Twilight gets a Puppy

by TDR

First published 8th of September, 2017

A baby dragon wasn't the only thing Twilight gained during her acceptance test.

When Twilight Sparkle had the magical surge that cemented her place as Celestia's student, the amount of power she released not only hatched a baby Dragon, it brought forth something else. Something that shouldn't exist any more.
Something that has Celestia worried.

A fluffy puppy.

[Despite the gore tag it's rather light on that, and they have yet to make a lewd tag and there's a bit of that.]

Editing help by Lawlypops, ThatNoobpony and people in the comments.

Modoc is converting this story into a youtube audio format if you'd rather listen to the story. That link is here.

Season two is live here, Season 2

Prologue

Celestia's journal, entry... Oh why do I even bother to keep track of this? No pony's even going to read it but me... And if they are reading it, just know that I will be very cross at this invasion of privacy.

I shouldn't be. I've got at least a hundred of these things dumped in a vault in the basement. And if in twelve years what I think will happen happens like I think it will happen, it will be nice to know that something of mine will remain, until she finds the vault and likely destroys them.

Any way, usual routine, lowered moon, raised sun, breakfast, listened to nobles brag about how important they are, lunch, giant dragon and explosions in the student hall, late court, lower the sun, raise the moon, reminisce for an hour or two, dinner, some me time and diary entry, then bed.

Normal day.

I have no idea why I am trying to be smarmy here, I am the only one that’s going to read this.

Yes, the dragon. One of several things today that are both wondrous and absolutely terrifying.

The new students were taking their placement tests for my school today. The big test is to try and hatch a Dragon egg. At the time there was a bit of conflict between Equestria and the Dragons, mostly me and a few Dragons. I was working on a couple of things, don't judge, when i aquired it. At the time, I thought having a Dragon egg would make a nice conversation piece, so I brought it back to Canterlot with me.

I don't recall exactly when the school started using it as a test. Probably about the time I realized it was a lousy paperweight as it kept rolling off my desk and crushing my wastebasket, or my hooves... sucker’s heavy. I do recall giving it to the school maybe as a history thing or curiosity. I wasn't worried about it. It's a dragon egg after all. The mothers gorge on diamonds for months before laying their eggs. I could have probably dropped the moon on it and the moon would have cracked.

Turns out the dean and his little council decided to set it as a test to see if the new students could 'hatch it'. It was less to see if they could and more to see how clever the students’ attempts were. Rather ingenious of them really, I do recall raising the funding after that was explained.

Of course by this point they'd seen everything from a pegasus filly sitting on it and trying to hatch it like a chicken egg.[ She wasn't accepted, as that was too silly] to an Earth Pony building a steam powered incubator from scraps he brought with him, and an old water fountain.[ He was accepted and most of Equestria's modern advancements are owed to Nickeroli Tesla. ]

The short of it is that no one ever considered the egg as anything more than a pretty rock for the hundred or so years they had it. So when a small Unicorn filly had a magical surge as a result of some sort of rainbow phenomenon near Cloudsdale,[I have ponies investigating that as I write this.], and hatched the egg, lets say everyone was surprised. Particularly when this five year old foal not only hatched the dragon egg, but she turned it to an adult, and then turned her parents into cactuses, cactusi? Cacti, that's it. Seriously, no one was ready for it.

Of course with that sort of disturbance I went to investigate. I wasn't worried about the randomly surging magic, since my shield spell could handle that. Nor was I worried about the Dragon. He was sitting there confused with a dopey look on his face, having no idea what was going on, and even if he was aggressive, I’ve kicked the tail of dragons twice his size without breaking a sweat.

No, what worried me was the other thing in the room.

The thing in question at first looked like a Diamond Dog pup. Granted, only somepony who had never seen one of what it really was would confuse the two. And since I was the only pony left alive who had seen one of them, I knew what I was dealing with.

The creature’s fur was a darkish blue. It was on all fours like a normal dog, though its front limbs were built differently with longer, retractable claws on the ends of fingers for manipulation and attacking. Digging was not the strong suit of this species. It's head was more cat-like than canine, with a longer muzzle, and much longer ears that were currently plastered to it's head. It had amber eyes that were slitted like a cat’s, both wide with panic. Its tail whipped wildly behind it, The tail being whip like, rather than the club tails Diamond Dogs had. It had a rougher mane of hair that ran down its head from between its ears, along the back of its neck, and between its shoulders like a short mane.

The most prominent thing about it, aside from the growling mass of sharp teeth in its maw, was at the end of its whip like tail, as well as the points of each long ear, there sat a small free floating globe of light. The light it shed was dim and barely perceivable in the well-lit chamber. Particularly with the strobing blasts of the little unicorn’s magical surge. The little light orbs tended to wax and wane along with the moon, though since I had never bothered to learn how to do that, the moon was always full, thus so were the little lights.

It was called a Witch Wolf.

Judging by its size, the sheer fluff of its fur, and oversized paws, it was a puppy, but still.

Witch Wolves, or as they were called by the Lunar Republic, Moon Dogs, were a offshoot of the Diamond Dog race. One cultivated and guided by her for thousands of years, much like she had done with the Thestrals. And I had done with the Zebra's and, to a lesser extent, horses. [ Look I’m older than most dirt. Way back when, it was sorta’ trendy to selectively breed your own race by picking genetic quirks you liked and pairing them with creatures who revered you as a god... peer pressure... shut up.] Like the Thestrals, when she turned to darkness they followed. However unlike the Thestrals, Witch Wolves, were not just Ponies with odd eating habits and dragon-like traits...

They couldn't dig well, which was an odd trait for a canine of any kind. They did have a sense of smell that was unrivaled by any other creature. It was said that they could track a single pony feather in a blizzard at the bottom of the ocean. Which makes little sense really, because wouldn't they drown trying to sniff underwater?

They were also naturally super tough. Not as tough as Dragons mind you, or my last cook’s key lime pie, but tough. Which made them perfect shock troops for Her. Of course there were a few of them made into dark generals as well. While the race reveled in violence, they were not mindless brutes.

Witch Wolves were also meat-eaters. Diamond Dogs nowadays still have the occasional hunting packs, but they live off a number of different things, not just meat. A Witch Wolve’s primary diet was meat. The only other thing they ate was what made them dangerous.

Witch Wolves ate magic.

They couldn't cast any spells, though eating enough magic seemed to bolster their own natural abilities with some sort of enhancement effect. Just the basic strength, speed, endurance, variety, but if they ate enough of it they became true terrors. And really as dangerous as they were before powering up, this bit sucked when you fought them.

Which was why when She was defeated, I had them all hunted down and destroyed.

The Thestrals surrendered when their leader was defeated. The Witch Wolves just fought harder.

The aftermath of the Lunar Rebellion was bloodier and more violent than the lead up to it. It seemed that she had been keeping them in check with her very presence, and now that she was gone, they didn't hold back.

Entire cities were wiped out by packs no bigger than ten or twenty. It took nearly fifty years, and the loss of thousands, but the last one was cornered on the border between the Griffon Empire and Equestria and finally put down after inflicting greater casualties than either the Griffons or the Ponies could afford to their militaries.

That conflict brokered a long lasting peace between the two nations and a massive Equss-wide hunt for any more Witch Wolves. That hunt lasted another twenty years without finding another.

And yet here in front of me, positioned between the surging filly and me, was a Witch Wolf pup.

It was almost cute given it was slightly smaller than the filly and was still fluffier than anything else. Still, its teeth were sharp and it was glaring at me quiet angrily as it growled. As i moved to go around it to get to the filly, it shifted position. I blinked as it moved between me and the panicking unicorn. I went the other way and so did it.

Interesting.

It was keeping me from getting to the filly? Was it guarding her? I shifted to where the Dragon was and watched as it practically bounced over to position itself between the Dragon and me as well. I backed up and the growling died down a bit, though its amber eyes continued to glare. It refused to allow me to approach the dragon or the filly.

While curious, I had to stop the purple unicorn. Ripping free a curtain with my magic, I scooped the pup up in the thick cloth getting a panicked yelp and the sound of flailing. I did my best to keep it away from anything magical it could eat as I needed to deal with the filly and the dragon first before I could deal with the Witch Wolf.

I was not fond of having to exterminate the race in the past. Genocide, no matter how violent the species, is not acceptable. I had been left no choice if I wanted to protect my little ponies however.

The filly seemed to notice my approach and the surges slowly petered out as I touched her shoulder. It took little effort to reverse most of the wild magic that had happened in the area. There were a few things I could not figure out how to fix however. Like the pink and yellow polkadots that were put on the wall. Even now, they still bleed though every bit of paint put on that wall. We tore it down at one point and the blasted pattern showed up on another wall in the building until the first was rebuilt.

There was also the Witch Wolf. Once the filly had calmed down, after an adorable bout of bouncing around me like a rabbit upon hearing she had been accepted, things got a bit out of hoof.

Thankfully she had missed my returning her parents back from cacti, or she might have been even more upset.

She had been in awe of the little baby Dragon she had hatched and spent some time focused on him as he sucked on his own tail.

By that point however, the Witch Wolf had torn its way out of the curtain and landed with a thud and a whimper on the ground, drawing the filly’s attention. She looked at the pup, the pup looked at her, and before I could do anything she had pounced on the pup and was hugging the fluffy little thing like a stuffed toy.

I expected a number of things to happen; for it to bite her, to worm away, or struggle and claw at her. Instead, it seemed to give up almost immediately, resigning itself to the cuddles with a light whimper. It was not only unusual, but it was simply weird. Witch Wolves were not known to be calm or deal well with foals, especially not as pups.

Looking them both over, I noticed there was a connection between the pup and the unicorn. One usually seen only in certain higher level spells.

Evil spells that were all but forgotten and the few records that remained locked away. Spells that pulled a creature into this world and bound it to another as a summoned slave. Spells that left a dark mark on anyone’s soul using it. Victim and caster.

There was no trace of darkness in this link. I had seen summon spells before, but this only shared the energy link, not the slave command. Given this was a creature that wasn't supposed to exist any more, I about washed my hooves of it and went to take a nap.

Still, with this much happening and this much power shown, I could not let her alone. Particularly not with two dangerous creatures, both of which she was now responsible for.

And thus I accepted my new student................ students?

Twilight Sparkle

Spike the Dragon

and Rahs the Witch Wolf.......or should I call him a Moon Dog?

TDR presents

A story NOT in stone

Twilight Gets a Puppy.

Author's Notes:

I don't know where this idea came from. I don't know why i am writing it. But i do know i am having a hard time stopping.

Expect puns. lots and lots of puns.

Also meet my New editor, the adorably avatared Lawlypops

How Much is that doggie in the window?

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's journal wheneverly,

I was correct. The Witch Wolf is dangerous. Very dangerous.

No, it's not done anything violent or vicious. Spike's already caused more damage than Rahs has in the three months since he hatched. Though Spike has yet to widdle on the carpet in my personal quarters. Rahs has done it four times..... since Tuesday.

It's not his magic eating that has been a danger either. In fact, that seems more like a boon in this case. Twilight's magic seems to be trickling to him through their link, and not only has it kept Rahs sated, it's kept Twilight's magic more level. She's less likely to have surges with the excess bleeding off like it is. Something to consider for others suffering from magical surges perhaps?

No, what makes Rahs dangerous is that he is absolutely adorable, and he knows it.

If he does anything wrong, he simply sits up a little, flops his ears, and gives you a look that could melt a Windigo's heart. Someone really should market that look and put it on a stuffed animal..... they would make millions.

In any event, not even the most stone cold Guard I have is immune to that look. To make matters worse, Twilight has seen what it can do and has added her own weapons grade adorableness to his. Not even her parents can deal with the pair of them working together, particularly when Twilight's hugging him to herself and looking pouty.

The worst however is when she manages to get Spike in on it too. All the purple lizard has to do is suck on his tail and look at whoever he's pointed at for dawws, and when backed by the other two, they are unstoppable. I can't even handle adorableness of that magnitude.

I've had to hire a team of doctors skilled in cardiac arrests to be on standby around the clock.

While it took a bit of time before he stopped trying to maul any one who got close to Twilight or Spike, he eventually did. Twilight easily convinced him that her parents were okay. Though from what she tells me, her brother Shining Armor and Rahs hit it off pretty much from the start. Shining had always wanted a dog it seemed and now he had one … sorta.

Aside from immediate family and a few other exceptions, it takes him a few weeks of constant exposure to get used to them before he stops going into protective pup mode.

Something that involves him tackling Twilight to the ground and standing over her while barking, baring his teeth, and growling at whoever is new to him until they go away. He also has a tendency to attack my tail and mane, but i think that is due to their wavy nature than anything else.

The filly thought it was funny at first, then a bit bothersome. Now she usually is so absorbed in her reading she doesn't even notice. Given she has a tendency to walk and read at the same time, I’m not against his over protectiveness.... at least until he tries to eat my hoof cover again... with my hoof still in it.

One of his other issues is that he tries to protect Spike and Twilight at the same time. A bit of a problem as he can't be in two places at once. They were keeping Spike in a bedroom apart from Twilight at first just in case he snored fire in his sleep.

After three nights of thunderous paws running between the rooms as Rahs tried to watch both at once, usually resulting getting tired and passing out in the middle of the floor where someone could, and did trip over him, they relented. But only after Mrs. Sparkle nearly fell down the stairs twice because of the furry lump in the middle of her floor, Mrs. Sparkle just put the baby dragon in with her daughter and fireproof spelled everything.

Yet another issue is that he often acted more like a cat than a dog. He has the claws and tail for it I suppose, and like a cat he sharpens his claws on nearly anything and everything. Add in his desire to chew on everything and add in his want to climb everything and you see the issue. It's sorta’ cute when it's the couch or a book case he's scaling, not so cute when it's your leg.

For the most part he's a well behaved pup when Twilight tells him to do something. Aside from the weaponized cute, the normal young animal things, and the guard dog mentality, he's content to sleep most of the time that I teach Twilight, much as Spike does.

During one of these peaceful moments I asked Twilight why she named him Rahs.

It seems that the name came from a story she read about a famous inventor who had changed the face of Equss with his work. Bringing Pony kind into a golden age of delight and wonder.

A certain Rahs de Medici.

Thinking on it, I couldn't recall any one of that name leaving any sort of mark on history and it was only after she brought the book she was speaking of to show me that I understood.

Rahs de Medici was the inventor of ice cream.

Given that Twilight was more than willing to use weaponized cuteness, or any other under-hooved trick to get the sweet treat, the reason for the name was quite clear.

The Moon Dog’s diet was the source of less issue than I thought. Several races of Equss eat meat, and as such I employ a number of chiefs for any ambassadorial visits that might require culinary skills with something beyond pony.

It didn't take much to convince one to prepare meals for Rahs. A Griffon chef that worked for me named Emareial Larkasse was the one who agreed, though he was clearly not happy with it. At least until Twilight and Rahs came to thank him for the food.

After he recovered from his heart attack and was cleared by the doctors, he was significantly less annoyed with the preparations for Rahs.

The primary ingredients of the dishes were eggs, fish, bird, or other small game creatures. Occasionally one of the Guard’s Monster Hunters would bring in meat from something larger they had taken down. Though this became a bit more common as the existence of the pup was known. While this meant the pup never went hungry, it also meant that most other ponies were spared knowledge of what the Moon Dog was eating.

The first real incident happened near the beginning of the second year. Spike had his first birthday and Twilight was super excited for it.

Rahs was clearly older than Spike and seemed to be growing at the same rate as Twilight, so Twilight suggested that he have his birthday the same day as hers in summer.

Rahs was confused by the lot of it, but seemed to sense that Twilight was excited and became a little hyperactive bouncing ball of excited fluff, which also got Spike excited, thus adding to Twilight's previous excitement and increasing the cleaning bill for the Sparkle household yet again.

Two nights after the dragon's birthday party, the Sparkles’ house was broken into. The police later found they had cast a silence spell around the parents’ room and made their way directly to Twilight's room.

The investigators were mixed on motives since the criminals wouldn't talk, or simply claimed they got lost on their nightly stroll. Of the two options, the first was that they were either after Spike and perhaps Rahs. A baby Dragon was a rarity and would likely fetch a high price on the black market, intact, or in pieces, and Rahs was an unknown for any pony who knew about Diamond Dogs and could tell he wasn't one.

the other option was they were out to foal nap the student of the Princess for a huge ransom. One I would have paid easily had they managed to take her. Though I would have made them regret it later.

None of that happened, mind you.

What did happen was that the Sparkles had to move out of their house for a few weeks while it was deep cleaned and the damage restored.

Of the four perpetrators, only one was unscathed and that was a Pegasus lookout that had been outside the house. Aside from a ridiculous amount of scratches and bite marks, one of the Unicorns had his horn bitten partially off. As far as I know, even without the inhibitor ring he is wearing in jail, he cannot cast properly any more. The other unicorn got off the lightest, though they were unable to reattach his ear. The third was an Earth Pony and I almost pardoned her. She had one of her forelegs bitten clean off, and by the time Mrs. Sparkle convinced Rahs to let go of the mauled limb, it was too badly damaged to reattach.

Rahs did not exactly make it through unscathed. Had he been older he might have, and the trio of foal nappers would have been dead. As it was, he was still a puppy and had to be treated for several spell burns, a broken leg, a few cracked ribs and a number of bruises. He also had several of his teeth break off in the thieves’ flesh.

Twilight and Spike slept through the whole thing.

Rahs recovered rather quickly, despite Twilight's attempt to be a doctor for him herself. That incident used up sixty bits worth of bandages and Band-Aids and left Rahs looking more like a mummy than anything else with nothing but his little black button of a nose poking out of the wrapping. It took us two hours to get him out... with magic.

It was also of note that a few days later, one of the patrol Guards noticed a mark at the bottom of the mailbox post at the Sparkle house. It was something he brought to my aside’s attention who then brought it to me.

A few of my Guards and servants started their careers in one 'less than reputable' profession or another. Over my many years I have learned many interesting things simply by associating with those not quite on the up and up, as well as the high class. The Guard knew this of me and knew what the mark meant when they brought it to my attention.

A triangle pointed down with a line through the middle of it. The bottom point of the triangle then had a large circle around it that cut through the middle of the triangle.

A thieve’s guild mark signifying danger.

Given this robbery cost them four members, two likely for good, it was little surprise the mark was placed.

Despite the addition of the mark, I decided that I wanted a little extra protection for the trio and sent a letter to someone I knew would be able to help me with this.

Someone who wouldn’t be swayed by the adorable trifecta, no matter how many pouty lips, glimmering eyes or wiggling noses............................... gah ….. I think my heart stopped there for a second.

Anyway, she would not be swayed by this and had plenty of experience with both foals and monsters.

My niece, Mi Amoré Cadenza.

Author's Notes:

This chapter was already half way done when he request to be adorable popped up. Done and done.

Editing by Lawlypops

…....the one with the waggly tail

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's Journal entry.... Thursday I think? Or is it Friday? No. It's Thursday, nothings on fire.

While I know I explained this before, that journal is probably buried under a hundred others, so I might as well again. It's not as if anything exciting happened today aside from my nearly dying watching Twilight’s face scrunch up like a prune as she tried to cast a teleport spell for the first time.

The spell is far beyond even her abilities at this point, but she was insisting she be allowed to try.

Any way, about my niece, Princess Mi Amoré Cadenza.

First and foremost is that she is none of those things. She is not related to me... trust me I checked, she's related to a bloodline that vanished from Equestria a long time ago.

Second, she isn't a Princess, see vanished blood line. At best, she could claim to be a noble.

Third, that's not her real name. I chose it because that long winded thing was funny at the time.

Finally, she's not a proper alicorn.....

I think.

Don't quote me on that last one.

The other gods I know have been around since the thing they represent has been around. In my case the sun. In Luna’s case, the moon, there was Chaos, the Oceans, the Earth, and Sky somewhere. And I'm pretty sure there was a rabbit god somewhere who represented the concept of time. But he was always running late to the parties we used to throw so we stopped inviting him.

Cadence [her preferred name, though still not her real one, which was McKillip or something], started life as a pegasus about two hundred years ago. While I am only somewhat sure of the details, there was a unicorn within the town she grew up who created a love stealing spell and had one of the alicorn amulets; Another artifact created by Her to boost Her troops’ powers. The things keep turning up like bad bits.

Cadence reversed the spell, [I have no idea how she was a pegasus for stars’ sake], and cured the unicorn's issues.[ I still say getting her laid would have done the same thing.] Then according to witnesses, Cadence exploded.

At this point in time I was dealing with some pressing issues on Equestria's east coast. Mostly stubborn idiots who refused to run from a Category 5 out of control hurricane that had cropped up due to some weather ponies sleeping on the job. [ I had that investigated later and it turned out to be a butterfly’s fault of all things.] I only knew of a bit of the trouble in Hollow Shades, but a wild category 5 hurricane was a bit more pressing than some depressed ponies.

The sudden flood of energy from her explosion was hard to miss however, and I suddenly knew a destination to teleport that I didn't before. Still, priorities, but after dealing with the disaster evacuations the pinging note of the power was still going off in my head. Since I was finished I popped into the destination ready to throw down with something thinking it was a threat. [I was really annoyed at that butterfly.]

Of course what I found was a terrified pink pegasus who had been stuck in a weird place floating in space that was showing her all her past memories. This included a number of the sort of memories that just pop into your brain and make you think “why was I so stupid” at 3 am when you're trying to sleep.

She didn't know what was going on, I didn't know what was going on, and before I could figure it out, she exploded again.

So if anyone asks, yes, yes you can do that, you can explode twice.

Still, the explosion left a trail of magic I could follow and when I did, I found myself in Hollow Shades. Next to me was a super confused pink pegasus, who now had the whole town bowing to her, a horn on her head and a perfect heart shaped ass.... I mean, heart shaped cutie mark on her flank....

Note to self: get a disguise, and go bar hopping again soon.

Don't you judge me journal, a mare's got needs.

At any rate, after a thorough investigation it was found that she was a real alicorn, and an alicorn of love at that. Which as I wrote before makes no sense as love was already a thing. It had been a thing since chocolate cake was invented... or maybe a bit before that, I just know that was my first love.

Still, I was fully prepared to bring her back to Canterlot, put her on a throne and halve my paperwork and time with the nobles when she did something unexpected.

She thanked me for the offer to make her a Princess, and then refused it.

Honestly, I wasn't aware this was even an option. Had I known, some other schmuck could have been dealing with running Equestria and I could have been kicked back on a beach some where moving the sun to just the right position for a perfect tan.

Since I hadn't planned to force her to do anything anyway, I did the expected wise Princess thing of leaving the offer open and giving her a place to send a letter if she had questions. It was then I found out that she didn't know how to read or write. Which, while fairly normal at the time for working class ponies, I've since fixed that, because who wants to rule over a country of idiots? I'd never find intelligent conversation, nor anypony creative enough to make new kinds of cakes. So I sent a scribe out there to write the correspondence for her and to teach her to read and write.

So until about twenty some years ago Cadence lived out in the back woods of Equestria, dealing with the weather for farmers over the little rural area. In time, Hollow Shades pretty much stopped treating her like a Princess and more like someone who was just there like any other neighbor. Any travelers still had a conniption when they saw her however. She eventually became a bit of a tourist attraction for a while and earned the name “The Rural Princess”.

She hates that title by the way. She also really hates the fact that one of the first photographs of her, shows her slopping pigs, covered in mud and strands of hay while she was helping out a neighbor. It's a long forgotten image now, but I’ve got close to three hundred copies of it stashed away, including one on a giant banner that I am so going to put up if she ever gets married or hosts a big party.

It wasn't the first time she had come to Canterlot, though that was usualy to ask for some help with something she found out she could do now or some bit of magic or another. The first time she did it there was a large fuss over her. The second time she came by she had a disguise spell that I was rather impressed with. Her unaided magical progression if she managed a disguise like that was phenomenal, though she didn't think it was that important of a step.

It was. She didn't hide her horn, she simply made a spell to make it the most uninteresting thing about her and thus every one ignored it, and probably focused on her rear, though I didn't say that to her. My student at the time, Sunset Shimmer, was the one who pointed it out to me. She was very clever for a six year old, pity that went south as bad as it did. Even Cadence couldn't help with that one.

Still twenty years or so ago Cadence had had enough of the farm life and wanted a more formal education, but given her education, she didn't know much, and needed to start from the bottom in everything. So after upping her disguise and giving her a fake background, she was sent to act as a teacher's aide for a local school as a unicorn. This allowed the 'adult' mare to experience all the learning of Kindergarten through eighth grade without the boredom that would come to an adult during nap time and the panic of juice box tantrums.

It also had the side effect of making her really good with foals. Like... really good. I’m talking Marey Cloppings good.

Once she hit eighth grade she was enrolled properly as it took little to no effort to make her look like an awkward teenager, and her social skills were still out of whack enough that she fit right in.

She's is doing rather well, though it seems she's become the 'popular mare' in school despite not wanting to be. Probably the spell hiding her wings making everyone focus on her butt again. I've also set up a tutor for giving her after hours classes on nobility and anything else needed to be a proper Princess. It was part of our deal.

I'll get my vacation yet.

Recently I brought up the issue with Twilight, Rahs, and Spike to her and she agreed to offer her service in dealing with foals to the parents. She wanted to be helpful and she didn't think she had managed that yet spending all her time in school.

And since it's me suggesting her, Night Light and Twilight Velvet can't complain. Particularly with how much their current sitter is charging them, so she could buy full body plate mail. Not that I think that would help when Spike finally realizes he can breath fire on command not just on burp.

Given Cadence will be funded by the crown, that should help them a little financially.

All in all this seems like a decent plan if I do say so myself. And I do.

Here's hoping Cadence survives her first encounter with those three.

I've got the cardiac teams on standby.

Author's Notes:

Edited by Lawlypops

Ain't nothing but a hound dog.

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Cadence sighed softly as she lifted a hoof to knock on the door. The mare quickly checked her mane and then her bag for the third time since making it to the doorstep. The new foal sitter brought a couple of things with her based on her aunt's suggestions that would hopefully make the night go smoother. Some books for Twilight, a chew toy or three for Rahs, and some shiny things for Spike. She also had some of her own homework to complete, and a new light novel she had picked up to entertain herself once the three of them were asleep.

She had prepared as best as she could for this and, while she wasn't expecting much trouble, she was still ready for something to happen. She had dealt with fillies before and even a few diamond dog pups, so those two were of little worry to her. However, the dragon was new, and it concerned her, but she hopefully had prepared enough for him too. Really, that preparation was mostly fireproofing spells to be honest. She really wished her aunt wasn't so busy though, she could have used more information on the three of them.

As the door opened before her, she nearly had a panic attack, though that was stopped by the shock of one of her classmates being the one who answered the door.

“I GOT IT MA!” Shining Armor hollered back into the house before turning to look, winding up almost nose-to-nose with with the stunned Cadence. Cadence blinked her lavender eyes, Shining's blue ones blinked in return before both of them turned bright red as they quickly stepped back.

Cadence was the first to recover, taking note of the awkward Unicorn colt before her, with his unkempt blue mane, white coat, and a rather large pair of saddlebags nearly spilling over with books of some kind.

“Err... Hello. I'm Cadence, the foalsitter Princess Celestia suggested.” Cadence offered.

“Oh, right, yeah I knew that... I mean, I knew you were Cadence, not the sitter, though I figured that... I mean....” Shining stammered. ”I kinda expected someone like Miss Peace Lily again, but the lack of chain mail should have given that away.... not that you look bad I mean... “

“Shining! Is that the sitter?” a voice hollered from within the house. Shining rolled his eyes before turning back to the room behind him.

“Ya ma!” Shining called back, his voice cracking a little as he does so.

“Tell her to wait in the living room and get going to your little game thing or that one stinky friend of yours is gonna get mad for you being late.” Twilight Velvet called out. ”Also, don't yell in the house!”

“Ma! That was one time when Gaffer forgot to take a shower... Never mind.” Shining sighed turning red as he remembered Cadence is still standing there. ”Ahem... Anyway, like she said, just take a left in the hall here and that's the living room. Twilight's in her room with Rahs and Spike.... errr bit of a warning, Rahs is teething so watch your legs and tail until he gets to know you.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Cadence nodded.

“Right. I’m off then. Umm have fun... Be careful... And other stuff... Yeah.” Shining muttered, seeming to curse himself as he slumped before dashing off into the street red as a cherry.

Cadence frowned briefly, wondering why her aunt forgot to tell her that Twilight Velvet and Night Light had four children and one of them went to her school. She briefly considered that her aunt was trying to play match-maker again before dismissing it as she likely just forgot since she wouldn't need to sit Shining. He was cute, sure, but still too young for her. Besides she was the one supposed to play match-maker.

Cadence trotted into the hall closing the door behind her, doing her best to put Shining out of her mind as she moved into the living room and took a glance around.

The first thing she noticed were the large number of family pictures scattered everywhere, most of them focused on Twilight with almost as many focused on a large blue-gray furred puppy and a small purple and green Dragon. There were a few of a younger Shining Armor too, though as cute as he was it paled in comparison to the other three.

The second thing she noticed were the amount of bookshelves that filled the living room. She had seen libraries with less stock. The books were in alphabetical order, though there didn't seem to be any sort of specific type. Foals books were mixed in with juvenile novels, higher magic theory books sat next to baby's first readers. Perhaps she should introduce Twilight to the Dewy system.

She glanced back into the hall and noticed a few more book shelves further down under the stairs and saw even more at the top of the stairs. The three books she brought for Twilight seemed woefully inadequate in the face of this library.

Another thing she noticed were claw and teeth marks every where, on the corners of the furniture, the walls, and the book shelves. None of the books seemed damaged however. Looking up at the ceiling she also spotted a number of scorch marks dotting it.

The thud of hooves drew her attention back to the hall as two ponies came down the stairs.

A dark blue unicorn stallion in a formal suit ,with slicked back blue gray hair and a off white unicorn mare with a lavender and white stripped mane in a simple blue evening dress. The stallion moved to the door as the mare trotted over to Cadence, sizing her up before presenting a rather long checklist to the 'younger' mare with her magic.

“Twilight, Spike, and Rahs are in Twilight's room, you can't miss it, it's the door covered in claw marks bearing Twilight's cutie mark at the top of the stairs. I've got dinner set up for them already and it just needs to be heated up on the stove, after wards they will need a bath, especially Rahs. He will fight it though so be careful. He's finally toilet trained so you don't need to worry about that. After Spike eats keep his mouth aimed away from you and the others, usually after one or two burps he's fine, though pat his back a couple of times just to be sure.” Twilight Velvet continued giving Cadence a spray bottle full of water. “If Twilight misbehaves take whatever book she's reading away from her, she can't start another book until she finishes the one she's reading, I don't know why but it's useful. If Rahs misbehaves just squirt him with the water bottle and try to ignore his growling, he hasn't bitten any one too hard in months. Bed time is at eight o clock no matter what she tells you. Shining will be gone all night, but we will be back around nine. There's an emergency scroll to contact us and another one to contact Princess Celestia if things get too bad, on the kitchen counter by the fridge. I suggest sending for the Princess first as she can probably just pop in here and Twilight will listen to her without argument. Rahs has a strange fascination with chewing on her hoof guards so that will usually stop him doing whatever he's doing as well. Make sure that if you use the scroll ONLY if it is necessary. The last sitter called Princess Celestia because Twilight accidentally set her tail on fire. Honestly we have running water for a reason.”

“Wait.. what about Spike?” Cadence questioned.

Twilight Velvet smirked a little at that.” Aside from the fire breath hes a perfect little angel. At least for a few more years. Twilight's at the age where she questions everything and thinks she knows better than any one else. Don't talk to her like she's a foal and she'll listen a bit better. Rahs acts like a badly trained puppy, even though he knows better. Still the faster you get on Twilight's good side the faster you'll be on Rahs' good side.”

The Unicorn mare looked up at the ceiling and shouted. “ Twilight! Your sitter Cadence is here. Don't you want to come say hello?”

After a moment of silence Night Light finally spoke.

“Book fort.” Nightlight stated.

“Book fort.” Twilight Velvet agreed.

“Book fort?” Cadence questioned.

“Nothing bad, but well, when you go up there you'll find out. Any way we need to go or we'll be late. Have fun dear.” The mare waved and trotted out with her husband leaving Cadence standing there holding a spray bottle and a list that had unrolled and trailed across the floor full of house rules and parenting notes.

“Nothing bad...” Cadence muttered looking up the stairs. “Sure, how hard can it be.”

After scaling the stairs Cadence cautiously approached the purple door marked with a reddish six pointed overlapping a white star and five other white six pointed stars floating around it. She exhaled softly and knocked on the door.

“Twilight, it's Cadence, your sitter I'm coming in to meet you....” Cadence called out opening the door and poked her head in.

Inside was a rather sizable bedroom, one that might have once been the houses master bedroom, with numerous book shelves along the walls. A few posters hung on the walls over a desk and the bed, mostly of cute bears and rabbits and one of Princess Celestia raising the sun during one of the sun celebrations. That one was autographed and framed.

An elevated bed was in one corner with a blanket jumbled on top of it with Twilight's cutie mark on it. Under the raised bed she saw a large basket with some pillows and another blanket in it. At the end of the bed there was a corner of the room without any book cases, posters or anything else but a small crib with a few stuffed animals and a blankets in it, all of them easily detected as being heavily enchanted.

What was odd was none of the shelves had any books on them. All of the books were on the floor. Not scattered about mind you, but set in a way to resemble walls and parapets. Towering spires of books reaching taller than Cadence was with little bookmark flags on pencil poles at the top of the spires. There was a blanket underneath it with books positioned in such a way that it looked like the land around a castle, complete with a moat filled with those little building blocks that everyone hated to step on. A particularly large book was being held up against the front like a draw bridge with rubber bands.

Sitting on top of this castle was a chubby little purple and green scaled lizard. His wide green eyes stared at her as he giggled, a tall cone hat with a gauzy bit of cloth dangling from the tip sat on his head. Cadence was quite sure that the frilly pink dress he was wearing was probably Twilight's. Still to see a baby dragon dressed like a storybook Princess was more than enough to make her smile.

Her ears perked as she heard a half bark from inside the book fort. Looking back to it, she saw the draw bridge lower and a dark blue furred puppy tumble out. He looked up at her with amber eyes then back to the open draw bridge with a light growl. Cadence blinked as she noted that the puppy was wearing a cloth knights helm that his head barely fit into and a 'suit of armor' made of tinfoil. The canine didn't seem happy about it or her and he growled at Cadence before a shushing noise from inside the fort silenced him.

Trotting out of the fort next was a purple filly. Well it was supposed to be a purple filly, she was dressed in what Cadence assumed was last years nightmare night costume of a bright blue Dragon. Only the head however as the tail and wings fell off as soon as she made it out through door, though she didn't seem to notice. The little unicorns face was visible in the dragon costumes mouth.

“Grar I am Spike......” the not dragon spoke. “Feed me cookies or I blow fire....rar....”

“Woof.” the knight noted.

“What? What do you mean she's not buying it? I'm totally convincing, I practiced my rars and everything. You are clearly not selling it.” the not dragon stated.

“Ruff?” the knight questioned.

“You're Shiny. Shining Armor .. get it?”

“Woof.” the knight agreed his tail wagging knocking off bits of his armor.

“Then who is this up here?” Cadence asked picking up the giggling baby dragon in her magic.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle!” exclaimed the not dragon.

Spike of course took that moment for his giggles to turn into a hiccup, and then the hiccup became a bright green burst of fire. He then of course went back to giggling until he hiccuped again, with more fire.

Cadence slowly blinked looking down at them as the not dragon and the knight continued the discussion about utilizing proper disguise tactics, while the baby dragon lost himself to hiccups and tiny blasts of fire as he began to spin himself in her magical grip propelled by said blasts.

“I really need to have a word with Auntie Celestia about her suggestions.....” Cadence grumbled.

Author's Notes:

Redid this chapter as more my usual style. My attempts at present tense aside there was enough of a change that it was easier to replace the whole chapter.

Editing by Lawlypops

…... barking all the time......

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

“....bork bork bork bork bork.....”

Cadence looked down at the gray furred canine bouncing around her hooves, barking at her as she attempted to heat up the dinner that was left for them on the stove. Spike was already making a mess in his mashed carrot and ruby dinner. At least that was expected of a baby.

“What is he doing?” Cadence asked as she looked over at Twilight. The filly didn't respond for a moment as she had her face buried in a book, though at least she was at the table finally and out of the dragon costume. Cadence had far less luck getting all the tinfoil off Rahs, though his bouncing and barking had shed most of it all over the floor at this point.

“He is attempting to do you a frighten.” Twilight responded.

“What?”

“One of my books has pictures of dogs and cats with silly captions of what the animals are supposed to be saying. It's funny, but Rahs doesn't talk that way.” Twilight explained before burying her nose back in her book.

Cadence considered that bit of information for a moment before, letting it go. Aunt Celestia had told her that the pair were connected magically some how.

“Well can you let him know that I'm not going to hurt any one and he doesn't need to bark at me so much?” Cadence sighed.

“He knows. He just wants Miss Peace Lily back. He liked her. She tasted like cats.” Twilight offered sticking her tongue out at the mental image.

Cadence regarded Rahs as he continued to act like a windup toy, bouncing about and barking each time he landed.

She had never seen a Diamond Dog like this one and the glowing points of his ears and tail were a bit unnerving for some reason. As was the mass of sharp teeth he had, so far at least he had not done anything but be noisy.

The pink alicorn sighed and moved over to the refrigerator and pulled a unopened container marked 'Rahs' food' out setting it on the counter as she set another pot out to heat it up with. This of course immediately drew the pups attention and he sat perfectly still his tail wagging hard enough that it slid his butt against the floor as he stared up at Cadence as she warmed the odd looking mess on the stove wincing at the scent.

“What is this? Bleh.” Cadence grumbled.

“Chicken I think.” Twilight stated from behind her book.

“Eeew....” Cadence winced.”How could anyone eat this?”

“Ponies can eat meat. There are a number of stories where survival depended on it. Still with the designs of our molars and how our digestive tracks work it's not the best thing for us, but those who develop a taste for it can eventually get used to it. It does contain a number of nutrients like vitamins A, B, D and K as well as copper, chromium, folic acid,iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium and zinc. “Twilight explained. “And that's just red meat, fish and chicken have a whole differing sort of nutritional spread. From my understanding fish has a very salty taste which a number of ponies like.”

Cadence had been staring at Twilight as she listed of this rather macabre bit of information. Rahs mean while had been jumping up and down again and was getting more and more annoyed that the new sitter was just holding his dish of food in her magic just out of his reach. As such he started jumping up even harder, his teeth snapping at the hovering dish at the arc of each jump. When that failed he started making grabbing motions with his fore claws at the apex of each jump.

Cadence took note of this and surprisingly just lifted the dish higher out of his reach barely batting an eye at the gnashing teeth or waving claws of the pup.

“Does he eat at the table?” Cadence asked.

“Moms been trying to teach him to do that, but his paws are still to stubby to hold utensils and he makes a bigger mess than Spike.” Twilight responded. “Mom usually feeds him on the mat over there by his water bowl. She says it feels weird feeding him like an actual dog, but he doesn't seem to mind.”

Cadence made a note of this and set the bowl of chicken on the mat as Twilight said only to wince as Rahs flew through the air and crash landed half in the bowl snapping up the diced 'cordon bleu' slinging little bits about him as he gobbled.

“ Alright it's time for your dinner, so put the book away and eat.” Cadence stated setting a warmed dish of vegetable spaghetti before the small purple unicorn.

“But I’m just getting to the good part!” Twilight whined.

“Rule thirty three of your moms list says no books at the table.” Cadence stated tilting her head to glance at the spine of the book her eyes narrowing.” I'm sure what ever story in....... beginning thermodynamics can wait until later. Your pasta is getting cold now.”

“Awwwwwwww....”

Dinner was surprisingly quick. Rahs nearly choked twice with the way he wolfed down his food, his head and paws getting coated in the foul smelling stuff. Twilight ate quickly as well, though that was clearly because she wanted to get back to her book. Granted the way she slurped up the pasta left that side of the table splattered in sauce and the red mess speckled the purple filly. Cadence was quite glad she had pulled the book away as it would have been covered with pasta sauce. Or maybe leaving it close would have made her eat more carefully.

The pink mare briefly wondered if Twilight had been picking up some manners from Rahs. Of the three of them Spike was the cleanest eater, and the baby dragon mashed anything put in front of him to paste before licking it off his claws.

Spike finished first and Cadence picked him up carrying him to the sink as he burped making sure to aim him away from her while the other two continued to eat. She ran some warm water in the sink as she plugged it leaving a little bit of water for Spike to play in as she ran water in the other side of the sink and picked up the cleaning supplies she had brought down to start washing the baby Dragon. The little lizard splashed in the water and giggled like crazy only fighting as Cadence used a rag to wipe off his face, and that protest was cut short as Cadence used her magic to make a few bubbles in the soap float around him. This was more than enough distraction for the baby and he spent the rest of the bath cooing, giggling, and swatting at bubbles.

“Alright let's get you dried off.” Cadence smirked pulling him out of the sink and setting him on a towel rubbing it over his smooth scales, the purple and green seeming to shine from the washing. “ Once we get you all set we'll give your brother and sister a bath and then you can play............ what?”

Cadence perked her ears as she turned back around. As she gave Spike a bath the room had still been filled with the noise of Twilight slurping up her pasta and Rahs licking the last few drips of his dinner out of his bowl, pushing it across the floor as he did so. Then it all went silent.

Looking around Cadence now saw she was alone in the room with Spike. Confused for a moment she recalled number 56 on the list.

'Never say the word bath around Twilight and Rahs.'

“Crud.” Cadence grumbled as Spike laughed.

Cadence sighed as she placed Spike in a playpen in the living room with a few blocks and a couple of the shiny objects she had brought with her. Spike oddly seemed disinterested in the glass marbles, though Cadence was more concerned with finding the other two than the baby Dragon not liking what she brought for him.

Cadence started searching the house looking for Twilight and Rahs. She first walked around the down stairs. Kitchen, unused dining room / library, living room / library, down stairs bathroom / library. Sitting room/ library, Night lights sitting room, locked and dead bolted from the outside with a note at about Twilight's eye level informing her not to try to enter 'or else'.

Heading back into the living room to check on Spike, she then headed upstairs to check those rooms. Hall/ library, a guest bedroom/ library, twilight's room / library, main bathroom, parents room, a locked room with a padlock on the outside out of of a fillies reach covered in band posters, and note like downstairs a locked study with the note as well, and a library/ library.

“I am sensing a trend here.” Cadence grumbled not really surprised she didn't find them with this light search. Clearly these two had advanced beyond a normal foals hide and seek.

“Twilight. Rahs... come out ,come out, where ever you are, you can't want to stay dirty, you'll mess up any books you touch and never be able to read again...” Cadence called. A gasp from down stairs put a grin on Cadence's face as she darted down into the living room, finding it empty, She knew they were down here now.

A giggle from Spike drew her attention to the baby dragon and a frown to her face.

Spike sat where she had put him still playing with blocks, though he was wearing what remained of Twilight's dinner on his head like a wig and was covered in pasta sauce.

“Ooh that's cheating.” Cadence grumbled picking up Spike again for his second bath.

With Spike clean once again and safely placed on her back to avoid a repeat Cadence again set out to find the pair. Figuring they had ample time to hide now Cadence checked each room again starting from up stairs and working down. Not finding them upstairs she set a small alarm spell on the stairs before heading down to hunt for them again. She checked under the tables, behind the couch and in all the closets with little to no luck, though she did find another library in the hall closet, she wasn't even going to ask. As she went back into the kitchen again she noticed something. A small sauce stain on the wall in a the shape of a hoof. She moved over to it grabbing a paper towel in her spell and wiping it, seeing that it easily came off and was clearly fresh. She blinked at it curiously wondering how it had gotten so high on the wall from such a little filly.

Spike giggling on her back drew her attention to him as the little Dragon squealed and looked up at the ceiling. Looking up herself she saw a small purple Unicorn, horn glowing stuck to the ceiling up by the light.

“Traitor.”Twilight hissed at Spike only for the baby Dragon to giggle even more.

Cadence sighed, plucking the purple Unicorn from the ceiling with her magic, disrupting the spider climb spell the filly was performing and holding the flailing spaghetti covered filly in the air.

“Save me Rahs!” Twilight called.

“Woof.” came a hollow sounding reply.

“What do you mean no!?” Twilight flailed.

“Woof!” Rahs responded.

“And I dun want a bath either but I got caught and I'm not gonna go alone.”

“Grrr.”

“Don't you take that tone with me.” Twilight whined.

Cadence in the meantime had been listening to the barks and had made her way over to the refrigerator. Opening it showed nothing but food so she looked under it,nothing, and then moved to lean over the counter to look behind it.

Wedged between the wall and the back of the fridge was a very flat looking puppy who was covered in months of accumulated dust that had gathered in the hard to clean place as well as the food he had eaten earlier.

Amber eyes met her pink ones and Rahs smiled sheepishly, wagging his tail a little before Cadence grabbed him in her magic by the scruff of the neck pulling him out of his hiding spot.

“You can't blame me for turning you in, she found you herself.” Twilight chided.

“Woof.”

“I didn't make you keep talking.”

The dust and food covered Moon Dog whined as he was held in the air. Twilight floated there in the pink glow pouting. Cadence grumbled at the pair under her breath. And Spike giggled like mad from Cadences back at his family members floating above him.

Spike sat on the floor of the bathroom as Cadence worked the shampoo into Twilight's mane.

“Close your eyes now, you don't want to get soap in them.” Cadence muttered to the still pouting Twilight.

“I dun wanna....AHH AHHGGGHHH MY EYE AHHH I'M BEING KILT!” Twilight cried out flailing splashing water all over Cadence.

Not that it mattered much to the already soaked alicorn. The canine currently sulking on the other side of the tub was the cause of most of it. You would think he was a cat with the way he flailed and flipped the moment a paw even touched the water. Cadence had to refill the tub twice just from his thrashing about emptying it, and then a third time as the water turned gray from all the dust his fur had collected behind the fridge.

This of course meant that she had used just about every towel in the bathroom just to deal with all the water on the floor.

Twilight had been little better. The purple Unicorn was seven and clearly should have known better, though as Cadence moved to set her in the tub the gifted Unicorn filly had gathered all the water up in her magic and moved it out of her way so she wouldn't get wet. Several attempts by Cadence to dunk the mare were foiled as the water always wound up where Twilight wasn't.

Before Cadence could do anything however Rahs solved the problem by slapping his wet tail against Twilight's face disrupting her spell and causing all the water in the tub to slosh back and soak the filly. Cadence again was drenched by it too, but she had given up knowing what dry was.

At least for the moment, the baths looked like they would be done soon.

Author's Notes:

Another Chapter done, one more of the Cadence arc.

I went back to my usual writing and before i post chapter 6 i will likely go back and fix the first part of the foal sitting arc.

The only thing bugging me is the amount of down votes i've gotten. Not that i got them mind you, but that i have no idea what people didn't like from the story. hard to improve if you don't know what was wrong.

….You ain't never caught a rabbit........

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Cadence rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. This had not gone the way she expected.

She was dry now... finally, though that was no thanks to Twilight, not Rahs. She had expected the pup to shake himself dry, but he simply sat there and sulked until she managed to towel dry him. Twilight on the other hoof had hopped out of the tub and shook herself off like a dog spraying water on everything once more, forcing Cadence to dry herself, Rahs and Spike allover again while Twilight pointed out how it was 15% more efficient to dry that way before getting a towel.

Thankfully the filly stood still long enough to be towel dried after Cadence pointed out that her method added unnecessary drying of everything else in the room, thus making it less effective.

Cadence got worried a bit when Twilight simply stood there after she was dry as if recalculating the odds. She was finally snapped out of it as Cadence opened the door and Rahs rushed out of the bathroom, plowing into Twilight and dragging her out with him.

Spike still found all of it funny, and he was spending almost as much time with flaming hiccups as he was laughing now.

“But these are foals books!” Twilight whined.

“Sorry but I wasn't told you were reading at a higher grade than other seven year olds.” Cadence sighed.

At least Rahs and Spike seemed content with the little things she brought for them to play with.

Sort of.

The marbles she had brought for Spike were currently being batted around the floor by Rahs, who would swat one and then go thundering after it trampling or running into anything that got in his way. It was one reason Spike and Twilight were on the bed. He hadn't run into one of them yet, but Cadence didn't want to risk it.

Spike on the other hoof had gotten a hold of one of the squeaky toys she had brought for Rahs and was currently gnawing on it and making the rubber goose squeak loudly clearly enjoying himself far more than Twilight was.

“What's this?” Twilight asked pulling Cadence's text book out with her magic.

“My algebra textbook. I don't think that's very good reading.” Cadence sighed

“I know I read Shiny's copy of this. The answers given on page 42 are all wrong.”

“Really now?” Cadence perked her ears.

“Yep the formula is sound but who ever wrote it wasn't paying attention and forgot to carry the two on all three problems.” Twilight explained opening the book and pointing to the offending page.

Cadence blinked looking over Twilight's shoulder as the filly explained the problem. Cadence at that moment felt very very dumb. As old as she was this was being explained to her by an seven year old who clearly grasped mathematics far better than she did.

Cadence smirked looking down at Twilight as she realized something.”Did you help your brother with this?”

“Some he's actually pretty good at math from all the games he plays. He just doesn't understand most of the formulas. He was gonna let me solve all the problems, but mom told him no.” Twilight pouted.

“Clever colt.” Cadence giggled a little her ears flattening to her head as Twilight dug into bag again.

“Hey! None of that now... don’t you know about personal space.” Cadence grumbled before realizing that there were locks on several doors on the house so clearly she didn't. Still as she pulled her out of the bag Twilight had latched onto the little paperback that Cadence had brought earlier and dragged it out with her reading the back cover.

“Daring Doo and the lost temple of Ahuizotl?” Twilight questioned.” What is this?”

“It's a book I picked up to read after you went to bed. Not sure you would be interested as it's fiction.” Cadence smirked a little.

“What's it about?” Twilight questioned turning over the paperback to look at the simple cover. It was just a pyramid silhouette in dark blue with a tan pegasus silhouette in a pith hat over it.

“Dunno I haven't read it yet but a few of my friends were raving about it. It's the first book by an A.K. Yearling. “ Cadence shrugged.

“Rookie adventurer, Daring Doo, discovers a set of long lost ruins and accidentally frees a monster from the past? Adventure, action, mystery , and … cats?” Twilight reads off the back looking up at the last bit seemingly confused.

Cadence simply shrugged again.” Guess we'll have to read it to find out.” Cadence smiled As the filly excitedly opened the book.

The pair of them probably would have simply read the book for the rest of the night, though Spike was the first to grow bored of his toy and he crawled over the bed clamoring up onto Cadence's back and then into her mane as he leaned over the pair looking at the book with a little snort of boredom at the book. It was then he discovered Cadence had wings too.

Cadence winced a little at the feeling of Dragon claws pulling at her wings, though Twilight didn't seem to notice. Cadence looked back at the baby dragon as he ran his hands over her wings with interest. The spell was supposed to keep make her wings to be uninteresting enough to be unnoticeable, given that Spike was tugging on the feathers, the spell either didn't work on Dragons, or those young enough to find anything interesting.

Before he drew more attention to them she lifted the purple bundle of scales into the air with her magic sending him into another series of giggling fits before plopping him down between her forelegs. She smiled as she rested her chin against his forehead feeling him squirm in the hug.

Twilight watched with a small smirk and even Rahs paused in his mad chase for the marbles to look at her a moment before seemingly satisfied that Cadence wasn't doing anything to Spike that was bad before he continued attacking the glass balls.

Cadence considered a moment before lighting up her horn and making a few magic bubbles form in the air before Spike. It was a simple spell, one of the first she learned.

Spike was delighted though Twilight took interest as well. Granted while Spike just wanted to swat at the pretty things, Twilight wanted to know who made the spell, how hard was it to cast, what school of magic was it from, what it's purpose was an a dozen other things that Cadence didn't know. Of course Twilight then seemed upset that some pony would cast a spell without knowing the history of it.

Rahs also seemed interested in the bubbles as they popped into existence around Cadence's horn. He reached a paw up tentatively swatting at one, sending the fragile bubble away from his paw and into Spike's grasp were he popped it with his claws.

Cadence smiled as Twilight went back to reading and Spike and Rahs continued to play with the bubbles.

It was in this moment of calm that everything, of course went wrong.

Rahs lept up into the air swatting at one bubble and snapping his teeth at another. As his jaws closed over one of the bubbles, Cadence felt like some one had slapped her horn and the spell faded out. As Rahs dropped back down from the jump he simply collapsed onto the floor like a furry puddle,his amber eyes wide and his ears drooping as the pup stared into space.

Cadence reached up to rub her horn wondering what had happened, the effect wasn't painful, but it was more than enough to disrupt her simple spell.

Spike thought it all funny, though after a few giggles he looked down at the unmoving pup with concern.

Twilight scrambled off the bed rushing over to the collapsed puppy. Cadence climbed off the bed as well looking down at the pair in worry as Twilight started shaking the pup with her hooves.

“Umm has he done this before?” Cadence asked.

“He's not saying anything!....” Twilight cried.

“I'm gonna to get the scroll to call Princess Celestia.” Cadence stated after a good five minutes of the pups unmoving vacant stare.

Cadence darted down the stairs holding Spike in her magic with Twilight in hot pursuit. The pink sitter had just picked up the scroll to send a message to Celestia when Twilight spoke up.

“What?!! Rahs what happened!?” Twilight demanded.

Cadence looked back and the pup was sitting there, his tail whipping behind him as he stared up at Cadence, with a look that showed exactly where the term 'puppy dog eyes' came from.

“Rahs!” Twilight snapped poking him in the side.” What happened!?”

“Woof.” Rahs responded.

“Make another bubble? What are you talking about?” Twilight whined.

“Woof.”

“ Ask Cadence to make another bubble?” Twilight blinked looking up at Cadence.”What did you do?”

“What the cantrip?” Cadence blinked looking down at the pup. He seemed fine though the moment she asked about the cantrip he nodded. She stared at him a moment letting scroll drop back to the counter before her horn glowed again forming a multitude of bubbles that drifted around in the air.

She nearly lost the spell again as Rahs bounced around snapping the bubbles out of the air with a great gnashing and snapping of teeth. Cadence wondered if this was what a sharks feeding frenzy looked like. The odd 'horn slaps returned but she kept the spell going a little longer realizing that the effect happened every time Rahs ate a bubble.

She shook her head, letting the spell go after a minute watching the pup finally collapse on the floor with a small shudder, his legs splayed out and tail still whipping like mad after he had eaten the bubbles.

Twilight however wasn't about to let him zone out like he was before and started shaking him with her hooves shoving against his shoulder.

“Rahs come on what's going on?”

“Ruuur.....” Rahs half growled.

“Huh?” Twilight tilted her head looking at the pup.

“What did he say? Do I still need to get Celestia?” Cadence asked more than a little concerned.

“He says they taste like strawberry shortcake smells.” Twilight stated confused.

“How it smells?” Cadence asked and regretted it a moment later as Twilight switched into lecture mode.

“Many carnivores don't have the ability to taste sweet things. Carnivores don't need the ability to taste sweet for survival. He can taste bitter and sour flavors so as to detect spoiled meat, but not sweet. However Rahs has been able to smell sweet things even though sugar isn't something he can taste. He rather likes gummies and marshmallows because of the fat and salt. Chocolate is debatable because it causes issues for dogs, but we were never sure about him and didn't want to test it. Particularly cause that means I get his desert when mom makes brownies.” Twilight explained.

“So he ate my magic?” Cadence questioned. “And it tastes like Strawberry shortcake?”

“Princess Celestia said Moon Dogs eat magic, but this is the first time I’ve seen him do it.” Twilight admitted.

“Woof.”

“Oh... he says Princess Celestia's tastes like green tea pound cake....... I don't even know what that tastes like.” Twilight perked her ears seemingly confused.” Why haven’t you told me this before?”

“Bork”Rahs responded.

“Upset ? Why would I get upset?” Twilight demanded.

“Merrrr...” Rahs whined and Twilight puffed out her cheeks and stomped her hooves.

“What do you mean 'i don't haz a flavor?'” Twilight pouted.

Rahs shrugged then looked expectantly up at Cadence. She sighed softly and shook her head.

“I'm going to have to ask Princess Celestia about this, but the way I see it if my magic tastes like deserts then it's too close to bed time for you to have more of it.” Cadence stated with a small smirk getting whine from the pup.

Twilight points accusingly at Rahs.” What about mom have you had her magic?”

“Growf.”

“Well that serves you right.” Twilight grumbled.

“What did he say.” Cadence asked ushering the pair back up the steps.

“He said not when she's within reach of a newspaper or book.”Twilight explained. “Mom wasn't too happy when he ate her shoes when he was younger so he wasn't willing to try her magic.”

The rest of the night went off without a hitch. Spike went to sleep rather easily once he was sure Rahs was okay. An act that involved him climbing all over the pup and grabbing at his long ears and tail. Rahs whined at the tugging , but was willing to let Spike crawl all over him. Once he pawed across the navy blue canine he let Cadence pick him up and carry him to his crib. The little purple drake yawned wide showing only a few baby teeth starting to come in. He curled up in a little ball his tail being pulled into his mouth the moment he touched his mattress.

Twilight lasted a little longer, sneaking the Daring Doo book from Cadence and trying to read it under the covers by the light of her horn. Cadence let it slide until she noticed the light under the blanket start to dim until it finally went out. She moved over unhiding the purple filly from under her blankets and tucking her in properly setting the book to the side placing the book mark that had been the forts flag in the pages.

Rahs took a little longer to get to go to sleep as he kept circling around Cadence seemingly begging for a treat. Cadence noticed however that he was paying more attention to what she was doing with the other two than trying to get her to make more magic treats for him. Still once the others had settled in he crawled into his bed under Twilight’s and tugged a blanket over himself laying his head on his paws and watching her as she left the room.

“Good night Twilight. Good night Spike. Good Night Rahs.” Cadence whispered as she started to close the door.

“Good night Cady.”

The pink mare froze at the sound of the voice. It was a bit raspy and sounded rather young, but she didn't recognize it.

She poked her head back in the door seeing nothing changed aside from Rahs having buried his head under his blanket until only his nose poked out.

She looked around the room for a moment more staring at the pup under Twilight's bed before she closed the door again and headed downstairs.

Perhaps she imagined it.

After the Sparkles returned and Cadence explained all that happened that night, she was surprised that they seemed more impressed than anything else.

Mrs. Sparkle seemed amused by the fact she didn't have to dust behind the fridge, and Mr. Sparkle suggested bathing them in the down stairs bathroom next time as it was easier to clean with the stone floor.

With a new date to return for another night Cadence left and started home.

She had barely made it three blocks before she started to recall how cute the three of them had been at various points and let out a repressed squee that started dogs howling on the other side of Canterlot.

Author's Notes:

And thus ends the Cadence's first sitting of Twilight. I know it seemed a bit coarse at times but this was their first real meeting they haven't warmed up to each other just yet and tossing Rahs in the mix likely didn't help.

This is also the start of a running joke that i found funny.

The next few chapters are back to the Princess Journal for a bit and then eventually we are going to start season one.

As a side note i asked this in my blog and in SiS, but this fic has more popularity. Would any one be interested in a Q&A on a Discord server. Some one suggested it a while back and i'm still leery of it being popular enough to warrant it.

Let me know in the comments.

B.I.N.G.O.

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's Journal Entry, Thursday the twenty third.

It's been about three months since I suggested Cadence to Mrs. Sparkle as a foal sitter. And my planning seems to have paid off, in more ways than one.

Despite her current training Cadence is what many collected nobles would call ignorant farm folk. She's done quite well to hide that though every so often it shows through. Case in point, after her third session watching the Sparkle spawn...[ I really need a better name for those three], she was held up at knife point.

The mugger clearly thought that he was dealing with some prissy noble child who would be afraid to scuff her hoof-acure, not a mare who while she was still just a Pegasus had been part of her towns watch against Timber wolves.

There are very few Timberwolves around Hollow Shades now a days.

Suffice to say after what one Guard described later as a 'mudhole stomping', she let her natural alicorn magic come into play. I was told that it took the Guards twenty minutes to pry the injured mugger away from his one true love for medical treatment, the nearby brick wall he was trying to hug.

He named it Gretta.

Add this to what happened in the Sparkle house and it's a wonder that neighborhood hasn't been declared the safest in Canterlot.

The best part is how well Twilight and Cadence hit it off. Last I talked to her she was teaching Twilight some dance she learned as a foal. Spike and Rahs also seemed to like her. In truth I expected her to have more issue with Rahs than she has had.

When I asked her about it she brought up the magic he ate and she uses it as a treat for him now to make sure he's good. Something he evidently still forgets about at bath time.

I thought to use her trick to keep him from chewing on my shoes,or attacking my tail, but Twilight claimed he doesn't like green tea cake.

Blasphemy.

Though this does bring up several things I wanted to jot down before I forgot.

With all the unknowns about Rahs and his connection to Spike and Twilight I've had some of the best magical minds... and a few not so great, investigating the connection. While I have limited their studying of the trio more than they wish simply to prevent the three from being turned into Guinea pigs, several things of note have been discovered, if not wholly agreed upon by all the researchers.

This first is that Spike, Twilight, and Rahs share a connection, but it does not connect Spike to Twilight directly. So it's clear that Spike is not Twilight's familiar like Rahs is suspected to be. However Rahs could be considered Spike's familiar as well as Twilight's. I do not disbelieve Twilight's claim that she can easily understand Rahs, but we cannot check to see if Spike understands him until perhaps he is a little older.

Of course this study led to the discovery that Shining Armor is also connected to Rahs.

During one of the tests the researchers had Twilight cast a spell that formed an aura around herself. Really it was little more than a golden glow that looked like flame, but it had the suspected effect of also causing the same aura to form around Rahs, though diminished in power. It also flickered out much sooner than it did on Twilight simply due to his natural abilities devouring it.

The second part of the test was to have her cast the spell on Rahs. As expected with a connection like theirs the the aura formed around Twilight and Spike, at a diminished level on them, with Rahs's fading first.

We found out hours later that there had been a issue in Canterlot High when Shining Armor burst into flames in the middle of class.

He was nearly suspended for goofing off and if Cadence hadn't mentioned it to me at dinner I never would have realized there was a connection.

We brought him in to check and several tests later we found that Rahs had a much weaker connection to Shining Armor, but it was very similar to what connected him to Spike and Twilight.

While clearly being freaked out at some of the tests being done to him, particularly any that sounded like they involved needles, he was surprisingly calm about learning of a connection with the pup. Shining claimed he understood Rahs a little, more intent and meaning than with actual words. He wasn't really sure how but he just seemed to know.

While this wasn't enough for the researchers to really believe Twilight when she said Rahs talked to her, I asked them to drop it before Twilight got upset.

Shining was allowed to go back to school after he was given the once over by the researchers. I also wrote him a slip that would let the Principal know he was not at fault for what happened.

Still.

I can see why Cadence is interested in him, he's growing into quite a handsome stallion. A couple more years and he will definitely be a catch for someone.

No, bad Celestia, no robbing the cradle...... oh who am I kidding, every pony is like a foal to me when it comes to age....

Still no matter how much she denies it whenever the subject is brought up, I expect I might find a use for the 'Rural Princess' pictures I have yet.

Moving on.

The second thing of note is the magic eating. It's theorized is the reason Twilight claims he doesn't taste anything from her magic is that he's constantly feeding off her through their link. As such that has deadened the taste. Another theory is it's a safety measure to keep him from trying to gorge on her magic. Then yet another theory is that she's fibbing.

Either is acceptable though the latter is more worrying. The last is just an old coot who thinks the younger generation are all wastes of resources.

The third thing and the only thing all of the researchers can agree on is that they are all adorable.

The last thing however worries me.

Before I get to that though is should point out a few things.

While I expect no one to read these I find it hard not to write these entries like I’m a teacher , trying to educate, so I am simply letting the quill flow at times.

Summoners, Familiars, and Warlocks.

While popular stories and fiction have labeled a warlock as a broad term for a spell caster, much like mage, witch and wizard, though there is a big difference between a wizard and a average unicorn on the street in terms of magic ability, Warlocks are their own thing.

Warlocks are practitioners of summoning magic first and foremost. A spell caster can cast summon magic without being a Warlock, and Warlocks can cast other spells, but Warlock is used as a derogatory term for a certain practice.

Warlock's pull creatures from other places and bind them to their will. It's slavery in all sense of the word, often the creature thus bound cannot even fight against the Warlock's commands. This is why summoning is considered dark magic. And the use of it like this tends to taint the soul and power of any one willing to use it.

The creatures bound this way are oft called thralls or simply summons, though they are quite different from Familiars.

While Familiars too can be summoned from another place, they are asked for their aid rather than forced into it. A dangerous thing if one summons something that doesn't want to be summoned and many mages have lost their lives because of this. It's one reason summoning magic is rarely used even by those who know it. Warlocks may be safer at first, but a bound creature that gets free will almost always target the Warlock first.

With familiars it is more like a deal or contract. For example Philomena and I have such a deal. While the power shared between us is more in her favor, there are benefits to me as well, particularly in regards to listening in on those who like to talk and don't think a bird sitting nearby will rat them out.

Though as a side note I've been keeping Rahs and Philomena apart. Not because I think they would hurt one another, but because my pet is a prankster and would be more than willing to use Rahs's cuteness to get away with things.

Now then onto the last discovery made.

Twilight did not make a contract or deal with Rahs. She may have summoned him, but the deal binding them was already made.

Twilight's magic saturates the link between them, but that is along the lines of water flowing through a trench. Some one else dug said trench and connected it to Shining, Twilight, and Spike. The issue is not with the power flowing through the trench, but who dug it in the first place.

The researchers didn't recognize the magic signature, though a few claimed it was similar to a number of old artifacts and traps in ruins they had seen around Equss.

I however did recognize it. And knowing what it was made me cancel everything else for the day and send Twilight home. I also closed down the research group, there's not much more they can tell me at this point any way.

It was Her magic.

It wasn't old either, it was new, and while there were some oddities with it, the feeling of that type of shadowy magic has haunted me for nearly a thousand years. I would never forget it.

Aside from being a Witch Wolf, Rahs had some sort of other connection with Her.

Was She able to plan something this far ahead, can She do something now that the end of her imprisonment is coming? Did She know what I had planned and simply tossed a wrench in the works?

There were far too many things still that I didn't understand and with only a little over ten years remaining I don't have time to start another plan. I can't risk studying it much more and alerting Her that I found something, she may move on to something far worse than a little pup.

I have to hope that Rahs can be taken at face value and isn't the danger he is looking to be.

Author's Notes:

So bit of exposition here as well as a few answers and even more questions.

I actually had a completely different idea involving time travel and other silly things to explain Rahs. Then i got a brain storm and BOOM, new plan is much better.

Black Dog

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's journal January 3^d

I feel I may have failed at something here and I am not completely sure as to what I could have done to change the outcome.

It's only been a month and Twilight has not changed her opinions on the matter. Rahs seems unaffected , but he has been staying closer to Twilight as of late. While Shining Armor, Cadence, and I do not seem to be the targets of her personality change, the same cannot be said for her school mates and most importantly, her parents. In truth she barely mentions her parents any more and from what they have told me she barely speaks with them.

I suppose I should go back a bit to where this started. That part was my fault, though my attempt to correct it didn't help matters either.

Under my suggestion Twilight and Rahs were to return to a normal school schedule here in Canterlot. The school in question was one she attended before and has not been part since she passed her test. While it is not a public school, it is also not the high dollar private affair that a number of nobles send their foals to.

Now before I continue I would like to point something out to future me or anyone else reading this, illegally I might add. Princess Celestia's School for gifted unicorns was not at the time a full on school. It was more of a tutoring program, in truth Twilight is not even my only student, just the one I see the most potential in. The others are scattered across Canterlot attending different schools with only Twilight being taught by me alone. She was the only one to actually succeed in a impossible test after all. The others all have days of the week when I speak with them and teach them.

Twilight had already been to Marey C. Williams for the first two years of her scholastic life, she was enrolled there, skipping second grade and a good portion of third due to my private tutoring. I would have continued to teach her but unfortunately more and more of my time was being spent elsewhere and nobles and dignitaries do not count teaching seven year olds to be a proper use of my time.

I disagree, but I can't run the government by myself, so telling them to 'deal with it' would cause more trouble than I needed. There was also the fact I wanted to avoid another situation like there was with my former student Sunset. I gave her all my time and ,well..., I'd rather not speak of what came of that.

Rahs was enrolled as well despite not speaking in more than barks, he is quite smart. He can read and write, though admittedly his paw writing is barely legible. That may be lack of practice or because his paws are as big as they are. If he follows normal puppy logic, he will be quite sizable when he grows up.

In either case I expected that there would be a bit of issue at first, after all, introducing a puppy to a bunch of seven and eight year olds was bound to cause a stir, even if he was a student.

My goal in this was to try and get Twilight to be more social, to make some friends. In the long run I expected it to help her, she was friendly enough with everyone, though with the exception of her brothers, Cadence and I were the only ones she spent any time with. She needed some friends her own age.

The first few days of class went by much as expected. Rahs was swarmed as a 'puppy dog' and spent most of the first days perched on top of a cabinet trying to avoid all the foals who wanted to pet him. Twilight was mostly ignored as just another new filly.

Over the next few weeks everything calmed down, though every pony still seemed intent on trying to make friends with the skittish pup. Twilight focused more on her studies and was easily acing what she considered remedial classes, though Cadence told me she needed to help Rahs with a good bit of it to get him to pass. The pup has no drive for it at all. As expected Twilight quickly became a teachers pet for knowing everything she did and that's when the first of the problems started.

While I was waiting for the first instance of bullying with baited breath, I was more pleased by the result of it than any of the teachers were.

I'm not sure why the colt thought to pick on Twilight, perhaps her smaller size, perhaps how focused she was on her studies and her desire to learn, or simply because he was bored, it doesn't matter. He called her egghead and pushed her, and of course Rahs reacted.

I cannot say I expected the Moon Dog to react like he did however. He didn't bite or claw he simply rose up onto his back legs, plucked the colt from the ground with his front paws and stuffed him face first into a trash can. I was not even aware Rahs could balance on his back paws yet.

That wasn't the only incident however, even if Twilight was not always the target of the bullying. If Rahs saw it, the bully wound up in a trashcan, and in the case of one particularly bulky colt , the trash can wound up on him. It was never an empty can either.

The teachers thought he was the bully and they ignored Twilight and the other students claims to the contrary and Rahs never bothered to answer for his actions, unwilling to acknowledge the schools attempts at discipline. He still came to classes with Twilight when suspended, and he ignored time outs and principal office visits. Eventually they just gave up given he was pretty much a model student otherwise.

He also gained a following from his actions both good and bad and more than a little scorn from the teachers,as the students went from the 'tell an adult 'rule of bullying to the 'tell a Rahs' rule.

I doubt that first rule has ever worked to be honest, but all the schools seemed to follow that logic. And I probably didn't help by encouraging him when I did see the pair of them for a session. His rule seemed to work better any way.

While Rahs was uncomfortable with all the attention he was getting, Twilight was worse.

When I spoke with Twilight about how she liked the school she told me she didn't. She found it boring and the other students disruptive to learning anything.

Worse still she had developed a rather strong belief that she had done something wrong and this is why I sent away to this school. Despite her maturity, she didn't seem to believe my reasons for it.

Still she went along with it because she wanted me to be proud of her. I didn't notice that she was getting more and more miserable, and had yet to make any friends.

It was Twilight and Rahs's ninth birthday when things finally came to a head.

Twilight wanted to have her normal birthday with just her family, myself, and Cadence.

Her parents had other ideas and sent invitations to all her classmates to come celebrate her and Rahs's birthdays.

According to Cadence, Twilight and Rahs both were fully against the idea.

Twilight Velvet, and Nightlight however pulled the 'parents knows best card' and rented out a Showbiz eatery. While I've never been to one myself, I've heard it is full of activities for foals and they have a number of singing animated golems preforming as a band.

Sounds like a horror story waiting to happen really, but I suppose it works well for foals who are not creeped out by the soulless dead eyes of puppets...........

No, really, I'm fine, that happened a long time ago and I am well over it. I managed to not flash fry the porcelain doll that the ambassador from Japony gifted to me.

At least until he returned home, then I vaporized that thing, covered it in cement, vaporized it again and then sent a Guard to bury the remains at the far edge of Equestria in the middle of a cross roads.

Nothing wrong at all.

At any rate the party was a blast from what I was told...... for all the foals other than Twilight.

While the details have been lost of the chaos of the event, certain things stand out. Firstly, Rahs was kicked out of the building within the first hour for attacking one of the golems. I think it was a giant chicken, but he not only left teeth marks on the leg he also drained it of magic and caused the golem to collapse. Those spells are not cheap, though Twilight said later that Rahs told her the spell tasted like oranges.

Spike was not even allowed in the building citing a fire hazard. Shining and Cadence stayed outside in a park next door with them to both entertain Spike and keep Rahs calm. Something that evidently wound up sending Shining to the hospital.

From what Cadence told me he put a shield around Rahs to keep him from trying to rush back into the building to save Twilight from the golems, only for Rahs to bite through the shield. The feedback knocked Shining Armor out and sent Rahs into an even bigger tizzy. One that got the local Guard involved as well as animal control. That lead to even more chaos of course as the Guards and the animal control had a very hard time even catching Rahs, who was now freaking out over Twilight and Shining's collapse.

I really need to check the gardens just to make sure He hasn't freed himself with all this chaos around.

Rahs was finally calmed down when Twilight came out, but by that point the damage to her was already done.

I had the Guard interview several eyewitnesses to the events inside and it was one employee who gave the most complete story.

Once Rahs had been kicked out Twilight was left alone by the other foals. None of them wanted to talk about books or science they simply wanted to play. Twilight attempted to join them and while most ignored her she did follow a few of them into what amounted to a fun house.

Evidently the Daring Doo character had become popular enough that Showbiz struck a deal to, or illegally used, her likeness. The fun house was a small scale, foal safe, recreation of a temple from the book. Complete with swinging ropes ball pits and climbing cages. There was also a small rope bridge across a 'snake pit', a short drop into a cushioned area with a bunch of animated rubber snakes for a bit of realism.

The employee informed me that it wasn't the first time some foal had fallen into the pit and freaked out. The bridge did swing a little and a ungainly foal could fall. There was a trap door to the pit from the outside if that happened, and although the employee pulled her out, Twilight was shaking and pale. He said she ran off before he could show her they were fake snakes .

Twilight spent the next hour sitting in a chair alone in the dining room while every pony else continued to have fun. By this point her parents had been called outside to try and deal with Rahs and Twilight was under the watch of one of the other parents, who was more focused on his own child than Twilight.

When all the foals were called into the dining room for lunch Twilight was already there. While bringing the food out one of the still scampering foals tripped a employee and the dishes he carried spilled. One of them being a hot Quesadilla. Said Mexicolt dish landed directly on Twilight, scalding her ears and nose with the hot cheese and making a mess of her. It didn't help that all of the foals there for her party laughed at her as she freaked out in pain.

Her mother returned at that point to help her clean up in time to open gifts, but aside from one or two little things that seemed to be picked up at the discount isle for little filly’s, most of the gifts were for Rahs, as that was who most of the foals knew and were thought to be friends with.

The cake was little better as a greedy little colt managed to grab a hoofful of it as it was being set down before Twilight, which started a bit of a riot of other foals making grabs for it and destroying it before Twilight could blow out the candles. Despite the foals being scolded for their actions, it was too late.

The employee stated Twilight simply got up and walked out the door. From what Cadence said with all the chaos Rahs was causing, particularly after he scaled the building, no one even noticed her leave. It wasn't until Rahs bit one of the Guards who was holding him after he was finally caught and ran off down the street that any one even noticed she was gone.

The search for them didn't last long and they were quickly found back at the house.

When Mrs. and Mr. Sparkle got home the pair of them were sitting on the front steps with Twilight half asleep, her tear stained face buried in Rahs's side. She wouldn't acknowledge her parents and any time either of them got close Rahs would snap at them and he would bite any magic they tried to use to pick up Twilight.

The pair of them were kept outside of their house until Cadence and Spike arrived with a groggy Shining Armor and were allowed to pass into the building.

From what I am told by Cadence, Rahs has returned to the way he was when he was first brought home snapping and growling at both the elder Sparkle's only now Twilight doesn't scold him or tell him to stop.

The pair of them had also stopped going to school. It wasn't noticed for the first few days until the school Truancy office came by to make sure everything was alright. Twilight had been avoiding the school and simply going to the public library to read with Rahs.

The officer also brought this to my attention as she was one of my students as well, though she had yet to miss one of our sessions.

Her parents are at a loss as to what to do. Even if they were escorted to the school and into class at some point during the day both of them would simply leave and be found later at home or in the library.

An attempt was made to have some one watch them , but the moment their observer was distracted, they were gone again.

The school even tried putting them in a private room to teach them and while that worked for a few days, the pair eventually didn't wish to deal with that either and left. The first time was when Rahs threw his desk through a window and they both climbed out and left. The second room had no windows, but now, thanks to Twilight, it is short most of one wall.

Unfortunately while Twilight's case was the worst, it was not the only situation. My other students were also struggling with their peers and being too far along in their studies.

While they were faring better than Twilight, a filly named Moon Dancer was not far off quitting my program and moving due to all the bullying she was receiving simply due to her poor eyesight making her wear glasses. And another filly had already dropped out and left Canterlot with her family after the number of fights and scholastic issues she had. That saddened me greatly, Beatrix Lulumoon had a knack for illusions better than any other I had seen at her age.

Twilight's situation brought to light a problem I had not seen before. I was teaching these foals to be better, but I was forcing them to learn with those who did not have the same drive or spark as they did to learn. I had shown them they were special, and then seemingly abandoned them to peers who were were likely jealous of the treatment that I was giving them. Given my methods had not changed in hundreds of years it was small wonder that looking back many of my students developed some complex or another.

I decided to rectify this situation before it became worse for these foals.

Setting aside more time despite protests, I started work on rebuilding relations with them. Twilight and Rahs were my students on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Moondancer and Twinkleshine on Thursdays and Fridays. Lemon Hearts and Lyra Heartstrings on Sundays and Wednesdays and Minuette and Shining Lights on Sundays and Mondays.

Sunday was my usual day off, though I had double booked in order to teach two classes. I needed to shorten my Day court, but that was easy enough to do.

It took several months to regain the foals trust, and to build the new school house on the castle grounds. It took another three months to find several teachers who would not only cater to the students learning skills, but also be able to deal with the emotional state they were in.

I started introducing the foals to each other not long after the school was completed and most of them seemed to get along well, though Twilight and Rahs were still rather standoffish. While Twilight talked with the others, it was nearly all business with her. While as usual Rahs was thought of as a puppy, it took less than a day for the small group to move away from the 'cute dog' mindset and become more curious as to what he was.

Still classes have been progressing quite well and many of the foals seem to be calming down and opening up more to the others. All of them save Twilight. She's friendly enough, but I don't think she considers any of them as anything more than classmates.

There's only nine years left and I hope Twilight can work through this to do what needs to be done. It is her cutie-mark that is on the tree, she has to be the one.

If she isn't.......

I need to set up some contingency plans, just in case.

I can't help but look for Her hoof in these events, and aside from Rahs, nothing seems to link to Her. And it cannot be Him as he is still sealed in stone.

I cannot blame them so this must be fate this time. I have to hope it will all work out in the end. I cannot do much else.

One cannot force some pony to make friends.

Author's Notes:

This one might be a bit darker than my usual fare in TGaP, but the Sol will return after the plot gets moved forward in this chapter. Also some splainin, i loves me some head canon splainin.

Dog Days are over

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's Journal, eight years left.

It's been a year since the birthday disaster and it seems things have improved. Twilight and Rahs are ten now, with Spike just hitting his fourth birthday. He's grown a little and is getting around well enough on his own, though he still scampers on all fours at times. He's also talking quite a bit, though most of it is still toddler gibberish.

Rahs and Twilight are in a disagreement over what his first word was. Twilight says it was 'bark' Rahs says it was 'Rutabaga'. Given that Spike will often go around parroting what others say, bark, woof, and other canine noises are in his vocabulary. As are words like depolarizability and methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Still if his barks are real words in Moon Dog language, I am rather curious as to what Rahs hears when Spike is making those noises.

Rahs and Twilight's tenth birthday.

Aside from her attempts to ignore it was happening, much like a number of other older mares I know, it went fairly well. A simple affair like she wanted with just family and Cadence and I.

I actually managed my time enough to be there for a bit of it this time. Mrs. Sparkle makes wonderful carrot cake.

The rift between her and her parents is still there, though not as bad as at the start of the year, Rahs no longer snaps at them or growls, but he still watches warily. Twilight is also at least conversing with the other foals in the new school, well arguing over science nitpicks really. Mostly with Moon Dancer, though if there ever was another foal to challenge her it would be Moon Dancer.

While she doesn't have Twilight's power, she does have her intelligence and drive to learn. The pair of them often team up as lab partners even without being assigned. Rahs usually winds up with Lyra Heartstrings, which oddly works out as the teachers know that if something is going to explode, those two are going to be at fault.

Lyra doesn't have the power or the intelligence of the others, she's simply easily excitable and the only one who still sees Rahs as a big puppy dog. In truth out of all of them she was doing the best in the normal school. She is a good deal stronger than a normal unicorn of her age, likely due to her father being an earth pony, but that's not why she was accepted into the program.

When tasked with hatching the dragon egg, Lyra came up with the idea to wake it up with music. She composed a song for her harp on the spot, a song that made two of the three examiners weep. It also gained her her cutie mark.

I'd have rated her at Twilight's power level if she managed to get Stone Hoof to cry, but some things are impossible.

Moon Dancer had tried to hatch the egg by raising the temperature of the area to what some writers have claimed the dragons make nests in, thankfully she didn't have the power to raise the room to the temperature of an active volcano, but her attempt was enough to put her in the program.

Twinkle Shine had tried a few alchemical mixes that she had learned, one of which the examiners were unaware of existed. Seems the filly had learned some Zebra alchemy from her grandfather who was a mixed breed.

I never understood the aversion to the mixed breeds, they are often quite pretty with pony colors and Zebra stripes. Still given the average pony is one uniform color I suppose they were at best thought of as exotic.

Lemon Hearts had attempted to cook a meal so delicious that the dragon was sure to wake up and hatch. And although it did not work, the judges did try some of the meal and Stone Hoof immediately passed her after standing there stunned for ten minutes staring into space. He later claimed it gave him a flashback to his own foal hood and a dish his mother used to make.

He also ate it all before I could try some. The jerk.

Shining Lights built a incubator of sorts and powered it with her magic. It was nothing fancy, but the examiners were impressed with how efficiently she used her magic, utilizing barely half of the normal power required for each task.

Then there was Minuette, if Twilight had not come along Minuette would have been the one who I chose as my personal student. At six years old she managed a time manipulation spell that she had read about in comic books. Taking the idea and reworking the theory of it she managed to age the egg and it's cart by ten years before passing out from over taxing her horn. The examiners didn't even know what she did at first until the egg's wagon collapsed, the screws aged to dust and the wood made old and brittle.

When asked about it she wrote out a formula she had thought up on the spot to get it to work. I asked her not to use her spell without supervision and she agreed. Still the formula was documented and locked in one of the secure vaults. Time alteration spells are quite dangerous, to have a new one invented by a foal was far more than enough to secure her place.

Given it was the second year of the official school and the test was coming up again I opted to expanded the school further so if there were any incoming students they could be taught separate from the currently enrolled ones.

Some years many foals passed, other years none did. I wasn't sure what the school was going to use for a test this year, but I allowed them to make the choice. That they didn't have to use the university for testing this year made the examiners happy as the pink wall incident still annoyed the dean. Once i had three schools that stested students but the numbers fell so low only the one in Canterlot remained.

Moving along, a few other things of note have popped up.

The first is that Rahs and Twilight have found out Cadence is an alicorn. This went surprisingly well as Rahs didn't care and Twilight only had a few hundred questions before she accepted it.

Shining Armor however had a complete break down over it, of course there was a reason for that.

Cadence and Shining are in their senior year of high school and somehow or another Shining Armor and Cadence became a couple. I'm not supposed to know this of course as Cadence has been quite hush hush about it. Still it doesn't take a fortune teller to see what's going on.

Shining Armor is going to join the Guard when he graduates and the colt doesn't want any hint of any sort of favoritism. I suppose Cadence explained she has no real sway with the government yet as few even know she exists. But he seemed concerned with how I might influence his progression.

He has a right to be worried about that, cause I plan on it.

He thinks he's worthy of my niece and becoming a Prince?

I plan to make sure he is.

I've got two old Drill Sergeants in mind that I will need to woo out of retirement for his training class. Staff Sergeant Starfall Silvertail and First Sergeant Jer'rahd Kaisur. Both of them were strong opponents of the relaxation of old Guard protocols involving training and while they were instructors ,the pair refused to follow the new politically mandated safe programs.

While this resulted in more drop outs, it also resulted in better Guards. They both retired a few years ago however, Silvertail so she could play with her grand-foals, and Kaisur because his wife was starting to demand foals before they got too old.

From what I have heard he and Platinum have their first on the way soon.

Still I should be able to convince the pair of them to come back for a training session. A rank bump and a pay upgrade coupled with full control over how they run their training.

Shining had best prepare now …...

Though I think he might be doing just that, with the help of Rahs, which brings up the second thing of note.

Shining Armor has begun training for the Guard even though he has a good six months left until he can enlist. Aside from a Twilight sponsored exercise regime and research into tactics and Guard history he is also practicing his magic.

In particular he is forming shields and getting Rahs to eat them.

While it seems quite silly, particularly with the pain it brings to have a stronger spell devoured like that, he's persisting and it is showing impressive results. His shield spell has become one of the strongest I have seen in a long time. It was already his signature spell, though with the training he's put himself into I might even have a hard time breaking through one of his shields. It's currently gotten to the point where Rahs can't even bite through it like he should be able to.

This has brought my interest in him up considerably. A shield spell that is resistant if not outright immune to effects that disrupt the mana flow would be invaluable to the Guard.

Still don't think he's worthy of Cadence yet, but he's showing more promise than I thought he would.

Rahs and Twilight have also started to tag along with him during his exercises, and while the ten year olds cannot completely keep up with the eighteen year old colt, even they are showing results. Both have lost that little bit of baby fat they still had and while Twilight has slimmed down considerably, Rahs has bulked up.

Twilight has tackled this the same way she does everything else, with a multitude of checklists for both herself, Rahs, and Shining. She's also read up on physical fitness to the point that she's acting as her brothers coach.

I wonder if I should bring in a teacher for this sort of thing as well. None of the schools foals are out of shape, but Lemon Hearts is a bit pudgy.

Something to consider later, work the mind and the body.

I probably could use a bit of a work out as well, too much cake. While I’ve yet to have any complaints about my flank, with what's coming..... I need to get back into a shape that I can fight in, if my initial plan fails it may be all I have left to fall back on.

Author's Notes:

Most of my titles have been music related, this one is from Florence and the machine, i may switch to puns before too long.

This chapter brought up a few changes to the canon i wanted to roll with and also cemented this further in canon with other things. Still it is decidedly an AU story.

We also had cameos by not one, not two, but three Classic SiS characters. Alternate AU's of alternate AU's are fun.

I posted this one so close to the last one because this is supposed to be a light and fluff story, and last chapter was some what dark. Granted this might have been due to my grandfather being hospitalized when i wrote it. He's doing better now, but it was a bad time for a while there.

Dog Pound Hop [10]

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Celestia's Journal six years remaining.

Note to self, add a sex education class to my school and make sure it explains all species not just ponies.

That said, I do not think I have ever laughed so hard at some one elses misfortune in my life. I'm not sure Rahs accepted my apology or Twilight's, but at least he's talking to her again.

I suppose I should explain this better, if for no other reason than I want a record of this to last forever.

Rahs and Twilight are both twelve now. While she is more comfortable talking with others she still hasn’t really made any friends. She willingly associates with the other students, but that's usually only when it comes to scholastic pursuits. I've not known her to actually, go out and and have fun unless some one like Lyra managed to convince Rahs to drag her out. Which from my understanding has happened twice in the last few years. And the only thing of note that was learned according to Twilight is she cannot dance. Lyra on the other hoof described it as a 'musically induced seizure on the dance floor'. I'm sad I missed it.

Twilight has gotten a bit more reclusive since Cadence started college and her brother joined the Guard unfortunately, but it was expected.

And yes I did convince Silvertail and Kaisur to come back for the training. The pair expanded the training to thirteen weeks and have had to restart it twice because of the drop outs for each session did not leave enough recruits remaining in each class to train.

Credit where it is due however, Shining Armor and a few others have stuck with it. Also I'm not sure of the details, but Kaisur has declared Shining Armor his 'special friend' for all three sessions so far.

Cadence is super pissed at me for this, but she can't prove I have a hoof in it. She's a few thousand years too young to see all the back room planning and behind the scenes work I do.

Beside I have the perfectly cultivated poker face. Also Kaisur and Silvertail have evidently tried to get her to join the training the moment she showed up. Seems some one informed them she was a Princess and they both have loads of training they would love to test on an alicorn.

She refused of course, likely to spare Shining a fourth time restarting his training. Pity I think she might have been able to use some Guard training.

Why not me you ask?

To tell the truth I have considered it, I might take them as tutors after this training session. I might need the edge that could bring in six years.

Rahs has progressed rather well. He's much bigger than he was though he's starting to go into that odd lanky teenager phase, much as Twilight is.

Spike is growing up rapidly too and he has started with a private tutor. He's very perceptive and very sharp, though like any young child he's easily distracted from what he should be doing by something else. He's more normal than Twilight or Rahs in that regard. The strangest one of the family is the most normal for his age... oddly fitting.

Still it is their age that caused this current issue.

So let me regal you journal with a short story.

Rahs still tends to sleep through most of my sessions with Twilight. I don't see it as rude, as most of Twilight and my sessions are magic based and he cannot cast anything, so it does him no good to pay attention.

This time however, while napping, he had what some would call an 'awkward teen moment'. While asleep in the sun beam coming through my study window he evidently was starting to have a rather 'good' dream given the fact that his..... well 'dog hood' for lack of a less crude term had grown out of it's sheath.

Like most canines the odd shaped length was a brighter coloration than his fur, bright red in fact.
Now it was something I could easily ignore, despite what some have claimed in the past, I do have tact. Besides he was a puppy and as I have said before I am not a cradle robber.... despite every one being younger than me. Also I still saw the pair of them as the brightly inquisitive filly and the fluffy bundle of teeth they were when I first met them.

His state of arousal was not the issue in this story however, merely the catalyst.

The issue was Twilight.

More importantly, the issue was that Twilight had been studying dangerous creatures of Equestria.

More important than that, was that she had gotten to the part in her studies involving a creature called a Tatzlwurm.

Now, the very most important thing is that Tatzlwurms are much like wasps, in that they stun their prey and lay eggs in the still living creature. Usually by simply depositing it in what ever orifice is available. I am quite certain many of the more lewd fetishes coming from Japony stemmed from this.

When the eggs hatch however, like a wasp they usually burst out of the abdominal region before devouring the host who has usual died of shock by this point.

Tatzlwurms are not much a threat to ponies and other intelligent species with this however. And there are known to be some particularly... demented individuals who make good money harvesting Tatzlwurm eggs by being bait. Once Tatzlwurms lay their eggs they don't care about the host and usually let them wander off so the young can grow some where else. The eggs are not that hard to remove with a moderately skilled doctor or Unicorn. And even a less than skilled pony with a bottle of strong alcohol and a sharp knife, or a very very close personal friend, can remove them with no issue. Easy to remove, if embarrassing.

The eggs themselves are valuable because Tatzlwurms will not attack any one with an egg even if it's from another Tatzlwurm, so long as they are kept warm and moist they will last to hatch after around two months. Quite valuable for any one forced to live near them or researching them.

Now with all that in mind, look at it from Twilight's perspective. Trust me it's much funnier and more adorable to do so.

She had no idea about male genitalia and likely even less about a canine's parts. So when she looked over what she saw was what appeared to be a blood red worm bursting out of her brothers belly, she reacted quite quickly. So fast in fact I wasn't sure what she was doing even as she yelled at me to get a doctor, a cry that woke Rahs up as well. And before I could question it she tried to help her brother.

She wrapped her magic around the 'worm' that was going to eat him and yanked.

I am told his howl was heard as far away as Ponyville.

It took six hours to get Rahs out from under my bed and another three to get him not to try and run away from Twilight. I wasn't even mad about the door he broke down to get from my study to my quarters.

Twilight apologized profusely and nearly constantly, in a panic herself, particularly after I explained to the young mare exactly what it was she had tried to pull off her brother.

Granted it took me an hour to be able to breath enough to be able to speak without breaking down laughing again.

I would feel bad but he has peed in my shoes on more than one occasion.

And that was the story of why Rahs now wears pants.

He's looking less and less like the cute bundle of puppy fluff he was when I first met him and more like a Diamond Dog every day, though I doubt he will have the massive forearms and slouched posture however. Still this is probably a good thing. Diamond Dogs are fairly common and the more Rahs looks like one the less likely any one will think of him as being anything else.

She had a number of followers. Dark cults and forces beyond even Her Thestrals and Witch Wolves. While I would like to think I found them all, or that a thousand years with no sign of Her would dissuade even the most diehard cultist into giving up, I do not want to chance that some one might recognize what Rahs really is and start a cult around him. Particularly since I believe the only way a cult like that could get him to cooperate is if they took Twilight or Spike as hostages.

That wouldn't end well for any one.

After as much time as I have spent with Rahs Twilight and Spike, I do not think She has anything to do with his life directly. If he was placed here due to Her influence I cannot see anything that he does that would benefit Her.

Still I have numerous other safeguards I am putting into place. Even if I lose to Her, She will be weakened and the Guard magi and the new troops Silvertail and Kaisur are training might still be able to stop Her.

While I hope the path Twilight takes will be all that is needed, I did not make Equestria what it is today without having backup plans.

Author's Notes:

Dog Pound Hop

Yes that's right, 90% of this chapter was a long winded dick joke.

I make no apologies for crass and base humor.

Dog Eat Dog, Part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[Sparkle residence. 2 years remaining until the thousandth year. ]

“How did this happen? Where did I go wrong?” a fit, white furred, and blue maned unicorn in a Guard Sergeants Armor bemoaned.

“Woof?” A navy blue canine creature with long pointed ears and feline features responded. The creature was sitting on his rump, light brown pants with numerous pockets covered his legs with a slit cut in the back of the waist band for a feline like tail to poke out. A dim orb of light floated at each long ear tip and the end of the creatures tail barely visible in the rooms light. The creature looked much like a Diamond Dog though it's limbs were more evenly matched with the rest of it's body and it didn't seem top heavy like a normal Diamond dog, despite being fairly well muscled. It's finger like paws also displayed no visible claws as it thumbed through a book, barely paying attention to the pacing stallion aside from a glance to two at him with his amber colored eyes.

“What?” The Stallion asked.

“He asked how were you blaming yourself for this, you've been in training for the last couple of years.” Another smaller creature asked from his place leaning against the side of the canine. The pudgy young Dragon was covered in purple scales with bright green rounded spines. One of his claws was plucking a gem from a small bowl of them next to him, while the other held a comic book that he stared at with fascination as some fight or another was breaking out in the pages.

“I could have stopped this. If I never joined the Guard I could have been here to stop this from happening.” Shining snorted.

“Seriously bro you're acting like Twilight died. She's sixteen, ponies do this sort of thing all the time. Heck, mom thinks she's started too late.” Spike explained. “ Celestia was delighted too.”

“Gruff.” Rahs nodded in agreement.

The trio were currently in Shining Armors old room, the place had barely been touched since he left for Guard training. While their brother usually stayed in the Guard house when in Canterlot their parents didn't want to change how the room looked. Luckily the Sparkle homestead already had a few extra rooms unused so when Rahs and Spike got older they moved into their own room and out of Twilight's. Granted the space their things had been in the shared room immediately became more bookshelves, but no one expected anything else.

Shining had drug the pair into his room when he came home for a weekend and found out what was going on.

“ He's my age!” Shining growled.

“He's only two years older than Twilight, You're ten years older than Twilight.” Spike pointed out.

“Wuff” Rahs corrected.

“Okay, you're nine years and six months older than Twilight.”Spike rolled his eyes. "He's not your age."

“That's still too much of an age gap!” Shining protested.

Spike and Rahs lowered their comic and book respectively, looked at each other, then to the pacing stallion, and then over to his dresser where a picture of Princess Cadence sat, then back at Shining who at least had the decency to look a bit ashamed for his hypocrisy.

“Okay bad example....”Shining quickly corrected.

“You ever find out how much older she is than you?” Spike taunted going back to his comic.

“Growf” Rahs smirked.

“He says his bits are on five to six hundred years.” Spike smirked. “ I'd bet closer to two to three myself.”

“I said bad example.” Shining grumbled.”But still It's Blueblood who asked her! Blueblood, the guys first name is Prince for crying out loud, how pompous is that?”

“Wuff.”

“We've met him. He's not bad. And it's not like he chose his name himself.” Spike rolled his eyes. He and Rahs were used to Twilight having melt downs about being tardy, tests, or anything else that came up that wasn't on one of her lists, to see Shining do it made them both wonder if it was genetic. The pair were actually glad for once that they were adopted so they wouldn't ever have to find out for sure.

“He's up to something I know it. Why did he even come after Twilight, what's the edge he's after?” Shining growled. “ He must be trying to get close to Princess Celestia through her student.”

“Ruff.”

“Rahs says he's Celestia's nephew, he doesn't need to use Twilight to get close to the Princess.” Spike pointed out.

“It must be the families money then!”

“Growf?”

“Yeah seriously. Dude's family has bought an entire town before, just to move the entire thing thirty miles to the west because the road to it ran across the view from their third summer home. “ Spike snarked.” Bit's ain't it. Particularly when mom counts our allowance out in quarter bits sometimes.”

“ Well what other reason could it be?!” Shining snapped.

“I dunno, maybe he thought she's cute?” Spike asked as Rahs shrugged.

“What?!” Shining shouted.

“Yeah when he asked her on a date Prince was super nervous, not as bad as Twilight got, I mean I doubt he checked out the entire section on dating at the library like Twilight did.” Spike considered.” Because she checked out the ENTIRE section on dating to study up for it.”

“Woof!” Rahs pointed out.

“Oh yeah, he did mention that he had help mustering up the courage to ask, so he's probably as clueless as Twilight is.” Spike agreed with Rahs. “ Well maybe not now after she's read all those books.”

“What help? Who helped him set this up with Twiliy?!” Shining demanded.

Spike and Rahs lowered their comic and book respectively, looked at each other, then to the pacing stallion, and then over to his dresser where a picture of Princess Cadence sat, then back at Shining who had buried his face into both hooves.

“Buck my life......” Shining groaned.

“Ehh what can you do. Your mare friend set up the date with your little sister, Twilight won't answer the door as she's too panicked about studying for the date, and Mom's all for it to the point she's keeping Dad occupied so he can't intervene.”

“Bark!”

“Yeah, he won't let me play with that Griffonese crossbow he got either.” Spike pouted.

“Alright.” Shining said suddenly. “ I have a plan.”

“The scariest four words in the Equss language right there.” Spike stated as Rahs shuddered.

“No it's brilliant.” Shining stated, a manic grin crossing his features. His brothers glanced to each other, then to the door pondering if they could make it in time. “ We'll follow them tonight and make sure he doesn't try anything. It'll be perfect.”

“Unless... yah know, she sees us. A Moon Dog, a Royal Guard, and a little Dragon are not exactly stealthy.” Spike complained.

“Woof.”

“You're about as stealthy as a herd of Buffalo, I thought you were supposed to be part cat?” Spike snapped.

“Bork.”

“You did no such thing, that was your Oubliettes and ogres character, and he was more of a shaman any way, you just lucked out with a Nat 20.” Spike pointed out.

“Woof!” Rahs counted.

“Gah alright you got me there. Twilight's in test mode, she wouldn't notice a herd of Buffalo. But Prince might.” Spike grumbled.

“Grrr...”

“Lost in her eyes?” Spike blinked before narrowing his eyes at the canine. “Have you been reading Mom's books again?”

Rahs didn't say anything but he didn't meet Spike's glare either.

Shining on the other hoof was still rambling, ignoring the conversation.

“........I bet he's even got photographers around ready to snap a shot of blackmail to force her to marry him......”

Rahs's ears perked up at that, though Spike was less than amused.

“Blackmail? It's a date, ponies have them all the time!” the little drake groaned.

“Bork!”

“You're in? What do you mean you're in? This is crazy!” Spike growled.” I'm the youngest one here and I’ve got the most sense!”

“Bark, Bark, BARK.” Rahs countered closing his book fully as Spike calmed down and pondered looking at the frazzled Shining.

“Yeah he'd go any way. Alright, alright, I'm in. Now let's get him calmed down. Prince is supposed to be here in two hours and we need at least one of those hours to calm Twilight down too.” Spike sighed steeling himself for what he was sure was going to be a long night.

Author's Notes:

I know i said i was going on a bit of a break , but 10 minutes after i posted that blog entry this idea hit me and i was giggling too hard to let it go.

Also it still adds to the month of the puppy so......

Title isDog Eat Dog

Dog eat Dog, Part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
by TDR

[ Sparkle residence. 2 years remaining until the thousandth year.]

“Okay Twilight calm down, there's no need to panic...” Twilight muttered to herself sitting in front of her dresser looking in the mirror as she brushed her mane .

“What am I talking about?! There's plenty of need to panic!!!” Twilight yelped, several strands of her mane curling up as her eyes go wild. After a moment of heavy breathing she calmed down again smoothing the errant hair back down with her brush.

“Okay, no, calm.. calm... I have read every book on dating and the majority of them say there is nothing going to happen on the first date and nothing will ever happen unless I let it.” She exhaled softly. “We are just going to a play and then to dinner. Nothing fancy.”

“But what if!?!?” The strands of hair pop back up as the mare started pacing in front of her mirror. “I don't know anything about him. Anything could happen.......”

“Shush I know everything about him.” Twilight snapped at herself smoothing down her hair and sitting down again. “Prince William Blueblood, blood type Q, height one hundred and twenty seven centimeters, age eighteen, nineteen in two months and three days. Youngest child of the Blueblood family, only male child. Indirect relative to Princess Celestia herself, descended from Princess Platinum. Formal education at Canterlot U, currently working towards a bachelors in politics, history, and international relations as well as a minoring in foreign policy, and international culinary studies........”

On the other side of the room Spike and Rahs remain where they were, pressed against the wall watching the mare. The two say nothing as Twilight starts listing off Blueblood's hobbies, musical taste, ear length and hoof size. Once again the two are both quite happy that they are not genetically related to the Sparkle family. Having seen three freakouts in the span of two hours today. As bad as Shining and Twilight's were, they still couldn't compete with the melt down Nightlight was having after hearing his daughter was going on a date. It was pretty clear by the way Twilight Velvet was dealing with him she was used to it, but she had her hooves full with just her husband.

“Alright, I'm in now too.” Spike muttered to Rahs. “ If only to see how far this train wreck will go.”

“Growf.” Rahs agreed.

“What was that?” Twilight snapped suddenly turning her head eyes wide at the sight of her brothers plastered against the wall near her door.”Gah! How long have you two been there?!”

“Since about fifteen minutes ago … when you let us in.” Spike tried to placate.”Just relax Twilight. It's just a date.”

“Just a date? Just a Date!” Twilight shouted her hair coming undone again as Rahs slapped his face with a paw. “ This could be the biggest social event of my life!? What if he doesn't like me? What if I screw things up! He could be my future husband and I'm going into this blind. What if I screw everything up and wind up a lonely spinster surrounded by cats in my eighties! CATS SPIKE!!! I don't even like cats!”

“Bark!” Rahs stated licking his lips.

“You like cats?” Spike asked.

“Roof” Rahs explained.

“They do?” Spike questioned.

“Cats do not taste like chicken Rahs!” Twilight fussed.

“Woof.”

“Yes 'as far as I know.'”Twilight retorted. “Ugh … what am I gonna do?”

“Ruff.”

“Yes I know Cadence said he was nervous about asking me out.. but...”

“Woof.”

“...... do you really think he's freaking out about this too?”

Rahs shrugged.

“Seriously Twilight. Just go and have fun.” Spike rolled his eyes.

“Fun?” Twilight snapped, her hair standing up again. “Reading is fun, making spreadsheets is fun, this is nerve wracking. This is panic educing, this is..... OW!!!”

Twilight winced as Rahs quickly walked over and cuffed her on the back of the head with a paw before leaning over her staring down intently and forcing the mare to take a step back. She blinked after a moment before frowning and glaring back up at him.

“Do you have to do that every time?” Twilight hissed.

“Ruff.”

“I was not freaking out, I was just nervous!” Twilight snapped.

Rahs looked back at Spike who nodded.

“Yep that was definitely a freak out.” Spike agreed.

Twilight pouted.”I still don't see why that means you have to hit me.”

“Grrrr.” Rahs retorted.

“Wait a book said slapping some one hysterical would snap them out of it? What book?” Twilight demanded as Rahs looked away sheepishly.

“Rahs........” Twilight glared.

“Woof........” Rahs admitted.

“The Wolf of the Harvest Moon?”Twilight blinked then narrowed her eyes. “That's one of mom's romance novels, why are you reading that!?”

“Bark...”

“What else did you think it could have been if mom had it on one of her shelves?”Twilight asked as Rahs shrugged. “ That's a work of fiction you shouldn't take anything one of those says to heart. It's just creative story telling.”

“Bork” Rahs smirked watching Twilight blush, her ears flattening to her head.

“I did that once! I didn't know the chandelier wasn't connected to that rope.” Twilight protested.

“Suuuuuuuure, little miss Daring Don't, you nearly squished me with that banner you cut down.” Spike snarked getting a laugh from Rahs.

“Laugh it up fuzzball, the mass to weight ratio checked out in my notes, it's not my fault the chandelier wasn't clearly labeled.” Twilight pouted a moment before smirking some. “ Probably better that I didn't cut that one. Imported crystal from a non existent empire hitting the floor at that speed would have shattered all of it. Mistakes of my younger years....”

“Ruff.” Rahs grinned.

“That was longer than two months ago thank you very much.”Twilight snorted as the other two chuckled, though even Twilight had a smile.

“Feeling better now?” Spike asked.

“Yeah....despite my two idiot brothers attempts to cheer me up. I do feel a little better.” Twilight sighed.

“Woof.” Rahs pointed out.

“Right, I know I know. Don't stress it , try to enjoy myself and get to know him better first. The play is the first thing, so if we can't think of anything else to talk about over dinner we can fall back to that. I have been curious about this rendition of the Count of Mountie Critso. They turned the book into a musical......”Twilight sighed. “ Alright alright. I cede the point, but if this all goes badly I will say I told you so.”

“Geez don't jinx it.” Spike snorted.”Well at least you look ready.. maybe smooth down your mane a bit before you go, I mean you still have ten minutes before he's supposed to get here. Plenty of tim............”

“TEN MINUTES!!! I'm not ready!!” Twilight shrieked cutting Spike off and rushing around her room , digging through her dresser to try and find the dress she picked out, completely ignoring that it was on her bed until Rahs pointed it out.

Spike and Rahs took the moment after their sister tried putting it on back wards to step out of the room shutting the door behind them.

“Ruff?” Rahs asked looking down at Spike.

“Yep, operation 'First Date ' is a go, let's go get Shining.”Spike chuckled.

Author's Notes:

Now that the setup is over, it's time to get this date underway.

And a bit of music as tribute......Music

Dog eat Dog, Part 3

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[Outside the Sparkle residence. 2 years remaining until the thousandth year.]

While he would never admit it to any one, Prince Blueblood knew he wasn't the smartest pony in the world. And that was after ruling out all the alicorns and elder ponies from the equation.

Despite knowing this, he had a feeling he was being played somehow. He wasn't sure who it was who was playing him however in this situation. He knew it wasn't Twilight, the mare had been greatly surprised that he had asked her out. He suspected it was his 'cousin' Princess Cadence, though he was almost certain his Aunt Celestia had a hoof in this as well some where.

Realizing that he relaxed in his carriage as he waited for his date to come out of the house. She was a little bit late, though he had no plans to tell her that. In fact it was often expected on dates for the mare to show fashionably late. At least that was what he was told.

If Celestia and Cadence had a hoof in his current situation he would expect sooner or later to find out it was 'for his own good' and he had best enjoy himself while he could. It was also in question whether or not it was he who was getting played or Twilight. Who could understand what the alicorns were thinking?

Still knowing he was not the smartest pony was part of the reason he had some interest in Twilight. As far as he could tell she was' the smartest pony in the world' baring aforementioned elders and alicorns of course. That she was cute also likely helped his choice. Though he had another reason for thinking of her as well.

Her puppy.

The pup had caught his attention on a trip to the palace when he was younger. He didn't recall what his parents were there to discuss, but it was dull. Rather than sit in a stuffy room and listen to the Princess talk with other boring adults before his parents would be allowed to speak, he had slipped out to find out why there was a dog allowed to wander around the castle unattended.

The pup of course had easily noticed the white Unicorn colt following him and had turned it into the most ridiculous game of tag ever. Prince had not even known what tag was until one of the Guards explained it to him after the puppy had booped his nose with a paw and run off.

With the rules of the game firmly in mind, Prince had quickly booped the Guard and run off. By the time the meeting was done, four Guards, three maids, Princess Cadence, four other bored noble foals, a Phoenix, and a very confused Zebra ambassador had been roped into playing a game of tag that tore through the castle and spilled out into several gardens as ponies forgot exactly who was 'it' and tried to tag each other just in case they happened to be 'it'.

It was the most fun Blueblood had ever had.

It was the most annoyed his parents had ever been.

It was also the most amused he had ever seen Princess Celestia. Particularly when Rahs booped her it and she tagged a passing noble and added the rule of 'no backsies'.

It wasn't until much later that he found out the owner of the dog was Princess Celestia's favorite student. A filly who had spent the entire game of tag in the library reading. One who he had kept an eye on, who he would have likely overlooked completely if not for the encounter with her dog.

She had been eight then and Blueblood ten. He still recalled those few hours of free time with fondness, given that from that point on he was enrolled in schools and activities to prepare him for the future at the cost of his present.

His parents had wanted to marry him off to secure some line or another. He had no idea who the filly was that he was to be wed to. He brought it up with his aunt and Celestia put a stop to it, she had done the same with a number of other nobles with the same idea, claiming that the arranged marriages was an old tradition that needed to die out. His parents relented, though the cancellation of the marriage had brought a number of unforeseen consequences.

Namely the now seventeen year old unicorn stallion was now the most eligible bachelor in Canterlot.

He really hated reporters.

Prince was never a small pony. A number of his studies had included physical trainers and he had a number of servants for his personal grooming, so he always looked good and his build had him just shy of your standard Guard only prettier.

The mares ate that nonsense up.

He was swamped with fan mail, from everyone to starry eyed fillys not even in their teens, to desperate cougars that were old enough to be his mother.

He was of course overwhelmed completely.

He had also found out Cadence was an alicorn, the alicorn of love specificly,... he didn't exactly recall when he found out, but the moment all this started he had needed her help immensely.

He would be ninteen soon and he wanted help on figuring out what he should do about his 'fans'. He had been trained to show a public face that radiated poise, grace, nobility, and calm, though it was harder and harder to keep that face when the letters started getting salacious.

His attitude seemed to sour and he started being snapping and indignant. It was not intentional, but after being rude to a few of the more eager mares, he found they left him alone. He didn't want to, but it seemed to work for the ones that got close to him, for the others, well Cadence had a plan for that.

Her suggestion to find a mare he liked, or at least had attributes of a mare he would like and ask her out, was a fair one. Even if the first date did not go well it would reduce his 'fans' a little by showing what he liked. Ones that had some of those attributes or mentality would still bother him, but those who did not should realize they had no chance and get on with their lives.

He had given that some thought, thinking of the mares he had met, though none of them ever struck him as 'date material'. The few who might be would have taken advantage of the date in ways he might not catch until later. Honestly he couldn't think of any mare he was interested in. Of course Cadence sat there staring at him letting him think and that got him nervous. When she finally asked if he had thought of any one the first name to fall from his lips was a name he had not really been considering. A filly he had met perhaps twice for five minutes and both times her head was buried in a book. A filly he only knew because of her dog

Twilight Sparkle.

His traitorous lips had uttered the name and Cadence had squeed like a five year old seeing something so fluffy she could die.

Everything went crazy after that. Cadence had info dumped everything she knew about Twilight to prepare Prince to ask her out. It was only then that he found out Rahs wasn't a pet, but one of Twilight's brothers. That was quite an embarrassing revelation as he had been trying to figure out what breed of dog Rahs was for years.

Still he had to admit Cadence's idea had merit.

Twilight was younger than him by two years, but Prince couldn't help admit he was slightly interested in her. Not really romantically, but she was a interesting young mare, just with all that she had accomplished in life already before even becoming a legal adult.

Had she been of a higher noble house she would have been in the exact same situation that he was in with arranged marriages and countless suitors. Luckily the Sparkle's were nobles in name only and thus she was spared much of the nobilities issues with paparazzi and other nobles.

Perhaps if the date went well, more might come of it than just a passing interest however. Stories claimed love at first sight was common though he knew that was rarely the case, he needed to know her more before anything would bloom.

After all she had accepted..... well, after five minutes of stunned silence, during which she had stared at him like a cow looks at an oncoming train anyway.

His head lifted from his hoof as the front door opened and she stepped out. The lavender furred mare wore a simple cream sundress and her hair had evidently either been let down somehow or had been magically extended as it now reached her knees spilling over her shoulders like a waterfall. He adjusted his lapel and the sun shaped pin that his aunt had given him to wear, giving himself a once over before he moved.

Prince stepped out of the carriage bowing to her as he looked her over, starting to believe that perhaps he did have more than just a passing interest in the pretty mare before him.

“Miss Sparkle. You look lovely.” Prince smiled refraining from attempting to kiss her hoof, it was an old practice and one he was unsure of how she would react to.

“Oh, umm thank you Lord Blueblood.” she blushed at his compliment her face turning more a raspberry coloration than lavender.

“Oh, no no. Please, just call me Prince, Miss Sparkle... in truth I'm not even a lord yet, that's still my father's title.” Prince corrected. At least until I turn twenty one, Prince thought, but I don't want to sound like I'm bragging.

“Hehe alright, umm Prince... but only if you call me Twilight.” Twilight smiled.

“Of course Miss Twilight.” Prince smirked getting a small frown, then a little chuckle from her at his slight change.“Shall we get going? We do not wish to be late for the show. While it does not start for a while yet,it is never a good idea to try and fight the crowds to get in right before showtime.”

“Alright, that sounds good.” Twilight let out a sigh looking at the carriage a moment more, then back to her house.“If you don't mind me asking, why did you wait out here?”

Prince shrugged a little. “I went to the door and was expecting to be let inside, though your mother suggested I wait out here, something about something your father was doing?”

“Ahh. Mom said he was freaking out about something earlier. Must be his work. Not sure what there would be to freak out about as chief astronomer, but I'm sure that's it. He's usually rather calm.” Twilight stated with a small hint of disdain to her voice.

Prince decided not to question it and took the small tone change as a reason to steer the conversation away from her parents if they came up. He had a small warning about that from Cadence. He waited for to climb into the carriage, before smiling softly and shutting the door after her. He walked to the other side of the carriage, brushing off a strand of dust that had settled on the lapel of his pressed white suit and called out to the chauffeurs to be ready. As he climbed into the carriage he paused a moment lifting his head to look around at the surrounding houses curiously.

He had the rather strange and unsettling feeling that some one was watching him

He shrugged and sat down closing the door as the carriage started off down the street, thinking of ways to start a conversation with his date.

A moment later a unicorn stallion with blue hair stepped out of a bush. The unicorn was dressed in a leafy green and brown suit that covered his entire form and was tucked full of branches and leaves. His white furred face and horn was covered with black and brown grease paint and his blue hair was tucked up tight under a hood that was part of the suit. He had seemingly been part of the bush a moment before until he stepped away from it.

A moment or two after that a dark gray canine creature stepped out of the house and walked down the stairs . He wore a tan pair of pants covered with pockets and a light gray jacket that was buttoned up over his chest. Sitting on one of his broad shoulders with a little purple Dragon with green spines, happily munching a small bucket of popcorn.

“Did we miss anything?” Spike asked.

“ Alright let's go, we can't let them get too far ahead of us!”Shining Armor stated, tearing off down the street tumbling and rolling from shadow to shadow, diving into a bush here and there as he progressed in a odd zig zag pattern after the carriage.

Rahs and Spike looked at each other, shrugged, and walked along after their brother.

Author's Notes:

While i said before the other two chapters were the set up before the date, i realized that wasn't quite true, there was one more pony who was involved in this that i needed reflections on.

Famously I tend to fall into the 'Bluebloods a ponce' camp of things, but i've read enough good stories where he is not, [Where is my Love? by Themyth, is one of my favorite examples of this, though the stallionverse is also very fun ] that i wanted to try my hand at it.

I really mean it this time though, the date is the next chapter. I think.

Of course i also said i might take a break for a while, but every time i sit down to do something else' BAM!!!" new idea i have to run with.

Dog eat Dog, Part 4

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[Celestial theater. 2 years remaining until the thousandth year.]

The ride was rather pleasant, a bit of small talk with Prince. Nothing complex just chance to talk about random things and relax slightly.

Twilight barely managed to relax at all, she felt wound up like a watch spring, but the discussion was interesting and took her mind off it a little. Prince had asked about her brothers and how everything was going with them. Given that Spike and Rahs were one of her favorite subjects simply due to the fact that no pony knew much of anything about them she eagerly spoke of them. Rahs was a near complete unknown, and Dragon's had never been studied this close before.

By the end of the ride Twilight was highly embarrassed that she had been talking about her brothers the whole trip barely letting him get a word in edge wise. Prince didn't seem bothered by it, he had actually been asking questions here and there about the pair of them, mostly Rahs, but he seemed genuinely interested how she had grown up with Spike as well. It didn't take long for them to arrive.

“Oh dear.” Prince stated with a sigh looking out of the carriage window as they pulled up to the theater.

“What is it?” Twilight asked curiously as Prince scowled.

“The press...... Seems word got out about my coming here tonight.” Prince sighed.

“Is there a problem with them?” Twilight questioned looking out at the throngs of ponies gathered around the entrance to the Celestial theater.

“With the normal ones no, there are a number of polite and cooperative reporters who are actually pleasant with their interviews. “Prince sighed. “Given my standing however encounters with them are few and far between and mostly I deal with the poniratzi. Sharks have better manners than that lot. And it seems they have the place surrounded, we have to go through them to get into the theater.”

“Oh ummmm.” Twilight frowned.

“We can skip the show if you do not wish to deal with them. We can go some where else if you like. If they make you too uncomfortable we can always postpone the date as well. “ Prince smiled. “A rain check for later due to a flood of idiots.”

“They can't be that bad.” Twilight stated causing Prince to blink.

“Surely as Princess Celestia's student you have dealt with them before and know how they work?” Prince asked.

“I can't say I have. I think I met the press once with Princess Celestia. I think I was spooked by the yelling of questions and then the Princess said something and all of them went silent rather quickly. I never even saw a reporter in the palace again after that. At least I don't think I have. The only ponies I ever saw at the palace who didn't work there were ones the Guards were escorting out. I think they were playing with Rahs because they often had chew marks on them.”

Prince blinked again in confusion though he smiled as well.” You are indeed a lucky mare then. Still it would only be a moment of unpleasantness before we are inside the theater. If you are certain, I will advise to try and ignore them and do not answer any questions they may have. These ponies could spin your words into something you did not actually say to fit what ever gossip story they want to add you too.”

“I'll keep that in mind, thank you.” Twilight returned the smile.

“Not how I wished this all to start, but I suppose if you are alright with it, perhaps pretending they do not exist would be best.” Prince sighed opening the door and stepped out as the camera's started flashing around him, lighting up the sunset touched square in front of the theater, as if a weather Pegasus had lost control of a thunderhead.

Twilight winced as she stepped out of the carriage following beside Prince as she walked along trying not to be blinded by the popping of flashbulbs from the throng of ponies milling around them. She took note of the golden glow of Prince's horn as he formed a wedge shield before them, forcing the reporters that had rushed at him to the side as he walked past. It wasn't a very strong bit of magic, but it seemed necessary to navigate the crowd to even get to the front door where a porter let them inside with a bow, shutting the door on the reporters.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief at the escape though she was wishing she wore something a little more covering than her sundress. All those photos made her feel exposed, perhaps that was why nobles always wore something.

“Well, that was unpleasant.” Prince sighed looking back at the doors as they closed behind him. A number of other ponies milled about in the lobby, but most of them seemed more interested in the posters of upcoming plays or the snack bar than the pair who just made it in. Twilight recognized a number of socialites and a few other famous ponies milling about.

“It was alright. Though I didn't expect this many upper class ponies here.” Twilight commented.

“ Really?” Prince finally looked around and blinked in surprise before a realization struck him. “ Of course... it's opening night . I should have known they wouldn't have come here just for me. I need to keep my ego in check, heheheh.”

Twilight chuckled along with him a little. “ I haven't been here in a while, the place hasn't changed that much.”

“Oh, what did you see here last?” Prince asked. “ Also, popcorn?”

“Pass, on the popcorn I mean, we have dinner later after all.” Twilight smiled. “My brothers and I usually come here with Princess Celestia for the Hearth's Warming play, though Rahs was in a amateur production of Beauty and the Beast two years ago. He's a bit of a drama fan, I know he's come here more often than I have.”

“Rahs was in a play here? What part did he play?” Prince asked rather curiously as they wait in line to be led to their seats.

“Guess..” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“The candlestick?” Prince smirked as Twilight laughed.

“No, though that would have been amusing. He actually auditioned for the part of Gaston, though given his race he was typecast as the Beast of course. Still he did a fairly good job of it, nothing show stopping, but the play had favorable reviews.”Twilight explained.

“Pity I missed that. I'm sure it would have been riveting.”

“...AND LOVE IS A LIE, SWEARING NO MATTER WHAT IT WON'T DIE.....” The unicorn playing Edmond sang out on stage.

Twilight and Prince sat four rows from the front watching the play with interest.

“DISAPPEARING LIKE A STAR IN THE SKY, IN THE HOT LIGHT OF MORNING....”Edmond sang on.

Twilight seemed enthralled at the portrayal of the novel as a stage play and Prince had to admit this was far better than he had expected it to be. Still he was worried and continued to glance to Twilight to make sure she truly was enjoying herself. Thankfully it seemed he didn't have to worry about whether or not this was appropriate for her.

“BUT WHAT DO I CARE? THERE ARE WOMEN TO BE HAD EVERY WHERE!!!!” Edmond gestured as he was surrounded by mares rushing up from the edges of the stage to fawn over him.

If only the idiots in the back row would simmer down, it half sounded like there was a brawl back there. At least Twilight didn't seem to notice, so he opted to ignore them as well. Although he was curious as to what was happening he had more important things to be focusing on then some squabble.

“FIRST THERE'S RETRIBUTION I MUST PREPARE, MIGHTY VENGEANCE IS MINE!!!!!” the unicorn gestures and the mares all flee the stage.

And he still felt like someone's eyes were boring into the back of his head.

“Well that was certainly an unexpectedly riveting performance.” Prince admitted.

“I rather liked it, though there were a number discrepancies from the novel I'm not sure should have been left out.” Twilight admitted.

“They only have a limited time to perform, certain things will get cut out if they think it might cause a lull or make the play go on to long. A show will never be exactly like the book, no matter how much one would hope.” Prince admitted as Twilight nodded after a few moments thought on the matter.

Prince moved to the front entrance among the others heading out and noticed the front of the theater was empty.

“Hmm it seems that we will not have the same issue we did coming in. The sharks seem to have found something else to chase.” Prince smiled. “So then shall we head to dinner?”

“Yes please.... I should have taken you up on the popcorn.” Twilight joked as they headed to the carriage.

Again Prince paused as he opened the door for her looking around as he felt eyes on him, though none of the others leaving seemed to be paying attention to him and the only others he saw was a family by a bench. A rather burly unicorn mare in a pink dress and a ….. a stallion, maybe? Reading a paper next to her. In their crib was perhaps the strangest purple foal he had ever seen.

He would have stared a bit longer trying to let his brain process the scene, though a question from Twilight brought him back into focus as he climbed into the carriage. The pair of them setting off for their dinner reservation.

Twilight and Prince arrived at the Le Pré Canterlan with time to spare before their reservation. The extra time gave Twilight a chance to look over the menu. She had never been to a high class restaurant before and in truth would have just been happy with a hay burger.

Particularly after she asked about the prices.

“If you need to ask you are clearly unable to afford us.” The Maitre D’ stated, the Griffon sounded snobbish, but he held the same tone no matter what was asked of him or what he said. Still he kept a careful eye on Twilight until he was sure that she was with Prince Blueblood.

Twilight was less than thrilled with the Griffon's attitude though she followed along with him and Blueblood as they were brought to their table.

They were quickly seated and as the Griffon left, Prince let out a small sigh.

“My apologies for that. Griffon's can be a bit abrasive, and given the Maitre D’s job is to be even more abrasive to those under a certain.... economic status the effect is a bit doubled.” Prince explained.

“It's fine, there's no need to worry about it. I suppose I just asked the wrong question.” Twilight sighed. “All Griffon's can't be that bad.”

Prince shrugged a little at that looking at the menu. “I cannot say all of them no, but my trips to Griffonstone have shown that many of them are rather crass. Enough that that may be the normal state of their race.”

“Really? I was under the impression that Griffonstone was a vibrant culture.”Twilight pondered.
“ I wonder why they would be like that?”

“Well it may have once been a vibrant culture once, but with the death of their last king it's become something of a mess. Their economy is in shambles and everyone is squabbling over every thing they can get.” Prince explained. “Likely the only reason it has not collapsed into a wasteland already is due to the ones at the top doing all they can to make more bits. They seem to have completely disregarded their own Pinion coins the moment the value dropped to less than half of the Equestrian bit.”

“Really? You've been to Griffonstone?”

“Twice. Though the first time was a class trip and the second time was in a official capacity. “ Prince nodded. “I went as a understudy to the current ambassador of the crown.”

“Oh that's right, I've heard you were studying to join the Royal States Department.”

“Indeed. While not the most glorious of positions, it is a necessary one and I do find myself enjoying the travel despite the study required. I am told I have a head for negotiation, and word play. But I suppose you have me beat by a great deal in the studying department. What career exactly are you trying for?”

“I'm not really. I mean, I wouldn't mind taking over the position of the Royal archivist, but in truth lately I’ve started to get the sense that Princess Celestia is trying to lead me towards something, though I don't know what.” Twilight admitted.

“Yes. I do understand that. My aunt has a habit of playing chess with ponies. Still I wouldn't worry about it. If she has something in mind for you it will likely be for the best in the end.” Prince placated.

About this time a large figure in a suit walked up to the table. Prince looked up a little surprised that the restaurant would hire a Diamond Dog. Still he knew one of the head chefs was a Yak, so perhaps it was not too out of place. Still this one looked familiar. It must have been from a previous visit here as he would have easily recognized that ridiculously oversized mustache had he seen it anywhere else.

“ Le' Bark?” The waiter asked in a slightly Prench sounding accent.

“Oh, I'll have the lentil and pumpkin stew, with the Sous vide vegetable garden salad, and just water to drink.” Twilight responded not looking up from the menu as the waiter wrote it down.

“Le' Arff?” the canine asked Prince who shook his head a moment thinking he misheard the bark if Twilight knew what he said.

“Yes sorry, water as well to drink, I’ll have the charred leeks with white asparagus, hazelnuts and milk skin. Also a side of Bolo do caco, no butter please.” Prince stated watching as the waiter wrote it down, bowed a little, caught his mustache to prevent it from falling off, quickly stuck it back to his face before he retreated to the back with the order.

Prince tried not to be worried about that.

Dinner went quite well, though there was an air of nervousness from Twilight that Prince could easily pick up on. The conversation was pleasant however running over a range of topics, though Prince barely had any input into some of them, even involving the play they had just seen. He was greatly impressed with the amount of knowledge about … well practically everything, that Twilight had. He made a note to recall one or two of the more interesting factoids she spoke of , though unfortunately quite a bit of it reminded him of his last teacher and it took every ounce of will power he had to continue to focus on her.

Likewise he noted that when he went off on a tangent of his interests, she payed attention as well, though she seemed to be struggling when the conversation turned to management and noble pursuits.

The meal was a bit off putting as Twilight was not aware what a tiny serving size was provided from the fancy restaurants. Blueblood was more concerned with the waiter. It was not the same individual that had come through before. The Diamond Dog had been tall. This waiter barely could reach up to place the tray on the table Prince was not even sure what race the small waiter was. He wore a large top hat that hid most of his head and a red mustache that was even larger and more ridiculous than the previous waiter as it hid half his face. He delivered the food quickly and properly enough though as he waddled off Prince could have sworn he had a purple tail poking out of the back of his suit.

It also didn't look like Twilight liked the meal as she was carefully picking at it almost seeming tense as she ate.

The meal was eaten in silence and Prince could tell that this likely was not going to work out between them. Thankfully a incident of one of the waiters nearly dropping a tray of food and another upending a soup touring over the Maitre D’'s head and quitting urged them to quickly finish and head out.

Prince still felt eyes on him, but at least here it could have been the other nobles in the restaurant.

The ride back was fairly quiet a few snippets of conversation here and there though as they pulled up to her home Prince decided it best he address the issue in case she was too nervous to do so.

“Miss Sparkle...” Prince began.

“Twilight..” Twilight corrected.

“Sorry,Twilight, at any rate did you enjoy our date?”

“I...oh yes … it was fun … just...”Twilight muttered.

“You are not sure if you wish to do so again.” Prince continued.

“Yes, I mean no, I mean.... ughh.” Twilight grumbled.

“It is quite alright Twilight. We move in different circles and have completely different interests aside from a scant few that overlap. It seems we are not exactly compatible romantically, though this is fine. It's the point of a date after all to see if anything past initial attraction exists.” Prince confided. “In this case it seems it does not, unfortunately. Better to recognize that now then to keep trying and become miserable.”

“That was rather insightful...” Twilight smiled.

“Cadence is my cousin.. or something, I don't even know, but she made sure to give me a rather long lecture about love and dating before she would let me go out tonight.” Prince admitted.

“Hehe, I suppose I should have just asked her rather than check out everything in the library.”Twilight admitted.

“That was you? “ Prince questioned.” That was the reason I needed to go to her for advice as there were no books left in the library.”

“Oops.” Twilight chuckled sheepishly.

Prince smirked noting the awkwardness was gone for the moment , the tension seemingly released.

“Still I am glad the attempt was made, even if nothing much came of it.” Prince admitted.

“Well we can't say nothing came of it.” Twilight smiled. “I mean we both have a better understanding of each other now. I suppose if we encounter something that's in the others field of expertise we would have a reliable source of help to fall back on...”

“A rather round about way of saying a 'friend'. “ Prince chuckled.

“Well that works too....” Twilight smiled. “ I suppose it would be easy to get in contact with each other as well either through the Princess or Cadence.”

“Indeed. Though I could just give you my address. Still I do hope you enjoyed the evening Twilight. I hope to see you again sometime, perhaps under less stressed circumstances when we are not trying to make a favorable impression on each other and we can simply be who we are?”

“Sounds good. Perhaps you could join Rahs and I for another play sometime.”Twilight added. “ I expect you two might get along.”

“Ahh that sounds lovely. Though you could always come by for my birthday party in a few months. I'm told it is going to be something of an event.” Prince grumbled not having much say in what his parents were doing with it.

Twilight twitched at that.”Umm I think I will have to pass, sorry but I don't really do Birthday parties...., I'll send you a card though.”

“Ah well, I won't press it then. I do hope you have a lovely night however Twilight.” Prince bowed his head. “I shall hopefully see you again sometime soon.”

“I'm sure you will. Good night Prince.” Twilight smiled opening the door and leaving the carriage.

Prince waited until she made it to her door before urging his chauffeurs to take him home. The mare had given him a lot to think about. It was a pity that there was nothing more to come of this, it was nice to meet a mare who wasn't too focused on his wealth or status. Perhaps he would get lucky a second time, or even try a disguise... something a bit better than the ones her brothers had worn over the course of the night however.

Author's Notes:

Yes i know i said this would be the end of it, but i got another idea. One chapter showing the actual date, then another showing the brothers side of the date.

Or you know i could be evil and just make you all guess what happened on their side of things.

We'll see.

Dog eat Dog, Part 5

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[Outside the Sparkle residence. 2 years remaining until the thousandth year.]

“Good evening boys. Where are you headed off to this late?” a wispy voice asked.

Rahs and Spike paused looking over to the grayish blue furred elderly mare leaning out of her window tending a small flower garden in the planter hooked to the sil. Her ruby colored mane had faded a good bit , though only a few strands of it were visible tucked into the yellow bonnet she wore.

“Ruff!”Rahs waved.

“Hi Mrs. Coltson. Twilight's going on a date, Shining's having a break down and we're gonna make sure it goes well despite what is sure to be a night full of sitcom like situations.” Spike chimed up getting a curious glance from Rahs, though the canine let the young Dragons genre savvy statement go unquestioned.

“Well isn't that nice. You two have fun. And watch out, I swear I saw a bush run past here a little bit ago.” the older mare warned.

“Oh that was probably Shining. Guard training never stops after all.” Spike chimed.

“Oh dear, I suppose not. The poor colt needs a bit of rest I think. Oh well have a nice night.” The earth pony mare chuckled.

“Thank you Mrs Coltson, we will.” Spike waved from his perch on Rahs' shoulder.

“Woof.” Rahs waved before chasing after their brother, who was still dressed as a bush.

[Celestial theater, side ally]

In the alley running next to the Celestial theater two ponies sat discussing the last arrival and his date.

A gray Pegasus stallion with a lighter gray mane and tail named Shutterbug kept glancing around the corner of the ally to the other reporters milling around, seeing if any one else showed up. He fidgeted with his camera and kept glancing about as if looking for something to snap a shot of.

A light green Unicorn stallion with a black and gray striped mane and tail sat across from him on a crate just inside a slowly lengthening shadow cast by the setting sun. Freelancer was checking over his camera staying in the shadows enough that he could look over his film without ruining it. It was a old practice, one made unnecessary by modern crystal imprinted film, but some camera operators still sought out the dark when dealing with the rolls.

“So you get any good shots?” Freelancer asked the Pegasus.

“A c-c-c-couple of B-B-B-Blueblood. Nothing really g-g-g-g-good though.” Shutterbug stuttered. “Took a f-f-f-few more of his date though. P-P-P-P-Pretty mare that one.”

“Pretty nervous you mean. You recognize her?” Freelancer asked.

“Twilight S-S-S-S-Sparkle, Princess Celestia's s-s-s-s-s-student.” Shutterbug explained after a moment in thought.

“No shit? Well today's my lucky day then. Ahhh here it is and it's perfect too.” Freelance grinned as he looked at a couple of cells in the film he had.

“What's t-t-t-t-that?” the Pegasus asked.

“While you lot were busy snapping pictures of the mare's face, I went for the money shot.”Freelance lecherously grinned.” A perfect photo of a pink panty protecting a pert purple pony plot.”

“Pervert.” Shutterbug shook his head with a smirk.

“Hey pervert or not this sort of thing sells. She shouldn't have worn a dress that short around here. This here's a months vacation for me.”

“She's o-o-o-o-o-only sixteen.” Shutterbug stated.

“So what, you think any of the magazines willing to buy this will care? If her parents sue for that, they'll keep it in ligation until she's old enough to be eighteen and it'll be moot. Plus I'll have my bits and who cares at that point.”

“She will care.”

“Whatever, what she wants doesn't mean jack to me........ hey you didn't stutter......... what?” Freelance blinked as he watched the already monochromatic pegasus sitting across from him go even paler as his eyes were locked on something behind Freelancer.

Turning the Unicorn noted that there was a wall much closer behind him than he first thought. The dark coloration of it almost blended it into the shadow. Hearing a rather unnerving growl he trailed his gaze upward. He was greeted by the shadowy features of some monster that appeared to have two heads, both filled with very, very, sharp teeth, one of them with two points of pale light floating above it like unforgiving eyes and the other crackling with a green flame that danced around the pearly white chompers.

The Unicorn's eyes widened as a a large clawed hand closed around his throat and the other around the film he had, yanking it from his grip and tossing it in the air for the second head to destroy in a glut of flame.

Freelance was a little too focused however on the massive set of jaws right before his eyes to notice the destroyed film.

Shutterbug screamed flying out of the ally only for a clawed limb covered in Navy blue fur to lash out of the alleys shadows and grab the pegasus by the camera strap yanking him back into the ally where the sounds of violence were heard.

The gather reporters stopped their conversations and turned to look at the ally at Shutterbug’s exit and then rapid return to the ally there was a scream and a few more sounds of something being bludgeoned.

The Pegasus was then flung back out of the ally still screaming and without his camera as he took to the air ripping through the sky faster than a Wonderbolt.

The other reporters froze, all eyes on the ally as in their minds they ran over their options. Be brave and get shots of whatever this was or head for the hills. It was in that moment of indecisiveness that a shadowy form moved to the end of the ally still in the shadows cast by the setting sun. It wasn't very big, but it seemed to have two heads

There was a magenta glow that lit up the ally behind the creature that seemed to be coming from a random bush behind the monster. The glow showed the beasts outline much clearer, though only for a moment before the cameras of every reporter were caught up in the glow from the bush and yanked from around their necks and hooves and into the darkness of the ally with the growling beast.

There was the sound of frenzied and violent crunching as thousands of bits worth of camera equipment and film were turned to scrap in moments, though the reporters were still too frozen in shock and fear to move. At least until high pitched voice that sounded like a foal growled and uttered a single word. One that started a stampede of reporters fleeing the area like the gates of Tartarus had opened and their own personal hells were hot on their hooves.

“Run.” the voice had growled through a crackle of fire.

“So how do we get in?” Shining questioned, ignoring the crunching coming from Spike as he ate another claw full of flashbulb crystals while perched on Rahs' shoulder.

“Arf.” Rahs smirked digging into one of his pants pockets and pulling out three season tickets to the theater.

“What?” Shining questioned. “ Where did you get those?”

“Princess Celestia gave us season passes for Heath's Warming last year.” Spike commented through a mouthful of gems. A few of them popped off their last flash while inside the young Dragon's mouth causing his cheeks to light up.

“Well … that was easier than I thought it would be.” Shining shrugged, the stallion having gotten rid of his guille suit into one of his saddlebags.

The mare at the ticket booth perked up at the sight of them waving to the Moon Dog and the Dragon.

“ Rahs, Spike hey! I haven’t seen you guys in months. How've you been?” the chartreuse furred mare chimed fluffing up a few locks of her curly orange hair. She was fairly well muscled though she had a deep husky tone that rolled almost musically from her lips. “ And better still who's your handsome friend?”

“Woof.” Rahs smirked as Spike chuckled.

“Handsome friend? Is someone riding on Rahs' other shoulder?” Spike grinned. As Shining rolled his eyes. “ Oh you mean him? That's Shining, our older brother. He's taken though. Sorry Shirley.”

The mare seemed to pout as she settled back.” Awww the good ones always are. I take it he's using Twilight's ticket? Alright you guys can go ahead, I know you're good. Make sure you say hey to Miss Broadway, she's been wondering about you two.”

The trio entered the theater just as a swarm of Guards showed up to investigate a monster attack.

Finding nothing but smashed camera's and a gibbering and battered Freelancer with a number of tooth and claw marks on him, the two oldest of the Guard's who had arrived came to the same conclusion regarding the most likely culprit from their time Guarding the palace and the rather adorable trio that had been there.

The final report that was filed wrote it up as self inflicted injures caused by the Photographer being a ponce who deserved it.

It didn't hurt Freelancer already had three warrants and six restraining orders for some of his 'work' activities. Even the other reporters chocked the damage up as a business expense and wrote it off as dealing with some nobles overprotective bodyguard.

Freelancer got medical help and spent some time in jail.

Shutterbug started taking pictures of flowers, and made more money that way.

“Excuse me sir. Might I have a word with you?”

The well dressed older stallion blinked, looking around a moment at the voice before his gaze dipped down to the small purple dragon standing next to him in the aisle. His wife and daughter also took note of the dragon as well as the large navy furred Diamond Dog with him that had a struggling white Unicorn tucked under an arm.

“Ummm yes?” The noble questioned looking between the two and the struggling unicorn demanding to be put down with more than a little apprehension.

“ My brother and I have come into a quandary of sorts.” Spike stated, sounding posh enough that one would expect him to suddenly spawn a monocle and top hat. “ The theater is a bit more crowded than expected and due to my brothers rather excessive height it seems our usual seats would be detrimental to any pony sitting behind us. In order to avoid such a kerfuffle we thought it prudent to attempt to switch seats with someone in the back in order to avoid becoming troublesome to any one during the play.”

“Well that is rather considerate of you. Though where exactly are your seats located?” The noble began, wondering if this was some sort of a scam.

“Third row center right behind the orchestra pit. It is a bit loud, though they are good seats.” Spike stated showing the tickets. “Given that they are season passes we cannot simply trade tickets, but for the night as crowded as it is we are willing to trade. If the usher questions you please direct them our way and we will settle the matter without any issue.”

The noble considered leaning over to speak with his wife and daughter before quickly agreeing. The three of them headed down to their new seats and Spike and Rahs took a seat with Shining being planted between them.

“Grrrrr.” Rahs grumbled.

“I know you don't like it this far back, but we're not here to see the show.” Spike rolled his eyes as Rahs stuck his tongue out at his brother.

“What are we doing back here? They're way up there, we need to move closer!” Shining fussed only for Rahs to grab him by the horn and slowly turn his head until he could see where Twilight and Prince Blueblood sat.

“This position is better because we can see them easy when the lights dim, but they can't see us. If we took our normal seats we'd be only a row in front of them.” Spike explained eating another claw full of flashbulbs and nearly blinding his brothers as his mouth lit up.

“Mouth closed when you chew.” Shining hissed as Rahs whimpered rubbing his eyes.“Where did you learn to speak fancy any way?”

“Please... I've got drama mutt over here as a brother and with how often I've played and run games of Oubliettes and Ogres with you three, since I was six mind you, I think I can fake an accent by now.” Spike scoffed.

“Huh... good point.” Shining grinned running a hoof over spikes head in a noogie causing the little drake to flail under the assault. “Guess you managed a high Intelligence stat after all. Pity you didn't take a high Charisma stat like me though, already have a mare friend and I still have cute fillys falling over me.”

“Ruff?” Rahs questioned.

“Wait, you mean Shirley?” Spike questioned.

“She did call me handsome.” Shining grinned.

Rahs and Spike looked to each other, before both of them broke out into giggling fits.

Shining blinked, his ears flattening as he looked back and forth between the two.” Okay what's so funny?”

“Bork!” Rahs cackled.

“What?”

“He said, hehehe...he said Shirley’s a stallion, He's the one who played Gaston for the Beauty and the Beast play Rahs was in. He's trying out for some Wong fu new age play now while he works here. Still I guess he does make a convincing filly.”

The sound coming out of Shining's throat was akin to a dead whale as realization that he found a stallion cute, set in. The effect just made his brothers laugh harder.

“...AND LOVE IS A LIE, SWEARING NO MATTER WHAT IT WON'T DIE.....” The unicorn playing Edmond sang out on stage.

Rahs was enthralled, leaning forward in his seat his tail wagging as he watched the performance, his ears perked up and his amber eyes glued to the stage.

“DISAPEARING LIKE A STAR IN THE SKY, IN THE HOT LIGHT OF MORNING....”Edmond sang on.

Spike had to admit that the show wasn't too bad. A little more singing than he liked, but at least the music was fast paced. Still the twisted tale of revenge would have been right at home in one of their Oubliettes and Ogres sessions. He might need to work on something for the next time he ran a game. He couldn't use the idea on Twilight and Rahs, they both knew this story, he would need a new group before he could run something like this. An old player coming back for revenge against the pc's that he thought betrayed him. Classic.

“BUT WHAT DO I CARE? THERE ARE WOMEN TO BE HAD EVERYWHERE!!!!” Edmond gestured as he was surrounded by mares rushing up from the edges of the stage to fawn over him.

Shining Armor was not having a good time. He had tried to leave his seat several times to try and go stop what he thought was Blueblood putting the moves on his sister, only to be stopped by Spike with logic, or Rahs with brute force. As well trained as Shining was he still wasn't able to move Rahs when he was focused on something. And right now the Moon Dog was dead set on watching the stage show, so much to the point that the last time Shining had tried to rush off to stop Blueblood, Rahs had simply sat on him, resulting in a short brawl between the two brothers which Rahs only won because he cheated going for Shining's ticklish spots.

“FIRST THERE'S RETRIBUTION I MUST PREPARE, MIGHTY VENGEANCE IS MINE!!!!!” the unicorn gestures and the mares all flee the stage.

After a bit of struggling he managed to get free of his brothers fat ass, though the most he was allowed after he got loose was glare at the back of Blueblood's head.

“She's getting away.” Shining cursed as the crowd rose at the end of the performance milling about in the aisles towards the rooms exits. Blueblood and Twilight were currently slowly moving towards the exit.

Rahs however ignored his brothers frantic pacing, setting Spike on his shoulder as he made his way away from the exits towards the stage. The cast had already taken their last bow and went back stage , though a older black and white palomino earth pony mare was on the stage collecting the flowers the crowd had thrown onto the stage. Rahs lifted a paw waving to her as he approached. The mare looked a little surprised , but she smiled in return.

“Rahs hunny. I was wondering when we'd get tah see you again.” the mare smiled speaking in a voice that changed pitches oddly. Rahs climbed up onto the stage before digging into a pocket of his pants for a small book, flipping though it before he started to move his ears in random directions , having to lift a hand up to position one in a direction he wanted.

“Not bad hun, you're getting better at your signing. You didn't even mention snails that time.” The mare chuckled. “And Spike you've gotten a lot bigger since I saw you last.”

“Hello Miss Broadway.” Spike practically shouted. “Sorry for not coming around more.”

She stared blankly at the dragon before looking to Rahs who started moving his ears again, though he had to flip through the book again to find the right position. The mare noticed this and chuckled.

“You don't have to humor me by showing up if you're not a fan young Spike, though I do wish you would let me teach you the piano, you have the claws for it.” The mare smiled picking up another flower off the stage before her eyes took note of the stressed white stallion climbing up onto the stage after Rahs.” And who is this?”

“Shining Armor ma'am. Rahs we need to go after her.”Shining fussed.

“After who hun?” The mare asked Shining as Rahs looked exasperated as he tried to signal with his ears again.

“My sister, she's on a date and we need to get after them before they get out of the lobby.” Shining stated, though when he turned away she looked back to Rahs who flopped his ears about again. Shining turned back and finally noticed the book Rahs had and the positions of his ears.” What are you doing?.. Is that Guard cant?”

“Sign actually. Rahs has been trying to learn it since he met me. Been deaf since I was a foal after a parasite got in my ears from a swimming pond.” The mare nodded. “I can read lips fine, but Spike and Rahs here aren’t ponies so their lip movements are odd, and I can't read them.”

“Oh I'm sorry I didn't know...” Shining began and the mare shook her head.

”Don't be dear, it's been forever since I could hear anything. I have to read along with the script to enjoy my plays.”

“Err sorry Miss , but we do need to go , we have to get out of here and get outside before Twilight does.” Shining brought up quickly.

“Oh Twilight? She's on a date?” She looked up as Rahs' ears start moving again.” Well will wonders never cease. I thought that filly wasn't gonna be much more than a crazy old cat mare with as buried in books and study as she is.”

Spike chuckled and Rahs flicked his ears only for Shining to thwack him in the belly with a hoof.

“I can understand Guard cant Rahs, I'm a Guard, I trained in it.”Shining growled.” And for the record I am not freaking out, and your left ear needs to be at three o'clock otherwise you just said ' freaking trout'.”

Rahs growled as the mare laughed. Rahs' ears started moving again and the mare nodded. “Of course you can dear just be sure to bring them back when you're done. You can head around the eastern stage exit to get around to the main lobby before this crowd disperses. “

“Really?” Shining blinked.” Just like that?”

“Oh anything for such a devoted theater buff.” She reached up and Rahs ducked his head down a little , his tail wagging as she petted his head with a hoof. “ You'd best hurry it won't take any one long to get out of the lobby. Also Rahs dear I would say the one we used for that western a while back named after a bug.”

Rahs grinned and started to move past the mare to back stage followed by a confused Shining Armor.

“Thanks Miss Broadway” Spike hollard with the enthusiasm of one who thought a deaf pony could hear him if he just yelled.

“He would have done well as Gaston.” Miss Broadway chuckled.” Pity I’m just the stage owner and not the director. Still I wonder if I can work a play out of those three trying to meddle in their sisters date. Probably be as humorous as a Midsummer Morning's Daydream.”

[Outside, five minutes later. ]

“How did I let you talk me into this....?” Shining growled from under the lightish red,[he refused to call it pink] bonnet that he had pulled over his head to hide his hair and face.

“Rowf” Rahs stated from where he sat on the bench in a blue dress suit, his upper body hidden behind a comically large newspaper with a big picture of Celestia on it with a caption reading' Let them eat cake'.

“What?” Shining demanded.

“He said he doesn't have the hips to pull off that dress like you do.” Spike grinned kicking back in the canopied stroller with a cackle.
The group of them were sitting on a bench outside the theater off to the side of the main road trying to look inconspicuous. Spike was stretched out in a stroller buggy that Shining was half hunched over peering out of a crack between the buggy and the awning over it.

“I'm going to have to hurt both of you if you tell anyone about this.” Shining growled.

“Bork.”Rahs grinned.

“I don't know what exactly you said but I know that grin and I swear on my dead relatives, and even on the ones who are not feeling too good, that I will end you if you tell Cadence.” Shining Armor growled as Rahs and Spike snickered.

“Here she comes, quiet.” Spike snapped ducking back down in the foal buggy.

Shining kept his eyes on Blueblood, looking down at Spike whenever the noble looked their way. Rahs drew in a sharp gasp of breath as Blueblood focused on the two of them, but Twilight said something from inside their carriage and distracted him, enough that he climbed into the carriage without a second glance at them.

“Ruff” Rahs stated helping Spike out of the buggy and setting the paper into it as he watched Shining try and take off the dress without ripping it.

“So we can't tell Cadence... but what about mom. Shouldn't she know you've been cross-dressing?” Spike smirked as Rahs snorted back a laugh.

Shining glared at his brothers from under the lightish red head covering and growled.” I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end you....”

[Outside the Le Pré Canterlan]

“I don't suppose you have a ticket for this place.” Shining asked as Rahs shook his head, the trio looking up at the fancy restaurant before them.

“There's no way I could afford to eat here on my allowance.” Spike shuddered.

Rahs shrugged as Shining paced nervously.

“Okay , let's go around to the side of the building, there's a few windows there, maybe we can boost Spike up to one so he can check and see if he can see Twilight.” Shining stated heading into the ally with his brothers hot on his hooves. He turned to say something only for his eyes to narrow and a sigh to escape his lips.

Spike and Rahs were a few paces away and both of them sporting fake mustaches that they had picked up from the props department at the theater after dropping off everything else.

“You two need to take this more seriously. Twiliy might need our help in there!” Shining scolded.

“Bark!”

“Yeah Rahs, I bet he is just jealous cause he can't grow such a awesome mustache.” Spike chimed in. Both he and Rahs paused dramatically, their claws reaching up to twirl their new facial hair causing Shining to slap his face with a hoof.

“GAAAH!!! Where are dey?!” a voice shouted as a door slammed open in the side of the restaurant further down the ally. A large furry creature with shaggy cream colored fur and a large pair of curved horns poking out of the sides of his head and a large white chefs hat between them. The yak looked up and down the ally, his eyes hidden under the shimmering bangs of his fur. In fact his whole body glistened in the light. Rahs nearly sneezed as even at this range the amount of hair spray holding the Yak's fur in place was tickling his nose. The Yak finally noticed them and let out a relieved sigh.

“Youse guys the temps? Course youze is why else would youse be back here. Get yer flanks and tails in here, we got a rush and ay need all tha help ay ken get.” The Yak shouted waving them in.

Spike was in awe of the amount of hair on the creature, having never seen a Yak before.

Rahs was trying hard not to sneeze from the ridiculous amount of hair product the Yak wore. Though if he was a chef, that was likely to keep hair out of ponies food.

Shining was thanking the universe that everything seemed to be working out so he could keep an eye on his sister.

Five minutes later Shining Armor was cursing the universe.

The Yak was the head chef here and had a name Shining couldn't pronounce. Spike had tried and mangled it each time. Not like the Chef said it the same every time he said his name any way. He also seemed to switch accents every time he spoke.

They were brought to a side room, briefly met the Maitre D' who did his best to explain his utter disgust at using temps and how the three of them should be kissing his claws that they even got the chance to set foot in the door, before he gave out the assignments.

Spike and Rahs were both given fancy suits, for some reason the restaurant had clothing that fit them fairly well. The pair of them were to take orders and deliver the food as well as collect dishes and clean up the tables.

Shining was given a faded and somewhat dirty tan smock and told he had the most important job in the kitchen.

It was at this point in his life where learned the Universe had a sick sense of humor. It was also about the point he started using all of the crass language he had picked up in the Guard training over the last few years as he started washing yet another greasy plate.

With as chaotic as everything was in the back room, no one seemed to notice his brothers popping up to talk with him every so often, though they often brought more dishes for him to wash.

Rahs had seen Twilight and Blueblood and had even taken their order unnoticed, and Spike had served them with the same result. Blue blood didn't seem to be trying anything and Twilight didn't seem upset, just nervous, which wasn't much different then when she left the house.

Shining wanted to take a peek out there himself , though every time he tried the Griffon Maitre D’ always chose that moment to poke his head in the back, immediately shouting at Shining to get back to work and stay away from the front lest his scruffiness be seen by the clientele.

The third time this happened the Maitre D’ launched into a tirade that made Shining freeze up with flashbacks to his Drill Sergeant. The Griffon wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise and the tirade drew the attention of everyone in the back.

Right about the point where the Griffon had started placing the blame for Shining's evident incompetence on his family Rahs and Spike came into the back. Neither of them said anything and they both adopted a bored expression and they moved between Shining and the Griffon.

The Griffon paused in confusion at the pair, though neither said anything for a moment. Rahs then bent over and picked up Spike holding him up at eye level to the Griffon. Spike pulled off his super fluffy mustache and slapped the griffon across the beak with it before reattaching it to his face. Rahs set his brother down and peeled off his own mustache before slapping the stunned Griffon across the beak with it on the other side before putting it back on. He then bent over picking up Spike again who held a half emptied soup tureen that a couple had failed to finish. Spike stretched out his arms and dumped the remaining luke warm lentil and carrot soup over the Maitre D’s head.

“I quit.” Spike stated as he was set back down.

“Woof.” Rahs agreed.

“What they said.” Shining added snapping out of his flashback.

The group of them pulled off their suits, tossed them before the stuttering and stunned Griffon before the trio walked out the back door. The rest of the kitchen staff and the head chef looked at the Griffon , whose mouth was moving like he was trying to say something, but was instead doing a rather good fish impersonation, then at each other, and broke out laughing.

Outside the trio walked past a another small group. An Earth pony who seemed lost and a tall Diamond Dog and a super short Diamond Dog.

“Cornstuck, you say this the place three places ago!” The small beige Diamond Dog muttered.

“It's Corn Husk, Mungo, and this map the agency gave me isn't very good, there's also a lot of restaurants around here.” The gold and tan Earth pony sighed.” Merta what is it?”

The larger of the Diamond Dogs a dark gray female was staring after the three who just passed them, her eyes focused on Rahs, a smirk across her muzzle.” That one cute....”

“Huh?” Mungo demanded.

“That hound! Very exotic...” The Diamond Dog female chuckled patting the smaller male's head as he ranted about some other dog drawing his girls eye.

Stepping out of the ally the three of them were in fairly good spirits and were laughing at the expression that had been on the Maitre D’s face. It wasn't until Shining noticed Blueblood's carriage roll past that he recalled the whole point of them being there.

“Quick we have to get after them before they go to lovers leap or some dark corner somewhere!” Shining freaked out prompting Rahs to slap his brother in the back of the head. “ Ow!”

“I think they are on the road that heads back to our house.” Spike considered.

“GAH! That's even worse, we need to get back there before she does so she doesn't know we were tailing her.” Shining fretted.

Rahs and Spike looked at each other and shrugged, they had been following their brother's lead most of the night anyway, what was a bit more. Rahs picked Spike up setting him on Shining's back and the trio took off into the night after the carriage.

Author's Notes:

I'm not sure i'm that happy with this one. It was bigger than i wanted to be and i feel some of the jokes fell flat. I'll call it a world building chapter to show Rahs's love of theater and leave it at that.

To be honest this whole arc has gone on way longer than i like. And i still have one more part in it before i'm done with it fully. I have another part because other wise this chapter would have been even longer than this.

TGaP was supposed to be quick short stories ... this was closer to SiS levels than i intended.

Dog Eat Dog, Epilogue.

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

Shining Armor, Rahs, and Spike raced through the streets, cutting across yards, hopping over fences, tearing down alleys and interrupting back yard parties.

Rushing through a Griffon's cook out, Rahs snagged a hotdog thanking the chef before clamoring over the next fence as he scarfed it down.

A few houses later Shining armor leaps over a fence with Spike barely holding on. The White Unicorn yelps as he starts to come down in a large in ground pool. His horn glows and a disk like shield forms under him as he lands on it, his momentum carrying them skidding across the surface of the pool to the other side where he hops onto the pool deck and continues to run bursting through some bushes and leaving three mares confused at to what just happened.

A moment or so later Spike waddles back before the mares with a grin under his comically large mustache.

Spike took a small bow. “Good evening ladies. Lovely night isn't it? “ Spike chimed offering a claw.”I'm Spike, pleasure to meet such pretty mares.”

The three mares in question tittered at the compliment only to yelp as Rahs ran around the pool, darting between them and Spike, scooping up the little Dragon as he continued the mad chase after Shining.

“Write me!” Spike called back after them as he was carried off into the night.

Shining arrived at the house to see the carriage still out front. He grinned rushing towards it only for Rahs to collapse on top of him panting heavily and flailing about as was not even remotely used to running.

It took Spike and Shining both to get the Moon Dog into the house , where he collapsed like a lump in the middle of the living room floor whimpering.

“You need to exercise more.” Shining chided his eyes widening as Rahs' ears shift into a different position with a few flicks.” Oh I see you need a book otherwise , but THAT you can cant perfectly.”

“She's coming in!” Spike hissed hopping up into a chair and grabbing a random book from a shelf before he realized what it was and tossed it back sticking out his tongue that he grabbed one of his mothers romance novels.

Shining snatched up the sports page of the paper, glancing over to the others his horn flared and he yanked Rahs and Spike's mustaches off their face shoving them under the couch, much to Spike's annoyance.

Rahs simply lay there like an exhausted lump.

Twilight closed the door behind her walking towards the stairs before glancing into the living room and seeing her brothers there.

“So how was your date?” Shining asked trying to sound casual.

“It was good. Seems we're not a fit for each other however.” Twilight smiled a little as she regarded the three before her ears flattened to her head as she glared at them.”Of course you three already knew that didn't you?”

“Bark?” Rahs asked.

“Don't give me that. Honestly how dumb do you think I am? I can understand maybe seeing you at the theater just because I know Rahs wanted to see that show, but I’m not even going to ask how you got into the restaurant as waiters, or what was up with the dress and stroller! Were you trying to ruin my first date?! Seriously what do you three have to say for yourselves?”

Shining winced trying to find the words to defend himself.

Spike and Rahs simply looked at each other nodded in a silent agreement. Both then pointed to Shining Armor.

“It was his idea.” They both chimed in.

Twilight's attention focused on Shining as he glared at the other two.

”Traitors.” Shining cursed as his younger brothers took that opportunity to slip out of the room.

Twilight glared at him though Shining decided that he was the big brother. It was his job to protect and watch over his sister. He stood up walking over to twilight his jaw set, as he cleared his throat.

“Look Twiliy. I get that you are upset, but we were worried about you and decided to tag along so Blueblood didn't do anything. I was simply trying to protect you for your own good...” Shining explained his eyes widening as he noticed Twilight's eye suddenly twitch at his last words.

“For my own good? FOR MY OWN GOOD!?!” Twilight roared as unpleasant memories of the last time those words were used against her came up. Her hair sprung up in a number of places and her mane and tail started smoking for a moment before she suddenly calmed down, staring daggers at her older brother. “You know what. No. I'm not even going to do anything to you about this.... this... boneheadedness of yours.”

“Boneheadedness?” Shining questioned the choice of words still trying to stand up tall against her anger.

“Yes..... I am not doing anything. I'm just going to tell Cadence what happened since she helped set this date up.”Twilight growled.” She can deal with you.”

For the second time that night Shining found himself making a noise much like a dying whale as he felt his panic rise.

[ Rahs and Spike's Room]

“ You know we're not getting out of this unscathed right?” Spike shuddered. “ Either Twilight of Shining is gonna get us.”

Rahs shrugged. “Woof.”

“Oh yeah good point, let me check.” Spike stated waddling over to his bed and pulling out a scroll opening it up to look it over. “ Let's see. Mom had ten bits on Dad screwing up the date, so she loses. None of us screwed it up so Twinkleshine, Moon Dancer, and Minuette lost out. Clearly they didn't hook up so Cadence loses her bits.....”

“Woof.”

“ Hey you knew that was a long shot when you placed your bet. Seriously, 'meets another pony and falls in love mid date?' Sounds like some sort of romantic comedy.” Spike snorted. “ And my catastrophic failure option didn't pay out. Lets see Shining Lights said she would do something dumb and he would run.... Ahh, Lemon Hearts gets the pot she said neither would like each other and that's the closest.”

“Bark.”

“Yeah okay, Lyra's interrupted by a invasion of bug ponies was a bit more out there than yours, but still.” Spike rolled his eyes.

[ Canterlot Castle]

“Ahh Prince... how did you date go?” A voice called from behind him. Blueblood paused looking back as the regal form of Princess Celestia strode towards him. He offered a small bow to her before he spoke.

“Quite well Prin..... auntie Celestia. I do not think there will be another however. Though we both agreed to that. We are a little too different for anything to work.” Prince stated walking a little slower to keep pace with Celestia as he moved beside him.

His aunt had been nice enough to offer he and his chauffeurs a place to stay in the castle for the night so that after the date they wouldn't be running down the mountain too late to get to the summer home his family was staying at while the manor here in Canterlot was having work done on it.

Still despite her generosity Prince couldn't help but let a touch of annoyance creep into his voice as he spoke again.

“Though honestly I am not sure why you are asking me such things since you know how it went.”Prince continued, his tone causing Princess Celestia to slow a little, though the Prince didn't match her speed this time.

“Oh? And how would I know that?” Celestia asked.

“Princess please.” Prince sighed. “I may not be your student and I may be a blond, but seriously even if one of my classes had not trained me to detect scrying, the little lapel you gave me was practically glowing with your magic. I'm amazed Twilight didn't ask about it. If I could detect such with my meager skills she certainly could.”

“Oh dear....”Celestia chuckled slightly.” I suppose I did not think that far ahead, though I was a little too curious as to how it would go.”

“While I appreciate your concern Pr... Auntie. And I do thank you for letting me stay in the guest rooms tonight, I feel this sort of spying demands some sort of repercussion.“ Prince stated.

“Oh? Going to bring me before the court for illegal spying?”Celestia smiled.

“Of course not. Even if the charges were to stick, there is no one willing to enforce such a thing on you.” Prince smiled as he reached the door to his room. “I'm simply going to tell Princess Cadence what happened when I talk to her tomorrow and let her deal with you. Good night auntie.”

Celestia flinched as the door closed, before chuckling a little at his words. Blueblood had a promising future ahead of him. Pity he and Twilight didn't work out.

Still what she had planned for Twilight, was coming far sooner than she liked, it might be for the best if Twilight wasn't dating. If they had hit it off Celestia didn't think she could have sent Twilight away to get what was needed with any sort of ease.

For now however she had best get to the kitchen and stock up on cake. Cadence would likely use her love of them against her somehow when the pink alicorn found out about her spying on the couple.

Cadence took her shipping very seriously.

[ Canterlot, Outside the side gate]

A thud and clatter of hooves drew one of the Royal Guards attention to the courtyard. Stepping out into the night the white furred stallion looked over the massive doors leading to the road outside and numerous chariots owned by the Princess and other visiting nobles parked in the courtyard.

His ears perked up from his golden armor as he moved around the side of Prince Blueblood's carriage, certain this was where the sound came from.

His eyes scanned over everything without noticing anything out of place or particularly interesting. He shrugged and turned to head back inside when he paused, his brain telling him something was wrong.

The stallion turned back to look around the carriage again, his eyes scanning over the area with more interest and care trying to see what he might have missed that gave him pause.

Carriage, chariot, carriage, pink Alicorn, carriage, wagon. The same things as before.

He shrugged, heading off into the Guard house again. Nothing interesting out here. Must have been that opossum that was always hanging around.

Cadence smiled as the Guard trotted off. Her spell had worked well all night. She had been right behind Twilight and Prince for most of their date and neither of them had even noticed her.

It was a little upsetting that the pair had not worked out, though the goal here was more to get them both more comfortable with others rather than have them fall in love with the first person they had the slightest interest in. She couldn't make love where there was none after all. Had there been enough of a spark she could have made it much more. But neither wanted to continue, so she simply let it go.

There would be others.

She was sure of it.

Author's Notes:

Finally. This part of the story took waaaaaaay too long to finish.

The run at the beginning was based off the run in Ferris Bueller's day off for any one who was wondering.

Should be one more chapter before the season starts... maybe 2.
Episode 1 , Puppies are Magic is coming.

And likely a Nightmare night bonus Chapter as well.

Season 1, Friendship is Puppies, Prologue

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[3 days before the Summer Sun Celebration]

Celestia frowned as she looked out of her window over Canterlot. Below her, her little ponies were making the final preparations for the celebration. Every city in Equestria was going to have some sort of party for the celebration. It had become a rather extensive tradition.

Looking back she should have stopped this event when it first started. The last thing she wanted was for Her to return and see Ponies celebrating her defeat.

Still it was too late now, they say hindsight is 20/20, well if that was the case Celestia had a telescope.

Her preparations were all in order. No one below knew what was going to happen. The only ones who did were a small number of trusted servants and Guards, ones without immediate families to boot. They had already gone into seclusion in the old crystal mines under the city. She fully expected they would be ready to wage a rebellion to reclaim Canterlot from Her.

Celestia had no illusions about who would win when the fight between them came. The last few years had shown an increased difficulty in moving the moon at night. The power coming off it alone was enough to give her warning of what was to come.

She had sent Cadence and Prince Blueblood off to the Minotaur nation to forge a 'new trade' deal after an issue arose with the old one. Prince was less than happy with it as he was still focused on trying to find the mare who had captured his heart on his twentieth birthday. Odd that not long after his failed date with Twilight he had found what he was seeking, only to lose it again. she rather hoped he found her soon, Celestia was not fond of the mask he had adopted to keep other mares from seeking his attentions.

Cadence was easier to convince, particularly after she promoted Captain Shining Armor her Guards Commander.

As for the trade deal, there was nothing wrong with the old one. The Minotaur were one of Equestria's staunchest supporters. King Kaz was the god of fire after all and what was her sun but the ultimate fire?

Once darkness fell she expected Cadence and Kaz would work something out to help overthrow Her. The Minotaurs were the most technologically advanced race on Equss. She was a thousand years out of date with technology, the new 'magic' would surprise her.

It was her student though that had most of her focus. Earlier in the day Twilight had sent her a letter warning her of the possible return of an old pony tale threat, Nightmare Moon.

Celestia had actually written off her initial plan a while ago. The idea of putting Twilight and her brothers on the front line against Her was unacceptable. Still, she sent a few copies of the books about the Elements of Harmony and the prophecy to be placed in Twilight's collection a year ago when Twilight and her brothers moved into the old observatory tower.

Twilight had put forth a rather convincing argument for getting out of her parents house years ago, but it took until she turned eighteen before she was allowed to. And she spent the day after her birthday moving everything out of her parents house.

Twilight still had not forgiven them for the events of eight years ago it seemed. Twilight, Rahs, and Spike had moved into the tower fully at the start of the year and as far as Celestia knew, were still unpacking their things, she had planned to visit, but with what was coming, time was not something she had.

Celestia couldn't help but smile at the letter as she wrote her reply. Despite her plans to keep Twilight away from Her, as best she could, her student had found something and was not likely to let it go.

She wrote back to Twilight, wording a letter that would send the trio to Ponyville where the Sun Celebration was to be held this year. The choice was made to put Celestia as close to where She would return as possible to minimize damage to anything and to keep Her from going straight to Canterlot.

The idea was to send Twilight to Ponyville to oversee the preparations. She and her brothers would likely be there for a long time. Golden Oaks library had a few choice books that would be needed. Things Celestia had 'donated' a while back when the plan was first in play.

Worst case Scenario Twilight would be trapped in Ponyville while She had to deal with the rebellions popping up all over. There was no reason for Her to stay in the small town. That way her student was sure to be safe, well as safe from eternal darkness as any pony.

Twilight would have time, and the delayed delivery spell she had set up with of all the information Celestia had on the Elements of Harmony would show up the day after the Sun Celebration so that Twilight would know exactly what to do if all Celestia's other plans failed.

There was the issue with the other Element Bearers. Celestia had no clue who they were having lost track of whomever did the Rainboom early on. But she expected that the Element's would choose to draw their bearers together in a time of need.The list of things Twilight needed to check on would take her across Ponyville to meet a number of various ponies. Any of them could be the Bearers. Mayor Mare was the one who chose the ponies to prepare the festival, she simply sent Twilight that list.

Truthfully she expected Twilight might already be traveling with two of the Bearers. Rahs was loyal to his siblings almost to a fault, and Spike was rather earnest in everything he did. He also had no real filter and spoke his mind easily. Really though Honesty was a hard one to pin down most times.

She knew Rahs would protect Spike and Twilight to the best of his skills, despite having some connection to Her.

With the time delivered information, perhaps Twilight could find the others and gather the Element's of Harmony before the eternal night caused too much damage for Equss to recover from.

Despite all her planning and preparation, she had just as much fear of what was going to happen soon as she did years ago.

Celestia still considered it odd however that despite all that she had prepared, she felt her greatest hope for victory lay with an unstable Unicorn, a baby Dragon, and a creature created by the very enemy Equestria was to face.

Author's Notes:

Here we go. The Prologue and opening is over and we now get into the show proper.

Now aside from a few episodes there will be a number of them that are out of order. I have a few plans to swap some season 2 episodes with season 1 or 3 and vice versa. But then again the show was meant to played in nearly any order. Season one will pretty much be the same , though some chapters will be shorter than others.

I'm going to try and follow as close to canon as i can only changing how every one reacts to Spike and Twilight's slightly altered personalities and Rahs.

I'm ready , i'm raring to go ..i'm OOH SHINEY!

*vanishes for a month.*

Friendship is Puppies, Part 1

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

One upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters, who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger, brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus the two sisters maintained balance in their kingdom for their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day the younger alicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young ones heart, turned her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom, The Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon......

“........ and harmony has been maintained in Equestria ever since.” Twilight concluded looking at the book more closely.

The young lavender furred mare shifted on the grass where she lay under a tree on a small blanket so as not to damage the book she was reading by setting it on the bare grass. Her lavender fur was nearly groomed and her purple hair with a magenta stripe had been allowed to grow until it spilled over her back curling slightly at the end. It was a bit more time consuming than a shorter mane style she had wore while younger, but she wasn't deaf to the compliments her longer hair brought her while she was still dating.

The filly had filled out well as she turned into a mare, enough that even after the flood of suitors that came after Prince simply due to her sudden popularity, she had a number of young stallions who attempted to woo her with little success. She had been on other dates, though after the first few were uninteresting and a particularly pushy one was teleported into the deep snow at the top of the Manterhorn above Canterlot, she started turning all of them down in favor of focusing on her studies.

Twilight tapped the last page of the book again curiously, looking at the drawing of the Elements.

“Elements of Harmony... I know I've heard of those before.... but where...?”

[Cue the music ]

Twilight moved down the path lost in her own world as she considered where she had read about those before. She had only picked that particular book because she didn't recall having read it yet. It must have been from one of the ones Princess Celestia had given her when she moved into the tower. It was decidedly an interesting read, but it was obviously written as an old pony tale. She would have disregarded it when she was younger, but she had since learned that many of the 'old pony tales' had a few grains of truth in them. This one was sticking with her harder than usual for some reason and she knew she would need to find out where she had seen the reference to the Elements of Harmony before or she would go crazy.

“There you are Twilight!”

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks blinking in confusion as her brain came back into focus now that it had to work on more than just putting her hooves down in a manner conductive to walking.

Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine stood before her, all three carrying wrapped gifts. Twilight's brain quickly rolled though her mental checklist to try and figure out who the gifts might be for, her mind clicked onto Moon Dancer.

“ Moon Dancer is having a little get together in the west castle courtyard.... wanna come?” Twinkleshine grinned as did the other two.

Even if her own mind hadn't been blaring warning bells already, those smiles would have set it off.

“Oooh, uhh sorry girls.... but you know how I feel about birthday parties...... besides I've got a lot of studying to catch up on...” Twilight muttered before darting off in another direction at full gallop.

The trio looked after her and sighed.

“There is decidedly something wrong with that mare.” Lemon Hearts stated.

“I didn't realize that birthday parties were a real phobia” Minuette commented.

“It's called fragapanophobia.” Twinkleshine explained. “It's a real thing with her, according to Spike and Rahs any way.”

“At least those two said they were coming.”Minuette smiled.” I guess trying to convince her it was just a regular party wasn't gonna work.”

“I wonder how she knew it was birthday party.” Lemon Hearts considered.

The other two pondered that as well, completely oblivious to the gifts on all their backs.

Twilight raced back to her tower nodding a little as she passed Lyra and Shining Lights who waved at her.

Racing up the stairs she flung open the door, only for the door to hit something unyielding and bounce back smacking her in the face and nearly knocking her back down the stairs.

Twilight sat down hard, rubbing her nose as the door opened up and a large navy furred figure glared down at her with amber eyes, rubbing his shoulder with a paw.

“Woof!” Rahs growled.

The Moon Dog had grown a little taller in the last two years, he was at the point that if he stood on his back legs he could look Princess Celestia in the eyes, and like Celestia he towered above every other pony. On all fours he was at eye level with Twilight, and his build made him seem more the size of a particularly burly stallion.

The lankiness of his teen years was still present, but he had filled out enough that unless some one had not ever seen a Diamond Dog they wouldn't confuse him with one. His features had taken on a bit more feline aspect with his face and unlike normal Diamond Dogs his back legs, while digitigrade, were not tiny compared to the rest of him. He was well muscled, more so now than before but it was lean rather than bulk. All four of his paws were more cat like and the front two were capable of finer manipulation unless his claws were out. His ears and tail remained feline like, though his ears had gotten longer to the point Spike had joked he was part rabbit. The glowing balls of light at the end of his tail and ear tips had not brightened any, nor had they gotten any bigger or changed and most ponies never even noticed them.

He still wore pants, less because of fear now and more from utility of all the pockets he had in them. While at home he usually only wore the pants though he had a long coat that he had worn in a western style play that he had loved to the point that Broadway had given it to him. He wore the duster pretty much everywhere from that point on.

Miss Broadway had hired him on at the Celestial Theater a year ago to do odd jobs around the place, much as she had done with Shirley. Her former permanent worker had made a name for himself and quit working at the theater which allowed Rahs to step in. Rahs had considered the Royal Guard at one point, though the recruiter wasn't willing to sign in a Diamond Dog. Celestia wasn't happy with the why, which was complete political fluff, but she gave Rahs a number of alternate ideas he was considering.

“Sorry, I didn't see you there...” Twilight apologized.

“That's because it's a door not a window.” Spike chimed up from behind Rahs, the little dragon carrying a gaudily wrapped present as well.

Spike had not changed much at all aside to grow a bit taller and become nearly as smart as Twilight. He was still a pudgy little purple Dragon, but what he lacked in size he had more than made up in snark. Twilight blamed his older brothers for that. Particularly Rahs, given the fact that no one but Spike and Twilight were able to understand him when he spoke normally, Rahs didn't bother with stifling any smart ass comment that came to mind. Over the years that had an affect on her little brother as his sarcasm filter was skewed beyond repair.

At least Spike hadn't picked up any swearing. Rahs could be rude, but he still had the sense to watch his language around Spike.

“ Bark?” Rahs asked his ears perking up.

“The fire? Oh right. Spike find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies.” Twilight ordered getting a stare from the brothers as she raced past them looking over the book shelves filling their home.

Twilight turned to them, noting that both of them were carrying presents.” What are those for?”

“Gifts for Moon Dancer.”Spike sighed.

“Oh Spike you know we don't have time for that sort of thing.” Twilight chided looking through a stack of books.

“But we're on a break!” Spike protested.

“Woof.” Rahs countered.

“My schedule? What about my schedule?” Twilight demanded.

Rahs held up to claws.” Woof.”

“What? When did I free up two hours for a party!?!” Twilight demanded.

“When Celestia canceled all classes for this week. Which means you can at least go say Happy birthday to Moon Dancer, before you come back here and bury your nose in a book again. She really wants you to come, even if only for a little bit.” Spike grumbled. His eyes narrowed into a glare to meet Twilight's.”Oh no you don't, out of every one else around here we know what your issue is and you're never gonna get over that if you keep hiding from it.”

“I don't have time for that I need to find that book.” Twilight fussed and both Spike and Rahs rolled their eyes. Her horn lit up and she started pulling books off the shelf looking at them with a growing scowl. “ No, no, no, no...... SPIKE!!”

“Don't yell at me. I might have agreed to be your assistant for an allowance, but I'm not some slave to be ordered around.” Spike growled.” And for the record this is the third time I've had to say that. One more and I should set the library on fire just as a obvious' I quit' statement that even you would understand.”

Rahs took that moment to step between them before things became too heated between the siblings. He was far from the voice of reason, but every so often an argument would break out between two of the three of them, it happened with siblings, and it was agreed that the third would step in to stop it before things could get particularly bad. Celestia had found out once what particularly bad meant when the three of them were mad at each other for some little thing or another. The entire class room had to be rebuilt after a fire breathing Dragon, a magic immune bundle of sharp teeth and claws that was empowered by magic, and a overachieving incredibly gifted unicorn mage, got into a fight.

Twilight's spells could do nothing directly to Rahs and Spike was highly resistant to most forms of damage. Rahs' claws and teeth were not sharp or hard enough to do anything to Spike, and he couldn't bite through any shield Twilight put up. Spike's fire was easily blocked by Twilight, and he wasn't fast enough to get a hold of or hit Rahs.

The stalemate then had been broken by Celestia's intervention, but that was only after the three had been trying to batter each other with everything in the room they could get a hold of. Despite how violent it had seemed none of them had any harsher injuries than a few scuffs and a bruise or two.

Since then Celestia suggested that if two of them were arguing, the third would do their best to not get involved aside from trying to stop it from escalating no matter whose side they were on in the end. It would be easier to cool down tempers than to fund a repair bill later,or worse a hospital bill. This far the idea had stuck.

“Woof!” Rahs stated holding his paws up between the two.

“A deal?” Twilight asked looking curiously at Rahs.

“What terms?” Spike questioned his anger fading a bit..

“Grrrrr....” Rahs explained causing both of them to grumble under their breath as they thought it over, Spike was the first to agree.

“Alright fine. One hour.” Spike grumbled.” The parties not until three anyway. But you have to go, no weaseling out of it and I work ONLY an hour.”

Twilight didn't seem thrilled with the deal either though a quick glance at Rahs told her it was this or nothing. The Moon Dog had adopted his,' I'm already tired of this crap' pose, his ears flat to his head and arms crossed as he stood on two legs to look down at both of them. Both Twilight and Spike had the same pose for when the others were fighting, but Rahs was still the most physically intimidating out of the three.

“Alright fine..... so where is the book?” Twilight asked as Spike climbed up a ladder on the other side of the room.

“It's over here.” Spike called pulling it out and waving it in her direction.

Twilight's magic wrapped around the book yanking on it and pulling Spike off the ladder, the little drake still hanging onto the book. Rahs dove for and managed to catch Spike before he hit the ground, a low growl coming from his throat as and oblivious Twilight dropped all the other books she had been holding in her magic, the pile thudding down atop the Moon Dog and Dragon.

Rahs whimpered from under the pile and Spike sighed rising to begin picking up the fallen books.

“Elements, elements... e, e, e, e, e, e, ah ha...... Elements of Harmony, see mare in the moon?” Twilight stated reaching the correct section only for a redirect.

“Mare in the moon?” Spike questioned as he climbed the ladder to put the books back. “But that's just an old ponies tale.”

Twilight flipped through the pages of the book back to the M's.

“The Mare in the Moon, myth, from olden pony times.....”Twilight read.

“Olden pony times? Seriously does no one know how to put a date on things?” Spike complained. “ I mean seriously how hard it it to slap a date on something. I mean it's only 1000 AL. In a couple of days any way.”

“.. a powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon.” Twilight continued ignoring Spike's comment.” Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”

Rahs listened in, handing books up to Spike though he froze suddenly, his ears perking up as he heard the story. Something was bothering him about it, but he couldn't figure out what.

“Do you two know what this means?” Twilight gasped.

“No.” Spike grumbled and Rahs shook his head catching the ladder before it wobbled to much under Spike.

“Take a note please, to the Princess.” Twilight stated her magic floating a quill and parchment over to Spike as he climbed down the ladder. Out of the three of them he had the best writing. Rahs' was barely legible on his best days and Twilight's was completely different depending on whether or not she was using her horn or mouth. As such she preferred to simply dictate to Spike, not liking the taste of quills.

“Okey dokey.” Spike shrugged, preparing to write.

“My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster....”

“Hold on.” Spike muttered.” Precipic......”

“Bark.” Rahs corrected Spike's spelling.

“Of disaster. Got it.” Spike stated.

“The mythical mare in the moon is in fact Nightmare Moon....

Rahs' head snapped up looking at Twilight, his ears perked high on his head. That name was maddeningly familiar to him and yet he couldn't place it. There was also something else, some sort of presence. He felt it as Twilight walked past the large time keeping device as she said the name. Did saying the name summon it's owner? Rahs shuddered

Neither Spike nor Twilight noticed their brothers discomfort as Twilight was facing away and Spike was too focused on the writing.

“And she's about to return to Equestria and bring about eternal night.” Twilight continued.”Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy doesn't come true. I await your quick response, your faithful student twilight Sparkle.”

“Got it.” Spike claimed.

“Great, send it” Twilight ordered.

“Now?”Spike asked.

“Of course.”

“I dunno Twilight. Princess Celestia's probably getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration, send it the day after tomorrow. She's got to be busy.”

“That's just it Spike, the day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration, It's imperative that the Princess is told right away.”

Spike submitted to the odd logic and rolled the scroll up wrapping a seal around it before breathing in deeply and incinerating the scroll with a blast of green flame.

“There, it's on it's way. But I wouldn't hold your breath.” Spike chided.

“I'm not worried Spike, the Princess trusts me. In all the years shes been my mentor she's never once doubted me.”Twilight grinned.

“Except for the toothpaste incident.” Spike grinned.

Twilight frowned.” We promised never to speak of that again.”

“You promised never to speak of it. I promised nothing. Then there was the catastrophic book fort fire.” Spike grinned.

Twilight's frown deepened.

“RAHS!!! Spike's picking on me!” Twilight called looking back to her brother, who for some reason was staring into the hourglass. “Rahs? What is it?”

The Moon dog continued to stare at the upper bulb without responding. Something that made both of them worried enough to walk over to him.

“Rahs?” Spike questioned.” You okay.”

Rahs remained silent until the last grain of sand fell from the hourglass before he turned and looked at them both with a smile that would have scared any who didn't know him.

“Woof.” Rahs chuckled.

“The hours up?” Twilight questioned only for her eyes to widen..” Oh come on it wasn't that long!”

Spike smirked as Rahs scooped up his sister and the present for Moon Dancer walking towards the door.

“Woof”

“But I'm waiting for a return letter! I can't just leave!” Twilight protested.

“Hey I'm the one who gets the letters and I'm going to Moon Dancer's party , so if you want to read it as soon as it comes you best come on.”

“This is cheating!” Twilight flailed as she's carried out the door.

Author's Notes:

Oh bugger this was longer than i thought it would be. I planed to do one chapter per episode, but i'm barely out of the opening and i'm already at a ridiculous amount of words.

Looks like the first episode is gonna be longer than the real episode.

Ah well... WE'RE OFF!!

Friendship is Puppies, Part 2

Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR

[ The following day.]

Twilight lay draped over the side of the chariot growling lightly as the pair of Pegasus Guard pulled the chariot through the sky. Spike was kicked back reading a comic book as they flew and Rahs was leaning over the other side of the cart, doing his best not to decorate the landscape with his lunch.

Twilight thought he was doing fairly well given that the last time they rode a train, he had revisited the squirrel he had eaten and the entire car had to be evacuated and the sight and smell of it caused a vomit inducing chain reaction.

It had been said at least three janitors of the rail company had quit that day.

Rahs was mortified anytime anyone brought it up, which was Spike's favorite thing to do every time he did something disgusting if Rahs tried to fuss at him for.

“So are you gonna let us read the letter or not?” Spike demanded looking up at her. “Honestly you drag us out of the party just as it's getting good and I'm getting every pony rocking with my mad piano skills, you don't tell us anything, and then, BAM, we're on a trip to the podunk little town at the base of the mountain.”

“I really don't want to share....” Twilight muttered.

“Yeah fine, so it's pretty evident she didn't believe your theory, but Rahs is ill, I'm annoyed, and you're moping. I'd like to think we are at least allowed to know what we are getting into here.” Spike argued.

Twilight sighed before pulling the scroll out of her saddlebag and offering it to Spike. “Fiiiiiine.”

Spike blinked at how quickly she gave up the argument, but shrugged and unrolled the scroll.

“To my dearest and most valued student Twilight.” Spike began reading the letter before sticking out his tongue. ”Wow she's laying it on thick from the start.”

“Spike....” Twilight growled.

“.. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely...”Spike continued.

“Woof.” Rahs chuckled.

“See Rahs agrees with me, she's buttering you up , this screams trap, haven't you paid any attention to the games I've run?”

“Spike......” Twilight rubbed her temples with a hoof.

“... But you simply must stop reading those dusty old books.....” Spike blinked as Rahs even pulled back from the edge to look at Spike then Twilight.

“Bark?” Rahs questioned.

“Yes the books in question are the ones she specifically gave me.” Twilight muttered.

“Maybe her secretary got the note before she did?” Spike offered.

“No, Miss Cliff Note is on vacation this week, plus it has the Princess's seal on it, this came from Celestia herself.” Twilight admitted.

“Woof” Rahs gestured for Spike to read on.

“My dear Twilight, there is more to a young ponies life than studying.” Spike continued before he turned to glare at his older sister.” Well she got that right at least.”

“Just finish reading the letter......” Twilight groaned.

“So I'm sending you and your brothers to supervise preparations for the summer Sun Celebration at this years location, Ponyville.”

“Woof!” Rahs called out pointing ahead as the town came into view.

Ponyville was larger than the three had expected, but still a far, far cry from the Canterlot the trio were used to. It was situated on the edge of a large forest and was surrounded by fields and farmlands on the other side with a river running around the town leaving it on a partial island.

Rahs seemed rather interested in the forest below them as he sniffed the air detecting a myriad of animal life... much of it smelling rather tasty.

“And I have an even more essential task for you to complete.” Spike continued.

“Here we go.” Twilight snapped.

“... Make some friends........” Spike read raising and eyebrow.” Seriously?”

“Yes seriously....”Twilight snarked.

“Woof?”

“Evidently they are not considered friends if I go to class with them.” Twilight grumbled.” Or she wants me to make MORE friends at random. What am I supposed to do randomly walk up to some pony and go, hey you wanna be friends?”

Rahs' ears perked up and he looked over the side of the chariot as they flew over the town. He could have sworn he heard someone far down below them yell out 'Okay' in response to Twilight's statement, but he couldn't tell who of the ones below might have done it.

“Yeah this is a little weird, even for Princess Celestia.” Spike pondered.” Think it's another test?”

“It has to be.....” Twilight grumbled. “Curse my need for motherly validation.”

“Woof.” Rahs pointed out.

“Just because I know what my issues are doesn't mean I know how to fix them. Like your clawing and chewing on things and Spike's fiery burps and tail sucking.” Twilight growled.

“Hey I only do that when nervous.” Spike muttered.

“Woof.”

“Yes I know you're getting better, but the point is knowing that you have them doesn't magically fix them.” Twilight slumped against the side of the chariot.

“Well on the bright side, the Princess has arraigned for us to stay at a library. That's like one of your filly hood fantasy's a library that was also a house.” Spike added reading the last of the note.” Doesn't that at least make you happy?”

Twilight thought a moment before popping up to her hooves.”Yes, yes it does and you know why? Because I'm right, I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can then get back to the library to try and find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return.”

“Bark.” Rahs nodded.

“Yeah what he said. We're with you all the way, but what about this part? The make some friends. There's got to be a reason.” Spike pointed out.

“I am her student and this is a royal order to check on preparations, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends.” Twilight retorted.

The chariot landed and Rahs quickly got off, nearly bowling the other two over in his eagerness to get back to the non swaying ground. It wasn't so bad when he could get fresh air, though a half hour long chariot ride down the mountain with wind gusts buffeting the chariot was a bit much for him. If it was something he was in control of like one of those odd flying machines he had tried or a balloon or a cart he had no issue, but he couldn't deal with being a passenger long.

Twilight moved to the front of the chariot to talk with the Guards as Rahs recovered. “Just park it by a place called Golden Oaks Library and go enjoy the festivities. We'll be leaving tomorrow along with Princess Celestia after the event concludes.”

“Not a problem Miss Sparkle. Thank you.” One of them said, neither of them hiding their grins at being allowed a days worth of paid free time.

“Maybe you should at least try it.” Spike suggested.

“What?” twilight asked looking back at her younger brother.

“The friends thing with other ponies. Who knows, maybe they might have something interesting to say.” Spike offered gesturing to a mare walking towards them.

To say that the mare that approached was pink would be an understatement. Her fur was pink, her hair was a darker shade of pink and curlier than anything the trio had ever seen before. The mare was a bit pudgy and had a curious look on her face as her blue eyes slid over the over the three of them in sort of a vapid wonder. She stopped before them as Spike gestured at her, looking down at him with a smile on her face.

Rahs flattened his ears, something about this mare made him nervous.

“Umm hello?” Twilight offered. The mare looked up met her gaze and her eyes went wide, her blue eyes shrink to pin pricks. She sucked in a great deal of air, jumped straight up in the air legs akimbo and darted off in a streak, tearing down the road like a shot, her hooves not even seeming to touch the ground until she was out of sight.

Rahs was really nervous about that mare now.

“Well that was interesting alright.” Twilight snarked.

“It kinda was. She defied at least three rules of motion in ten seconds flat.” Spike whistled as Twilight considered that.

“Good point. Maybe we can experiment on her later.” Twilight considered.

“Bark” Rahs snarled.

“Right, right, ask permission first. I know.” Twilight rolled her eyes.” You'll never let me live that down will you?”

“You did make him explode.... twice.” Spike added.

Rahs sighed picking Spike up to set on his shoulder as the little Dragon seemed to be eager to be off. Rahs reached into one of his pants pockets pulling out the scroll that came along with the first one.

“Summer sun celebration official overseers checklist.” Spike muttered reading the top of it. “ A checklist huh? The Princess knows her student well, doesn't she?”

Rahs chuckled.

“I can hear you you know.” Twilight snapped.

“Cause you were supposed toooooo” Spike chimed before clearing his throat.” Number one, banquet preparations, Sweet Apple Acres. The map says it's outside of town following that road over there.”

Spike pointed and the trio head down the road, ignoring the stares Rahs and Spike were getting from all the ponies they passed.

[Later]

“I think this is it.” Spike chimed.

Twilight glanced up at the large sign proclaiming the farm on the other side of the fence to be Sweet Apple Acres before glaring at her brother.

“Hey I could be wrong.” Spike smirked.

“ I hate you so much sometimes.” Twilight growled turning away from her brothers as Spike chuckled, looking around the farm. It was clearly an apple farm, though it looked like there were some cows and chickens and a bit of corn as well as other crops, though apples were the most prominent. There was a farmhouse on one side of the property with a large red barn and a number of outbuildings not far from the main gate the trio were walking through. In the distance they could see the towering barn of a neighboring farm that seemed to be focused on carrots.

“YAAAHAA!” shouted a voice.

The trio blinked watching as an orange Earth pony galloped over towards a tree, her head lowered, a brown stetson planted firmly on it. The apple tree had a number of buckets under it and as they watched the mare planted her fore hooves in the dirt and spun on them, lashing out with her back legs striking the tree. The hit impacted the trunk soundly making the tree shudder. As the tree shook, all of the apples that had been on the tree, save a few small green ones, fell from the tree, landing perfectly in the buckets around it.

The freckled mare glanced at the buckets smiled adopting a rather proud looking pose . Behind her a few other Earth Ponies were clapping their hooves at the show, though one of them was cursing and offering a small bag of bits to a rather large red stallion.

Rahs and Spike were impressed too though Twilight seemed less than thrilled.

“Let's get this over with.” Twilight sighed walking towards the mare.
“Good afternoon, my name is Twilight Sparkle.... gerrrk!”

Twilight winced as the mare grabbed her hoof and started shaking it like she was trying to dust out a old carpet. The hoof shake was violent enough to lift Twilight's other three hooves from the ground and bounce her about a bit.

“Well howdy do Miss Twilight, a pleasure making your acquaintance. I'm Applejack.” The orange mare paused in trying to remove Twilight's leg as she looked up at Rahs and Spike who were standing behind Twilight. “Well then who are these fellers?”

Twilight was certain a few of her teeth had come loose from the farm ponies hoof shake, but after a quick check with her tongue she realized they just felt that way. “These are my brothers, Spike Sparkle, and Rahs Sparkle.”

“Woof.” Rahs waved.

“Hey.. I'm Spike, by the way, the fluffy ones Rahs.” Spike added.

“Huh, nothing against family ties, but a Dragon and a..... Diamond Dog?” Applejack tilted her head a little looking at Rahs as if she wasn't sure the last statement was correct.

“We're adopted.” Spike shrugged.

“Ahh okay. So what ken ah do yah fer. Always happy tah meet a new friendly face or three.” Applejack commented.

“ Actually, I am in fact here to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration.” Twilight adopted an official sounding tone. “ And you're in charge of the food?”

“We sure as sugar are.” Applejack winked. ”Would yah care to sample some?”

“Woof.” Rahs eagerly agreed having gone from airsick to famished in the course of the walk. He could already smell a number of the dishes as well as the fresh apples in the trees. This place was a far cry from the city, there were all sorts of new scents.

“Well as long as it doesn't take too long...” Twilight began as Applejack dashed off.

“What is it with ponies running away from you?” Spike asked watching the mare run away.

“I dunno, I took a shower before we left...” Twilight muttered tilting her head back to take a sniff of her mane just in case.

The ringing of a bell drew the trios attention towards the farm as they heard Applejack yelling.

“SOUPS ON EVERYPONY!” Applejack cried.

The thunder of hooves sounded soon after as flooding out of the trees was a stampede of ponies bearing down on them. Before the trio could react they were caught up in the herd and dragged along though the dust and mayhem.

A moment later they felt themselves being sat down and the dust cleared showing they were at a fair sized table out in the field.

“What just happened?”Spike asked a bit shaken.

Any reply was ended as Applejack popped up from nowhere.

“Now, why don't I introduce ya'll to the Apple family?” She waved a hoof and the trio noticed they were surrounded by rather expectant looking ponies.

“Thanks but we really need to..” Twilight began and was completely ignored.

“This here's Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala, Rhede Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp,” Applejack paused taking a deep breath.”.... Big Macintosh, Apple bloom, and Granny Smith.”

During the introduction dishes full of food were piled higher and higher on the table until Rahs couldn't even see over them. Granted neither he nor Spike were trying to and the pair were more focused on deciding what to eat first. Twilight was about to protest again when Applejack shoved an apple in her mouth getting a laugh from both Spike and Rahs as well as a few other Apples.

“UP AN ATTUM GRANNY SMITH, we got guests.” Applejack called to an elderly green pony asleep in a rocking chair.

The wrinkled mare slowly rose with a grumble and shifted forward, as she blathered some incomprehensible complaints or another.

Rahs flinched a little hearing the mares bones pop and crack even from behind the piled food.

“ Is that a Diamond Dog at tha table?” Granny asked finally seeming to regain her coherency about her.” Thought I said none of them dogs was allowed within five miles of these fields.....”

“He ain't part of that pack Granny, he came with this one. She's here tah check on tha preparations.” Applejack stated pointing at Twilight who was trying not to choke on the apple.

“Woof.” Rahs offered.

“He's a Moon Dog, not a Diamond Dog.” Spike translated.

“Hmmmph.” Granny snorted. “ I don't care if he's a spotted sun dog from tha far reaching shores a Tartarus. Ah catch him digging in tha garden and ah got two barrels a buckshot fer him.” Granny fussed glaring at Rahs who did his best to place the piled food between him and the ornery mare.

“Dun worry about her.” Applejack whispered.” She jus don't like being woke up from her naps.”

Twilight coughed out the remains of the apple, taking a moment to breath. “ Well that's umm, very nice and all. I see things are in order here, so we're just going to go check on the next thing.....”

“ Arn't yah gonna stay for brunch?” asked a small voice . Twilight, Rahs and Spike looked over to the little yellow filly with the red hair, and pink bow that was nearly the size of her head. She had the biggest most watery sad eyes they had ever seen, and the faint quiver in her lower lip as she pouted would have knocked even Celestia cold.

At least two of the trio were doomed, and Spike simply slipped back behind the food so he couldn't see her.

THUD.

THUD.

“Sake's alive Apple bloom, yah over did it.” Applejack grumbled looking over the collapsed pair of Rahs and Twilight, both of them clutching at their chests, as Big Mac had one of their Pegasus cousins prep a storm cloud to revive them.

“Sorry.” Apple bloom apologized.

“CLEAR!” Big Mac bellowed.

Author's Notes:

And there you have it, Twilight gets a Puppy, every one dies due to Applebloom's cuteness. It was a fun jaunt there wasn't it....... what's that? You want more? Think this endings too soon?

FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE.

i'll write more.

While writing this i'm going through watching the episodes again and picking up things i might have missed before and changing a few things here and there.