Court Jester

Chapter 3: realization

“Keep your head up kid, you’ll go far”

“Probably not the best advice given the current situation.”

The grin spread, “hehehe, probably not,” he laughed as another shot went through the window.

“Bastards got a 50. Cal.”

“Yep,”

“Probably not gonna make it,”

“Sure we will, give ‘em hell kid!”

Princess Luna awoke and rose quickly. She had not felt that kind of power anywhere for a long time. She gazed out the windows, “it’s just a coincidence,” she said. She felt nervous she didn’t know if this meant something or not. She thought about whether or not to wake Tia deciding against it. She had one last secret from her sister and decided to keep this one. It was something that would not be easily forgiven but, it needed to be kept. The last thing her sister didn’t know, the thing she needed her sister to not know.

______________________________________________________________________________

“Hehehe!” He placed a cigarette in his mouth he looked up at the sky. “Yep, here I am Luna it’s good to be back.” He lit the cigarette and took the first breath slowly. The taste was very sweet he always made sure they were the good kind. These were the kind of things he loved to preoccupying his time with thoughts like these that really had no point. They were all open ended never an answer to any of these. He held the match he had used to light it, it burned brightly and seemed to dance. He blew it out with a puff of smoke and laughed to himself.

______________________________________________________________________________

Rainbow was back, “send me back! Now I can fix this!” The weight in her heart was growing larger and larger. This was the fifth time she had failed and she didn’t know if she could keep going on like this.

“Okay you asked for it,” the bar tender seemed to be getting slightly bored.

“Do it.” Then just like that she was back falling out of the sky. Air rushed into her wings and lungs she gasped and started to fly toward her house again. She was almost at Sonic Rainboom speed when she had to stop because she was about to crash into the house. She kicked the old fashioned oak door down that was a lovely green. The brass hinges broke with a sickening crack and she charged at the stallion who as standing over her mother. She slammed him into the wall so hard she heard a snapping noise.

He fell to the ground limp Rainbow didn’t need to make sure his back was broken in about five places she had lived this before. She sat next to her mother with tears in her eyes. “M-mom,” she choked, “you're going to be okay mom! I promise.” Her mother just blinked in response. She lifter her mother onto her back and raced her to the hospital. They got there as quickly as possible and she was put into the ER immediately.

Rainbow was back in the bar; she sighed in relief but still felt the weigh grow deeper. “Hey what gives I won!”

“You really want to know what happens after?”

“Of course!”

“Here.”

Rainbow was sitting in the waiting room she calmly tried to read a magazine. She had turned down all medical care they had wanted to give to her. She was fine nothing was wrong with her just a big hoof shaped bruise on her forehead. The magazine was just for show she was so lost in her head. Was her mother alright? Was everything ok? What is going on? A doctor came into the room. He was looking for someone Rainbow prayed that it wasn’t her she didn’t know if she was ready.

He looked at her and just to double check asked, “Is there a miss. Dash here?”

Rainbow just nodded as the doctor walked over, “w-what’s the word doc?”

The doctor just looked at her at first. “How old are you kid?”

“I’m sixteen,” Rainbow was so anxious and terrified for what came next.

The doctor just sighed and looked at her. Her hair was still black it had been a lot of work to get it like that. “Your mother...” He trailed off. Rainbow just wanted him spit it out she was still clinging to some hope that everything was fine. “She... she died about ten minutes ago... There was nothing we could do... Somepony beat her so traumatically that about five internal organs were ruptured. We have some options for you but, more than likely I assume you will want to head out on your own.”

The new hit Rainbow like Celestia had dropped the sun on her. “W-wh-what?”

“You’re going to need some help getting by; my sister lives in a village... There’s some work around there look for her, her name is Ditzy.” The doctor was really trying his best to comfort her but; he also had to get back to work. “If you don’t want to get caught by child services you had better get going. I’m sorry I can’t do more for you and I know this is a hard time for you but, you need to get out of here. If you get put into child services there’s no guarantee you’ll be ok.” He was right the program didn’t work at this time it was wildly corrupt and there were many problems with it.

He put a map on the cyan pony’s lap. The doctor turned and started to walk away, “she tried to give you a message... ‘I love you’.”

With that he was gone never again to be seen by Rainbow. She just sat seeming to wait for the end of the universe. She looked up at the clock it had been about an hour when she simply got up and started to fly towards the village the doctor had talked about. Somewhere along the way she noticed a pink pony that had collapsed on the ground and was staring at the sky.

“What the hay! Nothing changed!” Rainbow was shocked. Nothing had changed she had not even been able to do anything it had all played out like a movie. “What gives?”

“You failed if you failed then that was the path.” The bar tender was smiling yet sounded distant.

“Then I want a do over from the beginning!”

He just sighed, “Fine Dash.”

She was back in that time she flew so fast this time she only didn’t start a Sonic Rainboom because she stopped at the house. Again she killed her step father unlike the first time where he was gone when she arrived. She leaped down to gather he crumbled mother and again flew to the hospital. Faster than before she pushed herself as hard as she could. The only thought that went through her head was that she must save the person she cared most for. Regret from times long ago crept in again as she reappeared in the bar.

“Starting to get it yet?” Shot seemed to be getting bored.

“No! Again!” Rainbow was furious but she couldn’t go on like this she was practically throwing herself over the bar. She had maybe two more in her if she physically held herself back.

“Here you go, be careful! I know you will have to cave soon.” Shot gave her a wink and she was back.

Faster this time she made a Sonic Rainboom and hardly slowed down as she kicked her step father and scooped up her mother. The Rainboom didn’t even seem to have fazed in the slightest as she landed through a window of the ER.

“Wow, and you were so close!” Shot was trying to push her over the edge at this point. She was about to protest and make him send her back because she was about to grab the nearest bottle. “You should really pay more attention this time. That’s all I’m allowed to say... just take it slow okay kid?”

“Fine,” and she was back it didn’t matter about his advice she had to move slower this time. She had no more will it was over as far as she was concerned. She forced the door open to find an empty this time she was so much slower than before. Looked down at her mother she was broken and was starting to lose the fight. “You're going to be okay.” She started to pick her mother up when she noticed something. Her mother was not nodding she was shaking her head.

______________________________________________________________________________

Fluttershy found herself walking deeper and deeper into the forest against her greatest of struggles. Against her will she continued though she made each step a little more labored than the one before it. “Still struggling?” The cruelty within her was obviously starting to get annoyed. “You really should give up, you’re so weak. More like pathetic really, how did you get this far in life anyway? Probably fed of your friends and made them carry you.”

Fluttershy would have been crying if she had control of her body. The voice was so mean but it was telling the truth and she had to accept that. “I know and, I’m trying to get stronger but...”

“No you’re not, you’re weak. You have never tried and your parents might have accepted you but I won’t. You are so weak and the most useless thing I have ever seen. We are almost there by the way then I’m going to kill that stupid hare.”

“No! You can’t! I won’t let you!” Fluttershy was starting to think she was going to lose this fight. She would in no way make this easy for her cruel and evil self. She tried with everything she could from where she was. She was trapped in her mind she could see but, she couldn’t control anything; it was like it had all been put on autopilot and she couldn’t take it off. She strained for anything she could at least get a hoof hold on. She tried first to get her wings under control. That failed as she seemed to be trying to get through a brick wall with a pocket knife.

“Oh, I think you made a dent in trying to get something under control there.” The voice said using her mouth and just laughed at her. It certainly wasn’t going to make this easy. “God you’re pathetic. You are a nopony you don’t do anything. Nopony likes you why are you such a failure?” The voice was really starting to break her down emotionally and physically. She was on the brink of giving up but she couldn’t for Angel. It was the only thing keeping her going she had nothing left to try and fight with.

“You’re just a big meany!” Fluttershy countered. “Who do you think you are? You are not me because I don’t act cruelly to ponies because I have been treated the same way!” She remembered the times at flight camp. She also remembered Rainbow Dash leaving suddenly. She never paid attention to the news it depressed her too much and, she was on the ground too much anyway. Her parents were supportive but also seemed disappointed.

“You really should grow a back bone its kinda fun!” The voice seemed completely unfazed, “You’re just spineless that's the whole issue here. You should just grow up, what else do you have going on?” The voice might have had a point; though it seemed like it had taken the very extreme form of that. “Guess you will just be worthless forever though.”

“I’m not worthless.” Fluttershy could only manage that a response to the cruelty she was being shown. “I have lots of things that make me helpful...”

“Such as?” The voice seemed now amused at the very thought of her being useful. “What can a spineless little nopony like you possibly do?”

“I’m an Element of Harmony and I can take care of animals very well.” Fluttershy was searching but those seemed to be her greatest achievements in life. She wasn’t sad about it she was just content she never needed more than she really needed,

“Oh yes, HOW could I have forgotten the only things you can do.” It was the most sarcastic thing she had ever heard in her entire life. “You got a metal for being useless and you take care of other worthless things.”

“I take care of other! That’s more than you can say! I have friends ponies that care about me!” Fluttershy was angry but she didn’t exactly scream at herself. “I have something that will care about me after I deal with you and get control of myself back. You will still be locked in the deepest part of my mind never to be seen again!” Fluttershy said it triumphantly. Her body stopped at this so suddenly it startled Fluttershy.

“You know what Fluttershy? You are so right you have shown me the light my entire life I have been so mean to everything I am so sorry Fluttershy you win! Here’s control of your body back.” And just like that she was in control again nothing was holding control over her head. “Please return to Ponyville and take my apology.”

“Really?” Fluttershy was thrilled she started to take off and suddenly plummeted to the ground.

“Nope!” The voice got a big laugh out of that one. “You really bought that? I mean come on are you really that Naive?”

“I still think you’re just mean!” Fluttershy was getting frustrated and she wanted to deal with this and get on with her life. She had a bad feeling this was not going to go away anytime soon though. “Can’t you just leave me alone?”

“Dear let me explain something to you: I am you. So you telling me to leave you alone is like you making part of yourself just disappear though it may be possible it can’t be done in the blink of an eye. Even then if you did then you will feel empty you would just seem to evaporate. Every part of you makes you if you take one part the rest is likely to crumble down on top of it.”

“But, you are not me you are some evil and wicked version of me.” Fluttershy simply wasn’t getting it in the other’s eyes.

It sighed, “You really don’t get it do you? I AM YOU! The other way around is also you though you chose to focus on what you are instead of your polar opposite which is me. While this is one way of being you simply could not survive without me it would be like the sun without the moon. Your mind would simply crumble upon itself. Everything seeks equilibrium it is the only way to exists. Though you seem to be nice on the outside no matter how nice you are I must be exactly as mean as you are nice. Don’t you see this is how everything in our universe works?

“From the smallest piece of matter to the very ideals that found the government to how your brain works. It’s that simple you need equality there and even if it seems out of reach it becomes clearer. If not and the differences become too large then everything falls and is rebuilt in order to try to achieve equilibrium. I don’t know how to try to make this any clearer to you.”

“I... I think I understand... How do you know these things?” Fluttershy was curious as to how it had been able to reach such a conclusion.

“When you don’t have to control a body you have a lot of time to think. Plus you think with your heart not with your brain as much so I get the logical part and you get to decide through your heart. It makes it easier for me so I figured who cares anyway?” The voice cheered up suddenly, “I think we are almost there.”

Fluttershy’s heart dropped as her body rounded to the corner to see Angel. “I won’t let you... I will never let you!”

______________________________________________________________________________

Applejack had never wished for her brother’s help more now than she did right now. She was a lost soul and she was trying to find they path home. She thought and thought how was she going to do this? She remembered something about truth from herself the hardest thing to take. She didn’t understand she was the element of honesty.

This whole ordeal made no sense how could she lie to anypony especially herself. She scowled at nothing in particular. It was like trying to go through a maze with no walls. That only made her even angrier. She was starting to get furious. She was stomping the ground every time she came to a dead end which started to be more and more. She soon almost had a beat going and was getting more and more frustrated.

“Maybe if ah’ run ah’ can clear mah head ah’ bit.” Applejack then did just that and started running down the path to no great surprise not receive that luxury. “Consarnit!” Applejack was already starting to think again as she came to halt. “Okay, think back how many times yah made that turn?” She had lost count and she was going to try her luck at digging her way through the narrow path’s steep sides.

She wasted no time and tried to dig her hooves into the side of the pass and was almost knocked backwards. The side of the hill felt like it was made out of steel. “Now that’s outa place.” She groggily said as she rose to her hooves. The air was starting to scrape her lungs and she could feel ash shredding them. It was like trying to breathe through sand.

“You seem to need a lot of help.” A vaguely uninterested and yet harsh voice spoke.

“Who in the...?” Applejack was now annoyed farther than she had been in a long time.

“Did you even listen to the message?” The voice was bored and seemed widely uninterested in everything. “It seemed pretty clear to me: ‘Honesty is as good to yourself as others. Listen Applejack you are not a part of the test. Those who are truthful to other have to be more truthful to themselves. The hardest way to accept a bad truth is to hear it from yourself. You have to learn to stop lying to yourself AJ; or you’ll never be able to tell anypony the truth again not even yourself.’

Fairly straight forward as far as I thought then again you are just a work horse.”

Applejack now knew who was talking and she turned to face the one pony she really didn’t want to see right then. The pony that was almost the exact opposite of Applejack her stuck up cousin. She even had a blonde coat and orange hair though; it was better done up than Applejack’s. She even had oranges for a cutie mark. “Hello, cuz.” Applejack said hostilely.

“Good evening, Applejack.” The reply smug and confident. “I didn’t know what that crazy pony was ranting about but, I’m here now so can you just get me out of here already?”

“I truly and deeply wish I could get you outa here cousin but the situation don’t call for it.” Applejack rolled her eyes her think skin was coming in handy again. “Seein’ as you don’t know hind or tail of this how do you suggest we go about this?”

“Do I really have to do everything? Did you even go to school like at all?” She was starting to scrape against that thick skin pretty hard.

Applejack then giggled to herself, “Ya know the funny thing is I didn’t even go to school as much as yah’ but; I probably know a whole lot more than you. Cuz the little I did go to school I paid attention unlike y’all” She thought back of the nearly a year she spent in Manehatten she had learned a lot in the school. Much more than the pony in front of her right now anyway.

The other pony simply scoffed Orange was good at that at least. “Ya, obviously you can’t even talk right... y’all,” she mocked.

“Ya know cuz, if yah weren’t such a stuck up pony you might see that fer y’all self.” Applejack knew she could easily out work, fight, and think her cousin she had proved it on a number of occasions. Just because she had pretended to be an Orange didn’t make school any easier for her. She learned to survive her kind there and she could easily beat her in almost any contest.

“As if.” the other pony dismissed everything with a single remark. Applejack knew more than enough to see that she had won the fight no matter what her cousin said. She knew that was many of their ways of dismissing a pony’s point by saying a statement that had no power but observed by others appeared to have much.

“Ya, a pony like yah would say somethin’ like that.” Applejack countered. They were in a duel of words and both side thought them self to be the winner. Applejack however didn’t have time for the world to revolve around her. “Why yah here anyway?”

“Like I said I don’t know. What can you not hear either? Somepony knocked on the door I answered he laughed weird and I appeared here.” Orange was more upset about being near her cousin than being miles from where she lived. “I think I may have to press charges: Pony Napping I have rights here!”

“Well the next time ah talk to Princess Celestia again ah’ll be sure tah tell her.” Applejack had thrown a low blow and knew it. “Yah know cuz the whole ‘work horse’ being a close friend to the princess an’ all.”

“You’ll always still be just a work horse.” She had a slight pause and Applejack was about to respond when she started up again. “But, anyway that pony said something about how you are lying to yourself and so stop it and let me go home already.”

Applejack sighed, “Ah really wish ah could send yah back home right now but it seems that ain’t and option considerin’ I ain’t lyin’ to anypony specially mahself. Now help me try an get outa here so ah can save the barn!”

“Is that all you can think about is that stupid barn? It would be better if it just burnt to the ground.” She had just enough time to give a triumphant look to Applejack before she was almost eating dirt. “D-did you just hit me?!”

“Yep! You want another one? Jus’ make another remark ‘bout the barn again an ah’ll be happy to oblige yah.” Applejack was unable to shake almost anything off; unless there was a possibility her family was in danger. Then she would sure as sugar resort to fighting and fighting dirty. That just another one of the many skills she had learned at that preppy school.

“You just really don’t get it do you cousin? The barn isn’t going to be all right that's the whole test you have to admit it and I know that will just eat you up.”

______________________________________________________________________________

“How have you been Pinkie?” Her mother asked she still cared at least. They even seemed a little shocked to see their daughter.

“I’ve been fine mom how are you?” Pinkie was still in shock over seeing her parents that had been dead for about five years now. She had missed them very much but, the farm wasn’t meant for her.

“I have been fine...” The conversation was very awkward after all two of them were dead. It was to be expected that it would be strange at first.

“That's... Good. How about your dad?” The small talk was more like minuscule talk.

“Fine.” Her dad put things simply. He was a very basic pony he never sugar coated anything. He even seemed awkward about the whole thing he was always to the point. He had lightened up in his later years but he wasn’t exactly the closest pony. He was always distant.

“Pinkie I think it’s about time we really talked... About everything.” Her mother was always right to the point as well. She usually was nicer about things than her father though she put things down more gently.

“Um... Okay what do you mean?” Pinkie started to hide behind her very strait and gray hair. She knew what her parents mean but she was trying to avoid the subject. She didn’t like the idea of her and her parents having this conversation. It needed to be said now that she was able to talk to them for the last time.

“You know what! Pinkie I’m not angry I’m not even disappointed.” Her father really meant what he said he was mad because she had lied more than... other things. “Pinkie I have been gone for awhile now and I know this is weird but you shouldn’t lie to me anyway.”

“Pinkie your father has a point we have been gone for a little bit but, we still love you.” Pinkie got a little poofier as her mother told her that. “See there’s my filly,” her mother smiled brightly at her. Pinkie started to grin a little.

“Okay mom, what do you want to talk about?”

“Well let’s start with how we are sorry we had to leave you so quickly.” Her mother started and her father simply nodded. “So Pinkie we are really sorry we had to leave you but we don’t want to get your hopes up too much; we have to go again after this.” Pinkie smiled sadly at her mother, “I know it seemed cruel to leave you and your sisters alone at such a young age. It made you who you are today you wouldn’t have become an Element of Harmony.”

“I know it’s not your fault mom.” Pinkie was glad to be talking to her parents that they would be gone again soon. “Let’s just do what we can in the time we have.”

Her mother smiled one of the brightest smile she had ever seen from her. “Yes, let’s do that.”

“I’ve missed you both so much!” Pinkie was the happiest she had ever been. At the same time, she was so sad she could have died right there. She was gray and yet she still had a certain glow of pink on the edge of her mane. It was still long enough to nearly touch her hooves but at least it was starting to be pink. “So what do you want to talk about?”

“Let’s talk about what you have been doing recently.” Her father right to the point again, “We know what you have been doing. We have been... informed by a... friend of yours... Though I don’t think you know him yet, he’s delightful I assure you. But, back to the point.”

“Um, I went to live with the Cakes after you passed and I’ve been there for about five years now.” Pinkie thought of what else was going on, “I also still throw parties more than before even. I also have quite a few friends all over this town. I became an Element of Harmony about three years ago.” Pinkie thought that just about summed up her life from a brief perspective. “But, who’s this pony you’re talking about?”

“Yes, that’s very... nice Pinkie.” Her mother ignored her question, “I am proud that you found your calling Pinkie. How are your sisters doing?” She tried to avoid the subject and even Pinkie could see that. She was curious but decided to drop it.

“Um... they are fine I guess I haven’t seen them since I left the farm.” Pinkie was confused as to why her mother refused to answer her question.

“I see don’t you think you should stop by every now and again?” Her father asked in a neutral tone, “I suppose they should possibly have come to see you as well though.”

“Well, ya I guess dad,” Pinkie felt she had disappointed her parents and gray slightly darker.

Her father smiled, “Pinkie you haven’t disappointed me when my parents died I couldn’t go home for almost ten years.”

“It took me almost five,” her mother agreed.

“Okay, what... What do you think I should do with myself?” Pinkie asked timidly.

Her father smiled again, “Pinkie, I don’t tell you what to do.” He spoke slowly, “This is your life Pinkie you get to decide. If it’s any help I approve of what you are doing with your life.”

“I do two Pinkie, though I think you should help your friends more than you do right now.” Her father nodded in agreement.

“What does that mean?” Pinkie started to get brighter as she thought of how to have her parents approve of her.

“You need to watch your friends carefully some of them will need your help. Your strong Pinkie, stronger than you or many ponies think. Be there for your friends when they need you.” Pinkie nodded her mother had a point.

“I will mom, Pinkie Promise.” She went through the motions and made a promise.

Her father chuckled, “What are your friends like?”

“Well... One of them is a book worm, one is an animal lover, one is Equestria’s best flier, one is one of the best fashion designers I know, and one is a farmer. I have way more but those are my best friends.” Pinkie brightened thinking of them.

“Well, it’s good to see you are having fun.” Her mother had a warm smile that still seemed to be sad somehow, “I wish we could meet them. But it’s time we got serious... Pinkie...” Her mother was starting to get awkward.

“Why, Pinkie why?” Her father finished for her. The smile was gone it was quite in the room for a long time.

“What do you mean?” Pinkie had faded back to gray.

“You know what we mean Pinameana Diane Pie! Why Pinkie?” It was going to be a long conversation.

______________________________________________________________________________

Rarity was now had scratches stretching down from her shoulders to her flank. She had been chasing her sister through the forest for almost an hour now. She was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. She had managed to catch her sister in her magical grasp three times now but all failed. Sweetie Belle despite her name was not making this easy on her.

“Let me just talk to you! Sweetie Belle come here!” Rarity was starting to get discouraged. She didn’t know how long she could keep up with her sister. Her sister was younger and more energetic than she was. “I am begging you dear please just come here for a second.”

“Not a chance sis!” She didn’t even appear to be tired in the slightest and Rarity knew she had to make a move if she wanted to catch her sister. “You can’t even catch me sis! You are always so lame I can’t believe you are my sister!” It stung but it was true they were hardly alike Rarity had hoped that the Sisterhooves Social had fixed that but they were still mostly incompatible. They did enjoy spending time together but they didn’t like many of the same things.

“It wasn’t negotiable!” She yelled as she started to cast her last chance spell. “You are going to stay put young lady and we are going to talk!” With that the spell crackled to life and a cage swallowed Sweetie Belle up and locked her inside.

“No fair!” Sweetie Belle seemed discouraged at this she had no way to escape after all. This was advanced magic and Rarity thanked Celestia it worked because she now dropped to the ground next to the cage. She was completely out of energy she had spent the last of it on that spell.

“It didn’t have to be dear, that wasn’t a part of the deal.” Rarity was breathing heavily and she was covered in sweat. She had some idea she looked terribly right now and she sighed at that realization. “You were quite hard to catch my dear now: why are you running from me so bad from me?”

“I felt like it. Do I have to explain myself to you every time I take a breath of air?” Sweetie Belle was being unusually hostile Rarity was taken aback by the ferocity of the verbal attack.

“Sweetie Belle look I know I haven’t been the best sister even after the Sisterhooves Social and I’m sorry.” Rarity was sincere with her apology and she knew that alone was not enough. “Sweetie Belle I didn’t see how much a terrible sister I have been but somepony I will have to thank showed me. Though I understand you may be upset with me I want to make amends with you, if that is okay?”

“No, I hate you sis! I don’t ever want to see you ever again!” Sweetie belle’s words were cutting deep. Rarity felt each word like it was an actual blow from her sister.

“Well then Sweetie Belle perhaps you can listen while I talk for a while?” It was a rhetorical question and before Sweetie Belle could protest Rarity had started. “I was a lot like you when I was your age though I didn’t have a sister. I was very lonely I didn’t have a whole lot of friends it was just me and the fabrics for a while. I tried to make friends but I never got good at it so I was all alone in the world and I threw myself into my work to try and compensate.

“It worked which was not a good thing in retrospect but I am now a better designer because of it. Then Pinkie moved in with the Cakes she saw how much of a loner I was and had a really good idea.”

______________________________________________________________________________

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique! How may I help you this fine day?”

“I was wondering if you were free today?” The pink pony seemed to be ecstatic about something though Rarity was unsure what.

“Um, who are you?” Rarity was caught off guard but such a strange question from some she didn't know.

“Just meet me at the spa at about four okay? I promise it will be TOTALLY fun!”

“Um, okay I guess I can be there at around four.” Rarity had no idea what to expect but decided to show up anyway she needed a friend.

About two hours later Rarity arrived at the little spa Ponyville had. “Nothing special just the basics and then I will just be in and out.” Rarity had a little work she needed to get done anyway.

She walked into the spa and was greeted immediately by the owner, “How may I help you?”

“Oh, I am here to spend some time with a... friend.” Rarity was slow to use the word partially because she really didn’t even know that pony. She really only knew that her name was Pinkie Pie or something like that.

“Oh, yes I think I know which one!” She was then led into another room. She looked up to not see a pink pony but a yellow one. There was a long silence and the owner left.

“Um... Hi.” The other pony was very quiet and Rarity barely heard her as she spoke.

“Uh, so who are you,” Rarity was caught off guard by this unknown pony. She was a pale yellow and had pink hair. She seemed to be even more timid than Rarity.

“Oh, I am uh... Flutter....” She trailed off a little bit. “Fluttershy!” She exclaimed like she had just remember her name.

“Okay... I am Rarity I seem to just have been placed in the wrong room I’m afraid. I’ll just go correct that problem.” She turned to leave the room.

“Um no I don’t think you are... Were you here to meet Pinkie Pie?”

“Um, yes how did you know?”

“Because... She sort of... Set this up...” Fluttershy was nervous. “She both saw we kind of needed some friends and neither of us had any so...”

“I see well it is a pleasure to meet you Fluttershy.” She stuck her hoof out to shake and after a moment of careful observation she took it. “Shall we have a good time with or without Pinkie?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Twilight stumbled out into the street, “hehehe there you are!” She laughed.

The stallion nearly dropped his cigarette as he tried to hold back his laughter, “How many more did you have?”

“I don’t know like five or six?” It was more a question as if he would know.

“Um... I think we better get you home.” He no longer tried to contain his laughter. He stood back up only to be forced to sit back down. “Uh, oh.”

Twilight giggled, “Uh, oh!”

He snickered, “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting walk back. It’s about time to start heading home anyway, your friends will start to be worried.”

“Okay!” Twilight started to sway as she walked farther out of the bar. “I almost forgot about them.”

“Yep, definitely going to get much more fun.”

______________________________________________________________________________

“Learned anything yet?” Shot was bored now Rainbow could visibly see it he leaned on the bar. Which was a rare sight he was always standing upright. Old habits die hard.

“Ya, pour me a shot... Vodka straight.” Rainbow sat on the stool next to the bar she was broken. Nothing left inside she had been consumed.

Shot only smiled sadly as he poured very slowly. “Well you’re giving up?” It was said in a sort of pity as her passed the glass to the multicolored mare. “I thought you really would have made a break through with that last one.”

“Ya, I guess not.” She stared down at the glass running a hoof around the rim but, not taking a drink just yet. “You know what would have been her last words?”

“What?” He said a little happier than before.

“‘I’m sorry.’ As she was dying in my hooves. She knew she was dying I could see it in her eyes. What does she have to be sorry for? I kept asking and I think I just stumbled on it really.” She was staring into the glass like it was a crystal ball and it had the answers.

“What is that?” He had a grin on his face that stretched from ear to ear.

“She was sorry to leave me. She knew that I would have a hard life without her. She was sorry I was leaving her we couldn’t laugh or have fun anymore or do anything for that matter. She was sorry I would blame myself for everything. She was sorry I would have to live with myself.” Rainbow stopped going around and around and around and just stared.

“So? What did you learn?” Shot was excited for the response.

“Something I already knew I just needed to hear it from the right person.” She took the glass and poured it out over the floor. “I’m sorry but, not for myself or for anyone else just that life is too short sometimes.” With that she got up and walked out of the bar without another word.

______________________________________________________________________________

“And... Who is going to stop me?” This evil version of her approached the small rabbit. It was getting her hooves ready to stomp the thing out of existence. “Like I had said before you. Are. Nothing.”

It approached the unknowing rabbit who still thought it was the loving Fluttershy. It hopped over with not so much as even another thought. It still saw its owner it could not show fear to something that it had no reason to fear.

“I will stop you because I will never let you hurt something that is innocent. Angle has done nothing to you and never will I will not let you hurt him.” Fluttershy was using the most serious tone she had ever used with anypony. “You will not hurt him or me or any of my friends because I will not let you or anypony else do that.”

“Says you.” The hoof started to fall fast it was going to kill the rabbit. It was stopped inches away from the rabbits head. “Well played Fluttershy, well played.”

“I will never allow you or me or whoever you are to hurt something that does not deserve it I may be more flexible if it deserved it. That is not the situation however and I will not let this go on any longer.” Fluttershy then pushed beyond the hoof and claimed control of all four legs then up to the neck. “Anything else you want to say before I kick you out of the rest of my body?”

“Yes actually Fluttershy, I wanted to say it is good that you won. I can see you needed to win whether or not it is my decision. My job here was not to beat you but to teach you I am sorry I had to do it in such a brutish way.” The voice was now sincere. “I hope you like your new friend, good bye Fluttershy.”

With that it was gone like nothing was ever out of the ordinary. Fluttershy stood for a minute just trying to sort this whole thing out finally she just picked up the rabbit. She looked down at the small white puff ball in her arms she stared down at the rabbit for a long time just thinking.

______________________________________________________________________________

Applejack just sat unwilling to accept it. She could still fix this somehow she could put out the fire and the barn would be fine. “How could it jus’ be gone?”

“Things like this happen.” It was said so disconnected if Applejack had been even a little more conscious she wouldn’t have been responsible for what she would have done. “We just got to move on.”

“How can you jus’ say that?” Applejack had tears in her eyes. “That farms mah whole life?”

“Because Applejack I have had to learn to rebuild things before when it seemed like nothing was left it always worked out in the end. Now get up so I can get back to my regular life.”

“I... jus’... can’t.” Applejack was broken past repair there was no point left. She was a work horse for sure but now there was nothing left to work. “What will I do without that farm?”

“Rebuild Applejack you can always fix something even if you have to replace most of it. I thought you were supposed to be the tough one in the family”

“Y-your right... ah’ll just have tah rebuild it. With Big Mac and mah friends.” Applejack was quick to recover she would just have to keep working till everything was fixed. There was a point again something to work for: a goal.

“Great now I can get out of here.”

“Your right... The Barn’s gone, nothin’ left jus’ have tah rebuild.”

She got up against the will of her legs and started to walk towards the turn again not noticing as her cousin disappeared into thin air. Each step felt like she was trying to turn the planet under her hooves. She walked around the corner slowly looking out at all the apples on the trees each apple looking like a tiny moon. She expected to see just that same turn again but, much to her surprise she saw the barn. It wasn’t consumed in fire or completely charred as she had expected.

Everything was completely fine. There was nothing out of place. It was late and all the lights were out and everypony was asleep as far as she could tell. She couldn’t believe her eyes she had expected to have to rebuild her shattered life starting from scratch. Sometimes things just seem to work out in the end.

______________________________________________________________________________

“I don’t know dad I just don’t.” Pinkie was broken her parents wanted to know the one thing she didn’t have an answer for. “I guess I had just given up.”

“It’s okay Pinkie. The fact of the matter is that you didn’t your okay. Thanks to your friends and thanks to your determination you’re going to be okay Pinkie.” Her father had never said so many words to her in such little time.

“I know dad, and I sorry.” Pinkie was very nearly out of pink in her main and coat.

“Don’t be.” It was more of a command than a statement. “I’ve been there I understand.”

“Okay, dad.” Pinkie gained a little pink but not a lot.

“Pinkie...” It was nearly a whisper. “It’s time for us to go again.” Her mother finally spoke again.

“NO!” Pinkie exclaimed, “You can’t leave me again!”

“Pinkie the work we have been sent here for is over we will miss you and we are sorry we spent so little time. We have to go though Pinkie I’m sorry.” Pinkie’s mother had tears in her eyes.

“Be strong Pinkie for us.” Her father looked her in the eye until she nodded.

“Good bye Pinkie, we love you.” Her father nodded in agreement.

Then they just slowly dissipated they just seemed to evaporate in air around her. Then Pinkie was alone all alone in the place she had thrown so many parties before. She looked around the room remembering all the fun times she and her friends had here. She walked to the door and gave the room one final look around before slowly closing the door behind her.

______________________________________________________________________________

“You and I are not really that different when we look at it.” Rarity tried to explain to her sister. “We have had similar upbringings. Neither of us have had many friends and I have not been a very good friend to you I am so sorry Sweetie Belle I really am.”

Sweetie Belle was silent for a long time before she responded. “Okay sis.” It was simple yet well put. They simply sat for a long time without talking both thinking about what they had done to hurt their sister. “I’m sorry I ran away from you.” Sweetie Belle finally broke the silence.

“No need to apologize my dear. I did deserve it to some extent.” Sweetie Belle gave her a questioning look. “I did I ran from you as a sis when I should have been there for you when you needed it.”

“But, I should have at least tried to talk to you and work things out.” Sweetie Belle sounded tired as she yawn shortly after.

Rarity chuckled to herself, “Okay Sweetie Belle, but it’s late and it’s time we got you to bed.”

“Okay sis.”

______________________________________________________________________________

“Congratulations, you have passed the test I hope this has been an eye opening ordeal for you and you learned something that was the whole goal of this ordeal. I apologize for any inconvenience to you or your friends. You should all return to the library as soon as you can because your friend Twilight is going to need some help.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Rainbow was the first on scene as she crashed through the front door of the library to find it empty. The only life there was Spike and Owlicous who both nearly had a heart attack as she raced in. “What the-”

“Hoo!”

“Where’s Twilight?!” Rainbow searched frantically for her friend as Rarity and Fluttershy both appeared in the door way.

“W-what happened?” Fluttershy timidly entered followed by Rarity who muttered something about clutter.

“Twilight’s not here she hasn’t gotten back yet!” Spike was angry because the room was now a mess right after he had just finished cleaning.

“Well then where is she?” Rainbow was frantic and she seemed like she was about to explode.

“Simmer down Sally!” Applejack followed by the somewhat still dull Pinkie Pie

“Holly Molly! You really knocked the door down again? I thought she enchanted it!”

“She did.” Rainbow had finished her search of the entire library and was not headed back outside. “It really hurt to have to knock it down again.”

They then heard a familiar and a not so familiar laugh from down the street. Everypony then turned to pursuit the source of the noise. “Ah! There you are!” Twilight was being supported and supporting a stallion as they both stumbled down the street. “Hi girls!” Her speech was incredibly slurred and they could barley understand her.

“Who is this darling?” Rarity was very curious as to who Twilight was alone with in the dark.

The stallion with the green and purple hair gave a broad smile. “Name’s Jes I am not from here per say I am with the circus.” He had a thick northern accent from somewhere around Stalliongrad if not that itself. “I met this charming young mane here and invited her to have a drink. And it seems we may have had a little too much eh?” He laughed again.

“I see.” Rarity was confused Twilight usually didn’t do things like that.

“I don’t trust him.” Rainbow whispered in the tight group of friends.

“Yah but, I don’t think we got reason to keep ‘em here against his will.” Applejack agreed.

“Well ladies I think you can handle things from here?” Jes smiled at them looking each in the eye. He then turned to Twilight gave her a kiss on the cheek and left.

Twilight giggled and yelled after the stallion who was struggling down the road. “Goodnight, Jes!” She watched him go for a little before he turned out of view, “I’m tired I want to go to bed!”

“Awe, okay Twilight if you really want to!” Pinkie was already back to her fully inflated and pink self.

They all then helped support Twilight as they got her home. She laughed to herself as she saw her broken down door. They then tucked her into bed and helped Spike clean things up. “Well, I can’t even get home I will crash.” Rainbow simply collapses on one of Twilight’s couches. The rest of her friends agreed as they all realized how tired they were and fell asleep on various pieces of Twilight’s furniture.

______________________________________________________________________________

Twilight woke up the single worst head ache she had ever had. She thought yesterday was bad but, that was nothing compared to how she felt now. “What the hay?” She rose slowly and went down stairs to start coffee to find it was already done. She took the nearest mug she could find and started to drink the dark liquid inside. It was the worst coffee she had in the library and didn’t even notice.

She sat in the chair at the end of her counter and waited for the blurred world to come into focus. It took a long time but eventually it did. She looked around the room and found there were six mugs out. She wandered back into the living room to discover everything was cover in ponies. “What the hay?” She repeated.

______________________________________________________________________________

Author’s note: I have been able to pump out a chapter about once a week and a half but, that might be about to change. You can thank Skyrim for that I am sorry for this but I will try to keep up to date. I also had to do a lot of stuff for school recently actually having to do with ponies. It was a slide show thing, thanks Prezi. I also don’t own characters or places or anything really, it all belongs to Hasbro.