~Chapter Three~

The Party

~Discord~

"No, you are not coming to Rainbow Dash's party and that's final!" snapped Fluttershy.

"Come on, Fluttershy! I won't cause any chaos! I promise!" Discord looked at Fluttershy with puppy dog eyes.

"Please don't make this hard Discord. You do know… well… you're not really Rainbow Dash's favourite pony. It is a solemn occasion and if you came… it would be a bit… worrying…" Fluttershy ducked her head under her hooves, hiding her eyes, as if Discord would disappear.

"I'm reformed, remember? Or is our friendship not good enough? Is there not equality between us?" Discord made a sad face, and turned around to sulk. Fluttershy looked up, her teal eyes glistening.

"It's not that-" she began, but Discord cut her off.

"Do you and your friends not like me?"

"Of course we do! It's just-"

"So you do like me, but you don't want to invite me to a party, which might be the last time I ever see Rainbow Dash?"

Personally, Discord didn't care the least if Rainbow Dash was going or not. All he cared about with this situation was one less pony to use the Elements of Harmony on him. Of course he wasn't going to say that to Fluttershy. He just wanted to win the argument.

"It wasn't me who gave out the invitations! It was Pinkie!" Fluttershy took a step back.

"I knew it! None of your friends like me, do they? And now I'm starting to think that you don't like me either." Discord drooped to the ground and lay there. It was not in his nature to be so low. He felt defenceless and vulnerable. For the first time, Fluttershy towered over him, and he didn't like it, but in the stakes of an argument, you had to do whatever it takes to win. He'd tried asking, ordering and now he was pleading. His least favourite way. Fluttershy slowly tiptoed up and patted his head.

"It's not like that Discord. I'm sorry if I yelled."

"No one cares about me!"

"I care about you," Fluttershy retorted, "and that's why you can come to the party- just this once," Fluttershy sighed, giving in.

I knew I could convince her! Discord jumped to the air, all of a sudden, making Fluttershy jump back in surprise.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He scooped Fluttershy up into a hug.

"Can't… breathe," Fluttershy choked, and he quickly put her back onto the ground awkwardly.

"There's rules though," she smirked.

"Aww. Does there have to be?"

"Do you want to go to the party?"

"Ok. What're the rules?" Discord muttered.

"You cannot cause any chaos which could physically harm anypony," Fluttershy began.

"But I can still cause chaos?" the draconequus asked in surprise.

"Yes, but not much, and the pranks have to be harmless," she nodded. "Rule number two, for every prank you pull, is a price you have to pay."

"Ok, how much do you want?" Discord asked, summoning twenty bits and dropping them on the Pegasi.

"Not bits, but a good deed. You'll have to help me feed the animals, without using any magic," Fluttershy raised her eyebrow to see his reaction, which was absolutely priceless.

"Oh what's the point of causing any chaos then?" He spoke in a defeated voice.

Fluttershy smiled, and explained the final rule, "and the third rule; please use common sense. If everyone in the area is sad, please don't go around throwing confetti."

"Sure," Discord sighed. I'm sure I can manage those rules… well maybe not the second one, but the two others I can.

"Ok, the party's starting in half an hour, so make sure you get ready," Fluttershy dipped her head courteously, and trotted away.

~Rainbow Dash~

There was a knock on the door, and Rainbow Dash jumped in discomfiture. She quickly ran to the mirror, snatching a tissue and rubbing her face roughly, to get rid of any tears which had formed. She quickly strolled to the door and opened it, to see no one there.

"Um… Hello?" Rainbow Dash peered around, and to her surprise, Pinkie jumped out of nowhere, only to fall back down.

"Pinkie? What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash peered over the side of the cloud, to see Pinkie Pie hopping up to her home by a trampoline. She took one massive bounce up again.

"Hi Rainbow Dash!" she cheered before falling down again.

"It's time to…" She continued on her next spring. "To come to… your party!"

"Shoot!" Rainbow Dash cursed, plummeting down from her home in the sky to the ground, where Pinkie sprung off the trampoline and approached Rainbow Dash.

"I thought I'd need to remind you!" Pinkie grinned.

"I'm not ready! I mean, look at me! I look like I've just woken up!" Rainbow Dash squealed.

"Now you sound like Rarity. Are you all right Rainbow?" Pinkie cocked her head, with that usual big, annoying smile on her face.

"You're right. What am I to care?" Rainbow Dash mumbled, before following Pinkie to the park where the party was being held.

Already, there were quite a lot of ponies there. Wow. Lots of ponies have come to congratulate me and give me their farewells… Rainbow Dash stammered in her mind.

"Oh! Rainbow Dash! You look like you've just woken up! Darling, please follow me!" Rarity ordered. Rainbow Dash didn't even bother to point out that she'd just said that, as she followed the diva pony to her boutique, not far from Rainbow Dash's party.

"I've spent quite some time working on this project, so I hope you like the outfit I prepared for your party," Rarity smiled, presenting a dress.

"Oh! Sparkly!" Pinkie awed, who had followed them to the boutique. Rainbow Dash examined the clothing. It was very astonishing. It looked like a wave washing over the ocean, which had reflected the sunlight, causing rays of rainbow over the crystal-like water. It had exactly the right texture to mirror the froth of a crashing down wave, and its colours would look extraordinary next to Rainbow Dash's cyan fur.

"Do you like it?" Rarity asked, blinking her eyelashes. Rainbow grinned to her friend.

"It looks great Rarity, and that's coming from me!" Rainbow Dash smiled, staring at the outfit. She quickly grabbed it and went into a change room, putting the dress on while her friends waited patiently outside. Finally, Rainbow Dash made her appearance.

"Wow Rainbow Dash! You look-"

"Awesome, I know," Rainbow Dash smirked, finishing Pinkie's sentence.

"Well, I was actually going to say 'cool', but close enough!" The pink, wild mare bounced up and down.

"Let me do your hair now," Rarity smiled, forcing Rainbow Dash to sit down with a groan. Fortunately, Rarity only gave her hair a few brushes before she was done.

"Ok, you can go party now!" Rarity smiled, watching the relieved Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie bound away, before she trotted after them.

This is so cool! Rainbow Dash thought, peering around all the guests.

"Hey Sugar-cube!" Applejack called over the music, trotting up to Rainbow Dash.

"Hey Applejack! Isn't this party going great so far?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"I'd be lyin' if I disagreed! You should go say hey to Fluttershy, she seems a bit lost. Considering you two have known each other the longest, I think you'd be the best to talk to her," Applejack requested. Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement, searching the crowd for the shy Pegasi, before spotting her among the outside of the mob.

"Fluttershy! Hey!" Rainbow Dash trotted up to her friend.

"Rainbow Dash! How I am so grateful to see you, and my, you look beautiful in that dress!" Fluttershy beamed.

"Beautiful isn't one of my signature words," Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes before smiling again. "Applejack told me you seemed a bit misplaced."

Fluttershy lowered her head, "I feel a bit guilty… and worried… Discord would not stop annoying me on how much he wanted to come to the party, and…"

"Eventually he got on your nerve, so you allowed him to come to this party under conditions, which are; he's not allowed to pull too much pranks, and for the ones he does, he has to feed your animals without magic, and he has to act in the mood to the rest of the crowd!" Pinkie Pie shrilled out of nowhere, trotting up to them.

"How did you know?" Fluttershy gaped.

"Just a hunch!" Pinkie beamed before bouncing away, singing to the music.

"How does she do it?" Rainbow Dash mumbled under her breathe before turning to Fluttershy.

"Oh, I hope you're not mad at me for inviting Discord!" Fluttershy spoke quietly.

"Mad? Na, I don't mind. As long as he doesn't cause too much trouble and freak the guests out," Rainbow Dash shrugged. Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief.

"You do not know how much it means to me for you to understand," Fluttershy smiled blissfully.

"I'm gonna go say hi to some of the other guests," Rainbow Dash gave a wave to Fluttershy, before wandering away. Lots of ponies stopped to greet Rainbow Dash and compliment how she'd got into the Wonderbolts. Rainbow Dash tried to act modest to most of the praises, only letting the fame get to her head if she was asked for autographs.

"Hey Rainbow Dash!" the CMC trotted up proudly, especially Scootaloo.

"Hey girls! How's your Crusading going?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh my Celestia! I can't believe we didn't tell you yet!" Scootaloo shrilled.

"We got our Cutie Marks!" they all squealed at the same time.

"Yeah! Me and Sweetie Belle got ours yesterday, and Scootaloo got hers early today!" Apple Bloom explained

"Ok, show me what you got fillies," Rainbow Dash patiently sat down as the three fillies excitedly showed off their Cutie Marks. Apple Bloom went first, showing the picture on her flank. It was three apples, like Applejack's, but they were different. One apple was just a plain red apple, one apple had big purple dots over it, and the last apple was completely painted with different colours.

"Interesting. Let me guess… your special talent is creative…" Rainbow Dash put her hoof to her chin to show a thinking effect. Apple Bloom nodded vigorously for Rainbow Dash to continue.

"You paint things, and decorate?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"Yes! Rarity noticed how good I was with creating, and she offered a job for me to help out with some of her dress making. My talent can span to decorating just about anything! Especially painting! When I helped remodel our CMC clubhouse, this thing showed up!" Apple Bloom explained proudly.

"Good job!" Rainbow Dash grinned, hoof-bumping the cream filly with a reddish-pink mane.

Sweetie Belle was up next. The picture on her flank was a purple microphone with pink musical notes popping out.

"Oh! Yours is easy! You're a singer!" Rainbow Dash smiled.

"Yep! I've always enjoyed singing, and we were doing a play for school, which was a musical, and I had my own solo singing! When I sung, there was a huge applause at the end, and then I realized I must be quite good at singing and that's how I got my Cutie Mark!" Sweetie Belle jumped up and down, and again, Rainbow Dash hoof bumped the excited filly.

Scootaloo was finally up. Rainbow Dash didn't even need to look at the Cutie Mark, and covered her eyes.

"Let me guess Scoots! You're talent is riding your scooter, right?" Rainbow Dash uncovered her eyes, and sure enough, there was a big, red scooter on the filly's flank.

"Great guess Rainbow! I always knew I was good at riding on my scooter, but only today did I realize it could possibly be my special talent! I was just riding it through town, when some motorbike stunt-pony picked up on my talents, and complimented my skills! He took me to a dirt track and I was easily able to complete the obstacles, and that's when my Cutie Mark came up! And better yet, he offered me into some team where we get to compete in races! He said I'd be the youngest there, but already he can see great potential in my ability!" Scootaloo beamed.

"That's great Scootaloo! I'm gonna become a famous flier with the Wonderbolts, and you're gonna become a famous stunts-pony! I wouldn't be surprised if you really were my genetic sister!" Rainbow Dash purred, making the smile on Scootaloo's face grow even bigger.

"Well, I gotta fly CMC- or should I not call you that anymore? Well anyway, see ya girls, it was nice chatting!" Rainbow Dash smiled, and flew away, glad to have made Scootaloo happy.

Rainbow Dash continued flying around, greeting her guests, when she noticed a certain pony. She needed to give him a warning. For Fluttershy's sake.

"Hey Discord, nice disguise," Rainbow Dash called, trotting up to the draconequus disguised as a pony.

"Rainbow Dash! What a pleasant (not) surprise!" He grabbed Rainbow Dash's hoof and shook it so hard, Rainbow Dash's whole body was lifted off the ground.

"Good job on the opportunity! You'll make an amazing Wonderbolt," he stopped shaking her but continued on with the sentence, "and when you're gone, I promise to take care of dear Fluttershy for you," her smirked.

"About that," Rainbow Dash muttered, regaining her composure but stumbling a bit after he shook her, "If you hurt one hair on her head, you'll have to answer to me, and it won't be pretty," she glared at him ominously, meaning every word that she said.

"Oh Dashie, relax, don't worry about her, I promise I won't do any harm." A halo appeared above his head, and he patted her head hard, so he was almost hitting her scalp.

"Don't call me Dashie, and behave yourself. That was a warning," Rainbow Dash snarled, before trotting away from the draconequus disguised as a pony.

~Applejack~

She smiled as she swayed to the beat of the music.

"Best. Party. EVER!" Pinkie Pie bounced beside Applejack, beaming.

"Yeah! Everyone's here… I wander where Twilight is though," Applejack mumbled. Rarity trotted up, catching Applejack's sentence and nodded.

"You're right Applejack. It's very unlike Twilight to be late to a party… or basically anything. I wonder where she is?" Rarity tilted her head. Applejack thought for a moment.

"I'm gonna go to her castle and see what's taking her so long. Rarity, care join me?" Applejack questioned.

"Why can't I come?" Pinkie Pie asked in disappointment.

"Pinkie, darling, you're the one running the party, and all these guests need you. It would be best if you stayed here," Rarity nodded.

Pinkie Pie sighed. "You're right. Well, see ya girls!" Pinkie Pie ran off, her bliss returning.

Applejack and Rarity trotted off, towards Twilight's castle in silence.

Rarity was first to break the awkwardness. "Well… she has been acting a bit peculiar lately."

"What d'ya mean sugar-cube?" Applejack asked, turning to the unicorn.

"Well… yesterday she got very mad at Pinkie Pie and me because we hadn't told her sooner that Rainbow Dash was going to leave," Rarity mumbled.

"What d'ya mean by mad? Twilight never gets mad. She just gets irritated," Applejack asked in confusion.

"Well, she just yelled at us, and kicked a chair over. She calmed down after that but she still seemed a bit… edgy. Trust me, me and Pinkie were terrified out of our wits. We thought she was going to start physically harming us or something," Rarity admitted.

"That's odd. Well, we're here now. Hopefully she has gotten over that. Something must have been stressing her at the time," Applejack sighed.

In front of the two ponies, was Twilight's castle. Applejack was first to walk up to the door and give three, steady knocks. Twilight opened the door, eyes widening.

"Girls," She whispered, and grabbed Applejack and Rarity, pulling them inside the castle, which was pitch black inside.

"Twilight Sparkle! What is the meaning of this?" Rarity gulped.

Applejack peered around, unable to see anything, until Twilight lit a candle and the three of them stared around bewilderedly.

"What is going on Twilight?" Applejack asked shakily. What is going on?

"Ponies are spying on me," Twilight whispered, "so I am hiding from them."

"What? There are no ponies spyin' on ya Twi!" Applejack gave her an annoyed glance.

"Yes there are! They are outside," Twilight whispered.

"Where Twilight, dearie?" Rarity asked. Twilight got up and trudged to the window, and slowly crouched down, before moving the curtain so Rarity and Applejack could peer outside.

"They are there," Twilight whispered pointing to some trees outside.

"Twilight! What the hay has gotten into ya? They are trees! Normal, pathetic trees!" Applejack burst into laughter.

"That's what they want you to think… and then… they'll strike!" Twilight whispered in fear.

"Twilight, I have to admit, this is the most atypical think I have ever seen you do," Rarity yelped.

"Ya do realize yer' missin' out on Rainbow Dash's party?" Applejack questioned.

"Her party… Oh shoot! How could I forget?" Twilight mumbled.

"So are you coming Twilight?" Rarity asked.

"Oh no! I can't! Not with the spies!" Twilight's eyes flashed red for a second, before they went normal again.

"Twilight, this is stupid. Yer' comin' to the party whether ya like it or not," Applejack creaked in her southern accent. Rarity and Applejack grabbed both Twilight's front legs, and dragged her out the door.

"No! No! What are you doing to me! Put me down this instant! Let go!" Twilight flayed around, but Applejack and Rarity had a good grip on her.

It took forever, but they finally managed to drag her to the party.

~Pinkie Pie~

"It's time! Yay!" Pinkie Pie hopped onto the stage she had put up and stepped to the microphone, tapping it a few times to make sure it was on.

"Hello fillies and gentlecolts!" Pinkie Pie began, grinning, as she watched all the heads turn to her. She managed to catch Applejack and Rarity's eyes, as they held down a struggling Twilight Sparkle. I wonder what's up with Twilight? Oh well! Pinkie cleared her throat, waiting till the whole crowd was quiet, and the music had been turned off. You could hear a pin drop from a mile away.

"I am pleased to be here above you, presenting one of our favourite ponies' around party. I know most of you know why we are here, but for those who don't, as a reminder, a special pony here got into the Wonderbolts!" A loud cheer rocketed throughout the crowd, and many heads turned to the light blue mare with the rainbow mane. Pinkie's smile became broader.

"Give it up for Rainbow Dash ponies!" Pinkie cried, and an even louder applause sounded, as Rainbow Dash trotted up onto the stage next to Pinkie.

"Give them a speech," Pinkie whispered enthusiastically to her friend, who nodded. Pinkie Pie stepped aside to let Rainbow Dash speak.

"I am so happy to have all of you guys here to celebrate this amazing occasion! I cannot believe I am supported by so many ponies! It means so much! I would have never been able to get here though, without my five, best friends; Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack and Rarity. I love you girls so much!" Rainbow Dash cheered, and all heads were turned to the five mares who smiled back except Twilight, who was glaring everywhere. Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at Twilight's reaction but didn't say anything about it. "Anyway, I have been dreaming my whole life to get into the Wonderbolts, and finally I have had that dream come true. Thank you so much!" Rainbow Dash stepped back, and Pinkie Pie took her place back at the microphone. Wow, Rainbow Dash is really good at public speaking! Well… I guess she is one of the bravest ponies I know…

"This occasion isn't just a happy, cheery celebration though… it's also slightly depressing. Tomorrow is the last day we're going to see Rainbow Dash in a while," Pinkie Pie paused for emphasis, before continuing, "because being in the Wonderbolts, as Rainbow said, 'takes a lot of commitment.'" Some of the audience gasped, and some ponies called out things like, 'what?" or 'we'll miss you Rainbow!' Pinkie paused. "So I guess this it is then. Bye Rainbow Dash," Pinkie sighed. Rainbow Dash gave her a relieved nod, and mouthed 'thank you.'

The music started again, not as happy, but a sad song. Some ponies were crying. Scootaloo, in particular. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie hopped off the stage, and Pinkie Pie stepped aside as a mass of ponies ran up to Rainbow Dash crying and hugging her, giving her solemn fair wells and wishing her luck. Ok, after this song will be the fireworks.

~Twilight Sparkle~

How terrified she was. Though, she was starting to calm down now, and actually enjoy herself. Maybe her friends were right. Maybe her idea of tree spies was ridiculous. Fluttershy trotted up to her.

"Are you alright Twilight?" she asked.

"I'm sure I'm fine… I think I'm just a bit tired I guess." Fluttershy didn't seem convinced.

"Tell me about what happened. Has anything happened in the past few days which have influenced this strangeness?" Fluttershy shifted from hoof to hoof.

"Well…" Twilight thought for a moment. "I found this book, I didn't know I had…" she went quiet. Should I tell Fluttershy? She decided she could, "do you Pinkie Promise not to tell any pony about what I am going to tell you?" Twilight questioned. Fluttershy nodded.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

"Well… the book is unlike any other- it was on Dark Magic."

Fluttershy looked like she was going to faint. "D… Dark… Magic? Oh no Twilight! Did you read anything?"

Twilight gulped, "I read a bit…"

"Did you try any spells from it?" Fluttershy interrogated.

"No."

"Thank Celestia. Continue your story," Fluttershy nodded.

"Well… after I read a bit, I started acting a bit… differently… Oh for the love of Celestia, I started yelling at Pinkie and Rarity." Fluttershy's mouth was agape, but she didn't say anything, so Twilight continued on, "and then soon after I calmed down, and I decided that the best thing to do was to get rid of the book, so I contacted Celestia and Luna, and they both immediately came, and took the book away from me, and questioned me a bit… But one of the questions they asked has got me worried," Twilight gulped.

"What was it?" Fluttershy asked.

"They asked if I had read any of it. And I know lying is wrong, but it was all I could think of saying so I said 'no', and Celestia seemed relieved at that. It has me thinking… what if just reading the book can affect me?" Twilight shuffled worriedly, and Fluttershy looked flustered.

"I don't know what to say Twilight. I think you should tell the princesses that you read a bit of the book, for your safety…" Fluttershy began.

"No! I can't tell them! Then Celestia will think I'm a liar and punish me and-"

"Please Twilight!" Fluttershy begged.

"No I can't I just can't!" Twilight was on the edge of tears now.

"Then I'll tell them…" Fluttershy began.

"No! You Pinkie Promised you wouldn't tell anyone," Twilight cried.

Fluttershy sighed, "You're right. I'm sorry, but I really, highly recommend you tell them."

Twilight nodded and the yellow Pegasi trotted away, before turning around. "Besides, you haven't been acting too strangely lately." Fluttershy trotted away.

~Fluttershy~

Almost as soon as she had her back turned on Twilight, Discord teleported in front of her. She jumped in fright.

"Oh Discord, you scared me," She mumbled.

"Not as much as Twilight scared me! Does she know how dangerous Dark Magic is?"

Fluttershy's eyes widened, "Were you eavesdropping? How much did you hear?"

"All of it, and we have to inform Celestia on this immediately before it's too late!" He cried.

"I can't! Remember? I Pinkie Promised!" Fluttershy sighed, half glad Discord had overheard.

"Then I will," he growled, about to snap his fingers, when a load boom resonated through the sky. They looked up to see the large majestic fireworks overhead them. Fluttershy and Discord were awestruck for a moment, until there was a sudden scream. They turned around to see Twilight. Her eyes were now blood red as she crouched to the ground, her hooves on her ears. She was shivering like crazy, before another boom overhead appeared.

"Oh no," was all Fluttershy heard from Discord, as Twilight managed to get to her hooves, glaring at the crowd ahead of her.

"Run, Fluttershy," Discord whispered, pushing the Pegasi as far away from Twilight as he could, with full strength.