The Mane Six, who were starting to think of themselves as the Stranger Six, tried their best to look normal as they strolled out of Twilight's castle. They had all resumed their disguises as well as they could and talked among themselves as they walked, hopped, or hovered along. They tried to keep out of hearing range from the normal town residents, which was not difficult since most of them made sharp turns away when spotting any of the young mares... or whatever they were now.

“Okay girls, this has been a very… informative day for all of us. Let’s all take the time to digest the info and not talk about it when somepony is nearby got it?” Twilight said.

“Got it.” The others nodded.

“Applejack, when you're ready to talk about it, let me know and I’ll have Spike send letters explaining it,” Twilight said.

“Ok,” Applejack said.

“Good luck girls,” Twilight closed the door and the girls headed back through the town together, speaking quietly enough that nopony could hear them.

“So? Does the sun bother you right now?” Pinkie asked RD.

“Not really. I practically bathe in sun lotion so I have a pretty thick coat of it on,” RD said.

“And Fluttershy, can you swim in lava?” Pinkie asked.

“Yes, though it burns off the fur part of my hide and my mane so I’d rather not,” Fluttershy whispered.

"Hey!" Pinkie popped up and pressed her nose against Rarity's. "Do changelings poop? Because if they only eat love there wouldn't be anything to poop, but I suppose you can still fart because everybody farts, even in the tub."

“Pinkie! Why would you ask me such an uncouth question?” Rarity complained.

“I’ve always wondered,” Pinkie said before popping up to Applejack, but wound up getting a hat stuck over her face before she could speak.

“Can yall keep it down?” Applejack put her hat back on. “If somepony hears ya, we’ll be in trouble.” Applejack glanced around.

“Relax. I have lived for a loooooooooong time. I’m practically a pro at conversation dodging.”

“Still, ah’d rather not people suspect ah’m not a real pony,” Applejack said firmly.

“I agree with Applejack,” said Rarity before turning in the direction of her boutique and squaring her shoulders. “The longer I can put off ponies finding out… You know what, the better. Now if you all will excuse me, I simply must get back to work,” Rarity said, trotting back towards her boutique.

Rainbow watched her friend prance away before heading up to the sky. “Gotta go back to weather watch. Got a storm to put together. Later!" RD said before flying off.

"I should get home,” said Fluttershy. “Angel will want to hear the good news that I wasn't rejected. He'll be so happy. We should have a celebratory salad tonight," Fluttershy said with a little pep in her trot.

"Big Mac’s probably wonderin’ where ah'm at so I'm going to get it moving," Applejack said, but as she turned to leave, Pinkie grabbed her.

"Hold on, AJ! I gotta chat real quick,"

"What? Pinkie, ah gotta get back to work," AJ said.

"Just reeeeeeaaaal quick," Pinkie asked.

Applejack sighed. "Fine, but not here. Let's go back to the farm together."

"No need! We're already here," Pinkie said.

"What do you mean we haven't even moved-" Applejack paused and looked at the barn around them.

"The hay!? When did we-"

"Primordial powers, AJ," Pinkie said with a casual shrug.

"Ah still don't get them…” Applejack sighed before turning back to Pinkie. "Alright, ya got me here. Care to share what's on yer mind?"

"I'm just curious as to the reason why you didn't share what you are. Is it embarrassing or scary?" Pinkie asked.

Applejack looked annoyed at hearing this. "Seriously, that's why ya wanted to talk to me? Ah told you why ah just can't tell ya right now."

"I know I know, but I want to know the real reason, I'm so curious and I can sense that you are sad or upset. I don't like it when my friends are upset I feel like you'll get feel better if you get this off your chest," Pinkie said.

"Ah said no, Pinkie!" Applejack said rather hotly.

Pinkie seemed sad upon hearing that. "If that's what you want, AJ, alright. I just want you to know you have a shoulder to cry on," Pinkie said.

Applejack took some calming breaths and spoke again. "Ah'll let you know when, but fer now please drop it."

"Ok…" Pinkie said sheepishly before leaving.

As the barn door closed, Applejack took a breath and glanced around nervously.

"No pony but mah family can know, ever. It's too dangerous if they know what ah am, what ah become. They'll forget about it eventually… ah hope," Applejack said morosely before heading off to her duties.

Rarity trotted into her boutique and pulled all the curtains shut. Only then did she give a deep sigh and drop onto her fainting sofa so she could drop her disguise.

“Oh dearie me… how will my relationship with my friends develop from here?...” Rarity just stared at the ceiling for a time, but no answer was evident. A few hours of deep thought later, she heard a door close and Sweetie Belle came running into the room.

“Hey Rarit-”

Sweetie gasped upon seeing her sister as a Changeling and she quickly whipped around, shut the door, and peeked through the window to see if anybody saw before looking back at Rarity.

“Rarity, wasn’t it you who told me never change when the door is unlocked?” she asked.

“It’s fine, Sweetie… I just needed time to think about today…”

“Sis? You alright?” Sweetie shifted back into changeling form and shifted closer to Rarity for emotional support.

“I am,” said Rarity. “I’ve learned some interesting things today.”

“What kind of things?” Sweetie asked.

“I’m not sure I am allowed to share. Let’s just say we aren’t the only ones holding secrets in Ponyville,” Rarity said.

“We aren’t? Who is?” she asked with and obvious hopeful hint to her voice that implied a certain amount of cutie mark questing in the future.

“My friends, but don’t tell them I said so. I cannot say what it is, so just trust me,” Rarity said while getting up.

“Okay,” Sweetie gave Rarity a big hug. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Fluttershy entered her home and saw Angel and her other animal friends playing cards together. When they saw her, Angel hopped up to her with a hopeful look on his face.

“Celebratory salads tonight everyone. They accepted me!”

Fluttershy scooped Angel up into a hug. Every animal cheered and followed her into the kitchen for salads.

RD swooped in through her front door and went straight to the terrarium. "Hey Tank!" RD said.

Tank gave a questioning look to RD who noticed. "Yeah, lots happened this morning. I discovered some stuff about my friends and told them about myself.”

Tank tilted his head.

“Including the Vampony stuff,” she clarified.

Tank nodded encouragingly.

“Thanks, Tank. I gotta say I feel a bit better knowing my friends are in the same boat, cept egghead.”

Tank tilted his head.

“Sorry T, but I promised them,” RD shrugged.

Tank nodded understandingly.

Pinkie bounced into the bakery. After her unfortunate encounter with AJ, she needed some time with her Ponyville family.

“Hiya guys!” Pinkie cheered.

“Hello Pinkie,” Mr Cake said, setting up some pastries.

“Did the meeting go well?” Mrs Cake asked.

“It did! Now they know the truth of ole Pinkamena Pyrocelsa steed number three Diane Pie” Pinkie cheered.

“Pinkie… you're saying you told them?!” Mrs. Cake said.

“Yup,” Pinkie said.

“Even the Element of Honesty?” Mrs. Cake asked.

“Yup! But don’t worry they're all in a similar boat, but don’t ask how. I Pinkie promised,” Pinkie said.

The two glanced at each other before looking at Pinkie.

“As long as they're okay with it I suppose,” Mr. Cake said. “I remember the day you showed us, and we reacted… not so well.”

“At least you didn’t faint,” Mrs. Cake chuckled.

“Yup! I wonder who I could reveal it to next?...” Pinkie wondered.

“Ah, maybe wait before you start revealing your secret to more ponies,” Mrs. Cake said.

Pinkie shrugged. “If you say so.”

Twilight threw herself onto her bed and let out a breath she’s been holding in for awhile.

“Today… has been a long day and it isn’t even lunchtime.”

“Yeah…” Spike said.

“I mean who would've thought that one of my closest friends was a former Horse of the Apocalypse!” Twilight waved her hooves to showcase her surprise.

“Uhuh…” Spike said sitting at the edge of the bed.

“And a Vampony and a Dragon Pony and a Changeling and… whatever Applejack is… Who would have thought our group was so diverse!?” Twilight exclaimed. “I have so many questions to ask each of them.”

“Sure…” Spike said.

“Spike? You're rather quiet. Is everything alright,”

“Twilight, do you think Rarity has been using me this entire time?” Spike asked.

“What? What kind of question is tha-”

“You know what I mean, Twilight,” Spike said firmly.

“Oh… about that main source thing…” Twilight sighed. “I don’t want to think she would. It’s not in Rarity’s nature to use someone who cares about her.” Twilight patted him on the back.

“She told me I was her main source. Is that all I am to her? Not even a friend, just an energy source?” Spike said.

“Well, if Rarity meant it she needed love energy to keep her and her sister going, and you love her, so she took some to keep her and Sweetie healthy. Besides I can tell she sees you as a close friend,” Twilight explained.

“You really think so?” Spike asked.

“Just talk to her and I am sure she can alleviate your concerns,” Twilight said.

“I will. Thanks for hearing me out, Twilight.” Spike hugged his sister.

“No problem, Spike. Now how about we get to those question lists?” Twilight asked.

“On it.” Spike hopped down and ran off to look for a quill and paper.

Author's Note

Hello my good friends! Managed to come out with another great story in the works.

Anyhoo this here is the continuation and one of the main stories in The Strange Six storyline.

And as I said before, just list down in the comments on ideas for what adventures you all wish for The Strange Six to go on! This will be a semi interactive adventure with self thought out chapters laced here and there.

In any case, thanks for tuning into this series.

I'll post the next chapter and then I'll pick my favorite adventure idea from the comments.

Till then ciao!

[Credit to my sister for the editing job]