“Pssst,” whispered the rainbow maned pegasus.

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon as the moon glided high into the night sky.  The cool evening wind died away leaving nothing but the chill of the night in its place. Although the pegasus had long since prepared for the evening, being completely dressed in dark clothes that clung to her coat.

“Twilight get up,” the pegasus said with increased volume.

The sound of hoof steps echoed below the Golden Oaks library. The pegasus dashed out of view and onto the balcony.  Just below the library two colts eagerly rushed past trotting straight towards downtown Ponyville.

The residential librarian, still half asleep opened the window only to be greeted by a hooves-down flanks-up positioned Rainbow Dash.

Twilight deadpanned. “And you say you’re not a lesbian?”

Dash whipped around, her tail covering her flank. “Yes, but that is not why I’m here.  Twilight I need your help and you’re the only pony I could turn too.”

Twilight face burst into a wide grin. “Really Dash, only I can help? What is it, magic, friendship lessons, oh, maybe dance lessons?”

Dash’s face went dead serious. “Twilight no one will ever, EVER.  Ask you for dance lessons, ever.”

“But…”

“Ever,” Dash finished.

Twilight huffed. “So what do you need me for that is so urgent this late at night?”

The pegasus eyes dashes back and forth as she pulled a brown paper bag under her wing, “We are doing a little role playing.”

Again she deadpanned, “Are you sure you’re not a lesbian?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Shut up and put on the costume, it’s almost midnight.”

“I can’t believe you're making me do this,” Twilight said as she continued along the road. Her mane was combed back and now fattened tight against her head under the tan explorers cap.  Fake golden tan wings were now mounted on her back just behind her jet green jacket.

”C’mon, Twilight, you know I can’t be seen buying a book.  I have a reputation to uphold,” said the rainbow-maned Mysterious Mare Do Well.   Who was walking side by side next to the Daring Do alicorn.

“I thought there was a friendship lesson here about being yourself that must have been forgotten,” Twilight said in a chiding tone.

“Pla-leese Twilight there is a huge difference between my best friends accepting me and total strangers,” Rainbow dash said defensibly.

Twilight stopped in her tracks as she rubbed her temple to avoid the oncoming migraine that always came when trying to understand Dash’s logic. The evening chill was not helping the matter for the cold alicorn dress up.

“Let’s just get your book and go home already, I do not want to catch a cold because you can’t buy a book by yourself,” she said in a bitter tone.

The pair walked in silence, as they passed the bends and turns in the road that lead to the Lima Lemon Lustiest Low Priced Books.  Despite its name, it had more books geared for foals than adults.  

Outside the shop was a long line of costumed fillies and colts, each accompanied by a stallion or mare who were presumed to be their parents.

Twilight sighed as she got in at the end of the line; being the only full grown mare that could be recognized through her costume, drew all the unnecessary attention away from the pegasus who was blending well in the night shadows.

On the outside of the door was a giant post advertising the midnight release of the latest Daring Do book, Daring Do and the Mystery of Manehatten Prince.  

“Well at least I can get a copy for my collection, even though we didn’t have to go at midnight,” Twilight complained.

The door to the shop burst open with confetti and glitter, as the residential party pony Pinkie Pie walked out of the store holding the a limited edition copy of the book.

“Come on in every pony the book has just hit the shelf,” she shouted.

Twilight started to trot inside, ignoring the obvious questioning of the pink pony of why she was in the store.  She was almost bowled over by the stampede of fillies and colts as they rushed past the bi-paneled glass doors.

It took a moment for her to regain her composure as she braced herself, her eyes still taking a moment to dilate to the dim lighting.  Only her and the adults who were wise enough to stand back where outside.

Once recovered, she stepped into the warmth of the shop. Each aisle was filled with copies of the latest Daring Do.  Every colt and filly were getting into shouting matches over the golden trimmed limited edition, while the second edition printings might as well have been non-existent.

Most of the attention was on the Mare Do Well costumed pegasus had long since gathered three golden-trimmed cased limited editions.  She was firmly planted on top of a bookshelf in the corner of the store, hissing like a cornered snake guarding her clutch of eggs.

“That’s no fair, she has three,” whined a little filly who was dressed like a pirate.

“Hey, as long as I pay for them, it doesn’t matter how many I get,” barked the costumed figure.

Twilight’s horn glowed as two of the three books flew out of the respective owners hooves, straight into the crowd of foals that piled on the text like rabid dogs.

The next several minutes were spent gathering the costumed Rainbow Dash off the bookcase. The consent worry about getting a precious limited edition dinged up from the unlikely event of one of the fillies going berserk kept the mare on the shelf until there was a decent amount of room to make a retreat.

Afterwards, the crowd started to thin out, and some had finally given in to having a mire second edition.  The duo stood in line for check out; now it was the parent’s role to play, time to pay.

“Mare Do Well,” Daring Do said, “is it going to rain tomorrow?”

The pegasus’s eyes darted from side to side, going unnoticed thanks to the mask.  Refusing to speak in any form, she tapped the metal edge of the counter three times.  Twilight only stared at the pegasus with a raised brow, “Yeah, that tells me a lot.”

“Next please,” came the quiet voice of the mare behind the counter.  A tall, brown coated mare with green hair and a forlorn smile stood as she rung up the books for the customers in the store.

Twilight smiled as she placed the bits on the counter, “Morning Sugar Cup, I see they have you working late this evening again.”

Sugar looked back with the same dead expression. “Yes, since it seems I have nothing better to do with my life than spend my nights working at a dead end book store while my boyfriend goes out drinking and flirting with anything with fours hooves and a flank,” she said, as with each word her voice started to raise in volume until it was a near shout over the store.

All sound seemed to die out then, save for the few fillies in the corner that were looking at the Daring Do cave explorer playset. Twilight received her change, and quickly made an exit out of the store, leaving behind the Mare Do Well who was several ponies behind her.

Twilight waited outside of the store near the entrance.  She stood there looking at the shining moon that lit up the night, her mind connecting all the stars with an invisible thread as she traced out the constellations.

The rainbow-maned pony finally left the shop, a golden trimmed, limited edition now tucked firmly underneath her wing.  “Hey Twilight, thanks for coming with me tonight,” she said as the duo started to trot back in the direction of the library.

Twilight smiled as she continued to walk along the dirt path, “It’s my pleasure Dash, and it is always nice to help a friend.  So tell me, is it going to rain tomorrow? Me and Spike were planning on having a picnic in the park, but if it’s going to rain I think we should cancel.”

“I already told you, Twi, in the store.”

Twilight deadpanned, “Yah, I guess I missed it over the knocking.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, “Daring Do and the case of the Silver Lion, chapter nine line seven. Daring Do has to use Morse code to signal her partner to get her free from the possum prison.  Three knocks was the sign that the coast was clear, so that meant a yes. You’re the egghead Twilight, you know this stuff.”

The muscle below Twilight’s left eye started to twitch rapidly as she resisted the urge to facehoof. “Ok, so it is going to rain, that’s good, I guess we haven’t had a good storm since…” Twilight stopped in her tracks, “since the time we had lunch at Sugarcube Corner.”

“Don’t bring it up Twilight, my life have been completely great since Mary stopped trying to hang out with us.  It was bound to happen eventually, and besides, she didn’t go on a rampage and destroy half the town like Rarity thought.”

Twilight looked down at her hooves, “I know, I just still feel bad is all.  I can’t even begin to tell you how mad Celestia was at me for feigning friendship. I still can’t believe what she said to me.”

Dash raised a brow, “What did she say that would make you this upset?”

“She was disappointed in me, and said I have a lot more to learn about friendship.”

“Harsh, but she is off our backs now and we can finally get on with our lives without Mary butting her nose into it.”

Mary sneezed into her coco, sending a wild spray of marshmallows and chocolate right into the face of the wall-eyed mare.  “I’m so sorry Derpy, I didn’t feel that one coming at all,” she said as she quickly started to wipe away froth out of her coat.

Derpy giggled as she licked her lips. “Seems like somepony is talking about you, maybe it’s Big Mac,” she teased.

The two sat there sharing a small giggle fit at the thought, it was well into the evening and both were bundled up in quilts next to the fire inside the house. The red brick fireplace really set the mood for the duo as they entertain each other with stories of love and adventure.  Most being from Derpy, Mary had not have had the luck of even kissing a stallion.

Mary set down her cup of cocoa and pick up a golden delicious –her favorite- and took a large bite. “Thannks or oming to y eep over erpy,“she swallowed before continuing. “I never really had one before tonight.” Well at least one with a really pony that wasn’t imaginary or my brother.

Derpy snuggled closer to Mary. “No need for thanks, I like spending time with you.”

Mary tried to suppress a deep-seeded blush that was slowly working its way to her face. “So do you want to hang out again tomorrow?  I know this cute café near golden oaks library that serves the best fries.”

The grey mare shook her head, “I can’t, and I have a parent-teacher conference with Ms. Cheerilee tomorrow about Dinky.  Seems some of her friends at school are teasing her about not having a father.”

Mary took in a deep breath. “Oh my Celestia, that is horrible. I couldn’t imagine what that could be like if Selfie was getting teased.”

Derpy raise her front hooves to the fire place. “Selfie, that is your little sister right?  You mentioned her before.”

Mary nodded and pointed to a photo that was sitting just above the fireplace. “That’s her right there, and the stallion next to her is my older brother Gary.  Selfie and Gary live in Manehatten right now while Gary is working on his book.”

“Your brother is a writer? Has he written anything I heard of?” she questioned as she took a sip of her eggnog.

Mary leaned back, “He wrote the Daring Do seri—“

This time Mary was shot in the face with a large stream of eggnog, “Your brother is that Gary!? Dinky loves the Daring Do series.  I have been reading a chapter a night to her for almost four years.”

Ding Dong.

Mary looked at the door. “Who could that be, it’s almost twelve thirty?” Mary said as she stood up and trotted to the entrance.  She looked through the peep hole only to see a green iris. Who in the world is that?

“Your know sis, I can see you through it too, only difference is you look far away,” stated a stallion in a whisper just loud enough to pass through the door.

Mary nearly ripped the door off as it swung open, as she leaped into the air at her brother, only to fall into empty space. “Hey what gives?”

Gary took a couscous step back, “If I knew you were entertaining a stallion, I would have come at a different time.”

Mary raised a brow, “Entertaining a stallion…” she said perplexed, until her face went beet red. “This is eggnog you pervert.”

Gary chuckled. “Sure, eggnog, that’s what you kids are calling it nowadays?”

Mary deadpanned, “Good to see you too Gary. Wait, if you’re here, then where is Selfie?”

The stallion leaned to the side and lifted a flannel blanket to reveal a grey coated alicorn filly, and it picked up in the night breeze the very moment the blanket was moved.  The musk burned the night air as it buried itself in the snouts of both Mary and Gary.

Mary near doubled over, “Wow…” is all she could say as her eyes started to water.

Gary put the blanket back to keep the sleeping filly warm and to cover up the scent, “Yah that’s why I’m here, she is starting to hit her first heat.”

Mary looked up and down the street and then gestured for the duo to come inside.  The warmth of the house was eagerly welcomed, Gary set down two packed saddlebags that were filled with toys and snacks that the filly “needed”.

On the left was a plush red couch that sat across a big screen television. What caught Gary’s eye, though, was the mare that had been sitting in front of the fire. “So you were entertaining a guest, is this, Derpy, the mare that you mentioned in your letter?”

Mary nodded as her horn glowed in a dark aura; it encompassed the little filly and flannel blanket.  Self floated along the air, held up by the magics of the spell and placed onto the couch.  Using grace and a fine use of magical control, the little alicorn never even noticed the shift in position.

The young stallion however was already at the fire, warming his coat as he tried to relax from his long journey.

“So Gary how long has Selfie been like this?” Mary said as she joined Gary and Derpy next to the fire.

“It have been almost six days, getting her here was no easy feat either.  I can’t tell you how many weird looks I got when the smell escaped and the only one visible was a grown stallion.”

Derpy raised her hoof, “Hi, my name is Derpy.”

Gary nodded, “Oh, right, introductions. Yes, my name is Gary Stu. Mary told me a little bit about you in her letter. I must say thank you, Mary has not had the greatest run when it has come to friends.”

This statement earned the stallion a large lump on the side of head, “Don’t say it like that, you make me sound like a friendless hermit.”

“Imaginary friends don’t count Mary.”

“Your leave Plottie out of this,” Mary said defensively.

Gary raised his hooves in surrender, “I give, I give, and I didn’t come here to get into a senseless argument sis.  I was wondering if you would take care of Selfie for the next few months while she gets over her condition.”

Mary’s mouth nearly dropped, “-I don’t know Gary, what about her schooling? I thought you were teaching her? I can’t look after her in the day, I have to work.”

“Well, you could enroll her in school; the school that Dinky goes to is really small and the teacher is one of the best around,” Derpy chimed in.

Gary nodded. “See, there you go. She has a school and a place to stay while you teach her the ins and outs of being female.”

Mary’s eyes narrowed, “Oh, and what are you planning on doing while I take care of Selfie?  Does it involve a mare?”

Gary raised a brow, “What do you mean?”

Mary facehoofed. “Never mind, are you going to stay in Ponyville at least?”

The stallion nodded. “Yes, I am going to work on the new book here.  So I figure we kill two birds with one stone. You get Selfie and I get time off to work on my book and my personals don’t get mysterious stains on them.”

Mary’s eyes narrowed to the point of pin pricks, “You promised we would never speak of that again.”

“Yah, and you promised you would buy me a new set of socks, I am still waiting.”

Derpy put of set of hooves on Gary’s shoulders, her wall-eyes focused intently on the stallion before her. “I need to ask you something.”

Gary raised and closed his mouth several times before nodding; “Ask away,” he said questioningly.  He took note of her dead serious attitude.

“Can I get your autograph for my little Dinky? Her birthday is next week and she is your biggest fan.”

After a long moment, the stallion let out a small chuckle. “It would be my pleasure, anything for a friend of Mary.”

Mary blinked, “I thought you didn’t give autographs.”

Gary shrugged as he went to the small black saddle bag that his accoutrements, “I don’t, but if it’s a personal request from a friend of yours, Mary, there is no possible way I could say no.  Besides, if it is for my biggest fan, that just makes it all the better.”

Gary took out a  limited edition copy of his latest book, the golden trim glistening in the dim lighting from the fireplace as he took out a quill and signed the inside cover.

To Dinky, my Biggest Fan ~ Happy Birthday ~ Gary Stu

With a quick snap of the hard cover he slid the book over to the pegasus, whom was more than eager to put the book into her saddle bag for safe keepings.  Both Mary and Gary found themselves in the snare of tight hug of a very happy mare.

“Thank you so much, I can’t tell you how much Dinky is going to love this.”

Gary could only gesture at his throat, and the blue tone the skin under his black fur was showing.  Mary however was enjoying the tight embrace.

The trio talked amongst themselves for the better part of two hours, catching up on the details of each other’s lives.  Mary however opted out to not tell Gary about Big Mac and the group of ‘friends’ that each decided that she wasn't worth the time of day.

Derpy told stories of Dinky and her adventures in school, and how there is this really dumb colt at school named Featherweight who only picks on her.

Gary told tales of the myths and legends that he had come across while writing the Manehatten Prince story.

Time had passed and almost all topics were discussed, Gary finally stood up and did the stand motions that dictated that it was about time for him to go.

Mary however was the first to stand. “Gary if you want you can spend the night here, Derpy can sleep in my bed and we can camp out on the floor like old times.”

Gary shook his head. “No, I want to leave before Self wakes up. I want to avoid the water works; since she hit her heat she been attached to me more than normal.  I know it’s not her fault, but it’s a little disturbing when she wants to take a bath with you.”

Derpy smiled, “Ahh, what are you talking about, that sound cute.  I would love for Dinky to want to take a bath with me.”

“Does Dinky want to take twelve baths a day? Once is cute, more than ten is creepy. I know she is just curious about stallions is all, but I am not the one she should be learning it from.”

"NO!" The room nearly froze when the sound of a crying filly came from the couch and she tried to fly to Gary; only to face plant half way, her wings still not strong enough to support her body.

The stallion was already at the filly’s side; he picked her up and held her close against his chest.  She wrapped herself around the barrel of the stallion, letting the tears flow like water. Nopony said a word; it was several minutes before she subsided to small whimpers. Gary eased his grip so he could look at his little sister.

The filly's little white orbs were practically shaking from the tears forcing their way out, her pupils already the size of tea saucers.  The scene would have been picture perfect, save for the long mucus string that connected her snout to his chest.

“I don’t want you to go big brother, I’m sorry about not cleaning the dishes, I promise i'll pick up my toys. Please don’t leave like mom and dad. I’ll be a good girl, I promise.”

Gary looked over at Mary who was on the verge of tears, Derpy however was already sobbing quietly.

Gary leaned down and set the filly on the ground as he looked her in the eyes. “Self, you know full well I would never, ever leave you.  I love you bunches, and here.” Gary wrapped a silver whistle around her neck. “If you ever need me, just give this whistle a long blow and I’ll come running and be by your side as fast as I can.”

Self Insert sniffed. “But you’re still leaving, I don’t want you to leave, can we please be a family again?”

Gary rubbed her mane, “I will make you a deal. After I get my big check from my book, which will be a few months.  If you can behave and be a good girl for your sister, I will buy us a house that the three of us can live in like old times.”

Self sniffed again, “You promise?”

Gary nodded, “I promise.”

“Then can we do the secret promise shake,” the filly asked.

Mary and Derpy raised a brow, “The secret promise shake?” they both said in unison.

Gary’s eye twitched, “Now come now Selfie, we don’t need to do that.”

Self filled her cheeks full of air and squinted at her brother, “Do it.”

Gary gave a long sigh as he raised a hoof in defeat, and Self raised hers and they followed a well-practiced motion.

The duo put their hooves together as they started to rhythmically tap each other’s front hoof to a song they only they knew.

“I wish I wish with all my heart—“Selfie started.

“That we will never be torn apart—“Gary said in a monotone voice.

“So this we will make and hold—“

“A solemn promise that is gold—“

“That no matter what, we will both uphold.” They ended in unison, with both hand a hoof places over each other’s hearts.

Mary and Derpy where speechless as they watch the duo, Gary looked over to them. “Don’t judge me.” The stallion leaned down and gave the little alicorn a peck on her forehead. “I’m going to go now; you don’t give your sister too hard of a time, ok?”

Self smiled and nodded, she resisted the urge to give him another hug and she really wanted too. The little filly stood there as she watched the silhouette of her older brother go into the darkness of the night. She watched the door, in hopes that he would return immediately. She was even tempted to blow the tiny whistle he had given her.

Her lower lip began to tremble as she tried to force back the tears that began to borderline the edge of her eyes.

Big girls don't cry, the filly repeated in her mind over and over again.

The tiny filly was encompassed in a hug as she was draped in the warth of the black coat of her older sister. “You know, I heard somewhere that big girls love pudding, and I just so happen to have a few cups.  Now where would I find a big girl to give these cups of pudding too?”

The memory of Gary was gone in but a instant, there was pudding to be had. Next Chapter: Gary Stu is still... a Gary Stu Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 27 Minutes