It's already been two days since I encountered the mare impersonating my mother. My father and I consulted my mother about it, but she said nothing. In fact, she's become more distant since I spoke to her about the matter. It's was a little suspicious, but I decided it was best to try and go along with it.

A few hours ago, I was invited to come over to Sugar Cube Corner for another friend get-together. It was something all of us (my friends, I mean) like to do every once in a while. Bubblegum always hosted, but I never had a problem with it since she was the best party and event planner ever! Pinkie Pie also holds great parties too, but I always preferred Bubblegum's over anypony else who tried to plan. Especially Blitz. He's the absolute worst at hosting.

The instantaneous second I stepped through Sugar Cube Corner's entrance, I was attacked by Bubblegum's barrage of talking. She didn't do that as much as her mother did when she was younger, so I heard, but it was without a doubt a trait that Bubble inherited.

"Hey Midnight!" she said in her usual bubbly voice "How are you? What took ya so long? Did your mom ground you? Are you supposed to be here? What's the square root of fifty-two again? Oh, I know! It's four, right? No, wait, that's not it. Oh, it's five! Yeah, that sounds right!"

"Bubblegum..." I said trying to get her attention.

"Or, are you just here to confess your true love for Springy? That would be so romantic if you did!"

"Bubblegum!" I raised my voice a bit.

"Or are you escaping from Space Pirates? Is Ridley here?! I'll show that guy some ol' one-two! Or are you-"

"BUBBLEGUM!" I finally shouted, which got her attention.

"Yes?" she asked as if nothing ever happened.

"Is everypony already here?"

"Well duh! Why do you think I asked why you were so late?" she rolled her eyes playfully.

"Good point" I said in a surrendering tone "Alright, let's just head on inside."

XXXXXX

"Order on table three!" Pound Cake shouted to his twin sister, Pumpkin Cake.

"Got it!" Pumpkin shouted back.

My friends and I had sit down on our favourite table by a window looking out onto town square. By this time, I had already begun talking to them all. Through time, they all shared their stories of what happened last week. The Unicorn twins' story was my favourite, since it involved them accidentally discovering their mother's secret stash of food in the basement. They've been eating it for a few days now, and Rarity still doesn't know.

After everypony had told their stories, it was my turn to speak about the past week. I, of course, knew exactly what to talk about. I took a deep breath in and hoped they would believe me.

"Two things for me this time" I began "First, Bass Drop tried to kill me again."

"Tell us somethin' we don't know!" Little Mac chuckled.

"Yeah, but this time it was with a giant cannon that shot out a huge blue beam of energy!" I informed my friends "It nearly took out half the town!"

"Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" asked Ribbon with concern.

"I'm sure he is, dearest sister" Thread eased his twin sister "Besides, if he wasn't, he wouldn't be here, now would he?"

"Thread, no offense buddy, but I'm telling the story, Kay?" I told my Unicorn friend.

"*sigh*... fine..." he said in defeat.

"Anyway, yes I'm fine" I confirmed my status "The only real trouble I had was that Bass got off Scott free."

"Don't tell me... Vinyl, right?" asked Spring.

"Correctamundo!" I said "That's a word I've never said before and hope to never say again. Anyway, she came up to Bass Drop, high-hoofed her and walked away! Then she was all like 'Let's go and annoy Tavi' or something like that

"Somepony needs to do something about that mare..." said Blitz.

"I'll say!" agreed Bubblegum "At least she just wants Midnight to love her, unlike those bullies from school. What were their names again?"

"Gold and Platinum?" I guessed.

Gold and Platinum are the infamous Diamond Tiara's younger brothers. They're not twins, but they came around one year between each other. I've heard stories about Diamond Tiara being the school bully back in the original CMC's time, but she's pretty much made up for it and is now the nicest mare in town. Her brother's, however, were and still are a nightmare. Thankfully, they're all out on vacation this time of year, so we don't have to worry about them.

"Yeah, them..." Bubble made a frowny face before puffing out her cheeks "I keep forgetting about them because they're meanie mean pants!"

"Well, at least we don't halfta deal with em' fer ah while" Little Mac said "At's' the nice thin' bout' summer: we don't halfta deal with em'! Ever!"

"Right you are, my little country colt" Ribbon hugged him affectionately. She didn't have a crush, for that would be weird. No, she just adored the little tyke like a stuffed toy. Did Little Mac mind? No, not really. Being hugged by a girl, especially one as beautiful as Ribbon, would make anyone jump for joy in their mind.

"Getting back to Midnight," Spring said as she put more attention towards me "didn't you say you had two things to tell us this time?"

"Oh yeah..." I said as I remembered last Saturday "I probably should've told this to you guys earlier, but last Saturday somepony impersonated my mom."

"Oh yeah, I think Springy told me about that..." Bubblegum said.

"Us too!" said the twins at the same time.

"But is it true?" asked Blitz Wing.

"Yeah, it's true" I said "I kinda left me slightly confused at the end of it all, but one thing still bugs me... Something that's actually pretty scary..."

"What is it?" asked all my friends.

"Right after you left with Halley, B," I spoke mainly to the white maned mare next to me "the mare got up and teleported outta there, stating that she'll return to finish off the job later."

"How in the name of Luna is that even possible?!" asked Ribbon with shock in her voice "Wasn't she impaled by your father's spell?"

"That mare was not normal..." said Spring "A void in her chest? Living after a spell as fatal as what Mr. Bookworm used? There's no way we're dealing with just some crazy psychopath."

"One more thing... she seemed to take a disliking interest toward the red streak of my mane" I informed my friends "I have a feeling this annoying streak of hair has something to do with it all... I never really saw it as that important."

"Have you spoken to Mrs. Sparkle on the matter?" asked Blitz.

"Yeah, but she won't talk about it..." I answered "Actually, she's been pretty distant ever since I spoke to her about the mare. She's hiding something, I just know it..."

"Ah'm sure she'll come round' ventually'" said Little Mac "She'll only keep secrets from er' kids ifin ey'd be extremely important."

"That's just what I'm worried about little buddy" I said "But maybe you're right. I just have to be patient..."

"Well, I think that just about wraps up our meeting!" stated Bubblegum "To end it on a high note, though..." she then inexplicably pulled out seven smoothies from her poofy hair, extra berries on Blitz's of course "DRINK UP!"

We all laughed at Bubble's weirdness as we drank our smoothies the rest of the time there.

XXXXXX

Sometime later, I decided it was time for me to head home. It was already starting to become night time, so that could be a reason. As I left Sugar Cube Corner, I felt somepony was watching me. It couldn't be the mysterious mare, for this presence I felt was slightly weaker. I looked around to try and find the presence, but alas I saw nothing.

As I walked back home, the presence never left. Ponyville's streets still had ponies on them, so you'd think it wouldn't be easy to spot this other presence, right? Wrong. This presence was strong and was just about as easy to feel as it was to see a flashing red light in a glass house. Some spy, eh?

I finally got back home, thinking the presence would leave. Little did I know that was not exactly the case. Whilst inside my castle, I couldn't feel presences in the outside world, meaning I didn't notice the hooded pony that was watching me, waiting for me to come out of hiding. But what I really didn't know was that hooded pony I would get to know a lot more... for better or for worse.

Author's Notes:

This chapter was pathetically short and I'm so sorry! I tried to prolong it, but it appears not by much. Again, thanks for sticking with me for this long. We still have at least thirty more chapters for you, so sit tight and enjoy the ride! Also, Doctor Who reference somewhere in this story. See if you can spot it!

I'm not doing anything with Gold and Platinum at all in this story, so thank god we don't have to deal with two Diamond Tiara clones. I might be putting them in another story though.

Until then, I'll see ya later Scraggsters!