Chapter 5
"What are you saying, Black Rose?" Twilight asked her. "I can't stay here. You know that. I have to get home. If this is a joke, it isn't funny."
"Oh, why did I think you were different from my other so- called friends? You're just like the rest of them. You don't want to hang out together. There are more important things than our friendship."
"Black Rose," Twilight began. "I'm still your friend, but I have other obligations. I can't be with you 24/7. Friends need their time for themselves too. If you are together all of the time…" She thought of how to say this. "If you are always together…"
"What?!" Black Rose snapped. "It gets tiring and overwhelming? Is that what you were going to say, Twilight? You think our friendship is tiring and overwhelming?! You're sick of me, aren't you?"
"No. That's not what I said at all. It's just that…"
"Save it, Twilight! You might not want to say it out loud, but that's exactly what you were thinking!"
"Black Rose, if you'd just listen…."
"Stop! Just stop. You weren't really, my friend. You never were. If you were, you'd be thrilled to stay with me, but you're not." Twilight looked ashamed. "I see you need to think this over, so guards!" A couple guard ponies came over to her. "Lock her up in friend jail! Oh, and put that baby back in that jail cell too." Twilight and Spike tried to resist, but the guards wouldn't let them.
"You're making a big mistake. This is not how friendships work. We can still be friends, you just need to act like one is all."
"I am acting like one, Twilight. It's you that needs to learn how to be one, and until then, I'm giving you what you asked for, time for yourself…in friend jail."
Twilight looked over at Spike in his jail cell. She was in a separate one, along with Rainbow Hooves in his.
"Spike," The alicorn started. "I'm so very sorry that I didn't believe you about Black Rose. I should have, but didn't because Black Rose blinded me of what she was doing and what she'd done. I hope you can forgive me." Spike looked at Twilight.
"Of course I forgive you, Twilight." The dragon said. "You're the Princess of Friendship so you just wanted to see the good in everybody. Uh, does this mean that you are going to rehire me as your assistant?" Twilight smiled.
"Sure. If we ever get out of here that is."
"We will. We just have to figure out how." Rainbow Hooves grinned from ear to ear.
"It warms my heart to see two very good friends bury the hatchet and became friends again."
"And for the escaping part, I think I have that covered, although it might be kind of obvious."
Scootaloo woke up bright and early the next morning. The little Pegasus was excited. Today was her birthday.
She hopped out of bed.
"OMG!" She cried. "It's here! After waiting 364 days, it's here again! It's the most greatest, the most awesomeness day ever; my b-day!" She giggled and jumped around with excitement.
Twilight, Spike and Rainbow Hooves also woke up the next morning in their respective jail cells.
"Sorry we didn't do this last night, guys." Twilight apoligized to Spike and Rainbow Hooves. "It's just that it was so late that I thought we all should use a good night's sleep before we all escape."
"It's alright, Twilight." Spike said to her. "To be completely honest, I was kind of hoping we'd wait until morning. I was tired as heck; now we have lots of energy to make our escape. We better hurry. It's Scootoloo's birthday."
"We'll make it. We have plenty of time."
"Ok. If you're confident. But anything unexpected could go wrong. You shouldn't assume."
"You're right, Spike. I hope things don't go wrong and we make it as planned, happy now?" Spike smiled.
"Yes, I am." He then frowned. "But aren't we lying? That's not a nice thing to do to a friend; it's not nice to do it to any pony in fact. It's not nice at all."
"We're not lying. We are going to make friends with her in the end. She just needs to see the error of her ways is all."
"But will she see it in time before we have to go?"
"Like I said before, hopefully we'll make it. In the meantime, you'll have to use your magic to send a message informing the other ponies of our situation."
"But I can't do that. I told you. This is a magic-free jail cell. It won't work."
"Not in there, That's why we have to get you out of there, so you can do it."
"Oh, yeah. Good thinking."
"Thanks." Twilight looked forwards and cleared her throat. "Excuse me! My friends and I are ready to make friends with Black Rise now."
"Really?!" A guard who came in wanted to know. Twilight smiled.
"Of course. We want to apologize to her and tell her that we were wrong and she was right on how friendships works." The guard smiled.
"With pleasure." He said, releasing everyone from their cages. "She would be very pleased to hear that."
"Didn't you just lie right now?" Spike whispered to Twilight. "I thought we agreed not to do that."
"Do you want to not have to go back to your jail cell anymore?" She whispered back.
"Oh, good point."
"By the way, you should send that message now if you can be alone for a brief moment."
"Way ahead of you, Twilight." He winked at her, then looked at the guard. He spoke louder to him. "Can I use the little dragon's room?"
"We don't have those here." The guard said to him.
"You know what I mean. At least I hope you do." The guard nodded.
"Of course you may. But be quick about it."
"Thanks." He then left.
As soon as Spike was alone, he took Twilight's message that they wrote last night and breathe it away, hoping against hope that this message would break through the barriers of this book world and into the Palace of Equestia. After his deed was done, he headed back towards Twilight and Black Rose.
"Looks like we got another message, Celestia." Starlight Glimmer said when she saw Spike and Twilight's letter appear in thin air. Celestia nodded.
"Let's see what it says." She said and unrolled it with magic. She read it to herself.
"Oh, dear." She said with a frown. Starlight Glimmer looked at her with concern.
"What? What is it?" But Celestia didn't answer for she read on. "Oh no. Oh no." She got done reading the whole thing. "Looks like Spike was right about her. This is not good at all."
"What was Spike right about?" Starlight Glimmer wanted to know. Celestia looked at her and told her everything that Spike had told her.
"Oh my." Starlight observed after Celestia was done telling her. "So what are we going to do?"
"Well first we are going to tell Twilight's friends. I think they need to hear this." Starlight nodded in agreement.
"I think that's a good idea." And with that, they both were off.
The Main Six were terrified to hear what Celestia had to say. They were all at the castle by Celestia's request.
"Oh dear." Rarity said out loud. "Spike was going on and on about this Black Rose pony, giving her a bad rep. I thought he was just being paranoid. Didn't know that it was true."
"The irony here is…" Rainbow Dash put in. "…Black Rose wants to have more friends really badly that she herself isn't being a true friend. What kind of friend traps them in their book against their will?"
"I knew this was my fault." A sad Pinkie Pie stated. Every pony looked at her. "Twilight said that it wasn't my fault, but I feel like it was. I should have never brought Twilight that book even though I didn't know how much harm it'll cause."
"Don't feel bad about this, Sugar Cube." Applejack assured her. "Twilight's right. It's not your fault. It's that no good Black Rose character for trapping her inside of her book."
"Applejack's right." Celestia agreed, now by their side. "Twilight and Spike are trapped and the main thing is that we get them back."
"How are we going to do that?" Fluttershy questioned. "Are we even going to be allowed inside of the book?"
"There's only one way to find out." Celestia said to her. "Let's see if we can find that book." Applejack stepped up to her, all determined.
"It must be in her bedchamber." She said. "Don't worry, Celestia. You do whatever here and we'll do whatever it takes to get Twilight and Spike back." Celestia looked at her and smiled.
"I have no doubt in my mind that you all will try your best. You are such a good friend to Twilight. You all are. She's lucky to have all of you in her life."
"We better hurry." Rainbow Dash put in. "It's Scootaloo's birthday and we don't want to miss out on what might be the most awesomeness party of her life."
"We better hurry indeed." Applejack agreed. "Scootaloo deserves to know that Spike and Twilight are safe and not in danger on her special day. Let's go, girls!" They all agreed and ran off to Twilight's bedchamber.
"Good luck!" Celestia called after them.
"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash questioned her as the ponies were on their way to Twilight's bedchamber. Pinkie Pie looked at her.
"I'm all ears." Pinkie Pie said, then giggled. "Well, actually I'm not all ears. You see, I'm also eyes, a mane, a tail…"
"Okay, Pinkie Pie." Rainbow Dash interrupted her. "I get it."
"Oh, yeah, silly me. What's up?"
"Do you remember where you got the book that you gave Twilight for her anniversary party?"
"Of course I do, but why do you want to know? Do you want the book? Hate to disappoint you, but considering what the book has done for Twilight, I don't recommend it. There's far much better books out there that won't trap you and hold you against your will."
"No, I'm not going to get the book. If it doesn't have any Daring Do in it, I'm not interested."
"You really need to expand your horizons." Applejack stated.
"Nah: I'm good right now." She changed the subject. "Anyways, the reason I asked is that maybe an employee that works there knows about that book and could tell us more about it. And if we're lucky, maybe the employee will help us free Twilight, Spike and every pony trapped in there."
"That's not a bad idea." Rarity spoke. "Marvelous idea, darling."
"Rarity's right." Applejack agreed. "We should split up. Some of us should go to Twilight's bedchamber while the rest go to the bookstore that sold the book and talk to a bookkeeper." Rainbow Dash nodded.
"You, Rarity and Fluttershy go to the bedchamber. Pinkie Pie and I will go to the bookstore."
"Sounds good to me. Good luck!"
"You guys too." With that, all of the ponies went their separate ways.
Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy entered Twilight's bedchamber. They scanned the room and saw a lone book on the floor by the bookshelf.
"That must be the book." Applejack observed. "Let's go to it and see what we can do to free Spike and Twilight." Her friends nodded with agreement and went to where the book was. There was then an awkward moment of silence.
"Now what?" Rarity wanted to know. "How do we free our friends?"
"I don't know." Applejack admitted. "Perhaps we scan the book and see what goes from there. Maybe read it if we have to." Applejack picked up the book and flipped through the pages.
"I hope nothing scary happens in this book." Fluttershy put in. "I don't like horror stories." A voice then could be heard. It was Black Rose's.
"Hi, Twilight's friends!" She greeted. Applejack dropped the book, startled. She looked around.
"Strange." Rarity observed. "I don't see another pony in sight, just us." Fluttershy shivered in fright.
"I told you that I don't like the horror genre." She said. The voice belonging to Black Rose continued.
"Do not be afraid. Is this Applejack, Rarety and Fluttershy?"
"Uh…yes?" Applejack said with confusion in her voice.
"How is the book talking?" Fluttershy questioned out loud, still scared. "And how does it know our names? Spoooookkkkkyyyyy!" Applejack ignored her.
"The book is filled with magic, remember?" Rarity told her. "So we shouldn't have been so surprised by what it's capable if."
"Oh, yeah. Guess you have a point."
"Is this Black Rose?" Applejack continued.
"It is." Black Rose answered.
"Well, Black Rose, we are here to get Spike and Twilight out of there."
"Why don't you get them out yourselves? The portal is ready for you to come into. It'll transport you right into Friendship Valley." The portal then appeared. They all noticed this.
"Wow!" Rarity observed. "That must be the portal that she was talking about." Applejack just looked at her.
"You think?"
"Are we going to go inside?" Fluttershy questioned.
"Uh-huh. That's how we are going to free our friends. Even though it might be risky, we're going to do whatever we can because they are our friends. They would do the same for us."
"I hope we get back before too long. Angel worries about me if I'm gone a long time."
"We will, darling." Rarity assured her. "You can guarentee that for sure. Don't you forget the party."
"And we are experts when it comes to solving friendship problems." Applejack added. "And this without a doubt sounds like a serious friendship problem."
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Well." Fluttershy gulped. "Let's get this over with…I guess."
"You guess right. The sooner we get in and save them, the sooner we can leave for little Scootaloo's birthday party."
"Right." And with that all of the ponies went through the portal and into the fictional Friendship Valley.
Black Rose was unsurprisingly waiting eagerly for them as they all stepped out and the portal disappeared behind them. Fluttershy noticed this and began to panic a little.
"How are we going to get back without the portal?" She asked.
"Don't fret." Applejack assured her. "It'll probably reappear when we leave." Fluttershy gulped again.
"You mean if we leave!"
"You have to have more faith in yourself, darling." Rarity told her. "We'll get out just like Applejack said. Don't you worry."
"Okay. I'll try."
"Where are Spike and Twilight, Black Rose?" Applejack asked her.
"Follow me." Black Rose said to them all. "I'll lead you straight to them."
"I have a bad feeling about this." Fluttershy said. Rarity shushed her as they trotted after her.
"Well, if you want to leave…"
"No, I'll stay. I'll do it for Spike, Twilight and our other friends."
"That's the spirit!" Applejack said to her. "Our friends will be so proud. You won't regret it; I promise."
"I hope you're right."
"I don't like the looks of this." Fluttershy said as they headed towards the police station. "Why are we heading towards a police station? Are we heading in? Why are we heading in?"
"Relax." Rarity told her. "Just because it looks bad doesn't mean it is."
"Rarity's right." Applejack agreed. "You can't judge a book by its cover." Black Rose laughed at that.
"You're so right, Applejack." She agreed."That's so true. That always should be the case."
Black Rose led them to where Twilight and Spike were being held captive, as well as Rainbow Hooves.
"Oh no." Rainbow Hooves observed. "Not more ponies. And I think I recognize them."
"Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy!" Twilight said. "You got the message?" They all nodded.
"We sure did." Applejack replied. "We're here to save you and get you two home on time for Scootaloo's birthday party. So, Black Rose? Can you free them so we can do just that?" Black Rose shook her head.
"I'm afraid not." She answered.
"Great, now…" She realized what was said. "Wait, come again?"
"Not without agreeing to be my friend first…as well as all of you."
"Is that all? Because that's easy." Black Rose nodded.
"It is. So what do you say?"
"Ye…" Applejack started to say, then realized something. "Wait, what's the catch?"
"The catch is you all have to stay with me in this book for all time."
"Then no, I mean yes and no. I mean, this is just so complicated, but we can't just leave our old life behind and start a new one here. We have obligations to do. Surely you must understand that, don't you?" Black Rose narrowed her eyes.
"You just made a big mistake for you and your friends. Guards!" Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity were all shocked.
"Wait, come again?"
"This was in the message." Spike said. "So you all shouldn't be so shocked that this was coming."
"He's right, you know." Rarity said as well. "It was right there, in black and white. You must have skimmed through it if this is the case."
"Well, anyways," Applejack said to Black Rose, ignoring Rarity. "What you are doing is wrong. You can't just fors…" Black Rose sighed.
"I'm tired of hearing this speech." Black Rose said. "Either you want to be my friends or not. It's a simple question."
"We do want to be your friend; we very much do. But…" Black Rose stomped her hooves.
"There is no buts; no buts at all!" She looked at the guards again. "Lock them up. I can see that they need to think about being my friend." Applejack and Rarity protested, but the guards ignored them and locked them all up. Fluttershy was too scared to protest, so just let her guard lock her up.
"Think long and hard." Black Rose told all of the prisoners. "I'm going to wait for your other friends. Hopefully they know the true meaning of what it's like to be a true friend."
"They do." Rarity said to her. "Hence why they are our friends." Black Rose gave out a wicked grin.
"We'll see about that." She then left.
"What are we going to do now?" Fluttershy wanted to know. "How are we going to escape?"
"Don't know." Applejack admitted. She looked at Twilight. "I assume you tried magic?"
"Magic won't work." The alicorn replied. "Not in these cages."
"My dragon breath won't work either." Spike put in. "No matter what we try, Black Rose and her guards seem to always find a way to keep us here."
"So we're stuck here?" Rarity questioned. She sighed in defeat and broke into tears. "We're doomed!"
"Where is Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?" Twilight questioned.
"They are trying to track down the bookkeeper that sold Pinkie Pie the book." Applejack informed her. "We're hoping the bookkeeper will know what to do and solve all of this."
"Then they might be our only hope."
"Here it is!" Pinkie Pie said as she and Rainbow Dash were in front of the bookstore. "The bookstore where I brought Twilight's dark magic book from!"
"Okay." Rainbow Dash stated. "Let's go. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can hopefully free our friends and go to Scootaloo's awesome party." Pinkie Pie nodded.
"Right!" And with that, the two ponies went inside.
As soon as she saw them, Rainbow Dash ran to the display of the latest Daring Do books.
"The last book!" She said with joy. "It all leads up to this. I can't believe this is the final book. I don't want her adventures to end!" She shook her head and went back to reality. "Focus; Rainbow Dash. You have to think of the task at hoof here, and this isn't it. Sorry, Daring Do. There are more important things than you. Okay, Pinkie Pie, let's…"
"Ooooh!" Pinkie Pie squealed. Rainbow Dash looked at her as she was seeing a display of cook books. "How to Throw a Most Awesome Party to Amaze Your Friends Vol. 2. I have to get this!" But before Pinkie Pie could grab a copy, Rainbow Dash started dragging her away.
"Sorry, Pinkie Pie. But there are far more important things here right now like our friends."
"I understand." She looked at the book. "I'll be back How to Make A Most Awesome Party to Amaze Your Friends Vol. 2." Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie went to the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The pony behind the front desk asked.
"Yes." Rainbow Dash said. "We're looking for a worker here."
"Who are you looking for?"
"We don't know her name, but she sold my friend a book for my other friend and we want to talk to her."
"I see." The pony behind the counter looked at Pinkie Pie. "Can you describe this worker of ours to me?" Pinkie Pie nodded.
"Certainly." She replied. "I remember as if I saw her yesterday, but didn't; I wasn't here yesterday…"
"Just describe her already!" Interrupted an impatient Rainbow Dash..
"Oke dokey! She was a cream colored pony…"
"Buttercream?" The counter pony questioned.
"Yes! I remember her seeing that on her nametag. You know her?" Rainbow Dash nudged her and snorted with laughter. "Silly me! Of course you know her; she works here, duh!"
"I'll get her right away. You guys wait here." She trotted off.
She came back with Buttercream a couple minutes later. Pinkie Pie recognized her right away. She was mad.
"Hey, you!" She pointed at her with her hoof. "I need to have a word with you."
"I'll just let you guys sort this out on your own." She let them be.
"If this is about the book that I sold you," Buttercream began. "We should probably discuss this somewhere more private."
"No!" Pinkie Pie said, shocking both Buttercream and Rainbow Dash. "We can discuss this here and now with other ponies around."
"Uh, Pinkie Pie?" Asked an uncertain Rainbow Dash. "I think we should discuss this privately. It probably will be for the best."
"Okay." Pinkie Pie decided. She glared at Buttercream. "But I'm watching you if you try anything funny."
"Follow me." Buttercream said and the two ponies followed her.
Buttercream led them to the back room. Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and looked at Buttercream, determined now. "Tell us everything that you know, Buttercream." Buttercream sighed, but nodded.
"You know the book's magic." She began. "…and can teleport you into its world."
"No, duh!" Rainbow Dash interrupted. "That's why we're here. Tell us something new. The book's character, Black Rose, trapped our friends, Twilight and Spike. Can you help us get them back?"
"And no pressure or anything," Pinkie Pie added. "…but we need them out kind of soon. We're going to a birthday party and they're invited so we kind of need them here. Again, no pressure!"
"I tried to convince her time and time again with no luck." She admitted, "So I kind of gave up and did what she asked of me; selling her books to unsuspecting ponies to trap them in and force them to be her friends." She looked at Pinkie Pie. "Or give them to unsuspecting ponies to give to their friends."
"Hey!" Pinkie Pie piped up. "I'm the unsuspecting pony she's talking about. I gave the book to Twilight."
"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash scolded her. "Please, focus!"
"Oh, right." Pinkie Pie once again put on a determined face. She looked mad at Buttercream. "What you are doing is wrong. What Black Rose is doing is wrong too, but let's focus on you right now and Black Rose later. You helped in a crime, well not really a crime, but it's still frowned upon." Rainbow Dash whispered something in her ear. She gasped. "Kidnapping is a crime! You should be ashamed of yourself."
"I know." Buttercream said, melancholy. "I am." Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were shocked about this.
"You are? I mean…" She went back to her mad voice. "As you should be. So, are you going to do something about it?"
"I told you that I tried, but no matter how I convince her, nothing will change her mind. She can be so stubborn."
"So that's it then?" Rainbow Dash guessed. "Since you tried so many times, you are giving up in convincing her?" Buttercream looked at her.
"I didn't say that." Rainbow Dash looked hopeful.
"So you're going to try again?" Buttercream nodded.
"I don't know why, but I will. Something tells me things might be different this time around." Both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were excited about this.
"You should always try again." Pinkie Pie said. "You never know when it'll start to work out if you don't."
"Pinkie's right." Rainbow Dash stated. "Normally I would have told you to give up because you tried so many times with nothing but failure every time, but you are sort of our last hope so we need you."
"Then I'll be your pony then" Buttercream offered. "Now tell me where the book is and let's get the show on the road!"
"But don't you have to work?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Not if I tell them and explain to them that this is a book emergency."
'Will they believe you?" Pinkie Pie wanted to know.
"There's only once way to find out." Rainbow Dash told her.
"Huh? There is; what?" Pinkie Pie realized what she meant. "Oh, right! Of course they'll believe you Buttercream, who wouldn't? Seems believable to me."
"I can't believe they believed you." Rainbow Dash said after Buttercream's boss released her for the day when she told him everything. "I thought for sure he wouldn't and laugh at your face."
"I thought so too." Buttercream admitted. "But never mind about that. The important thing is that he believed it. I can go free for the day and help rescue your friends."
"I guess so." And they all trotted off and out of the bookstore.
"This is her bedchamber." Rainbow Dash stated as they were in Twilight's bedchamber in the castle. Buttercream saw a book opened up on the floor. "And look; there's a book on the floor. Is that it?" Pinkie Pie went by it and read the title on the cover out loud.
"'Black Rose makes a Friend.'" She read out loud, then realized something. "Hey, that's the book that we wanted!"
"Yup." Rainbow Dash agreed. "It is." She looked all around the room, "But it's weird. Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy should be here trying to free Twilight and Spike from the book."
"Hmmm, I wonder." Buttercream pondered aloud, then realized something. "Oh no, Black Rose…you didn't!" Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie looked at her, confused.
"Did what, Buttercream?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What are you blabbering on about?" Buttercream looked at the two of them.
"If what you said is true, then I'm afraid your friends got sucked into a portal and are stuck in there forever against their will; they're in trouble!" Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash both gasped.
"Say what?"
"Is that even possible?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Well, I guess we did all go through a portal one time and all became humans and went to that school, so I guess, anything goes!" Buttercream nodded.
"Hard to believe, but it's true." She said.
"How are we going to rescue them then?" Rainbow Dash wanted to know.
"By talking to me!" Black Rose's voice spoke to them. Rainbow Dash looked for the owner of the voice. "After all, communication is key!"
"Now, where have I heard that voice before?" Rainbow Dash asked herself.
"It's Black Rose!" Pinkie Pie remembered and told her. "Remember? She came to visit that one time!"
"Of course I remember, but where is her voice coming from? I don't see her anywhere, do you?"
"No. Why? Is that a concern?"
"She's in the book." Buttercream informed them. "That is where her voice is coming from." Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash looked at her like she was nuts.
"You're kidding, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. "How can we just hear her disembodied voice from the book?"
"She's not kidding." Black Rose spoke up again. "It's true, I'm inside of the book with all of your friends and my book is magic so that is why we can communicate to each other right now." Rainbow Dash did a facehoof.
"Duh!" Pinkie Pie spoke. "We should have known that from the start and not be so surprised by all of this." Rainbow Dash grew angry.
"Listen, you, you better let all of our friends go!" They all heard Black Rose scoff from inside of the book.
"My what a temper."
"Sorry about my friend." Pinkie Pie apologized. She looked at her. "Be nice to her Rainbow Dash. That's not how you do it. You do it like this." She looked at the book again. "Please, let our friends out, Black Rose."
"No can do." Rainbow Dash sighed.
"Pinkie Pie," She began.
"No, this is going to work. Trust me; it always does. Pretty please with cherry on top?"
"No." Black Rose said again.
"Pretty please with cherry sprinkles on top?"
"No."
"Cherry sprinkles with strawberries?"
"No."
"Carrot cake?"
"No."
"Oats?
"No."
"Chocolate?"
"We can do this all day if you want, but the answer's still no."
"Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash told her. "Please, that's enough."
"What if I say it in different language? Por favor? Bitte? Si te plait? Well, I did all that I could." This time, Buttercream sighed and looked at the book.
"Look, Black Rose," She began. "I know you don't want to hear this from me again, and I'm probably just wasting my time trying to get thorough to you, but, I'll say it for the last time. Please, ask every pony that you forced to be your friend how they feel about you. See what they say. It might hurt what they say, but at least you'll know. And if they do say they're not your friend, get in their horseshoes. What if you were forced to be your own friend? How will that…?"
"SHUT UP! Just shut up! You're wrong Buttercream, everypony here in Friendship Valley is my friend and you know it!"
"Are they really though?"
"Yes."
"OK, if you're positive then."
"I'm positive. I thought you were on my side, Buttercream."
"I am, but are the…"
"ENOUGH!" There was then quiet in the room.
"Uh, Black Rose?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "You still there? Yoo-hoo, Black Rose!"
"Now we wait." Buttercream said. This confused her.
"For what?"
"You'll see."
Stupid Buttercream! Black Rose thought to herself back in Friendship Valley. Everypony here likes me. How can she even say that to me? But, were they. Were they really? Now, she wasn't sure. She tried to shake that thought out of her head, but she still was uncertain. She looked up at a passing pony and went up to her.
"Excuse me!" She said to her. "You're my friend, right?" The pony just looked at her.
"Yes, I am." She answered. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Think about it carefully and tell me the truth."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you truly without a doubt, 100%, my friend?" The pony gulped at this. She didn't want to say it, but wanted her to know the truth.
"Truthfully…:" She gulped at this. "No. You're not my friend. You forced me to against your will" Black Rose gasped in horror. The pony thought that she upset Black Rose and she was about to do something to her. But to her surprise, she didn't. She just ran off which puzzled the pony.
"Black Rose? Did I upset you? Black Rose? Well, that was weird." She trotted off.
Black Rose went everywhere in Friendship Vally and asked every pony she could find with the same result. Everypony rejected the idea that they were ever friends with her, which made her sad. This was not what she wanted to hear.
"I'm sorry, Black Rose." The police officer pony told her when they were in front of the cages. "You forced me to so I just played along. We all were. You finally know the truth of what we really think of you." He then left the room. Black Rose frowned, her ears back and she sat on her rump. Her tears plopped to the ground. The prisoners felt sorry for her.
"Aw, Black Rose." Twilight said to her. "It's alright."
"No, it's not, Twilight." She sobbed. "I did something evil. I took you from your land, forced you to be my friend. I forced everypony too, I thought for certain that was the only way to make me happy, to make me feel not alone. I wanted to so much have friends, now everypony probably hates my guts now. I know they hate me, who wouldn't? I did something unforgivable and I regret it completely. I'm so…I'm so…" She was so sad that she could barely get the words out. "I'm so sorry. I disappointed you, Mom and Dad." She had released her parents from their restraints. They were worried about their daughter, so they had followed her. I disappointed everypony. I'm a bad daughter and a very bad friend."
"You may have done something wrong." Twilight said to her. "But at least you admitted that you made a mistake. That's a step in the right direction and because of that, I forgive you."
"I forgive you, too." Spike added. Everyone agreed. Black Rose was puzzled.
"You forgive me? How is that possible? I don't deserve to be forgiven after doing something so awful."
"Everypony makes mistakes." Her mother told her. "You had no friends for so long that it's understandable to what you did. It was still wrong, but understandable, and I think if everypony knew about your past, they would too."
"You may make mistakes, but your mother and I still love you," Her dad added. "always had and always will." Black Rose smiled.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad. Thanks, guys. I feel much better now that you forgive me and I promise, starting today, everything will get better. You have my word."
"That's great and all." Applejack spoke. "But, can you release us?"
"Oh, sure." Black Rose answered, and did just that with the help from the guards.
"Yay, we're free!" Rarity cheered. "We can go to that party."
"The party!" Twilight said. "I completely forgot! We have to go right away; there's no time to lose! Scootaloo is counting on us."
"I'll open up the portal." Black Rose said.
"That would be very much appreciated." Twilight said to her. "Thank you so much."
"It's the least I can do." She then made the portal appear. "There, now you guys, and everypony else can go home." The ponies and Spike jumped into the portal. Before going in, Twilight looked one last time at Black Rose.
"Black Rose, you may think that you forced me to be your friend, and brainwashed me, but that's not true. Maybe it is a little, but still, hanging out with you was a blast, despite everything. I'm so glad I met you and helped you with your friendship problem before it got worse."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Twilight and I'm glad you opened my eyes and showed me the errors of my ways as well. You are so patient and forgiving. It's a nice aspect to have I feel."
"It sure is." Spike poked his head out of the portal.
"Are you coming, Twilight?" The dragon asked. "Everypony's waiting for you."
"I'm coming, Spike." With one last goodbye, Twilight entered the portal. The portal closed and disappeared behind her.
"I dearly hope everypony forgive me with ease like Twilight and her friends did."
"They will." Her mom stated.
"And if not," Her dad put in. "We do and it's their loss." Black Rose smiled.
"Thanks, Dad."
"TWILIGHT!" Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash shouted excitedly when she emerged from out of the portal. Twilight smiled up at them.
"Applejack told me all that went down." Rainbow Dash said. "So, she's really sorry for all that she has done?" Twilight nodded.
"Yup!"
"And you still forgave her?"
"Yup!"
"Typical Twilight." Twilight then saw Buttercream and was confused.
"Oh, hello, and you are?"
"I am Buttercream." Buttercream introduced herself. "I am one of the many bookeepers at a bookstore."
"She's the one that suggested the book I gave you at your party, Twilight." Pinkie Pie explains to her.
"Wait a minute, hold up, so does that mean that she knew that the book was magic and can suck its readers into the fictional world of Friendship Valley?"
"Yup! In fact, she was helping Black Rose get a foolish unsuspecting pony like myself in order to give herself a new friend!"
"But she helped Black Rose see the errors of her way and helped get you guys out of there and back into the real world." Rainbow Dash said. "And not a moment too soon, might I add."
"Well, then, I thank you." Twilight said to her. "Like Black Rose, you did the right thing in the end and saved everypony. It might not have been easy, but if you haven't done that, my friends and I would have still been trapped there."
"I'm just glad that everything turned out in the end. Like most storybooks, this one too, had a happy ending."
"I guess it did."
"I know that we weren't summoned or assigned to this," Fluttershy began. "But it seemed like we all solved a friendship problem because this was well, a friendship problem." Twilight looked at her.
"That's exactly what I was thinking, Fluttershy. But no matter if we were summoned to it or not, it's always a joy to help out a pony in need of a friendship problem." Her friends all agreed.
"This is all great and all," Rainbow Dash spoke. "But we all have a party to go to. Come on, we aren't going to disappoint a young, little filly are we? That's so not cool!" And so, all of the ponies and dragon went off. They said goodbye to Buttercream, who went back to her shop. Spike sighed sadly. Twilight noticed this.
"Spike, you alright?" The alicorn wanted to know. "You seem sad."
"Are you really going to rehire me now that we're out of there? You said that you would."
"Of course. Don't be silly. I remembered." She then smiled. "You belong here, in Canterlot as my assistant here, at the Castle of Friendship. Spike. I am glad to rehire you." Spike was shocked.
"Really?!" Twilight nodded.
"I would like nothing more." The little dragon sighed in relief. He then smiled.
"Thank you, Twilight. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't say that."
"No problem, Spike, and I promise to trust you more in the future. I need you, Spike. You're a great help and always will be."
"You're right about that!" They then laughed as they continued on out of the castle with their friends and strolled to the party.
Both SweetieBelle and AppleBloom were worried about their friend. It was Scootaloo's birthday, but instead of being happy, the little filly was melancholy. She just sat at the base of a tree.
"Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah." AppleBloom added. "It's your party. You can't be mopey. You're a kid like us. You're supposed to be enjoying yourself right now." Scootaloo sighed and looked at her friends.
"I'm sorry, guys." She told them. "I don't mean to be all mopey, ruining my own party. It's just that Twilight and our other friends would've been here by now, so where are they?"
"We wish we could say." Sweetie Belle began to say. "But we honestly don't know."
"But this party is for you." AppleBloom put in. "So, live and enjoy it. Come on, we are only young once. What do you say? And we, as your friends, will help make this party the best it can be." Scootaloo smiled.
"Thanks, guys. You two are the best. I will live and be happy thoughout this party and I am going to enjoy it!" Her friends cheered.
"That's the spirit, Scootaloo!" Cheered AppleBloom. "Look out party you are about to truly begin!" Scootaloo and friends were about to go off, when Twilight and friends stood in front of them. Scootaloo was excited to see Rainbow Dash. The filly ran up to her.
"Rainbow Dash, guys, you're here; I can't believe it!"
"Did you think we'd never show up?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "We'd never do that to you on your special day." She gave her a playful pat on the head. "Happy birthday, kiddo."
"Thanks."
"Sorry we're late." Twilight apoligized.
"You're here now." Sweetie Belle said. "And it's better to be late than never." She looked at her sister. "Right, Rarity?"
"Yes it is, I suppose." She agreed.
"Are you ready to get this party started?" Rainbow Dash asked Scootaloo, lifting her up on her back.
"Heck, yeah!" Scootaloo shouted.
"That's what I like to hear!" And so, they went off with the others to get the birthday party started.
As Twilight started to go, she began thinking about Black Rose. What is she up to now? Is she freeing every pony? Do they forgive her? Most important of all, is she happy and will not be so alone anymore? Twilight shook these silly thoughts out of her head. Of course she was happy and doing just fine. They left on a positive note. Although she couldn't confirm it, she was confident of it. Why wouldn't it be? After all, every story has to have a happy ending, this is her's. And with that, she too, followed her friends to officially get the party started.
As Black Rose watched the other ponies go through the portal, she began thinking of Twilight. She hoped she was having a fun time at Scootaloo's party. She thought that thought was foolish. Of course she and her friends were having fun. It's a party. Who wouldn't have fun? She then thought about herself. With all of them going back to their respective lands, will she be less lonely or will things be like they were before? She shook that thought out of her head as well. That was also foolish. She still had Rainbow Hooves, Buttercream, and the original residents of Friendship Valley. And of course, there will be visits from time to time. She didn't know why, but she felt like in the coming days, she won't and will never be alone again, and life was going to get so much better from now on.