Author's Note

Like I said, rated Teen for language and occasional gore. Expect some part where the messages of the book are written in color according to the character.

Chapter 2 - Memory Warehouse (Meeting Duddits)

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.
- Richard Bach

The night was merry at Hole in the Wall, as the 7 enjoyed their first night. They had already filled their bellies with pasta, and were now starting on Applejack's homemade cider. Rainbow Dash had just quaffed down three mugs of the stuff, and she was now moving on to her fourth, cider lover as she was. The others had already moved on to their second helping.

Already the mood had moved from depressing (from news of Rainbow's failed date night escapade) to cheery and happy. Their talk turned from grim forebodings to happy laughter. Even Rarity was failing to keep her face straight, belting out great peals of beautiful laughter that she would later deny, and Fluttershy, who would rather eat her food in silence than socialize, giggled with her face turning red.

"So, wait what is the memory warehouse?" Rainbow asked Sunset as she returned to the table.

Applejack looked at her with a mix of amusement and a look that said Your kidding, right? "Ya seriously don't remember what the memory warehouse is?"

Rainbow put on her slyest look. "Perhaps it slipped my mind, AJ." She looked at Sunset again. "Come on, Sunset. Spill the beans."

Sunset decided to go informant mode. "Everyone has a memory warehouse, Rainbow. You fill it with the new stuff you learn, and it stays there for future reference. I keep mine organized and properly labeled." She couldn't help but let a little pride swell in her voice.

Twilight sniggered. "I bet you have a whole section dedicated to all the curse words you learned."

Sunset blushed guiltily. During her time here as a citizen of Canterlot City, she had tried to fit in socially with people by learning their traits and mannerisms, and often tried to fit them into her own life. One of those was the use of cursing, which tended to come out when she was angry or exasperated. Some of them were the typical "Damn" and "Crap", but the one that were the most colorful (thanks to Applejack and her family) included "kiss my bender," "bitch in a buzz saw," and the classic Apple Family "Jesus Christ Bananas."

"Yesss..." Sunset said with a sheepish smile.

Pinkie decided to pipe up. "Ohh! Ohh! Mine is filled with all the best party places in the city, and the best balloons, and party cannons, and -"

"Yes, Yes, Pinkie," Rainbow cut in. "I think we get the point."

"What do you do when you get filled up, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Well, I take the stuff I don't really need anymore, and I burn it. For example," she stated in a matter-of-fact voice. "When I got a new laptop to store all my readings on my magical studies, I had to discard a whole box of files for favorite lullaby's."

Rainbow walked over to the fire a stoked the coals. "Hope you haven't dumped the lyrics for "Hush Now, Quiet Now."

Fluttershy blushed a little, but smiled a little at the nostalgia of it.

Sunset smiled before continuing, "Well, if there's something I just can't seem to let go, I take it to a little private place of mine. There, no one can touch it."

Rainbow Dash returned to the table. "What about the stuff on Duddits?"

At this, Pinkie stopped guzzling her cider, Fluttershy looked up from her meal, and turned their heads to Sunset. She smiled at how they still remembered Duddits after all these years, even after the incidents with Gaea Everfree, with school problems, new superpowers with strange jewels, and those that didn't come with a accessory, they still remembered him, particularly Fluttershy, and Sunset has a sneaking feeling that Duddits remembered her the most.

"Oh, he's got a whole row dedicated to him on the third level."

They all smiled at that. Applejack went to their only way in or out, took out a Swiss army knife, and etched a small nick in the doorway. She smiled and said, "Ah gotta say y'all, even though he never comes here, it feels like Duddits was always with us here."

Everyone smiled a little at that. Applejack continued where she left off. "It's our second year in Camp Everfree since we met Duddits," she raised her mug. "And fuck me Freddy, here's to many more."

There were various sayings of "yes" and "mm-hm" (there was a "Yupperee" in Pinkie's case.) and the friends stood up, pushing away chairs and holding their mugs of mulled cider. They looked up at the dream catcher, and Twilight spoke first, raising her mug to the hanging talisman.

"To Duddits, our dreamcatcher," she said.

"To Duddits," Applejack added.

"To Duddits!" Pinkie chirped with a smile.

"To Douglas Cavell," Fluttershy said quietly.

"To you, darling," Rarity agreed.

"Love you, man." Rainbow said with a smile.

They all turned to Sunset, waiting for her to express an compliment or toast, but she said nothing. She just raised her glass up to the dreamcatcher, and gave a smile, acknowledging their absent friend. But what toast she didn't express remained, and as she looked at the object that was their symbol, their promise, their amulet, their guardian angel, and told everyone, in words that felt like a silent prayer:

Yes. Love you Duds, and that's from the heart.

They smiled at the mental note and drank their cider. They were well satisfied.

One year earlier, a day before the Gaea Everfree incident

"Attention, campers! Anyone who's interested in making floating paper lanterns, please meet us by the picnic tables. "

The P.A. ended. The girls still stood in the mess cabin (the name of the Recreational cabin where and when they had their three meals a day) which was still littered with cookie batter, the result of Pinkie's pyrotechnic sprinkle regime, or as Applejack would put it later, "the madcap result of a war with fireworks." Gloriosa was going to have much time cleaning the mess, despite her usual moniker of "I got this!"

Applejack broke the silence, short though it was. "I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I've been lookin' forward to comin' here for a month. Maybe we forget about this "new magic" for a bit and just try to focus on enjoyin' our time at camp? "

"I was so excited about designs I've come up with for the camp fashion show," Rarity said with an excited little hop.

"And I haven't been able to whoop anybody in tether ball," Rainbow added.

Sunset, however, remained adamant in her opinion. If there was something that was causing their new powers, then they had to deal with it, hard and loud. "I think we should try to figure it out," she said. She saw the discomfort in her friends faces, and realized their answer was obvious. "But if letting it go for now is what the rest of you want... "

They nodded and voiced their agreement. Only Twilight said nothing, and Sunset could see the sadness and distress on her face.

It was only a short walk and some time after their little talk, they found the shirt. Although the walk wasn't much of a walk, and they found the shirt almost instantly - at least, Rainbow did - they would forever say that that insignificant piece of clothing was put there by fate and God himself.

Rainbow's sharp eye spotted it instantly, a medium sized reddish blob on lying on the ground that seemed to belong to no one. Beside it was a square yellow object. Rainbow picked up the cloth blob and examined it.

"Hey, some kid's shirt!" she said.

It was a shirt, with a red and white checker pattern and was open in the middle, indicating that it had been taken taken off, though for what they couldn't say, for they turned their attention to the square object.

"A lunchbox," Twilight said, holding it up. On the front were figures that Twilight knew well from childhood, when Candace had been no more than her babysitter. "With Scooby-Doo written all over it."

"And look!" Fluttershy said, pointing to some writing scrawled in black marker.

" 'I belong to Douglas Cavell,' " Twilight read. "Who's he?"

Silence from all of them. They didn't know.

It was at that moment, as they were thinking of abandoning the box and the shirt, and go make their paper lanterns, when they heard the scream.

It came from behind the mess cabin, a scream that was full of despair and added with a cry for help. The friends didn't hesitate, because when you heard a scream, something couldn't be right. They went out back, only to find a really distressing scene taking place.

There were three figures, two of them girls, one of them sitting against a tree nearby and watching, while the other was holding the third figure, a boy by the looks of it, in a grip that he couldn't escape. What appalled them the most was that the boy was naked, and the girl that was holding him was was waving a fistful of dried dog turd in one rubber-gloved hand.

Rainbow was the first to act, being the Element of loyalty. "Hey! You two!"

The two girls looked up, the one lying against the tree picked up a wood board and held it like weapon, getting up from her resting place. In the light of the afternoon sun, Twilight noticed that they both had violet skin, wore baseball caps with the Everfree icon on it, matching white t-shirts with the same symbol and denim shorts. The only difference was their hair color, (the lone guard had short purple hair, the turd holder a back length blond).

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Sunset asked, shocked.

"Nothing. We're doing some private business here," the blond one said. "Now if you will excuse us, we -"

"What do think you're doing?" Fluttershy asked, dismayed. She would try to worm her way out of most situations, so this was a little surprising, even for her, to speak up.

The blond sighed, now a little irate. "I said 'nothing' if you heard correctly, just going to make him eat this bit of dog shit and then let him go, alright?" Her voice carried the tone of someone who was finding this perfectly normal.

The purple-haired one spoke for the first time. "Now beat it, all of you, or I'll -"

"I know who you are!"

The purple haired girl looked at Applejack, who had said the words. She blinked, then sneered. "I'm trembling with fear."

Twilight spoke this time, and was really glad she did. Looking at this boy, all naked, vulnerable and scared, made her forget Midnight Sparkle for now and woke up something braver in her. She pointed to the girl with the board. "You're Fuchsia Blush, one Trixie's band members." She pointed to the other. "And your Lavender Lace!"

Fuchsia's gloating sneer froze and Lavender was now a little apprehensive. Twilight decided to give these girls what they deserved.

Without turning around, she said to Rainbow, "Get ready to run, Dash."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "On it."

Fuchsia managed to regain her composure and dropped the board, indicating that wherever Dash was going, she was going to follow. She summed it up with another jibe, "Oh, yeah? Well, I can outrun her anytime, anyplace."

Applejack crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Yer kiddin' right? Ya seriously don't know who this is? She's Rainbow Dash, fastest track runner in the history of Canterlot High. She'd run fer all the world if need be. So what do ya think yer reputations will be if she tells what's been what you fuckeroos have been playin' here."

The two bullies didn't seemed all that fazed with this display, but Twilight sensed a weakness. They were band musicians and Trixie's best friends, so if Principal Celestia was informed of this, they'd be in the dump. She decided to give Rainbow Dash some cover, so she picked up a few small rocks in each hand. "C'mon, dick-weeds!"

She heard a clacking sound and found Rarity, Applejack and Sunset were flanking her, holding rocks of their own. Pinkie was flanking her left too, but she had her fists balled and was doing a strange hopping dance. Rainbow still waited for Twilight's call, psyching herself for the sprint that could change this kid's life.

Lavender got up on her feet, but she still wasn't going to let them spoil their day. "Why do even want to help this kid anyhow?" Lavender asked.

"Because it's wrong." Fluttershy said. She wasn't preparing to run or pick up earth clods, but she was willing to make a stand for this boy. And by gods, what these bullies were doing to this kid made her angry. "And I want to tell everyone. I want to tell the world!"

Pinkie balled her fists tighter. "So come and have at us, you meanie mean pants!"

"Because we aren't going to move till let him go," Rarity added, speaking for the first time.

Lavender looked at the seven girls, trying to make a decision. Fuchsia looked at Lavender, waiting for her leader to indicate an opinion. The seven girls, who fought three sirens, a rival school who thought friendship was hobby and winning a religion, and two demons who were their best friends, stood firm for the battle that may or may not come at all.

Finally, Lavender said, "Let's go."

With those words, she threw the dried turd in front of the kid's feet, causing him to let out a weeping yelp, then turned to the others and said, "I'll get you all later," before she and Fuchsia left.

With the danger past, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity (wiping her hands after), and Sunset dropped their rocks, Pinkie her fists, Rainbow her psych for speed, and Fluttershy her bravery and examined the boy closely. He appeared to be about 13 or 14, with alabaster skin (like Rarity), short red hair and green eyes, which were looking at the six with fear in them. It was clear he was going to have difficultly trusting them, as was seen when Rainbow tried to hand him the shirt, but he turned away, his face hidden behind his bony knees, tears pouring down his eyes.

Rainbow sighed. "Okay, so what do we do if he's going to be as stiff as a board?"

She turned back to the boy and said, a little harshly, "Listen kid would you mind unloosening a little and put your shirt on?"

"Rainbow!" Rarity gasped and grabbed Rainbow Dash up from the boy. "That's no way to speak to a boy who's clearly going through a lot!"

"I know, I know!" Rainbow Dash said irritably. "But how do we tell him to calm down and listen to us for a few minutes?"

"I'll do it."

It was Fluttershy who spoke. Now, this was surprising for all of them, because Fluttershy would be the person you'd least expect to do anything due to her fear. But they didn't dissuade her as she knelt down next to the boy.

She looked at the others seriously. "If you tell anyone of what I'm about to do," she said to them in an equally serious tone. "I'll never hang out with you guys again."

They nodded and Fluttershy began to sing, in a sweet, beautiful, gentle voice, a song she knew well from her childhood, when her mother and father would tuck her into bed on moonlit nights:

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head.
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed.

Hush now, quiet now,
close your sleepy eyes.
Hush now, quiet now,
my how time sure flies.

The others exchanged glances of surprise that could be categorized as priceless. They knew Fluttershy was a good singer, having sung as backup vocal in their band "The Rainbooms", but this solution was a bit out of place.

"Uh, Fluttershy, it's beautiful, but...?" Sunset was about to say, but Fluttershy shut her up with a look.

"I'm telling you, don't tell anyone," she said, then wrapping her arm around the boy comfortingly, she sang a little more:

Drifting, drifting off to sleep
the days excitement behind you.
Drifting drifting off to sleep
let the joy of dreamland find you.

Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head.
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed.

His face screwed up with weeping, the boy did something they did not expect: he reached his arms around Fluttershy, and hugged her. It seemed Fluttershy's plan, pointless though it seemed, worked like a charm. The other girls took the opportunity to slip on his pants.

"Well done, Fluttershy." Sunset said with an approving smile.

"That more beautiful singin' than a showgirl caught in a bar fight." Applejack congratulated her.

Fluttershy just blushed, a small smile lighting her face.

"Utter-eye."

Fluttershy looked at Twilight. "What did you say?"

Twilight shrugged, equally surprised. "I didn't say anything."

She looked at Pinkie, who always made weird names. Pinkie only shrugged. "Don't look at me, silly."

"Utter-eye," said the voice again.

They looked down to realize that the voice was coming from the boy, though seemingly not very well. Down's Syndrome, Twilight would tell them later. People can't speak well when they have Down's Syndrome.

Sunset suddenly caught on to the words. "He's saying your name," she said to Fluttershy.

Rainbow smiled as she helped Fluttershy give the kid a lift. "You've got a fan."

They had helped the boy into his shirt (Rarity held in her comment about how unfashionable it was to her eyes) when Twilight realized that she was still holding the lunch box and handed it to the boy. He kissed it like it was a holy relic. "Ooby Ooby Doo, air ar oo? Ee got som urk oo oo ow."

"Yer Douglas Cavell, aren't ya?" Applejack said, pointing to the markered words on the box.

The boy looked at them and nodded. He pointed to himself and said, "I Duddits."

They looked at him, unsure whether they heard him right. Pinkie voiced their unanimous opinion with a "Huh?"

Duddits raised his arms in the air like Superman about to make his one way trip through the air. "I Duddits!"

"Duddits, huh?" Rainbow said, trying to look tough - gangsta tough. Then she smiled a friendly smile and held out her hand. "Say, Duds, wanna make paper lanterns with us?"

Duddits smiled a big, goofy smile that made Twilight's heart melt in a second. It seemed like Duddits was made for giving you a lift when you were down, and seeing his small, fragile form made her want to hug him.

She didn't know it yet, but they had made a new friend that would change their lives in ways they wouldn't expect.

Tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She was still thinking about Duddits, the accident, and what might've been the meaning behind it all. And that warning...

(Ach ow or Ishta Gay..)

What did it mean?

But she knew if she kept pondering it, it was going to leave her in state tomorrow that was the opposite of "bright eyed and busy tailed." In those cases, she turned to the one thing that could help her: The Book. If there was anything in the world that could bring a good night's sleep, it was a conversation with a good friend, and that was just what she needed.

Turning ever so quietly in her bed, she made sure Twilight was sound asleep in the bed next to her, then revolved to face the other side. She leaned over the edge and reach for her pack, which she had put under the bed for safe keeping. She pulled it out and fished around till she felt the hard leather cover. She reached again and also pulled out a pencil.

She placed them on her blanket-covered lap, and then fished once more until she felt the cool metal cylinder of flashlight. Opening the book to a blank page she flicked on the flash and wrote the three words that she hadn't wrote for an age.

Dear Princess Twilight....