Chapters "Oh! A picnic with my friends! I can hardly wait!" Fluttershy called happily to Angel. Angel looked at her and then at the clock, bouncing up and down. "Oh...what do you mean? You're going to the clock? You're...jumping on the clock? Oh I understand Angel bunny! We're going to be late! Come on, hop on to my back and let's go!" However Angel, still stood there and hopped over to the fridge. "You're hungry? Of course! I'm supposed to bring the salad to the picnic! Thank you Angel!" Fluttershy snatched up the basket with the salad, and cantered out the door, pausing only long enough to let her pet jump on her back.
"What do you think of this dress? Maybe I should wear my purple tiara...I think it adds just the right effect! Do you like my outfit to the picnic, Opalecense?" Rarity asked as she galloped from one end of the Carasoual Boutique to the other, putting her dress together. Opal meowed, annoyed that her mistress had woken her up from her nap. "Why yes Opal, of course you can come with me! Come, get into your basket." When her cat failed to respond, she gently lifted her up and gingerly placed her in the basket. "Of course I nearly forgot...I made some sandwiches!" Rarity nabbed said sandwiches off her kitchen counter, and trotted out the door, careful not to ruin her dress.
"Checklist, Spike! First of all, make a checklist, then we need some fruits...don't forget the veggies...oh! and I absouletly must grab my Field Guide to Plants...perhaps a microscope to inspect them...and a notebook to write everything down" Twilight muttered, half to herself and half to Spike. After she had got precisesly 21 objects on her list, and each sentence had exactly 12 words, she seemed to snap back to reality, because she asked, as usual, "Got all that Spike?" "Yes Twilight!" "OK... now lets get to it!"
"Yee-haw! C'mon Winnona, let's get this cattle back on track! Mah friends will be disapointed if Ah don't get there on time!" Winnona barked in reply, and as I, they herded the cows onto the right path. "Yeah! Now let's get back to mah farm so we can grab the apples 'n' go!" As soon as they got back to the farm, Applejack grabbed a basket and started bucking the apple trees tirelessly. When she finished, she only took one quick breath before she was on her way to meet her friends, her long blond mane flying behind her.
"This. is. SO EXCITING!! Almost as exciting as the time we were going to the Grand Galloping Gala. Hooray! Except that time I was jumping on a trampoline and this time I'm jumping on a pogo stick! This is going to be so much fun I can hardly wait..." Pinkie Pie trailed off, talking to herself more than to anyone else. Gummy looked at her and blinked twice. "Oh Gummy, you're right! Mr. and Mrs. Cake have a cake for me to take with me to the picnic!" When her pet alligator didn't answer her (who could blame him? he's an animal after all), the bouncy pink mare got impatient and yelled, "Oh, let's go already!"
Soon all the ponies and their pets met in a circle under a giant shady tree, the appointed site of the picnic. Twilight counted them all, and announced, "Rainbow Dash isn't here! Where is she? Did she decide to not come?"
Less than 10 seconds later...
"Look out below!" came a voice from above, and a cyan blur flashed past them and crashed into the tree with a grunt. When the pegasus managed to pull herslf out, she looked around sheepishly. "Sorry guys...new trick..didn't quite go as I planned." "Oh that's fine sugarcube," Applejack calmed her, then muttered under her breath, "She does that all the time."
"Let's get this party started!!!" Pinkie Pie yelled, so loudly that everyone half expected for Twilight to start singing "Love is in Bloom". "It's time for my PARTY CANNON!" the pink mare called and started shooting streamers left and right, but Rarity backed away nervously, screaming "Not the dress, not the hair, not the tiara, NOTHING!" After a while, when everyone was laughing and covered with streamers (even Rarity, who was unwillingly drenched in streamers and balloons by Pinkie), Pinkie announced that she was hungry. "So am I, " Rainbow quickly agreed, "Did anypony bring anything?" Everyone brought something out and they had lunch.
"Mmm...this is the best picnic ever," Fluttershy said quietly. There were murmurs of agreement and then everyone lay in silence for a while, watching the sun set. It certainly was lovely; beautiful rays of gold shining from the scarlet centre. Finally, Applejack excused herself, saying that she needed to finish some chores on her farm. One by one, the other ponies and their pets left, until only Twilight was left.
"Come on, Spike, time for us to be heading home as well. It's getting dark, " the lavender mare whispered sleepily. There was no reply from the baby dragon, and Twilight realized he was already asleep. She giggled softly. He was such an amazing assistant she had forgotten he was only a baby. Nuzzling him gently, the mare picked Spike up and cantered home. The moment she had gotten inside the library, she felt a wave of fatigue. As gently as she could, Twilight levitated Spike into his basket, then turned in. Her last thoughts before falling asleep were that today was a great day, and tomorrow would be the same. She smiled, and fell asleep.
Boy, was she ever wrong.
Chapter 2: Distant Lightning
Chapter 2: Distant Lightning
Twilight galloped as fast as she could, pulling books of the shelves at random while she searched for the flight spell. "Its got to be here somewhere!" she muttered to herself. Just then, Spike came downstairs, yawning. "Whoa Twilight! Isn't the princess coming today? Why are you making such a mess? And so early in the morning. It's only 5." "Well yes, but Fluttershy asked me to make some wings for a bird that broke her wings. You know, as a temporary replacement. But I can't find it anywhere!" Twilight answered. The lavender mare, now on the brink of panicking, cast a finding spell. But instead of the usual purple aura that surrounded her horn, there was nothing. Nothing save for a white spark that lit up briefly and vanished. Twilight tried again and again. The result was the same. When the baby dragon saw fear written all over her face, he asked, "What's the matter, Twilight?" "My magic...it's not working..." the unicorn whimpered in response.
Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light, and Princess Celestia and her little sister appeared. "Princess! What's happened to me? Why can't I cast magic?" Twilight Sparkle couldn't get the words out fast enough. But when she looked up at the princess, there was disapproval radiating from her. "Twilight, I'm afraid you can't be my student anymore. The day a unicorn loses her or his ability to cast a simple finding spell, is the day she loses her potential. I'm sorry, Twilight," Celestia announced angrily and gravely. And with that, she was gone. Twilight stood dumbfounded for a moment. Then she screamed, a scream that could probably been heard in Canterlot, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Twilight woke up, still screaming. Spike immediately leaped out of bed, plugging his ears as he tried to get near to the screeching unicorn. "Twilight! What's wrong?" "YOU SAW! I'M NOT CELESTIA'S STUDENT!" "Err, Twilight, that was a dream, I have no memory of that!!"
Indeed it was a dream. In real life, the sun was shining warmly above Ponyville. The birds were chirping as they flew in the beautiful light. Twilight took a deep, shuddering, breath. Then, she cast a finding spell, and realized, to her immense relief, that it worked. She bounced out of bed, and to her assistant she seemed fine. But inside, Twilight was shaking. I've NEVER had a dream like that. "Come on, Spike, let's get some breakfast and Sugarcube Corners!" she tried to say cheerily. Spike jumped on her back and she galloped out the door.
Now as mentioned before, the sun was shining, but her dream cut off every single ray of sun from her. When they finally arrived, Twilight trotted over to Pinkie, hoping that the bouncy pink mare could give her a smile or two. Pinkie, upon seeing her, said nervously, "H-hi, T-twil-ight." Somehow, Twilight knew that she wasn't the only with a very, very bad nightmare.
Chapter 3: Pinkie's Problem
"Hey Pinkie, Spike and I dropped by to get some breakfast!" Twilight said, a little over cheery. "Oh y-yes, what w-will it b-be?" Pinkie replied, obviously trying to master her own trembling and stammering. Twilight made her order, got Spike an emerald cupcake, and sat down. Even though her own daisy sandwich looked very apptiezing, somehow she wasn't hungry. Taking a few bites, she secretly fed the rest to Gummy, who was staring at her with hungry eyes. "Hey, um, Pinkie? Did you have any, well, strange dreams recently?" "Oh...umm...right...I did." "What was it about Pinkie?" Twilight asked nervously, fearing the answer. There was no response from Pinkie, and her eyes had the thousand mile stare in them.
Pinkie cantered cheerfully out her door. The sun was shining, and Pinkie was so happy she could just sing. So that's exactly what she did. "I'm so happy TODAY!! Hi everypony! I just want you to smile for me! Lalala!!" Suddenly, there came a harsh voice. "Pinkie Pie, this is not the day for singing. Do you have any idea just how annoying you are to everyone? Quiet already. Everyone has had enough of you." Turning around, Pinkie saw Rainbow Dash glowering at her. She shrank away. "I'm-I'm sorry, Rainbow..." Pinkie Pie murmured fearfully. Turning away, she started slowly walking to Sugarcube Corners, her head down. She ran straight into a pony. Looking up, she realized it was Applejack. "Hi Applejack!" Pinkie cried, perking up a little at the sight of one of her friends. Applejack only growled. "Will you watch where you're going for once? I'm fed up of you, and so is everypony else." To Pinkie's horror, there were mutters of agreement. "Yeah, we don't need you in Ponyville, you've become too annoying!" Twilight called, "Why don't you just leave?" "Oh..but...I thought...Ok, I guess I SHOULD just leave." Galloping towards her ex-home, she ran upstairs, packed up, and was out the door in less than 10 seconds, since even Mr. and Mrs. Cake were staring angrily at her. Pinkie sadly trudged up to the air balloon and put her bags in. The moment she had placed 3 hooves in the basket, an attendant untied the rope. They really do hate me..."AND NEVER COME BACK!" came a voice from the crowd. Turning around to look at the place she had called home, Pinkie Pie realized that it was Fluttershy. The air balloon took off slowly, pulling her away from the disapproving crowd.
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash appeared beside her. She hovered for a moment, then shot up onto the top of the balloon. "Oh Dashie, you came after me! Thank you!" Pinkie cried, her hope returning. "No...I haven't. Not for you," a voice snarled above her, "I'm only making you leave faster so none of us will have to look at your stupid face ever again!" And true to her word, Rainbow Dash pulled the balloon, making it go faster and faster until it was above the clouds, and Ponyville was out of sight. "Rainbow Dash...as an ex-friend, can you please just tell all my other ex-ex-ex-friends that I still love them, no matter what? Please?" Pinkie whimpered. Rainbow descended for a second, and announced, with an expression of pure hatred on her face, "Never."
"Pinkie? Pinkie!" Twilight called frantically, trying to wake her friend from her stupor. Slowly, Pinkie Pie shook her head and seemed to come back to her senses. "Pinkie...?" "What is it, Twilight Sparkle? Come to gloat at me? You egghead! Couldn't just leave me alone could you? No, you're too cruel," Pinkamena snarled, her hair lying flat. "Pinkie! Snap out of it! I'm your friend." Suddenly, Pinkie's eyes refocused and she trembled. "Oh, Twilight, I'm so sorry."
"Excuse me!" a voice behind them said. Both ponies awoke and turned to face the newcomer, who turned out to be none other than Rainbow Dash. "AHHH! Why are you here? Haven't you hurt me enough? Go away!" Pinkie Pie suddenly screamed, flew out from behind the counter, and attacked poor Dashie. "Argh! Ooof! Pinkie Pie...what is wrong with you? Ahhh!! Get off--argh--me!!" "Pinkie! That's quite enough!" Twilight yelled, and captured the crazed pony in a cage of purple magic. "Don't interfere, Twilight Sparkle! You have no idea what Ponyville did to me. I hate all of you!" Ignoring Pinkie's(or rather, Pinkamena's) struggles, Twilight closed her eyes and concetrated while her prisoner threw herself against the magic cage repeatedly. After a while, Pinkie calmed down and began to sob. Her hair bounced back up and she became her normal self. "Dashie! What have I done? What have I done..."Pinkie sniffed. Twilight released her, and Pinkie ran off. Starting after her, Twilight was stopped by a cyan hoof. "Umm..Twi?" "I'm fine," Twilight Sparkle answered, which was not entirely true. She looked at Rainbow. Something seemed, well, off. "Rainbow, is anything wrong?" "Oh no everything is perfectly fine," Rainbow Dash mumbled.
There was obviously something that the cyan mare wasn't telling her.