“The episode number is a multiple of ten again!” Pinkie said. “You know what this calls for?”

“A ban on the importation of party hats?” Twilight said.

“Noooo...” Pinkie dragged out the sound for suspense, even though it was obvious what she was going to say. “A party!”

After a montage which attempted to make placing balloons look like hard work, Sugarcube Corner was ready to go for another publicity party, even though everyone who went there last time was a local who had already made their mind up about the place.

As they were both approaching the table that had Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Fluttershy ran into each other.

“I need to speak with Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “You’re Fluttershy and this is a conflict, so give up and let me win.”

“No.”

“Look, do you want to be a doormat or not?”

“For Rainbow, maybe. Not you.”

As they argued, Applejack slipped past both of them.

“You doin’ all raht, Rainbow?” She took a seat.

“It’s just... I don’t know... this feels like every other Pinkie party. I’ve seen it all before.”

“Yeah, Ah do kinda know what you mean. Honestly, Ah don’t even wanna be here, Ah just felt lahke Ah had to come.”

“Yeah. But there’s nothing for me to do anywhere else, so I don’t really have a reason to leave.”

“No excuse here either. ‘Specially not one you could fit into.”

“Are you saying I’m mentally fat?”

“Well, look at the kahnda shit you know.”

“I know about sports. That’s the opposite of fat.”

“Yeah, and... that’s pretty much it.”

“If I’m such a moron, why are we even—friends?”

“Well, Ah guess this is over before it got off the ground.”

“I guess it is.”

They crossed their legs at each other.

“Please take me back,” Rainbow said.

“Ah can’t live without you.”

“I’m going to the sweet breakfast table.”

“Ah’m comin’.”

Doughnuts, muffins, churros, pancakes and syrup for those who dared, and on the less lethal side jam-filled croissants and plain fruit were what was left on that table, a tribute to those who responsibly chose to eat breakfast only to stuff themselves with sugar. “It’s a good idea for a category,” Cup Cake had said to Pinkie Pie, “But is that really the reason?” It was. Rainbow took one of the croissants and ate half of it in one bite.

“How is it?” Applejack said. “Ah haven’t trahed ‘em.”

“It has this mint stuff in it. Pinkie Pie said they were all raspberry.”

“What are you gonna do, beat her up?”

“Maybe I will.”

“Come in,” Pinkie said.

Rainbow opened the door to her living room, and living place in general. “You said all of the croissants were raspberry.”

“It was a prank,” she said, not considering the conversation serious enough to get up from lying on a couch. “Did you like it?”

Rainbow walked up to her and punched her in the jaw.

“How many of those trick croissants are there?”

“Just the one.”

“If I hear about another, you don’t want to know what I’m going to do to you.”

“Well, I told the truth, so I’m not worried. Is that it?”

“That’s it.”

Applejack was taking a churro when she heard “Hi, AJ” from behind her. She turned around.

“Hey, Rainbow.”

“Hi. Did you try a crescent?”

“Nah, not yet.”

“Cool. Any—wait, did you say Rainbow?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m Twilight.”

“Sorry, Ah’m a bit tired.”

“It’s 3 PM.”

“Sorry, Ah’m a bit tired.”

“It’s 3 PM.”

Eventually, Rainbow showed up.

“Hey,” she said.

“It’s 3—huh?”

They both looked towards her.

“You’re back,” Applejack said as if someone needed to be informed.

“Yep. What number am I thinking of?”

“You ain’t thinkin’ ah anythin’.”

“Okay, how did you know it was zero?”

“‘Cause Ah can read ya lahke an open book.”

“Y’know, somethin’’s always bugged me about that expression.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s a book?”

“...Aaah... y’know, Ah dunno.”

“I mean, I’ve heard of bookmarks and e-books, but what’s the ‘book’ part about?”

“Yeah, Ah dunno.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said.

“Yeah?”

“You see me read books all the time. How do you—”

“Oh, that’s what a book is. Yeah, I’ve heard of those, I didn’t know that’s what they were called.”

“You’ve heard me call them ‘books’.”

“Well, sorry. There are too many things to know these days, you know?”

Twilight sighed.

“You can live however you want, don’t make fun of me because I don’t know what every single word in the English language means.”

“It’s book. And don’t hide your ignorance under moral statements everypony agrees with.”

“I hate you.”

“Good.”

Twilight walked away.

“So I have a secret I should tell you,” Rainbow said. “Since we have nothing to talk about.”

“Yeah?” She was still holding the churro.

“This is really gonna test our relationship.”

“Ah’m ready.”

“I’m saying this in a crowded place ‘cause otherwise you’d beat me up.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I like pears better than apples.”

“...What did you say?”

“Pear-type tastes are better than apple-type tastes.”

“Ah... yeah, we’re done.”

“Sorry.”

“Nah, we ain’t done. You gotta hear mah secret, then you’ll be done.”

“Bring it on.”

“Ah have sex with Big Mac all the tahme.”

“Ha-ha.”

“Really.”

“Really?”

“Do ya need to see before you believe it?”

“Well... basically, yeah.”

“‘Kay, Ah’m sure he wouldn’t mind you watchin’.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe this when I see it.” Next Chapter: Chapter 21: Tomato Slice of Life Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 21 Minutes