Chapter 12: Of Dumb Horse and Smoky Horse

Written by TheCrimsonDM

Twilight was busy in her library doing just fine with cleaning up, putting away return books, ignoring the fact that Luna and Celestia have pretty much just moved in with her at this point. One thing the library kept was a collection of important newspaper articles. One caught her eye, the Straw Hat Pony, standing in the middle of a destroyed navy base with their hoof raised up in the air. That was a few months ago and nobody understood what it, or the tattoo on their leg meant. Luckily though, this was not part of Equestria proper and some offshoot pirate-filled part of the world that nobody paid attention to... usually.

It was all going smoothly, at least until Fluttershy came rushing in through the front door. The look in Fluttershy's eyes was almost manic and it left Twilight remembering an event from the Great Galloping Gala, a series of runaway animals, and a Fluttershy screaming 'You're going to love
me'.

Before Fluttershy could scream, break something, or send a stampede of animals running through the Library Twilight took the initiative and blurted out the only thing she thought would save the day. "I do love you!"

Fluttershy sucked in a breath, then blinked, then exhaled. "Oh... okay then. Um... I uh... you too... L-love that is... if that's... okay..."

Twilight let out a sigh and relaxed. Danger averted. "Okay, now, how can I help you?"

"Oh... um, this was all I wanted... um.. I think."

"Good."

"Now our future daughter will be safe. Sunset Shimmer can be born."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Sunset Shimmer is Celestia's daughter not mine."

Fluttershy nodded, blinked, and then laid down. "Oh... my... it... it was hard enough to t-talk to you, but to t-tell Celestia that. Oh my..."

"Tell me about it, I almost didn't have the guts to tell her that when she told me she loved me the other day either. If you need help let me know."

Fluttershy gave her the strangest look. Then nodded slowly. "I think I understand now. You do have a um, big heart."

"Luna's been saying that for the past couple of days too. I thought I was just selfish and crazy at first but the more I hear it, the more I start to think perhaps this is natural. I'm the element of magic, I'm all about friendship. Now that I'm starting to feel romantic feelings of course it would spread out to all of my closest friends."

"A-all?"

"Yeah, now that I guess we cleared the air between us I can talk to you without being too afraid you'll reject me."

"I would n-never reject you."

"Thank you, Shy. That literally means the entire world to me right now. I'm such a nervous mess over this whole thing. Luna, Celestia, Spike, all five of you girls. I just wish I felt as much certainty that they'll accept me as you did."

Fluttershy was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke up. "Please don't tell Celestia that I know about Sunset, I think that's a secret."

"It kind of is. I only know about it because... I... huh, that is weird, how do I know about that? Well anyway, it hurts Celestia to think about it, so better not to bring it up."

"I won't, p-promise. Only told you because... time travel."

"Right, oh that's probably how I know about it. I broke into the secret archives a few times. Celestia's tried to wipe my memories of all those events, but I got smart at keeping some of the memories."

"That sounds dangerous."

"It probably was, I haven't done it since I matured. I find that I don't need that kind of stuff anymore. I have more than I could ever ask with Celestia, and Luna, and... now you. thank you, Fluttershy."

"No problem."

Fluttershy stood up shook herself from head to tail and then looked at Twilight. "Wait, um does this mean we're dating now?"

"I think that's how that works, I'm still new to this. So... don't tell anyone just yet please. You can talk to Luna and Celestia about it, but that's it. My herd is still small."

"H-herd?"

"That's what it's called when multiple ponies fall in love at once."

"Oh... future Sunset didn't say anything about... well she did say you had a lot of love to give... okay then. I... for my future daughter I will b-be brave and do this. For her."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Have you been reading those weird manga again? The violent ones?"

"There is not a single day that I do not read Pony Ball or watch the anime or play the games."

"Your as bad as Luna and Spike put together... but it's kind of adorable on you. Keep it up, Shy."

"Y-yes um... mistress?"

"No mistress, just Twilight, or some other normal nickname please."

"How about Twiggle Wiggle?"

Twilight face-hooved. How far and wide did that one spread already? Well it was better than mistress. That other term just made weird feelings stir, a familiar and unwanted heat start to rise up inside of her. She'd need another shower if this got worse. For now she could check Fluttershy off of her-

"Oh pony butts, we'll need an official date. Hmm, okay, I promise I'll figure out something sweet and romantic and then I'll get back to you, does that sound okay?"

"That sounds... nice..."

They stood in silence for a moment. This was all very sudden, and not at all how Twilight had planned it. It was one down, five to go. Still she got the sneaking suspicion that this could not be anywhere near as easy as this was indicating. So she had to ask. "Fluttershy, are you actually okay with this arrangement?"

Fluttershy smiled. "I think I have to be. After all it's destiny, and that makes me feel safe. Like I never had a choice in the matter so I could never m-mess up."

"That's a weird way to phrase it, but I'll accept that. It is going to be a bit awkward, but we'll figure it out. Come here."

Fluttershy shuffled over to her, and Twilight reached out and gave her a hug followed by a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm saving the other kissing for our date. I want that to be special."

"Th-thank you."

Fluttershy leaned in and kissed Twilight on the cheek in return. The soft lips, the scent of butter and honey, the warm sensation growing between Twilight's legs again. Oh yes, this was going to be good. Good and awkward. Of course that was when the door opened... again.

This time Rarity walked in, having seen the kiss and the hug, and the blushing between the two mares she only smiled. "So, you two are getting together next. I suppose both me and Rainbow Dash owe some bits to Applejack after all."

"Wh-what?" Fluttershy stammered.

Twilight let out a sigh. "Please don't tell anyone about this yet."

"Oh, darling, I'll keep it a secret, but I did come here for help. Is it possible for me to adopt a second filly?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "I'll have to make sure the paperwork and background check looks good, but you did already adopt your sister and have so far proven to be a good parent. Who were you thinking about?"

"I want to adopt Scootaloo."

Twilight frowned. A dark memory came out of the abyss of her mind. A dark storm, a dangerous spirit, more power, destruction, and death than she'd ever seen before. "I'll have to check. There are some unique laws in Ponyville so.... don't say anything until I hoof the papers over to you. Hopefully soon."

"You will?"

"Scootaloo is my responsibility, I've been looking for a proper forever home for her, you would make the second-best home I could ever think of."

Rarity smiled, then frowned. "Second best? Who's the first?"

"Applejack's family. But... well I hadn't figured out how to actually ask Applejack if she would do this for me given the uh... circumstances."

"Oh my, yes that would be quite... hmm... I can't help, but agree with your sentiment, but I will do everything I can to live up to those standards."

"I know you will, and with Rainbow Dash in tow, you two might even exceed my expectations by a sonic rainboom's length."

Rarity giggled and turned to leave. "Thank you dear, I can't wait to hear back from you."

Twilight nodded, and only once Rarity was gone did she collapse onto her chair and feel all the wind leaving her sails. She was exhausted all of a sudden. "Fluttershy, could you do me a favor?"

"Yes um... Twiggle Wiggle?"

"Can you just hold me for a while. I think I need to cuddle."

"Of course."

and so the new couple... trio... er whatever number they were at, lovers, had their very first cuddle session. It was just the start of a new day but Twilight could already tell today was going to be a doozy. Though, that didn't mean it would be bad. She'd have fun looking into Rarity's background, just to prove to whoever dared question her authority, that Rarity was in fact the best 'mom' for the job. After all they'd saved Equestria how many times now? They earned this.

***

Pinkie Pie was doing her duty as resident paraphernalia proscriber. A gardener of a specific type of weeds. An herbalist of the mystical and strange. An opener of the third pony eye. Or any other combination of words that basically said, she was laying on her floor staring up at the ceiling and smoking a sillyweed joint, the rainbow-colored smoke ebbing off of it drifting into a rainbow haze in the ceiling above them. Nearby lay Rainbow Dash who was doing much the same. Their eyes glazed over and pink as they would giggle at mostly nothing.

"So," Rainbow Dash said between puffs on the sillyweed. "Better or worse than the shire brand?"

"Haha!" Pinkie giggled and rolled over a little to face her friend. "Oh man, shire brand is cra-azy stuff. Did you know that Twilight actually thought that they were smoking tobacco in the books?"

"Pffft hahahaha, no way."

"Yeah, she's so pure it hurts sometimes."

"Ha, yeah she is. Oh man, didn't she catch you and Spike that one time?"

"I told her he was helping me stretch for exercises, the filly bought it."

"Man, I wish I could have it that easy. That one time Sweetie walked in on me and Rarity, she practically fainted."

Pinkie Pie giggled. "Well that's because Rarity likes weird stuff, including you."

"Hey!"

"Just kidding hehe."

"Yeah, real funny, hehe... hahaha, okay it is pretty funny. At least it's as weird as Rarity's basement."

“Oooo what's in there? She said I'm not allowed in.”

“Her 'nest' heh.”

“Kinky, I got a batcave so we're both underground perverts heh.”

Pinkie Pie rolled over again and looked back at the ceiling. She scrunched up her muzzle as she was trying her best to think. It wasn't so easy when her head was more foggy than her rainbow cloud filled room. Nearby Rainbow Dash was actually playing with the rainbow-colored smoke, grabbing it like a cloud and bunching it up into a ball before letting it disperse. pegasi got all the cool powers. Pinkie waved a hoof through the smoke but it just dispersed around her touch.

Pinkie Pie had a thought. "How come Flutters didn't join us today?"

"Oh butter butt? No idea, I asked her but she said she had to see Twilight or something."

"Hehe, Twiggle Wiggle."

"Hahahaha, Twiggle Wiggle."

The two of them broke down into a fit of hideous laughter after that. Pinkie Pie was about to suggest they bring both of them here and educate them on the finer points of sillyweed, when she noticed something move outside of her balcony window. Something large, white, and followed by a sherbet-colored rainbow trail. A sense of danger shot through Pinkie's entire body as she sat upright and looked to her partner in both figurative and literal crime. She grabbed the joint out of Rainbow's mouth, put it out and hid it under the rug they were laying on.

Just in time as the door opened up and a plume of rainbow colored smoke flew out of her balcony.

Pinkie Pie gulped as she stared up at the very last pony she wanted to see when in this state. Rainbow Dash was still mumbling a complaint when she saw the newcomer and sat upright. Rainbow groaned. "Awww man, we're in so much trouble."

Pinkie Pie gulped. Her mind still foggy and confused but she could at least understand this much. Her new guest was not going to be happy with them. "Princess Celestia, high are you?"

Rainbow Dash face-hooved. "Good one dumb butt."

Author's Note

never forget, the one piece crew are in fact cannon in mlp. Thank you IDW, you did the thing.
(This will be the only mention of them probably.)