Twelve

Twilight opened her eyes. Not the rays of the sun though, nor the her nearly perfect biological clock. No, what woke her up was a smell. A very intense smell. A very raw, powerful smell. She had only smelt it once when she and the princess had visited a griffin city. It had been in a restaurant.

"Oh no." she said as she bolted out of bed and ran down the stairs. Leo and Capricorn were eating on their beds. Rarity would have a fit if she saw that. That oily substance that dripped from the cooked fish. It would stain the beds for years.

"Fish..." she murmured.

"Good morning Twilight. There was no fish around, so I went and hunt one myself." Leo explained.

"I have to say, this is a very tasty fish." Capricorn said. Twilight had to mentally buck herself back to reality when she heard that Capricorn was male.

"You, the fish, how....where did you get it?"

"There was a few fish in fountain of water not far from here. I saw a few of them swimming so I took one out." she answered. A fountain of water. He probably meant the town square, that was filled with carps. Mayor Mare's carps. As on cue, a short but loud, horrible scream was heard.

"Pray do tell, what was that?" Capricorn asked calmly. Twilight could swear there was hint of amusement in his voice. It wasn't long before the door banged. Somepony was behind it. Somepony who would rip Twilight to shreds if she said the wrong thing. Mayor Mare was known for two things: Her unquestionable loyalty to her duty and her absolute love of carps, which she treated like royalty. Twilight shakily opened the door.

"Why, Mayor Mare! What a, eh, unexpected surprise! I wasn't aware you would be visiting!" Twilight said with the best poker face she had.

"Where. Is. She."

"Uh, where is who?" Twilight asked, a single drop of sweat running down her head.

"Where?"

Twilight would have passed out if not for the eldritch stare she was getting from the monster that called itself Mayor Mare. A single cling was heard. Leo had placed her plate on the table. A few crumbs were left.

"You monster!"

"Pardon?" Leo questioned, not sure what was happening.

"You misbegotten abomination! You knife teethed monstrosity!" Mayor Mare shouted as she walked up to Leo, who flinched a little.

"I should banish you from Ponyville!, I should have you arrested for murder! I should-" the rest of the insults are too graphic to be put on words. Needless to say, Twilight went from purple, to pink, to white as she saw the mayor tore into Leo. Meanwhile, Capricorn sat on his bed, an amused grin on his face. After a few more seconds of swearing, he decided to step in.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow this to continue."

"Who they hay are you?!" the mayor questioned.

"My name is Saturn, and I am the older brother of this poor girl." He said as he pointed a hoof at Leo.

"Poor...girl?" Leo repeated.

"Poor girl?! She ate my fish!"

"Yes. The poor thing. She can barely go to the bathroom on her own!" Capricorn said as he hugged the infuriated Leo, who vainly attempted to break free from the hugs of her brother.

"You see, she was born with some issues, she can't control herself. Like a little kitty. She needs to make a mess." Capricorn explained, somewhat calming Mayor Mare.

"But what about my carp?" she complained.

"Oh, I am sure you can come to an arrangement with dear old Twilight Sparkle there."

"Excuse me?!" Twilight exclaimed. Mayor Mare stared at Twilight, then at Leo and finally and Capricorn.

"Alright. I will let it go. But keep her under watch and away fro my carps!" Mayor Mare ordered.

"I swear, she will not even consider going near of them." Capricorn swore. Satisfied, Mayor Mare left the library, giving Twilight the evil eye on her way out. After slamming the door shut, Twilight slid to the floor, feeling like if she had survived a buffalo stampede. Leo was shouting something to Capricorn, who calmly helped himself to some bread.

"Where...where is Spike?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"The dragon locked himself in the bathroom as soon as he woke up." Capricorn answered, still ignoring his furious sister.

Twilight walked up the stairs. Indeed, the bathroom was lock from the inside.

"Come on Spike, I could really use a cold shower..." Twilight mumbled.

"Not until the he-she leaves! I will not abandon my safe haven until the he-she leaves!"

Twilight sighed. This was going to be a long morning.

Meanwhile, far from there, near the entrance to the feared Everfree forest, was a cottage. There lived a pegasus. It wasn't a dirty, smelly cottage, nor an old, run down castle. It was a pony cottage, and that means comfort.

At least until Aries and Scorpio woke up. Then, all tartarus broke lose in the cottage. Again.

"Foul beats, don't you dare try to scratch me again!" Scorpio roared as she swished her tail defensively, her sting ready to attack. She was surrounded by a dog, an elk and Mr.Bear, who still had some bandages from his earlier tumble with Leo. Aries cheered from the window, edging her sister on. Poor Fluttershy flew around, trying once again to end the conflict.

Let's backtrack a little.

Aries, Fluttershy and Scorpio sat at the table, ready to eat breakfast. This time, Flutteshy asked before hand if they were meat-eaters. To her pleasure, both of them were not. Fluttershy trusted them as soon as they said that. Her animals however, did not. Who could blame them though.

"Here you are. A good healthy salad." Fluttershy said as she placed the plates in front of them. Aries started immediately. Scorpio however, remained skeptical. She eyed the salad. Nothing seemed wrong with it, but you could never be too sure.

"There is nothing wrong with. I promise you'll like it." Fluttershy said softly.

"She's right Scorpio. This is delicious!" Aries said, his mouth filled to the brim. Scorpio hesitated for a few seconds before eating a leaf. She chewed, slowly but surely, and swallowed. And her mind exploded. It wasn't good at all, or delicious.

It was perfect!

She started eating freely. Any mistrust disappeared with each bit. Her tail twitched with pleasure. Another bite, another twitch. Suddenly, she bit her tongue. Hard. The pain, combined with the sauce, sent a wave through her body, culminating in her shooting up from the pain, her sting pinching Mr.Bear's leg, making him swat a bird cage by accident, making the birds fly in fright through the room, making the small critters run in fear, leading to the current situation.

"P-please! Everypony calm down!" Fluttershy said as she tried to calm the birds and critters down. Meanwhile, Scorpio was surrounded. But she would not go down without a fight.

"I can assure you three, you will regret the day you challenged the stinger of the stars!" she said as she whipped her stung to the elk, barely missing by an inch. Mr.Bear tried to grab her, but Scorpio was too fast. She jumped back, dodging the claws, before ramming forward, crashing into the bear and sending them down. She placed the stinger on his throat.

"NO!"

Scorpio turned in anger at the voice, her stinger ready. And stopped. And froze. Eyes. Big. Green. Eyes. She didn't move. She couldn't move. The Eyes. They stared at her. They stared at her very soul! She backed away a little. The Eyes pressed on. She backed some more. The Eyes continued forward. Scorpio stumbled back until she hit the wall, her tail between her legs.

"Wow..." Aries whispered as he saw his tough sister being driven to a wall by a yellow marsh mellow turned pony.

Once Scorpio was frozen against the wall, Fluttershy turned her attention to Mr.Bear. He was knocked out on the floor.

Fluttershy whimpered. This was going to be a long morning.

"Alright apples, let's get to work! Applejack said as Big Mac and Apple Bloom followed her. Except they didn't no steps were heard behind her. Turning around, she found herself along in the orchid.

"What in tarnation?"

Meanwhile, back inside, Big Macintosh stared at Taurus, who stared back. The tension between the two males could be cut with a knife.

"Shouldn't be split them or something?" Apple Bloom asked."

"Do not worry child. Taurus wouldn't harm a fly." Pisces said calmly. Applejack ran back into the house, visibly irritated.

"When Ah' say lets get to work, Ah' mean it!" she said as she entered. But nopony listened to her. And she could understand why. Taurus and Big Macintosh were having a hoof wrestling match on the table, which was visibly on the verge of snapping from the pressure. So far, no side had a clear advantage.

"What are you two doin'?! You'll break the table!"

But the pair ignored her, continuing their battle. Eventually, the table snapped, sending both contestants smashing into each other. Big Mac was immedately knocked out, while Taurus groggily stood up. Both apple sisters stared in amazement and worry, while Pisces simply sipped from her glass of water. The strongest member of the apple family had been knocked out, leaving half the work of the farm without it's worker.

Applejack groaned. This was going to be a long morning.