Pinkie slowly awoke to the sound of her alarm clock going off. She went to get bet felt something was on her. It took her a minute before she realized it was Sonata's arm. During the night Sonata had put her arm around Pinkie and had spooned up behind her. It wasn't an unwelcomed feeling. In fact it made her happy. Sonata was the first person she met who she could truly relate to and who could relate to her.

At first she thought it was Sonata's whimsy, her love of jokes and food. But after last night, maybe it was her darkness too. Maybe she was so upbeat and chipper to hide that part of her from even herself. It was tough to think she had a monster inside her.

"Pinkie, are you gonna turn the alarm off?" Sonata asked sleepily.

"Huh, yeah, sure." Pinkie reached out and turned the alarm off but continued to lay in bed.

"You ok?" Sonata could tell something was wrong. She wanted to know but didn't want to push. This left things open enough for her to talk.

"Still thinking about last night. Thinking about who I really am."

"You're Pinkie Pie. The funnest, nicest, most lovable person I know, and my best friend. That's who you are."

Pinkie smiled. "Thanks Sonnie."

Sonata rolled Pinkie over with some force. Pinkie was surprised and a little bit scared. "You're scared of what you might be based on some dumb comments by me and Maud. But I've done actual, horrible things. And I even enjoyed them at the time. But you don't see that. And when I'm with you, I don't see it in me either. You bring out the best in people. So I don't see how you could let anything bad out of yourself." Sonata was somewhere between angry and sad, She hated seeing Pinkie feeling bad or questioning herself.

Pinkie looked blankly at Sonata, then hugged her. "Thanks Sonnie. I needed that."

With that, the girls got up, gathered their clothes up, and went to the shower.

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Applejack didn't need her alarm clock to go off, she had woken up about an hour before it was time. She just stared at the ceiling, thinking about last night. She had worried she would not have a name or power. She had worried that she would be separated from her friends, that all of them would go on to be something important and fight without her. Which was odd since she had never felt that way in the past.

All her life she had been a proud farm girl. She loved farming and planned on doing nothing else with her life. She had plans or desires to be a model or actress or singer or any other fancy or high profile occupation. Her place was here, on the farm, feet in the dirt. She was growing food to feed the people and being in nature. Who could ask for me than that.

That last couple years though had caused her to slowly shift herself. Before she had worn her tom-boy status as a badge of honor. But then she found herself wanting to be more girly and feminine. When Rarity would ask her to try out dresses; she would protest vigorously, but she secretly loved seeing how she looked all glammed up. She also found herself wanting to be something more than just a farm girl. Maybe it was secretly saving the world three times, but now that she knew there was more out there, she wanted to experience it.

And that brought her to Chip. She hadn't known what to expect last night. She hadn't even known if she would go through with it. But once the line had been crossed, she had no regrets. It had turned out better than she could have hopped. Being there, with the boy she loved, engaging in the most intimate of acts; brought out a femininity and desire in her that not even she could have expected.

She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. She wanted to do up her hair, wear make-up, she wanted to wear jewelry and frilly clothes and go shopping for shoes, namely high heels. She wanted to embrace every aspect of being a girl, of being female. She just didn't get her Name of Power last night or even just lose her virginity, she had been set free almost. Free to see herself as a true girl and not have to always be so hard (although she still had no problem punching anyone out if they got in her face).

Apple started to laugh and twirl around her room. She would get ready, go and pic Chip up, go to school, she would hold his hand, lean on his shoulder, she would be his girl, she would be a girl, she would ask Rarity to help her with buying make-up and clothes. Today was a new day, a great day, a rebirth.

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It was day two for Twilight in her new (and temporary) life. Yet even so, she felt so comfortable in it. Sparkle's parents now felt like her own. Her banter with this world's Shining Armor was now the same as her own. It felt like this was almost her real life and everything in Equestria had been a dream.

But it wasn't. And Sparkle was back there, missing her family. Also there was a monster here she had to stop before it killed again. Those two facts kept her somewhat grounded. Still it could be so easy to just slip into this life; to just be a girl. Go to school, date, get married, get a job, have kids, no magic, no responsibilities, no saving the world on a continuous basis, or having to fix everyone's friendship problems. How simple it would be, just to be.

She finished getting ready and went down stairs. Surprisingly, Flash was there. He was in the living room, sitting on the couch. Her (Sparkle's, got to watch that) parents were seated across from him and Shinning was standing in a corner, slightly behind Flash.

"Oh, hey," Twilight said hesitantly. "What's going on here? I wasn't expecting you here Flash."

"I know," he said with an easy smile. "I just thought I'd take you to school today and use this as an opportunity to meet your family."

"Oh. Well I wish you would have told me this yesterday." Twilight was miffed. Flash had just decided to show up on his own and potentially ruin her cover (not to mention blow any chance of seeing each other in the future). Whatever his intentions were, he should have talked to her about it.

Flash nodded in deference. "You're right. I should have. I'm sorry. I was just worried with everything going on; I only wanted to make sure you were safe. Also I really did want to meet your family. The sooner they got a chance to meet me, the better. I didn't want them worrying what kind of guy was dating their daughter," he then turned to Shinning, "or sister. But I'll check you with from now on."

"You better believe you will." On one hand she was deeply impressed with Flash; his logic and caring, but him acting on his own (especially with Princess Celestia's warning) was a no-go and she was going to let him know it.

Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle looked at their daughter reading Flash the riot act and looked at each other. This boy who had knocked on their door had been perfectly delightful but not too polished. He came across as respectful, sincere, and just really nice. Mrs. Sparkle could instantly see what her daughter saw in him. Still, he could be faking it all. Now looking at him acquis to their daughter as she clearly demonstrated who had the real power in the relationship, they both felt much better.

"Honey," Mrs. Sparkle said sweetly, "Flash has been absolutely delightful. It's ok."

"Yes," agreed Mr. Sparkle.

Twilight looked at them then at Flash. She was still mad and a bit confused, but happily so. "Oh, ok. But he should have checked with me first."

"Agreed," said Shinning from the corner.

"Anyway," Mrs. Sparkle continued, "if you want to ride to school with him, you may. Also, Flash, would you like to come to dinner with us on Sunday? We can talk more. Maybe you can even bring your family along. If that's not too much."

"Well, that would be up to Twilight first then I would have to double check with my parents to make sure they didn't have anything planned."

"Twilight?" Mrs. Sparkle simply asked.

Twilight wasn't sure what to say. It was Thursday now. That gave them only three days to rehearse things as well as trying to find the monster. Still, it could be a way to win over her (Sparkle's darn it) parents and remove a potential road block.

"I'm fine with it as long as his parents are."

******************************************************************

As soon as they got in Flash's car, Twilight punched him in the shoulder as hard as she could.

"OW! What was that for?"

"For not clearing things with me first! That's what."

"But I was being real when I said I only . . ."

"I don't care! Flash, we're dealing with a very dangerous monster. Plus I'm entering a realm I don't know that much about; with the magic names and all. I can't have you going off on your own, making your own decisions without talking to me first. You could hurt or even . . . ; talk to me next time ok? Talk to me or I'll have to cut you out of this."

Flash looked at Twilight with both surprise and hurt. "Uh, sure. Yeah, ok. I'll ask your permission next time." He looked down and went to start his car when Twilight put her hand on his. He looked back her.

"I'm sorry," Twilight said softly. "It's not my permission I want you to ask for. I just want you to talk to me. We're a team. We need to discuss things and decide together. I worry about you. I worry about all of us, but you in particular. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Ok?"

Flash nodded his head yes. "I am really sorry. And you are right. I should have talked to you. And I will from now on. And I don't want anything bad to happen to you either."

The two kissed and then Flash drove off.

Author's Notes:

Next week I'll pick up with Rainbow, Rarity, and Fluttershy.