Cadence extended her right wing, the differential between wind vortices from right to left allowed her to turn. After one more pass around Ponyville, she glided downward towards the roof of the Sofa and Quill store. Quickly calculating her decent, versus the upward thrust per wingbeat, and determined that it would take four flaps to avoid any knee strain when she hit the roof.

“Wait up!” Spike called. Spike tried to copy what she did, because of weight and speed differences he would have done better with one fewer wingbeat. Cadence grabbed him by the tail as he started to overshoot, and laid him down gently on the roof.

“Did you see her?” Cadence asked.

“No neither,” Spike replied.

Currently they were searching for Twilight Sparkle, and they couldn’t find either one of her.

“Flying over Ponyville didn’t work. We should try asking around.”

“Y’know,” Spike spoke in a sly tone, “we could cover more ground if you split up.”

“You want to see me use the separation spell on myself?”

Spike didn’t usually get excited over other ponies magic, he’d seen too much of Discord just being able to do anything to be impressed by even the hardest to learn spell of most ponies. Despite this, he had to admit it was just something interesting about this particular spell. Perhaps he was a bit envious. Imagine being able to spend time with Gabby, Smoulder, and Rarity all at once, each being that favourite of the Spike she was with.

Where had that thought come from? He wondered if that’s the sort of inner conflicts that were divided between Twilights different aspects. Probably not, Twilight wasn’t a dragon in the midst of puberty, she was a grown mare. Surely she was beyond such fickle and immature thoughts.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Cadence admitted.

This broke Spike from this imaginings, and he needed a moment to remember what idea Cadence was talking about.

“If I separate myself then my Pegasus aspect can search Cloudsdale, my Earth pony aspect could ask around in Ponyville, and my Unicorn aspect could go to the Everfree Forrest.”

Spike nodded a little too enthusiastically.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

“Neat.”

“Now what can I use to draw a triangle.”

“Uh… maybe we should get down on the ground first. That way the Earth Pony you won’t have to climb off the roof.”

They descended to the ground. Once their Cadence, used her hoof to trace a triangle in the sand. She stood in the center, focussed her magic, and recited the incantation.
‘Where three is one,
Let one be three,
From inner turmoil,
Now be free.
Just as Spike had seen happen with Twilight, Cadence began to fade as three other ponies came into focus. One stood at each of the points, and sure enough there was a pink Unicorn, Earth Pony, and one Pegasus.

“Awesome,” Spike commented.

The Pegasus examined her wings, almost as though checking which one of the three she actually was. She then took on a serious expression, because apparently Pegasus Cadence is the serious one.

“Alright ladies, we each have our missions. I’ll be off to Cloudsdale, from the way Pega Twi was acting, Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts might be worth checking out.”

“Uh, excuse me,” Spike interrupted. “Now that you’ve split up, who should I go with.”

Pega Cadence thought for a moment. Uni Cadence tried to answer Spike, only to be interrupted by Earth Cadence. “I would appreciate the company.”

“Is that okay?” Spike turned to Pega Cadence, who just had such a commanding demeanour that the little dragon deferred to her before he could even wonder why.

“It’s fine, you’ll help keep her on task, although I’m not sure I want to leave the Unicorn unsupervised either.”

Earth Cadence seemed a little shocked at Pega’s harshness. Uni Cadence just stuck out her tongue and gave her a raspberry. “You don’t want to leave me alone. Don’t worry sweetie, I’m sure I’ll find some pony to keep me company.”

Pega Cadence seemed to get angry at the remark. Earth Cadence blushed furiously. Spike didn’t quite get what it meant. He whispered to Earth Cadence. “Hey what’s this about.”

“Well, you know that together we’re the princess of love right? Apart we’re each stronger in a different kind of love. It’s a little hard to explain.”

“Argh! I’m the sexy one,” Unicorn Cadence pointed a hoof at herself. Next she pointed to Earth Cadence. “She’s the mom.” Finally the Unicorn pointed at Pegasus Cadence. “She,” Unicorn stopped herself from being unnecessarily mean, “She expresses love by feeling responsible for everyone and everything.”

“Oh.”

“And don’t worry! I may like to flirt and tease, but I’d never break our husbands heart.”

Soon they all split up on their respective missions. Once they were out of sight, Uni Cadence cast a little memory spell on herself, which she uses to keep things from the other two, then went on with her mission.

She walked about twenty paces before passing Earth Pony Twilight at a juice stand. She almost missed her on account of not really looking.

“Oh hey, there you are.”

Earth Twilight finished taking a sip of her juice before casually giving a nod. “So, you’re a Unicorn now.”

“I am. Like what you see.” Unicorn Cadence twirled around, then raised her backside while stretching her front, and giving Twilight a come hither look.”

Twilight commented that she was a little shorter as a Unicorn. Insulted Cadence told Twilight she was short for an Alicorn.

Just as Unicorn Cadence thought to ask what Twilight was doing, Trixie approached with another juice, and two straws. Trixie had actually never met Cadence, and despite wearing a crown, the Unicorn in front of Twilight was not presenting a particularly royal vibe. Trixie sat next to Earth Twi and placed her hoof upon hers, as if to show Cadence this mare was taken.

Twilight didn’t seem to be thinking about her burgeoning romance at the moment, and barely noticed the hoof. She realized that she had went out on a break and never gone back to the castle. “Oh my! I can’t believe I did this. Every pony must be wondering where I am.”

Unicorn Cadence giggled a bit. “Twilight Sparkle playing hooky, I never thought I’d see the day.”

“It’s not like that. I just…”

Cadence came into Twilights personal space, and sniffed at her a little. Next she sniffed at Trixie.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“You just saw an opportunity to have a little fun with this cute fireworks scented gypsy here.”

“It’s not like that!”

Twilight was defensive. Trixie just turned up her nose in a snooty fashion.

“Oh don’t be like that. I’m just teasing because you two are so cute together. Hey, how about I teach you a spell for if you want to keep secrets from those other two Twilights.”

At that moment, Spike and Earth Pony Cadence were canvasing the neighbourhood. They made there way to the house of Daisy, the flower mare.

They knocked twice on the door and Daisy answered.

“Hey Daisy, have you seen Twilight today, only she would have been missing some body parts?”

“No Spike, I haven’t.” She turned to Earth Pony Cadence. “Who’s your friend?”

“I’m Cadence. Do you want to see pictures of my daughter. She’s really cute.”

“Okay, come in, I’ll make tea.”

Spike groaned. This was the third one. Why do ponies love to see baby pictures so much? We’ll never find Twilight at this rate.

“Trixie is not going to be a secret!” Twilight spoke firmly.

“Oh, okay.” Unicorn Cadence turned to leave. She took a step, then turned back. “Hey Twilight, you’ll keep that spell a secret right, ladybug promise.”

Twilight nodded.

Cadence smiled, then trotted off. She should have just taken the spell. It’s going to be real mess when those Twilights remerge.

Suddenly a Rainbow streak blew past. Unicorn Cadence’s quick eyes managed to check out what was just a streak to other ponies.

“So sleek, yet athletic, this looks promising.” She trotted off in the direction of the streak.

”Okay Sparkle, you promised you would tell Trixie what those conflicting feelings were about.”

Twilight had confessed that she never tried to form a relationship with Trixie before, due to conflicting feelings. When she separated into three ponies she remembered having those feelings, yet found herself heading straight in Trixies direction.

“I did.”

“Yes.”

“Hey, the others are probably wondering where I am. Maybe I should head back.”

“Sparkle.”

“Look I’m just afraid you won’t like the answer.”

“That’s all the more reason you have to spill. The longer you keep something in a relationship, the worse it is for your partner.”

“Well yes,” Twilight responded, “but our relationship just started today. I mean, how do ponies with real kinky secrets even go on a first date? There’s got to be a grace period about these things.”

“It’s because you like some other pony, isn’t it.”

“What.”

“Is it Starlight? Were you afraid dating me would interfere with your friendship?”

“That’s not it!”

“Then explain!”

“Okay, fine. Just please don’t be too quick to judge.”

Twilight braced herself. She took another sip of her drink. She breathed in and out and Cadence, the normal Cadence, had taught her.

“Okay, here it goes. I don’t like being the one in charge in the bedroom. I’m sorry I just don’t. I also like it a little rough.”

“Yeah I noticed.”

“You noticed.” Here Twilight was confessing her deepest darkest secret, and Trixie just shrugged it off like it was common knowledge.

“I think it goes back to when I was a filly. I was always really afraid of getting punished.”

“Oh were your parents really tough on you?”

“No, not at all! No pony ever was. One time, I did something absolutely crazy and I was sure Celestia would send me to the moon. She just forgave me and lightened my work load a bit.” Twilight sounded a little disappointed.

“Okay, so how bad is this kink of yours. Will I have to choke you or whip you or talk really dirty?”

“No.” Twilight was a little scared at a how cavalier Trixie could be in mentioning such things. “Just what we did this afternoon was perfect really.”

They continued to sip their juice for a while.

“Well that’s not so strange. It’s actually a bit tame compared to some of the things Trixie has seen. Hey wait a minute! Is it me you like, or did you just think I’d be the one to satisfy that kink of yours?”

Earth Twilight laughed in a nervous way.

Rainbow Dash slipped on her white coveralls. The scratchy feeling of the fabric only added to her annoyance. She thought she’d never have to wear these again.

When Rainbow switched to being a full time Wonderbolt (and schoolteacher) she tried to stay on good terms with the weather factory. She did enjoy the tasks that required strong flyers, and it was safer to have her fight a hurricane then leave it to most other ponies. Unfortunately, on her days off they could still call her for even the more mundane tasks.

She put on her hard hat and trotted across the catwalk overlooking the machinery and process.

After passing the area where ponies put snowflakes together with tiny tools, she turned left at the area where they grow clouds, and finally made her way to rainbow quality control.

There was another pony there, a pink pony who looked very familiar. She was also wearing the white coveralls, even her cutie mark was covered. It seemed like something pointy was under her hairnet, a tiara maybe.

“So you the newbie,” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yes, ma’am” Cadence answered in a slightly fake country drawl.

He looked her over right then left. Anyone ever tell you that you look just like Princess Cadence?”

The pony was quick to smile. “Oh what a compliment,” she said. “A princess really! I hear the princess is supposed to be really beautiful.”

“Yeah, she’s a looker, I guess. Hey, we don’t get many Unicorns working here.”

“Will that be a problem for the work we’re doing?” Rainbow Dash’s manner was brash, though Cadence took it more as a statement of facts then any sort of insult.

“No, it won’t be a problem, not for Rainbow Quality control at least. How did you get up here anyway.”

“Oh I hitched a balloon ride with a pink mare who was going a little farther then Cloudsdale herself. She wasn’t going to make the trip at first, until she had a sudden craving for a Cheese Sandwich.”

“Okay,” She can’t mean who I think she means, no way. So where is the foreman.”

“Off professing his love to a mare he’s only seen in passing yet fantasized about for months.”

“Okay, how about the superintendent?”

“She’s repairing her relationship with her mother.”

“That’s sweet, I guess. What about just the other assembly line workers?”

“Two of them are in the closet right now. Best not to disturb them.”

Rainbow Dash looked over into the vats of liquid rainbow. “Okay, it’s a good thing we’re in quality control because their must be something in the liquid rainbow.”

Cadence tried not to let her giggle sound like an evil cackle. She didn’t blame Rainbow Dash for thinking what she’s accomplished in so short a time must be magic. Of course, with her level of talent, loves spells were only a crutch. It would be embarrassing to rely on them.

Author's Note

This wasn't even going to be in the story. I was thinking about the first chapter, and thought it would be a shame to tease at something and not touch it again.