Chapter 3: Castle Sweet Castle
One day, Twilight and Chase were at Fluttershy's cottage helping the yellow Pegasus and her husband Sokka with bath day at the cottage. Various animals had come to get themselves a five-star cleaning and scrubbing by the newlywed couple. Long story short, the animals had taken to Sokka immediately and they loved and admired him just as much as Fluttershy. Many of the smaller critters looked to him as a father just like they saw Fluttershy as a mother. Sokka certainly was enjoying himself, despite being coated in mud and grime from all the cleaning.
"I'm scrubbing all the animals, all the live long day," Sokka sang as he helped give some brown rabbits a bath, "I'm scrubbing all the animals, just to past the time away!"
Fluttershy giggled as she walked by. She was also covered in mud and grime.
"You're so cute, dear," said Fluttershy as she kissed his muddy cheek, "You've got a lovely singing voice."
"Maybe, but you're the true singer of this family, honey," said Sokka to his wife, "but I'm glad my singing makes you happy."
Fluttershy giggled again.
"I love being married," said Fluttershy happily as the couple shared a loving nuzzle. Chase chuckled as he and Twilight were busy helping to scrub some other critters. They too were rather dirty and grimy as well from working so hard.
"Marriage is a wonderful thing," said Chase as he finished giving some chickens their bath and even gave them hoof-made bathrobes to wear when they finished, "Right, honey?"
Twilight just said nothing and continued to do her share of animal cleanings as some other critters waited by her to take their turn. Chase sighed.
"You okay, honey?" Chase asked his wife with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not in the mood right now." Twilight replied back plainly and continued to work.
Chase was concerned. He was hoping for a smile or a small giggle at the very least from his wife.
"Am I getting dull?" Chase asked the critters gathered around him. They all chattered in their own dialect and then pointed something out to him.
"Oh, right," said Chase in realization, "She's in the zone right now. No wonder her answers are so blunt. Okay, let's get you all clean up and then I'll praise my love to Twilight later."
The animals all chattered in agreement as Chase got back to work. At that moment, Fluttershy had just filled up another tub with water and bubbles and began scrubbing a goat. Then Sokka started cleaning some pigs so they were squeaky clean. Chase scrubbed Harry's back while Twilight brushed his teeth, which the bear smiled to show his now pearly whites.
"Looking good, Harry," said Chase as he and the bear shared a high-five/hoof.
Then Twilight and Fluttershy worked together to finished cleaning a pig while Sokka and Chase worked together to clean some hummingbirds, who sang happily. Soon their long job had been complete and all four ponies were looking very dirty and grimy, even their manes and tails were very messy and in need of a good brushing.
"Phew!" said Fluttershy as she wiped her brow. Sokka then grabbed a rag to wipe her brow himself and then kissed her forehead, "Thanks for helping us get them so fresh and clean, Twilight and Chase."
"Yeah, bath day tends to be alot of work, even with two Pegasi doing it," said Sokka, "but my wife and I are very appreciative of your help."
"No problem, happy to do it!" said Twilight.
"Nothing makes us happier than when we can help out and spend time with our friends," Chase added as Twilight smiled and nodded in agreement and he went to the garden hose to wash himself off.
"You both probably can't wait to get back to your castle and take your own baths, huh?" Fluttershy remarked, making Twilight freeze for a moment.
"Shall I prepare you a bubble bath, my princess?" Sokka asked in a chivalrous manner, making Fluttershy smile excitedly.
"Aren't there more animals that need cleaning?" Twilight asked hopefully.
"I think you, Chase, myself, and my husband are the only ones left," said Fluttershy as she stroked her mane, "and I can't wait to get the mud out of my mane."
"I don't know about you, Twilight." Sokka said as he noticed something behind the Princess of Friendship. "But I think Chase has the perfect idea to wash himself down."
Twilight and Fluttershy turned to see Chase washing the mud off himself with the garden hose. Once he was done, he was looking much sharper than ever.
Fluttershy giggled as Twilight smiled nervously.
"Can I brush your mane after you get it washed, dear?" Sokka asked.
"Of course, honey," said Fluttershy, "It's good to know Chase isn't the only pony who can make a mane shiny and soft." Twilight looked worried.
Then she noticed Angel standing behind her hind leg and pushed him into some mud.
"Oh no! Angel got dirty!" said Twilight in an over the top tone.
"Huh?" Chase asked in surprise.
"We'd better stay longer to help give him a bath too!" said Twilight, "Come on, honey!"
"Um, okay, sweetie." Chase said with an unsure look as Twilight put Angel into a bath and they worked together to scrub Angel clean. Angel looked rather indignant. Sokka and Fluttershy exchanged concerned looks with each other.
Sokka had seen Twilight kick Angel into the mud and Chase was confused on why Twilight did it, but chose not to say anything...for now.
*Main theme*
It was already sunset as Twilight was still trying to clean Angel while Chase watched from the side. The newlyweds had already taken their baths and they were now downstairs with the royal couple.
"Thank you both ever so much for staying to give Angel a bath, too," said Fluttershy as Sokka was busy brushing his wife's mane, "but, um...I think he's dry."
Twilight was still using the towel to dry Angel off. Twilight lifted the towel and Angel just had his grumpy face on. Then his fur poofed out.
"Well… There, extra clean, extra dry, and extra fluffy," said Chase. "I guess."
"He's so fluffy!" Twilight called out.
Chase, Fluttershy, and Sokka just shared funny looks with each other. They didn't think the joke was that funny.
"Goodness! It's gotten late!" said Fluttershy, "You two really didn't have to stay all day. Not that we don't appreciate it. Isn't that right?" Fluttershy then looked at Angel and her husband.
"O-o-of course not, honey," said Sokka, "They're always...welcome to our humble abode. Right, Angel?" Angel just grunted irritably as he glared at the both of them. Chase, Fluttershy, and Sokkathen noticed that Twilight had grabbed a feather duster and was now cleaning the living room.
I for one am exhausted," said Fluttershy as she gave an overly-dramatic yawn. Then nudged her husband firmly.
"Yeah, I'm feeling very tired too," said Sokka and yawned as well.
"Plus, we really need rest up for that big pancake breakfast tomorrow," Fluttershy added as she noticed the two alicorns were still working and continued, "And I'm sure you have to get the castle ready."
"Yeah, I need all the rest I can get for tomorrow." Chase agreed with them. "Come on, honey. Let's go rest up and-"
"No!" Twilight interjected, interrupting her husband. "The castle's...fine! Right dear?"
"Uh, right." Chase replied back.
Chase was starting to get the idea that Twilight was still having trouble adjusting to the castle they were staying in.
"I see..." said Sokka skeptically, not believing Twilight as well.
Twilight felt nervous as she looked at her husband and then got an idea.
"But maybe we'd better see if Pinkie Pie needs help with the pancakes!" said Twilight. "Come on, honey."
Chase stared at his wife for a moment before he sighed.
"Alright." Chase conceded. "If everything is good here, we'll be on our way. See ya tomorrow then! Bye!"
Twilight and Chase then flew out of the cottage and headed to Sugarcube Corner. Fluttershy, Sokka, and Angel stepped outside and watched the royal couple disappear into the sky. Fluttershy and Sokkalooked at each other and then at Angel. The bunny just glared at them both before he went inside and slammed the door behind them.
"Um, Angel?" Fluttershy said as she knocked on the door since Angel had locked them both out of the house.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I got it." Sokka said as he grabbed the spare key under the rug and used it to unlock the door. Then they went inside.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, the Mane Eight were at Twilight and Chase's castle enjoying themselves as they ate some tall delicious stacks of pancakes with lots of toppings like fresh berries and chocolate chips, and whipped cream. Everypony didn't resist eating rather noisily, though Rarity was the only pony using a fork with her magic. Pinkie literally face planted her own stack of pancakes.
"Mm, these are delicious, Pinkie Pie!" said Applejack after she swallowed a bite.
Pinkie lifted her face, showing her face was completely covered in whipped cream and chocolate chips. She then used her tongue to slurp up the whipped cream and chocolate chips off her face.
"Thanks!" said Pinkie, "Chase and Twilight spent all night helping me pick the flavor! I kept thinking we found the right one, but they insisted I make even more to try. And more. And more and more and more and more!" Pinkie quickly stacked up pancakes until she had a very tall stack on her plate, "It was like they never wanted to-"
"Leave?" Fluttershy and Sokka said together wearily.
"Or maybe Twilight was the one who never wanted to leave?" Sokka asked in concern.
"Exactly!" said Pinkie as she took a large bite on the side of her tower of pancakes, "Eventually we ran out of time so we just went with every-berry-any-chip-surprise!" Pinkie then zipped over to Rarity.
"The surprise is I lost a measuring spoon in the batter," Pinkie told Rarity in a hushed tone, "Somepony's gonna get a very special pancake!" Pinkie trotted away as Rarity used her magic to skeptically check her own stack of pancakes for anything unusual.
"Chase, you look like you are the only one who hasn't been that messy." Clay said to Chase as he ate his fill.
"Yeah." Chase sighed as he took a sip of his lemonade. "Twilight is just not going to give up. I mean she's actually been up all night just like Pinkie said."
"Up all night, huh?" said Rainbow, "is that why she's so, uh… out of it?"
Rainbow pointed at Twilight. She was sitting next to her husband with her own stack of pancakes, but she wasn't eating any of them. She was snoring loudly, her mane, tail, and coat was very messy and covered in dirt, grime, leaves, and twigs. Twilight then lifted her head back as she kept snoring.
"Yup." Chase said as he stared at his wife with a worried look.
"Um, Chase. Sokka and I, don't mean to sound unappreciative," said Fluttershy, "but have or anypony else noticed that Twilight has been a little too helpful lately?"
"Now that you mention it," said Applejack, "They were lendin' a hoof at Sweet Apple Acres the other day and stuck around 'til near midnight."
"Yeah. Twilight dug up fifty tree-plantin' holes when all we needed were ten." Clay added along with his wife.
A flashback was seen of the farming grounds filled with holes and Twilight was inside one of the holes digging with her magic. Applejack, Clay, and Chase were standing just outside the area when Twilight peeked out and smiled. The three just smiled back sheepishly.
"What about you, Chase?" Sokka asked curiously.
"I was just collecting some apples and placed them in five buckets." Chase answered.
A flashback was seen of Chase just collecting some apples and placed them in five buckets. Clay and Applejack gave him a nod of impression.
"Twilight spent an entire afternoon rearranging a single gem drawer at the boutique," said Rarity, "an entire afternoon!" A flashback was seen of Twilight using a magnifying glass, to examine and arrange a set of gems that "supposedly" looked exactly the same."
"You think that's weird," said Rainbow, "She raced me, like, a hundred times the other day. And lost apparently. Chase was watching everything."
A flashback was seen of Rainbow and Twilight racing each other. The first race had Rainbow Dash and Twilight was last. A later race showed the same results. Then a later race the same, but a key fact was that Twilight was getting more and more worn out until eventually only Rainbow was going. Twilight collapsed on a cloud as Chase watched from above with a concern look for his wife.
"Yup." Chase replied back as he ate a strawberry.
"I mean, I know hanging out with me is awesome," said Rainbow, "but it was like she'd rather keep losing than-"
"Leave?" Fluttershy and Sokka guessed.
"Yeah," Rainbow replied before she turned her attention to Chase. "Chase. Who does that?"
The alicorn master and the three pegasi looked to see Twilight, who was still snoring. Then Twilight faceplanted her stack of pancakes and hugged them like a pillow. Chase was getting more and more worried for his wife.
"If you ask me, it has something to do with this place." Chase remarked as he looked at the castle ceiling.
"And sompony who's avoiding somethin', that's who." Applejack added as Pinkie flipped her plate of pancakes into the air and gobbled them all down at once.
"Yeah, and as soon as she wakes up, we're gonna find out what." Clay agreed with his wife.
Pinkie then hacked as she spit out a measuring spoon. The object went flying at Fluttershy, who was just taking another bite of her pancakes. The yellow Pegasus got bopped in the head as the stick end stuck itself into her stack. The others just stared at the spoon, looking stunned.
"I win!" Pinkie shouted excitedly.
"Huh?!" Twilight yelped as sat up with a pancake stuck on her horn. "I'm pancake! "I mean, awake..." Twilight then lifted the pancake to smile at her friends and husband.
Chase, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack stared at them for a moment.
"Uh, Twilight?" Clay asked. "Is there something you wanna tell us?" Twilight said nothing. She just kept staring at the pancake on her face as Chase approached her for comfort.
"You know how much we appreciate all you do for us," said Rarity as she used her magic to removed the pancake of off Twilight's face, only for the three ponies to finch when Pinkie jumped up, snagged the pancake, and disappeared underneath the table, "and we simply adore having you around...but...we worry you might be...ahem...avoid something else?"
Twilight gave a worried look to herself as Chase let out a long sigh.
"I think you need to tell them, Twilight," said Chase quietly.
"Honey, please..." Twilight protested.
"You've kept this secret for as long as we could," Chase interrupted, "I think it's time you told our friends what's going on. They all can tell something is up. And...maybe they can help..."
"Oh, has it been that obvious?" Twilight asked the others. All but Pinkie, who was eating the pancake she got from Twilight's horn, gave her worried and concerned looks.
"I've been… the thing is..." Twilight stuttered hesitantly as Chase put a fore-leg around his wife's shoulder, "I know it's silly, but I… I've been avoiding...this place." Twilight pointed to the castle itself as Chase nodded in agreement. Rarity gasped dramatically.
"Why in Equestria would you want to avoid such a gorgeous castle?" Rarity asked as Fluttershy and Sokka stood to the right of the royal couple.
"Yeah," said Pinkie as she popped out between Rarity and Twilight, "this place has everything!"
"Big tall ceilings that make you feel tiny," said Pinkie as she jumped high into the air and then appeared in the background to make herself look small.
"Shiny new floors that are cold to the touch! Brrr!" Pinkie said as she rubbed a fore-hoof on the floor, lay down and shivered before zooming away.
"And it even has loooong empty hallways!" Pinkie opened a door and shouted, making the word "hallways" echo through the castle hallways.
Chase gave Pinkie a look of bluntness as she returned back to him and Twilight.
"Okay, I get it," said Pinkie.
Sokka then thought of something.
"Wait, Chase." Sokka said with a confused look. "What about you? Haven't you been staying at the castle?"
"Yeah." Chase responded back. "Mostly it was so I could take care of Nyx."
"But what has this got to do with why you're spending much time with Twilight than here?" Clay asked, wanting to know. "I mean what has it liked being at the Golden Oak Library?"
"What my wife is trying to say is that… the castle is amazing, but it doesn't feel like home for her." Chase explained the reason as Twilight nodded her head in agreement before she leaned her head on the table sadly.
"It's just so different from the Golden Oak Library," Chase continued as he rubbed his wife's back, "You just felt naturally at home there. This castle...it just feels like...a castle..." Rarity chuckled.
"Oh, is that all?" Rarity replied, "Why, you simply need to decorate, darling. Make this place your own."
"Not in the least, Rarity." Chase said annoyingly as he didn't want Rarity to go over dramatic.
"He's right," Twilight added. "It's just so daunting! Look how big it is! We-I don't even know where to start!"
Twilight was about to faceplant her plate of pancakes when Rarity pulled the pancakes out of the way as Twilight faceplanted the table.
"You can start by letting us do it for you," said Rarity. The royal couple just looked at the marshmallow mare with weary looks on their faces as she walked up to them, "We will make this the castle of your dreams while the both of you go to the Ponyville spa for some much needed rest and relaxation."
Rarity then held up a mirror for Twilight to see how she looked.
"I'm saying this with love, Twilight." said Rarity gently, "but...have you looked in the mirror, lately? I've never seen you look this...mmmm..."
"Tired?" Sokka proposed.
"Sleepy?" Clay added.
"Frazzled?" Fluttershy said as well.
"Yes!" said Rarity as she set the mirror down, "This is absolutely the words I was going to use."
"You guys, you don't have to sugar coat it." Chase said as he chuckled a bit. "I think Twilight looks beautiful in that fancy getup."
That made Twilight widen her eyes as she spluttered before she snuck a glare at her husband.
" 'Fancy get-' ?! Guh! Honey!" Twilight scolded as Chase smiled innocently.
"What? It's true." Chase said honestly as he gave her a soft smile and Twilight smiled back. The others chuckled to each other.
"Ooh, I guess we do need a little help, well mainly me." said Twilight, "And so does our castle. And we know you'll do a great job, because nopony knows us better than you."
"Can we count on you guys to do that?" Chase asked.
"Don't you two worry about nothin'." Clay assured his friends.
"We'll make this place feel cozier than hot cider on a rainy day," added Applejack.
"That's definitely the kind of cozy my wife and I could use for this place," Clay replied with a smile as Applejack giggled to herself. Rainbow then gasped.
"There's gonna be cider?!" Rainbow asked hopefully with glittery eyes as she hovered into the air. Applejack and Clay gave her an annoyed look. Rainbow soon realized the Earth Pony couple were just using a metaphor.
"Uh, I mean, let's decorate!" said Rainbow once she recomposed herself.
"Oh, no!" said Spike as he and Nyx entered the dining room rubbing his eyes while holding a blanket and his Rarity's plush toy. Apparently since Nyx has been living with him and her new adoptive parents, she and Spike got along well from time to time. "Did we miss the pancakes?!"
Spike then dropped his Rarity plushie and headed over to the table. Nyx approached her adoptive parents with a warm smile.
"Morning, mommy and daddy." Nyx greeted her parents warmly.
"Morning, sweetie." Twilight greeted her adoptive daughter with a warm smile as Chase nuzzled Nyx lovingly, making her giggle while she nuzzled her father back.
"And I thought you guys said you weren't ready to have any kids, but I guess I was right." Rainbow teased the royal couple with a smirk, which they gave her a playful glare.
"Spike, I'm so glad you're here!" said Rarity just as Spike was about to start eating.
"Really?" Spike asked, rather surprised.
"Yes!" Rarity replied, "You, Chase, and Nyx are taking Twilight to the spa!"
"Great!" said Spike, "I've been meaning to get my claws done!" Spike then looked at his claws before taking a bite of the pancakes he had collected. He then noticed that everypony else was just staring and smiling at him.
"Oh, you mean now!" Spike said with his mouth full before he swallowed, stuffed the pancakes in his claw into his mouth, grabbed and gobbled up two more pancakes and grabbed one pancake in each claw before he, Nyx, and Chase guided Twilight out of the dining room.
"Honey?" Twilight asked as they walked side by side once they were out of the dinning room.
"Yes, dear?" Chase said.
"Do you really think I'm beautiful looking like this?" Twilight asked him.
"Well, the truth is you're just so beautiful in any form you choose I just can't take my eyes off you from time to time." Chase answered with a soft smile, making Twilight smile and giggle to herself as they flew off.
Nyx smiled at the scene. Spike just groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Do I really have to chaperone you two?" Spike said, feeling most annoyed as he picked up his pace to catch up to them while Nyx glared at him for a bit and flew off to catch up with her parents as well.
Back in the dining room, Applejack had gathered the rest of the Mane nine around her.
"Come on, y'all!" said Applejack, "We've got work to do!"
It wasn't long before the five girls, Clay, and Sokka exited the dining room and stated walking down one of the hallways. They started looking around as Rainbow began to sing.
[Rainbow Dash]
Let's all work together
To make this castle shi-i-ine
[Rarity - she used her magic to polish one of the crystal columns so she could see her reflection. Then the rest of the group could seen on the other crystal faces around the marshmallow mare.]
Once we add some sparkle
It'll feel, it'll feel, it'll feel...
[All - they smiled to each other before they split apart.]
It'll be divine
[Applejack and Clay - They grabbed a wagon and loaded with apples before hooking Applejack up to the harness and pulling the wagon out of the barn. Clay grabbed some shurikens, kunai's, and some tanto blades.]
Crates of apples an' bales o' hay
Just makes ya feel at home
[Fluttershy - At the cottage Angel ushered some brown bunnies in front of Fluttershy and Sokka. Then some popinjays flew in the fore-ground. Fluttershy then spoke to a goat that had the popinjays on his horns and followed the yellow Pegasus.]
Furry friends and some popinjays
So they won't be alone
[Sokka - He grabbed a pair of decorative shields and some wall swords and set them into his own personal wagon and hooked himself to it. Fluttershy then walked alongside of him as they left the cottage.]
Shiny coat of arms and swords to show
That their home is safe and secure
[All - Fluttershy is shown behind a yellow backdrop along with Sokka at her right behind a green backdrop, followed by Applejack and Clay on the left with an orange backdrop, and then Rainbow to the right of Sokka with a light blue backdrop, then Pinkie appeared to the left of Applejack with a pink backdrop, and finally Rarity appeared right of Rainbow with a grayish-white backdrop.]
And we'll make, and we'll make, and we'll make
This castle a home
[Pinkie Pie - She slid down the staircase of what led from her living space. She collected some balloons as she made her way down. Then jumped into another pile of balloons. Then walked out of Sugarcube Corner with the balloon tied around her stomach. Then opened her door as confetti popped out.]
There's nothing like balloons and confetti
To greet you every time you walk through the door
[Rainbow Dash - She gathered her Wonderbolt action figure of Spitfire and then grabbed some trophies along with some posters hanging on the walls. She hovered down with a loaded saddle bag and saluted her stone Wonderbolt statue before flying away from her Cloudominium.]
They'll need this and those
Posters of all my heroes
How could anypony awesome ever ask for more?
[All - Rarity was walking down a road with her saddle bag, Applejack then appeared with her wagon, then Pinkie with her balloons, Fluttershy with Angel and her popinjays, Sokka with his wagon, and Rainbow hovered above with her own saddle bag. They all looked at the castle in the background.]
And we'll make, and we'll make, and we'll make
A home they'll adore
[Rarity - She used her magic to open some new curtains, tying them with ribbons to keep them open, and hung up some drapes.]
Bring curtains of flowing silk and lace
[Rainbow Dash - She fixed a crooked picture of herself.]
This picture of me winning a race
[Pinkie Pie - She was by a table with presents and cupcakes with balloons behind her. She picked up all the cupcakes at once and set them down. Then opened the present at the right and got blasted with confetti.]
Party cannons to give her a surprise
[Applejack and Clay - They had some haystacks on the floor with some gardening tools, a bucket of apples, and another barrel. Applejack walked by to the left dumping soil all over the floor, which flowers grew and blossomed instantly from it. Clay placed some saddle bags containing the stuff he brought over.]
Hoes and rakes and some more garden supplies
[Fluttershy - Harry was seen hugging several small animals in one arm. He then pulled Fluttershy into his other arm and hugged her along with the smaller creatures.]
Getting hugs from this nice, big, friendly bear
[Sokka - He sang softly as set up a large pillow in a corner. Then he sat down on his hind knees and closed his eyes to look like he was meditating.]
Nice large pillow for focus and quiet time
[Rarity - She added some gems stones along an arc.]
Decorate with some gemstones bright and rare
[Rainbow Dash - She zoomed about as she put up some more posters.]
More of this and that
[Pinkie Pie - She bounced about wearing lots of party hats on her head and tail. She was also being followed by a line of animals also wearing party hats.]
Don't forget the party hats
[Rainbow Dash - She then set up her Spitfire action figure on top of a pedestal and then twirled gracefully in the air.]
How could anypony awesome ask for more than that?
[Sokka - He then caught Rainbow as she twirled into him from behind. Rainbow smiled bashfully over being seen twirling, but Sokka gave her a hug to help her feel better.]
It's all they could ask for!
[Applejack - She then rolled a barrel over and jumped off of it. Behind her was a white picket fence and some small coops behind the fence. Some of the contents spilled out as a nearby pig started eating some of the spilt contents inside of the barrel.]
Let's all work together
[Fluttershy - She hovered above Applejack and hung a birdhouse above her.]
To show that we have shown
[Rarity - She walked into the foreground carrying a lilac colored drape with her magic.]
Princess Twilight Sparkle and Master Chase Young
[All - Rainbow adjusted a trophy she had set up. Rarity put up another set of drapes on a window. Applejack pushed some haystacks about with her head. Pinkie jumped up and hung some party streamers. Applejack then opened up a barrel loaded with apples while Clay brought some of the shurikens, kunai, and tanto blades. Rainbow then dusted a column with her tail. Sokka then adjusted and wiped a suit of armor he had set up. Then Rarity held a plate of cupcakes with her magic as she, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Sokka sang together around it. Then all seven ponies gathered around in front of the table in the throne room as the view zoomed out to show off their handiwork.]
How we make, how we make, how we make
This castle a home
How we make, how we make
This castle a home
How we make, how we make
This castle a home!
The seven ponies then looked around the room. But it didn't take a genius to see that their efforts had only produced a rather cluttered room of various objects. Then some birds were startled when they flew into some of Pinkie's balloons and continued to chatter about.
"Wow, guys!" said Applejack in an unconvincing tone, "We did a...great job...together..." She then laughed nervously as sweat a little.
"Yeah, we did added some really nice stuff." Clay added.
"We sure did something..." said Rainbow.
"Something...different..." Sokka added slowly.
"Together," said Pinkie.
"All together," said Rarity at the same time as the pink pony. It was then some bird flew low by Rainbow's head. She ducked to avoid one bird while another bird landed on her head.
"Fluttershy," said Rainbow in an unconvincing tone as some critters gathered around her, "I love that you brought so many animals." Rarity smiled sheepishly in agreement.
"Are these your trophies?" Fluttershy asked as she hovered before the said objects.
"Interesting choice to have Chase and Twilight admire your accomplishments," said Sokka in a tone that failed to hide his annoyance as he hovered beside his wife.
"I prefer to think of them as everypony's trophies with my name permanently etched into them," said Rainbow, slightly boasting at the end. Fluttershy looked away to hide the skeptical look on her face.
"How generous of you, Rainbow," Sokka remarked under his breath.
"My-my Applejack," said Rarity with a light laugh as she looked at the haystacks, a single wooden barrel, and quilts on the floor, "bringing the outdoors inside. It's...earthy...What a lovely touch!"
She then used her magic to pick up a corner of the quilt, gave it a sniff, and made a face of disgust before quickly recomposing herself.
"Are these quilts vintage?" Rarity asked as politely as she could.
"Nope, just old!" said Applejack and then shielded her eyes when a bright light flashed toward her, "Unlike your sparkly window doohickey which are..." She looked at the white gems encrusted on some curtains that were reflecting the sunlight on them, "why, they're just swell!"
"Well, that is a nice touch." Clay said as Applejack shared another laugh when Pinkie appeared between the orange pony and Rarity.
"No one said anything about my hidden confetti cannons!" said Pinkie with a squee, "Oh, right! They're hidden!" Pinkie giggled to herself.
"You can't be serious!" Sokka exclaimed, "Wasn't Chase very strict of you not to fool around with them for too much time?!"
Pinkie froze before she smiled nervously at Sokka.
"Maybe." Pinkie said meekly.
"Hey guys, how do my claws look?" Spike asked as he walked into the room and saw the mess the rest of the Mane eight had created.
"Sweet Celestia!" Spike exclaimed in shock as he pulled the bottom of his eyelids down.
"Oh, Spike!" said Rarity, "Are you, Twilight, and Chase done already?"
"Don't worry," said Spike, "I ordered Twilight the super-deluxe mane blow-out! She'll be while."
"And Chase?" Applejack asked.
"He, Nyx, Sunray, and Jade are out shopping for some new traditional books based on martial arts weapons." Spike said before he got back to the topic. "Man, this place looks terrible!"
"Phew!" said the six ponies together.
"Thank goodness somepony said something!" said Fluttershy with relief.
"It's pretty bad, right?" Rainbow asked.
"This place looks like a mishmash of knickknacks," Applejack answered.
"I suppose it is a little cluttered," said Rarity.
"What are you guys talking about?" Pinkie remarked, "I think it looks super fun!"
Suddenly one of Pinkie's hidden confetti cannons went off, several of the animals and critters ran amok, crashing and knocking down various items as they rampaged.
"Weee!" said Pinkie as she ran about with the animals with a party hat on her head.
"Oh! Oh no!" said Fluttershy worriedly as she saw the animals scurrying about, "Please don't do that! If you all just take a deep breath and calm down-"
"HEY!/WATCH IT!" Sokka and Clay shouted as the Earth Pony dodged and the Pegasus hovered out of the way as a white column nearly crashed on top of them. It was then some squirrels climbed into Rarity's drapes and started clawing them.
"No!" Rarity scolded firmly, "That bunting is embroidered by hoof! Don't you move one more paw!" The two squirrels said nothing and let themselves slide off of the curtains, while clawing them at the same time.
"EVERYPONY STOP!" Rarity shouted loudly.
All the animals skidded to a halt and froze, including Pinkie. The animal rampage might have been stopped, but the damage was done.
"Okay, now it's a mess," Pinkie admitted.
Another confetti blast fired just above Pinkie, covering the room in confetti.
"What are we gonna do?!" Rainbow asked as she hovered above the mess.
"I dunno," said Spike worriedly, "But Twilight's blow-out and Chase, Nyx, Jade, and Sunray's shopping won't take that long. If they were avoiding the castle before, they'll never set hoof in here now!"
"Come on, guys, we've gotta do something!" Rainbow called out, "Twilight and Chase are counting on us!"
"Spike," said Rarity as she got into the little dragon's face, "You've got to get back to that spa and stall them! Whatever you do, don't let them come home!"
"Like, forever?" Spike asked, "But we live here."
"Uh, yes, well, uh, maybe you could manage it 'til...sunset-ish?" Rarity asked.
"Anything for you, Rarity." Spike replied back before he ran out to stall the royal family.
"Okay, we all agree the castle is too cluttered, right?" Applejack said once Spike had left, "So why doesn't everypony take one of their own decorations out and we'll see how it looks?"
Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow agreed to the idea.
(Scene changes)
Back at the spa, Twilight had her head under a hair-dryer dome and looking at herself a mirror when she saw Chase, Nyx, Sunray, and Jade enter the room from the mirror's reflection.
"Hey honey," said Twilight to Chase and then noticed the bags her husband, Nyx, Sunray, and Jade had. "Did you guys find what you were looking for?"
"Yup." Chase replied back with a small as he pulled out one of the books, showing traditional weapons. "We also got some stuff for Nyx as well."
"Yeah! Now I have more than enough things to keep my mind off other stuff." Nyx said happily while wagging her tail cutely.
Twilight giggled since she found her daughter's giddiness so cute as Jade giggled as well at her niece's happiness.
"Well, I'm glad you guys are enjoying yourselves." Jade said while smiling before she became sympathetic. "We heard about you being down after your home was destroyed, Twilight and Chase. We know how much you loved it there with Chase, but at least you have a new home."
"Yeah, but the castle is still not the same without my home." Twilight responded back.
"You can't change the past, Twilight." Jade continued. "We all have to move onto the future. It's like Grandpa would say, 'life must continue on'."
"Jade is right." Sunray added. "As long as you guys got us and the rest of your friends to help your problems out, you won't have anything to worry about."
Twilight looked down in thought before she smiled at her siblings-in-law when she noticed Spike enter from the mirror.
"Spike, you're back!" Twilight said as the hair dome was lifted off her head, "How do I look?"
She showed both the dragon, her siblings-in-law, her daughter, and her husband the top of her mane, which was now done in a bushy, slightly street punk style look.
"Whoa." Sunray said in awe and amazement.
"Nice." Jade added.
"Cool, mommy." Nyx said with a grin at her mother's hairstyle.
"Man oh man, Twilight." Chase said, impressively. "You never cease to amaze me. I like it!"
Twilight gave a light squee of happiness.
"What about you, Spike?" Twilight asked the little dragon. Spike cringed for a moment.
"Great!" Spike said quickly.
"And more importantly, how does the castle look?" Twilight asked as her bushy bangs fell over her eyes a bit.
"Great?" said Spike with a nervous look on his face, which neither alicorn noticed or unicorn noticed.
"I can't wait to go home and see it!" said Twilight eagerly as she got up from the salon chair, "what about you, guys?"
"I'm curious to see what our friends have came up with," said Chase as he and Nyx walked beside Twilight.
"Me too." Jade added.
"Same here." Sunray added as well as they followed their family.
"Great! I mean, no!" said Spike but then panicked as he grabbed Twilight's tail.
"What's up little buddy?" Chase asked as he, Nyx, Jade, Sunray, and Twilight looked at him curiously.
"I mean, uh, I'm not...quite ready to go yet," Spike stuttered as he reached out and pulled one of the spa brochures, "Uh, why don't we have a message? I was really hoping to get, uh...this thingy!"
"The "Extra-strength-hot-stone-deep-tissue massage?" Twilight and Jade read on the brochure.
"That sounds rather...intense..." Chase said slowly.
"Are you sure you're up for that, Spike?" Nyx asked her adoptive uncle with a concerned look.
Spike gulped.
"Yep!" said Spike bravely.
"I think I'll just have a traditional message," said Twilight as Lotus Blossom stood beside her, "Wanna join me honey? We can do a message together as a couple."
"Sounds good to me." Chase said before he turned to his siblings. "What about you guys? Wanna join us?"
"I'll join you guys!" Nyx responded back with a smile as Chase and Twilight smiled at their daughter's enthusiasm.
"Well, actually we're about to go home." Jade said as Sunray nodded in agreement with his older sister. "We gotta clean up the dojo for a bit."
"Alright then." Chase said.
"But if you want that massage, Spike," said Twilight, "You go for it."
"Did somepony order massages?" Aloe asked when there was a loud crash from the wall next to her. Apparently Bulk Biceps was the masseur for the message Spike wanted.
"Yeah! Let's do this, little dragon!" Bulk told Spike.
The little dragon cowered fearfully as the muscular Pegasus picked Spike up between his shoulder muscles and then smashed through the wall again to exit the room.
"Oh, I hate it when he does that," said Aloe wearily, "Come with me, princess and prince."
Twilight and Chase sighed as they headed to the room for their couple's message as Nyx followed her parents behind.
Jade and Sunray waved them goodbye before they had serious looks on their faces as they turned to each other.
"Did you think Spike was hiding something he doesn't want us to find out?" Jade asked her brother with a glare.
"Yeah, and it sounds like those girls and boys are having a fight in the castle." Sunray said, following his sister's thoughts. "We better go over there and stop them before things get ugly."
Jade nodded in agreement before they went out of the spa to see if things are going to get ugly at Twilight and Chase's castle.
(Scene changes)
Back at the Castle, Rarity was looking about the room nervously.
"Come on, Rarity," said Applejack, feeling slightly annoyed, "Everypony has taken somethin' out except for you."
"And don't take too long because this ain't the best time." Clay added.
It was then Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Sokka appeared behind the marshmallow mare.
"Ooh, I know! I simply can't decide," said Rarity as Pinkie stood behind Applejack.
"How about this?" said Rainbow as she hovered before a gold-gem studded picture frame of the Mane seven with Spike peeking out from the corner.
"No! Not that! Anything but that!" Rarity pleaded in desperation.
"How about these?" said Rainbow as she hovered over to some hanging potted pink flowers.
"Oh, but those brighten up the whole room!" Rarity protested, "They're my favorite accent!"
"Then let's lose the curtains!" said Rainbow, "The room wouldn't need brightening if they weren't making it so dark!"
"Not them!" Rarity cried out, "They're my favorite too!"
"Oh for goodness sake, Rarity!" Sokka snapped, "You have to get rid of something!"
Rainbow growled impatiently as Rarity's indecisiveness.
"They can't all be your favorite!" Rainbow retorted as she hovered into Rarity's face, "Okay, I'm taking down the portrait. We all know what we look like."
Rainbow then grabbed the portrait and carried it out of the room. Rarity huffed irritably.
"Well, the room still looks a little bit cluttered, doesn't it?" Rarity pointed out as she walked up to a wall filled with Rainbow's posters, "Perhaps, I'll take down a poster or two. Only to be helpful, of course!"
Rarity did just that and used her magic to remove two posters and toss them out. Rainbow saw the posters being tossed and gave Rarity a death glare.
"Okay, everypony calm down," said Applejack as she got between the two ponies, "I'm sure we can find a way to remove the clutter together." Applejack gave the group a hopeful smile.
"You're absolutely right, dear," said Rarity with a mischievous smirk on her face as she used her magic to grab something that belonged to Applejack.
"Hey, those are my warmin' quilts!"Applejack protested as Rarity hovered them over to Rainbow and the blue Pegasus bucked them out of the room.
"Together!" said Rainbow and Rarity as the former landed beside the latter and they high-hoofed each other. It was then the three ponies heard the sound of popping balloons. Apparently the birds were the ones popping them.
"Fluttershy, Sokka, tell your birds to stop pecking at my balloons!" Pinkie complained.
"I guess they must not like being scared out of their wits by exploding cannons or something," said Fluttershy in a sarcastic and annoyed tone.
"Sorry, Pinkie, but I'm staying out of this one." Sokka said as he and Clay took out their belongings before tossing them out.
"But we can't get rid of the cannons!" Pinkie protested, "I don't remember where I'd hid them!"
Another confetti cannon went off somewhere in the foreground.
"Allow me to help you," Rarity proposed to Pinkie.
"Oh, no," Applejack protested, "Clay and will help you."
"Allow me to do the honors!" Sokka protested as he hovered over to pick something to toss.
"Don't you dare touch any of my stuff, Sokka!" Rarity threatened.
"Don't you threaten my husband!" Fluttershy retorted and hovered to her husband, "Let me help you out, dear."
"Not if I help you first!" Rainbow shouted and their arguing continued when…
"ENOUGH!" A loud voice startled the ponies as they turned to see Jade and Sunray glaring at them sternly.
The sight of them made the others gasp in fear as they smiled nervously.
"Why Jade, Sunray, what are you two doing here?" Rarity asked nervously.
Jade and Sunray approached the group with stern glares on their faces.
"It's not what you guys think this is." Rainbow said as she hovered in front of the two unicorn siblings.
"I'd pay every bit we'd hear that." Jade said, not buying it.
Sunray shook his head in annoyance.
"What are you guys doing?" Sunray demanded. "This place is a mess and you all are arguing to get rid of all of these things that belong to you!"
"We tried to get rid of them, but someponies have been too annoyin' to do that." Clay said as he glared at the group as they looked sheepish.
Then a confetti cannon was heard as confetti rain down on them. Jade and Sunray glared at the group as they sweated nervously.
"Guys, this is so not cool." Jade said sternly as she walked in front of the group. "If you guys don't get rid of these things that belong to you all and stop arguing, Chase is gonna ground - no scratch that - he is gonna kill you all if you don't stop this fighting!"
"YIPE!" The girls, Sokka, and Clay yelped with wide eyes in fear as they imagined a thought bubble of Chase glaring down at them before the scene in the bubble exploded to reveal tomb stones were on the dirty ground with their names on it.
Speaking in gibberish with fear, the girls and boys rolled their eyes back before they fell to the ground on their backs. Jade was right. If they don't stop arguing, Chase is gonna kill them. That means they will have to get rid of their stuff as soon as possible and quickly.
(Scene changes)
Back in town, Twilight, Chase, and Nyx were just sighing and stretching contently.
"Great suggestion, Spike," said Twilight, "I feel totally relaxed."
"Same here, honey." Chase said. "And you know, now you look more sharper than ever."
Twilight giggled to herself as they shared a loving nuzzle. Poor Spike was behind them and bent out of shape from his deep tissue message treatment.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow..." Spike yelped as he tried to keep pace behind the three alicorns and his joints cracking as he moved about.
"You want to hop on?" Twilight offered, "Maybe I can get us to the castle faster."
"Yeah, that won't be much of a problem." Nyx agreed with her mother as Chase nodded as well.
Spike froze and winced as he saw that the sun was still fairly high in the sky as some birds flew across the yellowish orb.
"Ow!" said Spike when he straightened up a little too fast, "I mean...how...nice is this day? I was hoping we could take a scenic way back."
"I don't know," said Twilight.
"As nice as a scenic walk wouldn't be a bag thing I suppose," said Chase, "Would you mind if Twilight and I held hooves while we do?"
Twilight wasn't feeling too sure about it until she felt something touch her leg and looked down to see Nyx wrapping her left foreleg around her as she gave her mother a pleading smile. Twilight smiled at her daughter before she took a deep breath.
"Come on," Spike pushed, "Walking is good for the post-massage circulation. And the hoof-holding is cool. You and Chase can kiss each other if it means you'll do the walk with me."
"Really?" said Twilight, "I've never heard that theory. but if you're okay with us hoof-holding, then let's go."
"Same here," said Chase as he offered a fore-hoof and Twilight put hers on top so it looked like they were holding each other's hooves.
(Scene changes)
Along the way, they came to a very familiar place. Chase and Twilight both shared sad looks with each other as the latter sighed.
"I really miss this place, Spike, Nyx." said Twilight since she and Chase had already shared a moment beforehand, "We had so many wonderful memories here." Chase nodded in agreement as Spike looked at the ruins quietly.
"We did, didn't we..." said Spike sadly as a small tear came out of his eyes.
"And this did look like a good home for me with you guys." Nyx added sadly as she shed a few tears.
"Oh, Spike and Nyx. I'm so sorry." said Twilight sadly, "Of course losing the Golden Oak Library was hard for you too."
Twilight then pulled Spike in for a hug as Chase hugged Nyx with much needed comfort his daughter needed.
"I've got an idea," said Twilight, "Why don't we have the girls, Clay, Sunray, and Sokka add some things to make the castle feel more like your home as well?"
"Really?" said Spike.
"You mean it?" said Nyx.
"That's a great idea, honey." said Chase.
"Hop on!" said Twilight as Spike climbed onto her back.
Spike looked back to see the sun was still out. He winced as he saw Twilight open her wings to take off. Spike grabbed the edges as she tried to take off, making the purple alicorn land on her stomach.
"Ow! What are you doing?" Twilight asked Spike.
"Why'd you make my girl do a false take off?" Chase asked as the little dragon hopped off Twilight's back.
"I, um...I just thought of what I want!" said Spike.
"Oh, okay," said Twilight, "What is it?"
"We're listening," Chase added as Nyx nodded.
"It's a...well, I want a...it's...I kind of need a...a bed!" Spike stuttered with an over the top smile on his face. Twilight, Chase, and Nyx were stunned.
"I thought you said you sleep like a baby in the castle," Twilight said skeptically.
"Yeah, you slept so soundly that you and Nyx missed the pancake breakfast if you recall," Chase reminded him. Spike scoffed.
"Everypony knows babies are terrible sleepers," said Spike.
"Really?" said Chase, raising his eyebrow at him suspiciously.
"Let's go!" said Spike, wanting to reduce the risk of Chase making eye contact with him. Twilight, Nyx, and Chase shared skeptical looks with each other before reluctantly headed off to find the local shop that sold beds.
(Scene changes)
Back in the castle, Rarity finished removing the last item from the castle.
"There!" Rarity said contently, "Now nothing is cluttering the castle!"
"You're right," said Rainbow as the nine ponies all noticed that they had removed everything they had brought to decorate the castle, "There is literally nothing cluttering this castle."
"We gotta figure out what to do next." Sunray said.
"What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked.
"I wish I knew," said Sokka sadly, "But interior decorating is not really a talent of mine."
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," said Rarity as she walked up to the others and pointed towards a window of the sun lowering into the sky, "but it's almost sunset. If we don't figure this out soon, it's going to look like we didn't lift a hoof to help them!"
"Why is this so hard?!" Rainbow bellowed in frustration, "We're Twilight and Chase's best friends! This should be easy for us!"
"She said it herself, so did Chase." said Applejack, "if anypony should be able to make Twilight and Chase feel comfortable in her new home, it's us. If we can't do it..." Applejack held her stenson hat sadly.
"Then Twilight and Chase will be stuck living in a castle that makes them feel...sad!" Fluttershy remarked as she said "sad" loud enough for it to echo throughout the castle.
"Wow, Fluttershy!" said Pinkie, "I didn't know you could be loud enough to echo!"
Sokka and Clay just rolled their eyes as the rest of the girls didn't bother to make a comment. Though Sokka would brag that his wife could make herself heard when she felt it necessary.
(Scene changes)
A few minutes later, Applejack was just sitting on the floor staring at her stenson hat with Clay sitting next to his wife. Rainbow was just flying in circles. Rarity was nervously pacing back and forth. Fluttershy just sat on the floor with a very sad look on her face as Sokka sat beside his wife and had a fore-leg around her shoulder to hold her supportively.
Jade and Sunray were thinking of something for their brother and sister-in-law.
"Can't believe I let go of the portrait..." Rarity muttered to herself, "If it had just been me..."
"Can it, Rarity!" Sunray snapped, startling Rarity in the process before she smiled nervously.
"What do we do? What do we do?" Pinkie asked frantically as she stuck her face into the fore-ground, "If Twilight and Chase come home now, they'll be like..." Pinkie got into Fluttershy's and Sokka's faces, "..."What did you guys do?" and we'll have to be..." Pinkie then jumped up to Rainbow, "..."Nothing!" And then..." She got into Rarity's face from above and upside down, "...they'll be like..." She then peeked out from behind Applejack and Clay, "..."We were counting you! Some friends you are!" And Chase is gonna… "I'M GONNA KILL YOU GUYS!"..." She finally appeared behind Jade and Sunray, "And we'll be like...AAAAAAAAH!"
Pinkie then cried tearlessly before plopping to the floor on her stomach. Sokka walked over and pulled Pinkie into a gentle hug. Pinkie whimpered.
"Sorry," said Pinkie, "I know I'm not helping, but the idea of letting Twilight and Chase down really makes me feel...sad..." Pinkie sniffled as a pair of tears left her eyes. Sokka gently wiped them away.
"We're not giving up yet," said Sokka, "I might not be Chase when he's angry at you guys, but I can assure you everything is going to be alright. Can you trust me this time around Pinkie?"
"I need to," said Pinkie before shouting, "'cause I'm freaking out right now!"
"Calm down, Pinkie," said Jade, "We just need to figure out what you guys did wrong so you can make it right."
"Well, I didn't do anything wrong!" Rarity protested huffily, "I did exactly what I would do if this were my home!"
"But it's not your home," said Rainbow as she hovered behind the marshmallow mare, "It's Twilight and Chase's home!"
"Where they keep all their Rainbow Dash trophies?" Sunray reminded and glared at the blue Pegasus.
"Touche," Rainbow replied.
"Maybe we're all a little guilty of making ourselves feel at home instead of Twilight and Chase," said Fluttershy.
"You're right dear," said Sokka sadly, "I mean...mediation cushions, suits of armor, and shields on the walls. That's not Twilight at all! Except for Chase and he is into martial arts with his family. But you do have to admit meditation might help Twilight with her anxiety problems."
"Later dear," Fluttershy remarked.
"Sorry," Sokka said quietly.
"You know, Nyx said she actually needed some stuff to practice her training since Chase is gonna be making her a kunoich too." Clay said, reminding them. "Chase asked me to do that."
"Come on, y'all," said Applejack as she approached the group, "We just need to think about Twilight and Chase. What was it they'd loved about livin' in the Golden Oak Library?"
"Oh, everything!" said Fluttershy, "Twilight loved the books, the smell of books, the joy she felt from organizing books."
"Chase has always loved to practice in the dojo they had." Sokka said.
"Remember that time I crashed into all those books attempting my sonic rainboom after you guys after you guys just cleaned up?" Rainbow remarked and a chuckle and a sigh, "That was good times."
"Yeah, for you, maybe," said Applejack, Clay, Jade, and Sunray annoyingly.
"Okay, how about the time, Twilight, Chase, and Sokka crash landed into a pile of books when those vines were growing out of control by the Quinkan," said Rainbow, "Sokka's first words when he recovered were: "I'm okay! I'm fluffy!""
"Oh, you had to bring that up!" Sokka remarked as Fluttershy giggled.
"Well, you are my fluffy-wuffy cuddle-bunny," Fluttershy said sweetly as Sokka blushed in embarrassment as the others snickered.
"But at least Chase was alright." Clay said with a smirk he shot at Sokka, who glared at him annoyingly.
"Oh, and Applejack, remember when we were stuck having a sleepover there?" Rarity said, "That turned out to be so much fun!"
"Remember the time it got blown up to smithereens?!" said Pinkie, making everypony wince and looked very sad. Pinkie soon realized my mistake, "Wait, no, that was the worst...stupid Pinkie..."
"Don't Pinkie," said Sunray gently, "Even I knew that was an accident." Pinkie just sighed, but still felt bad for her mistake.
"We had a lot of good memories there, though," said Applejack to lighten the mood, "that's what made the Golden Oak Library home..."
"Yeah," said all the girls sadly.
"Makes me wish I had moved to Ponyville sooner," said Sokka sadly, "I never knew it was such a fun place to be..."
"Oh honey," said Fluttershy sadly as she nuzzled his chin. Applejack then gasped excitedly.
"That's it!" said Applejack as she got an idea.
(Scene changes)
Back at the bed shop, Spike was testing a bed. Chase, Nyx, and Twilight looked very drained. Spike had literally been testing every nook and cranny of every bed in the shop.
"How's that one?" Twilight asked, "Too soft? Too hard? Too lumpy?"
"Too wood-like?" Chase asked.
"Um..." Spike pondered as he sat up and looked out the window to see the sun was setting, "Just right! I'll take it!"
"Oh, thank goodness," said Twilight as she, Nyx, and Chase sighed with relief, "I thought you'd never find one you liked! Let's find a sales pony and get out of here!" It was then a sales pony appeared with a large smile on his face, ready to help.
"Look there's one," said Chase as he looked behind himself, "I'll go make the purchase and find out how soon they can deliver the bed to the castle!"
"Sounds good to meee-" Spike then noticed six familiar ponies walk past the shop window and Rainbow, carrying some shovels, gestured for Spike to stall longer before zipping away, "I...nn, um, uh, heh...did you hear that?" Spike then pressed down on it and faked squeaking sounds, "Too squeaky! Better keep looking!"
Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and the sales pony gave him unamused looks as the little dragon walked past them. Chase, Twilight, and Nyx groaned in irritation.
(Scene changes)
Back with the rest of the Mane eleven, they had all gone to the remains of the Library. They were all feeling rather excited once Applejack had explained her plan, but when they arrived. The orange pony wasn't feeling as confident about her idea.
"Maybe my plan won't work after all," Applejack sighed as the rest of the group looked just as sad and worried. Then Rarity perked up.
"Of course it will, darling," said Rarity, "I can see it! You, Clay, Fluttershy, and Sokka stay here. Rainbow Dash, Jade, Sunray, and Pinkie Pie, you come with me. We're going shopping! We'll meet back at the castle."
The two groups quickly split up and got to work.
[Applejack and Clay - they began digging outside the remains with a shovel.]
It's not the things that ya gather 'round
[Fluttershy and Sokka - they instructed some critters to dig for them.]
It's not how much you own
[Rarity - Pinkie, Sunray, Jade, and Rarity came out with lots of shopping bags. Rainbow had so many that she struggled to get them out of the front door. Then they headed back to the castle.]
The things that hold the meaning in your life
Are the memories you've sown
[All - Pinkie then dumped the contents of her shopping bags. Rarity, wearing her work glasses, picked up some gems and started sewing them together. Applejack then brushed and blew on what looked like some sort of wooden sculpture. Rainbow then pulled a rope through a pulley hanging from above. Rarity, Sunray, and Jade monitored the object's position while Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Clay, and Sokka pulled on the ropes to lift the object to the ceiling. Then the nine ponies admired their completed project and then exchanged smiles with each other.]
So we make, so we make, so we make
This castle a home
So we make, so we make
This castle a home
So we make, so we make
This castle a home!
(Scene changes)
A few minutes later, Twilight and Chase arrived.
"Hello? We're home!" Twilight announced as she opened a door as Chase, Nyx, and Spike walked in as well as Jade and Sunray hugged their older brother which he returned. Spike was carrying various items in his claws.
"Welcome home!" said the nine ponies as they walked up to the royal family and Spike. Twilight and Chase began to walk about the castle. They found that the group had supposedly done...very little changes to the decor.
"Oh, I uh...love what you've done with the place," said Twilight in a polite tone, "You did such a good job of...preserving the integrity of the original design."
"Aw come on!" Spike retorted, especially to Rarity, "It looks exactly the same. Do you know how hard it was to keep them from coming back here?! I never want to see another dust ruffle as long as I live!"
Chase blinked before he glared at Spike.
"What did you say, Spike?" Chase asked him as the baby dragon flinched and chuckled nervously, realizing he made a mistake.
"Wait," Twilight said, "Keep us from coming back here?"
"Is there something we need to know?" Chase asked suspiciously.
"Well, yeah actually." Jade replied back. "It was a little complicated at first."
Rarity laughed nervously.
"It took a teensy bit longer than we thought," Rarity admitted honestly.
"What really makes a home feel like a home isn't what it looks like," said Applejack as she removed and held her stenson hat, "It's the memories you make when you're there." Applejack then looked at the others as Clay wrapped a foreleg around his wife.
"So we've made something that celebrates the memories we've made since you both first moved to Ponyville," said Rarity.
Fluttershy and Rainbow then opened the doors to the throne room. Twilight and Chase gasped. There hanging above was the roots of a giant tree and along its roots were various strings of sparkly gemstones hanging from them. Even Nyx was amazed by this.
"The ornaments on the chandelier are reminders of all the fun we've had together," said Fluttershy as she, Sokka, and Rainbow hovered before it.
"That one shows your party at the Golden Oak Library welcoming you both to Ponyville!" said Pinkie as she showed the gem with a picture of Pinkie, Twilight, and Chase.
"The time we shared donuts after the Grand Galloping Gala!" said Fluttershy a she showed them a gem with all nine of them sharing a table.
"These gems contain you and Twilight's most valuable memories! Here is when you two had your first real date on Twilight's birthday! This is one when Twilight was your special somepony on Hearts and Hooves day! Here's when you two shared your first kiss as an official couple at Shining Armor and Princess Cadance's wedding. And of course who wouldn't want a picture of when you proposed Twilight, and of your wedding and coronation day! Along with adopting Nyx as your new adoptive daughter." Sokka said as he showed Chase and Twilight all the gems that showed these various memories. Twilight and Chase were in awe as their mouths hung open.
"We were hoping that being able to look at your beautiful old memories would inspire you to make new ones," said Rarity from behind the royal couple.
"And the best part is," said Applejack as the royal couple stepped toward the new chandelier, "it's made from the roots of the Golden Oak Library, so you two will never forget where you came from."
Twilight and Chase examined it quietly for a moment as Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Sokka landed behind the two alicorns. The silence left the group feeling a little worried, until Twilight and Chase turned around. She had a warm smile on her face and her eyes brimming with tears as Chase smiled at them proudly for a job well done.
"It's exactly what the castle needed," said Twilight happily.
"We couldn't have asked for anything more perfect," Chase added as the two ponies rushed toward the others for a big group hug.
"And we both ready to make new memories here," said Twilight.
"We can finally call this castle home," said Chase.
"Then let's start right now with a new memory cake!" said Pinkie as they pulled away. The pink pony came back with a giant cake on her back with each layer a different color, "Seven layer what's-that-flavor mystery surprise! These might be chocolate chips or they might be super-spicy black beans!" Pinkie pointed at the brown dots along one of the layers of the cake.
Nyx giggled as she turned to her adoptive parents.
"Can we do that, mommy and daddy?" Nyx asked with an excited smile.
"Let's go the dining room," Twilight suggested as she used her magic to open the doors, "It's a little sparse, but at least there's a table there."
Chase and Twilight then froze in place when they looked inside to see the dining room had been given some fancy decor upgrades and decorations. Even the dining table had a beautiful cloth on top, plates of treats, and a unicorn table topper on it.
"Whoa! What happened in here?" said Twilight in surprise, "Last time I checked, this place was empty!"
"But you gotta admit the improvements are tres-chic!" Chase replied before looking at a certain marshmallow mare, "Like a certain pony we know…"
"I couldn't help myself!" Rarity confessed, "It was just begging for the personal touch!"
"Truth be told..." Applejack added, "I couldn't either. Your kitchen might have rustic farm decor, Twilight and Chase."
"Does that include some old fashion baking pans for pies and cakes?" Chase asked.
"Of course, Big brother!" said Jade.
"And there may or may not be some Daring Do posters up in your library," said Rainbow.
"And some stuffed animals in your bedroom," Fluttershy said discreetly to the royal family, "which does include life-sized plushies of yourselves for Nyx so she won't feel lonely." Chase, Nyx, and Twilight smiled.
"And I did turn one of the empty rooms into a medication chamber," said Sokka, "Give it try when you're feeling stressed out. I'm sure it will prove useful! Clay even has brought some brand new weapons he mentioned a little while back as well."
"And we also turned one of them into your brand new dojo for you to practice in as well." Sunray added.
"Alright!" Chase cheered with a smile. Twilight giggled since she tended to find Chase's love for dojos rather cute.
Then a pop whistle was heard, startling the group.
"What was that?" Twilight asked as she and her husband flinched.
"One of Pinkie Pie's confetti cannons," said Applejack with a sigh as everypony looked to see Pinkie how covered in cake that had splattered all over the wall due to the blast startling her.
"What? It's not my fault I hid them so well," said Pinkie.
Chase gave her a blunt look before he used his magic to summon all of the hidden confetti cannons and dropped them on the ground in front of her.
"Really, Pinkie?" Chase asked, bluntly.
"Oopsies?" Pinkie said sheepishly.
"Oh, Pinkie..." said Applejack as the rest of the group laughed. This was definitely going to be a new memory they would always cherish.