Gossip Spreads Quick

by TheKing2001

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Profanity, Random, Derpy Hooves, Slice of Life, Zecora, Sunset Shimmer, Roseluck, Main 6, Drama
Length: 16739

When the main six get infected by a seemingly innocent blue plant, the town blames a resident living in the Everfree forest, a strange zebra from far beyond Ponyville's borders.

When the main six get infected by a seemingly innocent blue plant, the town blames a resident living in the Everfree forest, a strange zebra from far beyond Ponyville's borders.

https://www.fimfiction.net/group/217456/sunsetverse

Published 2024-09-21 03:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-10-18 06:48:32 UTC

Just a normal day in Ponyville

Derpy cleaned behind the desk at the post office, sweeping as she hummed a song to herself happily swishing her tail occasionally behind her as she listened to the dinging sound of the front door opening.

“Hello Derpy!” Bon Bon sang out as she trotted up to the counter with her saddlebags on.

“Hi Miss Bon Bon. What can I do for you today?” Derpy set aside the broom as Bon Bon waved a hoof with a faint blush.

“No need to call me miss, Derpy. Bon Bon is fine, after all. I need to send out a few letters to my cousins up in Trottingham and one to my other cousin out in Rainbow Falls,” Bon Bon explained and nosed the envelopes out of her saddlebags to slide them across the counter.

“Setting up another family reunion?” Derpy asked as she examined the envelopes before pushing them into a bin marked outgoing. “Twelve bits please.”

Bon Bon placed the bits on the counter and cracked her neck.

“Yeah, hopefully if I can get everypony rounded up again. Last one was when I was a filly. It takes a lot to get my family together because they live all over Equestria. Me in Ponyville with my roommate, my parents up in Trottingham, cousin in Canterlot, aunt in Manehatten. Everywhere,” Bon Bon waved a hoof around in the air for dramatic effect. “It’s tiring.”

“I bet. Got anything else going on?” Derpy asked as she scooped up the bits into her register.

“Nope. Other than working at my shop, it’s a normal day in Ponyville thank Celestia.”

Derpy gave a snort at that as she leaned against the counter and hoofed Bon Bon a muffin.

“How’s the kids going?” Bon Bon asked and took a small bite of her blueberry muffin.

“Decent. Dinky is doing good. She really likes science. Sparkler is okay too. She’s been looking for a job that allows her to work with gems. Rarity seemed quite interested in her the other day.”

Sparkler had been quite excited to tell Derpy and Dinky about it. Derpy had been proud when finding out. Rarity didn’t take on apprentices ever. Rarity had stated it being she was fully invested in making Sparklers and her families lives better with decent pay.

Derpy hated to admit it, but the extra money would be nice. That was one of Sparklers main reason of agreeing to work for Rarity. A large part of Derpy felt ashamed having to have her teen daughter help pay bills.

“Derpy? You there?” Bon Bon waved a cream colored hoof in front of Derpy’s as she wore a concerned expression.

“Yeah. Just thinking is all. How’s Lyra?” Derpy asked and Bon Bon groaned.

“She’s her normal, crazy self. One helluva roommate, that’s for sure. Wouldn’t have her any other way. She’s kinda cute, to be honest but well, I’m not good at navigating emotions or stuff like that.”

“Sounds like one of my friends,” Derpy scoffed and Bon Bon tilted her head to the side. “Or well, two of them I suppose i should say. Alright so, it works like this. One friend loves another one. Other friend doesn’t know that said first friend loves her. You following me so far?”

“I think so?” Bon Bon blinked in confusion. “Carry on, dear.”

“Okay. And the second friend doesn’t know she likes my first friend and it’s so bucking confusing!” Derpy shouted and slammed her hooves on the counter as a shocked Bon Bon jumped. Derpy almost never cursed. If she cussed, it meant she was really frustrated. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. If i may ask, who are your friends?” Bon Bon asked curiously as she sat down and Derpy trotted around the counter to join her.

“Sunset and Silverspeed.”

“Oh ho ho. So the Royal Guard is shooting straight for Celestia’s daughter eh?” Bon Bon chuckled and Derpy nodded. “Talk about shooting for the stars, sheesh. Not even I would aim that high.”

“Same. But Sunset is either oblivious as hell or she’s intentionally ignoring it. But none of us plan on pushing it.”

Bon Bon opened her mouth to speak as they both jumped at a loud scream coming from outside.

“She’s here!” A pony cried as the two went to the door to watch a hooded pony approach.

They both dropped their jaws as everypony bolted in a cloud of dust. Carrot Top pulled her welcome mat indoors, Caramel was pulled into a house by Strawberry Sunrise.

“What is going on?” Sunset asked in confusion as she trotted up with saddlebags of her own. “Woah!”

Shoeshine yanked the three inside and Silverspeed followed suit and Shoeshine locked the door, pulling the blinds down hastily. Berry Punch pulled her daughter inside her house and slammed the door shut.

Within thirty seconds, Ponyville had became a ghost town. The hooded figure shrugged and dug at the dirt, ignoring a tumble weed rolling by.

“What the fuck, Shoeshine?” Sunset snarled and Bon Bon flinched at the tone. “I almost lost my groceries because of that!”

“Sorry but I needed you all in here. The mare is in town,” Shoeshine breathed and hugged herself. “The evil eyes. Haunts my dreams. Trixie is hiding in her wagon because I told her too. I saw Roseluck, Daisy and Lily hiding in their house.”

Sunset peered through the blinds and the mare outside glanced at her. She had glowing yellow eyes and Sunset shrugged.

“She’s just a zebra, weirdos. What’s so evil about?” Sunset asked and Silverspeed grabbed her.

“She comes into town, does weird shit, scares everypony. And she lives in the Everfree! The forest full of pony eating monsters! And she just strolls through the place like it’s bucking nothing!” Silverspeed shouted and Sunset rolled her eyes with a frown. “Who willingly lives in a hell hole?”

“Aren’t you a Royal Guard?” Sunset asked pointedly. “I’ve seen you kill and fight. The fact that you’re afraid of a zebra is mind blowing.”

Silverspeed opened her mouth and closed it, shaking her head. Sunset just didn’t understand like the rest did. If Shoeshine was worried, that’s usually a good sign for everypony nearby to get worried.

“I’ve met a few zebras. They’re harmless,” Sunset waved a hoof dismissively in the air. “Some rhyme a lot. Some don’t. It’s a religious thing for them. Derpy, where do you sit on this?”

“Not sure,” Derpy chewed on her lip. “I’ve never met a zebra. Where do they live?”

“Zebrica. Never been there personally but it’s talked about in some books in the Grand Library in Canterlot,” Sunset explained and shifted her weight. “Are you all seriously scared of her? Candy Flanks, you too?”

It took Bon Bon a minute to realize Sunset was talking about her.

“My name is Bon Bon. Not Candy Flanks!” Bon Bon exclaimed and tapped her cutie mark on her left flank of three wrapped bon bons with a frown. “Bon Bon. Or Bons or Bonnie if we are friends.”

“Okay, sorry. Chill Bon Bon,” Sunset grumbled and stretched out her legs as she again peered outside.

“And no, I’m not afraid of her. I’m just afraid of getting ran out of my own damn town with pitchforks and flaming torches for having a differing opinion,” Bon Bon answered and Sunset scoffed.

“I highly doubt that’ll happen. Equestria is civilized unlike the dragon lands,” Sunset shot back and everypony else nodded in agreement.

Everypony knew the dragon lands was a fucking crazy to ponies.

Sunset continued to watch the zebra curiously and sighed, shaking her head.

Author's Note

Just found a co worker I knew died Monday. So this chapter (and story) is gonna be dedicated to him. RIP the homie Evan.

Don't go into the forest

“I want you to promise me you won’t got into the woods,” Carrot Top sat Noi down at the dining room table. “Under any circumstances, am I clear young lady?”

“Yes Mother,” Noi propped her head up with a hoof. “I already know this. Why are you telling me again?”

“Because that creepy pony returned again yesterday and I’m making sure you remember. Even if she didn’t, I’d still tell you even if you already know. The forest is dangerous as heck. You came from me,” Carrot Top pressed her hoof into her filly’s chest. “You are the best part of me. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

“Mom, you’re embarrassing me,” Noi grumbled and Carrot Top chuckled as she sat back down.

“That’s part of being a mom. Mom did the same to me but not as bad as dad did. Dad used to embarrass the heck out of me,” Carrot smiled fondly at a picture of her parents on a book shelf. “We should go visit them sometime soon. You’ve gotten big. Last time they saw you was when I had just got done giving birth and they visited me at the hospital.”

“Ooh,” Noi mused and gave her mom puppy dog eyes. “Can we go see them in Canterlot? Pleaseee?”

“We will see kiddo,” Carrot Top chuckled and rubbed her mane. “Now head on up to bed and I’ll be up to tuck you in after I talk to Aunt Shoeshine.”

“Okay mom. Goodnight Aunt Shoeshine!” Noi called out and waved. Shoeshine was sitting on the couch lazily with a wine glass in front of her and a bowl of popcorn as she watched some movie from a projector.

“Night kiddo. Sleep well!” Shoeshine called back and chewed on some popcorn with a lazy wave of her own. Shoeshine yawned as Noi trotted up to her room and Carrot Top joined her. “So, Aunt Shoeshine, huh?”

“Yeah. I mean, you’re an honorary member of my family. Even Momma and Daddy say so. Noi called you it randomly a few days ago in conversation with Dinky and Skeedaddle,” Carrot Top answered and stole a sip from the red wine, licking her lips with a content sigh.

Based on the taste, she figured out Berry Punch bottled it. Berry Punch’s wines had a unique, sweet after taste. Primarily the bottles she teamed up to make with Strawberry Sunrise.

A bit too sweet for Carrots liking, but as usual with most of Berry’s products it was a hit in the town.

“Gonna spend time with Screw Loose tomorrow afternoon so I won’t be home for lunch,” Shoeshine broke the silence and snatched her wine back.

“Have fun. Tell her hi for me,” Carrot Top nodded and stretched out her hind legs and forelegs with a content groan. “Alright, I’m gonna go check on Noi and settle her down for bed. Have a goodnight Shoeshine.”

“Night.”

Carrot Tops hoof steps echoed as she continued walking up the stairs till she reached a brown door with some lopsided stickers slapped on it.

She pushed the door open after knocking and Noi froze, train in hoof as she glanced up at her.

“You’re supposed to be in bed waiting for me, not playing with your toys young lady,” Carrot Top scowled down at her. “Bed. Now.”

Noi grumbled incoherently before tossing the few toys she had taken out into her toy box and felt Carrot pushing her flank onto the bed.

“Thanks.”

Carrot Top made a mental note to lower the bed so Noi could at least climb up there on her own as she she bit the blanket and draped it over the filly.

“What book are we reading tonight?” Carrot Top asked and picked up a book that was sitting on the edge of the bed. “The Filly In The Cupboard? Again, Noi? Aren’t you tired of this book?”

“I love it. You said you got it read to you when you were my age. Can you imagine if I had a cupboard that brought all my toys to life? That’d be amazing!”

“It would be something. Maybe they would put themselves away after being played with,” Carrot Top teased as the filly blushed.

Carrot would never say it out loud, but she had the same hopes as her daughter when she was her age. The irony of the realization didn’t escape as she snickered softly to herself.

“Did you get the same talk from Miss Hooves last night?” Noi asked and took another bite of her sandwich. She, Dinky, Ruby and Liza sat under a tree as they ate their lunch.

“If you mean the conversation of being careful of not talking to strangers, then yeah,” Dinky confirmed after swallowing her peanut butter sandwich.

“I meant about not going into the Everfree unsupervised or well, in general,” Noi corrected and Dinky scrunched up her muzzle.

“No? But that’s common sense,” Dinky snorted and rolled her eyes.

“Exactly!” Noi cried and flung her forelegs up. “She’s treating me like I’m eight.”

“You are eight though,” Liza pointed out dryly after a minute and ignored the glare Noi sent her. “And same here. Mom talked to me about it too. I’ve never seen Mom that serious before. Or Aunt Bon Bon, for that matter.”

“Lyra? Being serious?” Ruby scoffed and laid on her back. “Get real. She’s the second most carefree mare in town.”

Liza resisted the urge to make a snarky comment strictly because well, she didn’t have one set up and ready to go. She’d probably think of one hours from now. Most likely when Lyra was tucking her into bed.

“I could say the same about your mom,” Noi shot back and raised an eyebrow at Ruby. “Berry Punch is pretty chill and laid back too.”

“Sure as heck wasn’t the other day,” Ruby grumbled and levitated a rock in front of her face to examine it before tossing it aside carelessly. “She was ranting for an hour about me needing to be careful when the Unknown One enters town.” Ruby wagged her hooves in the air as quotation marks. “That’s actually how she referred to that pony, by the way. The Unknown One.”

Noi and Dinky both giggled as they all listened to some shouting and turned to look. Scootaloo was staring down Diamond Tiara as the other filly laid on the ground holding her nose.

“Well, looks like Scootaloo gave Diamond Tiara a lesson,” Liza allowed a cruel grin to spread across her muzzle. “Serves that bitch right.”

“You know Lyra would wash your mouth out with soap if she ever heard you talking lot that?” Dinky pointed out and paled. “I don’t even want to imagine what my mom would do to me if she heard me curse.”

“I heard her say it when she fell down the stairs. If she can say, I can say it,” Liza answered and received a few doubtful looks.

“I’m not sure if works like that,” Ruby mused after moment. “And I’m not so sure Scootaloo is gonna get out of it unsca- uncat? Unharmed!”

She pointed at Cheerilee moving to the two fillies faster than the entire class had ever seen her move with a scowl on her face.

For not the first time, the four fillies were glad to not have Cheerilee angry at them.

Unicorn supremacy is stupid

Sunset looked over her papers as she and the Mayor finished going over some new zoning rules for the town, the older mare yawning behind as Sunset sipped her coffee.

“I think I need my eyes checked after this,” Sunset groaned as she rubbed her eyes with her hooves and Mayor Mare gave a dry chuckle.

“Four hours of this would do something like that you,” Mayor Mare agreed and brushed her mane aside before glancing at Silverspeed. The mare stood with a spear held in her hoof with her gold armor gleaming in the sunlight coming through the window and a stoic expression. “She doesn’t talk much, does she?”

“She does a fair bit when she’s spoken to or off the clock. She likes to talk a lot,” Sunset snickered and Silverspeed gave a brief snort. “Not as much as Trixie, naturally.”

“Naturally,” Mayor Mare echoed with a playful smile. Sunset hadn’t entirely trusted her at first but the two quickly got along. Sunset often trusted the Mayor with confidential matters and vice versa. “Is Sparkler still looking for a job? I know she’s the head organizer for Ponyville but I figured she might want something a little more concrete. Like being on my staff.”

“Rarity offered her a job,” Sunset answered and gave her a confused look. “I didn’t know head organizer was a thing here in towns. And wasn’t your staff fully staffed last time we talked?”

“Well, I’m certainly not getting any younger,” Mayor Mare coughed into a hoof with a blush. “I will need a replacement Mayor when I retire one day, of course. I do follow Sparklers achievements closely. She would be a good Mayor one day.”

Huh. Sunset supposed she had a point. From what she heard, Mayor Mare had been Ponyvilles mayor for years. Probably even when Sunset herself was just a foal. She also heard some more unique rumors, like her hair secretly being pink but Sunset highly doubted that one.

“But I’ll let her know about you,” Sunset answered and they both shared confused looks as hoof steps sounded. “I thought i cleared my schedule for today to work with the Mayor?”

“You did ma’am,” Silverspeed answered and briefly adjusted her helmet. A heavy looking pink earth pony with a purple mane wearing a bright gold necklace and a blue shirt trotted in and Mayor Mare instantly scowled.

“I’m sorry, but I’m closed today,” Sunset said and shifted some papers around. “Come back tomorrow and I’ll be available.”

“I understand but this will only take a minute,” the mare promised and Sunset bit back a rude comment.

“Listen miss...”

“Spoiled Rich. My husband is Filthy Rich and my daughter is Diamond Tiara. A great and bright filly. You’ve probably heard of her,” Spoiled Rich flipped her mane and Sunset took a sip of water.

“Oh, I’ve heard some things alright,” Sunset confirmed casually. “Heard a lot about you too. And I can safely say I’m not enthused to meet you.” Spoiled Rich faltered and Sunset hid a grin. “Now come back tomorrow or make it snappy.”

“Hmph. And to think I thought you would have cared about keeping Ponyville safe,” Spoiled Rich commented with a frown and Sunset gave her a confused look.

“What are you talking about?”

“Why, from undesirable outsiders, of course,” Spoiled Rich answered and sat down next to Mayor Mare. The mayor scoffed silently and subtly moved her chair away from the mare.

“What?” Sunset asked and raised an eyebrow before rubbing a hoof against her face. “You’re talking about the zebra from the other day, aren’t you?”

“Indeed,” Spoiled Rich nodded sagely and Sunset tried hard to not roll her eyes. “My family helped the Apples cultivate Ponyville.”

“Don’t you mean your husbands family?” Sunset cut her off and the Mayor gawked at her. “I’ve read up on Ponyville’s history and surprisingly enough, your family’s name isn’t mentioned anywhere, Spoiled Milk.”

Spoiled Rich froze and stared at her before a small smile played across her lips.

“I see you do your research. Very well. My husband’s family, if we’re being technical. We helped make Ponyville for earth ponies, not foreigners from distant lands,” Spoiled Rich explained and Sunset narrowed her eyes as Silverspeed stared with a stunned expression.

“Uh huh.”

Sunset sat with a disinterested look as she idly picked at a salad on her desk.

“And as I was saying,” Spoiled started again and Sunset chewed loudly on some lettuce. “We cannot simply allow unknown ponies in without ensuring they’re safe. This is a small, tight knit community the Mayor and I have created.”

“You do realize that tribalism went out of style centuries ago, right?” Sunset deadpanned.

“Of course. I’m simply-”

“Being a racist,” Sunset interrupted and spun her fork in the air. “I’m not entirely too fond of racism. And I especially hate unicorn supremacy. Unicorn supremacy is stupid. I don’t think this will reflect well on you.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Spoiled waved a hoof and leaned forward as Sunset leaned back warily. “But if you helped preserve Ponyvilles interest, I’d be more than happy to donate money to a charity of your choosing.”

“Are you trying to bribe me?” Sunset asked in disbelief. Celestia had told her something like this might happen one day but she never fully believed her. Sunset was starting to regret that. “I have money. You should do your research next time. Do you know who I am?”

“Of course. You are Sunset Shimmer, pupil of our beloved Princess Celestia, daughter of Princess Celestia and Representative for Ponyville,” Spoiled recited and Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Element of magic and savior of Equestria.”

Talk about laying on the flattery a bit much, Sunset noted dryly to herself. Silverspeed shifted her gaze to Sunset and watched warily as Mayor Mare stared with a stunned expression. But at least she did know who she was talking to. Not many even knew Celestia had a daughter until she had announced it after the events of the Summer Sun Celebration for all of Equestria, publicly claiming Sunset for everypony to see.

“Then you should know how I was before the Summer Sun Celebration. I had the nobles eating out of my hoof before I even graduated elementary school. Hell, I still do. You should never try to bribe or blackmail a pony who’s an expert at the game like me.”

“I see,” Spoiled gulped subtly and forced a nervous laugh. Sunset’s eyes hardened and she stood up.

“I know how you feel about Derpy and Trixie. And Berry Punch. I know more than you think, but I won’t reveal everything. I’m certain if the fact that the wife of a well known business stallion is a secret racist, business would plummet dramatically for you all. Especially since Filthy Rich and you aren’t doing so hot in the relationship area recently,” Sunset gave a cruel grin her way. “Having a few sleepless nights, are we? He probably has a much younger and dare I say, attractive mare on the other side of town. I know ponies in high places. Not much happens in Ponyville without me knowing about it.”

“That is none of your concern,” Spoiled stuck her nose up to hide her angry expression. “And to know you’re related to royalty.”

“Hmph. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not a normal Royal or even a normal noble. Cadet Silverspeed?” Sunset turned to look at Silverspeed.

“Yes ma’am?” Silverspeed asked and Sunset gave her a subtle nod.

“Kindly escort Spoiled Rich off the premise effective immediately. She’s overstayed her unwanted welcome.”

Silverspeed nodded and lowered her spear, pointing the shiny tip at Spoiled Rich.

“You heard the mare. Move it,” Silverspeed ordered and gave her a few prods with the weapon. Not enough to draw blood or hurt her, but enough to get Silverspeeds point across.

The mayor and Sunset sat quietly as they watched Silverspeed escort Spoiled Rich out.

“That was incredible,” Mayor Mare gushed and gave Sunset an admiring look. “Not many stands up to her.”

“Well, that changed today. What are her servants names?”

“I believe Randolph, Veronica and Lily View. Why?” Mayor Mare asked and Sunset grinned coldly. “Oh no. What are you planning?”

“Oh, nothing,” Sunset sang innocently and rubbed at hoof against her chin.

For some reason, Mayor Mare didn’t believe her entirely.

Battle of the wills

Derpy and Roseluck sat around their normal table while waiting for Trixie, Shoeshine and Silverspeed ordered their milk shakes. They had invited Sunset along but she had been vague when she said she had something going on. All she said was business and left it at that.

They learned to not question when Sunset was on the hunt for something or somepony. Best thing to do was stay out of her way. Sunset preferred to keep her off the clock business quiet, especially from Celestia.

“So what happened yesterday night?” Shoeshine asked as the other three returned and slid Derpy and Roseluck their respective beverages. “The Mayor was in a really good mood today.”

Silverspeed burst out laughing and draped her forelegs on the table with her head on top of them.

“What is going on?” Roseluck asked after a moment and Silverspeed continued laughing.

“I have no idea,” Derpy muttered and Silverspeed wiped some tears out of her eyes with a giggle.

“Oh man,” Silverspeed chuckled and took a sip of her vanilla shake. “Last night was amazing!”

“Why, did Sunset finally eat your kitty cat?” Trixie asked and the table burst out laughing.

“My kitty cat?” Silverspeed gave her a confused look. “I don’t own a cat.”

“Nothing,” Trixie waved a hoof and snickered behind a hoof. “Carry on, what made last night so amazing.”

“So you all know Spoiled Rich, right?” Silverspeed asked and they all scowled. Everypony knew Spoiled Rich and most wished they didn’t.

“Yeah. Spoiled Bitch,” Shoeshine quipped and the table laughed again.

“Anyway. She came to visit Sunset unannounced yesterday. She and Sunset got into it bad. Spoiled Rich said stuff how Ponyville was made by earth ponies for earth ponies and not outsiders. Sunset was not happy and called her out. Brought up her love life, her husband cheating on her and more. Sunset barely let her get a word in,” Silverspeed explained and clapped her hooves together excitedly. “I even got to escort her out. And use my spear. Have her a few prods. Part of me wishes Sunset allowed me to run her through. It was like a battle of wills, them staring each other down with cold glares.”

“Woah,” Derpy muttered and bit into her muffin Shoeshine had paid for. “She’s a bully and I don’t like bullies. I don’t like Diamond Tiara either. I don’t trust her with my daughter or Silver Spoon.”

“Same,” Silverspeed agreed readily and folded her wings on her back. “Afraid of Silver Spoon following in her hoof steps.”

“She will be fine. She’s got you to keep her straight,” Roseluck commented and winked. “The scary older Royal Guard sister? She’ll behave.”

“I hope so. But Sunset is apparently meeting with Spoileds maids to get dirt on her. Left with a big bag of bits and promised to catch up later. She refused to let me help. Something about not wanting me to get dishonorable discharged,” Silverspeed tapped a hoof against her chin.

“Not surprised. Has anypony seen that zebra come back?” Trixie asked and Shoeshine shook her head.

“Comes into town every week. Surprised you never saw her. She should be back Monday on the dot.”

Veronica trotted slowly with aching hooves till her small house on the edge of town appeared and she smiled for the first time today. Working for the Riches as a maid was more stressful than she had originally been led to believe when she got hired.

The purple mare was eager to take her stupid saddle off and lay down before she had to go to work again in the morning, fitting a key in her door and turning it.

What she didn’t expect was a fiery maned unicorn sitting on her couch with a bored expression.

“Can I help you?” Veronica asked nervously and the mare smiled at her in a way that made her shuddered.

“Yeah, you can. Names Sunset Shimmer. Sit,” Sunset gestured and kicked a saddlebag aside. “Believe it or not, I’m here in your best interests.”

“What?” Veronica asked in confusion before tossing her hat onto the table followed by her frilly black and white saddle. “I mean, what interests are those?”

“Getting rid of a problem. You work for Spoiled Rich.” It wasn’t about question. Veronica nodded slowly and Sunset smiled again. “Excellent.”

Her horn flashed for a second and the two were surrounded by a pink bubble as Veronica tapped it gently with a hoof in confusion.

“Sound proofing spell. In case she or anypony associated with her is listening,” Sunset explained at her quizzical look. “I need some things done. I’ll make it worth you and your colleagues time.”

“Uhm like what?”

“I need some files. Innocent files, of course,” Sunset gave a predatory grin that made Veronica recoil. “You see, I hate Spoiled Rich. With a burning passion after last night. So I need files of their finances, business dealings and anything else that might be shady.”

Veronica gulped nervously and shifted on her couch. She didn’t really like the idea of potentially angering Miss Rich. She was well, scary. She knew a lot of powerful ponies and Veronica was just a simple maid with a cutie mark of a pan.

“I don’t know. She’s scary,” Veronica admitted finally and rested a hoof on her arm rest.

“She’s not that scary compared to me when I’m mad,” Sunset scoffed and Veronica glanced at her. “Like I said, I’ll make it worth your while.” She nodded to a bag on the table. “Inside is twenty thousand bits from my personal allowance and savings from the Princess. Once I get what I need, you get the rest upon completion. And a better job for you and your colleagues if everything goes to plan working for me.”

Veronica’s eyes widened as she stared at the bag. She hadn’t seen that much bits in her entire life time. All of her paycheck went to rent and groceries. Occasionally her other co worker, Lily View had to help with rent. Her finances were a bit more in order.

“I’ll try. But their offices are locked down tight. We’re only allowed in there if we need to clean,” Veronica shook her head and Sunset chewed her lip thoughtfully.

“Okay. I’ll come up with something. We’ll have to be careful when we meet from now on. I heard she’s sketchy about her business from the ponies I talked to,” Sunset mused and pushed the bag of bits to the purple mare. She stood to leave and Veronica peered inside the bag.

“H-hey wait!” Sunset glanced back at her with the doorknob glowing in her magic. “Y-you promise you’ll look after me and hire me, Lily and Randolph? We won’t be tossed out on the street? No more abusive words, nothing?”

Sunset let go of the door handle and trotted back to Veronica and held her hoof.

“I promise you I won’t leave you behind.”

New appreciation for the outdoors

Roseluck yawned as she pulled on another weed with her hooves, Daisy and Lily repeating the actions Roseluck did as the three worked on cleaning up their garden.

“So how’s your whole exploring the nearby area going for you?” Daisy asked finally and glanced at Lily. “You’ve been outside up in the mountains a lot more or camping.”

“It’s amazing!” Lily gushed and her eyes lit up, a large smile spreading across her muzzle as Roseluck chuckled. Lily had been in a better mood ever since she and Roseluck went up there. She even was more friendlier to the customers and a few times went to dinner with her sisters and their friends. They hadn’t had a single argument since the dragon incident.

Roseluck had been pretty happier with the turn around. Lily being happier naturally made her happy. She wanted the best for her sisters, after all. If Lily wanted to stay out late camping or having fun, Roseluck certainly wasn’t gonna stand in her way.

“Let’s just I got a whole new appreciation for the outdoors. More than I ever did before,” Lily chuckled and tossed a weed into a bucket. “You two should come with me some time. We can travel and have fun. Like when we were fillies. There’s more out there to see than just these four walls and garden.”

“She’s gonna sing, isn’t she?” Roseluck sighed and Daisy rolled her eyes as Lily nodded enthusiastically.

“Yep, yep she is.”

The rest of Roseluck’s day went thankfully without any more singing. Lily was a decent singer but she didn’t like hearing it all the time.

“Hey Junebug,” Roseluck paused as the mare drank from the fountain in the center of Ponyville.

“O-o-oh hey,” Junebug waved and Roseluck ignored the stutter the other mare had. She was used to it along with the town. A good majority never brought it up and that was how Junebug liked it. “How are you?”

“Good and yourself?”

“G-g-good,” Junebug answered and briefly nuzzled her fellow flower pony. While she may not be related to Roseluck or her sisters, Junebug did have a flower cutie mark of her own and most of the town considered her a flower pony. The four often met up at Daisy’s for coffee early in the morning. “How’s Lily and Daisy doing today?”

“Fine. Lily was even singing today for crying out loud!” Roseluck threw her forelegs up in the air before the two giggled. Junebug was fairly fond of the the mare. Roseluck never brought up her stutter unlike kids did when she was in school.

“W-w-well at least she’s feeling nicer these days?” Junebug offered and Roseluck nodded, the two glancing at Sunset talking to a purple earth pony in the shadows of an alley way next to some trash cans and mice as Sunset gave a mouse a disgusted look. Roseluck and Junebug both could relate to that. They hated mice. Nasty, disease carrying creatures. “What is she doing?”

“I have no clue. Probably Sunset things.”

What that entailed, Junebug had no idea and a part of her felt like she was safer not knowing.

“Are you out of your bucking mind?” Lily View, a orange earth pony mare hissed at Veronica as the two mares sat next to Randolph around the table in the servants quarters. “Do you know what she would do to us?”

“Listen-” Veronica started and Lily sighed.

“Fine. But this better be good. We don’t even know Sunset!” Lily whispered in case any of the family was up.

“I know. But she genuinely seems to care about us and have a good heart. When was the last time you or Randolph or me got genuinely cared about anypony inside this house?” Veronica pointed and Randolph coughed into a hoof.

“Mr.Rich is quite nice to us,” Randolph pointed out and Lily rolled her eyes in frustration.

“Sure, he’s nice and stands up for us but he still is married to her.”

“That’s not necessarily fair of you, Lily. We can’t expect him to up and leave his wife, especially with Miss Tiara in the picture.”

“Okay fine. Carry on,” Lily grunted and waved a hoof before returning to her dinner, a daisy sandwich with mayo and other various vegetables.

“All we have to do is find something related to their finances that might seem shady and deliever them to her. She said she will take care of us once it’s over. You think Mrs. Rich is scary? I asked around. You haven’t seen nothing according to Lyra. She doesn’t hold a candle to Sunset. Sunset has more authority than her and is related to Princess Celestia. She could easily remove Mrs. Rich and nopony would bat and eye. Hell, I’m pretty sure the Mayor would give Sunset an award.”

“Hmph.”

Veronica sighed and resisted the urge to slam a hoof against her face.

“Look at my cutie mark. It’s a mop. I got it when I was a filly cleaning. Sure, it could mean I’m destined to be a servant for the rest of my life but it could mean that I could run my own cleaning company. Possibilities are endless. Sunset told me that the other day. Lily, you have a frying pan. You could be a cook. And Randolph, you have a...?”

“Feather duster, Veronica. I was born for this. There’s no spinning that. I promised Mr. Rich I’d work for his family as I did his father before him. I will not say anything to anypony for your sake. I wish you both well in life if you do choose to leave the employment here. You are good friends of mine,” Randolph patted them both on their hooves and they smiled sheepishly. “You two are young, you have your whole lives ahead of you. Do something you’ve always wanted, don’t be stuck doing a job you hate.”

“Thanks Randolph,” Lily blushed and rubbed the back of her head. “Alright, so you said Sunset promised to take care of us? All of us?”

“Mhm. Jobs and everything working for her. Running messages, helping Silverspeed with paperwork occasionally. We get paid days off Lily. You gotta admit that is tempting,” Veronica grinned and wrapped a hoof around Lily.

Lily had to admit, that was tempting. It’d be nice to spend some time with her son. More than she already did. Snails was a pretty good boy but she was a bit biased and even she knew that.

“Alright tell her I’m game.”

Lily just hoped this didn’t come back to bite her in the flank and remove her only income.

That was weird

Shoeshine stared at the ceiling of her room with a bored sigh, idly playing with a horse shoe.

“I’m bored,” Shoeshine sighed and kept tossing the horse shoe up into the sky. “Why can’t something entertaining happen today?”

Shoeshine’s business was never open on Saturdays or Sundays. She used those days to rest, spend time with her friends or catch up on some random house work. Carrot Tops fields were harvested so she was out at the market, Noi was at her friends, Roseluck was busy, Derpy was busy, so was Sunset and Silverspeed.

Which left one member of the Main Six as they had been taken to being called unaccounted for, Trixie.

Shoeshine had originally viewed Trixie as a frustrating pony and well, she still was occasionally like that but the two got along better. Shoeshine would even go as far as to say Trixie was one of her best friends.

“I blame that damn sleepover at Sunset’s last month,” Shoeshine snorted and smirked as she rolled out of bed. “Eh. Might as well search the town for Trixie.”

Shoeshine panted as she leaned against Trixie’s wagon, internally cursing out the seeming influx of rabbits Ponyville had. Who knew rabbits could block of an entire street for an hour. Shoeshine had to run around the entire town just to get around to Trixie’s wagon.

“Just a minute,” Shoeshine gasped as Trixie leaned out her window and gave her a confused look. “Woo, not used to running like that. What are you up to?”

“Trixie was napping till somepony ran into her wagon face first. Why do you ask?” Trixie stifled a yawn and blinked away the sleep.

“Well, I wanted somepony to hang out with. You down to tear up Ponyville for a bit? Maybe see what Pinkie, Lyra, Vinyl and Berry got going down? The six of us can cause some chaos I bet,” Shoeshine commented with a grin. Her ears flattened as Trixie shut the window. “Well, guess that’s a no?”

Trixie’s door opened and she trotted down the steps, clad in her trademark hat and cape to complete her look.

“Let’s go tear shit up,” Trixie matched Shoeshine’s grin. “Let’s start with hmmmm, Octavia?” Shoeshine winced and shook her head.

“Remember, she doesn’t like us that much after that one time we swapped out her tea for something else. She especially doesn’t like you after that incident. Throwing powder in her eyes as we run for our lives is a surprisingly effective distraction.”

Trixie giggled and Shoeshine rolled her eyes with a smirk, bumping her flank against Trixie’s.

“So messing with her is absolutely a good idea,” Shoeshine chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “You game?”

“Trixie is definitely game,” Trixie shrugged and stretched her legs out. “And if Trixie remembers correctly, our last prank on Octavia was Vinyls idea.”

“True,” Shoeshine conceded and the two continued their trot into Ponyville over a bridge, glancing at the fish swimming along in the stream. “Here comes Lily.”

The pink mare was smiling widely and Shoeshine gave Trixie a confused look. Lily had practically become a different mare recently and Shoeshine, after years of dealing with a grumpy Lily, wasn’t sure what to think about said changes.

“Hey!” Lily grinned wider if that was possible. At this point, she was giving Pinkie a run for her money and Shoeshine thought that was an impossible task. “Hey Shoeshine, hello Trixie.”

“Hi,” Trixie shifted on her hooves anxiously and flicked her tail.

“So,” Lily clapped hooves together excitedly and Shoeshine raised an eyebrow. “I tracked down the rest of our friends. Roseluck, Daisy and I are gonna go spend the night in the Everfree. We want you all to come with us. Sunset said sure, so did Silverspeed, Derpy is getting Berry to watch her kids. Roseluck wants you two to come along.”

Shoeshine and Trixie shared a look with each other.

“I don’t know Lily. I got work tomorrow,” Shoeshine answered and looked down. That wasn’t a lie, she did genuinely have to open her shop tomorrow morning.

“And Trixie has uh nothing going on.”

“Excellent!” Lily flung a foreleg around Trixie and Trixie tensed slightly. She wasn’t entirely fond of being touched by anypony outside her family and friends. She didn’t hate Lily by any means but the mare was well, different. “So that means you can come, right?”

Trixie opened her mouth to come up with an excuse but Lily gave her a hopeful look. With a sigh, she nodded yes and Lily nuzzled her.

“See you tonight!” Lily trotted off with a wave as the two stared in stunned silence along with some nearby ponies.

“That was weird, right?” Trixie asked and Shoeshine nodded slowly.

“Most definitely.”

Trixie cursed herself internally as she trotted to the main entrance of the Everfree, her saddlebags weighing heavily on her flanks with a pillow and some blankets along with a tent she had borrowed from Raindrops.

Sunset and the others were waiting with Lily, Roseluck and Daisy, Silverspeed and Derpy pacing back and forth. Silverspeed had her bow and arrows sticking out of her saddlebags.

“Hey,” Trixie panted out as she approached the group.

“Hey. Want help?” Roseluck asked and Trixie shook her head.

“The great and powerful Trixie requires no assistance,” Trixie proclaimed and Roseluck shrugged.

“Alright then.”

Trixie yawned and cracked her neck, glancing back with a raised eyebrow at Shoeshine trotting up.

“I was convinced to come along. I’m here for the free marshmallows,” Shoeshine answered before anypony could say anything. “And the chocolate. I will not be sleeping on the ground though. And I’m not bunking with Trixie, no offense. You snore loud. I call dibs on Derpy.”

Derpy nodded and Sunset levitated the gray mare’s items in her magic. Trixie assumed Derpy had no saddlebags or hers had broken. She loved Derpy as everypony did, but she was surprisingly proud and refused bits from everypony who knew her and offered.

“Trixie calls sleeping by herself. And she does not snore,” Trixie defended herself from Shoeshine’s previous claim and Shoeshine gave her a look.

“We can go over this when we get in there. I don’t wanna be stuck in the Everfree when it gets super dark. And we should also have somepony stay up in shifts when the others sleep,” Sunset suggested and they all nodded in agreement.

Daisy glanced nervously into the forest anxiously. The sun was already setting slowly. Daisy wasn’t entirely too fond of the dark, especially inside there. There was a dozen monsters probably feet away from her. She quickly pushed that thought away and shook her head.

She inhaled and stepped inside after Sunset and Trixie, their horns glowing teal and pink to light up the path ahead.

Mom of the group

Roseluck and the others sat around a fire, occasionally glancing at Shoeshine fighting her tent and Silverspeed snorted with a smirk.

“Need some help over there?” Silverspeed called out and Shoeshine shot her a glare.

“No, I do not. What I need is this damn thing to work!” Shoeshine snarled and started wrestling with a tarp. “Why the hell do these not come with instructions?”

“It did,” Daisy reminded her with a deadpan stare. “You used it for kindling for the fire stating, “I don’t need no damn instructions.” How’s that working out for you?”

“Just fucking peachy.”

“I can tell,” Daisy rolled her eyes and hid her snicker behind a hoof as she turned her focus to her marshmallow.

“Stupid fucking thing,” Shoeshine grumbled under her breath and shoved the tarp on top of tent. “Where’s my tape?”

Sunset groaned quietly and subtly used her magic to put the tarp on the tent properly and by the time Shoeshine turned around with her tape, Sunset’s horn had stopped glowing.

“See!” Shoeshine exclaimed triumphantly and grinned. “Told you all I didn’t need help!”

“Uh huh,” Sunset commented casually and twirled her stick with her magic. “Totally.”

Shoeshine sat down on a log next to Derpy and stretched her forelegs upwards.

“Should we be worried about the forest catching on fire?” Derpy asked nervously Lily shook her head.

“Nah. Sunset cast a spell so the fire doesn’t escape the pit. It’s safe,” Lily reassured her and everypony else.

“What happens if the embers to escape the pit?” Silverspeed asked curiously and Sunset flicked some embers out with her magic and everypony jumped. The embers slammed into a shield and disappeared as they all relaxed. “Oh, fancy.”

Sunset nodded with a smug grin. She was a sucker for compliments, especially from cute mares.

“It’s a surprisingly not so scary in here in a large group,” Roseluck mused and Daisy nodded hesitantly as she and the others all listened to a loud growl in the distance and Trixie tensed up slightly.

“It’s just a bear. They’re common here. Probably Henry to be honest,” Derpy waved a hoof and Trixie sat back down. Why or how Fluttershy had a bear was way beyond her level of caring. As long as Henry and any other creature stayed far away from her, Trixie was happy. Unless said creature was a dog. She wouldn’t be opposed to petting a cute dog.

“Fuckin Henry,” Sunset grunted and ate her marshmallow. “Oh dear Celestia, hot.”

“Next time wait till it’s cooled down Sunny,” Derpy chided with a frown and shot Trixie a dirty look as the blue mare snickered. “Not funny.”

“Alright mom,” Sunset snarked and Derpy raised an eyebrow.

“Mom?” Derpy echoed in confusion and Sunset looked away sheepishly before nodding.

“We pretty much decided you’re the mom of the group. You always look out for us, give us advice and help us. You practically treat us all like your children so it’s pretty obvious why we came to that conclusion,” Sunset explained after a moment of tapping her hoof against her chin in thought.

“Who is we?” Derpy glanced around as they all raised hooves slowly. “Even Roseluck?”

“Well yeah,” the cream mare lowered her hoof with a shrug. Derpy sat in silence before nodding with a smile.

“I’m okay with that, to be honest,” Derpy admitted and held out a hoof to admire a lightning bug that landed on her hoof. “I wouldn’t mind expanding my family with five more kids.”

Roseluck waited for Derpy to take a sip of her water before opening her mouth to speak.

“So is that why you’ve hitting on my cousin?” Roseluck asked with a smirk and Derpy’s eyes went wide as she spit her water out on the dirt.

“What?” Derpy demanded after wiping her mouth off.

“Time Turner tells me everything. He says you two hit it off pretty well,” Roseluck teased as her sisters smirked. “He’s single, you know?”

Derpy’s cheeks turned a dark red as they all laughed and Roseluck leaned closer to her ear.

“And he said you were cute. He really liked your eyes. Said they were a gorgeous shade of gold,” Roseluck’s breath tickled Derpy’s ear and she gulped. “And your mane.”

“M-my eyes?” Derpy stammered and rested a hoof against her right eye. “Nopony likes my eyes. They’re different.”

“Time Turner likes different and so do we,” Daisy rested a hoof on Derpy’s. “Trust me, I know him well.”

“I don’t know,” Derpy scratched the back of her head. “As long as my daughters like him.”

“Fair,” Lily allowed and stretched out on the dirt with a cracker in her mouth. “This is nice, but I’m gonna hit the hay. Goodnight everypony.”

“Night,” everypony said the at the same time as Lily stumbled in a green tent she was sharing with Trixie and zipped it shut.

“I’m going too,” Derpy announced and Shoeshine yawned into a hoof. “Night all.”

Sunset trotted to her own tent with a lazy wave and disappeared as they went to their respective tents excluding Silverspeed and Daisy.

“You going to sleep?” Daisy asked and Silverspeed should her head, patting her bow and arrows sitting on her lap.

“Staying up to make sure no monsters come up while you guys are asleep. Go sleep, I’ll be fine Daisy. Honestly,” Silverspeed stifled a yawn and Daisy nodded as she went to her tent. “Just me and this forest. This dark and totally not scary forest. Alone.”

Silverspeed shifted anxiously and her eyes flicked around the woods, grateful that Sunset kept the fire going. Silverspeed idly tossed another log into the flames and held out her hooves, eating a piece of chocolate.

An owl made a noise and she jumped.

“Easy Silverspeed,” Silverspeed slapped herself. “You’re a royal guard and hoof picked by Celestia. You went through worse in Basic Training. Nothing can be worse than getting shoved into a tear gas chamber and forced to take your mask off.”

Silverspeed shuddered at that. That had been a fucking nightmare in her eyes. She cried for a solid ten minutes afterwards.

“March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free. Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory. We’re the Army and proud of our name,” Silverspeed sang softly as she fluttered her wings softly. Her ears flicked a roar in the distance and she pointed her bow in the direction she thought it came from. “I don’t even want to know what that was.”

Silverspeed kept her bow aimed for a few more moments before lowering it.

She gave a yawn and her eyes closed as she slumped next to a log.

Thank Celestia for Roseluck

Daisy rolled over on her flank and sleeping bag, stretching out her hind quarters as she yawned and smacked her lips. She winced and covered her eyes with a hoof to block the sun coming through the thin material as Roseluck gave a quiet snore as she kicked her hind leg in her sleep.

Roseluck reminded Daisy more of a pretzel than she did a pony currently. Roseluck always did find ways to sleep in awkward positions. Seriously, who sleeps on their side and bent backwards? Roseluck was scarily flexible to the point Daisy legitimately wondered if she had a spine some days.

How do you even fall asleep like that? Daisy had no idea and wasn’t interested in finding out if she was being honest.

She wiggled out of her sleeping back and quietly snuck out of the tent, glancing around and stretching.

Her eyes fell on Silverspeed sleeping peacefully next to where the fire had been. It had long since gone out at some point and the pegasus had her tail wrapped around her, presumably to keep warm. Her bow and arrows lay abandoned next to her along with her spear she had brought.

Why Silverspeed didn’t just go sleep inside a tent, Daisy had no clue.

“Morning,” Derpy shook her from her musing as Daisy yawned again. “How did you sleep?”

“Good and yourself?” Daisy asked as she settled next to Derpy and the sleeping Silverspeed.

“Decent. Back hurts but other than that, I’m good. Not used to sleeping on hard ground like this.”

“Felt that. What are doing up so early?” Daisy asked and Derpy raised an eyebrow.

“I have two kids. I have to get up at six am to get them up everyday. Dinky may be lovable every other part of the day but in the morning? She is a devil. Don’t even get me started on trying to get her and Sparkler into bed. Sparkler is a bit better for the obvious reasons, but still has her moments.”

“Huh. So that’s why I hear yelling occasionally at six in the morning next door,” Daisy mused and Derpy blushed. “You can yell, believe me. I never would have thought that if I didn’t hear it myself.”

“Yeah well, wait till you see Berry Punch yell. You think I’m loud? Just wait till she gets mad. She tends to hit whatever makes her angry. Excluding her daughter, of course. I’ve never once seen her raise a hoof to Ruby.”

Daisy winced at the thought. Angry Berry was pretty scary. The mare had a temper could most likely rival even Sunset. Sunset herself was a bit wary of her, Roseluck had told her one day. Apparently that’s rare.

“Ugh,” Silverspeed mumbled and rolled over in her sleep.

“Ooh,” Trixie giggled as she stumbled out of her tent, rubbing her eyes. “Watch this.”

Daisy and Derpy watched as Trixie snuck up behind Shoeshine and inhaled.

“Wake up!” Trixie shouted and started shaking Silverspeed. The gray mare shot to her hooves and saluted.

“Good morning drill sergeant,” Silverspeed answered and her eyes flicked to Trixie as she sheepishly lowered her hoof and glared. “I’m going to kill you if you ever wake me up like that again.”

“I don’t think she’s joking Trixie,” Daisy glanced at Trixie giggling.

“I’m not,” Silverspeed deadpanned and glared at Trixie again. “You do realize I know how to drive a sword into your ribs enough to hurt but keep you alive. I also know how to find a carotid artery in your neck.”

Everypony froze as Trixie stepped back a few feet.

“Okay, no more waking you up early. Bring back memories?” Trixie gave a nervous smile as Silverspeed gave a subtle nod.

“You got no fucking idea.”

The others groaned and poked their heads out, looking at the two with raised eyebrows as Silverspeed brushed some some twigs from her tail.

“What’s a fucking?” Daisy asked and Roseluck smirked.

“What Derpy wants from Time Turner,” Trixie chimed in and everypony burst out laughing as Derpy turned bright red.

“I do not!” Derpy snapped and Sunset snickered. “I swear, I’m about to wash all of your mouthes out with soap when we got home.”

They all paled and Shoeshine coughed into a hoof nervously. She hadn’t had that happen since she was a filly and she wasn’t enthused at the prospect of ever going through it again. Ever.

“You gotta us first,” Sunset taunted with a grin, crouching low and tensed her legs up. “Come on, mom. Try to keep up. If you can.”

“Oh shit,” Roseluck muttered as the two galloped into the forest. “Hey, be careful! There’s all sorts of plants in there and stuff.” Roseluck looked around and realized she was alone. “And I’m talking to myself. Go figure.”

Trixie hid on a tree branch, hugging it as she inhaled nervously, glancing around. She really wasn’t fond of climbing trees to hide from pegasi. She did suppose she had a slight advantage with her magic.

“It’s over. She caught us all,” Lily called out as Trixie watched the others all searching the nearby clearing Trixie was above. “Oh hey. There she is.”

“Trixie can’t get,” Trixie grumbled and glowed teal as her legs flailed and Sunset set her down on the ground in a blue patch of flowers.

“Pretty flowers,” Silverspeed commented and Derpy nodded as she, Silverspeed, Shoeshine and Sunset trotted to join Trixie. Lily and Daisy sniffed them as Roseluck gasped.

“You idiots!” Roseluck cried and jumped back out of the plants with a horrified expression. “That’s Poison Joke!”

“Poision what?” Sunset asked as horrified looks crossed Daisy and Lily’s faces as the two jumped back.

“Poision Joke,” Daisy repeat and eyed her hooves worriedly. “I’m so stupid. I forgot what it looked like. By the time we all wake up tomorrow morning, the plant will have played some sort of prank on us all.”

“Oh please,” Trixie scoffed and waved a hoof dismissively. “It’s just a plant. All it does is smell nice. Plants don’t play pranks.”

“This one does,” Lily answered and danced anxiously in her spot. “Believe me, she’s the expert. She’s telling the truth.”

“Oh, thank Celestia for Roseluck,” Silverspeed said sarcastically and rolled her eyes. “We could have known this before we stepped into it!”

“I’m sorry!”

The group started arguing and Trixie waved her forelegs around as Shoeshine watched with a bored expression, none of them noticing the hoof steps trotting up.

“Beware! Beware, you pony folk! Those leaves of blue are not a joke!”

“Gah!” Sunset screamed and jumped, spinning around as her horn glowed. The zebra from before stood in front them with a knife in hoof and the others all screamed, Trixie and Derpy hugging as Silverspeed adopted a defensive position.

“Drop the knife, now!” Silverspeed ordered and spread her wings open. “Or I’ll take you down.”

“I really don’t think she cares about that, nor is she afraid!” Lily pulled on her mane as Daisy trembled.

“Let’s get the hell outta here!” Sunset snapped and her horn glowed brighter, the group disappearing with a pop.

They all tumbled to the ground at Roseluck’s house and they all groaned.

“We forgot our tents,” Shoeshine realized and Sunset slammed a hoof into her face with a groan.

“Fuck. You stay, I’ll go.”

Before anypony could argue, Sunset disappeared with a pop.

Stupid blue plant

Trixie collapsed on her hammock, it swaying under her weight as she yawned.

“My hooves ache,” Trixie complained loudly to herself. “I am never walking again. Or at least for the next twelve hours. I swear, I could sleep all day.”

Trixie gave another loud yawn as she rested her forelegs behind her head. She had a pretty decent day except for the whole Poision Joke thing. She still didn’t entirely believe that was a thing. It was most likely Roseluck playing a prank on her and the others. She hoped. Only Trixie is allowed to play pranks, not some stupid blue plant.

Trixie levitated her blanket over top of her and snuggled a plush of her before blowing a kiss at the picture of her framed above her hammock.

“Goodnight the most beautiful mare in Equestria.”

Trixie yawned and stumbled out of her hammock, slamming face first into the ground and groaned in pain, rubbing her muzzle with a hoof.

“Ugh fuck my life,” Trixie groaned and rolled around on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. She pushed herself up and approached her mirror, jaw dropping as she stared at her reflection.

Or more accurately, the lack thereof a reflection. Trixie inhaled and let out a scream.

Roseluck laid in bed, staring at the ceiling of her room. She stepped out of her bed, taking a step and immediately faceplanted.

“What in Equestria?” Roseluck muttered and stood up, slipping on her mane. “What. The. Fuck?”

Roseluck stared in the mirror at her tail dragging behind her and her mane pooling around her hooves.

“Dear Celestia,” Roseluck whispered in horror. “My mane!”

Roseluck prided herself on her mane. It was the talk of Ponyville by mares and stallions alike. Roseluck loved getting compliments about her mane.

A loud scream echoed throughout the house that Roseluck immediately recognized as Daisy’s scream.

“Daisy!”

Roseluck tried to hold her mane up and open the door, tumbling down the stairs with thuds, giving a pained cry as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ughhhh,” Roseluck groaned as Daisy appeared above her. The mare was polka dot covered and had a different colored mane. “Since when were you green and had a pink mane?”

“Since never!” Daisy screamed and flailed her forelegs around. “I can’t go out looking like, like- this!”

“What is going on down here?” Lily asked as she trotted downstairs and froze, staring at Daisy and Roseluck. “Pfft. Hahahahah!”

Roseluck and Daisy gave each other flat looks before glaring at Lily rolling around on the ground laughing.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up,” Roseluck growled and rolled her eyes. “Just you wait till I get my hooves on you. You’ll regret laughing.”

“Oh yeah,” Lily mocked between her laughter. “Try and walk!”

Derpy trotted out of her kitchen with plates full of pancakes on her back as she trotted to the dining room table, sliding the plates at three spots along with a bottle of syrup and three glasses of orange juice and a basket full of muffins.

“Dinky! Sparkler!” Derpy shouted up the stairs. “Breakfast!”

Two blurs raced down the stairs and Derpy snorted.

“You two are excitable,” Derpy noted with a smile as Sparkler nodded.

“Yeah I guess you could say,” Sparkler said as she glanced at her mom and froze. “That.”

“What happened to your eyes Momma?” Dinky asked and pointed with a hoof.

“It’s rude to point,” Derpy reminded them flatly. “My eyes have been this way for years. You both know about my flight accident that made my eyes this way. Now we can please eat?”

“It’s not that Momma. You should really look in the mirror,” Sparkler shared a look with Dinky. Derpy gave a sigh of exasperation, but nodded as she turned to the bathroom.

She trotted inside and rolled her eyes, staring at the mirror as her jaw dropped.

“My eyes?” Derpy whispered and ran a hoof gently over her eye. Both of her eyes were perfectly aligned. Something that hadn’t been a thing since she was a filly. “They’re straight. I can actually see straight?”

Derpy shook her head a few times and stared once the shaking stopped. Her eyes stayed the same and she gasped.

“This is insane,” Derpy muttered. “No, more than insane. This is a dream. Somepony spiked my tea last night.”

She bit her foreleg and gave a pained whimper.

“Okay, not a dream. But why?”

“Mom?” Dinky called out worriedly. “Are you okay? We heard you cry.”

“Yeah dears, I’m fine!” Derpy called out and stared at her reflection. “What is going on?”

Silverspeed stepped out of the shower and sighed contently. Taking warm showers was always her favorite thing in the world. She normally preferred them before bed, not early in the morning.

Silverspeed shoved her muzzle into her wings and started to preen them, occasionally pulling out a broken feather and tossing it into the trash can at the sink.

She opened the bathroom door and opened her mouth to speak to wake up Silver Spoon. Instead of words, a bunch of noises like a mooing cow, a saw cutting through wood and a chirping bird came out of her throat.

The fuck? Silverspeed thought to herself. She opened her mouth again and tried to speak. Instead of the previous noises, this time a siren came from her mouth. Huh?

“What the heck is going on next door?” Silver Spoon stumbled out of her bedroom, rubbing her eyes. “Sis?”

Silverspeed simply shrugged and bit her lip to keep from speaking.

I have so got to get to Sunset’s, Silverspeed thought to herself.

Sunset let out a loud scream as Shoeshine held a mirror up to her face.

“What the fuck happened to my horn?” Sunset screamed as her horn flopped around. “I look fucking ridiculous! And why the fuck am I four feet tall? I look like a midget!”

“We all do,” Roseluck grunted and eyed Derpy again. “Well, almost all of us.”

“The only three who seem normal are Silverspeed, Shoeshine and Lily,” Derpy commented as she pranced around excitedly. She had gotten shocked looks around town. Berry and Carrot were the shocked the most outside of Derpy herself.

“Yeah is there anything even wrong with those three?” Daisy complained as Lily eyed a plant.

“Hey, what’s this plant? It smells nice,” Lily commented and leaned forward to sniff a white flower.

“Uhm that’s a lily,” Roseluck reminded her. “It’s your namesake and favorite plant. How can you forget that?”

Lily rubbed her head with a hoof before slamming her head into the wall.

“Well, guess we know how the Poision Joke affected me. It took away my knowledge of plants,” Lily growled and glanced at Shoeshine. “What’s up with you?”

Shoeshine shrugged and Silverspeed rolled her eyes.

“Is anything wrong with you then?” Derpy asked as Shoeshine nodded. “Well, care to share with the rest of us?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Shoeshine muttered and her voice sounded deeper than it had before. “Ever.”

“Where is Trixie?” Sunset sighed as the door swung open and Roseluck screamed.

“A ghost!” Roseluck shrieked as the door shut. “Everypony for themselves!”

Sunset gawked as Roseluck, Daisy and Lily raced for the door and slammed into an invisible object, the three screaming again.

“Shut up!” Sunset screamed and everypony froze, staring with stunned expressions. “You three, chill! It’s not a fucking ghost, I think it’s Trixie. Her hat fell off when you ran into her.”

Sunset picked up the hat and set it on her table.

“Roseluck, you’re the plant and healing expert. Do you know any potential ways to get rid of the effects of Poision Joke?” Sunset asked and Roseluck shook her head.

“No unfortunately. I’ve never came across anything like this before.”

Silverspeed let out a string of noises and everypony stared.

“Haha!”

“Not funny,” Daisy glared at Sunset.

“I’m sorry. It’s kinda funny.”

“But I know who may have a spell to heal us,” Roseluck mused and glanced outside uncertaintly.

“Who?” Daisy asked and Roseluck glanced at the Everfree.

“You’re not gonna like it.”

Why does this always happen to us?

Sunset trotted down the street with the others behind her. Ponyville was a ghost town. Doors were closed and locked, windows shuddered. Sunset had never seen anything like this before in all her life. Canterlot always had something going on, no matter what the time.

A cat fight in the alley, a few royal guards arresting some drunk ponies but never was a town Sunset ever been in just dead silent. If she didn’t know better, she would say an apocalypse of some kind happened here and wiped out the entire town folk.

“Where is everypony?” Sunset wondered aloud and Shoeshine scuffed a hoof against the gravel road.

“Gossip spreads quick in a small town Sunset,” Shoeshine explained and Sunset giggled. She still couldn’t get over how deep her voice sounded and Shoeshine shot her a dangerous glare. “Stop laughing. Anyway, most of Ponyville thinks the zebra in the woods cursed us somehow. Nopony is gonna come near us until that rumor is squashed like a spider on a wall.”

Shoeshine slammed her hoof against the road for emphasis and Roseluck jumped almost ten feet in the air as Sunset stifled a laugh.

Daisy and Lily had opted to stay behind. Something about how Daisy refused to been seen like this and Lily was just scared. The only reason Roseluck came along was because Silverspeed dragged her with.

“I just hope Trixie is still following us,” Derpy glanced around and Trixie groaned.

“Trixie is right here,” Trixie grumbled and growled when nopony responded. “Right, nopony can hear or see her, but they can feel Trixie. Curse this fucking universe and it’s jokes.”

She tapped a hoof against Derpy’s flank and the pegasus jumped slightly.

“Yeah, she’s still with us,” Derpy confirmed with an eyeroll. “She just touched my flank.”

“Shocker,” Roseluck snorted. “Bet she’s laughing it up at us right now. Why is she invisible, anyway?”

“Trixie has a huge ego and adores being seen by crowds. So it probably made her invisible to show her what it’s like to not be seen,” Sunset mused as she and the others followed Derpy in a circle. Trixie wanted to kill Sunset a little after that statement.

“Trixie is not fond of that suggestion,” Trixie growled and scuffed a hoof against the ground. “But, it is probably correct.”

“Where are we going?” Roseluck complained finally and glanced at Derpy. “You said you knew the way to a house in the forest.”

“I don’t know. Can’t remember,” Derpy shrugged and everypony groaned. “Heck, I can’t even remember where my house is or the post office or where the school house is.”

Sunset suspected that was what the Poison Joke did to Derpy, but she didn’t want to say anything. Derpy got what she wanted, her eyes normal and Sunset wasn’t about to crush her dreams by telling her. She wouldn’t have even done that back in her pre friend days. She was stern, not cruel after all.

“How about I take over?” Sunset suggested casually and cracked her neck. “By the gods, I feel so short. How am I gonna attract a pretty mare if I can barely come up to her barrel?”

“Who are you going for?” Roseluck raised and eyebrow and Sunset shrugged.

“Nopony as of now, but my point still stands. That could change in the future. I wouldn’t mind sharing my bed with somepony. I normally date unicorns because magic can be used for some interesting things. Earth ponies are strong and have nice flanks. Pegasi have thinner bodies most of the time and wings are nice to cuddle under so,” Sunset explained and she eyed each member of the group and where she thought Trixie was. “Derpy, no offense, but I wouldn’t date you. You’re like my mom.”

“None taken,” Derpy waved a hoof dismissively. “I prefer stallions. I don’t bat for my own team.”

“Same,” Roseluck chimed in and flicked her tail. “I prefer guys.”

“I don’t really like anypony,” Shoeshine shrugged and growled, stepping over a twig. “I like personality. If you have a good personality, I’ll date ya. Mare or stallion, doesn’t matter.”

Silverspeed closed her mouth and sighed. She really hated not being able to speak. She personally was looking forward to having her voice back, Shoeshine sounding normal and Trixie being at least noticeable. You couldn’t even seen the tracks her hooves made. As funny as Roseluck’s hair was, Silverspeed supposed she would be angry too.

Silverspeed mainly wanted Sunset to be back to her normal height. She didn’t really like dating mares smaller than her. Not that she was dating her of course, but Silverspeed could dream at least.

“Okay, so we somehow find this zebra, convince somehow to heal us and then what? We just go about our day?” Derpy asked and glanced at Silverspeed. “You are the best at working with other species outside of Trixie. Any suggestions?”

Silverspeed shrugged and shook her head, pointing a hoof out towards the forest with a nod.

“What if this is a mistake?” Sunset wondered aloud and tried to glare up at her horn. “Going back in there, I mean. I have no magic whatsoever to protect us from what Celestia knows is in there. They’re still discovering new animals in there to this day.”

“I love and hate how you shoulder everything by yourself,” Derpy grumbled and the others nodded in agreement. “It’s partially admirable but mainly dumb. We have Shoeshine and her strength along with Silverspeed. We can always come up with different ways to defend ourselves.”

Sunset blushed as they each hugged her and Sunset found herself in the middle of an impromptu group hug.

“It is the worst part of my personality,” Sunset admitted and nuzzled Roseluck with a small smile. “I’ve always had just me for the longest. It’s annoying being afraid of asking for help.”

“Hardest things to do are always the right to do,” Roseluck quipped with a shrug.

“Yeah, I know. Working on it.”

Sunset untangled herself from the hug and kissed everyponys foreheads excluding Trixie due to simply not knowing where she was, making a mental note to give the gesture later on.

“Now let’s move,” Sunset commented with a flick of her tail and a whinny sound.

The other five nodded and stepped into the Everfree, missing the three eyes watching from a nearby bush.

This is a terrible idea

“This is a terrible idea, you know that?”

Dinky, Ruby, Liza and Silver Spoon glanced back at Button Mash.

“Oh come on,” Liza rolled her eyes and trotted around Button Mash. “You can’t act like this isn’t exciting at all.”

“This isn’t exciting, this is dangerous. I’ve played enough Minecraft to know that four fillies going into a scary dark forest is a recipe for disaster. Remember the last time we followed a plan of Ruby’s? It went poorly,” Button Mash pointed out and Ruby glared at him.

“I thought we agreed to never speak about that again?” Ruby shot back with a growl and Button Mash flinched at her look. “Like, ever.”

“Don’t kill each other until I ask a important question,” Liza interjected before Ruby murdered poor Button. “I get why Dinky is here. I get why I’m here. I kinda get why Button is here? But why is she here?” Liza pointed a hoof accusingly at Silver Spoon. “She’s the worst pony ever. One of the worst. She cares about nopony but herself. Stuck up little bit-”

“Okay we get it,” Dinky hastily cut her off and stepped between the two. “I don’t like Silver Spoon much either myself. Or Diamond Tiara. They’re both jerks and bullies and selfish.”

“Hey!” Silver Spoon snapped and looked away. “I’m not that bad.” Everypony gave her flat looks, even Button Mash gave her an unimpressed frown. “Okay, I’m bad but I’m just following Diamonds lead so cut the attitude please.”

“We’ll cut the attitude when you quit being a bitch,” Liza scoffed and rolled her eyes, shoving Button Mash forward. “C’mon gamer boy, get a move on. Or I’ll tell Sweetie Belle you got scared of a squirrel that one time.”

“Why would I care what Sweetie Belle thinks?” Button asked and gritted his teeth as Dinky started helping push and Silver Spoon slammed her hoof into her muzzle, dragging it down her face slowly.

“Boys,” Silver Spoon muttered under her breath and Ruby nodded sagely.

“Yep. For somepony that cute, he is dense, isn’t he?” Ruby asked and Silver Spoon raised hey eyebrow.

“What?”

Ruby shrugged and hid her blush before galloping off after the other three as Silver Spoon gave a frustrated sigh.

“May the gods have mercy on my damned soul,” Silver Spoon grumbled under her breath before galloping to catch up. “Remind me why you dragged me along?”

“Because it’s your sister infected too. I figured even you aren’t that heartless enough that you don’t care about your own sister,” Dinky shot Silver Spoon a look. “Unless I’m wrong, of course. I wouldn’t be surprised given your chosen company after all.”

Silver Spoon shrugged and ducked under a tree branch. While she did willingly associate with Diamond Tiara, she didn’t necessarily like her that much. A small part of her did she supposed but not much. Diamond was her first technical friend after all.

“It’s complicated,” Silver Spoon answered finally and shrugged. “I did figure you’d be the one to defend me the most.”

“There’s a difference between defending you and liking you. I don’t like you much, don’t get me wrong. But I’m better than you because I don’t bully ponies for my own enjoyment,” Dinky answered and glanced at her. “You’re mean. So is Diamond. You’re mean to a lot of my friends. Therefore, loyalty states I side with them. Your sister told me that.”

“My own sister told you to not like me?” Silver Spoon flinched slightly and Dinky shook her head.

“I kept your name out of it. All Miss Silverspeed said was to stick by my friends, no matter what. But Miss Silverspeed is smart so she probably suspected who i was talking about.”

Silver Spoon nodded, unconvinced. Silverspeed was smart, that was true. Everypony knew that. The pegasus hid it well, but she was just as cunning and sneaky as Sunset was. That friendship only encouraged it more.

Silver Spoon didn’t even want to think about how Trixie might be encouraging it more.

“Joy. And for the record, I’m not heartless,” Silver Spoon shot Dinky a frown and trotted ahead down the trail quietly following the older ponies ahead.

“I can not wait to sound normal,” Shoeshine grumbled and Trixie stifled a laugh. The other mare had been complaining about it the entire way through the woods and Trixie idly wondered if she sounded like that when she complained fairly often.

“Trixie is too sober for this. Afterwards, the bar is her home for at least the next four hours. She, Raindrops and Berry are going to get so freaking drunk they can’t walk or fly home,” Trixie flung a foreleg towards the sky and yelped as her hoof slammed into a tree branch.

“And what did that tree branch do to you?” Roseluck pushed her mane up into a lazy bun and glared at where she thought Trixie was.

“Isn’t your name Roseluck, not Treeluck?” Sunset quipped and Roseluck rolled her eyes.

“Hilarious,” Roseluck commented dryly and raised an foreleg up in the air. “You’re a regular comedian.”

Sunset snickered and shrugged. While she wasn’t Trixie, she did like to think she had a pretty decent sense of humor. She mainly liked dirty jokes. Who didn’t, after all?

“Oh shit!” Sunset cursed and her hind leg bent slightly. “Almost broke my damn leg. Who just puts a hole in the ground in the middle of the path?”

An asshole, Silverspeed thought to herself as she kicked some dirt into the hole. Might as well prevent anypony else hurting themselves. Not that she expected anypony to come in here but the thought counted at least.

“Stupid ass flies. Stupid ass poison joke. Stupid ass Lily,” Roseluck grumbled under her breath as she swatted some flies with her tail and Derpy ducked to avoid the tail. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Sunset paused as Silverspeed tapped her on the shoulder and gestured to the dirt. Silverspeed had been suggested she write in the dirt to talk. Trixie had done it occasionally too.

“Yeah Silver?” Sunset asked as Silverspeed began to write.

What’s it like being so short? Normally you’re tall.

Roseluck and the others laughed as Sunset scowled slightly at Silverspeed grinning at her.

“Bite me,” Sunset rolled her eyes and turned to hide her smile.

Her reaction only served to make the others laugh more, to her slight frustration.

Well, we're dead

Ruby gave a yawn as she ducked under a tree branch, careful to avoid the blue plants that Dinky had said was apparently responsible for playing jokes on the other adults that Dinky looked up to.

“Okay, so what are we looking for exactly?” Silver Spoon broke the silence and everypony gave her shrugs. “Seriously?”

“That one pony that lives here. The zebra I think I overheard Roseluck calling it?” Liza scrunched up her muzzle in thought. “According to mom, zebras are known to be sham-?”

“Shamans?” Button Mash suggested without looking from his hoof held video games, the screen lighting up his face various colors.

“Yeah, how did you know that?” Liza asked and tilted her head as Button waved his hoof held before returning to playing it again.

“It was in the video game I played last month. It’s called Stallion Ring. It’s about repairing this ring and becoming the elden lord. You get a customizable pony and everything in a big open world. The boss fights are insane and angered me a lot. But I did it!” Button exclaimed and his eye twitched for a second. “The sleepless nights, the painstaking fighting...”

“The times you got grounded for staying up past your bed time,” Ruby cut in with an eye roll as she flicked her tail against his side. She grabbed his video game with her magic and held it above his head. “You’re gonna walk into a tree if you keep playing and walking. I’m saving you from yourself. Talk to me instead.”

“Uhm about what?” Button asked in confusion as he pulled out another video game from his saddlebags.

“Oh my god. How many do you have?” Ruby shouted and flung her forelegs upwards to the sky.

“Dozens. Video games are my life,” Button Mash answered and jumped as that one too disappeared in a red glow and Ruby glared at him. “Oh sweet Celestia.”

“Do not play video games when a mare is talking to you. It’s rude,” Ruby flipped her mane and narrowed her eyes. “I’ll tell Noi.”

“Uhm what would that do?” Button gave her a confused look and shifted on his hooves.

“She’s scary and she wants us to be friends. You don’t wanna end up on her bad side,” Ruby grinned and Button froze in fear. Noi was terrifying. Especially when angered. The amount of times he had seen her fighting in the hallway was enough to make him afraid of getting on her bad side. It only made him made more grateful they were friends.

Liza watched sympathetically as she and Dinky stood next to Silver Spoon, the filly completely forgetting her hatred of the earth pony filly next to her.

They all froze at hoof steps next to them as a hooded pony stepped into the clearing and gave them confused looks.

“Well, we’re dead,” Button Mash muttered and nervously stood between her and Ruby.

Dinky and Liza sat around a steaming pot with the others as the hooded figure took of her hood, revealing her stripes and golden rings around her neck.

“Are you gonna eat us?” Silver Spoon asked finally and Liza elbowed her angrily as the mare laughed.

“Of course not little one. Zebras are not carnivores, after all. And besides, ruining your day wouldn’t be fun,” the mare shrugged. “My name is Zecora. What’s your names?”

Dinky was nudged slightly and she inhaled.

“I’m Dinky. That’s Liza, Ruby, Button Mash and Silver Spoon. We’re uhm looking for you actually. We overheard a pony in town talking about you that you might be able to help our mom and friends,” Dinkys eyes flicked to the wall that had various paintings on them. “Or well, sister in Silver Spoons case. They stepped into some weird blue plant.”

Zecora nodded slowly as she poured some powder into the cauldron and stirred slowly with a large stick.

“Ah yes. I know the ones you talk of. I warned them about the plant but they apparently didn’t know what I meant. This will help but I need one more ingredient. One that is hard to find,” Zecora sighed and shook her head. “This just puts me in a bind.”

“We can get you it,” Button Mash offered and stood up. “It’ll be like an adventure in one of my video games. We all can be the hero, make Zecora liked by the town and restore the elements of harmony. Then Equestria and the Crown will owe us a favor.”

“I hate to admit this, but he makes sense,” Silver Spoon broke the silence. “I won’t turn down the Princesses owning me a favor.”

“And more importantly, we will have helped her!” Button pointed at Zecora as the zebra smiled warmly at him.

“And he lost me.”

“You’re seriously so lame,” Liza scoffed and shot Silver Spoon a glare. “You claim you’re nothing like Diamond Tiara, yet the only reason you won’t help a pony is because there’s nothing in it for you. No wonder your parents are always busy out of town because they can’t stand your rude attitude.”

Everypony fell silent as Ruby shot Liza a stunned look. Silver Spoons ears flattened against her head and she looked away.

“That may have been a bit far,” Liza admitted and looked down at her hooves. “I’m sorry.”

“May have been is a understatement,” Ruby whispered to Dinky, who nodded her agreement. “No offense, but we don’t have time for this. Momma is gonna kill me once she founds out I’ve been in the forest alone. I don’t want to imagine what Sparkler will do once Miss Derpy goes home.”

“That’s a good point. Where is Sparkler?” Silver Spoon turned to the two and they both shrugged.

“Oh, she’s a bit tied up at work at the moment,” Ruby answered nonchalantly and Dinky nodded slowly.

Sparkler yawned and cracked her neck as she opened her eyes, waking up from her nap.

“Thank Celestia for the pony who invented naps,” Sparkler levitated the blankets off her and moved her legs. Or tried to was more accurate. She was loosely tied onto her bed and she gave a confused look. “Uhm, the hell?”

She yanked the ropes off with her magic and looked around warily. It was quiet inside the house. Too quiet.

“The house is quiet. Where’s Dinky?”

“Tied up at work, yep totally,” Ruby shrugged and shared a smirk with Dinky. “So what are we looking for, Zecora?”

Zecora paused for a moment before hoofing over a book. She was a bit wary of accepting help from kids, but if it got her the towns acceptance, then so be it.

Not a normal day in Ponyville

Derpy folded her wings against her sides as she admired a brown small house surrounded by trees. A small stream ran by the house and she faintly could make out movement inside through the window.

“So do we just burst in or do we knock?” Trixie wondered aloud to herself as she approached the door. She was starting to like being invisible. She could say and do whatever she wanted and nopony could stop her whatsoever.

Trixie’s question was answered as Sunset approached to knock, lifting a hoof and froze.

“Is that Dinky?” Roseluck asked and Derpy’s eyes hardened.

“Why is my daughter in that house with Ruby, Button, Liza and Silver Spoon?” Derpy asked in a low voice.

“What?” Sunset peered inside and gave a confused look inside as the foals trotted around, looking at random items as the zebra mare inside spoke occasionally to them with a smile. “I thought Sparkler was watching Dinky?”

“She was,” Derpy growled softly and her wings fluttered in agitation. “Oh, that filly is so grounded when I get my hooves on her.”

Sunset pounded her hoof against the door and waited patiently for it to open, tapping her hoof anxiously against the ground.

“Who do we have here on my doorstep?” The door opened and the zebra stood in the doorway. “More ponies appear today.”

“Uh hi,” Sunset peered around her. “I’m Sunset Shimmer. This is Roseluck, Derpy, Silverspeed, Shoeshine and Trixie is somewhere around here. I hope.”

Trixie nudged the door open more and Sunset gestured that way.

“Ah. You are the ponies from the other night. I bet you all had quite a fright this morning,” Zecora chuckled and stepped aside. “Come in.”

Sunset and the others hesitated before trotting inside, Silverspeed shutting the door softly.

“You are in so much trouble young lady,” Derpy stared down at Dinky and the filly froze. “So much.”

“But-”

“But nothing. I have told you time and time again to not go into these woods alone, Dinky.”

“But I’m not alone. I got them,” Dinky pointed at Liza and the other foals.

“They’re children!” Derpy shot back and narrowed her eyes. “What if you all ran into something in here? And then you went with a stranger. Have I taught you nothing?”

The others tried to ignore the two as they stood around awkwardly. Being around when Derpy has to lecture Dinky was always awkward, even for the grown ups.

Roseluck whistled and Shoeshine sat on her plot, innocently rubbing her horseshoes together as she watched Sunset examine a painting on a wall.

“Yes mother,” Dinky sighed and sat down. “This is Zecora. She found us in the woods. She’s very nice and smart.”

Derpy inhaled and took a step back. She could punish Dinky later.

“Miss Derpy, technically it was all of us,” Silver Spoon stepped forward and Ruby gave her a look. “We all came here so you gotta punish us all, not just Dinky.”

“That’s not my job, that’s up to your sister,” Derpy pointed at Silverspeed glaring at Silver Spoon and the filly gulped nervously. “And as for you three, your parents are going to be told too. You were very unsafe.”

Liza, Ruby and Button gave each other terrified looks but nodded. Lyra was a pretty easy going mare, but even Liza knew Lyra had her limits. Ruby had no idea what her moms was gonna do, but she had a idea she wasn’t going to like it.

Button frowned slightly at his hooves. Well, there went his week end of playing video games with Pipsqueak and Rumble.

“Roseluck is our healer but even she doesn’t know any methods of fixing us. I’m hoping you might know something,” Sunset told Zecora and the zebra nodded. “If needed, I can always pay. We all will be grateful for your help.”

“No money required. I need one more ingredient as I was talking to the foals, but they couldn’t meet my goal. I go into the town to hopefully buy said ingredients, but nopony is there,” Zecora shrugged as Roseluck and Shoeshine shared a guilty look.

“We can help with that. Whatcha need?” Shoeshine asked and stretched her forelegs out and Roseluck joined her moments later.

Some town ponies glanced up at hoof steps and froze in fear at Sunset and the others walking with Zecora.

“Oh fuck,” Lemony Gems cursed under her breath as she took off running away into her house, slamming the door behind her.

“They’re cursed!” Blossomforth pointed a trembling hoof.

“Hexed!” Apple Bloom offered as she hid behind Big Mac.

“Enchanted, even,” Scootaloo suggested and shrugged at the confused looks Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gave her. “Just another word for hexed I think.”

“Gotcha.”

Sunset trotted up to a house and knocked, waiting as a trembling Blossomforth opened the door.

“Blossomforth, can we talk?”

Blossomforth nodded hesitantly and fluttered her wings anxiously as the pegasus let them in.

Shoeshine relaxed in a hot tub of water next to Roseluck and Trixie, the other unicorn finally able to be seen by other ponies. Trixie idly wished she had robbed the Sugarcube Corner of their peanut butter crackers or pranked some ponies before diving into the water.

“At least Lyra went a bit easy on Liza,” Silverspeed offered as she floated on top of the water, her eyes closed as she breathed evenly.

“Berry and Cream Heart were pretty hard on Ruby and Button,” Derpy commented as she nuzzled her wings, spitting out a broken one into a trash can next to her. “Dinky probably won’t be playing with either of them for a while. Cream Hearts said Button was grounded for as long as he lives.”

“So is Silver Spoon. Or until I get bored of hearing her whine,” Silverspeed answered and splashed some water lazily at Trixie.

Trixie rolled her eyes and flicked some water at the pegasus with her magic as Zecora stood talking to Lotus and Aloe nearby. Trixie didn’t entirely who was who.

Sunset groaned as she trotted out of a room, stretching out her legs with a content smile before sitting down on a lounge chair.

“Massages are a gift from Celestia, let me tell ya,” Sunset commented as she levitated a newspaper in front of her muzzle. She had opted for getting one after she had sat in the water Zecora and the spa sisters had made to cure them. Sunset was fairly certain she’d be coming back again after that experience.

“This place gives good massages, we know. Wait till Lotus gets her hooves on you,” Roseluck winked at the amber unicorn as Sunset turned a page of the newspaper, searching for the comics. She didn’t care for the rest of the fluff as she called it. She only cared about the comics.

“I’ll remember that for later,” Sunset answered and froze as she stared at a picture of the Riches, dropping the newspaper. “I have to go. I completely forgot about Lily and Veronica.”

“Want company?” Roseluck asked as she and the others instinctively rose out of the water.

“I’ll be fine. You girls stay here and enjoy yourselves. I’ll be back. I’ll pay for it.”

Trixie ears perked up and grinned hopefully at Sunset as the unicorn rolled her eyes.

“And no happy endings, Trixie.”

Trixie’s face fell in disappointment and the others snickered.

Lily and Veronica waited patiently in the younger earth ponies living room as they both glanced at the door anxiously.

“I’m telling you now, I didn’t risk my flank being look out as you snooped through their private quarters, Veronica. If Sunset doesn’t show up within the hour as agreed upon, we gotta burn those documents. Or return them.”

“Sunset will come through,” Veronica promised as she laid on her side lazily on her couch. What she didn’t add was that she herself was starting to get worried. Sunset was normally five minutes late as a rule, the unicorn had said. Why, Veronica didn’t know.

The door swung open and Sunset trotted in, silently shutting the door as the two sprung to their hooves.

“Sorry I’m late. I was caught up. Poison Joke treatment and all. Did you get it?” Sunset strode across the room to the two mares.

“Yes. It took a bit to lock pick, but we got it. It’s a pretty thick file, unsurprisingly,” Lily answered and the orange mare hoofed it over as she narrowed her light purple eyes. Sunset reached for it and Lily pulled it back. “Ah, ah ah. First, I believe you owe us.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow before dropping a file on the coffe table, pushing it with her magic to the two.

“It’s already done. I’ve already cleared it the Royal Treasury earlier in the week. I’m a mare of my word. As of now, you are both my aides. Money for this week’s work should already be in your respective bank accounts. And I paid Randolph some to keep quiet.”

“Wait. How do you have our banking information?” Veronica wanted to know and Sunset gave a smirk her way that made her shudder slightly.

“I’m not entirely fond of doing things by the book. Or the legal way. You both will come to see that I do some shady shit in the public interest.”

“You what?” Lily gave her a confused glance as they both overlooked the files Sunset had levitated to them, the royal seal emblazoned on the front.

“Doing what’s right isn’t black and white. What’s right is a gray area. Like stealing from them. The public often doesn’t know what does into protecting them. You think you two know everything about Equestria?” Sunset gave a bitter chuckle. “You have no idea. There’s a bunch of shady ass agencies, strictly for keeping Equestrians citizens safe. I can’t say more. For your safety.”

Veronica and Lily both shared a look. They each wanted to ask more, but based on Sunset’s tone and warning look told them not to.

Sunset gave a brief nod and she opened the file that Lily had dropped, her eyes briefly scanning the page.

“Fuck,” Sunset cursed under her breath and she got two confused looks.

“What’s wrong?” Veronica asked and peered over her shoulder.

“These are good but not enough to nail that bitch to the cross so to speak. She most likely hide the bad shit.”

“So what now?” Veronica asked and Sunset shrugged.

“Well, since I’ve made it my mission to ruin her life, I keep looking. Everypony has their dark secrets, even her. What happens in the dark, comes out in the light. Let’s go, I’ll show you two around. You guys don’t get your own office like Silverspeed unfortunately. Not enough rooms but you guys have better paying jobs and a bad ass boss,” Sunset winked at the two with a grin.

The two hesitated before nodding and followed Sunset out.

I do this every week

“These are from the mayor. She needs your sign off,” Lily dropped a pile of papers on Sunset’s desk as the orange unicorn groaned.

“Ugh fuck me and my life,” Sunset complained as she overlooked a few papers on top as she paused her writing. “It can wait until after my letter to Princess Celestia.”

“Come again?”

“I do this every week. It’s an order of hers. I write her a letter every week when I learn something about friendship,” Sunset explained as she dipped her quill in ink to resume writing. “Thanks Lily. You can head on out if you want.”

“Thanks. I’ll be in tomorrow,” Lily gave a lazy wave as she trotted past Silverspeed standing inside the room with her spear and her expression that Veronica and Lily had come to call her “Royal Guard Face”.

“Sounds good.”

Silverspeed opened the door and waited till Lily left before shutting it softly, resting her spear against the wall.

“Whatcha sending the Princess?” Silverspeed asked curiously and cracked her neck.

“A letter,” Sunset answered and smirked at Silverspeed.

“Very funny.”

“Good, I’m glad you thought so. Anyway, here. You can read the rough draft.” Silverspeed leaned over the desk and started to read out loud.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

My friends learned to not judge a book by it’s cover this week. Or more specifically, a pony by their stripes. Somepony may look unusual, or funny, or scary. But you have to look past that and learn who they are inside. Zecora and Roseluck have hit it off pretty well recently this week, I’m happy to report. The town has widely accepted her as well. I’m requesting we do more for said cases like this in the other towns. Zecora most likely isn’t the only zebra or other type of creature facing distrust for simply looking or talking different.

Your student, Sunset Shimmer. Not bad.”

“I know. I’ll be back in an hour. I have a meeting with a certain individual,” Sunset scowled and stood up. “Don’t wait for me.”

“I understand.”

Spoiled Rich sat in her office in the family store, reading a novel as somepony knocked against the door. Her trademark scowl deepened as she recognized the unicorn leaning against the door frame.

“What do you want?” Spoiled spat out and Sunset chuckled dryly.

“To congratulate you. It’s not often I find somepony who’s as good as me at this game. I rarely get bested and yet, you managed,” Sunset admitted and stepped inside the room. “Admitting my losses isn’t beneath me.”

“Hmph. I have no clue what you’re referring to,” Spoiled shot back and Sunset frowned at her.

“Yes, you do. It may not be today, but I’m coming for you. And I always get what I want. Not always right away, mind you, but I always win in the end. You’re just a stepping stone to fixing Equestria. I will make an example out of you. That’s a promise,” Sunset promised and narrowed her eyes.

“Running more than one business isn’t illegal, my dear,” Spoiled Rich chuckled and stood up to face Sunset. “This is a free country, after all.”

“Not for you. Not for much longer,” Sunset promised and tapped her hoof against Spoileds chest. “This isn’t over.”

“We will see.”

“Yes, we will,” Sunset agreed readily as she back pedaled out the room slowly. “We will.”

Sunset flicked her tail and was gone from sight.