It was an overcast day in Ponyville. Twilight, Sunset and Spike awoke and gathered for breakfast. Things where okay, but an air of uncertainty hung in the air like a bad odor.

"How are your pancakes?" asked Sunset

"Good." answered Twilight.

Twilight looked over to her guard.

"How are your gems?" asked Twilight.

"Delicious." answered Spike.

"Good to hear." replied Twilight relieved.

"Anything going on today?" asked Sunset.

"I'm going to hang out with Lyra and Bon Bon." answered Twilight.

"What are you going to do?" asked Spike.

"A lunch picnic outside town." answered Twilight.

"Hope you have a good time." said Spike.

"I was hoping you could join me." noted Twilight disappointed.

"Sunset and I are going to research." stated Spike.

"Why you?" asked Twilight skeptical.

"He's helping me." answered Sunset.

Twilight smiled faintly.

"Spike is a great assistant." mused Twilight happily.

Spike blushed.

"Besides, we'd just be a crowd." shrugged Sunset.

Twilight was clearly worried.

"Lyra and Bon Bon are your friends so things will be okay." noted Sunset.

Twilight smiled hearing this.

"Yeah. You're right." agreed Twilight.

The trio hung around for a while at Golden Oaks Library. Finally, Twilight left for her picnic with Lyra and Bon Bon. She went to the home Lyra and Bon Bon shared. They left with Lyra carrying the picnic basket via her magic while Bon Bon carried the red and white blanket in her mouth. They walked to the outskirts of town near the Everfree Forest. Bon Bon laid down the blanket and Lyra put down the basket. The three sat down and Lyra distributed daisy sandwiches.

"These are good." said Twilight.

"Thanks." replied Lyra.

"Lyra got fresh daisies for this." noted Bon Bon.

"I can taste it." said Twilight.

Lyra smiled as the three began eating.

"So Twilight, how are things?" asked Lyra apprehensively.

"Okay." answered Twilight unsure.

"Are any ponies giving you trouble?" asked Lyra gently.

Twilight shuttered.

"I've grown numb to it." answered Twilight sadly.

"That sucks!" declared Lyra.

"Have any other ponies forgiven you?" asked Bon Bon.

"Applejack is the only one of my friends who haven't." answered Twilight sad.

"Didn't Apple Bloom forgiven you though?" asked Lyra.

"She's the only Apple who has." answered Twilight flatly.

"They'll come around." said Lyra reassuringly.

"Sometimes I don't know." admitted Twilight.

"Don't talk like that!" cried Lyra distressed.

"Keep your head up." agreed Bon Bon.

Twilight took a moment.

"Can we change the subject." requested Twilight meekly.

Lyra and Bon Bon shared a concerned glance.

"Sure." answered Lyra.

"What do you want to talk about?" asked Bon Bon.

Twilight thought for a moment.

"I don't know." answered Twilight flatly.

"Oh, have you talked with Moonshine and Twinkle Hearts?" asked Lyra.

Twilight let out a flat sigh.

"Not since I moved to Ponyville." answered Twilight,.

Twilight slammed her hoof on the ground.

"I'm such an idiot!" cried Twilight.

"No you aren't." said Lyra gently.

"Twilight, you gotta drop this guilt trip garbage." stated Bon Bon.

"What do you mean?" asked Twilight.

"You're just beating yourself up more. It's not healthy." answered Bon Bon.

"She had a point." agreed Lyra.

Twilight let out a lamented sigh.

"I know, but it's hard not to." answered Twilight.

"We're here for you." said Bon Bon.

"Really?" asked Twilight hopeful.

"That's what friends are for." shrugged Lyra.

The word 'friends' seemed to echo in Twilight's ears.

("Don't tell me you believe their garbage.") said the voice.

Twilight looked over and saw the others distracted by a ladybug.

"I can't tell." whispered Twilight.

("Come on. You've been good at dealing with their crap.") said the voice.

Twilight mused this over.

"Maybe." muttered Twilight softly.

"Twilight, you talking to somepony?" asked Lyra.

Twilight's eyes darted back and forth.

"Of course not!" answered Twilight.

Sunset waited until Twilight was gone before departing herself. Spike agreed to stay at Golden Oaks Library. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie all gathered at Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom was with the other Crusaders while Big Mac and Granny Smith where making deliveries giving them privacy. Sunset Shimmer walked up and joined the others. They gathered in the barn in a circle. Sunset let out a sigh and began.

"So...we need to be careful with what we say." began Sunset.

"Oh grand." replied Applejack sarcastically.

"Applejack darling, you promised to stay open minded." noted Rarity.

Applejack mumbled to herself.

"What's the deal?" asked Rainbow.

"Twilight might be hearing voices again." answered Sunset.

The five girls gasped.

"How do you know?" asked Rarity concerned.

"The signs all point to it." answered Sunset.

Sunset explained the situation.

"Oh dear." gasped Fluttershy worried.

"I was afraid of this!" declared Applejack.

"Darling, we don't know for sure." said Rarity.

"All the signs point to it!" cried Applejack.

"AJ does have a point." admitted Rainbow.

"We can't jump to conclusions." replied Fluttershy.

"Exactly. Twilight is innocent until proven guilty." agreed Rarity.

The group turned to Pinkie whose mane had deflated.

"Are you okay?" asked Applejack.

"No. This is super bad news." answered Pinkie sadly.

"Don't worry Pinkie. We'll save her." said Rainbow reassuringly.

"Are you sure?" asked Pinkie.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." answered Rainbow.

Pinkie smiled at this.

"Okie Doki Loki." replied Pinkie, feeling better.

"Now that we're on track, we need to plan." said Sunset.

"Where is Twilight?" asked Fluttershy.

"With Lyra and Bon Bon." answered Sunset.

"Good. That will keep here preoccupied." replied Rarity relieved.

"I do feel bad about being dishonest." admitted Fluttershy.

"If she knew then she'd be pissed." explained Rainbow.

"I understand." said Fluttershy.

"Sunset, do the princesses know?" asked Pinkie.

"I've sent a letter via Spike, but I haven't got a reply." answered Sunset.

"Is there anypony else who could help us?" asked Rainbow.

"Lyra, Minuette, Twinkle Hearts and Lemon Shine. All where members of Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns." answered Sunset.

"That's good. If they're from Celestia's school then can be helpful." said Applejack.

"Lyra and Minuette are capable with magic." noted Rarity.

"What about Discord?" asked Pinkie.

"He refuses to have anything to do with Twilight after she used Blood Magic on him." answered Fluttershy.

"What about Trixie?" asked Rainbow.

"I haven't been able to find her." answered Sunset.

"She could be anywhere in Equestria." sighed Rainbow.

"It's not like she has a friend in the form of another unicorn villain who reformed who lives with us that she can become fiends with so she'll come here more often." agreed Pinkie.

"That was oddly specific." replied Sunset.

"I call them as I see them." shrugged Pinkie.

"Anyway, we also have Zecora to help us." noted Sunset.

"She'll be right helpful." agreed Applejack.

"Hopefully that will be enough." said Rarity unsure.

Sunset gave a concerned sigh.

"It'll have to be." said Sunset.

The girls agreed and Sunset departed. Sunset returned to Golden Oaks Library where she found Twilight had not returned. Sunset informed Spike of the conversation and the baby dragon felt a bit better. Finally, Twilight returned home feeling better. Sunset and Spike both where quick to make sure Twilight suspected nothing. Twilight went down to the lab and returned for dinner. The trio sat together to eat.

"So, how was your picnic?" asked Sunset.

"Good." answered Twilight happily.

"You look happy." noted Spike hopeful.

"Yeah." agreed Twilight.

Both Spike and Sunset smiled.

"So...you enjoyed yourself." said Sunset.

"I guess." answered Twilight flatly.

Twilight and Spike positivity died.

"What do you mean 'I guess' exactly?" asked Sunset.

"Nothing." answered Twilight.

"You did have a good time." noted Spike.

"I did." confirmed Twilight,

"Then you had a good time." reasoned Sunset.

"That would make sense." admitted Twilight.

"Then you had a good time." said Spike.

"Whatever." shrugged Twilight.

Spike and Sunset shared a worried glance.

"Let's change the subject." proposed Sunset.

"What did you do Sunset?" asked Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer inwardly cursed herself.

"I spent the day in Ponyville." answered Sunset.

"What did you do?" asked Twilight suspicious.

"Just hung out around Ponyville." answered Sunset.

"Anything...interesting?" asked Twilight unsure.

"No." answered Sunset.

"Just ran errands." added Spike.

"For what?" asked Twilight skeptical.

"A few things." answered Sunset.

Sunset and Spike anxiously waited.

"That's nice." said Twilight.

The rest of the dinner went by casually. Once finished, Twilight walked to her bed.

("Do you believe that?") asked the voice.

"Of course not." answered Twilight.

("They're obviously conspiring against you.") said the voice.

"But, what I don't know." replied Twilight concerned.

("Simple, they still hate you and are planning to get ride of you.") said the voice.

"Do you mean kill me?" asked Twilight anxious.

("Likely.") answered the voice.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That is where we'll end things for now. Twilight had a good time, but it seems her troubles are far from over. Meanwhile, Sunset and the others have a plan. Next time, the Flim Flam Brothers return. Please review.