One Bolt, Spreading Harmony

by Boltsinger

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Original Character, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Adventure
Length: 280120

Responsibility has begun to come naturally to a certain orange stallion, but he's not that fond of the fuzziness of his memories. Especially once someone from his fuzzy past comes back to zap him!

Boltsinger has settled into a nice little groove in life. Twilight's school is running excellently, and Nova is the best little colt a dad could ask for as long as he's kept happy. It's made him think back on what his life was like before this kind of happiness, but the vast majority of the things he's done, the ponies he's helped... it's a bit of a mess. He opts to expand his horizons whenever he can, in the hopes he can sort things out, but somepony else has taken initiative... Somepony important... Somepony no one ever saw coming!

(The image of Boltsinger in the cover art is a template trace done by me. I did not create the base. Those were found almost entirely on DeviantArt.)

Published 2018-07-21 23:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2022-09-07 12:46:23 UTC

The Calm

Boltsinger trotted through the halls of the castle, a brown and tan monkey resting its head on top of his. The stallion had a content smile on his muzzle as he went, occasionally looking out a window when he passed. “You know, Abu, today is gonna be fun. Might take a bit of work, but it’ll be fun!” He looked down at his pendant, lifting it with his wing. “All of our best friends are gonna be over, and I heard Twilight saying something about Celestia and Luna coming over to boot!” The monkey lifted himself entirely onto his owner’s head, tugging on his ears. Boltsinger looked up at his pet, flicking his ears a little. “Okay, okay, I get it. You wanna fly, don’t you?” Abu nodded, clutching Boltsinger’s mane with his feet. Boltsinger approached the nearest window, swinging it open as the simian slid into place against his neck. He flared his wings, taking off out the window.

Ponyville, from a bird’s eye view, was consistently breathtaking. He flew over the town, sometimes diving down low only to lift back up over a roof. He received a number of waves from the townsponies, always waving back in kind. After a few minutes, he came upon a cloud situated over the track and opted to take a seat.

“Hey, Bolt!” a raspy alto called from below. Following the greeting came a rainbow streak alongside a smaller orange one, landing on either side of him. The larger of the two was a cyan Pegasus mare with a mane and tail ranging from every color in the rainbow. She had hot pink eyes and a Cutie Mark of a tri-colored lightning bolt escaping a cloud. The smaller pony was an orange Pegasus filly with a dark pink mane and tail and purple eyes. The Cutie Mark popping off of her flank consisted of a tri-colored shield emblem ranging from purple to violet to pink with a pink lightning bolt inside of a purple wing. “Just out for a fly?”

“Eeyup!” he confirmed, pointing his hoof at the perched primate. “Abu wanted to fly, and I had the extra time, anyway, what with Twilight wanting some ‘baby time’. How ‘bout you?”

The filly shook her head, bringing out a bright smile. “Rainbow Dash has been teaching me some new stunts! Wanna see?”

“A free show of Scootaloo stunts? Definitely!” he answered, tussling her mane. “Ready when you are!”

Scootaloo beamed, jumping off of the cloud and swooping down. She built up some momentum, going into a drill-like spin that sent her plowing through several clouds, leaving a perfectly circular hole in all of them and trailing water behind her. She twisted around, flying in circles to create a small tornado that funneled the water towards a significantly larger cloud on her right. She kept her circle going at the top of the tiny gale, aiming the droplets to the best of her ability. Once the drops were gone and the tornado dissipated, Scootaloo moved to her target cloud, pushing one side of it to show that the word ‘SCOOT’ had been written on the side. She landed on top of the cloud, buzzing her wings as she sat down with a smile. “What do you think? I haven’t gotten it down enough to get my whole name on it, but it’s really fun to do!”

Boltsinger’s jaw dropped. “That was awesome!” He looked over at Rainbow Dash, who showed him a cocky smirk. “When did she start learning this trick?”

“Started her on it yesterday!” Rainbow replied, looking back at the cloud. “She’s been practicing ever since.”

Boltsinger hopped off of the cloud, flying over to the filly and landing next to her. “That’s my girl! Never giving up!” He pulled her in for a quick hug.

Scootaloo flushed a little, pushing herself away. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

Boltsinger chuckled softly, turning back towards the castle. “Whatever you say, Crusader. I’ll leave you to it.” He waved his wing back at Rainbow Dash, pointing his hoof at the castle. “I’m gonna head back. See you soon?”

Rainbow nodded, flapping her way over to the cloud they were on. “I’ll head over once Squirt and I are done for the day. See you later!”

Boltsinger nodded, taking off for home at a leisurely pace. He made for the same window he exited from, where a blue aura surrounded the glass. He looked back at his monkey sidekick, who held on tighter, then gave a hard flap. He picked up considerable speed, a determined glare facing the closing windows. Finally, his destination was in range. If it was a needle, he was the thread…

And like most threads, he missed. The window closed, and he met with it head-first. There was a grand thud upon his impact, making the white Unicorn mare on the other side jump. She had a deep purple mane and tail that ended in well-maintained ringlets, with a Cutie Mark of three diamond-cut diamonds. In her moment of fear, she swiftly turned around, glaring at the window with her cyan-shadowed cerulean eyes and lighting her horn. “What was that?! Is somepony trying to…” She got a good look at the face that pressed against the window, making her jump a second time. “Oh! Boltsinger, darling, what are you doing up here?!” she ran to the window, reaching to open it as he backed away. She quickly swung the window open, letting the stallion inside as the simian on his back dismounted. “Sometimes I wonder about you… Why would you want to enter through a closed window when you have so many perfectly good balconies?”

“‘Cause this is where I took off from…” he stated, rubbing his nose. “I thought I wouldn’t get in anyone’s way if I came back through here…”

The mare took a close look at his muzzle, attempting to move his hoof away. “Oh, dear, that looks like it hurt… Let me have a look at it.”

Boltsinger kept his hoof in place, waving his wing between them. “No, Rarity, I’m okay, I promise!”

Rarity’s face turned stern, igniting her horn and pulling on his hoof. “Boltsinger, I insist that you let me inspect that nose of yours!”

The stallion stubbornly pulled back, trying his best to keep her from looking. “Rarity, I promise I’m fine.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it!” she declared, pulling her head back and moving the hoof in tandem. As soon as her objective had been met, she fixed her eyes at the thing she sought. “Oh, my! You call that ‘fine’?” Boltsinger’s nose had swollen up to the point where it extended out a little to each side, appearing to be a red bulge with little nostril slits. She turned around, heading for a restroom. “Come with me, dear. We’ll get you patched up.”

Boltsinger let out a dejected sigh, plodding along behind her. “Fine…”

In the castle dining room, Twilight was hard at work. She was moving a number of fancy decorations into place, getting the room as beautiful as she could for the arrival of her fellow Princesses. Ribbons, streamers a la Pinkie Pie, and a considerably large spread was put into place, and the silverware placement was nothing short of perfect. She puffed out her chest, letting some personal pride take hold as more hoofsteps sounded outside the door. Her ears perked to follow the noise, her horn lighting up with glee. In a flash of magenta light, she was in front of the door and pulling it open. “Celestia! Luna! So good to… see… Oh.” She backed off, sheepishly rubbing her neck as she looked on the three mares in the doorway. One was a yellow Pegasus with soft blue eyes and a long pink mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark was three pink-winged butterflies with blue bodies. On her right was a beaming pink Earth Pony with a darker pink mane and tail that embodied the very concept of ‘frizz’. She had light blue eyes and a Cutie Mark of two blue balloons with a bright yellow one between them. The mare opposite her was an orange Earth Pony with a blonde mane and tail tied at the end with red hair ties. Her eyes were as green as a freshly-fruiting apple, and she bore three white freckles at the corner of each of them. On top of her head was a classic brown cowboy hat that sat rather snugly behind her ears. They all gave a confused look to their lilac friend, who was still laughing nervously. “Applejack! Fluttershy! Pinkie Pie! How're you doing…?”

“We’re doin’ fine.” Applejack responded, the country drawl in her voice providing a bit of calm to the Princess. “But it looks like you are a bit excited.”

“Why wouldn’t she be excited?!” Pinkie asked, bounding about the room. “She only just randomly wrote a letter to the Princesses to see if they wanted to visit only to get a response right away with almost no time to prepare! If I were Twilight, which would be weird because then there’d be two Twilights! Or… three? There’s another one out there somewhere, right? ANYWAY! If I were Twilight, I’d be in a super big hurry to get everything ready for their arrival and make sure everything is PERFECT!”

Fluttershy walked over to Twilight, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Oh, I’m sure it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“No, Pinkie has a point.” Twilight interjected, magically adjusting the decorations. “The Princesses haven’t been able to visit ever since the school’s opening, and things have been so busy since then that we haven’t had time like this! I don't want them to think that just because I have a lot on my plate that I can’t accommodate them!”

“Well, I think everything looks beautiful.” the yellow mare assured.

“Me, too!” Pinkie seconded, appearing from behind Twilight.

“And how!” Applejack confirmed, pulling up a chair.

“Thanks, girls.” Twilight began, putting her hoof on Fluttershy’s. “I don’t know what I’d do without--"

“Don’t worry, Bolt, it looks lovely!” Rarity cooed from the hall. “The swelling has gone down, and it’s even topped with a cute little bandage!”

The tension in Twilight’s mind broke like a crack in a mirror. Her horn glowed once again, sending her teleporting out into the hall, where she stood between Rarity and Boltsinger, the latter of the two having a swollen red nose topped with a bright pink bandage with a diamond pattern on it. “Swelling? What happened?” She brought her head close, eyeing the veritable tomato that was her husband’s nose. “How did this happen?!”

“It turns out I am decidedly not good at threading the needle.” he admitted, smiling weakly and scratching his mane with his wing. “Granted, we do have perfectly good balconies…”

Twilight groaned, lighting her horn and lifting the stallion. “We’re going to get that taken care of… I can’t believe you crashed just before such an important visit!” A loud sigh proceeded to emanate from her throat, her frustration coming to the forefront. “And I thought Nova was supposed to be the one getting boo-boos…”

Boltsinger laughed, knowing full well who was coming. “Honey, if there is one pony who can understand that I crashed, it’s Luna. You’re fretting over something really small!”

The Alicorn snapped her head in her husband’s direction, her eye beginning to twitch. “Small? We’re going to be playing host to the rulers of Equestria! The ones who protect everypony from evil all the time! They need to be treated with utmost respect! Not greeted with an… admittedly cute… bandage on a big fat clown nose!”

“Are you sure?” he asked, putting his wing on his chin. “‘Cause I distinctly remember being ordered away from being formal with Celestia. You could just enjoy their company, you know.”

“Let’s just get you taken care of.” she told him, brushing his statement away without a second thought. “Then everything will be perfect, and we won’t have to worry!”

Boltsinger sighed, letting his legs go limp as he was carried through the halls. “Whatever you say, dear…”

Outside the castle, a pair of Alicorns made their approach, turning the heads of every pony they passed. One had a coat of dark blue, wearing silver shoes with a black necklace that bore a pure white moon crest along with a likewise black crown nestled in her misty, starry mane against her horn. The mane in question constantly flowed, its colors reminiscent of the night sky with a flowing tail to match. On her flank was a splotchy black mass that bore the same crescent moon as her necklace. Her blue eyes were cast ever forward, a small smile accentuating her soft features. The second Alicorn was significantly taller, with sunny white coat and a slender frame. She wore bright golden shoes with an amethyst-embedded golden necklace. Her crown sat behind her horn but in front of her ears, bearing a similar jewel. The look in her bright pink eyes was one of anticipation, closing as she felt the wind through her constantly-flowing multicolor mane of pink, purple, green, and blue, with the mark of the sun shining on her flank. Their horns were simultaneously alight, floating a sizable parcel above them as they stood before the main entrance.

“Do you think we brought too much?” the smaller Alicorn asked, eyeing the parcel above them. “I understand you are excited to see the foal again, but this seems a little… excessive.”

“Don’t be silly, Luna. I’m more worried that I didn’t bring enough!” the taller one retorted. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen them, I’m just hoping we can have a nice, happy visit without all of that royal pomp.”

Luna nodded, directing her magic to open the door. “I agree, sister. It should be a nice change of…” An orange and purple streak zipped past in the air, sending turbulence through the foyer. “... pace.”

Shortly after the orange streak flew by, a rainbow one sped into place, stopping for a moment to reveal Rainbow Dash, panting with fatigue as she looked at the royals at the door. She waved a hoof at them. “Hey, Princesses!” She looked back at the object of her pursuit, winding up and shooting off again. “I’m gonna getcha, little guy!”

The white Alicorn leaned in, looking at the flying ponies with a grin taking shape. She trotted in place, prancing a step forward and spreading her wings to their full width. An ecstatic squee of a laugh escaped her royal lips, the stationary trot continuing. “Oh, this is just what I was hoping for! I’m coming to get you!” She pranced off down the foyer, flapping her wings and taking off at her full speed, her half of the magic carrying the parcel fizzling away to leave her sister straining to pick up the slack.

From the direction Rainbow Dash had come plodded a bright pink Unicorn mare with a flippy purple mane and tail that had a real stripe running down the middle. She had purple eyes, with a Cutie Mark of a magenta four-pointed pointed star running perpendicular to a white one with two streaks of glimmering blue light trailing behind. She hyperventilated, reaching her hoof out towards the flyers. Upon seeing the addition of a third one, she turned her head to the door, where Luna waved gingerly. “Was that… Princess Celestia?”

“Yes.” Luna replied, pulling the parcel inside. “It is good to see you again, Starlight Glimmer. May I ask for your assistance with…” she strained for a moment, the magic flickering.

Starlight smiled, adding her magic to the mix. “Sure.” She made her way to a nearby closet, directing the bag to the floor. “What is this thing, anyway?”

“My sister has been quite adamant in her excitement to see the baby.” Luna explained, dropping the bag with an earth-shaking thud. “She insisted on purchasing a few toys for him.”

“A… few…” the Unicorn repeated, taking in the sheer size of the parcel. “You don’t think she might have gone… I dunno, a bit overboard?”

Luna pulled the closet door open, sliding the mass inside with a faint blush. “Some of the gifts are… from me. Just a few of them.”

“I’m sure Nova will like them.” Starlight assured. “Twilight and the girls should be in the dining room. Come with me.”

“What about the foal?” Luna wondered, looking in the direction her sister had taken off.

Starlight smiled, putting her hoof around the Night Princess. “I’m sure Princess Celestia can handle it.”

Luna reluctantly followed suit, casting a worried glance down the hall. “Very well.”

“Aaaaaaand… there.” Twilight said, placing a new bandage on the now-smaller tomato that was her husband’s nose. She gave it a quick kiss, turning to the door of the bathroom they occupied. “At least now it’s harder to notice.” She ignited her horn, pulling open the door and looking out into the hallway. “Now we just need to wait for the Princesses to--" An orange and purple streak flew through the hall, followed by a rainbow one, and then a much larger white one with a number of other colors mixed in. “... arrive…?” She poked her head into the hall, where the flyers rounded another corner. The sight of Princess Celestia with such a jovial expression on her face was a rare one, indeed, but even that paled in comparison to the room they looked to be going toward. “Oh no…”

“What is it?” Boltsinger inquired, taking a peek of his own. “Are they here?”

Rather than a response, Twilight opted to close her eyes and light her horn, teleporting them instantly into the dining room. “Please don’t be a wreck! Please don’t be a wreck!”

“Honey… You may not want to open your eyes.” the stallion advised. Twilight could hear the sounds of a baby’s laughter intermixed with tearing, clanging, and crashing.

“It’s bad… isn’t it?” She opened her eyes, finding her son and her mentor happily flitting about the room. “Oh, no…” The streamers were littered all over the floor, ribbons unraveled and laying with them. “No, no, no...” The table was an utter mess, silverware scattered to the winds. Twilight began hyperventilating, her ears falling flat against her head. As her friends entered the room, followed by Princess Luna.

Boltsinger inched closer to Twilight, raising his hoof to her. “Twilight, please, don’t…”

“NO!” she cried out, a magical pulse erupting from her horn. Everything and everypony in the room was frozen in place, pulled into place. Nova was rocketed into his father’s wing, while the adults in the room were each placed in a chair with the decorations and tableware flying into place. She slowly calmed her breathing, her eyes wide and looking at the floor below. “Okay… now… everything should be ready!” She looked around the room with a nervous smile, spotting confusion on most faces, but a level of dejection on that of Celestia. “Welcome Princesses! How are you doing?”

Celestia gave off a sigh, looking at the plate beneath her. “Quite well…”

Twilight stepped closer to the larger Alicorn, gingerly raising her hoof. “Are… you okay?”

Boltsinger reached forward, pulling his spouse back a bit as the baby began to sniffle. “Twilight… I wouldn’t push it if I were you…”

“Oh… Right.” She sat in the last empty chair, lighting her horn to bring in the meal. “It’s wonderful to see you again!”

Another sigh came out of the ruling Princess, eyeing the spread that was brought forth. “Likewise… It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you…” Her eyes drifted over to the colt, who had begun to squirm. “... or your family.”

Twilight’s nervous laugh made a sudden resurgence. “Well, you know you’re welcome any time, so…” At that point, the baby’s cries began, forcing his father’s wings to his sides as his own wings began flapping. He shot over to Celestia, squeezing her neck in a tight hug. “Would you… like to hold Nova?”

A warm smile finally crossed Celestia’s muzzle as she put her hoof around the infant, raising her head up. “I would be delighted!”

Yet another sigh sounded, one of relief from the Princess of Friendship. “Oh, good. Now we can finally begin our--” A small chime sounded from eight simultaneous places in the room. Twilight, Starlight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Boltsinger each took a look back at their flanks, where smaller images of their Cutie Marks flew into the main mark from what seemed to be the outside. The next sound the group heard was a loud thud as Twilight’s head slammed into the table. “Not now…!”

Author's Note

So, you know how most season premieres are a multi-parter? Yeah, that's happening. I've got some fun plans for the overarching plot and it starts right quick this time around! I hope you enjoy what comes next, because it's gonna be a doozy! :twilightsmile:

The Storm: Part 1

Above the map floated an image of Twilight’s Cutie Mark, orbited by a grand total of seven additional marks. They were situated on the northern half of an island to the northeast of Manehattan. The ponies whose marks were displayed took a long look at the area, joined by yet two more.

“Why did the map have to call us right now…?” Twilight asked, hanging her head. “Everything was finally coming together for a perfect visit!”

“Well, life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” Boltsinger noted, examining the location. “Isn’t that the island where Trottingham is located?”

Luna gave a confirming nod. “It is, indeed. Quite far from Ponyville, as well. I do hope none of you are prone to seasickness.”

“As long as there ain’t no bunyip ta capsize us, I’m good.” Applejack boasted.

“Me, too!” Pinkie affirmed. “But I don’t think we have to worry about one of those. The last one we met was at the Seaward Shoals and that was all the way on the other side of Equestria! The chances of us randomly meeting another one are as tiny as a cupcake! Or at least a batch of cupcakes…” Her stomach performed an audible growl. “Aww… Now I want some cupcakes!”

Twilight breathed a sigh, taking her own look at the area. “It looks like it’s calling all eight of us… This might be a big deal.”

“Okay, then, I guess it’s time to get a babysitter.” Boltsinger started, pulling a list from his mane. “Let’s see…” He looked around the room at the ponies he’s be going with. “Well that won’t work… Maybe some of the students?”

“No, they have enough on their plate already with their studies.” Twilight argued. “Besides, I’m not sure how good Yona would be with somepony so squishy.”

“I can do it.” Celestia stated, raising her hoof.

Boltsinger looked back at the list, continuing his search. “Cakes have their hooves full right now… Scootaloo just finished her flight practice, so she couldn’t keep up with him right now… The other Crusaders wouldn’t fare much better…”

“I volunteer!” Celestia called out again.

“And all of our go-to babysitters are going with us…” he finished, looking tentatively at the map. “Why’d the map have to call all of us…?”

With a mildly frustrated groan, Celestia raised her hoof to her mouth, clearing her throat. “I volunteer myself to take care of the baby for as long as you’re gone!”

The parents followed the command for attention, looking over at the Sun Princess. Twilight’s muzzle was lined with a big smile, while Boltsinger’s was on the more nervous side. “That’s a great idea!”

“Are you sure?” Boltsinger wondered, looking back at his list.

Twilight elbowed her husband in the side, leaning in close. “What do you mean, ‘are you sure’? This is Princess Celestia we’re talking about!” she whispered. “I know, first hoof, that she’s great with foals! She was my teacher when I was little!”

“I know that.” he replied, sneaking a look at the smiling monarch. “I have absolute faith in her ability as a teacher, a ruler, and a friend… But have you seen her handle a baby?”

“No, but she’s the Princess! She can handle this!” she retorted, giving him a smile of utmost confidence.

Boltsinger smiled back at his spouse. “Okay… But I’m making a checklist.”

Twilight audibly cooed at the idea, pulling him close and nuzzling his nose. “Of course! You know I love it when you get organized!”

“So, Trottingham, huh?” Rainbow began, hovering above the boat. “What do you think is going on there?”

“Hopefully nothing too awful.” Boltsinger replied, resting his head on his hoof. “Probably some dispute between groups. With all of us going, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Or it could be a supervillain causing something horrible to happen!” Pinkie suggested, jumping out from behind him. “That’s what happened every other time all of us has been called by the map somewhere!” She rushed over to Starlight, re-styling her name to have her bangs drape over her forehead. “First we went to Starlight’s village where she was stealing everypony’s Cutie Marks and making everything bland and awful!” She jumped onto the bow of the boat, putting on an all-black outfit with a fake horn and wings. “And then there was the Poooooooony of shaaaaaadooooooows! Who Twilight and Starlight saved!” She pulled the outfit off and moved back to Boltsinger, smacking him on the back so hard that he fell overboard, only to start flying alongside the boat. “And then there was that time Sparks got the Alicorn Amulet and attacked the Tree of Harmony! But that’s just three times out of three. No reason it can’t be different now!”

Boltsinger returned to the boat, taking a spot next to Pinkie. “Every time, huh?”

“Well, I guess we’ll find out soon.” Starlight pointed out, pointing her hoof ahead. “There it is…”

The group looked over the railing, where the town of Trottingham loomed over them. Pinkie let out an excited giggle as the boat docked, bounding over the edge and towards the town, looking around with her hoof over her eyes. Rarity walked past, letting her horn pull her ecstatic friend by her tail. “Now, Pinkie Pie, I know you’re excited to be here, but we shouldn’t do much to draw attention to ourselves.”

“This comin’ from the pony who commands attention wherever she goes?” Applejack deadpanned.

Rarity stopped for a moment, hiding her muzzle with a hoof and batting her eyelashes and turning heads on the street. “Well, one can’t help but draw the occasional glance when one is as fabulous as I am!”

“It’s nice to be back here after such a long time.” Fluttershy mentioned, taking in the sights. “I haven’t been to Trottingham since I came here with Zecora last year!”

Rainbow fell to the ground, laughing. “Oh, yeah! I remember that week!” She wiped a tear from her eye, still busting a gut. “That was such a great prank!” An icy stare fell upon the cyan mare, turning her rigid as she looked back at Twilight and Boltsinger. Their gaze pierced into her, sending her running to hide behind Applejack. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t so great…”

“Anyway, we have a job to do.” Starlight said, trotting ahead. “Anypony know where ponies might gather around here?”

Boltsinger ascended to a new vantage point, getting a look around. “This is the first time I’ve been here without my lightning making me do it. It’s a little fuzzy, but I’ve got a decent lay of the land.”

“Okay, then, you lead the way, Bolt!” Twilight ordered. He gave a nod, returning to the ground and heading down the street. They took a long look around as they proceeded to a nearby plaza. The ponies all around were of a slightly different sort. Adults were slightly larger than what they were used to, reminding Rarity of the manager of her Canterlot boutique, with several more bearing spotted patterns on their coats. They weren’t unfamiliar with ponies of this like, but for many of them, it was their first time they’d seen so many of them at once.

Eventually, they found their way to a plaza where a large gathering of ponies had formed. A grey-cloaked Earth Pony mare stood on a makeshift stage. Unlike the locals, she was a more average size, with a tan coat and an almost completely shaven white mane with yellow eyes. She stepped to the edge overlooking the crowd, clearing her throat. “Fillies and gentlecolts, have you grown bored with your special talent? Ever wonder if there was something else you could do with your life?” Several ponies in the crowd muttered amongst themselves, wondering what she was talking about. “If the monotony of what you once believed was your calling has brought you down, then join us, the Talent Troupe!”

“Talent Troupe?” Starlight repeated, cocking an eyebrow.

“Sounds like a theater performance to me.” Boltsinger noted. “How the hay do you change your calling, anyway?”

“I bet you’re wondering how you can change your calling.” the mare continued, pointing at the crowd. Boltsinger pointed to himself, looking around at his friends. “Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be possible. But… the Talent Troupe’s leader has devised a way to do just that! For instance…” She lifted up the back half of her cloak, revealing a Cutie Mark of a hammer and nails. “This is my Cutie Mark. But I hate just building things! What I do like is art! When I joined the Talent Troupe, and met our leader, Lord Paradigm, I became capable of THIS!” She produced a canvas and easel from below the stage along with a palette, brush, and paint. She quickly set everything up, swiftly getting to work. Half a minute later, she put her tools aside, spinning the easel to reveal an image of the landscape behind them, shimmering like nothing the gathered ponies had ever seen in real life. Comments were sounding all over, talking about how beautiful the painting was and how they might enjoy changing up their lives to a degree.

“My, that certainly is a beautiful piece of artwork!” Rarity stated, looking longingly at the image.

Twilight nodded in agreement, bringing her hoof to her muzzle. “Yes, but can’t you build up that kind of skill without relying on a Cutie Mark?”

“Maybe we should check out this ‘Talent Troupe’?” Rainbow suggested, gesturing to the mare.

As the cheers began, the mare waved her foreleg. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! If you’re interested, Just speak with me! I’ll be here awhile longer!”

The crowd began to disperse, a number of ponies staying behind to speak with the mare. Boltsinger took a look at Twilight, pointing at her with his wing. “So, what do you say? We gonna talk to her?”

Twilight put her hoof down, looking at the cloaked pony with fierce determination. “Yes. If there’s something going on, I’m sure we’ll find it with this ‘Talent Troupe’.” She waved everyone forward.

Spotting the approaching ponies, the cloaked mare perked up. “Why, hello! Are you interested in joining us in the Talent Troupe?” Her smile was inviting, somewhat infectious, but it sent an eerie chill down their spines at the same time. She was genuine, but there was something… off… about her.

The ponies took turns looking at one another. Fluttershy took the first opportunity she could to hide behind Applejack, who pushed Rarity forward. The fashionista shook her head vehemently, motioning to Pinkie Pie, who was still shivering from the initial chill. She looked to Rainbow Dash, who recoiled, pointing to herself. She shook her head in turn, pointing to Starlight, who proceeded to facehoof, pulling Boltsinger forward with her magic as Twilight joined the approach. Twilight brought her hoof to her heart with an inhale, extending her foreleg with a long exhale as Boltsinger slapped his muzzle with his wings. Finally, the Princess cleared her throat. “Yes, we are interested in seeing what your group has to offer. Would you please take us to this ‘Paradigm’?”

The mare clapped her hooves excitedly, letting out a joyous giggle. “Oh, of course! Lord Paradigm will be so happy to meet you all!” She took an extra long look at the lilac mare that spoke first, widening her eyes as she spotted her wings. “Especially you, ma’am!” She bounded off past the crowd, waving them along. “Come! Come! There’s much to see!”

“Wooooooooooow! So many ponies!” Pinkie pointed out, marvelling at the sheer number of grey-cloaked ponies around.

“Yes, there’s certainly a lot of them.” Rarity confirmed, looking at the masses. Like the mare that had led them to the village of tents they approached, they all had manes that were almost completely shaven off, leaving their heads to be naught but a profile with the same genuine yet off-putting smile. “But just look at how they… um… ‘handle’... their manes, dear! Not even a fashionable forelock? Such a pity…”

“Lord Paradigm’s residence is this way, friends!” the mare informed them. “He’ll be so excited to meet you! Why, he may even allow me to learn something new! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” The group was led to a tent that looked to be three stories tall, banners of an image where ponies were placing a hoof on each other’s flanks on either side of the entrance. “I’ll go ahead and let him know you’re here!” She bowed curtly, disappearing into the tent.

“Anyone else think this place seems… off?” Starlight asked, looking around. “It kinda reminds me of my old village… and not in a good way.”

“I don’t know, they don’t seem miserable like the ponies in your village were.” Fluttershy noted, smiling back at the onlookers. “Their smiles are much nicer than the ones those ponies had.”

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Fluttershy…” the Unicorn flatly replied. “But I get what you mean. They don’t seem miserable, just… off.”

One of the ponies in the crowd stepped forward. “... Excuse me.” he began, lightly waving his hoof. “I may be overstepping my bounds, here, but… May I please see your Cutie Marks?”

“Can’t ya see ‘em already?” Applejack asked, moving her tail so as to avoid obscuring her flank. “They’re not exactly hidin’ from y’all.”

“Oh, no, I mean… I want to really see your Cutie Marks! I want to try and do what Lord Paradigm does, and see if I can figure out what your special talent is!”

“Oh, my young lad, it’s not so simple as to just look at their Cutie Marks!” came a deep voice, both in tone and accent. Out of the tent came a medium-sized brown Unicorn stallion in a bright silver cloak. He had grey eyes and a short, mildly messy, black mane, a cocky smirk lining his muzzle. He put his hoof on the other pony’s shoulder, gesturing to the new guests. “You have to look deeper than a simple mark on one’s flank! Discover what makes a talent tick! For instance…” He pointed at Rarity. “You, madam, have a keen eye for detail, and, dare I say, a knack for finding gemstones, am I right?”

Rarity’s eyes widened, a tinge of red forming on her face. “Why, yes! That’s true! But also--"

“Also, you’ve an affinity for fashion, making everypony you can look and feel fabulous! A true paragon of generosity!” he interjected. “Why, just looking at you, I want to drape you in hoof-stitched emerald green, with baby blue sapphires littered all about in such a way as to accentuate your marvelous figure!”

Rarity raised a ginger hoof, contemplating the idea he had just presented. “Oh… Why, that sounds quite lovely, actually!”

He turned to Fluttershy, who dove behind her friends. “Oh, don’t be afraid, my dear, nothing scary is going to come out and attack you.” She poked her head back up, getting a glimpse of his smiling face. “I understand your reluctance to face me. With as many fears as you’ve got, it’s a wonder you’ve progressed so far! I’m willing to bet the animals had much to do with your confidence, didn’t they?”

“Oh, yes. They certainly did.” she agreed, rising to her full height. “But my friends have done just as much. I wouldn’t be where I am without them!”

Many of the ponies around them audibly cooed as the brown stallion turned his attention to Applejack. “And you, madam, are quite the farm pony, aren’t you?”

“Farm pony, yeah.” she replied. “But I ain’t never been no ‘madam’, an’ I don’t intend ta be, if’n ya don’t mind.”

“Ah, yes. Apologies.” He bowed his head gracefully. “It’s just a term I use for all mares. I’ll endeavor to watch my words where you’re concerned.”

Applejack looked down at the polite pony’s head, scrunching her face a little. “Aww, shucks… Y’all can call me ‘madam’ if ya really can’t help it…”

“Why, thank you, madam!” He raised his head, turning to Rainbow Dash. “I say… Are we in the presence of a Wonderbolt?!”

Rainbow Dash shot into the air, flexing her forelegs with a confident grin. “You betcha! Only one of the best on the team!”

His smile deepened as he spread his forelegs. “Indeed! I can tell simply by looking at you! An aerial athlete without peer! I dare say you could clear the clouds over our little gathering in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow Dash smirked at him, buzzing her wings and taking off to prove the stallion correct. His eyes fell on Pinkie with a hint of confusion. “And you… I’d bet you are wonderful at parties.”

“Weeeeeeeell, that depends.” Pinkie began. “Is it a party of one?” She brought over two stallions and a mare, one of the stallions wearing a pure black mask that covered everything but his eyes and the other with the bushiest brown mane they had ever seen while wearing blue spandex. “A party of three?” She pushed the ponies away as a scream sounded from behind, then pulled her friends close while producing an absurd number of instruments. “A girls band party?!” She threw the instruments aside with a loud crash and another scream. “There’s lots of different kinds of parties! And they’re all super-duper fun!”

The stallion beamed, rushing up to Pinkie and staring her in the eye. “Oh, quite fun, indeed! All we’d need after that would be some balloons, streamers, cake, music, and about five hundred and twenty-three different shades of confetti all being fired out of cannons hidden throughout the room!”

The party pony gave a gasp, putting her hooves on the stallion’s shoulders. “You’re absolutely right! But where would we hide the cannons?”

“I’ve already hidden them!” he replied, throwing his forelegs out at his sides. From behind the large tent, there was a great boom, confetti falling on them from the sky. Pinkie’s excitement came to a boil, sending her bouncing into the air and bounding around everyone else, screaming with delight.

Starlight cast the brown stallion a dirty look, stepping up and poking him at the base of the neck. “You’ve got a lot of nerve trying to charm your way through to us.”

“As much nerve as you have magic, madam.” he retorted, moving her hoof aside. “Besides, you’re no better than I.” He strutted past Starlight, finally laying eyes on the sole Alicorn in the gathering. “And you, my dear… Oh my…” He recoiled, letting a shiver make itself visibly known down his entire body. “You… You have so much… magic… so much power… So… much...” He looked at her hungrily, just barely stopping himself from licking his lips in anticipation. “... talent…” Twilight looked quizzically back at him, taking a step back. The stallion took another step forward, the hunger only rising as a large number of orange feathers came up between him and that which enamored him.

“Nnope!” Boltsinger said, his voice stern and loud. The Unicorn’s eyes drifted in his direction, his normal demeanor returning. “You aren’t getting anywhere near her with a look like that in your eyes.”

“Ah! Yes! I’m terribly sorry… I get like that occasionally.” He backed up, brushing himself off. “It happens when I find true…” he slowly took in the sight before him, a look of familiarity ringing in his eyes. “... potential…” He cleared his throat, backing up further and lighting his horn with a white glow. He moved Pinkie Pie back into place among her friends as Rainbow Dash came in for a landing. “I just realized… I’ve neglected to introduce myself!” He bowed low, waving his foreleg in front of him. “Apologies for my rudeness! My name is Paradigm, and I lead the Talent Troupe!”

Boltsinger snorted, moving his wing away as wife came forward. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.” she greeted, offering a bow of her own. “These are my friends, Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and, of course, my husband Boltsinger.”

Paradigm’s attention swayed between Twilight and the snorting stallion, his mouth slightly ajar. “So it is him…” he muttered. Finally, he fixed his gaze on the Princess. “How lovely to meet you, your Highness. Might I ask what brings you to us?”

“We were called on official friendship business.” Boltsinger informed him.

“Oh, really? Sounds dreadfully important!” He gestured to his tent, opening the entrance with his magic. “Why don’t the three of us discuss it further inside?”

The orange stallion’s eyes narrowed, examining the entrance as best he could. “What do you say, honey? Shall we go into the tent with Paradigm? … Alone? … With Paradigm?”

Twilight looked at the entrance, followed by her husband, then finally her friends. “We’ll join you in a moment.” Paradigm nodded, making his way inside as the Alicorn turned to face her friends. “Bolt and I are going to have a chat with the leader, here. Can the six of you go around the camp and see what else might be going on?”

Starlight looked at the rest of the group. Fluttershy and Applejack seemed more or less normal, but Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were each going at a mile a minute while Rarity mumbled to herself about an outfit with the details described to her earlier. “I think we can handle it, but it feels like a whirlwind just blew through here.”

“A whirlwind of pure flattery…” Boltsinger spat, glaring at the tent. “What did he think he was doing, looking at you like that? I’ve half a mind to--”

Twilight clamped her spouse’s mouth shut, patting him on the cheek with her hoof. “I’m flattered that you’re jealous, but we need to concentrate. Why don’t we go talk to him? He did say he wanted the three of us to discuss it, after all.” Boltsinger let out a muffled noise to signal his relent. “Good. Now, come with me.” She walked over to the tent, swishing her tail across his muzzle as she went.

Twilight and Boltsinger entered the main chamber of the large tent, where a fire had been started. Paradigm sat on one end, a set of three mirrors placed behind him. “Welcome to my chamber.” he greeted, floating a pair of goblets to his guests. “Would you care for some cider? I make some of the best cider you’ve ever tasted, if I do say so, myself.”

Twilight sat down, taking the goblets and placing them in front of herself and her companion. “Cider would be great. Right, Bolt?”

Boltsinger swallowed a lump in his throat that threatened a sigh, nodding at his wife. “Eeyup!”

“So, you were saying something about official friendship business, yes?” the Unicorn wondered, putting his hooves together and leaning in. “I’m quite curious as to how such a thing works!”

Twilight smiled, puffing out her chest. She went into a detailed explanation about how the map works, giving examples of some of the missions they had been sent on before. Paradigm gave her his undivided, hungry-eyed attention, nodding and commenting while Boltsinger eyed his beverage curiously. “And this time, the map called the eight of us here!”

“I see.” Paradigm affirmed. He looked over to the disgruntled Pegasus, letting a nostalgic smile onto his muzzle. “I… have a confession to make, actually.”

The orange stallion’s attention snapped to the brown one. “Oh? What kind of confession would that be?”

“I could have asked to speak with you, alone, Princess, but…” He pointed his hoof at Boltsinger. “I just had to get Boltsinger in private.”

Boltsinger reared back, his face turning to discomfort. “Oooooookay… Why did you need to get me in private?”

“To catch up! It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, old friend!” he answered, getting up and walking over to him. He plopped his rump down next to the Pegasus, putting his hoof around him. “Married a Princess, huh? How do you rate?!”

Twilight’s eyes went wide, pointing between the two of them. “Wait, what? Bolt, you know this pony?”

“Not that I can remember...” he stated, slowly removing the hoof from his shoulder. “When did we meet?”

“Back when we were colts! You showed up in a flash of lightning and helped me make my first friends and get my Cutie Mark!” he elaborated, lifting the back of his cloak to reveal a Cutie Mark of a mirror with a streak of blue lightning for the frame. “You even passed on a little of that ‘electric’ side of yours when it showed up!”

“I did?” Boltsinger wondered. I take it… there was some electricity coming out of my wings? Maybe a bit of a crackle in my Cutie Mark?” Paradigm nodded enthusiastically, prompting the Pegasus to scratch his mane with his wing. “That makes sense…”

“What do you mean?” Paradigm inquired.

“Well, when I’m… discharging… I’ve got that lightning running through my brain at the same time. It’s made a lot of my memories… fuzzy. I believe that I helped you. I just… don’t remember doing it.”

“I see… Well, it’s still serendipitous to see you again!” He lifted the goblets of cider once more. “I propose a toast! To renewed friendship!”

Twilight replaced the stallion’s magic with her own, raising her goblet. “I can get behind that! To renewed friendship!”

Boltsinger picked up his goblet carefully, looking at the smiling faces of the ponies in the chamber with him. Paradigm seemed to stare adamantly, excited to share a drink with him. He does seem to be interested in rekindling things… He smiled back, raising his goblet. “To renewed friendship!”

Author's Note

So, how do you like it so far? This is the first season premiere to be planned out to this degree. While I'm still mostly coming up with things as I go, this season has much more in the way of "plans" than the previous two. I love that the little details are still filling themselves out, though!

Don't drink the koolaid-- I mean cider!

Royal Babysitting

“Okay, then, I guess it’s time to get a babysitter.” Boltsinger started, pulling a list from his mane. “Let’s see…” He looked around the room at the ponies he’d be going with. “Well that won’t work… Maybe some of the students?”

“No, they have enough on their plate already with their studies.” Twilight argued. “Besides, I’m not sure how good Yona would be with somepony so squishy.”

“I can do it.” Celestia stated, raising her hoof.

Boltsinger looked back at the list, continuing his search. “Cakes have their hooves full right now… Scootaloo just finished her flight practice, so she couldn’t keep up with him right now… The other Crusaders wouldn’t fare much better…”

“I volunteer!” Celestia called out again.

“And all of our go-to babysitters are going with us…” he finished, looking tentatively at the map. “Why’d the map have to call all of us…?”

With a mildly frustrated groan, Celestia raised her hoof to her mouth, clearing her throat. “I volunteer myself to take care of the baby for as long as you’re gone!”

The parents followed the command for attention, looking over at the Sun Princess. Twilight’s muzzle was lined with a big smile, while Boltsinger’s was on the more nervous side. “That’s a great idea!”

“Are you sure?” Boltsinger wondered, looking back at his list.

Twilight elbowed her husband in the side, leaning in close. “What do you mean, ‘are you sure’? This is Princess Celestia we’re talking about!” she whispered. “I know, first hoof, that she’s great with foals! She was my teacher when I was little!”

“I know that.” he replied, sneaking a look at the smiling monarch. “I have absolute faith in her ability as a teacher, a ruler, and a friend… But have you seen her handle a baby?”

“No, but she’s the Princess! She can handle this!” she retorted, giving him a smile of utmost confidence.

Boltsinger smiled back at his spouse. “Okay… But I’m making a checklist.”

Minutes later, Celestia and Luna stood in the foyer of the Castle of Friendship, a little colt in the elder sister’s wing. The door had closed, and Luna floated a scroll in front of her. Nova smiled up at the white Alicorn, reaching up and giggling. Celestia grinned back, flaring her free wing. “You want to play some more, don’t you, little one?” The giggle intensified as he spread his forelegs. She returned his sentiment, unfurling her other wing and lowering the foal to the floor.

“Sister, you may wish to go over the list that Boltsinger gave you.” Luna mentioned, floating the list over.

“Yep. List. Got it.” she replied, taking the scroll and tucking it under her necklace. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.” She pranced around the colt, who followed as best he could with an unbalanced walk. “Come, little one! Luna and I have a surprise for you!” she excitedly pranced into the hall, prompting Nova to flap his wings and follow.

She bounded off towards the hallway, doubling back every few hops. Luna rolled her eyes, lighting her horn and opening a nearby closet door. From within the closet, she produced a large bag filled with smaller bundles, dragging it along the floor as she followed her sister. “I will give her one thing. She is certainly enthusiastic.” She followed the two of them through the halls, where they flitted back and forth, laughing all the way towards one of the castle’s many rooms. Once their destination was reached, Celestia took magical hold of Nova, placing him on the floor in the center of the room.

“Nova, did you know that my sister and I went shopping before we came here?” the white Alicorn asked. Nova shook his head, leaning in excitedly. “Well, we saw a lot of things that made us think of you!” She directed her magic at the bag her sister pulled, lifting it over her head and bringing it into the room. “So… How are you at using magic?” Nova babbled back at her, igniting his horn as Luna joined them. “Oh, wonderful!” She motioned to the knot at the top of the bag. “Can you move this?” the colt’s aura appeared around the rope, pulling as hard as he could. After a few seconds of strenuous pulling, the rope came undone, and the bag fell open with a veritable waterfall of toys. Before any of them could hit the floor, Nova’s magic encompassed them, opening them up as the colt flitted between the contents with the giddiest laughter the Princesses had ever heard.

Crying.

Lots and lots of crying.

That was all Celestia could hear as she awoke. She jumped out of her bed, looking around frantically. “Nova! What’s wrong?! Did something happen?!” She rushed into the hallway, flapping her wings and soaring through the castle to the nursery. Inside, Nova was squirming in his cradle, letting out cries that pierced the Princess’ ears. She rushed to the cradle, plugging her ears with her wings. “It’s okay, little one, I’m here!” she assured, wrapping him in her magic and lifting him up. “You see? Everything is okay…” As she brought him closer, his volume increased, causing her concern to rise in kind. She kept her hold on him, galloping towards the balcony where Luna stood her vigil. “Luna, I need your help!”

Luna doused the magic of her horn, facing her sibling. “What is it, sister?”

Celestia stepped back, floating the baby forward. “Why is he crying?!”

The Moon Princess rolled her eyes, stepping forward and taking the foal in her wing. “There, there, little one…” she cooed, tickling him with her hoof. At the contact, Nova’s cries began to die down, slowly turning into soft babbling and giggles.

Celestia looked on at her sister and the baby in her wing, letting some surprise show itself on her face. “How did you do that? I picked him up and all it did was make him cry more!”

Luna looked flatly at her elder sister, taking a deep breath. “You didn’t read Boltsinger’s checklist, did you?”

Celestia thought back on the previous evening. Lots of toys, playing until Nova got tired, and then a peaceful sleep after lowering the sun. Through all of it, she had neglected to read a single word. “I’m… afraid not…”

“Well, it would be a good idea to do so.” Luna suggested. “You were the one to volunteer for this, so you must be the one to take responsibility.” She played more with the baby, getting a measure of joy from the foal’s behavior, and a measure of amusement from her sister’s squirming.

“You’re right, of course.” the Sun Princess admitted, stepping up to the other Alicorns. “After all, I deal with the needs of all of Equestria! How hard can it be to care for a single baby?” She showed a confident smile as she lit her horn again, the magic starting to wrap itself around the foal.

Luna lunged forward, placing her hoof on the tip of Celestia’s horn. “Not like that! He doesn’t like to be held like that for very long.” She wrapped her sister’s wing in magic, extending it outward and passing Nova to her. “He prefers to be held directly, if at all.”

Celestia pulled Nova in, holding him to her chest and looming quizzically at her younger sibling. “How do you know that?”

Luna turned around once more, looking back with a cocky smirk. “I read the checklist.” With that, her horn was again alight, her vigil set to resume.

Celestia turned back into the castle, swaying the baby back and forth as she went. “Well, since we’re awake, why don’t you and I get some breakfast?” She made her way to the kitchen, passing by her room to float her necklace, shoes, and crown on as she went. She was met with a diligently-placed high chair at her destination, to which she happily set him. “Now, what kind of food do you like?” Nova pointed his hoof at a cabinet above the counter, some of his magic came upon the handle, pulling it open to reveal a large jar of cookies. The Princess eyed the jar with a knowing grin, closing the cabinet and wagging her hoof. “Ah, ah, little colt, I know better than that.” She resumed her search, opening the refrigerator. The inside was fiercely organized, everything in its place and clearly labeled. As she found the one section with Nova’s name on it, she heard a small laugh behind her. She retracted her head from the fridge, looking back to see a cookie jar floating by and bumping into her flank. She added her own aura to the mix, pulling the jar the other way. “Not right now, Nova. It’s time for breakfast.” Nova’s face soured, tugging the jar back towards him with a defiant grunt. Celestia’s face soured in turn, pulling back harder. “Cookies are not breakfast, little one!” She wrapped more magic around a smaller jar in the fridge, pulling it forward and opening it. She placed it in front of the foal, its mushy orange contents on full display. The little Prince looked at the mashed carrots with a tiny scoff, encasing it in his magic and poofing it away. Frustration started to show itself on the tall mare’s face as she pulled harder on the jar, freeing it from the baby’s magic and holding it with her foreleg. His face scrunched up, water forming in his eyes as he reached for the cookie jar longingly. “I said ‘no’!” She placed the jar back in the cabinet, forcefully closing it and placing another jar of mashed carrots in front of him. “Nova, you will eat your breakfast!” Nova glared at the carrots, lighting his horn and poofing them away with a disgruntled grunt. Celestia stomped her hoof, bringing forth another jar and holding it in front of her. “Please, Nova, you need to eat!” she floated a spoon from the drawer, scooping up some of the food and presenting it to him. He turned away, teleporting the spoon and its contents elsewhere. She repeated the process, offering up another morsel only for it to vanish completely. Another spoon, another blue flash. She took a deep breath, trying again only to meet the same result. Her teeth began grinding as the frustration built up. Another spoon vanished, bringing her frustration to a boil. “Why won’t you eat, you little--” She brought her hoof over her mouth, taking another deep breath. Calm down, Celestia… He’s just a baby… “How about we make a deal?” She sat in front of the high chair, looking the fussy foal in the eye. “If you eat a proper breakfast, you can have a cookie afterwards. Does that sound good?”

Nova looked back at the mare, noting the somewhat desperate smile on her face. He gave a tiny nod, booping her on the nose with his hoof. He wasn’t sure why she was getting so frustrated, but she was a funny grown-up. She placed the jar on the table again, magically lifting a new spoon into place as she returned to her normal posture. She floated the spoon to the carrots, lifting it to the colt. He shook his head, pushing the spoon away with his hoof.

Celestia let out an exasperated sigh. “What now? Am I not presenting it properly?” She flourished the spoon, waving it back and forth like a Pegasus In flight. “Here comes the Wonderbolt, ready to la~and!” As the spoon came in, he tilted his head to the side, shaking his head again. The frustration began to build again, her teeth grinding as her magical focus faded. The spoon fell to the table below, clinking and spilling some of its contents. She facehoofed, leaning in and biting down on the handle. As she raised her head, Nova leaned forward, his mouth expectantly open. What…? After all of that, he suddenly wants it? She put her magic back on the spoon, prompting the foal’s mouth to close. Wait a minute… She bit down on the spoon again, causing the baby’s mouth to open again. She blinked a few times, floating it once more. He closed his mouth, sending a doe-eyed glare at her. “You don't like being fed with magic, do you?” Nova shook his head, biting the air a couple of times for emphasis. Celestia chuckled to herself. “You certainly know how you like things, don’t you?” She held the spoon as directed, putting the business end forward and finally hitting her mark.

An hour passed, and Celestia left the kitchen, followed closely by a little orange colt with a piece of cookie in his mouth. She moved at a relatively slow pace, keeping a wing on the foal’s back to guide him along. “Now, then, first we need to raise the sun…” She looked down at the baby, who looked back at her and munched mindlessly. “... Might want to be careful with you on that front…” She walked out onto the balcony, mentally preparing herself for her daily duty, then paused. “How about we play a game once the sun is up? Would you enjoy that, little one?” Nova nodded emphatically, looking out at the starry sky. “Well, then, you just sit back and enjoy the show.” She looked at the eastern sky, closing her eyes and lighting her horn. The magic within began flowing through her, sending her already-flowing mane and tail blowing back as she raised her head. Nova looked at the horizon in awe, the cookie dropping from his mouth as the sky turned the same color as his coat. From the center of the light, a bright yellow orb rose up that reminded him of the picture on Celestia’s flank. He clapped his forehooves together, letting out ecstatic laughter as the sky turned a bright blue. He looked up at the mare next to him, whose horn ceased its glow as she opened her eyes. “There we are. Sun raised!” she turned to Nova, spreading her wings. “So, what would you like to do?” Nova flapped his wings happily, fluttering up and landing on Celestia’s back while she proceeded into the halls once more.

As they trekked through the castle, a small, wingless, purple dragon with green spikes and eyes and a brighter green underside walked by with a yawn, raising his claw in greeting. “Morning, Princess Celestia…”

“Good morning, Spike.” she replied, continuing on her way.

Spike yawned again, waving at the pony and smacking his lips groggily. After a moment, the fact of who he had just greeted hit him harder than a belly flop in lava. “Princess Celestia?!” He ran back over to the Alicorn, jogging beside her long strides. “Wha-what are you doing here?! And with Nova! What happened to Twilight and Bolt?”

“Twilight and the others were summoned by the map.” she explained. “Their mission is in Trottingham, so it’s likely they’ll be gone for a while. As for Nova, I’ve volunteered to care for him while everypony is gone.”

“All of them were summoned? Even Bolt?” he asked, receiving a nod from the Princess. “Wow… There goes the go-to babysitters… Okay. What do you need help with?”

Celestia recoiled, stopping in her tracks. “Excuse me? Help?”

“Well, yeah! I help out with Nova all the time!” he told her.

“I think I have it handled, Spike.” she spat, accelerating to a trot.

Spike rolled his eyes, catching up to her. “I’m not saying you can’t handle it. I just mean that it’ll be easier with someone else to help out! Nova’s a sensitive baby, after all.”

A small scowl formed on the royal muzzle as she thought of a solution. “Fine. Boltsinger made a checklist for me to follow, but I don’t remember where it went. Would you be so kind as to find it for me?”

“Uh… sure! I’ll start right after breakfast.” he confirmed, turning back into the halls. “I’ll send it right to you once I find it, okay?”

Celestia’s trot continued, looking smugly back at the dragon. “That would be wonderful.”

Noon arrived, and Princess Luna rose from her rest. She hadn’t been as tired as she normally was upon waking, as the dreams of Equestria weren’t in much disarray for once. She yawned and stretched, venturing out into the castle. “Sister! How are things going with the foal?” she called. The only reply she received was the echo of her own question coming back from the castle depths. “Odd… Usually she’s quick to reply…” She trotted past several rooms, magically opening several doors to check for occupants. The nursery was empty, save for the baby’s things, and the majority of the rooms were barren and unfurnished. Finally, she passed the room her sister had slept in, where she heard someone rustling around, grunting with effort. Her face turned fierce as she plowed through the door, her horn alight and ready to fire. “What are you doing with my sister’s…” she trailed off, seeing scaly purple hindquarters squirming out of the Sun Princess’ saddlebag. She placed her concentration on the dragon’s tail, lifting him into the air and floating him over to her. “Spike? Why are you rummaging through my sister’s belongings?”

The upside-down dragon gave the dark mare a look of surprise. “Princess Luna! You’re here too?”

Luna nodded, lowering him to the floor. “Yes. I am here as long as Celestia is. Does this truly surprise you?”

“Not really. I just thought you’d still be asleep.” He admitted, returning to the task at claw. “Princess Celestia asked me to find some checklist that Bolt made for her. She should be somewhere --” A gust of wind blew into the room, sending many of the things within flying. “.-- around here…”

“I COMMAND YOU TO COME BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!” came the shouting of the eldest Alicorn. “BY ORDER OF THE PRINCESS!”

Luna and Spike came to the door, peeking into the hallway to see Celestia and Nova flying at full speed. She stepped out into the hall with a smirk. “I believe I can find them from here.” She spread her own wings, taking off after them. She caught up to her sister with relative ease, waving at her as she passed. She focused her attention on the flying foal, picking up speed and reaching forward. As her hooves closed in, a powerful odor assaulted her nostrils, forcing her hooves up to her nose while her wings snapped to her sides. The momentum sent her barreling onto the floor, sliding several feet until she came to a stop. “What was that?!”

Celestia came in for a landing next to her sibling, helping her to her hooves. “That’s why I was chasing him! It seems he needs a diaper change, but he’s not letting me get close!” She shook her head, bringing her hoof up to her face. “Oh… why does he have to be so… fussy!” She extended her foreleg out in the foal’s direction.

“Let me guess… You used magic, didn’t you?” Luna deadpanned.

“How did you know?” the elder sister wondered, not even attempting to hide her confusion.

“I read the checklist.” She flapped her wings, rising into the air again. “Come, then. Let us get him cleaned up.” Celestia nodded, following suit and flying in the direction she had come from while her sister resumed her pursuit.

Nova flew through the hallways on somewhat shaky wings. He was used to flying and speed by now, thanks to all the grown-ups with wings that he knew, but he was still getting used to going this fast on his own. He turned another corner, his hoof touching the wall as he went, and sped down the next hall. The grown-up following him was different this time, but he knew he had to keep going. He didn’t want to be trapped in the magic again, and the best way to do that was to fly.

“I’m going to get you, little one!” the dark mare giving chase declared, slowly gaining on him. She wasn’t too far behind him at this point, and her forelegs were outstretched like they were before. He skidded to a midair stop, falling for a moment and turning around. Again, his wings began to flap, flying under the older pony and back through the halls. “He is headed your way, sister!”

The foal flew onward, weaving through the castle with the kind of familiarity that only one who lived there would have. He passed by several doors, looking around frantically for any sign of the other big pony. After a solid minute of no results, he slowed down. He lowered himself to the floor, taking the opportunity to catch his breath as the sound of wingbeats filled his ears. His eyes widened as his ears twitched around to find the source of the noise. A scared shriek left his mouth as he rose into the air. The wingbeats were coming from both sides. He looked back and forth down the hallway, seeing the shadows of big ponies coming around the corner. He flew higher and higher, coming to a hover in the center of the room. Now the grown-ups were visible, both of them heading straight for him. More shrieks came forth as his horn lit up, power building up from within. The mares came closer still as his eyes began watering again. Finally, the wailing began. He released the magic in his horn, creating a flash of blue light and vanishing from the hallway. He continued sobbing and hovering while a loud crash sounded from somewhere else in the castle, refusing to open his eyes for anything.

“Gotcha!” a familiar voice declared. Nova felt a pair of forelegs wrap around him, snatching him out of the air and pulling him down. He squirmed and struggled in an attempt to get free, but found that the grip held firm. “Hey! Don’t worry, little guy! It’s just Uncle Spike!” Nova opened his eyes, seeing the dragon smiling down at him. “You’re okay. They just wanna take care of your stinkies!” The baby’s tears dried up as his smile returned. He reached up towards Spike’s head, pressing his hooves against his cheeks as the nursery door opened.

Celestia entered the room, her hoof resting firmly on her head as she regained her balance. “Is he in here…?” She fell forward, her head hitting the floor. “I really hope he’s in here…”

Spike held the colt in front of him, bobbing him back and forth. “Stinky’s right here, Princess!”

The Princess rose up again, shakily walking towards the changing station. “Splendid…” She turned to the door, waving her sister inside. “Sister! He’s in here!” She stepped forward and lifted the baby with her wings, moving the stinky baby to the top of the station. “Okay… Let’s try this again, and do it right.”

Spike chuckled, starting back for the hallway. “Good luck with that!” he said, patting the white pony on the foreleg as he exited. “I’m gonna go find that list… somewhere less rancid!”

Celestia and Luna each took a position standing over the little pony, looking at each other, then at the colt below. “All right… Time to do this right…” Celestia began, swallowing a lump in her throat. “Without… magic…” She leaned her head in, beginning her work.

Not even a minute later, the scream of Princess Celestia reverberated out of the castle, audible throughout Ponyville. Following the scream came the uproarious and unapologetic laughter of Princess Luna. A yellow magical flash appeared in one of the windows, forming again in another with a loud splash of water.

“I can’t believe he…” the Sun Princess fumed, splashing more water in her face. “... No… calm down, Celestia… He’s a baby…. Baby colts do… that… every now and then.” She dried her muzzle, trotting her way back to the nursery. “I can’t lose my patience so easily. I did volunteer for this, after all.”

As the white mare approached Nova’s room, Luna came to greet her. “Are you alright?” she asked, wiping away a tear of amusement. “The foal is still waiting to be cleaned.”

Celestia returned to the changing station, placing her royal rump on the floor and looking at what lay ahead. “This is just too much… I didn’t expect dealing with a baby to be so… difficult.” She hung her head in defeat. “I really shouldn’t have jumped into this huh?”

“Your enthusiasm certainly cannot be faulted.” the younger sister assured, putting her hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “But, yes, you were a little too impulsive.” The sisters looked on at the daunting duty before them as a trail of smoke found its way into the room, coming to a halt in front of Celestia to form the very scroll she had been neglecting. Luna smiled, floating the scroll closer to her sister. “Perhaps this might help you streamline things?”

“I think you're right.” Celestia confirmed, taking the scroll and unfurling it to its full length. “Although…” She followed the length of the scroll with her eyes, seeing it bump against the far wall of the nursery. “It may take me awhile to get through this…”

“I… think we may need to talk with Celestia…” Boltsinger stated, looking on at the mess that was the foyer. Over the course of their absence, it had been filled with empty boxes, toys, and more mashed carrots than he could shake a mop at.

Twilight walked in beside him, her eyes closed with a relaxed look on her face. “Oh, I’m sure it’s not that…” Her eyes opened, revealing the enormous mess to her. “... bad…”

Boltsinger took off into the castle, quickly making his way to the nursery. “Please please please please don’t be a disaster!” He pleaded, coming to a skidding landing in front of the open door with Twilight landing not far behind. They peered inside, finding a tall white Alicorn laying on the floor next to the cradle, rocking it with her hoof while smiling warmly. “Celestia…? Is everything--” Celestia looked to the door, raising her hoof to her mouth.

“Welcome home.” she whispered, patting the floor next to her. “How was your mission?”

Boltsinger let out a quiet groan, sitting next to the cradle and looking at the bundle inside. “It’s a long story… I’m still tired.” He tickled his colt a little, kissing him on the forehead. The baby opened his eyes, smiling and reaching for his parents. “Were you a good boy for Mama Celestia, Nova?”

Celestia nodded confidently, sitting up. “It was… a challenge… at first, but I learned.” She paused for a moment, then cocked an eyebrow in Boltsinger’s direction. “‘Mama’ Celestia?”

Boltsinger picked his son up, rocking him in his wing. “Yeah. I mean, you’re basically his grandmother.” He passed the colt off to his mother. “So how was it a challenge? You had a pretty detailed checklist.”

“That I ignored at first…” the Sun Princess admitted. “I was admittedly overconfident in my abilities… I thought that it would be easy to handle a single foal… But, if it weren’t for Spike and my sister, I’d have been at my wit’s end!”

Twilight looked up from the baby in disbelief. “But he’s such a sweetheart! How can you of all ponies have so much trouble with him?”

Celestia sighed, pointing to her horn. “I relied on this too much. Speaking of which, why does he get so fussy when you use magic with him?”

Boltsinger chuckled, reaching up and tickling the foal with his wing. “Well, first of all, he likes direct contact. Makes him feel safe. Being stuck inside another pony’s magic makes him feel trapped. There’s also the fact that most of his caregivers can't use magic at all. But even then, he can still be a bit of a challenge.”

“Yes… I’m afraid I learned that the hard way…” Celestia stated, pulling a deodorant spray from the changing station and spritzing her face a few times.

Author's Note

This is a chapter I'd been looking forward to writing for a long time. Celestia is just so much more interesting when she's not putting up her royal demeanor, and having her challenged by someone so little was just too much fun to pass up! Not to mention, there ended up being some admittedly cute moments... :twilightblush:

Branchin' Out

A yellow filly sat in front of an apple cart in the Ponyville marketplace. She had a somewhat poofy red mane and tail and round, golden eyes with a big pink hair bow situated on the back of her head. Her beloved Cutie Mark featured a tri-color shield of purple and two shades of pink, with a pink heart inside of a purple apple emblazoned in the center. Behind the cart was Applejack, dealing business as usual and slowly emptying their stock while the filly looked out at the ponies walking down the road with a sad sigh. As the current line of customers reached its end, Applejack took a look at the younger pony, leaning on the cart to get a little closer. “What’s up, Apple Bloom? Ya look a little down.”

“Oh, it’s nuthin’." the filly fibbed, smiling back at her.

“Sure seems ta be a whole lotta ‘nuthin’ goin’ on with you these last couple o’ days.” she replied, handing another customer a bushel. “Come on, sugarcube, be honest with me.”

Apple Bloom groaned in frustration, laying down and resting her head on her hooves. “All right, fine… Ya know how Hearts and Hooves Day is comin’ soon?”

Applejack recoiled for a moment, accepting payment. “Uh… yeah… Are you mopin’ ‘cause ya don’t have somepony to spend it with? I think that one colt at yer dancin’ class… Tender Taps, wasn’t it? He seems like he likes ya plenty. But ain’t you a little young to be worryin’ about that kinda thing?”

Apple Bloom poked the ground with her hoof, looking at the ponies walking around town. “I ain’t worried about me.” she admitted, pushing herself back up. “I’ve been noticin’ lately that a lot of the ponies we know have been findin’ love. First was Big Mac ‘n Sugar Belle…” she pointed to a yoke-clad red-coated, orange-maned, green-eyed Earth Pony stallion with half of a green apple for a Cutie Mark that was mozying back to the farm with a saddlebag full of ingredients. “Rainbow Dash ‘n Soarin…” She pointed up, where Rainbow Dash flew playfully back and forth with a green-eyed, white-coated and black-maned Pegasus stallion with a Cutie Mark of a lightning bolt piercing a cloud. “Rarity’s got Fancy Pants,” She motioned to the boutique, where, right on cue, Rarity strolled out with a white-coated Unicorn stallion with a blue mane, tail, moustache, eyes, and hooves that wore a black tailcoat, purple bow tie, and a monocle and sported a Cutie Mark of three crowns. “And then there’s Twilight! She went ‘n got married to Bolt! Even had a baby!” She turned her attention to Sugar Cube Corner, where the aforementioned ponies trotted out with Spike on the mare’s back and a baby carriage in front of the stallion, Scootaloo cantering out behind them and peeking into the carriage. The Pegasi of the group shot into the sky, quickly coming back down with bundles of fluffy cloud that they wrapped around the carriage to lift it into the air. “And they’re all so happy now!” Apple Bloom stood up, turning to face her sister. “An’ that got me thinkin’... Why don't you have somepony special like that?”

Applejack’s eyes went wide with the impact of her sister’s question. She searched her thoughts for an answer, not sure if she even had one to begin with. She looked at her baby sister’s inquisitive expression, the genuine concern and love reflecting back at her. “But I do have somepony special.”

The yellow filly’s eyes lit up, lifting her hind legs and leaning closer. “Really? Who is it? Who is it?”

“My baby sister, o’ course!” the orange mare proudly declared, tussling the filly’s mane. “An’ I got Big Mac, Granny Smith, an’ all our friends! Plenty o’ special ponies right there!”

Apple Bloom furrowed her brow with a small growl. “That’s not what I meant! I’m askin’ why you don’t have a special somepony like all our friends do!”

Applejack's features softened, freckles and all. “I know that, Apple Bloom… But, ya see…” She hung her head, averting her eyes. “Aw, shucks, it just never crossed my mind! I’m all for helpin’ my friends and seein’ them happy ‘n all, but stuff like romancin’ never really bothered me.”

Once again, the filly’s face was alight. She looked eagerly up at the mare, looking almost like she was about to wag her tail. “Well, what if ya just haven’t found the right stallion?”

Applejack raised a hoof to argue, but found herself falling short at the visage of her sister’s excitement. She dropped her hoof with half a smile lining her muzzle. “I… suppose. Never really went searchin’ for one, to be honest. And it’s a lot harder to go out lookin’ now that I’m dividin’ time between the farm an’ the school…” She shrugged, turning back to the cart. “Oh well! Guess it can’t be helped!”

“How ‘bout ya let me ‘n my friends do the searchin’ for you?” Apple Bloom suggested, raising her hoof confidently.

Applejack shook her head sternly. “I don’t think so, little sis. Y’all don’t have the best history with matchmakin’. Or do you remember the ‘love potion’ you gave Big Mac and Cheerilee?”

“I remember it just fine!” she retorted, kicking the dirt with her foreleg. “But do you remember who helped Big Mac confess to his special somepony without any love potions at all?”

A defeated sigh came from the mare's mouth. She slowly looked over at her sister, giving her a smile. “That’d be you three.”

“Right! So ya know we got this!” Apple Bloom declared, putting her hoof over her heart. “Just leave it to us, sis! We’ll find you the best stallion in all Equestria!” She reared up and flailed her forelegs, turning around and galloping off to the farm.

Applejack rolled her eyes, looking over to her next customer. “That’s what I’m afraid of…”

Apple Bloom stood behind a podium in a clubhouse by the farm that afternoon. The back wall was decorated with an enormous number of photos featuring ponies she and her friends had helped over the years, with the other walls having idea lists and other memorabilia. Scootaloo sat on one side of the clubhouse in front of her, with a white Unicorn filly that had a curly purple and pink mane and tail, bright green eyes, and a Cutie Mark with the same shield as her friends with a pink musical note inside a purple star as its unique symbol on it on the other side. Apple Bloom pounded her hoof on the podium like a gavel, drawing the other fillies’ attention to her. “Attention! I now call this special meetin’ of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to order!”

“You know you didn’t have to bang the podium.” Scootaloo mentioned. “We were already looking right at you.”

“Yeah, there wasn’t much reason for it, honestly.” The white filly concurred.

“That’s just how I start these things.” Apple Bloom retorted, crossing her forelegs. “So yer just gonna have to deal with it.” she placed her hooves back on the surface in front of her. “Anyway, that ain’t important!”

“Okay. What’s so important that this has to be a ‘special’ meeting, then?” the Unicorn asked.

“Well, ya know how Hearts and Hooves Day is comin’ up soon?”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Uh, yeah. We’re helping Big Mac decorate the barn for it, remember?” She raised her hoof, looking over at the white pony. “Speaking of which! Sweetie Belle, how is that coming along?”

“Well, the decorations are all ready and in the barn. We just need to set them up!” she informed her.

Apple Bloom waved her hoof through her friend’s report, banging it back down on the podium. “Yeah, yeah, Big Mac’s gonna have a great Hearts and Hooves Day, I know! But this is about Applejack, not Big Mac!”

“Applejack?” Sweetie Belle repeated, giving the Earth Pony a confused look.

Scootaloo mirrored her musical friend’s expression. “Since when does Applejack do anything for Hearts and Hooves Day?”

The red-head’s face lit up as she spread her forelegs. “Since we are gonna find her a special somepony to spend it with!” she announced. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gave strange looks to one another, then looked back at Apple Bloom. “Don’t worry, I got her permission, and there ain’t gonna be any potion-making involved.” The other fillies each breathed a sigh of relief.

“But what kind of stallion would somepony like Applejack be into?” Sweetie Belle wondered, tapping her chin with her hoof.

“If I were Applejack, I’d want someone who could help with the farm work!” Scootaloo suggested.

“Someone who can streamline all of the chores!” the Unicorn added.

“Someone with somethin’ in common with her!” Apple Bloom concluded.

“I’VE GOT IT!” they simultaneously exclaimed

Applejack stood by the stove in the kitchen, pumping the bellows to keep it going as a voice pierced her eardrums from outside. “You got him?! I thought we all agreed on who to get!” came the squeak of Sweetie Belle.

“I went to get somepony who knows how to work and help at the farm!” Scootaloo argued. “What’s your excuse?”

“I thought someone smart would be a good idea so that he can make things easier for Applejack!” she cried back.

“Ya mean you both didn’t think of sumthin’ besides the farm?” Apple Bloom asked. “What about the rodeo? I know how much she loves the rodeo, and the only pony who loves it more is this one, right here!”

“Now what the hay ‘re you girls fussin’ about?!” Applejack opened the door, stepping outside and looking around. “I swear, if y’all’re up to what I think yer up to, I’m gonna…” in front of the door stood the Cutie Mark Crusaders, arguing at length concerning the three stallions standing behind them with fiercely confused looks on their faces. One was a medium-sized Earth Pony stallion with a short, messy brown mane and tail. He wore a shirt collar with a green bow tie, and had dark blue eyes with an hourglass for a Cutie Mark. Another was a well-built Pegasus stallion with a beige coat, off-white hooves, and a spiky tan mane and tail, both cut short. He wore the standard uniform for someone working at the weather factory, and had a Cutie Mark of two yellow lighting bolts running horizontally parallel. Finally, there was the enormous Earth Pony stallion who could only be described as a clydesdale. He had a dark brown coat with a white face and hooves. He had green eyes and a black mane and tail, with the tail cut far shorter than the mane. Atop his head sat a tiny hat that only just barely sat between his ears, and on his flank was an upside-down green horseshoe. Applejack facehoofed, approaching the arguing Crusaders and pulling them apart. “All right, enough o’ that! What’s goin’ on? Why’d you bring Trouble Shoes, Storm, and… whatever his name is… all the way here?”

Apple Bloom looked up at her now-stern sister, bringing her forehooves together. “We brought somepony for you to spend Hearts and Hooves Day with!” she declared, spreading her forelegs. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle knelt on either side of her, positioning their forelegs to emphasize the stallions behind them

“And ya brought… three of ‘em?” she wondered.

Apple Bloom reluctantly nodded, looking between her fellow Crusaders. “Well, I thought we all had the same idea, but it turns out these two had sumthin’ else in mind!”

Applejack sighed as the fillies began their argument anew. She walked past them, approaching the stallions. “I’m awful sorry about all this. My sister ‘n her friends have it in their heads that I need a special somepony before ‘you know what’ comes around.”

The tan stallion laughed to himself. “Ah, yes, that ‘Hearts and Hooves Day’ charade.” He stepped up to the farm mare, shaking her hoof with his. “Well, holidays aside, that Sweetie Belle made a good case for applying some of my inventions and scientific theories around your farm. I'd be happy to give it a shot, if you’re interested.”

Applejack took a moment to stew on his offer, remembering the last time somepony had come along to ‘streamline’ things. “I… suppose it couldn’t hurt to give it a try… But if we say no to sumthin’, that means no. Got it?”

The stallion nodded. “Of course.” He turned back to the road, where a grey Pegasus mare with yellow eyes that looked in different directions, a yellow mane and tail, and bubbles for a Cutie Mark impatiently waited. “Well, I must be off! Those experiments won’t conduct themselves!”

Applejack waved a farewell to him, turning to Storm. “So… Nice to see ya, Storm.”

The stallion offered a greeting hoof. “Yeah. Nice to see you, too. Would’ve been better if that orange filly hadn’t pulled me out of work, though. Aria looked like she was about to throw a fit.”

Applejack laughed. “Oh, I can imagine.” She pointed to the sky above them, where a maroon-coated Pegasus mare flew in the same outfit as the beige one below. She had a bluish black mane and tail with scrunchies in place, one holding her mane back as a ponytail, and one tying the end of her tail shut. “I mean, she did follow ya all the way here.”

“Yeah, I’d better go.” Storm confirmed, flapping his wings and starting his ascent. “Good to see you, though. We should all catch up sometime!”

“Count on it!” the farmer agreed. She turned to the last stallion, who was breathing a heavy sigh and looking at the ground below him as she approached.

“Just my luck you’d pick me last, huh?” he said, an obvious depression lining his voice.

“Now, what makes you say that? The smaller pony inquired, looking up at him. “It’s not like I don’t wanna talk to ya.”

“Never said it was just bad luck.” he retorted, letting a soft smile onto his muzzle. “I’m only here ‘cause the rodeo’s in town, an’ yer sister thought you ‘n I’d have a good time together.”

“Wait, the rodeo’s in town?” she repeated, leaning in excitedly. “Why didn’tcha say so? We can go check it out!” She chortled softly, starting down the road past him. “Why, I haven’t seen yer clown act in moons thanks to all the stuff I been doin’ ‘round the farm and at Twilight’s school! Oughta be nice to go see some rodeo!”

Trouble Shoes looked up from his position, starting to follow the mare. “You sure you wanna go to the rodeo with me of all ponies?”

Applejack nodded, waving him along. “Why not? Don’t got many friends who’re interested in goin’, so we might as well take advantage of it while we can!”

Trouble Shoes picked up his pace, following behind the blonde mare as the Crusaders’ bickering started to die down. They looked around to find that they were alone in front of the house, only the faint sound of hoofsteps in the distance. “Where’d everypony go?” Apple Bloom wondered.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo galloped into a large gathering, looking around frantically for the Earth Pony’s elder sister. There were throngs of ponies in front of a fence, separating them from a pony that was bucking recklessly with a doll on their back. After several attempts, the doll flew off into a sizable stack of hay. The crowd began cheering, a low voice chief among them along with a loud stomp. Scootaloo hovered above the group, spotting the clydesdale st the edge of it and returning to her friends.

“Looks like they’re on a date!” she informed them with a grin. “You wanna spy on them?”

“Of course!” Apple Bloom affirmed.

Sweetie Belle shook her head uncertainly. “I don’t know… Shouldn’t we just trust them to enjoy themselves?”

“It’s not like we’re gonna get in the way.” the yellow filly stated, walking past the crowd. “We’re just gonna watch an’ enjoy the show!”

“Yeah! Don’t worry so much.” Scootaloo added as she fluttered along.

“Okay, fine.” Sweetie Belle said, following her friends with a huff.

The three fillies snuck around the crowd, finding a bush placed behind the ponies they sought. They dove inside, poking their heads out to get the best possible view. Applejack and Trouble Shoes were resting their forelegs on the fence while the next competitor came forward. They would cheer for the pony beyond the fence as they proceeded to play the bronco. Occasionally, one would offer commentary, often with Applejack mentioning how much better she would do in the event she got to participate. Trouble Shoes maintained a distinct level of modesty that gave Scootaloo the urge to correct him outright. After the bronco buck was over, Trouble Shoes left the mare’s side.

“Where’s he going?” the Pegasus asked, buzzing her wings to follow.

Sweetie Belle put her magic around her friend’s wings, bringing her back down to the ground. “Don’t you remember? He’s a rodeo clown! He’s going to get ready for the show!”

Scootaloo ceased her flapping, coming back to the ground and smiling sheepishly. “Oh, right…”

“It’s startin’, it’s startin’!” Apple Bloom announced. She pointed her hoof beyond the fence, were several ponies in baggy pants and shirts with strange shoes came forward. They all had bright white makeup with other bright colors accentuating parts of their faces. The largest of them somehow managed to trip the moment he entered the area where he was to perform. He would get up and make an attempt at some of the things the other clowns were doing, balancing on a barrel only to have it break underneath him, sending him to the ground. He shook the barrel off of his hoof, sending it into a stack of hay bales that fell over from the impact and landed on top of him. At the sight of the unusually unfortunate circumstance, the crowd, Applejack and the Crusaders most of all, busted out laughing. The performance continued on for a few minutes, generally involving several more hilariously unfortunate happenstances, until it was time for the next event. Apple Bloom rose from her laughter, looking on as Trouble Shoes rejoined his companion.

Applejack nudged the clydesdale in his foreleg, her laughter only just dying down. “I swear yer act gets funnier every time I see it!”

Teouble Shoes winced slightly from the impact, but smiled nonetheless. “That means a lot, comin’ from a competitor like you. Makes me glad my klutzin’ can be part o’ sumthin’!”

Applejack turned to him with a smile on her face, an idea coming to her head. “Ya know, this has been real swell. How’s about you ‘n me go get dinner together? My treat!”

Trouble Shoes turned to her, removing his tiny hat and holding it over his heart with a bow. “Why, it’d be my pleasure, long as we eat somewhere outside. It’d be just my luck if’n I started trashin’ a place without meanin’ to.”

Applejack smirked, starting down the road. “I think that can be arranged.”

As the ponies headed back to town, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo poked their heads out of the bush again, the Earth Pony of the three holding her hooves to her cheeks. “Dinner and a rodeo? It’s the perfect date! My big sister’s got a real date!”

Scootaloo buzzed her wings, hovering ahead of them. “Come on! Let’s go so we don’t lose them!”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, hopping out of the bush and shaking the leaves out of her mane. “Fine. But we aren’t hiding in a bush this time!”

Applejack and Trouble Shoes sat at the cafe, enjoying some hot cider and a good meal. They were talking shop about the rodeo, enjoying each other’s company, and more so, their stories. From another table not far away, three little fillies sat, each of them wearing long coats, sunglasses, and hats that were tied to their heads with scarves to conceal their ears and manes. They looked at a newspaper, seeming like they casually read through the articles, save for one small difference. There was a hole in the newspaper, letting one of them peer through at the ponies they had followed.

“Looks like they’re havin’ a good time!” Apple Bloom whispered. “This might be it! We might’ve done it on the first try!”

“Ooh! Can I see?” Sweetie Belle requested, pushing her friend aside and grabbing the newspaper.

Apple Bloom pushed back. “Why do you wanna see so badly? Ain’t you the one who didn’t wanna follow ‘em in the first place?”

“Uh, girls…” Scootaloo began, leaning out to observe their subjects.

The Unicorn lit her horn, grabbing one end of the paper. “Well, now it’s finally getting interesting!”

Scootaloo tapped Apple Bloom’s shoulder with her hoof, a small amount of panic making itself known on her face. “Girls…”

Apple Bloom ignored the contact, clamping her teeth down on the other end of the paper. “Well, she’s my big sister! An’ she’s on a date with the one I picked out! So I should be the one to watch ‘em!”

“GIRLS!” the orange filly shouted, slightly rising from her seat.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle simultaneously dropped the paper, glaring daggers at their winged friend. “WHAT?!”

“What indeed.” a deeper drawl replied. The previously arguing fillies slowly turned their attention to the mare that now loomed over them. Applejack stared down at them with a look of utter disapproval. “What are you fillies doin’ here?”

Apple Bloom let a weak smile onto her muzzle as she worriedly looked her sister in the eye. “Oh! Applejack! You’re here too? What a… coincidence?”

“Uh-huh…” she replied, pulling the newspaper up. “And what’s this?”

“Ain’t that the Foal Free Press?” the younger sister guessed.

“And why would the Foal Free Press have a hole in it?” the older sister continued, pointing to the eyehole.

Apple Bloom gasped, taking a look through the hole. “What? How did that get there? Did you see that hole Sweetie Belle?”

The Unicorn shook her head. “I didn't see it at all!”

The two of then looked over to the remaining Crusader. “Scootaloo?”

“And a side of hay fries, please.” she told the waiter. As the employee trotted off, she turned to her friends, who were glaring disapprovingly at her. She shrugged her shoulders. “What? I’m hungry!”

Applejack sighed. “I appreciate y’all’s enthusiasm, but we don’t need ya hoverin’ over us. Why don’tcha run along home and I can tell ya how things went when I get back?”

“Okay…” The fillies reluctantly agreed as they all hung their heads in defeat, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got up, heading for the exit.

Scootaloo alone remained seated, prompting her friends to look back at her. “You comin’?” Apple Bloom asked.

The fledgling flyer shook her head, keeping her hooves on the table. “Hey, I dunno about you two, but I actually ordered something.”

That evening, Apple Bloom peeked out the window of her room, where she saw Applejack and Trouble Shoes trotting back towards the farm. They looked happy, with big smiles lining their faces, stopping just short of the front door. Apple Bloom craned her neck out to catch a glimpse of the going on, hearing the laughter of the two ponies in full force.

“And then Braeburn went ‘n put on his hat, gettin’ all that applesauce all over ‘is head!” The mare finished, letting out the laughter that she had only barely been containing. Trouble Shoes joined in the uproar instantly, rearing up and unintentionally stomping with all of his might. The stomp was so hard that it shook the ground, robbing Apple Bloom of what balance she had and sending her plummeting to the ground below.

She sat up, clutching her head as she swore she saw images of Scootaloo flying around her. She shook her head free of the dizziness just as their laughter had died down. Her big sister and her ‘date’ were still smiling, looking into each other's eyes. After a lingering moment, Trouble Shoes finally spoke up.

“I must say, this’s been one of the luckiest days I’ve had in moons.” he stated, bowing to the mare. “Thanks fer comin’ with me today.”

“Anytime, Trouble Shoes!” she affirmed, playfully slapping him on the side. “It was fun gettin’ to do rodeo stuff with ya! How’s about we get together ‘n do it again next time the rodeo’s in town?”

“I think that’d be swell.” he agreed.

“Well all right…” She looked at him in silence for a moment. This day really had been a hoot, and she was glad that she had made such a good friend, but… She wasn’t sure if this was what Apple Bloom was wanting for her. “Well, I’d best get to bed. Got classes in the mornin’!” She opened the door, turning to enter. “G’night!”

Apple Bloom’s jaw dropped as the clydesdale began his exit. She ran through the front door, zipping in front of her sibling. “What in the name of Celestia was that?!”

“What was what?” Applejack wondered.

The cider of her frustration came to a fast boil, causing her to give off an absurdly loud groan for such a little pony. “You were havin’ the perfect date, goin’ to the rodeo, havin’ dinner, an’ laughin’ all the way home, and you don’t even kiss ‘im goodnight?!”

Applejack met her baby sister’s frustration in kind, stomping forward. “Why’re you expectin’ me to kiss ‘I'm goodnight? We ain’t datin’!”

“But that’s exactly what I brought Trouble Shoes over for! You were supposed to find a special somepony!” she reiterated. “That way you won't be so lonely on Hearts and Hooves Day!” She sat on the floor, letting her head hang down. “You’re the most amazing pony in all Equestria, but you don’t have anypony to share special days like that with… Everyone else has sumthin’ like that except you! I just didn’t want you to start feelin’ left out…”

Applejack softened her features and her tone, sitting down in front of the filly and putting her hoof on her shoulder. “Aww, shucks, sugarcube… I really do appreciate how ya feel, but I just don’t put too much stock into all that stuff… I certainly ain’t lonely, what with havin’ such a great family ‘n friends… But if it makes ya feel better, I’ll give it a try, okay?”

Apple Bloom perked up, looking up at her favorite sister with eyes that shined like a golden delicious apple. “You will? Promise?”

The blonde mare's lips turned up ones more pulling the filly in for a hug. “Now I can’t promise I’ll have sumthin’ down by Hearts ‘n Hooves Day, but I’ll keep tryin’, if not fer my sake, then for yours.”

Apple Bloom let out a cheer, hugging Applejack as tight as she could. “I promise you won’t regret it! Me an’ the other Crusaders’re gonna help you every step of the way! I guarantee!”

Applejack released her sister from the embrace, waving her off to bed. “Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s gonna be great. Now get to bed! We both got school in the mornin’!” Apple Bloom did as bid, happily cheering the whole way while the older Apple approached the window, looking outside. “Well, this is certainly gonna be an adventure…”

Author's Note

I know this might feel a little bit like Rarity's little decision to put herself out there last season, but I can guarantee this is gonna be something a lot more interesting. I've got some help from a friend to make this as such.

History Of Devotion

Boltsinger knew just what waited for him beyond the large set of doors in front of him, and yet it still seemed imposing. He pushed the door open and stepped into the office, seeing Twilight sitting behind her desk expectantly. “Um… Hi, honey.” A twinge of guilt suddenly crept up his spine. “I-I mean head-mare! Head-mare! That’s what I meant!”

The stern head-mare’s face quickly loosened up into a smile and a giggle. “It’s okay, Bolt. You don’t have to be formal with me here.”

Boltsinger let out a room-shaking sigh, giving her a stern look of his own and flaring his wings. “Then what was with the ‘serious educator’ look you just had?”

The giggle turned into full-on laughter as her head fell to the desk. “Oh, Bolt, don’t be such a scaredy-cat! That was just a little fun!” She put her composure back on, beckoning him over to the chair opposite her. He laughed along, taking a seat and getting comfortable. “I do have something I’d like you to do, though. If you don’t mind.”

Boltsinger nodded confidently. “Anything for my Twilight. What do you need?”

“I’d like to… Or, that is, the students would like to have you along on next field trip.” she explained.

Boltsinger cocked an eyebrow, unconsciously improving his posture. “Ooooookay… I think I can handle being a chaperone…”

“Actually, I was thinking of having you lead the field trip.” she corrected. “Several of the students really appreciated your lesson on devotion, and they wanted to learn a bit more about it. Especially considering these particular students are learning the concept first hoof.”

The stallion’s eyes became pinpricks, his jaw hanging slightly ajar. “L-l-lead? You want me to lead a field trip?! As in the whole class?!”

“Not the whole class. Just six students.” Twilight stated. She brought forth a series of photos, placing them on the desk in front of him. One featured Gallus, and another was of Ocellus. The third picture was of a young brown and tan Yak with black horns and thick braids on either side of her head that had been brought up into a loop with pink beads. She had green eyes, and wore a green cloak over her back. Another featured a bright pink Hippogriff with talons and a beak of a darker pink. Her mane and tail were an alternating two-tone blue, with purple eyes that shone with pure excitement. Another picture showed an orange dragon with a gold underbelly, wings, and horns. Her spines were a bright orchid that reminded him of Scootaloo, and she had bold cyan eyes with a ‘tough girl’ smirk on her face. The last picture showed an Earth Pony colt with a light green coat, blue eyes, a messy mane and tail of teal and turquoise, and a Cutie Mark of three sea turtles. “These six, to be exact.”

“So, Gallus and Ocellus, I’ve met.” he told her, looking over the photos. “The rest are… Yona, Silverstream, Smolder, and Sandbar, right?”

“That’s right.” The Princess confirmed. “These are the students that wanted to learn more about devotion from you.” She brought a contemplative hoof to her muzzle. “Well, Ocellus and Silverstream were the most interested, but they’re very good friends, and decided to all go on the trip together. Do you think you’ll be able to do it?”

“Didn’t they just recently go on a field trip with Rainbow and Applejack?” He inquired, going over the photos further. “If I remember right, that didn’t exactly go well.”

Twilight lit her horn, putting the pictures back in their places. “Unfortunately, yes. With those two, there was a lot of competition going on. You shouldn’t have any trouble like that on your trip.”

“Okay, then, where are we going?”

“I’ve decided to leave that to you. It’s going to be your lesson, after all.”

“Wonderful…” Boltsinger leaned on the desk, resting his head on his hooves. “So, when is the trip?”

The head-mare pulled up a calendar, examining it closely. “Next field trip is next Tuesday. Do you think that would be enough time?”

“I don’t really have a choice in the matter, do I?” he queried. Twilight shook her head with a mischievous smile. “We got anyone to take care of Nova?”

“Spike has been having an issue with a breakout lately, but Starlight has offered to help out.” She told him. “She doesn’t have much to do as guidance counselor, so she’s volunteered for that day.”

“Then it looks like I’m heading up a field trip on Tuesday.” Boltsinger confirmed, getting up and stretching. “Well, if you need me, I’m gonna be in the library. Got lots of things to figure out…”

Twilight waved her husband a farewell. “Have fun with your research!”

The Friendship Express rolled out of Ponyville, an orange stallion standing in the aisle of one of the passenger cars. In the seats were six different creatures, chatting amongst themselves and laughing. He stepped up to the front of the car, clearing his throat. “Excuse me, students!” he started. Ocellus pulled her attention from the larger group, fixing her eyes on the stallion. The other students weren’t quite so attentive, prompting him to clear his throat once more at a higher decibel. “Excuse me, students!” Sandbar and Silverstream looked up this time, joining their Changeling friend. Three more students were still practically ignoring him, though, which he admitted to himself was mildly frustrating. Finally, he took a deep breath, patting his chest and clearing his throat as loudly as he could. “Excuse me, students!” He bellowed for a third time. Despite the fact that he wasn’t quite yelling, the volume of his voice seemed to shake the train car, overwhelming the unprepared ears of those that ignored him. Yona, Gallus, and Smolder all fell to the floor, their attention forced towards the pony at the front of the car. He brushed his hoof against his chest, letting a hint of smugness onto his muzzle. “Thank you.”

“What pony want?” Yona asked, stomping as she rose from the floor. “And why pony have to be so loud?!”

“Because if pony wasn’t loud, Yak wouldn’t hear pony.” Boltsinger explained.

Yona raised her hoof to argue, but paused. “Pony… make good point.”

“Good. Now, I was told that you all wanted another lesson on what devotion is, but honestly, I pretty much said my whole spiel last time.” he elaborated, making way for the passing snack vendor. “Or at least that’s what I thought.”

The excitement in Silverstream’s face seemed to only increase as she brought her talons together. “What kind of lesson do you have planned this time? Does it involve activities? A tour? Tell me it involves something fun!”

“This lesson is going to be one of self-discovery.” he told the Hippogriff. “In learning about the concept of devotion, you’re all going to learn something new about yourselves!” He gestured his foreleg to all of them, spreading his wings enthusiastically.

Gallus shot their teacher for the day a confused glance. “Learn about ourselves? That just seems lazy. Where exactly do you plan on taking us to learn about ourselves?”

Boltsinger sighed and moved to the window. “We’re going to Vanhoover, my hometown.”

“So you’re using us as an excuse to visit home?” Smolder deadpanned.

Sandbar shook his head. “I don’t think that’s the case. I mean, just look at him.”

Ocellus rose from her seat, stepping up next to the Pegasus and sharing his view. “You look like you’re not looking forward to this… Why is that?”

Boltsinger sent a weak smile the students’ way. “You’ll see once we get there. It’s… definitely a place where you can learn a lot.”

They had disembarked, taking in the town around them. Silverstream gave a hard flap of her wings, taking off over the town. “Oh my gosh! Are those real pears?” She landed next to the closest vendor, eyeing the green fruit excitedly. “I’ve never seen a fruit like this! What does it taste like? What all can you do with it? Are they as good as apples?!”

Boltsinger placed some bits on the vending cart, taking a bag of pears and handing it to the Hippogriff. “See for yourself.” The vendor glared daggers at the Pegasus, watching carefully as he walked back to the other students.

Yona barrelled forward, stopping just short of Silverstream with an expectant smile on her face. “YES! Yaks best at pear-eating!” She planted her rump on the ground, wagging her tail and waiting patiently.

“Why is he back here…?” The vendor asked under his breath.

“The monster returns…” Another pony said.

“Look at the ones he brought with him…” a third pony chimed in. “Is he trying to bring in more monsters?”

Silverstream tilted her head at the comments, slowly walking back to the group. “Did you hear what they just said?”

Boltsinger nodded, giving a regretful twitch of his tail. “Yeah. I’m used to it by now, though. Besides, it’s not important.”

Silverstream furrowed her brow, running to her current instructor’s side. “How is it not important? It sounded so… mean!”

“Not everyone is going to be as friendly as the ponies we know, Silverstream.” Gallus informed her, nonchalantly walking ahead of them. “Griffons say mean things to each other all the time, but you don’t see me sweating about it!”

“Gallus just live with other mean Griffons, though!” the young Yak stated, making to follow her friend. “Yona never seen ponies act this mean before! Why ponies so mean, Professor?”

Another weak twitch flew from the stallion’s dock. “First of all, not a professor. You can call me Bolt if you want. Second, they’re only that mean with me. I’m not exactly well-liked in this town.”

“But… isn’t this the town where you were born?” Sandbar wondered, looking at all the glaring faces. “Why don’t the ponies here like you?”

“Don’t you have family that loves you here?” Ocellus added.

“My brother, his wife, and my nephew are among the very few ponies here that like me.” The stallion confirmed, starting along a route he knew all too well. “Plus one Changeling that spends her time in a pony shape.”

Gallus stopped for a moment, looking curiously at Boltsinger. “So… what about your parents?”

“What a coincidence.” the Pegasus began with a soft grin, motioning his tail for the students to follow. “I was just taking you to meet them!”

Smolder flapped her wings, looking around the town from a dragon’s eye view. “But, aren’t we headed out of the main town? What kind of place do your parents live in?”

“Oh, you’ll see. In the meantime, I have a bit of a story for you.” Boltsinger looked back at Sandbar, trying to take on more of a teacher-like expression. “Sandbar, have you told your friends about Cutie Marks and how we ponies get them?”

“Uh, yeah. Did that when school started.” He replied.

Boltsinger’s grin turned into a full-on smile. “Wonderful. That makes things easier on my end.” He looked forward, slowing down enough for the students to surround him. “Well, this story covers a few things, but chief among them is how I got my Cutie Mark.”

Smolder landed next to him, matching his pace. “And what does that have to do with devotion?”

“Excellent question!” Boltsinger declared, more of the dismay leaving his face. “You see, the story of how I got my Cutie Mark is intrinsically connected to how my sense of devotion was born.”

Yona tilted her head, bringing her hoof to her chin. “So, Bolt devotion come from pony butt mark?”

Gallus nudged the bovine with his elbow. “Just let him tell the story!” He spat, drawing the attention of another beaked creature among them.

“Thanks, Gallus. Anyway…” Boltsinger cleared his throat into his wing. “Before I can cover the event in question, you’re going to need a little context. You see, back when I was a colt, there were exactly four Pegasi living here in Vanhoover. Me, my big brother, Brightling, and our parents, Gusty Gale and Tailspin. My parents were, if you couldn’t already tell, dedicated weather ponies. They moved here while Mom was pregnant with me, because the town didn’t have anypony local to keep an eye on the clouds. They were really good at their job, too. A lot of the time, just the two of them would be enough to handle the whole town! But… Let’s just say my brother and I weren't such naturals. Brightling was, and still is, afraid of heights….”

“But how can a Pegasus be afraid of heights? That’s just silly!” Silverstream commented.

“You have Fluttershy as a teacher and you ask that? Clearly you don't know the Kindness professor all that well.” Boltsinger commented back. “I can’t explain his fear of heights, he just has it. He’s just weird like that. Anyway, along with his fear of heights, I was…” He looked at his wings, chuckling to himself. “A really weak flyer, even despite what you see now. Brightling did his best to teach me how to fly so that he wouldn’t have to go up there as much, and while we definitely made progress, it wasn’t enough for the next big weather project.” He looked up at the sky, focusing on a particularly large cloud. “A storm.” He heard a series of gasps from Silverstream, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Yona. “We hadn’t had rain for a while, so my parents and the ponies from Cloudsdale worked together to make a storm that would cover the whole town. Now, I was able to fly okay by then, but nowhere near well enough to handle myself in a storm. So, Brightling joined my parents and the other weather ponies in managing the storm while I kept watch from the porch of our house.” He refocused his eyes on the destination, feeling the closing proximity between him and his more intrigued students. “Then the storm began… For a while, it was rain and wind, with the occasional bolt of lightning. Pretty standard downpour. Until the hail started. The wind picked up, and ponies' homes were taking a doozy of a beating. Then came the big one.” He looked back at the students, eyes wide and ears low. “And I mean that literally. Biggest hailstone ever!” His wings flared wide to emphasize his point, facing the road again. He twirled his wingtips to create a sphere of air, sending it towards the dirt ahead. “It moved with the wind, starting to roll and bounce towards my family.” as the pocket hit the road, he swept his left wing up, creating an updraft that made the sphere seem to bounce. “Of course, I saw it first, and I tried to tell my family to watch out. But, even with the loud voice I had back then, the wind was like a brick wall. I couldn’t get through.” He maneuvered his wings some more, making the air pocket pick up speed as it seemed to bounce ever onward. “And the hailstone just kept going… And I knew that I had to reach them! So, I reared up…” He reared up. “Spread my little wings…” He spread his larger than average wings. “And right as I flapped, I screamed…” He performed a heavy flap of his wings, creating a funnel of air in front of him as he opened his mouth. “WATCH OUT!!!” The shout he released shook the ground around him, throwing the students off balance as the sound carried through the air funnel and pulverized the cloud above into nothing. “And they were able to get away in time!” He got back on all fours, looking around at the creatures around him and scratching his mane with his wing. “Sorry about that… Got carried away…”

As the students got up, their eyes went wide while they attempted to clear out their ear canals. Gallus jumped over the Pegasus, landing in front of him with a wide-eyed excitement Boltsinger had never seen before. “How did you do that?! That was awesome!”

“Um… I flapped my wings and yelled.” He answered, continuing onward. “And after that, I realized something. A kind of spark showed up in me. I decided that if my voice, or any of the other things that I could do, could help others like that, I wanted to help them. I would be there.”

“And that’s when your Cutie Mark showed up?” Sandbar guessed, leaning in with a face full of intrigue.

“Yes.” Boltsinger confirmed. “And it’s also when I got struck by lightning.” The six students all stopped completely as their instructor moved obliviously forward. After a moment, he stopped as well, looking back at all of them. “Something wrong?”

“Bolt get hit by lightning?! How pony survive that?!” Yona asked.

“I think it was probably the fact that it hit while my Cutie Mark appeared.” he explained. “‘Cause that lightning is still in me. But I’ll go into detail on that soon enough.”

“So what about all this led to your ‘sense of devotion’, anyway?” Smolder queried as the group began moving again.

“That spark I mentioned was the beginning of it.” Boltsinger continued, catching a glimpse of their destination. “My life became devoted to others. What they might need that my talents can provide for. Always being there when I’m needed. That’s my calling in life.” He let out a heavy sigh, raising his wings high. “When I woke up after the lightning strike, something was… different about me. I felt this tingling in my wings. My mom and dad were worried beyond reason. They came close to try and give me a hug, but…” A small discharge arced between his wingtips. “The lightning came out and practically blasted them… even hitting Brightling when they were… sent flying… Then, with absolutely no say in the matter, I took off, almost as fast as Rainbow Dash. And I didn’t stop flying until I landed in Ponyville. Helped a pony get a music-related Cutie Mark, then took the next train back.”

“So… what happened to your parents?” the Changeling asked him, stepping tentatively forward.

Silverstream tapped Ocellus’ shoulder, drawing her attention. “Ocellus, you might want to take a look around.”

Ocellus, along with the others, did as directed, taking in the sights. All around them were stones that stuck out of the ground. Some were ornate, sculpted into sorrowful works of art, while others were simple, drab slabs that simply poked out of the dirt. On each and every piece of stone, there was an engraving of a Cutie Mark, a name, and a pair of dates. “You mean…”

Boltsinger came to a stop in front of two headstones, bowing respectfully and turning to face those in his charge. “Students, I would like to introduce you to my parents.” He stepped aside, revealing the faces of the stones to show Cutie Marks of a whirl of clouds on one, and a hard gust on the other. “They… never woke up from the coma that… I inadvertently put them in…”

There was a moment of silence between the seven of them, tears starting to form in Silverstream and Ocellus’ eyes. Finally, Smolder stepped forward, crouching down in front of the graves and patting them with her claws. “You two sure raised an… interesting… pony. I’m sure your flame still burns within him!”

Boltsinger sent the dragon a warm smile, wiping his eye with his wing. “Thank you, Smolder. That means a lot.”

Smolder stood tall, putting her claws on her hips and flaring her wings. “They were passionate about what they did, and gave their all to protecting their young when it mattered most! No way am I not gonna recognize strength like that!”

“They really did give it everything they had…” The stallion affirmed. “I didn’t find out about their coma until I came back the first time.”

“Did you get to visit them?” Sandbar inquired.

Boltsinger slowly shook his head. “Nnope. I had only just barely gotten into town when the ponies in it started throwing rocks at me. Called me a monster, said it was my fault my family was in the state they were in, and how I just did it for the sake of it. All I could do was get out of town. My wings whisked me away again, and I kept helping everypony I met, living up to that devotion for years... Up until I crashed into the wall above Princess Luna’s balcony.”

Yona cocked an eyebrow. “What happen then?”

“I met Twilight and your other professors. My devotion expanded to encompass all of them, and my life changed for the better.” He stated, looking down at his pendant. “Friendship changed my life for the better.”

“Okay, so where is the devotion lesson?” Gallus wondered, stepping closer to the stallion and the graves he had shown them.

Boltsinger straightened up, clearing his throat one more time. “After really thinking about it, it dawned on me that, while devotion isn’t, itself, an Element of Harmony, it does stem from them. In my case, I’d say my devotion comes from a combination of kindness and loyalty.” He pointed his wing between the students, making certain to emphasize each of them. “You six were able to become fast friends, establishing a bond that nocreature expected, and the devotion to match. Now the question is, where does that devotion come from? What drives you? Which of the Elements, and by extension, aspects of friendship as a whole, do you resonate with the most? It could be just one, or it could be any number of them! And that’s your ‘assignment’ for this lesson. I want you to look into yourselves, and look at each other. Discover what binds you to your friends. What makes you tick. There’s no paper, and no due date. When you discover which of the Elements leads you to devotion, I just want to hear what and why it is what it is. Can you do that for me?” The students all gave confirming nods and comments of the same vein. “Excellent. So, who’s ready to head back?”

Boltsinger and the students started towards the exit, some moving at a rapid pace, with some going slowly and somberly. One student hadn’t moved at all. Boltsinger turned to see who had straggled, finding Gallus standing over the graves with his head low. “Hey… uh… Say ‘hi’ to my family for me, would ya?” He whispered, making the stallion’s ears twitch.

“Hey, Gallus, you coming?” The instructor inquired.

The Griffon jumped, quickly turning to face the pony. “Huh? Oh, yeah! Let’s go!” He jumped into the air, soaring over the Pegasus and landing next to his friends.

Boltsinger walked ahead of them for a while, coming to a clearing and stepping into the middle. “Okay. This should be good enough.” He spread his wings, looking back at the lot of them. “Everycreature grab on!”

Sandbar stepped up beside the older pony, looking curiously at him. “Grab on? What do you mean?”

Boltsinger took Sandbar’s hoof and placed it on his side, where a jolt of electricity held him in place. “I mean grab onto me. Yona, you grab the other side, and everyone else, hold onto each other until we make a circle, okay?” The remainder of the students followed the instructions given, each feeling a distinct shock as they made contact that didn’t let them pull away. “So, a little bit of info about that lightning of mine. Normally, I don’t have a choice when my lightning kicks in and makes me fly off to help someone who needs me, but… After a while I learned a little trick.”

Sandbar looked between his sparking hoof and the smirking stallion in front of him. “Wh-what kind of trick is that?”

“If there’s someone who has a constant need for me, like, say, Twilight or Nova, I can just activate my lightning and go straight to them!” He elaborated, showing them a big, confident smile. “Just…” The students’ eyes went wide. “... like…” They simultaneously swallowed lumps in their throats. “... THIS!!!” Boltsinger flapped his wings, taking off in a flash with six screaming students latched firmly onto him.

Author's Note

I felt like it was a good time to let the students in on what makes Bolt Bolt, and it was also a little bit of an experiment in writing for all of them at once. They're such fresh characters that I haven't had much time to really get to know them, so I was worried they wouldn't flow as well. So far, it seems that worry wasn't very well-founded. What do you think?
Of course, Bolt will be getting to know all of them more over time, but I have plenty of other plans. Next chapter is another one I've been wanting to do for a while! I hope you enjoy it!

Flight Camp Memories

Scootaloo woke up one morning in her room at the castle, yawning and crawling out of her bed. She ventured out into the hallway, the corners of her mouth turning up as she started flapping her wings. She shot down the hall, zipping past Spike’s room so fast that the creaking door swung wide open. She looked back, letting out a childish snicker, and gave another strong flap. In seconds, she was in the dining room, fluttering to a landing in one of the chairs. “Morning, everypony!”

On another side of the table, Boltsinger sat next to a filled high chair, a spoon held in his wing. “Good morning, Scoot.” He opened his mouth wide, taking a scoop of the mashed carrots in front of him and bringing it towards Nova with a strange noise coming from his throat.

“Honey, you’re making faces!” Twilight called from the kitchen.

Boltsinger turned his attention to the kitchen door, giving the approaching mare a sour look while the foal clamped his mouth down on the business end of the spoon. “Well, how else am I gonna get him to open his mouth?”

Twilight made her way into the dining room, floating in a simple breakfast and dishing some up for everyone. “Good morning, Scootaloo! How’d you sleep?”

Scootaloo happily buzzed her wings, gratefully accepting the plate. “Great! I’ve really been looking forward to my flight lessons today!”

“Oh, you have been, huh?” Boltsinger started, resting his elbow on the table. He looked over to Twilight, quirking his eyebrow. “Should we tell her?”

“I think we should wait for Spike to get here, first.” The Princess suggested. “He’ll want to hear this, too.”

Scootaloo tilted her head, wondering what they meant. “What about Spike? Is he doing something special, or something?”

Twilight’s face lit up with realization as she finished off a morsel in her mouth. “That’s right, you’ve been doing so much with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, lately, that you’ve hardly seen him, haven’t you?”

Boltsinger snickered as the carrot-filled spoon found its mark again. “He’s a little different these days.”

“What are you talking about?” the filly inquired.

A crash in the hall behind her answered her question. Spike’s screams followed soon after, leading to another crash just outside the door. Scootaloo turned around to see some of the ceiling crystals laying on the floor. “Darn it, still not used to flying in closed spaces…” Upon hearing the word ‘flying’, her gaze slowly rose, finding Spike hovering above the floor, a brand new pair of wings flapping on his back. He dropped to the floor, dusting himself off and entering the dining room. “Guess I’ll just stick to walking when I’m in the castle for now.”

Scootaloo’s gaze followed the dragon as he casually walked in and sat down next to her. “Spike… When did you get wings?!”

“Since I molted a week ago.” he stated, accepting a plate of breakfast from Twilight. “I’ve been practicing my flying since then. You didn’t notice?”

“No, Apple Bloom has been really focused on finding Applejack a special somepony.” She explained. “Between that, school, and helping ponies with their Cutie Marks, I don’t get much down time.” She turned her attention back to the adult ponies in the room, getting a curious gleam in her eye. “So, what was it you two wanted to tell me?”

As Nova eagerly swallowed the last spoonful of his breakfast, Boltsinger faced the filly. “So, we’ve been talking with Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and your aunts about how your flying has been going. Rainbow says that you’ve been exceeding even her expectations.”

“I suggested that you might benefit from formal lessons alongside other foals.” Twilight added, raising a hoof. “That way you can all learn from each other.”

The gleam in Scootaloo’s eye changed a bit as she scrunched up her face, tilting her confused head. “Oooookay… What did Rainbow Dash say?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Twilight said, pointing at the door.

Boltsinger raised his hooves to his muzzle, taking a deep breath. “YOU’RE UP!” He bellowed, sending the noise all the way into the foyer.

Right on cue, the front doors burst open with rainbow and brown streaks flying into the room. Rainbow Dash hovered over the table next to a brown and white Griffon with a shade of purple over her yellow eyes. They each looked down at Scootaloo and Spike with a cocky smirk, rising into the air. “You better get ready, squirt, because...” Rainbow began, smirking at her Griffon friend.

Rainbow and the Griffon each raised their forelegs high. “Junior Speedsters are our lives!” They rose higher into the air. “Soaring stunts…” They followed up with a swift dive just over the table. “... and daring dives!” They returned to their starting position, pumping a foreleg each. “Junior Speedsters, it’s our quest…” They spun in place, raising a hoof and claw as high as they could without directly ascending. “... to someday be THE VERY BEST!!!”

Scootaloo’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets at what she had just seen. Certainly, she had seen the Wonderbolt perform more elaborate stunts, but something was different this time. The implications placed before her were clear, and a whistle-like squee began to build up from within her as the baby began to laugh hysterically.

Boltsinger started a slow clap of his hooves as Rainbow Dash and her friend took a seat. “Excellent intro, you two.” He brought his attention fully on the Griffon. “So, Gilda, what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Scootaloo’s squee grew in volume as the Griffon dished up a plate of the breakfast. “Pretty much the same thing we just did for the squirt, here. I’m helping a friend’s little sister get on her way to--"

“JUNIOR SPEEDSTER’S FLIGHT CAMP!!!” Scootaloo screamed, going into a squee so high in pitch that Twilight began magically holding the plates on the table in place so they wouldn’t break.

Boltsinger dove over the table, putting his hoof over the scqueeing Filly’s mouth and patting her back. “Calm down, Scootaloo. Yes, you’re going to flight camp. And that’s really cool. Just…” He directed her attention at Nova, who was beginning a fuss. “We don’t want to overdo it, okay?”

Scootaloo’s squee stopped entirely as she slowly nodded in understanding. Boltsinger removed his hoof, revealing a large smile on the filly’s face. “Sorry, I just can’t believe I’m going to the same flight camp as my idol!”

“Pretty sweet, huh?” Rainbow boasted, crossing her forelegs.

The orange filly nodded emphatically. “You have no idea!”

Boltsinger chuckled, giving his former flight student a little squeeze of a hug. “I look forward to hearing all about it.” As his hug retreated, he looked down at the floor. “Just… watch yourself, Scoot.”

Scootaloo reached her wing out to pat Boltsinger on the side, letting him see her confident grin. “Don’t worry, Bolt, I’ve got this!”

Twilight smiled and looked over at her faithful assistant. “Besides, it’s not like she’ll be going alone.”

Spike took a long look back at his oldest friend, slowly swallowing his latest morsel. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re going, too, Spike!” she declared, happily flapping her wings.

Spike’s jaw and fork dropped in unison as he let out a few scraps of sound. He stood up in his chair, digging his foot into the cushion and standing his ground. “What?! Why do I have to go to a flight camp for foals?!”

Twilight rolled her eyes, pulling the purple reptile in and leaning close to his ear. “Even Rainbow Dash faced a lot of hurtful teasing from the other foals when she went there. It’d be nice if Scootaloo had some backup.”

A knowing grin slid into Spike’s face as he looked over at the filly. “Okay, I can get behind that.”

Boltsinger smirked, leaning in towards Scootaloo for a whisper of his own. “Just letting you know, Spike thinks he’s going just to be your backup. We know you can handle yourself, but… try to humor him a little, okay?”

Scootaloo nodded, eyeing the dragon’s newest appendages. “Got it. Should I give him some flying advice while I’m at it?”

“Anything that’ll help him stop making such a mess of the castle would be great.” he confirmed.

Spike and Scootaloo walked into a large, open area full of clouds. There were Pegasus foals flying around all over the place, rings of cloud floating in various places that some of the faster flyers flippantly flew through. Spike's steps were slow and careful, constantly looking down to try and make certain of his footing. “This is weird… Not used to walking on clouds yet.”

“Really?” Scootaloo started, casting the dragon a curious look. “Didn’t you try it when you first started flying?”

Spike sent a flat look back, holding a wing up with his claw. “I’ve only had these things for a week. I’m still trying to get used to flying, let alone walking on something that’s not even solid.”

“Well, at least you had an easy time getting off the balloon.” She looked back the way they had come, waving her hoof as if to be on someone along. “Gloria! Come on! It’s awesome here!”

“Aww, fine… Coming!” a songbird-like soprano called. A young female Griffon with bold goldenrod fur, darker gold wings, and pure white feathers on her head that were tied into low pigtails walked up to them. She looked around the area with her green eyes, a sense of uncertainty making itself obvious in her expression as she spotted the flying ponies. “I don’t know why Gilda insists this place is so cool… Looks like a lot of hard flying…”

Scootaloo smirked, putting her hoof around the fledgling. “Don’t worry about it! Sure it looks difficult, but that’s part of the fun!” She began buzzing her wings, lifting off and turning to face her. “Besides, I’ll be here with you the whole time! We can all improve together!”

“You sure?” Gloria asked, spreading her wings. Scootaloo gave her a definitive nod, extending her hoof. The little Griffon smiled, flapping her wings to flutter up to her. “Okay! Let’s--” A yellow streak flew between the two young flyers, sending both of them spinning out. Scootaloo, having practiced recovery with her idol, immediately flared her wings and skidded to a halt. She looked over at Gloria, who was spinning out of control into a nearby cloud, landing in what looked to be an explosion of fluff.

“Gloria!” the Crusader exclaimed, rushing to her new friend’s side. Her eyes were wobbling back and forth as she regained her equilibrium. “Are you okay?” Gloria shook the dizziness from her head, giving a soft, stable nod. Scootaloo glared at the pony that passed them, rushing over to her and catching her by the haunches. “Hey! What was that for?!”

The streak stopped, revealing a pale yellow-coated Pegasus filly with a blown back mane and tail in alternating shades of green. She had bright red eyes, and a noticeably blank flank. She examined the pony that confronted her, looking back at the other two she had come with. As her eyes fell on the dizzy Griffon and the dragon that walked far too carefully to be comfortable. “Didn’t see you there, ‘bud’. Was probably going too fast to see!” She pulled back, letting her smile turn into a smirk. “Name’s Goldenrod. I hope to see more of you three, soon!” She performed a mock salute, flying off into the distance.

Spike shakily flew over to Scootaloo, eyeing the fleeing filly. “What’s her deal?”

Scootaloo sighed, returning to Gloria’s side. “I don’t know…”

Gloria rose into the air beside Scootaloo, following her gaze. “Well, she called you ‘bud’, maybe she wants to be friends?”

“I don’t know…” the Pegasus replied, squinting at the streak. “There’s something about how she said it…”

“Okay, is everypony here?” a stallion wearing a coach’s outfit asked, looking around. He had a fiery orange and white mane and tail in a puffed up and blown-back style, with a white coat and purple eyes. The field around him was full of Pegasus fillies and colts, some flying about, while others were running into place. Scootaloo, Spike, and Gloria finally walked up to the back of the group. The stallion cleared his throat, prompting the foals to straighten up, land, and give him their attention. “All right, my little ponies, let’s settle down!” He gave the crowd a smile. “Now, my name is Fire Streak, and I’d like to welcome you to Junior Speedsters flight camp! During your week here, we’re going to take your wings and turn them into speed machines! By the time you go home, your parents will have to come here just to learn how to keep up!” The foals all burst into cheers, save for Spike, who simply crossed his arms.

Scootaloo looked over at the huffing dragon, putting her hoof on his shoulder. “Why aren’t you excited? We’re gonna be learning from Fire Streak! A former Wonderbolt!”

“I don’t know… Guess I’m just embarrassed to be in a camp with a bunch of foals…” he admitted, letting his arms dangle at his sides again.

Scootaloo gave him an understanding nod. “Yeah, we’re both a little older than most of the ponies here, but just think of the things we’ll get to do here!”

Spike smiled back at her, remembering the mission Twilight had given him. “Yeah, we’re gonna do fine.”

“Mister Fire Streak, I have a question!” a voice in the crowd announced, a yellow hoof rising from the gathering.

Fire Streak smiled at the statement, pointing his wing at her. “Yes! Goldenrod, right? Ask away!”

“This is a pony flight camp, right?” the yellow filly asked.

Fire Streak nodded. “Yes, but we’ve had other creatures, namely Griffons, attend as well.”

Goldenrod grimaced, looking back at the orange filly and her friends. “Have you ever had dragons?”

The ex-Wonderbolt rubbed his mane with his hoof. “No, I don’t believe we have.” He went into a low hover, spotting the dragon in the back.”But I’m certainly happy to see him! Welcome to flight camp, Spike!” He waved a friendly hoof as the other campers turned to stare at him. Spike shrank into himself, his face turning red as he waved at the group.

Goldenrod smirked at the purple reptile, rising up to clearly point his way. “But why would a dragon even need to be here? Don’t they learn with their own kind?”

Spike took a proud stance, putting his fists on his hips. “Most dragons, do, but I’m not most dragons!” He looked directly at the berating filly with a smile. “I’m here by request of Princess Twilight!”

Eyes widened all around with several comments being passed around. Goldenrod’s wings began to slow down, returning to the clouds below. “Princess Twilight, huh?”

“Well, that’s quite a feat!” Fire Streak exclaimed. He put up a hoof, directing the young ponies to quiet down. “Anyway, it’s time to assign bunk mates!”

Scootaloo dropped her saddlebag next to a bed of clouds with a disgruntled expression plastered on her face. She looked behind her, where Goldenrod was pulling out her own belongings. So after promising Gloria that I had her back, I get bunked with someone else? How fair is that? And why am I with her?! I swear, I’d have had a better time bunking with a tree... She sighed, heading for the door. “I’m going on ahead. Don’t linger too long, okay?”

“Got it.” Goldenrod replied. As the aerial Crusader made her way out the door, she heard the thud of something hard hitting the nightstand. “Now, you be good, and give me a lot of data about the new environment, okay?”

Scootaloo finally heard the sound of flapping coming up on her as Goldenrod flew up to her. “What was that about?” The orange filly started to look back to the room, finding herself gripped in the yellow filly’s hooves, forcing her attention at her angry face as it shifted into a nasty smirk.

Goldenrod swiftly flew ahead of the purple-eyed Pegasus, performing an aileron roll as she went. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be flying here at flight camp?! And why are you so much bigger than all the other campers, ‘bud’? Did you only learn to fly last year?”

The unknowing accuracy of the teasing sent Scootaloo back a few steps. “What makes you think that? I’ve been flying for a long time, now!” she asked, her expression betraying her words.

Goldenrod huffed. “Yeah, whatever you say ‘bud’! I know a late bloomer when I see it!” She buzzed her wings, shooting off towards their destination. “See you later, ‘bud’!”

“So how many of you campers can tell me what this device is?” Fire Streak inquired, pointing his wing at the fan-like contraption next to him.

Spike raised his claw, drawing the eyes of the other campers. “That’s an anemometer! Something to measure wingpower when you fly past it!”

“Thank you, Spike, that’s absolutely right!” the stallion confirmed. “Would you like to give us a demonstration?”

The dragon puffed out his chest, stepping up to the designated starting line. He hunched over onto all fours, spreading his wings wide. “It’s simple, you just do this!” He leapt forward, flapping as hard as he could to take off full speed down the track. He sped by the anemometer, causing the fan to rapidly rotate. He came to a stop on the other side, fluttering back over to the device and reading the measurement. “Hm. Five point eight wingpower, huh? Not what I was expecting, but I am still new at this.”

Fire Streak patted his bipedal camper on the back. “That’s a fine wingpower, Spike. I’m sure Princess Twilight would be proud!” He looked out at the gathering young ones with a grin. “So, who wants to go next?”

“I’ll go!” Goldenrod declared, hovering above the group.

The former Wonderbolt beamed. “I like your initiative, Goldenrod! Step right up to the line!”

Goldenrod did as instructed, stepping up, hunching over, and moving her tail ever so slightly to conceal her flank. She took a quiet, yet deep breath, buzzing her wings and shooting off. Like the dragon before her, she zipped past the anemometer, triggering a fast spin from the mechanism. Spike took a look at the reading, then looked happily at the filly. “6.0 wingpower!”

“Excellent!” Fire Streak exclaimed. “You’ve got some powerful wings for somepony your size!” Goldenrod remained in her hover, putting her hooves on her hips. “So, who’s next?”

As Fire Streak’s question ended, he saw that Scootaloo had already stepped up to the start line. Her wings had already started buzzing as she took her stance. “That was nice, but I’ll show you how it’s really done!”

With as much force as she could muster, Scootaloo rocketed forward, leaving behind an orange streak in the air. The fan of the anemometer spun wildly as the dragon examining it was sent spinning by the turbulence. Fire Streak ran to the device to get a reading, recoiling his head from what he saw. “10.0 wingpower?! That’s amazing for someone your age!”

Goldenrod’s wings immediately clung to her sides, dropping her down to the cloud in a slump. “How did you…?”

Scootaloo landed next to Spike, rubbing her neck. “I had a pretty good teacher.”

Spike sat up, regaining his balance. “Just a ‘good teacher’? You’re working with Rai--” Scootaloo reached forward, covering Spike’s mouth with her hoof as he muffled his next few words.

“Yeah, just a ‘good teacher’!” she confirmed, nodding nervously. “Really good teacher!”

“That’s not fair! You’re already bigger than everyone else here!” Goldenrod declared, pointing an accusing hoof at the Crusader. “Of course your wings are more powerful than everyone else’s!”

“Now, Goldenrod, she may be a little older, but she has just as much experience as you do in flying.” their instructor pointed out. “From what I’ve been told, Scootaloo had some pretty weak wings until roughly a year ago. The fact that she’s made it so far in such a time is quite a feat, and Junior Speedsters flight camp doesn’t discriminate just because she took a little longer to lift off than the rest of you, understand?”

“Yes, sir…” the accusing filly responded, hanging her head.

Fire Streak gave her a firm nod, taking another look back at the other campers. “Good. Now who is up next?”

“Still a misfit, though…” she resentfully muttered.

“Um… I think I can go next!” Gloria called, raising her claw. She stepped forward, fluffing her wings in preparation. “Might as well get it over with, now…” She jumped forward and flapped her wings as hard as she could, moving ahead as fast as she could. Unlike the flyers that had preceded her, Gloria’s flaps were… slow. She put forth as much effort as she could, but the strain in her movements was clear. After several seconds, she finally passed the anemometer, causing it to rotate a grand total of three times.

Fire Streak gave the Griffon a wide-eyed look, slowly turning his gaze to the readings below. “That was very good, Gloria, you have… Oh my…” He swallowed a lump in his throat, taking a preparatory breath. “You have… 0.7 wingpower, Gloria.” The Griffon in question stared back at the white stallion, her beak hanging open. “But that’s not a problem! We can work on that while you’re here!”

Goldenrod bursted out laughing, falling to the cloud and clutching her stomach. “0.7? How can you barely be able to fly when you’re a Griffon?! Isn’t your kind supposed to have bigger wings?” She soon found herself joined by the laughter of most of the other foals.

Gloria fell to the clouds, covering her head with her talons while the ponies all laughed. Her eyes were closed, with pools of water forming at the corners of them. Scootaloo ran to the Griffon, putting her hoof on her shoulder and glaring at the other ponies. As she opened her mouth to speak, Gloria rose to her feet, glowering fiercely at those that laughed at her. She took a massive breath, jutting her head forward and letting out a loud noise that combined an eagle’s shriek and a lion’s roar, blowing back a great many manes and stopping the laughing entirely. She turned around, bolting away as fast as her legs would take her.

“Gloria, wait!” Scootaloo called out, reaching in her direction. She sent one more glare at the blank-flanked filly that instigated the teasing, letting out a snort and galloping off after her. She found her way to the tents, looking around. “Gloria! Hey, Gloria! Where are you?!” She continued along, looking into each of the tents to see if she could find her feathered friend. When she passed the one she shared with the pony that had started the cruel treatment, she noticed a tiny evergreen tree that bore needles instead of leaves in a pot on the nightstand. She looked curiously at it for a moment, then snorted once more. I guess I am bunking with a tree… She shrugged it off, continuing on her way until she heard a high, sad melody on the wind. She followed the song a ways, leading her to a gap behind two tents, where she found the creature she sought sitting on the clouds, beautifully belting out her song with tears in her eyes. Scootaloo let her expression go soft as she approached, sitting next to her and listening until the song broke down. “You okay?”

Gloria wiped her eyes, turning to see Scootaloo’s sympathetic face. “I'm fine… I’m a Griffon. I’m used to teasing…”

“I’ve had my share of teasing, too.” the Pegasus assured her, putting her hoof on her back. “That doesn’t stop it from hurting, though.”

The fledgling sniffed up an encroaching sob, trying and failing to put on a tough front. “I know… I wasn’t expecting ponies to be so mean… Gilda always said that the ponies she knew were all super nice, and I wouldn’t have anything to worry about… but… but…”

“You don’t have anything to worry about!” she interjected. “Because I’ve got your back! Besides, Fire Streak has a great point! Sure, your wingpower is low, but we can work on that! Fire Streak is a professional, and my own flight lessons were all about building up wingpower! You want to get off the ground? We’ve got you covered. No amount of teasing can stop that!”

Gloria smiled at her newest friend, giving her a soft nod. “Okay… I’ll do my best!”

Over the next few days, a routine was established. The nights were a mix of peaceful sleep and some kind of egg-headed rambling from Goldenrod. Something about roots and needles and all that. Every morning after breakfast was an activity to exercise the wings, where Scootaloo stuck close to her Griffon friend. Then came lunch, where Goldenrod would unleash a scathing comment at the late bloomer and the supposedly weak Griffon, joined in her laughter by a small group of foals, causing the two of them to simply ignore the commentary. They would then go between different activities, taking part in toned down versions of various Wonderbolt exercises. Each evening after dinner, Scootaloo and Spike would take Gloria out to a large training field, where the filly would create a patch of fog for her friend to disperse. With each passing day, Gloria’s abilities improved, and Goldenrod’s teasing intensified.

The fifth day of camp arrived, and Scootaloo awoke with a mild headache. Goldenrod had spent half the night once again babbling on about what she could only assume was the tree she had brought with her, and while it was beginning to tug at her curiosity, she knew she had more important things to worry about. She left the tent without a word, immediately making for the first of the day’s activities. Things went as expected, with the day’s highlight being a mock aerial relay. She immediately chose Spike and Gloria as her teammates, pitted against a team of fillies from Las Pegasus. Gloria had gone first, showing the results of her training in full as she matched her opponent’s velocity to meet with Spike. Spike, in turn, showed a dexterity that he hadn’t before camp had started, easily outclassing his opponent for the hand-off to Scootaloo, who was at the goal within seconds.

Finally, the time for dinner had come. She quickly got her meal, moving to the table where Gloria and Spike sat by themselves. “You two ready for tomorrow?”

Spike nodded confidently. “Of course! I can’t wait to see what we do!”

Scootaloo sat down next to the dragon, giving him a knowing smirk. “Even though it’s a camp for foals?”

“Hey, it’s a camp for flying, and I never realized how great it was to be able to do it myself!” he corrected, giving his wings a practice flap. He looked over to Gloria, who was poking at her food with her claws. “How about you? You ready?”

“Good question! You ready for more?” a mocking voice asked. The three of them followed the sound, seeing Goldenrod standing at the edge of the table with a disdainful smirk. “With how you fly, I can’t imagine you doing anything but spinning out!”

“I’ve gotten better…” Gloria spat, returning to state at her breakfast.

“Not good enough!” She argued. “From what I hear, we’re doing wind resistance tomorrow! Best of luck, ‘buds’!” she turned around with a stomp, strategically placing her tail over her flank as she went, and joined the line for their meal.

“Wind resistance, huh?” Gloria repeated, showing Scootaloo a hint of uncertainty. “You think I’m ready for that?”

“Don’t worry so much about that. We’re here to have fun!” Spike stated, spreading his arms. “So what if one pony laughs at you! You’re here for you, no one else!”

“Spike’s right!” the Crusader declared, looking at their recent aggressor. “One pony…” She looked harder, noting the position of Goldenrod’s tail. “... with a blank flank!” She pounded the table with her forelegs, turning to Spike. “What if she’s embarrassed because she doesn’t have her Cutie Mark?”

“What do you mean?” Spike wondered, casting the filly’s flank a glance of his own. “She just seems mean. Why would this have anything to do with her Cutie Mark?”

“We thought Diamond Tiara was simply ‘mean’ for a long time, but she was just having Cutie Mark problems, too. Besides, have you seen what she does with her tail?” she reasoned. “Only a pony who’s embarrassed by their flank does that!”

“Why are you even concerned about her?” Gloria inquired, giving the unaware yellow filly a side-eyed glare. “She hasn’t done anything to deserve it!”

“She’s a Cutie Mark Crusader.” Spike pointed out. “Helping others is just part of who she is.”

Scootaloo lit up, her Crusader instincts coming to the forefront. “Okay, then it’s settled! I’m already bunking with her, so tonight I’ll talk to her and see what her Cutie Mark problem is!”

Scootaloo sat on her bed, patting her knees with her hooves and doing some basic wing exercises. She was waiting for her bunkmate to return, a question burning at the back of her mind. Across the tent, on the nightstand, stood the little tree, pristine and beautiful. “She really does take good care of you, huh?” she asked the plant. “I can’t imagine somepony that mean taking such good care of anything… Maybe there really is a deeper issue, here, huh?”

“Who are you talking to?” Goldenrod asked, entering the tent. “Some imaginary friend?”

“Nopony, really.” Scootaloo deflected, shaking her hoof between them and looking away. “That’s a nice tree, though.”

“Isn’t it, though?” though the red-eyed filly affirmed, letting the first genuine smile Scootaloo had seen from her reveal itself. She rushed over to the tree, resting her elbows on the nightstand and her head on her hooves as she stared dreamily at it. “At first I thought it might not do so well at such an altitude, what with us being up in the clouds and all, but the constant sunshine with immediate access to life-giving rain has allowed my little bonsai to thrive like nothing I’ve ever seen! I’ve been collecting so much data on its progress, and it’s simply incredible!”

“Banzai?” the purple-eyed filly started, trying to repeat the name she heard. “Like… BANZAI!! Where you jump from really high up with nothing but a bungee cord to hold you up?”

Goldenrod scowled back at Scootaloo in a way that seemed to ask what was wrong with her. “No, bonsai. B-O-N-S-A-I. That’s the kind of tree this is! Doesn't your school teach you anything about flora?”

“I guess not…” Scootaloo replied. “So, you must really like plants.”

Goldenrod smiled, returning her attention to the evergreen in front of her. “Yeah… Ever since I saw this little guy, I’ve wanted to know everything about him and any other plants out there… I read that the study of plants is called ‘botany’, and it’s a really fascinating field! I only wish I could get a Cutie Mark for it someday…”

“Well, why wouldn’t you?” the Crusader wondered, moving to look at the tree next to her. “You’re clearly passionate about it. If it’s what you want to do with your life, then that’s all you need, right?”

“I wish it were that simple…” Goldenrod spat. “No, I doubt I’ll get the Cutie Mark I really want…”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, fluttering back over to her bed. “Not with that attitude, you won’t. What makes you think like that, anyway?”

Goldenrod let out a frustrated growl, facing the older filly and stomping on the floor, her wings as aggressively flared as she could get them. “‘Cause I’m a weather pony, born and bred! That’s all I can be! And what makes you such a Cutie Mark expert?”

Scootaloo shifted herself to show off her haunches, raising her wing and pointing a hoof at her flank. “Check the flank! I’m a Cutie Mark Crusader! Cutie Marks are kind of my special talent.”

“Wait… Your Cutie Mark… is about Cutie Marks?” She took a seat on her bed, pawing the blankets and looking at Scootaloo. “And… you want to help me… Even after all the teasing?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” she assured her. “But, could you lay off my friend? She deals with enough of it back in Griffonstone.”

Goldenrod sneaked a glance back at her tree, enjoying the idea of a Cutie Mark that fit her passion. “I... think so.”

Fire Streak stood on top of a large machine that bore a vast on the top and what looked like a cannon on the side. The campers were all gathered around it, some of them eagerly flapping their wings while others swallowed a nervous lump in their throats. “Does anypony know what this is?” Fire Streak asked.

Scootaloo raised an excited hoof. “That’s one of the things they use at Wonderbolts Academy for training! Rainb-- I mean… My sister told me about it!” She flew up over the device, pointing to the hole at the top. “You put water in here…” She moved to the barrel at the front. “And then a strong gust of wind comes out here that you have to fly against!”

“That’s absolutely right, Scootaloo!” the instructor affirmed. “Have you used one of these before?”

“Nah, but my first flight coach can make wind that’s almost as strong just by flapping his wings!” she explained, doing a loop in the air to show her enthusiasm. “He had a lot of methods to improve my wingpower.” She came to a landing next to Spike and Gloria. “He’s become like a dad to me… I really owe him a lot!”

Fire Streak smiled as warmly as his name, holding up a phial of water. “This is about how much water we’ll be using for you young ones. It’s about a tenth of what we use at Wonderbolt Academy! Scootaloo, since you gave such a good explanation of the wind machine, why don't you go first and show everyone else how it’s done?”

With that, the filly was in the air again, hovering in front of the machine. “Hit it!” she told him, rearing back and buzzing her wings faster than ever. Fire Streak smirked, dumping the water into the machine. From out of the barrel came a powerful burst of wind that blew against the flying filly. Her face blew back with the resistance, but she kept her forelegs stretched forward, pushing against it with all of her might.

A moment later, the wind subsided, and Scootaloo shot forward a ways. She swiftly turned around, stopping herself before she hit the device and hovering in front of it. Fire Streak stomped his hooves in applause. “Quite impressive, Scootaloo! Who’s next?”

From there, several ponies made their attempts. Goldenrod lasted a while before being blown away, with Spike showing similar results. Many more ponies didn’t last nearly as long, having been sent flying in mere moments. Finally, Gloria fluttered into place. She looked down at Scootaloo, who pumped her hoof to show her support, then looked at Fire Streak with a nervous nod.

“What’re you gonna do this time, Goldie?” a filly asked, drawing the ear of the pony in question. She looked back at her, then back at Gloria with a hint of uncertainty.

“Umm…” she started, raising her hoof.

“Come on! I know you’ve got an idea!” a colt behind her added. “You haven’t disappointed yet!”

“But…” Goldenrod loomed around, seeing the expecting faces of the ponies around her. “I don’t know…” They leaned forward, their eyes boring into her from all around. Her expression grew more panicked as more ponies stepped forward and egged her on. As Gloria began her test, Goldenrod spread her wings, several nearby foals nudging her in the side. The Griffon made her approach against the wind, flapping furiously as the gale attempted to push her away. One second, and she began to move back. Two seconds, and her flapping intensified. Three seconds in, and she began to wobble.

“Come on!” the first of the egging foals cried out, nudging Goldenrod directly on her flank. She let out a small whinny, letting her eyes turn fierce as she gave the hardest flap she could muster. Her wings created a powerful wind that blew into the struggling Griffon, sending her spiraling out of the machine’s ebbing gust and spinning into a far away cloud.

“GLORIA!!!” Scootaloo yelled. She and Spike lifted off that instant, rushing to their friend’s side. “Are you alright?”

Gloria sat up, holding her head with a claw to try and keep her balance. “I’m… okay… just dizzy…”

Spike came forward, putting a claw on her back and holding her steady. “I’ve got this. Don’t worry about it.”

Scootaloo nodded, lowering her eyebrows and flying straight at Goldenrod. “What the heck was that about?!”

Realizing what she had done, Goldenrod’s eyes widened. Her mouth and ears both went low as she struggled to come up with a response. “I… uh…”

“You told me you weren’t going to do anything like this today!” the furious flying filly continued, pointing back at her downed friend. So why?”

The cowering Pegasus took three steps back. “I… Well… The other ponies… They…”

Scootaloo’s face came to be less than an inch from her target’s with a fierce glower. “She gets enough rough treatment at home. Would you do something like this to your banzai tree?”

The budding botanist’s face soured enough to match Scootaloo’s. “It’s… called… a… BONSAI!!!” She flared her wings, lifting off to face her. “And she’s not the only one who doesn’t get any support at home! Why do you think I’m even here?! I told my family that I liked plants, and then they threatened to throw my little bonsai away unless I ‘got my head off the ground and in the clouds where it belongs’!” She pushed forward. “They’ve never wanted me to follow my dream!” She pressed her hoof against Scootaloo’s chest, letting tears roll down her cheeks. “You’ve got ponies who support you! You’ve got ponies who love you and want you to succeed! All I’ve ever had is a family that hates me and a blank flank to prove it!!!”

Scootaloo flashed back on her own life, slowly coming to a landing. “You’re right… I have lots of ponies who want me around and want me to succeed.” she admitted, putting her rump on the cloud and coiling her tail around herself. “I’m really lucky to have my friends… I wasn’t so lucky before I met my friends, though. Before I met Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, I didn’t have anyone to tell me I could do anything. I couldn’t fly, I didn’t have my Cutie Mark yet, and I had a bully of my own making me miserable with no support from what little family I had… I know where you’re coming from, Goldenrod, and I know that bullying isn’t the answer.”

“And how do you know that?!” Goldenrod asked.

“Because that bully that teased me before is my friend now.” she stressed. “She stood up to her unsupportive mom and started doing what she wanted to with her life! I’m sure you can do that, too.”

“Right… your whole ‘Cutie Mark Crusader’ bit… You’re just saying that to be nice.” the yellow pony spat.

“That’s because she is nice.” Gloria stated as she came in for a landing. “She wouldn’t have even looked at someone like me if she wasn’t! And if she’s willing to give you a shot…” She reluctantly held out her claw. “I suppose I can, too. Friends?”

Goldenrod looked at the outstretched appendage, stewing for a moment. “It certainly sounds better than what I’ve got now…” She looked behind her, where the foals who had egged her on were now several more feet away. She turned back to Gloria and Scootaloo, placing her hoof in the talon. “Okay. Friends.”

“YES!” Scootaloo cheered, pulling both of them in for a tight hug. “You two can come visit Ponyville, and we can do all sorts of things together!” She squeezed Goldenrod harder. “Like help you get your Cutie Mark!” she squeezed Gloria in turn. “And work on your flying! Oh it’s gonna be great!”

The sound of a clearing throat came from behind them. “Uh, Scootaloo, you might be hugging a little too tight, there.” Scootaloo let go of her friends, who proceeded to gasp for air. The three of them turned around to see Fire Streak looking firmly at them. “I’m glad you were able to settle your differences, but I’m afraid that doesn’t stop it from being true that Goldenrod could have seriously hurt Gloria with that little stunt. I’m afraid she’s going to have to sit out the rest of the day’s activities.”

Goldenrod turned her gaze dejectedly downward, letting her ears and wings droop. “I understand.” She looked back up at the ex-Wonderbolt hopefully. “Can I at least spend the time in my tent?”

“I don’t see why not, as long as you behave yourself.” he confirmed, offering her a knowing smile. “You have fun with your little tree!” Goldenrod turned back to Scootaloo, pumping her foreleg triumphantly.

Scootaloo, Spike, Gloria, and Goldenrod approached the entrance to the camp, saddlebags on the back of every quadruped that came forward. Goldenrod walked ahead of the rest of them, turning around to look at her new friends. “So, you’re all going to write, right?”

“Of course!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “And what’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?”

“I’m gonna tell my parents exactly what I want to do, no matter what they say!” she declared. “And I’m gonna get my Cutie Mark for exactly that!”

“That’s what I like to hear!” a baritone called from behind the filly. Goldenrod jumped, hovering in the air as she looked to the source of the voice. Boltsinger trotted up, chuckling to himself with Twilight and Gilda following close behind.

“Twilight! Bolt! You’re here!” Scootaloo stated, galloping to the older ponies and giving each of them a hug. She pulled back, looking around. “So where’s Rainbow Dash?”

“She’s practicing with the other Wonderbolts.” Twilight explained, beckoning Spike over. “So, how was flight camp?”

Spike flew up to be level with the Princess’ head, holding his fists up excitedly. “It was great! My wingpower went up three whole points, and we got to do all sorts of…” He stopped for a moment as Twilight’s face turned sly. “... I mean… It was okay, for a foals’ camp.”

Twilight giggled, pulling him into a hug. “I’m glad you had a good time.” She patted her bare back. “Come on, we took a balloon to get here. Thought you might want to rest those weary wings.”

Spike plopped onto her back, slumping forward and getting comfortable as Gilda stepped up to Gloria. “So, you get any better?”

“Yeah.” the smaller Griffon replied. “Made some friends, too.”

Gilda let a grin onto her face, giving the fledgling a pat on the head. “Good. You can tell me about it on the way back.” She turned to leave, looking back wryly. “Over some Griffon Scones.”

“Really?!” Gloria asked, fluttering along behind her. Gilda nodded, twitching her tail. “All right!”

Goldenrod took a long look at the adults that had come to get her friends, letting her jaw drop. “Wait, Scootaloo, you never told me you knew Princess Twilight! And… and… Rainbow Dash? Like, the Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash?! Why didn’t you just mention them?”

Scootaloo smiled back at her. “I wanted to get through this on my own.” She nudged her head towards the royal purple pony. “Last time I dropped her name, I really regretted it.” Goldenrod simply gave the orange filly a dumbfounded stare, prompting a laugh. “Make sure you write me as soon as you get home, okay?” The yellow filly slowly nodded, descending to the cloud and landing on her rump.

Boltsinger splayed his wings, giving them a good stretch as his favorite filly approached him. “Ever the Crusader, aren’t you?” he queried, tussling her mane. “I know you’re fresh out of flight camp, but what would you say to an endurance flight home?”

“Let’s do it!” she affirmed, bringing her wings wide. The orange Pegasi trotted over to the edge of the cloud, the stallion pulling a pair of apples from his mane. After a few stretches, the two were off, streaks of orange in a bright blue sky.

Author's Note

I was honestly not expecting this chapter to be so very long. It was a slow-moving one for me, since I have a little bit of trouble writing for children, especially on the teasing front. But I think it turned out okay. Been wanting to introduce Gloria for a while, now, and Goldenrod came out of nowhere thanks to a good friend of mine, but she turned out great! I have a pretty good idea for the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Bridleway Bolt!

“Brightling, allow me to be the first to welcome you to Manehattan!” Boltsinger exclaimed as he ran out of the train station. He stopped on the sidewalk below, gesturing grandly out to the cityscape behind him with an enormous smile. Out of the train station walked a bright yellow Pegasus stallion with a brown mane, tail, and eyes. His Cutie Mark showed a brilliantly lit light bulb, and his face showed a distinct level of disinterest. “I can’t believe you’ve never been here before!”

“How is that so hard to believe?” the older stallion wondered, coming down the steps. “Not everyone gets whisked off all over Equestria. ‘Till now, Canterlot was the farthest east I’d been.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat, big brother.” Boltsinger stated, looking out at the town. “The energy, the kinds of ponies you meet, the sheer amount of stuff to do! It’s awesome!” He pranced in place for a moment. “So, what do you want to do while we’re here?”

Brightling joined his brother on the sidewalk, looking out at the busy street. “Well, Sparks was talking up Bridleway. Kinda the whole reason we’re here.”

“Bridleway it is!” he declared, raising a triumphant wing to point at the sky. “I’ve helped Rarity out in this town so much I know it like the back of my hoof!” He brought a wing to his chin, letting an idea come to the surface. “Actually, she’s in town right now. We should pay her a visit!”

At the station entrance, Twilight emerged next to a grey Unicorn mare with dark green eyes. She had a mane and tail that was white at the root, fading to black as it made its way down its medium length in a manner similar to that of Fluttershy, albeit significantly messier. They each had a fully stocked baby carriage, complete with colts, that they floated down the stairs while they descended. The grey mare cast a smirk at Twilight. “That husband of yours sure has come out of his shell over the years. I almost didn’t recognize him when we met up in Vanhoover.” She turned her gaze forward again, letting out a sad sigh. “You did a great job fixing all the damage I caused…”

Twilight placed a wing on the mare’s shoulder, smiling warmly at her. “You’ve come a long way, yourself, Sparks.” She patted her back, then brought her wing over to the foal in Sparks’ carriage. He was a white-coated Unicorn colt with a messy black mane and tail and hazel eyes. He grabbed her wing, nuzzling it up to his muzzle. “You agree with me, don’t you, Oathsinger?” The colt babbled contentedly against his aunt’s wing, eliciting a small laugh.

“Yeah, well, things change when it’s not just about you anymore.” She moved over to the stallions on the sidewalk, shaking herself out of her depression. “Anyway! Bridleway! I’ve been looking forward to some shows for weeks, now!”

Twilight trotted over, taking a spot next to her spouse. “Are they still playing Hinnie in the Hills? I love that one!”

“No, but I did score us some tickets to Winging In The Rain!” Boltsinger answered, holding out a set of tickets in his wing.

Sparks looked quizzically at her brother-in-law, befuddled at the possibility. “You did? How?!”

“You have no idea how many actors I’ve helped over the years.” he bragged, brushing his hoof against his chest. “I just talked to one of the ones I can actually remember, and she said she would be happy to have us!”

“I suppose that’s a nice alternative.” The Alicorn teased, starting for their hotel. “I’ll get us checked in. Why don’t you all go see the sights? I’m sure you have a lot to get through!”

“You sure you don’t need any help with the little Prince?” Boltsinger inquired, tickling the baby Alicorn in his carriage. “It is his first big trip outside of Ponyville, after all.”

Twilight gave her husband a confident nod. “I’m sure. You all have fun, and we’ll catch up with you later. You know, family bonding!”

“Well okay, then.” He gave each of the Alicorns a kiss on the cheek. “Catch up soon.” He flapped his wings, lifting himself to turn and face his remaining family members. “So who wants to see the city?”

The Bridleway district of Manehattan was bustling like nothing the Vanhoover ponies had ever seen. Everywhere they looked, there were ponies. They ranged from tourists to business ponies to enthusiasts of all kinds, carrying cameras, briefcases, anything anypony would expect running all over the place. Brightling looked around, swallowing a lump in his throat as the feeling of the big city finally settled in. “So… how is this supposed to be ‘exciting’?”

“You don’t feel the energy?” Boltsinger asked, taking a deep breath. “There’s something about seeing ponies in their element that supercharges me!”

“That’s good for you…” the yellow stallion began, casting his gaze to the tall buildings above. “But I just feel out of place. What about you, Sparks?” He turned to look at his wife, finding Oathsinger’s stroller without anyone pushing it. “... Sparks?”

“Just look at all this!” the grey mare called, prancing forward on the sidewalk. “I thought Canterlot was a big city, but this is something else entirely!” She trotted over to Brightling, letting an uncharacteristically wide smile onto her face. “How is it that we’ve never come this far east before?”

“Because…” Brightling gulped down another throat lump, shakily smiling at her. “T-t-t-tall b-buildings… Can we stay on the ground, please?”

Sparks chuckled, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Of course. It’s not like theatres go all that high up, anyway.” She wrapped her magic around the stroller’s handle again, starting down the sidewalk. “So, how about we go to the park? That’s nothing but ground! Plus it’ll give Oathsinger a place to play.”

“You mean the one with the huge rock?” Boltsinger inquired. “Pinkie’s sister, Maud, has told me all about it. I mean, I’ve seen it plenty of times, but she sees it in an entirely different way.”

Once again, Sparks shot Boltsinger a look of abject confusion. “Maud? What, is she obsessed with rocks or something?”

“Well, she does have a rocktorate in rock science.” The performance pony pointed out.

Another chuckle escaped the mare’s mouth as she accelerated her trot. “You have some weird friends, Bolt. But I guess that works for a weird pony like you.”

Boltsinger pridefully puffed out his chest. “I’ll take that as a complement!”

The ponies walked in silence for a short while, Brightling slowly calming himself down. He tapped his younger brother on the shoulder, moving to trot beside him. “So how is being a dad treating you?”

Boltsinger looked back at the brunette, tilting his head. “Honestly?” Brightling nodded. “About the same as being a substitute professor.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My nerves are shot.”

“How is that? From what I’ve seen, you’ve been doing great with Nova!”

“Thanks, but I’ve had a lot of help. He’s a wing-full when he sets his mind to it.” the orange stallion laughed for a moment, remembering a particularly amusing scene. “Just ask Princess Celestia!”

Brightling rolled his eyes, balling up his wing and lightly punching his sibling in the shoulder. “Quit your bragging, ‘Prince’. Not everyone can afford a royal babysitter.”

The brothers shared a laugh, casting their attention forward as a shrill squee sounded in the distance. “Oh my gosh! Brightling, Bolt, come see this!”

The stallions gave one another a panicked look, then broke into a gallop, weaving past a number of ponies until they skidded up next to Sparks. She was looking dreamily at a poster on the wall of the theatre, lifting her hind legs with Oathsinger looking over her head from atop her back. “What’s going on?!”

“They’re holding auditions for ‘Luna Bay’! I love that one!” she announced, trotting in place. “Oh, I only wish I could audition… but I don’t know the first thing about being in a musical, and I probably live too far away…”

“Luna Bay, huh?” Boltsinger repeated, looking over the poster. “I think I’ve seen that one before.”

Sparks’ eyes lit up with realization as she slowly turned her head to her in-law. “Wait a minute… You’re a performance pony… Do you think you could audition?”

Boltsinger shook his head with a hearty “Nnope. My life is a little too hectic to do something like this. Besides, I’m not good enough for Bridleway.”

“Utter nonsense!” a Trottingham tenor called from behind. “I know for a fact that you’d do Bridleway proud!”

Boltsinger’s ears twitched with familiarity. His eyebrows and ears went low as he turned to face the voice’s owner, a tall, brown Unicorn stallion with grey eyes and a short, black, messy mane and tail. He was covered in scuffs and dirt, with dust billowing off of him with every movement. He looked back at the Pegasus with an uneasy grin. “What are you doing here, Paradigm?”

A sudden neigh came out of the other present Pegasus. Brightling reared up, turning around and stomping on the concrete below. “Paradigm? You mean the one that--"

“Eeyup.” Boltsinger sternly confirmed.

That was all the elder sibling needed to hear, he balled his wings to resemble fists and stomped forward while his wife returned the foal to his stroller, flaring her horn and taking aim. “How is it you have the nerve to approach my brother after what you did?! What the heck is your deal?!”

Paradigm stepped back, raising a defensive hoof. “Wait a minute! I’m not here to harm anypony!” he pleaded, dropping his rump to the road. “I promise, I mean no harm! I just want to talk!”

“Yeah… I hear talking is something you’re really good at…” Brightling spat, stepping forward and winding up his wing.

“Please! I don’t want a conflict! I just need your help!” the Unicorn stressed, scooting backward.

Brightling reared up, twisting his body and swinging his wing at the pony in front of him. “I’ll believe that when elephants fly!” Paradigm covered his face with his forelegs, bracing for the impact. As the balled-up wing was about to hit its mark, Brightling felt a tug on his tail, pulling him back just enough for him to only hit the air. He looked back to see what the source was, finding his little brother’s teeth clenched down on his tail. “What the heck, Bolt?”

“You heard what he said, big brother. He’s just here to talk.” He patted his brother on the back reassuringly, easing his wing down. “Besides, if he wanted to fight, he wouldn’t have opened with a compliment.” He walked past the yellow pony to face the brown one. “What is it you need help with, and why do you need me for it?”

Paradigm lowered his forelegs, rising to his hooves again. “Have you ever lived in squalor? Because that’s how I’ve been living ever since you and your friends defeated me.”

“And why would we care about that?” Sparks wondered. “From the sounds of it, you got exactly what you deserved.”

Boltsinger looked back at the grey mare with the flattest expression he could muster. “Really, Sparks? You’re not exactly one to talk.” Sparks raised a hoof, trying to find a point, but soon found her foreleg falling limp as the performance pony peered back at Paradigm.

“Yes, well… Let’s just say it was a… humbling… experience.” the brown pony continued. “I’m not interested in some petty revenge, just as long as I can finally do something with my life again. And that… leads me here.”

“Here as in to me or here as in to Bridleway?” Boltsinger inquired.

“Well, initially it was just Bridleway, but then I caught a glimpse of you.” he explained, walking up to the poster. “You see, if there’s one skill I have that’s something I developed myself, it’s acting.”

“Yeah, I bet years of leading a cult will do that…” Brightling muttered, only barely whispering.

“Indeed.” Paradigm deadpanned. “If I may continue… It’s a skill that I thought I might put to use.”

Boltsinger brought his hoof to his muzzle. “So you’re auditioning for Luna Bay… I get it.”

Paradigm gave a definitive nod. “Quite. I was originally just going to wing it, but I saw you, and thought that if anypony could help me prepare for a performance, it would be you.”

Boltsinger looked at Paradigm’s weak smile, then back at his siblings, eyeing the audition poster behind Sparks. He let a soft smile create his muzzle as he looked back at the tall stallion. “Okay.”

Brightling tilted his head for a moment. “Okay?”

Paradigm tilted his own head in kind. “Okay?”

“Okay as in I’ll help you.” the royal Pegasus clarified.

The black-maned stallion visibly lit up, running up next to Boltsinger and rapidly shaking his hoof with both of his forelegs. “Oh, thank you, Bolt! Thank you so much! With your talents I just know I can nail--"

Boltsinger put his hoof over Paradigm’s mouth, stopping him in his ramble. “Under some conditions!”

Boltsinger was met with a rapid nod. “Yes, of course! I’d be happy to do this your way! What do you have in mind?”

“You’re allowed to reflect talents only as long as you are actively learning the skills you’re copying.” he clarified, returning his hoof to the floor. He looked Paradigm over once more, his face scrunching up slightly as the state of disrepair he was in made itself olfactorily known. “And you have to get cleaned up… Come with me!” he started down the street, pulling Paradigm along with him. “We’re gonna go see Rarity.”

Beightling and Sparks watched the orange stallion as he trotted off, turning to look at each other. “You’re going to go with them, right?” Sparks suggested.

“Of course. I’m not about to just trust somepony like that.” he replied. “Let Twilight know what’s going on. I’ll keep you posted.” He leaned in, giving her a swift kiss on the lips as he cantered after them.

The bell at the boutique rang, signaling to Rarity that more customers had arrived. She peeked out of the back room, watching as one of her employees approached a pair of stallions that she instantly recognized. “Ah! Boltsinger, Brightling! How lovely to see you!” she greeted, trotting over to them. She waved her employee aside. “I’ll handle these customers personally, dear.” She put a hoof around each of them guiding them into the store. “So what brings you two to Saddle Row? I knew you were in town, but I figured you’d be staying closer to Bridleway!”

“We’re actually here to help someone audition for Bridleway.” Boltsinger explained. “Plus, why not come visit?”

“You have a friend auditioning on Bridleway?!” she repeated, showing the stars in her eyes. “Oh, you simply must tell me who it is!”

“Um… That would be me.” a Trottingham accent announced. Rarity turned around to see who had called out, finding Paradigm standing in the doorway.

The fashionista’s jaw dropped slightly, quickly using her hoof to close her mouth. “You can’t possibly expect…”

“I understand if you don’t want to help me…” Paradigm interjected, making ready to leave.

“No, no, no, let me finish, please!” she corrected, magically pulling him forward. “I was saying that you can’t possibly expect to land an audition looking like that! Come with me!”

Paradigm took a panicked glance back at Boltsinger and Brightling as he was dragged across the floor. “What are you planning…?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, dear.” she assured him, moving him to a room far in the back. “Just… this!” She lifted him into the air, plopping him into an already-filling bathtub. She floated a large number of brushes and sponges forward, squirting some body wash onto him. “First, we’re going to get you cleaned up, and then it’ll be time to upgrade your look!”

Paradigm slouched over as the scrubbing began, going back and forth through his fur. “Do you really have to do the scrubbing? I think I can handle this much.”

The scrubbing stopped as Rarity realized what she was doing. She floated the various cleaning tools in front of the stallion with a mild blush on her face. “Yes… Yes, I suppose you can. Sorry!”

Paradigm took the tools, selecting to work and closing the curtain. “No problem.” He continued where Rarity had left off, scrubbing in silence for several moments. Eventually, a thought furnished the stallion’s mind. “So, why are you helping me? I’d have thought you’d drive me away after what happened when last we met.”

“Oh, that’s all in the past, darling.” Rarity stated, looking through a number of garments. “Besides, if Bolt is willing to give you a hoof, then I can certainly give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Really? Just because of him?”

“Well, not just him. I would have helped you if it were any of my friends vouching for you.” she clarified, lifting a pair of glasses to inspect them. “They’re all excellent judges of character, you know.” Paradigm turned to look at Rarity, putting the cleaning products aside. “Are you ready for what comes next?”

Paradigm’s horn flared a little, prompting him to turn around and hide his face. Calm down, Paradigm, she’s just a mare! You’ve dealt with plenty of them! What makes this one any different? He doused his horn, facing her again. She was holding up a towel, a hair dryer, a bottle of shampoo, and a large number of mane care products. He gave her a playful smirk, climbing out of the tub. “Bring it on!”

“You think Twilight would like this?” Boltsinger asked, holding up a dress from the hanger. It had been an hour since Rarity took Paradigm into the back room, and the restlessness had set in. The brothers had begun perusing the wares in the hopes that they might find something their respective spouses would appreciate. Brightling shook his head, looking back to his own selections. “Maybe we should check another section? Rarity’s organization… Well, really it’s Twilight’s organization… Anyway, the way things are organized here is confusing. How do you know if something is ‘chic’ and when it’s ‘trending’?”

“Don’t you help her with all this stuff?” Brightling wondered, lifting up a white gown.

“With a lot of help from Rarity, Sassy, or Coco.” he stated. “I can’t figure any of this stuff out by myself.”

“Well, then, I’m happy to know how much you trust my judgement!” Rarity declared, commanding the attention of the Pegasi. They turned to look at her smiling in the doorway. “Gentlecolts, I present to you the newly refurbished Paradigm!” she stepped aside, revealing the brown stallion behind her with his mane swept to one side, wearing a burgundy scarf and sporting a pair of simple, wireframe glasses.

“Well, fellows, what do you think?” he asked, adjusting his new eyewear.

Boltsinger approached the mirror-marked pony, thoroughly looking him over. “Well, I may not know anything about fashion, but I know a thespian when I see one.” He patted Paradigm on the back, smiling over him at the shop’s proprietor. “Rarity, you’ve done it again!”

Rarity beamed as her friend came to the counter, placing a number of bits next to the register. “Oh, think nothing of it, dear. You just make sure you nail that audition!”

“Will do!” Paradigm confidently confirmed. He raised his head high, making his exit with a new spring in his step. The other stallions gave her a farewell, following suit back into the streets. Once they were a ways back towards Bridleway, the Unicorn looked back. “So… About Rarity…”

“She’s spoken for.” Boltsinger interjected. “Don’t even bother right now.”

“I never said anything about that!” he deflected, accelerating to a trot.

Boltsinger smirked at his brother, matching Paradigm’s pace. “Please, I haven’t seen anypony so smitten since I saw the way Spike looks at Rarity!”

Paradigm’s pupils shrank, snapping his head to look at the bluenette. “Who looks at her?!”

Brightling smirked in kind, catching up to the two of them. “You know, Spike! Twilight’s assistant, really good friend, dragon…”

The newly-bespectacled pony brought his hoof forward, thoroughly scratching his muzzle. “A dragon, eh? Is he the one speaking for her?” He looked back and forth between the siblings, seeing little more than their grins that nearly gave way to a laugh. “You know what? Never mind! We have an audition to prepare for!” Boltsinger and Brightling gave up a simultaneous guffaw, nearly having to slow down as they continued on their way.

“He’s helping who to what?!” Twilight queried. She sat with Sparks on a blanket while the foals chased each other around. Sparks had recently finished explaining the encounter she had just been privy to, and the idea had taken root.

“It’s just like I said. He’s helping Paradigm to audition.” the grey mare reiterated. “He just showed up and asked for help, and he just… went for it!”

“And he wasn’t trying anything suspicious?” the Princess stressed.

Sparks shrugged, shaking her head. “Not unless you think it’s suspicious to look pathetic.”

Twilight pondered the consequences of her husband’s decision, taking a long look at the frolicking foals. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to let somepony like him so close, but…” she breathed a sigh, another strong memory coming to mind. “Things didn’t go very well when I tried to fight Starlight, and it doesn’t sound like he’s trying anything, anyway.” She approached the playing babies, scooping Nova up into her wing and kissing him on the forehead. “Maybe I’m overthinking this. Boltsinger has learned a lot about friendship and forgiveness over the years. I should trust his judgement!”

Sparks rolled her eyes, floating Oathsinger over to her and tickling him on the nose. “I guess I’m not in much of a position to argue, but I’m just not so sure about that pony.”

“Well, why don’t you ask what they think?” Twilight suggested, gesturing down the road. “They’re coming right now.”

Sparks looked where the Alicorn had indicated, seeing the Pegasi heading up the path with Paradigm nowhere in sight. “Welcome back, boys! Where’s your new old friend?”

“Got him set up at a hotel.” Boltsinger stated, coming forward and sitting with his family. “When he heard we were coming to see you, he said he was gonna work on his audition song without me for today, and we can pick it up proper tomorrow morning.”

“He looked a little nervous when he learned you were here, though.” Brightling noted, pointing to the Princess. “Like he was deliberately avoiding you.”

“Give him a break. He’s a little nervous around everyone.” Boltsinger retorted, his wingtip now firmly in his son’s mouth. “Can’t say I blame him, considering somepony tried to beat him senseless today.”

Brightling raised a defensive hoof. “Hey, I thought he was doing something… sinister…”

“And I appreciate that.” he assured. “But I’d like it if you didn’t try to punch them first in the future.” Brightling gave him a smile, shrugging and sitting on the blanket as Boltsinger turned to his wife.

Twilight put her free wing on his back, giving him a worried look. “Are you sure about helping him? He wasn’t exactly forthcoming last time he was friendly to us.”

“I can’t say I’m a hundred percent sure about it, but…” He freed his wing from his son’s mouth, wiping it off and placing it on her Cutie Mark. “I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t give him a chance.” He raised a hoof as if making a toast. “To renewed friendships, right?”

In that moment, Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. Her face slid into a bright smile as she put both of her forelegs around him, pulling him into a hug that could rival Pinkie Pie’s. “You have no idea just how proud you’ve made me!”

Boltsinger struggled to breathe for a moment, putting his hoof on her back. “I think I have some idea…” He forced his way to a more comfortable position, looking her in the eye. “But it’s your fault, you know. You’ve rubbed off on me in all of the best ways.”

“I’ll take that with pride.” she declared, moving to rest on her fetlocks and bringing a wing towards Nova. “So. How can I help?”

“Princess Twilight!” Paradigm nervously exclaimed as the mare in question appeared in the entrance to his hotel room with Boltsinger. “Why… are you here?”

“You didn’t think I’d miss out on this, did you?” she asked him, trotting into the room.

“Miss… what?” The Unicorn inquired, tentatively approaching her. “Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just excited to see your progress!” She told him. “Bolt and Sparks have told me all about what you’re up to, and I’m here to help in any way I can!”

There was a pause as Paradigm’s gaze drifted to the mare’s Cutie Mark. He shook his head free of any encroaching thoughts. “Are you sure? What about your time together with your family?”

“Brightling and Sparks are taking care of our son for now. It’s no problem.” Boltsinger explained, joining the other ponies in the room.

Paradigm recoiled slightly, not having been aware of the little Prince’s existence. “I see… Well, perhaps it’d be best if we began, wouldn’t it?”

“Eeyup.” the Pegasus confirmed, heading to the table and taking a seat. He scooped up the papers that sat on top, looking them over. “So, you understand that you’re going to have to sing in this audition, right?”

“Well, it is musical theatre, after all.” he affirmed, sitting at the table opposite him. Twilight sat at the table’s head, looking excitedly between them. “Is there anything specific I should perform?”

Boltsinger squinted at the music in his wings, his performer’s senses taking over. “Hmmmmmmm… Nope.” He tossed one sheet away, looking at the next. “Not that one…” Another sheet was flung aside. He lingered for a minute, then placed the sheet he inspected on the table. “This one.” He put the remaining papers aside, sliding the selection forward. “If you can get two minutes of this song down, you’ll have a solid chance. But you need to have the acting portion of the audition down, too.”

Paradigm pulled the sheet closer, looking it over. “I see… So, how do you read it?”

Boltsinger facehoofed, turning to his spouse. “Well, Twilight, this is where you come in. I’ve never been all that great at music theory.”

“It’s a good thing for both of us that I’ve studied it so much!” she agreed, pulling over a blank page and a quill. The next two hours consisted of an in-depth lesson on the musical staff, going over the rhythm, how measures work, and an explanation of each note that Boltsinger would demonstrate.

From there, Boltsinger assumed control once more, standing up and moving to the center of the room. He took a deep breath, beginning to belt out a song from the musical in question about the value of a mare, and how the performers lamented the fact that none were around. He went through it as if he were playing every part, as if to show the diversity he had to offer. As the song came to a close, Paradigm’s jaw dropped. “You want me to sing that… by myself?”

“It’s the best choice to show what you can do.” Boltsinger said, waving him forward with his wing. “Plus it’s a song from this production, which can earn you brownie points.”

Paradigm looked at Boltsinger like he was insane, floating the music over to look at it some more. “And how do you expect me to learn it within two days?”

“Oh, I don’t.” The orange pony deadpanned. “I expect you to have it down by day’s end.”

Twilight and Paradigm simultaneously recoiled, looking at each other, then back at the serious stallion. “All right, then… How do you expect me to learn it in one day?”

Boltsinger beamed, pointing his hoof at the mirror on the brown pony’s flank. “That would be where your Cutie Mark comes in!” He moved to stand directly next to him, pointing between himself and the music. “I know the song, and you have the ability to reflect skills related to Cutie Marks… Like my ability to sing and learn music!”

“So you want me to reflect your talents?” Paradigm reasoned, taking a glance at his Cutie Mark. “But don’t you think that’s cheating?”

Boltsinger shook his head, putting his hoof around the tall stallion. “Not at all. Remember the condition I gave you?”

Paradigm put his hoof to his muzzle, thinking back to the previous day. “I’m allowed to reflect talents, but I have to learn the skills… Oh. I see.”

“Exactly. Only reflect me half of the time. Then learn the song, and the singing in general, for yourself through repetition!” He flared the wing opposite the pony next to him, making as grand a gesture as he could manage. “And Twilight will give her notes while we do it, to make sure you have as good of a judge as possible.”

Twilight nodded, putting her hoof over her heart. “You can count on me! I’ll be as fair and impartial as possible!”

The smiling faces of the royal ponies poured a strange kind of light into the nervous stallion. For the past several moons, he had made a point of not using his talents, for fear that he might revert to the pony he was. The trust these two had shown him by simply offering that he use those talents for something different had thrown him off guard, sending him into another long look at the mirror over his haunches. “Well, okay. If you’re willing to trust me this much, I suppose I can do it.” He closed his eyes, lighting his horn with a flash of electricity. The lightning on his Cutie Mark crackled with a new kind of intensity as Boltsinger’s Cutie Mark appeared in his mirror. He stood tall, taking a deep breath…

Paradigm stood onstage the next day, his foreleg extended as he belted out the final notes of his musical number. The previous day’s practice had paid off, as his horn and Cutie Mark were unchanged from their normal state as he let out a final low note. The directors of the production sat in front of the stage, utterly enraptured in their applause. They whispered amongst themselves for a few moments, finally facing him again. “Mister Paradigm, that was truly marvelous!” one of them informed him, spreading her forelegs for emphasis. “We’d like you to come back tomorrow for rehearsal. You’ve got a part in the show!”

Paradigm’s jaw dropped as far as it would go. He stared, wide-eyed, at the smiling ponies in front of him. “I… Well… Thank you! I promise I won’t let you down!” He took a bow, leaping off of the stage and heading for the back where his friends awaited. “Boltsinger! Princess Twilight! I did it!”

“We saw! You were amazing!” Twilight confirmed, putting her hoof on his shoulder. “I’m so glad that you’ve found a way to apply yourself!”

“Thank you Princess.” The black-maned stallion said, putting his own hoof on the mare’s. “You’ve no idea how much that means to me.”

Boltsinger stepped beside his fellow stallion, patting him on the side with his wing. “I think we’ve got at least some idea.”

“You will be helping me through the rehearsals as well, right?” Paradigm asked, looking back at his new music coach.

Twilight breathed a sigh, shaking her head. “I wish we could, but we have responsibilities in Ponyville. I’ve got a school to run, after all.”

“And I’ve got friends and family that need my help.” Boltsinger added. “But I’ve sent a letter to a good friend of ours that really knows her music! She’s going to be coming down from Baltimare to pick up where we left off. You’ll do great, I promise!”

The Unicorn’s head sank, the pout on his lower lip making itself as obvious as possible. “I guess that works… How long are you staying before you have to go home?”

“Actually, we’re due at the train station, soon.” Twilight stated, moving towards the door. “Rarity is waiting outside with Nova if you want to say hi to her.” At the mention of Rarity’s name, Paradigm noticeably perked up. He immediately trotted out the door, prompting an eye roll from Twilight and Boltsinger as they followed him.

As the winged ponies returned to the sidewalk, Paradigm was already laughing alongside the couturier, turning his attention to the foal below. “So… this is the little Prince I heard about yesterday?”

“Oh, yes! This adorable little one is Prince Nova!” Rarity confirmed, picking the foal up with her forelegs and magically pinching his cheeks, getting a happy little giggle in return. “He’s just the most adorable little colt in Equestria!”

“Yes, he’s certainly powerful…” Paradigm said, letting a smidge of hunger appear in his eyes.

Rarity tilted her head, pulling the baby close with an intrigued expression. “Why, yes. He’s quite powerful… But that’s not what I said at all.”

“It isn’t?” He queried, putting his hoof on his forehead. “I’m terribly sorry… I must have mixed my words up. He’s very cute. I can see why his family loves him so much.”

“He’s easily the most important pony in our lives.” Boltsinger affirmed, patting Paradigm on the side as he stepped up to the stroller. The brown stallion remained still, his eyes continuing to peer at the dark orange foal. Boltsinger squinted slightly, nudging him a little harder. “And we’d do anything to protect him.”

Paradigm snapped free of his apparent trance, nodding and looking at the Pegasus. “Yes! Yes, as you should!” He glanced between Rarity, Twilight, and Boltsinger, taking a bow. “Well, I’ve kept you fine ponies long enough. I thank you for all you’ve done, and I hope to see you when the show begins proper!”

Boltsinger’s smile returned as he pulled the newly-established thespian into a hug. “Not even Celestia could tear me away, Paradigm.”

Author's Note

I bet you weren't expecting to see him again so soon, huh? Of course, there's reasoning behind it. But I'll leave it to you to figure out.
Next chapter should prove to be a different kind of doozy. I'm actually having to watch a movie all over again just so that I can get a good direction going for it! I really hope you enjoy it, but don't be surprised if it takes a while to come out. It may take a little longer to flesh out, if anything, just because of the basis I'm using.

Discord's Labyrinth

Scootaloo walked with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle down the main road of Ponyville, just leaving another day of school. They made their way to Ponyville proper, making a beeline for Sugar Cube Corner, where Fluttershy was laughing with a strange, brown, snake-like creature with the head and beard of a goat, the wings of a Pegasus and a bat, a cloven-hoofed deer leg with a green reptilian leg to offset it. He had a red tail reminiscent of a dragon, with arms that consisted of a lion’s foreleg on the right and an eagle talon on the left. His eyes were lopsided in size, with red pupils and a bright yellow where there would otherwise be white, and he had a single fang that protruded out over his jaw, and a pair of mismatched horns coming out of his head from either side of his short, black mane. They each placed a few bits on the counter, moving to a table. “So, what do you gals have planned fer the weekend?” Apple Bloom asked.

“You mean besides your crusade to get Applejack a boyfriend?” Scootaloo replied.

“Or our job as Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Sweetie Belle added.

Apple Bloom recoiled from the flat responses, rubbing her neck sheepishly. “Uh, yeah. Besides that.”

“Well, I’m probably gonna spend it at the castle.” The Pegasus started. “Twilight says she wants to talk with me about something, and Bolt has been on the tired side lately. I figure I’ll give him a little help with the baby.”

“Aww, you’re going to spend the weekend with Nova?” The Unicorn commented, resting her head on her hooves. “I wish I could help… But my dad wants me to go home and spend some ‘quality time’ with him and Mom…”

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both rolled their eyes, looking sternly at their white-coated companion. “Wow, spending time with your loving parents? That sounds so awful, doesn’t it, Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom nodded, throwing her head back. “I know! Good thing ponies like us don’t have anything like that, huh, Scootaloo?”

“Yeah, Sweetie Belle has it so bad.” Scootaloo answered, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between her fellow Crusaders, letting her head hang a little as the message came through. “Okay, I get it. You’re right. I shouldn’t take my family for granted.”

“So, both o’ y’all are doin’ stuff this weekend?” Apple Bloom reiterated. “No time to help me ‘n Applejack?”

“I should be able to help out as long as there isn’t some big disaster at the castle.” Scootaloo affirmed. “I mean, it’s just Nova. Not like something crazy is gonna happen!”

Behind the fillies, the creature with Fluttershy took a look over his shoulder at them, chuckling to himself. Fluttershy tilted her head, leaning towards him. “What’s so funny, Discord?”

“What?” He replied, looking back at her again. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just thinking of a joke I heard, once…” He put his arm around the mare, walking with her out the door and sending another mischievous glance at the Crusaders.

Scootaloo waved farewell to her friends as they went their separate ways. She set her sights on the castle, moving to a brisk trot. The weekend was looking to be fairly standard, but the new normal she was experiencing was far more desirable than anything she’d dreamed of. “I wonder what it is Twilight wants to talk to me about…”

“Oh, probably something boring, like having a ‘girls bonding night’ or some other touchy feely nonsense!” A snide tone commented from above, casting a shadow over her.

“Maybe, maybe not.” the filly figured. She trotted on in silence for a moment, stopping cold when the realization of who was above her struck. She looked up to see the odd face of the odd creature that was at Sugar Cube Corner. “Discord? What are you doing, following me around?”

Discord noodled his way back to his normal, towering stance, walking next to the Crusader. “Why, I heard you were going to be looking after the littlest pony in town, and I thought I’d offer my claw in assistance!” he explained, popping off his eagle talon to walk ahead of them. “I’m very good with foals, you know!”

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow at the Draconequus. “Aren’t you the whole reason Nova blacked out the whole sky just after he was born?”

“I admit, he and I didn’t exactly have the best start to our relationship…” he relented, kicking a rock in front of him into bubbles. “But now, he and I are thick as thieves! I’m at the very top of their list of potential babysitters!”

The level of Scootaloo’s disbelief was strong enough to show rather blatantly on her face as she turned her eyes forward. “You sure about that? ‘Cause I’ve seen that list before, and you weren’t on it.”

“Not on it?” Discord repeated, reeling his head back. “How could I not be on their sitters list?!”

Scootaloo casually shrugged. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask them.”

“Yes, I think we’ll do just that!” The chaos creature declared, raising his lion paw and snapping his claws. In a literal flash, the two of them were in the castle foyer. He looked around, scanning each of the hallways for any signs of equine life. “Now, where are those ponies?”

“Twilight’s probably in the library. I’d bet anything Nova’s with her right now.” Scootaloo reasoned, starting towards the room in question. “Bolt is probably--” A disturbingly loud snore permeated the castle halls. “... sleeping.”

Discord cringed at the noise, pulling off his horns and putting them in his ears. “That is sleeping?!”

“You get used to it.” Scootaloo said, performing yet another shrug. “Anyone would be tired taking care of that baby by themselves all week!”

“Well, I think he’s had enough of a nap!” He raised his clawless arm, the claw for which ran into the room and popped itself back onto his wrist, clutching the air in front of him and making a pulling motion. The snoring abruptly stopped as a screaming Boltsinger was magically yanked into the foyer.

Landing with a skid and a tumble, Boltsinger ended up at Discord’s feet. He climbed to a sitting position as Scootaloo rushed to his side. He looked up at the Draconequus with dark circles under his eyes, letting out a high-pitched yawn. “Oh, hey Discord…” Another yawn escaped the sleepy stallion as he stood up. “What brings you over?”

“I have something I’d like you to clear up.” He spat, raising a single finger and lifting the stallion to look him in the eye. “That little pony down there tells me that you and Twilight haven’t put me on your list of potential babysitters for your little foal. Can you tell her how ridiculous that is?”

Boltsinger sleepily groaned, throwing his head back. “It’s not ridiculous…” He informed him, flapping his wings and turning towards the hallway. “You’re not on the sitter list.”

Discord’s jaw fell off of his face, letting his arms fall limp as Boltsinger regained control of his movement. “I’m… I’m not?”

“Nnope.” He confirmed. “You’re kinda scary-looking.”

“And you do a lot of stuff with magic.” Scootaloo added. “Nova doesn’t like being handled with magic too much.”

“Plus you don’t opt into ‘caring for others’ all that much.” Boltsinger continued.

“And I already told you what happened when you two first met.” The filly finished.

The yellow and red orbs that were Discord’s eyes went wide at the deadpanning explanation. He jogged ahead, catching up with them as they plodded onward. “But I’m Discord! I can do anything!” He pulled his head off of his neck, dribbling it on the floor and performing ball tricks as he jumped in front of them. He landed with a firing of confetti from thin air, tossing his head back up to land upside down on his body again. “Literally! See?!” Boltsinger shrugged, walking past and turning to the kitchen. “I can turn myself into a pony, learn how to handle things without magic, whatever you need! Just give me a chance!”

Boltsinger sighed, turning on the stove. “Discord, you know I like you a lot. But that doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not you’re fit to care for a baby.” He retrieved a cup and placed it on the table. “Especially a baby who gets so scared so quickly, like Nova.”

Discord huffed, turning around and glaring over his shoulder at the Pegasus. “Well how would you know? You’ve never given me a chance!”

“Hey, if you want to learn how to take care of him, that’s fine.” He retorted, adding a bag to his cup. “I’ll teach you myself and tell Twilight all about it.”

“You don’t want to trust me right now, though, do you?” Discord stressed.

Boltsinger raised a poignant hoof, taking a sharp inhale, and paused for a moment. Discord turned to him with a hopeful look on his face, sinking once again as the orange stallion’s face flattened again. “No.”

“Fine…” The disharmonious one huffed. “You be that way, then…” He produced a needle from within his mane, poking himself in the side with it and beginning to deflate like a balloon. As he was nearing a state of crumpling onto the floor, another white flash appeared, leaving no trace of the defeated Draconequus in its wake.

Boltsinger took a sip of his freshly-poured tea, rubbing some of the sleep from his eyes. “So… What brought this on, anyway?” Scootaloo pulled an apple from the fridge, opening her mouth to speak as the stallion’s wings suddenly went rigid, loosing sparks of electricity and throwing him completely out of his tired state. “Hold that thought!” He rushed out to the foyer, where Twilight was galloping in with her wings and horn crackling with magenta sparks of their own. “You, too?”

“Uh-huh. It just hit out of nowhere!” The Princess stated. She looked over to Scootaloo, who had followed Boltsinger into the room. “Do you think you can take care of Nova until we get back?”

Scootaloo puffed out her chest, proudly placing her hoof against it. “Don’t you worry! I’ve got this!”

“That’s my girl!” Boltsinger cheered, giving her mane a quick tussle before his wings began to flap. “I promise we’ll do a bunch of things when we get--” A thunderclap sounded, the lightning coming from the two ponies singing the floor beneath them as they took off like the force of nature they imitated.

Following the sound of a foal’s crying, Scootaloo cracked open the door to the library, her eyes closed in a confident expression as she made her entrance. “Don’t worry, Nova, your big sister is here for you!”

“Oh, his ‘big sister’, huh?” Came an unnervingly familiar chide at the center of the room. Scootaloo opened her eyes, finding Nova floating in the air in front of a sassily-smiling Discord. The Draconequus was waving a finger back and forth, rocking the young pony in the air and keeping his limbs scrunched up to his body. “Do the colt’s parents know you call yourself that?”

Scootaloo recoiled to the point where she reared back, flapping her wings to keep her balance. “Discord!!!” She charged forward, leaping up and latching her forelegs onto the baby and glowering at the smug creature. “What are you doing?!”

Discord leaned back against the nearest table, continuing his rocking. “I’m just doing what I can to calm the little sugar down. Isn’t that obvious?”

Nova’s crying intensified as Scootaloo’s weight threw their swaying off balance. His horn lit up with a spark of lightning, a small, black bauble of magic appearing at the end of the protrusion that caused Discord’s finger to fall limp. The ponies fell to the floor, Scootaloo landing on her rump as Nova wrapped his forelegs around her, crying into her shoulder. She hugged him tight, stroking his mane with her hoof and rocking him gently. “It’s okay, Nova. You’re safe. Discord just doesn’t know you very well.” Her glare returned in full force as the baby slowly began to calm down. “You see? This is why you’re not on the babysitter list!”

“Yes, and you’re such a perfect ‘big sister’! No wonder they trust you, so!” He retorted, twirling his paw around and looking condescendingly back at her. “Be honest, you aren’t any better at tolerating him than I am at caring for him! Why do you think you’re so quick to calm him down when he starts wailing like that?” He pointed an accusing claw at her. “Admit it! You can’t stand him!”

Scootaloo twisted to move the foal further from the scariest creature in the room, aggressively pointing her wing back at him. “You don’t know anything about me! I’m here for him, just like everyone else is there for me!”

Discord began stroking his beard with his lion paw, slowly walking towards the door. “Yes… everyone is there for you. Your family is always there for you, aren’t they?” He raised his head to look at her from an upside-down perspective. “Tell you what, if you ever want to leave him with me for a while, just say so! I’ll ‘be there’ for you just like everyone else!” He opened the door wide, taking a bow. “Oh, and do tell your loving parents I said ‘hello’!” He spun around, swinging the door closed as he vanished once more in his typical white flash.

Scootaloo searched through the fridge in the kitchen, where Nova waited in his high chair. She pulled out a jar of the foal’s usual mashed carrots, hovering over and placing them in front of him. “You ready for dinner, little guy?” Nova let out a giggle, stomping his forehooves on his table. Scootaloo smiled back, opening the silverware drawer. As she pulled the closest spoon out, she heard the sound of shattering glass. “What the…?” She turned around to see Nova sniffling up a sob amidst a splattering of mashed carrots and broken glass. “Nova! What was that for?” Nova babbled curiously, putting his hooves in the squishy orange mass. Scootaloo squeaked, flying back over and pulling the hooves out. “No! Don’t do that! There’s glass all over!” She lifted the baby out of his chair, retrieving a towel and wiping his hooves clean. She took a glance at the foal’s face, which was contorted with hunger as she let out a sigh. “Right… You still need something to eat.” She scanned the kitchen, landing on a particular cabinet. She looked back at Nova with a smirk, flying up to reach it and opening it up to reveal the cookie jar. “Now, don’t tell your mommy and daddy I gave you one of these…” Nova perked up, lighting his horn and grabbing the jar from its resting place. Scootaloo removed the lid, reaching inside. “Wait a minute… Is there nothing in here?” She felt around some more, finding little more than crumbs. She breathed a sigh and shook her head to the little pony. “Sorry, little guy, no treat today…” And with that, the fussing began.

The day continued in a sort of formula. Scootaloo would walk through the halls with Nova on her back, and after five minutes, he would be crying. She checked his diaper, but found no stink. She brought him one of his toys, but the moment she looked away, the crying began anew. She would look back, and the toy would either be somehow broken or gone.

“How does one baby go through so many toys?” She wondered. She picked up the pieces of the latest victim and brought forth his favorite toy, a doll his mother had named Smarty Pants. “Now, don’t you tear her up! Your mommy would be sad if that happened!” Nova squeed with excitement, hugging the doll tightly.

The hours went by again, with the crying continuing ad nauseum. The first hour or so, she had no trouble tolerating it. Going on five, though, was starting to grate on her. Finally, it was time for bed. She carefully opened the door to the nursery, carefully stepped inside with the baby held up on her back by her wings, and carefully eased him into his cradle. She pulled his blanket over him, thankful that he wasn’t screaming once again, and planted a kiss on his forehead. Slowly and carefully, she backed away, headed for the door. She breathed a small sigh, turning around to make her exi--

And the crying began again. Out of the filly came a loud and annoyed groan that nearly matched the colt’s in volume. She turned around to face him, taking quick, angry breaths. “Why in Equestria have you been so fussy today?! How is it that everything we do together has gone so horribly wrong?!” She turned around again, glaring back over her shoulder. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish Discord had taken you off of my hooves!” She stomped out the door, kicking it closed behind her.

And then the crying stopped.

An eerie silence befell the castle, sending a chill down Scootaloo’s spine. Scarier still was the chuckle that soon penetrated the air, coming from everywhere at once. It was a voice she recognized, but somehow it still sent her reeling. “Uh… Discord?” She started, gingerly raising her hoof.

The chuckle ceased momentarily. “Yes, Scootaloo? What is it?”

“You’re not…” A lump formed in her throat that she proceeded to swallow. “...actually taking Nova with you, are you?”

“Isn’t that what you asked of me?” He teased.

“I… guess so.” She reluctantly confirmed, turning back to the door. “He’s not in any danger, is he? Is he scared?”

“Oh, what do you care? You just said how much you wished I had taken him!” He retorted, the voice growing louder. “I’ve just taken him to my place!”

“That’s not fair! You know I didn’t mean it!” Scootaloo spat, stomping her hoof.

“It doesn’t matter, you still said it! I’m just living up to my end of the bargain!” The door opened in front of the filly, revealing a landscape with a large stone maze leading to a strange-looking castle against an orange sky. “You can come and get him if you’d like!”

The young Pegasus held a wide-eyed stare at the landscape before her. She and her fellow Crusaders had heard from Fluttershy and Boltsinger about Discord’s realm, but this defied everything she had heard. She had expected a black void, floating islands, various impossible phenomena… But this was a spooky labyrinth with a big, scary castle at the end. The tingle made its way down Scootaloo’s spine once more as her teeth chattered. “C-c-can I at least bring some f-f-friends?”

“Oh, yes, a friend.” Discord replied. “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be very sporting of me to make you go through it all alone, would it?” A ripple formed in the image in front of her from which emerged the Smarty Pants doll, pen and notebook at all, which landed with a squeak at her hooves. “Here, you can take this with you. Enjoy your little romp! We’ll be waiting for you at the end!”

Scootaloo looked down at the doll, bending over and picking her up with a shrug. “Well, Smarty Pants, at least you’re here…” She placed the plush on her back, scooping up its accessories as she crossed the threshold of dimensions. “We should hurry, though! Nova needs our he--" Not but a moment since she had entered the realm did she hit a wall. She stumbled backwards, seeing miniature Rainbow Dashes circling her head as she regained her balance.

From her back, Scootaloo heard the sounds of scribbling. “Hmm… It seems that, rather than taking you to the point indicated by the image we were shown, we were transported to a place decidedly closer to the entrance to the labyrinth in question. How such a tactic can be used for delay has thus far been thought to be impossible, but through your daze, it seems clear that it was meant to knock you off guard…” The scribbles were briefly interrupted by a snort of a laugh. “... which, evidently, seems to have succeeded!” Scootaloo yelped, jumping backward and standing on her hind legs. There was a soft crumpling sound behind her, prompting the filly to turn around. There, sitting up on her own and rubbing her rear, was Smarty Pants. “Owww! Now why did you have to go and do that?! I’m only here to help…”

“How are you talking?!” Shouted the Crusader, backing up against the wall and holding her hooves in front of her. “Is this one of Discord’s tricks?”

“If you want to be specific, yes. I’m able to move, think, and talk entirely due to his magic.” The doll confirmed. Scootaloo flared her wings, ready to come down upon her as she raised her arm. “But before you stomp me into oblivion, allow me to explain myself!”

Scootaloo’s wings made a flap, pulling her back from the impending impact. “Okay… You’ve got one minute!”

“Thank you.” Smarty Pants picked up her pen and notepad, placing it next to her ear as she stood tall and cleared her throat. “Discord's magic may have been what animated me, but my thoughts and actions are my own. Likely due to such prolonged exposure to my dearest Twilight’s magic when she was a filly, and the emotions felt upon my return to her. Right now, the safety of young Nova is of paramount concern, and is, thusly, my first priority. Therefore, I am obligated to help you on your quest, that we might expedite it! Does that make sense?”

Scootaloo’s daze had returned. Her eyes were wobbling back and forth as she tried to make sense of the way Smarty Pants had worded her reasoning. She raised her hooves to her face, giving herself a slap on each side of her face. “Okay, so you’re here to help?”

“Affirmative!”

“All right, hop on.” She directed, turning around to put her tail next to the plush. Smarty Pants did as bid, climbing up the tail and plopping her rump down atop the pony’s haunches. “Okay… Now all that’s left is the big… s-s-s-spooky maze…”

Discord lounged in a large stone chamber with old-fashioned furnishings, wearing a flowing white tunic under a black vest, a lacy ascot coming out over the collar. His mane had all but disappeared, with his horns instead poking out of an impossibly poofy blonde mat of hair that draped down behind his head. He played with a clear crystal ball in his talon, swaying it back and forth with little more than a care. He heard the faint sound of a babbling baby, snapping his attention to the foal across the room. He snapped his claws, making a winged teapot appear in the middle of the room that fluttered curiously next to the baby. “You know, little pony, you remind me of something…”

A small Discord rose from some of the pillows littered throughout the room. “Remind you of what?”

“Oh, I don’t know… some babe.” The original replied, dropping a grape lazily into his mouth.

“What babe?” Another tiny Discord asked.

“The babe with the power.” The original stated, sitting up.

“What power?” A third miniscule Draconequus inquired.

“Some power called… voodoo.” Came the large one’s response.

“Who do?” The first of the small creatures wondered.

The main Discord growled, glaring at the smaller version of himself. “YOU DO!”

“Do what?!” The miniatures simultaneously queried.

Discord stood to his full height, bringing up his fists. “REMIND ME OF THE BABE!” The smaller Discords shrieked, diving under their respective pillows. After a moment, the remaining Draconequus looked over at Nova. “Wait a minute… What was I talking about?” Nova scooted back in his spot, hiccuping a little as his face once again scrunched up. “Oh…” And the crying began anew. “... poo…”

The giant stone door to the labyrinth opened wide, letting Scootaloo and her plush-filled partner in. Smarty Pants climbed up onto the filly’s head, looking around at the walls. “So, I have an inquiry to make of you, Scootaloo.” Smarty Pants began. She pointed up to the open roof of the labyrinth. “Why don’t we just fly straight to the castle?”

“That’d be too easy. Discord wouldn’t let me try that for a second!” She reasoned, putting her hoof on the unreasonably damp wall. “Whenever he does stuff like this, he goes all-out to make you play by his rules. Or so I’ve heard from Rainbow Dash.”

“I see… So we’re unwittingly tasked with navigating the labyrinthian structure to the point of completion.” She patted the pony’s mane a few times, pointing forward. “Well, the path lies ahead! Onward to adventure!”

Scootaloo continued down the straight path ahead of her, finding a shroud of fog falling from the walls and obscuring her vision. She began lightly flapping her wings, whipping away much of the dense cloud. “Really? Fog? Discord should know better!” she chuckled to herself, moving to a canter. “If that’s the only thing he’s got planned, this is gonna be easy!”

She pushed on for what felt like hours, despite having only been a minute or two. “I do believe this is the longest straight hallway I’ve ever seen.” Smarty Pants commented, looking between the walls. “Are there no turns anywhere? Or does this go on forever?”

Scootaloo dug her hooves into the dirt, seeing the point the plush had raised. “I’m… not sure…” She moved closer to the walls, where she spotted the occasional vine creeping down over the side. “It doesn’t look like there’s any other way to go…” She investigated the vine more closely,putting her hoof on the wall beside it. “But if reading Daring Do has taught me anything…” She put her other forehoof on the other side of the vine, where a ripple appeared in the wall. “It’s that things aren’t always what they seem! I knew it!” She excitedly teared back, cantering through the false wall and into a far more winding hall.

“Good! Good! Now this is a maze I can make sense of!” Smarty Pants stated. She pulled forth her pen and pad, furiously scribbling some semblance of a map to follow. “Choose whatever direction you desire, young Crusader! I shall chart our course via the tried and true method of trial and error!”

Scootaloo looked nervously back at the doll, pointing down the different paths. “Are you sure about this? It looks like a big maze… It could take us all day if we try everything.”

“Do you have any idea how much by dearest Twilight and I ventured through the maze in the castle gardens when she was a filly?” She asked, bonking the pony on the head as hard as her stuffed arms would let her. “I’ve mapped mazes before, I can do it again!”

Scootaloo's eyebrow rose inquisitively. “... You weren’t like this back then. How do you remember something that far back?” Smarty Pants squinted the buttons that were her eyes, gesturing to the very world around them. “Oh yeah, magic.”

“Now, then, shall we continue?”

“Smarty Pants…” Scootaloo started, moving slowly and panting. “We’ve been at this for three hours…”

“Yes. And what is your point?” She asked.

“Do you know where to go yet?” The filly inquired with an exhausted groan.

“Of course, dear filly!” The plush pointed forward at a large archway.that was buried in thick fog.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes, beginning her flapping again as she passed through. The fog dissipated in an instant, the area around them seeming to spin as they were met with two doorways. Over each was a giant playing card featuring Discord prominently on the front, with the left one showing the King of Diamonds and the right one showing the Queen of Spades. “So, which door do we take?”

“Oh, I suggest you open him up!” A high-pitched, almost feminine-sounding Discord voice suggested. Scootaloo jumped back, looking frantically between the two cards. The Queen of Spades smiled back at her, waving its lion paw.

The King of Diamonds gruffly coughed into its talon, commanding the duo’s attention. “What? Did you honestly expect us to just be doors? Where’s the fun in that?”

“I… uh… What’s going on, here?” Scootaloo wondered, stepping closer.

“It’s simple, darling. You just pick one of us and whoever you choose will open up!” The Queen explained. “One of us leads to a nice castle on the hill, and the other leads to a place of putrescence!”

“Bah! You can’t trust that one!” The King retorted, pointing an accusing claw at his counterpart. “All she ever does is lie! Not like the honest paragon that I am!”

The Queen of Spades gasped in disbelief.“My word! You dare call moi a liar?! I’ve never told a lie in my life! Unlike you, you loose-lipped lethargic lackadaisic lunatic!” the two Dis-cards began arguing incessantly, trading insults like they were cupcakes. Scootaloo’s neck began to tire as she looked at whoever was speaking. She backed up slowly, trying to get away from the crazy cards, but found her rump hitting a wall where the opening should have been. As the filly yelped, the argument stopped. “Oh, I’m sorry, little filly. You can’t turn back, now! The only way onward is through one of us!”

Smarty Pants turned a page in her notebook, holding up her pen once more.“So, what you’re getting at is that one of you always lies, while the other tells the truth?”

“Yes, that’s what we mean!” The gruff-sounding card confirmed. “Just ask us anything! She’ll lie right to your face, but I will give you an infallible fact!”

Smarty Pants made a small note, looking at the two of them with a hint of scrutiny. “Hmmmmm… Very well, then. I have a question for the Queen of Spades, there.”

“Yes, yes, ask me anything! I’ll tell you only facts!” The Queen boasted, rubbing her chest with her eagle talon. She was immediately met with a scoff from her counterpart.

“Does your Kingly counterpart here lead in the correct direction?” The posh plush pondered.

The Dis-cards recoiled at the simple question, looking at each other, then back at the pony plush. The King cleared his throat once more. “Is that really what you want to ask? You don’t have any questions to try and figure out who is lying?”

“Yes, I’m quite certain.” Smarty Pants confirmed, stowing her notebook away. “Would you care to answer my question?”

“Yes! Yes, of course!” The Queen answered, clasping her claws together. “Your assumption would be the correct one. Behind me lies a pit of unquestionable stench. However, my lying compatriot has a path that serves as a nice little shortcut towards the center of this maze!”

Scootaloo looked questioningly back at Smarty Pants. “So, what do you think? Should we go for it?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Smarty Pants affirmed. She pointed at the King of Diamonds. “This is most definitely the door we desire!”

“And how can you be so sure of that?” The King spat, crossing his arms. “All you did was ask a single question to a blatant and foul liar of a card!”

Smarty Pants put her hooves on her hips, glaring daggers at the huffing image. “Tell me, my dear suit, are you familiar with the card game known as ‘Hearts’?”

The King of Diamonds thought for a moment, looking from side to side as he reaffirmed his stance. “Never heard of it!”

The doll made her best effort to roll her eyes, resulting in a playful-looking tilt of the head. “I see… To cut to the chase, Hearts is a game in which you want as few points as possible, and in this game, the Queen of Spades appearing in your hand is the worst possible occurence you could expect, as it gives you a whopping thirteen of them!”

Scootaloo tilted her head, pointing at the smiling Queen of Spades before them. “So what does that have to do with this? If it’s the worst card you could get, doesn’t that mean she’ll be the one lying?”

The plush pony gave a firm nod, patting her friend on the head. “Quite so, in the event things were made to make sense. But think for a moment…”

Scootaloo took another look between the doors, pondering Smarty Pants’ suggestion. “If things made sense…” She let out a gasp as her eyes went wide. “But this is Discord we’re dealing with! Things don’t make sense!” She buzzed her wings, galloping towards the King of Diamonds and putting her mouth on the side of the card.

The King reeled from the filly’s jaws making contact, moving as far away from her mouth as possible. “Eeew! Eeew! Please, don’t pull! I’ll open up myself!” He swiped his talon at her, prompting her to let go and step back. The King of Diamonds grumbled to himself, reaching his talon out and grasping the edge of the card. He gave a small tug, causing the card to roll into itself, revealing a shadowy opening.

Scootaloo peered inside, seeing little more than a black mass with some faint flames flickering in the distance. “And you’re sure this is the right way to go?”

“Fear not, Crusader! I’m quite positive this is the way to go!” Smarty Pants declared. She climbed up Scootaloo’s mane, taking a comfortable position atop her head and pointing dramatically forward. “Onward to adventure!”

The doll’s declaration seemed to stifle the shiver that had begun its way down Scootaloo’s spine. She took a ginger step forward, teeth chattering slightly as she went. “Okay, then… Piece of cake…”

“That’s the spirit!” Assured the toy. “From here on out, this will be easy as--” Scootaloo’s hooves landed on a shifting surface, moving easily beneath her. Once all four of her legs were past the threshold, she began sliding, as if down a steep incline with a shrill scream. “-- PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!!!”

Discord was in a panic for the first time in recent memory. His ears were filled with the sounds of a crying colt, and he had no idea just what the baby wanted. “First you were scared, I get that! That’s why I did this!” He motioned to the room around them, which was filled with happy smiling images, constantly laughing, with little birds flying about. “So nothing is scary anymore! So what’s wrong?!”

As Discord stepped closer, Nova spread his wings, taking off around the room. His eyes still closed, he started headlong towards the wall. An alarm sounded in the Draconequus’ mind as he shot in front of him, positioning himself between the waif and the wall.

Discord let out an ear-splitting scream at the impact. He grabbed onto the baby and pulling his horn out of his stomach as they hit the floor. “Now that wasn’t very nice…” He stated, blowing into his thumb to fill the hole the horn had left. “Why don’t we put this…” He plucked the horn off of the Alicorn’s head, hanging it on the high wall. “... away for now. Don’t want you abusing it… or me…” He held Nova up, giving him a big, snaggle-toothed smile as more crying came out.

Scootaloo and Smarty Pants slid down a steep incline, the momentum forcing the filly into a tumble. She went on for a few more seconds, landing on her face in the dirt below with Smarty Pants landing softly on her tail. “Ugh… Where the heck are we?”

The pony and the plaything scanned their surroundings, finding a strange red swamp around them. It reminded Scootaloo of the fire swamp Apple Bloom had told her about to the south of Ponyville, with spouts of flame popping up every now and then. Smarty Pants returned to her spot on the filly’s head, pulling out her notebook and scribbling. “Looks to be a fire swamp.” She pointed to an opening between the trees with her pen. “That seems to be the direction we need to go.”

“You sure about that?” Scootaloo asked, standing up and stepping forward. “From the looks of it, we’re farther away than we were before!”

“Trust me on this, young Scootaloo. My judgement is sound!” She assured, making a final note with a flourish of her pen. “Just keep moving forward, and we’ll be there in no time!”

“Yes! There in no time!” A mocking Discord voice called from above.

“Where the endlessly crying baby waits for his ‘big sister’!” Another of the same kind relayed from the trees.

“Keeping you from your friends and interests…” Came yet another Discord, this one from beneath.

“Don’t you just want to turn around?” The first of them asked. Leaves fell around them, swallowed up by a ring of fire as a Discord that stood a head shorter than Scootaloo popped out of the flames, tossing its head back and forth.

Scootaloo let out a shriek, beginning to scoot backwards. She stopped short when her tail brushed against what felt like another Discord. Looking all around, she found herself surrounded on all sides by various tiny Draconequus, all of them playing around with their dismembered body parts as if they were toys. One of the few whose body was intact rushed up to face the filly, looking her in the eye. “Why don’t you let us handle the baby tonight? You can go home! Do what you like! Have yourself a good time!”

“Or you could stay with us!” Another suggested, swordfighting another Discord with its eagle talon as a sword. “We can teach you all kinds of fun games!”

“Daring stunts!” Chimed another.

“And have wild adventures!” Rang yet another, swinging by from a rope made of several tails.

The first of the Discords nodded, quirking its eyebrows at Scootaloo. “They have a point! Doesn’t that sound like fun? Much better than a responsibility to a foal that isn’t even your real brother, right?”

Smarty Pants looked worriedly down at the winged Crusader. “You’re not going to actually listen to them, are you?”

The young Pegasus pondered for a few moments, glancing between the various Discords in their recreation. “It sure would be interesting to join them…”

“Come on, Scootaloo! Join up!” Came a drawl from the distance.

“Yeah! It’s fun!” A familiar squeak affirmed.

Scootaloo looked to see where the voices were coming from, spotting two silhouettes she recognized. In front of a wall of fire, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stepped forward with enormous smiles lining their muzzles. “Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? What’s going on?”

Apple Bloom stepped forward, offering a hoof. “Discord brought us here so we could all hang out fer as long as we wanted!”

“Yeah! No annoying siblings or parents or responsibilities to hold us back!” Sweetie Belle added. “It’ll be great!”

“Yes… Great!” One of the Discords repeated. It was immediately joined by its companions, repeating the same word to try and tempt her into giving in.

“Come on, Scootaloo, don’t worry so much! It’s just Nova!” The Unicorn stressed, bringing her hoof forward.

Sweetie Belle’s words bounced off the back of Scootaloo’s mind, repeating themselves in such a way that even the pleading Discords couldn’t overpower it. Her eyebrows lowered as she met the other ponies gaze with a fierce scowl. “‘Just Nova’? ‘Just Nova’? You know that he’s way more than ‘just’ Nova! He’s my little brother! And I promised I would take care of him!” She pointed a firm hoof at both of them. “You two, of all ponies, should know what that means!”

Apple Bloom scoffed, giving her a side-eyed glare. “Just how is he yer little brother? He ain’t even related!”

“You’re not my friends…” Scootaloo growled, slapping the offered hooves away. “And I don’t belong here!” She forcefully flared her wings, sending a gust of wind at the ‘ponies’ in front of her. Their falsehood was immediately proven, easily blown out like a flame in a tornado. She spun around, finding a large number of the Discords closing in on her. “BRING IT ON!!!” She shouted. With another flap of the wings, she rocketed towards the nearest of them, slamming her hoof into its jaw and sending its head flying into the distance. She looked behind her, seeing another of them trying to sneak up. She audibly snorted, giving her strongest buck to its face to let it share the fate of the previous one. Her wings buzzed rapidly as more of them began to close in, and she was airborne, swooping down and literally knocking heads around left and right.

Smarty Pants held onto the filly’s mane for dear life, easily blown back by the velocity. “Scootaloo, I greatly appreciate your resolve, but would you be so kind as to slow down!”

Scootaloo did more than slow down. Rather, she stopped entirely, causing her plush friend to nearly fly off of her head. “Sorry about that!” She looked down at her opponents, who seemed to be wandering around without their heads like panicking fowl. “I guess I got carried away…”

“It would seem so.” Smarty Pants affirmed, snickering to herself at the antics beneath them. “Wait a second… You’re flying, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Weren’t you afraid to fly here? Something about breaking some rule Discord might have in place?”

Scootaloo bonked herself on the head. “Oh yeah… I wonder why he hasn’t done anything...”

A baby’s laughter echoed through the chamber in which Discord took residence. The Draconequus in question stomped angrily forward, carrying an absurdly large fire hose under his arms. “Do something like that to me, will you? Have a taste of your own medicine!”

Waterfalls burst forth from the castle at the center of the maze as Scootaloo and Smarty Pants rose above the trees. “Well, whatever he’s doing, he’s not stopping us! Let’s fly!” She revved her wings for a moment, prompting the plush to tighten her grip, then shot towards the main castle.

There was a measure of silence between them as the filly flew for a few moments. Sootaloo’s face was more determined than ever, her eyes focused. Smarty Pants felt a question burning at the back of her mind. Being the brain she was, the curiosity easily overwhelmed her, and she cleared her throat. “So, Scootaloo… I have a question for you.”

The focus in the filly’s eyes faltered only slightly, turning her eyes up to try and look at her. “Oh? What’s up?”

“You’ve been referring to yourself as young Nova’s ‘big sister’...” She began, suddenly finding herself mildly tossed about by Scootaloo throwing her head back with a groan.

“What? Are you going to question all that too?” She queried.

“Not at all!” The doll continued, patting her ear. “I’ve noticed that you usually refer to yourself as such when you’re alone with the colt, but I never heard you do so with anypony else present. Is there a reason for such self-consciousness?”

“Oh… that…” One of Scootaloo’s forelegs draped itself over the other as she cast her eyes only slightly downward. “Well, it’s not like we’re really brother and sister… It feels like it, but I don't think anypony else sees it that way…”

“I see…” She once again produced her pen and notebook, scribbling in a note and stowing them away. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you are a stupendous elder sibling.”

Scootaloo let out a small smile as she landed at the castle gate. “Thanks, Smarty Pants. And I think… you have a really good mane!”

Smarty Pants puffed her chest out, running a hoof through the yarn that was her mane. “But of course!” She drew her gaze up the imposing doors before them, swallowing a lump in her non-existent throat. “So… All that’s left is…”

Scootaloo swallowed a lump of her own, putting her hoof to the door. “Yeah…”

Smarty Pants briefly stroked the mane beneath her, breathing a heavy sigh. “You know, Crusader, it’s been a pleasure adventuring with you.”

“Right back at’cha.” She affirmed. She brought her hoof up to the doll, who gave it the best bump she could. “Onward to adventure?”

“Quite so!” Smarty Pants stood tall, pointing ever forward. “Onward to adventure!”

“Right!” Scootaloo cried as she pushed the door open.

Scootaloo galloped into a dripping wet chamber that was filled with strange smiling faces, several flying objects darting around the room. “What the heck happened here?”

Smarty Pants put her hoof to her muzzle, examining the room. “I imagine Discord may have been… editing the room… to alleviate young Nova’s fears.” She spotted a large doorway leading upstairs with puddles all over. “It seems they’ve retreated to a different location, though.”

Scootaloo approached the steps, taking a deep, preparatory breath. “Okay… I can do this…”

Smarty Pants stood up, springboarding off of the filly’s mane and onto the floor below. “I believe I will remain here. As much as I would like to save the dear boy, myself, I’m little more than a plaything to him. It would be best if his beloved big sister came to get him herself.”

Scootaloo looked down at the doll, giving her a wide smile and pulling her in for a hug. “You’re way more than just a plaything, Smarty Pants! You’re a loyal friend, and I don’t think anypony will forget that!”

Smarty Pants returned the hug in kind, squeezing as hard as her stuffed arms would allow. “Thank you, dearest Scootaloo.” She pulled back, motioning towards the stairway. “Now, go confront that Draconequus and save our Nova!”

The winged Crusader spread her wings wide, raising her hoof with determination. “Right!” She reared back, kicking the air in front of her, and galloped on.

“And… tell my dearest Twilight I said… ‘salutations’...” The plush punctuated, sitting on the floor and going limp.

The sheer number and angle of staircases Scootaloo saw threw her for a loop. From all around, she heard a strange mixture of laughter and crying from Nova. She walked to the edge of the platform she was on, looking over curiously.

“Enjoying the view?” Discord asked, appearing from the other side of the pony’s platform. She jumped back with a shrill scream. “I’m happy to see you’ve made it this far!” He flashed away, appearing on the staircase above her with a glass orb in his paw that showed images of her journey so far. “You’ve certainly been through a lot. It’s quite impressive!” The mixture of baby sounds cleared up, revealing a laughing foal who appeared inside a bubble, floating around the room.

Scootaloo’s ears dropped as she flared her wings. “I’ve got you, Nova!” She jumped off of the platform, reaching for the baby. The bubble bounced away from her, floating above Discord as the force of gravity pulled her towards… the ceiling? She landed with a cloud of dust, looking up at the now upside-down Discord smirking back. “What’s going on?!”

Discord chuckled, slithering his way up to the filly’s point of impact and coiling around her. “What? Did you expect things to make sense?” He floated the crystal ball in front of her, showing the earlier trials. “You should know me better than that!”

“Okay, fine.” She replied. She rose to her hooves and sent her harshest glare at the creature surrounding her. “But you still have to give Nova back! He’s my responsibility!”

“Ah, yes, the ‘big sister’ is here to save the brother she wanted me to take off of her hooves!” He teased, flicking her nose with his talon. “Are you sure he even wants to go back with you? He’s laughing right now! Maybe he wants to stay with Uncle Discord?”

Scootaloo took a look over at the floating foal. The bubble he was encased in looked to be filled with animate feathers, all tickling him from all sides and making him laugh himself to tears. Looking harder, she noticed there was something missing that just didn’t seem right. “You took away his horn?! Why would you do that?!”

“Better to not suck away magic with!” He explained, flying over to the bubble and holding it between his claws. “Better to not skewer friends with, too…”

Scootaloo stomped as hard as she could, stepping towards the chaos spirit. “Turn him back to normal and send us back right now, Discord! I mean it!”

“Or you’ll what?” He spat back, teleporting to appear towering over her. “Belittle me? Underestimate me? Treat me like some clown who doesn’t have a serious thought in his entire brain?!” His pupils began glowing as his outfit and strange hairstyle melted away. “I just wanted to take care of the baby for a while! Give you and my so-called friends a break from the monotony! I have been nothing but kind to all of you, and this is how you repay me?” The room began to darken as dark clouds formed over them. “Well, if you don’t want me to be kind, then I can show you just how cruel I can--”

“DISCORD P. SULLIVAN! YOU GET YOUR TAIL BACK HERE THIS VERY INSTANT!” A baritone bellowed from all directions at once. The entire chamber shook at the noise, popping Nova’s bubble and immediately cowing the great creature that stood before the young Pegasus. The baby spread his wings wide, directing himself to fall right onto Scootaloo’s back as he gave her a warm hug.

“Oh… Well, it seems like mommy and daddy are home…” He snapped his claw one more time, blinding everyone with a brilliant flash that faded into the three of them in Nova’s nursery, with Twilight and Boltsinger standing just outside the doorway with the most enraged looks the reality-bending being had ever seen. “Hello, Twilight!” He greeted, gingerly twinkling his claws.

“Don’t you ‘Hello, Twilight’ me, mister!” The Princess yelled, flying over to his face and shoving her hoof into his nose. “I don’t care what your intentions were, you took my baby into your dimension…” Her hoof poked against his face, triggering him to shrink slightly. “You put Scootaloo in danger…” She poked his face again, prompting another shrink. “You sent Boltsinger and I to the middle of nowhere with the lightning…” The face poke occurred once more, turning the Draconequus to appear about a foot tall in height. “And you made… my… son… CRY!!!” Discord shrank to the size of a cockroach, slumping over. “You’ve got a lot to answer for!”

Discord weakly pointed over at Scootaloo, rubbing his neck as he looked at the floor. “Well, Scootaloo said that she wished I’d--”

“I don’t care! Scootaloo also came through and made up for her slip-up!” Twilight interjected. “And I don’t blame her for getting frustrated, after all you seem to have been doing to make Nova get all fussy!” She floated over the broken jar. “Destroying the jar for his food? Nova wouldn’t have done that! He’s too scared of crashing noises!” She floated over a dark purple hair next. “Pulling his tail? Any foal would cry at that!” She then gestured to the room, which was filled with torn up toys. “And ripping up his toys?! What were you thinking?! Were you seriously that angry that you’re not on the babysitter list?”

“Well… Yes…” He admitted, hanging his head low. “I thought you didn’t take me seriously… And it just made me so angry!” He returned to his full height, clenching his claws. “I thought I had to do something to prove that I can do it!”

“I appreciate the sentiment, Discord…” Boltsinger began, taking Nova in his wing. “But all you’ve done today is prove precisely why we didn’t put you on the list.” Discord returned to his slump, placing his hindquarters on the floor. “You’re a great friend, but… as a caregiver… You have no idea what you’re doing. And we can’t trust anypony, or Draconequus for that matter, who doesn’t know what they’re doing, to take care of our son.”

“Yes… You’re right…” He relented, twiddling his thumbs. “Taking care of a baby was far more work than I expected… But it was also an interesting experience. I don’t think I’ve ever faced a challenge so… unique.” His face brightened up as he looked between the parents. “Does the offer to learn how to care for him still stand?”

Twilight looked back at her husband, a look of uncertainty making itself as obvious on her face as icing on a cake. “I don’t know…” She returned her attention to Discord. “It’s going to take a lot to earn back my trust, Discord. Are you sure this is how you want to do it?”

“I’m positively certain.” The Draconequus confirmed with a bright, fanged smile.

Boltsinger stepped beside Twilight, where the parents took another look at each other and nodded. “Okay, but on one condition!” Twilight declared.

“You name it, and I’ll do it!” Discord joyfully stated.

The Alicorn stepped to the side, holding her wing out alongside her spouse’s to obscure Discord’s view of the space between the two ponies. “You have to learn from somepony who knows Nova extremely well. Somepony who can calm him down as quickly as she can fly!” She nodded to Boltsinger, moving her wing in tandem with his to reveal Scootaloo sitting on the floor by the bed, holding the lifeless doll that was Smarty Pants in her foreleg. “You have to learn from his big sister!”

The last two words that Twilight said rang like a bell in Scootaloo’s ears, pulling her attention to the lilac mare. “Wait… What did you just call me?”

Twilight gave the Crusader a warm smile, sitting next to her and pulling her close with her wing. “I called you Nova’s big sister, of course!”

“But… Why?” The filly wondered, staring down at the doll. She heard a familiar babbling in front of her, accompanied by tiny, tiny hoofsteps. Looking up from Smarty Pants, she saw Nova standing happily before her. He floated Smarty Pants onto her head, giggling and jumping into her and giving her his tightest hug.

Boltsinger took a seat on the other side of his favorite filly, adding his own wing to the embrace. “That’s why.”

Looking upon the family before him, Discord felt an immense warmth swell up inside him. He vanished in his usual flash, appearing from behind the ponies and wrapping his arms around the lot of them with a boisterous laugh.

Author's Note

Somehow I knew this chapter would be my longest yet. But that's a given when you base a single chapter off of a movie.
I know it's obvious, but I based this chapter (rather blatantly) off of the movie, Labyrinth. I got an image of "Discord Bowie" in my head and it just happened. It fit into what I wanted to do to introduce Discord into the story in a way that's relatively fitting for his character, as well as establishing the relationship Scoot has with Nova. But WOW I wasn't expecting it to be this long! I even cut out and combined stuff to expedite things! Like, I cut out a lot of the movie to make it this short.
I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. I worked my hardest on it.
Next chapter is already brewing in my head, but I still need to flesh it out. But, hey, that's what the writing process seems to do for me!
See you next time!

Think Fast!

Applejack rose from her bed with a yawn bright and early. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, looking out the window with a smile. “Ahhh… Another day of buckin’, haulin’, pressin’, and--"

“Applejack! I found another one for ya!” Apple Bloom called from beyond the door. “He’s gonna be over this afternoon! Yer gonna love ‘im, I promise!”

The farmer’s green eyes rolled at her sister’s statement. Well if I haven’t heard that a million times… “That’s… uh… great! Y’all head down to the kitchen ‘n I’ll get breakfast a-cookin’!” She pulled her hat into its usual place, sighing at the reflection looking back at her. Well, I guess I better get goin’... She put on a smile, trotting out of her room and into the house.

The next morning had come, and Applejack clamored into the castle foyer, panting like she had run for miles and leaving a trail of grape jelly in her wake. “Twilight! Twilight, I need ya! I need ya real bad!”

The Alicorn in question quickly emerged from the throne room, galloping up to her messy and disheveled friend. “Applejack? What’s wrong?”

Applejack forcefully placed her hooves on Twilight’s shoulders, bringing her face closer than was comfortable. “Boys, Twilight… Boys!”

Twilight cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“It’s Apple Bloom! Every single day, she’s bringin’ some stallion over!” The Earth Pony elaborated. “Why, I’ve been on more ‘dates’ in the last two months than fresh apples on a perfect harvest! An’ I coulda swore that last one was gonna coat me in jelly!” She hung her head, her hat starting to fall off of it, but bouncing back with a glob of purple jam. “I’m plum tuckered, Twi… I just can’t take these crazy ‘dates’ any longer…”

Twilight looked her friend over. She hadn’t seen Applejack so tired since she had refused help during applebuck season so many years ago. “That does sound exhausting. Tell you what. Bolt and I are taking Nova to the Crystal Empire for a playdate with Flurry Heart. How about we get you cleaned up, and you can come with us?”

A weak smile made itself known in Applejack's face as she looked up with tired eyes. “Thank you kindly, Twilight… I could really use a break…”

“It’s no problem.” She replied, putting her wing around her and pulling her along.

After an hour of cleaning, a mildly refreshed Applejack emerged from the bathroom, flipping her mane and stepping confidently towards the foyer. “Now that really hit the spot!” She moved to a trot, enjoying the alone time as wing flaps began to grow louder above her. She smirked to herself, closing her eyes. “Howdy, Bolt!”

“Guess again!” A significantly younger tone teased.

Applejack opened her eyes, taking a look upwards. “Oh, Spike!” She scratched her mane as the dragon landed beside her. “Sorry ‘bout that. Still ain’t used to you havin’ wings.”

“It’s okay. Neither is the Crystal Empire!” He announced, putting his claws on his hips and flaring his wings. “That’s why they’re making an all-new statue of me to accentuate my new features!” He struck a dramatic pose, looking as if he were holding up a great treasure. It’s gonna replace the current one, and it’ll be even better, because I’m gonna actually model it this time!”

Applejack chuckled into her hoof. “So I take it you’re comin’ along, too?”

“Yup! Gotta give the Crystal Ponies a dose of their brave and glorious hero, after all!” He boasted, flapping his wings and starting ahead of her. “I’ll see you downstairs!”

A brisk trot later, Applejack was in the throne room, where Nova’s carriage was packed and ready. She took a look around the chamber, making a head count. Twilight, Spike, Boltsinger, and Nova were all grouping together by the crystal array and looking back at her. “So what happened to Scootaloo? Ain’t she comin’ along?”

“She’s with Rainbow today. Part standard training, part practice for the Sisterhooves Social.” Boltsinger explained.

“Ain’t that, like, three months from now?” The farm mare wondered, approaching the magical stones.

“And since when has that ever stopped Rainbow Dash?” The stallion deadpanned.

Applejack’s typical chuckle escaped her lips once more. “Yeah, you got a good point, there.” She turned to Twilight, stepping up and putting her hoof around her. “So, whatcha got planned fer us in the Empire?”

Twilight recoiled slightly, the thought of altering her plans not having occurred to her. “Well, I was planning on supervising the playdate. But it has been a really long time since we’ve done something together, just the two of us.”

Boltsinger looked at the mares with a confused tilt of his head, stepping between the mares and placing a wing on each of them. “Really? Care to give me a more exact time frame?”

Twilight breathed a sigh as she lit her horn, pulling the carriage to her husband and letting him clamp his teeth down on the handle. “Well, to put it into perspective, the last time Applejack and I did something between just us…” She reached for the main crystal in the array, which shone a brilliant white flash. In the next instant, the ponies stood in an identical crystal arrangement in the throne room of the Crystal Empire. “... was while the school was being built.”

Boltsinger’s jaw dropped as he flared his wings, twisting around to face them. “WHAT?!” He alternated his attention between Twilight and Applejack, growing more dumbfounded with each turn. “How have you not done anything together for that long?! Okay, that clinches it! You two are spending the day together, just you two. No choice. Gotta do it.”

“But what about Nova’s playdate?” Applejack inquired, pointing at the foal in the carriage. “Isn’t he gonna need Twilight there? I certainly don’t mind bein’ with the young’uns, either.”

“Oh, I can handle the playdate.” Boltsinger assured, putting his wings on his hips. “Besides, Cadence is gonna be there, too. It’s not like I'm soloing this!”

“What would you be soloing?” Another mare asked. The Pegasus turned back, seeing a tall Alicorn mare with a brilliant pink coat and pink eyes. Her long mane and tail were a trifecta of colors in yellow, pink, and purple with small swirls puffing out at the ends. Her wings, unlike any other Alicorn’s, had purple tips, and she wore golden shoes with a modest gold necklace to match, along with a small golden crown with a purple jewel at the top resting against her horn. The Cutie Mark that popped off of her flank showed a gorgeous crystal heart that featured golden decorations splayed out on either side. “Did something happen to change our plans?”

“Nothing, per say.” Twilight said, approaching the larger mare and pulling her in for a hug. “It’s good to see you, Cadence!”

Cadence wrapped her hoof around the lilac mare, tightening the embrace with a laugh. “You, too, Twilight.” She pulled away, stepping aside. “And I’m not the only one who’s happy to see you!”

“Uncle Bo-bo!!!” Came a younger-sounding cry. In that moment, Boltsinger was on the floor under a pink Alicorn filly with green eyes. She had a swirly bobbed violet mane and tail with a blue stripe running along the curl. Like her mother, her splayed wings made a shift in color, darkening as they made their way to the tips.

“GAAAAAH!” Boltsinger shouted, feigning a struggle and reaching for Twilight. “Twilight! Help! There’s a giant attacking me with hugs!”

The filly giggled, getting up to stand on the orange pony’s belly. “I’m not a giant! I’m Flurry Heart!”

Twilight smiled playfully, gingerly stepping forward and bringing her head close to the little pony. “Are you sure you’re Flurry Heart?” She examined her features closely as Spike produced a checklist. “Let’s see… Adorable mane…” She tousled Flurry’s mane.”... check! Adorable hooves…” She reached her wing forward, tickling the foal’s hooves and prompting her to rear up with a high-pitched giggle. “... check!” She looked the filly in the eye with mock sternness. “Let’s see… How would Flurry respond to… this!” She lunged forward, giving Flurry a series of rapid-fire kisses on the cheek.

Flurry Heart fell off of her uncle, laughing hysterically at the sensation, yet leaning into it all the same. “Aunty Twily, that tickles!”

Twilight stood up straight, smiling down at her niece. “Well, you’ve passed my test! You must be Flurry!”

Flurry bounced back up, putting her forehooves on Boltsinger’s belly and pressing down. “I told you! I told you! I am Flurry!” The Pegasus exhaled sharply, bringing his forelegs up around her with a playful yell.

“So what exactly would Boltsinger be soloing?” The elder Alicorn inquired, sitting next to her sister-in-law.

“Bolt seems ta think we gotta take the whole day to just do stuff together.”Applejack stated, joining the other mares. She turned to Cadence, tipping her hat. “Howdy, Princess. Long time no see!”

Cadence leaned towards the Earth Pony, holding her hoof towards her. “Well, if it really has been a long time, then I’m inclined to agree with him.” She pulled Nova’s carriage over; retrieving its occupant with a quick spell and nestling him in her foreleg. “I’m sure we can handle things here “

“But what would we even do?” Twilight queried, gesturing outward with her foreleg. “I haven’t made any plans for that! I’d need to at least come up with some kind of itinerary, or a schedule…” She produced the day’s schedule from the baby’s bags, going over it in detail. “I can work Applejack into what we already had planned, but…”

“Twilight, I’m going to suggest something that might confuse you.” Cadence started, magically pulling the schedule away. “Don’t worry about a schedule. Just spend time with your friend.”

Twilight recoiled, looking at her former foal-sitter like she belonged in the hospital’s mental ward. After a moment of silence, Applejack cleared her throat. “It’s called improvisin’ sugarcube.”

“I know what improvising is, Applejack.” The Princess of Friendship deadpanned. She put her hoof over her heart, striking a haughty pose. “I happen to be great at improvising!” A cool breeze blew through the room. Boltsinger and Flurry stopped playing, and all eyes in the room fell upon the purple pony Princess. “What?”

All the grown creatures in the room save for Twilight laughed hysterically, sending a sour look onto the younger Alicorn’s face. Flurry walked up to her mother, nudging her hoof. “Mommy, why is everypony laughing?”

Cadence wiped a tear from her eye, putting her hoof around her daughter. “Because, sweetheart, your Aunty Twily has never been prone to… thinking on her hooves.”

Twilight’s eyes grew dramatically wider as she let out an offended huff. “And what makes you think that?”

“Well, for one, ya have a checklist for what to write on yer next checklist.” Applejack noted.

“You have about thirty documented methods to sort the library…” Boltsinger added. “Last I checked, at least. I may have lost count, now that I think about it.”

“And you have books on how to have fun in that same library.” Cadence concluded. “You’re so organized and scheduled that I don’t think you’ve improvised anything since the day I met you!”

“What about that balloon I made when we ran from the Storm King?” The lilac Princess suggested. “That took some quick thinking!”

“Please, I saw you planning that in the cargo hold for three whole minutes!” Spike retorted, waving a dismissive claw.

“Admittedly, still impressive.” The stallion stated. “But still not quite thinking on your hooves.”

Twilight growled to herself, standing up and walking to the door. “I don’t have to follow a schedule, you know!” She spat, stomping her hoof. “And I don’t actually plan every little thing I do!”

Applejack sent a smug look over to the Crystal Princess and the blue-maned stallion, giving a wink as she looked back at the huffy Princess. “Oh yeah?”

Twilight spun around, sending a challenging glare back “Yeah!”

Applejack stood up, leaning towards her friend. “Prove it!”

“I will!” She lit her horn, wrapping the farmer in her magic and dragging her along with her as she stormed out of the room. “Come on!”

The door behind the mares slammed shut, leaving the remainder of the room’s occupants in a befuddled silence. After a few moments, Nova erupted into a fit of laughter.

Twilight trotted out into the Crystal Empire proper with Applejack in literal tow, stopping next to the Crystal Heart. She released her friend from her grip, looking around at the Crystal Ponies. “Okay… Time for some…” She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Unscheduled… fun!”

Applejack nudged the Princess on the side of her barrel, giving her a sly glance. “Gonna be great, huh?”

A wide and insincere grin made its way onto Twilight’s muzzle. “Yeah… Great!” She landed on a place where several ponies walked out with delicious-looking meals. “How about we get something to eat?”

“Heh, that’s an easy one!” Applejack dismissed, starting for the establishment. “But, sure. Let’s eat!” Twilight cheered internally, letting a satisfied smile take hold as she trotted after her.

After a sweet berry treat, the two set out from the bakery with Applejack giving Twilight another challenging look. “So… What’s next…” Pondered the Alicorn, looking around again. She stopped at her favorite building in the city besides the castle, pointing her hoof ecstatically. “Oh! How about the library?”

The challenging look turned into a deadpan. “Really, Twilight?”

Twilight laughed sheepishly, averting her eyes. “Okay, you’re right. Too predictable.” She briefly fluttered her wings, hovering forward a bit. “How about we take a look around? I’m sure I can think of something if we keep going!”

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say…” Applejack said, following along. “You sure ya don’t need time to think o’ sumthin’?”

“I’m certain! We can just as easily have fun…” She swallowed yet another throat lump. “... without a plan!” The Princess stressed, moving to a huffy trot. She stopped momentarily, something having caught her eye. “How about that?” With that, the trot turned into a canter, and the work horse gave a knowing grin.

The next several hours turned out quite differently than Applejack had expected. Twilight would suggest something that caught her fancy, and the two would approach. They started simple, opting to fly kites. Starlight did it all the time, so the two figured it would be easy. Twilight assembled the toys while Applejack secured the string, and just like that, the kites were in the air. And just as quickly, the kites hit the ground. They made several attempts to remedy the problem, but each time, they wound up with apple and star patterned messes on the ground. Sharing a brief laugh, they chose to move on.

Up next, they came upon a jousting match in progress. Twilight thought for a moment, then pushed her Earth Pony friend forward, signing her up and teleporting a suit of armor onto her. Applejack gave her a defiant glare, but the Princess would not be assuaged. The knight, Applejack took on all comers that day, and none stood in her wake. Twilight let out an excited giggle, wrapping her friend in her magic and flying off into another part of the city.

“Okay, this is getting fun!” The Princess admitted, taking a look at the city from a bird’s eye view. “I wonder what else we can do?” Her eyes skimmed the streets, coming to the northern exit and growing large. “Aha! I know!” She swooped down next to a store with a scarf sign next to it, letting her friend loose once more.

“What is it?” Applejack wondered, looking inside.

“You’ll see!” Twilight teased. She trotted into the store, coming out after a few minutes with a pair of shopping bags and floating one over to her orange-coated friend. “Here! Put these on!”

Applejack looked into the bag, finding a set of boots, a scarf, and a winter hat all in a bright shade of green with white fluff. “What do we need this for?” She looked over at the Alicorn, who now wore her own boots, scarf, and earmuffs in a bright yellow as she glanced back over her shoulder.

“Because you need to dress warm to go out in the snow!” She replied, fluffing her wings. “Come on! There’s only so much day left!”

The blonde mare smirked, tossing the contents of the bag in the air and jumping up to meet them. In one fluid motion, she slipped into the boots, wrapped the scarf around her neck, and replaced her hat with the warmer variety, gracefully landing before her friend and catching her stetson with her hoof. “Alright, then, let’s get goin’!” Twilight squeed, lighting her horn and transporting them to the outermost edge of the city, where she stepped through the barrier that kept the endless winter at bay with the farm mare in tow. The air was almost brutally cold, making Applejack glad that Twilight had prepared them, but the sight of the snowy hills was a refreshing one. They ventured further out into a valley, where Applejack looked at the cliffs above. “So, whatcha wantin’ ta do now that we’re--" A blast of cold mixed with solid impact nailed the farmer’s face, leaving a splotch of snow on her cheek. “-- here…” She turned back to see Twilight standing there with her horn alight, three snowballs hovering in a circle next to her. “Oh, y’all done it now!”

Twilight smiled back, tossing the snowballs at her opponent and lifting a mound of snow up in front of her like a wall. “Bring it on, Applejack!” She was met with a veritable torrent of snow falling down on her, covering her to the point where only her horn poked out. She dug herself out, sending a playful glare at her.

Applejack rolled on the snow, laughing at her own antics for a moment. Returning to the task at hoof, she piled as much snow as she could in front of her to imitate Twilight’s wall. From there, she began packing as many snowballs as her forelegs would allow. She rose up from her cover, once again pelted by a sphere of snow with a magical force behind it. She shook her head, raising an enormous snowball above her head. “No shields, now!” With that, she hurled the mass of ice crystals with all of her might.

Twilight stared in awe at that which was flying at her. She let out a shrill noise as she ducked behind her fortification, finding it crumble behind her under the weight of Applejack’s attack. Smiling, she crafted an immense number of snowballs with her magic, taking half of them and discreetly rolling them over to the opposing side of the game. “You look like you could use some ammunition!”

“Why, that’s mighty kind of ya!” The opposing pony replied. “But yer still gonna lose!”

A short burst of laughter escaped the Princess’ throat as another round of snowballs were packed together. “Says you!”

From there, it was a veritable snowball storm. Twilight had given up on using her magic to throw her ammo, instead opting to throw by hoof. She regretted her decision almost instantly, though, as the need to rise up gave Applejack a much easier target. They went back and forth for several minutes, forelegs growing sore and feeling the bite of the cold more than ever. Applejack was knelt behind her snow fort, breathing heavily as a chill wind coarsed its way down her back. “So… We callin’ it a draw?”

Twilight, likewise behind her fort and panting, raised a hoof. “Sounds good to me!” She admitted. “Besides, it’s getting really cold. Honestly, a little too cold, considering what time it is…”

Applejack chuckled, slowly beginning to raise her head. “You think so, too? Feels like I got a cold breath goin’ down… my…” She trailed off, widening her eyes at what she saw behind her friend. “Uh… Twilight…”

Twilight’s head rose from its slouch, looking back at her. “Yes, Applejaaa--... Oh my gosh!” She pointed her foreleg at her, her face contorting with fear.

Behind each of the mares, and with two more on the deeper side of the valley, sat large lupine creatures made entirely of blue ice. They had glowing yellow eyes, and breathed onto the backs of the ponies they hunched over. Twilight and Applejack each looked behind themselves, turning back to each other. They simultaneously jumped into the air, letting out an ear-piercing scream and running towards the valley’s entrance with the monsters close behind.

“What in Equestria are these things?!” Applejack inquired, galloping closer to her friend. “They remind me o’ Timberwolves, but… Ice!”

“I remember correctly…” Twilight started, dodging a lunge from the lead creature. “They’re called Tundrawolves! They’re--" Another dodge to the side as another wolf attacked. “-- related to Timberwolves, but they live so far north that only the Yaks and a few of the Crystal Ponies have ever seen them!”

Applejack leaped as high as she could to avoid another lunge, landing next to Twilight. “So, what’re we gonna do about ‘em?”

The Alicorn looked back at their pursuers, starting the gears in her head. “They’re so close to the Empire… They could--" She jumped to the side to dodge another bite. “They could--" Another lunge came, forcing her out of the way again. Twilight gritted her teeth, trying to find her thoughts once more. “They could--" Once again, a Tundrawolf dove forward, sending the Princess flapping into the air to just barely avoid the incoming bite. She let out a loud combination of a growl and a groan. “I can’t think!!!” She declared, descending to hover above Applejack. ”Every time I try to come up with something, these stupid wolves make me dodge out of it! I just can’t get a solution that fast! I’m no good at improvising!” She lowered her head, repeatedly banging on it with her hoof. “No good… No good… No good!”

“Calm down, Twilight!” The Earth Pony demanded, jumping up and bonking the Princess on the head. Twilight’s head wobbled a bit, prompting her to look down at her shakily smiling friend. “I get it, yer not great at doin’ things without a plan. But ya did great today! And I need ya to keep that up! All ya gotta do is just think o’ sumthin, and then do it!”

Twilight thought back on what all they had done that day. Yes, it had been unscheduled, but, aside from the pickle they found themselves in, they had a wonderful time. She closed her eyes and brought her hoof over her heart, taking a deep breath. On the exhale, she extended the same hoof outward, letting the panic blow away. “Thanks, Applejack, I needed that."

“No problem, Twi.” She affirmed, dodging yet another attack. “Now, you were sayin’ sumthin’ about how these Tundrawolves could do sumthin’ this close to the Crystal Empire…”

Twilight’s eyes flashed with a spark of magenta lightning as she performed a sharp inhale. “Right! I was saying that simply running isn’t going to work! We might get away, but with them lurking outside the Crystal Empire, things could snowball out of control!”

Applejack showed her own look of realization, looking back at the Tundrawolves. “Wait a minute…”

Twilight landed next to the orange mare, looking back, then over at her friend. “I get it…”

“SNOWBALL!” They exclaimed in unison.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Twilight queried.

Applejack slyly smiled at her lilac companion. “Eeyup!”

“Okay! Keep them occupied!” Twilight directed, flapping her wings once more. “I’ll be right back!” She flew ahead, lighting her horn to create a magical circular scoop in front of her that dug into the snow.

Applejack nodded, slapping her own flank and whistling back at the wolves. “Come on ‘n get me ya dang varmints!” She picked up her pace, swiftly dodging every lunge and swipe from the Tundrawolves with an audible “YEE-HAW!!!” as she went. After another minute of galloping, Applejack skidded to a stop, turning around to face the monsters. The beasts had likewise slowed down, hunching over and making a slow approach. Their icy breath seemed to freeze the stone beneath them as they took another step forward. “Y’all might not wanna do that…” The pony pointed out, sending them a vicious smirk. The wolves stopped, tilting their heads. Applejack pointed a hoof behind her, where a snowball twenty times her size was held in place by a magenta magical field. The wolves made a motion to look as if they were laughing, opting to continue their approach. “Okay, then. Yer loss!” Applejack raised a hoof, turning upwards. “Let ‘er rip, Twilight!”

“You got it!” Twilight answered, redirecting her magic to lift her wingless friend up above the mass of snow. She turned away from the ball as the farmer landed next to her, and the two mares gave the snowball a hard simultaneous buck. The snowball slowly began to roll, eliciting a yelp from the lead wolf. It scrambled on the hard ground, turning around as best its frictionless body could, but soon found itself swallowed up the the tightly-packed engorgement of snow. The other wolves cried out in kind, running away as fast as possible, but the snowball had begun to pick up speed. In seconds, the remaining three wolves were poking humiliatingly out of the rolling snowball like their leader before them. Twilight and Applejack turned to face their handiwork, putting on satisfied grins and bumping hooves.

“Hoo-wee!” Applejack cheered, swinging her foreleg in front of her as she and Twilight re-entered the throne room. “Now that was a good time if ever I knew one!”

“I take it your unplanned outing went well?” Cadence wondered, rising from her throne and approaching the two of them. Her mane was in a state of disrepair, but a smile was ever-present on her muzzle as Boltsinger and the foals galloped past the door behind them with the stallion making a noise like a wolf.

“It was an… interesting day… to say the least.” Twilight admitted. She looked fondly at the friend she had spent so much of the day’s time with. “But I learned that I shouldn’t be so quick to deny my faults when they’re laid bare. My stubbornness led to some unnecessary stress, and a lot of danger…”

Applejack slapped the back of the Princess of Friendship with her hoof, sending her reeling forward slightly from the impact. “Don’t fret s’ much about that! My stubborn pride’s gotten in my way so many times, I think it might just be the only lesson I ever learned!”

Twilight beamed back at the farm mare, pulling her in for a hug. “Thanks, Applejack. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind!”

As the embrace broke, a winded stallion plodded into the room, slumping onto the floor and weakly raising his hoof while a pair of tiny Alicorns trotted in after him. “Tag out! Tag out! I can’t keep up anymore!”

Flurry Heart giggled, trotting with her cousin over to Twilight. “Aunty Twily! Will you play with us next?”

Twilight hunched over in front of the foals, putting on a wide smile. “Sure! What are we playing?”

Flurry happily fluffed her wings, adorably smiling back. “Wolves!” Twilight recoiled, looking back at Applejack. The two shared a laugh as Twilight shrugged her shoulders. She sat down on the floor, tilted her head back, and let out her best impression of a howling wolf.

Author's Note

There was a little debate regarding what the "Tundrawolves" would be like. A couple people argued that they should have just been regular snowy dire wolves, no magic at all. I liked that idea, but I was also fond of my original idea, so I decided to leave it up to which opinion was more frequent amongst various friends and groups. The ice wolves won out, and I even improved their concept!
By the way... This chapter about Twilight admitting her lack of improvisational skills... Was mostly improvised! :trollestia:

The Pooped Party Pony

“How is it that the foals that spend literally every day with Pinkie Pie don’t ever speak?” Boltsinger asked, sitting on the floor of Sugar Cube Corner and watching Nova playing with the Cake Twins, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. The Unicorn filly would magically stack blocks as high as she could, letting her brother slam his hooves into the tower, giggling all the while. As the blocks fell, Nova’s own horn went alight, catching the blocks one by one and placing them next to Pumpkin Cake in a different order each time. “I mean, Flurry’s at least a year or so younger than they are, but she’s downright eloquent!”

“Your guess is as good as mine!” Pinkie Pie answered, looking over the shoulder at the foals. “I’ve been trying to get them to say ‘cele-party-looza’ for moons, but it just doesn’t stick!”

Boltsinger cocked his head to the side, giving his wild friend a curious look. “That’s what you’ve been trying to teach them? No wonder they’ve been having a hard time.” he turned his attention to the ever-higher stack of blocks. “Twilight and I haven’t started Nova on anything bigger than two syllables. ‘Mama’, ‘Daddy’, ‘Aunty’, ‘Uncle’, and, of course, ‘Spike’. You know, pretty basic stuff. No response, yet, though.”

Pinkie grinned for a moment while the door to the establishment opened, revealing a mildly pudgy blue Earth Pony mare with a two-tone pink mane and tail that swirled to the point where it looked like cupcake frosting. She wore a yellow apron with pink frills coming off of the shoulders, and large, pink spherical earrings to compliment her bright pink eyes. Her Cutie Mark was made up of three pink-frosted cupcakes with cherries on top. She waved as she entered, stepping behind the counter. “Welcome back, Mrs. Cake!” The party pony enthusiastically greeted, saluting with her hoof. “The shop is in tip-top shape, ma’am!”

“That’s wonderful, dear.” Mrs. Cake stated, checking the register. “And how are the twins doing with their little visitor?”

Boltsinger chuckled, gesturing to the three foals with his wing. “See for yourself.” The mother took a peek over the visiting stallion, where the blocks were floating in a mixture of two blue magical fields, moving about the area as Pound Cake flew at them, as if the toys were dodging his attempts at applying his namesake to them. “Looks like they’re having a good time to me.”

“I think you’re right!” She confirmed. “So, do you think little Nova will be able to make it to the twins’ birthday next week?”

The stallion feigned deep thought for a moment as he waved his son over. “Gee, I dunno…” Nova fluttered up to his father’s back, making himself comfortable as his daddy looked back at him. “What do you think, little Prince? You wanna come to a birthday party? The best party planner ever, Aunty Pinkie, is putting it all together!” The colt let out a joyous laugh, adamantly nodding with a gentle flap of his wings. Boltsinger laughed in kind, kissing the colt on the forehead and looking back to the mares. “Consider that his RSVP.”

“Great!” Pinkie exclaimed, bounding over the counter and scooping up the twins. “You hear that? We got another guest for your big day!”

“So, Boltsinger, is there anything I can get you before you go?” Mrs. Cake asked, leaning up to the counter.

“Nah. I think we’re good.” He told her, making for the door. As he turned, his tail brushed against Pinkie’s foreleg while a familiar tingle moved up his wings. In an instant, the feathered appendages were standing straight up, sparks of electricity arcing and crackling between them along with the lightning on his Cutie Mark.

“Uh… Boltsinger?” Mrs. Cake began, pointing a shaky hoof at him. “Your… wings… are…”

The Pegasus glanced behind him, his eyes going wide as his pendant began its glow. “Oh, no…” He reached back, pulling Nova forward and holding him close with his forelegs. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. You’re just coming in a trip with Daddy, okay?” Nova cooed, putting his forelegs and wings around his daddy’s neck as he gave one last nod to Mrs. Cake. “Well, now I really gotta go! Can you take Nova’s things to the castle and explain things to Twilight in a ridiculous level of detail? Thanks! See you later, Mrs. Cake!”

“Wait! Boltsinger, you don’t under--" A great boom sounded throughout the shop, shaking the floor and some of the shelves. Mrs. Cake’s hoof fell limp at the slightly singed floor in front of her in an empty bakery. “--stand…”

Flying through the air at breakneck speeds wasn’t a new thing for Boltsinger. Rather, he was used to doing it on a regular basis throughout his life. This was the first time, however, that he was taking a flight like this, electrically charged, with his son along for the ride. “Last time family was involved in something like this…” He started, hugging Nova tighter. The colt babbled incoherently, tightening his own grip in kind.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry!” A high, squeaky voice assured him.

Boltsinger’s eyes snapped open. He had been thinking that his tail felt heavier, and now he felt like he had an idea as to why. He turned his head to see what was behind him, seeing a bubbly mare electrically latched onto his tail with a little Pegasus and Unicorn held tight. His eyes went wide with recognition. “Pinkie?!” He strained his tail, hoisting the pink pony up to his barrel. “Grab on!”

Pinkie put her free foreleg around him, holding on tight. “So, where are we going?”

“Better question…” The stallion corrected. “How are you here? And with the twins?!”

“Oh, that’s easy!” She dismissed, rolling her eyes. “I was holding the twins, and your tail brushed my leg and then you just ZOOMED right off into the sky!” She shared a laugh with the foals in her clutches. “And you know the rest.”

“Okay…” He breathed a heavy sigh, looking forward again. “Well, to answer your question, I have no idea where we’re going. But whatever happens, I’ll probably need your help to do it.”

“Okay! Whatever happens, let’s have lots of fun!” Pinkie nodded, swinging her head to one side and producing a cupcake. “Hungry?”

“Maybe later!” He replied, scanning the horizon. He dropped his jaw a little at the sight below him. “Besides, I think we’ll be landing, soon!”

Pinkie chomped down on her treat, pulling herself farther forward so as to get a view.“Oh? Where are we going? Where are we going?”

Boltsinger motioned below them, where a group of dragons were flying to an exceptionally large city. “Fillydelphia!” The stallion’s wings turned down, sending the ponies rocketing past the dragons. Speed was beginning to build up as the lightning crackled around him, letting him know that landing was imminent. It’s just like with Fluttershy! He told himself, closing his eyes and asserting control over his wings. Don’t crash don’t crash don’tcrashdon’t-- He skidded to a halt, two small, smoking grooves left in the road below him. He opened his eyes while Pinkie performed a pratfall off of his hindquarters.

“WOW!” She exclaimed, throwing her forelegs up as the twins fell happily on either side of her. “That was fun! Can we do it again?”

Boltsinger slowly opened his eyes, turning his head to give her a look that was half stern and half crazed. “Oh, most definitely not!” Pinkie’s head sank a little at the answer, but she quickly sprang back up, taking in the sights around them. Boltsinger loosened his grip on the colt in his forelegs, nuzzling his mane. “Okay, Nova, we’ve landed!”

Nova looked up at his daddy’s smiling face. There was still a weird tingly feeling all over, but it wasn’t as strong as before. He let go of the big orange neck, looking around the place he found himself in. There were tall castles, but not as pretty as his castle, and lots of ponies with a bunch of creatures that somehow made him think of his Uncle Spike. He landed on the ground, hearing a strange noise in the distance. With a twitch of his little ear, he turned to face his daddy, pointing in the direction of the noise.

“What is it? You hear something?” Boltsinger inquired, bringing his head next to his son’s. He turned ears in each direction, trying to listen for something out of place. There was the hustle and bustle of the city. Wagons, conversations, accordions… “Accordion?” He stood up, putting his wing to his ear. “Why would there be an accordion playing… unless… Wait a minute… Pinkie!”

“Yyyyyyyyyes?” The Pie answered, appearing just over her friend’s shoulder. “What did you find?!”

“Take a listen and follow me!” He suggested, scooping his foal up with his wings and cantering towards the music.

Pinkie and the twins directed their attention in the direction her friend had run off. “Listen? For what?” As Boltsinger got further away, she found her hooves dragging on the ground with a strange kind of jolt tugging at her. “Ooh! Crackley!” She squeed, lifting the twins into her back as she was yanked after the electric stallion.

The sound of the accordion grew ever louder as Boltsinger cantered on. It had been an exceptionally long time since he had heard it, but out of all of the fuzzy things in his memory, this was one of the clearest. After all, the pony who played it was simply unforgettable. He came to a stop behind what looked like a stage, where the music was at its loudest. The music was wacky, upbeat, and downright cheesey at points. He quickly found himself swaying back and forth to it, bouncing his baby up and down to the beat. Despite his appreciation, though, there was no sign of cheering or enjoyment on the other side of the stage. He furrowed his brow, taking a tentative step forward as a trio of squeaky laughs enveloped his auditory senses. Boltsinger snapped his attention to the sound, seeing Pinkie Pie, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake electrically shooting towards him with a gigantic grin on the mare’s face. “Oh, boy… She got too far away!” He raised his foreleg and his free wing defensively, counting to three, closing his eyes, and bracing himself for the impending impact. At the end of the count, there was nothing. He heard the sound of activated magic alongside more laughter, but that was all. He lowered his extremities, taking a peek at what had transpired, only to find Pinkie and the Cake Twins embedded into a blue force field.

“Hi! Bolt!” She greeted, waving her foreleg. “Good catch, Nova!”

Nova giggled, dousing his horn to let his funny aunt go. The music died down, replaced with the jeers of those behind it, along with a few spouts of fire. The door to the stage opened, and out walked a lanky Earth Pony stallion with a cheesy orange coat and a bushy brown mane and tail. He wore a yellow T-shirt, and bore a Cutie Mark of a sliced sandwich with gooey cheese strung between the halves that moved back and forth like the accordion that hung from his neck. His green eyes were dejected and he hung his head, letting his instrument flop onto the ground. Scorch marks covered his body and clothes, and he left black hoofprints behind him as he went. He plodded his way to the sidewalk, slumping over to lie down with a sad sigh.

Boltsinger and Pinkie looked at the stallion curiously. “I knew that music was coming from somepony I knew!” The Pegasus began, snagging a gasp from the mare next to him.

The stallion slowly turned his head up to face them, letting a smile return to the corners of his mouth. “Pinkie Pie? Boltsinger? How in Elberton Blue are you two here? And together?!”

“Wait a minute, you know Cheese Sandwich?!” She asked, earning a nod. She threw her forelegs wide, attempting to compete with that width with her smile. “What a coincidence! I know Cheese Sandwich!”

“Oh, I know.” He stated. “But do you know how I know that you know, or how I know him?”

Pinkie alternated her attention between the dumbfounded brunette and the grinning bluenette. “Weeeeeeeeeeeell… Maybe you helped him out with some kind of problem in the past ‘cause you went around doing exactly that for years and years and years?”

“Yeah… He helped me throw some parties back in the day.” Cheese confirmed. He brought his foreleg up, pointing between the two of them. “So… you two know each other?”

“Well, I do live in Ponyville, now.” Boltsinger replied, sitting next to him and beckoning his son over. Nova smiled and scrambled over to rest between his daddy’s forelegs. “Complete with wife and foal.”

Cheese’s jaw dropped. “So the gloomiest, mopingest, and overall saddest pony I’ve ever known is actually happy?”

The Pegasus shrugged, patting Nova on the head. “Eh. Happiness is subjective. But I guess so.”

“Hard to not be happy when you’re friends with Pinkie Pie!” The party stallion pointed out, looking at the poofy pink pony. He breathed a soft sigh, looking down at the street. “Wish I could be happy…”

Cue another, significantly louder, gasp from the other ponies, Pinkie Pie chief among them. She lunged at the skinny stallion, putting her hooves on his shoulders. “What do you mean ‘Wish I could be happy’?!” She asked, bringing her face up next to his. “You’re Cheese Sandwich! Equestria’s pristine premiere party planner pony extraordinaire!!! How can you of all ponies not be happy?!”

“You’d be the same after the dud that I just went through!” He retorted, putting his hooves on her forelegs. “I just… I can’t throw parties like I used to anymore!”

“A dud?” the mare repeated. Her puzzler began puzzling at the perkiest pace possible. Everything she knew about this pony said that it was impossible for there to be a dud of a party. Why, he could find a way to party even with no supplies or preparation or even a real reason to celebrate! How could Cheese Sandwich possibly throw a party that was a dud?

“It’s because you threw a party ponies would like for dragons, isn’t it?” Boltsinger deadpanned.

Cheese’s mane seemed to visibly deflate at the comment. He backed away from the pink pony, turning away. “I don’t wanna talk about it…” He started a slow walk down the road, his accordion sounding off with every sway in his step.

Pinkie and Boltsinger looked at the dejected stallion, making their confusion as obvious as a feather atop a pile of rocks. “This is… weird.” The stallion pointed out. He lifted Nova with his forelegs, looking the colt in the eye. “You know, Nova, that pony there is normally as happy as Aunty Pinkie!” He tickled the baby’s belly with his wing to emphasize his point. “But he’s not himself today. So what do you think we should do, little Prince?” He held Nova closer, turning his ear to him. “You think we should help our friend feel better? I dunno… Let’s ask Aunty Pinkie and the twins!” He stood up, turning so that he and Nova were facing Pinkie properly.

“Well, duh!” Pinkie stressed. “Of course we’re gonna help him feel better!” She swished her tail under Pound and Pumpkin, sending them flipping up into the air to land on her back. “Let’s go!” She grabbed onto Boltsinger, galloping past Cheese.

Boltsinger looked back at the pooped party pony, wondering why exactly he was behind them. “Uh, Pinkie? How are we supposed to help him if we’re running away?”

“You’re married to Twilight but you don’t know something that easy?” She teased, stopping instantly in front of a nearby hotel. “We’re gonna come up with a plan!”

Hours later, Cheese Sandwich trudged through the streets of Fillydelphia wearing a black hat and poncho with yellow trim and a lonely brown saddle. His face was as serious as they come, looking ever forward as a pair of foals catered by with conical birthday hats strapped to their heads. Following the filly and colt came a pink mare with a flat, straight mane and tail of a darker pink. She wore a gray dress that completely obscured her Cutie Mark, with grayish blue-framed glasses sitting on her snout. “Children, please!” She called, far louder and more deliberate than necessary. “I know you two are excited for your upcoming birthday but we simply CAN’T hold a PARTY!!! There’s no one in town that is capable of planning such an event! It’s utterly HOPELESS!!!”

A loud slap was heard from behind, followed slowly by a loud, yet muffled groan. After what felt like a beat, a bright orange stallion with a blue mane and tail and an off-putting black moustache trotted up in a baggy black formal suit consisting of a jacket, shirt, and pants. He carried an orange foal in a baby carrier over his side, with a saddlebag on the other side. He shook his head like he was questioning where his life had gone, then took a deep breath. “Why, there is no reason to fret, dear madam!” He announced, his voice carrying a similar cadence to that of the mare, but with a posh twist. “All you need to do is hire a party planner! There are several party ponies all over Equestria!” He approached the panchoed pony, pointing his hoof at him. “Dear sir! Would you happen to know somepony who can throw a quality shindig for this mare’s foals?”

Cheese glowered at the stallion. “Talk to Pinkie Pie in Ponyville.” He stated in a gruff, serious tone.. “She’s the most superest-duperest partyingest party pony Equestria’s ever seen. I bet she could even throw a party for dragons.”

The mare brightened up considerably, her mane poofing out to a prominent frizz. “Really?” She squeaked, turning to look at Cheese. “You mean it? Oh, Cheese, you’re such a sweetie!”

The stallion facehoofed, nearly leaving a hoofprint on his forehead as his own mane zapped back to its natural state, shooting the moustache off of his nose. “Pinkie! Why’d you break character?!”

“I couldn’t help it!” She replied, stepping up next to Boltsinger. “It was a really nice compliment!”

“I knew you didn’t need my help, anyway…” Cheese pointed out, brushing past Boltsinger. “I sensed you setting up their birthday party three weeks ago! You’ve got it covered no matter what. You don’t need a washed up party pony like me dragging you down.”

“Washed up?!” The Pie repeated as the saddled stallion walked away. “But you’re able to turn anything into a party! Even an empty house!”

Boltsinger worked his wings free of the confines of his jacket, placing one of them around Pinkie Pie. “I don’t think he can hear you, Pinkie.”

“I just don’t get it…” Pinkie grumbled, beginning a walk in the other direction. “What in Equestria made somepony as great as Cheese lose his confidence!”

Boltsinger glanced back at the mare with a cocked eyebrow. “He’s that great, huh? Sounds like you like him a lot.”

“I do like him a lot!” She told him, taking a step down the road towards their hotel. “I like you a lot, too. And Twilight, and Applejack, and Rarity, and Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, oh! And Starlight. I like a lot of ponies a lot. Nothing wrong with liking someone a lot. It just means they're good creatures! Cheese is definitely good creatures. Well, pony. A good pony.”

The stallion flashed a smirk, following suit. “He most certainly is. He’s the only pony I know who can match you in sheer wacky fun party stuff!” He laughed to himself, looking back at the subject of their discussion. “If I tried throwing a party like you two, I bet it’d be…” Boltsinger stopped in his tracks, feeling the impact of epiphany strike him like a hoof on a storm cloud. “That’s it!”

“What’s it?” Pinkie wondered. She looked back to see her friend laughing to himself with a devious grin, quickly devolving into a cackle that reminded her of the haunted castle he creates whenever Nightmare Night comes around. Her own smile turned devilish as she joined in, going on for a solid thirty seconds before it finally died down. “So… What are we laughing about?”

Boltsinger wiped a tear from his eye, patting his foal’s head with his wing as he gave Pinkie a determined expression. “It’s party time!”

Cheese Sandwich breathed a sad sigh as he approached the train station. He had had enough of this city. Ever since dragons from the Dragon Lands had started branching out, the Dragon Town district of Fillydelphia had changed. He didn’t know just how much until today, and it simply didn’t agree with him.

“Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! Cheese! Cheese!” Pinkie called, scrambling over to the platform. Cheese turned to see her skidding to a halt next to him, hyperventilating. “Don’t go yet! Please!”

“What do you need, Pinkie?” He exasperatedly asked.

“You’ve gotta come with me! It’s super duper important!” She wrapped her foreleg around him, pulling him close and shooting off as fast as she could.

Cheese struggled to free himself from the mare’s grip, finding himself held in place with a surge of electricity. The squeak of her laughter flowed into his ears, drawing his attention to her beaming face. “Pinkie, what the Half-Moon Bay is going on?”

“Well, if you really wanna know, Bolt is throwing a--” The two of them crashed into a field of blue magic, held in place as the colt and filly behind the field waved excitedly at the Earth Ponies. “--a PARTY!”

The horned foals doused their horns, lowering the field that held the party ponies in place. Pinkie rushed over to a spot in the back of the room, which Cheese soon discovered to be decorated with a random assortment of streamers, with half-inflated balloons floating above some chairs and at the corners of a small table. There was a decent-looking cake at the middle of the table with pure white frosting, lacking any kind of design or finesse. Pound Cake sat at the head of the table, drumming on the surface with his forehooves to a baritone voice singing a series of low notes that struck an all-too familiar tune. After two measures with added accompaniment, another of the same voice chimed in.

“~Every single day there’s something new you can plan for
Every single day there’s something wonderful and new!
And e-ver-y so often there’s a day where I can say...
that today I tried a new thing and it’s all because of you!~”

Cheese looked to where the music was coming from, seeing Boltsinger trotting towards him. “You’re doing this just for me?”

“Eeyup! What do you think?” He replied, sticking to the beat that Pound Cake provided.

“What do I think…?” He repeated, taking a seat at the table. “How’d this happen?”

“Well…

~Didn’t have much time to gather, or know everything I’d need
All I knew is that I had to really fly____!~” He bounced into the air, hovering over with a fluttering of his sparking wings.
“~But my Cutie Mark had called me and my friend to you today!
So today you’ll see the party ‘skills’ I learned from Pinkie Pie!~”

Boltsinger landed on the table, whipping his tail over behind one of the chairs, pulling an ecstatic Pinkie next to him and gesturing grandly to her. She bounced over to the party stallion, hunching over and wiggling her tail as she joined in the music.

“~We saw a frowny friend all burned up like a Cheese fondue,
So sad, so mad, so miserable, that simply isn’t you!~”

Boltsinger hovered over the lanky pony, poking at his mane.

“~So we put our heads together, she was leary, I must say!
But the best thing I could think, though I knew that it would stink!
Was to throw our friend a party in my amateurish way!~”

“Amateurish is right!” Cheese exclaimed, the makings of a smile beginning to show themselves. “You seriously wanted to give this a shot just to make me feel better?”

“Is it working?” The Pegasus asked, letting out a shaky grin. “I have no idea how all this works, and this is kinda my first improvised song… Please tell me it’s working!”

Cheese sprang out of his chair and out of his outerwear, looking between his friends and raising a foreleg as he took a deep breath.

“~These past months have been cruel to me, of this, I must admit…
Every creature that I partied with would throw a hissy fit!
The Griffons chased me out of town, the Yaks smashed all my stuff!
But these dragons here in Dragon Town were all just way too rough!~”

“That’s terrible!” Pinkie shouted. “What did they do?”

“Well, you saw the fire! What do you think they did?” He noted, letting his head hang low with a hoof over his heart. “Poor Boneless 2 got caught in the crossfire…”

“Wow… No wonder you’ve been so off!” Boltsinger affirmed, landing next to Cheese and putting a hoof around him. “But you know…

~You just gotta get back out there, take a chance, ‘cause, if you please,
The very best of Sandwiches are ones made up of Cheese!~”

Pinkie nodded in confirmation, placing her own hoof around her party planning peer.

“~’Cause we all face party poopers, you know that much is true!
And the best way you can bounce back is to show what you can do!~”

The two Ponyville residents trotted forward, taking the Sandwich sandwiched between them along as they bounded over the cake and the Cake, where a banner unfurled to reveal the words ‘CHEER UP CHEESE’. The curly-maned stallion took a look up at the banner, feeling a distinct warmth in the earnestness with which the Pegasus prepared it, despite some shoddy worksponyship. Pinkie and Boltsinger each glanced at the pony between them, spotting a definite upturn in the corners of his mouth, his teeth becoming more and more visible as his cheeks pulled back. Finally, the two of them made one more deep inhale.

“~Every single friend we make brings new things to plan for!
Every day we spend with them brings awesome things to do!
And today is no exception, with a party on the way! Today we made some plans and they were aaaaaaaaaall... foooooooor… yoooooooooooou!~” They harmonized, each raising their free foreleg as two more measures rounded out the song.

“Wow…” Cheese began. He shook his head as rapidly as he could, leaving the blue with an enormous smile. “Just… WOW!” He turned around, facing the venue in full. “I have to say, this is the first time anypony has ever thrown me a party! I dunno what to say!”

“I think I might have a suggestion…” Pinkie said, leaning in and whispering into Cheese’s ear.

Cheese snickered to himself, rearing up and spreading his forelegs. “Fire the cannons, Pinkie!!!”

Pinkie squeed, rushing around the area and pulling party cannons out from bushes, behind chairs, and under the table, setting each of them off in sequence. What was once a poorly-crafted pity party came an extravagant bash with yellow and purple confetti falling over similarly-colored streamers. The cake was mostly the same, but was lined with yellow icing made to look like bits of string cheese, and full balloons of the same yellow and purple now surrounded the half-inflated ones. A massive pinata shaped like a rubber chicken hung from a nearby tree with a stick leaning against the roots, and each of the foals suddenly sported a party hat in the shape of a cheese wedge. “Now let’s PARTY!”

Boltsinger looked around the newly-upgraded venue with his mouth agape. “How the heck did you get all this set up?” His eyes landed on the myriad party cannons, sending him into a snort. “Never mind… I think I know. But why’d you have to do this when I already had everything set up for him?”

“Please, Bolt, I always have a party set up!” She pointed out, moving over to the table with Cheese.

“Yeah, that makes sense…” He admitted, gathering Nova and Pumpkin Cake to sit them at the table. “Besides, the whole point of me being the party planner was to show just what would happen if somepony were left on their own to set up a party.”

“Yeah, there was a lot wrong with that setup!” Cheese jokingly stated. “I mean, what was with those streamers?”

“I know, right?!” She replied. The two of them went into a long and involved conversation regarding the quality of Boltsinger’s party preparation, causing the Pegasus to droop a little more with every statement as his wings and Cutie Mark returned to normal.

“Eeyup… My point was well received…” He said, cutting into the cake and dishing some up for each of the foals.

Three party-filled hours later, Pinkie, Cheese, and Boltsinger gathered at the train station with Pound and Pumpkin sitting atop Pinkie’s back, and Nova in the baby carrier draped over his father’s back. “So, I’ve been thinking about something…” The winged stallion said, stepping ahead of Cheese. “You’ve been having issues throwing parties for Griffons, Yaks, and dragons, right?”

Cheese slowly nodded, raising a single eyebrow. “Yeah… What about it?”

“Well, I happen to know a town where you can talk with a Griffon, a Yak, and some dragons, if you want some insight.”

“Oh! Oh! Are you talking about Ponyville!” Pinkie interjected, hopping up and down between the stallions. “Please tell me you’re talking about Ponyville! We can have Cheese stay at Sugar Cube Corner, and I can show him my party planning cave, and we can plan all sorts of parties together, and--”

Boltsinger put a wing over Pinkie’s mouth, letting her muffled speech continue on. “Yes. I mean Ponyville. What do you think, Cheese?”

“Hmmmmmmmmm…” The party stallion brought his hoof up to his mouth, pondering for a few moments. He stepped off of the platform, moving out of sight only to come back wearing his pancho, hat, and saddle along with the most serious expression Boltsinger had ever seen out of him. “I think we’re gonna have to get ourselves some tickets. ‘Cause there’s a party in the works down in little old Ponyville!”

Author's Note

I have to apologize if my portrayal of Cheese Sandwich is a little off. In my defense, it's my first time actually writing for the character and not scrapping the idea (like my original plan in the last attempt). It's really hard to write any character based on Weird Al that's any kind of depressed! But that's what I wrote myself into.
The song is a bit of a parody... Well, more of a reprisal... of the song entitled "Pinkie the Party Planner", with some lyrics to match the scenario and performed by Bolt, Pinkie, and Cheese. I literally wrote the lyrics as I listened to and read the original lyrics of the source material, so I can't completely vouch for its quality. I just did my best. But, clearly, it's not exactly my own original song.
I'm actually going to be venturing much more into parody than just transcribing a song. My main repertoire of songs that can fit in Equestria has pretty much run dry, so I'll be going a little more experimental. I hope you enjoy the songs, and the next chapter that will be coming soon!

Overparenting

Crying filled the streets of Ponyville. Mrs. Cake exited Sugar Cube Corner with a tall, lanky yellow Earth Pony stallion with an orange mane and tail, a well-defined underbite, and bright green eyes. He wore a red and white hat with matching bow tie, along with a white apron, and had a Cutie Mark of three slices of carrot cake. The mare stopped cold, her ear twitching in the direction of the cries that pierced her ear. “Honey, do you hear that?” Mrs. Cake asked, pointing into the distance

“I think so, dear, but…” Mr. Cake started, looking in the indicated direction. Mrs. Cake had already begun galloping towards it, eliciting a resigned sigh from the baker as he ran after her.

The two ponies approached a large gathering of ponies with Nova’s crying ringing clearly over the muttering. Mrs Cake worked her way into the crowd, quickly making her way to the front to find that it made a circle around Nova’s carriage and a collapsed Boltsinger in a radius of at least ten feet. “Oh my goodness! Boltsinger!!!” She turned to the mare next to her with an angry squint in her eyes. “What happened here? And why in Celestia’s name hasn’t anypony gone to help him? Can’t you hear that baby?”

“The baby is what we’re afraid of!” The mare declared, pointing at Nova. “Nopony really knows what happened! We want to help, but the last time Prince Nova cried like this… Well, you were there! Nopony had any magic, and the sky was pitch-black!”

“He’s scared!” The baker pointed out. “He needs someone to be there for him!” The mare looked over at Mrs. Cake, then back at Nova, visibly shivering as she backed up. Mrs. Cake breathed a sigh, shaking her head as she turned towards the wailing baby. She dragged her hoof on the ground, hunching over and leaping with all of her might. She cleared the distance between her and the baby in an instant, looking warmly into the carriage at Nova. “Nova, sweetie, calm down, please!” She reached in and lifted the foal up, pulling him close and sitting down. Nova turned his body to lean into the grown-up, putting his hooves around her as she began stroking his mane. “There, there, sweetheart... I’m here…”

Mr. Cake finally caught up, stopping on a bit next to his wife. “What happened here? Is Boltsinger okay?”

The plump pony looked up at her husband. “I don’t know… Looks like he just… fell over!” She turned her attention back to the colt, keeping up her soothing.

“Right… I’ll go get Twilight!” The stallion suggested. Before Mrs. Cake could even respond, there was a cloud of dust where her spouse had stood.

Mrs. Cake looked over to the unconscious Pegasus, wondering just what could have happened to cause this happenstance. “Please hurry…”

Twilight stood on the stage of her classroom with students all around, motioning to a remarkably full blackboard as the scribbling of notes began. “So, that’s one example of Kindness empowering the other Elements. Any questions?”

As Ocellus raised her hoof, the classroom door flew open with a hyperventilating Mr. Cake standing there with a frantic look on his face. “Twilight… come… quick!”

“Mr. Cake?!” The Princess wondered, galloping over to him. “What’s going on?” Mr. Cake took a few steady breaths, leaning in to whisper the details into her ear. Twilight’s eyes proceeded to widen with fear as she listened, her ears and jaw dropping exponentially. “Class dismissed! Everyone take the rest of the day off!” She ignited her horn, and in a flash, the teacher and the baker were gone. Once they were sure their instructor was gone, the entire class erupted into cheers.

In the castle throne room, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight Glimmer sat around the map, waiting anxiously for the return of the resident Princess. School had been cancelled for the rest of the day, and the overall aura of the room had dimmed as Applejack looked worriedly at the empty chair between her throne and Twilight’s. “Whaddaya suppose is goin’ on?”

“I wish I knew.” Rarity replied, leaning on the map and resting her head on her forelegs, casting her own gaze at the empty spot. “Spike said there was an emergency, but that’s all he said.”

A magenta light enveloped the door, letting a slow-moving Alicorn walk in with a foal in her wings, with Spike hovering in close behind. She had a somber expression on her face as she sat in her throne. “Thank you all for being here so quickly…”

“It’s no problem, Twi.” Rainbow assured. She jumped out of her throne, walking to her friend’s side. “So what’s goin’ on?”

“And where the heck is Bolt?” Pinkie inquired. “I haven’t seen him all day!”

“That’s the bad news…” Twilight answered, hanging her head with a sorrowful sniff. “Bolt is in the hospital…”

A loud, simultaneous “WHAT?!” shook the chandelier above the mares. All hooves had found a solid surface, and all rumps were firmly raised at the new information.

“What on earth could have happened?” The couturier conjectured.

“Is ‘e okay? Anythin’ broken?” Applejack asked, rushing to her friend’s side. “Tell me he’s at least conscious!”

Twilight slowly shook her head, refusing to open her eyes. “Nothing’s broken, but… He’s not conscious. Mrs. Cake found him collapsed on the road, and he hasn’t woken up since.” Her face scrunched up as her eyes opened, looking down at her little colt. “I have no idea what happened… He’s been doing so well… So happy… strong… full of life... Now he’s just laying in a bed and not responding to anything anypony says!”

At this point, the Princess of Friendship was surrounded by those that gave her power. She held her baby close, receiving a hug in return as her friends joined in. “Don’t worry, Twilight!” Pinkie began, giving her a tight squeeze. “I’m sure he’ll be okay! Can’t be any worse than all the other times he’s passed out, right?”

“Most of the time, there’s an explanation…” She stated, gently tightening her hold on Nova. “There’s usually some kind of magic, or he slammed into a wall, or something like that… according to the ponies Mrs. Cake talked to, there wasn’t any real reason, this time. He just… dropped without warning…”

Starlight sat on the arm of the throne, placing her hoof on the Alicorn’s shoulder. “Why don’t you take time off from the school for now? I can bring Sunburst in to cover your classes, and you can focus on your family.”

Twilight looked up at her former student, her eyes turning puffy. “Are you sure? It’s not too much to handle?”

Starlight waves a dismissive hoof. “Please, if I can run the school with Discord messing with everyone, I can certainly handle the normal goings on!” She moved over to the crystal array, turning back to look at Twilight. “Besides, you look like you wouldn’t be able to focus much right now.”

Twilight looked back down at the baby hugging her, bringing her hoof up to stroke his mane. “Okay… I’ll pack a few things and head back to the hospital.” She rose from her throne and started for the door once more.

Fluttershy brought her hoof to her muzzle as the Princess passed her, letting a thought bubble up in her mind. She gave a determined nod, then looked over at the dragon following Twilight. “Spike, could you cover my classes?”

Spike looked back at the yellow mare with a sense of confusion, stopping just short of his head hitting the open door. “”Uh… sure. But why do you need me to cover classes when you’re not going anywhere?”

The animal expert trotted past Spike, taking a position beside Twilight. “I am going somewhere! I’m going to help Twilight take care of Nova and Boltsinger.”

Twilight shot a glance back at the Pegasus. “You are?”

“Of course!” She confirmed. “The last thing we want is for you to worry yourself sick! So, I’m going to go with you and share the load.”

Twilight wiped a tear from her eye at her friend’s words, pulling her in for a hug. “Thank you, Fluttershy… I’d love to have you with me!”

As Twilight and Fluttershy turned to head down the hall, Applejack leaned into Rainbow Dash, nudging her in the wing. “I betcha ten bits she’s got more reasons to help than keepin’ Twilight sane.”

“You kidding? I’m not taking that bet!” The Wonderbolt replied, making for the entrance. “Anypony with eyes knows that you’d win!”

Twilight sat next to a bed at Ponyville General, resting her hoof on one belonging to its occupant. Boltsinger was unconscious and largely unmoving, save for the rise and fall of his chest. Floating in front of her was a book with a large red cross on the front. “Doctor Horse said there wasn’t anything wrong with you… So why?”

From the doorway, Fluttershy poked her head in, the corners of her mouth curling down at the sight before her. She ran her wing over the mane if the colt in her foreleg, looking down at him. “Well, sweetie, it’s time to go see your daddy.” She took a deep breath, slapping her face with her wings and stepping into the room. “So how is he?”

“He seems fine. He just… won’t wake up!” The mother replied, putting her book away. “Apparently he was just going about his day, and then collapsed. Nopony knows what could have caused it!”

Fluttershy took a seat beside her friend, looking hard at the sleeping stallion’s face. "It’s true, there doesn’t seem to be anything different about him…” She looked between the stallion and the now-squirming colt, noting the various resemblances between them as an idea came to her head. “Twilight, how often is Boltsinger the one to take care of Nova?”

Twilight turned her eyes back, trying to recall the requested detail. “Well, ever since we started the school, he’s been with him most of the time. Why?”

“I see… I have and idea of what it might be, then.” Nova put his hooves on Fluttershy’s foreleg, pushing against her in an attempt to free himself. Fluttershy smiled down at him, bringing her other foreleg forward. “Aww, do you want to go back to your mama?” She lifted him up, passing him to the waiting forelegs. He nestled into her, keeping his eyes fixed on his daddy and fidgeting at regular intervals. “I think Boltsinger may be--"

“Burned out, huh?” A snide mare’s voice asked. Boltsinger sat alone in a blackened version of the castle nursery, slumped over the bed. Tendrils of shadow snaked out of the walls, forming into a pitch-black image of a fragmented mare with more tendrils coiling around her to create false wings and wrap firmly around her horn. Red light seeped out of each crack in her form and from her eyes, with a flowing, flame-like mane and tail that was accentuated by more tendrils. The blackness around her came to a point at an amulet with an Alicorn motif and a diamond-shaped red jewel. She sauntered to over the dejected pony, standing over him. “Anypony would get tired from having to look after a whiny foal like that as much as you have.”

“He’s not ‘whiny’…” Boltsinger spat, rocking the bed with his hoof. “He’s the best little colt in the whole world…” He took a staggering breath, letting his hoof fall to the floor.

“And you failed him.” The mare countered, using a single tendril of her wings to rock the bed. “He’s all alone in the street, you know. Probably crying and scared.” She sent him a devilish smirk, trailing individual tendrils up his back like the skittering of a bug. “And you, his dear daddy, can’t even hope to protect him! That must be torture!”

Boltsinger slapped the tendrils away with his wing, sending a discharge at the creature. “You think I don’t know that?” He turned his fierce gaze to her, lightning sparking in his eyes. “I get it! I failed as a father! I don’t need you reminding me of that!”

“But that’s the fun part!” She exclaimed, spreading her false wings. Her horn went alight, wrapping the Pegasus in a red aura and lifting him up. “And you know what? You and I get to play together for a long time, this time!” She gave off a dark chuckle as the tip of her horn intensified its light, pulling the stallion closer. “So nice to see you again…”

“No… No…!” He started, squirming against the magic that covered him. “I don’t want anything to do with you!”

The creature cackled, jutting her head forward. “You don’t have a choice, remember? I’m here as long as you live!”

“That doesn’t mean…” He strained his wings free of the magic, sending a spark into the field. “... that I have to…” With a powerful flap, he spread the discharge all around the aura, creating electrical cracks in the red magic. “... listen to you!” The lightning expanded, shattering the magic in a burst of lightning. He landed on the floor, twitching his tail with an aggressive snort.

“And what exactly do you plan to do?” She asked, extending the tendrils of her false wings to point at him, poised to strike. “Fight me? You’ve never stood a chance before!”

“Yeah, but I have a family, this time!” Boltsinger declared, dragging his hoof on the floor. “And I’d do anything if it means getting back to them!”

“Anything?” The monster repeated.

“Anything!” Boltsinger confirmed with a determined grin.

The monster stomped forward, glaring down at the Pegasus. “Such as…?”

Boltsinger remained silent, repeatedly dragging his hoof for emphasis. After a moment, he reared up, flailing his forelegs as he promptly performed a 180, galloping off into a newly-forming hallway. “TACTICAL RETREAT!”

The creature recoiled, retracting her wings. “You little coward! You can’t outrun me and you know it!”

Boltsinger looked back with a smirk as the hall before him expanded. “Joke’s on you! It’s my dream!”

With a dark laugh, tendrils spiked out of the walls in front of him to block his path. The creature formed once more out of the tendrils, looming over him. “Your dream, my domain!” She brought her false wings forward, homing each sharp tendril on his position as he raised his own wings.

“And you keep things way too dark in here!” with another spark of electricity arcing between his wings, a light brighter than any before it flashed in the mare's eyes, sending her reeling. Boltsinger took the opportunity to turn again, moving towards a wall that immediately gave way to his presence. “Maybe you should cool off for a while, anyway! You look like you could use it!” The monstrous mare let out an infuriated shriek, followed by the sound of a body slamming against walls. Boltsinger slapped his muzzle with his wings, drawing his eyes forward. Okay, Bolt, your dream, your mind. Where can you go in your own mind that you can actually hide from that thing until you wake up? As if to answer his question, the hall ahead of him expanded out into a larger corridor lined with doors. He slowed to a walk, looking around at them. Each of them had a number on them, with most of them having an electrical surge covering them. What the…? What are these? He stepped up to the closest of the electrified doors, reaching for the handle. As his hoof made contact, a spark flew at him, sending him rearing back with a pained yelp. “What the…? How the hay can something in my own mind keep me out?” He stomped his hoof, turning to another, not so voltic, door. “Let’s try this one…” He tentatively touched the handle with his hoof, slowly turning it as the door opened. He stumbled through, finding himself walking along a familiar Vanhoover street, approaching a house that gave him an immense sense of nostalgia. “I’m… home?” He spun around, examining his surroundings in greater detail. “So… Does that mean I’m in a memory?”

Out of the house came a yellow Pegasus stallion with a dark blue mane in a downright swirly style, purple eyes, and a Cutie Mark of three clouds swirling around each other. He looked up to the sky, bringing his wing up to his muzzle. “Brightling! You missed a spot up north! Can you get to that?”

A dissatisfied groan sounded from the second floor as a smaller version of Boltsinger’s brother, Brightling, walked out onto the balcony. “All right, I’ll take care of it!” He spread his wings in a way that Boltsinger hadn’t seen in a great many years, flapping them hard and taking off into the distance.

Boltsinger smiled, going into a trot towards his foalhood home. “Eeyup. Definitely a memory.” He slipped past the image of his father, stopping for a moment to send him a look of reverence. “Hey, Dad. I’m home.” Passing the house’s threshold, he heard a booming noise in the distance, reminding him of his predicament. And it looks like I’ll be here awhile…

Daddy is in danger.

Above all else, Nova knew this. He found himself held by Aunty Fluttershy near the hospital entrance. Over the past day, he had seen his daddy squirming and writhing. He only got like that when he hurt, and there was something dark in him, and it terrified the colt far more than any scary Draconequus ever could. He squirmed in his aunt’s grip, trying to get loose as he cried out.

“Oh, are you wanting to go to your mama?” Fluttershy inquired. She slowly turned towards the room his mommy and daddy were in, walking at an almost painfully slow pace. He pushed harder against her foreleg, wiggling his wings free. Fluttershy let out a small gasp, bringing her wing forward to hold the colt back. “Careful, now! You don’t want to fall on the floor!”

Nova shot Fluttershy a mildly irritated look, spreading his wings out wide and pushing further. He let out another cry, lighting up his horn. “Da…”

The Pegasus mare’s eyes gained more width than they’d had in quite some time. “Nova, did you just…”

A blue magical field surrounded Fluttershy’s foreleg and wing, moving them aside. “DA-DA!!!” He called out, taking flight down the hall and rocketing past the passing staff. “DA-DA!!!” He repeated, rounding a corner on his way while drawing the attention of several patients. Finally, he came to the room he knew his daddy was in, hovering in place for a moment as Fluttershy began catching up to him. He took a deep breath, shooting forward one more time.

“Nova?” Twilight started, seeing the orange and purple streak zoom in. She ignited her horn, stopping the foal entirely and pulling him close. “Nova, honey, was that you?”

Nova strained to get out of his mommy’s magic, lighting his own horn again to penetrate the field. “Da-da! Da-da! Da-da!”

The Princess’ jaw dropped along with the light of her horn. “His first word…”

With another cry of “DA-DA!!!”, Nova pounced onto his father’s belly as hard as he could, gripping him tightly and bringing his horn to life once more.

Boltsinger wasn’t sure how long he had been hiding in his foalhood home, but he didn’t care. All he knew was that it was getting dark when it really shouldn’t have been. Tendrils of blackness had started to seep into the house, clawing around to find their target as a dark voice called out. “Oh Bo~olt! You can’t hide for-e-ver!~” The sound of a booming saunter grew louder, as if the monster was approaching the house.

Boltsinger ran to the corner of his foalhood room, dropping to his rump and bringing his head to the floor with his wings draped over his head. Please don’t find me… Please don’t find me… Please don’t--

“Found you!” The construct announced. Boltsinger opened his eyes, seeing her dark red smile glaring down at him. “I told you I’d find you!” She focused her magic on Boltsinger’s neck, floating him back up into the air and poising her false wings once more. “Now, where were we?”

Boltsinger brought his wings and forelegs up to the red aura, his hind legs kicking furiously as the magic pressed him against the wall. “So this is ‘playing’, huh? What’re you gonna do once your ‘game’ is done?”

“I’m sure I’ll figure something out.” She spat, pushing harder with her emphasis. “Besides, I’m not going to be done for a long ti--” She found herself interrupted by a sharp pain in her chest, a blue light shining in it where the red normally came from. “What was that…?” She slammed her hoof into Boltsinger’s shoulder, getting in close. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” He admitted.

“Well, whatever it was, it won’t…” Another yelp escaped her as the light struck again, accompanied by a noise.

“DA-DA!!!” Came the cry of a foal, repeatedly panging at the construct. It let out an ear-piercing shriek as the blue light inside burst out, shattering it completely to reveal the magical blue image of an Alicorn colt flying headlong into the stallion.

“Nova…?” Boltsinger started, the magic around his neck fading as his forelegs found their way around the image that slammed into him.

Boltsinger’s eyes opened, spying the walls of a hospital room with a purple and blue mane brushing repeatedly against his chest. “Da-da…” The foal said, letting out cries that made his fur soggy.

The stallion brought his forelegs up, carefully putting them around his son and pulling him closer to his head. “Oh, Nova…” He managed to say, letting tears fall from his eyes. “Thank you… You saved me, little Prince… Even though I failed you…” He tightened his grip, nuzzling the colt with his tear-stricken muzzle. “Daddy is so sorry for failing to be there for you… It’ll never happen again, I promise!”

“Boltsinger!” Cried a pair of mares as two sets of forelegs surrounded him. Boltsinger looked up to see the ecstatic faces of Twilight and Fluttershy, crying tears of joy.

“Thank goodness you’re okay!” Fluttershy shouted, squeezing tighter.

“But I’m not…” He argued, running his hoof up and down the baby’s back. “I… I passed out… I left Nova all by himself… I couldn’t protect him! And… And then he goes and saves me… What… What kind of father am I?”

“The kind that was overworked to an extreme…” Twilight pointed out, falling from her embrace to look him in the eye. “Fluttershy told me all about it. How ponies get burned out going full bore like that for long periods… But why didn’t you tell us how tired you were?”

“I… I-I-I didn’t know…” He admitted, averting his eyes. “I was just… walking, and then… Thud.”

Fluttershy finally loosened her grip, sitting beside the bed. “That’s usually how it hits. It happened to me a few weeks after I started Sweet Feather Sanctuary.” She tilted her head, bringing a thought forward. “Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of somepony lasting long as you did before that kind of burnout. That’s really impressive!”

Twilight sent a sheepish smile to her husband. “Well, if there’s one thing he’s got going for him, it’s stamina!” The parents both let out a snicker with a mild blush, eliciting a confused look from Fluttershy.

“Well, I don’t feel tired, now. I think I should be good to keep going!” Boltsinger declared, moving to get up. Twilight sent him a deadpan look, magically holding him in place.

“Oh no you don’t!” The lilac mare said, forcing him back into a resting position. “The only place you’re going is back to sleep! If Mrs. Cake hadn’t found you, I don’t know what would have happened. I’m not going to let you go that long without a proper break again, even if I have to uproot my entire schedule to do it.”

Boltsinger straightened up, letting his spouse’s magic do its work. “Yes, dear!”

Author's Note

This chapter took some consideration on multiple fronts. Took a while for it to really take shape, but I think where it ended up is a good place.
I honestly love that Mrs. Cake was the supermom that saved the day. It just felt right.

Pride And Performance

Pinkie Pie sat in Sugar Cube Corner, leaning close to Nova with an eager face. “Can you say ‘Pinkie’? ‘Pinkie Pie’?” Nova babbled incoherently, putting his hooves on the mare’s cheeks. “Oh, come on… You talked yesterday! Why can’t you say ‘Pinkie’?”

“It’s no use, Pinkie.” Boltsinger called from the table he sat at with Twilight, looking over an intricately detailed schedule. “He hasn’t even said ‘Da-da’ again since that one time, let alone proper names.”

“Awww…” Pinkie brought her hooves up over the colt’s, moving them around to squish her cheeks. “Well, at least he said something!”

“Yup. Now we just need to figure out how we’re gonna get more ponies around to teach him more.” He leaned back over the schedule, pointing to a particular point in the timeline. “So, I understand that you’re all going to be taking him during your free periods, but what about when none of you have one?”

“I hadn’t thought of that…” Twilight stated. “I was thinking of Starlight, but she’s so busy with her duties as guidance counselor and helping Trixie with her next performance that I couldn’t possibly ask her!”

“Wait a minute, Trixie’s in town?” Boltsinger wondered, looking at the lilac mare. She silently nodded, keeping her attention on the schedule. “You could’ve told me, you know!” He fell back to his slouch over the parchment. “I think I’ll stop by her wagon later. See if we can set up one of our bits to perform along with her show.” A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he thought back on previous encounters with the illusionist. “I mean, if there’s one pony that can put on a show, it’s her! Even if it’s just for…” His eyes widened as the blackened light bulb above his head turned on. “... one… pony…” He sprang to his hooves, excitedly twitching his tail. “That’s it!”

That night, Boltsinger and Starlight shared the stage with a blue-coated Unicorn mare with a wispy white and blue mane and tail, dark violet eyes, and the cockiest grin the stallion had ever known. She sported a large purple wizard’s hat and cape adorned with star and moon patterns, with what looked to be a diamond clip holding the cape on. Every sway of her garment revealed a Cutie Mark of a star-tipped magic wand leaving a wispy wave of magic in its wake. The three ponies simultaneously stomped a foreleg, spreading their other forelegs wide in a formation that accentuated the blue mare as she threw down a number of smoke bombs to conceal herself. From within the smoke, there was the sound of galloping while the curtain fell and the crowd burst into cheers.

Boltsinger stepped backstage alongside his magical friend, smiling like a giddy foal. “Oh, sweet Celestia, have I missed that!”

Starlight smiled over at the stallion, trotting over to some of the props. “Missed performing that much, huh?”

“More like he missed sharing the stage with the Grrrrrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!” The blue mare declared, stepping into the prop area with a grandly raised foreleg and without her hat and cape. She stopped beside Boltsinger, sending him a grateful smile. “Though, I must admit, you do bring a nice dramatic flair to the stage. You’re easily my favorite warm-up act!”

Boltsinger smirked back, letting out a snicker. “I’m your only warm-up act.”

“Well, you’re the audience’s favorite warm-up act, too.” She stressed. “They always have the best cheers when you’re added to the mix!”

“I do my best.” Boltsinger affirmed, brushing a hoof against his prized pendant. “It’s fun to be your Great and Powerful warm-up!”

The two performance ponies shared a hoof bump as the mare loosed a yawn. “So, what was it you wanted to ask me, anyway?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you tomorrow.” He replied, waving a dismissive hoof. “You seem pretty tired. How about a nice, warm bed at the castle?”

Trixie let out another yawn into her hoof, nodding at the idea of a comfy bed. “That sounds great… You two go ahead, though. I’ll catch up.” Starlight and Boltsinger each nodded with understanding, heading out. Trixie spent the next few minutes putting everything away in as organized a fashion as possible, finding herself glad that she had allowed Twilight to set up a system that she could follow. When everything was in its place, she brushed her forehooves together, taking a satisfied breath as she exited her stage into the park. She trotted along through town, taking a bow at passing ponies. As she passed the cafe, a haughty voice caught her ear.

“Oh my gosh! I just loved Prince Boltsinger’s performance tonight!” One mare exclaimed.

“I know, right?” Another affirmed, slamming her hooves on the table. “I just wish he would perform more often!”

The first mare laughed. “Yeah! Way better than that ‘gross and pathetic’ Trixie, or whatever she calls herself!”

Trixie felt a powerful stab pierce her heart, giving her a kind of pain she hadn’t felt in a long time as she brought her hoof up over it. “Gross and pathetic?”

Oblivious to the impact hitting so close to them, the other mare joined in the laughter. “That’s so true! She’s such a ham! I don’t know how somepony as great as Prince Bolt can stand being onstage with her!”

Trixie hung her head, slowly rising to her hooves. Gross and pathetic, am I? I’ll show them! She sauntered out from behind the hedge, flipping her mane as she held her head high. “I must say, you mares have some…” She sent a side-eyed squint at the two of them. “... interesting opinions.”

The mares stopped laughing. They turned to look at the illusionist they had spoken of with a mild gawk. “Oh! Trixie! What a coincidence! We were just talking about how--”

“‘Gross and pathetic’ you think I am?!” She finished, glaring daggers at them. “Oh, it’s fine for you to have such a CRAZY opinion of me! I even have a prize for those who are so brutally honest!”

A terrified, nervous laugh escaped the mares, sending both of them sitting up perfectly straight in their chairs. “Oh? What kind of…” The speaking mare swallowed a sizable lump in her throat. “... prize… is it?”

Trixie’s horn flared to life as she aimed at the table. “A teacup!” She let out a blast of magic from her horn that barrelled towards the table, creating a white glow that enveloped its surface, turning it into a small, lilac teacup with a swirl pattern on the side. “Teacup! Teacup teacup teacup teacup teacup TEACUP!!!” With each repetition of the word, she sent another beam at each of the chairs, turning them into the same kind of teacup and dropping the mares on top, shattering the freshly-made china. Subsequent beams went for their jewelry, food, and the liquid in their cups, leaving the two terrified mares sitting on the cold ground, surrounded by teacups and staring totally befuddled at the teary-eyed Trixie before them. The magician in question continued to seethe, trying to calm herself as she continued on her way to the castle. The mares’ words, however, refused to leave her thoughts. Gross and pathetic, huh? They think I’m so much worse than Bolt, huh? I’ll show them! I’ll show them all! She stopped short of the castle door, doing an about-face and wiping her eyes free of the tears that encroached on her. I’m gonna blow Bolt out of the water! Then they’ll see who the best performer is!!! With that, her gallop began anew, heading back to her beloved wagon.

The next morning, Twilight, Boltsinger, Scootaloo, Starlight, and Spike walked into the park where Trixie’s stage was set up, pushing along Nova’s carriage. Boltsinger had been gushing about the show he’d taken part in all night, and Scootaloo had become excited to see what might come next from the pair of performers. As they neared the fountain, a large number of ponies gathered around them with ecstatic expressions.

“To what do we owe the honor of a crowd today?” Boltsinger wondered, eyeing all the smiling faces.

Starlight shrugged, continuing onward. “They probably just want to talk about last night. It was pretty memorable.”

Scootaloo looked around the park, raising her hoof up over her eyes. There was a thick, purple smoke seeping in from the bushes and trees, slowly approaching the fountain and surrounding the ponies. “I think there might be another reason everypony is so excited…” She motioned to the various sources of smoke, bringing it to the other ponies’ attention.

“Booooooooltsingeeeeeeeeeer… Booooooooooooooltsingeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!” Trixie’s voice moaned from the distance. “You have brought shame upon the Great and Powerful Trixie!” The bushes across the way rustled, sending the sound of hooves cantering up to them. “And for that… You… will…” With a flash and a bang, Trixie appeared in front of Boltsinger, standing on her hind legs with her forelegs raised high. “... PAY!!!”

Boltsinger’s rump hit the ground almost instantly. He knew this was all just some of Trixie’s shenanigans, but that didn’t stop the execution from being good enough to send a chill down his spine. He looked up at the angry illusionist with wide, curious eyes. “What is it I supposedly need to 'pay' for? Did I do something wrong?”

Trixie aggressively pressed her hoof against the Pegasus’ chest. “You.” The hoof moved to point at herself. “Me.” She motioned to the stage. “Onstage.” The hoof finally stomped on the ground at Boltsinger’s hooves. “Tomorrow.” She jutted her head forward, stopping less than an inch from his face. “COMPETITION!”

“Uh… Why are we competing?” He inquired.

“Everypony thinks you’re so great onstage!” She spat, throwing her head back and turning her eyes towards her stage. “Always singing ‘Prince Bolt’s’ praises while I get called ‘gross and pathetic’...” She stomped her hoof again. “It’s not fair!” With a flourish of her cape, she spun around to face the stallion again. “So, you and I are going to have a contest! We’re going to prove, once and for all, who the best performer in Ponyville really is!”

Boltsinger’s head inquisitively tilted. “But… why compete? You’re a way better performer than I am!”

Twilight, Spike, and Scootaloo immediately snapped their attention to the humble stallion, the purple pony quirking an eyebrow. “Really? You think so?”

Boltsinger nodded profusely, pointing at the pony of prestidigitation. “Of course! She’s got a well-established, always-improving magic show that she has years of experience with!” He motioned to himself, letting his head sink. “I sing and flap my wings.” He made a twirling motion with one of the feathers on his wing. “Biiiiig whoop. She has a lot over me as a performer. Better stage presence, better act, better--"

“Voice?” Trixie smugly suggested. All eyes fell upon her, with the orange Pegasus blinking a few times, as if trying to process what he had just heard.

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” He asked, raising a questioning hoof.

Trixie raised a cocky eyebrow, letting a fiercely confident smirk onto her face. “I’m saying that I have a better singing voice than you!”

Boltsinger let out a laugh as he put a feather in his ear, digging out what wax he could find. “I… must be hearing things, because I thought I heard you say you had a better singing voice than me!”

“Oh, you’re not hearing things.” The Unicorn corrected, poking his chest with her hoof. “I do sing better than you! Not that that’s hard to do.”

“Not that hard to--" Boltsinger raised his rump, standing to his full height as something seemed to flip in his mind. His eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed, and his wings spread so rapidly that the smoke surrounding them cleared in an instant. “Oh, it’s on!” He declared, leaning in face-to-face with the blue pony. “You wanna compete? Let’s compete!” His hoof forcefully came forward, poking her at the base of the neck. “Your voice against mine. Put your music where your muzzle is!”

“Sounds good to me!” Trixie confirmed.

“Fine!” Boltsinger shouted with a hard stomp.

Trixie turned around, beginning a trot back to her wagon. “FINE!”

Boltsinger raised his hoof, shaking it furiously. “I’m gonna sing circles around you, Lulamoon! YOU HEAR ME?! CIRCLES!!!” He stomped his hoof one more time, turning around with a fierce snort as he began walking away.

As the stallion passed his family, Twilight, Scootaloo, and Spike stared at him, jaws having fallen ajar. “What was that?!” Spike asked.

Starlight stood in the middle of the park, dividing her attention between her performer friends. “I don’t know… But it can’t be good!”

“You were there!” Boltsinger exclaimed, sitting on one end of the couch in Starlight’s office, spreading his forelegs. “Out of nowhere, she just goes and insults my voice!” He sat up, situating himself to sit properly. “There is not much about me, personally, that I’m all that proud of. Panicky, depressed all the time, prone to crashing into stuff. But my voice? That’s something I take pride in! And that’s what she attacked! What did you expect me to do?!”

“Have you ever been compared to somepony in such an awful way?” Trixie conjectured, sitting on an end of the couch in Starlight’s office. “‘Gross and pathetic’ Trixie… That’s what they’re calling me! I have to prove myself, and the only way to do it is by showing that I really am better than him!”

“I understand how you feel, but that’s not why I asked the two of you here.” Starlight stated. She sat at her desk, looking on at both of them.with a stern, yet caring face. “Is it really necessary for you two to compete?”

“Yes.” They simultaneously confirmed. They let out a gasp, turning to each other and glowering at one another.

“Are you sure?” The guidance counselor led, magically directing her guests’ gaze back at her. “Look at how angry you are already. What would this do to your friendship?”

Boltsinger pointed to Trixie. “She started it!”

At the same time, Trixie pointed to Boltsinger. “It’s his fault!”

“How is this my fault?” Boltsinger asked. “You’re the one with the fragile pride and an ego the size of Canterlot!”

“If ponies weren’t so enamored with you, then they wouldn’t be saying such horrible things!” Trixie argued.

“I can’t help how ponies feel about my performances!” He spat back, crossing his forelegs. “All I ever do is give it my best! Maybe you should give that a shot!”

Trixie’s face turned to a look of immense shock as an offended noise escaped her mouth. As she took a breath to speak, she and Boltsinger found themselves held in place entirely. “ENOUGH!” Starlight yelled, stomping her hooves on her desk. She jumped over to the couch, sitting between the two of them. “If you’re that set on competing, then we’re going to do it right, and have clear rules that both of you have to abide by, okay?” She let the pair’s heads free, eliciting a gasp for air from both of them.

“Eeyup.” The stallion confirmed.

“Okay…” The blue mare relented.

Starlight took a deep breath, releasing them from her hold. “Good. Now, I’ve already got an idea for how this can work, and I’ve asked Cheese to officiate, and DJ PON-3 if she could help both of you to prepare and perform.”

“PON-3 is helping out? Why?” Boltsinger wondered, relaxing against the arm of the couch. “I can do all the sound work we need.”

“I don’t think I can trust you to help Trixie with her performance if you’re this mad.” Starlight deadpanned. “Besides, it’ll make it easier for you, too.” Boltsinger huffed, averting his gaze and reluctantly nodding. “Now, as for the rules, you’ll each have one song to perform, and the crowd is going to decide the winner. So give it your best. Is that fair?”

“No arguments here.” Spoke the stallion.

“I guess if he’s fine with it, so am I.” Added the mare.

“Good. Now, you each have a lot of work ahead of you.” Starlight continued, floating her friends into the air. “Bolt, you get to practice first since you’re the one that was challenged.” Trixie sent a glare down at her best friend, but found a hoof in her face. “I don’t wanna hear any arguments, Trix. You’ll get plenty of time, trust me.” She closed her eyes, bringing two separate places into her thoughts. “Now, get going!” She released her spell, sending her friends away in a flash of blue light. As the room emptied, Starlight breathed a deep sigh, walking over to the door and poking her head out. “Next!”

Boltsinger sat in the living room of a house that bore a perfectly split-down-the-middle theme. On one half, the decor was very traditional, with mostly brownish green walls and everything one might expect of a sitting room, while also holding a music stand and a stool. On the side Boltsinger occupied, the decor was decidedly more wild and futuristic. The walls were a bright shade of purple, and a set of turntables formed the bulk of the furniture. Behind said turntables sat a white-coated Unicorn mare who wore a pair of headphones with rose-tinted sunglasses. Her mane and tail were alternating shades of blue hanging dramatically to one side of her head, and her Cutie Mark featured two connected quarter notes.

“Trixie’s gotta have a song in mind already…” Boltsinger started, looking through a book of songs. “She’s got so many magic tricks, I’d bet my feathers she’s got songs to match!” He closed the book, setting it aside. “Bah… None of these work! Nothing in my usual repertoire is really a good choice, either… Especially since some of them need a way bigger group than anything I can manage without three solid days of prep time.” He took a look at the Unicorn. “PON-3, you got anything I can use?”

DJ PON-3 brought up a pondering hoof, bobbing her head to the beat from her headphones. She floated a record over to Boltsinger, receiving a shake of the head in return. She continued her search, bringing another record to get the same result. She tried one more time, getting another shake. Breathing an exasperated sigh, she put the record away, shrugging her shoulders at the stallion.

“Yeah, I know. But song choice is everything in a contest like this!” He stressed. “I’ve gotta have something that inspires confidence. Something that commands the stage! Something… Something that can get the crowd involved! That’s bound to get them cheering!”

The silent musician thought for a moment longer, letting her face light up as an idea came to her head. She floated over another record, letting it fall to her hooves. She spun the record in place on her hoof, slapping it down onto the turntable and hitting the play button. From the speakers situated on either side of the setup, a simple, yet distinct rhythm began, bringing a devious grin to the stallion’s muzzle.

“Oh, this is perfect!” He declared, slowly going into a fit of maniacal laughter.

Starlight walked into the castle with a sad shake of her head. “What the heck am I doing, letting those two compete like this?” She turned up the stairs, making for the library. She slowly opened the door, trudging past a table occupied by Twilight over to plop into the comfiest chair she could find and floating a book over to her. “This is just crazy…”

Twilight looked up from her book, sending a glance over to her former pupil. “Everything okay?”

“Not even a little.” She replied, opening her book.

The Princess rose from her seat, moving to the chair next to Starlight’s. “What’s wrong?”

The Unicorn gave off a soft groan, sitting up and putting her book aside. “It’s this silly contest between Trixie and Boltsinger. They’re so focused on beating each other that they seem to have forgotten that they’re friends!”

“Ah. That.” Twilight answered, looking back at the entrance. “I’ve never seen Bolt so fired up before, honestly. Not without good reason, at least. It reminds me of when Rainbow Dash gets too competitive.”

“Exactly!” Starlight exclaimed, extending her foreleg. “You know how she gets when she wants to win that badly! And both of them are just like that right now! It’s like they can’t even think of how much they love performing together…”

“Have you reminded them of that?”

“I tried, but they wouldn’t let me.”

“Well, when you can, I suggest you do just that.”

Starlight sighed, floating her book back over. “I’ll try. But I doubt I’m going to see Trixie until tomorrow night.” She paused for a moment, looking up from her book. “Actually, have you seen Bolt since he got home?”

It was Twilight’s turn to sigh as she floated her own book back to its place in front of her. “He’s been holed up in the music room ever since he got back.”

“I guess that means I won’t be seeing him ‘till the contest, either, huh?” She guessed.

The stage was set. Ponies and other creatures gathered around the stage, and in the spotlight stood a lanky party pony holding a microphone. Behind him sat DJ PON-3 on her mobile turntable setup, and next to her sat a wacky-looking gauge device. Cheese Sandwich tapped the mic a few times. “Hello? Hello?! Is this thing on?” As the sound of his voice erupted from the speakers on either side of the stage, he found himself slightly blown forward. “Okay! Let’s do this!” He looked out to the crowd, raising his free foreleg. “Hey, Ponyville! And welcome to the contest to decide Ponyville’s premiere performer! I’m your host, Cheeeeeeeeese Sandwich!!!" Members of the crowd immediately started stomping and cheering, bringing a big smile to Cheese’s face. “Thank you! Thank you! But we all know I’m not the pony you’re here to see! So let’s introduce our competitors for tonight!” He stepped stage right, motioning his hoof stage left. “Our first competitor is somepony you all know extremely well! Formerly a rival to our Princess Twilight, she’s the best stage magician we know! It’s… The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!!!”

Trixie leaped forth from backstage in her full magician’s attire, stepping front and center and taking a bow with a flourish of her hat while members of the audience cheered. “Thank you, Ponyville! Thank you so much!”

Cheese waited until the cheers died down, then moved stage left, mirroring his previous motions as Trixie took a position nearby. “And then we have our next competitor, whose name literally says it all when it comes to his talents… You know him, you love him! It’s Prince BOLTSINGER!!!”

The cheers began prematurely as Boltsinger fluttered into view, landing center stage with a stomp, a wave, and a smile. “Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the support!”

“I appreciate the support!” Trixie repeated in a distorted mock.

Boltsinger sent his opponent a smug smirk, moving stage right as Cheese returned to the center. “Now, I’m sure you’ve all noticed my patented Cheer-O-Matic by now!” The party stallion stated, pointing back to the gauge device. Several of the onlookers commented to one another about the nature of device as the brunette stallion stepped over to it. “I bet you’re wondering how it works! So let’s have a demonstration!” He flipped a switch on the side, causing the device to light up and whir to life. “All right, everyone! Make some noise for our two contestants!” The crowd happily did as instructed, stomping and hollering and clapping as loud as they could. The louder they got, the higher the needle went on the gauge. Cheese stepped forward, holding up his hoof. “All right, all right, that’s enough!” He pointed back to his Cheer-O-Matic, making note of the needle. “As you can see, the louder the applause, the higher that needle goes! So whoever gets the needle to go the highest will be our winner, and Ponyville’s premiere performer!!!” The applause only increased in volume at the proclamation, prompting the performers to all take a bow. Cheese walked over to the Cheer-O-Matic, turning the device off for the moment, then returned to the center to put the microphone atop a stand. “Okay, everyone, it’s time to decide who will go first! Trixie, Bolt, I’d like for each of you to come here!” The competitors followed the instructions, coming up to either side of the wacky pony. Stepping away from the mic, Cheese looked between the blue and orange ponies. “Okay, so how are we gonna do this?”

Boltsinger motioned graciously to the mare before her. “Oh, by all means, ladies first.”

Trixie let out a haughty chortle, raising her hoof beside her muzzle. “All right, then. But don’t go crying to your wife when you’re blown away by my amazing song!”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.” He assured her, walking to the back right of the stage.

Cheese Sandwich approached the microphone again with a large grin. “Okay, everyone! We have our first performer! Give it up for the Great and Powerful Trixie!!!” He stepped to the side of his machine as Trixie floated the microphone over toher, bobbing her head to a beat and turning to DJ PON-3. The white Unicorn brought up a pair of records, placing them on the turntable and starting up a beat as Trixie brought the mic close.

“~Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
And I captivate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat (Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh)

Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
See me dominate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat (Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh)

You think you've got what it takes to go toe to toe?
I've got more moves than you'll ever know
I own the stage, I'm all the rage
You're from the past, I'm from the Space Age~”

The beat suddenly began to intensify as she moved to the front of the stage, small fireworks going off around the arch.

“~Come on, you're just making noise
Listen how my music destroys
Anything you throw at me
I'm gonna throw back, just wait and see-ee~”

The beat returned to normal, but Trixie remained at the edge, moving back and forth about the stage to the rhythm.

In the crowd, Twilight and Spike looked at each other quizzically. “Have we… heard this before?” Spike inquired.

“I… think so!” Twilight confirmed, looking curiously at the performing pony. “What a strange coincidence…”

“~Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
And I captivate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat (Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh)

Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
See me dominate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat (Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh)

I'm here to take you down a peg
Oh, whoa, oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-oh
By the time I'm done, you're gonna beg
Oh, whoa, oh-whoa-oh-whoa-oh-oh
To be in my band, application rejected! (Rejected!)
Don’t look so sad and so dejected! (And so dejected!)~”

Trixie stood back at the front center position, raising her hoof and moving to the beat, prompting the crowd to do the same as the intensity rose once more.

“~Don't mean to brag, don't mean to boast
But I'm a six-course meal and you're just burnt toast
Think I'm gonna ever give up?
No, never, ever, ever, ever!

Come on, you're just making noise
Listen how my music destroys
Anything you throw at me
I'm gonna throw back, just wait and see-ee~”

Once more, the beat calmed down, but Trixie rose to her hind legs with an intense expression.

“~Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
And I captivate
'Cause I'm powerful and grea-ea-eat (Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh)

Ya better believe
I got tricks up my sleeve
See me DOMINATE!
‘Cause I’m POWERFUL AND GREA-EA-EAT!!!~”

At the final exclamation, Trixie wrapped herself in her magic, floating herself into the air as several large fireworks went off around the stage. The beat came to an end, and Trixie returned herself to the floor, putting the microphone back on the stand. The moment she touched down, Cheese turned his device back on just in time for the crowd to roar. Trixie stepped aside, letting the host return to his position behind the mic. “WOW! That sure was great, wasn’t it? Let’s see what the Cheer-O-Matic says!” He pointed at the aforementioned machine, which had its needle raised nearly to the top. “Ooh-wee! That score is a doozy! Bolt’s gonna have to bring his A-game to beat something like that!” He waved stage right as the previous performer moved to the back left position. “So let’s see what he can do! Give a round of applause for BOLTSINGER!!!”

“Oh, I think I’ve got just the thing!” Boltsinger stepped up to the microphone as Cheese returned to his spot next to the device, putting a marker where Trixie’s score had landed. As soon as the switch was flipped, the blue-maned stallion turned to the audience. He twitched his tail, prompting a nod from DJ PON-3. From there, he stomped his back right leg, followed by his back left leg, then clapped his forehooves together in a definite rhythm. He repeated the rhythm a total of eight times as his face came close to the device reminiscent of his Cutie Mark. “Okay, everyone, I want you to join in! Give me the beat, here!” The crowd went into the ‘STOMP-STOMP-CLAP’ beat quickly, several of the audience members smiling and bobbing their heads to the beat as they went. “All right! Let’s do this!” He waited for two measures, beckoning Trixie to take a more frontal position on the stage as he picked up the microphone, stand and all, and held it close with his wings with a fierce smile.

“~Missy, you’re a dolt!
I’m the BIG BOLT!
Take me on the stage
Gonna lose all your fans today!
Ya got mud on your face, you big disgrace!
I’m gonna go and put you back into your place!

Singin’
WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!~”

There was a measure of the solitary beat as Boltsinger began to step towards Trixie.

“~WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!~”

“We?” Trixie repeated, cocking an eyebrow at the performing Pegasus. “Who is ‘we’?”

“The Royal ‘We’!” He shouted in rhythm. “I’m a Prince, remember?!

~Lady you’re a young mare,
Done mare!
Shouting in the street!
Gonna take on the ro-yal-ty!
Ya got smug on your face, you big disgrace!
Flashin’ that wagon all over the place!

Singin’
WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!~”

The stomping intensified as Boltsinger once again added his hooves to the beat. It, along with the lyrics, began pounding at Trixie’s eardrums, causing her to take a step back. “SING IT!” He called out to the audience.

“~WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!

Trixie, I dunno
Where’s the ‘big show’
All I see’s a stage
And a little bit of spark today!
Ya got soot on your face, ya big disgrace!
You better get your ego a little more SPACE!

Singin’
WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!

WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!~”

DJ PON-3 began working her turntables, creating a strange noise that started to fade in while Boltsinger stepped to the edge of the stage to face the crowd. “Everypony!

~WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!

WE__ WILL
WE__ WILL
ROCK YOU!~”

Suddenly, the sound of a fiddle played so strangely that it sounded like a guitar erupted from the speakers in a lick that lasted several measures, with the last note prompting Boltsinger to slam the mic stand back in its original spot, bringing the beat to its end as Cheese turned the device back on. The cheers were instantaneous and thunderous, sending the needle rising rapidly while the party pony returned to the mic. “WOW! That, was, epic!” He motioned back to his patented device. “Let’s see what the Cheer-O-Matic has to say!” They all looked over to the machine, where the needle had risen to match the place marked by Trixie’s performance. Cheese sent a wide-eyed look to the performers, followed by the crowd. “Amazing! It seems that Bolt has gotten exactly the same score as Trixie! We have two winners!” The cheering continued, causing the needle to shake. Trixie looked over at the device, feeling a wellspring of emotion boiling up inside her as her breathing grew heavier. “Isn’t that just great, everyone?”

“NO IT’S NOT!” Trixie screamed, sending a beam of magic at the whirring machine that turned it into a teacup, falling on the floor and shattering. The crowd’s applause immediately ceased, all eyes falling upon the fuming mare.

Cheese’s smile was washed away, his rump falling to the floor. “My… My Cheer-O-Matic…”

“I will not be second, and I will NOT accept a draw!” She threw off her hat and cape, stomping over to Boltsinger with a hoof angrily pointed at him. “‘Cause…

~Anything you can do, I can do better!” Boltsinger let out a short burst of laughter. “~I can do anything better than you!~”

Boltsinger looked down at her with amusement. “No you can’t!”

“Yes I can!”

“No you can’t!”

“Yes I can!”

“No, you can’t!!”

“Yes I can, ~yes I caaaaaaaaaaan!!!”

Boltsinger huffed, flapping his wings to create his signature breeze. “Well, ~Anything you can be, I can be greater! Sooner or later, I’m greater than you!~”

Trixie gave off a squeal of a laugh, turning away from him confidently. “No you’re not.”

“Yes I am!” He retorted.

“No you’re not!”

“Yes I am!”

Trixie gritted her teeth, turning back to him with a stomp. “NO YOU’RE NOT!!!”

Boltsinger put his smug face back on, facing the crowd. “Yes I am, ~yes I aaaaaaaaaaam!!!~” He pointed his hoof up to a cloud. “~I can make the weather every kind of better!~”

Trixie lit her horn, pulling a feather duster over from backstage. “~I can be your cleaner,~” She fluttered it in Boltsinger’s face. “~No one does it meaner!~”

Boltsinger knocked the duster away. “~I can live on bread and cheese!~”

Trixie recoiled. “And only on that?”

“Eeyup!”

“So can a rat!” She remarked, getting a gawk from the stallion.

Boltsinger turned back to the audience with a cocky smirk. “~Any note you can sing, I can sing higher!~”

“~I can sing any note higher than you!~” Trixie spat.

Boltsinger chortled, taking a deep breath. “~No you caaan’t!~” He sang at a pitch higher than before.

Trixie took a preparatory breath, putting her foreleg over her heart. “~Yes I caaaaaan!~” She sang at a pitch higher than his.

Boltsinger stepped towards the audience, taking a deeper breath. “~Noooo you caaaaaaan’t!~” Once again, he was a full octave higher than his opponent.

Trixie let out a huff, bringing her foreleg out. “~Yeees I caaaaaaaaaaan!~”

Boltsinger symmetrically matched her gesture, sending her a fierce look. “~No you caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan’t!~” He had approached the top of his range, and it was showing.

Trixie looked at the audience, quirking a single eyebrow. She rose entirely to her hind legs, taking a gigantic breath and spreading both forelegs out. “~YEEEES I CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!~” The note rang out over the crowd at a pitch that made a number of ears in the audience twitch.

Boltsinger sighed, walking stage right. “Wow! Just how do you get up there?”

“I’m a mare!” Trixie deadpanned.

Boltsinger looked back at her with feigned confusion. “Yeah? Coulda fooled me!”

Trixie, along with Twilight and Starlight in the crowd, shot the stallion a look of sheer disbelief at the comment. Starlight dug her hoof into the dirt, grinding her teeth. “This is getting out of hoof…”

Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. “It hasn’t gotten that bad, though.”

“Not yet.” Starlight noted.

Boltsinger grinned over at Trixie, trotting back over. “~Anything you can say, I can say softer!~”

Trixie rolled her eyes. “~I can say anything softer than you!~”

Boltsinger leaned his head forward, slowing the pace of his wings. “No you can’t…” He softly said.

Trixie matched her opponent’s height while the wings moved faster. “Yes I can…” She whispered, her sound carrying over the crowd.

Boltsinger’s smirk widened as his wings slowed again. “No you can’t…” He replied, his voice softer still.

The wings sped up again as Trixie took a shallow breath. “Yes I can…” Again, her whisper was loud enough to cover the park.

Boltsinger’s wings nearly stopped as he went into his lullaby mode. “No you can’t…” He gleefully sped his wings up once more as Trixie closed her eyes.

Trixie leaned next to the stallion’s ear, taking one more breath. “Yes I can…” Then her volume increased exponentially. “~YES I CAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!~”

Boltsinger reared back, covering his ears. “What was that for?!”

Trixie pointed at the Pegasus’ wings, which were now doing their normal breeze. “You cheated!”

“You’d have done the same!” He argued.

“Well, ~I can light a fire, send it ever higher!~” She boasted.

“~I can take your pyre and hang it from a wire!~” He retorted.

She narrowed her eyes, reaching her hoof forward. “~I can open any safe!~”

“Without getting caught?” He asked.

“Of course!” She answered.

Boltsinger scoffed. “That’s what I thought! Crook!”

Twilight narrowed her eyes, taking a step forward. “Okay, that’s starting to push it!”

Spike patted the Alicorn’s back reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Twilight. He’ll see what he’s doing soon enough.”

Trixie gasped at the accusation, quickly shifting her expression to one of pride as she puffed out her chest. “~Any note you can hold, I can hold longer!~”

Boltsinger nearly tripped as a laugh forced its way out of his throat. “~I can hold any note longer than you!~”

“No you can’t!” She argued.

Another, more condescending laugh came out of the stallion as he waved a dismissive hoof. “Yes I can!”

The Unicorn’s teeth began gritting again as she stomped at the Pegasus. “No you can’t!”

Boltsinger’s eyes melodramatically rolled. He took a massive breath, going into his performance hover and putting his forelegs in front of his chest. “~Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII…~” The note went on for a number of measures, nearly blindsiding the audience, and Trixie, with the sheer volume of it.

“~Yes you caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!~” She confirmed, not even bothering to let him finish. As he wheezed out the last of the word with his landing, she gave him a snide expression. “I knew you were a blowhard!”

“Says the the pony who’s always full of ‘hot air’!” He joked. “But you know, ~Anything you can say, I can say FASTER! I can say anything faster than you!~”

“No you can’t.” She said at a faster rate than normal.

“Yes-I-can.” He replied, ever faster.

“Noyoucan’t!” She hastily retorted.

“YesIcan!” He buzzed back.

The two of them got angrily closer, not even forming complete words in their attempts to out-speed the other until it finally came out in one giant “~CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!~”

Trixie spun around. “~I can make a teacup!~”

Boltsinger huffed. “~I can fill it right up!~”

The mare motioned to her midsection. “~I can wear a girdle!~”

Boltsinger laughed. “That sounds like a hurdle! But ~I can do most a-ny-thing!~”

Trixie spun back, pointing an accusatory hoof at him. “Can you bake a pie?”

Boltsinger shook his head. “Nnope!”

Trixie shrugged, giving the audience a weak smile. “Neither can I…”

Boltsinger looked out over the crowd. “~Anything you can sing, I can sing sweeter!~”

Trixie laughed, stepping up beside him. “~I can sing anything sweeter than you!~” She sang, adding a growl to her voice.

Boltsinger cleared his throat, closing his eyes and putting his hoof over his heart. “~Nooooooo you caaaaaaaaaaaaaaan’t!~” The sound he made was reminiscent of a naturally deep variation of Fluttershy’s voice.

Trixie mimicked her opponent’s gesture. “~Yes I caa-aaa-aaaaaaaaaan!~”

The exchange continued, each pony’s version growing more sugary as they went. Twilight and Starlight looked at each other with determined faces. “You had enough?” Starlight asked.

“Yup. Let’s put a stop to this.” The Princess replied. The two magical mares lit their horns, sending a bead of magic into their necks.

Boltsinger had ceased his attempts at sweetness, beginning to stomp towards Trixie. “~No you can’t, can’t, CAN’T!!!~”

Trixie, likewise done with the schtick, began to stomp her own way to the stallion. “~Yes I can, can, CAN!!!~”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!!” Came the cries of Twilight and Starlight as the performing ponies glared at one another from an inch apart. Blue and magenta magic surrounded Trixie and Boltsinger respectively, forcing them apart as the owners of the magic stepped onstage.

“I just can’t take any more of this!” Twilight declared, approaching her spouse. “What are you thinking, saying such horrible things about your friend!”

“Same to you, Trix! What in Equestria is going through your head right now?!” Starlight asked. “I know your pride took a hit, but that’s no reason to go back to being cruel!”

Trixie and Boltsinger’s eyes dramatically widened at the Unicorns’ intense glares. They lingered for a few moments as they were released from the magic, ears and heads getting low. “Have you ever had the one thing you liked about yourself called into question before? Because that's what happened here. I said it before and I'll say it again. My voice is my pride, and she practically spat on it. I guess I just… lost it from there…” He raised his head, looking past his wife at his fellow stage pony. “I’m sorry, Trixie. I know you were in a bad place… I should’ve let it slide.”

Trixie shook her head, letting her rump hit the floor. “No, I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up in the first place.” She stated, rubbing one foreleg with the other. “It doesn’t matter which of us is the better performer, anyway.”

“Exactly.” Starlight confirmed, stepping aside with Twilight to create a path between the lamenting ponies. “You two are friends. You shouldn’t let something as silly as some random ponies’ opinions set you off like that.”

“Besides, if that machine was any proof, you two are both amazing!” Twilight added.

Boltsinger nodded at the statement, stepping to center stage. “Yeah, that song of yours was pretty awesome!”

Trixie perked up, trotting over to him and brushing her chest with her hoof. “It was, wasn’t it? But not half as incredible as the one you did! You really got the audience involved with that one!”

“But then there was the other thing!” He exclaimed, beaming like a foal on Hearth’s Warming. “It just came out of nowhere! How does that even happen?!”

“I guess that, even when we were mad, we were just so synchronized that it came naturally!” She reasoned. She held a hoof out, smiling up at him. “Performer pals?”

Boltsinger bumped his hoof against hers, returning the smile. “Always!” He moved to the edge of the stage with the mares following behind. “Besides, I was kinda hoping to ask if you’d like to become a regular babysitter for Nova.”

Meanwhile, Cheese Sandwich sat over the shattered remains of a purple teacup, a look of shock in his eyes. “My… My Cheer-O-Matic…” DJ PON-3 sat beside him, gently rubbing his back with her hoof.

Author's Note

[EDIT: I changed up a tiny bit of the ending to make it a little less redundant on Bolt's part. Something a bit more passionate, but basically saying the same thing.]

Of course a chapter I was excited for since it popped into my head runs long. But it was WORTH IT. Seriously, this was a treat to write, musical numbers and all!
Speaking of musical numbers, the songs are as follows.
"Tricks Up My Sleeve", by Daniel Ingram.
"We Will Rock You" by Queen with parodied lyrics written by me.
"Anything You Can Do" from the classic Broadway musical, "Annie Get Your Gun" with revised lyrics written by me.
I claim no ownership over the source material, of course.
Anyway, I hope this was as much or a treat for you to read as it was for me to write! Next chapter is already started!

The Spark

Applejack and Apple Bloom walked through the Ponyville marketplace, a large wagon trailing behind the mare that was filled to the brim with basic necessities. Applejack’s attention was focused entirely on her destination, but Apple Bloom was a different story. She was hopping around, looking at the ponies they passed with a vested interest. Whenever her eyes fell on a stallion, she would stop, pointing at him and looking at her big sister with hopeful eyes.

“You still on about that whole ‘findin’ me a boyfriend’ thing?” The elder sister asked.

“You bet yer boots I am!” The younger affirmed with a swing of her foreleg. “I won’t rest until my big sister has a special somepony to call her own!”

Applejack rolled her eyes, reaching over and pulling the filly along. “Ya ever consider how all these guys ya keep throwin’ at me might feel about all this?”

“Most of ‘em are excited about the idea!” She stated, moving to a trot next to her. “I know we surprised those first ponies, but I been askin’ ever since. You’d be surprised just how popular you are!”

“Well, popular or no, you ‘n I gotta get this stuff unloaded before ya can get back to yer little crusade.” The blond pony noted.

“All right…” Apple Bloom pouted. She climbed up into the wagon, sitting atop a pile of baking supplies.

Applejack looked back at her now-dejected sister. She was resting her head on her forelegs, letting her eyes dart around at everypony. “Say, don’t you have a meetin’ with the other Crusaders ta get to?”

“Yeah, but I gotta help you unload all this, remember?” The filly argued, letting a hint of sass into her tone.

“Well, if this is all we got, I’m sure I can offload it on my own.” The mare reasoned, waving her hoof to beckon her sister over. “Why don’t you go on ahead an’ meet up with ‘em?”

Apple Bloom uncertainly looked down at the load. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I got this! Go on, get outta here!” She confirmed.

Apple Bloom leaped down from the wagon, turning back. “But this is an awfully big load. I can help if you really need it.”

“If I really need help, I can just talk ta Big Mac!” Applejack stated. “You go n’ see yer friends! I won’t hear any more on it!”

Apple Bloom perked up, turning around and prancing ahead. “Yes ma’am!”

Applejack chuckled to herself as her baby sister disappeared into the distance. I really do have the best little sister ever. Just wish she’d lighten up on that mission o’ hers. I mean, the stallions‘re nice, but it’s too much all at once. It’s like she expects me to fall in love just like that! It can’t possibly be that easy… She looked around town, where an orange-coated Earth Pony colt with a suave mane and tail of striped, two-tone purple walked down the street. He had deep purple eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a top hat in a spotlight, and the sight of him gave the farm mare a thought. “... Or can it?” A smirk appeared on her muzzle as she began approaching the colt. Let’s see how she feels, about this kind o’ stunt!

“Come on, Apple Bloom! Wake up!” Applejack called from the hall. She was pounding at the door to the filly’s room, and it sounded like something important was going on. “Time ta get ready! You got a big day ahead of ya!”

Apple Bloom shot out of bed, looking around frantically upon landing. “What?! I’m up! I’m up! What’s goin’ on?”

The door burst open with Applejack rushing in. She wrapped her foreleg around the filly, setting her in front of the mirror. She quickly produced a hair brush from a nearby drawer, setting to work on the foal’s mane. “You, little sister, have a big date today!” She gave a final few sweeps in the mane, retrieving a hair bow and tying it into place amidst the red locks. “You don’t wanna look like ya don’t want to be there, do ya?”

Apple Bloom, having remained silent during her sister’s work, cocked her head to the side. “Wait a minute. I have a what now?”

“A DATE.” Applejack repeated.

One of the filly’s eyebrows rose significantly as she looked at her sister’s now-smug expression.. “Since when?”

“Since I found this handsome young colt in town an’ figured you deserve a taste o’ what you been puttin’ me through fer months!” She turned her face from smug to a pure smile as she gazed upon the youngest of the Apples, reaching forward and crushing the foal in a tight hug. “Oh, just look atcha! My beautiful baby sister’s goin’ on ‘er very first date!”

“But that’s not fair!” Apple Bloom declared, worming her way out of her sibling’s grip and facing her. “Why didn’tcha tell me about all this! I have a right… to…” She trailed off, letting her jaw drop as the realization fell on her head like an overripe apple. “Oh… Now I get it.”

“Eeyup.” Applejack confirmed. She reached into her mane, bringing forth a number of bits. “Here’s some money for yer meals, or whatever else ya wanna do. Whatever you decide to do is fine, long as it don’t take ya anywhere dangerous, and I got breakfast cookin’ fer both o’ y’all downstairs.”

“You mean he’s already here?!” Apple Bloom queried, receiving a smiling nod from the mare. She let out a small shriek, turning back to the mirror and fussing with her mane. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I gotta get ready!”

After a while longer of preparing herself, Apple Bloom walked down the stairs, finding the smell of fresh blueberry pancakes wafting into her nostrils. She closed her eyes, walking into the kitchen and taking a seat without a second thought. “Um… H-hi Apple Bloom!” Came the shaky greeting of a colt’s familiar voice. “You excited for our… b-b-big… d-d-d-date?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes shot open for the second time that morning. She looked to the voice’s origin, finding the first official client of the Cutie Mark Crusaders sitting across the table from her, rubbing his neck with his hoof with an awkward smile. “Tender Taps? You’re the one Applejack set me up with today?”

Tender nodded, lowering his hoof and looking at her. “I’m just as surprised as you, honestly. When she came and talked to me about it in town yesterday, I thought the whole idea was t-t-t-terrifying! But she said you would really like having me along… And if it wasn’t for you, I would never have gotten my Cutie Mark, and I wanted go do something to thank you anyway, so I agreed.”

“Aww… That’s so sweet!” she said, letting her features soften. “Now I’m really lookin’ forward to this.”

Applejack placed a large stack of flapjacks between the foals, supplementing the spread with some syrup, praline, and pear jam. “All right, now. You two enjoy yer breakfast, and get goin’.” She stepped out of the kitchen, smiling back at them. “Y’all have a good time!”

Sneaking was not something Applejack did often, but she had to admit she was enjoying it. She wore a bandana in place of her typical hat with sunglasses covering the majority of her face. She wore a pair of blue denim overalls to cover her flank, and hid behind everything she could. Ahead of her, Apple Bloom and Tender Taps went on their way. They were engaged in conversation that ranged from how things have gone for the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the farm, all the way to the dancer’s various performances. Applejack attempted to snicker to herself, but found it difficult, due to the swelling of pride building up inside her. I know I should be laughin’, but she’s just so dang cute! She thought. She followed them into the marketplace, ducking under a floral display.

“Applejack? What are you doing?” A baritone inquired.

The Earth Pony suddenly wondered if the level of altitude she gained in that one jump qualified her as a Pegasus. Upon landing, she turned to the voice’s owner, who was looking down at her with a curiously cocked eyebrow. “Uh… Applejack? Who’re you talkin’ about? I don’t know anypony by that name… Uh… Prince Bolt!”

“Wow, you really are bad at lying…” Boltsinger informed her, taking a peek over the display. “So, what are you doing?”

“I sent Apple Bloom on a little date.” She explained, adjusting her sunglasses and taking another peek at her targets. “Sumthin’ ta give her a taste o’ what I’ve had to deal with. Plus… I wanted to test a… Whaddaya call it? It’s the first step o’ that scientific method Twilight talks about.”

“Hypothesis?” He suggested, joining in the observation.

“Yeah, that.” She confirmed. “I got a hypothesis that I wanna see about.”

“Consider my interest piqued.” Boltsinger said, watching as the foals turned to head to the park. “So what’s your hypothesis, anyway?”

“Oh, it’s nuthin’ important.” Applejack dismissed. She looked on at Apple Bloom as she led her companion away. “Now where’re they goin’?” She waved her hoof to Boltsinger. “I’m gonna keep followin’ those two. See ya later.”

Boltsinger smirked as the mare cantered off. “Are you kidding? I’ve got a whole day off to do whatever I want, and you expect me to not check this out?” He took to the air, catching up to her with ease and smiling down at her. “You can count me in, all the way!”

The park was as full as it ever was, ponies playing, ponies talking, ponies just relaxing on a bench. Apple Bloom and Tender Taps walked into a clearing, sneaking looks at each other as they went. “So, why is it your sister wanted to set this up so badly?” The colt wondered, looking curiously at the filly. “N-not that I didn’t wanna be here! I just wondered why!”

“That ain’t important right now.” Apple Bloom stated, shaking her head. She trotted ahead of him, spinning to face him directly. “Since we’re here, I wanna focus on you.”

“What?!” He replied, recoiling and pointing his hoof at himself. “Why do you want to focus on me?!”

“Ain’t that what a ‘date’ is all about?” She stepped beside the colt, putting her hoof around him. “So, whaddaya wanna do?”

“I’m… not really sure. I’ve never really done anything like this before.” He sent her a genuinely confused look, looking around at the various things the other ponies were doing. “What all do you do on a date?”

“Whatever we want, I guess.” Apple Bloom walked over to the fountain, splashing her hoof in it. With a few taps, she found herself creating a rhythm. She flashed her companion a brilliant smile, returning to his side and pulling him along. “I know what we can do! And it’s right up your alley!”

DJ PON-3 unleashed her jams, and the ponies danced. Tender Taps couldn’t help but find himself confused as he looked around the club. “So… why are we here?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re here to dance!” Apple Bloom stated, taking his hoof and moving out to the dance floor.

“But… we dance together all the time in class!” He reminded her as he began to shake. “Plus this whole place, with the music and the lights… Not to mention all those ponies... It’s like an all-new stage! I dunno if I can do this!”

Apple Bloom placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder, putting the other hoof on his chin. She directed his head to look her in the eye, where she stared back with a level of composed concern. “Don’t worry ‘bout the other ponies here. You’re not here for them.”

A soft blush made itself known on the orange colt’s cheeks as his reflection stared back at him. “Right… I’m here for you.”

Apple Bloom shook her head, quickly returning her attention to his eyes. “No, you’re here for us. And we’re here to have fun, just like in class!”

Flustered confusion finally gave way to a smile. Tender Taps took the hoof that held his head up, holding as tight as his foreleg would allow. “Yeah! Let’s dance!” His ears opened up, taking in the music that played. After a couple measures, his hooves began moving to the beat with a tap in each step.

Apple Bloom beamed, looking down at his hooves and copying their movement with her own. She looked back at him, met with an ecstatic smile. Tender Taps released her hoof, going into a more elaborate step that sent his hind legs into a blur of motion. Other ponies around them took notice, stopping their dancing to watch. Chief among the spectators were a pair of orange ponies. One was smiling warmly, but otherwise calm, while the other was beaming with pride. The song came to an end, and the DJ took out a new record, slapping it into place on the turntables. From there, a new song began to play, featuring a plucked bass violin, several brass instruments, and a steady , chill drum beat. Tender moved his hind legs to the new beat, shaking his rump as Apple Bloom followed suit. Wider smiles formed on their faces as the music picked up, leading them to reach for each other and hold tight, swaying rapidly back and forth. “What the heck are we doing?!” Apple Bloom wondered, giving her dance partner a wondrous yet befuddled expression.

Tender shrugged, putting his hooves under her forelegs and lifting her up. “I don’t know! But It sure is fun!”

The filly nodded emphatically as she looked down at him. “You bet it is! Let’s keep it up!”

Behind the crowd, Applejack and Boltsinger looked on at the foals. Tender had begun swinging Apple Bloom around in myriad ways, eventually letting her land on her hind legs as they continued with a number of other maneuvers. Twirls, dips, more lifts, all flawlessly in sync. “Oh, maybe sendin’ her on this wasn’t such a great idea…” She said, biting her lip.

“Why not? It looks like they’re having a great time!” Boltsinger mentioned, finding it hard to not shake his own rump in kind.

Applejack shook her head, taking off her sunglasses and stepping forward. “He’s got his hooves all over her, though! Sumthin’ about it just--”

Boltsinger’s wing found its way over the mare’s mouth, pulling her back. “Don’t worry so much. You sent them out on this, so let them have their fun!” He moved his wing away from her muzzle, proceeding to pat her on the back. “It’s not like something like this wasn’t expected, after all.”

“Well, I never did anythinn’ like this on all the dates I been on!” She argued, turning to face him.

“Really? Never?” He repeated. Applejack silently nodded her confirmation, standing firm. “What all do you really do when you go out with all these guys, anyway?”

The farmer paused for a moment, trying to recall the details. “Well, normally we have dinner. I usually let them choose. I ain’t really all that picky. We talk about stuff. The farm, the weather, whatever they like. Met a lot o’ nice ponies that way. Even made friends with some of ‘em!”

“Okay. So what else do you do?” The performer continued, waving his hoof. “Anything besides ‘dinner and talking’?”

“Well, not much. We sometimes go somewhere to… I dunno what all we do. Some of ‘em just like ta keep talkin’, but there’s a few that wanna go ‘n do sumthin’ else. Some of ‘em liked to play Buckball, so there’s that.”

Boltsinger placed his hoof on his chin, furrowing his brow in a manner reminiscent of his spouse. “Okay…” He shook his head free of his ponderings, giving her a smile. “Well, just take my word for it on the dancing. Besides, don’t they always dance together?”

Applejack looked back at the foals. The song had come to an end, and Tender Taps held Apple Bloom in place in a dramatic dip. The two of them were breathing heavily, eyes glistening and smiles abound. The elder sibling hung her head in defeat. “Yeah, I guess yer right…”

“Good. Now how about we give them some privacy.” Boltsinger suggested, walking towards the exit. “I’m hungry, and I still wanna know that hypothesis of yours.”

Applejack took another look at her baby sister and the tiny dancer, who were right back into their dancing, then breathed a sigh. I suppose I should just trust ‘er, shouldn’t I? She turned away, following the Pegasus out.

“So, I think your plan for Apple Bloom may have backfired.” Boltsinger stated sitting across from Applejack at the Hay Burger.

“And what makes you say that?” The Earth Pony queried.

“They’re enjoying each other’s company way too much for it to be awkward.” He explained. “Besides, you don’t just have your baby sister’s first date in mind, do you?”

“Is it that obvious?” She asked. Poking at the meal before her. She was answered with a definitive nod as the stallion hungrily bit into his order. “To be honest, I’ve been thinkin’ on sumthin’ Apple Bloom said yesterday.”

Boltsinger tilted his head, swallowing the contents of his mouth. “Oh? What did she say?”

“She said that I was… Well…” Her cheeks turned a shade of red as she searched for the right word to use. “That I’m popular with the stallions.” She let out a chuckle, leaning towards her friend. “Can you imagine it? Me, a hit with all the guys! Ooh, boy, that’d be a hoot!”

“What’s so weird about that?” Boltsinger conjectured.

Applejack looked at the performer Prince curiously, trying to figure out whether or not he was kidding, but only found a state of confusion in him. “Well, I mean… Take Sugar Belle, for example. She had two stallions competin’ for her affections, and one of ‘em was Big Mac, bashful as he is! I ain’t nearly the looker she is, but somehow I’m ‘popular’?”

There was a moment of silence as Boltsinger took in what he’d just been told. He put his forelegs on the table, supporting his weight on them. “Applejack, you might think that what I’m about to ask you is silly, but I need you to try and take it seriously.”

“Oooooooookay… What is it?”

“Have you ever looked into a mirror?”

Applejack recoiled so fast that her bandanna nearly fell off of her head. “Looked in a-- What? What are you gettin’ at?”

“I’m saying that you’re pretty.” Boltsinger deadpanned.

The color of Applejack’s face underwent a significant change, as if all of the yellow had been taken out of the orange of her coat. “You think… I’m…?” She shook her head as rapidly as she could, proceeding to clutch it with her hooves to try and make sense of things. “You’re married, ya know! You shouldn’t be spoutin’ off lines like that to other mares!”

“Other mares?” He repeated. After a moment of silence, Boltsinger clutched his belly and went into a fit of laughter. “Applejack, you’re decidedly not ‘other mares’! You’re family!” He calmed himself down, righting himself in his chair. “Besides, I may be married, but it’s not like I don’t have eyes. You expect me to know ponies like Fluttershy or Rarity and not think that mares besides Twilight can be pretty? I’d have to be blind for that to be the case!”

The farm mare averted her eyes, letting some of the fluster die down. “Okay… Well, I still think yer biased ‘cause o’ the fact that we’re friends.”

“Maybe a little bit.” He admitted. “But let me tell you something from a bit more of an objective standpoint… If you count most other ponies I know agreeing with ‘objective’.” He cleared his throat, straightening up and inhaling deeply. “You, Applejack of the Apple Family, are honest, dependable, strong, hard-working, sensible, have good values, and are, as previously stated, pretty. If you put your mind to it, I am certain you could land any stallion, or mare, for that matter, that you wanted for your special somepony. Probably without the fancy dates, either.”

“Ya think so?” She inquired, looking down at her meal with a face of uncertainty.

Boltsinger put his hoof on her shoulder, prompting her to turn her attention to him. “I know so. You’ve just gotta find somepony that makes you feel that… that spark!”

Applejack removed Boltsinger’s hoof, leaning back and holding her hooves up between them. “Wait a sec, back up. A spark? Whaddaya mean by ‘a spark’? ‘Cause you got a lotta ‘sparks’ flyin’ around you normally.”

“Not those kinds of sparks.” He stated. “It’s really the best word I could think of to describe the feeling. Like… Like there’s a connection between you and the one you’re with. It’s really hard to explain. I got it with Twilight when my feelings first showed up. I’m pretty sure Rainbow and Soarin felt it, too. You just… feel it!” He spread his wings and forelegs to emphasize his point, putting on a bug, goofy smile. Applejack simply stared, blinking a few times. Boltsinger let out an embarrassed laugh, scratching his mane with his wing. “Sorry I can’t explain better… Emotions are… difficult.”

“Yer tellin’ me.” She affirmed, starting into her meal. So, I really could have anypony I wanted as my special somepony, huh? Well then why ain’t this any easier? Do I really gotta feel some kind o’ ‘spark’ just to move things forward? “Aww, dangit! Why can’t this be simple?! Ya like somepony, ya say it, everything’s great! But what if ya just don’t like anypony like that, huh? What then? Do I really gotta go on this whole process?” Her frustration finally boiled over as she let out a furious groan. She slammed her hooves on the table, standing up. “I just don’t get it!!!” She turned around with a hard snort, galloping out the door. “Not one bit!!!”

Boltsinger watched as his friend made her exit, breathing a sad sigh. “Great… Now she feels worse… Way to be a ‘good friend’, Bolt. What’s next? Gonna make Pinkie give up partying?” He gave one more sigh, diving back into his meal.

The sky had turned orange over Sweet Apple Acres, and Apple Bloom walked up to the house while holding Tender Taps’ hoof. They walked slowly, with soft, content smiles creasing their muzzles. Eventually, they arrived at the front door, facing each other with a mutual blush.

“Well…” The filly started, gingerly rubbing her neck. “This is it.”

“Yeah.” The colt confirmed. He mirrored Apple Bloom’s gesture, averting his eyes. “I had a really good time with you, today.”

“Me, too!” She said, raising her hoof. “I’m glad Applejack set this up for us!”

Tender’s blush intensified as he looked back at her. “So… you wanna m-m-maybe do this--"

A single sensation took all of Tender’s words away. Apple Bloom had leaned in, planting a kiss on the trembling colt’s cheek, and was moving back to look him in the eye. “I’d love to.” She giggled at the frozen foal accompanying her, giving him a ginger wave farewell. As she closed the door, a muffled cheer sounded, followed closely by the sounds of dancing. She slowly walked into the living room, moving to the sofa and dropping herself onto it with a contented swoon.

“I take it yer date went well?” A deeper drawl inquired from the corner of the room.

“Yeah… We had a lotta fun today.” Apple Bloom affirmed, unable to stop smiling.

“Didja kiss ‘im goodnight?” The elder sister continued, plopping her own rump on the couch.

“Well, not on the lips, but…” Her blush from before made a triumphant return as she nodded. “Yeah.”

Applejack let out an impressed whistle, leaning back. “You sound like ya got a little crush, there.”

The youngest Apple sat up instantly, laughing nervously. “Well… I mean… It was a date! An’ I already liked doin’ stuff with him! Can you… really blame me?”

“Well, I’m a little surprised ya got somepony ya like with just a single date.” Applejack admitted, sitting up and looking down at her hooves. “But I can’t rightly blame ya. That’s… kinda the whole point of datin’.” She brought one hoof up, rubbing her foreleg. “So… I gotta ask.” She turned her head to face the filly. “What’d it feel like?”

Apple Bloom scratched her head. “If I had to describe it… I’d say it felt like there was… a kind o’ spark between us. It really started when we were dancin’. Sumthin’ about him was just… I dunno, kinda charming.” She yawned into her hoof, stretching as she slid off of the couch. “Well, I’m gonna hit the hay. Thanks fer settin’ this up for me. I had a great time.”

“My pleasure, baby sis.” She replied, waving her hoof. She sat alone in the sitting room for a while longer, racking her brain. She took a deep breath, making her way upstairs. “She felt a spark, huh? And with just one date? I guess it really is that easy… So why don’t I get that kinda feelin’?” Finally reaching her bedroom, she took a forlorn look into her mirror. “Is there… maybe… sumthin’ wrong with me?”

Author's Note

And thus Applejack's arc begins in earnest. Hers is one of the most interesting story arcs I've had, but ironing out the details has been... interesting.
Special thanks to Seth Piersall for giving me the idea for this chapter's premise. It really helped to flesh things out!
Next chapter is another one I've been meaning to do for a while, and finally have a good premise for! I hope you enjoy it!

A Day Of Daring

Rainbow Dash waited impatiently at the practice field for her honorary little sister, tapping her hind hoof restlessly. They were supposed to meet ten whole minutes ago, and Scootaloo knew that. Something made her run late, and she dearly wanted to know what that was.

In the distance, there was a trail of dust clouds moving towards her. After another thirty seconds, an orange filly rolled up on her scooter, skidding to a halt in front of her. Scootaloo removed her helmet, looking concerned by at her idol. “I know! I know! I’m late! I’m sorry!”

The worried look on the filly’s face softened Rainbow’s features. “It’s no big deal. Just ten minutes, is all.” She assured, tussling the Crusader’s mane. “What kept you, anyway?”

Scootaloo perked up, jumping ahead with a buzz of her wings and a swish of her tail. “Oh, I was playing a round of Dragon Pit with Bolt and Twilight! We… ran a little long.”

The mare winced as discreetly as she could manage, walking along after her. “Cool. Did you win?”

“Nah. My dragon got trapped…” She lamented. “But it was still really fun! And it was so adorable when Nova flipped the whole board over when Bolt’s dragon got hit!”

Imagining the little colt laughing with a lit horn and knocking over an entire board game, Rainbow couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Oh, I can imagine! So, you ready to practice?”

“I was born ready!” Scootaloo declared, jumping into the air and flexing her forelegs.

“That’s what I like to hear!” Rainbow declared, pumping her hoof. She galloped past the younger pony, taking a position at the starting line. “Okay, then, let’s go for twenty laps, no flying!” She hunched over, taking a running stance as Scootaloo took a position beside her. “Ready… Set…” Her hind legs instinctively pushed forward, starting her run preemptively. “GO!!!” The very instant the word left Rainbow Dash’s mouth, Scootaloo was behind her. It wasn’t as fast as when they flew together, but the thundering hooves beneath them, combined with the wind in their manes was truly exhilarating, rounding the turn with an ease that brought the speed freaks no end of joy. After the laps were done, they moved onto a set of hurdles, followed by practice with each individual obstacle in sequence. After an unexpected dip in the mud pool, they gave themselves a quick wash, moving over to a bowl filled to the brim with eggs. Rainbow Dash plucked one of the eggs out of the bowl, holding it up to her honorary sister. “Okay, Scoot, last obstacle!”

“Okay! This is one I’ve got down!” The filly declared. She brought her nose up to the closest egg, flipping it into the air and reaching up nose-first, catching the egg on the tip of her nose to balance perfectly as her forelegs touched the ground once more. “I’ve been practicing this one every day at home!”

The Wonderbolt froze, giving the Crusader a wide-eyed look and dropping her own egg on the ground. “Wow... “ She retrieved another egg, carefully bringing it up to balance on her nose. “So, by ‘home’ do you mean your house, or the castle?”

“Both!” She answered, flourishing her egg with a small hop. “Twilight gave me a lot of advice on balance, and it’s not like there aren’t any eggs at my aunts’ place, either.”

Rainbow winced one more time, dropping the egg in the process. She let out a gasp, scrambling her forelegs to catch it only for it to crack open on her hooves. “Aww, man…” She shook her hooves free of the sticky substance, wiping the rest off on a towel as she grabbed a new egg. “Okay… Let’s try this... again…”

“Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?” The foal queried, trotting in front of her.

Rainbow held her nose high, keeping her latest egg as still as she could. “Just fine, why?”

Scootaloo squinted inquisitively, putting her egg aside. “Fine, huh?” She fluttered up to be level with the mare’s face. “You know, that word doesn’t always mean what you think. Bolt taught me it can mean something else.”

There was another wobble in Rainbow’s egg as her eye performed a twitch. “Yeah, I know that whole ‘fractured, insecure, neurotic, and emotional’ bit. What makes you think that I’m any of those things?”

Scootaloo landed, turning around and moving back to her egg. “Oh, nothing, really.” She picked it up again, perching it atop her nose. They continued their balancing act in silence for a few seconds, Rainbow Dash letting out a sigh of relief at the conversation’s end. She was ready to put all distractions aside and-- “Bolt.” --jump, tossing the egg into the air as she tipped backwards, pratfalling like a professional clown and getting a freshly-broken egg on her face.

Rainbow sat up, glaring at the snickering filly with a face so burning red that the egg running down it began to turn white. “What the heck was that for, squirt?!”

“What? All I did was say his name.” She explained, gently returning her egg to its bowl. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Rainbow Dash stood up in a huff, wiping the egg off of her face and refusing to look back at her. “I’m fine! We’re done for the day, so you can go ‘home’ to those other ponies you’re so fond of!”

“Woah… Didn’t think you’d take a little joke that hard…” Scootaloo started, reaching her hoof out. “I’m sorry… Can we keep going? I really do wanna spend more time with--" Rainbow spread her wings, taking off at full speed and leaving an enormous cloud of dust in her wake. “... you…” Her hoof fell back to the ground as her ears attempted to follow suit.

The following three days fared no better for Rainbow Dash. She tried incessantly to practice that one little obstacle, but the moment the egg touched her nose, memories of her embarrassment came to her mind and sent her faltering. After a final attempt failed, she stomped her hoof into the mess, taking off out of her house.

The sky, as always was a refreshing place to be. The fluffy clouds, the fresh air, the wind in her mane. Everything up there was perfect. So I’m having some trouble with eggs. I can get over it! It’s not like we don’t have every other part of the race totally down! She weaved between a line of clouds, coming upon the gargantuan crystal structure that was Twilight’s castle. I should probably apologize to Scoot for storming off the other day. She went into a dive, making a fast, skidding landing that sent her through the balcony door and into the hallway beyond. She trotted onward, thinking of what she would have to say as a pair of voices entered her ears.

“I really think we should. She’s already part of the family, after all.” Boltsinger argued.

“I know she is, but… I don’t know. I still feel like it’s not the right time yet.” Twilight replied, sounding uncertain.

“Why not? She practically lives here, already, and she’s a pretty devoted big sister, to boot.” He stated. “I mean, she went through an extradimensional labyrinth to save Nova!”

“That’s true…” She affirmed. “I wish Discord would use that magic on Smarty Pants again. I always wanted to have a real conversation with her.” Rainbow stepped up to the slightly open door, peeking inside as Twilight shook her head from the distraction. “Anyway, I know that she’s just as big a part of this family as Nova is, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’d be getting between her and Rainbow Dash. You know how close those two are!”

What are they talking about…? Rainbow wondered, twitching her tail with intrigue.

“You have a point…” He agreed, hanging his head. “Maybe we should talk to Rainbow about it?”

“I think that would be for the best.” Twilight confirmed, standing up and stretching her legs. “We can ask her about it when we get the chance. In the meantime, I have papers to grade.”

Boltsinger nodded, standing up and heading for the door. “Okay. But you know, I’ve already talked to Lofty and Holiday about it, and they seemed to be okay with the idea.”

As the stallion came closer to the door, Rainbow dashed to the side, sidling against the wall while it opened in front of her. Lofty and Holiday? What do Scoot’s aunts have to do with any of this? Unless… A loud gasp escaped the Wonderbolt’s mouth, causing her to tense up and shove her hooves over them.

With a twitch of the ear, Boltsinger stopped, turning to see what made the noise. “Honey? Did you gasp just now?”

“No. Why? Did you hear something?” The Alicorn called back.

“I think so.” He said, scratching his head with his wing. “Must’ve been my imagination…”

Rainbow waited a few moments as the sound of trotting commenced. When the timing was just right, she rose up to the top of the hall, diving down for an audible landing just outside the door. “Hey, Bolt! Hey, Twilight! Whatcha doin’?”

“Grading papers!” Twilight answered. “I’ll talk to you soon. Just need to concentrate right now.”

Boltsinger raised his wing in greeting. “Hey, Rainbow. I’m going to check on Scootaloo and Nova. Wanna come with me?”

Rainbow shrugged, making to follow him. “Sure. Been meaning to talk to Scoot, anyway.”

The Pegasi turned into the next room, where two orange blurs zipped by on the floor. One was making a howling noise, while the other was giggling so giddily it was hard to tell he was pretending. Boltsinger sent a smirk over at Rainbow Dash, who smiled back in kind. They each spread their wings, took a deep breath, and let out their best roar. Scootaloo and Nova stopped dead, looking at the older ponies as they dove at them with some giggles of their own. The young ponies met the tackles with a smile, Scootaloo jumping over her honorary big sister and hovering above her. Nova, however, wasn’t so quick, and found himself in his father’s forelegs with a face nuzzled against him. Boltsinger landed on his back, lifting him up and bouncing the bubbly baby up and down.

“If you like playing wolves this much, you’re gonna love playing Monster Trackers!” He exclaimed, letting out another howl. He kept the motion going a little longer, pondering all the things his colt may enjoy, then pulled him close again. “Say… Do you think he’d like Daring Do?”

Rainbow and Scootaloo stopped their wrestling for a moment, looking at the stallion like he’d gone insane. “Why wouldn’t he love Daring Do?” Scootaloo asked. “Who doesn't like those books?”

“Rarity.” Rainbow and Boltsinger simultaneously deadpanned.

A smidge of genuine confusion began showing itself on the filly’s expression as her jaw hung open. “But… But how?! The action!” She struck a dynamic fighting pose in the air. “The puzzle-solving!” She stacked a number of Nova’s blocks up to be roughly twice her height. “The suspense!!!” She raised her forelegs defensively as the block tower wobbled, falling over next to her. “It’s got everything you’d ever want in a story!”

Boltsinger smiled proudly at his favorite filly, putting Nova down and standing up. “True, but Rarity just doesn’t mesh with that kind of adventure.” He walked over to the girls, running his hoof through the mono-color mane. “Just means more for us!”

Scootaloo let out a laugh, waving her hoof to shoo him off. “Hey! That tingles!”

Rainbow tilted her head. “Tingles?”

Boltsinger mirrored the mare, moving to remove his hoof. “Weird… Why would it…” The hoof and the mane refused to separate. “... Oh…” He turned his head back, noticing a tingle of his own. There, standing at attention, were his wings, sparking with electricity. “Oh!” He directed his attention to Scootaloo, whose mane was similarly sparking, her tail doing the same on Rainbow Dash’s stomach. “Ooooooooooooooh… You girls may want to grab on!”

“Grab on?” Repeated Rainbow.

“Eeyup! It’s bound to be easier than trying to get loose!” He confirmed. He gave a hard flap of one of his wings, blowing the nearest window open as he made a deep inhale. “TWILIGHT! LIGHTNING HAS STRUCK! I REPEAT, LIGHTNING HAS STRUCK!”

Scootaloo sent her idol a terrified glance. “Oh no… He’s about to--" And the thunderclap sounded, leaving a smoking scorch mark where the ponies had stood.

Thick jungle stretched as far as the eye could see. Scootaloo shook her head, finding it free of Boltsinger’s hoof as she took on her surroundings. Upon knowing they had landed, she immediately perked up, shaking the full grown ponies beneath her. “Rainbow Dash! Bolt! Wake up! We’re here!”

Boltsinger’s hoof rose dramatically. “Never fear, tiny giant! I’ve just gotta smite the evil moth monster!” He droned.

Rainbow’s hoof rose in kind. “SMITE ‘IM GOOD!”

The Crusader rolled her eyes, shaking the ponies some more. “Come on, snap out of it!”

Boltsinger’s eyes snapped back to normal, his body jolting to his hooves without so much as a thought. “Right! I’m up! I’m up! Where’d we land?!” After a few seconds of his head darting every which way, his breathing began to calm. He looked back at where they had landed, seeing a twenty foot-long groove in the ground made by their impact and wincing.. “Ouch… You two okay?” He offered a hoof, smiling sheepishly.

Scootaloo buzzed her wings, rising out of their landing site with ease. “No issues here.”

Rainbow Dash took the extended hoof, climbing to her own and brushing herself off. “I’m fine.” She looked back at the groove, sharing her fellow flyer’s cringe. “Heck of a landing, though…”

“You’re telling me!” A rasp called from a nearby bush. “You scared me half to death! I almost gave away my position!” The bush began to rustle, and a pony emerged. She was a tan-coated Pegasus with eyes the same color as Rainbow Dash. Likewise, her mane and tail looked shockingly similar to the Wonderbolt’s, but with a grayscale color scheme. She wore an explorer’s jacket and a well-worn pith helmet, with a compass rose emblazoned on flanks. She looked between Rainbow and Boltsinger with a stern face. “What were you thinking, crashing like that?”

“I… sorta couldn’t help it.” The stallion answered, finding his head increasingly itchy with embarrassment. “Sorry, Daring…”

The mare’s name struck a chord in the filly’s mind. She looked up at Boltsinger, who was interacting with this pony like they’d known each other a while. She turned to Rainbow Dash, who looked like she was getting ready for an adventure at the mere sight of this pony. Finally, her eyes fell on the newest face in the group, closely examining her features. “It can’t be… You’re… You’re…” She took a breath to let out her next word, but found her mouth quickly muffled by a bright orange hoof.

“Yes, Scootaloo, she’s Daring Do.” He whispered. “But we can’t nerd out right now. We already made enough noise with our landing…”

Daring hunched over, casting her gaze back and forth. “He’s right. Caballeron’s henchponies could be here any second… We’d best make ourselves scarce.”

Rainbow gave the adventurer an understanding nod. “Gotcha!” She offered a hoof to her honorary little sister. “Come on, Scoot, let’s fly!” Scootaloo grinned back at the Wonderbolt, buzzing her wings. The two speed demons took off into the air, flying to the clouds above.

Daring and Boltsinger looked up to the sky, a concerned look showing up on the performer’s face. “Why does everyone forget…?” He turned to Daring. “Could you catch Rainbow Dash, please?”

“Catch her?” Daring repeated, cocking an eyebrow. “Why would I need to--" A shrill yell answered the archaeologist, coming from high in the sky. She looked at the scream’s source, finding Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo careening towards them with electricity trailing off of them. “What the heck?!”

“Yeah, it’s weird to explain, just follow my lead!” He told her, taking off after the smallest of their number. Daring rolled her eyes, following suit after Rainbow.

The four ponies collided in the air, spinning out towards the largest of the nearby trees. Daring Do sat up, spitting out some leaves. “And just what was that all about?” She pointed her hoof at Rainbow and Scootaloo. “What the heck happened to you two?”

“Sorry!” Boltsinger cried out, lowering his head. “That’s… kinda my fault.”

“How is it your fault?” The writer wondered, sending him a glare. He began telling her the nuances of how his lightning behaves, in particular with how it affects others that come with him. “So, they got flung back at you because they got too far away? But that doesn’t make sense! Last time I saw you, you brought ponies with you and we all split up to do different things!”

“Different circumstances.” He reasoned. “But even erratic lightning seems to have rules. We’ll just have to abide this time around.”

Daring gave off a mildly annoyed sigh, looking at the ground below. A large Earth Pony stallion with shifty eyes was patrolling just beneath, scanning the area diligently. “Well, if you’re here, then you might as well help out.” She looked sternly over to Scootaloo. “Which means you do exactly as I say. Got it?”

Before the filly could respond, a cyan hoof wrapped around her. “Don’t worry about Scoot. She’s as tough as they get!”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Daring retorted, checking the ground again. “Okay, the coast is clear! Let’s go!” She waved them forward, jumping down from the tree.

The lightning-charged ponies followed suit, the stallion walking next to Daring. “So, what’s the situation?”

“You remember how I mentioned the ancient Pony-glyphs when we met in Somnambula?” She started. Boltsinger nodded in confirmation with Rainbow not far behind. “Well, I’ve been following some clues, and I’m pretty sure one of them is nearby. Unfortunately, Caballeron caught wind of it, too, and he’s been ravaging the jungle to find both it, and me!”

“So we need to be sneaky, huh?” He suggested. “Why don’t we just fly? Caballeron and his henchponies are all Earth Ponies. We have the aerial advantage!”

“All the more reason for them to look up.” Daring reasoned. “He’s got towers set up all over the place to search for us in the skies.”

“Besides, why would there be any clues up there?” The Wonderbolt added, motioning to the forest around them. “It’s never as easy as just flying around for it.”

Boltsinger closed his eyes, scratching his chin with his wing as his companions stopped moving. “Hadn’t thought of that…”

As the stallion moved onward, Scootaloo raised a hoof. “Uh, Bolt?”

“So… Where is this temple, anyw--” He started, finding himself rapidly descending until he felt a sudden wash of cold and wet. As his wings touched the water, a powerful jolt of electricity erupted in and around him, sending him screaming and shooting out of the water and straight into the nearest cloud. He poked his head out, shaking his head and breathing heavily while Rainbow fell to the ground in hysterics. “You could’ve warned me!”

As he made his descent, Scootaloo facehoofed. “I was trying to!”

“And if you’d stopped to look around, you’d have seen that we were here already.” Daring stated, pointing to the lake. “I’m pretty sure the temple is down there.”

Boltsinger looked at his reflection in the water, swallowing a lump in his throat. “... I see… Well, that presents an interesting problem.”

“I don’t see a problem at all…” A thickly-accented voice chided as a brown Earth Pony stallion emerged from the jungle. His mane, tail, bushy eyebrows, and stubble were all black, with some gray stripes running through the coiffed hair that came from his head and rump. He had a Cutie Mark of an ornate gold skull with an emerald and ruby for eyes, and wore a faded green shirt with a high collar and rolled-up sleeves, tying a red ascot with white polka dots underneath the collar. He focused his bright green eyes on Daring Do with a smug yet hateful glare. “After all, you just led me right to my goal!”

Daring met the stallion’s gaze in equal measure, taking a fighting stance. “Caballeron! How did you find us?”

“It’s not often you see a bolt of lightning in the middle of the jungle!” The villain stated. Daring sent her glare towards Boltsinger, who shrank into himself with a sheepish grin.

“What’s one pony gonna do to stop her, anyway?” Scootaloo asked, stepping forward and looking angrily at the Earth Pony.”You’ve never beaten her before!”

Caballeron smirked down at the filly, forcefully patting her head. “What a smart little filly… You must be an avid reader…”

Rainbow Dash and Boltsinger tensed up considerably, hunching over, flaring their wings, and boring their eyes into Caballeron. “Scootaloo… come here…” The mare suggested, beckoning with her hoof.

Caballeron smiled maliciously, putting his hoof around the Crusader, whose stern face fell away to reveal a new state of panic. “Now, now… don’t be like that! We can still be friends, can’t we?” He gave his nemesis a cocky smile, alternating his attention between the Wonderbolt and the living lightning bolt. “I mean, you did come all this way. We should be more…” He raised his free foreleg, stomping hard next to Scootaloo’s hoof, causing a number of henchponies to appear from all around. He lifted the foal up, turning her around to face the other Pegasi with pinpricks for pupils. “... hospitable!” The grown Pegasi looked around at the angry faces, once again landing on Scootaloo and lowering their wings.

Daring Do scowled at Boltsinger as the ropes around them tightened. The four Pegasi had been bound, back to back, around a stump in the middle of Caballeron’s camp, where the henchponies ran about, gathering the gear required to make a dive into the lake while the pony in charge lounged on a fluffy pillow and watched. “You really have gotten cocky, Daring Do. Bringing a foal on one of your adventures? Too bad for you, your weakness for the innocent proved to be your downfall!”

“You won’t get away with this, Caballeron!” Daring spat, struggling to free herself from their bindings. “Why are you even doing this, anyway? These glyphs don’t even have any value!”

“Maybe not to me.” He affirmed, motioning to himself. His face turned fierce as he got close to his foe, poking his hoof into her chest. “But they have value to you! You’ve cheated me out of every treasure I’ve sought for so many years, what better revenge could there be than to take from you the treasure you’ve been the most desperate to find?!” He stood tall, looming over his least favorite pony with a smug, villainous grin. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He walked over to a nearby crate, pulling out a diving suit. “I feel like going for a swim!” He draped it over his back, walking away with twisted laughter.

Several of the henchponies followed their leader back to the lake, leaving one to secure the area. He marched back and forth, keeping his head on a swivel while a soft snicker was heard by the heroine. “What’s so funny?” Rainbow whispered, casting a glance at Boltsinger.

“Nothing.” He said, narrowing his eyes at their guard. “Just thinking of how good it’s gonna feel to kick Caballeron’s butt.”

“And how do you expect to do that?” Daring angrily inquired. “So far, all you’ve done since you got here is crash so hard you made a groove in the ground, send your own friends flying because of some stupid rule, and give away our position by shooting lightning out of your own body! Not to mention, you brought a defenseless filly with you! A filly that they threatened in order to make us give up! So now we’re all tied up while Caballeron goes after the Pony-glyph!”

Daring felt a sudden, sharp pain in her side, finding the aforementioned filly staring her in the face. “Hey! I am not defenseless!”

“Yeah! Scootaloo is one of the bravest, toughest little ponies ever!” Rainbow Dash concurred. “No way am I gonna count her out!”

“I have yet to see any proof of that…” Daring argued, turning away from the foal.

“You haven’t given her a chance.” Boltsinger reasoned, letting out another snicker. “Besides, when has being tied up ever stopped you? They even went as far as to use ROPE. That’s just begging for a ‘Daring’ escape!”

The guard stopped dead, jerking his attention to the prisoners. “What did you just say?”

“What? I didn’t say anything!” He answered, flashing a nervous grin. “You’re doing great, by the way.” The henchpony leaned in, looking Boltsinger in the eye. He examined the orange stallion up and down, trying to figure out just what he might be up to. Boltsinger wiped the grin from his face, lowering his head as he received a hard snort in his face, the guard turning to return to his duty.

Looking out at his surroundings, the henchpony breathed a sigh of relief. That lake looked deep, especially if a hidden temple was at the bottom, and he was glad all he had to deal with was guarding his boss’ enemies. Easier to sit and enjoy the sounds of nature. Tweeting birds, a cool breeze, the snapping of rope. That last sound didn’t make much sense to him. He looked back at the prisoners, catching a brief glimpse of Daring Do charging towards him. With momentary hoofprint in his vision, everything went black.

A splash came from the water in a large, empty chamber, letting a group of ponies in diving suits emerge. They lifted themselves out of the water, breathing heavily and removing their helmets.

Daring Do raised her head, looking around. “Is everypony okay?”

Rainbow Dash raised a hoof, sliding out of her suit. “I’m good. How ‘bout you, Scoot?”

Scootaloo shook herself dry as she left her suit. “I’m okay!”

Boltsinger looked at the garment that mow lay beneath him, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m good, too. And thankful for insulation!”

Daring nodded, turning towards the hallway. “Good. Now let’s get moving! There’s no telling how much of a head start Caballeron and his goons have got!” The other ponies let out sounds of agreement, following the seasoned adventurer into the temple depths.

Boltsinger kept pace with Scootaloo as the ponies walked, two by two, through the temple. Rainbow Dash found herself looking back at the pair of orange equines more often than not, making a mess of her thoughts and feelings. She faced forward once more, feeling a shifting beneath her hoof. Her movement stopped as her eyes slowly shifted downward, finding that her hoof had fallen upon a symbol of a swordfish. “Uh-oh…”

A click came from the walls, directing their attention to some rapidly-opening holes. “GET DOWN!” Daring ordered, diving into Rainbow as spears flew out from the holes. Boltsinger followed suit, grabbing onto Scootaloo and hitting the deck. When the whizzing of flying spears stopped, Daring stood up, helping the Wonderbolt to her hooves. “What was that about? You normally don’t spring traps that easily!”

“Sorry. Just got some stuff on my mind.” She replied, chancing a glance back at Scootaloo. She was being thoroughly inspected by Boltsinger, who held a panicked expression as he did so.

“Well, you need to concentrate, or it could spell disaster.” Daring reminded her, guiding her attention forward again. “Would it help if you talked about it? I know you Element-bearers like to do that kind of thing.”

Rainbow reared her head back, giving off a groan. “Do I have to? We’re in the middle of an adventure!”

Daring shrugged, adjusting her pith helmet and continuing forward. “You don’t have to. It’s just a suggestion.”

Rainbow trotted ahead. “It’s this thing with Scootaloo. It feels like she doesn’t look up to me like she used to.” They came upon a ledge that loomed over a pit of spikes, leaping over with ease. “Like, she used to get super excited to do anything with me, but now whenever we’re together, all she talks about is Twilight and Bolt.”

“So she likes other ponies now?” Daring guessed, jumping in unison with the group over a series of incoming pillars that careened at them from the side. Rainbow gave her a confirming nod as they landed, venturing onward. “What’s so bad about that?”

“Well, it’s not bad at all.” She admitted, stopping the adventurer short of a series of tiles. She looked at the walls, then back at the tiles below. She shrugged, spreading her wings and flying over it. “But she’s pretty much my little sister, and lately it feels like I’m not her idol anymore... I really liked being her role model.”

“So you don’t like that you’re not the center of her world?” Daring sighed, looking back at the ponies behind that followed her lead. “Do you remember how, when we met, you were totally obsessed with how ‘cool’ I am?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“You remember how things went while you were geeking out?”

Rainbow thought back to her first meeting with the pony she believed was the greatest adventurer of all time, finding herself cringing at some of her actions. “Oh… Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.”

Daring gave her number one fan a hard pat on the back. “Exactly. If that filly is moving past her hero worship, you should let her. It’s not like you can’t still be sisters.”

“I guess…” Rainbow relented. The group came upon an enormous rotunda with a set of large doors at the end. On the walls were etchings of different types of fish, ranging from tiny goldfish to seahorses to swordfish to hammerhead sharks. The fish alternated between facing the entrance and facing the doors. Rainbow approached the doors curiously, pushing at them to find that they refused to budge. “So what’s going on here?”

“It almost feels like we’re underwater!” Scootaloo pointed out, receiving a flat look from the stallion next to her. “Well, maybe not exactly like it, but it’s still pretty!”

“Looks like whoever built this place had one last key to get in.” Daring reasoned, observing the walls. “Some of these fish look dangerous…”

“Some of them are pretty harmless, though.” Boltsinger added. “Like the seahorses, here. They don’t do anything to anypony.” He reached for the closest seahorse pattern to him, which looked in the direction of the closed doors. It slid into the wall as his hoof made contact, letting out a soft blue glow. His head recoiled, looking between Daring and the pattern. “Uh… Daring… I think I broke something…”

Daring cantered over to see what he meant, leaning in close to the light. “More like you found something! Everyone, search for more seahorses!”

The group scattered around the room, scouring the walls for more images of the creature. After a moment, Scootaloo excitedly buzzed her wings, looking at an image that faced the room’s entrance. “I found one!” She quickly pressed it, hearing a shifting in the wall behind it. “Did that do anything?”

“Nnope.” Boltsinger stated.

Rainbow chuckled, directing the filly’s attention around the room to reveal that the blue light had gone out. “Looks like you went a little backwards, squirt.”

“Really? But I pressed the seahorse just like you did!” She turned back to the image with a frustrated growl, pressing it again. “Why didn’t it work?!”

Boltsinger sat beside Scootaloo, putting a hoof on her back. “Relax, Scoot. It’s one setback. We’ll figure it out.”

“Was there something different about the one you pressed?” Daring inquired, stepping up to examine it.

“Not really. It looks just like the one Bolt found.” Scootaloo answered, motioning to the etching. “See for yourself.”

The adventurer’s hoof found its way to her chin, putting her eyes mere inches from the image on the wall. “You’re right… it’s exactly like the one Bolt found…” Her head swiveled back, looking at the image Boltsinger had pressed. “But it was on the opposite wall! That’s it!” She rose to the air, flying around the room to search for her targets. “What do you think will happen if we press every seahorse that’s swimming toward the doors?” She flew over to each of the seahorse images, pressing them in sequence. The room became awash with the soft blue light as a rumbling began. Daring Do, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Boltsinger turned to face the door, which slowly slid apart, revealing a wide room with a pedestal in the middle. On top of the floor’s protrusion sat a stone slab with ancient writing all over it that sent a large smile onto Daring’s face. She galloped into the room, her companions in tow as she examined the slab.

“So this is one of the Pony-glyphs, huh?” Rainbow guessed, circling the pedestal.

“Yes. This is one of the only records of Equestria’s lost history.” The archaeologist affirmed, scanning the thing that held up the treasure. “Now, how do we get this without springing the--”

“Trap?” A familiarly-accented voice suggested from the entrance. All motion in the room stopped, directing their eyes at the voice’s owner. In the open doorway stood Caballeron, who stared smugly back at them while his henchponies filed into the room. “I knew you would escape and make it into the temple, Daring Do. And I must thank you for springing all of the traps leading here! Heaven knows these nincompoops wouldn’t be able to make it on their own!”

As the henchponies surrounded the Pegasi, Scootaloo sent Caballeron a confused look. “Wait… If you knew we would escape, why did you even bother tying us up?”

“There are some things you just do, little filly.” The bushy-browed pony explained. “We all have our own little traditions.”

“Yeah, just like how I always defeat you!” Daring called out. She leaped at her longtime enemy, her hoof raised and ready to strike. Caballeron stomped his hoof, prompting one of the henchponies to dive between the two and take the blow.

“Now that was quite rude!” Caballeron teased, waving his hoof. “If you have an issue, why don’t you entertain my henchponies for now while I take care of all this?” The henchponies stomped towards Daring and her companions, a couple of them dragging their hooves on the floor.

Scootaloo glared at the antagonistic Earth Ponies, rearing up and buzzing her wings. The henchponies leaped forward at their targets, each of them raising a hoof to strike. Scootaloo zipped out of her assailant’s path, hovering above him and delivering a hard buck to his head. The larger pony reeled forward, his head making contact with the wall. He let out a low growl, turning around with a fierce scowl only to find that the filly was much higher above him than he had expected. She had begun performing numerous loops in the air, picking up speed. The henchpony watched in a state of confusion, following the filly’s movements to the point of dizziness. He closed his eyes, trying to shake his head free of the daze, but felt a sharp pain in his chin that sent him careening into the high wall, knocking him out cold.

Boltsinger dodged the swing his opponent threw, snickering to himself as he flapped one of his wings, sending a burst of wind at him. “These guys are slow. Nothing like my brother’s skills!” He snickered to himself again as the assailant made another charge at him, ascending just enough to dodge with a single flap of his wings. “Then again, you are henchponies. You can’t beat Daring Do in a five-on one!” The henchpony slammed into the wall, bucking back furiously into the stallion’s chest. He doubled back, coughing from the impact. “Okay, I’ll admit, that was good. You may yet be Caballeron’s number one minion!” The Earth Pony recoiled at the compliment, taking a moment to brush himself off in a cocky pose. The Pegasus stallion smirked, balling his wing up into a fist and slamming it into his opponent’s cheek. The impact from the electrified wing sent a jolt through his body, relieving him of his consciousness as the lightning’s owner turned around, slapping his wings together as if dusting them off. “That still doesn’t say much, though.”

With the sound of another pony slamming into the wall, Daring and Rainbow deftly dodged the attacks of the ponies assaulting them. Taking to the air, Daring chanced a glance at the pedestal, which Caballeron now stood before. “Caballeron, wait! You can’t just simply take it! It’s booby trapped!”

“Oh, I don’t mean to take it!” Caballeron corrected, glancing back to see his hated enemy and her accursed friend throw one of his henchponies into another. “I’m going to give you a choice!” He hunched over, bucking the stone slab off of its pedestal and into the far wall, where it subsequently shattered and fell to the floor. Daring cried out, reaching for the shattered remains as a button raised on the pedestal, dropping into the floor as the walls began to rumble. He jumped into the air, wrapping his forelegs around Scootaloo and running to the room’s entrance.

Scootaloo shrieked as the brown stallion’s grip around her tightened. “Rainbow Dash! Bolt! Help!!!” She cried, reaching out for the older ponies.

Caballeron smiled down at the Crusader, giving off a cackle. “You can come save your little filly friend, or you can gather what’s left of your precious Pony-glyph! The choice is--”

“HOOVES OFF MY SCOOTALOO!!!” Came a scream in stereo. In less than a second, orange and cyan hooves met with Caballeron’s face, nearly distending his head like a rubber ball from the impact. The villain wobbled for a moment as the hooves left his head, falling over on his side. Scootaloo got up from the now-limp forelegs, looking up at her rescuers. Rainbow Dash and Boltsinger stood over the downed pony, wings aggressively flared with heavy breaths.

“Threaten my girl twice in ONE DAY, huh?!” Boltsinger asked through gritted teeth. He clutched Caballeron’s ascot with his wing, lifting him up and snorting in his unconscious face. “Why, I’ve got half a mind to--”

Scootaloo reached over to the stallion, putting her hoof on his foreleg. “Bolt, it’s okay. He’s not gonna keep this up.”

The friendly contact was like a wake-up call to the furious stallion. His eyes went wide, unfurling his wings and letting the villain drop to the floor. He looked down at the winged Crusader, a soft smile forming on his face as his rump hit the floor. Before he knew it, he had pulled the filly into a tight hug. “He didn’t hurt you, right?”

“I’m fine, honest.” Scootaloo confirmed, reciprocating the embrace. Boltsinger’s only response was to squeeze harder, eliciting a laugh from the filly. “I’m in more danger from this than I would be with Caballeron!”.

Rainbow Dash found her rump falling to the floor at the sight before her. There she was, her little sister. Her Scootaloo. And she was hugging another pony the same way they did when one of them needed support. She had seen it before, but something felt different this time. Her rage at Caballeron for his actions was deep and righteous, but somehow, against all odds, Boltsinger had beaten her to the literal punch, if only by a fraction of a second. She settled on a look at the worry in his face, remembering the conversation she had heard that morning. He really does care for her a lot, huh? She took a deep breath, finding her exhale taking the form of a sad sigh. I guess the time for hero worship is over… Time for her to move--

“Can I get some help here?!” Daring asked. The Ponyville Pegasi looked up from the moment they were having, seeing Daring Do calling to them over her shoulder, hunched over the remains of the slab. The room had grown significantly narrower than it was when they had first entered, but she seemed to pay it no mind. “You three get the henchponies out of here! I need to get all the pieces of this thing!” Rainbow gave the archaeologist a firm nod, rushing to the side of one of the henchponies and dragging him out of the room.

“Uh, Daring, I don’t know if we have time to get all the pieces!” Boltsinger noted, shifting his gaze between the moving walls.

“Of course we have time!” Daring retorted, gathering up more fragments with a face of sheer panic. “We have to have time! This history is too important to lose!”

Rainbow looked up from the last henchpony pulled to safety, twisting her face with concern. “Is it more important than your life? Come on, let’s go!”

“Not yet!” The obsessed adventurer stressed, continuing her search. “Princess Celestia is counting on me to gather all of the glyphs! I can’t let her down!”

Boltsinger stepped forward upon hearing his friend’s name. “Do you really think Celestia would want those glyphs this badly?” He galloped over to the mare, biting down onto her tail and pulling with all of his might. “Come on! We have to get out of here!”

Daring glared back the stallion, holding firm against his pull. “What? Were you called here just to prevent me from getting this? You’re no better than Caballeron!”

Rainbow Dash found herself taken aback, raising her hoof in shock. “Really?! Trying to help his friend turns him into a villain?” She cantered over to the glowering mare, joining Boltsinger in his attempts. “Like it or not… You’re getting out of here!” The Pegasi heaved together as hard as they could, dragging Daring towards the entrance as the walls came ever closer.

“Please! There’s just one left! Don’t stop me!!!” She struggled against their pull, reaching desperately for the last remaining shard of the slab.

“Not… on… your… life!!!” They simultaneously replied, pulling her through the threshold of the room. They tossed her to the middle of the rotunda, holding her down as she scrambled to her hooves in an attempt to go back.

Scootaloo stood between the adults and the closing room, spotting a look of desperation in Daring’s eyes as she pleaded with her friends. The crusader snorted, turning to face the danger and hunching over. “Leave it to me!” She cried, buzzing her wings.

Boltsinger looked back at the filly, his concern growing further as he reached for her. “Scootaloo, wait!” He let go of Daring, diving for her as she lifted off into the shrinking room. “SCOOT!!!”

There was no response past the rumbling of the walls. Boltsinger stared, wide-eyed, into the darkening room, attuning his ears in the direction of the shadows to hear a shuffling as the walls peeked into the doorway. Stepping forward, he raised his hoof. Rainbow Dash let go of Daring, coming up next to the stallion. “Come on, squirt… get out of there!”

Seconds passed like hours, marked only by the racing of their hearts and the movement of the room’s walls. “I’ve gotta get in there…” Boltsinger told himself. “I’ve gotta… gotta--" He felt the wind being knocked out of him, sending him tumbling back while the walls of the treasure room finally closed completely. Lying on his back and catching his breath, he looked up to find his favorite filly standing on his stomach, wagging her tail with a shard of stone held firmly in her mouth. “You… You’re okay!” He brought his forelegs around her, sitting up as Rainbow Dash proceeded to tackle them in a hug of her own.

“And you got the last piece! The Wonderbolt exclaimed. “I knew you were the toughest little pony out there!”

Daring Do stared at the little orange pony with an expression of dumbfounded disbelief. “You… You risked your life for me? Even after I underestimated you?”

Scootaloo wormed her way out of the embrace she was caught in, approaching the heroic mare and placing the shard at her hooves. “How else was I gonna prove you wrong?” She teased, turning around and swishing her tail. “Besides, you looked like you really wanted it! What else was I gonna do?”

“We get it, Scoot, you’re awesome.” Boltsinger said, standing up. “Just promise me this…”

He took a sizable breath, finding himself joined by the cyan mare next to him. “NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!”

Daring chuckled, scooping up the shard and putting it with the others. “You act like her parents!”

Rainbow held her hoof up, clearing her throat. “Big sister!”

Boltsinger found a lump in his throat, bringing his wings forward to slap his muzzle as the discharge faded from his wings. “Well… I mean, she is family…”

Boltsinger inhaled deeply as he took off his helmet, thankful for the feeling of fresh air. “Oh, sweet Celestia, is it good to see the sky again!”

“You said it!” Rainbow affirmed, stretching her wings. “Makes you wanna just take off, doesn’t it?”

“I’d rather get these pieces back together!” Daring corrected, making sure her pith helmet was on straight. “That history isn’t gonna learn itself, you know!”

Boltsinger turned his head to look at the heroine, cocking an eyebrow. “Speaking of that… Did Celestia really order you to find these Pony-glyphs?”

“Yes, but she wanted to keep it secret.” She confirmed. “Not even Princess Luna knows about all this. The only reason I can put it in my books is because most ponies don’t know they’re based on true stories.”

“Hence her not letting us know she knew, even when Rainbow bragged about adventuring with you to her.” He added. “So, you need any help getting those pieces together?”

“I think I can handle it.” The archaeologist dismissed, starting her walk back into the forest. “You three have helped plenty already.”

Boltsinger gave his favorite writer a solemn nod, turning to the other ponies. “Okay, then, who’s ready to go home?”

“Um… Can you give me a minute?” Scootaloo asked, her hind legs hopping urgently. “I havent’ used the bathroom the whole time we’ve been out, so I really gotta go!”

Rainbow and Boltsinger simultaneously nodded, letting the winged Crusader rush off into the woods. The blue Pegasus turned to the orange one, her thoughts coming to a boil as she made her approach. “Hey, Bolt, can I talk to you about something?”

Boltsinger gave her a curious glance, turning to properly face her. “Hm? Sure, what do you wanna talk about?”

“I sorta… overheard you and Twilight talking this morning…” She admitted, rubbing her foreleg with her hoof. “You know… That gasp you heard?”

“Ah…” He started, dropping his hindquarters to the ground. “I knew I wasn’t just hearing things… How much did you hear?”

She thought for a moment, summoning the words she needed with a deep breath. “Enough to figure out what it was you were talking about.” Her friend’s face grew worried at the knowledge, as he began to scratch his mane with his wing. “I just wanna say… I’m… I’m okay with it.”

The stallion went from worry to confusion, raising an inquisitive hoof. “Really? Twilight was worried we’d be getting between you two…”

“Don’t worry about that.” She assured him, sitting next to him and looking at the forest her little sister disappeared into. “It’s about time she got over the hero worship, anyway.”

“What do you mean?” He inquired. “She’ll probably never get over the hero worship! Heck, you’re practically all she talks about at home!”

It was Rainbow’s turn to show confusion, cocking her head to the side. “Really?”

“Oh, definitely.” He continued. “Just a few days ago, we were playing a game of Dragon Pit, and she kept talking about how you two were practicing for the Sisterhooves Social and how she thought you’d love that game in particular.” He put his hoof up to his chin, thinking back. “Honestly, I think she’s right. It’s a fun game, and I bet you’d love all the cool things it does!” He offered her a hoof and a smile. “So, you wanna come over and play some Dragon Pit sometime?”

Rainbow Dash laughed to herself, giving the extended hoof her best bump as Scootaloo came out of the bushes. “You can count me in!”

Author's Note

I knew this was gonna be a long chapter, but it's still surprising to see it.
I apologize if this one seems a little lackluster. Daring Do adventures are remarkably difficult for me to write, but they're really cool stories, so I want to keep working with them! This time, though, I thought it appropriate to have it be a single chapter, rather than splitting it up like I did with my last foray into Daring's adventurous world.
I already know what I'm gonna do for the next two chapters, by the way. I'll be starting on one of them soon!
If you're reading this in October, be prepared. I'm getting into the spirit of things!
I hope you enjoy it!

The Draconequus' Worst Nightmare

Knocking permeated the cozy abode of Ponyville’s resident animal expert on a cool fall day. Fluttershy pulled herself from the preparations she was making, curious as to who it might be. She wasn’t expecting any visitors for some time, what with her least favorite celebration close at hoof. Her preparations had begun earlier and earlier as the years went on. Now the night in question was two whole weeks away, and she was hard at work. She gingerly approached the door, her hoof quivering as a low and sinister laugh eked its way in.

“Um… Hello?” She greeted, pulling the door open ever-so-slightly.

“Hello…” A deep voice started with an eerie cadence. The sheer amount of venom dripping from that one word sent an unpleasant chill down her spine. “I was wondering if Fluttershy was--" The malicious-sounding voice was cut off by the sound of a crying baby, pulling its owner away from his facade. “Ah! I’m sorry, Nova! Did Daddy scare you? I’m sorry. I was just trying to have a little fun with Aunty Fluttershy!”

“Boltsinger?” The yellow mare guessed, opening the door to its full width. Her guess proved correct, as Boltsinger stood in the doorway, hugging his little colt tight. “Why did you do that scary voice? Are you planning something spooky for Nightmare Night again?”

Boltsinger brought his face out of his nuzzle, smiling at his timid friend. “Just the opposite, actually.” He bounced the baby in his foreleg, bringing him front and center. “Twilight and I were talking about Nightmare Night, and we decided it was probably for the best that this little one not be in the castle around then.”

“Why shouldn’t he be at the castle?” She wondered, reaching over and tickling the foal. “It’s so big and safe!”

“And going to be busy.” He added. “Spike is having a Nightmare Night party, so the decorations are up in full force. And the town isn’t exactly any less festive.”

Fluttershy sent Nova a warm smile as he reached for her. “And this little darling can be such a scaredy-cat sometimes…” She reached over and took the foal in her forelegs, giving him her undivided attention. “I would love to take care of you on Nightmare Night, you little cutie!”

“Awesome!” The stallion exclaimed, pumping his hoof. “Then we’ll be here on the night in question!”

“We?” She repeated, casting a curious look at him. “Aren’t you going to celebrate Nightmare Night with everyone?”

Boltsinger shook his head in his best Big Mac impression. “Nnope! We figured one of us should come over with him. It’s already a stressful night, after all. Might as well provide some relief.” He looked over his shoulder at the world outside. “We had a race to decide who was gonna take the students out on their first Nightnare Night and who was gonna be here, and… Well, I lost the race,” He looked back at her with a wide grin. “but spending time with you is hardly a penalty.”

Fluttershy’s heart skipped a beat as a distinct shade of pink found its way onto her cheeks. “Oh, well, I’d be happy to have you!” She stepped back, gesturing her wing in a beckoning manner. “Would you like some tea? The animals and I could use a break, anyway.”

Boltsinger chuckled, bowing as curtly as he could. “That sounds lovely.”

The night had arrived. Spider webs and pumpkins filled the streets. Ponies ran about in all manner of disguises, and games were set up in the town plaza. Laughter and screams filled the air, bringing no end of joy to the ears of the un-costumed Draconequus strolling through. He took in the noise like a breath of fresh air, flapping his ears with enjoyment. “Oh, how I love a good night of chaos! It’s refreshing to see everypony getting into the spirit of things for once!” He extended his arm outward, plucking a caramel apple from Granny Smith’s sales cart, earning himself a glare from the elderly mare as it was consumed. “But, festivities aside, it is a Tuesday! And that means one thing above all else!” He snapped his claws, flashing in a replacement for the apple he’d eaten while he ran in place, his legs appearing like wheels beneath him. “To Fluttershy’s!”

In another flash, Discord was at the door of his favorite cottage. He raised his talon, making ready to rap at the entrance when a noise caught his ear. There was talking going on, but in a voice that didn’t belong to Fluttershy… “‘Don’t let him escape!’ yelled Gusty!” The voice sounded dynamic, dramatic, and deep. Clearly not the soft soprano tones of the filly he knew. He narrowed his eyes, phasing his head through the door. On the couch sat Boltsinger, with a copy of Gusty The Great in his hooves, an orange foal in his lap, and a number of critters surrounding him. Fluttershy snugly lay in the nearby chair, her forelegs crossed as she smiled at the sight with the most content face he had ever seen.

Discord felt a savage boiling build up from within, quickly coming out of his ears in the form of a whistling steam. He brought his fingers up, plugging his ears as he took a deep, calming breath. “Hello, everypony! How are you doing this Tuesday?”

Boltsinger looked up from his book, smiling at the Draconequus. “Oh! Hi, Discord! What brings you over here?”

“Why, for tea, of course!” He replied, snaking up next to Fluttershy and wrapping his arm around her. “It’s a Tuesday, after all, and you know how Fluttershy and I are about our Tuesday teas!”

“Oh! Was today Tuesday?” Fluttershy asked, looking over at her chaotic friend. “I was so busy getting ready to have Boltsinger and Nova over tonight that… Well… I guess I forgot.”

There was an audible thud as Discord’s jaw hit the floor, sending a shockwave through the creature’s long body that sent him reeling. “You forgot about Tuesday tea? How could you forget about Tuesday tea?! We do it every Tuesday! What’s so hard to forget?” He pulled up the fur on his lion arm, revealing an absurd number of wrist watches. “I set my whole schedule to it!!”

“Really? But it’s Nightmare Night!” The stallion stated, pointing to the twilit sky outside. “There’s a lot of fun you could have out in Ponyville. Why not join the festivities?” He trotted up to Discord, playfully nudging the chaos spirit’s arm. “I bet you could spice things up in more ways than one!”

The idea intrigued the Draconequus, instantly bringing to mind a slew of ways he could increase the scares on a night where that kind of thing is allowed. But he had more important things to think about. He looked over to the blue-eyed mare, letting his features visibly soften at the sight. “Perhaps, but I’d much rather have some tea with my best friend, if you don’t mind.”

Fluttershy smiled at her funny friend, turning her attention to the foal on the couch. “I would dearly love to have tea with you tonight, but I’m not sure it would be a good idea right now.”

“And why is that?” He asked, standing tall in a huff. “These two can easily go out tonight and let us have our tea!”

Fluttershy rose from her chair, firmly walking over to Nova and picking him up with her wing. “Normally, yes, but tonight is Nightmare Night. There’s a lot of things out there that can scare a little baby!” She stepped up to Discord, holding the baby forward. “Do you remember what happened the last time Nova saw something that scared him?”

Powdered stone flashed in Discord’s mind, followed by a black sky. “Oh, yes… Good point… Well, can’t we just all have tea?”

Boltsinger slowly shook his head. “I dunno… You forgetting the last time you ‘helped’ to take care of Nova?”

“Oh, come on! It was just a little foalnapping and an elaborate labyrinth of puzzles and traps!” Discord retorted, spreading his arms out. “It’s not like he was in any danger! I was in more danger, being skewered by that horn of his!”

“Eeyeah… Something about ‘foalnapping’ doesn’t exactly paint a nice picture.” The bluenette deadpanned. “Listen, you’ve been doing well at learning baby care, but I think you should go ahead and celebrate Nightmare Night with everyone in town. I promise you’ll have a good time!”

Discord tousled the foal’s mane, turning to the door with a growl. “Fine. I’ll go do the ‘Nightmare Night’ thing. Not like I’d been looking forward to tea all week or anything…” He reached for the knob, looking back at them over his shoulder. “You three have fun, now!” He pulled back on the handle, opening a rift in space instead of the door, and walked in, slamming the air back to normal behind him.

“So, this ‘Nightmare Night’ is some celebration where you get candy from strangers just for dressing up in weird outfits?” Gallus inquired, walking with his friends and their head-mare through Ponyville. “Sounds like a pretty awesome holiday to me!”

“It’s more than just that.” Ocellus corrected. “It’s a celebration to commemorate Nightmare Moon’s banishment, and her subsequent reformation.”

“And who says you get to keep all the candy?” Sandbar added. He was wrapped in rudimentary bandages like a mummy, but was otherwise unmistakable. “Things are never that simple, you know.”

Twilight, garbed in the golden armor of a Canterlot Royal Guard, stopped ahead of the group. “He’s right, you know…” She looked over her shoulder at her students, a devious grin on her muzzle. “Princess Luna may be back to normal, now, but that doesn’t mean the danger has passed…”

“Danger…?” Yona began with a chattering of her teeth. “What pony mean by d-d-danger?”

Behind the Yak popped a pink Hippogriff. Silverstream raised her forelegs, twinkling her claws dramatically. “Niiiiiiiightmare Moooooooooooon!~” She moaned, attempting to sound as spooky as possible.

Yona jumped, letting out a shriek as she fell to the ground with her forelegs over her head. “That… not… funny!”

“But she’s right!” Twilight continued, facing the students with a dramatic splay of her wings. Her horn flared to life, with a magical mist seeping out. “The dark power that created Nightmare Moon still lurks, waiting for its moment… On this, the darkest, most evil night of the year, it takes the form of Nightmare Moon!” The magic swirled into a single point, creating a magenta image of a sleek, armored Alicorn mare with wings that curved like a blade. Her misty mane and tail seemed to flow without cease, and her pupils were little more than slits. “On this night, she searches… aaaaall around…” The image flapped its wings, lifting off into the air above the group and raising a foreleg above its eyes. It moved from student to student, creating a number of yelps among them. “But if she doesn’t see anyone, she’ll move on. We have to be crafty in order to hide from her…”

Smolder, wearing a poofy blue dress with yellow trim, put her claws on her hips. “So that’s why you had us put on these stupid costumes?”

Gallus looked back at the orange dragon, hiding his beak as he laughed. “You know, you didn’t have to dress up!”

Smolder recoiled a little, finding some redness in her cheeks. “Yeah, well… I… didn’t know that, and I was already in the outfit, so I just came out anyway!”

The Griffon shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

“”But hiding from her sight still isn’t enough…” The Princess continued, twisting her head to move the image of Nightmare Moon. It flew ahead of them, taking a wide stance with a fanged grin. “Like it or not, Nightmare Moon is still a Princess, and you’d do well to pay her the proper respect!” The imagestepped closer to the group, growing larger and looming over them. “You must pay a sweet tribute to sate her hunger, or else…”

The students stared up at the looming mare, their pupils shrinking with each step it took. “And… w-w-what if we don't have a t-tribute?” Silverstream wondered, raising a defensive wing.

Twilight’s smile widened as more power flowed from her horn. The image of Nightmare Moon reared back, rising to the air. “Oh, that’s not a problem…” She stated. “If you don’t offer the tribute…” The image dove at the students, opening its maw. “YOU BECOME THE TRIBUTE!!!”

The students each gave off terrified screams, covering their heads as the magical construct enveloped them. It dispersed into a magenta magical mist as the professor that created it went into hysterical laughter, soon joined by the other pony in the group. Yona, Gallus, Silverstream, Ocellus, and Smolder raised their heads, looking to the laughing ponies. A mild glare came from the dragon as they all stood up. “That was supposed to be funny? I was terrified!” The reptile spat, putting her claws on her hips.

“That’s part of the fun of Nightmare Night!” Sandbar explained. He stepped up beside his draconic friend, putting his hoof around her. “We get to go around and get scared, but there’s no real danger! Everyone is safe, and we all have a good laugh afterwards.”

Smolder pushed the hoof off of her, turning her back to the Earth Pony. “That’s not how dragons do fear. We’re used to fear only when our lives are in real danger! No dragon would ever pull a stunt like this!”

“Maybe that’s because no dragon can pull a stunt like this!” Ocellus suggested. She brought her hoof forward, waving it in the magical mist around the group. “This spell is really impressive, though. Does magic normally linger like this?”

Twilight looked at the mist, her curiosity taking hold as she repeated the Changeling’s gesture. “Now that you mention it, I’ve never had magic do this before… Usually, when I’ve finished a spell, it just goes away.” The mist began swirling around them, moving to the edge of the group farthest from the Princess and returning to the form it had initially taken, keeping its back to them. Its mane flowed in a wind that didn’t exist, showing an air of cool confidence. “Are you… Nightmare Moon?”

Different words at varying pitches came at them from all directions at once, each showing playful laughter or mocking. After a few moments, they began to coalesce in the image of Nightmare Moon in a tone that ran familiar in Twilight’s ears. “I wouldn’t be so sure about the Moon part…” It looked back at them, revealing itself to have Discord’s head in place of the one Twilight had initially given it. “But I can certainly give you some nightmares if you’d like!”

“What the…?” Twilight jumped back, the mere sight of the Draconequus betraying her expectations. “Discord? What are you doing?!”

“Having a little fun, of course!” He trotted to the middle of the group, sneaking a look at his misty magenta haunches. “Be honest, does this color make me look fat? I’ve always loved it, but it doesn’t do a thing for me!”

Twilight’s hoof made almost immediate contact with her face as Silverstream flew over to Discord. “You’re that creature that was messing with the school during the scavenger hunt, right? Discord?”

Discord gave the Hippogriff a broad smile. “Why, yes! But your teacher is beginning to look annoyed, so I’d best be off. Toodles!” He gave Twilight a fond wave putting his hoof in his mouth and blowing into it. His head began to inflate like a balloon, his eyes, horns, and fangs bulging out until there was a loud pop and a white flash, leaving small wisps of the magenta magic in an otherwise empty space.

Twilight groaned with exasperation, performing her well-practiced calming breath. “You all go enjoy the celebration. I’m going to go make sure Discord’s ‘fun’ doesn’t hurt anyone.” She gave them a farewell wave of her wing, lighting her horn once more and vanishing in a flash of her own.

Gallus shrugged, giving his friends a cocky quirk of the eyebrows. “So, we gonna get some candy, or not?”

The golden-armored Princess galloped through Ponyville, looking around for any signs of something amiss. Finding herself in the town plaza, she settled into a walk. A thought of whether or not she was overreacting had begun to furnish in her mind. Too often before had she assumed the worst of the chaos spirit. Just because Discord was in town on Nightmare Night, that didn’t necessarily mean he was planning to cause mayhem. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, now that she had set her students loose on the holiday, she found herself with an abundance of free time, and in the best possible place to capitalize on it. “Okay, so where do I start?” She trotted on with a spring in her step, eagerly looking at the various games.

“Hey, Twilight! Wanna bob for apples?” Pinkie Pie’s squeak called from the crowd. The Alicorn looked around, laying eyes on a gray-coated Earth Pony mare in a blue dress with a black belt. She had a straight, uniform-cut, purple mane and tail, and had blue eyes that were accented by black eyeliner and eyeshadow in the same color as her mane. She stood next to what looked like a patchwork boulder, completely expressionless.

Twilight trotted over to the mare, waving a greeting wing. “Oh! Hi, Maud. Did you just hear Pinkie Pie? I could've sworn I just heard her.” Maud hid her muzzle behind her hoof, a quiet giggle coming from behind it. Twilight pursed her lips, eyeing the mare with a furrowed brow. “Maud? Are you okay?” Another giggle sounded from the Pie sister, her eyes clenching shut as it intensified. “Is she in the… Is that a boulder costume?” Twilight investigated the patchwork rock, looking over the stitching to see if she could find an opening.

Finally, a great guffaw exploded out of the usually stoic mare, her voice giving away her identity in an instant. “I can’t take it anymore! Twilight, it’s me!” She removed what Twilight had perceived as her mane, the classic poofy Pinkie mane inflating outwards from within as her expression returned to its default state.

Twilight recoiled, giving her friend a second, then a third, look just to be sure. “Pinkie?! You mean your costume is…”

“It’s Maud!” She finished, throwing her forelegs aside as the wig fell back into place. “She and Rarity helped me put it all together!” She turned around, pulling up the skirt of her dress to reveal a rock mark. “They even did the Cutie Mark!”

“... Pinkie…” Came a muffled, slightly annoyed voice from inside the patchwork boulder. A flap opened up in the side, letting a head identical to the one Pinkie was disguised as. “Don’t go pulling up skirts like that…”

Twilight facehoofed, magically lowering Pinkie’s skirt and turning to the genuine Maud. “Sorry about that. I like your costume! What kind of rock are you?”

Maud slowly blinked, bringing out a hoof that held a rock that looked similar to her costume. “... Boulder. Do you see the resemblance?” She held her pet up, letting the Princess examine it. Admittedly, the features of the costume were remarkably accurate to the source material, save for the openings that allowed the wearer inside. Maud brought the rock back over, holding it close to her flat face. “... Twinsies.”

“Technically, you’re not really twins, as you weren’t born at the same time.” Came another muffled voice from within the costume. The corners of Maud’s mouth turned up slightly at the correction. “But, as we do look just like him, it is appropriate terminology.”

Twilight jumped back a few inches, walking around the costume to try and find the source. “Was that… Mudbriar?”

Maud returned Boulder to its usual spot, standing up with her legs poking out under the costume. Her legs were quickly joined by another set in a lighter shade of gray. “... It’s a two-pony costume.”

The Alicorn blinked, moving from a confused gawk to a smile. “Oh. Well, it’s good to see you!” She turned to what she knew now was Pinkie Pie. “Now, you said soemthing about bobbing for--” Her sentence was cut off by the scream of a pony near the apple bobbing, drawing her attention to the location with wide eyes. “... --pples?” At the source of the scream, there was a pony in a Daring Do costume leaning over the tub of apples, slowly beginning to back away.

“There’s… worms… Weird worms in the apples!” The mare shouted, scrambling her hooves to turn and run. Following her, a giant earthworm crawled out of the tub with an oversized apple around its midsection. It made its way towards the mare, growing a pair of eyes and smiling maliciously.

“You win! You win! You win!” It repeated, followed by more worms of the same ilk crawling out after other ponies. The laughter from before quickly turned into screams as ponies began running away in panic.

“On second thought…” Pinkie began, looking at the screaming throngs. “Maybe we shouldn’t bob for apples…”

Yet more screaming pierced the ponies’ ears, drawing their attention to the pumpkin catapults. The pumpkins in question had obtained glowing eyes and jagged mouths. They began to cackle at the ponies around them, growing legs made of vines and bounding after them. Twilight’s features began to sour, getting an idea for what exactly was going on. Another scream caught her attention just a few seconds later, with sounds of whipping and screaming calling her attention. Spider webs had begun to form between lamp posts, with the spiders in question shooting webs at random ponies running about, pulling them into them. As one hit the middle, two of the spiders approached one another. Performing a high five as if they had just won a game.

Twilight narrowed her eyes, twitching her ears every which way. One thing she had made sure to learn from her husband was how to attune her listening to find something specific. In this case, her target was laughter. Hysterical, chaotic laughter. It didn’t take her long to find the source, with a boisterous laugh coming from behind a stand of caramel apples. A particular eagle talon would frequently stretch around, plucking one of the treats from the display and momentarily interrupting the laughter. She trotted behind the stand, finding Discord, engorged on caramel apples and covered with sticks. “Having fun?” The Princess inquired, doing her best to rival Fluttershy’s Stare.

Discord tossed away what remained of his latest treat, looking lazily at his Alicorn friend. “Oh, you have no idea, Twilight!” He strenuously sat up, looking over the stand at the chaos he’d caused. “What better way to play with games than to have the games play back?”

Twilight flew to the point where she was level with the Draconequus’ face, motioning to the screaming masses. “How is this fun?! Can’t you see how terrified they are?”

Discord smirked, sending her a coy glance. “But none of them are being hurt. Besides, isn’t having fun being scared the whole point of Nightmare Night?”

The armored Alicorn’s jaw hung open, dividing her attention between the chaos and its representative. “You’re… not wrong. But this is still too much! Don’t you have something better you can do for Nightmare Night?”

Discord’s paw rose to his beard, thoughtfully stroking it. “You know, there is one thing I wanted to do this Tuesday… I haven’t been able to do it, yet, though.”

“Well, why don’t you see if you can go do that?” She suggested, bringing her hooves to her hips.

Discord pulled back the fur on his arm, checking his many wristwatches for the time. “Well, I suppose it has been a while since I checked… I’ll go do that!”

As the chaos spirit made ready to snap himself away, Twilight wrapped his paw in her magic. “Before you go…”

A light flickered back on in Discord’s mind, forcing his gaze back to the frightened festivities. “Oh, yes, of course.” He snapped his claws, creating myriad flashes of light that returned everything to normal while he vanished from sight.

Twilight wiped her forehead, letting out a relieved sigh. “Phew… Glad that’s over!”

Discord appeared above Fluttershy’s cottage in his typical flash, sharply inhaling to take in the pleasant atmosphere. It had been some time since he was shooed away, and he was ready to hear their apologies for their blatantly rude behavior. He landed by the door, reaching forward to knock, but found himself lingering. A loud, familiar snore rang in his ears. He crossed his arms, poking his head through the door.. The source of the snoring became obvious, as a thoroughly passed out Boltsinger lay with an equally tuckered Nova draped over his barrel on Fluttershy’s couch.

The owner of the home stepped up beside the couch, pulling a blanket along with her. “Oh, you two are just so precious, all tuckered out…” She draped the blanket over them, pulling it into place and planting a ginger kiss on the each pony’s forehead. “You’ve made this the very best Nightmre Night of my whole life!”

A whistling went off in Discord’s mind. All of the anger he’d tried to keep down before had finally boiled over. He pulled his head back, turning from the door and stomping away from the abode. “The very best? Of her whole LIFE?!” He clenched his claws, holding them next to his head. “And what’s with the blanket and all the… the… smooching?! She’s never done that with me before! Why do they get that kind of treatment when I never have?!” A flash of orange entered his mind, turning his face a deep shade of red. “He wanted me to go and enjoy Nightmare Night, after all… Let’s go enjoy it, then!” He reared back, whipping the ground with his tail to leave a small crater beneath him. “I’ll give them a Nightmare Night they’ll never forget!”

Twilight wandered through town, smiling at the fillies and colts running around and getting candy from the residents. There were a lot of spooky costumes, if not from the foals, than from the grown ponies guiding them. Ghosts, mummies, a few instances of Frankenstag’s Monster, with quite a few convincing iterations of Timberwolves. She brought her wing up over her eyes, scanning the horizon for familiar faces. “Applejack said she and the girls would be taking the CMC’s around here… I wonder what costumes they decided to wear.”

From out of one house, a set of six ponies trotted into view. The foals were in full costume. One wore a primitive-looking brown vest with similar leg wrappings. There was a circular sheet of metal hanging from what looked like a belt. There were white head and tail bands around an orange mane and tail, but somehow the yellow coat and shield emblem Cutie Mark seemed a little off. Especially due to the fact that this was a filly with a beard. Another of the foals had something that looked like an artificial blowing in her mane, and wore a blue tunic that looked remarkably worn with a flower gracing the collar, again, the coat color and Cutie Mark threw her off, having a similar shield emblem and a pure white coat. Finally, the last of the foals wore silver armor with a red cape that had ample room for her little wings to poke through. She sported a helm with a red mohawk, and there was a bronze shield on her back, held tight by her wings. The mares accompanying them were more simply dressed. One looked like she belonged right at home in the Mighty Helm, with another looking like an old soldier. Finally, there was another in a gorgeous black dress with red trim and a thick black veil. The fillies turned towards the Princess, smiles lighting up their faces as their trot became a canter. “Twilight!” The Pegasus started, coming to a stop in front of her. She brought up the bag that hung from her neck, showing it to be filled to the brim with candy. “Check it out! Major haul, right?”

Twilight smiled down at the treats. “Very impressive, Scootaloo! And I love your costumes! She looked over at what she knew was Apple Bloom, whose bag was likewise full. “We’ve got Rockhoof…” Looking at Sweetie Belle, her smile deepened. “Mistmane…” She finally settled her eyes back on Scootaloo, reaching out and shaking the helmet the orange filly wore. “And none other than Flash Magnus! Any better, and I’d have mistaken you for the real thing!”

“I do pride myself on authenticity, after all!” The veiled mare bragged, magically pulling the facial obstruction away to reveal the radiance that was Rarity. “They got the approval of the genuine articles!”

“And I take it you’re supposed to be Sable Spirit?” Twilight asked, pointing at her friend’s dress.

“Quite right!” The Unicorn confirmed. “Much more appealing than a couple of soldiers, if you ask me!”

The armored cyan Pegasus huffed. “I’m supposed to be Colonel Ironhead!”

“An’ I’m… someone… from the Mighty Helm!” Applejack added, pointing at her helmet. “They were really important!”

“Yes, yes, they all did wonderful things.” The fashionista admitted, starting back on her way. “But that doesn’t make them any more stylish, now does it?”

Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack simultaneously rolled their eyes, following the cocky couturier down the road. “Honestly, all of the costumes tonight have been impressive.” The Alicorn said, admiring the quality of the disguises. She pointed her hoof at a particularly wispy ghost costume. “I mean, look at that ghost over there! It looks so…” Upon closer inspection, she found that it looked entirely too… “... real... “ Her mind drifted to the worst case scenario as the parents around the street began to scream, the moon turning redder than Big Mac’s coat. “Not again…”

A dark laugh filled the air as the ghosts swirled around a focal point. Timberwolves stepped up beside the coalescence, with the Frankenstag monsters taking a position to stand guard. “Let the true Nightmare Night…” The disharmonious voice called out in an off-putting minor chord. In an eerie black shadow that formed from a singular point, the shape of Discord came into being, wearing a dark red formal shirt under a pitch-black vest, his features more vicious and angular, and his eyes nearly as sinister as the day they first met. “... BEGIN!!!”

Several of what was once a costumed pony walked past the group, converging on Discord’s location. Twilight ran over to one of them, a slow-moving pony mummy, grabbing onto its shoulders. She looked into its eyes, finding nothing staring back at her. “This… This isn’t right…” She spun around to face the Draconequus, ascending to the sky and putting on her warface. “DISCORD!!!”

Discord snaked his way through the air to meet the Princess of Friendship. “Yeeeeees?”

“Turning ponies into their costumes?! What the heck do you think you’re doing?!”

“Didn’t you just say it? I don’t see why I should explain when you clearly know already.”

The furious mare gave a furious snort, glaring into his eyes from less than an inch away. “That’s not what I meant!” Her horn flared to life, threatening to let its contents explode out at the chimera. “Why are you doing this?! I thought you were better than this!”

“Am I, though?” He asked, letting his eyes glow. “I don’t seem to be good enough for my friends anymore!” He snapped his claws, vanishing into the distance with vampire batponies, ghosts, and other creatures all appearing between the two of them. “Why don’t we play a little game? You catch me, and I’ll undo all of this and do whatever you want!”

“What are you talking about?!” She shot forward, darting from side to side as some of the transformed ponies dove at her. “You’ve done so well over the years! Earned everypony’s trust!”

“Then why don’t you let me care for Nova?” He retorted, waving his arms like a maestro while the un-altered ponies below screamed in panic. “Why can’t I be with Fluttershy tonight, on a Tuesday, for the get-together we enjoy every SINGLE WEEK?!” He raised his arms, directing the flyers to surround her.

“That’s what this is about?! Because you didn’t get to go for tea with Fluttershy?!” She braced herself, searching her surroundings for an opening. Finding none to be seen, she lit her horn, beginning her spell. “Knock… it… OFF!!!” Releasing the magic, the ponies surrounding the Princess disappeared with a flash that lit up the sky like fireworks.

Fluttershy sat in her cottage, reading a book on the floor next to her couch. Her wing was extended, in the grip of the baby nestled next to his father. She let out a smiling sigh, admitting to herself that it had been a long time since she had felt so content. It even felt for an instant that the room was awash with a kind of magical magenta light. A very… familiar… magical magenta light. “Wait a minute… Twilight?” She closed her book, running to the window to find the sky had turned red, with a purple streak flying around in the distance. “Oh my gosh!” She rushed back to the couch, shaking Boltsinger as forcefully as she could manage. “Boltsinger, wake up! Something’s happening to Twilight in town!”

“Huh…? What about Twilight?” He replied, rubbing the sleep from his opening eyes. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but the sky is red, and Twilight is flying like she’s fighting something!”

Boltsinger looked at the mare with a sense of disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?” He picked up the snoring foal, walking to the window and dropping his jaw. “Well, this has been a lovely visit, can’t wait to do it again sometime!” He draped the baby carrier over him, carefully putting Nova in place and running to the door. “I’ve gotta go! Happy Nightmare Night!” He made a quick wave of his wing, reaching for the knob.

As he opened the door, Fluttershy stepped up next to him. “I’m going, too!”

Another look of disbelief went from the stallion to the mare, his ears picking up several monstrous sounds in the distance. “Are you sure? It’s sounds like a Nightmare Night nightmare out there…”

“That doesn’t matter.” She stated, stepping forward and digging her hoof into the dirt. “Twilight might need my help out there, and there’s no telling what happened to Discord!”

Boltsinger looked into the eyes of the kindest pony he knew, finding a soft determination in the blue depths. If Fluttershy, of all ponies, was this determined, then he had no reason to tell her otherwise. “Okay, then. Let’s go!” He dragged his hoof on the ground, going to a gallop towards town. The Pegasi skidded to a stop at the edge of town, spotting ponies running and screaming with monstrous creatures chasing after them. “So… question…”

Fluttershy swallowed a large lump in her throat, looking at the multitudes of monsters ahead. “Um… Yes…?”

“Call me inexperienced, but… how often does Ponyville get monster attacks?”

“I… um… I don’t know… It’s really only happened… maybe twice?” She brought herself low, holding her hooves up to her head. “I knew it was going to be frightening but…”

Boltsinger put his hoof on her back, patting it gently. “The fact that you’ve come this far is plenty. I won’t ask you to do more than you can take. Except… one little thing.” He lifted Nova out of his carrier, holding him closer to the mare. “Could you keep an eye on Nova?”

Fluttershy slowly nodded, taking the colt in her forelegs as his eyes began to open. “What are you going to do?”

The orange Pegasus removed his saddlebag, turning towards the town and flaring his wings. “I’m gonna see what my wife is up to!” He leaped into the air, shooting off at the purple streak in the reddened sky. Fluttershy looked on at the streak the stallion had become, letting a mild flush onto her cheeks as a shadow began to loom over her.

The dodge-fest in the sky continued, with Twilight proving just how deft she had become over the years. “Discord, please! Quit this stunt and listen to me!”

“And why should I do that?” The Draconequus retorted, lazily waving a single claw as the creatures continued their routine. “You still haven’t won our little game!”

The fury on the Princess’ face was beginning to stick as her horn lit up once more. “It stopped being a game when you started transforming ponies into monsters!” She rose up several feet, going into a swooping dive that dramatically increased her velocity. “What do you think Fluttershy would say if she saw what was going on?”

Discord scoffed, sending more of his minions into the Alicorn’s path, only for them to be teleported to the ground before they could get close. “What does it matter? It’s not like she wants to see me or anything! She’s with Bolt, doing things with the baby and having the best Nightmare Night EVER!!!”

“Um… Discord?” A baritone began, tapping him on the back. “What’s going on?”

Discord stopped cold, the monsters under his command dispersing about town. He craned his neck around, getting an eye full of the befuddled orange stallion looking up at him. “Bolt? You’re here?!” He put his claws on his shoulders, his angular features beginning to ebb as he looked hopefully at him. “Does this mean I can go have tea with Fluttershy, now?” Ever confused, Boltsinger tilted his head, his mane shifting with the movement and showing the softest of marks left by a mare’s kiss. The sight of the mark sent Discord’s eyes wide again, causing him to cross his arms and turn around in a huff. “On second thought, never mind! She probably doesn’t want to see me, anyway…”

Twilight came to a stop just short of the chaos spirit, cocking her head to the side. “Bolt? What’s going on?”

Boltsinger looked past the huffy magical Draconequus, smiling at his spouse. “Oh! Hi, honey! Great costume! And… Well, that was my question. I told Discord to try and enjoy himself tonight, but…” He looked down at the town. “I didn’t think he’d take it this far…”

Twilight’s jaw dropped, raising her hoof to point at her husband. “You mean you… suggested… that he come out tonight of all nights?!”

With a swift nod, Boltsinger looked back to her. “Yeah, Fluttershy was afraid he might scare Nova, and she had some solid reasoning. Besides, it’s not like we expected anything bad to--" A shrill scream pierced the ears of those in the sky, her voice unmistakable to those in the know.

“FLUTTERSHY!” The three simultaneously shouted. With a flash of white, they were on the ground, where the mare in question was running from an enormous Cragadile, holding a crying Alicorn baby in her wings.

Discord narrowed his eyes, snapping his claws one more time. With that one, simple action, the monsters had vanished, replaced with the ponies they were. One particular colt with a brown mane and a white coat that festured brown markings stumbled from the gallop he found himself in, tumbling a ways forward until he stopped against Discord’s reptilian leg. Cheers erupted through the town about how fun it was to be the costume, but he paid them no mind, grinding his teeth and turning to Boltsinger and rising to his full height against the now-normal night sky. “You… brought her… HERE?!”

The stallion’s wings began to sieze up, snapping to his sides as he began to shuffle his hooves. “Now, I know this seems bad, but… She wanted to come and help everypony!”

“And you didn’t stop her?!” Discord growled, bringing his glowing eyes forward to glare at him.

Twilight stomped her hoof, stepping forward and putting her wing on the Draconequus. “Let me handle this, Discord.” She sent the chaos spirit a fierce glare. “You and I have lots to discuss, but first…” She turned her glare back to her cowering husband. “So, from what I gather, you started this whole thing!”

Boltsinger’s shaking turned into a vibrate, slowly attempting to back away from the mare as she made her slow, deliberate approach. “Now, honey, I’ll have you know I did nothing wrong, here!” He sent her a weak smile through chattering teeth. “Discord was just… being Discord!” The approach continued, Twilight’s eyes boring into him like a dragon’s teeth through gems. His attempts at composure fell away, the fear turning him around to scramble away as the immobilization struck. “Please, don’t… Please!”

Twilight turned around, trotting past Fluttershy. “Could you watch Nova for a little while longer? I need to have a talk with my husband…”

Fluttershy nodded, patting the foal on the head. “Of course, Twilight.”

“Thank you.” The Alicorn continued on, her frozen spouse’s hooves dragging through the dirt.

“So, Fluttershy?” Discord started, drawing the mare’s attention. “I owe you a… Well… You know…”

The Kindness bearer extended her hoof, placing it just above her chaotic friend’s nose. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have sent you off without thinking of how you’d feel about it.” She took a look around, remembering the scary visions she had seen with a shudder. “If I had known you’d be so upset, I’d have thought it over more thoroughly! I know you’re more sensitive than you let most ponies see.” She gave Nova a hug, getting a giggle out of him. “Just like this wittle guy here! You’re just a little softie, aren’t you?”

Discord smiled at the sight before him, feeling an all-too-familiar warmth build up inside as he laid down on all fours. “So… Could I, maybe… hold the baby? Just this once?”

Fluttershy ceased her nuzzling, looking in tandem with Nova at Discord. The colt gave the Draconequus a smile and a laugh, extending his forelegs out to him. Fluttershy beamed in kind, scooting closer and passing the foal along. “Of course you can!”

All the while, a pained scream like none had heard before emanated from the castle at the edge of town, sending the townsponies back into the Nightmare Night spirit as the celebration continued.

Author's Note

And here I thought half this length was getting to be my norm... Wow.
Anyway! This chapter had been in the works for a while, now, and I wanted to get it out before Halloween came this time! I had a little bit of trouble coming up with some of Discord's shenanigans, but, as always, the characters, and my friends, helped me get something I liked down!
For the next chapter, I have something interesting planned. You know how sometimes I get ideas for a chapter based on a character saying something in my head?
Yeah, that's happening again.
I hope you enjoy the result!

Quality Grandma Time

In the city of Canterlot, inside a modest home, a pair of Unicorns sat at the table for breakfast. One was a blue-coated stallion with a darker blue swooping mane and tail, golden eyes, and a Cutie Mark of two crescent moons. The other was a white-coated mare with a mane and tail of purple and white stripes cut in a fairly uniform style, with a swirl in the back. She had a Cutie Mark of three purple stars, and had a forlorn look in her blue eyes, pawing at her food with her magically-lifted fork.

The stallion reached out, touching the mare’s hoof with his own. “Honey, are you okay? You seem a little down.”

The mare briefly looked up at him. “Huh?” A sigh escaped her lips, looking back down at her meal. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Just a little lonesome…”

An understanding smile crossed the stallion’s face. “Do you want to do something fun today?” He leaned back, floating over a list of potential activities. “We could go to the Canterlot gardens…”

The mare shook her head. “No…”

“Get some ‘fancy’ food down on Restaurant Row…”

“No…”

“Oh! How about we--"

The mare pushed her plate away, standing up with her forehooves on the table. “I WANT TO SEE MY GRANDSON!!!”

The stallion gave her a knowing nod, rolling the list up and putting it aside. “Then why don't you go see him? It’s just a quick train ride to Ponyville. I can handle anything that happens around here, today.”

The mare looked down at him, finding his calmness rather calming. “But what about you? Don’t you want to see him, too?”

“Yes, but I can wait my turn. You’re looking pretty desperate for some baby time.” He walked around the table, placing his hoof on her shoulder. “You, Twilight Velvet, need to get to Ponyville and see your grandson. No ifs, ands, or buts. Got it?”

Velvet brought her hooves back to the floor, quickly raising them again to hug her husband. “Oh, Night Light, you’re the best husband a pony could ask for!” She gave him a drawn-out kiss on the cheek, hurrying off into the house to pack.

Twilight Velvet looked up at her closing destination, the Castle of Friendship. It had always been a welcome sight, given who lived there, and her excitement to see the youngest of them was at its peak. She stepped up to the door, giving it several happy knocks. She heard a call from inside the house, followed by wingbeats from above. “Velvet?!” Came the most familiar baritone she knew, prompting her to turn around with a broad smile.

“Oh, Boltsinger, dear, you know you can call me ‘Mom’!” She replied, giving the surprised stallion a hug.

“I know.” He told her, reciprocating the embrace. “I just… wasn’t expecting you!” They walked towards the entrance, the Princely Pegasus opening the door for his mother-in-law. “What brings you over?”

Velvet giggled, momentarily looking up at him. “Can’t a mare come visit her grandson?”

A small chuckle escaped Boltsinger’s throat as he looked ahead. “Of course you can! You’re actually the second surprise visit today!”

“The second? Who else came by?”

Yet another laugh sounded from the stallion as they made their way up the stairs. “Well, let’s just say you’re not the only grandma that came by!”

“Not the only…?” She repeated, cocking an eyebrow. “But, Bolt… Aren’t your parents…?”

“Yeah.” He confirmed, “They are… But… Well, okay, you’re his only biological grandma. But…” He opened the door to the nursery, where the lilac Princess contentedly watched as a number of toys were floated around the room. Some with a grace that made them seem alive in a yellow aura, with others performing rudimentary walking motions in a blue one.

Twilight’s ear twitched at the opening of the doors, turning her head only to light up with surprise. “Oh! Mom!” She sprang to her hooves, trotting over to embrace her mother. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I just came to visit with Nova.” She explained, tightening her grip around her favorite mare. “And the rest of the family, too, of course!”

“That makes two of us.” An unmistakable yet soft, motherly contralto stated from within the room.

Velvet released her daughter from the hug, stepping back and turning her head with wide eyes and drooped ears. Sitting on the other side of the room, her horn alight while playing with the foal she was so desperate to see, was… “Princess Celestia?! You’re the ‘grandma’ Boltsinger was talking about?!”

“I’m… kinda surprised it wasn’t obvious.” Boltsinger said, walking towards the foal.

“How was it supposed to be obvious?” Velvet retorted, her gaze on the Princess unflinching. “She’s the Princess…” She turned her attention to Boltsinger, motioning to herself with her hoof. “But I’m his actual grandmother!”

“And to be fair, it wasn’t obvious to me, either.” The Sun Princess added.

Boltsinger scratched his mane with his hoof, smiling weakly at Celestia. “Yeah, I just figured… You know, what with the kind of relationship you two have… It’s way beyond just simple teacher and student!” Twilight and Celestia looked to each other at the comment, each letting a fond smile on their face.

Out of all the smiles in the room, though, one had become decidedly less sincere than the others. “I see…” Velvet’s features slightly soured, finding herself in the doorway while the other ponies began to gather. The distance between her and them wasn’t great, but it loomed over her regardless. She fixed her attention on the smiling parents, bringing more truth to her smile. And then the white wings came forward, bringing with them a stinging sensation that made her want to tear her children away from them. And with that, came an idea. She trotted over to them, putting a hoof on Twilight and Boltsinger’s respective shoulders. “You two look so happy… I’d bet you’ve been busy, though.”

Twilight looked at her mother with a soft nod. “The school does take a lot of my attention, but I’ve been doing my best to balance that with everything else.”

“Besides, being a parent is the definition of ‘busy’.” The stallion stated, tapping Nova on the tip of his horn. “I bet you know that all too well, though.”

“You’ve got that right!” Velvet affirmed as her horn went alight. Twilight and Boltsinger quickly found themselves wrapped in a magical glow, lifted to a standing position and moved away from the Alicorns. “You two deserve some time off to have fun together!” She brought them out of the room, placing them in the hallway. “I’m sure Princess Celestia and I can handle the tot for a while!”

“But… We…” Twilight started, attempting to look back at her.

“No ‘buts’!” The Unicorn interjected, placing them on the floor in the hall. “You two take the day and have fun! The ‘grandmas’ have got this!” she released the two from her grip, swiftly closing the door as they turned back. “This door won’t open until you two are having fun together, got it?”

An audible sigh came from beyond the door. “Yes, Mom!” Sounded off simultaneously from both of them, followed by a magenta flash under the door.

Velvet gave a confident nod, turning back around to face the remaining royals in the room. “So, what should we do first?”

Celestia continued to make the room's toys dance around, letting Nova chase them. “I'm right where I want to be.” She looked over to the Unicorn, beckoning her with her wing. “Would you like to join us?”

“I would love to!” Velvet trotted over to them, laying on the floor and bringing her magic to life once more. More of the toys in the toybox floated out, dancing and running and rolling about in their myriad ways. Nova babbled with excitement, prancing after them one by one. “I used to play with Twily like this when she was a filly…” She let out a soft sigh, drawing the Princess’ attention. “But, I guess that's enough about the past, isn't it?”

The Unicorn's question found itself almost immediately answered as a loud rumble filled the room. At the sound, Celestia let out a chortle. “For now, perhaps. It sounds like the little one is hungry.” She stood up, putting a hoof to her belly. “And, for that matter, so am I.”

Velvet sprang to her hooves, practically standing at attention. “Oh! Well, if you need, I can cook something up for you, Your Highness!”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.” The Princess replied, moving to the opening door. “I'd be happy to prepare a meal. Why don't you tend to Nova?”

“Why, that sounds like a wonderful idea!” She affirmed. The monarch gave a curt nod, heading out the door as Velvet turned to the hungry foal with a brightly lit horn. “You ready for some yummies, sweetheart?” Her magic encompassed the baby, lifting him up next to her. “Let’s go to the kitchen, shall we?” She trotted out into the hall, humming a tune to herself with a content look on her face.

At which point, the tears began flowing. Nova began squirming in the grip of the mare’s magic. It tingled in a weird way, poking him all over like little pins. He began flapping his wings, reaching for a way out of the field he was in with a sniffle.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” She asked, pulling him to float in front of her. “Do you wanna fly around?” She weaved him back and forth about the hall, moving him in a pattern that imitated flight. The squirming continued, Nova’s horn flaring up as his wailing began. He vanished from her magic in a blue flash, leaving the mare’s aura to reappear in the air in front of her. Velvet recoiled, stopping for a moment. “Nova, honey, what’s wrong?” She trotted forward, the foal looking back with a hint of shock in his eyes. With one more cry, he made a strong flap of his wings, shooting forward at his full speed. The grandmother sprang forward into a gallop, following the foal. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? I was just…” She lit her horn again, trying to move her magic towards him. He responded with another poof, appearing on the other side of the hall with no loss in momentum. “... holding…” She made another attempt, met with the same result. “... you!” As she ignited her horn once more, the baby turned down the stairs, moving even faster through the castle. She picked up her pace, following the surprisingly fast flyer to the best of her ability. He came to a quick stop at the entrance to the kitchen, zipping inside as a surprised yelp sounded off.

“What’s going on, little one?” Celestia wondered, her voice seeming to soothe the continuing crying. Velvet turned the corner into the kitchen, where Celestia was holding a rapidly-calming Nova close in her wing, stroking his mane with her foreleg. “Did something scare you? Oh, it's okay…” She moved him to his high chair, pulling his bib around his neck. As she moved back to the stove, which gave off the nearly irresistible aroma of fresh pancakes, her eyes fell upon the Unicorn. “Ah! Mrs. Sparkle! Is everything alright? Nova seemed like he was afraid of something.”

Velvet recoiled at the sudden formality, waving a dismissive hoof. "Oh, please! Just call me ‘Velvet, Your Majesty! I don’t know what happened…” She explained, entering the room. “All I did was hold him for a little while!”

Celestia looked between the mare’s horn and her eyes, a small, knowing smile tugging at her mouth. “I see. And how did you hold him?”

“With… magic...” She stepped up to the high chair, tilting her head at the foal. “Did I do something wrong?”

Celestia tousled Nova's mane, earning a giggle. “I learned the hard way that Nova doesn’t respond kindly if you rely too much on magic. Have you read the checklist?” She retrieved a scroll from under her necklace, floating it over to the Unicorn.

“Checklist?” Velvet repeated, taking the parchment and opening it up in front of her. “There’s a checklist for the baby?” She skimmed its contents, letting a bit of surprise onto her face. “Flurry Heart wasn’t anywhere close to this high-maintenance when she was a baby…” Finishing her reading, she rolled the list up, passing it back to the Princess. “Well, it’s nothing I can’t get used to! I did raise his mother, after all!”

Celestia laughed to herself, dishing up a plate of flapjacks and starting on the next. “Yes, she was always the most fascinating student.” A more audible laugh came out as a memory popped into her head. “I remember there was a time when she and Moon Dancer were trying out teleportation for the first time… She ended up in at least five different locations around the school before finally ending up on the roof, without even knowing what was going on! When she finally realized where she was, she started listing off every other solution to the problem before the idea of calling for help even crossed her mind!” She trailed off from her laughter, breathing a contented sigh.

Velvet smiled weakly, fetching some mashed carrots and a strange set of spoons on a black sleeve. “That sounds like a good memory…” She put the spoon-based garment on, proceeding to feed the foal. “You must have a lot of them, don’t you?”

Velvet and Celestia walked through Ponyville, the Unicorn pushing a carriage filled to the brim with every essential a baby might need, while the Alicorn carried the baby in question. It had been decided, by the Princess, that a trip to town would be fun for Nova, along with herself. And it seemed fun, at least for the ponies with wings. She followed behind the large mare, finding a sense of familiarity in the shade she provided as something she found herself in a bit of a grating happenstance.

Heads had begun to turn.

“Isn't that Princess Celestia?”

“And with Prince Nova, too!”

“But who is that mare with them?”

“Maybe she's Prince Nova's nursemaid!”

Nursemaid?! Velvet mentally repeated. She shook the incoming thoughts out of her head. What would it look like if the Princess of Friendship's mom were to lash out at others. Or worse, what Nova might do in response.

“Ah! Princess Celestia!” Mrs. Cake called as a sudden impact stopped Velvet in her tracks. “Why, I haven't seen you in Ponyville since that little tyke there was just born! So what brings you to Sugar Cube corner today?”

“Oh, we were taking the little one around town for a change of pace, and decided to get something for Twilight and Boltsinger when they get back.” The Alicorn explained, letting Nova onto the floor. Velvet watched as he trotted over to the corner, where little Cakes waved excitedly at the little prince.

“Oh, that is so nice of you!” The baker cooed, crossing her forelegs on the counter. “Well, Pinkie gave me a list of their favorite treats, so I'll start up a batch for each of them!” She moved into the kitchen, poking her head out to get one last look at the Princess. “Is there anything else you want?”

“I would dearly love a cake.” Celestia stated. She looked behind her, where Velvet stood staring at the foals. “Would you like something as well, Velvet?”

“Red velvet? I can do that!” Mrs. Cake affirmed, vanishing into the kitchen.

“Um… Mrs. Cake, that’s not what I--”

“Oh, it’s alright, Your Majesty.” Velvet interjected, stepping out from behind her to sit with the smaller ponies. “I don’t mind… really...” She passed along some of the toy box’s contents to the foals, laying on the floor with them. “After all, I’m with ‘Princess Celestia’! Why would anypony notice me when I’m with somepony so great?”

Velvet's words seemed to poke at the Princess, providing a measure of irritation that she found difficult to shake. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, I’m fine.” She replied, refusing to look at her. “Why wouldn’t everything be alright? I’m with my grandson like I wanted. Plus I’m with Princess Celestia! No problems here…”

“I’m… not sure if I believe that.” She took a seat next to her, extending her wing over the Unicorn. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

Velvet slapped the wing away, standing up with a stomp and walking to the door. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

Celestia turned to her, returning her wing to its resting position. “Please, Velvet. I want to help.”

“Oh, you’ve helped more than enough.”

“I don’t think that’s true. Come and sit. You know, Twilight confided in me quite a lot growing up.”

The Unicorn came to a stop, gritting her teeth. She turned to face Celestia with her eyes threatening to run over with tears, her horn flared with rage. “AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM!!!” She lingered for a moment, the silence filling the room like cider in a keg. Her breathing was heavy, and her teeth were tightly clenched. After a moment, a small cry began. The white mares slowly turned their attention to the orange-coated source. Nova's tears had already started, with the wailing from earlier making a loud and triumphant return. Velvet's face softened as she took a step towards the baby. “Oh, Nova, sweetie… I'm sorry!” She reached for him, finding herself sent back by a small discharge as he lit his horn. “I didn't mean to yell, honey! Please calm down…”

The crying stopped in an electric blue flash. Nova was gone.

“Oh no…” Came the simultaneous response. Celestia rose instantly to her hooves running outside.

“Nova! Nova!” She cried, showing the passing ponies just how terrified a Princess could look. She took a deep breath, taking off to hover above the shop and turning on the Royal Canterlot voice. “Little one! Where have you gone?!” Her gaze swiftly scanned the horizon as she bit her lower lip. A moment later, she dove back to the ground, her landing making the earth tremble around her. “Okay… Nova's missing, and I have no idea where he could be!” She began pacing, bringing her hoof up to her muzzle as Velvet stared from the doorway. “I could use a locator spell… But Nova's uncomfortable with magic handling him… The Royal Canterlot voice probably just scared him… Ponyville's so much bigger than the castle… He could be anywhere! I can't possibly find him on my own! But, maybe I don't have to… But who would I ask?” Her face lit up like a light bulb. "Aha! The Royal Guard! They can search the town, and--” A hoof rose to her mouth, muffling her next words. She followed the foreleg, finding Velvet staring sternly into her eyes while the onlookers inhaled with a sharp gasp.

“Calm down, Princess!” The Unicorn ordered. Celestia's eyes widened as her sun went down, her wings and ears immediately following suit. “Yes, we need to find Nova! But panicking isn't going to help with that!” She removed her hoof, sitting down in kind. “He's upset, and probably scared…. Thanks to me…” Her head sank at the mere thought of her grandson being so scared, let alone the fact that she was responsible. “If only I hadn't lost my temper…” She looked into the Alicorn's eyes, finding them to be rich with concern for the pony reflected within. She felt a gentle warmth building up, mixed with a tinge of bitterness as she swallowed a particularly large throat lump. “You really want to hear what's bothering me, don't you?”

Celestia nodded firmly, looking to the horizon. “I do. Especially if it will help us find Nova.”

Velvet breathed the sigh of her life, searching her heart for the words to say. “It's… Well, it's you!”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“Everything about you! You're the Princess! The great ruler! And… You… You took my Twily from me!” She averted her eyes, poking the ground with her hoof. “Ever since that first Summer Sun Celebration, my little filly was obsessed with you! Well, you and magic, but still obsessed!” A nostalgic smile began to tug at her lips, her hoof beginning to draw circles as the memories began to erupt from her horn. A little lilac Unicorn filly sat at a candle lit desk that was piled to capacity with books, swaying back and forth as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

As she finally fell over, a magical aura surrounded her, guiding the blank flank filly to a resting position and gingerly placing her in her bed. She stretched in her sleep, letting out a yawn. “Thank you, Princess…”

“I was certainly proud of her dedication, and I wasn't about to get in her way, but…” The image changed, showing different times in which the little Twilight was asking questions about the reigning Princess.

“Do you think the Princess would like Smarty Pants?” Came one question. “I wonder what kind of cake Princess Celestia would like…” Was another. “Do you think Princess Celestia would come to my birthday party?” The questions continued several times, feeling much longer to the Princess than the actual passage of time.

“I wasn't aware she idolized me so…” Celestia admitted.

“And when she got into your school, she only had more to say!” The montage of memories continued, showing times happy at home with a little Twilight, flank no longer blank, talking about her studies and her teacher to no end. “And I don't blame her! I'm just ‘Mom’. Nothing special about me… But you! You're Celestia! The paragon of ponykind! The great ruler, the great teacher, the great protector! It's no wonder you stole my daughter!!!” The memories fizzled out as Velvet's head went low, her tears flowing freely. “You all but replaced me in my baby's heart… And do you know what the worst part is?” She looked up at the Princess once more, lingering for a moment as the taller mare shook her head. “I can't even hate you for it!” She bent down, struggling to keep herself from breaking down.

Celestia’s head sank in kind. She raised her hoof, unsure of whether or not to reach for the pony before her. “I… I don’t know what to say…”

“You gave Twily so much…” Velvet continued, bringing herself up again. “You gave her education… A permanent home… You gave her wings, for Equestria’s sake! And that’s not even counting the fact that you’re the one that introduced her to the pony she married!” Her breaths calmed, only loosing a mild stagger as she wiped her eyes. “You gave my baby girl so much… All the things I could never give her… I can’t help but love you for that, no matter how big your shadow is!”

Landing on her decision, Celestia pulled her fellow grandma in for a tight hug, draping her head, wings, and mane over her. “You don’t know how much it means to hear you say that…” She lifted Velvet’s head to look her in the eye, giving her warmest smile. “But you know, she wouldn’t have been the fantastic filly I met without a good mother to raise her to that point.” She released her from the hug, standing tall. “And a good grandmother is what we need right now.” She extended her hoof to help Velvet up, her smile faltering slightly.

Velvet accepted the offer, smirking up at the Alicorn. “You don’t know what to do, do you?”

Celestia giggled, spreading her wings. “I have no idea.”

Velvet inhaled sharply, bringing her hoof up over her heart. With her exhale, she extended her foreleg out, mirroring the movements of her daughter’s well-practiced calming technique. “Okay… I’ve had lost babies before. He’s upset, and probably crying. We’ll need something that’ll calm him down quickly.” She gave the Princess a stern look. “You can teleport, and you… you know Nova better than I do. Go back to the castle and get his favorite toy. Then come right back here!”

“Understood.” Celestia's horn flared up, surrounding her in a yellow light as she vanished from view. A moment later, the light returned, Celestia standing as she had before with a doll in her teeth. She lifted it up with her magic, presenting it to the Unicorn. “This is the toy that Nova always keeps close at home. Its name is--”

“Smarty Pants!” Velvet interjected, taking the doll and hovering it in front of her. She smiled down at the doll, giving off an aura of nostalgia as she placed it on her back, putting its little pen and notebook in place. “This is perfect! Now let's go!”

Nova sat alone on top of a big building. It was the biggest one he could find when he reappeared, and he thought it would be a nice, safe place to hide. It was quiet, and there wasn't much going on. Best of all, there were no screaming grown-ups to scare him. He laid down at the edge of the roof, looking around at the ponies below. They looked tiny, all in different colors, making lots of different noises. Too many colors and noises. So much so that it began to hurt his head and make everything feel all spinny. He backed up again, letting out a cry as a noticeable chill filled the air.

“Nova! Sweetheart! Where have you gone?” Called a familiar voice from above the noise. It was the same voice that scared him earlier, but it felt different this time. He peeked over the edge of the roof, finding his two pony-shaped white blurs joining the image and searching the plaza below. He wanted to spread his wings, jump off that roof, and go down to them, but his head was in so much pain… He curled up in his spot and closed his eyes, clutching his head with his hooves and wailing harder than he had before. “Do you hear that, Your Majesty? I think he might be…” Before she could even finish her sentence, she was interrupted by her own yelp. The noise felt a little softer as big wingbeats came closer, getting the foal to narrowly open his eyes. “Let me handle this…”

“Very well.” Another voice confirmed.

After a moment of silence, Nova could hear the sound of a horn’s magic activating, floating something closer. “‘Salutations, dearest Nova!’” The familiar phrase jolted the colt’s eyes open, looking at the thing that had been brought to him. There, surrounded by a purple magical aura, stood Smarty Pants, waving her foreleg at him in a welcome fashion. He rose to his hooves, babbling a greeting of his own. “‘Did you teleport away again? You’ll have to tell me all about how you did it! I’ve always wanted to know about the mechanics of teleportation and where somepony goes while it’s happening!’” The doll ‘trotted’ closer, sitting down next to him and writing in its little notebook. “‘Your grandmother sent me to tell you that she is dreadfully sorry for having scared you, so, and that she loves you very much. Can you find it in your heart to forgive her?’” Nova looked over the doll, at the pony behind it. There crouched his Mama Velvet, her eyes soft and her ears low, with her horn alight in the same manner as his toy. She opened her mouth to reveal the same voice that had been speaking with him. “‘If you wish to forgive her, all you have to do is give me a hug. It’s a strange method of communication, but I understand that words are still a skill which you haven’t become adept at just yet. So it should suffice for now.’” Nova gave off a giggle, asserting his own magical control over the doll and walking towards the mare. He spread his wings wide, diving into her and wrapping his forelegs around her and Smarty Pants all at once. She fell back onto her rump, instinctively putting her forelegs around her grandson, the happiest she had been since before her arrival that morning. “Thank you, honey…” Keeping the baby in her foreleg, she turned to the Princess hovering behind her. “Well… We found him!”

Celestia smiled, putting her hoof over her heart. “Indeed we did.” She landed on the roof, crouching low enough for Nova to be passed up to her back where he sat snugly at the base of her neck, holding Smarty Pants tight as her mane nestled him in. She scooped the Unicorn up with her forelegs, taking off again towards Sugar Cube Corner. As she made her way, a question bubbled up in her mind. “I'm curious… The way that you spoke ‘as’ Smarty Pants was precisely the way that Twilight does when using her to play with him. Aside from your voices, it was rather unmistakable. How did you do that?”

Velvet looked up at the Alicorn with an amused grin, quickly turning to a fit of laughter. “Oh, Princess… Who do you think invented the character?” She breathed a nostalgic sigh, directing her attention to the castle in the distance. “I gave Smarty Pants to Twily when she was so little, she was only just learning to read. She always loved to have in-depth discussions, read books, or simply play with her. Until she saw you at the Summer Sun Celebration, they were practically inseparable unless Shiny was involved!”

“Really?” She replied, raising an eyebrow. “Tell me more.”

Velvet smirked. “Well…”

“WE HAVE RETURNED!!!” Boltsinger bellowed, stepping through the door with Twilight beside him. It had been a long day, spent largely in Canterlot at various locations of interest, and the two were ecstatic to be home. He turned his ear forward, listening for a response. “Weird… Normally I get a response straight away.”

“Do you think they might be out in town?” Twilight suggested. “Or they could be asleep.”

“Maybe…” He turned his head, stepping further into the foyer to listen more closely. From the dining room, he heard the faint sounds of a story, Twilight’s family nickname coming into play multiple times. “Or they could be in the dining room.” He started towards the room in question, waving his wing to beckon his wife along.

Twilight rolled her eyes, following suit. “So why wouldn’t they respond if they were so close? It’s not like there’s any place in the castle where somepony can’t hear you.”

Boltsinger approached the kitchen door with a snicker, hiding his face behind his hoof. “You’ll see, soon enough… Twily!”

“Twily?” She repeated, cocking an eyebrow. She took the door’s handle in her magic, swiftly opening it to find Velvet, Celestia, and Nova all at the table, the largest of the three in hysterics.

“So I walked into the kitchen to find Twily dumping buckets full of mud onto a fully-grown pig, and my vase had gone missing. And as soon as I cleared my throat, she looked at me with this adorable little sparkle in her eye and says…’” Twilight cringed, recalling the details her mother described with a fervent blush on her cheeks. “‘Mommy, your vase turned into a pig! Can I keep him?’” The Alicorn’s laugher intensified, quickly joined by Velvet’s. The Unicorn wiped a tear from her eye, calming herself down. “And now you know how Twiliy learned transfiguration magic for the first time!”

Boltsinger sat at the table beside Velvet, threatening to go into hysterics of his own. “Okay, it sounds like we missed a lot today. What’s this about Twilight and firsts?”

“Oh, the day wasn’t that exciting.” Velvet dismissed, patting the chair next to her and looking at Twilight. “Would you like to join us? We have extra sweets from Sugar Cube Corner!”

“Only if you tell me some of these stories that have the Princess in stitches.” Boltsinger answered, holding out his hoof.

Velvet smiled, bumping the hoof as her daughter’s face grew redder. “You’ve got it!”

Twilight hung her head in defeat, sitting on the other side of the Unicorn. “Just, please, don’t tell him about the time when I--”

“This is the story about the first night Twilight had after Shining Armor moved away!” Velvet announced, spreading her forelegs and quickly pounding them onto the table. Boltsinger let out an intrigued laugh, putting his wing around his mother-in-law while his wife screamed in terror.

Author's Note

Twilight Velvet screamed that "I WANNA SEE MY GRANDSON!!!" line into my head, and I just had to make this because of that.
Got a little internal debate going on as to which of two chapter concepts I want to write next. They'll be in order of one to the other, but I wanna know which comes next overall.

Here are the concepts. Read at your own spoiler risk.
1) Something Twilight-centric that deals with some recent events that might have her more frazzled than even she realizes.
2) Something that deals with both Boltsinger and Pinkie Pie, giving Pinkie, and by extension, Cheese, a doozy of a dilemma.

If you pick one of them, leave its number in your comment (I encourage you to leave your thoughts on this chapter as well!)

To Be Better

Twilight Sparkle could only hear one thing. Cries. The cries of the citizens of Ponyville, concerned for the sight before them. The cries of her friends in equal measure. And, worst of all, the cries of her baby. Through all of the cries, she walked forward in a dark expanse. She couldn't see anything past her own muzzle, and her horn refused to light. After a few minutes of walking, she bumped into a solid body. She backed up a step, bowing her head in apology, but found there was no response from the mare she had brushed against. Giving her an awkward look, she continued on. She was in a crowd, shuffling her way past a plethora of ponies to make it to what she hoped was the front, to see what they were all so intent on. As she went, the cries grew louder. More and more voices added to the horrid chorus that pierced her eardrums.

“You weren't there…” Cried the voice of Starlight.

Twilight stopped dead, looking around for the voice's owner. “Starlight? What do you mean?” Some of the ponies in the crowd vanished in a puff of smoke, clearing a smidgeon of a path for her. She cantered forward again, the crowd seeming to form an imaginary bubble around her.

“You weren't there!” Cried Applejack, the image of her face appearing from above.

“Not there for what?!” Twilight asked, staring up at the floating face. “I don't get it!” With no response, the face vanished. She shook her head, redoubling her efforts and increasing her gait. Another minute passed with nothing but cries and dispersing ponies. Until a pair of large, imposing figures blocked her way. One of them was her beloved teacher and friend, Princess Celestia, while the other was a tall gray Unicorn stallion with a gray-striped white mane, tail, and full beard. He wore a wizard's hat and cloak, decorated with bells on the edges of each, and star patterns all throughout. His blue eyes looked down at the Princess of Friendship with sheer contempt, a snarl forming from under his moustache. Twilight skidded to a stop, gawking up at the towering ponies with her mouth agape. “Celestia? Star Swirl? What’s going on?”

“What kind of ‘Princess of Friendship’ isn’t there at a time like this?” The stallion inquired, turning away from her. “Quite the disappointment, if you ask me.”

Celestia scoffed, flaring her wings and turning her back on her student. “A disappointment indeed.” She briefly looked back with a fierce scowl. “I don't know what I'm going to do with you…” She flapped her wings, the wind dispersing Star Swirl like a cloud of dust.

“I wasn't there… I wasn't there!” Twilight repeated, standing up and stomping her hoof. “What the heck wasn't I there for?!” Her wings spread dramatically, sending her airborne with a forceful flap. From an aerial view, she spotted a small blue light at the end of the crowd. Her focus intensified, zeroing in on the light like Pinkie Pie on a cherrychanga.

“You weren’t there, Twilight…” Cried another voice, this time sounding like Fluttershy.

“You weren’t there…” Came the repetition from Pinkie.

“You weren’t there!” Rainbow and Rarity simultaneously continued. Twilight looked around as the blank faces of her friends continued to appear around her. Their gaze pierced her to her core, faltering her wings and forcing her to wobble in the air.

“Please, just tell me what you mean!” She pleaded, bringing her hooves together. “I can’t fix the problem if I don’t know what it is!”

That instant, all six of her friends’ faces appeared all around her, closing in quickly. “YOU WEREN’T THERE FOR THEM!!!”

The physical and psychological force of their voices caused the Alicorn’s wings to seize up, snapping to her sides. She flailed her legs in an attempt to stay aloft, finding herself careening towards the blue light amidst the cries. She closed her eyes, feeling the familiar sensation of crashing on the ground mere moments later. Sitting up, she looked around. The baby’s crying was at its loudest, seeming to come from the light. “Nova?” She climbed to her hooves, slowly approaching the baby. His horn was charged with electricity, sucking in all light around him. “Calm down, sweetie. Mommy’s here…” Nova let out a scream, sending his mother back with a quick discharge. She reeled back onto her rump, staring in shock at the colt. “Nova, why…?” She moved her foreleg to reach out, but found a weight against it that prevented her from doing so. Looking at the source of it, her eyes widened and watered. “Bolt…” She put her hooves on the stallion crumpled up next to her, rapidly shaking him. “Boltsinger, wake up!”

No response.

“Bolt, please… please wake up…” She begged, draping herself over him with tears streaming down her cheeks.. “I’m sorry… I wasn’t there for you… I wasn’t there...” She began rocking back and forth, holding the unresponsive Pegasus close as she repeated herself between sobs.

Twilight’s eyes snapped open, sending her sitting up in a flash. She lingered for a moment, panting heavily as she felt the water running down her face. “I wasn’t there…” She looked to the other side of the bed, where her favorite stallion lay comfortably, snoring softly. She reached tentatively forward, unsure of whether or not she should attempt to wake him.

A yawn interrupted her thoughts, followed by a stretch. Boltsinger slowly opened his eyes, pushing himself up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Morning, Twilight… How’d you--”

“THANK CELESTIA!!!” She exclaimed, tackling him in a cloud of blankets and pillows. “You’re okay! You’re okay!” Her grip around him grew tighter as his shoulder got progressively more soggy.

Boltsinger put his forelegs and wings around her, nuzzling her damp cheek affectionately. “Of course I’m okay, Twilight. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Twilight lifted her head, looking the stallion in the eye. “I… I wasn’t there for you… You and Nova needed me and I wasn’t there…” She went on at length, explaining the events of her recent experience in the realm of dreams. With each new detail, Boltsinger’s face softened more, until he finally pulled her close again at the end. “I just felt so helpless… So weak… I couldn’t do anything for either of you!”

“Twilight, that whole debacle was months ago… And both of us have improved how we handle things a lot since then!” He pulled back again, looking assuringly into her purple orbs. “We got this together, remember?”

Twilight gave her husband a weak smile, brushing his mane away from his face. “I remember…” She leaned in, kissing him on the cheek as they proceeded to climb out of bed. As if on cue, the unmistakable cry of a baby echoed into the room from the other side of the wall. Boltsinger stretched his legs, preparing to answer the call, but found a large, purple wing in front of him. “Let me handle it this time, please.”

Boltsinger smiled, patting her on the back as he began to walk past. “Okay. I’ll go get some breakfast started.” When he reached the doorway, he stopped, looking back at her. “And, Twilight?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s okay to feel weak sometimes.”

Boltsinger’s last comment before breakfast rang through Twilight’s mind hours later. She walked to her classroom, reflecting on his words along with the dream she had had and the events of the last few months. It’s true, he hasn’t collapsed again since, largely because of the way we’ve tackled the issues, but… Have I really been doing enough? She took her place on the room’s main stage, straightening herself up as the students began to file in. I guess I’ll figure it out later. “Good morning, students!”

“Good morning Professor Sparkle!” The students greeted back.

The proud teacher produced a pile of notes from beyond the door, straightening them and keeping them close. “Today, we'll be talking about…” She looked at the first of her notes, just to be sure. “... the importance of…” She choked on the next words, finding an odd coincidence between the lesson and her recent emotions. “... Always being there for your friends…” She swallowed a lump in her throat, putting the notes aside. “It should come across as obvious, but it's of the utmost important to always be there for your friends whenever you're able. Sometimes, it can mean the difference between success and failure. Or affect their decisions moving forward! Or…” She hung her head with a sigh. “Or ot could mean the difference between ending up hospitalized and being healthy…”

A chill silence fell upon the classroom, leaving many of the students at a loss for words. Gallus eyed the mare sharply, turning to the Changeling next to him. “Well that was really specific.”

Ocellus nodded, her gaze transfixed on her teacher. “Yeah… It feels like…” Her Changeling instincts took hold, bringing a plethora of colors to life around the Alicorn. The warm pink of love was ever-present and encompassing, but an inky black had started to form, just at the back of her head, that caused her a measure of concern. “... hopelessness.” She raised her hoof. “Excuse me, Professor!”

Twilight's head rose, catching the bid for attention. Yes, Ocellus?”

She lowered her hoof, leaning inquisitively forward. “Could you provide an example, please?”

Gallus cocked an eyebrow. “Wait, what?”

“She needs to talk about whatever is bothering her.” Ocellus whispered, gesturing to the mare. “I learned in the feelings forum that if you don't talk about your problems, they can fester and then they only get worse.”

“Oh. One of those things, huh?” the Griffon replied, resting his head in his talon. He waved his free talon dismissively. “Yeah, an example would be good.”

“Well, if you really want something, I have a few examples right here!” She searched through her notes, trying to find something she could work with. “A few years back, Rarity accidentally used some of Zecora's magical remover potion on her own mane and tail, leaving only a few scraps of hair left. She was so desperate to have something for an upcoming photoshoot that when nopony was able to find a viable solution, she spiralled into a deep depression. It wasn't until Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and I reminded her of who she is that she found her confidence again, and started to shine brighter than ever before!” The class began writing notes on the story they had just heard, exchanging thoughts amongst themselves. Ocellus, alone, fixed her gaze forward. The colors around her teacher had grown slightly brighter, but that little bit of pitch behind her still crept outward as she put the notes aside. “So, you see, just simply being present and offering an opinion can make all the difference in the world to your friends!”

Another chitinous hoof rose up, waving rapidly. “So, what about a time when you weren't there?”

Twilight recoiled, a little baffled at the sudden desire for a bad example. “I… don't think it's a good idea to give you an example for that… I don't want to encourage any bad decisions, after all.” She searched her notes once more, pulling up a particular card. She inhaled sharply, ready to share another anecdote, but gave herself a small pause to look over the note card. Ocellus was staring intently at her with an earnestness she didn't show often. There was a desire to help in her eyes that burned into her, demanding that she vent her frustrations. She let her inhale out, putting her notes aside once more. “But… Maybe an example will do you some good…” She pulled up a stool, taking a seat. “You all remember the time Mr. Cake came in during class, right?” The class gave various indications of confirmation. “Well, the reason I called school off that day was because my husband, Boltsinger, had collapsed in town and went to the hospital.”

Several of the students gasped, Gallus and Ocellus chief among them. “What the heck happened to him?!” The Griffon inquired.

“Fluttershy was able to deduce that he'd… burned out.” She continued. “He had been going for several months taking care of Nova almost nonstop, save for a small break about once a week.”

“And how does that relate to ‘not being there’?” Gallus wondered.

Twilight rolled her eyes at the impatient hybrid. “I was getting to that.” With one preparatory breath, the thoughts that plagued her came forth once more. “The problem is the fact that if I had been there, both for Bolt and for Nova, then that wouldn't have happened. If I had spent more time taking care of my son, then my husband would’ve gotten the rest he needed, and then Nova wouldn't have had to save his father from a horrible monster that lives in his mind that I…” Her full attention fell to the floor beneath her, slowly closing her eyes. “I can't do anything about. That whole time, I was totally helpless… I was weak, I was useless, and I never want to feel that way again…” She raised one hoof to rub her foreleg, lingering on shaky breaths. “Never again…”

A soft silence filled the room. Ocellus’ features softened, seeing the blackness grow amidst the colors around Twilight. She raised her hoof one more time. “So what if you made a list of things you can do to ensure that?”

A proud grin crossed the Princess’ lips as she raised her head and hoof, pointing assuredly at Ocellus. “That's exactly what I was thinking of doing!” She thought for a moment, then teleported a quill and parchment into view. “In fact, I'm open to suggestions!”

School was finally out, and several ponies began galloping out. Chief among them was the head-mare. Twilight bolted into the castle with a scroll full of ideas nestled under her wing, navigating the halls like they were an open field. Before she knew it, she was outside of the nursery, swinging the door open with a force she didn't even realize she was applying. Inside sat Boltsinger and Nova, playing with various toys. “There's my boys!”

Boltsinger turned to face the entering mare, his excitement to see her evident on his muzzle. “Well, you got back quickly!” He stood up, giving his spouse a hug as the resident foal followed suit with a happy babble. “Feeling any better?”

Twilight caught both hugs with a tight squeeze, nodding at the stallion. “Much better!” She magically lifted a teddy bear into the air, making it prance across the floor and tap Nova on the back. The colt turned around, giving off a high-pitched giggle as he chased the bear.

“Awesome!” He replied, squeezing her back. “You're doing all you can, after all.”

Twilight shook her head emphatically, making the bear jump around. “No, I can definitely do more! And that's exactly what I'm going to do!” She added more toys to the dance, leading Nova to rear up and attempt to join them, balancing with his wings and forelegs.

Boltsinger's smile gave way to his concern as he looked more closely at her. “Are you sure? I mean, you kinda run and teach at your own school. That's a lot of work for a really important cause.”

“That's true, and I love doing what I do at the school.”

“I'm sensing a ‘but’ here…”

“But, I love my family just as much. If not a little more.” She moved further into the room, laying on the floor. “And I want to make sure I'm there for everything all of you might need. No matter what!”

“Well, if you're that set on it, I won't try to stop you.” He conceded, joining her on the floor. “Not that I'd be able to stop you. Just… Be careful. I know how you get when you get all determined.”

“I will.” She unfurled her occupied wing, revealing a list she had written. “I'm actually doing the first thing on my list! ‘Spend more quality time with Nova!’”

Boltsinger chuckled, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Well, then, I'll leave you to it.” With a flap of his wings, he was back on his hooves. “And since our devoted mommy is front and center, I'm gonna go pick Scootaloo up from school.” He twinkled the feathers on his wing, waving at the Alicorn. “See you later!” As the door closed, Twilight looked at the next item on her list with a warm smile. With a swift nod, she rose up, giving her son a tackling hug followed by a barrage of kisses.

“Item number two, connect with Scootaloo!” Twilight told herself, trotting through the hallway. Despite playing with Nova so much that the colt needed a nap to recover, she was full of energy and drive. “So what should I do with her? I've been helping her in learning so many new things over the years, it's hard to think of something to do beyond that…” She stopped at the Crusader's door, taking a deep breath and slowly opening the door. “Scootaloo?”

The filly in question shot up from her chair, hovering a few feet above. “I'm up! I'm up! Who needs Cutie Mark help? I'll be right there!” She buzzed her wings, making ready to head for the door.

Twilight lit her horn, catching her before she could zoom off. “Slow down, Scootaloo. It's just me.”

Scootaloo blinked a few times, realizing who was in front of her. “Oh! Hi, Twilight. You need something?”

“Nothing, really.” She admitted, releasing her and entering the room. The room looked well-lived-in, and was filled with Rainbow Dash and Wonderbolts posters, along with small Ponyville flags from the Equestria Games. A medal with a jester hat design hung from the corner of the four-post bed, and a small desk was set up near the window with a small bookshelf next to it. As always, a blue scooter with red handles was leaning on the wall by the door, a purple helmet with white stripes hanging from the handles. Twilight sat on the bed, looking around the room. “I just wanted to spend some time with you, just you and me.”

The little Pegasus tilted her head. “Really? What did you have in mind?”

“Whatever you want to do.” She stated, bringing her attention back to fully focus on the filly. “We just haven't had any quality time together, lately. I was hoping we could fix that.”

Scootaloo rubbed her neck sheepishly, letting her eyes drift in thought. “Okay. How about we get some Hay Burger?”

Twilight nodded, noting a rumble in her stomach. “That sounds good. And tasty!”

“That's what I was thinking.” Scootaloo confirmed. “And then…” Her head turned back to the desk, where a parchment sat with a small puddle of drool in the center. “I could use some help with my homework… If you don't mind.”

The word ‘homework’ caused a slight twitch in the studious pony's ear, completely culling the rumbling of her belly. “Mind? Why would I mind?” She sprang off of the bed, looking at the puddled parchment. “Honestly, we should probably take care of this, first. Food always tastes better after a successful study period!” She gave off a giggle with the smallest hint of a snort mixed in. “Well, for me, at least. I don't know about you. But, either way, I'd be happy to help!”

Once Scootaloo sat down, the next few hours had become a blur. Twilight lifted the textbook, floating it so that both of them could see it, and went into a series of explanations every time the Crusader would point to some of the subject matter, always making sure to put it in a way she would easily comprehend. before long, Scootaloo became a whirlwind of writing, finishing up a report on Equestrian history in a shorter span than any assignment she'd ever done. Twilight looked over the paper thoroughly, letting her now finely-honed teacher's skills come out on display. She sat back, getting a hopeful look from the little orange pony, and nodded confidently. “You mean it? You think I can get a good grade with this?”

Twilight brought a hoof over her heart, puffing out her chest. “Scootaloo, I guarantee that with work like that, you'll get the best grade!”

Scootaloo beamed, putting the assignment in her saddlebag. She looked back up at the mare with a new sense of awe behind her eyes. They smiled at one another for a moment, letting the feeling of accomplishment sink in. Only a moment, though, as the sounds of their stomachs made a triumphant and demanding return. “I bet those Hay Burgers are gonna taste really good, now!”

“I think so!” The Princess confirmed. “And if you ever need more homework help, my door is always open to you!”

“Thanks, Twilight. That means a lot.” Scootaloo walked to the door, stopping for a moment and looking back at Twilight. “Maybe after Hay Burger, we could go flying? I could show you what Rainbow Dash has been teaching me!”

Twilight gave her an ecstatic nod, following her out. “I’d love to!” Looking at the filly in front of her, a new swelling of confidence burning its way up from within. She felt strong. Like she could take on anything, let alone the needs of her family. I’m never going to feel that helpless again. I promise!

Starlight Glimmer, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack sat in the teacher’s lounge, going about their typical end of the day discussion as the door opened fast enough to slam against the wall. Boltsinger plodded into the room, dragging his tail on the floor with a tired look in his eyes. “Need… help…” He wobbled slightly, tripping over the edge of the rug and falling towards the coffee table.

Starlight’s horn lit up that instant, catching the stallion before the worst could happen. “Whoa, there, Bolt! Why don’t you tell us what you need before you pass out?”

“Yeah… Sorry…” He spread his wings as the magic dissipated, flapping his way onto the couch. He took a moment to gather himself, resting on his fetlocks and looking around. “Have you seen what Twilight’s been up to lately?”

Applejack shook her head. “Nnope. Can’t say I have.”

“I’ve only seen her here at the school.” Fluttershy added. “She’s been in a hurry to get out at the end of each day.”

Boltsinger hung his head. “That’s what I thought… She’s been going a little… I think Shining Armor uses the term ‘Twily-nanas’, lately.”

Rarity let her head go askew, leaning in with intrigue. “And what would be driving her so… ‘Twily-nanas’?”

“She won’t say. But she’s pretty much been in a full-force family fun frenzy!” He sat up, spreading his forelegs. “Every single day for… What day is it?”

“Thursday!” Pinkie answered.

“Thank you.” He said, giving Pinkie a quick nod. “For the past six days, she’s been like an unstoppable force. Every waking moment outside of the school has been devoted to ‘doing more’ for the family!”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, motioning a poignant hoof at him. “But ain’t that a good thing?”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love that she’s connecting with Scootaloo and trying to be better. That’s wonderful.” He looked over to the door, laying back down. “I just wish she wasn’t so hyper-obsessed with it. She’s going from Twily-nanas to Twily-fruitcake! Every single day is some big family activity, one after the other. I love doing things with my family, but I need a break… And… I think she needs one, too.”

“How do you know?” Rainbow wondered. “Twilight’s not exactly a pushover.”

The sound of hoofsteps came from just outside the room, revealing a lilac hoof that preceeded its Alicorn owner. She looked otherwise normal, but there was something off about her. Circles had started forming under her eyes, and her mane had seen better days. She looked into the room with an enormous smile on her face. “Hey, girls, have you seen Bolt? He was in my office just--” Her target caught her attention, lighting up her face and horn simultaneously. “Ah! There you are, Bolt!” She wrapped her spouse in her magenta glow, pulling him along so that his hooves dragged on the floor. “I’ve been looking all over for you! We’ve got another great day ahead of us, and I knew you wouldn’t want to miss out! Scootaloo should be home by now, and I set everything up in advance! All we’re missing is you!” With one final look back at her friends, she waved a wing, trotting out with a delighted hum as her husband settled into the magic like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Starlight turned to the other ponies in the room. “You all just saw that, right?”

The next morning arrived, and Boltsinger began stirring to probably the most pleasant aroma he’d experienced in years. It pulled his eyes open like a window curtain, looking around for the source of the enticing scent. Sitting on a tray just over his lap was the answer. A fresh, steaming pastry next to a heaping pile of fried hay, with warm cup of tea sitting next to it, smelling of jasmine. He inhaled deeply, taking in the smell, and looked up at the smiling mare standing over it. “What’s this for?”

“Do I need a reason to treat my favorite stallion to a delicious breakfast?” She wondered, motioning to the meal. “I just felt like you deserved it!”

“Well… thanks…” Boltsinger said, picking up the pastry with his wing. “So, how long has it been since you last slept?”

Twilight recoiled, the question taking a jab at her side. “I'll have you know I've been getting to bed consistently for quite a while, now!”

A slow nod came from the Pegasus as he swallowed his first bite. “That's good, but how many hours per night?”

The Alicorn waved her hoof between them, stepping back from the bed. “Oh, what does that matter? I've been sleeping! That's what counts!” She turned to the mirror with a twitch of her disheveled tail. “And I've been able to keep up with everything on my new schedule! It's no problem!”

“That may be, but don't you think you're overdoing it a little?”

“Not at all! I've got everything under control!”

“Except your mane.”

“Right. Everything except my mane.”

“And tail.”

“And my tail.”

“And those super dark circles under your eyes.”

“And… those… Yes.”

“And your overall super hyperactive behavior that has you late for class.”

Twilight could have sworn she heard glass cracking from somewhere. Her head turned to look at him with a strange creaking noise. “I’m… late?”

Boltsinger pointed at the clock on the wall. “By about five minutes.”

The crack turned into a break as a nervous twitch tugged at her right eye. “I need to go.” She broke into a mad gallop out the door with a vigor she hadn’t shown in a solid week. “You go ahead and take today off! Nova’s with Trixie until I get home, so everything is under control!”

Boltsinger kept his eyes on the doorway, taking a quick breath. He finished his meal as quickly as possible, springing up from the bed and galloping to the balcony, where he spread his wings and took off towards the school. “Day off? No, thank you!” He burst through the front door with a boom that resonated through the halls, landing with a gallop. He made a sharp turn, skidding into a door as he barrelled down the hall. “Sorry! In a hurry!” He called, scrambling forward as the door in question opened.

Starlight stepped into the hall, watching the sprinting stallion as he stumbled into more doors and walls. “This… doesn’t look good.”

Boltsinger clambered over to the door he sought, sliding to a stop in front of it with his wings splayed as a brake. Under the crack was a magenta flash, indicating the arrival of the instructor. With a slap of his muzzle, he burst through the door.

“Good morning, class!” Twilight and Boltsinger simultaneously greeted, drawing their attention to one another.

“What are you doing here?” The mare inquired, putting her hoof down. “I gave you the day to relax!”

“No, you gave me the day off.” He corrected, stepping up next to her. “And I thought I’d spend that day off giving my darling wife a much-needed break.”

“I don’t need a break!” She stated, floating over some notes. “I thought I told you I have everything under control!”

“Says Little Mrs. Tardy Teacher!” He retorted, pointing his hoof to the clock on the wall. “You need a break like Trixie needs magic lessons!”

Twilight’s brow furrowed at the comment, stomping her hoof and standing her ground. “I’m late one time and suddenly I need a day off? Do you know how much I do? What all I have to keep up with? I’ve been doing--”

“Extra!” He finished, flaring his wings. The two continued their bickering for two solid minutes while six more ponies filed into the room.

Starlight let out a sigh, looking up at the class. “Don’t mind this, everycreature. It’s just… um… An example of how honest good friends can be when they’re completely comfortable with each other! I’ll be back to explain it in a little while!” She turned to her friends with a determined face, motioning her head to the side. “Meet me you know where.” The other mares nodded in agreement, hurrying back out of the room while the Unicorn approached the couple. She ignited her horn, creating a blue flash that carried them all away to the castle library. She came up to face the Princess and the Pegasus more directly, clearing her throat. “Excuse me…”

The bickering continued, only seeming to grow louder.

Starlight cleared her throat once more, taking a deep breath. “Excuse me…”

Still more bickering. The glares coming from the clearly-married ponies was focused and fierce, making Starlight wonder if they had some kind of blinders on.

Her wondering didn’t last long, as her frustration came to the forefront. With a flick of her head, Twilight and Boltsinger’s jaws were cased in magic, stopping them from moving entirely. “WOULD YOU TWO STOP ARGUING FOR ONE SECOND, PLEASE?”

The royal ponies unwillingly did as requested, recoiling back from their mutual glare to look around the room. As the magic faded from their mouths, Twilight shot a look at the guidance counselor. “When did we get here?”

“When I teleported us.” Starlight explained. “Now, what's the problem?”

“I told you all about it yesterday.” Boltsinger stated.

Twilight took another befuddled look at the Pegasus, her mouth hanging open in shock. “Wait, you had a problem and you told them before telling me?”

“Yes! Because you've been going all nonstop Twily-fruitcakes in your recent crusade!” He admitted.

“That doesn't mean I wasn't going to listen!” She countered, leaning in again. “I haven't been so ‘Twily-fruitcakes’ that I don't have time to listen to my own husband!”

Starlight put her hoof between them. “Actually, Twilight, he's got a point. You tend to shut your ears when you get obsessed.”

“I do not.” Twilight turned around, refusing to give them another glance. “I hear everything that goes on around me! It's why I like it quiet when I study!”

Starlight stepped up beside her mentor, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “You may hear, but do you listen?”

Twilight's eyes shot open, thinking back on some of the times where her autopilot responses from a lack of listening have caused some sort of disaster for her and her friends. “I… well… Not always…”

“Then why don't you listen to your husband right now?” The Unicorn suggested, guiding her friend's attention to the stallion behind them.

Twilight closed her eyes, taking one of her well-practiced calming breaths. “Okay.” She took a step closer, looking him in the eye. “I'm listening.”

Boltsinger took long, deep breaths, staring into the deep purple orbs before him. “I… I really love that you want to do more… be better. But you need to slow down! If you keep going the way you have been, you’re going to burn out, just like I did!” He reached forward, putting his hoof on her cheek. “And that scares me to no end…”

The Alicorn brought her hoof up to his foreleg, leaning in closer still. “You don't know how it felt… feeling so weak… I hated it… I hated not being able to help you!”

“You honestly believe i don't know what it's like to feel weak?” Boltsinger closed the distance between her forehead and his own, letting out a soft breath. “I am weak, Twilight. All the time.” He intertwined his hoof with hers. “I failed as a father, that day, and I don't want you to go through that. So, please… Listen to me. Slow down. Okay?”

Smiling with a warmth that could rival the sun’s rays, Twilight brought her muzzle forward, locking lips with her favorite stallion. Starlight looked on with a soft smirk as they leaned into each other, lingering for more than a few moments. Finally separating, Twilight gave her spouse a firm nod. “Okay. I promise I’ll slow down.”

“Thank you.” He replied, his face turning to the dopiest of grins. “But, you know, you could’ve just said it.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” She asked, nudging him with her wing. “Now, I believe we have a class to get back to.” She turned to the doorway, making to step forward.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Starlight shouted, trapping her friends in her magic once more. She looked back at the doorway, raising her hoof. “All right, girls! Hit ‘em with number twenty-three!”

The doors flew open, Pinkie Pie and Applejack charging in and placing a spread of treats in a clearing on the floor. Rarity was next to appear, tossing an elaborately-designed quilt up, lighting her horn to pull at least eight pillows into place behind the spread. Finally, seven colors of Pegasus flew into the room, grabbing either side of the quilt and wrapping it around the trapped pair while the aura around them faded. They pulled the two of them together inside the quilt, ensuring that it fit as snugly as possible as they placed the ponies on the floor with the pillows and treats, letting them poke their heads and forelegs outside the blanket. Starlight gave them one more cocky smirk, floating what, to most, would be an absurd number of books to pile around them.

Twilight and Boltsinger showed their friends a simultaneous wide-eyed blink, their jaws dropping from the display. The Alicorn was the first to close her mouth, shaking her head in disbelief. “What was that?”

“That was our emergency rest procedure number twenty-three.” Starlight answered.

“Or as I like to call it…” Rainbow started, coming to a landing in front of them. “The Twi-Bolt Burrito!” She struck a dynamic pose, pumping her hoof. “Pretty epic, huh?”

“You could certainly say that.” Boltsinger affirmed. “But why include me in it? Twilight’s the one that needs rest.”

“‘Cause yer both wound up tighter ‘n a rattlesnake before the strike!” The farm mare pointed out, pushing some of the more apple-centric food items over. “So don’t you worry yer little heads about anything today. We’ll take care o’ everything.”

“I can cover your classes today.” Starlight stated,

Rainbow put a confident hoof on her chest. “And I’ll be here with Soarin and Scoot to handle the kid.”

Rarity lit her horn, bringing a bell forward and placing it next to them. “And if there’s anything at all you need, don’t hesitate to call!”

Pinkie pounced on the wrapped ponies from behind, giving them reassuring pats on the back. “Yup! We have everything under control!”

The irony of Pinkie’s words drew a laugh out of the Princess of Friendship, finally settling her into her spot. “Okay, you win. We’ll take a rest today.”

Starlight nodded firmly, moving towards the door. “Good. If you didn’t agree with us, I was gonna have Fluttershy sing you two a lullaby!”

Boltsinger smirked, nuzzling up next to his wife. “Threaten us with a good time, huh? I see how you are.”

Fluttershy squeaked, hiding a mild blush with her hoof as Starlight waved the comment off. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. You two just stay here and relax, got it?”

“Got it!” The couple confirmed.

The remaining ponies slowly filed out of the room, finally leaving Twilight and Boltsinger alone. The stallion lowered his head to the floor, snuggling up to the mare. “We have the best friends ever.”

Twilight closed her eyes, putting her head next to his with a silent yawn. “We sure do…”

Author's Note

This was the one that got the most votes at the time of my decision, so it comes first! I had a little bit of lag in a few places writing it, but I feel like it came out alright.
Next chapter is already started, and even a couple scenes in!

Manehattan Memories

“To all of my friends,

I’m happy to inform you that the production Boltsinger and Twilight helped me in my audition for, Luna Bay, has finally finished rehearsals! Our first performance is on Bridleway starting this Friday, and I would dearly love to have all of you come see me perform! Enclosed are two tickets to the performance. Consider it my thank you for your help, and my apology for the unfortunate circumstances of our first meeting. I would also greatly enjoy spending some time with you over the weekend, if you don’t mind. It would be lovely to catch up with all of you!

I hope to see you in Manehattan!

Your friend,
Paradigm”

Boltsinger rolled up the letter in his wings, tucking it away in his saddlebag. Looking around at the ponies in the train car with him, he let a smile onto his muzzle. Starlight and Sunburst leaned against one another, the orange Unicorn’s foreleg draped over his special somepony. Likewise, Rarity sat with Fancy Pants across the way, the mare keeping her foreleg wrapped around the noble’s. Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich talked at length about everything that popped into their heads near the back, while Fluttershy and Applejack simply looked out the window at the passing scenery. The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat just in front of Boltsinger, exchanging ideas for what they would do next with their fellow Crusader, Babs. At the front of the car sat Rainbow Dash and Soarin, going over the steps for the latest Wonderbolts routine, while Brightling and Sparks held a conversation in anticipation of the show across the aisle from them.

“Everyone looks so excited today!” Twilight stated, looking around at the bustle from her spot next to her spouse.

Next to Twilight, Spike turned back from the window with a shrug. “Well, it’s not like we take a huge group like this to Manehattan every day.”

Boltsinger nodded, setting his sights out the window. “He’s got a point. It’s gonna be a fun trip.” He focused his attention on the city that grew in the distance, brimming with ideas of what might happen in the days ahead.

(Part one: Dinner)

Ponies filed out of the Manehattan train station, in droves. More, in fact, than Paradigm expected to see. He found that he wasn’t bothered by the number, though, as it meant there were more ponies for him to acquaint himself with. With a momentary jolt of electricity in his horn, he found himself wishing he had wings to slap his own muzzle with as he took a deep breath, stepping up to the disembarking Princess with a grandly-raised hoof. “Princess Twilight! Welcome!” He brought his foreleg forward in greeting. “It’s delightful to see you all!”

Twilight took the offered hoof and pulled the Unicorn into a hug. “It’s great to see you, too, Paradigm!”

Sparks trotted from amidst the crowd to approach the brown stallion, looking up at him with excitement threatening to spill out of her horn. “So when is the show? What part are you playing? What can we expect?”

Paradigm chuckled, pushing the grey mare back a ways. “Calm down, Miss Sparks. The opening night isn't until tomorrow evening. I'll let you see who I play when I'm up on stage, and right now, you can expect dinner.” He looked over the gathering once more. “My treat!”

Boltsinger eyed Paradigm curiously, stepping forward. “Are you sure? This isn’t exactly a…” He performed a head count. Not counting Paradigm, there were at least eighteen guests to the city. “... small group.”

Paradigm laughed, floating a remarkably full bag of bits from under his scarf. “Oh, trust me, I can afford it!” He brought his attention to the most fabulous of their number, his face lighting up like the horn on his head. He stepped closer to her, adjusting his glasses and fussing with his scarf. “Rarity, my dear! Lovely to see you again!” He reached out his hoof, taking hers in kind and planting a kiss on it.

Rarity retracted her hoof, laughing giddily into it. “The pleasure is mine, darling!” A throat cleared next to the gorgeous mare, turning hers and Paradigm’s heads in its direction. “Oh, yes!” Rarity motioned to the source, bowing her head gracefully. “Paradigm, I’d like to introduce you to Fancy Pants, my boyfriend!”

Paradigm held out his hoof, smiling at the mustachioed stallion. “A pleasure to meet you, Fancy Pants!” He said, stepping towards him. “Rarity has spoken of you at length! It’s delightful to finally meet you!”

Fancy Pants shook the extended hoof, bringing up a small smile. “Charmed.” He wiped his monocle, stepping closer to his special somepony. “I’ve heard tell of you, as well.”

“You have?” He wondered, looking back at the dreamy-eyed mare. “I didn’t realize she spoke of me…” He took a deep breath, turning to the rest of the group. “Shall we get going? That dinner isn’t going to eat itself!” With a loud cheer, he turned down the street, leading the group to the destination he had in mind.

Save for the map in the castle throne room, this was easily the largest round table that Boltsinger had ever seen. Several of the ponies had already began sitting down. Soarin approached the table, pulling back one of the chair with a smile crossing his muzzle. Rainbow Dash gave a curious tilt of her head at the gesture, trotting past and pulling out her own chair. He hung his head, taking a seat and getting ready to eat. At the same time, Rarity found herself escorted by a pair of stallions. Paradigm and Fancy Pants trotted along on either side of her, pointing out an empty chair. Rarity gave them both a grateful nod, moving up to it. As she reached for it, it lit up in dual auras of yellow and white, pulled back shakily. She smiled at the stallions, climbing into the chair and pulling out the ones on either side of her.

Boltsinger chuckled at his friends’ antics, moving up to an empty seat and pulling it out with a courteous bow to his wife. “Your Highness!”

Twilight let out a giggle, bowing in kind and accepting the seat. “Why, thank you, Your Highness.” She lifted him up, placing him in the seat next to her while Pinkie and Cheese bounded into their own spots.

Across the table, Applejack shook her head with a fond smile. “And here everypony was sayin’ chivalry was dead.” She turned to Spike, repeating the gesture the stallions had been making for him. “Yer Dragon-ness!” Spike bowed back, taking a seat next to the farmer.

As the menus were passed out, Paradigm felt a trio of hooves tapping his back. He turned around to see the fillies he’d only seen in photos until this point all smiling up at him, a sense of wonder seeming to radiate from their being. “And who might you girls be? Surely not the vaunted Cutie Mark Crusaders I’ve heard tell about!”

“Ya got that right!” Apple Bloom confirmed, puffing out her chest. “The name’s Apple Bloom!”

“I thought so! I've received word of your exploits! And that means that you…” He pointed at the orange Pegasus. “... must be the Scootaloo that I’ve read about in Bolt’s letters!”

Scootaloo recoiled from the fact, her bashful side opting to make an appearance as she rubbed her neck with her hoof. “Bolt talks about me in his letters?”

Paradigm nodded, looking back at the blue-maned stallion. “Indeed. He devotes at least an entire paragraph to talking about you with each letter. I can feel the pride he has in every word he writes about you!”

The orange filly's rump made a quick trip to the floor, her blush going deeper as she looked over to the stallion that gave her her wings. “Wow…”

Before long, Scootaloo found a sudden familiar weight on her, wrapping its forelegs around her and nuzzling her cheek. “That's so sweet!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

Scootaloo pushed against the embrace, only growing warmer in her cheeks. “Sweetie Belle! Get off!” The Unicorn filly's legs tightened, creating a veritable stranglehold. “I… can't… breathe!” Sweetie Belle took a loving look at her friend's face, which was ripe with asphyxiation, and quickly loosened her grip. “Jeez… Did you take some hugging lessons from Pinkie Pie or something?”

The little Unicorn offered up a nervous laugh as she pulled away, scratching her mane. “Sorry about that…” She returned her hoof to the floor, sitting up with pride. “I'll take that as a compliment, though!”

Paradigm chuckled at the unfolding events, motioning to the green-eyed filly. “Sweetie Belle… Quite an apt name, indeed!” He motioned to the mare next to him. “Your older sister has spoken of you at length, you know. All of it good, of course.”

Sweetie Belle's hoof returned to her neck as she looked over st her otherwise-occupied sister, letting a smile and a flush onto her face. “Yeah… she's the best big sister ever…”

Apple Bloom looked at her flushing friends, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah, I get it! Interductions’re over! Let's get down ta business!” She pulled her fellow crusaders forward, forming a semi-circle around the tall Unicorn. “Would you mind, maybe, showin’ us yer Cutie Mark?”

Paradigm brought his hoof to his chin, the smile above it widening. “Well, I suppose it would help the Cutie Mark Crusaders in their Cutie Mark crusade, so a demonstration might be a good idea.” He turned to face Boltsinger, taking a deep breath and clearing his throat. “Excuse me, Bolt?”

The Pegasus Prince's attention snapped away from his conversation with his spouse and his former flight coach, shooting a glance over to Paradigm. “Yeah? What's up?”

“Would it be alright if I used you as an example for a demonstration for the fillies?”

“Showing them the mirror?” Boltsinger inquired, met with a solid nod from the thespian. “By all means, then. Give those Crusaders a show.” He leaned in next to Twilight, hiding his muzzle with his hoof. “Asking for permission, huh?”

Paradigm turned back to the fillies with an unusually wide smile. “All right, Crusaders, everything is set!” He turned his body to the point where his right flank faced the Crusaders.

The young ponies each leaned closer, examining the unique mark before them. “Well, that's… interesting…” Apple Bloom stated, scratching her head. “What is it?”

Sweetie Belle squinted, looking over the finer details. “It looks like a mirror…” She brought her hoof forward, indicating the lightning that framed the mirror. “But why does it have this instead of a normal frame?”

“Because he was hit by Bolt's lightning when he got it!” Scootaloo noted. “I thought I told you about it!”

“She's right about that.” Paradigm informed them, adjusting his weight to better display the mark. “It was a bit of a… pardon the phrase… shocking experience, getting my Cutie Mark.”

“So why is it a mirror?” Sweetie Belle wondered, looking at the mark as if it would reflect her face back at her. “Are you some kind of supercharged stylist?”

With a hearty laugh, Paradigm tousled the white filly's mane. “Your sister made a similar assumption, actually! But think a little harder. What is it that mirrors do?”

“Break?” Scootaloo guessed.

“Bounce lasers?” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Oh! I know!” Apple Bloom chimed in, raising her hoof. “They reflect things!”

“That's absolutely right, Apple Bloom!” He declared, pointing an approving hoof at the yellow filly. “So what would a Cutie Mark mirror charged with magical lightning reflect?”

The Crusaders all stood tall, the answer bursting simultaneously forth. “CUTIE MARKS!!!”

Paradigm reeled back from the force of their answer, sending them a wide smile. “Exactly right! When I activate the lightning that charges my talents, I can do something very… interesting!” He lit his horn with a spark of electricity, taking a deep and relaxed breath. He let out a relieved sigh as his Cutie Mark began to crackle, his face briefly turning to something akin to ecstasy before he looked back at the fillies. The mirror that was his Mark shined, showing an image of Boltsinger’s Cutie Mark inside as a pair of white magical wings sprouted from his back. The wings began a twiddling motion, letting their owner speak into a budding pocket of air. He flapped the twiddling wing, sending the pocket over to the Crusaders, who looked between the pocket and its creator with wonder in their eyes.

“Ain’t this one o’ Bolt’s talents?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Perhaps.” Paradigm led, pointing at the pocket. “Why don’t you examine a little closer?”

Sweetie Belle extended her foreleg, poking the pocket with her hoof to send a small breeze into their faces, followed by a voice. “When I reflect another pony’s Cutie Mark, I can reflect the talents and skills that come with it!”

“Like that.” He finished, motioning to the empty spot. “What do you think?”

“That…” Scootaloo began.

“Was…” Sweetie Belle continued.

“AWESOME!” The Crusaders simultaneously concluded.

“I’m glad you approve.” Paradigm said, letting the electricity in his horn die down. As the Crusaders found their places at the table, the honey brown stallion turned to his most royal guests, leaning in close. “So, how is that foal of yours doing? I couldn't help but notice he was absent.”

“Oh, his aunt and uncle are watching him and Oathsinger for the weekend.” Boltsinger answered. “So they're having some fun in the Crystal empire.”

“The Crystal Empire?” Paradigm repeated, giving his head a confused tilt. “Just who are his aunt and uncle?”

Twilight sent back a look of equal befuddlement. “We never told you? We're talking about Princess Cadence and my brother, Shining Armor!”

“Ah…” Paradigm let his head and ears droop slightly at the knowledge, a smidge of disappointment about him as he released a soft chuckle. “Why am I not surprised?” Another, more genuine laugh made its way out as he faced them again, taking a deep breath with a small discharge coming out of his horn. “What's next? You're going to tell me that Princess Celestia is one of your go-to babysitters?”

The Princess and the Pegasus let their eyes go amusedly wide for a moment. “Well…” Boltsinger began.

“Actually…” Twilight stated in kind.

While Pinkie and Cheese held a deep conversation about the merit of pepper(jack)ing cheese-based puns into daily conversation, Rainbow Dash found herself staring intently at her placemat. Her special somepony sat next to her, sending a quiet look her way. She smiled at him, putting her wing around him. “So, whatcha wanna do while we’re in town?”

Soarin thought for a moment, widening his grin. “It’s been forever since we had a date night. How about that?”

“A… date… night?” Rainbow repeated, her smile losing a little of its truth. “What do you mean by that?”

“You know, the usual stuff. Spend the day out in town, have dinner, all that stuff.” He pointed over to Paradigm. “I mean, we’re already gonna see a show tomorrow. Why not make the whole day awesome?”

The thought of a day full of ‘date’ flashed into Rainbow’s head, sending out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, awesome! Sounds like fun.”

At another end of the table, Fluttershy sat next to Applejack, looking over the menus. “So, Applejack, what are you going to do in town?”

The farmer shrugged, burying her nose in her menu. “I ain’t sure. I know I’m spendin’ the day with Apple Bloom ‘n 'er friends, but… I’m willin’ ta bet they’ve got some kinda scheme in mind.”

“What do you mean by ‘scheme’?” The Pegasus wondered, eyeing her friend rather curiously. “You don't think they're going to try to get you a date here in Manehattan, do you?”

Applejack rose from her menu with a solemn nod. “Eeyup. They were talkin’ about sumthin’ like it the whole way up. Even bringin’ Babs in on it!”

The caretaker internally cringed, drooping her head. “Oh, dear… Would you like some backup?”

“Whaddaya mean ‘backup’?”

“Well, Dash told me once that Rarity brought her along to Canterlot once back when she was still… well…” She hid her muzzle with her wing, whispering into Applejack's ear. “... ‘on the market’.” She pulled back, returning to her typical volume. “Apparently the reason she was there was to give Rarity a polite reason to get away from any stallions she didn't like.”

“So, like a wing-mare?” Applejack reasoned.

“Yes.” Fluttershy confirmed. “I think that was the word Dash used, too.”

“Well, if you really feel like puttin’ yerself out there for me, I'd be much obliged!” Applejack affirmed, pulling her delicate friend in for a quickly reciprocated hug. “I mean it. Thank you.”

Next to the embracing mares, a lone dragon sat, resting his head in his claw and staring dreamily at the white mare across the table from him. He breathed a heavy, swooning sigh as she conversed with the stallions on either side of her, laughing like she had not a care in the world. “She really does look happy, huh?” Another sigh erupted from within, more audible than before.

Rarity’s laughter made a momentary stop as she looked toward the drake. “Spike? Is there something wrong?”

Pulled from his thoughts, he shook his head, looking more earnestly at the designer of his dreams. “Huh? What? Oh, it’s nothing. Nothing’s wrong at all!”

“I see.” She stated. She crossed her forelegs on the table in front of her, bringing her head forward alongside an idea. “In that case, would you care to join us in town tomorrow? There’s much to create, and you’re always such a big help when it comes to getting the outfits right!”

Spike's face turned hopeful as he brought his claws together, looking longingly at the fashionista. “Really? Even though you've… probably got so much help already?”

“Oh, Spike, you know I value your help like nothing else!” She argued, earning a curious glance from the ponies beside her. “The sheer devotion you've had over the years… I can't think of anyone I'd rather have by my side for a project as large as…” She motioned to the entire gathering. “... this one!”

The tiny dragon's wings began to flap ever-so-delicately, lifting him out of his chair in a dreamy hover. “You can count on me, Rarity… Always…”

“Fabulous!” Rarity looked around at the cacophony of companions, absolutely brimming with inspiration. “I can't wait to get started!”

(Part Two: How Far They've Come)

Twilight and Boltsinger strolled through the park, Brightling and Sparks walking ahead, with Sunburst lagging behind, his foreleg around a nearly stumbling Starlight. “Are you sure you're good to walk around today?”

Starlight waved her hoof, shaking her head. “I'm fine! Just a little sore!” She sent her special somepony a playful smirk. “Besides, it was totally worth it!”

Boltsinger's ears twitched, sending his intrigued gaze towards the Unicorns. “What was worth it?”

A fast flush formed on the magical ponies, recoiling and focusing their attention on the curious stallion. “Oh, nothing important!” Sunburst insisted, shakily adjusting his glasses.

Boltsinger shrugged, turning forward again. “Okay… Well, take it easy if you need to rest. We aren’t leaving anypony behind, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.” She dismissed. “So what’s on the agenda today?”

Boltsinger looked to Twilight, implying a repeat of Starlight’s question. The Alicorn pulled a list from under her wing, “Well, everypony is doing own activities for most of the day, but at around five o’ clock, we’re all meeting up to get ready for the show.” She sneaked a look back to Starlight, a tinge of curiosity reflected in her eye. “I was thinking we could all explore the city. You know, give Sparks and Brightling a proper tour. Maybe even check out some of the libraries and museums while we’re at it?”

Boltsinger yawned into his wing, slowing down. “Sounds good. We can do a lot before then…”

“You sound pretty tired, little brother.” Brightling noted, hanging back to trot alongside his sibling. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

“I slept. Just… not well. There was a loud, repetitive pounding noise coming from another room for most of the night. Kept me awake for a long time, and when I finally did fall asleep, it was still in my head.” He twitched his ears repeatedly. “I guess hearing like mine is a bit of a disadvantage sometimes.”

“Ouch… That doesn’t sound like a very good time.” the elder brother confirmed.

Another flash of red crossed Sunburst’s muzzle as he adjusted his glasses. “Yes, that does sound like a… rough night…” He joined the other stallions. “Well, I didn’t have any problems like that. Honestly, last night was…” A quiet laugh came out, briefly causing him to look back at the mare he loved. “... amazing.”

“Amazing, huh?” Twilight repeated. She looked ahead to Sparks, who had already begun to slow down, then followed the grey mare’s lead. As Starlight caught up to the two of them, they simultaneously leaned in, matching her pace. “Tell us everything.”

After a few moments of conversation, Boltsinger heard the sound of a pair of wings springing upward, prompting a look back. Twilight’s wings had gone stiff, with the her and Sparks’ horns beginning to emit a fiery aura. All of their faces had turned a bright red, sending a knowing smile onto Boltsinger’s face. He nudged Sunburst with his wing. “So, did you have fun?”

“Um… Yes, I did.”

“Did she have fun?”

“I hope so...”

Boltsinger nodded, moving to a trot. “Cool. How ‘bout we get some pizza?”

Brightling looked curiously at his brother. “Seriously? You don’t wanna--”

“Nnope.” The orange Pegasus insisted. “It’s not our business.”

Brightling raised a hoof, letting a small grunt escape his mouth. With another look at the flustered wizard beside him, his hoof, and his point, fell flat, setting his gaze forward in a slightly disgruntled huff.

The group settled into a steady pace, finally making their way to their first destination. As their order was placed, Sparks found herself laughing giddily. “Oh, I just can't wait for the show tonight! Luna Bay is one of my all-time favorite productions! And, to think, we get to see it for free because we have a friend in the cast!” She reached across the table, putting her hooves on those of her brother-in-law. “Thank you so much for helping him land that role, Bolt! It means a lot!”

Boltsinger recoiled at the sudden gesture, the words to say leaving him entirely. He looked into his sister-in-law’s eyes, finding a luster in them that he still hadn’t gotten used to. “Um… You’re welcome.” He let a soft smile onto his face. “I mean, I was just happy to help Paradigm. Plus… It’s one of my favorite productions, too!” He joined in Sparks’ giddy laughter, talking about their favorite parts of the show and how things might be changing in the new version.

As the conversation kept up, Twilight turned to Brightling. “They’ve certainly come a long way, haven’t they?”

Brightling sighed, smiling warmly at his wife. “Yeah… I haven’t seen Sparks this happy in a long time.”

The Princess’ curiosity took hold once more, looking at the excited face of the grey mare. “She hasn’t been happy? Not even with Oathsinger?”

“It’s not that she hasn’t been happy, it’s just...“ His smile fell away. “She… isn't very proud of what she's done in the past… Like, she doesn't seem to have forgiven herself.”

“That makes a lot of sense, actually.” Starlight interjected, putting her forelegs on the table. “Speaking from experience, I… still haven’t forgiven myself for all the bad things I did. It’s one of the hardest things a pony can ever do.”

“For now, I think it’s best that you let her be happy.” The Princess concluded, placing her hoof on her pupil's. “Let her know that she’s loved, and that her friends are always there for her. Forgiving herself will come with time.”

Brightling put his head in his hooves, staring thoughtfully at his spouse. “I guess so…”

(Part Three: The Crusade Continues)

“I can’t believe you brought Fluttershy along!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, looking back at the mares walking behind her. She trotted along the sidewalk of a residential district in front of Applejack and Fluttershy, her fellow Crusaders on either side of her.

“What’s so bad about Fluttershy coming along?” Sweetie Belle queried, glancing back at the Pegasus. “It’s not like she had much else to do today.”

Apple Bloom looked forward again, kicking a pebble in front of her. “She’s way too pretty! She’d just get the attention of all the stallions we brought over!”

Scootaloo looked back at the shy mare, flashing a knowing grin. “Yeah, she might attract some attention. But then again, she might benefit from getting a boyfriend of her own!”

At the word ‘boyfriend’, Fluttershy instinctively reeled back. “What? Oh, no, I’m not interested in things like that! I’m just here to be with all of you.”

“And I’m happy ta have you, Fluttershy!” Applejack assured, putting her hoof around her companion. “So, y’all excited to see Babs?”

Apple Bloom’s scowl quickly became a grin, looking ahead on the street. “Why wouldn’t I be? I haven’t seen her since the last reunion!”

“I can’t wait to see her Cutie Mark!” The young Pegasus declared, jumping into a hover and looking over to Sweetie Belle. “You’ve seen it before. What does it look like?”

Sweetie Belle smiled up at her flying friend, pointing to the nearby street corner. “You’ll see for yourself, soon enough. She’s gonna meet us right over there!”

As if on cue, a dark orange Earth Pony filly trotted up to the corner. She had deep green eyes with off-yellow freckles at the corners, and a two-tone pink mane and tail, with the mane swept to one side. Her Cutie Mark showed a pair of scissors with handles that took the shape of an apple when brought together. She looked towards the approaching group, bringing a bright smile to the forefront. “Hey! Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Apple Bloom brightened up considerably, moving to a prance to meet up with the filly. “Babs!” She caught her cousin in a hug, laughing together with her. “It’s so good to see you again!” She backed up from the embrace, nearly hopping in place. “How’ve ya been?”

Babs swiped a hoof in front of her. “I’ve been okay. But what the hay brings you gals to Manehattan? Sweetie Belle wasn’t very clear in her letter.”

“We’re here fer a show our friend is in.” Applejack explained, catching up with her sister. “But we got the day to do whatever before then.”

“Sounds good!” The Manehattanite affirmed. She waved the Crusaders over, going into a huddle. “So, the plan still on?”

“Yes and no.” Apple Bloom stated, sneaking a look back. “Ya see, we weren't expectin’ Applejack to bring Fluttershy along with us.”

Babs gave the mares a look of her own, returning to the huddle with a smirk. “So? Gorgeous mare like that? She's gotta be easy to find a guy for!”

“I wouldn't be so sure.” Scootaloo started.

“She's pretty shy when meetin’ new ponies.” Apple Bloom explained.

“And any other creature, for that matter.” Sweetie Belle added.

“And she's afraid of everything!”

“Like wearin’ masks!”

“Or singing in public!”

“Or her own shadow!”

“Or--”

Babs swiftly placed her hooves on the next mouth to open, shaking her head. “I get it! I get it! She's a real piece o’ work!” She removed her hoof, looking between the Crusaders. “So, how's about we split ‘em up?” She motioned to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “You two know this ‘Fluttershy’ pretty good, so you take care o’ her while my cousin and I handle Applejack?”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other with a firm nod, each sharing a hoof bump with their Earth Pony companions. “We’re on it!”

“I’m sorry… Where are we going?” Fluttershy wondered. She found herself following Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle into a green clearing. “Weren’t we supposed to stay with Applejack?”

“We thought it would be good to give Applejack time with her family.” The Unicorn explained, walking up to a bench. “Besides, how long has it been since we did something together?”

Fluttershy brought her hoof to her muzzle, thinking on the subject. “Well, it has been a while… What did you have in mind?”

The younger Pegasus smirked, jumping to a hover and scanning the crowd. “Oh, nothing much. Just seeing if you were interested in making some ‘new friends’!”

The older Pegasus gave a confused blink. “New friends? What kind of new friends?”

“We just want to find you somepony special.” The white filly explained, guiding Fluttershy to a nearby bench. “Because we care about you, and want you to be happy!”

Sweetie Belle’s explanation repeated itself a couple times, sending a warmth to her heart and cheeks at the same time. “Oh… That’s very sweet of you, but I already have lots of special ponies in my life.”

“But you don’t have the special pony!” The orange filly stressed. She landed in front of the mare, joined by her fellow Crusader. “Just let us try this once!”

“I don’t know… She looked over at the sheer number of ponies roaming the park, thinking back on several instances of stage fright from her past. “It almost feels like you’d be… putting me on display…”

The fillies leaned in, looking at Fluttershy like a puppy begging for treats. “Pleeeeeeeease!”

In that moment, the animal caretaker felt an immense tug on her heartstrings. If there was one thing Fluttershy knew she couldn’t resist, it was the pleading eyes of something adorable and small. And, while these fillies had certainly gotten bigger over the years, they were still just small enough for a trick like this to work. “Okay. But just this once. Got it?”

“GOT IT!” The Crusaders confirmed in unison, nearly blowing back Fluttershy’s mane with their volume. They shot off into the crowd, earning a number of gasps from the ponies within.

Moments later, Sweetie Belle emerged with a stallion at her side. “Okay, Fluttershy, what do you think of this one?”

Fluttershy winced, retreating into herself as she looked the stallion over. He certainly wasn’t a bad-looking stallion, but he looked as confused as she was nervous. “Um… I think he’s fine.”

“Only ‘fine’?” She turned around with a huff, looking back up to the stallion. “Sorry, sir, it seems you’re not what we’re looking for.” She escorted him back to the crowd, quickly replaced by Scootaloo and another stallion.

The two Crusaders continued to bring stallions forward in alternation, always receiving a polite form of disapproval, even if half of them were largely unintentional. As they went on, Fluttershy had started to open up, smiling just a little more at the ponies that bore certain features. Scootaloo snickered to herself as the pieces fell into place, flying over the crowd and pulling one more pony forward.

“Here you are, Fluttershy! Your perfect stallion!” The aerial Crusader declared, motioning to a medium sized orange Pegasus stallion with a blue mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was a pair of clouds, and he had dark blue eyes, but otherwise looked eerily like another pony they knew. “What do you think?”

Fluttershy found herself in an immediate fluster, a large lump catching her every word. Before one could come out, the stallion cleared his throat in an eerily familiar baritone. “I think my husband wouldn’t approve of something like this.” He turned back to the crowd, waving a friendly hoof at the ponies as Sweetie Belle returned to the fold. “But, best of luck finding your ‘perfect stallion’!”

As the stallion trotted back to the gathering, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turned to one another. “Husband?” They simultaneously asked.

“Eh. Ponies of all kinds, I guess.” Scootaloo stated with a half-hearted shrug.

“I guess so.” Sweetie Belle agreed, turning back to the bench. “The most important thing is--” The empty bench. “... Fluttershy?”

“Uh… Babs, I appreciate you wantin’ ta help Apple Bloom on ‘er little crusade, but…” Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat, looking at a line of stallions that her sister and cousin had somehow assembled. “... Ain’t this a might too much?”

Babs shook her head, patting her cousin on the back. “Nah! Actually, this ain’t even all the ponies I talked to! Some o’ them said they couldn’t make it ‘cause they were sick or sumthin’. I’d say only about half of ‘em arrived!”

“This is only… half?” The farmer’s jaw dropped, sending her swaying from disbelief. “I… just… need ta lay down…”

Apple Bloom and Babs leaned in, holding up their elder. “Whoa, there, Applejack! Don't pass out before ya meet any of ‘em!”

Regaining her balance, Applejack looked down to the fillies. “An’ what the hay makes you think bringin’... What is it, twenty guys? What makes you think doin’ that'll make this whole thing go any faster?!”

“Well, how else are they gonna compete?” The orange filly asked. “Come on, why don’tcha give it a shot?”

“No way, no how!” The farm mare shouted, swiping a foreleg in front of her. “It just don't feel right, havin’ ponies tryna compete all ‘cause o’ me!”

“Even though you compete with Rainbow Dash at the drop of a hat?” Apple Bloom deadpanned. “Come on, Applejack! Give it a try! You might like it!”

The blonde mare stomped her hoof, sending a small rumble into the ground. “I said no. I appreciate what y’all ‘re tryin’ to do, but this ain't the way to go about it!” She cleared her throat, addressing the crowd. “Um… Howdy! I really appreciate y'all showin’ up here just fer my sake, but… I'm afraid there ain't anything here for ya!” The stallions in the crowd began to show signs of their disapproval with a mixture of sighs, groans, and some yelling. “Now, don't get yer nickers in a bunch! Just ‘cause I don't wantcha competin’ like a bunch o’ hogs for a meal, that don't mean I ain't willing to give y'all a chance!” She looked over to Apple Bloom, breathing a heavy, relenting sigh. “If’n ya want to try goin’ on a…” The lump in her throat found itself reluctantly swallowed. “... a date with me… Talk to my cousin, Babs, and she'll tell ya where to go from there!”

Apple Bloom looked out at the crowd of stallions, then back at her sister. “You really wanna give all of ‘em a chance?”

“As long as it's one at a time, yeah.” She patted her sister on the head. “I told ya I'd give it a shot when ya started this thing. I ain't about to go back on my word now.” She glanced over to the crowd with a chuckle “I just don't think I can handle another case o’ the ‘Sweet Apple Admirers’!”

Apple Bloom thought back on just how full and stressful the farm had become when those words applied, then looked at the crowd again. “Now that you mention it… That'd be pretty awful…”

“Exactly!” The mare affirmed. She put her hoof around her sister, moving to bypass the crowd. “So how's about we give yer little crusade a rest fer now ‘n just have fun today?”

Apple Bloom nodded enthusiastically, leaning into her sibling. “Sounds great! Whatcha wanna do first?”

“Well… Let's see…” She scanned the horizon, a myriad of unfamiliar sights filling her vision as her mind drew a blank. She quickly brought her hindquarters to the sidewalk, gingerly patting the filly's back. “On second thought, let's just stay here fer now.”

(Part Four: The Party Ponies’ Preparatory Procurement of Particular… Stuff.)

A pink party pony stood seriously squished against a wonderfully wide window. Her eyes were fixed on a hoof-stitched-ten-thousand-thread-count-velvet-lined rock pouch that sat in a display. “I can't believe they still have it!!!”

Next to her, Cheese similarly pressed himself against the window, looking around the shop. “I know! Who'd have thought they'd still have…” With a distinct ‘POP’, he removed his face from the window to look at Pinkie. “... What is it we're looking at?”

Another ‘POP’ echoed through the street as Pinkie met her friend's gaze, pointing at the object of her desire. “Do you see that rock pouch with the red drawstring, double-stitching, and ochre-flecked velvet lining with triple-reinforced crosshatched seams?”

The brown-maned stallion's eyes drifted back to the window, almost seeing an arrow going from Pinkie's hoof to the coveted item. “Oh! That!” His attention returned to the mare in his company. “What do you need a rock pouch for?”

“Not for me! For Maud!” She corrected. “A rock pouch is the perfect gift for her, to keep track of Boulder!”

“You mean the rock she keeps as a pet?” He inquired, receiving a rapid nod. “Oh! He's hilarious! You mean she never had anything to carry him with?”

“Nope!” Pinkie returned to her position against the window. “And the last time I tried to get her one, the store was closed for a few moons and then I found somepony else who had it and had to give him my party cannon and then Maud found out that I gave up my party cannon and got my party cannon back in exchange for giving back the rock pouch!” She backed away from the window, pawing the sidewalk with her hoof. “So she still doesn’t have one…”

“So how much is it?”

“Twenty bits.”

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to get for party prep. But I’m sure we’ll have some money left over!” He assured her, causing her hopeful head to rise. “If we have that much, why don’t we come back and get it?”

The shine in Pinkie’s hopeful eyes increased threefold as her smile widened to its limit. “Really?”

“Abso-fetta-lutely!” Cheese confirmed. He jumped in place, spinning toward the street. “Now, let's go!”

“Right!” She exclaimed, shooting off down the road.

The party stallion let out a laugh at the mare's antics. “Well, we can't let her outrun us, can we? Come on, Bonele--” He looked back at his own back, finding an empty space where there would normally be something. “Oh, yeah… He's gone…” He breathed a reverent sigh, turning back to his focal point. “But that won't stop me!” He reared up for a moment, leaving a Cheese Sandwich-shaped cloud of dust in his wake as he sped off after his party planning partner.

Walking down a market street, the party ponies drew their attention to various vendors, eyeing a number of products to obtain for the sake of a good party. Sheese had a relaxed expression on, while the pinker of the two showed a laser-like focus. “So!” Pinkie began, producing a scroll from her mane. “The parties we have to plan for are as follows…” She took the deepest breath an Earth Pony ever breathed. “Lyra’s bachelorette party, Bon Bon’s bachelorette party, Rarity’s bachelorette party, Rainbow’s bachelorette party, Sugar Belle’s bachelorette party, the Cakes’ anniversary, Twilight and Bolt’s anniversary of their first kiss, the anniversary of when they got married, Big Mac and Sugar Belle’s anniversary, Rainbow and Soarin’s anniversary, Starlight and Sunburst’s anniversary, Twilight, Starlight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Sunburst, Soarin, Big Mac, Bolt, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom’s birthdays, Starlight’s baby shower and…” She took one more breath for good measure. “NOVA’S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!”

“That many parties?” Cheese wondered. “How many of those are actually happening?”

“Probably just the birthdays and the anniversaries.” She admitted, putting the scroll away. “But it never hurts to be prepared!”

A jovial laugh came out of the Sandwich as his hoof graced his muzzle. “Well, okay, then! You’re the expert, so lead the way!”

“Oh, please, Cheese, you’re just as much of an expert as me!” She stated, nudging his side with her elbow. “You just had a few bad parties. Don’t let it get you down!”

“Just as much as you?” He dumbfoundedly repeated. “You’re the one planning parties that might not even happen! I saw that party cave, too. You’ve got enough planned to last years! All I’ve got to go on is a Cheesy sense and a rubber…” His eyes turned back for a moment, drooping slightly and moving forward again. “... A Cheesy sense.”

“And has that ever stopped you from having fantasti-mazing parties before?” She inquired, met with the flattest face possible for the poofy stallion. “Besides for Griffons, Yaks, and dragons!”

With a shrug and a smile, Cheese looked back at her. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Good!” Pinkie affirmed. She gave him a hard pat on the back, making his entire body wobble like string cheese. “So, I think we should split up. The more ground we cover, the more stuff we get! And the more stuff we get, the better the parties will be!”

Cheese pumped his foreleg, giving her his most confident grin.“Okay! What are we--”

With a force that only Pinkie Pie can provide, a list was thrust into Cheese’s raised foreleg. “Here’s a list of what everypony likes! Let your Cheesy sense take over from there!” She was met with a silent nod, the two party ponies moving onto their work.

The hours of shopping passed surprisingly quickly, even for the fastest ball of pink in Equestria. Pinkie and Cheese had met up every hour to compare notes, and the only things on their list that they hadn’t managed to get were either things they couldn’t find in Manehattan, or something they had yet to learn about. Originally, Pinkie had thought the task of preparing all these parties to be daunting, but the second perspective her companion provided proved to be invaluable. And she had to admit, she was starting to prefer it this way.

Pinkie hung the list from her prehensile forelock, looking it over intently as she dodged ponies and obstacles. “So that should be everything… How many bits do we have left?”

The brunette pulled a wallet from under his shirt, peering inside. “You sure you wanna know?”

“Of course!” She exclaimed, bits of confetti popping out from seemingly nowhere.

He held out his hoof, dumping the contents of the wallet into it in a perfect stack. “Exactly twenty bits!”

Pinkie closed the distance between herself and the money as quickly as she could, eyeing it as hungrily as a rock doctor staring at an untouched quarry. “You mean…”

“Looks like it!”

“Best… day… EVER!” In one swift motion, the bubbly mare swiped the bits, stuffed them into her mane, and pulled her companion into a hug. “Now I can get the rock pouch for Maud! Oh, thank you, Cheese! I’m gonna go get that rock pouch right now!” She squeezed tighter, giving him a short, but solid, kiss on the cheek as she zoomed off in a streak of pink.

Cheese stood still for a moment, slowly looking back with his hoof on his cheek. “Didja see that, Boneless? She…” The emptiness on his back stared at him once again. “Oh… Right.”

Little more than a minute later, Pinkie Pie was on the street where she found the store, walking along and looking into the windows. “I just know Maud is gonna love that rock pouch! Just need to get there…” She set her eyes on the store, moving to a trot as her mind began wandering. “But, you know, Cheese has been doing so much to help, I think I should do something to show my appreciation! But what should I do…?” The answer to her query was swift, loud, and squeaky. One of the bits fell from her mane, causing her to stop on it, pick it up, and turn to face the noise. Finding a novelty vendor on the side of the road. Resting in her foreleg was a bright yellow toy with beady eyes, a red crest, and orange legs in the shape of a particular variety of fowl. Her heart skipped a beat, like this toy was here for a reason, and she rapidly approached the vendor. “HOW MUCH FOR THAT RUBBER CHICKEN?!”

The vendor smirked at the desperate-looking mare, flashing a golden grin. “How much ya got?”

(Part Five: What The heck Even Is A Date?)

“Is this really necessary?” Rainbow asked, struggling to breathe as her most fashion-forward friend tightened the dress that was quickly taking shape around her. “I'm just going out with Soarin!”

“Oh, darling that's exactly why this is necessary!” Rarity stressed, her in green fabric. “This is a real date, dear, and you need to look the part! Try your hardest to impress him!”

“Uh, have you met me?” The Wonderbolt started, confidently putting her hoof on her chest. “I'm pretty impressive!”

“Yes, dear, you're very impressive, but you need to impress him in a different way!” She stressed, getting the rest of the outfit into place. “You can't just be brash and commanding all the time! You need to show him your… feminine side!” She pulled the ribbon on the back into place, expelling more air from the Pegasus’ lungs.

“Is it ‘feminine’ to not be able to breathe?!” Rainbow staggered out, pulling away from the fashionista to land on her hooves. “How do you expect me to do anything in this?”

Rarity lit her horn, tying up some loose fabric and providing other finishing touches. “Oh, don't worry about that little detail. Just go out and show that lucky stallion the time of his life!” She guided her uncomfortable friend to the door, wrapping her magic around her and sending her on her way.

Soarin waited on the edge of Saddle row, looking at all of the fashionable ponies passing by. One wore an elaborate black ensemble, almost radiating distress and despair, while another was white and frilly, like a sunny day. Yet another had a dazzling outfit of many colors, reminding him of the mare he awaited. A dopey smile formed on his lips, imagining her making her approach. fast, precise, epic. She was always one for making an entrance, and he relished it. For a while longer, he waited, letting his attention be drawn to an approaching mare in a tight green dress with ribbons tied into elaborate knots all down her sides. A larger knot sat at the base of the collar, all tucked in to slightly puff out and accentuate the chest. The skirt seemed to have a wave to it, flowing just above the ground and bouncing with her every step. She stopped just short of the white stallion, looking up at him with a light red showing up in her cheeks. “Okay, I’m here.”

“Huh?” He brought his focus to the mare, finding her rainbow mane and cyan coat familiar. His eyes showed his shock while his jaw went slack, finally bringing the name forth. “R-Rainbow Dash? That’s… um…” He swallowed a sizable lump in his throat, taking in the details of her outfit again. “You look… Wow!”

Rainbow fiddled with her collar a little, the red refusing to disappear. “Oh… yeah. Rarity said it was important to wear something…”

Soarin rubbed his neck with his hoof, looking at himself. “Yeah… Makes me feel a little…” As was his norm when not at Wonderbolt shows or headquarters, he wore nothing, his pale coat there for all to see. “... underdressed.” He gave her a look of sincere wonder. “Should I go and put something on?”

A casual smile found its way onto her muzzle, knowing just what to say in this situation. As she opened her mouth, though, she found herself at a loss for words. The words of Rarity’s insistence entered her mind, repeating themselves in a wispy, ghostly tone that she should show her more feminine side. She thought for a moment, imagining what her most feminine friend might say. Letting out a sigh of lament, she took a deep breath, batting her eyelashes as she looked back up at him. “Oh, I don’t believe that will be necessary… um… dear. What you’re wearing will be just lovely.”

Soarin’s wonder turned to abject confusion, his eyebrow rising to match his emotional state. “Ooooookay… So, how about we hit up the Hay Burger? I’m starving!”

“Hay Burger?” She repeated. Her stomach began to cry out in agreement, having not been filled since an early breakfast, and with the tight dress hugging her as tightly as it was. “That sounds…” Once again, her friend’s words reverberated through her mind. “... sounds… simply horrid!”

“Horrid?” Soarin put his wing on her forehead, putting his own up against it. “You okay, babe? Normally you love getting Hay Burger!”

The heat in the mare’s cheeks increased tenfold. The contact was something she was used to from him, but the word he’d used… Something about it furthered her fluster. “What’d you just call me?”

Soarin retreated a little. “Sorry, Dash… It just kinda slipped out. Was that too much?” Rainbow shook her head, letting a smile form on her muzzle. “Still, there’s something different about you tonight. Are you alright?”

“What? Me?” She gingerly motioned to herself, batting her eyelashes. “I’m just fine! I’d just prefer to go to a more… um… reputable establishment!” She put her foreleg around his, draping her wing over him and starting down the road. “Like... “ Scanning the streets, she saw a number of ponies in formal wear going in and out of a place with tables and chairs situated outside. She pointed enthusiastically at it, pulling him along. “That one!”

An hour of waiting, an order placed. Rainbow and Soarin sat across from one another at a fancy-looking restaurant, averting their eyes to look out the nearby window. After a few more moments, Soarin looked back at her. “So… The Pegasi here do a pretty good job on the weather, don’t you think?”

“I guess they do alright.” She admitted, listing her eyes to the clouds. “I mean, it’s no Ponyville, but that’s a given!” She laughed to herself, her personal pride making itself known.

Soarin let out a swooning sigh, resting his head on his hooves and his eyes on his favorite mare. “Yeah… Nopony does weather quite like you, Rainbow Dash!”

The pride swelled up even more, letting her turn to the stallion with a hoof on her chest. “Well, when you can clear the sky in ten seconds flat, it’s hard for anypony to compare!” She looked into his eyes, finding them in a dreamy, dilated state that showed off her reflection. Her prideful smile turned soft, realizing just what she was doing with the pony she was with. She wanted to lean in and really plant one on him, but something seemed to hold her back. As she attempted to move forward, the confines of her dress held her in place, telling her that breathing might become optional if she succeeded in her efforts. But, more than that, there was the presence of the eyes all around them. Around the room, several ponies had been sneaking a look at them, commenting on how there were Wonderbolts there and how romantic it all looked. The attention was something she was used to, but the context for it was… unnerving. She grabbed the dessert menu, holding it up between them to obscure his vision. “So! What should we get for dessert? I sure wish the waiter would get back soon! I am star~ving!”

Soarin reeled back a ways, making room for the arriving meal. “Great timing, huh?” He rubbed his hooves together as the Unicorn waiter placed the covering in his magic. “I’m so hungry I could eat a--” As the covering was removed, Rainbow put the dessert menu aside, looking down at the food she’d ordered with a jaw just as dropped as the pony across from her. Three sticks of celery, some… thing she couldn’t quite identify, and a small piece of parsley, all surrounded by a small drizzle of a yellow sauce. “... What’s this?”

“It’s what you ordered, sir.” The waiter deadpanned, turning to walk away. “Do enjoy your meal.” The pair of Pegasi gave off a simultaneous sigh, consuming their food in one, insignificant bite.

Back out on the street, Rainbow’s mind was once again filled with a repetition of Rarity’s advice to show her feminine side. She practically glued her flank to Soarin’s, walking down the road with a soft rumbling coming from the stomach next to her. “How in Equestria was that a meal?” Soarin queried, clutching his stomach with his wing. He let out a pained groan alongside another rumble. “You wanna check out the roller derby? I bet we could get some hot dogs while we’re there!”

“Roller derby? I heard Rarity--” Yet another instance of the aforementioned pony's advice echoed, as if manifesting itself beside her. She sighed in defeat, patting the foreleg she clutched. “Perhaps another time… um… dear. Why don't we go for a nice walk through the park?”

Soarin looked over to the park and stewed for a minute. “Can we at least get something real to eat while we're there?”

Rainbow reluctantly flipped her mane, holding the foreleg tighter. “Of course… dear. If we find something, we can do just that!”

“Good. ‘Cause I'm about ready to start grazing if I have to!”

The Pegasus couple made their way into the nearest park, where Soarin was escorted to a bench. He gave the mare a ginger wave as she trotted off in search of something more substantial than the so-called ‘dining experience’ they had been subject to. She looked around the park, finding ponies playing, relaxing, and smiling with a truth she hadn't shown much of today. What about all this frou-frou stuff is supposed to impress him, anyway? I'm barely able to breathe, I can't go do awesome stuff, and I have to act like Rarity?! She stopped cold, digging her hoof into the dirt. “That's it! I’m done with this fancy act!” She turned around with a snort, stomping back to her boyfriend’s bench and sitting beside him.

“Hey, babe! You find something to eat?” He asked, putting his hoof around her.

There was that word again. something about it sent a warmth to her cheeks, bringing one if her hooves to rub her foreleg. “Uh… No.” What the heck, Dash?! You knew exactly what to say just a second ago! Why'd you clam up now?! “Didn't find anything!”

“Darn.” He lamented. He took a glance over to her, finding beads of sweat running down her face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good.” She fibbed, looking away. “What makes you think I’m not okay?”

“Well, there’s the dress.” He started, poking at one of the bows that lined her sides. “Then there’s the whole eyelash thing you’ve been doing, and the way you’ve been talking, and how you’ve been holding my foreleg hostage all night.” He pointed to the foreleg closest to her, where the grip he had experienced had turned small parts of it red. “I love you, but you’ve just been off all day!”

Words had never pierced Rainbow Dash as much as the three that Soarin had so casually uttered. Her eyes went wide as the heat in her cheeks extended all the way into her heart. “Off? I've been…? Well, I mean… You'd be off too in… this… straight jacket… dress…” She wobbled to and fro, her vision going blurry as the world went sideways, finally fading to black.

“--ainbow Dash!” Soarin’s frantic voice exclaimed. Rainbow felt a pair of hooves on her shoulders, shaking her back into consciousness. “Come on, Dash… wake up!”

Opening her eyes, Rainbow took a deep breath. Deeper than she thought possible, given her outfit. “Soarin…?” She sat up, looking the worry-stricken stallion in the eye. “What's going on?”

In lieu of a reply, Soarin pulled her into a tight hug, gently rubbing her back. “I'm so glad you're okay!” He slowly let go, pulling back to look at her directly. “You had me so worried… You normally never faint like that! What the heck happened?”

“I don’t know… I just, well, couldn’t breathe.” She tugged at the now-loose fabric at her sides. “This thing was way too tight!”

“I knew that part.” He told her, moving to sit next to her. “But you’ve been weird with everything! Why is that?”

“Honestly?” She hung her head, rubbing her neck. “Rarity’s been telling me that I need to ‘impress you’ with my ‘feminine side’. I really did want to go to Hay Burger, and that roller derby sounds really awesome! And I’d love to get out of this thing!” She pulled at her dress, trying to get her foreleg out. “I can hardly move!”

“Well, I think you look gorgeous in it, but…” Soarin reached over, pulling apart some of the many bows and sliding the garment over her wings. “If you wanted help out of it, you could’ve just asked.” Rainbow gave him a red-faced smile, slipping the rest of the way out. “And, you know, you don’t have to try and impress me.” He put his hoof around her, pulling her in close. “You’re Rainbow Dash! You’re already impressive!”

Finally, a warmth that she knew what to do with. Rainbow Dash sat up as tall as she could, fluffing her wings and puffing her chest. “You got that right!”

Soarin smiled warmly, giving her a playful punch to the shoulder. “That’s what I like to see!” He jumped up from the bench, walking back towards the street. “So, what do you say we do one more thing before we meet with everypony?”

Rainbow followed suit, giving her head a curious tilt. “Whatcha got in mind?”

His smile turned into a smirk. “I heard Applejack talking about Manehattan having local cider bars on the train. You wanna--”

“LET’S GO!” Rainbow shouted, grabbing her special somepony and speeding into the city proper.

(Part Six: Rarity For You, You, And You!)

“Let’s see… Could someone get me some orange thread?” Rarity asked, looking over sections of fabric. Before she could point to the location of the item, it was floated over in a white aura. She smiled at the aura’s owner, nodding to the brown stallion. “Thank you, Paradigm.” She placed it on her sewing machine, starting it up. “And, while I’m thinking about it, I need the--”

“I’ve got the design right here!” Spike announced, placing the paper next to her.

“Ah! Wonderful!” She floated the parchment to a nearby stand, passing her fabric through. “Now I just need…”

A yellow aura floated a full cup over to her, a straw already in place and facing the mare. “I've got your sparkling water right here, darling!”

Rarity placed the beverage on a stool next to her, flashing a brilliant smile to Fancy Pants. “Oh, thank you, Fancy Pants! I simply don't know what I'd do without you!”

Spike and Paradigm each looked at the scene before them, in which Rarity momentarily ceased her sewing to give her special somepony a nuzzle on the nose, then returned to her work. They gave off a simultaneous sigh, sitting down. “A lot. That's what.” They mutually mumbled, drawing their attention to the floor below.

“You, too, huh?” Spike wondered, looking at Paradigm from the corner of his eye.

Paradigm gave the dragon a curious glance. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.” He stressed, pointing his claw at the gorgeous mare by the sewing machine. “That.”

“Ah…” Paradigm sent a look over to the pony in question, gaining a dopey grin. “It’s that obvious?”

“Yeah. I get like that all the time.” He rested his head in his claws, letting his own dopey grin take shape. “How'd she get you?”

“She helped me look the part for my ‘new role’.” The bespectacled stallion explained. He took a quick, deep breath, a small jolt of electricity sparking around his horn. On the exhale, his smile widened. “Ever since, I've been coming to see her every time she comes to Manehattan. Helping, talking, taking in the town. She's just so…”

“Amazing?”

“Enchanting. Enrapturing….” He listed, poking one hoof with the other. “In the end, there's just…”

“No words.” A posh tenor finished, taking a seat between them as the mare they watched moved to a back room. “I'd give anything to make her happy, you know.”

“Here, here.” Paradigm replied, raising his hoof to Fancy pants. The noble smiled back at him, accepting the hoof bump gratefully. “You're the one with a chance, so make the best of it.”

“I shall.” Fancy Pants confirmed. “Now, I suppose we’ve done more than enough pining, haven’t we, gentlecolts?” He rose to his hooves, dusting off his rump with his tail. “I do believe she’s going to need further assistance from--”

“Paradigm! Could you help me with something?” Rarity requested, poking her head into the doorway. “I could really use a Manehattanite’s opinion on this!”

Paradigm excitedly sprang up with an ecstatic grin. “Of course! On my way!” He trotted toward the doorway, taking special note of how her face lit up at his approach.

The mare’s delight didn’t go unnoticed by the dragon and the noble. Spike snickered to himself, sending a quick glance over to Fancy Pants, who breathed a sigh and began organizing various items.

Rarity led Paradigm into the back room of the boutique, where a large number of mannequins had been put on display. The themes of the outfits reminded him of the ponies he had invited and their various guests, but made for the opposite gender in some cases. Most of them were largely unfinished, with several of them only able to boast a small garment with a picture of the finished work next to it. Rarity stepped between the stallion and the outfits, giving him a look of mild uncertainty. “I need you to be honest. Do you think I can pull it off before the show?”

Paradigm looked over the selection. “They’re lovely, of course, but… I’m honestly not sure why we need them for the show.”

“Because it’s a night at the theater, darling!” She answered, motioning dramatically to her works in progress. “One simply must look their best for such an event!”

He gave the mare a smile, taking another deep breath with a quick spark of his horn. “I admit, everypony tries to look good when they come to a show, but I’ve been to a lot of those shows, as of late. Nopony ever goes in their Sunday best.” Looking back to the outfits, he smirked at some of the designs. “But, I have to say, your designs are simply divine. We simply can’t not use them! Why not refine them for something a little bigger?”

“Something bigger, you say?” She examined the budding ensembles, pursing her lip and squinting. “Well… The Grand Galloping Gala is only eight months away… Perhaps I could make these work for that!” She turned back to her friend with a determined nod. “I think I’ll do just that!” She pointed her hoof at him. “But we’re still going to put some effort into tonight! Your debut performance demands it!”

Paradigm’s face went white at her words, his jaw dropping as he looked over to a clock on the wall. “My performance!” He slammed his hoof into his forehead. “I’m late for show prep!” He rushed over to Rarity, giving her a light peck on the cheek and running for the door. “I’ll see you all after the show tonight!” With another spark to his horn, he made his exit, leaving a small discharge on the floor in his wake.

Rarity froze for a moment, staring at the jolts on the floor with a shade of red adorning her cheeks. “Yes…” Her hoof rose from the floor, finding a new home on the cheek that had been kissed. “See you… tonight.”

(Part Seven: Final Thoughts)

Against a backdrop of a tropical island, a number of stallions in sailor outfits grouped together, each one dramatically raising a hoof in front while the music paused. “~There is absolutely nothing to compaaaaaaaare…~”

From behind the group, Paradigm stepped forward, lifting his own hoof for emphasis. “~Wiiiiith a maaaaaaaaaaaaare!~” He belted out with an exceptionally low tone.

The front row of the theater was filled completely with the party from Ponyville, the grey mare of the group starting up an applause with uproarious cheering. “YEAH! THAT WAS PERFECT!” The rest of the audience followed suit, drowning out part of the song as they continued their performance.

Boltsinger leaned in towards his wife, whispering into her ear. “He’s really come into his own, hasn’t he?”

Twilight gave him a nod, her eyes fixed on the performance in front of them. “He has. I’m surprised he’s made such an effort to better himself!”

“How is it surprising?” The Pegasus wondered, putting his wing around her. “You improve everypony’s lives!”

“Maybe, but this one is all on you.” She corrected, returning his gesture. “You’re the one that wanted to help him, after all.”

Boltsinger smiled, squeezing her a little and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “That’s a responsibility I’m glad to take.”

The next few scenes went by quickly, one such moment containing a number where several mares sang about washing some colt right out of their manes. The harmonies and lyrics of the song echoed in the mind of a particular yellow mare in the gathering. She looked over Starlight and Sunburst at the Pegasus Prince, feeling a warmth in her cheeks that, while familiar, was making her uncomfortable thanks to the events of the day. She let out an audible sigh, turning to lay her eyes on the floor as a hoof made its way to her back.

“You okay, Fluttershy?” Applejack asked, pulling the mare’s attention from the floor. “Ya look like ya got sumthin’ on yer mind.”

“Oh, it’s nothing…” She fibbed, quickly looking back to the stage. “Nothing’s bothering me! I’m… just fine!”

Scootaloo shot a look over to the older Pegasus, a frown forming on her muzzle as she looked back to the Crusaders next to her. “I think we might have overdone it with Fluttershy…”

Sweetie Belle peeked over her winged friend. “What do you mean? She looks fine to me.”

The Pegasus filly shook her head, leaning back in her seat. “I don’t know. It just feels like we tried too hard to help her with… Well, you know.”

“From what I hear, that was all you.” Apple Bloom stated. “So whatcha gonna do about it?”

Scootaloo’s gaze turned right back to the floor. “I’m not sure… Maybe it’ll just blow over?”

Through the rest of the performance, Rarity stared at the stage with a focus tighter than Pinkie Pie on a party. Her face was as red as her farmer friend’s Cutie Mark, and her hoof repeatedly rose to her cheek. As the cast made their curtain call, she was among the first to stomp, and the loudest to yell, her cheers drowning out those of the ponies around her. She jumped to her hooves at the curtain, running towards the place they had deigned to meet after the show, catching the eyes of everypony she passed, Fancy Pants chief among them. She trotted in place, quickly joined by Sparks as the rest of their party made a far more casual approach.

Finally, the stallion in question came into view. Rarity and Sparks each let out a high-pitched squee as the white mare ran to him. “Oh, Paradigm, your performance was simply spectacular!”

Paradigm rubbed his neck with his hoof, averting his eyes with a furious flush framing his face. “Oh, I don’t know if it was that good…” His eyes turned back to the mare with a soft smile. “But, thank you.”

“Oh, nonsense!” Sparks retorted, waving her hoof between them. “The whole show was amazing! Yourself included!”

“I have to agree with Sparks, there.” Brightling said, stepping up and putting his wing around her. “I normally don’t care much for musicals. But this show was worth the trip!”

The brown stallion chuckled to himself, looking over the ponies in front of him to spot his benefactors. “But, you know… I wouldn’t be here without our friends.” He moved past his newest fans, approaching the most royal of their number with a weakening smile. He took a deep breath, his horn releasing a small discharge as he did so, and straightened up. “It means everything that you gave me the chance.”

“And you certainly didn’t waste it.” Twilight affirmed, placing her hoof on his shoulder. “In fact, Bolt and I were thinking about something you might appreciate!”

“Oh?” Paradigm looked between the two of them, his curiosity becoming as evident as the glasses on his face. “And what might that be?”

Boltsinger stepped forward, scratching his mane with his wing. “Well, actually, there’s a pretty big event coming up that we’re wanting all of our friends and family to be there for. If they can make it, of course.”

“And that event would be…?”

“Nova’s first birthday party.” He finished, showing him a wide grin.

Paradigm’s eyes went as wide as can be, his jaw nearly going slack. “You’re saying… You’d like for me to come to Ponyville?” Twilight gave him a confirming nod. “For your… little Alicorn foal?” Boltsinger nodded in kind. “But… Where would I stay?”

Rarity took a spot beside the silver-eyed stallion, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “I’ve got an extra room at my boutique if you’d like to stay there.”

“And if not, the castle has plenty of guest rooms.” Twilight added.

Boltsinger stepped forward, offering his hoof. “So, what do you say?”

After a moment of silence, Paradigm took the offered hoof, pulling the purple-eyed Pegasus in for a hug. “Not even Celestia could tear me away, Boltsinger!”

Author's Note

Sorry for the long delay in this chapter! It was just... So... big...
Seriously, this chapter was a huge undertaking! It's kind of my equivalent to the episode "Slice of Life", but under a wildly different premise! I wanted to touch on story arcs in progress, and story arcs that are really just starting, while moving the overall plot forward, and it just felt right to split it up into parts like this. Once I got a glimpse of that word count, though, I almost couldn't breathe!
It's been tiring for me at times, and I have the feeling I'm gonna need a fluff chapter sometime soon just to give myself a bit of a mental break.
The promised Pinkie chapter is coming soon, I assure you. And, as always, I hope you enjoy it! :twilightsmile:

A Goldenrod Opportunity

“And… done!” Scootaloo declared, closing her textbook. “That's all the homework Cheerilee assigned for the week!” She turned to Twilight, who sat next to her at her desk. “Thanks for the help, Twilight. It really makes a difference!”

“It's my pleasure, Scootaloo.” The Princess stated, giving the filly a warm smile. “But it's not just thanks to me that your grades have improved so much. Your willingness to learn is the real reason.”

Scootaloo shook her head, standing up and turning to the door. “I don't think so. If you didn't explain things so well, I wouldn't have understood it all!” She looked back at her favorite Princess with an inviting expression, motioning forward with her wing. “How about we go for a fly? It's been a while since we did anything but homework together!”

Twilight stretched her wings, getting up to follow the Crusader. “I'd love to! Actually, I was hoping you and I could just spend a day together sometime soon. We don't get the chance all that often.”

Scootaloo stopped for a moment, looking questioningly at the Alicorn. “We're not gonna go do a bunch of mushy girly stuff, are we?”

Twilight giggled, shaking her head. “No. I won't make you do anything you're not comfortable with.”

“Sounds like fun!” She confirmed, buzzing her wings. “How about tomorrow?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea. We can set up a schedule when we get ba--” A knock permeated the castle’s front door, slow and erratic with a somber feeling to it. Twilight stopped cold with a raised foreleg. “We should probably get that.”

The resident ladies of the castle made quick work of the journey to the front door, where the knocking was at its loudest. Twilight lit her horn, engulfing the entire door in her aura and opening it wide. There, on the front steps, stood a yellow Pegasus filly with a green mane and tail, and a noticeably blank flank. She looked up to the pony answering the door, widening her eyes and reeling back. “P-P-Princess Twilight! I… I wasn’t expecting you!”

“Goldenrod?” Scootaloo guessed, coming to a hover over Twilight. “What’s going…” She looked closely at her flight camp friend, finding the fur on her cheeks darkened in an all-too-familiar pattern. She dove to a landing between the two of them, stepping up to her fellow filly. “Are you okay?”

Goldenrod smiled weakly at the friendly face. “Well, it took me a while, but I finally told my parents that I don’t want to be a weather pony…”

“That’s great! The Crusader exclaimed, putting her hooves on her shoulders. “What did they say?”

The yellow filly’s face began to scrunch up as tears budded in her eyes. “They said… They said…” The buds bore quick fruit, letting tears flow forth down the pre-forged path. “... They said to ‘get out’...” Her breathing began to stagger, small hiccups coming out to interrupt her. “They broke my bonsai… Then they tossed some bits at my hooves, saying ‘Don't come back until you have a Cutie Mark in weather work!’”

Twilight and Scootaloo recoiled, the filly of the two pulling Goldenrod into a hug. “That’s just awful!” She looked back up at the Princes with pleading eyes. “Would it be okay if she…”

Twilight put a reassuring wing on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “Of course she can stay here.” She motioned into the castle, trotting ahead. “Come on, we’ll get you settled in.”

Scootaloo nodded, guiding her friend in while keeping a hoof around her. “Sorry, Twilight, but I think this may get in the way of our day together tomorrow…”

Twilight smiled back. “What are you talking about? We’re still going to be together tomorrow.” She hung back, opening the door to the orange foal’s bedroom. “We just won’t be doing what I thought we would.” She backed away from the doorframe, motioning for the young Pegasi to enter. “But first, your friend needs you.” Scootaloo nodded confidently, entering the room and closing the door. Twilight turned to the hall, taking one last look back at the door. “Good luck, Scootaloo.”

The next morning, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat in the clubhouse, waiting for their third member to arrive. They’d been told that there was an important client coming to see them today, but that was all they knew. After a while longer, the clubhouse door opened, three sets of hooves making their way in. The Crusaders turned to see who had arrived, finding Scootaloo entering with Twilight and a filly, likely their new client, in tow.

“Hey, girls.” Scootaloo greeted, sitting between them by the podium.

“Hi, Scoot.” Apple Bloom replied, turning her eyes toward the entrance. “Mind if I ask what Twilight's doin’ here?”

“We promised to spend the day together today, but then my friend showed up needing our help.” The Pegasus explained, faintly gesturing over to Goldenrod.

“And who’s your friend?” Sweetie Belle wondered.

Twilight cleared her throat, instantly obtaining the attention of the Crusaders. “Actually, I was just about to introduce everypony.” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat up straight, looking at their guest as Twilight motioned her hoof to them. “Goldenrod, it is my honor to introduce you to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Goldenrod stepped forward, rubbing her neck with her hoof. “Nice to meet you…”

Apple Bloom approached their guest, waving in kind. “Nice ta meet you, too! The name’s Apple Bloom!” She brought a contemplative hoof to her chin, pointing at her with a small grin. “Goldenrod, huh? Mind if I call ya ‘Goldie’?”

Sweetie Belle walked up next to her Earth Pony friend, waving away the question. “Don’t mind her. We’ll call you whatever’s comfortable.” She offered a greeting hoof. “I’m Sweetie Belle. You’re the pony that Scootaloo met at flight camp, right?”

Goldenrod nodded, accepting the hoof graciously. “Yeah. And you’re the friends she talks about in her letters, aren’t you? The ones that have that Cutie Mark day camp?”

“That’s us!” The Unicorn affirmed, placing her hoof over her heart. “Scootaloo’s been telling us all about you, as well!”

“Like how yer s’ good with plants!” Apple Bloom stated.

“And how you’re a really good flyer!” Sweetie Belle added.

The yellow Pegasus stepped back with each factoid presented to her, letting a mild blush adorn her cheeks. “Um… Thank you. But…” She looked back at the Alicorn in the room. “Are you helping, too?”

Twilight smiled softly, shaking her head. “Oh, no. I'm here as an observer. I'll offer input if you want, but they're the Cutie Mark experts.”

Goldenrod turned back to her fellow fillies, gaining a curious expression. “And you all have Cutie Marks in Cutie Marks?”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo beamed, turning to show the marks emblazoned on their flanks. “You betcha!” The Earth Pony confirmed. “Prob’ly ‘cause we spent such a long time frettin’ over how we’d get ‘em in the first place!”

“Sounds like you got your Cutie Marks in exactly what you wanted, huh?” A sad sigh escaped their client, who stared at her own flank. “Wish I could get a Cutie Mark in what I want…”

“An’ who says ya can’t?” Apple Bloom asked, giving Goldenrod a hard pat on the back. “In my experience, ya can never get a Cutie Mark in sumthin’ ya don’t like! So, what is it that you like?”

“I’m sure Scootaloo has told you all about it.” She started, pointing at her friend. “I like botany.”

Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle gave a confused blink, the white-coated one tilting her head. “I'm sorry, what?”

“Botany.” Twilight began, raising a poignant hoof. “The study of plants. How they grow, how they thrive, and how they can benefit society! It's a fascinating subject! I have plenty of books on it if you'd like to read them!”

“That’d be nice, but I already read all I can on the subject.” She walked to the window, putting her hooves on the sill. “What I really wanna do is put that knowledge into practice!”

“Well, you couldn’t be in a better place to look at thriving plant life!” The orange filly declared, joining Goldenrod. “Sweet Apple Acres is Ponyville’s gold standard on how to raise trees.”

Goldenrod looked away from the window, catching the smiling of the Crusader beside her. “I don’t know… It looks like they have things covered, here. Not much to learn.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised how much you can learn from the Apples.” Twilight corrected, opening the clubhouse door. “Besides, it’s always a good idea to learn from as many angles as possible!”

Apple Bloom stepped up beside the Princess, offering up a smile. “Yeah! Come on ‘n meet my family! I’m sure you’ll love ‘em!”

Goldenrod stewed for a moment, finding the excitement on Apple Bloom’s face inviting. “Well… Okay. I’ll give it a chance.”

Twilight’s wings made an ecstatic flutter as she turned to the door. “Great! Let’s go!” She trotted out the door, Apple Bloom and Goldenrod following closely.

Sweetie Belle cocked an eyebrow, leaning towards her winged friend. “Didn’t she just say she was going to be an observer?”

Scootaloo reluctantly nodded. “She did, but let’s see what she has to offer.”

The Unicorn rolled her eyes, walking out the door. “Whatever you say...”

“Goldie, I'd like you to meet my family!” Apple Bloom began, gesturing to the myriad of ponies in the room. Twilight sat aside, letting the green-maned filly get a full view of them all while the remaining Crusaders followed suit. Apple Bloom put her hoof around the visiting Pegasus, pointing to the large red stallion on the couch. “That there's my brother, Big McIntosh! Say ‘howdy’, Big Mac!” He raised his hoof, opening his mouth to respond as Apple bloom's hoof pointed at the orange mare. “And this is my big sister, Applejack! Bearer of the Element of Honesty, and one o’ the most gosh darned dependable ponies out there!”

Applejack waved her hoof, a mild flush adorning her face. “Uh… Hey, there. Nice to meetcha.”

Before Goldenrod could reply, Apple Bloom moved to the next pony, an elderly green-coated mare with orange eyes and a white mane and tail pulled up into a bun. “And this is the first Apple to plant seeds here in Ponyville, Granny Smith!”

The droopy-eared mare drifted her eyes over to the new face in the room. “Now what's all this about?”

Applejack put her hoof on her grandmother's shoulder. “I know it's a little sudden, Granny, but this here is Goldenrod, Scootaloo's friend.”

Granny Smith batted the hoof away. “Oh, I knew that! I'm askin’ why she's here!”

Goldenrod cleared her throat, stepping up to the old mare. “I'm here to study your trees, if you don't mind.”

Granny Smith looked out the door, taking special note of the only trees in the fiefield to be without any leaves. “Study ‘em? You mean the zapapple trees? ‘Cause even I still don't understand those things!”

“I think she just meant all of the trees, Granny Smith.” Scootaloo said, flying to a spot next to her friends. “You see, she's--”

“One heck of a farm pony!” Granny interjected, swinging her hoof. “If'n yer wantin’ to learn about apple trees, ya came to the right place!” She patted the space next to her on the couch. “Now why don'tcha get on up here an’ I can teach you all ya need to know about apples?” She turned to her older granddaughter. “Applejack, go fetch my readin’ glasses, wouldja? An’ Big Mac! Go ‘n get the harvest manual!

Big Mac rose with an immediate “Eeyup!” He and his sister vanished from the room, quickly returning with the requested items.

The spots on either side of Granny Smith were occupied quicker than a bunny bopping field mice. Each of the Crusaders and their client had taken up a space, with Twilight Sparkle sitting eagerly in the chair next to them “Now, it all started long before the Earth Ponies even talked to the other tribes…”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle awoke with a start, desperately looking around to see if they had picked up any judging eyes. None fell upon them, though, as Granny Smith's book was nearing its end. Twilight, Apple Bloom, and Goldenrod were sitting at full attention, their eyes glued to the oldest of the Apples. “... And then, with the Zapapple trees comin’ here to this farm, we was able to get growin’ these here trees down to an art!”

“Wow! That… sure was fascinating!” Scootaloo declared, turning to her Unicorn friend. “Right, Sweetie Belle?”

“Uh… Yeah!” She squeaked, nodding emphatically. “Totally amazing story!”

“I can't believe you have a complete history on just one fruit!” Twilight exclaimed, looking at the book from multiple angles. “Do you think I could borrow this book sometime? I'd love to give it another read!”

“I don't see why not.” Granny stated, snapping the book shut and holding it out. “‘S not like we get much use outta the thing over here.” She turned to the Pegasus next to her. “So, ya learn anything useful?”

Goldenrod stretched, jumping down from the couch. “It was definitely a fascinating history, but… I don't know how much a pure history can tell me.” She rose into the air, hovering at the window overlooking the orchard. “I'd love to study the trees, themselves, though. Although that might take some time…”

Applejack came up beside her, shooting her a knowing smile. “Well, yer welcome to come by ‘n study ‘em anytime!” She gave the flying filly a hard pat on the back, sending her to the floor. “I'd be happy ta take ya ‘round the orchard myself!”

With a small strain, Goldenrod found her footing. “I think I’d like that! But…”

“Let me guess...” Twilight started, tucking the book under her wing. “You’d like to see more?” The Princess was met with a firm nod. “Well, there’s plenty of options here in Ponyville! How about--”

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. “I have an idea!” She hopped into the center of the room, drawing everypony’s attention. “Why don’t we go to the florists? They can teach you all about flowers!”

Bringing an inquisitive hoof to her muzzle, Goldenrod looked to the door. “I don’t know how much more I can learn about flowers.”

Twilight blew a playful raspberry, lifting the uncertain foal in her telekinetic grip. “Oh, don’t be like that! There’s always more to learn! Let’s give it a shot!” She trotted out the door with a confident smile, her eyes closed to the road ahead as a bump drove her to a sudden stop. She found herself stepping back a ways, slowly opening her eyes to see her favorite set of purple eyes looking into hers. “Bolt?”

Boltsinger waved his hoof enthusiastically, the littlest Alicorn sleeping soundly in his baby carrier. His wings were raised, yet behind his head, as if holding something just out of sight. “Hi, honey! How are things with the Crusaders going?”

Twilight looked back at the following fillies, turning to her husband with a smile. “Going great! We were just headed to the flower shop to talk with Daisy, Lily, and Rose! I think the input they can provide on working with flowers will go a long way towards helping Goldenrod with her--” A poke came to Twilight's side, bringing her train of thought to a halt. She looked to the source, finding Scootaloo looking at her with a stern expression. “What's wrong, Scootaloo?”

The orange Crusader pointed her hoof towards the filly floating above her. “I'm pretty sure she can walk on her own, Twilight.”

“Oh! Right…” She doused her horn, letting the young botanist flutter down to her friend. “Sorry about that…”

“It’s okay.” The winged Crusader dismissed, starting down the road again. After a moment, she paused, giving one more look back to the Princess. “We’ll go on ahead to town. Why don’t you catch up with Bolt and then meet us there?”

“Are you sure you don’t need me there?” She wondered, raising an eager hoof.

“I’m sure.” Scootaloo confirmed, starting back down the road. “There’ll still be plenty to observe when you get there.”

“Oh… Okay!” The eager hoof began to wave. “I’ll see you soon!”

Boltsinger waved in tandem, turning to Twilight with a smirk. “Going great, indeed.”

Twilight sent her spouse a glare. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing at all, your Highness.” He teased.

A single, sarcastic eyebrow was raised on the Princess of Friendship. “Uh-huh. Sure. What brings you to the farm, anyway?”

“Twofold reasons.” He brought one wing forward, unfurling a single feather. “First, I have something for Apple Bloom and I wanted to drop it off.” He looked at the road behind him, letting out a nervous laugh. “I’m just glad Scoot didn’t see what I’ve got…” He returned his attention to Twilight, showing two extended feathers this time. “Second, Grand Pear wanted to see Nova. And, honestly, I wanted to see Grand Pear. I haven’t caught up with him in a while.”

“Oh. Well, have a nice visit.” She affirmed, giving him a quick kiss and trotting past. “I’ll see you tonight!”

With a chuckle and a “Eeyup!”, Boltsinger finished his trek to the farm, pulling an oddly-shaped pink hat forward and looking at it with a silly grin.

The Ponyville Marketplace quickly came into view as Twilight trotted. Every stall was busy, with a particularly long line having formed at her destination. She walked up to the side of the little establishment, where Goldenrod and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were talking with a trio of Earth Pony mares. One had a pink coat with a bright green mane and tail, dark green eyes, and a pair of daisies as her Cutie Mark Another was a darker shade of pink than her compatriot, with two shades of blonde in her straight mane and tail along with yellow eyes. Her Cutie Mark consisted of three lilies, with one of the actual flower adorning her mane by her right ear. The third mare was an off-white in her coat, bearing green eyes, a red and pink mane and tail, and a single red rose as her Cutie Mark. Surprisingly, to the Princess, the adults of the conversation seemed to be the ones intently listening, while Goldenrod looked to be in the middle of a lesson.

“So, you’re sure we could keep them beautiful that much longer this way?” The lily-marked mare asked.

“Most definitely.” Goldenrod confirmed. She picked up the pencil at her hooves, scribbling down notes to the point of filling the parchment completely. “Follow these instructions, and you should see an increase in productivity.”

The rose-marked mare picked up the parchment, looking it over with a large smile beginning to form on her muzzle. “I can’t believe it! And you’re really willing to come by and help?”

“Of course!” She took to the air, hovering over the flowers. “The better they do, the more data I can gather! I’m planning on coming back every day, if I can!” She flitted about over them, taking note of the varieties she saw and writing down the occasional detail while mumbling to herself.

Twilight trotted up behind the Crusaders, splaying her wings. “Wow! It seems you three have made some real progress here!”

“Not really.” Scootaloo retorted, pointing at her friend's flank. “Still no Cutie Mark!”

“So what?” Sweetie Belle replied. “She's got something started. That’s a step in the right direction!”

“Yeah, but just doin’ botany doesn't seem to be havin’ any effect!” Apple Bloom said, motioning to the flowers. “We gotta be missin’ sumthin’!”

“Like what?” Twilight wondered, eyeing the ecstatic florists. “She seems to have things down where botany is concerned.”

Apple Bloom let out a frustrated groan, rising to her hind legs and spreading her forelimbs. “That’s just it! She’s doin’ exactly what she wants with her life! How is it she doesn’t have ‘er Cutie Mark yet if she’s doin’ the thing that makes her happy?”

“What could possibly be missing?” Sweetie Belle asked. “She said that she was a botanist, and she’s doing botany!”

“But what if that's not enough?” Twilight examined the Crusaders’ client. She seemed perfectly at home in the air, even despite her more earthly vocational choice. She pursued her lip, adding some scrutiny to her analysis as the filly came to a landing. “Are you sure that botany is all there is to it?”

Goldenrod trotted over to the group, wearing a smile she hadn't displayed yet since coming to Ponyville. “Now that was refreshing! What's next?”

The Crusaders gave their new friend a downtrodden look. “Honestly, we ain't sure!” Apple Bloom admitted. “With how passionate you are about yer botany, we thought you'd get yer Cutie Mark in no time!”

“But we've been at it for hours, doing a lot, but without any results!” Sweetie Belle added, letting out a dejected sigh.

Scootaloo looked between her best friends, ready to join in the dejection until her eyes landed on their flanks. The Cutie Marks she saw shone bright in her eyes, reminding her of the time when their own flanks were blank. “So? That's just a few hours!” She jumped into the air, holding herself aloft with an effortless buzz of her wings. “That's nothing compared to the countless hours we spent, trying everything possible, working endlessly to get our Cutie Marks!”

Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle began to swell with pride, jumping to their hooves and standing tall. “Yer right!” The farm filly affirmed. “After all we been through, we got this down, pat!”

Sweetie Belle nodded enthusiastically, looking over to Goldenrod. “Yeah! And in your case, we already have a head start!” She hopped in place, turning to the road and flourishing her tail. “And I know--”

Twilight ignited her horn, teleporting her way to the front of the gathering. “Oh! I know just where to go next! Come on, girls!” With that, she trotted down the streets of Ponyville towards the Everfree Forest. The Cutie Mark Crusaders lingered for a moment, the wingless ones giving Scootaloo looks of mild frustration.

Scootaloo landed softly, rubbing the back of her neck with a sheepish grin. “Yeah, I know… I'll take care of it.” The three fillies nodded in unison, galloping after their elder.

Twilight led Goldenrod and the Crusaders through the Everfree Forest, coming to a hut of a hollowed out tree, decorated with several ornate masks and lanterns. The blank flank filly landed next to Apple Bloom, looking curiously at the hut in front of them. “So, where exactly are we going?”

Apple Bloom perked up, having made frequent visits to this particular hut. “We’re goin’ to see--”

“Zecora!” Twilight unwittingly interrupted, happily flaring her wings. “She’s a Zebra, and she’s really good with herbs and potions!”

“Uh… Twilight?” Apple Bloom started, trotting up to the left of the Princess.

Twilight kept going, closing her eyes with a nostalgic smile on her muzzle. “I thought you might be able to learn some things from her, given that she has a level of wisdom that even Princess Celestia isn’t privy to!”

Sweetie Belle accelerated, trotting over on the right side. “Twilight…”

“Why, she even taught me some magic that I didn’t think possible!” The Alicorn continued. “Like when Trixie first got the Alicorn Amulet and took over Ponyville, it was Zecora who taught me all I needed to eventually beat her!”

Scootaloo began buzzing her wings, coming to a hover just over the purple pony. “Hey Twilight!”

Twilight added a spring to her step, trotting ever faster. “So, with all of that under her belt, I’m certain that she’ll be able to--”

“TWILIGHT!!!” The Crusaders simultaneously cried at the top of their voices.

Twilight’s eyes opened in an instant, stopping her in her tracks as she looked back at the fillies.They glared fiercely at her, showing a level of dejection that Twilight didn’t see often from these ponies. “What’s wrong?”

Scootaloo snorted, zipping over to meet Twilight face to face and poking her in the chest. “You’re not letting us say or do anything!” She motioned to Goldenrod, who looked at the lot of them with a face of utter disbelief. “My friend came here for help with her Cutie Mark, and you explicitly said that you were ‘just an observer’!” She brought her face closer, bringing the Princess’ ears low. “But then you completely took over!” She breathed a sigh, coming to a landing and standing with her friends. “We appreciate your support, and that you want to help, but can you please leave the Crusading to us?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle each raised a hoof, nodding in agreement with their orange-coated companion.

Twilight’s rump hit the ground, clear memories of the day so far rushing through her head. Scootaloo was right. She promised she would observe, and broke it immediately, not even giving the foals a chance to try things their own way. “I'm so sorry… I don't know what came over me…” She slowly stood up, hanging her head as her wings began to flap. “I'm gonna leave you to it… I'll… I'll see you later…” She rose into the air, making quick work of her ascent and starting a slow fly home.

That evening, Boltsinger came to a landing on the balcony, a pair of Pegasus fillies not far behind. As they touched down, Boltsinger gave them a wave. “Hey, Scoot! How goes the Crusading?”

Scootaloo waved back. “Hey, Bolt!” She gestured to her fellow flyer, a little disappointment evident in her expression. “No Cutie Mark, yet. But we're definitely in the right direction!”

Goldenrod nodded her confirmation, sending the stallion a smile. “We met Zecora! And she had so many fascinating things to talk about! I wrote down so many notes that my notebook is full!” She pulled out the notebook in question, showing it to be filled to the brim with tabs. “She was so happy with how much I wanted to know that she offered to let me stay with her!”

“That's great!” The stallion stated, spreading his wings. “Well, we plenty of notebooks! Feel free to help yourself if you need more.“ He put his hoof to his muzzle, sifting through his thoughts for information. “I think they were in the library, last time I checked.”

Scootaloo made one more buzz of her wings, momentarily hovering. “Thanks, Bolt!” She gave him one more wave, galloping into the castle with her newest friend in tow.

“No problem, Scoot.” Boltsinger said, starting into a casual gait down the hall. He made his way to the nursery, placing the sleepy foal he carried into his bed. After a lullaby and a kiss on the colt’s forehead, his meandering resumed. Various thoughts popped into his mind as he went, ranging from his visit with Grand Pear to wondering how Twilight’s day had gone. Come to think of it… Why wasn’t she with Scootaloo? They said they were gonna be together all day. His pondering found its answer before long. As Boltsinger neared the library, his favorite shades of purple made themselves known as Twilight trudged unknowingly towards him. He smiled wide, waving a greeting wing to her. “Hey, Twilight!”

Twilight brought her gaze up from the floor, showing the most defeated look Boltsinger had ever seen. “Hi, honey...”

“Are you okay?” He wondered, trotting to her side. “You look like you just failed a test!”

“I screwed up…” She answered. “I should never have gone with Scootaloo today. I should’ve just stayed home and done something else! But no… I just had to go with them and take over right when I promised I wouldn’t!”

Boltsinger sighed, giving her a pat on the back with his wing. “Hey, you know we all mess up sometimes. So your ‘take charge’ personality went ahead and took charge! Your heart was in the right place.”

“I know it was, but…” She looked back to the library door, which stood ajar in the hallway. “The main reason I insisted on doing things with her today was to connect with her more…” Her head found itself hanging once more. “But now I feel like we’re further apart than ever…”

An echo of a conversation subtly bounced through the halls, sending a twitch into Boltsinger’s sensitive ears. He scrunched up his face for a moment, concentrating on what he heard, then shifted his expression to the warmest smile he could muster. “That’s not what I’m hearing.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight inquired, looking up at him with a curious head tilt.

Boltsinger waved his wing forward, directing her to the library door. “Come on. Listen to this.”

Twilight took a cautious look at the door, knowing full well who was behind it. “Are you sure? I don’t know if I should be eavesdropping.”

“Just trust me!” He insisted, patting the spot next to him with his hoof.

With a roll of her eyes, Twilight did as instructed, sidling against the wall as a pair of familiar voices found their way into her ear. “Sorry about all the things with Twilight today.” Scootaloo began.

“It’s no problem.” Goldenrod dismissed. “My mom used to get like that whenever I was doing well with the clouds. She always has advice on how to get just the right amount of just the right kind of weather. It may not have been all that interesting, but it was still pretty nice to see her in her element.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty great when you can see your mom at your best.” Scootaloo let out a nostalgic sigh. “And Twilight really is the best mom out there!”

A moment of silence ensued, coming to a sudden stop as the yellow Pegasus spoke up again. “Wait… Princess Twilight is… your mom?!”

“Well, not officially.” Scootaloo corrected. “It’s like it is with Bolt. She’s not actually my mother, but she’s practically my mom anyway. She’s always been there for me, always teaching me something new or helping me to figure it out for myself… Then Bolt flew into the picture, and she doubled down on it! She helps with my homework whenever she can, keeps me updated on all of the Daring Do books, and always supports me through everything! I couldn’t ask for a better mom!”

An audible coo came from Goldenrod, followed by the sound of a notebook closing. “That’s so sweet!” Some more noises were heard, followed by the flapping of wings. “Well, I think I have everything I’ll need. I’m gonna head back to Zecora’s place now!”

“Okay. I’ll walk you out!” Scootaloo offered. Hoofsteps began to sound, coming closer and closer until the fillies broke the threshold of the hallway, moving obliviously past the adults.

Boltsinger’s smile widened, turning to his wife. “So, what do you thi--”

Twilight had small trails of tears running down her cheeks, her wing coming into place to wipe them away with a crooked, yet ecstatic grin on her muzzle. “She really thinks of me like a mom?”

“That’s what it sounds like.” He confirmed, pulling her close with his wing. “So, about that thing we’ve been talking about…”

“I’m all in.” She told him, her expression growing more confident. “We can get started in the morn--”

“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!” Scootaloo cried from the foyer. The winged Crusader appeared before the royal ponies in just shy of an instant. She held a letter in her mouth that she quickly put into her hooves, opening it up and showing it to them. “I actually got a letter from my parents!”

Boltsinger’s eyes widened, letting his head recoil slightly at the statement. “Your parents, huh?” He sent her a hard-fought smile, leaning in closer. “So what does it say?”

“It says they’re gonna be in Ponyville for Hearth’s Warming!!!” She reared up, flailing her hooves for a moment before letting out a squee that threatened to crack the nearest windows and spinning in place.

Twilight and Boltsinger shot each other nervous glances, a singular foreboding thought passing between them. “That’s… uh… That’s great, Scoot!” Boltsinger exclaimed, going into a fit of nervous laughter that Twilight quickly added to.

Author's Note

Okay! Here it is! This chapter has been taking me a while, but I got it done! I was having some trouble ironing out the details, so that meant putting in a little bit of extra time. Sadly, some days were still difficult, with some of them having only gotten a single sentence in.
Let's just say that life has been... hard. Things haven't been easy, and it's hard to find motivation for anything. But my writing is one of the few things I'm always motivated for, so I'm not stopping!
I hope you understand that Hearth's Warming in this story is going to be a little late to coincide with Christmas this year. But now we're getting to some of the more interesting parts! Next chapter will hopefully be coming soon, and it's a doozy!
(Not as much of one as the one that'll come after it, though!)
I hope you enjoy it!

On A 'Digm

The Friendship Express rolled out of the Ponyville station on a cool winter morning. On the platform, floating a suitcase next to him, stood a tall, brown Unicorn stallion with silver eyes. He took a deep breath, the cold air revealing it to all, and tightened his scarf. “Well, I'm in Ponyville. Where the devil are they?”

“Have you tried looking up?” Came a cocky rasp from above. Paradigm took the suggestion, directing his gaze to the sky to see Rainbow Dash, wearing a purple hat and boots with orange rainbow patterns along with a red and orange scarf smirking at him. “Long time no see, Paradigm. What's up?”

“Clearly, you are.” He stated, giving her a similar smirk. “Glad to see you, Ms. Dash. Mind if I ask where Bolt is right now?”

Rainbow touched down next to him. “He's with Pinkie and Cheese getting the kid's party set up.”

The two trotted towards town, Paradigm cocking an eyebrow at her. “Isn't tomorrow the baby's birthday?”

The Pegasus chuckled, giving the Unicorn a firm slap on the back. “Sounds like you haven't been to a Ponyville party before!”

“Yes, clearly.” He retorted. He looked about the town, finding ponies of all trots of life going about their business. There were snow ponies in front of every house, and numerous decorations everywhere he looked. “I’d chance a bet that all the festive decor isn’t for the impending birthday?”

“Nah. We’re keeping that party small.” The mare clarified. “Just inviting friends and family. Anything more and the kid’s likely to lose it!”

“Lose it? What do you mean by that?” He wondered, looking ahead at the towering castle at the edge of town.

“He’s been known to freak out every now and then.” She continued, coming to a hover and spreading her forelegs. “And I mean really freak out! Just after he was born, he had a fit so bad it turned off the sun!”

“He… turned off... the sun?” Paradigm repeated, letting some disbelief onto his face. “How can a newborn do something like that?”

“He’s got this crazy ability to redirect magic!” She told him, zipping ahead. “And not just regular Unicorn magic, either! He was even able to take away Bolt’s ability to fly! It was insane!”

Paradigm found a lump in his throat that he quickly swallowed. “Remind me not to get on that baby's bad side…” He adjusted his spectacles, taking a look at some of the more extravagant buildings in town, such as one that looked like it was made of sweets, and one with a distinct carousel motif, getting a curious glimmer in his eye. “So, whereabouts is Rarity right now?”

The prismatic pony's smirk returned, leading him down the way to the largest building in town. “Oh, she's here and there. Probably at the castle right now. Practically everypony is there! We've got Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, Flurry Heart, Starlight and Sunburst, Twilight's mom and dad, Bolt's relatives. Heck! Even Celestia and Luna are gonna be at the party! I haven't seen the castle so full since last Hearth's Warming!”

“And isn't that just a fortnight away?”

“Yeah, but that's a whole different story!” She flew further ahead, beckoning with her hoof. “Come on! We got a party to set up!”

Paradigm met her with a determined grin, bringing his gait to a gallop. “I'll meet you there!” With a deep breath and a discharge in his horn, a star mark shone briefly in his Cutie Mark, lighting his horn's magic. He, and the luggage he carried, vanished in a flash of white.

Paradigm appeared at the castle doorstep, placing his luggage beside him and knocking on the door. Before the third rap was finished, the door was pulled open, a smug Rainbow Dash there to greet him. His jaw dropped, raising his hoof to her. “How did you…?”

“Just that fast!” She replied, turning into the foyer. “Make yourself at home. I'll go get Bolt.” She spread her wings once more, turning into a rainbow streak that went deeper into the castle.

Paradigm chuckled at the Wonderbolt's antics, looking around at the extravagantly-decorated foyer. It looked about as ready for festivities as the rest of the town, with the castle itself lighting up as if to show its own excitement. He wandered through, heading to the largest doors in the room. Past their threshold, he was met with a bright glow, forcing him to avert his eyes. After a moment, he chanced another look around, finding his jaw going slack at the vision before him. Six thrones, one connected to a smaller chair, sat around an enormous crystal table that displayed an image of Equestria and all of the lands surrounding it. Above the map hung a chandelier made of tree roots, hanging countless ornaments that showed images of Twilight and her friends that dated back several years. Along the bottoms of the ornament strings, he found another familiar face in the pictures. Boltsinger, looking happier than Paradigm had ever seen him in person. He placed his rump in a normal chair that sat between two thrones, admiring the chandelier with a soft smile.

Until a hoof tapped his back. “That's my spot, you know.” The Unicorn jumped, looking back to see a stern-looking orange Pegasus staring back with a smile tugging at his lips. After a brief staredown, the two of them erupted into laughter. “Good to see you, Paradigm!”

The brown stallion calmed his giddiness, standing up and putting his hoof on the orange one. “Happy to be here, Bolt.” He stated, turning to admire the room some more. “I must admit, though, I'd never have assumed you of all ponies would live somewhere like this!” His eyes returned to the ornaments full of memories. “You’ve certainly been busy over the years.”

“What, those?” Boltsinger let out a short laugh, waving a dismissive wing. “That’s only about three and a half years, honestly. But, then again, I at least have good memories of those years. More than I can say for most of my life.” He let his gaze follow Paradigm’s, remembering his own first time seeing the chandelier. “You know, you’d think my favorite room in this castle would be Nova’s room, or the library, but… We’re standing in it.” He brought his full attention to the pony next to him, patting him on the back. “Thank you for coming to my son's birthday. It means the world to us.”

Paradigm met the purple eyes in kind, pulling him into a hug. “It's an honor to be here, Bolt. Thank you for having me.”

Boltsinger briefly returned the embrace, moving back to the door. “Well, we’ve got a lot to do! Ponies to meet, things to set up, and a party to throw!” He raised a triumphantly balled-up wing, wrapping his tail around Paradigm’s foreleg and pulling him along into the castle proper. “Let’s do this!”

The halls of the castle were astoundingly long, making Paradigm wonder if there was some kind of magic that made it larger on the inside than what he had seen before. He found himself led with surprising ease to a large ballroom, several ponies flitting about and setting up balloons and decorations with a simple motif. Twilight flew past at a leisurely pace, floating some streamers along behind her and casually waving at her spouse. Following her was a large white-coated Unicorn stallion with dark blue hooves and eyes. His mane and tail were, likewise, a dark blue with a cyan stripe running through, and his Cutie Mark showed a shield with a magenta six-pointed star emblazoned on it, three smaller stars shining at the top. He floated a number of other decorations over to the lilac mare, coming to a halt and wiping his brow.

“That should be enough for now.” The stallion stated, taking a seat on the spot. “Haven’t been this busy since the last Crystal Faire!”

“Oh, come on, the Crystal Faire is way bigger than this, and you know it!” Boltsinger reasoned, pulling the stallion’s attention towards him. “This is just one birthday!”

“Correction. It’s your son's first birthday.” He motioned to the room around them, all of the decorations flying into place, a stage being set up at the edge of the room by Starlight and Sunburst , all while Pinkie and Cheese double-checked everything according to a blueprint. “Reminds me of Flurry’s first birthday…” He breathed a nostalgic sigh, turning to the entering ponies and taking note of the new face. “So is this the friend Twily told me about?”

“Eeyup!” Boltsinger affirmed, slapping the brown Unicorn’s back with his wing. “Shining Armor, meet Paradigm!”

Shining Armor smirked, stepping up to Paradigm to stand at his full height. “Aren't you the one who had that big following of ponies in Trottingham before Twily and her friends figured you out?”

A small fit of nervous laughter erupted from the silver-eyed pony, sending him back two steps. “Why, yes! That was… me…” He scratched his cheek with his hoof, looking away from the imposing royal in front of him. “That's not exactly something I'm proud of…”

“That's good to hear.” The Unicorn Prince affirmed, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “It means you're better than you were. It's no wonder you were invited!”

Paradigm's breathing slightly slowed, allowing him to look up at Shining Armor with a more genuine smile. “That means a lot. Thank you.” He looked between the pony Princes, feeling a sense of pride emanating from the smaller of the two. He took a deep breath, focusing intently on the ponies around him as he always did. An electric spark flew from the tip of his horn, sending his head recoiling. He directed his eyes to the catalyst for his magic, cocking a confused eyebrow. That's not right… Normally it's just--

“Are you okay, Paradigm?” Boltsinger asked, tugging at his focus. Paradigm’s eyes widened for a moment, finding everything around him to be a momentary blur. “You look like you got hit by a surprise snowball.”

“That’s… oddly specific...” Paradigm shook his confusion away, flashing a grin. “I’m fine, though. Just…” He looked over to the door, unconsciously walking towards it. Just need to go to the little colt’s room…”

Boltsinger moved to follow him, raising a hoof. “Ah. Let me show you the way! The castle is pretty big.”

Paradigm waved a dismissing hoof. “No, it's fine. I'd like to do a little exploring, anyway! You keep setting things up! I'll see you all later!” He picked up his pace, slamming the door behind him as he left the room.

After a long and confusing gallop through the castle, Paradigm finally skidded to a halt. Something had messed with his focus, throwing him off of his usual thought process. He pondered for a moment on who or what may have been the cause, but brushed it off. Whatever it was, now he knew to expect it. He leaned against the wall next to a door, taking another deep breath and closing his eyes. As he reached the top of his breath, his ear twitched. Behind the wall, there was a high-pitched laugh. He opened his eyes again, giving the door next to him a curious knock.

“Come in!” Called a soprano from within. Paradigm opened the door slowly, finding a room with designs all over that reminded him of Twilight, Starlight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. Hopping and skipping about the room were two tiny Alicorns, one of them of a bright pink, and one that had a darker orange coat, standing much smaller than the other. They were laughing and playing, several toys in the room floating and dancing in an aura that neither of the foals created. “I’ll be with you in a moment.” The soprano affirmed, the floating toys moving with her cadence. Behind the little bed in the center of the room sat another Alicorn, her horn alight in a shade of blue while she hummed quietly to herself. When the brown stallion came into view, she perked up, bringing one of the toys close to Nova, who hugged and chewed on it, while passing many more of them to the filly, who began her own impromptu toy dance for her little cousin. “Oh! I’m sorry, I thought you were Twilight!” She offered her hoof to him. “So whom do I have the honor of meeting?”

Paradigm bumped the greeting hoof, giving a reluctant shake. “Paradigm. And, might I chance a guess that I'm introducing myself to Princess Cadence?”

Cadence nodded, putting her hoof over her heart. “You’d be correct in your assessment.” She returned to her position by the bed, patting the floor next to her. “I imagine you got lost looking for something?”

Paradigm chuckled, taking the offered seat. “You could say that. Bolt wasn’t kidding when he said this place was big.” He put one hoof on the other foreleg, letting his gaze follow the foals. The littlest one hopped about, dancing with the toys both in the air and on the floor, while the older one clapped along to a tune only she could hear. “Come to think of it, why did you think I was Twilight?”

Cadence laughed into her hoof. “It was either her or Boltsinger, and he's much more… vocal… in his entrances.”

Paradigm joined in the laughter, moving to rest on his forelegs. “That's true. He is a bit of a loudmouth!”

As the grown-ups continued their conversation, a pair of eyes drifted from their little orange cousin to the newest pony in the room. Flurry's horn doused, and her face lit up, sending her trotting over to him. “Hi, there! I'm Flurry Heart! Who're you?”

Cadence crossed her forelegs, giving her daughter a mildly stern look. “Flurry, what did we say about manners?”

Flurry recoiled, fluffing her feathers and stepping back. “Oh! Yeah…” She adjusted her footing, flaring her wings as regally as she could and taking a bow. “I am Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire. It is my pleasure to make you acc-- um…” She brought her hoof to her head, groaning with effort. “Your acqu-- Oh…” She closed her eyes tightly, straining to find the word she wanted. Her hoof hit the floor, her face lighting up once more. “My pleasure to meet you!”

The adorable vision before him sent a wide smile onto Paradigm's muzzle, causing him to give the little Princess a cordial bow. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Princess.” He offered her a hoof in greeting. “My name is Paradigm.”

Flurry stepped up to the Unicorn, looking pleadingly at him. “Do you wanna play with me and cousin Nova?”

Paradigm looked away, scratching his muzzle. “I’m afraid I don’t quite know how.”

“That’s okay!” She assured, lighting her horn and pulling his hoof. “I can show you how!” She pulled him to another part of the room, beckoning with her foreleg. He sat beside her, following the direction she pointed to see a large pile of toys. “You just pick the toys up with your magic…” She lit her horn once more, picking up a teddy bear that soon began to dance around the room. “And you make them dance!” She floated a plush snail over to him, pressing it against his cheek. “Here, you can play with Wammy! But be careful, it’s my most favorite!”

He took the plush into his aura, moving it around with the teddy bear. “Of course, your Highness.” The toys began their dance anew, each horn lighting up to add something to the mix.

An hour later, the foals flew out of the nursery, moving down the hall with Cadence following closely. She waved a farewell to the stallion behind her, giving her wings a flap and taking off. Paradigm made his own exit, looking back and forth about the halls as he got his bearings. He let out a sigh, beginning a trudge down the hall in the hopes that he might find his way back to his friends. He traveled the slow curve of the hall, wishing he had wings, until he found a staircase. Lighting up like the foals he’d just parted with, he galloped toward them, ready to put an end to this chapter of his meandering and get closer to finding--

“Paradigm! Darling! There you are!” Called a soprano that forced his heart to skip a beat. Paradigm came to a stop at the end of the stairs, skidding forward a ways only to land just short of a mare with a coat of purest white. Rarity looked up at him with a smile and an unconscious batting of her eyelashes. “Why, I’ve been looking all over for you! Rainbow Dash said you’d arrived, but there was no sign of you anywhere!” She turned around, starting back into the halls with a beckoning hoof. “Come along, now. Lots to unpack! And you simply must tell me just what you’ve been up to!”

Paradigm stared for a moment at the fashion empress, quickly moving to a trot after her. “Yes, of course.” He let out a long exhale, settling into Rarity’s pace. “You’ve no idea how glad I am to have found you!”

She gave him a cursory glance, flashing a curious smile. “Oh? Why is it so wonderful?” Paradigm went on to explain the events of his day thus far, earning varied reactions from the mare that ranged from laughter at the conversation with the Princes to fawning over the very idea of the foals’ behavior. “I see. So, with all of the exploring you've done, have you found a room to stay in?”

“I… think so.” He said as they entered the foyer. “At least as long as the one you offered is still available…”

“Really?” She looked around the castle, taking in its full splendor. “But you have such a magnificent castle to stay in! Why would you want to stay anywhere else?”

Paradigm trotted faster, heading for the door. “It's the castle that's the problem.” He informed her, hiding a slightly dopey grin. Among other things… “It's so large that I just can't find my way!”

Rarity took another look around, adding the new perspective to her outlook. Had Pinkie been present, she would likely have listed off all of the details that make the castle a daunting place to traverse. Luckily, she knew better than to try and do the same. “I suppose it is a rather arduous task to navigate a place like this. I've been coming here for so long that I often forget just how large it can be!” She puffed out her chest, pulling along her guest's luggage as she caught up to him. “Very well, then! You'll be staying with me and Sweetie Belle!” She led him out the door, trotting down the road in the direction of the Carousel Boutique. “Oh, it'll be so delightful! I can show you my upcoming line, my inspiration room, and the boutique that started it all!”

Paradigm's smile grew a little dopier as he looked on at the purple-maned pony. “Personally, I’m mostly looking forward to the exquisite company…”

A giggle made its way to Rarity's lips as the boutique came into view. “Well, with as busy as we've been these past few days, what with setting up Hearth's Warming decorations, following up on all of Cheese Sandwich's plans for the party, not to mention keeping everything going at the school! I'm afraid I won't be much in the way of company.”

“Oh, any company provided by you is exquisite by default.” He affirmed, nudging her side. She jumped slightly, looking over at the stallion with the faintest of blushes. Some red of his own came forward as he looked back. Their pace slowed considerably the moment they made eye contact, lingering in the reflections they saw. “I truly mean that, you know…”

“I believe you…” She replied, focusing more fully on the pony next to her, causing the aura of her horn to flicker and fizzle. Paradigm’s luggage hit the ground with a thunderous thud, making the Unicorns jump and bringing the world around them back into focus. Rarity looked around, reeling back upon her discovery that the door to her boutique was mere inches from her face. “Oh! It seems we’re here!” She rubbed her neck, hastily pulling the door open. “Let’s… get you settled in!”

Paradigm stepped back, looking into the boutique. “Oh… Yes! Let’s!” He took his luggage in his magic, making his way inside. “Lots to do, after all!” The two ponies went into a fit of nervous laughter, putting everything aside. “So, you'll have to show me around this fabulous abode.”

“Oh, of course! But, first…” She gave him a firm look in the eye. “Are you feeling alright? You've seem quite the nervous wreck today!”

Paradigm cocked an eyebrow. “Um… Yes. Why do you ask?”

Rarity reached up, putting her hoof on the tip of his horn. “Well, you haven't done that little thing you do with the lightning in your horn since we bumped into each other. Is there any reason why?”

“Oh, it's not a huge problem. I just--” He stopped himself mid-sentence, sending her a wide-eyed gawk. “Wait a tick… You noticed that?”

“Of course, dear!” She confirmed, giving the stallion's horn a playful flick. “Why, you do it every five minutes! And you're always overflowing with confidence whenever you do!”

“Do you know what it is I'm doing when I do it?”

“Well, I imagine it has something to do with your Cutie Mark.” She guessed, motioning to the mark in question. “I can’t imagine anything with you having lightning that doesn’t involve that.”

Paradigm looked away, letting his eyes stay fixed on Rarity. “Well, yes, but… Do you know exactly what I’m doing with it?”

“I’m not sure it matters, really.” She affirmed, moving the luggage inside and heading up the stairs. “What does matter is that you're feeling alright. And if doing that little light show helps you to be as such, then you'll get no judgement from me!”

“Well… if you insist…” He stopped at the top of the stairs, closing his eyes and inhaling to the limit of his lungs. The area around him became a void, with various Cutie Marks dancing about at various distances. A spark of electricity flew out from his horn, reaching into the void in search of something to connect with. Let's just focus on one pony for now… Don't want to overdo it… The spark quickly found its target, a set of three diamonds in a rather immediate proximity. It latched onto the mark, creating a resonance between it and the honey brown stallion. With a brief reflection of her mark in his, Paradigm felt a surge of energy, charging him like a battery and sending a confident smile to his muzzle. There we go… Just what I needed!

“So what is it that you're doing?” Rarity inquired. Paradigm jumped, pulled from his void of focus to find her looking curiously at him from only a few inches away. “I know it doesn't matter, but you can't blame a girl for wondering!”

“Well, it's not all that complicated.” He stated, his voice giving off an extra air of confidence. “I'm simply using my talent to reflect talents, albeit briefly.” He pointed to his Cutie Mark, which showed a brief glimmer of the diamonds that represented Rarity. “Bolt suggested that I use my talents to learn the skills I'm reflecting, and through that, I learned that I can focus them further and gain a deeper understanding of them! It's like I'm becoming one with their magic... Truly an empowering experience!”

“It sounds wonderful.” She affirmed, opening the door to an unoccupied bedroom. “Well, this is your room. I've provided all the comforts, so it shouldn't be too hard to feel at home.” She stepped aside, allowing him entry and placing a hoof on his back. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

He sent her a smile, returning the gesture. “Thank you.” Rarity nodded, slowly leaving the room and closing the door. Paradigm lingered for a moment, letting his rump hit the floor. “But I already feel at home.”

Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Paradigm entered the castle precisely at noon the next day. Sweetie Belle wasted no time galloping into the castle to meet up with her fellow Crusaders, while Rarity strutted on towards the ballroom. Paradigm waited behind for a moment, letting his eyes linger on the fabulous mare while a thought came to the forefront. “So, you're absolutely certain that the Royal Sisters are attending this party?”

Rarity stopped for a moment, looking back with a foreleg gingerly raised. “Oh, of course, darling! Princess Celestia wouldn't miss this soiree for the world!” She returned to her trot, soon followed by the bespectacled stallion. “Why, I wouldn't be surprised if yet another closet has been filled with gifts she bought for the birthday boy!”

Paradigm let out a minuscule laugh. “How delightful… Perhaps I should take the opportunity to network. See if they'd be interested in joining a cult!”

Rarity laughed in turn. “I suppose you could give it a shot, but I'm not sure they'd be interested in shaving their manes!”

The Unicorns shared a laugh as they approached the door to the venue, the stallion of the pair shrugging. “Well, it was worth a shot.” He lit his horn, opening the door and taking a bow. “Ladies first, of course.” Rarity shook her head, pulling on his foreleg and trotting in beside him.

Despite being a royal birthday, the venue was decorated simply. Pink, green, and purple balloons littered the room, with red streamers strung between the pillars. Simple games were set up throughout the room, with tables full of all kinds of refreshments lining the walls. In the center of the room sat a high chair with balloons strung to the back, waiting for the guest of honor. Ponies of all kinds filled the room, ranging from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the Apple Family, including Grand Pear and Sugar Belle, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, Starlight and Sunburst, Fluttershy, the Crystal Empire royalty, and the Royal Sisters, Celestia and Luna. Everypony in the room sported a cone-shaped party hat modeled after their particular features.

“FINALLY!” A pair of party ponies cried from either side of them. Rarity and Paradigm felt a sudden force pushing down on their heads with elastic snapping down on their chins. They looked to either side of the door, where Pinkie Pie, Cheese Sandwich, and Boneless 3 beamed at them respectively.

“Are you ready for to party?!” Cheese asked.

Paradigm flashed the party stallion a grin. “It is what I came to Ponyville for!”

Cheese gave Paradigm a hard pat on the back, nearly sending him to the floor. “That's what I like to hear!” He put his hooves on the mirrored rump, pulling him over to the group while Rarity and Pinkie chatted on their way to join them.

As the gathering was completed, a particular purple dragon flew into the room, putting his claws in his mouth for a loud whistle that turned every pair of eyes in the room towards him. “Places, everypony! They're on their way!”

The room fell silent, everyone taking places at the sides of the room while Spike retrieved a camera, maintaining a hover over the high chair. With slow hoofsteps, Twilight and Boltsinger entered the room, a sleeping orange colt in the Princess’ foreleg. They each raised a wing in a shushing gesture, bringing Nova forward and placing him in the high chair. They sat on either side of him, giving him a simultaneous kiss on the cheek. The sensation caused the colt to stir, slowly opening his eyes to find his parents smiling down at him. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” Twilight said, planting another kiss on his forehead.

Boltsinger looked to the doorway, beckoning with his wing. With a flash of the camera and a hum from Boltsinger, the birthday song began while the Cakes rolled in a cart carrying two of their namesake dessert. One of the cakes was a multi-layered circular cake, while the other was small, flat, and rectangular, with both of them featuring light green icing with pink accents. The Princess and the Pegasus stepped aside as Spike snapped another photo, letting the little Prince look around at all of the friendly faces. Finally, the flatter of the cakes was placed before him, eliciting an excited squeak from the orange Alicorn as he plopped his face into the center of it. The gathered ponies cheered, coming forward to both watch Nova's cake antics, as well as collect a slice of their own.

Paradigm hung back from the cake collection and looked around at all of the ponies he had come to know in this room, including those he had only just met. Each of those that he'd spoken to had greeted him openly. They had accepted him for who he was, and it had not gone unnoticed. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he felt the sheer love in the room begin to empower him. His friends, his family, his subjects… Wait… My subjects? That's not right… He sharpened his focus, revealing the various Cutie Marks in the room as his horn began to discharge. He had expected there to be several of them, what with the enormous gathering of ponies, but instead found only four gigantic ones surrounding him, with enough space for what he could only guess was two left over. His lightning slipped away from the first mark, a crystal heart with gold adornments on either side, only to make contact with a mark of a radiant crescent moon. It filled him with a soft light that sent an entirely different kind of power coursing through him. His body quaked as a dark blue wave of magic swept over his form, disconnecting his lightning from it only to land on the brilliant sun mark next to it. This power shone brightly within him, illuminating his eyes to a solid white with a warmth that felt like a sunny summer day. With a coursing of white magic all over, his discharge flew to the most familiar of the marks, a magenta six-pointed star surrounded by five smaller ones. Like the heart from before, this power spread out in all directions, simultaneously offering and obtaining power from everypony around it. He shivered with excitement as his lightning returned to him. These four powers had been incredible, but his curiosity had been piqued. He was surrounded by these four marks, but they had left a gap. He had to know what existed there, so his lightning shot forth again.

Surprisingly, the discharge made contact with something. Raw, unfocused power that swirled about inside his mind, bringing to mind an icy tornado that could tear through everything. One piece of ice flew from the winds, coming at him and throwing his lightning from where it had landed. That power was painful, but he had to admit it was also intoxicating. He had to have more, and his lightning lashed out to find it.

The lightning made contact again, but this time felt different. The chaos of the storm he'd seen vanished, replaced with a pure blackness. It was empty, yet overwhelming. He thought to explore deeper, but found his thoughts cut short as a lightning bolt flashed before his eyes. He winced in pain as it passed, bracing himself for something as another flash crossed the first. Then another, followed by three more. The lightning bolts swirled together into a single point, fading into a blackness that sent a strange kind of power through his entire body. It felt like it was about to suck in everything around it, turning it into something else and sending it exploding out in all directions. His eyes went wide, sending his breathing into a panic. Of all of the talents he'd experienced so far, these had by far been the most exhilarating, reminding him of how he felt before he reunited with Boltsinger.

And that one thought sent a shock to his system. The lightning of his horn reeled itself in, the void clearing away to reveal the party in full swing. Nova, Flurry Heart, and the Cake twins ran around, new toys littering the room while the adults talked, laughed, and kept track of the youngest ponies in the room. Paradigm took a step back, reeling from his experience to the point of hyperventilation. With one last look at the gathering, he took a staggering breath, turning to the door and galloping away at full speed.

Rarity stepped into the boutique, removing the diamond-themed party hat as she made for the stairs. “Paradigm! Paradigm, where are you? You left in such a hurry that you hardly met any of the other guests!”

Paradigm slowly descended the stairs, dejectedly walking past the mare into the main showroom. “I'm here…”

“Are you alright, dear?” She wondered, moving to follow him. “Have you not done your little electric thing?”

A forced laugh came out of the stallion. He looked back at her with a weak smile. “Oh, I've done it.” He turned to face her, raising a hoof next to his head as his pupils shrank to pinpricks. “I did it so much I could keep going for days without stopping!”

“Darling, that's wonderful!” She exclaimed. “How does it feel?”

“It feels… familiar…” He started, letting his face soften as his hoof returned to the floor. “Too familiar. A rush that I only ever got from hundreds of ponies at once…”

Rarity nodded with understanding. “I can only imagine, given that you were in the same room as every Alicorn in Equestria! By themselves, they have enough magic to do some of the most incredible feats of magic imaginable!”

“Especially those foals…” He confirmed. “It was the most incredible feeling I've ever gotten… And… honestly, I'm scared.”

“Scared? Why in Equestria would you be scared?” She put a hoof on his back, slowly rubbing back and forth. “If you have a problem, you know you can tell me.”

The brown stallion moved to the modeling stage, sitting on the edge with his head hung low. “I’m afraid of what I was.” His horn let out a faint spark, the usual light coming forth and wrapping around his spectacles. “The pony I was before I met all of you.”

“But you've come so far since then!” Rarity assured, taking a seat next to him. “And you have friends to help you face those fears.” Her hoof found its it's way to his chin, directing his gaze to look into her eyes. “No matter what they are.”

“Thank you…” He turned away, tugging at his scarf. “But I don't know if I can trust myself.” He tugged harder, causing the scarf to fall out of its knot. “I love all of you, but a rush of power like that… I liked it. I liked it a lot. It's that kind of feeling that sent me down that… more cultish path…” He stood up, letting the scarf and spectacles fall to the floor. “Let's just say… there's a lot to figure out.”

“Well, I'll be here for you every step of the way!” The mare declared, rising up and raising a dramatic hoof.

“No… you won't.” He lit his horn, floating his luggage in from upstairs. “I just can't risk it.”

“I’m… confused. What do you mean?” Rarity inquired.

Paradigm walked to the door, taking a staggering breath. “It means… well…” He wiped his eyes with his foreleg, stomping his hoof and taking a determined stance. He stepped up to her one more time, leaning in and placing a kiss on her cheek. “It means goodbye...” As the mare opened her mouth to reply, the stallion performed an about-face, rearing up and galloping out the door.

“Paradigm, wait!!” She called, galloping to the doorway with her hoof extended. There was a white flash in the distance, and with that flash, the designer's rump hit the floor with water welling up in her eyes. “Be careful…”

Author's Note

So, Nova is now a year old! But I think we might have something a bit more important to worry about.
The next chapter is the start of something I've had on my mind since I started season 3!
I hope you enjoy it! And Happy New Year!

Ready And Waiting

Twilight and Boltsinger walked through the castle halls on a calm winter morning. Twilight held Nova on her back, keeping him occupied with her wings while they walked past a door with a shield mark hanging from the front. Boltsinger chanced a look back at the door, unconsciously twitching his tail. “Her parents…”

Twilight looked back at her husband curiously. “What was that?”

Another twitch came from the stallion’s tail, bringing a groan out of his mouth. “Her parents… That’s all Scootaloo has talked about for the past two weeks!” His tail twitched again, cracking against the wall as his hoof came over his heart. “Wasn’t that supposed to be us?”

Twilight pulled Nova forward, bobbing him up and down with each step. “Well, not in any official capacity.”

“Yeah, yeah, we're ‘practically’ her parents like Rainbow is ‘practically’ her big sister…” He stated, waving his wing in a circular motion. “But since when does that matter?” He let out a sad sigh, looking back at the room with another twitch in his tail. “I bet they’re gonna have a great Hearth’s Warming… She’s certainly preparing enough.” Another twitch. “Haven’t seen her since Nova’s birthday…”

The Princess gave the Pegasus a warm smile, putting her wing around him and squeezing. “I know… But think of how happy she is! She doesn’t get this excited over just anything!”

Boltsinger smiled, returning the Princess’ gesture. “Yeah… I bet right now she's making a Crusader-style list of all of the things they're gonna do when they get here!”

Scootaloo sat in the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse, looking over a large piece of paper with a large number of images drawn on it. She was looking between them all with an excited smile, biting on her lower lip as Sweetie Belle peeked over her shoulder. “What’s that for?”

Scootaloo looked to her Unicorn friend, spreading out her smile to cover her entire muzzle. “This is a list of all the things I'm gonna do with my parents when they get here for Hearth's Warming!”

“That's great!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. She looked more closely at the crayon drawings, counting her eyes in an attempt to make sense of it. “So… What are they?”

Scootaloo pointed to the top left image, which displayed a rough image of a board with a stick poking out of the end. “First thing's first, we're gonna go scootering!”

“That’s a scooter?” The white filly asked, taking a second look at the image. “It looks more like a cracked board with a nail in it.”

Scootaloo waved her hoof between them. “It’s an abstract interpretation! I’ll get Apple Bloom to fix it up later.” She pointed to the next image, which showed something that looked like a high wall. “Anyway! Next is bungee jumping!” She pumped her foreleg, briefly buzzing her wings. “I just know they're gonna love the rush of falling at breakneck speeds!”

“Are you sure about that?” Sweetie Belle inquired, sitting on her rump and looking out the window. “Not everypony likes to fall like that. Rarity would just kick and scream the whole time!”

“Yeah, but that's Rarity!” Scootaloo argued. She motioned to an image of something that looked like a mutated cupcake. “Then we'll go to Sugar Cube Corner for lunch, and then…” She pointed to an image of a cloud. “... then we go flying! I can take them all the way to Cloudsdale! And we can take Rainbow Dash and Soarin with us! We can go to the weather factory, and then after that I can show them all the stunts I've been learning!”

“It sounds like you have a great day planned!” The white filly stated. She stood up, heading to the door. “I'm gonna go get Apple Bloom so we can start the meeting. You wanna come?”

The Pegasus waved a wing, sitting by her list again. “No thanks. I wanna iron out the kinks on this list! I’ve gotta get as much quality time out of it as possible!” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and trotted out the door, laughing to herself as her fellow Crusader resumed her drawing.

Boltsinger sat on a park bench with his nose buried in a book. His tail stuck out between the seat and the back, turning the patch of snow behind him into a sizable mound with its frantic twitching. The passing ponies looked upon the Pegasus with awe as the mass of blue hair began whipping at the mound, shaving away bits of snow until it took the shape of a small pony. He let out a low growl, causing his tail to pick up speed when the sound of wings came from above.

“That was awesome!” Rainbow Dash cheered, quickly coming into view with a spreading of her foreleg. “I can't believe you got a whole routine set up so quickly!” She came to a landing, joined soon after by her favorite filly.

“Thanks for helping me get it down.” Scootaloo replied, trotting ahead of the Wonderbolt. “I just know my parents are gonna love it!” She rose into the air again, waving to her honorary sister. “Well, I'm gonna go home! See you later, Rainbow Dash!”

“See ya later, Squirt!” Rainbow said, waving in kind as the Crusader made her exit. A particular one of Scootaloo's words echoed in Boltsinger's ears, causing him to clench his teeth to prevent himself from screaming. His tail made a powerful twitch, cracking like a bull whip against the snow pony to leave a patch of grass where it had been. The sound of the crack reverberated across the park, drawing rainbow-maned attention to the seated stallion. She walked up to him, reaching out and poking him with her hoof. “Bolt?”

The performance pony let out a high whinny, dropping his book and shooting into the air only to land on the ground behind the mare. “I'm fine! I'm fine! Really, I am!”

Rainbow turned to face him with a tilt of her head. “I… wasn't asking about that.” She examined her friend more closely. Wide, fake smile. Shivering from the cold, having clearly forgotten to dress for the cold. Twitching tail. “But now you've got me wondering… You sure you're okay?”

Boltsinger swung a stiff foreleg in front of him, one of his pupils shrinking dramatically. “Eeyup! Never better? And why wouldn't I be?” He looked in the direction Scootaloo had departed from, his features softening at the thought of the filly. “After all, my girl is seeing her parents soon…”

“Uh-huh, sure.” She deadpanned, turning to look at the fallen book. “Since when do you read…” She furrowed her brow, picking it up to better read the cover. “The Complete And Unabridged History Of Sticks?”

“Since… um… Well…” Boltsinger started, scratching his mane with his wing. “Well, you see, Mudbriar just made sticks sound so fascinating! And we just so happened to have this in the castle library, so I just… Well, you know!”

“Yeah… You just grabbed the closest book to the door without thinking, huh?”

“What?! What gives you that idea?”

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow on her otherwise flat face. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

Boltsinger raised a hoof in a matter-of-fact manner. “I…” He paused a moment, attempting to find his next words. Finally, his hoof dropped to the ground. “No. No I don't. Can I just have my book back so I can go home?”

The cyan mare looked at the book in her wing, getting a devious smirk on her muzzle. “No way!” She threw the book into the air, taking flight and catching it in her forelegs. “Not until you tell me what's bugging you!”

“I told you, I'm fine!” Boltsinger stressed through gritted teeth. “Now, please, give me back my book!” He held out his wing, making a beckoning motion.

Rainbow Dash shot her fellow flyer her most determined glare. “Make me!” She made a buzzing motion with her wings, rocketing off into the distance in an instant.

Boltsinger gave off a loud growl, angrily flaring his wings and cracking his tail. “RAINBOW DASH! GET BACK HERE!!!” With a heavy flap of his large wings, he launched himself after her.

Rainbow lived up to her name, dashing through the sky like she was the embodiment of wind. She weaved between every cloud in a long trail, looking back at her pursuer. As always, he was significantly slower when flying under his own power. She snickered to herself, zipping over at a breakneck speed to fly next to him. He looked ever forward, gritting his teeth with determination. She reached over, lightly tapping him on the shoulder. “Hey, slowpoke! Where’re you looking?” He let his eye look towards her, widening a bit as his wings splayed out to the side. He came to a stop, letting Rainbow Dash take advantage of the momentum and shoot forward again. He gave a frustrated growl, sending himself forward at his top speed and barreling through the clouds. She flipped herself over, flying upside-down as she looked back at him. “So… Did you learn anything from me? There’s gotta be something wrong if your flying is this sloppy!”

“I just have to catch you, right?” He retorted, glaring back at her.

“Or you could tell me what’s up! Either way!” She sped ahead of him, whipping his nose with her tail as she left him in her clouds.

“There’s…” He started, increasing the speed of his flapping. “... nothing…” He reversed his direction for a moment, winding up dramatically. “... WRONG!!!” With one shout and a massive flap, all of the clouds around him burst apart. He jolted forward, becoming a blur of orange and blue.

Rainbow glanced back at the streak her former flight student had become, letting a little bit of pride out as she increased her velocity. “I guess you really did learn a thing or two!” She zipped about the skies of Ponyville, gathering a large number of clouds into a single point. She flew around them with precise movements, performing a common Wonderbolt cloud-shaping maneuver. If she was going to get him to fess up, she had to get under his skin, and based on recent events, she knew exactly what kind of shape this cloud needed to take. “You know, it’ll go a lot easier if you just tell me!”

One more growl erupted from the stallion, a small discharge beginning to spark from his wings. “I told you! There’s nothing to--” Rainbow’s cloud came into view, stopping his train of thought along with all forward motion. He took a long look at the cloud in front of him, all semblance of anger vanishing at the sight of Scootaloo in the sky. He took a staggered breath, gently ascending to land on top of the cloud. “I told you… There’s nothing to tell…” He fell to his belly, closing his eyes and letting his wings drop below him.

Rainbow came to a landing in front of him, sitting down and placing the book in front of him. “And why’s that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He looked up at her, pawing the cloud with his hooves. “I mean, you know what Twilight and I have been talking about! We've been planning it for moons!” He poked at the book, pushing it back toward her. “Now there's a chance it'll all just… fizzle out… All because they're showing up… I thought we had something special, but one mention of them and I barely get to see her anymore…” He stood up, turning around and flaring his wings. “You can keep the book. I’m going home…” He leaped into the air, performing an immelmann turn into the cloud, busting it into pieces that fell like snow. Rainbow scrambled to catch the falling book, lingering in the air with a sigh as she watched her friend speed away.

Scootaloo walked through Ponyville, clutching her rolled up list tightly in her wing. The day had arrived. She was going to see them for the first time in forever, and have the best Hearth’s Warming of her life! Ever since she got that letter, she had been cleaning up her whole house, making sure everything was ready. Everything was perfect. They were going to meet her friends, see how she’d been doing in school, and really spend some quality family time together. This holiday was going to be one to remember, no matter what.

At least, that was what she hoped.

Her nerves were shot. Excitement had reached its peak, but not without its fair share of concerns. It had been more than just a few moons since she had seen her parents. What if they didn't like Ponyville? What if they didn't like her friends? Worse still, what if they wanted her to leave Ponyville?! Her breathing began to pick up in speed, turning every step up to the platform into a veritable mountain. She was passed by several ponies along the way, spurring her into motion. The top step came into view, sending a jolt into her mind. This was it. Soon, they would arrive, and everything would change.

And then a wing draped over her back. “Hey, Squirt. You excited?”

Scootaloo looked up to see Rainbow Dash smiling down at her, sending a wave of relief through her. She gave her honorary sister an ecstatic smile. “You know it!”

“Good ta hear!” A mild drawl affirmed. Scootaloo looked onto the platform, finding Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle waiting with eager smiles. “But we wanted ta be here for ya, just in case.”

Scootaloo jumped forward, catching her best friends in a tight embrace. “Thanks for coming… I just know they're gonna love you!” she looked around past her fellow Crusaders, trying to spot more familiar faces. “So, are Bolt and Twilight gonna be here?”

“Twilight said she had some last-minute planning to do, but Bolt…” She looked towards the castle, where a thunderclap sounded. “He'll be along.” She held out a wing, holding up three feathers. She counted down with a smirk on her face, stepping aside as the last feather curled up.

Another thunderclap invaded the ears of everypony at the train station, drawing their attention to a dust cloud next to Rainbow Dash. “I'm here!” A baritone called from within. With a buzzing of bright orange wings, the dust cloud was cleared, revealing Boltsinger with a residual discharge in his feathers. “Did I miss anything?”

“Nope. Right on time!” Rainbow replied, giving him a hard slap to the back. He staggered for a moment, but held firm, sending a glare back at her. The tension between them broke in an instant, letting the two Pegasi share in a laugh. “Glad you could make it, Bolt.”

“Why wouldn’t I be here? I’m… very interested in meeting… them.” He stated, moving to sit by the main building. “So, when are they going to arrive?”

Scootaloo beamed, hovering over and sitting next to the stallion. “They’ll be here on the next train!” Rainbow Dash took a seat on the other side of the filly, pulling a book from her saddlebag while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took positions on either side of the adults. The orange filly pulled her list out from under her wing, unrolling it and looking at it with a measure of excitement. “I’ve got so much stuff I want to do with them! It’s gonna be amazing!” She looked between all of the activities, letting her excitement build up again. Finally, finally, she was going to have a family again. “They’re gonna love it here… I just…” All at once, Scootaloo's mood seemed to dissipate. She looked nervously at Boltsinger, voicing the greatest fear that plagued her mind. "Do you... Do you think they'll like me? I haven’t seen them in so long… What if they get here, and they don’t like what they find?"

The words struck Boltsinger in the heart as he realized how foolish he was being with his jealousy. This was about Scootaloo, not him. How could he let his own insecurities sour his mood on such an important day for her? He reached over and draped a wing across her back. "Are you kidding? What pony in their right mind wouldn't love an amazing filly like you?"

“Yeah! You’re one o’ the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Apple Bloom noted. “With as many ponies as you’ve helped with Sweetie Belle ‘n me, there’s no way they wouldn’t appreciate ya!”

The nerves in Scootaloo’s smile began to fade, letting out a relieved exhale. “You really think so?”

Rainbow put a hoof around her honorary little sister, pulling her close and messing up her mane. “We know so, kid!”

Scootaloo worked herself free of the mare’s grip, buzzing her wings excitedly. “Yeah! This is gonna be great!” She bobbed her head up and down, moving to a rhythm that made itself more present as the train they awaited pulled into the station. Scootaloo sprang up from her spot, hovering above the platform. “It’s here! It’s here!” The train doors opened, letting out a large number of ponies that quickly dispersed. The winged Crusader searched the crowd intently, the corners of her mouth falling lower with each pony she passed. “They’re… not here…” She landed in front of the group, her head hanging low. “How come they’re not here?”

Sweetie Belle stood up, trotting over to the purple-eyed filly and putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Maybe they missed the train and got on the next one?”

Scootaloo gave her friend a weak smile. “Maybe… Let’s wait for the next train!”

And so they did. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle rejoined the lineup they had along the station wall, and they proceeded to wait for the next train to arrive. When it did, Scootaloo rose up to find the ponies she longed to see. Once again, though, they were absent.

“The next one! We’ll wait for the next one!” She affirmed, giving the most hopeful of smiles.

Another train came, yielding the same result.

“Maybe… the next one?”

And then another came. And another. Each one was more nerve-racking than the last. Hours and trains passed, each one bearing no relatives for the filly in waiting. Finally, the sky was dark, and the last train of the day pulled in.

“They have to be on this one!” Scootaloo declared. “They just have to!” She rushed over to the opening doors, standing eagerly on the edge of the platform. Slowly, the doors opened, an eternity seeming to pass as they slid into position to reveal…

Nopony.

The train was empty.

Scootaloo’s eyes went wider than she ever thought possible. Her ears and wings drooped, and she found herself slowly stepping away from the train. “Why…?” She closed her eyes, where pools of water had begun to form. “Why didn’t they show up...?” From under her wing, she pulled the list forward, once again unrolling it and looking down on it. All of the things she was going to do. All of the great times they were going to have. All of it was gone. A boiling heat welled up within her as tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the paper beneath her. She let out a shrill scream, tearing the list into pieces and stomping it into the floor beneath her. Finally, she turned to the ponies that had come to be with her, opening her eyes with a new flood of fresh teardrops. “Why don’t they want me…?”

At the sight of his favorite filly in such a state, something cracked inside of Boltsinger. He sprang forward, catching Scootaloo in an embrace that he wasn’t sure he would ever let go. She melted into his forelegs, putting her own around him as her sobs began. With staggered breaths, he squeezed only slightly tighter, stroking her mane with his hoof. “I don’t know, Scoot… I just don’t know…”

Author's Note

Full disclosure... I feel like a monster after writing that last scene. But I can at least say that things can get better for my favorite filly.
Next chapter comes soon.
I hope you enjoy it.

A Family Hearth's Warming

A single filly’s cries filled the air from the Ponyville train station, with the pony in question sobbing into the chest of the stallion that held her. Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom slowly approached the Pegasi, tentatively reaching out for their distraught friend. Boltsinger looked back at them, making a beckoning motion with his wing. The embrace quickly encompassed the entire group, lingering for the remainder of Scootaloo’s break down. When the tears ran out, Scootaloo looked up at the stallion. “Can we please go home?”

“Of course.” Boltsinger replied, lowering his forelegs. “Whatever you want to do, we'll do it.”

Rainbow Dash reached over, putting her hoof on the stallion's shoulder for a moment. “Actually, Bolt, I think I have a better idea.” She put her other hoof on Scootaloo, giving her back a firm rub. “Why don'tcha come over to my place for a while, Scoot?”

Scootaloo rose to her hooves, looking up at her honorary sister with a smidgeon of hope. “Really? You want me over there?” With a solemn nod from Rainbow, she looked back to Boltsinger. “Is it okay?”

Boltsinger nodded in turn. “Why wouldn't it be?” He bent down, giving her a kiss on the top of her head. “Just promise you'll have a good time, all right?”

The orange Crusader sniffed up a lingering sob, giving Boltsinger one more quick hug. “All right.” She separated from the mass of ponies the group had become, giving each of her best friends a hug of their own before making her way to the edge of the platform and turning back to Rainbow. “You ready?”

Rainbow raised a hoof to her. “Gimme a sec. I'm on my way!” She turned to Boltsinger one more time. “You've got some pretty important business to attend to with Twilight, don't you?”

“Eeyup.” He answered, working his way to his hooves and looking to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. “But first, I'm gonna make sure these two make it home. You take good care of Scoot, okay?”

Rainbow Dash made a quick salute with her wing. “Always.” She returned to Scootaloo's side, the pair of them flaring their wings and taking off.

As those particular Pegasi made their exit, Sweetie Belle lingered on a particular spot on the platform, staring down at the bits of shredded paper that lay there. She wiped a budding tear away, lighting her horn to gather every little piece that scattered about and stowing them away. She rejoined her Earth Pony companion, walking up to the stallion whose breathing had a consistent stagger to it. He slapped his muzzle with his wings, standing tall and turning to face the fillies. “Are you two ready?”

The two Crusaders gave a confirming nod as Apple Bloom stepped forward, gingerly raising her hoof. “Y'know, Bolt, ya don't have to take us home. We can make it on our own.”

“I know you can, Apple Bloom.” He affirmed with a weak smile. “I… have my own reasons.” He turned to the stairs, beckoning with his wing. “Come on, let's go.”

Ponyville was quiet at night, as were the ponies walking through it. There was a somber air about them as they walked towards the Carousel Boutique, with Boltsinger showing a strength that the Crusaders didn't often see in him. When they finally made it to their first destination, the Pegasus gave the door a hard knock. Naught but a moment later, the door opened up with Rarity inside. She looked curiously at Boltsinger like something was amiss. “Boltsinger, are you alright? You look like you're about to break!” She looked down at her frowning sister. “Did it not go well at the train station?”

Boltsinger took a deep breath, keeping hold of his composure as Sweetie Belle slowly entered. “Is it ready?”

“By ‘it’, do you mean…?”

“Yeah.”

Rarity winced, feeling a sharp pain strike her directly in the heart. “I see… Yes, it's ready. I'll get it now.”

“I've got something for you, too, Bolt!” Sweetie Belle added. “I just… need something to put it in.” The white-coated ponies disappeared into the boutique, each coming back after a moment of rummaging. Rarity held a fine jewelry case in her magic, floating it over to Boltsinger's outstretched wing, while Sweetie Belle carried a much more crude bag filled with tiny bits of paper. She held it up to him with a hopeful look in her eye. “If you're doing what I think you're gonna do, you'll need this.”

Boltsinger took the bag with a smile. “Thanks, Sweetie Belle. I’ll put this to good use.” He turned with Apple Bloom back towards town, waving his hoof. “See you all soon.”

The silence returned for a while as they made their way toward Sweet Apple Acres, and Apple Bloom could feel an unusual tension from it all. She looked up at Boltsinger, swallowing a lump that found its way to her throat. “So, Bolt… Are you ‘takin’ us home’ just so that you can talk to our sisters?”

“That’s part of it.” He answered, keeping his pace steady. “I really do want to see you get home safe. We’ve had enough tragedy for one day.”

“And that thing Sweetie Belle thinks yer gonna do… Is it…?”

“Eeyup.”

“I see.” She paused for a moment, trotting ahead of him with a smile. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I appreciate the sentiment.” He told her, finally showing her a real smile. “If there’s anything you can do, I’ll let you know. Until then…”

“Until then, I’ll make sure it’s a surprise for Scootaloo.” She stated. “I just can’t believe that happened…”

“Can’t believe what happened?” An elderly mare called from across the road. Boltsinger and Apple Bloom looked to find the source, seeing Granny Smith and Big Mac looking curiously back at them. “An’ why do y’all look s’ down? Weren’tcha goin’ to meet little Scootaloo’s parents?” Apple Bloom and Boltsinger let out a simultaneous, and remorseful, sigh, with Apple Bloom wiping her eyes with her foreleg. They crossed the road, meeting up with the elder members of the Apple Clan with Apple Bloom giving her grandmother a hug. The old mare gave her filly a confused look, stroking her mane. “Now what’s wrong, Apple Bloom?”

“It’s… a long story, Granny Smith.” Boltsinger replied, turning to Big Mac. “Can you tell Applejack that it’s happening soon?”

“Eeyup.” The farm stallion confirmed. He looked over to his sister, then back at the Pegasus. “You okay, Bolt?”

“Nnope.”

Big Mac recoiled a ways, not used to receiving such a response. He cleared his throat, bracing himself for the conversation ahead. “Everythin’ go alright?”

“Nope…”

“Sumthin’ bad happen?”

“Eeyup.”

“They didn’t show up, did they?”

Boltsinger averted his eyes, his expression turning sour. “Nnope.”

“She stayin’ with Rainbow Dash?”

“Eeyup.”

Big Mac examined his friend more closely, noticing the breaking of his breaths. “And yer at yer limit tryin’ to be strong fer them fillies, ain’t ya?”

Another sigh came out of the performance pony, letting his head hang low. “Eeyup…”

The red stallion put a hoof on the orange one’s back, offering what support he could. “You go ahead home, Bolt. I’ll make sure Applejack gets the message.”

Boltsinger returned the gesture, sending a smile his way. “Thanks, Big Mac. You’re a good friend.” He waved a farewell to the Apple Family, moving to a gallop towards his last destination.

Twilight sat in the nursery, rocking Nova’s bed gently as he drifted off to sleep. She hadn’t heard from Boltsinger since he’d left that morning, and she was certain he would’ve been back long before now. She stood up, giving her baby a kiss on the forehead before moving out into the halls. I hope everything went well… Scootaloo seemed so excited, even if it made Bolt a little uncomfortable. A creaking noise from below let the Princess know that her wait was over. She lit up her horn with a smile, creating a flash of magenta that changed her view to that of the foyer, where Boltsinger was making a slow entrance. He dragged his hooves as he walked, a distinct shake to him with each movement. “Welcome home.” She greeted, trotting over to him with her usual grin. “How’d it go?”

Boltsinger fell to the floor, clutching his head with his hooves. “It.. went…” He made a deep inhale, moving to wipe his eyes. “It went…” He looked up to his wife with a wobble in his lip, all of the strength he had beginning to melt away.

Twilight’s features grew soft as she lay in front of him. He brought her wing forward, letting his head rest on her feathers. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be strong with me.”

At her instruction, the crack within him spread, causing a shattering in his heart. Everything that he had been holding back since the train station flowed outward. Twilight pulled him into a hug, holding him close as he let it all out. “I’ve never seen a heart so broken…”

Twilight’s first response was to hold him tighter, having an idea of what such a broken heart looked like, given the one that lay before her. “What happened?”

“They weren’t there…” He started, taking some time to catch his breath. “They promised… They had her so happy… So excited… And then they couldn’t even be bothered to show up…” He raised his head to look in her eyes with a mix of anger and sorrow. “She needs us, Twilight… She needs a real family… Not just the empty promise of one…”

“Then what do you say we give her one?” She suggested, helping him to his hooves.

With one last sniffle, he brought forward the items he got from Rarity and Sweetie Belle. “My thoughts exactly.”

The next several days practically flew by. Scootaloo had stayed with Rainbow Dash the entire time, reading Daring Do, reminiscing about good times, and occasionally going out for a fly. The latter of the activities had been the hardest for the filly, having not felt all that uplifted by recent events. Finally, the day that she had been promised to her arrived. Hearth’s Warming Eve. She slowly opened her eyes that morning, sitting up to find Tank laying next to her on the bed. He slowly looked at her with a blink and a smile of equal pacing. She patted his head, stretching away her sleepiness. “Well… It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve… I wonder what Rainbow Dash is up to.” She made to get up, finding a tortoise foot brushing against her. She looked back to Tank, who now had a note in his mouth with her name on it. She quickly retrieved it, turning it over to read what it had to say.

“Hey, Scoot,

I’m gonna be pretty busy today helping to set things up for the Hearth’s Warming Eve party tonight. I hate to say it, but it’s probably gonna take up the whole day. You’ve got the run of the place for now! And I’ll see you at the party tonight!

Your sister,
Rainbow Dash!”

“Not home, huh?” She let out a sad sigh, laying back down and draping the blanket over herself. “I guess I should’ve expected to be alone this Hearth’s Warming…”

A thunderclap outside immediately countered her statement, followed by the door opening, hooves scrambling into the room, and the same hooves pressing against her. “Scootaloo! Wake up!” Scootaloo moved against the hooves, pulling the blanket away again to find Boltsinger beaming down at her. He grabbed her hoof with a slightly discharging wing, pulling her along into the house. “Hurry! Hurry! We’ve got a lot to do today before the party!”

“What…? Bolt? What’s going on?” She asked, pulling her hoof free and matching his pace. “Why are we in such a hurry?”

A giddy laugh erupted from the stallion as his walk turned into a trot. “We’re having a family Hearth’s Warming!”

The word ‘family’ forced Scootaloo into a full stop. “A family Hearth’s Warming?” She rubbed her foreleg with her hoof, looking away from him. “Don’t you need to be part of a family for that?”

“Yes. Yes you do.” He confirmed. He reached back to her, picking her up and holding him under his foreleg as his wings spread wide. “And that’s exactly why your presence is mandatory!” He took off in an instant, heading out the door and soaring towards town. “We’ve got a full schedule, so we need to get to the first spot quick!”

“Okay.... What all‘s on the schedule?”

“Oh, Twilight has that covered.” He released her from his grip, letting her take wing beside him. “Follow me!”

They flew over Ponyville, where most ponies were doing last-minute shopping, meeting up with their loved ones, and other things one would expect for the holiday. Big McIntosh trotted through the town as well, pulling an enormous wagon that was filled to the brim with items covered by a tarp with his sisters on either side of him. Rarity and Sweetie Belle headed much more conspicuously to the castle, carrying gifts and supplies to make ready for a celebration. All of the familiar faces on such a grand holiday brought a small smile to Scootaloo's face. She looked ahead once more, fully expecting the stallion she followed to bank towards the castle, only to find him shooting right past it. “Uh… Bolt? We just passed the castle!”

Boltsinger looked back at her with a snicker and a smirk. “Oh, we're not going to the castle!” He pointed to an area in the distance where the snow had all been cleared. Past a large forest overlooking a hill was an extremely long ramp that led to a road. At the start of it sat a set of three scooters, one yellow, one red, and one blue. “My job was to come get you. But Twilight was setting up our first activity!” The pony in question stepped out from under a tree, waving up at the Pegasi.

“And we’re… going scootering?” The filly wondered. Boltsinger nodded enthusiastically, banking down to the start of the ramp. “Why?”

“Because you like scootering, of course!” He answered. They came to a landing next to the Alicorn, stretching their wings and looking at the ramp. “Excellent job, honey! I gotta say you outdid yourself!”

Twilight puffed out her chest, rubbing it with her hoof. “Why, thank you!” She looked over to Scootaloo, softening her smile. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Scootaloo.”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Twilight.” She looked around at the elaborate setup, admiring just how intricate the course they were set to ride was. “So, I’m confused… If this is a family Hearth’s Warming, where’s Nova? And Spike?”

Twilight hid a giggle behind her hoof. “Flurry Heart insisted on playing with Nova today, so we let them have their playdate. As for Spike, he’s keeping an eye on the students after Gallus’ stunt at the school. So it’s just the three of us, today!”

“So, it’s…” Scootaloo started, immediately finding a hoof over her mouth.

“Don't question it, Scoot. We're here to have fun.” Boltsinger suggested. He retreated his hoof and brought it to his neck. “Besides, I've been curious about how you do all those awesome stunts…”

“Me, too.” Twilight affirmed, lighting her horn and rolling the scooters over. “So, would you mind teaching us?”

Scootaloo looked between the ponies curiously. They had taken time to do things with her before, but something about today felt different. And it wasn't just because it was Hearth's Warming Eve. They looked more sure of themselves, and right now, she had their undivided attention. “Okay!” Best to not waste it. She pulled her scooter up, the three of them each putting on their helmets. The most experienced of their number mounted her scooter, hunching over into position. “So, it's actually really easy to get started!” She took one of her hind legs and placed her hoof firmly on the ground. “You just stomp…” She dragged the same hoof along the ground, extending it put behind her. “Kick…” The force of her movement carried her slowly forward. “And roll!” She leaned forward, bringing the back wheels up and turning the scooter to face the older ponies again. “The only hard part is keeping your balance. But once you get the hang of it…” Her wings began flapping at full speed, shooting her towards the forest. She weaved between several trees that stood uncomfortably close together, becoming an orange blur in an intricate pattern. She left the weave to find herself speeding towards a lopsided stump, hopping onto it and propelling herself into the air. She hung in the air for longer than either of the observing adults thought possible, twisting in the air above her scooter towards a particularly thick tree. She gave the tree a cocky grin, planting her hooves on her scooter and angling herself to hit it wheels-first, launching herself off of it and coming to a skidding halt in front of them and striking a pose. “You can do anything!”

Twilight and Boltsinger gave a simultaneous cheer, quickly turning to their own scooters and mounting them. Boltsinger looked down at his hind legs, repeating the initial instructions to himself a few times as his attention drifted to his wing. “Wait a minute… You say to stomp, kick, and roll, but you hardly ever do that. You use your wings to propel yourself.” He spread his wings wide for emphasis. “How do you do that?”

“That?” The filly extended her own wing, looking back at it in wonder. “I never really thought about that. I just sorta… did it.” She gave the feathered appendages a few test flaps, some lifting her up, while others propelled her forward. “I think the best way to say it is that I flap the other way.”

Boltsinger began to slowly cock his head to the side, his face showing no end of confusion as his spouse laughed. “I think what she means is that she's just flapping her wings, but applying force in the opposite direction so that the wind resistance propels her forward given the current angle of her body.”

“So… Flap backwards?” He asked, receiving a nod from the Alicorn. He turned his scooter to face the ramp, hunching over and putting his helmet into place. “Okay, then! Let's give this a shot!” He spread his wings, twinkling his feathers to prepare himself. With a silent countdown, he gave a powerful flap, sending him…

CRASH!

Backwards into a tree. He sat up from the impact, seeing little Novas flying around his wobbling head and raising his hoof. “Okay! I'm ready for snowflake class, teacher! Just gotta find my wheels…” Scootaloo gave off a massive guffaw, trotting over and helping the stallion to his hooves. “Did I get it right…?”

Twilight joined in the filly’s laughter, patting her husband on the back. “I think you should leave it to Scootaloo.”

“Yeah, probably…” He smiled back at Scootaloo. “So, you ready to do this thing?”

Scootaloo looked to the ramp, letting her smirk return. “Yeah! Let’s ride!” She rolled up to the start of the ramp with Twilight and Boltsinger coming up on either side of her. With a simultaneous stomp and kick, they rolled off down down the ramp.

Later in the day, the trio of winged ponies stood in line next to a large cliff with a dock leading off of it. They all wore various types of protective gear, with a tight binding around their barrels to hold their wings in place. At the edge of the dock, ponies had long cords clipped to their gear, letting them jump off into the ravine below. Scootaloo trotted in place, her excitement nearly bubbling out of her as she watched pony after pony make their dive. “I can't believe bungee jumping was the next thing on the schedule!”

Twilight looked at the ravine with a half-hearted smile and an awkward laugh. “Me neither! But, you know how it is! Anything for my family!” She shot a panicked look to Boltsinger, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Are you sure we have to do this? I mean, I don't have a problem with Scootaloo doing it because she loves to do it, but surely we don't have to jump off of a cliff, do we?”

The line moved forward as Boltsinger gave his dearly beloved a smirk. “Now, come on, honey. This is for Scootaloo. It's not as meaningful if we don't do these things with her.”

“But what if the cord snaps and we hit the water? Don't you know that water has the same surface density as concrete?! Without our wings to stop the fall in time, it could lead to a DISASTER!”

“And how is this any different from barrel riding at Neighagra Falls?” He wondered, bringing his muzzle closer. “Weren't you excited to do that with Velvet?”

Twilight shook her head vehemently, stepping forward in line again. “I wasn't excited, I was terrified! As much as Iron Will ruined that vacation, I'm glad I didn't have to go on that ride! I only said I was going to ride it because--” Her eyes widened, turning their gaze to the filly that was getting ready to jump. “... Because it was with somepony I love…” She lingered on the orange filly, watching the sheer glee on her face as she dove headfirst from the dock. Laughing all the while.

As the Crusader ascended once again, Boltsinger put his hoof on Twilight’s chin, turning her attention back to him. “Exactly.” He gave her a kiss on the lips and a light boop on the tip of her horn. “By the way, it’s your turn!”

“Wait, what?” Twilight was pulled over to the front of the line, where the Unicorn attendant began to look over her gear. She moved to the edge, looking down at the ravine and swallowing a lump in her throat. Come on, Twilight… This is for Scootaloo! Besides, they check the equipment for safety standards all the time! And these ropes are made to hold ponies ten times your size! You’ll be fine! You’ll be perfectly-- Her thoughts were cut off by her own screaming as the Unicorn pushed her over the edge. The wind blew through her mane at a speed she didn’t often reach while flying, blowing her mouth back in the process. The river below got closer with every passing second, with all of the scenery around her rushing by like watercolor. Suddenly, she felt a tug against her. The bungee cord had begun to stretch and slow her descent. For a brief moment, there was no movement. The very tip of her horn touched the water, creating a tiny ripple, and then she was flung back up. A moment later, she was caught in the attendant's magic, hyperventilating as she was placed next to Scootaloo.

“So, how was it?” Scootaloo inquired.

“How was it?” She repeated. “How was it?!” she brought herself muzzle to muzzle with the Crusader, eyes still wide and breathing still heavy as the corners of her mouth turned up. “It was amazing! I didn't think anypony could ever have so much fun falling before! I mean, I already knew there was fun to be had in moving quickly, but I never dreamed it would he so incredible to surrender your aerial mobility and make a jump like that! That must be the kind of rush my mom goes for whenever she does these kinds of things!” She put her hooves on Scootaloo's shoulders. “Let's go again! Together, this time!” Scootaloo nodded enthusiastically, grabbing her hoof and pulling her along to the end of the line.

As he was floated into place from his own jump, a wobbling Boltsinger shook his head, sending drops of water flying everywhere. “Now that was fun! You girls wanna go again?” He opened his eyes, finding them far ahead of him. He reared up, moving to a gallop after them. “Hey! Wait for me!”

Three panting ponies came to a landing in front of town hall, laughing all the while. After at least five jumps each off of a perfectly good cliff, they spent more hours than they expected doing various activities in the sky. They had ranged from Scootaloo demonstrating the stunts she had learned from Rainbow Dash to a full-on race between the three of them, all the way to comparing notes on flying techniques and trying new things in the air. The entire time, Scootaloo’s face had lit up like never before, like she had found something that she’d been missing once again. They came to a stop on the deck of the town hall building, taking a rest on the steps as Scootaloo looked to the Alicorn in charge. “So, what’s next?”

Twilight pulled out a large piece of parchment that looked like it was carefully taped together, doing her best to hide it from the filly’s direct view. “Let’s see… We were flying for a lot longer than I expected, so we don’t have much time left before we have to get to the castle and prepare.” She rolled the parchment back up, turning back to her. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the little filly’s room.” She flapped her way to her hooves, trotting off behind the building.

“So, how have you been enjoying our little family Hearth’s Warming?” Boltsinger asked, laying on his fetlocks next to her.

“Honestly? It’s been one of the best days of my whole life!” She declared, buzzing her wings for emphasis. “Everything we’ve done has been so much fun! And the fact that I got to share it with you two only makes it even better!”

Boltsinger smiled warmly at the small pony, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m really glad to hear that, Scoot.” He let out a deep sigh, working his way to his hooves. “Anyway, I’m gonna… um… Gonna go see what’s taking Twilight so long! Be back soon!” He cantered off in the direction Twilight had gone, leaving a befuddled filly standing by the door.

“Hey Scootaloo!” Called a familiar drawling contralto. Scootaloo followed the sound to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trotting over. “Happy Hearth’s Warming!”

All of the winged Crusader’s confusion washed away at the sight of her best friends. She hopped off of the deck, meeting them halfway. “Hey, gals! Happy Hearth’s Warming! What are you up to?”

“Oh, nuthin’ much. We’ve been… um...” Apple Bloom began, looking to Sweetie Belle. “What have we been up to, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle recoiled at the sudden question, looking behind her, then back at Scootaloo. “We’ve been… Uh… With our families! And… Sledding?” She gave Apple Bloom a weak smile. “Right, Apple Bloom?”

“Yeah! Sledding! And... buildin’ snow ponies! All that wintery Hearth’s Warmn’ stuff!” She gave her friend a smile that was almost too wide, tilting to the side to see what might be behind her. “So… What did you do today?”

“Well, first they wanted to go scootering. Twilight even went so far as to set up this big, elaborate course for us to ride on!” She explained, her eyes beginning to sparkle at the memory. “And then we went bungee jumping! Twilight was afraid at first, but we all jumped at least five times each!”

“It sure sounds like you had fun!” Sweetie Belle commented. “Almost like the schedule they used was made just for you!”

“Right?! It's been amazing! Twilight and Bolt have been doing things like that with me all day, saying something about today being a ‘family’ Hearth’s Warming.” She looked in the direction the older ponies had gone, letting out a small laugh. “But Spike and Nova weren’t even there! Not much of a family celebration without the family, huh?”

A burst of laughter came from the Earth Pony, who quickly stifled herself. She took a deep breath, finding her composure once more. “Yeah, I... guess you’re right. But… I think it’s still family, even if yer not related by blood.”

Scootaloo considered the events of the day, how Twilight and Boltsinger had insisted on spending the day together, always referring to it as a family day. It reminded her of another notion they had insisted upon after a particularly chaotic ordeal, in that she was Nova's ‘big sister’. “Well, sure, they're practically family. But, do you really think we can be the real thing without blood?”

“Oh, I don't just think so!” Boltsinger stated, making the filly in front of her jump. “I know so! Without a doubt!”

Scootaloo looked down from her new spot by the ceiling, smiling at the sight. “Bolt! Twilight! You're back!” She hovered level with their heads, putting her forelegs around them. “You ready to keep going?”

“Actually, it's getting pretty close to time for the Hearth's Warming Eve party.” The Princess proclaimed, pointing to the now-orange sky. “We should get back to the castle. Don't wanna be too tired to celebrate with everypony!”

“Right! Let’s go!” Scootaloo landed in front of her best friends, looking them pleadingly in the eye. “You wanna come with us? Everyone’s already gonna be there, so it’d be perfect!”

Yeah!” Sweetie Belle confirmed.

Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. “Let’s do it!” She raised her hoof, immediately met by the hooves of her fellow Crusaders.

“All right, everypony! They’re here!” Rainbow Dash announced as the door beneath her opened. Twilight, Boltsinger, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders made their entrance. She swooped down to the floor, landing beside her favorite filly. “So didja have fun?” Scootaloo smiled up at her idol with a light she hadn’t seen out of the filly in days, going into an in-depth recollection of what had happened over the course of the day. Twilight and Boltsinger had vanished into the castle, presumably to get ready, but that didn't matter to Rainbow at this point. Her sister was happy again, and that was phase one complete.

As the other Crusaders met up with their families, a pair of poofing noises were heard on the other end of the foyer. Little hooves galloped through a sudden gap in the crowd, letting the smallest pony in the room tackle his big sister in as tight of a hug as a baby could do. Nova babbled at length, nuzzling Scootaloo's cheek almost endlessly as the second smallest Alicorn, Flurry Heart, made a softer approach. She stood uncharacteristically still, looking earnestly at her. “Miss Scootaloo!” She started, drawing the older filly's attention to her. Flurry made as big of a breath as she knew how, standing firm. “Nova says he's super duper happy that you're here! He said that there was a big wave of… a wave of sad a few days ago that made him cry… Made Uncle Bo-bo cry, too… And then he didn't see his big sissy for days and days and days! And he wanted to know you weren't sick with sumfin!”

Rainbow and Scootaloo looked between the foals with wide eyes, finally landing on Nova. “Is all of that true?” Scootaloo wondered, receiving a firm nod from the baby. She looked over to the filly. “How do you know that?”

Flurry recoiled, unsure of how to respond. “Um… well… I…” A pair of hooves came to each of her shoulders, sending an empowering warmth through her. She looked at the source of each hoof, finding her mommy and daddy smiling down at her. Cadence brought her hoof over her heart, prompting Flurry to mimic the motion. They each took a deep breath, exhaling and extending the raised forelegs out. The filly took a confident stance, spreading her wings really. “As a Princess, I got a job to bring ponies together and help them commun… Sunburst is always givin’ me the big words… To help them talk! And Cousin Nova doesn't talk so good just yet… I don't get to do it very much, but when we're doin’ stuff, sometimes I gotta talk for him, since he can't do it.”

Scootaloo held her little brother tighter, trotting over to the littlest Princess and tussling her mane. “Thanks, Flurry.”

Flurry let out a giggle, looking between the ponies around her. “So I did it right?”

Shining Armor pulled his daughter into a hug, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “You did it perfect, sweetie! I'm so proud of you!”

“Nova couldn't have asked for a better translator.” Cadence added, adding her own hooves to the hug. “Now how about we let Cousin Scootaloo have some time with her family?”

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow. “Cousin? But I'm not actually--”

“Don't worry about it, Scoot.” Rainbow suggested, leading her further into the party. “Let's just have a good time!”

The young Pegasus happily followed her honorary big sister's advice, finding a great many ponies approaching her with smiles and kind words. Twilight's parents even made a point to give her a hug. Rainbow Dash’s father, Bow Hothoof, caught the filly in a vicegrip of an embrace, lamenting his not being there for recent events. As she met with the rest of the guests, she found herself wondering why so many ponies were looking at her. It didn't feel like staring. More like they knew something she didn't, and it was starting to fire up her curiosity. She reached the center of the room, planting her rump on the floor next to the large, elaborately-decorated tree. I almost forgot that it was Hearth's Warming Eve… Guess that'd be easy to do after… that. Her and Nova's eyes focused on the fiery heart at the top of the tree. You know what? It doesn't matter that they didn't show! I already have a family! Just like Apple Bloom said!

The sound of a fork on a glass interrupted the filly's thoughts and the crowd's conversations, drawing their attention to the second floor. There stood Twilight and Boltsinger, looking more festive than some had ever seen. Twilight wore a red dress with a skirt that bore a pattern that looked like holly leaves, with a little bit of the plant itself clipped into her mane, while Boltsinger wore a red vest with green trim, bearing yet more holly as a boutonniere. Spike sat on the railing, sporting a vest similar to the one the stallion wore, and all three of them had their wings spread wide. “Thank you, everypony, for coming to tonight's celebration!” The Princess began. “It warms our hearts to see so many families coming together in friendship!”

“This Hearth's Warming has been one we've been especially looking forward to, given some of the gifts we've had planned.” Boltsinger stated. He and Twilight hopped over the railing, gliding down to the base of the tree.

As the ponies made their landing, Spike shot up from his seat. “And speaking of gifts, it's time to open presents!”

The crowd went into cheers, several ponies reaching for boxes they had stashed around the room. They took positions near the ponies for whom they were intended, making to finally give them out as the clearing of Boltsinger's throat brought them to a halt once more. “And as much as we would love to have everyone open their gifts as soon as possible, there's one gift we have to give before anything else!”

The royal ponies each took a position next to Scootaloo, causing her to look curiously up at them. “So who's this special gift for?”

Twilight and Boltsinger shared in a laugh, the more magical of the two proceeding to light her horn. “Who do you think?”

The filly recoiled, looking around the large room to find every single eye fixed upon her. “Wait, you mean it's me?!” She looked back up at them, receiving a solemn nod. “But… why? I didn't do anything to deserve this kind of attention.”

“It's because of this.” Twilight said, bringing an envelope forward. “It's for you, from… your parents.”

At the mention of her parents, Scootaloo's face instantly soured. She put Nova down, snatching the letter from the magenta magic and holding it in front of her. “From them, huh?” she pulled on either end of it ripping into the outer envelope.

Boltsinger reached forward, grabbing her forelegs before she could go any further. “Scootaloo, wait! What are you doing?!”

“I'm gonna tear it up!” She informed him, letting the letter fall to the floor. “I don't care what they have to say… They weren't there when they said they'd be!” She freed herself from Boltsinger's grip, standing up and staring coldly at the envelope. “They were never there for me… Besides…” She turned to face Twilight, Boltsinger, Spike, and Nova, her smile making its soft return. “I've been with my real parents all day!” The Crusader's declaration elicited a collective coo from the crowd, along with some faint blushing from the ponies before her. “Both of you have always been there for me for as long as I've known you! I've learned and done so many things because I've had yours, and everyone else's support. You're more family to me than any blood relative could ever be!”

Giving into her affectionate side, Twilight rushed forward, giving the filly an enormous hug. “Oh, Scootaloo… It means everything to hear you say that!” She pulled away, floating the letter up once more. “But you really should read this one. I promise, it's worth it!” With a reluctant sigh, Scootaloo took the letter, opening it up and beginning to read.

“Dear Scootaloo,

Before we say anything else, we want you to know that we love you. That is paramount above all else. These past days, you’ve been the only one in our thoughts, as the heartbreak you felt reached us harder and faster than a bolt of lightning. We’ve made it our mission to ensure that you never feel unwanted again, and to accomplish that, we’ve done something extra special. We can promise you, without a doubt, that this Hearth’s Warming is going to be the best one ever.

Your loving parents…”

Scootaloo read the signature with an expression of disbelief, looking over the letter at the ponies that signed it. “Twilight Sparkle and Boltsinger…?” She put the letter down. “You guys wrote this…? Why?”

“Well… You know how we took a rest at town hall before we came home?” Boltsinger asked, scratching his cheek with his wing. Scootaloo nodded in confirmation. “Well… We weren’t using the bathroom when we ran off the way we did.” He made a beckoning motion with his wing, prompting Twilight to poof in a set of papers. “We were meeting with Mayor Mare to finalize…” Twilight floated the papers to where Scootaloo could read them. “... This.”

Scootaloo looked at the bold calligraphy on the top of the page, her eyes going wide with shock. “Certificate of… adoption?!” She pushed the papers aside, letting those same wide eyes well up with tears. “You guys… adopted me?”

Boltsinger took a deep, shaky breath, finally letting out a proud “Eeyup!” He stepped closer to his favorite filly, putting his hoof on her shoulder. “We’d been meaning to do it for moons, but… I think we might have been afraid to move forward.”

Twilight nodded at the statement. “I think he’s right. First we were worried that we’d get between you and Rainbow Dash, then I was worried that you didn’t like me enough… And then, right when we finally decided to go ahead and do it…”

“You got that letter…” Boltsinger finished. “And, well, you know the rest…”

Twilight’s hoof found its own way onto Scootaloo’s shoulder, sending a wave of warmth and confidence through the filly’s frame. “But it’s like we said in our letter. We love you, and we want to make sure you never feel unwanted again!” She looked over at her faithful assistant. “Spike, if you would.”

“I’m on it!” He declared, running over to the present stack. He plucked a small box from the very top, bringing it down to the family. “Here it is!”

Twilight gave the dragon a silent thanks, floating the box in front of the latest addition to her family. “As for your actual gift, we’ve come up with a new tradition for our family.” She opened the box, revealing a purple pendant to the petit pony in the shape of the wing and lightning bolt from her Cutie Mark. “Every member of our family with their Cutie Mark will receive a pendant reminiscent of it. And this one is yours!”

There was a moment of silence as Scootaloo beheld the jewelry presented to her. Her breathing had grown staggered, and her eyes drifted up to the ponies that were practically… No. The ponies that were her parents. Their smiles were as they always were. Warm and inviting. And the feeling she got from their support empowered her to the point where she felt like she could perform a Sonic Rainboom. “I… have a family…” She told herself, her tears beginning to fall freely. She spread her forelegs, diving into her new parents with the full force of a Pegasus in flight. They fell onto the floor in a hug, their filly hugging them tighter than she’d ever hugged anypony before. “I HAVE A FAMILY!!!” Twilight and Boltsinger laughed, putting their forelegs and wings around her and giving her a simultaneous kiss on the head. “This is the best gift ever!”

The crowd burst into cheers, starting the party up again in full swing. Once Scootaloo had calmed down, Twilight and Boltsinger sat with her on one of the benches at the wall. “I think we should probably explain a few things.” Boltsinger suggested, earning a nod from Twilight. “We’ve actually been planning this day in earnest ever since the train station. We got almost everypony in on it.” He lifted the filly’s pendant with his wing pointing his hoof at Rarity. “Rarity made your pendant.” His hoof moved, stopping on the Apple Siblings. “Big Mac, Applejack, and Apple Bloom moved all of the stuff you had at your old house over here.” Once again, his hoof moved, showing Rainbow Dash dancing in the air with Soarin. “And you already know what Rainbow was doing.”

“As for what we did today, it was actually you who planned it all out!” Twilight added. She teleported in a large piece of parchment that was carefully taped together from tiny pieces. “Sweetie Belle gave us the pieces. It took me all night to piece back together!”

“All of that, just for me…” Scootaloo said, looking down at her brand new family pendant. Her reflection looked back at her, giving her a sense of pride like she’d never felt before. “Thank you…”

“Um… Aunty Twily?” Called a curious voice from beyond the bench. The family looked over to the source, finding Flurry Heart standing there with her hoof raised. “I’m confused… What was the gift you gave Scootaloo? Was it a necklace? Or a new toy? I know I get excited when I get a new toy!”

Twilight lit her horn, picking her niece up and putting her on the bench. “It’s much more than that, Flurry Heart. We’ve adopted her! That means that she’s our daughter now, like Nova is our son, and you’re our niece!”

“So… If she’s your daughter… And I’m your niece…” Flurry brought her hooves up, looking between them, then looking at Scootaloo with wide eyes. “I have a new cousin!” She jumped from the bench, lighting her horn and pulling Scootaloo along with her. “Cousin Scootaloo! Cousin Scootaloo! Let’s go play right now!” She galloped off into the party, the newest family member laughing as she let the magic take her along.

Author's Note

I've been waiting a long time for this chapter. And the previous one, honestly. There were some parts that I wanted to add but ended up leaving out as I went with the flow, and the way the two parts are divided up could have been handled in a few ways. But I felt like this was the right way to do it. The previous chapter ended on what felt like exactly the right scene, and this one, I feel, needed to be longer. I needed to show the aftermath, and then I needed to show the major events. It's played out in my head (and out loud) so many times and in so many ways that I was never 100% sure how it would go, but I'm really happy with this.
Now, here's something I commissioned the artist who did the cover art for my first two stories, HoodwinkedTales, to do in honor of this. Plus, I just had to see the scene in front of me.

A Glimmer In Their Eyes

It was a beautiful spring morning in the Crystal Empire. In a certain house on a certain street, Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst lay in bed. Life was good. Starlight was able to go to Ponyville whenever she wanted thanks to some of her own magical innovations, and that helped in her role as a guidance counselor. Sunburst was doing his best to teach Princess Flurry Heart, and was proud that she flourished as much as she did. The two of them stretched themselves awake, looking each other in the eye.

“Hey there, handsome.” Starlight greeted.

Sunburst put on a dopey grin with a nervous laugh. “Hey, yourself.”

Starlight inched her head closer to his. “I love waking up to you every morning… It makes me want to…”

Sunburst followed suit, inching just a little bit forward. “Want to what?”

She moved even closer. “Makes me want to…”

Sunburst took his turn. “Yes?”

The two Unicorns came close enough to nearly touch noses, both with enamored smiles on their faces. “Makes me want to do this…” She puckered her lips, making Sunburst do the same as they began to close the distance. As they were about to make contact, a strange, awful feeling welled up in the mare's stomach. She lurched back, throwing the blanket off of herself and running for the nearest wastebasket to hang her head over and let out that witch demanded freedom.

Sunburst slowly sat up, floating his glasses onto his muzzle and looking curiously at his special somepony. “Hm… Wasn't expecting that…”

Starlight and Sunburst slowly walked into the Crystal Empire castle, the stallion’s hoof held firmly on the mare’s back. Starlight’s head hung low, her earlier sickness still lingering in the back of her mind. They made their way into the throne room, where Starlight sat against the wall. Flurry galloped to her Crystaller immediately, guiding him to another part of the castle. Starlight waved a shaky farewell to her favorite stallion, walking over to the throne upon which Princess Cadence sat. “Good morning, Princess…” She lit her horn, pulling forward a scroll. “Today, you have--”

Cadence put her hoof on the parchment, moving it aside to look at the mare holding it. “Are you okay, Starlight? You look ill.”

“Ill? What do you mean, ill?” She asked, averting her eyes. “I’m just fine! Just having a few…” Her cheeks distended again, bringing her hoof over her mouth with a woozy groan. She took a moment to right herself, giving the Alicorn a lop-sided smile. “Just a few issues. It’s nothing!”

The Crystal Princes squinted, stepping over to the Unicorn and examining her. “That certainly doesn’t look like nothing.” She encased the smaller pony in her magic, focusing her horn on different parts of her body starting from the tip of her horn. “Let’s see what’s going on…”

Starlight began to squirm, sending a glare at the Alicorn. “Hey! Cadence! What are you doing? Put me down!”

“Not until I find out what’s wrong.” Cadence stated, moving slowly down her body with her spell. A light began to shine from within the magical mare, growing brighter the closer the Princess came to her midsection. Finally, she landed on her belly, where the glow reached its peak. Her eyes widened, letting Starlight loose from her magic. “I see…”

“See what?” Starlight wondered, finding her balance and facing the ruler. “What did you find?”

Cadence put her hoof over her heart, performing her patented calming technique. “You… may need to sit down for this.”

The door to Flurry’s room burst open with a force unlike Sunburst had ever felt. “SUNBURST!!!” The stallion and filly simultaneously jumped, landing a few feet away and looking to the doorway. There stood Starlight, seething with anger and surging with an aura that told the would-be wizard that he was in serious trouble. She stomped up to him, holding the clasp of his cloak with her magic. “Come with me… You and I need to talk.”

Sunburst began to shake. The look in Starlight’s eye was like nothing he had seen before, and it terrified him like nothing else. “Um… W-what is it you need to talk about…?”

Starlight pulled him in closer, getting nose-to-nose with him. “Nothing I can say in front of Flurry Heart.” She turned around, stomping out the door with the terrified teacher in tow. “Come on!”

Starlight closed the door behind them, letting Sunburst go and starting down the hall. “You need to take responsibility.”

“Responsibility?” He repeated, readjusting his cloak. “Responsibility for what?”

A frustrated growl came out of the mare. She spun around to face the stallion, aggressively pointing to her belly. “FOR THIS!!!” She stomped towards him again, keeping her hoof on her belly as she went. “You did this to me, and you need to take responsibility for it!”

“I don’t understand...“ He looked closely at the emphasized belly, giving it a soft poke with his hoof. “Did you put on weight or something?”

Sunburst was pulled up to Starlight’s angry face in an instant. “Are you saying I’m fat?!”

“No! No! Not at all!” He backed off, waving his hoof between them. “You’re beautiful! But… why would you think something like that?”

The mare’s growl grew ever more fierce. “I’M PREGNANT, YOU IDIOT!!!” She pulled on his hoof, putting it up against her belly. From within, he felt an extra spark of magic, sending a peculiar warmth into his body.

The warmth from within Sunburst’s favorite mare brought shock to his eyes while dropping his jaw. “You’re… pregnant?” He looked up at her furious face, going into a wide grin. “That’s incredible!” Starlight’s face softened at his reaction, letting out a yelp as he pulled her into a tight embrace. “We’re gonna have a foal of our very own! I love you so much!” He gave her one squeeze before releasing her and pacing around the hall. “We need to set up a room for it, and figure out when it’s due, and… Oh! I’m gonna have to do research on how to take care of it!” He put his hooves on his cheeks, excitedly pulling down on them. “I can see the books now!”

“Why are you so excited?!” Starlight asked, slamming her hoof into the floor. “I just told you that I’m going to have a baby! Why is that so wonderful?!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He ran over to her again, putting his hooves on her shoulder. “It’s because we’re having a baby! We’re bringing a new life into the world! What’s not to be excited about?”

Starlight paused a moment, taking the chance to get a better look at him. They had both begun hyperventilating with sheer emotion. There was a smile like she’d never seen plastered onto his muzzle, like he was ready to take on the world. She looked inward, finding something extremely different in her own heart. This was something she was not prepared for. “You… don’t understand…” She moved Sunburst’s hooves from her shoulders, beginning a long trudge down the hallway. “I’m going to Ponyville…”

Starlight plodded down the crystal hallways, headed for the teleportation array. Her thoughts were a jumble with the gravity of her situation. I don’t see how he can be so excited… I know how wonderful having a foal is for most ponies, but… I’m not exactly most ponies… “Maybe the girls might understand it better…” She stopped at the arrangement of crystals, breathing a sigh and slowly reaching her hoof out.

“Starlight! Where are you going?” A shrill soprano called out amidst the sound of hooves on crystal. Starlight looked to the source of it, seeing Trixie frantically galloping her way. She skidded to a stop next to her best friend, grabbing the hoof and pulling it to her. “I just heard the news! I can’t believe you’re having a baby!”

“Yeah… Neither can I…” She pulled her hoof away, making for the crystal.

Trixie pulled the hoof back again, looking her in the eye. “So… Why don't we go celebrate? You don't get news like this every day, you know!”

“I don't know, Trix… I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it.” She put her hoof in her belly, gently rubbing it back and forth. “Maybe getting a little perspective can help with that.”

Trixie gave her an understanding nod, quickly turning back to a smile as she spread her forelegs. “That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the moment, though!” Her hooves came to Starlight's cheeks, forcing her into a smile. “Come on! Be happy! You're gonna be a mommy!”

Trixie's hooves fell away, causing the corners of Starlight's mouth to drop in kind. “Yeah… That's what I'm afraid of…”

And that was all the illusionist needed to hear. “Oh.” She looked over to the glowing crystals next to them. “So, you wanna go to Ponyville, huh?”

“Yeah… I'm hoping the girls might be able to help me figure some things out.”

“Well, you're not going anywhere without the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrrixie by your side!” She reared up, flailing her forelegs for emphasis. “Just let me get my things, and I'll go with you, okay?”

“Okay, okay, I’ll wait for you.” Starlight relented with a small laugh. “Just don’t take too long! I’ve still gotta be at the school if they need me!” The magician sent her a confident nod, galloping back into the castle. Starlight turned back towards the array, putting her hoof back onto her belly and letting her thoughts take hold until more hoofsteps came toward her. “Alright, Trix, you ready to--” She faced the source, finding Sunburst in the same frantic gallop she’d seen Trixie in before. “Sunburst?! What’s going on?”

The stallion slid to a stop in front of her, breathing heavily and holding his hoof out. “Don’t… leave… without me!” His rump fell to the floor as his breathing began to even out. “I don’t know what it is that I don’t understand, but you and I are in this together!” He lifted his head to look her in the eye. “Where you go, I go! Got it?”

With a soft smile, Starlight put her hoof on her special somepony's shoulder. “Got it.”

In the throne room of the Castle of Friendship, Boltsinger hummed to himself as he swept the floor. The throne room had gotten a buildup of dust as of late, and he found himself with the free time to take care of it. With a twirl of his broom, he started for the glowing crystal array that served as their quick access to the Crystal Empire and the friends who lived there. He found himself wondering just how some of them were doing, as he hadn't seen them in quite some…

POOF.

Boltsinger’s wings instinctively flapped away from a sudden flash of white next to the crystals at the end of the room. Standing where he had been was three Unicorns and a travelling wagon, with the pony pulling it grandly raising her foreleg. “THE GRRREAT AND POWERFUL TRRRRIXIE… and friends… HAVE ARRIVED!!!”

“I can see that!” Boltsinger called. The Unicorns looked up, finding the Pegasus hanging on one of the branches of the chandelier. He loosened his grip, righting himself and landing atop the wagon. “Good to see you, Trixie, but could you maybe not bring the wagon into the throne room next time?”

“I can try, but I won’t make any promises!” The magician replied, detaching herself from the wagon. “But, I’m not the one you should be worrying about right now.”

Boltsinger jumped down from the wagon, eyeing his friends with a curiously cocked eyebrow. “Oh? And what should I be worrying about?”

Starlight averted her eyes with an awkward laugh. “Worried? No reason to be worried at all!” She started a walk past the map, keeping her pace slow and careful as Sunburst rushed to her side. She sent the cloaked stallion a quick glare. “Sunburst, ease up! I'm pregnant, not cripp--” Her eyes widened, slowly turning her head to the bluenette. His jaw was slowly but surely dropping, with his hoof raised toward her. “Now, Bolt, I know you think you heard a certain word, but--” She was cut off by her own yelp as a streak of orange and blue snatched her up. The very next instant, she was in the comfiest chair in the library. A second later, a blanket was draped over her, followed soon by an end table with a lamp on top, a plate of various snacks, and a cup of steeping tea. “What the…?”

“Anything else you need?” Boltsinger inquired, standing firm at the side of the chair.

“Yeah… Maybe an explanation?”

Boltsinger blinked, wondering what she meant. “Explanation? For what?” The mare’s only response was a flat expression and a gesture to all of the things around her. “Oh… That.” He scratched his mane with his wing, looking away for a moment. “Well, you said you were pregnant, and I just kinda… acted on instinct.”

“That was instinct?” She asked, recoiling to the point of hitting the back of the chair. Boltsinger gave her a bashful nod. “But that was almost Pinkie Pie levels of efficiency! How in Equestria is that just instinct?!”

“It becomes instinct when you’re a dad.” He retorted, turning to the door. “You get comfortable. I'm gonna go get Twilight.”

Starlight rolled her eyes, deciding that prying about it wouldn't be a good idea. She waved him off, floating over a book and opening it up. I guess this part isn't so bad, having the support of my friends… It's just… “I wish I knew how to say it…”

“Say what?” Sunburst wondered, trotting over alongside their favorite stage magician. “Is there something wrong?”

She gave him a soft smile as he sat beside her, floating his hoof over to rest in hers. “There's nothing wrong… I'm just…” She looked at Trixie, taking a deep breath. “Just surprised to find out about…” She patted her belly. “... this.”

Trixie looked at her best friend's expression carefully. After all they had been through together, she had come to know when Starlight had deeper concerns, along with what those concerns might concern. She thought to reply, but found herself cut off by a squee that pierced the ears of everypony in the castle. That instant, Twilight appeared in front of her former pupil, her hooves already on her shoulders. “Congratulations!” She pulled her into a hug, the excitement practically radiating out of her. “I can't believe you're going to have a baby!” She retreated from the embrace, taking a long inhale. “How long has it been? For that matter, how did it happen?! Do you want us to set up a bedroom for the foal here at the castle? Does Sunburst's house even have enough room for a baby? Knowing you two, I bet it's going to be the most magical foal in all of Equestria! Might as well be an Alicorn, am I right? I bet you two are so happy with the news… I know I couldn't be happier!”

“Yeah… Happy.” She lingered for a moment more, pulling the blanket off of herself. “You know, as much as I… love... sharing the news, I think the school needs us.” She climbed out of the chair, taking a stretch and making for the door. “We can talk more afterwards.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, breathing a sigh and following suit. “Okay, fine. And, Sunburst?”

“Yes?”

“How would you like to help with the baby today?”

Sunburst's glasses fell from his muzzle at the request. “Wait, what?”

“I mean, it's a good idea.” Boltsinger stated, bringing a muffin from the kitchen to the dining room. “If you're gonna be a dad, it's best to have at least some parenting practice.”

Sunburst adjusted his glasses, casting a glance over to the resident baby. “I suppose, but I’m a Royal Crystaller. I have experience with babies.”

Boltsinger chuckled, placing the muffin in front of the colt. “You have experience with Flurry from when she was a baby, yes.” He sat next to the high chair, giving his son’s mane a tussle. “But that doesn’t mean you have experience with all babies.” He leaned on the high chair, bringing his muzzle close to Nova. “You’re a whole different pony, aren’t you, little Prince?” Nova giggled, booping his daddy on the nose and floating the muffin into his mouth. “And we’re gonna show Uncle Sunburst just what that means, aren’t we?”

Sunburst leaned in next to the foal, giving him a smile of his own. “Oh, come on, he can’t be that difficult.”

“Haven’t you handled Nova before?”

“Honestly? No.” He floated another muffin over from the kitchen, dropping it into the baby’s expecting hooves. “Every time you two leave him with somepony in the Crystal Empire, it's either Cadence, Shining Armor, or Starlight.”

“Oh yeah.” Boltsinger shrugged. “So you really only have experience with Flurry, huh?”

Sunburst nodded, lighting his horn to create various patterns in front of Nova. “As Crystaller, she's my number one priority. I look after her when she needs me, teach her, and lately I even take her places. Not that she really needs me to do all of that anymore.” He breathed a sorrowful sigh, shaking a rattle made out of magic. “Actually, Starlight's pregnancy has some pretty convenient timing.”

The Pegasus cocked an eyebrow, finding himself hit with a pang of realization. “Actually, that reminds me… You said something about Starlight being angry about all this. Why in Equestria would getting pregnant tick her of so much?”

“Your guess is as good as mine…”

Starlight sat in her office, leaning against the desk with her hooves on her temples. behind her sat Trixie, and across from her sat a distressed-looking pony. “So… Let me get this straight… You think your friend doesn't like you anymore because you didn't do well at feeding the bunnies?” The pony gave her a confirming nod, eliciting a groan from Starlight. “Okay, first of all, that bunny is no ‘angel’, so don't feel bad about him acting up. Second, do you honestly think your friendship would end based on that? Why don't you go talk to her? If she's as good at it as you say, she probably wouldn't mind helping you out.” The pony perked up, reaching over the desk and shaking Starlight's hoof before bolting out of the room. She lit her horn, taking a peek into the hall through the doorway. At long last, it was empty, forcing a sigh of relief out of the mare as she slumped back into her chair. “Finally! I thought it'd never end…”

“Well that's a weird thing for a guidance counselor to say…” Trixie noted.

Starlight's attention snapped back to lay upon the azure mare. “Excuse me?”

“What? I'm just saying that you normally aren't in such a hurry.” She explained, gesturing with her hoof as if she was pointing to notes on a list. “Or so impatient with the students, or irritable, or just overall snappy.”

“I am not snappy!” Starlight snapped.

Trixie pointed a casual hoof at her. “You see, that is what I meant by ‘snappy’.”

Starlight recoiled with a furious blush and a cloud billowing from her horn. “Yeah… well… You'd be ‘snappy’ too if you were in my hooves!”

“Would I?” The magician wondered, giving her a curious side-eye. “Would I really be snappy and angry just because I was pregnant?” She brought her horn to life, raising Starlight over the desk and placing her in the chair on the other side. “How about I be your guidance counselor today?” She climbed into the now-vacant office chair, floating a fresh cup of cocoa to her troubled comrade. “Why are you so mad about having a baby?”

Starlight alternated looks between her belly and her friend. Trixie was resting her head on her hooves, which were in turn supported by her elbows on the desk.The look on her face mirrored what she tried to do with the students that came in seeking help, letting her know that the desire to do so was genuine. She growled to herself, finally allowing herself to relent. “It’s just that… Having a baby isn’t the problem. It’s… well… it’s being a mom that scares me.”

The gaze of sincerity Trixie had worked to maintain decided to fall away, replaced with abject confusion. “But… You give good advice to these students all the time! You teach the Princess of Friendship lessons about friendship! Why, you went face to face with an evil Changeling queen and saved all of Equestria! Why would being a mom scare you?”

“Because I also took the Cutie Marks off of an entire village full of ponies, taking away their free will and demanding conformity due to a personal vendetta against the very concept of Cutie Marks.” She countered, bringing her hoof to her foreleg. “Oh, and then when that was taken away, I went back in time to try and erase the event that set almost all of Equestria’s recent history and current events in motion!”

Trixie rolled her eyes, waving a hoof between them. “So what? I’m the one who brought the Alicorn Amulet to Ponyville and enslaved the whole town just to get back at Twilight for humiliating me. But look at the pony I am now!” She brought her hoof over her heart, showing her cocky smirk. “I’m the Great and Powerful best friend to one of the best ponies in history!”

Starlight smiled for a fleeting moment, only just long enough for her thoughts to return. “But what if my foal is like me in all of the wrong ways? What if they become some horrible supervillain that plunges Equestria into eternal darkness and it’s all my fault?” She hung her head, repeating to herself that she couldn’t be sure, or that she just didn’t know.

Trixie took a long look at her first true friend. She had numerous comments on why she was wrong, hundreds of ways to make light of it and sound clever. They seemed like fun, and most times, she knew she’d say something along those lines right that instant. This was not most other times, however. This was her best friend in the whole world. She needed the truth. She mentally tossed aside all of her jokes, quips, and self-gratifications, leaning over the desk with a serious look on her face. “Starlight, listen to me.” Starlight looked back at her, foregoing any attempt at hiding the uncertainty she felt. “What your baby will be doesn’t have anything to do with your past.” She magically pulled on the mare’s hooves, bringing her forward and placing them in her own. “It’s all on you. If you don’t want your foal to be a supervillain, then don’t teach it to be one.”

“So, I should just hide my past from them?”

Trixie shook her head. “Personally, I think you should tell them about it.” She sprang up to stand on the desk, holding herself up on her hind legs and grandly gesturing with her foreleg. “Spare no details! Can you imagine what an amazing story that would be? Who needs some dusty old books when you can experience the life of Starlight Glimmer?”

“You know what? That actually sounds like fun!” Starlight affirmed, rising to her hooves. “You might be right! Maybe this won’t be such a disaster after all!” Her hoof found its way to her belly once again, rubbing gentle circles on it. “What do you say, little pony? You think we can pull this off?” Trixie smiled down at the confidence her advice had inspired with some confidence of her own. She made to get down from the desk, opening her mouth to respond when a familiar cry pierced the walls, causing something to click within the purple-maned mare.

The run to the castle was faster than Starlight thought it might be, as if she were being spurred on by something. She felt a pang of need to be where this crying was coming from, even despite the pain that was beginning to assault her ears as she and Trixie got deeper inside. Last she had seen, Sunburst was assisting Boltsinger with caring for Nova, and those were two of the most capable ponies she knew at handling babies! They turned a corner, heading towards the stairs, where the blue mare felt something at her hooves that forced her to the floor.

“Owwwwwwwww… What was that?” She looked behind her to see what the bump may have been, eyes widening at the sight. “Bolt?!”

The stallion in question lay on the floor, holding his hooves and wings over his ears and squirming in pain. The Unicorns each rushed to his side, Starlight shaking him rapidly. “Bolt! Are you okay?”

“Loud…” He wheezed, opening his eyes to look up at his friends. “... Too loud… Pain…”

“Where is Nova?”

“Dining room… With Sunburst”

Starlight breathed a sigh, patting the Pegasus on the side. “Trixie, can you stay with Mister Super Hearing? Maybe get him a little further away?”

Trixie nodded, magically hoisting the stallion onto her back. She strained a little at his weight, but gave Starlight a salute. “You have my… great… and powerful…” Her knees began to shake. “Oh, you know the rest!” She began slowly walking back the way they had come, letting Starlight continue her trek alone.

Eventually, she made it to the dining room doors, which were vibrating from the cries beyond. She took a deep breath, reaching for the door. She paused for a moment, her hoof simply hanging there. “It can’t honestly be that bad, can it? I mean, Bolt is only out of commission from this because he has those super ears. It’s not like one baby’s crying would be enough to incapacitate somepony, right?” She gave herself a firm nod, putting her hoof on the door. “Unless… He has his dad’s volume…” She shook her head, strengthening her force and her resolve. With one push, the door was open.

And she went flying back to the wall behind her from the sheer force of the sound. She strained to see what was inside, finding Sunburst cowering on the floor by a hovering Nova. The baby’s hooves clutched his head, as if he was in some kind of pain, which only made the crying grow louder. Her horn came to life, the magic spreading around her to both shield her from the force, and move her forward. She floated up to the tiny pony, putting her hooves on either side of him. “Hey, Nova! What’s wrong?” She wrapped her forelegs around him, pulling him close and carefully cradling him. “Why are you crying, little guy? Everything’s okay! Aunty Starlight’s gotcha!” His wings stopped their flapping, but his hooves remained where they were. His ears folded down as if to muffle any noise, but it didn't seem to be helping. He looks like he's in pain... Does that mean he has his dad's ears, too? In that case… The magic around her body dissipated as her horn flared with more intensity. From the tip cam a small beam that rose above them, expanding out into a bubble that surrounded them. In the instant the bubble touched the floor, the echo around them stopped. Starlight continued rocking him, touching the tip of his horn with her own to send a gentle warmth through him. “There, now… It was just too loud, wasn’t it? Do you feel better now?” His crying began to die down, letting his hooves fall away from his head as he opened his eyes.

What the little Alicorn saw above him was not what he expected. Normally, when he was held like this, it was either his mommy or his daddy, sometimes Mama Celestia or Mama Velvet, but this time… This time the comfy forelegs and the warm smile came from Aunty Starlight! She'd never held him like this before! Not that he didn't like it, of course. But it felt almost like she was a mommy, too. It gave him a measure of peace, and he nuzzled into her, warmth and all.

“You ready to get out of this bubble now?” She asked, stroking the colt’s mane. He babbled a confirmation, hugging her tighter. She softly nodded, dispelling her bubble of silence to reveal them to the gawking stallion by the table. She put Nova back in his high chair, tussling his mane affectionately and turning to Sunburst. “So. Can you tell me what happened to make Nova cry so loud that the echo hurt his ears?”

Sunburst adjusted his now-cracked glasses, stepping over to the foal. “I don't know what happened! All I did was pick him up! Then he started crying, and I tried to soothe him like whenever Flurry had a fit, but then he just screamed louder!”

“Let me guess… You used magic the whole time, didn't you?” She was met with a nervous nod, prompting her hoof to meet her forehead. “Of course you did…” She took a deep, calming breath, pulling her special somepony over to sit next to the colt. “One thing you should probably know about Nova is that he hates to be held with magic. Nopony knows why, he just doesn’t like it. Handle him with direct contact, and you’ll be fine.”

“I guess Boltsinger had a point when he said that my ‘experience with babies’ didn’t reach very far…” Sunburst admitted, letting out a weak smile. “Thanks for… you know… being there…”

Starlight let out a smiling sigh. “It’s no problem, Sunburst. Just… try not to assume things will be the same with every foal.” She placed her magic on his hoof, pulling it towards her belly. “I expect this one is gonna be a horn-full as well, and I’m gonna need all the help I can get!”

The simple mention of ‘help’ sent a ray of light straight through the stallion’s mind, widening his smile. “THAT’S IT!” He shouted, leaning in and planting a kiss on Starlight’s lips.

Starlight eased out of the sudden contact, cocking an inquisitive eyebrow. “What’s it?”

“The thing I’ve been thinking about! The thing with my role in the Crystal Empire and--” An audible whine cut the wizard’s train of thought short, drawing the Unicorns’ attention to the high chair, where Nova had scrunched up his face. His lower half squirmed back and forth, sending a rancid smell into their nostrils. “You know what? It can wait. We can discuss it at length with Twilight later.” He moved past Starlight, making for the baby. “For now, let’s focus on more immediate concerns.” He lit his horn, getting a goofy smile to appear on his muzzle.

Starlight dove in front of him, putting her hoof on the end of Sunburst’s horn to douse its aura. “Whoa, now! Let’s not make the baby cry again!” She carefully lifted Nova in her foreleg, wincing from the smell that came from below. “How about I take care of the diaper and you… observe for now. Okay?” Sunburst nodded in agreement, following closely as they made their way upstairs.

The school day had, at last, ended, but Twilight’s office remained occupied. She sat behind her desk with her husband and assistant at either side of her, and her baby in her forelegs. Across from them sat Starlight, Sunburst, and Trixie, the stallion of the trio wiping off his freshly-repaired spectacles. Twilight looked between them all, landing her gaze on Sunburst. “So, Sunburst. You said you had something you wanted to ask us?”

Sunburst nodded, straightening his back. “Um, yes. I was wondering if, maybe, you had room for us at the castle, at least until we can get a place of our own.”

Starlight and Trixie's attention snapped onto Sunburst, wide with disbelief. “What?!”

“You want to move in?” The Princess inquired.

“That's right.” He confirmed. “The timing couldn't possibly be better!” He turned to Starlight, putting a hoof on his foreleg. “I know I wasn't all that understanding this morning…. I was so excited about being a dad that I didn’t even think about what this might be doing to you. And then I got all confident in my parenting skills.” He rubbed his neck with his hoof, shooting a glance at Nova. “And… well, you know how that went…” He looked back to his favorite mare, bringing his determined face with him. “You said yourself that you need all the help you can get, so why not have the help of all of your best friends?”

Starlight found herself again reminded of why she loved this pony as much as she did. Her warm smile from before had come back in force. “I appreciate that, really, but what about your responsibility to Flurry Heart?”

“Flurry hardly needs me anymore.” He dismissed, turning away. “If I taught her any more, she’d be in advanced magic lessons. I think she’s not quite there, yet. But she’s set to start school in the next year, anyway. She doesn’t need me anymore.” He faced her one more time. “But you do. And I wanna be there for our baby!”

He gave her a smile, and she gave him a tackle and a kiss, lingering on him for several seconds. Finally, she separated from him, looking over to her former mentor. “Well, you heard him! What do you say?”

To use the word ‘ecstatic’ to describe the look on Twilight's face would have been a gross understatement. Her dimples were pulled so far back that her cheeks turned red from the sheer strain. She sprang out of her chair, only just barely remembering to keep herself aloft when she became airborne. “ABSOLUTELY!!!” Nova winced at the noise, giving off a whine. Twilight looked at her foal with renewed sense, gently squeezing him. “Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie. Mommy was just so happy to have Aunty Starlight coming home.” She passed the baby off to Boltsinger, giving one final cheek kiss to each of them before wrapping Starlight and Sunburst in her magic. “Come on! Let’s make arrangements right away!” And with a flash of magenta, they were gone.

Author's Note

Before you ask, I'd planned on Starlight becoming preggers for months.
And yes, it happened in Manehattan.
Next chapter is from my backlog, so it's technically mostly complete! Just need to get the last few scenes done, and it'll be ready to publish!
I hope you enjoy it!

Storming the Castle

It was a peaceful morning in Ponyville. Everypony was going about their business, setting up for a full, productive day while some steady, confident hooves made their way through town. Ponies looked at the source of the steps, some of them dropping their jaws at the sight, while others outright fainted. Eventually, the hoofsteps came to a stop. Right at the door to the Castle of Friendship.

A thundering knock came to the castle's front door as Boltsinger walked through the foyer, sending a measure of pain through his eardrums. He trotted over to the door, rubbing his ear with his wing. “You can stop knocking! I'm coming!” He groggily opened the door, finding a somehow towering figure casting a shadow onto him. He reeled back a ways, getting a look at what created the shade. In the doorway stood a dark, orchid-coated mare with opal eyes and a rose-colored mohawk of a mane and tail. She wore a form-fitting black suit and shoes, evidence of a scratched-off emblem on the flanks. His first thought was that she might have been an Earth Pony, but closer inspection revealed that she was a Unicorn, albeit with a broken horn. The expression on her scarred face was stoic, perhaps even judgemental, as she looked at him, confidently crossing the castle's threshold. Boltsinger put on a nervous smile as she drew nearer, gingerly waving his wing. “Um… Hi. Welcome to the Castle of Friendship.”

The mare's stoicism gave way to a smirk, looking down at him. “Hello.” She extended a hoof to him. “You're one of the servants here, right?”

Boltsinger's eyes went wide for a moment. He let a small, almost unnoticeable scowl onto his muzzle as he approached her, giving her a greeting hoof bump. “No, we don't have servants here. I legitimately live here.”

She gave him a look of mild disbelief, turning to look into the castle proper. “So you know where I can find Twilight?”

“She's in the dining room eating breakfast.” He stated, trotting ahead. “Come on, I'll show you the way.”

“Thank you.” She slowly followed, taking a look around the castle. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here… I wonder how she’s doing?”

“She’s doing really well.” He informed her, taking a look back. “Been running the school like she always dreamed, and she seems really happy with everything as a whole.” He laughed to himself, looking forward again. “Now if only she’d stop asking me to become a teacher!”

“And why does she want you to be a teacher?”

“She insists that I have, and I quote, ‘a lot to teach the next generation’.” He explained, drifting his eyes up to the ceiling. “I mean, I certainly don’t mind subbing for the girls when they need me to, but having a class of my own? What in Equestria would I even teach?”

“Good question.” The mare deadpanned.

Boltsinger chuckled. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.” He took another look back at her. “Never got your name, by the way.”

“Never gave it.” She replied. He cocked an eyebrow, opening his mouth to reply. She breathed a sigh. “You’re not going to stop asking until I tell you, are you?”

“Nnope!”

“Call me Tempest.” She finally stated, taking a long stride past him.

“Tempest, huh?” Boltsinger scratched his chin with his wing. “Where have I heard that name before…?” He stewed for a while, coming to a halt as the memory came to him. “You’re Fizzlepop Berrytwist! Twilight said you were coming for a visit!”

Tempest stopped with a hard stomp of her hoof. She glared fiercely back at him, gritting her teeth. “Call. Me. Tempest.”

The look in the armored mare’s eyes sent an otherworldly chill down Boltsinger’s spine, reminding him of what Twilight had described Fluttershy’s Stare to be like. He quickly sat down, his ears as low as his pupils were tiny. “Yes ma’am!” He started his walk again, taking a few quick breaths and slapping his face with his wings. “Well, one introduction deserves another!” He took one more deep breath, looking ahead with as much confidence as he could muster. Come on, Bolt, remember to use your actual title this time. “I am Prince Boltsinger.”

Tempest looked back at him. “You’re serious?”

“Eeyup.” He replied, his expression unchanging.

Silence filled the hall, quickly giving way to the sound of Tempest’s laughter. “How in the world can somepony like you be a Prince? Are you related to royalty, or something?”

Boltsinger rolled his eyes, trotting past her to the nearest door. He kept his stern expression as he opened the door, revealing the Princess at the table with her face in a bowl of oats. Boltsinger cleared his throat, pulling his spouse’s attention. “Honey, somepony’s here to see you!”

Twilight wiped the oats from her face as the guest came to the doorway. At the sight of the tall mare, she lit up like a happy horn casting spells. “Tempest!” She disappeared in a flash, appearing next to her friend and pulling her into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it!”

Tempest met the embrace in kind. “It's good to see you, too, Twilight.”

Twilight pulled away, putting her wing around the stallion in the room. “So I see you met my husband.” She looked over at him. “Did she scare you?”

Boltsinger scratched his cheek, giving a sheepish smile. “Um… Define ‘scare’.”

“He was cowering when he saw me in the doorway.” The dark mare deadpanned. “And again in the hallway.”

Boltsinger’s ears went low as he averted his eyes. “Ah. Well, if you want to get specific.” The Princess gave off a giggle, making ready to speak as a cry echoed through the halls. “Well, that’s Nova! I’d best go get him.”

As the Pegasus spread his wings, Twilight lit her horn, moving them back into their resting position. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek, lighting her horn. “I can get there faster, anyway.”

With a flash of magenta, Twilight was gone, leaving Tempest and Boltsinger alone once more. She turned to him with a hint of surprise. “So… Husband? She mentioned a husband in her letters, but you’re certainly--”

“Yeah, yeah, ‘not what you expected’.” He interjected, waving a dismissive wing. “That’s what everypony says…”

Tempest’s features softened, raising her hoof to reach out as the magenta flash appeared again. Twilight appeared from within with a sleepy-eyed orange foal nestled in her wing. His face was still wet with tears that the elder Alicorn wiped away with her nose. “It’s okay, sweetie. We’re here. We’ve got you.” Nova opened his eyes fully, looking at the ponies in the room with him. With one more sniff, his face turned to a smile while he reached his forelegs toward the other orange pony in the room.

Boltsinger sent his offspring a wide smile, leaning in and nuzzling the baby’s nose. “Hey, there, little Prince! Are you ready for breakfast?” Nova nodded emphatically, spreading his wings as his mother released him. He flew onto the stallion’s back, peeking over his shoulder at the newest face in the room. “Mommy’s got a friend over today that she doesn’t get to see very often. Her name is Tempest!” He stepped up to the guest, turning to his side so that the foal could get a better look at her. “Can you say ‘hello’ to Tempest?”

Tempest looked down at the now sparkly-eyed colt. His smile was as big as his little muzzle could manage, and his wings fluffed out on either side of him. He took a breath, trying to get a sound out, but could only manage an unintelligible babble. “So… this is your…”

“Our son!” Twilight confirmed, floating in some food for the foal. She lifted him off of Boltsinger's back, placing him in a nearby high chair. “Little Prince Nova! And it's time for him to have his breakfast.” She snuck a sly look over to Tempest. “Would you like to feed him?”

The orchid mare reeled back, looking between her friend and the squishy-looking little pony she’d just met. “Me? Oh, no. My horn can’t hold things very well. I’d probably just hurt the baby.”

Boltsinger sat in the chair next to Twilight, smiling up at Tempest. “No magic, no problem. He doesn’t like to take from a floating spoon anyway.” He reached into a pocket that hung on the back of the high chair, pulling out a spoon glove and tossing it to her. “That’s why we have this.”

Tempest caught the garment, staring down at it. “Well… I guess…” She looked back at the baby, beginning to remove the shoe from her hoof. “If you insist… I’d be happy to…” Sliding the spoon glove into place, she sat in front of Nova, shakily dipping one of the three spoons into the mashed food.

Twilight giggled at her friend's awkward movements, standing up and transporting her dishes away. “I wish I could stay and catch up with you, but I've got class coming up. We can talk more once the school day is over, though!”

Boltsinger cocked an eyebrow at his dearly beloved. “Wait, you mean you scheduled to get together on a school day and didn’t plan around it?” He shook his head, rising from his spot. “Where are your notes?”

Twilight produced a stack of note cards from under her wing. “Right here. Why?”

Boltsinger jumped past her, taking the stack in his teeth and landing on the other side. He looked them over, nodding with little understanding, but a lot of determination. “‘Cause I’m going to need them if I want to sub for you properly.”

“Are you sure? It’s a pretty advanced lesson.”

“And you write notes for your notes for your notes. If I just follow those, I’ll be fine.”

“But don’t you--”

Boltsinger put a feather to her mouth. “No ‘buts’, Your Highness. You take the day to spend time with your friend.” He retracted his wing, making his way to the door. “I can take Nova to see Zecora after school.”

Twilight cocked her own eyebrow, finding herself met with an unusually confident expression from her husband. “Okay. If you’re sure you can handle it.”

“Trust me. I’ve got this.” He assured her, trotting out the door.

That afternoon, Twilight and Tempest sat in the master bedroom, laughing together over a photo album. They had been swapping stories of their adventures since their last meeting, offering new perspectives on the lives they had led since last they saw one another. “Boltsinger still gets flak from Princess Luna about all of the crashes he’s had in Canterlot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her crack so many jokes!”

Tempest’s laughter died down as she smiled down at the picture of three pony-shaped indents above a door in Canterlot. “He sure sounds like a piece of work.”

“He is, but no more than any of my other friends.” She looked out of the window, letting a soft grin onto her muzzle. “I just hope he was able to handle the classes today.”

Right on cue, Boltsinger came to a shaky landing on the balcony, trudging over to the door with a laughing purple dragon on his back. He opened it, stepping inside and slumping onto the floor. “I… don’t got this…”

Twilight stepped up to the stallion, laying down and crossing her forelegs. “Didn’t you have my notes? What happened?”

Spike’s laughter escalated, sending him rolling off of Boltsinger’s back. “He was so nervous that he dropped them in the first minute!” He lost himself to his laughter for another moment. “When he finally picked them all up, he gave the whole lesson… reading everything in the wrong order!”

“Aww… That must have been so difficult!” The Princess cooed, patting her spouse’s head. “I’ll make sure to number my note cards from now on, just in case.”

Boltsinger looked up at her with a weak smile. “That would be appreciated.” He repositioned his legs to properly hold himself up. “So, is Nova ready for the trip?”

Twilight nodded. “He's all set! But what about you? Aren't you tired?”

Boltsinger shook his head, rising up with a quick flap of his wings. “Nnope. Stamina for days, remember?”

A short burst of laughter erupted from the Alicorn, sending her hooves over her mouth with a faint blush. She looked over at Tempest, who bore the smuggest of grins at the sight, gingerly placing one foreleg over the other. She brought her composure to the forefront again, standing up. “Are you sure? I can take him if you want some rest.”

“Trust me, this is one thing I have got.” He went into a hover, moving for the door while brushing his tail against her muzzle. “You just have a good time with Tempest. I'll handle the parent stuff.”

“What's wrong, Bolt?” Tempest started, a slight tease in her voice. “Don't want to spend time with us today?”

The Pegasus’ wings froze for a moment, sending him into a short wobble as he looked back at the mares. “What? No! I'm just wanting to see Zecora! It's been a while, and we have some questions for her, anyway!”

“He's right. There's a few things we've been meaning to talk to her about.” She looked into the hall with a measure of concern. “Nova’s been having a lot of fits lately. At first, we thought it was because he might be afraid of something that sets him off, but according to Pinkie, he had the same reaction in a cave full of friendly party supplies!”

“Not to mention his recent fit where he cried so loud it nearly shattered both his and my eardrums.” Boltsinger added. “We're hoping Zecora might be able to offer some insight as to what might be going on. Thus, taking the little Prince to see her.” Boltsinger concluded.

“I see… Well, have fun!” The Unicorn stated, waving her hoof. “Don't let the Timberwolves bite!”

Boltsinger recoiled, feeling the snap of his wings siezing up as his hooves hit the floor. “Timberwolves, huh…?” He brought his hoof to his muzzle. “Hadn't thought of them… And this is gonna be Nova's first time in the Everfree Forest, too…”

Twilight looked between her friend and her husband, lighting up like a bulb above her head. “I have an idea! Why don't we all go?”

Tempest looked at her friend like she was suggesting a jump into the middle of the ocean from the clouds. “All of us? You honestly want to go to the Everfree Forest?”

“Why not? It’s not like it’s my first time.” She replied, heading for the hallway. “Besides, it’s a great chance for you two to get to know each other better.”

“Hmmm... “ Boltsinger looked over at the mare on the couch, lingering on a particular thought for a moment. Twilight had talked at length about her and how capable she was, and he had to admit she intimidated him, but he had a feeling she was being deliberate. “Having you along would be good protection… Okay. Let’s go.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Tempest wondered, motioning to herself. “What if I don’t want to go into the Everfree Forest?”

“It’s not like it would take that long.” Twilight retorted. “We go to Zecora’s hut all the time! It’s perfectly safe.”

“Yeah, just a quick walk, and we’re golden.” The stallion added. “I’ll just get the baby and we’ll be off!”

As the Pegasus rose again from the floor, Tempest let out a deep sigh. “Yeah… Go and get… the baby.”

Crickets chirped. Owls in the distance hooted ominously. The trees loomed down, images of distorted faces scraped into the bark. The Everfree Forest was alive like no place in Equestria, and a quartet of ponies had begun their journey through it. Tempest marched in the middle, keeping her head on a swivel, while Twilight and Boltsinger walked on either side of her. Nova sat in the baby carrier strapped to his father, looking at the black of Tempest's armor and the reflection he saw within. During their hike, Twilight and Tempest had been chatting about various subjects, ranging from the status of their friends to how much the Unicorn had been learning since her travels had begun. All the while, Boltsinger simply kept pace with the pair, more silent than anypony had ever seen him before.

Until Twilight spoke up. “So, Bolt, have you got any interesting stories for Tempest?” She asked, her voice almost egging him on. “I told her all about those wings of yours, and I bet she'd love to hear about some of the ponies you've helped over the years!”

“Nah. not much of what I've done is all that exciting.” He stated, waving his hoof. “I just fly places and… I think I mostly just make noise.”

Tempest's smirk made a return as she gave him her attention. “Oh, come on, you don't have even one little anecdote? It's not often you meet a Prince who also has such unique magic!”

The large mare's gaze sent a chill down Boltsinger's spine, making his body go more rigid and slowing his movements. “Y-y-y-yes. That's very true… And... it's not often that I remember what all I've done after the fact.” He knocked on his head with his hoof. “Lightning in my brain, after all. Anything interesting I can remember, Twilight was probably there for, and can tell it better.” He brought his wing over to tickle his son's nose, getting a small giggle for his efforts. “And if not, it probably involved this little guy.” Nova's laugh continued with the tickling, bringing a tingling to his nose. He made a sharp inhale, sneezing with a force that only a baby could provide.

At the sound of the sneeze, Tempest visibly flinched. Her eyes went wide, and she stopped for a moment to look at the colt. He wiped his nose, shaking his head as if to free up his sinuses, and looked back up at her with a smile. “He's just so… small…” She muttered under her breath.

“Of course he's small. He's a baby.” Boltsinger replied. “Haven't you ever seen a baby before?”

“Of course I have!” She spat back, once again sending the stallion a glare. “Just... not very often.”

Boltsinger looked back at the fierce Unicorn, getting a smirk on his face as an idea formed in his head. “Well, you know, you could always get more experience…” He lifted Nova from the baby carrier, holding him up to her with his forelegs. “You wanna hold him?”

Tempest stopped in her tracks, looking at the tiny creature held before her with a glint of insecurity in her eye. “Not… particularly…”

“Not even a little bit?” He stressed, pushing forward. “He clearly likes you!”

Tempest took a tentative step back. “No, I'm fine! Really.”

“Are you sure?” He continued, holding the baby higher until she was within the reach of little hooves. Nova reached out, putting his hooves on Tempest's nose.

Twilight giggled for a moment. “You're enjoying this, aren't you, Bolt?”

“Maybe a little.” He confirmed, turning back to smile at Tempest. “Come on! Give it a shot! He's just a baby!”

“I SAID NO!” She finally shouted, rearing back and changing direction. “Get that… that squishy little thing away from me!” She flicked her tail, tickling the foal's nose for another sneeze. At the sudden ‘achoo’, she took off, galloping into the woods. Twilight and Boltsinger looked at the retreating mare with a dumbfounded blink. They turned to each other, nodding in unspoken agreement, and took off after her.

The deeper recesses of the Everfree Forest seemed to span miles. The winged ponies flew on at full speed, listening for the sound of frantic galloping, but finding it coming from multiple directions at once, intermixed with the eerie sounds of the forest itself. All the while, they called Tempest's name. After a while, they came to a clearing, skidding to a stop and gasping for air. “Where could she have gone?” Twilight asked.

“I wish I knew!” Boltsinger answered, letting his rump hit the ground. “Of course, it would've been nice if she hadn't run away to begin with!”

“Speaking of that…” Twilight began, turning to face him. “What exactly made you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Force Nova in her face!” She exclaimed. “She wasn't exactly hiding her discomfort, there! So why did you keep pushing?”

“Because she kept pushing my buttons!” He retorted. “Ever since she arrived I could swear she's been deliberately intimidating to me! I just thought it would be a good way to get back at her.” He reached back to the foal he carried, booping him on the nose. “Besides, Nova really does like her.”

Twilight let out a sigh, knowing full well what her spouse meant. “Believe me, I know just how intimidating she can be.” She sat next to him, laughing with nostalgia. “When I first met her, she incapacitated Celestia, Luna, and Cadence in less than a minute!”

“Wow…” He scratched his mane with his wing, giving a nervous laugh. “I guess she’s like that with everypony, huh?”

The Princess nodded, patting Boltsinger’s back. “Exactly. Once you get used to that, she’s really a lot of fun.” She stood up once more, taking a deep inhale through her nose only to scrunch her face up at the smell. An uncomfortable smile came to her lips as she began to turn around. “Oh, my. Smells like somepony made a stink…” Her eyes went wide when she saw the source of the smell. Behind her oblivious husband and squirming son was a veritable legion of Timberwolves, hunched over and ready to pounce. Twilight instinctively leaped forward, wrapping her forelegs around them and instantly erecting a barrier as the lead wolf made its move.

Boltsinger put his forelegs around the mare that held him, looking her in the eye. “Twilight, what’s going--” She pointed behind him, where he saw claws raking against the barrier. “... Oh.” He pulled away from the hug, taking a deep breath and giving his muzzle a hard slap. “Okay… Ooooooookay…” He unstrapped the baby carrier from his barrel, passing Nova over to his mother. “Take Nova, and when I inhale, teleport me outside the barrier.”

Twilight took the foal as suggested, giving her favorite stallion a look that seemed to ask if he was insane. “Why? I’m the one who has magic!”

“Magic that can better protect precious cargo!” He stated, knocking on the barrier behind him. “That’s more important than anything!” He turned to face the Timberwolves, slapping his muzzle again. “Cover Nova’s ears. I’m going to give these Timberwolves a nice, stern, talking to.”

Twilight looked down at Nova, then up at her husband, breathing a sigh of relent. “Okay. I’m trusting you. Just… Please be safe.”

Boltsinger sent one last smile back to her. “I’ll do my best.” He spread his wings, rising to all fours and taking an immense breath that filled his lungs to capacity. As directed, Twilight activated her spell, sending him away in a flash to appear flying above the orb of magenta magic. With a jutting of his head, Boltsinger released a scream at the very top of his voice, creating a sheer force of sound that shook the earth around them for as far as they could see. The might of the noise slammed into the Timberwolves at full power, causing the weaker of their pack to burst into splinters. The remainder of the wolves dug their claws into the ground, holding fast against the force for the duration. After ten seconds of constant screaming, the noise finally died down. Boltsinger came to a landing in front of the barrier, breathing heavily and glaring at the monsters with flared wings. “You hear that? You want my family, you go through me!”

The wolves met the Pegasus’ powerful posture with a growl, slowly stepping closer to him. He let out a wheezing growl of his own, dragging his hoof on the ground. After a brief staredown, the lead wolf let out a roar, lunging at the pony before it. He swiped his wing forward, creating a gust of wind that sent it flying into the two behind it. Two more leaped forward, met with a similar response. Boltsinger planted his hooves, quickly stretching his wings and flapping forward with all of his might. The wind his wings created sent at least three of the creatures into the air.

This went on for several minutes, with more and more of the wolves joining in each attack. Boltsinger held fast, but was beginning to feel the strain. With every wolf that went flying, another would land just a little bit closer to him. He gritted his teeth as the lead wolf stepped closer again. He flared his wings again, wincing as a jolt of pain swept through him. The wolf took full advantage of the opportunity, jumping towards him with its maw open. Boltsinger looked back at the ponies in the bubble, giving them a reassuring smile before balling up his wings, bracing himself for the worst.

Which never came. The lead Timberwolf yelped in pain as a hoof slammed into it from the side. Boltsinger followed the hoof to its source to see Tempest, her face alight with fury. She kicked off of the wolf, performing a backflip and landing gracefully in front of the stallion with a ready stance. “I heard your scream! Is Twilight safe?”

The wide-eyed pegasus’ rump fell to the ground, ecstatic to see the Unicorn. “Yeah. Barrier.”

“Baby too?”

“Eeyup.”

“Good.” She glared at the Timberwolves, the broken remains of her horn sparking with magic. “I'll handle this!” Planting her hooves, she loosed an erratic surge of magic that spanned every color in the spectrum. Upon contact with the first target, it and the creature exploded, the magic shooting forward to the next to repeat the process. With every Timberwolf, there was an explosion, leaving piles of twigs, leaves, and splinters where they stood. With one final blast, the splinters and dust settled, leaving naught but the equines left in the clearing. Tempest turned to Boltsinger, offering him a hoof as the barrier dissipated. “You held out pretty well.”

Boltsinger accepted the hoof, rising to his hooves. “That’s high praise, coming from you.”

Before Tempest could respond, Boltsinger ended up tackled in a hug from behind, a large portion of the weight landing on the base of his wings. “Oh thank goodness!” Twilight began, squeezing him tightly. Boltsinger gave off a pained yelp from the wing contact, letting her know to back up. “Sorry…” She pulled away, giving him a quick glare. “Don't you ever scare me like that again, okay?”

Boltsinger nodded, giving her one more reassuring hug. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best.” He got back up, looking around the forest. “Well, I think we’re good and lost now. You wanna help us find our way, honey?”

Twilight took a bow and spread her wings. “I’d be happy to!” And with that, she was in the air.

The ponies sat in a hut full of masks, potions, and pottery with a boiling cauldron in the middle. Nova, in particular, sat on a stool, being examined by a Zebra with blue eyes and a mohawk mane, with gold hoop earrings and sets of even more gold rings on her neck and right foreleg. “So first was a scream, and then a fell howl. I take it that something outside ran afoul?” She chuckled to herself, “Whatever happened, for your safety, I’m glad. Let’s just hope no more adventures like that one are had.”

“You and me, both, Zecora.” Boltsinger affirmed. He looked to his sore wing, attempting to extend it only to wince in pain. “Of course, it probably wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t insisted on messing with Tempest… “ He turned to the mare in question with a remorseful expression. “I’m really sorry about that. Twilight told me about… well, you, and I realize now that you weren’t trying to push my buttons. I just got so intimidated that I felt like I had to fight back somehow.”

Tempest laughed into her hoof. “Apology accepted. But, if we’re being honest here, I really was messing with you a little bit. It was just a little fun, though.” She cast a glance at Nova, letting a soft smile onto her muzzle. “And… I suppose it was probably silly of me to have been so scared of a little baby, anyway.”

“Actually, that reminds me. Why are you so scared of him?” The Pegasus wondered, following her gaze. “I mean, there’s plenty of reason ponies have been scared of him in the past. He’s a powerful little colt. But I don’t think that’s something you’d be so worried about.”

With a flushing recoil, Tempest averted her eyes. “Well… It’s not that I’m actually afraid of him… It’s more that I’m afraid that… well, that I might hurt him.” She brought her full attention to the floor, and the hooves upon it. “I spent so much of my life alone, or fighting, or in some kind of danger… I don't really know how to be gentle. Physically or mentally. I didn’t want to get too close for his own sake.”

Boltsinger sent her a knowing smile, stepping up beside her and patting her back. “Well, if my brother is any indication, if you can learn to hug somepony after a long time fighting, you won’t have any problems being gentle.”

Tempest looked at the stallion curiously. The smile on his face was completely sincere, with nary a hint of cynicism. After all of the things they had gone through today, he was still willing to be friendly and welcoming. It reminded her of the friend she had come to visit. The pony that saved her. She sent him a smile that was as genuine as the one she’d received, looking back at her lilac-coated friend. “I can see now why you married him. He’s a good one!”

“The best!” The Alicorn confirmed. She walked past the reconciling ponies, taking an inquisitive look at her foal. “So, Zecora, do you have any idea what’s been going on with Nova? Maybe even cook up something to help him out?”

“Hmmm…” She started, putting her hoof to her chin and examining more thoroughly. “A condition like his, from what you’ve described, cannot be solved by something imbibed.” She reached into a cabinet, pulling out a lollipop and handing it to the baby. “It takes careful attention and the utmost care to handle a foal with an issue this rare.”

“What kind of condition is it?” The Princess asked, taking the foal in her wing.

“It’s nothing that’s harmful, if that’s your concern.” She assured, pulling a book from her shelf. “And it’s something from which many ponies can learn.” She flipped through the pages, landing on a particular section. “With speaking and social life, his pace may be slowed. And in regards to his senses, they may overload.”

“Overload?” The parents simultaneously repeated.

Zecora nodded, passing the book over to Twilight. “You know how we all have sight, hearing and smell? It seems that Nova does all of them too well. When things are too much, they make this little one dizzy. Why, it’s no wonder he gets up in a tizzy!”

“So, he’s got his father’s ears, and more?” Twilight looked down at Nova, who was happily sucking at his treat. “Then it’s no wonder Starlight’s bubble of silence calmed you down, huh?” She turned her attention back to the brewer. “Thank you, Zecora. I’ll make sure to read as much as I can about this.”

“We both will.” Boltsinger corrected, putting his uninjured wing around his wife. “You can count on it.”

“You’re quite welcome, my friends.” Zecora said. She cocked her head to the side, getting a glimpse of the redness on Boltsinger’s wing. “But, I must advise… Perhaps flying home might not be so wise? If you would like, I can come along. Perhaps, then, the trek won’t take quite so long?”

Boltsinger flashed a grin at her. “That would be great, but I must compel. I insist that you stay for some dinner as well.” The Zebra and the Pegasus shared in a laugh, moving toward the door.

Following the others on the way out, Twilight walked beside Tempest. “So, you know you’re welcome to stay the night tonight, right?”

As they exited the hut, Tempest looked up at the sky through the trees, letting out a sigh. “That’d be nice, but today is my only day off for a while. I’ve got to get back to Canterlot before long.”

“Canterlot? What’s in Canterlot?”

“Training.” She stated, fixing her gaze forward. “I’m joining the Royal Guard. I feel like, now that I’ve seen Equestria proper and… gotten over my hang-ups… It’s time to put my skills to use for everyone. Plus, my experience under the Storm King has to be good for something, right?”

“That’s wonderful!” Twilight exclaimed, pulling her friend in for a hug. “And with the new drill sergeant they’ve got, you’ll get in in no time flat! Plus, I can come visit you! I’m in Canterlot all the time, taking care of royal business, visiting my other friends…” She went on talking about the possibilities of her living in the Equestrian capitol, keeping a close hold on her the entire time. Taking the opportunity, Nova fluttered his wings, making a short little hop onto Tempest’s back, where he nuzzled up to her neck.

Author's Note

As previously stated, this chapter was one that I initially backlogged for reasons. In this case, I just couldn't get my mind off of the Scootaloo storyline, and it all lined up too perfectly for me to ignore in regards to both the time of the year both in story and in real life. Then more seemed to flow into what we have here!
Next chapter has a big focus on a character I haven't followed in quite a while. I hope you enjoy it!

A Golden Twinkle

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood at the door to their clubhouse, checking off the last of their clients for the day with satisfied smiles. They hadn't gotten any Cutie Marks this day, but had made significant progress with many of them. But, they had to admit, it was a relief to be done for the day. They moved to the door, ready to head home, when a new knock sounded from beyond. Apple Bloom looked between her friends, then at the door. “Uh, we’re done fer the day!”

“It’s okay!” Called a familiar voice outside. “I don’t think I’m gonna get a Cutie Mark!”

“Spike?” The Crusaders replied. Sweetie Belle lit her horn, opening the door to answer their question. There he stood, waving one claw with the other behind his back.

“What brings you here?” Scootaloo asked. “Are you looking for Applejack?”

Spike smirked, entering the clubhouse. “Nope. I’ve got something for you.” He pulled a scroll from behind him, waving it back and forth.

The fillies let out a loud gasp at the sight, sending Sweetie Belle’s hooves to her cheeks. “That couldn’t be from Princess Celestia, can it?”

“Oh, it is!” The dragon declared, unrolling the parchment and clearing his throat. “To Ponyville’s Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. The three of you are hereby cordially invited to attend the Grand Galloping Gala this--” A scream of pure joy shot out of all three of the fillies, causing them to dance around the clubhouse while Spike continued his reciting. As he neared the end, the screaming came to an end with the three of them gasping for air. “... enclosed are a total of six tickets, for each of you and one guest of your choosing!” He grabbed something from within the still-rolled portion of the letter, producing tickets of gold for all Crusaders to see. “Here you go!”

With another squee, Sweetie Belle floated the tickets over to hover above their heads in a circle. “I can’t believe it! We got our own tickets to the Gala!!! How did this even happen?!” Her smile faded as a thought hit her, making her turn her eyes back to Spike. “Actually… How did this happen?”

Spike rolled up the parchment, setting it ablaze with his fire breath and swallowing the smoke that came from it. “Princess Celestia heard some pretty good things about you girls from some ‘trusted friends’, and was convinced that you three deserve your own tickets!”

“And by ‘trusted friends’, ya mean Twilight ‘n Bolt?” Apple Bloom inquired.

“And yours truly!” Spike added, pointing his thumb at himself. “Now you don't have to rely on your sisters to take you!”

“Even better!” Sweetie Belle started, passing two tickets to each Crusader. She looked at her tickets with a brilliant twinkle in her eyes, imagining the possibilities. “We can bring friends along!”

The next morning, Applejack woke up to the sound of joyful humming. She cocked an eyebrow, following her ears to find her little sister as the source in the kitchen. “Apple Bloom? What’re you doin’ up so bright-eyed so early?”

Apple Bloom lit up, looking from her cereal bowl to her sister. “Oh! Applejack! Great timin’!” She rushed over to the mare, looking at her with a big smile. “Got any ideas what yer doin’ with yer extra Gala ticket?”

“Extra ticket?” Applejack repeated. “Whaddaya mean extra? Ya know I always take you, sugarcube!”

“I know ya used to, but now that I got my own ticket, ya don’t have to anymore!” She returned to her breakfast, giving her sister a sly glance. “So, you got anypony special in mind? I know who I'm invitin’!”

The farm mare recoiled. “Uh… No. You know that better than anypony.”

“Well, maybe now that you don’t gotta worry ‘bout me this year, you can figure it out?” She finished her meal, throwing her saddlebag over herself and heading for the door. “Well, I gotta get to school. See ya, sis!”

Applejack looked at her departing sister with a scowl, lunging forward and grabbing her by the tail. “Now wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute!” She pulled the filly back into the room, towering over her for a moment. “Now y’all can’t just drop a bomb like that on me an’ not expect to explain it! How the hay did you even get yer own Gala invite, anyway?”

“Didn’t you hear from Twilight or sumthin’?” Apple Bloom asked, looking over her shoulder. “She an’ Bolt… And Spike, talked to Princess Celestia about it, an’ she thought it was a good idea!”

“I see…” She waved her hoof towards the door. “Well, you go on, now. I’m goin’ to the castle when my chores’re done. Gotta talk with a couple ponies…”

Sweetie Belle walked up to the Ponyville schoolhouse, humming a tune to herself as she went. She had been excited beyond reason at the tickets she’d obtained yesterday, and was wondering just who it was she wanted to go with. She looked around at all the ponies around her, imagining the possibilities ahead. Except for, of course, the two ponies that made their approach. “Hey, Crusaders!”

“Hey, Sweetie Belle!” The Pegasus called, closing the distance with a single flap of her wings. She gave her horned friend a smole, finding the look in her eye to be filled with wonder. “Still thinking about those tickets?”

The white filly nodded emphatically, lifting the flap of her saddlebag and looking in. “Who wouldn't be? It's always been fun going with our sisters, but now we finally get to pay it forward!” She turned her attention back to her friends. “Can you imagine how popular just having these can make us?”

“Well, actually…” Apple Bloom started, rubbing her foreleg with her hoof. “I wasn't thinkin’ of anything like that.”

“You, too, huh?” Scootaloo asked, receiving a blushing nod from the golden-eyed Earth Pony. She looked down at her pendant, smiling softly. “Yeah, I've already got somepony in mind, too.”

“Really? Both of you?” Sweetie Belle wondered, pointing her hoof between them. “Wow. I guess I have some more thinking to do, huh?” She shrugged for a moment, moving with her fellow Crusaders to the schoolhouse.

On the side of the road stood a pair of Unicorn colts. One was short and stocky, with an opal coat and a Cutie Mark of a simple pair of scissors. He had black eyes, buck teeth, and a messy orange mane and tail. The other colt looked like the total opposite. Tall and lanky with a dopey glaze to his black eyes. His coat was a bright amber color, while his mane and tail were straight, flat, and turquoise, with his Cutie Mark showing a pink and purple snail. The amber one had his eyes set on Sweetie Belle, a dopier grin than ever plastered into his muzzle. The smaller colt gave him a mildly stern glare, nudging his taller friend forward. “Go on! Go talk to her!”

The amber colt stumbled forward at the contact, stopping just short of the filly in question. She took a look back at him, waving her hoof with a grin. “Hi, Snails.”

Snails’ stomach instantly filled with butterflies as her voice filled his ears. This had been going on for moons, now, and he was only just recently figuring out what it all meant. He went into a small laugh, waving his hoof at him. “HI, Sweetie Belle...”

He lingered in his wave as she continued on her way, letting out a swoon. The smaller colt stepped up next to him, cocking one of his bushy eyebrows. “Really? That's all you're gonna say?”

“What? I can't help it, Snips!” He fell back into his swoon, starting toward the school. “She's really cute…”

“I know she's cute!” He stressed, gesturing out with his foreleg. “You’ve been talkin’ about how cute she is ever since she ran through Ponyville with a glowing Cutie mark!” He let out a disgruntled grunt, walking ahead into the building. “If you don't build up the nerve to say anything besides ‘hi’ to her, then I dunno how I'm supposed to help you out!” They took their seats, each leaning forward as Cheerilee took her position at the head of the class while Snails’ eyes met their usual subject.

Boltsinger sat in the school cafeteria, playfully waving a spoon back and forth in his wing and slowly bringing it towards an excited Nova. He had opted to be on standby at the school, just in case somepony on the faculty were otherwise occupied. So far, everypony was accounted for. Except for Applejack. His spoon found its mark, giving the little colt what he desired as the door opened.

“You in here, Bolt?” Asked the pony who had just crossed his mind. Applejack looked around the room, finding the pony she sought casually waving at her. “I got a question for ya!”

“Ask away.” He told her, raising a napkin to the little pony’s mouth.

The farm mare released a snort, stepping up to the stallion with force and purpose. “Why the hay did you ‘n Twilight get those tickets fer my sister an’ ‘er friends?”

“Is it really that surprising?” He wondered, scooping up the next mouthful. “We figured they deserved them. They’re smart, talented, accomplished, devoted to helping others above all else, and… Well, they have close, personal relationships with a certain six ponies of note.”

An expression of begrudging understanding came onto the mare's face. “I guess you got a point… But why let ‘em take guests?”

“Well…” He put another morsel in the baby’s waiting mouth. “That comes with the territory of having your own invite. Besides, why not let them bring friends along?”

“‘Cause they might turn it into some kinda… you know… date!”

“Says the pony that set her own ‘baby sister’ up on a date on a whim.”

“Now, you know exactly why I did that!” She spat, stomping her hoof. “She just… happened to really like ‘im after all that.”

“I was wondering how your little hypothesis panned out.” He replied with a smirk. “Guess I know who Apple Bloom's inviting.”

“An’ I bet yer just tickled pink ‘bout yer daughter invitin’ that Rumble kid, ain'tcha?” she retorted, meeting his smirk in kind.

Boltsinger's eyes grew as wide as possible, causing him to nearly drop the spoon. “Now… uh… Scootaloo is a smart filly… She has…” He took a calming breath. “She has good judgement! Rumble may be a… a boy… But he's also her flying buddy! They… um… I… I trust her.”

Applejack sat next to him, leaning against the table with a massive increase in smugness. “Eeyup. I can tell by how much yer shakin’!”

The stallion brought his hoof forward, grabbing onto his rapidly shaking wing. “Well.. Yeah! So… um… Who are you taking now that you’ve got an extra invite?”

Every ounce of smug fell from the farmer’s face, bringing her sister’s comments from that morning to mind. “Um… Nopony yet… Do I… need to take somepony special?”

Boltsinger shrugged. “Not particularly. But it’d be a nice gesture.”

“I… guess so…” She admitted. Her mind began to race through a list of ponies, or other creatures, that she could choose from. “What about you? You got anyone to bring along?”

“I was actually gonna bring Gallus along.” He stated, nonchalantly giving his son another scoop. “Twilight, Spike, and some of the other ladies are each taking a student, too. Figured it’d be a good learning opportunity for them.”

Applejack put her hoof to her chin, acknowledging the merit of the idea. Unfortunately, though… “That... don’t leave many options.” She let out a small sigh, getting up from her seat. “I guess I’ll see if Big McIntosh is up for it after school.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Boltsinger affirmed, giving her a thumbs-up gesture with his wing. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He lifted the foal from his seat, starting in the direction of Starlight’s office. “I’m gonna go make sure Starlight has some backup.”

“Rumble and Tender Taps, huh?” Sweetie Belle said, pulling an apple from her lunch bag. “You girls are really going all-out, huh?”

“I wouldn't say that.” Scootaloo replied, waving her hoof. “We fly together a lot. I just thought he'd wanna go. It's not like it's some kind of date, right Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom instantly blushed, averting her eyes and poking her hooves together. “Well… Maybe not fer you…”

Sweetie Belle recoiled, swallowing a mouthful of fruit in an otherwise silent pause. “You're actually taking him to the Grand Galloping Gala as a real date?!” She pulled the Earth Pony close, letting all of her curiosity bubble out of her. “I want details. Now.”

Behind the Crusaders, Snips and Snails walked by, with the stocky colt's ear twitching when certain words were mentioned. He turned to Snails, pulling him close with his magic. “Did you hear that, Snails?”

The clueless colt shook his head. “Hear what?”

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders are going to some big party!” Snips explained, nudging his best friend in the foreleg and motioning to the white filly. “Maybe you could ask her if you can go with her!”

“Really? You think I should?” He cast a glance at the Crusader in question hearts appearing where his pupils should be.

Snips rolled his eyes, stepping to the other side and pushing him towards her. “Just go already!”

Snails staggered towards her, nearly tripping as he went. The thud of his hooves caught her ear, sending her attention his way as he scrambled back to the best posture he could manage. “Oh… Sorry, Sweetie Belle…”

“Sorry for what?” She wondered, facing him with a smile. “There’s no problem. Is there something on your mind?”

“Um… Well…” He took a step back. “I was thinking…”

Sweetie Belle's head tilted ever so slightly, adding a shimmer to her eyes. “Yes?”

Snails’ heart skipped a beat, causing all thoughts to leave his mind, except one. “You look really nice today…” He told her, letting his eyes fall to the floor.

Sweetie Belle’s smile widened with a shade of pink on either side of it. “Aww… Thank you, Snails!” She put her hoof on his shoulder. “You look good, too!”

Snails went into a nervous fit of denial and laughter, slowly backing away. The sweet little filly waved a farewell hoof to him, turning back to her friends as the amber colt’s friend made his own approach. “Are you serious?”

“Serious?” He repeated. “About what?”

Snips gave an immediate facehoof. “Why didn’t you ask her?

“Ask her?”

“You know…” Snips led, beckoning with his hoof.

Snails pondered a moment, his confusion growing with each passing second. “Uh… What is it I know?”

The buck-toothed Unicorn let out a growl. “ABOUT SWEETIE BELLE'S PARTY INVITE THING!!!” He shouted with a force that lifted himself off of the ground. The volume of his statement caught the attention of every filly and colt around them, sending a long stare at Sweetie Belle.

The horned Crusader froze, turning to face the glares with a nervous grin. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo leaned toward her, ready to pull her away at a moment's notice.

“What kind of party is he talking about?” One filly asked.

“Oh, it's no big deal.” She answered, rubbing her neck with her hoof. “I've been to the Gala plenty of times, so…”

“Gala?” Another foal interjected. “You mean the Grand Galloping Gala?”

“And you got tickets?” Called one more.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave Sweetie Belle a concerned look, reaching their hooves toward her. The musical filly took a deep breath, looking back at them with a smirk. “Don’t worry. I know exactly how to handle this.”

As their friend faced the growing crowd again, Apple Bloom leaned in next to Scootaloo, hiding her muzzle behind her hoof. “That's what I'm afraid of…”

A big red stallion was hard at work on the farm, pulling the plow like it was a house in the town. It was going well, and going quickly, which was good. Sugar Belle was in town today, and he was gonna go see her the exact moment he was done. With one more line in the fields, he unhooked the plow, rearing up with anticipation. He prepared himself for a full power gallop, bounding into the air to--

“Big Mac! Ya got a minute?”

Fall into the dirt, right on his face. He rose to a sitting position, wiping the dirt from his face. He looked to his approaching sister with a slightly furrowed brow. “Eeyup.”

Applejack skidded to a halt in front of him, wincing a little at his misfortune. “Ooh… Sorry, Big Mac.” She offered her hoof to help him up. “You okay?”

The stallion took the offer, letting out a sigh as he went. “Eeyup.”

The younger of the Apples brightened up. “Good! ‘Cause I got a question for ya!” Her big brother cocked an eyebrow. “How would you like ta go to the Grand Gallopin’ Gala…”

This idea was already starting to sound good. “Eeyup.”

“See all our friends…”

Getting better. “Eeyup.”

“Where there'll be dancin’ and good food…”

He was about ready to put his hoof over her mouth, but decided to refrain and let out another “Eeyup.”

“... With me!”

And that was when the sour note struck. “Nnope.” He made to head for town, finding Applejack's hoof pulling him back.

“Whaddaya mean ‘nope’?” She inquired, stomping closer. “Do you not wanna go to that party with yer younger sister?”

Big Mac looked at his sister's face. She looked like she was both hopeful and angry all at once. “Well, I mean…” He swallowed a lump in his throat, turning his pupils away. “It ain't that I wouldn't have a good time with you… It's just…” He motioned his head at the town, fixing his eyes on Sugar Cube Corner. “Ya see…”

“You ain’t gonna go if ya can’t take Sugar Belle, huh?” Applejack deadpanned.

A faint blush found its way onto the burly stallion’s face, giving away every feeling he had inside. “Eeyup…” The farmers stood for a moment in silence, Applejack looking at the floor while Big Mac looked at his sister. She looked a lot less certain about herself and her choices than he'd ever seen her, and this stubborn mare was sure of herself even though the biggest screw-ups of her life. “Applejack, are you feelin’ alright?”

“Course I am.” She deflected, returning her attention to him. “What makes ya think I wouldn’t be?”

“I dunno. Sumthin’ just seems a little off.” He admitted. After another moment of pondering silence, he pointed a curious hoof at her. “What about Granny Smith?”

“Naw, she’s got plans ‘round then.” She dismissed. “Sayin’ sumthin’ ‘bout makin’ a big splash at Apple-con.”

“Grand Pear?” He suggested.

“I don’t think he’d keep up quite s’ well. Ain’t movin’ like ‘e used to.”

Big Mac let out a grunt, stomping his forehoof. “Why're you so set on this, anyway? You never cared about all the Gala stuff before. What's gotcha so frazzled about it this time?”

“I dunno…” She took a look at the orchard, every apple in it shining back at her in the light. As many apples out there as ponies in Equestria. “Ever since Apple Bloom started that dang crusade, I think it's been fussin’ with my thinkin’.” she put her hoof on her foreleg. “I feel like sumthin’ might not be right with me if I can't find someone to do this thing with. Everyone else does, so why can't I?”

The stallion rose to his hooves, brushing himself off. “Well, it's not like ya don't have time. The whole shindig's moons from now. If ya really wanna find somepony special ta take along, give it time.”

She met her sibling with a smile, rising to his level. “That makes sense. Thanks, Big Mac.” She gave him a farewell wave, turning back to the farmhouse. “Tell Sugar Belle I said ‘howdy’.”

Big Mac waved in return as he watched his sister take her leave. “Eeyup.”

“I really appreciate all of your enthusiasm, but I have a lot to consider before I decide who to give my extra ticket to.” Sweetie Belle stated, moving around the classroom. “And I need to clean out the hamster cage before I go--”

“I'll do it for you!” one foal cried, running over to the cage.

“And I can watch the hamster while she does it!” Another suggested, joining the first.

“Are you sure?” the Crusader asked, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. The foals looked back at her with an ecstatic nod. “Okay. Thank you!” She trotted to the back of the room, where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been watching. “You see? I know exactly what to do.”

“I see…” Apple Bloom said. She looked around at their classmates, who were all staring at her friend. “An’ you don’t think this seems a little… familiar?”

Sweetie Belle cocked her head to the side. “No. Why would I?”

“You're sure this doesn't remind you of anything from the past?” The Pegasus led. “Something about having access to something super cool and letting it go to our heads?”

“You mean Twilight Time?” She guessed.

“Exactly!” Her fellow fillies confirmed.

“Why would it remind me of that?”

Scootaloo let out a sigh. “Never mind.” She climbed down from her chair, beckoning for Apple Bloom to follow. “We should get to the clubhouse. Got lots of ponies to help, after all!”

“You girls go on ahead.” The unicorn told them, turning back to the class. “I'll catch up after I've taken care of a few things.” Her best friends shrugged, heading out the door as the white filly got another look at her crowd of admirers with a twinkle in her eye.

From the sidelines, Snips and Snails spectated for the next several hours. There were favors done left and right, all over town. A cupcake bought, a flower picked, offers to brush her mane or get her some juice. It had become a veritable onslaught of conditional altruism, and every smile from Sweetie Belle brought a sigh out of Snails.

“So, whatcha gonna do for her to get that ticket?” Snips asked, leaning in curiously. “Give her some flowers? Show off your skills?” He paused a moment. “Actually, what kinda skills do you have, anyway?”

“Nuthin’ she'd like…” He admitted with a forlorn groan.

“Aw, come on! That ain't true!” The buck-toothed colt affirmed, putting a hoof on his side. “I'm sure you can do something to get her to notice!”

“I dunno, Snips…” He lowered his head to the floor, getting ready to leave the school. “I don't think she'll even notice me anymore…”

At Snails’ somber statement, Snips began to scowl. “That's it! We're gettin’ help!” He strained for a brief moment, lighting his horn and wrapping his friend's hoof with magic. He stomped out of the schoolhouse, making a beeline for Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo closed the door to the clubhouse, taking a short break from their efforts as another client took their leave. As they began to take a seat, a loud gallop came up the ramp, leading to a knock on the door. They looked at each other with a deadpan, giving way to a laugh at the timing as they reopened the door.

“Snips? Snails?” Scootaloo started, gawking at the colts at the door. “What are you two doing here? You don’t have any Cutie Mark issues, do you?”

The duo entered the clubhouse, the shorter of the two shaking his head. “Nuthin’ about Cutie Marks. We got a problem with Sweetie Belle!”

Apple Bloom’s eyes instantly narrowed. “A problem? What kinda problem you got with Sweetie Belle?” She stepped toward the stocky colt, doing her best to look intimidating.

With every step forward that Apple Bloom took, Snips stepped back. “N-n-not that kind of problem! Snails was just…”

“Oooooooooh, no! Don’t say that!” Snails interjected, joining his friend’s cowering. “I don’t have a problem! I just…” The boys’ rumps hit the wall, forcing them into a sitting position. In the literal corner he’d been backed into, Snails’ shaking stopped, and his eyes averted themselves. “It’s not my problem if she doesn't like me…”

With a recoil, the Earth Pony’s features softened. She took a seat in front of Snails, leaning in curiously. “Wait, are you sayin’ you want that ticket o’ hers? I didn’t think you were into that kinda thing.”

Snails shook his head, letting his ears droop. “I don’t care about some party. I can’t even talk to her, anyway…”

Scootaloo looked to Snips, pointing a hoof at Snails. “So how long has this been going on?”

Snips brought a hoof to his chin. “Let’s see…” He let out a strenuous groan, pulling up the information he needed. “It was a few months ago. We were just going through town, minding our own business, when you three started galloping by. You were yelling something about a ‘map’, and ya weren’t payin’ attention to where you were goin’. Then Sweetie Belle bumped into Snails, and he got a look at ‘er Cutie Mark. Said sumthin’ about it glowing. Ever since, he can’t even squeak when he sees her!” He crossed his forelegs, putting his attention on his dejected companion. “I tried tellin’ him that he shouldn’t be getting so hung up on a girl, but he wouldn’t listen.” The crossed forelegs fell back to the floor as a small smile appeared from behind his front teeth. “So, might as well help him out, right?”

Scootaloo’s expression began to match that of her Earth Pony friend, sending Snips a smile. “Yeah… Might as well!”

“All right. No more frettin’ over that dang ticket!” Applejack told herself, walking into her room. “I got lotsa time, an’ plenty o’ choices outta all the ponies… and other creatures… I know!” She tossed her hat onto her bedpost, pulling the ties from her mane and tail. She hummed to herself for a while as she prepared for bed, thinking on all of the friends she had that she’d love to share that special evening with. Actually… She pondered, starting back towards her room. Who would I be that keen on sharin’ a night like that with? She pulled out a photo album, opening it up to see pages full of the ponies Apple Bloom had set her up with. Her hoof came to her chin as the pages began to turn, her concentration going into overdrive.

The next morning came quickly, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting up outside the school. Sweetie Belle had a content grin gracing her muzzle, while her approaching friends showed something decidedly more stern. “Hey gals! What's up?”

“Oh, nuthin’ much…” Apple Bloom stated. “We didn't see you at the clubhouse yesterday.”

Sweetie Belle recoiled, her smile turning stiff. “Yeah… Sorry about that… Yesterday turned out to be way busier than I thought it would be…”

“What were you so busy with?” Scootaloo inquired.

“Oh, I was just trying to figure out who to give that extra ticket to.” She continued. “Still haven't made my choice yet, but I’m really close! You'll see!”

Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow from am otherwise deadpan expression. “I see. An’ yer sure ya wanna invite somepony from our class?”

“One of the ponies that's been doing all the favors for you, just for a reward?” Scootaloo added.

“Well, maybe. They've all been really nice to me, and--” Realization slapped the filly's face like a pair of electrified wings, forcing her eyes wide as she looked behind her. Smiling back at her was most of her classmates. Wide, toothy, insincere grins that were dripping with desire. She looked back at her friends, rubbing her neck with her hoof. “This really is just like the Twilight Time incident, isn't it?” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave her a simultaneous nod. “And I should probably put a bit more actual thought into this, shouldn't I?”

“Probably.” The Apple affirmed.

“Maybe take a look at some ponies you might not have considered?” Scootaloo suggested, motioning her head toward a pair of approaching colts.

Sweetie Belle looked in the indicated direction, raising an eyebrow when all she saw was Snips and Snails. She turned back to her friends. “Who do you mean?”

The other Crusaders let out a sigh as the blue colt stepped up to them. “Okay, I did my best with him.” He looked back at Snails, who had stopped cold at the sight of Sweetie Belle. “The rest their problem.”

Apple Bloom nodded, leaning close to the azure colt. “Yeah. But I'm glad we gave Snails some advice on talkin’ ta Sweetie Belle yesterday.”

“I just hope those lessons took.” Scootaloo stated.

Snails was frozen. Shaking, nervous, and looking around frantically. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Snips simultaneously facehoofed at what they saw. “They didn't…”

The amber colt's frantic searching wasn't without reason, though. Everywhere his eyes stopped, he looked at something. A swing set, a tree, a throng of expectant foals demanding a reward for favors done for selfish reasons. Finally, he landed on something that sent a smile onto his face. He lit his horn, wrapping his magic around the object and bringing it forward. Finally, he swallowed his silence, taking a deep breath. “Um… Sweetie Belle?”

The filly in question turned to look at him, unconsciously flipping her mane. “Yes?”

The nerves came back in force, getting Snails to shake even more. He struggled for a moment, his magic fizzling on and off in an effort to keep steady. He dug his forehoof into the ground, raising the object he held up to her. “I PICKED YOU THIS FLOWER!”

Sweetie Belle took a look at the flower. It was as simple as can be, with innumerable yellow petals and a green stem. “That’s a dandelion.” She informed him, looking over the flower at the one presenting it. “Is this because you want my extra Gala ticket?”

Snails furiously shook his head. “No! I just…” He pawed the ground with his hoof, looking away. “I thought was pretty, and it might look even better in your mane…”

It was then that Sweetie Belle wondered why she’d ever been dismissive, disgusted by, or ignorant of this little oaf in front of her. She looked him over more closely. He was shivering almost as bad as another blue-maned guy she knew back when he first arrived in Ponyville. His magic was only just barely holding onto the dandelion, and it looked like even his Cutie Mark was sweating a little. She smiled softly, taking the flower with her own horn and sliding it next to her ear. She put her hoof on his chin, directing him to look at her. “How do I look?”

Once again, the vision that was Sweetie Belle encompassed the entirety of Snails’ sight. There was a brilliant yellow glow around her that grew from the tiny yellow flower. He swayed back and forth, trying to get some words out before finally plopping onto the ground, his hind leg twitching in the air. Snips breathed a sigh, walking over to his fallen friend and hoisting him up onto his back. “That’s his way of saying ‘You look pretty.’”

“Aww…” She cooed, leaning in to give the unconscious colt a quick peck on the cheek. She took one more look at the crowd. Several of them had already grown dejected by the display between her and Snails, while others were beginning to look downright angry. Right… Gotta deal with all of them, too… She cleared her throat, facing them properly. “Thank you, everypony, for all of the nice things you’ve done for me since yesterday. I’d like to announce that I’ve made my decision!” The front row of the foals inched closer. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to do with my extra ticket. I hate to admit this, but I was mostly taking advantage of the favors you all were doing, and enjoying the popularity it gave me.” She looked away shyly, rubbing the back of her head. “It’s… not the first time this has happened…” She brought her composure forward again, putting her hoof over her heart. “Anyway… The one that I’m going to invite to go with me to the Gala is…” She motioned her hoof at the pony on Snips’ back. “Snails!”

The crowd shot their attention at the lanky Unicorn, sending a figurative shock to his system that snapped him awake. “What? What’s going on?!” He called, raising his head and looking around the area. His movements in that moment were so swift that they threw the pony beneath him off balance, sending both of them swaying until they fell over.

Snips sat up, rubbing his hindquarters on top of Snails and looking down at him. “Owwwww… Next time tell me when yer gonna wake up!”

Sweetie Belle looked fondly at the dopey colt on the ground, trying her best to hide a giggle behind her hoof. It didn’t work very well, though, because she quickly found herself going from giggle to guffaw, walking over to help the two of them up. The rest of the class joined in her laughter, the jovial moment helping to ease any tension they might have felt. Finally, they headed into the schoolhouse, ready to get through another day.

Nopony.

Out of every stallion, mare, and everything in between that Applejack knew, she couldn’t think of anypony she wanted to spend a special evening with. This was especially worrisome when she considered just how long she’d been considering this. She found herself understanding Twilight’s all-nighters a lot better now that she’d done one of her own, but she knew she couldn’t sleep yet! There were chores to be done, students to teach, and most importantly…

“Big Mac!” She called, catching up with her brother in the orchard. “Big Mac! Wait up!”

The farm stallion rolled his eyes, turning to face his little sister as she skidded to a halt in front of him. “Eeyup?”

“I think… I figured… it out!” She told him, gasping for breath.

“Figured what out?”

“I figured out what to do with… You know… That thing we were talkin’ ‘bout yesterday?” She hinted, waving her hoof to lead him on.

“Nnope.”

Applejack let out a disgruntled groan. “My Gala ticket…” She raised her hat, pulling the two golden tickets out and revealing them to him. “Remember now?”

Big McIntosh eyed the slips of paper nonchalantly, nodding his confirmation with his signature “Eeyup.”

“Good.” She reached her other hoof forward, hooking one of his forelegs and bringing it up. “‘I didn’t wanna have to explain it all over again if ya didn’t.” She placed both tickets in his hoof, covering them with her own. “Now, you be sure ‘n show Sugar Belle a mighty good time at that big fancy party, ya hear?”

Big Mac blinked a couple of times, wrapping his mind around what may have been going on. He opened his mouth to reply, finding the smell of a well-worn hat over his muzzle instead.

“That’s right, I’m givin’ you both tickets. That way y’all can take Sugar Belle an’ have yer fancy romantic evenin’ together!” Big Mac flicked his head, sending the hat back to its owner and trying again to reply. “Now I know what yer gonna say. I should give it more time. More thought.” She removed her hoof from over the tickets, stomping it on the ground. “But I’m done thinkin’ about it!” Turning around, she looked back at her brother, giving an uncertain twitch of her tail. “Sumthin’ like this is better enjoyed when ya got somepony special to share it with… I don’t have anypony like that... “ She kicked a tree branch in front of her, causing the tree it was connected to to shake. “Probably never will, at this rate... “ Her ears drooped as she gave him a soft smile. “This whole thing’d be better if you took advantage of it, Big Mac. You know it, I know it, an’ I bet even Princess Celestia knows it.” Big Mac looked at the tickets, then back to her sister, making to jut his hoof forward as she pushed him back. “Now I ain’t takin’ ‘no’ for an answer, ya hear?”

Big Mac’s eyes widened as they caught Applejack’s. She was as stubborn and earnest as ever, but she seemed less sure of herself than before. He let out a sigh and a “Eeyup.”, proceeding to stow the tickets away under his yoke.

“Good.” She affirmed, turning back toward the farmhouse. “Now, I gotta go to the school. I’ll be back to do my chores when it’s over, got it?”

The stallion’s rump hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust as it went, as he looked at his sister. For the first time in years, he let himself worry about that stubborn mare. But, rather than try to fret about it, he decided to let her do things her own way, waving kindly with a heartfelt “Eeyup.”

Author's Note

Sorry for any confusion that may have come from the chapter title. It's a reference to "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (the Gene Wilder original). Particularly, the song "I've Got A Golden Ticket", in which Grandpa Joe says he has "a golden twinkle in his eye". I figured it was fitting, considering both of the things this chapter dealt with had to do with a golden ticket.
Snails is really hard to write dialogue for. Snips, too, but not as much as Snails. It threw me for a bit of a loop. And it didn't help that this was the first chapter I've done to have a reasonably large focus on Sweetie Belle, either. She's always been the most elusive Crusader for me as a writer. But I hope to remedy that.
Next chapter is one that I'm already having fun just thinking about! I really hope you enjoy it!

Bring Your Foal To Work Day

“LIGHTNING HAS STRUCK!” Came the words. This was the code phrase that Twilight and Boltsinger came up with in the event that his lightning activated while he took care of the baby. It told her to be alert. Be ready. Be the supermom! There was just one problem today.

It was a school day.

And not just any school day, either. This was a day she was looking forward to, because after a brief three-hour lecture, she was going to take the students on a field trip! But… Life was what happened while the Princess made her plans, and the words were clear. “LIGHTNING HAS STRUCK!”

Twilight appeared in the nursery almost in the same instant as her husband's telltale thunderclap, sending her magic to the baby's bed to encompass it in comfortable silence. When the stallion was clear, she dispelled her spell and ran to her colt, lifting him out of bed and holding him upright. He gave her a happy babble, affectionately nuzzling into her. She gently squeezed him in reply, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I'm happy to see you, too, sweetie.” She ignited her horn, lifting a saddlebag full of essentials over her and securing it in place. “Now, how about you and me go see who might be able to look after you while school is in session?”

The sound of heaving came from beyond the doorway Sunburst stood in, the Unicorn looking inside and adjusting his glasses. “I'm afraid I can't help today. Starlight's in…” Starlight let out an agonizing groan, prompting Sunburst to light his horn to hold her mane back. “... bad shape. She's going to need my full attention today.”

Twilight dejectedly hung her head. “I understand. Starlight needs you.” She gave him a hopeful look. “What about Trixie?”

“She's on the road at the moment.” He explained. “It's not a very long tour, but she said something about being gone for a month at most.”

The dejection returned once more, bringing a sigh out of the Princess of Friendship. “Alright. Thanks, anyway.” She turned to leave, pausing for a moment to point at him. “Let me know if you need my help with anything. Anything at all!”

Sugar Cube Corner was a veritable windstorm of bakers as Mr. Cake, Mrs. Cake, and Sugar Belle did their work. Cakes were boxed and piled all over, and the tension in the room was poignantly palpable. After a minute of rush, Mrs. Cake stopped in front of the Alicorn at the counter. “I'm sorry, Twilight. Any other time, I'd love to have the little darling over, but we're just so busy with this catering order that we can barely keep track of the twins!”

“That's alright. I understand that you're busy.” Twilight looked around at the growing stacks, reminded of the times when her own work overwhelmed her. She thought for a moment, looking over to Sugar Belle. “Do you think Big Mac might be able to babysit?”

Sugar Belle shook her head, lifting a stack with her magic. “Sorry, no. He's helping us with deliveries today.”

“Darn.” Twilight spat, turning to leave. “Well, good luck with the catering.” She waved a wing farewell as she trotted out of the establishment.

She went on to Soarin's house, where she discovered that the Wonderbolt was in Cloudsdale visiting family. Cheese Sandwich was nowhere to be found, likely in Pinkie's party planning cave, and Maud had taken a trip to the Ghastly Gorge for study purposes. Finally, she resigned herself to the last resort, calling out to the spirit of chaos, only to be met with a note from nowhere, stating that the Draconequus in question had joined Spike on his recent trip.

At the thought of her ‘faithful’ assistant, Twilight's brow furrowed. “Uncle Spike sure picked a great time to go visit Thorax, didn't he?” She asked, smiling down at the foal strapped to her side. Looking back to the castle she called home, she took a calming breath. “So, Nova, how would you like to go to school with mommy today?”

For the first time since school started, it had become clear to the students that their head-mare did not, in fact, live at school. She walked into the building with her horn alight, its aura wrapped around the handle of a carriage. Its canopy was lowered in its entirety, letting Nova peek over and look around. Both ponies were a common sight around the campus, but the context in which they had arrived was something new.

“Wow… I knew Head-mare Twilight was a mom, but… It just hit me. She's really a full-on mom!”

Twilight looked in the direction of the comment, rolling her eyes and continuing on.

“Wait, doesn't her husband usually have the baby during school hours?” another student asked.

“Yeah, normally without all that stuff, too! I wonder what's going on?”

“You think it's part of a lesson?”

“I dunno. But now I'm kind of excited!”

Finally, a pony trotted up to the Alicorn. “Excuse me, Head-mare Twilight?”

She met the student with her usual smile. “Yes? What can I help you with?”

“Is there a reason you're bringing Prince Nova along today?” The pony asked, getting gasps and comments amidst the crowds.

“Oh. Well, my husband had… business, and since I couldn't find a babysitter, I decided it was best to just bring him with me.” She reached forward with her wing, letting the colt take hold of it in his mouth. “You're such a good little guy, I bet you won't be any trouble in class today, will you?”

Twilight pushed the carriage into her lecture hall, waving her hoof at the seated students. “Good, morning, class!”

“Good morning, Professor Sparkle.” They replied.

She moved the carriage behind her lectrum, putting her hooves on it to face the class. “I’m afraid that I have some bad news for you all, given the current situation.”

Gallus leaned forward with a hopeful glint in his eyes. “Are we skipping the lecture?!”

Twilight sent the Griffon a smirk, giggling and shaking her head. “No, that’s still happening.” A small cry came out from under the lectrum, making the mare pause. She raised her hoof to the class. “Just a second.” She ducked under, giving the class a moment to wonder as some happy baby noises took the place of the cries. Twilight reappeared from under her podium, raising her hoof to her mouth and clearing her throat. “As I was saying… The lecture is totally going to happen. But I’m afraid that my current circumstances are forcing me to cancel the field trip we had planned.”

The collective sound of remorse filled the room, sending a wave of regret through the Alicorn. Silverstream proceeded to raise her talon, waving it rapidly back and forth. “So, where were we gonna go, anyway?”

“The Castle of the Two Sisters!” The instructor stated, spreading her wings wide.

Sandbar brought his hoof to his chin. “But haven't we already been there?”

“You six may have, but the rest of the class hasn't.” She motioned around the room, where several other ponies nodded in agreement. “It's all linked to my lecture, actually. The history of the Royal Sisters!”

Amidst the sounds of excitement that carried through the room, another student raised her hoof. “So… What teacher mean by ‘circumstances’?”

Ocellus put her hoof on her northern friend. “Circumstances refers to a situation that defines your ability to act.”

Yona glared at the changeling, pounding her hoof on the desk just gently enough to not break it. “Yak know that!”

“I think she wants to know what exactly I have going on.” Twilight suggested, reaching her wings under the lectrum. “I’m sure you noticed the carriage I came in with. If it wasn’t already obvious, I’ve been taking care of some precious cargo today.” She stepped out from behind the lectrum, showing Nova to the class. “Bolt had one of his ‘flights’ this morning, and I wasn’t able to find a babysitter. So, today, Nova’s going to be joining us!” She held him up, letting him get a look at the numerous eyes in the room. His eyes darted all around, finding new faces everywhere. They all held things he didn’t fully recognize, but they reminded him of the feathers his mommy and daddy often held. He found himself with a mixture of nerves and curiosity. He wanted to know more about the things he saw, but all the new faces and voices were a lot to take in.

“Oh my gosh! He’s so cute!” Silverstream exclaimed, squishing her cheeks with her talons as she leaned forward for a closer look. “Can we play with him? Please please please please please!!!”

“Maybe later.” Twilight said, pulling her son to rest on her back. “For now, we have some learning to do!” She took her spot behind the podium once again, lowering the foal into his carriage. “Now, as you all know, upon Star Swirl the Bearded’s discovery of Celestia and Luna, the only ponies in Equestria who could raise the sun and moon without expending all of their magical power, he took them under his metaphorical wing. It’s never been made clear by either of the Royal Sisters, or Star Swirl for that matter, when they became Alicorns…” She continued on, her voice muffled to the baby by the wood between them. He reached his hooves up, knocking on the wood like he’d seen the older ponies do when they wanted attention. Twilight's ears twitched, sending her eyes downward mid-sentence. Her hoof weaved its way under the lectrum to rest against the baby's belly while she continued. He giggled and grabbed the hoof with all four of his legs, climbing onto the foreleg beyond it and hugging tightly. She made to pull her hoof back up, cocking an eyebrow at the extra weight. “Nova, sweetheart, I need my hoof, please.” She moved her foreleg back and forth, trying to loosen the foal’s grip, only to feel him squeezing harder. She brought the foal out again, balancing him between her wing and foreleg until he was over her back. “Okay, Nova, you can sit on mommy's back for a while, okay?” He let out a happy squee, letting go of the hoof to plop onto her back.

“Awwwww!” Silverstream cooed once more, dropping her pencil as her talon hung over the desk. Twilight cleared her throat, making the Hippogriff tense up and return to her seat. “Right! Right, taking notes!” She made to grab her pencil to instead grasp the air. As she looked around for it, Ocellus let out a sigh, taking one out of her bag and passing it over to her.

“Now, where were we?” Twilight held her son in place with her wings, returning to her notes. “Ah, yes, Discord. The first threat faced by the Princesses that led to the discovery of the Tree of Harmony…” The lecture continued, and Nova's eyes were beginning to wander. There were lots of scratchy noises buried beneath his mommy's talking, again reminding him of those feathers. Most of it was happening as they moved the things in their mouths. He began to wonder if he could do the same thing. After all, if Mommy and all these other creatures did it so much, it must be fun! He spied another of the things on the floor, narrowing his eyes and lighting his horn. A blue aura wrapped around the object, floating it just barely off of the floor and bringing it closer. He lifted it higher the nearer it got, taking it between his hooves and looking at the pink thing at the end. He opened his mouth wide, chomping down to get a feel for it. It felt different from some of the other stuff he was used to. Wood, then metal, then… Something yucky. Super yucky. He squinted his eyes, letting out a tiny fuss that, once again, made his mother’s ears twitch. “Nova? What’s wrong, honey?” She turned her head to see him, hearing a spitting noise and seeing a speck of black before she jerked her head to the side. The pencil whizzed past, just in front of her eyes, and stuck itself into one layer of the desks in the lecture hall. There was a moment of silence as the pencil wobbled in place, turning all eyes to the pony that fired it. Twilight smiled sheepishly at the students, pulling Smarty Pants out of the carriage and placing her in the foal’s hooves. “Sorry about that. Won’t happen again! I promise!” She straightened herself, rocking Nova with her wings and clearing her throat. “Now, about Discord. While you all know him to be a bit of a prankster…” A pungent smell wafted through the area, forcing the Princess to trail off at the all-too-familiar odor. With a defeated sigh, she sent her notes into her saddlebag, putting Nova back into the carriage. “Okay. I guess it was a little ambitious to try and do this today.” She looked down at the diapered foal, giving him a soft smile. “We'll pick this up again, tomorrow, everyone! Today is an independent study!”

“FREEDOM!” Gallus and Smolder cheered as they flew out of the lecture hall.

Their friends filed out behind them, the equine of the group eyeing them curiously. “What do you mean, ‘freedom’? We still have to do homework.”

Smolder let out a small burst of laughter. “Yeah, right! Professor Twilight said ‘independent study’! That pretty much means we can do whatever we want!”

Sandbar looked between her and Gallus, noting a similar expression. “So what do you two plan on studying?”

“Oh, nothing. Just something ‘Professor Egghead’ taught us a while back.” Gallus explained, leaning against the wall on his elbow.

Smolder joined her Griffon friend with a sly smirk. “The fine art of chillaxing!”

“Oh! I remember that lesson!” The Changeling exclaimed, raising a poignant hoof. “Technically, chillaxing is less of an art and more of a refined technique. It’s hard to really do it without--”

“Well I wanna play with the baby!” Silverstream cried, jumping into the air with a splay of her wings and forelegs. Her friends all stared up at her, some jaws hanging open, while others simply smiled at her.

“I have to admit, Nova is really cute.” Ocellus stated, looking down the hall for a hint of the foal in question. “I kind of want to play with him, too!” The other students sent her a grin, bringing her ears low as she put her hoof on her head. “I mean… It’d be good to do my study on the baby. You know, for homework.”

Gallus raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Just for homework.” His gaze drifted to the other eagle-hybrid of the room, who was excitedly tapping her hind legs from anticipation. Her mind was most certainly made up, eliciting a sigh from the Griffon. “I guess we're all going to ‘study’ the baby, huh?”

Silverstream's only response was a squee that grew progressively louder.

“BABY NOVA!” Silverstream screamed, bursting into Twilight's office. The force of her entry made a gust of wind that sent all of the documents and homework assignments in the room flying.

Twilight braced herself against the gale, catching the papers with her magic to put them back in place as she looked to her loudest student. “Silverstream? What's going on?”

“I’m soooooo ready to do my study project!” She exclaimed, landing in front of the mare. “Professor Applejack has been teaching us all about how family is like the first friends you ever make, and I hear Professor Bolt talk about all of you and say that you’re all his ‘chosen’ family, and we wanted to be like Nova’s chosen family!” She swooped down to the desk, scooping the colt up in her forelegs to affectionately nuzzle him. “Thank you sooooo much for letting us have Nova as our independent study project today! I promise we’ll be good and he’ll be safe and have so much FUN! And, I mean, there’s six of us! We’ll be able to take care of him and show him the best time ever!”

Twilight gave the Hippogriff a confused blink, looking to her doorway to find Sandbar, Smolder, Yona, Ocellus, and Gallus entering the room. “I… didn’t say anything.” She thought for a moment on the Hippogriff’s words, looking back up to her. “Wait, you all want to do your study on Nova?!”

Gallus stepped up to the Alicorn, rolling his eyes at his friend’s antics. “Well, mostly, they just wanna play with him, but… Yeah”

Twilight gave Silverstream an inquisitive look, letting a grin onto her muzzle. Silverstream was holding Nova close, nuzzling his cheek and piling on compliments. “I think I may have a better idea.”

Twilight sat in the school cafeteria, settling her little colt into a high chair and looking to the students gathered around her. “Since you've all decided to ‘study’ my son, we might as well turn it into a learning experience for everyone!” Nova smiled at the gathered creatures, rocking forward and back in his seat. “It's almost Nova’s lunchtime, so let's start with that.” She brought forth a notepad and quill, looking expectantly at the youths. “Who'd like to feed the baby?”

Gallus rose to his feet, stretching his back and wings. “Might as well get this over with now.” He stepped up to the high chair, bending down to look the colt in the eye. He smiled back at him, still rocking back and forth with his hooves on the table. One corner of the Griffon’s beak turned up at the sight as he patted the foal’s head, turning his head to the professor. “So, what do I do?”

“Just give him some food.” Twilight instructed. “Show us how Griffons feed their babies.”

“Feeding babies, huh?” He looked back to his friends, then over to the baby. “Okay. I'll be right back.” He gave a flap of his wings, taking off out the door. A couple of minutes later, the door opened again to reveal a soaking wet Gallus with a flipping fish in his beak. He took the fish in his his talon, holding it up for all to see. “Got it!”

“Uh… Gallus…” Sandbar began, raising his hoof. “I don't think he's gonna--”

Silverstream shot over to Gallus, looking hungrily at the fish with her talons pressed against her cheeks. “That looks so tasty! Can I have some?”

The Griffon smirked, walking past her to sit in front of the baby. “Here ya go, kid.” He put the fish on a plate and placed it in front of the foal. “Lunch. Enjoy.” He brushed his chest with his talon, confidently closing his eyes. “That was way easier than I thought it would--” A wet, scaly impact to his face cut his thought short. Gallus opened his eyes, finding the fish flopped against his face. He dramatically recoiled, letting out a scream as the fish fell to the floor. “That was supposed to be lunch.” He picked it up and plopped it back onto the plate, met with a narrow-eyed glare from the tiny pony. “Now eat.” Nova responded with a flare of his horn, lifting the fish and tossing it back with a defiant yell. With a low growl, Gallus caught it, putting it back and gesturing to it. “Oh, come on, kid! It's food! Why can't you just eat it?” He flared his wings, stomping his talon. Nova looked up at the bird creature in front of him, seeing just how imposing he could be. He backed up in his high chair, scrunching up his face with tears forming in his eyes.

“Gallus, that's enough!” The professor called. Gallus was soon surrounded by magenta magic, pulling him away from the foal. “Calm down, please.”

Gallus blinked, a sensation from the magic feeling like a back rub. His breathing began to slow, clearing his vision to look at the baby. “Oh man… Did I just…?”

Twilight stepped up to her son, nuzzling his cheek. “It's okay, sweetie. Gallus just forgot something.”

Gallus cocked an eyebrow as the magic around him dispelled. “I did? What was it?”

A hoof landed on the Griffon's shoulder, making him look back and see Sandbar smiling at him. “Don't you remember? Ponies are vegetarian! You and Silverstream may see a fish as food, but someone like me or Nova, it's not.”

Gallus slumped over, giving Nova a remorseful look. “So I guess I dove into that lake for nothing, huh?”

“I'll take it if you don't want it!” The Hippogriff suggested, waving her talon.

The blue-feathered friend chuckled. “Go for it.”

“YES!” Silverstream shouted, flying past the high chair and snatching up the plate with the fish on it.

“And while she's doing that…” Twilight began, opening a jar from her bag and placing it on the table. “Why don't you give this another try?” She floated a spoon over to him with an inviting smile.

“You mean it?”

Sandbar gave his friend's shoulder a reassuring pat. “Come on, it's super simple! Jist scoop it up and give it to him.”

“Okay, I can do that.” Gallus approached the baby again, taking the spoon in his claw and sitting down. He scooped the first of many spoonfuls, smiling at the little pony. “You know, you pretty much did what every Griffon baby does at mealtime. At least from what I've seen.”

“Baby Griffons magically throw fish at you?” Ocellus inquired.

Gallus shook his head. “Nah, but they sure do put up a fight.” The students and their teacher shared in a laugh as Gallus carefully finished his task, tussling the foal's mane. “Sorry for turning all grumpy on you, kid.”

Twilight smiled as the Griffon took a seat by his friends. “Well, I don't know about you, but I found that quite informative!” She patted Nova lightly on the back, sending a small burp out of him. “Now that Nova's had his lunch, he's got a lot of free time. Can anycreature think of something they'd like to do with him?”

With a small tremor, Yona jumped to her hooves. “Yona wants to--”

“DIBS!” Cried a streak of pink and blue. Silverstream dashed by the high chair, taking Nova in her forelegs. “Dibs dibs dibs dibs diiiiiiibs!” She nuzzled his cheek affectionately, earning herself a giggle.

As the Yak’s head began to droop, Twilight stepped forward, putting a hoof on her back. “You know, you don’t have to call who can be with him next. I’m sure he’d be happy to play with all of you!”

Ocellus looked up at the foal, raising her hoof with the corners of her mouth. “Really? Then I want in, too!” She raised her shell, flying up to her airborne friend.

Yona perked up, charging forward to stop under them. “Yona too! Yaks best at playing!”

“Oh, you can count me in!” Sandbar exclaimed, galloping to Yona’s side. “But… how do we…?”

Silverstream let go of the baby, booping his nose with her claw as his wings took over. “TAG!” She backed up, flapping her wings excitedly. “You're it!” She zoomed off through the door, eliciting a gleeful squeak from the colt.

“Uh-oh, you've done it now!” Twilight announced. She lit her horn, moving the high chair and all of the tables aside to make room.

“Why’s that?” Gallus wondered, casting his gaze at the giggling foal.

“Tag is one of Nova’s favorite games!” She smiled up at her son, letting out a laugh as he took off after the fleeing Hippogriff. “And he’s fast!”

Gallus’ signature smirk returned to his face, spreading his wings in preparation. “Well, now it’s getting interesting!” He shot forward, grabbing Sandbar under his forelegs and shooting after their target.

Yona reared up with joy, barrelling after them with Ocellus keeping pace above her. The Princess trotted over to the door, stopping to give an inviting look to the dragon that remained leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “You coming?”

Smolder raised an eyebrow, looking at her teacher like she was insane. “And deal with a little kid? They may wanna ‘study’ him, but once dragons reach a certain age, they gotta fend for themselves.”

“Are you talking about the molt effect?”

“There’s that… And just the way dragons are.” She continued, walking over to the Alicorn. “How can you expect to grow up strong if you’re always being looked after? You gotta make it on your own in the Dragon Lands!”

“Well, this isn't the Dragon Lands.” Twilight waved her wing forward, guiding Smolder along. This could be an interesting new experience for you!” Smolder rolled her eyes, shrugging and following her teacher out.

Nova was having the time of his life. A bunch of new friends to play with in this big place with a pretty fountain in the middle, all of them wanting to play one of his favorite games, and they’re all so good at it, too! He was zipping around the area like he’d never done before, occasionally landing to gallop around the big brown one. She looked like she was getting lonely there on the ground. The blue one that gave him lunch carried a pony around with him, and he and the pink and the buggy one were doing a great job keeping up with him! He had tagged the pink one back already, and was trying to get away from her with a giddy grin on his face. He made another deft dodge as she charged in, giggling as he went and turning to the main building. There, a sight that always made him smile came into view. He flew towards his mommy with gusto, quickly caught in her forelegs with a mutual laugh.

“Hey, there, sweetheart!” The proud parent greeted, nuzzling his nose. “Does this mean Mommy's ‘it’?” Nova shook his head, pointing back at Silverstream with a couple of baby grunts. “Oh! Well, you better get moving!” She unfolded her forelegs, letting him fly freely and look around.

And yet another interesting sight caught his eye. Of all of the new friends Nova was meeting today, this one felt the most familiar. It looked a lot like Uncle Spike, but it had the same colors as his big sister, Scootaloo. He flew over to her, poking her shoulder with his hoof to get her attention. Smolder turned her head, getting one look at the baby and recoiling. “Oh, no I’m not gonna…” He inched closer, gaining a pleading look in his eyes. “Come on, that cute stuff will never…” His smile widened, making the dragon’s heart skip a beat. “I mean, you are cute, but I…” She let out a sigh of defeat, looking back at the foal with brighter eyes than before. “Alright, kid, you got me!” She splayed her wings, taking off to join the group.

Twilight looked fondly at the young ones in her charge, stepping aside as Silverstream sped by. She skidded to a landing, spinning around and jumping after them. The instructor's rump fell to the ground, her wings fluffing as she revelled in the sight before her. She’d never imagined that bringing Nova to school would result in something like this. She wasn’t surprised, given Silverstream’s excitability, but that Nova took to it so well… That was a surprise. At this rate, she was beginning to deliberate the merits of having a daycare brought into the school.

“Gotcha!” Silverstream exclaimed as her forelegs came around the foal. “You really are a quick little guy, aren't you?” She brought her beak close to his muzzle, hyperventilating a bit from all the activity. “So, what do you wanna do next? Hide & seek? Peekaboo?” She continued with her suggestions at a pace that Nova was starting to have a hard time keeping up with. It wasn't that he wasn't used to fast talking. Aunty Pinkie talked fast all the time. No, this time it was something super smelly that was getting to him. Smelled like that thing the blue one tried to give him, but worse. He began to squirm in an attempt to get out of her grip, turning his nose away from her. “Oh? You wanna do something?” She brought her muzzle closer, letting even more of the smelliness eke into the baby’s nostrils. He pushed against her beak, struggling to get his wings free as his cries began. “Aww, what’s wrong, Nova? Did you make a stinky?” The cries grew louder at the last word. He lit up his horn, pulling her forelegs apart so that he could get loose and flap his wings. Once free, he started toward the fountain, where he proceeded to duck and hide from the awful stinky. Silverstream reached out and called for him, thoroughly confused at the foal’s reaction, and slumped onto the ground.

Ocellus landed next to her friend, giving her a supportive hoof and a sympathetic smile. “I think I may have a way to calm him down.” She flew over to Nova, kneeling down in front of him. “Hey, little guy! You wanna see some funny faces?” Nova’s cries died down, looking at the Changeling with a curious head tilt. The idea seemed to intrigue more than just Nova, though, as the rest of the group began to gather around them. She grinned at the young pony, activating her innate magic of transformation to appear as Rarity. Nova reeled back, clapping his hooves and fluttering his wings at the familiar sight. She batted her eyelashes, then proceeded to pull her cheeks back with her hooves and expose her gums. With an ecstatic laugh on Nova’s part, she activated her magic again, this time appearing as a small bunny. The shape-changing proved to be a success, as each new form brought out another laugh. Ocellus beamed at the sight, opting to change into more and more elaborate forms. She went from the form of Celestia to a dog, to a slobbery Orthros, and finally to a bugbear. She looked down at the foal with a big, fanged smile.

The eyes that looked back, though, weren’t so happy.

Nova looked at the creature in front of him with an expression of sheer terror, firing up his horn with an intensity his mother had never seen from him. He closed his eyes, hiding them behind his wings and pointing his horn at her. Twilight’s eyes eyes went wide as the magic activated, sending a beam of magical force straight at the transformed Changeling’s head. Ocellus reeled back from the impact, flailing her arms and falling over backwards with a thunderous thud. Her innate magic fizzled out, turning her back to her natural state and leaving her in a daze.

“Oh my gosh…” The Princess began, raising her hooves to her cheeks. “Nova’s first STUN BLAST!!! I can’t believe it! Oh, I wish I had a camera!” The conscious students’ eyes all fell on the purple pony, giving her a look of slight disbelief. After a momentary squee, she remembered who had been the victim of this development. “Oh! Sorry… Are you okay, Ocellus?”

Before an answer could come, Nova flapped his wings, flying towards his mother at full speed with his forelegs wide. His eyes refused to open, however, and his ability to judge distance was…

WHAM!

Hindered.

Like her student, Twilight fell to the ground in a daze. Nova landed behind her, looking back to see her lying there with what almost looked like a second horn. Mommy was hurt, and now he didn't know what to do. He tried thinking of as many solutions as he could, but all of them involved either his mommy, his daddy, Cousin Flurry's mommy and daddy, or any of the ones that were usually there for him. He didn't have anyone to help him, and that sent a fresh flow of tears down his cheeks.

Sandbar rushed forward, sitting by the unconscious head-mare and waving his hoof in front of her. “Professor? Professor, wake up!” He lightly slapped her cheek, earning no response. “I'll keep an eye on these two.” His attention shifted to the crying Prince, a state of confusion making itself known. “So… Anycreature got any ideas?”

Gallus threw his talons up in defeat, scooting back a ways. “Last time I got an idea, I got fish in my face!”

Silverstream nodded, drooping her head. “And he doesn't seem to like me very much…”

Yona brought her hoof over her heart. “Yona can--”

Smolder's claw came over the Yak's hoof. “No smashing, please.”

Yona's eyes narrowed at the dragon's comment. She returned her hoof to the ground, digging it in while her friends began to discuss options. “Yak not want to smash…” She walked past the group as quietly as she could, drowned out by the crying and conversing. Finally, she stood in front of Nova, looking down on him with a presence that only a Yak could provide. “Yaks best with babies!”

Upon her declaration, the group looked to her. Every jaw among them dropped, Sandbar reaching out as Yona reached forward. “Uh, Yona, are you sure abo--”

“Shh!” She interrupted, putting her forelegs around the foal. She slowly sat down, gently cradling him and rocking back and forth. “Everything okay. Yona got you. Mama pony gonna be fine.” The other students’ mouths shut, all of them sitting back to marvel at the event before them. Nova's crying slowly began to die down with the movement. He leaned into the thick, comfy fur, nuzzling her affectionately. “There, there… Nova is good baby. Just got scared.” She patted him on the head, looking to her friends with a smile.

“Wow…” Silverstream started. “I guess Yaks are best with babies!”

“Twilight…” A warm baritone said. It tugged at the Princess’ consciousness, pulling her eyelids open. There was a blur of orange and blue looking down at her. “You okay?”

She blinked a few times, feeling a twinge of pain in her head as her vision cleared. “I think so… My head hurts, but I think that'll pass.” She slowly sat up, finding herself on the couch in her office. “What hit me, anyway?”

Boltsinger chuckled to himself, putting his hoof around her. “According to the kids, it was Nova.”

“Nova!” Twilight repeated, jumping off of the couch. “Where is he? Is he okay? He was crying when I saw him last!” She cantered to the door, the stallion quickly catching up and putting his wing on her. “Calm down, Mighty Mom. He's fine. Yona's been keeping an eye on him since before I got back.”

Twilight cocked her head to the side. “Yona?”

“Eeyup.” He confirmed, trotting ahead to guide her along. “Apparently Yaks best with babies.”

Twilight let out a short burst of laughter, reminded of all of the declarations she'd heard from the bovines over the years. “Well, I suppose she isn't kidding when she says things like that!”

“I guess.” He replied with a shrug. “So what in Celestia's name made you bring Nova to class today?”

“I didn't have any other option. You weren't home and there wasn't anypony who could take care of him on such short notice.” She explained. They rounded a corner, coming to the school library. “But it did give me an interesting idea.”

Boltsinger gave her an inquisitive smile. “Oh? And what would that be?”

Twilight looked to the center of the room, where Yona passed the baby to Silverstream with several other students surrounding them. They carefully observed while the Yak gave quiet and careful instructions, leading the Hippogriff as she proceeded to swaddle the foal. “I'm going to have a daycare put in. We can have somepony on staff to be there normally, but it can also give the students, and us, a chance to learn from the littlest among us.”

“I like that idea!” He affirmed, pulling her close. “It'll give all of us some new experiences!”

“And it frees up a lot of your time.” She added, smirking at him. “So you can finally become a full-time teacher here at the school!” She nuzzled into him, raising her hoof and putting her wing around him. “Isn't that exciting?”

Boltsinger's ears laid themselves flat against his head, a nervous laugh shooting forth from him. “Yeah… Exciting…” He swallowed a lump in his throat, returning the gesture with another nervous laugh.

Author's Note

Apologies for the long wait. Life has been life, and Bolt's depression is based on the depression that plagues me, so... Yeah.
With this chapter, there were a few deciding factors. First, Twilight hasn't gotten much dedicated screen time with Nova, and I wanted to fix that. Then once the idea to bring Nova to school came up, I had to get the students in on it.
Then, of course, the fact remained that I needed to do something funny. I was laughing through a lit of the ideas that came my way for this chapter. Several of those ideas, by the way, came from some particularly brilliant writers I've recently become acquainted with! Thank you everyone for your input!
I have the next chapter idea all set up. I just need to pick out a song!
(Spoiler alert: Next chapter has a musical number!)
I hope you enjoy it!

Mending Memories

A knock came to the door of a Vanhoover residence pulling Dimming Sparks from her sleep. She sat up in the bed with a heavy sigh, her mane decidedly more disheveled than usual. She moved to her mirror, groggily running a brush through the hair while her husband took care of business. It was probably just some of the same mail they always got. Bills, requests for Brightling's help with some odd thing. It's never for her, so why would today be any different?

“Sparks!” Brightling called from below. “You awake, dear?”

Sparks cocked an eyebrow, putting the brush aside. “I'm awake! What is it?”

“You got a letter!”

“From who?”

“You might wanna see for yourself!”

Sparks gave off a sleepily annoyed groan, trudging her way down the stairs. “What’s so important? It’s just the mail. Probably some fashion magazine trying to get me to subscri--” She trailed off mid-word, finding Brightling holding a scroll with a moon seal up to her. “Princess Luna?”

Sparks got off of the train in Canterlot, reading the letter she’d received for the fifteenth time. “Princess Luna needs my help? What in Equestria could she possibly need my help with?!”

“I dunno, but she was sure that it had to be you!” Called a familiar-ish young voice. Sparks looked around for the source, earning a laugh for her actions. “Up here!”

Sparks directed her emerald orbs upward, where a purple and green dragon hovered above her. It was at that point that things began to make sense. “You're Spike, right? Twilight's little dragon buddy?”

“I guess you could say that.” He stated, scratching his chin.

“So, why are you here, anyway?” The Unicorn inquired, wrapping him in her magic to pull him to the floor. “Princess Luna was the one that summoned me, not Twilight.”

Spike folded his wings and put his claws on his hips, looking sternly up at the mare. “So? Princess Luna is a friend of mine! Why wouldn't I do her a favor?”

“That's fair.” She affirmed, stowing the letter away. “I take it you're here to pick me up, then?”

“That's the idea.”

Sparks let a smile onto her face, taking as cordial of a bow as she could manage. “Well, then, I defer to the expert.”

The sternness of Spike's expression was quickly replaced with elation as his back straightened out. “Right this way, then!” He returned her bow, directing her out of the station.

The walk to the castle was largely uneventful. Spike gave Sparks what he referred to as a ‘local's tour of Canterlot’ as they went, giving her an interesting perspective of the city. Her main focus, however, lay on the task at hoof. Whatever the task in question was.

“So, you ready to see her?” The dragon asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.

“What?” She replied, taking a look around. They stood at the castle doors, Spike standing next to them with his claw extended for emphasis. Sparks looked up at the imposing entrance, swallowing a lump in her throat. Last time I talked to one of the Royal Sisters, I was getting chastised by Celestia for that Alicorn Amulet debacle… What the heck could they want from me now?

“I was asking if you’re ready to see the Princess!” He repeated.

“Oh! Yeah. I’m…” Another lump was formed and subsequently swallowed. “Ready!”

Spike nodded, opening the door and leading her in. They quickly found themselves in the throne room, where Princess Luna sat in front of her throne, looming down at the Unicorn with only the sternest of glares. “Dimming Sparks, yes?” The mare in question wordlessly nodded, prompting the Princess to reach her hoof out. “Approach.”

Sparks took tentative steps toward the throne, feeling her nerves tense up more with each clop of her hooves. She stopped just short of the ramp leading up, taking a good look at Luna's face. That is definitely not the face of somepony that wants to be friends…

“Do you know why I have called you here?” The Alicorn inquired.

“Your letter mentioned something about needing my help with something.” She pulled out the letter, showing it to the dark mare. “But it wasn't very specific. I don't really have any useful skills, so why would you, of all ponies, need me?”

Luna took a moment to consider her next words. With a soft, quiet breath, she rose to all fours. “You, Dimming Sparks, are exceptional at working with ponies on a mental level. You are able to supplant ideas into one's mind in order to get things done.”

Sparks’ eyes grew wide at the all-too-familiar summary, forcing her back a ways. “I mean, yeah, but… I've never done anything good with my abilities. All I can do is…” She paused for a moment, remembering all she'd done with a simple green flash of the eyes. “All I can do is cause pain...”

That little bit of remorse made Luna's features considerably softer. She looked away, opting to avoid eye contact. “That remains to be confirmed. If you can help in this task as I’ve been told, then we will know for certain.”

Sparks gave the Moon Princess a curious look, her resolve strengthened by the need for answers. “And who exactly told you that I’d be able to help?” She took a stomping step towards her. “And what the heck do you need my help with, anyway? I haven’t done anything to anypony in years, and now suddenly you want me to come out and start it all up like nothing happened?” She stepped up to her, bringing herself as close as she could. “So, Princess, how about some answers?”

And with that, the softness left Luna’s face. She gave a stomp in return, spreading her wings with a force that sent the Unicorn sliding back. She inhaled deeply, ready to give this mare a piece of her mind as a magenta flash appeared between them. A lilac hoof came out of the flash, pressing up against her muzzle. “Princess Luna, you promised you’d give her a chance.”

As the magic faded, Sparks looked at the source of the hoof. There stood Twilight, in her usual place between ponies at odds with each other. She cast a glance behind her, finding Boltsinger waving at her from the doorway. The sight of these two brought a plethora of answers with a sigh of pure annoyance, she looked to Twilight. “I should’ve known you two would be involved…”

Twilight turned to face her sister-in-law, offering a smile and a hoof. “Hi, Sparks. Thanks for coming.”

Sparks briefly bumped the hoof, looking sternly at her. “You know, you could have just sent the letter yourself. What is it you need me for, anyway?”

Luna cleared her throat, prompting Twilight to stand aside as she stepped forward. “‘Twas I who sent the letter because it is I who requires your assistance.” She waved Boltsinger forward, directing him to stand next to her. “I recently received a request from Boltsinger for aid in a particular endeavor, and it is proving to be more of a challenge than I had expected.”

“Okay. So what's this ‘endeavor’ supposed to be?” The gray mare wondered, looking to her brother-in-law.

Boltsinger scratched his mane with his wing, letting some uncertainty onto his face. “It’s a bit of a long story. You sure you wanna hear it all?”

Sparks rolled her eyes with her typical sigh, meeting the stallion’s gaze with a glare. “Yes, Bolt, I wanna hear it. I came all this way, I might as well hear what you’ve got to say.”

Boltsinger recoiled, returning his wing to its resting position. “Well, okay then.” He gave his muzzle a solid wing-slap, standing up straight. “So, when I had that burnout last year, I stumbled upon something inside my dream. It was like a hallway full of doors. Some of them were all electrified, and I couldn’t get through them. Couldn’t even touch them, really. I was able to get through one of them, though, and… Well…”

“Well?” Sparks repeated.

“It turned out to be a memory.” He continued. “And it makes me wonder if I could maybe unlock all of my fuzzier memories by getting through those electrified doors. Now that I’ve got a bunch more time on my hooves, I figured--”

Sparks held her hoof up to him. “Let me guess, you talked to Princess Luna about it since she’s a dreamwalker?” The Pegasus nodded, causing her to return her hoof to the floor. “So what does all of this have to do with me?”

“Our first several attempts have been thus far unsuccessful.” Luna stated, walking past the Unicorn towards the door. “It was after the last one that Twilight Sparkle suggested I seek assistance, and Boltsinger suggested you.”

“And we won’t be going in with just the four of us, either.” Twilight added, covering the door with her magic and opening it wide. In the entryway stood Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack, all making a steady approach. “We’re bringing in the team!”

Sparks looked at the friendly faces with a soft smirk, turning to greet the group. “Sure is a lot of ponies for just one stallion. You sure this isn’t too much?”

“Well, Starlight wanted ta come along, too, but she’s busy handlin’ things on the homefront.” Applejack informed her, gesturing her hoof behind her.

“Besides, Bolt has proven time and again that he’s not ‘just one stallion’.” Rarity affirmed, giving the stallion in question an approving nod as she passed.

“And the most important thing is that he’s our friend!” Pinkie declared, appearing from behind Sparks and speaking directly into her ear. “Plus, I’ve always wanted to see what it was like in there! It’s been so long since Princess Luna did a shared dream with everypony and it was so much fun the last time! We all got to be and do whatever we wanted and fight this mean monster that the Princess created! We even got all of Ponyville in on it!”

“So we're all gonna be going into Bolt's head.” Sparks looked around at the group, seeing a nod from the purple Princess. “Okay, then. But you never answered my question.” Her eyes stopped on Boltsinger. “What the heck do you need me for?”

Boltsinger let out one last preparatory sigh. “We were hoping you could, maybe, assist Luna in the aspect of… literally manipulating things so that those doors aren't so electrified.” He paused for a moment, as if reluctant to finish his statement. “Most likely using your magic.”

It was Sparks’ turn for a wide-eyed recoil. She stepped back further than any Alicorn could have sent her, leaving one hoof gingerly raised. “Wait, so you're not just asking me to go into your head, but you want me to deliberately mess with it? Literally editing the contents of your brain?”

“It's not too different from what you can normally do.” Twilight noted.

Sparks’ head snapped to eye the Princess of Friendship. “Yeah, and that thing I ‘normally do’ hasn't happened since before Oathsinger was born!” She let her head droop, slowly stepping back. “With what I tried to do, I don't deserve magic of any kind, let alone the evil power I ended up with.”

A hoof found its way onto her shoulder, providing a supportive warmth that pulled her attention upwards. “It's not the magic that matters, but the intent behind it.” Came a baritone voice. Sparks found the source of the hoof, seeing Boltsinger smiling at her like nothing had ever happened between them. “And if you feel the way you do now, then there's no way you could do any harm.”

“It’s true.” Twilight stated, stepping beside her spouse with a similar smile. “Even I’ve used magic that could have gone wrong, but I did it knowing that it would lead to a better future for everyone.”

The emerald-eyed Unicorn took a long look at the ponies before her. She’d gotten used to interacting with them over the years, so their friendliness wasn’t in question, but… This was the first time they’d ever shown such absolute faith in her. She didn’t know where this kind of faith had come from, but it felt genuine. “If it means that much to you… I’ll do what I can.”

From behind the smiling ponies, Luna came forward. “That is appreciated. We will begin tonight in a chamber I have prepared. Until then, you are free to do as you wish.”

Sparks rose to her full height once more and gave the group a nod of confirmation. “Yes, Your Highness.”

The afternoon that followed felt like a lifetime. Sparks found herself chatted up by all of Twilight's friends, save Fluttershy. They were nice enough, but it felt like they were taking steps to prepare her for the task ahead. I suppose not everypony is gonna have that much faith in me… She figured, listing her gaze up to the twilit sky. Celestia sure seemed to be taking her time lowering the sun that day. Almost as if she was reluctant for the night to begin.

But begin, it did. With the darkening of the sky and ascent of the moon, Sparks ventured to the room that Luna had set up. There were nine beds arranged in a circle around a dark blue cushion, with lavender hanging from the walls and only a select few candles lighting the area. The rest of the group slowly filed into the room, yawns escaping the lot of them.

“I dunno about you ponies, but I am beat!” Rainbow Dash declared, jumping into the air and plopping into a bed. “See you in my dreams!” She hit the bed with a kind of force that threw the blanket over her, falling instantly asleep.

Fluttershy sent her foalhood friend a smile, softly yawning into her hoof as she took the bed next to her. At the same time, a blur of pink cartwheels around the beds, jumping high enough to nearly touch the ceiling before landing on her own bed. Sparks rolled her eyes as the various ponies made their way under their respective covers, finally settling on her own as Twilight, Luna, Spike, and Boltsinger made their entrance. The stallion looked around at the beds, counting them with his wing. “So… Everyone gets their own bed?”

“Indeed.” Luna said, motioning to a nearby bed. “We have a task to accomplish tonight, and it would be more easily accomplished if some ponies weren't distracted by other bodies in the bed.”

Boltsinger gave off a defeated groan, climbing into the indicated bed and throwing the blanket over him. “Fine…”

Twilight giggled, taking her place and looking to Luna. “Don't mind him. He's just used to sharing.” She released a yawn into her wing, waving to Sparks as she lay down. “Good night.”

“Good night, Twilight.” The gray mare repeated. After a moment, she looked to the only other pony in the room that was still awake. “So, what's next?”

“Once you are asleep, I shall bring you all into Boltsinger's dream and we shall work from there.” The Princess explained, pointing her hoof at an uncomfortably stirring stallion. “I must warn you, though, that his mind is not a place for the faint of heart. You may see… something… that may unnerve you. But you cannot let it shake your resolve.”

A sudden laugh made its way out of Sparks as she laid back in her bed. “Thanks for the warning, Princess. But I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything in Bolt’s head that I’m not already familiar with.”

“Indeed. There should be nothing with which you are unfamiliar.” She confirmed, lighting her horn to send them all off to sleep. A soft serenity filled the room as the spell was complete, leaving the Alicorn alone with the silence. “Though it is not the unfamiliar that concerns me…” She closed her eyes, creating a line of white magic that flowed up the grooves in her horn. Rising into the air with no effort from her wings, she sent forth nine lines of the white light, each one resting on the head of a different sleeper. With one deep breath, she opened her eyes, which had become engulfed in the white light as the room around her turned pitch black.

“Oooooh! So spacious!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, holding her hoof over her eyes. The group stood in what looked like a whitish gray void on a black floor, nothing to be seen for miles.

“How the heck d'ya worry so much if it’s this empty in here?” Applejack wondered, turning to the stallion that was their host.

Boltsinger sent the Earth ponies a short glare at the comments. “It’s easy.” He informed them. “This isn’t what it normally looks like in here. I just thought I’d ease everyone into it, since there’s so many of you.” He closed his eyes for a moment, causing the ground around them to shake and shift. Slowly but surely, walls began to form, creating a darkened version of the halls in the Castle of Friendship.

“This is what your mind normally looks like?” Fluttershy asked, examining their surroundings with wide eyes.

Spike let out a chuckle, putting his claws on his hips. “You must’ve really settled into life in Ponyville if this is how you see things!”

“Indeed. It's quite the recreation.” Rarity affirmed, looking closely at one of the pillars. “Though I must say I'm not quite agreeing with the changes you've made to the decor. A touch of black can make or break an ensemble, but this much is simply… well, icky.”

Boltsinger scratched his mane, examining his surroundings with a nervous laugh. “Yeah, the black wasn't really my idea.”

Sparks walked up to her brother-in-law with a curious look on her face. “Not your idea? How is anything in here not your idea?”

Twilight and Luna recoiled a ways, glancing at one another before moving to the head of the group. The larger of the Alicorns turned to face them, spreading her wings regally. “Perhaps it is best if we begin.”

“Agreed!” Boltsinger shouted, raising his hoof and motioning down the hall. “Let’s get to those memories, shall we?” He trotted forward, letting out a laugh of false confidence.

The trek through the halls took almost no time at all, as if they were being willed to their destination as quickly as possible.They reached a corridor that felt unlike any they had seen before, filled with doors. As the stallion had described, the majority of the doors were coated in electricity. Sparks shot a look at one of the electrified doors, reaching her hoof toward the knob. “So this is what you were talking about, huh?” As her hoof came closer, a spark lashed out, forcing her to jerk back. “Ow! Looks like you've got some fight in you, after all, don't you, Bolt?” Boltsinger made to reply, but a shrill squeak pulled at his attention.

“Ooh! What’s in this one?” Pinkie inquired, hunched over in front of one of the uncharged doors. She lunged forward, just enough to wrap her forelock around the handle, and pulled. The moment the door was cracked, a torrent of laughter flowed forth from a number of foals. “Oh, I know what that means!”

“Um, Pinkie, that may not be--” Boltsinger started, reaching for the party animal. But it was too late. She began wiggling her rump like a cat ready to pounce, bounding in with a giddy giggle of her own. His hoof lingered for a moment, eventually falling to the floor as he let out a sigh. “Aaaaaaand she’s off.”

“Don’t worry so much.” Rainbow assured, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “She’ll be fine!” An excited squeak came out of the door, causing the Pegasi in front of it to jump. “But… I think I’ll go check on her, just in case.” She rose into the air, flying through the door after the party pony.

The rest of the gathering began to move on with Fluttershy at the rear. Her eyes wandered about the hall as she walked, catching a glimpse into the room her friends disappeared into. It led to a classroom she didn’t quite recognize, where approximately six foals were gathered around a single desk. She cocked her head to the side, unconsciously walking into the room to end up standing next to Rainbow Dash. “Is this… When he was in school?”

“Sure looks like it.” Rainbow confirmed, looking around the room.

The laughter in the room seemed to pale in comparison to the one question that repeated itself. “Where’s Bolt?” Pinkie asked, looking at one of the ponies. “Where’s Bolt?” She repeated, looming over another one. She repeated her search with nearly every foal in the room, finally landing on the one sitting at the desk the students had clustered around. There sat an orange-coated, blue-maned, purple-eyed Pegasus colt, doing his best to look away from his classmates and ate his lunch. “Aww…” She looked over to Rainbow and Fluttershy with sad eyes. “Are they laughing… at him? Why?”

“Come on, Pegasus! Flap your wings!” One colt teased.

“Aren’t you gonna fly for us?” Called a filly.

The young Boltsinger turned in his seat, lifting his wing in a failed attempt at hiding. “Just go away… please…”

Rainbow’s brow furrowed immensely at the memory before her. This was a behavior that she knew all too well. She had endured it when she was a filly, saved Fluttershy from it at flight school, and protected Scootaloo from it for years. It wasn’t right, but it happened, and it irked her to no end.

Another filly pounded his desk with her hooves, magically pulling his attention to her. “Come on, Pegasus! Fly!” She lit her horn, lifting herself into the air to float above Boltsinger while flapping her forelegs. “I can fly and I don’t even have wings! What’s your excuse, Pegasus?”

The mares in the memory all recoiled at the insult, forcing Rainbow Dash to grind her teeth and drag her hoof on the floor. “That’s it! I've had enough!” She stomped furiously toward the foals, clenching her teeth and snorting as a tug came at her tail. She stopped cold, looking back to see her tail in Fluttershy’s mouth. “What the heck are you doing, Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy’s breathing was heavy as she held her friend back. She slowly opened her mouth, moving to stand between the cyan mare and the students. “There’s… there’s nothing…” She wiped the budding tears from her eyes, taking a staggering breath. “There’s nothing we can do, Rainbow Dash… It already happened…”

Rainbow’s jaw unclenched instantly. “But I can't just sit by! You know that better than anypony!”

Fluttershy gave a slow nod as Pinkie approached, putting a hoof on her back. “I know that, but… Can we just go?” She looked back at the teasing one more time with a wobble in her lower lip. “It was hard enough just knowing that it happened at all…”

Rainbow took a deep inhale, her sternness leaving her as she looked at her old friend’s misty eyes. “Okay… Let’s go.”

The trio made for the door, walking slowly so as to not rush their most sensitive friend. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy!” Pinkie began, putting her hoof around her. “Think of how he is now! Way past dealing with bullies like that!”

The yellow mare’s cheeks turned a mild shade of pink at the thought, bringing a smile to her face as they re-entered the hallway. “You’re right! Thank you, Pinkie Pie!” They shared in a hug, moving on to join their friends as the hallway grew blacker.

At the front of the group, Boltsinger looked around at the myriad doors. There were several to choose from, but he was uncertain of what lay behind them should Luna and Sparks succeed. He looked over to the ponies in question, trying to think of what to say as a faint laugh found its way into his ears. “Oh no…” He whispered, shooting a glance at the hall behind them. It had become more shadowed than before, with two tiny red dots visible from within. Okay… She's a ways off… Still, that can't have been a very good memory they saw if she's catching on! I guess we can only afford to do one. He hurriedly pointed his hoof to the closest of the electrified doors, waving the mares forward. “How about this one?”

“Whatever works for you, Bolt.” Sparks answered, approaching the door. “It's your mind, after all.”

Boltsinger stepped aside to let the mare do her work. “That's what I'm afraid of…” The red glow behind them flashed for a moment at the declaration, sending a chill down the stallion's spine.

“So how am I supposed to fix this, anyway?” Sparkes asked, examining the door.

Twilight looked over her sister-in-law's shoulder, finding a familiarity in the discharge that lashed out. “Well, the last time I saw a locked door in Bolt's head, I was the one that had to open it because of my connection with Bolt.” She turned to her spouse. “Bolt, do you think you could give it a shot?”

“I guess so.” He walked up next to Sparks, looking over at her. “Last time I tried this, I ended up getting shocked. This lightning pretty much has a mind of its own.”

Sparks cocked an eyebrow, smirking at the lightning in front of them. “And you wanted me to ‘change its mind’, huh?”

“You are really persuasive.”

Another annoyed sigh escaped the Unicorn as her horn lit up. “Don’t remind me…” Her magic extended out to touch the lightning, bringing a measure of strain to her expression.

Behind them, Spike stood next to Applejack and watched the ponies work. He had stuck close to Twilight during their time in their friend’s head, but a question was beginning to pop up in his own mind. “Hey Applejack, do you have any idea what it is we’re doing here?”

“Whaddaya mean?” She wondered.

“I mean I get why Princess Luna and Twilight and Sparks are all here, but why bring the rest of us along? We're not really doing anything!”

The farm mare put her hoof to her chin, pondering the question. “I remember when Bolt was explainin’ it, he said sumthin’ about needin’ backup. But I can’t fer the life o’ me remember why!”

Spike cocked an eyebrow, looking back to the working ponies. “Backup? What in Equestria would he need backup for?” As if to answer his question, a deep, sinister laugh permeated the walls around them, causing the dragon to jump into the air. He began flapping his wings, hovering in place as his eyes shot to every corner of the room. “What was that?!” He looked back down to the group, finding that everypony save Sparks was looking curiously up at him.

“What was what?” Rarity inquired.

Thinking on what he’d heard sent Spike’s body shaking. He crossed his arms, as if trying to keep himself warm. “That c-c-c-creepy laugh! W-w-was it one of you?”

“It wasn’t me.” The fashionista declared with a shake of her head. “And it certainly doesn’t sound like any of us. I thought it was just coming from one of those doors.”

The laugh sounded again, louder this time. Fluttershy let out a scream, diving into the center of the gathering while Luna and Twilight stood on either side, looking around suspiciously. “I know that laugh…” Twilight stated, flaring up her horn.

“Boltsinger!” Luna started, snapping her attention to the Pegasus. “You know what is to come! Hide Dimming Sparks and steel yourself!”

The busy mare’s horn immediately doused at the command. Sparks spun around to face the Alicorn, defiant confusion present in her eyes. “Wait, what?! You ask me here to help. You warn me that things in here might get hairy, and to ‘not let it shake my resolve’, but the exact moment something comes up you want me to hide?!” She stomped forward, putting her hoof squarely on the moon symbol on the Night Princess’ regalia. “What’s the deal, Princess? What don’t I know about?!”

“It is best you do not find out!” Luna proclaimed, rearing up and flaring her wings. “Boltsinger! Spike!” The boys dutifully nodded, Spike landing on Sparks’ back while Boltsinger opened the uncharged door closest to them. From there, Luna lit her horn, lifting the Unicorn and the dragon atop her and moving them the rest of the way into the room. Finally, she turned back around. The laughter had grown louder and more constant, with a pulsing coming from every step of hooves down the hall. The black dots were revealed to be a pair of fiery eyes belonging to a creature the royals in the room were all-too familiar with.

As the laughter finally stopped, Luna felt a tapping on her foreleg. She looked down at the source, seeing a shaking Fluttershy beneath her, hiding under her wings. “Um… Princess Luna… May I hide, too, please?”

Before the Princess could respond, an orange hoof came to Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Sorry, Fluttershy.” Boltsinger said, helping her up. “We need you for this.” He flared his wings, stepping to the front of the group. “All right, ladies, get ready!”

Sparks and Spike stood in a moving train car as the door closed behind them. The sway caused by the engine seemed to have a rhythm to it. One that did not go unnoticed by the sole passenger as he hummed a little tune to himself. “Where the heck are we?” Spike asked, fluttering off of Sparks’ back. He looked at the seats, coming to a landing next to a little orange Pegasus with a Cutie Mark of a microphone with a streak of lightning coiling around it. “Oh! This must be one of those memories!” He scratched his chin in contemplation, examining the young Boltsinger next to him. “I wonder which one…”

“I can’t wait to get home and tell Mom and Dad all about Ponyville!” The colt announced, looking happily out the window at the town they were set to arrive in. “I bet they’ll be so proud to know that I helped another pony get her Cutie Mark right after I got mine!” He lifted his wing, looking down at his own flank with excitement. “It felt so right, too! I hope I get to do it again someday!”

Sparks’ eyes widened as the train came to a stop. She fixed her gaze on the little colt as he sprang from his seat, landing on the floor and moving down the aisle. “This can’t be…” A chill rushed through her as the little Boltsinger walked straight through her, moving out the door. She turned around, reaching her hoof out pleadingly. “No, Bolt… Don’t go out there!”

Her words fell on deaf ears, as he was already on the platform. Spike walked up beside the mare, looking closely at her expression. “Hey, you okay?”

“I know this memory…” She told him, slowly walking out the door.

The pair walked and watched while the young Pegasus made his way into the main thoroughfare of Vanhoover. He was met with stares of confusion, curiosity, and most of all, contempt. But he didn’t care. He knew where he was headed. Where his family waited for him. He pranced forward a ways, stretching his wings before he finally gave a good flap so he could cut out the middle-mare that was the town.

“MONSTER!” Cried a familiar voice in the distance. The word pierced through him like a fine needle, making him forget to flap his wings and fall flat on his face. He picked himself up from the dirt, looking around for the source of the word.

“What? Where’s the monster?!” He queried, finding only the intense gazes of the townsponies. “Where’s the monster?”

“Right. There.” The voice informed him. Boltsinger found the source of the voice, where a gray hoof pointed aggressively at him. At the end of the foreleg was the furious face of a young Dimming Sparks. She stomped toward him, slowly and deliberately, until her hoof nearly touched his nose. “That’s the monster.”

Boltsinger’s hoof came over his heart, his face showing no end of uncertainty. “Me? What do you mean, Sparks? How can I be the monster?”

“Only monsters would do what you did!” The filly spat, causing the mare that bore witness to flinch. “And to your own family!”

“What did I do?” He wondered, rising to his hooves. All of the excitement from before had been erased, replaced with concern and panicked breathing. “What happened to them? Are they okay?”

“They’re in a coma, Bolt!” The small Sparks said, stomping her hoof. “And it’s your fault!” She jutted her head forward, flaring her horn as her face got within an inch of his. “Because of that thing that happened after the storm!”

Boltsinger’s eyes met those of the filly, flashing a shade of green as he recoiled. “You mean that lightning? But that’s just a thing with my Cutie Mark!”

“Ponies don’t shoot lightning at their families!” She shouted, sending another wave of guilt through her adult self. “But monsters? Oh, monsters are all too happy to! And then they just fly away for no reason!” She dug her hoof into the road, gritting her teeth. “Sound familiar?”

Boltsinger stepped back, his lip beginning to quiver. “B-b-but… But I… I didn’t have…”

“Get out, monster!” A mare in the distance shouted, making the colt’s ear twitch.

“We don’t want you here!” Cried a stallion, pulling his gaze to the voice.

As his eyes caught the stallion, a hard impact to his face sent him reeling. He looked around for what it might have been, finding a rock beneath him that wasn’t there before. The yelling of the townsponies grew louder and more constant as another impact struck him in the side, and another in the flank. He gave off a pained whinny as he reared up. With a quick spin, he galloped off the way he came.

“Bolt! Wait!” The older Sparks called, galloping after him. Even as a colt, he showed remarkable stamina for a Pegasus. He kept his gait at a gallop for longer than Sparks had expected, finally diving into an empty shack through the window.

Sparks came to a halt in front of the shack entrance, letting Spike catch up to her as she reached for the door. “Wow…” He began, looking back at the town. “That was… That was rough…” The Unicorn paid his comment no heed, stepping through the door like she was a ghost. The interior consisted of only a single, dusty room, and in the center, curled up on the floor, was Boltsinger.

“I’m sorry…” He said between staggered breaths. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry... “ The gray mare took a tentative step forward, unsure of whether or not she should reach for him. “I’m so, so sorry…!” Finally, the colt devolved into sobs, filling their ears with echoes of pure sadness.

Tendrils of black began to seep out of the crevices in the walls as Sparks’ rump hit the floor. She looked on at the little pony with her mouth hanging open, unaware of the happenings around her. The entire shack eventually gave way to the blackness, leaving the young occupants in the void as the only bits of color in sight. Finally, a charcoal hoof with glowing red cracks made contact with the young Pegasus.

“This was always one of my favorite memories.” Chided a tone that rang all-too-familiar in Sparks’ ears. The emerald-eyed mare shook her head free of the unintended trance, following the hoof to its source.

“Your favorite?” Spike repeated, turning aggressively to his companion in the memory. “How can something like this be your favorite? You saw what happened to--” The dragon’s words were muffled by a black tendril, holding him up to a fractured mare’s face.

“She’s not the one that said it, you little brat!” The creature yelled, holding Spike so as to look him in the eye. “It was me! Know the difference!”

Spike’s eyes grew wide with fear at the being that held him, making his entire body shake. Smoke came out from behind the tendril with a green light, but the creature just laughed, standing to her full height. At last, the dragon let out a muffled scream, disappearing in a burst of stardust. “SPIKE!” Sparks cried out, running to the spot he had stood.

“Oh, relax, Mom!” The creature dismissed, waving her hoof. “All he did was wake up! Just like any bad dream!”

Sparks slowly turned her head to face the thing in the void with her, sheer bewilderment making itself obvious in her eyes. “What did you call me?”

“Mom, of course.” The thing confirmed.

“Why?”

“Well, what else do you call the mare that created you?”

“What do you mean? I ‘created’ you?”

The creature stepped up to the pony, revealing that it was only slightly taller than she was, and mostly thanks to the blackness that veined out from the black amulet on its neck. “It’s simple, really. You put me in here when you told Bolt what you think of him all those years ago. And ever since, I’ve been that little voice in the back of his head, reminding him of just how worthless he really is!”

The bewilderment turned into terror as the creature’s explanation went on, only letting Sparks take a momentary breath. “So, you’re why he--”

“Only part of it. He reminds himself all the time, too.” It corrected with a smirk. “Actually, he’s been a bit more of a fighter, lately. He and his friends out there were doing an okay job holding their own against me. But I just couldn’t stop myself when I felt the raw negativity that was coming from this memory!” The creature put its hooves on Sparks’ shoulders, showing a fragmented fanged smile. “And I never would have expected to find you here!” Her face did the closest thing it could to lighting up as she let out a gasp. “Oh! Now that I think of it… Could you do me a favor and give little Bolt another good zap with that magic of yours? I’m sure you could make it happen! And it’d make things so easy for me!” She brought her face closer, trying to look as innocently pleading as possible.

All Sparks could do was let her jaw hang open. Her heart began to race, seeing the… thing… that she’d put inside of Boltsinger’s mind. Is this the only one? What about the others she’s used her influence on? That Zebra, the ponies of Vanhoover… What about Brightling? Her breathing picked up its pace, sending the world around her into a blur until everything faded to white.

With an ear-piercing scream, Dimming Sparks sat up in her bed. She was in a cold sweat, and the ponies around her were beginning to stir. One by one, they sat up, looking at the mare that woke them. “Sparks? What’s wrong?” Boltsinger asked, pulling off his blankets.

“I know about her…” She replied, taking slow breaths. “That… that thing…”

“So that’s where it went…” He said. He sat on the bed next to her, putting his wing on her shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to--”

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” She yelled, slapping his wing away. “I don’t deserve it!”

“Darling, what do you mean, you don’t deserve it?” Rarity inquired, standing on the other side of the bed. “He’s just trying to offer his support.”

“Yeah, well I don’t deserve support!” The gray mare exclaimed, retreating into herself. “How many…? How many monsters have I created just to get what I want?” She wrapped her forelegs around her knees, just barely looking over them at the ponies that were now circling her bed. “How many ponies did I hurt?” She buried her face in her knees. “I was right to never use my so-called ‘talents’ again… They’re just a blight on the world!”

“How are they a blight?” Twilight wondered, reaching for her sister-in-law. “They’re part of what makes you special!”

Sparks forcefully slapped the hoof away, glaring at the Princess of Friendship with misty eyes. “I DON’T WANNA BE ‘SPECIAL’!” She rose to her hooves, sending the glare to everyone that looked at her. “All my being ‘special’ has ever done is make everyone miserable!” She looked loathingly at her own flank, rubbing at it with all of her might. “All because of this stupid Cutie Mark!”

Boltsinger breathed a heavy sigh. “Sparks… I…”

“Save it!” She spat, jumping from the bed. “A monster like me doesn’t deserve your sympathy!” She jumped over the ponies around her, landing with a gallop that took her out the door, tears flying from her eyes as she went.

Pinkie looked to the doorway with a puzzled face. “Sounds like she needs to talk to Starlight about that spell she has that removes Cutie Marks and replaces them with those boring equals signs, am I right?” With that, half of the forelegs in the room rose up to meet their owners faces, the sound of galloping hooves still ringing in their ears.

The next morning, Starlight Glimmer sat in her office at the School of Friendship. She waited eagerly for the first student to come in, starting up a pot of hot empathy cocoa as she did so. The wait wasn’t long, though, as her door slowly creaked open to reveal a sorrowful-looking gray mare. “Sparks? What are you doing here?”

Sparks made her way to the couch, carefully sitting down and looking at the guidance counselor. “I… I just wanted to ask you a favor….”

“Okay. What do you need?”

“I overheard Pinkie saying that you have a way to remove Cutie Marks…” She started, turning more earnest in her expression. “Could you… maybe… take mine?”

Author's Note

I know, this isn't the chapter with the musical number that I promised. That one's on the backlog for now 'cause I wasn't able to figure out some of the details. Besides, this one is a fairly important chapter overall. Fresher in my mind, too. Next one won't be quite so dark, though! I hope you enjoy it!

The Most Difficult Question

Big McIntosh stared at the mirror in the bathroom, sweating waterfalls with the mere thought of his latest idea. He swallowed an abnormally large lump in his throat, wiping his brow. “Sugar Belle… Will you…?” He looked away with a scoff. “Aww, I just don't know, dangit!” He pulled a tiny box from under his yoke, eyeing it carefully. “How can I say it to ‘er face if I don't even know how to say it?”

“Say what?” Asked a smarm that the farmer would recognize anywhere. Big Mac looked around, finding the snakelike form of Discord standing on the ceiling. “Did you have something planned for tonight?” He put his claws on his hips, leaning towards the stallion. “Nothing that would get in the way of the plans we already had, right?”

Big Mac jumped, quickly stowing the box away and smiling up at the Draconequus. “Nnope!”

“Wonderful.” Discord walked toward the wall, changing angles to keep walking until he stopped in front of the equine on the floor. “Then I assume you're ready?” He brought his claws together next to his head, creating a flash that put him in a fancy outfit with a bow and arrow, with long blonde hair replacing his mane, endlessly flowing in non-existent wind. “I’ve been looking forward to a good O&O session all week!” He extended his lion paw out to the work horse. “So, are you ready for a rousing Guy’s Night?”

A wide grin spread out on Big Mac’s face. “Eeyup!” He placed his hoof in the paw, appearing in rugged black armor with a horned helmet that somehow had a Unicorn horn protruding out of it. On his side sat a large sword, and his muzzle had somehow grown the beginnings of a beard. With a mutual laugh, the two disappeared in a white flash.

An explosion of color filled the battlefield, sending paper cutouts of skeletal pony minions flying in all directions. From the smoke, more of them emerged with an audible screech. Before the advance could begin, an arrow pierced through one, with a fireball engulfing another three. With more advancing from the smoke, a thunderous gallop met them in kind. With a broad sweep of his orange-glowing sword, Sir McBig'un sliced through ten of them, while a black and orange blur flew past ten more.

“Aaaaaaand…” Boltsinger started, tossing a dagger into the air. He held up his wing, counting down from three. As his last feather curled up, the dagger landed in its sheath on his side, and the minions exploded into powder. “There!” He let out a chortle, cantering up to the gallant knight. The two of them began what seemed like a dance around the fray. Big Mac would take a swing, then Boltsinger would throw a series of knives, leading to another sweep of the red stallion's blade. On either side of the two, bottles of bubbling liquid hit the ground with more explosions of wild color as arrows and fireballs landed in the aftermath.

After what felt like forever, the two black-clad stallions stood amidst a pile of arrows and fallen foes. They took rapid breaths, trying their hardest go catch that elusive second wind as their companions joined them. Spike sported a wizardry green hat and white beard, with a green cloak, black boots and belt, while carrying a gnarled staff that was twice as tall as he was and carried a gem in what looked like fingers. Discord sported his green tunic, brown bracers and boots, and flowing blonde hair. Finally, Sunburst stepped up to the group, wearing a pair of corrective goggles in place of his glasses and a fiery red cloak. Under the cloak, he wore a sash that hung several bomb-shaped bottle full of liquid, and he carried an elaborate-looking box behind him. They party jumped into the air, bumping hooves and slapping claws with a cheer. Upon landing, Discord readied his bow again. “All right, boys, are you ready for the next wave?”

“Oh yeah!” Spike confirmed, pumping his fist.

“You know I'm ready!” Sunburst stated.

Boltsinger made a thumbs-up gesture with his wing. “Bring it on, Captain Wuz!”

There was a moment of silence as the group looked toward their least talkative member. He was looking over at a pink dice in the distance, breathing a forlorn sigh. “Big Mac?” Spike led as he waved a claw in front of the Apple’s eyes. “Hey! Big Mac!” The armored stallion recoiled, catching the dragon’s concerned face looking up at him. “Hey! You ready to keep going?”

“Ummmm…” He looked around at the party, prepping himself for the battle ahead. That is, until he landed on Boltsinger. “Nnope.” He finally said. He stepped closer to the Pegasus, taking off his helmet, Unicorn horn and all. “Bolt, d'you mind if I ask ya sumthin’?”

Boltsinger pulled down the hood of his cloak. “Of course. What do you need?”

After a moment of internal panic, Big Mac inhaled to the full capacity of his lungs. “There’s sumthin’ I need to say, but I don’t know what ta say or how I should say it or what ta do or how ta do it an’ yer the only friend I got besides Mr. Cake that’s done this kinda thing before so I just need yer help and I need it real bad!”

Boltsinger took a moment to process what he’d just heard, giving little more than a confused blink. “Wow… You are definitely Apple Bloom’s brother.” He put his hoof on his friend’s shoulder, looking him squarely in the eye. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… Big Mac, you need to talk slower. Got it?”

Big Mac nodded firmly. “Eeyup.”

“Okay, then.” He returned his hoof to the floor. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Nnope.”

“Does it have something to do with O&O? Is that why you aren’t able to keep going?”

“Nnope.”

“So there’s something else, and you need my help with it?”

Big Mac gave an instantaneous nod, straightening his posture. “Eeyup.”

“Am I the only one you can ask?”

The farmer’s face grew determined. “Yup.”

“Does this have to do with the farm?”

“Nnope.”

“Does it have to do with the family?”

Big Mac cocked his head to the side, considering his answer for a moment. “Eeeeee… yup!”

The rightmost corner of Boltsinger’s mouth turned up. “I take it we’re not talking about your sisters or Granny Smith, are we?”

The beginnings of a laugh made its way out of the green-eyed equine. “Nnope!”

“So we’re talking about Sugar Belle, huh?”

The laugh went from its beginnings to the dopiest sound the party could imagine, leading almost perfectly into an “Eeyup!”, devolving into further laughter.

“And you wanna say…” Boltsinger’s eyes widened considerably, turning his smirk to a smile. “Wait. You wanna ask her something, don’t you?”

Big Mac’s face turned as pink as the pony on his mind, scratching his cheek and averting his eyes. “Eeyup.”

“Oh my gosh…” The Pegasus turned to Discord. “I think we’re done with Guy’s Night for now.”

Discord recoiled, raising his talon to make ready to snap. “Are you sure? We’ve only been at it for a little while!”

“I'm sure.” Boltsinger affirmed. “This is way more important!”

Discord groaned in frustration, snapping his talon to return the throne room to normal. “Fine! I have to go to bed, anyway.” He turned away from the group, crossing his arms in a huff. “I have tea with Fluttershy tomorrow!” He looked back at them for a moment, lingering on the now yoke-clad Earth Pony.

“Okay… Okay okay okay…” Boltsinger locked his purple eyes on the farm stallion's green ones, finally bringing forth the idea he had put together. “Big McIntosh… Do you mean to ask Sugar Belle the same question I asked Twilight?”

Finally, Big Mac showed them all a confident smile with a stance to match. “Eeyup!”

“Wait, WHAT?!” Spike exclaimed. He scrambled over to his oldest ‘guy friend’, looking up at him curiously. “You mean you're gonna… you know… Pop the question?”

“Eeyup!”

Sunburst adjusted his glasses, making his own approach. “But… You haven't figured out how to do it, have you?”

Big Mac sank to the floor like a deflated balloon. “Nnope…”

“Well, that's what he has friends for, isn't it?” Boltsonger said, motioning to the adventuring party. “I was gonna take tomorrow to make some preparations for a trip I've got planned, but… That can wait! You can count me in!”

“Me, too!” Spike declared, spreading his wings and pointing his thumb at himself.

“I'm not sure how much help I'd be, but I'd like to try.” Sunburst added, wiping his glasses after a white flash went off behind him.

Boltsinger placed his hoof on the Apple's shoulder, giving him a confident smile. “You see, Big Mac? We're all here for you! Right, Discord?” He looked to their remaining party member, who was notably… “... Discord?” … Absent.

The next day, Discord sat with Fluttershy in her living room, each of them holding a cup and saucer over an elaborately-designed teapot. “And then Pinkie Pie pulled out her party cannon along with six or seven more! Or at least, that’s where I lost count. And then, when everyone fired them, all of the animals’ favorite foods came out!”

Discord chortled, looking at his favorite pony's smiling face. “Well it certainly sounds like it was an invigorating class!” He took a sip from his cup, leaning closer to the mare. “If you ever want another guest, say the word and I'll be happy to help!”

Fluttershy’s smile grew ever-wider. “Why, thank you! I think the students would enjoy having you in for a lesson!” She placed her cup on the table, getting ready to pour another cup as an idea worked its way into her head. “Oh! How about we get you and all of the other boys together to show the students that little Ogre game of yours? You know, the one you all were playing last night?”

“Oh, yes. Ogres & Oubliettes…” He affirmed, waving a dismissive paw. “I’m not sure how willing they’d be to play, right now. Bolt said something ‘more important’ came up.”

“I understand.” She said, reaching once more for the pot. “I’m sure he’s worried about Sparks after what happened.”

“No, not that.” He corrected. “Something about helping Big Mac. I believe there was something involving ‘popping questions’ or some such thing. Wanted me to go along with them today, but I had a prior engagement.”

“Oh! Big McIntosh is going to pop the question? That’s nice.” She began pouring refills for them, considering the words that had just come out of her mouth. Her pupils turned to pinpricks as the facts dawned on her, causing her grip to loosen to the point where, if she wasn’t holding it so close to the table, she would have dropped the teapot entirely. “Oh my goodness! Big Mac is going to pop the question?! Oh… And he’s so bashful, too. I bet he asked for help. Are you going to help them?”

Discord shrugged, materializing a napkin and wiping his mouth. “Why would they need my help? It’s not like this is some big, life-changing event!”

“Don’t you understand, Discord?” She began, putting her hooves to her face. “It means Big McIntosh is going to ask Sugar Belle to marry him!”

The Draconequus crossed his arms, leaning back comfortably in his seat. “All the better for me to stay out of it! Knowing him, he’s going to fumble the whole thing, but because of friendship and understanding and love…” Me made a mock vomiting motion at the last of the reasons. “... everything is going to turn out peachy and it’ll be a happy memory for everypony! And you want me to rob him of that when I could be here, drinking tea? I wouldn’t do that kind of thing to him!”

“But it would be a much happier memory if you were a part of it!” She stressed, moving to sit next to him. She put her hoof on his arm, smiling warmly at him. “Go. Help them. It’s much bigger than a silly little tea party, after all.”

Part of Discord seemed to deflate at the word ‘silly’, making his arms and horns droop. “Silly? I never thought it was ‘silly’.

“And I appreciate that.“ Fluttershy affirmed, patting his arm. “But I think they need you more than I do right now.”

Discord leaned forward, slowly standing up. “Well… If you insist…” He looked back at her smiling face. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“All right…” He plodded over to the door, slowly opening it up. “Off I go.” He stepped outside, closing the door with as long of a creak as was possible for the hinges, only to disappear in a white flash when only a crack remained.

The telltale flash of Discord's magic lit up the barn at Sweet Apple Acres, where Boltsinger, Spike, Sunburst, and Big Mac sat around a table that was filled with papers. The notes sprawled through all sorts of ideas for how Big Mac might go about asking his all-important question. The Draconequus gave one flap of his wings, snaking himself around the rafters above them. He hung his head down, turning his ears toward them as Boltsinger cleared his throat. “Okay, so we’re agreed?” His companions at the table nodded in affirmation. Boltsinger lightly stomped one hoof on the table. Pointing his wing at a particular paper that featured a scribbled out musical note. “No musical numbers!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac confidently confirmed.

Spke scratched his head, looking at the drawing with a measure of confusion. “Wait a sec. Tell me again why you, Boltsinger, don’t wanna do a song.”

Boltsinger rolled his eyes, directing the dragon's attention to Big Mac. “Because if I learned anything about dealings between Big Mac and Sugar Belle, it's that a song is not the best way to appeal to her.”

“Well, if you wanted to ‘a-peel’ to her, why didn't you just say so?” Discord asked, drawing their gaze up to him. He grinned down, snapping his claws to turn the red stallion a shade of orange, with the peel of the fruit in question surrounding his body. “There, all the a-peel you could ask for!” The group below remained silent, several of them maintaining a flat expression. “Well? I just solved your problem! Orange you going to thank me?”

Boltsinger let out a loud laugh, walking over to Big Mac and pulling the stem out of the peel. The orange around the farmer deflated like a balloon, leaving the normal red stallion laughing at the whole thing. “Thanks for coming, Discord. We can sure use the help!” He returned his attention to the the friend they had come to assist. “So, my number one piece of advice is to keep things simple--”

“But didn't you propose with a scavenger hunt?” Sunburst inquired, raising a quill and parchment.

Boltsinger froze for a moment, then raised a poignant hoof to the Unicorn. “That’s because Twilight like scavenger hunts.”

Spike raised his claw in reply. “And aren’t you always doing big elaborate performances?”

“Yeah, but that's my thing--”

“That you always get everypony in on all the time?” Discord interjected.

The Pegasus brought his wing rather forcefully to his forehead. “Yes, but--”

“Then it's settled!” The Draconequus declared, slithering down to the gathering. “If we're going to do this, then we might as well do it with a big bang!” He clapped his claws, creating an absurdly loud banging sound that blew the ponies’ manes back. “So what do you say? Shall we begin?” Spike, Sunburst, and Big Mac each raised a forelimb, letting out a response of their agreement. “Good!” Discord touched his fingers together, taking a seat as his most sinister smirk appeared on his face. “So, my first suggestion is--”

“Let me stop you there, Discord.” Spike stated, pulling on Discord’s beard and making it retract like a window blind, rolling his mouth up into his face. “We’re not gonna write the proposal on the side of a sea monster and redirect the river to flow through Ponyville so that the sea monster can swim by and Sugar Belle can read it.”

Discord pulled his beard to the point where his face was back to normal. “Well, that’s not at all what I had in mind.” He tapped his chin with his talon, perking up at the idea. “It’s actually better! And I know Steven would be over the moon at the idea!”

“Discord…” The dragon stressed, putting his claws on his hips.

The chaos spirit slumped over, hanging his head over the other notes. “Oh, fine. We’ll do something else…”

As the group began to deliberate, Boltsinger found himself sitting off to the side, rolling his eyes with a frustrated groan. “Eeyup… It’s not like I have experience in this or anything...”

After a hard deliberation, the party stood out behind Sugar Cube Corner, looking up to a solitary window. Big Mac sweated bullets, looking between his friends with a face that screamed nerves. Boltsinger gave him a reassuring smile, putting his hoof on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Big Mac. You can do this. We’ll all be here, and I’m gonna be feeding you your lines from up there.” He pointed his wing up at a conveniently placed cloud directly above them with a hole directly in the middle. “And our fellow adventurers are here to set the scene.” He patted the farmer’s back, taking wing to settle on the cloud. “You've got this!”

From the bush behind Big Mac, Spike sat with Sunburst. They looked on with vested interest while the Unicorn magically lifted a notepad and quill. “Oh, this is going to be so exciting!” Sunburst said, touching his quill to the page. “I've only ever seen this method done in books before, so seeing it actually applied in a real life scenario is sure to be a real learning experience!”

Spike tilted his head, looking to Sunburst intriguedly. “What kind of book didja pull this from?”

“It's from a book called Proboscis Blue!” He started, yet more excitement billowing from his ears. “The titular stallion and his best friend both have feelings for the same mare. Proboscis is a pony with an almost magical way with words, but has a deformity in his muzzle that makes him ugly by society's standards. So, wanting to see the mare happy, he hides in the bushes while his friend speaks directly, all the while, feeding him what lines to say from afar!”

Discord snickered, lowering his head next to Sunburst. “And I suppose Bolt is our Proboscis?” His snicker turned sinister as he flew up to the cloud upon which Boltsinger sat. He arched himself over the stallion, poking him ever-so-gently on his snout. As his claw pulled away, Boltsinger's nose extended outward, appearing like a horn that hung just above his mouth. “There! It’s perfect!”

Boltsinger reared back with a whinny at the sight of his schnoz, turning to glare at the amalgamation. “What the heck are you doin--” He breathed a loud gasp, grasping at his nose with his wings. His voice had turned nasally, as if he were speaking through the nose that now protruded outward to hook up and hang its tip just above his mouth.

“I just wanted to make sure you look the part, Proboscis!” Discord teased, flicking the nose in question.

“Well, change it back!” He demanded. “I need my normal voice to--” A creaking window sent a jolt down his spine. He looked through the hole in the cloud, finding Sugar Belle leaning out over the windowsill. “Too late! Get in position!”

Down below, Big Mac looked up to the mare that owned his heart, swallowing a lump in his throat. There was a flash in the air above him, followed by a sunbeam coming down above his head to bathe him in its light. He shook his head free of his nerves, bringing his hoof up and clearing his throat.

“Hm?” Sugar Belle looked down to see her special somepony, smiling at the mere sight of him. ”Oh! Hi, Big Mac!” She waved gingerly at him, showing him a flutter of her eyelashes. “What brings you over here?”

A light gust was sent from above, leaving a pocket of air next to the Apple’s ear. Big Mac flipped his mane just enough to pop the pocket and listen. He cocked an eyebrow, looking up for a moment before turning his attention to her. “Sugar Belle, I need ta talk with you ‘bout sumthin’ imported.”

“Imported?” She repeated. After a moment of thought, her face brightened up. “Did you get some new baking supplies?”

“Uh… I dunno.” He looked up at the cloud. “Did I?” A pocket of air descended, hitting the back of his yoke and popping itself. “Important! Sumthin’ important!” With another pop, he cleared his throat. “I wanna talk to you about… today?” His ear twitched a few times, as if he was trying to make sense of what he’d just heard. “Abort?” He glowered up at the cloud, rolling his eyes and returning his attention to his sweetheart.

Sugar Belle tilted her head in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand... Are you okay?”

“Um… Eeyup.” He half-heartedly confirmed. “How ‘bout you ‘n me spend the day together? Just you ‘n me?”

“Well… I’ll have to ask Pinkie if she can cover my shift…” She brought her hoof to her chin as she contemplated. Letting her eyes drift towards her favorite stallion, her face began to flush. His face was almost all grin with his eyes sparkling like a foal’s, and he was leaning forward to the point where he nearly fell forward. She kept her stare going for a few moments, finally giving way to laughter. “Okay, let’s do it!” She slowly backed away from the window, waving a coy hoof. “See you soon!”

When the window finally shut, Spike sprang from the bushes and ran to Big Mac. “Nice save, Big Mac!”

Sunburst followed the dragon’s lead, emerging from the bush while scribbling down some notes. “So, that certainly didn’t go as planned.” He let out a small laugh, looking up at the cloud. “But I did learn not to give Discord ideas.” He looked up from his notes to see Discord landing alongside Boltsinger, whose nose had at last been returned to normal. “So, what next?”

An hour later, Big Mac and Sugar Belle walked through Ponyville plaza. The stallion had a nervous smile on his face, while the mare’s was more genuine as she leaned against the green-eyed equine. His mind was racing as he looked around the town, thinking first of where his friends might be. They had assured him that they would enact another plan soon. All he had to do was have the ring ready when the time came. For the moment, he simply walked with her, letting his heart race faster than the Wonderbolts Derby.

“So, what did you have in mind to do today?” She asked. Yanked out of his thoughts, Big Mac jumped, creating a small tremor upon his landing.

“Well, uh…” He started, mentally sifting through every idea in his mind. “I was thinkin’... Maybe…” His eyes drifted over to the park, where he could’ve sworn he saw a streak of orange and blue darting into one of the trees.

“Do you want to go to the park?” The mare guessed, leaning forward to look up at him.

His face began to flush a little as his head went into a little nod. “Eeyup.”

The pair trotted toward the park at a leisurely pace, each thinking on what was to happen next. And with an idea on that, Sugar Belle took her turn to jump. “Oh! We could have a picnic!” She hopped in front of him, facing him completely with her face alight. “We can have all sorts of tasty things! I’m gonna go make a lunch for us! Can you pick out a spot?”

“Eeyup!” He confirmed, standing tall. Sugar Belle gave off an excited giggle, rushing back to the more market-heavy places in town. When she was out of sight, he galloped to a clearing, plopping his rump down like it belonged to him.

“Finally!” An exasperated Discord said as he appeared next to the farmer. “I thought we were going to have to do this whole thing incognito!”

The Draconequus was quickly joined by the remainder of the party, with Boltsinger plucking a leaf out of his mane as he made his approach. “Okay, so this gives us a little time to plan our next move.”

“What do you think we should do, then?” Sunburst wondered, retrieving his notes and looking them over. “Guided confessions didn’t go so well. How exactly do you plan to word it this time?”

Big Mac recoiled. He hadn’t thought of that. Without somepony to help him figure out just what to say, he found himself at a loss. He opened his mouth to relay the thought, but found Spike’s claw patting his foreleg. “Relax! I’ve got this covered!” He splayed his wings proudly, moving his arms in a similar manner. “If I use these babies, I can write a proposal in the sky, no problem!”

“And how, exactly, would you write it?” Discord inquired, pinching the dragon’s wings. “You may be able to fly, but you’re certainly no cloudsmith, now are you?”

Spike slapped the wrists of the arms that held his wings, turning to the chaos spirit with a puff of smoke erupting from his mouth. “Just like this!” The smoke reached Discord’s nostrils, sending his head reeling back in a coughing fit. “Leave everything to me!”

Boltsinger cocked an eyebrow at the young reptile. “Everything? This coming from the one who knocks over at least one vase a week when he decides to fly through the castle?”

Spike’s wings snapped shut at the statement. “Well... at least it’s only once a week! I’ve really gotten better since my wings showed up!”

“Okay, but how will you know where to fly with smoke in your face?” The bluenette continued, leaning forward.

“Actually, I might be able to help with that.” Sunburst announced, putting his notes aside and lighting his horn. “I’ve been working on something to use when Starlight and I have our baby. Something to help keep them occupied.” A light yellow orb of magic appeared in the middle of the group, moving around in a rapid figure-eight pattern. “It’s a simple spell, but so far it’s proven effective.”

“Nova certainly likes it.” Boltsinger affirmed. He took a deep breath, steppng back and facing Spike once more. “Okay, I think we can work with this. Just watch those sharp turns. And I’ll make sure nothing gets in either of your way. Okay?”

Sunburst and Spike gave a simultaneous salute. “Okay!”

“Okay, then, guys, take your places!” Boltsinger declared. Spike pumped his fist, taking to the air while Sunburst sat on a nearby bench. Boltsinger approached the Unicorn one more time, sitting next to him. “So, Twilight and I have been working with Spike on his flying for a while, now, and he's still having a bit of… well.. trouble where sharp turns are involved. Could you maybe guide him so that he doesn't have to make many of those?”

“I think I can handle that.” He affirmed. With one bump of the hooves, the Pegasus took off.

For a time longer, they waited. Before much of it had passed, Sugar Belle trotted back toward the park with a full picnic basket floating above her. She sat herself down beside her boyfriend, quickly laying out the blanket and opening the basket. “So, we have lettuce and lily sandwiches, some apple juice, and a pear cake that Mrs. Cake taught me a while back!” With each announcement, she placed the item in question on the blanket, much to Big McIntosh’s delight. “What do you think? Do you like it?”

The salivating stallion licked his lips with a hearty nod. “Eeyup!” They each picked up one of the many sandwiches, starting to feed each other in such a way that made the spying Draconequus make a gagging motion with how sweet it was. Sunburst noted the distraction that was the meal, taking the chance to light his horn and activate his spell. The ball of magic appeared before Spike in an instant, prompting him to begin flapping his wings and rising to the air. The ball led the smoke-breathing dragon through a fairly simple routine, filled with wide, sweeping turns with a few challenging sharp turns added in. While the writers did their thing, the performer periodically peered into the distance. For the most part, there wasn't anything or anypony that looked like it might get in their way.

"That's good, little ones. It's not far, now."

Boltsinger’s ear twitched in excess at the soft voice on the wind. Most ponies would pay it no mind, but Boltsinger had learned over the years that the softest voices often need the most attention. He flew straight to the yellow-coated, pink-maned source, who was guiding a trio of tiny birds through the sky. "Hey, Fluttershy!"

"Oh, hello Boltsinger." She replied. She came to a hover, beckoning the birds to nestle into her mane. "How are you today?"

"Doing good, doing good." He said with a nod. "Could I, maybe, convince you to adjust your course? Spike's doing a… uh…"

From the air behind the stallion, a lion arm appeared to wrap around him, letting the rest of the chimera creature that was Discord grow out of it. "Spike is writing a little something for Big Mac, you see. And we need him to be as unimpeded as possible." He slithered through the air to his favorite mare, rubbing her cheek with his talon. "I'll let you know how it all went later, all right?"

Fluttershy leaned into the contact with a smile, lighting up as she remembered what her friends had been up to today. "Of course! I wouldn't want to get in the way of Big Mac's big proposal.”

Fluttershy's last word made Boltsinger's pupils shrink. He gave the mare a wide grin. "Thanks for understanding. Big Mac is super nervous about this whole thing, so the fewer hiccups, the better."

A soft giggle came out of the animal expert as she adjusted her course. "Okay, then. I'll see you all later." She started off in the new direction, waving a farewell to her friends as she went.

Boltsinger and Discord hung in the air, waving in return for as long as she was in view. When she met the horizon, the stallion's face soured. "So…" He slowly turned his head to look at Discord. "You told Fluttershy?"

"Of course I told Fluttershy!" He answered, giving his royal friend a smug yet matter-of-fact look. "I tell her everything!"

Boltsinger raised his hoof to bring a point with it, but found himself with a pause. After a few blinks and a quick breath, he found his words again. "That's adorable." His hoof once again came forward, and his point came, at last, to the forefront. "But that's beside the point! This whole proposal thing was supposed to be just us guys! If Fluttershy knows, then there's a very good chance that EVERYPONY could find out!"

"Oh, please, Fluttershy wouldn't spill the beans that easily!" He retorted, a smirk forming over his snaggletooth.

"Rarity." The Pegasus deadpanned. "I can see it already!" He swept his mane to the side, making it look like a blue version of Rarity's typical style and taking a stance reminiscent of the mare. "'Oh, Fluttershy, darling, you simply have to tell me what's on your mind!'" He made an exaggerated roll of his heads he spoke, stepping in the air up to Discord. His mane zapped back back to normal as he refocused his gaze. "And Fluttershy'll politely say no." He swept his mane back into the couturier's coiffure. "Oh, please tell me!" He stepped forward again. "Tell me." He began to trot in place. "Tell me tell me tellmetellmetellme!" His mane zapped into place once again as he raised a hoof to the chaos spirit, quirking his eyebrow like an apple farmer.

As the display came to its end, all of the smug washed away from Discord's face. "I hadn't thought of that…" He stroked his beard for a few moments, trying to think of a counter-argument. Finally, he flashed a smile. “I’ll go check on her! Make sure she hasn’t told anypony!” He snapped his claws, changing his view to that of Fluttershy, landing in front of Rarity. He couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but it quickly became obvious that they’d struck up a conversation. Fluttershy was on her rump, almost ready to hide behind her mane as her mouth moved furiously, as if she were confessing. Discord hung his head, snapping his claws to bring himself back to Boltsinger. “It’s too late.”

"I thought so." Boltsinger concluded. "Now let's get back to it. Big Mac is counting on us."

“Yes, of course.” The Draconequus affirmed. The two of them returned to their vigil, standing firm while Spike and Sunburst finished their task.

Back on the ground, the happy picnic had finally run out of its tasty morsels, leaving Big Mac and Sugar Belle to sit still, gazing into one another’s eyes. They looked like reflections of each other’s faces, each with a smile that was a mixture of warmth and dopiness. “Big Mac… I love you.” The confectioner confessed. Her face flushed a shade of red as she leaned in closer. “No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”

Like is special somepony, Big McIntosh’s face became a wall of pure blushing. He brought his hoof roward her, just a slight shake as he neared the point of contact. “I… I dunno what to say… Except…” Before he could continue, there was a rustle in the bush behind them. He briefly looked over to it, spying a purple claw sticking out in a thumbs-up motion. “Sugar Belle…” He contemplated his next words to no end. If this was to be it, he wanted to make sure he had exactly the right thing to say… But like always, the words were caught in his throat. He backed away, turning to look at the sky. “Whaddaya think that cloud looks like?”

Sugar Belle giggled. She’d expected this much from Big Mac. Words always seemed to fail him, but she didn’t care. He was always able to communicate exactly what he needed to with as few words as possible. That’s what she loved about him. She humored her favorite stallion, following his lead to view the sky above them. In the air was a line of black smoke that looked elaborately woven into something akin to letters. “Oh! Is this skywriting?”

“Eeyup!”

“Awww! That’s wonderful!” She rose to her hooves to get a closer look, crinkling her nose and squinting her eyes in a way that made the red stallion swoon. “But… What exactly does it say?”

“Huh?” Big Mac looked more closely at the words in the sky… If he could call them words. Technically, he knew just what it was supposed to say. He couldn’t directly admit to it, though, as the writing was as confusing to him as it was to the Unicorn next to him. He breathed a heavy sigh as his hoof met his forehead. “I dunno…”

Sugar Belle turned to Big Mac, giving him a soft peck on the cheek. “Well, it sure looks nice!” She extended her foreleg to him, putting on her ever-sweet smile. “So, what do you want to do next?”

The farm stallion accepted the aid, standing tall before her. “Whatever you want.” He pulled her close, walking across the park with a quick glance back. His friends had all landed and gathered around Sunburst, who was scribbling yet more notes onto his parchment.

“Okay… Next time, don’t write in cursive.” The spectacled stallion stated, rolling up his parchment and stowing it away.

Ever since the picnic at the park, Big Mac couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Everywhere he looked, there was another pony hurrying to look away. He turned to Sugar Belle, sending her an increasingly nervous smile whenever she looked back. By the town hall, Applejack leaned against the wall with a knowing smile. Rarity stood outside her boutique, the very picture of giddiness. No matter the direction, he found somepony he knew staring at him. And with every pair of eyes that landed on him, a new bead of sweat rolled down his face. With a gentle pat on her back, he grabbed Sugar Belle’s attention. “Yes? What is it?” She asked.

“Hey, darlin’... I need ta go ‘n… Use the little colt’s room!” He fibbed, slowly beginning to back away. “D’ya mind waitin’ for me…” He scanned their surroundings frantically, pointing his hoof at the fountain in the center of the plaza. “... over there?”

“Of course.” She said, following the hoof with a laugh.

The work horse slowly stepped away, increasing his pace gradually until he was in a full gallop. He weaved through the streets, turning the world around him into a blur.

Until it wasn't.

The alley around him looked normal again, but he felt like he was still running. His hooves still touched a solid surface, so he wasn't in the air. So what was going on? He came to a stop, trying to figure it all ou--

CRASH!

Big Mac sat up from his new position against a wall, rubbing the back of his head. Where he had been running stood a treadmill that worked automatically, still going at a rapid pace despite his absence. “You know, you’re quite the difficult pony to catch. Or, at least, you would be if it wasn’t me catching you!” Chided the goat-face that appeared above him. The red stallion let out a sigh, getting up to continue his escape.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Asked a baritone from further ahead. Big Mac stopped in his tracks, squinting to see if there really was anything there. “The fountain is the other way.” This time it came from behind, prompting him to turn and face it. There stood Boltsinger with a face fraught with concern, Spike, Sunburst, and Discord gathered behind him as he stepped forward. “What’s wrong?”

Big McIntosh tried to look away, but the friendly faces in front of him tugged at his eyes. He wanted to keep running, go back to the farm, act like he never got this stupid plan, but… "I can't… do it…" He admitted, hanging his head dejectedly. "I love 'er, Bolt… So much that I can't think of anything ta say when I'm around her…"

"How's that any different from any other time?" Spike wondered, earning himself an hard elbow to the arm from the Pegasus next to him.

"I can't do what you do, Bolt." The Earth Pony continued, dropping his rump alongside some tears. "I can't pour my heart out like you… Can't make the big show of it like ya always do. I wanna tell 'er how I feel, though! How I wanna spend every day with 'er, helpin' 'er to make the sweet, sweet things that make her as happy as she makes me! But I can't do it like you do…"

"Then don't." Boltsinger simply stated.

"WHAT?!" Cried the remaining party members, each sending the bluenette a look of utter shock.

"Is that really so weird?" He replied. He refocused on the teary-eyed friend in front of him. "Yes, I do big elaborate schemes and performances. I like to do those. It's my thing." He stepped forward, putting his hoof over his heart. "And yes, I did a giant scavenger hunt I proposed. That's because Twilight likes scavenger hunts. It made sense for me." He put his hooves on the farmer's yoke, looking him in the eyes. "But that doesn't mean my thing will work for you. So with that, I have a question for you." He put his hoof on the big stallion's chin, making their mutual gaze that much more direct. "You ready?"

Big Mac sniffed up an encroaching sob, wiping his eyes and straightening his face. "Eeyup."

"What would you, Big McIntosh, do to propose to Sugar Belle?"

"Well… I--"

"Oh, no, don't tell us. Just go for it." Boltsinger advised. He got back on his hooves, stepping aside. "We're here for you, but this is your show." He pumped his hoof, showing a confident smile. "No go show that mare just how you feel!"

Big Mac jumped up, striking a confident pose with a brave "EEYUP!" He strutted forward, his face filled with determination for a ways. Until he turned to Boltsinger, pointing his hoof at his face. "Hey, um… Bolt, could you…?"

Boltsinger gave off a guffaw, stepping up to the Earth Pony. "Eeyup!" He brought his wings forward, delivering a hard slap to either side of the farmer's flushed face. All at once, the thoughts swirling around in Big Mac's brain stopped, drawn into a single point. He knew what to do, and how he should do it. He turned around confidently, moving forward at long last.

Sugar Belle had been waiting for several minutes, now. In that short time, the fountain had become surrounded by ponies, all looking at her curiously. She began to wonder what the occasion might be, but her main concern was with Big Mac. Poor bashful colt was likely to go half-crazy with all this attention. Maybe I should go check on him… She thought, slowly standing up. As her hoof rose to step forward, the crowd parted to reveal the very pony she was set to look for. She couldn’t explain how, but he looked different from how he did before, and more than just the relief of the little colt’s room. In fact, she hadn’t seen him this determined since after the misunderstanding last Hearts and Hooves Day. Every eye in the crowd watched the two of them as the stallion made his steady approach.

“Sugar Belle…” The stallion began, stopping in front of her with one hoof raised.

“Yes, Big Mac?” The mare answered, mirroring her special somepony’s gesture.

Big Mac breathed a preparatory sigh, bringing his hoof back to the ground. “There’s sumthin’ I gotta say to you, but…”

Sugar Belle sent the stallion an affectionate smile. “Let me guess. You can’t put it into words?”

Big Mac’s hoof quickly found its way to his neck as he sheepishly averted his eyes. “Eeyup.” His smile went from nervous to sincere while he looked back at her. Once again, his mind was a jumble. But this time, it wasn’t quite so confusing. His mouth opened to try and make sense of some of it, but found only a lump blocking his voice. “Aww, horseapples!” He finally exclaimed. He stood tall, looking down at her with fierce determination and reaching under his yoke. From there, he dropped to a single knee, bringing his hoof forward with a box sitting atop it. At the sight of that one gesture, the entire crowd leaned in with vested interest.

“Big Mac…” The Unicorn started, wide-eyed and jaw slack with her hoof rising up to her face. “Are you… Are you asking me to marry you?!”

The farm stallion gave her a distinct nod, opening the box to reveal a ring with an apple-shaped ruby in the center, with an emerald set above to look like a leaf and more emeralds lining the band. “Eeyup.”

“Oh my goodness, this is wonderful!” She declared, jumping back. She leaped forward, going into a prance around him. “We’ll be together every day, and we can work the farm together, and bake sweets together, and we can have--” Her face flashed red at the last thought, stopping her mid-jump to land in front of him once more. “I mean… Yes, of course I’ll marry you!” As the crowd’s cheers began, she dove into the work horse, wrapping her forelegs around him so tight that she nearly reminded him of Pinkie Pie and planting a kiss on his lips.

“Well that’s a sweet sentiment.” Discord stated from a nearby rooftop. He had a hint of his usual snark in his voice as he crossed his arms.. “But why even bother to go that far? Chaining himself to somepony else for the rest of their lives?”

“What? You don’t like the idea of Big Mac tying the knot?” asked the orange Pegasus next to him.

“I just don’t see the point, is all.” The Draconequus admitted with an unassuming shrug. “I’m glad that Big Mac is happy, but why do you ponies choose to weigh yourself down with all this song and dance when you can shine just as brightly without it?”

“I suppose it’s a matter of choice.” Boltsinger replied, smiling down at his newly-engaged friend. “They’ve decided to face all of the challenges of life together from this point on. It honestly does make a lot of things easier, even if it does mean that the workload gets a little more intense.” He looked fondly at his pendant, showing off a nostalgic smile. “But for the right pony, it’s totally worth it.”

Discord sent the stallion a smirk, letting his gaze drift to a certain yellow mare in the crowd. “Well, I suppose you are the one with experience in the matter.”

Boltsinger chuckled, laying on the roof with his forelegs crossed. “Eeyup!”

Author's Note

I've been meaning to do this for a while, now. It first came from an idea of just having Bolt play Cyrano for Big Mac, and it turned into a bit more. Sadly the Cyrano part didn't go quite how I'd hoped. I just couldn't think of ways to make it work past what you read here. But I still think this came out pretty well!
Next chapter is going to be started soon, though! I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Stallion's Day!

Another day of school, another tired evening. Twilight had been as busy as could be in the past week. She had finally gotten to deliver a long-awaited lesson with the help of her favorite stallion, but as soon as it was over, he left, saying something about somepony else needing him for something. She shrugged it off, trotting her way to the castle. Boltsinger was always like this these days. Always doing something for somepony in need. If it wasn't a lightning-induced mission of altruism, it was some venture he decided to help a friend with. As she crossed the threshold of her enormous abode, she lit her horn for her most oft-used spell. With her typical flash, she appeared in the library with a smile, taking to the air and perusing the available tomes.

Many of which were notably missing.

Twilight cocked a curious eyebrow, looking at the blank space on the many shelves. "That's strange… Why are there so many books--" An orange blur sped by the Alicorn, stopping next to another book. "Scootaloo?"

"There it is!" The filly exclaimed, grabbing the book and holding it up. “Got it!”

“Nice!” Came the baritone of Boltsinger from below. Twilight followed the sound to find the stallion in question sitting at her favorite study table, surrounded by books on various subjects. “Bring it over, please!”

Scootaloo nodded, descending to the floor with her mother following close behind. “Need anything else?”

Boltsinger shook his head. “Nnope!” He looked back at the gathered books, all organized into piles based on the subject matter within. “I think I’ll be busy for a while with all of this.”

“Okay, then. I’m gonna go check on Nova!” She stated, giving each of her parents a quick hug before flying out of the room.

Twilight waved a farewell to the flying filly, turning to her spouse with a smile. “So, what are you up to?”

“Not much.” he replied, burying his face in the nearest open book. “Just doing some research on a few things.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide. She scanned what spines she could see of the books. “Really? What are you studying?”

Without raising his nose from the pages, Boltsinger pointed a wing at the stack closest to Twilight. "Well, Mrs. Cake wants to expand her repertoire in regards to cake decoration, so I figured I'd find some interesting designs for her to try." He pointed a hoof at the next pile over. "And Zecora needs some new botany textbooks. Goldenrod's already gone through all of the reading material at the hut." Finally, his other wing rose to point at the last pile. "And that? Well, those are joke books. Discord and I are needing some new material in case we have to do another comedic team-up. So I figured I'd nip that problem in the bud." His limbs returned to their default state, with his hooves holding him up while his wings turned the pages as the Princess' mouth went agape. "Plus, you know, figuring out a way to help Sparks."

"And you need all of these books for just those three projects?"

"Eeyup."

"All at once?"

"Eeyup."

"And you have to do all three projects at the same time?"

Boltsinger gave a momentary pause, rubbing his chin with his wing. "Hmm.. " He turned his attention to each of the towering piles of reading material, squinting his eyes. "Hmmmmmmmmmm…" He let a soft smile replace the scrunching of his face. "Eeyup!"

"Have you done anything besides projects like this recently?" She wondered, standing next to him with a gingerly raised hoof.

"Besides the usual stuff I do?" He guessed, earning a nod of confirmation from his dearly beloved. "Nnope." He turned back to his book, sinking his muzzle into it once again.

Twilight's smile widened as she pulled up a chair of her own. "Would you like some help? I'm sure it'll go much faster with a second set of eyes."

"It probably would, but I think I can handle it." He dismissed, patting her back with his wing. "You go ahead and relax. You've been pretty busy lately."

"I've been busy?" She repeated, floating over the top books of each stack. "You've been devoting your time to helping everypony else so much that I haven't seen you relax in the last two weeks!"

"Not too different from what you do." He retorted, turning the page.

"But I don't spend all of my time--" She stopped herself mid-sentence, finding a stoically raised eyebrow on her husband's face. "Okay. I spend a lot of time studying. But you're always reminding me to take care of myself, so…" She lit her horn, putting markers in all of the gathered books and raising them into the air. "I'm returning the favor!"

"Are you sure?" Boltsinger asked, hanging by his hooves from the book he'd been reading. "'Cause I can keep going!"

An later, the castle library was sorted and clean, with Twilight and Boltsinger sitting on the couch facing each other. "So, exactly how much have you done for yourself lately?" The Princess wondered.

"Hmm…" Boltsinger's wing came to his muzzle once more, trying to bring out the information he needed. After a moment, he lit up. "I haven't."

"Really? Nothing at all?"

"Well… I do still eat. Can't go hungry, after all." He affirmed. "Why do you ask?"

Twilight breathed a small sigh, finding some familiarity in his restlessness. "I'm just concerned. Self-care is important, you know."

The Pegasus nodded, putting his hoof on hers. "I know. I'm making sure everypony I love is taken care of."

"Including you?" She reiterated. Bolrsinger's entire body stiffened for a moment, revealing a half-hearted smile as his ears fell flat and his eyes darted around to see everything but her. "I see." She got up from the couch, pulling him along with her with her hoof on his back. "Well, then, by order of the Princess, I insist that you take some time off to take care of yourself for a change."

Boltsinger's expression slightly soured, his bottom lip tightening with uncertainty. "But… I really don't want to…"

Twilight leaped ahead, turning around to look him in the eye. "Do it for me? Please?" She leaned in close, fluttering her eyelashes.

Boltsinger's wings phwooped to attention on his back, forcing him to rear back a little. Of all of the ways she could have made her case, this was easily one of the most effective. He stewed for a moment, trying to devise some kind of defense, but found her charm and pleading to be insurmountable. "Okay… fine." He said, putting his hoof on her cheek. "I'll do something for me… for you."

"Good." Twilight affirmed, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I'll get Spike so we can start making dinner. You just take some personal time and relax!" She trotted out of the library, giving him a farewell wave as she went.

"Yeah…" He started, gingerly waving his wing as his rump hit the floor with a nervous laugh. "Relax…"

Boltsinger trotted through the halls the next morning, forcing a smile onto his face. "Okay! Today I take some me time! Me time, me time, me time…" He stopped by a window, looking out at Ponyville. "What the heck do I do for me time? I mean, I'd go to the library, but Twilight locked it… Why would Twilight of all ponies lock the library?!" He began to pace across the hallway, rubbing his temples with his wings. "Why does this have to be so difficult? Can't I just get a second opinion?" He shot into the air with realization, turning his fake smile more genuine. "That's it! I'll ask around!" He gave wings a firm flap, sending himself speeding out of the open window.

The first stop on the stallion’s flight was the closest. He landed at the school, trotting through the courtyard and looking around at the gathered students. It may have been the weekend, but that didn’t mean that the students weren’t still active. He waved to a few of the more familiar faces, noting a bit more aloofness from most of the student body. He paid them no mind, moving to one of his most visited destinations in the school. Past the line that extended into the main hall, Boltsinger made his way into Starlight’s office, where one student was offering her thanks to the room’s owner. “All right, who’s next?”

“Do I count?” Boltsinger asked, stepping up beside the desk. “‘Cause I could sure use some help with something.”

Starlight breathed a sigh, leaning on her desk and looking up at him. “Okay. What do you need help with?”

“I need some ideas on something to do. Twilight told me to take some ‘me time’, but I have no clue what I wanna do.”

"That's all?" She wondered, giving him a stoic look. "I know about your whole 'day off' thing, but why do you need my opinion?"

"I just thought a second source of ideas might help." He admitted, scratching his mane.

"Well, I hate to say it, but I don't have any ideas right now." She stood up from her chair, moving to the door. "I'm kinda busy today, anyway."

Boltsinger nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't help but notice that." He thought for a moment, raising a hoof to her. "You wouldn't… maybe… need some help with all of this?"

Starlight came to an immediate stop, looking nervously back at the Pegasus. “Help? Why would I need help? I’ve… uh… I’ve got Sunburst to help!”

The orange stallion raised an eyebrow, lowering his hoof to the floor. "Um… Sunburst is at home. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's not even awake yet."

“Oh, he probably just lost track of time reading last night!” She stated, lighting her horn. “I’ll go check on him now!” With her usual flash, Starlight vanished, returning moments later with the orange and white Unicorn next to her with crooked glasses, a messier than usual mane, a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth, and a distinct lack of his signature cloak. “You see? Here he is!”

Sunburst looked around the office, letting the toothbrush drop from his slacking jaw. “Starlight…? Why am I here?”

“Oh, you know why!” She retorted, pulling him into a hug. “You’re here to help me out so that Bolt can go have a nice, relaxing, personal day.” She brought her muzzle up to his ear. “Just play along.”

Sunburst eyed his fellow stallion curiously as more whispers entered his ears. "I see…" When Starlight pulled away, he adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "That's right! I'll be here with you all day!" He got up on all fours, wincing a little as his rump scraped the desk. He shot a glance back at the source of the sensation, remembering his state of undress with a faint blush on his cheeks. "Right after I get changed…"

Boltsinger raised a helpful hoof. "I can go grab it for you if you--"

"You should go…" Starlight interjected, putting his hoof back on the floor as she considered her options. "... go… visit Pinkie Pie! I bet she would be able to come up with something for you!"

A small, slightly frustrated grunt escaped the Pegasus' throat. "Okay… I guess I'll go visit Pinkie…" He headed back to the door, stepping through and calling for the next student to enter.

"But, seriously." Sunburst said, looking hopefully at his special somepony. "Can I go get changed?"

"Hi, Bolt!" Pinkie called from within the bakery as the stallion touched down. He chuckled to himself as he made his way inside. As expected for the weekend, Sugar Cube Corner was totally packed. The line to the counter was long, but shrinking as the pink pony and her cheesy cohort did their work. As he made it halfway through the room, the pair of party ponies leaned on the counter, simultaneously smiling at the stallion. "What can we do for you?"

“Honestly? I don’t know.” He stated, rubbing his neck with his hoof. “Got any suggestions for something I could do today?”

“Are ya hungry?” The mare suggested, presenting the Pegasus with a cupcake. “Nothing better to pass the time like a treat!”

“One cupcake for all day?” He retorted, taking the cupcake happily. “It’s nice, but I think it’ll take a lot more than just one.”

“How ‘bout a batch?” She continued.

“Uh, Pinkie?” Cheese started, reaching for the cotton candy-colored mare.

Pinkie crouched under the counter, rummaging for a box of treats. “~Oh, nothing brings a smile quite like a cupcaaaaaake…~”

“Pinkie, we’re--” Cheese continued, finding himself cut off.

“~Nothing in Equestria is easier to bake!~”

“Um.”

“~It’s true!~”

“Well--”

“~It’s true!~”

“You see--”

“~There’s just one thing that spreads the joy! The best sweet trick in my employ! A cupcake makes the world a better plaaaaa--~”

“Pinkie!” The brunette stallion interjected, practically lifting himself into the air with his voice. “We’re out of cupcakes!”

Pinkie poked her head back up. “We are?” She pulled out one of the many boxes under the counter, looking inside. "Hm! We are out of cupcakes! Lemme just make some more!" She gave the stallion a salute, speeding off toward the kitchen.

Boltsinger looked at the most dairy-ing pony he knew, feeling his more inquisitive side take hold. "So it's just you two today? Where are Mr. and Mrs. Cake?"

"They said something about putting the twins in daycare." The Earth Pony answered. "It's not like the three of us can't handle things, anyway, right?"

“Three of you?” Boltsinger repeated, looking around for any other ponies. Finding little more than displays of sweets and hungry customers, he gave his friend a hopeful look, motioning to himself with his hoof. “Did you, maybe, mean me?"

Cheese paid the Pegasus' hope no mind, as he was strapping a chef's hat onto both himself and a rubber chicken with a number 3 on its belly. "Okay, Boneless 3! Time to get to work!"

Boltsinger's head drooped. "Oh…" He made an about-face, heading back toward the door as the oven sounded.

“They’re reeeea-dyyyyy~!” The bubbly mare called, bringing in a cart full of fresh cupcakes. She placed a dozen of the sweets into a box, holding it up for all to see. "Bolt! Your cupcakes are…" She scanned the establishment, finding herself unable to find a distinct mixture of orange and blue in the crowd. "... done…"

On Rarity's door, there was a note to explain her recent trip to Canterlot. At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was so busy getting ready for her next date that she didn’t even notice Boltsinger. Rainbow and Soarin were at Wonderbolt headquarters, practicing for their next tour. And at Fluttershy’s cottage, Angel stood watch at the door, sending him a fierce glare the moment he came into view. Whatever was going on there, Boltsinger had decided that he'd best not distract her. He trudged back through the castle halls, listening for any sign of anypony else as he made his way into the nearest bathroom. "Come on, Bolt, you just have to do something you enjoy! Take some time to take care of…" He took a hard look at what he saw in the mirror, letting his expression significantly sour at the sight. "... yourself…" He breathed a deep, loud sigh, jumping into the master bedroom to sprawl himself onto the couch, where he proceeded to begrudgingly drum on his knees. Time began to pass in such a way that Boltsinger couldn't really tell what was going on outside of his drumming. Things moved slowly, and all he could do was sit idly by, alone.

Until a shade of lilac entered his periphery.

"Hi, Bolt." Twilight greeted, walking over to the couch.

Boltsinger drummed a moment more, ending his beat with a slight flourish as he laid his head on the couch's arm, sending her a deadpan stare. "... Hi."

Twilight recoiled a ways, taking a single tentative step and lean forward with a hopeful spread of her wings. “So… How’d your day off go?”

“It didn’t…” He stated, crossing his forelegs.

“Why not?” She wondered, taking another step. “Couldn’t you find anything to do today?”

“Nnope."

"Really? Why not?"

"Everyone was otherwise occupied." He explained, sitting up.

"But that wasn't the point of taking a personal day." The Alicorn countered, fluttering to the seat next to him. "You were supposed to do things you liked, for yourself. Did you try going for a fly?"

"Flying's not so interesting without someone by my side or on my back." He told her, stretching his wings. "It's nice, yeah, but I don't really care to do it by myself."

"What about reading?"

"You locked the library."

"Oh… right." She rubbed her neck sheepishly. "I just didn't want you to get carried away with what you were doing yesterday…" She looked at him with a curious ear twitch. "Did you try the spa?"

Boltsinger raised his eyebrow, trying his hardest to imitate Applejack.

"Right… Of course you didn't." Twilight slumped over, letting out an exasperated sound as she leaned into her husband. "Why is it so hard for you to just take some time to take care of yourself?"

Boltsinger took a deep breath, putting his hooves around her. "It's… Well… Would you go out of your way for somepony you don't like?"

“What…?” The Princess sat up, looking to her spouse with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “What do you mean? How can you not like yourself after all this time?”

“I just don’t.” He admitted, resting his head on his hoof. “I mean, I certainly like myself better than I used to. But that’s not saying much.”

"So you're saying that after finally making friends, helping to save Equestria, reconciling with your family…" She lifted her pendant and pulled back her bangs, showing the ring that sat at the base of her horn. "... getting married, and gaining not one, but two amazing foals isn't enough to make you like the pony you are?"

The stallion sent her a soft smile, pulling her close and nuzzling her nose. "I love you so much… And I love that you're strong enough to love somepony like me." He sat back against the couch. "I'm just… well, not that strong."

"I hate when you say things like that…" She stated, turning away from him. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"You're probably right." He affirmed. He wrapped his hooves around her one more time, giving her a firm hug. "Thank you for worrying so much about me. I appreciate it, but I really am fine as-is." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, getting up from the couch. "I'm gonna head to bed. You wanna join me?"

Twilight shook her head. "Go on ahead. I'll be a bit longer." Boltsinger shrugged, casually climbing under the covers as the Alicorn's gears began to turn once more. "I know just how F.I.N.E. you are, Bolt. And I'm gonna help you with that any way I can."

The arrival of the next morning heralded a whirlwind of activity in the library. As soon as breakfast was done, Boltsinger dove right back into the research he'd been doing while Twilight took the seat across from him. Her studying started small, but grew over time, with the Princess dividing her attention between her work for the school and her sudden new project. The next day, Boltsinger delivered his findings to Mrs. Cake, Zecora, and Discord, but quickly found new dilemmas to intervene in. Somehow, some way, somepony always needed help with something, and Boltsinger was always the first on the scene.

All the while, Twilight had moved from reading to writing, with Scootaloo and Spike at her sides.

Finally, Friday evening came, and the Pegasus Prince once again trudged through the hall, this time with fatigue. As he passed the bedrooms occupied by Scootaloo and Spike, they each took a short peek, closing their doors as he looked their way. He went into Nova's room, giving him a kiss on the forehead, then went next door to flap wings a single time, landing on the bed and losing consciousness.

The Pegasus stallion’s eyes slowly opened after another not-so-restful night. He had gone full-bore in the last few days, helping the students with some individual projects, helping Apple Bloom narrow down a list of potential dates for her big sister, and, of course, taking care of his favorite colt. Today was going to be no different. He moved to get up, positioning his forelegs under him po push himself, but found an extra weight on his chest. “Huh? What’s going…” He looked to the weight’s origin, seeing Nova’s bright face smiling at him. “Hey, little Prince.” He greeted, bringing his hoof up to rub his cheek. “What’re you doing up so early?”

“Easy. I woke him up!” Another Alicorn answered, pulling at Boltsinger’s attention. Standing by the bed was Twilight, with Scootaloo hovering next to her and Spike on her back. “We didn’t want him to start crying before it was time, after all.”

Boltsinger sat up, taking Nova in his forelegs as he looked at the other three in the room. “Time for what?”

"Time to give you this!" Scootaloo declared, motioning above herself as Twilight floated a plate of apple cinnamon pancakes with pear jam and syrup into her hooves. She brought the plate forward, offering it to her adoptive father. "Happy Stallion's Day!"

"Stallion's Day? Is that anything like Mare's Day?" He supposed, taking a whiff of the meal before him.

"That's it exactly!" Twilight confirmed. "It's a day to celebrate the husbands and fathers in our lives, making sure they're happy and cared for!"

"And for us, that's you!" Scootaloo added.

Boltsinger raised his foreleg, releasing his colt and taking the breakfast plate in one fluid motion. "Holiday for stallions, huh? Why is it I haven't heard of it before?"

Twilight froze for a moment, looking back at the assistant on her back. He gestured to himself momentarily, then looked at the inquisitive Pegasus. “Oh! Uh…” He pondered for a few seconds, lighting up with an idea. “I bet you were doing some lightning thing every other time! It does mess with your memories, you know!”

Boltsinger began scratching his chin with his wing, squinting at Twilight and Spike as they smiled innocently. “Hmmmmmm…” Another hint of his breakfast’s scent wafted into his nose, causing a measure of drool to dribble out of his mouth. His attention slowly diverted towards the meal. “Well… I guess if there’s a holiday dedicated to it…” He managed to cut off his own words as he began eating, making a thumbs-up gesture with his wing to show his approval.

A confident smile graced the mare's muzzle. "I'm glad you agree!"

Within minutes, the meal was no more. Boltsinger proceeded to wipe his mouth, get up, and proceed toward the door, beckoning his family along. "So, since it's apparently 'Stallion's Day', I know exactly what to do!"

"And what would that be?" Twilight queried, scooping Nova up in her wing and following suit.

"Why, visit Shining Armor, of course!" He declared, spreading his wings excitedly. "Can't have this Stallion's Day to myself, after all!"

Twilight dove in front of the Pegasus, putting her hoof up to stop him. "We can't!"

Boltsinger cocked his head to the side. "Why not?"

"I'm sure Cadence already has a big plan for him today!" She stated, giving him a nervous grin. "Besides, isn't there anything you want to do with us?"

Boltsinger's wing returned to his mane as his brain went to work. "Let's see…" He looked around the hallway, hoping to find some hint to work with, only to find walls and little else. He blew a raspberry, sending an innocent smile at them. "I got nuthin’.” He thought a moment more, coming to a smirk and an idea. “Unless, of course, I’m allowed to use the library today.”

Twilight winced at her husband’s remark, letting out a forceful, nervous laugh. “Well-- uh… Yes.”

“Well, then, Daring Do it is.” He announced, trotting ahead with a joyful splay of his wings. The rest of the family smiled at the stallion, making ready to part ways as he looked back at them, beckoning with his wing. “Well, come on! We can’t read together if we don’t all go, can we?”

After a couple of hours spent reading, much of it aloud for the sake of the littlest Prince, Scootaloo threw up her hooves. “Okay! I’m done! What’s next?”

Twilight looked up from her book, giving the filly a mildly stern glare. "Shouldn't we leave it up to Bolt? It is Stallion's Day, after all." Scootaloo's ears lowered at the reminder, sending her shrinking into herself.

"I don't mind if Scoot wants to do something different." The stallion in question stated. "I'm just glad to be doing stuff with my loved ones."

"Really?" The Crusader asked, her eyes brightening.

"Eeyup!"

Scootaloo shot into the air, hovering face to face with Boltsinger. "Then can we go flying? All four of us?"

Boltsinger chuckled, tussling his favorite filly's mane. "Sounds like fun."

“YES!” She cheered, performing a loop that took her to the center of the room. “Come on! Let’s go--”

“-- outside…” The quartet of ponies stood at the open door to the Castle of Friendship, looking out at a torrential downpour. "Oooooor not…"

"What do you mean 'or not'?" Boltsinger replied, giving his daughter an excited look.

"Well, it's raining." She told him, pointing her hoof outside. "Can't exactly fly in that kind of weather."

"Maybe not." He affirmed. Scootaloo let out a disappointed sigh, turning to go back inside until a spray of water slapped her side. She winced from the sudden onslaught of cold, looking back to where it came from. There was Boltsinger, out in the rain with a goofy smile on his face. "But we can still do stuff outside!" He stepped toward them, narrowing his eyes. "Or are you afraid to get wet?"

The adventurous foal met his gaze in kind, buzzing her wings in excitement. "Oh, you're on!" She leaped out the door, landing in a particularly large puddle and creating an enormous splash. The Pegasi began circling each other, stomping in puddles as hard as possible.

Twilight sat in the doorway, looking fondly at the two of them with Nova held firmly in her foreleg. She took a look down at the colt, running her hoof through the calmer purple part of his mane. "This holiday's going pretty well, isn't it, sweetheart?" Nova babbled incoherently, seeming to acknowledge his mother's comment as he watched his daddy and big sister play outside. He clapped his hooves together with a giddy giggle, lighting his horn and enveloping himself and his mommy with a blue light. With a familiar flash, Twilight stood in the rain between Boltsinger and Scootaloo, with Nova rising from her grip and landing in the nearest puddle. The Princess rolled her eyes, quickly giving the baby a playful glare. "So you wanna play that way, do you?" She flared her wings, jumping forward to land ahead of him and let the splash hit him head-on. Nova reeled back, falling on his rump with a loud laugh. When he was finally able to open his eyes, his family stood over him, all smiling down. Twilight looked at the Pegasi with a smirk that indicated a plan, eliciting a laugh from everypony else. "Ready?" Boltsinger, Scootaloo, and a freshly-risen Nova nodded enthusiastically. "One… two… three!" On cue, the equine quartet jumped, landing with a force that sent a miniature tsunami out for a few feet in all directions. They simultaneously burst into laughter, falling to the ground to form a circle with their heads in the center as they gazed at the clouds above.

Boltsinger let out a satisfied sigh, reaching for Nova and pulling him into a foal-sized Princely hug. "I love you all so much… Thank you." Upon hearing the stallion's words, Twilight and Scootaloo looked to each other with a soft smile, sharing in a triumphant hoof bump.

“Did you have to go splashing in the rain for that long?” Spike asked, setting a plate full of hot cocoa on the dining room table, around which sat Twilight, Scootaloo, Boltsinger, and Nova, still dripping wet from their time outside. “I mean, I know it’s a ‘holiday’, but that’s kinda going overboard, don’t you think?”

Twilight sat up straight, motioning to herself with her hoof. “I’ll have you know that I--” A sneeze forced its way out of the lilac pony, followed by a snort, a sniff and a tissue floated over. “Excuse me…” She blew her nose, wiping it off and righting her posture. “I was trying to say that I wasn’t planning on splashing around. It just happened to happen that way.”

Spike shrugged, flying over to the youngest in the room and proceeding to towel him off. “Fine. But could you try not to be so good at it?" He looked to the doorway, which was covered in muddy hoofprints of varying sizes. "I just cleaned that floor this morning, you know."

"Sorry, Spike." Boltsinger sheepishly replied. "Next time we'll fly in." A towel flew into his face, falling away to reveal a stoic Spike. "Or we could just not get muddy in the first place."

"Good idea." The dragon deadpanned. He pulled the towel off of the colt’s head, causing the purple and blue mane to puff out almost unnaturally. “I guess I’ll go get the mop, then.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Spike!” Boltsinger stated, raising his glass to the reptile.

“Yeah, yeah, I know…” Spike mumbled, taking wing and vanishing behind the doorway.

"So…" The stallion started, slowly turning to look at Twilight. "What's next?"

"Whatever you want." She told him. "Today is all about you."

"Does it have to be, though?" He wondered, resting his head on his hoof. "Scootaloo got to pick something for us to do. It's only fair that you get a choice."

Twilight put a hoof over her heart, giving him a warm smile. "I really appreciate the sentiment, but Stallion's Day is for the stallions. And that means you."

Boltsinger rolled his eyes, breathing a small sigh. "Okay, fine. Do you have any suggestions, then?"

"Suggestions? What do you mean?"

"What are some Stallion's Day traditions? You're the expert, after all."

Twilight's smile stiffened considerably. "Traditions, huh? Well… um…" Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something to say. They fell upon Scootaloo, taking a sip of her cocoa. "Scootaloo got you a Stallion's Day card!"

In an instant, hot chocolate sprayed out of the filly’s mouth, splattering against a sudden barrier created by the colt across from her. She snapped her gaze to Twilight, making her confusion plain as day. "I did?" Twilight nodded emphatically. "Oh, right! I did get you a Stallion's Day card! I just… uh… forgot where I put it!" She hopped out of her chair, running for the door. "I'll go look for it now!"

As the Crusader made her exit, Boltsinger refocused his attention on Twilight. "So, are there any other Stallion's Day traditions I should know about?"

Twilight scooted back in her chair a ways. "Um… Nope! It's a pretty recent holiday."

"It is?" He scooted toward her. "How recent? I'd love to know the history."

"Oh, it's not that interesting."

"Isn't that for me to decide?"

"It's really dull, though. You'd be bored to sleep."

"This coming from somepony who recently read a five hundred page book about the invention of the modern highlighter and said it was the most fascinating read she'd had on weeks?"

"It was fascinating!" She sat back, crossing her forelegs. "I owe a lot to the modern highlighter, and it was intriguing to learn how they came to be!"

Boltsinger put his hooves up defensively. "Okay, okay, you have a point. But still. I'm interested to know this holiday's history."

"Well… I can't remember." She dismissed.

"So how about we go to the library and look it up?" He suggested, making ready to get up. "I'm sure you've got the book."

Twilight's eyes widened, her horn lighting to send her teleporting in front of him, holding him back with her hooves. "You can't!"

Boltsinger pushed the hooves away, looking in her eyes with a hint of intrigue. "Why not?"

"Because… the library's a mess!"

"That's never stopped us before." He stepped past her, moving to pick up Nova as a magenta aura surrounded him.

"Please! Don't try to look it up!" She walked in front of him, looking pleadingly at him. "For me? Please?"

Bpltsinger narrowed his eyes. It wasn't often she tries to stop him from doing research, even if it had happened more recently. "Are you afraid of what I'll find if I do?"

"Well.. um…" She averted her eyes for a moment, trying to think of what to say. Finally, she let out a long sigh, releasing him from her spell and looking back at him. "Yes. Because you won't find anything." She turned away, hanging her head. "I made the whole thing up." She rubbed one foreleg with her hoof, chancing a glance back. "I just couldn't stand seeing you work so hard with no regard for yourself. You got wound up so tight that even my stressing seemed sane! So, Scootaloo, Spike, and I worked on something that would give you a reason to unwind for a day."

"And you came up with a holiday for stallions in general so that I would think it was for everyone." He concluded. He moved to stand beside her, putting his wing around her affectionately. "Well, it worked. I feel better than I have in moons."

Twilight lit up, raising her head to see him in full. "Really?"

"Eeyup!" He confirmed. "And I can't wait for next year's Stallion's Day!" He put his free wing to his chin in the Hope's it might power his pondering. "But… Maybe we let every family have it next time? We could talk to Celestia about it sometime."

Twilight's wing made its own way around him, pulling him in for a loving nuzzle. "That sounds great."

"Great." He nuzzled back, moving back to the table. "By the way, I figured out you made it up a few hours ago."

The Princess recoiled, nearly stumbling backwards. "How?!"

Boltsinger smiled, pointing his wing in the direction he knew to be the castle entrance. "Who schedules a rainstorm on a holiday?"

Author's Note

I fully admit. I needed something fluffy to write. Things have been difficult on the real life front, and this is a nice break. Especially since the next chapter actually got started before this one, and I got so stuck that the only solution was to backlog it. But I think I'll be able to pick that chapter back up soon! And by soon I mean "tonight". I hope you enjoy it when it comes out!

A Spark Of Hope

"So you have everything all set up?" Starlight asked, looking over her desk at Boltsinger.

"Eeyup." He confirmed, patting a folder next to him. "We just need to set out."

Starlight breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness! With all the students needing advice and this baby and everything else that's been going on, just thinking about the kind of 'help' Sparks wants is just… overwhelming. I still can’t believe she wants me to cast that spell on her!”

“So Sparks seriously wants you to take away her Cutie Mark?” He wondered, leaning toward her. The guidance counselor softly nodded, clutching her head with her hooves. “Well… I guess I can understand why, given what she saw up in here.” He tapped his head with one of his feathers, remembering a rather harrowing recent experience. “I’d doubt myself too if I…” He took a deep breath, adding some force to his tapping. “If I created monsters…”

Starlight raised an eyebrow, putting her weight on her elbows. “You… know you didn’t make any monsters, right?”

“That’s what everypony says.” Boltsinger affirmed, leaning back again. “I just wish I could confirm it.”

“I guess you have more to gain from this trip than what we thought, huh?” She guessed, giving him a miniscule smile. “I’d better find my notes on the spell… Just in case, you know?”

The stallion nodded, hopping off of the couch. “I guess so. I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

Starlight nodded in kind. “Tomorrow.”

“So you’ll cast it after this little field trip, huh?” Sparks inquired, sitting in a train car across from Starlight and Boltsinger.

"I might." The pink mare corrected. "It depends on how things go while we're there."

"So, after this trip you'll definitely cast it. Right?" She stressed.

Starlight facehoofed. “That’s not what I mean…” She paused for a moment, straining to find the words she needed. Her eyes drifted down to her currently-occupied belly, bringing a smile to her face. “I want to do what we set out to do today, and then have another talk with you about whether or not this is what you really want.”

Sparks gave off an annoyed sigh, turning toward the window to view the desert landscape. “Fine. Can you at least tell me where it is we’re going?”

"Well, Starlight and I talked it over, and we both feel like you could use a heaping helping of hope." Boltsinger explained. "So we're going to see Somnambula."

Sparks sat up, casting a glance at her brother-in-law. "Okay. And where is this Somnambula?"

"Somnambula, of course." He repeated.

Sparks turned her glance into a glare. "So we're going *to* Somnambula? Then who are supposed to be seeing?"

"Somnambula." He deadpanned.

Sparks had begun to grit her teeth. "Somnambula, Somnambula, Somnambula!" She jutted forward, stomping on the floor below her seat. "JUST TELL ME WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHO WE'RE SEEING, OKAY?!"

Boltsinger recoiled, covering his ears as a tiny smile graced his muzzle. Yes, he wanted to help her, but this had been one moment where the little brother in him wanted some payback. "We're going to Somnambula to meet Somnambula. The town is named after the pony. Get it?"

Sparks hung her head, shaking it slowly. “Yeah, okay, I get it… Let’s just get this over with so I can get this darn thing removed.” She turned her gaze to her own flank, nearly giving off an aura of pure scorn.

“Well, you won’t have to wait long, at least.” Starlight stated, gesturing to the pony at the head of the car.

“Next stop, Somnambula!” The pony announced, raising his hoof to his mouth. “I repeat, next stop in Somnambula!"

“Finally.” Sparks got up from her seat, looking to the desert town outside. “Can we go now?” Starlight and Boltsinger looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders and following suit.

The trio took their time on the trek to town, with Starlight leading the way while Boltsinger regaled the gray mare with what he remembered of his first visit to the town. He mentioned helping a friend he refused to refer to by name to save the citizens alongside Twilight and Rainbow. Sparks rolled her eyes in disbelief as the tale came to its close. "Oh, come on, that sounds like a bad Daring Do adventure!"

Boltsinger stopped moving for a moment, cocking his head to the side. “You read Daring Do?”

“Brightling got me into it.” She told him, lighting her horn to pull him along.

"Brightling reads it?!" He exclaimed, his eyes going wide at the revelation. “And why did you not tell me this before? You totally need to join us next time Daring-con comes up!”

Once again, Sparks rolled her eyes, plopping him beside her and releasing him from her aura to walk with her. “Yeah, sure, whatever. So… This Somnambula… The pony. What’s she like?”

Boltsinger grinned, raising a poignant hoof. “I…” The hoof fell as his face turned flat again. “... have no idea. Never met her.”

“You’ve… never met her?” She repeated, more than a little put off. “You expect me to go and meet some pony in a barren little town in the middle of nowhere, talking about how she’s supposed to be some source of hope, and you’ve never even met her?!”

Starlight looked over her shoulder at them, waving her hoof. “I’ve met her! And all of the other Pillars, back when Twilight and the rest of us pulled them out of Limbo. She’s about as happy as Pinkie Pie, but at the same time… I’d say she’s a bit more ‘zen’ like Zecora."

"Please tell me she doesn't speak in rhyme!" The green-eyed pony begged, sending her companions into a fit of laughter.

“No, Sparks, she doesn’t.” Starlight assured. She led them into the bazaar, were all kinds of ponies went about their day. As they took in the sights, it became obvious that every one of the townsponies wore a peculiar kind of green jewel that gave off a warm glow. They wore the jewels with pride and conviction, keeping them ever on display for the world, which sparked Sparks' curiosity to no end. They came to what looked like a stage in front of a statue of a blindfolded Pegasus, stopping just short of it to find the statue's inspiration sitting before them on her hind legs, her forelegs raised and her eyes closed. Her coat was a light scarlet with thick eyeliner and dark blue eyeshadow, her eyelashes styled to the point where they looked like rectangles. She had a mane and tail of arctic blue and turquoise. She wore a crested gold band on her head that led to a headdress over her sleek yet bobbed mane, with another gold band around her barrel to hold on her translucent gown, and yet another on her tail. Around her neck was the brightest-glowing string of the green jewel that both Boltsinger and Sparks had ever seen, giving her a kind of radiance that one did not often see in ponies that weren't Alicorn royalty. Starlight stepped up to the stage, Boltsinger staying close to keep an eye on the pregnant mare, and cleared her throat. “Um… Somnambula?”

The Pegasus mare slowly opened her foggy violet eyes, turning the corners of her mouth upward as Starlight came into view. "Starlight Glimmer! How good to see you." She greeted, speaking in a deep Haygiptian accent. She pulled the magical mare into a hug, squeezing tight. “Oh? What is this?” She stepped back, beginning to examine her from nose to tail. “There is something different about you.”

Starlight laughed sheepishly, patting her belly. "Yeah… Got a bun in the oven."

“Only one?” Somnambula wondered, giving her head a curious tilt. “Can you not fit many buns into a single oven? I’m sure they are delicious regardless, of course. But why only one?”

“That’s… not what I mean…” Starlight stated, slowly shaking her head.

“So there is no bun?”

Boltsinger chuckled, pointing to Starlight’s belly. “She means she’s pregnant.”

Somnambula’s face lit up extensively, pulling Starlight into another, much tighter hug. “Congratulations, my friend! You have my hope that your foal grows happy and healthy!”

“Thank you.” She replied, stepping back. “But that’s not why I’m here.” She motioned to the Pegasus next to her. “I’d like you to meet my friends, Boltsinger and Dimming Sparks."

Somnambula’s hoof met with her chin as she stepped up to the orange pony, looking him over as she had Starlight. “Boltsinger? I believe I know that name... “ She circled him a couple of times, poking his tail and lifting his wing to be certain of her thoughts. “I remember now! You were the sweaty pony at Princess Twilight’s wedding!”

Boltsinger quickly pulled his wing back, shooting the Pillar of Hope a wide-eyed glance. “You were at the wedding?”

"But of course." She confirmed. "All of the pillars were there." She let out a laugh, walking past him. "It is a shame you missed your own reception."

Boltsinger raised an amused eyebrow as Somnambula approached the final member of their group, who looked back at her with a stern glare. “You’re Somnambula, huh?” Sparks supposed, offering a greeting hoof. “Certainly not what I expected.”

“And you, Dimming Sparks, are exactly as I expected.” The Pillar retorted, meeting the hoof with her own. “As full of doubt as you were at the wedding. If not more so.”

Sparks’ glare seemed to only intensify. “So you were watching me at Bolt’s wedding?”

“I simply noticed you back then.” Somnambula assured her. “I pay close attention to all of the ponies around me, and you happened to stick out like a sore hoof at the time.” She put her hoof on the Unicorn's shoulder, letting some of her serenity flow into her. “Now, tell me. Why do you have such doubt?”

Sparks pushed the hoof away, turning to leave the stage. “You’d be the same if you did what I did.”

“And what is it that you supposedly did?”

An annoyed sigh came from the annoyed mare, taking one more look back at the pony she’d just met. Her sigh turned to a scoff as she flicked her tail, hopping off the stage and moving away in her slow but deliberate manner. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Somnambula's hoof hung in the air, her smile fading slightly at the sight. "Did I say something wrong…?"

Boltsinger softly shook his head, placing his hoof on Somnambula’s shoulder. “No, you didn’t.” He stepped up next to her, looking solemnly at his sister-in-law. “She’s… Well… She’s the main reason we came. Nothing we say ever works.”

“And now she’s asking me to remove her Cutie Mark.” Starlight added, joining the Pegasi. “Do you think you could help her?”

"I will do what I can." Somnambula stated. "But I must admit that I, too, have been faced with troubles as of late."

“Anything we can help with?” The stallion wondered.

Somnambula quirked an amused eyebrow. “Did you not come here seeking my aid? Why are you so quick to offer yours?”

Boltsinger chuckled a little, scratching his mane with his wing. “That’s right, you don’t know me very well.” He offered his wing to the mare, giving her his best friendly smile. “My name is Boltsinger, and I like to help ponies with their problems.”

The Pillar of Hope placed her wing in his, meeting his grin in kind. “Just as Princess Twilight said you were.” She rapidly shook his wing, throwing him wildly off balance. "Let us work through our problems together, then!" She put her hoof around the two of them, pulling them into a huddle. “Now, tell me of your friend’s plight.”

Sparks strolled down the streets of Somnambula, headed for the nearest inn. She had taken the time to look around the little village. It was small, it was run down, and all of the buildings looked like they were from a time before ponies had evolved into what they are today. They had almost nothing to really be proud of, and yet they carried themselves like they were the best thing since the advent of musical theater. She made her way into an inn at the nearby oasis, taking in the rustic decor as she approached the reception counter. “Three rooms, please. The other two will be here later.” She stated, placing a number of bits on the counter.

“How long’re you staying?” The receptionist asked, taking the payment.

“I dunno yet.” She admitted, letting her eyes wander. “So, what are those green rocks everypony’s wearing?”

The receptionist leaned on the counter with a smirk. “I’m guessing this is your first time in Somnambula?”

Sparks eased up, letting out a quiet laugh. "Is it that obvious?"

The receptionist rolled her eyes. "Not as much as some of my other… guests…" She motioned to one of the occupied tables in the room. "They're called glowpaz, and they're only found around these parts." She lifted her own necklace with her hoof, giving sparks a better look at it. "Around here, they serve as a symbol of hope. A reminder of the time, long ago, when Somnambula took a leap of faith to save Prince Hizan from a horrible sphinx."

"Somnambula as in the pony outside, Somnambula?"

“The very same.” She looked at a photo of the Pillar that hung on a nearby wall. “Her return was nothing short of a miracle. As soon as she came back, she was helping every soul she could find to have hope again. Taking up motivational speaking, guided meditation, and really getting involved when it matters… She’s a one-pony beacon, and all of Equestria’s caught on!”

Sparks' gaze lingered on the image of Somnambula, thinking on just how odd that pony had been. At the same time, though, she was remarkably perceptive. "So that's the pony they brought me all the way from Vanhoover to see, huh?"

The receptionist gave Sparks a curious look. "Your friends went that far to get you here? Sounds like you got some good friends, indeed." She chuckled to herself, placing three keys on the counter. "Well, you're all checked in. You best get back to your friends."

Sparks floated the keys over with a smile. "I think I will." She turned toward the exit, taking one last look around the inn. It was rather sparse in terms of occupants, with only a single table serving any guests. They were easily the oddest group she’d ever seen. Two of them were yellow-coated Unicorn stallions with green eyes and manes of red and white in styles she could only describe as ‘swanky’, complete with the moustache that sat just under one of their noses. Their Cutie Marks were an apple slice and the remainder of the apple respectively, and they both wore straw hats along with blue and white striped vests. Odder still was the creature that sat with them at the table. It was an enormous, muscular bovine creature with a blue coat, darker blue legs and gigantic gray horns that came out of the sides of its head, with a silver ring in the nostrils of his pink muzzle, with a mane and beard of the same color blue that made up its legs and the very tip of its tail. And yet, even despite all of that along with its beady yellow eyes, the strangest thing was what he wore. Just a simple black necktie that seemed far too small for his enormous frame with the same vest and hat the Unicorns wore, albeit only just barely staying on. That’s a… Minotaur, right? I remember reading about those once… Sparks stepped closer to the table, wondering just why such a strange group would be in this town.

“Leave everything to Iron Will!” The beast declared, flashing a smile and giving the Unicorns a thumbs-up. “You have Iron Will’s guarantee that you will not be disappointed!”

“You guarantee, huh?” The mustachioed Unicorn repeated, leaning in inquisitively. “I’ll have you know my brother and I have been working on this project for weeks already. What makes ‘Iron Will’ so confident?”

Iron Will arched back, flexing his muscles. “Iron Will is always confident!”

“Like you were when you came crawling to us for a job?” The other Unicorn teased. Why, you were on your… What did you call them again? ‘Hands’?” He waved a dismissive hoof, crossing his forelegs and leaning forward. "What's so different now?"

The bovine creature slammed his fist into his hand. "Because confidence is Iron Will's business!"

“You mean our business.” The moustache-less pony corrected.

“Remember, you work for us.” The fuzzy-lipped one added.

Iron Will’s face soured a bit, quickly giving way to a powerful snort. “Right!” He stood forcefully from his seat, putting his fists on his hips. “Now let’s get down to business!”

Sparks stepped back from the assertive display, looking back to the inn’s entrance. Why the heck is this making me worry so much…? She trotted out the door, shooting the occasional look back at the inn to see if anyone else was doing the same as she drew nearer to the town proper. Those three were strange, but something about them made her think twice. “What in Equestria am I even doing?” She asked herself. She wasn’t used to this kind of worry. It was off-putting, and she was surprised it could even happen at all, given her history. As she looked back at the village, a shadow passed over her head, followed by a small tremor in front of her. As the dust cleared from Iron Will’s landing, she let out a low growl. Whatever confidence Sparks had in making it before anyone else quickly vanished. She took a deep breath, quickening her gait to a gallop. “SON OF A ROTTEN PEAR!!!”

"I gotta say, that's an… interesting situation." Boltsinger said, sitting down to process the information he'd just received. He, Starlight, and Somnambula stood over a large poster with heroic images of each of the Pillars on it, with two familiar Unicorns plastered in the center. “So, basically, Flim and Flam are trying to get you to join some new attraction of theirs?”

“Precisely.” Somnambula confirmed, folding the poster and stowing it away. “They first came here claiming to know Star Swirl, but I'm not entirely sure if they speak the truth."

"Oh, they know Star Swirl, all right." Starlight stated with a sneer. "Twilight had a run-in with them not too long ago, and Star Swirl was a part of it."

"So I should lend them my ear?"

"NO!!!" Starlight and the stallion simultaneously screamed.

“Trust me. Those two are not the kinds of ponies you wanna make a deal with!" Boltsinger continued, swiping his foreleg in front of him.

“Then how about you make a deal with Iron Will?!"

"Yeah! Make a deal with Iron Will!" Boltsinger affirmed, nodding enthusiastically for a moment. Realizing what he'd just said, his face contorted with confusion, turning to the source of the suggestion. "Wait… Who is Iron Will again?"

The bovine before the group gestured confidently to himself. “Iron Will is Iron Will!” He stepped up to the stage, offering a hand to Somnambula. "And Iron Will would like to talk to you about an opportunity!"

"If it is about Flim and Flam's offer, I'm not interested." Somnambula deadpanned, moving the hand aside. “I am not some performer for a carnival attraction. I live to help ponies find peace and live better.”

“And what makes you think you can’t still do that?” Iron Will inquired, stepping closer. “Can you possibly imagine how many ponies would flock to a place that gives them access to ponies like you? Iron Will has heard of what you can do, and this tiny town is so far out of everypony’s way that nopony can even find you!”

Somnambula raised an eyebrow to the Minotaur, raising her hoof and motioning to the town. “If somepony wishes to find my village, all they need do is look at a map. They do not require a lavish retreat.”

“That might be what you say, but Iron Will took a survey before he arrived in town." He reached behind him, pulling out a scroll and a pair of glasses. He gingerly put the spectacles on, unrolling the scroll and tapping it. "When Iron Will asked some visiting ponies what they thought of the town of Somnambula, they said the following." He cleared his throat, taking a deep breath. "'Somnambula the pony is great, but Somnambula the town is dry and boring!'" He tapped another spot on the scroll. "'I came here to better myself! But I can't do that if I don't have anything to do with my down time!" He pointed at one more spot, looking more closely at the print. “And here another pony said ‘Daring Do made this place sound way more exciting, but the only good thing about it is the pony it’s named after!’” Somnambula took to the air, hovering just high enough to get a look at the scroll only for Iron Will to put it and the glasses away. He turned to face her, keeping his hands behind his back as he looked her confidently in the eye. “The way Iron Will sees it, this offer would give you a chance to help more ponies than ever, while also showing them a good time no matter what. So whaddya say?”

“I’m… not sure.” She stated, putting her hooves back on the ground. She looked around at the town she loved and the ponies in it, noticing a certain gray mare galloping into view. "Allow me the night to consider your offer. I have other business to attend to at the moment."

Iron Will glared down at the Pegasus, raising a scrutinous eyebrow. She met his gaze equally, pursing her lips in contemplation. After a moment, the bovine blinked, standing straight and adjusting his tie. "Iron Will can work with that." He turned back toward the inn, beginning a confident strut. "Iron Will will be back tomorrow to talk business."

As the Minotaur walked away, Boltsinger jumped down next to his fellow Pegasus. “That was… oddly reasonable.” He noted, cocking his head to the side. “Are you sure he’s working with Flim and Flam?”

“Iron Will has always been a bit more… understanding than those two.” Starlight explained, coming down the steps. “Sure, he’s manipulative, but he does his job and keeps his word. Just… Don’t hire him to teach lessons about friendship." Boltsinger looked back at her with amused intrigue. "Long story."

Somnambula chortled at her guests' commentary, stepping up to meet the Unicorn that now panted in front of her. "You've returned?"

Sparks nodded, looking up at the mare. "Yeah… Saw the… Minotaur… You okay?"

The Pillar placed her hoof on Sparks' shoulder, attempting to let her draw from her calm. “I am alright. My main concern at this moment is you.”

"Let me guess…" Sparks looked over at the ponies she'd arrived with. "They told you what's going on?"

"They did indeed." She admitted. "And I would like to do what I can for you, if you'll have me."

"Well…" Sparks looked at the necklace Somnambula wore, recalling what she'd learned at the inn. "I guess we came all this way for a reason…" She flashed a smile, returning the supportive gesture. "Okay. I'll give it a shot."

Candles lit up a solitary room at the Get On Inn. In their soft light sat Somnambula and Sparks, hind legs crossed on plush pillows with their forelegs raised. Incense burned between the two, providing a scent that helped to ease their minds. The Pegasus inhaled deeply, letting out an ‘Ohm’ that reverberated off the walls so clearly that it caused a twitch in the ear of the stallion sitting to the side. “Wow. That’s some seriously good acoustics.”

“Shush.” Starlight snapped, putting her hoof over his mouth. “Let them concentrate.”

“Now…” Somnambula started, bringing her forehooves together. “Breathe deep… calm the storm inside your mind… and relax…"

"Okay… relax…" Sparks repeated, doing as instructed. "Calm the storm…" She closed her eyes, trying her best to make her mind as empty as her current field of view. "Breathe…" A flash of red lit up her thoughts, making her wince.

"Focus on your breath." Somnambula reminded her. "You are in control. You are enough."

"I am… enough…" Came the statement in stereo. Starlight cast a curious glance at the Pegasus next to her, finding that he had begun to mirror Somnambula's pose, albeit with his ears hanging low and a slouch as ever-present as the Cutie Mark on his flank.

"Yes." She affirmed, placing her hoof on his shoulder. "You are."

"But it's not about that…" Sparks replied, just barely raising her eyelids. "It's about what I've done…" Another red flash permeated the wall she attempted to build with her meditation, revealing a laughing, fractured face in the darkness. "And I can't forgive myself… And I CAN'T let it happen again!" Her hooves fell to the floor, lighting her horn and snuffing every flame in the room.

"Why can you not forgive yourself?" Somnambula wondered, relaxing her shoulders. "What have you done that is so awful?"

Sparks stood up, moving to turn on the nearest lamp. "Bolt and Starlight told you all about it, right? How I used to manipulate everypony I knew?” She stomped on the floor as she stepped toward her. “How I went insane and tried to take literal control over Twilight and her friends? Or, you know…” She pointed her hoof at her brother-in-law. “Destroy him?” Somnambula slowly nodded, eliciting another stomp from Sparks. “Okay, then. How about the fact that, even as a filly, I was doing things as horrible as putting monsters inside of Bolt’s head? There’s a… a creature in there that feeds on every negative thought and feeling he ever gets, and getting stronger because of it, then feeding more of them back in and just... “ She put her hoof over her heart. “I created that thing! Using the ‘special talent’ that comes with this stupid Cutie Mark!” She gestured aggressively at her flank, her glare getting all the more intense. “All I’ve ever done is hurt others! So why wouldn’t I want to get rid of it?” She took a few quick, panicked breaths, letting her hoof and her head simultaneously fall. “I don’t deserve… any of this…”

The Pillar’s eyes opened in full, showing a sincerity that was matched by her smile. “I am reminded of my treasured friend, Stygian. But, perhaps you might know him by a different name.”

“The Pony of Shadows…” Starlight added, recalling her first meeting with the pony in question.

“Yes.” Somnambula confirmed. “He did… much… that caused harm in his day.” She averted her eyes, bringing her hoof up to her necklace. “Even my hope could not last against what he had become. To this day, it is my greatest regret.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“I was wrong.” She stated, returning her gaze to the Unicorn. “We all were. If it wasn’t for Princess Twilight and, more importantly, our friend, Starlight, we would never have learned the truth, saving him from the shadow that held him prisoner. Had he not had ponies who believed in him, he would have been lost.” She rose from her seat, walking up to Sparks and gesturing to the ponies that had brought her to the village. “I believe your friends have the same hope for you. And I believe you are capable of far more than you say.”

Sparks set her eyes on her friends, finding herself reminded of the entire reason they had come. There was a reassurance in their presence and belief in her. But… “I’m sorry… But I don’t.”

“You did WHAAAAAAAT?!” Cried simultaneous sales-stallions. They stood with their hooves on the table, glowering at a startled Minotaur.

“I let Somnambula have a night to think on it.” He repeated, lowering his hands. “What’s wrong with that?”

“You’re not supposed to ‘let them think’!” Flim pointed out, exaggeratedly tapping his own head.

“You need to dazzle them!” Flam added.

“Press them!” Flim affirmed.

“Wow them!” Flam continued.

“Make them give in!” Flim concluded.

“AND MAKE THE SALE!” They finished together.

Iron Will leaned forward, raising an indicative finger. “Well, that may be how you two do things, but--”

“How do you think you failed so miserably before you found us?” Flim wondered, finally sitting back down.

“Every time you tried your ‘hand’ at a business venture, you simply gave up and ‘listened to your customers’ when they complained!” Flam explained, following suit with a slam of his hoof on the table. “Even with all of your fancy contracts and jargon, you still ended up losing more bits than you earned because of your so-called ‘business practice’.”

"Meanwhile, we own a fabulous resort hotel in Las Pegasus!" Flim boasted, shining his hoof on his chest. "Because our 'business practice' is to succeed by any means necessary!"

Iron Will put his hand on his chin, scratching his beard thoughtfully. “Any means necessary, huh?”

The next morning, Somnambula sat on her stage, deep in meditation. In front of her sat residents and visitors alike with an orange stallion in the front row, mirroring her stance as she guided them. To the side stood two Unicorns, waiting as patiently as possible through it all.

Which meant the gray one was growing impatient. She tapped Starlight's shoulder, leaning in to whisper. "We're leaving after this, right? Because I'd like to get that spell cast as soon as possible so I can get back home."

Starlight let out a defeated sigh. "Soon. We just have one more thing to take care of before we go."

Sparks nodded, putting her attention back on the gathering as it began to disperse. From the center of the crowd came the sound of hooves clapping. When the plaza was clear, so was the source, a pair of familiar yellow-coated Unicorns sat alone in their applause with sly smirks lining their faces. “In-credible! Absolutely incredible!” Flim declared, climbing to his hooves.

“Why, it’s no wonder ponies come to you for help!” Flam added. “I don’t think I’ve felt this good since we got the resort. How about you, brother?”

“I have to agree with you there, brother.” Flim confirmed. The salesponies stepped up to the stage, each placing an elbow on it to appear symmetrical. “It’s a shame ponies have to venture so far for this experience.”

“And with nothing to do in the meantime!” Flam stated, making an exaggeratedly forlorn face. “All there is here is drab desert!”

“If only there was a place everyone could go to have complete and unfettered access to help like this!” Flim cast his gaze to Somnambula, extending his hoof to her. “Someplace with all the comforts of home. For a modest fee, of course.”

“Someplace where she’d be doing twelve to thirteen of these per day with almost no rest in between?” Wondered a baritone behind them. Flim and Flam jumped, looking back to the source of the familiar tone to find Boltsinger deadpanning. “Hello, gentlecolts.”

“Why if it isn’t our favorite solo act!” Flim greeted, spreading his forelegs with a slightly more genuine smile. “We’ve missed you at our hotel!”

Flam gave a confirming nod with a tip of his hat, stepping up to the stallion. “Indeed! The Poneigh Fantastique Theater hasn’t been the same since you left us with that Trixie mare.”

“Yeah, you’ve actually had to pay for your shows.” Boltsinger said, his expression unchanging. “Speaking of which, what’s this I hear about you replacing her with her own fathers?”

“Oh, that’s just business.” Flim dismissed, turning back to the other blue-maned Pegasus. “And speaking of business, what do you say?”

"I believe that is precisely what your associate said yesterday." Somnambula pointed out, leaping over the brothers to land next to Boltsinger. "If that is all you have to say, then I believe we are done."

"But wait!" Called the growling voice of Iron Will from above. Somnambula, Starlight, Boltsinger, and Sparks all turned their attention upward, finding the silhouette of the Minotaur atop the plaza's central statue, the morning sun at his back as he flexed his muscles. "There's more!"

"More?" The Pillar repeated.

"More!" The Minotaur confirmed, jumping down among the equines. He pointed a firm finger at Somnambula, seeming to overflow with confidence. "Have you ever considered the kind of money you could make from a business venture like this? Iron Will's talking toys, t-shirts, posters, pens, photos, meet and greets, the whole enchilada! Why, you could be making more bits than could even exist back when you were fighting off monsters with your friends!"

"That's right!" Flim exclaimed, pounding one hoof into the other. "Of course, you'd get a cut of any profits we make!"

"Not to mention, royalties!" Flam added, rubbing his hooves together.

Somnambula looked past the finger pointed at her, finding a new kind of confidence in the bovine’s eyes. “Royalties?” She gave a cursory glance to the darkly-coated Unicorn, chancing a small smirk before giving him her attention once more. “And what might I do with such royalties? I’ve no use for so many bits.”

Iron Will curled up his finger, pumping his newly-formed fist enthusiastically. “Then pay as you go and make the cause grow!”

“I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.”

Iron Will raised his arm, taking a single bit and putting it on his bicep. “Take any bits you’re not gonna use…” He flexed the muscle in question, sending the coin flying into the air. He twisted his body around, now holding his left arm where his right had been and flexing his muscles where the bit finally landed. “... and put ‘em towards the customers!” He gave one more flex, shooting the coin back into the air to land balancing on Somnambula’s nose.

“You know…” Starlight began, putting her hoof to her ponderous chin. “That’s actually a pretty good point.” Sparks openly scoffed at the thought, beginning to step toward the group.

Flim swiftly stepped between Iron Will and his their business target, quirking his eyebrows. "A good point, indeed!" He stated, swiping the coin from Somnambula's nose. "And by putting it towards your customers…"

"He means to put it towards the business!" Flam concluded, putting his hoof around his brother. "Just give us any extra bits you make and we will make sure that every guest has every necessary comfort!" He looked back at the muscular Minotaur with a triumphant grin. “Right?”

“Um… Yeah!” Iron Will answered, stepping back almost defensively. “Whatever you say!”

Flim and Flam paused for a moment, glaring at the enormous bovine like he’d committed some kind of wrongdoing. “‘Whatever you say’ what?”

“Whatever you say, Boss!” He corrected.

"Good." The brothers said simultaneously, turning back to Somnambula. "So, what do you say? Interested?"

"I must admit, it seems tempting." The Pegasus mare started, smiling up at the one who had pitched the idea. Iron Will smiled back, putting his hands on his hips only to have the Unicorn siblings rise to their hind legs with a foreleg on each other's shoulders, as if deliberately blocking the view. "Perhaps you could tell me more?"

“Of course!” The salesponies stated, raising their hats and bowing courteously. “Just leave it to us!”

"And what exactly are you gonna tell her?" Came a soprano from beyond the bovine. Sparks stepped up to Flim and Flam, bringing herself closer than the stallions could possibly find comfortable. "All you've done today is either repeat what that Minotaur says or try to twist it into a plot for more bits!"

The brothers recoiled, pulling away from one another with Flim raising his hoof. “W-w-well, how else can we… e-extrapolate on his proposals?”

“Yes! Make our intentions clear to our potential business partner!” Flam stated, nodding shakily. “We have to make a profit, after all!”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Sparks deadpanned. “You’re just trying to get it done without doing any actual work!” She turned to Iron Will, magically pulling on his tie to bring him to her level. "And why are you letting them trot all over you?"

"Well, I mean… They gave me a job when I was desperate, so--"

"So they can profit off of your skills!" She let go of the tie, causing the Minotaur's head to swing back and make him stagger. "Okay… I know these two helped you get work when you needed it." She looked back at Flim and Flam. "And it was very kind of you to do so." She returned her gaze to the blue bovine, strengthening her resolve and unwittingly lighting her horn. "Just overhearing you pitching to Somnambula here, I can tell you have good ideas. So why should you let Flim and Flam limit them? I'd bet that you could come up with something that works for you, Somnambula, and the swindlers like it was nothing! You just can’t give in!"

Sparks' final words echoed in Iron Will’s mind, sending a soft green glow into his eyes. “You’re right…”

“Yes, I am.” She confirmed, nodding confidently and looking him in the eye.

Iron Will released a low growl as the glow intensified. “You’re right…”

“Um… Yeah, we just covered…” She stepped back, fixing her attention on the glow in his eyes. Her jaw dropped at the familiar vision now reflected in her emerald orbs, reminding her of exactly what she wanted to prevent. “Oh no…”

Iron Will’s eyes narrowed with a wide grin to his muzzle. His brought his fists together, letting out a strenuous grunt as his muscles began to bulge. With another grunt, the fabric of his vest began to tear at the seams. Finally, he gave off a yell, shredding the vest entirely as he spread his arms wide. “OH YEAH!!!” His eyes returned to normal, showing a confidence that Sparks had never seen before. “Never give in! Just GO FOR THE WIN!!!”

“Wait, what?” Sparks wondered, tilting her head and ears out of sheer confusion.

The Minotaur stood tall with his signature grin, stepping past Sparks to loom over the other equines. “That little pony has a point, and Iron Will has an idea!”

“You have an idea?” Flim asked, stepping aggressively forward.

“What kind of idea?” Flam inquired, mimicking his brother’s behavior.

“Iron Will has a business proposal for Somnambula!” He affirmed, punching his palm. “Something that Iron Will guarantees will be worth your while!”

“And who are you to be coming up with the business propositions?!” The salesponies shouted, pulling on Iron Will’s horns with the magic of their own.

“You work for us!” Flim stated, tugging the bovine’s head toward him. “Not the other way around!”

Flam nodded, pulling in the opposite direction. “That means we come up with the ideas, and you sell them!”

The Unicorn stallions gave a simultaneous yank on Iron Will’s horns, getting as close as possible. “Got it?”

In one swift motion, a pair of hands grasped the stallions’ horns, dousing their magic and lifting them into the air. “Iron Will is a creature of business. And Iron Will knows an opportunity when Iron Will sees it!” He looked the swindlers in the eye, bringing forth a mighty snort. “Now, you two can either listen to what Iron Will has to say, or you can walk outta here broke!”

Flim and Flam’s eyes grew collectively wide as a newfound tremble overcame them. They directed their eyes away from their employee to chance a glimpse at the pony they had all come to see, finding a calm and intrigued smile on her face. She stepped forward, raising her hoof to her chest. “You say you have an idea that will benefit all of us? I’d like to hear it.”

Iron Will smirked, releasing the salesponies from his grip. “Iron Will’s been thinking, and Iron Will thinks he knows a way that he could get your services to more creatures than ever without having to inconvenience the ones you’d be helping.” He put his hands behind his back, standing upright and clearing his throat. “You see, one of Iron Will’s most successful business ventures for a while was an ‘assertiveness seminar’ where Iron Will helped ponies to help themselves. Letting them stand up for themselves.” He closed his eyes, remembering his exploits in the market as he casually adjusted his tie. “Iron Will was so good at it that he even got complete doormats to become masters of the art of assertion!”

“Intriguing.” Somnambula admitted. “But what does this have to do with what I do for ponies?”

“Iron Will proposes that we do the same thing, but with you helping them find hope rather than just asserting themselves.” He divulged, offering a hand to the mare. “If we went on tour, going from town to town, then nopony would have to go very far to benefit from your wisdom, and we could make a profit on the side from merchandise and self-help books!”

“And who, exactly would write these so-called ‘self-help books’?” Flim queried, giving the pair a curious side-eye.

“Somnambula and Iron Will would write them together, of course.” The Minotaur assured, gesturing to himself with his thumb. “Iron Will has a lot of experience in this market, and knows how to really reach ponies with writing!”

“Oh, please. An idea like that could never work!” The mustachioed brother argued, swiping his hoof in front of him.

“And why is that?” The Pillar asked, giving a curious glance of her own. “Are you afraid of how much work it would take?”

With a twitch in his eye, Flim reared back a little. “Why not at all, ma’am! We just think it’s… um…” He tugged on his collar, looking pleadingly at his partner. “Go ahead and tell, her, brother!”

Flam reared back in kind, looking frantically between the Pegasus and the Minotaur. “Well… we… We were… hoping to use a more reputable facility to house all of our customers’ needs!”

“Like a resort in Las Pegasus that takes a lot of time, effort, and bits for most ponies to even reach?” Heckled a bluenette baritone that stood by Starlight.

Flim and Flam gave a simultaneous gasp, each raising a hoof defensively at Boltsinger’s comment. “Why, I don’t believe we came to this wasteland just to have our perfectly legitimate place of business insulted like this!" Flim declared.

"Indeed, brother!" Flam confirmed, turning up his nose. "I believe we should take our business elsewhere!"

The brothers nodded to one another, turning tail and beginning their walk toward the train station. After a moment, they stopped, turning to face Iron Will one more time and point a hoof at him. “AND YOU’RE FIRED!”

“Fired?” Iron Will repeated. He squinted at the yellow Unicorns, dragging his hoof on the ground. “You can’t fire Iron Will!” He took a deep breath, cupping his hands around his mouth and leaning forward. “IRON WILL QUITS!!!” The force of his scream sent a ripple through the air in front of him, inadvertently slamming into the stallions and sending their hats flying into the distance. The salesponies swallowed lumps that had somehow lodged in their throats, immediately turning and galloping away as quickly as their legs could take them. With one more satisfied snort, Iron Will turned back to Somnambula with a less professional smile adorning his muzzle. “So… Now that Iron Will is back to business for himself, what do you say about that seminar idea?”

Somnambula chuckled to herself, approaching the Minotaur with a wing extended forward. “If we move forward as you say, I believe it will work splendidly.”

Iron Will nodded to the Pegasus, taking her wing in his hand and shaking firmly. “A pleasure to be doing business with you.”

“And you as well.” She replied, returning her wing to her side. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have one more bit of ‘business’ to attend to.” She walked past her newfound business partner, stopping in front of Sparks. “Dimming Sparks, I want to thank you for your help.”

“Help? How did I help?” Sparks wondered, motioning to herself with her hoof. “All I did was chastise someone four times my size and nearly send him into a horrible depression.”

“No, you did more than that.” She corrected, putting her hoof on the Unicorn’s shoulder. “You used your talent for persuasion to remind someone of what he is capable of, and achieved the best possible result.” She took a step closer, looking her squarely in the eye. “You did something good. Just like I knew you would.”

“I did something… good?” Sparks asked herself, staring back into the purple spheres before her. She fell silent for a moment, contemplating the facts laid bare before her as one of them came to the forefront. “Wait, what do you mean ‘just like I know you would’?”

“Simple. I knew you would act and lead us to the best possible result.” Somnambula stated. “I was never going to take Flim and Flam’s offer, but I had faith that you would come through in ways none of us could even dream of. And you most certainly did.”

“So… you manipulated me?”

The Pillar of Hope shook her head vehemently. “Not at all. I simply placed my faith in you.” She looked back at Iron Will, who had begun to take in the sights of the village. “And it did not go unrewarded.” She once again returned her gaze to the emerald-eyed mare, giving her a soft and serene smile. “You have done that which you thought was impossible, and I know full well that you can do it again, provided you don’t lose hope. So…” She reached under her wing, pulling out a string of glowpaz identical to the one she wore and presenting it to Sparks. “I’d like you to have this. As a testament to that hope.”

Sparks’ eyes grew wide at the sight of the glowing stones, with small pools of water forming at their corners. “I… don’t know what to say…”

“Simply say that you won’t give up.” Somnambula suggested, pulling her into a hug. “That would be the perfect answer.

Sparks accepted the hug with teary eyes and a grateful grin. “Okay… I won’t give up.” She pulled away from the embrace, finding the glowpaz to be hanging from her neck like it was always meant to be there. She put her hoof on the jewels, feeling a warmth from them that seemed to radiate through her entire being.

“So does this mean I don’t have to cast that spell?” Starlight inquired with a nervous grin. Sparks let out a heartfelt laugh, giving her a simple confirming nod that caused the magical mare to breathe an immense sigh of relief. “Oh, good. I don’t know if I can even remember how to do the spell in the first place!”

Author's Note

Wow. This chapter really put me through the ringer! I went through a lot trying to get this right! Even to the point of doing another chapter with this one on the backlog!
But I have to say I'm glad I was able to get it done, and I think it turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. I hope you enjoyed it, too!
I've got a good idea for how things will be structured for a while now, I just need to come up with the actual content of my concepts. It should be fun!

A Nurse Nightmare

Speed.

It’s what she lived for. The world around her practically standing still as she unfurled her wings and took to the air. The only thing that was better was being with friends. Sharing in an experience that would never be forgotten. It was simply the best thing in the world she could think of.

And that's what made being a Wonderbolt so special.

Rainbow Dash trotted out of the barracks in the Wonderbolts' signature blue flight suit with yellow lightning trim, a pair of flight goggles strapped to her head and a smile on her face. The new Wonderbolts tour was set to begin soon, right after the Wonderbolt Derby in Canterlot, and she was more than ready to really stretch her wings for the first time in a while. She looked around with an almost giddy grin at her fellow Wonderbolts, lining up alongside them as Spitfire stepped forward.

"Ready…?" The fiery-colored mare started.

"MA'AM! YES MA'AM!" The Wonderbolts unanimously answered.

Spitfire smirked, spreading her wings and lowering her goggles. “Then let’s fly!”

With that, the team was off. Seven streaks of blue and yellow filled the sky in a spinning circular formation, aiming themselves at a rather large cloud. They started into a rapid aileron roll, holding their hooves together to make something of a drill shape as they bored into the cloud, leaving behind a perfect star. As the spinning stopped, the loop began, with the flyers taking positions in a horizontal line that slowly but surely separated. When the loop was complete, the team went into an immelmann turn, each veering off into a different direction. With a trail of electrical smoke, they slammed into the cloud once more, busting it into wisps and leaving a pattern in the same star shape. Finally, Rainbow Dash looped around toward the center of the star while the rest of the team flew at an angle on either side in sets of three. The Wonderbolts created a wing pattern in the air as the cyan mare plowed through the star with a flourishing spin. The star burst apart, reshaping itself into the Wonderbolts' signature lightning bolt and lingering in the air. The aerialists came to a stop, convening in front of the insignia with satisfied grins on their faces.

“That was awesome!” Fleetfoot cheered. “I think that was our best run so far!”

“Aww, definitely!" Soarin confirmed, giving the white-maned Pegasus a solid hoof bump. He turned towards Rainbow Dash, letting his smile noticeably widen at the sight of her. "You held up that center like a pro, Dash!"

Rainbow struck a confident pose, brushing her chest with her hoof. "I was pretty awesome, wasn't I?" She set her eyes on the green-eyed stallion, finding herself glad that her flight suit covered so much of her now-warm face. "But I couldn't have pulled it off without you."

Soarin's face grew equally red as he waved his dismissive hoof to her. "Nah. You can do anything on those wings."

"You think so?" Rainbow wondered, starting to inch closer as that warmth she was growing familiar with resurfaced once more. She averted her eyes, rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof. "Well… I mean…"

"Alright, lovebirds! That's enough!" Spitfire interjected, forcing the pair back into reality. The now viciously red Pegasi reared away from one another, looking around as the rest of the team burst into laughter. "As adorable as you two are, we're not even close to done! Let's do it again!" She sped forward, passing between the flustered flyers with a force that sent Rainbow Dash spinning out.

As the other Wonderbolts followed their leader, Soarin rushed forward, catching the spinning mare by her shoulders. Her head wobbled with the continued momentum, finally stopping with her eyes directed at her boyfriend's. "You okay, Rainbow Dash?"

The cyan mare’s focus returned to her with a vengeance, sending a powerful warmth into her chest as her wings began to flap again. “Y-yeah! Totally fine.” She moved out from his forelegs, looking back at him with a smile. “Thanks, Clipper.”

“No problem, Dash.” He said, turning back towards the other Pegasi. “I’ll always be there to catch you.”

Rainbow’s smile grew a little dopier at the declaration, causing a slight falter in her wings as she followed suit.

“Okay! One more time!” The commander shouted. A new cloud was brought into place, and once again the seven streaks filled the sky.

As the routine began, Rainbow found her favorite stallion’s words repeating themselves in her head, filling her with confidence and increasing the rhythm of her flapping. They plowed through the cloud, moving into their upward arc as the rainbow streak showed up behind the Bearer of Loyalty. The assurance continued to echo with the pounding of her heart, further inciting her wings to keep pace. As the gray star appeared in the sky, she looked at Soarin's place in the formation, finding him occupying the whole of her thoughts when she plowed through. She knew exactly what she was feeling, and it felt better than a…

BOOM.

Sonic Rainboom, like the one that exploded out behind her as she rocketed forward. The other Wonderbolts looked at the feat in awe, ever-impressed at the display of sheer speed. The prismatic mare closed her eyes, letting her mind wander. She could have sworn she heard Soarin's voice even clearer in that moment. Like he was calling out to her.

"RAINBOW DASH! WATCH OUT!!!" He shouted. His voice seemed to sound more panicked than reassuring this time. She opened her eyes, looking back to see him trailing after her with his foreleg extended. She looked ahead to find the dark blue wall of the barracks rapidly approaching and raised her forelegs, bracing for…

SLAM.

Impact. First on her left foreleg, then on her wings. In that moment, everything went black.

Rainbow Dash’s mind finally began to stir from the dark, a calm voice seeming to grab at her attention. “... here, here, and here. Not to mention the fracture in her foreleg.”

Fracture? What does she mean fracture? She wondered, opening her eyes to see the infirmary walls all around her. Hanging from those walls were a set of x-ray results, showing a hoof and two wings, cracks running through each of them. She moved her foreleg to support herself, but found herself stopped by a sharp, intense pain that sent a yelp from her mouth.

The sudden noise made the other ponies in the room jump. Soarin and the doctor each rushed to the blue mare's side, one tending to her foreleg while the other held her up. "You okay, Dash?" Soarin asked, putting his hoof on hers.

Rainbow Dash responded with a pained groan, chancing a look at her foreleg. As expected, it was in a splint, reminding her of what had happened to put her in that situation. Her ears and wings drooped at the sight, with the stiffness on her feathered appendages letting her know that they were likewise out of commission. "No…"

"I hope you know that you won't be able to tour in this condition." Spitfire informed her, putting her hoof on the bed. The injured mare slowly nodded in understanding, refusing to open her eyes. "What the heck were you thinking with that Rainboom, anyway?"

"I…" She looked at the stallion holding her, remembering the words that echoed through her mind in the moments before the impact. "I wasn't…"

Spitfire growled under her breath, gritting her teeth for a moment. "You… You just heal up, okay?" She scoffed, making her way to the door. "Can't believe I've gotta bring in two reserves for this…"

“Two reserves?” Rainbow repeated. She put her good hoof on the bed, sitting up to look at the commander. “I didn’t hurt anypony else, did I?”

Spitfire sighed, taking a cursory glance back and pointing to Soarin. “Why don’t you ask him?”

Rainbow’s eyes returned to the green-eyed Pegasus, one of her eyebrows raising curiously. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, it’s no big deal.” Soarin dismissed, waving to the departing Wonderbolt. “I’m just staying with you to help you recover.”

“WHAT?!” Rainbow replied, wincing as her recoil strained her wings. “Why would you do that? The ‘Bolts need you!”

“Not as much as you need me.” He retorted, booping her nose. “Spitfire can handle things leading the formation, and it’s not like we don’t have some talented reservists. But you need somepony with you, otherwise you can’t even go home. And you know I’ll always catch you. Now, more than ever.”

“What do you mean? I can totally handle myself like this!” She boasted, moving to get up from the bed. “You see? I feel great!"

The doctor behind her cleared her throat, causing Rainbow to tense up. "That may be for now, but I would feel better if you were taken care of." She brought her clipboard up to her face, reading through the available information. "It says here that you have family in Cloudsdale. If you're not comfortable having Soarin care for you, you could always go there."

"I'll take Soarin!" She immediately exclaimed, pulling the stallion close. As opposed as she was to having her boyfriend play nursemaid, having her parents baby her was a nightmare to just think about.

“Very well, then.” The doctor said, turning to the white stallion. “Soarin, I leave Rainbow Dash in your hooves.”

Soarin stood confidently, performing a salute with his hoof. “You can count on me!”

Rainbow had never ascended to her house by way of balloon before. It was an experience she’d much rather have avoided, but so was the overall injury that led her there. She looked out at Ponyville from the basket, resting her head on her hoof with a sigh. The stallion next to her pored over a number of documents all the while, mumbling the instructions to himself. With a roll of her eyes, Rainbow turned her head to him. “Do you really have to stay with me the whole time? I can take care of myself, you know.”

“I just wanna make sure. This list has a lot of things we’ve gotta do, and some of these aren’t things you’re currently…” He motioned to the foreleg that hung in a sling. “... capable of.”

"Hey, I can do just fine on my own!" She spat, stomping her hoof and facing him properly. "You of all ponies know just how 'capable' I am!"

Soarin rose to his hind legs, raising his hooves in mock defeat. “Okay, okay, you’re right.” He tucked the list under his wing, making to level the balloon and land. "I just wanna make sure you're okay."

"I know… And I really appreciate that. But I know how to get around my own house just fine." She assured, moving back to the basket's edge. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some serious Daring Do to catch up on." She hopped into the air, moving like she always did when exiting a balloon, save for the fact that she didn't actually leave the basket. Her hooves touched down not even half a second later as she winced in pain. "Oh yeah… Broken wings." She stepped up to the short wall again, taking a deep breath. With a half-hop, her foreleg left the floor again, reaching the lip of the basket. She strained for a moment, bringing herself up some more to have the wall support half of her body weight as she let herself rest a little.

"You okay babe?" Soarin asked, taking a step closer. "Need any help?"

"Nah!" She replied, wiping her brow. "I'm good!" After all, if other ponies made this look so easy, it should be a cinch for her! She strained a little more, lifting her foreleg up to move over the wall. After a few seconds, she pulled her rump up, sitting on the edge of the basket. With a confident smirk, she looked at her boyfriend. "You see? I've totally got the hang of thi-- AHH!!!" She squeaked, falling off of the side toward her house. Soarin jumped, running to the edge and looking out to find Rainbow on the side of her un-broken foreleg, where she looked up at him, her cocky smirk just a little bit crooked. "I'm good!"

The next morning, Rainbow Dash sat in her bed with a book on her lap. She had tried all evening yesterday to get it into a position where she could read comfortably, but thus far it was to no avail. She stared at the cover, seeing Daring Do's face almost glare back at her. "You never let a few broken bones get you down, do you? Never let anypony see you broken…" She looked back at her wings, still in their stiff splints. She pulled the book toward her, opening her mouth next to a corner as the doorbell rang. She hung her head, letting her wings droop as a growl made its way out. "Come on in…"

"RAINBOW DASH!" Cried a raspy-voiced filly as she almost instantly made her way from the door to the bed. Scootaloo's head and hooves appeared at the edge of the mattress, her face fraught with worry. “I came as soon as I could! Are you okay?”

At the sight of her honorary little sister, Rainbow couldn't help but smile. She patted the bed next to her, letting her know it was safe to approach. "I'm fine, squirt. Just a little banged up."

“But… Your wings!” Scootaloo stressed, climbing onto the bed. “How can you get around without them?”

“It’s okay, Scootaloo.” A contralto replied from the hall. Rainbow’s ear twitched at the voice, finding her favorite Princess entering the room with a smile and a brightly lit horn. "It's not like this is the first time she's been hurt." Twilight stepped up to the bed, putting her hoof on the blanket. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better." Rainbow confirmed, pulling the Crusader into a hug. "All day yesterday, Soarin was poking his head in, asking if I needed anything, like, every five seconds!" Twilight chuckled to herself, remembering similar situations concerning another Pegasus stallion she knew. "I'm just glad he decided to ease up today. I haven't seen him since breakfast!"

"We didn't see him on the way in, either." Scootaloo mentioned.

"That's because he's at the castle." The Alicorn informed them. "He went to the library. Last I saw him he was asking Bolt for advice on how best to preen someone else's feathers." At the mention of the idea, a sheepish blush adorned her muzzle that she quickly hid with her hoof. "I should probably help him out with that… Bolt's never been very good where feather preening is concerned…"

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow, zeroing in on her royal friend's flush. "What do you mean by that?"

Twilight stepped back, waving her hoof dismissively. "Oh, it's nothing! Nothing at all!"

"Uh-huh, nothing." Rainbow repeated. She kept her gaze firm, imitating Applejack as best she could. "Why would a Pegasus like Bolt have issues with feathers?"

"Well, I mean, he can't do it for himself, for one thing." She blurted, her eyes going wide as she let out a short, shrill whinny and brought her wings over her mouth.

Rainbow leaned forward, scooting her way out of her blanket. Twilight stepped further back, met with the playful glare of a cyan Wonderbolt. "Details. Now."

Twilight's eyes began to dart around the room, looking for something she could use to change the subject. Eventually, her gaze turned up to see the light that came from her horn. "Oh! I brought you something!" She exclaimed, focusing her magic to float in a lap table with a slanted surface. "I figured you'd need something to read on, since you're gonna be sitting around so much and you only have the one hoof to work with! What do you think?”

Rainbow pushed the reading surface aside, scooting closer. "Yeah yeah it's nice. So what's this about Bolt?"

"Oh, it's no big deal, really!" Twilight dismissed. "Nothing worth worrying about!"

"Come on! Pleeeeeease? I’ve already been cooped up in here for a whole day! I’ll go crazy if I don’t hear at least something about the outside world!" The Wonderbolt pleaded, raising her good hoof and looking at the Alicorn with big, sparkling eyes. "For your poor, injured friend?"

Twilight’s ears lowered, reminded of the most persuasive little Alicorns she knew. She directed her eyes to Scootaloo, who simply shrugged. "Oh…" She tried to turn away from Rainbow Dash, but found the feat impossible as she hung her head. "Okay, fine. But it can never leave this room, got it?"

"Yes!" Rainbow exclaimed, pumping her hoof. "I promise!"

"Okay…" The Princess of Friendship breathed deep, taking a nervous look back at the door. "Bolt's feathers tend to have a bit of residual static from when the lightning comes out. And when something fine, like a brush or teeth or… other things… get into his fletching, it disrupts that little discharge and… He describes it as a big jolt through his whole body. It makes him..." She tilted her head for a moment, searching for the right word to use. "... flop."

"Flop?" Rainbow repeated.

"Flop." Twilight confirmed. "He just goes limp! So, I usually have to help him out. He's really self-conscious about it, though, so we try to keep it secret."

"Yeah, I can't blame him." Rainbow stated, scooting back next to Scootaloo. "I would be too if I had to rely on somepony else to…" Her eyes widened for a moment, slowly turning to catch a look at her bandaged wings. "... handle… my…" She rose to her hooves again, rushing up to Twilight. "What was it Soarin was trying to get again?"

"Advice on preening for another pony. Why?"

"Oh my gosh… Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh...!" She sat on the floor, looking at her hanging foreleg with a sense of dread. "He's gonna be… my wings… I gotta…" Her face turned a darker shade of red than the one found in her mane as the world began to spin around her. She shook her head free of the dizziness, planting her hoof on the floor and looking up at Twilight. “You don’t know any spells that can heal injuries, do you?”

Twilight recoiled a moment. “Uh… No. Those kinds of spells don’t really exist. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason.” She said, looking around. “Just thought I’d give it a shot.”

“Oooookay… You want me to get you anything?”

Rainbow shook her head. “Nah, I’m good.” She sat back on the bed, pulling her honorary sister into a brief embrace. “Thanks for coming, you two. I think I’ll be fine for now.”

“Are you sure?” Scootaloo wondered, giving the Wonderbolt a doe-eyed stare.

“I’m sure, squirt.” She assured, patting the filly’s head. “Now you go do your Crusading! I know you’ve got a whole line of ponies waiting for you.”

Scootaloo’s hoof rose to her chin as she considered the suggestion, almost managing to mirror her mother’s typical ponder. “We have been pretty busy… Okay.” She rose to her hooves, putting her hoof on Rainbow’s chest. “But I’m coming back right after we’re done, okay?”

With a soft smile, Rainbow put her hoof on the little one pressed against her. “Okay, kid. I’ll see you later.” She scooted back under her blanket, watching and waving as her guests took their leave. Once the sound of their flapping had faded, the mare tensed up, jumping out of bed and looking around the room. “Okay… I gotta do something… anything before he gets back!”

The door to the house opened, letting Soarin inside at a leisurely pace. After a long and… oddly revealing… conversation with Boltsinger about feathers and how to clean them, he'd finally gotten the information he sought. He was ready to do what was required to make sure his Rainbow Dash was well taken care of!

Now he just had to get the job done.

He trotted through the house, listening for any signs of activity. It didn't take very long for something to ring in his ears. A loud clanging and a thud was heard from the kitchen, sending the Wonderbolt stallion into near-immediate panic. With the help of his ever-trusty wings, he was in the kitchen in an instant, looking at his favorite mare standing over Tank, who was covered in chocolate ice cream. He stared at the scene in disbelief, moving to get a better look at the tortoise. "What the heck happened here?"

"I was trying to get a bowl of ice cream, but it's hard to do with just one hoof." Rainbow explained, letting her rump hit the floor as she petted her tenacious companion. "You think you could give him a bath? I'd do it myself, but…" She gestured to her splinted foreleg, giving him a simple simper.

A soft grin of his own appeared as he looked back at Tank. He put his forelegs around the reptile, lifting him up as he slowly tried to no avail at getting a scoop of ice cream that had hit the floor. "I'll have him cleaned up in no time, babe. Just leave it to me!"

"Thanks, Clipper." She said, turning her simper to a smile as he exited the room. When the door closed, the smile became a smirk. She waited a few seconds, inching closer to the door and listening for hoofsteps to fade into the background. When the coast was clear, she slowly opened the door, silently stepping through the hall toward the front door. With a sinister chortle, she worked her way outside, looking down from the porch at the ground below. "Okay… Just gotta get down from here and then I'm home free." She glanced back at the house for a moment. "Well, free, at least." She leaned further over, searching for a potential descent option. The balloon was out of the question, as the basket had already proved an issue. Moving just a bit closer to the edge, her least favorite option became a reality. Her forehoof began to slip sliding off the edge, taking the rest of her body with it while a shrill scream escaped her. Her instincts told her to spread her wings, but a sharp pain from the extremities reminded her that it wasn't that good of an idea. She began flailing her legs as she fell, ending up cut short by a small cloud that crossed her path. It cushioned her descent, but her momentum caused her to fall through onto another. Then another. Then a third one. Finally, she was nearing the ground, bracing for an impact that would surely send her back to the hospital.

Except there was none.

"Hi Rainbow Dash!" Exclaimed a squeaky soprano.

Rainbow opened her eyes, finding a frosting and crumb-covered Pinkie Pie smiling at her from above. "Hi Pinkie…" She looked at herself for a moment, finding that the same bits of cake covered her almost entirely. "What's with the cake?"

Pinkie reached into the remnants of the would-be dessert, pulling her friend out. "Well, I was just on my way to see you! I figured it was suuuuper boring to just be sitting by yourself in your room with nothing to do and nothing to eat and then I thought, 'Well, why don't you give her something to eat, silly?' And I asked what it should be. Definitely not pie, am I right? But do you know what's just as good as pie that Rainbow Dash does like? Cake! So I made the biggest, bestest, most Rainbow-riffic cake I could and brought it over! But I couldn't figure out how to get up there, but that doesn't matter anymore because you're here!"

Rainbow quickly nodded, turning her head to see the house above. “Great! Good to see you, Pinkie. Now, hide me!”

“Ooh! Playing hide and seek?” The party pony wondered. “Can I play, too?”

“Uh… yeah, sure!”

"Great! Who's 'it'? Where are we playing? How badly do you wanna be found?"

"Soarin, everywhere, and not at all!"

“Got it! Come with me!” The poofy pony stated, taking the Pegasus and holding her tight. “I have the best hiding place EVER!” And in a streak of rainbow and pink, the ponies were off.

Pinkie Pie definitely had a point. The place the mares had gone was definitely one of the best hiding places in all of Ponyville. And the most colorful, as was typical of the party planning cave. Rainbow breathed a deep, relieved sigh as she poked a nearby balloon. “Thanks for the help, Pinkie. You really saved my hide back there.”

“You’re welcome!” The frizzy friend replied, bouncing by behind her. At the arc of her next jump, she stopped in the air, looking back to her fastest friend. “Wait. What did I save you from?”

“Soarin.” She answered, knocking the balloon into the air.

Pinkie’s hooves returned to the floor as her head tilted to the side. “Wait, so we aren’t playing hide and seek? You’re just… hiding?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” Rainbow confirmed, turning to face her.

“But why?”

“It’s… complicated.”

“How complicated are we talking?” Pinkie inquired, taking a seat next to the prismatic mare. “‘Cause I can handle some pretty complicated things!”

“I don’t doubt it.” She assured, sending a quickly fading smile Pinkie’s way. “It’s… It’s a Pegasus thing. I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

Pinkie scooted a little closer, reaching one hoof toward her. “You sure?”

“Yeah.”

The blue-eyed mare squinted for a second, trying to figure out what the issue could be, but found herself relenting. It didn't seem like this line of questions was very fun for Rainbow Dash, after all. "Oooookay then. I'll go look around to make sure Soarin isn't--"

"Here!" Cried the one voice they weren't hoping to hear. A mechanism sounded in the ceiling, causing a yelp from the stallion as the cave’s entrances did their usual thing.

Pinkie tensed up, knowing full well what was going on with the yelping. She grabbed hold of Rainbow Dash, tossing her into a pile of streamers that conveniently consisted of every single color found on her body. "Hide!" She put a pair of hot pink balloons in front of the Pegasus' face, turning around with an unusually large grin. "Hi, Soarin!"

"Hey, Pinkie." The stallion greeted, rubbing his rump from the previous slide. "Have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?"

"Uh…" Pinkie took a glance so quick to the streamer pile that all Soarin could perceive was a momentary blur. "Nope! Why?"

"She wasn't at home, and she seemed a little freaked about something." He explained, rubbing his neck with his hoof. "She talks about how good you are at hiding stuff, so I figured she came to you for help."

"Well, she would do that…" The Pie confirmed. "Buuuuut I haven't seen her!” She kept her smile wide as Soarin’s gaze turned scrutinous, leaning forward with a squint in his eyes. “Want me to help you look?”

“I think I’ve got this.” He informed her, taking a step back. He took one last look around the room, steadily spreading his wings to take his leave. “I’m gonna check Fluttershy’s cottage. I’m pretty sure that’s where she’d go next if not here.”

“Great!” She put her hoof around him, leading him to the same slide he had entered from. “Always great to see you and I’ll let you know if I see Rainbow Dash, okay?”

"All right. I'll be back soon to check, okay?"

“Okay great bye!” She gave him a shove, sending the stallion sliding up in a way that seemed to defy the very idea of gravity. She held her hoof over her eyes for a moment to make sure of his departure, then turned back to Rainbow. “You miiiight wanna hide somewhere else for now. Doesn’t look like he’s gonna be convinced for long.”

“You’re probably right.” The Wonderbolt said, climbing her way out of the pile. “And he even guessed where I was gonna go next, too!”

“He knows you pretty well, huh?” Pinkie guessed, quirking her eyebrows.

“Yeah… I suppose I do talk with him a lot these days.” She breathed a sigh, looking around the cave. “So… How do you get out of here?”

The afternoon sun shined high above Sweet Apple Acres, sending a bead of sweat down Applejack’s brow as she trotted toward the animal enclosures. She may have had the day off from teaching, but those animals weren’t gonna feed themselves, and there was something a little funny about how the pigs had been acting for the past hour. She leaned against the fence, looking in at the little oinkers as they squealed with excitement. Finally, she pulled up the bucket of slop for the pigs to eat, pouring it into the trough as it became surrounded by a flurry of mud-covered pink rumps.

“Wait a minute…” She began, giving the pigsty another scrutinous squint. One of those rumps wasn’t quite so pink. And she was fairly certain there was a little bit extra going on with its back. She cocked a curious eyebrow, stepping closer to the rump in question. ”When did we get a blue pig?”

The smallest of the rumps around the trough tightened up, its long and decidedly un-curly tail pointing straight out as some of the mud fell off. The pony among the pigs finally raised her mud-covered head, revealing her telltale pink eyes with a weak smile. “Oh… Hey, Applejack! Didn’t know you were gonna be here!”

Applejack crossed her forelegs, letting the moment linger a little while Rainbow Dash let her statement sink in. “Dash, I do this job every day, remember?”

Rainbow stepped back with a look of clearly-feigned ignorance, averting her eyes. “You do? Hm. Must’ve forgotten.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” She replied, putting her forelegs back on the ground. “What the hay’re ya doin’ in the pigsty anyway?”

“I just… wanted to spend some quality time with my favorite pigs!” The Wonderbolt declared, standing as proudly as a mud-soaked mare could.

“Riiiight.” The orange Earth Pony rolled her eyes, opening the gate to let her friend out. “An’ the fact that yer boyfriend’s been searchin’ all over town for ya ain’t got anythin’ ta do with it?”

“He’s been looking for me?” Rainbow repeated, letting her eyes dart anywhere but on Applejack. “Why would he be doing that?”

“Probably ‘cause yer not home an’ ‘e’s worried about ya." The farm mare deadpanned. "Speakin' of, why ain't you home?"

"I just… wanted to get out for a while." She stated, finally exiting the pigsty. "It got way too stuffy in there." Applejack's gaze grew stern as she began tapping her hoof. "You know how hot a small room can get! Especially with these casts on!" The tapping stopped, quickly replaced with stepping as the Earth Pony shortened the gap between them. "And I knew Soarin wouldn't want me to overdo it so… I…" Rainbow finally got a look at Applejack's face, noticing a distinctly raised eyebrow over the emerald orbs, and with its ascent, Rainbow felt her resolve falter. She looked back at her bandaged, crumb-covered, mud-soaked wings, finding herself cursed with pangs of guilt. “I.. was…” She let out a growl of pure frustration, hanging her head and lowering her ears. “I was running away from Soarin, okay?!”

“An’ why’re ya doin’ that?” Applejack wondered.

“Yeah, Dash, why are you running from me?” Came the voice of the stallion in question. Rainbow froze in place, slowly turning her eyes up to the sky as Soarin came in for a landing. “Do you know how worried I’ve been? I understand you get restless, but you’re injured! If you wanted to go out, you should have just told me!”

"Soarin… I--"

"I even went to the castle just so that I can learn how to help you with all the things you're gonna need help with!" He continued, stepping closer to the muddy mare.

"But I don't want to be helped!" She shouted, stomping her good hoof with an attempted flare of her wings. She winced at the sudden pain, dropping her rump to the dirt as she turned away. "Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to have your wings messed with by somepony else? How embarrassing it is to be so helpless in front of your loved ones?"

Soarin's sternness significantly softened at his favorite pony's sheer candidness. He walked over to her, breathing a sigh. “I know exactly how you feel, Dash. It’s why I went to Bolt about how to help you out. I was asking him what I might expect when the time came to… well, you know… And he’s the only Pegasus I know that has to have somepony else help him with that.”

“Yeah, I guess…” Rainbow affirmed. “Wait…” She tilted her head curiously, finally meeting his gaze. “How do you know about the flop thing?”

“Know about what?” Applejack wondered.

"You ever see how crazy it gets during Guy's Night sometimes?" The stallion asked, giving her a dorky grin. "A few weeks ago, one of those skeleton things bit down on Bolt's wing and he just fell over. Spike explained what was going on, and Bolt made us promise to keep our mouths shut." He paused for a moment, raising his hoof. "But today he said I could tell you since you're dealing with wing issues."

Rainbow looked down at her bandaged foreleg, still brown and wet and covered with crumbs. "I guess I did overreact a little, huh?"

"A little?" Applejack echoed. "I think you went crazier than a firefly come Hearth’s Warmin’!”

“Yeah, you were kinda out there.” Soarin agreed. “But I can’t really blame you. I’m the same way.”

“You are?” Rainbow wondered, cocking her eyebrow.

“Of course!” He continued, spreading his wings for emphasis. “I know how important your wings are to you. It’s the same with any flyer. Especially Wonderbolts. Only ponies I let touch my wings are my parents, the doctor, and you.”

The prismatic mare’s eyes went wide at the Soarin’s final example, forcing a slight skip in her heartbeat. “Me? Why do you trust me with your wings?”

“Uh… ‘cause I love you?” He told her, widening his grin exponentially. “I know you’ll always do it right. I mean, I’ve seen the way your wings almost shine when you’re in the air. It’s only natural you’d do the same for somepony you care about.” He chuckled softly to himself, sending Rainbow a smile. “You know, I was gonna wait a couple more days to even talk about working on your wings, too, but…” He put his hoof on Rainbow’s cheek, wiping away some of the mud. “I don’t think we can wait that long.”

“I guess so…” She said, putting her good hoof on his. She breathed a sigh, wiggling her splinted up wings in an attempt to shake off some of the mud. “Can we at least... make it quick?”

With a nod from Soarin, the Pegasi stood up, walking to the farm’s exit. All the while, an orange Earth Pony sat by the pigsty with an inquisitive look on her face. “Wait a sec… What the hay d’ya mean by ‘flop’?”

Author's Note

I apologize for the massive delay. This past month has had me in a flurry of different emotions that have kept me distracted from writing in a multitude of ways. There were some days where I could barely get a single sentence out! Even now my confidence isn't at its highest, and I'm not sure how many of you will actually like this chapter. I really do hope you enjoy it, though. I've got something interesting planned for the next one, and I should hopefully get back to being more regular soon!
...
Hopefully.

The S-Mile

On the outskirts of Ponyville sat a quaint little house. It was simple, humble, and didn’t stand out very much. But that's just how its owner liked it. Peaceful, quiet, and---

“Hello~!” Came a cry at the door, followed immediately by loud knocking. “Cranky Doodle? You here?”

A groan sounded from the house’s occupant, a brown and tan donkey covered in wrinkles and what looked like a permanent droop to his face. He walked to the door, putting on a simple black wig as he went. “Who is it?!” He bellowed.

“Just the best party planner this side of Pinkie Pie!” The voice replied. “I won’t be long, I promise!”

Cranky Doodle, living up to his name, grumbled for a moment as he reached for the knob. “Ya better not be. I was right in the middle of a good book…” He opened the top half of the door, finding Cheese Sandwich beaming at him from beyond the threshold. “Now what do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much.” The party stallion started. He reared up with excitement, reaching into his shirt and pulling out two identical drawings of Pinkie Pie with a smile on her face and surrounded by blue and yellow balloons. “Just wanted to invite you and Matilda to the biggest bash ever!”

Cranky’s frown only deepened at the sight. “What? Pinkie throwing another party? She knows I never go to those! Why are you doing this?”

“Oh, it’s not a party by Pinkie…” Cheese corrected, bringing the drawings forward. “It’s a party for Pinkie!” Cranky took a closer look at the extended invitations, finding the words ‘Happy Birthday Pinkie Pie’ written over the balloons at the top. “I’m throwing her the biggest birthday party a pony ever got, and I need all of her friends to come! And that means you!”

Cranky rolled his eyes, thinking on the persistent pink pony and how much she’d done for him even when he was new in town. If it hadn’t been for her, he’d never have found his beloved Matilda. Never have gotten married. The corners of his mouth turned up as he looked at the invitation once more. “All right, all right, I’ll go. She deserves a good celebration, anyway.”

“Great!” Cheese exclaimed, backing away from the door. “That’s two down! Up next…” He squinted his eyes, looking with a fierce determination at the town proper. “All of Ponyville!”

Trotting down the streets of Ponyville, a rhythm began to play, turning all the heads in the thoroughfare toward the source. Cheese Sandwich bounced along the way with Boneless 3 sitting on his back. Underneath the toy chicken’s wing was a miniature guitar, and somehow from that guitar came a familiar strumming that seemed to excite everypony that heard it.

“~The day is finally here! (What’s that?)
The day I’ve wai-ted for! (Don’t follow?)
The day I make it up to her who gave me back my dreeams and more!
You’re all invited now! (To what?)
To come see it done right! (And that is?)
The party Pinkie’s waited for! That perfect gift is soon in sight!

‘Cause I just wanna see her smile, smile, smile!
Yes I do!
Just fill her up with sunshine all the__ while!
Hope it does!
Yes, all I need to see’s a smile, smile, smile
From a happy Pinkie Pie!~”

As he went, he stopped at every pony he saw along the beat, pulling an invitation out of his shirt and presenting it to whoever was in front of him, encouraging them to take it and follow him on his trek.

“~This party’s gonna be… (Awesome!)
The best there’s e-ver been! (All right!)
With ev-ery-po-ny’s help to make the biggest smile she’s seen! (Let’s go!)
So don’t you even wor-ry
I’ve got the whole thing down!
We’ll throw a bash that rocks so hard it loosens up the whole dang toooooown!

‘Cause to-day we’re all a-gonna grin, grin, grin!
Yes we are!
You just wait until the party will beee-gin!
Then show that Pie a joyful grin, grin, grin
And you’ll always get some cheer!~”

Cheese skidded to a stop, putting his hoof over her heart.

“~Some days I know she gets sooo lonely…
And sometimes it feels bad
So now we’ll all show her just why she shouldn’t be quite so saaaad!”

He picked up the pace again, going from pony to pony with an enormous smile on his face.

“~Our goal here’s to make her so happy, to make her life feel worthwhile!
She’ll see all her bestest friends and just have to smiiiiiile!

I’m really so ex-ci-ted!
I just can’t wait to see!
How every smile will make her smile!
She’s so special to me!~”

He sprang into the air, hugging the air in front of himself as if there was another pony wrapped in his forelegs.

“~’Cause I love to see that beam, beam, beam!
Yes I do!
To make her smile fulfills my ev-ery dream!
Yes it does!
This day will be the best she’s ev-eer seen!
Yes we’ll make it work that wa-ay!~”

He turned to the crowd behind him, waving them along with his foreleg.

“~Come on everypony! Smile, smile, smi-ile!
Fill this day up with sunshine, sunshine!
Give the party girl a smile, smile, smi-ile!
Do it for Pinkie Piii-ie!~”

The gathering of ponies began beaming in return, each trotting along to the beat.

“~Come on everypony! Smile, smile, smi-ile!
Fill this day up with sunshine, sunshine!
Give the party girl a smile, smile, smi-ile!
Do it for Pinkie Piii-ie!~”

As the crowd continued, Cheese hopped onto the fountain in the central plaza, holding onto the statue at the top.

“~And the perfect gift I see-ee…
Is a smile as wide as a mile!
It’s all the best that we can beeeee!~”

He turned to the crowd again, waving his hooves to build up the excitement as he tossed out more invitations.

“~Smile, smile! Smile! Smile!~”

He leaped off of the fountain, holding Boneless 3 close as the invitations practically flew from his shirt in the wind while he galloped as quickly as he could through Ponyville.

“~Smiiiiiiiiile!
Come on and smile!~”

He skidded to a stop in front of the Castle of Friendship, raising his hoof.

“~Come on and smile!~”

No sooner did a knock come to the door than it opened, revealing Twilight and Boltsinger with big smiles on their muzzles. "PINKIE!" They simultaneously exclaimed, each raising an ecstatic foreleg. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

"Hey Twilight… Hey Bolt…" Came Pinkie's reply in a tone like the stallion had never heard from her. "Thanks…"

Twilight and Boltsinger opened their eyes, finding their happiest friend in a state that sent Boltsinger reeling. Pinkie's coat was faded, her ears lay flat against her hanging head, and her famous frizz was all but completely gone, replaced with a perfectly straight, abnormally long mane and tail that simply hung there like normal hair. Boltsinger took a few deep breaths, easing himself out of the surprise as he gave his face a solid wing-slap and approached. "Are you okay?"

Pinkie breathed a heavy sigh. “I’m fine.”

The stallion’s eyes remained as wide as they could, but his expression turned otherwise flat. “Indeed you are…” He leaned in closer to Twilight, hiding his mouth with his wing. “Is this a common thing with Pinkie? ‘Cause I’ve never seen her like this…”

Twilight’s features softened as the question came up. She put her wing around her husband, joining him behind his feathers. “This is the reason we don’t throw many surprise parties for her. It’s happened a few times over the years, but I can’t say I’ve seen her like this so… early.” She put on her warmest smile, giving Pinkie her full attention once more. “So, Bolt and I were thinking that, since it’s your birthday and all, we should spend it with you! What do you think?” She leaned forward, fluttering her eyelashes with a brilliant smile. “Sound like fun?”

Another sigh made its way out of the dulled pink pony. "I guess so." She turned around, heading back into Sugar Cube Corner. "In the end, though, it's just another day…"

"Wait, what?" Boltsinger started, cocking his head and one ear to the side. "Just another day?" With narrowing eyes, he ran in front of Pinkie, putting his hooves on her shoulder. "What the hay do you mean 'just another day'?"

Pinkie's eyes narrowed in return, moving to separate from him. "Is is, isn't it? Just another day, not important, not anything!" She pushed at his forelegs, finding them almost immovable.

"No, Pinkie, my birthday is just another day." He corrected, softening his grip and sitting down. "A day that my dear friend Pinkie made special again. And you do that for everyone else you know, too! Even if you only just met them!" He put his wingtip on Pinkie's chin, lifting her head to loom at him properly. "Now today is the one day of the year where the master of celebration, that's you, gets to be celebrated! This day might as well be a national holiday!" He leaned to the side a bit, giving Twilight a hopeful smile. "Don't you think?"

The Alicorn giggled behind her hoof, closing the distance between her and her friends. "I'll talk to Princess Celestia about it." She added her own supportive hoof to the mix, drawing Pinkie’s attention toward her. “But he’s right. Your birthday is a special way for everypony to say thanks for the wonderful things you’ve done for them.”

“Everypony, huh?” She repeated, sending a dejected frown the Princess’ way. “Then why haven’t I seen Cheese Sandwich all week?”

The royal ponies recoiled, their smiles growing more nervous at the party pony’s inquiry. Boltsinger stepped back, shrugging his shoulders with a weak smile. “I’m… sure he has his reasons…”

“We’ve been having so much fun throwing parties together ever since he came to Ponyville, I just… I got used to having him around.” Pinkie continued, taking a long look at a photo depicting herself and the curly-maned stallion in her party planning cave. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun just planning them out, not to mention the actual parties!” She smiled down at the photo, a hint of her usual pink beginning to wiggle its way up her back legs. “Those were some of the best parties ever.” With another sigh, the emerging color faded away again, sending her frown back in force. “I just wish he was here to celebrate with me today, too…”

“Oh, Pinkie…” Twilight started, her face falling to a frown that matched her friend’s. She looked over to Boltsinger, finding him almost staring at the mare, a sparkle in his eyes that showed her a desperation she was all too familiar with. He wanted to help Pinkie Pie, and the feeling was mutual. “Well… How about we go look for him?”

Pinkie and Boltsinger paused, both giving the Alicorn their full attention. "Look for him?" They simultaneously repeated, one with intrigue, the other confused.

“You really wanna go find him?” The Pie wondered, letting the corners of her mouth turn back up a little.

“Yup.” She affirmed, raising her hoof confidently. “And even if we don’t find him right away, we can still have lots of fun as we go, right?”

The confusion in Boltsinger’s face only managed to increase as he trotted over to the Princess. “Uh, Twilight?” He pulled her close, whispering in her ear. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? We kind of already know exactly where he is and what he’s doing.”

“Which helps us to keep her occupied.” She replied, looking to the photo that Pinkie had pointed out. “And it’s a lot better than spoiling the surprise."

“Well that does sound like fun.” Pinkie stated, lifting her head out of her slouch. “Lead the way.”

Twilight beamed, spreading her wings ecstatically. “Great!” She started back toward the door, the very picture of determination. “And I know just who to go to first!”

Surely, it was the most beautiful cavern adjacent to Ponyville, filled with crystals, waterfalls, and decor that seemed otherwise out of place were it not for the pony that made her home there. Maud Pie sat over her desk, tying a large pink bow around a rock that was roughly the same size as herself as hoofsteps rang through the caves beyond. She looked toward the entrance of her abode, finding Twilight and Boltsinger making their approach.

“You really think Cheese might be here?” Asked a familiar squeaky voice from behind the pair. Maud allowed a small smile onto her muzzle, knowing all too well that her little sister was arriving.

“Well, if he’s doing anything today, it’s gotta be for your birthday present!” Twilight reasoned, smiling back at her shadowed friend. “And who better to ask for gift ideas than Maud?”

“I guess that makes sense.” Pinkie admitted.

Maud’s smile widened another millimeter. “Hi Pinkie.” She stood by the entrance, extending a hoof to meet her sibling. “Happy…” Finally, the birthday mare came into view, the sight of her straight mane sending the gray mare’s gaze to slowly toward the Princess and the Pegasus, lowering her eyelids ever-so-slightly. “What happened to Pinkie Pie?”

The instant her eyes fell upon them, Twilight and Boltsinger froze. The geologist’s glare had sent a chill down their spines that reminded them of an avalanche coming down on them in an instant. Boltsinger's back was the first to give way as his back legs buckled beneath him. "We didn't do it! I swear!" He cried, raising his forelegs defensively.

Twilight nodded in rapid agreement with the stallion, putting on her biggest grin. "It's true! Have you seen Cheese Sandwich, by any chance? We thought he might be looking for ideas for… Well, you heard us coming in."

Pondering Twilight's question, Maud's eyelids returned to normal. "Wasn't he supposed to be--" Before she could finish, a magical field appeared over her muzzle, pulling her mouth shut.

"Finding a present for Pinkie's birthday?" The purple mare suggested, winking at the rock expert. "That's what we were thinking, too! That's why we came to the best gift-giver around!"

"Um… Speaking of gifts…" Pinkie began, pulling at everyone's attention. She was looking at the ribbon-tied rock curiously, poking the bow with her hoof. "Is this for me?"

Maud simply rolled her eyes, walking up to her sibling and moving the pink hoof to the floor. "Not if you're going to be like that." She put her hoof on the pouty pony's cheek, smiling at her. "Now come on. Give me a smile. A real one."

Pinkie sighed, moving away from the affectionate hoof. "I'm... not sure if I can…"

“Are you sure…?” The elder Pie queried. As the younger Pie gave a slight nod, Maud lingered. After a moment, she turned to approach her other guests. “This is bad.”

“How bad?” Boltsinger wondered. “Like, ‘she’ll never be the same again’ kind of bad? ‘We have to take drastic measures’ kind of bad? ‘Only a triple-serving of Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness under the light of a full moon can fix this’ kind of bad?” He inched closer to the Earth Pony, gaining a new sense of panic with every step and every statement. “Seriously! How bad is it?”

A slow and steady blink came and went on Maud’s face, with her eyebrows lowering to the point where Boltsinger only barely noticed a difference. "Bad."

Boltsinger's head cocked to one side as his eyes went into a flurry of blinks. "I… uh…" The gears in his head ground to a halt, nearly making an audible crash as he spread his wings. "Yes! It's bad! This has been established! So how in Equestria do we make it un-bad?!"

With another eyeroll, Maud cleared her throat. "Make her laugh.”

“Make her…?” Boltsinger began.

“... Laugh?” Twilight finished.

“It’s the quickest way to get her feeling like herself again.” She explained. “It’s doesn’t always last, but…” She took one more look back at her sister, breathing a sad sigh. “It’s better than having her depressed on her birthday.”

“Well, if that’s all it takes, then I think I can handle this.” The Princess assured, putting a haughty hoof over her heart. “I've gotten to know Pinkie very well over the years. I'm sure I can get a good laugh out of her."

Boltsinger chuckled a little. "You sure? I've been told I'm pretty funny when I need to be."

Twilight giggled back. "Mm-hm. By me." She gave her husband a boop, walking past toward her frowning friend. "Just watch the master at work."

Boltsinger quirked an eyebrow with the best smirk he could muster. “Master, huh? We’ll see about that.”

With a flicker of her horn, Twilight moved Pinkie to a sitting position by the ribbon-wrapped rock. She stepped up to the droopy mare with a wide-eyed grin, taking a deep breath. “Okay, Pinkie. What do you call it when you fail an incantation?” She paused for a moment, waiting for a response from her flat-faced friend. When none came forward, she raised her hoof. “Miss-spelled!”

A cool breeze made its way through the cavern, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. A silence that spoke leagues more than what they had just heard. Eventually, Twilight cleared her throat.

“Oooookay then. What do transfiguration and growing up have in common?” She asked, beginning to fluff her wings in anticipation.

“I dunno, what?” Pinkie deadpanned in return.

“They both have…” She paused a little, unable to hold back a small giggle. “... unforeseen changes!” She declared, flaring her wings as she went into a fit of laughter with little snorts mixed in.

Meanwhile, Boltsinger and Maud sat to the side, their faces mirroring that of the still-silent Pinkie. “I knew that joke book wouldn’t do much good.” The stallion stated, climbing to his hooves. “Real comedy’s gotta come from inside. Life experience!” He stretched his legs and wings, walking over to Twilight and putting his hoof on her shoulder. “Let me give it a shot, hun. I think I know what she needs.”

“Are you sure?” She replied, motioning to Pinkie curiously. “Because I think I’ve got it with this next one.”

“I’m pretty sure.” He confirmed, patting her shoulder and stepping forward. “I love books, but they can only take you so far when it comes to being funny.” He sent her one more smile with as much confidence as he could gather. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

Twilight put the folds of her wings on her flanks, giving him a twinge of doubt amidst his feigned confidence. "Alright. Show me, then."

Botlsinger brushed his wings together as he approached, looking his faded friend from top to bottom. "You know, Pinkie, as much as I hate seeing you sad, I actually think this is a good look for you!"

Every mare in the cave recoiled, the pinkest among them tilting her head. “Really?”

“Eeyup!” He continued, lifting up some of Pinkie’s hanging mane while he grinned from ear to ear. “It looks like you’ve finally straightened out!”

A groan of what could only be described as immense pain erupted from the present Princess. “Really? That’s what you had in mind?”

“That was so dad-ly, it nearly chilled me.” Maud added.

Boltsinger shot the stoic pony a dirty look. "And you think you could do better?"

After a second or so of silence, Maud simply blinked. "Probably.” She walked over to a nearby desk, searching around the area. “But we need the best.” After a moment of investigation, she pulled a small gray rock. She headed back to her sister, holding the rock close. "You know what to do, boy."

Twilight and Boltsinger stared dumbfoundedly at the rock that Maud then held up to Pinkie's ear, sharing an expression of absolute disbelief. "Isn't that Boulder?" Queried the Princess, pointing at the stone.

Boltsinger let out a nervous laugh. "You don't actually think… Boulder… can make Pinkie Pie--"

Laughter loud enough to echo through the whole cavern stopped the stallion in his thought, demanding the attention of the royal couple. On the floor, poofy and pink, rolling around with her hooves over her stomach, was Pinkie Pie. "I can't…" She said, gasping for air between yuks. "And then… he…" Unable to contain anything more, she let out an immense burst of giggles that brought joyous tears to her eyes. The laughter continued for another two minutes, leaving Twilight and Boltsinger sitting on the sidelines, each resting their head on a hoof. They breathed a simultaneous sigh, letting their ears and wings dejectedly droop.

"Beaten by a rock…" Twilight pointed out.

"Eeyup…" Boltsinger confirmed. “But… at least she’s laughing.”

Twilight gave her husband a smile and a nod. “That’s true.” She worked her way back to her hooves, walking over to the Pie sisters as the birthday mare excitedly cracked open her gift.

“Can you believe she stuffed that much confetti inside a geode?!” A particularly peppy Pinkie Pie pondered, landing next to Twilight with an enormous smile. "I can't even imagine how she did it! But I guess that's what makes her the best gift-giver ever!" The trio was making their way through the streets of Ponyville, still in search of the elusive party planner that Pinkie had been missing. “So do you really think that Cheese went to the Friendship School?"

"Eeyup." Boltsinger replied with a firm nod. “And even if he isn’t there, I’m sure we’ll find him sooner or later.”

Twilight nodded in kind, putting her wing around the Earth Pony. "He's right. No matter what, I'm sure we'll see him…" She paused for a moment, spying a particular shade of yellow down the road. "... by the end of the day…" She turned to her spouse, moving the birthday mare to walk next to him. "Excuse me. I have to… uh… use the little filly's room!" She gave Boltsinger a quick kiss on the cheek, tilting her head toward that she'd seen, and lit her horn. In an instant, she was gone.

And a moment later, a ways down the road, she reappeared, keeping her horn aglow and pulling the obliviously trotting brunette toward her. He continued his trot in midair for a moment, humming a tune to himself. He opened his eyes, going from relaxed to surprised faster than he could think and looking around. “Twilight? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Pinkie?”

“I am with Pinkie.” She corrected, pointing her hoof down the way. “Aren’t you supposed to be working on that party?”

"I am working on the party!" He retorted, motioning to himself. "I was just on my way to meet my musicians and go over the set list."

Twilight facehoofed, dousing the magic in her horn to let the brunette go. “Can’t you just… I dunno, stay off the road?”

"I guess so." He said with a shrug.

"Good." Twilight horn lit up once more. "I'm gonna cast a spell on you to help keep you hidden for a little while, just in case." She loosed a beam of magic that quickly enveloped the party pony, turning him mostly transparent.

"Wow!" He exclaimed, looking at his hooves. "I can see right through me!"

Twilight nodded, taking to the air. "It'll only last a couple minutes, so use that time wisely, okay?" She gave him one last smile, waving farewell to the yellow stallion. "I'll see you at the party!"

"So, maybe she drilled a hole into the geode? Then put the confetti in through the hole and sealed it up?" Boltsinger mused as the Princess made her descent. He had his wing in his mane, scratching his head as he pondered the apparent question posed by Pinkie Pie.

"Maybe…" Pinkie affirmed, sitting next to him with a hoof to her chin. “I mean, if anypony can put a present inside of a rock, it’d have to be Maud!" She let out a tiny giggle. "I bet Cheese is gonna have something super wacky and perfect and made just for me, huh?" Her laughter continued for a moment, ending in a swooning sigh.

A sigh that didn't go unnoticed by her orange-coated companion. "Was that a swoon I just heard?"

“A what?”

“A swoon.” He repeated. “You know, that noise a pony makes when thinking about… certain individuals?”

“Ooooooh, that.” Pinkie gave a firm head shake, raising her hoof between them. “No, that’s just part of my new Pinkie Sense combo.”

“A new combo?” Twilight wondered, alerting the two to her renewed presence. “”How come I’ve never heard of this new combo? What’s it for?”

Pinkie’s eyes dialed back for a moment as her mind searched for the information. “Well, first of all, my heart gets all racey. Like it’s going thirty miles a second!” She put her hoof over her heart, closing her eyes fondly. She let out a laugh, moving her hoof to her stomach. "And then, my tummy gets all fluttery! Like there's a million butterflies just flapping around everywhere!" Twilight and Boltsinger began to smile, shooting knowing glances at one another. "And then my vision turns all pink and rosey! Everything looks so pretty that way!" The spouses simultaneously nodded. "And it all happens when Cheese gets involved! When I think about him, when I see him, even when I look at Boneless!" Twilight and Boltsinger looked back at their frizziest friend, each getting a widening smile on their faces before finally giving up the guffaw. Pinkie tilted her head a little, taken aback by the sudden outburst. "What's so funny? I mean, I know my Pinkie Sense makes me do funny things, but is all that really that hilarious?"

The Princess approached the Pie, wrapping her foreleg around her affectionately as she regained her composure. “Pinkie, I’m pretty sure that’s not your Pinkie Sense going off.”

"Well, what else could it be?" She wondered, her face growing more confused by the second.

All the while, Boltsinger's laughter continued, his hooves starting into a rhythm on the ground. "Oh, Pinkie…" He managed to say between bursts. "Pinkie, Pinkie, Pinkie…"

Pinkie stepped toward the stallion, stopping with a hoof raised and her ears lopsided in befuddlement. "What is it?"

"You love him!" He declared, playfully displaying his wings while the beat became a tune.

Pinkie's eyebrow rose a ways. "I don't follow."

“~I see what’s happening, yeah.~” He began, sitting down with a wry grin. “~You’re facing new emotions, and it’s weird!
You don’t even know how you feel.~
It’s ADORABLE!
~But I’ll let you know there’s nothing to be feared!
Open your eyes, see the light!~
Yes, it’s really love, you’ve got it right!
~I know there’s a lot you’re thinking of…
But that’s expected when you’re dealing with love!~

He sprang to all fours, landing in front of Pinkie and hunching over with his feathers twinkling.

“~What’s there to say except ‘you love him’!
With the way he walks through the room!
Yes it’s okay, it’s okay! You love him!
He’s the one who takes away all of your gloom!~”

He rose to his full height again, chuckling like a foal on their birthday.

“~So!
Who’s planning parties most e-ve-ry night?
And who deserves a partner in it?~” He pointed his wings and hooves at Pinkie, framing a face that had just begun to smile more. “This Pie!
~When you’re un-der-ground
Who do you wish you had a-round~
When laughter’s all abound?
Oh! ~How I just want you to see…
Just what your happiness would bring to me!
I know you might think it sounds absurd…~
But I feel it! ~You have my word!~”

Boltsinger leaped ahead of the mares, trotting backwards down the road and beckoning them along.

“~So what’s there to say except ‘you love him!’
And the way he brings out your light!
Don’t wish it away, away, you love him!
He just makes it all feel so right!~”
He bounced between his right legs and his left to the beat, eventually fluttering into the air in his movements.
“~You love him! You LOVE him!~”

Twilight giggled, giving a flap of her wings to join her spouse in midair as a number of windows began to open around them. “You know, come to think of it…”

Boltsinger nodded, raising a poignant hoof. “Yeah! Honestly, I can go on and on…
Even just TALKING about this phenomenon!
Your heart heart and the way it’ll pound?”

Twilight nudged Boltsinger on the side. “Oh, now you’re just messing around!”
She turned to Pinkie, putting her hoof over her heart. “The way that you feel, I know that it’s nuts.
The butterflies going BERSERK in your guts!”

“So what’s the lesson?” Boltsinger asked.

“Oh, there’s a takeaway.” Twilight confirmed.

“Don’t mess with love when it’s on the breakaway!” They simultaneously exclaimed, bringing themselves closer to their earthbound companion.

“And the way that you’ll feel in the end…” The stallion started, skipping along above the ground, just barely letting his hooves touch down. “It’s oh-so-much more than a friend!”

“Just look at us! We made it happen!” Twilight assured, landing in front of Boltsinger and pulling him into a quick hug.

“Just go with the flow!” Boltsinger continued, his grin growing all the wider as his hooves began tapping the ground. At the same time, a large number of ponies poked their heads out of their windows, following along the performing Prince’s gesture. “Listen to your big Pinkie heart just a-tippity-tappin’!”

The tapping grew louder as the crowd joined the local royalty, going into a series of audible exhales that came out to the rhythm. Finally ending on hundreds of forelegs raised with an enormously loud “HEY!” The purple-eyed ponies took positions on either side of Pinkie Pie, each putting a wing around her as the three of them trotted along to the beat.

“~Now let us say you should say you love him!~” They sang, dramatically raising an opposite foreleg each.

“~You love him!~” The crowd added, raising their own forelegs in kind.

“~For the wonderful stallion you see!
In every way, every way, you love him! (You love him!)
It’s ob-vi-ous to us you’ve gotta be!
Not much else to say today, you love him! (You love him!)
So tell him when you see him tonight!
He won’t go away, he’ll stay!~”

The trio slowed down a bit, coming to a normal walk, Twilight hugging the blue-eyed mare even tighter. “~He loves you!
And everything will turn out all right!~”

Boltsinger tightened his own embrace, looking at Pinkie with a sparkle and a jolt in his eyes. “~He loves you!~
He loves you.”

The beat seemed to die down as all eyes everywhere seemed to zero in on Pinkie Pie. Her smile was as wide as ever, and her eyes were shining like never before that day. The air grew thick with tension and silence as they all waited for the pink pony. Finally, she took a deep breath, eliciting a gasp from the onlookers. She raised her hoof, sweeping the air in front of her. “Nah!” What felt like the entire population of Ponyville breathed a sigh of defeat, causing those staring out their windows to slam them shut. “I should know my Pinkie Sense by now, after all. I mean, it’s my Pinkie Sense! Who else would know what that’s like?” Twilight and Boltsinger rolled their eyes, continuing down the road as Pinkie continued in a ramble that soon got lost in all the noise of the town’s daily life.

Behind a nearby house, a pair of green eyes popped out of thin air, followed instantly by the rest of Cheese Sandwich’s form as Twilight’s spell faded. He stared at the departing ponies, his jaw hanging slightly ajar in smiling disbelief. “Is it true? Does she really…?” He pondered for a moment, leaving his gaze fixed on the subject until she faded from view.

"You're looking for Cheese?" Starlight asked, standing in the doorway to the School of Friendship. She looked inside, spotting little more than a number of students scribbling away on pieces of paper. The guidance counselor swung her hoof in defeat, turning back to the ponies just outside. "Aww, shoot! You just missed him!" She slowly began backing away into the school, slowly closing the door between them. "Guess you'll have to look somewhere else, huh?" She backed up to the point where only her head was visible, smiling as wide as she did in her old village as she waved a hoof. "See you later!" And with that, she vanished into the building, shutting the door behind them.

The echo of the door closing sent Pinkie recoiling. "Well that didn't go very well…" She hung her head, her mane beginning to deflate.

"I'm sorry, Pinkie." Twilight said, patting her back. "Maybe we'll have better luck asking somepony else?"

And so they looked. First at Rainbow's house, with Pinkie held up on the porch with balloons. Rainbow gave the trio the same smile they'd seen on Starlight. "Sorry, I, uh… haven't seen him!"

With another deflation of Pinkie's mane, they made their way to Sweet Feather Sanctuary. There, Fluttershy stood amidst a crowd of demanding animals, tending to them all to the best of her ability. "Cheese? Oh, he's been-- ow!" With a yank at her mane, she looked back to find Angel with his paws on his hips, giving her a stern look. "Oh, yes. That's right." She turned back to them, her smile coming back into play. "I haven't seen him."

Finally, at the Carousel Boutique, Applejack stood in the doorway with Apple Bloom and Rarity running around in the shop behind her. She let out a nervous laugh behind an even less sensible smile. “Well, I wouldn’t say I haven’t seen ‘im, but…”

“He’s not here!” Rarity called from inside.

Applejack raised a hoof to the busy mare behind her. “But we just--”

A polished white hoof almost instantly made its way over the farmer’s mouth, with the rest of Rarity following close behind. “HE’S NOT HERE!” She looked at the visiting ponies with a brilliant, if odd, smile. “I’m afraid we can’t help you right now. We’re far too busy right now to come out, though.” She waved them off, sending Pinkie a particularly big smile. “Happy birthday, Pinkie Pie!” With one flicker of her horn, the door slammed shut with a force that blew their manes back.

“Well that was…” Twilight started, looking to Boltsinger for an idea. He shrugged in response, directing his eyes to Pinkie. Her head was slumped over, mane fully deflated and straight, with her coat back to the dull pink it was that morning. “Oh, Pinkie…”

“He was the one pony I wanted to see more than anypony else today…” She said, stifling a sniffle with her hoof. “My party partner. You know?”

“More than you think, Pinkie.” Boltsinger assured her, pulling her into half of a hug. He took a look to the sky. The sun was high on the western horizon, sending a grin to the stallion’s face. “How about we all go on a balloon ride? My treat.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, looking in the same direction. “Are you sure now’s the right time for that?”

“I think now is the perfect time.” He turned Pinkie down the road toward the purple balloon landing in the town plaza, looking back to Twilight and motioning the other way with his head.

Twilight nodded, going into a hover. “You’re right. I’ve just got one thing to take care of first.” She lit her horn, waving a quick farewell. “I’ll meet you there!”

As the Alicorn vanished, the two ponies started down the road, moving at a steady pace. "I'm sorry we weren't able to find Cheese. Really I am."

"It's okay.” She looked up at him with a weak smile. “At least I got to spend the day with you two, and see all my friends, right?”

Boltsinger simpered back. “That’s a good mindset.” They walked together for a quiet moment, both recalling the day’s events. The entire time, a question burned in his mind. He looked back to Pinkie, then back at the road, repeating the process numerous times as he resisted the urge to ask until… “Are you sure you aren’t in love with him?” He couldn’t resist anymore.

“I don’t know…” She admitted, kicking a nearby rock aside with her hoof. “It’s all really confusing whenever I start thinking about it.”

“Well, emotions are weird.” He told her, patting her back with his wing. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when your feelings are flaring up like this, and… Well, when it’s not a big panic attack that makes you want to run away forever and ever… Anyway. A feeling like what you’ve got is something worth listening to. Understand?”

Pinkie closed her eyes for a few seconds, pondering the advice she’d just received with as much focus as she put on a party idea. “I think so.” She cast her gaze forward again. “Just gotta listen, right?”

“Eeyup.” He confirmed.

“Ah! You’re here!” Twilight called out, drawing their attention to the balloon ahead. The Princess of Friendship waited by the basket, trotting in place with what looked to have been a long line standing aside in expectation. “We’re next! Come on!”

"Are we all set?" Boltsinger asked.

"That's right! Let's go!" She wrapped the two in her magic, plopping them into the basket. “The view today is absolutely astounding!”

“Oh really?” Boltsinger wondered, pulling the rope to start their ascent.

“Yup!” She flew up ahead of the balloon, leading them to a spot overlooking Ponyville. “It’s guaranteed to make you smile!”

“Well then…” He turned to the one pony in the basket that lacked a set of wings, offering her a hoof. “Sounds like something Pinkie needs to see.”

Pinkie sat in the center of the basket, looking up at the offered hoof with a forlorn look on her face. “I don’t know if I wanna smile right now…”

“Why not?” He inquired, bringing his rump to the floor. “Isn’t a smile what you live for? I know you prance around town singing a really good smile song every now and then.”

“But it’s not my smile that I wanna see.” She explained, working her way to a standing position. “It’s the smiles of all my friends that makes me happy. Seeing them happy is what makes me smile. Not just me smiling!”

Twilight fluttered into the basket, landing next to her favorite party planner with an enthusiastic grin. “All the more reason for you to take a look, then!” She gestured to the expanse below with her hoof, moving with the Pie that she might peer over.

As soon as the dulled mare’s eyes caught sight of the ground, Twilight made her horn flash in quick succession behind her. “There’s the signal!” Came a familiar, and rather ecstatic, voice from below. In a clearing next to the town proper stood a gathering that caused Pinkie Pie’s jaw to drop. Every single resident of Ponyville, along with every student and staff member at the School of Friendship, was standing together, looking up at her with enormous smiles on their faces. And at the very edge stood a bushy-maned yellow stallion, wearing a party hat that matched the one worn by the rubber chicken on his back.

“Cheese?” Pinkie started, leaning on the edge of the basket with widening eyes. “Is he…?”

“Ready everyone?” He called, looking to the crowd. They all gave a stomp in response.

“Did he really…?” She continued, leaning further forward with a sparkle starting to form in her eyes. “But he is!”

“NOW!” The Earth Stallion commanded, pulling a party cannon from behind a nearby tree and setting it off.

One by one, every single creature in the gathering from Cranky Doodle to Discord all the way to little Nova in his Uncle Spike’s arms raised a board up high. Some of them were completely blank, pure white. Others had black paint covering them entirely. Some with only a portion of one or the other. The individual pieces didn’t mean much, but what they formed together sent a shock into Pinkie Pie’s heart, reminding her of a refrain she always used in her favorite song to sing about the perfect gift.

A smile as wide as a mile.

And it was. The sheer mass of the smile boggled her mind for a moment, but she found that she didn’t care about that for too long. Other feelings were occupying her mind. Heart racing? Check. Tummy butterflies? Check. Rosey vision and a feeling like everything is right with the world? Triple-decker with chocolate cherry ice cream icing check!!! “Just gotta listen to it!” She said, letting the corners of her mouth turn up.

“What was that?” Twilight asked, chancing a glance at the pink pony only to find that… “Pinkie?” She was gone. She looked to Boltsinger, who looked back in utter panic.

“PINKIE!!!” The royal pair shouted in unison, jumping out of the basket to find Pinkie Pie falling head-first to the ground. Her muzzle was lined with a brilliant smile that sent a sparkle onto her nose, lighting it up like never before as it made its way down her body and added a definitive poof to her mane. Twilight and Boltsinger dove after the mare, hooves outstretched, but with a laugh, the Pie’s velocity only increased, causing their hooves to entwine and send them spinning out into a tree. And then, finally, she landed...

On Cheese.

The impact with which she landed sent fireworks through both ponies involved, their lips locked with pink forelegs wrapping themselves around the stallion. As quickly as the embrace was sealed, the couple was sent rolling several feet, coming to a stop with Pinkie on top of Cheese. “Oh Cheese!” She planted a kiss on his cheek. “I can’t believe it!” She landed another kiss on his nose. “You’re just the most wonderful…” She laid another kiss on his forehead. “... spectacular…” Yet another kiss, this time on his other cheek. “... stupendous…” She put one more kiss on his nose. “... superextremawesomazing pony I ever met!” She took his head in her hooves, lifting him up and giving him a long, drawn out kiss on the lips. With a loud smooching sound, she pulled back, spreading her forelegs wide. “And I LOVE YOU!!!” Her last statement echoed through the clearing with a volume that rivalled a certain Pegasus Prince, widening the smiles on every face for a mile and bringing a cheer for all to hear. She looked at the stallion beneath her one more time, finding a distinct daze in his eyes. She let out a giggle, getting up from on top of him and offering a hoof up. “Sorry about that.”

Cheese shook his head free of the daze’s thrall, accepting the help with a giddy grin. “About what? That was the best birthday present I ever got!”

Pinkie’s head tilted for a moment. “It is?” Cheese simply gave her a nod, planting a kiss of his own on her cheek that lit up her face once more. “But wait a minute…” All revelry stopped for a moment, turning every eye to Pinkie Pie. “It’s my birthday! How is it a present for you?” A few moments passed in silence, with an air of pondering permeating Ponyville’s premiere party planner. At last, she looked up from her thoughts with a shrug. “Oh well!”

Author's Note

Wow. This chapter has been a long time coming. And it was a doozy of a difficult one! I'm not entirely sure about the quality of that first song, but the second one was actually the source of this chapter's inspiration. I just had an idea of Bolt going into that song, and it just made sense for it to play out the way it did.
And I've been planning this event longer than it's been confirmed that those two are canon.
The next chapter I have planned is one I've been looking forward to for just as long, and it should be one that you'll all love, too!
I hope you enjoy it!
The songs I used were as follows.
The Smile Song, by Daniel Ingram, parody lyrics by me.
You're Welcome, from Disney's Moana, parody lyrics by me.

The Flurrious Crusade

In a dark, gloomy forest stood two brave and daring adventurers, looking around for potential dangers. Both bore manes of purple with streaks of blue, one with a pink coat and blue eyes and the other with an orange coat and violet eyes. The smaller orange adventurer's face quaked with fear as a trio of growling voices rang out from the shadows. The bigger adventurer put her wing around him, standing firm. "Don't be scared, Nova! The great adventurer Flurry is here to protect you!"

"But will it be enough?" One of the growls asked, her raspy voice accompanying her opening purple eyes.

"We creatures of the Everfree Forest're pretty big, ya know." Stated another, opening her golden eyes alongside her drawling voice.

"And don't forget scary!" The third voice added, turning her green eyes to the other two.

"Oh yeah!" The raspy one confirmed. "Suuuuper scary! You'll have to be pretty brave to stand up to us!"

"I am brave!" Flurry declared, spreading her wings. "I'm Flurry Heart! And I'm not afraid of you creatures!"

The glowing eyes all hunched over with wicked smiles. "We'll see about that!" The raspy voice stated. With loud roars, the bodies the eyes belonged to pounced at the adventurers, met with a flash of yellow light.

"Owwwwww…" Scootaloo cried, rubbing her rump with her hoof on the library floor. She, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle all sat similarly, surrounding a ball of yellow magic that covered the tiniest of Alicorns. "Okay, Flurry, you got us!"

The yellow bubble disappeared with an audible pop, forcing a twitch out of many grown-up ears across the room. Flurry Heart jumped out of the remaining sparkles with a cheer, hugging her little cousin close. "Yeah! We did it! We saved the day!"

"Ya sure did, sugarcube." Apple Bloom affirmed. She turned to Sweetie Belle, letting her smile falter just a little. "I just wish it didn't hurt s' dang much."

"Hurt?" Wondered a soprano from behind the foal. "Why would it hurt if you were just playing?"

Flurry turned to the voice’s owner with a wide-eyed grin. “Oh, Mommy! Nova and me were the brave and daring adventurers exploring the Everfree Forest! But there were dangerous creatures that wanted to get us, but I sent ‘em away with my magic shield!”

“Hmmm…” Cadence started, eyeing the situation before her. “And cousin Scootaloo and her friends were playing the dangerous creatures?”

"Yup." Apple Bloom affirmed. "She sure got us good."

"I see…" Cadence's expression grew sterner as she looked at her daughter. "Are you three okay? Did she only use the shield?"

"We're fine, Princess." Sweetie Belle stated, to sing to her hooves and approaching the mare. "We just landed pretty hard when we hit the barrier. No harm done."

Cadence sent the Crusader a soft smile, patting her head. "And I'm glad, but Flurry should've known better."

Flurry tensed up at her mother's statement, shrinking into herself. "But the dangerous creatures…"

"I know it seemed like a dangerous situation, but do you remember what I told you about using defensive magic on other ponies?"

The Alicorn filly's head and ears drooped. "Don't do it unless I gotta…"

"Especially if you're just playing." Cadence finished. "Now you apologize to Cousin Scootaloo and her friends."

The little Princess turned to the older fillies, pawing the floor with her hoof. “I’m sorry for using magic when I wasn’t ‘upposta…”

The Crusaders let out a choked-up coo at the tiny pony's display. Sweetie Belle was the first to step forward, pulling her into a hug and stroking her mane. "Of course it's okay! How could we not forgive someone so adorable?"

"You sure?" Flurry wondered, looking up at the white-coated filly.

"Absolutely, Squirt!" Scootaloo confirmed, tussling the little one's mane. “No harm, no foul.”

Cadence’s sternness faded, causing a laugh to come out as she pulled the fillies close. “Why don’t we all start getting ready. The Summer Sun Celebration is starting soon!” She turned with the foals toward the middle of the room, where Twilight pored over plans with Boltsinger, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack.

“Alright, took some doin’, but with help from the family, I got the food taken care of.” Applejack stated, putting a set of papers aside. “Braeburn was more than willin’ ta help out, seein’ as it’s for the Princesses an’ all.”

“Yes, it’s for the Princesses, of course.” Rarity teased, giving the farmer a knowing smile. “Anyway, with Sassy Saddles handling the boutique, I’ll be able to devote my full attention to the decor.”

“And, of course, I’ll be prepping for the Wonderbolts show.” Rainbow added, gesturing proudly to herself. “The ‘Bolts have something pretty awesome planned for everypony.”

“Sounds good to me.” Boltsinger said, taking a closer look at the schedule. “And that means I’ll be able to keep an eye on the foals for the festival.”

“Are you sure you can handle all of them for that long?” Cadence wondered, taking a seat next to her sister-in-law. “I know you’re good with them, but two young Alicorns and the CMC’s? That’s a pretty heavy load.”

“You say that like I’m handling everything by myself.” He replied. He motioned a wing toward the aforementioned Crusaders, giving a confident smirk. “I’ve got the Cutie Mark Crusaders on my side.”

Cadence cast a curious gaze to the fillies. “And you’re sure they can handle things?”

“With a track record like theirs, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.” He assured her, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

Cadence’s gaze shifted between the three little ponies, finding bright eyes and wide smiles staring back at her to the point where she could have sworn she saw halos over their heads. “Well, if you’re that confident…” The girls leaned forward with expectation as the Princess turned to Boltsinger again. “I’m just glad you’re going to be with them. I know how much of a horn-full Flurry can be, especially to those who don’t have a horn for themselves.”

From the other side of the stallion, Twilight let out a laugh. “A horn-full?” She fluttered over the elder Alicorn, scooping Flurry up in her forelegs with an affectionate nuzzle. “How can this little bug be a horn-full?”

Flurry looked forlornly at her aunt. “Little bugs who use magic when they’re not s‘pposta…”

“Oh, I see…” Twilight moved back to the floor, placing the filly on the floor in front of her. “Did the brave and daring adventurers get a little overzealous in their quest?”

The little Princess averted her eyes. “Yeah…”

Twilight laid on her fetlocks in front of Flurry, putting her head at her eye level. “Well, you know, magic is a very useful tool for a brave adventurer. But it's not the best tool in her arsenal.”

All activity in the room ceased for a moment, with all heads turning to look at the bearer of the Element of Magic. “Really?” Rainbow began.

“This comin’ from the pony who created a failsafe spell ta try ‘n solve all our problems all at once?” Applejack continued.

“And gets so excited about teaching me what she knows she turns me into a Unicorn once a month for magic lessons?” Boltsinger concluded.

Twilight gave her comment section a quick roll of the eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. I have a history of going a little magic-crazy.” She refocused her attention on the pink pony before her. “But that makes me the perfect voice of experience."

"So what does an adventurer need?" Flurry wondered, looking pleadingly up at her Aunty Twily.

"All of the best adventurers only need three things to tackle even the scariest obstacles." She explained, holding up three feathers "And those are her courage…" She pointed her other wing at the first feather, eliciting a smirk from Rainbow Dash. "Her integrity…" With another feather highlighted, Applejack gave a tip of her hat. Finally, she moved to indicate the third. "And her wits!" Rarity flipped her mane with a knowing smile. "Those three tools are key for anypony that wants to be a good adventurer!"

"Like Daring Do?" Flurry asked, letting a sparkle of wonder back into her eyes.

"Your daddy's been reading to you, hasn't he?" Twilight guessed, earning an enthusiastic nod from the filly. "Yes, Bug, exactly like Daring Do!" She planted a kiss on the tip of Flurry’s horn, standing up with a splay of her wings. “Okay, then! Next stop, Canterlot!”

“Awesome!” Boltsinger began. He trotted ahead of the group, taking wing and hovering in place for a moment. "I'm gonna go make sure Starlight and Sunburst are all good before we go. Starlight was… not at her best this morning."

Twilight and Cadence winced, their memories of their own experiences lurking forward from the backs of their minds. They each lifted their respective foals onto their backs, talking in tandem with the Crusaders and their sisters. The trip out of the castle was uneventful, but full of conversation, stopping only briefly to allow Twilight to obtain her baby boy's baby bag. Finally, they made it to the train station, where Cadence took a quick glance at the group. “Okay. Is everypony ready?”

“Nnope!” Called a bellowing baritone from above. Boltsinger came to a landing on the platform, trotting in place and looking anxiously back at the castle. “I can only stay for a little bit. There’s been a bit of a change in plans.”

A wave of concern washed over the Crystal Princess, raising one of her eyebrows along with her question. “What kind of change?”

Scootaloo hopped up to the stallion, excitedly buzzing her wings. "Are we going to fly there?"

"Oh, I wish." He said, tussling her mane. "Unfortunately, Starlight is in a crying magical fit right now and Sunburst is…" He breathed a sigh, looking at the other grown ponies. "Well, whatever it is he's come down with has fire coming out of his horn, so I have to cover for him with Starlight."

"Oh, gosh... That sounds awful!" Twilight stated, stepping up to her spouse. "Do you need any help with Sunburst? I can stay behind if you--"

Boltsinger put his hoof over her mouth, shaking his head. "You have a good time at the Summer Sun Celebration. Spike and Big Mac are taking care of Sunburst, so the situation is handled." He sent the purple Princess a smile, receiving one in return as the gap between their muzzles began to close.

“Ahem!” Cadence started, drawing all eyes her way. Her hoof was raised to her muzzle, with a rather uncertain look plastered on her face. "You know, not every situation here is handled." She motioned to the little pony on her back, then over at Nova. "What about this one? We promised we would take them to the festival."

Another throat cleared, sending the Princess’ eyes downward. Before her stood a smirking Scootaloo, who was quickly joined by her best friends. Apple Bloom stepped to the center, swiping a hoof in front of her. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Princess! We’re on it!”

“Oh you are?” The royal retorted, her uncertainty unwavering.

"Of course!" Sweetie Belle answered, raising her hoof. "We babysit for Nova all the time!"

"Yeah! And Flurry loves playing with her 'Cousin Scoot'!" Scootaloo added, motioning to herself.

"But you're all still foals yourself." Cadence stressed, turning her attention to the older ponies. "I'm sorry, but I just don't feel comfortable letting them go around Canterlot without an older pony to watch them."

Boltsinger breathed a preparatory sigh, slapping his muzzle with his wings and approaching his royal in-law. He brought his hooves up, squishing Cadence's cheeks between then and looking her squarely in the eye. "Cadence, look at it this way. Am I known for my confidence?"

Cadence blinked, unaccustomed to this kind of display. "That's not what we're talking abou--"

"Please answer the question." He interrupted, briefly squeezing a little tighter. "Am I known for my confidence?"

"Well… Not really."

Boltsinger brought his head close enough to where the two nearly made contact. "I have every confidence in the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They can do this." He let go of her face, backing up a ways. "And if they can't, I'll clean every bathroom in your castle without help and without complaining for a week."

“A week, huh?” She repeated. She looked down at the fillies Boltsinger had so much faith in, opting to momentarily set her scrutiny aside. “Well, then, consider today a test of your abilities. I’ll leave Flurry Heart in your care while Twilight and I handle things in the castle. But if you need any help at all, you be sure to let one of us know. And if anything at all goes wrong…” She pointed her gaze and her hoof at Boltsinger, squinting with a scowl. “I’m taking you up on your offer.”

Boltsinger slightly recoiled from the stern gaze. “Well, okay then.” He pulled Scootaloo into a hug, giving her a kiss on the forehead before smiling down at her. “I know you girls can do it. But don’t forget to have fun, okay?”

“We won’t let you down!” The winged Crusader assured, returning the hug with a happy buzz of her wings.

The sights! The sounds! The rides! The games! Flurry Heart’s eyes lit up taking it all in as she stepped off of the train platform. She bounded ahead, unsure of which one of the amazing things she wanted to try first. At last, her eyes fell on a big stuffed snail that hung from a stall, sending a smile onto her face and a flap to her wings as she made her way toward it.

“Whoa, there, sugarcube!” Called a notable drawl. Apple Blom jumped forward, clamping her jaw down on the younger filly’s tail. "Don't jus' go runnin' off without us!"

Flurry plopped to the ground, looking back at the yellow-coated Crusader. “But Wammy’s mama is over there! Can we go get it? Can we? Can we? Can we?” She hopped in place, turning around and pointing back at the toy. "Wammy's gotta have her mama!"

“Hmm…” Sweetie started, rubbing her chin as she stepped forward, pushing a stroller full of bags with her magic. "I suppose we could try… It depends on the game." she looked back to the platform, where a pair of orange ponies were making their entrance. "What do you think, Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo lifted her little brother up, going into a hover above the rest of the group, holding her other foreleg over her eyes to get a better look at the stall in question. Holding onto the remaining foreleg, Nova looked out at the festival as well. There were so many things around him! Too many things… Sights, sounds, games, rides… It pounded at his head incessantly, sending his hooves to his temples. His breathing quickened as a small cry reached Scootaloo’s ears. “Hold on a sec.” She said. She put both of her forelegs around Nova, turning him toward her and pulling him into an embrace that obscured his vision while she put her hooves over his ears. “It’s okay, little guy. Sissy’s got ya. Everything’s okay…” She stroked the colt’s mane, landing as carefully as she could. She looked over her little brother’s head at Sweetie Belle, giving her a little smile. “I think we can do something about it. Just gotta keep an eye on the little Prince.”

Apple Bloom let go of Flurry's tail, stepping forward with a hoof pump. "Alright! Let's do it!" She raised her hoof high, met with instant bumps from Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "Let's go get you a Wammy!"

A tapping at her foreleg drew Apple Bloom’s attention back to Flurry Heart, who was looking up at her with her most serious face. “Wammy’s mama.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “Right” She looked forward again, leading the group to the stall. “Wammy’s mama.” She stepped up to the counter, putting some bits up as she peeked over. “We’d like to play, please!”

“Alright, kid. That’s about three games worth.” The proprietor replied, placing three rings on the counter, taking the bits in one swift motion. “Have fun!”

"Wait a sec." She called out, tapping the counter. "What kinda score do we need ta get that big snail?"

"Oh, that one? Just gotta get the highest score you can in one go." The stallion smirked, motioning to a bottle at the very back of the stall. “Best bet’s that one.” He chuckled to himself, placing his payment in a nearby register. “Best of luck.”

“Right!” Apple Bloom picked up the first ring, looking out on several rows of bottles like the one she had been shown. All of them had numbers painted on them, growing in value the further back they were placed. “Just like horseshoes, right?” A smirk creeped onto the farm filly’s face as her vision narrowed. “Easy as a fresh apple pie!” She lowered her hoof, swinging it forward with a practiced grace she’d learned on the farm. The ring sailed from her hoof, moving at a speed that sent it flying over the majority of the targets, bouncing off of the back wall, into a beam in the ceiling, off of the bottle she had aimed for, and finally sailing onto a bottle in the very front row, spinning around the neck before finally coming to rest.

"Just like horseshoes, huh?" Scootaloo teased.

Apple Bloom turned to her friends with lowered ears and a flush on her face. "Well, the horseshoes I'm used to 're a lot heavier than that little thing." She tapped her forehooves together, letting out a nervous laugh. "Guess I don't know my own strength, huh?"

"Maybe strength isn't what you need?" Sweetie Belle suggested, stepping forward. "If I've learned anything from Rarity, it's that these situations call for some finesse! Let me show you." She took the next ring, lifting it with her magic and hanging it from her horn. "You just take your time…" She reared up onto her back legs, waving her head back and forth to start the ring spinning like a loopty hoop around her horn. "Give it a little style, and…" With a flick of her head, the ring flew from her horn, soaring through the air…

Behind her.

The ring fell to the ground, rolling at an angle that sent it to the middle of the walkway. Sweetie Belle rapidly turned around, reaching out for the fallen ring as innumerable hooves unwittingly trampled it into the road. When the dust of the crowd crossing cleared, tiny bits of what was once the ring lay, never to be thrown again. Sweetie Belle looked back to the stall, where the proprietor stared sternly back. “I’m gonna have to dock your score for that one.” He stated, removing the ring that Apple Bloom had thrown. “Sorry.”

The white and yellow Crusaders hung their heads in defeat, turning to Flurry Heart. “Sorry, Flurry.” Apple Bloom said, rubbing her foreleg. “Guess we can’t get Wammy’s mama after all…”

“Don’t we have one more shot, though?” Scootaloo wondered, looking at the one ring still left on the counter.

Sweetie Belle sighed. "Yeah, but we can't possibly make the shot with just one!" She sat down, curling her tail around herself. “Well, what if I…?” She pointed her horn at her hoof.

“Ab-so-lutely not!” Apple Bloom snapped, swiping her hoof. “Usin’ magic in a game like this is just cheatin’, and there ain’t no point in playin’ if yer just gonna cheat!”

“Well then how are we supposed to win it?” The Unicorn stressed.

"Well, who says we have to?" The orange Crusader continued, picking up the ring. "It's just a game. We shouldn’t be afraid to lose!" She held the ring up, looking through it at the ponies with her. “We’ve got one toss left, who wants to give it a try?” Her gaze went from Apple Bloom, who shrugged, then Sweetie Belle, who shook her head vehemently. She turned to the younger foals, where Nova was staring at the ground whilst rocking in place, and little Flurry Heart seemed to rumble with excitement. A smirk graced Scootaloo’s muzzle at the sight, bending down to the tiny Princess’ level. “You wanna give it a go, squirt?”

Flurry’s vibration stopped with a wide-eyed gasp. “Can I? Really?” Her big cousin nodded, pushing the ring toward her. “But…” She hung her head, looking away. “I dunno how to play…”

Apple Bloom perked up, sending a smile toward Sweetie Belle. “So? We can help with that.”

“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle affirmed, stepping up to the filly and putting her hoof around her. “Helping other ponies is what we do, after all.”

Scootaloo pulled Flurry’s foreleg forward, placing the ring in her hoof. “Trust me. By the time we’re done, you’ll be having the time of your life!”

Over the next few minutes, the Cutie Mark Crusaders went into an in-depth lesson on the rules of the game. From Apple Bloom’s horseshoes experience to Sweetie Belle’s ideas for throwing techniques, all while Scootaloo observed the layout, giving the occasional encouraging word. Eventually, Flurry stood on Apple Bloom’s back peeking over with Sweetie Belle propping herself up on the counter for a similar perspective. Scootaloo hovered beside her, with Nova on her back while the long-horned filly zeroed in on her target. “Aim careful…” She muttered to herself, taking as deep a breath as she could manage.

“Take it slow, now.” The golden-eyed Crusader beneath her advised.

“You ready?” Scootaloo asked, bringing herself closer. “You can do this, brave adventurer!”

“Right!” She confirmed. She lowered her hoof carefully, bringing it forward with all of the force a pony her age could manage. “I can do it!”

The ring sailed over the first several rows, seeming to move in slow-motion. Flurry gave her wings a flap, holding her forelegs up as the suspense built. As the ring made its descent, the fillies’ hearts began to race, and their eyes widened with anticipation untill…

DING!

There, on the furthest bottle from the counter with the largest number painted on the side, sat Flurry’s ring. A silence permeated the area as dimples formed, giving way to a cheer. “I DID IT!!!” Flurry cried, raising her hoof triumphantly with the Crusaders quickly following suit. “That means I win, right? I get to get Wammy’s mama?”

The stall’s proprietor let out a boisterous laugh, pounding the counter with his forehoof. “Yeah, little filly, you won. Now which one is this ‘mama’ you wanted?” Rather than reply, Flurry lit her horn, tugging on the stuffed snail toward her. “All right, all right, just gimme a sec.” He undid the binding that kept it in place, letting it fly at the filly, who caught it in a big hug.

“Oh, thank you thank you thank you!!!” She shouted, squeezing the toy.

“It’s nuthin’, sugarcube.” The Earth Pony replied, tussling the tiny Princess’ hair. “But this was all you.” She took a step back, joined by her best friends. “All we did was help out.”

Flurry shook her head, looking up from the plush. “But if you didn’t help, then…”

“Really, it’s no problem!” The Unicorn afformed, pointing her hoof at the image on her flank. “Helping other ponies is what we got our Cutie Marks for, after all.”

“Cutie Marks?” Flury repeated. She moved her new toy to the stroller, stepping up to the older ponies with budding curiosity. “What’s a Cutie Mark?”

The trio exchanged glances for a moment. "Did she just ask what I think she did?" Sweetie Belle started.

"Yeah I think she did!" Apple Bloom continued.

"You know what that means, right?" Scootaloo concluded.

Three grins formed on three muzzles as instinct began to take hold, all Crusaders present taking a deep breath. "WE GET TO TEACH FLURRY ABOUT CUTIE MARKS!!!"

As the echo of their shout faded, Scootaloo leaped forward. “Here, take Nova for a second,” she said, putting her little brother next to his cousin. From there, she took a step back, pointing at her flank. “So Cutie Marks are these pictures we all have on our flanks-”

Apple Bloom stepped in front of her friend, holding up a poignant hoof. “And they tell ya what yer special talent is!”

“But only once you figure it out!” Sweetie Belle added, poking her head up from behind them.

“And how to use it!” the Pegasus pointed out.

“An’ what you wanna do with it!” Apple Bloom stated, looking back at her comrades. “Can’t forget about that.”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded. “Right,” the orange filly affirmed. “But figuring out what it is you wanna do is difficult.”

Sweetie Belle raised her forelegs dramatically. “You could try anything for a really long time and still not get it!”

Apple Bloom moved over to her white-coated companion, lowering her hooves. “‘Cause it’s not just what yer good at.” She let out a chuckle, looking at her own Cutie Mark. “I mean, just look at us! We all like helpin’ other ponies with their Cutie Marks so much that it became our Cutie Marks!”

“So we’re always up for helping ponies in need,” Scootaloo finally finished, lifting Flurry's head to look her in the eye. "Especially ponies like you, little cousin."

Flurry’s eyes seemed to glow at the knowledge she had just gained. “So, Cutie Marks are… pictures of things you wanna be when you grow up?”

Sweetie Belle shrugged and nodded. “Something like that.”

“Well then I wanna be an adventurer!” she declared, hopping into a hover. “A brave and daring adventure just like Daring Do! And I’ll always get the treasure and beat the bad guys because I’ll be the good one!” She landed next to Nova, whipping her head around to get a look at her flank. “Did I get it? Do I have my Cutie Mark?”

Apple Bloom laughed, walking up with a shake of her head. “Nope. But that ain’t quite how it works.” She chanced a momentary glance at her own flank, remembering all the times she’d looked back there only to find solid yellow. “Believe me, I know that better than anypony.” She pulled the Alicorn into a hug, holding her close. “But if you really wanna, we can go practice yer adventurin’ skills around town.”

“By playing games?” Flurry guessed, looking at the older pony with a hopeful light in her eyes.

“As many games as you want, sugarcube!”

Flurry Heart sprang into the air, raising her hoof once more. “YES!” She remained airborne for a moment, looking around the festival. As soon as another stall entered her sights, her hoof pointed forward. “Let’s play that one!”

If there was a game at the Summer Sun Celebration to be played, then Flurry Heart saw that it was played. From the strength test, where Apple Bloom’s bucking experience won the day, to an apple bob that served as a snack for the entire group. They ventured into a hall of mirrors, laughing endlessly at the strange shapes their reflections took. They went on to explore the rides, but found themselves pushed back by a larger pony, indicating their inability to ride. With mild pouts on their faces, they continued on their way.

All the while, Flurry was going full bore, at least three steps ahead of the rest of the ponies. Nova followed behind his sister, keeping the tip of her tail firmly in his mouth. The Crusaders themselves moved at a slog, barely lifting their hooves with each step. They found their way to an empty table, where Sweetie Belle let out a relieved sigh.

"Finally! A place to sit down!" she said, plodding over to the nearest chair. She climbed up onto the seat, resting her head on the table. "I didn't realize festivals could make you so tired…"

"Pretty sure it ain't the festival," Apple Bloom corrected, joining in the Unicorn's slumping.

Scootaloo nodded, adding her own weight to the table. "Now I see why Bolt and Twilight got that coffee maker." She looked down at the young ones in their care, a smile gracing her face as they hopped around one another. "Babysitting may take a lot out of you, but it sure is worth it."

"Yeah…" the remaining Crusaders simultaneously confirmed.

Meanwhile, Flurry Heart's hopping served a purpose. What they had done so far was already great, but she wanted to really test her courage this time. To that end, she searched and searched for more things to do. The games were fun, but they weren't very daring. The attractions were super neat, but they didn't take much bravery either. No, what she wanted was a ride. Something that somepony her size could get onto and go as high as possible!

And that was precisely what she found.

"Oh! Oh! I wanna go on the ferris wheel!" she declared, spinning around to face her cousin. "Cousin, Scoot! Cousin Scoot! Can we go on the ferris wheel next? I just know I'll show my courage if I go on the ferris wheel!"

Scootaloo weakly raised her hoof. “Yeah, we can ride it. Just give us a couple minutes.”

“YES!” The tiny filly cried. She turned to her younger cousin, putting her hooves on his shoulders. “Come on, Nova! We’re gonna go ride the ferris wheel!” Nova let out a delighted squeal at the notion, putting the tip of Flurry’s tail in his mouth to follow behind as she started toward the ride in question. With every step, excitement bubbled up within the second-smallest Alicorn. She was used to flying, yes, but there was always something special about riding something up like that. Her pace quickened a little as she led her little cousin on, turning a blind eye to the growing number of ponies around them.

Nova, however, was growing nervous. The number of strange ponies around them was only growing, adding voices and hoofsteps as they came. He looked around for anything or anyone familiar, but came up short in every direction. With a small whine, the stopped in his tracks, pulling on flurry’s tail for attention.

Flurry stopped in kind, still transfixed by the ferris wheel ahead. “It’s okay, Nova. We’re gonna have a great time! Right Cousin Scoot?” She turned her head back, looking to the ponies she was certain were behind her.

“Cousin Scoot…?”

Except…

“Cousin Scoot!”

They weren’t.

The corners of Flurry’s mouth fell as low as her ears. She pulled her little cousin close, looking around at the enormous number of ponies that surrounded them. Everywhere she looked there were ponies. So many that they began to blur together. And not a single one among them was somepony she recognized.

“Where are you…?”

A yawn came out of each Crusader’s mouth as the trio sat up. They stretched for a moment, taking a deep breath before at last rising from their seats. “Okay! Let’s get going to the ferris wheel!” Scootaloo announced, hopping into the air with a flap of her wings. “Sorry that took so long, Flurry.” She waited a moment for a response, but nopony seemed to call back. Coming to a landing, she looked around, her face growing more concerned with every turn of her head. “Flurry Heart?” She walked back to the other Crusaders, looking over her shoulders. “Either of you seen Flurry?”

“Naw, I thought she was with you.” Apple Bloom stated.

“She isn’t by the stroller.” Sweetie Belle added. "Neither is Nova."

“Weird." The winged Crusader turned to face the empty space behind her, scanning one more time. "I guess that means we lost them."

Silence took hold for a moment, permeating their ears as they reflected on their conclusion. They looked at one another with shrunken pupils and lowered ears, taking a simultaneous deep breath.

“WE LOST THE FOOOOOALS!!!”

“We gotta go find ‘em!” Apple Bloom started, clutching her head with her hooves.

“Duh! But how?!” squeaked Sweetie Belle, raising a questioning hoof.

“Flurry said something about the ferris wheel!” the Pegasus pointed out, rising back into the air. “I’ll check over there."

"Okay. We'll look around here." the Unicorn confirmed, magically pulling the stroller to her. "Maybe they didn't make it too far? They are pretty little, after all."

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, pointing at the ferris wheel in the distance. "Yeah, they're little. Little Alicorns!" She cantered over to the edge of the crowd, taking one last look back to her friends. "I'll go check a little further in. Let's meet back here in ten minutes, okay?"

"Gotcha!"

The crowds of ponies continued on farther than little Flurry Heart had expected. She had been walking for several minutes now, putting her wing around her younger cousin for safety, and hadn’t seen even a hint of the ponies she knew. But the ferris wheel still looked down on them from above, so she was certain she was going the right way. At the same time, Nova looked around cautiously, finding a wall of colors where once there were ponies, and a torrent of sounds flooding his ears. He lowered his head, hiding under the wing that held him.

The wing tightened its grip, drawing the colt's attention up to the smiling face of his cousin. “It’s okay, Nova. I gotcha." She looked ahead once more, eyeing her goal. “‘Cause I’m a brave and daring adventurer, and they always know the way…”

Knowing where she was going, though, didn't stop little ponies from getting hungry. Flurry's stomach began to rumble, answered in kind by the tiny orange Prince next to her. She stopped to take a look around, hoping there was something nearby that could help with the problem, but all she could see was a veritable forest of legs. Blue legs, pink legs, black legs. All legs she didn't recognize. Even the set of gray legs with brown hooves that seemed to be walking in her direction.

When the legs came to a stop, Flurry looked up to see the rest of this pony. His gray fur was fluffier than anything she’d ever seen on a pony before, and his mane matched his hooves in color. He had bright blue eyes over a big, friendly smile, and his Cutie Mark looked to be a bunch of funny shapes all mushed together into one. "Excuse me," he began in a clear Trottingham accent. "Would I be right in guessing that you're Princess Flurry Heart?"

Flurry put her hoof around Nova, stepping back and looking more fully at the stallion. “Yeah, but… Mommy and Daddy say I’m not s’pposta talk with strangers…”

The stallion's smile faltered for but an instant at the statement. "That's, uh... certainly a good practice." He hunched over to look the little Alicorn in the eye. "But you seem a little lost. Would you like some help to find your mum?"

"Mommy's in the castle," she corrected, pointing in the direction she thought the castle was in. "She's helpin' Aunty Twily and the bigger Princesses with the big thing later. We got the Cutie Mark Crusaders taking care of us today." Her ears drooped at the mention of the Crusaders. She looked down, letting a tiny pout onto her face. "I can’t find ‘em, though…”

The stallion cocked his head to the side. “Well then how about we go find them together?”

“But we’re going to the ferris wheel,” she informed him, pointing her free wing at the machine. “I wanted to go on it, and Cousin Scoot said yes. So I’m gonna go there.”

The stallion took a look at the wheel on question, raising a hoof to his muzzle. "I suppose that's a sound plan." He slowly drifted his gaze back... "Are you sure you wouldn't like some help getting--" … finding that the foals were gone. He breathed a heavy sigh, lighting his horn and shooting a magical flare high into the air above him.

The crowd around the ferris wheel was bustling with conversation when Scootaloo landed. She cantered to the ride’s operator, putting her hooves on the console with a look of desperation on her face. "Have you seen a couple little Alicorn foals around here?!"

As soon as the question was uttered, all conversation in the vicinity came to a halt. A pony came up from behind the Pegasus, raising a curious hoof. “You mean the little ones I saw by the food stalls?”

“I saw them by the library!” Another pony added.

“Oh yeah,” yet another pony noted, putting their hoof by their mouth. “I coulda sworn I saw them by the castle gardens!”

“Sounds like they’ve been all over the place!” the ride’s operator commented, looking down at the Crusader. “Unfortunately, here’s the one place we haven’t seen them.”

“Are you sure?” the filly stressed, buzzing her wings into a hover. “Like, really really really sure?”

“Believe me, kid, if I saw a couple tiny Alicorns walking around here, I’d remember.” He assured, pushing her closer to the ground. “Best of luck, though. I’ll let the guards know if I see them.”

A pout made itself evident on Scootaloo’s face, making her annoyance no secret to onlookers. She brought herself back to the ground, letting out a sigh as she touched down. “Thanks. I’ll go check back with my friends.”

The search for the ferris wheel was taking far longer than Flurry would have liked. They had gone to a bunch of places, always following the looming wheel in the distance and the road beneath them. She was having trouble understanding how it was so difficult to find something so big. Ordinarily, she'd have flown straight there, but the little orange colt under her wing made that hard. She pulled her cousin close, moving to the side of the street to look up at the ferris wheel. “Why does Canterlot have to be so windey?” She wondered, bringing her rump to the ground. “Back home there’s a bunch of big streets and lotsa friendly ponies… Here, we just met one pony that wasn’t some kinda scary…” She lowered her head a little, a whine escaping her lips. “I just wanna see Cousin Scoot and Mommy and Aunty Twily and--” Her eyes grew wide. “Wait! That’s it! Aunty Twily!” She looked at her cousin with a smile. “I could do that spell where you just think of a place and then you’re there!” Her horn lit up with excitement, bringing her back to a standing position. She closed her eyes, going through all the places they’d been and where she wanted to go in her head. With a yellow flash, they were by the hall of mirrors. Opening her eyes, she shook her head, vanishing again to appear in the game area. With a furrow of her brow, she concentrated more, finding herself at the entrance to town, followed soon after by the gardens, then the roller coaster, and then the town plaza. She wobbled for a moment, her eyes going into a googly daze until she leaned against a nearby fountain. With panting breaths, she laid down, looking firmly at the cobblestone as Nova toddled up beside her. “Magic… is… hard…” she admitted, looking up at the purple-eyed colt. “Guess I shouldn’t’a done that. Daring adventurers don’t need magic anyways.” She brought her fetlocks forward, resting her head on them. “And little fillies shouldn’t walk away from their big cousins, huh?” Nova simply smiled, moving to sit beside the filly with a light nuzzle against her as he began to watch the crowd.

Sitting around the table once more, the Cutie Mark Crusaders recounted their findings. Sweetie Belle in particular was hunched over a piece of parchment, listing a number of locations. She looked up from her work, downright puzzled. “So you’re saying they’ve been all over Canterlot, except for the one place they wanted to go?”

Scootaloo nodded, falling into a slump on the table. “That’s what it looks like.” Her hooves came to her temples, rubbing them for some semblance of relief. “We really dropped the ball this time…”

Apple Bloom looked tentatively between her two best friends, forming an idea. “Maybe… we should talk to Princess Cadence?”

“NO!!!” the remaining Crusaders shouted, rising to their hooves in defiance.

“Do you have any idea what she would do to us if she found out we lost her daughter?!” Sweetie Belle asked. Before the Earth Pony could open her mouth, the Unicorn’s hoof slammed on the table. “She could throw us in a dungeon!”

Apple Bloom’s eyebrow cocked inquisitively. “Wait, what?”

“Or banish us!” the green-eyed filly continued.

“But--”

“Or throw us in a dungeon wherever she banishes us to!”

“But she said to--”

“We could end up never seeing each other again!”

Apple Bloom scoffed, brushing the statement aside. “Seriously? That’s just silly! Why would she do sumthin’ like that for such a simple mistake?”

“But… She might decide that we’re not good enough to be babysitters,” the Pegasus noted, glancing down at the pendant she wore. “Not to mention, that’s my baby brother out there! And my cousin!” She slammed one hoof into the other, narrowing her eyes. “We have to find them, no matter what the consequences are!" She jumped in top of the table, taking a dynamic pose.

Sweetie Belle let out a cheer, joining her friend on the would-be pedestal. "Yeah! I bet if we split up and search everywhere, we'll find them in no time!"

Apple Bloom shrugged, following suit. "An' we can at least tell some guards what's goin' on. More hooves make everything easier. Just keep yer eyes an’ ears open, girls!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders gave a simultaneous nod, bumping their hooves together dramatically. “LET’S DO IT!”

Rumbling.

That was what her tummy was doing. It was to be expected. She had been running around everywhere, then walking around, and then all of that magic… This petit pony princess was pretty well pooped. And yet another rumbling told her she wasn't alone. “I betcha Apple Bloom’s got sumthin’ we could eat in the stroller, huh?”

Nova’s stomach rumbled in agreement, but his eyes remained fixed on the crowd. There were as many grown-ups around as there were trees in the woods, but he couldn’t find a single face he recognized. Worse still, the colors began to blur together. It was bright, it was noisy, and the little prince's head was starting to object. He backed up to the point where his rump hit the fountain, dropping to the ground with his forehooves on his head as his breathing quickened.

“What’s wrong, Nova?” Flurry wondered. She stood in front of the colt, looking him over. “Did you lose sumfin?” Nova shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. The pink pony tilted her head, raising a curious hoof. “What’s bugging you so bad? You need a bubble?” She closed her eyes in concentration, sending a little light into her horn. “I think I gots a little magic left…” With an audible pop, a field of yellow magic formed a shield around him. "How's that?"

The orange Alicorn tightened his grip on his noggin, lighting his horn with a shrill whine. Another pop sounded, dispersing the bubble. His whine grew into a cry, sending a pang of feedback into the caster, who reeled back to land firmly on her rump..

“Nova! What was that for?” She got back up, giving him her best scowl. The colt winced, as if the filly’s words had hurt more than just his feelings. Her features soon softened as she stepped toward him, raising a hoof. "Sumfin's really gettin' to you, huh?" She pondered for a moment, looking around at the crowd with a nervous whine of her own. “Um… How ‘bout this?” She pulled at the corners of her mouth, letting her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets in the funniest face she could make. She cycled between silly looks, making noises to match until she found herself out of ideas.

And all Nova did in response was start crying.

"Aw come on, Nova! There's gotta be sumfin'! Is it your ears? Cousin Scoot did a thing with your ears this morning!" She reared up, putting her weight entirely on her hind legs as her forehooves reached forward. She pressed down on her cousin’s ears, doing her best to muffle the noise. For a few moments, the crying seemed to die down, but it didn’t last. Flurry began to wobble, having little experience remaining on her hind legs for so long. With a single backwards teeter, the orange ears flicked open again, and an ear-piercing cry rang out through the plaza. All of the ponies in the vicinity stopped in their tracks, covering their ears as they winced in pain as the littlest princess regained her balance. “I can do this… I’m a brave adventurer…” she told herself, closing her eyes in an attempt to focus. “Come on, Nova… Don’t cry…” Her hind legs started to wobble, giving out under her weight as beads of water formed at the corners of her eyes. “I gotta help you... ‘cause I’m…” She wiped her nose with her hoof, letting out a sniffle. “I’m…” Nova fell completely to the ground, flailing his legs and flaring his wings as his cries only got louder. With her wings falling limp, Flurry Heart’s breathing began staggering. She arched her head back with one deep inhale, finally letting the dam behind her eyes break.

“I’M NOT A BRAVE ADVENTURER!!!” She screamed, falling over in her sobs. “I’m a little filly and I’m scared and I want my mommy and my daddy and Aunty Twily and Cousin Scoo-hoo-hoo-hoot!” She buried her face in her forelegs, her words turning incoherent as she continued.

And as the filly cried, an orange ear twitched. The noise all around them had started to fade, and a sense of calm took hold in the smallest pony in Canterlot. Nova snorted up what had built up in his nose, opening his eyes to find his cousin in a state he’d never seen her before. He toddled up to her, letting out a small coo as his hoof reached her mane. He nudged her a few times, sounding off a little more as she lifted her head to see him. Before she could even open her mouth in response, his tiny forelegs wrapped around her, giving her the biggest hug he could manage. Flurry simply smiled, leaning into the embrace as she snorted up one last sniffle.

"There you are!" cried the most familiar rasp they knew. The foals looked up from their hug to see Scootaloo coming in for a landing beside them.

With eyes both glistening and wide, Flurry dove into the Crusader. "Cousin Scoot!" Her tears flowed forth anew as she put her hooves around her, finding a measure of solace in the big pony's chest. "I was so scared! There were lotsa ponies I didn't know and Nova was crying and I didn't know what to do 'cause I'm not brave like Daring Do…”

“Oh, come on, squirt, even Daring Do gets scared when she’s in danger!” Scootaloo assured, patting the princess’ head.

“Nu-uh. Daring Do doesn’t get scared o’ anything!”

“She does when somepony she cares about is in trouble.” She put her hooves around the pink pony. “I know we were scared. I was about ready to give up hope!” She reached for the orange Alicorn, adding him to the embrace and nuzzling him affectionately. “Until I heard you, little prince!” She pulled them both closer, squeezing as tight as she could. “I’m so glad you’re both safe!”

The embrace continued for another few moments, until a rumble sounded from below. Flurry Heart looked up at her big cousin, the pleading in her eyes more evident than ever.. “Cousin Scoot, I’m hungry...”

“You. Lost. My. Daughter.” Cadence stated, looking sternly at the Crusaders. Night had long since fallen, and the day at the festival had come to a close. The Cutie Mark Crusaders now sat behind the stage upon which the four Alicorn princesses were to perform the ritual raising of the sun. Before them stood Princess Cadence, with her wings flared and wearing a scowl so fierce that it looked almost unnatural on her.

And the Crusaders could do naught but sweat. Scootaloo tugged on her pendant, smiling like she had everything to hide. “So… you heard about that, huh?”

Cadence narrowed her eyes. “All of Canterlot heard about it! Or didn’t you know that the guards were searching all over the place?!" She pointed to a pair of armored ponies nearby who nodded in agreement. The Crystal Princess breathed a heavy sigh, letting her features soften. “I explicitly told you to tell me if anything happened. Anything at all.”

“That’s what I said!” Apple Bloom pointed out, raising her hoof. Two pair of eyes immediately fell on the Apple sibling, forcing the filly to flinch. "Well I did."

"And why didn't you?" Cadence inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Beads of sweat rolled down Sweetie Belle's face. Her sister's anger was something she'd dealt with before. All of them, in fact. But the ire of a princess was something new and terrifying. "Well, it was because… because…"

"Because we were afraid!" Scootaloo interjected, jumping to all fours. "Afraid of what you would do, and afraid of what was gonna happen to Flurry and Nova if we didn't find them…"

“I see…” The royal’s wings returned to her sides, but at the same time, her stern features made a return. “I’m glad you were determined to fix your mistake, but I don’t think you’re ready to watch my daughter.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders simultaneously cringed at the Crystal Princess’ decision, lowering their heads in shame. “We understand…”

“Maybe when you’re older, have more experience, we can try again.” she suggested, kneeling down to the fillies’ level. “What do you think?” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo remained silent, turning away as they stood up and filed out of the room. Cadence stood up, letting loose another sigh as she watched the girls go. She turned her thoughts to the most important girl in her world, unconsciously making her way to the room where she was tucked in. The room was quiet and mostly dark, save for a soft light at the side of the room, and in a bed in the corner lay little Flurry and her even smaller cousin, snug and comfortable after the eventful day. She sat beside the bed with a small smile, gently caressing her filly’s face.

“Mmmm…” Flurry started, stirring from the contact. Her eyes opened slightly, looking up at her mother’s smiling face. “Mommy…?”

“Go back to sleep, sweet Heart.” Cadence advised. “I talked to Cousin Scoot and her friends, and what happened today isn’t gonna happen again.”

Flurry slowly shook her head, putting her hoof on her mommy’s. “Please don’t punish the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Mommy… It was my fault we got lost…”

“No, honey, it wasn’t you--”

“But it was, Mommy! It was!” The little one stressed, sitting up and clutching the large foreleg. “I got excited and we just kept going and going and going and I couldn’t hear Cousin Scoot when she told us to come back!” She fell back to her pillow with a stream of tears rolling down her cheeks. “And the Cutie Mark Crusaders were so ascared of what might happen to us and they didn’t have any fun for the whole rest of the day ‘causea me…”

Cadence’s heart sank at the confession. She thought on what she had said to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and more importantly, how she had felt at the time. “Oh, Flurry…” She bent down, kissing her favorite filly on the forehead. “I’m proud of you. It takes a very brave adventurer to admit when they did something wrong.”

“So you’re not gonna punish the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” the petit princess pleaded.

“No, honey.” she assured, putting her hoof on the tiny cheek. “In fact, I’m going to go talk to them one more time.” She kissed the little Alicorn’s forehead one more time, giving her a smile filled with a mother’s pride. “Now go back to sleep, my brave little adventurer. You’ve earned it.”

Behind a crowd that spanned most of Canterlot sat three dejected fillies. The stage had been set with the traditional decorations, and three Alicorns stood upon it, ready to perform their annual duty. One princess, however, had been the sole occupant of the fillies’ minds in these twilight hours.

Apple Bloom rested her head on her hooves, sending a forlorn look to the stage. “I guess it was fun while it lasted, huh girls?”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle mirrored the Earth Pony’s gesture, breathing twin sighs. “Yeah…”

The Pegasus looked down, lifting her pendant to get a good look at it. “I just wish I knew how to make it up to Princess Cadence…”

“How about babysitting for Flurry next Tuesday?” came a question from behind.

“Uh, how would that work?” Sweetie Belle answered, shrugging her shoulders. “We were just told we couldn’t take care of Flurry!” She turned to the source of the voice... “It’s not like we can just waltz in without permission from the…” finding Cadence smiling back at her. “... Princess?!”

The rest of the Crusaders jumped in place, turning to confirm what their friend had started. Cadence giggled, waving a hoof to the fillies. “Hello, girls.”

“Uh… hey.” Scootaloo said, nervously waving back. “What’s that about babysitting next Tuesday?”

“I mean that I’d like you three to come babysit next Tuesday.” Cadence confirmed, making a slow, tentative approach.

Apple Bloom let out a snort, stomping forward to meet the Alicorn. “But you just said we weren’t ready to take care o’ little Flurry Heart! What’s so diff’rent now?”

The Crystal Princess sheepishly averted her eyes, rubbing a foreleg with her hoof. “A little pony I know told me something about how it all happened, and that put things into perspective for me.” She looked forward again, meeting the gazes of all three of the ponies. “And sometimes I can be a little overprotective where Flurry is concerned.

Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow. “A little?”

“More like a lot overprotective!” Scootaloo added, flaring her wings. “Like a rampaging tank!”

Sweetie Belle put a hoof on the orange filly’s shoulder. “But I guess we can’t really blame you. She is your daughter after all.”

“Yes, but that’s no excuse.” Cadence admitted. “Especially considering that you’re not the first ponies to lose track of Flurry at a big festival.” She walked past the Crusaders, sitting between the yellow and white-coated ones to look out at the stage. “And even besides that, it was unfair of me to think of you as incapable. Especially with how much Flurry likes you three.” She leaned forward to rest on her fetlocks, smiling at the sky as it turned orange with her aunt’s magic. “So I’d like to keep trying, if you don’t mind.” She sent them one last warm smile. “What do you say? For Flurry Heart?”

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all let out a loud cheer. “FOR FLURRY HEART!” they bumpdd their hooves together, with Cadence adding her hoof to the mix.

Author's Note

I was wondering how to explain the delay, but then I saw the word count. Scootaloo always seems to do that to me. Lots of words and a pretty long time before release. There have been a myriad of things in my life that have served as distractions. I'm honestly tired in more ways than most people can comprehend. But that hasn't stopped me! But I digress.
This is a chapter I'd been wanting to do for a long time, but I didn't know where to place it. It's also the deepest I've gone into Flurry's budding personality. All I can say is that I sincerely hope I did the characters justice. And that the next chapter is already in the works!
I hope you enjoy it!

What You Deserve

"GIRLS!" Rarity shouted, bursting through the door to Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight and Starlight sat with Nova and the Cake Twins, while Pinkie stood behind the counter. Fluttershy sat with Applejack and Rainbow Dash over a deck of cards. All eyes turned from their activities to meet those of Ponyville's featured fashionista, whose grin was so wide she seemed to grow extra dimples. “You are not going to believe who is getting married, and asked me to plan the ceremony!”

Twilight tilted her head. “Umm… Hoity Toity and Photo Finish?” Rarity shook her head.

“Spitfire and Fleetfoot?” Rainbow guessed, likewise earning a head shake.

Applejack smirked, nudging the Wonderbolt next to her. “Rainbow Dash an’ herself?” Rainbow sent a glare back to the farmer, but quickly gave way to a mutual laugh with the rest of the ponies.

Starlight pondered for a moment, then raised her hoof in realization. “What about Double Diamond and Party Favor?”

“Not quite, but you’re getting warmer.” Rarity answered, hiding a giggle behind her hoof.

Fluttershy reached under the table, holding a bluish-white bunny and a raccoon in her forelegs. “What about my little friends here?” The animals looked lovingly at each other, the raccoon reaching forward to hold the bunny’s paw.

The coutourier cooed at the furry creatures, walking over and petting them both. “Sadly, no. Though I would be happy to if you’d like!”

“Ooh! Ooh! Me next!” Pinkie began, hopping over the counter. “Is it… Gummy and Harry? Zephyr Breeze and Bulk Biceps? Flim and Flam? Cranky and Matilda!”

“Pinkie, Cranky and Matilda got married years ago” Applejack corrected.

“Yeah, but we didn’t get to go!” She crossed her forelegs in a huff. “I hate missing a good party.”

"No, it's not any of them! Any more guesses?" Rarity looked around the room, finding that it had fallen silent. "Iiiiiit's…" She sprang up to her hind legs, spreading her forelegs as wide as possible. "Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon!"

There was a full measure of silence, leaving Rarity to wonder what exactly was going on in her friends’ heads. Her smile faltered a little, her hooves returning to the floor until-- “FINALLY!!!” the simultaneous reply sent Rarity reeling.

The bell to Carousel Boutique rang true, alerting the occupants of a new arrival. Rarity cantered to the door, extending a hoof to meet the fanciful blue one that had just entered. “Fancy Pants! How delightful of you to come!”

“It’s my pleasure, dear.” the noble stallion replied, planting a kiss on his special somepony’s cheek. “Now, what’s the cause of this celebration you mentioned in your letter?”

“Oh yes, of course. We were actually just talking about it.” She led him through to the back of the shop, where Pinkie Pie and the Cakes were discussing with a pair of mares. One was a Unicorn with a mint coat, she had a cyan mane and tail that had white streaks running down either side, with sunglow eyes and a Cutie Mark of a lyre. The other was a beige-coated Earth Pony with blue eyes and a swirly mane and tail of pigment blue and rose pink, bearing a Cutie Mark of three wrapped candies of blue and white. The mares looked at another lovingly, each bearing a brilliant diamond ring hanging from their necks. Rarity stepped up to the duo, putting a foreleg around each of them. “Fancy Pants, meet our brides, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon!”

“Ah yes. Lovely to meet you both.” He said, taking a bow for the ladies. “And of course, I congratulate you on your coming union!” He flashed a charming smile to the lot of them, magically adjusting his monocle. “If there’s anything you require, all you need do is say so and I’ll see to it that you receive it. My vast resources are at your unfettered disposal!”

“Oh?” The proprietress started, getting a tiny twinkle in her eye. “Well I wouldn’t want to impose, darling.” She brought a contemplative hoof to her muzzle. “Unless…” She shook her head, brushing the thought away. “No, it would simply be too much!”

“Wait a minute.” the mint pony, Lyra, interjected. She turned to the blue-maned stallion, raising a curious hoof. “How vast are we talking about?”

Bon Bon placed a hoof in the raised one, drawing the mare’s attention. “Who cares about all that?” She entwined their forelegs, looking into her fiance's eyes. "All that matters is that you and I will be together. It's not the wedding, but the marriage that matters."

Fancy Pants chuckled to himself, fixing his gaze on the white mare behind them. “The marriage, indeed…”

“LAAAAACE!” Rarity called out, her voice ringing through the boutique. “I need lace now!”

“I got it!” a songbird soprano replied. In a blue and pink streak, Silverstream shot through the halls.

"Could I get some more white thread in here? I'm running out!" she continued, answered immediately by a light blue Changeling with a spool of thread in her mouth rushing by. "Oh no no no not that white, I meant the pure white!"

“Wait, there’s a difference?” Sandbar wondered, exchanging confused looks with Gallus as they walked leisurely behind Ocellus.

Fancy Pants’ ears pinned back on his head as he observed the six students moving back and forth from the supply room to Rarity’s work room. He approached the mare as she sewed the lace on an unfinished gown. “So… why are these children here?”

Rarity looked up from her project, giving him a content smile. "Oh, they all came to Ponyville to see each other during the summer, and Yona was interested in seeing what we were doing. I thought it might be a good lesson to have them experience it for themselves, so I asked them if they'd like to help with the preparations!" She leaned in a little closer, hiding her muzzle behind her hoof. "Not only that, but I needed some extra hooves around here anyway."

Fancy Pants placed his monocle in his jacket, cocking an eyebrow at the children. “You do realize I could have had a team of trained professionals here in but an instant, yes?”

“Yes, I know. But just look at them.” She extended her hoof to show the work room abuzz with activity. Ocellus and Silverstream were looking at all of the designs around the room in awe, while Yona carefully examined the sewing machine. Smolder leaned against the wall next to a rack of dresses, her arms crossed as she looked at the garment next to her with a scowl that almost seemed insincere. Gallus tentatively approached the girls, twitching his tail with curiosity while Sandbar sat next to the Yak, easily striking up a conversation about the nature of the device. “They’re enjoying themselves. And besides, it’s much more enjoyable to do this kind of work with friends.”

“I suppose you’re correct.” He put his monocle back on, turning toward the exit. “I believe I’m going to explore a bit. It’s not often that I visit Ponyville, so I’d best take advantage of the fact.”

“All right, then.” She pulled him back in for a moment, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Have a nice time, and do tell me if you come up with any ideas while you’re out.”

As the stallion left the room, much of the group followed, each going their own way. Smolder followed all the way to the door, but gave a moment of pause. She looked back to the outfits, getting a twinkle in her eye that sent her rushing back to examine them. “Finally! Took them forever to get out!” She took the nearest pink gown, laughing like a whelp in a gem cave. She looked closely at the intricacies of the stitching, playing with the ruffles in the skirt as she attempted to figure out how to put it on. Finally, she managed to get the dress over her head, reaching her arms in when--

“Why there no brown dresses?” Yona chimed in, sending the dragon shooting to the ceiling with one flap of her startled wings. “Yona like brown.”

Moving through the main thoroughfare of Ponyville was a new experience for Fancy Pants. For such a small town, it was remarkably busy, full of ponies from all walks of life. He had to admit that he wasn’t used to looking at a crowd and seeing more ponies without horns than those that had them. Then again, he had come to expect anything from his lovely Rarity and her friends, so the town they hail from had to equal their diversity. He retrieved a small box from his coat pocket, smiling softly at the idea that once again crossed his mind.

“Hey, Fancy Pants!” came a boyish tone ahead of him. "Whatcha got there?"

Fancy Pants jumped, fumbling with the box as Spike, Boltsinger, and Cheese Sandwich made their approach. The box fell from the noble's reach, popping open to reveal a lustrous diamond ring that created a brilliant rainbow in the light. Before his horn could ignite, Cheese scooped the box up for a closer look. "Ooh! What's this for?"

Boltsinger rolled his eyes, snatching it with his wing. "I think you mean 'who' is this for." He closed the lid, presenting it to its owner. "And I think I have an idea."

"Wait what?" Spike started. He reached over, taking the box with a curious panic. "You don't mean he's gonna--"

"Eeyup," the Pegasus confirmed, turning to the Canterlot pony. "That is, if I'm not mistaken." He raised a hoof in intrigue, giving him a sly grin. "You do plan to try again, don't you?"

"I do, indeed!" Fancy Pants replied, finally floating the box back to his side. "I've decided that I want to give my Rarity everything she could ever need! And it all starts with this little bauble." He opened the box once more, admiring the jewel inside. "She'll want for nothing, else I'll eat the Cutie Mark right off my flank!"

Spike let out a sigh, coming to a hover next to him. “Tell me about it.”

Boltsinger put a wing on Fancy Pants’ shoulder, moving past the Unicorn. “Well, I guess we’ll see you soon, then.”

“Of course.” He continued on his way, putting the box back into his pocket. “I trust you’ll refrain from telling anypony of this, yes?”

“You can count on me.” Spike affirmed.

“We’ll just say this conversation never happened!” Cheese added.

Boltsinger nodded in his agreement. "Of course. The last thing I'd wanna do is tell the whole town about something like this."

"Says the pony who got the whole town in on a scavenger hunt for his proposal to Twilight." the dragon deadpanned.

Boltsinger forced down a lump in his throat. “Well, I mean… My thing was totally different! I told everyone but Twilight!” He was met with a glare from the reptile, sending a bead of sweat down his muzzle. “What?! I’m loud, not stupid.”

A silence blew its way between them, broken with a small, nearly inaudible sigh as Fancy Pants wiped his monocle. “Quite…” He replaced the lens with a grin, moving to a trot past them. “Very well, then. I shall see you at the boutique.” He gave a farewell wave, turning his thoughts to his future plans. This was going to be a momentous occasion, for sure. All he needed to do was see that it was--

Done.

All of the work that was thought to be in progress was done the moment Fancy Pants came back through the door. Lyra stood in front of a mirror, wearing a simple yet elegant white gown with lace along the hem of the skirt and a pattern of a golden lyre releasing notes all around until they joined on her back, with a circlet in the shape of a harp holding her veil in place. She held her golden-shoed hoof over her heart, looking back to the designer that brought such a creation into the world. “Rarity I LOVE it!”

Rarity beamed with pride, joining the bride-to-be in front of the mirror. "I just knew you would, dear." She lit her horn, beginning to help the minty Unicorn out of the outfit. "Why I've had this particular ensemble on the back-burner for years, just for when your big day was to come!" Placing the dress in a garment bag, she floated it over to its recipient, coming forward to an embrace. "I can't say enough just how happy I am to finally make it for you!"

“Thank you, Rarity.” Lyra started, pulling away. "I'm gonna go check on Bon Bon. She said she was gonna do some taste testing over at Sugar Cube Corner!" And with that, she went galloping out the door, leaving a waving Rarity and a befuddled Fancy Pants alone in the inspiration room.

“I must say, the speed of your work never ceases to amaze.” Fancy Pants declared, joining her by the mirror.

"Oh, it's not all that amazing." she dismissed, brushing the compliment away with her hoof.

"Balderdash!" he insisted, catching her hoof in his. "I simply must know how you do it!"

Rarity giggled, lighting her horn to put the next design into place. “It’s really not so difficult when you do it with friends.” She floated a roll of fabric over, taking a pair of scissors and beginning anew.

The stallion smirked, taking a seat at her side. “If you say so. But I must still insist that you let me know the moment you need something.”

“I certainly will, darling.” She gave him a peck on the cheek, returning to her project. “I sent Spike and Boltsinger to the town hall to help manage decorations if you’d like to help them.”

“Well, I can certainly do that, but I wanted to see what services that only I could provide."

“Oh? Like what?”

“Well… Who do you have to preside over the ceremony?”

Rarity tilted her head curiously. “Twilight, of course.” she stated, as if the choice was obvious.

“A... Princess? For two ordinary citizens?” He mirrored the mare’s tilt, having found the reasoning for such an important pony to perform such a task. “Surely I could find you somepony a bit more… suited to the task, yes?”

A laugh made its way past the fashionista’s lips for a moment, nearly fumbling her scissors. She cleared her throat, straightening her posture. "It was Twilight's idea, actually. She and Lyra have been friends for years, and when she was approached about being one of the bridesmaids, she offered a more royal service instead." She let another giggle out. "Why, they were so excited at the prospect that they nearly squished poor Twilight in their embrace!” She looked to him with a brilliant smile. “Of course, Twilight has been exceedingly nervous about the whole thing. She’s in Canterlot right now, asking Princess Celestia for advice.”

A simper graced the stallion’s face amidst Rarity’s ramblings. He’d half a mind to suggest more ideas, but he dare not falter her smile. He searched his mind for something to add to the conversation, opting to look around the room. His eyes fell on a single photograph by the sewing machine, depicting a gathering they had enjoyed in Manehattan at the invitation of a friend. “Now that I think of it, there was one friend I’ve not seen yet.”

“There is?” She replied, taking a momentary pause to look at the photo as well. “I was certain everypony was here. Who’s missing?”

Fancy Pants pointed to the brown stallion in the photo. “Why, Paradigm, of course. I would think that you wouldn’t do something on this scale without his input.”

As the missing pony’s name passed her ears, the fashionista felt a twinge of guilt that doused the magic in her horn. “Ah, yes…” A soft sigh came out, softening her smile as her eyelids began to droop. “Truth be told, it’s been…” She looked away from both the stallion and the picture, rubbing one foreleg with the other. “... some time… since anypony has seen him…”

"I see…" He put his monocle away, looking at the mare with remorseful eyes. He reached a tentative hoof toward her, pausing just before making contact. "I didn't mean to--"

With an audible 'click', Rarity turned the photo over, blocking the memory from view as she brightened up. "But that doesn't matter anymore! I'd much rather focus on the ponies who are here!" In one fluid flick, her horn was again alight and her work resuming, leaving a surprised, yet soft smile on her boyfriend's face.

"Yes, of course." He took a bow, moving to the exit. "I'll be going to help Prince Boltsinger, then."

The next few days of preparation felt like a blur to a pony like Fancy Pants. Everywhere he turned, there were ponies with a job to do, and every one of them turned down his offer to help. Knowing Ponyville, of course, they didn’t mean anything by it, and it was becoming evident that the ponies of this town simply did things in their own way. However, that didn’t stop his mood from souring through it all.

Until his eyes fell upon Rarity, at least.

She was a marvel to behold, always making certain everypony was where they needed to be. Why, had he not known better, he would have assumed she was Princess Twilight in disguise. But at the same time, he could see a longing in his beloved’s eyes whenever she looked upon the betrothed, furthering the resolve to provide he held so fast to.

Finally, there came the day of the ceremony. The whole of Ponyville looked like it had been given new life at the prospect of the coming union. Admittedly, Fancy Pants couldn’t blame them. The enthusiasm his special somepony showed was rather infectious. The population gathered before the town hall in droves, all dressed to the nines and chatting amongst themselves. Until finally, Rarity stepped through the door in a deep, sparkling blue gown that draped over a single shoulder and flowed like water over her tail.”Everypony, if you’ll all follow me, the ceremony is about to begin!” She took a bow, magically opening the door behind her and leading them in.

Passing through the threshold, the town hall seemed like an entirely different world. The decor filled the room with gold ribbons, with pink and blue flowers found at the center of every bow. A band played at the far corner of the room, Octavia leading the way with a violin and harp playing along. Spike stood before the aisle in a simple black suit, bowing gracefully as the first pony approached. "Thank you for coming, ma'am. Are you with the bride or… uh… The other bride, I guess?"

The pony laughed behind her hoof. "I'm here for Lyra."

"Right." He scratched the back of his head, pointing to the section on the left side of the room. Lyra's side is over there."

Fancy Pants let out a chuckle as he passed the young dragon. He certainly wasn't the kind of usher he would have hired, but he got the job done. Next to him, Big McIntosh guided another pair of ponies to their seats. The chairs about the room gradually filled to the sound of strings, giving a sense of calm and setting the mood for the events to follow. It was calm. It was serene. It was…

Bumping?

A fast, steady beat grew louder outside, eventually bursting through the door to reveal an enormous set of speakers on a wheeled apparatus beneath and a set of turntables between them. Spinning the records and propelling the strange device was none other than DJ PON-3, racing down the aisle to a skidding stop next to Octavia. With a great thud, the room remained silent for a moment as the cellist smirked up at her musical partner. “It’s about time you got here. What took you so long?” The headphoned Unicorn smirked right back, shrugging nonchalantly as she produced a new record. “I take it you’re ready, then?” The duo readied their respective instruments, looking back to the other performers. “All right, then, just follow us!”

From there, Fancy Pants’ ears fell back, trying to make sense of what he was listening to. Octavia’s music was something he was accustomed to, but this new addition was almost grating on his eardrums. He wondered why he hadn’t been consulted about this aspect, but as he took a seat and looked around, the other ponies had almost no reaction to the sudden change.

“Isn’t it just lovely?” Rarity asked, sitting next to him. “I can hardly believe it's all coming together so nicely.”

"Yes… Quite lovely indeed." He answered, putting his hoof around her.

Rarity put a hoof on the one holding her, slowly rubbing back and forth. But something felt mildly off. Normally at this point he would tighten the embrace, but this time he felt almost limp. She cast her gaze in his direction tilting one ear as she looked him in the eye. "Darling, you seem distracted. Is something the matter?"

“Oh, it’s nothing.” he dismissed, breathing a small sigh. “I’m simply astounded by all you can accomplish on your own.”

“Ohoho, darling, I hardly did any of this by myself.” she stated, directing her attention to the entrance. “I’d never have been able to do it without my friends.”

“No, I’m certain you’d be able to do this with or without them.” He tightened his embrace, following her gaze with a soft smile. “It’s part of your charm.”

An amused giggle came from the couturier, who proceeded to stifle herself as a lilac leg came in in a golden shoe. Following that came the full glory of Princess Twilight Sparkle, garbed in golden regalia with her pendant set in the necklace over her heart. She marched with wings spread next to her spouse, who sported a simple black tuxedo. Despite her regal gait, her pupils were pinpricks, her smile was stiff, and she floated a large stack of notecards that she quickly flipped between. “I can do this… I can do this… I can do this!”

“You can do this, honey.” Boltsinger repeated, patting her back with his wing. “But I think the notes are still a good idea. And if you need anything, I’m right here with you.”

“Right.” Twilight affirmed, placing her hoof on the orange feathers. “Thank you.”

With a mutual smile, the pair took their places at the head of the room. The music began to fade, letting a quiet wash over them. All eyes fell to the room’s entrance once more, where a quartet of stallions in suave suits entered, linking forelegs with Minuet, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Moon Dancer respectively, all of the mares in similar dresses of brilliant gold. As they took their places on either side of the altar, another pony caught their attention. There marched Bon Bon, dressed much like the stallions on her side of the procession, her mane and tail treated to have a distinct wave rather than its typical swirl. She took her place next to Twilight, looking down the aisle with a soft but shaky smile.

At last, the silence broke. Octavia’s bow ran across the strings once more, beginning a tune that all in the town knew by heart. From the doorway emerged Lyra Heartstrings in her wedding gown, her mane coiffed and styled so that it flowed like water. She stepped up beside her would-be wife, her minty coat taking on shades more akin to cinnamon at the mere sight of the one she loved.

As the music came to a halt, Twilight took her place by them, taking a deep breath as her notecards floated into position. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of…" She looked over the cards, moving to the second one. "... of Lyra Heartstrings and Bon Bon, who have proven to all of us that love…" She switched to the next card. "... speak now or forever-- Wait a minute…" She looked more closely at the notes. "Bolt, are you sure these are organized properly?"

Boltsinger shrugged, taking a peek over the princess' shoulder. "I just followed the page numbers Starlight gave me. She said it was all there."

"Did you take into account that her horn-writing might be a little sloppy?"

"Um… Not really, why?"

Twilight let out an annoyed groan, spreading the cards out and pushing then closer to her spouse. "Because this is anything but organized!"

Boltsinger scanned the cards, finding what looked like a mishmash of numbers all over. "Speak now or forever…" he started, moving to the next page. "You may now…" Then the next page. "Now pronounce you…" Then the next. "Say vows… Oh, wow…" He moved the cards aside, rubbing his neck with his wing. "So… I guess I should probably note that Starlight's writing doesn't look too different from mine, huh?" Twilight rolled her eyes. "Aaaaaaaand I may have dropped the stack once or twice on the way…" He bent down low, putting his hooves together above his head. "I'm sorry!"

With a smiling sigh, she put the notecards aside, turning to face the guests once more. “Oh well. We don’t need notes.” She put her hoof over her heart, giving a long exhale as her hoof reached forward. “Thank you for your patience, everyone. We’re ready to continue.” She held her hoof out, beckoning the brides forward to join hooves with her. “You two have waited many years to come together like this. Even if most of the big steps happened while most ponies weren't looking.” A shared laugh from the crowd momentarily interrupted the presiding princess. As the ambiance returned, she smiled and focused on the mares once more. “And while I may have plenty to say, I think it’s you who have the most important things to say about all of this. So without further ado, you may now share your vows.”

“Well-” They simultaneously began, stepping back with a blush.

“You first.” Lyra stated, putting a hoof on her opposite’s shoulder. “I always did love the sound of your voice.”

Bon Bon’s blush deepened. “All right.” She put her hoof over her heart, taking a deep breath of preparation. “Lyra, you’ve been my best friend for… well, longer than most ponies have even known I exist.” She looked out at the crowd, smiling warmly. At the gaze, Fancy Pants began shuffling in his seat, turning his attention to the mare next to him as the words continued. “You’ve always been independent, kind, and more than willing to call me out on my mistakes.” The words rang true in the noble’s ears. The gorgeous pony next to him had always been the definition of each of those words. Especially that first one. “You captured my attention when I was trying to lay low. You made me come out into the open, just by being your pure, unabashed self!” The stallion removed his monocle, finding it to have gotten foggy amidst the vows. “When you looked at me that day and said you loved me, I… I just couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss you, right then and there! And now... I can’t wait to spend my life with you!”

“I know the feeling.” Lyra replied, linking her foreleg with Bon Bon’s. “More than anypony will ever know.” She averted her eyes a moment. “Every time I learned something new about you, it was… honestly a bit of a surprise.” Once again, the tone of truth found its way into Fancy Pants’ mind. This mare he cared for was indeed a surprising one. “But that’s part of what makes you so much fun! I get to get to know you better with every day I spend with you, so it goes without saying that I wanna do that forever!”

The final word of Lyra’s vows rang like a bell in Fancy Pants’ mind. Forever was an awfully long time, and he was willing to put forth the effort to make it happen. Although he had begun to wonder whether or not there would even be anything to do, given what he had seen these past days. He sent his special somepony a forlorn glance, getting up from his seat.

As his hooves touched the floor, however, a hoof made contact with his side. He looked back to see Rarity‘s foreleg extended with a look of concern on her face. “Darling, where are you going?”

“Just going to get some air, dear. Nothing to worry about.” He flashed a smile back to her, putting his hoof on hers for a moment. “I promise.” He stepped away with a smile that faded as he left her field of view.

Exiting the room, he brought the ring box out, admiring the luster the jewels showed in the moonlight. His every thought was on the mare that was the entire reason he had come to town. Now he found himself wondering…

“What’re you doing out here?” Spike asked, stepping up behind the noble. “Aren’t you supposed to, you know, be with Rarity for the ceremony?”

“Yes, I suppose so.” He answered, closing the box. “But she’s doing quite well without me, isn’t she?”

A narrow squint and a raised eyebrow appeared on the dragon’s face. “What do you mean by that? You helped out a lot these past few days!"

“Have I really, though?” Fancy Pants retorted, letting his face fall flat. “I’ve done chores, I’ve fetched things, and I’ve modeled outfits. All things anypony here in Ponyville could do.”

“And… that’s a problem?”

“Well, it isn’t. What I mean is--”

“Didn’t you want to make sure that she wants for nothing?”

“But I didn’t do what I wanted for her!” the Unicorn snapped, forcing the usher to step back. “I wanted to do what only I could. To provide for her so that she would never have to lift a hoof to get her work done!”

Spike gave the ivory stallion a look of disbelief, putting his fists on his hips. "Well that doesn't sound like Rarity at all. She loves to do all that detail work!”

“A fact I’ve become painfully aware of as of late.” Fancy Pants lamented, averting his gaze with a pout on his lips.

Spike gave a flap of his wings, moving to a hover beside the Unicorn. “So you don’t get to be much of a provider. That’s okay! You can still support her in lots of other ways.” He gestured to the ceremony inside, where Lyra and Bon Bon drew closer with a pair of rings floating beside them. “Just look at what she was able to do with your help this time!”

Fancy Pants shook his head, turning away. “That was hardly my doing,” he corrected, chancing a forlorn glance back over his shoulder. “She could have easily done this without me.”

The dragon shrugged, setting down and turning back to the ceremony. “Maybe. But she still wants your support.”

With a deep sigh, the stallion bucked up his chin. “You’re right, of course.” He put on his best smile, stepping back through the door as the brides’ lips met. “And she shall always have it. No matter what happens.”

The reception that followed was a party to remember. In the center of the dancefloor, Lyra and Bon Bon held each other close while moving to the music. Twilight and Boltsinger stood together on a nearby stage, singing a number of songs in alternation for the happy couple while the floor filled with more dancers.

Among them, Rarity turned to Fancy Pants, offering a hoof. "Would you care to join me in a dance, darling?"

Fancy Pants looked at the hoof before him. It was, as always, polished to perfection, to the point where his reflection was clear as day. He placed his own hoof on it, giving the mare a smile. "I'd love to."

The Unicorns took their places in the crowd, placing their hooves around one another and swaying to the beat. For a moment, it seemed as if the rest of the world had fallen silent, like the two of them were the only ponies in the room. A sense of reverence fell over them, adding a weight to their movements as the song neared its end. Rarity pulled back, looking into her partner’s eyes. “So, when are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

A faint shade of red made itself known on the posh pony’s face. “How did you…?” His blush faded into a grin. “Of course you noticed. I can’t hide anything from you.”

“Precisely.” She nodded confidently, guiding him to the nearest window to stand in the moonlight. “Now, why don’t you tell me? I promise you’ll feel better once you do.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” he retorted. “But I agree that waiting too long won’t help matters.” He stood tall, clearing his throat and adjusting his tie as a slow duet began. "When I arrived in Ponyville days ago, there was one thing on my mind. I was bound to prove my worth to you as a partner by providing everything you would ever need."

Rarity's smile widened, having gotten an idea of what he may have meant. "Oh, darling, that's so--"

"But…" he continued. Her smile's progress halted as the eyes she looked into began to close. "I failed. Everything I thought to improve for you, you managed to handle almost entirely on your own, and the smile almost never faded from your beautiful face." He turned to the window, removing his monocle and breathing a heavy sigh. "It pains me to say it, but you hardly need me."

"Well, just because I don't always need the kinds of things you offered, that doesn't mean you're not needed." she told him, putting a reassuring hoof around him. “You’ve done so much for me since we met, and even more since we got together. Your presence in my life is nothing short of invaluable.”

“I’m glad you think so…” He placed his hoof on hers for a moment, only to bow his head and move away. “I positively adore you, Rarity, and the last thing I want to do is hurt you... But I can’t be dishonest with you. Knowing Ms. Applejack has taught me that at least.” The performance reached its bridge, giving a somber mood to the moment. “I’m not sure if I’m… if I’m suited to be your partner.”

“Fancy Pants, what do you…?”

The stallion’s breathing began to betray his typical state of composure as he continued. “You are the most beautiful, brilliant mare I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I've thought so from the start, and you've only ever proven those feelings correct, and while I’ll always stand behind you in your endeavors… I’ve learned that that’s not what you need in a partner.” He stowed his monocle away, wiping his eyes with his handkerchief. “You need somepony who can stand beside you. Somepony you can rely on on the deepest possible level, whom you can trade ideas, challenge you, and offer advice in areas I’m still as of yet unfamiliar.”

“Darling…” Rarity began, letting her hindquarters fall to the floor. “Darling, please don’t say what I think you’re saying…”

“I’m afraid I must, dear.” he replied. He approached the mare one more time, placing his hoof on her cheek. “I love you, but I’m afraid I can’t be the partner you deserve.” With a kiss to her forehead, Fancy Pants turned around, walking slowly toward the exit. He lit his horn for a moment, floating the ring box into Spike’s claws. “Make sure this gets into the right hooves, would you?”

Spike wordlessly opened the box, giving the noble a dumbfounded look. The crowd around them gathered together, all looking to an ecstatic Lyra. The mint Unicorn raised her bouquet high with her hooves, causing a throng of mares to scramble forward as the throw commenced. Every eye in the room watched as the flowers flew above their heads, missing the hooves of many would-be recipients. In a strange kind of silence, the flowers landed at Rarity’s hooves. The mare in question, however, kept her eyes fixed on the door. As it closed behind Fancy Pants, she slumped over, a veritable waterfall of tears spilling forth with her cries.

Author's Note

I know, I know. It's a bit of a curveball as to what happened and how it went down. The way I see it, it's a bit of a parallel. One relationship reaches a culmination while another... Well, Rarity's gonna be crying for a while after this. I feel like kind of a monster for putting her through the ringer like I have. But her part in this story is far from over, believe me! I hope you enjoy what I've got planned next!

Emergency Fun!

The skies over Ponyville were a dull gray, with clouds bulging from the rain stored inside. Underneath them, Twilight Sparkle and Scootaloo made their way to the Carousel Boutique with a carton of ice cream magically floating beside them. As the Alicorn raised her hoof to knock, more hoofsteps came up behind them. “I guess we ain’t the only ones who got this idea, huh?”

Twilight looked over her shoulder, seeing a pair of Earth Ponies making their approach, likewise bearing a carton of ice cream. She let out a giggle, bringing her own contribution forward. “I guess so. Rarity certainly needs it right now.”

Applejack nodded solemnly, stepping up beside her friend at the door. “Yeah, she’s not been outta there since the weddin’. I’d be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t startin’ ta fret a little.”

"I can't even imagine how Rarity feels, gettin' dumped like that." Apple Bloom stated, looking up at the carousel for which the boutique was named.

Scootaloo gave a knowing nod. "Two words, Apple Bloom. Not. Good." She nudged her head I the direction of the vanilla oat swirl in her mother's magic. "What do you think the ice cream is for?"

"Alright, now, shush!" Applejack interjected. "We're here ta support Rarity, not remind 'er of what happened!"

The fillies' heads recoiled a little, ears falling low with guilt. "Sorry…" they simultaneously answered.

Twilight smiled back at them. "Apology accepted.” Her horn flared up with delight, opening the door to allow the ponies in. “Now let's get in there and make our friend--" The sight of the boutique stopped them cold. The showroom was dark, with numerous outfits in a state of disarray. Some barely stayed on their hangers, others simply lay in a heap on the floor. Gems were scattered about, and a layer of dust covered everything in sight. "... smile?"

"Hoo boy…" Applejack began, her expression becoming less than confident. "This is gonna be harder 'n I thought."

Twilight, Applejack, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood by Rarity's canopy bed, four sets of eyes wide with shock at what lay before them. "She's hardly gotten out of bed for the last week." Sweetie Belle whispered before stepping up to the bed. "Rarity? Are you awake?"

""Go away…" came the muffled whine of a forlorn fashionista.

"But we have company!" the younger sister declared, tugging on the blankets. "Twilight and Applejack…" She bit onto the covers, pulling harder. ".. and Apple Bloom… and Scootaloo!" With one more, solid yank, the blanket flew free of the bed, sending Sweetie Belle stumbling back to land on her rump. "All so they can cheer you up!"

Twilight placed her hoof on the bed. "It's true, Rarity. We're worried about you."

"An' we brought ice cream!" Applejack added, holding up her carton of the treat. "We all know how ya like ta pig out whenever yer mopin'!"

“Oh…” Rarity raised her head to look at her guests, revealing a face more disheveled and neglected than they had ever seen. Mascara had run down her cheeks in numerous streaks, with her eyeshadow smeared all over her face to the point where her entire forehead looked blue. She smiled weakly at her friends, turning herself around to face them properly. “That’s so very sweet of you. Sweetie Belle, could you be a dear and put it in the freezer with the rest of the ice cream?”

“The… rest?” Apple Bloom repeated, raising a curious eyebrow.

Sweetie Belle sighed, wondering how she was to fit any more into a freezer already packed to the point of near-bursting. "You don’t wanna know.”

Rarity bent down to place a kiss on her sister's forehead, sending her on her way and looking to her friends. "I'm… sorry for the state that I'm in… I just… haven't had the energy to do anything lately. Can't rightly explain why…"

"Yeah, you do look more tattered than the dry patch o' the east orchard after a windstorm." Applejack deadpanned, earning a hard nudge from the Alicorn beside her. She looked at Twilight with a raised eyebrow. "What? Just 'cause I mean ta help cheer ‘er up, that don't mean I ain't gonna tell it like it is."

“Oh, no, it’s fine.” Rarity dismissed, floating the blanket back over herself. "I'm sure I can get things done…" She paused for a moment, as of choking on her words. "... alone…"

The visiting mares winced at the last word, giving each other a worried look. "Applejack, can we talk for a moment?" The pair turned around, Twilight's wing draping over the farmer's back. "We have to do somethin about this. I honestly don't think I've ever seen Rarity this depressed before!"

"Me neither." She affirmed, sneaking a peek over her shoulder. "I've seen 'er feelin' down before, but this… I dunno if I wanna leave 'er all by herself."

A hoof reached up to tap the orange mare’s side, turning her attention to Apple Bloom. She looked to the older ponies with a smile on her face. “Ya know, I think I might have an idea…”

The very next day, the door to Carousel Boutique opened once again, this time giving way to an orange stallion with a purple dragon on his back. Spike took wing immediately, heading for the stairs with his claws cupped around his mouth. "Hey Sweetie Belle! We're heeeere!"

"Be ready in a minute!" the filly called back amidst the sounds of fussing. "Come on, sis! You said you'd get up for this! I even did your makeup and everything!"

"All right, all right!" Rarity replied, the clamor of hooves shuffling to the floor accompanying her voice. "But I don't see why you need me to walk with you to the castle when Spike and Boltsinger are here to pick you up."

"Trust me, it's very important that you come with us today." Sweetie Belle stated, appearing on the stairs with a reassuring smile.

With a long sigh, Rarity stepped up behind her sister, her face and hair back in their typical state, save for the downward curl of her lips. "Well, I suppose it has been a while since I was out and about." She looked to the dragon below with the weakest of smiles. "It's lovely to see you, Spike. I'm sorry we haven't caught up... since…" Her smile quickly faded, a worried hoof starting it's way back up the stairs. "Oh, maybe I shouldn't go with you… I'd only bring you down and--"

"No way." Spike interjected, coming to a landing next to the mare. "There's no way you could ever bring me down, so don't you try to get out of this!"

"Besides, wouldn't a walk through town looking as fabulous as you do be nice and refreshing?" Boltsinger suggested, giving his friend a small smirk.

The fashionista’s smile returned, sending her the rest of the way down the stairs. “You know, flattery will get you everywhere.” She lit her horn, opening the front door and looking outside. “All right. Sweetie Belle, gather your things. Let’s be off before I change my mind.”

The walk to the castle was filled with idle conversation, Spike keeping pace with Rarity at the head of the pack while Boltsinger whispered back and forth with Sweetie Belle. Everywhere the group looked, ponies were clearing the streets of clutter, meeting their gaze with a smile and a wave and offering up comments on how nice it was to see the couturier out and about after so long. Upon their arrival, the doors swung open, with Apple Bloom leading the way to meet the group halfway in.

“Yer here! Yer here! Yer here!” the yellow filly cried, skidding to a stop in front of Rarity. “Oh, I’m so glad you came!”

“Um… yes... I’m here.” she replied, tilting her head with a hint of confusion. The young pony’s face had a somewhat lopsided smile, showing an excitement usually reserved for her fellow Crusaders. Odd that it would be on display for her. "Are you alright Apple Bloom?"

"Of course I am!" she answered, springing enthusiastically into the air. "Why wouldn't I be? Everypony made it!"

An awkward grin forced its way onto Rarity’s muzzle. “Yes… well… I’m glad you three get to have your little slumber party.” Her hoof pointed delicately at the exit, slowly turning her body to match. “Well, I really must be going. I’ve got to be back before the--” Thunder rumbled in from outside, turning the mare’s eyes to pinpricks. As she looked through the door, a torrential downpour began, thick enough that she could hardly see past the front steps. “--rain… starts…”

Applejack took a place at her friend’s side, swinging her foreleg dejectedly. “Aww, shucks! The rain’s started!” She put her hoof around the Unicorn. "Guess we'll just hafta sleep over too, huh?"

“Oh, crabapples! You’re right!” Boltsinger affirmed with a feigned groan. “I guess I’m gonna have to go tell Twilight.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Wait a minute…” She looked around, finding each pony in the foyer with a strange kind of smile on their faces. Her eyes narrowed as she stomped over to the orange stallion, putting her hoof on his chest with a glare. “You planned this.”

The Pegasus recoiled, his ears flattening as his rump hit the floor. “What? Me? No! I didn’t--... No!” He raised a wing, pointing a single feather at the smallest Earth Pony in the room. “It was Apple Bloom.”

Rarity’s eyes drifted toward the redhead, her eyes putting the shock she felt on full display. “... A-- Apple… Bloom?”

The filly in question smiled wider, bouncing forward to present herself to the mare “Now that yer here, we can get this slumber party started!”

"A... slumber party?" the ivory mare repeated.

Boltsinger's wing came to the back of his neck, a sheepish grin showing itself as he looked away. "The beds are already set up for you."

The room fell silent for a moment with all eyes on Rarity. Her mouth hung open, eyes misty once more with the upturning of a wobbly lip. “A… slumber party?” She lit her horn, pulling Apple Bloom into her outstretched forelegs. “Of course it’s a slumber party!” She let out a few staggered breaths, wiping her eyes as she looked down at the filly. “All right, then, let’s have a slumber party!”

“Is this what I think it is?” Rarity wondered, her hoof on her chin as she looked closely at a book that Twilight floated before her.

“Why yes! Yes it is!” Twilight replied with a high-and-mighty look about her. She opened the book, scanning its contents before holding it close. “Slumber 101: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask, the very same book from our first slumber party! Which means...” She grinned over the top of the tome, switching her attention between Rarity and Applejack.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Means this party's gonna be 'officially' fun, right?"

“Exactly!” The Alicorn clapped her hooves excitedly, cycling through the pages again. “We’re going to play truth or dare, eat s'mores, have pillow fights, makeovers, everything! Nothing but nonstop fun the whole evening!"

"Wait a minute…" Scootaloo started. She took the book for a moment, searching frantically until she found a specific page. "You mean we're doing everything?"

"Mmhmm." the royal replied, her eyes closed with a confident smirk. "Absolutely everything."

The orange filly's eyes shrank. "Even… even the s-s-scary stories?" She held the book to her mother’s face, open to a page with a group of ponies in an eerily-lit room.

"Oh, don't worry, Scoot." Boltsinger chimed, patting the filly's back. "I'll be here too, so you won't have to be afraid of anything."

"Yeah! Bolt and I are gonna be waiting on you girls hoof and tail all night!" Spike added, proudly resting his fists on his hips beside Rarity. "You'll gonna want for--" A chill crept up the dragon's spine as the eyes of Twilight, Applejack, and Boltsinger fell upon him. He began to slouch, scratching the back of his head. "I mean… We'll take care of you."

“Speaking of which, why don’t we get the girls something to snack on?” the stallion suggested, beckoning him along with his wing. Spike chanced a look back at the fabulous fashionista with a nervous claw raised to his chin. Boltsinger put his wing around the dragon, guiding him to the door. “I think they can handle themselves.”

With a small sigh, Spike gave his wings a flap and plopped onto Boltsinger’s back. “Yeah, I guess so...”

When the door finally closed, Rarity turned to the royal, a small simper gracing her muzzle. “You’re lucky to have them, you know that?”

Twilight pulled her daughter close, smiling sweetly at her forlorn friend. “I know. But we’re not the only lucky ones.” She lit her horn, floating the book near. “We have each other, all of us, no matter what.”

“Truer words’ve never been spoken!” Applejack declared, raising a celebratory hoof.

“Yeah!” cried the Crusaders, following the farmer’s lead.

Applejack lowered her hoof, looking around with an almost wicked grin. “Now, why don’t we get this started? I got a hum-dinger of a tale fer y’all that’s sure ta knock you outta yer seats!”

"And then…" Applejack continued. The bedroom was dark, lit only with a single lantern in the middle of a circle of ponies as the door began to creak open. Applejack sat, hooves raised, over the light to add shadows to her features. "When she looked around… She saw that all the apples in the orchard…" Apple Bloom chewed on her hooves beside her sister. "... had a bite taken out of 'em!!!"

The Earth Ponies let out a simultaneous scream, Apple Bloom jumping back in terror while the rest of the ponies simply laughed. With a curious head tilt, Apple Bloom leaned forward. "Why're y'all laughin'? That was really scary!"

"Maybe for an apple farmer!" Scootaloo retorted between guffaws.

"You think starvin' from lack of apples ain't scary to everypony else?" the yellow filly continued, hugging her sister's foreleg. "I just about ran fer cover thinkin' ‘bout it…”

Rarity’s laughter slowed to a halt as her hoof met her chin. “It sounds terrifying, yes, but not really…” She twirled her hoof in the air for a moment before pointing at the farmer filly. “... relatable.”

“Just like that ghost that got in the mannequin an’ haunted all them costumes, right?” Applejack teased, eliciting a giggle from the two.

Twilight beamed at her friends’ laughter. “Maybe I can come up with something with a broader appeal, then?” she suggested, magically pulling the lantern toward her.

Scootaloo’s ears drooped, her hooves slowly shuffling her away from her adoptive mother from the dread of it all. “You don’t mean…?”

“Oh, I mean it.” the Alicorn affirmed, her smile turning wicked.

A sinister chuckle came out of Applejack. “An’ she’s pretty darn good at tellin’ ‘em, too!”

A whimper forced its way out of the young Pegasus, who looked around for some form of comfort. Everypony around her, though, had a deceptive smile on their faces, even despite their offered hooves. She let out a sigh, sitting alone between her mother and Rarity. “Okay… G-g-g-go ahead…”

The Princess of Friendship rubbed her hooves together, leaning toward the Crusaders. “So… Have any of you heard of the Winged Wraith of White Tail Woods?”

“N-no…” Scootaloo answered.

“Can’t say I have.” Apple Bloom affirmed.

“Nope.” Sweetie Belle stated.

Twilight chuckled to herself. “Neither did three other fillies. Until it was too late!" A little whine came from the little Pegasus, bringing a snicker out of the royal presence. “For you see, there was a night, years ago, when three little ponies decided to go for a late night walk in the woods, not knowing what they would find.” She knelt by the lantern, spreading her wings to cast a shadow on the ceiling. “What seemed like an ordinary night was filled with the hooting of owls...” An owl’s call pierced its way through the doorway, a loud clatter following behind that caused a wince in the Crusaders. “When they looked back at the trees behind them, one such owl perched on a branch above… staring at them with yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Despite the sudden chill down their spines, the little ponies thought nothing of it. ‘Just a bird,’ one had said, and they continued their walk…”

Scootaloo raised a hoof, looking hopefully around the room. “Aaaand then the walk went perfectly fine and they all went home happy, right?”

Twilight gave the small Pegasus a warm smile and a shake of the head. “Not quite.” Her smile returned to its sinister state. “The fillies did go on, and the trees grew thicker as they went. The hooting got louder, and more erratic, so they looked back one more time and… The owl had gotten closer, or so it seemed. The glowing yellow eyes were larger, and staring… right… at them!” She gave her wings a flap, putting the lantern out entirely and lighting her horn to create a pair of lights on either side of her. At the same time, another hooting noise came through the door, accompanied by a screech that made everypony shiver. “They sprang into a gallop, focused on the path ahead of them, but the woods had gotten dense.” The light of her horn dimmed, the eyes behind her vanishing so that all they could see was her head, face totally obscured by her bangs. “Before them was a thicket of pitch black…” The light blinked out, leaving the room in darkness with thunder sounding outside. “And when they turned around…”

With a flash of lightning in the window, the door flew open, letting a screeching cloaked figure in to flit about the room. It crashed into the walls, sending books from their shelves and twanging one of the canopy bed's many lightning rods. Everypony in the room, Twilight included, let out a shrill scream at the sudden presence, the Alicorn and her daughter simultaneously diving under a pile of pillows.

"Could you just calm down for five seconds?!" cried an irked baritone. The lights flipped on as Boltsinger shot into the room, coming to a hover next to the screeching figure. "I'll get it off of you if you'll just let me!" He pulled on the black cloth, tearing it away to reveal Owlowiscious and Abu hooting and screeching while wrestling with one another. Down on the floor, Applejack, Rarity, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle looked up with confused expressions.

"Wait a sec… That wasn't planned?" Applejack inquired.

Rarity chances a look at the trembling pillow pile. "So that's why she…?" A smile cracked onto her muzzle with a snort of stifled laughter, eventually giving way to an uproar of delight from every wingless pony in the room.

Twilight and Scootaloo poked their heads out of the fluffy mass, both squinting at their respective friends. "What's so funny?" they simultaneously asked.

Boltsinger pulled on Abu's tail, separating him from the flustered avian. "Okay, that's enough!" He held out a foreleg for Owlowiscious to land on while Abu climbed onto the other. "Owlowiscious, I know Abu ate your chocolate mouse. But that's no reason to lash out like that." He turned to the simian with a stern glare. "Abu, apologize." A sorrowful squeak came from the monkey's mouth, earning a haughty hoot from the owl. The stallion returned to the floor, making for the doorway. "Now, let's get you a replacement treat, shall we?"

As the door closed, a flush of red came across Twilight's face, sending her retreating back into the pillows. "I think scary stories are done now…"

Amid the laughter, Rarity wiped away a joyful tear, leaning back on her foreleg. “Oh, Fancy Pants would have hated something so crude! Can you just imagine? A noble pony like him sitting on the floor and screaming at absurd little stories?”

Applejack gave her knee a hard slap, bending over and holding her stomach. “Yeah, he’d prolly just start fussin’ about every little detail!”

Twilight crawled halfway out of the pillows, pulling Scootaloo close and resting her head on her hoof. "Not like any of us would know anything about that, would we?"

The fashionista let out another chuckle behind her hoof. “Yes, of course not!” A soft sigh followed her statement, her eyes looking back on better days. "Though I bet Paradigm would have loved it. I guess we'll never--" Rarity was cut off by her own voice as a pillow flew in her face. Moving the down-filled plush out of the way, she eyed an orange-coated apple farmer with a smirk on her face and a hoof extended.

"Now none o' that mopin', ya hear?" she commanded, pulling another pillow from the pile. "We're here ta have a fun time, an' next on Twilight's list is…"

"PILLOW FIGHT!!!" cried the Crusaders. The fillies each leaped from their spots, taking a pillow in their teeth and gathering at the center of the room. In mere moments, down feathers and laughter filled the small space between them.

“You call that a pillow fight?” Rarity wondered, showing her friends a confident smirk.

Twilight’s face formed a crooked smile, her horn igniting to lift the entire pillow pile overhead. While the young ponies swung their weapons of choice, a looming shadow filled the room. When the fillies looked up to the source, a veritable dome of pillows cloaked in blue and magenta magic floated above them. “This is a pillow fight!” the Princess corrected, rearing up and flailing her forelegs as half of the pillows came raining down on them.

The Crusaders let out a playful scream, diving out of the way of the fluffy torrent towards the nearest adult. Each pair of them gave a glare to the others, lowering their stances and readying their pillows. Before anypony knew it, plushy projectiles flew about the room, be they flung by magic, bucked by farm ponies, or dropped by a petit Pegasus, the master bedroom became the most playful warzone anypony had ever seen. The sounds of laughter and flailing bedding filled the room, holding their attention as the door opened wide.

In walked Boltsinger, a bright smile on his face and a tray of six glasses in his wing. “Sorry about the debacle with the pets, ladies! I got you some cocoa to--OOMMPF!” A flying pillow cut him off, smacking him in the face and forcing him to drop the tray as the impact sent him stumbling. He pulled the offending comfort away, looking down at the mess beneath.

The pillows still in the room stopped in midair, all held by Twilight’s magic as she looked at the doorway in fear. “Oh no…”

With a quick look back at the pillow, then back to the mess, his eyes narrowed. “Oh, it’s on, now!” the stallion declared. He gripped the pillow in his wing, perpetually swinging it as he slowly stepped forward. Twilight took a tentative step back, launching a single pillow at him. With a single wing-flap, it was pushed back, and with a single sweep, it was in his wing, twirling like the other with a dark chuckle echoing out.

Beads of sweat dripped down Twilight’s face, her horn tripling in brightness. “Hey, girls! New plan! Whoever can take Bolt down wins!"

Rarity and the Crusaders delivered a war cry, resuming their assault on a new target. Boltsinger let out a cry of his own, knocking away every pillow pelted at him with a precision typically unseen from the stallion. All the while, Applejack stepped over to Twilight, raising a hoof to the Alicorn's ear. "I get that it's all fun 'n games, but ain't it a might unfair ta be gangin' up on Bolt like this?"

"Normally, yes." She confirmed, sending another down-filled missile at her husband. "But you haven't heard the horror stories I have!" She shuddered for a moment, an image of the orange Pegasus plowing through a slew of royal guards, down flying everywhere, before landing on the alarmed faces of Celestia and Luna. "The biweekly royal pillow battle will never be the same thanks to him…"

Applejack's head tilted in a frustrating level of confusion. "Biweekly royal what now? Not sure I--" The Earth Pony was quickly silenced as a pillow hit her in the side, knocking the wind out of her and sending her a few feet away in a heap. In her place stood a cackling Boltsinger, twirling his pillows triumphantly with his forelegs kicking the air.

"Applejack! No!" Twilight briefly reached for her friend, looking back at what her husband had left in his wake, abject horror overtaking her expression. “Oh my gosh…”

Scattered throughout the room lay three fillies feigning agony, a desperate Rarity extending her foreleg out to the princess. “Twilight, please! You must avenge us!” she pleaded, dragging herself forward with her hoof. “You must!”

“Yes, Twilight…” Boltsinger began, turning to face her with a sadistic smirk. “Avenge them if you can!” He took a step forward, twirling his pillows anew.

“You asked for it, Bolt!” the Alicorn assured, her horn flaring with an intensity that covered every pillow in the room save the two her spouse was swinging. She rose into the air before him, her ammunition swirling around like a miniature storm. "Just don't complain when I beat you!"

Twilight thrust her head downward, sending her pillows swarming at the stallion, who in turn, let out a yell and charged. He charged forward, batting away plush after plush, feathers flying into a veritable cloud around him that he plowed through like it was nothing. With one leap, he was hopping on the bedding bombardment, steadily making his way toward his wife. "Come on, honey! You can do better than that!"

She simply smirked, letting out a giggle. "You're right! I can do better!" With a flare of magic, all of the pillows Boltsinger had beaten aside rose once more, circling around to assail him anew.

"Clever!" he admitted, jumping above the new stream of softness. His wings spread wide and flapped, letting the pillows fall into his waiting forelegs as he spun in the air, knocking away pillow after pillow in a constant stream.

"You haven't seen anything yet." the princess said under her breath. Unbeknownst to the Pegasus, a single down feather came to life with her magic, rocketing toward him amidst the larger swarm. In an instant, Boltsinger inhaled sharply, seizing in midair. The assault likewise ceased, moving to the floor as the stallion's body went completely limp, flopping on the plush below with a dejected look on his face. Twilight haughtily stepped up to the stallion, her expression becoming the very definition of smug. “Not so tough now, are you?”

"You cheated…" he spat, his face turning to a pout.

"I just knew my opponent." she corrected, her magic lighting a small section of his wing to remove the down from his down. In an instant, Boltsinger's body seized again, jumping into the air before landing in a heap once more. She brought her face close to his, their noses meeting for a moment. "I think you taught me rather well, don’t you?"

A soft smile made its way onto the Pegasus’ face, his gaze fixing itself on her eyes. The two lingered in each others’ eyes for a moment, a swooning sigh until… “Ahem!” Rarity coughed, snapping the couple from their trance. The fabulous mare had a knowing grin on her face with her fetlocks crossed. The Cutie Mark Crusaders poked their heads out from behind her, alternating between giggling fits and smooching noises. “Don’t mind me, of course. I’m just admiring the fruits of my labor so long ago.”

The spouses instinctively reeled back with a deep red lining their faces. “We should… probably move on.”

Rarity shook her hoof between them, looking bashfully away. “I really don’t mind, dear. Honestly.” She poked the floor with her hoof, her smile weakening a little. “I’m just glad some of my romantic machinations were successful…” With an audible sigh from Rarity, a silence fell upon the room once more. All eyes turned to the forlorn fashionista, with many minds racing for what to say.

At long last, Applejack opted to break the silence. “Yep…” She worked her way to her hooves. “It’s definitely time ta move on.” She dusted herself off, picking the Slumber 101 book up from the desk. “Now, what’s next?”

“Hmm… If I remember right…” Boltsinger began, pulling himself up with a wing on his chin. “Wasn’t it…” His pupils shrank as the memory arrived, his hooves scooting toward the door. “You know, I think I’d better get you more cocoa. Those last glasses got spi--”

A yank came to the stallion’s tail, drawing his attention to the blue aura surrounding it. His head turned to Rarity, whose sad smile had switched to a snarky smirk. “Oh, don’t worry about that, Bolt.” She lightly tugged on him, causing his face to tense up. “You can’t possibly be scared of a little mud, can you?”

Boltsinger let out a nervous laugh, attempting to pull himself away. “I mean… This whole thing was for you girls! I’m just here to be… um… The server!” His legs began to move at a scramble, scraping against the hard floor to no avail. “I should totally go do that for all of you and pleasenotgetcoveredingoop…”

“Oh no, Bolt…” she pressed with a sneer, flicking her horn ever-so-slightly. “After the enthusiasm you put into our last activity, there’s no getting out of it.”

Applejack gave a confused look to the Unicorn, stepping up to her and adjusting her hat. “Wait a sec. Goop? Y’all don’t mean…” Rarity answered with a simple nod, sending the roughest mare in the room back a step. “I dunno, maybe subjectin’ Bolt… and me… ta that kinda thing would be a little--”

“No, Rarity has a point.” Twilight interjected, producing a jar of a green substance and joining the group. “He’s gotten fully involved with our fun. We might as well let him do everything with us!”

“That’s a great idea!” the younger Unicorn chimed in. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom joined on either side of Rarity, each displaying an ecstatic grin. “I bet you’ll be beautiful!”

Scootaloo shrugged, taking a good look at her father. “I dunno. Seems like he’d just look green.” She looked back and forth between the jar and the other orange ponies in the room, a little tension building up in her features as well. “In fact, I think maybe I should help Bolt get the next round of snacks!”

“Well ain’t that a sweet idea?” Applejack affirmed, picking the Pegasus off of the floor. “I think I just might join ya!” She pulled him free of the magical aura, leaning close to his ear. “On my signal...” The three orange ponies shared a silent nod, kicking the floor and breaking into a-- “RUUUUUUUUN!!!”

The ponies barrelled down the hallway, leaving a trail of dust in their wake. With a great giggle, a quartet of pursuers galloped after them, a magenta flash lighting up the way ahead. Skidding to a stop, Boltsinger turned to a nearby window. “This way! Only one of them can follow us here!” He opened it up to the storm, beckoning to his compatriots.

Applejack raised an eyebrow, slamming the window shut. “Are you kiddin’?” She motioned to her side, noting a distinct lack of appendages. “Not everypony here can fly!”

“Exactly! They’d never expect it!” he retorted, putting his foreleg around her and reopening their escape. “It’s not the first time I’ve flown with you!”

“Now wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute!” The farmer struggled in his grip, her hind legs dragging against the floor. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

Scootaloo hopped onto the mare’s shoulder, pointing back down the hall. “They’re catching up!” She bounded off of them, teetering closer to the opening as she gave her wings a hard flap. “Just go already!”

The filly’s flap sent a gust of wind into her elders, rocketing them out the window with a simultaneous scream. Further feathers unfurled as they fell, the stallion’s own wings doing that which came naturally to slow their descent. As their hooves splashed into the mud below, Applejack looked up at the descending Crusader, moving her hat aside to see her. “Wow… She sure has come a long way…”

“I know. Isn’t it amazing?” Boltsinger confirmed, wiping away a tear with a smile. His hold on his friend tightened just a little, pulling her closer. “So… proud…”

Applejack rolled her eyes, wiggling her way to freedom. “All right, that’s enough gushin’ fer one night. We’d best get back in, else we’re just gonna catch cold and ruin Rarity’s evenin’.”

“I guess you’re right.” he agreed, standing up with a sigh. He met his daughter halfway, pulling her into a hug as they came to the door. “So, once the door’s open, we run, right?

“Right.” the girls repeated, faces filled with determination.

“Okay. On my mark, then.” He put his hoof on the door. “One…” He began to push, feeling the large oak entryway slide along the floor. “Two…” The orange trio’s faces grew tense with anticipation as the door opened wide. “Thr--” The charge found itself cut short as a glow of magenta, blue, and green surrounded them,freezing the mud-covered ponies in place. Their eyes looked ahead, spotting Twilight, Rarity, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle sauntering tauntingly toward them.

“Well this just won’t do, now will it?” Rarity teased, examining the filth her friends had subjected themselves to. “And here we just wanted to make you look beautiful. And now you’ve gone and covered yourself in muck.”

“Ain’t that no diff’rent from what you were gonna put on us?” Applejack asked.

“Nuh-uh! Rarity was gonna use a mud mask!” Sweetie Belle replied, her magic flickering a bit. She took a deep breath, holding her head up and regaining her composure. “It nourishes your skin and rejuvenates your complexion.”

Rarity nodded, moving over to Applejack. “That’s exactly right, Sweetie Belle!” She brushed her hoof along the mare’s muddy foreleg, examining it with mild disgust. “A far cry better than this icky mess.” She flicked her hoof, clearing some of it away. “Honestly, I don’t know how you tolerate it.” She took a step back, her comrades in beautification joining at her side. “Well, I guess now you’ll have to wash up before we begin, won’t you?” As their assailants fell upon them, the orange trio let out a veritable symphony of screams.

After an hour of what Boltsinger could only describe as ‘torture’, the group sat on the bedroom floor. Boltsinger lay slumped over, his face covered in a green substance. Scootaloo leaned against her adoptive father, sitting on her rump with a green face filled with terror. Applejack trundled over to flop beside them, a cucumber slice over each eye. “Are we done now?” the three of them asked, rolling onto their backs as a mutual giggle sounded around them.

Twilight, Rarity, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle, all them sporting curlers along with their mud masks, sat up from their giggle fit. “I suppose you’ve all ‘suffered’ enough for one night.” the Alicorn stated, lighting her horn and poofing away the beauty supplies. She pulled the book forward, flipping through it with vested interest. “So, who’s up for Truth or Dare?”

Scootaloo jumped from her spot, sending her horned friend a smirk. “I got one! I dare Sweetie Belle to go splash in the mud!”

Sweetie Belle met the smirk in kind, springing to her hooves. “You’re on!” She galloped toward the door, leaping for the knob before a blue aura held her in place.

“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity shouted, pulling the filly back. “Think about what we’ve just finished doing! Do you really want to ruin it on some dare?”

“But it’s part of the game!” she spat back, struggling in the magical grip. “I gotta do any dare she tells me!”

“It’s true.” Twilight started, floating the book over to her. “You have to--”

“‘Answer any question honestly and do whatever anypony dares you to do.” Rarity concluded, pushing the tome aside. “Yes, I understand.” She released her hold on the filly, looking away with a scoff. “But I don’t have to like it.”

“Well, I like it, and that’s what matters.” Sweetie Belle stated, lighting her horn and the door handle respectively, making ready to pull as the door swung open before her.

“Who wants s’mooo~ooores?” Spike asked, standing on his toes in the doorway with a platter of ingredients raised high.

Sweetie Belle reeled back, her eyes falling upon the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. In that instant, all thoughts of mud and dares flew out the metaphorical window, her horn igniting anew and snatching the platter. “I do! I do!” She pranced to the center of the room, giggling like a filly half her age before falling to the floor as her best friends joined her.

Rarity looked on the younger ponies with a chuckle and a smile, turning to the entering dragon. “Spike, you really are a life-saver sometimes.”

A tinge of red graced the reptile’s cheeks as he came to sit next to her. “R-really? How so?”

A flutter of eyelashes and a brilliant smile crossed the fashionista’s features as she took a moment to look at the young drake. “Oh, it’s no big deal. I just think it’s sweet that you’re always there to save the day.”

The redness increased, causing the dragon to wave a claw in front of him. “Aw, shucks, all I did was bring marshmallows…”

The mare’s smile turned serene as she looked around the room, spotting the Crusaders looking like they were ready to pounce on the incomplete treats before them. “Yes, well, here’s an idea...” Before the petit ponies could pounce, she floated the platter up, standing tall and moving to the center of the room. “How about instead of the potentially icky Truth or Dare, we have a nice relaxing and clean game of ‘Truth and S’mores’ instead?”

The idea forced a laugh out of Twilight, who looked over to Applejack. The blonde mare shrugged. “What the heck. This whole shindig’s for her, anyhow.”

“Alright, then, Truth and S’mores it is!” the Alicorn announced. “Who wants to go first?”

Apple Bloom’s hoof almost immediately raised. “I got one!” She gave Scootaloo a sly look, her hoof sliding under her chin. "Scootaloo, you've been flyin' with Rumble a lot durin' yer free time. How d'you feel about 'I'm these days?"

The pink-haired filly's pupils shrank, looking around the room as myriad smiles formed on everyone's faces. Finally, Boltsinger rested on his fetlocks, sending the biggest grin of all. "Now that is a good question!" he said, leaning in closer. "How do you feel about Rumble?"

"Well, um…" the feathered Crusader started, her eyes darting around as her face began to redden. "I mean, I like him, but I mean I don't know if I like him or like like him. He's a good flyer and he taught me a lot of neat stuff… and…" She pointed her hoof back at Apple Bloom. "What about you and Tender Taps, huh? Any more of those dates?"

Applejack let out a burst of laughter at the question, tussling her sister's mane. "Only about ev'ry month fer the past year!" She pulled her into a tight hug, nuzzling her close. "I still can't get over how grown-up an' adorable you look, gettin' all fixed up fer yer sweet little crush!"

Apple Bloom squirmed in her sister’s grip, pushing her way out with a glare at the mare. “Excuse me, but ain’t that my question?” She popped out of the hug and onto her rump, looking down and rubbing her forehooves together. “I mean ya pretty much answered it for me, but…” She leaned forward, swiping the closest ingredients and mashing them together before shoving them in her mouth. “WhaabouffRardee, huh?” she asked, spitting bits of cracker as she spoke.

Rarity put her hoof over her heart. “Oh, me? Well, you know…”

With a large gulp, Apple Bloom wiped her mouth. “Not that! Yer the guest of honor and ya haven’t even gotten to play the best game!” She took another set of ingredients, placing the chocolate and marshmallow as carefully as possible,then slowly lowering the top cracker into place and squishing so carefully that not a drop falls to the floor. Finally, she presented Rarity with a functionally perfect s’more. “So… Why don’t you pick the next victim?”

Rarity flashed a brilliant smile, opening her mouth wide and eating it right out of the Earth Pony’s hoof. She raised her head high, face covered in marshmallow and chocolate as she let out a satisfied hum. When she finally finished, she looked around to see nothing but shocked faces. She giggled, wiping her mouth. “What? You just eat them!” The circle of ponies burst into laughter for a moment, coming to a quick halt when a white hoof pointed at a blue-maned stallion. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something for quite some time!”

“Wait what?” he replied, pointing to himself. “I’m not sure if I count. I’ve just been--”

“You’ve been involved ever since you whacked me in the face with a pillow!” the blue-eyed mare interjected, straightening her foreleg. “You’re as much a part of this game as anypony!” She looked at the dragon next to her, brushing her hoof against his swiftly-reddening cheek. “And any dragon.”

“Alright, fine.” Boltsinger stated with a sigh. “What’s your question?”

“Alright.” Rarity crossed her forelegs, looking at him with a playful glint in her eye. “If you hadn’t gotten together with Twilight, who--”

“Fluttershy.” came a simultaneous deadpan. Rarity shook her head for a moment, staring straight into Twilight and Boltsinger’s smirking faces. The couple looked each other in the eye, sharing in a giggle.

The designer’s jaw dropped, her hoof shakily pointing at them. “And… Twilight?”

“Flash Sentry.” they confirmed, again in unison.

“How do you know this all so readily?”

With another collective laugh, the pair beamed at her. “Because we talked about it, of course!”

Rarity looked away in a huff, her gaze lingering on the royal ponies. “Yes, of course you tell each other everything, don’t you?” Her head began to droop, her forelegs shuffling against each other. “Last time my partner told me his feelings…” She rose to her hooves, moving to the mirror lined with memories. “Not that I’ve ever had good luck where the boys are concerned…” She held herself there for a moment, shutting her eyes tight. “Why do they all leave me…?” Looking into the mirror, the forlorn fashionista saw concerned faces surrounding her, with her mane half-covering her face budding tears threatening to stream down. She turned on another smile, turning back to her friends. “But, I digress! Bolt, you’re next.”

Boltsinger looked at the floor, resting his head on his hooves. “I mean… I dunno what to ask…” A silence fell upon the room, the air becoming thick and stifling. With one look at her older sister, Sweetie Belle moved to sit next to the stallion, hiding her mouth behind her hoof as she whispered in his ear. “Gotcha. Thanks Sweetie Belle.” He took a deep breath, standing up and putting a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. “Rarity, my question is for you.” He wiped a tear from her eye, brushing her hair aside to get a look at her face. “How are you feeling?”

Rarity reeled back, moving the orange hoof aside. “How am I feeling?” she repeated, eyes going wide. “You want to know how I’m feeling?” She looked around at the gathering, receiving a nod from each pony she saw. “After all of this distraction, you want to know now?! Fine!” She looked in the mirror again, eyeing the photos all around. “I feel greedy.”

Twilight and Boltsinger exchanged a worried look.

“Every stallion I’ve had my eye on, all of them have left me in the dirt! No matter what I did, no matter how much effort I put in, they leave…” She began pacing around the room. “I thought Fancy Pants would be different, that he would stay with me, but no! He couldn’t stick with me! He was too stuck in how things are supposedly supposed to be!” Her brow furrowed as she moved to a trot. “And then… I spent so much time helping him change his image, separate himself from the one thing he thought defined him! We made a connection, and whenever I saw him, he was always smiling!”

Applejack scooted up to Twilight, leaning close to her ear. “Is she still talkin’ about Fancy Pants?”

“I’m not sure.” the Princess answered, eyes fixed on Rarity.

By an empty pillow, Spike stood up, producing a tiny box and staring at it. “I’m pretty sure…” he whispered, stowing it away and heading for the door.

“And then…” Rarity continued, slowing down with her head hanging low. “He left it all behind…” Her rump hit the floor with staggered breaths. “He left me behind… I love him so much… and he left me…” She hunched over, burying her face in her forelegs as her sobs began in earnest. “Why…? Why did he leave me…?”

In no time at all, Twilight, Applejack, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo fell upon the distraught mare, nearly covering her in their embrace. Boltsinger stood close by, ready to join in at a moment’s notice. One figure in the group, from the Pegasus’ perspective, was conspicuously absent. And here I thought he’d be the first one to join the hug… He looked back at the rest of the room, spotting a purple tail disappearing out the door.

“Gotta pack light!” Spike told himself, digging through a chest of possessions in his room. “Only the essentials!” He pulled a large ruby from the bottom of the box, plopping on the floor. “This is essential, right?”

“Gotta have a snack for the road, I guess.”

“Right!” he affirmed, tossing the ruby up to land in his waiting mouth. With an almost comical gulp, he dove back into the box. “Gotta make sure I have everything I need!” He sat up for a moment, scratching his chin. “Hmm… How long is it even gonna take, anyway?”

“I’m planning on it taking a while. But it’d still be good to come back and check in after sometime.”

The dragon nodded, climbing out of the box. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Thanks--” He paused for a second, looking over to the door to see “Bolt?! What are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Rarity?”

Boltsinger smiled from the doorway, walking in and sitting by the reptile. “Probably for the same reason as you.” He looked back toward the master bedroom, turning down the corners of his mouth. “I can’t stand to see her like this…”

“You’re telling me.” Spike replied, retrieving the box again. He opened it up, gazing at the ring inside. “Fancy Pants told me to make sure this gets into the right hooves… But I don’t even know where those hooves are.” He hopped to his feet, stowing the box and raising a determined fist. “So I’m gonna go find him, no matter what it takes!”

"I figured as much." the stallion stated. He flapped onto his hooves, offering a wing to the young dragon. "We should probably wait until tomorrow before we set out, though."

Spike cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"You didn't expect to do this alone, did you?" Boltsinger asked, raising his foreleg with a smirk. "You haven't been flying nearly long enough to tackle long distances. And the search will go a lot faster with both of us investigating."

Scaled brows furrowed in contemplation at the bluenette's words. Boltsinger presented a good point, especially given that he had no idea where to begin. “What about Nova?”

“One mom, six aunts, the Cakes, Trixie, Sunburst, and even ‘Mama Celestia’ in case we really need her.” he explained, giving off a haughty snort.

“And your helping the farm?”

“They don’t actually need me there. I just help out and they give me bits.”

“Speaking of bits…”

“Wallet’s full.” He waved his hoof tauntingly. “Come on, gimme another.”

A groan forced its way out of the dragon’s mouth, his fist clenching. After another moment of thought, his arms fell limp. “Alright, fine. We’ll go together.”

Boltsinger beamed, scooping Spike up with his wing to sit on his back. “Good! I’ve been worried about Paradigm for a long time anyway.” He exited the room, breaking into a canter down the halls.

As the duo sped through the castle, Spike looked behind him, clenching his fist as tight as he could. “Don’t worry, Rarity. I’ll make it right. I’ll make sure you never have to feel that way again!”

Author's Note

FINALLY. I've had this one in my head for almost a year now, and I finally got it done! Not exactly how I wanted, but still good.
I'm coming to realize that the amount of time it took for this to come out may become the norm as I settle into my own mind of late. Life is hard but I'm getting through it. I'm just glad I can still bring this to you! The next story arc is one of the most involved I've even conceived. I haven't even figured out what all goes on in it yet! But I will be working long and hard on making it as good as it can possibly be!
I hope you enjoy it!

Does Helping Really Help?

The Ponyville train station was all but deserted in the early morning, completely empty save for one family on the platform. Twilight stood with Nova on her back and Scootaloo at her side, looking at Spike and Boltsinger with a worried smile. “Are you two sure you want to do this? You could be gone a long time.”

“Absolutely!” Spike affirmed, pumping his fist. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner Rarity smiles again!”

“And you’re sure you’ll be alright?” she continued, leaning close to her husband. “You’ve got everything you need?”

Boltsinger touched noses with Twilight, backing away with a nod. “I’m sure. I’ve filled my food bag and everything!”

With a light blush, Twilight took a step back. “I thought you might say that…” She inhaled sharply, lighting her horn as a veritable mountain of items poofed into view. “And that’s why I made a list of things to take with you!”

Boltsinger’s pupils shrank. “Wait what?”

Before he knew it, Twilight had placed a saddlebag on his back. “There’s some books to pass the time on the train.” She put a load of books into one side, forcing the stallion’s weight to shift. “A map, so you can mark where you’ve been.” A large scroll was placed next to the books. “I don’t think I’d have gotten through all my searches across Equestria without one.” She floated a tightly-sealed bag into the other bag. “A tent, just in case you have to camp out.” She followed up with a series of pots that dangled from the bottom of the bag. "Cookware," she tossed another thing in by the tent. "Fire starting tools," Finally, she piled several more books into both sides. "And last but certainly not least, instructions on how best to survive in any given situation!"

“Oh… wow…” he replied, straining to stand as the bags weighed him down. “Thanks, honey…” Within seconds, his knees buckled and he flopped to the floor.

A laugh burst forth from Spike as the stallion stumbled, sending him falling to the floor with his claws on his gut. “At this rate, we won’t make it off the platform! Much less all the way to Manehattan!”

A tiny smile crept onto Twilight’s face as she bent down. “I guess you don’t need all of the books… I just want you two to be safe.” She lifted the majority of the tomes away, pulling her husband into a hug. “It’s not gonna be the same without my boys around.”

“We’ll be fine.” he assured, returning the embrace. “Not like we can’t get back in a hurry if we need to.” He twinkled his feathers, a slight spark passing between them. The pair of them climbed to their hooves, Boltsinger lifting his son and nuzzling his cheek. “Daddy’s gonna miss his little Prince… You be good, okay?” Nova laughed into his papa’s cheek, giving a tiny hug.

As the Pegasus pulled away, an additional weight plopped onto his back, a light squeeze around his neck and next to his wings. “You’re gonna write, right?” Scootaloo asked, drawing Boltsinger’s attention to her dejected face. “You won’t forget?”

"We'll write every single day." her father affirmed, nuzzling her nose affectionately.

"It's not like he's going with the best mail-deliverer in Equestria or anything." Spike added, putting his fists on his hips.

Twilight pulled her faithful assistant into a tight embrace of his own. "And don't think we won't miss you too." She sat back as the train pulled up, the conductor coming onto the platform. "Just one question before you go."

"What is it?" the boys wondered.

Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a slight blush. "Where is the post office again?"

“How am I more tired after the train ride?” Spike exasperatedly asked, laying flat on Boltsinger’s back. "We slept almost the whole way here!"

"Eh. It'd be worse if we'd flown like I originally wanted." the Pegasus retorted, shuffling his weight to force the dragon upright. "At least we got some rest. Now comes the hard part…” He looked out on the bustling streets, his ears drooping a little. “Getting started.”

The equine hopped from the platform, the flow of hoofsteps sending him across the street before he knew it. Spike shuffled around on his back, sitting up and looking around. “So what’s the first stop? The park? How about Bridleway? Or Rarity For You!”

Boltsinger smirked. “You pretty much read my mind, Spike. I was thinking of asking Miss Pommel if she’s heard anything.”

Spike smirked back, settling into place at the base of the stallion’s neck. “So, Saddle Row, then?”

“Eeyup! Saddle Row it--”

“Can anypony please help me?!” came a distressed cry in the distance. A pair of orange ears twitched in the sound’s direction, turning the head of their owner at the utterance. “Somepony, please!”

“Hmmm…” the Pegasus in question started, his wing scratching his chin. “I kinda want to…”

“Oh no! Not this time!” the dragon pressed, pulling on the pony’s ears. “We have a job to do! We need to focus on it!”

“But--”

Spike’s pull turned to a yank, dragging those purple eyes forward. “I said no! We’re trying to find Paradigm! We don’t need you going off and helping everypony that needs it!” A small whine escaped the bluenette’s throat. “I know, I know, it’s hard. But I just wanna do this right. Besides, somepony will come along eventually.”

Boltsinger cocked an eyebrow as his attention was forced forward. "Yeah, somepony will totally come to help a random stranger in the biggest, busiest, coldest city in all of Equestria."

"Ha-ha, very funny." Spike spat back, his brow thoroughly furrowed. They continued on a ways, a slight whimper coming from the orange equine as they went. "Oh, don't give me that! You know why we're here!" Every so often, his attention would drift back only for Spike to yank on his ear again. Eventually the stallion breathed a sigh, his pace slowing to a crawl. Every drag of his hooves grated at the dragon's ears, bringing a groan out of him before… "Alright, FINE!" he gave in. "But just this once, okay?"

Boltsinger reared back with an ecstatic whinny, letting his companion hover next to him. "Alright! I'll meet you at Saddle Row, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Spike replied, his words dipped in sarcasm. "See you soon." As Boltsinger disappeared into the distance, Spike simply rolled his eyes. He cupped his claws around his mouth for a moment, one last reminder springing to mind. “And don’t forget to check into the hotel!!!”

The journey to Saddle Row was swift, yet frustrating. Everywhere Spike looked there were crowds heading all over. Manehattan was a busy city on a regular day, but it seemed like there were more ponies than usual. The closer he got to his destination, the more he heard about some event coming up. Not that he minded. He was laser-focused. Nothing would distract him. Nothing would stop him. Nothing would get in his--

“Spike?” called a soft voice ahead. Spike’s eyes drifted up to find an off-white Earth Pony mare standing in front of him. She had a two-tone cyan mane and tail, the former of which in a short bob with a red and purple floral clip in the back. Around her neck was a purple and white collar tied off with a red ribbon, with her Cutie Mark featuring a hat of similar design. She smiled down at the young reptile, her cool blue eyes showing a sense of relief at the friendly sight. “Is that really you, Spike?”

“Huh?” Spike took a look around, finding a number of boutiques wherever he looked. Above the white pony hung a banner depicting a trio of models in outfits the dragon could only describe as ‘outrageous’. He jogged up to the mare with a smile and a wave. “Coco! Good to see you!”

Coco Pommel returned the wave, stepping aside to make room at the door. “Likewise. It’s been quite a while.” She looked over Spike’s head, her hoof over her eyes. “So… You wouldn’t happen to be here with Miss Rarity, would you?”

He let out a sigh, making his way in. “No, she’s still back in Ponyville.” He sat by the counter, smiling up at the pony. “Bolt came along, but he got distracted by some random cry for help.”

Coco hid a giggle behind her hoof. “That certainly sounds like him.” She began tending to some of the displayed outfits, examining the seams carefully. “You’ve actually come at the perfect time. We could really use your help--”

“I’m gonna have to stop you right there.” he interjected, raising his claw between them. “Normally I’d be on it, but I’m not gonna be here that long.”

“Oh… Well, alright then.” She hung her head for a moment, quickly moving onto the next garment. “I mean, I just needed a few extra hooves at the fashion show tomorrow. It’s no big deal.”

"Exactly." he affirmed, standing with wings spread wide. "Besides, it's not like you haven't done this before. And you've got all the other employees to help out!"

Coco simpered for a moment. “Yeah, but… We’ve got so many designers showing that there’s not enough help to go around. It’s all about helping young designers get their work out there and maybe jumpstart their fashion careers.”

“Sounds like something Rarity would love.” he admitted, wings folding a little.

Coco nodded happily. “Oh it is! She brought up the idea to all the other local businesses a few weeks ago.” She moved to the center of the room, looking around with an ever-widening smile. “Just another way for her to give, I guess.” She hung her head, letting her eyelids sink. “I just wish she was here right now…”

The dragon’s head mirrored the mare’s. “She’s… really had a lot on her plate recently.”

“And you’re doing what you can to help her out?”

“Yeah. If it weren’t so important, I’d be right on board to help you with this.”

“I understand…” Coco took a deep breath, summoning forth her composure again. “I would love to have both of you along, but your mission takes priority.”

“Thanks, Coco. I appreciate that.” Spke blew a puff of green flame, causing a notebook to appear that he accompanied with a quill. "So, on that note, when was the last time you saw Paradigm?"

“Hm? Paradigm?” Coco looked up from her work, her face portraying a ponder. “I mean… I know it’s been a while. I’ve just been so busy around here that my mind is a jumble. I’m sorry.”

Spike sighed, tucking the pad under his arm and heading for the door. “It’s okay. I guess I’ll just ask around.” He waved gingerly at the Earth Pony, stepping outside. “See you later.”

Having turned up nothing at Rarity For You, Spike set out onto Saddle Row proper. Like Coco had said, the ponies all over were working on an enormous fashion show for Manehattan’s youngest designers. He waved down as many ponies as he could find, always asking them for information, but always coming up with the same answer. He set out to the other districts of the town, figuring the park would have more possibilities. Standing by the lake, he reached out to everypony he saw, but was met with some kind of rude remark as his answer. His let out a low growl, proceeding to another street. More of the same results awaited him by the eateries, sending him to Bridleway with a furrow in his brow. Before he could even make an attempt at asking around, though, a speeding taxi ran by, splashing muddy water in his face and sending him to his rump. Finally, a growling scream made itself known, dismissing his notepad in a puff of green flame and turning back the way he came. “Of course, I need something and this town just looks at me and laughs…” He looked at the crowds of Saddle Row with a scowl. “Typical Manehattan…”

“Gosh I love Manehattan!” cried a surprisingly ecstatic stallion ahead. Boltsinger trotted along the sidewalk with a giddy expression, waving a wing to everypony he passed. “So many nice ponies everywhere you look!”

“Nice ponies?” Spike repeated, clenching his claws. “What kind of town have you been in?”

“Same town as you.” the stallion replied, looking around with a wide grin. “Gotta say this looks like it’s gonna be a heck of a fashion show.”

“Yeah, gonna be just great.” the dragon spat, squinting at the crowd. He shook his head, freeing himself from distraction. “So where the heck have you been, anyway?”

Boltsinger hopped in place, looking back down the road. “Well, first that pony I went to needed help with opening her little food stand, but then the pony she got to advertise wasn’t able to make it, so I stayed and drummed up some business. Then there was another pony who needed to find their way to Saddle Row. Really nice, that one. And then I found you!”

“Seriously?”

“Eeyup!”

Spike’s fists tightened to their limit, his wings spreading as he put himself inches from the stallion’s face. “ARE YOU KIDDING?! You were supposed to come right here after doing that ONE thing!!!”

Boltsinger stepped back a ways, crossing one foreleg with the other. “I know, but things happened one after the other and--”

“I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENED!” he continued, his body shaking from his sheer volume. “We came here to do one thing! One! Thing! And you can’t even be bothered to do it!”

Boltsinger’s wings folded at his sides, his ears drooping as he averted his eyes. “I mean, it’s not like I--”

“Can we please focus?” Spike finally requested. “I’ve been asking all over town, all day long with nothing to show for it… I just want to get this done and get home. Rarity needs us.”

An orange hoof rose in front of the dragon. “Y-yeah… I know… I just get so caught up sometimes that I forget.” He turned around, lowering his tail to function like a ramp. “Come on. I’ll take you to the place I heard about.”

“Thank you.” the reptile replied, climbing onto the pony’s back. “I just want to get this--” He paused for a moment, the stallion’s words repeating themselves in his head. “Wait, what did you hear about?”

Boltsinger’s gaze turned upward, fetching the information he needed as he began his walk. “Well, that first pony, you know with the food stand?” Spike nodded, letting him focus forward again. “She and Paradigm were in the same class, learning how businesses work, handling finance, all the stuff she needed to learn in order to start that stand. I guess he was trying to find ways to help somepony he liked with it. She said he probably went there to talk to the teacher about why he was leaving.” He waved to another pony in passing, keeping his hoof raised as another thought approached. “And that pony I led here? He’s from Canterlot, where he saw somepony matching Paradigm’s description while he was boarding.”

Spike scooted up the pony’s back, looking over his head. “That’s a lot to go on. You got all that just from helping a couple ponies out?”

“Eeyup. I figured I’d ask around while I was at it.” Boltsinger answered, casting a glance at the large buildings above him. “Actually, I’m reminded of something Rarity said about this city. You do something nice for someone, and then they go and do something nice for someone else.”

“She does tend to go the extra mile when she’s here, doesn’t she?” Spike rested his head on his claw, letting out a swooning sigh. “Just goes to show how great she is…”

“All the more reason to get this done…” He spread his wings wide, making ready to take off. “So, let’s keep going!”

Before the wings could flap, Spike took hold of his feathers, the residual spark sending a mild shock to the stallion’s system. He stood rigidly in place as the dragon released him, hopping off with a smile. “I think, before we do that, we might as well help our friend.” He started back toward Saddle Row as the equine began moving again. “Rarity would probably want us to.”

The next day that Spike and Boltsinger spent in Manehattan was the most stark contrast the dragon had ever seen. The moment they had told Coco that they’d planned to help, the mare had never smiled brighter. She set the pair to work on a number of simple tasks, from fetching tools and pin cushions to helping the customers while she worked. The ponies they met all the while were full of smiles, all exemplifying the definition of the word ‘friendly’. Where once there had been silence or scowls, there was laughter, excitement, and a kind word. That night, the show had finally begun, the streets truly came to life. With a word from Miss Pommel, the stage became a world of dazzling spectacle, outfits from and for all trots of life paraded their way around the stage, some as simple as can be with others turning out to be elaborate and dynamic costumes that all sent the dragon’s jaw straight down.

“I can’t believe I almost missed this…” he admitted, dropping to the ground with his claws on his knees. “So much to see, and all I wanted to do was hurry along…” He simpered up at his travelling partner. “Sorry about that.”

Boltsinger waved his hoof at the dragon. "Pssssshh! There's no need to be sorry!"

A curious eyebrow quickly cocked on Spike's tilting head. "Wait what?"

"You were focusing harder than usual. Nothing wrong with that."

Spike hopped to his feet, facing the stallion. "But I was yelling at you! Trying to stop you from doing your thing!"

"Yeah, and I admit that got to me a bit, but I understand." His face turned to a laughing grin, his wing coming to scratch the back of his neck. “If anypony knows what it’s like to be so hyper-fixated on a single goal that they forget about everything else, it’s me.” He twinkled his feathers before folding his wings again. “Nothing can stop me when lightning strikes, you know.”

Spike laughed in kind, jumping to the air next to him. “I guess you’ve got a point, there.” He offered a claw to the Pegasus. “So what do you say? Wanna get back to it?”

Boltsinger put his wing in the outstretched claw, shaking heartily with a firm “Eeyup!”

“Ah! There you are!” cried a closing-in Coco. The budding designer cantered up to the duo, skidding to a stop with her hoof over her chest. “So glad you... hadn’t... left yet.”

Boltsinger’s face lit up at her approach, his wing helping his partner onto his back. “Oh hey, Coco! What’s up?”

The bluenette mare took a deep breath to take back her composure, stepping up to them with a new sparkle in her eye. “Thank you so much for your help with all this. I don’t think it would have gone this smoothly without you.”

“Eh, it was our pleasure.” the stallion dismissed, earning an agreeing nod from the friend between his wings. “Is there anything else you need?”

She shook her head, locking eyes with Spike. “Actually, I just remembered something about what you asked me before. You know, about Paradigm?”

“Awesome!” Spike exclaimed, blowing a flame that formed into his notebook. “Tell me everything!”

“Well, last time I saw him, he said he wanted to learn more about certain ponies, so he was going to the Crystal Empire to meet one of them.” she explained, pointing toward the train station. “I think he mentioned wanting to learn about certain special talents.”

“Special talents, huh?” Boltsinger repeated, smirking at his companion. “I guess I know where we’re going next.”

“First thing in the morning?” Spike suggested.

Boltsinger nodded, pumping his hoof. “Absolutely.”

Author's Note

Wow, this ended up shorter than I expected. I knew it was going to be a shorter one in general, because the things that I'm up to with this and the next few chapters are sort of new territory for me, but this honestly surprised me a little. I think it's a nice change of pace, though, what with so many of my "recent" chapters being so long. Hopefully it should take less than half a year to get each new chapter out, but I'll try adding a bit more substance next time.
Anyway, with that, our intrepid duo heads to the Crystal Empire! Who do you think they'll meet up with? Next chapter starts soon, so I hope you enjoy it!

What Lies Beneath

Light refracted off of every building in the Crystal Empire that morning. The first train of the day had pulled away, and Boltsinger walked through the streets. His gait was awkward, wings pulled down and his belly unnaturally raised. He looked down between his forelegs, cocking an eyebrow at the dragon beneath him. "Are you sure you need to hide like this?"

"Do you want to get swarmed?" Spike retorted, careful to hide his face. "The last thing we need is for the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious to get in the way."

"Oh, it can't be that bad." Boltsinger dismissed with a roll of the eyes. "They get that way for just about anyone that saves the Crystal Empire."

"Twice." The reptile added, bringing two claws forward from under the equine.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You're the big hero." He directed his attention to the castle in the center of town, calling up a memory. "Oh yeah! You remember that giant tornado that totally destroyed the kingdom a few years back?"

"Uh… No."

Boltsinger lowered his head to lock eyes with him once more. "You're welcome." He wrapped his tail around the end of Spike’s, pulling him out from under him to plop onto his back. “I think you’ll be okay." A twitch came to his ear, directing his attention to the square. The sound of cheers reverberated all through town, declarations of awe and praise for great beauty repeating themselves from nearly every voice. "Besides, I think your adoring fans are a little distracted."

Spike stood up on the Pegasus' back, following his gaze with a hopeful smile. "You think it could be Paradigm?"

The stallion smiled back at his cohort, bending down with anticipation. “Could be. Wanna find out?”

“Ooof course!” he settled into position on Boltsinger’s back, holding on tight as wings flared and hooves flailed. Before Spike knew it, they were off at a gallop.

The crowd they found was different from what they had expected. Normally, there would be loud cheers, but this one had gone silent since their arrival. Only subtle comments could be heard every so often over the mumbles of other conversations. Boltsinger began to flutter above the crowd in an attempt to catch a glimpse. Walking gingerly through the clearing was an elderly-looking Unicorn mare with a coat of a faded color reminiscent of berries, turning to white at the tips of her ears and hooves. She was tall and slender, even despite her age, with a pronounced curve to her horn and eyes of a pale cerulean. Her Cutie Mark depicted a misty cloud, but above all else, her mane and tail drew the most attention. They were gradients of arctic blue and turquoise, fading to lighter shades at the ends, and like the rulers of the nation, flowed in the wind with an almost magical mist-like quality. She wore a graying blue yukata, signs of wear evident at every edge with a delicate blue flower at the base of her neck. She gave respectful nods to all of the Crystal Ponies around, making her way down the road to a garden of crystal blooms.

Spike rested his head on Boltsinger’s mane, looking on at the pony that drew such attention. “Oh yeah, Mistmane is living up here now.” He chuckled to himself, settling back between the flapping wings. “It’s no wonder everypony’s so distracted.”

“Did I just hear what I think I heard?” came a question from the crowd. In an instant, all eyes turned to the airborne duo.

“And with that, I take my leave.” the stallion declared, smirking back at Spike. “I’ll gather info while you tend to your adoring public.”

Spike’s eyes widened, head reeling back a ways. “What?! Why do I have to do this part?!”

The Pegasus’ smirk only grew. “That’s what you get for saving the Crystal Empire.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I agreed to this! Let me at least say--” With a burst of wind, Spike found himself tumbling backwards in the air mid-sentence. He opened his wings and began to flap furiously, righting himself and ascending a little before scowling at the orange and blue streak that was rushing away from him. He clenched his fist, jutting his arm forward and raising two claws. “Darn it, Bolt! I saved the Empire twice!!”

Boltsinger laughed as the dragon sank into the crowd, turning his attention forward. His mind raced with ideas of who to talk to about the pony they sought. He could pay Cadence a visit, given the proximity and a desire to see his niece. But that seemed like more of a distraction than a direction. He’d been chewed out on that subject more than enough. He considered the library, or asking various ponies around the town, but he could have stayed with Spike if that was all he was going to do. No, he had to find somepony that would really know what goes on in the Empire. Somepony with a good eye. “Of course!” He slammed one forehoof into the other as the idea hit him, his flight path altering to the perfect destination.

Slowly but surely, crystals began to take floral shape in a peaceful garden of sand. There stood Mistmane, her horn alight in a color not unlike the mark on her flank with a face of content on full display. Her work in the Crystal Empire had been a new challenge, but a fulfilling one. And the ponies she’d met through it all were equal in their complexity. She took a deep breath, taking in the beauty of what she’d created as the sound of flapping wings filled her ears. “Come to see the gardens?” she asked, unmoving. “Or are you here for something else?”

Boltsinger gently touched down behind the mare, bowing low as he did. “Well… I’m… here to speak with you…” He opened his eyes and rose, looking around the area. “Though I certainly can’t deny this place is beautiful.” When his eyes finally fell upon Mistmane, a lump formed in his throat. Up until that moment, it hadn’t yet dawned on him just who he was addressing. This was a sorceress on par with Star Swirl. The one Rarity looked up to, and the progenitor of her Element of Generosity. “Um… M-my name is…” He looked away, scratching his mane with his wing. “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter to someone like you, huh?”

“Why wouldn’t it matter?” she asked, glancing back at him. “It wouldn’t trouble ‘someone like me’ in the slightest. But if you’re not comfortable, that’s perfectly alright." She gave him a soft smile, a glimmer of recognition in her eye. “So, then, what is it you’d like to speak with me about?”

The sorceress’ words put Boltsinger’s mind at ease to a degree, forcing him to slap his face with his wings and clear his throat. “Well then… My name is Boltsinger, and… I’m looking for a friend.”

“I see.” She turned to properly face her guest, taking in his features with a finely-honed eye. “You remind me of a pony I met a couple of moons ago.” She moved to a solitary rock in the center of the garden, taking a seat and putting a hoof to her chin. “He showed up in much the same way you did, actually. Quite sudden, like a flash of lightning.”

“Like lightning, huh?” Boltsinger cocked a curious eyebrow. “Sounds like an interesting pony.”

Mistmane slowly nodded, patting the space next to her. “Would you like to hear about him?”

With a light flap, Boltsinger took the offered spot, coming to a rest on the stone. “Absolutely.”

Mistmane looked up at the castle, stroking her chin with reverence. “Well then… As I said, he appeared in much the same way you did. I was standing just over there…”

It was another beautiful spring day in the Crystal Empire, in which Mistmane tended to the work she had come to love. She had long since been tasked with managing the crystal gardens, and the only thing that brought her more joy than the blooms themselves was the faces of the visitors who took it all in. She turned around to face one such visitor as he strolled in. He was a brown-coated Unicorn stallion with silvery eyes and a black mane. The smile on his face was different from what she was used to. Yes, there was appreciation, but at the same time… something else. She gave the pony a low bow. “How wonderful to see you in the gardens today.” she greeted, approaching him with a cordial hoof extended.

The stallion bowed in kind, taking her hoof and shaking. “Well met, indeed. You’re… Mistmane, yes?”

She nodded slowly, her eyes never breaking from his. “I am. But you have me at a disadvantage, sir.”

“I’d wager nopony has you at a true disadvantage, madam.” he corrected, lowering his head respectfully. “The ground upon which you trot is always the high ground.” He looked up once more, flashing a brilliant smile. “But it would be rude not to give you the courtesy. My name…” he put his hoof over his heart. “... is Paradigm.”

“I knew it!” Boltsinger exclaimed, swinging an enthusiastic hoof. “He did come here!”

“So he’s your friend, then?” Mistmane wondered, smiling at the stallion’s excited face. “I did think you felt alike. Something in your Cutie Mark seemed familiar. But I digress… A story must needs be told.”

Boltsinger froze for a moment, soon lowering himself to the floor. “Yes. Of course. Sorry about that.”

The elderly mare chuckled to herself. “You’re quite alright. Now, where were we...?”

“My name is Paradigm.” the stallion finished, returning to his full height with his hoof lingering over his heart. “And I’ve travelled quite a ways to meet you.”

The sorceress rolled her eyes. “Just like half of the ponies that visit.” Her face drooped slightly. While she loved what she did in the Crystal Empire, she had quickly learned the price of her legendary status. It was a minor inconvenience, but… “Do you have any questions for me?” One she was willing to deal with if it meant showing the land the true meaning of beauty.

Paradigm rose once more, stepping forward and waving a hoof in front of him. “Oh, I’ve a plethora, but I feel I don’t deserve to ask until I’ve proven myself.”

“Proven yourself?” A sense of intrigue found its way to the forefront at that statement. “And what sort of pony would need to prove themselves to me?”

The silvery magic in the stallion’s horn made itself evident in an instant, sparks of electricity surging within as his face turned to a smirk. “The sort that would take you away from this place.” He turned to the side, revealing his mirror of a Cutie Mark to be crackling with lightning, an image of her own mist cloud reflected within. Mistmane’s eyes widened at the marvel of a mark, only wondering what it could mean. Her pondering was short-lived, though, as Paradigm hunched over in a deep bow not unlike her own practice. Touching his horn to the ground, the whole area began to shake. Out of the ground sprouted a plethora of new crystals, twisting, turning, and converging into a singular shape above her. When the rumbling finally died down, the form that loomed ahead was one she’d not seen for more years than she could rightfully remember.

“How did you…?” she asked, met only with a playful smirk from Paradigm. “Hardly anyone knows what I once looked like… Let alone could create it like... “ she gestured to the wonder of statuary she now beheld, a vision of the mare from a time long before. A time when she had the outer beauty to match what she saw in others. Her eyes fell on the stallion, her own face the very picture of befuddlement.

Paradigm put a hoof on his creation, breathing a sigh of relief as his magic faded. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He stood in front of the statue, looking back at his flank. “Your talent truly is incredible.”

“My talent?” she repeated, approaching him with an inquisitive eye. “Then what I saw before… On your flank?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” he affirmed, gesturing to his Cutie Mark. “I suppose you can say I’ve always had an easy time learning from others. One might call it my calling. Which, frankly, brings me to my point.” He walked to the middle of the garden, gazing in reflection at the crystals all around. “Some time ago, I thought that I was worthless without the things I got from others thanks to this mark. Then I met some ponies that taught me that that’s not quite the case. Rather, that it helped me in ways not many ponies had access to. But that’s not really fair to everypony else, is it?” He looked back at her, gesturing to the area around them. “Why should I have this kind of skill if not to make it simpler for others? Teach them what my friends have taught me. That we can all be better if we simply watch and learn.”

Mistmane let out a chuckle, a chord of familiarity having been struck. “So you wish to teach like they do at the school Princess Twilight started?”

Paradigm winced for a second, hiding a mild blush behind his hoof. “Well, they’ve all certainly been a major influence…” He looked away with half a smile. “Some… more than others…” He closed his eyes reverently, finding his focus once more. “But no… I believe my path lies elsewhere.”

Mistmane sat by the statue, extending a hoof out to the stallion. “Very well, then. Care to tell me what your plan is?”

Paradigm’s mane fell over his eyes as he made his approach, an audible laugh ringing through the garden. “It’s simple. I need a troupe again.”

“A troupe, huh?” Boltsinger put a pondering hoof to his chin, reflecting on the choice of words. “When we met in Trottingham, Paradigm had this whole ‘Talent Troupe’ thing going on that had ponies thinking he was the only one that could spread the kind of knowledge and friendships they wanted. Starlight said it reminded her a lot of when she was more on the morally grey side, actually.”

“Yes, he explained that situation to me in detail.” Mistmane confirmed. “He also told me how you and your friends helped him try to change.” She looked away for a moment, her flowing mane moving to obscure his view of her face. “I am sorry for not being upfront about knowing who you are. You seemed... nervous when you landed.”

“I mean, I’m nervous when I meet anyone.” the Pegasus admitted, rubbing his neck with his hoof. “At least you weren’t as intimidating as Star Swirl.”

The sorceress smiled at the mention of her old friend, letting out a giggle. “Yes, he has that air about him, doesn’t he?” The ponies shared in a more boisterous laugh, easily regaining their calm. “I indulged him for a while of course. He seemed sincere, so I thought to hear him out. But rather than continue his pitch, he simply bowed and thanked me. It wasn’t for another two weeks that I saw him again…"

Paradigm stood alone in the crystal gardens as Mistmane made her approach. His presence had been expected since their last meeting, but she admitted to herself that this method came as a surprise. He had already begun tending to the flowers in much the same way she'd become accustomed, creating blooms that looked crude at first, but quickly changed into something with more flair to it as he went. “No… I’m not sure that’s right... “ he told himself, furrowing his brow at his most recent attempt. “Hers were more like…”

“It’s something more like this.” Mistmane finished, lighting her horn to effortlessly shape the crystal into a stunning rose. “But that was a good start. Have you been practicing?”

He turned around, a shade of red appearing on his cheeks. “Off and on, yes. I’ve been trying to get a grasp on it, but the sheer power of your talent is… a lot to handle.” His eyes drifted toward her Cutie Mark, a tiny spark flickering on the end of his horn. “It seemed a good idea to make my case again anyway.”

“That case about joining your little troupe?” she queried.

“That would be it, yes.” he stated, stepping aside to let her work. “I thought I could observe you while we talked, if you don’t mind. Perhaps you could teach me your method?”

Rolling her eyes, Mistmane moved the flower into place. “There’s not much to observe today. But I’d be glad of the company.”

“There’s plenty to observe in such a presence as yours.” he told her, making for a nearby path. “How about a tour, then? I don’t come to the Crystal Empire near often enough.”

Mistmane stood with a genuine smile, striding ahead of the stallion. “Yes, I think a stroll would be lovely.”

“Excellent!” Paradigm trotted in place, an excited flicker of electricity popping from the tip of his horn. “There’s a lot I want to ask, and this seems the perfect opportunity!”

The sorceress gave him an affirming nod as they began their walk. The gardens kept Paradigm in awe for a while, asking about the magic used to create such wonders. She indulged his curiosity for a while, talking at length about the philosophy behind her spellwork until the city proper came to view. All over, they saw examples of ponies working together, playing together, living together. A spark of wonder flew from his horn as he observed that which inspired his ambitions. He seemed especially curious about the particular activities the Crystal Ponies performed, how their Cutie Marks would sparkle when they accomplished their tasks. The more he looked, the more his horn began to discharge. Like he was tapping into the ponies around him. In a flick of intrigue and magic alike, she closed her eyes, letting an unseen magic spill from her horn. It washed over the ground around her, coming up and enveloping all sources of magic in the area. As expected, it crept up Paradigm’s legs, swirling around his Cutie Mark a little before moving up to his horn. From there, it shot out in every direction in jagged arcs, each landing on a different pony’s flank and pulsing back to him.

Most telling of all was the look in his eyes as each pulse returned. They grew wide for a moment, the silver in them flashing with power and a hint of hunger. He looked at all the ponies dotting the town, smile ever-widening before finally looking back at the legend in his company. “Is everything alright, Mistmane?”

The eastern mare’s eyes shot open, washing away the image before her to see the stallion’s concerned face. “Oh! Yes, quite alright.” She resumed her walk, taking a calming breath to regain herself. “I just got carried away by my thoughts.”

“Thoughts, eh?” he trotted up to match pace with her, quirking his eyebrows. “You wouldn’t happen to be considering my offer, would you?”

Mistmane smiled, beckoning him along to the garden. “There’s more to it than that.”

Paradigm lit up like a birthday colt, leaping ahead of her and flicking his tail. “Really, then? Do tell!”

“It’s about that magic of yours.” she explained, igniting her horn with a streak of magic that wrapped around his own. “I’ve been paying close attention to it, trying to see what makes it tick.” She sent a surge of her own opal aura into him, sending the stallion reeling back with a surprised gasp. “I’ve learned much in a short time. Like how you can feel every helping of power you access with that spark of yours.”

Paradigm’s face flushed for a moment as he waved the magic from his horn. “Is that so? I… hadn’t noticed.” His gaze went down, looking at his reflection with a weak smile. “I suppose it does feel good to learn from friends, doesn’t it?”

“It really does.” she agreed, slowing her pace as the horizon revealed the statue Paradigm had created. “Your cause is a truly noble one. It’s not the first time it’s been done, but nevertheless it’s one of the most admirable pursuits a pony can take on.”

Paradigm came to a stop in front of the statue, a realization beginning to form within. “I’m sensing a…”

“But…”

“There it is…”

“I don’t think that’s all there is to it in your case.” She put her hoof on the statue’s base, taking in its beauty once more. “Behind every beautiful dream belies something less lovely. I’ve seen it time and time again in the adventures my friends and I shared, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see it in you.”

With a sudden snort, the black-haired Unicorn approached once more, a more prominent stomp in his step. “Less lovely? What can you possibly mean by that?”

Mistmane took a mournful look back at him, letting her hoof fall away to reveal cracks in the statue’s foundation. “The more power you take in, the more cracks appear.”

Paradigm’s forehoof did another stomp, extending the cracks further. “Power? What’s wrong with taking in a little power every now and then?” He waved a foreleg broadly, eventually pointing to the south. “Rarity told me that it was perfectly fine to do it if it helps me keep calm, and that’s precisely what I do!”

“That might have been true at first, but not so anymore from what I can see.” She put a hoof on his shoulder as she began her trek home. “You need to center yourself before you can authentically pursue your ambition. It won’t be easy, but it can be done.” She flashed him a small smile. “And when you’re ready, I’ll be ready to listen.”

“I don’t know how long he stayed in the garden after that.” Mistmane went on, regret lining her face as she looked back at Boltsinger. “Just that he was gone the next morning.”

Boltsinger stood with a stretch, breathing a sigh. “I can imagine it wasn’t easy to hear that from you.” He offered her a hoof to stand up. “But then again, nothing worth doing is ever easy.”

The Pegasus found his offer graciously accepted, as the elderly mare was soon looking him in the eye. “You sound as if you know from experience.”

“All too much, I’m afraid.” he admitted, scratching his neck with his wing. “There’s so much I’ve not been sure about. But it’s easier with my friends.” He started a walk down the road, beckoning the misty mare to accompany him. He chuckled at a thought that sprang to mind, but before he could voice it…

WHAM!

Something purple and green landed in front of them, groaning with pain. “Owww…” Spike pushed himself up from the apparent groove he’d made in the ground, spying the ponies as he took in his surroundings. “So that’s where you went.”

"How are the fans doing?" Boltsinger teasingly wondered, helping the dragon to his feet.

"Oh they're fine. Don't know a thing about Paradigm except that he went to visit…" he caught a glimpse of the Unicorn in their company. "... Mistmane. Hi."

“Lovely to see you again, Spike.” she replied with a courteous nod. “Your timing is impeccable, actually.”

“We’ve been talking about Paradigm for a little while now.” the Pegasus added. “It’s been… interesting.”

A glimmer of hope shined forth from the dragon's eyes, looking up at the elderly mare. "Interesting like you know where he went interesting?"

"I was going to get to that soon, yes." she confirmed, starting down the road with her guests. "This was just a few days ago, actually. The last time I saw him…"

"Mistmane!" Paradigm called, yanking the sorceress' attention from another visitor
"Mistmane, I need you to reconsider, please!"

She turned to face the stallion. His body was shaking like she had never seen before, hair disheveled, and a crooked smile on his face. She stepped up to him, extending a hoof. “Paradigm? Paradigm, are you alright?”

“I’m fine! Perfectly fine!” he answered, knocking the hoof away and trotting around her. “I’ve been working hard, after all! Trying to do what you asked! Can’t you see the difference from when last we met?”

“I can, indeed.” Her horn went alight, putting an ornate wall of magic in front of him. “And you seem troubled. Agitated.” She put a hoof on his shoulder, where his trembling sent a shock through her system.

He sent her a widening smile, eyes shrunken with an electric spark within. “I just did as you suggested, of course!” He let out a nervous laugh that only grew louder and faster, stepping back and looking at the sky before his head snapped back to look at her. “I haven’t ‘taken in power’ for two weeks! And I feel lo-ho-ho-hoooads better, as you can see!” He gestured broadly at himself. “So, I’m most certainly ready! How about you listen like you promised?”

“Yes, of course!” she sat beside the twitchy stallion, giving him a shaky smile. “Tell me everything, please!”

For a moment, Paradigm’s shaking slowed. He lowered his head, looking at his hoof with a deep breath. “I just… I can’t…” He raised his hoof so as to look at the bottom, as if expecting a kind of reflection there. “I can’t do this alone… I need…” He closed his eyes, hoof falling to the ground. “I need friends…”

“So, too, do we all.” Mistmane affirmed, scooting closer. “None of us would be who we are were it not for our friends.” She placed a hoof on his back, feeling his tremble all the more. “And someday I hope I can name you among mine.”

Silver eyes went wide once more, shifting to look at the mare next to him. “Someday?” He brushed the gray hoof away, brow furrowed and fierce as his horn came to life. “You just agreed that I need friends, but you hope that you can be one someday?! Why not now?!” He rose to all fours, his horn sparking with electricity that pulsed through the garden. “I’ve told you just about everything there is to know about myself! So why is it someday?”

The silver-eyed stallion’s sudden fury sent a strange pain to Mistmane’s head, forcing her a few steps back as she stumbled to her hooves. She shook her head, planting her hooves and standing firm. “You have to understand, Paradigm, that ‘someday’ is not ‘never’. I know about you, yes, but I don’t know you!” She put her hoof over her heart, attempting to step toward him. “That takes time and effort, just like anything else!”

“Then take the time! Make the effort!” he commanded, stomping hard enough to leave cracks in the crystal below as another pulse erupted from his horn. “Don’t just write me off as a ‘not yet’ or a ‘not now’! Come with me and become my friend!” The lightning on his Cutie Mark started to crackle, showing the faint image of a crystal blue shape in the mirror.

“I would love to do just that!” she declared, straining to stay up as another pulse began to push her back. “But you know it isn’t so simple as that! I’ve a job to do here in the Crystal Empire!”

“Oh yes, you make pretty flowers!” Paradigm spat, swiping his foreleg in front of him to send forth yet another pulse. “Such an important job to do when somepony else is in need, isn’t it?”

The sorceress’ eyes narrowed at the comment, her mane beginning to billow amidst the magical force sent against her. “You think sculpting flowers is all I do?” A streak of magic climbed up the grooves in her curved horn, followed by a blaze of raw power. “If that were the case, I would never have been called here!” She closed her eyes, hoof over her heart, and held her head high as the power from her horn took shape. A roar filled the air as the magic swirled together, revealing the image of a long, snakelike dragon with antler-like horns looming over the raven-haired Unicorn. “The Crystal Empire is my home, and I give my all to protect it and the Crystal Ponies who--”

A loud snort interrupted the mare as Paradigm reared up on his hind legs, flailing his hooves in the air with silver magical wings flaring out. “I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE CRYSTAL PONIES!!!” he declared, bringing his hooves down with a force that blew the dragon facsimile away. The ground rumbled at his display, causing large crystal formations to spring up around him, shattering every flower, every tree, and every statue in the garden to rain only the smallest of shards upon the present ponies.

The shards settled a moment later, dust clearing upon a ruined garden with Paradigm standing there, panting and furious. The magical wings remained at his sides, extended to their full length while his Cutie Mark reflected the familiar mark of a crystal heart with gold adorning each side. It took little time for a crowd to form around them, some ponies shaken by the show of power, some commenting on the presence of Princess Cadence’s Cutie Mark, and some urging their foals to get as far away as possible. Each voice, each word, each emotion echoed in the stallion’s ears, reminding him all the more of what he had once been, and what he feared he would become again. Finally, standing over him was the elderly mare he’d come so often to see, a look of pity adorning her features.

“That is why I cannot call you my friend yet, Paradigm.” she told him, sitting down before him. “You need time before you can open up, and someone who can better understand your plight. Otherwise, you may get lost in this power and lose yourself.”

“Someone to understand…” he repeated to himself. The mark in his mark flickered for a moment, quickly fizzling away along with the wings. “That’s… good advice…” He stood tall once again, smiling down at the Pillar of Beauty. “I’m… sorry about all this. I think it’s best I take my leave. Perhaps when next we meet, we’ll become proper friends?”

Mistmane stood up with a genuine smile. “I would like nothing more.”

“And when all was said and done, he took the next train westward.” Mistmane concluded, gesturing in the direction of the train station. “I’m just glad he was able to see some reason after all of that.”

“What about the gardens?” Spike windered, moving to a hover next to her. “You said he destroyed everything, but it was all shiny and beautiful just a minute ago.”

“All he destroyed was something created on the surface.” the old mare explained, lighting her horn to bring another crystalline bloom from the ground below. “It is certainly beautiful, but its true value isn’t in meager flowers.” She tapped the ground next to the stem, bringing a few extra leaves sprouting forth. “It’s what lies beneath that counts. Once you know that, recreating a garden like that becomes easy.”

Boltsinger let out a laugh, stopping to take in the view around them. “Only you would think something like that would be easy.” He paused for a moment, feathers stroking his chin. “Well… you and Rarity.”

Spike’s eyes went wide, sending him straight up for an instant. “That’s right! And speaking of Rarity, we gotta keep going for her sake!” He burped out his notebook, landing in front of Mistmane with quill in claw. “You said he was going to the west, right? Any idea what towns he might be headed to?”

Far to the west of the Crystal Empire, a loud knock came to the door of a house in a town that smelled of sweet pears. A tall, slender stallion stood on the front porch, waiting patiently outside as the sound of hoofsteps came up and opened the entryway. Inside stood a gray mare with green eyes, a white mane that faded to black at the end, and a brilliant glowpaz necklace. The stallion gave a friendly wave, smiling wide with a spark in his eyes. “Ah! Hello, Sparks! You’re just the pony I was looking for!”

Author's Note

This chapter delved into some new territory for me. I've done it a little bit, but I'm still not used to doing something so flashback-heavy. And more than that, Mistmane was... a challenge. The show doesn't give her much time or character and I couldn't find comic chapters that helped, so she was hard to pin down.
As for why it took so long... I don't have much excuse. A lot has been piling up all at once and I've gotta deal with it in the same way. But I still don't stop writing. I've already got ideas stewing, and I really hope you enjoy them!

A Visit From Family

On a train heading westward, Boltsinger and Spike had the rare car to themselves. The Pegasus sprawled across an entire seat, while his dragon companion sat on the floor below him, poring over various notes he’d taken on their trip. In his claws was a different notebook than he’d been using thus far, the page filled with words he’d scribbled on in a decidedly lyrical form. He tore the page out, tossing it up and blowing a puff of flame at it. “I… can make… a… promise…” he began, writing the line in the book. “Yeah, that’s a good start.”

“What’s a good start?” Boltsinger chimed, his muzzle directly next to Spike’s ear.

Spike let out a small scream, fumbling with the notebook. “Nothing! Nothing at all!” He caught the notebook, holding it close to his chest. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”

“Hard to nap with all the scribbling and singing you’re doing.” he smugly stated, shifting his weight to look over the drake’s shoulder. “So, a song, huh? Whatcha got so far?”

With a defeated exhale, Spike opened the notebook again. “It’s not much. I’m not exactly a songwriter, you know.”

“Neither am I, but I bet we could come up with something together.” He crossed his fetlocks, looking out the window in front of him. “Now if you want a great songwriter, look no further than Sweetie Belle.”

The dragon chuckled in agreement, hopping into the seat and leaning against an orange wing. “Yeah, she’s definitely got a knack for it.” He joined the stallion’s gaze, lowering the notebook a little. “I wonder how everypony back home is doing…? I hope they’re all okay.”

Boltsinger’s wing wrapped around the young reptile, pulling him closer. “I’m sure they’re doing fine.”

The Carousel Boutique was quiet, save for the sound of the sewing machine. Sweetie Belle breathed a sigh at the sound, moving through the hall to check on her big sister. Ever since the slumber party, days had been the same. She had smiles to give, yes, but it seemed as if she was only going through the motions. She’d work on a design for a while, meet with any customers that came by, eat a basic meal, then a carton of vanilla oat swirl. She certainly seemed happier than before, but there was something wrong still.

She looked into the vaunted inspiration room, finding exactly what she’d expected. Rarity was hunched over a length of fabric, sewing patterns together with an empty mannequin next to her. “Rarity?” she called out, carefully stepping inside. A miniscule vocalization was the only response she got, prompting another step forward from the filly. “How’s the new design coming?”

The fashionista let out a long sigh. “Oh, it’s coming…”

That’s what you said the last six times I asked… the filly figured, noting a distinct lack of progress on the mannequin. “This is the last piece in the new collection, right?”

“It will be, yes.” Rarity confirmed, taking a forlorn look at the stark statue. "Just give it time. It'll be ready soon…"

“And it’ll be the best dress ever!” Sweetie Belle cheered, running up to give her a quick hug. “I’m going to go see what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are up to, alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine dear.” She put her foreleg around the filly, lingering a little longer than usual. “Be safe, and tell the girls I said hello.”

Sweetie Belle pulled away with a soft smile. "I will." As she turned to leave, the corners of her mouth turned downward. It's so hard seeing you like this, big sister… I have to do something to get you out of this funk!

"Which is why I propose that we all think of ideas to help Rarity feel like Rarity again!" Sweetie Belle concluded, stomping a forehoof on the clubhouse floor. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stared at their friend with wide eyes, having just been subjected to a long and involved description of what the couturier's days had been like for the past week. "What do you think?"

"Well, I can tell the slumber party didn't do enough for 'er." Apple Bloom affirmed, looking down at the blank checklist before her. "But I don't really know what all we can do. Seems like she's just gotta take some time."

“Yeah, and she’s got you there to help her out!” Scootaloo added, jingling her pendant with a glint in her eye. “You’re her family, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned a lot lately, it’s that family can make all sorts of things better!”

“Yer darn right!” the Earth Pony declared, her hoof raised high. She paused for a moment, the airborne hoof falling to rub her chin. “Then again, aren’t we all kinda like an extended family? That’s really what friends are in the long run.”

Scootaloo took a similar posture. “I guess so. I mean, Rainbow Dash is still pretty much my big sister, and I don’t know what I would have done if I never had you girls.”

“Aaaawwwww!” The musical Crusader smiled wide, nearly tackling her best friends with her affection. “I feel exactly the same! You two are just as much family to me as Rarity is!” For a moment, what felt like a harmony sounded in her brain, causing an ecstatic squeak to erupt from within. “I’ve got it! I know how I can help Rarity!” She trotted in place, spinning around as the details began to take shape. “Scootaloo, can I borrow your little brother for a few days?”

Scootaloo cocked an eyebrow. “Borrow my brother? What do you--”

“I’ll explain later! See you!” The ivory foal leaped over her comrades, swinging wide the door and shooting off toward the castle.

“Rarity! I’m baaaaaaaack~!”

The bell above the front door rang true once again, momentarily pulling Rarity out of her funk. She trotted to the showroom, rubbing the fatigue from her eyes. “Ah, welcome home, Sweetie Be--AAH!”

“AA!” cried a tiny voice that swiftly flew over and hugged the fabulous mare. Rarity wrapped her legs around the little colt, smiling wider than she had in weeks.

“Darling!!!” she squealed, pressing her hooves to Nova’s cheeks. “Now why are you here, precious boy?” Her cutesy tone pulled a laugh out of the colt, who put an affectionate hoof on her nose. She gave a little giggle, looking over his head at her little sister. “But seriously, why is he here?”

Sweetie Belle rubbed the back of her neck, averting her eyes. “Well, Twilight was super busy, and Scootaloo looked like she was really tired at the clubhouse today. So I thought I’d offer to give them a break.”

Rarity gave her sister a smirk, moving the foal onto her back. “And the fact that you’ve always wanted to babysit this little one by yourself has nothing to do with it?”

The filly’s face flushed considerably. “Maybe a little…” She extended her hoof to tickle Nova’s cheek. “I also thought you’d enjoy a visit from your family. Give you a change of pace, you know?”

"I suppose a change of pace might be welcome." Rarity admitted, looking back to kiss a tiny orange forehead. "And how long are you gonna be with us, little dear?"

Sweetie Belle lit up, raising a hoof. "Three days!"

“Ah, three days, wonderful.” she repeated dismissively, turning around to return to her work. Before she could finish her first step, her eyes snapped open again, turning her head back to the filly. “Wait. Three days?”

"Yup!"

"As in seventy-two hours?"

"That's what I said."

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re going to be doing this together, isn’t it?”

“Except when I’m at school.”

Rarity’s face sank, just barely maintaining her smile. “I see…” She made her way to the kitchen, floating a plate into place on the counter. “Well, at least things will be lively for a while. Did you bring any of his things?”

“Yup!” Sweetie Belle answered. A thud suddenly shook the boutique, forcing the elder sister’s gaze to turn behind her and see a pile of duffle bags that nearly towered over the filly.. “Twilight said this might not be enough, but I couldn’t carry any more.”

“Yes, of course…” Rarity said, letting out an ever-more nervous laugh. “I’m sure we’ll be fine...”

Rarity awoke in an instant as a high-pitched cry assaulted her ears. She threw off her blankets, looking to the crib placed in her room. “Antie’s here, Nova, honey! No--” She raised an eyebrow, finding the crib to be empty. After a brief pause, the crying continued. She burst to a canter down the hall, hoping against hope that the cause for the cries wasn’t what she thought it was.

Unfortunately, the smoke billowing out of the kitchen confirmed her fears. Inside the kitchen was what Rarity could only describe as a disaster area, with lumps of black substances on every plate, fire bursting out of the stove top, and Sweetie Belle covered in splotches of soot. The Crusader in question ran to her sister, looking back at the crying colt. “Thank Celestia you’re here! I was just about to get you!”

“Don’t tell me,” the mare began, her horn already at work in cleaning the kitchen. “You decided it would be a good idea to make a special breakfast for Nova?"

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I thought it would be a nice gesture since we have him here.”

Scanning the room again, the fashionista’s eyes fell on a glass of black muck. “And, let me guess, you even went so far as to make juice?”

“Oh, that?” The filly floated the glass over, letting her sister get a better look at it. “That’s the toast!”

“I… see…” Rarity took the glass and hung it over the sink, the sludge falling out and pooling near the drain. “Well… at least you’re improving.”

“I thought so too!” Sweetie Belle agreed, raising an emphatic hoof. “But as soon as Nova saw it he started crying! And all I wanted was to give him something better than those mashed carrots Scootaloo is always giving him.”

Rarity patted her sister’s back, quickly turning to the younger foal. “And that’s very sweet of you, but Nova hasn’t been taking interest in too many solid foods yet… Besides anything Pinkie Pie makes.” She rubbed her chin for a moment. “Perhaps I could ask her for some recipes later?” She giggled to herself, floating over a simple jar of mashed carrots and placing it in front of the colt. She leaned in close, putting her hoof on his head and giving him a light kiss to the forehead. “Nova, honey, Aunty Rarity has your favorite right here.” Slowly, the little prince opened his eyes, eying the familiar food before him. He pulled it over, burying his tiny muzzle in the jar and gobbling up what he could. With a satisfied flip of her mane, she put a hoof on the table. “Keep an eye on him, would you? Make sure his face is clean and all that.”

“Got it!” Sweetie Belle replied, magically lifting a pile of napkins over. “What are you gonna do?”

“Oh, the usual.” she teased, producing a large number of cleaning supplies. The sisters shared a laugh, each going to their tasks. “And remember, dear, no magic.”

Sweetie Belle stopped for a second, looking at her napkins, then over at Nova. The tiny Alicorn’s face was almost completely covered with the lighter orange of the carrots, with yet more of the meal splattered about the table. Her face scrunched up at the thought of what she now had to do, eventually putting a single napkin in her hoof before setting about her work.

That same morning, the Friendship Express pulled into the furthest town it could in northwestern Equestria. The sky was bright but littered with clouds, and the latest shipment of pear jam was on its way to the store. Spike and Boltsinger stepped onto the platform, shielding their eyes from the sunlight as they took in the sights. “Vanhoover, huh?” Boltsinger said, a tinge of regret in his voice. “Doesn’t get much more ‘west’ than here… I wonder if he’s been to see Brightling?”

“Only one way to find out, right?” Spike suggested, opening his wings. “Besides, I wanna get me some of that pear jam on the way.”

Boltsinger smiled back at the dragon, unfurling his wings in kind. They simultaneously took off, stopping only long enough to procure Spike’s jam as they quickly found their way to the stallion’s foalhood home. When they touched down by the steps, the door flung open with a hazel light. Before he knew it, there was a white-coated foal in front of him, wagging his tail at the sight of his uncle.

“I was wondering when you’d be along.” a tenor stated from within. Boltsinger turned his attention upward to find his brother’s stern face looking back. “Ever since that ‘friend’ of yours came by.”

“So you saw Paradigm?” Spike asked, hovering up to him. “We’ve been looking for him for a while, now!”

Brightling rolled his eyes, pushing the dragon aside to step past. “Figured as much.” He scooped Oathsinger into his wing, turning back to the house. “Come with me. I’ve got some explaining to do.”

Following his brother’s lead, the performance pony headed in. At first glance, nothing had really changed. Everything was where it normally was, with five or six of Oathsinger’s toys scattered about the living room. Despite the familiarity, though, something felt off. He took a seat on the couch, looking at his brother with intrigue. “So, what’s going on? Everything alright?”

“It was for a while. That friend of yours in Manehattan came by for a visit suddenly.” Brightling explained, gazing at a picture on the hearth. “Got to talking with my wife.”

“That’s great news!” Spike exclaimed, hopping into place next to the bluenette. “How is Sparks doing, anyway?”

A gratuitous guffaw came out of the older Pegasus. He lowered Oathsinger to the floor as his forelegs spread wide. “I dunno! She left with him!” He began pacing around the room, wings shaking with frustration. “He just showed up out of nowhere, talking about how he needed her help with something. Then they had some kind of special Unicorn conversation. Or at least that’s what I think it was. They wouldn’t tell me!”

Boltsinger tilted his head. “Special… Unicorn conversation? Not sure I follow you there.” He looked over to his scaled companion.

Spike merely shrugged. “I got nuthin’.”

“All I know is that their horns were lit up and they were looking really closely at each other.” Brightling continued, putting a feather up to his eye. He backed up for a moment as another thought came to him. “Oh yeah, and Paradigm’s horn was doing that lightning-y thing it does sometimes.”

Boltsinger recoiled at the detail, how previous encounters with the pony in question instantly coming to mind. "His horn only does that when…" His eyes went wide as a lump formed in his throat. He swallowed it quickly, shaking his head in disbelief. "No… He can't be…"

"Anyway, I've been here taking care of Oathsinger by myself." Brightling continued, flopping onto the couch. "Can't keep up at work because I'm too stressed out from not knowing where my wife is and having to watch my son, so they ordered me to take some time off." He breathed a loud, heavy sigh, eyes once again drifting to the hearth and the memories atop it. "I just don't know what to do…"

“I just don’t know what to do…” a mare began, looking over the selections at the Carousel Boutique. “This blouse matches my mane perfectly, but that last one was just sooooo comfortable!” She looked curiously over to the proprietor, who was in the middle of a glance back to the hall. “What do you think?”

“Hm?” Rarity pulled her gaze away from the hall. “What is it you needed?”

“Well, first I wanted some advice on these blouses, but now…” A curious smile creased the mare’s face as she stepped closer. “I have got to know what’s so big that you of all ponies gets distracted from fashion!"

Rarity giggled behind her hoof, ending on a small sigh. "Oh, it's nothing, really. I'm just watching a friend's foal for a few days. It was all my sister's idea, really. I'm just keeping an ear out in case--" Before her thought could conclude, a clatter arose from above, sending Rarity rearing with a near-screaming gasp. "Excuse me a moment!" With that, she sped into the depths of the boutique, skidding to a halt before her own bedroom door. "Don't worry, little darling! Aunty's here!"

Through the doorway, all she saw was a pile of blankets with the crib on its side. A muffled whine sounded from under the blankets, a series of bumps moving around frantically. She rushed in, lifting the blankets in a single flick of her horn and sweeping the crying baby off of the floor. “Are you alright, my sweet? Did you have yourself a little tumble?” The foal sniffled and wiped his tears away, burying his face in his gorgeous aunt’s fur. “Why don’t we give you a nice place to play?” She trotted down the hall once more, her thoughts abuzz with what might engage the young royal the most. "Hmm… Perhaps something fabulous to look at?" She stopped short of her primary work room, briefly rearranging everything that she might set Nova in his own little corner. "Here. What do you think of this?" she asked, gesturing to the on-display mannequins. "Complete with plenty of friends to dance around with."

The colt looked upon the gorgeous garments with a sense of wonder to him. He'd seen these kinds of things on ponies before, but never on toys like this. He stepped up to the edge of his makeshift playpen, eyes darting between the outfits as his aunty smiled on.

"Well, it seems like everything is in order here." She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the little ponies cheek. "I'll be back to check on you soon, my sweet." She took a deep, relieved breath as she turned to the door, heading back to the showroom with a satisfied grin she’d waited weeks to display.

Some time later, another customer stood in the show room, sifting through the stallions' wear as Rarity looked on. Every now and then, his ear would twitch, causing him to raise his head and look around. "Did you hear that?" he asked, finally turning to the proprietor with a raised eyebrow.

"Hear what?" she answered, taking a position beside him. "Is there something I can help you with?"

“Just wondering what that knocking is.” he buried his face in the garments again. “Not like your door’s locked or anything.”

“Oh, it’s probably something happening up…” Her eyes widened with realization, pupils turning toward the hall. “... stairs…” She pulled a dapper-looking suit from the hanger, floating it over with force that nearly shoved the stallion aside. "Honestly darling I think this would look positively smashing on you and you should try it on post haste while I look into that noise!" Her ear twitched as the knocking reached her. "That ever… increasing… noise…" With that, she burst into a gallop through the boutique, the clatter rising further as she closed in.

Finally, she reached her destination.

Nova was aloft, much like he enjoyed in his own room, with every fully-dressed mannequin in the room dancing around. Each and every knock that had sounded seemed to be from the mannequins hitting the walls, causing the higher shelves to shake and rattle. At first, she thought to pay it no mind, until she remembered what was on those shelves. Her horn immediately flared up as she sprang forward. Delicate fabrics floated down, easily snatched up, followed soon after by entire spools of rare threads. She chanced a glance over to Nova, who was blissfully twirling around in the air. With another twist, the mannequins smacked against the shelf again, sending a pack of sewing needles plummeting toward the foal. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as each individual needle spilled out of the package.

“NOVA, LOOK OUT!” She cried, tossing aside the more delicate items and jumping forward with a wave of her horn to catch the needles before they could hit the baby below. The Alicorn’s eyes opened at the sound of his aunty, unconsciously dousing his horn and landing. As soon as the mannequins were freed from the blue auras, they fell with an audible thud that shook the room, causing a pair of scissors to teeter on the edge of the desk. Rarity let out a noise that could only be described as part gasp and part scream, quickly taking the little pony in her forelegs and bucking the scissors hard enough to lodge them into the far wall. Nova let out an oblivious giggle, taking to the air next to the mare and lighting his horn. She sent him a nervous smile, licking her hoof and dousing his magic. “How about we play more later…”

“Can you please keep an eye on Nova today?” Rarity had asked, her tone and expression showing Sweetie Belle just how tired her sister had become after one short day. The younger Unicorn easily acquiesced, putting her hoof on the colt's shoulder and leading him away.

"I don't understand…" she looked down at the petit prince, more than a little befuddled. "Having you here was supposed to make Rarity happy, but now she's just a big ball of stress!" Nova extended a wing to the wall next to him, letting the feathers trail along while he babbled incoherently. "What about having a cute baby here could possibly freak her out that much?" She went into a prance, stopping ahead of Nova and kneeling over. “So, what does an adorable little colt like you want to do?” Nova’s head went into a curious tilt, eyeing the filly’s posture. With a mildly mischievous giggle, he mirrored her stance, hunching over with his tail in the air. With a little wiggle of his hindquarters, he zeroed in on his target, springing forward and tagging her directly on the tip of her horn. From there, he soared over her, laughing and flapping his way down the hall. Sweetie Belle blinked with bewilderment for a few seconds, turning her head with a grin and taking off after him.

The game had begun, with scores of laughter echoing through the boutique accompanied by the clamor of the shelves along the way emptying their contents. From there came a loud meow, followed by yet more laughter. In a moment of what he assumed was cleverness, Nova made a surprise twist in the air, moving into the prettiest room on the bottom floor. He glanced around the frilly room in search of a place to hide, eventually finding one in a rack of dresses. As the filly that followed entered the room, the colt let out a giggle.

“Oh? So we’re in hide and seek now?” she wondered with a smile. “I wonder where little Nova could possibly be?” She began to scan the room, starting on the end furthest from the still-hovering prince. “Is he over here?” she feigned, looking under a table. “Maybe over here?” She peeked behind a mirror, putting her hoof to her chin. “Hmm… Perhaps he’s…” Her eyes fell upon a picture hanging next to a dressing room. It was drawn on old, tattered paper with a heart made of baby blue sapphires. The main feature of the art piece was a pair of stick figure ponies in the middle, holding each other close and smiling. “... here…” She lit her horn, straightening the picture before she moved straight to Nova’s hiding spot. “I found you!” she declared, moving the clothes to reveal a smiling colt. She opened her forelegs for him, allowing him to nearly knock her over in a play tackle. “Do you wanna do something new?”

Rarity had to admit, the silence that had taken hold in the last few hours had her worried. She expected the clatter, the thumps and thuds, the mess, everything. It was Sweetie Belle, after all. But this was strange. She tread through the hall with tense breaths, The sight of a mess like this always made her anxiety skyrocket, but she was already at her usual trot at this point. "I shouldn't have left her with Nova… Shouldn't have agreed to any of this! He's a treasure but he's so much to handle! How could I have possibly been so callous about…" She flung the door to the show room open, searching frantically with her eyes until… "... this?" They fell upon the foals.

There they sat, at the edge of a table, with nothing but crayons and paper. Sweetie Belle was looking over Nova's shoulder, her horn holding the paper in place while a blue aura moved the crayons carefully along the page. "That's it, you're doing such a good job, Nova! Rarity is going to love it!"

Rarity’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. She stepped forward with an “Ahem!” before sitting next to them. “So this is what you’ve been up to!”

Sweetie Belle nearly jumped from the surprise, letting go of the paper and scrambling to cover it up. “You can’t see it yet! It’s not done!” She looked up at her sister with a stubbornly puffed-up face. “You’ve gotta wait until he’s finished, okay?”

The purple-maned mare’s face turned smug. “Oh, that’s fine.” she assured, floating an extra pencil and paper from across the room. “I’ve got all the time in the world.” She started a drawing of her own, keeping a careful eye on her little sister all the while. They kept on in relative quiet for several minutes, frequently looking at one another as if to check in. With one last stroke of the pencil, though, the elder sister stood and stretched, breaking the silence. “Well, then! That was nice, but if you’ve got everything well in hoof, I should get to work on this new design.” She started back to the door, feeling a slight tug at her tail before crossing the threshold. She turned her attention back, seeing a little orange face looking intently up at her.

“Ah!” the colt cried, levitating his project into her field of view. Amid a scribbled night sky of twinkling stars stood simple stick figures. Two of them in white, one with a purple mane and one with pink and violet, with a smaller orange one flying just above them with a messy purple and blue.

It was about as simple as a baby’s drawing could get, but the way he held it up for her sent a pang of emotion through the fashionista. She swiftly lifted Nova in her forehooves, twirling around on one hoof and holding him close. “Thank you, little one…” She floated the picture closer, looking over it at her little sister. “And thank you for putting him up to it.”

Sweetie Belle beamed. “You’re welcome!”

“And for spending the rest of the afternoon cleaning up after yourself.” Rarity finished, putting Nova on her back.

Sweetie Belle’s smile instantly vanished. “Wait, what?” Rarity guided the filly to the hallway, where a menagerie of clutter lay before them. “Oh…” She floated over a nearby broom, getting ready to begin as a ball of fluff knocked her onto the floor from above. She looked to the white ball to find a long-haired feline with opals in her collar. “Sorry Opal…” The cat in question sent her a piercing glare, taking a swipe at the filly before sauntering off.

"Mm-hm." the mare confirmed with a haughty nod. "And while you're at it, I have a question for you."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Why in the world is Twilight so busy that she can't see that Nova is looked after?"

In an instant, Sweetie Belle was silent, sweating, and swallowing a lump that had formed in her throat.

At the end of a long day, Boltsinger, Spike, and Brightling walked down the Vanhoover streets toward the brunette’s home. Their pace was slow, and passersby commented on how they smelled strongly of pears. Brightling looked to his sibling with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. “I appreciate you staying and helping today, but you really didn’t need to.”

“So? I wanted to.” the orange stallion retorted with a happy flutter of his wings. “I haven’t helped out at a farm since we set out on this little quest of ours. Nice to get a taste of home, you know?”

“Really?” Brightling blinked in disbelief, looking over at Spike. “How long have you two been on the road?”

“I dunno.” the dragon answered, nonchalantly shrugging. “I’d give it a couple weeks. Maybe longer. We've spent a lot of time on--" His cheeks began to puff up, claws swiftly covering his mouth. With a familiar belch, green flames spewed forth and transformed into a scroll. "What the…?" He opened the scroll, quickly scanning its contents. “It’s… from Rarity…”

“Rarity?” Boltsinger repeated, moving to get a look at the letter. "She didn't figure out what we were up to, did she?"

Spike cleared his throat, pushing the electric stallion back some. "It's probably better if I just read it…" He stood up straight, preparing his voice for a moment before…

My dear Boltsinger and Spikey-wikey,

The letter began. Rarity put the pen to her lips as the next words came to her. There was a lot on her mind, now, but first and foremost was a simple statement.

Thank you so much for all you've done for me. Going so far out of your way to find a way to make me smile again. I truly couldn't ask for better friends!

But at the same time, I think it's best that you two come home. My little sister has been doing everything in her power, and everything in Nova's, to let me know I'm still loved. And from what I've heard, Twilight is going a little nutty with worry about "her boys".

I'm dreadfully sorry for all the worry I've caused. I can't promise I'm completely okay just yet, but I'm well on my way! Truly, the best way you can help me right now is to show me those smiling faces upon your return!

Your friend, always,

Rarity

Putting the pen down, Rarity turned to the foals behind her with a huff. "I can't believe those two wanted to keep all of that from me." She started into a trot around the room, her brow furrowed to distract from the beginnings of a grin. "Gallivanting all over Equestria just to find one pony to bring home… All just for me?!"

"I know, right?" Sweetie Belle confirmed, turning to follow the mare's pacing. "It's like they were thinking about your feelings! How rude of them!"

"Exactly!" A white hoof pointed at a white filly. "Not like another pony who went out of her way to bring chaos into the house.”

The Crusader’s turning stopped, her eyes falling to the floor. “Oh… Yeah.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Hadn’t thought of that…”

A giggle erupted from the couturier, who pulled her sister into a tight embrace. “I’m glad you did, Sweetie Belle.” The sisters shared in a loving laugh. “And it helped me figure out the crown jewel of the latest collection!” Rarity lifted her sister up, taking her to the desk holding her drawing from before.

Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened at the image. A flowing white dress with streams of the same colors as the filly’s own mane, complete with a sweet little curl at the ends. Dotted about the skirt were numerous stars and musical notes, reminding her of her own flank. At the collar of the garment sat a silver necklace, lined with what looked like emeralds. "But this is…" She looked up at her sincerely-smiling sister.

"I call it 'the Ivory Crusade'!" Rarity declared, raising a foreleg dramatically.

Sweetie Belle's smile grew wider than she thought possible, with her eyes starting to well up with tears. She jumped into the fabulous mare before her, squeezing as much as a Crusader could. "I love it!" She pulled away, leaving her hooves in her sister's. "Welcome back."

Author's Note

I know... This one took a while. Life on my end has become a giant ball of stress, but I haven't forgotten to keep going! This writing is becoming just about the only thing I do that I'm truly proud of anymore. I'm not about to give up!
From here on out I have a decent idea of how the story will go up until the end. It might take another long while, it may not, but the end is in sight! Trust me!
And when it all comes out, I hope you enjoy it!

One Shell of a Surprise

"Rainbow!" called a distinct drawl from outside the door. "Rainbow, open up! I got sumthin' yer gonna wanna see!" This time, an incessant knock accompanied the voice.

Rainbow Dash had already been awake for some time, though, blushing furiously at the dreams that woke her. She sat up in her bed, groggily heading to the front entrance and opening the door. "Yeah, Applejack? What is it?"

The farmer rushed in with an uncharacteristic speed, sitting on the couch and beckoning her friend over. “You won’t believe what I found when I was scrapbookin’ this mornin’!”

The question sparked a bit of curiosity in the Pegasus. “Really? What is it, some kinda hidden apple that everypony forgot about until now?”

“Why don’tcha take a look ‘n find out?” the Earth Pony replied with a smirk.

Rainbow huffed haughtily, taking her time as she walked over the farmer. “This oughta be good.” She sat on the couch, eyes still confidently shut. “I bet it’s some old photo of Granny Smith ‘back in the day’.”

“Well, yeah, but that ain’t all.” She held the photo up to the Pegasus, letting her smirk widen more. “Now get a load o’ this!”

When Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, they immediately went wide. It was a faded photo, a sign of its age. As she’d expected, Granny Smith was there, but there was another pony that reminded her of Apple Bloom. It was difficult to tell for certain due to the lack of color, but the features looked similar enough. “So, is Apple Bloom secretly old or something?”

“Nah, that’s my daddy when he was a young’un.” Applejack dismissed. “Keep lookin’.”

“Okay…” Rainbow did as directed, squinting as she examined further. The little pony’s forelegs were raised with a smile plastered on his face, as if he was riding something. Curiosity piqued even further, she looked under the colt in greater detail. He was riding something. A shell of some kind. A rather familiar shell, in fact. “Wait a second… Is that--” She looked over the photo to a corner of the room, where that same shell and its owner slowly smiled back at her. “Tank?!”

Applejack nodded, her smirk becoming a smile. “Sure looks like ‘im ta me!” She looked over to the tortoise in question, resting her head on her hoof. “Fluttershy always told me that some reptiles can live ta be hundreds o’ years old, so it sure wouldn’t surprise me if ol’ Tank here’s been around fer an age or two!”

“Yeah…” Rainbow confirmed, taking a seat beside her pet, slowly stroking his shell. “You were searching for somepony for a long time, weren’t you, little guy?” Her features grew softer as she held the reptile close. Somepony to love, huh?? I can’t believe you’d wait that long… I know I'd have a hard time. “I think I wanna do something for him. Let him know he’s appreciated, you know?”

Applejack raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Oh? Whatcha got in mind?” Rainbow put a wing to her chin, pondering for a moment before a sinister sneer appeared. She rose to her hooves, snickering as she took her time approaching the farmer. “Uh… Rainbow? Why’re you lookin’ at me like that?” The cyan mare kept silent, spreading her wings wider with each step. “Now, I know you ain’t thinkin’ anything drastic, right? You just wanna--” Before she could finish, Rainbow’s wing became little more than a blur, passing over Applejack’s head with an off-putting draft. The Earth Pony immediately put her hooves on her head, feeling around to feel only hair as she looked on in horror. “Rainbow… What’re you doin’ with Talulah?”

Rainbow's features had become the epitome of mischief, a crooked smile lining her muzzle as she spun the stetson on her hoof. "Oh, you don't need to worry about that…"

Applejack took a tentative step forward. "Now, Rainbow, I know you know better than ta do anythin' to--" with a flourish of her foreleg, Rainbow balanced the hat on the edge of her hoof, teetering dangerously close to falling before… "MY BABY!"

Dropping the hat.

Applejack's foreleg stretched out, crying out in desperation while the multicolor mare chuckled villainously. A cloud of dust began to form, blinding the farmer for a moment as something seemed to slide across the floor. She tumbled backwards, landing on her rump and looking on as the dust cleared and something oddly pink was revealed.

"You need something?" Pinkie asked, looking back and forth between them.

Applejack's jaw dropped.

It was the strangest letter she had ever seen. Rainbow Dash needed help with something. It was vague, about a centuries-old turtle and the challenge she faced with her friends. The tan-coated mare knew this had to be serious, and dawned her cloak, glasses, and headpiece. Her disguise in place, she headed to the nearest train station. It was an agonizing wait, with other ponies constantly stopping her to chat, or worse, ask for her autograph. But such was the price to pay for the name she chose. Finally, her destination was reached. She stepped out to the platform, finally experiencing Ponyville for herself. But something was off. The letter spoke of a challenge, but all she saw around her were happy ponies living their lives. Only one of which, who was standing just off the platform, seemed familiar.

"A.K.! Over here!" Rainbow Dash called out, prompting the traveler to walk over. “I’m so glad you could make it!”

“Good to see you.” came the quick reply. She looked around with a furrowed brow. Despite her appearance at the time, she was prepared for any eventuality. “So where’s that turtle creature you mentioned?”

“Oh, him?” Rainbow chuckled, beckoning her along with her wing. “Follow me, and everything will become clear.”

“Getting cryptic on me, huh?” A.K. wondered, starting into a trot. “This oughta be good.”

Rainbow led her friend through a typically bustling town. A standard market, a standard town hall, standard mailmare bumping into almost everything. It was certainly an interesting town, but she couldn’t find anything that would demand her particular skill set. After a while, she found herself in a clearing, looking up at a pair of houses made of clouds. There was a large number of ponies gathered below with some even flitting about above. A.K. swallowed a sudden lump in her throat, making a steady way forward. “Is this that challenge you were talking about?”

Rainbow tilted her head with a confused smile. “Uh, what?” She laughed at the thought that sprang to mind. “Nah, this is just a party! Come on and meet everypony!” She flicked her tail excitedly, ready to shoot toward the crowd.

With a furrowed brow and a half-frown, A.K. chomped down on the multicolor tail, pinning her to the ground. “Rainbow Dash, I appreciate the invite, but this is not what you talked about in your letter.”

"Uh, yeah it is." the cyan pony answered, pointing at the celebration. "See? My friends are all there. And the 'turtle creature' is right in the middle of it. There's a few-- Well…" Her hoof rubbed her neck a little, her face turning a shade of red. "Somepony I really want you to meet, so…"

"So…?" A.K. repeated, trailing on with anxious anticipation.

As if on cue, a shadow passed over the sun to bathe the pair in shade. A.K. reared back at the sudden darkness, glowering up at the-- "Hey Rainbow Dash! You're back!" Pony? The shadow swooped down for a landing, touching down with a light flutter next to the Wonderbolt. "So this is that awesome friend you were talking about, huh?" He extended his white hoof to her. "Nice to meet ya! Name's Soarin. I'm kinda Rainbow Dash's main squeeze. What's your name?"

The tan mare rolled her eyes, taking the hoof and shaking. "A.K. Yearling. Nice to meet you too." When she lowered her hoof, the stallion’s foreleg seemed to keep shaking. His face seemed blank for a moment, as if he’d fallen into a stupor. “Are you okay?”

“So… you’re… A.K... “ His head jerked to the side, staring wide-eyed at Rainbow Dash. “BABE! I can’t believe it!” He turned to face her entirely, putting his hooves on her shoulders. “I mean, I knew you were awesome, but you’re actually friends with A.K. Yearling?!” He turned back to the author, shaking her hoof faster than before. “It’s such an honor to meet you! I’m, like, your biggest fan!” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat aggressively, sending a chill down his spine. “I mean… second biggest.”

A.K. rolled her eyes, turning her gaze toward the friend that had brought her here. The friend that was smiling mischievously and… blushing? Rainbow Dash was blushing? "Well, um… I'm sure you got a lot to do, and I need to introduce my friend to Tank, so…" Rainbow delivered a swift punch to Soarin's shoulder, leaving a small red mark. "I'llseeyoulaterbye!" And in a flash of color, she was gone, taking the other mare with her.

"So, is there anything you wanna tell me?" A.K. inquired, staring at Rainbow Dash over a still-spinning shell. The two sat in a bedroom littered with trophies for flight competitions, Wonderbolts posters, and artwork of a certain adventurous mare. On the bed itself spun a startled shell that shook with the sudden arrival. "Like… maybe why you brought me here?"

Rainbow put a hoof on the shell, bringing it to a stop and patting it gently. “Well, the main reason is for this little guy.” The reptile poked his head out of his shell, looking up at his owner and starting a little smile. “We just found out that Tank here is waaaaaay older than we ever thought. So I figured we’d throw a birthday party.” He gave the writer a smirk. “And we all know how much you like old stuff.”

“Old stuff, huh?” she repeated, moving to pet the tortoise. “First of all, it’s more than just ‘old stuff’. Those artifacts are Equestria’s ancient history and--” She stopped for a second, glaring at the Wonderbolt. “You know what I mean. But that’s not all there is to it, is there? You wouldn't pull me away from the latest Daring Do book for something this simple."

“Wait,” Rainbow nearly leaped from her bed, jutting her head forward. “There’s a new book coming out?”

"You think your letter would have made it if I was doing my other thing?" A.K. replied behind a smirk. She returned to the floor, making for the exit. "But if it's really that important that I'm here for now, I guess I can stay. You know, for that cute guy of yours."

Rainbow chuckled into her hoof. “Yeah, he’s cute, alright.” After a moment of silence, her eyebrow rose, looking at the gray-maned mare at the door. "Wait, which one are you talking about?"

A.K. winked. "Oh, you know." She let out a little laugh, swiftly moving past the door and shutting it before a response could arrive.

It was an interesting challenge, getting down from the cloud house without being seen. But A.K. had faced worse several times before. Before she knew it, she was looking around a party with a simple tortoise-based theme, populated with a mixture of strange and familiar faces. She raised her hoof slightly, ready to call out to one of them when-- “HI DARING DO…” Another pony called her, trailing into a droning pause. “...’S AUTHOR A.K. YEARLING WHO IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PONY!”

A.K. cringed, both figuratively and literally, at the sudden greeting. “Hello, Pinkie Pie…”

The cotton candy mare zipped over in a near instant, bouncing in place with a level of excitement that almost sent the writer reeling. “”Oh my gosh I can’t believe you came! Is this your first time in Ponyville? What’s your favorite kind of cake? Is there a secret reason you came? What about--” A hoof came forward to mute the mare’s manic muzzle, muffling any other questions for the moment.

With a deep breath, A.K. pulled back. “Yes, this is my first time in Ponyville, and there’s no secret reason for me to be here.” she snuck a look back to the cloudy home above. "At least none that Rainbow Dash is telling me."

“Aaaaaaaaaaand?” the party pony asked, craning her neck to get closer to the bespectacled mare.

“And what?”

“You never told me what your favorite kind of cake was!”

“Oh. That.” A.K. looked away for a moment, unsure if she wanted to meet Pinkie’s eyes. “I’m… not really a big fan of cake, actually.” She scratched her neck a little. “It’s too much sugar. If I’m gonna have something for dessert, I might as well have pie. Fruit is a lot easier to digest.”

Pinkie’s head ticked like a clock to one side. “Really? You don’t like cake… but you like pie?” With a nod from the writer, a chortle emerged. “So, you, of all ponies, don’t like cake, but you do like pie? And Rainbow Dash…” Her speech devolved into a high-pitched laugh, stopping her in place for a moment.

“What’s so funny?” A.K. wondered.

“Oh, nothing!” she dismissed, waving her hoof. “I just like to laugh.”

“Riiiiight…” The two of them kept on in silence for a moment, A.K. simply looking awkwardly around. “So… A party, huh? Sure is a lot just for a pet.”

Once again, Pinkie’s first response was laughter. “A lot? It’s the least we could do for him! He is part of Rainbow’s family, after all!” She nudged her companion in the side. “Wouldn’t you do the same for your own pet?”

A.K. shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. Never had a pet before.”

Pinkie let out another chuckle, pointing to a pony in the distance. “Don’t let Fluttershy hear that. She’d be shocked!”

The tan mare laughed in kind, sending a smile at the pony in question. “I can imagine. With you two around, I guess it makes sense to hold parties for pets.”

“Normally, yeah, but this whole thing was Rainbow Dash’s idea.” the party pony admitted, admiring the decor. “I just helped with the execution.” She let out a sigh, watching the various ponies pulling party prep. "That mare just can't hold back for the ones she loves. She even went so far as to try to stop winter from coming just because she didn't want Tank to hibernate! Can you believe it?"

A.K.’s eyes went wide for a moment, wondering how such a feat could even be possible. “That’s… extreme.” She thought about the mare in question, remembering the lengths she had gone to simply ensure that a single book would release. “So then, what’s the deal with Soarin?”

“Oh, him? He’s Rainbow Dash’s boyfriend!”

A.K.’s eyes nearly rolled back into her head. “I knew that. I was wondering how it even happened. Rainbow’s not really the type to do the whole ‘romance’ thing.”

“Ooooh!” Pinkie started, face lighting up like an excited foal. She moved the author to a nearby picnic blanket, sitting her down and taking a deep breath. “Weeeeeell… I suppose it all really started when she impressed the Wonderbolts at the Grand Galloping Gala by saving his pie but it was when she started Wonderbolt Academy that they all started noticing her. But Soarin really started to talk to her when Ponyville was trying to qualify for the Equestria Games and she proved how loyal she was and taught all of them the same lesson. But then there were a few other times where they got to talking like when she got framed for sending Spitfire away. But then when she really became an honest to goodness Wonderbolt then they started talking a LOT more up until he showed up at Twilight’s castle and made friends with Bolt on Hearts and Hooves Day. Then after Rainbow Dash got all upset he started staying in Ponyville saying it was all for the Wonderbolts but everyone knew it was because he had a crush on her. Anyway. They started flying together a lot and talking a lot and sometimes they even lit up the sky with magical Pegasus lightning fireworks! It probably helps that Soarin played a big part in teaching Scootaloo how to fly. But then, once they won gold at the last Equestria games she finally kissed him. They’ve been dating ever since, but every time Soarin does something sweet for her she gets so blushy she can’t say anything. First she would just back off a little, but these days she likes to hit him real hard and fly away. Kinda like she did when you got here!”

Of all the strange occurrences that had happened that day, A.K. found herself having trouble figuring out which was weirder. The fact that she was met with such a waterfall of words, or the fact that she easily understood every word. “So that’s… interesting.” She turned away from the bundle of pink, waving a hoof as she walked away. “I think I’m gonna mingle a little. Thanks, Pinkie Pie.” With the fastest wave the author had ever seen, Pinkie promptly hopped away, lifting a nearby gator onto her back as she went. There were many ponies around that A.K. could have talked to, but she decided that beating around the bush was a bad idea. She looked straight up, tempted to throw off her cloak and approach, but opted instead to raise her hoof. “Hey Soarin! You got a minute?”

“Yes ma’am!” his voice called out, forcing her to jump as she turned to him. He was standing in salute, a cloud of dust indicating his swift landing. She stared for a moment, a little confused at the gesture before he finally lowered his hoof. “Sorry. Force of habit. What do you need?”

“Nothing, per se.” she admitted, starting toward the edge of the gathering. “Just wanted to talk. Maybe see what all the hype is about.”

“Uh… hype?” Soarin echoed, scratching his mane with a curiously cocked eyebrow. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“What made a pony like Rainbow Dash decide to start dating?” She cut in front of him, stopping short and putting a hoof on his chest. “To be completely honest, your whole relationship is one big puzzle, and I wanna solve it.”

“A puzzle?” He wondered, tilting his head confusedly. “What, did you hear all your details from Pinkie Pie or something?”

A.K.’s hoof immediately retreated, a flush forming on her face. “I… well… Maybe.” She wiped away her embarrassment, furrowing her brow and glaring at him. “Still. You’ve got me curious, and I don’t give up easily when I’m curious.”

Soarin shrugged, letting a little red onto his cheeks. “Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.” He shot a glance up to the house, a goofy smile appearing as his favorite mare appeared outside the door. “I’m like- the worst Wonderbolt, especially compared to somepony like Spitfire. I haven’t really done anything besides be honest with her, either.” He looked back at the guest, finding a raised eyebrow over the rose-colored eyes. He backed off a step, waving a hoof between them. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! I mean, I’ve liked her for a long time, and I’m stoked that she feels the same way! I just… don’t understand why.”

“So, why don’t you just ask her?”

The stallion let out a sudden chuckle. “That’s a good one.” He shook his head with a brief sigh. “I’ve tried. She just does that thing where she hits me and flies away.” He rubbed his shoulder, wincing a little at the contact. “I wish she didn’t hit so hard, though.”

The idea of Rainbow Dash hitting anyone brought a fond memory to A.K.’s mind, forcing a laugh out. “You think that was hard? You should see how she does against Caballeron’s henchponies!”

The duo burst into a fit of laughter, the stallion wiping his brow and stepping back. “That’s a good one!” he exclaimed between breaths, still having trouble working past the yuks. “Caballeron’s… henchponies…” His breathing began to steady, eyes opening to see A.K. Yearling all over again. “Wait, what?”

She took a quick breath, raising a hoof in her nostalgia. “Oh! Last time Rainbow joined me on an adventure, she hit Withers so hard he had a hoof mark on his cheek for the next three adventures!” Her rump fell to the ground, knocking her cloak loose to reveal tan feathers. “I bet it’s still there! I almost felt bad for hitting him again!”

Soarin’s laughter came to a halt. He examined her anew, finding the features more familiar than before. “Yeah, that sounds like Dash, but…” He leaned in closer, squinting at what he saw. “Wait a sec… Are you actually Daring Do?”

“What?!” His question pulled A.K. from her revelry, forcing her to examine herself a little. “What are you talking about? I’m just…” She looked up at him, finding a mix of curiosity and wonder in his eyes. Her gaze suddenly went all over, making note of everypony present. Nopony here who doesn’t know already… Well, maybe a few, but that’s not a problem. It should be okay. She looked the white Wonderbolt in the eye, delivering an almost playful smirk. “What if I was?”

Soarin’s jaw slacked. “Huh?”

“I said…” she started, rising to her hooves with a flare of brilliant wings. Her cloak flew away, and a single swipe of her hoof removed her glasses and hat to reveal a jacket, pith helmet, and compass Cutie Mark. Her hoof moved over her heart, cheeky grin on full display. “What if I was Daring Do?” She stepped forward, her muzzle mere inches from his. “What would you do?”

The stunned Soarin stood in silence, eyes tracking the now-obvious Pegasus as she circled him. “I… uh…”

“Well? Your favorite character from the books is right here.” she teased, flicking his mane with her feathers. “What do you want to do?”

High above the party prep, Rainbow Dash sat with her favorite reptile. The time was drawing near, and she had just finished the arduous task of getting Tank’s flight harness on. As always, the tenacious tortoise was slow to start, but the moment she twisted the propeller into place, he was off. She waved him off with a laugh, turning her attention downward. Everything was more or less normal. Pinkie, Cheese, Twilight, and Fluttershy were all dancing around the record player, Rarity was obsessing over the decor, and Applejack was pacing around the food with a trio of Crusaders close behind. All the while, every critter from Fluttershy’s cottage and every pet she knew were running around in pursuit of the now-airborne birthday boy.

Then her eyes fell upon Soarin.

He was more stiff than usual, like he was dumbfounded by what he was seeing. Stranger still was the pony with him. “A.K.?” she asked herself, narrowing her eyes at the all-too-familiar sight. “Wait a sec… Daring?!” She stepped back, shaking her head. “Okay, so she dropped the disguise, it’s not like she’s…” She snuck a peek back over the ledge, finding the adventurer leaning much closer than before. Eyes half-lidded, and her signature smirk in place, it sent a twinge of emotion through Rainbow Dash’s mind. “Oh she better not be…” Her face turned a dark red, sending her leaping over the ledge toward them.

“What do I want to…?” Soarin once again repeated, eyes wide with confusion. Daring Do was standing in front of him, and he found himself drawing a blank. She looked at him in a way that reminded him of Rainbow Dash, sending his heart racing, but he just couldn’t bring himself to even think. “I… uh… I mean…” His wings came forward in a metaphorical flash, leaving bright red marks on his face as his thoughts caught up to him. “So, you mean now that I know your secret?” he wondered, putting a feather to his chin. “I mean I got a lotta questions, but as for what we’d do… Could you teach me how to handle a whip? The way you do it in the books is totally awesome!”

The playful smile was wiped clean from Daring’s face, a couple of silent blinks filling the silence. “You wanna…” she looked at her haunches, then back into the emerald eyes. “A whip?” Her expression quickly devolved into a chuckle, getting louder and fuller with every passing instant. “I see why she likes you so much!” A burst of delight sent her hooves around her barrel, wings flapping on instinct to keep her aloft in her laughter.

“What’s so funny, Daring?” a gravelly alto inquired. The party ground to a halt at the question, all eyes converging on the red-faced scowl of Rainbow Dash. “Or are you too busy flirting to think of an answer?”

“Whoa, Dash!” Soarin started, coming closer to the cyan pony. “It’s not what you thi--”

Rainbow’s hoof pressed against the stallion’s nose. “Then why are you so red, huh?” She pushed him back, leaving a hoof mark on his snout. “We’ll talk later!” She turned her attention to the adventurous author. “So what about you? Suddenly you’re okay with being social and letting your secret out?”

“Most of the ponies here already know that!” Daring argued, gesturing to a number of unsurprised faces all around them. “And they’re your friends! I know you trust them! And I trust you!” She crossed her forelegs, turning away from the Wonderbolts. “Maybe I shouldn’t have… You couldn’t even invite me to your house without some stupid excuse making it sound like an adventure, anyway…”

Rainbow's eyebrow raised as her jaw went slack. "What else was I gonna do? I didn't think you would show up otherwise! What do you think I should have said? 'Hey A.K., wanna come to Ponyville to help me impress my boyfriend?'"

The silence that fell between the two of them felt like forever. Daring let herself down, gathering up her disguise. "So that's it, is it? That's all I'm good for?" She draped the cloak over herself, sneaking a look back. "Well, I should get going. You had your party clown, so my business is done here." And with a wipe of her face and a flick of her tail, she galloped off.

Rainbow stood there for a moment, at a loss for words at what just happened. Soarin reached toward her, looking like he was about to say something, but found himself blown back a ways as cyan wings began to pump. "I'll be right back!" she informed him, her reflexes sending her airborne as she shot after her friend.

Daring stood near the town proper, shuffling her way back into her public persona. She shook her head quietly, wondering why she even bothered coming to this town after all of that nonsense. "Even my friends just wanna use me…" Her walk resumed, slower than before. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's why I work alone…" She took one more look back over her shoulder, inhaling deep as a rainbow streak started to close in on her.

"A.K.!!" the streak cried out, coming to a skidding halt in front of her that left grooves in the dirt. Almost immediately, a pair of filthy hooves met the dejected writer's shoulders. "Please, just listen to me!"

The hooves were immediately pushed away, met instead with a fierce scowl. "Haven't I listened to you enough for one day?"

"I get it, I was a jerk!" Rainbow admitted, putting her hoof on her foreleg. "I should have been more up front about everything… I was just so excited to see you here in Ponyville that I got a little ahead of myself."

"Would have been nice, yeah." A.K. stressed, making her way around her.

"And I shouldn't have used you like that!" came another confession, this one stopping the tan pony for a moment. "Showing off is one thing, but… I shouldn't use my friends as a way to make myself look cooler."

"Or jump to conclusions when they start getting along."

"Yeah… That too." Rainbow's hoof rubbed the back of her neck. "I dunno what came over me… like, just seeing him look at you like that…"

"You mean after he smacked himself in the face so hard he turned red?" The adventurer corrected, stepping closer. "Looked like he was snapping himself out of something."

"That's what was going on?!" The Wonderbolt hung her head for a moment. "Wow, I really messed up, huh?"

Daring simply nodded, putting a hoof on her friend's back. "You normally don't get that jealous. I guess you really love this guy, huh?"

Rainbow let out a soft chuckle, raising her head and looking at the clouds. "He's always catching me off guard. Not in a bad way, just… He's so honest about his feelings, and it throws me off. I don't know how to respond."

"But you do love him, right?"

"Absolutely!" she affirmed with an emphatic nod. "He's one of the best flyers I've ever met, he always believed in me way before I was a Wonderbolt, he was one of the ones that helped Scoot learn to fly, and--"

"So…" the author interjected, her hoof on her chin. "Why haven't you proposed yet?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide, the world around her moving slower than ever before. It made sense when she really thought about it. What better way to let him know than to make it permanent? In the blink of an eye, she wrapped her forelegs around her guest, squeezing tight with an enormous smile on her face. "Thanks, Daring." She pulled back a bit, finding the face of bewilderment looking back. "Are you… okay?"

Daring blinked, slowly returning to normal. "I'm good. Just… not used to hugs."

The ever-beating sound of propellers echoed around the party venue, drawing a number of eyes up to spot the birthday tortoise. Tank flew aimlessly around above them all, passing by all of his animal friends as he went. As far as he knew, this was just another of those days where ponies got together with music and treats. Lots of treats for him, in fact. And it only made sense once his pony finally came back. She had a big smile on her face, flying straight toward him and catching him in a spin.

"Happy birthday, little guy!" she told the tortoise, hugging tight. "You havin' fun so far?" She took a quick look around, checking to see if anypony was looking. When the coast was clear, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his nose, finally bringing a stop to her spin. "I'm gonna need your help with something, okay? Things might end up changing a bit, but in a real good way. Can I count on you?"

Slowly but surely, Tank's face turned to a soft smile, nodding his confirmation as always.

"Awesome!" Rainbow declared, giving another brief embrace. "Come on! There's no time to lose!"

The two of them raced off into the party proper, the equine landing at the edge of a small group and looking about. Her first target wasn't hard to find, as they'd returned together. She gave Daring a smirk and a nod, indicating that the mission was on, and like any other grand adventure, the two of them were off. They sifted through the various gatherings, looking for any sign of their target. Not with Twilight and Fluttershy by the record player, not with Applejack and the Crusaders by the snacks, not even in either of the houses that floated above them. For a solid white stallion, Soarin was proving exceptionally difficult to find.

"I dunno, man, what if I really screwed up this time?" came a query that cocked Rainbow's ear to the side. "I know it's a big misunderstanding, but she was really mad!"

She turned toward the sound, pulling her pet close. Soarin stood by the cake, head hung low before Big Mac. The corners of her mouth turned up a little at the sight of him, albeit with a hint of nerves behind them. "Okay, Dash… You can do this…" She told herself, wings coming forward to slap her cheeks. After a deep breath, she stepped forward and cleared her throat. With a slight jump, the white Wonderbolt looked her way, his face stricken with fear. "Uh… Hey, Soarin, can I talk to you real quick? I got something I wanna ask you."

Soarin's face lit up for the briefest of moments, sending him leaping over to his favorite mare. "I swear, Dash, I didn't mean to do--" A quick bonk to the head cut the apology short, reminding him to be careful when Tank flew nearby. He rubbed the back of his head, face turning red once more. "I mean… Sorry…"

Rainbow snorted, trying to stifle an incoming laugh. "It's okay, you didn't do anything wrong." She assured, putting her foreleg around him. "Daring made it really clear that I've been screwing up all day long. I just…" Her face began to match her partner's, eyes averting at the thought of what came next. "I wanna at least get one thing right." The pair made their way to the center of the venue, Tank keeping a constant hover around them. All the while, the heat that had now become commonplace in Rainbow's chest had built up to a level she'd never imagined, and this time, she knew why. She looked over to the record player, where Daring Do stood ready. With a mutual nod, the explorer lifted the needle to stop the music. "Hey everypony! Can I get your attention, please?" She began, once again drawing all eyes in her direction. "So how's everypony doin' today? Having a good time?" She let out a nervous laugh as various affirmations went her way. "Great! Great… Oh! And we all gotta wish Tank here a happy birthday!" She looked up at the amazing flying tortoise, met with a round of agreeable applause. "But that's… actually not why I needed an audience. Though, I did wanna have one of my favorite guys to back me up while I…" She turned her deeply blushing face to Soarin. "... talk with the other."

Soarin took a step back, raising a hoof. "Are... you okay?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. I mean, not really." She confessed, turning to properly face him. "Feels like my heart's gonna explode with how fast it's going, but I gotta do this. And if I don't do it now, I'm gonna regret it."

"Okay… What do you…" he started to ask, trailing on when a cyan knee hit the grass. "... mean?"

"Yoh probably figured it out by now, but… I'm… not very good at expressing my feelings." Rainbow declared, looking up and into his emerald eyes. "Not that I don't have them, I just… Every time I wanna tell you how I feel, I just go blank. And you're always being the best dang boyfriend a gal could want! It almost feels like I don't do enough for you. But then Daring gave me the best idea ever!" She reached forward, taking his raised hoof in hers. "And that leads me to what I wanna ask." She brought her wing forward, inhaling sharply before clamping her teeth down on a single feather. With a grunt of effort and a tear in her eye, she pulled, freeing the feather and presenting it to the stallion.

Soarin's eyes widened dramatically, falling to his knees and gripping her hoof in his fetlocks. "Dash, are you doing what I…" He trailed off, a solitary tear streaming down his cheek as she smiled back at him.

"I know it's outta nowhere, but… You wanna get hitched?"

There was a long silence as Soarin took in her words, ponies all around them watching with biting hooves and baited breath. "Aww man!" He finally exclaimed, hooves falling to his sides. Rainbow reeled back a ways, falling on her rump. Her jaw went slack, nearly dropping the feather. "I was gonna ask you next weekend! Was even gonna have Bolt be my wing pony once he got back!"

It was Rainbow Dash's turn at the wide-eyed stare, only the smallest of unintelligible sounds escaping her as Soarin retrieved the feather. Her dumbfounded expression quickly gave way to a smile, though, and a loud laugh burst forth as she tackled her boyfriend lips first before a roaring crowd. After several seconds, she pulled away, punching him in the shoulder one more time. "Guess I beat you to it, huh?"

Soarin shrugged. "You always were faster than me."

Minutes later, Daring Do stood next to a half-eaten cake, looking over her slice at the lively crowd. The day had certainly proven to be an adventure, but of a kind that she never thought she'd take part in. In the long run, though, it had been worth it. She put the plate aside, turning away from the gathering with a smile. "This was nice, but I think I'll just let them have their fun."

"Not so fast, Daring Do!" called an almost soldier-like baritone. Daring looked back to find Rainbow and Soarin smiling at her, the stallion trotting in place. "Oh, man, I've always wanted to say that! How'd I do?"

Daring giggled behind her hoof, stepping up to the couple. "I've heard worse. So what's up?"

"I just wanted to thank you again. For… you know, everything." Rainbow explained, rubbing a sore spot on her wing. "I don't know if I'd have managed to pull this off without you."

"Happy to help." Daring affirmed, nudging the multicolor mare's foreleg. "Just be more honest in your letters next time, okay?"

Rainbow nodded in agreement. "Definitely. Plus, there was one more thing we wanted to say."

The curious explorer's head tilted sideways. "Oh? What are you up to?"

Rainbow and Soarin joined hooves for a moment, locking eyes with one another with a smile before looking back to their friend. "We talked about it a little bit, and both of us agree… that if we ever had foals…" Rainbow took a preparatory breath. "We want you to be their godmother!"

Daring's rump hit the grass, her face mirroring the one Rainbow had shown minutes before. "Their… godmother?" she repeated, trying to make sense of it all. "Are you sure?"

The pair of Pegasi nodded in unison. "Absolutely!"

There was a blur of brown and gray for a moment, forelegs wrapping around the happy couple and squeezing tight. "Thank you…" Daring said, holding back a budding tear. "I won't let you down!"

Author's Note

Twilight: Say, Bolt, why didn't you give me a feather?

Bolt: My feathers don't pluck very easily. Not unless you want a mouthful of lightning!

All jokes aside, this has been one of those chapters I've been planning in some form or another for a long time! Giving Daring Do her greatest challenge, social interaction, and finally getting Rainbow honest with her feelings!

I know-it-all been a long time since the last chapter. And I know you are more ornless okay with it considering the veritable storm that is my life right now. But I just wanna assure you that the chapters are still on their way. And the next one is going to be one of the dooziest doozies I've had in a looooooooong time!
I hope you enjoy it!

Meet the Parents

The castle doors swung wide open, revealing a pair of travelers laden with heavy bags that trundle in. The larger of them took a deep breath, letting out his traditional bellow. "WE HAVE RETURNED!!!" As the saddlebags fell to the floor, Boltsinger let his legs go limp, falling to his side with Spike next to him.

Before they could hit the floor, though, they vanished in a magenta poof.

"Welcome home, boys!" Twilight and Scootaloo exclaimed as they appeared in the library. The pair of them rushed to the flopped stallion, ensuring he was met with a tight embrace.

"You guys tired from your trip?" Twilight asked, settling onto the floor with her husband and a book.

Boltsinger smirked. "Is it that obvious? We were up all night working on a so--"

"Hey!" Spike interjected, sitting up and glaring. "Don't tell her yet! I want it to be a surprise!"

"Alright, fine." the stallion acquiesced, lifting his head to look around. "So where's my little prince?"

"Over here!" came the accented call of a mare. Boltsinger followed the voice, finding Nova with a pair of mares he'd not seen in a while. One was a yellow Earth Pony with a slightly heavy build. She had scarlet eyes that matched her long and bushy two-tone mane and tail of a reddish orange. She wore a blue scarf with flower earrings of the same color, sporting a sailboat Cutie Mark on her flank. The other was a Pegasus of a more slight build with opal eyes and short hair of blue and cyan. Her Cutie Mark featured a needle and a spool of blue thread, accentuated by the purple sweater she wore. They were on either side of the colt, who was wrapped in a less than familiar quilt. The orange-maned mare waved a greeting hoof, smiling wide. "Nice to see you again, Boltsinger."

The mare's smile was mirrored on the stallion, who worked his way onto his belly and waved in kind. "Good to see you too, Holiday." He turned to the other guest with a greeting nod. "So, Lofty, haven't seen that quilt before. You make it?"

The taller mare nodded, putting a hoof on Nova's mane. "Got the idea last time we came over. He's little now, but he won't be forever." She tousled the hair a little before pulling back. "He'll need something to grow into."

"I tested it myself!" Scootaloo declared, picking up the corner of the blanket. "It's super comfy and won't tear for anything!" She looked up to her aunt with a smile. "Just like the one I use every night."

Lofty pulled the filly into a hug. "Well I couldn't let you show off to your little brother, could I?"

"I guess not." the filly admitted as she hugged right back. "Are you gonna stay long enough to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle? They should be here any minute!"

Lofty chuckled, letting her niece free of the embrace. "Now how could we come all this way and not see your friends?" She looked to her partner with a smile. "Isn't that right?"

"Of course." Holiday affirmed. "We weren't planning on going anywhere for a few days anyway."

Scootaloo jumped into the air, keeping herself aloft easily with a buzzing of her wings. "Awesome!" She touched down almost instantly. "They're gonna be so happy to see you." Right on cue, a knock came to the castle doors, widening the Crusader's smile. "That must be them!" Her wings buzzed to life once more, lifting her from the floor. "I'll be right back!" And with that, she was off, a petit streak of orange racing down the hall.

With a strenuous groan, the other orange Pegasus worked his way up. "I think I'll join her." he stated, looking down at his wife. "It's been a whole since I saw them, too. It'd be good to say hi." He rubbed the back of his neck with a wing. "Care to help a tired pony out, honey?"

The Alicorn gave off a giggle, lighting up her horn. "Of course."

Boltsinger smiled weakly, raising a hoof. "Thank--" He disappeared in a flash of magenta, reappearing in the foyer. "-- you." He laughed to himself, the thought of how much he'd missed her coming to mind. He turned his attention toward the door, stepping forward. "Hey, Scoot, how… are…" His eyes went wide, jaw slack at the sight before him.

Scootaloo stood stiff in the doorway, her expression not unlike her adoptive father's in the embrace of a brown-coated Earth Pony stallion. He had a dark raspberry-colored and bushy mane and tail, with orange eyes and a Cutie Mark of a camera next to a map, and wore a white button-up shirt with a dark booney hat threatening to slide off of his head. Behind him stood a bright tangelo-coated Pegasus mare in an explorer's jacket. Her mane was two shades of bright gold, pulled back into a ponytail so as to be out of her way, with eyes of a familiar purple and a compass on a breeze popping off of her flank. The mare's smile already told Boltsinger a great deal, as it reminded him of the look on Twilight's face when she saw Nova. More importantly, the look on Scootaloo's face sent a chill down his spine and a furrow to his brow.

"Scootaloo, are you alright?" He asked, taking a soft step forward.

"Thank Celestia you're here, Scootaloo!" The accented stallion exclaimed, squeezing the filly just a little tighter. "We heard some nonsense about you bein' adopted and we just had to see for ourselves!"

The Earth Pony's comment sent a furrow to Boltsinger's brow, something in his mind snapping into place as his next step turned into a stomp. "I see…" He took a deep breath, clearing his throat at a volume so loud it shook the ground beneath them for a moment. The other stallion's eyes turned upward to see him, joined soon after by the mare. "You two are late."

"Late?" the mare repeated, cocking her eyebrow. "How can we be late if we never sent word we were coming?"

"Oh, but you did." Boltsinger stressed, taking another step forward as hoofsteps began to echo from deeper inside. "Don't you remember the letter you sent last winter?"

Finally, the Earth Pony released Scootaloo from his embrace, standing at his full height with a bewildered look on his face. "I'm not sure I follow. Maybe an introduction's in order? My name's--"

"Snap Shutter, Holiday's younger brother and Scootaloo's paternal genetic donor. I know." Boltsinger stepped forward again, trying his best to keep his teeth from clenching. "I've heard about you from Holiday. Very flattering pictures." He glanced over to the mare. "Which makes you Mane Allgood. It's a pleasure to meet you both. But I can't help but wonder why you're so late."

The hallway hoofsteps came to a stop, Twilight, Holiday, and Lofty appearing wide-eyed in the foyer. "Those… aren't Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle…" the princess noted, a crease forming on her forehead. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh, everything's fine." He replied, smiling back at her behind an unusually tense jaw. "Your timing is perfect, actually!" He gestured to the ponies at the door. "I was just wondering how to explain just how late these two are in getting here."

"Ah." Twilight smiled, her royal composure coming into play. "It has been quite some time. Let's see if I've got this right…" She pulled out a pocket watch, looking back and forth between it and her unmoving daughter. "By my calculations, it's been eight months, three weeks, four days, eight hours, and twenty-seven minutes." She checked the watch one more time. "Make that twenty-eight minutes."

Boltsinger nodded politely. "Thank you, honey." Turning back to the sudden guests, he came forward once more. "So you understand why it comes as a surprise that you suddenly show up after that long. Care to tell us why you're here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Snap Shutter started, putting a hoof around Scootaloo. "We came to get our daughter."

The filly's head shook free of her trance, looking up at the stallion next to her. "Wait, you came to get me?"

"Of course!" The Earth Pony confirmed, attempting to pull her close. "After that business with magic being sucked away, we were thinkin' about havin' you a little closer. Then a few days ago we got a letter from Daring spoutin' something about how she'd met you and that, get this, you'd been adopted! Isn't that crazy?"

"Because of course you know Daring..." Boltsinger muttered to himself. He took a deep breath, taking what composure he could find. "So you came to see for yourselves. I get it." He stewed for a moment, focusing on the confused eyes of his favorite filly.

"Why don't you all come in?" Twilight suggested, waving a beckoning hoof. "Perhaps we can discuss this over tea?"

"Well, if ya really don't mind, sure." Snap Shutter affirmed, removing his foreleg from the filly and walking further inside.

"Excellent." the princess turned to the friends behind her. "Holiday, Lofty, would you mind showing them to the dining room? I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on."

"Sounds like a wonderful idea." Holiday said with a nod, turning to the other Earth Pony. "Follow us, then."

As the first guests started down the hallway, the mare in the doorway stepped up to Scootaloo. "It's good to see you again, Scootaloo. I'm happy to know you have so much support here." She gave the Crusader a brief hug, quickly catching up to her husband with a flutter of her wings.

When the sound of hooves disappeared, Boltsinger's pupils shrank. "They're here." He told himself, the corners of his mouth turning up in an almost jagged, stiff smile. His rump hit the floor as he brought his wings forward, clutching his head as tightly as he could with a sudden fit of nervous laughter. "They're here! They're here, they're here, they're here they're here-- WHY ARE THEY HERE?" His breathing staggered for a moment, stopping short before he blinked. "Scoot." His gaze shot over to the pony in question. "Scoot!" He rushed to her side, wrapping her in another hug before looking her in the eye. "Are you alright?"

Purple eyes met purple for an instant before she looked at the floor. "I think so. I'm just… confused."

"Me too, Scoot." the fretting father affirmed. His breathing began to calm, head wings coming forward to once more redden his cheeks in their usual way. "He said something about a letter from Daring?"

Twilight nodded. "Well, they are world-class explorers, so it makes sense they'd know her."

Boltsinger shrugged. "That makes sense, but how would she know about the adoption? We hadn't done it yet last time I saw her."

A faint blush adorned the Alicorn's cheeks as she averted her eyes. "Well… she might have heard something about it at Tank's birthday party last weekend…"

"Tank's birthday what now?" Boltsinger's eyes darted between the girls with a look of disbelief. They simultaneously nodded, looking at anything but him. "And I wanted to take the train home…" he huffed.

Twilight let out a laugh, putting a wing around him. "Next time I'll tell you. I promise." She looked to their daughter, beckoning her over. "But right now we have something more important to deal with. Isn't that right, Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo slowly nodded, joining at their side with her head slightly hung. "Yeah… We should probably join them, huh?"

A soft breath escaped the stallion, finding his posture matching hers. "Eeyup…" He sent the Crusader a weak smile. "Things will be okay. I'm sure of it."

"I don't believe you." Snap Shutter deadpanned over the table at his sister. "With wings like those? No way she's managed it."

"I swear, she's really flying now!" Holiday assured, hooves on the table as she leaned toward him. "It's the most amazing thing! And she's been practicing almost every day with Rainbow Dash!" She sat back down with a swoon. "And the look in her eyes when she soars… I've never seen her so happy!"

"Sounds like something we'd love to see." Mane stated, smiling at her partner. "Right Snap?"

The stallion rested his head on his hoof. "Yeah, it'd be great to see something like that." He looked back at her with a grin. "We'll be seein' it every day from here on out, though." He turned back to his sister with a raised eyebrow. "If it even happens at all."

"If what happens?" a baritone repeated from behind. The eyes of the room focused on the entrance, Boltsinger standing confused with Twilight and Scootaloo behind him. "Something gonna happen?"

Lofty gave them a soft grin, pointing a feather at the seated siblings. "They were just talking about how Scootaloo can fly now. Snap here says he can't imagine it happening." Her grin widened as a laugh started to come out, joined almost immediately by the orange stallion.

"Can't imagine it, huh?" He wondered, stepping toward his fellow father. "Well, I guess it's a good thing you won't have to." With a click of his hooves, he turned about face to the smallest wings in the room. "Scootaloo! Maneuver seventeen!"

A look of determination covered Scootaloo's face, a smile and a salute presented to her former flight coach as her wings spread wide. "Yes sir!" was all she said before she became an orange streak, zipping forward to fly around each of the room's many hanging decorations. The jewels changed together like a set of wind chimes, twisting with the momentum before she finally flew to the center of the room, high above her audience. With an explosive motion, she flared her extremities out in all of the directions she could, sending a Shockwave through the air that caused the chime to ring louder than before. Her eyes closed, she fell toward the table, making a single flap to stop herself before gently touching down in the middle.

And Snap Shutter's jaw dropped. He sat back in his chair, blinking repeatedly as if to record all he'd just seen. "I… well… I mean…"

"Can you imagine it now?" Scootaloo inquired, a sly smirk creasing her face.

Before the explorer could respond, another pair of forehooves hit the table. "That. Was. AWESOME!!!" Boltsinger shouted, shaking the room a little. "Rainbow told me you were getting it down quickly but sweet Celestia, she wasn't just boasting!" The grim on his face was wider than he'd shown in a long time, eyes seeming to shine as he looked upon this little filly.

It was a shine Snap had to admit he knew very well. Something he was hoping he wouldn't see when he'd come. All surprise fell from his face as his thoughts settled on one thing. "You really did it, didn't you?" He asked, rising from his seat. "You really adopted my daughter."

The smile quickly faded from Boltsinger's face, accompanied by a soft inhale. "I was hoping we could avoid this topic a while longer, but…" He looked the larger stallion squarely in the eye. "Yes. Yes we did."

The photographer's eyes narrowed substantially, a loud step taken between them. "Why?" he cocked an eyebrow at the Pegasi before him, his features filled with expectation. "You knew she had a family, didn't you?"

"You'd be surprised how much I know about Scootaloo." He answered, closing his eyes as he readied himself. "I know that Holiday and Lofty would come by as often as they could for her, but weren't always able to." His eyes opened to look at the Crusader in question. "I know that she was on a rotating schedule of caregivers, largely within our own inner circle. I even opted to join once I found out. Even if I didn't get to do it much." His attention snapped back to Snap. "I know she was unaccustomed to parental support for the longest time, both through her own admission and what I've seen and heard. Her amazing best friends and Rainbow Dash have been her biggest support system for longer than I've known her. And I know that she was excited beyond words about finally having her 'parents' in town last Hearth's Warming." The performer stepped forward at last, wings instinctively flared. "And I know that on that train platform, the day you were supposed to arrive, I had to watch the greatest filly in the world sit there alone and ask why those so-called 'parents' didn't want her." His brow furrowed, making up for the height difference with a single flap that sent him into a hover. "So yeah, I knew."

Their eyes met for but a moment, though that moment felt like an eternity to the stallions involved, a spark seeming to pass between them with a rising intensity before the Earth Pony turned his attention elsewhere. His eyes fell upon Scootaloo, whose smile had faded as she took a tentative step back. "And you just let this happen? There's been lots of times we haven't been able to make it when we say. You know that better than anypony!"

"Well, I… I-I mean…" she stammered, looking between the pairs of parents one pony at a time. "I just--"

Before the filly could finish, an orange hoof came around her. "It's okay, Scoot. You haven't done anything wrong."

She looked up at her adoptive father's smiling face. It was a reassuring sight, to be sure, but it wasn't long before confusion set in. She wanted desperately to hug this pony next to her, but at the same time, there was a longing to run over to the Earth Pony across from them. She wanted to tell him and his partner all about what they'd missed, spending the day together, laughing, forgetting about… "I… I need to go!" She announced, pulling away and galloping down the hall.

Snap Shutter reached forward at the sight. "Scootaloo, wait!" He attempted to go further, but found his hooves held in place. He looked around for the reason, finding it to be a magenta-glowing horn on the Alicorn next to his wife.

"Let her go." Twilight advised, releasing her magical grip. "This is a big deal for her. She needs to process all of it her own way."

"And, quite frankly, so do I." Boltsinger added, letting out a snort before shooting out of the room. Seconds later, a booming yell rang through the castle from the outside, reverberating into Ponyville proper.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle skidded to a stop on the road, covering their ears as a viciously loud noise passed over them. After a few seconds, the ivory Crusader managed to open her eyes. "Was that… Boltsinger?"

Apple Bloom steadily followed suit, returning her hooves to the ground. "Sounds like it. I guess he's home." She looked to the castle ahead with a raised eyebrow. "I wonder what happened ta get 'im so riled up…"

Sweetie Belle shrugged, hopping to her hooves and starting back down the road. "I'm not sure, but we can always ask Scootaloo when we--" an orange streak sped by in a flash, blowing the fillies' manes back with its turbulence. "... get… there…?" The two of them looked back in expressions of mirrored confusion. "Was that…?"

"Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom guessed.

"I thought so." Sweetie Belle affirmed.

"Clubhouse?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"Clubhouse." Sweetie Belle answered.

With that, the pair turned around, breaking into a gallop toward Sweet Apple Acres.

The clubhouse door slowly opened with a creak, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle poking their heads inside. There, in the far corner, sat the pair's favorite Pegasus, eyes shut tight with rapid, panicked breaths. She was visibly shaking with her wings flared out, otherwise curled up with her forelegs around her knees. The wingless Crusaders were wordless in their approach, stepping softly and looking back to each other with concern.

After what felt like an eternity crossing the room, Apple Bloom reached forward, placing a hoof on the cowering filly's shoulder. "Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo's eyes almost instantly opened, her body twisting around at the sound of her friend's voice to catch them in an embrace. Her breathing sped up considerably, with tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Girls! I… They're here… and Bolt, and I dunno and I just… I just…" She pulled away, her back hitting the corner of the walls before she slumped back onto her rump. "I just don't know what to do!!!"

Apple Bloom's first response was a soft smile, putting her hooves on her frightened friend's shoulders. "I hear ya, Scootaloo, but ya gotta calm down. Deep breaths…" She closed her eyes in concentration, taking a slow and deliberate inhale. "Breathe with me, now. In through yer nose…"

Scootaloo fixed her gaze on the farm filly, the words ringing in her mind. "In through my nose…" she repeated, starting an inhale of her own.

"Good. Now out through the mouth." She instructed, letting all the air out of her lungs at once. Scootaloo repeated the action, a little shorter than her would-be instructor, but still enough to widen Apple Bloom's smile. "That's it. You've got it. Now gimme some more."

As the two of them set to their breathing, Sweetie Belle found herself looking around the room. "It feels like she needs something comfortable… let's see…" She walked around the clubhouse in a crude circle, sifting through everything she could find in the hopes of something-- "Perfect!" She lifted a trio of maroon capes from a box under the podium, each one bearing a blue shield with a yellow image of a pony inside on the bottom corners and a glistening golden silk lining the inner layer. She hurried back to her friends, sitting down quietly and shuffling closer to Scootaloo. "I think this might help." She declared, draping the capes over her one after another.

The familiar silk laying against her brought Scootaloo a new sense of calm, the deep breathing driving away the clouds in her mind like the mightiest of gales. She put a hoof on each of her best friends, pulling them into a new embrace as the budding tears fell for a moment. "Thank you…"

"Aww, shucks, it wasn't any problem." Apple Bloom dismissed, adding her forelegs to the squeeze. "You'd do the same fer us, after all."

Sweetie Belle quickly reciprocated, nuzzling Scootaloo's cheek. "Exactly. We'd do anything for you."

The trio remained still for several minutes, enjoying each other's company and reinforcing their support at the same time. Eventually, Apple Bloom raised her head. "So… What was it that freaked ya out so much, anyway?"

Scootaloo leaned back into the corner, breathing a sigh as she rested her head. "They're back…"

"Who's back? Bolt and Spike?" Sweetie Belle guessed, an inquisitive hoof to her chin. "We certainly heard him yelling earlier."

"Well, them too. But that's not it." the orange filly corrected, eyes drifting upward. "It's… my parents. Like, not Bolt and Twilight, but…"

"Them…" Apple Bloom finished. "I get it. Don't have to say any more."

Scootaloo softened a bit, smiling back at her friends. "Thanks." She slumped onto the floor, resting on her fetlocks. "I just don't know what I should be thinking, you know? I thought today was just gonna be flying and going to check on Goldenrod, but now…"

Sweetie Belle scooted over to her fellow Crusader, just enough to make contact. "It's no problem. We can just reschedule! I'm sure everypony will understand."

"Are you sure?" The flying filly wondered, taking her turn to show some concern. "Goldenrod was saying she was really excited about her research progress! And Rainbow was saying something about number twenty-five! I don't wanna let them down…"

The Earth Pony joined on the other side of the purple-eyed foal, nudging her in the side. "Now, Scootaloo, do you honestly believe Rainbow Dash wouldn't understand sumthin' like this?"

"Not really…"

"Yeah! I bet she'd be the first one on the scene once she found out what's happening!" the Unicorn affirmed.

"And I'm sure Goldenrod'll understand that yer not feelin' well. You can get back to the daily life when you're--" Apple Bloom's eyes went wide for a moment, her body forcefully rising up with a bright smile. "That's it!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stared up at their friend, each tilting their curious heads in opposite directions. "I know just how we can help!"

Meanwhile, further across town, the sound of a screaming Boltsinger quickly reached the field over which Rainbow Dash flew. She had been warming up for a few minutes, and made a beeline for a nearby cloud as the sudden decibels assaulted her eardrums. She grabbed her head, covering her ears as best she could before spinning out into the very cloud she was aiming for. She fell out of the cloud in a daze, forced free of it by her impact with the ground.

"What the…?" She worked her way to her hooves, dusting herself off and looking at the source of the noise. "Was that… Bolt?" Before her thoughts could catch up with her, her wings flapped. She took off in a near-instant, becoming little more than a rainbow streak in the sky until she reached the top of the mountain above the Friendship School.

There, as expected, was Boltsinger. His pupils were pinpricks, and his teeth were uncharacteristically clenched, accentuated by the rapid panting that was his breath. "I can't believe they had the nerve to show up after all this time!" He began, his tail flailing behind him.

"Uh, Bolt?"

"Calling the whole adoption 'nonsense' after all the planning and feeling that went into that…" He continued, moving to pace around the mountaintop with a furious shake of the head. "'Your services are no longer required!'" a powerful snort followed his mock, stopping the stallion to drag a hoof on the ground.

"What, what about the adoption?"

"Flat-out refusing to believe that Scoot can fly now, too!" He noted, raising his hoof. "How can any dad worth his salt not be proud of her for that!"

"Helloooo?" Rainbow crossed her forelegs with a small scowl. "Can you even hear me?"

For the first time in Rainbow's recollection, the stallion's ears seemed to be closed off, as evidenced by his continued fuming. "And now they just wanna 'come get her' outta the blue? Some 'parents' they are! Especially after breaking their promise in the first place!"

"Breaking their…" Her hoof shot forward, covering Boltsinger's mouth as his eyes finally fell upon her. "Are you telling me that those two are here and you haven't kicked them out yet?!"

Boltsinger moved away from the hoof. "Oh! Sorry, Rainbow. Didn't see you there." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Yeah. They're here. Twilight, Holiday, and Lofty are treating them to tea, Scootaloo ran off to what I assume is the clubhouse. I don't know what to think let alone how to react to all of this."

"You get mad, of course!" She argued, landing with a stomp. "These are the ponies who made Scoot feel like she was all alone in Equestria even when they promised they'd be there! You were there! You saw the look on her face!" She glared down at the castle, grinding her hoof into the rock. "I can't believe they'd even show their faces after that… that…"

"Debacle?" He suggested. "Catastrophe? Disaster? Heart-wrenching moment that probably broke most of us when it happened?" He came to stand next to her, taking a glance at the castle only to look away. "I've got a lot more where those came from." His gaze drifted toward Sweet Apple Acres, features softening along the way. "I just hope Scootaloo is alright…"

Rainbow put an assuring hoof on her friend's shoulder. "If she's with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, she'll be fine." Her face went stern once more, the idea of meeting their guests coming to mind again. "We have concerns of our own right now."

Standing in the dining room, all were quiet. Twilight had never heard her husband so angry before, but at the same time, his sudden shout failed to surprise her. This was a day she'd been dreading for some time, and the tension was palpable even despite her best efforts. She looked over at her latest guests, raising a hoof and opening her mouth to speak only to find no words coming out. Somberly, she got up from her seat, stepping closer with a hoof on the table.

Snap Shutter was the first to break the silence, stomping his foreleg hard enough to crack the floor. "If ya need me, I'll be at my house." He turned to Twilight with a glare. "Ya know, the one my family lives in?"

Twilight winced at the words, backing away before giving him a nod. "I'm sorry…"

With a sharp inhale, he paused, letting out a hard snort and walking away. "Oh now she's sorry… Whatever happened to us being 'late?'" His grumbling continued as he made his exit, leaving the room in a new veil of quiet.

"I'm sorry about my husband." Mane said, keeping her volume low. "He can get bull-headed when things don't go his way, and… Well, you can see the result."

"I don't blame him." the princess stated, her gaze lingering on the doorway. "I can't say I'd be too happy if it felt like someone was taking Nova from me."

Mane let out a sigh, stepping closer to Twilight. "I admit, it does feel a little off-putting. I was hoping that we'd find Scootaloo and she'd show us that adorable smile, tell us about all she's been up to, and have some kind of list of things she wants to do together etched on a big poster in crayon."

A small giggle sounded from the Alicorn, forcing her to smile. "She actually had one of those. I don't think I'd ever seen her more excited, even when she was flying with Rainbow Dash."

The Pegasus mare's eyes closed like a great weight had just been placed upon her. "I knew it… I just wish we could have lived up to it." She looked the royal in the eye, letting the softest of smiles onto her face. "But at the same time, I'm happy for her." She placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "She has a bigger support system than I'd ever dreamed. And she can fly, to boot! How did that even happen, anyway?"

Twilight put her hoof on Mane's, guiding her toward the exit. "That's because of Bolt."

The Pegasus laughed out loud, following with a roll of her eyes. "A pony like that? Kind of hard to believe." Twilight looked back at her with a slight smirk. "I mean, I saw him fly and he's not bad, but he can't be the only reason she was able to get airborne!"

Twilight shrugged. "Well, I guess you're technically right. He had help." They turned into the hallway, drawing Mane's attention to the myriad doors around them. "But the idea and techniques? That was my husband."

Hoofsteps came up on either side of the mares as Holiday and Lofty trotted up. "Ooh, I just love this story!" Lofty noted, her eyes alight with nostalgia.

"So do I." Holiday confirmed, scooting a little closer to her sister-in-law. "Normally we hear it from Scootaloo. This should be good!"

"Alright, so, the way Bolt tells it, it came almost out of nowhere." she began, following a now-familiar route. "He'd known Scootaloo for a little while, but he hadn't gotten to know her yet. We were still trying to figure out some of the quirks behind Bolt's Cutie Mark..."

"So you went to the best Cutie Mark experts in Ponyville!" Holiday announced, raising a triumphant hoof.

A giggle couldn't help but escape the princess. "That's right. We decided to ask the Cutie Mark Crusaders for help. Bolt decided to go since he was insisting that I take it easy because of my pregnancy with Nova. And then when he got home, he started whispering with Soarin." She looked up to the ceiling, finding a welcome reflection in its facets. "He only gets like that when he has an idea." Her pace moved to a trot. "So as part of our experiment for that day, those two gave Scootaloo a test of their own, seeing how much she can do with her wings as they were, and how her body could handle higher speed. Lo and behold, the Wonderbolt and my lover-Bolt were unanimous about her potential and decided to officially coach her!" She hopped to a halt next to a door, opening it to reveal the throne room. She took to the air and entered, waiting for her guests to come in before fluttering up to the chandelier. "From there, Bolt was tireless in coming up with ideas for how to help her based on how he learned to fly. And the first was this!" She put her hoof on a nearby ornament, prompting a curious flap from the other mother. She peered into the decoration, finding a picture of an open field with an almost perfectly circular patch of fog in the middle. Boltsinger and what she could only imagine was the aforementioned Wonderbolt stood on either side of a very familiar filly with her wings spread as wide as they could go. "By building up her overall wing power, they were able to get results quickly. It only took a few months before she had all she needed!" Twilight moved to another ornament, beckoning the Pegasus over. "It was time for Scootaloo to take off for real, and they knew they had to get Rainbow Dash in on it even despite her being a little mad at Bolt at the time. And once she got involved…" She moved the ornament into place, showing an image of Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and Boltsinger in the air above the field with Scootaloo's cheering friends below. "Eventually, she started getting so good that Bolt didn't have much left to teach her. But that didn't stop him from giving one final graduation test!" She highlighted one more ornament, holding it up with a smile. "When the two of them flew together to Canterlot, there was an unexpected storm cloud in their way, and Scootaloo flew right in. As she was falling, something amazing happened! Bolt went into a dive so fast that he did what only one pony has done before!" Her eyes and forelegs went wide, taking a deep breath to prepare.

"A SONIC RAINBOOM!" cried the aunts below, bursting into cheers.

A mild blush adorned Twilight's cheeks, her attention turning back to the Crystal she held. "Yes. That. Anyway, they were both unconscious when they arrived in Canterlot, but once Bolt woke up he was adamant about making sure she was okay." She brought the ornament forward, showing a simple image of Boltsinger and Scootaloo in a tight embrace, smiling Crusaders and Wonderbolts on either side of the room. "I'd suspected it for a while, but that was when I knew for sure their bond was something special."

Mane pulled away from the ornament with a weak smile. "And that's when you started talking about…" a lump formed in her throat at the next word, forcing her to look away and cross her forelegs.

"That didn't come until later, actually." the purple pony corrected, coming up beside the mare with a supportive smile. "What do you say we go check on her?"

The blonde mare's head reeled back a bit, showing the princess a confused expression. "Didn't you say that she needs to process by herself, though?"

"I did." she admitted, lowering herself to the floor. "But that doesn't mean we can't let her know we're there for her when she's ready, does it?"

After a pondering moment, Mane followed suit. "No, I don't suppose it does."

"Besides, Nova is going to wake up from his nap soon." the Alicorn added, returning into the hall again. "And I'm willing to bet he'd help her feel a lot better."

The idea of a smiling Scootaloo sent a similar expression to her own muzzle. Soon after, a stream of thoughts flowed through her mind, imagining what kind of life she had here in Ponyville, the ponies she'd helped, the friends she'd made… "So, in her letters, Scootaloo mentioned her friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle almost constantly."

"Oh, the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Twilight guessed. "They're her best friends! I bet she went to see them right away when she headed out."

"I thought as much." She fluttered forward to walk next to the Alicorn. "What kind of ponies are they?"

Another giggle sounded off as Twilight beamed. "Well, it all started when…"

"So you really think that's a good idea?" Scootaloo wondered, looking at a classic Crusader planning chart between the three of them.

"Of course!" Apple Bloom assured, putting a hoof on either side of the parchment. "How can bringin' everypony closer not work?"

"You didn't see either of... well… my dads… when they were talking about me." The Pegasus breathed deep, tugging on her cloak for comfort. "And honestly… I'm not sure how I feel about them anyway." She looked up at the Crusaders around her, uncertainty lining her every feature. "There's a part of me that's really excited to see them! Like all those nights I spent in that house… nopony there but me… None of it matters anymore because they're here for once!" Her head hung low once more, ears folded back as she fought back a sniffle. "But then I remember that night on the platform, and how it felt when they weren't there." She pulled the cloak harder. "And then they just show up out of nowhere, and Bolt and… him… they start arguing, and he says that they came to 'get me' and then they argue even more and…" She found herself cut short by the familiar warmth surrounding her again, her vision almost completely obscured by yellow and white.

"I know it's confusing right now." Sweetie Belle started, stroking her distressed friend's mane. "But we're here with you. You'll get through this with a happy ending, I promise."

Apple Bloom pulled away, pumping her hoof with a determined smirk. "And if anypony tries ta get in the way…" she hopped into the air, punching and kicking like a martial arts master before making a stumbling landing. "They gotta go through me first!"

It was that exact moment that there was a knock at the door, sending the farmer filly skyward in shock. As she landed, she found a sudden increase in smug expressions from the friends around her. "Well, now's your chance to prove it." Sweetie Belle teased, motioning to the door.

A fit of nervous laughter erupted from the yellow pony as she scooted closer to Scootaloo. "Uh, yeah, I think I got a better chance of protectin' 'er from over here!"

The Unicorn rolled her eyes, moving to the door with a shrug. "Fine then. I guess I'll get it." She opened the door a crack, finding a shade of lilac not often seen at the clubhouse. She turned back to her friends for a moment. "It's Twilight. Should I open it?"

Scootaloo retreated into herself, shaking her head. "Not right now…"

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Okay. I've got this." She turned back to the door, opening it just enough to poke her head out with the most stoic face she could manage. "Hello Twilight and…" she looked past the Princess, finding another softly-smiling mare in her company. "And… company. The Crusader you are trying to reach is unavailable at this time. Please come back and try again later.

Twilight's hoof made its way over her mouth for a second, hiding a hint of laughter from the foal. "Alright, Sweetie Belle. We appreciate you looking out for Scootaloo. Can you at least deliver a message from us?"

Sweetie's stoicism swiftly succumbed to a smile. "Sure! What do you wanna say?"

The Pegasus with the princess took the opportunity to step forward, putting her hoof over her heart. "Can you tell her that her mom… Both of her moms… We want her to know that we're here to talk whenever she's ready."

The ivory Crusader's smile softened considerably over the course of Mane's message, her own hoof coming to rest over her heart. "Aww! Of course I can!" She started to back away, covering the doorknob in her magic.

"Oh! And give her a hug from us!" Twilight added.

The filly's smile widened once more. "Okay!" was all she said as the door closed. She made quick work of the distance from her friends, throwing her forelegs around Scootaloo with as much strength as she could muster. "That was from your mom...s. Both of them! They said that--"

"I heard!" Scootaloo replied, pulling back to show a hopeful smile. "So they came here together?" Sweetie Belle nodded, prompting a strong flap from the Pegasus filly. "That's awesome!" She hovered in place, the cloaks falling away as she smiled down at Apple Bloom. "Maybe your idea can work after all!" She came to a landing by the door, opening it wide to see a pair of mares heading down the ramp, which sent a notable wag to her tail.

At the sound of the door, Twilight stopped, steadying the baby on her back as she looked toward the clubhouse. "Scootaloo?"

The little pony made a mad gallop down the ramp, leaping over them and twisting in the air to face them as she landed. "I can't believe you came together!" She wrapped a foreleg around each of them, squeezing as much as her strength would let her. "Thank you so much!"

The mares responded in kind, each putting a free hoof around her before pulling back. "We may have our disagreements, but we still love you." Twilight stated with a smile. She held a wing out a ways, letting Nova amble onto it and get a look at his big sister. "And we're not the only ones who came to see you."

"Aww! C'mere squirt!" she cried, diving at the colt and holding him tight. He let out a loud laugh, nuzzling up to her as they landed. As soon as she got her bearings again, Scootaloo sent a curious look up to the mothers. "So since it's just you two, I take it…"

"Bolt hasn't come home yet." the princess replied, looking back at the castle in the distance. "He said he needed to process, and… Well, you heard his process."

"And Snap went back to the house." Mane added, turning her gaze groundward. "He hasn't been taking this development very well."

"Oh… yeah…" Like her birth mother, Scootaloo suddenly found the ground to be the most interesting place to look. They settled into silence for a moment until the filly's head raised up again. "So… How are you taking all of this?"

Finally, the question that Mane had been longing to answer, and it was none other than Scootaloo to ask it. She cast a glance at the filly with a soft smile, rubbing a foreleg with her hoof. "Honestly? At first it hurt. Seeing my little girl so happy with ponies I'd never even heard of… I was jealous, yeah." Her eyes were drawn to the Crusader's wings, showing just a little more light behind them. "And then I saw you flying. Saw the look on your face, and just how proud Boltsinger was to see you up there." Her hoof returned to the ground as she looked back at the school. "Snap and I were talking about getting an assignment that would let us keep you safe ever since that whole debacle with Equestria's magic getting sucked away. And when we learned about the… adoption… Well, that's when Snap sort of snapped." Her rump hit the dirt as she turned back to her daughter with a new smile. "But from what I've seen, and everything Princess Twilight told me, you've got some of the best support you can get right here in Ponyville. And while it may hurt a little to not always have you around, I'm just glad that you're happy."

"Thanks…" was all Scootaloo could manage to say. She looked away in an attempt to stay cool, but nothing could wipe the smile from her face. "Actually, Apple Bloom came up with an idea that might help things go a bit smoother, if you're interested." She turned to them with an inquisitive smirk. "Wanna check it out?"

"So, how do you wanna do this?" Rainbow inquired, flitting around Boltsinger from one side to the other as he trudged through the castle halls. "Gonna give them a good stern talking-to?" She landed next to him on her hind legs, hopping, ducking, and weaving as she punched the air in front of her with her forelegs. "Give 'em the old one-two?" She trotted ahead of him, looking back with a mischievous smirk. "We could totally spend the day pranking them until they're too fed up to stick around! Whaddaya think?"

"I'm… honestly not sure, Rainbow." He confessed, dragging his hooves with every step. "This whole thing has me so mad I can't think straight. But that kind of anger just feels wrong, you know?" His head sank, a tired gaze fixed on its own reflection below. "I mean, what if she wants to be with them? You know the kind of ponies they are, the stuff they do. They're seriously awesome. Who wouldn't wanna call them their parents?"

A nigh-furious eyebrow raised as Rainbow stopped in her tracks. "What? This is coming from the pony who once sliced a tornado into chunks like it was a carrot?"

"With your help." He retorted.

"The same pony that turned a bunch of Timberwolves into splinters by screaming at them?"

"And I wouldn't have made it had Tempest not arrived."

"The same pony that convinced me of all ponies to put my grudges aside so that we could work together to get Scootaloo flying?" She jumped over him with a single flap, coming nearly nose-to-nose with the stallion in an intense glare. "Do you know how hard it is to do something like that? It took Gilda years to get back on my good side."

"I didn't have much choice." He said with a shrug, rump hitting the floor with a wing scratching his mane. "You know I'd do anything for Scoot." He breathed a heavy sigh, turning away and closing his eyes. "Even if it means giving her up…"

Rainbow's brow had furrowed so much it began to hurt. She reached her hoof forward, grabbing the stallion by his necklace to pull him closer. "Don't you dare think like that, Bolt!" She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath. "I dunno if it's because you're tired from your trip, or because you hate yourself, I don't care!" She flared her wings dramatically, creating a gust that blew his mane back. "YOU. ARE. HER. DAD." With each word, Boltsinger's head turned further in her direction, finding a pool of tears waiting underneath both of her eyes. "You and Twilight worked way too hard to give up now! You waited so long, did so much of that boring legal stuff, went to all that effort and got everyone's support! Heck, you have the papers to prove it! And you saw how happy she was on Hearth's Warming, right?!" She released him from her grip, taking a step back and stomping her forehoof. "So tell me! What are you?"

"I'm… Scootaloo's dad." He replied, voice just barely louder than a whisper.

Rainbow took an aggressive step forward. "Louder!"

"I'm Scootaloo's dad." he repeated, rising to his hooves with a notable increase in volume.

"For the ponies in the back!" She commanded, pointing a hoof behind her.

A growl gurgled up in Boltsinger's throat. He raised a hoof, spreading his wings with a force that sent his friend sliding back several feet. "I'M SCOOTALOO'S DAD!!!" came the response, so loud that the windows around them began to vibrate.

Rainbow reared back with an excited flap, pumping her hoof at her friend's display. "Aww yeah! That's what I wanted to hear!" She trotted over to him, taking his foreleg and locking it with hers. "So, no giving up?"

He sent her a smirk. "No giving up." he confirmed, giving her hoof a single shake. "Thanks, Rainbow."

She pulled her hoof away with a casual shrug. "Eh, what are friends for?"

Boltsinger's answer came in the form of a telltale rumbling, eliciting a laugh from the Pegasi. "I guess all that motivation can make you hungry, huh?" He took a leap upward, hovering in front of her with a hoof extended. "Care for some dinner?"

"Only if you're cooking!" Rainbow reasoned, taking flight beside him. "Or maybe… Last one downstairs does the cooking and the dishes?" Boltsinger's eyes widened for a moment, brief, yet not… "THREETWOONEGO!!" … brief enough. Just like that, she was gone.

And just like that, the two of them found a kitchen already alive with activity. Magical auras lit up around just about every utensil, stirring and chopping and managing heat on what smelled like an incredible soup. At the stove, Twilight hummed a tune to herself, dancing in place with a sway of her hips. "~And we've got heeeeeeeeeearts!~" She belted out, turning away from the stove with her hoof raised dramatically.

"You sure are having a good time." teased the Wonderbolt, a slight upturn at one corner of her mouth.

The Alicorn jumped back a step, letting out a scream accompanied her horn fizzling out with the tools she'd been using flying at the far walls. She flailed for a second, finding her footing before looking at Rainbow with a hoof over her heart. "Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?"

"Talking some sense into that husband of yours." she replied, stepping in to take a whiff of the stove pot's contents. "And kicking his butt in a race down here. Guess he doesn't have to worry about cooking after all."

"Sense?" Twilight's head made a curious tilt. She had an idea of the topic, but still couldn't help but ask "What about?"

"You know. The usual confidence stuff." She moved to the entrance to the dining room, leaning against the doorway with her forelegs crossed. "Can't say I blame him for getting riled up, though, considering who's visiting…" With a squint in her eyes, she looked away in a huff.

Twilight let out a sigh. "So you heard about that." She returned to the stove, stirring slowly. "It's actually lucky that you're here. Apple Bloom came up with a plan for tomorrow, and we all thought it would be best for Scootaloo's entire family to be there." She looked over her shoulder at the cyan mare, giving her a grin. "Older sisters included, of course."

Rainbow released a snicker and a smirk. "Alright 'mom', I guess I can be there." She sent her royal friend a wide grin, eliciting a snorting chuckle from the purple pony. "I got a lot I wanna say to those two, anyway."

“I’M SCOOTALOO’S DAD!!!” echoed through Snap Shutter’s mind ever since it forced its way into his ears. Of all the ponies he’d me this visit, that Boltsinger was definitely the loudest. Definitely the one that sat most squarely upon his nerves. All night he heard those words on repeat, forcing his teeth to clench tighter and tighter. It had grown so prominent that it continued into his dreams, accompanied by images on repeat of that pony's smirk with a Scootaloo-colored streak performing stunts above him. He let out a growl as he squirmed out of bed, grumbling to himself as he came to the restroom.

"Snap, are you alright?" Mane asked, poking her head in from the bedroom. "You look like you've had a nightmare or two."

"I'm fine." Snap snapped, finishing his business and coming out in his usual attire. "Just imagining all the ways I wanna…"

"Snap, please." his wife interjected, putting her hoof on his shoulder. "You promised you'd behave and hear Scootaloo out today."

“Yeah, I know.” he turned his attention to a photograph on the nearby dresser, picturing the two of them with a baby filly with an orange coat. “We need to keep our promise this time…”

“Right.” Mane confirmed, putting her hoof around him with a smile. “No Crystalilies to get in the way this time.”

Snap returned the gesture, squeezing for a moment before the pair set out the door. They each looked around the town as they went, taking in the sights, noting the changes, and reflecting on their time away. Taking a look back at the street they’d just left, Snap stopped. “Do we… have any other pictures of us together with Scootaloo?”

Mane looked to the sky in contemplation, a brief image of her daughter in flight flashing through her mind. “I’m not sure. We’ve been away so much that I can’t remember having the chance for more.”

His head hung for a moment, trying for the life of him to recall some proof of the opposite. Searching every memory he had, every photo taken over the past several years. There was a plethora of nature pictures, photos of fellow researchers, even some rare secret shots of the two of them with Daring Do. But with Scootaloo? “I see…” Nothing came to mind. He fixed his gaze forward, smiling in newfound anticipation. “I guess we’ll have to take more of ‘em, won’t we?”

The smile continued along their trip, filled with small talk and ideas for what the future might hold. It wasn’t long before they reached the Castle of Friendship, where a number of ponies waited outside. Scootaloo hovered at the head of the group, a pair of similar-sized fillies on either side of her on the ground, while older bonies of cyan, lilac, and bright orange stood behind them. Snap rolled his eyes at some of them, all chatting up a storm like it was nothing. But when he met with the front filly’s eyes, all he could do was grin. “So, then, what’s on the agenda for today?”

"I've been wondering the same thing, actually." Boltsinger chimed, taking a step toward the filly. "Twilight just told me that there was some special plan and that I had to be patient."

"Really?" Snap started, trotting over to the airborne Crusader. "Sounds an awful lot like what Mane told me." The fathers each gave Scootaloo a curious look. "I'm guessin' that's 'cause o' you?"

“You got that right!” she exclaimed, coming to a landing in front of the ensemble. “So, yesterday, Apple Bloom was suggesting that you guys all needed a bit of… What’s the word?”

“Perspective?” Twilight suggested.

“Yeah! Perspective!” A happy little buzz came to her wings, sending her momentarily aloft. “Anyway, Apple Bloom mentioned how it would be good for everyone to have some perspective on all this, so we did some brainstorming. At first I wasn’t entirely sure about the idea, but then…" she turned to Twilight and Mane with a soft smile. "When I saw the two of you together, I thought is was worth a shot."

"So now y'all get to experience a day in the life of Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom announced, bounding into the air excitedly.

Scootaloo laughed, meeting the other Crusader’s hoof with her own in midair. “That’s pretty much the gist of it, yeah.” She hopped to the front of the gathering, gesturing to the fathers among them. “Plus, it gives you guys a chance to really talk.”

Boltsinger stepped up to the Crusader, putting a stewing hoof to his muzzle. “I think I understand. Kinda… I’m all for spending more time with you, but is there something… specific we’re supposed to be doing?”

“I have to say I’m with him on this one.” Snap added. “I don’t quite get what you’ve got in mind.”

Scootaloo’s hoof met with the back of her neck. “That… actually makes three of us.” She gently touched down, turning to face the town ahead. “To be honest, I still don’t know how to feel right now.”

Snap raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? How can you not know how to feel?”

"Well, it’s not easy after all that's happened!" She admitted with averted gaze. She turned with her attention to face the castle, raising her hoof with conviction. “But I wanna give it a shot! Maybe if we spend the day together, that’ll be enough to figure things out?”

"I can understand that, yeah." Boltsinger affirmed, putting a hoof on the filly's head. "I don't quite know the extent of my feelings, either. So why don't we all find out together?"

“Thanks, Bolt.” The Pegasi shared a quick hug, turning to the Earth Pony with a smile. “You ready to go?”

The urge to scowl at their contact was stronger than he’d expected, but Snap managed to force it back for the moment. He made a swift approach, pulling her into a hug of his own. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.” With a barely audible squee, Scootaloo smiled wide, giving her birth father’s foreleg a squeeze before leaping to the front of the group. He looked to Boltsinger with a slight smirk. “So, she doesn’t call you ‘dad’?”

Boltsinger shrugged. “I never asked her to. She can call me whatever she wants.”

“As long as it’s not late for dinner, right?” came a teasing rasp from behind them. Rainbow Dash trotted ahead, looking back with a snarky grin. “First stop is with me. Try and keep up!”

His neck hurt.

That was all either father could think while they looked at the flight practice overhead. It was exacerbated even more as they tried to follow their movements, swift as they were. In the end, though, it was more than worth it. Up there in the sky, it looked as if Scootaloo was having the time of her life. It was worth the pain, to be sure, but Snap couldn’t help but wonder… “So, why are you down here when you could be up there with them?”

Boltsinger pondered for a moment before looking over at his fellow father. "I'd like to be, but at this point they'd have to slow down just to let me join in."

"Yeah, they're certainly movin' up there." He tilted his head, stretching his neck muscles with a strenuous groan. “Alright, better question. Why’re we just standin’ around?” He made a short hop, falling backwards to land on his back. “If we’re gonna watch, might as well be comfortable, yeah?”

The Pegasus let out a laugh, flapping his wings to send him backwards and land next to him. "An excellent point. As expected of a 'genius explorer'." The laugh was reciprocated for the first time, both stallions resting their heads on the grass.

The two sat in silence for a moment, mesmerized by the aerial dance above. Rainbow Dash would zip by in a multicolor streak, followed soon after by Scootaloo, ever eager to prove herself. From behind them, Twilight struggled to keep up, flapping her wings almost desperately to get the velocity she needed only to end up a few wingbeats behind. She was quickly joined by Mane, panting with effort with a proud smile.

"So… Mane tells me you're the reason she's up there…" Snap began anew, casting a glance to the bluenette.

"I dunno if I'm the only reason." He answered, rubbing the base of his neck with his hoof. "I mean, yeah, it was my idea. She reminded me of myself at her age."

"You couldn't fly either?"

"Nnope. Not until my brother devised a way to build up my wing power." Boltsinger let out a contented sigh, eyes fixed on his favorite filly. "The same techniques I employed for Scoot."

"I gotta admit, I've never seen 'er so happy." Snap brought his forehooves together, tentatively tapping as he looked back up. "Kinda makes the ground feel boring… Most everypony ya love just jumping up, flyin' away…"

"I know the feeling." Boltsinger affirmed, patting the explorer's shoulder. "Most members of my family can just use magic to get what they want. Normally when Twilight is trying to go fast, she's using magic. And Nova tends to teleport when he gets upset, Makes finding him a challenge unto itself."

“So, with, um… what happened… Does that make Scootaloo a…?”

“A big sister? She’s been that longer than it’s been official.”

“Not that. I was talking about…” Snap looked away for a moment, preparing himself for the word he had in mind. “Is she a… princess… now?”

This was a new question entirely. Boltsinger sat up, putting one hoof on his head and the other on his chin as the gears began to turn in his brain. “Scoot as… a princess? Never really thought about that.” He leaned back on his hooves, gazing at the flying filly with a new sense of wonder. “We didn’t put much stock into the whole royal thing when we considered the adoption. All we were concerned with was making her happy.” With a twitch of his ear, he leaned forward again. “Then again Celestia adopted Cadence as her niece… But that was more of a way to stake her royal claim on the Crystal Empire when it came back… Plus it’s not like Scoot’s been turned into an Alicorn or anything. But also I’m technically a prince despite not having a horn… Does that mean that Twilight wants to--”

“Whoa there, slow down for a sec.” Snap’s hoof came quickly forward, resting on the orange pony’s shoulder. “Keep goin’ like that and you’re likely ta stick there a while.”

The sudden contact tugged at his attention, dragging him out of his contemplative trance. “Oh! Yeah, sorry about that. Comes with living with Twilight.” He leaned back again, resting his head on his hooves. “I never thought about it much in an official capacity. But I guess you could say she’s always a ‘princess’ to me.”

“That makes two of us!” the photographer confirmed, joining his rival in paternity as they watched the daring display above.

Of all the places for Scootaloo to go on an average day, neither of her birth parents had expected to be in the Everfree forest. But against all odds, here they were, walking what looked to be a well-traveled path. Snap and Mane, used to danger as they were, felt relatively unfazed, but they were admittedly surprised with the level of comfort the fillies had. It brought to mind a great many questions. Who was out here? Did they come out often? And what about the creatures that lived here?

All the while, something else was on the Crusaders' minds. They walked at the head of the group, talking amongst themselves. "So, I don't mean ta brag,..." Apple Bloom began, holding a hoof over her heart with a haughty look on her upturned muzzle. "But I think my plan is workin'!"

Scootaloo looked curiously at the farmer. “Oh? Why do you say that?”

“Have you seen your dads?” Sweetie Belle asked, pointing to the rear of the group. “They’ve been talking like old friends ever since your flight practice!”

“Really?” The orange filly moved to a hover, looking back at the adults among them. To her surprise, Sweetie Belle was right. Boltsinger and Snap Shutter were frequently making quips at each other with almost genuine smiles on their faces. She did her best to hold it back, but there was no hiding the smile that crept onto her face. She dropped back down, moving to a trot in front of her friends with a joyful swishing of her tail. “I can’t believe it’s working!” She beckoned them forward, hopping ever-so-slightly in her excitement. “Come on, girls! Goldenrod’s waited long enough!”

The other Crusaders giggled amongst themselves, springing forward into a canter with their more flighty friend. They made quick work of the rest of the trip, knocking on the door and waiting with eagerly tapping hooves. After a shuffling from behind, the door opened to reveal a smiling zebra. “Welcome, Crusaders! I’m glad you’ve come by!” Zecora greeted, bowing to the trio and stepping aside. “You seem quite excited. Might I ask why?”

“Oh, no particular reason.” Scootaloo teased, trotting in and looking around. “Where’s Goldenrod?”

A small chuckle came from the mystic, who pointed out a nearby window. “That filly is an unstoppable force. Her work has taken her outside, of course.” She led them out the door, stopping to wave at the group behind the Crusaders. “I see that today you have gathered a crowd.” She sent the blue-haired stallion a knowing grin. “I do hope things haven’t gotten too loud?”

Boltsinger winced, rubbing his neck as he remembered the previous day’s outburst. “I… take it you heard me yesterday?”

Twilight put a hoof on her husband’s back. “I think Princess Celestia heard you yesterday.”

Zecora chortled to herself, turning her way toward the back of the hut. Following behind her revealed a vast patch of herbs, with a yellow Pegasus filly hovering over. She had placed several small gray clouds all about the clearing, occasionally bucking one to provide the plants with life-giving water. Zecora looked to the Crusaders with a smile, finally cleari g her throat and looking up. "Oh, Goldie, my dear! You've got friends around! Perhaps now you can show them what secrets you've found?"

The green-haired filly’s buzzing finally stopped. “On my way!” She turned into a little streak as she made her approach, fluttering to a landing with an enormous smile. “Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, I have something to show you.” She put her hoof up between them, putting on a serious face. “Careful, though, it might freak you out a bit.”

The young trio tilted their heads, their curiosity piqued. “Are you talking about what I think you’re talking about?” Sweetie Belle asked, leaning forward in tandem with her friends.

“Are you saying you--” Apple Bloom began, stopped short by a flank in her face.

“Check it out!” Goldenrod commanded, beaming like it was her birthday. On the yellow flank was a single symbol, a pure white cloud with, of all things, a bonsai tree growing out of it. The young botanist could hardly hold back her giggles, especially once the Crusaders’ eyes began to widen.

“YOU GOT YOUR CUTIE MARK!!!” they simultaneously cheered, hopping up with more joy than they’d felt in a long time.

“Isn’t it awesome?” Goldenrod exclaimed, looking longingly at her flank. “A couple weeks back I was wondering if I could improve the conditions for all of Zecora’s herbs while flying around. It helps me think sometimes. Anyway, eventually I sat on a cloud, and some rain started to come out!” She pointed back at the clouds above the herbs with a smirk. “What if I used the clouds to create whatever conditions I wanted?” She sprang into the air, motioning to the clouds with her hooves. “I combined my cloud-wrangling skills with my research! What do you think?”

Smiles widened all around, with Scootaloo rising to meet her friend in midair. “This… is… AWESOME!” She rushed forward, catching her in a hug that sent both of them spinning. They landed in the dirt on the other side of the patch, covered in dust and laughing. “Your parents can’t possibly reject something like this!”

Mane stepped forward, examining the herbs and the clouds that watered them. “So this is… botanical research?” She beckoned back to her husband with a twinkle in her eye. “Snap, come check this out!”

“Oh, I am!” the stallion answered, nosing his way around the herbs. “I never even imagined there could be a method like this!” He examined the soil, bringing a bit up and taking a whiff. “Getting soil like this in Everfree is an amazing feat! Let alone havin’ anything growin’ in a place this wild!” He walked over to the young Pegasi, looking eagerly at the aspiring scientist. “Do you mind if we look at your notes?”

Dusting herself off, Goldenrod looked at the stallion before her, eyes widening dramatically. “You’re… you’re…” She shot back into the air, putting herself at eye level with him. “You’re SNAP SHUTTER!!!” She brought her hooves to her cheeks squishing them excitedly against her face. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE HERE!” She looked past him, blinking in disbelief at the mare she saw. “So… You’re Mane Allgood! You two are legends! What brings you over here?”

Snap pointed a hoof at Scootaloo. “Ask our daughter.”

Goldenrod’s gaze turned to the Crusader, her mouth making a perfect O shape at the new knowledge. “Those two… are your… parents?!”

“Um…” Scootaloo looked away, frantically scratching her neck. “Yeah, kinda… It’s, well, it’s complicated.”

“How is it complicated?” she asked, putting her hooves on her fellow flyer’s shoulders. “Who wouldn’t want to have them for parents? They’re the best explorers of all time!” She led the orange filly back to the larger group, stopping short just to stare back at the ponies she idolized. “Why, just last winter, they led a team through the frozen north to get the magical nectar of the Crystalilies!”

“Last winter, huh?” Boltsinger repeated, taking a seat beside them. Breathing deep, he looked at the budding botanist with a smile. “So, what does this Crystalily nectar do?”

“What doesn’t it do?” she corrected. "Crystalily nectar is a fascinating reagent in a bunch of medicines, remedies, and even a few spells! But it's extremely hard to find. Only the bravest are able to track them down and extract it!" She hopped into a hover in front of the explorers. "The flowers only bloom once every fifteen years, and this last winter was the second time they've gotten it!"

"Really?" The orange stallion turned his attention to Snap and Mane, both of whom slowly nodded. "That's a very noble cause. Quite frankly, it's very understandable that they would go where they were needed."

Snap's eyes went wide. "Well, uh… Thank you! Didn't think you'd--"

"Just one question for you, though." He interjected, wings flaring. "Why didn't you tell her about it?"

The Earth Pony went back a step. “Well it’s not like it’s the first time we’ve not come back when we said--”

Boltsinger stomped, narrowing his eyes as he took a step closer. “Why didn’t you tell her what you were doing?”

“She’s a tough girl! She understands that we can’t always keep our promises!” he argued, digging his hoof into the dirt.

“From what I can tell you’d be hard-pressed to keep your promises!” The Pegasus took to the air with an angry flap, moving to a hover in front of his opposite. “Last winter was the first time I’d ever seen Scoot hear from you, let alone get excited about seeing you!”

Twilight took a step forward, extending her hoof out to her husband. “Bolt--”

“No, Twilight, he needs to hear this.” he dismissed, getting a little closer. “I get that you have big important work to do. I end up randomly leaving all the time. But there’s a big difference between what happens to me and the blatant neglect you show her!”

A growl erupted from Snap’s throat, sending his hoof to swipe the air in front of him. “And what do you do that’s so important that you gotta leave like that? What makes you so different from us?”

“It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. I just do my part!” he explained with a hoof over his heart. “But every single time I leave, I come back as soon as possible! And when I’m gone for a long time, I write. EVERY. DAY. Heck, I just got back from a really long trip all over Equestria, but I still sent a letter every chance I got!”

“Not all of us have magical dragons to send our mail for us!” the photographer retorted, taking a step of his own closer. “And if we don’t do what we do, then a lot more ponies are gonna suffer than just one!”

Scootaloo watched as the yelling got more and more intense. The only time he’d ever seen Boltsinger like this before was when he held Caballeron by his shirt collar, fiercely protective and profoundly aggressive. Her pupils like pinpricks, she looked at her birth father. His face mirrored Boltsinger’s in many ways, fiery, defensive, and enraged. She shuffled her hooves, scooting back in the dirt in disbelief. “No… Please, no…”

But the shouting match continued, both sides growing louder with every step in their exchange. Looking over at Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo couldn’t help but notice her expression shifting to the dour side. Gritting her teeth, brow furrowed, and wings arched aggressively when looking at her birth father. The winged Crusader began to pant, her hooves coming to clutch her head. All the while, the stallions stepped closer to one another.

“She’s a strong filly, yes, but you have no idea how much you hurt her!” Boltsinger declared, clenching his teeth mere inches from Snap’s muzzle. “You call yourself a parent, but all you’ve managed to do is make my daughter cry!”

“She’s my daughter, ya family-stealing sod!” Snap Shutter dragged his hoof on the ground, snorting as loud as he could while raising his foreleg. “And I’ve had just about enough of this!”

Boltsinger gave a mighty flap that lifted him higher than before, forelegs raised defensively with a fierce new determination in his eyes. “Oh it’s on!”

“STOP IT!!!” Scootaloo finally cried, pulling all eyes to fall on her. She stood there with a look of tearful shock lining her features, wings flared and breaths rapid. “This isn’t what I wanted!” She closed her eyes, shaking her head as the tears began falling. “This isn’t what I wanted at all!!!” With that, her legs began to move, taking her at a gallop into the forest beyond the hut.

Boltsinger and Snap Shutter stared in disbelief, both of them falling back on all fours as the very filly they were arguing about disappeared into the trees. After a dumbfounded blink, they looked around. Everywhere they looked, they found glares. Glares that sent a chill down their spines, letting them know the gravity of their mistake.

After that quiet realization, Twilight and Mane stepped forward, the Alicorn’s wings spread with a presence and ire even Boltsinger had never seen before. She gave a single stomp, sending cracks into the ground below. “You know what you have to do, right?”

The first thing that came to mind for the purple-eyed stallion felt obvious. “Yeah. I do.”

“Then go.” the princess stressed, flaring her wings even wider. “Now.”

“Right.” Boltsinger turned to the pony he’d just nearly come to blows with, offering him a hoof. “Let’s go get our daughter.”

Looking at the offered hoof, then the stallion that owned it, Snap nodded. “Right. Let’s go.”

The two of them joined hooves, and with a charged flap of the Pegasus’ wings, they were off.

Running, panting, and tears.

These were all Scootaloo could register as she ran. The trees looked as if they would reach out to grab her at any time, their faces more menacing than ever before, and all sound seemed to fade away before her racing thoughts. At this point, she was running on pure instinct. Ducking, weaving, swerving, dodging, jumping. It was all natural. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she couldn’t care less now. She was getting away from the fighting, and it didn’t matter where she was. Be it among the trees, on the ground, in the water…

In the water?

She opened her eyes, looking at the yellow-green water around her hooves. “What the? How did I get here?” She let out a forceful snort, plopping her rump down into the water. “Oh well. Doesn’t matter…” She raised a hoof, bringing it back down with some force to send a wide ripple through the water. “I just don’t care anymore… It’s not worth trying if everypony’s just gonna fight…”

A muffled growl bubbled up from under the water, sending the filly’s gaze toward the noise for a moment. Stranger still than the bubbles was the faded voice that sounded off from behind. “SCOOTALOO!” it called out. She turned toward it, wondering what it could possibly be. Upon hearing it again, she recognized it. There were two of them. They were heading toward her, and from the sounds of it, they were together.

“Dad?” she wondered, raising her hoof from the water.

The growling she’d ignored came forth once again, sending much larger ripples through the water. She looked back to the liquid, pupils shrinking once again as an enormous splash erupted in front of her. From the depths came a giant rock-covered lizard, a cragadile, lumbering after her with its maw open wide. She released a high-pitched scream, buzzing her wings in an attempt to escape, but it was too close. Her mouth hung open, forelegs coming up to defend herself, all while frantically trying to scoot away.

But the attack never came. Instead, two sets of hind legs slammed into the creature, knocking it aside. With a quick loop, the legs’ owners were airborne, one of them dropping from the top of the stunt while the one with wings made a beeline for her. “I gotcha Scoot!” Boltsinger declared, his forelegs wrapped around her and holding her close as they soared above everything. Once they’d gained some height, he turned around, looking down at the scene below. “I’ve got Scootaloo!”

Snap Shutter looked up from his newfound position on the cragadile’s back with a wide grin. “Perfect! You keep ‘er outta danger and I’ll handle this bugger!”

“Right! Be careful!” the performance pony confirmed, lowering his altitude and coming to a hover. His grip around the foal tightened, forming an impromptu hug. “Are you okay?”

“I… I think so…” the filly replied, burying her face in Boltsinger’s fur. “Thanks…”

“Thank Snap.” he suggested, stroking her mane. “He’s the one that saw the cragadile and formed the strategy.”

Down below, Snap Shutter had grabbed onto one of the more manageable rocks on the beast’s back. As it thrashed around, he held on, going in and out of the water at least five times before its body righted itself. Snap refused to waste this opportunity, climbing up the length of the cragadile until he sat at the base of its neck. He felt around, searching for precisely the right spot to strike until… There it was! He raised his foreleg, tensing it up as much as his drenched body would allow before bringing it down at the precise pressure point. With something that sounded like a growl and a roar at the same time, the rocky reptile reared back, flailing its forelegs before falling flat on its stomach, breathing softly in a blissful slumber.

“Now that was a doozy.” he commented, climbing down from its back and walking to shore, where Boltsinger came to a soft hover in front of him. “How’re ya doin’ Scoot?”

Scootaloo slowly turned in her adoptive father’s forelegs, still visibly shaking, but with a look of relief in her eyes. “I’m okay.” She squirmed just a little, working her way out of the embrace to land between them. “Thanks for coming after me, Dad.”

“You should thank Bolt.” Snap said with a shrug, pointing to the pony in question. “We wouldn’t’ve gotten here so fast if not for him.”

“I did.” she affirmed, taking hold of a hoof from each of them. “Both of you. Thanks, Dad.”

There was a mutual smile from both stallions, each leaning forward and covering their daughter in a hug. One was wet, and the other had a tingle to his touch, but Scootaloo didn’t care. They were here, and for absolute certain, she felt safe.

Scootaloo was certain she’d never had been hugged so much in a single afternoon. Between her friends, her aunts, her honorary sister, and both of her moms, she was just about hugged out. She lay in her bed in the castle, staring up at the ceiling in a state of both content and confusion. The day hadn’t gone how she’d hoped, but she couldn’t complain about the result. She turned onto her side, looking at the door when, with timing that very nearly blew her mind, there was a knock. “Hey Scoot, can we come in?” Boltsinger asked from the other side.

“Yeah, it’s open.” she answered, sitting up on the edge. The door swung open, allowing both of her fathers to enter.

“I know we already asked, but… how are you feeling?” Snap inquired, taking a seat on her left.

“Not just about the thing with the cragadile, of course.” Boltsinger added, following suit on her right. “All of this. Us. Everything. I mean…” He hung his head, finding himself at a loss for words.

“Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel about all of this.” she confessed, kicking her hind legs in alternation as she looked at the floor. “But, I think I at least feel better than before. The way both of you came to my rescue really helped.”

“I’m not sure I understand why you’re confused, but I guess it’s not for me to understand anyway.” Snap stated, putting his hooves on his knees. “Mane and I… we just wanted to make sure you were safe. Even took a job that would let us be with you more often, but… We can’t stay here in Ponyville for it.”

“And I talked with Twilight about it, and we agreed… “ A deep sigh came from the older Pegasus, his knees coming up close to his barrel. “No matter what choice you make, you’ve got our support. If you want to leave with them, we’re okay with it.”

Before he could look up again, Boltsinger felt hooves on his hind legs, gradually climbing up until they reached the top. After a moment, there was a sharp slap to either side of his muzzle, sending his attention back up to find Scootaloo looking him in the eye. “Why would you ever think I’d wanna leave Ponyville?”

The Pegasus stallion’s eyes stayed wide, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. He moved his hooves to his cheeks, where he found feathers in the same places he habitually struck. “How did your wings get so big?”

“Because my dad taught me to use them.” she informed him, fluttering back to the floor. “The dad that’s been there for me ever since I met him. And the one who always gave me the chance to make my own choices.”

Snap took a long look at the orange ponies, a small tug at the corners of his mouth concealing the distance he felt from the filly. He got up from the bed, putting a hoof on her back. “You really do have a lot of support here in Ponyville, huh?” Scootaloo looked up to him with a smile, giving a solemn nod. “Well then I can’t possibly ask you to leave with us. But we still wanna be a part of your life. Can’t really get out of the move, though. House has already been sold.”

“Well then I guess you have to come visit.” Boltsinger deadpanned, his hoof joining Snap’s. “You’re welcome at the castle anytime you need.”

“Are you sure?” the explorer inquired, tentatively raising his hoof. “After all that happened these last couple days, I don’t blame you if--”

“Of course I’m sure.” the Pegasus prince affirmed. “I’d do anything for Scootaloo, and if she wants to have you over, then I’m happy to oblige.” The fathers turned their attention to their favorite filly, whose eyes had gained a hopeful shine to them. “So what do you say?”

“Of course you can come visit!” she exclaimed, tugging on both of their forelegs to give them one more hug. “Just make sure you try to get along, okay?”

The fathers simultaneously nodded, squeezing their foal just enough to add some extra warmth. “You’ve got it.” they replied in unison.

Out in the hallway, Holiday and Lofty peeked into the room. They snickered back and forth, pulling each other close. “So, should we tell them that we’re the ones that bought the house?” Lofty asked.

“Let’s wait ‘til later.” Holiday suggested, giving her partner a kiss on the cheek. “Give ‘em one surprise at a time.”

Author's Note

This was a hard chapter to write. It's been a long time coming, and when I realized the implications of Daring Do coming to Ponyville in the last chapter, all the connections lined up in my head and then suddenly... BAM! No choice. Had to do this. Even though the episode it draws from is one that gave me no less than three panic attacks. Figuring everything out was difficult, but it came together as I kept going.
After this, though, I'm hoping that I can pick up the pace with releases. I'm in a better place than I was and things are slowly getting better. I'll be able to focus a bit more. In fact, I kinda secretly promised myself I'd get this chapter done for all of you before the year ended. I am just barely in time for that. So let's hope I can do better next time! I already have several plans for the chapters to come, so I hope you enjoy them!

Is the Apple Rotten, Or...?

Bells rang from under the orchard’s entwined trees, decorations strewn about the trees as Big McIntosh and Sugar Belle shared in a kiss. The couple had waited as long as they could, but no longer. Big Mac stood clad in a black suit, a simple string bow tie hanging over his white button-down shirt with a stetson on his head to match, while Sugar Belle wore a simple gown of purest white, mane tied up in a tight bun. With friends on either side, Mayor Mare led the cheers as the happy couple cantered down the makeshift aisle. Chief among those cheering were Applejack and Apple Bloom, each with a tear in their eye as they watched their brother start his new life.

“I can’t believe ‘e finally did it!” Applejack exclaimed, putting a hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “He looks so happy, I…”

Apple Bloom smirked back at the mare. “Well, I ain’t even a little surprised.”

With a brief chuckle, Applejack tussled the filly’s mane. “‘Course not, seein’ as you helped set ‘em up.”

“And look how it turned out!” she started, gesturing to the decorations all around them before her hoof pressed against her cheek. “I just knew havin’ somepony special was the way ta go!” She fell to her rump with a swooning sigh, losing herself in the moment until… “That reminds me…” She looked back over her shoulder with a crooked grin.

Applejack's eyes widened at the expression, knowing full well what it meant. "Oh no…!" She stepped back with a hoof raised between them. "Don't you even--"

"We still gotta find your special somepony!" Apple Bloom declared, hopping back to her hooves with ecstatic determination.

With a defeated sigh, Applejack looked aside. "Yeah, I thought so…"

The next day there came a glow about the farm. It was clear that the previous night had been eventful for some members of the family, and while they were all certainly happy about it, it did little to distract Applejack from a foreboding feeling. She trudged into the kitchen, dragging her hooves as she turned toward the stove. I can't believe that Apple Bloom… Ya'd think after this long she'd've given up on that dang crusade o' hers! Her mind raced as she began making breakfast for the family. I swear, at this rate she's gonna frag me all over Equestria an' it ain't gonna do a lick o' good! The one date I went on that was any fun at all was with Discord, an' it wasn't even a romantic one! She let out a low groan of annoyance as the meal took a rather rough shape. Is it really so awful, not having a special somepony? Never needed one before. Why now?

Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of hoofsteps entering the room. She looked to the door, catching that glow in her peripheral as Sugar Belle walked in. On her face was a smile that looked more content and happy than any she'd ever seen. She moved almost automatically, made increasingly more evident by the impact when she bumped into the orange mare. “Hm?” Her eyes opened fully, shining with a fond familiarity. “Oh! Good morning, Applejack.”

“Heh… Mornin’ Sugar Belle.” She answered, stepping aside to accommodate the baker. "Ya hungry? I got sumthin' cookin' already if ya wanna take it easy."

The newlywed mare’s smile only got bigger. “Oh! Well thank you, Applejack.” She eyed the meal in progress. It looked… decent enough. Though it seemed a little malformed. “But I think I’ll join you. I’ve always wanted to cook with my sister, you know!”

As Sugar Belle took the spot beside her, Applejack let out a nervous laugh. “I appreciate it.” She watched as the Unicorn’s horn lit up, taking a nearby spatula and working the pan with practiced ease. It was a marvel to behold, she had to admit. Eventually, she took a step back, putting her utensils down. “Ya know, I been lookin’ forward ta this too, but…” She rubbed her neck, looking away. “I think you got this covered. I think I’ll just… do some chores, alright?”

Sugar Belle raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. You got this.”

“Okay, then.” She slowly looked back to her work, swishing her tail. “I’ll let you know when it’s ready, okay?”

A more genuine smile graced the farmer’s face. “Thanks, Sugar Belle.” She turned to the exit, chancing a glance over her shoulder to smile at her brand new sister. “I’ll see ya later.”

Closing the door behind her, Applejack wiped her brow with a breath of relief. Moving to a trot, the thought of tending to those trees melted any wariness she had away. Finally, something that could help her keep her mind off of-- “Wait up, Applejack!” Apple Bloom… The filly in question approached her sister in a half-canter, half-stomp, kicking up no end of dust on the way. “I was hopin’ I’d see you! Thought we could go over my next idea!” She patted a saddlebag that hung from her side, gazing up with sparkling eyes.

The orange mare immediately tensed up, forcing a grin onto her muzzle. “Oh yeah?” She looked at her grinning sister with a stiff tilt of her head. “Whatcha got in mind?”

“Right!” She reached into her bag, pulling out a scroll that unfurled into a long trail on the ground. “So we pretty much introduced you ta everypony in at least Ponyville and Manehattan. Can’t remember if we’ve done Canterlot yet.” She quickly rolled it up, stowing it away to replace it with an envelope. “So, what if we sent out letters ‘n see who’s interested? Ponies’ll be comin’ from all over ta see you!”

Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat, letting her smile fall away into a disturbed frown. “All over? D’you really wanna bring so many strangers here ta Sweet Apple Acres?”

"Why not? We've had big parties here before."

"Well, yeah, but--"

"Come on, Applejack, give it a chance!"

"Can I just--"

"Don'tcha wanna be happy like Big Mac?"

And there it was again. Always that question. That comparison. Applejack couldn’t stand it anymore. Her brow furrowed with frustration, sending her hoof down hard. "Why the heck 're you so dang obsessed with this, Apple Bloom?!" She lifted her now-sore hoof, doing her best to resist gritting her teeth as she knocked the envelopes away. "I get that you have yer crusade an' yer 'lookin' out for me', but enough is enough!"

A wave of confusion washed over the filly, sending her reeling backwards. Falling to her rump, she sat there among the fallen papers, watching as her big sister turned around with an aggravated growl. Her confusion didn't last long, though. A year's worth of effort. A year's worth of devotion. All that she'd done for her big sister, and this was how it was gonna end? "Fat chance, Applejack!" She shouted, gathering up the envelopes on her own fit of rage. "Mark my words! When I'm done you're gonna be thankin' me!"

The door to the clubhouse opened with a telltale creak, letting Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in with slow and tentative steps. It was unusually dark, with the sound of scribbling filling up the place. In what little light the window provided, Apple Bloom sat, hunched over a piece of paper with a pencil in her mouth. When her friends’ hoofsteps got closer, her head turned to meet them, pencil hanging from her enormous smile. "Hey, girls! Yer just in time!"

Sweetie Belle took a tentative step closer. "Hi, there." She reached for the Earth Pony, stopping short when she found her hoof coming down on another parchment. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine! Fine! Just fine!" She replied, nodding profusely as she turned back to her work. "Just ironin' out the kinks on this potion."

"A potion?" Scootaloo repeated, sending her wings buzzing into a hover and looking over Apple Bloom's shoulder. "What kind of potion?"

Apple Bloom’s pupils shrank. “Oh, it’s nuthin’ special. Just sumthin’ I’ve been workin’ on with Zecora these past few months.”

“Sounds cool!” the Unicorn declared, stepping forward to get a peek of her own. To her, it looked more like scratch, hobbled together in a rush. “If I… knew what I was looking at.”

“Oh, you just need ta see it in the light.” The gold-eyed girl sprang toward the far window, opening it wide to fill the room with light. All over, papers had been scattered, each with their own bits of information scratched on. Most notable among them was the back wall, lined almost completely with papers that had been tacked into place. Their writing seemed more cohesive than the rest. Forming into some kind of shape.

A heart shape.

Sweetie Belle backed away at the sight, lighting her horn to pull Scootaloo along with her. "You're making the love poison?!"

Apple Bloom's ears fell flat against her head as she sat back. "Well, not so much makin' it as it is refinin'." She gestured to various parts of her notes. "Ya see, I figured Applejack needed a good ol' shove I'm the right direction, so I've been workin' on a safe version o' that old potion so that she can see how great havin' a special somepony is!" She ran up to the other Crusaders, taking a large clump of the notes in her forelegs. "Whaddaya think? Am I a genius or what?"

“Or what?” Sweetie Belle repeated, taking a step back. “You’re using the thing that almost turned your brother and Ms. Cheerilee insane, all so that you can get your sister a boyfriend?!”

“Or a girlfriend.” Apple Bloom corrected, dropping the notes to look back at the enormous heart. “Depends on what Applejack likes, you know?”

“Yeah, we get it.” the flying filly affirmed. She touched down beside the Unicorn, scratching the back of her neck. “But isn’t all of this…” She motioned to the entire clubhouse and the mess that lined it. “... a little extreme?”

"What's so extreme about it?" the farm filly wondered, following her friend's hoof. "I've done the research with advice from your ma, asked Zecora fer help, and got permission from Fluttershy ta test with willing animal subjects!" She sat flat on her rump, crossing her forelegs in a huff. "In fact, my potion is helping us increase Ponyville's bunny population!"

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure the bunnies don't need any help increasing their population." Behind her, Scootaloo stifled a laugh.

A light flush flashed in the filly’s face. “Yeah, well, it works! That’s what’s important!”

“What do you even plan to do with that potion, anyway?” Scootaloo inquired. “I get you got it working, but what’s the point if she won’t see anyone?”

Apple Bloom stood firm once more, replacing her flush with a confident smirk. “Oh, I’ve already got that taken care of!”

The other Crusaders glanced at one another, their expressions saying the same thing. Looking back to the red-head with some shaky grins. “You didn’t… invite a whole bunch of ponies to the farm, did you?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Bloom let out a sinister giggle. "Maaaaaaaaybe."

"And you did this with Applejack's permission, right?" There was a longing silence in the clubhouse, with the yellow filly widening her grin as her friends' faces ceased smiling. "You did this with Applejack's permission, right?"

Apple Bloom’s smile faltered a bit. "Well, I thought it'd be nice if it was a surprise!"

Sweetie Belle cast a look back at the orange filly. "We tell Applejack?"

Scootaloo nodded. "We tell Applejack!"

With their plan set, they immediately turned toward the door and started walking. At least, until a streak of yellow and red sped by, coming to hold the door shut in front of them. "Wait a sec! You can't just turn around an' tell 'er! She… She needs my help!"

"Does she, though?" Sweetie Belle asked, raising an inquisitive hoof. "We've been trying to be her matchmakers for over a year now, and nothing has worked!"

“She just hasn’t tried hard enough!” the desperate filly declared, motioning to the window. “Somewhere out there, there’s somepony that’ll make Applejack happy! Like Sugar Belle for Big Mac! Or Cheese Sandwich fer Pinkie, or… or…"

"My parents…" Scootaloo suggested.

"Exactly!" The filly's hooves flew into the air. "I just want my big sister ta have a piece of that!" She returned to all fours, panting in her fervor. "Is that really so bad?"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle's features softened, both of them understanding full well what their friend was saying. On that thought, Sweetie Belle stepped forward, placing a hoof on Apple Bloom's shoulder. "It's not, but… Is it really worth lying to everypony?"

"Well, I--"

"APPLE BLOOM! YOU GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!!"

The filly in question jumped at the sudden exclamation, scrambling back toward the far wall. "They're here!" She dove into a nearby pile of papers, tossing excess aside in search of something. "You two go see how many ponies made it. I gotta find sumthin'!"

Sweetie Belle raised a suspicious hoof. “You’re not going to…?”

“I SAID NOW LITTLE SISTER!” came yet another bellow from Applejack, sending all three fillies jumping.

“Got it!” Apple Bloom announced, holding aloft something that looked like a perfume bottle. She swung the door open with a force that nearly knocked it from its hinges, hurrying down the ramp toward the farm. “I’M COMIN’ APPLEJACK!”

Standing in the clubhouse by themselves, all the remaining Crusaders could do was exchange worried looks.

Simple words could not describe how Applejack felt as she looked over the throng of ponies looking at her. Mares, stallions, Griffons, Changelings, and even a few lizardfolk had all shown up for apparently no reason. Or at least, no reason that she could figure. Now, she just waited. Tapping her hoof and grumbling to herself. Of once thing, she was certain. “That Apple Bloom’s got a lot ta answer for!”

After a minute or so, there was movement through the crowd. "'Scuse me! Sorry! Comin' through!" Finally, the yellow-coated filly appeared in front with a bag slung over her back. “Wow! That letter worked better 'n I thought!"

“Somehow I knew you were behind this!” the older Apple stated, stomping with each step forward. “What the heck did you tell all these folks? I swear, I ain’t even seen parasprites swarm this much!”

“All I did was send out a mass letter sayin’ that the best apple in history is available!” she answered, waving a dismissive hoof at her.

Applejack recoiled, her eyes wide with shock. “So you… lied… ta every single one o’ them?!”

“Ain’t my problem if they don’t know that Apple didn’t sprout from a tree, is it?” the filly reasoned with a smirk.

“That’s not how that works, an’ you know it!” Applejack insisted, pointing aggressively at her little sister. “I can’t believe my own sister would do sumthin’ like this!”

Apple Bloom’s face began to mirror her sister’s, smacking the accusing hoof away with her own. “Well I wouldn’t hafta do sumthin’ like this if you’d just pick somepony!”

Applejack threw her head back with a furious groan. “If only it were that easy!” She gestured broadly to the crowd, jutting her head forward with enough force to throw off her hat. “If I could do that I wouldn’t feel so bad about all o’ this! D’ you have any idea what it’s like, havin’ my baby sister tryin’ so hard ta do sumthin’ just ta make me happy, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t even hope ta let ‘er succeed ‘cause… Well… I don’t know why!”

“Well--” The filly stopped herself short, finding a softness returning to her features. She, of all ponies, knew how her sister would get when her emotions got the better of her. It was hard to pinpoint sometimes, but it was clear now. She let out a long exhale, looking back at the hat that now lay behind her. “Well, what if I had sumthin’ that could help?”

The elder sibling was taken aback, raising a curious hoof. “What are you gettin’ at, Apple Bloom?”

Apple Bloom reached into her saddlebag, rummaging for a moment before producing a flask filled with a pink tincture. “I was gonna surprise you with this, but…” She held it up to the mare, swishing it around to reveal that every way it flowed, there seemed to be a heart shape forming. “Been workin’ on it for months, and it really is tested and proven ta be safe, Zecora’s approval an’ everythin’!”

“So you’re sayin’ this is…” Applejack eyed the concoction closely, finding a strange kind of sparkle to it. “A love potion?”

“That’s right.” She confirmed, pulling back just long enough to pull the cork out. “Just take a drink and look at somepony while thinkin’ of love. Should help you get those feelings goin’ faster than the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy Six Thousand can lose a cider-makin’ contest.”

That forced a chuckle out of Applejack, letting her look on with a genuine smile. “Well, If you’re that confident, I guess it couldn’t hurt ta try, right? Besides, after all ”

A hoof was raised from the crowd, with a voice soon to follow. “Excuse me, miss! Where’s that apple the letter was talking about?”

“Yeah! I came a long way to get here!” cried a Changeling in reply.

“Yeah! Out with the apple already!” a Griffon called out.

“Hold yer horses, will ya?” Applejack retorted, sending the lot of them a vicious glare. “We’ll get everything sorted once I take my medicine, ya hear?”

The only reply she received was mumbles.

Turning back to her sister, she reached out her hoof. “Alright, now, Apple Bloom. Let’s do this.” She took the flask tentatively, swallowing a lump in her throat and breathing deep. “Bottoms up!”

In a single motion, she pounded the bottle back, emptying it of its contents in seconds. It tasted sweet at first, with a few bubbles for good measure. But taste wasn't the point. Her thoughts shifted to those of love. What that word meant to her. Who that feeling might encompass. Visions of her family passed by, the farm, the trees, Ponyville. She saw her friends, prancing all around her, each smiling and enjoying each other's company.

And mid all of it, something loomed over her, putting a sludge-covered hoof on her shoulder. "You can't have what they got, ya know…"

"Wha…?" She turned around, looking up to find some… thing… looking like a pony with a dark grin on its face as some kind of muck ran down its body. "What the heck are you?!"

"Bearer of honesty and she can't handle the truth!" The thing let out a short but powerful laugh, holding onto its stomach "Kinda ironic, don'tcha think? You of all ponies should know somepony like you can't get real love!"

"I don't know what yer talkin' about!" Applejack retorted, albeit shakily. "That's the whole point of this here potion, ain't it? Just gotta open my eyes, and…"

Opening her eyes took far longer than she would have liked. As if she was desperate to keep them shut. Dreading what she might see. Eventually, though, she had no choice. Out before her was a slew of potential suitors. Everyone she could see smiling, and some looking downright friendly. But…

"Well?" Apple Bloom began, tugging at the farm mare's attention. "Do ya see anyone that stands out?"

"I… I don't…" she couldn't help but admit. Her jaw slackened, sending her rump to the dirt. "Not one of 'em." She sent a mournful look to her glowing sister. Wait… glowing? "I mean I guess there's you, what with the glowin' an' such…"

"Me?" Apple Bloom cocked an eyebrow, pointing to herself like she'd been accused of something. "But that doesn't make sense! The one that's glowin' should be the one who makes you happiest!" She pulled a parchment from her saddlebag, looking it over carefully. "Did I mess up sumthin' in the mix? Maybe I boiled it a little too long?"

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the potion, Apple Bloom." Applejack corrected, reaching out only for her hoof to fall limp. "I think… I think there's…" she quickly rose to her hooves, clearing her throat and turning to the crowd. "I dunno why you came here or… or what I'm even doin', but…" She snorted up a sniffle that threatened to emerge, forcing a. Ig smile onto her face. "But y'all have earned at least three complimentary ones each for yer patience! Talk to my sister, and she'll take care of it."

Apple Bloom looked up from her papers with a dumbfounded expression. “Wait, what?”

But Applejack was wasting no time. She was already in a canter back to the house. “I gotta talk to Granny!”

“GRANNY!” Applejack exclaimed, bursting through the door. She raced to the living room, where the elderly mare rocked in her chair. “Granny, I gotta ask you sumthin’!”

Granny Smith’s eyes opened with a start, falling upon her granddaughter with a smile. “Hm? Whaddaya need, Applejack?”

“I just wanna know…” She took quiet steps forward, sitting next to the rocking chair. “Is it alright if I don’t have a special somepony?”

Granny’s eyebrow made a decisive ascent. “I beg yer pardon?”

“I just…” An exasperated sigh escaped as Applejack searched her thoughts. “I wanna know if you want me to… well… get married an’ have foals someday…”

“If’n that makes you happy, o’ course!” she replied, putting her foreleg on the arm of the chair. “Nuthin’ would make me more proud ta see you smilin’ the way Sugar Belle was yesterday. Reminds me of yer grandpappy all those years ago…” She leaned back in the chair, looking up in her nostalgia.

Applejack found a breath caught in her throat as she inhaled. “I see.”

The oldest Apple put a hoof to her chin as a thought sprang to mind. “And I gotta admit I’d love hearin’ the pitter patter of little hooves again.”

If she were honest with herself, this was not what she hoped to hear. Heart sinking to the floor, Applejack got up, putting her hoof on her grand-mare’s shoulder. “Yeah, that’s be nice…” was all she could get out before getting up.

Granny Smith closed her eyes and let out a chuckle. ‘Course, with all Big Mac ‘n Sugar Belle were up to last night, I don’t think that’s anything you gotta worry about.” With another soft laugh, she looked around the room, finding nothing but the breeze from the open door. “Applejack?”

The trees rushed by as she galloped on, filling her peripheral with shades of green, red and brown all shrouded in mist. She didn’t know where she was going, and she honestly didn’t care. She just needed to get away. To be alone.

Alone…

Alone.

Her hooves moved faster, darting between the trees with branches scratching at her. One such branch pulled at her mane, stopping her for a moment. But with a brisk shake of her head, she was free, mane flowing freely in the wind as she sprang forward. Over and over, she replayed the day’s events in her mind. Every word, every action, every thought. That rotten thing in my head… it was right! She told herself, shutting her eyes tight with a moisture she didn’t often feel. I ain’t never gonna have what everypony else has… Couldn’t have it even if I wanted it!

With the almost automated movement of her hooves, she could hardly feel the strain building up in her legs. In fact, she could hardly feel her legs at all. She didn’t even feel it when her hind leg caught on a root, sending her tumbling forward to land face-first in a clearing. She stayed there in the dirt, pulling her hooves up and burying her face in her hooves. Her breaths staggered, turning into heaving sobs as she pounded her hoof into the dirt. “Why’s it gotta be like this, huh?! Why can’t I just think like everyone else?” She turned her misty eyes upward, finding a familiar pair of twisted trees towering over her. Her pupils shrinking, there was nothing she could do to keep the tears from falling. “I’m sorry Ma… I’m sorry, Pa!” She clutched her head, looking away like she was unworthy. “I can’t… I can’t give you what you want… I just can’t!” Her words again devolved into weeping, letting her voice out like never before. At this point, she hardly cared who could hear her, she just couldn’t keep it in any longer.

“Applejack?” came an old stallion’s voice behind her, followed by a warm hoof on her back. “Sugarcube, what’s wrong?” The hoof left her back, replaced by a body laying beside her. She opened her eyes, finding an aged yellow stallion with a puffy white mane with a brown stripe. His brown eyes were full of concern, and the warm hoof had returned to her back, rubbing back and forth. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a state like this. Why don’tcha tell ol’ Grand Pear what’s up? I bet it’ll help you feel better.”

Applejack’s first response was a sniffle, wiping her eyes clear and resting her head on her foreleg. “There’s sumthin’ wrong with me, Grand Pear… I just know it.”

“What do you mean, ‘wrong with you’?” he wondered, putting a hoof on her forehead. “Are ya sick or something?”

“No, I--” She pushed the hoof away, averting her eyes. “I can’t seem to- well, I can’t love like everypony else does. Like Big Mac, or Twilight, or even Rainbow Dash!” She took a deep breath, crossing her forelegs and focusing her gaze upon them. “Apple Bloom’s been tryin’ fer over a year now to… help me make it happen, but… I got nuthin’. It’s like there’s sumthin’ funny in my heart, an’ it just don’t work the same way, even though everypony wants it to.”

“What, you mean like a special somepony?” the stallion asked, raising an eyebrow. “Well, do you want one?”

Applejack pondered for a moment, tilting her head at the idea. “I mean, I’m told it’d be nice.”

“That isn’t what I was asking, sugarcube.” he corrected, booping her nose with his hoof. “I wanna know if you want it. Do you think you would be happier with a special somepony?”

“Well…” She thought back on the subject more, remembering everything that happened over the last year. So many ponies, so many strange encounters. It was an interesting year, to say the least, but through it all, none of it had felt right. The fondest memory she could recall of a date was when she had inadvertently been paired up with Discord, and the two had agreed to simply spend the time together as friends. “I guess… not really.”

“Well then that’s that.” He stated in a matter-of-factly tone. “If you don’t want it, then why should we expect any different?”

Applejack recoiled a bit at that. “Are you sure?”

Grand Pear nodded. “Sure as jam on a flapjack.”

“It’s that simple?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“But what about you? An’ everypony else? And--”

“Now don’t you worry about that!” he commanded, putting a hoof over her mouth. “As long as it’s what you want, I’m happy.” he put his hooves forward, resting on his fetlocks and looking up at the trees before them. “Truth is, the last time I tried to make somepony I love live the way I wanted, I never saw her again…”

“Grand Pear…” Applejack took a long look at her grandfather, raising a tentative hoof.

“I just don’t wanna make the same mistake twice.” he concluded, sending her a teary-eyed smile. “You go ahead and be happy, no matter how you do it. I’ll always support you.” His ear twitched from a sound behind them, turning his gaze toward it. “And I’m pretty sure they agree with me.” He sent her a smirk, tilting his head toward the rear.

Applejack followed where he led, her eyes growing wide at the sight of Granny Smith and Apple Bloom galloping toward them. “APPLEJACK!” they shouted in unison, skidding to a stop in a cloud of dust.

“D’ you have any idea how hard it is ta catch up with you?!” Apple Bloom asked, giving her sister a glare. “I came back to the house an’ Granny was worried sick about ya!” She looked over to the Granny in question. She was still panting from the run over, holding a hoof over her heart. “What the heck is so bad that you gotta run off like that, anyway?”

Rising slowly to her hooves, Applejack could only look at the ground. “Well, I…” Her thoughts dwelled still on her exchange with Grand Pear. She glanced back at him, catching a knowing smile back. “I’ve gotta talk with you. Both o’ you.”

As she caught her breath, Granny Smith got a good look at the orange mare. Eyes puffy like she’d been crying, covered in dirt from where she’d fallen, her mane hanging loose and waving in the wind. Whatever she’d been going through, her determined face told her that it needed to be addressed right now. “Of course, sugarcube. Whatever you gotta say, you go right ahead an’ say it.”

“Well, then,” she straightened her back. This was it. Everything she’d been thinking over the past year, it was time to let it out. Come to terms with it. Be honest. “Granny, Apple Bloom, I’m sorry.” she began, taking a step forward with a hoof raised up. “I’m sorry that I can’t find that special somepony like everyone else. It just don’t feel right, tryin’ ta romance someone when I just ain’t feelin’ it.”

“Whaddaya mean, you ain’t feelin’ it?” Apple Bloom wondered, a curious step forward accompanied by a lowering of her ears. “You’ve been tryin’ yer best with every date you went on, right?”

“I did my best, yeah, but…” Applejack shook her head vehemently. “Not once was I feelin’ it. I only did it ‘cause you were so passionate about it. I thought you were prob’ly onto sumthin’ a few times, but it never really, well, panned out.” She brought her hoof forward, taking a long look at it. “That whole datin’ and marryin’ thing… I just don’t think it’s sumthin’ I want fer myself. Do you get it?”

The look on Apple Bloom’s face was one of utter confusion. Her mouth hung open a bit as she tilted her head. “I… I think I get it. Like you told me before, about havin’ lotsa special someponies you love.”

“Exactly!” the older sister said with a smile. She turned to Granny Smith with pleading eyes, almost desperate to see a smile.

And a smile is precisely what she saw. Accompanied by a laugh that sent the blonde reeling. “Of course I get it, silly filly!” she exclaimed, playfully punching her grand-foal in the arm. “You’ve been just like this since you was a little’un! I dunno why you’d expect ta be any different now!”

Applejack’s jaw dropped, but not for long, as an inquisitive hoof was quickly raised. “But what about that pitter-patterin’ you were talkin’ about?”

The eldest of the Apples rolled her eyes and pointed back to the farm. “Aw, Big Mac’s been workin’ on that ever since the weddin’! Ain’tcha ever heard of a honeymoon? Just give it time.” She approached her green-eyed granddaughter, taking her hoof and holding it close. “You jus’ go on bein’ the same pony ya always were, ya hear me?”

The old farmer’s smiling face made her smile in return. Thinking about it again, she felt… silly. An entire year, fretting about dating this, dating that, gotta find that special somepony, when in the long run, none of it really mattered. The moment that thought occurred to her, she burst into laughter, pulling her Granny into a tight hug. “Thank you, Granny. I really needed ta hear that.” Looking back to her Grand Pear, she offered him a hoof up. “All of it. Thank you.”

“Ain’t no problem, Applejack.” Grand Pear answered, accepting the help and joining the hug. “No problem at all.”

“So, does that mean I don’t need to look fer more folks to set you up with?” Apple Bloom inquired, chancing a look toward the farm. “No more dates?”

Applejack gave her little sister a firm nod. “No more dates.”

A long sigh escaped the filly as she fell to her rump. “Phew!! That’s a relief! No wall we gotta worry about is the free pies you promised that giant crowd over by the barn!”

Granny’s smile instantly disappeared. “I beg yer pardon?”

“Oh yeah!” Applejack took a step back from her grandparents, letting out an awkward laugh. “About that…”

Author's Note

FINALLY!
NINE [REDACTED] MONTHS! Technically three since I started this particular chapter in June. Anyway.

For those still wondering, this is what I've been building Applejack up to. Discovering and accepting that she is, in fact, aromantic/asexual. In all my time watching the show, reading what comics I could, I've never seen Applejack take a legitimate interest in anything romance-related for herself. In fact, she was always more likely to outright ignore it in favor of doing something for her friends. I know what's implied at certain points, and I know about the ships, but I feel like the best ship for Applejack is... No ship. She's always stood strong on her own. She's never needed anyone else to define her. I don't see any reason for that to change.

In addition, I honestly think that the aro/ace end of the spectrum is grossly under-represented. It's not necessarily what I fall under, but I know plenty that are. I don't see enough characters that show that kind of pride. And while I had originally planned this chapter to come just a little bit later, when Pride month came along, I thought it was only right to bring this representation forward sooner rather than later. Plus I've had this chapter in my head for years.

But to those thinking that Apple shenanigans are done, think again! I'm already a good chunk into the next chapter, and it's got a nice, ripe Apple in the spotlight too! I hope you enjoy it!

Prologue: Not Much of a "Professor"

It was a pleasant evening in Ponyville, with all of the students at the School of Friendship retiring for the night. A lilac-coated Alicorn trotted into the nearby castle. She had a darker purple mane and tail, featuring two stripes down the middle, one of a darker still shade, along with a pink that popped out considerably. The Cutie Mark on her flank was a magenta six-pointed star running perpendicular to a smaller white star behind it, and surrounded by five smaller stars. Around her neck hung a pendant made from amethyst and crystal, with a hair clip situated on the back. She moved her purple eyes up to the balcony, a relaxed smile on her muzzle. She had been working long and hard on a particular lecture for her students, spending much of her time secluded for the sake of her writing. Now, the lecture was all said and done, and she was going to take advantage of it to see her family.

As if to answer her desire, she heard wingbeats from above. Her smile widened as, next to her, a bright orange Pegasus came to a landing. His mane and tail were a messy blue with electric blue streaks scattered all about, with eyes of a lighter shade of purple than those of the pony next to him. On his flank was a Cutie Mark of a black microphone with a streak of lightning taking the place of the cord and coiling around the device, and from his neck hung a white crystal pendant in the shape of a lightning bolt while adorned with topaz that was cut to luck like an electrical discharge. On his back was a darker orange diapered Alicorn colt with a wild yet uniform mane and tail of deep purple with a jagged cyan stripe running through it and violet eyes. The stallion extended his wing, putting it around the mare next to him and pulling her close. “So how is Head-mare Twilight Sparkle today?” he asked.

“Ready to relax with her two favorite Princes…” She lit her horn, lifting the foal in front of her, where she gave him a number of kisses on his cheek until he let out a giggle. “My little Nova…” She nestled the baby in her wing, then turned to the stallion, planting a kiss on his cheek. “And my great big Boltsinger!”

Boltsinger let out a laugh. “I dunno about ‘great’...” He returned his spouse’s gesture, smiling warmly. “But that doesn’t matter. Did the lecture go over well?”

“It went great! The students learned a great deal about the benefits of group research and how it can affect teamwork!” she explained, opening the door ahead of them. “All that work was definitely worth it!”

“Sounds like it.” Boltsinger stated, beginning to trot faster. “Because we certainly missed you this past week. Especially our little one, here.”

Twilight nuzzled her colt affectionately, moving deeper into the castle. “Actually, I was thinking of taking a day off pretty soon.”

“Weekend is coming up after tomorrow.” he reasoned, turning into the kitchen. “You’ll have plenty of time off then. Besides, didn’t you go with the CMC’s to Mt. Eris recently?”

“That was different. I needed to get Silverstream’s permission slip signed!” she retorted, placing Nova in a playpen in the corner. “I was there on… business… And I was mostly by myself! I haven’t spent quality time with Nova in a while, now!”

Boltsinger shrugged, starting a pot of boiling water. “Well, I mean, it’s your school, so you can take a day off if you want. But you’d have to let the students know.”

“I think I have an idea for what we can do tomorrow.” she mused, looking slyly at him.

Boltsinger could almost feel the coyness in her voice slide up his spine. He slowly turned his head to look at his wife, the eyebrow closest to her rising inquisitively. “And what might this idea be?”

Twilight stepped up to him, smiling sweetly with her wings fluffed out on full display. “Would you be willing to take over my classes tomorrow?” she requested, leaning in and batting her eyelashes.

The water in the pot behind Boltsinger let out a puff of steam as his wings turned stiff. He stumbled backwards, nearly jumping as his rump hit the stove. “Ooooh no… Nonononono!” He waved a hoof in front of him. “We talked about this, I am not professor material!” He moved to the side of the room, still backing away from his wife’s playful advance. “I mean, I’m not exactly what you’d call an Element bearer or any kind of aficionado on all of that!”

“Neither is Starlight, and she’s the school’s guidance counselor!” Twilight told him. “Besides, you were able to teach Scootaloo how to fly.”

“Scootaloo was a case I knew really well.” he argued. “Plus, she’s practically family! Teaching her comes easily!”

“That’s true.” She took another step forward, making him back up further. Their movements had formed a synchronized yet unrefined waltz around the kitchen, moving in time with Twilight leading their movements. “But you’ve come a long way since you got here. You’ve learned more than enough about friendship to pass on some lessons.”

“Okay, but… What in Equestria would I be suitable to teach your students about?” he continued, finally encircling the room to the point where they stood parallel to the stove.

“Devotion, of course!” she said, giving her eyelashes one more flutter.

“Devotion?” he repeated, letting some confusion cross his face. She nodded silently, bringing her wings up to either side of his face. “Devotion…” he trailed off. Nova looked at his parents from his playpen. Both of their faces were hidden from view, but he could hear the sound of smooching coming from behind the big lilac wing. He paid it no mind, floating over a pot that hung from the side of a cabinet, which he proceeded to bang on with his hooves.

Boltsinger stood, stiff as a board, in the middle of a lecture hall. His pupils looked between the ponies and other creatures in the room, all of the eyes boring into him. “So this is what stage fright feels like…” he muttered, tugging on his pendant with his wing. He took a deep breath, bringing his wings forward and slapping himself on either side of his muzzle, sharpening his focus as he opened his eyes with a bright smile and a wave of his hoof. “Hello, class! My name is Boltsinger, and I’m here to fill in for Twilight today!” He looked back at the blackboard, where several formulae had been scribbled all over the place. “I… um… Well, I told her, myself, I don’t quite know what to teach you all. I mean, she’s so smart and has the whole magic thing going for her, and I’m… well…”

“Lame?” A Griffon among the students suggested. He was a bright blue, with dark blue wings and an off-white underside, the feathers on his head bearing yellow tips. He nudged the pony next to him, letting out a laugh that was quickly met with an alarmingly large number of glares.

“Eeyup. That’s an accurate word.” Boltsinger jokingly confirmed. “I’m not an element bearer. But, I did get a suggestion from your professor on what I might be able to teach. She said, and I quote, ‘devotion’.” He pulled up a stool, sitting on it and looking around again. “So… I’m gonna do my best to teach you all what I know.” He rubbed his temples with his wings, steam from his bubbling thoughts threatening to billow out of his ears. “Devotion… devotion… What is devotion and how do I teach it?” He returned his wings to their resting position, taking in the hopeful faces around him. “I don’t really think ‘devotion’ is something you can teach, honestly.” Gasps sounded throughout the room, causing the nervous stallion to flinch. “Now, wait a second! I said you can’t teach devotion; but I never said you couldn’t teach about devotion!” The calm returned to the room, settling things back into place. “Devotion, as I said, isn’t something you can you can teach someone and then they suddenly have it in the same way you do.” he explained, standing and beginning to pace back and forth through the room He lightly flapped his wings, creating a breeze that spread all the way to the far back walls, amplifying his voice. “Devotion is something that comes from within, over time, when you find someone you truly care for. For example… My devotion towards Twilight and our friends. A few years back, I just crashed into a wall in Canterlot, thanks to the thing my wings do. Princess Luna wouldn’t let me just go on my way, ‘cause she thought I needed some help. Then she and Princess Celestia introduced me to all of your teachers. They took the panicked wreck of a pony that I was and turned him into what you see here, and through all of that, we formed a connection that even the Tree of Harmony can recognize!”

The Griffon cleared his throat. “That’s cool, but what the heck is ‘devotion’?”

Boltsinger pulled himself away from his nostalgia, pointing a hoof at the Griffon. “Ah! Yes! Thank you, Gallus!” He cleared his throat once more. “What devotion is… it’s… it’s a feeling that you would do anything for someone you care about. Even if it means taking a big risk.” He took a glance around the room, a small smile forming on his muzzle. “Some of you may already have that feeling. In a good friendship, devotion comes naturally. It fosters teamwork, and has a tendency to strengthen the qualities that form the Elements of Harmony. It can’t be tied to any specific one of them, but I think it works in tandem with them.” Whispers sounded through the room, many of the students scribbling down notes on the paper below. “So, I was also told that I get to give you all a homework assignment. So here it is...” He brought his hoof to his chin, pondering what might be the best assignment. “What would be some good homework…?”

“How about no homework?” Gallus suggested.

Boltsinger smirked at the cheeky Griffon, an idea forming in his mind. “Nice try. But you did just help me clinch it.” He sat back down on his stool, intensifying the amplification from his wings. “I’d like for all of you to seriously think about those closest to you. Your best friends, your families, anyone you can think of, and talk about what forged that bond with them, and how far you’ll go for them. Look at those most important to you, and figure out for yourself whether or not ‘devotion’ has been born. Then, simply document it and turn it in to Twilight on Monday. Got it?”

“Got it!” the class replied.

Boltsinger beamed, slapping his muzzle with his wings again. “Okay, then! Anyone have any questions?”

Several students raised their forelimbs, each of them asking about the nuances of devotion, to which he discovered that he somehow always had an answer, despite his earlier doubts. Eventually, the class came to an end, many of the students filing out of the room with intrigued smiles on their faces. He placed his hoof on the desk, a strange warmth filling him.

“Excuse me, Professor Boltsinger?” someone called. He searched for the source of the voice, finding a bright blue Changeling with darker blue eyes. She had a dark red shell with a translucent pink tail along with what he could only think of as a mane, with a horn that bore a single point on the end.

“Ah, Ocellus, right?” he guessed, facing the insectoid. She gave him a confirming nod, stepping up to him. “No need for the word ‘Professor’ with me. I’m just a normal pony filling in for his wife today.”

“Okay, then… Boltsinger.” she corrected herself, smiling up at him. “I wanted to tell you that I really liked your lesson. I think I already know who I’m going to write about in my assignment!”

The stallion put on a proud grin, placing his hoof on her shoulder. “That’s wonderful! I’m glad my little lesson could make an impact.”

“Would it be okay if my friends and I asked for advice on the topic sometimes?” she inquired, looking pleadingly at him.

A soft laugh escaped Boltsinger’s mouth as he turned to guide her out. “What kind of kin to Twilight would I be if I turned down learning for the sake of it? You can ask whatever you like whenever you like, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your classes, okay?”

Ocellus grinned back at him. “Okay! Thank you!” She reared up a little, lightly flailing her forelegs and cantering off towards Gallus and her other friends.

Boltsinger took a long look at the students, the smile on his face lingering for as long as they were in view. I guess she was right. I really did have something to teach…

Author's Note

Season 3 has now begun! I've been super excited to get this started... I have so many ideas! Things will continue from where they left off last season, plus a bunch of new things that I think you'll enjoy!

The Storm: Part 2

Starlight, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash strolled through the encampment, each taking a look around. As one pony would perform a task, another would look jealously at them. The smile would be ever-present, but their teeth were always clenched tight. They saw the same thing from several different groups, until, finally, Starlight deigned to approach some, tapping on a mare’s shoulder. “Excuse me.”

The mare jumped, turning to face her. “Yes? Oh! You’re one of our guests! What do you need?”

“Why are you glaring at your friend?” Starlight asked, looking over at a sculpting stallion.

“What? Glaring? I’m not glaring!” The mare pointed a hoof at her own face. “See the smile? I’m not glaring at all!”

“Yeah… I see the smile, but my friend, here…” she pointed to Pinkie, who waved happily. “... is an expert on smiles.”

“AND YOURS ARE ALL WEIRD!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Yeah, that.” Starlight continued. “So, again, why are you glaring at him?”

The mare looked nervously between the six ponies, letting her smile tense up. “I… I always wanted to sculpt!” She blurted out. “I’ve been fascinated by stone and the art that comes from it for years, but my Cutie Mark ended up being for mining work!” She lifted her cloak, revealing a pickaxe Cutie Mark. “How can I be a sculptor when all I’m meant to do is dig?!”

“Well, why don’t you ask your friend?” Fluttershy suggested. “I’m sure he’d be happy to teach you.”

The mare shook her head in utter defiance. “Oh, heavens, no! That would be rude!”

“Rude?” Rainbow repeated.

Rarity nodded, looking from Rainbow to the nervous mare. “Yes, I’m not sure I understand how asking for help is ‘rude’.”

“Oh, yes! Terribly rude!” she confirmed, looking back at the sculptor. “We don’t do much with one another. Besides, why would I need to ask him when Lord Paradigm teaches us all we need?”

“Wait, what?” Applejack started, tilting her head with confusion. “How can just one pony teach y’all everything you need? Nopony can do everything!”

The maneless mare giggled to herself. “Clearly, you haven’t met Lord Paradigm! Every day, he teaches us so many wonderful things to anypony who is interested! He has so many special talents… I wonder if he might be the most special pony in Equestria! And all we have to do is whatever he asks in return! This is actually one of the few days where we get free time! And it’s all because of your arrival! It’s not very often that a Princess takes notice of our little gathering! Why, she might even join us! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” she put her hooves to her cheeks, devolving into giddy laughter.

Starlight smiled weakly at the mare, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah… wonderful.”

“Who knows? She might be in initiation right now!” she noted, glancing at Paradigm’s tent.

The six mares exchanged curious and concerned looks, following the mare’s gaze. “Initiation? What happens for that?”

“Nopony knows!” Another pony stated, joining the mare. “It’s different for everypony that joins us. But Lord Paradigm sees to it himself every time, and it always takes at least three weeks.”

The mare nodded in agreement, lighting up with a thought. “Those two ponies have been in there for a while, now! Maybe they’ve already begun?”

“What?!” Starlight screamed, her face twisting to panic. “But they never said anything about joining!”

“Nopony ever does!” the new pony informed her, motioning his hoof to the smiling encampment. “But Lord Paradigm is quite convincing! And look at us, now! Three hundred strong and growing!”

Starlight’s horn flared to life in an instant, casting her most frequently-used spell and appearing inside the enormous tent. “Twilight! Bolt! Don’t…” she looked around, finding her friends passed out on the floor with spilled cider goblets next to them. “Oh, no…”

A white magical field surrounded the pink Unicorn, lifting her into the air. “Oh, yes…” Paradigm replied, his voice dripping with venom as he turned her to face him. His horn was wrapped not only in his magic, but a current of blue electricity, his silver cloak flying up to reveal his Cutie Mark. The lightning around the mirror was crackling, a reflection of Twilight’s Cutie Mark showing in the surface. The chamber’s entrance opened, the five remaining Element-bearers making their entrance only to be caught in the stallion’s magic as well. The mares all squirmed in his grip, Starlight making an attempt to light her horn. As the blue aura started up, the white one proceeded to absorb it with a wide grin.. “Eight initiates in a single day… with a Princess and Boltsinger among them? Serendipitous, indeed!” He flicked his head to the side, sending an impact to their heads as everything went black.

Boltsinger’s eyes slowly opened, hearing muffled voices around him as a brown blur encompassed his vision. After a moment, the words cleared up. “... --on’t you touch him! You’ve done more than enough! I can’t believe you… lying about being his friend!” It was Twilight’s voice. His eyes widened as his vision followed his hearing, clearing up to see Paradigm sitting happily in front of him. He searched the room, finding all of his friends with every extremity they had shackled to a brick wall in another of the tent’s chambers.

“Oh, I never lied, Princess.” Paradigm retorted, standing up and strutting over to her. He brought his hoof up to her chin, staring into her eyes. “He really did help me get my Cutie Mark. And that was all he did… After that, he just flew away. And when he left, so did all of my friendships!”

Twilight recoiled, looking between the two stallions. “I don’t understand… How can his leaving take away all of your friends?”

“I spent the vast majority of my young life alone, a talentless blank flank.” he explained. “I wanted nothing more than a talent to call my own, that I might appeal to the other foals! I desperately needed a push, and in a flash of lightning, that pony appeared!” He jutted his hoof towards Boltsinger. “The electricity that surged from within… That Cutie Mark! Even as a colt, I could tell he was the epitome of talent! So I asked him for his help. I wanted him to teach me what he could do, which he did.”

“So he taught you to sing, then?” Starlight guessed.

“He did, indeed! And I was good. At the very least, I was as good as he was!” he continued, pumping his hoof confidently. “It drew the attention of all of the other foals! I realized that if I just kept doing what he did, I could make it in this world… And that’s when my flank ceased to be blank! I dare say it was a shocking experience… But as quickly as he’d come, he was gone…”

Twilight leaned in as much as she could manage, genuine curiosity taking hold. “But you still had the skills that he taught you, didn’t you?”

Paradigm shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I tried to do what Bolt taught me, but all that came out were horrid shrieks… I scared away the other foals just by trying to do what I’d always done!” He revealed his Cutie Mark once more, the mirror’s crackling catching Boltsinger’s eye. “If you were to see a Cutie Mark of a mirror, what kind of talent would you expect it to represent?”

Rarity perked up, nearly forgetting her imprisonment. “Why, that would tell me that you were a model! Somepony who always looks good when they see themselves in a mirror!”

Paradigm gave Rarity an appreciative nod, letting his attention drift between the lot of them. “That’s a good guess. But no. Now I ask you... What do mirrors do?”

“They… reflect…” Boltsinger pointed out, slowly raising his head.

“Exactly!” Paradigm confirmed, raising an excited hoof. “And my mirror can reflect that which is the source of your talents!” His horn crackled with electricity once more. “Your Cutie Mark... “ In his Cutie Mark, a reversed image of Boltsinger’s Cutie Mark appeared, causing a pair of magical wings to erupt from his back. “It used to be that I had to be within a few feet of whoever I ‘channeled’, but now I can take the talents of anypony within three miles, utilizing their Cutie Mark talents, along with everything that comes with it!” The wings on his back began flapping, sanding arcs of lightning into the floor below. “I don’t even need to touch them! As long as they're in range, I can reflect their skills no matter what.” The wings dissipated as his mark returned to normal. “You can imagine the sudden plethora of skills got me a following, so I worked with it. And now I have all the friends I could ever want!” He strutted back over to Twilight, the hunger in his eyes evident as he put his hoof on her chin. “So that leaves you with two choices. You’ll either become my friends, or you’ll stay back here, and I can make use of your…” He licked his lips, inching closer to her. “... exceptional qualities… either way!”

Boltsinger glared at Paradigm with a fire he didn’t even know he had. He struggled against the chains that bound him,trying to reach the object of his aggression. “Don’t you touch her!” He let out a fierce growl, intensifying his glare. “I swear, when I get out of here I’m gonna--”

“What? Give me a stern talking to?” he countered, stomping up to him and meeting his glare in kind.

The Pegasus gritted his teeth. “You have no idea…”

A smile crept back onto his face as a dark laugh sounded. “You’re not in much of a position to do anything, now, are you?” He began his exit, giving one final glance back at them. “Well, I’m off to announce your ‘initiate’ status. Don’t have too much fun without me!” He gave another gleeful guffaw as he turned around, floating a carrot into each of their mouths.

As the Unicorn began his exit, Twilight closed her eyes, feeling a light shock coming from her pendant. Her eyes shot open, fixated on Paradigm. “Wait! Before you go, I have something to say!”

Paradigm stopped, casting an intrigued look in the Alicorn’s direction. “Oh? And what’s that?”

“I… We’d like to take you up on your offer to join willingly!” she announced, drawing the attention of her companions. She looked back at all of them, putting on a confident face.

“And why should I believe you?” the Unicorn wondered, turning to face her with a side-eyed glare. “I’ve drugged you, imprisoned you, and given you no reason to listen to me outright!”

“He’s right about that one. I ain’t got much reason ta trust ‘im.” Applejack confirmed.

“But we don’t have much of a choice, either.” the Princess countered. “If we’re going to be here, we might as well be able to move around and meet everypony. Plus…” she looked to her husband. “I don’t want you to ruin your friendship after such a long time apart. To renewed friendships…” She sent Boltsinger a wink. “... right?”

Boltsinger looked between the two of them, spotting an earnestness in Twilight’s face that he couldn’t bring himself to deny. “Right.” He nodded at Paradigm, letting his lips turn upward. “To renewed friendship!”

Paradigm stood at the front of a stage, looking out on the gathered crowd. His ‘friends’ came together like this several times every day to learn from him, and he reveled in it. He lit his horn for an instant, drawing upon the talent he needed as he inhaled deeply. “My friends! My troupe! I have wonderful news! We have gained not just one, but eight new initiates this day!” He brought up a triumphant hoof, emphasizing his victory. “They have taken to our ways rather quickly, and I’d like to introduce them to you! Would you like to meet them?” The crowd cheered in their affirmation, bringing a smirk to the stallion’s face. “Very well!, allow me to introduce them!” He gestured below the stage, where Twilight, Applejack, Starlight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Boltsinger emerged, the same kind of smiles on their faces as the crowd before them. “All of these ponies are wonderfully talented, and are willing to share these talents with all of Equestria! But, if I am to be so bold, I’m most excited for these two!” he pointed at the pendant-bearing ponies with a wide smile, lighting up horn to pull them forward. “The very pony that helped me obtain my own Cutie Mark and set me on my path… my old friend, Boltsinger!” He put his hoof around Boltsinger, pulling him close and raising his free foreleg triumphantly. His hungry eyes wandered, landing on Twilight once more. “And, of course, who can forget Princess Twilight herself? We have a Princess joining our troupe! Can you imagine how fast word of us will spread?!” The crowd burst into cheers, throwing comments all around, ranging from offering Boltsinger their thanks to the merits of each of the ponies gathered, all the way to sheer amazement at the presence of the Princess.

Boltsinger smiled back at his fellow stallion, clearing his throat and flapping his wings. “Yes, we’re all quite happy to be here! But… I admit we’re all a little curious.”

Paradigm recoiled, turning his attention to the orange pony. “Yes, I’m... happy to answer any questions you might have!” He put his muzzle next to the Pegasus’ ear, quieting his tone. “You’d best not try anything funny… I can still use your little wifey’s talent to put you all back there…”

Boltsinger smirked, keeping his breeze going. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Actually, the question was mine.” Starlight pointed out, stepping up to their host. “My friends and I have been talking with some of these ponies, and we can’t help but wonder… Why do you all hide your Cutie Marks?”

“Why would you want something that represents a talent you don’t like on display?” he deflected, casting his gaze at the crowd. “Not a very accurate reflection of you ask me.”

Rarity put her hoof to her chin, pondering the brown stallion’s answer. “‘Reflection’... Interesting word choice, wouldn’t you say, Twilight?”

“I think so, too.” The Alicorn agreed, stepping forward. “Is that why you’re the only one teaching them new skills?”

“It helps to foster a sense of equality amongst them!” he replied, retreating his hoof from Boltsinger and putting his hoof down. His eyes narrowed as his voice began to lower. “You’d best quit while you can… I’ve half a mind to put you back in shackles…”

“Shackles?” a pony in the crowd repeated.

“He had them shackled? But why?!” another pony asked.

Paradigm’s ears twitched, his head snapping back at his followers’ shocked faces. “What are you talking about? I didn’t say that!”

“Oh yes you did!” Boltsinger declared. “They heard you loud and clear!”

“How could they possibly have heard me?” he queried, hunching over as his horn began sparking. His eyes pointed at the still-flapping wings. “I get it… This is your doing!”

“Hey, I’m just flapping my wings.” he stated, shrugging his shoulders. “My flight coach told me it makes for good exercise.” He looked behind him, raising his hoof to his muzzle. “Isn't that right, Rainbow Dash?”

“That’s right!” the Wonderbolt confirmed, taking off. “With the right level of wingpower, you can do stuff like this!” She dove down, rocketing past the cloaked Unicorn and grabbing his cloak. With a loud ripping noise, Paradigm’s garment was gone, revealing his crackling Cutie Mark, reflecting Boltsinger’s Cutie Mark inside it, to the masses.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” he spat, lighting his horn and tugging on the cloth in Rainbow’s grip. “Give that back to me this instant!”

“That’s Lord Paradigm’s Cutie Mark?!” a mare asked, pointing at their leader. “But why does it show his friend’s Cutie Mark, too?”

Twilight turned to the audience, spreading her wings. “This pony has been deceiving you!” she announced, pointing her hoof at the Unicorn. “He’s been telling you that you can only truly learn from him, when everything he does is a reflection of all of you! There’s nothing he can give you that all of you don’t already have inside!”

Pinkie and Applejack looked at each other, giving a nod and stepping forward. “She’s right! Pinkie Pie ‘n me both love bakin’ stuff! But neither of us have a Cutie Mark for it!”

“Instead, we learned from each other and other bakers we know, and now we make some of the tastiest treats in the whole world!” Pinkie finished, rearing up and kicking the air in front of her.

“And I wouldn’t be half the flyer I am without the lessons my brother and Rainbow Dash gave me!” Boltsinger added.

“And then Boltsinger and Rainbow Dash helped me to fly as well!” Fluttershy noted, spreading her wings confidently. “We all have things we can teach each other! There’s no reason to rely on just one pony for everything!”

“So he’s just a fraud? We’ve been spending our time here for nothing?!” another pony wondered.

“Not at all!” Twilight corrected, putting her hoof over her heart. “You have an honest desire to learn, and I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that!” She spread her wings regally, gesturing her hoof out to them. “If you want a place to learn, I implore you give my School of Friendship a chance! You can learn from all of us, and from one another as well!”

“And you really think they’ll be happy with that?” Paradigm spat, charging his horn as his mirror began reflecting Twilight’s Cutie Mark. “You think they’ll function without a leader? Without somepony to bring them together?” He lit his horn, a dome of white magic spreading out of him. Everypony in the vicinity found themselves completely frozen, many of them struggling and squirming to break free of the magic that held them. “Your little ‘school’ might hold their interest for a while, but they’ll never last! Not without somepony to tell them what to do! Without me!” He stomped menacingly towards the mare, a pair of magical white Alicorn wings sprouted out of him as he brought his head low, power flaring in his horn.

“You never gave us a chance!” a pony shouted.

“We never wanted to join in the first place! You just… convinced us… somehow! Treating us like we were your friends and making us hate each other! All you’ve ever done is lie!” Another pony concurred.

Paradigm growled back at the crowd turned mob, turning his aim back at Twilight. “You didn’t have to come here… Didn’t have to destroy my friends’ faith in me… But you did! What sort of ‘Princess of Friendship’ does that sort of thing?” More power built up in his horn, nearly overflowing as his false wings spread wide. “No matter… There’s not going to be a Princess of Friendship for much longer…” He closed his eyes, taking on a relaxed expression as he let loose the stored up magic, sending a beam of white and grey at the frozen Alicorn.

“NNOPE!” a loud baritone sounded. Between Paradigm and Twilight was an electrified orange wing, quickly slapping the beam with a concentration of lightning covering his feathers. The magic acted like a tennis ball, bouncing off of the discharge and flying harmlessly into the distance. Boltsinger stood firm, his wings flared aggressively while he panted in place. “You aren’t going anywhere near her with a look like that!”

Paradigm gave Boltsinger a narrow-eyed glare, examining from head to hoof. All over his body were scratches, bruises, and other signs of strain. “Quite the bluff you’ve played, Bolt. From the looks of it, breaking out seems to have done quite a number on you! Why, you’re barely able to stay on your hooves!”

Another spark of lightning flared out, this time in a shade of magenta, shattering the white field around the lilac mare. “He wasn’t bluffing!” Twilight stated, taking flight. “You can copy my talent all you want, but you can’t simply copy the thing that gives me more power than any Cutie Mark talent ever could!” She narrowed her eyes in an expression that Boltsinger could only describe as fiercely confident. “My friends!” She ignited her horn and flapped her wings, sending a discharge from the magical protrusion into the remaining magical fields.

With his magic, Paradigm heard the sound of a shattering glass in his mind. His magical wings dissipated, looking up at her with panic in his eyes. “How is it you have that lightning? Am I not the only pony he spread it to?”

“Paradigm, you have no idea just how many ponies I’ve helped in my life.” Boltsinger informed him, his legs finally giving out under him. “And… you know, your talent could be used to help a lot of ponies to, if you wanted to learn how.”

Twilight landed next to her husband, offering her hoof. “He’s right. My offer to come to the school stands, even for you.”

Paradigm looked questioningly at the extended hoof and the smiling faces, wondering why they would be so accommodating after a display like this. “What ‘talent’ would that be?” The reflection in his Cutie Mark switched to one of Applejack’s. “This one?” It switched again, showing Pinkie’s Mark. “Or this?” Next came Rarity’s. “How about this?” He slapped the hoof away, his gaze turning cold. “Spare me your pity! You know as well as I do that I’m as talentless as I was the day we first met!” He turned around in a huff, reflecting Starlight’s Cutie Mark in his own and vanishing in a flash of white.

Twilight and Boltsinger looked at each other, both letting out a sigh. “Is this how it goes with every villain you face?” he asked.

“More or less…” she answered, letting him see a weak smile. “But, we’ve got a pretty good track record with ponies like him.”

“Um… Excuse me, Princess Twilight?” the mare from the earlier presentation began, tapping the Alicorn on her shoulder.

Twilight’s face perked up, turning her attention to her. “Yes? What do you need?”

“Are you serious about offering us all a place at your school?” she queried, a hopeful look in her eyes. “Because the other ponies and I have been talking, and… We’d like to take you up on it!”

A smile formed on Twilight’s face that Boltsinger hadn’t seen since asking her if Ponyville had a library. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were so tight from her upturned dimples that the stallion was certain she’d be sore for weeks. “Of course I’m serious!” She put her wing around the mare, walking with her to the back of the stage as a familiar chime sounded from a number of flanks. “Let me fill you in on all you’ll need to know!”

Boltsinger lifted his wing and checked his Cutie Mark. The telltale glow had shined anew, smaller versions of the Mark flying into the main one as if to signify a mission complete. He smiled softly at it, then moved his attention back to the spot Paradigm had vanished from. Mission complete… But, did we really help everyone?

The Friendship Express rolled into the Ponyville train station, the eight occupants disembarking with a tired stretch. Applejack headed straight for the farm, waving a fond farewell while Rainbow Dash simply said a quick goodbye while she flew away. Pinkie excitedly babbled about how tired she was from the trip and the mission and the long train ride back, bounding away to Sugar Cube Corner. Rarity and Fluttershy left together, the fashionista saying something about a much-needed spa treatment, leaving Twilight, Starlight, and Boltsinger to begin their walk towards the castle. Twilight and Starlight talked at length about the things they had seen, wondering about the properties of Paradigm’s lightning, while Boltsinger kept his gaze fixed on his home, his mouth refusing to open with a slight downward curl in the corners of his mouth.

“So, what’s wrong, Bolt?” Starlight inquired, putting her hoof in front of his eyes.

Boltsinger’s hoof dug into the dirt as he stopped, recoiling at the sudden obstacle. “Wrong? Nothing’s wrong! Why would anything be wrong? We stopped a pony from manipulating other ponies’ idea of friendship into something dark and twisted and wrong! I’m great! Nothing wrong here!”

“Except that you’ve got that look on your face that says there’s more on your mind than you’re willing to say.” the Unicorn deadpanned. “Isn’t that right, Twilight?”

Twilight took the cue to bring herself close, examining the stallion’s face thoroughly. “Let’s see… Worry lines around your eyes… Perpetual frown… And…” She looked into his pupils, finding them darting away at the slightest eye contact. She tried several times more, each time meeting the same result. “... you’re refusing to make eye contact. You’re worried about something. So, what is it?”

Boltsinger gave her a defeated sigh, starting his walk again. “Okay, fine… It’s about Paradigm.”

“Were you intrigued by his lightning too?” Twilight guessed, taking a look at her husband’s flank. “I wonder what kind of effects it would have on other ponies… It could result in some very interesting and unique talents! If we ever find him again, we should definitely stud--”

“It’s not that.” he informed them, plodding faster. “It’s his circumstance that worries me. I’m certain that I helped him when we were foals. The lightning on his flank proved that. But… Look at what happened to him! He was so convinced that having a fancy talent was the key to friendship that he basically formed a cult just to get more of them! But I don’t actually remember helping him… Who else could I have supposedly helped only to make their lives miserable in the long run?”

Twilight smiled, planting a kiss on her spouse’s cheek as she pulled him close. “There’s no way we can know for sure, but I’m certain you’ve done a lot more good than anything else.” As they approached the castle, she opened the door on auto-pilot, still looking at her favorite stallion. “Besides, I can think of somepony who needs your help more than anypony else in Equestria!”

“Yeah… no kidding…” he confirmed, looking straight ahead. The castle foyer was a mess of mashed carrots, wrapping paper littering the floor, and the faint residue of magical lightning sparking from the pillars and walls. “I… think we may need to talk with Celestia…”

Author's Note

First time with a situation like this, and I'm not entirely sure how well I did with it. But, it was fun! I found myself going back and editing whole sections of the chapter to make things flow together more, and I think it turned out pretty good, considering my lack of experience with writing this kind of adventure. Next chapter is one I've been looking forward to for a long time! I hope you enjoy it!

How To Melt Cheese

The sweetest smell anypony ever experienced wafted into the dining room, where Nova sat expectantly in his high chair, drumming on the surface with his hooves and bobbing his head back and forth. Aunty Pinkie Pie and the silly yellow-shirted grown-up she was always with were looking after him today, and they were talking about planning something. Whatever that something was, it involved cake, and it involved him having a lot of it. The grown-up with the brown mane sat in the room with him, making funny faces that sent him into fits of laughter as the smell got stronger and stronger.

“Who wants cupcakes?” Pinkie called from the kitchen. Nova let out a babble of joy, eleciting a laugh from beyond the door.

“I think that’s a ‘yes’!” Cheese replied. He sped over to the door, opening it to reveal a cart full of differently-colored cupcakes with frosting that bore just as much variety. It wheeled its way in, pushed by Pinkie Pie covered in splotches of flour and frosting. “Are all of those different cake recipes?”

“Every last one!” She affirmed, pulling the cart up next to the high chair and bending down next to the little pony. “Now, Nova, you need to eat these one at a time, and not too fast! I want you to taste them, not give yourself a tummy ache. Okay?” Nova nodded enthusiastically, clapping his hooves together. “Okay! Here’s the first one!” She flipped one of the cupcakes into the air with her nose, catching it on her prehensile forelock and placing it on a tiny plate in front of the foal. An almost squealing noise of pure excitement escaped Nova’s mouth as he bent down, taking most of the cupcake in a single bite. He joyfully chewed on the treat, bringing his hooves up to his frosting-covered face with an expression of pure delight.

Cheese sat back in his chair, smiling at the little pony. “Does he even know what all of this is for?”

“I dunno!” She answered, bringing forth another cupcake. “It's not like he hasn't been to parties before.”

Cheese leaned toward the baby, putting a hoof on his smiling muzzle. “That’s true… But has he been to a Cheese party before?”

Another cupcake was presented to the tiny Prince as Pinkie turned to her party planning partner, a sly smile replacing her usual grin. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

He tilted his head, giving her a similar look. “I think. What do you think I’m thinking?”

“Do you want to be the one to plan Nova’s first birthday party?” She pondered, getting closer to him.

Cheese’s smile widened to show his teeth. “Maybe.”

The distance closed further, the ponies’ noses making contact. “Have you ever thrown a baby's first birthday party?”

The stallion’s smile became a beam. “Nope! It's my first first birthday!”

The pair of party ponies turned their attention to Nova, who had since covered his face in six different kinds of frosting from the cupcakes he floated over. He let out a giggle at them, floating yet another cupcake over and taking a bite. “Oh, really…?” She put her hoof around the brunette, bringing her other hoof to tousle the foal’s mane. “Well, there’s a first time for everything!”

One delicious hour later, Nova's face was covered with lime green and pink frosting, crumbs of chocolate on the table beneath him. Pinkie looked down at the mess with her hoof on her chin. “Green and pink, huh? Okay!” She produced a notebook and pencil from her mane, jotting down some information before stowing it all away again and turning to Cheese. “Well, you’re the party planner! How’re you gonna plan the party?”

Cheese rose from his chair, presenting the Prince and the Pinkie with a wide grin. “First thing any party needs…” He reached over to Nova, tickling his belly to the point where his horn lit up and flashing them all into a clearing between the castle and the school. From beyond the horizon, a large red and blue cannon rolled into view. Behind it came an enormous wagon that was practically bursting with streamers and balloons, pinatas pulled behind like they were little animals. “EVERYTHING!!!” He ran over to a plunger that sat on a small hill, making ready to press down on it.

As the hooves touched the handle, a pink blur tackled Cheese. “WAIT!!!” They tumbled together for several feet, the pink pony pinning her companion down by his shoulders. “NO PARTY CANNONS!”

Cheese’s eyes went wide. “No…” He moved her hooves off of his shoulders to sit up slightly. “... party cannons?!” He brought his hooves to her shoulders, shaking her rapidly. “What do you mean, ‘no party cannons’?!”

Pinkie planted her hooves, stopping the shaking as she tilted her head in Nova's direction. She brought herself closer, putting her muzzle by the stallion's ear. “He's not good with explosions!” She whispered.

Cheese looked at the foal, who was hovering next to the barrel of the enormous cannon, taking a peek inside. “What about your party cannon? He didn't seem to mind that!”

Pinkie moved back onto her rump. “My party cannon isn't the Cheese Supreme Cannonball surprise!” She zipped over to a nearby bush, pulling her party cannon from within. “Besides…” She brought her cannon close to the flying colt, pulling the string and setting it off with an enormous boom. The sound rang through Nova's ears, widening his eyes and binding his wings to his side. He huddled into a ball, covering his eyes with his hooves as his horn flared up to surround hin in protective magic. As he drifted towards the floor, Pinkie held out her foreleg, bringing him close and pressing her face against the barrier. “Oh, it's okay, Nova! It's just Aunty Pinkie Pie teaching Cheesy-weezy something! You're okay…” the shuddering Alicorn opened his eyes, spotting his Aunty Pinkie making funny faces against his barrier. He let out a giggle, dousing his horn and the barrier with it. “There you go! Have a cookie!” She flicked her head to the side, sending her forelock into her mane to pull out a single donut-shaped cookie that was immediately snatched by a hungry mouth. He took the cookie in his hooves, munching happily as Pinkie turned to look at Cheese. “You see? Even my little party cannon spooks him when he's not ready for it!”

Cheese tilted his head at the little Prince, stepping up and poking his cheek. “Just like his papa, huh?”

Pinkie and Nova gave a simultaneous giggle. “Oh, you have no idea! The first day I even met Bolt and we brought him to Ponyville, I set everything up for a ‘welcome to Ponyville’ party and had the cannons and the guests and everything!” She rose to her hind legs, putting Nova on the ground and beginning to pantomime along with her story. “I set off the party cannons when he came into the castle, and he was all ‘AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!’ AND He shot into the air and sent this huge gust of wind through the whole foyer that sent everypony flying into the wall! Except for Rainbow Dash, she powered right through it and started laughing. But then he just sat there on the floor, screamng about how sorry he was over and over and over!” She hugged Nova tightly, laughing to herself.

“Now that sounds like the Boltsinger I used to know!” Cheese noted, turning to his party equipment. “So I guess I should put some of this stuff away, huh?” He breathed a smiling sigh, pulling a button from his shirt and pressing it. After a loud buzz came the sound of an opening door, the large objects slowly rolling into openings in the ground. With another slam, he turned back to Pinkie with a weak smile. “So… Mind if I borrow some of your stuff?”

The bubbly mare lauged, lifting Nova with her tail and nestling him onto her back. “Of course you can!” She wrapped her foreleg around his neck, pulling him along. “Come on, Cheese! Let’s plan ourselves a party!”

“So, when exactly does this special birthday take place, anyway?” Cheese inquired. He bounced a smiling Nova on his rump while he hunched over in a vast cave full of balloons, bags of confetti, rolled-up streamers, and, of all things, file cabinets.

One of the file cabinet drawers opened up, Pinkie Pie popping out while looking over a folder. “Let’s see… Nova was born… The first year is always the most difficult to figure out! I think it was…” She hoofed her way through the folder, pulling out a calendar and landing on a date. “Aha! It’s in another sixty-eight days!”

Cheese's bouncing ceased, twitching his tail for the baby to land safely. “Isn't that more than two months?”

“Yeah!” She answered, jumping out of the closing drawer. “I haven't done a rush job like this in forever!”

Cheese rolled his eyes, hopping with his hind legs to send Nova airborne. He spread his wings, floating down to land on Pinkie's mane while the cheddar-coated stallion walked up to her. “Doesn't sound like much of a rush job to me!” He looked around the enormous underground expanse, an inquisitive smile forming on his muzzle. “How in the Ellington do you get all of this done, anyway? It’s almost like you’ve got enough party files here for all of Ponyville!”

Pinkie dove into an open drawer, prompting it to close as another opened, letting her pop out with another file. “And every member of my family…” She repeated the process, appearing from another drawer. “...and the Princesses…” Another note, another drawer housing the pink pony. … All my friends’ families…” Finally, another drawer opened, Pinkie popping out like a freshly popped kernel of corn. She landed on her hind legs with her forelegs spread, confetti flying out from behind her. “And some really special plans waaaaaaaaaaaaay down the line!”

“Wow!” He exclaimed, not even attempting to hide his surprise. “And I thought Twilight was organized!” He walked over to one of the open drawers, hoofing his way through the papers inside. “I never even thought to plan ahead like this. All I’ve ever done was just show up to a town and wing it!”

“Wing it?” She repeated. “How can you wing it when you don’t have wings?” She gave off a giggle that Nova soon joined in on. “Wouldn’t you have to ‘hoof it’ instead?”

A slew of silence seemed to overwhelm the party stallion, making him blink a few times in contemplation. After a moment, he let out a laugh of his own, slapping his knee as he fell to his rump. “I guess you're right!” After a minute, the laughter came to an end, letting Cheese wipe a joyful tear from his face. “Maybe trying it your way will be a good change of pace!” He made a beckoning motion with his hoof, bringing a babble from the baby as he flew over. “So, what do you wanna do next, little guy?” He brought his ear next to the foal's face, acting like he was listening intently. With a cheesy grin, he perked up some more. “Music and games, huh? Well, you are the birthday boy! Music and games it is!” He sprang to his hooves, tussling the young pony's mane as he disappeared into the depths of the cave.

Seconds later, the sounds of construction echoed through. The banging of hammers, the scraping of saws, the whirring of machinery, and some kind of crashing noise, sending inquisitive expressions onto Pinkie and Nova's faces as they looked at one another. Pinkie walked over to the colt, who began walking beside her in the direction Cheese had gone. “He sure is a wacky one, huh?” She asked, getting a swift nod from the diapered foal. She put her hoof on his back, pushing him ahead. “Well, all of this is for you! Go ahead and see what he's got!”

Nova reared up with a flail of his hooves and an excited whinny, going into a gallop as accordion music began to play. The deeper he went, the more intricate the song became, adding a bass drum and various wind and brass instruments to accentuate the main instrument. It was turning into a complex polka that started to influence how he stepped. He came to a clearing filled with numerous games. Pin the Tail on the Pony, Pinatas of all sorts of colors and shapes, a huge tub filled with apples to bob for, and an assortment of other games that Nova didn’t even recognize. In the middle of the room, the accordion in his hooves with an apparatus all around him that held instruments in place. He marched towards the foal, the music growing louder with every step as the young eyes scanned the room. There certainly were a lot of things there. Shapes and colors… and loud, complicated music… And bright streamers, balloons… and loud music. Nova slowed down as the older pony stood over him, the music continuing on almost incessantly. His ears began to ring louder than the music could manage, bringing a kind of pain to his head. So much stuff to take in. Too much stuff… He closed his eyes, barreling under the stallion’s legs and sending him into a pratfall that scattered his instruments all over.

As the party stallion made his landing, the party mare caught up. “What the…? Cheese, what are you doing on the floor?” Cheese lifted his head to reply, but found himself cut off by the sound of crying. Pinkie looked over her friend at the bawling baby, her face nearly going white at the sight of his now-glowing horn. “Oh no… What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Cheese stated, working his way to his hooves and following her gaze. “He just got in here and started fussing!”

“Oh… This is bad!” She declared, trotting in place. Nova’s crying grew louder as he clutched his head with his hooves, creating a barrier around himself. “The last time he got this bad he blacked out the sun!”

“He WHAT?!” He rushed over to the colt, pressing his face against the barrier. “Hey, little guy! It’s okay! Nothing scary here!”

The crying continued as the barrier began to expand. Pinkie looked into the barrier, seeing her honorary nephew curled up on the cave floor, eyes shut tight and crying with a force that carried from the barrier, popping the balloons in the room, one by one, to create more of a sound that she knew would only worsen the situation. She pulled Cheese from his position, turning him so as to look her in the eye. “Quick! Go get some flour from the kitchen!”

“Flour?” Cheese repeated, looking between the Prince and the Pinkie. “How the Halloumi is flour gonna help?”

Pinkie put her hooves on his shoulders, bringing her muzzle less than an inch from his while the barrier began to push against them. “Just trust me on this!”

Cheese lingered for a moment, seeing a maternal ferocity in her eyes that hadn't come out so clearly before. His body stiffened up, his hoof moving into a rigid salute. “Yes ma'am!” And with that, he rocketed off towards the cave entrance.

A moment later, the dairy-colored stallion returned, an enormous bag of flour hoisted over his back. Pinkie beamed, taking the bag and pressing herself against the barrier. “Nooooovaaaa~!” She started in a singsong voice. The colt sniffed in response, bringing his eyes to a squint. “Oh Nooooooooooovaaaaaaa~! Aunty Pinkie and Uncle Cheese have something to shoooooow yooooou!”

Cheese sent her a confused look. “We do?”

Pinkie glared back at him, reaching over and pulling him next to her. She brought her attention back to the baby, holding the flour high above her head. “Do you wanna see something funny?” Nova's cries began to quiet, replaced with soft hiccups as his eyes opened more. She sent him a wide grin, taking a step back with Cheese in tow. When they were in position, she tilted the bag, creating a cloud of white that covered the two of them in flour.

“Ta-da!!!” The Earth Ponies simultaneously exclaimed, striking a pose.

After a moment of silence, the corners of the littlest mouth in the room began to turn upward. Cracks formed in the barrier, giving way to the most joyful laughter Cheese had ever heard. The barrier shattered completely as Nova began to gallop towards his funniest aunt, diving headlong into her. With a swift catch, she fell onto the floor, holding the cracking-up colt tight and laughing alongside him while the third pony in the room fell to his rump in awe. “How did you know that would work?”

Pinkie Pie sat up, stroking Nova's mane and looking up at her fellow party planner. “It's simple! Babies love the flour gag!”

The end of the day had come, and Pinkie sat with Cheese in Sugar Cube Corner. The foal they had been caring for was on his way home, and Cheese sat hunched over a table full of scribbles and plans. He took the parchment in front of him, crumpling it up between his hooves. “This is caboc!” He ripped the paper in half, crushing the pieces and ripping them again. “Cabrales!” He repeated the process, throwing his hooves, and the scraps, up in defeat. “Caciobarricato, I tell ya!”

Pinkie's attention faltered from the exiting friends, finding its way to the frustrated stallion. “What's going on?”

“I give up!” He declared, pounding on the table. “I just can’t come up with anything good!”

“And why’s that?” She wondered, taking a seat next to him. “You always throw the bestest, wildest, most funeriffic parties ever! What changed?”

The stallion shrugged. “I don’t know! I haven’t planned a party in months, and when I finally do, the pony I’m planning the party for throws a fit!!! I haven’t gotten a darn thing right ever since--”

“WAIT!” Pinkie interjected, putting her hoof over his mouth. “Ever since Fillydelphia, right?” The muffled pony gave her a nod. “Then I know just what you need!” She bounced up from her spot, zipping upstairs. After some crashing noises followed by the splashing of some liquid, the poofy-maned mare made a return, holding something behind her back. “I was wondering when to give this to you ever since I got it from somepony in Manehattan when we were there because I wanted to do something nice for you since I just love doong party stuff with you and you've made everything so much FUN that I really really really really REALLY want you to stick around so we can keep going like we are! And now I know when to give it to you, and that time is now!!!” She brought her hoof forward, revealing a rubber chicken that had a hastily-painted pink number 3 on its belly. It flopped over, threatening to fall off of the extended hoof, but not quite making good on it. “Cheese Sandwich, meet Boneless 3!”

Cheese recoiled, slowly getting to his hooves. “You got this in Manehattan? When?”

“On my way to the rock pouch store!”

“How much did it cost?!”

“Twenty bits!”

“Twenty bits?” He echoed, stepping toward her. “But wasn't that all the money we had left? What about Maud's rock pouch?”

Pinkie's smile softened, slightly lowering her hoof. “If I know Maud, she would've wanted me to do something special for my friend before giving her a gift. So, I got my friend a friend!” She took a step forward, holding her hoof out again.

In that moment, the warmth in the cheesy pony's chest was so intense he swore he would melt. “Pinkie… I… I don't know what to say!” He put his hoof on her foreleg, lingering for half a second before pulling the chicken toy close. Looking into its beady little eyes, he felt a rush of nostalgia run through him. Ideas for ways to make that foal's birthday the most amazing, most stupendous, most fondue-riffic party ever, while still not causing the kind of meltdown he'd been witness to that day, overwhelming his mind.

“How about ‘LET'S PARTY!!!’” Pinkie suggested, jumping into the air and raising her hoof.

“All right!” He cheered back, jumping up and giving her a high five. “LET'S DO THIS THING!!!”

The two ponies returned to the floor, the inspired stallion rushing back to the table and furiously drawing up new plans. Pinkie looked at him with a warm smile, shrugging her shoulders. “Eh. I guess that works, too!”

Author's Note

And there you have it! I promised Pinkie, and I stayed true to that! Although I wasn't expecting to not use any other characters beside my target three. It's... definitely a first.

For such a short-ish chapter, this sure took me a while. I'm admittedly still a little tired from that behemoth of a chapter that preceded it. I could probably have done more, but, to be honest, it would have felt like padding. Next chapter... Probably the next two chapters, will probably contain large amounts of fluff. But they'll be fun ones that I've been cooking up for a while, now. I hope you enjoy them!

My Date With A Draconequus

The spirit of chaos was in a jovial mood today. He’d been planning a special surprise visit to Fluttershy’s cottage for the last week, and this morning, he was ready to deliver. He strolled down the way with a literal spring in his step, letting a mischievous smile onto his snaggletoothed muzzle as several onlookers gawked. “I wonder what she’ll think…” He started, stroking his beard with his talon as the cottage came into view. “I bet she’ll be so happy to see me she won’t be able to resist flashing that wonderful smile of hers!” He bounced higher with his next step, returning his feet to normal and shooting his body hoof-first at the ground in front of the abode. Just as he was about to touch down, there was a bright white flash, leaving the front step completely empty.

Naught but a moment later, the same flash filled Fluttershy’s living room, followed by the sound of party favors as Discord appeared triumphantly. “Surprise!!!” He shouted, spreading his arms wide. “I, Discord, your best, most trusted, most faithful, and most exuberantly amazing friend have arrived!”

As Discord lingered in his pose, the other occupants of the room opened their eyes to see him. "Oh. Hello Discord." Fluttershy greeted, putting her teacup on the coffee table. "We weren't expecting you today."

Discord's eyes snapped open, revealing a number of red marks around his pupils. "'We'?" He lowered his head, looking down at the couch, spotting two shades of orange with his favorite shade of yellow. Boltsinger waved his free wing, offering a smile while Nova giggled at the entrance. "Oh… Hello, Bolt. Come over for tea, have you?"

"Oh, we're just taking a break from all the prep." He corrected, motioning to a corner of the room with his wing. The Draconequus extended a single eyeball to see a picnic basket filled to the brim with goodies. "All that cooking can be thirsty work." He ran his hoof through Nova's mane, giving him a nuzzle and a smile." Isn't that right, little Prince?"

"I see…” He gave the ponies a wide grin, vanishing again only to appear between the adult equines on the couch with his arms on each of them. “So, where are we going?”

Fluttershy’s face brightened exponentially at the question. She brought her hooves together, beaming like an early morning sun. “Oh, we’re going to a butterfly garden!" She announced. She reached for a pamphlet on the coffee table, showing an image of a grassy field surrounded by lush foliage. "There's always a few locations in Equestria where the caterpillars are brought together every year, so that they can safely enter their cocoons and change into beautiful butterflies! And I thought it would be a fun experience for little Nova to see them!"

“Oh, how delightful.” The snakey spirit sassed, crossing his arms and leaning back. “So I take it Twilight and Scootaloo are on their way to make this a ‘family’ trip?”

"Actually, Twilight and Scoot are taking a 'girls day'." Boltsinger corrected. He took a moment to scratch his cheek, considering his words. "Much less girly than it sounds. More along the lines of bungee jumping and river rafting. Twilight's been discovering the joys of adrenaline."

Discord's eyelids slowly began to lower. "I see… So it's just us, then?"

Boltsinger shrugged. "I mean, you're welcome to come along, but…"

"But?"

"We're not sure how much you'd enjoy it there." Fluttershy stated, showing the Draconequus a considerate smile.

"Why wouldn't I enjoy it?" He retorted, putting his paw on his favorite pony's cheek. "After all, you'll be there."

Fluttershy's smile warmed as she put her hoof on the paw, gingerly pushing it away. "That's sweet. But I really don't think you'd have much fun at a place like this."

"And why not?" He asked, adding a distinct pout to his tone.

Fluttershy put her hoof on her chin, the barest hint of an excited smile on her face as she imagined the destination they had in mind. “Well, it’s quiet.”

“It’s peaceful.” Boltsinger added, forcing Discord to hide a pained wince.

“And it’s so harmonious.” The mare noted, causing the Draconequus to nearly gag.

“Mostly one color.” The stallion stated. Discord rolled his eyes, leaning back on the couch.

"Except the butterflies." She corrected, looking ecstatically at the pamphlet again. "They're going to be all sorts of different colors and shapes and sizes, and they'll be so beautiful fluttering through the air!" Her eyes began to dilate like a mare in love, with her smile reaching its zenith. "Oh, I can't wait to show you, Boltsinger! It's going to be the loveliest thing you'll see all year!"

“Oh, yes, it sounds just perfect.” Discord snapped, standing up and dragging his hoof on the floor. "Such a lovely experience for the happy family. Nothing there something like me would appreciate, anyway."

Fluttershy’s face turned softer than usual. She lowered the pamphlet to the table, reaching her hoof out toward her friend. “Oh, Discord, that’s not what we meant.”

“Then what did you mean? Did you mean that it’s not somewhere that a creature like me belongs? That I’m not pony enough for something so harmonious?”

Fluttershy rose from her seat, stepping toward her most unusual friend. “Discord, I--”

Discord snapped his claws, zipping the mare’s mouth shut. “No, no, it’s fine.” He put his claws on his hips, trudging his way to the door. “I have my own plans anyway. You have fun at your fancy butterfly pony thing. I’ll be off having some real fun.” He opened the door, opening a fold in space. In one fluid motion, he entered the fold, closed it, and left a white flash that turned Fluttershy’s face back to normal, leaving stunned expressions all around.

The yellow-coated mare placed her hoof on the door, lowering her ears and hanging her head. "Oh, Discord… It's not like that…"

"I…" Boltsinger breathed a tiny sigh, slowly approaching her. "I'm sure he understands, Fluttershy." He gave her a somewhat uncertain grin, placing his hoof on her shoulder. "Or, at least, he will. Just… Just give him time."

Once again, Discord walked through Ponyville, letting a sour look creep out onto his face as he recalled his most recent encounter. "Not a place I'd enjoy very much? Why? Because I'm not pony enough? Have they even met me?! I'm Discord! I can be as pony as I want!" A snicker sounded behind him for the briefest of moments, forcing him to stop in his tracks with a stomp of his foot. He twisted his body around, glaring at the source of the laugh to find only the most familiar of faces.

Another Discord, with a pair of black-framed glasses sitting in front of his eyes.

"Oh." The original Draconequus started, crossing his arms. "You again. What kind of bright ideas do you have this time?"

“Oh, it’s nothing.” The nerdier of the two dismissed, waving his paw between them with a limp wrist. “I’m just laughing at how you think you’re able to pass yourself off as a pony!”

"And what makes you think I can't?" The first Discord spat.

A smug grin adorned the second Discord's face. He leaned in and placed a claw on the first's snaggletooth, flicking his head to sound like an off-key tuning fork. "I'm you, remember? I know everything you know and then some. And we know that you wouldn't be able to 'pony up' even if you wanted to!"

Discord classic's face grew sterner as he raised his claw, making ready to snap. "I'll be the judge of that, if you don't mind!" He snapped, creating a swirling mass of gravitational force above his doppelganger.

He looked up at the black hole, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I suppose this is better than the last hole you dropped me into…" The bespectacled bringer of bedlam admitted. He let out a sigh, letting himself get sucked in.

Discord’s grin returned as his eyes began scanning the townsponies, looking for any quirks he could find. Precisely on cue, a tiny Discord appeared over his shoulder, typing extensively on a typewriter. “Let’s see… Cutie Mark, mane, long bits of fluff for a tail… Should probably stick to just one color for the coat, shouldn't I?" He turned to the miniature Discord, stroking his beard. "What have you got?" The tiny version pulled the paper from his typewriter, floating next to the original’s ear and whispering details. “Oh? Interesting…” He began to rub his claws together maliciously, letting his most sinister laugh out. “I love it!”

A pair of gold eyes scanned the town once more, darting left and right with a bounce of her hair bow as her head twitched into a better viewing angle. Apple Bloom was on the hunt again, but she was running out of options. Practically the only stallions she hadn’t scouted were the ones that had boyfriends or ponies that were just too… weird. It reminded her, as always, of her first attempt at matchmaking with Miss Cheerilee. A light smile crossed her muzzle as she thought of how far she'd come since then. She directed her eyes to the most muscular stallion in town, Bulk Biceps, who was lifting dumbbells with a group of significantly smaller ponies. "Hmm…" The red-eyed stallion directed his attention to her, gingerly waving with his free hoof. She smiled and waved back, slightly picking up her pace. "I think he's prob'ly too strong. Might make Applejack feel inadequate.” She looked around again, spotting one stallion she'd once described as 'too stuffy'. Unfortuately, he still fit the description. Another was still too short, while another, still too tall. It was a plethora of ponies, but they were all far too familiar. Except for one. While he did look familiar, it was an out-of-place kind. A gray-coated Earth Pony with a pure white mane, beard, and tail that looked so slick as to almost be out of place on his sinister, smirking face. He had yellow eyes, with a shine in his pupil that looked almost red in the light. Most interesting was his Cutie Mark. It was a butterfly with a pattern that looked like arrows going in six directions, with its body looking almost like two more arrows. She compared this face to the various ones around town, seeing if she could spot anything she'd seen before. Finally, with a firm nod, she made her approach. "Excuse me, sir."

The gray pony looked around curiously, motioning to himself as his eyes met hers. “Are you speaking to me, by chance?” He asked in a voice that sounded almost sinister.

“Yup! Nopony else around.” The filly affirmed, offering him a bright smile.

“I see…” He turned his eyes back for a moment, mumbling something to himself before returning his full attention to the Crusader. "It's very nice to meet you… um… What was your name…?"

“Name’s Apple Bloom!” She answered, extending her hoof to him. “How ‘bout you?”

"My name?" He began. The filly before him nodded enthusiastically, sending his eyes darting around. He spotted a tiny ant scurrying behind Apple Bloom that carried a tiny leaf. “I’m… Ant…” He looked around more, spying a cricket hopping to the ground from a potted plant. “Ant...jiminy? No, that doesn’t work…” He thought a moment more, his eyes almost literally lighting up as the thought finally arrived. “An… timony! Yes! That’s it! My name is Antimony!” He placed his hoof in the outstretched one, earning himself a rapid shake.

“Int’restin’ name ya got there, Antimony.” She pointed out, stepping a little closer with hopeful eyes. “Anyway, you new in town?”

Antimony pondered for a moment, stroking his beard with a sly grin. “You could say that, yes. Why do you ask?”

"Oh, just curious if ya wanted to meet somepony special." She told him, meeting his grin in kind.

Now the stallion seemed intrigued. He leaned closer to the little pony, raising an eyebrow. "Special how?"

"Well, she's real pretty." Apple Bloom explained, retrieving a picture of her sister. "An' she can buck ten trees in ten seconds flat! Plus she's one o' the ponies that hold the Elements of Harmony!" She gave Antimony a side-eyed glance, quirking her eyebrows. "So, whaddaya say?"

Antimony took a hard look at the photo, letting a sense of familiarity onto his face as he continued stroking his beard. "Hmm… I'm not sure…”

"Pleeeeeeeeease?" She begged, turning to look straight on with big puppy-dog eyes. "It'd mean a lot if ya did…"

Antimony recoiled, stepping back a ways only to be followed by the filly. "Oh, no. You're not getting me with those adorable 'I-can-make-you-do-anything' eyes! I know better, and there is absolutely no way you can get me to go out of my way just to--"

"Meet my sister, Applejack!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, gesturing to the mare in question at the door to the farm house. The green-eyed Earth Pony had a tired, almost deadpan expression on her face, but she maintained a smile regardless. “She’s the best dang apple-bucker this side o’ Dodge!”

"I see…" Antimony said, taking a step forward and extending his hoof. "It's nice to… meet… you, Applejack. I've heard so much."

Applejack accepted the hoof, earning an excited squee from her now-fleeing sister. Once the two were alone, her smile dropped a bit. "I take it she hit ya with 'er puppy-dog eyes?"

"How'd you know?" He confirmed.

Applejack waved her hoof dismissively. "That's how she gets most of 'em. Can't say I blame 'em, though. I got the best little sister a pony can ask for."

"Yes, she certainly seems like it." He turned away from the mare, looking out at the road rather longingly. "So how about we just say we did this whole 'date' thing and go our separate ways? You don't exactly seem like your one hundred percent on board with it anyway."

"Naw, that wouldn't be right." She stated, stepping up next to him. "Wouldn't be very good o' me ta lie like that. 'Specially considerin' how much Apple Bloom wanted ta make this thing happen. Know what I'm sayin'?"

Antimony scowled for a moment, the red light in his eyes beginning to cover part of his pupils for a flash. "I suppose you're right…" He took a deep breath, looking back at the mare. "Well, then. What is it you do for fun?"

Applejack put a pondering hoof to her chin. "Well, most o' the time I'm doin' chores or teachin' at Twilight's school."

"Ah yes, the vaunted 'School of Friendship'." He interjected with a roll of his eyes. "A place where 'anycreature can come to learn all about being friends'. Sound about right?"

The farmer nodded earnestly. "Sure does."

"And what kinds of things do these so-called 'friends' do? Hm?" He stomped ahead, glaring at the ground. "Plan for weeks to go to butterfly gardens together and abruptly exclude you because…" He went into a nasally mocking tone. "... 'it's just not your thing!' 'You'd be so bored!' Or my personal favorite… 'It's mostly one color!'" He dug his hoof into the dirt below him, flinging a clod forward with a flick of his foreleg as he seethed.

Applejack was taken aback at the display, finding a hint of familiarity in the tirade. A large portion of it didn't make much sense, yet somehow that felt right with this pony. As if he wasn't one to go with the flow. A kind of… "Discord?"

The air became thick with silence at Applejack’s question, letting a cool breeze blow through the gray stallion’s mane. He stood upright once more, brushing himself off and looking back at the mare. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh ya don’t, do ya?” She raised an eyebrow at her companion for the day, stepping up to him with a sly grin. “Well, I bet you’d like ‘im. He’s a real swell dragon!”

“A... dragon, you say?” Antimony repeated with a noticeable twitch in his ear. “Like the kind that breathes fire and terrorizes villages and all that?”

“Well, not s’ much fire as much as it is... glitter.” She corrected, looking reminiscingly at the sky. “He’s got a bit of a flair fer the dramatic.” She chuckled to herself, watching Antimony’s ear twitch more. “I remember this one time, he ‘n his best friend, Pinkie Pie, were bouncin’ around town, makin’ all sorts o’ jokes about fish, of all things!”

“FISH?! Why would I ever--” He reared back, covering his mouth. “I mean… do go on…”

“Why, he an’ Pinkie are downright in-separable!” She continued, swinging her foreleg joyfully. “With how much Discord talks about ‘er, ya might even think ‘e’s in love with ‘er!”

“Wha…?” Antimony looked back at Applejack, dropping his jaw in sheer disbelief. “In… With… Pinkie?!” A deer antler sprouted from the top of his head, turning the whites of his eyes yellow. “No! It’s Fluttershy!” He corrected as another horn protruded next to the antler. “FLUTTERSHY is my favorite!” He stomped toward the mare, scowling behind a large snaggletooth. “And it’s not love! It’s… It’s…” Applejack crossed one foreleg over the other, giving the now-outed Draconequus a playful smirk. He plopped his rump onto the ground, slumping over dejectedly. “Oh, poo…”

"All right, now, playtime's over." The farmer started, pulling Discord to his hooves. "Why're ya goin' around in disguise like this?"

"No reason." He stated, instantly averting his eyes. "I just felt like being a pony for a day."

"Uh-huh, sure ya did." She deadpanned. "An' it just so happens to be the same day Fluttershy's goin' to that butterfly thing with Bolt."

"Well I had to do something with my time after I was so rudely excluded." He admitted, turning his nose up at nothing. "Besides, what better way is there to prove just how pony I can be?"

"That's what yer tryn’a do?" She wondered, cocking her head to the side. "Is that why you were askin' what it is I do fer fun?"

"More or less."

"Well that don't sound so bad." She put her hoof on Discord's back, pulling his gaze toward her. "Buck up, 'Antimony'! You 'n I 're gonna have one heck of a day!"

“Oh, are we?” Discord started, returning to his full disguise and looking her in the eye. “Let’s see what you’ve got, then!”

Minutes later, the pair stood over a ten-foot field with a stake sticking out of the end. At their hooves lay three horseshoes apiece, half red and half blue. And seeing it all, Discord let out a groan. "Really? I ask what you do for fun and you take me out back for horseshoes? How positively dreadful."

“Now don’t you dismiss it outright.” Applejack retorted, sending him a knowing smile. “Have ya even played before?”

“Oh, that’s required?” He rolled his eyes, raising his hoof and twisting it slightly while his expression turned its usual shade of smug. The only problem was the lack of anything actually happening. He looked down at the horseshoes, finding them lying still, then looked at his hoof. “Oh, right. No claws.” He pondered for a moment, letting his eyes glow a bright yellow as a pair of wings sprouted from the horse shoes below him, rapidly flapping and shooting toward the stake, hooking perfectly around them and landing with ease. His eyes and the horseshoes returned to normal, and he turned to smile at Applejack. “There. I win. Now can we go and do something interesting please?”

“First off, ya haven’t won a dang thing.” She stated, going to fetch Discord’s horseshoes. She tossed them back to him, stomping her way over through what dust the dirt had made. “I never got a turn, an’ it ain’t exactly fair ta do it like that. Yer supposed to use yer own strength an’ skill ta try 'n get a ringer. Not make ‘em throw themselves!”

“Oh, but I did use my strength and skill.” Discord corrected, motioning to the stake. “Magic is my strong point, and I like to think I’m quite skilled with it.”

“That may be true normally, but when you came up with that little disguise o’ yers, you chose to be an Earth Pony. An’ that means...” She motioned with her hoof, inviting the chaos spirit to finish.

Discord let out a deep sigh, looking back at the stake in the ground. “No magic…”

"So why don'tcha give it a real try?" She suggested.

Discord cocked an eybrow, eyeing the mare curiously. “What’s in it for me?”

“I might be willin’ ta take ya to see that butterfly garden.” she started, picking up a horseshoe with her hoof. Discord’s face almost literally lit up at the idea, his hooves scrambling for a horseshoe of his own. Applejack made a gentle toss, sending the horseshoe flying forward to land only six inches from the stake. “But only if you win.”

“So I just have to win this little game of yours?” He asked, zeroing in on the stake. “You have yourself a deal.” He threw the horseshoe forward with all of his physical might, sending it sailing through the air, landing only a foot away from him. He compared the distance between his toss and Applejack’s, letting the gears in his head turn as he realized just how much of a challenge it would be to win this game. “You know, I think that your sister may just be my favorite of that little Cutie Mark team she’s on.”

“Really?” Applejack replied, cocking her head as she took aim. “Why’s that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He started, taking his time before continuing. He took a deep breath as Applejack’s hoof began its motion, he took a deep breath. “Because of the chaos!”

Applejack stumbled, scrambling to keep the horseshoe in her hooves at the disguised Draconequus’ comment. Eventually, her hooves returned to the ground, with the horseshoe following suit soon after, only a few inches away from her. “The heck d’ya mean by that?!”

Discord looked, rather gleefully, at where his opponent's supposed toss had landed, picking up his next horseshoe. "Just that she has a history of sewing the seeds of mayhem. Why, I heard once that she tried to magic herself a Cutie Mark and ended up sending the whole town into a panic over some fake disease…" He smiled back at the farm house. "Oh, what I would give to have seen it…" He made another toss, landing a couple feet past his first.

"Yeah, well, ya didn't" The farmer stated, picking up her last horseshoe and lining up her shot. "Y'all were still stone back then, so nuthin' doin' tryin'a relive it."

“I guess you’re right.” He admitted, refocusing on his current task. “But that’s not to say she isn’t still causing a bit of chaos. I mean, just look at the mess she’s making of your life!”

“A mess?!” She repeated, turning to face him. "Just what kinda mess would my own baby sister be makin' of my life?"

A roll came to Discord’s eyes. "Oh, please! You're saying you actually enjoy being sent into the civilized wilderness of Equestria with every stallion she has a wild hair to set you up with?”

"An' what if I do?" She spat back, narrowing her eyes. "I've had a great time with a lotta them fellers! Made a buncha good friends thanks to that whole datin' thing!"

"Lots of friends, maybe." He affirmed, turning his face to a snaggletoothed smirk. "But how many of those 'dates' you've been on bore fruit?" He stepped up to the mare, gently nudging her with his elbow. "Any of those 'hot dates' prove to be boyfriend material?"

Applejack's features softened, feeling a pang of guilt as the chaos creature's words hit home. "Well, no. But…" Her foreleg went limp, causing her to drop the horseshoe only an inch into the throwing area. "But I know if I keep tryin', someday I'll--"

"Be as happy as you were before thiis whole thing began?" He interjected, taking hold of his last horseshoe. "Not have to worry so much about what some guy might think? Have someone more dependable to work the farm while you do some… I don't know… Baking? You Apples do a lot of baking, don't you?"

"But I never trusted some 'more dependable' pony ta do my chores for me!" She corrected, poking him in the side. "I always did 'em myself! Like any sensible pony should!"

"Oh, yes, that's right. You're Little Miss Self-reliant, aren't you?" He wiggled his rump a little, hunching over to get a good feel for the terrain. "Then what exactly are you looking for with all of these dates of yours?"

“Well… uh…” Applejack’s eyes naturally looked to the side, seeming to search for her reasoning. What had all of this been for? She’d been going along with her sister’s idea for the past year, now. Was she doing it for her? Or was it something else? Maybe… “Love?”

Discord stumbled onto the ground, sending his horseshoe flying as he clutched his belly in a fit of laughter. The horseshoe sailed through the air, landing with a definitive chink around the stake at the end. When the laughing finally ceased, Discord rose back to his hooves, wiping away a single tear. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just can’t help but laugh when I hear you of all ponies in such an obvious lie.” Applejack’s face turned stern, forcing a scoff out of the chaos spirit. “Oh, don’t give me that look. It’s clear that you’re as interested in ‘love’ as I am!”

The mare’s sternness turned into a face so flat that it could have been mistaken for a particular Pie sister, calmly raising a single eyebrow. “This comin’ from someone who literally put Fluttershy on a pedestal last Hearth’s Warmin’?

“No, it’s coming from the winner of our little game.” He corrected, motioning to the stake.

Applejack examined the field, finding her every toss having fallen short, while her opponent’s had all come closer, finally landing that elusive ringer. “How’d you…?” She let out a low growl, digging her hoof into the dirt. “All right, fine. You win. I was a little int'rested in goin', anyway."

Discord chuckled to himself, taking a moment to revel in his victory. “You know, I have to admit that was actually kind of fun.” He stepped up to the farmer that had been his opponent. She was drawing circles on the ground with her hoof with a slightly forlorn expression. He let out a sigh, placing his hoof on her shoulder. “There’s still a little time before that… butterfly thing… is supposed to happen. Why don’t we do something fun before then?”

Applejack’s eyes turned toward her disguised date, showing a mix of concern and intrigue. "What kinda fun you talkin' about?"

“Nothing too chaotic, actually.” He assured her, bringing the yellow glow to his eyes once more. In a flash of white, the two of them were standing on the dance floor of a club where upbeat, jazzy music was playing. Discord, even in his pony disguise, sported an orange tuxedo with an absurdly wide-rimmed fedora, while Applejack found herself in a comfortably form-fitting white dress with her mane and tail treated in such a way as to make it decidedly wavier, hanging free with no hair ties. “Just some good old-fashioned fun!”

The country pony took a look around the area. “Really? This is what you do fer fun? I thought it’d be more like turnin’ apples ta oranges or makin’ lumber outta cheese.”

“Lumber out of cheese?” He repeated, stroking his beard with his hoof. “Now that’s an interesting idea... But I digress!” He approached the mare with his hoof over his heart. “This is one of the things I do for fun. I thought you deserved something simple and enjoyable after what I just put you through.”

Applejack chuckled, finally sending a smile his way. “With what I did to you before, I reckon we’re even.” She listened to the music for a moment, unconsciously beginning to sway to the music. “Although… I don’t think it’d be a bad idea, stickin’ around here for a while." She started to tap her left hind leg, letting a smile work it's way onto her face as the Draconequus began his first attempts at dancing like a pony. "Actually, this is kinda nice, not havin' ta worry 'bout romanticizin' or tryin'a impress whoever I'm with."

"Isn't it, though?" He affirmed, stumbling fir a moment and quickly rising to his hooves. "Being with a friend is so much better than all of that 'love' nonsense! No expectations, no pressure, no problem."

"Yeah…" She started, her hooves starting to move more to the beat. "Yeah! How'd I ever get by thinkin' these big ol' dates were supposed to be anything but fun? I don't care if I ever get a special somepony! I already got all the love I need!"

“Yes, yes, we all know all about it.” Discord dismissed, extending his hoof to the mare with a smile. “Can we just dance now?”

Applejack beamed, putting her hoof in his. “You got it!” The music picked up, sending the pair into a dancing frenzy.

Under the midday sun, a large number of picnic blankets lay in the middle of a forest clearing. Every tree around the scene was covered in tiny cocoons, each and every one of them wiggling ever-so-slightly in anticipation of what was to come. In the center, Fluttershy sat with Boltsinger and Nova, with the yellow mare laying dejectedly on the blanket below. “I really hope Discord is okay… I haven’t seen him since this morning.”

“I hope so, too.” Boltsinger admitted, putting his wing on her back. “But I know that he’s strong enough to move past things like that… eventually.” He put his hoof to his muzzle, thinking about their mutual friend for a moment. “At least he usually does. Either way, we can’t afford to dwell on it right now.”

Fluttershy raised her head, looking at her friend with misty eyes. “Why not?”

Boltsinger looked over to Nova, who was flitting above the gathered ponies with a look of wonder on his face. “It didn’t take me long to learn that when you have a foal as young as Nova, sometimes you have to smile no matter what. Even when things seem bad. If they see you upset, they start to worry as well. Especially with a sensitive little guy like Nova.” He smiled down at her. “And I never wanna take that smile off of his face.”

Fluttershy wiped her eyes, looking to the flying foal with a smile of her own. “Neither do I."

Boltsinger turned his attention back to the colt, standing up with a stretch. "Besides, I'm sure Discord is having a great time doing…" He trailed on for a moment, unable to find the words he sought. "... Whatever it is he does when he's alone. Maybe he found a friend to spend the day with?"

At the edge of the clearing, another pair of ponies made their arrival. Applejack looked around at the trees, her jaw slightly dropping at the sheer number of chrysalis to be found. “Wow… I didn’t even know this many butterflies existed in Equestria!”

“Yes, yes, there's a lot of them.” Discord stated, glancing around for a chance at a familiar sight. "So where do you think Fluttershy went?"

Applejack gave her companion a sly grin, nudging him with her elbow. "I thought you didn't care about that whole 'love' thing."

A flash of red came to the faux stallion's face. "I never said it was anything about 'love'. I've made my opinions quite clear, and Fluttershy said she'd be here today."

"Uh-huh, right before ya stormed out in a jealous fit."

"Yes, right before I--" He stopped for a moment, turning to stare at the farm mare. “How did you know that?”

“Knowin’ you, it ain’t hard to figure out.” She deadpanned.

A look of sheer terror formed on Discord’s face. “You don’t mean to say I’m becoming--”

"Predictable!" Chided another Antimony, smirking beside the original from behind his spectacles.

Discord waved his hoof at his doppelganger, forcing it to disappear in a puff of smoke. Applejack gave off a hearty laugh, waving her chaotic friend forward. “Come on, ‘Antimony’, Nova’s over there.” She pointed her hoof at the fluttering foal, starting her way toward him. “Bolt ‘n Fluttershy can’t be far behind.”

“Actually, Applejack…” He started, placing his hoof on her shoulder. She glanced back at him, finding a surprisingly sincere smile on his face. “Why don’t we let them have their fun? We can…” He chanced a look at his surroundings, finding a lump in his throat that he forced himself to swallow. “... enjoy this together.”

Applejack recoiled, causing her hat to slip from her head. “Are you sure?” She turned to face him completely again, putting her stetson back in into place. “You don’t wanna go an’ spend yer time with yer favorite pony in the whole world and best friend ever?”

“Oh, believe me, I do.” He assured her, taking a forlorn look at the spot of yellow and pink he found in the crowd. She was smiling and laughing, looking as happy as he’d ever seen her before, which sent a small frown to his face. “But I don’t want to take that smile from her face.”

A soft, warm smile came to the mare’s muzzle. She put her foreleg around Discord’s neck, pulling him into a light embrace. “That’s real sweet of you, Discord.” She pulled back, looking him in the eye. “I’m proud o’ you.” Discord’s face began to mirror that of his companion, his features melting to match them more exactly. Applejack let out a nervous chuckle, nudging his cheek with her hoof. “Careful, there. Yer blowin’ yer cover.”

“Oh! Yes. How silly of me.” Discord stepped back a bit, shaking his head back into shape. He sat down, examining their surroundings one more time. “So, is something supposed to… happen?”

No sooner had Discord asked his question did the answer come. The clearing had gone silent, save for the subtle cracking of the many cocoons. All at once, thousands of pairs of tiny wings spread on each and every branch. With the sound of many tiny flaps, a rainbow of wings appeared on the trees, quickly rising into the air. “Well, wouldja look at that?” Applejack stated, awestruck at the sight of the insects fluttering down over the crowd. The smallest pony in the gathering flew up to the soft swarm, his eyes wide with wonder as one of the butterflies came to a hover above his horn. The corners of his mouth turned up as the bug landed on the tip, stretching its wings before his eyes and lifting off again.

"Is that all?" The chaos spirit wondered, cocking a curious eyebrow. "They just… come out and fly around?"

"Eeyup." The farmer confirmed, wiping a tear from her eye. "Beautiful, ain't it?"

"I suppose." He started, his expression falling flat. "Fluttershy made it sound much more appealing, though."

"Didn't she also say sumthin' about you maybe not likin' it too much?" She reminded, cocking an eyebrow back at him.

"Well, yes, but…" His face drooped. "I see… Maybe they know me better than I gave them credit for."

“Almost like ya been friends fer years, ain’t it?” She teased, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

“Yes, yes, I get it.” He replied, pushing her foreleg away. “Can we go now? I’ve had more than enough serenity for one day.”

Applejack rolled her eyes, hopping up to her hooves and stretching. “I s’pose. We might as well start windin’ down on our little ‘date’, anyway.”

“Agreed.” He raised his hoof in preparation, flicking his tail eagerly. “Just say the word and you’re home.”

“That’d be nice, but I got another idea.” She put her hoof on her foreleg, looking to the forest path. “Could you come along with me? I got sumthin’ ta tell Apple Bloom, an’ I’d feel a bit better if I had a friend to back me up. Like a good luck charm, even if all ya do is watch the chaos.”

Discord put his raised hoof to his beard, meeting her with a friendly smirk.

Evening came at last over Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack made her way back through the front gate with Antimony following close behind. From the house, Apple Bloom galloped up to her big sister with an expression on her face that defined excitement. “You’re home! You’re home! You’re home!” She leaped at the mare, here forelegs spread wide as she was snatched out of the air in a tight embrace. “How’d it go? Gonna have another date? Tell me everything!”

“Hold on a sec, baby sis. Lemme get a word in before ya start yer questionin’!” She put her little sister down, tussling her mane. "I was gonna tell you all about what I figured out."

Apple Bloom's face lit up like the night sky, smiling wider than ever. "Oh my gosh! Do you mean you finally found yer special somepony?!"

"Not quite." The elder sister corrected. "Antimony is certainly a good friend…" The disguised Draconequus behind her waved a bashful hoof between them. "But he ain't really 'special somepony' material fer me."

Apple Bloom's ears fell flat against her head, which simultaneously began hanging. "Aww… Another flop?" She looked up to her sibling with a new determination, holding her hoof high. “Don’t worry, sis! We’ll find someone next time!”

“But what if I don’t want to find someone?” Applejack suggested. “I don’t wanna find a special somepony at all, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom gave her head a curious tilt. “Why not? Life gets so much better when you got one!”

“Maybe for most ponies.” The orange mare admitted with a shrug. “But I just don’t get that spark like everypony else. Heck…” She put her hoof on her sister’s chin, lifting her head to look her in the eye as she leaned in. “I’ve only been goin’ along with this whole thing ta make you happy. But I think it’s about time this crusade came to an end. Don’tcha think?”

I guess I have been at this fer over a year already… The filly pondered. She looked between her sister and the stallion she set her up with. Ain’t got much to show for it, neither… But it’s… it’s… “Well that’s just silly!” She finally declared, sending her sister recoiling. “I bet you just haven’t found the right stallion yet!” Her hoof came to her muzzle as a new thought arose. “Or maybe… A mare! That’d definitely be a new experience!” She turned back toward the house, starting her trek back. “I should tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo about this at school tomorrow. Just think of all the ponies we haven’t tried, yet!”

A chill breeze blew past Applejack and Discord, leaving a strange kind of silence in its wake. After a few moments, Discord took a breath. “So that went well.”

“Yer tellin’ me…” Applejack replied. She hung her head with an audible sigh. “I guess that means I got more ‘dates’ ahead o’ me, don’t I?”

“You know, you could always say ‘no’.” He advised, taking a step closer.

“But what if she’s right?” She wondered, looking back at him. “What if I really haven’t met the right pony yet? Or whatever it is I happen ta get that spark with? It happens with everypony else, so why not me?”

“Does it really matter, though?” He started. “Then again, you already know my take on this whole ‘love’ spiel.”

“I mean… It should matter, shouldn’t it?” She continued, removing her hat and staring at it. “With my parents, it was like it was written in the stars. They just had it right from the beginnin’.” She returned the hat to its rightful place, looking up at the twilit purple sky. “An’ with Twilight… She had the spark hit her long before she even knew about it! Even Apple Bloom has it comin’ easy, what with her an’ that Tender Taps colt.” She turned back to Discord, wiping a budding tear from her eye. “What if there really is sumthin’ wrong with me?”

“Even if there is, is there a problem with that?” Discord asked, sitting down and crossing his forelegs. “Oh well. In the end, it doesn’t matter what I think.”

“Well, I bet yer gonna let me know anyway.” She stated, sending him a simper. “And, honestly, I wouldn’t mind hearin’ whatcha think every now an’ then. If’n ya don’t mind.”

“Hmm… I’ll have to think for a while on that.” He said, turning one hoof back into a lion paw snapping his claws. With a flash of light, he vanished from sight, only to reappear as his typical Draconequus self but a second later. “Alright, fine, you’ve convinced me!”

Author's Note

Finally got this chapter done! I know, it's been a long time coming, but life gets in the way, and longer overall chapters usually means more time between each release. Either way, this was one that I was really excited to get to! And next is one that's got me even more psyched! It's gonna have some things I've been wanting to do for a while, now!

Special thanks go to Hoofclid and Starry for proofreading!