Chapter 3: Living in Everfree

"For the past 16 years, Twilight Sparkle's whereabouts remained a mystery. Meanwhile, deep in the Everfree Forest, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Spike carried out their plan which involves them living like commoners for 16 years. The forest was well guarded by Flower Dog, who able to shape-shift and roam around, protecting those animals who are innocent as well as knowing of the secret behind of Twilight's fate, agreeing to allow them into her forest. Twilight Sparkle may see Flower Dog and Shadow Cat, who stay in the shadow and took the form of a cat to keep an eye on Twilight Sparkle so in case someone who tried to appear to kidnap her, she would transformed into big cat. As for Flare Tiger, another friend, she along with Princess Celestia knew of Princess Luna as well traveling in hopes to find Sombra, determined to fight back until they succeed to reveal Luna's wings and are able to bring back. Now as for the Mystic Realm Ponies themselves, they raised the little filly as their own, naming her Iris Crystal."

In the Everfree Forest, there is a cottage in the glen where Rarity's group lived at in secret for 16 years. To keep Iris Crystal safe, they forbid her from leaving the forest and talking to any stranger. Now on a top floor, a window opens as a beautiful mare is singing. She is an unicorn with a pale, light grayish mulberry coat, moderate violet eyes, a mane and tail that were both moderate sapphire blue with moderate violet and brilliant Rose streaks and a magenta colored star Cutie Mark. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, or for now Iris Crystal.

"Today is her 16th birthday. Rarity and her friends are planning a special with something extra special as a surprise."

Indeed, downstairs are right now is Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Spike looking at a book with beautiful dress designs in it. They want this final day with Iris Crystal to be perfect. For long as she could remember, the mare believes the other mares to be her aunt while Spike is her little brother. Iris Crystal has no idea or clue to her true identify, yet.

"So how about this one," Rainbow suggest, pointing at a dress on one page.

"Oh, I think this one will be dashing!" Rarity exclaims eagerly while looking at a gorgeous dress.

"My, she looks beautiful in this necklace." Fluttershy said while pointing to a necklace in a page. Yes, that could work.

"Yes, well, Darling, we need to make some changes here as well."

"Whatever you decided is okay!" Spike exclaims while giving a thumbs up to the three mares.

"We could make it rainbow colored!" Rainbow exclaims with a smirk, getting an idea on what color that the dress should be in. "That would make her 100% awesome!"

"Now, now, Rainbow, we decided on pink." Rarity reminds Rainbow with a sigh. "After all, she looks wonderful in pink."

"Oh, give me a break!"

"Okay, okay, calm down, calm down." Spike said with a chuckle to Rainbow. "So what shall we do next?"

"Well, we do know what Twilight needs...but it's best to keep her out of the house for a while." Fluttershy explains gently to Spike. Iris must be out of the house so that the party will be made without her knowing about it.

"Well, I believe I can think of something." Rarity said, putting a hoof on her chin as she tries to think up an idea on how to get Iris out of the house.

As if on cue, there's Iris right now, coming down the stairs, smiling as she said, "Morning, Spike and everypony! So what are you all up to?"

"Up to," The four yelps as they hid the book from sight. Iris must not be allowed to see this until the party! No way!

"Well, you see..." Rarity said nervously, trying to come up with an excuse. Iris arches an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Well, gee, good thing you're here because we need..." Spike said quickly, trying to come up with an idea, but what to say without giving the party away?

Rainbow then spots a basket nearby and grabs it, pouring the berries inside it. The Pegasus pony spoke up, "We need ya to pick some berries!"

"Yes, yes, right! Berries," Rarity exclaims with a smile. "And Spike? Be a dear and help her get some."

"Right, no problem! I don't mind helping Iris get some berries." Spike said eagerly as he grabs Iris's hoof, preparing to pull her out of the house.

"Berries," Iris Crystal ask confused and concerned. She picked berries the day before and now they want her to pick some more!

"Oh yes, right; Lots of berries," Fluttershy said with a quick nod.

"But didn't I pick them yesterday? Look, they are on the floor that Auntie Dashie just poured out!"

Thinking quickly, Rarity grabs the berries that Rainbow poured put and swallows them whole. Once she's done eating, the white unicorn spoke with a berry mess on her mouse, "What a shame. We need more."

"Yes, lots more." Fluttershy said as she quickly pushes Iris and Spike right out of the house. "It's hard to get berries nowadays."

"Now then, make sure that Spike is with you and don't worry about hurrying back."

"And try not to go too far, okay?" Rainbow reminds Iris Crystal of the rules: never leave the forest no matter what!

"And no speaking to strangers," Fluttershy said quietly and hopefully.

"Bye!" The three Mystic Ponies mares said quickly as they close the door, leaving Iris and Spike outside of the house.

"Bye." Iris Crystal said quietly, pondering a bit. What is with those three "aunts" of hers today anyway?

Oh yes, now Iris remembers. Today is her birthday, so her aunts must want her out of the house so they could make a surprise party for her! So is she to ruin things for the trio of fussy mares, right? Iris will take all the time that she needs to "pick berries" before coming back with Spike for the party.

"Come on, Iris. Let's go." Spike said, motioning Iris to come along. The mare smiles as she follows her little brother, on the way to pick up some berries.

Inside the house, the girls sigh in relief. That was a close one, Rainbow spoke up, "Does she suspects anything?"

"Relax, Rainbow. Even if she does, our little Iris Crystal will be so surprised when she gets home." Rarity said with glee while clapping her hooves together. Even if Iris does know what her "aunts" are up to, she will love the surprise that they set up for her!

"Right, a real birthday party."

"As well as a real cake as well." Fluttershy said with a happy smile. The mare would love to make a great cake for her foster niece.

"Right and just the right pretty dress to make for her as well." Rarity said with a happy smile. Oh, the design in the book that the three mares were reading would be perfect for Iris!

"Right, I will get the Elements of Harmony." Rainbow said eagerly as she prepares to head upstairs with plans of getting the necklaces out from the chest where Rarity has kept them ever since the group's arrival here 16 years ago.

"Yes, you go...wait, what?!"

"Oh my goodness! Rainbow," Fluttershy exclaims in alarm as she and Rarity rush over and block Rainbow from the stairs.

"We cannot use them, remember?" Rarity points out the condition of keeping Twilight safe from Nightmare Moon during the 16 years: no using magic or even flying!

"Oh come on, Rarity, 16 years is about over!" Rainbow protests to Rarity in annoyance. "We can risk using magic again!"

"Well, true, but Nightmare Moon, Sombra, or any of the evil monsters would most likely still be looking for us! We can't take any chances until the time is right!"

"Come on! I can't bake anything! I don't cook well!"

"Oh, no worries, Fluttershy can do the cooking." Rarity said to Rainbow with a hoof wave of dismissal. She is obviously giving the task of making the cake to Fluttershy.

"Yes, I can make food for my animals back home." Fluttershy said with a gentle smile to the skeptic Rainbow. "Why, I could make a cake for Iris too."

"Yeah, no offense, Fluttershy, but you often makes messes when making food for anything other than your animals." Rainbow said awkwardly to Fluttershy, reminding her of the limits of her cooking. "That's normally why we let Spike do the cooking back home."

"Now, now, Rainbow Dash; Fluttershy's cooking has improved...a bit during the years." Rarity assures Rainbow that Fluttershy has improved on her cooking a bit. "Why not give her a chance?"

"Yes, I will make a 15 layer cake with pretty ribbons and roses!" Fluttershy exclaims with a happy squee as she prepares to get to work on making the cake itself.

"And while I do so, I will make the dress."

Rarity takes some thread, giving out an approving smile. Rainbow frowns while saying, "Hang on, Rarity. Yeah, you can make clothes, but you don't do so within a whole day! Normally you take time in doing so! And Fluttershy? She doesn't cook very well!"

"Oh come now, it's simple." Rarity said to Rainbow with a giggle.

"Yes, all you gotta do is followed the books." Fluttershy said, taking a cookbook out to help her out in making a cake. Rarity meanwhile pushes Rainbow right onto a stool nearby.

"Rainbow, you will be the dummy."

"Excuse me?!" Rainbow snaps furiously, thinking that Rarity is insulting her by calling her a 'dummy'.

Rarity roll her eyes as she explains, "I mean pose for me so I can make the dress."

"Ugh! Still say magic is way more better."

Rarity chose to ignore Rainbow's complain as she threw a pink cloth over her head, then the mare begins cutting with scissors, doing her best not to cut Rainbow's mane by mistake. She gets so sensitive by that.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy took the ingredients to make a cake out and put them onto the table. The mare looks at the cups as she reads, "'Flours, 3 cups'. Hmmm, now where are they?" She then found 3 different size cups before pouring flour into the bowl with each cup. "1, 2, 3. There."

Rainbow kept still as Rarity works on making a hole in the cloth. The Pegasus mare ask, "So what's the hole for?"

"Well, we must have a hole for the bottom, Darling." Rarity explains clearly to Rainbow.

"Yes, so the legs can go through it, Rainbow." Fluttershy giggles in agreement as she kept on making the cake.

Rarity then pushed the cloth up onto Rainbow, much to her annoyance. The mare notices the color then frowns. She complains, "Hey! What gives?! It's pink!"

"Yes, a lovely color, right?" Rarity asks Rainbow happily.

"Aww, man; I wanted rainbow colored!"

"We've chosen pink, remember?"

"Don't you mean you decided?" Rainbow scowls at Rarity in irritation. Her friend is the one who chose the color, not the Pegasus pony. Oh great, this outfit is going to look so terrible on Rainbow.

"Hmmm…"2 eggs, fold in gently"." Fluttershy said, trying to hold two eggs while reading from the book, "Fold? Oh well." The mare will have to make do so she put the eggs in the bowl then fold them into the mix. A cracking noise is heard, "Oh my."

Rainbow finds herself covered in the pink cloth. She isn't happy at all big time. The Pegasus hates the color and this cloth is almost making it hard for Rainbow to even breathe out of the hard thing!

"Can't breathe..." Rainbow is heard mumbling. Rarity manages to use some scissors to cut a top opened to allow her friend's head to come through. She looks at the dress from the inside, "Awww, man! This looks terrible."

"Only because it's on you, Rainbow," Rarity explains to Rainbow with a giggle.

"'Yeast, 1 tsp'," Fluttershy said, reading the next part of the recipe. The yellow mare looks a bit puzzled however, "Tsp?"

"That means 1 teaspoon, Fluttershy." Rainbow explains to Fluttershy with a sigh.

"Oh, right. I knew that. Yes."

Rarity got to work on measuring the dress that Rainbow is wearing, while the Pegasus pony does her best to keep still. The unicorn smiles gently while saying, "My! Have Twilight grown since we first raised her."

"Yeah, tell me about it. Why, it was only yeste4rday that we first brought here so that Nightmare Moon or Sombra wouldn't get her." Rainbow admits to Rarity with a sigh. Has 16 years truly went by already?

"Oh my; Twilight was very sweet when she was a foal. And now...look at her." Fluttershy said with a gentle smile of happiness. Oh, if only the mare can reverse time and take care of the child all over again.

Rarity then notice something odd: Rainbow is sniffing in sadness, much to the mare's surprise. The leader spoke, "Oh my! Rainbow; Are you crying?"

"What's wrong?"

"Just think. Once today is over, she will be a princess and we won't have Iris Crystal anymore." Rainbow said with a glum look. It's true. Soon Twilight will be returned to her rightful family, and the Iris Crystal that the three Mystic Ponies had raised over the years will be gone forever.

"Oh girls," Fluttershy said, feeling saddened as well.

"Right; Girls, we knew this day would come." Rarity said with a sad sigh. She hates to give Twilight/Iris Crystal up but it's for the best, right? The unicorn belongs to her parents, not them. "No matter what, we cannot stop."

"Yes, but...did it have to come so soon?"

"16 wonderful years we share with her." Rainbow said gloomily. At first, the Pegasus pony felt like taking care of the princess was a pest...but as the years goes by, she got used to her, like...Twilight was indeed her little niece.

"Right, but remember girls: even when Twilight is back home, we can still treat her like she's family." Rarity said as she looks down. The trio felt saddened and lonely already. Then the unicorn quickly snaps out of it. "Wait, what am I saying? We're acting like a bunch of silly ponies! We better get back to work or she will be back before we're done!"

The girls nodded as they got back to work. The trio must get the party done before Iris Crystal gets back...and then they will break the truth to her gently of where Iris Crystal, AKA Twilight Sparkle, really came from.

------------------

Iris and Spike walks through the forest, picking berries and going out on a walk. The mare decided to do what she loves to do: sing wonderfully and beautifully.

"You sang beautiful, Iris." Spike said to Iris with a smile.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh," Also as she sings such high notes, living in the forest are her animal friends as she continues to sing, "Ah-AHhhhhhhhh! Ahhhahhaahhaaaahhhhhhhhh," Soon a blue bird hears Iris's singing while waving its feathers, getting water out of them.

"Prhhhhhhhhh," The blue bird too joins in to sing while flying down from its branch, "Prhhh-Prrrhhhhh! Prrrhprrrhhprrrrhhhhhhprrrrhh-prrrrrrrprrhhhh!" It soars down just as the young filly continues to sing her cords.

"Ahhhhhhhhh; ah-Aahhhhhhh; Ahhhhaahhaaahaaaaahhhhh," Soon the blue bird comes to an opening, just as it spots the one singing, Iris.

"Prhhhhhhh; Prrhhh-Prrrhhhhh; Prrrrhprrrrhhhprrrrhprrrhhprrrhhhh," The blue bird now fly down lower near another branch after finding the girl as she continues to sing out her lovely voice.

"Aaaaaahhhhh-Ahhhhhauughhhhhh, Aaaahaaahhaaauughhh," Iris lightly sings out as she comes closer to the blue bird as she sang her part differently this time.

Now came a red robin that join in with them as it was on top of a branch just above the blue bird was at. And now the two were going to sing together as they wanted to join in the singing with their friend.

"Prrrrhhhh-Prrrrhh-Prrrhhh," Just as they sang, the red robin drop down near the blue bird to sing, but the vibration cause the blue bird to wobbly during that moment, "Prrhhprrhhprhhh-Prrrhaurrrgghhh!" The blue bird fell off, but flew right onto Iris's right hoof to give it a spot to land after finishing it's singing while giving a quick peck to the girl on the cheeks which she smiled at his kindness.

"Ahhhhhhhhh," Soon she sang again, letting the blue bird fly while the red robin joins him, "Ah-Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhaaahhaahaaaaaaahhhhhh," The girl's angelic voice was sounding beautiful with each song sung.

Soon the two birds flew around pass Iris and came across a log base on the ground and seem to be trying to get something or someone's attention from inside!

"Ahhhhhh; Ah-Ahhhhhh! Ahhhaaahhhaaahhaaaaaahhhh," Soon the two birds used their beaks to pull out a gator named Gummy and a dog named Winona from a log, they seemed asleep, but soon awake from the commotion of Iris's singing, "Ahhhhhhhh! Aaaah-Ahhhh! Ahhhhahhhahhaaaaaahhhh!" The mare sang a little longer while the two birds go up to a branch and tried to awake a sleeping bunny named Angel.

Soon the bunny awoke to his surprise of what's going on around him.

"Ahhhhhhhh; Aaahh-Ahhhh! Ahhhhahhhahhaaaaaahhhh," Angel move quickly down the branch into a hole and soon pushed out a tired owl named Owlowiscious while Iris's singing voice is still heard.

"Howhhh; Howhhh; Hoooowhh," Owlowiscious made it's call sounds while slowly waking up, but then Angel pushed him off the branch, but lucky, he opened his wings and slowly floated down.

"Aaaahhhh; Aaaaahhhh; Aaaahhhhhh; AAaaaahhhh…..Aaaahhhh…..Aaahhhh," The mare's voice mix with the owl's "howhs" were slowly mix in as the owl slowly landed in the basket Iris carried as they sang together with harmony. Soon the animals were together with her as Iris and them began to walk out some more, nothing to distract them. But none aware after passing over a log, would something or someone spot them or at least hear the girl's singing for that matter!

Indeed, right now travelling is a stallion riding on some sort of long neck of a black Demonic serpent of a black body with spiky mane-like and a long tail which is called a Hydragoon. The stallion in question is known over than Ben Mare, all grown up since years ago and is now having a Triforce symbols on his flank, as well as a hat, a cloak and a pair of boots.

The Hydragoon in general is known as Dragoking, a pet given to him by his brother in law Dragon Hope long before the Mystic Pony's passing as a mortal. It was sad, but at least the pet stood by his new owner, being loyal to Ben all these years.

Two ponies are accompanying are two mares. One of them is a orange female Earth pony with green eyes, blonde mane and tail, both in a ponytail, wears only a cowboy hat and has three apples marking on her flank. Her name is Applejack, a friend of the family.

The other mare is a female pink Earth pony with dark pink curly mane and tail, bright blue eyes and two blue and one yellow balloons marking on her flank. Her name is Pinkie Pie, the other friend of the family.

"Today is the today, ponies!" Pinkie giggles as she bounces up and down. "We're going to have a big "Return of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Wedding Party"." She stood up and threw confetti from...from who knows where.

"Calm down, sugar cube; we ain't seen 'de princess yet." Applejack said to Pinkie with a giggle. Suddenly Ben stops as he hears some singing, "Uh, Ben?"

"Wait, did you all hear that?" Ben asks his friends and Dragoking curiously.

"Uh, what; that singing that seem to come from out of nowhere?"

"Yeah, what amazing singing," Ben said with a smile as he tries to turn Dragoking around. "Come on, we gotta find out who's singing like that."

"Okie dokie lokie," Pinkie exclaims with a smile as she prepares to head off, but Applejack frowns while holding her back.

"Hold it, everypony! Settle down! We gotta git our flanks back home!" Applejack exclaims with a frown. "Yew, Benjamin, got a bride 'ta meet later on."

Even Dragoking agrees as he prepares to turn to the direction of the castle. Ben said to his pet, "Awww, come on Dragoking. I will give you some dead meat." The Hydragoon's eyes widen upon hearing, "And maybe some nice...fish?" The pet smiles as he eagerly nods. "All right, let's find it!"

Dragoking turns and stomps off, with Ben holding onto him fast. Applejack yelps as she does her best to catch up though the usually happy Pinkie have no problem in doing so. The four stops in the center of the woods, looking around to find the voice itself. Then Dragoking heads into a direction quickly. Ben held on in determination. He's going to find that voice and figure out who is doing all that beautiful singing!

"Benny…slow down. My hooves are killing me and I have to babysit the Cake's's foals tomorrow." Pinkie said to Ben in concern. Even the pink pony is having trouble trying to keep herself from getting tired.

"Pinkie's right, Benny; Not 'ta mention, Big Mac's waiting fer me 'ta come home an' help him wit' 'de apple orchard…an' yew gotta be back in time fer Princess Twilight Sparkle's return." Applejack calls out to Ben in concern. She notices something up ahead, making her yelp. "Ben! Look out!"

Too late; Dragoking wasn't looking, causing Ben to get hit by an approaching branch, causing him to fall off while yelling, "Whoa!"

The girls and Dragoking stop upon hearing a splash. The trio turns to see that the prince had fallen into a nearby pool of water nearby. As they approach Ben slowly, he stood up, glaring at Dragoking in annoyance.

"You okay, Benny?" Pinkie asks Ben with a smile.

With a scowl, Ben tosses some water right onto Dragoking, then he snaps, "You can forget the fish, Dragoking!"

Author's note
And thus, we meet the prince known as Ben Mare. In the next chapter, Iris Crystal tells her dreams to her animal friends about meeting a prince. To cheer her up, the animal stole Ben's clothes and pretend to be a prince to dance with her. But then when the real Ben shows up, will it be love? Also, the Mystic Ponies decided to use magic after all, but Rarity and Rainbow got into a magic duel that caught the attention of both Gilda and a mysterious force. And what happens when the girls spill the truth to Twilight at last? Not pretty. Read, review and suggest.

The name Iris Crystal, Mystic Ponies, as well as Dragoking itself belongs to nigel.

The bit with Iris singing was borrowed from VISION-KING's own fanmake of 'Sleeping Beauty'.