My Little Pony: Friendship is Laughter

Chapters

Shadow of the Sun
The Elements of Harmony
Formula for Friendship
Cutie Mark Cruelty

Shadow of the Sun

The stage below was ablaze with intense white light. Sparkle Sprint crossed her forelegs, grinning as her favorite scene approached fruition. The scene was so bright that it hurt. Sparkle felt sorry for any suckers who hadn't heeded the suspiciously specific offers of “sun smiting shades” from various sunglasses peddlers or even brought their own. The winged mare had no such trouble, a personal pair of shades shielding her eyes.

On the set, the light faded to reveal a young day guard-bred stallion enchanted to look like the storybook version of Super Nova. The burnt golden armor was obviously not genius, but it did the job well enough. Silently, Sparkle wondered why her sister Shining Sword would have allowed any of her units to goof off in a play. Maybe it was just tradition.

Opposite the corner that ‘Super Nova’ had appeared was a calm looking mare. She was a white unicorn with a light blue mane, fake wings attached to her. ‘Celestia’ approached the raging sun-monster.

“Sparkle, don’t you have a tournament tomorrow?” Spike asked, crunching down harshly on some moonstone. Being the adopted brother of one of Celestia’s top five pupils and Captain of the Guard had its advantages; Spike was always been presented with presents of low quality jewels, which pleased the dragon. Actual jewels were fairly hard to come by. Rock farming stopped being a popular thing about twenty years ago, sixteen before Spike’s birth.

The purple mare waved her brother off. She was five-years-old, an adult! She could handle when she was supposed to go to bed and when she was supposed to train without Spike getting on to her. Even if that was why she let him live with her, he didn't have to get all over bearing about it. “Spike, when was the last time someone beat me in a tournament?”

“How about that duel you had with the donkey boy last war meeting?”

“Mangerian folks are not normal!” Sparkle said harshly, lifting her shades to stare into the green eyes of her brother. She looked away, flicking her spiky, choppily cut mane out of her face.

The stagehands levitated a large glass cage containing ‘Super Nova’. That was certainly a creative way to show that she was trapped in the sun.

“Oh, Super Nova,” cooed ‘Celestia’, “I will wait a thousand years for your anger to subside.”

Sparkle’s ears twitched. A thousand years? How long had it been since Super Nova had been sealed away? The winged mare stood up in her VIP box, trotting to the exit. Spike yelled something behind her before following her. When on all fours, as he was now, the dragon came up to half her height and thus she tended to ignore him when lost in thought because he couldn't easily make eye contact.

It was currently the year 1065. History commonly stated that the two princesses ruled two generations together. Sparkle wished she had paid better attention in biology classes. How much had lifespans changed since then? She knew now that even an earth pony could easily live to forty, but back then, how long had they lived to?

“—and you haven’t eaten, either!” Spike bellowed, catching Sparkle’s attention. “Are you even playing attention to me?”

“Hm, what, yeah!” the winged pony responded, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. “Look, I've got this Spike, don’t worry.” She looked at the skyline. It was barely four o’clock. The tournament started at seven. She had an hour she could play around at the library before she had to start getting ready. “Hey, I’ll see you later,” the mare warned, spreading her wings and taking flight.

“What?! Hey!” Spike cried out. He huffed, standing on his hind legs to try and catch a glimpse of his sister. She had disappeared, though. “Ugh, would've been easier if she’d been born a unicorn…”

The door to the bachelor pad slammed shut.

“You’re late,” Spike called from the kitchen. He exited and put a plate of yogurt and daisy salad before Sparkle Sprint as she sat wearily down on the couch. “You look tired.”

The winged mare snorted at him. Pegasus were not the type to easily listen to the advice of others. “I’m fine.”

“The tournament begins in thirty minutes. You need to hurry up and eat so you can put your armor on.”

Sparkle glared at her assistant before beginning to scarf down her food. Spike crossed his arms and grinned, gloating for a moment about being right. He then went to the walk in closet that held Sparkle’s armor. He brought out the white tunic bearing the family crest and the silver armor that had been custom commissioned by Sparkle’s very proud father, Nightlight.

“I hear a few guests might enter tonight. Surprise, maybe a few other Wonderbolts. We’ll definitely see Prince Tempo get in on this.”

“Prince Tempo’ll be there?!” Sparkle asked, her childhood crush always a source of excitement even after she had gotten ‘over’ him. “I mean, uh, Surprise knows not to mess with me,” Sparkle cockily stated. “I’ll run her into the ground again.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Sure, whatever. Please, please, just remember to actually do the ceremonies this time. You know Princess Celestia is a sucker for respect and courtesy.”

Sparkle laughed, ruffling Spike’s spines. “Yeah, well, she’s a sucker for pasta, too. You don’t go out there wearing spaghetti noodles.”

Sparkle Sprint coughed loudly as she landed. Blood, mud, and spittle flew from her muzzle. She could feel Moon Dancer’s magic lift its hold from her battered body. Sparkle flipped over, breathing shallowly as the unicorn grinned.

“Give,” the horned mare instructed.

Sparkle laughed. “Hardly.” In an instant, she was in the air again, light headed but out of Moon Dancer’s range. The horned mare had realized her mistake and was pacing, trying to avoid being an easy target. Sparkle winced at the pain racking her body, but was determined to end this in victory. Finally, Sparkle picked up on Moon Dancer’s pattern. She grinned, beginning to fall gently and then dive. She gained more speed until she was a purple blur, bending her path to slam into Moon Dancer.

The horned mare was sent flying into the wall. Sparkle shakily skidded to a stop, screeching sound trailing after her along with twinkling light. “Sonic sparkling screech, horses,” Sparkle Sprint announced as the crowd watched on in silence.

The crowd broke into applause as medics rushed onto the field, picking up Moon Dancer.

Sparkle floated into the center of the arena, throwing her hooves up. “Who do you love?!” she demanded. The crowd screaming her name was the last thing she heard before she blacked out from pain and exhaustion.

When she came to, she saw Spike frowning down at her.

“You stupid horse, you never listen.”

“We’re you calling a…” she asked woozily. Spike was lucky. If it wasn't for this overwhelming lack of energy, she would of punched his stupid purple face. “Ugh. What happened?”

“You gave yourself the bends. In air. Again.” He crossed his arms, huffing a little bit of smoke. “Princess Celestia was kind of impressed, though. She sent you a special assignment in a letter.”

“Oh, really?!” the pegasus asked. She greedily took the letter from Spike, eyes roaming over the scroll.

Spike prepped himself.

“WHAT?!”

Sparkle Sprint’s anger had slowly diminished over the two hour flight between Canterlot and Ponyville. She almost regretted her rash decision to pull the chariot herself now. Anger had made her fly at a break neck pace, almost causing Spike to plummet to his death due to her turbulence more than once. Now, she was almost gliding, energy fading.

Spike looked at the wide road and parallel train tracks leading to Ponyville. While the town wasn't highly populated, it was well enough respected because it subject directly to Celestia’s and Equestria’s capitol city, Canterlot. He had to think of the meaningless facts he had memorized because the entire flight had been silent save the beating of Sparkle’s wings. Celestia had a small, well decorated villa reserved for them just outside of town. He was glad. While he loved his home back in Canterlot, Sparkle’s apartment wasn’t roomy enough for him. Even for a few days, living in a nice, big house would be a pleasant change.

He looked from the ground to his pony sister. “Aw, cheer up, Sparkle.”

The pegasus flicked her purple eyes upon her dragon brother for a moment before focusing on steering them to the villa awaiting them. “I will not cheer up. She sent me away, Spike.” The pegasus’s voice betrayed sorrow. “She’s embarrassed…”

“Well, she may be,” Spike said carefully, “but she did put you in charge of the Midwinter Moon Merriment.” Spike gestured to the beautiful snowy hills of Ponyville as proof. “You could use this time to study something other than war and history.”

“What else is there?” Sparkle Sprint asked. “We have always been at war—with the donkeys, with the horses, with the seaponies, and even with the dragons sometimes. Heck, the only steady allies we have ever had are the zebras and the griffons. The griffons need us because they’re a race born by chance and they know it.”

“Still,” Spike warned.

“We’re here,” Sparkle bluntly nickered, cutting the conversation short. She did have to admit, as she landed. This villa covered in snow was glorious. The cool morning air gave everything a hopeful gleam.

The two of them finished unpacking fairly quickly. After a cup of coffee for both, they sat down to discuss preparations.

“We have five ponies in charge of things this year. The weather team has promised clear skies, but the ceremonial dew is going to be taken care of by one Pinkamena Felicity Crush—er, there’s a note that says to call her Pink Crush, though.”

Sparkle raised a brow. “She’s a pegasus, right?”

“Yep,” Spike retorted.

“Good. Was worried they’d try to put a unicorn in charge of weather again. Trottingham tried to do that—it didn't end well.”

Spike nodded, continuing. “An earth pony mercenary has been hired to take care of security. She has a whole band with her to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

The pegasus mare fluttered her wings. “An earth pony mercenary? Oh, she’s probably a big, mountain of a mare.”

“Sparkle!” Spike laughed out. “Anyway, there’s a unicorn named Apple Laurel. She and her branch of the Apple clan will be providing the food.”

“Hm? Oh, yes. The Apple clan…” Sparkle Sprint grinned. “They’re an ancient clan, very strict, very powerful.”

“A unicorn named Rainbow Joy is decorating the crater where everything will happen.”

Sparkle Sprint batted her eyes. “Rainbow… Joy? No way! She and Lidga did all that research on the Rainbow of Light and other arcane magic!” The pegasus fluttered her wings. “She may be able to enchant me enough to get my speed high enough to perform a sonic rainboom, not just a sonic sparkling screech.” The mare’s eyes glittered in greedy anticipation.

“Finally, there’s an earth pony named Special in charge of music?”

Sparkle Sprint snickered. “Special? An earth pony?”

Spike swatted at her. “Your racism is showing,” he warned.

The mare with the magenta stripe stepped back from the table. “Whatever. Let’s get going.”

The duo entered Sugar Cube Corner in a neat line. However, Sparkle Sprint stopped short, breathing hitched. Spike looked at her, trying to figure out what the problem was.

Behind the counter, putting a fresh tray of cupcakes in the display case, was the most beautiful pegasus that Sparkle Sprint had ever seen. She had a dark pink mane and tail with a light pink body. Her mane and tail went on for days in a rich, smooth waterfall of silky glory. Her eyes were sweet and kind looking with thick eyelashes. She was decorated with a single yellow bow at the top of her tail. She finally noticed the two. “Oh, hi! You must be new! I know everyone in town!” she flew over to them, holding out a hoof. “We’re you?”

“Spike,” the dragon said simply.

“Sparkle Sprint,” the pegasus mare said, rising to meet Pink Crush in the air. Sparkle half-lidded her eyes. “Hey,” she said in a voice that would have given Eugene a run for his money. Hopefully, she wouldn't get whacked with a pan. “You’re Pink Crush, right?”

“Yep!” the pegasus said with a giggle. “Are you here to have a party thrown, or to get some catering—or, oh, oh, I know! You want me to find a match for you!”

“Match?” Sparkle asked. She was fairly distracted. Pink’s blue eyes were absolutely inviting.

Below, Spike had taken a seat, head in hand. This could go on for a while.

“I’m the best match maker in Equestria!” Pink Crush explained.

“Oh, not today,” Sparkle replied smoothly, mind back on track. “I understand you’re taking care of the dew and frost tonight?”

“Of course,” Pink responded kindly.

Sparkle gave Pink a once over. “Well… if you need any he—“

“Pink?”called a voice as the doorbell chimed. Spike held his laughter in.

“Hm? Yes, Ponet-honey?” Pink asked, landing to greet the unicorn stallion.

“Honey?” Sparkle asked herself.

Ponet brushed noses with Pink. “Oh, are these friends of yours?”

“Kinda,” Pink said with a giggle. Sparkle landed, Spike coming to the pegasus’s side. “Sparkle Sprint, Spike, this is my boyfriend Ponet. Ponet, these are my new friends.”

Sparkle held out her hoof to Ponet, secretly burning with jealousy. She made sure her grip was tighter than need be. “Hi! I’m from Canterlot, one of Celestia’s top five students. Don’t know if you saw, but I finished top three in the last tournament.”

Ponet took his hoof back, barely keeping from wincing in pain. “Nice to meet you, Sparkle Sprint. I’m an artist. Say, you couldn't possibly put in a word for me in Canterlot, could you?”

Sparkle made for the door, Spike trailing her. “I’ll see.”

“Ugh! And he was one of those stupid hipster guys! I could just see him in some stupid glasses and a scarf! ‘Oh, have you heard of this or that band?’ It’s irritating!” she bellowed.

“Chill,” Spike advised. “You probably won’t see her again.”

“Yeah, still. I don’t get turned down much.”

The two of them reached Sweet Apple Acres. The place looked more like a shrine than a farm. The duo weren’t sure where to go, so Sparkle took off into the air. She spotted a gathering of perhaps fifty ponies. She landed, leading Spike to the point she had seen them.

When they arrived, the whole group was waiting on them. It was a little unnerving for Sparkle, even if she was a seasoned warrior and Spike was a dragon.

“Pardon me,” called an airy voice. “Ah, good morning and nice to meet you. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres. I am Apple Laurel. Who are you two?”

Sparkle Sprint eyed how two stallions stood on either side of the well-dressed young lady before her. “I am Sparkle Sprint and this is Spike. We’re managing the Midwinter Moon Merriment this year.”

“Ah, yes,” Apple Laurel responded. She turned around, walking through the crowd which parted for her. She rose to sit herself upon a throne of sorts, though an aged green mare sat higher than her. Sparkle noticed that Laurel’s white robe matched the snowy fields around them. Pale apples grew on the nearly bare branches. Sparkle and Spike were ushered to stand before the pristine throne. “Please, take a seat at the table. We will let you sample our wares.”

Sparkle hesitantly sat down, while Spike followed with more ease. As the first dish—apple salad—was brought out, Spike uttered a simple “I will eat this gratefully” before digging in. Sparkle looked around, not sure what that was about. She dug in, only to hear whispering coming from the crowd. Spike nudged her.

“Say thank you.”

Sparkle gulped down her current mouthful. “Ah, uh, eat this humbly…”

The crowd seemed appeased for the moment.

Several more courses followed. It got easier as things went by.

After finishing dessert, Spike clapped his hands. “That was delicious!”

Sparkle nodded. “I’m so satisfied and full that I could go a week without food!”

Apple Laurel laughed lightly from her throne. “I’m glad you were so—“

“Did you really like the pie? I made that myself!” piped up a little filly. The yellow unicorn had suddenly appeared by Sparkle’s side. “I’m flattered that you liked it—if you did like it, that is.”

“Applebloom!” Laurel yelled. “Don’t just barge into a conversation!”

The ancient green unicorn spoke up. “Laurel… you may have position over outsiders, but you’re not head yet. Don’t throw your weight around with your sister.”

“I’m sorry, Grandmother.” Laurel looked to the side, clearly embarrassed.

Sparkle Sprint looked up, jaw dropping. “… You’re… You are the Green Smith. You’re the unicorn who lived two hundred years.”

“Two hundred and fifteen, but yes,” the matriarch noted.

Sparkle grinned. “Sorry; you’re just, well, a legend. It’s cool to meet you.”

Smith chuckled. “I suppose it is, isn't it? However, you have places to go, don’t you?”

Sparkle nodded. “I do. Thank you for everything. We’ll be going now.”

Sparkle Sprint flew ahead, purple wings easily cutting through the cool noon air. The sunshine glistened off the soft snow. Spike crested below her, coming to the lip of the crater and then sliding as gracefully as he could down.

“—my boy builds coffins,” sang a blue mare. Her horn glowed with power as she carved paths in the snow while sticking poles down in the snow. Each pole was connected to the other with dark, hyper saturated ribbons of color. She seemed to notice Spike first, then Sparkle. “Oh, hi. What’s up? Who’re you?”

Sparkle Sprint figured it was safe to assume this was Rainbow Joy. The unicorn had a well curled rainbow mane and tail. It looked like almost too much effort for her already busy appearance, but Joy was an eccentric bookish type, wasn't she? “I’m Sparkle Sprint and this is my assistant Spike. We’re from Canterlot, managing the Merriment this year.”

Joy’s eyes flashed with realization. “Oh! Yes, um, congratulations on making third place.”

“Thanks!” the pegasus cheered, landing on the path Rainbow Joy had cleared.

Spike looked around at the unicorn’s work. “It’s coming along nice.”

The unicorn grinned. “It would be better if we could gather real crystals. I wish more ponies would go back to rock farming. Gems have become a rarity.”

“Ugh, tell me about it,” the dragon complained.

“So,” Sparkle interrupted, “how goes your research on Light? How is Miss Lidga?”

Joy looked uncomfortable. “Well, I haven’t discovered how it works, but I've pulled the myth from the reality of a lot of it. You've read our work?”

“Yep!” Sparkle chirped. “So, where’s Lidga?”

“… Lidga, ah, went on a vacation of sorts to her family. She should return…”

Spike sensed the awkwardness. “Hey! Sparkle Sprint and I have done some work with blood magic ourselves. That’s cool, right?”

Rainbow Joy shied away, eyes growing large. “No! No!”

“No?” Sparkle asked. Blood magic was so strong, though. They had successfully turned copper into gold with it—not that they told anyone; they were saving it for a rainy day.

“Blood magic is closely related to hate magic, and other dark things! Please, never use it again!” she insisted.

The pegasus and the dragon looked down in shame. They muttered in agreement.

“Look, we've got to get going,” Sparkle said, flying off in shame. Rainbow Joy was literally the only academic type she cared to impress and she went and blew it. Spike shared the sentiment.

“Carousel Spa,” Sparkle Sprint said apprehensively. She liked spas, but she had a tendency to get lost in the whole process and lose track of time while there. Spike chuckled at her obvious weakness. The pegasus shot him a dirty look before opening the door.

“Hi!” a pegasus filly shouted as soon as Sparkle entered. “Welcome to Carousel Spa, where we bring you beauty and pleasure from places bizarre!”

“Sweetie Belle, didn't your sister tell you to stop using that intro?” a pink earth pony asked from behind the counter.

The white filly frowned. “But… but, hers is so lame! ‘Welcome to Carousel Spa!’ It’s so… plain.”

“It’s the truth and nothing less or more,” came a smooth, chiming voice. An earth pony with mane and tail in braids fishtail style exited from a door. “Now, this is certainly a sight. Tourists, in Ponyville? Well, what can I do you for?”

Spike stared at the exotic beauty. She was a white so bright she could envy his adoptive mother, Celestia, but her eyes were so here and in the present. She had an air about her that bowed to no one but was also not haughty. She was so natural looking, nothing to hide from the world. Though she lacked any significant eyelashes and her face lacked makeup, she radiated an inner beauty. It reminded Spike of a diamond in the rough and for that he longed for her.

Sparkle found it was her turn to laugh at the sudden infatuation of a friend. She snickered loud enough to catch the dragon’s attention. “Ah, actually, we’re in charge of the Midwinter Moon Merriment. Are you Special, by chance?”

“Certainly,” the earth pony replied kindly. “You checking up on our singing?”

“Yep,” the pegasus bluntly stated. “Could I get a sample, maybe?”

“Aloe, could you go fetch Lotus?”

The pink earth pony went to go get her other half.

Special pulled Sweetie Belle closer to her. The sisters were different types of ponies, but it was obvious that they were close kin.

Once Lotus was with them, the four hummed for a moment. Then, their sample began. The started out together, singing in perfect harmony. Sweetie Belle’s voice was strong and low. Special’s was soothing and classic. Lotus and Aloe were middle ranged, obviously filler but beautiful in their own right. “Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever more.” Ah, they were singing Frank the Horse; funny, though, they took a very Flora and the Crystal-Synthesizer take on the song. It was chilling, to say the least. “You are all I long for.”

Special’s solo would probably give everyone chill bumps at the real performance. “All I worship and adore.”

“In other words, please be true,” the twins sang in unison.

Sweetie Belle put forth a little too much pressure into her voice to really go with the theme they were working at, but it was precious coming from a child all the same. “In other words… I, love, you!”

“Excellent work, cousins, sister,” Special said, clapping lightly. Lotus returned to the facial she had been performing while Aloe went back to balancing money. Special looked expectantly toward Sparkle and Spike, Sweetie mirroring her expression.

“That was beautiful!” Spike blurted.

Sparkle nodded. “Yes, very good.”

“Hey, hey, can I braid your mane!?” Sweetie asked.

The earth pony with the fishtail braids gave her sister a look. “Sweetie, I've still got to braid your mane and tail. You can’t go out tonight with it fluffy like that. It’s good for everyday, but I’m not sure how Princess Celestia would fell about us serenading her while rocking our normal natural look.” The white earth pony grinned. “Sorry, another time, perhaps.”

“Yeah, see ya’,” Sparkle replied, almost pushing Spike out of the door.

“She smelled like limestone, Sparkle,” Spike said with a giggle.

The duo comfortably rested in their mansion.

Suddenly, a thought hit Spike. “Say, weren't we supposed to find Flutterspy?”

“Eh… I tried, back when you were pulling things into the house.”

“You ditched me—“

“She’s a mercenary. She probably won’t be here until this afternoon.”

“—while I was carrying all the heavy—“

“Besides, I can protect everyone!”

“—CHINA INTO THE HOUSE?!” Spike roared, jumping out of his chair. He tackled his pegasus sister, tickling her. Sparkle screamed in laughter.

Suddenly, they both heard what sounded like a door slamming.

“What the heck was that?!” Sparkle asked, standing up and tossing off Spike. She cantered through the house, checking for what could have happened.

Spike looked around, not sure what was going on.

Sparkle returned, grumpy now. “Uh, must have been a limb falling. Let’s take a nap, okay?”

“S-sure,” the dragon agreed.

It was nine and therefore fairly chilly outside. Spike put on a backpack with a heating pack. He was a dragon and therefore had an inner fire, but he grew irritable if he grew too cold. Sparkle Sprint wore just a short scarf and a little blanket over her back and flanks. When they exited their mini-mansion, most of the ponies in town were heading toward the crater.

Celestia would arrive at ten and leave at two.

As they arrived, Sparkle spotted Pink Crush finishing the frost and dew. It looked lovely out here; it was as if they were somewhere out of the imagination. Rainbow Joy finished lighting the last of the candles. Special and her crew stood just off the stage erected for Celestia to land on, warming up their voices. Flutterspy was still nowhere to be seen. Apple Laurel and her little sister, plus some large earth pony stallion, stood near a table covered in hearty food. Was that—yes, it looked like they made some kind of ravioli with apples. Celestia would like that very much.

“Go mingle, Spike,” Sparkle instructed, spotting the mayor waving at her. Sparkle drew closer. The mare was a silvery gray earth pony. Her mane was obviously dyed black in attempt to look younger—or, perhaps, more like their great princess and inspire more respect due to that resemblance?

“It’s almost time,” the mayor greeted as Sparkle took her spot beside the town leader.

Sparkle Sprint nodded. “I think Princess Celestia will be pleased.”

Special, Sweetie Belle, Lotus, and Aloe began singing. “Fly me to the moon.”

Spike twitched in the crowd, taking off his backpack. “It’s starting to… get… warm…” His eyes widened. He looked to Sparkle Sprint, who shared the slow realization about the temperature.

“Let me play among the—“

The center of the platform burst into flame. The white roses that had been laid out as garnishing for the appearance of Celestia wilted, the stage itself catching fire. The intense white flame caused many ponies to cry out in pain, either because they were standing too close or because the brightness hurt their eyes.

A yellow earth pony mare appeared, hose in her muzzle. She sprayed the stage, but to no avail. The white flame in the middle did not die, but sprang forth to her to cause the yellow mare to flee back.

“We have returned,” the flame spoke, dimming down to reveal a blood red pegasus unicorn. Her armor was golden and her mane and tail looked like living fire. “We doth entertain the idea that sunlight might be soothing to our little ponies.” The night sky gave way to a blazing day.

“It’s Super Nova!” Sparkle yelled, jumping forward but not close enough to get scorched.

“ DAYLIGHT SAVING’S TIME, MULES!” The crimson princess laughed and laughed.

The Elements of Harmony

Sparkle Sprint went wide eyed. Super Nova looked so proud of herself.

“Crap,” the pegasus whispered to herself.

The yellow earth pony from earlier returned. She was flanked by two grizzly bears. “Not hardly!” The mare drew a sword from her size. It hummed with energy. She swung toward Super Nova, a crest of water running toward the crimson mare. It merely vaporized a yard from her. The bears tried to attack, but dropped down, heat stroke racking their body. The mare realized this and rushed forward, dragging them both back by the incredible strength she possessed. Apple Laurel ran to her aid, dousing the bears in melting snow to cool them.

“I would have expected better reception,” the red mare noted. “No matter,” she retorted, “I’ll head to my castle next… Yes, the Everfree Forest still stretches by Trottingham, does it not?”

No one answered her.

The cursed mare spread her wings before evaporating into flame. The black smoke drifted on the wind.

Sparkle Sprint looked to Spike before the two of them took off into a dash toward their cloud mansion.

Sparkle Sprint looked through the few fighting scrolls she had brought with her. None of them said anything about how to fight the sun itself. Heck, there weren’t even that many spells that could handle the sun itself!

Spike heard a knock on the door. He answered it, expecting proper reinforcements. Instead, waiting there was Pink Crush.

“We need Sparkle Sprint.”

The pegasus mare joined the five ponies waiting below. Spike protectively lingered near his sister.

“Yes?” the purple pegasus pressed.

“I… I need your help,” Rainbow Joy said unsurely. “I… um, you know my research on the Rainbow of Light?”

“Yes,” Sparkle Sprint stated.

“I may be able to utilize it. However, I cannot find the items myself,” the rainbow unicorn explained.

“Where are they?” Laurel asked. “We could all go fetch them or send someone to do it.”

Joy pawed at the ground. “The… Everfree Forest.”

Sparkle Sprint’s eyes widened. She snorted. “I’ll go with you.”

“Me, too,” the mysterious yellow mare said.

“Going as well,” Spike growled. “I don’t even know who you are, butterscotch.”

“Flutterspy. You went lookin’ for me earlier,” she said gruffly. “Don’t do that. If you need me, I’ll be there.”

Sparkle Sprint shook her head. “Spike, no. The ponies around here don’t know how to deal with this heat. You’ve got to stay behind to make sure no one dehydrates.” Sparkle looked to Flutterspy. “Could you ask some of your team to provide protection in case Super Nova returns while we’re gone?”

Flutterspy nodded.

“There’s water everywhere!” Spike bellowed. “If they can’t—“

“They’ve all run inside. The houses will be stuffy. Make sure they go swimming or something,” Sparkle insisted.

The dragon huffed, but obeyed. “Be careful, okay?”

Apple Laurel spoke up. “I’ve already told my clan to start gathering up all the food that will contain lots of water. I told them to not let anyone eat any salt until I gave order.”

Special stared at Apple Laurel. “Why do you Apples always think you own everyone?”

Pink Crush came between the two. “We’ll settle it later, okey-dokey? We’ve got bigger fish to fry right now!”

Sparkle Sprint nodded. She looked to the other mares. “Alright, I’ll play team leader since I’v got the most experience in missions.” Flutterspy raised an eye brow. “Team missions.” No argument was made. “I’ll stay up front with Rainbow Joy. I’ll act as scout and first line of defense, while Rainbow Joy navigates us and keeps on the lookout for any traps. Special, you and Apple Laurel should keep an eye out for any food items. I’m not sure how long our trek will be, but we don’t have time to waste packing. Pink Crush, you pair up with Flutterspy and bring up the rear. Make sure we’re not being followed. If you see any trouble, let Flutterspy handle it. No one gets separated. Got it?”

The other five nodded. With that, Sparkle Sprint began walking toward the edge of town and the beginning of the Everfree Forest.

They were barely ten minutes in and already Sparkle Sprint felt as if she was in a different world. Everything around here was so unfamiliar and troubling. She hoped that they were going the right way. It was dark and humid here.

“Stop!” Rainbow Joy bellowed. The others didn’t move a hoof. The mare looked this way and that before settling directly on the path. “We’re going in circles.”

“Oh, so that was you leaving your magic behind?” Apple Laurel asked.

“Yes, I was leaving a bread trail, if you will,” Joy explained. “However, we’re going over it for the second time. The first time I didn’t say anything, because, well, it was my fault, I assumed. This time, I went a different way, and we still went on the same path…”

The rainbow unicorn closed her eyes and let out a light purple color emanate from her horn, followed by blue.

“Whoa,” Sparkle Sprint uttered. She saw Joy’s color aura earlier and assumed it was the same magenta as her eyes. “I thought unicorns only had one color, plus corrupted glow.”

Rainbow Joy winked. “Well, I’m a little gifted, you could say. I have multiple colors and multiple skills.” She got serious. “Well, my reports came back. There’s an illusion on this area, plus a few portals.”

“Can you fix them yourself?” Apple Laurel asked.

“Well, the portals are easy to shut down. They’re fragile—I’m surprised they haven’t collapsed on us. The illusion is pretty strong, though.”

Apple Laurel nodded, moving to the other unicorn. Joy siphoned some magic from Laurel. After a minute, the beautiful but mysterious forest melted from dark, exotic colors to dull greens on a canvas of filtered green light.

Joy frowned. “Let’s keep moving.”

“I’m hungry,” Pink Crush miserably whined.

Apple Laurel looked back, smiling. “Don’t worry. Give me a minute. I’ve been storing some food in my horn space, so we should have a good share.” Laurel smiled at Special. “Thank you for your help. Pink will appreciate it.”

Special grinned. “Anything for my buddies.”

The six sat down, Flutterspy least comfortable to be resting. Special and Laurel had gathered some berries and wild grass. It was a basic, but good meal.

Soon, however, a horrendous sound came.

“Give me…” hissed the voice.

The girl stood, facing the bushes.

“Give me,” it roared, burst out. It was a river horse, horrible and wet looking. Its gaping mouth snapped at Pink Crush, who took to the air. Sparkle Sprint crashed down onto its great head, but was flung aside by the river horse’s massive tail. Flutterspy hung back, analyzing and considering bring out her water blade.

“Wait!” Laurel called out. She approached the river horse, who growled loudly as she drew near.

“What are you doing?!” Rainbow Joy hissed.

Laurel opened a portal to her horn space, dumping all the many things she had in there. She slowly levitated all the food items together. “I know it isn’t much, but I want to give you anything I have if you’re really this hungry.”

The river horse blinked. “Oh…” It sniffed, grinning at the many apples the mare had stored.

“You had apples?!” Sparkle Sprint hissed.

“You can’t eat just apples, they’ll give you diarrhea,” the orange mare responded. “River horses can eat them because it’s hardly a meal to them.”

The great beast swallowed. “Thank you,” it responded. “Follow me.” It began walking away; back down the trodden path it had cleared. The six hung back, unsure. Then, Laurel led them. The river horse waited by a huge river. “You going to castle, yes? Long time since ponies come. Mama say ponies nice can cross river. Mean pony come and hurt me. Make back hot-hot like desert land. You nice and generous, though.”

Pink Crush raised a brow. “She burned you?”

The river horse nodded. “Would carry, but back hurt.”

Pink Crush frowned. She flew over to the river before dropping down onto her side and rolling in the mud. She covered her long, silky mane and tail in mud, and then flew carefully to the river horse. Before anyone could protest, she carefully wiped the mud over the river horse’s back. The cool, thick mud took away some of the sting and protected the exposed creature’s back from the open air over the river.

“Mm, feel good. You kind, pony,” the river horse said. The beast slid into the river, which was wide to swim and too wide for the pegasus ponies to ferry the others across. It lifted its tail. The six grinned, hoping on. The river horse swam them across.

“Thank you!” Pink and Laurel called out as they left. The rest of the journey would be hard, but it warmed their hearts to help someone.

“There’s a cave coming up,” Rainbow warned. “Stick together. I heard there are vampire bats in there, so I can’t use my lights.”

Sparkle begrudgingly walked, unhappy to not use her wings. She walked along until five minutes turned into thirty. “Girls?” Sparkle asked the never ending darkness. She couldn’t even see her wings beside her. “Girls?”

Something hissed overhead.

“A--!” Sparkle’s scream was cut short by a hoof over her mouth.

“Don’t.” It was Flutterspy.

“I… thought.” The pegasus began to cry.

Flutterspy pressed against Sparkle. “Everyone got lost. I came out on the other side and realized no one else made it. You’re the last left in here.” She carefully steered Sparkle around a pit.

“You came back for me?” Sparkle Sprint sniffed.

Flutterspy nudged the mare away from a bit of poisonous moss that the pegasus couldn’t sense. Flutterspy was glad her connection with the ground let her sense where she was going even in the dark. “I told you, I’ll be where I’m needed.”

As they approached the light outside, Flutterspy separated from Sparkle. “You’re all stupid,” the earth pony grumped.

The other five grinned. Despite her harsh exterior, Flutterspy was a big softie.

The sun was starting to become unbearable. A crystal maze surrounded them, reflecting the intense heat onto the six.

A whispering voice sang to each of them. “Look at you… I can see why such shameful looking creatures like you would hide in the night.”

The six looked to each other. “Was that…?” Sparkle asked.

“Hm, yes. It was me. The loveliest of them all. You ugly things dare approach me?” Intense yellow eyes appeared in the largest crystal near them. “Have you really looked at yourselves?

“I mean, Rainbow Joy, honestly. All that color? And you curl your hair? You look like some school filly barfed during an art project.”

Rainbow Joy obviously took it personally as she started to tear up. She looked at the distorted, cartoonish caricature that Super Nova produced on the crystal.

“Hmph! Apple Laurel! You’re just a farm pony. Who do you think you are, wearing all that jewelry and sporting that look! You’re a skinny thing, you are!”

Apple Laurel turned away.

“Your cousins are right. Even if a little twig like you could attract a stallion, you’d have a miscarriage with any foals.”

That was a low blow. Laurel looked toward the skinny, skeleton of a mare on the screen, surrounded by gravestones.

“Oh, as if I need to go over you, Pink Crush. You try to keep heart, but you know how stupidly pink you are. You’re all beauty and no brains. You’ve only got Ponet because he appreciates looks. You’re just an art subject to him. Why do you think everyone comes to you for relationship advice? It’s all you’re good for, you empty headed twit!”

Pink watched the screen transform into a tramp of a mare. The look her imagined-self gave was enough to make Pegasus blush. She hid her face behind her bang.

“Flutterspy… Oh, you know you’re ugly. You know no one would accept those scars you hide, your bulky body, your boyish hair.”

Flutterspy stared at the ground, not a word said.

“And, you, Sparkle Sprint. You’ve never really been complimented, have you? You always pump yourself up and act cocky, but you’re covering for insecurity.”

“Shut up!” Sparkle hissed.

“Why do you have so many broken mirrors?” the red demon asked, showing a picture of a Sparkle Sprint surrounded by broken mirrors and dressed up like a clown.

The crystals went blank. “Oh, and you, Special. You can’t even wear your real hair in public. You tame it and put on fake eye lashes, gussy yourself up, and for what? You won’t let anyone close because you know they won’t accept you. You know you’re not worth anyone’s love.” The mare cackled.

Special furrowed her brows. “That’s not true.”

“Hm?”

“I said, that’s not true. We may not be the prettiest ponies, but we’re certainly worthy of love. Our bodies may not belong on magazines, but we’re all successful and we all take good care of ourselves. Anyone who is looking for a glamour-spelled beauty rather than a strong, independent and proud mare doesn’t need to be close to us.” Special raised a hoof, removing her false eye lashes. She threw them down, and then began unbraiding her mane and tail. It was fluffy and curly. “Yes, my hair is not wavy or straight—it’s downright nappy. And, you know what? If anyone can’t accept that, then I can’t make them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all. And, that is the honest truth.”

The crystal eyes narrowed and a growl erupted.

“I feel like maybe no one has been honest with you in a while, Super Nova…”

The crystals melted down.

The five ponies looked to Special, who grinned. “Well, let’s get going.”

“We finally made it,” Rainbow Joy sighed.

“Yay!” Pink Crush yipped.

“Don’t get too excited,” Sparkle Sprint warned, flying ahead into the hall. In the center of the room were six stones. She settled down, looking at them. “Hey, Rainbow Joy, come here.”

Flutterspy climbed to the tower over the hall, acting as look out. Laurel helped Special get her mane and tail manageable. Pink Crush busied herself by singing little songs.

Suddenly, a bright white light appeared in the circle of stones, blinding Rainbow Joy for a moment as she was also inside the circle.

“Rainbow!” Sparkle screamed, pushing the unicorn mare out of the way only for the white flame to envelope the pegasus and the six stones.

“Sparkle!” Joy screamed. The five quickly gathered. “Oh, no!”

Sparkle skid into the new room on her back. Super Nova stood in the circle of stones, grinning like a devil.

“I’m alive!” Sparkle exclaimed as she got up.

Super Nova spared the pegasus a look. “Shut up while I work.”

Sparkle obeyed for the moment. She was torn on what to do. She should go find her friends for back up, but she also had to keep an eye on Super Nova.

Wait.

Friends, six stones, Rainbow Joy’s research.

A wispy laugh began to bubble from Sparkle Spring’s throat. It exploded into full blow laughter, then into breath stealing belly laughs.

“What’s so funny?!” Super Nova barked.

“You think you’re going to win!” Sparkle barely got out between her chuckles,” but the awful truth is that you've lost!”

Super Nova gritted her teeth. “Hardly! I have the Elements of Harmony!”

“Phfft!” Sparkle retorted. “Yeah, yeah, you did! Still do, kinda!”

The Pegasus unicorn screamed in frustration, summoning intense heat that melted the stones and some of the floor around her. Sparkle Sprint flew back, still laughing.

“You—you just don’t get it!” she said, laughing all the while. Hoofsteps reached the pegasus’s ears. “But, you will.” As the five entered, Sparkle flew over to them. “Hey,” she began, fighting back laughter, “you remember your research on the Rainbow of Light?”

“… no,” Rainbow Joy uttered, realization hitting her face. “Us?”

“Yep,” Sparkle retorted.

“Will… will you do the honors?”

“Gladly,” Sparkle said.

Super Nova seemed to be catching on, as she stepped back. “No…”

“We are the Elements of Harmony. Able to connect and understand life and its functions is the Element of Magic—Rainbow Joy!”

Rainbow Joy felt herself being lifted into the air, red light circling her.

“Giving and sympathetic is the Element of Generosity—Apple Laurel!”

The farmer joined Joy in the air, a halo of orange around her.

“This is the Element which sees a need and tends to it; the Element of Kindness and its bearer, Pink Crush!”

Pink giggled as she was lifted up and wrapped in yellow light.

“When all would turn away and forsake, the Element of Loyalty would not let Flutterspy abandon us!”

Flutterspy tried to hide how pleased she was when green light lifted her to join her friends.

“Sometimes, the facts are better than opinions. This is the philosophy of the Element of Honesty and its bearer, Special!”

The spa pony grinned ever so slightly as blue light surrounded her and joined the forming rainbow.

“And, me? Oh, you know—just the Element of Laughter.” Sparkle didn’t even bother to hide her mirthful chuckle as purple light caused her to join her friends. They joined hooves as their lights began blending and bleeding into white light. It was even brighter than the intensity of Super Nova’s entrances, but not painful in the least.

“No!” Super Nova screamed as the Rainbow of Light ripped around the room before slamming into her dark red form. “NO!”

Sparkle Sprint was the first to awake. She shakily stood, tossing her head to clear the stars from her eyes. Wait, no, those were stars outside. They did it! Hm, was her neck heavier than before? The mare looked down, seeing a silver torc with a pink jewel shaped like her cutie mark embedded in it. She saw her friends rousing, each of them sporting a similar torc, except Rainbow Joy, who had a silver tiara.

“My little ponies,” called a ghostly voice. Moonlight concentrated and then solidified into Celestia. Her milky white form and galaxy-colored mane were a huge comfort to Sparkle Sprint, who wasted no time slamming into her mentor for a hug.

“I thought--!”

“Sh,” Celestia smoothed. “You did so well.”

“I wasn’t just me,” Sparkle Sprint said. The other five blushingly approached, bowing to their princess.

A moan was heard in the far corner of the room. A dusty red form stood up, shaking her pink mane. “What…?”

Sparkle Sprint let go of Celestia as the princess walked toward the small pegasus unicorn.

“Sister,” the moon-princess began.

The six looked at each other. They assumed the legends were saying that was how well the two got along, not that they were actually sisters when it spoke of their relationship.

“It had been a thousand years. Are you ready to let go of your corrupted ideas?”

The red mare cried out, leaping into the waiting forelegs of Celestia. “I’m so sorry!”

Celestia hugged the red body close. “Oh, Sola…”

Pink Crush began crying. “This is so happy!”

Laurel looked to Sparkle Sprint. “We should throw our returned Princess of the Day a party, shouldn’t we?”

After turning in their Elements to Princess Celestia, the bearers turned the Midwinter Moon Merriment festival into a welcome home party for Sola, though most ponies were still a little frightened of her at the very least.

The whole thing was different than what the ponies had expected. The ground was covered in sparkling ice from where the snow had melted and then refrozen. They spent the day skating, an activity that Sola wasn’t the best at.

However, as noon drew near, it was obvious both princesses were tired. The royal chariot approached.

“Last round, Sola,” Celestia warned.

The red princess nodded. She twirled on the ice, giving it a big finish. The ponies that were watching hesitantly cheered, throwing the blue and white roses they had been reserving for Celestia to her younger sister. Sola bowed deeply, catching one rose before joining Celestia in the chariot.

Celestia looked over to Sparkle and Spike. “You can ride back with us, if you want.”

Sparkle hesitated, looking over to her newly acquired friends. “Ah, actually, Princess…”

Celestia caught on. “Hm, yes, I forgot about why I sent you to Ponyville, didn’t I?” Celestia turned to the five circling around Sparkle and Spike. “I declare that Sparkle Sprint and Spike the dragon shall stay in Ponyville. As my favorite pupil, she will write to me on friendship and other relationships.” The goddess winked.

“Favorite pupil?!” Sparkle Sprint exclaimed. “YES YES YES YES YES YES!” the pegasus yelled, taking off into the air. A sparkling sonic screech formed after her, causing everyone’s tails and manes to billow in the wake caused by her. A shower of sparkles and glitter dusted everything as the princesses took off and Sparkle landed.

Spike nudged Sparkle. “This means you have to read more.”

“Aw, nuts,” Sparkle grunted, only to be pulled into a group hug with her five new friends. “Oh, who cares?! It’ll be worth it to have rad friends like you guys!”

Formula for Friendship

It was a lovely day in Ponyville. Rainbow Joy strolled through town, planning on meeting with Sparkle Sprint to tutor the pegasus on some theoretical flight technicalities.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” the rainbow mare accidentally overheard Bonbon saying.

“I just can’t believe it! A griffon, in our little town!” Golden Harvest cooed back.

Bonbon giggled. Rainbow Dash tried to rush on, not wanting to hear what came next. “Yes! She looked like a little queen! She looked part green peahen, part cheetah, I think!”

That was all it took to get Rainbow Joy running for her life.

“SPARKLE SPRINT, OPEN UP! OPEN, OPEN, OPEN!” the unicorn screamed, slamming her hooves on the door.

Spike opened the door, narrowly avoiding getting punched. “Whoa, what’s wrong with you?”

Rainbow Joy pushed Spike into the villa, slamming the door after her. The unicorn check the windows, panting heavily. After seeing that she was not followed, she calmed down. “Oh, thank goodness…”

“Spike, who was that?” Sparkle Sprint asked, coming down the hallway. “Oh, hey, Joy. What’s up?”

“Nothing much, I was just—“

“Joy?” came a feminine, high class voice. Rainbow stood stock still as the silhouette gave way to the form she had been so vigorously avoiding. “Oh, there you are.” The griffon stretched her black and green wings, look if disgust in her predatory eyes. However, it gave way to approval as memories came flooding back. “I forgive you.”

“You, what, huh?” Rainbow asked.

Sparkle looked on in confusion.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I do. I heard about you saving everyone from Super Nova with our research and decided it was time to forgive and forget. I tracked down Sparkle Sprint here and that led me to you.” The cheetah-griffon walked over to the unicorn. “We can start working together again now.”

The unicorn backed up, not entirely trusting of her old friend. “Well, Lidga, if you say so…” Rainbow Joy looked over to Sparkle. “I’m sorry, Sparkle. Is it alright if we catch up later? I want to show Lidga around.”

“Sure,” Sparkle responded. “If you two both want to tutor me on the theory of wing razors, just bust in, alright?!” Obviously, Sparkle was a fan of their take on fighting mechanics.

“Will do,” Lidga cooed before ushering Rainbow Joy out of the villa.

As they walked away, Rainbow Joy sighed. She couldn’t believe this would be this easy. They had separated on such poor terms. Now, Lidga was taking her back with open arms? Something seemed a little fishy, but a friend was a fight, right?

“Uh, I can’t believe that twit is a student of Princess Celestia,” Lidga said, her posh accent making her seem more snobby than usual. “She didn’t even properly understand our theory, you know. Spectral magic is so simple!”

“Uh… right,” Rainbow Joy noted. “I mean, she’s—a fight, you know? Besides, it was simple to us, but to everyone else…”

“Right, a breakthrough,” the griffon noted. “Say, let’s go somewhere, just you and me! I want to see your house! Are you still as into old school Pegasian decorations as you once were?”

“Yep,” the unicorn agreed, tossing her curls a bit. “I finally acquired a genuine vase from the period just after Caticruela!”

“No! I would have thought none survived; he kind of caused more than one cloud city to fall to the ground,” Lidga noted.

The unicorn nodded. “Oh, we’re here. You still like Haycian tea, right?”

The griffon shook her head as she entered the simplistic, but high standard home. “I’m just drinking water now; better for my digestion.”

“Oh, did you have another episode?”

The griffon nodded.

As Rainbow Joy went to go fetch their drinks, she felt herself easing back into the normalcy of all of this. Perhaps Lidga would help Joy figure out the Elements of Harmony now that the unicorn knew the Rainbow of Light could be accessed by them.

Sparkle Sprint walked through town, pep in her step. She got off the hook for studying today, and Lidga was in town! How lucky was she?

“Good morning, Sparkle Sprint,” called Laurel.

Sparkle stopped, looking at her friend in the store the Apple clan owned in town. It was small, more of a permanent stall really, but it was well constructed and classy looking. “Hi, Apple Laurel! What’s up?”

“Oh, manning the station today. Big Macintosh is handling the trees that won’t respond to my magic and Applebloom is in school.” The orange mare realized that Sparkle Sprint usually wasn’t out this time of day. “Did you finish your lesson early this time?”

“Naw. Joy’s old colleague, Lidga the griffon, is in town so she was busy today.” The pegasus spread her wings. “Aw, man, maybe they’ll talk about my sonic sparkling screech, and then they’ll figure out how to get me faster! Maybe I’ll be able to perform the flickering flashstep, or—or maybe, the sonic rainboom!” The pegasus giddily giggled.

Laurel shook her head. “No, this is terrible!”

“Really?” Sparkle asked.

“Ugh, oh no. Sparkle!” the heiress demanded. “I need you to do me a huge favor!”

The purple mare nodded, landing as the gravity of the situation hit her.

“I am go check on Rainbow Joy; however, I need you to watch my store until I get back, okay?”

“It’s a stall, but—“

“OKAY!?”

“Yes, sheesh!” the student of Celestia retorted, slinking behind the counter as Apple Laurel exited the store. “Gosh, what’s the problem?”

“It’s a good thing I came back,” Lidga muttered, taking another swig of water as the duo worked on figuring out the connection between the Elements of Harmony and the Rainbow of Light. “You always depended on me. Look, you haven’t even gotten any new work done, have you?”

“I… uh, I suppose you’re right,” Rainbow Joy noted, slinking behind her mane.

A knock came on the door.

“Who could that be?” Lidga asked, her feathers ruffling a bit.

Rainbow went to the door, opening it. “Apple Laurel? What are you—I mean, good morning.”

The orange mare looked over to the griffon. “You.” She walked over, green eyes blazing. “I cannot forgive you for what you did to Rainbow Joy! It is most dishonorable and disgusting!”

“Apple Laurel!” Rainbow Joy reprimanded.

Lidga stood up, growling a bit. Her tail twitched, wings extended threateningly.

“No, Joy! I will not allow her to get close to you again! When you came to Ponyville, you were as weak as a baby deer because of her!” The unicorn heiress lowered her head a bit, an obvious threat. “I will not allow it to happen again!”

Lidga unsheathed her claws. “Is that a challenge?”

“It is not an invitation to tea.”

“Very well,” the griffon responded. “At six o’clock, we shall duel.”

“Good. I’ll contact the mayor to act as witness.” Laurel began leaving. “If I win, you must leave.”

“If I win,” Lidga finished, “you ponies must stop corrupting this perfectly useful mind with your silly feelings.”

“They are not silly feelings,” Joy said as Laurel shut the door. “They’re the keys to the Rainbow of Light.”

“Hardly!” Lidga growled. “Laughter is an action. Kindness is a philosophy. Generosity is an action. Honesty is a thing which is factual. Loyalty is a personality trait. And, you of all ponies, should know that magic is all head knowledge!” The griffon made for the door. “When this is over, you and I will go to Grevylin for a year of meditation among the zebras! Maybe I can fix the damage done by these ponies!”

“But…” Joy noted as the door shut. “I… am a pony.” She looked to the tea and water left on the table. She levitated them into the kitchen with her.

“—and then they both left,” Joy sniffed out.

Special rubbed Joy’s back, long soothing strokes. The frizzy haired earth pony wasn’t sure what to say. “Apple Laurel was wrong for barging into things that were not her business,” she hesitantly noted. “However, Lidga sounds as if she’s manipulating you.”

“Hm?” Joy asked.

“You know, manipulation?” Special tentatively asked.

“I’ve never been changed,” the unicorn noted.

“No, no, no, like, emotionally. Does Lidga ever make you think your opinion is wrong? Does she make you feel like you should rely on her?”

“Yes, sometimes,” the unicorn sniffed.

The earth pony nodded. “Very well. That’s manipulation.”

Rainbow sighed as the massage finished. She hoped off the table, feeling soothed. “I’ll be back tomorrow to pick up my tab,” she promised.

“Mm, no, this one is on me,” the white mare responded. “However, you can pay be back by taking charge. You’re not a child who needs someone to look out for you. Show Lidga that. Apple Laurel, too. She’s doing it out of the generosity of her heart, but she can’t tell when she’s doing things that people don’t explicitly want.” Special wouldn’t flat out call Laurel bossy, but she was hinting at it pretty well.

Joy laughed. “Okay!” The clock tower ran. “Five o’clock… I better see if I can defuse the situation.”

“Sorry, Rainbow Joy,” Big Macintosh stated, “but Apple Laurel isn’t seeing anyone right now.”

The unicorn snorted in frustration. She hadn’t been able to find Lidga. “Aw, horseapples.” The blue mare left, trying to think of a way to disrupt this before her two friends tore each other apart.

Apple Laurel walked into the center of town, wearing the blue jean vest her father had always worn to his battles. On her hat was a hat she had always left on a high shelf. Big Macintosh walked on one side of her, carrying in his muzzle a wooden box. Applebloom was on the other side, carrying a branch of young apple blossoms.

Coming into the center of town also was Lidga. She flew slowly and carefully. Her wings looked particularly glossy and her spots were as dark as death. She wore traditional fighting fetters of the griffons.

The mayor stood on the porch of town hall. Several ponies waited on the edge of the circular heart of town, watching in anticipation.

“Citizens of Ponyville! We wash our hands of the blood which might be shed between Apple Laurel and Lidga. May their battle be the end of their quarrel!” As ceremony dictated, the ponies of the town stomped their hooves in agreement.

Apple Laurel watched as Lidga approached. Laurel wielded three apple seeds, the things which had been inside the box. Applebloom stood between the two as they glared. Once she dropped the apple branch, the filly ran away from the two which had begun to battle.

Apple Laurel used the apple seeds as razor blades; they cut quickly through some of the flight feathers of Lidga. Lidga scratched out at Apple Laurel, leaving a trail of blood on her right foreleg. The griffon retreated, away a close range fight might blind her. Apple Laurel hunkered down, prepared for gusts of wind.

The orange heiress was not disappointed. The griffon summoned all her strength, sending down a torrent of intensely cold wind. It backfired on her, though, as Laurel used the now frozen seeds to embed themselves into the fetters of the griffon. Lidga felt the seeds digging closer to her flesh. She spotted a cloud, rushing to and whipping it into frenzy. She could feel the lightning beginning to collect…

“Stop!” shouted Joy, parting the crowd.

Lidga paused in her storm making, grateful to see the apple seeds retreat from her armor. Laurel looked to Joy, confusion clear.

“I… appreciate your effort, but I do not need or want it.” The unicorn stood in the cleared center square, expression somber. “I am a grown mare. I understand that sometimes I need others to point things out to me, but no one is my master save our Princess herself!”

“… themselves…” Special quietly corrected from the crowd. No one was paying attention and therefore no one heard her.

Lidga lowered herself to the ground, realizing the reasoning behind these words. Laurel drew close, too, embarrassed.

“You two are my friends—“ Joy began.

“Friends?” Lidga asked.

“Um, yes, I’m Laurel’s friend, too, Lidga. You can be friends with her, too—“

“Hardly,” the griffon gruffly grouched. “You are an assistant at best, to me, and at worst, a pet. I was claiming my ownership over you. I stopped because I was amused that you thought you were even with me.”

“But,” Joy interrupted.

“No,” the griffon said. “I was going to help you improve your knowledge, but if you’re going to be distracted by these silly pony concepts of non-blood or work relations, then I’ll have to bid you goodbye.” With that, the peahen-cheetah took off. “You win, Apple Laurel.”

The orange unicorn’s jaw dropped. She wielded the apple seeds dangerously again. “Why that little--!”

Rainbow Joy put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Let her go.” Joy looked sadly after the griffon she had considered a friend; pity the feeling was one way. “Some people just refuse to let warmth into their hearts.”

The sun was beginning to set. The market had cleared out about an hour ago.

Sparkle Sprint had tears running down her face. “Spike? Pink Crush? Anyone?” She laid her face down on the counter. “Isn’t anyone coming to tell me I can go home?”

The street lights turned on and the final shop keepers locked up.

“I’M SO ALONE!”

Cutie Mark Cruelty

Applebloom suddenly wished that the earth pony Scootaloo had not spoken. Sure, Applebloom may believe it—one always believes the most convenient truths—but there was no need to say it so loud!

The room was deathly quiet. Sweetie Belle’s always crystalline voice squeaked in slight fear. The unicorn filly bowed her head in shame. Her peers… what would they think?

“Do you really think we peaked too soon, Scootaloo?” Diamond Tiara asked, stepping forward. Her face was hard. “Applebloom, surely you know better. Sweetie Belle, doesn’t your sister teach acceptance and openness?” Silence answered the pink filly. She stomped a hoof in frustration, tearing up. “How would you three, you three who can pick and choose everything, even begin to understand things like this?!” Tears openly flowed down her cheeks. “You have every freedom, so don’t talk to me about selecting the easiest choice and—and being stuck!” The filly’s mouth held a bit of foam. She was enraged. “You have never been stuck in your lives!”

Applebloom cowered back a bit, whimpering. Yes, she knew her complaints were childish. Her sister Apple Laurel had told the yellow filly more than once to watch her brash little tongue. Scootaloo was a true friend, sharing that monstrous trait.

Silver Spoon recovered, putting a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s shoulder. The pink filly brushed it off.

Pink Crush looked down at the three fillies, then two the brooding Apple Laurel. “Um, maybe they should…?”

Apple Laurel nodded. “Applebloom, go home. I’ll talk to you later. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, I doubt your parents want to know what happened here from me, so you have an hour to go tell them before I do.” The steely green eyes of the heiress arrested the trio of fillies. Two backed away, but stubborn as her clan, Applebloom remained.

“But—“

“Go!” Diamond Tiara this time shouted. She crumpled into a teary mess. Silver Spoon comforted her. The various party guests—once loyal followers of Applebloom—hesitated before joining Spoon in comforting the devastated celebration child.

Applebloom exited Sugar Cube Corner, face red in shame.

The yellow filly stood before her sister and brother. Granny Smith had long left to go smooth things over with the offended Riches. While the Riches were fairly new money and therefore not quite yet a clan, they were extremely close with the Supports, most of whom lived in Canterlot. The fact that Silver Spoon lived with Diamond Tiara as a sort of promise child between the two houses was evidence enough.

“I cannot believe what you have done,” Apple Laurel hissed. The farming unicorn whinnied in frustration. “All of the foals in town saw that! They told their parents! They’ll remember that, Applebloom! They will always remember! What will you do when you’re an adult, hopefully having gotten your cutie mark, and they look at you and say, ‘There goes that pony who broke the heart of a filly on the day she celebrated entering adulthood’ ?!”

Big Macintosh stood, placing a hoof on his quivering sister. Unicorns were almost always smaller than earth ponies; Big Macintosh was huge for an earth pony, even. Their combined stature served to amuse when one considered the true power roles. “You can’t banish your sister.”

“We could send her to our Manehatten branch clan,” the heiress bitterly noted. “I’m certain Babs Seed, who has actually been persecuted for her lack of cutie mark, would appreciate your uppity attitude.”

“Ah don’t wanna go anywhere!” Applebloom shouted, accidentally slipping into the accents of the less learned relatives who shared the farm here.

“Perhaps if I send you away, you’ll learn to speak correctly as well!” the orange mare threatened.

“Please, Apple Laurel, please…”

Just then, luckily for Applebloom, Apple Fritter walked in, escorting Rock ‘n Roller, mother of Scootaloo. She owned the local skating rink. Her filly slinked by her side.

“Apple Laurel, if you would consider it proper, what punishment are you serving Applebloom? I’ve informed Scootaloo that since she thinks it so proper to let another pony think for her, then that pony should set her sentence.”

Apple Laurel wanted to bite something. Well, there went her exile plan. She turned her back to Roller, thinking. A brilliant idea hit her. She smilingly turned back. “I think I’ve got an idea. Will you leave Scootaloo here with Big Macintosh? I’ve got to go find Victory Belle so I can ask him what he thinks of my plan…”

Roller nodded. She glared down at her foal. “Scootaloo… oh, you’ve gotten yourself and me into a heap of trouble, young filly!”

About an hour later, Apple Laurel returned with Sweetie Belle. The pegasus filly sported a tanned hide. The heiress made sure all three fillies were present. Granny Smith had since returned, but had retired early with the help of Red Gala.

“Here is your punishment,” the orange mare began. “You are to try a different activity from this day forward until you get your cutie mark. You are to report directly to Rainbow Joy on your progress; I know she has enough knowledge on activities to be able to tell what you’re making up and what you’re not. This will be profitable for everyone. You will learn that a cutie mark is not just a sign of fate, but the symbol of a pony who has done enough soul searching to discover where their best place in life is and what they should do from here on out. You will also help with Rainbow Joy’s extensive research. There’s very little work out on the exact process of cutie mark acquisition.”

Applebloom’s face fell. Chores, social exercises, school work, and this?! She would never have any free time again. All the work she had done into building a name for herself was ruined and now she doubted she would have time to work on it ever again.

Scootaloo only nodded passively. She wasn’t missing much, though she feared that as time wore on she would grow desperate for the freedom her little scooter provided.

Sweetie Belle was the most upset. She normally spent the afternoons learning her sister’s trade. She doubted Special would let them in her shop during their punishment. It could be years before Sweetie Belle actually worked at Carousel Spa again!

“Dismissed,” the heiress nickered. “Big Macintosh, please see that Stem escorts our guests home safely.”

“Eeyup,” the red stallion muttered, turning to herd the two non-Apples away.

Applebloom slowly climbed the stairs that led to her room. Winona didn’t even lift her head from her basket to note the yellow filly’s passing.