Chapter 8

"Derpy Hooves? Excuse me were you asking about Derpy Hooves?"

"Yeah that's right," said Apple Bloom glancing at Scootaloo beside her. In front of the young duo stood Lily Blossom, the older pony looking just as puzzled as Apple Bloom felt. And seemingly just as worried too.

"Oh I happened to have seen her very recently," said Lily Blossom.

"You did?" asked Scootaloo, her ears perking up. Apple Bloom was quiet- they had never properly spoken with Lily Blossom before. The young filly only knew of the mare's name from being around Applejack when her sister was out selling apples. That had been before Apple Bloom had scared off customers during her brief stint as an apple salespony.

"How was she?" asked Apple Bloom. She could tell by the look on Lily Blossom's face that the mare was thinking about something. Something that wasn't very positive.

"She was very- well different," said the older pony. "She seemed kind of angry with me for some reason."

Apple Bloom was still for a moment, trying to think about what to say.

"Yeah she's been in…well a bit of a bad mood recently," said Scootaloo, reacting faster than her friend. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it at all, I know she'll be like absolutely fine tomorrow. Probably."

Hopefully thought Apple Bloom to herself. And she was also glad about what Scootaloo had said- trying to excuse Derpy's behaviour was important. She didn't want the kind Derpy to have to face accusations and ill feeling when she returned to normal. Already some townponies had been expressing their discontent about her- it would appear some of the ponies that lived here had never held her in a very high regard. It was her and her friends' fault that this had happened; Derpy shouldn't have to face problems because of what they had done.

"I do hope she will be fine tomorrow," said Lily Blossom. "She's normally so kind to everypony- just last week she offered me a home-made muffin. It was a little bit burnt on the outside, but the inside was really tasty."

"Oh that's nice, say did she say anything strange?" asked Scootaloo, not bothering to be subtle about changing the subject of the discussion.

"Well there was something a little bit odd I guess. Just a little bit…maybe. Or a lot."

"Oh? I mean, and what was that then?"

"She asked about Rainbow Dash, wanted to know where she was- really really wanted to know. It stuck in my mind because she seemed really angry about it for some reason. I said I'd seen Rainbow Dash recently and then she just left."

"So where did Derpy and Rainbow Dash go?" asked Scootaloo.

Lily Blossom pointed. "If you do find Derpy tell I said I hope that she feels better soon."

"Sure thing," said Scootaloo laughing nervously as she waited for Lily Blossom to do something. Finally the mare continued on her way.

When the mare was finally out of the way and out of earshot the two fillies moved close to one another to discuss the situation privately.

"Rainbow Dash? Why would she be looking for Rainbow Dash?" asked Scootaloo.

"I'm not sure- maybe she wanted a race or something?" said Apple Bloom, even as she felt a displaced memory try to return. Something that had happened very recently. There was something she should remember, but it just wasn't coming back to her.

"But why would she sound mean? You don't think she'd like, want to try and make Rainbow Dash look bad in a race or something do you?" asked Scootaloo sounding horrified at the idea.

"I don't know about that…"

"Well I'm sure Rainbow Dash would win anyway," said Scootaloo nodding to herself. "I know she would."

Apple Bloom still felt that wasn't the case. Again the cloudy memory returned to taunt her. Holding something. A message. Some held in her mouth, a piece of paper, a-

"Letter!" said Apple Bloom out of nowhere.

"Let who?" asked Scootaloo. "Let her race?"

"No, remember when we met Derpy today? Rainbow Dash gave her that fake letter."

"Yeah I remember that. What about it?" asked Scootaloo.

"It was obviously fake, but Derpy hadn't realized it had she? Maybe Mean Derpy did realize, and now she wants to get back at Rainbow Dash?"

As Scootaloo gasped in horror at such an idea Apple Bloom suddenly realized how she was now thinking of Derpy as two separate ponies. There was the kind and lovable pony the town knew- and the grumpier, harsher pony currently going around and insulting other ponies. And stealing from them too. This was not turning out to be a good day for anypony who had laid eyes upon Scootaloo's 'device'. She knew being lazy and sleeping in until mid-afternoon would have been a good idea!

"And if she's in a really bad mood, who knows what she might do!" said Apple Bloom. "She could, erm put peppers in Rainbow Dash's food or something. Or give her a really hot drink, or strong cider…or something."

"She wouldn't dare, and Rainbow Dash would be too smart to fall for that," insisted Scootaloo.

"Well, whatever it is, we know Derpy's looking for her- so let's try and find Rainbow Dash too."

"No complaints from me!" said Scootaloo with a little jump.

"So have you ever heard of anything like this happening before Twilight?" asked Sweetie Belle. "And any ideas at all? Even just a small one?"

"Well I'm not sure Sweetie Belle. I've never actually seen anything like this happen before- but if what you said is right, who knows. The magic of a young unicorn can be surprisingly powerful at times."

"Really? So it is my fault?"

"Now Sweetie Belle don't get too ahead of yourself- even if it was your magic, you didn't mean to do it. And don't forget one other thing too."

"What's that?" asked Sweetie Belle hopefully.

"It could have been the fall that caused it- there have been tales of ponies having personality changes after a head injury. But I read that book so long ago; it's hard to remember anything from it…"

"Oh…"

"But don't forget unicorn magic and pony potions in general can do many things- love potions, wing spells, I'm certain there are many spells that can alter personalities, and I've yet to see a spell that isn't reversible."

"Which one would be easier to fix Twilight? And which one do you think it is? That magic thing or the head injury one?"

"I'm afraid I'm not sure Sweetie Belle."

"And where exactly are we heading anyway?"

"Oh, back to the library to try and find out a bit more," said Twilight in her most reassuring tone. Beside her Sweetie Belle still looked concerned.

"I hope we find the right book- and quickly."

It shouldn't be hard to find Rainbow Dash- there weren't many ponies around with a Rainbow coloured mane thought Derpy Hooves to herself as she entered the Ponyville marketplace. Her prediction turned out to be true, as a matter of seconds later she caught sight of Rainbow Dash, standing in front of a stall, talking to a tubby pony behind the stall.

"So do you like the look of that one?" asked the salespony in their friendliest tone.

"It sure does look nice," said Rainbow Dash, nodding her head and eyeing the cake hungrily. She rubbed her mane as she leant back. "But say somepony didn't have enough bits on them at the moment. Said pony could buy now and pay the rest later right?"

The smile on the salepony's face vanished straight away: "No sale."

"Oh come on," said Rainbow Dash. She waited for a moment, but it became clear that the other pony wouldn't be convinced.

"It didn't look that nice anyway," said Rainbow Dash turning away.

"Hello there Rainbow Dash," said Derpy appearing behind the blue pony.

"Oh…hi again Derpy," said Rainbow Dash, slightly uncomfortable at how close Derpy stood.

"So you're hungry are you?"

"Yeah, but I don't have enough bits."

"Oh. What a shame. I don't have any bits, but I might have something for you. I have a lot of sweet things at home."

"Really?" said Rainbow Dash greedily.

"Oh yes, it'd be my treat Rainbow Dash."