The Adventures of Chaos and Nightmares

“Applespike, Jewel, it’s time for you two to go home.” Then Discord turned, addressing Twinkle. “Your mother is waiting to take you to the train station.”

“Aww!” all the children exclaimed. “Do we have to? The bouncy room is so much fun!”

Discord started to look annoyed. “Yes, you do. And Twinkle, I don’t see why you want to stay anyway. You and Zany have been fighting the whole time!”

It was true. They had been fighting the whole weekend- when Discord was around, anyway. The rest of the time, they were agreeing more than ever, although they still had minor disagreements over little things. “Old habits,” they said. Besides, everyone argues about some things. However, they were quick to figure things out and apologize. The others were amazed.

Twinkle looked a bit frozen at Discord’s words. “Well...I mean,” she stammered. “Well, it’s just I like spending time with Jewel. I don’t know very many ponies in Canterlot, and most of the ones I do know aren’t very nice.”

Discord, looking satisfied at her answer, said, “Okay, but you still have to go with your mother.”

Twinkle sighs. “Okay.” She and Jewel exit the room.

Meanwhile, during that whole conversation, and even that whole weekend, Zany had been watching Applespike. He sometimes saw him looking at him weirdly. “Dad, can I walk home with Applespike? I’ll come back after dinner.”

“Okay- wait, what? Did you say after dinner?”

Zany smirked and shrugged. “What can I say? Even cotton candy and chocolate can’t compete against Apple cooking.”

Discord grumbled. “Guess I can’t argue with that. But bring me back some apple pie.”

Applespike smiled. “Don’t worry Uncle Discord. We’ll have one for you. We always do.”

“All right. Now get going!”

Once they were out the door, Applespike turned to Zany and said, “Okay, I need some answers.”

“And you deserve them. What do you want to know?”

Applespike took a deep breath. “I want to know why in Equestria you’d want to date Twinkle. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but just why? She was your oldest rival, for Celestia’s sake!”

Zany just shrugged and said, “For the same reason you date Jewel. It just feels like we’re meant to be together.”

Applespike nods. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it that way before. I’m sorry. I was just shocked.”

Zany smiles, satisfied. “Well, now that that’s covered, race you to Sweet Apple Acres!” Both took off galloping as fast as they could towards the farm.

Twinkle sighed as she was walking beside her mom towards the train station. The weekend she’d just had was the most the most fun she’d had in a month. And telling all her friends about her and Zany had a huge weight lifted off her chest. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Canterlot, she just missed her family and friends while she was there. She also wished she could tell her parents about her special talent. It almost killed her to keep it a secret. She sighed again as she remembered the other secret she was keeping from her parents. She wondered if maybe she could tell her dad about that one. Nopony was keeping her from telling that one, and if she did, she probably wouldn’t feel as guilty. The more she thought about it, the more it sounded like a good idea to tell her father. Her only worry about telling him was that he would tell her mom, but she was sure she could work something out in the form of a Pinkie Promise. She made a mental note to have a talk with her dad when she came back to Ponyville next weekend. It was the Tri-Pies birthday. Oh Celestia, I’ve got to get them a gift,” she thought, but quickly dismissed it. The Tri-Pies were easy to shop for.