The Bizarre Case Of Minty And Malty

Chapters

CHAPTER TWO:Pony Hunt
CHAPTER THREE:Talking To Minty
CHAPTER FOUR:The Picnic
CHAPTER FIVE:Something's Odd About Minty
CHAPTER SIX:Roll, Stumble, Lessons
CHAPTER SEVEN:Lesson 1, Keep Your Emotions In Check
CHAPTER EIGHT:A Unexpected Visit
CHAPTER NINE:A Typical, Non Busy Day
CHAPTER TEN:Balancing Is Easy, When You Sock Somepony
CHAPTER ELEVEN:Sparkleworks, Her Secret Reason
CHAPTER TWELVE:It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:Nothing Fancy, Just Dinner
CHAPTER FOUTHTEEN:Breakfast, Take Two
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:The Heart Breaking News
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:The Good News
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:The Big Game
CHAPTER NINETEEN:You Thought It Was Over
CHAPTER TWENTY:It Gets Worse, And Then Terrible
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE:The Horror Of A Relapse
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:The Confrontation
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:Amethyst’s Wish
CHAPTER ONE:Just Another Normal Day
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:Malty And Minty’s Secret

CHAPTER TWO:Pony Hunt

It was mass panic, ponies were galloping back and forth uncaring if they ran into each other. Under some overturned carriages ponies screamed for help, one mare was trying with all her might to pull a friend free but all she did was cause more pain. Traffic lanterns were down and fire had began to spread, the street intersection as far Whistle’s eyes could see was backed up for miles as more wrecks were starting to happen, she cringed at the sound of screeching metal.

High above she saw a white Alicorn in golden armor flying into the scene, she lifted her head and attempted to levitate the carriages but just then another wreck occurred that when colliding broke into many pieces. One sharp piece that had covered the wheels was sent high into the sky and Whistle saw the Alicorn scream with blood pouring out where her horn had been.

From behind her Whistle could hear laughter, “Hahahahaha! Oops, I did it again!”” she turned around to see a pony who looked really out of place.

A crowbar in one hoof and pointing at the Alicorn with the other, but Whistle didn’t notice neither for her attention was locked on her featureless, empty face.

Whistle had sprung forward gasping, she took a look around her surroundings and felt her heart ease as it was her room. Flopping her head back on her pillow she leaned up again and felt it with her hoof, she reached down and touched her covers which were just as soaking wet. Sighing she leapt from bed and dug through her nightstand until finding her small mirror.

“I hate nightmares..” she uttered as she let out a faint whistle as she took out an equally small cloth and wiped her brow clean of sweat.

She went back to her bed but after feeling how soaked the covers were in her own sweat, along with the fear of that nightmare reoccurring, she decided against sleeping and instead went into the living room. As she passed a door she turned back and gently nudged it open, seeing the form of her brown friend soundly asleep she carefully closed the door.

“Happy I didn’t wake her” Whistle whispered as she tiptoed down the hallway.

Coming to the living room she made a beeline to a double doored dresser and pulled them open, as her eyes scanned the many books that was neatly arranged she thought on which she should read. She puzzly looked over them until her eyes spotted a purple bound book that she immediately grabbed, she tried not to leave teeth marks as she closed the dresser and trotted to the sofa. She felt her back melt into the warm and welcoming fabric as she spat the book into her hooves and opened to page one.

“It was another cold day for Daring Do,” she began reading aloud. “having forgot her coat at camp her wings acted as a backup but they did little to warm her up. Daring Do was normally fond of snow, as her hooves sank deeper with each step she couldn’t help but find herself wanting to make a snow Alicorn. But she had to remain focused for she was on the trail of Ahuizotl who had made off with a artifact she had found the following night. The idea of Ahuizotl sneaking into her camp was unnerving to her, and as she followed his tracks she couldn’t help but think why he hadn’t---”

Pausing to rub between her eyes Whistle went back to reading for about two paragraphs before pausing again, she was reading the words well but her imagination was elsewhere entirely. Placing the book atop a drawer she looked around the room and spotted a box that was a few inches away.

She stretched out her body so she could reach it, her hooves were just starting to touch it when “Almost---got i-whoa!” she lost her balance.

She closed her eyes and prepared herself for a hard fall that never came. Slowly opening her eyes she saw she was hovering and felt her wings flapping, whistling she grabbed the box by the foldable top and dragged it atop the sofa with her.

Opening it she dug through the various VHS tapes before sliding the box away, “They won’t help either...” she told herself as she rested her head against the sofa’s puffy arm rest.

She tossed and turned and even punched the armrest to make it more comfortable, “Ugh, why can’t I get this out of my mine!!!” she silently shouted before leaping down.

Making her way to the kitchen she was careful to be silent, she was storming in very annoyed but suddenly came to an halt. She felt her body become a mixture of warm and cold shivers, peering to her right she saw the moon was casting light in through a window. The light felt relaxing and as she saw the walls sparkle as if it were glittered, she felt her anger simply drift away and she felt more at ease.

Taking a moment to bask in the moonlight she trotted over to the refrigerator and felt such a cold breeze after opening it her jaws were shaking, using one hoof to keep warm she took a milk carton and closed the door. Rubbing both hooves together to get them warm she waited for the microwave to warm the carton, all the while her eyes were on the timer. Suddenly the idea of Sparkleworks being awoken by the microwave popped into her mind and she rushingly slammed the stop button, she felt the carton and wrenched
her hoof back.

“Wow that’s hot!” she whistled. “OK note, four minutes is way to long”.

Whistle searched the kitchen for something to protect her hooves with and spotted a couple of dish rags by the sink, thinking they were just perfect she wrapped one around her hoof like an bandage. Carefully she lifted the milk carton, the heat seeping through the rag she was extra careful as she went for the biggest gulp.

“Hahahahaha! Oops, I did it again!” Whistle missed as the laughter crept back into her mind and the warm milk poured on the floor, she shook her head but that faceless pony came into focus and she slammed the carton down in frustration.

“Ugh! I gotta know who she is!” she angrily shouted as she felt like she was going insane.

She stormed her way to Sparkleworks’ room fully intending to ask her questions, but as she grabbed the door handle she completely froze up. She stared unblinkingly at the knob, occasionally looking at the door as she imagined what’ll happen if she barged in. Every inch of her was ready to yank it open and wake Sparkleworks up but she simply couldn’t do it, slowly she released the knob and trotted quietly away, once or maybe twice she looked back as if building her courage up.

She needed answers but her closest source was sound asleep and she knew nothing is more terrifying than waking her friend up, she thought even Tirek wouldn’t had stood a chance against an woken up in the middle of the night Sparkleworks. Drinking about two cups of coffee to fully wake herself up Whistle left the apartment, she knew there would be no sleep unless she could get some sort of answers.

Taking flight she flew over the towering buildings and flew off into the night, she knew a few friends who worked night shifts and she tried to think which of them to go to first. As she went through her various friends over in her mind she couldn’t help but notice the scenery, it looked a lot more peaceful than it had in her nightmare. Instead of fiery wrecks with screaming ponies it was calm and quiet, the moonlight reflected off of the buildings and gave off an kind of glowing hue that Whistle just couldn’t get tired of.

As beautiful as the city looked Whistle had to force herself to ignore it. The only friend she knew for sure who might know Malty was Star Catcher, being both mayor and captain of the Fillydelphia guard meant she had many sleepless nights, something Whistle could really relate to right now. The only problem that Whistle could see was that Star Catcher wasn’t in Fillydelphia, she had left for Canterlot two days ago and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.

She wanted answers now and didn’t care if she was up all night for them, she flew over to the nearest friend she could ask and hoped she had the answers that she wanted.

“Sorry Whistle, I never meet a Malty before, is that some kind of new salt?” spoke the first who juggled between talking to Whistle and locking up the bank’s vault.

Sad her friend didn’t have any answers she flew over five miles to a building which was having an overnight pool party, something Sparkleworks had expressly told her not to attend under any circumstances.

“Do you know a pony named Malty!” Whistle had to shut over the loud and deafening music.

Her friend who was the only on duty lifeguard shook his head. “Sorry I don’t, but why not ask Minty? She knows as thei-HEY no dogs in the pool!” he had shouted leaping from his towering seat.

Whistle tried getting his attention back but the overly loud music and roaring cheers were beginning to hurt so she was forced to leave, after she had flew over to meet at least two other friends her belly had begun growling and she couldn’t fly on an empty stomach, flying down she got in line for a carrot dog. As the unbearably long line was getting shorter Whistle couldn’t help but feel her quest was hopeless and started wishing she had woke Sparkleworks up, she only had one friend left to ask before she would have to wait til morning anyways.

“Is this line moving?” came a familiar voice from behind.

Whistle turned around and was surprised to see Cotton Candy. Whistle felt something click in her head and immediately started a conversion, she didn’t know Cotton Candy as well as her other friends so she wanted to get her interested in talking first. They talked for a few minutes about various stuff.

“Say, how’s your mom doing?” Cotton Candy asked.

Whistle stared off in the opposite direction while whistling, “Ptff, why can’t she trust me living on my own?” and she immediately changed the subject.

“No, he hadn’t asked yet” Cotton Candy replied on the subject of her coltfriend. “Three years so he should ask me any day now”.

“Maybe he’s just afraid of asking? I mean it’s not like a mare asking another mare on a date, he’s probably just nervous” Whistle replied as she looked back at the line and whistled happily that only one pony was left before her.

As the pony placed her order for two carrot dogs Cotton Candy had said “Well if he wants to keep on dating that’s just fine, not like I want a family or anything” but it had went over Whistle’s head as she concentrated on how to ask about Malty.

She rubbed the back of her head while whistling nervously. “Say, do you know a pony named Malty?” she finally blurted out.

Cotton Candy raised an eyebrow as she replied “Why would you want to know about that mare?”

“Because, just curious is all” Whistle unconsciously whistled an higher pitch and avoided making eye contact.

The pony ahead of Whistle trotted off and the stallion running the stand called for the next pony in line, but Whistle didn’t hear him. Whether Cotton Candy had saw through her lie or not Whistle wasn’t sure, she was just relieved she kept talking although it took another two minutes before Cotton Candy had told her anything she hadn’t already heard.

“I heard she favors the corners Candy and Tails, you know, near that baseball field?” Cotton Candy finally answered after enough persistent questions.

As Whistle gave an joyful whistle she immediately took flight with Cotton Candy staring after her, shrugging it off she took Whistle’s place in line and placed her order. As Whistle flew over the tall and towering buildings once more she stared down at the busy traffic miles below and couldn’t help but feel sorry for all the ponies who couldn’t fly.

“At least there aren’t any clouds tonight” Whistle thought to herself as she flew higher. “And traffic jams..”

It took about five minutes for Whistle to locate the corner and for another ten minutes she flew around it in circles, but eventually her wings grew tired and the coffee had started to wear off. Before she could doze off Whistle landed and shook herself awake, scanning the immediate area she spotted a billboard and galloped behind it. Checking the brick wall that laid behind the billboard she felt like she was hidden in a good vantage point, the billboard was surprising close to the ground and the brick wall was covering her rear so she knew nopony could sneak up on her either.

She felt like this could work, before she began to wait she stomped in circles making a soft and grassy bed before peering her head slightly around the billboard.

“The street sure is empty tonight..” Whistle thought as the cold windy air, mixed with the silence, made for a very eerie scenery. “She should be showing up any time now” she whistled to herself for about an hour later.

Another hour went by and there was still no sign of Malty. Whistle saw various crowds every now and again but Malty was in none of them as far as she could tell, from what she got from her friends Malty’s fur was a very dark shade of green and her mane was a mixture of light and dark pink, as well as looking very octopus like. From their descriptions she not only wears a bowler hat but also a business overcoat so they assumed she was a high business mare, she even at times trotted with a cane either in hoof or had it strapped to her leg as if it was broken.

Time went on and dawn was slowly approaching and Whistle was starting to wish she was back home in bed, “Maybe I should just go home..Sparkleworks might worry if she sees I’m not there” she said aloud.

Since Sparkleworks would be up soon she could go ahead and ask her about Malty, the only problem she felt was what if Sparkleworks didn’t know anything useful either? Whistle remembered her saying she had met Malty but also didn’t remember anything really special, was it worth asking her when she knew what the answer could be? She felt her brain starting to lock up and she tried shaking it but her mind was completely shutting down, she had no idea what to do now.

The wind whistling in her ears didn’t help to ease her mind either, grunting with aggravation she galloped from her hiding spot and just wanted to fly. She flopped open her wings mid-gallop and jumped to take flight when---CRASH---she collided with something and went stumbling down.

There was a crack and she painfully rolled into a metal fence that felt like barbed wire. Through the pain that temporarily blinded her she heard someone growl “Watch where you're going mare!” and felt whoever it was crawl themselves out from under her.

Whistle heard more angry grunts as she stood up with slight difficulty, her legs felt like rubber trying to hold up many bricks so she resulted to hovering instead. Immediately she yelped as her left wing flinched, it hurt something fierce but at least it was more bearable than standing. Rubbing her eyes her vision took a few seconds to return and when she could see, with a few tears here and there, she looked for who she had galloped into. It was a mare, she was dusting off her coat and Whistle could tell that she was very angry.

Without even turning to check on her the mare trotted away, Whistle sniffed as if she was about to cry and just wanted to go home so she could cry into her pillow. Wiping her eyes she started to fly away when she suddenly took a double take at the mare and saw she was carrying a cane. Heart racing with a gasp she flew as fast as her wing would permit and caught up with the mare.

“H-Hey..! Are you by chance Malty?” she asked and instantly the mare came to a halt so fast Whistle had almost ran into her a second time.

The mare remained still and seemingly frozen in place for a few seconds, Whistle was even starting to wonder if something was wrong with her. “I am. Do pray tell, how did you know?” she asked.

Whistle for a split moment looked like she hadn’t heard the answer, but the very next moment she flew high into the air with a smile so big even Pinkie Pie would be jealous.

“I found you!” Whistle had said with a whistle full of joy as she slowly hovered back to ground level. She was careful not to land as her legs were still hurting, she knew her punches and kicks of joy did little to ease the pain but she kept doing them nonetheless.

But she didn’t care, the pain felt nonexistent as her quest was over. She had spent hours asking questions and searching for Malty, she was just giving up hope about finding her when she ended up galloping right into her. No words could express how happy she was feeling, the mare gave a grunt while facehooving but Whistle was to happy to notice.

“I’ve been spending hours trying to find you, and now, I finally found you!” Whistle shouted in joy.

“Hmph, and why, dare I ask, were you searching for me?” Malty asked. She wasn’t sure who this pony was but felt like she could be trouble.

At hearing Malty’s question Whistle heard her voice more clearly than before, it was a little deepen and sounded scratchy as if she was getting over a sore throat. She started to say “I--I um---heard about you the other day and wanted to---”

“Ah, I see now” Malty interrupted and Whistle felt a sense of foreboding which she thought was extremely odd.

“What do you mean?” Whistle asked.

“You heard about a mare, who was unusual and strange. Perhaps the stories of this mare haunted you day and night, a faceless horror you could not be rid of. A horror that in the very back of your mind it hides, and you simply wanted a face to go along with it. Am I’m correct?” Malty explained.

Whistle was in total shock to the point her eyes shrunk for a brief second and felt herself getting goosebumps. “Wow!” she gasped. “How did you---”

“My dear, it isn’t the first time a pony heard about me and wanted to have a face to go alongside their stories.” Malty answered with another interruption. “In fact, I dare say you’re the fourth one”.

Whistle had no idea what to possibly say next, her mind had gone blank for everything except that image of Malty being faceless. “Can I...see your face?” she asked and felt extremely odd and whistled in a vain attempt to lighten the mood.

Malty gave a slight laugh at her forwardness and actually thought it over, Whistle could tell she was talking to herself and was waving her cane around in the air until finally holding it at a still. Placing it under her leg she slowly turned around and for a solid eight seconds the two mares stared eye to eye with each other, as Whistle gazed into her eyes she felt a sense of dread like Sparkleworks had mentioned this morning.

Whistle had gasped at seeing Malty’s piercing yellow eyes, she thought her pupils were dragon or even snake like and her imagery went crazy. She had blinked and squinted her eyes, they were just normal pupils. She laughed to herself and felt silly for thinking they looked dragon like, although Sparkleworks was right in saying there was an odd vibe about Malty. She moved her eyes to Malty’s mane hoping to see tentacles but saw it was quite normal, it was a mixture of both light and dark pink with tiny polka dots which made it look quite filthy.

Whistle had never seen a mane so messy in all her life and wondered how Malty could possibly see, Whistle looked Malty over a few times to see if she had any odd features.

“Does my appearance surprise you?” Malty’s word seemed to had broken a wall of dead silence. It felt like a pin should’ve dropped and Whistle’s wings almost locked up.

Whistle nodded and said “You're-----just a normal pony?” to which Malty laughed. Whistle thought this laugh should’ve been much more evil-like and was again let down.

“No surprises there, now I do believe I shalt not need to ask your name.” Malty said as her yellow eyes looked over Whistle who felt how odd and rather unsettling it was to have a pony look your body over. “Dark blue fur, wings, whistling to yourself like you are now---why, you must be Thistle Whistle, aren’t you?”

Whistle felt her heart skip so many beats she was surprised it was still beating at all, blushing slightly she asked how Malty could had known her and to which she answered “I’m a novelist dear, I write crime stories as well as mystery thrillers. It’s my job to be a good guesser” and after thinking her reply over Whistle thought it was a very good answer.

“What books did you write?” Whistle asked wondering if she and Sparkleworks had any at home. They don’t usually look at the author’s name or pictures so the chances were pretty high.

Malty smiled as she answered “Oh nothing fancy, Mane-Lock, How Did This Happen, Under My Pillow and The Pony With A Lighting Bolt are just a few. My latest story was Traffic Jam, A Prank Gone Wrong and it became my second best seller”.

Whistle thought on those names but she couldn’t remember of ever hearing about them before, “Traffic Jam...” she whispered to herself. She only needed to think for a brief moment before she knew what Malty could be talking about. “OH! You mean that prank you pull---”

“I did not cause that!” Malty yelled, slamming her cane on the ground with great force.

It almost sounded like Malty had the Royal Shout and when she saw Whistle’s frighten expression she realized she had made an outburst, she broke eye contact for a brief moment or two and straighten her hat.

“Please forgive me, I-I get so touchy about that...” she apologized.

Whistle in the fraction of a second went from frightened beyond belief to feeling sorry herself, “It’s OK, I didn’t mean to upset you.” she apologized as well. “But, ponies seem to think you did, why would they---”

“It was because I laughed, I’m---what you would call a pony who laughs at others’ misfortune. Like, The Three Mares they get hurt all the time on TV. It was just a split moment of laughter and a month of paying off a find.” Malty sighed and turned away from Whistle. Her attention was on the night sky that was slowly turning to day.

“Ponies seems to think I was laughing at dear old Star Catcher too, but I was not.” Malty spoke. Before Whistle could reply she had added “In fact I accepted the fine without nearly a complaint, I didn’t dare complain despite not causing the accident”.

Whistle wasn’t sure why but she was starting to feel sorry for Malty. She found it odd that she got the overwhelming feeling that she had met her before, but she felt very confident that she hadn’t.

“It did become the basis of that book though, a pony who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Framed for a huge incident, but after a mixture of police hunting---my made up guard section---and crime solving she unveils a big conspiracy. A small accident, yet a brilliant story thought up from it. Had to get old Star Catcher’s permission though, but I dare say it was worth it none the less” Malty happily explained.

After hearing her short story Whistle suddenly felt intrigued again and wanted to talk with Malty some more. Malty seemed not to care the mare who had ran her over wanted to chat, she seemed interested a little bit herself but about two minutes into their conversion she took from her chest pocket a watch. Whistle ooed and awed at how the gold and brown coloring shimmered.

“I’m afraid we must cut this short” spoke Malty as she bowed her head.

Whistle’s senses snapped in full force when she had heard Malty. “Why? We just started to talk?” she asked confused.

“I’m running late for a---meeting, I’m due for brunch with my dear mother” Malty simply returned.

As Malty trotted off Whistle felt abandoned by a friend who had better things to do, quickly and without thinking she asked “U-Um me and my friends are holding a picnic this Saturday! Why don’t you attend? That way we can---”

“Sure, if I can manage some free time I might” interrupted Malty.“Good day, Whistle”.

***

As Whistle was flying home she couldn’t help but reflect on what just happen, the entire night she imagined Malty as this faceless terror with a crowbar, a pony with no love for anyone else’s safety. But the pony she met was unlike the gossip she had heard in every way, Whistle actually thought she seemed quite nice and well mannered. The entire time she was flying she smiled at the idea of meeting Malty again and the fun they were going to have at the picnic.

“Oh wait...Minty doesn’t like her!” Whistle suddenly said aloud as her stomach turned into knots.

How was she going to tell one of her best friends, who disliked a pony to the point she choked on her own candy, that she had just invited said pony to their picnic? Whistle thought Minty would explode and she cringed at that very scene being pictured in her mind, she was starting to think that inviting Malty might had been a bad idea.

“No, I’m sure when they get to know her they’ll see she isn’t so bad” Whistle said aloud. “Yeah, what could be more fun than making new friends?” Whistle smiled again as her imagination went from worried images back to a happy daydream.

“Well, I could think of one thing. No more clouds...” she shivered and went back to the daydream.

CHAPTER THREE:Talking To Minty

It was early in the morning, Whistle and Sparkleworks were eating breakfast at a diner they frequent. Sparkleworks had caught Whistle sneaking back in after dawn and scolded her for sneaking out.

“How was I supposed to know you were at the door?” spoke Whistle just as a waitress handed them their food.

“Well do you ever get the morning mail? I’m going to have a bruise for weeks..” Sparkleworks barely looked at Whistle as she said this. Instead she was nose deep into her plate of eggs.

The usual breakfast they had was quite heated this time as Sparkleworks wouldn’t drop the subject of where Whistle had been. It wasn’t until she threatened to no longer buy orange juice that Whistle finally cracked.

“You what!?” shouted Sparkleworks right before gagging. She had gulped down a mouth full of eggs prior to her outburst and had to pound her chest before she could breathe. “Let me get this straight…” Sparkleworks started in between gasps. “You left home in the middle of the night, not only without a coat---oh you know you’d freeze to death in the cold---but tried tracking down a pony you never even met? I should ground you for weeks Thistle Whistle!!!”

“I didn’t want to wake you and the nightmares stopped me from sleeping!” Whistle returned a little bit defensively.

“You know you can wake me if you have a nightmare” Sparkleworks replied. Taking a deep sigh she relaxed herself, she knew yelling would only make Whistle close herself off more. Sitting down the fork she had gripped to the point her hooves bent it just an inch, she breathed in slowly before continuing to speak. “Well, what was she like?”

Whistle was caught off guard as she stared at Sparkleworks a bit puzzled, slowly sitting back down herself she stared at Sparkleworks as if expecting a got ya outburst. “Well, her mane isn’t octopus-like. It’s just messy, probably the messiest mane I ever saw” she answered.

Whistle was keeping her guard up as she paused to draw her plate closer, eyes burning into Sparkleworks for no more than two seconds before she dived right into her food as if she hadn’t eaten in days.

Sparkleworks shook her head, “How can a pony eat a tower of pancakes so fast?” she asked herself.

“She was friendly too, well, not counting the outburst after running her over..” spoke Whistle, spitting out small crumbs with every word.

Brushing her friends’ terrible table manners aside Sparkleworks said “That doesn’t sound like the Malty I know, her mane was even neater than Mintys and you know how she keeps her mane. Also, she was completely rude for no reason! Just because I said her dresses wasn’t shiny enough,ugh I hate rich ponies..”

Whistle, after taking a sip of what she felt was very refreshing water, had said “I think she’s just sensitive” before diving into a second but slightly smaller tower of blueberry pancakes.

“Sensitive? Sensitive ho--” Sparkleworks trailed off as she looked at her friend.

She knew Whistle had a big appetite but stuffing her face was still jarring to watch. Not to mention the slight theory she had of Whistle and Pinkie Pie being related didn't seem so far fetched.

“Well,” Whistle paused to swallow and to take another sip of water. “when I mentioned the traffic jam she yelled at me. But she apologized saying she was touchy about that, maybe the gossiping really hurts her and that’s why she’s so rude?”

“You said she was a novelist?” asked Sparkleworks. “To be honest I never got that from her back then, she seems more like---a self centered rich mare who cares for nothing but her own ends”.

“How can you say that!” Whistle gasped at what her friend had just assumed. She held her mouth in a gasp but saw no pony had heard her. “Sparkleworks, I’m surprised at you! I assure you the pony I met was nothing like those rich jerks from the high and fancy part of town”.

Sparkleworks just shrugged her shoulders as she replied “Just what I got, does she still wear that large business overcoat? Who else but a rich pony would go around wearing that outside parties? Only pony I know who does is Edward Horseluck, and you know how crude he is. He makes Blueblood look like a saint”.

“Don’t remind me of Horseluck, my dress still has grape juice stains….” Whistle said as she crossed her fore legs angrily and gave her unhappy face.

Even though Whistle didn’t want to relive that party her mind couldn’t help it, she remembered very clearly hanging with her friends and dancing along to a tune with Minty. She remembered it was a fun party and she was really into the music, she was attempting her special spin move which she now knew was a mistake. She turned and spun around for only a brief second before a stallion had trotted right into her, she remembered everypony staring as the stallion yelled at her and threw his juice into her face before a group of had friends pulled him aside.

“Stupid rich jerk..” she said before whispering a slight curse. She stared at Sparkleworks and sighed in relief that she hadn’t heard her. “Malty is so nothing like him,” Whistle reassured Sparkleworks and tried to push that terrible party out of her mind.

Whistling she wanted to change the subject when she remembered something else. “When me and Malty were talking she acted----a bit weird”.

“Weird how?” Sparkleworks asked. She gulped down a sip of coffee and immediately broke into tears. “H-HOT!” gasping she took what remained of Whistle’s water and drank it all in one gulp.

Whistle was laughing her tail off so hard she held her chest in pain, “You---you are---” she had trouble getting her words out as her eyes started tearing up. “--oh that was too much!”

The water did little to douse the burning in Sparkleworks’ throat so in between gasping she had ordered the coldest water the waitress could bring, nearby ponies stared as she gulped the contents of the glass down some minutes later and Sparkleworks was surprised to taste the flavor of milk instead of water.

“Water just makes it burn more, even a foal would know that” the waitress spoke as she hovered off behind the counter.

As the waitress started a conversion with the chef, who just happened to be the greedy dragon from yesterday, Sparkleworks shook her head angrily and had half a mind to report the mare.

“So I heard Sunny Daze is coming to the picnic, oh and Skywishes is too!” Sparkleworks spoke while holding a ice cube to her throat and moaned at the relief.

“Oh I hadn’t seen Skywishes in months! How’s her foal doing? Heard it’s a colt!” Whistle asked while giving a very happy whistle.

Sparkleworks, after throwing the half melted ice cube into her mouth, nodded while returning to her eggs which now had went cold. “Say is Star Catcher still coming? Hope her duties as mayor and guard captain won’t make her miss another get together..” she had asked.

Whistle stared at her and wondered why she was eating cold eggs, which she usually hated, but as Sparkleworks caught her staring she gave a nervous whistle while saying the first thing that came out. “I hope she can come, it’ll be nice to see her and Malty together and see if---”

“You invited Malty to the picnic?” interrupted Sparkleworks. As small crumbs spat out onto the table a waitress that was trotting by their table gave her a death glare and Sparkleworks apologized with a deep blush.

“Well, yeah.” answered Whistle. “I wanted to see her again as she left so---”

“You best tell Minty then” Sparkleworks again interrupted, she was cutting more of her eggs up when she noticed Whistle had gave her a puzzled stare.

Sighing she laid her knife and fork down as she went on to say “You saw how she reacted yesterday when ponies were gossiping about Malty, how you do think she’d react if she just ran into her? It’s been years since they even spoke” and as Whistle pictured that scene being played inside her mind Sparkleworks nodded.

***

Whistle knew she had to tell Minty that she had invited Malty so after finishing up breakfast she set off, she had asked Sparkleworks to come with but she declined.

“Sorry, I have to meet Surprise for---something” Sparkleworks had said before leaving Whistle who couldn’t help but wonder what she was nervous about that she had paused mid sentence.

Being on her own Whistle took to the skies as she pictured her upcoming conversion with Minty, she replayed it over and over until she felt confident her words were perfect, or at the very least good enough to tell her and run off for some errand. As the next five minutes went by Whistle kept an eye on the ground as she flew over and around the towering buildings, she flew around some billboards as well and once she had to fly backwards to take a double take at one.

Her mouth fell open as she read the words aloud. “Minty’s Candy Store Of Oddies, soon to open it’s sister building...when in Equestria did Minty set this up!?”

As Whistle went back to flying she couldn’t help but notice how perfect the morning sky was, not only weren’t there any clouds but it was a beautiful mixture of orange and purple as the sun rose higher into the sky. Smiling she began whistling and found the next three minutes had went by surprisingly fast as she spotted Minty’s home, going into a backflip she landed next to the front window which had many sweets on show.

Peering through the window Whistle’s eyes lit up as she saw the colorful interior, the walls were purple while the ceiling was green, the part where the two connected as well as the corners were painted white. The floor tiles, which were shaped like diamonds, was a shade of orange that just popped out all to well. At the tables, which were either a dark but shiny blue or a darker shade of purple, Whistle saw many sweets that just made her mouth water and her wings flapped with joy.

There were colorful cupcakes with a slice of apple and over at the pink counter she could see caramel apples that she badly wanted to sink her teeth into, however her eyes were quickly drawn to other and unusual sweets that her friend Minty was more known for. She saw straws in a glass of chocolate milk and knew by the designs they were edible, she saw cakes in the shape of a palm tree as well as a few chocolate animals that were dancing underneath them.

She could see on one table a small pink carnival ride made of licorice with a spinning top with candy bears attached to it, Whistle smiled as she waved back at them. She kept looking around and soon her eyes were drawn to one of Minty’s more well known creations, a large jawbreaker that when spotting Whistle pressed her face against the glass. It was colorful as a rainbow and her mouth watered as she remembered the first time had she tested it and how surprised she was when a bird made completely out of chocolate flew out of her mouth.

She never did get a answer from Minty as how she managed to create that illusion, at noticing her drool in the window’s reflection Whistle shook her head and wiped it away. Looking back inside she saw a mare with orange fur had suddenly appeared, she was sweeping the floor while using her magic to set strings of cotton candy about the ceiling along with colorful socks. Whistle never got why Minty had made socks out of candy or why they had became her trademark, but they were so tasty nopony never really asked her about it.

Tapping on the window Whistle got the mare’s attention, she gave a soft smile as she trotted over and unlocked the deadbolt but had left the chain alone.

“Good day Thistle Whistle,” spoke the mare who had such a sweet voice it melted Whistle’s ears. “here to see Minty?”

“Yep! Is she in?” Whistle asked as she tried to peek over the mare’s shoulders. Instinctively the mare moved in the same motion to stop her from peering inside.

“She is but I’m afraid she’s in the back, working on her, top secret, candy” replied the mare who attempted to close the door but Whistle had managed to poke her nose through it.

“O-Oh but if you could tell her I’m here?” she asked while hoping the mare wouldn’t slam her nose in the door.

Rolling her eyes the mare took something like a motherly sigh, with a nod she told Whistle to wait outside as she went and asked. Whistle watched through the window as the mare disappeared behind a door, whistling as she hoped Minty would see her. Coming to a hallway that was painted in a dull grey the mare trotted up to a double locked door which on the other side contained Minty’s secret lab as she calls the room where she does all of her research. The room itself was as big as the kitchen itself if not just an inch or two smaller.

It was painted silver and had a few tables and desks, most of which were littered with notebooks and beakers that were arranged so messily a pony like Rarity or even Twilight Sparkle would faint at the mere sight. Sitting at the biggest table which was centered in the middle of the room was Minty herself who was scribbling away in a notebook, every now and again she would look up at an elaborate chemical set that ran half the table’s length.

After adjusting a tube or two that was connected to the set she returned to her scribbling, after about a couple seconds or so she laid the pencil down and watched as a blue substance had dripped into a tiny and thin beaker. She leaned forward to pick it up and she sniffed it for a second before she stretched herself across the table, she had to move a few empty beakers aside for her to get the one she wanted which held a red substance that bubbled slightly.

“If my calculations are correct, this should make a type of grape juice with a hint of apples and blueberries” Minty spoke aloud as she pulled the beaker closer.

As Minty was starting to pour the blue liquid in with the red she heard *Knock* *Knock* from the door and she had almost dropped the two beakers in shock.

“Sorry to disturb you Minty, Thistle Whistle wishes to see you” spoke the orange mare.

“Oh Tropical Dream,” Minty sighed and counted herself lucky that she hadn’t dropped hours of hard work. “you can let her in a minute” after she had said this she took a deep breath and attempted to pour the substances together again.

She was careful not to drop even the tiniest drip as half of the tiny beaker was emptied into the bigger one, slowly she twirled the beaker and watched as it turned from red to a bright purple and the bubbling ceased. Eyes sparkling at the thought of creating a brand new flavor she wrote in her notebook a short paragraph, looking the new purple liquid over she went to take a small sip.

“Hiya Mints!” came Whistle’s voice that had startled Minty enough to gulp more than intended and she began gagging.

“Ack! Thistle Whistle, don’t scare me like that!” Minty gasped in between breaths. She looked at how much she had accidentally drunk and sighed at failing to note what the taste was like.

“What ya working on?” asked Whistle as she trotted over to see what she assumed was grape juice.

Most ponies would be very surprised or even laugh at the thought of using chemical sets in creating candy but Whistle remembered it was a joke she had made that gave Minty the idea in the first place.

“It’s my new experiment, grape juice with the taste of apples and blueberries” Minty replied as she was very quick to pull her friend away from the bubbling beakers.

“That doesn’t sound like it would taste very good…” Whistle stuck her tongue out as the idea of those three tastes together sounded, well, quite odd to her.

“Typical” Minty sighed. She loved Whistle as a friend but wished she knew somepony who she wouldn’t have to explain everything to.

As she picked up a rag to wipe her mouth clean she says “Well I’m still tasting it. If all goes well I’ll make candy sticks in their sha---” she broke off mid sentence as she noticed Whistle had took to one of her many colorful beakers arranged in a corner.

Quickly Minty rushed over shouting “No don’t drink that!!!” and yanked from her hooves one beaker she was attempting to drink. “This isn’t orange juice Whistle, it’s a rejected patch from my---um, private juice. It could be dangerous if you didn’t drink the minted water that heightens your immune system!” Minty explained and right after putting the beaker away she dragged her friend to the one corner with nothing but her journals and the like piled up on a desk.

“Oh...sorry Mints..” Whistle gave a sad whistle as she looked down like a kid who had just gotten into trouble.

Minty took a deep sigh to calm herself and then apologized to her friend, she’s so touchy about her work even her best friends had to be on their tiptoes while in this room, lest they trip and break everything like Minty had did herself some years ago.

“So, what brings you by? And why so early?” Minty asked while trotting to and digging through one of her cabinets which laid about one of the four the walls. As Whistle wondered what she was searching for she was tossed a green carton. “That is orange juice, see I remembered to keep them around for you” spoke Minty.

“Gees, thank you Minty!” Whistle replied happily. She was fast in ripping the tiny straw free of the plastic that attached it to the carton and poked it through the tiny hole on top, after sipping away for a few seconds she answered Minty’s question by asking her own. “Are you still attending the picnic this weekend?”

“If all goes well, got nothing plan---which day is it? Oh Saturday? Yeah, nothing planned so I’ll be free for it” returned Minty as she trotted back over to her notebook and wrote down Whistle came to visit, be sure to buy more orange juice and closed it with the pencil as a bookmark.

“I can’t wait! It’ll be like old times before we got--I mean, before you got a job”. Whistle blushed and Minty laughed.

“My door is always open!” Minty smiled.

“Thanks Minty but, nah, think I worked enough for my life” Whistle declined but was thankful Minty still offered to hire her but she isn’t interested in working anymore, not after that party mishap anyways. “Say, Mints?” Whistle started nervously. “I was wondering about---well I kinda without thinking invite---”

“Tropical Dream?” interrupted Minty who was tidying up her large table, mainly to keep Whistle from letting her curiosity get the better of her.

“No no, somepony you----dislike..” Whistle nervously gulped down her juice as Minty gave her a what do you mean type of stare.

“Who is it?” Minty asked as she snatched up a few notes that she had caught Whistle eyeing with interest.

Whistle sipped more juice and thought out her words. “...Why do you dislike Malty?” she asked.

“That crude mare?” Minty returned with an heated sniff. “Why are you ask--is she who you want to invite?” Minty’s face went into a shocked and bewildered look.

At seeing her face Whistle gave a nervous whistle as she avoided eye contact. She started “I met her last night and already invite---”

“You met her?” Minty interrupted. “OH don’t tell me you went looking for her Whistle!” Minty shouted, her jaw clenching which did little to soften her volume. “Don’t you remember the last time you went looking for a pony you recently heard of?”

“But this is different!” Whistle had shouted back defensively. “She wasn’t freaked out or rude, not at all!”

“How long did you talk?” after Minty had asked this Whistle told her it was only for a few minutes and Minty just shook her head. “Then you don’t really know her, for all you know she was putting up a front!” immediately Whistle could feel Minty was getting angry and she had to say her next words very carefully otherwise she could risk straining their friendship.

Whistle’s eyes went all over the room as she started to sweat and her body was shaking slightly. “I just wanted to see her for myself, how couldn’t I when I heard her mane was an octopus?” she answered shyly.

“And that short meeting makes you want to invite her to the picnic?” Minty asked.

“Well, I already invited her..” Whistle returned and as Minty’s face turned red like it was about to blow Whistle shielded herself with the tiny carton. “S-She told me she didn’t cause the traffic jam and---”

“OH and you believed her!?” Minty snapped.

As Whistle fell on her back whimpering Minty immediately took a step back, she turned away for a moment and tried to calm herself down by self controlling her breathing which had begun to get out of control.

“Why are you so angry?” Whistled asked as Minty slowed her breathing down and she stared blankly at the wall. “You said you never met her, where is this coming from?” Whistle asked as she picked herself off of the floor and sadly stared at her spilled orange juice.

Minty took another sigh and stared at the floor, then at her bubbling beakers and back at the wall where a tiny mirror showed both mare’s reflections. Seeing Whistle’s sad expression had made her feel really terrible so after a rather deep sigh she turned around.

“You remember my mom?” Minty finally spoke.

Whistle didn’t want to cause anymore trouble so she simply nodded to the question, in truth she didn’t know her as Minty spoke very little of her mother and would get upset whenever pushed on the subject. Minty went to speak but stopped herself, she raised a hoof but it stopped short of her mouth as she stared blankly away. Whistle could tell whatever Minty wanted to say was very hard to get out as her eyes closed and her mouth had clutched tightly shut as if expecting something painful.

Whistle had begun trotting over when Minty had suddenly said “Malty is---my mom”.

Whistle froze in her tracks, “Say what now?” she asked as she really doubted she had heard Minty correctly and she dug into her ears to see if they were clogged up.

Sighing once more Minty went on, now that she told Whistle the truth she might as well get it all over with. “Well Malty is just a nickname, my mom is the type of pony that makes Edward look like a hero among rich ponies. We never had a good relationship as I was growing up, I just couldn’t be the daughter she wanted as I wasn’t into her line of work. Kicking me out couldn’t have come sooner for her...” she explained with an sad expression.

Minty lowered her head and had shed a tear, Whistle galloped over and embraced her in a comforting hug. While wiping another tear away Whistle said “But...the Malty I met couldn’t be your mother, she’s basically your exact age. Give or take a year, or two, or three”.

Whistle just couldn’t wrap her head around this, Malty was the mother Minty had avoided talking about for so many years? She couldn’t believe the two were related, but then again she could say the same about Blueblood being related to the Royal Sisters which many were beginning to doubt that it was even true.

As Whistle was patting her friend’s back in a comforting way Minty said “You know we look young for our ages” before she broke away and trotted towards the mirror.

As she stared into it she could see her childhood being played inside it on an endless loop. At the memory she thought was the absolute worse she shook her head furiously and tried forcing the memories out of her mind.

“I really don’t want to talk about her anymore” spoke Minty as she stared at her own reflection, picturing her mother in its place. “So please---”

“But what if she isn’t the same Malty?” Whistle interrupted without meaning too and immediately apologized, hoping her friend wouldn’t outburst again.

“Oh come now, how many Maltys can there be?” Minty asked turning back around. Seeing Whistle was frightened again Minty had to assure her that she wouldn’t yell anymore before Whistle was comfortable enough to talk again.

“We know three different Rainbows, four if you count our Rainbow Dash’s daughter. So, how unlikely can it be?” Whistle asked with an awkward smile.

Minty grunted for a minute or two, then turned away to stare into her beakers and seemed lost in thought for seemingly twenty minutes before she spoke again. “...Fine, alright you can bring her” she spoke almost through gritted teeth. “But if she is my mom then I will----”

“Oh thank you Mints!” Whistle spoke loudly as she couldn’t help but hug Minty. She felt like they had just took a huge step in their friendship.

“Don’t mention it. You're my best friend, and I trust you more than anypo---” Minty trailed off as Whistle tightened her hug to the point Minty felt her lungs were about to burst.

She gasped and tried telling Whistle the hug was too tight but she couldn’t get a single word out, then Whistle just dropped her and hopped off. Minty had to gasp for air before her lungs allowed her to speak.

“H-Hey that’s it!? You're leaving just after I--ugh Celestia.....” Minty sighed and shook her head at her friends’ sudden departure during what she hoped was the only talk about her mother she would have to go through.

“Don’t worry, I’m pretty confident it isn’t the same Malty!” Whistle called back as she floated the rest of the way out.

Minty stared blankly at the door, unable to believe what had just happen. “Only Whistle…” she again sighed but this time she smiled.

Picking herself up she trotted over to her large table but found her mind was anything but focused on continuing. The very thought of meeting her mother after years of not talking was so unsettling she rather face King Sombra one on one, it almost terrified her as she could only imagine her mother’s words. As Minty started to clean up in hopes that it’ll take that nightmare off of her mind Tropical Dream had trotted into the room, usually she would be upset and growl but found she was thankful for being interrupted.

“Thistle Whistle just invited me to the picnic, did I hear right that she’s inviting your mother as well?” Tropical Dream asked. She was at a lost for words that Whistle even knew of Minty’s mother.

“She believes it’s a different Malty” answered Minty who, after about a minute, decided to heck with it and needed some flesh air to calm her mind and senses.

As Tropical Dream trotted with her through the hallway she asked “How many Maltys can there be?” which had made Minty utter a slight chuckle.

“That, is exactly what I told her” Minty replied. “Let’s just hope for Celestia’s sake, she’s right”.

CHAPTER FOUR:The Picnic

Whistle thought the talk with Minty had went over pretty well, now she only needed to wait for the picnic to see whether or not Malty is really Minty’s mother. She was confident she wasn’t but the thought of possibly meeting Minty’s mother was eating away at her more than not meeting Malty herself. Tuesday came and went rather fast with little to no excitement, minus Whistle running into an old friend who was in town visiting her father.

“So are you in town for the whole week?” Whistle had asked during a dinner her friend had generously invited her to.

“Nope! I gotta be back in Ponyville by tomorrow afternoon, my daughter has a playdate!” replied the mare who was neck deep into a pile of muffins.

“Oh that’s nice Ditzy, be sure to tell Dinky I said hello!” Whistle gave a happy whistle before she couldn’t resist the urge to dive into the muffins any longer.

As she and Ditzy ate away at the muffin pile she suddenly looked up and saw Ditzy’s father staring at them like this was the first time he ever seen them eating, she asked ”You want one Mr.Muffin?” with him kindly declining.

To Whistle’s dismay Friday was worse in terms of excitement as she was stuck at home, as she watched the rain pound against the window she couldn’t help but be bored as she longed to do something.

“Remember, no playing in the rain.” Sparkleworks had said, zipping up her raincoat.

Today was so boring Whistle found no enjoyment anywhere, whether it be the VCR jamming up--Whistle thanked Celestia a thousand times that Sparkleworks’ favorite tape was unharmed--or her mind refusing to focus on reading or even daydreaming which she was usually an master in. Saturday couldn’t had come sooner with the bright yellow sun shining down on the town. Whistle was the first up and her excitement was so unbearable she galloped all about the apartment as if she was on a sugar rush.

Finally waking up Sparkleworks had made Whistle explode into a rocket of joy, “FINALLY you’re up! Now we can get ready for the picnic!” she had whistled happily.

Sparkleworks groaned as she blew her mane out of her eyes, “After I brush my teeth” she said which had made Whistle curse and immediately she grabbed her mouth as Sparkleworks raised an eyebrow at her.

Whistle galloped in place outside the bathroom door, Sparkleworks brushed her teeth with such slow strokes Whistle just wanted to gallop in and finish for her. Sparkleworks spat into the sink and Whistle clapped her hooves together, then cursed as Sparkleworks gargled some mouthwash. Finally, after what felt like an eternally she was done.

“Come on Ms.I can’t even wait for two minutes, time to go” smiled Sparkleworks.

Once outside Whistle basked in the sun’s warmth which felt amazingly refreshing after yesterday’s cold rain, she found the sky was quite beautiful today and if it had been cloudless she would’ve loved to fly high. As they trotted through the morning traffic Sparkleworks kept a close eye on Whistle who just couldn’t trott in a straight line, she opened her mouth a few times to say something but she kept shaking her head with a slight smile.

Despite yesterday’s rain the park was blooming with plant life and the grass was lust as could be as it blew in the soft warm breeze. It didn’t take long for the two to spot their friends who had settled under a lone tree atop a small mound.

A mare noticed them and smiled. “Glad you two were able to make it” she spoke as Sparkleworks laid down the basket. As Whistle immediately dug through it the mare slightly giggled.

“Happy you were able to make it too” replied Sparkleworks as she sat down in what she thought was an comfy spot with pretty of shade.

As Whistle found her orange juice she rested herself under the lone tree’s shade while wondering if everypony was here yet. She saw most of her friends and spotted a few foals playing around in a game of hide and seek.

“So, I take it everypony who could make it is here?” Sparkleworks asked.

The ponies either nodded or gave a faint yeah. Whistle leaned up and took a second glance among their friends, she wondered if Minty or perhaps Malty was among them. Disheartened she leaned back against the tree and stared at the ground.

“Oh hiya Star Catcher!” Whistle heard somepony say.

Whistle immediately jolted up, she searched around for only a split instant before she spotted her friend. “Star Catcher!” she shouted while galloping up and giving her friend the tightest hug that she could muster.

Star Catcher, whose fur was as white as snow, said “I’m happy to see you too Thistle Whistle, I trust staying with Sparkleworks is well?” but Whistle couldn’t answer.

Usually she would be the one squeezing air out of her friends but this time the tables were turned as Star Catcher returned the hug.

“Happy you could make it Star Catcher” smiled Sweetberry who couldn’t help but laugh at seeing Whistle being on the gagging side of her hug for once.

Once Star Catcher had released her Whistle gasped for air and staggered her way back under the tree, “Celestia she got even stronger..” she mouthed to Sparkleworks who held a hoof to her mouth in an failed attempt to muffle her laughter.

“I wouldn’t had missed this for the wor---” Star Catcher was interrupted by a slight tug to her tail, looking down for the culprit she saw a small foal nibbling on it.

“Oh Sea Swirl honey..that isn’t cotton candy...” Sweetberry blushed as she rushed to pull her daughter off of Star Catcher’s tail. “Please forgive her, she’s still teething..”

Star Catcher giggled. “It’s quite alright, my mane and tail is sweet looking to foals”she spoke.

Star Catcher scanned the checkered picnic blanket to find a comfy spot and came to rest beside Sparkleworks who blushed at her smile. “Hm, so, am I’m the last one?” she asked, holding back a giggle.

Whistle by now was comfortable under the tree’s shade again and could see everypony looking around to see if anypony else was still missing. Whistle didn’t bother to look as the two mares she was most hopeful to see had not yet arrived, resting her head back upon the tree trunk she stared up at the sunlight which sparkled as the leaves danced in the breeze. Closing her eyes Whistle tuned her ears to listen to the sound of nature, softly whistling along with the wind.

“No, my dear, I don’t think you’re last” Whistle heard and had jumped up too fast.

She felt light headed but easily managed to pull through it. Peering to her right she saw a pony that for a brief moment she thought was bathed in sunlight and her mouth dropped to the ground.

“Malty! You came!” Whistle yelled.

Malty stared over the group of ponies who were all giving her odd stares, some even held their mouths in a gasp. “Typical reaction” she said aloud and shook her head, hearing the sound of leafs breaking she stared over to her left and saw Whistle rushing over to her.

Quickly Malty held out her cane that kept Whistle at a safe distance. “Ah, don’t you remember the last time thou came running at me?” she asked.

Some ponies gasped at the raising of her cane, some sighed at seeing it was only holding Whistle at bay, and most laughed as Whistle actually tried getting passed the cane.

“Malty?” spoke somepony.

Malty flicked her head, she spotted the mare who had spoke and she grinned. “Ah, Star Catcher” she bowed her head. “I hope thou are doing well?”

Whistle finally gave up trying to hug Malty and hovered back under the tree with her head lowered, Malty smirked before setting her eyes back on Star Catcher.

“I am,” replied Star Catcher who stared at Malty as if she was a ghost. “I’m surprised to see---”

“What are you doing here??” Malty’s head snapped to the mare who had interrupted and her grin grew even wider.

“Cotton Candy I presume?” Malty asked warmly. “I can tell by that photo of thee in Pony Magazines, and, this young pride and joy must undoubtedly be thou daughter, Cotton Cloudy?” at eyeing her daughter Cotton Candy was quick to snatch her up into a protective hug, Malty offered a slight laugh and seemingly wiped away an invisible tear. ”Oh don’t fright dears, if thou must knoweth, your whistling friend over here invited me”.

Whistle heard faint mumbling among her friends, whistling nervously she avoided their gazes and wished she could turn invisible like Malty’s tear.

“Thistle Whistle, you invited her?” asked Cotton Candy. Her daughter tried to break for freedom but she only tightened her grip.

More mumbling could be heard and Whistle, who felt like a outcast, mouthed soundless words.

“Calm down everypony, most of you never even met her yet you're already whispering about her?” spoke Sparkleworks who had taken such a tone change everypony became silent almost instantly.

Her mouth hung open once more Whistle stared at her friend who looked so stern nopony dared spoke against her. The silence that had fallen was relieved when Star Catcher suddenly giggled.

“Still as motherly as ever” Star Catcher said, following it up with a wink.

Blushing Sparkleworks stumbled with her words “Yeah---well---I don’t like ponies gossiping about my frien--Whistle, about Whistle.” scratching the back of her head she had caught a glimpse of Whistle who mouthed the words thank you which had made her smile in confidence.

“Well, quite” spoke Malty. Her eyes were still on the ponies and she could see a few shivering as she stared in their direction. “If any of thou wisheth me to leave, I shall”.

Malty expected them to have one of a few reactions, laughing, however, wasn't one of them. "What's so funny?" she snarled, looking at the group's smiling faces. She frowned, practically wanting to bury herself in her coat.

Star Catcher, who was simply smiling, said it was the way she spoke. Malty’s cheeks turned slightly red as she shyly sat next to Whistle under the tree, “Do I really talk funny?” she asked her.

Whistle shook her head and smiled. “Thank you for coming.” she said, sneaking in that hug.

The next few minutes went by rather smoothly, the ponies had stopped talking among themselves but every now and again Malty would catch one or two staring at her. Not wanting to cause a scene by asking what they were staring at, she simply ignored the spying eyes and made idle chit-chat with Whistle.

“So, saw your new book on sale the other day” spoke Star Catcher. She was helping herself to a small slice of pie as she went on to mention “Saw it’s about a guard pony that doubles as a pirate? Not sure if that was what the cover was going for”.

“Ah, indeed that was the initial idea. It’s selling slow but not every book can be a fast seller, it seems” Malty replied. She was helping herself to some apples and didn’t bother to look up.

One of the ponies froze as she heard Malty. “You write books?” she asked, not noticing the slice of cake had fallen off of her fork when she went for a bite.

Malty gave a little nod and everypony gasped with interest, some started to ask her questions and Malty quickly found herself overwhelmed. “I’m here..!” came a voice, granting Malty’s wish for a interruption.

It was Tropical Dream, she was breathlessly galloping up the small mound and was gasping for air.

“Tropical Dream, what’s wrong?” asked one of the mares who stood up to help her.

Malty however was not concerned, she was only thankful that the spotlight of attention was no longer on her.

“Oh, nothing...just running fashionably late you could say” Tropical Dream gasped in between her inhales. Once she was able to gather her bearings she looked about the group, saw most were eating, and gave a smile.

“Sorry I’m late, I had some urgent business that needed attending” Tropical Dream spoke, sitting down by a pony who kindly shared her small fan. “Oh a tessen! My grandmother used to carry these everywhere”.

When she had first saw Tropical Dream Whistle had jumped to her feet and galloped to where she came from. “Where’s Minty?” she asked.

“She’s not here yet?” asked Tropical Dream, fanning herself with the tessen. “She should had been here by now, I left before her so---”

“Then she should be right behind you, shouldn’t she?” asked one pony.

“Oh no Sunny Daze, well, you see I had that urgent business to take care of. So really she should’ve been here before me, hope she didn’t get too absorbed into that orange beaker..” Tropical Dream explained.

At hearing Minty was likely not coming Whistle frowned, sniffing she returned under her tree to sulk. Then she saw Malty, staring from her to Tropical Dream her spirits came back as she jumped up and flew to Malty’s side.

Pushing herself forward Whistle asked “Since Minty isn’t coming, could you tell if Malty is her mom?”

Once more everypony stared at the two, “What?” asked Malty who wanted to curse at Whistle for putting her in the spotlight again.

Everypony stared at Malty, then at Whistle, then back to Malty and then at Tropical Dream whose face had froze awkwardly. Tropical Dream trotted over, the tessen levitating after her. Malty retreated under her bowler hat, with every attempt to look under it Malty flicked her head away to avoid eye contact. Finally Tropical Dream, resulting to raise Malty’s hat herself, stared eye to eye with her before turning to Whistle.

Tropical Dream shook her head. “So she’s not Minty’s mom?” Whistle asked, looking down at Malty who mouthed a word she couldn’t quite make out.

“I will say she does resemble her, greatly in fact, but Minty’s mother has pink eyes. Malty’s are yellow” Tropical Dream explained and as Whistle exploded she shook her head.

“I knew it!” she whistled. “I knew Malty couldn’t had been her mom, and now when you see her again you can tell Minty and she won’t be mad at me anymore!”

Malty, being the only one who wasn’t laughing or giggling, shook her head as Whistle did loops and kicks in the air. She sighed, thinking Whistle was being too childish. “Thou could had just asketh me, you know” she spoke when Whistle finally came to land.

“Oh right, guess I could ha---” Whistle froze mid sentence, staring onward with a blank stare.

Malty followed her eyesight to a small filly who had spilled a green carton, orange juice leaking upon the grass. Immediately Whistle dived for it but just in time Sparkleworks had leapt in the way.

“No Whistle, what do we do when we see spilled drinks?”

“Drink it up in one big gu---” Whistle frowned as she caught Sparkleworks’ glare. “---We clean it up and wash our hooves?”

“Correct, now get an napkin”.

“So, you’re Malty?” asked Tropical Dream, Malty kindly gave a nod but said no words as she watched Whistle. “I must admit, there is something---odd, about how you look.”

“And I must assume thou thinkth I look weird?”

Tropical Dream couldn’t help but offer an gulp as Malty stared at her. “Oh no no no, I only meant that as---”

“Dear, I already know all the excuses. Doest thou know how many ponies stops me on the street to see if I looketh as strange as the rumors say?”

Her interruption had mixed results from the ponies, Malty gritted her teeth as they went back to whispering. Tropical Dream, who was a little put off by her interruption, lowered her head while apologizing.

“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to upset you. I only meant what I said in a honest and friendly manner”.

Malty didn’t bother to look as she raised Tropical Dream’s head with her cane, “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” and silence fell under her gaze.

Some ponies nervously went back to their food, others stared at Malty whose eyes felt like they were burning deep into their skulls. Finally, to break the tense silence Star Catcher stood up to speak but before she could utter a sound Malty had grasped her chest.

“Are you OK Malty?” asked Whistle, concerned something was wrong she hovered over.

Sparkleworks snatched up the napkin as it was almost carried away by the breeze. “Whistle! You hadn’t cleaned up the juice yet!”

Clutching her chest tighter Malty shook her head, “No, I’m fine” she felt inside her chest pocket and offered a growl. “Anypony knoweth what time it is?”

“It’s going on about----past one twenty” spoke Tropical Dream, placing a watch back inside her saddlebag.

Malty turned and whispered something that had made Whistle tilt her head curiously. “What’s too soon?”

“Ah---nothing, nevermind” replied Malty, briefly she turned back to say “I enjoyed meeting you all, but I must henceforth depart” then trotted down the mound.

“You're leaving already???” Whistle began flying after Malty and had nearly collided with her cane.

“Don’t follow,” Malty snapped and quickly lowered her cane. “I forgot something----very important. Meds, don’t fright, we’ll likely meet again”.

Lowering herself to a sitting position Whistle watched as Malty trotted off, the tinier she became over the horizon the more whispers Whistle heard from behind.

“Maybe somepony should go after her? To be sure she gets home safe?” asked one pony who was more concerned than curious.

“No, let’s not trouble her” spoke Star Catcher who was both concerned and curious as she too watched Malty disappear over the horizon.

It took a while for everypony to get their mindsets off of Malty’s odd behavior, Whistle however kept it in full as she wondered what was wrong. She replayed the previous moments through her mind and tried to see if she had done anything that might've upsetted her.

“Hey, I just thought of something” she whistled.

“Hm? What’s that?” asked Tropical Dream who had gotten into a conversion with Star Catcher.

“I never told Malty where the picnic was, wondered how she found us?”

CHAPTER FIVE:Something's Odd About Minty

On her way back to the shop Tropical Dream was reflecting on the fun she just had, “Oh Minty, you really should’ve been there” she spoke, closing the front door behind her.

Levitating her saddlebag on a table she helped herself to a small cupcake, trotted around the front counter and opened the cash register. She shrugged and closed the empty register and took from a bottom shelf a notepad, then after a quick glance she laid it on the counter.

“Well, no customers and the schedule seems empty. Hey Minty!” she called out, after five seconds had passed she called out again. “Ugh that mare is so like her---” Tropical Dream paused as she entered the grey hallway and saw the door on the other side was slightly open, “Minty never leaves that open..”

She trotted forward and nudged the door open and peered inside, she then bucked it all the way open as she galloped into the room. “Minty?!“ she shouted, trying to get a response from her unconscious friend.

A quick look about the room revealed there was no struggle, nothing was turned over or missing although Tropical Dream never really paid attention to Minty’s towering pile of notes, she rolled Minty over and gasped at an black eye. Tropical Dream attempted to levitate Minty but she had never lifted a full grown mare before and found her friend was too heavy and her magic immediately canceled out.

Jumping up Tropical Dream went to get help but her eyes suddenly caught something that was concealed under the table. Being much smaller she was able to levitate it over and saw it was a broken beaker with a single drop of blue liquid inside, she had expected to see the rest under the table but instead her eyes met an unusual scene.

“What in Equestria..?” she asked, seeing colorful plants growing under the table.

She was puzzled, at first, but her mind was fast on returning to her friend. She tossed the beaker aside and left Minty for only a minute or two before returning with a guard who immediately said “Go get Star Catcher, I need to inspect the crime scene” then he trotted over to Minty, held at hoof to her neck and felt relieved that she had a pulse.

***

“I told you, I don’t know what happened!” Minty shouted for the upteenth time, as she was resting uncomfortably in a hospital bed.

Star Catcher, who now wore her official guard uniform which was a brilliant shade of garnet and gold, was writing on a clipboard as she asked questions. Peering over her clipboard she caught Minty scratching a large white bandage, “Minty, please stop messing with the eye patch” she kindly spoke.

“It itches..” Minty replied while fighting against the urge to rip it off and tear to pieces.

“It’s healing your black eye, leave it alone or you might have to keep it on longer”.

“Can’t you just use a spell or something to heal it?” Minty asked, the annoying beat of her heart monitor distracted her only for a brief moment before the urge to scratch became even more unbearable. “Or at the very least a spell to stop the itchiness!”

Star Catcher sighed, she rolled her eyes and said “I’m not a Alicorn. Here, these drops should subdue the itching.” she trotted over to an nightstand by the bed and picked up a small bottle that she held out for Minty to take.

She immediately took the bottle and added a few drops to the eye patch, “Aaaaaaahhhh....that’s much better..” she moaned in great relief, her head sinking into her pillow.

“Now, did you see anypony prior to---”

“How many times do I have to say it, no I didn’t see anypony!” Minty snapped, she started to feel really irritated at Star Catcher. “I was working on a new sauce, syrup if you prefer, for a candy project” she crossed her forelegs and stared angrily out the window. “I just completed the third batch when the next thing I knew, I woke up here. I don’t know what happened”.

Minty sighed, wishing she could just go home already. Star Catcher wrote on her clipboard and said “Hm, well the only logical answer would be a stunning spell” but Minty wasn’t listening, her head had turned to the door at the sound of a faint whistle. “But that doesn’t explain your black eye, the doctors seem to think it was a result of hitting something after you fell unconscious”.

Minty still didn’t reply, she grunted and kept looking at the door. Star Catcher didn’t need to look at Minty to know she was irritated, she stuck her quill behind her ear and stuffed the clipboard under her wing.

“The guard unit I sent to investigate your place should be done by now, I’ll go and see if they found anything”.

Minty sunk under her covers, the thought of guards snooping around her secret and private lab made her feel sick and she shuddered to think what would happen if Star Catcher read a few of her notes.

“You have some guests” Star Catcher spoke gently, Minty peered over the covers and saw three ponies trotting in.

“Hey guys..” spoke Minty.

She wanted to be left alone for a few minutes but couldn’t help but feel a little grateful at the same time.

“How are you feeling Mints?” asked Sparkleworks who came to the foot of her bed. “Me and Whistle heard what happened”.

“Are you alright Minty?” asked Whistle as she took a seat, the very same one that Tropical Dream was about to sit in.

Tropical Dream stared unhappily at Whistle before she took to the other side of the bed.

“As fine as you would exp---” Minty trailed off as Tropical Dream had laid a saddlebag on her nightstand. “Is that what I asked you to get?” she asked launching over and lifting the saddlebag onto her bed before her friend could even answer.

From the saddlebag she took out a rather large mint that was almost as big as her head, her eyes widen as she sunk her teeth into it. Her friends started to feel somewhat awkward as Minty sucked away on the mint, one coughed and Minty, the giant mint still in her mouth, offered a mumbled “Oh..sorry..”

There was a loud pop as Minty spat the mint out of her mouth. “Sorry,” she repeated, laying the large mint by her pillow. “don’t ask me what happen, I have no idea myself”.

Whistle reached an curious hoof for the mint but Minty swatted it away with a slow hiss, she coughed awkwardly as her friends stared at her.

Tropical Dream gave a faint cough as well. “But surely you must---”

“Tropical, you know I tend to---”

“Tend to what?” Whistle titled her head curiously.

Minty had froze with her mouth hung open mid sentence, “Forget it, how was the picnic?” she asked, pounding her pillow before flopping her head onto it.

“Oh it was great!” Whistle fluttered her wings happily, then whistled as she added “Malty isn’t your mom by the way, asked Tropical Dream”.

Minty stared a hole right through Tropical Dream who nervously coughed and fumbled with her wording. “Well---you see---she isn’t Amethyst---but she resembles her quite--” Minty stared at her more intensely and she nervously scratched the back of her head. “Her eyes are yellow, and her voice was---”

“How do you know my mom’s real name?” Minty asked raising an eyebrow at her.

“Ah---I---well...” Tropical Dream seemed to be fumbling even more as if her mouth was completely dry, she looked over to Sparkleworks for a change in subject but saw she was staring suspiciously at her as well so she nervously gulped.

As Whistle started to hum Tropical Dream said “I’m sure you mentioned it once befo---” she paused as Minty shook her head and crossed her forelegs. “I might’ve heard it once when a group of my peers were gossiping about Malty, yes, yes I believe that’s how I knew”.

Minty knew Tropical Dream was hiding something, she began to speak when she suddenly felt an uncomfortable itch. “UGH I hate this thing!” she shouted and started to pull at the tape around her eye.

“Minty don’t pick at it!” Tropical Dream shouted loudly and used her magic to pull Minty’s hoof off of the eye patch. “Use the drops, you know what the doctor said!” she added, levitating the eye drops into Minty’s hooves.

Minty growled, raising her hoof she aimed to throw the drops into the trash but then her eyes met her friends’ gazes. She remained frozen for a second or two and felt somewhat embarrassed, she took a big inhale and then exhaled as she leaned back into her bed.

“I’m sorry. I’m just so annoyed by all of this..” she said, reluctantly adding a drop to the eye patch.

“It’s alright, we understand” spoke Sparkleworks who went on to tell Minty one night that she had to spend in a hospital bed herself.

“You did not break your leg skateboarding!” laughed Minty after Sparkleworks’ story was over. “I mean that’s so unlike you! It’s like---Whistle passing a I.Q test with a perfect score”.

“Hehe yea-hey!” everypony laughed as Whistle angrily blushed.

“Well it was true, back in my adventurous stage I was quite the stunt master” Sparkleworks grinned, laughing at her fond memories. “Oh I loved that scooter, but as time went on I grew out of it and gave it to my sister instead. She gave it to her daughter, who believe it or not she says is the spitting image of me as a foal. I told her if that’s true then she should expect many hospital bills”.

It irritated her eye but Minty couldn’t help but laugh along, as she added another eye drop she said “I heard my niece finally got her Cutie Mark, seems she is following in my hoofsteps”.

“Oh? That’s good to hear!” giggled Tropical Dream. “How is little ol’ Twist by the way?”

“To be honestly I’m not sure,” Minty shrugged. “I hadn’t seen her since her birthday some months ago”.

As Minty laughed Sparkleworks couldn’t help but feel there was something odd about how she was laughing, it sounded different than her usually snorting. Minty had caught her stare and ceased at once, uttering a cough she rolled her eyes about the room.

“Well it’s getting close to supper time, Whistle---”

“Don’t tell me we have to leave!” Whistle interrupted.

She gave big puppy dog eyes as she wanted to stay longer but Sparkleworks shook her head, “Don’t worry, if you like you can bring Minty some leftovers later”.

“Oh! Yeah! Minty loves cheeseburgers!” Whistle smiled as she hovered from her seat and towards the door. “Let’s go and get some!” she whistled, hovering her way out of the room.

Sparkleworks smile but also sighed, she stood up from her seat and had just reached the door when Minty suddenly called after her.

“Can you and Tropical Dream do something for me?”

Sparkleworks turned to Whistle who was standing outside the room impatiently, “One minute” she mouthed before closing the door.

Whistle stared at the door and gave an annoyed whistle as well an slight curse. Trotting around in place she impatiently awaited Sparkleworks, half tempted to trot in and demand she be part of whatever they were doing. As she took to a small bench her mind drifted as she lost track of time, nurses were going and coming out of the different rooms with dinner trays or medical supplies. Suddenly two nurses, one yellow and the other purple, emerged from an room down the far corner and when she had seen them Whistle flew out of her seat.

“Hi!” she whistled happily. “Snowheart, Sweetheart! It’s feels like forever!”

The yellow nurse, Snowheart, snickered to her friend who gave a light chuckle. “By forever, do you happen to mean last week?”

“What? O-Oh yeah..” blushing Whistle hovered down onto her hooves. “But it felt like forever though!”

Nurse Sweetheart chuckled once again, Whistle stared and wondered what she found so funny. “I sincerely hope you’re not here for attention again?” she asked, holding a hoof to her mouth giggling.

Whistle grabbed her mouth in an gasp, the two nurses started to laugh and it was now clear that they were just poking fun at her.

“How is your grandfather doing Thistle Whistle?” asked Nurse Sweetheart.

Whistle hadn’t expected them to ask about her grandfather and was taken a little bit off guard, “Oh, my mom says he’s doing just fin---Oh hi Rhyme!”

A small filly had just turned the corner in an gallop, in between gasps she said “Nurse Tenderheart needs you two right away!”

“Whatever for?” asked Nurse Snowheart who patted Rhyme’s back in an attempt to help her regain her breath.

Rhyme shook her head and began pulling on Nurse Snowheart’s leg. “Patient in room 203, she’s having an attack!”

Gasping the two nurses read the other’s mind and galloped off without so much of a goodbye, Whistle felt abandoned as she watched the two disappear around the corner. Suddenly the door to Minty’s room opened and out trotted Sparkleworks along with Tropical Dream.

Immediately forgetting what had just happened Whistle hovered over to them, “Why did you leave me out!? What were you three doing for five minutes anyways?”

“Whistle, it was only one minute” Sparkleworks giggled.

“Well---it felt like five to me!” Whistled complained, giving them her best hurt impression.

“Minty just wanted us to pick something up from her home darling” replied Tropical Dream, who couldn’t help but chuckle as Whistle gave them a suspicious stare.

“Oh, what is it?” Whistled gave them a curious expression.

Tropical Dream again chuckled as she patted Whistle on the head much like she would a puppy’s. “Oh, nothing you need worry about. I’ll be getting it as you two eat supper”.

***

“Oh curse me for getting caught up at the shop!” Tropical Dream scolded herself as a cloud of darkness fell over fillydelphia, “Visiting hours will be over any minute, oh Minty is going to chew my ear off!” she added as she turned a corner.

Galloping along a busy sidewalk she stumbled, galloped around or even jumped over ponies least she collided with them. “Sorry!” she would call back at the angry ponies who snarled and cursed threats at her.

She saw a large line blocking her way forward so Tropical Dream, blood pumping furiously and unable to stop, jumped kicked herself off of a store’s window and hurled herself into the air. Landing flawlessly Tropical Dream scolded herself for such a dangerous stunt but kept galloping. She galloped around another corner, saw the hospital just a few feet away, then she came to a screeching halt before galloping right into oncoming traffic.

“Oh horse apples!” she uttered in a loud yet faint curse.

Tropical Dream had heard of rush hours before but this was ridiculous. The Earth ponies who pulled the carriages zoomed by as if they were on fast forward, or were mimicking Pinkie Pie who tried to beat her fastest time on a sugar rush. Tropical Dream tried to risk galloping through at least twice but the quick breeze of a carriage nearly hit her and the cursing of ponies had rebelled her back like the road had suddenly formed a protective bubble.

She was getting mad, galloping up and down the sidewalk and catching fast glimpses of the front entrance in between the carriages, her legs trotted in place and cursed to Celestia for not being born as a Pegasus. She heard a loud chime, on a large traffic clock she saw the hour was closing and threw her hooves down into a stomp.

“Argh curse you Celes-wait a minute...that flying spell Starli-yes! That’ll be perfect!” Tropical Dream smiled, counting herself lucky for her good memory.

Closing her eyes Tropical Dream concentrated, remembering her friends’ words like an echo of her own voice, “She just pictured herself flying and---oh my---!” she gasped at seeing herself three feet off of the ground and couldn’t help but mimic Whistle at this moment.

She felt weightless, and was rather surprised she succeed on her first try. Clapping her hooves together she smiled. Flying over the busy traffic she had never felt so free, her legs became outstretched as she allowed the flow of air consume her. By the time she came to land at the entrance her smile had grew double in size, feeling goosebumps at the thrill she had just experienced.

She wanted to turn around and fly for hours but her inner voice was shouting “Hurry, you don’t have time for being free!” so she galloped inside and the smile never left her face as she galloped for the nearest elevator. Finally at a complete stop inside the elevator Tropical Dream, having galloped for miles, fell to her knees exhausted. She gasped for air to enter her lungs, held her chest as her heart felt like it was having an episode, she gulped and slowly inhaled before immediately coughing her lungs out.

“Oh Celestia...I am SO---using---that flying---spel-ack!” Slight motion sickness had set in and Tropical Dream felt like throwing up, as the elevator opened she stood up, held whatever was in her throat down and sluggishly trotted out into the overly cold hall.

She went straight to a nurse who was carrying away empty trays and uneaten lunches and kindly asked for something to drink. She would’ve drunk anything at this point, she didn’t care what as long as it was cold but the nurse levitating her some grape juice was the very last thing she was expecting.

“Oh, no it’s fine---thank you Ms.Green Mane, grape juice is just divine...” Tropical Dream mumbled through gritted teeth.

Trotting down the hall she stared at the carton in disgust, levitating it she aimed to toss it in the nearest trash bin but froze suddenly as the door to Minty’s room slowly opened. Out came a pony in an green patient gown, a short top hat, and what she thought was a snowy grey scarf wrapped around their face. The pony trotted out on tiptoes and closed the door as gently as possible, tiptoeing along the pony suddenly spotted Tropical Dream and took a jump backwards.

Eyes locked the two stared at each other and Tropical Dream, who was staring dead center at the pony’s concealed face, swore their eyelids had glued themselves open as they twitched.

“I---um---” spoke the pony, their voice clearly deepen deliberately. “I was just---checking on---oh, what to say?”

Tropical Dream could tell the pony, whoever it was, was stuck in a spot they clearly didn’t want to be caught in. Leaning her head forward Tropical Dream squinted her eyes, focusing on the pony’s face. The scarf concealed the pony’s face well as, instead of simply covering the mouth, was wrapped around the head as if mummified. Looking closely however Tropical Dream could faintly see the pony’s pink eyes, they were darting back and forth and sweat was evident.

“Amethyst...is that you?”

The pony jerked their head back in response and mumbled faint curses that Tropical Dream wished she hadn’t heard, “No, I am not..” the pony tilted their hat down over his or her face.

“I know your voice,” replied Tropical Dream. ”you deepen it once before. Don’t you remember? That time in Dragon Tow---”

“I surely not know what thou speakest of, child.” interrupted the pony who at seeing Tropical Dream giggle let out a very low sigh. The pony shrugged and removed part of the scarf from her mouth as she spoke “Thou are an annoyance, thou knoweth this, right?” and Tropical Dream found her voice was much more audible now.

“So, what brings you here? And, do pray tell, why are you masking your own face?” Tropical Dream asked, she found it odd Amethyst would go so far as to mummified her own face to remain hidden.

Amethyst had the look of being upmost unpleased, her eyes followed her horn to the grape juice carton that was just inches from a trash bin. Scuffing Amethyst grabbed the carton, ripped the plastic straw free and stuck it inside the top.

“Thirsty, I see?” Tropical Dream spoke in a friendly manner, she was still thirsty herself but the cold air was helping in relieving her of cottonmouth.

“About the only thing these low lifes can offer are juices, thou would think---” Amethyst took a quick glance around before taking a deep sigh. “---they would have more than enough bits for a wider variety of drinks. I dreadth the day that I would ever end up in this hospital, Minty on the other hoof---”

“You came to see Minty?”

At Tropical Dream’s interruption Amethyst snapped her eyes dead center on Tropical Dream’s face, then she gave a clearly fake cough. “I dreadth that thought too, young mare, I merely came to see whether or not her whistling friend had left something of mine behind”.

Tropical Dream stared at Amethyst really puzzled, she was sure she must had misheard her. “What would Whist---”

Amethyst pushed her aside as she trotted past. “I must be going, thou can do whatever pleaseth thee, good day”.

Tropical Dream watched as Amethyst trotted passed the open elevator and around a corner, awestruck at her odd behavior. She wondered why Amethyst was acting so weird and as she was shrugging it off she suddenly spotted a pony standing by a vending machine down the hall, she rubbed her eyes and took a second glance. She spoke up to get the pony’s attention but she had trotted into the open elevator.

“Oh wait will yo--” The doors closed and the elevator descended before she could finish. She stared at the closed doors until her eyes glanced up at the floor numbers, the ground floor lighting up. “Was that---couldn’t be, but who else has bright purple fur?”

Tropical Dream shook her head and pulled her eyes off of the elevator as she didn’t have any time to dwell on it, if she didn’t enter Minty’s room soon a nurse might boot her outside again. She trotted to Minty’s door and gently nudged it open and spotted her friend soundly asleep, her faint outline growing and shrinking with each breath she took. Carefully trotting inside the moonlit room she closed the door, there was a clunk as it closed and she heard groaning.

“W-Whistle..?”

Tropical Dream facepalmed the door, “It’s just me.” she spoke, not bothering to be quiet as she moved.

Taking a big yawn Minty flicked on her nightstand lamb, “You’re here late” she yawned again.

“Well, traffic, you know how dreadful it is at night” Tropical Dream replied, taking the chair that Whistle had stolen from her earlier.

“You sound hoarse, ran too much again?” Minty asked, offering what little water she had left.

Tropical Dream nodded as she took the water bottle and gulped it dry in ten seconds flat. “Thank you dear, I needed that…” she spoke, levitating the empty bottle into the trash. ”I did asked a nurse for something to drink, but she gave me grape juice..”

“Ouch” Minty had the impression of seeing something very painful. “I know how much you hate grape juice, but you could’ve just---”

“Minty...” interrupted Tropical Dream.

Minty’s face was half lit in the lamp’s light and was mostly shrouded in shadow yet she thought something was off about her. Minty nervously darted her eyes about the room as Tropical Dream leaned forward.

“Your eye patch!” she exclaimed, levitating the lamp closer to Minty’s face.

Pushing the lamp away Minty asked “What about it---oh..” and nervously held a hoof over her eye only to have Tropical Dream pull it away.

“You removed it? You know that needed to stay on for twenty two hours!” Tropical Dream scolded. “Oh Minty..”

“T-The nurse took it off, see? It’s all healed!” Minty explained, sweating she pushes the lamp away and uncovered herself. “That lamp is making me swea--”

“It is not healed!” Tropical Dream shouted, laying the lamp back on the nightstand as she jumped from her seat. “I’m getting the nurse”.

“No! Tropical Dream wait..!” Minty cried out, almost falling off the bed as she reached for her friend.

Tropical Dream stopped at the door, she had already turned the doorknob but at hearing Minty’s voice, which was clearly frightened, she took a deep breath. Her inner voice was talking again, saying “Just let it go, she’ll have to wear it even longer tomorrow” and she had to agree. Exhaling Tropical Dream went back to her seat.

Minty laid down in great relief only to prop up a second later. “Oh yeah...did you manage to---”

“Right here, in my saddlebag” Tropical Dream interrupted, levitating her saddlebag onto Minty’s bed.

Without warning Minty tore through the saddlebag, tossing item after item out, “Oh come now!” Tropical Dream shouted, frantically catching everything Minty was recklessly tossing aside. “No need to-hey that was my mother’s pendant!”

Minty turned the saddlebag upside down and Tropical Dream bared her teeth at the thoughtless her friend showed for her belongings, out of the various items fell a bright red sock with cotton around the base.

“Remind me again why that sock was so imp-Minty!” Tropical Dream gasped as Minty ripped at the sock, she gasped again when something fell from within the stitching.

Minty snatched it up quickly, Tropical Dream stared as she unfolded what seemed to be a small parchment. “Oh thank Celestia they didn’t find you!” Minty held the parchment to her chest, opened the nightstand and tucked the parchment inside it.

Holding a hoof to her mouth she whispered “Now just don’t tell anypony!” before she tucked the ripped sock inside as well.

“You never even told me that sock had a piece of paper hidden in it!” Tropical Dream exclaimed, she started to wonder what she had snooped around a crime scene for. “What is it exactly?”

“My most secret recipe, for---”

“That orange sauce you are so fussy about?” Tropical Dream interrupted for the upteeth time.

Minty stared sternly at her, “It’s not just a sauce or syrup,” she snapped. ”It could be my prize creation, you know---a candy that never goes bad”.

“Oh come off it,” Tropical Dream snapped back which had made Minty jump. “You had that orange---whatever you call it, for months now. You never speak of it, it’s like you never even use it!”

“That’s because I been remak---”

“Nearly all of your---strange---candy creations had a side effect that takes a simple week or two to fix, four at most. Now, you want to tell me what the side effect of this particular sauce has that’s taking you nearly two years to fix?”

Minty’s mouth fell open, before now she only knew Tropical Dream as a pony who had such a motherly feel to her and this sudden talking back felt so uncharacteristic she was half tempted to call her out as a Changeling. Grumpily Minty turned over on her side and covered up again, this, it seems, only served to irritate Tropical Dream more.

Gritting her teeth Tropical Dream flicked her head and the bed covers flew off, Minty gave a loud pffft but didn’t move. “We are going to talk, now get up!” Tropical Dream flicked her head again and Minty felt her body tugged for a brief moment before she flopped back on the bed.

“H-Hey---! Don’t you dar---” Minty felt an even stronger tug, one moment she was grabbing at the bed frame, the next moment she felt her face hit against the cold floor.

“Oh I’m sorry!” Tropical Dream cursed herself as she kneeled down by her friend. “I only meant to---”

Minty pushed Tropical Dream’s helping hoof away and rubbed at her nose, she felt a searing pain rush through her system. “O-Ow..you broke my nose! I think..”

Feeling a sudden rush of guilt Tropical Dream quickly called the nurse and luckily for her, Minty had kept her mouth shut about what had happened even after getting a new eye patch. After the still ranting nurse had left Tropical Dream gave Minty the best apology she could had offered, she felt so guilty she also offered to resign.

“No, I want to fire you over far worse than this.” Minty sternly returned.

At first Tropical Dream looked afraid, more scared than she had in her whole life but when she saw Minty’s glare shift to an grin “oh you horrible mare!” she felt insulted, but Minty’s grin grew even wider and the two ended up laughing.

Over the next few minutes the two talked about their work and what Tropical Dream would have to do until Minty gets released. She liked talking with Minty, it made her feel like they were close friends and that she was important. She wanted to drop the previous subject on her experiment but there was one question that instantly started eating away at her and the more they talked the more she was determined to talk about it.

“Say Minty,” Tropical Dream began in her sweet motherly voice. “that orange---whatever you call it, think whoever attacked you was after it?”

Minty stared at Tropical Dream as if puzzled on what she was talking about. She shook her head once, held a hoof to her itchy eye before resting it on her friend’s knee. “If they were, then they would’ve ended up a bigger klutz than I was.”

Tropical Dream cringed at the idea of ponies being the massive klutz that Minty used to be, “What do you mean?” she asked, pushing that image as far from her mind as she could.

Minty shrugged her shoulders and fixed the cotton swab that was taped to her nose, “Eh, they might probably just faint.”

Tropical Dream slowly nodded along and tried her best to keep the thought of many Mintys away but as a light bulb went off in her head she unintentionally grabbed ahold of Minty’s leg.

“Wait, you mean it was that orange---whatever---is that’s what been making you faint?”

Minty nodded, looking down she asked “Can you let go of my leg?” but her words were met with silence.

Minty thought Tropical Dream had entered a trance, her eyes were darting from one side to the other as she tried thinking of something to say to her

“Why didn’t you tell Star Catcher!?” Tropical Dream suddenly blurted out, Minty had jumped so far she was halfway off of the bed.

“AH! Don’t do that!” Minty shouted.

Tropical Dream blinked and saw Minty was trying to pull herself up like a injured foal would with a leg brace, frowning at herself Tropical Dream helped Minty by use of levitation. Once she was comfortable again in her bed, and after threatening to really fire Tropical Dream if she caused her to fall again, asked if she would repeat her question.

“Why didn’t you tell Star Catcher, you know the guards are going to be looking into a case that likely has no attacker, right?”

“If I told them then they would’ve taken it away!” Minty fastly answered.

Tropical Dream shook her head disapprovingly. “If it makes you faint, then I dare say that would’ve been the---” Minty slammed a hoof against her friend’s mouth and whispered to her.

“Don’t tell anypony about this, I’m so close to perfecting it! Besides, I likely hit my eye as I fainted. Star Catcher said that was a possibility afterall”.

Minty removed her hoof so Tropical Dream could reply, instead she just gave Minty the type of stare she hadn’t seen in years. The type of stare she was met with every single day as a foal, the type that brought back memories that she was all to happy to had forgotten. It made her enraged, as well as depressed, to see it on one of her friends’ faces felt like a spear had pierced her chest.

Minty glared right back and soon Tropical Dream found that Minty had turned from the friend she knew to an angry mare she had never even seen before. Before long Minty’s face had the utmost impressive of utter hatred on it and Tropical Dream found herself sweating excessively.

“Never---give me---that stare---again. Are we clear?” Minty’s voice sounded rather strict, which was very unusual as her voice was always filled with happiness and joy.

Tropical Dream gulped and found her throat was dry yet again. She bit her lips shut and nodded, wiping her brow she saw just how sweaty she was all of a sudden. Hooves shaking she looked up at Minty who was holding her head suddenly and shook it as if trying to knock something off of her. Tropical Dream leaned on her bedside and took a look at her face.

She had her mouth in a gasp and had launched backwards in the chair with such force it tipped over. Minty jumped up to check if Tropical Dream was hurt, she had rolled over onto her belly and was rubbing her head.

“Are you alright?” Minty asked concerned.

Tropical Dream sat the chair upright, nodded and took out a tissue from her saddlebag which still laid discarded on the bed. Levitating it to Minty’s eye with the patch she patted it, Minty was half way into asking what she was doing when she gasped upon seeing the tissue was soaked in something red.

CHAPTER SIX:Roll, Stumble, Lessons

“What do you mean Minty requested the investigation to stop?!” shouted Sparkleworks.

She and Whistle were sitting inside Star Catcher’s office. The walls were newly painted purple, the dark red carpet was newly finished and on both sides there were bookshelves that reached the ceiling. On the walls were photos of past guard captains, one of whom had a golden head piece centered to the right of Star Catcher’s desk which was placed in front of a large window that hung slightly open.

Star Catcher, whose desk was so neatly set up it would rival that of Twilight Sparkle, calmly replied “She insisted it would be a waste of time and effort”.

Outraged Sparkleworks stomped her hoof which had startled Whistle enough to topple over her chair, she quickly apologized and loudly spoke to Star Catcher “She was attacked! How can you simply---” but quickly fell silent as Star Catcher raised a hoof.

“Our friend Tropical Dream had told me something important, so believe me in saying this won’t be just shut away” said Star Catcher.

Sparkleworks slowly lowered the hoof she had raised for a second stomp and stared at Star Catcher, she was only briefly dumbfounded before her words found their way back. “Well, good! What did Trop---”

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Star Catcher interrupted to Sparkleworks’ slight annoyance.
“she asked me to keep it between just the two of us---” Star Catcher had stopped mid sentence.

There was a large globe that rested by a statue of Celestia and a bookshelf, any of which could become dominoes at any moment and now Whistle had her eyes on them.

“We’re her friends, we have a right to---”

“Don’t worry Sparky,” interrupted Star Catcher. “I hadn’t called you here just too---Whistle, please don’t touch that---in fact Sparkleworks, there’s something I’d like to ask you personally.”

Sparkleworks had turned her attention to Whistle to see what she was up to but had snapped her head back at her friend’s words, she nodded and asked “What would you like us to do?” while keeping Whistle in the corner of her eye.

“I only need a request from you, Thistle Whistle, if you would please leave us?” Star Catcher asked in her sweet and overly motherly voice, which only added to Whistle’s grumpy reply.

“Huh? Why!” Whistle asked, the globe spinning as she quickly turned away to face the two mares.

“It’ll be OK Whistle,” spoke Sparkleworks who was scratching the back of her head curiously. “if you’d just wait outside?”

Whistle turned from one mare to the other and wanted to say something in her defence but she became quite muted, pouting she hovered out of the room. “Why am I’m always the one left out?” she mumbled, slamming the double doors shut.

“Oh Whistle..” started Sparkleworks.

“Just let her be, no doubt all the snow outside will wash away her anger” Star Catcher replied.

Sparkleworks stared at her. “I asked her to wait outside the room though..?”

Star Catcher offered a slight giggle as she explained “Do you honestly think Whistle wouldn’t think wait outside as, to quite literally, wait outside?”

She was right, Whistle did take Sparkleworks’ words quite literal. After she had fixed her green scarf and boggin she stepped outside where her face was slapped by the breeze which while very cold, felt so refreshing at the same time. Her eyes widened and a big grin grew on her face as she looked upon the wonderland of snow before her, almost everything was covered and ponies were already playing.

Looking up Whistle felt the snowflakes melt on her cheeks, licking her lips she outstretched her tongue and immediately withdrew it.

“Hm!” she whistled, feeling even more refreshed.

Hopping and hovering herself down the stairs she scratched at the ground to see how deep the snow was before diving in head first. Burying her face in the snow she moved her legs back and forth before propelling herself upward, after taking a look at her impression she laughed.

“Oh Mr.Snow Impression, your face is silly!” she whistled then immediately became bored. “Brr..” rubbing her hooves together for warmth her ears suddenly perked up at the sound of laughter.

Across the street were a group of small foals who were building what Whistle assumed were snow forts, she wasn’t sure why else they would be patting snow into a small wall. One of her wings stretched to her chin and she pondered until her puzzled mind was solved.

“Oh! I know what I can do!” she happily whistled and looked around until she spotted a perfect snow pile and her grin grew double in size. “Oh perfect!” she hovered over and started to inspect the snow pile, “This pile is just big enough to build my own fort, hm it’s tasty snow too!”

Immediately getting to work she turned on her turbo mode as her friends came to call it, in under a full minute Whistle had taken the lumpy pile of snow and transformed it into a small mound that was just big enough to fit her. It was a mystery to her friends how she works so fast and no doubt it was one of the many reasons Sparkleworks came to theorize Whistle and Pinkie Pie were related.

Now comfortable inside her mini fort Whistle was huddled up much like a dog would when taking a nap, she felt very content and even a little sleepy when her ears once again perked up.

“Hey miss, you want to help us build?”

Curious Whistle stuck her head out of the snow entrance which had made her look like she was half buried, she had thought to see a foal but was surprised to see she was quite alone, then she heard a familiar voice and she rotated over to where she had seen foals playing earlier. They were still building their own forts but had stopped momentarily as a mare trotted past, as she made her way across the street Whistle’s wing fluttered so much her fort had collapsed from within.

Whistle’s muffled yelp had drew the mare’s attention, she shook her head at the site of a full grown mare getting collapsed in on snow and paid her no mind whatsoever as she trotted on.

“Pitiful, the ponies in this town are just so---” Whistle had raised her head up and outside the snow, the mare came to a screeching halt.

The look on her face was utter shock and she rubbed her eyes to be sure what she was seeing was indeed correct, her mouth hung open as if she was disgusted at something.

“Malty!” Whistle flapped her wings and managed to hover herself free. “It is you!” she whistled and flew over to Malty who had taken a step or two backwards.

“W-Whistle? Why were you buried in snow?” Malty asked, she hoped there was a better explanation than what her mind had assumed.

Whistle, wings flapping as she was very happy to see Malty again, tilted her head curiously before answering “You mean my snow fort? Oh, it collapsed in on me”.

“You built a snow fort?” Malty asked dumbfounded. “Please do tell me, that thou were merely building it for a child?” Whistle shook her head and Malty facehooved.

“What’s wrong with building my own snow for---oh those three are having a snowball fight!” Whistle watched the three foals and wished she was taking part in their fun. “Say, do you wanna---”

“No” Interrupted Malty as she pushed Whistle aside with her wooden cane.

“You must be busy then, how about later?” Whistle asked as she flew backwards so she could keep watching the snowball fight while facing Malty at the same time.

“Afraid I can’t,“ spoke Malty who sounded somewhat in a hurry. “Star Catch requesth a meeting, and I’m already late as it is---”

“Oh? Me and Sparkleworks were too!” Whistle flipped midair and landed on her hooves.

Stopping for a third time Malty stared at Whistle, “Then do tell, why are thee playing in the snow?” she actually wondered if that was a lie just so they could hang together.

At hearing her question Whistle’s wings dropped down along with her head, slightly kicking at the snow she replied “They didn’t want me inside, they asked me to wait outside..” looking quite crestfallen she went on to add “I hate being left out”.

“Hm, quite. I assume thou friend is here about Minty? Do tell, how long has she been cooped up in that hospital?” Malty looked around to see if Sparkleworks was hidden in the snow somewhere and was very relieved at seeing no sign of her.

“Oh she got out weeks ago” Whistle answered while copying Malty’s head movements, she wondered what she was looking for. “It’s actually been two weeks, no, no I think it was three? Oh, I can’t remember!”

“Well then,” Malty started but paused as she caught Whistle copying her, her nostrils flared for only a fraction of an second and Whistle ceased at once. “my meeting is a private matter, I’m afri---” Malty froze as something suddenly struck her head and, quite literally, her neck became cold as ice.

“Hehe, rouge snowball” giggled Whistle, she took a piece of the snowball from Malty’s mane and showed that she wasn’t lying.

Mumbling a faint curse Malty bent down to pick her hat off the ground, wiping it clean she angrily stared behind her at the foals.

“Sorry miss!” one of the foals called out but Malty simply offered an growl and turned away.

“Do you want to play?” asked one of the other two who after looking at the filly by her side added “Y-You can have my fort?”

Grunting Malty didn’t reply, “If I didn’t answer the last time, then thou should know my answer” she shouted after being asked three times in a roll.

“Why not?” asked Whistle, she felt Malty was being just a little bit grumpy.

Snorting and then immediately hiding away her blushing Malty answered “Because, I wouldn’t be caught dead playing so---uncouth.”

“Aw, you're just being a grumpy sort as you got sneak attacked!” Whistle replied, whistling she said “I’ll play!” and started to make her way over to the foals.

As she galloped passed one of the many trees one of her back legs was caught in one of the exposed roots and she went stumbling down. Instincts kicked in and her wings outstretched but during her panic she had rolled mid air and collided with a second tree.

“Uh-oh…” she mumbled as snow suddenly fell.

Malty, who by this point was atop the stairs, turned back just in time to see Whistle getting completely buried. “That mare...”

Shaking her head she turned and gripped the door handle when the sound of laughter caught her attention. Turning back around she saw the foals pointing at Whistle who was trying to crawl herself free, their laughing seemed to had struck a chord within Malty. She stared at the scene which she thought was just pathetic and squinted her eyes at the foals quite angrily. She felt like trotting over and saying something profound and actually took a step down the stairs, but she stopped when she took a second glance at Whistle.

She moved her hat down so her face was partly covered, she sighed and wanted to head inside but something deep inside had took control as she trotted over.

“You...you are a….ugh, thou art immature” she mumbled as she reached Whistle.

As Malty helped dig her out of the giant snow pile Whistle asked “W-Wha..?” and she looked crestfallen again.

“You act like a child!” shouted Malty, she raised her cane to Whistle’s chest. “I had noticed at the picnic, I had hoped otherwise but thou haveth confirmed my thoughts just now. Playing around in snow, like a unmannered child. Looking so---pathetic, stumbling around and getting buried. I dare say, thou art the most immature, childish mare, that I had ever seen.”

Whistle’s wings touched the ground and tears were visible in her eyes, she felt like going off and cry her eyes out into a pillow that was made from her favorite sundae. She wasn’t sure why but the way Malty was shouting at her, it made her feel as if a long time friend was the one shouting and it was breaking her heart.

“Whistle, you need to act your age” Malty turned her attention to the foals who were still playing, she snarled at them. “Those foals laughing just goes to show that thee need help“. Whistle rubbed her nose which had started to run and prepared herself. “Whistle, and it pains me to say this, but I suggest thou allowth---me---to teach you”.

Whistle started to burst out crying but froze suddenly as she stared at Malty as if a brick wall had fallen between them. “What..?” she asked wiping her nose and eyes.

“To be proper, I mean. If thou would allow, and I honestly hope thee will, meet me later this evening so I can help you to---well, let me put it bluntly, to stop getting laughed at” she turned back to the foals and gave them a crude stare.

Whistle had no reaction she could had possibly given so she remained motionless. Wondering if something was wrong with her Malty poked her and she regretted it the very next instant as Whistle exploded.

“I never had a friend teach me before!” Whistle unintentionally bursted out in a loud voice.

“Well, I would hardly say thou and I are---” suddenly Whistle flew forward and hugged her. “L-Let me go! You---you---”

“Aw Malty, and here I thought you wanted to end our friendship!”

“Let---me---go---this insta---” Whistle tightened her hug which resulted in Malty being unable to breath.

The tight hug was unbearable and it couldn’t had ended fast enough, as she fell onto her knees Malty gasped for air which had burnt her lungs due to the freezing cold.

“So, where do we meet at?” Whistle asked, her wings fluttering with glee.

“Thou, recovered quite fast from your near breakdown.” Malty spoke in between her painful inhales.

“I recover fast.” smiled Whistle, who was thinking of all the possible things she could do with Malty when they meet up later.

Using her cane for support Malty stood up straight, holding her chest with one hoof she reached in her coat pocket with the other and took out something that she gulped down in one bite.

“Street Golden Acres, yes Whistle, named after the same pony as that library. This evening, at Flourish and Blotts. Thou better maketh it at four o'clock,” Malty pressed her face against Whistle’s as she added “don’t be late”.

Loosening the grip on her own chest Malty trotted back to the guard station with Whistle right behind her, coming to the door she reached for the doorknob which started to turn by itself. She stared at it for a moment, watched the door open, and met eye to eye with Sparkleworks.

“Sparkle” Malty spoke, keeping her face as straight as possible.

Sparkleworks stared back, saw Whistle waving from behind her, and spoke “Malty, why are you her---hey!” Malty had pushed her aside and trotted inside, she shut the door with a little bit of a slam. “That mare...!”

Giggling Whistle shrugged, “How did the private meeting go?” she asked giggling some more.

“As well as you’d expect, she wants us to keep an eye on Minty for a while” Sparkleworks answered as she trotted down the stairs, passed Whistle, and onto the sidewalk.

“So why did I have to leave?” Whistle asked flying after her.

“Because I wasn’t suppose to tell you” replied Sparkleworks, she stopped in her tracks for for only a fraction of a second before suddenly rolling out of the way of an snowball.

“Aw I always mis---wait, if that’s true then why did you just tell me what you weren’t suppose to tell me?”

“Because unlike most, I trust you not to go blabbing it out in front of her” Sparkleworks answered as she hopped over an exposed tree root and wasn’t at all surprised that Whistle had failed to see it.

“Oh” she uttered in a somewhat painful whistle before hovering herself back up. “Well Malty trusts me too, why else would she offer to be a teacher?”

“Well I imagined she---wait, what!?” Sparkleworks came to a halt which had resulted in Whistle bumping into her, as she hovered a few inches backwards Sparkleworks turned around suddenly. “What do you mean, teacher?”

CHAPTER SEVEN:Lesson 1, Keep Your Emotions In Check

“Stupid Sparkleworks, I’m a full grown mare, how could she ground me!” Whistle angrily grunted.

As she flew high above the towering buildings she kept a keen eye on the clouds and intended to avoid them, off in the distance she could hear a clock chime.

“If I wanna go meet a friend, how is that so wrong?” she asked herself before taking a rather sharp turn.

Ponies who were below saw her diving down and some were scared she was going to crash at the speed she was going, Whistle opened her wings wide and did somewhat of a roll as her speed slowed down and she safely landed. Breaking the laws of physics wasn’t uncommon for her, in fact every one of her friends were used to her breaking logic. The surrounding ponies, however, were not and some stared at her in utter surprise and more than a few scolded her for such a dangerous stunt.

She ignored them, trotted up to a door and stomped inside. It was a rather small restaurant, decorated to be fancy and immediately Whistle grunted a curse that drew more attention than she would had liked. Most of the ponies, at least the ones Whistle could see, were either Earth or Unicorn ponies. Being the only pegasus was the only thing that made sense to her because at the ring of the bell hanging over the door nearly every eye was turned in her direction and faint whispers and mumbling could be heard.

Giving a very annoyed sniff Whistle took to the nearest table which was vacant, in the center was a Reserved card that she didn’t pay any attention too as she gripped one of the three chairs and sat down. She propped her forelegs and then face planted the table for probably a minute or two before looking up and staring off into nothingness. She wasn’t sure what time it was, she knew it was nearing four when she snuck out of her room but nowhere in the restaurant could she find an clock to see the current time.

Feeling quite bored her eyes began to wander and she knew everypony in here were of the higher classes, she could just tell by the clothing that they wore. The clothing consisted of bland colors that made the ponies look rather bleak, dull pink and green mixed with an equally dull blue and grey, she wondered how they could possibly enjoy those colors and pondered on the possibility that they were all brainwashed.

She noted all of the butlers were Unicorns, one in particular she noticed had a cracked horn yet had little to no issue in levitating a tray to a table clear across the room.

“Huh, that’s interesting” she said to herself, she watched the butler for about a minute before her eyes drifted away in boredom again. “I swear Star Catcher had a horn once, maybe it’s hidden under her mane?”

Another minute went by and the feeling of being watched felt as strong as it had when she arrived. She wondered why they were staring at her, she doubted it was because seeing a pegasus was rare to them and if it was, then clearly they had never stepped outside and looked up. Moving her eyes about the room Whistle had caught ponies turning their gazes away whenever she stared in their direction, she looked once more for a clock that might be hanging in a corner somewhere.

Just then the bell chimed signaling the door had been opened, but Whistle was too much absorbed in her boredom to have even noticed it. When a cane was planted on the table every single thing had snapped back to focus and she jumped, her knees bumping the table quite hard. She looked up and to her relief saw Malty.

“Oh Malty, you scared me!” Whistle shouted as she rubbed her skinned knees.

“Forgive me for being lateth, that meeting took a bit longer than I would had liked” Malty replied as she slid her chair until her bottom legs were safely under the table. “I see thou waited for me, at least thee seemeth to be willing to taketh this seriously”.

“Well duh,” Whistle said rolling her eyes. “when me and a friend make a playdate I am always the first there”.

“Please don’t call this a playdate, Whistle” whispered Malty just before she noticed the abundance of stares directed at their table. “This is about teaching you how to be mature, playdate is for foals, I doubt thee will findth these lessons fun, but who knowsth?”

Whistle went to respond but paused at the first word as Malty offered an grunt, she had noticed the Reserved card and with a very low mumble she snatched it up and tossed it under the table. Whistle would normally ask why she did that but being bored she just wanted something to do already before it killed her.

“So, what is lesson one? Teaching me to build a snow fort better?” she asked and Malty grunted with an hard facehoove.

“No you stu---miss?” Malty outstretched a hoof and gripped a waitress’ shoulder. “If thou would be so kindth, would thou bringeth us some cider? Light, doubt our winged friend could handle the strong stuff”.

The waitress nodded and trotted away quickly, Whistle could almost swore she had whispered something. Malty stared after the waitress for a moment or two before turning back to Whistle.

“I shall first teach thee how to properly drink.” Malty paused, snatching a tray from a passing waitress. “Ah, thank thee for bringing extras m’dear. I have half a mind to tip thee, but not now”.

“Miss wait, they're not all for yo-oh alright. Then, I can get Table Two another set..” spoke the waitress who nervously trotted away, this time Whistle was sure she had whispered the words “I can’t work if she keeps coming here...”

Whistle was in the midst of saying “I don’t think that tray was for us, Malt.” but was interrupted as Malty pushed a glass into her hoof.

“Now, how do thou usually drink?” Malty asked her.

Whistle for a slight moment moved her eyes between Malty and the glass before she was furiously gulping down the cider. “No, no no! Stop that!” Malty shouted as she grabbed the glass from Whistle’s grip.

Cider drooling down her chin Whistle gave Malty an puzzled expression, she asked “You asked how I usually drink, how was that wrong?”

“Well, obviously I didn’t know it was gulping down the entire glass as if thee were drowning” Malty said, handing Whistle a napkin which she took grudgingly.

“Oh...I see what you’re doing now” Whistle grumpily replied, wiping her mouth clean she rolled up the napkin and tossed it aside.

Overlooking that she threw the napkin to the ground Malty handed her another glass. “Watch me, to properly drink you just hold the glass firm. Hold it to your lips, and gently sip it” Malty explained as she carefully sipped the cider.

Whistle watched but found her way of drinking was so slow it felt like her friend had transformed into an snail and all of her friends knew it was her least favorite critter of all time as when started she simply would not stop bashing the poor things.

“Nah, I rather gulp it down before it gets stale” she said with a smirk.

Whistle went for another drink but just then Malty had took up her cane and quickly placed it between Whistle’s lips and the glass, Whistle stared at her friend and wondered how she did that with her eyes close.

“How did you do that?” Whistle asked after Malty had laid her glass down.

“If you just gulp the drink down like a mad pony, thou lose the sense of your surroundings” Malty explained, she then wowed Whistle as she spun the cane in her hoof before resting it on top the table.

“Oooooohhhh...you mean like a ninja?” Whistle asked, and, as expected, Malty facehooved.

Over the next few minutes Malty went from drinking to eating, after her order of something Whistle couldn’t even pronounce she took up a knife and fork and told Whistle “You cut into the food, not plant your face into it like a mad pony on--no no, put the fork in the other hoof, yes like that”

As Malty began cutting a small slice off she raised the fork to her lips and without her teeth touching the fork, took the slice of food in and chewed it while keeping her mouth closed. Tapping a napkin to her lips she signaled Whistle to try it. She examined how Malty had cut and sliced but, as she attempted to copy her, she had mistakenly cut into the plate and had broken it in two.

“Whistle...” Malty started but had paused to look around them.

“I’m sorry!” Whistle whispered as Malty hid the broken plate under another.

“You’re suppose to gently cut, not forcefully push down!” Malty whispered through gritted teeth, she hid under her hat as she felt more eyes were on them.

Whistle nervously blushed and stared in all directions other than straight down at the table.

“Try again, but hold back your---surprisingly strong forelegs” spoke Malty as she helped Whistle in getting her hooves in the right position.

Whistle held her strength back to the point she was barely cutting at all and Malty facehooved once more. “Well that is slightly better, but you need to dig in deeper. For Tartarus’ sake, didn’t your mother ever teach you the basics?”

Whistle froze suddenly and her hooves began shaking. Malty wondered if something was wrong and if she had said something she shouldn’t have. As she asked if Whistle was alright she started to cut, then she cut faster, and faster until--CRACK--she pushed the plate away and slammed her fork and knife down so hard the table formed an small cracked .

“I can’t do this!” she shouted, if every eye wasn’t on them before, they were now.

“Yes, thou can” spoke Malty who nervously looked around while trying to put the dinner utensils back into Whistle’s hooves.

“No! I can’t!” Whistle took the fork from Malty only to throw it into the wall where it nearly struck a stallion clear in the head.

“Whistle!” bellowed Malty, her mouth fell wide open as she stared at Whistle. “Why did you just---”

“I just can’t do this mom, don’t make me try it!”

Silence immediately fell across the restaurant.

Eyes somewhere between widen and squinted Malty slowly shook her head, “Mom?” she barely whispered.

Whistle choked and held her throat as if something was stuck, then she face planted the table and proceeded to cry and moan. Whispering had started up again but this time Malty paid them absolutely no mind.

Uttering “Oh horse apples..” she lifted Whistle up and started to wipe her eyes but Whistle resisted, Malty gripped her leg and pulled it into an motherly hug of sorts.

“Why did you shout out mom?” Malty asked as she carefully tapped the napkin against Whistle’s eyes, the fur around them were soaking wet and made Whistle look like she had two black eyes.

Whistle yelped and said in a rather fast manner, “Becauseshetriedteaching-
-metheseonce..”

Malty asked her to repeat that but in a much slower fashion. Whistle took the napkin from her and blew her nose into it, again Malty ignored the whispering and her own desire to curse at them.

“She used to be a top class mare, Pearl was her nickname amo--” Whistle trailed off as Malty clamped her hoof tightly onto her shoulder, Whistle awkwardly stared between her her shoulder and Malty like she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Pearl? THE Pearl Ammonite?” Malty asked, Whistle nodded her head and the entire place gasped.

“Pfft, nosey high classes..” Whistle had cursed the eavesdroppers under her breath.

Malty’s mouth, which was hang open wide, had turned into a big grin as she fumbled with her words. “Whistle---your mother is---”

“A lost relic of a mare, I’m afraid” interrupted a low grumpy voice that instantly made both turn around with a loud grunt.

“By Tartarus’ heat inducing flames, Edward..” Malty gritted her teeth on the name.

The pony named Edward, who was dressed fancier than royalty and wore a large top hat and whose fur was a dark shade of grey, smiled at the mention of his name. By his sides were two other stallions who shared his grey fur but theirs was darker, one was short and the other was tall and both had similar facial features.

“Your forgot to add Horseluck, m’dear” added Edward in a voice that sounded sarcastic.

Edward, after lifting up his own cane to straighten his hat, trotted to the mares’ table and began circling it with his two buddies going the opposite direction. Whistle knew the other two stallions, having went to school with one of them she tried her best to not make eye contact with him.

“I dare say, did I? Must’ve slipped my mind, or it didn’t” Malty found them circling the table to be rather annoying but for Whistle’s sake she held her tongue before she went further.

“Oh you are always so lovely” Edward said with a terrible impression of somepony Whistle swore she knew. “What happened to your thou and thee phrases? Did you just give up on them?”

“No” growled Malty, she watched all three stallions closely as they took a second lap around the table.

“Ah, well I had hoped so” Edward sighed. “You and that failure of a excuse, Amethyst, are the only two I recall who still speaks as if time went backwards a few hundred years”

Whistle caught a glimpse of Malty twisting her cane, quite hard in fact, but she quickly loosened her grip as she took notice of Whistle staring at her.

“Thou shalt not speak to her like that” Malty snapped after Edward had made a crude comment. “Dhe is the mare that keeps your pockets filled with coin, after all”.

“I suppose so,” Edward drifted his tone off to be more soft but almost immediately reverted back to smirking as he added “at least until she retires”.

“That’d be the day Celestia herself retiresth” Malty returned, she didn’t bother to turn and face Edward who had stopped behind her.

The short stallion had uttered a small laugh, the tall one gave him a stern stare that had made him fall silent with an cough.

“Well, Pearl already retired” Edward’s lips curled up into a terrible grin as he turned his attention to Whistle. “Thistle Whistle, I never would have imagined you were her famed pride and joy daughter. Or wait, you're her spitting image!” His smirk grew and under a fake cough he added “If you close your eyes and forget she’s white”.

Malty’s head snapped to face him so fast it was a wonder how it didn’t break. “Edward, thou better not go there---”

“Why not?” Edward outstretched his forelegs into an Haja type of fashion, it was then that Whistle noticed his cane and she thought about how good it would feel to bash him atop the head with it.

“She acts just like her! Emotionally damaged, unable to cut a plate without---yep, as I expected, you even hid the plate!” Edward began laughing, he glared over to his two friends and they immediately started to laugh. “My my even the table’s broke! And, of course, she takes reserved tables for herself”.

Both stallions laughed and Edward took a moment to take it in as if he was an actor getting applauded.

“I’m warning thee,” started Malty. “don’t speak badly of---”

Edward pressed his head between the two mares and wrapped his front legs around their shoulders. “I get why you’re upset, considering she and Amethyst were together for a tim--”

Malty had heard enough as she jumped up gripping her cane high into the air and before he knew it, Edward was hit across the face and he fell backwards as glass dug into his face.

“You low scur!” Edward shouted as he gripped his face which had began bleeding.

Malty stared at Whistle who held an broken glass in her hooves, she gripped it so tightly it shattered.

“Whistle..” Malty couldn’t believe that Whistle had just assaulted a pony, she grinned proudly at her.

Edward’s two buddies had galloped over to his aid but he knocked them aside as he shouted atop his lungs “You shouldn’t have done that!!! I have many ties you can’t eve---”

“Oh put a corn in it!” shouted a voice clear from across the restaurant.

Enraged Edward turned to see who had dared interrupted him, he gulped a little as many of the ponies were now standing up and all gave heated stares at him.

“Pearl is one of the most respected mares in this town!” shouted another pony.

“If you insult her, you’re insulting everypony!” shouted a third, this time it was an dragon and Edward had to blink to make sure his eyes weren’t seeing things.

More were beginning to speak up and Edward tried spotting them out but there were too many to even count, his brow began to sweat and a visible knot had formed in his throat. He forcefully took his hat from one of his two buddies and turned his attention back to the two mares at his table.

“You can expect I’ll remember this, you’ll never work in this town as long as yo---” Edward trailed off as he, as well as Malty who was equally taken aback, saw Whistle attempting to eat.

Forelegs shaking she held the knife and tried cutting the steak, once she had felt the knife cut through she jerked it back just a itch as she felt the tip touch the plate. Carefully she turned the knife at an angle and started cutting quite a large square out, Edward was about to say something but stopped himself. He noticed the angry crowd was getting more in numbers so thinking it’d be best to leave he decided to just bolt out of the restaurant with his two buddies hot on his trail.

Malty watched as they ran like cattle out of the door, with a wide smirk she turned back to Whistle who was still struggling to cut the steak.

She placed a hoof on her shaking leg and said “Whistle, Whistle stop. Thou aren’t getting anywhere” and after a bit of struggle Malty managed to pull the knife away from her.

Whistle pouted and picked up her fork but Malty took it away as well, Whistle crossed her forelegs and cursed under her mane which had fallen over her face during the struggle.

Malty turned Whistle around and stroked her mane back behind her ears so she could see her face, “Thou don’t have to do this, I didn’t know---” but Whistle had pushed her off and turned her back to Malty.

She stared at the table and the steak she had just butchered, Malty had never seen a mare stare at food with such an angry glare.

“I want to learn this” Whistle uttered under her breath.

Malty was almost taken aback but she ended up shaking her head. “If thou doesn’t want too, you don’t have to pretend---”

“I want to!” Whistle slammed her hooves down and the table shook, Malty was glad it didn’t tip over. “I wanna show him! I gotta show I can be just as proper as my mom was, and then he can’t use me to insult her!”

“Ah---but Whistle..” Malty started, but looked away for a moment to think. She understood why Whistle wanted to show up Edward but she wondered if it was the right reason to be teaching her.

She admitted to herself that nothing would make her more happy than burning him at his own game, as she thought on she took something from her coat pocket and tossed it inside her mouth. This time Whistle caught a glimpse of whatever it was and thought it was something dark green, but she didn’t get a good enough look before Malty had swallowed it. A few things came to her mind with the most obvious being an small peppermint. She was just in the midst of asking a question when Malty interrupted her.

“Alright, if thou beingth willing, I shalt teach you” Malty placed a hoof on Whistle’s shoulder. “But I should warn thee, thou have to be willing to put thou all into this. Will thee be willing to devote all your effort?”

All of a sudden Whistle started to have second thoughts, she knew this would probably be the hardest thing she did in years. But she just couldn’t stand being used to insult her mother and she already hated Edward, being able to show she can be more proper than him made a passion burn brightly within her.

She faced Malty and nodded while saying “I will---” suddenly Whistle froze, her heart skipped a beat as an familiar white pegasus trotted over to them. “Star Catcher!?”

“Oh for Tartarus’ sake not now..” Malty uttered under her breath and wanted to be invisible more than ever.

Star Catcher’s mere presence had made the entire restaurant fall silent as she seemed to be very upset. She was giving the two mares a very stern and a I’m very disappointed type of stare, but to their surprise, she suddenly smiled.

“I think I can help you” the two mares stared at each other quite confused. “But, I will need to tell Sparkleworks of what happened here”.

***

“She what!?” bellowed Sparkleworks after being told what had transpired at the restaurant.

Whistle stood uncomfortably inside Star Catcher’s office with Malty by her side, Sparkleworks was trotting back and forth around Star Catcher’s desk while repeatedly shaking her head.

Steaming Sparkleworks said “You not only snuck out when I clearly told you not to see Malty---”

“But Sparklesworks, I---”

“But you also assaulted a pony!? By breaking a glass over their face!” Sparkleworks shouted, stomping her hooves quite hard.

Sparkleworks turned to face the two mares, she angrily took a deep breath so she could give the biggest and loudest scolding ever. *Cough* Came Star Catcher’s voice which had took her off guard and she began choking on the air she had just swallowed.

“Don’t---tell me---you---” Sparkleworks gasped.

“Breath, Sparkle, least you need to see a nurse?” Star Catcher interrupted her.

Sparkleworks blushed, pounded against her chest and emitted a big cough that had caused Whistle to jump.

“I’m glad you told me Star,” Sparkleworks turned her attention back on Whistle who couldn’t stare her in the face. “I can’t believe you would do that Thistle Whistle!”

Whistle’s head fell to her chest and she mumbled words that were too jumbled to make out.

“Give her a break,” spoke Malty who stroked Whistle’s mane out of her eyes for the second time today. “she was defending her mother’s honor”.

“I don’t care if she was fighting for Celestia’s sake, you don’t hit other ponies!” Sparkleworks again stomped and Malty growled in annoyance.

“Thou hate Edward as much as everypony, surely thee can imagine how---”

“Again, I don’t care, it was wrong to drop down to his level” snapped Sparkleworks.

Malty had the utmost impression of shock that had turned to anger quite fastly, her eyes burnt a deep hole straight across the room and into Sparkleworks’ gaze.

“His level?” Malty repeated in an heated but also calm tone.

“Malty,” Star Catcher stood up from her seat. “please reframe fro---”

“Stay out of this Wishy,” barked Malty making Star Catcher quite dumbfounded. “you think she dropped to his level?” she asked while trotting forward.

“Malty, don’---” began Whistle but she suddenly fell silent as Sparkleworks talked back, her tone raised to an high pitch and Whistle knew the worse was about to come.

“That’s a fine example,” started Sparkleworks as the two got within striking distance of each other. “who else would hit another in rage? Oh wait---”

“Oh hold thy tongue now, surely you don’t believe that gossip about me?” Malty snarled.

The tension in the air was getting high around the two mares and by the time Sparkleworks had said “Well you sure make it hard not to believe!” it felt as if the room was a heated oven set to the highest setting.

“Maybe you should look at yourself for Whistle’s behavior, instead at other’s who---”

“Enough!” bellowed Star Catcher with such volume the other three mares jumped as if the room had shook violently. “I didn’t bring you back here to argue, I brought you here to discuss Whistle wanting to be proper!”

Both Sparkleworks and Malty were frozen in place as they stared at her.

Star Catcher, at seeing the mares’ expressions, took a deep inhale and flexed her wings as she exhaled. “Now, if you would kindly drop the current subject and talk like civil mares for once”.

Malty and Sparkleworks turned to each other, scratching the back of their heads. It wasn’t too often for Star Catcher to shout but when she does it honestly felt as if she’s using the Royal Shout that was more commonly used by the princesses centuries ago.

“I don’t think she should” Sparkleworks spoke up and broke the cold silence that had enveloped the room.

“Do tell, why dost thou believe so?” Malty gritted her teeth together as she tried to hold back her burning anger.

Blowing the mane from her eye Sparkleworks answered “Because, she’s fine just the way she is”.

Malty gave a high laugh, “Yo----tho, can’t be serious! Surely, there must be another reason?” Malty tried her best but utterly failed in stopping her laughter. “Now, stop thou lying and be true?” she motioned for Sparkleworks to speak as she bowed.

Sparkleworks gave a heated sniff and stared at Star Catcher who gave another fake cough. She sighed and stared back at Malty, Sparkleworks’ expression was anything but happy as she said “...Fine, I don’t think she should get fancy lessons from a total stranger. I’d rather have Applejack teach her”.

“Well, if that be thou reason” Malty gave an obvious fake grin as she bowed once more. “But, Whistle is a grown mare, why not let her decide?”

“Because she isn---I mean, because---just cause!” Sparkleworks stuttered trying to say a straight answer and looked quite taken aback and unconformable.

Malty shook her head, straightened her hat and said “Tsk tsk, you seem to act as if thou were her mother”.

Malty’s words seemed to had struck a chord as Sparkleworks opened her mouth to shout. Whistle fell over and clapped her hooves against her ears but just as Sparkleworks was about to utter the first word Star Catcher suddenly stood up with such force her table jolted.

“Malty, Whistle, please leave us” Star Catcher kindly spoke.

“Again?” Whistle grunted in annoyance.

“Yes, but this time wait outside the room, if you please” Star Catcher said, pointing her wing at the door and gave Whistle the now you’re in for a timeout type of stare that she hated with passion.

Whistle didn’t want to argue and simply hovered out of the room with her head lowered. Malty stared after her and then at Star Catcher, straightening her hat again she gave a bow along with an mumbled reply and left the room. As the door closed behind Malty she gave a slight curse and immediately bit her lip in an attempt to calm down.

“Why must everypony think badly of me?” she finally blurted out.

“I don’t think you’re bad.” Whistle shrugged and flapped her wings as she sat down.

“Thou art appreciated, but unless thee can stop the gossipers, reactions like that are a guarantee” Malty sighed, pressing her back against the wall.

A few silent moments went by and the two mares looked about the empty hallway which was white with an red and gold encrusted carpet. Malty twisted her cane and took a deep inhale.

“Everything’s going to be alright, you know?” Whistle said, offering a friendly smile along with an whistle.

“How can thee possibly think thou friend will---”

“Because she and Minty are my best friends,” Whistle fluttered her wings, as Malty turned to face her she added “I trust them and I know they trust me”.

Malty didn’t reply, she seemed to be thinking on something else entirely and Whistle’s words had completely flew over her head. Whistle trotted over and poked her hat to make it crooked before she asked what she was thinking about.

Being a bit annoyed Malty rolled her eyes over to Whistle, “Sparkleworks seems otherwise different, I think she’s too protective. Yeah, she protected you for the last few years.” she said, straightening her hat and patting Whistle on the head.

“How would you know?” Whistle thought that was such an odd answer and she gave an odd glare as she felt like an little puppy by Malty patting her head.

“Ha, well---it’s obvious to anypony with eyes to seeth, I doubth she will changeth her mind.” Malty again rolled her eyes, sighing.

Silence fell again and Malty resulted to look over her overcoat in boredom, Whistle took to whistling and neither seem to know what to talk about.

“You ever met Pinkie Pie?” Whistle asked, she was so bored she was hovering upside down.

Malty was glad at the new subject and, after she had turned Whistle back rightside up, she said “I met a Twilight Sparkle, fine mare, though a little obsessive” Malty gave an chuckle and patted her own chest. “She took to reorganizing the entire library after a blue mare had knocked over more than a few shelves. Heh, I still laugh at that yellow mare getting completely buried under---”

“Oh! That must be Rainbow Dash!” Whistle interrupted as her wings fluttered and she hovered upward a few feet until Malty, by use of her cane, pushed her back down. “We grew up with her mom, she has her own boutique near Dragon Town”.

“Really? That beth...be-th...is it besth?” Malty said before pausing, if Whistle could read minds she would had overheard her thoughts trying to pronounce that word clearly before giving up with an profound curse.

“That’s surprising, considering Dragon Town has a strained relationship with us these days” Malty chuckled so much she bit down on her own hoof. “If the mare I saw had went there, thou can bet another feud would’ve sprung up”.

“Why can’t everypony just get along?” Whistle asked suddenly, she remembered one feud that had almost lasted an entire month over an simple billboard sign.

“Because m’dear,” Malty started, pausing to take out her pocket watch. “Not everypony can be friends. Some might liketh to think so, but dragons are different. They hold different beliefs and cultures than we do”.

Whistle already knew that as she had read many books on dragon culture. They had a very rich history and Dragon Town was the first real attempt to live alongside ponies, however feuds are still common and the relationship is very strained these days from what she keeps hearing. She couldn’t understand why though, she thought that friends should be able to overcome fighting quite easy and if anything the annual Farmer’s Market showed the two races can work peacefully together.

“I think anypony can be friends, if they try to be” Spoke Whistle.

“Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth” Malty sadly replied.

“It’s true!” Whistle said, flapping her wings she began hovering again. Malty wasn’t paying attention as she was checking her pockets quite furiously for something. “I know, why don’t I have you meet Minty? We missed the chance the other day, so---”

“Forgive me, but I seem to had f-forgotten something” Malty straightened her coat the best she could before turning around. “I must go”.

Whistle turned to the door behind them and fluttered her wings nervously. “But what about Star Catcher and Sparkleworks?”

“Tell them simply that I ran out of meds, I can’t wait and must return home before my heart acts up” returned Malty, she turned a corner and was gone before Whistle could even reply.

“So that’s why you grabbed your chest before..” Whistle spoke aloud and wondered whether or not to follow her.

Just then the double doors flew open as she was about to make her decision, hovering she nervously waited for her two friends to speak. Star Catcher was looking up and down the hall while Sparkleworks, from what Whistle could see, seemed to be distracted by something.

“Where’s Malty?” asked Star Catcher, Sparkleworks finally looked up and Whistle swore she had mumbled something.

“She left” Whistle told them, at seeing their reactions she quickly mentioned the part about her heart meds.

“I see, well maybe I should go find her?” Star Catcher asked, taking a step forward.

“Pfft, I don’t think she wants help Star Catcher. Probably be better to just leave her” Sparkleworks mumbled something through her teeth and immediately looked up at Whistle. Gritting her teeth like something was hurting her she said “Malty can help you”.

At first Whistle wasn’t sure she had heard her right, but suddenly she grew a wide grin and started to shake with joy and if Sparkleworks hadn’t jumped and held her down when she did Whistle would’ve exploded like fireworks.

“What made you change your mind?” Whistle asked, hugging Sparkleworks.

“Well, I don’t trust Malty, not at all. But..” Sparkleworks looked over at Star Catcher who gave her a soft smile. “I should trust you to make your own decisions”.

Whistle hugged her again but almost immediately Sparkleworks broke it, she shouted “But if you ever hit a pony again, for whatever reason, you will be grounded for a year!”

Whistle let out a yelp, nodded, and said “I Pinkie Promise I won’t hit anypony”.

Sparkleworks let out a small sigh, then said “I’m sorry Whistle, it’s just I don’t want you to get hurt and Pearl trusted me to make sure you weren’t”.

“Why do you have to be worried? Whistle asked, tilting her head quite curiously and wondered why she would be hurt. “You’re welcome to come with, if you like?”

“Oh no, I rather not spend time wi-I have stuff to do.” Sparkleworks paused, blushing she said while looking away “Besides, I would only hinder her”.

Whistle gave her friend a suspicious glare, when they had left two minutes later she was still pressing Sparkleworks for an answer that she clearly wouldn’t give.

“When did you tell Malty Star Catcher’s nickname?” Sparkleworks asked, hoping it would derail Whistle’s nagging questions.

“Huh?” Whistle asked, tilting her head and wondered what in Equestria was she talking about. “I didn’t tell her anypony’s nicknames”.

Sparkleworks gave a glare that had made Whistle flinch as if she was just slapped, it was the type of glare her mother would give whenever she got into trouble.

“Honestly Whistle,” Sparkleworks started, shaking her head. “the only ones who still call her Wishy are you, me, and Minty and even we hadn’t called her that in years”.

Whistle opened her mouth but trailed off almost immediately, how did Malty know a nickname that she herself hadn’t heard in years? It was very odd and it reminded her how Malty managed to find the picnic after failing to tell her where it was.

Whistle shrugged it off and just told Sparkleworks “I’ll ask her when we next meet”.

Sparkleworks sighed, she really didn’t like the idea of allowing Whistle to keep seeing Malty. But, Star Catcher made her Pinkie Pie Promise as well and if there’s one thing Sparkleworks would never do, it would be breaking a promise with Star Catcher.

CHAPTER EIGHT:A Unexpected Visit

It was early in the afternoon and Minty was hard at work in her shop. Most of the front room was decorated for the Holiday, candy in the shapes of beautiful trees were centered atop the tables with tiny pony dolls resembling Minty’s friends huddled underneath them. Instead of tinsel there were licorice and taffy hung about the walls, both of which had shimmering red and green colors.

Placed among the windows were her personal favorite candy, peppermints that were all different shapes and sizes and one was even shaped as a star with a diamond centered in the middle. Standing atop a ladder was Minty herself, hanging what appeared to be streamers and multicolored socks from the ceiling.

She was attaching the last sock to a streamer and tried to decide the best spot to place it. “Hm, maybe here? Or perhaps a nudge to the left?” she asked herself as she was unable to decide the perfect placement for it.

She leaned forward balancing on her hind legs as she attempted to stick the streamer higher up. “Maybe right in the middle of these two-whoa!”

She suddenly lost her balance and grabbed at the hung streamers for support, pulling them down as the ladder collapsed. She hit the floor with a loud thud, the streamers as well as the socks attached to them fell around her like colorful rain. The front door flew open, signalled by a tiny bell custom made to imitate a humming bird.

“About time you showed up” Minty spoke as she blew a sock off of her face.

“You need any help?” asked the visitor who had already began levitating the mess up.

“I would’ve been done hours ago if you had---” Minty trailed off as she saw her visitor. She was surprised to see her helper wasn’t Tropical Dream, but a mare with a bright and shiny purple coat. “Lily Lightly? Is that really yo-ow!”

“Surprised? Yeah, I expected you to be” Lily grinned, holding back a slight giggle.

“Yep, you’re Brightly Lily alright” Minty rubbed her forehead and stared angrily at the table she had accidentally hit.

Lily couldn’t hold back her laughing anymore and bursted out in a loud giggle, snorting she looked up at her forehead which was shining brightly. “Yeah, my horn is a dead giveaway, isn’t it?” she laughed.

Lily licked one of her hooves and touched it to her horn which became extinguished as if it were a lantern.

“Where have you been the last couple of years?” Minty asked going behind the counter. She picked up and held an ice cream carton to her head for relief.

“Oh, I’ve been around” Lily simply replied. She levitated the streamers and socks and reattached them to the ceiling with such ease that Minty felt jealous.

“Thank you” Minty spoke gratefully. She trotted back around the counter and offered Lily a pony shaped lollipop.

Lily accepted it, as she untied the warper she looked around the room. She loved how colorful it was, among the candy decorations one thing had caught her eye quite fast. It was a portrait hanging on the back wall, and it was made from all sorts of candy. She was very surprised to see the portrait was a recreation of an old high school picture that she hadn’t seen in years.

She couldn’t help but grin at it, Minty had took notice but before she could comment Lily spoke “I see your eye is looking better” she then popped the tiny head of the lollipop into her mouth as she levitated the wrapper, which bared Minty’s Cutie Mark, into the nearest trashcan.

Minty’s hoof unconsciously lifted to her eye which still held a faint black circle. “Yeah, that stupid eye patch didn’t even help much” she whispered. Scratching at her eye which still felt extremely itchy.

The two mares took to a table as they continue to chat, ”I was in Canterlot, you know they had a wedding recently” spoke Lily.

Minty offered a chuckle as she said “Ah, Shining Armor, your ex col---”

“We were never dating, sheesh why does everypony assume ponies just can’t be friends?” Lily interrupted as she bit the lollipop’s torso in half.

Minty giggled and handed her a tissue as liquid oozed out of the lollipop’s center. “Do friends attend a Hearts And Hooves dance together?” she asked.

After she had wiped her lip clean of the sticky liquid Lily said “You went to that same dance with Thistle Whistle”.

Blushing Minty tried to correct her but found herself fumbling with her words, she hated not being able to talk straight. “W-We couldn’t find d-dates---b-besides you two just danced with each other the whole night!”

Lily could tell Minty was very nervous by how bright her face had gotten, horn shining again with laughter she added “Yeah, right, and that colt with a crown as a Cutie Mark didn’t ask you for a dance?”

Minty became even redder, “R-Rarity took him up on that offer, how is she doing by the way?” she asked suddenly. “Heard from her lately?”

Lily grew a wide grin as she asked “You mean our Rarity, or the one who’s dating Twilight?”

“Our’s, the pink Rari-she’s dating Twilight!?” Minty gasped. She had could swore she felt her mouth broke through the table and struck the floor below with a loud crash.

Laughing to the point she dropped her lollipop to the floor Lily had trouble saying “No, I just wanted to see your reaction” and Minty steamed with anger as she stared at her. “I’m sure they attended the wedding as just friends too, not like you’d care, or would you?”

Minty was getting very irritated now as her cheeks became even redder, “Why are you even here? To play as the joker again?” she asked while trying to hold back an rude outburst.

Giggling Lily took in a deep breath, crossed her forelegs and outstretched them as she exhaled. “I was hoping to apply for a job” she spoke, extinguishing her horn once again.

“I thought you gave up bein---wait, what?” Minty gasped again while tilting her head curiously

“I just recently moved back to Fillydelphia,” replied Lily. “I need a job, don’t I?”

Minty stared at Lily for nearly ten seconds in an gaze before a fly that had landed on her nose got her full attention, she slowly raised a hoof and--SMACK--hit herself clean off from her seat. Lily laughed, catching the fly mid-flight she levitated it out of an open window.

“Why do you want to work here?” Minty asked after picking herself up. She crawled back into her seat, feeling extremely happy that her nose wasn’t bleeding.

“Do I need a reason to want to be around an old friend?” answered Lily.

Minty raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t because you heard I was in the hospital, is it?”

“You were in the hospital?!” Lily rose from her seat gasping.

Minty facehooved with a curse under her breath. “N-Nevermind...sure, Tropical has been odd around me lately and she missed a few shifts”.

Lily sighed greatly, she sat back down but kept her eyes squinted at Minty. “Did she give a reason?” she asked her.

“Just that she had a family problem,” answered Minty with a bit of an frown. “you can start tomorrow.” she stood up, trotted behind the counter and took a notepad from a drawer.

“Good!” Lily smiled. She trotted up to the counter and leaned against the glass display. “Is there a room I can bunk in?”

Minty stopped in mid-writing and stared suspiciously at her “Why?” she asked, laying the notepad and quill down.

“Cuz I need a place to stay silly,” Lily giggled and her horn was as bright as a firefly. “I don’t necessary have enough bits to afford my own apartment, plus I know you technically own half this building. So------do you?”

Minty rubbed her forehead and sighed, she wasn’t one to openly rent out rooms but she also wasn’t one to turn down an old friend either. “There is one room with very little storage in it. You can take that” she spoke with hesitation.

“Can you show me right now?” Lily asked.

Minty just wanted to get back to work but figured getting this out of the way now would save her some time later, grunting she said “Follow me” and led Lily to the grey hallway.

When Minty stopped at a door which led to a staircase she looked back and saw Lily had wandered off. “Hey! Don’t go in there!” she shouted and threw herself between Lily and the double doors to her lab.

“What’s in there? The kitchen?” Lily attempted to peak through the doors but Minty refused to move out of her way, she was gripping the wall pretty tight from what Lily could see so she decided to backed off.

“No! Well, yes.” Minty awkwardly paused as she pondered what to say. “Sorta---it’s where I create all my candy”

“OH! Will I be helping you wi--”

“No!” interrupted Minty. She quickly apologized for her outburst and added “No pony but me is allowed to make them, all my recipes are top secret!” Minty took a great sigh as she released herself from the wall. “Thank Celestia the guards didn’t ask questions or stole any of them...”

“Oh that would be considered a criminal offence and the guard would be on probation” Lily replied and instantly Minty raised both her eyebrows at her. ”You should read an history book for once, it could do you some good to catch up on the times” Lily giggled in response.

Rolling her eyes Minty dragged Lily away from the doors and trotted onto the staircase, they climbed the stairs up to the third floor and went to the fourth door down on the left. Minty flipped the lights on and revealed a living room and kitchen combined into one with boxes piled and stacked in the far corners.

“Wow...this is what you call little storage?” Lily asked. She was surprised at all the taken up space and wondered what Minty would call a big storage room.

“You can move in tomorrow, I’ll move this stuff to the room over.” Minty spoke. She noticed Lily opening her mouth and quickly Minty added “No you can’t help, these boxes have to be---placed in a certain order”.

Not wanting to argue Lily shrugged and said “Alrighty then, I’ll be back tomorrow morning with my stuff!” then immediately she took her leave.

Normally Minty would be upset a friend left so suddenly and would call after them, but knowing her busy day had just gotten even busier she instead let out a great sigh. She left the room until later that night when she was finished putting up the decorations which she felt was on the top of her to-do list. It was passed nine PM and Minty was pushing the last of the boxes into the other room which was now so packed she couldn’t even see the walls anymore.

She was about to leave it as it was but noticed a box was crooked. It was centered in the middle of a tower of boxes that were quite wide, she knew to leave well enough alone but she couldn’t help it. She gave into her urges and attempted to straighten it.

“Hm...maybe if I just nudge it a little more?” she asked nudging it a second time. Then a third time and after the fourth nudge she held the tower steady as it tilted to one side. “That was close..” she gasped.

The box she tried straightening was now so uneven it was a real fight against her urges to just leave it alone, she knew a firth nudge could likely bury her alive so she just trotted down the stairs. As she stepped into the hallway she stared back into the room, she angrily grunted and felt really annoyed.

“Where could Tropical Dream be? She could’ve really helped me here!” she growled.

She found it really unlike Tropical Dream to miss work so often and frankly, it was beginning to irritate her. She descended the stairs and stopped on the second floor where she turned into the hallway, she made a beeline passed the doorless laundry room and stopped at a door which she knocked on twice. There was no answer, growling she bucked the door open and stormed inside, slamming doors whichever way and slammed the bedroom door wide open.

“Where is she? She’s never out at this hour” Minty sighed. Her hooves shook with anger when she began coughing suddenly, after she beated her chest she said “Ack! I swear what she sees in that smell I’d never know”.

Minty felt very annoyed, whatever reason Tropical Dream had it had better be good otherwise Minty might have to let her go. She knew she was getting too irritated so to calm herself down she closed her eyes and counted to ten, inhaling and exhaling at every three numbers.

“Ten..ah that feels so much better” she sighed.

She turned and started to trot out of the room when something out of the window suddenly caught her eye. Trotting around the bed she stared out of the window and saw two ponies who were on the only sidewalk out of three with a broken street lamp.

“Oh, that must be Tropical now. And, is that Lily?” Minty asked. She squinted her eyes and saw the pony wasn’t Lily, or at the very least she didn’t think it was her.

She nudged the window open so she could call out at the two but once it had creaked open she could just barely make out the two talking. She froze at hearing the second voice, despite being faint and clearly a whisper it sounded extremely familiar and the fur on the back of her neck had stood up. Rubbing her ears clean of any earwax she honed in on the two mares.

She could just barely hear Tropical Dream’s voice. “This isn’t just her getting a black eye, this is far more serious than that”.

Scratching her ear once more Minty tried blocking out the annoying sound of nearby traffic and hummingbirds.

“Thou should leaveth her be, only sadness awaits her if thou pursuest this” spoke the other mare and Minty realized without a shred of doubt who it was, but, why were they together?

“But you knew!” came Tropical Dream’s voice that drew back Minty’s attention that had wandered off. “How could you not tell your own daughter that she’s---”

“Hold thy tongue, child” the mare raised what seemed to be her cane at face level with Tropical Dream and for a split second Minty thought she had actually hit her.

“Minty must never know, it would only shatter the life she had built. Shatter, like glass, breaking into tiny bits and ripping into her very soul. I asketh thee not for my sake, not for thou’s, but for her’s. Let---it---lie”.

“What are they talking about?” Minty whispered to herself. She was failing to piece the dots together and facehooved as she made herself even more confused.

She saw Tropical Dream nodding and the mare lowered her cane and then leaned in to seemingly whisper something. “Amethyst..” came Tropical Dream’s voice, sounding quite shaken. “What about Whistle? Does she---”

“She knows not, let her take the lessons she was offered.” came Amethyst’s voice. Her mother’s voice, for some reason hearing it had made Minty’s blood run cold. “She is still a young and frail child, Pearl would be embarrassed if she mucks it up again”.

The two came to a halt at the sidewalk’s end, Tropical Dream nodded to something Minty couldn’t hear before she continued on.

“Remember, Minty must never know. It beth the second secret you keep least she breaks, take care child”.

“How long are you going to take, before revealing you’re---” Tropical Dream paused as she turned back and saw that Amethyst had turned a corner and disappeared into the night.

As Tropical Dream made her way to the building Minty slammed the window shut, turned off the lights and galloped out of the room.

Down the stairs she went, sliding the last few steps as she hurried across the hallway into the kitchen where the backdoor was located. It opened and Minty came to a squeezing halt just in time to stop a collision.

“M-Minty? You look dreadful..” spoke Tropical Dream who took note of how messy Minty’s fur was.

Taking a few moments to allow air into her lungs Minty spoke, quite sternly, “Where have you been!?”

Tropical Dream clearly became nervous as she stuttered “U-Um---I---” she gulped and rubbed her throat to force an knot down it. “I was helping my mother, yes, she needed my help to move and---”

“I had to set up the decorations all by myself, plus move boxes for Lily!” Minty interrupted, Tropical Dream tilted her head and asked who Lily was. ”Don’t change the subject, you have been avoiding me lately, haven’t you?”

“What!?” Tropical Dream gasped in shocked. “Minty, I’d never---”

“Be honest, what have you really been doing after I got home?” Minty again interrupted her.

Tropical Dream wasn’t sure what to say, she hadn’t expected to be caught late at night and the more she tried thinking the more nervous her speech became. “If you must know,” she began, straightening her stance and sounded quite insulted. “planning a Holiday party with Pinkie Pie.”

“I KNEW I-wait what?” Minty was taken aback by that straight forward answer, but she wasn’t buying it. “Oh? Then why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because we wanted a very special guest to surprise you,” Tropical Dream answered with an hurt shake of her head. “only today was I finally able to meet with her”/

“Oh?” Minty whispered. She tilted her head highly suspicious, then she facehooved as she remembered their first Hearth Warming as friends. “Ooooooohhhhh.....like what you tried to do when we first met?”

“Yes, but you should be happy to know she refused.” Tropical Dream spoke.

“Well, you shouldn’t be surprised” Minty sighed and shook her head disapprovingly, Tropical Dream almost felt like a child as she shook her own head at Minty.

“I was, honestly I was…” Tropical Dream lowered her head and for a moment, Minty swore she saw a tear fall to the floor. “But let’s not dwell on it, who is Lily again?”

“You’re lying, and I’m going to catch you in it” Minty thought to herself. She hated when friends lie and she knew Tropical Dream was making things up.

Still, she didn’t want to harm their friendship so reluctantly she changed her mindset to answer the question. “Lily is an old friend, are you going to come in or stand outside all night?”

CHAPTER NINE:A Typical, Non Busy Day

It was a quarter past noon, Tropical Dream and Lily were in the kitchen to clean and dust it to be shiny and make it look brand new. The two seemed to get along well and wouldn’t stop talking. Minty, who was in her candy lab, had taken to earmuffs to get some peace and quiet. She yawned and shook herself awake before pouring some green liquid into a large beaker. She didn’t slept well last night as her mind was plagued with images and thoughts that had made sleeping near impossible.

What had Tropical Dream and her mother been talking about? Maybe they were secretly planning to take over her business, or sabotage it, or maybe she was trying to get Amethyst to attend a party? Minty could already hear her mother’s voice, “Thou haveth wasted years of your life with candy, a uncouth lifestyle that your father would surely---”

Her nose bumped into her chemical set and she quickly grabbed and stopped them from falling over. She yawned again and knew she was starting to dangerously doze off now.

“Where did I put them?” she asked scanning around the room before her eyes settled on a closet.

She trotted over and upon opening it she took up a nearby chair. She climbed atop the chair and searched the high shelve that she couldn’t had reached otherwise. It took only a minute before her hooves touched what felt like a tiny box, she pulled it out of hiding and flicked the top off unto the floor. Inside the box where many candy corn-looking peppers, Minty took one of them and waved it under her nose. Some two seconds later a jolt of spicy warmth had surged through her entire system.

She hopped off of the chair as if her hooves had touched something very hot, shivering her legs unconsciously stretched as she shook her head furiously and swore her body had deflated.

“Ah...these never fail to jolt me awake,” Minty spoke as she wiped sweat off of her brow. “sad they're far too spicy to eat though”.

She sat the box of candy peppers in the chair and closed the closet before returning to her experiment as she felt fully awake now. She stirred the green liquid around while simultaneously pouring a bright blue liquid into the same beaker, they mixed and changed into a bright hue of pink.

Minty took an single sniff and immediately held her nose, “Note, the smell is awful” she wrote down in her notepad.

She stood up and trotted to one of her newer cabinets that she had borrowed from Star Catcher, the only benefit to being hospitalized was that you can get free stuff and Minty had her eye on this particular cabinet for a while now. Inside it were potted plants that looked all too strange and the leaves were polka dotted blue. She took one and balanced it atop her head as she went back to the large table.

Being very careful she poured the pink liquid into the pot’s dirt and watched, she grinned as bright and shiny apples began to grow almost immediately. She plucked one and bit into it, she shivered as her tongue was hit with many flavors.

She quickly took to her notepad, “A success! My new candy sauce, when combined with my new Eatable Plant experiment, had bloomed apples! I need time to tell the flavors, they went by so fast! P.S, do not tell Pinkie nor Whistle about these”.

Minty took another bite from the apple but she still failed in noting the flavors. She took a third bite, using her tongue to roll the small piece back and forth inside her mouth she managed to point out one single flavor. “Hm, strawberries? Cider? Strawberry cider? Eh, I’ll write it down as both” she spoke aloud.

As she wrote her ears had picked up on the sound of laughter, she knew it was Tropical Dream and Lily laughing again. She debated for a moment or two before she trotted up to the double doors, down the grey hallway and stopped at the kitchen door where she peeked through the small window before she opened it. Tropical Dream and Lily were cooking something instead of cleaning, had they finished early or took a break?

Suddenly Minty’s nose caught a quick sniff of something that she hoped was pumpkins. Tropical Dream was cutting up carrots by using her hooves instead of her horn, Lily was magically stirring a spoon inside a cooking pot. Minty could hear them talking but it was very muffled, she suddenly remembered her earmuffs and facehooved in stupidity.

As she slid them down onto her neck Lily had asked an question, “Minty really did that?” her horn was as bright as an firefly as she spoke.

“Just don’t mention it to her, she still blushes about it” giggled Tropical Dream.

Minty could only guess at three possible answers to what they were talking about, and none of which she was happy about and she felt a little betrayed that Tropical Dream was joking about one of them.

“So, you knew Minty since you were foals?” Tropical Dream had asked. She paused to levitate the cut up carrots into the pot while simultaneously getting a new carrot to chop. “What was she like?”

“A total sock maniac” laughed Lily and her horn grew even brighter. “She used to collect them, about the only thing her mother didn’t object too” she added as she extinguished her horn’s glow by using a wet rag that was around her shoulder.

“How come?” Tropical Dream asked, her hooves pausing in place.

Lily shrugged. “I never asked, Minty seemed to find joy in her socks. You know, one Hearth Warming she felt so bad about something she had done, she thought giving away her socks would make up for it”.

Minty blushed, she remembered that Hearth Warming Eve all too well. She was surprised Lily even remembered it, though she admitted to herself it was a pretty big night.

“Minty tried to find Santa?” her head had jerked back up at Tropical Dream’s voice so fast that her neck cramped up, surely Lily wasn’t telling her that bit, was she?

“Yeah, and nearly got herself and Whistle killed in the progress. Ever wondered where Whistle got her fear of clouds from?” asked Lily.

“My...that must’ve been a intensed Hearth Warming.” spoke Tropical Dream, “Ouch!” she added, suddenly cutting herself.

“And that’s why I use magic,” Lily giggled for only a second until she suddenly gasped. “oh dear that’s a little---um---deep”.

Minty fully opened the door and galloped up to Tropical Dream who, along with Lily, jumped at her entry. “Oh Tropical, hold on I’ll get the first aid kit” Minty spoke.

Minty trotted to the other end of the kitchen, ducked under the counter and dug through various items.

“Was she eavesdropping?” whispered Lily.

Tropical Dream just shook her head, “I never knew her as the type” she replied.

“Found it!” Minty mumbled, carrying the first aid kit with her teeth.

“Tropical, I know it burns but please hold your leg still” Lily told her friend who had jerked and yelped as they disinfected the cut.

Minty usually was the one to wrap up the cuts and bruises, but Lily’s magic was faster than her hooves were. Tropical Dream bit her lip and held back another yelp as the bandage was tightly tied.

“That should do it, you might wanna refrain from cutting with your bare hooves for a bit.” Lily spoke, placing everything back into the kit.

“Will do, you always say that but you never do it!” Minty snapped at Tropical Dream before she had even spoke.

“Oh come now Minty, surely she’ll be more careful” Lily chuckled as she levitated the first aid kit across the room and tucked it back where Minty had found it.

“Mind telling me how she cut herself in the first place?” Minty asked. She took a sniff from the cooking pot and grinned widely.

“We were talking and I just got distracted” answered Tropical Dream. As she held her bandaged hoof in the other she now knew why Minty had hated that eyepatch so much.

“What were you talking about?” Minty asked suddenly. “I heard you two laughing from my candy lab”.

“Were we that loud?” Lily asked as she clearly made a fake gasp. “Well I was telling her about that Hearth Warming where you broke the---”

“Well I’m sure it was pretty funny, my mom sure didn’t found it funny, did she, Tropical?” Minty casted a stare over to Tropical Dream who nervously didn’t make eye contact with her.

“Tropical Dream wasn’t there, wait were you?” Tropical Dream started to shake her head no but paused for a second or two, then she just shrugged. “Well, if you were then why were you acting as if it was brand new to you?”

“Well, I wasn’t there per-say...but---”

“Maybe my mom told you, when you went to see her last night?” Minty interrupted her orange friend.

Lily casted a very suspicious and shocked glare, “Did you really?” she asked Tropical Dream.

“I wanted to see if she would attend a Hearth Warming party” Tropical Dream answered. She was still avoiding eye contact with Minty and had lowered her head.

“Well, I should ask Pinkie Pie if she could use my eatable socks as decorations?” Minty grinned wickedly.

“Oh no Minty!” Tropical Dream grabbed her mouth, surprised she had out bursted she added “I mean---it was meant to be a surprise party, you know how she gets when you break promises”.

Minty raised an eyebrow and suddenly sighed, if she had made a promise herself she would rather lie than face Pinkie Pie’s wrath. “Tropical, you would never lie to me, right?” she asked, sounding quite mute.

There was a quick silence, Minty thought that Tropical Dream looked odd but she couldn’t place her hoof on why. Lily remained silent as she thought it’d be best not to interrupt. Tropical Dream felt scared and very worried, she looked down at the floor but the very next instant she looked over at Lily who had mouthed something to her that luckily Minty hadn’t noticed.

Tropical Dream nodded, took a small gulp and spoke “No, I wouldn’t lie to you”.

“Then, do you know where my mom lives right now?” Minty asked. She thought that this was the best possible, and safest, way to see where she might had been yesterday.

Tropical Dream wasn’t sure why Minty had asked her that, it almost felt out of character for her but she assumed that she had seemed out of character herself lately.

“Well, I don’t know where she lives.” Tropical Dream politely answered. At seeing Minty’s reaction, which had made her look like she was just slipped, Tropical Dream quickly added “But, I heard it was near Dragon Town”.

“Dragon To-surely she doesn’t live in Dragon Town,” Lily started but paused to levitate a water bottle that was half empty from the counter. “very few ponies do and for good reason”.

“Well, that doesn’t really matter” spoke Minty. She didn’t really care where her mother lived as long as she doesn’t bump into her, in fact she could live anywhere for all she cared. “Thanks for telling me Tropical, sorry if I seemed a bit harsh” Minty bowed a little bit as she spoke. She realized how silly it must had seemed to be bowing and straighten herself up with an blushing chuckle.

“A bit har-come now Minty, you would never be harsh!” Lily laughed and Tropical Dream nodded in agreement.

“Well, when you two are done with---whatever you’re cooking, I have a new candy you could help taste test!” Minty said with a smile.

“Really?” Tropical Dream almost gasped in surprise. “Wow Minty, you usually test your candy by yourself. Why the sudd---oh dear!” Tropical Dream pointed to the cooking pot which had began smoking excessively.

Lily gasped, “We were suppose to take that out by now!” she shouted as she galloped over and after turning off the oven she levitated the pot upward and placed it on another stove eye.

“There goes our carrot stew..” Tropical Dream signed shaking her head. “I hate starting over”.

“I agree, hm it doesn’t look too ba---” Lily paused as she turned around to face Minty who was laughing herself into an fit. “What’s so funny Mints?”

“I don’t know, guess it’s just fun to see others mess up for a change.” Minty replied in between her laughter.

Tropical Dream was about to make a smart reply but instead ended up tilting her head at Lily. “Mints?”

“Oh, that’s her childhood nickname.” replied Lily. “Well one of them, wanna hear the other?”

All at once Minty had went from a laughing foal to an enraged mare. “You better not! You ankle promised you would let that name die!”

Both Lily and Tropical Dream bursted out laughing and Minty blushed heavily, her nose steamed as she stared at the floor.

“W-W-Wh-what is a ankle promise?” Tropical Dream asked. Minty honestly felt they were going overboard with the laughter now. “Is it like Pinkie’s Pinkie Promise?”

CHAPTER TEN:Balancing Is Easy, When You Sock Somepony

It was early in the morning, an hour or so before one and Whistle was inside the local library standing on one of her hind legs. “Remember, you must ease your mind and relax the limbs” spoke Malty. Using her cane she lifted up books and placed them atop Whistle’s head. “Don’t breathe, don’t speak, don’t even think. Just relax”.

Whistle heard Malty well enough, she could even hear a few ponies telling Malty to be quiet and saw some were shaking their heads. Telling Whistle to be still was like asking a bee not to gather pollen as it’s pollinating a flower, it just goes against nature but she tried her best all the same. Whenever Whistle’s limbs would get tired and shake Malty used her cane to straighten them back into position.

“How would being a statue help me to act proper?” Whistle wanted to ask but she kept her mouth shut out of not wanting to get yelled at.

“You’re doing good, just twenty nine more minutes” Malty spoke as she carefully wiped sweat off of Whistle’s brow.

“Twenty nine more minutes!?” Whistle screamed inside her thoughts, she had assumed she’d been still for half an hour as it was.

She looked around for something to distract her mind with. The floor they were on was packed with towering bookshelves and round tables, off in the center was an large golden spiral staircase that led up to the more restricted and reserved area. All around them were ponies who were trying to read and more than a few were angrily staring at her and Malty and they clearly wanted her to be quiet.

Whistle’s head started to turn when Malty had grabbed her muzzle “Don’t pay any mind to your surroundings” she said as she straightened Whistle’s gaze back where it was.

Whistle gulped, getting somewhat cottonmouth, her entire body just itched to move. Another book was placed atop her head making the count four, though it felt like ten to her.

“Just remain still...don’t even think. Not about my legs, not about the itchy feeling, not even about my belly growling. Just---don’t---thi-I gotta move!” Whistle flinched, the weight of the four books came stumbling down as she fell.

A loud thud was followed by many ssssshhhhhh, Malty growled in annoyance and Whistle had probably said sorry ten times as she was helped up.

“Good first try, no bruises it seems” Malty spoke.

“I’m sorry Malty, I just had a terrible, uncelestial, itch..” Whistle replied feeling quite down on herself. Suddenly the itch became too much and she started scratching herself much like a dog would.

Malty tapped Whistle’s leg with her cane and she stopped scratching at once, “I suppose next time you should ignore it, lucky thee only had four books” Malty spoke as she began collecting the books and placing them atop their reserved table. “Let’s try again, let’s also aim for ten books this ti---”

“You can try fifty books, I bet a silver shilling she couldn’t even stand one book” interrupted a voice and both mares growled among the many sssshhhhh.

It was Edward Horseluck, his two buddies waving from behind as he leaned over the above floor’s railing.

“What, prey tell, brings you here?” Malty asked. She tried to hold her face straight but found it was very hard to do.

Edward shrugged as he came down the spiral staircase, his two buddies mimicked him as they followed. “Thought I’d catch up on a little history” he answered.

“Well thou are on the wrong floorth, you should goth to floor ten” Malty spoke adding moron in a faint whisper.

Edward halted halfway down and his two buddies bumped into him.“Wha-what is that? Floorth? Honestly, I think you don’t even know how to properly use that old language” Edward spoke trying his best impression to mock her. Again, his two buddies mimicked him.

“I can speaketh it fine” Malty bared her teeth. She was very irritated by Edward’s mere presence. “We’re in the middle of something, shouldn’t thou go and disinfect your cut?”

For a fraction of an second Edward had reached to his face which bared a long scar, the very next instant he showed his teeth as well. “If your friend wasn’t connected to Star Catcher, you can be assured I would have had her exiled”.

“Ha! Like she would believe your tell of lies, is she still looking for that thief you said had stolen thou’s monocle?” Malty laughed, only slightly, as she tried to keep her posture straight. She failed utterly bad as she bursted out laughing as Edward had almost tripped down the stairs.

There were many ssshhh and annoyed grunts but neither of the two seemed to had noticed. “Just let it go,” whispered Whistle. “I promised Sparkleworks---”

“See? You see Malty?” Edward spoke fastly. He hurried down the stairs and stood atop a chair as he pointed at Whistle like a eyewitness would when pointing out an criminal in an lineup. “Even Pearl’s daughter knows she’s a weak and disgraceful mare”.

All at once the entire floor fell silent and it felt like they had entered a graveyard full of dread. Edward took noticed and, at first, seemed to had regretted what he had just said.

“Thou would be wise to taketh that comment back” Malty spoke in a very straightforward and angry tone.

The room was filled with great tension now and Whistle had never seen anypony look the way Malty did at that moment. It felt as if, and she hoped that she was wrong, that Malty was about to swing with her cane. Luckily she saw Malty loosen her grip and her breathing became more relaxed instead of heated. Edward smirked as he laughed the tension off.

“We all know Pearl was, like, the most important mare during her prime. But her daughter,” Edward casted a glare at Whistle who despite wanting to bury herself, returned her own glare and he gave another small smirk. “how do you two think she feels at the embarrassment?” he asked his two friends.

His two buddies didn’t really answer him, they just nodded and made hard to hear mumbles.

“Well, not as embarrassed as your mother would be of you” somepony joked and Edward had spun around to see who had dared mentioned his mother.

Whistle and Malty turned to their right and saw two mares sitting at a table. They weren’t sure which of them had spoken but their eyes had focused on the purple pegasus, Edward wasn’t sure why but he got the overall feeling that he shouldn’t mess with her. Whistle noticed this and thought she knew the mare in question but she couldn’t quite place her hoof on who she was.

“This is a library, either be quiet or leave” the purple pegasus spoke.

The other pony at her table was rolling up an invisible sleeve and she clearly wanted to fight. Edward only had to take one look at her mane before immediately changing his tone.

“Very well,” he gulped and bowed his head. “I know when I overstep my boundaries” he then trotted up the stairs with his two buddies galloping each other over as they followed him.

Once they were gone the room felt much more at ease, Whistle let out the biggest sigh of relief that she had ever uttered. She thanked the purple pegasus who started to speak but her friend had managed to say “Don’t mention it, ponies like him are just jealous jerks” right before the two started to whisper to one another.

Malty puffed and straightened her hat. “He’s such a annoying a---Whistle?”

Whistle had took a seat at their table, forelegs crossed she hung her head in a depressed fashion. Sighing Malty took the seat on her right, she wanted to say something but didn’t know what. She knew by now that when Whistle is depressed she’s hard to cheer back up. She pondered on what to say and tossed the idea of comparing Edward to a powerless Tirek out the window rather quickly.

She pondered hard until suddenly something caught her attention under their pile of books. It was a book bound in green leather, the title Approval in golden text laid across a blank cover. She picked it up and opened it, her name was written on the first page which was blank other than a diamond pattern.

“Have thou ever read this?” she asked. Whistle flopped her head up, casted a stare at the book and shook her head. “It’s mine, the first story I ever published. Want me to telleth you about it?”

“Nope” Whistle spoke laying her head back in her forelegs.

Not wanting to be shushed again Malty gave a slow giggle. She took Whistle in one hoof and pulled her closer where she proceeded to shove the first page into Whistle’s face. “Too bad, thou art similar to the protagonist”.

“I am?” Whistle asked as she ceased her attempt at freedom and took a look at the page.

Malty released her and placed the book in her hooves. “Sugar Corn, a mare who desperately needed and wanted the approval of her mother. She goes through plenty of trials, she fails utterly bad, getting laughed and mocked at. But,” Malty paused, casting a quick stare at Whistle. “she doesn’t give up. The worse heckler, one who nearly made her end it all, was the very pony she wanted approval from”.

Whistle jerked her head up extremely curious and a little shocked. “Her mom almost made her--Celestia..”

Malty nodded, patting Whistle’s back she goes on. “She kept at it, oh she wanted to do so much...so much in deed. But she kept it together and, in the end, she succeeded. She outdid every heckler, everypony who had doubted her. She showed them all that she is a pony who deserved life, as well as praise, mind you. The ending chapter is very emotional---I’ll pay for the book, if thou so wisheth to read it”.

Whistle went to say “You don’t need to buy it” but halfway through her sentence she paused and stared at the first page of the book.

She felt a strong and overwhelming urge to see the ending as well as the character herself and see exactly how she resembled her. She quickly nodded and took flight up the spiraling staircase and seemingly to the librarian.

“H-Hey!” Malty had called after her. “We aren’t done her-oh for Tartarus’ sake..oh hush yourselfs!”

CHAPTER ELEVEN:Sparkleworks, Her Secret Reason

“Mom..” spoke Whistle who was standing outside a fashion store.

She was staring at a mannequin in a lust purple nightgown with a little foal mannequin in a similar gown beside it. She imagined her mom and herself in their places, hugging with happy faces. She placed a hoof upon the class, her breath was visible upon it. She took a sigh and pressed her head against the glass, a bell rang and in the glass’ reflection she could see a large bell tower with a giant clock.

Turning around she spotted the nearest street clock which stood between two street lanterns, it was six o'clock. She had to get home before Sparkleworks started to worry, turning back to the mannequins she said in a faint whisper “I miss you mom” then she trotted off.

Normally Whistle would be flying as it was her fastest and much preferred method of travel, however the sky was filled with clouds, so much so that the moon was half concealed. Whistle knew the town well and had more than a few routes back home, it only took finding the street’s name before she knew which of them to use. It was an unusual silent night and if it hadn’t been for the various stores and diners then Whistle would’ve been a tad bit spooked by the barren streets.

Her hoofsteps echoed, the snow was beginning to melt, she tightened her scarf yet she remained ice cold. Whistle stopped for only a moment as she took from her saddlebag one of Minty’s Spicy Candy Peppers, she took one bite and immediately felt herself sweating.

Whistling she says “Does she use lava in these!? Celestia!”

Continuing to trot down the sidewalk Whistle kept the candy pepper behind her ear in case she needed it again but by how much she was sweating, she didn’t think she needed too for a while but she’d rather be safe than sorry. She trotted for what seemed like twenty minutes and once or twice she had trotted passed a group of ponies, thanks to a broken street light one of them was shrouded in shadow and she felt such shivers when passing them she had to take another bite from the candy pepper.

Sweating heavily again she looked at the snow, both on the ground and from above. The snow tried to collect and remain deep but it was melting as if it had taken a bite from her candy pepper as well. It’s been a long time since she had worked with weather but she could tell somepony had made a mistake somewhere, she couldn’t remember exactly where though. Whistle trotted on, every now and again taking a peek at the sky and wished the clouds would ease up.

She became distracted for just a second and as she lowered her head down it collided with something hard. “Ow! Stupid sign!” she annoying whistled and bucked the sign which spun around, knocking her off of her hooves on the return loop. “Ugh! I hate signs..”

Picking herself up Whistle noticed the contents of her saddlebag had fallen out, irritated she began picking them up, some of the items became wet by the snow and casting a glare at the sign she shook her head disapproving. She noticed Malty’s book half buried in the snow and taking it by the teeth she spat it into her hooves.

“Thank Celestia, it’s not that soggy” she sighed in relief as for a moment there she was scared it had been ruined.

She moved to toss it into the saddlebag but paused as she glanced up at the nearest glass window which showed quite a busy diner inside. She blinked, rubbed her eyes, trotted up and pressed her face against the glass.

“Is that..Sparkleworks? And, Star Catcher?” Whistle asked aloud. For a second time she rubbed her eyes but they remained seated at their small round table.

For a moment she thought about entering and ask why Sparkleworks was out so late herself but she could hear them talking. It was hard to make out what they were saying due to the sound of others talking, as well as the glass muffling the sounds. Her head flicked as the diner door opened, two ponies who were orange and yellow trotted out and Whistle had ducked behind them and placed herself in the doorway.

There were many couples inside it seemed, shown by many hearts levitating over the tables and after every few seconds they would split open to shower them in red, green, and white confetti. Not every table had the hearts, but most, like the one her friends were at, did. Whistle had started to trot over but suddenly ducked into a hiding position as she heard her name being spoken.

Her ears perked up, waiting to be busted any minute but nothing happened. Curious she entered Pinkie Pie’s famed ninja mode that she had caught her in once and snuck closer, she dived under a table at just the right moment to avoid a waitress running her over. Peeking her head out from under the white table cloth she spotted Sparkleworks and Star Catcher just two tables away, thinking this was as close as she could get she began listening to them.

She could tell right off that it was a private discussion and she felt somewhat bad for eavesdropping, but she had to know why they mentioned her.

“You don’t have anything to fear, Whistle is old enough to take care of herself” she heard Star Cather’s voice, who then burped. “Excuse me” she blushingly added.

For a split moment Whistle became distracted as Star Catcher had slid an heart shaped cake away, her mouth watered at seeing similar cupcakes about their table along with either chocolate milk or hot cocoa with sweet and soft marshmallows shaped like snowflakes.

Sparkleworks offered a giggle but quickly went back to her depressive appearance, which had brought Whistle’s attention back as she ripped her gaze from the delicious treats and placed it on her instead.

She heard Sparkleworks say “But she still acts childish, what if something happens and I’m not there?”

Star Catcher gave a giggle as well and had touched Sparkleworks’ hoof, “That’s what makes you a good friend, it’s only natural that you worry” she smiled and took a bite from one of the cupcakes.

Whistle took a look at her own wings, flapping them she asked “How did she do that? My wings can’t even hold a pencil..”

“Wishy, you know I don’t see her as my friend!” Whistle heard Sparkleworks say and she instantly became confused.

“But---we been friends since we were two..” Whistle whispered. She wasn’t sure what Sparkleworks had meant, if they weren’t friends then what were they?

“Heh” Star Catcher smiled and Whistle thought she looked very much like a proud mother figure all of a sudden. “Pearl left her in your care for good reason, you were close as friends. But, that friendship grew into something else, hasn’t it?”

Whistle felt her heart jump as she retreated her head under the table, she couldn’t possibly mean, but what if she did? Whistle wanted to jump out of hiding and confront them, or outright bolt. “Does Sparkleworks li-no, she’s like my sister! She couldn’t, besides she knows I had a crush on---oh candy apples, what did I just sneak into?” Whistle asked biting the edges of her hooves in a panicky and nervous fit.

“You wanna hear it?” Whistle heard Sparkleworks voice. “Fine! I see her as my own daughter! Happy?”

Whistle had flinched and hit the top of her head against the table. She was hyperventilating, heart visible in her chest, then she just froze into a stiff statue. Realizing at what she had just heard she blinked and was blanker than an empty page. She was totally, completely, in shock.

Whistle was broken out of her frozen state as she heard Sparkleworks say “Pearl trusted me, ME to watch over Whistle. To take care of her. We’re old childhood friends, but----I can’t see her as anything else”

“That’s why she picked you, Pearl would be happy you think of Whistle as such” Whistle heard Star Catcher say.

“Star Catcher,” started Sparkleworks, Whistle stared at the table cloth as she listened. “why do you think Amethyst wants to teach Whistle to be proper?”

At the mention of Minty’s mother Whistle crawled and poked her head out from under the table cloth as she listened as closely as her ears would allow her.

“Sparky, you still believe they're one in the same?” asked Star Catcher.

“Until I see them side by side together, YES!” Sparkleworks had shouted so loudly that more than a few ponies stared at their table, blushing awkwardly she added “I wanted to be the best fashion designer, but Amethyst shattered that dream! If she hurts Whistle I’ll---”

“Sparky, everypony is staring..” Star Catcher interrupted. Sparkleworks blushed even more heavily as she slid back into her seat. “I know how you feel, but you can rest assure, nothing bad is going to befall Whistle”.

Sparkleworks crossed her arms, Star Catcher outstretched her wing and offered some of her cupcake. Sparkleworks stared at the cupcake like Star Catcher had offered her own limb, looking up at her friend Sparkleworks said “You’re lucky you’re cute, Celestia clone”.

“Ha! I hadn’t heard that joke in years!” Star Catcher laughed, snorting a little. Sparkleworks, who was frowning angrily, suddenly bursted out laughing alongside her.

Whistle ducked out from under the table and snuck her way back to and out the door. She turned back to the glass window and watched Sparkleworks and Star Catcher enjoying themselves. She reached inside her saddlebag and took out Malty’s book and held it to her chest, her gaze fixed upon Sparkleworks for a few seconds before she turned away from the glass and she stared at the book.

“She...thinks of me as her daughter?” Whistle sniffed suddenly as she felt something cold dripping down her cheek.

It was a tear, but she wasn’t even sad, why would she be crying? She felt all jumbled inside but thinking back it made sense. The way Sparkleworks grounded and scolds her, the way they hung and play together, the way she smiles at her whenever she succeed at something, she had became Sparkleworks foster daughter.

“When did this possibly happen?” Whistle asked herself. “The Mother Day’s parade she took me too when I was down when my mom couldn’t attend? When I broke a leg and she stayed by my bed day and night? Or, could it had been when her mom passed away?”

Whistle pondered until her pondering became even more confused, so much so she gave herself a headache. As she tried shaking it off the diner’s door suddenly opened and out came Sparkleworks and Star Catcher who were deep in conversion.

“So, she made her horn invisible? Can you do that?” asked Sparkleworks as she helped Star Catcher tighten her coat.

“Even after our special night, you still believe the rumor that I’m an Alicorn?” Star Catcher giggled but fell silent as she noticed Whistle, the book still clutched to her chest.

Sparkleworks noticed her too after she had saw Star Catcher’s expression, smiling she said “Oh hey Whistle, why are you out so late?”

There was a moment where Whistle didn’t speak and it didn’t take long for Sparkleworks to notice a tear or two on her face. She went to say something but just then Whistle leapt and embraced her in the tightest hug Whistle had ever gave.

“Ack! H-Help---can’t---brea-ack!” Sparkleworks mumbled, she swore she had just felt her lungs burst.

Star Catcher laughed but after Sparkleworks gave a painful gasp she used her wings to separate the two.

“What---gives--?!” Sparkleworks asked holding her chest and was worried that Whistle had shattered her ribs.

Whistle just gave a smile, her tail wagging, “Let’s go home!” she whistled. She turned around and stopped mid-gallop as she suddenly remembered “Oh right..clouds..”

Sparkleworks and Star Catcher stared at each other and wondered why Whistle was so cheerful, then they galloped to catch up with her when they saw she was already a mile ahead. The trot was fun, definitely more fun than trotting alone. The two mares had noticed Whistle seemed to be happy and that she kept avoiding their questions at why, Whistle felt like they knew she had overheard them but she didn’t dare to ask them.

A good hint that they knew was the sudden blush on Sparkleworks’ face, although Whistle had assumed it was something that Star Catcher had said in a whisper.

“It’s nothing, we were just catching up on old times” Star Catcher had said when Whistle raised an eyebrow at her.

“It’s been, three years, hasn’t it?” Whistle asked flying upside down. She was holding her saddlebag up right so she wouldn’t drop the contents again.

“Four, actually” Sparkleworks answered, adding “Can you please stop flying backwards while upside down? You could run into something”.

Whistle rolled her eyes, spun in a circle and landed, she giggled at Sparkleworks.

“Tomorrow is Hearth’s Warming, are you excited Sparky? I’m sure am!” Whistle asked, humming to herself.

Sparkleworks laughed, “Well the faster you get in bed the faster you can ope--” she suddenly paused and stared at Whistle curiously. “Why did you just call me Sparky?”

Whistle froze mid-hop, slowly landing on her hooves she rubbed the back of her neck. “N-No reason..it is a old nickname, isn’t it?”

Star Catcher giggled, interrupting Sparkleworks before she even had a chance she started to say “I thought I was the only one who called her that” when suddenly a ear piercing scream had interrupted her.

“GUARDS! SOMEPONY HELP!”

CHAPTER TWELVE:It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Murder

A scream had broken out over the silent night, heighten to a great degree by magic. The three mares had all jumped simultaneously as if the enhanced scream was a loud explosion.

“HELP! THERE’S A BEEN A ATTACK!” the same voice boomed again.

Without so much as a word Star Catcher had took flight, “H-Hey wait up!” Sparkleworks shouted as she galloped after her.

Whistle was hot on her trail, jumping and ducking over various ponies who all heard the scream but remained frozen in place. Whistle caught up with Sparkleworks with quite ease, however staying within range of Star Catcher proved to be a real challenge. She turned and flew behind a group of buildings with the two mares taking to the alleyways behind her. They turned left once, twice to the right and then back around taking the other turn as they hit a dead end.

They broke out from the alleyway, Whistle looked around for Star Catcher and spotted the familiar back of Minty’s building. She heard Sparkleworks gasp suddenly, straight ahead and centered in a single street light was Star Catcher. Kneeling by her was the screamer, it was Tropical Dream who was crying heavily into her hooves. Between them was a third pony that Whistle couldn’t quite make out, but what she could see was that the surrounding snow was soaked in red.

Sparkleworks spoke but fell silent as Star Catcher casted them a stare, she shouted “Get Whistle away, she shouldn’t see this!”

Whistle immediately shook her head and took a step forward but just then she noticed the pony’s clothing. She held her mouth, Sparkleworks gave all her strength just to turn her around.

--FILLYDELPHIA EXPRESS--

Murder! While trotting home late on Hearth’s Warming Eve, Fillydelphia’s own Edward Horseluck was found, dead. Guards were quick on the scene, as one Tropical Dream, who had discovered the gruesome scene, used a voice enhancing spell to alert them.

Our own major and guard captain, Star Catcher, who recently had just returned after leave, was quick to turn down any comments. Tropical Dream was not only the alerter, but also a eye witness. When asked for a comment Star Catcher was quick in banishing the reporters from the scene, though not without a distraught cry from the eye witness.

“Oh Amethyst...why!?”

Could our own Amethyst, mother of uprising candy genius Minty and builder of what became our High Society, be involved in Edward’s murder? If anypony, or dragon, has any information then please contact the guards or the local newspaper. First murder in hundreds of years, how will Celestia act upon this news?

Star Catcher threw down the morning paper, the table shook under her hoof. “How in the night’s stars do they print these so fast?” she asked while rubbing the place between her eyes.

“Shouldn’t you see the paper before it gets printed?” asked Minty. She was setting a tray of star shaped cupcakes on the table and gnawed away on her own peppermint stick.

Star Catcher casted a glare at the tray and slid it away with her wing. “Oh they hadn’t sent this out yet, if I say no to the first print it’s all scrapped”.

Minty sat at the table, right beside Tropical Dream, the fur around her eyes stained with eyeliner. Across from her were Whistle and Sparkleworks who likewise weren’t up to eating. About the only pony who took a cupcake was Lily, she took one look at the glares and placed it back almost immediately.

“Tropical Dream, can you run down exactly what you saw?” Tropical Dream let a loud yelp at Star Catcher’s question.

“Couldn’t you wait at least a full day?” asked Minty as she spat out her peppermint stick and held her distraught friend in an embrace.

“It’d be best if she talks about it now, least it troubles her more later” answered Star Catcher who had crossed her forelegs.

“Learnt that in guard HQ, did ya?” Minty whispered under her breath.

Minty patted her friend’s back and after a minute or two she agreed to talk. She took a handkerchief and touched it to her eyes, then blew her nose into it.

“I was sitting at my window, enjoying the wonderful view” Tropical Dream started off. She paused and blew her nose once more. “I got up to go to bed, that’s when I saw her”.

“Saw who?” Star Catcher asked, at seeing Minty’s glare she gave Minty her own.

“Amethyst,” Tropical Dream answered. She was stuttering horribly and could hardly speak straight. She blew her nose a third time and, after a great gulp and whimper, said “I couldn’t possibly imagine why she would show up---oh come now Minty, I’m sure whatever the reason, she wasn’t spying on you!”

“Wouldn’t be the first time..” Minty said in a loud whisper. She didn’t care much for Star Catcher’s stare as she kept patting and rubbing her friend’s back.

Tropical Dream wiped her tears with the handkerchief and continued on. “Then Edward emerged from the shadows as well. Amethyst coming here is one thing, but him? I couldn’t hear them, Heavens only Minty could have” Minty gave an obvious blush. “He must’ve said, or done, something, as the two had gotten into a struggle”.

“Was he who started this struggle?” Star Catcher asked.

Tropical Dream shook her. “To be honestly Star Catcher, I can’t say. They were still a bit away, but I did see---I saw---oh Celestia..”

Minty brought Tropical Dream onto her shoulder where she proceeded to cry excessively. Sparkleworks poked her nose against Whistle’s own crying face, much like a puppy showing affection to it’s owner.

“It’s OK, take your time Tropical” Star Catcher gave in a warm, friendly voice.

Tropical Dream blew her nose, wiped her eyes, and kept crying. Finally after the third or fourth nose blowing she blurted out “She t-t-too-took her ca-cane and…” but she couldn’t finish, her tears became too heavy and her mouth had dried up.

“I think she said enough..” Minty spoke and without asking permission she stood up and helped Tropical Dream out of the room.

Star Catcher gave a puff, she placed her head into her hooves and shook it. Taking a deep sigh she said “Well, that went swimmingly. Lily, you worked here for a while. Did you---”

“Nope, I was asleep in bed. Her enhanced screaming woke me up though, even you arrived on scene before I did” Lily answered. She took back her cupcake and bit a leg off of it. “I hadn’t ate in hours, you want me sick?” she asked shaking her head.

“Where is Malty?” Star Catcher asked suddenly as she checked the time.

Whistle shrugged her shoulders. “I couldn’t find her anywhere, I searched for a solid hour. A solid hour!”

Star Catcher raised a hoof to her chest and slowly exhaled. ”I requested that she’d be here, since she’s Amethyst’s pupil I had hoped she would---aw well, doesn’t matter”.

“Star Catcher, shouldn’t she had turned herself in by now?” asked Sparkleworks.

Star Catcher shook her head while saying “Chances are if Malty wasn’t who Tropical saw, then she wouldn’t know about this at all. My guards are quick to silence ponies who gossip about crimes”.

“If I may ask, if chances are this wasn’t Amethyst then it could had been Malty, right?” Lily asked, her mouth was filled with cupcake crumbs which she spat out as she spoke.

“Well---” Star Catcher started as she looked up at the ceiling which bared colorful decorations. “---the three of us saw how closely Malty resembles Amethyst, and I doubt Tropical could tell the eye col---”

“It wasn’t Malty!” interrupted a voice. Star Catcher turned around in her seat and saw Tropical Dream was back in the room.

Minty came back as well, she trotted around in front of her friend she as said “Tropical Dream, you been through a lot. You should to rest”.

Minty was ignored as Tropical Dream trotted past her, Minty felt a little shocked she was just pushed aside in this manner. “I know what I saw, I don’t mistake Amethyst!”

“Tropical,” Star Catcher started, Tropical Dream shook her head repeatedly but she went on anyways. “it was dark and you even said you couldn’t hear them. Malty even wears similar clothing, from what I heard, it even makes more sen---”

“NO!” Star Catcher jumped as she suddenly fell silent at Tropical Dream’s outburst, her body shaking Tropical Dream added “I know it wasn’t Malty, it couldn’t have been!”

“O-K...then, can you vouch for where Malty was at the time in question?” asked Lily who had took another cupcake, Sparkleworks shook her head at her.

“I--Huh?” gasped Tropical Dream.

“You seem to know, being you’re shouting at the one pony who could give you a warrant” Lily laughed, as she looked around and saw the stares she was given she apologized for the joke. “Had to say it, but honestly if you know it wasn’t Malty, then obviously you know where she was”

Everypony stared at Tropical Dream who stared back at each of them. She appeared to had lost her voice, though only for a brief moment as she suddenly said in a rather fast manner “I-I don’t know--where--Malty was, but I know it wasn’t her”.

“Well, when we see her we’ll ask” Star Catcher spoke up. She then turned back around the table and stared at Whistle. “As of now, she is a suspect. She didn’t even show, that---”

Tropical Dream took a step forward, shaking her head she started “She’ll say it wasn’t her, you should take my word as---”

“You’re distraught, Tropical Dream” interrupted Star Catcher. “You might not had even remembered the scene right”.

“H-How dare you!?” Tropical Dream’s mouth fell as she stomped the floor, hard. Minty had took a step to remove her from the room but Tropical Dream had taken two steps ahead instead. “I’m am not disillusional! You just don’t know who Malty really is---” she suddenly froze, her eyes twitched as she fumbled with her words.

Everybody had looked up at her, Star Catcher stood up from her seat and Tropical Dream took half a step backwards “Who Malty really is? Who is she then?” Star Catcher asked with raised eyebrows.

Tropical Dream’s eye twitched even more as she began sweating. “N-N-No-Nothing...
nothing, just you don’t know where Malty even comes from”.

Star Catcher raised her eyebrows even higher. “And you do?”

Tropical Dream cringed, shaking her head furiously she blurted out “Of course not! W-Whistle, you spent time with her, surely you can tell---”

“I’m with you” Whistle interrupted with a smile. “Even though once or twice I saw her twisting her cane when Edward was being a total jerk, I don’t see Malty doing this”.

Star Catcher nodded, turning her attention to Minty she said “You seem quite calm about this”.

“How so?” Minty asked as she squinted her eyes in a what did you say type of stare.

“I mean, your mom is suspected as a murderer. A murderer Mints, yet you aren’t even reacting to the news.” Star Catcher answered.

Minty let out a fake laugh as she returned “Star Catcher, you know I gave up on my mom years ago. If she’s a killer, well then, it’d be right up her alley”.

Tropical Dream gasped and thought she had felt her heart cracked. “M-Minty..she’s your mother! How could you---”

“How could I? How could I not!” Minty interrupted and got up close enough to rub noses with her friend. “She was a terrible mom! Forcing me so hard to follow in her hoof steps. But when I got my own Cutie Mark she threw me out, as if I didn’t matter anymore!”

Minty slammed her hooves down extremely hard, a very small tear had dripped down her cheek. Tropical Dream noticed the tear as it fell upon the floor, but as she attempted to comfort her friend her hooves were suddenly slapped away.

“She didn’t care about me, why should I care about her?” Minty asked.

“Minty..” spoke one of her friends who couldn’t believe her ears.

Minty gave an heated puff and left the room before any of them could comment further. She stormed up the stairs, trotted into her room and slammed the door before leaping into bed. She felt so angry she wanted to buck something just to let her anger out. Her thoughts were filled of memories with her mother and her tension tightened to the point she felt like screaming atop her lungs. Then her thoughts went onto the murder and she found that she didn’t even care about it.

She hated Edward, everypony did so as far as she cared the entire town had motive to kill him. But her own mother? As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she just couldn’t picture Amethyst doing it. She flicked her head up, mostly to get her untidy mane out of her eyes. Her eye fixed on the mirror fixed atop a dresser, she puffed and looked away for a brief second before staring right back. She looked pitiful, much like how she did when Amethyst threw her out all those years ago.

She laughed and then frowned, “Mom...You’re a terrible, uncelestial cruel mare” she took a great sigh. Despite her entire being wanting to resist, her heart knew the truth and she just couldn’t deny it. “But you aren’t a killer”.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:Nothing Fancy, Just Dinner

Four days had passed since Edward’s murder and neither Amethyst nor Malty had yet been found. Despite Star Catcher’s best efforts to stop news of the event from spreading it had been leaked out and now the whole city knew. Rumors and gossip had started up almost like a bug infestation and soon enough it had reached outside the city, Star Catcher’s efforts to solve the crime now became much more important than her duties as mayor.

It was going on past four thirty and Whistle couldn’t help but hear every little word as she trotted about the town. Ponies knew she and Malty were friends and some seemed to believe they were in cahoots.

“Going to see your buddy? Hope you won’t be next” she had heard one of them speak.

She ignored her desire to buck him and pressed on. The sky was still more cloudy than she would had liked, being stuck on the ground irritated her more than ever today. She turned a corner and saw two familiar stallions talking to a shop owner, she quickly ducked back around the corner but they had seen her. They called out but she galloped, she took a quick glance behind her and saw that they were following. She galloped faster, they tried getting her attention but she kept on ignoring them.

She had turned another corner when her hoof got caught on a gardener’s hose and she tripped, her face slammed against the concrete. The two stallions caught up and Whistle tried untangling her hoof but one of the two grabbed the hose, he pulled and tightened it. The gardener insisted they stop but they bared their teeth and he fled like an frighten chicken. They demanded where Malty was, Whistle cried for help and when it seemed as if they were about to drag her off, it came.

A pony came from behind and socked one of them behind the skull and they too face planted the concrete. Whistle’s eyes widen, the pony slammed down her cane and spoke in a loud growl.

“If I ever see you harming her again, I promise, you’ll see Edward soon enough!” the two stallions yelped stumbling over the other as they got up and galloped off. “Hmp, stupid stallions”.

“Malty! T-Thank you..” Whistle sighed in relieve. Malty turned and began untangling her hoof.

“What are you doing here?” Malty asked as Whistle’s hoof became free. “This is the High Class section, the dragons would be more hospitable”.

Whistle suddenly went for a hug but Malty had pushed her off to avoid being choked. Whistle puffed but shrugged it off.

“This was the last place I figured you’d be,” started Whistle. “hadn’t you heard---”

“Indeed, I have” Malty interrupted as she casted stares around them. “Listen, now may not be the best time to catch up. Follow me”.

Malty led Whistle further up this section of town, they took to the alleyways and once or twice Malty had halted Whistle to see if the close was clear. After about two minutes they had arrived at a towering building with, from what Whistle could tell, an extremely sharp needle atop the roof. They entered the back door and climbed the emergency staircase until they had reached the twenty fifth floor.

Malty peeked through the door and nodded that the close was clear. She went to the fourth door down, took a key from her coat pocket had to pull Whistle inside as she was about to say hi to somepony who had appeared in the hallway.

“Why were we sneaking?” Whistle asked which resulted in Malty snorting a slight laugh.

“You must know, it seems new gossip started about me and Amethyst” Malty spoke as she took off her hat and placed it atop a hanger by her bedroom.

Whistle saw her mane flop down for the first time since they had met. She hadn’t noticed how long it was and it looked ten times more messy than usual, which she already thought was an impossible feet. Malty trotted off into the living room and climbed atop a sofa that looked similar to the one she and Sparkleworks had tossed out an year ago, it even had the same ripped fabric so Whistle assumed it was the same sofa.

Whistle found it was cool to see an friend had took something that to her had countless memories sewed into it.

As she trotted over to the sofa she suddenly noticed Malty had kept her overcoat on, and feeling quite sweaty herself she was about to ask her “Didn’t you forget your jacket?” but trailed off as her eyes met the rest of the room.

It looked to had been fairly neat but half of it was recently turned upside down. Some dressers were on the floor and a few shelves were tossed aside, the carpet, which was fuzzy and dark purple, was all twisted and rolled up to the middle where it was more flaten.

“Sorry the place is a mess, hadn’t been a good last few days” Malty spoke breaking Whistle out of the trance the room had brought on.

“This is your home?” she asked hovering next to Malty on the sofa.

“Yeah, heh, really need to clean it don’t I?” Malty chuckled.

“It looks familiar..” Whispered Whistle. She just couldn’t shake an annoying feeling that she had seen this apartment somewhere before.

Malty jumped down and kicked at the carpet, “Forgive me, you wanted to ask about the proper lessons, correct?” she asked while straightening it out.

Whistle shook her head. “I was worried, you hadn’t been seen in days”.

Malty raised her head before she just shrugged. “Ah, well you see, it wouldn’t had been a prime idea to roam the streets”.

“Why not?” after she asked this Whistle had caught a strange look in Malty’s eyes.

“Well, Amethyst hadn’t been seen either, and already gossipers assumed I’m the murderer.“ Malty laughed loudly. “These ponies are always so quick to assume, it’s almost funny”.

Whistle shrugged as she hovered down and took the carpet’s other end. She pulled along with Malty and brushed it with her tail to remove any rickles. While doing this she said “I don’t believe it was you” to which Malty raised an eyebrow at her.

“You think it was Amethyst, then?” she asked.

For a fraction of a second Whistle looked like a still photo of an extremely guilty suspect and on the very next frame she shook her head. “Of course not”.

Malty laughed, stroking her mane backwards and off of her face she spoke “Don’t be so sure”.

“Huh?” Whistle asked tilting her head curiously. “What do you---”

“We may be friends now, sort of, but you hardly know me. I doubt you even remember how Amethyst was like. My dear, you need to be better open to stuff you find hard to believe” Malty explained. Whistle stared at her, the gears in her head were so visible Malty couldn’t help but utter another laugh. “You are so gullible, it’s rather cute”.

Whistle blushed, she hated how easy it was to trick or confuse her. She opened her mouth, closed it and then reopened it, finding the right words when embarassed was proving to be hard.

“Do you think Amethyst did it?” she finally asked. Malty ceased her laughter and looked rather surprised at the question.

“I do know, in fact I hold hardly know without doubt that she was not involved” Malty answered. It was now that Whistle had finally noticed her voice sounded rather hoarse.

“Know where she is?” Whistled asked. “Star Catcher’s been loo---”

“She’ll never find her” interrupted Malty.

“What?” Whistle tilted her head as Malty had turned her gaze away from her.

“Nevermind” Malty spoke. After what felt like a full minute she looked back and asked “You really can’t remember her?”

“Remember Amethyst? I never met her” Whistle answered. She wasn’t sure why everybody kept asking this one question, why can’t anypony just believe her word?

Malty could tell by just looking at Whistle that she was being honest and also knew that she was totally wrong, but it was what she believed. Malty could just tell her the truth, that she did know Amethyst but she simply wouldn’t remember and thus assume Malty was lying.

Flicking her mane she trotted into the other room. “I dare say, Minty won’t miss her at all, she probably skipped town or is in hiding as well”.

Malty trotted back some moments later with many books and a dining tray in her forelegs. She stopped and casted a glare behind her but then turned immediately to Whistle who had noticed a shrug in her shoulders. Whistle didn’t bother asking more questions and felt like she shouldn’t had even brought it up. Over the course of a hour they had resumed the lessons and Malty was somewhat surprised at Whistle’s new efforts.

“Amazing, five books and yet your limbs are steady” Malty spoke surprised.

Whistle went to nod but felt the weight of the books and immediately froze. She felt her legs itching to move but she fought against them, sweat started forming and the weight felt like it had doubled. Malty smirked, Whistle wasn’t sure how she kept from falling over when Malty, by some strange miracle, had slid the tray under her single standing hoof.

“You noticed it had an impression, balancing is more difficult when it feels as if you’re atop a small surface” spoke Malty. Her smirk grew wider as she placed more books atop Whistle’s head by the use of her cane.

As the cane passed by her face Whistle suddenly noticed it seemed different somehow. Malty’s cane should round out into a ball for the handle, but this one is more flat and had a curve to it. She pointed it out and Malty snapped her head to face Whistle, then she held the cane up as if it were an sword.

“Ah, you noticed. I seemed to had lost the other, doesn’t really matter as this one was a gift from Amethyst” Malty answered.

“Oh really?” Whistle asked. She immediately lost focus and fell over, the books fell atop her like hail.

“Ugh..and you were doing so well too” Malty shook her head as she spoke.

Whistle’s sorry was muffled by a book covering her face. Malty picked the tray up, trotted into the kitchen and came back. The tray was now stacked with food and drinks. She dropped them on the table which she had pushed back against the sofa, she then handed Whistle a knife and fork.

“Let’s see if you had been practicing” Malty spoke as she nudged a plate of steaming hot steak to Whistle.

Whistle looked at the utensils in her fore hooves and dug them into the steak, she started cutting but had flinched back suddenly. “Don’t add too much force” she whispered to herself. As she gripped the utensils once more her mind traveled to Approval and focused on a similar scene it had to this one.

She saw the paragraph reading itself out in her thoughts and she followed them like instructions. Treating the steak like a gentle butterfly she began cutting and stopped the knife once she had made a square. She lifted it with the fork, slowly moved it to her mouth and bit into it by the edges of her teeth. Malty was amazed as before Whistle couldn’t even stop breaking the plates.

Malty’s smirk turned in a genuine smile and as she patted Whistle on the back she spoke “You did very wel--um Whistle? There was bone? Tartarus’ sake, well, at least your posture and mannerism was good” she patted her back once more before cutting into her own steak. “I suppose my book did indeed help you?”

Whistle nodded, cutting her steak she made sure there was no more bones before taking a bite. Whistle smiled, then took a soft sigh. She looked at the steak and then at the utensils, her mind had drifted off to her mother and the times she had attempted to teach her these very lessons. Her hooves gripped the utensils tightly before resting them beside the plate, Malty was in the midst of cutting into another piece when she had took notice.

She placed the fork down and tapped the tablecloth to her lips. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Whistle at first just shrugged, then she asked “Do you think my mom would be, happy?”

Malty’s lip had a strange curl as she answered “You mean about this? Of course she would be proud you’re learning---”

“N-No.” Whistle interrupted her friend. “I mean about---me”.

“..Whistle” Malty whispered. She wrapped a hoof around Whistle’s shoulders, as her friend stared into her face she nodded and raised Whistle’s chin with the other hoof. “She would be the proudest mother ever”.

“Malty---thanks” Whistle gave a soft smile. The two hugged and Whistle, although she wasn’t sure why, felt safe in her friend’s embrace. “Say, your hug, it feels just like Min---”

Suddenly Malty jolted and grasped her chest. Whistle didn’t need to ask why as she flew up asked where her meds were. “N-No bother...no need, I mean..” Malty mumbled as she rolled off of the sofa with a thud and started to drag herself to an open door in the back.

“Is that your room? Are they in there?” Whistle asked hovering past Malty and into the room before her friend could even answer.

“W-Whistle! Get out--of---there...” Malty suddenly collapsed as she grasped her chest even tighter.

Whistle was frantically searching the room, pulling the dressers apart and looking in all the obvious places where medicine might be. She landed on the floor and was about to look under the bed but as she gripped the covers Malty’s cry of pain interrupted her. Whistle leapt and saw her lying on the floor, she began galloping over but just then her eyes had caught a glimpse of a small chest that was just barely visible from behind the door.

She kneeled down and opened it, her frown grew at seeing it was just filled with candy. She slammed the top shut but had almost immediately reopened it as she stared back and forth from Malty and the chest. An idea hit her as she flew over, taking one of the candy she slammed it down Malty’s throat. She gagged, coughed, and then she sighed in relieve as she loosened the grip on her chest.

Whistle was so relieved she could had fallen over and pass out herself, as she helped Malty to stand up she held the chest of candy into her face. “You have Hypoglycemia, why didn’t you just say so!”

Breathing normally once more Malty choked as she answered “It’s embarrassing---ugh my chest---needing to eat sugar to keep from entering a coma, it’s not something you just share, my dear”.

“Well! Minty has it, why do you think she eats like ten peppermints a afternoon?” Whistle returned sternly. “Wait a second..” Whistle casted a second glance at the chest’s contents, they were all peppermints with blue and green coloring. “This color, they look like Minty’s exper-what you call it candy…” Whistle stared up at Malty like she couldn’t believe her eyes. “You took them?”

“Of course not! I’m merely just testing them, yes, a taste tester” Malty returned heatedly. She stumbled to the kitchen and made a glass of water that she gulped down as if she had been in the desert for months.

“Minty never uses taste testers, she told me it was too dangerous”. spoke Whistle.

“Well, I suppose dangerous for you” Malty replied as she gulped down a second glass of water. “I suppose that’s enough for today” Whistle nodded in agreement as she hovered over to help her friend trot. “You did very well, I dare say you should show your friends at dinner”

***

The very next afternoon Whistle did just that, with Minty’s help they had invited nearly all of their friends to dinner. The location, while nowhere close to a manor, the dining room could had easily been stolen from one. It was large and was likely able to fit thirty ponies quite easily with pretty of elbow room, the walls and floor were made of marble and reflected the scented candles so beautifully it looked unreal. Hanging over the long and wooden table was a chandelier, the candle coverings had cuts in them and when spun around the shadows casted from them danced about the room with perfect harmony.

Everypony was surprised as they had never seen such a room before. “I still can’t believe Malty lent this to you” spoke Sparkleworks, her eyes widen by the dancing shadows.

Whistle giggled and hovered over to the table. After twenty minutes had passed the butlers had closed the dining doors, Whistle looked about her friends and was a bit letdown that a few were missing.

Suddenly the doors reopened and a pony trotted in, “Sorry I’m late..somepony was trying to sneak candy” spoke Tropical Dream who looked behind at Minty who looked quite sugar deprived.

“I only wanted to bring one peppermint” she whispered to Tropical Dream as they trotted over to the table.

“Psst, and ruin dinner? I think not” Tropical Dream returned.

As the two were seated Whistle leaned in and asked Minty “Where’s Lily?”

Minty shrugged as she replied “Beats me, she hadn’t showed for work since three days ago”.

“I believe Star Catcher is quite busy as well, that’s why she’s not here” spoke Tropical Dream who had overheard the two.

The butlers trotted by the table, levitating trays upon trays of food about the table and many mouths watered at the sight of food that they had never even heard of before. Another butler set about dining utensils, as Whistle picked her’s up she casted one more stare around the table.

Minty, who had already started to cut into her food, took notice and asked her “What’s wrong?”

“Malty’s not here, this was her idea so I wonder where she could be?” Whistle answered looking a little crestfallen.

Sparkleworks leaned over and whispered “I suppose she didn’t want to see Star Catcher, what with being a suspect. Perhaps she just didn’t want to be seen?”

Whistle sighed a little, she had hoped to show Malty for who she really was and thought it would had helped in ceasing the latest gossip. Since she likely wasn’t going to show Whistle had to force her mind to focus like Malty had told her to do in every lesson. The last thing she wanted was to mess up now of all times. As they ate Whistle demonstrated how to properly eat and more than a few tried mimicking her with most failing and ended up with broken plates instead.

Ponies laughed as they blushingly hide the plates and Whistle, who had broken more than her fair share, laughed along side them. Luckily a few of the butlers magically repaired the plates, although they did so grudgingly. Some of Whistle’s friends had brought their foals and every single one of them were very messy eaters, across the room they could hear and see the butlers growling with head shakes. One of the foals was holding a small stack of hay that she mistakenly dropped and as she hopped down to get it her rear had bumped the table tipping her cup over.

Whistle leaned down to help pick it up but she suddenly froze. Her eyes locking dead center on the orange contents and, for just a moment, she felt an itch to jump and lick it all up. How could she or Malty have forgotten to teach Whistle the hardest lesson of all, to ignore her urges for orange juice? It seemed quite obvious to had brought it up but they hadn’t, throughout all the eating and drinking lessons how did this one simple detail slip them both? Her forelegs were shaking in anticipation, her mouth had already began drooling, the dinner utensils fell from her hooves as she clenched them together.

“Do it” she heard her inner voice speak, “You hadn’t drunk orange juice in days and this is the perfect moment...drink it, drink it now! ”

“Whistle?” came Sparkleworks’ voice that had broken the silence that had fallen.

Whistle snapped around to face her and suddenly, at seeing her concern face, it felt as if a wall had shattered and she returned to the dining room. She peered around the table and saw her friends staring, then she turned back to Sparkleworks and her focus became even stronger. Biting her lip rather hard she fought her instincts and held her shaking hooves down upon the table, Sparkleworks laid a hoof on her’s and for a third time Whistle looked up at her.

“Oh forgive me, my daughter’s only three..” spoke the foal’s mother who had begun wiping up the spilled juice.

Shaking uncontrollably Whistle forced herself to nod slowly. “No worries---it’s just juice” she forced herself to say with great difficulty.

Whistle heard gasping but she kept her eyesight focused on Sparkleworks, fearing that if she broke eye contact that she would lose control of herself.

“She’s resisting orange juice?” spoke one of the ponies.

“She’s usually on the floor gulping it down by now, Celestia she had changed!” spoke another.

Sparkleworks smiled and Whistle’s shaking body had ceased at once, she felt completely normal all of a sudden as she felt a huge weight being lifted. She returned the smile, taking a leap of faith she turned over to the mother who was still cleaning up the mess her foal had made. Whistle hovered over and to everypony’s third surprise of the evening they saw her take up a napkin and helped the mother clean up.

Soon after an waitress trotted over and levitated what was left of the orange juice into the air and left the room with it. The mother thanked Whistle as she returned to her foal who was neck deep into ice cream that the waitress had brought over.

“You helped clean?” Sparkleworks’ mouth fell open as Whistle retook her seat as well. “Y-You never---you actually, grown, since you saw Malty”.

Whistle gently smiled and hugged Sparkleworks who was genuinely surprised that her grip was lighter than normal. Hours had passed rather quickly as by the time everypony was starting to have fun it was time to leave. Soon enough only a few ponies remained, mostly to help clean up and to continue chatting.

“Malty has Hypoglycemia?” asked Minty who was collecting the plates along with Tropical Dream.

“Yeah, she doesn’t get heart pains at all. Well she did grab her chest so---by the way Mints.” Whistle took a pause as she threw the plates atop her back into the sink. “She said you gave her candy to taste test”.

“She eats my candy? I’m spee--wait what!?” Minty’s plates fell as she jumped around, Tropical Dream just barely caught them in time. “I don’t use taste testers! You know that!”

“Well, that’s what she said..” Whistle whimpered.

“Well, it was a lie” Minty paused as Tropical Dream trotted past with her plates. After apologizing she asked “Were you sure it’s mine?” Whistle nodded and Minty suddenly had an light bulb go off in her mind. “So that’s where my supplies went..I noticed my candy stock is shorter than it should be, and Malty was seen approaching my building..”

They heard Tropical Dream gasp. “Minty, you’re not going to say---”

“Well, it’d make sense!” Minty snapped and immediately apologized to Tropical Dream once more. “Though I suppose I could be wrong, even my mom isn’t thief material”.

“Oh she is, she also steals credit” came Sparkleworks’ voice suddenly. She had a rag over her shoulder and her hooves were dripping wet.

“Done washing the dishes?” Minty asked as she eyed the butlers who had taken to cider in another room.

“Yes.” answered Sparkleworks. “But if you think Amethyst was there to steal from you, well it would also explain Edward”.

“Sparkleworks, Malty isn’t a thief” spoke Whistle.

Sparkleworks stared at Whistle before she shook her head and threw the rag to the floor as she stormed out. “You don’t know her, nopony ever listens to me”.

Whistle turned to Minty who had said “Maybe you should talk with her” and she nodded.

Whistle followed Sparkleworks through the door and spotted her at the table. Whistle hovered over and sat beside her but Sparkleworks didn’t even turn, she just kept her eyes on the table.

“Sparkleworks?” Whistle asked.

As Whistle placed a hoof on Sparkleworks’ shoulder she raised her head at her. Sparkleworks said “Amethyst---pfft---M-a-l-t-y, I’m happy she’s helping you, really. But---I just can’t wrap my head around why”.

Whistle wasn’t sure what to say, she thought Malty wanted to help out of friendship but even she couldn’t say that was totally the truth. However Malty hadn’t gave her any reason to think she’s cruel or anything, Whistle thought that she acted very calm and well mannered. But her two best friends seemed to think differently, why was that? What happened to make them think so lowly of Malty and Amethyst? Whistle wanted to know, she just had to know why, she also wanted to know if they were the same mare but she pushed that question out of her mind.

Whistle looked up at Sparkleworks and she could just feel her depression. After she had built up her courage she asked “What happened with you and, Minty’s mom?”

Small tears were visible in Sparkleworks’ eyes and it made Whistle feel like crying herself. “You wanna know?” Sparkleworks asked rubbing her eyes and for just a moment seemed to had second thoughts before she blurted out “She might seem nice to you, she might even be a friend but back when I was a foal she was anything but a friend”.

She took a pause to sniff and rub her nose, using one of the leftover napkins as a tissue. “I was five when I first saw a fashion show” she spoke suddenly and after rolling up the napkin she continued. “The dresses were so beautiful, diamonds were embedded into the fabric and after the fact they were all everypony remembered. The dresses inspired me, for two years I tried my hoof at recreating them, but with my own twist. Heh, you and Minty looked so adorable in the first dresses. Then the time finally came, I was given the post as dress designer in a school play”.

“Did it go well?” Whistle asked and Sparkleworks offered a single laugh.

“I don’t even remember it either, it was the big night and my final designs were ready. I rolled them backstage, ready to show them all what I had made, but---” Sparkleworks paused, tears dripped down her cheeks as she began ripping the napkin unintentionally.

Her hooves shaking Sparkleworks spoke “Another foal had their designs ready, I asked her what are you doing and she told me to get lost. Well, I didn’t. I brought the teacher over to get her to remove her dresses, it was my big night and she was taking it without so much of the teacher’s permission. Amethyst, who was talking to Minty at the time, trotted over and butted her nose into it”.

Whistle outstretched her wings to wipe Sparkleworks’ eye and flinched as she instead plucked a feather.

“It was none of her business, yet being the main funder her word went heavily. Well, she prefered Suri’s designs and called mine---she called them trash!” Sparkleworks shouted as she slammed her hooves and plucked another feather as she blew her nose. “Nopony would even back me up, they must’ve been scared of getting kicked out, poor things...only Minty really spoke up but Suri’s dresses were used just the same. I spent years on them but thanks to her...I never even got to see them wore”.

Sparkleworks plucked a third feather and Whistle wrapped her wings behind her back in fear of a fourth one being taken.

“I was distraught, I thought I could still use them but Suri went and STOLE them!” Whistle nearly jumped out of her seat as Sparkleworks angrily kicked the table. “And everypony knew it too! But because Amethyst backed her up, they did nothing! Two years of sweat and labor, two years of dreaming and my chance finally came...just to be taken away and shattered, I never understood why either...but I knew, I could never try again...she had made sure of that..”

Sparkleworks sniffed and reached behind Whistle’s back where she took another feather, cringing Whistle outstretched her hooves and pulled Sparkleworks into an embrace where she held their heads close. There Sparkleworks’ tears poured out like a river going over a rapid waterfall.

“W-Why are you c-c-cr-crying, for?” Sparkleworks asked when she had heard a sniff from Whistle.

“Because I can’t stand seeing you cry..” replied Whistle.

Sparkleworks pushed herself free of the hug and saw Whistle’s face was a complete mess, “Oh Whistle..” she shed even more tears as she began wiping Whistle’s away. She said “Don’t cry, look---I did get a talent”.

Sparkleworks pointed to her Cutie Mark which showed two fireworks being set off. “See? My talent---”

“Yeah, but that was a sad story..” Whistle sniffed. Unable to see her cry Sparkleworks brought her into another hug and patted her back.

“Honey, please stop..it’s all OK” Sparkleworks spoke. She was basically rocking Whistle back and forth in her forelegs like an foal.

Whistle sniffed again as she stared at the side of her friend’s head, as she nuzzled her face into Sparkleworks’ mane one more tear ran down her nose. Whistle tried speaking but her words were all jumbled and nothing would come to her mind.

Suddenly the hug was tightened, as Sparkleworks took a deep sigh Whistle thought it was an dying gasp and she became scared. “...You’re like a daughter to me, so please don’t cry anymore” she heard Sparkleworks’ voice.

Whistle felt her heart jolt, she leaned upward and stared at Sparkleworks who had just as many tears as she did. Both looked so pitiful the other just couldn’t stand it. Whistle nodded suddenly as she used her wings as tissues.

Looking at each other the two mares smiled and as they hugged one more time Whistle said something that had made Sparkleworks’ heart skip a beat. “I know, and you’re like a mom to me, too”

CHAPTER FOUTHTEEN:Breakfast, Take Two

It was Friday morning and as usual, Whistle and Sparkleworks were having their weekly breakfast together. However, there was one difference today that was in the form of a friend that Whistle had decided to bring. Sitting at the table with her was Malty, she was in a little bit of a death stare with Sparkleworks who sat straight across from them. Whistle had thought that this would help both mares get along, and to prove Malty wasn’t Amethyst but she hadn’t brought up that little detail just yet. What she had brought up though, was probably best unsaid.

“So,” Whistle started, whistling faintly. “Has Amethyst showed up recently?”

Malty, who was enjoying a loaf of bread, gave a suspicious stare before shaking her head no. Sparkleworks shook her head as well while saying “Ain’t it funny we never see you two in the same place?”

Malty choked on a big chunk of bread she had just swallowed. “You have something to say to me?” she asked, spitting out crumbs.

Whistle shook her head to Sparkleworks who had pretended not to notice her as she said “I know you’re her. So please, stop all this masquerading”.

Malty laid her loaf of bread down and sat up, both she and Sparkleworks leaned in closer and soon they were almost face to face with each other. “I suppose the charade is up, then, is that what you want me to say?” Malty asked nearly spitting into Sparkleworks’ face.

“Yes!” shouted Sparkworks who had drew the attention of the diner. “I’d never forget a pony, let alone one such as you!”

“Well!” Malty bared her teeth and gripped the table’s edges. “Since I’m Amethyst I suppose it’s within my character to fight?”

Whistle was biting her hooves frantically as Sparkleworks’ eyes squinted, she had her own grip on the table’s edge and each could feel the others’ hatred being surged through the table. Sparkleworks’ blood was pumping and she patiently waited for the first blow. The diner’s tensen was high to the point most wanted to jump up and outright bolt while others just stared, some had even forgotten to chew and began choking while more than a few were frozen as their coffee endlessly poured.

Malty seemingly snorted steam and her eyes moved in an predatorily manner, a smile grew wide across her face just before she bursted out laughing. The once high tensen had ceased, now replaced by confused and puzzled stares and a few had jumped at their overflowing mugs and embarrassing mopped it up.

“You should see the look on your face!” Malty laughed. She fell back into her seat and held her chest tightly. “Honestly, liven up a little. All that anger would just hold you back”.

Sparkleworks’ mouth had dropped in disgust mixed with confusion and surprised all in the span of two seconds. She slowly sat back down while her eyes remained locked on Malty who laughed and bumped her elbow to Whistle’s.

“Your friend needs to relax. I don’t know what Amethyst did, but I’m sure if you could speak with her, she’d be sorry for it” Malty laughed some more before she lifted up her glass of water and proudly spoke “Let’s make a toast, to dear old Amethyst, for being the mare that made us all what we are today!”

Malty went to drink but stopped the glass at her lips when she noticed Sparkleworks’ suspicious glare. “Not thirsty?” she asked sitting back down.

“No, if you’re not Amethyst then why are you using her old nickname?” Sparkleworks asked.

Malty just shrugged. “I suppose it’s just a coincidence. Though to be honest my dear, I wonder why myself, that we resemble each other. Suppose another coincidence, unless of course I’m trying to pose as her” Sparkleworks raised an eyebrow and Malty just laughed once more. “I’m merely joking my dear, look, my eyes are not contacts”.

Malty pulled open her eyelid and after leaning in to be sure, Sparkleworks saw her yellow eyes were indeed real. She knew ponies with contact lenses and they all had a faint ring just around the contact’s edges, something she didn’t see in Malty’s eyes.

“There? Happy?” Malty asked. Releasing her eyelid she blinked a few times to readjust her eyesight.

“Still could be magically altered” Sparkleworks said under her breath, her forelegs crossed in an unpleased manner.

“So...” Whistle started. Bumping her hooves together she just wanted to move away from the current subject as it was starting to make her uncomfortable, as well as make the diner feel uneasy. “The food here is great, isn’t it?”

“Hm? Oh yes, just divine.” Malty politely answered. “If we had food other than bread.” A waitress had just then trotted passed the table and Malty took ahold of and spun her around. “My dearest friend, we would like to order now”.

Fifteen minutes had passed and the three mares had all but finished eating when their conversion had shifted to the recent events, mostly thanks to overhearing another group of friends who were talking about it.

“Yeah, terrible stuff. I can’t imagine why someone would kill..” spoke a dragon waitress who had took a few empty plates before walking off.

“I can, Edward was such a---well, I suppose even he didn’t deserve it. Even if it was his own doing” Malty spoke as she cut into the last piece of pancakes and shivered at the incredible taste.

Sparkleworks had just finished eating and was cleaning her mouth as she spoke “The witness couldn’t see what was going on, so we don’t know how it went”.

“Well, I suppose Tropical Dream was too much in shock and as such, blocked most of it out” stated Malty.

Sparkleworks suddenly dropped her glass which luckily landed perfectly on the table’s edge. “How did you know that? Star Catcher didn’t allow them to print---”

“How do you know?” Malty returned the question, her tongue sliding across the plate which had made Whistle feel quite awkward.

“I---huh?” Sparkleworks stuttered.

“Word gets around, one knows this and another knows that. All gossip, I should know as I’m the queen, always centered in them” Malty offered a slight giggle and sipped her last bit of water. “You say Star Catcher allows printing? Well, maybe she’ll have something to print when this pony is caught”.

A couple more minutes went on and Whistle couldn’t help but notice something was off about Malty. She seemed more, cheerful, Whistle thought. She watched as Malty stood up, pulled a waitress in an embrace and spoke “A toast, to this wonderful city! I know it had ups and downs, but, that’s life. It can’t be always happy, but when it is let’s cherish the moment, least it’d be our last on this joyous Earth”.

Surprisingly, most of the ponies cheered along with her. Sparkleworks thought it was normal, at the very least, since a murder recently took place and the culprit was still at large the ponies needed something to be happy about. She still believed it was Amethyst, and as far as she was concerned Malty was still a likely suspect in her books. As she watched Malty she thought her behavior became ever more suspicious.

Whistle found it extremely odd and out of character for Malty, the way she cuddled the waitress, the way her mannerisms seems more easy going and when the two for a fraction of an second resembled an romatic couple, Whistle was sure that this wasn’t the same Malty that she knew. By the time Whistle began coughing to get Malty’s attention she was nuzzling the waitress’ neck, Malty heard the fifth fake cough and with a blush she let the waitress go.

Trotting back to the table she checked her pocket watch before she took her hat that was seated beside Whistle, she bowed her head and said “Forgive me, I have a appointment to which I must attend. It was a pleasure” and left the diner without another word but she did gave the waitress a wink, who then blushed going behind the counter.

Whistle turned back in her seat and through the glass window she saw Malty tossing something tiny into her mouth, assuming it was a peppermint she facehooved suddenly. “I forgot to ask her..”

Sliding back down into her seat Sparkleworks had jumped over the table saying “OK, I believe you. There is no way in Tartarus that was Amethyst. She just acted out of her character, cheering and seemingly---” Sparkleworks rolled her eyes to the waitress and back to Whistle. “---she would rather die”.

“I told you,” returned Whistle. “remembered when Minty tried going to the North Pole?”

Sparkleworks went to say something in response but suddenly raised a curious eyebrow at Whistle. “You remember? We thought you had blocked that entire nig-oh CELESTIA!” she slammed her hooves and looked out of the window. “I should’ve asked to see her Cutie Mark!” Sparkleworks facehooved and immediately rubbed her forehead. “If only she wasn’t wearing that coat”.

As they were trotting home a few minutes later their conversion was still on how differently Malty had acted. “Did you noticed she spoke, normally, for once?” Sparkleworks had asked.

Whistle nodded before asking “Think she gave up trying to talk in that---what you call it speech?”

Sparkleworks gave a shrug. “Oh I don’t know, but Amethyst spoke with thou and thisth since me and Minty were foals”.

Sparkleworks came to a stop, a small smile grew on her face and then, along with Whistle, the two started laughing.

“Well, as long as she’s happy. I suppose I won’t need to learn how to speak it” Whistle laughed and giggled as she imagined how it fun would be to copy Malty.

Sparkleworks suddenly looked a little concerned. “Whistle, I know you trying to grow up is good and all but, are you happy?” she asked placing a hoof on Whistle’s shoulder. “Acting proper and all, to be honest, it’s like you’re turning into a different pony”.

Whistle tilted her head and did half of a shrug. “What do you mean?” she asked but before Sparkleworks could answer a third voice had spoken up.

“Guys! You won’t believe it!” it was Cotton Candy and stress was clear across her face.

“What’s up?” Sparkleworks asked, a terrible feeling had formed in the back of her gut.

Cotton Candy came to a screeching halt and, her voice very shaken, shouted “Another pony was found! Another murder!”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:The Heart Breaking News

Minty popped a peppermint stick into her mouth and tossed the wrapper aside as she took up a stirring spoon, as well as the morning paper. As she stirred some kind of orange liquid in a large beaker she read the paper aloud in her mind.

“Victim in worse shape than the last---a week later and no new leads---yada yada yada---Celestia arrives to personally lend aid..” she laid the newspaper down, eyes dead centered on the front page’s photo.

She didn’t know the pony but the sadness of lost was felt as if she had. “Lily hadn’t been in work for nearly a week, hope she’s---oh calm down Minty, I’m sure she isn’t lying dead somewhere” Minty laughed at her silly fear but the reality of two murders very close to each other sank in and she wasn’t so sure if it was silly at all.

Lily wasn’t the type to skip out, although there was one time that Minty remembered when she had. When Lily first discovered her unique horn ability she was so embarrassed she galloped off, her friends, Minty included, set out to find her. It was a scary time, but luckily Lily was found and brought home the same night she had galloped off on. Minty was hoping, like she had back then, that her old friend was alright and safe.

Minty stirred some more and every few seconds lifted up the spoon and took a sip. “Hm, tastes about right” sucking on her peppermint stick she took up a quill and wrote in her notepad “Taste is just like a real orange, now on to step 2”.

Minty left the room and returned a minute later, balancing something atop her nose until dropping it on the table. It was a tin, usually for muffins however this was of her own design, made customly with the help of Pinkie Pie. The indents were large circles with a rectangle in the centers. Minty lifted the beaker to which she stirred in, and poured the orange contexts until each indent was filled to the prim.

Minty took up a measuring ruler that was dark grey in color and looked to had been sharpened on one side, she scraped it along the tin until each indent were perfectly even. She sucked and savored the peppermint flavor with a wide smile while simultaneously sliding her nose under the tin and balanced it once more. She trotted to the kitchen, opened the freezer which laid about the floor, and carefully laid the tin inside.

As she closed the lid she heard “Oh curses! This is just divine..” her teeth suddenly clamped hard on her peppermint and it broke in half.

Minty turned and saw Tropical Dream kneeled down with an old antique plate, among many others that was due to be washed that evening.

“Oh Tropical..” Minty said rolling the broken half of peppermint in her mouth until she swallowed it, then she leapt off of the freezer and trotted over to help her friend.

“I’m just so sorry Minty..” Tropical Dream spoke, Minty could just shiver at the sadness in her voice.

“For what?” she asked, shrugging it off.

“These were antiques, and now they're ruined” Tropical Dream levitated a few shattered pieces and frowned that she couldn’t restore them.

Minty gave a chuckle and nearly choked herself with the rest of her peppermint. “I doubt even my mom would notice” she said after coughing the peppermint up.

At the mention of her mother Minty had noticed a slight reaction from her friend. Tropical Dream had levitated the remaining broken pieces and forcefully tossed them across the room, luckily, none missed the trash bin she had aimed for. Minty was in awe at the aim, but she was more concerned so her moment of awe was extremely short lived.

“Are you doing alright?” Minty asked.

Tropical Dream nodded without so much of a head turn. “Yes, of course, why would you ask?” she replied fastly and trotted to the other end of the room.

She levitated a few carrots and a cutting knife, she was chopping so fast Minty was sure it must had broken a record. “Because, you forgot the metal chopping---thingie, and cutting into the counter's surface” Minty had answered trotting up to her side.

Tropical Dream only took one look and cringed, “Oh..” blushing she dropped her levitation spell and trotted off to the freezer.

She opened it, saw that Minty had placed a tin inside and closed it back. Then she trotted to the refrigerator and dug through it’s contents, “You’re also avoiding something” Minty spoke gnawing on the stick as she trotted over.

Tropical Dream had jumped and bumped her head against one of the inner shelves, after which she had offered a curse and slammed the door. “I am not running from something” she sternly spoke, her lips wobbling ever so slightly.

“Yeah, alright then” Minty said turning around, her tail slightly brushing along Tropical Dream’s face. She took a few steps towards the door when she said “You know you can always talk to me”

Minty trotted a couple more paces, she had just reached the door and smiled for her friend had just said “W-W-Wait..”

Turning around Minty asked “So, will you tell me what’s bothering you?” as she tossed the stick into the trash bin and trotted back over.

Tropical Dream opened her mouth, bit her lip and turned her eyes to the floor. Then finally, after what Minty assumed were many second thoughts, she spoke “It’s just---I-I-I’m worried. A-About---”

“The murders?” Minty unconsciously interrupted, after saying “Sorry” she motioned for her friend to continued.

Tropical Dream took a deep sigh, her eyes were beginning to tear up as she went on. “Y-Yes, but not only that. Somepony----somepony very s-special to me, she hadn’t been seen in over a week. I’m worried---worried that she’s out there, somewhere, dead o-or worse yet…”

Minty took a sigh herself and felt relieved that she wasn’t the only pony worrying. “I know exactly how you feel” she spoke.

“Y-You do..?” Tropical Dream asked a little taken aback.

“Of course,” smiled Minty. “Lily hadn’t been in for almost a week! I’m worried too”.

Tropical Dream had the remnants of a smile that soon faded back into her frown, her head lowered and her voice was just a tad bit lower. “O-Oh..is that what you meant?”

Minty’s head tilted with an raised eyebrow. “Don’t you?”

“O-Oh yes..yes, I’m worried about Lily too..” Tropical Dream replied. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes furiously before saying “I s-s-should go”.

She made for the door but just as she reached it Minty had said “You’re free to take a few days off” which had made her stop in place as if Discord had just froze her.

Tropical Dream turned around gasping, she asked “W-Why?” as usually Minty would be upset being the only one at work and her offer had took her extremely off guard.

Minty smiled, trotting over she hugged her friend and said “Because, you clearly need the time and with what’s been happening, we all need a break or two”.

Tropical Dream couldn’t believe what she was hearing, this couldn’t had been the same Minty she worked with. It was just unlike her character to freely allow breaks but even so, she hugged back and felt greatly relieved.

“Plus, I don’t need you breaking every plate that we have” came Minty’s voice and almost immediately Tropical Dream broke the hug.

“Oh I see, you just don’t want me to break stuff? Not like you never did that!” Tropical Dream spoke and even though she sounded a little harsh, both mares ended up smiling.

They laughed, hugged, and laughed some more. “Go, come back when you feel able. I got a new candy to work on anyways”.

“Oh? Is that what was in the freezer?” Tropical Dream asked as Minty trotted over to it.

“Yeah, something for Thistle Whistle. Think I’ll call it---------Minty Orange, a see through jawbreaker that is sure to break ja-oh hi Star Catcher” Minty greeted her friend who had just appeared at the back door, curious why she choose that as her entry Minty asked “Why didn’t you just use the front door?”

But Star Catcher didn’t answer, she just stood there, her face deep in sadness. Minty suddenly got a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, Tropical Dream had the same feeling and, even though she could never possibly read minds, could just feel she knew why their friend was here.

Star Catcher trotted in, her voice terribly shaken as she spoke “Minty, another body was found. Just this morning, I’m not sure how to tell you this...”

Minty suddenly felt so sick that she could had threw up, this simply could not be real and she was sure she was lucid dreaming. But the look on Star Catcher’s face told her that the cold shivers she felt was all too real.

“Oh no..Oh Tropical..L-Lily..!” Minty began to cry.

“No, it isn’t Lily. I saw her only yesterday, and this pony’s been dead for at least a few days” returned Star Catcher in her shaken but stern voice.

Minty stared at her with a stare somewhere between confused and depressed. “If it’s not her then who-oh no, Whistle!? Sparkleworks? The mare who’s always first to eat here?”

Star Catcher shook her head and held her wings out as a sign to be quiet. Minty gulped a little as she fell silent. Star Catcher had a clear gulp as well, shown by her lips struggling to open. She sighed and for a brief moment she stared upward at the ceiling before her eyes fell back on Minty.

“I’m personally here to deliver this,” Start Catcher started. “Minty...it’s your mother, Amethyst”.

***

Tropical Dream climbed the staircase, stepping off on the floor where Minty’s room was located. She trotted up to her door, knocked three times, and heard movement.

“Minty? It’s been three days, are you there?” she asked placing her head against the door.

“Go away!” Minty shouted after more repeated knocks.

Her voice sounded hoarse, as well as a little higher in pitch. Tropical Dream lowered her head until her horn was centered with the keyhole. There was a bright flash from within along with a faint click, she then nudged the door open and trotted inside.

“Minty? I’m coming in---” Tropical Dream started when she suddenly gasped.

Hyperventilating she paused, raised a hoof to her chest, and slowly breathed. Carefully she opened her eyes and again she was met with the state of Minty’s room. The table was turned over, the dressers and a cabinet laid across the floor with their contents scattered about. Pictures that were once on the walls were now on the floor, shattered, clearly thrown and smashed. It looked as if a struggle had broken out and it wasn’t just contained in the living room.

As Tropical Dream fought against instinct and trotted forward she saw the kitchen was in a even worse state, she dare not take a second look. She pressed on, despite wanting to flee or at least clean up, then she came to Minty’s bedroom. Nudging it open she was met with a clearly shaken voice.

“I hate that unlocking spell..” Minty stuttered.

Tropical Dream again gasped, not because the room looked as if a tiger was let loose inside, but at the state her friend was in. Her fur, while never truly neat, was just too dreadful to deny it needed cleaning. Her mane and tail were all in ends, looking unwashed and made Minty look like she had been struck by lightning. Her eyes were darker, her cheeks soaked with tears that were still pouring from her eyes.

“Oh Minty---” Tropical Dream paused and ducked, narrowingly avoiding a pillow. “I know you’re upset, but that’s not a reason to thro-Hey!” She must’ve ducked three times until Minty was out of pillows to throw, then she reached for her lamp.

“Let go!” Minty yelled, being pulled back by a levitation spell.

“Will you stop throwing things?” Tropical Dream asked. She only released the spell when Minty had nodded.

She fell on the bed and immediately used the covers as a cloak to hide herself. Tropical Dream could hear her crying, signified by a rough sniff which was followed by a cough induced whine. Tropical Dream wanted to embrace her in a hug but Minty had turned and rolled to the other end. Tropical Dream felt Minty’s pain, seeing her crying form under the sheets had made her tear up something fierce.

“Minty, I’m sorry.” spoke Tropical Dream. “I wished I could help you to feel better but---”

“Then leave!” Minty rudely interrupted, bucking with her hind legs. “I don’t need you! Or a-anypony! So---just left me alone!”

“I shall not leave you, it’s been three days you need to talk to somepony!” returned Tropical Dream who frowned at herself for that harsh outburst.

Minty rolled, cried, and blew her nose into the covers. Refusing the urge to show her disgust Tropical Dream moved to the other side but Minty just rolled right off of the bed and struck her head against one of the many dressers she had pulled apart. Immediately Tropical Dream levitated her up and started a small healing spell.

Tropical Dream asked “Are you fine?”

“Yes! Now let go!” Minty had interrupted her.

Minty started bucking again and had managed to strike Tropical Dream clear across the face. Luckily when she fell, she landed back on the bed.

“Ouch!” Tropical Dream shouted. She touched her nose and felt tiny drops of blood dripping. “Oh---fine! Be distraught, you little...” she sighed and levitated from her saddle purse a tissue.

She turned and stomped her way to the door feeling quite angry, “I’m sorry..” came Minty’s shaken voice.

Tropical Dream stopped, the anger faded from her system as she turned back around. Minty was hidden under the covers again and her breathing sounded hindered, Tropical Dream trotted back and sat beside her on the bed. Minty didn’t move but pulled hard when Tropical Dream attempted to lift the covers.

“I don’t get it” Tropical Dream started but paused to hold a second tissue to her nose. “You avoided talking about Amethyst, and when you do it’s out of anger and all that rubbish. You said many a times you didn’t care about her, so why? Why are you like this?”

There was a moment of silence, apart from Minty’s breathing and yelps. Finally, in what must had been an deep whine, she said “I never said I hated her..”

Tropical Dream blinked, then she started to ask “But, you did just a few--”

“I was lying alright!” Minty yelled. She jumped up and Tropical Dream got a good close up of her face. Likewise Minty got a good close up of Tropical Dream’s, she knew by the stained fur that she had been crying recently as well. “I don’t hate my mom, I just hated how she treated me. But I never stopped loving her, even after she gave up on me...”

A tear fell from Tropical Dream’s face, her lip shook as she moved the cover off of Minty’s head. Being up close her face looked much more wrecked and Tropical Dream brought Minty into an embrace and held her head close to her shoulder.

“I always thought we could get back together, someday, even though I knew she would never..” Minty cried.

“I’m sure she wanted the same thing, it’s just she didn’t know how” Tropical Dream shedded another tear, “Oh dear I’m getting you messy..well, more messy..” she levitated another tissue but Minty had pushed it away.

“Just leave it, I think your nose needs it more” Minty coughed and held her friend close, sniffing into her fur.

Holding the tissue to her own nose Tropical Dream spoke “I upose ou r igh, ugh my nuse urts…oh ure laugh, thi yor ault..”

“I’m sorry..” spoke Minty. She reached into her friend’s saddle purse and handed her another tissue.

Tropical Dream smiled, finally she was getting somewhere with her friend. She took the tissue but instead of using it for her nose, she used it to wipe Minty’s tears. She didn’t fight back, she just rolled her head over and nuzzled against her friend’s fur which felt much more welcoming than her bed.

“You really think my mom, wanted me back?” Minty asked her. Sniffing she blew her nose into her foreleg, to which Tropical Dream immediately levitated it into a trash bin.

“I know she did, she would never stopped mentioning it---from what I hear” Tropical Dream gave a faint chuckle and Minty widened her eyes as she glared up at her.

“What do you mean?” Tropical Dream gave another chuckle and nervously fumbled with her tissues, Minty saw sweat on her brow. “You----been talking with my mom?”

“No----------------well, yes, but not only talking..” Tropical Dream gave a cough then went on to add “Heavens, I already cried my heart out and I have no more tears left to cry..”

Minty raised another eyebrow and rubbed her nose clean.

Tropical Dream saw her friend’s stare and took a deep sigh, probably the deepest sigh she had ever took. “I’m---not going to lie, not anymore.” she started to say as she fumbled and rolled up her tissues. “I been---over the last few years---been---seeing Amethyst”.

Minty tilted her head, Tropical Dream gave a nervous smile and her eyes were twitching. Then, suddenly, she recalled seeing them together on that night Lily had showed up on and a particular moment was now explained. She gasped, jumping and tearing herself away from her friend who looked as though their child was just ripped from their forelegs.

“You been dating my mom!?!” Minty bellowed.

“No!” Tropical Dream shouted back in defence “W-Well, yes. But---”

“Oh sweet Celestia!” Minty yelled again and looked as though she could had threw up. “That’s why you were with her before, and when she leaned in---you were dating my mom!?”

Minty was outraged, her voice so high it felt like she was using the Royal Shout on an high volume. Tropical Dream frantically tried to speak, or at least calm Minty down, but she just couldn’t get a word through Minty’s outbursts.

“You went behind my back and dated my mom? Normally I wouldn’t mind, same gendered couples I’m all for, BUT MY MOM! How could you?!” Minty bellowed.

“M-Minty..” gasped Tropical Dream. “believe me when I say we had to ke--”

“You’re one of my best friends, a co-worker, I even gave you a place to sleep!” Minty interrupted as she fiercely stomped around in circles.

“Minty, please let me---” started Tropical Dream but again she was interrupted by more shouting.

“I can’t believe this...wait, have you been stealing my supplies?” Minty asked as she kept pacing back and forth and Tropical Dream could almost see smoke emitting from her ears as the gears in her head were turning so fast that she simply couldn’t keep up.

“What?! Minty, you know I’d never do that!” Tropical Dream’s mouth fell open, outraged she was just accused of theft by one of her best friends.

“It fits doesn’t it? I mean, starting around two years ago I noticed my peppermint stock was getting more and more depleted, faster than normally” Minty started to explain. “Then I saw you with my mom, I didn’t want to believe she was capable of stealing but---you were dating her?”

“Minty,” Tropical Dream tried to get a word in. “I-would-never-steal-from---”

“That’s why my mom was here on Hearth’s Warming Eve..” Minty spoke as she came to a sudden halt. “She was coming to see you!” Minty turned to face her friend, she was both breathless and disappointed.

There was a brief moment where both were silent, staring into the other’s eyes which by now were so widen they could see their own reflections through their tears. Tropical Dream had just said she had no more tears left to cry, so what was making her a liar?

“Minty, that wasn’t Amethyst” Tropical Dream spoke, her voice almost hoarse. “It was Ma---”

“Get out” Minty interrupted as she pointed at the door.

“W-What?” gasped Tropical Dream who had hoped she heard her friend wrong.

“You went behind my back and secretly saw my mom, despite knowing how I felt” Minty returned, her voice shaken to the point it sounded as if her voice box was cracking.

Tropical Dream stared at Minty, shaking her head she spoke “But you just told me---”

“You’re fired, now please...just leave” Minty interrupted as she stepped aside and faced the opposite direction.

Tropical Dream stepped closer off of the bed but stopped, she could see the side of Minty’s face and at seeing it she lost all desire to argue. Minty was shaking uncontrollably and her face became a river of tears once more, she hated yelling at friends but she wasn’t sure if she could even call Tropical Dream a friend anymore.

Likewise Tropical Dream was crying her eyes out, she clamped her mouth and eyes shut as she felt her heart shatter into even more pieces. Not bothering to look at Minty Tropical Dream trotted to the door, but she stopped suddenly. Minty could hear the same whine she had uttered mere moments before, she just wanted Tropical Dream to leave already so she fought with all her might to remain still.

“Here, Amethyst told me that if anything was ever to happen to her, to give you this” Minty heard her friend’s voice.

There was a pause in which Minty heard increased sobering, but she kept her eyes focused on the floor. “She was intending to die peacefully,” Minty flicked her head up suddenly at Tropical Dream’s words. “but not like this. Oh my stars, not like her plan at all…”

There was silence now, nothing but Tropical Dream’s cries and whines as she left. Minty waited until she heard the apartment door open and close, then she turned to see what Tropical Dream had left. It was a small box, no bigger than a typical jewelry chest that now sat atop her bed. She trotted over and picked it up with every intention to throw it out the window, but her hoof just refused the instinct. Something was fighting against her anger, a voice telling her to open it. She gritted her teeth, her hoof shook under the box’s weight, tear after tear poured down and, finally, she lost it.

She shook her head, spun around and with all the might she could muster she tossed the box clear across the room, uttering the worse curse that she had ever said. She fell to her knees, sobbing.

“M-Mom..mommy...” she cried and buried her face into the floor. Banging her hooves hard enough to crack them or the floor itself. Then, she felt something touch her head.

She looked up and saw, to her surprised, a golden locket with bits of a broken chain attached to it. There was an split second where she just stared at it, dazed. Then she picked it up and, she wasn’t sure how, but it opened. Her eyes met a photo, she sniffed and rubbed her nose which had started to run once more.

“T-This is...right after I was born..” she sniffed again, staring at the photo her tears had ceased almost at once.

She looked up and saw the box, it’s contents now scattered. Picking herself up she trotted over and saw it was filled with all sorts of mementos, mostly newspaper articles that were cut out. She had noticed one article that caught her attention the most, not just because the other half of the chain laid atop it, but because of the photo.

She slide the broken chain off and lifted the article, reading it aloud. “T-This is...from opening day..and this one. It’s from last year, when I broke the world record..”

Minty dug through the many mementos and articles, feeling more and more strange with each new discovery. “This---this is the ball I painted red, to match my first ever lillpop..and this, my first Hearth’s Warming with my friends, the year I broke the Candy Cane..”

Minty had found another article, one that had made her tear up once more. “L-Last year’s New Years..how did she get this photo? It was only given to ponies who attended the reunion..” She sniffed rubbing her eyes as she stared at the photo and then at the locket. She reached over and grabbed it, her teary eyes glued to it’s tiny image. “M-Mom...you didn’t give up..I-I’m so sorry..”

Minty started crying even more heavily and began rocking back and forth with the locket clenched in her hooves, then she had held the locket to her chest and somehow she felt more at ease. She took ahold of her bed covers and wiped her eyes, “Tropical..” she spoke as she went to stand but suddenly halted.

There was something in the box that she had missed, something that wasn’t a article nor a picture, it was an purple envelope. Somewhat wrinkled and stained, she picked it up and saw it was addressed to her. She flipped it over, bit at the tape until it was in halves, then from within she pulled out a letter. She immediately recognized it as her mother’s handwriting, the big give away was the ink.

“You always favoured purple and red..let’s see, Dear Minty...”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:The Good News

--FILLYDELPHIA EXPRESS--

Our town was shaken by gruesome murders, this upcoming twenty fifth will mark the two month anniversary. Families and friends of the victims will be holding a memorial in the town’s centre, all is welcome to pray and wish for their souls, may they find peace in the afterlife.

Murderer still unknown but since it’s been two months, rumors of him (or her) are saying he left town, or was caught and killed and a cover up was put into place. The murderer, dubbed by many as ‘The Red Apron’, as of today, is being investigated by neighboring towns.

Where is he now? Until that question is answered, the families of the victims may never find peace. If anypony has information regarding this case, please do not be afraid, the princess herself personally ask that we share anything that we can.

In other news, famed candy maker Minty, being the only known survivor of ‘The Red Apron’, is recovering well. Latest interviews revealed her back, which was broken in three separate pieces by her attacker, is healing quite well. Quote from her doctor, ‘Our new and enhanced back brace, imbued with magical healing that’ll guaranteed fast recovery!’

“Yeah, and I’m Dr.Hyde, famed healer of the medieval times” laughed Minty as she placed an empty cake tray atop the display stand.

“Well, it seems to be working” spoke Tropical Dream. After laying the morning paper down she stood from the table and trotted over to her friend.

Minty casted a stare behind her. Underneath a purple hoodie were bandages leading up to her neck, “I look ridiculous” she said with a sigh.

“Yeah, well at least you’re healing” smiled Tropical Dream. She levitated a cupcake which was smaller compared to the rest, and placed about two bits on the display stand as she trotted off with it.

Minty chuckled. “Hey, just because you work here doesn’t mean you can take food”.

“Whmt?” Tropical Dream coughed and swallowed. “I gave two bits for it!” Minty bursted out laughing, Tropical Dream gave a stern stare but fell into laughter as well. “You never change, seem to be acting like your old self again, Joker”

“H-Hey that’s Pinkie and Celestia’s thing--ow..” Minty yelped suddenly.

“Are you fine?” Tropical Dream asked. Suddenly a blue hue emitted from inside Minty’s hoodie and she knew why her friend had yelped. “Ah, that time of the hour is it?”

“At least it’s not on my eye...say Tropical, can I ask something?” Minty asked as she trotted over to the table Tropical Dream was seated in. She turned an empty seat backwards and sat down across from her.

“Always” Tropical Dream smiled. She offered some of her cupcake but was declined.

Minty took a inhale to make her thoughts steady. “Was Malty really----that bad?” she asked. Tropical Dream raised an eyebrow so Minty hastily added “B-Before she went psycho crazy”.

“You mean was she still you?” Tropical Dream asked in return. Minty blushingly nodded. “Well, she was always prone to anger, so Amethyst made sure that she kept it in check”.

“Still can’t believe you two knew,” Minty said in a loud whisper. “must’ve been hard to keep it a secret”.

“Well Amethyst believed that if Malty kept her life separate from yours, then she’d be fine” returned Tropical Dream as she crossed her fore legs atop the table and seemed distracted suddenly.

“Yeah, that’s exactly why..” Minty trailed off as she rested her head in her forelegs which were centered on the table as well.

Minty thought back to the very last words she had said to her mother and then seeing all the mentos she had in that box, it made her feel really odd. Should she feel happy that her mother was still watching over her? Or angry that she never told her? Or both? For the longest time Minty had thought very little of her mother, yet had never forgotten her. She had loved her mother every single day that had passed, despite showing sheer anger every time she was mentioned.

Minty sniffed slightly and tried to hide it from her friend who knew something was up. “She must had felt terrible when she learnt what I had done” Minty spoke. She sounded quite calm but inside her mind she cried at her words.

“Minty, stop saying it was you” spoke Tropical Dream as she lifted her friend’s head by use of levitation and then used her magic to straighten her mane.

“It was still me, deep down inside..me and Malty are the sam---” Minty trailed off as she heard the sound of a door opening. “HI Lily!” she awkwardly grinned as their co-worker Lily had just entered the room. “Dishes are done?” she asked with her grin growing even more awkward across her face.

Lily, untying her mane and letting it flow, nodded and said “Yep, so what was that about you and Malty?”

Minty and Tropical Dream awkwardly started at the other in concern, then they started laughing. “Oh, you know----we look like twins!” Minty answered. She felt so awkward that she bet she looked a tad bit out of it to her friends.

“But that’s just a rumor as well, it’s the fur” Tropical Dream added fastly. In a nervous reflex she had offered a piece of her cupcake, she frowned when Lily had natched the whole thing from her magical grip.

Lily sat down and ate the cupcake in one giant bite. She spoke, spitting out crumbs in the progress. “It’s odd ain’t it?” she held her mouth, swallowed, and continued. “Amethyst is gone---please forgive me didn’t mean anything by it---and Malty just dropped off the face of the Earth?”

“Well, maybe she moved?” Minty asked while sliding the crumbs off of the table and just shrugged as Tropical Dream gave her a death glare.

“Around the same time the murderer disappeared..” spoke Lily.

Both mares exchanged more nervous looks and hid their lips from their friend as they mouthed words.

“Well!” Tropical Dream spoke up with a wide smile. “That’s quite a claim, but I sure hope you're not suggesting anything”.

“Well Tropical,” started Lily as she finally sat down at their table. “I’m just thinking. Why would she just disapp---”

“Well, why did you disappear!” Minty slammed her hooves down in interruption. “I thought you were probably dead somewhere, you should tell us when you go off someplace!”

The other two mares stared at Minty, they were quite speechless. Lily turned to Tropical Dream who had offered a shrug, which had such little effort her forelegs barely moved.

“I’m sorry, I had a family issue and had to leave on short notice” Lily offered in an quick answer.

“Yeah, uh huh” Minty said squinting her eyes. She slowly released her anger by breathing in and out slowly, her hoof folding and outstretching with each breath that she took.

“The princess’ technique?” Lily asked.

Minty shook her head. “My mom’s, if you can believe that” she answered.

“Speaking of that..” Lily spoke as she turned her attention to the display case which held all sorts of normal candy and had nothing of Minty’s usual creativity. “Why did you stop your---um---candy creation or whatever you called it?”

Minty turned herself around to look at the display case and rubbed the back of her neck. “They...weren’t working out, is all” she spoke flicking the hood over her face. The blue hue came back and she looked quite ghostly under the hood.

“That and her chemical sets were all destroyed in the attack” Tropical Dream spoke as she gave Minty a slight wink in support.

“Say, did you ever tell the guards who your attacker was?” Lily asked. Chuckling as she pulled down Minty’s hood.

“You know I don’t like magic being used on me!” Minty spoke in a heated breath. “And I never saw her face, it was---masked”.

“Her? So you knew the gender, how?” Lily asked as she leaned in closer and crossed her hooves which had made Minty feel quite uneasy.

Minty reached inside a pocket on the hoodie’s front, pulled out a candy cane and began gnawing on it. She caught Tropical Dream giving a surprised stare and carefully hiding her lips she mouthed “It’s clean, you see blue or green?” then she turned to Lily.

After sucking quite hard on the cane she spoke “I heard her voice, and no, she was speaking in a deep hoarse voice. Clearly faking”.

“Hm, interesting” replied Lily. “Well, hopefully she won’t be returning” she stood up and trotted to the display case. “Can I get another cupcake?”

Minty chuckled as she grinned at Tropical Dream. “See? She asked!”

“And I paid, Minty” Tropical Dream sighed with a bit of a facehoove. “Say Lily?” Lily had just levitated herself a large cupcake with red icing when she had heard her friend. “Why did you ask so many questions?”

“Oh? No reason” Lily answered trotting back to the table. “A friend has the right to be worried”.

Tropical Dream stared as Lily dug into her cupcake and Minty had forgotten how messy an eater she was. “So, your family issue is doing fine, then?” Tropical Dream asked her.

“Oh sure! Mom had a bit of a wreck, her wing is banged up, but a blue pegasus saved her from having a robotic replacement” Lily explained while licking the icing off of her teeth. The other two simply could not hold back their laughter at how funny her face looked.

“Robotic replacements..” Minty spoke softly. Staring down at her own hooves she added “Wonder what they would be like?”

Tropical Dream shook her head and replied “A robotic horn, how could they be magical?”

Both Lily and Minty went to answer but just then the front door bursted open. “My mom’s visiting!!!!” spoke Whistle who had zoomed in so fast that the other three mares took cover under the table as if their friend was a loud sonic boom.

“Whistle!” came Sparkleworks’ voice which sounded out of breath. “What did I tell you about entering like that?”

Whistle didn’t answer as she flew in circles above. The three mares emerged out from under the table, at seeing Minty Whistle had dived and rolled just before landing atop the table.

“My mom is visiting!” she whistled and handed Minty a letter she had rolled up inside her tail.

Minty read it and looked up at her friend with a wide smile. “This is great!”

“Yeah! It is!” Whistle smiled hopping off of the table. “I got out my old catcher’s mitt, can’t believe she bought tickets for the big game!”

Whistle felt so much joy that she just couldn’t stand still, she went to hover but a hard tug on her tail had landed her just as quickly as she lifted.

“No more flying indoors” Sparkleworks spoke spatting her tail out.

“Good evening Sparkleworks, how’s Star Catcher?” asked Tropical Dream.

Sparkleworks turned and at noticing Lily she clamped her mouth shut. From the corner of her eye she caught Whistle throwing and catching a baseball, “Stop that at once” she snapped and Whistle froze in mid catch as the ball fell to the floor. “She’s doing fine, we’re due to see a film next week”.

Minty clamped her hooves together in a friendly manner. “Oh, so you’re back to---”

“No Minty, of course not” Sparkleworks interrupted with an blush. “We’re just going as friends” Sparkleworks darted her eyes back and forth, she coughed while simultaneously tilting her head towards Lily.

Minty stared at Lily before she noticed that Sparkleworks had a nervous impression. “O-Oh! Yeah, maybe me and Whistle can go too!” she replied wagging her tail.

“Can’t” spoke Whistle who was about to resume catching the ball but had halted when she caught Sparkleworks’ glare. “....Fine” her nose steamed as she spoke. “I can’t go because that’s the last day before mom heads home, and I wanna spend every possible minute with her”.

“Oh? Well maybe we should take her then!” Minty grinned. Suddenly she leapt and natched the ball from Whistle’s mitt. “Bet you can’t catch me!” she shouted back with joy as she bolted out the doors.

“H-Hey! Oh---I’m gonna get you Mints!” Whistle grinned as she followed her friend outside.

Sparkleworks shook her head, “At least their going outside to play” she sighed with a grin. Sparkleworks sat at the table and immediately inched herself away as Lily took a huge bite out of her cupcake and had made a mess with the icing.

As Lily used a napkin to clean it up Sparkleworks said “I met your mom the other day, she wanted me to ask if you would take time off and visit her in Ponyville?”

Tropical Dream tore her attention from the two mares outside and looked suspiciously at Lily. “You told us you family moved to Griffonstone?”

Sparkleworks too gave a stare, though her’s was more curious than suspicious. Laughing Lily said “Y-Yeah...well, about that..after her wreck she moved to a safer, and closer spot”.

Sparkleworks’ stare became more centered and Tropical Dream, even though she was sure she saw nothing, had thought there was a red line burning into Lily’s forehead. She rubbed her eyes, shook her head, and took off to the kitchen. Outside Minty and Whistle were playing a game of catch when they weren’t trying to dogpile the other.

“I’m glad your mom is visiting,” Minty started as she threw the ball back as soon as she caught it. “how long since she moved? Three, five years?”

“Three and a half” Whistle answered. “I can’t wait!” she swirled the ball on the tip of her hoof and then tossed it so hard that Minty had cringed gripping her shoulder, from under her hoodie came the blue hue again. “Oops..”

Minty stretched and flexed her shoulder. “It’s fine” she reassumed her friend. “So, thought on what you’re going to say?”

“I‘m gonna hug her the first chance I get!” Whistle smiled, then she frowned at her friend’s face. “Minty, what’s up?” she asked hovering over to her friend who was looking quite down suddenly.

“Oh, it’s n-nothing..” Minty replied. She saw Whistle shake her head with such a smirk that it took her back many years ago to an harsh snowy night. Whistle’s smirk grew as she crossed her fore legs, it was just too much, Minty cracked. “Oh fine, just---treasure this time with her”.

Whistle’s smirk turned into a frown as she landed on her hooves. Minty turned her eyes away as Whistle said “O-Oh..I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be---”

“N-No, it’s fine!” Minty interrupted fastly. “Honest, I had many chances to talk with my mom, but never took them up..” Minty sniffed and rubbed her eyes.

Whistle hugged her, nuzzling their heads together as she said “Minty...I promise”.

The two tightened their hug but had almost immediately broke off as Minty gave a slight yelp. “Ugh, don’t go breaking her back too you hear?” Minty said with a sigh.

Minty reached behind her and scratched her back while using the ball for extra reach. She went to toss it to resume their game when she suddenly noticed something written on it. “Bayhoove..when did you get this??” she asked.

Whistle trotted back over and natched the ball from Minty’s grip. “Oh, Malty gave me this as a gift” she answered. Minty suddenly gave her a are you crazy type of stare which had made her giggle. “Hey, just because Malty went psycho crazy, doesn’t mean I’d give up an awesome gift!”

Whistle grinned, whistling as she furiously rubbed the top of Minty’s head before flying off.

“H-Hey! Oh! I’m gonna get you for that Thistle Whistle!” Minty shouted as she laughed.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:The Big Game

\Exhausted, Minty stepped into her shower to wash away the day’s events. The warm water pouring against her face had never felt nicer, she stretched and held her mouth with a whimper.

“Wish I could take these offs..” she grunted as the blue hue illuminated the water. “No, thank you Doc, waterproofing the bandages was a good idea..”

Minty grabbed the bar of soap and proceed to wash herself, stepping out of the shower some ten minutes later. Grabbing a towel she wiped steam off of the mirror before tying it around her head, she smiled wide to her reflection before giving her teeth a once over in red cinnamon toothpaste. Swirling water mixed with mouthwash she spat them out into the sink and gave the mirror her biggest grin for the best view.

“Hm..I don’t know how Pinkie does it, her teeth are always bright and shiny” Minty spoke as she washed off the tip of her toothbrush before placing it aside. Untying the towel from her head she began drying the rest of herself off with it. “Yep, Cutie Mark looks super shiny! At least I can beat Pinkie in that” she chuckled.

In one throw she tossed the towel across the bathroom and into the basket used for dirty clothes, being a large room and the basket being at the other end it was an impressive goal. Minty kneeled down and gripped the tiny dresser which was under the sink and yanked it open. She took out a small cup filled with candy. She searched through them, pondering one to which to eat.

“Bubblegum? No, jawbreaker? Nah just brushed” Minty spoke before dumping the contents into her hoof and placing them back one by one after she rejected them. “Already ate four candy canes today, no jellybeans, hello there..”

Minty suddenly spotted something, a piece of candy that she hadn’t seen in two months. It was an small broken piece of peppermint that was mostly faded in color. Minty’s mouth clamped, her eyes darted back and forth with the memory of two months ago flooding back.

“W-Well..it’s mostly white..” she spoke, looking it over.

Drooling she slapped herself saying “No, I swore to burn thes--wwwwweeeelllllll I don’t see blue or green..maybe this is just normal?” she bit her lip, her body shivered in anticipation.

She was certain there couldn’t be any harm in such a tiny piece. Throwing all wind to caution she made her decision and gulped it down in one quick move, along with half of her hoof in the progress. She choked, gagging inaudible words. She coughed yanking it free and took in a big inhale of air.

“Oh yyyyeeeeaaaahhh….that’s good peppermint” she moaned savoring the flavor.

She placed the cup back inside the dresser, taking the candy cane she had rejected with her out of the room. She hopped into bed, nibbling on the candy cane while sliding herself under the bright and lust purple covers.

“Hm..tomorrow Whistle’s mom visits, wonder how much she had changed?” Minty asked herself. Resting her head against her puffy orange pillow she turned and stared out of her bedroom window and into the sky night.

“I’m sure everything will be fine, nothing to look forward to but a fun future” she thought to herself.

Taking one more suckle Minty leaned to her nightstand and laid the candy cane down, then she turned off her lamp.

***

“Oh boy oh boy oh boy!” hopped Whistle. She was drawing attention from all the other ponies who were awaiting the morning train. “Is it here yet! Oh is that i-no that’s a bird...hey birdie!”

“Whistle,” Sparkleworks spoke from the side of her mouth. She felt uncomfortable with all this attention that her friend was drawing. “calm down. Look, there’s the train now”.

Her words had fallen on deaf ears, once she had saw the train Whistle’s behavior became much more hyper. She whistled loudly, doing barrel rolls and even flew around the platform, to most it seemed like she was putting on some sort of air show. Sparkleworks wanted to die on the spot, purposely stroking her mane over her face in an attempt to hide it from the crowd.

The train engine steamed, followed by a loud horn. It slowed down as it rolled into the station, steam emitted from under the wheels as it came to a full stop. The doors opened, excited Whistle dived from the sky and hovered from door to door searching for her mother.

Sparkleworks hadn’t even noticed the train had stopped, her thoughts were “Please let her stop..oh Celestia please..” and even the sound of passing ponies were unnoticeable to her.

Whistle hovered from one end of the train to the other and frowned as the doors began to close. She flew all the way down to the front engine to ask “Are you sure everypony is off?” but the engineer was anything but friendly to her interruption. He had swung coal at her and she fell back to avoid it.

She flew and landed on the center platform hoping the doors would reopen and more ponies exit. It didn’t, she heard the “All Aboard!!!!” and stepped backwards as steamed shot up into her face.

“Ack! Stupid smoke!” coughing Whistle watched the train roll away and had stretched out a hoof but she couldn’t get any words out.

She frowned, her head dropped along with her wings. “Boo” Whistle jumped, right smack down onto her belly. She looked back and ponies stared as she suddenly rocketed herself high into the sky, some even swore that there were fireworks underneath her.

“Mom!!!” at hearing Whistle’s voice Sparkleworks blew her mane away and had spotted her after a few seconds of searching.

“Pearl..!” Sparkleworks spoke in surprise.

Pearl was a Pegasus, her fur white and as shiny as could be. Her lust and flowing mane dropped down to her legs and was such a dark shade of violet it would match the night sky just perfectly.

Pearl broke the hug with her daughter and turned around to greet Sparkleworks who she smiled at. “Hello, Sparkleworks.” she spoke warmly.

Sparkleworks’ body tingled as she felt a strange sensation rush through her system. “Y-Y-You...look like you hadn’t aged a day” Sparkleworks spoke, blushing as she trotted over.

“As do you. I’m happy you took good care of my daughter, she looks as energetic as ever” Pearl again smiled and Sparkleworks’ blush grew double in size. “Are you and Star Catcher doing well?” Pearl asked.

Sparkleworks cringed, eyes widened and her words stuttering. “S-She’s fine..where are your bags?” she asked in return. She looked around the immediate area but the only bags she saw were being carried by other ponies.

Pearl chuckled and pointed to her sides. “I think you’re gonna love this, honey” she spoke turning back to Whistle. Using her wing Pearl took out two tickets, one of which Whistle immediately took from her.

Her eyes scanned it and she whistled so loudly that her mother had laughed. “Front row seats! Where you get these?” she asked hovering into the air.

“Your grandfather still had one favor the couch owed him, it pays having ties” Pearl answered. She was happy to see her daughter being so joyful. “But the game isn’t til a few hours, and I must hear about how your friends are doing. Most notable,” she paused to turn her attention onto their friend. “you and Star Catcher, Sparkleworks”.

***

It was high noon and Whistle along with her mother were hovering down the many stands. “Our seats are right other there, by the fence” spoke Pearl. Her hooves being stuffed with popcorn and a large soda she had pointed the seats out with her tail.

Whistle, who was carrying the same things but even larger, sped over and dropped into her seat. Pearl hovered overhead and rested in the seat on Whistle’s right.

“These two seats are going to be empty, so it’s fine to set our food in them” she spoke while laying her popcorn in the seat by her right.

Whistle did the same but instead of resting her drink in the seat, she reached inside the popcorn and pulled out a soda hat. Pearl shook her head with a smile as she watched Whistle screwing the soda in place and tying the scraps around her chin, extending the straw she began drinking away.

“Ah...orange juice never gets old..” Whistle drooled. Pearl coughed and she blushingly wiped it away.

“I thought you had given that away, honey?” Pearl asked. She was fully content with drinking her soda the normal way herself.

Whistle spat the straw out, shook her head while saying “The first gift my that dad gave me? Are you crazy mom?”

Pearl chuckled and turned her attention to the field. The teams were just beginning to come out, since the other team were trotting across the field she assumed Fillydelphia were up to bat first. Dispute being quite a distance away Pearl noticed the bat was the same color as their blue uniforms, which stood out an awful lot against Manehattan’s brown uniforms.

She had also noticed the batter was a Unicorn but was using her teeth. “Why isn’t that mare using magic?” she asked while chewing some popcorn.

Whistle spat out the straw again as she answered “Oh, you didn’t hear? It’s a new thing they started for the Equestria Games”.

Pearl thought back to the last games and remembered a certain accident involving an spiked ice cloud. “Oh, those doors that disabled magic?” she sighed and took a sip of soda during her pause. “One pony is caught cheating, and next thing you know, every single sport has magic disablers.”

“At least they don’t have doors to disable wings!” Whistle chuckled, sucking away on her soda. “Think we could catch a ball?” she asked hoping against hope that the batter would hit the ball their way.

It didn’t, instead it was immediately caught by a Manehattan catcher who just so happened to be a Pegasus himself.

“Aw! First hit, really?” Whistle sighed but kept her hopes high.

The second batter, who was a tall dragon, had far better luck as he hit the ball so hard the catchers had decided to duck for cover rather than risk injury. Both mares cheered along with the crowd although Pearl only clapped, her daughter however gave a loud whistle.

“So how’s Minty been?” Pearl asked after they had settled back down. “I was thrilled those two are back together, so had forgotten to ask about Minty earlier”.

Whistle gagged a little on the soda and Pearl patted her back until she had burped. Feeling embarrassed Whistle took to her popcorn and stuffed her mouth. She could feel her mother’s eyes on the back of her head, she coughed, swallowing, but didn’t turn back.

“She’s uh---fine, never been better” she spoke before immediately stuffing more popcorn into her mouth.

“Even with her bandages?” Pearl asked and Whistle had choked a second time and ended up throwing up her popcorn as she gagged. “Whistle honey, is everything fine?” Pearl spoke as she rubbed her daughter’s back.

Whistle took a sip from her soda hat, exhaled heavily, and gasped. Ponies nearby had started to stare and she felt even more embarrassed.

“You...you know?” Whistle asked turning her back on the on lookers and faced her mother who had nodded.

“Honey, the Fillydelphia Express isn’t only in Fillydelphia” Pearl giggled as she continued to rub her daughter’s back.

Whistle stared at the floor, then jerked up as a batter had just hit a homerun. “Yeah! Way to go po---” she trailed off as her mother’s attention was still on her. She sat back down to sip more soda. “She’s fine, the bandages are healing her, no big deal” Whistle spoke.

“No big deal?” Pearl repeated. “No big deal? Your best friend is recovering from being attacked, and it’s no big deal?”

“Mom, it’s been two months. I think she’s safe” Whistle returned.

Whistle tried to focus on the game but she felt bad about ignoring her mother. The teams had switched places, the Manehattan batter was a younger mare. Her fur was a pale, grayish pink and Whistle immediately recognized her from her school days back in Ponyville.

“Hey, isn’t that Spoiled?” Whistle asked.

Pearl took an uninterested glance, nodded, and then said “But aren’t you worried?”

Whistle glanced at her mother, quite puzzled. “Of course not, it’s over” she answered.

“Is it?” Pearl spoke giving her daughter an expression that had made her gulp. “From what I read, no pony was arrested”.

“That’s because there’s no pony to arre-----st....” Whistle nervously trailed off from her sentence as she slammed her face into her popcorn bucket.

Pearl raised an eyebrow, then she placed a hoof on Whistle’s. Her daughter lifted her head up and looked down at their hooves before facing her.

“Whistle” Pearl spoke in a motherly, yet stern tone.

Whistle just wanted to watch the game but if her mother was pressing for an answer then she had better luck flying to the moon and back before dinner. She sighed and rubbed between her eyes.

“The bad pony is gone, we---made sure of it” she forced herself to say. “Trust me, she ain’t hurting anymore”.

Surprised by the blunt reply Pearl smiled. Turning her attention at last to the game Whistle felt relieved. She started eating popcorn when she silently cursed, but was then intrigued as Pearl had said “Ever read Jekyll And Hyde?”

“Jekyll and---” Whistle had started but her mother interrupted.

“The k is silent, honey” Pearl whispered with a smile.

“Oh..no, I haven’t” Whistle returned. She stared off onto the field, saw the Manehattan team was two points ahead and cursed under her breath. “Why you ask?”

“Well, it’s a interesting book. Set in the eighteen hundreds, it’s about a guy trying to piece together his friend’s connection to a murderer” Pearl started explaining and Whistle stared at her with intense curiosity. “The twist was, his friend was the murderer, only he wasn’t”.

Whistle’s focus became free as she blinked. “You lost me..” she spoke while rubbing her eyes.

“Well, I don’t want to spoil too much” Pearl chuckled. “Let’s just say, his entire character changes at random”.

“Changes at random..” Whistle repeated, only having it click when her thoughts shifted to Malty.

Her mouth fell open as she stared at her mom who was now enjoying the game. “Does she know?” she asked herself. The thought had never left her mind even when trotting home two hours later.

But how could Pearl possibly know? Amethyst knew and the two of them were friends, maybe they kept in touch and Amethyst confined in her? Whistle shook her head, could this be why her mother had visited, to check in on them? She couldn’t think property, her thoughts were so jumbled yet she had masked it quite well to stop Pearl from noticing. It was getting late and the two of them were trotting along a sidewalk due to the overbearing amount of clouds.

“Great game, wasn’t it?” Pearl asked while looking up at the clouds. Whistle nodded in response but had kept her gaze downward. “I forgot how fun they were, though am happy you no longer fly to catch the ball” Pearl laughed as her daughter blushed.

“Well, I was threaten to be banned if I did..” Whistle spoke as her body shivered. The thought of never seeing a baseball game again, it would be her worse nightmare come true.

Whistle shook her head, looked up to ask her mom a question, but suddenly halted in her tracks. “Mints?” she asked.

She rubbed her eyes and squinted them at a crowd gathered around a nightclub with flashing orange lights that were illuminating them as they waited entry. She was sure of it, that one silhouette, it was Minty, and it had turned at her voice. The silhouette turned and galloped, Whistle gave pursuit almost immediately.

“Whistle?” called Pearl who had turned back at the silence and saw her daughter was missing.

Whistle galloped and flew over the crowd who all stared and shook their heads as she landed the jump. She ignored the few curses thrown at her and sped off, just barely spotting the silhouette turning a corner. She followed into the alley but came to a point where there were two turns, luckily she had glimpsed the silhouette of a tail turning left. She followed, only to gallop into a wall of ponies trotting along a road intersect. She scanned the crowd and even took to the sky, but she had lost the silhouetted pony.

“Thistle Whistle!” came Pearl’s stern voice.

Whistle flinched as if she had been slapped. “Y-Yes..?” she asked turning around and became face to face with her mother whose face was a mixture of worry and anger.

“Never run off like that!” Pearl spoke. Her face twitched like she was holding back an scolding with all her might. “What were you doing? Flying off like that!”

Whistle stuttered and pointed in all sorts of directions, dropping her head low she apologized. ”Just thought I saw somepony, but I lost her.” she admitted as she could never lie to her mother.

Pearl’s face changed into one of concern, although it was only after looking off into the crowd that she had expressed it.

“Who was it?” Pearl asked. She didn’t see any familiar faces in the crowd but due to the overwhelming large number she couldn’t be certain.

Whistle didn’t answer, she was scared of the reply and couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t knew. Pearl sighed and clamped her mouth shut.

“We’re going home” Pearl spoke as she took ahold of Whistle and the two flew off. Whistle didn’t complain or even resisted despite herself wanting to check on Minty right away.

The two arrived home some minutes later, Pearl was a far faster flyer than Whistle was and the two had made great time. They entered the apartment, Pearl leading the way.

“Sparkleworks?” Pearl had called out. “Are you awak---oh my..”

Jumping Whistle rushed forward with her wings flapped open and had prepared herself for her worse fears. The living room was dark, the only source of light being that of the TV. Resting on the sofa embraced in an hug and fast asleep were Sparkleworks and Star Catcher. Whistle nervously shied away and had caught her mother in an head shake.

“Tsk tsk tsk, they seem like children” Pearl had said as she left the room.

Whistle took another glance at the two mares, blushing as they snored. Though it was a little uncomfortable she couldn’t help but find the scene was cute as well. The flickering TV light illuminated them, nuzzling each other in their sleep, it reminded her of a slumber party that their Rainbow Dash had invited them too when they were younger. Even back then she sorta knew the two had shown interest, but mostly because she had acted the same exact way Sparkleworks did.

Pearl had returned some moments later with a blanket, being extremely careful not to wake them as she slowly wrapped it around them. Pearl flicked the TV off and Whistle wandered off into another room, blushing heavily as she shook her head.

“Those two..it’ just like at our first slumber par---” Whistle had entered her room and immediately felt an icy shiver that had silenced her.

Rubbing her hooves for warmth she followed it to her window and, after staring at it for about ten seconds, she slammed it shut. She kept her eyes on it, even as she turned around, “Did Sparkleworks opened it?” she asked but had shook her head as she brushed that theory off fairly quickly. “She had no reason to had even been in here”.

Whistle jumped into bed, she heard movement in the nearby bathroom and after a quick hello she had gotten a reply from her mother. She rested on her pillow, sliding her fore hooves under it, then she felt what she thought was paper. She jumped over, lifting her pillow and saw what seemed to be an letter that was unevenly folded down the middle. She looked it over but saw no name, after unfolding it she held her tongue out in disgust.

“Ew..wet ink!” she spoke holding it far away. “At least it was folded..”

She motioned to her trashcan, which sat just between her bed and nightstand, but had suddenly stopped herself. She shrugged and took a second look, unintentionally ripping it as her hooves shook. Fear ran through her system and all she wanted to do was scream for her mother.

She held the scream back and instead uttered an whine that was nearly inaudible. Itched on the letter and still dripping in black oily ink were the words “I know”

CHAPTER NINETEEN:You Thought It Was Over

Sparkleworks awoke in the morning, yawning and nuzzling against her partner. Suddenly a ray of sunlight struck her face and burnt through her tightly closed eyelids. She yawned a second time leaning upward as she began sniffing the air.

“Hm...eggs..” she moaned rubbing her eyes.

The room was blurry so she rubbed her eyes again. “Morning, Sparkleworks” came Pearl’s voice.

Sparkleworks stretched while looking onward, seeing a plate of steaming hot eggs and grape jelly were just inches from her nose. She rolled her head over and saw Pearl’s motherly smile, behind her was an an opened window that gave her an heavenly glow.

Sparkleworks went to get up, “Good morn---” she paused as there was an tug on her hoof. She looked over to see Star Catcher laying beside her. “Pearl, no!” Sparkleworks shouted in her mind as Pearl waved the plate of eggs by Star Catcher’s nose.

Star Catcher stretched her legs and rolled onto her back as she awoke. At seeing Pearl she had jumped straight off of the sofa looking quite startled.

“Pearl..we w-were just...” Star Catcher stuttered, fumbling around her words.

Pearl gave a friendly chuckle while saying “It’s quite alright, I made breakfast so why don’t you stay?”

Still fumbling with her words Star Catcher looked into the kitchen and saw Whistle was already attacking her plate. She noticed her and waved, Star Catcher gave a nod but said no words.

“S-Sure..oh my stars I’m sorry Pearl” Star Catcher apologized.

“Hm? What for dear?” Pearl asked as she gave her plate to Sparkleworks as she trotted to the kitchen table.

Star Catcher covered her face in shame, Pearl noticed and upon trotted back had yanked her friend’s wings to reveal her blushing face. She hugged Star Catcher, saying “Nothing to be ashamed of” as she trotted back to the kitchen she added “Next time, do use a bed. You can get backaches from sleeping on sofas“.

Breakfast was awkward at best. Sparkleworks and Star Catcher were eating their eggs quite slowly while Whistle, on the other hoof, was on her third plate in a matter of seconds of them sitting down. Sparkleworks stared, half tempted to slide her plate away.

“I suppose---you’re not eating properly no more?” Sparkleworks asked and Whistle flicked her head upward in response.

Whistle answered whilst rubbing her cheeks clean, “Eh, I got bored” she replied and had almost immediately face planted her plate as Pearl gave an interested glare.

Pearl lowered her fork and used her other wing to gently used a napkin. “You acted proper?” she asked.

“I tried to” Whistle answered and quickly removed her elbows from the table at her mother’s stare.

“Tried to?” started Star Catcher. Whistle mouthed her not to continue but she didn’t notice, Whistle dropped her face again as her friend said “You held an dinner at a fancy building! I dare say you succeed”.

“Ah ha..” Pearl gave her daughter an approving grin, Whistle groaned into her eggs. ”So, what happened? Why you’d stop?” she asked.

“Ijustdidn’tlikeit” mumbled Whistle.

“Honey, raise your head” Pearl rolled her eyes but kept her approving grin.

Whistle flopped her head up, she started to speak but ceased as jelly dripped from her chin. Clamping her mouth shut she grabbed a napkin and furiously rubbed her face. “I don’t know, is it a big deal?” she asked.

“I suspect it would to Malty, she spent weeks teaching you” Star Catcher spoke. Pearl suddenly snapped her head to Star Catcher who nervously asked “What?”

“Malty?” Pearl asked rubbing her neck. “That book writer? The same one who dresses identically to Amethyst and carries a cane?”

All mares gave her three different stares, she looked at each and asked what was wrong.

“Have you met Malty?” asked Star Catcher.

Pearl opened her mouth but clamped her teeth, she rubbed her neck again with an look of discomfort. “My neck..much be acting up again.” she lied. “Whistle, honey, can you get me some ice?”

Whistle gave a nod and hovered up, once she was across the room and out of earshot Pearl leaned forward while simultaneity pulling the other two closer as well.

“Thistle Whistle was being taught by her?” she asked them.

“Yes, up to her disappearance, that was” answered Star Catcher.

Pearl blinked, dropping her eyes down she fell completely silent for at least three seconds before saying “I see”. She wanted them go on but just then Whistle had re-entered earshot, so breaking the conversion off Pearl turned to her daughter and said “Oh thank you, honey” Pearl grabbed the ice pack and tossed it over her neck, there was a slight whimper and a visible twitch in her face. “So, you and Malty---”

“We’re just friends” Whistle interrupted, taking her seat. “But we’re not anymore”.

Sparkleworks suddenly choked, acting fast Star Catcher wrapped her fore legs around her and squeezed. “Ack!” Sparkleworks coughed, spitting out her fork that she had almost swallowed. “Y-You were so on my case about her!” she immediately shouted and Whistle had flinched out of her chair. ”After all that, and you’re not friends anymore!”

“Sparkleworks,” started Pearl who had moved to help her daughter stand. “please lo---”

“Just stay out of this a minute Pea--------I-I---” Sparkleworks nervously stuttered. She awkwardly laughed and grinned as Pearl raised an eyebrow at her. “Sorry..” she apologized in a faint whisper as she slid down into her seat and hid under her mane.

Pearl was at a lost for words at how her friend had just acted and she wasn’t sure what to say, she turned her attention to Whistle instead as she asked “Did something happ---” suddenly there was what sounded like an panicked knock at the door. “Who is it?” Pearl asked.

Pearl got a panicked reply from whoever was at the door. “Oh Ms.Whittiers, I didn’t know you still lived here” she smiled.

Pearl hovered herself to the door and upon opening it a pale blue elderly mare had galloped inside and nearly knocked her over. “Star Catcher! You’re still here??!” she said in an loud shaky voice.

“Ms.Whittiers, what’s wrong?” Star Catcher had asked. She sensed something was wrong by Ms.Whittiers’ urgent mannerism and had stood up at her quick entry.

Ms.Whittiers twitched before rushing over into the living room. Before the other four could even utter a single word she had flicked on the TV, changed to Channel Nineteen and raised the volume.

The four mares gathered around, wondering what she was doing as they heard the words “Late last night a pony, one Ms.Bubbles, was found murdered”.

Star Catcher had squeezed herself through to the front, guilt entered her systems as she watched the news story unfold. Seeing the picture of the victim felt like a knife had pierced her heart, how could she had let this happen? She had added more hours to the usual guard portals and had even set up lookouts all around the town. She should had been out there, it was her duty to protect but yet again, she felt like she had failed as the mayor and guard captain.

She felt a gentle nudge, Sparkleworks had nuzzled under her wing and gave her a reassuring look as well as a peck on the cheek. It did little to cheer her up, but she was still glad to have her back all the same. Star Catcher breathed heavily and held back her guilt as best as possible, now wasn’t the time to feel guilty. The killer is back, and she had to catch them, and with Sparkleworks by her side she intended to do just that.

***

Whistle had arrived at Minty’s building, bursting the door wide open as she entered and severely scared Tropical Dream who had been knocked aside in the progress. She flew down the grey hallway and threw the doors wide open, Minty jumped and had rammed her back against a table, the resulting cry of pain broke Whistle from her rampage.

“Oops..I’m sorry Mints..” Whistle sadly whistled as she helped her friend up.

“What is your damage Thistle Whistle!?” both mares had flinched at Tropical Dream’s stern outburst. She levitated Whistle by her left ear and tugged her aside, sounding like she was scolding Whistle she said “I have half a mind to phone your mother young lady!”

“No! Please don’t do that!” Whistle whined and wormed around until finally breaking the magical hold on her ear. She was surprised that Tropical Dream’s horn was floppy and that a tiny punch had canceled out her magic. “Didn’t you see the News?” Whistle asked while she hovered behind Minty for protection from her angered friend.

“No” steamed Tropical Dream. “We’ve been busy cleaning, haven’t you seen the room?”

At Tropical Dream’s instruction Whistle looked around the room and was surprised. Besides the one table the entire room was stripped, fleshly opened paint cans sat in the far corners and the smell was so strong she had to hold her nose.

“Yur paining?” Whistle asked. “Y? No mor buget?”

Tropical Dream shook her head before saying “Whistle, we can’t understand you”.

Whistle embarrassingly giggled as she released her nose, but before she could speak Minty had asked her “So what’s this about a News---oh hello there blue healing light, you’re late..” she grudgingly sighed and wished her back would just heal already as it was starting to strain her nerves.

Whistle facehooved as she had forgotten why she came here until Minty had just mentioned it. “Oh yeah..a pony was murdered last night!” she blurted out.

Both Minty and Tropical Dream gave a gasp of surprise, as well as shock. Suddenly Minty noticed the other two were staring at her and she repeatedly shook her head saying “Oh no no no no no you can’t honestly beliv---we got rid of the blue and green peppermints! I hadn’t changed in two months!”

Tropical Dream gave an very odd twitch of her face, she said “Well it can’t just an coincidence, can it?”

“I can’t believe you!” Minty’s jaw dropped as she looked over to Whistle and saw the same uncertain impression. She started stuttering as her forelegs anxiously moved in all directions. “I-I couldn’t have, I mean when I changed I always woke up in a different way than I passed out” she said in her defense. “But I woke up exactly how I fell asleep, it just couldn’t had been me”.

“Malty once told me she woke up in your bed” As Whistle said this Minty kept shaking her head in denial. “Minty, last night I was so sure I saw you”.

Minty looked straight at Whistle’s face and could tell she wasn’t lying, she turned to Tropical Dream who looked rather shocked.

“When you noticed me you ran, it could had been Malty I saw” Whistle added.

Minty didn’t want to believe it was happening again and would rather her friend was playing a very rude prank on her, but the tension in the room felt so heavy she knew otherwise. Her mouth clamped, her body shook, she just didn’t want to believe them.

“No!” Minty bellowed, jumping up and swinging her hooves at the two.

“M-Minty..!” spoke a startled Tropical Dream who mistakenly overturned an paint can as she retreated backwards.

“I wasn’t out last night! I was in bed! I know it!” Minty shouted as she angrily stomped around the room.”Two months and she just came back now? That-makes-no-sense!”

Whistle flew over fastly and, after dodging several attempts at getting bucked, she managed to grab Minty’s forehooves and kept her still long enough to say “Minty, have you eaten any peppermints recently?”

It was no use fighting against Whistle’s strong grip, Minty just couldn’t break free but she kept trying. “Of course not, I hadn’t seen a peppermint in two mon------------oh wait...” she fell silent as she remembered the tiny broken piece of a peppermint she had found last night.

It just popped into her head and she quickly tried to speak and draw attention away from her sudden silence but it was too late, her friends had took noticed and were giving more suspicious glares than she could handle.

“Alright alright! Just stop with the stares their killing me!” Minty yelled and if it wasn’t for Whistle still holding her hooves then she would had surely dropped to the floor. “I found one last night, in my bathroom stash”.

“MINTY!” shouted Tropical Dream.

“B-B-But it was just a normal one!” Minty added quickly before her friend could scold her. “Sure it was faded, and a tiny, itsy, bitsy, bit broken..but if it had been one of mine, then it wouldn’t had been enough to keep her stable.” she explained, hoping it made sense. “Remember? She needed them to stay and it took hours for it to get out of our systems?”

Whistle wasn’t so sure, Minty was addicted to her own creation so it wasn’t unlikely that she would be lying. But Whistle also felt that she wasn’t lying, two months is a long time so what signs should she had been looking for? Seeing an opened window Minty managed to yank her hooves free, galloped under the table and came out the other side.

“You have to trust me! For Malty to had been out and roaming the streets, come back and lay in my bed for me to wake up, then she needed more than a simple broken peppermint” Minty explained, her hooves clamped against the table and ready to bolt if either of her friends attempted to catch her.

Minty caught Tropical Dream opening her mouth and she in an quick outburst said ”I make candy! I tasted every single one I made. I know how long sugar stays in your system, just one peppermint isn’t enough to sustain Malty”.

Tropical Dream gritted her teeth and slammed her hooves on the table startling both mares. “And how would you know!” she yelled. “You couldn’t even tell this was happening over the course of two years!”

Enraged Minty pointed at her friend and was about to yell back but had managed to stopped herself in time, she wanted to say anything else but deep down she knew Tropical Dream was right. She was conflicted with herself and she couldn’t even lower her hoof without use of the other, she had to accept the possibility that not throwing out that small broken peppermint had been an huge mistake, yet she just couldn’t.

Whistle saw the inner struggle her friend was having so she flew over the table and embraced her in an less than tight hug, or at least she tried too. Minty gasped and gagged, Tropical Dream attempted to split the two by her magic but Whistle just kept hugging her whenever the spell was dropped.

Finally after Minty had given an very clear choke Whistle had released her, she gasped for air as she said “OK---OK---I get the picture..”.

“What pictu-oh that one” Whistle smiled with a blush as she, yet again, had forgotten what they were talking about.

“Yeah Whistle, look guys..” Minty coughed and rubbed her throat. Suddenly the blue hue emitted from her bandages and she annoying sighed. “I’m the only who knows how to create the orange sauce to make the blue and green peppermints, and I highly doubt Malty does. So---”

“You think even if that piece you ate was one of them, it was the last one?” asked Tropical Dream.

“Basically, Tropical, yes” replied Minty. “I mean, she should never return now, right?”

When Whistle had left some hours later Minty was so certain that she was right, Whistle had burnt all the blue and green peppermints, even if the tiny piece she ate was one of them it was surely the last piece in existence. She had went to bed feeling confident and a little irritated that Tropical Dream had insisted on standing guard just outside her room, but she knew she would wake up tomorrow and say “I told you so” to her friends’ faces.

Alas, she had been wrong. Early in the morning around eight AM she was awoken by Tropical Dream, Star Catcher standing just outside the door. Minty was incredibly drowsy as she met with her in the hallway, rubbing her eyes she wished for nothing more than the blissfulness of sleep.

“There was an attack, you are needed for questioning. Both of you” Star Catcher spoke, her voice sounded quite sad.

Minty and Tropical Dream stared at the other, each asked why the other looked so sleepy and they repeated the same answer of “Hadn’t had enough sleep, is all”.

As the two of them rubbed their eyes the words of their friend had sunk in, they stared at her very concerned. “Why?” Minty asked as Star Catcher lead them down the hall. “What happened?”

Star Catcher said nothing, she just remained silent like an ant leading its colony and only safety was on it’s mind. When they had entered the stairwell and began descending Tropical Dream had repeated her friend’s question, Star Catcher stopped, turned and showed great emotion in her eyes.

Star Catcher answered, sounding heartbroken, “Malty was just sighted”.

CHAPTER TWENTY:It Gets Worse, And Then Terrible

“OK, let me ask very clearly...” started Star Catcher who trotted around a small circuital room.

Her friends Minty, Whistle, Tropical Dream, and Lily sat at a table in the center of the room. Sparkleworks stood against an glass stained wall which was the only thing that stood out against the rest of the room which was dull and metallic.

Star Catcher took a seat and crossed her hooves as she looked over her friends intensely. “Have any of you seen Malty in the last twenty four hours?” she asked them.

At her question the mares shook their heads saying no, Whistle however, had remained silent. Star Catcher raised an eyebrow and when Whistle had took notice of the suspicious glares she nervously whistled and tapped her hooves together. She looked about the room but the more she ignored the stares the more they burnt. She bit her upper lip down in an attempt to remain silent, but she couldn’t take it, she broke.

“OK OK! I thought I saw her the night of the game, but I lost her” she blurted out suddenly. “Now please---stop with the stares! Their killing me!”

An sigh of relief came from Star Catcher, before she spoke again her gaze turned to Sparkleworks who was holding a single hoof to her face. While keeping her eyes on Sparkleworks she asked “Where did you see her?” and saw an immediate reaction.

Sparkleworks had worry, stressed, and concerned mother all over her face. She had noticed her friend’s stare and Star Catcher turned back to Whistle who seemed to be taking quite a headache.

“At some club” she spoke rubbing her temples. “All I recall were orange flashing lights, she ran when I saw her”

“Hm..curious” Star Catcher whispered. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, shown by her staring down at the table before looking back up at the other three. They had said no to seeing Malty but Star Catcher needed more than simple words, even from her best friends.

“Are any of you certain, absolutely positive, that you hadn’t seen Malty?” she asked them again.

“No” answered Minty who had crossed her fore legs. “I hadn’t at least, I mean how could I?”

“How could any of us?” spoke Tropical Dream who gave Minty a slow head shake. “She’s been missing for two months, plus the three of us had been painting and had no time to be outside recently”.

“I can vouch for that” Lily spoke, waving her hoof at an invisible fly. “I got the stained dresses if you want prove”

“That won’t be necessary” replied Star Catcher.

A guard had entered the room suddenly, trotted up to Star Catcher and left after whispering to her. Minty whispered to Whistle “Wonder what that was about?” to which her friend simply shrugged.

As if she had heard her Star Catcher gave a fake cough, Minty had sat up so fast her back stretched and the blue hue returned. She gave an curse under a grunt, “Sorry...” she nervously grinned.

Star Catcher turned her eyes to Sparkleworks and then at the glass wall behind her, where no doubt Pearl stood watching them. She closed her eyes for a moment or two, inhaled and exhaled as she spoke “Last night a bar fight broke out and an stallion would had been Bludgeoned to death if not for an courageous small dragon breaking it up”.

Tropical Dream held back something like an laugh. “I always tell ponies those places are for brutes, my dear old aunt almost lost her eye in a bar fight!” she embarrassing spoke after she had gotten angry stares from the others.

“Yes, well the culprit ran from the scene but we had many eyewitnesses who came forward” Star Catcher paused to stand up as she looked down at her friends. “The details were---conflicting, at best. But one detail remained the same, yellow eyes”.

Minty and Whistle turned to the other, mouths open and totally speechless. She saw Tropical Dream starring in her direction and Minty mouthed the words “I thought you were watching me!”

“I was!” mouthed her friend who suddenly had an look of horror on her face. “W-Well I may had fallen asleep---”

“Oh come on! You had one job to do! One jo---”” Minty froze, she had forgotten to mouthed the words and had instead yelled them.

Minty gulped and forced a smile as she began to sweat. Star Catcher was tapping her hoof, Whistle had banged her face against the table, the guards whispered to one another and she dare not look at Sparkleworks nor at the glass wall behind her.

“I--I---um..” mumbled Minty.

“Is there something you would like to tell us?” at Star Catcher’s question Minty shook her head, she raised another eyebrow and Minty just gulped.

She had to come clean, she knew it was the best option. She wasn’t even sure how Malty returned as she was still certain that one broken peppermint couldn’t had lasted long enough for her, plus how did she return after it had wore off? Before Minty ate her blue and green peppermints almost religiously and thus Malty was able to sustain herself for hours at a time, or at least that was what Minty theorized.

If her theory was correct then the only possible answer was that Whistle hadn’t destroyed them all, but she had searched the entire building twice over after she was released from the hospital and found none were left. If there was a stash she had forgotten then it was likely it wasn’t in her building.

If that was the case then she’d never find them. The other possible answer is that she was wrong, she did found it odd that she kept the damage Whistle had done to her spine as it conflicted with one glaring problem. She had a black eye and never once did Whistle remark on Malty having one, it had healed for her but returned in full for Minty? How was that even possible?

Physical pain was just that, physical, yet Minty can barely stretch without pain but Malty can engage in a bar fight? What made her so special! She was not even her own mare so why was she getting the better end of the stick, Minty was really starting to hate her more and more by the passing minute. She knew it’d was likely Malty would return again and if she did, she'd rathered be locked up in an cell than out there murdering.

She stomped with an great sigh, ready to confess and take blame for everything. Whether they believed her or not she didn’t care, at least they would take caution to her words. But right as she was about to speak Tropical Dream had stood up and interrupted her.

“Its my fault” Minty stared at Tropical Dream in shock, what was she doing? “I was suppose to find Malty and hide her, you see---” Tropical Dream took a glance at Minty who was mouthing for her to stop before she made a huge mistake.

Tropical Dream didn’t listen, instead she spoke “I’ve been hiding her, a final wish from Amethyst to protect her daughter..w-wait I mean---”

“Daughter?” interrupted Star Catcher who looked rather taken aback. “You mean she’s Minty’s sister?”

“W-Well...not exactly her sister,” mumbled Tropical Dream as she fractionally tried correcting herself. “you see she’s---”

“Oh Celestia, finally some sense!” Star Catcher sighed in relief. The others breathlessly stared at her. “That explains why she resembles Amethyst and Minty, their related! Half sisters I take it? Only met her mother a few years ago?”

“I-I---yes! Why, that’s exactly what I meant!” Tropical Dream answered as she rolled with the idea as she found it rather safe for Minty. “Minty never knew, oh my stars in Heaven, they wanted to tell her but you knew how her and Amethyst splitted ways..”

Minty couldn’t believe that Tropical Dream was lying to Star Catcher’s face, it was so out of character she actually wondered if she had gotten into the peppermints and had changed too.

“T-Tropical---I---don’t believe this..” Minty gasped, this seemed so surreal she wondered if she was dreaming.

“Oh Minty, please understand, it’s for your own safety” Tropical Dream spoke in a reassuring smile.

Minty wanted to speak up and stop her friend but by the time she did Star Catcher had said “If you’re telling the truth, then we need to speak privately. Guards”.

Without so much as an word Minty and the others were escorted out, the last thing she saw before the door closed was Tropical Dream’s reassuring face.

***

It was high noon, the train rolled into the station and engulfed the entire platform with steam and smoke. “Ack! Stupid steam!” Whistle coughed, hating the train.

The engineer stepped off of the train, followed by the chef and some waiters. The engineer spoke aloud in his booming voice “There will be a few minutes break before we go, have to fetch an repair pony” and trotted off the platform with the other three in toe.

“Well, that’s just divine” spoke Pearl who gave a gentle head shake. She turned to Whistle, who was still coughing her lungs up, and with another head shake she patted her daughter’s back then softly rubbed it. “I’d swear you have asthma, honey”.

Whistle’s coughing ceased although now her throat was a bit sore. She spoke trying to hide it from her mother. “I’m fine, next time I might not wanna stand on the very edge..”

“That’s a good idea, honey” Pearl smiled as they trotted to a nearby waiting bench. Once they sat and were comfortable she turned and asked “Are you sure you want me to go?”

Whistle jumped at her sudden question, “Yes, well no---granddad needs you more than I do” she replied, being really nervous she had added “Maybe I can visit you sometime!”

Pearl nodded her head and turned to the other ponies who were waiting around impatiently. Over to her left she spotted the engineer returning with two Unicorns, along with the chef and waiters who were carrying large boxes of food, they reentered the train. Through the windows she could see the faint glow of the Unicorns’ magic, then there was a loud scratching sound that had made everypony grip their ears tightly.

“What, are they repairing the hull?” Whistle asked sticking her tongue out.

The loud noises didn’t stop there, they heard what sounded like hammering and an crash, everypony shook their heads with a few considering to just leave.

“Promise you’ll write? If anything happens?” Pearl asked. After Whistle had nodded she added “With what’s been happening I wouldn’t normally leave. I’m sure my dad’s nurse would be glad to stay with him but, oh, that stallion can’t go a day without seeing me” suddenly Pearl looked down depressed. “You know I suspect your grandfather is losing his memory more and more each day..”

Whistle started to feel sad, she knew her grandfather was in bad health and needed daily care, but she had no idea that his mind was going. She hadn’t seen him in forever and it seemed like the window to visit is growing ever shorter, perhaps when this whole mess was over she could manage a train ticket.

As if her mother had read her mind she asked her a question, one that had made her mind return to her own question on whether or not she knew about Malty. “How’s Minty doing?”

Whistle took two solid seconds before she answered “Fine, I suppose”.

Pearl nodded, she stared at the platform and for a moment Whistle wondered if she had seen something ran by. “Twin sister..wonder how she’s taking it?” Pearl almost whispered.

“O-Oh..!” Whistle managed to hide an sigh she had just taken as she gasped in relief. “How can you deal with something like that?” she asked.

“Thistle Whistle, promise me something?” Pearl had asked. Whistle curiously tilted her head, then nodded. “If...if anything were to happen, message me right away? I need to know---if you’re safe”.

Whistle was taken off guard by her mother’s question, she pondered on her answer for a few seconds. She had to know, why else would she be asking this? Besides just being a worried mother Whistle had thought, she nodded and said “I promise, mom” and Pearl seemed to be better at ease.

Pearl reached inside her saddlebag and took out an old and grey bound book, she passed it into Whistle’s hooves with the words “This is the book I mentioned the other day, maybe it could help you in a certain pitch” along with a smile that felt as warm as the sun’s beaming light.

Suddenly the train’s loud horn blew followed by the words “All board!!!” and Pearl hovered to her hooves.

“That was fast, I’ll write when I get home” spoke Pearl, she kissed Whistle’s forehead before adding “Remember to keep me posted” then she trotted to the train.

Whistle watched as she entered and took an window seat, when the train started to roll out some minutes later both waved to the other. Her emotion building Whistle chased the train up to the very edge of the platform, clutching the book to her chest as she shouted “I love you mom!” then she watched until it had vanished over the horizon.

Whistle remained there for a few minutes, a million thoughts were going through her mind. She looked at the book her mother had just given her and read its title aloud, “The Strange Case Of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde..”

An quick look at the pages revealed it was very short, at least eighty nine pages long. She wondered what the pitch her mother had mention could be, could she had meant Malty? Why didn’t she just come out and tell her? Was she scared? Concerned or worried about what Whistle would had said?

Whatever her reason was, at least Whistle didn’t have to lie. As she trotted off of the platform she had turned to the front page and started reading, immediately she saw a connection that felt so eerie she was sure the air had turned ice cold. Whistle kept reading the book over the course of three days, the second day she couldn’t read much as Sparkleworks wanted to check on Tropical Dream who was incarcerated due to her lie of hiding Malty.

Minty visited that day as well but they had just barely missed her, Tropical Dream told them that Minty was taking her being locked up quite hard. To see Tropical Dream, who was always so clean and neat but was now filthy and quite wore, Whistle felt really depressed. Tropical Dream gave a reassuring smile that did little to cheer her up.

Tropical Dream had asked Whistle about her mother, to which she replied “I got her letter this morning, my pappa---that’s what I call my granddad---is doing alright. I’ll write back later this evening”.

During the present day Whistle was relaxing on the sofa as she read the last few pages of the book while simultaneously listening in on the morning news. The news pony was just saying “Five attacks in two days, the perpetrator, now identified as one Ms.Malty, is getting ever more bold”.

Whistle had flicked her head up to see an photo of Malty being displayed. As the news pony said “Malty was revealed, by a certain friend to whom is already in custody, to be the daughter of Amethyst and half sister to our famed candy genius Minty---” Whistle became worried, what if ponies started to hassle Minty now?

Minty was already in a bad state as it was, keeping herself locked up for hours on end and refusing to leave her room in fear of suddenly changing. Whistle thought it was a big mistake, as well as heartless, to had mentioned Minty in the news. Ponies might start believing that Minty was hiding Malty, which she was but not in the way that they might expect. Suddenly Whistle had jumped straight upward with the book falling to the floor, her heart raced and she knew what was just said could only mean bad news.

The words replayed in her mind with an eerie echo, “I was just told that another death occurred, a small dragon from our own Dragon Town was just discovered in the most gruesome state yet...”

Forgetting that the remote was beside her on the sofa Whistle had hovered over and raised the volume on the TV itself.

The news pony spoke, in a voice full of panic and fear “Yes? Oh? Oh dear..I was also just told, dear viewers, that starting today at twelve Fillydelphia will be under a total lockdown. To keep myself short, every inch of Fillydelphia will be under heavy patrols from now until Malty, or whoever this monster is, is caught. How could anypony do that to a child!”

Suddenly the news cut to an error screen used for intermissions and Whistle could hear static coming from the speakers. She thought this was the final nail in the coffin as it was serious now, more than it was before.

“A complete guard lock down..?” Whistle repeated, the last lock down that she even remembered was way back into her filly years.

Whistle had to see Minty, she hovered up but just then she noticed Sparkleworks. She was staring at the TV from the archway between the kitchen and the living room, she seemed to had been in an state of shock but was broken out of it when Whistle had moved.

As if Sparkleworks knew what Whistle was thinking she firmly said “Oh no, you’re staying right here Thistle Whistle!”

“I have to see Minty!” Whistle returned loudly. ”She can’t be alone right now, you know that!”

“Maybe, but Lily should still be working there, she’ll be fine as long as she stays inside and I expect you to do the same” Sparkleworks replied. To make her point even more clear Sparkleworks had trotted to the front door and slammed it shut, she locked it, trotted over to the sofa and sat down.

Whistle wanted to scream in frustration, stuttering she yelled as she left the room and slammed her bedroom door shut. Sparkleworks cringed a little as she too wanted to scream. She felt a little bad she had to do that, but she knew Whistle would only get hurt if she went outside now of all times. She felt guilty, as well as a bad mother as she sat there for at least an hour before she suddenly stood up. She silently trotted to Whistle’s room, nudged the door open ever so gently, and saw she was sound asleep.

Sparkleworks smiled, happy that for once Whistle hadn’t disobeyed her and snuck out. Quietly she closed the door and went to her own bedroom, the time on her sun themed clock was nearing eight fifty, usually she would stay up til ten but felt she should just go ahead and rest. Surprisingly it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep, her dream was the old and usual one where her and Star Catcher were trotting around and greeted their friends whenever they happened to bump into them.

The trees were thin and tall, leaves dancing in the soft and gentle breeze, the grass was lust and had an brilliant blue hue to it. The two mares trotted, each nuzzling the other, they had reached Whistle and Pearl who were having a picnic. They greeted each other and Sparkleworks asked if they could join them, as Whistle spoke Sparkleworks had jumped in shock.

Her face was melting, her eyes and mouth disappeared and were replaced by black indents, her body looked similar to wax that was under very intense heat. Suddenly the entire landscape began melting and Sparkleworks screamed as she saw both Pearl and Star Catcher were melting as well.

They advanced on her, she stepped back and stumbled down a hill that wasn’t there before. She rolled until crashing into a tree and suddenly, faster than she could had ever reacted, the three melting ponies had grabbed her. She fought against them but they were stronger, she was held down and she feared the worse. Suddenly, from the melting Whistle came a whisper and they all stopped.

She repeated the whisper but this time it was so ear piercingly loud that when Sparkleworks had leaned forward screaming she was back in her room. Her fur covered in sweat and the covers were askew, she fell back onto her pillow in relief but had almost immediately sat back up as her bedroom door was suddenly busted open.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE:The Horror Of A Relapse

Standing in her doorway was Whistle and it only took a quick glance before Sparkleworks saw something was wrong. Whistle just stood there, staring, her body shook ever so slightly. When she made a motion to move Whistle galloped and threw herself into Sparkleworks’ lap where she cried heavily. Sparkleworks was at a lost for words but her motherly instincts had kicked in as she held Whistle, she rubbed the back of her friend’s head and offered comforting words.

But Whistle cried on and it was evident something must had happened other than an bad dream, sounding calm Sparkleworks spoke “What happened? and immediately she regretted it as her friend’s crying intensified.

She wasn’t sure how she did it, but finally after what felt like an eternally Whistle had ceased, at least enough to speak properly. Tears streaming down her face she blew her nose on the bed covers and Sparkleworks held back what she wanted to say.

“I-I snuck out..” Whistle sobbed and had cringed as if she was expecting a slap or something else.

Sparkleworks sighed in disappointment, she was so proud earlier. She casted a glance over to her clock and saw it was just barely passed midnight, she pondered how long Whistle was out but thought it’d be best not to bring it up. Instead, as she started to rub her friend’s back and stroke her mane she simply asked why she was crying.

Sparkleworks almost wished she hadn’t asked as Whistle had whimpered “I saw Malty..”

Sparkleworks felt her heart sank, was Whistle just attacked? The very thought enraged her to the point she would had stormed out and tracked Malty down, if it wasn’t for Whistle crying in her lap.

“S-S-She...she changed..” Whistle mumbled, Sparkleworks ceased her comforting strokes as she stared blankly at Whistle who started to sob even more.

“Whistle,” spoke Sparkleworks who sounded ever so firm. “tell me what happened. Now, please?”

Whistle didn’t reply at first but she gave a slight nod, her head never left Sparklework’s lap as she explained what had happened and she occasionally paused to sob.

“I was flying high in the sky...the dark sky lighting my way, barely anypony was out but the ones I saw were all being escorted by guards. Then I saw her, but it was too dark to be sure so I lowered myself down. She ran and I gave chase, catching her in an dead end---oh Celestia she looked a-awful..!”

Whistle’s sobbing had increased to the point her words were barely audible, Sparkleworks resumed the stroking of her mane and it seemed to had calmed her down.

“Her eyes---her teeth!” cried Whistle. “She looks half dragon now!”

“W-What..?” gasped Sparkleworks.

“Her eyes---they look like a snake, her teeth---sharp like a shark!” Whistle explained in between her whines.

Sparkleworks didn’t express any words, the pictured she was given reminded her of Nightmare Moon who she had only seen in photos from her foal hood. Why would Malty, or anypony for that matter, suddenly look like a pony she didn’t even believe existed despite the talk of Princess Luna returning which she thought were just rumors until the last Summer Sun Celebration.

“Are you sure?” Sparkleworks asked as she found it hard to believe. “Was it maybe just the lighting?”

“N-No!” Whistle shouted in a loud whimper. “Ugh why don’t you believe me!”

“I do believe you!” Sparkleworks hoped she hadn’t just lied as she met Whistle’s eyes, they were so filled with grief that it broke her heart. “It’s just---how can a mare change appearance like that?”

All at once Whistle had ceased and for just a moment Sparkleworks feared she had just died, she felt greatly relieved when Whistle had rubbed her nose. Whistle didn’t speak anymore in fear of bringing Minty up and doing her more harm than good, she just laid there silently and occasionally blowing her nose into the covers. Sparkleworks wanted to press the subject but she just couldn’t get the words out, but maybe it was for the best.

Whistle clearly had an dramatic experience and she thought it’d be good to get it all out now rather than later, she again couldn’t bring herself to say it.

***

Whistle woke up bright and early the next day, despite the previous night’s events she felt refreshed. Yawning she took a look at the clock and saw it was ten in the morning, she noticed the Daring Do theme and an quick look about the room revealed she was in her own room. She found that odd as she didn’t even remember coming back in here, but perhaps Sparkleworks had carried her?

“Where is Sparkleworks?” Whistle asked after seeing she wasn’t in her room, a quick search of the apartment later and it was clear she was home alone. “Sparkleworks! I’m going to see Minty, if you’re hiding well---you win alright?”

Before she left though Whistle had trotted to the kitchen for something to drink, her throat felt a little sore and her mouth was dry like a desert. She took some orange juice and drunk right from the carton, when she had closed the refrigerator door she noticed an piece of paper stamped to it’s front.

She ripped it down and read it aloud, “Gone to see Star Catcher, please stay home today. I’ll be back with dinner later”.

Both carton and letter fell to the floor as Whistle’s heart raced, surely she couldn’t had, could she? “Oh I shouldn’t had told her!” Whistle shouted as she banged her head against the fridge. “Now she’s going to tell Star Catcher!”

Whistle was about to scream when she suddenly thought of Minty, the very next instant she had bolted to the nearest window and lifted it so fast it had shattered, then she leapt out into the sky and took flight. She heard commotion from down below almost immediately, she had no need to look to tell riots had broken out. She heard crashes, screams, and the sound of stunning spells.

One pony she heard had shouted “We need to be prepared for when the dragons attack!”

She then heard a guard shout in reply “There won’t be another feud if we all remain calm--HEY drop that it isn’t to be handled by---”

There was a bright flash below and Whistle clamped her lips shut, she reluctantly flew on. She had reached Minty’s building in the matter of minutes, luckily the riots had not yet reached here.

She flew down and busted through the front door for what might had well been the fifth time this month, she shouted atop her lungs “MINTY! Where are you we need to talk!” but no answer came.

Whistle feared the worse but once she began searching she found Minty quite easily, she was back in the same closet Whistle had stuffed Malty in two months ago.

Whistle banged on the door and immediately Minty had spoken back, her was voice very shaken and worn. “Get away Whistle! It’s dangerous to be around me anymore!”

“I’m not leaving you, I didn’t before and I won’t now!” Whistle had shouted back. She heard an sob and she tried opening the door. “Huh-how did you lock this from inside!?”

“By locking and then closing it, dummy” There was an thud and Whistle knew Minty had just face planted the door. “..ugh I’m sorry Whistle but---she’s too strong now...” she heard Minty speak.

Whistle could hear the stress and strain in Minty’s voice, something wasn’t right and she could pretty much guess what it was.

“I told Sparkleworks I ran into Malty last night,” started Whistle. “and she went to see Star---”

“You saw her!?” gasped Minty. “Oh please tell me she didn’t hurt you!”

“No, she didn’t. But Minty, listen---” Whistle cursed in frustration as Minty kept interrupting her.

“Go away, in case they show. I don’t want you involved anymore than you already are” Minty had said.

Whistle attempted to force the door open but felt something as equally strong holding it from the other side. “M-Minty!” she shouted, trying to yank the door open with all her might.
Let-go! Since when were you this strong!”

“Side effect, I suppose..” replied Minty. “I’m not sure, but that isn’t the point! You need to go no---”

“I destroyed all your blue and green peppermints,” interrupted Whistle. “I burnt them all after searching this entire building from head to toe!” Whistle banged her head against the door in frustration. “I’m sure I found them all..how could this be happening?”

There was an eerie pause that, when Minty had spoken up, felt like shattered glass. “Look on the table, you should see my camera..” she told Whistle.

Whistle turned around and spotted the camera on the large table where Minty’s chemical sets once stood, she stared back at the door for just a moment then trotted over and grabbed it. Immediately she saw what resembled teeth marks and dried drool, Whistle gave an very loud “Ew!” in disgust as she opened the small flap which held the playback screen. Luckily it was undamaged and the video preview showed Minty setting up the camera in her room, the timestamp told Whistle this was between the hours six and eight PM.

Whistle fast forwarded when Minty had laid down and stopped when something had happened, she rewinded a few frames back, hit play again, and watched. The video showed Minty suddenly wide awake, screaming the same silence that Whistle had wished she’d never see again. Minty was changing, but it was so much more morbid than Whistle had remembered it and she was certain her nightmares would be haunted by what she was seeing. Minty held her mouth, obviously in pain, and although it was dark Whistle could clearly see her teeth were sharpening.

Minty’s eyes had shot wide opened, the red veins were visible and for a moment Whistle was scared they were going to pop right out of her skull. As Minty’s eyes turned yellow Whistle was certain they had an red shine to them, then they began to form slits. Whistle wanted to throw up but she couldn’t and was so relieved when the transformation had finally stopped. Malty now sat on the bed, breathing heavily. She stumbled to the floor with a loud thud, a faint curse had made Whistle gasp.

“Malty is such a potty mou---” Whistle trailed off as Malty came back into view as she used the bed covers for support.

Malty breathed, perhaps collecting her bearings, then she spotted the camera and for an fraction of a second Whistle had forgotten it was an recording. Malty grinned, her now shark-like teeth reflected a light that Whistle thought was probably the red light on the camera, but it was unnerving all the same. Malty started to speak, the same cold sensation from last night went down Whistle’s spine once more.

“Hello Minty” Whistle noted Malty’s voice sounded even more gruffly than it had last night. “Seems like we finally get to chat face to face, huh?” Malty giggled at herself, then went onto an explanation that Whistle had already heard.

“You ripped up the recipe for the orange sauce, and Whistle had burnt every single blue and green peppermint, or so she thought! I don’t know how or why, but you managed to eat one. Two months I’ve been dead, for a lack of a better word. I felt weak, either due to me being gone for two months or because you eat one piece, I don’t know or even care. But what I did care about, was staying alive. But how? I had no peppermints and knew my time was short..hehehe, you overlooked one very important detail, Minty”.

Malty had picked up one of the four pillows and began twisting and punching it until she finally ripped it apart, Whistle grabbed her mouth at what she said next.

“I remember the ingredients, and you two mares forgot to get rid of the salts! HA! The most important and hard to get ingredient, and you just forgot them!” Malty laughed maniacally. “Well the other problem, which was exactly brewing the sauce, was quite easy to solve. Cooking pots, yeah I know, who would’ve guessed?”

Laughing Malty had dropped the tore pillow for the camera and got full closeups of her new features. “Heh, what ya think? Mints? I look just terrific, do I not?” she asked the camera.
I have you to thank, ya know“

Whistle wanted to gag as Malty licked her teeth before making an growl similar to a hungry predator. “Too much candy can ruin your teeth, remember when mommy said that? Oh right, you never reconnected! But oh was she always concerned about you...” likely unable to grind them Malty just bared her teeth instead.

The anger was evident when she suddenly bit at the camera. Gnawing, twisting, and then spitting into the lenses before she slammed it quite hard against the wall.

“That mare never cared about me...only you! But guess what? I KILLED HER! AND I’LL KILL ALL YOUR FRIENDS TOO!” Malty bellowed and Whistle could hear the strain in her voice, was she hyperventilating? “If it wasn’t for Thistle Whistle, that was..”

“Wha-what do I have to do with this?” Whistle asked in an shocked induce reaction.

Whistle heard Malty giggling, “Hehehe, well---” there was the sound of a window opening and the ruff wind could be heard. “---I’ll be seeing ya, sis, don’t worry! You won’t remember a thing, sleep well~”.

There was the sound of the window being closed and Whistle knew she was gone, Whistle didn’t bother watching the rest as she could already guess what it held. Malty was her friend, just an normal pony, how could she had turn into such an monster? All of the times that they had hung out together, all those lessons and the two times she had met Whistle’s friends, Whistle felt sick to her stomach.

Whistle had jumped as a crash suddenly emitted from the closet, it was followed by the words “I-It’s happening---again---Whi--slte...”

Whistle rushed back over to the door and right as she gripped the doorknob, she released it. She couldn’t let Malty get loose, she knew there was nothing she could do other than wait for the candy to get out of her system like she did the last time. Just then Whistle had an realization that confused her and she looked at the closet door with a sense of worry.

“Minty..? Whistle spoke, knocking on the door. “You don’t have the candy with you? Minty---”

The doors from behind had busted opened and Whistle only had a few moments to turn around before an guard had froze her in place by an spell. Now immobilized Whistle could only watch as an entire guard unit, which coexisted of at most five ponies and one griffon and dragon, moved out and searched the room.

“Unfreeze her Colts, she isn’t who we’re here for” Star Catcher’s voice sounded so professional that Whistle had gulped as she knew this was bad news.

Whistle felt the sensation of weights being lifted off of her body as the guard flicked his head, she in a fit of rage shouted “Why are you here!?” but stopped in the midst of her sentence for Lily had trotted into the room.

Lily wore armor similar to Star Catcher’s only it was white and Whistle could see her own shocked reflection on the chestpiece.

“Lily...you’re one of them!” Whistle shouted.

“Thistle Whistle,” Lily started. “please understand---”

“You were spying on us all this time?” Whistle interrupted heatedly.

“No!” Lily gasped in her defence. “Well, y-yes but I really did come here for an job, at first, honest I---”

In anger Whistle had thrown the camera at Lily while cursing, Lily caught the camera and Whistle kept cursing insults at her for betraying their trust.

“I didn’t betray anypony’s trust!” Lily had shouted back, tears were almost visible in her ears. “I was only told to wat---”

“Enough!” bellowed Star Catcher suddenly. “We are not here for friends to argue, we’re here for Minty. Whistle, I’m certain you are too?”

“W-Why are you looking for Minty?” Whistle asked, she tried to seem unguilty but her fur had already started to sweat.

“We have it on good authority that Malty is not her sister” spoke Star Catcher. Whistle sighed in relief only to gasp as Star Catcher added “An eyewitness to the dragon attack had seen Malty’s Cutie Mark, and it matches Minty’s identically”.

Whistle would bite her own hooves if it wouldn’t look suspicious, but clearly Star Catcher knew something was up. “Whistle,” she spoke, trotting closer and right then Whistle just wanted to die as she had spotted Sparkleworks behind Star Catcher. “If you don’t tell us, you’ll be charged as an--yes I know Sparkleworks, but this is serious!” Whistle had never seen Star Catcher so angry before, she had only seen her this stern with Sparkleworks one other time and it was an memory she rather forget.

“If Minty is behind these murders and attacks then I can’t let emotional standings get in the way.” Star Catcher had said, Whistle swore this whole scene had deja vu written all over it. “You know that, but please understand this time it is important that we---”

There was another loud bang from inside the closet, Star Catcher’s eyes went back and forth between it and an extremely guilty looking Whistle. Star Catcher instructed a guard to open the closest but Whistle had jumped in the way.

“No! Don’t open it, it’s not safe right now!” Whistle shouted as she kept knocking back the guard who kept trying to remove her.

Star Catcher’s patience was growing thin, she turned to Sparkleworks and demanded her to remove Whistle. Normally she would just order somepony to forcefully move another who wouldn’t listen, but knowing her quite well to the point she felt like a mother Star Catcher had hoped Sparkleworks would get the job done while avoiding a fight.

Sparkleworks nodded and asked Whistle to move, but she wouldn’t. “Whistle, please, I know you doubt Minty has anything to do with---these murders---I trust her too, but what are the chances these two share the same exact Cutie Mark?” she asked and felt so terrible that she wouldn’t be surprised if Whistle said she hated her.

“You don’t understand what’s wrong!” Whistle shouted back, her body outstretched across the closet door.

“Then tell us!” Sparkleworks begged. “For Pearl’s sake, tell us what is wro---”

Suddenly Lily had gasped in horror, she handed Star Catcher the camera and she too gasped. “You! Levitate her out of the way! Now!” she ordered and the guard obeyed.

Feeling a rush of wind Whistle was lifted off of the ground, the guard she had fought against now gripped the doorknob. “No! Don’t open it!” she shouted.

But she was too late, the closet was opened. The single light bulb it had was off, the guard flicked the light switch but it remained off. There was a moan which had drew his attention to an limp pony engulfed in shadows, the others were in shock with a few grasping their mouths. They spoke but Whistle heard none of them, she just stared into the closet and felt an bad omen in the pit of her stomach.

Suddenly the limp pony jumped and latched onto the guard, there was screaming and Whistle fell flat on her head with a loud thud.

“Whistle!” came Sparkleworks’ voice.

Whistle’s vision was blurry, the first thing that came back into focus was an orange blur with the face and features of Sparkleworks slowly forming inside it. She looked around the room and noticed she had an headache from the ringing in her ears. Most of the guards had left but she noticed a purple blur that was likely Lily, she was attending to another guard who was screaming in pain and she saw some type of fluid dripping from the side of his face.

Over from her left a large blur was trotting towards her, Sparkleworks stood up and said “She’s hurt, ugh that’s why Minty hates being levitated!”

“I know you’re mad, but that wasn’t our fault” spoke Star Catcher who tried to sound sincere, despite her headache killing her Whistle could still hear the professional tone. “Whistle, you got explaining to do”.

Star Catcher held something to Whistle’s face but her vision was still too blurry to make out what it was, her ears however had heard the camera’s recording just fine. She whistled nervously and pretended to pass out.

Sparkleworks however didn’t find it funny as she said “Oh Whistle no..not the fake blackout gag..”

***

It was nearing eight o’clock when all of Minty’s friends had arrived at Star Catcher’s office, she was looking over the first copy of an new Fillydelphia Express print. “When guard forces arrived at Minty’s estate this morning, following a lead that further connected her to the ‘Red Apron’, she had attacked them and ran from the scene...” she read aloud.

Star Catcher looked up and saw her friends’ reactions which were what she had expected them to be, shocked and denial.

One of them, whose fur was an very bright and shiny blue, had said “But Minty isn’t the killer! I knew the darling since foal hood, it’s just isn’t in her character!”

Another pony, who for some reason was carrying a balloon, had said “She likely ran because she was scared, and that attack could had been the usual fake detail that the presses makes up all the time”.

“I assure you that the attack did happen, if you don’t believe me you can visit Coles in the hospital” spoke Star Catcher. As she crossed her hooves she watched for any signs of suspicious behavior from her friends.

The ponies whispered to each other and seemed like they were discussing the situation, Star Catcher glanced over and saw Whistle and Tropical Dream, who looked to be the most guilty of the lot. Lily, who was standing by Star Catcher’s left, looked equally as guilty.

Star Catcher spoke to the two mares, saying “You got to explain to them everything that you have told me”.

Whistle stared at Tropical Dream who returned the same uneasy look, Whistle opened her mouth to speak but right then Lily interrupted, saying “They been through enough as it is. Besides, we can worry about that after we find Minty”.

“They have a right to know,” snapped Star Catcher who kept her eyes on Whistle. “I know it’s terrible but the truth is better than lying”.

“But this?” returned Lily. “They’ll never be able to---”

“It isn’t Minty’s fault” Whistle’s voice got the full attention of the room. “She tried to stop it, she really did...”

Everypony stared and Whistle felt so out of place that she might had been better off in Dragon Town, Star Catcher was the first to reply. “Minty isn’t in her right mind” she spoke. Slowly Whistle turned to look at her, she begged Star Catcher not to say it. “she’s---not herself, if we don’t find her fast then Shining Armor and Flash Sentry will.” she spoke.

Star Catcher stood up from her seat as she added “Yes, they arrived yesterday and I had a very heated discussion with them an hour ago. So---” she paused to look about her friends. “---we got to find her, I can’t because of my duties but all of you can as you should get an idea where she usually goes”.

“Darling,” spoke the bright blue mare who took a step forward. “what exactly did she do---”

“For starters,” interrupted Star Catcher a bit heatedly. “she took a chunk of my guard’s cheek clean off---yeah, her state of mind isn’t stable right now”.

Everypony else had gasped and Whistle could see, amongst all the whispering, that they were more scared than worried. She couldn’t blame them, she was probably the most scared of them all yet she knew more than they did. She was forced to tell Star Catcher everything not long ago, Sparkleworks’ face was forever burnt into her mind. Star Catcher said a few more words before everypony was sent out with one goal in mind, find Minty before any of the guards do.

It wasn’t an easy task, however, as Fillydelphia was an large city and almost every inch was covered with guards. The ponies decided to split up and cover more ground with Whistle, Sparkleworks, and Tropical Dream staying together.

Sparkleworks had said “How does she expect us to find her first?”

Tropical Dream simply answered “Well, we know Minty won’t be anywhere near guards right now. So we have to think---what’s the least guarded area right now?”

“You’re already thinking wrong” spoke Whistle who was galloping just a few inches ahead of them. “She’s probably still Malty right now, we have to think about her and where she would go”.

Since Malty had went as far as Dragon Town Whistle knew finding her would be twice as hard, she had the idea to check Malty’s place which was located near Dragon Town but there was one problem.

“Her place was probably checked when the news pony mentioned her,” Whistle was sure Sparkleworks had got to be a mind reader, there was just no way they were thinking of the same place as Whistle never even told her where it was. “so we can’t risk going there”

The search had lasted up till eleven o’clock before they had regrouped with the others, they were all discussing where they had just recently searched.

“We have to check them again“ Whistle was given many stares as she said this, but she went on. “Just because she wasn’t there before, doesn’t mean she won’t be later. She’s on the run!”

Everypony stared among themselves. Some complained about how big of a needle in a haystack this was and that the odds that Minty was already found were higher than their odds of finding her. Others said they couldn’t even hold their eyes open.

One of them had said “But why would she be there now?” and got such a irritated and uncharacteristic stare from Whistle that she had gulped.

“She wouldn’t stay in just one spot!” barked Whistle. None of her friends, even Sparkleworks, had ever seen her like this before. “If we can’t find her tonight then we research everywhere again tomorrow, and the next day after that until we find her!” she yelled, angrily at her friends’ for wanting to stop the search.

The mare with bright blue fur, after seeing an twitch or two, had trotted up and placed a hoof onto her shoulder as she asked “Whistle, darling, what if the guards already found her?”

“Remember Lily?” Whistle asked as she spun around and nearly knocked her comforting friend over. ”Minty had searched for her through midnight, we all did!” Whistle turned to each of her friends before adding “Remember how we all felt when we couldn’t find her?”

There were no replies, only sad faces that told Whistle that they do remember. She hadn’t meant to be so rude but she was just worried and fired up with emotion. Minty was her best friend and the thought of her being out there and hunted was something that she just couldn’t cope with, if Whistle could she would buck Malty for causing all of this.

A voice finally broke the silence and Whistle was surprised, upon turning around, to see Lily. She wondered how Lily had find them so fast and why she was here at all, suddenly her stomach had twisted into knots. Surely their time wasn’t up already?

“I remember too,” Lily had spoken. “I still feel guilt for making you all worry like that”.

“Lily..” Whistle whispered. She couldn’t think of any words that she could have possibly said, she was too jumbled but there was one thing that she did knew for certain, she was glad to see her.

“We hadn’t found Minty either, Star Catcher asked me to tell you---” Lily paused, everypony wondered what she was going to say and hoped it wasn’t more bad news. “---she doesn’t care how long it takes. She managed to further delay the Fillydelphia Express til tomorrow afternoon.” she told them.

Staring at them with a stare that could burn through ice Lily said, in a voice that sounded like she was talking to a guard unit, “So we got til then to find our friend!”

Nopony replied with anything other than stares, and for just a moment Lily feared that her words had fallen on deaf ears. Then suddenly, as if somepony had skipped ahead in an movie, everypony rallied like they were Royal Guards.

“I’ll recheck the bowling ring,” spoke their bright blue friend. “the darling always had a thing for bowling”.

“And I’ll check the party store!” spoke their friend who was still carrying her balloon. Everypony stared at her as if she had something profound, staring back at them she asked “What? My twin of an niece likes parties and told me Minty used to hang there quite often”.

“Right---I’ll check the library, it should be deserted but what could a better hideout right now?” spoke another friend. Rubbing her ears she reached into her saddlebag and took out a new pair of glasses, everypony stared at her as she put on them on. “What?” she asked, glaring back at them before mumbling “Ugh I hate these things...”

“OK everypony, head out and find Minty!” Lily shouted like she was in charge of her very own unit.

Everypony had set off to search once more, besides Whistle and Sparkleworks who had remained behind with Lily.

“Whistle” started Lily.

“What?” asked Whistle.

“Thank you, for what you said” Lily smiled.

“What I say?” Whistle asked as she didn’t find anything special in what she had said, until she actually remembered what it was. “Oh, don’t mention it---”

“Minty never gave up searching for me,” Lily interrupted, she looked genuinely sad as she went on to add “she was a true friend and my thanks were spying on her..no wonder she bucked me in the chest earlier..” Lily paused and rubbed her chest plating which held a deep dent. “If I have to freeze the entire town I would, if only we had an air balloon huh?” she giggled.

“We could still fly,” spoke Whistle, outstretching her wings. “and with you we could cover more---”

“Whistle,” interrupted Sparkleworks who had pulled Whistle back down when she had attempted to hover. “I think you should go home”.

Whistle blinked. “What!? Why?”

“Because it’s late, and you know how you are when you get sleepy” answered Sparkleworks.

Whistle’s mouth clamped shut and she held up her hoof which had started to shake uncontrollably, Sparkleworks went to add something but Whistle had busted out in an overly loud volume “No! I am not resting until I know she’s safe! Celestia, I know you wanna be my mom but I’m not a kid anymore!”

Sparkleworks was taken aback by this outburst and Whistle suddenly heard what she had just said. Seeing Sparkleworks’ face, which looked like she had just been hit, made Whistle hate herself.

“I’m sorry..” spoke Whistle as her head fell to her chest. ”I’m just so worried..”

Whistle was about to cry when Sparkleworks had raised her head back up, “I know you’re not a kid, heck you have grown up a lot over the last few months.” Sparkleworks gave an failed attempt an smile before kissing her friend’s forehead. “As for me wanting to be your mother...”

Whistle sniffed a little as Sparkleworks held her in an embrace.

“I would never want to replace Pearl, but wouldn’t lie in saying I hope my own foal would be just like you” Sparkleworks spoke, holding her friend tightly before raising Whistle’s head again. “Even the orange juice addiction” she joked, succeeding in an smile as she patted Whistle’s head.

Whistle laughed, Sparkleworks turned to Lily who had an sisterly smile across her face. “Any idea where to look?” she asked.

Over the next three hours the search yielded no better results than before, by now they had searched the entire city twice over, well at least the parts that they could search without guards breathing down their necks. Most were giving up hope and suggested that Minty had skipped town, Whistle hated to admit it but she was beginning to lose hope as well.

But suddenly, as if something was answering her wish Lily had flew overhead, she shouted down below “I found her!” and took off with the group giving chase.

Lily lead them into an alleyway, the very same one Whistle had lost the silhouetted pony in days ago. There laying motionless among turned over garbage was Minty, Whistle had immediately galloped past the others and went to her side. Whistle gasped at the dried blood around Minty’s lips and the bruises she had, she looked like she had just lost a street fight. Whistle tried waking her up but she was unresponsive, she asked somepony to get help but before anypony could even make it five feet Lily had shot an magical flare into the air that had illuminated the sky in red.

“What are you doing!?” yelled Whistle who was clutching Minty close as Lily trotted over to them.

“Don’t worry” Lily spoke fastly. “I outrank most if not every guard. As long I carry her, they won’t abject”.

Whistle was very reluctant but nodded in agreement, she helped Minty onto Lily’s back and not a moment sooner had the scene been overrun by guards.

Whistle became very nervous as she watched guard after guard arrive, as Lily had said none of them questioned or even talked back to her. Lily told everypony to give her some room, she trotted a bit and stood very still. Breathing in deep and slow breaths she lifted her head and her horn lit up, Whistle watched amazed as Lily’s magical aura engulfed her whole body. Then she flew upward and they all followed, where to Whistle could only guess.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:The Confrontation

Whistle couldn’t sleep, all she could do was trot back and forth in the hospital's waiting room. They had brought Minty in over two hours ago and she was taken into immediate surgery. The others thought she really had been in some sort of fight but Whistle thought maybe the whole changing back and forth is starting to take it’s toll on her, the thing that had made her think this was an black eye being in the same exact place as Minty’s last black eye.

Whistle couldn’t bear this waiting, to her it was the ultimate torture and soon enough somepony noticed she wasn’t asleep.

Sparkleworks, who looked very sleep deprived all of a sudden, spoke “W-Whistle? Why are you still up?”

“I can’t sleep, not until I know how she is” Whistle replied. She was trotting in circles until Sparkleworks had placed a hoof on her shoulder.

Whistle looked behind her and gripped her friend’s hoof, seeing her comforting smile helped in taking some of the stress off of her shoulders but it wasn’t quite enough.

“I know how you feel” Sparkleworks paused and took a peek behind her, she was sure everypony else was asleep but she trotted Whistle out of earshot just the same. “Tell me, how do you really feel about Minty?”

Whistle stared at her curiously as if she had heard an entirely different question. “She’s my best friend, BFF” she replied.

“Uh huh, and you weren’t the most worried out of everypony?” Sparkleworks asked.

Whistle tilted her head as if her friend was talking nonsense. “I don’t follow---”

“Look,” Sparkleworks interrupted. “I can pretty much guess as I was in the same spot when I met Star Catcher”.

Suddenly it dawned on Whistle what her friend was getting at and it made her feel, quite indifferent. “O-Oh---but we’re just friends” she blushed, scratching the back of her head.

Sparkleworks shook her head as she spoke “I know how you are around her, and when she’s in danger you really get fired up---”

“That’s because I really care about her safety!” Whistle blurted out, she was half tempted to argue but she didn’t feel up to the effort.

“---right. Well, when she comes to I think you two should talk” Sparkleworks finished her sentence.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake...” Whistle thought to herself.

She went to speak but Sparkleworks held a hoof over her mouth to keep her silent. “Look, here comes the nurse I think”.

A female dragon trotted from the door Whistle was endlessly trotting by, she approached them and said “Your friend pulled through, she should be in room three thirteen in about two minutes” then she left as soon as she had arrived.

Whistle felt so relieved that she could had passed out right on the spot.

“I see you’re eager, but wait two more minutes. I’ll wake everypony in three” Sparkleworks smiled and returned to her previous seat with the others.

Whistle was more than eager although she couldn’t think of another word to describe how she felt at this moment. She galloped in place and stared at the clock which moved so slowly she was sure that Discord had messed with the flow of time again. Finally, after an unbearable two minute wait, Whistle galloped down the hall and turned the corner and stopped to see the room numbers. She had to go up an floor but finding the room wasn’t hard, it was at the very end of the hall and down another corner.

She reached for the doorknob but had pulled back, using its reflective surface she straighten her mane and flicked dirt out of her fur. After she was done she opened the door, smiling greatly as she whispered “Hey Minty” but stopped mid sentence as she saw that the room was empty.

She was confused and checked the room number again, it was the correct number. She looked in the room again in hopes she had just overlooked Minty, she quickly noticed the bed was askew as if somepony had recently slept in it. Perhaps the nurse gave the wrong room number? There was nothing else to do but go back and check but just as she turned around and began trotting she noticed a familiar tail turning the far corner.

Whistle galloped and after turning the corner herself saw that she was right, Minty was out of bed and she was dragging herself along the wall for support.

Whistle hovered over and said “Minty! Why aren’t you in bed?” her words might had startled Minty for she had jumped clear across the hall.

Minty turned back and Whistle saw that she was covered from head to toe in bandages, only small amounts of fur were visible. “S-Stop! Get back, Whistle!” shouted Minty.

“Minty, why are you sneaking out?” Whistle asked.

She started to hover over but had flinched backwards as Minty shouted “Because I’m no longer safe! This hospital would just be Heaven for Malty---easy prey for her..”

Whistle hovered closer again and Minty stepped backwards, still clutching the wall for support. “W-Whistle---please..! I don’t want her to hurt you!” Minty bellowed. Suddenly she slipped but had clung onto a movable bed that was left in the hall. “I couldn’t live if I killed you too!”

“Where were the doctors?” Whistle kept asking herself this as she tried to get closer to Minty, but every inch just made her friend panic even more. Finally, Minty ducked under the bed and overturned it as she fled. Whistle shouted as she was almost crushed under the bed if not for her instincts kicking in, she had flew backwards dodging the bed before going full speed ahead as it hit the floor with a loud crash.

Her bones were aching and felt like shattering under her weight but Minty knew she had to get out of the hospital, it was just too risky with all these vulnerable lives. She had made it to the next corner which split two ways and formed somewhat of an crossroad, she turned left and halted when she heard voices and recognized them as her friends. At seeing their shadows she turned back and made for the other direction just to meet another obstacle, it lead to the lounge where the doctors and nurses hanged between shifts.

Minty turned back again but froze as she heard the words “By my stars, is that Minty!” and knew that her friends had just spotted her.

She hurried along the wall just for Whistle to appear and block her exit. “She’s trying to run!” Whistle shouted, their friends gasped and began trotting over.

“No! Stop!” Minty shouted at them. “You don’t understa---”

“Ms.Minty!” came a shout from behind, an doctor had just appeared at the lounge door. “You get back to bed this very instant!”

Minty was cornered not by two routes, but three, and what made matters even worse was that she began to feel sharp pain in her teeth. She yelped and kneeled over, seeming to throw up. Almost at once Whistle knew what was happening, the coffin was nailed shut as Minty turned to her and her yellow eyes were pulsating. Whistle quickly rushed over but was suddenly bucked hard in the face. Now everypony was rushing over which was the opposite of what Minty wanted.

Her time about out she looked and prayed for a way out and didn’t care what it was, then she saw a window directly behind her. It seemed too good to be true and she knew that if she took this fourth route then she wouldn’t survive the landing. She could feel her teeth sharpening and her eyesight was going, she knew there wasn’t any time left. Everypony were mere feet away and another second would be her capture, with Malty breaking free another second later.

Minty took this chance, Whistle saw Minty galloping for the window. Pushing Sparkleworks aside she galloped and yelled “Minty stop!” but she was too late.

The window shattered as Minty jumped straight through it, as she fell she could hear her friends’ cries.

***

Minty trotted in utter darkness, a void deprived of any form of life. Nothing but endless nothingness as far as her eyes could see, she wasn’t even sure if she was moving or not. She reached up and went to feel the air, while there wasn’t any she did felt something like water. She saw what resembled grey ripples and redrew her hoof, where was she? For a moment she thought of an answer but laughed at the silly idea, however, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was right.

She repeated herself merely to hear the question, “Am I’m---dead?” it seemed like an strong possibility now that she thought about it.

The last thing she recalled was leaping from an third story window and hitting concrete, then she awoke here. She didn’t even remember waking up, she was just here all of a sudden, could this be the afterlife? Or could it be purgatory for everything Malty had done?

“Well---” Minty started to speak but suddenly felt cotton mouthed. “---if I am dead, then at the very least the others---and Whistle---are safe” she looked up and saw nothing but black emptiness. “Yep, no more suffering because of me..”

Minty laid down and looked at her reflection, she found it odd that the ground, unlike every other direction, had something other than blackness. But why does it resemble water? That she wasn’t sure of but she also didn’t really care.

“All I wanted was to create unique candy, new flavors---new shapes---a new meaning to my boring life..” Minty spoke to herself.

As she talked her reflection seemed to had reflected her thoughts, for now Malty was staring her back. “You---how could candy create you?” she asked the reflection which stared intensely at her. “I used the salts in my other experiments, so why not all of them? Why just the peppermints? Don’t look at me like that!” she snapped at the reflection.

She felt enraged. ”Why? Where did I go wrong!?” she asked as she bucked at the reflection before rolling over onto her side where she began sobbing. “So many you killed...and I don’t even know why! Just that you turned me into a monster and I am glad to be dead!”

Minty sobbed, and sobbed, and felt so terrible it was like her heart was crying itself out instead of her. She grasped her chest and tried to calm down as she rolled onto her back.

“Am I---a good pony?” she asked herself as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Am I’m just insane? Well..at least it’s over” Minty took an inhale and with great difficulty she exhaled while saying the words “I feel inside that it's truly is over”.

Minty took another but even greater sigh, she looked up at the black void and wondered how far it truly stretched. “No pony can never know...they wouldn’t even understand Malty” she spoke aloud, her eyes wandering the empty void above her. “They would just----be scared, or just wouldn’t believe it”.

Minty reached up and again felt water, she watched the grey ripples as she said “They would just focus on the tragedy and over look my intentions.” she redrew her hoof and found it was quite dry despite feeling like she had just touched water. “So much death and suffering by my hooves..heh, perhaps it is better this way. I mean, I could get used to this”.

Minty took an third sigh and felt some sort of content by her death. Closing her eyes and relaxing herself she said “Malty will never again harm a pony, or dragon, it’s all over---”

“Did you really think, that I would ever let you go?” interrupted an gruffy and hoarse voice.

Minty sat upright at the voice she had just heard and held her mouth in shock, she breathed slowly and tried to calm herself down. “You’re just a reflection---an figment of my imagination---not real...”

“Oh I’m very real, my sister!” interrupted the same voice.

Minty opened her eyes only to jump and fall over as her double, Malty, was suddenly face to face with her.

“Do you really think that you’d ever be free?” Malty asked. “Ha! If you thought that, then I’m truly sorry to say it isn’t so!”

Minty couldn’t believe this and when Malty had outstretched a hoof to help her stand she truly thought that she was insane. This just couldn’t be real, how could both of them be here at the same time? “B-But how could this be happening?” Minty stuttered, her entire body shivering.

“H-How c-c-could this be h-h-happening?” Malty mocked her, laughing maniacally. “Sorry to be the one to ya this sis, but it won’t be that easy to get rid of me!” Malty saw that Minty was refusing her helping hoof, she shrugged and told her twin “For as long as you live I shall be here, just asleep within your very soul”.

Minty picked herself up and was grateful that her injuries hadn’t carried over. “Where are we?” she asked.

Malty gave a puzzled look before turning to look around them.

“Ah, right, you wouldn’t remember..” Malty replied as she started to trot, Minty felt the urge to follow her. “This is my home, where I roam while you’re awake. But for me, it’s never filled with dreams---just this”.

Malty looked back and saw an confused look on Minty’s face. “Ah yes, expected you were moron enough not to follow” she laughed. “This is where you dream, Minty”.

“My dreams..?” Minty repeated, taking another glance around her she found that hard to believe.

“Yes, though don’t count on any help. It’s a black void, fitting ain’t it?” Malty asked before she fully turned around and stared at Minty who looked very stable all of a sudden. She was sure Minty would had at least been a little stunned. “You get to suffer exactly like I had, though at least for an time, you won’t be alone..”

Suddenly Minty started to feel her rage building but she wasn’t sure why, she just hated seeing Malty with such a wide grin. “So?” she asked her twin.

“So?” Malty blinked. “So? Is that all you have to say? We’re finally meeting, you and I! And all you can say is so!?”

“I don’t care what you say” Minty returned. She had enough listening to her twin, she turned away saying “You’re just a figment of my guilt, what I see in the mirror---” when suddenly Malty was face to face with her again.

“Do you know how stupid that just sounded?” Malty asked as Minty fell over in shock, she laughed. “I'm what you face when you look in the mirror! HA----come to think of it that could be an book title...almost ashamed I gave that life up” Malty said with a shrug.

Minty stared at her in shock, being right in her face had made her heart skip a beat. As if Malty was reading her thoughts she bowed her head, took off her hat, and grinned widely.

“You wonder why my face is so horrific?” Malty asked, but Minty didn’t answer. “I must had gulped down the entire peppermint patch I cooked up, I didn’t want to fade away again so to be sure I had many hours I ate, and ate, and ate.” Malty grinned showing her sharp teeth. “Mommy always said too much sugar will ruin your teeth”.

Malty stared at the ground and at her reflection, she bared her teeth like she had just brushed them.

“I blame the salts, and you.” Malty paused as she pointed at Minty like she had just caught her in the act of something terrible. “I don’t blame you for being silent, heck I was terrified myself---until I busted out laughing. I look just like Nightmare Moon, that’s what I said the first time this happened. I don’t know what the salts are or why they react to the peppermints, suppose it’s the orange sauce, or syrup, or whatever you’re calling them these days. But, sadly, the last batch used them all up. Luckily, however...”

Minty blinked and suddenly Malty was gone, she heard laughter from behind and she swore her heart had just stopped. Malty was staring down at her, licking her teeth.

“After tonight I won’t have any need to dig them back up from their hiding spot” Malty grinned, barking at Minty she laughed at the startled reaction.

“H-How did you do that?” Minty asked, if her heart wasn’t beating so fast she would’ve swore that bark had bursted it.

“Did what?” Malty asked in return.

“Teleporting!” Minty shouted suddenly. “We’re Earth ponies, we can’t teleport!”

Malty offered another laugh while flicking back her mane. “Clearly, you failed to understand me earlier” she spoke.

Malty trotted past Minty before turning around and went a few paces backwards, she bent her knees and flicked up her head upward. The ground shook, cracking open, Minty held her mouth as a pillar rose from the ground.

Malty looked down and smirked, she laughed at her twin’s expression. “I lived here for over two years, I can control it now. You,” she paused and Minty thought she had some sort of laughing disorder. “well let’s not get carried away with ourselves”.

Minty’s body shook with fear, her content feeling was completely taken away. She was scared, frightened for her life if she still had one. Then she remembered what Malty had said, but would it even work? She supposed it was worth a try as she had nothing else to lose. She stood up and looked at her twin who from this distance she might as well had been an tiny ant.

Suddenly another echo of Malty’s words had entered Minty’s mind. “You said this was where I dream..” she whispered.

“That I did, ten points for remembering!” Malty clapped her fore hooves and gave a small whistle.

“Then...then this isn’t real!” Minty said loudly, she heard Malty give a loud sigh. “You’re just a nightmare! That’s it! Has to be, you’re just an dying scream. An echo, the last bits of memory I’m trying to hold on---”

“This isn’t a dream!” bellowed Malty as if she had the Royal Voice turned up to an extreme high as the entire void shook. Minty looked up, her knees were shaking. “And it will never end! This is the nightmare that goes on for eternally! And guess what, sis!”

Minty gulped.

“No matter what you may pretend, I am here to stay and I’ll flourish in life when you are gone!” Malty held her chest in laughter, she thought that maybe she did have a disorder? But she didn’t care, she was just too happy in this moment that she felt was her finest hour.

“No! You won’t!” Minty yelled back, somehow she had regained her courage on an rim as she went to add “You seem to had forgotten, I jumped to my death!”

“Yeah, so?” Malty asked, sounding indifferent.

“Well, I couldn’t had survived that fall! Not with my injuries, so you’re stuck here as much as I am!” Minty paused to breathe, then she shouted “Take that and eat it, sis”

Malty looked taken aback which had greatly pleased Minty, she smiled and thought she had gain the upper hoof.

“Very well thought out” Malty spoke clapping once more, why did she seem so happy if Minty was right? “But you forgot just one tiny detail..”

Minty gulped again, what had she overlooked? She was sure whatever Malty was about to say had to be an attempt to trick her into denial.

“You were changing into me when you jumped” Malty grinned.

Minty gasped, she was right, the reason she had jumped was because Malty was trying to take control at the worse possible moment. “T-That doesn’t matter, I’ll rest peacefully as you disappear forever! You can’t trick me Malty!” Minty had shouted in hopes to derail the subject.

Malty gave an chuckle as she stood straight upright. “I’ll live forever~ Each and every day you’ll feel me devour your soul~”

“Why are you singing?” Minty asked, but Malty ignored her.

“And I know that now and forever, they’ll never be able to separate Minty from Malty~”

“Stop singing! It’s time for you to die and to leave me alone!” Minty shouted, slamming her hooves down and for a moment Malty was distracted by the many grey ripples.

“I won’t die~ Only you~”

“If I die, you die too!” bellowed Minty who was getting more and more frustrated by each passing second.

Suddenly Malty popped out of thin air in front of Minty and she tapped her chest, Minty gulped at the pointed teeth.

“If you die in me, than I become you~” Minty gasped in horror, Malty grinned even more as she laughed menacingly.

“No..no..darn you just leave me alone!” Minty yelled as she turned to gallop but once more Malty had teleported in front of her, she was backed up until she was pressed against the pillar.

“Can’t you see? I AM you!” Malty shouted with glee.

Minty repeatedly shook her head and kept repeating “You’re lying” over and over in hopes of drowning her out.

“Haven’t you ever wondered why you suddenly grew an attitude, wondered why you snapped at your friends in anger, wondered why you been acting slightly different for the last two years?” Malty spoke, trying to tell Minty the truth that she has been denying for the last two months.

“No---you’re lying! Trying to---” Minty yelped as Malty’s face became too close for comfort.

“It’s the very same reason why I was so nice to Thistle Whistle when I could’ve cared less,” Malty bared her teeth, a bit annoyed that she was unable to grind them. “it even explains why I tried to be proper when I hated that lifestyle! Listen to me my sister”.

“No!” bellowed Minty, she felt like an prey who was about to be killed and eaten by the predator. She jumped forward and galloped but Malty had managed to grab her. “Deep down inside---”

“You are me! You’re Malty!” Minty’s twin yelled, releasing her grip as she stared Minty dead center in her face.

“No! Never!” Minty shouted back,almost spitting into Malty’s face.

Minty kept turning her head to avoid looking her twin straight in the face, but Malty simply grabbed her head and focused her to as she spoke “Yes and it’s forever sis! Better get used to it.” Malty suddenly let go and trotted a few paces away. “We’re the same you and I---stop trying to deny it, after all your friends will have to adjust to this change when it’s made permanent”.

Minty’s eye shot straight open at these words, Malty grinned with an menacingly chuckle.

“Oh didn’t I mention?” Malty asked, pretending to feel guilt. “Yes, you’re finally using your brain! Way to go! With you dead I won’t be chained down anymore, whatever was stopping me from killing them will die off along with you”.

Minty realized she may had made a grave mistake in jumping out that window, but she didn’t see an better alternative at the time as she was changing. Was there just nothing she could had done to stop her evil twin? The thought of Malty using her own hooves to kill her friends made her sick to her stomach, she won’t allow it to happen, she just couldn’t.

“No, you won’t” Minty spoke as she stood up straight and stared her twin dead in her snake-like eyes. “Because you’ll die with me”.

“I’m afraid it won’t be that simple” Malty returned. She stepped back then suddenly disappeared, as Minty would’ve guessed, she was back atop her pillar. “You’re dying, Minty. I have no doubt that the doctors will try to revive you, and when we wake---only one of us is going to be there to greet them!”

Minty stared at the surrounding blackness, she was thinking on what Malty had said before. “This is where I dream..” she whispered. Sdidn’t have another option, she had to try it.

She bent her knees and flicked her head upward while thinking as hard as she could “Please..let me do this..” then she felt herself being lifted. When the sensation had stopped she opened her eyes to see an startled Malty, she grinned. “You may live here, but it’s my world!”

Malty gave what Minty was sure was a forced laugh. “What good it’ll good ya...so, I suppose this is it? The last stand as some would call it?” Malty asked.

Minty nodded, and so did Malty.

“Very well,” started Malty as she straightened herself up. “then as one famous stallion once said---let’s duel!”

Spiked spears had suddenly materialized besides Malty, they had shot forward with such speed Minty barely had enough time to jump out of their way. As they shattered her pillar Minty fell through the void. She thought of an cloud breaking her fall and suddenly, right as she was about to fall into a pit of spikes that had materialized, a cloud had formed underneath her.

Malty gave a loud growl and fell from above, a sword clutched in her teeth. Minty thought of an unbreakable shield and it appeared right in her hooves, she thrusted the shield upward and Malty’s sword shattered on impact.

“Imagination gives power here, but it won’t help you much” snarled Malty who was hovering backwards like she suddenly had wings.

Malty grinned and Minty felt an bad omen, suddenly her ears perked up and her tiny cloud began shaking. She was suddenly on a dirt road and a stampede of buffalo was heading her way. Minty panicked and jumped, she fell endlessly and she wished an giant eagle would save her. Malty suddenly teleported below with two spears clutched in her hooves, she snarled angrily as an eagle materialized under Minty. It carried her up and back around to Malty who had materialized a hunting rifle.

“No!” Minty shouted but before she could think of anything the eagle cried as it was shot and it vanished in a thick cloud of smoke.

Falling again Minty closed her eyes and pictured herself appearing next to Malty while hold a baseball bat, she felt herself touch the ground and she went to swing. SMACK she felt the bat as well as her forelegs shook uncontrollably, but she smiled as Malty’s nose started to bleed. Malty growled as the blood rushed back into her nose and it became healed, suddenly she was wearing spiked boxing gloves as she threw herself at Minty.

In the fraction of an second Minty had materialized normal boxing gloves as the two went back and forth with punches that the other kept dodging. That was until Malty managed to land a blow into Minty’s side, she wrenched in pain as she felt the spikes ripping at her flesh.

“Y-You cheated!” Minty cried as she stared her twin dead center in her face.

“Did I?” Malty asked, grinning widely. “And here I thought there were no rules” Malty returned as she violently tossed Minty to the ground.

Minty whaled in pain as her side began bleeding, taking an note from Malty she wished it was healed. It felt extremely odd as her blood rushed back into the wounds as they magically healed. She flipped over onto her back, Malty laughed and with one swirl of her coat suddenly vanished and reappeared what must had been a mile away. Suddenly as the ground shook something fierce, from below Malty a gigantic hammer rose up from nothingness. As it rose maybe twenty feet into the air Malty looked down and smiled.

Heart pumping fast Minty wished that she had an giant cannon, a moment later the ground shook violently again as a cannon rose and met the same height as Malty’s hammer.

Malty offered an faint “Uh oh..” just before it went off and the loudest bang Minty had ever heard filled the endless void, but surprisingly it didn’t hurt her ears at all.

As the smoke faded away she looked at the spot where Malty and her hammer should be at but she only saw a deep crater, she smiled just before an powerful blow had collided with the back of her head.

“I’m getting tired of this game..” Malt growled as she snapped her teeth like a predator advancing on an injured prey.

As her twin advanced Minty thought of a river washing her away, there was a loud rumble and from above came a roaring river. Minty watched and grinned as Malty failed to avoid it as she was swept away, unable to break free she cursed atop her lungs. Minty closed her eyes and pictured the rushing water carrying Malty over a cliff but suddenly she began coughing excessively.

She opened her eyes and saw blood dripping onto her hooves. She offered a faint scream and wished the blood away, as well as wishing that the rushing water would carry Malty into an active volcano. Minty stood up and wished that she would wake up and be with her friends again, but this wish didn’t come true as she was still in the black void.

“Please...don’t let any more be hurt by my hooves...I bet you---” Minty trailed off as suddenly she heard a growl from behind and she quickly rolled out of the way.

Minty fell down a small hill and suddenly felt her limbs being restrained, she looked up and saw that she was inside a giant bowl. High above her she saw an equally giant cooking utensil being materialized and as it fell her eyes clamped shut. She heard a loud crash and she bit her lip tightly, but she was unharmed. Opening her eyes she saw that her last minute imagery had worked, she was outside the bowl and was looking down into it.

Sighing in great relief Minty said “Thank you, Luna...”

Suddenly the giant cooking utensil had lifted again and it had just barely missed Minty’s mane, as it went to stab her she jumped and rolled over. Minty wished that she had pictured Malty in her place when she had the chance. Looking straight up she saw the utensil diving for her yet again, snapping her eyes shut she imagined it turning into thin air and she felt a warm breeze rushing past her. As she stood up gasping for air Malty had suddenly tackled her to the ground. They stood up, forelegs locked around the other’s and they gave each a death glare.

“Just give up and die!” Malty snarled as she tried to push Minty down. “You lived your life, now give me mine!”

“It was never your life!” shouted Minty who was trying with all her might to remain standing, but Malty was quickly overpowering her. “It’s mine, stop trying to ruin it!”

The two fought as hard as they could while trying to push the other down and free their forelegs, Malty gave an hard push and Minty fell to her knees.

Minty’s hind legs were buckling under the increasing weight. “N-No..! I won’t let you beat me!” she cried.

“Just mare up and accept it” barked Malty, she twisted her forelegs and Minty yelped. “We can fight for all eternally if you like, but the only way for you to find peace is to set me free!”

Minty stared into her twin’s face and with an powerful yell shouted “NEVER!”

“Then die a painful death!” Malty shouted back, she twisted her forelegs again as snakes suddenly slid out of her sleeves.

As they wrapped around Minty’s forelegs she screamed, it felt like her legs were breaking in half and she wanted nothing more but for the pain to end. Minty tried to relieve the pain, try to turn the tables on her twin, but she couldn’t, she was being overwhelmed. Black shadows had emerged from the corner of her eyes and they were slowly being engulfed by them, sure that she was dying she began shedding tears, she had failed.

Her vision nearly gone she saw Malty with an crude grin, she didn’t want to die and she sure as Tartarus didn’t want Malty to win. But she could barely stand any longer, she felt weaker and weaker with each passing moment. Yet with all her might she uttered the words “Luna---please help me...” she heard a loud chuckle from Malty who just busted out laughing into her face.

“She won’t help you, she can’t even if she could get here! Just like how your friends couldn’t help you” Malty grinned, leaning in closer she licked Minty’s ear before whispering the words “I think I’ll kill Thistle Whistle first..since she’s the closest one to you..”

All at once Minty snapped back to her senses as if an very loud bell chime had awoke her, the dark shadows began retreating off of her eyes almost immediately as she squinted them.

“Yes, how sad it’ll be---killed by her best friend!” Malty laughed as she redrew her head, Minty felt enraged. ”They’ll sing about me for years to come! MALTY! The greatest serial killer Equestria had ever known! Though it’s sad they’ll never know, that my greatest triumph, came at the price of your greatest failure”.

Malty stared into Minty’s eyes, licking her sharp teeth as she spoke “Don’t worry, for our own friendship I’ll make it quick. Thistle Whistle’s a good mare, though it’s sad she betrayed me for you” for just a fraction of an moment Minty thought she had seen guilt on Malty’s face, but suddenly she grinned widely saying “Well! Time to die, Minty!”

Malty gathered all of her remaining energy so that she can force Minty down, the snakes which were snickering fell silent as they suddenly faded into smoke as Minty wouldn’t budge. Malty blinked, she looked at their entangled forelegs before trying again but Minty simply wouldn’t move.

“I won’t let you hurt my friends” Minty spoke through gritted teeth, amazingly she had regained her full strength and as she stood up she focused it all into her hooves.

“No!” snarled Malty who struggled to subdue Minty. “It isn’t fair! I only had 2 years of life!” she fell to her knees, glaring up into her twin’s face she shouted “Why should you get more years than me! I-It isn’t fair!”

Malty fought against Minty’s grip but she was holding on tight, if she couldn’t force Minty down than she’d had to try something else. She pictured Minty being impaled by a large knife and blood pouring out from her chest, but nothing happened. Malty was perplexed, she tried again. This time she pictured Minty strapped to an grill set so high it would rival Tartarus’ heat. She was let down for a second time and she became extremely worried, why was this realm failing her now of all times?

Malty’s forelegs began wobbling under Minty’s weight, she tried at least three more times to summon something, anything, but no matter what she imaged nothing came to her aid. Minty gripped her forelegs very tightly and gave an heated sniff, Malty gave what she feared was her final curse.

“You-won’t-hurt-anypony-else-ever-again!” Minty spoke, spitting into her twin’s face. She took all the strength that she could muster and with all her might she pushed forward. “Take all your evil and burn in Tartarus Malty!”

Malty fell to the ground with a loud thud, she had reached out a hoof but she suddenly froze up. Starled Minty stepped backwards as beams of light began penetrating from her twin’s body. Malty screamed in pain as she held her mouth, her body broke apart as more beams of light penetrated her. She attempted to stand but had only made it to her knees when the biggest beam of light yet had bursted out from within her chest. She gave the loudest and most earpericing screamed that Minty had ever heard, but she was unaffected.

There was a blue flash that had momentarily blinded Minty, and then, only tiny sparkles remained. Minty stared at them as they fell and disappear, she had done it even though she previously thought it’d be impossible, Malty was gone.

Minty felt something odd, something like an voice from within her ears saying “She’ll never come back” and she felt truly happy at the words.

With an wide grin she took one more look around at the black void. Whether she would fade or remain here she didn’t care, if this was to be her new home she would gladly accept it. She wasn’t sad nor guilt driven anymore, once more she felt fully content.

“Ouch!?” she suddenly screamed as an jolt of pain surged through her system, “What in Equestia was tha--” another jolt of pain and she fell over onto her back.

She began having what felt like a severe seizure, her body twitched, her mouth began foaming and her hooves banged hard against the ground.

“What is happening to m-me..?” Minty asked after a third jolt of pain had surged through her, she suddenly felt very weak to the point that she couldn’t even move her legs.

A fourth jolt of pain surged through her and she fell completely numb. She was paralyzed, her eyes became locked on the empty void above. Her vision once again became blurred but she thought she had seen something hanging over her and she felt something similar to rain pouring against her face. Whatever was above her had started to descend, she felt wet as many grey ripples had formed around her. An light had shined from above and her body was enveloped in it. Now the void resembled a tunnel that was speeding by at an high speed, it was then that she realized nothing was falling, she was flying upward.

The dark void was so blurred now that she couldn’t see anything anymore but she was certain whatever was above her was moving, it was like it was talking to her. She thought she was going to collide with it but suddenly there was a great jolt and she came to an sudden halt as she began screaming her lungs out.

“She’s awake!” she heard a very faint voice cry out. “She’s relapsing! Give me another hundred and thirty jolts!”

Minty felt a sharp pain in her chest as it stretched forward, her eyes jolted open to see an grey and white blur looking over her.

“Stay with us!” the blur spoke while checking her pulse, Minty recognized the voice, it was her doctor.

When the doctor had moved she caught a glimpse of two different things, rain hammering down against her face, and Whistle. Minty was sure she looked terrified but she thought she had seen a smile form on her face. She leaned up an inch or two and immediately felt light headed, the doctor eased her back down saying something that she couldn’t quite make out. She heard Whistle’s voice and she looked over at her, Minty wasn’t sure if she had smiled or not as her body felt very numb.

As she started to look around she heard more voices, standing around her in an circle were more blurs that she was sure were her friends. She was certain the two larger blurs were Star Catcher and Lily, or maybe one of them was Tropical Dream, she couldn’t be sure as she couldn’t even make out their fur color. She must had mumbled something funny as they laughed and giggled, Minty hoped she was smiling as she felt so happy. She closed her eyes again, took a big inhale of both rain and air, and then she lost consciousness.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:Amethyst’s Wish

“Dear Minty, if you’re reading this then I have no doubt that I have died. Now, I know you were never a fan of my chosen speech so for this letter I shall write normally. Minty, I miss you greatly. You just snorted didn’t you? Yeah, I can imagine this isn’t quite what you had expected. So many years of being apart, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d just ripped this up and threw it away at the first few words.

But if you’re still reading, thank you my child. I’m writing this to be somewhat of an will, but mostly as a way to speak with you. Ever since you left---ever since I threw you out, I regretted it every waking moment. I was too caught up in the times and wanted you to follow in my steps, but when you shown talent for candy---something I had forbidden you from and gave away at first sight, I just got enraged and didn’t think properly.

I said things I shouldn’t have, I threw you to the streets without so much of a blanket to keep warm...after a couple hours and after I had cooled down I felt so terrible. How could an mother treat her own child like that? At that moment I realized what a mistake I had made, I tried looking for you but I could never find you. I just gave up and decided to let you be. I started to think that you would be happier without my strict lifestyle, ponies sometimes tell me I am stricter than---what you call it?

An brick wall is the next closest example, I’m sorry you had to grow up under such harsh rules. But I wanted the best for you, however...I wasn’t thinking about you, just what I wanted for you. Over the years that followed our separation I became more bitter, more harsh, whenever I thought of you I would lose my temper something fierce. Then one day I saw it---there was article about you in the papers.

You had recently opened up a candy shop in an old run down mess of a building, yet you were named a candy prodigy before the first week was even out. You had became exactly what I tried stopping you from being, an---candy-teer as my father called them. I should have had every right to be angry, but I was not. On the contrary, I was happy, I was actually---proud of you. My daughter had archived her foal hood dream, what reason did I have to not be proud?

Over the course of the following years I kept watch over you, and when I had finally built the courage to approach you, you weren’t there. But she was, the most kind mare I had ever met answered the door. I ended up confiding in her and somehow, over the course of three years we grew close. Oh don’t be mad at her, it was I who convinced her to keep quiet in fear of you losing your own temper.

She’s such a sweet mare and I am happy she works for you, at least I could be certain you had an friendly workmate. I was told Thistle Whistle visits regularly, I am glad my old self had not ruined that kinship. Although, does Thistle Whistle even remember? After that Candy Cane Incident as some called it, the poor thing lost most of her memory. Oh dear, I’m rambling. Let me cut to an important time that I have no doubt is long passed, at least I’d hoped it had.

On the night of October twenty fifth, on an most foreboding night if I ever saw one, fog was illuminating the streets as I stumbled upon the last mare I thought I would ever see. It was you, only it wasn’t. It was just an mare that greatly resembled you, I realized it was somepony else when I saw her bright yellow eyes. She looked injured, confounded, she couldn’t speak the poor thing.

What was I to do? I took her back to my place as it was just a two minute trot, through the next hour or so I had nursed her back to health and soon she was able to speak. She didn’t seem to remember anything and I concluded that she had amnesia, but we talked on in hopes she’d remembered something. I had asked her ‘do you remember a location?’ and she did, it wasn’t a street name nor number but she remembered details that I had connected to your building.

I stared at this strange mare, puzzled, I feared the worse and had called Tropical Dream to check in on you. She said you weren’t in bed but you were usually out that late anyhow so she thought nothing of it. I stared at the mare with an keen look of suspicion as I laid down the phone, I simply asked what her name was but she didn’t remember. I asked if she met an green mare with a pink mane, she said ‘Of course, me!’ which being honest had made me chuckle.

I had to know if you were safe and whether or not you had gotten into a fight with this mare, but after many hours of talking I came to the decision that wasn’t the case. After a cup of warm tea I decided to take her home, I hoovepalmed as she couldn’t even recall her own bloody name. So, I did a small trick that I had once taught you. I trotted with her and told her to point out anything that was familiar, she didn’t until we reached your street number. She felt your building was awfully familiar but she didn’t want to enter, it was late so I assumed you were asleep but I managed to persuade her to head in anyhow.

Suddenly I noticed a light had turned on in an upstairs room, scared I fled and didn’t hear back from the strange mare in a few days, three, to be precise. I awoke early at the sound of an knock from my front door, grudgingly I glanced at the clock and saw it was six in the morning, SIX! I got up, put on my nightgown, and stormed to the door ready to wreck somepony’s ears when, to my utter surprise, I saw the strange mare. She asked to enter and had completely overlooked the lamp I was carrying.

After some tea she told me something strange, once she had entered the building she saw a familiar hallway and went down it to enter what resembled an lab. She didn’t remember anything else until she had awoken that very morning, she was asleep and hadn’t awoke for three days? It was curious, Tropical Dream had messaged me saying she found you sound asleep in that very room. I was puzzled, but not crazy, however I recalled a certain book that I had once loaned to Pearl.

Speaking of Pearl I hear her father is getting worse, sad to hear but it’s not surprising. Oh don’t get me wrong, when you inhale so much fume, no matter the amount, it does things to you. I only hope the doctors can manage to find a cure or something, Thistle Whistle had already lost her own father at sea and I would shudder at the thought of her losing her grandfather next. I know that big accident he was involved with is uncomfortable so let me get back on track, although I need to request that book back as it is a family heirloom.

Now let’s see, oh right. I wasn’t sure why I had suddenly remembered the book, luckily I have a very keen memory so it was no trouble in remembering the pages. Minty, what I’m about to say may shock you if you haven’t learnt of it already. The book in question was written by an old and distance relative, at least two hundred years distant in fact. It’s a family secret, kept with heirlooms and the like.

The story he wrote connects very well to the life of a close friend he once knew, a friend so close they might as well had been brothers. Now it was crazy to even think, but I wanted to test it out. I kept her by my side the whole day, as she still had no name to recall I took it upon myself to name her. You remember my old nickname my colleagues used to call me by? I thought it had fit her, and it very well stuck. Minutes turned to hours and dusk became twilight, then it happened.

We were just trotting back inside my place when she suddenly kneeled over, dear lord, I still remember her screaming face. I had to clutch the wall for support for I was so shocked it could had very well killed me, the mare I had named Malty fell to the floor and it was you who I rolled over.

I can’t express the way I felt, it was just too much to even bear. My theory, which was so far fetched it could had ruined me, turned out to be correct. Was it coincidence? Or was I just losing my mind and imagined the whole thing? I don’t remember what had transpired, I just recall carrying you home and wanting to forget the whole thing had ever happened. But the mare returned the very next day and confirmed that it was no hallucination.

I should had turned her away for I was still very much in shock, but I couldn’t...I just couldn’t throw my own daughter out again, especially when she needed me. But would you had even believed me? I feared not, but even as I look upon this mare I see your face. What I did next was very wrong, immoral in fact and I have no doubt that you would had hated me even more. I was surprised, that this mare---now named Malty---believed my words when I had told her of what had transpired the previous night.

She looked at the old photos of you and I that hung in the same exact places since I had kicked you out so very long ago, I couldn’t bring myself to move them so they remained so I would never forget my guilt. Malty looked like she had just solved a complex puzzle as she told me ‘I looked around the building, and this mare here is in pictures over there as well’ it really did surprised me that she wasn’t even the least bit troubled.

But then she told me, after we talked on, that she wanted a life. She wanted yours and I had to stop her but I couldn’t harm my own child, even though you were an entirely different mare it was still you. I just couldn’t bring myself, so I---gave her an ultimatum instead. I told her ‘I can give you another life, one that’s entirely your own. And all I ask is that you keep it separate from my daughter’s’.

She didn’t think long on it, she took probably five seconds before taking me up on it. I know that it was wrong and that I should had felt guilty, but I was thrilled. I was given a second chance at raising you. My self pride took control and over the course of an year I taught her all the basics of being proper, I was sure she’d abject like you had but she seemed interested. I noticed an talent within her, writing. So I gave her an contact I had in book writing and within two months her first book was out.

Right away I knew it was about her in some way, but I didn’t bring it up as long as she was happy and separate from you. As I write this, the two year anniversary of when I first found her is almost upon me. Malty had made quite an name for herself, though I fear she had inherited my temper as rumors were anything but cheerful about her. But, she was doing well and almost weekly the papers had mentioned your name, ‘Candy genius Minty had done it again!’’ it would often say.

I wish I could congratulate you in person, but my soul would have to be content with what it had. But then bad news came to my attention, I came back from the doctors a few days ago and, what they told me is why I’m writing this to you now. I’m dying, why you may ask? My kidney is failing. I went back to the hospital over the course of a few months but it isn’t getting better. If I don’t get an donor within the next couple months, well---you’re reading this aren’t you? I knew the only donor there was is, ironically, you.

But I could never ask it of you, how would it had even went? Your old mother, who you probably still hate with passion, suddenly appeared at your door and asked for an kidney? You would likely had slammed the door in my face. I could had asked Malty, but what would you had said to waking up with stitches? Or even during the surgery! My lord, that would had been terrible wouldn’t it?

So, I decided to die in peace. The only pony I told about it was Tropical Dream, you should had seen her tears. She wanted me to meet you at an Hearth’s Warming Party once, did she ever tell you that? I’m sad to say it would had been impossible now like it was then, I felt too guilty to even stand in your shadow. After hearing of my contention she wanted to talk with you but I told her not too, if she had then Malty would had been the one waking up with stitches.

I preferred to let both of you live. Tropical Dream, I never told her about Malty’s secret but I had asked her that once I’m gone, for her to watch over Malty in my place. No doubt she’ll figure it out eventually, she is bright. Now, whether you become aware of Malty or had already known about her, there is one thing I must say to you. Everything that I had ever did was for you. I told myself that keeping Malty’s life distance would protect the life you had built, the first time I thought about you---and it was still something terrible!

Minty, I can’t fix what I have done nor could I take back what I said. I’m not even worthy enough to ask anything of you, but I must. Minty, nothing had made me more proud than seeing you succeed. I shall leave everything I own to three ponies that even as I die will remain in my heart, Malty, Tropical Dream, and yourself. All I ask in return is one simple wish. The hope, that you would still remember me.

My daughter, live. That is all I can ask, live your life the way you see fit. No matter how harsh our memories might be, I am happy to had been your mother. Now, with the laying down of this quill, I say goodbye my daughter and I wish you a very happy life. Something I could never give you myself...

Your loving mother, Amethyst.

Live your life Minty, live."

Minty rolled up the letter and tucked it back inside her saddlebag. She stood in a graveyard and right before her was Amethyst’s tombstone.

“In Loving Memory...” she shed a tear but wiped it away as she smiled at her mother’s headstone. “I have never forgotten you either mom, remember that? I say it like every time I visit you” Minty gave an tearful chuckle. “I miss you a lot, mom”.

Minty rubbed her nose which had started to run, staring at the headstone should be making her sad but she felt far from it. She took another sniff and looked up at the falling snow, she could hardly believe how much time had passed.

“Tropical Dream says I still cry for myself,” she spoke as she turned her attention back down at the headstone. “or something about memories? I’ll never understand what you saw in her” Minty gave another chuckle.

“The town is doing better, it’s still healing but luckily no feud, yet anyhow. More good news, the charges towards Malty were finally dropped today. Star Catcher kept her promise, though I get the feeling that Celestia knew...Luna I know for certain knew, the way she stared at me..anyways, I finally got to question Pinkie about the salts and she said that they were just plain old salts...I didn’t buy it so I asked her to get them checked out, I should hear back in a few days or so" Minty explained the recent events to her mother.

Minty went to continue but paused when she heard a noise behind her. "You’re late, missy”.

“Sorry, just saw my mom off on the train” spoke Whistle who was hovering down by Minty’s side.

As Whistle landed Minty flicked her scarf playfully, Whistle grinned and she returned the favor.

“Well, at least you’re here now. Look, even though it’s snowing they cut the grass”” Minty said, pointing out the newly cut grass that was quickly being retaken by snow.

“Hey yeah, I don’t get why though” Whistle had said after rubbing her itchy nose. “You think the snow would ruin their mowers” Whistle looked about the graveyard until her eyes finally came to rest upon Amethyst’s headstone, while staring at it she added “Do you think she’d be happy about---”

“She was secretly dating Tropical, I don’t think she has the right to argue” interrupted Minty who gave a small giggle, as well as a blush.

Whistle giggled along with a playful whistle, “Heh, probably right” as she nuzzled her head against Minty’s she asked her “Told her yet?”

“Not yet,” Minty paused as she wrapped her foreleg around Whistle’s. “Tropical is doing well mom. The foal she adopted is also doing well, though she had to give up a few hours to raise her---but she’s quite happy”.

“I still can’t believe she named her after your mom, she stole it from you!” Whistle laughed without meaning too.

Minty shrugged and flicked her scarf back around her neck, she noticed the soft wind was starting to pick up ever so slightly. “Heh, well, I’m not mad” she replied.

Minty moved Whistle’s wing so she could nuzzle herself under it, she then took a feather to wipe her nose and even though Whistle had flinched, she didn’t mind.

“Lily is helping her raise the foal,” Minty started but had pause to hand Whistle the feather so she could clean her nose too. “after leaving the guard force she took up a lot of free time to help us out”.

Whistle looked under her wing at Minty, her mouth had fell as she said “I didn’t know she gave up her job”

“Don’t you remember?” Minty asked her. “She told Sparkleworks”.

Whistle shook her head. “No---she said Lily only thought about quitting, she never said she actually did, silly filly” Whistle rolled her eyes with a laugh.

“Oh, well then--” Minty coughed and wanted to hide her blushing face under her scarf. “Tell her about them by the way”.

“About who--oh! Yeah OK!” Whistle cleared her throat and Minty feared she was about to have one of her long speeches. “Sparkleworks and Star Catcher are officially together now, though no wedding---” Whistle looked down sadly and dug at the snow. “---but they have the rings so they might as well have had one and just didn’t invite us to it”.

Minty offered an chuckle that gave her an angered stare from Whistle. Giggling she leaned up and kissed Whistle’s cheek, Whistle blushingly stared away and off into the sky.

”I still can’t get over what Star Catcher had told us..” Minty said as she looked the other way with her own blush.

“About what Amethyst mentioned in her letter?” asked Whistle.

“Yeah, she confirmed it with an history book.” answered Minty, turning back to her marefriend she asked “Btw, your grandfather?”

“Oh he’s better. He still forgets things here and there, but he’s doing far better than he was an month ago” replied Whistle who sounded happy despite her concern face.

Minty smiled, as she removed herself out from under Whistle’s wing she asked “You brought the flowers?”

Whistle gasped and Minty almost facehooved. “I almost forgot!” cried Whistle.

Whistle reached inside her own saddlebag and took out brightly colored flowers that she had stuffed Minty’s nose into by accident. Whistle at first felt terrible but Minty reassured her that she wasn’t allergic to them.

“Thanks” Minty spoke and pecked her cheek again. She took the flowers and kneeled down to place them against the headstone. She ran her hoof across her mother’s name as she spoke “I love you mom. Don’t worry, my candy chain is a big success! Though I no longer use the salts that Pinkie had supplied me with, it’s just too dangerous”.

Minty began tearing up as she went on. “I wish you could see it, maybe if you’re able to look down on us---” she paused as her ears had picked up on an small sound. “Oh stop crying, will you?”

“I can’t---” Whistle sniffed. “---whenever I see you cry, I cry!”

Minty stood up and embraced Whistle in an hug and they each held the other tightly. Luckily Whistle had held back and Minty only suffered a slight pinch of pain, but she didn’t care as long as she had Whistle by her side. They must’ve stood there in the other’s embrace for probably ten minutes before Minty broke it so she could look inside her saddlebag. From it she took out an old and worn looking pocket watch, on the cover was the name Amethyst sketched into it.

“Let’s go home” Minty said after putting the watch away and turning to her mother’s headstone once more.

Using her scarf to wipe away their tears the two were trotting away when suddenly Minty galloped back and started rampaging through her saddlebag.

“Here, I almost forgot” she spoke, placing an photo upon the grave. “All of our friends, yes, even your old ones. The groundskeeper said he’d be up later with an frame that’ll attach to your headstone”.

“Come on!” Whistled whined. “Sparkleworks said their having hot chocolate tonight!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be right there” returned Minty.

As Minty watched Whistle hovering back to their taxi, the owner looking quite the worse for wear with a rose colored nose, she wondered if there was anything else she was forgetting to mention. She shrugged it off, there was nothing she could see ahead but a bright and happy future with her candy, and with Whistle.

As she trotted back to the taxi she whispered “Rest peacefully mom. That, is all I can ask”.

As she and Whistle were carried off in the taxi she watched the snowfall Whistle kept trying to get a snowflake to fall on her tongue and she lost balance, luckily Minty had tugged on her tail just in time and pulled her back to the seat. Minty shook her head with a grin, as Whistle nuzzled against her Minty wondered what laid ahead for them. She remembered something Whistle’s grandfather had once said before he fell ill so long ago, the future is what you make it and Minty is very determined to do just that. All the while with Whistle by her side.

CHAPTER ONE:Just Another Normal Day

It was the annual Farmer’s Market in Fillydelphia, one of the few times both ponies and dragons can come together without the fear of a feud. Wandering around the market were two mares of similar age, one was between a shade of light and dark blue while her friend was undoubtedly light brown.

“So which stand do you want to go to first Sparkleworks?” asked the blue mare who kept running in place as she was itching to get moving.

“Anything that isn’t over our limit, remember last year Thistle Whistle?” replied the mare Sparkleworks. She was looking over a list she had made in hopes of keeping track of their spendings.

The mare Thistle Whistle, just Whistle to her friends, had started to trot towards the first stand she saw. Looking over the bright red apples had made her stomach growl. The stallion running the stand took notice but was ignored as Whistle’s eyes were drawn to the next stand over, the mare running the stand saw her eyes wide with sparkles and asked if she wanted one.

Whistle loved oranges but she was also craving an apple, mouth drooling she asked herself “Oh which to buy first?” and unable to decide she kept looking from one stand to the other.

“Whistle?” Sparkleworks had asked when her friend hadn’t replied.

She peered to her left and felt her heart skip as Whistle was no longer there, panicking she spun around to see if she was on her right but Whistle wasn’t there either. She looked from behind and off in front and felt her heart race as Whistle wasn’t anywhere to be seen, she darted to one side of the dirt road where some ponies were huddled together but Whistle wasn’t among them. Galloping to the other side she spotted a stand full of oranges and thinking Whistle could never resist them she went straight to it.

She felt her heart start to beat normal as she spotted a blue mare, but with an closer look she saw that it wasn’t Whistle. Feeling irritated she grunted “Oh Thistle Whistle, where are yo---”

“Wow!” interrupted a familiar voice.

Sparkleworks felt herself jump but her legs didn’t move, turning to her right she gave a big sigh of relief and trotted over to a stand ran by a rather tall and thin green dragon. Whistle was looking at the food he had on show, Sparkleworks gave a slight cough and it was then that Whistle noticed her.

“Sparkleworks, did you know there were purple apples?” Whistle asked as her tail gave a joyful rag.

Sparkleworks shook her head while giving another sigh. “What did we talk about you running off like that?” she asked her friend.

Whistle frowned as she glanced back at the stand, she mumbled “O-Oh...I forgot” and as Sparkleworks trotted over she cringed, protecting her ears from the expected shouting.

“I heard dragons use special fertilizer to make them purple” Whistle had heard Sparkleworks say.

Thinking it was a trick to lower her guard she was slow in removing her hooves from her ears, but when she saw Sparkleworks pick up an purple apple she started to feel that her ears were indeed safe.

Sparkleworks asked how much the strangely shaped apples were and the green dragon gave a wide grin.

“Twenty bits! Can you believe that dragon would think of such a price for one apple!” Sparkleworks had said, outraged at the ridiculous high price. “Then he went to thirty! Celestia never in my life---”

“Happy Pinkie Pie taught me how to be more assertive?” Whistle asked as she stuck her tongue out at her friend in a playful tease.

Sparkleworks blushed as she angrily stared in the opposite direction. “Yes, although I still think ten was too high for one apple” she replied.

“Wonder why they’re called Dragon’s Eye?” Whistle asked herself. “Well, hope they taste like Zap Apples!”

As the two mares went on about the fair Sparkleworks tried to stay within the pony ran stands, she knew these dragons weren’t greedy but couldn’t help but utter a heated sniff at their prices. She was talking to a pony about purchasing a pie when Whistle had pulled her away mid sentence.

“What are you doing!?” she asked trying to pull her leg free of Whistle’s surprisingly strong grip. “I was just talking to her about---” she broke off her sentence as Whistle pointed to a stand with unusually shaped peppers.

She gave an annoyed grunt but quickly found the shape of the peppers interesting, her eyes looked them over and were soon drawn to a sign that read:

Warning, the Blaze Peppers are among the hottest peppers known to dragons, ponies be advised to have milk on stand by---water makes it worse so do not drink it as you eat

“Well, that turned me awa---” Sparkleworks trailed off as she stared at Whistle. “Put that down!” she shouted as Whistle was just about to bite into one of the peppers but she had snatched it and dragged her away. Despite Whistle’s child-like whimpers she wasn’t going to give in to this demand as she knew better from personal experience.

As the two trotted on Sparkleworks’ attention was drawn to an stand which had unique bananas that were shaped like palmtrees, she peered over her shoulder at Whistle who gave her a pretty please type offace. Rolling her eyes she took out her list and checked how much they had already spent.

“Hm, alright, you can buy one” Sparkleworks told Whistle who gave a very happy whistle that had drew more attention than Sparkleworks would had liked.

Whistle dug through her saddlebag for two bits and dropped at least four in the progress. As she galloped over to the stand Sparkleworks shook her head but couldn’t help a smile, suddenly she saw an dragon eyeing the four dropped bits so quickly she dived down and snatched them up.

“Sorry, my friend dropped these” Sparkleworks told the dragon.

The dragon gave an gruffy cough and walked off, Sparkleworks was sure he had called her a liar. Blowing the mane out of her eyes Sparkleworks saw a stand containing what Whistle had robbed her of earlier, pies. Smiling she trotted over and lowered her head for a better view, she noticed a sign nailed to the stand which read:

Two bits for one pie, or four shillings for one

“Shillings..” Sparkleworks whispered as she looked through her saddlebag which was filled to the brim with golden bits, but at the very bottom she could make out at most five silver shillings.

Smiling she turned her attention back to the pies. Usually she could tell which flavor the pies were by simply looking at them, it was like a second special talent she had but at seeing these particular pies she became perplexed. She held a hoof to her chin, the pies were coated in different colors and she felt odd by not recognizing the flavors at first glance.

Blowing her mane out of her eyes again she picked one up for a closer inspection and it was then she saw the shape of the crust, she turned the pie upside down, looked at it from different angles and yet she just couldn’t make out the strange shape.

“Is everything alright, miss?” asked the female dragon who had noticed Sparkleworks’ strange expression.

“What is this shap---” Sparkleworks broke off when she had caught a glimpse of her scales.

As the dragon stretched over the stand to hand a shorter pony a pie Sparkleworks squinted her eyes.

“Are you going to buy that?” asked another dragon. He looked exactly like the other but stood slightly taller and his snout was thinner.

Sparkleworks shook her head to straighten her eyesight and gasped at the dragon’s size, she looked down at the pie and then back at the two dragons’ uniquely colorful scales. It finally clicked and she knew what the crust was modeled after.

Then a thought hit her, maybe the reason she couldn’t guess the flavor was because she had never tasted a pie made by dragons before. She gulped to swallow what little drool she had and then blew her mane for a third time, fumbling for bits she slammed enough down for as many pies that she could carry.

“Fifteen bits? And you said you had a strong will!” Whistle had said after catching Sparkleworks who became frozen at her voice.

“W-Well...” Sparkleworks fumbled to find her wording. She was a little embarrassed that she was caught breaking her own rule but she really wanted the pies. “Hey is that mare selling orange juice!”

Whistle gave a big grin as she stared off in the direction that Sparkleworks had pointed in, she galloped off without question. Sparkleworks laughed, she found it quite adorable how easily Whistle was tricked by the mere mention of orange juice.

“Hey wait---Whistle hold up!!” Sparkleworks shouted. She rushed to hand over the bits, grabbed the bag which her pies were placed in and galloped after her friend at top speed.

“Aren’t you going to talk to me?” Sparkleworks asked five minutes later.

Whistle hadn’t found her lie very funny and was insulted that Sparkleworks had tricked her. This wasn’t uncommon as despite being an full grown mare Whistle tended to act more childish when she was upset.

“Oh come on, I said I was sorry!” Sparkleworks said irritated. Getting just a tad bit frustrated at her friend’s silence Sparkleworks trotted over in front of Whistle, trotting backwards she asked “Isn’t there anything I can do to make it up---” when suddenly her hooves tripped over something and she was sent stumbling down.

There was a loud clash and then she was getting yelled at by an enraged stallion. Whistle for a fraction of a second looked to be totally uninterested, resembling a still photo, the very next second she had bursted out laughing so much her chest started to hurt.

“Hahaha!!! Wow Sparkleworks, you sure do work that watermelon! I could almost mistake you for an clown” Whistle laughed, and laughed, and soon a big crowd had formed.

As bits of watermelon dripped down her face Sparkleworks had never felt so embarrassed in her entire life, in fact she felt like dying right on the spot.

“Hehehehe, wow Sparkleworks, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were copying me” came another familiar voice.

Sparkleworks had looked straight up at the voice and thought her eyes were going to pop out of her skull. “M-Minty..!?” she gasped.

Whistle looked to her right and recognized the light green fur and pink mane almost immediately, “Minty!!!” she happily whistled as she galloped to hug her.

“I missed you too Whistle,” smiled their friend Minty. “now let me go before I run out of air---!”

Sparkleworks had made such a mess that for the next three minutes she had to clean it up, luckily Whistle had released Minty long enough to help her.

“I noticed you aren’t wearing your glasses,” spoke Minty as they had just finished resetting the stand. “did you forget them again?”

“I don’t wear those ugly things anymore. I wear contacts now,” Sparkleworks paused as she glared at Whistle. “but Whistle didn’t want to wait..”

“Do what my grandma did, carry backups” replied Minty.

After about another minute and some bits later the three mares were off, “They sure outdid themselves this year, didn’t they?” asked Whistle. She had spotted a large crowd around a stand that she was certain they had built out of a volcano.

“Eh that fire’s fake,” spoke Minty after she had followed Whistle’s gaze. “I know that dragon. He’s a big show off---”

“So Mints, where have you been the last few weeks?” asked Sparkleworks who was less than interested in the volcano stand.

Minty came to a sudden halt and gave Whistle an raised eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you didn’t tell her!” she started, sounding upset. “I told you to tell everypony I was leaving on a business trip!”

“O-Oh...I forgot, sorry Minty” Whistle nervously whistled and dug at the ground.

Minty’s nostrils flared and she was about to tell her off when Sparkleworks had said “Wait, what business trip?”

“Well, I got a letter from the biggest candy company in all of Equestria. They got word of my candy and wanted to arrange a meeting, long story short---they want to invest and make my store a whole chain of stores!” Minty explained.

The look of joy on Minty’s face had reminded Sparkleworks of an certain Hearth Warming Eve that, when she remembered it, brought a smile to her face equally as big.

“Wow Mints, that’s wonderful news!” Sparkleworks started to laugh as Minty began hopping in place. She couldn’t help but think Minty was literally ripping off Pinkie Pie’s hop of joy.

“Though I gotta tell ya,” Minty started as she came to an stop. “that trip was so stressful that I couldn’t even keep my mane clean!”

“Oooooohhhhh, that’s why it’s messier than usual” spoke Whistle.

Minty took one blushing look at her mane, began straightening it, and blushed more as her friend gave a teasing whistle.

As they trotted on they were suddenly stopped by a voice which had broken out over the crowd, “Oh! Hello over there Minty!” immediately they recognized the voice.

They saw a stand decorated in bright and shiny balloons, it had many sweets on show which many ponies awed at. The sweets ranged from cupcakes to large and colorful cakes, to lust and steaming pies and chocolate cookies in the shape of six different Cutie Marks.

“Hello Pinkie!” greeted Minty.

As the three mares trotted over her eyes travelled amongst the cookies, she noticed a few resembled Pinkie Pie’s own Cutie Mark and could easily guess the other five owners.

For the next couple of minutes they talked with Pinkie Pie who, without any sort of struggle whatsoever, managed to sell her sweets and kept their conversion going in one long single breath. Finally, after taking a moment to allow air into her lungs and waving the last customers off, went over to her safebox.

“Boy the Cakes should be happy with this year’s earnings,” Pinkie Pie spoke as she counted the money. “only been here for ten minutes and already I made hundreds!” she gave a big grin that was so cute it could rival Whistle’s very own got ya face.

“Say Pinkie, is it true your parents found a diamond mine?” Whistle asked after she had spotted an diamond shaped cake and remembered the paper she had read weeks ago.

“Well Limestone was credited for finding it but she wanted them to take it, finally all three of them just agreed to---” Pinkie Pie was suddenly cut off as Minty poked her, she found it was the fastest way to get Pinkie Pie’s attention.

“Say, do you by any chance..” Minty paused to lean in closer to whisper something in her friend’s ear, Pinkie Pie gave her a wink and whispered something back.

Whistle hated being left out and as Minty was handed a small box she badly wanted to know what was in it, she was just starting to ask Minty about it when Sparkleworks suddenly tugged on her tail. She gently shook her head, Whistle nodded and sighed.

“Hey, what ya got there Minty?” Pinkie Pie asked after noticing Minty was suddenly teething on something and she became curious.

As the other two turned to stare she popped it out of her mouth, “Oh this? It’s a Mint On A Stick as I call it, used to be Minty Stick but that felt too silly” Minty laughed at herself.

“A peppermint on a stuck?” Whistle asked taking a closer look. She was going to ask what was wrong with candy canes but then noticed something odd about the peppermint. “What’s with the green and blue X and circle?”

Minty stared between the peppermint and Whistle and was unusually quick to give her answer. “It’s a secret, no I won’t tell. Stop asking! Oh alright you three...well, you know peppermints are my favorite?”

Minty paused for a quick moment to show her Cutie Mark. “The reason part of this one is green and blue instead of the usual red and white, is because I added something to help it taste better” she explained right before stuffing her treat back into her mouth.

“Taste better? What do you mean Mints?” asked Sparkleworks.

Minty popped her peppermint stick back out as she said “Well Sparkleworks, as you know my biggest goal is to make the perfect candy, a candy that never tastes bad nor becomes bad. However, I had quite a few set backs---no that fire was not one of them, will you ever let that go Pinkie?”

Pinkie Pie shook her head and Minty gave a very annoyed sigh. “Anyways---I can’t say how I got the color to change, mostly because it’s still imperfect, I been tasting these to see how long before they go bad”.

Minty paused as she popped the peppermint back into her mouth and for nearly twelve seconds sucked on it, noticing her friends’ awkward stares she popped it out while giving a nervous sigh as well as a blush.

“But what’s with the green and blue? That didn’t really answered her question” Sparkleworks pointed out which had made Minty utter another sigh as she had hoped to avoid further questions on this subject.

“I’m not sure how to explain and make it understandable, just know the change in color affects not just the taste. The original test with my sauce turned out---very, very, very messy” Minty shivered. She could still remember the sticky mishap her co-worker had stumbled upon as if it was yesterday.

Pinkie Pie was nodding along but at the mention of adding sauce to candy she was about to question her on it, however Sparkleworks had managed to say “Hey, what are those ponies talking about?” and she immediately forgot as she turned her ears to listen.

At the third stand down from where they stood was another group of three who were talking about something, at first Minty was happy at the change of subject but soon wished it had remained uninterrupted.

“It’s true, Sweetberry’s sister saw the whole thing!” spoke one of them who looked as if she was upset about something.

“She caused a traffic jam due to a prank?” asked another of the three. “I heard about that, but was she sure it was her?”

“No doubt about it! She was laughing so hard at the pony there were tears in her eyes!” stated the other.

The last of the three gasped. “But...that’s just cruel! Ponies could’ve been badly injured!”

“Their talking about her..” Minty sighed as she was getting tired of all this gossip. After taking a lick from her peppermint she said “Big mare of the town” while stroking her mane as a proper mare would just before she had the look of complete disgust. “A pony saved a foal from a fire yet did she get months of gossip?”

Minty had turned her back on the gossiping mares and sucked away on her peppermint, to her dismay however she saw she was the only one out of the four who was uninterested in listening.

“She isn’t a normal pony, I heard she’s a mixed breed” Minty could still hear the ponies even after covering her ears.

“What makes you say that Cotton Candy?” Minty heard before she took a few steps to be further away.

“Because…” the mare named Cotton Candy looked for a brief moment to be sure she wasn’t being overheard, probably in case whoever they were talking about was nearby as she didn’t even bat an eye at Minty’s friends. “I heard her mane is---unnatural---almost looks like a octopus!”

One of her two friends suddenly gasped. “A Octopus Pony? I heard of Sea Ponies but---”

“Who are they talking about?” Whistle asked. She turned her attention on Minty who she had caught trying to gallop off.

Minty was reluctant at first and sucked away at her peppermint stick, but the persistent questions from Whistle had soon made the other two wanted to know as well. “...Malty” she finally spoke before popping the peppermint back into her mouth with such force that she gagged.

“Malty?” Pinkie Pie asked herself while looking as if she was thinking super hard. “Never heard of her”.

“I have,” Sparkleworks said as she patted Minty’s back. “I even met her”.

Out of the corner of her eye Minty was certain Sparkleworks was angry but she was trying to hide it from the others. “Then you---have my---apologizes---ack!” Minty coughed as her peppermint stick became dislodged and she gasped for air as she rubbed her throat.

Whistle trotted over and patted Minty on the back with such force she collapsed, “What’s she like?” Whistle asked while overlooking what she just did.

Sparkworks just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “Besides the mane, nothing really special” she answered.

“Oh..” Whistle looked down and seemed almost disappointed, she spotted Minty trying to pick herself up and as she helped she asked “Minty, are you sure you should keep eating tha---”

“Although---” Whistle broke her concerned sentence off as she turned back to Sparkleworks, causing Minty to fall again in the progress.

“Not sure how I could have forgotten this, but she does have a certain---vibe---about her” Sparkleworks started to explain. “You just feel uneasy, like there’s something about her that’s dreading...must be the look in her eyes, I swear she’s looking straight into your soul...”

Whistle wanted to ask further questions but Minty had interrupted saying “She’s a pony that deserves neither praise nor gossip, she’s uncaring---cruel---as well as bad mannered, I never had the misfortune of meeting her nor do I ever instead too” and gritted her teeth until her peppermint had broke in two, she cursed herself in a silent whisper.

“Wow Minty...you seem to really dislike her” returned Sparkleworks. She felt a little uneasy by her friend’s sudden anger that to her felt as if it came out of nowhere.

“Yeah,” began Pinkie Pie. “you need to turn that frown upside dow---”

“Pinkie Pie,” interrupted Minty. “if you ever met my mom you would also frown---”

“Your mom?” interrupted Whistle.

Minty froze mid sentence and her eyes darted to her side, she wasn’t aware of what she was saying and almost got carried away with herself. Shaking it off she said “U-Um...nevermind” and quickly changed the subject back to the parents of their pink friend.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:Malty And Minty’s Secret

*Knock* *knock* *knock* “Malty, are you home?” asked Whistle who looked rather down.

She waited patiently as she trotted back and forth past the door before she knocked once more. “Are you there?? Have you heard about Amethyst? H-e-l-l-o-!”

Whistle pressed herself up against the door and accidentally turned the knob, she fell but luckily her wings had flapped open and she hovered above the floor. As she hopped inside she immediately felt an icy chill that felt so cold her mind instantly reverted back to Winter. She trotted forward while calling for her friend who she hoped was home, but no answer came. She checked the kitchen and saw, to her displeasure, that the refrigerator was left opened.

“So that’s why it was cold..” she spoke closing it while rubbing her hooves for warmth. “Malty?”

She trotted back into the living room, looked under the sofa and gagged as never before had she seen so many dust bunnies. She then checked the bathroom, she kept her eyes barely open as she creaked the door open.

“Thank Celestia..” she whistled closing the door. “I hate walking in on ponies”.

Whistle searched and searched the whole apartment until finally arriving at Malty’s bedroom. It looked about the same as the last time had she visited, although she noticed that the candy chest was missing from behind the door. She figured Malty left to refill it but she quickly took notice the bed was untouched and, from what she could tell, for a long amount of time.

“I didn’t notice how---dusty, her covers were” Whistle whispered to herself.

Leaning in closer her nose suddenly took a big sniff of the dust and she immediately began coughing. Whistle fell onto her rear to think, as well as stop her coughing fit by holding her nose. She couldn’t find Malty anywhere, if she was still in hiding where else could she be? She found it rather odd, wouldn’t this be a good time to reveal herself?

“I know everypony seems to think she is Amethyst, and it’s worrying me that I can’t find her..what if---what if she really was Amethyst?” Whistle asked herself.

Whistle pondered rather or not to stay and wait or just head out and search elsewhere. On one hoof waiting here would be a good idea as it is Malty’s home, on the other hoof though she had no idea if Malty even intended on returning here anytime soon. For all she knew, she was Amethyst, who is now dead. She had hoped against hoped she wasn’t but at the moment she felt it wasn’t looking so good for her friend.

Whistle stood up as she decided to look elsewhere. “If I can’t find her, I’ll just come back here” she thought as she trotted to the door but had stopped short of it. She sniffed at the air and caught wind of an strange smell that gave her an extremely odd shiver in her veins. “What’s that? It smells like---I have no idea what it smells like”.

Whistle sniffed and doing the best that she could she followed the scent. It led her back to the bed and for a moment she was expecting another painful sneeze, but her nose had led her to the floor instead. She stared at the covers that hung down to the floor and wondered why her nose was pointing her at it, she ducked down and peered under the bed where she saw something she couldn’t quite make out.

“Isn’t that Minty’s jacket?” she asked reaching and pulling the object closer. “It is! Minty said she lost this a year ago..what’s Malty doing with it?”

As Whistle lifted the jacket into her hooves she thought it was heavier than it should had been, suddenly she realized it wasn’t the jacket, but something that was wrapped in it. As she began unrolling the jacket she suddenly stopped when something sticky had leaked onto her hoof. She held her hoof closer and immediately flinched it back, she furiously unrolled faster until the jacket’s secret content was revealed. She offered a scream as she tossed the jacket down and the broken remains of a cane fell onto the floor, a red substance staining them.

Whistle shook uncontrollably, the reality of what the substance was sunk in and she screamed again, only ceasing when she took in the details of the broken cane. Most notably, the round bump at one end.

“M-Malty’s cane..? She said she lost it!” Whistle shouted. She tried putting together pieces of a puzzle that ended differently than what she had hoped for, suddenly her eyes centered on the purple jacket and she held her mouth in an gasp. “Minty..”

She leapt up and galloped to the nearest window, opening and flying through it. She flew as fast as her wings would allow, she ducked and flew under other Pegasi that she had no time to go around. They called her a flying maniac but she ignored them. She flapped her wings faster, soon she felt that they were getting strained but she didn’t have any time to stop.

“Oh no...a cloud!!!” Whistle cursed as she couldn’t avoid it either and she cringed as she was forced to go through it.

Her fur became soaked as her wings instinctively clamped shut, she opened her eyes a few moments after to see she was skyfalling and with all her might came to a loud screeching halt. Her wings were dripping wet but she flew on. Some five minutes later she was flying at her top speed despite her wings wanting to give up and fall clean off of her body, at long last she came to Minty’s building and she dived to the empty street below.

She galloped and busted through the front door while shouting atop her lungs “Minty! Are you alive!”

No answer came and she hyperventilated, then suddenly she heard a noise coming from the grey hallway. She galloped down it and threw open the doors to Minty’s lab where she gasped. The room was a wreck, all of the tubes and beakers were smashed, by the sink were empty jars stained in orange, stretching half of the large table’s length were peppermints with blue and green coloring in various shapes and sizes. On the floor, curled up and rocking back and forth, was Minty, she was muttering something.

“Oh praise Celestia, Minty..” Whistle sighed in relief. She hovered over and suddenly noticed, to her horror, that Minty was in a state of shock.

She kept muttering and was unresponsive to Whistle even after she was rolled over, Whistle became so worried she didn’t know what she should do. She grabbed Minty’s shoulders and furiously shook her and shouted in her face but no acknowledgement of Whistle was given. Whistle was in such a state of panic she couldn’t helped what she did next, she slapped Minty clear across the face.

“Ouch!” Minty yelped and gladly returned the slap to her friend. “Whistle why di-why are you dripping wet?”

After rubbing her cheek Whistle looked herself over and saw she was dragging water, she began shaking herself dry and ended up making an even bigger mess in the progress.

Minty suddenly gasped. “Is that blood!?”

Whistle glared at her hooves which were still stained in red, she shook her head saying “Forget that, I thought you were dead Minty!”

“What? Why???” Minty asked agasped.

Whistle took a deep breath and Minty cursed herself for asking and prepared her ears.

“I went to Malty to see if she was alright as hadn’t seen her in days and with Amethyst I was worried so went to check her but what I found was her cane broken in half with your jacket covered up in blood!” Whistle paused and allowed herself to breathe.

She went to continue but Minty slammed a hoof over her lips, “Sorry I asked” Minty told her friend. Whistle mumbled something, rolling her eyes Minty removed her hoof while saying “Do me a favor Whistle, please, get far away from me”.

Whistle stared at her friend in confusion, much like a child missing something that was dead centered in front of them. She asked “Why?”

Minty answered, with a bit of a yelp. “Because I’m dangerous!”

Whistle blinked and scratched the inside of her ears before saying “Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? You’re the most unharmful pony I know”.

“Have you seen the place?” Minty asked. She pointed out her lab and Whistle, despite having already seen it, reacted as if she hadn’t even noticed the damage until now.

Suddenly Whistle had a realization, she stared at Minty with her mouth hung open. “Wait, you did this to your own lab?” She asked Minty. “But why?”

Minty’s lips wobbled, her eyes teared up and she shook her head furiously. “I---I---” She struggled to speak as she just couldn’t calm down. Suddenly, in a loud outburst that startled Whistle enough to jump a few feet backwards, she blurted out “I need to destroy my special peppermints!”

“Wha-why? What’s wrong with them?” Whistle asked confused.

“What’s wro-everything is wrong!” Minty yelled. She used the wall to pull herself up as she trotted at Whistle who trotted back to her forward. “I have a serious problem, and I can’t even fix it!”

Whistle tried speaking up but Minty kept drowning her out. “Minty---let me tal---Min---if you’d ju---” Whistle sprung her hooves forward and grabbed Minty making her still as she asked “What is going on?”

Minty had the utmost impression that she was about to cry her eyes out, but the tears never came. She acted out the motions of crying but it seemed as if her eyes were too dried up.

She gripped Whistle’s forelegs, took a big gulp, and with a loud whine said “I killed my mom!”

“What?!” Whistle gasped. She swore her heart had just stopped, staring breathlessly at Minty her eyes met the void of sadness that was her friend’s eyes. “But...but you couldn’t!” Whistle returned. “Minty, I know you would never hurt anypo---”

“Not intentionally, but you know how prone I was to disaster before” Minty interrupted her.

“Well, yes, but you would never ki---” Minty suddenly forced herself free, took up a broken beaker and tossed it at Whistle.

Whistle yelped as she jumped and rolled out of the way as it shattered. “You’re not forcing me out by-hey that was a chair Mints!” Whistle shouted. Her mouth hung open, unable to believe her own friend would throw objects at her in an attempt to force her out.

“Get out, the more you stay here then the chance of me hurting you gets higher!” Minty shouted back. She picked up a larger beaker but before she could throw it Whistle had flown over and grabbed her again.

“I’m not leaving!” Whistle spoke in a loud outburst that even startled her. “Even if you were a twister, I wouldn’t leave my best friend!”

Minty fought against Whistle’s grip but she knew all too well of her friend’s strength, yet she fought until her forelegs could no longer struggle. She gave in as she embraced her friend and her cries became muffled on Whistle’s shoulder.

“Tell me what’s wrong, please Minty” after Whistle had asked this Minty’s crying intensified, only briefly, until she lifted her head and spoke.

“You n-need to destroy the peppermints, I tried b-but…” Minty clamped her mouth shut but struggling to finish she forced it back open almost immediately. “I can’t..I simply can’t! I’m too addicted, I need them---need them---d-desto---des---oh for Tartarus’ sake, I need them to burn!” she finally said in a loud cry.

“What’s wrong with them?” Whistle asked. She was entirely lost and confused. “Is this like that one time where your tongue turned blue? And it gave you psychokinesis?”

“Oh Whistle..” Minty shook her head and would had facehooved if she could.

Minty managed to pull herself free by simply lifting Whistle’s forelegs upward, she trotted towards a table that once held her many notes. Among the burnt pile of parchment that now rested atop the table was a shiny new camera, the price tag still attached to the strap.

“Once you watch this, you’ll understaaaaaaaaaaa....” Minty trailed off into something like an trance. She looked dazed, out of her mind even, then suddenly she snapped back and stared at Whistle with her eyes widen twice their size. “Oh no---please Celestia---not now..!” Minty suddenly dropped the camera and hunched over, her hooves wrapped around her belly as she began gagging as if she was about to throw up.

Since Minty suddenly looked ill driven Whistle firmly declined her order to flee, she stepped forward but immediately took two steps back. Minty’s face had quite an unnatural and disturbing expression, her mouth widen as if she was really going to puke, her eyes shrunk and her overall demeanor changed. Whistle had no idea what to do, she wanted to rush over and help but half of her wanted to get help, the remaining half just wanted to bolt by how freaked out she was.

She watched, her own mouth fell open as right before her eyes Minty changed. Her face was no longer a disturbing mixture, instead it looked like she was screaming but her voice had muted. Her fur became darken, her mane broke out into what must’ve been a thousand split ends. The red veins visible in her eyes which were enlarging dangerously close to popping out of her skull. Then, as soon as this strange seizure had started, it ended. Minty, as if on a slow replay, fell to the floor.

The loud thud had snapped Whistle out of her frighten dazed as she rushed over and turned her friend over. “Minty!? What was that? Do you need me to---” Whistle trailed off as Minty opened her eyes, but they were no longer her usual color.

Whistle had jumped backwards with her back hitting against the large table which she then crawled under half a second later. Minty grinned as she started laughing, her bright yellow eyes sparkling with glee. But it wasn’t Minty who was laughing, the voice was different, it was the voice of Malty.

“Well, well, well…” She started. Brushing her mane aside she lifted herself off of the floor. She coughed before smiling at Whistle who was shaking just as much as Minty had before. “I wondered how long til the secret was out, well--now you know, are you surprised?”

Whistle didn’t answer at first, she was mumbling odd and weird phrases. “Oh, you seem to be in shock, my dear” Malty laughed. Taking a look around herself she saw the state of the room. “Oh dear, oh my...seems like Minty lost her mind and went just a tad bit crazy” she said with a smirk.

“Y-You’re…” started Whistle but she paused as Malty had turned her attention on her. “You’re Malty..? Minty---”

“Is not here” Malty interrupted with a shrug. “Minty left, shall we say---for a little nap?”

“W-Wh...what is going on?” Whistle asked. Clearly, she was going into her own state of shock.

Malty rolled her eyes and kneeled under the table and she giggled at Whistle’s frighten jump. As she outstretched her hoof she said “Do come out, I know this is a bit---hard, to take in. But I promise, it’s nothing to worry about, my dear” she reassured Whistle.

Whistle stared back and forth from Malty’s face to her hoof, her own hoof shook uncontrollably as she took it.

“See? I’m not going to hurt you” Malty gave a warm smiled.

“H-How---” Whistle stuttered.

“How is this possible?” Malty spoke finishing her sentence. “I guess Minty never got around to telling you, pft, see those peppermints?” Malty trotted over to the large table and buried her hoof into the peppermint pile. “Minty could never stop making them, if she did though, then I would had ceased to exist” She redrew her hoof and tossed a peppermint into her mouth, gnawing on it she added “I see she burnt nearly everything else, suppose she had no idea which experiment was the cause. So, she burnt them all to be safe. Yes, yes I believe that to be correct”.

Slowly calming down Whistle stared blankly at the peppermint pile completely lost, then a light bulb went off inside her mind. “You mean the candy, turns you into a different pony?” she asked and felt strangely stupid for it.

“Oh my dear don’t be so---” Malty laughed but suddenly fell silent as she noticed a ripped up piece of paper that was just barely hidden under the peppermint pile. “Her orange sauce, as she called it, didn’t you ever wonder what it did? I mean---look!”

Malty trotted over to the large cabinet, opened it and showed Whistle the many blue plants that laid within. “She grew a eatable plant! And this particular orange sauce only changes a peppermint’s color?” Malty laughed to herself. “Heh, for two years...two long years, and she never even knew. I suppose she didn’t burn these yet as she knew I was around before she made them, either that or simply put that she failed to before I took over”.

Malty casted a glare over and saw that Whistle still had her confused expression. “I’ll put it bluntly, my dear, I am not Minty. Never was, never shall.” she started to explain as she trotted across the room. I’m just---what you call it---sharing her body with her. Think of it like, a split personally”.

“You’re...not real then?” Whistle asked.

Malty sighed greatly as she made her way to the nearest closet which was directly across from the grey hallway. She opened it and reached up to the higher shelve. “I’m very real, luckily the side effects change her appearance, just slightly anyways. I dare say, if my eyes weren’t yellow then I have no doubt that me living in secret would had been impossible” she answered.

Malty stretched out onto her hind legs and pulled from a shelve what seemed to be a small box and dropped it to the floor with a loud thud. She lifted the top half off and took out her hat, Whistle wondered why in the world would her hat be in Minty’s closet and wanted to ask but she was scared of the answer.

Straightening the hat on herself Malty turned back to Whistle. “Live in secret, Amethyst thought as long as I kept my life separate from Minty’s, then there wouldn’t be any harm” she spoke, rolling her eyes.

“Minty’s mom knew about you?” Whistle asked and had to hold her head for it started to feel dizzy and quite light. She just couldn’t believe two of her friends were the same exact pony and that one might not even be real.

“And Tropical, you should had SEEN the look on her face when she saw the change. ‘Oh my gracious...Minty! Minty! Your eye is so bloody!’’ it still makes me laugh!” Malty held her chest and resulted to a cough in order to stop herself from laughing. “Do keep this a secret, will you? Wouldn’t want precious Minty to get hurt..” she added gritting her teeth.

Malty took from the box her overcoat and slid her forelegs through the sleeves. Shaking her head in an attempt to get her mind clear Whistle looked down at the floor, she noticed the red stain on her hooves and suddenly another lightbulb lit so brightly it had blew out.

“Y-You” she gasped. “It was you...you were the pony Tropical saw that night!”

Malty turned to Whistle again, at first her impression was blank but then it grew into a wide smirk. “Guilty as charged” she chuckled. “I have my own place, but I could never sleep there. The change is ever so random that I even woke up in Minty’s own bed once”.

Malty stepped forward out of the closet as her eyes peered down at Whistle’s hooves. It didn’t take much for her to piece together how she got the red stain. “You snooped under my bed, and found the bloody cane, yes?” she asked, looking quite uninterested.

Whistle took a step backwards, her wings outstretched to full length.

“Heh, Edward had followed me that night. Seems he had a secret crush, but when he wouldn’t take no for an answer...” Malty’s grin grew wider and Whistle became even more frightened as a result. “Well, our dear friend saw what happened”.

“What about the other two then!” Whistle unintentionally blurted out. All fear faded away as she stepped forward suddenly. “Why did you kill Amethyst!”

Malty just shrugged and brushed Whistle’s outburst off uncaringly. “Because Amethyst tried throwing me out, I went to her right after I killed Edward.” Malty answered. “I tell you, I never felt so panicked and scared in my whole life, which sadly is the span of two years”.

Malty’s face transformed into an angry and disgusting glare. “She thought Minty would be ruined, she didn’t even care about me!” she snapped, bucking the closet archway. “Just her daughter who she threw out years prior, and when I needed her more than her daughter ever even showed, she cursed me for even being..”

Malty’s teeth grinded and her eyes twitched, she looked like a bomb set to blow at any second. “I was still feeling the rush, the high, I wasn’t thinking when I killed her!” she shouted slamming her hooves. Whistle cringed at the sound of breaking wood. “I was distraught, I loved her as a mother and I had just killed her in rage…But, as my panic and fear subsided, I noticed...it felt good”.

Whistle took more steps backwards as Malty laughed in such an evil manner it chilled her to the bone.

“Oh the rush---the thrill---never in my two years have I felt so alive! I-I had to kill again, just to be sure! And it felt great!” Malty laughed as she lifted up onto her hind legs and swirled around in glee. “My life before that night was so boring, I always felt like something was missing but never knew what..now I know, I hated it. I wasn’t living as myself, the reason Amethyst even took me in was so she could get a second chance as a mother”.

“I-I-” Whistle started but fell silent as she was too frightened to even make her own legs move.

Malty hopped around and faced Whistle, she laughed. “Being fancy j-just wasn’t me, I am going to take a note from my own books and do something” as she threw a single hoof down she bellowed “To Tartarus with Minty’s life, from this point forward I live for myself! No longer being forced to lay low or hide my true nature” Malty trotted towards the door and Whistle cringed as she passed her. “ Whistle...I am going to live, and soon from now until forever, Equestria will remember my name! Malty! Today, I live for myself and myself only”.

Malty took a step through the door and savored the last moments of the air which smelt so much of sugar. “I’m sorry…” came Whistle’s voice as she took a second step. “But I can’t let you do that”.

Malty couldn’t help but chuckle, tilting her hat downward she spoke “Don’t worry, my dear. I made it a note to not hurt yo---” CRASH!

***

Minty groaned in pain, something was covering her face so she flicked it off like a fly that was annoying her nose. She leaned upward and felt the weight of a large coat.

“How did..” she spoke as she started taking it off but as her legs outstretched she felt shivers of pain down her spine.

She gave a silent yet very painful yelp as she felt the coat’s weight mixed with the severe pain.

“It feels like a carriage rolled over my back..” she yelped.

Taking the coat off was no easy feet, as she slid her forelegs out of the sleeves and the coat fell to the floor she rolled over and screamed in pure agony. Something soft ran along her face and it took only a moment for her to realize that it was one of her many clothes, she was in her closet. She fumbled at some boxes she had about the floor while trying her best not to bend her back in the progress.

“Socks, socks, so-oh hey my Discord sock---when did I get this?” She asked herself puzzled. She searched through at least three boxes until she found what she was after, she lifted an small black flashlight and flicked it on. “Ah! Too bright!”

Blinded she flicked the flashlight back off as she stumbled, her back had rammed into something and she held her mouth as she screamed again. She flipped over and saw it was the door knob and after fumbling with it she cursed quite badly.

“Ugh..I’m suing whoever stuffed me in here..” she grunted.

Making sure she held it right she flicked on the flashlight and peered through the keyhole. “H-Hey! Whistle! And she’s asleep..” she groaned in annoyance.

Whistle, who was laying on the floor with her back turned, was indeed sound asleep. Minty rolled her eyes and noticed the room was darken, sadly the clock was out of her view range so she could only guess at the time. She fumbled with the knob once more before she gave up in a loud sigh. She wondered why she was in this closet so she thought back to what happened before she had blacked out.

“Let’s see, I was yelling at Whistle to get out, I picked up the camera and-----ooooooohhhh...” sighing and facehooving she simultaneously face planted the door. “I must’ve turned into Mal--did Whistle attacked her?” Minty asked herself. She rubbed her throat and coughed.

She stretched her back, yelped loudly, and carefully laid flat upon the floor. “My back feels broken, Whistle must’ve hugged Malty and it went terribly wrong, either that or she hit her with something” Minty spoke as she pondered on this idea.

Minty felt the cold surface of the floor through her fur as she stared blankly at the ceiling. She ran through her head the best recreation on what could’ve happened and she felt scared that Whistle had seen her chance. She could only imagination the look of utter terror on Whistle’s face and it made her feel sad. Her best friend was likely forced to attack her and stuff her into a closet, she wasn’t even sure how Whistle had managed it other than a surprise attack from behind.

“Whistle had on occasions surprised hug me from behind, I knew her hugs were strong but Celestia...” Minty whimpered a little as she pictured the strongest that hug Whistle might had gave her.

Minty knew it was probably a bad idea to lay down, but she assumed that if she remained motionless and straight then there wouldn’t be any damage done. She probably couldn’t even trot, her back felt that bad, which if it was still in such pain then she must not had been out for long. She pondered on how long it must had been, she took in account that Whistle was asleep just outside the closet and one fact that she was sure of, if she had been out for a few days then surely somepony must’ve visited.

“No, I’m sure of it, it must’ve only been a few hours” she reassured herself. Suddenly there was a faint chime and Minty stared off in what she guessed was the direction that it came from. “That’s the bell tower, so by that chime and the lack of sunlight, it must be around two A.M”.

Minty tilted her head towards the door and focused on the keyhole, she was pondering again. “Wait!” she said suddenly. “I once took a class on lock picking, if I could just find something thin, like a needle or pin, then I might be able to---” Minty bit her lip as she attempted to lean up, it was a bad idea as waves of pain suddenly surged through her spine.

She became stuck, her hooves wobbling under her weight and she knew that she couldn’t sustain it for too long. She focused her strength on trying to push forward but her forelegs had slipped and she slammed hard onto her back. Uttering a scream so loud it could had broken glass she bellowed in agony. Tears running down her cheeks she cried, wishing for anything to take the pain away. Suddenly the door sprung open and her eyes rolled over to see Whistle brandishing a broomstick.

“Minty?” Whistle spoke mere seconds before kneeling down to help her.

“You broke my back you over strengthened induced filly!” Minty had shouted as she pushed her friend away. She immediately apologized and grabbed ahold of her friend’s hoove. “I can’t get up, you need to get--Whistle! No! Get somepony with magi---” Minty offered a silent scream as she was jerked forward and she heard a definite pop in her back.

“I---am---going---too---” Minty had started but suddenly fell silent as she flexed her back in preparation to stand. “For Luna’s sake on the moon, what did you do? Run her over!?”

Whistle awkwardly grinned as she said “I hit her with a chair”.

“A chair? A CHAIR!? It felt like my back is in pieces Whistle a chair!?” Minty yelled loudly.

Whistle flapped her wings and stepped backwards as her mane fell over her face in depression.

Minty bit her lip, took in a deep breath and ignoring the shivers of pain said “I’m sorry, but you see why I was trying to get you to leave before”.

“I’m sorry I broke your back” returned Whistle. She looked Minty square in the eyes before she nodded. “It is you,” Whistle gave an huge sigh of relieve. “Malty is quite a curser, you know”.

“You talked to her? Minty asked. Looking quite curious she added “What did she say?”

“Oh she wanted me to let her out, but I refused” Whistle simply returned. She whistled in a odd fashion before she said “She cursed bad, she was saying I’d never hurt you but I didn’t trust her”.

“Good, um Whistle?” Minty paused as she went to move but had ceased at once “How long was I---um---out?”

Whistle turned her gaze away and began whistling. On about the third time she was asked she finally blurted out “Three days, just abo--”

“Three days!?” Minty interrupted, she was dumbfounded. “B-But my back--it feels like it was just hurt..”

“Well apparently you had a secret candy stash in there,” returned Whistle. “Malty just kept eating and eating them..until yesterday when she ran out”.

“Right..my peppermints, what happened to them?” Minty asked. She managed to crawl forward enough inches to see her large table that was now charred with, a brightly red fire extinguisher laid atop its surface along side a water hose. “What---happened?”

“I burnt them, every last peppermint gone” Whistle smiled.

Minty nodded as she stared blankly at the burnt remains of her precious candy, her mouth watering at the memory of their taste. The flavor, the burning sensation in the back of her throat, the overall great taste she had spent years perfecting, now destroyed with no hope of ever recreating them. Suddenly she leapt at Whistle who had jumped back and Minty’s chin slammed against the floor as a result of the miss.

“Y-Y-You----how could you!” she bellowed as she tried to crawl.

“W-What’s wrong? Whistle asked hovering into the air and out of reach. “Why are you angrily?”

“I need them!” shouted Minty as she breathlessly tried to lift herself up. “I-I-I-I can’t---they were my greatest invention! The taste---the flavor---I-I-I-I-I must make more...I NEED them!”

Minty dug her hooves into the floor as she attempted to crawl and Whistle, not wanting to see her friend hurt herself more than she already was, flew down and clamped her hooves down onto Minty’s.

“No! They were bad candy! It’s good they're gone!” she shouted back.

Minty struggled until she began rolling from side to side in an attempt to get her front hooves free from her friends’ grip.

“Minty!” Whistle shouted as she grabbed her friend by the shoulders and firmly held her down. “You killed your own mom because of them!”

All at once Minty ceased her struggle as she stared into Whistle’s face, her eyes began filling up with tears and she broke out into a loud and muffled sob. Whistle broke out into tears as well, lifting her friend up she hugged her. Minty gave a yelp but was surprised the hug wasn’t tight at all, was Whistle holding back her strength? Minty embraced Whistle and cried in the spot just under her neck, their tears so plentiful they could had filled up two separate rivers.

Minty tightened her grip, breathing in her friend’s fur as she took a deep inhale. Sniffing she leaned her head up, seeing her friend’s face dripping with tears just made her cry even more.

Using her own mane to wipe Whistle’s face Minty said “Whistle, you’re right. But I still crave them..I-I couldn’t had done it myself..”

Whistle could feel Minty’s hooves shake uncontrollably as she wiped her cheeks dry, gripping them together Whistle spoke “I’m sorry too,” she paused and her lips started shaking. “it wasn’t you, it was Malty”.

Minty glared towards the floor and started to ponder, Whistle swore when looking into her eyes that she could see Minty’s thoughts progressing. Minty wiped her nose with her foreleg before placing her hooves atop Whistle’s.

“W-What are we doing to do?” Minty asked as her grip tightened. “Malty is a murder, and I’m her, even though I can’t remember a single thing she had done we’re still the same..and the guards will suspect something if she disappears, w-what if they find out?”

Whistle had no answer she that could had given, she was at much of a lost as Minty was. Everypony already thought Malty was a monster and going by the gossip and reactions she normally got, if she suddenly goes missing then what would the gossipers say? Whistle could say one thing though without any dread of doubt, when looking at Minty and her fearful face, she knew she was not Malty.

Whistle had thought Malty was just a pony who was misunderstood and a great friend, but she turned out to be a monster after all. She could never see Minty being her, they might share the same body but Whistle had years of friendship with Minty, and by her face she knew how much guilt she was feeling.

Whistle couldn’t bear this sight, she embraced her friend in another hug.“It wasn’t your fault” she whispered into Minty’s ear.

“Whistle, Malty was created by my---” Minty blushed as Whistle kissed her forehead. She blinked and wasn’t even sure if that had just happened.

Whistle smiled, and Minty returned it. Minty nuzzled under her friend’s head, looking quite like a foal being comforted by their parent. She shed more tears and had completely forgotten her back pains. The two must had sat there in the other’s embrace for at least three minutes before they spoke again.

“Can you take me to see a doctor?” Minty had asked. “My back is still killing me”.

Whistle giggled. “Sure, just don’t tell them that it was my fault”.

“What? I’ll say my best friend attacked me because I was acting strange?” Minty asked giggling.

The two mares laughed. Whistle wrapped her forelegs around Minty who held her mouth tightly shut as Whistle hovered upward. She started hovering towards the grey hallway when Minty had glanced once more over at the table.

She laughed, staring at the burnt remains of her peppermints with the faintest smirk across her face. “Ya know Whistle,” she started. “if I could trot, I would so dig through that burnt pile”.

Whistle jerked her head up in concern but ended up laughing instead of glaring at Minty. “What did you put in them though?” she asked in return. “They exploded like fireworks!”

“They did?” Minty spoke looking quite stunned. “Huh, never tested that sauce with heat, so it could had been a side affect I nev--”

There was a loud crash and the two mares flinched, Minty wormed and cried in pain as she was dropped. Storming inside the room must’ve been at most six guards, all of which were armed with magic.