My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Friends from Unexpected Places

Chapter 21

Prelude to Trouble

‘Dear Diary,

Derpy suggested I write this. Not sure what the reason is, but I’m doing it.

It has been 8 months since me and Derpy arrived in FeatherTop, the Gryphon Kingdom capital and already we’ve been making friends. We met Rainbow Dash, a local Pegasus who wants to join the Wonderbolts in Equestria. That’s quite the noble goal. Not long after then, we met Lightning, a fellow Pegasus, Zatch, a Gryphon, and Gothic, a bat-pony. Together, we formed a group called a group called the Daring-Flyers. We are committed to do what we can to help the other and help the ponies find their cutie-marks. But… that’s not the reason I’m writing this entry.

It’s about me. Whenever I’m around Derpy, I… I feel weird. I’m not sure why. It always happens when she’s around, even when there’s others present. Also, I feel anger when someone else is with her, particularly a guy. I have no clue why I am acting like this.

What is going on in me?’

‘hey, Diary. Derpy here.

Boy, a lot of things have happened since the last time I updated. For starters, I met a Dragon named eTu`nes, my eyes got messed up by a creature eTu`nes calls a Leviathan, we leave and arrive at the Gryphon Capital City of FeatherTop, and we meet a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash, who’s mother, Rainbow Shine, took us in. I think she knows my parents; I found a picture of her, them, and some other Pegasus named Golden Day. Why didn’t Mom or Dad tell me about Shine?

Anyway, there’s more then one reason why I’m writing this. It’s eTu`nes. He’s been acting weird lately. Well, weirder. But the thing is, it’s always around me. I asked him what it was but he didn’t say. I think he’s hiding something. Wonder if it has something to do with what I’m feeling.

There’s been this… strange tingling in my chest. And that pops up whenever eTu`nes is around. It’s odd and I can’t understand why it’s happening. Maybe I got heartworm or something.

But still…’

“What’cha writing?” Dash asked, popping out of nowhere. Derpy yelled and quickly put her diary behind her back. “what is that?”

“oh, nothing.” from behind, Derpy opened a desk drawer and stuck her diary in. “Nothing to important for you, Rainbow.”

Dash bought it hook, line, and sinker. “okay.”

Derpy breathed a sigh of relief. “So, what do you want?”

With a wide smile, Dash held up a letter. “I got excepted into Equestria’s Summer Flight Camp. I leave first thing next week.”

“Oh, congrats Dash. I know how much you wanted to join.”

“Thanks. Oh, this is so exciting. I gotta go tell mom.” she jumped up in excitement and flew on out. Derpy smiled. This was good for Dash.

She thought for a moment and looked back to her diary. She opened it up to the first page and looked at a picture of her and her sister. She felt bad for leaving without telling her. She grabbed a pencil and paper and began writing.

The group arrived at the train station 1 week later to say their goodbyes to Dash.

“be safe, Dash.” Shine said.

“And don’t do anything stupid.” Derpy and Lightning said at the same time.

“Guys. It’s Equestria.” Dash insinuated. “Last time they had anything remotely dangerous was 1000 years ago with that Nightmare Moon character. I think I’ll be fine.”

Shine walked over and handed Dash a saddlebag. “here. I made you some sandwiches for the trip. I also put in plenty of pencils and paper for you to write letters.” Shine suddenly hugged Dash and began kissing her.

“Mom!” Dash exclaimed in embarrassment. The guys silently chortled. Dash reacted as she tried to get loose. “ah-je-ba-ta-ze-bi-di-ba.” Dash got loose and wiped her face off. “thanks, mom, but I can handle it.”

Dash walked over to the nearest train car and jumped on. “I’ll be back at the end of summer.”

Shine tearfully nodded. She knew.

“Good luck, Dash!” everyone called out, waving goodbye. Dash waved back and jumped on in.

Rainbow walked though the aisle, trying to find a open seat. There wasn’t much. Most these ponies or gryphons were going on trips with their families. Finding a seat was going to be murder.

Or not. She found a open seat right across from a Gryphon. “this seat taken?” Dash politely asked.

“no. not really.” the Gryphon replied as she lazily looked out the window. Dash tossed her saddlebag into the overhead compartments and sat down in the seat across from the Gryphon.

Somepony knocked at the window, getting Dash’s and the gryphon’s attention. “Derpy?” Dash muttered, seeing the gray Pegasus hovering on the other side. She opened the window. “what do you want, Derpy?”

“I just remember…” Derpy panted as she held up a letter. “when you get to Ponyville, can you give this to my sister?”

“un… sure.” Dash reluctantly took it. “but, why?”

“well, when I left, I didn’t have much of a chance to say goodbye to her. You might see her there. She’s got a golden yellow body and her mane looks like yours, only gray. She usually goes by the nickname D.D.”

“Got it, Derpy. Now can you get out of here. I think you’re not supposed to be doing that near a train.”

“oh. Right. See ya in 3 months, Dash.” Derpy flew away before she could get into trouble.

Dash looked at the front of the letter. She flipped it around and found a note but she didn’t have time to read it because the Gryphon threw out a twist of fate.

“you know that ditzy looking Pegasus?” the Gryphon asked.

“Well… kinda. It’s a long story.”

“we got plenty of time.”

The train sputtered and began to move. “Guess you’re right. Name’s Rainbow. Rainbow Dash, by the way.” she said, offering her hoof in friendship.

The Gryphon look down then looked at her claw. “odd Pony custom but okay.” she took it and they shook hoofs… er, claws… eh… you know what I mean. “Name’s Gilda.”

18 Years Later…

Spike grumbled as he rolled around in his old bed. Clearly, trying to sleep in it was a bad idea. He needed a new one and Twi and Req knew it; they even offered their beds for the night, which Spike declined. Twi needed her’s since she’s pregnant and Req because he heard Humans have very bad backs. And Spike wasn’t the only one losing sleep.

Rarity rolled around in her head, having trouble falling asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw herself and Spike in that precarious situation underneath that pile of books. And her mind took it further then she wanted to go so she opened her eyes whenever it… went further.

She got up, went into the bathroom, and splashed cold water into her face. “what is going on here?” she asked her reflection. “Why can’t I get Spike out of my head?” she shook her head, trying to get him out. “this hasn’t happened before. So why now?”

A sleepy Sweetie Belle walked in. “Rarity… what’s going on?” she tiredly asked.

“oh. Un, nothing Sweetie Belle. Just thinking about something. What are you doing up?”

“I had a VERY weird dream. And Spike was a part of it.”

“Spike? Why were you dreaming about Spike?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he’s SO cute! He was cute as a baby but now… OH. He’s so dreamy.”

Rarity raised a eyebrow in surprise. “really? You have a thing for dragons? Well, different strokes for different blokes, as Ash eloquently put it once. And I supposed there are weirder relations like a Pony and a Gryphon, Gryphon and a Bat-Pony, a…”

“okay, okay. Me and everyone reading this story got it, sis.” Belle exclaimed. She yawned loudly. “guess I’m still sleepy. I’m hitting the hay.” she tiredly said before walking off. “night, sis.” Sweetie Belle called out.

“night, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity called out. Rarity returned her attention to the mirror and sighed. “Guess I’m just feeling jittery. Like Sweetie Belle said, Spike was just a baby yesterday. Guess I’m still surprised by his new look, is all.” she said to herself, trying to convince herself that that was it.

Ash heard this all from below in the main shop and put it in the back of his mind for now.

Spike yawned as he rested underneath a tree at midday. He had a rough day, running more errands then usual. Just because he was older doesn’t mean he was any more dexterous. That and nearly every pony in Ponyville was asking him what it’s like being a completely different person. Kinda. He also had a few mares, all of whom single and COMPLETELY desperate, batting him goo-goo eyes.

“no no no no no no no no no no. bring it to the right. THE RIGHT!” he heard someone yell from a distance, waking him up from his nap. He got up and went to investigate.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders struggled as they pulled on a kite’s rope, trying to get it out of a tree.

“you had to get it up in a tree, Dinky.” Scootaloo strained as she pulled with her teeth.

“blame Applebloom. She’s the one that distracted me.”

“no it wasn’t!” Applebloom retorted. “blame Sweetie Belle. She was distracted by something.”

“Was not!” she squealed.

Spike arrived and saw them pulling the rope. He followed the rope and spotted the kite. He chuckled as he looked back to the CMC.

“COME ON! Just a bit… more…” the rope suddenly went limp and the CMC fell backwards. “… power.”

The foals mumbled as they got up. Scootaloo’s eyes followed the rope and found the kite in Spike’s hands. “thanks for the warning, Spike.” she groaned.

“Sorry. Thought you would’ve notice.” he said as he walked over. He tossed the kite over to Dinky, who barely caught it intact.

“thanks. Really appreciate it.” Scoots sarcastically replied.

“I’m gonna venture a wild guess and say that you’re trying to find your cutie-marks in Kite Flying?” he asked as he pulled some leaves out of Applebloom’s hair.

“no, we were just playing.” A.B. replied. Sweetie Belle got steamed when Spike helped Applebloom instead of her. “but now that you mention it, I think we should’ve tried that.”

“now you tell us!” Dinky and Scootaloo exclaimed. Applebloom chuckled as she sheepishly scratched the back of her head.

Spike chuckled as he face-palmed. “oh, brother.”

Sweetie Belle got steamed even more. She stormed on over and, just before she came between Spike and ‘Bloom, she went back to her kind demeanor. “So, Spike… you want to help us get our un… our cutie-marks?”

“un. Sure. I got a hour free.”

“YES!” Sweetie happily exclaimed. Everyone looked at her with a weird expression. Belle realized what she had done and started blushing in embarrassment. “un… l-l-let’s go find out cutie marks!” she exclaimed before walking off in complete embarrassment.

The other 3 ponies and the dragon just looked at each, shrugged, and walked off after her.

Sora yawned as she rested her head on a table in Sugarcube Corner.

“Tough day?” Req asked as she and the other humans sat down at the table.

“tough night. Pinkie kept me up, asking Marble about every little detail about his old home. I think she’s smitten with him.”

“smitten? As in ‘in love?’” Bahamut asked.

“mmm… yeah. I think she is.”

“well, Twilight had a dream last night. Apparently, in her mind, Halo is VERY well-endowed.”

“well, that’s fantasies’ for ya.” Aura chuckled. “and you know something, I heard Applejack mention something about Zilver. And him with her. They both talked about ‘fine curves’ or something like that.”

“That’s nothing compared to what I heard last night. And it was quite juicy.” Ash snickered.

“oh, really?” Satoshi said with intrigue. “Do tell.”

“Well, it seems that Sweetie Belle has a little crush on a certain purple drake.” he calmly said before taking a sip of his drink. “And a certain fashionista is trying to hide her feelings.”

“wait wait wait. Are you saying that Sweetie Belle AND Rarity are in love with Spike?” Bahamut asked.

“Seems that way.”

Everyone chuckled. Req stopped and thought for a moment. “huh. Ha. Hmm… you know, that gives me a idea.” she got up and went back to Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Everyone looked at her suspiciously as the bakers handed her a calendar. She walked back over as she flipped to November. “look. In 2 weeks is Hearts and Hooves day, this world’s version of Valentines--”

“And I’m guessing Thanksgiving, since it’s on the same day as it.” Sora interrupted. Req sneered at her. “sorry.”

“oh, no.” Jax groaned. “Req, please tell me you’re not thinking what your thinking.”

“I am.” Jax groaned out loud before slamming her head into the table. “I think that we should set these poor lovebirds up.” Req said with a smile.

Everyone’s reaction was the same; with fazed eyes and not that much eagerness in their voice. “what?”

“yeah. Look at the evidence. They love the other and vice versa but both are either too stubborn or too scared to admit it. Twi and Halo came close but they had to deal with Trixie, Nightmare Moon, and Twilight’s pregnancy at the time. So, I think--”

“we should play matchmaker?” Bahamut asked. “Req, setting up two people never works out. NEVER!”

“oh, such a nit-picker. One would think you’d be excited for another couple seeing as how you’re in a relationship.” Aura said. That shut Bahamut up.

“So, with that out of the way…” Req sneered as she bonked Bahamut’s head. She gestured to the others, everyone leaning their heads in. “… here’s my plan on how to get these lovestruck fools together…”