Monday, February 22, 2016 / Early Morning
Today's Horoscope (Virgo): I don't think you'll have to worry about Pisces today. You should still be ready just in case.

We're on the lookout for Zodiac attacks today. The first target is on the softball team with Rainbow Dash, so we're relying on her to be the main contact.

Monday, February 22, 2016 / After School

My laptop battery died in the middle of class today. How it managed to die is beyond me, since the damn thing's brand new.

As soon as school is out, I head into town to buy a new battery. While I'm there, I invest in a couple of other small upgrades and buy a bookpad of my own. I'm nowhere near the heavy reader Twilight is, but watching her use hers...

By the time I'm done, I've spent about half of what's in my account.

While I'm on the way home, I get a call from my parents. They're as detached and absent-minded as ever...

Monday, February 22, 2016 / Evening

"Where the hell were you?" Twilight yells as soon as I walk through the door.

"I had to take care of something," I say.

"Something more important than protecting a possible target?"

I sigh. "Sweetie Drops isn't going to be attacked," I say.

"You don't know that for sure," Twilight points out.

"Anyway, Rainbow's with her."

Twilight sighs. "Just...take this more seriously, alright?"

I brush my hand through her hair. "Twilight, I'm always serious about this stuff. I just really don't think we're fighting Pisces today."

"I hope you're right," Twilight says.

I head upstairs to charge my laptop. While it's charging, I practice my guitar until dinnertime.

After dinner, I help Apple Bloom with her homework.

"Silver Spoon had a huge fight with Diamond Tiara today," Apple Bloom says.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Apple Bloom says. "Diamond Tiara started in on me about mah papa bein' in a nursin' home, an' Silver Spoon stood up for me. Really made Diamond Tiara look like a dummy. Ah ain't never seen Diamond Tiara so mad."

"Well, that was nice of Silver Spoon."

"Yeah." Apple Bloom sighs. "It still got t' me, though. All the stuff Diamond Tiara said. 'Cuz Papa's..." Her shoulders start to shake. "He's gittin' worse," she says shakily. "He looks jes' awful...Ah had t' leave th' room t' cry." Tears start to spill from her eyes onto the table.

Applejack walks in, sees Apple Bloom crying, and sighs. "Apple Bloom," she says. "Why don't you git on up t' bed now. You can finish your homework in th' morning."

Apple Bloom sniffles, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "O-okay," she says. She gathers up her stuff and heads upstairs.

Applejack sighs. "She's...she's takin' it awful hard," she says. "Papa's lookin' real rough. It...it hurts...seein' him like this." She shuffles her feet, then heads upstairs.

Rainbow Dash walks in. "Well...I stayed with Sweetie Drops as long as I could," she says. "If she gets attacked now, we're hosed."

I sit up doing my own homework and downloading books to my new bookpad until midnight. Nothing happens. I'm exhausted...

Author's Notes:

Social Link Status:

0. FOOL (Zodiac Investigation Team): rank 6
I. MAGICIAN (Twilight Sparkle): MAX!
III. EMPRESS (Rarity): rank 2
IV. EMPEROR (Coach Shining Armor): rank 8
V. HIEROPHANT (Vice-Principal Luna): rank 6
VI. LOVERS (Nurse Cadance): rank 7
VII. CHARIOT (Rainbow Dash): rank 9
VIII. JUSTICE (Principal Celestia): rank 7
IX. HERMIT (Coco Pommel): MAX!
X. FORTUNE (Apple Bloom): rank 4 (Rank UP!)
XI. STRENGTH (Applejack): rank 4
XII. HANGED MAN (Octavia Melody): rank 5
XIII. DEATH (Sonata Dusk): rank 5
XIV. TEMPERANCE (Sweetie Belle): rank 2
XV. DEVIL (Juan the Janitor): rank 6
XVI. TOWER (Chrysalis): rank 3
XVII. STAR (Pinkie Pie): MAX!
XVIII. MOON (Trixie Lulamoon): MAX!
XIX. SUN (Vinyl Scratch): rank 8

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The LTE version of this chapter, which can be read on my website, has additional content.