"Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Please, do come in!" Rarity smiled as the two ponies filed past her.

It was just past eight, and the six Elements of Harmony were beginning to assemble at Carousel Boutique. This being a party hosted by Rarity, there was an obvious absence of the lavish decorations that one would expect to find at a typical Pinkie Pie party. Nevertheless, the boutique retained a welcoming atmosphere. The reds, oranges, and yellows of the crackling fire seemed to spread across the the entire room, providing the cozy feel to the room, and the numerous blankets and pillows spread across the floor only added to the warming appeal of the sleepover. While Applejack had complained it was too 'fluffy,' Rarity had argued that it was the perfect atmosphere to give their announcement.

Pinkie Pie was ecstatic. "Hi Rarity! Oh my gosh I'm so excited for this sleepover! When you came and told me about it yesterday, I was like, oh my gosh this is going to be absolutely awesome! Did you know I didn't sleep last night? I was way too excited because I'm usually the one throwing the parties and the I hear Rarity is throwing one! No way! So I brought a whole bunch of sweets from the bakery for us, but then I needed to know how many ponies were coming! But then I remembered that you said it was only for the six of us! How amazingly-awesome! A super-secret friendship party! So I said to myself, 'Pinkie—"

"How interesting, Pinkie! Why don't you go tell Applejack," interrupted Rarity as she pointed to the kitchen of the boutique, "I'm sure she would love to hear all about it!"

Pinkie threw the pastries she brought into the air, which, of course, all happened to land perfectly on the counter near the door, and bounced her way over to the kitchen in expected Pinkie Pie fashion. "Oh okay! Applejack!? Are you in here!? Have you heard about this super-amazing party!?"

"Umm... hi Rarity," whispered Fluttershy.

Rarity placed a hoof on the shoulder of her timid friend. "Fluttershy, nice to see you! Please, do make yourself at home!"

"Umm... okay Rarity, thank you for the invitation," murmured Fluttershy.

I wonder what on earth had her so worried! Well, come to think about it, it's probably nothing, just Fluttershy being Fluttershy. Rarity shrugged.

"Now we just need Twi' and Rainbow to get here so we can start the party!" Applejack hollered over Pinkie Pie's rambling in the other room.

"We told them nine, didn't we?" Rarity called back, "they must just be running a little late."

Twilight Sparkle's eyes opened slowly. As she blinked to rid them of their fogginess, she noticed that she had a pair of blue forelegs wrapped around her. Twilight felt butterflies in her stomach as she once again realized that she was in love. She smiled as she looked up at a lightly snoring Rainbow Dash. I could get used to this.

Twilight’s eyes wandered around the room lazily, really not giving anything a focused look. As her gaze eventually made its way over the clock on the wall, she did a double take. "Rainbow! Rainbow, wake up! We're going to be late for the sleepover!"

"Wha... what?" mumbled Rainbow Dash, "What are you talking about Twi'?"

"Rairty's sleepover? Ring a bell?" yelled a frantic Twilight as shook Rainbow's hooves off of her and climbed out from under she sheets.

"Don't worry, that's not until nine! We still got—" lazily murmured Rainbow Dash. She cut herself off when she saw what the clock on the wall read, "oh."

Twilight frantically began packing her saddle bags for the night to come. "Well don't just lay there! Let's get going, we're already ten minutes late!"

Rainbow Dash reluctantly rose up out of the bed. "Can't we just stay in bed all day?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. How the hay did I know this was going to happen?

"We've been doing that a lot lately, Rainbow. And on that note, how the hay could you even be sleeping, you slept literally all day!"

"Equestria's best young sleeper, remember?" joked Rainbow as she rolled onto her belly and smiled at Twilight.

Twilight could not help but smile. "Alright well how about you try and be Equestria's best... uhh... Equestria's best get-the-hay-out-of-bed-and-get-ready-to-go-to-Rarity's-sleepover... uhh... pony!"

Rainbow let out a long yawn and stretched her legs out prior to leaping into the air. Dash extended her wings and performed a small loop above Twilight's bed before landing gracefully on the floor of the small room.

"Showoff..." muttered Twilight.

"What was that, Twilight?" responded Dash with a smirk.

Twilight quickly changed the subject. "Oh nothing, are you all ready to go?"

Rainbow Dash vigorously shook her mane before running a hoof through it, attempting to straighten it out somewhat. "Now I am," smiled Rainbow.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she followed Rainbow Dash down the steps towards the exit of the library. A purple cloud of magic opened the front door and the two ponies started their relatively short journey to Rarity's home. Although Princess Celestia had already lowered the sun and Princess Luna's night had taken over, the two ponies had no problem finding their way along the well illuminated streets of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash was the first to bring up the ominously looming issue. "What if they confront us about it, Twilight? What are we going to do?" she voiced with concern.

Twilight remained frank. "We'll just have to tell them the truth, Rainbow. We're going to have to tell them at some point or another. If it comes up, I'll handle it, if that makes you feel any better."

"Honestly Twi', I would really like if you deal with it because if they asked me, I'd probably lie, and when it comes to our relationship, I'm a worse liar than Applejack!" said a nervous Rainbow Dash semi-jokingly. "But let's hope to Celestia that it doesn't come up tonight!"

As these words exited Dash's mouth, the couple arrived at the entrance to Rarity's shop. Twilight reached her hoof up to the door to knock, but before she could make contact with the door, she was greeted by nopony other than Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie threw her forehooves into the air. "Yay! Twilight and Rainbow Dash are here! It's time to get this party going! Look! I brought cake! Did you know I already ate a whole cake, all by myself? I just couldn't wait! I was so excited, sorry! But don't you worry your silly little heads, because Auntie Pinkie Pie brought plenty cake for everyone!"

"It's gonna be one of those crazy Pinkie nights, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash mumbled to Twilight, barely opening her mouth, keeping her eyes fixated on Pinkie, who had since turned away to announce their arrival to the rest of the group.

Twilight nodded. "Should make for quite an interesting time."

The night had officially begun.

Meanwhile, outside of the boutique, two school fillies, dressed from head to hooves in black, were stealthy making their way around corners, into bushes, and past wandering ponies. A third filly, also completely dressed in black, rode her scooter and attached wagon behind one of the bushes outside of Rarity's boutique, hiding it from view. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had put their plan of attack in motion. Scootaloo waved her hoof at her friends from behind the bush, beckoning them to join her. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom simultaneously looked to their left, then right, then left again, before bolting across the road to regroup with their friend.

"Now I know Applejack and my sister are up to something, and we’re going to find out what it is!" said Sweetie Belle condensed in a whisper.

"Oh yeah we are!" responded Scootaloo, "did you remember to leave your window open?"

"Yes, I did, but we have to be sure that they don't know we're here, otherwise Rarity will get mad," Sweetie Belle stated nervously.

"Oh stop worrying and help me get up this rope!" mumbled Scootaloo as she twirled a grappling hook with her teeth before tossing it into the window of Sweetie's room. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, activate stealth mode!" she announced with confidence.

Inside the boutique, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Applejack were dancing sporadically around the room in an impromptu conga line, which circled Fluttershy and Rarity, who were sprawled out on the floor, hesitant to join the dancing.

"Come on Fluttershy!" yelled Pinkie Pie, "You only live once! Whooooooo!"

Upstairs, Applebloom and Scootaloo stood in Sweetie Belle's room, waiting for the resident of said room to make her way into the room.

"Umm, guys? A little help here?" Sweetie Belle winced as she struggled to climb the final few feet of the rope.

Applebloom and Scootaloo each grabbed one of Sweetie's forehooves and tugged back so hard that it sent her flying into the wall on the opposite side of the room.

"Are you okay Sweetie Belle?" asked a concerned pair of ponies in unison.

Sweetie Belle's eyes rolled around in her head. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a little dizzy is all."

"Alright, now what do we do?" asked Scootaloo as she turned her head to Applebloom.

"Well, the music seems pretty loud, so Ah say we just wait up here until it stops and we can hear what's goin' on," suggested Applebloom.

"And if I know my sister, she's sure to spill the beans to her friends!" insisted Sweetie with confidence.

Scootaloo looked terribly disappointed. "So we just wait?"

"Don't worry Scoot, it won't be long," reassured Applebloom

The trio exited the room, dropping to their bellies and scooting across the floor one-by-one using their back hooves. Keeping completely silent, the three ponies stopped at the top of the staircase leading to the upper part of the boutique. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had begun their attempt at earning their cutie marks in espionage.

Downstairs, the ambiance of the room had reached a state of calm, well, as calm as a room that had Pinkie Pie in it could be. The music had been turned to a comfortably low setting, setting the stage for conversation between the six friends.

This appears to be the moment that we've been waiting for. Well, here goes absolutely everything.

"So ladies, have you heard that Lyra and Bonbon are engaged?" inquired Rarity as her eyes lit up with false excitement.

The fact that Lyra and Bonbon were engaged was old news, as the event happened nearly a month ago. The subject had become somewhat of a minor taboo amongst the citizens of Ponyville, but Rarity and Applejack had established earlier that it could be a useful tool in the gradual progression to their announcement.

Applejack, who realized exactly what Rarity was doing, played along. "Well Ah heard that they are havin' a big public weddin' with both of their families. What do ya girls think 'bout that?"

The silence was gut-wrenching. The four remaining ponies seemed to be completely stunned that the question was even asked, as if they already knew what was coming next. Fluttershy was trying to hide in her own mane, Rainbow Dash was looking down at her hooves, Twilight was frozen solid, and even the usually perky Pinkie Pie was surprisingly silent, looking off into the distance.

Then much to the surprise of everypony, Fluttershy was the first to break the silence. "Umm... well... I think it's nice that they are happy..." Her voice trailed off.

"Ya, I think it's... it's nice," stammered Rainbow awkwardly as she gave a quick glance towards Twilight, which went unnoticed by the others.

Twilight was stumped. "Umm... it sure is different. I'm actually surprised that they are so open about it, them both being mares and such..."

Pinkie Pie, for the first time in as long as anypony could remember, remained completely silent. Pinkie just sat there with a neutral expression on her face, which was quit the contrast from her usual signature grin.

"Well uhh... I uhh... I think the cookies must be done by now! Applejack! Would you be ever so kind to come help me in the kitchen?" stressed Rarity.

Applejack instantly jumped at the opportunity. "Yep! Sure! Ah'd love to!"

Rarity and Applejack hurried into the kitchen. "We'll be right back ladies!"

When they reached the kitchen, Rarity and Applejack almost immediately began a heated, yet relatively silent, discussion about what had just transpired moments ago.

"We can't possibly tell them now Applejack!" Rarity whispered.

"Ah don't care!" Applejack retorted, "Ah don't care how hard it is or nothin' like that, they have the right to know! And we have to tell 'em tonight!"

"Did you see them in there, Applejack?" fumed Rarity "Did you see how quiet it got when I brought up Lyra and Bonbon? It’s like they already knew that we were going to come out! Pinkie Pie, the craziest pony anypony has ever met, the pony who never stops talking, she was dead silent Applejack!"

"Ah know, Rarity, Ah know about Pinkie, Ah know what just happened!" Applejack whispered furiously, "Ah was in there ya know! If we don't tell 'em now, when are we gonna tell 'em? Are we gonna just keep a secret forever?"

"I... I just don't know any more Applejack," muttered Rarity in a whisper as she looked at the ground and shook her head, "I just don't know."

Applejack had realized what she had done and quickly tried to make amends. She nuzzled up against Rarity to comfort her. "It's okay Rar', it's gonna be fine, alright?"

"Okay Applejack," smiled Rarity, even though it appeared that she was on the verge of tears, "I'm so scared Applejack, I'm just so scared.”

Applejack planted a small but loving kiss on Rarity's snout. "I’m scared too, Rarity, but come on, we have'ta do this, we have'ta be strong."

Not a sound was made in the living room. The once warm and friendly atmosphere had quickly transformed into cold, emotionless silence. If they did not know better, the four ponies would have said that the fireplace on the opposite side of the room had dimmed substantially. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

When she saw that Fluttershy and Pinkie were not looking, Rainbow turned towards Twilight and mouthed the words, 'do they know?'

Twilight just shrugged her shoulders.

As Rarity and Applejack proceeded back into the other room, the gawky feeling still loomed overhead. None of the ponies had moved an inch since they left. Rainbow would have been relieved that the other two ponies were back if not for that fact that she believed that they were about to reveal her and twilight’s secret.

"So how is everypony?" asked Rarity, seeking to break the apparent tension.

"Are the cookies done!?" asked an excited Pinkie who had seemed, for the moment anyway, to have returned to her usual happy-go-lucky state.

"Uhh... not yet actually," responded Rarity, who knew that there were not actually cookies in the oven, but could not risk blowing her cover.

Pinkie Pie, once again, sat completely emotionless which, to the other ponies, was nearly the equivalent of Pinkie bawling her eyes out. The incredibly uncomfortable silence had returned, but this time Applejack was the first to speak up.

"Ok, Ah've had about enough of this," Applejack stated simply, "Me and Rarity have somethin' that everypony needs to hear, and ya'll might not like it."

Rainbow Dash's heart was beating at a million miles an hour. Sweat was dripping from her brow, and Rainbow Dash had to do everything in her power to not fly out of Rarity's boutique as fast as she could.

How could they possibly know? There is no way! Even if they do know, why the hay would they tell everypony? They threw a party so they could make fun of us! Wait, is this some kind of intervention? No! No way! I have to go! I have to go right now...

At that moment, Rainbow felt Twilight's hoof slightly touch her own. She felt a sense of calm waft over her entire body.No. No I can't go. Twilight is here for me. She loves me, and I love her. She'd never let me down, how could I do that to her. There's nothing that we can't get through together. Dash bit down hard on her lip and prepared for the worst.

Applejack was interrupted by Rarity. "Applejack, wait we—"

"Ah sick of waitin' Rarity, they need to know!" Applejack nearly screamed.

Rarity hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath, allowing herself to regain some of her composure. "Okay Applejack, go ahead, tell them."

Applejack's chest rose as she took a deep breath herself. "Me and Rar' have something to tell everypony. Now Ah know that you might not like it, but ya have the right to know," she paused for what seemed like a good hour, but in reality was only a few seconds, "ya could say that we, uhh... discovered somethin' pretty important and, well I guess there's no easy to say it, so here it goes. Uhh—"

Applejack stopped suddenly as all six of the Elements of Harmony turned their heads simultaneously in startled fashion at the loud noise on the other side of the room. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, who had just crashed down the stairs, were disoriented momentarily, but the trio somewhat regained their composure and tried to salvage the situation as best they could.

Applebloom cringed. "Uhh... hi there sis'."

Applejack and Rarity's mouths, in unison, opened wide in absolute shock. The music had, of course, been turned off somehow and the room was dead silent. Sweetie Belle tried to take advantage of the situation by sneaking back upstairs, but this caused a reaction from her sister.

"Sweetie Belle!" yelled Rarity, "You get back down here until we are done talking to you!"

Sweetie Belle's shoulders and head slumped as she slowly made her way back down the stairs. She sniffled as a single tear ran down her cheek.

"What the hay are ya three doin', spyin' on us?" asked Applejack menacingly.

The three ponies looked at the floor and shook their heads somberly in acknowledgment. The awkward silence that had been the theme of the night hung overhead once again.

Applejack was still furious, but regained enough of her composure to make a rational decision. "Alright, well, Applebloom, Ah'm takin' ya home."

"And Sweetie," followed Rarity, "Go up to your room and go to bed right this instant!"

Sweetie Belle slowly trotted up the stairs in silence. Her eyes were beat red and sniffles could be heard as she made the long journey up the stairs.

Rainbow Dash then spoke up. "C'mon Scoot, I'll take you home." Rainbow Dash bumped her on the shoulder, motioning towards the door.

"Okay," sniffled Scootaloo as she followed behind Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow tucked Scootaloo under a protective wing. "I'll be right back."

Applejack was unforgiving. "Ah don't think Ah'm comin' back tonight, sorry, I got some other things to deal with."

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and their younger companions slowly trotted through the door of the boutique, leaving the other four ponies in an utterly shocked silence.

"Well, that was super-dooper awkward!" exclaimed Pinkie.