well, and how does muddying my hooves serve any useful purpose?”

“Y'all wouldn't know useful if it came up and bit'cha.” Applejack replied for me.

“That doesn't even make any sense.” She said. “Does so.” Applejack and I said at the same time.

“Does not.”

“Does so.”

“Does not.”

“Does so.”

“Does not.”

“Does so infinity. Hah.”

I then cut in. “DOES SO INFINITY TIMES INFINITY. Now why don’t you two go your separate ways before something bad happens?” I suggested, annoyed.

“I reckon y'all are gonna say something you'll regret first.” Applejack directed at Rarity.

“On the contrary, I believe it shall most certainly be you who says something you will regret first.” Rarity countered.

“I'm not sayin' anythin'.” AJ retorted.

“Nor am I” Rarity replied.

“WELL I AM, and I say you both knock it off with this stupid bickering already!”

However, I got ignored, as they were too deep in their argument to pay me any mind.

“Y'all just be on yer way, then.”

“After you!” Rarity suggested, as they both started walking opposite directions. I sighed in relief the fighting would be over, but right then, thunder cracked, making them both yelp and cling onto me on either side of my body.

“Girls, girls. It’s just simple old thunder, it’s not going to hurt you. Now, if we saw a lightning bolt, THEN I’d be alarmed.” I told them both.

“That’s all well, but perhaps we should stick together for now and find some shelter.” Rarity suggested.

“Uh-huh, perhaps we should. And fast.” Applejack said with a hint of fear in her voice. I shook my head. “You two go under the bench.” Rarity started to protest, but I stopped her. “Do you want to save your mane from getting wet, or do you want to keep complaining like a prissy princess?” I boldly stated. Rarity stammered and scoffed before she went under the bench with Applejack.

I stayed out in the rain near the bench, and Rarity glared up at me. “I cannot believe you’re siding with this ruffian! I thought you were better than this, Jordan!” She stated to me. I glared back at her.

“Rarity, for all this is holy, I’m not siding with anyone!”

“Are too!” She retorted.

“Am not!” I countered.

“Are too!” She replied.

“Am no-“ I stopped as I realized I had fallen for it. “Rarity, for the love of Celestia, stop trying to pick fights already!” I was seriously getting irritated now. Applejack then cut in, trying to lighten the mood.

“Heh. Nice and dry under here, sorta.”

“Oh! Unacceptable.” Rarity said as she got mud on her.

Suddenly, we heard a voice. “Applejack! Rarity! Jordan! Applejack! Rarity! Jordan!”

“Twilight?” We all said at once, as we discovered we were about a 15 second sprint from the library.

We all ran to the library and walked inside. “Come inside everypony, quick.” She ushered us in fast.

“Whoa, nelly. Is inside a tree really the best place to be in a lightning storm?” Applejack asked in worry.

“It is if you have a magical lightning rod protecting your home like I do. Come on in!” Twilight said as she walked inside.

“Hah! We are most grateful for your invitation.” Rarity thanked.

“Thank ya kindly for yer hospitality.”

Rarity then stopped me and AJ from walking further into the house. “Uh, do be a polite house guest and go wash up please, won't you?”

Applejack and I both grumbled and walked outside.

“Jordan, I swear, if I gotta spend one more second with that fussbudget Rarity today, I can't be held responsible for what I'm gonna do.” She had major resentment in her voice.

“I know, I know AJ. Just please try to be the bigger pony and ignore her, please.”

She sighed as we finished cleaning up. “I’ll try, but no guarantees sugarcube.”

We then walked inside, and saw Twilight and Rarity with facial mud on their faces!

“What in tarnation... Now wait just a goll-darn minute. Ya make us wash the mud off our hooves, but it's okay for y'all to have mud all over yer faces?” Applejack asked in disbelief.

“Silly! This is called a mud mask. It's to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion.” Rarity explained to Applejack and I.

“We're giving each other makeovers! Eee-hee! We have to do it, it says so in the book.” Twilight then levitated the book to AJ and I. I read silently, but she read aloud.

“Slumber 101: Everything You... Oh hey, heh, would'ja look at the time. I gotta skidaddle on home quick. I'm powerful late for, uh, fer somethin'. Uh, g'night.” She went out the door, but immediately hurried back as thunder struck. “Maybe I'll sit here for a spell.” She said a bit sheepishly.

“Hurray slumber party!” Twilight shouted in excitement. She then looked at me. “Oh… I uh…” I then raised my hoof at her.

“I know what you’re thinking Twilight.” I said with a straight face. She looked at me confusedly.

“You do?” She asked inquisitively. I smiled. “Yeah, you want me to be a part of your sleepover, but you’re worried because I’m a stallion, right?” She nodded.

“Well, I’m gonna tell you three girls a secret. I may be a stallion, but I’m not some macho pony. If you want me to be a part of your sleepover, I’ll swallow my pride.” Twilight squealed in happiness and Rarity smiled.

“In that case…” She then covered my face in the mud and put a cucumber over each of my eyes before she did the same to AJ.

“Blahch. What in the world is this for?” AJ said in disgust as she felt the mud.

“To reduce the puffiness around one's eyes, of course.” Rarity said with a sigh.

“Puffiness-schmuffiness! That's good eatin'!” She caught both cucumbers with her tongue and ate them. I rolled my eyes.

“C’mon AJ, give this stuff a chance. If I’m doing it you are too.” I said with a very serious tone of voice. She nodded.

“Hee-hee! Isn't this exciting? We'll do everything by the book, and that will make my slumber party officially fun.” Twilight said as she looked at the book again.

“Did you hear that, Applejack? You certainly would not want to do anything that would ruin Twilight's very first slumber party, would you?” Rarity said with a funny tone of voice, as if she was accusing AJ of something.

“Of course not, 'n you wouldn't either, I reckon?”

“So do we have an agreement?” Rarity asked simply enough.

“You betcha.” AJ said as she spit on her hoof.

“Oh! Gross! You know, there's messy and there's just plain rude.” Rarity said in disgust.

“You know, there's fussy, 'n there's just plain gettin' on my nerves.” Applejack said with anger in her voice.

I then raised my hoof. “Girls, listen. I’m telling you right now, I’m doing this slumber party deal because I think it will make us become closer friends. If you two are going to argue like little fillies, my flank is out the door. Got it?”

They both nodded at the same time, afraid of me getting angry. “Don’tcha worry, I won’t let Mrs. Fussypants here ruin nothin’.” Applejack reassured me.

I facehoofed. “That’s what I’m talking about! No cheap jabs, no insults, just act like friends are supposed to, for pony’s sakes!” I said in sheer annoyance.

“This is going to be the bestest slumber party ever! Yay!” Twilight said as she hugged the three of us.

“Yay.” The two girls replied, entirely unenthusiastically.

“Well, come on everypony, let’s continue the makeovers!” Twilight happily suggested. We eventually sat on the ground, where Rarity was working on my mane.

She squealed in delight as she worked on me. “I’ve wanted to style your mane and tail for so long, darling. I simply couldn’t stand how ragged and wild they always were! This situation could not have worked out any better. Ohhh, I could braid it, or I could pigtail it. So many options!” She said as she happily brushed my hair. I chuckled a little bit.

“Yeah, sure Rare. But let’s try to not make me look like a mare, ok?” She scoffed.

“Darling, you’re in the middle of a slumber party with three mares. Your masculinity was left at the door.” She said with a slightly evil smirk. She then grabbed the hair rollers and put them in my hair. “Fine, but if you want me to wear girly clothes you can kiss my rear.” She laughed. “Oh come now, I promise I’ll only make you wear a dress around this house.” I then looked at her. “You’re…kidding, right?” She didn’t respond, biting her lip, which made me nervous. I then looked in the mirror at the rollers. “Are these really necessary?” I asked, referring to the hair rollers.

“But of course, you just let the stylist work her magic, dearie. So, how are you getting along over there, Applejack?” Rarity asked from across the room.

“Just fine, Rarity.” Applejack said as she too, had these rollers in her mane and tail.

“This is so awesome! Makeovers, check. Ooh, it says here we have to tell ghost stories. Who wants to go first?” Twilight said as she looked at us from across the room.

Applejack piped up next. “Me! I'd like to tell y'all the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost who drove everypony crazy with her unnecessary neatness. Oo-oo! I'm sure y'all are familiar with that one?” Applejack said with a condescending tone to Rarity.

“Never heard of it, but I have a much better one. It's the horrifying story of the messy, inconsiderate ghost who irritated everypony within a hundred miles! Oo-oo!” Rarity said, dishing the insults right back to AJ.

“That's not a real story. You made it up.”

“It is a ghost story, they're all made up.” I couldn’t help but snort suddenly with laughter, making the girls look at me. Rarity did have a point.

Suddenly, the thunder struck again, making the girls scream!

“I've got one! This story is called The Legend of The Headless Horse.” Suddenly, the lights went out. I guess Twilight did it with her magic or something. She told the story. “It was a dark and stormy night, just like this one. And three ponies were having a slumber party, just like this one... and just when the last pony thought she was safe, there, standing right behind her, just inches away was” Me, AJ and Rarity all gasped and looked at Twilight.

“The Headless Horse!” Twilight shouted, as thunder struck and made a silhouette of the headless horse!

After me and the two girls held onto each other for a few seconds, Twilight revealed herself as the “headless horse”, and turned the lights on.

“Ghost story, check. Now, who wants s'mores?”

I chuckled. “Sounds good, but…. You girls won’t tell anypony I got scared from a simple ghost story, right?”

Twilight laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, we’d never tell a soul.” Twilight then snuck a wink to AJ and Rarity, which they returned.

We then walked over to the fireplace and started the fire, as Twilight gathered the supplies for the treats. Rarity was teaching her “The art of the perfect S’more”. I sat with AJ at the fire, roasting some ‘mallows and listening to those two.

“Then you place one marshmallow on the top of the chocolate and be sure it's centered -- that's critical -- and then carefully put another perfectly square graham cracker on the top. And done. Ta-da!” Rarity said as she held the S’more up with her magic.

“Ooo!” Twilight said as she gazed upon Rarity’s masterpiece.

“Nah, ya just eat 'em. Mmm-mmm!” Applejack then belched, grossing Rarity out.

“You could at least say excuse me.” Rarity said.

“Aw, I was just about to, but you interrupted me. Pardon.”

“S'mores, check. Now the next item of fun we have to do is Truth or Dare.” Twilight said as she gazed through the book.

“I dare Applejack to do something carefully and neatly for a change.” Rarity said as she glared at said pony.

“Oh yeah? Well I dare Rarity ta lighten up and stop obsessin' over every last little detail, for a change.” Applejack replied.

“I think the truth of the matter is that somepony could stand to pay a little more attention to details.” Rarity jabbed back.

“And I think the truth is somepony oughta quit with her fussin' so the rest of us can get things done.”

I then spoke up. “And I THINK the truth is that you two need to be quiet!” I said with slight anger in my voice.

“Um, I don't think this is how the game's supposed to work. You have to give an honest answer to any question or do whatever anypony dares you to do.” Twilight said, reading from the book again.

“I dares you to step outside and let your precious, tidy mane get ruined again.” Applejack dared Rarity.

Rarity gasped loudly. “You have to. It's the rule.” Twilight informed Rarity.

“Hah!” Applejack said in sheer delight.

“Fine!” Rarity yelled as she went outside, and cried as her mane got wet and ruined.

AJ snickered, and laughed, until Rarity spoke next, walking up to AJ wet and all. “Okay. I dare Applejack to play dress-up in a frou-frou, glittery, lacey outfit.”

Applejack gasped, then narrowed her eyes and trotted to the wardrobe, putting on a ridiculous princess-like outfit. “Happy?” She asked.

“Very.” Rarity said with a big smirk.

“Um, do I ever get a turn?” Twilight said as the two began to argue back and forth with embarrassing dares.

“I dare ya to enter the next rodeo when it comes to town.” AJ dared.

“I dare you not to enter the next rodeo that comes to town.” Rarity challenged.

“I dare ya to not comb your mane a hundred times before bed.” Applejack stated.

“And I dare you to comb yours just once.” Rarity dared back.

I finally cut in, fed up with all this.

“I DARE BOTH OF YOU TO SHUT THE HAY UP!” I shouted as I sprang up inbetween them, causing them to separate. I then looked back and forth between them, taking big heavy breaths and snorting in rage. The girls looked at me with shock in their eyes, the pupils small.

“You girls have been at each other’s throats from the very second you saw each other today! You’ve been blabbering and bickering back and forth like little fillies arguing over who gets to play with a doll, and I am frivving tired of hearing this!” I shouted as I walked to the door. I used my magic to levitate a random book to me off the bookshelf, and took it in my grasp as I walked out, slamming the door shut behind me.

I quickly used my magic to make a wooden gazeebo appear, so I could read and be comfortable without getting rained on.

I grumbled and used my horn as a light as I opened up the book and started to read. “Stupid Applejack, stupid Rarity. We could had such an amazing night, had they not argued like children. I still even have these accursed rollers in my hair and can’t get them out!” I said as I tried to get them out of my hair.

I sighed and continued to read the book. “Hmm… The Ancient Remnants of Equestria. Sounds interesting.”

I then moved to the first paragraph. “It is rumored that long ago, before Celestia or Luna were even born into existence, an evil terror plagued the land. A terror that made ponies, animals and even the mighty dragons tremble in fear.” I opened my eyes wide and continued on.

“This evil terror, however, had no known physical form. Many scholars, such as Star Swirl The Bearded tried to uncover the mystery of this evil entity, but none were able to decipher the many mysteries of said entity. It is rumored that in what ended up being his final days, Star Swirl finally went insane studying this entity. He felt he was so close to cracking the case, when in reality he had made no progress. It drove him mad, and he died of starvation from focusing on his books and studies only, days later.”

I again opened my eyes wide, and gasped. So that’s how Star Swirl met his end. “As said before, this terror had no physical form. It is speculated that this entity had the powers of mind control, and likely drove Star Swirl to his death. It also is speculated that after Celestia and Luna rose to power, one of them bore a son. The father is unknown, and she had to send the son away, for his own safety, from this entity. That pony’s name, is-“ I was suddenly cut off by a tapping on my shoulder, making me jump and shriek.

I threw the book in the air by accident, making it fall into the rain. Dangit! Now I’ll never get to finish reading it! I turned around to see the pony was Twilight.

I sighed. “Don’t scare me like that, I was in the middle of an intense read. What’s going on now, either of them kill each other?” I said with a raised eyebrow.

She gave me a sad look. “Jordan, please come back inside. It’s cold and windy out here, you might get sick. Just come back inside and ignore the girls, please? I think we’re about ready to head to bed, we had a fiasco with a pillow fight after you left.”

I gave her a look before smiling. “On one condition. They share a bed, and you and I share one. Deal?” This made her gasp and blush an crimson red.

“You…. Want to share a bed?” I nodded and smiled. “O…ok, if that’s what you want. Let’s go inside.” I made the little gazeebo disappear and walked inside with her.

When I walked in with Twily, the two girls were already getting into bed. They looked at us. “Where is he going to sleep?” Rarity asked. Twilight and I both looked at each other before blushing and turning opposite directions.

“He’s…We’re sharing a bed.” This earned a gasp from AJ and Rarity and I smiled sheepishly. “Um…. G’night!” I said before I turned the light off with my magic and leapt into the bed. Twilight got in slowly.

Twilight and I had our backs touching, and as I tried to sleep, I kept hearing those two continue their bickering.

“Keep your muddy hooves on your side of the bed.” Rarity said to Applejack.

“My hooves ain't muddy.” Applejack said as she referred to her washing her hooves.

“They were. There might still be a little on them.” Rarity said accusingly.

“There ain't. See?”

“Eww!” Rarity yelled as she took the blanket and ripped it from AJ.

“Now who's bein' inconsiderate?” AJ said as she took the blanket back.

“I have to make the bed again so the blanket will be right. Get up.” Rarity said as she forced AJ off the bed.

“Hey!” Applejack then tried to get in bed, only to be stopped by Rarity.

“Ah ah ah! You'll ruin it. You have to do it like this. Mm, uh, ooh, u-u-u-uh, uh, ah.” Rarity made these sounds as she got into bed all fancy like.

“Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Geronimo!” Applejack said as she jumped into the bed, making Rarity fly off in a teeter totter effect.

Finally, I had enough. “ENOUGH! For the love of Celestia herself, both of you knock it off! I’m tired, and trying to get some sleep!” I was again puffing air out of my nose with big breaths.

Twilight levitated the book to the duo. “It says right here that the number one thing you're supposed to do at a slumber party is have fun, and thanks to you two I can't check that off!”

“I've been tryin' my darndest to get along.”

“Applejack, you’re the element of honesty for pony’s sakes! Don’t lie when you know something isn’t true. You’ve been picking fights with Rarity just as much as she has with you!” I looked over at Twilight who had a hurt look on her face.

“I hope you're happy, both of you. You've ruined my very first slumber party. The makeover, the s'mores, Truth or Dare, the pillow fight...” She then looked at me. “And I know you’ve only been trying to get them to get along, but yelling at them and only causing more arguments doesn’t help! Is there anything else that could possibly go wrong?” Twilight said as she flailed her arms frantically.

Suddenly, we saw a bright stream of lightning ripple throughout the house. It struck the tree across the road outside! The top of it was going to come crashing down!

“Sorry I asked.” Twilight said as she hid under the covers partially.

“Ya see? That's why we needed to take down all those loose branches in town, not spiffy 'em up.” Applejack spieled to Rarity.

“But I—“ Rarity started to say before AJ cut her off. “Outta my way, missy! Time's a-wastin'.” She then sprang into action and got her lasso out, corralling the tree top with it. I opened my eyes wide, as I sensed what would happen next.

“Wait! Stop! Don't!” Rarity called out.

“No waitin'! No stoppin'! Doin'! And that, my friends, is what we call gettin' 'er done.” Applejack said, before suddenly the tree top came crashing into the tree house through the window!

“I tried to tell you it would come crashing down in here.” Rarity said to AJ.

“Well, ya shoulda tried harder. I'm mighty sorry, Twilight.” Applejack said somberly.

“Are you kidding me! There’s a major disaster that just happened, and you two are still arguing?! You both are HOPELESS.” I said with pure annoyance in my voice.

“It's... Well, it's not okay. There's a giant tree branch in the middle of my bedroom, and the book doesn't say anything about having a giant tree branch at your slumber party. Or at least I haven't found that entry yet. Ooh... ah!” Twilight said as she studied her slumber party book.

Applejack looked over at Rarity who was trying to tidy the room up. I sprang to the tree and tried to lift it, with my brute strength, heaving and ho’ing. But it wasn’t doing anything.

“What in tarnation are y'all doin' over there?” Applejack said to Rarity.

“Cleaning up this mess somepony made. Who was that again? Oh, right, that's you.”

“We gotta do somethin'!” Applejack cried out.

“Baking... BFFs... Brothers... There's nothing in here about branches.” Twilight said as she kept reading.

I kept trying to lift the tree with my strength, heaving so hard it was starting to hurt my legs. Finally, I let out a gigantic breath and slumped to the floor. I looked at the girls and tried to think of a way to get through to them.

Suddenly, I spoke. “Girls!” They both looked at me. “Girls, please. I know you two have a hard time getting along. I know you two are polar opposites, black and white. But sometimes, opposites have to come together for a common cause. Please girls, I need you to get over your bickering. I need your help! We have to get this tree out of here, and I can’t do it on my own. I need you both! Please.” I said as I drooped my ears sadly.

“Uh. Uh, but I'll get all icky.” Rarity said as she looked at the tree.

“Consarnit! What the... eh... you... I mean, yes, ickiness is often a side effect of hard work. But y'all need to get over it, on account we just can't fix this mess I made that easily. We need your help.” Applejack said.

“Oh. Let's do this.” Rarity said as she walked over to us. She used her magic to make cut the tree up into little miniature shrubs. I sighed in relief.

While we worked, I heard Twilight. “Well, they do have a section about backyard slumber parties. Is that what we're doing right now? Does this count as camping?”

We got the tree all cleaned up and out, and Rarity looked at herself.

“U-ugh. Oh, I look awful.” She said with despair in her voice. Applejack got an idea and put the facial mud mask and cucumbers on Rarity, mixed in with the dirt mud. “Better?” Applejack asked.

“Hmph, thanks.” Rarity said to AJ in appreciation.

“Oh, pretty! Where did these come from? They're not in the book either.” Twilight said as she skimmed the page.

I sighed in relief. “Thank Celestia we got that over and done with. Though this could have been avoided if you girls hadn’t been arguing.” I said as I looked at them.

They both sighed collectively. Rarity spoke. “You’re right, darling. I should have tried harder to get along.”

Applejack nodded. “Me too, I was bein’ a real pain.”

I then smiled. “Girls, not everypony gets along. There’s going to be some people you meet who are just going to tick you off, no matter what. In a case like you two’s, all you can do is try to look past those imperfections and try to get along. You two are friends, and I don’t like seeing friends fight. It makes me hurt when I see you two bicker like that.” I looked down at the ground sadly.

They both came up to me and hugged me. “We’re mighty sorry partner. I guess we just didn’t take into consideration how our fighting would affect y’all and Twilight.”

Rarity nodded. “We were most inconsiderate, can you ever forgive us?”

I hugged them tighter. “Already have, just try not to argue again, ok?”

They both did the pinkie promise motions and we all shared a good laugh.

“Well, it’s only what, 11pm? How about we make Twilight’s slumber party officially awesome?”

The trio looked at me curiously. “How?” I then got the book and read it. “Hmm… says now to do some fun party games. It says to try out 20 questions. Who wants to go first? Maybe it should be the host?”

Twilight smiled. “I’d love to.” We then all gathered in a circle as we tried to guess what Twi was thinking of.

“Is it bigger than a barn?” AJ guessed.

Twilight laughed. “Nope.”

Rarity went next. “Is it smaller than a saddle?”

Twilight laughed again. “No! Only three of your twenty questions left!”

Applejack sighed. “We're never gonna guess what you're thinkin' of, it could be anythin'.”

“Are we getting warmer?” I asked next.

“Why? Is it too cold in here for you? I can turn up the heat.”

“He means are we gettin' any closer with our guesses?” Applejack answered.

“Oh! No. And that technically counted as a question, so only two more left!” Twilight said as I thought deeply.

“Is it... a six-legged pony with a purple polka-dotted mane and shootin' stars comin' out of his eyes?” Applejack guessed.

“Who flies through the air all over the world to hide magic, sparkly eggs?” Rarity continued.

“Who makes loud noises and eats anything in sight?” I added.
Twilight gave a little smile. “That's it!” She proclaimed.

Applejack, Rarity and I were confused. “It is?” We said at once.

“No. It's that.” Twilight then pointed to the telescope up above. Why didn’t I think of that?! “But it was just so nice to Applejack and Rarity two finally getting along, I wanted you to be able to win together.”
Applejack and Rarity and I all laughed.

“See? We could have been having fun like this all along.” Twilight said to the two girls.

“If only somepony hadn't been so persnickety.” Applejack said.

“Well, maybe she wouldn't have been if somepony else hadn't been so sloppy.” Rarity replied.

“Sorry for being such a pain in the patootie.” Applejack apologized to the white coated mare.

“Oh, no, I'm sure I was much worse.” Rarity returned.

“That's kind of ya to say, but I'm the one who's sorry.” Applejack retorted.

“Oh, I'm much more sorry than you are.” Rarity bounced back.

“Ugh. Are not.” The girls started going back and forth. I facehoofed, worried they would start arguing again.

“Are too.”

“Are not!”

“Are too.”

“Are not.”

“Are too.”

Applejack and Rarity hugged and laughed, and I sighed in relief that it was a false alarm.

“I declare my first slumber party a success!” Twilight said as she hugged all three of us. We all cheered in response.

Twilight then made a checkmark in her book. “Have fun, check.”

Next, we decided to play a blindfold game. Rarity was trying to direct Applejack around a pile of books.

“Now take two steps to your left. Uh, no, my left.” Rarity directed.

“Whu, which is it? Whoa! That mess is your fault, not mine.” Applejack said with a hearty laugh.

I then saw Twilight across the room, writing on a paper with a quill. I walked over to her and tapped her shoulder. “Friendship letter?” I asked. She nodded. “Mind if a read it?” She shook her head and showed it to me.

“Dear Princess Celestia;

It's hard to believe that two ponies who seem to have so little in common could ever get along. But I found out that if you embrace each other's differences, you just might be surprised to discover a way to be friends after all.”

I hugged and smiled. “Amazingly written, Twi. The princess will love this one.” She smiled and looked at the girls.

“So, who's up for another slumber party tomorrow night? Ugh. How about a week from Thursday? Oh, how about two weeks from Saturday? A month from now?”

We all laughed. “As long as Rarity doesn’t turn me into a girl, I’m fine.” Rarity covered up her mouth with her hoof as she nearly snorted in laughter. She then smiled at me.

“That reminds me, I’m not done with your mane and tail! Get over here.” She said as she motioned me over. I sighed and walked over to her.

I sat down on the floor and she started getting to work, combing my mane and tail again before getting them wet and shampooing them. I groaned.

“Is this necessary? It feels so weird to wash them.” She ignored me and kept going to work, focused on her task at hand.

After about another hour, hair rollers, hair spray, and a lot of snickering from the girls, Rarity had finally finished.

“There! Beautiful!” Rarity said as she made a kissing noise with her hoof.

I looked at Twilight and AJ. “Give it to me straight, how is it?” However, they didn’t answer me, as they both put a hoof over their mouths to stifle laughter.

“What?! What did she do with it?” I said as I tried to grab a mirror. I got it and looked into it, and I gasped.

She had combed my mane into the ridiculous curls she has. I looked like a mare! As I gasped, the girls couldn’t take it anymore and all fell to the floor, guffawing in laughter. I felt some anger rise inside me, but I stifled it and looked at them.

“Rarity?” I said as I looked at her. She wiped a tear from her eye. “I know, I know darling. That wasn’t what I had in mind, but I came up with the idea halfway through and ran with it. If you want, I can truly style your mane in a stallion’s style mane cut instead. Give me fifteen minutes.” I nodded and sat down, and she got to work again.

Fifteen minutes later, my mane and tail were nicely groomed and styled, and I had to admit, I looked slick. I gave Rare a hug.

“Thanks Rarity, it looks great.” She hugged back. “The pleasure was all mine, darling.”

Twilight then yawned. “It’s getting late. How about we all get some sleep?” AJ and Rarity agreed, but I shook my head. “I wanna go for a walk in the rain, it’s just a drizzle now. I’ll see you girls later.” I said as I went downstairs and walked out the door.

I breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of the rain, and started walking towards town. However, along the way, I started to get a bad headache. It eventually got so bad, I was essentially limping forwards.

Finally, I collapsed to the ground, on all four hooves as rain assaulted my back. Suddenly, I heard a sound to my right, like a very faint whisper.

I gasped and looked to the right as I held my head. “Who’s there?! What do you want?!” I said frantically.

I got no response, so I yelled again. “WHO’S THERE, WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”

This time, I got a response. A very dark, deep throated voice spoke. “…YOUR SOUL.” It replied as I saw what looked to be a ghost, or a spirit, fly inside my head through my eyeballs. I felt a sharp stinging pain in my head and yelled in pain, drawing the attention of somepony.

“Begone, you evil spirit! This body is not yours, you cannot commandeer it.” The pony said as I heard this spirit laugh. It replied to her.

“Foolish mare, I can do whatever I want. You cannot stop me.”

“While it is true you have the right, it is wise to give up the fight.” This mare replied.

The spirit chuckled. “I admire your determination. Very well, I shall let him go for now. But not that easily.”

Suddenly, I felt a searing pain in my brain, and the next thing I knew, I woke up in a dark, barely lit hut, with bandages around my head.

“Where am I? What happened?” I said as I looked around the room.

“In my house, you now rest. Now sit tight, for this news may be hard to digest.” A mare said as she walked into the room.

Author's Note

Well that was this chapter. I both like and hate it. I like it for the cute moments with Fluttershy, but hate it for that super cheesy ending. Oh well. Next chapter time!