Friendship, it's always a funny thing. Started either from common interests, necessity, for the benefits, an alliance for vengeance or just simply whatever. One day it can be all sunshine and fucking if you're friends with benefits or it can be a storm of pissy fighting and hate fucking. Depending on if you're into that of course. The point being that like any relationship, the status can change on the dime for just about any reason...

Inside the large oak tree that the mages Twilight, Sunset and their guardian Luna (still possessed by Celestia by the way) shared, there was an enormous clatter. Twilight had torn through her library (careful of the books of course) before she went through the rest of the house, looking in the refrigerator, under her bed, even in all of the bathrooms, growing more and more agitated as her search turned fruitles. "No.... No. No! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she finally cried out, standing up from checking under the couch, hands on her head.

"My hangover is saying you're too fucking loud." grunted Sunset, sitting on said couch and taking a big gulp of coffee as she watched Twilight pace about. "Or are you finally so sexually repressed that you went insane? If so, can you take it to your room? Or go find someone to fuck?"

"My book is gone goddess dammit!" swore Twilight, turning to face Sunset and making a motion with her arms as if to mime it out "MY. BOOK! It's a special ordered first edition book of Starswirl the Bearded's theory on magical portals through time and space! I rented it from Olympus's heavenly library! Do you even know how fucking long it takes to get a book on loan from there if you're not living in Olympus or even a demi-god?!"

".... and?" asked Sunset, reclining further on the couch and having another swig of coffee.

"... do you know where it is?" asked Twilight, her eyes narrowing as she studied the red haired mage.

"Why would I?"

"Sunset I'm serious! I haven't even gotten on my second read through yet! And do you have any idea of the fine I'll get if something happens to it?!"

"Well... there was this gray-blue book on the coffee table. I put my mug down on it and there was a ring, I told Spike to go clean it up." said Sunset with a shrug.

"WHAT?!" gaped Twilight, a ping coming from behind them and causing her to turn. The oak tree was also outfitted with an old fashioned elevator, the gated metal door of it sliding open as the boy with the green mohawk walked into the living room, holding up a book that was old and taken care of... except for the front that was wet from water damaged. And still had the coffee ring on it.

"Hey Twilight! Sorry Sunset, couldn't get it out. I would've asked Twilight or Luna, but Twilight was looking for something and Luna went to the front door just now..." he said, beaming and happy as he held out the book. Twilight reached out and took it with shaking hands, her head filling with the numbers of the fine she was going to receive.

"... whoops." said Sunset cooly, going to finish her coffee when Twilight reached over and slapped it right out of her hand. "What the fuck?!"

"Mother bitch Sunset! HOW COULD YOU!?" snapped Twilight, slamming the book down on the side table next to the couch, glaring at the other mage. "I know it's a long night being a slut and waking up hung over but you can fucking see the book before you set your coffee down!"

"Well excuse the fuck out of me, but it's just a damn book, not the end of the world." growled Sunset, headache rearing it's ugly head again as Twilight bitched her out.

"Dammit Sunset you're not the one that has to pay a fine! ARGH! Why are you such a bitch!? I mean yeah you were bitchy before but ever since we came here your attitude has been fucking rotten! You leave everything in a mess, you can't give a fuck about anything unless you can actually fuck it! I mean come on!" said Twilight, hands clenched, pissed and weeks of built up frustration coming to the surface.

"Hey at least I get exercise instead of being cooped up all day with books like some shut in!" Sunset snapped back, her hang over now saying that she'd had it up to here with Twilight's ranting. "Look, I'll buy you a new fucking book if you're tits are in that much of a twist over this, but don't take it out on me if you're not getting any action!"

"As if that has anything to do with it!" Twilight snapped back before crossing her arms "Besides, I so could have gotten some action from that Thunderlane guy you brought back a week ago."

"... what's that supposed to mean?" asked Sunset, eyes narrowing slightly.

"He was up after you passed out that night. Even I had to look up and take notice when he practically started throwing himself at me. Must not of been too thrilled after having his fun with you." said Twilight, petulantly deciding to go there and receiving results as Sunset glared at her, neither paying attention that right outside the window, dark clouds were gathering and thunder was starting to sound.

"Tch, oh yeah? Then maybe I should switch it up. Go for someone softer, shyer... I think I might just give Fluttershy a call and show her a real good time!"

As for Spike the dragon boy had been standing around, picking his nose as he watched the two bicker. At least up until a bolt of lightning teleported through the roof and hit him, shocking the boy and making him belch out some smoke.

Then Twilight did a back flip, pulling off both of her stockings and turning them into katanas "You keep your dirty hands off Fluttrshy!" she shouted, armed and ready to fight.

At the same time, Sunset had her underwear off and in gun form, aimed right at the other mage "Then shut the hell up!"

However before things could really get fun, the elevator pinged again, three figures stepping out of the elevator this time, one being Celestia in the driver's seat of Luna's body, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The two high school seniors had varying degrees of discomfort shown on their faces, Applejack stoic but annoyed and Dash looking perturbed. Both of Celestia's arms were around their shoulders in a way that should have looked like a friendly gesture, but really...

"Hey guys!" piped up Dash, looking relieved to see the two mages, even if they looked ready to kill each other. "We uh, just came over to hang out. We would've been here sooner but your uh, guardian took us the scenic route through her bedroom..." The rainbow haired athlete's back stiffened as Celestia's hand moved down from her shoulder to her hip. Applejack had already slapped the other away before it reached it's target.

"It was certainly nice meeting you~" said Celestia, a flirtatious smile on the face. "And remember. I am single and looking to mingle." she said, giving a wink to the athlete before she moved past the two, giving Spike a quick slap on the back to make him hack up the piece of paper. She picked it up and looked it over "Hmm, alright mages, it looks like our clue for the next ghost is 'double'. Let's go!" Her cheer was cut short as she noticed Twilight and Sunset weren't going anywhere, Sunset back on her spot on the couch and Twilight sitting in a chair, both sulking. "Um, girls? This should be the part where you two go to your truck and whisk off to battle. Is something wrong?" she asked, raising a brow as she observed the two.

"Yeah, Twilight is being a bitch." scoffed Sunset, reaching for the remote so she could flip on the channel. "I'm not going anywhere with her."

"Fine by me." grumped Twilight, standing up and head over to the elevator, hen she paused and gave it some thought before grabbing Applejack, the farmer looking quite confused. "Come on, I'll need some help and I know I'll be able to handle this faster than if I was working with Sunset!" Although really she just wanted someone to just bitch to on the drive over.

"Oh yeah? Well that's fine by me! Let's just see you get anything done without me. Besides, at this point I'd rather hang out with rainbow girl any day over you!" said Sunset, pointing to Rainbow Dash who looked rather excited at the prospect of spending some one on one time with the sexy, firey mage. "So don't fuck with me, bitch!"

"Don't fuck with me either, whore." retorted Twilight, closing the gated door of the elevator so that she and Applejack could go on their way, leaving a still pissed Sunset behind.

"Um..." said Dash, running a hand through her hair and trying to look suave as fuck. "Did you mean what you said? That you'd wanna hang out with me?"

Glancing back over to Dash, Sunset replied "Who the fuck are you again?" Then she rolled her eyes upon seeing the athlete pout and look down "Come on, we got shit to do." Pulling on her leather jacket over her t-shirt, the red head lead the way down the stairs to the garage, wishing she'd been able to finish her coffee but finding other ways to amuse herself. "So, you wanna find a nice place along the way to fuck now or later?"

"W-What?" blushed Rainbow Dash, eyes widening before she asked "... really?"

"Mm, nah." replied Sunset, smirking as she opened the door to the garage. And found the truck was gone. "Mother fucker..."

"I swear to the goddess she's gotten unbearable!" snapped Twilight as she drove the truck, not really knowing where she was going but not caring much. "I mean, she reads books too! She knows better than to just set a drink down on a book like it's a goddamned coaster! What was she thinking!?"

"Uh, ya' mind slowin' down?" asked Applejack, buckled in, one hand grabbing the seat beneath her and the other on the 'oh shit' handle above the passenger's side door as they tore through the streets.

"I mean, I know this situation sucks! I wasn't happy either when Celestia sent us here instead of letting us into Olympus, I was so looking forward to that Olympian library! But you don't see me acting like an apathetic cunt! Why can't she just make the best of it?"

"Pedestrians!" yelped Applejack, pulling her hat down over her eyes, only looking when it didn't feel like they ran anyone over.

"And she used to be so much fun too. I mean, yeah she still partied and had intercourse a lot but we got along and we used to do more things together. I mean yeah not a lot because I was reading a lot but when we went to parties it was a lot of fun, or go driving, or-"

"PULL BAKC IN! YA' CAN'T BEAT THAT ONCOMIN' TRUCK!" cried Applejack, curling up with her hands over her head as Twilight gunned it and just barely missed clipping said truck. The blonde just about collapsed in her seat as Twilight finally pulled over, the farmer fighting to unbuckle herself before kicking the door open and falling out onto the sidewalk. "Oh sweet Goddess..."

Getting out of the car as well, Twilight came around and sat on the sidewalk next to Applejack "I don't know, what do you think?"

"Ah think yer' nuts!" griped Applejack, finally pushing herself up to her feet after her heart rate dropped back to more normal ranges and brushed off her clothes, grimacing upon seeing where they were "Great..."

Looking up, Twilight saw they were at some outdoor market sort of area but in a more seedier side of town. Things that weren't just selling junk were peddling more unsavory wares that really should've been sold more in the backrooms of shops. "So they're just allowed to that stuff out here?"

"Afraid so. Ponyville City's red light district is like the wild west. Guess the mayor's thought is that if'n they can be contained by bein' free
here, they won't feel they gotta' go to the rest of the city. However that works." sighed Applejack, adjusting her hat as she looked at a couple of vendors. "Looks like a sale this month, half off..."

"...and double your value." mused Twilight, tapping her chin before nodding "Might as well check this place out, it could be connection to the clue."

"Ya' sure 'bout that?" asked Applejack, looking as if she'd rather go just about anywhere else than in the red light district's open air market.

"It's about the best lead we got so far." replied the mage with a light shrug of her shoulders. With a little more prodding she got Applejack to go with her, looking among the vendors and seeing if any of them looked more evil spirit possessed than the others. So far there was no luck but Twilight was distracted when she came upon a vendor that sold books! Sure they were mostly dirty books but one never knew if there were any signed first editions or oddities at the bottom of the piles!

"Ahhhh, a connoisseur of the written word I see?"

She glanced up to see two dashing men, dressed similarly in blue and white striped shirts, brown slacks with bow ties and boater hats to match. Both took off their hats at the same time, showing the two had red hair white white stripes that was slicked back but one had a fine mustache on his face "Greetings Miss! I'm Flim!" said the non-mustached one "I'm Flam!" said the other before at once they said "And we're the Flim Flam brothers!"

Such fancy smut peddlers. And so on the nose too. "Um, nice to meet you." said Twilight, giving a polite smile before shifting aside some more books. "You certainly have some... interesting things here, but I don't think there's anything I would want."

"Ahhh, I see. Perhaps you'd like something a bit more, upscale perhaps?" mused Flim, stroking his chin.

"Something perhaps, first edition? Something less common?" added Flam with a grin before motioning to the boxes in the alleyway behind them. "We have plenty more back here young lady! If you'll take a moment."

Sketchy as fuck to say the least, but Twilight figured it was at the mouth of the alleyway and that she could take care of herself. She was directed to a boxed but the flaps seemed stuck, so with a little muscle she finally opened it! Only to have triggered some sort of trap since a large puff of powder was thrown in her face, stinging her eyes and making her sneeze. It was distracting enough she didn't notice that Flim and Flam's skin turned dark, the two brothers becoming more spirit like as Flim raised a knife.

"Twilight! Watch out!" called Applejack, having kept an eye on her since she didn't trust those Flim Flam brothers (they actually tried to swindle granny out of the deed to Sweet Apple Acres in exchange for a couple boxes of those dirty books!). So she charged in like an angry bull, bowling the spirits over and sending them all tumbling down into the alleyway.

When the brothers came to a stop, Flim had managed to pin Applejack down, knife to her throat as he sneered "You're that brat from the farm! We had to keep peddling these crappy books after you sunk our plans to go straight!"

"By takin' mah family farm?!" Applejack replied back incredulously but unable to argue much more as she felt the knife edge against her neck.

By now Twilight had managed to get the stinging powder out of her eyes and saw what was going on, her hands took off her stockings, twin katana ready to strike when Flim and Flam pulled Applejack to her feet "I don't think so little Miss Mage! Not unless you want to risk your friend's life!" crowed Flim, smirking when Twilight paused "Good, now-"

"Duck Sparkle!"

On instinct Twilight ducked just as a motorcycle drifted into view of the alleyway, Rainbow Dash driving while Sunset stood up top, aiming her gun and shooting the knife out of Flim's hand. While Dash kept skidding off to the side and crashed into one of the vendors, Sunset had jumped off and joined Twilight in the alleyway. "I knew you needed me. Just stand back and I'll take care of this Twilight."

"What?! I was going to be fine, I didn't need your help!" protested Twilight, glaring a bit at Sunset.

"Uh, guys?" said Rainbow Dash, having managed to pull herself out of the crash and walk over to the alleyway, trying to tug the helmet off of her head.

"You're such a fucking liar! That spirit had a knife to blondie's neck and you were just standing around." scoffed Sunset, crossing her arms as she and Twilight locked gazes. "So much for being able to do better without me, huh?"

"Why you-!" began Twilight, gritting her teeth.

"ALRIGHT THAT'S 'NOUGH!" shouted Applejack, pulling her arms back and elbowing the Flim Flam brothers so hard they were sent flying down to the other side of the alleyway as the farmer stalked forward. "Both of ya' are actin' like fuckin' children when ya' got spirits ta' exterminate!"

"Oi, like this involves you cowgirl!" snapped Sunset.

"It does when Ah get dragged inta' this thing n' Ah have ta' hear how ya' been pissy cause ya' been denied goin' ta Olympus, but ya' shouldn' be takin' it out on Twilight!" continued on Applejack, well and truly pissed by this point. "So jes' say yer sorry n' make up already!"

And of course the red headed mage replied as thus "Nah." Pure petulance.

"Why did I expect anything different? Like you fucking care." groused Twilight.

"Uh, guys?" said Dash, interrupting a new argument as she pointed to the end of the alleyway. It was at that point that the buildings were pushed to the side, revealing a large wood and metal mech operated by the spirit possessed Flim Flam Brothers.

"How do you like, Applejack? BEHOLD! Our Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 is reborn after you quashed our plans to run an apple farm! Now it's the Terrific Terrible Titan 10000!" said Flam, twiddling his mustache evilly before both he and Flam got back on the controls, causing the two long pipe arms to shoot out as large barrels for fists were set to ram right into the group. Immediately the mages got in front of Dash and Applejack, throwing up shields that offered protection but no grounding as the force sent the four young women flying back. But while the athlete and the farmer were able to get out of the way, Sunset and Twilight were pounded into the ground by a pummeling of blows from the machine.

"Ha-ha! See the power of our brotherly teamwork? You foolish mages never stood a chance!" crowed Flim, flexing his arms as he saw Sunset and Twilight just lying there in the crater.

"I simply can't understand why anyone would be afraid of them brother! All bark and no bite from a virgin book worm and a red head with parental issues!" continued Flam.

While the brothers continued their gloating, Sunset glanced over to Twilight "So... these pricks are annoying."

"Very much so..." agreed Twilight, turning her head to glance back at the other "Truce?"

"Truce." said Sunset, her smirk matched with Twilight's as they both suddenly shot to their feet and shouted at the same time "SO LET'S KILL 'EM!"

They took the Flim Flam brother completely off guard when they jumped at the same time, hitting the mech in the middle and sending it falling back onto it's ass. "Shit! Brother quick!" called Flim, pressing buttons and getting the mech back on it's feet.

"I'm on it brother!" called Flam, pulling some levers and causing an arm to shoot out right at Sunset. The red head jumped high and over the fist as it hit the ground, continuing her run up the arm towards Flam, striking him right in the face and sending him up into the air where she jumped after and continued the pummeling before landing a shot right in the spirit's chest.

"Sunset's strength..."

At the same time Flim tried to move the mech to tackle Twilight, but the mage channeled magical energy into her katanas, sending waves of magic as sharp as her blades to not only slice through the mech but into Flim himself.

"Twilight's technique... separate they're strong enough, but their true power shines through when they work together! They are the mages, Sunset and Twilight!"

"That's nice... but how'd you get here Luna?" asked Rainbow Dash, staring at the arm around her shoulders again.

"N' get yer' hand offa' mah ass!" snapped Applejack, just as the mech and the brothers exploded, the two men landing on the ground, singed, unconscious, but otherwise fine as two Harmony Bits fell to the ground at Sunset and Twilight's feet, each picking up one.

"As the goddess says, I have been and always shall be, your friend." quoted Celestia with a nod.

"... isn't that from a movie?" asked Dash.

As the bell from their oak tree house rang in the distance, signaling the vanquishing of another spirit, Twilight and Sunset made their way to the truck, Sunset leaning out the passenger's side window as she asked Applejack and Dash "So since rainbow girl's bike got wrecked, you two need a ride or what?"

However before either of them could answer, two hands grasped their shoulders and pulled them back, Celestia giving a rather bright smile on Luna's face "Oh don't you worry about them. You two head home now on your own, I'll make sure these two are taken care of~" she said, in a way that made both Dash and Applejack's eyes widen slightly. Soon Twilight and Sunset had peeled out of there, leaving Celestia to start guiding the two high school seniors down the sidewalk "Well that was exciting, how about we grab a bite to eat along the way? The food is delicious at the Pink Kitty club." she said, licking her lips in a way that made the two young woman think she wasn't talking about food in the traditional sense.

Meanwhile as the two mages drove away with the evening sun to the side of them, Sunset reached into her pocket and took out her Harmony Bit "Here... you can put it towards that fine you're going to get. And I got some extras saved up to help you start paying it off."

"... really?" asked Twilight, surprised but taking the bit that was offered to her.

"Yeah." said Sunset, continuing to stare ahead as they drove on, things quiet for a bit. "... I didn't really mean to wreck your book. I was just careless. It sucks being here. I mean it's kinda fun but it sucks, you know?" sighed the mage, resting her cheek against her fist.

"Yeah, I know." said Twilight, voice soft. "But... as sad as it is, you've been my longest and only friend, I don't want this to wreck that."

"It won't." assured Sunset, then a smirk coming to her face as she glanced over "But that is very fucking sad. Nerd."

"Whatever, jerk." said Twilight, smiling as she flashed back to when they first met as children. Afterwards they continued driving back on towards home, the quiet much more warm and tension-less between them now.

Author's Note

Alliteration is hard but so worth it. XD

And woo! Another chapter! Admittedly it's not that astounding, the one before this was more or less halfway done but put on the back burner for awhile. XP

Anywho enjoy the mild insanity and see you next chapter!