The house truly was old. The floorboards creaked dangerously and there was a persistent smell of mold in the air. Twilight wondered if it was safe to stay in the house for even one night.

“So,” Sunset started. “Should we split up to explore?”

“I'll take the upstairs,” Dash exclaimed bolting towards the stairs.

“Wait, Dash,” Applejack shouted. “You shouldn't go alone.”

“What? You're scared of the spooky ghost?”

“No, Dash, use your head. What if the floor gives way, you'll need help.”

“Fine,” she sighed, but there was a warm feeling inside her for AJ being worried. “AJ, you can come with me. What about you three?”

“Wanna pair up with me,” Twilight asked Sunset with a glint of hope.

“No,” Sunset said absently. “You go with Pinkie, I'll stay here and wait for Rarity and Fluttershy.”

No one seemed to notice how disappointed Twilight looked. Applejack pulled off her backpack and hoisted it towards Sunset.

“You can set up our stuff in one of the downstairs rooms while we explore.”

Sunset grabbed the bag and almost fell under the weight of it. She grabbed Pinkie's almost equally heavy bag and waved to her friends as they split up.

“Well, guess I should find a place to settle in,” she said to herself and walked to a nearby door. It didn't open. Not because it was locked but it was jammed. She put her entire weight against the door and it budged, barely. “Ugh, I'm not getting in there without AJ.”

She chose another door. This one opened easily. She walked into what could've been a living room some hundred years ago. Cobwebs covered a couch and two armchairs. A painting of a particularly ugly man hung on the wall. This also seemed to be one of the only rooms with intact windows.

“Perfect,” she said to herself.

She set their backpacks near the door and started to unpack, starting with her own bag. She set her sleeping bag near the window with the rest of her things and then opened AJs backpack. She quickly noticed that AJ had also packed a costume.

Just then she felt a shiver creeping up her back. Like someone was staring at her. She quickly jolted up and looked around but saw nothing, except the painting directly behind her. She stepped closer to it to eye it suspiciously. She didn't remember the painted man smiling. Almost as if he was… perving on her.

She backed away from the painting and bent over AJs bag again, this time sure to point her backside away from the creepy painting.

_____________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, upstairs, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had just found the creepiest bedroom ever. Cobwebs hung everywhere around the dusty double bed in the middle of the room. On both sides of the bed were broken windows and from the ceiling hung a chandelier that seemed like it could fall at any moment. The sickeningly sweet smell of moldy wood hung heavy in the air.

“Well, this place sucks,” Dash said gagging at the smell but proceeding into the room anyway.

“Agreed,” AJ said but followed.

Rainbow Dash walked to a closet and opened it. Inside were some musty men’s clothing straight from the 1800s. Dash stepped inside and moved the jackets out of the way.

“Whoa, check this out,” she exclaimed.

Hiding deep in the closet were women's clothing. And not just any women’s clothing, ensembles that would’ve been considered outrageous by today's standards, much less 200 years ago. Dresses that barely went past the hip, ones that were see through, ones that left the breasts bare. And not just dresses, panties with tactically placed holes in them, metal ring gags, leather collars and even some phallic wooden objects clearly meant for female satisfaction.

“Hoo boy,” Applejack said taking a look. “Who would even wear something like that.”

“Don’t be such a wet blanket,” Rainbow chuckled, picking up a pair of panties carefully. “Come on, try these on.”

“Dash!” Applejack shouted while the other girl laughed. “First of all, no. Second, you have no idea where those have been. Third-”

“Yeah, yeah, it was a joke,” Dash replied with a hint of frustration and turned around. “Whoa,” she exclaimed again. “Look at that!”

Above the door hung a small, incredibly lifelike, scandalous painting of a young woman. She was lying with her wide backside on clear view. Her lime green skin shone with a layer of sweat and her long blonde hair hung over her back in a braid.

“Do you think she’s real, or just fantasy?” Dash asked a dumbfounded Applejack who didn’t answer. Dash chuckled once more. “She kinda looks like you, AJ.”

“No she doesn’t,” AJ said annoyed. “You’re just saying that to piss me off.”

“No, I mean it, she does,” Rainbow Dash laughed harder.

And no matter what AJ said, she did see the resemblance. Frustrated, she forced her eyes away from the painted womans ass and walked out of the room.

_____________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, outside, Rarity and Fluttershy were standing outside the gates of the house. Rarity stood behind a fidgeting Fluttershy, with her hands on the timid girls shoulders.

“Come now, darling,” she said reassuringly. “It’s really just a house, nothing to be scared about.”

“I know,” the slightly smaller girl answered. “But it’s just so spooky looking.”

Rarity looked around to see nobody near them before laying a small kiss on Fluttershy’s cheek. The rose haired girl immediately warmed up and stopped fidgeting.

“I know you can do it, Fluttershy,” she whispered. “Darling.”

It was Fluttershy’s favourite pet name. Before she could chicken out again, Fluttershy took a brave step forward and opened the gate. Rarity followed closely behind her, as proud as one can be.

Suddenly an upstairs window opened.

“Hoi!” A rainbow haired head stuck out. “Come on in, Sunset’s waiting for you downstairs!”

“Thank you, dear,” Rarity called back.

_____________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, downstairs, Pinkie Pie and Twilight were exploring the kitchen. The lack of food was unsurprising and probably for the best, considering the musty smell in the air.

“Wow, who used to cook here?” Pinkie Pie wondered out loud.

Twilight mumbled something unintelligible in response.

“What’s up Twi-Twi?” Pinkie asked. “You don’t seem like yourself.”

“What? Oh. It’s just…” Twilight sighed. “I don’t know if I want to talk about it.”

“Come on, Twily,” the pink ball of energy encouraged. “You can trust your old pal Pinkie!”

Twilight thought about it for a second. Calling her Twily certainly helped. The name Shining Armor used to call her made her feel safe and secure.

“Well, the thing is… This sounds a little dumb, but… I kinda, sorta have a crush on… Someone…”

“Ooh, is it a boy or a girl?”

“How’d you know I was bi?” Twilight wanted to know before answering.

“I just kinda guessed,” Pinkie shrugged.

“Well, it’s a girl,” Twilight said fidgeting.

“Someone I know?” Pinkie asked next, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Maybe…” Twilight answered without really answering.

“Is iiiit… Sunset Shimmer?” Pinkie asked, a little too loud.

“How’d you- I mean… I guess, maybe,” Twilight said, and blushed violently.

“I knew it,” Pinkie exclaimed victoriously.

She jumped up and down, her plump body jiggling joyously. Twilight leaned against the wall, still blushing, twiddling her thumbs.

“Well, since you know now,” Twilight said. “Do you have any advice?”

“Duh, tell her,” Pinkie said excitedly.

“What? Just like that? I can’t do that!”

“Why not?” Pinkie asked. “Twi-Twi, you haven’t seen the way she looks at you when you’re not paying attention.”

“W-what?”

“Girl, she is into youuuuu!” Pinkie sang with a wide smile.

Twilight just laughed and pushed the excited girl away. Still, what if it was true? Could Sunset really have similar feelings for her?

“Okay, just… Promise you won’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Of course I won’t tell,” Pinkie said as if the thought horrified her. “You can trust me.”

Author's Note

Yes, this chapter implies that Granny Smith is at least 200 years old. As does the show apparently.