Hey, you’ve been disappearing a lot lately. Things okay?

TrueSparkle

What’s not to be okay? Equestria is saved, I have to help with the cleanup, I helped organize Lyra’s present, I’ll likely spend a lot of time looking after the foals. Everything is just great...

Grumpy

*yay* that! Things aren’t good. It’s like everyone is having their wish come true, or something close, and I get left behind. I blame discord. He started all this as a joke and now he’s just run off somewhere. Next time I see him I’ll...

Anyway, how have you been? Brush tells me DarkSparkle has been doing one mess after another. And her latest boyfriend. Ouch. Sometimes I really don’t know what mares see in glowy stallions. Is that a thing? Whenever a mare goes to the Crystal Empire they start drooling like a wrap up waterfall.

You’re a mare, do you go insane when you go there?

Grumpy

Well thanks for noticing :P But no, that’s not something that attracts me. To be honest I’m not sure what my type is. For a while I thought it was MightyDragon, but now I don’t think it is.

TrueSparkle

That’s what I love about you. You’re always direct and not wishy washy. Don’t get me wrong, Brush is great and all, but Stars was she timid. As much as I hate MasterOfThisAstra, that whole experience helped her grow a backbone, and CEOWitch’s not too bad.

Grumpy

On that note, fancy going to a picnic with me? Now that things have calmed down and Equestria is safe it might be a good time. :)

TrueSparkle

True... there’s something I must tell you. All this time I’ve kept saying I haven’t been at conventions or some such *yay*. Actually, I’ve been to every single one. The only one I missed was the first one in Canterlot. After that I’ve been really consistent. Meetups, readings, you name it, I’ve been there. The only reason no one didn’t see me is because I’m not a pony.

Here, this is a picture of me. (It’s an old one, but you get the idea.)

[bunny.ani]

Grumpy

Ah, I understand. Well, I’m not surprised. It’s not like it could have happened any other way. When we started this Discord had the bright idea for us to poke fun at Brush, so he gave me the power to write on the aethernet. I admit it was my fault to get hooked. Not the MC *yay*. I haven’t read a single story and I doubt I will, but the discussions, those were really funny.

I should have quit while I was ahead.

Grumpy

Sorry, I had to go save Spike again. That idiot is constantly trolling DarkSparkle and she keeps sending him across Equestria. :/ And then he sends me a scroll to go get him or a PM if he has his tech with him.

Ah, I’m so relieved! :)

TrueSparkle

Huh?

Grumpy

I’ve known who you were months ago. ;) I just didn’t want to “ruin the secret” :)

TrueSparkle

It was Discord, right? I should have known that snake couldn’t keep his big fat mouth shut! I’ve no idea how he hasn’t told Brush yet... or maybe she knows and is just pretending for my sake? That sounds like something she’d do :/

Grumpy

Relax! The only ones who know are me, Spike, and maybe Simile. She was a bit drunk when Discord shared, so I have no idea what she remembers.

So about that picnic?

TrueSparkle

You realize I have a girlfriend, right? I mean I like you a lot, but I don’t think it will work out.

Grumpy

You’re hilarious. I just find you adorable :D And I miss having a picnic. The last time was before I met Simile. I’m telling you at times some fresh air, and not talking about MC, could be a life saver!

There’s fandom and then there’s obsession, and DarkSparkle can’t make the difference. The forum is full of speculation and rumors about the next volume. I can at least try to limit it in my everyday life. Plus it’s a bit awkward seeing your mentor smooching the stallion that tried to freeze you to death a few months ago.

TrueSparkle

Pfft!

Grumpy

Okay, I’m just a bit envious. Seems like all the perfect stallions go to my friends. Then again that’s what LightSparkle keeps repeating.

TrueSparkle

I’m dating a jackalope. It’s a cool experience.

Back to the picnic, you okay for tomorrow? I need to take care of the house today. Brush is off to visit CEOWitch and Discord is useless as usual. Maybe I could get YouKnowWho to do it for me.

Grumpy

Hey, leave the kid alone. She’s got a lot on her mind. She aspires to join the Wonderbolts in a few years, which might be challenging due to her condition. And she stubbornly refuses to use magic help because it would be cheating. I mean, honesty is often the best policy, but that is ridiculous.

Listen to us, grumbling like too old mares. :)

Tomorrow it is, then. You bringing anyone else?

TrueSparkle

Are you kidding? Harry will make a mess, and the gf won’t understand a thing. Oh, and i definitely don’t want Brush to suspect. If she finds out she’ll either forbid me from posting on ten site, or pressure me to start writing :/ I really don’t like writing stories. Give me the real thing any day of the week.

Grumpy

True, though some of the stories are actually good. Not as many as ponies would like to think. Feather is having a field day with that. I’ve no idea how Tech hasn’t banned her yet.

What time is good for you?

TrueSparkle

Two in the afternoon? Mornings are a bit fragmented for me.

Grumpy

Sounds good to me. Take care and see you around.

Oh, and be less grumpy, okay? :)

TrueSparkle

Heh. I’ll add that to the list of requests. See you around, True.

Grumpy

Author's Notes:

7 chapters remaining...