Change Isn't Easy

by TheKing2001

Rating: teen
Tags: Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Profanity, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad, Princess Luna, Drama, Other
Length: 23658

Shortly after the Nightmare Moon incident, Celestia tries to help her sister get adapted to modern Equestria while Twilight and friends continue to work to know one another.

In Luna's absence, Equestria has advanced significantly, enough to leave Luna unsure of where she stands now as co ruler of Equestria. Don't even get her started on there being a third alicorn in the form of Princess Cadence. Celestia attempts to get her sister settled after being Nightmare Moon while Twilight, Sunset and the rest of the elements work to keep up with each other.

Cover art is done by my friend on discord.

Published 2024-07-19 15:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-08-02 17:53:32 UTC

Don't mess with Sunset Part Three

“Get out of the carriage,” Sunset sneered and jerked her head as Dusk and Cement gave each other wary looks. “Now!”

“We uh feel safer inside,” Dusk hugged Cement nervously as she glowed red and screamed.

Sunset yanked the pegasus mare out of the carriage, slamming a hoof into her jaw, watching coldly she gave a cry and Dusks head whipped to the side.

“Worthless waste of space,” Sunset slowly trotted to her and kicked her hard in the stomach. “Waste of oxygen.”

“Please,” Dusk begged as Sunset dragged along with ground with her magic and the unicorn continued to repeatedly slam her hooves into her face and chest as Cement watched in fear. “H-help me!”

Cement forced his legs to move as he jumped out of the carriage and ran at Sunset, the mare giving a pained cry as his hoof connected with her head.

“Ugh,” Sunset stumbled and watched Dusk spit some blood out of her mouth with blood leaking out of her nose down her muzzle. “Gonna feel that in the morning.”

She spun around and ducked to avoid a wild punch thrown by Cement before standing up, her hoof connecting with his sternum.

“Ow!”

Sunset smirked slightly at him before taking a hoof to her side as she grunted. She levitated a bruised Dusk from the ground where the mare laid groaning, using her as a shield and watched with a bored expression as Cements punches landed on his friend. Or whatever she was to him.

“Stop it and hit her, not me you dolt!” Dusk cried out and gave him a dirty look before giving a terrified scream as Sunset flung her at him, watching as the two went rolling.

“That was from Silverspeed,” Sunset growled and the angry unicorn trotted to the two before kicking Cement in the face and giving a pained cry. “Ow!”

“Get what you deserve,” Cement snorted and Sunset hit her knees and he slammed a hoof into her stomach.

“Bitch,” Sunset spit into his face. She normally never would spit on another pony but this was a rare circumstance in her eyes. She rolled away and looked around hastily, sighing slightly in relief as Silver Spoon continued to sit with her back turned. “You’re lucky she’s here or else I’d gut you.”

“You know what I just realized,” Soarin said as he and Surprise continued flying over the woods.

“What?” Surprise asked and spared a glance at the stallion.

“That fight we broke up earlier. It was a fucking distraction,” Soarin grumbled and his hooves shook slightly with what Surprise assumed was anger as she gave him a startled look. Soarin almost never cursed like her. “Distract all of us Wonderbolts from being able to go to the school with paperwork. And we all fell for it. I did. You did. Spitfire, Misty, Icy, Rapidfire and more did.”

“Yeah,” Surprise sighed and shook her yellow mane. She was admittedly angry as well, which startled her. She almost never felt anger or got annoyed. She always did have a soft spot for kids. “I just am worried about Sunset and Silverspeed.”

“I’m not worried about Sunset,” Soarin chuckled and Surprise gave him a startled look.

“Why?”

“Hear me out. I’ve known Sunset since I was a colt. I’ve seen her in countless fights and I know personally she can hold her own. When she gets angry, she doesn’t stop hitting whatever is in front of her like Spitfire until they’re down and unconscious. So I’m not worried about Sunset. I’m more worried for the poor ponies involved when Sunset gets her hooves on them,” Soarin explained and Surprise found herself agreeing. She may not have known Sunset as long as Soarin, but she’s heard stories from Blaze and Fleetfoot as well as Soarin and Spitfire.

If Sunset can make Spitfire wary of getting into a fight, then Surprise sure as hell wanted to stay far away from her as she could until she was calm at least.

“Did you hear that?” Soarin asked suddenly and Surprise’s ear flicked as she picked up faint screaming.

“Mhm,” Surprise muttered and the two hovered briefly before pointing below them where what looked like a carriage lay town apart and some ponies fighting. “There.”

When the two landed, neither of them were prepared to see a stallion being slammed into a tree as Wallflower watched in fear as Sunset continued slamming her hooves into his face.

“Sweet Celestia,” Surprise whispered with a slack jawed expression. She was no stranger to fights. She did go to a public high school after all, but none compared to the level of violence she was seeing. “Get Silver Spoon. I’ll uh try to calm her down.”

“Be careful,” Wallflower warned as she hugged herself. “I heard screaming and I found them going at it. I tried to call out to her but she didn’t hear me.”

“Hey! Calm down!” Surprise shouted as she trotted closer with a wary expression, watching Sunset continue to hit the stallion who barely managed to block some of the hits with his foreleg. A pegasus mare laid behind them unconscious as Surprise gulped. “Sunset!”

“Surprise?” Sunset paused and her eyes slightly widened. “Wallflower? What are you guys doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Wallflower answered and joined Surprise. “We’re all worried about you.”

“Give him to me,” Surprise gestured at the barely conscious stallion and Sunset hit him again. “Hey, drop it. You’ve already proven your point, Sunset. He’s already beat up. Don’t gotta hurt him anymore.”

“Do you know what he did?” Sunset snapped and gestured at Soarin hugging Silver Spoon. “He could have hurt her and the entire class.”

“And he’s gonna get punished,” Soarin promised and shifted slightly to block Silver Spoons view. “I promise you that. We got all the others caught.”

“Let me take him,” Surprise pleaded and stepped closer to Sunset. “Drop him. Please?”

The three watched nervously before Sunset nodded, her horn quit glowed as Cement collapsed on the ground and Sunset hugged Surprise.

“It’s okay,” Surprise commented quietly and hugged her back before tossing her own hoof cuffs to Wallflower. “It’s okay to cry. He’s out. Can you cuff him please?”

“Yeah,” Wallflower answered and hesitantly approached him as she fumbled with the cold metal objects for a few seconds.

“I’m sorry,” Sunset sighed and Surprise rubbed a hoof against her back.

“It’s okay. Conflict sucks. I don’t like ponies fighting and all. But you did what you had to do and I can respect that,” Surprise answered and nuzzled the mare. “Come on, let’s get you and Silver Spoon checked out. You’re bruised pretty bad. I’m sure Silverspeed is worried sick.”

“I’m fine,” Silver Spoon tapped Soarin’s shoulder. “Let me go.”

“Alright. Just don’t go near the uncuffed ponies. Go straight to Surprise or Wallflower,” Soarin unwrapped his wings from around her and nudged toward them before tossing his own cuffs onto the unconscious mare. “We need to get these four looked at too.”

Sunset nodded and coughed over Surprise’s should before going limp.

“I-is she okay?” Wallflower asked worriedly as she pressed a hoof against her head and Surprise nodded.

“She passed out. Help me carry her please.”

Wallflower nodded and flung one of Sunset’s forelegs around her neck as some other Wonderbolts landed, giving the two concerned looks before trotting over to Soarin.

Silverspeed hugged Silver Spoon as the two sat in a white room with the other elements, Spike, Fuchsia, Spitfire, Blaze and a few other Wonderbolts as Sunset groaned from her hospital bed.

“I swear to Celestia, I am never letting you out of my sight,” Silverspeed announced and continued kissing Silver Spoons forehead. “As long as I live. You’re sleeping next to me, I’m going to school with you and-”

“I get the point momma,” Silver Spoon interjected and pushed up her spare glasses on her face. They weren’t blue like she loved but she could at least see properly now. “I’m okay. It was admittedly terrifying but well, Mom found me pretty quickly.”

“I feel like shit,” Sunset moaned and everypony chuckled as they looked at her.

“Language in front of the filly dear,” Silverspeed chided with a smile. She had obviously been worried when she was told about Sunset and had admittedly cried more than she originally was going to admit to when she saw the two ponies.

“You look like it,” Wave Chill snickered and Sunset rolled her eyes as she sat up.

“Dang. Everypony is here. How did Red Heart allow all this?” Sunset asked and Watermelody shrugged.

“We may have abused the fact we saved the world to get in here,” Watermelody admitted with a sheepish smile. “Mainly Wallflower, believe it or not. She said it first actually. Surprised us all too.”

Wallflower blushed as Sunset gave her a grateful smile before Sunset locked eyes with Twilight and sighed.

“Hey Twilight.”

“Hey Sunset,” Twilight patted the mare on her hoof. “Before you even start, I forgive you. My jaw and head still hurts but it’ll pass. We can talk about it later. You just worry about getting yourself healed up. You looked pretty bad before they cleaned up your blood.”

“Heh, you should see the other guy,” Sunset joked and grinned before wincing as she laid down. “Side hurts. Said I got a few bruised ribs. I’m just lucky I don’t got a concussion.”

“Or dead. Or got any broken limbs,” Spitfire added dryly from her chair. “Because if you died, I’d have brought you back from the dead just to kill you again.”

“Spitfire!” Blaze snapped and Sunset laughed.

“It’s cool. Relax Blazey,” Spitfire pressed a hoof on her back.

“Let’s give them some space,” High Winds commented and jerked her head to the door. She and Misty trotted past Sunset, pausing to pat her on the shoulder before leaving the room.

“Feel better,” Blaze kissed Sunset’s forehead and trotted away with a unreadable expression.

“Anytime Silver Spoon or you want to come by, our doors are open,” Fleetfoot said as she passed Silverspeed. “Spitfire’s idea. You’re one of us.”

“Thanks.”

Sunset rolled her head to watch the other ponies leave as she yawned, stretching her hind legs out on her bed.

“So,” Silverspeed fluttered her wings slightly and glanced at the door before dropping onto the bed and nuzzling Sunset. “How’s the head?”

“Hurts,” Sunset admitted and idly watched Silver Spoon climb onto the railing glowing teal and Sunset levitated her next to the two. “But I’ll be fine.”

“Wasn’t your magic red?” Silver Spoon pointed with a confused look before curling into a ball.

"Yeah, it was. When I get mad, my magical aura changes colors. My magics normally a tealish blue like you just saw. Can one of you hand me that medicine on the table?” Sunset asked and pointed to it as Silver Spoon tossed it to her. “Thanks Silver Spoon.”

“Welcome,” Silver Spoon watched as Sunset forced the pills down her throat with a gag. “I hate pills too.”

“I’m ready to leave. I get to leave in two days or so Red Heart said,” Sunset said and rested her head on Silverspeeds side. “I want to go play video games.”

“I’ll have a surprise for you when you do. I think I still have my nurse outfit from a few Nightmare Nights back,” Silverspeed tapped a hoof against her chin and smirked slightly at a blushing Sunset.

“So that explains why Red was giving you a dirty look last year,” Sunset mused with a tired smile. “She seemed pretty annoyed about that outfit.”

“Why would she be mad about that? I was a doctor one year?” Silver Spoon asked curiously as the two looked at each other.

“Nothing,” Silverspeed answered with a faint pink tinge on her face. Sunset yawned again and felt Silverspeed kissing her forehead. “I love you, you know that? I may have almost killed a pony earlier.”

“Mom almost did too,” Silver Spoon interjected and the two gave her confused looks.

“Mom now huh?” Silverspeed winked slightly as Silver Spoon looked away before nodding.

“As long as she promises to never leave like dad. She’s gonna be staying, right?” Silver Spoon asked and the two nodded.

“She’s been dating me for a good few years now,” Silverspeed snickered and hugged Silver Spoon with a foreleg. “I trust Sunset. If I didn’t, she wouldn’t be around you. If Sunset was going to have left, she would have by now.”

“She’s right. I don’t plan on leaving,” Sunset agreed and hugged the two.

“Are you crying?” Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow and Sunset shook her head.

“Maybe,” Sunset admitted and idly felt Silver Spoon nuzzling her chest fur. “You two wanna sleep here? It’s a bit tight in this hospital bed, but I can try to make it work.”

“Well, I don’t plan on leaving till you’re out and after today, Silver Spoon is definitely not leaving my sight,” Silverspeed answered and Sunset closed the door with her magic.

“Well, that’s solved,” Sunset chuckled and levitated a blanket around them as Silverspeed yawned. “Goodnight.”

“Night.”

“Night Mom. Night Momma,” Silver Spoon wrapped her tail around herself and placed her glasses on the small table next to her along with her necklace.

Sunset turned the lights off with her magic and closed the blinds as the room went near pitch black.

“I hate the dark,” Silver Spoons voice came from the void.

Sunset nodded before her horn glowed and opened the blinds slightly.

“That work?” Sunset asked and waited for a response that came in the form of a snore. “Well, I take that as a yes.”

Silverspeed breathed quietly and wrapped a leg around Sunset as the unicorn shifted slightly.

“And I’m talking to myself.”

Sunset closed her eyes and stretched slightly before starting to snore quietly herself.

Modern Equestria is annoying

Celestia sat on her balcony as she idly watched the moon start to lower itself in the sky. It had taken her admittedly a bit to not automatically start raising and lowering it herself to Luna’s annoyance.

She had secretly always loved her sisters night more than she did her day. She always had an appreciation for how the stars looked in the night sky, how the moon had different shapes depending on her sisters mood.

A large part of Celestia felt guilty for not noticing anything wrong earlier. Luna had always showed her emotions more in how she manipulated her night sky to look.

“You’ve been busy,” Celestia spoke without turning around as Luna hesitantly trotted forward and sat down next to her sister as Celestia’s horn glowed gold as the sun slowly started to rise, painting the sky in various splotches of orange and yellow as the two watched. “Your night looked beautiful.”

“Indeed. We aren’t sure we could ever truly compare to this,” Luna mused and gestured a hoof out at the sky. “Ponies always loved your sunrises and sunsets. We believe one pony is even named after a sunset.”

“Sunset always did have a fondness for my sunsets. She is not really a morning pony. I love her like I would a child of my own, but she can be quite irritating in the morning. Especially if Blueblood is in the castle at the time. One time, she and Peachy Plume stole all his chair cushions and hide them in a closet on the top floor of the castle,” Celestia chuckled to herself as she stretched slightly before standing up.

It was no secret that Blueblood was terrified of heights and Celestia herself found her wishing some days to take advantage of said fear.

“Ah yes. That poor excuse of a nephew,” Luna scowled and glared out the balcony at nothing in particular.

“Be nice,” Celestia chided with a small frown. “Things are different now in Equestria. We can’t just say that without hurting ponies feelings.”

Luna rolled her eyes in response as the blue alicorn shifted slightly before closing the blinds of her sisters room. Luna had been surprised to see how far Equestria had come since her banishment. Most of the stuff she didn’t even understand yet, like the new way to speak.

“You know, ponies adore your night now. There’s even ponies with stars or moons or telescopes as cutie marks. Our scholars have mapped all the stars in the sky,” Celestia commented casually as Luna gave her a wide eyed look. “I know ponies personally that prefer to study the night sky.”

“Ponies do that? We thought only us did that.”

“I and we,” Celestia corrected with a smirk. “Remember, I and we. Ponies don’t speak like that anymore which is why I have somepony I’d like you to meet.”

A soft knocking sound at the door made the two turn around as a Celestia opened the door to reveal two royal guards and a cute white unicorn with a pink mane waiting anxiously.

“Thank you sirs,” Celestia smiled and gestured for the mare to come inside. “Come in. Luna, this is Twinkleshine. She attended my school for gifted unicorns and is quite talented with her studies of the stars.”

“Princesses,” Twinkleshine nodded and knelt down to bow. “You asked for me?”

“Indeed,” Celestia agreed as one of the guards shut the door. “I’d like for you to accompany my sister wherever she goes to help her adapt to modern Equestria. You two might get along well.”

“We don’t need an escort in our own city,” Luna scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Canterlot has been here for a million years. We can find our own way around.”

“You got lost trying to navigate the castle,” Celestia pointed out flatly. “Yesterday.”

“I was tired!”

“And the day before that?” Celestia countered with a smug grin as Twinkleshine watched back and forth with wide eyes.

Twinkleshine was on friendly terms with Princess Celestia, occasionally having tea with the mare. One of her friends even worked in the castle to set up events for the princess. She honestly expected Lemon Hearts to get asked this, not her. Or Minuette. Or Lyra though Canterlot might burn if Lyra was asked first. Knowing the mint green unicorn, she have jumped head first into it without second thought.

“I understand,” Twinkleshine answered finally. “Whatever you need Celestia. How long do you wish me to accomplish Princess Luna?”

“For a few weeks and we can go from there. Thank you Twinkleshine,” Celestia smiled at the mare. “You two are free to leave. I hear Joe’s donut shop has some new offerings. Though you probably already have tried them Twinkleshine with your groups daily meet ups.”

Twinkleshine blushed slightly and scuffed a hoof against the floor before nodding sheepishly. Joe’s Donuts had been a meeting spot for years since she was a filly. Moondancer had been the first to take them all to it though the other filly had spent most of the time reading her book instead of conversating.

“We might have,” Twinkleshine admitted finally with a small smile. “The mint donuts had been the first to go. I’ll let you guess who ate them all.”

Celestia merely laughed behind a hoof before practically shoving the two into the hall. If she learned anything with Twilight, it was you had to throw someponies into awkward situations head first.

“I’m so serious, I wont let you borrow any more books because you haven’t returned all the previous ones you borrowed!” Twilight shouted as Watermelody scowled at her.

The two were standing in the center of the library, the other four elements watching with various worried expressions as Spike went about cleaning the library as if nothing was happening.

“And I’m telling you, I can’t because I’m still reading them, Twilight! I can’t bring back the old art styles without knowing everything about said old art styles!” Watermelody stomped a hoof on the ground as Wallflower jumped.

“You can’t possibly still be needing to know more when you’re the mare I’d trust most with something like that!” Twilight shot back as High Winds turned to Spike. “You’re a smart mare. Take notes and I’ll drop off the books at your house.”

“Fair point. I’ll write some notes down and drop them off tomorrow morning. Thanks Twilight!”

“Do they do this often?” High Winds asked as she eyed to two mares now sitting next to each other at a table, talking quietly to each other. They hadn’t even meant to be here. Spitfire heard loud shouting and natural curiosity had gotten the best of her. And well, then Wallflower had suddenly appeared followed by Sunset.

“Oh this?” Spike shrugged before setting down his dust pan. “This is just a normal Tuesday. They go from shouting at each other to being friends in mere seconds. It’s fascinating really. Twilight has me keeping track of it for some weird study of hers.”

High Winds raised an eyebrow slightly at that. If this was a normal Tuesday, she didn’t want to see what a abnormal Tuesday was like.

Author's Note

So I've been working with someone to do some cover art of this mane six for a good while now. So here's the first few uncompleted images. Hopefully you all like it.

Name: Twinkleshine.

Age: 27.

Occupation: Astronomer and is member of a choir in Ponyville alongside Sea Swirl.

Nicknames: Twinkle, Twinkie, Marshmallow.

Status: Alive.

Bio: Twinkleshine is a friendly unicorn who once attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. She has three stars for a cutie mark. Twinkleshine is a talented astronomer who followed in her mother's hoofsteps to work on space exploration. She is a close friend to Princess Celestia and Luna. Twinkleshine resides in Canterlot. She is a upper class pony who often found herself at odds with Minuette and Moondancer over her status. She's a member of Twilight's friend group and can often be found at her house or Joe's Donuts with her friends. She was one of Cadences bridesmaids in the Canterlot Wedding. Twinkleshine often travels to Ponyville with Lemon Hearts and Minuette to visit Lyra or she is coming to Canterlot to visit them. Whenever they get together, chaos usually follows. She is a friend of Spike's and is fond of the dragon, often viewing him as a brother. She was there for Tireks rampage in Manehatten with Lyra, Lemon Hearts, Minuette and Bon Bon, later losing her magic alongside her friends.

Motto: Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

Abilities: Twinkleshine is intelligent, often giving random facts to her friends about the stars. She can cast spells that allow her to make the stars more visible to ponies during cloudy nights.

Allies: Luna, Celestia, Lyra, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Moondancer, Bon Bon, Sea Swirl, Rarity, Pinkie, Caramel, Kibitz, Donuts Joe, Soarin, Fancy Pants, Twilight, Spitfire, High Winds, Spike, Sunset, Blaze, Star Hunter, Starry Skies, Big Mac, Shining Armor, Cadence, Discord.

Enemies: Chrysalis, Tirek, Discord (formerly), Changelings (formerly).

Weaknesses: While Twinkleshine is very smart, she isn't very strong and often has to get help carrying heavier items or drag them.

Notable quotes:

"Why do we always get in these situations?"

"Oh boy, here we go again."

"I thought we agreed to never speak of that again!"

"W-what are you?"

"Run Minnie!"

"You're like, the little brother I've never had Spikey. My door is always open for you."

"I think they're lovely."

"You're not going anywhere."

Stubbornness runs in our family

Silver Spoon sat with a bored expression, absentmindedly drinking her milkshake as Sunset sat across from her with a half empty strawberry milkshake.

“So are you enjoying yourself?” Sunset asked finally with a tired smile as she looked around at the crammed restaurant they had sat in. Sunset had chosen a table closest to the door away from all the other patrons. “When I was your age, me and my cousin Sunburst would go to places like this all the table. We’d get shakes and hayfries. Occasionally his friend with her giant pigtails would tag along. I don’t remember her name unfortunately.”

“It’s a bit weird with you trying to connect with me. Why do you even care so much?” Silver Spoon demanded as Sunset shrugged before sticking out a tongue and sucking on her straw. “Is this just so you can stay good with my mom?”

“I mean, I’m dating your mom. She wants us to get to know each other and besides, I do too. You’re a nice kid. And no it’s not. I genuinely wanna know you,” Sunset answered with a warmer smile as Silver Spoon shot her a glare. “What?”

“Why even are you dating my mom? Just because you’re dating her won’t make you replace dad,” Silver Spoon slammed a hoof down and Sunset jumped slightly.

“That’s not my intention. I have no interest in ever replacing your father,” Sunset slowly shook her head. “I’d be mad if someone tried to do that to me.”

Silver Spoon let out a hmph before she finished her shake, pushing her chair out slightly before pausing and looking at Sunset.

“Can I be excused to go play?”

Sunset let out a sigh before nodding.

“Sure but stay out of trouble and the water. Don’t go near the Everfree either!” Sunset called out as Silver Spoon ran out the door. “I’m serious!”

“That kid is stressful,” Sunset moaned as she flopped down on her couch of her small house she was given by Celestia.

“I see,” Wallflower nodded slowly as the green mare finished hanging up a plant from Sunset’s ceiling. “So she doesn’t like you dating her mom?”

“Apparently. I dropped her off at home and I only kissed Silverspeed for five seconds before she was shoving us apart,” Sunset flung her forelegs up and Wallflower sat down on a chair to admire her work, tucking her forelegs under her. “I mean, I want her to like me. When I started dating Silverspeed, I specifically told her I’d be there for her and her kid no matter what. Shit is stressful trying to not be overbearing but still be there. Especially when Silver Spoon thinks I’m trying to replace her dad. All she sees is another pony in a parental role and she really doesn’t like that.”

“What happened to her dad anyway?” Wallflower asked curiously as she wrapped a hoof around her water, watching Sunset tap a hoof against her chin.

“Walked out is the most I can tell you,” Sunset admitted finally. “I was told in confidence by Silverspeed. She’d be pretty annoyed and rightfully so if I broke that promise.”

Wallflower hummed in response as she watched Sunset set down a beer bottle before the mare yawned and stretched out on her couch.

“So what are you gonna now about her?” Wallflower asked as Sunset shrugged.

“Stubbornness runs in my family especially in Spitfire. I’m not as bad as her but I’m close. I guess I’ll keep trying obviously. Silver Spoon isn’t the only one who lost a parent,” Sunset answered as her eyes briefly drifted to a picture of a tan stallion with a brown mane. “Maybe I can use that to bond with her.”

Wallflower inhaled before shifting on her chair.

“Uhm what happened to your dad? You never talk about your parents. If you don’t mind me asking if course,” Wallflower scratched the back of her head anxiously.

“I don’t mind. I usually keep things close to my chest. He died of somewhat natural causes, diabetes and all. Former royal guard. He was way better than Stormy Flare. I don’t care for her much,” Sunset grit her teeth before inhaling and exhaling to calm herself down. “There’s a reason there isn’t any pictures of her around. She never wanted a unicorn daughter because that means she would have to live groundside. She only wanted one daughter, Spitfire. Then Blaze came along after me. We haven’t seen her in years. The last time I saw her was at my great uncles funeral.”

“Oh. My sympathies,” Wallflower bowed her head slightly and Sunset forced a smile.

“It’s cool. Shit happens, right? That’s life.”

“I suppose,” Wallflower adjusted the swinging plant slightly. “You need more plants. I’ll bring more by and hang up more. Maybe put some outside too.”

“I’ll look into it. I like sunflowers. They’re pretty,” Sunset commented and Wallflower found herself agreeing with that. Wallflower had an appreciation for all flowers but she personally loved Middlemist Camellia best. It wasn’t a well known flower, like how she wasn’t a well known pony and she personally was happy with life that way.

“Okay. I’m happy I could have been at least here to be a therapist,” Wallflower gave a faint giggle as Sunset gave her a grateful look.

“I appreciate. Normally Soarin is my go to but he and the other Bolts are busy doing maneuvers right now. Spitfire runs a pretty tight ship on her team.”

“I heard,” Wallflower grimaced slightly. “I also heard that’s what got the others to respect her.”

“While Spits runs a right ship, she’s a fair captain. She’s strict but kind in her own way. She’s always been there for me,” Sunset smiled fondly as she glanced at a picture of her, Spitfire and Blaze. “She even set up a party once I became Celestia’s student. She said she had never been so proud of me. I threw her and Blaze parties once they became Bolts.”

“Spitfire doesn’t seem like the type to attend parties. She kinda scares me,” Wallflower shuddered slightly. In Wallflowers eyes, Spitfire was intimidating and just well scary. Especially with how loud she could get when giving orders to her Wonderbolts.

“My sister scares you?” Sunset gave her a incredulous look before laughing. “Spitfire wouldn’t hurt anypony unless they threatened her, her friends, her fellow ponies or family. You’re the second and third. Might even become fourth one day but good luck. It’s rare for her to call you family. She considers her Wonderbolts her extended family.”

Wallflower tilted her head to side before smiling slightly. She had heard something similar from High Winds. High Winds was the only Wonderbolt she really talked to outside of Blaze and the rare time she worked up the courage to talk to Spitfire.

It’s not like she hated Spitfire or anything. Quite the opposite as Wallflower considered her a friend. Just one that was super scary to talk to. If anything, Wallflower admired the mare greatly. The few times Spitfire and Wallflower talked, Spitfire practically exuded confidence. Especially with how she carried herself and how she spoke. What wasn’t there to admire?

“Anyway,” Sunset coughed into a hoof. “I’m gonna take a nap. Thanks again for listening, Wallie. Maybe next time we can talk about your family. I know you got a lot of sisters.”

A lot was an understatement, Wallflower mused to herself as she stood up off the chair and stretched. You had Fuchsia, Berry Punch, Cheerilee and Cherry Blossom. Don’t even get her started on her cousins Roseluck, Lily, Daisy and Comettor. And to think the flower trio was even more of scaredy cats then Wallflower herself.

“See you later,” Wallflower said at the door and Sunset answered with a quiet grunt as the unicorn splayed out on the couch, one of her hind legs occasionally kicking as Wallflower giggled.

Wallflower quietly closed the door to avoid waking the mare and after verifying it was locked, proceeded on her way to her own home.

The mare with a star cutie mark

Twinkleshine trotted anxiously behind the princess of the night down the corridor of the castle as she forced herself to swallow her anxiety. Twinkleshine idly made a note to go visit the doctor and get her anxiety meds refilled at the pharmacy.

“What do we do now?” Luna broke the silence and Twinkleshine realized the mare was staring at her.

“Whatever you wish to do Princess,” Twinkleshine answered and felt some sweat get wiped off her forehead as Luna’s horn quit glowing.

“Thee were sweating,” Luna said simply as an explanation. “Is it hot in here?”

“Not really. Just uh nervous,” Twinkleshine gently circled the floor with her hoof. “I’m not usually asked to assist with something like this. I don’t want to come off as rude and uh have you banish me.”

“We have no intention of banishing thee,” Luna reassured the unicorn. “We know what that was like. We wouldn’t wish it on anypony.”

Twinkleshine grimaced and looked away. She may have forgotten about that temporarily. As a filly, she was told all sorts of things about Nightmare Moon before bed by her parents and none of them had really been pleasant. And yet here she stood in front of the mare who used to be her.

Twinkleshine had spent all night sleeping, tossing and turning as she mentally prepared for today. She didn’t necessarily know what Luna had planned or even what the alicorn liked doing for fun. Did alicorns even have fun?

“We can back to Donut Joes if you’d like,” Twinkleshine offered finally. “Or we can go to a tea shop somewhere and buy some.”

“We have tea here though, do we not?” Luna gave Twinkleshine a confused look as Twinkleshine giggled behind a hoof.

“I’d assume you all do. I just figured you’d like to go out somewhere,” Twinkleshine answered and crossed her forelegs before she followed Luna into a room with a long table.

“Servant!” Luna shouted as she held a hoof to her mouth and Twinkleshine jumped as her eyes widened. “Tea!”

“Sweet Celestia. She almost gave me a heart attack,” Twinkleshine mumbled to herself as she held a hoof to her chest and tried to get her rapid breathing under control as a stallion galloped into the room with a cart.

“I got your tea Princess Luna,” the earth stallion panted and pushed the cart next to the table. “Anything else you two mares would like? I can ask Lemon Hearts to prepare something.”

“I uh think we should be good,” Twinkleshine answered nervously, her eyes flicking to the taller mare next to her. “Thank you sir.”

“You’re welcome,” the stallion muttered and walked away, letting the door shut quietly behind him as the two mares stood awkwardly next to each other.

Twinkleshine licked her lips anxiously and awkwardly sat down at a chair, idly watching Luna sit across from her as the alicorn started spinning a spoon around on the table with her magic with a faint smile.

“We always did enjoy our teas,” Luna broke the silence. “Not as much as Tia of course but we do like an occasional tea. Mint tea is our favorite. It’s calming snd the smell is nice.”

“Tia?” Twinkleshine inquired as she tilted her head in confusion as she watched Luna’s magic push a white cup with gold engravings to her. She didn’t know anypony named Tia.

“Celestia,” Luna clarified and levitated her own cup to her lips. “We call her Tia.”

“I see. And does she have a nickname for you or no?” Twinkleshine questioned as Luna stared down at the shiny marble table.

“It’s embarrassing,” Luna answered finally as her cheeks tinged a slight pink and she folded her forelegs across her chest. “But it’s Lunie.”

“Like Looney Toons?”

“What?” Luna gave her a confused look as Twinkleshine raised an eyebrow slightly before sipping her own tea.

“It’s a show for kids. A lot of adults still watch it apparently. I grew up with it as a filly. It was certainly unique for it’s time. I personally liked it better than Sesamare Street but that’s just me,” Twinkleshine admitted with a sheepish smile. That had caused a large fight between her, Lyra, Minuette and Lemon Hearts when they were all fillies.

“Intriguing,” Luna muttered to herself with a thoughtful expression. “We shall see this Looney Tunes. But no, Tia randomly called us that as a filly and it stuck.”

“My friends call me Twinkle. Or Twinkie in Lyra’s case. She loves to me call me that. Twinkies are her favorite snack.”

“We- I prefer dark chocolate. It’s nice,” Luna shrugged and yawned. “What do you and your friends like to do for fun?”

“Alicorns have fun?” Twinkleshine asked and immediately covered her mouth with a hoof with wide eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come out.”

“Tis fine. And yes, we do have fun. Celestia is quite the prankster, I think the term is?” Luna rubbed a hoof against her chin in thought. “I still haven’t forgiven her that one time last month for filling my entire room with rubber duckies to the ceiling. It took me forever to clean out that room.”

Twinkleshine didn’t entirely know what to say to that. The idea that Celestia, the pony who Twinkleshine looked up to and swore allegiance to was secretly a prankster that knew no limits was mind blowing to her.

“But I have a plan to get even with my sister,” Luna grinned slightly and rubbed her hooves together as Twinkleshine shuddered slightly at the look in her eyes. It was a look she scarily used to in Lyra’s eyes whenever she got an idea that normally backfired or got her in trouble.

“Oh boy.”

Hard Hat sat at a small cafe in Amethyst Harbor with three other stallions, looking down at a picture of a building with a unreadable expression.

“So let me get this straight. Ya want which mare to work for ya?” Hard Hat asked as his Trottingham accent slipped out as the stallion across adjusted his tie.

“Sunset,” Forest Comet answered with an eyeroll. “We’re getting paid a decent amount of bits if we split up the so called elements. Our donor in Canterlot wants the elements under her control. We could use Sunset’s expertise to run our company. Our donor agreed to let us use her for a bit till we turn her over.”

“Shouldn’t we get the other one?” Bricks asked as the stallion gave him a confused look. “The purple one ya had us watch. She’s smarter I bet.”

“Twilight is intelligent and would be more organized yes,” Forest agreed as he checked his watch. “But Sunset has something she doesn’t. She’s looking for work to look better in her marefriends eyes and the girls eyes. That’ll make her more likely to accept our offer. Ponies don’t just get offered fifty thousand bits as a opening bonus.”

“Uh boss? Ya do know she would never move across Equestria right?” A pegasus pointed out with a scowl. “I heard all about that group. Especially since her sisters are here. What then?”

Forests raised an eyebrow before groaning.

“Then you make her change her mind. Use the kid if you have to.”

Forest pushed the briefcase of bits to her and stood up, leaving the small cafe in silence.

Twinkleshine and Luna stood inside an arcade as the alicorn glared at the screen of a game with a controller levitated in front of her face while she growled curses in ancient Equestrian.

“Jump damnit!” Luna cursed as she controlled a pony with a mustache in a red hat and plumber clothes while Twinkleshine opted for the pony with a green hat. “What kind of plumber is sent to save a princess anyway? Does this game not have royal guards?”

“Maybe they were all defeated?” Twinkleshine offered with a small smile as she jumped on a turtles head. “Mareo is overrated anyway. Coltugi is so much cooler. I like green.”

“Nonsense!” Luna insisted with a scowl. “The royal guards are undefeated in every world. Why, a thousand years ago they were a formidable army. I led them into battle countless times and they slaughtered their enemies!”

Some of the colts and fillies along with their parents gasped as they occasionally glanced at the two mares.

“I uh don’t think we do that anymore?” Twinkleshine offered with a shrug. “We haven’t had wars in the entire time I’ve been alive or my parents have been alive. Equestria is pretty peaceful.”

“Darn,” Luna grumbled as she stared intently at the small screen the mares were sitting in front of. “I was looking forward to combat.”

“Well, you have video games for that. And besides, didn’t Princess Celestia say something about you getting your own guard?” Twinkleshine asked as she sent a turtle shell flying at a mushroom. “This is my favorite game by the way. We came here all the time as kids. It still smells like overly expensive pizza and sweat.”

“Tia did yes. I suppose we are interested in meeting the five.”

Twinkleshine gave a low laugh as Luna cursed again as her character died. Twinkleshine had never thought she’d think this but the alicorn was surprisingly fun and not as scary as she once thought.

Luna's (crazy) guards

Celestia propped her head up with a hoof as she levitated a fork of pancake to her mouth as she watched Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts sitting quietly at her side, occasionally talking to each other. It was technically dinner for her but it was going to be breakfast for Luna when she woke up any minute.

Celestia had chosen Twinkleshine specifically out of her former students for her cutie mark and interest in astronomy. She had originally hoped the mare and Luna would talk over that but she didn’t exactly expect them to bond over video games.

She also didn’t expect Luna to burst into her room at midnight with a ColtBox Series or have the most excited expression on her muzzle as she talked about all the games she and Twinkleshine were going to play together.

Celestia watched Lemon Hearts set her coffee down carefully before turning back to her friend. She had carefully watched those two, Minuette, Lyra’s and Moondancers schooling with interest and offered Lemon Hearts a job as castle staff immediately upon graduation. She had wanted Moondancer to be on her team of scientists but the mare had turned it down stating a lack of desire to work with others.

Lyra had moved to Ponyville to be closer to her friend Bon Bon though Celestia had a suspicion it was going to be more than that. Especially considering Bon Bon used to be a special agent for Celestia. She and Sunset had occasionally worked together till Celestia had to shut down the agency. Damn bug bear incident.

And Minuette had a job as a clock maker in downtown Canterlot. Celestia herself went there to get all new clocks for the castle and herself, occasionally getting broken ones repaired.

As for Moondancer, Celestia had no real clue. Last she heard the mare lived somewhere in Canterlot and did more research work than even Twilight surprisingly. Moondancer was the one she worried most about for personal reasons she wasn’t quite ready to admit to yet.

“Ah hello sister,” Celestia turned and smiled slightly as Luna stumbled in with a glare that made Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts freeze, giving each other worried looks. If looks could kill, Luna’s would have killed the entire castle staff and then some.

Luna said nothing as she levitated a pineapple to her mouth, taking a bite as Lemon Hearts choked on her coffee with a stunned expression.

“I take it you slept well?” Celestia continued as Luna nodded before continuing to eat her pineapple. “You do realize most ponies cut it up, right?”

“Yes dear sister. I was not born yesterday,” Luna shot a flat look at Celestia before sitting down across from her. “I am too lazy and besides, the outer shell gives it extra flavor.”

Celestia was all too happy to take Luna’s word for that. She personally was not too fond of pineapple herself. And besides, she had more important matters to attend to than her sisters awkward eating habits.

“Hey Luna,” Twinkleshine forced a smile as the princess of the night glanced over at her, her face brightening up considerably.

“Dearest Twinkleshine!” Luna shouted with the Royal Voice, causing all three to cringe. “It is good to see you. We slayed that dragon in our game last night, did we not?”

“Inside voice Luna. Please?” Celestia coughed into a hoof as Luna nodded sheepishly.

“Apologies,” Luna rubbed the back of her head with a small smile. “I may have gotten overly excited.”

“It’s fine. We are a good team Luna,” Twinkleshine grinned and hoof bumped the mare.

“If you’ve woken up enough, I got some mares for you to meet,” Celestia commented and her ear flicked at a faint shouting sound. “In fact, that sounds Iike one of them now.”

A pink unicorn with multi colored green hair wearing black armor slammed through the door with a scream, rolling against the ground as her black helmet went tumbling.

“Oh my Celestia!” A peach pegasus flapped inside laughing as she flipped over and hovered on her back with a grin. “Are you good, Zesty?”

“I’m good!” The unicorn called back with a grin. “Just wounded my pride Indy.”

“This is two of the five,” Celestia told Luna after noticing her confused look as two earth ponies and another pegasus trotted in at a much slower pace. “The unicorn is Lemon Zest, the pegasus is Indigo Zap. The two earth ponies are Sour Sweet and Sugarcoat. The other pegasus is Sunny Flare.”

“Fools,” Sugarcoat rubbed her nose before helping Lemon Zest up as Sunny tossed the mare her helmet. “Why do I put up with you two?”

“Because I’m the captain. Duh,” Indigo rolled her gold eyes with a smirk. “And your best friend.”

“Technically that’s Lemon Zest,” Sugarcoat corrected instantly as the unicorn beamed at her.

Luna watched with a tilted head as they all nodded at her before Indigo trotted up with who she suspected was Sour Sweet.

“So you’re the new boss huh?” Sour eyed Luna up and down. “Oh, this is gonna be so fun!”

“Ignore her. She’s a pyscho,” Indigo told Luna as the pegasus ignored the death glare Sour gave her. “Anyway, Indigo Zap. Nice to meet ya after, what a thousand years of banishment? Gotta say, huge fan. I don’t care for manes much but yours is nicely colored.”

“Show some respect. She’s a princess,” Sunny Flare growled and bite the pegasus on her ear. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

“She’s a grown mare. She can speak for herself,” Indigo groaned and gave Luna an admiring look. “I’ve read the stories on you. You are more than capable of handling yourself. I meant it when I said I’m a huge fan.”

“Uh thanks?” Luna said in confusion as Twinkleshine and Lemon watched in confusion.

“I’m stuck with these idiots,” Sugarcoat grumbled under her breath. “And my helmet is too freaking big.”

She pushed it back up and gritted her teeth slightly. While they did irritate her, she did view her friends as family. Indigo may be arrogant but she was admittedly more fearless than Sugarcoat had ever expected when she first met her.

Lemon Zest was definitely the most playful of the group and Sugarcoat grudgingly had to admit the unicorn was good at her job. Lemon Zest had been the first to befriend Sugarcoat and the two always were hanging out together.

Sunny Flare was the more fashion oriented one and constantly got on Indigo’s nerves about her mane style. She seemed to be more friendly with Sour Sweet. Sugarcoat was just glad the mare wasn’t as stuck up as she was when the two first met.

Sour Sweet was the hardest for Sugarcoat to get a decent read on. The mare always seemed to be in a mood and stayed to herself. The only time the mare was with others was when she was with Sunny or sleeping during the groups various outings.

“Why don’t I show you all around?” Celestia offered finally as the others shrugged. “You’ll be staying here in the castle permanently. Unless you have homes in Canterlot. Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts, why don’t you two go home for the night?”

“I would but I have the night shift princess,” Lemon Hearts brushed some of her mane out of her eyes.

“It’s okay Lemon Hearts. Go see your friends for the night. You deserve a day off,” Celestia smiled warmly and placed a hoof on the smaller mares shoulder. “This place wouldn’t run without you, Lemon.”

The mare blushed and looked away before nodding in defeat. Compliments had always been the fastest way to her heart. As soon as Minuette had found out about said weakness, she quickly took advantage of it to get the mare out and about more.

“Let’s go Twinkle. I think Minuette might be passed out on her couch again with her clocks again.”

“With her what?” Lemon Zest giggled as Twinkleshine blushed and Indigo laughed.

“Clocks nimrod,” Sour snorted with a smirk. “Not the other thing you were thinking of. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

Twinkleshine shot a look back at Luna who was watching the bickering royal guards who occasionally each laughed.

“I really hope she is up for that,” Twinkleshine mumbled to herself as she shut the door quietly.

“What Twinkie?” Lemon asked as she levitated her saddlebags on.

“Nothing Lemon.”

Twilight and High Winds trotted down the street with a map in the unicorns magic held up to her face.

“Sunset said her job interview was at a cafe down here,” Twilight commented as she looked around. “There’s a million cafes. She should have been more specific.”

“Felt that. Why does she even need a job? She gets that money from Celestia, remember?”

“She doesn’t like just sitting around doing nothing she claimed. So she’s looking for a job. Think she said this one was a records keeping job with some construction company,” Twilight answered as the two stared at Sunset waving enthusiastically with a grin. “That was fast.”

Two ponies with unreadable expressions sat across from Sunset, one with a briefcase sitting on the table closed as Twilight and High Winds sat at a table a few feet away.

“So what exactly does this job entail?” Sunset asked curiously as she levitated the papers in front of her. “Forest Incorporated? Weird name for a construction company.”

“You’ll be doing organizing files and all. We’re a well known company up in the Trottingham area,” the stallion answered. “I’m Hard Hat. I’ll be your boss.”

“It’s all the way in Trottingham?” Sunset simply raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, no thanks. I don’t want to leave my marefriend or family or my friends. I wish you guys luck.”

“There’s a sign on bonus,” the mare hastily interjected. “We’ve heard a lot about the famous Sunset Shimmer. You’re reputation precedes you. You’re exactly as we expected and we could really use you. Some ponies at the Canterlot Castle have spoken highly of you. Especially a Raven.”

“You talked to Raven?” Sunset gave them a startled look as Twilight and High Winds both gave each other stunned looks.

“Yes,” the mare answered with a shrug. That was a lie, naturally. None of them even have been to Canterlot. She opened the briefcase and Sunset’s eyes widened at the gold coins inside. “Fifty thousand bits sign on bonus. You could solve all of your sister Blazes college costs. And pay for anything else you want.”

“No thanks,” Sunset pushed the briefcase away. “I know a bribe when I see one. And a construction doesn’t seem to offer fifty thousand for a sign on bonus. I’m out of here.”

“One hundred thousand.”

Sunset paused pushing her chair out and scowled at the stallion.

“I said no. You should learn what the word means.”

Sunset continued to stand up and trotted out with a scowl on her face.

“Woah,” High Winds whistled with an impressed look on her muzzle. “Talk about not taking their shit.”

“I know, right?” Twilight agreed as the two stood up to follow. “I think the next place on the list we made was some fast food restaurant. I really need to bring that along in the future.”

High Winds rolled her eyes before following the unicorn with a indifferent look on her face.

She didn’t necessarily want to be here but anything was better than doing constant drills.

Spitfire had been in a mood recently and as a result, worked her team harder. To her knowledge, Surprise did say she was going to attempt to calm the mare down.

With a groan, High Winds spread her wings and pushed herself off the ground after the mare.

After all, she had wings. Why not use them? Walking was boring.

Author's Note

Name: Lemon Hearts.

Age: 29.

Job: Head of staff at Canterlot Castle.

Nicknames: Lemon, Lem, Hearts, Beaker.

Bio: Lemon Hearts is a stern unicorn who is the head of staff at the Canterlot Castle. She helps organize official functions for Celestia and Luna, answering directly to the two and considers them to be close friends. She is a good baker and is a lover of all things lemon flavored. Lemon Hearts is considered sour and cold to most, but is far from it. She is to the point and has a good heart. She attended Celestia's School alongside Twilight, Lyra, Minuette, Twinkleshine, Moondancer, Sea Swirl, Amethyst Star and Sunset Shimmer. She graduated at the top of her class and was offered a job my Celestia immediately after which Lemon Hearts accepted instantly. She encouraged Lyra, Twinkleshine and Minuette to meet Princess Cadence prior to the Canterlot Wedding and personally blamed herself for the three being mind controlled. She spent most of time in the hospital with the three afterwards with Luna.

Motto: Prepare for war, but strive for peace.

Abilities: Lemon Hearts may be lacking in magical abilities and physical strength, but she is highly intelligent and a hard worker. She is a good baker and often brings baked goods to the castle for her fellow staff.

Allies: Celestia, Luna, Twinkleshine, Moondancer, Sea Swirl, Amethyst Star, Lyra, Minuette, Bon Bon, Berry Punch, Written Script, Shining Armor, Kibitz, Plate Worthy, Donut Joe, Blue Streak, Thunderlane, Thundercracker.

Enemies: Chrysalis, Tirek, Sludge, Changelings, Blueblood, Megatron.

Weaknesses: Lemon Hearts doesn't have many magical abilities other than levitation and a few other common spells. She is physically not very strong.

Notable quotes:

"Get back to work."

"I swear, that colt is gonna drive me nuts one day."

"I'm not violent unless it's necessary. Violence sucks."

"Well, Cadence is in town for her wedding Lyra. Surely she can assist you with your love problems. I got work but Twinkleshine and Minuette might be down to come see her? She's the Princess of Love after all."

"I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

"If I hear about that damn beaker one more damn time Minuette!"

"My name is not Beaker, Twinkleshine!"

"W-what is that?!"

"My magic..."

A for effort

Spitfire eyed the stack of papers on her desk with a sigh and a glare as she folded her sunglasses and set them down on her desk.

Spitfire grumbled a curse word to herself before picking a pen and dragging the pile closer to her.

“More fun stuff?” Fleetfoot nudged the door open with a grin and Spitfire shot her a glare before gesturing to the sign that said knock before entering, clearing her throat. “Oh, right. I forgot how much a bitch you can be about knocking.”

Spitfire said nothing as Fleetfoot trotted out of the room, closing door behind her as Spitfire scowled slightly at the door. If anypony on her team other than Fleetfoot had called her a bitch, Spitfire would have slapped them with cleaning the bathrooms for a month.

She did occasionally punish Fleetfoot when the pegasus annoyed her enough. Which, admittedly was fairly often. And considering this was the fourth time today Fleetfoot had dropped by, Spitfire had a feeling she knew who would be on cleanup duty.

Fleetfoot pounded on the door, elicting a tired sigh from Spitfire as she inhaled.

“Enter!” Spitfire snapped and set down her pen. Fleetfoot walked back in with her trademark shit eating grin on her face.

“Happy now?” Fleetfoot grinned at her as she dropped in the chair across from Spitfire, kicking the door closed with a hindleg. “So Spitty. How ya been?”

“Fine. You?” Spitfire continued working as Fleetfoot toyed with a pen on the desk. “Leave my shit alone Fleetfoot. Thank you.”

“Fine. And I’ve been good. Just hanging out, keeping Soarin in line.”

Spitfire snorted as she hid a faint smile on her muzzle behind her hoof.

“If you bring up you liking him again, I’m gonna raise hell,” Spitfire threatened with a smirk.

“It’s not like he likes me anyway,” Fleetfoot sighed and Spitfire’s smile faded as she leaned back in chair, setting down her pen with a click. “I’m pretty sure he’s all over Watermelody. He always talks about her with Sunchaser.”

Spitfire did admit, Watermelody and Soarin did spend a fair amount of time together. She personally wanted to stay far away from that potential love triangle to the best of her ability.

“I don’t know,” Spitfire admitted finally and spun around in her chair. “They’re definitely friends, I know that much. They have been since the Summer Sun Celebration.”

“You think they are-” Fleetfoot was cut off by Spitfire’s upraised hoof.

“I’m gonna stop you right there. I’ve know you two before even got our cutie marks when we were kids in flight school. You two are my oldest friends and I really don’t want to know about your sex lives, if you have any. I definitely don’t wanna know about Soarin’s. He’d probably be into some weird shit, like covering a mare in apple pie and licking it off.”

“That was descriptive,” Fleetfoot noted. “But no, I was going to ask if they’re hanging out tomorrow after he gets off shift.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Moving on,” Spitfire coughed into her hoof with a blush. “I have an active imagination. Anyway, I don’t wanna hear about his sex life. I guess I can tolerate yours if I’m drunk enough-” Spitfire’s eyes drifted to her cupboard that she kept locked that held various liquors and alcoholic beverages. “But that’s something for later. In all honesty, you two have known me longer than anypony. Other than my sisters. Hell, you two have known Blaze and Sunset longer than any of the Bolts.”

“Yeah the two are bad asses,” Fleetfoot conceded with a nod. “What’s with your mom and raising bad ass kids?”

“Hmph. You’re trying too hard. What do you want, Fleetfoot?”

“Whatever are you talking about?” Fleetfoot smiled innocently and Spitfire simply raised an eyebrow in response.

“Cut the bullshit.”

“You have a filthy mouth, you know that?” Fleetfoot asked and Spitfire shot her an incredulous look.

“You’ve said far worse sober. Don’t you give me that. Like the time you and Rapid spent a night in jail after the show in Los Pegasus.”

“Still can’t believe they wouldn’t let you and Silver Zoom bail us out right then. Stupid processes,” Fleetfoot grumbled and crossed her forelegs. “I give you two an A for effort though. Anyway, you always could read me. Stupid element of harmony. I want to be scheduled for patrol tomorrow evening with Soarin.”

“I swear to Celestia, you two better be on your best behavior and not play around,” Spitfire threatened as she overlooked her schedule on the wall. “I could swap you and Lightning around though I might hear about it later.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Fleetfoot promised. “On my dead mom’s grave.”

“Your mom isn’t dead. We saw her three months ago,” Spitfire shot back dryly. Fleetfoot opened her mouth to reply. “Your dad isn’t dead either.”

Fleetfoot closed her mouth as Spitfire turned back to face the mare who gave her a hopeful grin.

“Fine, you can work with him tomorrow. Don’t make me regret this,” Spitfire warned as Fleetfoot nodded. “Now get the hell out of my office. You’ve been in here almost all day. I have to get going for a get together with Twilight and the others.”

“Yes ma’am!” Fleetfoot snapped a salute off before jumping off her chair. “Oh, and Spitfire?”

“What now?”

“Thanks a million for this. I appreciate it and you.”

“Shut up and don’t get sappy. That’s weird.”

Spitfire stretched out on the couch inside Watermelody’s house with a sigh as she rested a hoof on her glass that contained an amber liquid.

“It doesn’t smell in here anymore,” Twilight noted from her spot next to Watermelody and High Winds. “That’s a plus.”

“Why would it smell in here?” Wallflower asked as Twilight and Watermelody both turned red.

“Because she got really drunk and kissed me a couple days after that near world ending event we had. I thought only Sunset was into mares in the group,” Twilight shot Watermelody a smirk as the mare grew redder and slumped down in her seat.

“I’m straight!” Watermelody shot back with a annoyed look. “The cider and whiskey is equal opportunity. I myself am very much so into stallions.”

“She ain’t wrong,” High Winds snickered and set down her wine glass. “Speaking of Sunset, where is she?”

Wallflower pointed at the window with a hoof where the unicorn was wiping off Watermelody’s windows as the other gave the earth pony artist flat looks.

“You’re making her clean your windows? Why?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow and Watermelody exhaled.

“Believe me, I didn’t want to. She damn near forced me into it with how much begging she was doing. Something about earning her keep? I’m not really sure, but it got to the point of awkwardness,” Watermelody scratched the back of her mane with a frown.

“She stopped by and tried to garden for me,” Wallflower said quietly and her eyes flicked nervously to Spitfire. “It was uh, interesting to say the least.”

“She organized all of Spike’s comics,” Twilight added and tapped a hoof against her chin. “And my books till three am. I don’t know how she slept.”

“So that’s why I found her passed out on my couch,” High Winds mused with a frown. “I didn’t even think she knew where I lived. We all moved our cloud houses over here after the move. I didn’t think she could walk on clouds either.”

“Well, she is part pegasus. She can’t manipulate clouds or the weather like us, but she can walk on clouds and sleep on em,” Spitfire answered and cracked her neck. “Why don’t you go talk to her?”

Wallflower stood up and Spitfire’s wing snapped out to block her from leaving as the others stared.

“Not you. Them,” Spitfire jerked her head to Watermelody, Twilight and High Winds. “You’re staying in here.”

Wallflower gulped nervously and sat down across from her in a bright pink chair that she honestly thought was hideous as Twilight and the other two walked out, Twilight shooting them a wary look.

Wallflower traced a hoof on her leg as the door shut quietly, Spitfire staring at her in silence.

“So,” Spitfire broke the awkward silence and folded her wings on her back. “Spike and my sister said you’re afraid of me.”

“M-maybe?” Wallflower offered weakly with a small smile.

“Why?”

“Uhm,” Wallflower mumbled and continued staring down at her lap as Spitfire waited patiently. Patience that she was quickly losing. “You’re intimidating. You’re so confident of yourself and brave and strong. Everything I wish I could be.”

Spitfire sat quietly as she watched Wallflower finish speaking before she sighed and nodded.

“I’m sorry. This is my personality and I can’t change that. But you can work on that. And you’re pretty damn brave in my eyes,” Spitfire smirked slightly at Wallflower as the green mare gave her a confused look.

“Uhm how?”

“Remember? You were going into the Everfree after Luna alone for messing up your garden. And then you proceeded to beat her with a stick you found repeatedly. Brave in my eyes,” Spitfire shrugged and grinned. “You’re braver than you think Wallflower.”

“R-really?” Wallflower asked and Spitfire nodded quickly.

“I’m no better than anypony because of my Wonderbolt status. Don’t let anypony put you down for being you. If they do, find me and I’ll sort em out for you.”

Wallflower shuddered slightly at the angry seeming expression before Spitfire relaxed slightly and patted her on the shoulder.

“Tomorrow morning, meet me at Wonderbolt HQ. If you truly think you’re weak, I’m gonna show you aren’t and how we Wonderbolts train. Me and you, one on one practice. If you’re down,” Spitfire shrugged and Wallflower bit her lip nervously.

“Okay. I’m in.”

Spitfire’s grin grew slightly wider and she held out a hoof.

“Come on, hoof bump.”

Wallflower eyed the outstretched hoof with a confused expression before she tapped her own hoof against Spitfire’s with a small smile.

Author's Note

Name: Fleetfoot.

Age: 30.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Nicknames: Flatfoot, Fleety, Fleet, Lisp.

Bio: Fleetfoot is the only child of her parents, Gust and Snow Heart. She is the third in command of the Wonderbolts and is one of Spitfire's closest friends outside of the Elements and Soarin. Fleetfoot is often seen with Spitfire and Soarin as the three are often called the Big Three of the Wonderbolts being the most recognize. Fleetfoot speaks with a lisp and has the occasional habit of reacting negatively and rudely to those who make fun of her for it. She occasionally has to be held back from getting into fights by the others and has a temper that she tries hard to keep down. Fleetfoot can be found at the Wonderbolts HQ or getting drunk in Soarin's bar. Fleetfoot was responsible for escorting Wind Rider out of the castle during his banishment from the team, later insulting the stallion she had once admired. She has known Soarin, Spitfire, Blaze, Sunset and Sunburst since she was a kid, often hanging out with the five after flight school. She very briefly dated Sunburst when she was a filly. She is a avid anime fan alongside Whiplash and the two became close friends over their shared interest. She was lead against Tirek by Spitfire. Fleetfoot and Soarin were sent into the caverns under Canterlot in search of the missing Lyra, Twinkleshine and Minuette, later defending Soarin after he got taken down by the three mares.

Motto: What you fight isn't important. It's what you fight for that is important.

Abilities: Fleetfoot is a fast flyer and is capable of producing thunderclouds. One of the few to be able to do Spitfire's patented solar flare.

Allies: Sunburst, Sunset, Soarin, Misty Fly, High Winds, Watermelody, Twilight, Wallflower, Spitfire, Blaze, Rapidfire, Lightning Streak, Wave Chill, Silver Zoom, Silverspeed, Silver Spoon, Whiplash, Angel Wings, Bulk Biceps, Sky Stinger, White Lightning, Raindrops, Sassaflash, Merry May, Sprinkle Medley, Parasol, Dizzy Twister, Feather Twirl, Icy Rain, Cloudkicker, Rainbow Dash, Derpy, Dinky, Amethyst Star, Lyra, Minuette, Twinkleshine, Bon Bon, Thunderlane, Spike, Celestia, Luna, Discord, Flurry Heart, Cadence.

Enemies: Wind Rider, Cold Stone, Hard Hat, Speed Trap, Cinnamon Swirl, Music Bluegrass, Walnut Cherry,Chrysalis, Sludge, Tirek, Blueblood, Nightmare Moon (formerly), Discord(formerly).

Weaknesses: Fleetfoots ego and temper are her greatest weakness.

Notable quotes:

"Fuck you."

"You're a bitch Wind Rider. Fuck outta here."

"I do not have a temper!"

"Only my friends can call me Lisp and you're not one of em."

"Kawaii, bitch."

"Soarin!"

"Get back or I'll hit you hard as fuck."

"I don't get how somepony with so much drive and determination, somepony with such a bright future just give up on themselves like that."

"HAHA!"

Surprise!

Wallflower yawned as she approached a building with a pair of golden wings emblazoned above the door with the words Virtūs et Honos next to them. Wallflower stood in front of the double doors as she stared up at a pegasus logo.

“It means strength and honor,” Wallflower jumped slightly and glanced back at Spitfire and a white pegasus with a yellow mane standing behind her. “Surprise!”

“Morning Wallflower,” Spitfire smiled slightly as she hoofed her a cup. “I don’t know if you like coffee so I bought you a tea. This is Surprise.” Spitfire jerked her head to the grinning pegasus waving wildly as Surprise continued eating a donut. “We don’t let her have coffee because she has enough energy as is.”

“O-oh okay,” Wallflower said as Surprise examined her up and down. “Thank you. Tea is fine.”

“You’re from Ponyville, aren’t you?” Surprise asked and Wallflower gave her a startled look. Only a certain few knew where Wallflower came from as she never talked to the salesponies unless absolutely necessary. “My cousin lives there. You most definitely have seen her before. Pink mane, pink coat, blue eyes. Three balloons for a cutie mark like mine and has probably thrown you a party at least once in your life.”

“You’re related to Pinkie Pie?” Wallflower asked and took a hesitant step back. She certainly didn’t hate Pinkie by any means but the mare didn’t really have any idea of what boundaries were. Pinkie did seem friendly Wallflower supposed. And had a lot more friends than Wallflower could ever imagine having. She was content with her small group of seven or eight friends and that’s fine with her. “Oh boy.”

“She’s not as chaotic as that pony is,” Spitfire reassured her and the two watched Surprise for a brief second. “Most of the time.”

“That’s...reassuring?”

Spitfire gave a dry laugh as she held open the door for the two. She hadn’t been too comfortable around Surprise herself at first but the mare was pretty harmless other than the occasional prank.

Spitfire may have asked Surprise to tag along. Surprise had a way of making anypony laugh, even Spitfire. Spitfire would have asked Soarin but he and Fleetfoot were out with some others practicing. She could faintly make out the ponies in the distance from the window as the three trotted down the cloud hallway.

“So what exactly do you guys do around here?” Wallflower asked curiously as she swirled her hoof around the cloud floor. “And uh how can I walk on clouds?”

“I mainly do paperwork, keep the others in line, do the trainings for recruits and more. Usually work out in my free time,” Spitfire answered as she led the two down to her office and pushed it open with her forehead. “And we have the clouds enchanted so all the ponies in Equestria can walk in here if necessary. Though we came in the restricted Wonderbolts entrance.”

Wallflower found herself nodding as she took a small sip of her tea before sitting down next to Surprise on a small couch as Spitfire sat behind her desk.

A few medals were framed on the wall next to pictures of Fleetfoot, Soarin, Blaze, Sunset and Spitfire herself along with a gray pegasus with golden eyes that Wallflower recognized.

“You know Derpy?” Wallflower shifted to face Spitfire who gave a dismissive nod. “How?”

“Went to flight school with her. Been friends with her for as long as I can remember. I can’t remember the rest of my class but I do my remember the small circle I hung out with. She delivers mail here all the time and I was in her wedding. Was there for Dinky’s birth and Amethysts adoption also.”

Wallflower hummed before she continued examining the medals and photos. Derpy was one of the few ponies Wallflower called a friend in Ponyville. She had been there for Derpy’s wedding and Dinky’s birth but hadn’t remembered ever seeing Spitfire there. She and Derpy often had tea before she moved across Equestria.

Wallflower tapped a hoof against her leg as she watched Spitfire start to write. She didn’t necessarily want to be rude, but she didn’t hope this was all she would doing. She could be doing gardening or napping. She liked napping a lot more than she would have thought. She admittedly often slept under trees simply to be outside.

“It’s not all you’ll be doing,” Surprise commented and Wallflower jumped slightly before Surprise giggled behind a hoof. “Relax, it’s just me. Little old Surprise.”

“What do you mean, it won’t be all I’ll be doing?” Wallflower asked and had. Feeling she was gonna regret asking based on the grin Surprise had. She was used to Pinkie’s weird comments and ways of knowing things she shouldn’t.

“You’ll see Wally,” Surprise sang as she got close to her face. “You’ll see.”

“What is this room?” Wallflower asked curiously as she, Surprise and Spitfire stood in a room with various weights lining the wall.

“This is our weight room. You’re gonna lift some today,” Surprise answered and flung a foreleg around the mare. “Nothing too crazy, only about twenty pounds. This is a no judgment zone so don’t worry.”

“Oh well okay. You guys always do stuff jn here?” Wallflower asked curiously and trotted forward slightly to read some signs on the walls. “Warning, do not be stupid. Sincerely, Icy Wind. Who is that?”

“Somepony who is on our team. He’s a training instructor occasionally. Nice stallion,” Surprise answered as Spitfire took some weights off a rack. “I usually just do wing ups as a warm up but you obviously are lacking in the wing department.”

Spitfire elbowed Surprise with an eye roll as Wallflower looked away with a shrug.

“Yeah I am. What’s it like to fly?” Wallflower asked and Spitfire looked at Surprise.

“Picture being able to have the ability to just fly whenever you want,” Rapidfire chimed in from a corner as the stallion wiped some sweat off his face. “It’s the best feeling ever. You should try going on a balloon ride. It’s not really the same but the view is equally nice. Wallflower, correct?”

“Mhm,” Wallflower mumbled and crossed her legs as Rapidfire held a hoof. Wallflower eyed it for a moment before shaking it.

“I’ve heard of you but never met you properly.”

“Likewise?” Wallflower shot a look at Spitfire who gave a nod. “So what do we do know? I just lift them?”

“No,” Spitfire chuckled faintly and shook her head. “Well, yes but I’m gonna have you finish getting shown around the place and then you’re gonna run laps till I’m satisfied.”

“Oh joy,” Wallflower mumbled and shifted on her hooves. In all honesty, she could lift practically everything in this room and probably Rapidfire himself if she tried hard enough. Wallflower never really showed off her true strength because she always thought most ponies assumed it was weird. “We can start now, right?”

“Somepony is eager,” Spitfire teased with a grin. “If you want then sure. Let’s head to the track outside.”

Sunset untied her apron as she glanced out the kitchen window at Wallflower stumbling down the street with a green face. Or well, greener than usual she admitted as Spitfire and Rapidfire trotted alongside the mare with sheepish looks as Wallflower vomited into a trash can.

“I’m gonna have to ask about that later,” Sunset mused to herself as she shut the oven off. “Dinners ready!”

Silverspeed trotted into the room as Silver Spoon warily stuck her head in, sniffing the air briefly before gagging as Silverspeed shot her a dirty look.

“It smells interesting,” Silverspeed conceded as she paused to nuzzle Sunset. “What did you make again?”

“Hayasagna wirh garlic bread. Wine for me and you, water for her,” Sunset answered proudly as she levitated a pan out of the oven and set it down on the counter. “Tada! I uh had to follow a recipe. I usually just use a microwave unless I’m here with you to help me cook.”

Sunset willingly admitted she wasn’t a great cook. But she did know the few things she could successfully make was fucking amazing. That sounded less conceited at first. She could at least make a decent pizza. She always got the most shit from others but pineapple belonged on pizza and she would die on this hill.

“I’ll bring everything out. You guys go get seated,” Sunset promised and the two glowed a light red as she gently pushed them out.

“Momma?” Silver Spoon tugged on Silverspeeds tail gently. “Can I skip dinner? Sunset can’t really cook.”

“No,” Silverspeed frowned down at her daughter before sighing as she and the filly sat down at a small table. “While yes, I agree Sunset’s cooking is...interesting it’s the thought that counts. And she knows you specifically like this type of dinner so you’re going to at least try it young lady.”

“I don’t really like her. Why do you like her?” Silver Spoon asked curiously and Silverspeed smiled.

“Because she’s kind and hard working. She’s nice and friendly. She always owns up to her mistakes, no matter how small it is and is good to me. She has a lot of ponies that like her and it’s always a good sign,” Silverspeed explained and coughed into a hoof as she blushed. “I love her a lot.”

“Ew.”

“You’ll find a colt or a filly you love one day too,” Silverspeed teased with a smirk. “I was your age once too and thought it was gross to when mom talked about dad like this. But I’m gonna have words with him or her. I really don’t want to imagine my little filly dating. I’d rather keep you a kid as long as I can.”

“You’re embarrassing me,” Silver Spoon blushed and looked down as Sunset levitated some forks with a knife followed by plates and glasses with a large dark bottle she pointedly placed away from Silver Spoon.

“That’s my job,” Silverspeed deadpanned with a grin. “You will get used to it.”

Silver Spoon shot Sunset a distrustful look as the unicorn sat next to her mom and kissed the pegasus on the forehead.

She didn’t necessarily approve of how close Sunset seemed to be with her mom and she definitely didn’t approve of her mom’s relationship strictly for the reason of Silverspeed risking getting hurt if Sunset ever left.

And Silver Spoon technically couldn’t like Sunset either because then she’d be hurt as well if the mare ever left.

Silver Spoon sighed and stared down at her plate, internally cursing how complicated the stupid world was.

Author's Note

https://derpibooru.org/1589640
Name: Surprise.

Age: 29.

Rank: Staff Sergeant.

Nickname: 'Sprise, Slowpoke, Balloons, Cousin.

Bio: Surprise is a very friendly pegasus mare who is a staff sergeant in the Wonderbolts. She is the cousin of Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Surprise is a tame version of Pinkie but has just as much energy as the earth pony. Surprise knows when to be playful and chaotic unlike Pinkie. Surprise is a kind pony and cares deeply about her fellow Wonderbolts and ponies. Surprise loves all of her teammates equally and is fiercely protective of them when needed. She, Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts are friends with Wallflower and often look out for her as a group. Surprise led Blaze and High Winds against a grown up Spike in a failed attempt to corral the dragon. Surprise took part in the Battle of Canterlot and willingly followed Blaze's orders in Spitfire's absence. Surprise is easy going and rarely gets mad. If Surprise gets mad, you most likely deserve to have her after you. She has the same fourth wall breaking abilities as her cousin. Surprise can appear to teleport randomly and can sneak up others with ease. She's not fond of bullies and often can be found calling ponies out on their behavior when necessary. Surprise is a widely liked member of her community and respected by many. She assisted Sunset and Silverspeed in finding Silver Spoon later on. She helped calm down an angry Sunset later. While she does love parties, she doesn't throw them for every little thing like her cousin and decorated the sleeping quarters of the HQ with balloons.

Motto: Live life to the fullest.

Abilities: Surprise can break the fourth wall and is a decent flyer. She is good at talking down ponies. Surprise can appear randomly when her name is spoken. Surprise can easily set up parties at the drop of a hat.

Weakness: Surprise's only weaknesses is her dislike of conflict.

Allies: too long of a list. Sunset and her teammates are to name a few, Wallflower, Pinkie, Soarin, Blue Berry, Backstreet, Blaster, Eject, Rewind, Optimus, Shining Armor, Rodimus/ Hot Rod, Discord, Spike, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Spitfire, Blaze, Sunset, High Winds, Watermelody, Silverspeed, Silver Spoon, Whiplash, Raindrops.

Enemies: Chrysalis and Tirek.

Notable quotes:

"Surprise!"

"We should totally have a sleep over!"

"Don't judge me by my personality."

"Hey! Calm down!"

"Sunset!"

"Hey, drop it. You've already proven you're point, Sunset. He's already beat up. Don't gotta hurt him anymore."

"Conflict sucks. I don't like ponies fighting and all."

"I'll show you who the alpha mare is!"

"Hell yeah!"

"What's up, young Crashhopper?"

"See what I did there, Crashhopper?"

"I know what the Wonderbolts represented and I genuinely wanted to be a part of that."

"You really should have told us or Spitfire. We aren't jerks or well, we don't try to be. We aren't perfect and make mistakes."

"I love you, you're a good pony and a best friend."

"Gee, talk about hurting my feelings."

"I don't get mad often but going after my family is a surefire way to piss me off."

"The Bolts are my extended family really if you think about it. So technically that makes all of you my family too Twilight."

Too sober for this

“I may have pushed her a bit hard,” Spitfire admitted and Twilight nodded in response. The unicorn had found herself with Spike and High Winds being asked to come into Spitfire’s office as the yellow pegasus sighed with a guilty expression. “In her defense, Wallflower did well. It’s been a couple days and she is already faster than she was when I first promised to help her. And she doesn’t think I’m scary anymore. I don’t like ponies being afraid of me. It’s a bad feeling.”

“Makes sense,” Spike answered and folded his arms against his chest. “Having ponies being afraid of you sucks. No offense, but you aren’t the only dragon in Equestria to be friendly. Everypony is scared of me. Well, except you all and a few others back in Canterlot.”

Twilight nuzzled Spike briefly and wrapped a foreleg around him as the other two watched on. High Winds secretly always wanted to be friends with a dragon but most dragons aren’t necessarily fond of ponies so she always figured it would never happen.

“No offense but you’re half my height,” Spitfire deadpanned with a raised eyebrow as she folded her forelegs on her desk. “And I know for a fact I’m faster than everypony in this town, on the ground and in the air.”

“Hmph,” Spike scoffed and High Winds giggled behind a hoof as Twilight hid a smile.

“I think you’re very adorable and intimidating Spike,” High Winds leaned over and rubbed his head spikes. “Though I think a certain somepony is after you.”

The three laughed while Spike blushed faintly with Twilight nuzzling the top of his head with a small smile. The door swung open and Spitfire straightened up as Misty Fly stood in the doorway.

“Misty. What’s up?” Spitfire asked as she slipped her sunglasses on.

“We kinda need you and High Winds outside to help break up a fight. It’s pretty crazy. Soarin and Blaze are trying to calm them down right now. They sent me to get you,” Misty answered as Spitfire and High Winds stood up instantly.

“My sister? Let’s go. I’m in the mood to raise hell,” Spitfire cracked her hooves with a grin.

Spitfire, High Winds, Misty and Twilight galloped outside as the shouting the four had started to hear in the hallway got louder.

Twilight had opted to leave Spike inside with Sunchaser and Wind Trail. It was admittedly Misty’s idea to not bring Spike along to a street fight. The only reason Twilight herself came with was magic is a pretty useful tool at getting ponies to pay attention.

Blaze and Soarin were standing next to the hotel across the street in between two stallions and a pegasus mare shouting at each other as Lightning Streak held onto a stallion around the waist.

“Break it up!” Spitfire shouted as she and High Winds started pulling the pegasus mare away as she tossed a punch at Spitfire.

“Watch out!” Soarin called out with a wince. “She’s been punching like a madmare this whole time.”

“You’re a scumbag. Do you know what a scum bag is?” The mare shouted as Twilight joined in pushing her back.

“I’m looking at one, you!” The unicorn stallion shouted and Spitfire grudgingly admitted that was almost funny.

The pegasus slammed her elbow into High Winds jaw and she stumbled to the ground with a stunned expression before the dark black pegasus swung at Twilight and Spitfire hastily stepped in front of the mare as the hoof slammed into her jaw and she grimaced before spitting out some blood.

Spitfire inhaled as she slammed a hoof over the other mare repeatedly after pushing Twilight back.

“Bitch,” Spitfire growled as she continued hitting the mare. “Don’t ever lay hooves on my friends again.”

“I think she gets it,” Twilight interjected hastily as her horn glowed and she pulled Spitfire from the mare as she laid groaning on the concrete. “What is even going on here?”

“Fighting over rent,” Blaze called out as she and Soarin held down a stallion as the two watched Lightning Streak and Misty help High Winds up. “Is she okay?”

“I’m good,” High Winds called back and groaned. “Head hurts.”

Spitfire held down the mare as Rapidfire and Icy Winds both came running as Rapidfire jumped over some railing on the stairs with some metal hoofcuffs in his muzzle and he tossed them to Soarin.

“Thanks,” Soarin muttered and started forcing them onto the stallion under him. “Blaze, grab his other leg.”

“I’m trying!” Blaze grunted as she slammed the foreleg down. “Stay still. We don’t wanna hurt you.”

“And this is why you don’t do crack,” Misty Fly muttered as she wiped some blood off of Spitfire. “You’re bleeding. That was a helluva hit you took.”

“I’m fine. Is High Winds, Soarin, Blaze and you okay?” Spitfire asked and gritted her teeth slightly as a Icy slid some cuffs on the mare under Spitfire.

“We’re good. Get the hell up,” Lightning Streak and Soarin both pulled up the stallion. “What’s your name, my guy?”

“Greystone,” he answered as Blaze sat down with a yawn. Blaze watched with a tired expression and Twilight sat down next to her.

“Did he hit you or Soarin at all?” Twilight questioned and Blaze shook her head.

“Nah. He was just screaming and yelling at the two. He never hit the other stallion either. He’s probably gonna get let go once he’s taken far away from here. Soarin usually cuts most ponies loose unless they really messed up. He’s good like that,” Blaze explained and she accepted a bottle of water the unicorn. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” Twilight smiled as Spitfire and Soarin trotted over.

“You good?” Spitfire asked as she examined Blaze up and down. “No injuries? Tell me and I’ll fight which ever did it.”

“I’m good,” Blaze answered as Spitfire continued running her hooves over her sister before she was apparently satisfied and Spitfire nodded.

“Alright I don’t see anything. Let’s go get some drinks tonight. I could use some alcohol after this shit show,” Spitfire shook her head as some other Wonderbolts and a few royal guards joined them. “Take the mare and unicorn. Let the other guy go.”

“You got it. We got caught up in traffic on the other side of town,” on the guards adjusted his gold helmet. “Damn tourists don’t under what get out of the way means.”

“You’re all good,” Spitfire patted him on the back with a nod. “I’m too sober for this. It’s only one pm too.”

“I have to go catch up on my studies. And take it easy on Wallflower. She doesn’t really do your type of exercises everyday,” Twilight frowned as Spitfire rubbed her forelegs together.

“Yeah you got it.”

Silver Spoon sat with a bored expression in class, eyeing the clock impatiently. While she did occasionally like class because of her teacher Giddilee always finding ways to make class entertaining, she didn’t really care much for about how the Equestrian government works.

“This is wack,” Silver Spoons ear flicked as a colt with glasses named Specs whispered another colt in front of him.

“Specs!” Giddilee called out. She was a yellow unicorn mare with a saddle cutie mark. She was normally fairly strict on her students when the situation called for it. “Can you tell me what I just said please?”

“Uh no Miss Giddilee?” Specs pushed his classes up with a hoof as some classmates snickered.

“I see. See me after class and you can clean my classroom for not paying attention,” Giddilee frowned pointedly at the colt as the class laughed and Diamond Tiara snickered next to Silver Spoon.

“What an idiot,” Diamond Tiara shook her head and nudged Silver Spoon. “Right, Silver Spoon?”

“Uh yeah sure. Tots an idiot,” Silver Spoon forced a laugh along with a smile. She rested her head on her hoof, staring down at her book before scrunching up her muzzle. “What smells bad?”

“Probably Rag Top. He doesn’t shower,” Diamond Tiara laughed and shot the colt a glare. “Absolutely disgusting. How poor is he?”

“I don’t think it’s him,” Silver Spoon pointed out as she gestured with a hoof to smoke filling the room in from the window. “Uh Miss Giddilee?”

“I see it. Everypony out and at the front lawn!” Giddilee ordered as the unicorn set down her pointer stick. “We’ve done fire drills before, you all know what to do. Let’s go fillies and colts. When I find out who decided to place a smoke machine at the window as a prank to get out early you’re getting detention.”

Silver Spoon gave a sigh, coughing slightly as she and Diamond Tiara stood up, walking towards the door though the smoke.

A hoof wrapped itself around her body and muzzle as she kicked a few times and let out a muffled scream before being dragged out the window as Diamond Tiara paused, tensing slightly as she looked around.

“S-Silver Spoon?” Diamond Tiara called out nervously as her eyes flicked around the room as she strained to see through the thick smoke. “W-where are you?”

Diamond waited a few moments before groaning to herself.

“This isn’t funny Silver Spoon!” Diamond Tiara huffed and stomped a hoof on the floor. “I’m so gonna give that filly a piece of leaving without me when I get outside. Hmph!”

Diamond Tiara turned and felt for the door, missing the abandoned blue glasses a few feet away from her.

Author's Note

Fun fact, there's actually a canon comic teacher named Giddilee and is in the mobile game. Apparently teachers in Equestria with names ending in Lee is a tradition or some shit.

Don't mess with Sunset Part One

Sunset leaned against the fence post with Watermelody and Silverspeed, occasionally making jokes as they watched some of the school ponies trotting out of the school house.

“Hey, what’s going on over there?” Watermelody asked suddenly and the mare pointed a hoof at some smoke pouring out the front door as Sunset and Silverspeed both shared a worried looks.

“I don’t know,” Silverspeed answered slowly as the grey pegasus licked her lips nervously. “But I’m sure as hell gonna find out. Giddilee!”

The unicorn was talking to some parents before her head turned to look at the three mares and she trotted up to them.

“Where’s my daughter?” Silverspeed demanded and peered around the mare in case she missed Silver Spoon in the crowd of kids.

“Last time I saw her was with Diamond Tiara. I had to help push Spades wheelchair otherwise I’d have been the last out of the building,” Giddilee answered and she looked back at the school. “I don’t know what happened. I was giving a lesson and suddenly the room started filling up with smoke. Royal Guards are checking it out now.”

Silverspeed paced back and forth as Diamond Tiara trotted up, tugging on the taller pony’s tail.

“Uh Miss Silverspeed? I don’t see Silver Spoon anywhere,” Diamond Tiara commented and the four older ponies looked at each other. “I heard something behind me but I couldn’t see anything. Is she okay?”

“She’s missing,” Sunset answered and faced the stallion trotting up with a piece of paper and a pair of broken glasses as Sunset’s eyes widened with Silverspeeds.

“Those are her glasses,” Diamond Tiara raised an eyebrow as Silverspeed took them.

“We also found this,” the stallion hoofed Sunset the paper and her eyes scanned it before her eyes hardened and she narrowed her eyes as everypony around her took a step back excluding Silverspeed hugging the mare.

Sunset dropped the paper and took the glasses in her magic as Silverspeed bent down to pick up the paper.

“Come back to the cafe and then get on the next boat to Trottingham and the filly will be released,” Silverspeed read as Watermelody tried to push down her anger. “Sunset, what are we gonna do?”

Silverspeed turned to hug Sunset again but the mare was gone.

Hard Hat sat a table, sipping a coffee with a newspaper before it glowed a bright red, being crushed into a ball and thrown as a very angry looking Sunset threw his coffee away and flipped the table to the gasp of the started patrons.

Sunset swept his legs out from under him and pressed a foreleg against his throat as he gagged, waving a hoof around desperately.

“Where is she?” Sunset growled in his ear and loosened her hold on his throat. “Tell me quickly and I’ll be nice and not break all your legs.”

“Hey, what’s going on?” A waiter apparently found his courage and tapped Sunset on the back. Courage that very quickly faded as she gave him a cold look.

“Mind your own fucking business and go be a waiter!” Sunset snapped and he nodded hastily as he paled. Sunset locked eyes on the squirming stallion under her. “Answer me or I’ll slam your head against the floor. Don’t test me.”

“She’s in a carriage headed out of town,” Hard Hat gasped and Sunset nodded. “She’s safe, I promise you that. She will be released once you are on the boat headed to Trottingham.”

“Safe is with her mother,” Sunset growled down at him. “Not being kidnapped from her classroom.”

The cafe gave the stallion angry looks as some of the stallions that were ready to intervene sat back down. None of them really wanted to get into a fight with a mare who would potentially mop the floor with them.

“I’m telling the truth. She’s with Dusk, Cement and two others,” Hard Hat promised and Sunset examined him before getting off him as he breathed in relief.

“Don’t ever let me catch you in this down again or I swear, I’ll drown you in the harbor,” Sunset threatened as she got up. “And that’s a promise.”

Hard Hats eyes widened slightly and he screamed as Sunset’s magic enveloped one of his hind legs as it made a snapping sound, sticking at a sickening angle.

“You crazy bitch!” He screamed and wiped some tears away. “You said you wouldn’t break my legs!”

“I said I wouldn’t break all of them. I never said I wouldn’t break one,” Sunset looked back at him with a scowl. “Have a good walk sir.”

Sunset turned back away from him and galloped away, leaving a shaken cafe full of ponies.

Twilight slid to a stop outside Sunset’s apartment, pounding a hoof against the door, not caring about her neighbors that would most certainly complain.

Sunset opened the door and Twilight gave her a confused look as the mare tightened her saddlebags on over her cutie mark.

“Sunset, what are you doing?” Twilight asked as she bent over panting. Running wasn’t really her strong suit. She idly made a mental note to get more in shape.

“I’m leaving. I have a boat ride to catch,” Sunset said simply as she turned from Twilight.

“What? You can’t go! Spitfire is rounding up the other Wonderbolts. Watermelody and Silverspeed told us all what happened. Wallflower, Spike and Fuchsia are searching the back roads. We will find Silver Spoon,” Twilight promised and rested a hoof on Sunset’s back. “Breath. Watermelody is looking for her too. Half the town is looking. But we can’t just run around recklessly like this. We need to come up with a plan, contact Celestia and Luna.”

“They took the kid, Twilight damn it!” Twilight took a step back as Sunset spun around and glared at her. “I have every right to be mad. I can’t even imagine how Silverspeed must feel. If I’m this angry, imagine how terrified she is.”

“I’m not saying you don’t have a right to be angry,” Twilight answered and stood in front of the door. “I’m just as angry as you. Get a glass of water and relax. Please.”

Sunset paused and nodded as Twilight sighed in relief. Angry Sunset always scared Twilight. And she had every reason to be scared. She heard all about Sunset’s altercation at the coffee shop with the stallion that Twilight watched get arrested.

“You don’t even know what they would do to you on there. You’re outnumbered most likely,” Twilight turned away to close the door as Sunset breathed out.

“Forgive me,” Sunset said quietly and shifted on her hooves as Twilight glanced back and gave her a confused look.

“Forgive you? Forgive you for what?” Twilight asked in confusion as Sunset gave her a regretful look.

“For this,” Sunset answered and slammed a hoof into Twilight’s jaw as the purple unicorn saw stars.

“Look at all the stars,” Twilight waved a hoof at them as she swayed on her hooves.

Twilight glowed red as Sunset caught her before she could fall and Sunset levitated her onto the couch with a pillow.

“I’m so sorry Twilight,” Sunset sighed and shook her head as she levitated a blanket over her before placing a bottle of Advil and water on the coffee table.

Sunset closed the door and galloped down the hall, ignoring the annoyed looks the neighbors in the hall gave her as Sunset jumped over the railing of the stairs.

Spitfire trotted down the runway of the clouds above the Wonderbolts HQ in front of the assembled Wonderbolts with Silverspeed pacing behind her.

“Alright listen up! Silver Spoon got kidnapped and as you know, that’s my sisters marefriends kid. So she is damn near family. We’re gonna split up in teams of two and search the town from above. Wallflower, Spike and Fuchsia got the back roads covered. Twilight is calming Sunset down and Watermelody is gathering the town folks,” Spitfire announced and paused to look at them. “If anypony wants to not help, you’re free to go back.”

Spitfire looked them in the eyes and none made a move to leave as she nodded before glancing at a surprisingly angry looking Surprise and Soarin.

She knew Soarin occasionally got mad but Surprise? Surprise rarely got mad or angry. If she did, it’s because somepony pushed her to that limit. Spitfire would be lying if she said a angry Surprise wasn’t scary.

Spitfire glanced over at Blaze as the mare shifted on her hooves and the two made eye contact as Blaze spit out her gum into a trash can next to her.

“Alright, excellent. Surprise and Soarin, go fly over the outskirts of the town. Rapidfire and Silver Zoom, go to harbor and lock down the boats. Nopony leaves and especially not my sister. Sabotage the engines if you gotta. As for you all, partner up with a pony and let’s get moving,” Spitfire turned to Silverspeed but the mare was gone. “What is with ponies and randomly leaving without letting me finish talking in this town?”

Silverspeed looked down at the hastily drawn pony that High Winds had drawn of the ponies she had seen Sunset talking to that all the Wonderbolts had as the pegasus glared down at the earth pony underneath her before inhaling, jumping off her cloud.

“What the hell?” The stallion managed to get out before Silverspeed bit his tail and fluttered her wings harder to lift the stallion up to her cloud, dangling him over the edge as he gave a terrified scream.

“I know you helped take my daughter. Got ten seconds to tell me where she is before I drop you,” Silverspeed threatened and patted the bow next to her. “Or I’ll shoot you with an arrow. My special talent is shooting arrows.”

“Let me go. I’ll count to fifteen and if I’m not safely on the ground, you’ll get it.”

“And I’ll count to five,” Silverspeed answered and loosed her grip on his tail. “One. Two. Three.”

“Alright, alright! I’m afraid of heights. She’s headed out of town. Your wife already broke my friends leg and jumped him. Please don’t drop me,” he looked down at some ponies pointing.

“Good, I’m glad she did,” Silverspeed dropped him and watched as he screamed before flying down to watch him. “Don’t mess with my family again.”

“Do you know how dangerous that was?” Silverspeed jumped slightly and looked up at Sunchaser and Whirlwind behind her hovering. “We’ll take him from here. Go find Silver Spoon.”

“You uh aren’t gonna arrest me for dropping him, right?” Silverspeed asked worriedly Sunchaser and Whirlwind started placing hoof cuffs on him.

“I didn’t see anything,” Whirlwind said casually with a wink as he started tugging on the stallion. “Come on, let’s move it.”

Silverspeed sighed in relief at that. Last thing she wanted was to end up in jail.

Don't mess with Sunset Part Two

Silver Zoom and Rapidfire landed on the outskirts of the docks, pushing through a crowd of complaining ponies where a group of royal guards stood waiting for the two.

“Shut this down,” Rapidfire told the first guard he saw. “Spitfire’s orders. Nopony leaves. Have any of you seen a orange unicorn with a red and orange mane?”

“She will look really pissed off,” Silver Zoom added helpfully as his flight goggles dangled around his neck. “Has teal eyes, shimmering sun with gold and red for a cutie mark?”

“No,” one the stallions commented. “Nopony has gotten past us. Well, except you two.”

“Probably used her magic,” Rapidfire looked at Silver Zoom. “I don’t think we stand a chance against Sunset when she has an advantage like that. She also had a head start on us all. Have ships left the port in the past hour?”

“No sir. If they did so, they didn’t run it by us,” a pony answered. “Do you want us to search the ships? I can get the garrison of guards to search each ship up and down.”

“Go for it,” Silver Zoom nodded. “We’ll check the crowd. She might be hiding in the crowd. And remember, she’s not under arrest. Her daughter got kidnapped from class today. Here’s some sketches of the ponies involved. Arrest them if you find them.”

Rapidfire passed out some drawings to each of the guards and they all examined them.

“Alright, we will take a look,” the pony nodded and turned to the others. “Alright you heard the Wonderbolts. Move it. Detain everypony you find.”

“I don’t know how well they will do,” Silver Zoom muttered to himself and Rapidfire as the pair approached the crowd. “Sunset’s strong with magic according to the rumors I’ve heard. I don’t even like our chances, let alone theirs.”

“Felt that,” Rapidfire snorted and stepped around a colt. “Excuse us, kid. Anyway as I was saying, what do you think Sunset will do once she gets her hooves on them?”

“Don’t know. I know if anypony did that to my partner and kid, I’d raise Tartarus,” Silver Zoom answered as Rapidfire gave him a confused look.

“Didn’t know you had a wife and kid. What’s their names?” Rapidfire asked curiously and Silver Zoom looked at the sky.

“Had a wife and kid. It’s complicated.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Let’s keep looking, shall we?” Silver Zoom suggested.

Rapidfire considered asking more but the look Silver Zoom was giving him quickly killed that idea.

“Yeah, of course.”

Watermelody trotted up the stairs to Sunset’s apartment, counting down the numbers before reaching the door as she nudged it up.

Twilight was groaning on the couch as she sat up, Watermelody giving her a confused look as the unicorn unscrewed a bottle of pills.

“Were you just napping?” Watermelody asked with a raised eyebrow, watching Twilight toss the pills in her mouth followed by some water.

“No. Sunset hit me and I passed out on the couch I guess,” Twilight groaned again and held her head. “Warning, Sunset can throw a hard punch. I’m going to be feeling this for a few days now.”

“Sweet Celestia,” Watermelody whistled and looked at Twilight. “Yeah, that’s already bruising. The Wonderbolts got the port locked down and are searching from the sky. Just ran into one of them. No ships have left the town and the guards are searching each ship individually.”

“Good,” Twilight accepted the hoof Watermelody offered and was pulled to her hooves. “Ugh. We need to find them both. Sunset has a temper.”

“I know. I heard something about her breaking a stallions leg?” Watermelody shrugged and chuckled. “Probably a rumor though. I don’t the element of laughter would go around breaking legs.”

“It’s not a rumor. I saw the stallion myself. It wasn’t pretty looking,” Twilight answered and Watermelody felt herself going pale as her mouth went dry and she licked her lips anxiously.

“Oh boy. This is gonna be bad. Are you sure you’re okay?” Watermelody examined Twilight’s face before focusing on her jaw. “No broken teeth so you’re good there. You can stay here if you need.”

“No. Sunset is my friend and I will be there for her. I’ll just be in pain for a few hours. And at least Sunset had the courtesy to put me on the couch. She could have left me on the floor and she did apologize,” Twilight answered and winced slightly as she held a hoof to her head. “I can’t teleport because it hurts too much. Let’s use the elevator if it’s working this time.”

“Okay. And bring the advil. You might need it girl.”

Sunset trotted down a dirt road with a grumble as she kicked a rock and sent it flying. She had briefly been at the port long enough to send a magical clone of her onto a ship with the ponies she had been interview by. As far as Sunset knew, the copy was detained by now. She did see Silver Zoom and Rapidfire searching for her presumably and some others.

“You think she will come down here?” Sunset’s ears flicked as she faintly made out Wallflowers voice. “We’ve been down every dirt road except this and that one near the Everfree.”

“Don’t know but there’s wagon tracks and multiple fresh hoof prints. Best bet so far,” Fuchsia commented and Sunset hastily cast an invisibility spell as the two ponies and Spike walked by. “What’s that?”

Fuchsia pointed to a dirty blue hair tie as Sunset examined it with a small smile.

“Smart kid,” Sunset muttered to herself. “She’s leaving her hair ties as a trail. I always did wonder why she had so many.”

“Did you guys hear something?” Spike asked and Sunset froze, internally cursing herself. She may have forgotten that invisibility spells doesn’t make her voice quiet either.

“Yeah I did,” Wallflower commented and looked right at Sunset as she bit her lip as she watched Wallflower sniff the air a few times. “She’s near by. That’s her shampoo she uses.”

“Probably behind us. Let’s wait here,” Fuchsia answered and shifted to be less visible. “The others are counting on us. Wallflower, go ahead and try to find Silver Spoon. That’s her hair tie I bet.”

Wallflower gulped nervously before she gave a small smile before continuing down the dirt road.

“Fuck,” Sunset cursed quietly and starts galloping down the road. Nothing against Wallflower, but she didn’t necessarily want Wallflower to watch Sunset knocking out ponies.

Silver Spoon sat in between Dusk and Cement as she glared at the two ponies, dropping another hair tie when the two looked away. Mom always did tell her having multiple hair ties was useful and well, she could believe that now.

“Once Sunset’s in Trottingham, we will let you go back to your mom. We want nothing to do with you,” Cement reassured the filly. “At least you’re being quiet now.”

“Mom will be coming and then you four are screwed,” Silver Spoon gave him a rude gesture with her hoof. “And I hope she kicks you asses while I laugh.”

“Aren’t you a bit young to be cursing?” Dusk asked pointedly as Silver Spoon rolled her eyes before pulling on a hair tie, shooting the mare in the eye as she gave a pained cry and held a hoof over her eye. “Ow!”

“Did that hurt? I hope so,” Silver Spoon giggled and folded her forelegs. “Momma will be here soon.”

“I don’t think so,” Cement chuckled as the wagon jerked to a stop. He and Dusk both slammed face first into the wooden interior, the two cursing as some blood leaked out of Cements nose. “What the fu-?”

The wagon glowed a red and the three watched the top get ripped off and flung to the side. Dusk looked nervously out at the two stallions who had been pulling their wagon unconscious tied to a tree. The wagon axles had been broken and the wheels were bent as they stared in stunned silence at a furious looking Sunset.

“Taking the girl was a big mistake,” Sunset gave them a hateful look as she levitated Silver Spoon out and behind her. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah,” Silver Spoon answered before she could stop herself. She had expected Silverspeed, not Sunset.

“Good. You two are in so much trouble,” Sunset smirked coldly as a shiver of fear went through the other two ponies stared at her with barely restrained fear. “Silver Spoon. Cover your ears and look away.”

“Okay,” Silver gulped nervously and complied hastily as she pressed her hooves against her ears and idly watched a butterfly landing in front of her.

She didn’t necessarily know what Sunset had planned, but she had a feeling the other two wouldn’t be having a good time.

Author's Note

Name: Silver Zoom.

Age: 50.

Rank: Staff Sergeant.

Nicknames: Zoom, Zoomie, Old Man.

Bio: Silver Zoom is the oldest of the Wonderbolts at fifty. He served with the Royal Guards prior to graduating high school and spent most of his life in the military. Silver Zoom is a quiet stallion who prefers to silently follow orders. Silver Zoom is a loyal member of the Wonderbolts, turning down multiple promotions of captain in favor of letting Spitfire take the job. Silver Zoom served in multiple war zones and suffers from PTSD. He is one of the few ponies that Surprise doesn't wake up early in the morning. Silver Zoom often hosts poker night at his house and is close friends with Rapidfire. He is currently separated from his wife and son, living in a cloud house he rents. He is not related to Silverspeed or Silver Spoon contrary to popular belief. He is a close friend of Spike's and Discord. He later reconnects with his wife and son upon encouragement from the others. He also gets counseling upon Spitfire's suggestion. Silver Zoom often spends late nights in the weight room or using a punching bag. He is friends with Misty and Surprise.

Motto: War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Abilities: Silver Zoom is physically strong and works out often to help deal with his pstd. He is a fast flyer and often uses that to distract his enemies.

Allies: Sunset, Spitfire, Blaze, Rapidfire, Lightning Streak, Soarin, Surprise, High Winds, Twilight, Wallflower, Watermelody, Celestia, Luna, Wonderbolts, Starlight, Trixie, Daisy, Gloriosa Daisy, Timber Spruce.

Enemies: Tirek, Chrysalis, Sludge, Changelings, Discord (formerly), Ghost, Cement, Hard Hat, Dusk, griffins.

Weakness: Silver Zooms ptsd is his only weaknesses.

Notable quotes:

"Well, at least that's solved."

"In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons."

"Life isn't always perfect."

"Old timer? That's something you'll never be if you don't get into the city."

"Sludge is just an idiot. Don't listen to him, Spike."

"Hey Gloriosa. Uh, what are you doing here?"

"I screwed up that marriage, belive me. PTSD is a bitch. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."

"We're just living separately at the moment. Her idea. Took the kid and all. I get to see him occasionally."

"Timber is a good kid. Bit of a nature pyscho but we all have our interests."

"I'm not old, I'm experienced."

"I need a drink."

First time for everything

High Winds stretched her wings out as she turned a page of her book, occasionally looking up to watch Silver Spoon as the filly walked with Star Hunter, Spitfire, Starburst and Sightseer as they pointed out various medals and posters hanging up.

“How’s she doing?” Wave Chill asked and sat down on his bed a few feet away from hers. It had originally been Spitfire’s idea to have everypony sleep in the same room together. Something about that a team that eats, sleeps and lives together works better together.

High Winds had been a bit wary of sleeping near strangers, especially when she was still new and had just joined, but she had to admit that it grew on her. She couldn’t really go to sleep in her own house mainly because it lacked the others snoring or Surprise waking everypony up at seven am every day.

“She seems to be doing well,” High Winds answered finally as she placed a book mark in her book and closed it. “I’m almost surprised how fast Silverspeed let her come here. It’s only been what, a week?”

“Roughly, yeah. I think Silverspeed and Sunset both trust us a lot. I mean, if it wasn’t for Surprise, Sunset apparently would have killed that one stallion,” Wave Chill answered as he leaned back against his bed with a content sigh. “I think I heard something about a nurse outfit when I left the hospital run Sunset was in? I know I took off fast when it got a bit more graphic when Silver Spoon was sleeping next to them.”

High Winds cheeks turned pink and quickly forced the mental images her brain conjured up away. She really didn’t want to think about that and she definitely didn’t want to know who was wearing said nurse outfit.

Silver Spoon had been met with open arms the moment she had trotted inside earlier in the day with Silverspeed. The three stallions she was with currently had offered her a tour of the building similar to how Spitfire and Surprise gave Wallflower one. That mare had been received fairly well by the others too.

“What’s this?” High Winds ears flicked as she approached a glass case with various badges in it. She and Wave Chill both looked at each other as she licked her lips.

“This is a memorial,” Star Hunter answered as the dark blue stallion read some names in his head. “Every Wonderbolt who dies in service of Equestria gets their badge placed inside. We all got one when we signed up.”

“I didn’t know that. Does Aunt Spitfire and Aunt Blaze have one too?” Silver asked curiously as she stared at the rows of silver and gold badges.

“We do,” Spitfire confirmed and pulled out a black wallet out of her pocket, opening it to show the golden badge inside. “Gold represents superior officers. Everypony under me has silver ones.”

Silver Spoon nodded and sniffed slightly as Spitfire rested a hoof on her back.

“It’s okay to cry here. I have,” Spitfire smiled slightly and rested her hoof on the glass. “I have friends in there. All of us have cried here at some point, either because somepony we knew died or for our fellow Wonderbolts. I’m not sappy often, but there is no greater love than to lay down ones life for another. This badge case stands as a memorial to the fallen Royal Guards and Wonderbolts who lost their lives in service to Equestria.”

“That’s a lot of badges,” Silver Spoon said and they nodded. Spitfire didn’t necessarily like admitting that she cries as she viewed it as ruining her stern and strict image as captain but she supposed there’s a first time for everything.

“Goes all the way back to Commander Easyglider. He started the tradition. Originally, it was for just Wonderbolts but the Royal Guards got added in later years. There’s one in Canterlot and Cloudsdale too. The Canterlot one is bigger,” Starburst added. “My dad is in that one.”

“This got dark,” Sightseer said and shifted on his hooves. “So, Aunt Spitfire and Aunt Blaze, huh?”

“Yeah. Since I started considering, Sunset as Mom, I figured I might as well start calling her sisters Aunt now too,” Silver Spoon explained with a blush and crossed her forelegs before looking at Spitfire. “That’s uh, that’s okay, right?”

“Fine be me as long as I get to be the cool Aunt,” Spitfire grinned down at the filly and winked.

“I was thinking the stern one but cool Aunt works with me.”

“Fine by me,” Spitfire shrugged and patted her on the head. “Have a hat.”

Star Hunter adjusted the blue hat with the Wonderbolt logo on it on Silver Spoons head to fit it better before nodding in satisfaction.

“Now I got to get back to reviewing this applications. Got some promising ponies in here,” Spitfire said and turned to the glass case, offering a quick salute. “Make sure Silver Spoon gets back home safely you three or else I’ll slap you with runway duty.”

High Winds turned back to her book as the three stallions flanked Silver Spoon, the four disappearing quickly from view before she wiped her own eyes.

“I hate crying,” High Winds growled and Wave Chill laughed. “Makes my eyes hurt. I’m gonna bet Surprise and Soarin tease Spitfire about being old once the Aunt Spitfire thing gets out.”

“Oh absolutely,” Wave Chill agreed with a wide smirk.

The two shared a laugh before turning off their bunk lights and going to sleep.

Sunset laid in bed and stared at the ceiling, tossing a bouncy ball up in the air and catching it with her magic. While she was grateful to be home, her body did hurt in some spots still. Or well, Silverspeeds home to be precise but minor details. The pegasus refused to let Sunset go home, something about insisting she was fully healed till heading to her apartment in a week.

“So,” Silverspeed said casually from her closet as Sunset continued sinking into the soft bed. “How’s the head, dear?”

“Getting better. My side still hurts but I’ll be good,” Sunset answered dismissively and adjusted a picture on Silverspeeds side of the bed. While Sunset may not live here, she did spent a unsurprising amount time asleep in the bed or hanging out downstairs.

“I’ll be there shortly. I have advil on the nightstand,” Silverspeed called out and Sunset hummed quickly as she levitated the bottle to her face.

“I’m so stupid,” Sunset muttered to herself and opened the bottle.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” Sunset sighed and shook some pills onto her tongue.

“I know you. You’re an awful liar,” Silverspeed commented and stepped out of the closet as Sunset raised an eyebrow slightly at the nurses outfit with a white what the silver pegasus wore. “Well?”

“Wow,” Sunset answered finally and watched the pegasus flutter her wings to lay down next to her. “You look uh very-”

“Hot?” Silverspeed suggested with a grin and Sunset nodded weakly. “Good, that was the goal. Obviously, I changed it a bit to get to places easier. How’s my patient?”

“This is not how I expected my night to go. Anyway, I’m okay. I said I’m so stupid for the record,” Sunset answered as Silverspeed gave her a confused look. Out of everything she could have said, that was what Silverspeed expected least.

Sunset was pretty damn intelligent in her eyes. To Silverspeed, Sunset was far from stupid.

“How?”

“Silver Spoon got kidnapped because of me. I turned down a chance to help Giddilee teach class that day because I wanted Silver Spoon to have some time away from me so I didn’t make her uncomfortable or mad. And yet the day I refuse, she gets kidnapped. I’m stupid,” Sunset explained and wrapped her forelegs around Silverspeed.

“Absolutely not,” Silverspeed frowned at the mare as she hugged her back. “What happened isn’t on you. It was just an accident. You’re a good pony, Sunset. The fact you turned down that opportunity because you didn’t want to make Silver Spoon uncomfortable just proves my point and I love you for that.”

Silverspeed nuzzled Sunset as her coat got wetter from the crying pony and she hugged the unicorn tighter.

“And you helped me find her. You also brought her back home and fought off two ponies with no problem. You’re a damn good marefriend and a mom,” Silverspeed continued as Sunset laid quietly. “And you also got Silver Spoons affection after trying the entire time we’ve been dating. What happened is absolutely not your fault. It’s those idiots who took her. And they are already going to jail Celestia said, remember? She was very angry about it.”

Sunset shuddered slightly at the memory. In the return letter she and Twilight had received, Luna had mentioned something about wanting to behead all involved in taking Silver Spoon and hanging their corpses outside the castle but apparently Twinkleshine and Celestia had hastily intervened before that could happen.

“Are you sure?” Sunset asked and Silverspeed nodded quickly.

“I’m damn sure. No matter what happens, you’ll always have us two on your side. And since she’s getting a tour of the Wonderbolts building right now, we’re home alone,” Silverspeed said casually and ran a hoof on Sunset’s back. “You feeling better now that you’re done crying?”

“Yeah. Thanks Speedy.”

“Anytime. And as promised,” Silverspeed kissed the mare. “Hugs and attention as I said a few days ago.”

Sunset gulped slightly at the look the pegasus gave her before kissing her back.

“Thank Celestia Silver Spoon isn’t here,” Sunset muttered and Silverspeed snickered.

“Agreed. Spitfire is a life saver.”

Sunset felt inclined to agree as Silverspeed kissed her again. She did have two awesome sisters, even if Blaze did seem mad at her.

But that was a problem for future Sunset, not current Sunset.

Beheading is not allowed

Sour Sweet stood with a bored expression as she idly watched over her prisoners, examining them with mild curiosity. Lemon Zest on the other hoof, was busy talking her ear off.

“Lemon Zest,” Sour Sweet coughed into her hoof finally as the other mare looked at her. “Can you do me a favor and shut up? For ten minutes?”

“I don’t know. Most I’ve done is seven minutes and fifty seconds " Lemon Zest commented and tilted her head. “Keep moving, inmate. I’ve always wanted to say that. Makes me sound cool.”

“Uh, we’re not jailors remember? We’re Royal Guards. We’re just supposed to move them along. Hey!” Sour snapped at a stallion pausing to lean against a wall. “Get the fuck on. I want to get back and rest. This armor is heavier than it looks, shit head.”

“I have a broken leg,” he shot back and Sour smiled with mock sweetness as she raised an eyebrow.

“Oh how my heart bleeds for you,” Sour mocked as she trotted in a circle around him, poking him in the side. “Why don’t you cry me a river and maybe I’ll let you go.”

Sour Sweet shoved the stallion forward with a growl and continued walking with Lemon Zest, occasionally tugging on the chains to verify the ponies were still cuffed.

“Lemon Zest? Are you still alive over there?” Sour Sweet glanced at the mare who’s cheek were puffed out and was turning a faint blue. “Sweet Celestia, breath!”

Lemon Zest let out a strangled gasp, slowly turning back to her normal color as Sour sighed in relief before shooting her friend a glare.

“What were you thinking?” Sour Sweet snapped angrily.

“You asked me to try to stay quiet for ten minutes. I got to five and a half,” Lemon Zest gasped out before levitating her water bottle to her lips.

“I asked you to stay quiet, not kill yourself!”

“Right,” Lemon Zest snorted as Sour rolled her eyes, pausing at a gated property before sliding her key into the lock and pushing the gate open.

“Alright mares and stallions and other degenerates!” Sour shouted and Dusk gave her an angry look along with the other prisoners that she and the others had helped unload from the train from some back water town she didn’t know of. “Welcome to home for the next few days until your trials. We thank you for your stay and continued business and we hope you have a good visit. Enjoy jail.”

Lemon Zest laughed as some stern looking stallions along with a mare in dark blue shirts and matching pants with a hoofcuffs on their belts trotted up.

“And don’t fuck with these guys,” Sour warned the group with a cold smile. “They’re not as nice as me.”

“You enjoyed that way too much,” Lemon Zest noted as she looked at the slightly shorter pony.

“Maybe a little. They kidnapped a young filly, they don’t deserve respect. Just wait till some of the meaner prisoners gets their hooves on em. Then they will learn the hard way not to fuck around and find out.”

Luna scowled slightly as she shifted around on her bed, setting down her ColtBox controller with a sigh, glancing at Twinkleshine and Celestia sitting next to her, the other controller held in the air in a golden glow.

Celestia gave her a slightly smug grin as she set her own controller down as Twinkleshine tried her hardest to hide her grin behind a hoof.

“I can’t believe she of all ponies beat me at Mortal Kombat,” Luna flopped back on her bed and crossed her forelegs across her chest. “I didn’t even think Tia was capable of fun.”

“I am too fun!” Celestia shot back dryly with an irritated expression. “You’re the one who doesn’t know the definition of fun!”

“Oh please,” Luna scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m way more fun than you. Right Twinkleshine?”

The two alicorns looked at Twinkleshine at the same time as she tried to make herself seem invisible. Getting involved in a fight between sisters was the last thing Twinkleshine wanted to be in. Especially considering the sisters were the rulers of Equestria.

“You know what, I think I left the oven on at home and I don’t want to burn down my house so I think I’ll be going now. It’s been super fun and all-” Twinkleshine started backpedaling to the door as Celestia blocked her exit and Twinkleshine gulped.

“Who’s more fun?” Celestia demanded and Twinkleshine groaned internally.

“You want the truth? Both of you are equally fun. Happy?”

“That works,” Luna answered after a moment of silence. “Since you’re here, why exactly could we not decapitate those ponies? They broke the law.”

Celestia gave an annoyed groan before slamming her hoof into her face as Twinkleshine rolled her eyes. She wasn’t entirely fond of the idea of watching ponies getting killed herself or whatever it was Luna wanted. And she definitely didn’t want to see the bodies everyday.

“Beheading is not allowed, Luna,” Celestia pointed out flatly. “Times have changed and we don’t do that anymore. Equestria is much more civilized I should say.”

“Hmph.”

“Besides, they got punished enough by Sunset I think,” Celestia chuckled as she glanced at the weekly letter Twilight had sent her. Celestia had admittedly been fairly angry when she found out what happened. “They will serve their sentence. I’m not lenient on crime, after all.”

“What happened to Sunset?” Twinkleshine tilted her head and glanced between the two as both alicorns shared a look.

“It’s a long story. She ended up in the hospital for a couple days after raising Tartarus the only way she knows how,” Celestia rolled her eyes with a tired smile. Celestia fully well knew the level of chaos the mare could cause when she truly wanted to. Sunset, Lyra and Twilight were an admittedly dangerous trio when they wanted to be.

Twinkleshine didn’t necessarily consider Sunset to be a close friend in all honesty. She didn’t really know the mare at all really, but she did know Lyra liked her fairly well. Lyra is a fairly decent judge of character.

She might ask Lyra for Sunset’s address the next time she was in Ponyville and send a letter or something. She doubted the mare even really remembered her to be honest. It had been a good few years since they had been in school together.

“I’ll tell you all about it. I’m sure the story was exaggerated,” Luna scoffed and Celestia gave her a doubtful look.

“Believe me, it’s not exaggerated.”

“So how goes the whole Luna thing going?” Minuette asked as she sat on her couch with a book and a glass of wine next to her, occasionally watching Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine searching through her movie shelf.

“It’s going actually surprisingly well. She’s not as scary as I once thought. She did want to decapitate some ponies but thank the gods Celestia talked her out of it.”

Minuette shivered slightly before turning the page of her book as Lemon Hearts glanced at Twinkleshine.

“I did hear that firsthoof. It was a bit scary, hearing Luna shouting and using the Royal Canterlot Voice during her tirade. None of the guards were willing to calm her down and I don’t blame. Except for that one pony, I forgot her name. Sunny Flare I think it was?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t even know what she was screaming over. I’ll probably hear about it later tomorrow when I go to work,” Lemon Hearts commented as she levitated a movie onto the table. “Let’s watch this one. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen The Lion King. It’s a gift from god.”

“Apparently those ponies we had seen earlier were arrested. Something about kidnapping a filly and stuff. Sunset’s to be exact,” Twinkleshine answered and received two stunned looks. “Celestia said Sunset apparently fought a few.”

Lemon Hearts shuddered slightly and turned Minuettes TV on. Lemon had more than once seen Sunset fighting in the hallway in school. Pretty much made her stay far away so she didn’t accidentally make the mare mad.

“Damn,” Minuette whistled as she set her book down and flicked her tail around her. “I didn’t know she had a kid. I never saw her as the one to have a kid immediately after school. I always thought I would or Lemon Hearts would.”

“Why me?” Lemon demanded as her head turned to glare at the blue mare. “I’m single, remember? And unlike Twinkleshine, I’m still a virgin.”

“Hey!” Twinkleshine snapped with a faint blush. “I thought we agreed to never speak of that one time again.”

“You shared a dorm with Moondancer. She was traumatized apparently by the noises, that poor mare. Probably why she left Canterlot.”

“She left? When?” Minuette asked before giving Twinkleshine a smirk. “You did have a issue with masturbating a lot.”

“Shut up,” Twinkleshine growled as the other two laughed. “I swear, you two are worse than Lyra. And we both assumed Moondancer left because we haven’t seen her in years. I hope she’s doing alright.”

“Me too,” Minuette agreed with a sigh snd shoved a bookmark in her book before setting it aside. “Now start the movie. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you two.”

The two other unicorns moved to sit on either side of her as Minuette raised a hoof in the air.

“And please no trash around on my couch. Thanks.”

Lemon Hearts snorted and flung herself down, wrapping her tail around herself. That was more of Lyra’s thing to do, not hers.

She levitated a glass of water next to her as she hit play.

“This movie is amazing,” Lemon commented and raised an eyebrow at Minuettes glare.

“Quiet, I’m trying to watch.”

Lemon shut her muzzle and rolled her eyes, turning to continue watching.

Author's Note

Name: Minuette.

Age: 30.

Nicknames: Minnie, Hourglass, Toothpaste, Min.

Bio: (From Lyra's diary) Minuette is a pretty damn strange pony. She acts all uptight and blah blah blah, but she's actually just as energetic as me some days. She's like a discount Lyra. She's absolutely obsessed with being on time, brushing her teeth and reading these weird trashy romance novels. Yuck, right? I read one and never again. Who even thinks of a werewolf pony dating a mare? Anyway! She's a nice enough mare. I grew up with and I can remember a time when she was always bullied for having braces. I pretty much told those ponies to fuck right off. Kids can be vicious, man. Minuette is a pretty decent mare and is dating one of my friends, Berry. Nice mare too. I love Berry and all, but Minuette definitely helps keep her life on track. Thank Celestia because Berry occasionally needs it. Especially since she has a filly and all. Minuette is super friendly and often helps most of her friends out. She was a bridesmaid with me and Twinkleshine in "Cadence's" wedding. I rocked that dress, not gonna lie. But this isn't about me. Cadence was a bitch, man. Or well, you get the point. Pinkie says I'm not allowed to write down what happened yet because of spoilers or something. That's a weird pony. And that's coming from me! All in all, Minuette is a fine mare and I'm glad to know her. She's a good friend and I love her a lot. I still remember the time I united with Sunset and Twilight to prank Minuette. Granted, Twilight didn't know that's what we were doing, we tricked her into thinking we needed her help for homework but minor detail. That never ending toothpaste spell worked wonders. Minuette was covered hoof to horn, ha! Minuette firmly believes in taking care of yourself before helping ponies who will just take advantage of you.

Motto: Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

Abilities: Minuette may not be physically strong, but she's got a heart and throws all she's got into everything she does, which I always admired. She's super smart too.

Allies: Myself, Sunset, Twilight, Spitfire, Twinkleshine, Moondancer, Sea Swirl, Berry, Ruby, Caramel, Shining Armor, Sideswipe, Soarin, Wallflower, High Winds, Watermelody, her parents, Kibitz, Flash Sentry, Noteworthy, Derpy, Discord, Celestia, Luna.

Enemies: Tirek, Chrysalis, Discord (formerly twice), Sludge but everypony hates that bitch, Blueblood, Nightmare Moon (formerly).

Weakness: She needs to loosen up about being on time and dental care. I brush my teeth everyday, like lighten up Minnie. Sheesh!

Notable quotes:

"Brushie brushie, brushing my teeth."

"Sweet Celestia."

"I-is that Cadence?"

"Where are we?"

"I'm scared. I wanna go home."

"Always be yourself, no matter what Ruby. Don't live your life for other ponies."

"What the fu-!?"

"Lyra!"

"Get back here, you two! You're gonna get it once I'm cleaned up!"

"So much wasted toothpaste."

"You're not going anywhere...."

Well, this is the final chapter. I really didn't know what I wanted to do either this story so I tried combining two or three of my ideas into one storyline. I think it turned out well. The next one should be out today and will be Wonderbolt heavy. I'll also be bringing a character I've teased in the Wonderbolts bios, especially Fleetfoots and one of my personal favorite canon Wonderbolts, Raindrops!

Story Teaser

Raindrops paced back and forth inside her small house in Ponyville, glancing at the clock every few minutes before giving an exasperated sigh.

“Derpy should be here with the mail any minute,” Raindrops muttered to herself with flicked her teal mane back. She normally didn’t care for mail because it was usually bills and other nonsense. But this time, she had an actual reason to be eager for her mail.

Raindrops peered out the window again as Derpy flew her way down the road, flying over Caramel before coming back down, sliding to a stop at Raindrops house.

Raindrops swung the door open before Derpy could put the mail in the box on the pegasus pony’s porch.

“Oh hi Dropsy,” Derpy mumbled around the letters in her mouth. “You’re never excited to get the mail.”

“I’m expecting an important letter. Could make or break my future,” Raindrops answered as Derpy frowned slightly at her.

“All mail is important Dropsy. What’s the letter?” Derpy asked as Raindrops gestured for the mailmare to follow her inside. Derpy followed her and gently shut the door behind her.

“Rent, trash, letter from Dad, an ad from Backyard Bargains, that’s trash, huh, a letter from my cousin. Wonder what he wants now. Oh shoot. It’s here,” Raindrops hooves trembled slightly as she held up a letter with the Wonderbolt logo on the envelope as Derpy leaned forward.

“Why are you getting mail from the Wonderbolts?” Derpy asked curiously as she sat next to her friend on the couch.

“Because I applied and sent in my application. I did my test already and I’m just now waiting to find out if I’m accepted or not,” Raindrops explained as Derpy nodded quickly. Some of her other friends, like Cloudkicker had applied as well. Derpy faintly remembered delivering a similar letter to her house.

“So open it. What are you waiting for?”

“I’m afraid,” Raindrops admitted as the yellow pegasus looked at it. “What if I’m denied? Then I’ll have to go back to working for Heavy Set’s moving company.”

“Remember, we got fired for dropping a piano and some other stuff on a pony?” Derpy reminded her and Raindrops winced. She had forgotten about that. Well, looks like she won’t be going back to that job. It sucked anyway. “You won’t know if you got accepted either if you don’t open it. And besides, you can always come deliver the mail with me if you got denied. It’ll be like old times!”

Raindrops chuckled slightly and nuzzled the mare briefly. She and Derpy had gone way back before Derpy even moved to Ponyville. Benefits of living next door in Cloudsdale and all.

“You’re right,” Raindrops agreed and with shaky hooves, tore open the top and pulled out the letter. Derpy waited patiently as Raindrops unfolded the letter and watched as she read, her face falling. “I-I wasn’t accepted.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Dropsy,” Derpy wrapped her hooves and wings around the mare. “They’ll always have more openings in the future.”

“I’m joking!” Raindrops giggled and held the letter up so Derpy could read it.

Dear Raindrops,

We thank you for your interest and are happy to say you’ve been accepted into the Wonderbolts Academy. Please report to the Wonderbolts Academy in Amethyst Harbor at twenty three hundred with a suitcase of your belongings, a bottle of shampoo and a toothbrush along with tootpaste. Everything else will be taken care. Your uniform will be given out when you arrive and we wish you a safe flight, Cadet.

Sincerely, Captain Spitfire.

“Sweet Celestia!” Derpy whispered and grinned widely at her friend. “You’re gonna be a Wonderbolt! I’m so freaking happy for you.”

“I never would have applied if you didn’t urge me to apply Derpy,” Raindrops kissed her on the cheek. “I owe you so much. I’ll write letters as much as I can.”

“Just remember to have fun and stay out of trouble Raindrops. I couldn’t be one so I need you to live my dream for me, okay?” Derpy reminded her and Raindrops nodded. “Promise me.”

“I Pinkie promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I’ll take pictures too,” Raindrops promised and wiggled out of the hug. “I’ll see you after shift. I still have to give Dinky and Amethyst hugs before I go. Just wait till I tell Time Turner. He’s always believed in me.”

“They all be so excited for you. Now I will see you tonight. Promise.”

Derpy fluttered out the window Raindrops had forgotten to close. Raindrops watched her disappear as she hugged the letter to her chest before giving an excited scream.

“Shut up!” Her neighbor shouted and she blushed.

Raindrops may have screamed a bit louder than she wanted.