Full Circle

Chapters

The Prodigal
New Friends and Old Troubles
Of Dream and Drama
Shadows From The Past
Rainbows in the Dark
Welcome Home

The Prodigal

The band left the post office and cantered to the inn, with Cacophony leading the way. The band drew many stares from the locals, including a few angry looks towards to the two unicorns. “It would seem we're not exactly welcome here,” Thunderwing commented. “Are all the locals this friendly?”

“I think it's mostly towards me,” Trixie replied. “It seems that some haven't exactly forgiven Trixie for what happened last time she made an appearance in Ponyville.”

“Trix,” Cacophony said, “you're doing it again.”

The mare hung her head low and sighed. “Sorry about that,” she said, “I've been talking like that for years. Pretty hard to break the habit.”

“Don't sweat it, Trix,” her pegasus friend said, “we'll keep you in line.”

The mare smiled and stifled a yawn as she and her band-mates drew closer to the inn. “Wait here,” Cacophony addressed his friends, “I'll see about checking us in.”

“Can I get my own room?” Trixie said.

“What? Don't trust me?” Strings said with a wink.

“Oh please,” Trixie retorted, “I'd just rather not be in the same room with 'sleeping beauty' for a week.”

“Yeah,” Thunderwing said with a smirk. “He snores like a buffalo.”

“And how many buffalo have you taken to bed to reach that conclusion?” Cacophony said.

The pegasus stallion blushed furiously, much to the amusement of his band-mates. “Dear Sweet Celestia,” Strings laughed, wiping his eyes, “Thunders is blushing! Looks like his dirty secret's out!”

“Ha ha, real funny, guys,” Thunderwing muttered. “I'll have you all know that I've never even met any buffalo, let alone dated any.”

“It's okay, buddy,” Cacophony said, “it's nothing to be ashamed of. At any rate, I better hurry.”

With that, the stallion unhitched himself with his magic and galloped into the inn. A short time later, he came back out levitating three keys. “Good news, everypony! I got the last three rooms. As per Trixie's request, she gets Room 102 to herself. Sticks and Strings get Room 103. Me and the Bucklyn Buffalo Lover get 101.

“Now come on, let's eat.”

* * * * *

The five ponies were met at the arch by Applejack and her little sister, Applebloom. “And just what are you doin' here, Trixie?” Applejack growled.

“I'm in the band,” Trixie said evenly, her eyes locked in with the earth pony's, “they hired me a few months after I left Ponyville.

“I thought you and your friends forgave me,” she added.

“Forgiven, but not forgotten, missy,” Applejack said. She then scanned the mare's companions. To the simple farm pony, they looked like ruffians, but she had been impressed by how polite Sticks was, and amused by his shyness. The other earth pony in the band looked very similar to Sticks and also had a similar accent, so similar that she could tell they were family. The main differences was the brother had an ivory-white coat and a dark green mane styled in a spiked cut, and had a guitar with lightning bolts for a cutie mark. The teal pegasus reminded her a little of her friend Rainbow Dash, except for his long green and yellow mane, as well as the myriad rings he had going through his ears, nose, and eyebrows. A thunder-cloud adorned his flank. The other unicorn was a handsome purple stallion with a black mane with streaks of gray that made him look a little older than he really was. A tuft of black hair grew from his chin, and a jagged clef marked his flank. There was something vaguely familiar about this stallion, but she couldn't put her hoof on it. Sticks introduced the rest of the band, then thanked her sincerely for the invitation.

“Well, shoot,” Applejack said, “I reckon I ain't never met a real rock band before. What's yer band called?”

“Alicorn Malign,” Cacophony said.

“That's so cool!” Applebloom said, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. “Maybe I can get my cutie mark in heavy metal!”

“We'll see there, little sis,” the farm mare said with a smirk, rubbing her hoof in the filly's mane.

As the seven ponies walked towards the house, Applejack slowed down until she was next to Cacophony. “Um, beggin' yer pardon,” she said, “but have we met?”

“I don't think so,” he replied. “I left here just as I left school.” He then looked over the attractive, light orange mare. “Wait a sec, are you Mac's kid sister?”

“Sure am!” the farm pony said, puffing her chest out. “You two musta went to school together just as I left for Manehattan tryin' to find myself.”

“Wow, that's where I went after I left school,” he replied. “Didn't come back, though, until today.”

“Well then, welcome home, pardner!” Applejack said, hugging the unicorn.

“Yeah. Thanks,” Cacophony said. He wasn't sure the welcome would be so great when he saw his family again.

Just then, the group was met at the door by a massively built red pony with a shaggy yellow mane, and a yoke draped over his shoulders. “Big Macintosh! It's been ages!” Cacophony said, his eyes wide. “You've gotten huge! Still as talkative as ever?”

“Eeyup,” the stallion said, glaring at him. He then looked at Trixie. “Don't seem too fussy about the company you keep.”

Cacophony looked at Trixie. “Just what did you do, Trix?”

“I'll explain later,” she replied, “I promise.”

“Come on, everypony,” Applejack said, attempting to alleviate the tension, “let's eat.”

“I'll be right with you guys,” Cacophony said. When he and the massive stallion were alone, the unicorn broke the silence. “Out with it, Mac. Last I knew, you and I were friends.”

Big Macintosh got in Cacophony's face, his expression hard. “Just tell me one thing, Cacophony, 'n you better not lie to me.”

“What?”

“Are the rumors about you true?”

“No, Macintosh,” Cacophony said, meeting the burly stallion's eyes, “they're not. You know me better than that.”

The earth pony stallion nodded slowly, then suddenly embraced the unicorn in a crushing hug. “It's good seeing you again, buddy,” he said with a smile.

“It's good seeing you, too” Cacophony rasped. “It's also good to breathe.”

* * * * *

After dinner, the band trotted slowly to the inn. The five ponies were so full, they felt like they were going to burst. The Apple family offered them a place to stay, but none of them wanted to impose on their hospitality. They found Granny Smith's stories amusing, when she remembered them. She was even funnier when she'd forget what she was talking about and ramble off-topic.

The full moon was in clear view by the time the five friends reached the Dewdrop Inn. “Well guys,” Thunderwing said while stretching his wings, “I don't know about you all, but I'm beat. I'm gonna go crash.”

“Yeah, me too,” Sticks said as his brother yawned loudly.

“I've got some things I have to attend to since I'm here,” Cacophony said. “I'll see you all in a bit.”

“Okay, bro,” Thunderwing said. “I'll leave the door unlocked in case I'm crashed out when you get here.”

The unicorn nodded and trotted off.

* * * * *

Rarity was in the show room of Carousel Boutique fussing over her latest creation, a lavish blue ball-gown adorned with sapphires and emeralds. “Hmm,” she said, “maybe some rubies would make this absolutely perfect, don't you think, Opal?”

Her white cat, Opalescence, looked up at the snow colored unicorn with disinterest, growled, and resumed grooming herself. “Oh, I just knew you'd agree,” Rarity gushed, then brought over a chest full of rubies with her magic.

One by one, she meticulously placed several rubies along the edge of the dress. Rarity stepped back and admired her handiwork. “Oh, Rarity,” she said to herself, “you really have outdone yourself with this one!”

With that, she began cleaning up her shop, making sure to place the gown in a place of prominence. She began gaily humming a tune to herself when a knock on her door interrupted her reverie. “Oh, I wonder who that can be... Sweetie Belle! Come get the door!”

The unicorn then remembered that her sister was at their parents' house. She knew that her guest couldn't have been one of her friends, for they would've simply walked in. She had no appointments, especially not at this hour. Her musings were interrupted by another knock, which got a hiss from Opalescence in response. Rarity huffed, and then cantered to the door, turning the knob with her horn's magic. When she saw the pony at her door, she stopped suddenly, her eyes wide. At the door was a purple unicorn stallion with a jagged clef adorning his flank. His black and gray mane was almost as long as hers, and his eyes were the color of the sky on a clear day. He looked at the ground when her gaze met his. “Hiya Rares, it's been a while,” he said.

“Indeed it has, Cacophony,” Rarity said, “and what brings you here?”

“Well, my band and I are on the way to Fillydelphia, and we're gonna be here in Ponyville for a bit, so I thought I'd come and see the family while I was here. Can I come in?”

“For a little bit,” Rarity said evenly, “I really am awfully busy.”

With that, Cacophony stepped inside. He then looked over at the jewel-encrusted ball gown and whistled. “Wow, I can see why your shop is doing so well,” he said sincerely. “Not my taste, personally, but making something like that can't have been easy.”

“Thank you,” Rarity replied. Her voice took on an accusatory tone when she asked, “Just what would be to your tastes, dear Cacophony?”

Cacophony shrugged. “Eh, something a little more simple, more practical, and more durable. Something that can withstand a few nights on stage.”

“You really haven't changed,” Rarity said, an edge creeping into her voice.

“Nor have you,” Cacophony responded coldly, “still fussy and prissy, and still judgmental.”

“So just why did you come here, Cacophony? Surely you didn't come all this way from Manehattan after four years just to waltz into my shop-”

“Look, Rarity,” the stallion interrupted, his voice getting louder. “First of all, we came here from Birminghoof. Secondly, I'm not in Ponyville by choice, nor did I exactly leave by choice, either. Luna knows you weren't exactly sorry to see me go. But I thought after all this time, we could maybe catch up and put the past behind us.

“Appears I was wrong,” Cacophony concluded, his eyes downcast.

“Get out of my boutique,” Rarity growled.

“Fine,” Cacophony said, his voice shaking a little. He turned and trotted to the door, then looked over his shoulder. “It was good seeing you again, Rarity.”

“Out!”

The door nearly hit his flank as it slammed shut. Cacophony looked back and sighed. He really hadn't expected a warm welcome from Rarity after all these years. Still, if this was any indication, he could only imagine the reception he'd get when he came back at his parents' house. It wasn't as if he was very close to his family in the first place. His birth was the result of very happy newlyweds, and certainly wasn't planned. He can only guess that he cried a lot as a foal, hence his name. Surely, his colthood wasn't really that bad. His parents never laid a hoof on him, and they made sure he was well provided for. Still, when his sisters were born, it was clear who the favorites were, and when he left home, it almost seemed like his parents were relieved that he was gone.

“I should've never come back,” he muttered to himself.

“Come back where?” a chipper voice snapped Cacophony out of his funk.

The unicorn turned to face a chubby pink Earth pony with the curliest pink mane he'd ever seen. Her eyes were the same color as his, and her flank bore three balloons. “Why are you being such a Gloomy McGloomerson?” she asked, her voice full of concern. “Did you ask Rarity out and she reject you? I mean, I can see why she might've rejected you. She's got such high standards. Don't get me wrong, I think you're cute and everything. In fact, reeeeally cute. Personally, I think she can be a bit shallow but-”

“What?!” Cacophony said, putting a hoof to the pink pony's mouth. “No!! Even if.... I mean... NO!!”

“Ooooh... I see what you're saying,” the mare said, a knowing glint sparkling in her eye. “Well, don't you worry Mr. McGloomerson. I won't say anything at all until the time is right. I Pinkie Pie Promise!”

The purple unicorn was thoroughly confused. “'Pinkie Pie Promise'? What in Equestria are you talking about?”

“Well, Pinkie Pie's my name, silly! I thought everypony knew that! Oh wait, you've never met me! Anyway, a 'Pinkie Pie Promise' is where I 'cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye'. A Pinkie Pie Promise is binding.... foreeeeverrrrr!!”

Cacophony stood there, his mouth agape. In the few seconds he had known her, Pinkie Pie was perhaps the weirdest pony he had ever met in his entire life. Still, he felt his sour mood slipping a bit; this Earth pony's silliness was certainly infectious, and he couldn't help but admire how genuine she seemed. “Well, I appreciate your willingness to not share my secrets, Pinkie. Even though I really didn't say anything. By the way, my name's Cacophony,” he said.

“Nice to meetcha,” Pinkie said, bumping his extended hoof with hers. “I'm gonna go talk to Rarity now. Technically, it won't be breaking my promise, since she already knows! See ya, hot stuff!” With that, Pinkie hopped over to the boutique.

When the pink pony was gone, Cacophony shook his head, trying to make heads or horseshoes over what had just happened. “What a strange pony,” he said with a smile.

The unicorn then turned and began trotting towards no place in particular. Even with all of its changes, he still knew Ponyville like the back of his hoof. He made a brief visit to Sugar Cube Corner just before it closed for the night, having a bit of small talk with Carrot Cake. Cacophony was pleasantly surprised that Carrot Cake was happy to see him, and was happy to see that Carrot had married his sweetheart and even had two foals of their own. After leaving the pastry shop, the unicorn decided he would check out the library before it closed. He knew that he was just postponing the inevitable confrontation with his parents, but he needed to clear his head before doing it.

The library was exactly where it always was, except the windows were lit and there was clearly activity inside. Using his magic, he opened the door and was greeted with the sight of a pretty lavender unicorn mare poring over several charts and figures, with a baby dragon (!!) attending to her whims. “Um, excuse me?” Cacophony said. “Is the library still open?”

The mare jumped, her scrolls and quill fell suddenly to the floor. “I'm sorry,” the stallion said, “I'll just come back tomorrow.”

“No, no,” the mare said, “it's okay. I was just going over some magical formulae and theories. The library does close in a half hour, but take your time.”

“Thanks. I just need to clear my head for a bit,” Cacophony said. He looked over at the book she was reading and lifted an eyebrow. “Hmm, Star Swirl's theories on dimensional fluxes,” he said, “heavy stuff.”

“You know of Star Swirl the Bearded?!” the mare exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“Well yeah, he was only the most important conjurer of the pre-Classical Era, the father of the Amniomorphic Spell... Iron Mare did an entire fifteen minute epic based off him!”

“Wow!” the mare beamed. “I didn't think I'd meet a stallion who'd know anything about obscure unicorn history! My name's Twilight Sparkle, and yours?”

“Cacophony,” the stallion said, extending a hoof. “I find it interesting, although I'm more into the darker and weirder stuff. You know, The Mare in the Moon, chaos theory, The Diary of King Sombra, that sort of thing. I tried getting my band-mates to believe me about what was going to happen at the Summer Sun Celebration when Nightmare Moon was prophesied to return. You should've heard the ribbing I got when nothing major happened. Although, you could say that the return of Princess Luna was a pretty major thing.”

“Oh, something major did happen. It happened here. I was there.”

“You mean, you saw Nightmare Moon?!” Cacophony said, his blue eyes wide.

“Yes,” Twilight replied, “in fact, it was my friends and I who stopped her and brought Princess Luna back.”

“No... way,” the stallion said, his eyes even wider, “that is so awesome! So wait, you were able to find the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight nodded. “Dude, that's so metal it defies explanation.”

Twilight felt a little awkward hearing the praise from this stranger, and it bothered her more than a little that so few ponies outside of Ponyville knew what had happened that fateful night. Still, it comforted her that, on that night, at least Cacophony would've believed her when nopony else did. In fact, she was impressed by his interest in pre-Classical history, not to mention his knowledge of it. She was also taken in by how handsome this stallion was. His long mane and goatee suggested a bad-colt demeanor, but his blue eyes seemed kind. “So is this your first time in Ponyville?” Twilight asked.

“Nah,” the musician replied, “I'm actually from here. I just haven't been around for a number of years. I've been busy with my band, Alicorn Malign. I'm only gonna be here for a week, though. The tracks passing Everfree heading towards Fillydelphia were wrecked by manticores.”

“Oh, okay,” Twilight said, a tinge of disappointment creeping in her voice. “So you're just here to visit family?”

“Yeah,” Cacophony said, looking at the floor, “you can say that.”

Twilight could tell that Cacophony wasn't really looking forward to seeing his family, or that he already had and the reception wasn't a pleasant one. The idea was absolutely alien to her, since her relationship with her parents and her brother was nothing short of idyllic, and she could see that Applejack's family was very close as well, as large as it was. As far as her other friends' families were concerned, the only ones she knew anything about were Rarity's and Pinkie Pie's. She remembered Pinkie telling her a little about the rock farm she grew up on, and how her parents were very strict, but that's all she could get out of the normally jovial pony. In Rarity's case, she actually seemed embarrassed by her parents, as well as her sister to a lesser extent. Still, she knew that both Rarity and Pinkie loved their families. She couldn't imagine things being so awful at home that Cacophony wouldn't want to come back, even if it were just for a visit. “Is something wrong?” Twilight asked.

The guitarist shook his head. “I'd rather not talk about it,” he said. “I was gonna go see the folks, but I'm too tired. I think I'm going to head back to the hotel.” He looked back up at Twilight. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms Sparkle.”

With that, he turned and left the library. “Wow,” the baby dragon said after a long, awkward pause, “what was his deal?”

“Isn't it obvious, Spike?” Twilight responded. “Obviously, he didn't leave home under pleasant circumstances.” With a stomp of her hoof, she exclaimed, “I'm going to get to the bottom of this!”

With a yawn, Spike said, “I can already see where this is going. Let me know how this turns out so I can send it in a letter to the Princess.”

“You're right, Spike!” Twilight exclaimed. “I'm sure to learn a lesson about friendship through this! I just have to find out who he's related to in Ponyville!”

“I don't know, Twilight,” the dragon said. “I mean, first of all, remember the 'Smartypants Incident'? Secondly, I think that this is something that should stay between him and his folks. Besides, you don't even know the guy.”

The librarian sighed. “You're right, Spike,” she said, frowning. “Maybe this is something I should just stay out of.”

A knock on the door interrupted the pair's conversation. Twilight cantered to the door and opened it with her magic to see the performer formerly known as the Great & Powerful Trixie at her doorstep. Trixie was without her cape and pointed hat, and her white mane was a little more disheveled than Twilight remembered it. The librarian noticed that Trixie's eyes were bloodshot, and darting back and forth. “Twilight,” she cried, “I need your help.”

New Friends and Old Troubles

“What's wrong, Trixie?” Twilight asked, leading the magician-turned-musician into the library. “Can I get you anything?” she asked as Trixie sat at the table.

“Coffee, please,” the powder-blue mare practically begged. “Black, extra-strong.”

“At this time of night?” Twilight inquired with a raised eyebrow. “You'll never get any sleep.”

Trixie started to yawn, then shook her head vigorously. “That's the idea,” she said.

Twilight looked closely at Trixie's face. Her features seemed slightly sunken, with lines starting to appear under her eyes. The lavender unicorn could also see that Trixie had been crying recently. She then turned to her reptilian assistant and said, “Could you please bring Trixie a cup of coffee?”

Spike looked Trixie over and concluded that the blue unicorn was no threat. In truth, he was also taken aback by how ravaged the mare looked, and despite his keen dislike of her, he readily obliged. Within minutes, he returned with a steaming cup of black coffee and handed it to Trixie. “Just as you requested!” he proclaimed, puffing his chest out.

Trixie took a sip of the coffee and immediately began shaking, her eyes squinting shut. An expression of mild disgust crossed her muzzle. “Perfect,” she said with a smile, “thank you.”

“How long have you been like this, Trixie?” Twilight cut to the chase, her voice full of concern.

“Ever since I took off the A-a-alicorn Amulet,” Trixie replied, her voice shaking. “I hear it... calling me. It's even worse when I use magic. I've barely used any magic since then. When I do, I feel hollow... empty. When I sleep, I dream of it engulfing me.

“I'm scared, Twilight Sparkle,” the blue unicorn cried. “Please help me!”

“I will do my best, Trixie. I promise.”

* * * * *

Thunderwing was the first one awake. While, in reality, he wouldn't know what a buffalo was like while it slept, it was true that Cacophony snored very powerfully, particularly after an exhausting night. The pegasus felt that this would be a great opportunity to stretch his legs, and most importantly, stretch his wings. As a colt, he was largely land-bound ever since his overprotective mother took him to live in Bucklyn. Since then, he usually hovered above the ground to keep his wings from losing their strength completely while still keeping up with his earthbound friends . Otherwise, he didn't really have much opportunity to really fly. Since Ponyville was a more rural location with plenty of open skies, this was a chance he just couldn't pass up.

Once outside, the bassist took a deep breath and stretched, giving his wings a couple of test flaps. “All right,” he said aloud to himself. “Let's do this!”

Soon, the pegasus was airborne. He quickly realized how much he missed soaring through the clouds, and how liberating it was to take a few test dives and barrel rolls. So preoccupied he was with attempting old tricks he used to do as a colt that he narrowly missed another pegasus, one with a cyan coat and a shocking multi-hued mane that left a rainbow in its wake. “Hey buddy!” the pegasus yelled, shaking her hoof. “Why don't you watch where you're going?!”

Thunderwing stopped suddenly and turned around. “Oh wow,” he stammered, “I'm so, so sor-wait! You... you're Rainbow Dash!!”

“Yeah, that's me,” the rainbow-maned pegasus growled. “You nearly clobbered me, you oaf.”

“I'm so sorry,” Thunderwing said, flying over to the pegasus mare. “I never thought I'd meet the only pegasus who's ever done three Sonic Rainbooms. THREE OF 'EM!! Wow!”

The praise changed Rainbow Dash's demeanor immediately. “Yeah, that's me!” she boasted, the near-collision completely forgotten.

“This is amazing!!” the stallion said. “You gotta tell me how you did it.”

“A lot of practice, friend,” Rainbow Dash said. “It also helps if you're just naturally really fast, like me!”

“I don't really get a chance to fly too often,” Thunderwing admitted. “Most of the time, I'm with my band.”

“Wait, did you say you're in a band?!” This time, it was Rainbow Dash's turn to gush.

“Yep!” the stallion said. “We're called Alicorn Malign.”

“You're in Alicorn Malign?!?!” Rainbow Dash cried. “You guys play my all-time favorite song!! Too bad I can't find your album anywhere around here.”

Thunderwing shuffled awkwardly in mid-air. “Yeah. Who'd have figured songs about Nightmare Moon would cause such controversy?”

His new friend chuckled slightly, then Thunderwing continued, “Give me a sec. I'll be right back.”

The stallion flew back to his room at the inn, and soon rejoined the pegasus mare with a record held firmly but gently in his teeth. Rainbow Dash took the album in her hooves and looked it over. The artwork featured the demonic silhouette of an alicorn with the five band-members seemingly staring into her soul with red, glowing eyes. One of the members caught her eye, and it wasn't the handsome front-pony in the center, nor was it the pegasus stallion flying a little over them, but it was a certain unicorn mare standing next to a spiky-maned earth pony.

“Trixie is in your band?! How'd you end up with that loudmouth?”

“Hmm,” Thunderwing said, putting a hoof to his chin, “it would appear that our keyboardist's reputation precedes itself. At any rate, what can I say? She came in for an audition, and we liked what we heard. I'll admit, she can be grating on a pony's nerves, but once you can get past that, she's actually all right. A little 'off', but all right.

“She used to do stage magic, didn't she?” Thunderwing asked.

“Yeah, but then she got some weird amulet that made her super powerful, and even more of a pain than she already was. It's a good thing my friend was able to get her to take that thing off. I guess if she's playing in a super awesome band like Alicorn Malign, she must have really changed.”

It was at that point that the pair was interrupted by a familiar gray pegasus carrying a mailbag. “I've got a letter for a Mr. Thunderwing!” she exclaimed. “Hey, you're that nice pony I met yesterday when I got those muffins!”

“Yeah, yeah,” the stallion replied, taking the letter, “thanks.”

The bass-playing pegasus tore open the envelope and skimmed the letter, then looked at the mail-carrier. “I was expecting our letter to arrive in Fillydelphia today, not getting a reply today.”

Derpy's expression turned serious. “Never underestimate the power of the muffin,” she said. “A swell pony at the theater wrote the reply and gave it directly to me. I would've gotten it to you last night, but you were asleep.”

“Thanks, Derps,” Thunderwing said, smiling warmly, “I don't care what anypony else says about you, you're all right.”

When the mail-mare left, Thunderwing read the letter. “It would seem,” Thunderwing said to Rainbow Dash, “that the pony who runs the theater was able to get us an opening slot with a different band... Mercyfilly Fate?!?!?!?! Dang, wait 'til Cacophony hears about this!!”

“Mercyfilly Fate?!” Rainbow Dash gushed. “Wow, that is so awesome!! I'd give my left wing to see you guys share the stage with them.”

“You won't have to,” Thunderwing said. “I think I can talk Cacophony into putting you on the guest list.”

“That would be so amazing,” Dash said. “Can I bring my friends?”

“Of course!” the musician said. “What are their names?”

“Well, there's Applejack...”

“We met her. She's cool.”

“Then there's Fluttershy, although I don't think she'd like that type of music. Put her down anyways; I'll talk her into coming. Then there's Twilight Sparkle. Don't know if she'd like it, but she's full of surprises. Pinkie Pie would go totally nuts at one of your shows. And Rarity? On second thought, don't put her in. She went as far as to change my music at the Best Young Fliers Competition to egghead classical music. I was gonna have them play 'Wings of Fire', too!”

“Yeah, well, I wrote that one,” Thunderwing said with no small amount of pride. “Wait, did you say 'Rarity'?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said, nodding. “What about her?”

“I remember Cacophony mentioning that name a few times. Never in a pleasant way, mind you. Maybe some bad blood between the two, since he's originally from here.”

“Cacophony's from Ponyville?!” the mare said. “Wow, that's so cool!”

“I guess,” Thunderwing said with a shrug. “He doesn't talk too much about it. In fact, all he really does is sing, play his guitar and charge up the gems powering our amplifiers.”

“Yeah, Ponyville's not much to talk about, and yeah, Rarity's my friend, but I can admit that she can get on a pony's nerves. Anyways, I gotta do some more practicing. Gotta be my best when I get back to Wonderbolt Academy!”

“Catch you around, Rainbow Dash,” the stallion said, extending his forehoof. “We gotta hang out some time.”

Rainbow Dash vigorously bumped his hoof with hers. “Totally. Catch you around!”

Thunderwing slowly descended to the ground, meeting up with Cacophony. “Mingling with the locals, I see,” the unicorn said with a smirk.

“Dude, that was Rainbow freakin' Dash!” Thunderwing said, “the only pegasus to ever do THREE Sonic freakin' Rainbooms!”

Cacophony, who normally wasn't impressed with feats of athleticism, was taken aback. The name wasn't familiar to him, which he chalked up to being a “pegasus thing”, but he knew enough about Sonic Rainbooms to know that they were extremely difficult and dangerous to only do once, let alone three times. “And,” Thunderwing continued, “she's a fan of ours. And I've got some good news, bad news, and freaking awesome news.”

“Okay,” the unicorn said, “good news first.”

“Okay, the good news is we've still got a gig when we get to Fillydelphia.”

“Well, that's good. What's the bad news?”

“Bad news is, instead of headlining, we're the opening act.”

Cacophony shrugged. “A gig's a gig,” he said. “So what's the 'freaking awesome' news?”

“We're opening for Mercyfilly Fate.”

“Well, that's cool,” Cacophony said, “I'm sure the exposure will be good for us- wait, did you just say 'Mercyfilly Fate'?”

“Yes. Yes I did.”

“Buck, yes!!!” the unicorn stallion cried. “This is beyond amazing!! This means that we might end up getting picked up on their tour!”

“Yep!” Thunderwing said, beaming. “I hope you don't mind that I invited Rainbow Dash. She wants to bring some friends, too. Apparently she's friends with that cute farm-mare that Sticks was ga-ga over.”

Cacophony laughed, remembering how Sticks was so tongue-tied whenever she asked him anything, and how he was practically floating on the way back from the hotel. “The others she mentioned are, ummm... Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie...”

“I met those two last night,” Cacophony said.

“You dog, you!” Thunderwing said, poking his bandmate in the ribs with a hoof.

“Not like that, you perv,” the unicorn said. When Thunderwing stopped laughing, Cacophony continued, “Pinkie Pie is a very odd mare. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around my encounter with her.”

“What about the other one?”

Cacophony blushed. “She seems nice enough,” he said. “Really smart, though, and kinda cute.”

“Dude, you should totally go talk to her.”

Cacophony shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Anyways, she also mentioned being friends with Rarity, but Dash doesn't think she'd come.”

“Oh, that's a shame,” Cacophony said, not entirely hiding his sarcasm. “Did she mention anypony else?”

“Yeah, a pony named Fluuuu... who is that?!?!”

Cacophony looked in the direction his friend was facing and saw a bright yellow pegasus mare with a bright pink mane and tail, and three butterflies adorning her flank. She seemed to be clearing the way for a family of chipmunks to walk down the street safely. Thunderwing's jaw hung open as he watched her, managing only soft gibberish when he tried to speak. “Ummm... Thunders,” the unicorn said, nudging his friend in the ribs.

Gibberish.

“Equestria to Thunderwing... come in, Thunderwing.”

More gibberish.

As a fellow stallion, Cacophony could absolutely understand where his band-mate was coming from upon sight of the dainty pegasus mare. She was physically beautiful, this much was obvious. But the way she was looking out for the safety of much smaller creatures belied a gentle inner beauty as well. She even seemed to take care that her hooves didn't leave too deep of an impression in the dirt. However, she was so focused on the chipmunk family that she didn't notice that she was about to run into Thunderwing. Thunderwing was so dumbstruck by the beautiful mare that he didn't seem to notice that she was about to run into him, nor would he have cared or minded if he did notice. “Thunderwing, snap out of it,” a distant voice called out to him. Suddenly, the pegasus felt himself get pushed to the ground by something very purple and very rude.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” the mare said softly, “I almost bumped into you. This is just like when I bumped into Gilda.” She then made a meeping sound when she remembered the encounter in question.

Thunderwing's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he fainted. Cacophony took the lead immediately. “Really, it's okay Miss....”

“Ummm... Fl-fluttershy,” she said, so softly that Cacophony had to strain to hear her.

“I'm sorry, what was that?” the unicorn said.

“My... name's.... Fluttershy...” the pegasus mare said, growing more and more uncomfortable.

“That's okay,” the unicorn said, not wanting to press the issue and possibly traumatize the poor pegasus. “I know what it's like to be shy. I mean, you should've seen me when I was a colt. I usually spent more time in the work-shed goofing around with my amps. But ponies would always keep disturbing me until finally I told 'em to stay out of my shed. Anyways, my name's Cacophony and my catatonic friend here is named Thunderwing.”

“Oh my,” the mare said, switching gears immediately, “is he hurt?” She then very gently stomped her hoof. “Oh, Fluttershy. You're such a clutz,” she said, chiding herself.

“Fluttershy? That's your name?” the unicorn said.

The mare nodded in reply. Wow, even her name is cute, the unicorn thought to himself. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Fluttershy,” the unicorn said, smiling sincerely. “Don't worry about my friend. He'll be right as rain in a bit.” He then pointed to his facial expression with his hoof. “See? He's smiling!”

“I guess so,” Fluttershy said. She then looked over the drooling pegasus stallion more closely. “Still, I think I should take him to my cottage to, umm... make sure he's okay. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Cacophony.”

“Please, just 'Cacophony',” he said, “and it was a pleasure meeting you, too.”

He then turned to walk away, but looked back and saw what appeared to be the chipmunk family, a pair of ducks, a white bunny, and four badgers carrying the bass-player on a make-shift stretcher. The yellow mare was fussing over him the entire time. Cacophony had to smile, and wonder if he was more worried for the shy mare, or for the stallion.

* * * * *

“Brother, you should totally go talk to her!” Strings sat across from his brother at an outdoor cafe while they ate their hash-browned hay and pancakes.

“I dunno,” Sticks said. “What if she doesn't like me like that?”

“Stikschev,” the elder brother said, “did you see how she was looking at you? Look, if there's one thing I know besides guitars, it's mares.”

“You know I'm no good with mares, Estringei,” the drummer said after downing his third glass of orange juice.

“Come on, little brother,” Strings said, patting his brother's shoulder with his hoof. “You're a great guy with a lot to offer right mare, and Applejack seems like the type that would really appreciate that.”

“Just what do I have to offer?” the younger brother said, looking down. “I know drums. That's really about it.”

“Yeah, but you are first pony to help out another when they're in a bind. If somepony needs something, you're right there. I know you sometimes feel like an errand-pony, but all of us genuinely appreciate how generous you are... Cacophony, Thunders, me, Dad, Uncle Ivan...”

“Yeah, I guess,” Sticks said with a sigh.

“Look,” Strings said, making his brother look him in the eye, “Dad and Uncle Ivan both saw you when you gave your horseshoes to street-urchin back home. Uncle Ivan said to Dad, 'You know, you raise good son. He don't make table, but Stikschev is good colt'.”

Sticks chuckled at the mention of their uncle, and his perfect imitation of his voice. “And you know what he would say,” Strings continued, “he'd say, 'You go talk to pretty farm-mare. Is good for health'.”

Sticks started laughing, and Strings laughed with him. “When we get some downtime,” the drummer said, “we're gonna have to take a trip back to Stalliongrad. I miss Uncle Ivan.”

The guitarist nodded his agreement. Sticks continued, “So okay, I talk to her. What do I say?”

“Just be yourself,” the older brother said. “See, watch as I talk to sexy unicorn over there.”

The younger brother looked at the unicorn Strings was referring to. She was perhaps the prettiest unicorn he'd ever seen; her coat shimmered like freshly polished ivory, and her violet mane and tail curled in perfect rings. She reminded Sticks of a classic movie star in almost every way. While the drummer acknowledged his brother's uncanny ability to get a date with even the classiest of ponies (that gray cellist came to mind immediately), Sticks had a feeling that this unicorn was out of even Strings's league. “Ten bits says you don't go on a date with her,” he said.

“Oh,” Strings said with a raised eyebrow and a wry grin, “have you not forgotten about cellist?”

“Of course not,” Sticks said, “but that was because she only agreed to it because you fixed her cello after that 'bass-cannon incident'.”

“Doesn't matter,” the guitarist said, “still dated.”

The light green stallion extended his forehoof and said, “Do we have a bet?”

The guitarist bumped the hoof and said, “You're on. Watch, listen and learn, little brother.”

With that, the white earth pony trotted up to the fashionable unicorn mare, who at that moment was looking at different fabrics. He watched her as she felt each one, then stepped closer. “So what is this that you're going to make?” he said to her, making her jump a little.

“Well,” the mare said, regaining her composure immediately and regarding the brazen earth pony now standing before her, “if you must know, I am about to make an outfit for somepony I know. I usually make evening dresses and ball gowns, but I never turn down a challenge. He's a rather rough-and-tumble stallion with whom I had a 'falling out', shall we say. A dear friend convinced me that I should try and mend fences with him.”

“I see,” Strings said. “Well, I have challenge for you. I'm going to be in town for a while. What do you say you and I get together for some wine and braised daffodils, and maybe discuss textiles?”

“And what would a stallion like you know about fabric?” the mare said, regarding Strings with disdain.

“Well, if you must know,” the earth pony said, mimicking the unicorn, “silk is extremely delicate and wouldn't last more than hour on your typical stallion, satin is slightly more durable but doesn't breathe well and would make him sweat like mule.” Strings then turned to his left and said, “No offense.”

“None taken,” the mule standing to Strings's left said, smiling pleasantly.

“Anyways,” Strings said, not missing a beat, “velvet is very durable and pleasant to the touch, but soaks in a lot of body heat, and if you make something out of that angora wool over there, he may as well be wearing sauna.”

The unicorn mare raised an eyebrow. “So what would you suggest?”

“Cotton,” Strings said with a smile. “It's good and durable, pleasing to touch, especially if made correctly, and can be sewed and dyed into any article of clothing you can imagine. Imagine textile equivalent of clay. Not much to look at at first, but can be made into anything.”

“You sure know a lot about such things,” the unicorn said, regarding the stallion in a new light. “Do you make clothing?”

“Nah, I'm musician from Stalliongrad,” the earth pony said. “But my mother does. Mostly clothes for ponies who work in factories back home or on farms in Trottingham. When you grow up among crafts-ponies, you learn different things. So about that date...”

“But I don't even know your name, darling,” the unicorn said with a demure smile, “nor do you know mine.”

“Dear Celestia, where are my manners?” the musician said. “My name is Estringei, but you can call me 'Strings', and yours?”

“I'm... Rarity,” the mare said with a giggle.

“You certainly ar-wait, did you say 'Rarity'?” he said.

“Yes, of course,” Rarity said. “That's my name, silly.”

“Well, it was pleasure meeting you, Rarity,” Strings said, shaking her hoof. “I just remembered previous engagement. I'll see you around.”

“Good-bye, Strings,” the unicorn said, but the stallion already galloped out of sight.

The drummer soon saw his brother galloping as fast as he could back to the cafe. “So,” Sticks said, “how'd it go?”

“I'm not going out with her,” Strings grumbled.

“Whoa, seriously?” the younger brother was incredulous. “I guess that means I'm ten bits richer!”

“It doesn't count, little brother,” he said. “She was totally willing for date. But I think I just hit on one of Cacophony's exes.”

“So? What difference does that make?”

“You do not date your friends' exes, nor your exes' friends. Everypony knows that. It's rule.”

“Maybe so,” the drummer started, “but the conditions of the wager were that I'd pay you ten bits if you went on the date, and you pay me if you didn't. So cough it up, big brother.”

The older pony took out the bits and paid his brother, then said, “Fine, but you're still talking to farm pony. I was totally being successful, but even I have rules I don't break. Besides, you now have enough money to take her out on date.”

“But I don't think she'd be the type to go for 'wine and braised daffodils',” Sticks said.

“So?” Strings said. “Make it cider and hay fries, then. I'll bet you ten bits that you don't have the guts to ask her.”

Sticks bumped his older brother's hoof and said, “It is on, big brother.”

Of Dream and Drama

“...and then he just galloped off!” Rarity said, sipping her tea. “I was even about to say yes to going out with this pony, but he ran away when I said my name.”

“That's really weird,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “You said his name was 'Strings'...?”

“Yes, darling,” the dressmaker said, “and he looked like one of those 'rock and roll' types that I've been seeing in Ponyville lately.”

“Maybe he knows Cacophony,” Twilight said quietly to herself.

“And how do you know Cacophony?” Rarity asked, her eyes narrow.

Twilight quickly went on the defensive. “I'm sorry, Rarity,” she said. “He came into the library last night. He seemed a little distraught, saying that he needed to clear his head. He left when I mentioned him seeing his family while he was in town. He seemed even more upset after that.”

Rarity stared into her teacup and sighed. “I know why,” she said quietly.

“Was he your sweetheart growing up?” Twilight asked, cutting right to the chase.

“What?!?!” Rarity asked, her voice almost shrieking, then she laughed. “Oh, dear heavens no, Twilight. Cacophony's my older brother.”

“Your brother?!?!” Twilight yelled, her eyes as large as dinner plates. “You never said anything about an older brother.”

“Well, neither did you, darling,” Rarity replied, her tone haughty, “not until the wedding.”

Twilight sighed. “Yeah, you're right,” she said. “I guess with all that's happened since we became friends, the topic of my family just never came up.

“Anyways,” Twilight continued, “we all know about Sweetie Belle, though. Why not Cacophony?”

“Because the last words he said before leaving home were, well, quite unrepeatable in polite company, you see,” Rarity began. “At least he had the decency to wait until Sweetie Belle was sound asleep.” Rarity sighed. “He always was very fond of Sweetie Belle.”

Twilight motioned for her friend to continue. “The gist of it all was that it became clear to him who Mother and Father's favorites were, and that he 'didn't make the cut', as he said. I suppose some of the things they've said could've given him that impression...”

“Such as...?” Twilight asked.

The ivory-colored unicorn hesitated for a moment, then said, “Oh, things like 'Why can't you be more popular like Rarity?' or 'Stop your singing, Sweetie Belle, or you're gonna grow up like your loser brother.' That last one was Father's usual thing to say while he was around.”

“Rarity, that's horrible!” Twilight shouted. “I can't imagine any parent saying something like that about their own son! And it almost seems like you agreed with them.”

Rarity sighed and said, “Twilight, you must understand that my brother and I rarely ever got along. He always thought I was too fussy and too prissy, and you must understand that he was very uncouth as a colt, what with his loud music and stealing my gems!” The dressmaker took a deep breath, then said, “It's odd, though... he'd only take the flawed ones that I would have to throw away later. It-it-it's the principle of it, though! And then he'd spend all his time in that dirty work shed and I'd hear the most awful noises coming from there. I'll tell you this, Twilight Sparkle, there's a reason my parents named him 'Cacophony'!”

“Rarity,” Twilight began evenly, “the impression that I got from meeting your brother is he's a very kind, very smart pony.” And really cute, as well, Twilight mentally added. “So he likes heavy music; big deal. I actually took the liberty of listening to a band he mentioned: 'Iron Mare'. They're actually really good! I particularly liked their song about Star Swirl the Bearded, called 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Conjurer'.”

“It's not just his music, dear,” Rarity said, turning serious. “One day, I went into the shed and took his journal.”

“Rarity!” Twilight shouted, her eyes wide. “How could you do something like that? Remember how you felt when 'Gabby Gums' published your diary?”

The white unicorn blushed. “Yes, well in hindsight, it was most unbecoming of me to do that. But he had been stealing my gems!

“Anyway,” she continued, “I read through it and found some of the most horrible things I could imagine! I showed it to Mother and she was absolutely aghast!! My parents told him to burn the journal or leave. It would seem, to my dear brother, that his blasphemous poetry was more important than family!”

“What do you mean 'blasphemous'?” Twilight asked, cocking her head.

“Well, if I hadn't known better,” Rarity said, “I'd swear that my brother was worshiping Nightmare Moon! In fact, if you must know what he said before he left, he said that he realized how Nightmare Moon must have felt.”

“Rarity,” Twilight said with a sigh, “I'm getting the impression that your brother felt cast out by your family, and that they loved you more than they loved him. Remember, it was love and friendship that brought Princess Luna back. You should give your brother a chance.”

Rarity sighed. “You're right, Twilight,” she said. “In fact, that's what Pinkie Pie was telling me. After she and I had our talk, I decided to make him something to wear on stage. Maybe our mending bridges will help him make peace with our parents.”

“That would be great,” Twilight said with a smile. “Even if that doesn't happen, though, at least he'll have family again.”

“Yes, he will,” Rarity replied. “I wonder where he is...”

* * * * *

While Rarity and Twilight were having tea, Cacophony was cantering on his way to the Ponyville school when he encountered a gray filly and a pink filly tormenting a white unicorn filly with a curly lavender mane and tail. After their target was reduced to tears, they began to trot away laughing wickedly. “Stupid blank flank loser,” the pink one said.

“Maybe we should find her little hayseed friend and have a little fun,” the gray filly replied.

“You will do no such thing,” Cacophony said, looming over them.

“And what's it to you?” the pink one with a tiara marking her flank asked. “Don't you know who my daddy is?”

“No, and I really don't give a flying feather if your father was advisor to Princess Celestia Herself,” the dark purple stallion growled. “It doesn't make you better than anypony else.”

“Don't listen to him, Diamond Tiara,” the gray filly with a spoon cutie mark said, “what would this cretin know?”

“I know that the filly you were tormenting is my little sister,” Cacophony said, his patience almost depleted. “And if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me. And since I don't hit fillies, I'll have to take it up with your fathers, stallion to stallion. I wonder what he'd have to say about that, hmmm?”

“Come on, Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara said, “let's get out of here.”

“Yeah, maybe you both should,” Cacophony said, his voice suddenly pleasant, “and if I should hear about one little hair on her mane even put slightly out of place by your mangy little hooves, we'll have to have another little chat. Get it?”

The two fillies nodded, their eyes wide. They galloped off, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. Cacophony then approached the white unicorn filly, who was still on the ground crying. He gently nudged her with his muzzle and whispered, “Hey Sweetie Belle, you can stop crying now.”

The filly sniffed and turned to face the older stallion. “Cacophony?” she said, still sobbing. Her eyes then went wide. “Cacophony!!!” she squealed, bouncing around the stallion. “Yay, my big brother's here!!”

The excited filly cheered and bounced around Cacophony for a few minutes until he was able to scoop her up in his hooves, giving her a warm hug. “I've missed you, Cacophony,” she said, returning the embrace.

“I've missed you, too, Sweetie Belle,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “I've missed you, too. Now you listen to me, kid. If those two give you any more trouble, tell me or tell Rarity. No pony, and I mean no pony messes with my little sister and gets away with it. You understand?”

Sweetie Belle nodded and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. “Good,” Cacophony said. “Now head on home, okay?”

“But I'm spending the night at Rarity's,” the filly replied, her voice a whine.

“Then go on to Rarity's. I'll see you later.” The stallion then kissed the filly on the nose. “That's a promise.”

“You got it, big brother,” Sweetie Belle said and kissed her elder sibling on the nose, then ran off in the direction of the boutique.

“And where were you when the colts would tease me and put dirt in my mane?” a mare's voice said from behind Cacophony.

The purple unicorn turned and faced his other sister. “Oh, I was around, Rares,” he said. “Notice those bullies only ever teased you once. Only once.”

Rarity hung her head low, but smiled slightly. “I suppose this is true,” she said. “I guess I should've thanked you...”

“No need, Rares,” Cacophony said with a smile, “it's what big brothers do. No one teases my little sisters but me, and at least I don't do it to be mean.

“Well, you have mussed up my mane very badly on numerous occasions,” Rarity defensively said.

“Yeah, and you always had it fixed back up in seconds, so there,” the stallion said, blowing a raspberry.

“See, Rarity?” another mare's voice asked. It was Twilight Sparkle, who had been hiding behind a bush. “Big brothers are pretty darned special. Even Shining Armor used to pick on me, but he was never outright cruel. I don't think he even has it in him.”

“Oh, hello Ms Sparkle,” Cacophony said, bowing his head. “So, how much of all that did you two see?”

“All of it,” Rarity said. “Honestly, if I had known those two were being that mean to Sweetie Belle and her friends, I would've put a stop to it sooner. But she never said anything to me, nor did Applebloom or Scootaloo.”

“Well, maybe you should talk to her and let her know that you're there for her,” the stallion said. “I'm on the road a lot lately, you know.”

“I will,” Rarity said before cantering to Carousel Boutique. She then paused, turned her head back and said, “You know, you don't have to live in Manehattan anymore. You're welcome to come back home.”

“You remember what Mom and Dad said before I left.”

“I never said anything about coming back to live with our parents,” Rarity clarified. “Your band can come to live in Ponyville, that way Sweetie Belle and I can see you more often. Deep down, I've always regretted not being closer to you, and you just saw how much Sweetie Belle misses you.”

“I'd like that, Rarity,” Cacophony replied with a smile. “I'd have to talk to my band-mates, though. Can't really make any promises there, but I'll try.”

“I understand,” Rarity said with a smile, trotting back to her brother. She kissed him on the nose and said, “At least write to me and Sweetie.”

“Of course. I'll catch up to you before I leave for Filly.” He watched as his sister trotted to the boutique, then turned to face Twilight. “So, Ms Sparkle, I didn't know you were friends with my sister.”

“I didn't know my friend had an older brother, and please, call me 'Twilight',” she replied with a smile. “So, do you think you'll come back to Ponyville to stay?”

“Like I told Rares, I'll have to talk to my band-mates. I don't think our drummer will have a problem with that, since he met a mare that he seems to like. In fact, it's my old buddy Mac's kid sister.”

“That would be Applejack,” the librarian said with a smile. “It sounds as if you won't have much trouble convincing your band-mates to move here, then!” Twilight said.

“I don't think Thunderwing, our bassist, will have any problem with that, especially since he became quite smitten with a local pegasus here. I've never seen him that ga-ga over a mare!”

“Oh?” Twilight asked. “Maybe I know her.”

“I wouldn't be surprised, since you seem acquainted with a lot of ponies here,” Cacophony replied, getting an embarrassed chuckle from Twilight. “She's really pretty, and seems like a true sweetheart. Yellow coat, pink mane. Extremely quiet and skittish, though.”

“That's Fluttershy for you,” Twilight said, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, I'm surprised she doesn't have more stallions chasing after her.”

“Judging from my impression of her, that'd probably give the poor thing a heart attack.”

“Yeah, she doesn't really like being the center of attention. She tried her hoof at modeling, with Rarity's encouragement. She hated it, though, especially with the ponyrazzi constantly tailing her. Your friend should be careful about how he approaches her, or he'll frighten her away.”

“I'll have a talk with him, and pass along your warning, Twilight,” Cacophony assured her.

“Sooooo, have you met anypony that you like here?” Twilight asked after an awkward pause.

Cacophony shrugged. “Honestly, I hadn't really been looking. I've just had a lot on my mind, especially since coming back here.”

Twilight smiled and replied, “I can understand that. Would you like to go for a walk later tonight? The moon is full tonight and Rarity mentioned that you had a, umm, 'special interest', in Nightmare Moon, and I'm curious about your perspective.”

“That'd be cool,” the musician said with a smile. “Maybe we can grab a bite to eat, too. It'll be my last free night tonight, since the band's gonna try and get some practice in before the train leaves. Plus, I want to spend some time with Sweetie Belle and Rarity.”

“Well, let's see,” Twilight said, magicking a schedule book and a quill out of thin air with her horn, “at five o'clock, I'm brushing up on zebra alchemical lore with my friend Zecora. Then at 5:45, I'll be writing up a checklist of things to put on my checklist for tomorrow morning. I have my dinner scheduled at seven o'clock sharp, but I'd need to be back home by 8:15 so I can finish boning up on the geography of the seven ancient griffon kingdoms, but I suppose I can probably push that to 8:45, but I'd have to make sure I get Spike into bed by nine o'clock...”

“Soooo, I'll meet you at the library at seven?” Cacophony asked, grinning awkwardly.

“Yes,” Twilight said with a nod. “Let me just write this in.... '6:30: Get ready for date with handsome musician'.” Her eyes then went wide. “Oh, no! Now I've got to make a checklist of things I'll need for our date! Gosh, I've got to go see Rarity right now. She'd know far more about this sort of thing than me! Oh my goodness, I've never been on a date before...!”

With that, Twilight sped off, leaving Cacophony with his jaw hanging open. Suddenly, she teleported next to him and kissed him on the cheek. “See you at seven!” she said sweetly, then galloped off again.

* * * * *

A young pegasus colt with a blue coat and green and yellow mane looked at the dingy apartment with disgust. “Mommy,” he spoke to the older pegasus mare who came in with numerous suitcases, “I don't get why we had to move. What if she comes back home and doesn't find us?”

“I've already told you, sweetie,” the mare replied, her voice cracked from seemingly interminable crying, “your sister won't be coming back.”

“Where's Daddy?”

The fuchsia pegasus sighed. “Daddy went away to Los Pegasus,” she said.

“Why?”

“Daddy's upset about your sister, too.”

“When's Daddy coming back?”

“I don't know, Thunderwing,” the colt's mother snapped. “Now, go unpack your things and let Mommy think.”

Young Thunderwing pulled his tiny cart with his toys, books, and other sundries into the room he claimed as his own. He began putting up his posters and pictures when he realized that his favorite one was missing. “Mommy?!” he cried.

“What?!” his mother yelled from the living room.

“I can't find her picture! Where's her picture?!”

“Your sister is gone, Thunderwing!”

The colt began to cry, as he had done many times in the weeks since his sister's disappearance. “She can't be gone...” he whispered between sobs.

“Thunderwing, stop crying!”

“I can't!”

“I said, stop crying!!”

“I can't!!!”

“Thunderwing, please don't cry,” a softer voice called from the distance.

It was no use, for Thunderwing's tears would not stop. The colt then felt soft wings wrap around him, and he felt himself sinking into the warm embrace. He opened his eyes when the wings released him, and found himself in a strange bedroom. He realized that he had been unconscious and dreaming. The room was simply furnished, but thankfully, very cozy and inviting. Seated by the bed was the yellow pegasus mare he had seen earlier, her eyes still wet with tears. “Was I that bad, or that good?” he said, his voice cracking.

The mare gave him a thoroughly confused look. “What do you mean?” she whispered.

“Never mind,” he grumbled. “What am I doing here? How did I get here?”

“I have something to show you,” she replied. With that, she walked over to a nearby bookcase and retrieved a small picture album with her teeth. She then put it on the bed and opened it with her nose. Thunderwing looked at the picture of the mare as a young filly holding a small blue pegasus foal with a messy green and yellow mane. The two young pegasi were smiling. The next picture showed the same pegasi, the foal kissing the blushing filly on the nose. A teardrop suddenly appeared on the picture. “I came back to Cloudsdayle when I got my strength back, but found that you, Mom, and Dad had moved away. Nopony would tell me where you went, and I didn't even know where to begin to look for you.”

Thunderwing was silent for what seemed like an eternity. He began to shake uncontrollably as the tears streamed down his face. He then turned to look at the yellow pegasus, and said something that he hadn't said in nearly 15 years: "Shy-shy?"

The mare began crying anew. “I'm so sorry, Thunderwing. I'm such a horrible sister.”

This had been a moment that, ever since that fateful day that Fluttershy had fallen from the clouds, Thunderwing thought he had prepared himself for. As a colt, he promised himself that he would hug her and never let her go. As a young stallion, he vowed that he would tear into her for leaving him alone, for destroying their family, and for all the punishment he endured from their mother whenever he'd so much as whisper her name. In fact, his mother went through great lengths to practically obliterate any reminder of Fluttershy's existence.

But Thundering couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to verbally destroy her, nor could he bear to be anywhere near her at that moment. So he did the only thing he could think of doing.

He flew away through the open window.

Author's Note

Realized that I should probably expand a section of this chapter, as well as move it to the end.

Shadows From The Past

Trixie wandered aimlessly through town, all too aware of the eyes of the local townsponies bearing down on her. Her conclusion the night before had been correct: many of the locals hadn't forgiven her for her brief reign of terror in Ponyville when she was in possession of the Alicorn Amulet. Trixie did her best to ignore them, though, and kept wandering. Occasionally, she would stumble in her sleep-deprived state, and sometimes her surroundings became blurry and non-descript. The magician-turned-keyboardist knew that this was her ninth solid day without real sleep; she'd catch little cat-naps when she could, but even then, the nightmares always came to her. The unicorn was grateful for the near constant touring she and her new friends had been doing lately, for it would usually exhaust her to the point where she'd sleep dreamlessly. Usually.

The mare could hear the ponies muttering, but the voices were muffled to the point where it became one single din. Suddenly, she found herself face down in the street, having tripped on something that she couldn't see. “Why don't you watch where you're going?!” a familiar voice reprimanded her, loudly and clearly. “You nearly bumped into The Great & Powerful Trixie!”

Trixie looked up and saw herself; rather, herself as she used to be, replete with her cape and hat, as well as the Alicorn Amulet. “Oh, how far The Great & Powerful Trixie has fallen,” the doppelganger continued with a sneer. “To think that Trixie was once the Highest Level Unicorn!! Now, she has stooped to the level of a common street performer!!”

“You're not me,” the keyboardist mumbled.

“Of course you're not!!” the double laughed. “No pony can be as great, as the Great & Powerful Trixie!!”

“Sweet Celestia, shut up!!” Trixie cried. “As the Pony Sisters are my witnesses, I will never talk like that again!”

“Of course you won't!” the mirror Trixie said. “After all, how can you talk like that if you can't speak to begin with!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!”

The keyboardist tried to open her mouth to scream, but found herself unable to, for her mouth felt as if it had melted shut. The mare looked to see if anypony could, or would, help her. Her vision had cleared, and she was aware that she was quickly becoming surrounded. What had been ponies had become shambling, deformed monstrosities. Suddenly, she felt something wrap around her fetlocks. With a shriek, she yanked herself free and galloped as fast as she could. “Go ahead, street performer!” the doppelganger screamed. “Try and run, but you cannot escape the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!!!”

Trixie turned around and saw it. The monster was vaguely equine in build, but it seemed to be made completely of inky blackness. It reared on its hind legs and let out a horrible scream that ripped through the keyboardist's soul, and she could see what looked like a horn on its head. It took every ounce of will she could muster to take her eyes from the shape so she could turn and gallop away. The unicorn mare didn't dare to look behind her, but she knew the monster was gaining on her. Suddenly, she became aware of two more of them: one had joined the first one, while the other had appeared in front of her. The demon in front of her reared on its hind legs and screamed, stretching ragged wings. Move, she screamed in her own head. Move, Trixie, move.

“Trixie!”

Trixie felt her limbs become entangled again. This time, she was too weak to break free. Still, she wriggled in a vain attempt to break free.

“Trixie! Blast it, wake up!”

Trixie shut her eyes, and then heard a loud explosion, and suddenly, she felt herself becoming soaked horn to hoof in cold water. She then felt her mouth open, and released the scream that she couldn't before. When her eyes opened, she found herself on the ground looking at a freshly-spent cloud over her head. “Oh gracious,” a familiar mare's voice said, “what has happened to you?”

Trixie turned and saw Rarity eying her with genuine concern. Next to her was Cacophony, his face a mask of worry. “Is she gonna be okay?” another mare's voice said, this time from the sky. From behind the cloud, Rainbow Dash flew out and stood next to Rarity.

“I don't know,” Cacophony said. “Trix, you and I need to talk when we get back to the inn.” He then turned to Rarity and said, “Sis, can you help me get her back to her bed?”

“Of course, dear brother,” Rarity replied with a nod.

“Wait a cloud-kicking minute,” the rainbow-maned pegasus said, “did you just say 'brother'?”

“Why, yes, Rainbow,” the dressmaker said, non-plussed. “Cacophony's my older brother.”

“You mean to say that your brother is only the singer for the most awesome band in Equestria?!”

Trixie had quietly followed the conversation only semi-interestedly, but her ears perked up the moment she heard the word “sis”. She looked at the unicorn pair in front of her and noticed the similar build, eyes, and facial structure. Even their horns seemed similar.

Cacophony blushed so deeply that his coat turned a dark violet. “Hi,” he said, waving his left forehoof. “We're called 'Alicorn Malign'.”

“Alicorn Malign... Alicorn Malign... why is that name so familiar?” Rarity asked herself aloud.

“Who do you think buys all of your flawed gems, Rares?”

“You're the one who keeps buying my flawed gems?” Rarity asked, her eyes wide. She then looked to her friend and said, “You see, I really do hate to throw away gems, even if they're flawed and of no use to me. But they take up room that could be used to store my good gems!” She then looked back at Cacophony. “You always used to take away my flawed gems when we were foals, and now you buy them from my shop. I've always been curious why you'd want flawed gems in the first place.”

“Well, you see, little sister,” the musician began, “I charge up those gems with my magic to power our amps. I used to goof around with my amplifier back home, and I'd always break the original gems by pushing them too hard to get a good sound. Then, I'd see you throwing gems on the floor when you'd do your projects and they'd be there for weeks. I figured you wouldn't mind if I, you know, borrowed a few, ya know? You just won't believe the distortion you can get with a flawed ruby, and amethysts with veins of milky quartz running through it gives my tone so much body...”

“Umm, Cacophony?” a voice called.

“Sorry, Trixie,” Cacophony replied. “Rarity?”

“Coming, brother!”

The two unicorn siblings used their horns to levitate the damp and shivering keyboardist onto Cacophony's back. The musical stallion was surprised at how little his band-mate weighed; he could also feel her ribs against his coat. “Rainbow, darling,” Rarity began, “would you be a dear and have Twilight meet us at the Dewdrop Inn? She's waiting for me at the boutique. If anypony can help poor Trixie, it would be her.”

“I'm on it, Rarity!” the pegasus replied with a salute, and then sped off.

* * * * *

Sticks stood at the fence marking the Sweet Apple Acres property line mumbling in his native tongue under his breath. He had never been so nervous in all his life; he hadn't even been this nervous before his first show. After all, he had always been confident in his drumming abilities. His ability to talk to mares, however, was another matter entirely. Come on, Stikschev, he thought to himself, the worst she can say is 'No'.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and then began trotting up the pathway leading to the barn. Curiously, he didn't see anypony around; just a lot of apple trees. Suddenly, he felt his legs and fetlocks completely stiffen and he couldn't move. “I can't do this,” he said aloud.

“Can't do what, sugarcube?” a voice said from his left.

Sticks jumped several feet in the air and cried out, clinging to a low-hanging branch. Unfortunately, it couldn't hold his weight, so it snapped off leaving the pony in a cloud of dust on the path. Applejack couldn't help but giggle at the sight, much to the drummer's chagrin. “Come on, pardner,” she said, extending a hoof, “let me help you up.”

“Thank you,” Sticks said while dusting himself off. “I guess I'll be going now.”

“Hold on there, handsome,” the farm-mare spoke as she blocked his egress. “You didn't come to my family's orchard just to turn around and skidaddle out. Earlier, you were more nervous than a bucket of apples at a cider press.” Applejack's expression softened as she smiled at Sticks. “What's there to be so dang nervous about?”

Sticks's mouth opened and closed several times as he'd try to say something and fail. “Well golly, you're almost as bad as Fluttershy. I thought you rockers were more confident than that,” Applejack quipped.

“I'm confident behind drum kit,” Sticks finally said, his accent thickened by his frayed nerves. “I'm confident with tools. Not so confident with mares, and I know mares don't like stallion what have no confidence.”

“Don't worry none, sugarcube,” the mare said, “I ain't gonna bite ya.

“Unless, of course, ya want me to,” she added with a wink.

Sticks blushed harder than he ever had in his life, then he smiled. “What are you doing tonight?” he asked, recognizing his cue.

“Well,” Applejack started, “I do have chores tonight, but if I can get Applebloom to actually help me instead of tryin' for her danged Cutie Mark, I'll have time 'round eight. Whatcha have in mind?”

“Honestly, I don't know,” Strings replied evenly, “I don't know what there is to do in Ponyville.”

“I'll tell you what,” the farm-mare began, “there's a hill near the eastern part of the orchard where you can see every apple tree in Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Would you like picnic in orchard?” Sticks asked, his accent thickening again.

“I'd like that a lot. Meet me at the barn 'round eight. I'll bring the eats and some cider,” Applejack replied softly. She then kissed the stallion on the nose, smiled, and added, “Don't keep me waitin', handsome.”

The drummer smiled and cantered slowly back towards town. When he was sure nopony was in earshot, he let out a loud 'whoop' in delight. In the distance, Sticks could barely hear a stallion shouting in his native tongue. It lost something in translation from the original Stalliongradish, but its closest Canterlotian equivalent was “I can't believe I lost another bet!”

* * * * *

“So, you understand, my brother's always had a hard time with mares,” the spiky-maned stallion said. “I always try and help him out, but he'd always clam up and be a blubbering mess.” He took a bite out of his second strawberry cupcake. “I lost that first bet when I found out I was hitting on my bud's ex. Sticks got me on a technicality. Can you believe it?”

“No, sir!” the pink pony who had been listening to Strings replied with a smile.

“You see, there are just some things a stallion doesn't do,” Strings continued after finishing his cupcake. “She had the cutest name, though... 'Rarity'...”

“Oh! Rarity's not Cacophony's ex-marefriend,” the pink pony said, still smiling.

“You mean, they're still together?” the guitar pony asked, his eyes wide. “That'd explain why he doesn't indulge with the groupies.”

“Oh, they're not a couple, silly-dilly! That'd just be nasty. Another cupcake?”

“Yes, please. These are really good!” he said. “How do you even know what I'm talking about?”

“Oh, I don't. Not really,” the odd mare said with a grin. “I mean, Rarity's my friend and we had a talk about Cacophony, who I think is really cute. I don't know if he wants a marefriend, though. I know my friend Twilight's got a crush on him, but I think he likes somepony else. I know she's got a crush on him because I got a Pinkie Sense I've never gotten before. My left eyelid tingled for ten seconds, and then my right fore-knee got pinchy. But I've gotten lots of Pinkie Senses today, none of which I've ever had before! Just an hour and a half ago my ears started ringing, and I started seeing spots while my rear hooves started itching. That means that somepony is having a traumatic experience and needs to have a violent outburst. And just a little bit ago, all my knees got wobbly and all the hairs on my back went straight up! That just means that someone lost a bet that he was sure he was going to win. And that's when you came in!”

Strings stared at the pink pony for a long time, then shook his head. “You, my dear, are the most baffling mare I've ever met in my entire life,” he said. He then smiled and said, “My name's Estringei. You can call me 'Strings', and yours?”

“I'm Pinkie Pie,” the mare introduced herself, “and making new friends smile is what I do best! So you're friends with Cacophony?”

“Yes. We play in a band together, called Alicorn Malign,” he replied. “My brother's name is Sticks, he plays drums. Cack and I play guitar. Cack is singer, too. Our bassist's name is Thunderwing, he's a pegasus. We call him 'Thunders'. And our keyboard player's name is Trixie. She also handles the pyro.”

Pinkie's eyes narrowed to slits. “Trixie,” she growled. “That mean mare used her magic to take my mouth off! I couldn't talk for days. It was horrible! Before then, she was acting like working at a rock farm wasn't good enough for her. I was raised on a rock farm!

“Wait a minute,” Pinkie added, her tone completely changed, “that might explain another Pinkie Sense I had! My eyes got all watery, and my tongue got dry, and my ears started flapping. That means that someone who used to be a big Miss Braggy McBraggypants and a Meany McMeanerson is now a nice pony, but is also scared.”

“Yeah, Trixie used to be kind of abrasive. At least, she was when she audition for us. I actually talk her into auditioning when she come into shop I run with my brother. She was playing piano and she play beautifully. She say she not play since she was in orphanage, but I find hard to believe. She audition and we like her playing, and we work with her on attitude. I actually think she like Cack, but I'm not sure about that. I think her attitude comes from never having any real friends.”

“Aww,” Pinkie said with a frown, “if I had known that then, I would've thrown her a party! That would've turned her around. It always works! Well, except with that meany griffon that Rainbow Dash used to be friends with. But no pony, and I mean no pony can resist a Pinkie Pie party! Which reminds me! I've gotta throw a party for you and your band! I mean, you guys got here yesterday and I never got to throw you all a party!”

“Finally, a pony in this place that knows how to party!” Strings said with a smile. “You know, the band and I are gonna be practicing a lot until the train's ready to leave, but when I get downtime, you and I can plan this party together.”

“Oh, that'll be a great idea!!” the pink mare said with a grin. “You know, you're kinda cute. I really like how you do your mane.... very rock 'n roll!”

“You're not so bad yourself,” said the guitarist, smiling back.

Strings had to admit that, despite the fact that she was a little chubbier than the mares he usually dated, and a great deal more bizarre, he was quite interested in her. He found her cheerful attitude and her silliness quite infectious, and that he never once had to put on airs around her. Strings had no difficulty getting supermodels and the upper class mares to go out with him, but he ultimately found it exhausting. Pinkie was the opposite of them all in almost every way. Perhaps, he thought, maybe this one will actually work out.

* * * * *

The going to the inn was slow, but the two unicorn siblings arrived without jostling their passenger too much. Trixie was still shivering, but had completely dried and was now clutching onto Cacophony for dear life. Waiting at the door was Twilight Sparkle, as well as something the purple stallion never expected to see in Ponyville: a zebra. “Oh, wonderful,” Rarity said with a smile, “she brought along Zecora. Between Zecora and Twilight, Trixie will be back to full health in no time at all.

“Her presence doesn't bother you, does it?” she asked her brother when she saw his facial expression.

Cacophony snapped out of his thoughts. “Oh, no,” he replied, “not at all. I mean, I've heard a few tunes from Striper, but I've just never actually met a zebra before.” Bowing his head to the zebra mare, he said, “I meant no offense, Zecora. If you can help my friend, I'd be forever grateful.”

“No offense taken, let me assure you,” Zecora replied with a smile, “I will gladly see what I can do.”

“Let's get Trixie to her room,” Twilight added.

The group soon made it to Room 102, and before long, Trixie was curled in a fetal position under a heavy comforter. Cacophony explained that he and Rarity were strolling through town when they saw the mare stumbling through town talking to herself with her eyes nearly shut, and that they gave chase when she started running. “I've never seen her like this,” the musician concluded. “Mind you, she's extremely private, so we give her space when she needs it. If I'd have known how much she's been suffering-”

Twilight gently put her hoof to his lips. “You would've had no way of knowing, nor would you have known what to do. Heck, I'm not sure what to do, since not much is known about the Alicorn Amulet. I had to resort to trickery just to get her to take it off.”

“Wait,” Cacophony cut her off, “did you just say the 'Alicorn Amulet'?” When the librarian nodded, he continued, “I know enough about that to know it's bad news. Anypony is going to have a hard time adjusting to having and then losing that much power.”

“Y-y-you're not going to fire me, are you?” Trixie whispered.

Cacophony sat at the side of the bed, laying a hoof gently at the mare's side. “No, Trixie. I'm not going to fire you,” he replied softly. “Get that thought out of your head right now. Why didn't you tell us?”

A tear went down Trixie's face as she spoke, “I saw my one chance to put my past behind me and actually make friends. I was afraid that the four of you wouldn't accept me if you knew what kind of pony I had been.”

“Look, let's get you better first,” Cacophony said with a smile, “we'll talk about this after the show in Filly.”

“Last night, Trixie told me she had been having nightmares ever since she took the amulet off,” Twilight explained. “She said something about it 'engulfing' her.”

“For Trixie to get some rest, it seems, she needs something to stop her dreams,” the zebra intoned.

“Does she always talk like that?” Cacophony whispered to his sister.

“I will gladly mix a special brew, but there are some things I will need from you,” Zecora continued. “The ingredients Twilight will know. I will watch your friend; now, you two, go.”

“Thanks, Zecora,” the musician replied. “And thank you, Rarity, for helping me get Trixie here.”

“It was no trouble at all, dear brother,” his sister said with a smile. “I must be going, though. If you need anything more, you know where to find me.”

The siblings embraced, and after Twilight wrote down a checklist of the needed ingredients, the two unicorns were out the door.

* * * * *

Strings then heard the door to Sugar Cube Corner open. He turned and found Cacophony and a lavender unicorn that he hadn't met before. That must be the one that's got a thing for him, the guitarist thought to himself.

“My brother asked out that farmer pony,” the earth pony guitarist said. “He actually pulled it off! I can't believe it.”

“Nice! And what did she say?”

“Judging from cheering I heard from him after the fact, she said 'yes'.”

“That's wonderful,” Twilight said, “I think Applejack would be good for him.” Her eyes went wide, and then she extended her hoof. “I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name's Twilight Sparkle. You must be Strings. I see you've met Pinkie Pie.”

Strings bumped her hoof. “Yes, she's very... fascinating.”

“That's... a good word for her,” Twilight said with a smile. Turning serious, she continued, “Pinkie, can please you get me a pound each of powdered ginger and chamomile herb, a jar of honey, and a couple of sarsaparillas?”

“Is somepony having trouble sleeping?”

Twilight nodded and said, “Yes, Pinkie. Trixie has been having nightmares and Zecora is making a brew so she can sleep without dreaming. Zecora was helping me with my studies on the alchemical lore of her people, and it seems I'm going to be getting some hooves-on experience in that. I had hoped that I'd have time to study the Ancient Pegasus Empire with Cacophony tonight. I've always wanted to study it, but in learning about the Magic of Friendship, I never had the chance.”

Strings looked at Cacophony, then at Twilight, then back to Cacophony. He then turned to Pinkie and said, “Is this typical for her?”

Pinkie enthusiastically nodded. “Yep! She's one smart cookie! OOH! That reminds me! I've got some chocolate chip cookies. They're fresh out of the oven. Want some?”

The pan of cookies drew all three ponies closer instantly, and the scent rising from them made their mouths water. Strings gobbled up three, and seemed to melt into a puddle on the floor. “That mare knows my weakness,” he whispered. “Confound that pony.”

“These are really good, Pinkie,” Cacophony said after finishing his second cookie. “I'd say they're 'just like Mother used to make', but trust me... you really, really don't want my mother cooking for you.”

“Is she as bad as Rarity says she is?” Twilight asked. “I heard that she can actually burn orange juice.”

“With Mom, it's almost an art form. I ended up teaching myself to cook, and in turn, taught Rares.”

“Oh yeah!” Strings said, pulling himself off the floor. “Cack, can I ask you something in private, stallion to stallion?”

“Sure,” the unicorn guitarist said, “Twilight, can you give me a moment?”

Twilight nodded and said, “Absolutely. I'll just talk with Pinkie for a bit.”

When Strings was satisfied that they were out of earshot, he whispered to his bandmate, “So, Rarity isn't your ex?” Cacophony shook his head. “And you're not currently dating her, or else you wouldn't be on a date with her friend.” The unicorn shook his head again. “So... you two are just foal-hood friends?”

“I'd say Rarity and I are a lot more than friends, Strings. She's my sister.”

“Oh, I'm so dead- wait, younger or older?”

“Younger.”

“Oh, I'm so dead!”

“Why?”

“You gotta understand, dude; your sister is gorgeous, and you know when I see a mare like that-”

“You asked my sister out, didn't you...”

“I'm soooo dead...”

“If you had known she was my sister, probably,” Cacophony said. “Don't sweat it, buddy. Besides, it looks like you've made a cute new friend. A very strange cute new friend, but still...”

Strings looked at the curly-maned pink pony and smiled. “Yeah, she is cute. And you know what? She seems to get me. I've never once experienced that. I actually feel like I can be myself around her.”

“Then go for it, my friend,” Cacophony said, putting his hoof on his friend's withers. “Anyways, you have fun with Pinkie. From what Twilight tells me, it's almost impossible to not have fun when Pinkie's around.”

Strings grinned. “I knew there was something I liked about her,” he said enthusiastically, looking at the poofy-maned mare. “Well, it looks like your friend's waiting for you. Have a good time with cute 'n nerdy mare. I'm gonna see if Pinkie's got more strawberry cupcakes.”

“Sounds like you've got your evening all set,” the unicorn said. "Anyways, I better get back to Twilight and finish getting the things for Trixie."

"What is wrong with Trix? What's this I hear about 'nightmares'? Will she be okay?"

"You know how we never actually see her sleep? Well, apparently she doesn't. She promised she'd explain everything after the show in Filly."

"We still have gig? Are we still headlining act?"

"No, but we're opening for Mercyfilly Fate, which is why we need to get Trix back in top form. She's in her room at the inn; one of Twilight's friends is apparently going to mix up something that will help her. Twilight and Rarity are pretty confident in her abilities, so I think Trix'll be okay.

"She needs us to be supportive of her, got it?"

“You got it, comrade,” Strings said, bumping his friend's hoof. "I'll check on Trix later."

Author's Note

Dear Sweet Luna, I HATE writing dialog for Zecora...

Rainbows in the Dark

Rainbow Dash had just left Fluttershy's cottage, her brows furrowed with rage. The rainbow-maned flier had gone there in hopes that her friend could assist with Trixie's recuperation, but when she had arrived, she saw that Fluttershy was in no shape to help. Her friend was crying, and had apparently been crying for quite some time. The only words Rainbow could get out of the sensitive mare were “It's all my fault” and “Thunderwing”. The racer had left immediately after, not hearing her friend tell her 'not to hurt him' on her way out.

“I swear I will geld that son of a mule,” she muttered as she flew.

She was making a pass on the far edge of Everfree when she heard especially loud thunderclaps in the distance back towards Ponyville, but at a higher altitude. As far away as they were, she could still feel the vibrations deep in her abdomen. “There isn't a storm scheduled for today,” she said aloud, then flew to the source of the disturbance.

As she flew closer, she could hear what sounded like screams of rage and anguish. Rainbow was almost to the source when a lightning bolt singed her tail. It was then that she saw the blue pegasus stallion kicking any clouds that dared to get too close to him. As experienced as Dash was on the weather patrol, even she was impressed by the stallion's bucks as his rear hooves connected to the clouds. Indeed, she felt he would've made a fine addition to the weather patrol had he not pursued a career in music instead. Rainbow saw him well enough that Thunderwing was in a blind rage, and she didn't want to be on the business-end of his hooves, so she watched him from a distance. Eventually, he tired himself out and was soon lying on his stomach on a cloud, crying into it. “You and I need to have a talk, bud,” Rainbow said when she got close enough to him.

“Leave me alone,” he said between sobs, “I'm not in the mood.”

“You hurt one of my best friends, you bastard!” the mare screamed. “Now, you have five seconds to explain yourself, or else I'm bucking you until you're glue.”

“Try it, Dash!” Thunderwing growled, getting in her muzzle. “But if you think I would hurt my Shy-Shy-”

“Wait a sec... Shy-Shy?!” the mare asked, the absolute ridiculousness of the nickname completely diffusing her anger. “What's this about?”

Thunderwing laid back on the cloud, crying anew. “I don't want to talk about it,” he rasped. “Now please, just leave me alone.”

The racer landed on the cloud next to Thunderwing and touched him with a wing. “What happened between you and Fluttershy?”

The musician sighed, realizing that the mare wasn't going to leave. “Nothing,” he replied as levelly as he could, “I haven't seen her for fifteen years. I thought she was dead. We all did... Mom... Dad... Dad left because of it... Mom took me and moved away from Cloudsdayle to some rats' nest in Bucklyn.”

At that moment, the realization hit Rainbow Dash like a lightning bolt: Fluttershy and Thunderwing weren't an item, but siblings. And in her gut, Rainbow knew the incident the bassist was referring to: the fateful race that sent Fluttershy earthward... that day that she and her five best friends got their Cutie Marks. She and Fluttershy never spoke of what happened after that. At that time, Fluttershy was still too weak to make her way back to Cloudsdayle, and by the time Rainbow Dash had found her and helped her regain her strength, it was already too late. Fluttershy's family home was empty, and nopony knew where they had gone. Suddenly, the racer felt sick to her stomach knowing that, while her motives were altruistic, her recklessness nearly killed Fluttershy and ended up destroying her family.

“I'm sorry, Thunderwing,” she said, her eyes full of tears, “it's all my fault. It was me who sent her falling to the ground. I was just trying to defend her honor against some idiot colts who were making fun of her. If you're going to hate anypony, hate me. I helped her try to find your folks after I saw that Fluttershy was okay, but you all left without a trace. All that was left were some pictures.”

Thunderwing looked at the mare, his expression unreadable. “Answer me this,” he said, his voice unnervingly calm, “did you watch over her?”

“Of course I did,” Dash said, her tone defensive. “In fact, I helped her get enough strength so she could fly back to Cloudsdayle. But since your folks left, she chose to stay in Ponyville.”

Thunderwing sighed deeply, then sat up, wiping his eyes with a wing. “Then I can't hate you, Rainbow Dash,” he replied. “If anything, since you helped keep my sister alive, I should be thanking you.”

“Where are your folks? I'll make sure to get word to your mom and dad personally to let them know that Fluttershy's alive and well. I just hope that I can eventually make it up to you and your family.”

“Dad's the head of the Weather Patrol in Los Pegasus. I don't know where he lives, though. Mom's still in Bucklyn at that same apartment.” Thunderwing sighed again. “She doesn't see anypony.”

“I'll do right by you and Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said, her eyes locked into Thunderwing's. “That's a promise.”

The stallion smiled kindly at the cyan mare, then embraced her. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash,” he said.

“You know,” the rainbow-maned pegasus said, “there's a certain awesome mare that you said you'd hang out with, but you've been up here busting up these clouds.”

“You're right. What do you say about maybe racing around while blasting some Marebid Angel and Mercyfilly Fate?”

“Throw in some Iron Mare and you can count me in!” Dash said with a grin. “Just don't bring that last one from Marebid Angel... that one was so lame.”

“Yeah I know. What the hay were they thinking? Just bear with me, okay?” the stallion said. “I'm not exactly that strong of a flier.”

“Yep, you are her brother,” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

The two were off, with Rainbow going at half speed so Thunderwing could keep up. They made a stop at the mare's house so she could get her phonograph set up. Soon, the air was filled with the sound of buzzsaw guitars and pounding drums as the two pegasi sped through the clouds. The stallion watched the mare as she flew and couldn't help but admire her agility. He knew that, even if he hadn't moved to Bucklyn, he still wouldn't have had Rainbow Dash's natural speed and skill. Then came the matter of the mare herself. When he first met her, he found her to be a bit too tomboyish for his tastes. Seeing her in her natural element was another story entirely; watching her soaring with the wind through her multi-hued mane, he found her quite beautiful. “Hey!” he heard her shouting.

“Yeah?”

“See something you like?”

He realized that his gaze must have lingered a little too long, and felt his face flush. Rainbow stopped to laugh heartily at the stallion's reddening, which made Thunderwing blush even harder. This, of course, made the mare laugh even harder. “Wow,” she said, “you're cute when you're embarrassed.”

“It doesn't happen often, let me assure you.”

“That's okay, Thunderwing,” she said, patting him with her hoof, “I kinda like you. Yeah, you're in my favorite band and all, but you're a really cool pony, and really sweet.” She gave him the once over. “Kinda easy on the eyes, too,” she added with a wink.

The stallion smiled and ran a hoof through his mane. “Thanks,” he said. “Most mares are really only interested in me because I'm in a band, or if they find out that I'm a musician, I never see them again. It's nice to meet a mare who doesn't care about that stuff.”

“Most stallions are intimidated by me,” she said. “Either they feel like I won't like them because they can't keep up with me, or they try to be better than me and end up coming short. I don't care if a guy can't keep up with me; I mean, I have a tortoise for a pet, for pony's sake!”

“You have a tortoise for a pet?”

“Yeah!” Rainbow said with a grin. “Hold on, I'll get him!”

Thunderwing expected Dash to zip off to retrieve her pet, but instead, she yelled out, “Tank! Come here, buddy!”

Soon, the bassist could hear a whirring sound, and from the distance, he could see a shape approaching them at a pretty decent speed. The shape soon became a tortoise wearing a propeller strapped to his shell, flight goggles, and a grin. The stallion found himself laughing at the absurdity of what he was seeing. “That,” he said, “is the most awesome thing I've ever seen. That pretty much invalidates any argument a pony can have. I mean, they can say something and you can say, 'I've got a tortoise-copter; your argument is invalid'. Awesome!”

“I didn't realize how cool he was until he saved me at Ghastly Gorge,” Rainbow Dash said, rubbing Tank's shell. “A giant boulder fell, pinning one of my wings. This little guy managed to lift it up enough so I could get out. He's been my buddy ever since.”

“See? He even has a cool story attached to him,” Thunderwing replied. “Makes for a great pet.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, then turned to the tortoise. “See you when I get home, pal,” she said, bumping one of his feet with her hoof. Tank nodded once very slowly, then flew back in the direction of his owner's house.

The two then realized that either the music had stopped, or they were too far away to hear it. “Hey, whaddaya say we spy on the others?” Rainbow asked.

“Sure, why not?” Thunderwing replied.

Soon, the pair were flying high over Sweet Apple Acres in the night sky. They were above the west end of the orchard when they saw two specks on a small hill. The mare put a hoof to her lips, and then the two pegasi were in a large, low-hanging cloud. She recognized one of them as her friend Applejack; the other was a stallion she recognized as Alicorn Malign's drummer. “Hey,” she whispered, “what's your drummer doing with Applejack?”

Thunderwing peeled the clouds back a little so he could see what the two were doing. He saw Sticks's hoof touching the farm mare's, and his eyes firmly locked into hers. “It would appear,” he whispered back, “that they're on a date.”

Rainbow almost starting laughing again, but the stallion silenced her with his hoof. “Quiet, they'll hear us,” he whispered.

“Hey,” Applejack's voice said in the distance, “you hear somethin'?”

The two earth ponies listened, but heard nothing. “Must've been the wind, or something,” Sticks replied. “Does feel like we're being watched, though.”

“It'd be my luck my friend Rainbow Dash might be spyin' on us. Sneakin' around weren't never her strong suit.”

“How would you know about that?”

“Well, there was that time she snuck into the hospital to try and steal a Daring Do book,” Applejack said with a grin. “Caused a whole big ruckus!”

Sticks chuckled heartily at the story, and up in the clouds, Thunderwing held his breath to stifle his own laughter. The colorful pegasus mare glared at her companion balefully, then whispered, “Oh, come on, those books are awesome.”

“It's not the books,” he said quietly, “it's the fact that you broke into a hospital to get it. You know, this town does have a library.”

“Well,” the mare said, shuffling a hoof awkwardly, “I didn't want to seem like an egghead. In the end, Twilight lent me all the books. I've read them all three times.”

“I'm partial to Daring Do and The Cults of the Shadow myself. I like how it deals with zebra myth and rituals.”

“That's my favorite, too!” Rainbow Dash yelled, then quickly put her hoof to her mouth.

“I knew you'd be spyin' on us, Rainbow Dash!” Applejack shouted to the sky.

“Quick,” Dash whispered. “Let's get out of here!” With that, she bolted in the general direction of the library.

Thunderwing simply shrugged, poked his head out through the bottom of the cloud he was crouched on, and said, “Have a good time, guys.”

With that, the stallion flew after Rainbow Dash.

* * * * *

Cacophony slowly trotted with Twilight Sparkle next to him. The pair had gotten the rest of the ingredients from the Everfree Forest and brought them back to Zecora, who had promptly dismissed the two unicorns so Trixie could rest. “So, it looks like our evening is finally free,” the librarian said. “Unfortunately, with what happened, any plans I had for our date were completely ruined.”

“Yeah, about that,” Cacophony said, “I'm not really looking for a relationship with anypony right now. Don't get me wrong; I like you and all, and I think you're really pretty.”

Twilight sighed, but put a hoof on the stallion's wither and smiled. “That's okay, Cacophony,” she said. “Admittedly, I kind of put you on the spot earlier. We can still be friends, though. Right?”

The musician's eyes met the librarian's. “Abso-bucking-lutely!” he said with a smile. “At any rate, you wanted my 'perspective' on The Mare in the Moon. Come on, I'll take you to my favorite spot as a colt.”

The two unicorns cantered a little faster towards the woods skirting Ponyville. Twilight had an idea of where they were going. Her suspicions were soon confirmed when the pair were in front of the town's statue of Nightmare Moon looming menacingly above them. The librarian remembered the fateful Nightmare Night that Princess Luna had made an appearance, and vividly recalled the image of the forlorn princess offering the statue a piece of candy as if to make a peace offering with her demonic past. Cacophony and Twilight sat in silence gazing up at the statue's grimacing visage. “I remember first seeing this statue as a colt,” Cacophony began. “It was my first Nightmare Night, and I was giving my offering.

“My classmates were giving up their stash so that Nightmare Moon would eat the candy instead of them. But not me. All I could think of was... 'it must be so lonely up there... nopony loves her...'

“I never believed that Nightmare Moon ever ate foals,” he continued. He then looked over at Twlight. “Those were all stupid mare's tales.

“Since then, I made it a point to know everything there was to know about Nightmare Moon. I knew she had been the Princess of the Night, but she was banished by the Princess of the Dawn when her authority was challenged... that she was jealous over how ponies would frolic during the daytime, but would huddle in their beds and sleep through the night. But the more I read, the more I felt like I understood how Nightmare Moon felt, and could relate to her plight when I thought about how things were at home.

“I remember one Hearts and Hooves day. All my classmates had their 'special somepony'. Everypony but me,” the musician said.

“Awww,” Twilight responded with a frown.

Cacophony looked at Twilight and smiled. He then looked back up at the statue. “That night, I came here with flowers and candy, and laid them at the hooves of the statue. After all, Nightmare Moon didn't have a special somepony, either...”

It didn't take long for Twilight to do the math. “You do know that my friends and I defeated her, and that she's no longer Nightmare Moon,” she said.

“Oh, I know,” the stallion said, still smiling. “Everypony thought I was weird for doing that. You probably do, too. And I'll admit, looking back, it was a bit strange. But Nightmare Moon became Nightmare Moon because she thought nopony cared for her. The poetry that got me kicked out by my parents? They were poems for her, and if they hadn't kicked me out, I would've given them to her when she came here.

“I thought that maybe... just maybe... a crush from an idiot school-colt could make her not be a monster anymore,” Cacophony concluded. He then looked down at the grass, pawing it with a hoof. “You probably think I'm stupid for thinking that.”

“Absolutely not, Cacophony,” Twilight responded. “I'll admit, it's a little strange, but also sweet. Knowing Princess Luna, I think she'd be touched by how you feel.”

“You know Princess Luna?”

“Yes,” the unicorn mare replied, then shared with Cacophony how she had become the protégé of Princess Celestia, as well as some of the adventures she and Rarity had with their friends. She also included the troubles they had with Trixie.

“Then we have you, Rares, and your friends to thank for bringing Princess Luna back to us,” the musician said after a pause. “If Trixie was so terrible to you all, why are you helping her?”

“Oh, we forgave her for what she had done,” Twilight replied. “Besides, if she was able to gain such wonderful friends like you and your band-mates, then she's clearly making an effort to be a better pony.” She then stifled a yawn and said, “It's getting late, and we both should be getting some rest for the morning.”

“You're right. Thanks for listening to me, Twilight.”

Twilight hugged the musician and said, “What are friends for?”

The pair then trotted back to the tree which housed the library. The lavender mare hugged the purple stallion again and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for a fascinating night, Cacophony. Let me know how Trixie's doing tomorrow, okay?”

“You got it, Twilight Sparkle,” he replied. “Sleep well, and give my regards to your assistant.”

Twilight chuckled. “Okay. Good night,” she said.

“Good night.”

The door had just shut behind the librarian when he had heard cheers coming from a cloud overhead. “Cacophony, you dog, you!” a familiar voice shouted.

“Oh, for crying out loud, Thunders,” Cacophony shouted back, “you're going to wake everypony up!”

“Long night, eh?” the pegasus bass player asked with a wink after flying down to the ground. He was followed by the rainbow-maned mare from earlier.

“Nothing happened,” the unicorn said, “we were just talking. She wanted my perspective on The Mare in the Moon.”

“Yeah, sure,” Thunderwing said with a wink, “you're just saying that because you don't want her friend here to kick your flank.”

“Umm,” Rainbow Dash interjected, “that actually sounds like something that would happen on a date with Twilight Sparkle. I love her to pieces, but she's an absolute egghead. I wouldn't be surprised if Cacophony here is an egghead, too.”

Thunderwing opened his mouth, then promptly shut it again. “Yeah,” he finally said, “he always was the intellectual of the band. Heck, he writes most of our lyrics, except for the ones about flying.”

“Yeah,” the unicorn said, “can't write about something you can never know. Anyways, I'm heading to the room to crash.”

With that, Cacophony trotted back towards the inn. When he was out of sight, Thunderwing looked at Rainbow Dash. “I had a really good time with you tonight,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “In fact, it was the best time I've had in years. I'm sorry about earlier.”

“Don't worry about it,” she replied with a smile. “Just do me a favor and see Fluttershy tomorrow morning. She's convinced that you hate her and won't forgive her for abandoning you.”

“I promise,” Thunderwing said.

“Can you forgive me for causing that whole mess to begin with?”

“You? Absolutely. After all, you watched out for her for all this time. However, if I ever run into those stallions that were making fun of her, I will make sure they regret what they did.”

“So, I'll catch you around?”

“Hopefully. I want to spend time with my sister, though. We've got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Of course,” Rainbow Dash replied.

The two stood in awkward silence for a seemingly interminable amount of time before the mare planted a kiss firmly on Thunderwing's lips, causing the wings of both pegasi to flare reflexively. “Something for you to think about,” Rainbow Dash said with a wink. “Good night!”

With that, the mare flew off. Thunderwing grinned as he watched Rainbow Dash fly off, and practically skipped back to the inn where Cacophony was waiting in the lobby. The unicorn looked at his band-mate's still-flared wings and rolled his eyes. “Thunderwing, you dog, you,” he said with a grin.

“Oh, shut up,” the pegasus said, hiding his face behind a wing. “Why aren't you in the room?”

“Clearly, you were spending too much time playing kissy-face with your marefriend to realize that you're the one with the key.”

The bass player looked down and realized that the key was on a chain around his neck. “Oops, sorry.”

The unicorn smiled and said, “Don't worry about it. I'm glad your night went well.”

“So what's up with Trix? You keep saying a bunch of horse-apples about 'checking up on her'. Is she okay?”

“Honestly, no,” Cacophony replied. He then told the bass player about how he and Rarity found Trixie sleepwalking, as well as what Twilight told him about the Alicorn Amulet and what their keyboardist had done while it was in her possession. “She needs us to be there for her, Thunders.”

“Well, yeah!” the pegasus replied incredulously. “I already knew Trix could be a pain in the plot. So did you, and so did the Fabulous Stalliongrad Brothers. I ain't gonna ditch her just because she had a brief reign of terror in some one-horse town while meddling with powers she barely understood. Who hasn't done that at some point in their lives?”

“I know, right?” Cacophony replied with a chuckle. “Anyways, let's crash, bro. We've got a big day ahead of us.”

Author's Note

Happy Hearth's Warming everypony!! It's a short chapter, but enlightening.

Welcome Home

It was an afternoon like any other in Equestria, as Celestia’s sun was about to make way for Luna’s moon. Soon, the silence of the White Tail Woods was broken by the clacking sound of the Friendship Express making its way from Los Pegasus. Aboard the train were your typical passengers... travelers, businessponies, and the occasional pegasus who was too tired to fly. Also aboard the train were five ponies who were more unusual than the others. A blue pegasus was playing cards with a white Earth pony. They both just so happened to be stallions. The first of the two had a long, wavy green mane with yellow streaks, and the second had a spiked, green mane that, if it were made of, say, metal, could be quite a deadly weapon. Also, what wasn't mentioned before, is that an azure unicorn mare was also playing cards with them. Her mane looked quite like spun silver, draped upon her head. Beside their card game, in the top bunk of a bed, lie a purple unicorn in deep slumber, who, like the pegasus and the earth pony, was a stallion. His mane was the color of onyx, striped with gray, which belied his youthful appearance. A small, black goatee adorned this stallion's chin. A sea foam-green Earth stallion lie in the bottom bunk, his green and white mane a small disaster, tapping drumsticks on the woodwork of the bunk above him. Soon, the train started slowing down, coming to a stop by a small town. Some passengers left the train, but curiously, none came aboard, having been stopped by the train attendant. The spiky-maned stallion glanced out the window and lifted an eyebrow. “Seems the train has stopped moving,” he said with a rather thick Stalliongrad accent, “but I still hear engine.”

The pegasus motioned to the sleeping unicorn with a wing, saying “That’d be the snoring wonder over in the bunk.”

Sure enough, the sleeping stallion was snoring very loudly, practically shaking the windows. The stallion in the lower bunk kicked the upper bunk hard, but to no avail. “Well, that didn’t work,” he said, also with a Stalliongrad accent.

“We can put his hoof in warm water,” the pegasus said with a smirk.

“Nyet, remember what happen last time you do that,” the spiky-maned Earth pony said.

“Da,” the drumming pony agreed, “I don’t think they’ll let us stay at that hotel ever again.”

“Let me try something,” the unicorn mare spoke, breaking her silence.

She cantered to the sleeping stallion and whispered in his ear. He then bolted upright. “But we just met!!” he screamed before getting his horn stuck in the ceiling. “Ow!”

The rest of the ponies in that car erupted into raucous laughter at the stallion’s expense. The group was then interrupted by the sound of the mustached train attendant clearing his throat. “All right,” the surly stallion said gruffly, “everypony off.”

“But this isn’t Fillydelphia,” the spike-maned stallion said.

“Sure isn’t, and no pony’s going to Fillydelphia for a week. We’re in Ponyville.”

“A WEEK?!” the pegasus and spike-maned pony exclaimed.

“PONYVILLE?!” the two unicorns shouted.

The calmest of the five ponies got out of his bunk and approached the attendant. “But why for a week?”

“Seems a family of manticores wrecked the tracks passing Everfree,” the attendant replied, his tone unchanging. “Sorry folks.”

“But we had express tickets with no layovers,” the pegasus growled, his Bucklyn accent thickening with his increasing anger.

“Names, please,” the attendant said, unimpressed.

“Name’s Thunderwing,” the pegasus replied.

“Cacophony,” the unicorn stallion said after getting his horn unstuck. “Ouch.”

“Estringei,” the spike-maned stallion said, “and my brother Stikschev.”

“Okay,” the attendant said with a nod, “I have you two down as ‘Strings’ and ‘Sticks’. From Stalliongrad?”

“Da," Strings said, “you from Stalliongrad, too?"

“My grandma’s from Stalliongrad. Hated it there.” The attendant then turned to the mare. “Your name?”

“Trixie Lulamoon,” she mumbled.

“Trixie? As in ‘The Great & Powerful Trixie’?”

The mare nodded, looking uneasy. “I saw your performance in Hoofington a couple years back,” the stallion spoke, surly as ever, “good, clean, family fun. So what’s so danged important in Filly?”

“Our band has a gig there day after tomorrow,” Thunderwing replied.

“Oh, you’re that rock band, Unicorn McLain?”

“Alicorn Malign,” Cacophony corrected, his eyes narrowed to slits.

“Whatever,” the attendant dismissed. “Best I can tell you folks is to send a letter to Filly and hope you can still perform when you get there.”

The purple unicorn nodded, then smoothed his goatee. “Sir, how well do you know Ponyville?”

“Stayed there a couple of times, nothing to write home about.”

“Is the Dewdrop Inn still there?”

“That place near that bakery? Should be,” the attendant replied with a nod.

“Come on, everypony,” Cacophony addressed his band-mates, “it’s getting dark soon, and we better get to the post office before it closes. Hopefully the Dewdrop still has rooms available.”

The four ponies nodded and followed the attendant off the train. The group was then greeted by three baggage handlers pulling wagons, containing the band’s instruments and other belongings. “Have a good week, folks,” the surly stallion said as Cacophony, Sticks, and Strings hitched themselves to their wagons.

“So, Cack," Strings said, addressing the bearded unicorn, “How well do you know Ponyville?"

“Pretty well, since I was born and raised here. Follow me, everypony.”

Although the town had changed considerably in the four years Cacophony had been away, they were able to find the Post Office fairly easily. They were greeted by a gray pegasus mare with the most peculiar yellow eyes the band had ever seen, and a cutie mark that resembled bubbles. “Sure thing,” the mare said after the band explained their situation, “I can get that letter to Fillydelphia no problem in three days tops! Throw in some muffins and I'll have it there by tomorrow!”

Thunderwing looked at Sticks and said, “Get this mare a dozen muffins STAT!”

“What kind?” Sticks asked the pegasus mare.

“Oh, I don't know,” the wall-eyed pegasus said, “I sure could go for apple cinnamon. Haven't had a good apple cinnamon muffin in a loooong time!”

The stallion saluted and said, “One dozen apple cinnamon muffins, coming right up!” and then bolted for the door. He then stopped suddenly, turned around, and asked, “Where can I get some decent muffins in this place?”

“Oh, for most muffins, I like to go to Sugar Cube Corner, although they're more known for their cupcakes. Some ponies like cupcakes better; I, for one, care less for them. But for apple cinnamon, the best come from Sweet Apple Acres!”

“That must be that huge apple orchard. On the way now!” Sticks said before bolting out the door.

* * * * *

Applejack was just finishing the last of the apple-bucking for the day when an earth pony stallion caught her attention. She could easily tell that this stallion wasn't from around here, given how she knew everypony in Ponyville, as well as how he looked over each of the trees almost as if he were a tourist. “Well, shoot, pardner,” she said as she trotted up to him, “you look like you ain't never seen an apple tree before!”

Sticks cleared his throat. “Actually, I haven't, to be honest”, he said, “at least, not up close. My name's Stikschev, but you can call me 'Sticks'. And yours?”

“Applejack's the name, apple-buckin's mah game!” the farm pony replied, shaking Sticks's extended hoof vigorously. “You don't sound like you're from around here, pardner. Where ya from?”

“Oh, I'm from Stalliongrad, originally. I live in Manehattan now with my brother, Estringei, and the rest of our band. My brother, we call him 'Strings', he plays the guitar.”

“Well, shoot, I stayed in Manehattan with my Auntie and Uncle Orange when I was just a little filly. Ain't never been to Stalliongrad, though. So, what can I do ya for, handsome?”

Sticks's sea-foam green coat turned a reddish tinge. He wasn't used to mares being nice to him, at least not before a show. “Actually,” he squeaked, then cleared his throat again, “I was told that I could get the best apple cinnamon muffins in town here. I need to get a dozen.”

“Shucks, sugarcube,” Applejack said with a grin, “I'd dare say our muffins are the best in all of Equestria! In fact, I think Granny Smith just took some out of the oven! Hold it right there, and I'll get 'em for ya!”

Before she galloped for the house, she took a good look at Sticks. Clearly, this stallion kept in shape, and she admired the way his muscles rippled beneath his green coat, and his accent was thick enough to make him a little more exotic to the country pony. His green and white mane was rather unkempt; in fact, it looked like he hadn't brushed it since he had gotten out of bed. A picture of a set of drums adorned his flank. When Sticks saw Applejack looking at his flank, he quickly turned so it was out of sight and blushed furiously. With a wink, she took off for the house and came right back clutching a paper sack in her teeth. The scent of freshly baked muffins reached his nostrils, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since he left their last gig at Birminghoof. “That'll be four bits, handsome,” Applejack said. “Hope y'all enjoy 'em!”

Sticks reached into his saddlebag and took out the requested amount. “Actually, these aren't for me. My band and I are on the way to Fillydelphia, but we're gonna be here for a week. We need to let the club know that there's going to be a delay, and the mail-mare said she'd get a letter there by tomorrow if-”

“Say no more, pardner,” the farm pony said, “I figured they might be for Derpy Hooves. She's just nutty about them muffins! Well, y'all come back and bring yer friends. The Apple family will make sure you get a decent meal in ya!”

Sticks picked up the bag in his teeth, and nodded his thanks. Immediately, he regretted doing that, since the scent of the muffins was torturing his hunger. He then galloped back to the post office, past his friends, and dropped the bag at the mail-mare's hooves. Panting, he said, “And you are darned lucky I didn't eat any of these!! I... am... STARVING!!!”

“Oh, goodie!” Derpy said with a grin. “They smell fresh, too!!” She then looked with her lazy eye at the five clearly ravenous ponies eying her newly procured bag of muffins. If possible, she smiled even wider. “You didn't think I wasn't gonna share these, did you? Sharing is caring, especially when muffins are involved! Actually, I didn't think you'd actually get me Sweet Apple Acres muffins. That really was awful nice of you guys.”

With that, she gave them each a muffin, which they quickly devoured. “Anyways, I'm off to send that letter! Thanks again for the muffins!” the mail-mare said as she flew off with the envelope in her teeth.

The five ponies stepped out of the post office, their hunger sated for the moment. “She's a nice pony,” Thunderwing said. “Odd, but very nice. And once you can get past the weird eyes, she's kinda cute.”

The unicorn stallion rolled his eyes and nudged his pegasus bandmate. “You'd go for any mare with wings, Thunders.”

“Not true,” the winged stallion said, raising his hoof, “what about that chubby earth pony that was at the Trottingham gig last month?”

“Actually,” Cacophony cut in, “I think you had been hitting the cider a little too hard that night, because she clearly had wings.”

Thunderwing opened and closed his mouth several times, hummed, then opened and closed his mouth a few more times. He then sighed and said, “Yeah, she did have wings. That's right. How many ciders did I have, anyway?”

“I think around 3... kegs,” the unicorn stallion said. “I was amazed that you could even canter for a few feet without falling over.”

“Yeah.... that was a great gig, though.”

The five musicians each nodded their agreement enthusiastically. “So Cacophony,” Thunderwing said, “you're from this place. Where can we get a decent bite to eat?”

Sticks cleared his throat and said, “We actually got a dinner invite from the pony who lives at the orchard. If those muffins are any indication of how good the rest of the food is, I vote we eat there.”

“Yeah, I remember Sweet Apple Acres,” Cacophony said, “best apples in all of Equestria. Actually, it's probably the thing I miss most about living here.”

“Well, it's decided then,” Thunderwing said. “Let's get going!”

“After we check in, of course,” Trixie added, “We’re gonna need a place to stay if we’re going to be here for a week.” She then turned to Cacophony, adding, “Unless your folks wouldn’t mind us staying at their place.”

“I seriously doubt they’d be okay with just me being there, let alone with my four friends,” the bearded stallion replied, his blue eyes downcast.

“It couldn’t have been that bad, could it?” Thunderwing asked, placing his hoof on his friend’s withers.

“My parents made their feelings pretty clear when I left,” Cacophony whispered, not looking up.

“Cacophony,” Strings said softly, “there is one thing I know is that, while parents don’t always approve of what their colts do, they always accept them. My mother and father, they weren’t too happy when Stikschev and I leave crafting business to make the metal, but they always be supportive and loving.”

“And at least you have parents,” Trixie added.

Cacophony raised his head, the expression across his muzzle serious. “Let’s get to the Dewdrop and check in before the Apple family gives up on us,” he said with a tone of finality.

Author's Note

Very special thanks to Shamrocker for editing!