We woke up after dawn to the shrill screaming of one of the magic alarms I'd enchanted. This was almost immediately followed by the shrill screaming of Rainbow Dash as she pounded on our door and yelled, "TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF TURN IT OFF!!!" Without stepping out of bed, I cancelled the spells, and the alarm stopped. I assumed at this point that everypony had survived the evening without incident, so the alarms were no longer necessary. A faint, "Thank Celestia," echoed from behind our bedchamber door, followed by the sound of another door shutting.

I hadn't woken up in Applejack's arms (I suppose that's pretty unrealistic to expect), but she still lay right beside me with a smile on her face. She gave me a tight hug, then stepped out of bed. I hopped out of bed myself and headed for the door.

"Whoa there, Twi!" Applejack called out, and I stopped in my tracks.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Um, darlin', I dunno if you can tell this, but, well, we both smell pretty ripe, and right now last night ain't gonna be no secret. You might wanna take a shower before makin' a personal appearance anywhere, if you follow," she said, with a blush.

"Oh. Oh!" I said. I sniffed at my hoof, and yes, it was pretty strong. Foul, even, but somehow pleasant nonetheless if only because it reminded me of my friend. (Yes I know that's really sick but I'm new to this thing and it was kind of neat. Ugh, I'm getting so gross now, I can just tell. Yet another step toward Team Batshit Insane, I suppose. Maybe that should be Flutterbatshit? Eh, no... that just seems forced. I'm bad at comedy, or so Pinkie tells me. Actually she says it's my timing but my timing is impeccable because I plan everything in advance, so I have no idea what the deal is with that. Anyway, I'm way off topic again.)

I took my shower first so I could talk to the others as soon as ponily possible. Applejack was still very horny (it feels weird saying "horny" to describe an earth pony), but she seemed to be handling it a little better after last night. Plus she started making weird noises when her shower began, so I figured she might be in there for a while. I toweled off and walked into the hallway.

After I opened the door, Fluttershy and Rarity opened theirs and stepped out to meet me. They were still wearing their nightgowns. For a brief moment I thought I hadn't washed off well enough because the scent still lingered; but then I realized, eww. (It wasn't coming from me, get it?) But I guess I can't point a hoof anymore, so I did my best to smile and act natural.

"Is everything alright, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. Fluttershy seemed, well, normal enough. Rarity had a face mask pulled upwards and set on her mane. It should have rested against her horn, but it wasn't there any more, so it was smooshing her forelock. It looked pretty amusing, I won't lie.

I sighed. "Yeah, it's okay guys," I said. "I cast an alarm spell so nopony would sneak in and eat us or bite us or capture us or whatever the hey you two still won't tell us you intend to do. If I hadn't, we'd all have to have slept out in the streets under some rubble or something."

Fluttershy and Rarity both looked very sad.

"I do wish you would stop fighting us, Twilight," said Rarity.

Fluttershy nodded, pouting demurely, and added her two cents, "If you'd only give us a chance, everything could be over and done with in no time at all. We'd all be so happy again, and we'd be back to being friends, just like we used to." She shook her head, teary-eyed. "I don't understand why you won't even trust us just this once, when it really matters."

I felt anger rise in my breast. "Trust you, after the way you both acted at dinner? Are you