Chapter 18

Diamond Tiara, still trapped in Leafwind's cage had been calling for help for two days. Finally, a pony she was all too happy to see came trotting by.

"Oh good, Silver Spoon," Diamond Tiara said with relief. "I'm so glad you're here." Silver Spoon raised an eyebrow, much to the trapped pony's curiosity. "What?"

"I told you it wasn't a good idea to hang around with her, but you said no," Silver Spoon said, turning away.

"This is, like, no time for 'I told you so's,' okay," Diamond Tiara said. "I'm sorry, okay! There I said it; now just let me out of here already." Silver Spoon turned back, satisfied.

"On one condition," she's aid firmly. "You do what I say, not the other way around." Diamond Tiara glared at her.

"No way," she said, crossing her front hooves in defiance. "I'd rather stay in this cage, like, forever." Silver Spoon shrugged.

"Suit yourself," she said, walking away. Diamond Tiara bit her lip and walked into Silver Spoon's gambit.

"Alright, fine," she said. "I'll do what you want."

"From now on," Silver Spoon inquired. Diamond Tiara gave a frustrated sigh and nodded. With that, Silver Spoon kicked down the cage, and the bewildered earth pony stepped out.

"How did you-" she choked out.

"It was just sticks and grass," the silver pony said plainly. "I'm surprised you didn't try it earlier." Diamond Tiara grinned sheepishly, following her friend.

Fluttershy watched Infernalo from a distance as he guided the chickens back before locking the gate. Fluttershy looked down to see Angel coaxing her on to try and talk to him. She gathered up every last ounce of courage the timid pony could muster and walked up to him.

"Umm...t-thank you for all the help," she said quietly.

"But of course," Infernalo said, surveying around for any further tasks. "I enjoy the tedium of work, especially for Twilight's friends. It allows me to put my brain at rest. Besides, I'm glad that I can rely on somepony like you to talk to, Fluttershy."

"Why's that," she asked, trying to keep her focus.

"Because everypony else seems to be so much more interested in me than I think they're trying to let on," he said. "I mean, granted, it's not that I don't see why, nor that I don't think it could work any further, but I feel conflicted." Fluttershy was trying to hide her profuse blushing and hyperventilation, but Infernalo paid no mind to it. "Thank you for listening. It seems like outside of Twilight and Zephyroak you're the only one I can talk to." as he left the frantic Pegasus, he heard somepony following him. He turned, but didn't see anything. When he turned back, Pinkie Pie was staring back at him. "How did you do that?" I thought...and now...what?" Pinkie didn't seem to notice his reaction, as the Darkness Trossel sighed and looked by at her. "What?"

"I just wanted to apologize," she said. "Twilight was right all along and I was just being a jealousy-jealous McJealous pants." Infernalo raised an eyebrow at her comment but nodded. "Besides, you really don't seem like a bad pony, at least not of all the times I've seen you." Infernalo cocked his head to one side, much like his sister.

"All the times you've seen me," he repeated. Pinkie nodded. "I've only seen you at your party and this conversation."

"Not when you seen me, silly," Pinkie said. "All I the time I was following you."

"You were following me?" she nodded. Infernalo wanted to see it in more detail, but knew that it wouldn't go anywhere anyway. As he walked off, Pinkie Pie bounced next to him eagerly.

"Frostburn talks about you a lot. She really likes you."

"I am her brother."

"I mean REALLY talks about you. She says how smart you are, and how cool, and how nice, and how she always wishes she could be like you."

"Really?" the pink earth pony nodded. Before Infernalo could continue the conversation, she was gone and left him with many revelations but so many more questions.

Fluttershy arrived later than anticipated but sat down with everypony else. Twilight and her friends, sans Pinkie Pie, had all gathered in the library after Twilight sent Spike, Leafwind, and the girls away on a few chores to keep them busy.

"I take it we all know why we're here," Twilight said. "All of us, admitted and understandably, have some sort of feelings for...Infernalo." they all muttered in agreement, except Fluttershy who remained silent. "I believe that it is obvious who he likes as well."

"Twilight, darling, don't flatter yourself," Rarity said. "Of course Infernalo deserves somepony refined and social such as me. Besides, after the Gala, I believe I should at least deserve a stallion who knows how to treat a lady. Besides, Steelmind is already taken."

"Well, I saw him first and he's staying at my house," Twilight said, ignoring Rarity's indirect insult.

"Now hold on there, princess," Applejack said. "Aye reckon I deserve him 'bout as much as anypony else. 'Sides, he could really help 'round the farm." Rarity scoffed.

"I believe that a pony of Infernalo's level of sophistication deserves a pony with a bit more class," Rarity retorted. Rainbow Dash interjected quickly.

"No way! He's going to go with somepony who's just as fast and cool as he is: me." a large fight broke out between them, Twilight trying to keep order, though wanting Infernalo as much as the rest of them, and Fluttershy slowly growing more and more anxious. Finally, a crack of thunder caused them all to stop as Stonebolt entered, carrying a burlap sack.

"I just came back with the stuff you asked for, Twi," she said. "You guys are all fighting over my brother, aren't you?" they all tried coming up with overlapping flimsy excuses, but Stonebolt just held up a hoof to silence them again. "Look, just see which one of you he likes above the others. It's simple." they all nodded in agreement as Stonebolt left, stopping in the doorframe. "And Fluttershy? Before I go, my brother said he thinks you're cute."

"He does," Fluttershy beamed. Stonebolt nodded, leaving the room as everypony turned to her. Fluttershy blushed hard, and hid her face in her mane.

"Aye knew you liked him," Applejack said.

Infernalo finally sat down next to Steelmind and Zephyroak by the place Pinkie had held her party.

"You guys really think Sweetie Belle likes me," Steelmind asked.

"Course she does," Zephyroak said. "She does nothing but stare at you, talk to you, or talk about you. You can see from the moon, Steel. Why?"

"Just trying to make conversation," he said. "I mean, I don't necessarily think of it as anything more than a schoolfilly crush, but I think she might think it's mutual, and I don't want to tell her otherwise."

"That's good," the sky Trossel said. "If you break that sweet little filly's heart, I'll break two of your legs; I'm not telling you which ones." Steelmind's brown eyes widened fearfully, knowing that she was probably right.

"Why exactly do you hate your cousin again, Zeph," Infernalo asked. "She doesn't hate you. In fact, all she talks about is you." Zephyroak blinked.

"What?"

"Yeah," Infernalo continued. "She loves you. You're like a big sister to her. She's been like that since I met her through Frostburn." Zephyroak say there for a moment in complete silence about this sudden turn. She'd always seen Leafwind as an annoying, overachieving brat, when really she worshipped Zephyroak. It was almost too much for her to bear, realizing all the years she'd pushed her around or ignored her and yet Leafwind was still willing to forgive and even live her. "Y'know that little Pegasus friend of Leafwind's might also like me, but I'm having the same problem you are, Steelmind."

"How is it that you have six girls crushing on you," Steelmind demanded. Infernalo shrugged.

"Must be the halo," he joked. Leafwind came trotting over to the three, Zephyroak pouncing up and hugging her.

"Leafwind, I love you do much," Zephyroak said tearfully. "Please forgive me."

"I don't blame you for anything," she said. "That's why I love you too." she hugged Zephyroak back.