Friendship is Magic: The Seventh Element

It began as a clear blue sunny day until a large collection of dark-grey clouds began to fill. All the weather Pegasi were hard at work bringing over a much needed rainstorm for Ponyville. The ponies along the ground gathered as much loose, torn branches from the trees to prevent any damages or safety risks as the storm spread throughout the town. All of Ponyville worked together to clear out the nearby trees… at least, they were supposed to.

While most of Ponyville were busily clearing branches for an upcoming storm, Storm Shield used his own magic to meticulously pull the branches off the tree. Anticipating a storm, he dressed himself in a navy green trench coat and a black fedora for the occasion. While whistling a merry tune to himself, he stacked a bundle of branches in his magic aura on a single spot on the surface into a neat little pile. He wipes the brow with a single hoof, as he looked up toward the sky as the last rays of the sun would soon be shrouded in pitch black clouds. After a second or two, Storm Shield made off to grab some more branches off another tree.

He just turned around with another load when…

*POP!*

“Hmm?!”

Storm Shield’s eyes went wide at the sight: The branch pile, one he just worked on his stack, disappeared before his eyes. He eyed the spot suspiciously, his eyes twitching side to side wondering who did it. Slowly, Storm positioned a new stack of branches upon the same spot on the ground. He turned around for one second, to reach for a loose branch by his hooves…

*POP!*

Storm Shield gasped, taken aback as the branches disappeared before his eyes. Storm quickly grabbed the branch with his own hooves and stuck it deep into the surface. He plopped upon his stomach, eyeing the branch intensely.

“Come on, I dare you! Come on!”

But at first, nothing happened. Storm Shield forced himself to keep his eyes open, in the event the branch could disappear at any time. He barely blinked for just a second when…

*POP!*

Storm shouted in surprise, as for the third time a branch disappeared. He twisted his head around quickly, searching for the source behind the occurrences. Then his eyes spot something just in front of him. His face turned flat; he pawed his front right hoof onto the ground. It didn’t take long for it all to dawn on him…

Rarity, Ponyville’s local fashionista, seemingly trimming and mending some of the broken, torn branches previously removed. She eyed her work with deep thought, as if pondering what more she could do.

“Hmm… Haa!”

Using her magic, Rarity started trimming some of the leaves into shapes of ponies in majestic poses.

“Perfect,” Rarity declared, satisfied.

“Ahem!”

Rarity turned from her work for a brief moment, only for her eyes to catch sight of Storm Shield himself. The stallion stared at her with one eyebrow raised, his front legs crossed together.

“Am I interrupting your little arts and crafts session today?” Storm Shield asked dryly.

“Oh, Storm dear,” Rarity spoke cheerfully. “They are lovely aren’t they? I thought the branches could use an elegant touch… a little style if you will.”

Storm Shield turned his sight toward the pony-shaped branches along the trees, studying them for a moment or two.

“They are very nice,” Storm admitted. “The attention to detail is spot-on, but still…”

All of a sudden, a lasso plucked one of the branches and tore it down. Rarity gasped as her hard work was left completely ruined. The two ponies turned around, spotting Applejack with the lasso.

“Just take the broken limbs down, Rarity,” Applejack said, annoyingly. “Don’t y’all care about nothin’ other than prettifyin?”

“I don’t recall that word in the dictionary,” Storm muttered.

“Somepony has to,” Rarity said indignantly. “You were making an absolute mess of the town square, Applejack.”

Rarity tilted her head toward the ground, now loaded with more torn twigs and branches.

“Now Rarity, we appreciate you find joy in the ‘smaller’ things in life,” Storm spoke calmly. “Unfortunately, this storm will just leave a ‘bigger’ mess for every pony unless we get all these loose branches removed. Last thing we want is one of the townponies trying to walk home from happy hour, only to tumble and fall if one branch we miss knocks him out.”

Rarity merely huffed, as the Pegasus ponies above her continued their job of filling the sky with more dark rain clouds.

“I simply cannot believe why the Pegasus ponies would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day,” Rarity remarked.

Applejack merely sighed, as she continued to work.

“Storm’s right. Think more practical-like, will ya? They accidentally skipped a scheduled sprinkle last week, so we need a doozy of a downpour to make up for it all.”

“Although that does beg the question, Applejack,” Storm Shield wondered. “When you say ‘doozy’, you mean as a figure of speech or is it more like…”

Storm Shield never got to finish, as the rain finally started pouring down. Storm paused as the rain made his mane go down as he slowly turned toward Applejack, who eyed the unicorn stallion with that same annoyed expression.

“I’m sorry, I’ll shut up now,” Storm Shield replied.

“Oh no!” Rarity exclaimed. “My wonderfully styled mane shall be ruined!”

“Ya shoulda hurried up and finished the job already!” Applejack pointed out.

But poor Rarity just paced around and about, trying to minimize the amount of water from hitting her mane. Unfortunately for her, the rain fell faster and in large drops, nonetheless. Storm Shield shook his head, cringing while watching the marshmallow unicorn squirm.

“Oh! Ah! Oh! Ph! It’s coming down too fast! Ah! Oh! Oh! Ah! Help me!”

Applejack watched her for a moment before she noticed a nearby picnic table.

“Uh, there!” Applejack pointed. “Hunker down to yer heart’s content whilst I finish things.”

Rarity quickly raced towards the picnic table as fast as her hooves could carry her. Just as she was about to duck under the table, she came to a sudden stop and gasped in horror. For just underneath the table… was a huge puddle of mud.

“Oh, no, no, no!” Rarity panted.

Hearing her cries, Storm Shield and Applejack strolled toward Rarity.

“What is it now, Rarity?” Storm asked.

“I prefer not to get my hooves muddy,” Rarity pouted.

Storm Shield and Applejack groaned, not even bothering to hide the annoyance in their expression.

“There is just no pleasin’ ya, is there?” Applejack asked. “Everything’s got to be just so.”

“Well, how does muddying my hooves serve any useful purpose?” Rarity retorted, with a scowl.

“Y’all wouldn’t know useful if it came up and bit’ cha!” Applejack replied irritably.

“That doesn’t even make any sense,” Rarity answered, with a definitive laugh.

“Does so!” Applejack said.

“Does not!” Rarity retorted.

“Does so!”

“Does not!”

“Does so!”

“Does not!”

“Does so infinity, hah!” Applejack shot out, leaning forward.

“Doe so infinity plus one. Heh!” Rarity retorted, leaning forward.

“Can I say something?” Storm Shield asked.

“NOOO!!!” The girls snapped.

“Okay… okay…”

Storm backed away, as the girls glared at each other in anger. The daggers practically pierced through their eyes, as not one of the girls blinked.

“What say we go our separate ways before one of us says something she will regret?” Rarity suggested.

“I reckon y’all are gonna say something you’ll regret first,” Applejack said.

“On the contrary, I believe it shall most certainly be you who says something you will regret first!”

“I’m not sayin’ anything!”

“Nor am I!”

“Y’all just be on yer way, then!”

“After you!”

Storm Shield stood awkwardly, watching the back-and-forth banter between the farmer and the fashionista. The two ponies just glared at each other, slowly backing away from one another. With a shrug, Storm was about to turn and leave until…

*KABOOM!*

A loud rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, sending both ponies straight toward Storm Shield. The unicorn stallion found himself caught between the grips of the two ponies’ fore-legs as the girls trembled fearfully.

“Perhaps we should stick together for now and find some shelter,” Rarity said nervously.

“Agreed…” Storm nodded.

“Uh-huh, perhaps we should,” Applejack added. “And fast.”

The ponies continue to huddle close to one another, gazing fearfully as the rain around them continued to fall.

*Deploy theme song here*

The rain quickly picked up its pace, the wind hollowing across all of Ponyville. As the storm increased, Applejack ducked beneath the picnic table trying her best to keep dry.

“Heh,” She chuckled. “Nice and dry under here, sorta.”

It was then she soon noticed her hooves, completely covered in thick mud. As for Rarity, she preferred to stay out in the open attempting to find a better, or at least cleaner, shelter. But for the time being, Rarity had to settle for having Storm Shield, being a gentlecolt and all, conjuring a shield just big enough for the two ponies.

“Oh! Unacceptable!” Rarity muttered.

“Have a heart, Mrs. Rarity!” Storm moaned. “How else am I supposed to keep you from getting a cold?”

“I’m not talking about you, Storm! I appreciate your help; I truly do. But Applejack… ooh! She really gets on my nerves!”

“And what, pray tell, did she even do to make you so mad?”

“Well…”

“Storm! Applejack! Rarity!”

It was then they heard a faint call in a distance. As the ponies, even Applejack, turned to look it was then the voice started to grow louder.

“Storm! Applejack! Rarity!”

Before their very eyes, they spotted their friend Twilight Sparkle calling out to them. She stood just outside her home, in the library, her door completely open.

“Twilight?” They called out.

“Come inside every pony, quick!” Twilight beckoned.

“Don’t have to tell me twice!” Storm sighed in relief.

Applejack and Rarity wasted no time heading towards the library, with Storm Shield following close behind. While Rarity and Storm Shield wasted no time rushing inside, the moment Applejack came to a stop just outside the door.

“Whoa, nelly!” Applejack spoke in concern. “Is inside a tree really the best place to be in a lightning storm?”

“It is if you have a magical lightning rod protecting your home like Storm and I do,” Twilight said proudly.

“Had it set up myself,” Storm added. “Nearly broke my neck on a ‘loose branch’ getting it up there.”

“I’m going to ignore that comment,” Rarity whispered, smiling at Twilight. “We are most grateful for your invitation.”

“Thank ya kindly for yer hospitality,” Applejack said.

But just as Applejack made her way inside, Rarity held a fore-hoof stopping her from going past the welcome mat.

“Uh, do be a polite house guest and go wash up please, won’t you?” Rarity said plainly.

Applejack looked toward her hooves, remembering they were coated with mud. She even acknowledged all the hoof prints she made while walking inside. Of course, while it would be considered rude to walk about some pony’s home with muddy hooves, the way Rarity told her to wash up clearly rubbed the orange pony the wrong way.

“If I gotta spend one more second with that fuss bucket Rarity today,” Applejack grumbled. “I can’t be held responsible for what I’m gonna do.”

Storm Shield had just placed his hat on the rack and was about to slip out of his coat, when he saw Applejack walk back outside to wash her hooves. He could tell by the look on her face she was beyond frustrated; in fact, he could see she was furious. He reached for his hat and placed it back over his mane.

“I’m just going to make sure Applejack is all right,” Storm told the girls.

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity looked on as Storm worked his way outside to help Applejack.

“Some storm, huh?” Twilight asked cheerfully.

“Oh yes, it is like him to be a gentlecolt for some pony,” Rarity nodded, with a frown.

“Oh no, I meant the ‘weather’. The Pegasus ponies sure have outdone themselves this time. I hope you and Applejack don’t have any trouble getting home.”

“It may indeed be a problem,” Rarity said, noting the heavy downpour.

“Well, you’re welcome to stay if need be,” Twilight offered. “Spike is away in Canterlot on royal business. Storm went along to make sure he gets there safely. I thought he’d be in Canterlot to visit his parents and his sister, but for some reason he decided to come back. Guess he was worried about me being home alone.”

“If I may ask, what are his parents like?” Rarity wondered, curiously.

“Well, I’ve actually only met them on a few occasions because Storm usually hung out at my house mostly. From what I remember though, they’re both really amazing ponies. I don’t remember ever meeting his sister Rose Gold, but he did tell me she enjoys a good party…”

Suddenly, Twilight gasped excitedly as if she’d been struck with inspiration of her own.

“You and Applejack should totally sleep over! We’ll have a slumber party! I’ve always wanted one of those. And since Storm's here, maybe we should include him too!”

Naturally, Rarity had nothing against the idea of a slumber party with Twilight, being they’re the ‘best of friends’. But two certain ponies almost made the idea sound… a little less appealing.

“Oh! Uh, goodness,” Rarity replied, with a nervous chuckle. “Uh, I do believe I have another engagement scheduled for this evening that completely slipped my mind until just now. Ah silly me, I can’t possibly stay here all night – with Applejack.”

Rarity looked out the window, as while Storm Shield used Twilight’s garden hose to wash Applejack’s hooves off… only to end up having trouble getting the water to flow and accidentally spraying her face in the struggle to get the hose to cooperate.

<>

“Blah! Blech!” Applejack sputtered, clearing her throat. “Y’all did that on purpose!”

“Sorry Applejack!” Storm Shield apologized. “Sheesh, gimme a break. I haven’t perfected the art of hose-spraying with magic.”

“I get it’s Twilight’s house and all, but Rarity goes actin’ up as if it’s her own place. Urgh… sometimes she just burns me up!”

“And what did Rarity even ‘do’ to make you so mad?”

“You want the short or long version?”

<>

Meanwhile, Rarity’s insistence on not taking part in a sleepover fell on deaf ears. Having not listened to a single word her friend said, Twilight searched the shelves and presented Rarity with a single book.

“Slumber 101: All you’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid To Ask,” Rarity read aloud.

“My own personal copy,” Twilight said excitedly. “It’s a fantastic reference guide. You should see the table of contents. I’ve been waiting for a chance to use it, and today is the day! This is gonna be so great.”

Rarity could only give a sheepish smile, for all the excitement Twilight displayed (If the excitable hoof clapping didn’t give it away). Every now and then, Rarity glanced toward Applejack outside.

“Yes, uh, great,” Rarity nervously laughed.

<>

It wasn’t much longer before Applejack and Storm Shield arrived inside. Applejack’s hooves were still wet, but at least now they were sparkly clean. She felt pleased with herself, till what she saw before her made her gasp. Storm looked toward where Applejack was gawking and shared the same expression. Rarity and Twilight, sitting upon some pillows, brushing some form of mint-green goop on each other’s faces.

“What did we just walk into?” Storm asked rhetorically.

“Now wait just a goll-darn minute. Ya make me wash the mud off my hooves, but it’s okay for y’all to have mud all over yer faces?”

“Silly!” Rarity retorted snootily. “This is called a mud mask. It’s to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion.”

“We’re giving each other makeovers! Eee-hee!” Twilight squealed with delight. “We have to do it. It says so in this books.”

“Book?” Storm questioned.

Twilight used her magic to bring the book towards Applejack and Storm, the two reading the cover at the same time.

“Slumber 101: Everything You…”

All of a sudden, Applejack felt pale. Like Rarity, she had nothing against slumber parties nor having one with Twilight of all ponies. It was more over being ‘a slumber party… with Rarity’. As for Storm Shield, while he always imagined a chance he could have with Twilight Sparkle to himself… this was clearly out of his comfort zone. For one, a slumber party is the most feminine ordeal he heard of, especially the idea of a facial, and not to mention its with the ‘other girls’. Whether they knew it or not, their minds were screaming to make a run for it.

“Uh—well—um—you see—I don’t really know if I should because that’s really more of a girls thing,” He stammered nervously.

As for Applejack, being the element of honesty, finding her own excuse to leave proved extremely difficult.

“"Oh hey, heh, would'ja look at the time. I gotta skiddadle on home quick. I’m powerful late, for, uh, fer somethin’.”

“I’ll escort you on the way to the station… good-night, every pony!”

Applejack and Storm Shield made a quick dash for the door when…

*KA-BOOM!*

“EEEEEK!!!!”

A girlish scream cried out, as the two ponies zipped right back in their spot in the room. Of course, Applejack carried Storm Shield, his mane straight up and his face widen making him resembled a scared cat. His eyes darting about, Storm quickly leapt off Applejack, who turned away awkwardly, and quickly removed his rain gear tossing it over the side.

“On second thought… my family didn’t even know I was coming anyway,” Storm sighed.

“Maybe we’ll sit here for a spell,” Applejack conceded reluctantly.

All of a sudden, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle threw a huge glop of cosmetic mud right in their faces. The mud splashed all over their faces, as Rarity spread the goop about.

“Hooray slumber party!” Twilight cheered joyfully.

“Hmm…” Storm muttered, squinting his face. “Least one of us is enjoying this…”

Later, Rarity set two cucumber slices over Applejack’s eyes shortly after giving a pair to Storm.

“Blech!” Applejack spluttered. “What in the world is this for?”

“To reduce the puffiness around one’s eyes, of course,” Rarity said, with a sigh.

“Wait seriously?” Storm asked, raising a cucumber. “Huh… I thought these were just for presentation.”

“Puffiness-schmuffiness!” Applejack huffed.

She proceeded to collect both cucumber slices with her tongue, consuming them.

“That’s good eatin’!”

Rarity just glared, as Applejack chewed loudly. She slowly turned towards Storm Shield, who quickly put the cucumber back in place.

“Uh… I’m good! Not really that hungry.”

“Hee-hee! Isn’t this exciting?” Twilight continued, oblivious to the tension. “We’ll do everything by the book, and that will make my slumber party officially fun.”

“Did you hear that you two?” Rarity asked innocently. “You certainly would not want to do anything that would ruin Twilight’s very first slumber party, would you?”

Clearly, Rarity was trying to make Applejack and Storm Shield feel guilty. But these ponies were having none of it, especially Storm.

“Hey, leave me out of this!” Storm waved off. “I want Twilight to have the best party of her life, as much as the next pony. I mean I admit I thought this was more Pinkie’s thing… but no pony is going to ruin anything, right A.J.?”

Even if she didn’t have to answer, Applejack was not afraid to stoop to Rarity’s level.

“Of course not, ‘n you wouldn’t either, I reckon?” Applejack shot back.

“So do we have an agreement?” Rarity asked Applejack, plainly.

“You betcha,” Applejack said.

She spat into her hoof, then held it out for a hoofshake. Strom cringed a bit, even though he knew such a motion was the norm for her family. Rarity, on the other hoof, was utterly disgusted.

“Oh! Gross!” Rarity replied. “You know, there’s messy and there’s just plain rude!”

Storm Shield could tell from her face Applejack took great offense.

“Uh oh…”

“You know, there’s fussy, ‘n there’s just plain getting’ on my nerves!” Applejack answered irritably.

“Fortunately, I can get along with anypony,” Rarity said indignantly. “No matter how difficult she may be.”

“Oh yeah?” Applejack glared. “Well, I’m the ‘get-alonin-est’ pony you’re ever gonna meet.”

“That’s not even a word,” Rarity pointed out.

“Rarity does have a point,” Storm spoke up. “It’s even marked as a…”

Applejack and Rarity just glared at Storm Shield, causing him to chuckle and back away.

“Uh… like I said, I’m staying out of this one…”

But Storm Shield didn’t get very far, when Twilight Sparkle appeared above them and pulled the ponies together in one group hug.

“This is going to be the bestest slumber party ever! Yay!” Twilight said excitedly.

The poor unicorn was so excited for her first slumber party, she couldn’t see the growing tension between her two best friends… and ‘one’ best friend stuck in the middle. By the tone of their impressions, there was no enthusiasm at all for this party.

“Yay…” Storm and the girls said, in unison.

<>

As the wind and rain howled long into the night, the three girls continued with their makeover session. All three girls had put rollers into their manes and tails. While Twilight was enjoying it, Applejack was hunched low to the ground feeling miserable. As for Storm Shield, having gotten the mud and cucumbers off his face, he stared at his reflection in the mirror and surprisingly looked very impressed.

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of this in the first place,” Storm replied, brushing his face. “Whatever’s in that stuff, it’s made all my pores vanish.”

“Now that wasn’t so bad, was it not?” Rarity asked smugly. “And how are you getting along there, Applejack?”

“Just fine, Rarity,” Applejack answered, not hiding her irritation.

“This is so awesome!” Twilight giggled, reviewing her own personal checklist. “Makeovers, check.”

She took her slumber book and read the next page.

“Ooh, it says here we have to tell ghost stories. Who wants to go first?”

Twilight used her magic to remove all the curlers from the girls’ manes and tails, much to Applejack’s relief.

“Me!” Applejack volunteered. “I’d like to tell y’all the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost who drove every pony crazy with her unnecessary neatness. Oo-oo!”

Applejack moved her fore-hooves in front of her to emphasize the spookiness. Rarity just glared, knowing Applejack was referencing her.

“I’m sure y’all are familiar with that one?” Applejack questioned.

“What’s the terrifying part?” Storm asked.

“Never heard of it,” Rarity replied quickly. “But I have a much better one. It’s the horrifying story of the messy, inconsiderate ghost who irritated everypony within a hundred miles! Oo-oo!”

Now it was Rarity’s turn to wave her fore-hooves about. While Storm Shield shook his head, Applejack just looked irritated.

“That’s not a real story,” Applejack argued. “You made it up.”

“It’s a ghost story,” Rarity said smugly. “They’re allmade up. In fact, how about if Storm were to tell us a story?”

“Really?” Storm asked, uncertain. “I mean I have astory, but I should warn you it’s pretty hardcore.”

“Just git on to tellin’, will ya?” Applejack ushered.

“All right, all right… let me think,” Storm pondered, clearing his throat. “The air was cold… the night skies black over the city. Many of the citizens slept on high alert (Or not at all), the rest rioting the streets due to the horrid events of…”

“Umm, Storm?” Twilight interrupted. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell that story for a sleepover.”

“But I barely even started!” Storm moaned. “Besides, it’s the only scary story I know.”

“And it was very generous of you to offer it. But we just want to give a light scare for our friends, not fill their heads with nightmares.”

“Oh please… like anything else could be scarier than that.”

*KA-BOOM!*

Another clash of thunder was heard, and all the lights went off…

“WAH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!”

A high falsetto scream bellowed in the dark. Twilight suddenly reappeared between the three ponies, Storm hiding between Applejack and Rarity, shaking uncontrollably. The unicorn mare held a green lantern loaded with fireflies inside, its green light making her look very ominous.

“I’ve got one!” She said cheerfully.

Before the others could say a word, all at once Twilight’s tone changed into something spooky, something… sinister.

“This story is called The Legend of the Headless Horse…”

The thunder clashed again, putting Storm, Applejack, and Rarity on edge. The male unicorn did his best to keep a calm face, but he recalled the very nature of this story.

“It was a dark and stormy night, just like this one,” Twilight began. “And four ponies were having a slumber party, just like this one…”

Another lightning flash appeared, displaying the howling rain and the outside of the tree house (Along with a familiar home upon its left). By then, Storm Shield sat frozen while Applejack and Rarity trembled from each side. Twilight was just near the end of her ghost story.

“… And just when the last pony thought she was safe…” Twilight continued in a low voice. “There, standing right behind her, just inches away was – The Headless Horse!”

A gasp escaped from both Applejack’s and Rarity’s lips in complete unison before another thunder clash sent them screaming and Twilight reappeared with a blanket over her head making her look headless. Applejack and Rarity screamed, followed by a third scream from a certain stallion, as the three ponies held each other in terror. Twilight merely smiled, as she rushed back to her book and switched the lights back on.

“Ghost story, check,” Twilight said aloud.

“G-G-G-Gee Rarity, even I didn’t think reckon you’d scream that high,” Applejack chattered.

“That wasn’t even myscream, Applejack,” Rarity replied.

The two mares suddenly felt their bodies shake and the sound of teeth chatter rang their ears. They both turn toward each other, only to see Storm Shield, stuck in between the mares, quivering, and shaking in their grips.

“Storm… you weren’t scared of that story, were you?” Rarity asked.

“S-S-S-S-Scared? W-W-W-Who’s scared?” Storm denied, shakily. “I-I’m not scared… you g-g-girls are scared… I’m as c-c-cool as a cucumber…”

Applejack and Rarity were merely stunned until they realized they were holding each other… specifically holding onto Storm Shield. He turned to both mares with an awkward look on his face, until they roughly pulled away and sent him rolling backward on the floor. Twilight soon reappeared between them.

“Now, who wants s’mores?” Twilight offered.

Suddenly, Storm reappeared beside Twilight.

“You had me at s’mores!”

<>

A short while later, Applejack stood near the fireplace roasting several marshmallows at once. At a nearby table, Rarity showed Twilight how to make the perfect s’more. It is quite apparent Twilight never made one before. Unlike Storm Shield, who was already nibbling on his own s’more as he silently watched the girls.

“Then you place one marshmallow on the top of the chocolate,” Rarity explained. “And be sure it’s centered – that’s critical – and then carefully put another perfectly square graham cracker on the top. Ta-da!”

“Ooh!” Twilight said, clearly impressed. “That’s a marvelous job, Rarity. I just feel bad I didn’t decide to learn this sooner.”

“For the record, I did offer to teach you back during Magic School,” Storm pointed out. “But you turned me down so you could spend the whole weekend studying.”

“… I said I was sorry!” Twilight pouted.

“Ah, don’t worry about it. These s’mores are perfect… almost feel bad about scarfing them, when they ought to be in some food museum.”

While Rarity gave a satisfied laugh at that remark, Applejack was more annoyed over the orderly display of what was supposed to be a camping style snack.

“Nah, ya just eat ‘em,” Applejack stated.

The Earth pony shoved the whole thing in her mouth, munching it loudly and a little sloppily. This made Storm stop eating, barely able to keep his own bites watching the way one of his friends ate. Rarity just looked annoyed until Applejack gave a loud belch.

“You could at least say excuse me,” Rarity sighed.

“Aw, I was just about to, but you interrupted me,” Applejack replied.

She tilted her head towards Rarity, before giving her a smug look.

“Pardon.”

“… Suddenly, I seem to have lost my appetite,” Storm spoke, putting his treat aside.

As for Twilight, she headed over toward her book.

“S’mores, check,” Twilight declared. “Now the next item of fun we have to do is: Truth or Dare.”

“I dare Applejack to do something carefully and neatly for a change,” Rarity proposed.

“Oh yeah?” Applejack challenged. “Well I dare Rarity ta lighten up and stop obsessin’ over every last little detail for a change.”

“I think the truth of the matter is that some pony could stand to pay a little more attention to details,” Rarity retorted, glaring at Applejack.

“And I think the truth is some pony oughta quit with her fussin’ so the rest of us can get things done!” Applejack replied, returning Rarity’s glare.

Twilight and Storm watched these two ponies go at it. They turned toward each other, and Storm could see Twilight grow worried that these two were going to start a fight. Storm quickly jumped in between before hooves were thrown.

“Um girls!” Storm interrupted. “I’m no expert on ‘slumber party’ games, but I don’t think this is how the game’s supposed to work.”

“Storm’s right,” Twilight agreed, flipping through her book. “You have to give an honest answer to any question or do whatever anypony dares you to do.”

“So long as it’s reasonable… and clean,” Storm added.

Applejack and Rarity faced each other when the former got an idea.

“I dare you to step outside and let your precious, tidy mane get ruined again,” Applejack proposed.

Rarity gasped and faced her other friends.

“You have to,” Twilight said. “It’s the rule.”

“But Storm said it has to be clean!” Rarity whined.

“Actually, I was referring to the ‘other’ clean,” Storm shrugged. “This on the other hoof… that’s different.”

“Hah!” Applejack laughed loudly.

“Fine!” Rarity said.

With her nose in the air, she stepped outside. Applejack snickered as she heard Rarity cry outside. By the time Rarity returned, the orange pony and Storm couldn’t help but laugh. There the marshmallow unicorn stood, her curly mane wet and straight. She also shivered since the rainwater was very cold.

“You know Rarity, you should consider keeping that look,” Storm suggested. “Looks better on you.”

“Ha-ha-ha, very funny,” Rarity laughed sarcastically.

She then walked up toward the orange pony with the Stetson hat.

“Okay, I dare Applejack to play dress-up in a frou-frou, glittery, lacy outfit!” Rarity proposed.

Now it was Applejack’s turn to gasp before she grumbled and found a light-blue princess dress, a matching hat, and ribbons to boot. She continued to give an icy glare to Rarity once she had come back. Storm’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Happy?” Applejack asked.

“Very,” Rarity smirked.

“Though I’m not sure if that outfit would work for the Grand Galloping Gala,” Storm pointed out. “But I will admit it’s… different.”

“Um, do I ever get a turn?” Twilight wondered curiously.

“Great idea!” Storm spoke up, picking up his previously discarded s’more. “I’ll let you ask me if you want, I’m an open book. The first thing that ‘pops’ in your head.”

“Well, since you’ve volunteered,” Twilight nodded. “Here’s a ‘truth’ question… why did you really come all the way back from Canterlot when you said you’d be visiting family?”

Storm had just taken a bite when he choked at the mention of the question. He spat out crumbs and bits of chocolate onto the floor, as he tried to clear his throat.

“Uh…” Storm sputtered, nervously. “Well, that is to say… if we’re being honest, I just—”

“I dare ya to enter the next rodeo when it comes to town,” Applejack challenged Rarity, interrupting Storm.

“I dare you not to enter the next rodeo when it comes to town,” Rarity retorted.

Storm turned to the side, as now the two ponies were face-to-face.

“I dare ya not to comb your mane a hundred times!”

“And I dare you to comb yours just once!”

It was during this moment Twilight realized this game wasn’t going as planned.

“Uh, I think we should check off Truth or Dare and move on,” Twilight suggested.

For once, Storm sighed with relief as that meant he didn’t have to answer the question. By now, Applejack was out of the dress, and Rarity’s mane was dry and assumed its curly style. As all three ponies adjusted, Twilight returned to her book.

“Let’s see what our next fun-fun-fun thing is, shall we?” Twilight asked, reading. “Hm, what does this mean? Pillow fight?”

The words pillow… and fight made Storm Shield’s eyes widen.

“Oh no…”

“Oh, please,” Rarity replied, with an eye roll. “I am not at all interested in participating in something so crude.”

A pillow suddenly hit Rarity in the face. That was all she needed to set her manners aside, as a fierce determined glare appeared on her face.

“Oh. It. Is. ON!” Rarity declared, darkly.

She grabbed a pillow with her mouth and threw it at Applejack, who got one right in the face. Applejack bucked three pillows right at Rarity, hitting her in the face one after another. For a brief moment, as Storm tried to stay low from incoming pillows, he swore he saw the 100, 200, and 400 figures rising above her head with each hit.

Rarity narrowed her brow as she sent several pillows at Applejack, who grabbed one of them and sent three pillows at once using a lasso. Rarity glared as she used her magic to freeze the three pillows in motion and held them alongside her before sending them back at high speed. Applejack returned fire. Soon pillows were zipping back and forth between them, while Storm Shield used his magic to levitate one pillow and block any incoming barrage sent toward him. The entire time Twilight looked puzzled until she figured it out.

“Oh, I get it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Pillow, fight! Fun! UGH!”

Storm turned as Twilight was pelted in the head by not just one, but ‘two’ pillows.

“TWILIGHT!” Storm shouted.

*WHAM!*

A pillow knocked Storm straight into a large pillow pile, as Twilight’s head popped out rather woozily.

“Ah, uh, girls?” She said wearily. “Maybe we should take it down a notch?”

“I will if she will!” Applejack called out.

She sent out one pillow and dodged another. Rarity gasped as she barely missed getting hit.

“She started it!” Rarity accused.

Their one-on-one battle continued until Twilight, and an unconscious Storm Shield, were buried in a mountain of pillows. Eventually Twilight rose from the pile, spitting out some leftover feathers from her mouth. She searched through the pillows until her eyes caught what she searched for and she gasped.

“Storm!”

Twilight dug through the pillows, pulling out the unconscious Storm Shield, who could see figures of Applejack and Rarity running around his head arguing.

“Storm? Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

“No Rose Gold, I’ll wear the purple shoes,” Storm answered dizzily. “Who painted the kitten?”

A sigh escaped her lips, as Twilight turned back toward her two friends.

“Maybe we should just call it a night and get some sleep?” Twilight proposed.

“Waayahead of you ma…” Storm spoke, before fainting.

While there wasn’t an answer between Applejack and Rarity, the two girls soon complied… bitterly.

<>

Within a few minutes, Twilight was just getting ready to sleep in her own bed. Across from her was the second bed set for both Rarity and Applejack since Twilight only had the one extra. When it seemed the two had finally settled down, Twilight turned toward the floor as Storm Shield laid upon a mound of pillows trying to get comfy.

“Sorry to ask you to sleep on the floor tonight,” Twilight apologized quietly. “I thought it be more polite if my friends had the spare bed for the night.”

“Ah, no need to sweat about it, Twi,” Storm brushed off. “This is comfortable enough, least for tonight anyway. Boy… what a night…”

Twilight nodded her head, not just agreeing over how the storm was still going on outside, but everything else in between. It is silent between the two unicorns, except for the one sigh that slipped from Twilight’s mouth. She turned back toward Storm Shield, who acknowledged her attention.

“You never did answer my question from earlier,” Twilight brought up.

“I don’t think that matters anymore,” Storm replied. “The game was getting out of hoof anyway.”

“But it does matter, Storm. I want to know. Whydid you decide to skip Canterlot and come all the way here?”

Storm laid silently on the bed of pillows, as if thinking how to answer. Realizing Twilight would not let up, he released a sigh of his own before answering.

“Spike and I only just stepped off the train when we finally got to Canterlot,” Storm explained. “From there, I was on my way to surprise my family when I noticed the huge storm clouds making their way to town. For some odd reason, I felt something draw me back to Ponyville even as I made sure Spike got to the castle safely. And seeing as how it was Spike who was invited for ‘royal business’ and not me, he insisted I’d go and make sure things were okay.”

“Hmm… Spike’s heart is in the right place,” Twilight nodded.

“I would’ve been to town sooner, but the train got stalled on the tracks. I tried a teleportation spell to get back… it didn’t go well for me. Then I only had enough time to grab some gear and try to clear as much branches as I could before the storm, and… well you know the rest.”

“Can I be honest?” Twilight asked.

Storm silently nodded.

“I’m sorry you had to cancel your trip just to come back,” Twilight apologized. “I guess I was worried you came for nothing.”

Storm smiled, once more shrugging it off.

“Don’t worry about it Twi. I’ll just write a letter to my parents tomorrow and explain everything.”

“I’m sure they’d like that,” Twilight replied. “Anyways, seeing as how you’re here now, I’m glad you could join us for our slumber party.”

“Yeah I’ll admit, this was… fun in a way,” Storm admitted. “Then again, you should’ve been there for my sister’s slumber parties. Not as crazy as this one, but they are still fun.”

“Yes… Rose Gold…” Twilight pondered. “You know? In all the years we’ve known each other, you never once brought up your sister. What is she like?”

“Heh… what isn’t she like?” Storm replied. “Rose Gold is the most wonderful sister a brother can ever ask for. A little quiet and contemplative, but you’ll never meet a more artistic pony like her. I’ll never forget the first slumber party she ever threw.”

“Oh… and how was it?”

“Well… Rose Gold was just starting magic kindergarten and she was so excited to make a good first impression. So the first week of school, she puts together this bundle of invitations for her entire class to come over for a sleepover… and I mean every pony. She slaved over those pieces of paper and all the stuff she put together, making sure every single pony in that room was invited to come.”

“Wow…” Twilight sighed.

“… And no pony showed up,” Storm finished, sadly.

Twilight’s expression of awe immediately drooped with shock and sympathy, hearing of the story taking a downward turn very quickly.

“That’s awful!” Twilight said, in shock.

“Yeah… it’s no secret between us that Canterlot ponies are notoriously snooty. They didn’t even bother to give reason why they couldn’t come, not even a letter in response to the invites. My sister was so disappointed, so upset, that she locked herself in her own room and refused to come out. I felt dreadful seeing her so unhappy.”

Twilight looked sadly toward Storm, as he looked down on the floor. Visions of his sister crying over the scattered invitations, plenty of which she worked so hard on, all for nothing. Slowly, Storm lifts his head up toward the window as he watched the rain hit the window.

“I couldn’t bear to see all her efforts go to waste,” Storm continued. “So, the night she was supposed to have the party, I decided to invite myself… and we ended up having so much fun together. Not like I really had plans of my own or a group of friends to hang with anyway. All that mattered to me is to see that smile on Rose’s face, that’s my favorite part about her. I’d do anything to make some pony happy, that’s why I felt it’s important that a first slumber party for any pony is perfect… or at least, close enough. I’d have asked if you’d come that night, but I thought you’d be too deep in your studies to join."

“I was too deep in my studies,” Twilight admitted, regretfully. “I really missed out on so much. I would love to meet your sister one day.”

“Well… maybe next time I leave for Canterlot, we can go together,” Storm offered. “Just the two of us. Not for too long of course, but at least for ‘one’ weekend.”

“What about Spike?”

“Sure! He’s always welcome to come along. And next time, he can come to another sleepover… even if it is a bit girly!”

Twilight giggled, as she hoof-bumped Storm Shield along his shoulder playfully. Storm rubbed his shoulder, yet still smiled at his best friend.

“Could you imagine if any of our other friends were here right now?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, how can I not?” Storm chuckled, imagining. “Pinkie Pie would turn this into an all-out party. We’d have to hold down Rainbow Dash just to get her to do a makeover. And Fluttershy… well, I don’t really think parties are her thing. But just to be around friends she can trust, I think she’d at least be… content.”

“Well… maybe someday,” Twilight replied, yawning. “We better get some sleep and see what happens tomorrow. Good night, Storm.”

Storm Shield watched as Twilight Sparkle rolled her herself under the sheets, lying her head upon the pillow. A smile spread across his face as he admired Twilight’s sleeping figure from the floor.

“Good night… Twilight,” Storm said softly.

Before long, Storm’s eyes couldn’t stay awake as he drifted off to sleep while all was silent inside the tree house.

<>

Unfortunately, for either unicorn, ‘silence’ was not going to be golden on this night. As Applejack and Rarity lied on the spare bed, neither girl was even willing to share it quietly.

“Keep your muddy hooves on your side of the bed,” Rarity warned, from her end.

“My hooves ain’t muddy,” Applejack argued indignantly.

“They were!” Rarity retorted. “There might still be a little on them.”

“They ain’t! See?”

Applejack turned to face Rarity, shoving a fore-hoof right in her face.

“Eww!” Rarity groaned.

The fashionista leaned away from it, turning away so angrily that she claimed the entire blanket for herself.

“Now who’s bein’ inconsiderate?” Applejack shot back.

Applejack took the entire blanket and wrapped herself into it like a burrito. Rarity groaned as she got out of the bed, pulling the blanket off of Applejack.

“I have to make the bed again so the blanket will be right,” Rarity told her. “Get up!”

“Hey!” Applejack grumbled.

The cowgirl pony forced herself up, as Rarity carefully set the blanket properly on the bed. Applejack just glared, as she went to get back in.

“Ah, ah, ah!” Rarity stopped her. “You’ll ruin it. You have to do it like this.”

Rarity climbed in from the top of her pillow.

“Mm, uh, ooh, u-u-u-uh, uh, ah…" Rarity murmured.

Applejack just stared with a bored expression, as she watched Rarity snaked her way down into the blanket and snuggled into it till she could close her eyes to sleep.

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen,” Applejack replied. “Geronimo!”

Applejack jumped high into the air and body slammed into the bed. The force sent Rarity flying out, as Applejack took the entire blanket to herself. A groan lets out, not just from Rarity but a certain stallion trying to sleep. Slowly, he raised his head watching the two mares arguing… again.

“Hey!” Rarity called out.

“Ah,” Applejack sighed, relaxing.

“You did that on purpose,” Rarity accused.

“Um, yeah?” Applejack admitted shamelessly.

“Get up so I can fix it again!” Rarity ordered.

“Can’t hear ya, I’m asleep,” Applejack replied.

The farm pony tried to feign snoring, as Rarity tried to get Applejack to move. It reached to a point that Rarity pulled the blanket right off the orange pony.

“I ain’t budgin’,” Applejack retorted stubbornly.

“You will if you want any blankets,” Rarity replied.

“Give it back!” Applejack demanded angrily.

“I will not!” Rarity muffled, her mouth on the blanket.

“Yes you will!” Applejack said.

She grabbed the other end of the pillow with her mouth, as a game of tug of war commenced between the two ponies. Storm’s eye twitched, as his face scrunched to a frown as he tried to stop himself from blowing up.

“Won’t!”

“Will!”

“Won’t!”

“Will!”

“Won’t!”

“Will!”

Storm Shield took a very deep breath, as if he were about to say something.

“ENOUGH!!!”

All three ponies quickly turned toward Twilight Sparkle. Apparently, she hadn’t been clueless to their arguing and was now very upset as she showed them the slumber book.

“It says right here that the number one thing you’re supposed to do at a slumber party is have fun and thanks to you two I can’t check that off!”

“You knew the whole time?” Storm asked surprised.

“Of course I knew, Storm!” Twilight cried out. “I tried my best to bring us closer together, but they don’t know when to stop!”

The two girls stared at the unicorns before glaring at each other.

“I’ve been tryin’ my darndest to get along!” Applejack retorted.

“No, it is I who have been trying my best!” Rarity argued angrily.

"No, it was me!"

"No, it was I!"

"Me!"

"I!"

“SHUUUUUUT UUUUUUUUPPPP!!!” Storm screamed.

Applejack and Rarity instantly stopped arguing and turned towards Storm Shield. His mane flared wildly, his eyes lit like a burning blaze, and he snorted heavily like a raging bull. Never before had the girls seen their friend this angry before until tonight.

“I hope you two are happy!” Storm continued, furiously. “You’ve ruined my best friend’s very first slumber party! The makeover, the s’mores, Truth or Dare, the pillow fight… if I knew you two were just going to argue the whole time, I’d have just stayed in Canterlot right now!”

While the rage within burned inside, he turned towards Applejack.

“You could stand to be a little more sensitive instead of taking things so personally!” Storm yelled, before facing Rarity. “And YOU are so obsessed with sweating over the small stuff, you blind yourself from the BIG picture staring you in the face!”

“Is there anything else that could possibly go wrong?” Twilight asked.

It was then that a large bolt of lightning struck a nearby tall, yet skinny tree. The bolt damaged the tree just near the top end, the very sight frightened Twilight Sparkle. The unicorn mare hid her nose into her pillow.

“Sorry I asked,” She said meekly.

The three girls and Storm Shield turned their heads toward the tree. They all gasped as they saw the burnt top of the tree leaning dangerously forward. Any moment from now, it could tumble onto the top of a house along the right side of Twilight’s home.

“What will we do? What’ll we do?” Storm asked frantically. “What are we going to do?!”

“Ya see?!” Applejack called out. “That’s why we needed to take down all those loose branches in town, not spiffy them up!”

Rarity looked rather stunned, not only for the scolding she received but the fact she may put somepony in severe jeopardy.

“But I—”

“Outta my way, missy!” Applejack cut Rarity off. “Time’s a-wastin’.”

Applejack opened the window and used her lasso to grab the top part of the tree, keeping it from falling onto the roof of the other house. Storm had just put on his raincoat and hat, when he saw what Applejack was about to do.

“Wait! Stop! Don’t!” Rarity shouted.

“A.J., do not pull the—” Storm warned.

“No waitin’! No stoppin’! Doin!” Applejack spoke, with the rope in her mouth.

She pulled the rope hard, forcing the tree to fall the other way.

“And that my friends is what we call ‘getting’ er done’.”

But all Storm, Rarity, and Twilight could do was cry out when…

*CRASH!*

The top of the tree flew through the window into the bedroom, knocking Storm Shield backward and sent crashing into a mountain of pillows. Applejack dangled along the rope leading downstairs to the library as she watched Storm’s hat float toward the pillows and land on the pile. The heavy rain and intense wind came rushing inside Twilight’s bedroom.

“I tried to tell you it would come crashing down in here!” Rarity cried out, towards Applejack.

“Well, ya shoulda tried harder!” Applejack protested.

But the orange pony sighed with guilt when she saw Twilight poke out of the tree branches. The moment she saw Storm’s tail sticking out through the pillows, still and limp, she stared in horror.

“Storm!” Twilight gasped.

“I’m mighty sorry, Twilight,” Applejack spoke regretfully.

Twilight tried to stay calm. But it’s plain to see she could no longer hide the fact over how upset she was.

“It’s… well, it’s not okay!” Twilight said. “There’s a giant tree branch in the middle of my bedroom, Storm could have a concussion, and the book doesn’t say anything about having a giant tree branch at your slumber party. Or at least I haven’t found that entry yet, ooh… ah!”

In her panic, Twilight began shuffling through her book. Applejack looked around and soon saw Rarity cleaning some items which fell off the bookshelf due to the sudden tree branch. The rain and the winds started to pick up with each passing minute.

“What in tarnation are y’all doing over there?” Applejack asked loudly.

“Cleaning up this mess some pony made,” Rarity answered. “Who was that again? Oh right, that’s you!”

Rarity continued to clean, as Applejack looked at her indignantly. She tried to buck the main tree branch out of the bedroom, but she couldn’t budge an inch out of it.

“We gotta do somethin’!” Applejack shouted over the winds.

“Baking… BFFs… Brothers…” Twilight read aloud. “There’s nothing in here about branches!”

Applejack saw she was being ignored, as Twilight desperately scrolled through her slumber book for answers. With Twilight preoccupied and Storm Shield out cold, she headed back toward Rarity.

“Rarity for pony’s sake!” Applejack grunted. “Stop sweatin’ the small stuff and help me get rid of this thing!”

Applejack’s rants fell on deaf ears, as Rarity continued to clean up the bookshelf.

“I said hussle over here and help me!”

But no matter how loud Applejack shouted, she was ignored again. She could feel the frustration build up inside her, but she knew what she had to do.

“Look, I’m sorry all right?” Applejack spoke softly.

Rarity stopped, as the look on her face showed she had been so focused that she hadn’t heard the orange pony till that point. It’s as if she hadn’t been tuning Applejack out on purpose at all.

“What was that?” Rarity said.

“I said I’m sorry!” Applejack repeated. “I shoulda listened to you when you said where this here branch would end up. Yer annoyin’ attention to detail would’a saved us from this whole mess. But right now, Storm was right! Ya need to stop being so dang fussy, pickin’ up all the little things, and help me move the one big thing in here that really matters! Please!”

Rarity stared at the large tree branch nervously.

“Uh… uh, but I’ll get all icky!” Rarity protested feebly.

“Cosarnit! What the…”

Applejack was about to snap, but quickly corrected herself.

“… Eh… you… I mean, yes, ickiness is often the side effect of hard work. But y’all need to get over it, on account I just can’t fix this mess I made myself. I need your help.”

Rarity, though hesitant, shifted her face to a look of determination. As if it suddenly dawned on her over what was more important for them now.

“Oh. Let’s do this!” Rarity declared.

As the two discussed a new plan, Twilight was still shuffling through her slumber book.

“Well, they do have a section about backyard slumber parties,” Twilight pointed out. “Is that what we’re doing right now? Does this count as camping?”

But Twilight received no answer. Rarity made her horn glow, while Applejack began to move the branch with all her might. With a huge flash, the branch was broken down into several smaller branches… many of which had cute mini sculptures on them. The rest of the branches had magically been removed minus a single piece of wood. Applejack was about to buck the wood clear across the next town when Rarity gave her a glare. Applejack stopped and instead lifted the branch with her mouth, allowing it to drop easily to the ground before shutting the window tight. Then Rarity looked at herself, her coat covered in leaves and mud.

“U-ugh. Oh, I look awful!” She said sadly.

Fussy or not, Applejack couldn’t stand seeing Rarity so glum. Then the orange pony got an idea. She grabbed some leftover cucumber slices and set them upon Rarity’s eyes.

“Better?” Applejack asked.

Rarity suddenly remembered what she mentioned before, about how mud had cosmetic purposes. Then what her friend did for Rarity… Applejack actually paid attention to that one detail. It was more than enough to make Rarity smile.

“Hmph, thanks,” She said, with a brave smile.

Rarity reached a hoof out to find the orange pony. Applejack shifted so Rarity knew she was there and the two shared a warm, yet messy hug. Despite their little achievement, Twilight was stillshuffling through her book when she saw some of the leftover mini sculptures.

“Oh, pretty!” Twilight said. “Where did these come from? They were not in the book either…”

“Uh….”

Twilight’s search through the book was interrupted by a deep groan. She rushed downstairs with Rarity and Applejack not too far behind. They stopped by the pillow mound, as a figure rose up. A figure with a pillow sheet over his head, the black fedora on top, and garbed in a navy green trench coat. The lightning flashed behind him, giving him a menacing look.

“IT’S THE MONSTER FROM STORM’S STORY!!!” Twilight shouted.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" They all screamed.

The figure clutched his head with another groan before he struggled against the pillow sheet and pulled it off. Shaking the dizziness away, it is revealed to be a disheveled Storm Shield. His mane was all over the place, his muzzle covered with leaves and a few loose branches, hiding the bruise from the crash.

“Calm down, every pony,” Storm groaned. “It’s only me!”

“Storm!” The three girls exclaimed.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Twilight sighed in relief.

“Yeah… though I think I’ve come down with a splitting headache,” Storm moaned, looking around. “I can see you two finally decided to work together.”

“Well, you were right about our petty argument darling,” Rarity said. “Aside from a little mud, once we started working together we performed just fine.”

“Just fine sugarcube,” Applejack added in agreement.

Storm smiled in satisfaction, seeing the two having made up after one crazy evening. The brief silence between the friends ended quickly when Twilight had an idea.

“You know girls?” Twilight spoke. “Our slumber party is not officially over until we’ve had some ‘fun’. What would you say if I know a way where we can have ‘all’ the fun we want?”

The three marks looked at each other and smiled mischievously. They all turned toward Storm, who looked like a lone deer before a pack of hungry lionesses about to pounce. They slowly approached the frightened stallion, as he slowly backed as far as he could into the wall.

“Ahh, come on now guys!” Storm said nervously. “I only just woke up. You really aren’t going to make me do this are you?”

<>

“I can’t believe you made me do this!” Storm growled.

Storm soon found himself in the midst of a very embarrassing situation. Not only had the girls put rollers in his mane and tail, but they also tied ribbons on his hooves (With one at the end of his tail). And to top it all off, they put far too much make up all over his face. To say Storm was not happy at all was an understatement. Still, he sat between Rarity and Applejack (The two having quickly cleaned up) with a long face, as they just laughed in the middle of their game of twenty questions with Twilight.

“Is it bigger than a barn?” Applejack asked.

“Nope,” Twilight laughed.

“It is smaller than a saddle?” Rarity guessed next.

“No!” Twilight laughed again. “Only three of your twenty questions left!”

“We’re never gonna guess what you’re thinkin’ of!” Applejack sighed. “It could be anythin’.”

“I’m sure you criminal masterminds will figure it out,” Storm grumbled.

“Well you do look absolutely stunning, darling,” Rarity pointed out.

Applejack and Twilight snickered as Storm slowly turned toward Rarity.

“Thanks,” Storm spoke, in a deadpan tone.

“Are we getting warmer?” Rarity asked.

“Why? Is it too cold in here for you?” Twilight asked worriedly. “I can turn up the heat.”

“She means are we getting’ any closer with our guesses?” Applejack asked.

“Duh!” Storm shook his head.

Twilight glared toward Storm over that remark.

“You know we’ve got a pink princess dress we could put on you,” Twilight warned.

Storm’s eyes shrunk even smaller than they already had, as the girls gave him sly smirks again.

“Anyways, no,” Twilight said. “And that technically counted as a question, so only two more left!”

Applejack and Rarity exchanged puzzled looks before facing Twilight once more.

“Is it… a six-legged pony with a purple polka-dotted mane and shootin’ stars coming out of his eyes?” Applejack guessed.

“Who flies through the air all over the world to hide magic, sparkly eggs?” Rarity added.

Both girls looked at Twilight with hopeful eyes, while Storm stared at his friends with a look that said ‘What?’.

“That’s it!” Twilight said.

“It is?!” Applejack and Rarity said at once.

“It is?” Storm added.

“No,” Twilight said simply. “It’s that.”

Twilight pointed behind them showing that what she was thinking is her telescope.

“But it was just so nice to see you two finally getting along, I wanted you to be able to win together.”

Applejack and Rarity just looked at each other before they laughed.

“See?” Twilight continued. “We could have been having fun like this all along.”

“If only some pony hadn’t been so persnickety,” Applejack pointed out with a smirk.

“Well, maybe she would have been if some pony else hadn’t been so sloppy,” Rarity retorted with her own smirk.

“Sorry for being such a pain in the patootie,” Applejack said sincerely.

“Oh no,” Rarity protested. “I’m sure I was much worse.”

“That’s kind of ya to say. But I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“Oh, I’m much more sorry than you are.”

"Ugh. Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

The two ponies glared before they broke out laughing, no longer caring about who was right anymore. Storm chuckled to himself, as he shook his head.

“I guess some ponies never grow out of these silly fights,” Storm thought. “Who am I to judge? Twilight and I have had our share of them over the years…”

His thoughts were interrupted the moment Twilight got between them and gave them a hug.

“I declare my first slumber party a success!” Twilight said.

Storm, Applejack, and Rarity high-hoofed each other and cheered.

“Have fun, check,” Twilight said, marking it off her list.

“It was even better with our ‘hostage’,” Rarity added.

The girls laughed as they surrounded Storm in a group hug, the latter groaning loudly.

“Thank you Storm!” They cooed happily.

“You’re… welcome girls…” He said in defeat.

And yet, a small smile appeared on his face. Even though he imagined having lost a bit of his pride and a shred of dignity, just to see his friends happy made it worthwhile. True, there are moments of this night he wished to forget EVERhappening… turned out this sleepover may be one night with the girls he will never forget.

Seeing as the girls had him suffer enough, they finally decided to allow him to clean up. Scrubbing away the makeup from his face, removing all the ribbons and rollers, until Storm was back to his regular appearance. With the thunder having stopped, Storm knew he could still make the trip back to Canterlot with more than enough time to see his family.

But in the meantime, as morning drew near and the rain stopped completely, Storm Shield leaned back and watched the three girls enjoying some fun party games with each other. While munching away on a s’more, Storm observed Rarity and Applejack playing a team game where one was blindfolded and the other telling them which way to go to reach the goal. The only obstacle in the way was a fortress wall made out of several books. Rarity was in command while Applejack was blindfolded.

“Now take two steps to your left,” Rarity said. “Uh, no, my left.”

“Whu, which is it? Whoa!”

Applejack crashed into the book fortress, but merely chuckled as she got back up.

“That mess is your fault, not mine.”

“Sorry,” Rarity laughed.

Twilight watched her friends laugh together before continuing with her letter.

Dear Princess Celestia
It’s hard to believe that two ponies who seem to have so little in common could ever get along. But I found out that if you embrace each other’s differences, you just might be surprised to discover a way to be friends after all.

Twilight paused briefly to face Storm Shield, who took another bite of his s’more while watching the girls. For a brief moment, he turned toward Twilight Sparkle and offered a soft gesture to her which she smiled in return.

P.S. I… must admit I was worried that I took Storm hostage during our slumber party when all he did was check up on me because he cared. But in a way, I had a chance to learn from him as he learned from me. So… despite some hiccups… I think you’ll agree that I should share my lesson with him. So… you’ll see both our names on this letter as usual.

Twilight chuckled sheepishly to herself, though she’d probably rewrite that last part later. Just then, she got an idea.

“So, who’s up for another slumber party tomorrow?” Twilight proposed.

While Storm eyed Twilight widely, Applejack and Rarity just exchanged looks before throwing two pillows at Twilight’s face.

“Ugh, how about a week from Thursday?” Twilight suggested. “Oh, how about two weeks from Saturday? A month from now?”

Storm Shield chuckled, while Applejack and Rarity just smiled. Satisfaction formed on Storm’s face knowing Twilight had a successful sleepover with her friends… and a night with Twilight he won’t ever forget. As Storm looked out the window, he witnessed all the grey clouds break apart as the warm morning sun basks over Ponyville once more.