Author's note: sorry for the long delay, blame real life…

Chapter 9

Rushing into the centre of Ponyville, Apple Bloom came to a quick halt as she scanned the area around her. Plenty of ponies busy talking and buying things from one another, but no sign of either a pony with a rainbow mane or a pony with a bubbles cuties mark. Had they turned up late yet again?

"I can't see her anywhere!" said Apple Bloom.

"Aw come on, how can we keep losing track of her like this, normally she's always in the background, flying around town and stuff," grumbled Scootaloo.

"You don't think she has psychic powers and knows we're coming do you?" asked Apple Bloom. That'd be scary if that was the case. Maybe something very strange had happened to Derpy.

"I don't think that would be it right? Unicorns have their magic powers, but like I've never heard of anything like that happen before," said Scootaloo.

"Maybe she's a really good hide and seek champion," suggested Apple Bloom looking upwards.

"I don't think that's the case either Apple Bloom. I just think we aren't going to have any luck today. Like, none at all."

"Do you think we'll have extra special luck tomorrow to make up for today?" asked Apple Bloom.

"I sure hope so Apple Bloom, if tomorrow is anything like today I might just stay in bed all day."

"But it's a school day tomorrow Scootaloo!"

"Yeah, but if we are there with this type of luck the school could end up collapsing or something like that."

"Now you're just being silly," said Apple Bloom shaking her head. Such a thing wouldn't happen- couldn't happen right? She certainly hoped that bad luck wasn't following her. Or her friends.

Apple Bloom's attention was drawn to beyond Scootaloo, watching a mare with a well maintained mane slowly approaching them. Scootaloo finished bemoaning her luck and finally noticed the direction of her friends gaze and turned around- promptly walking into the mare.

"Sorry about that," said the mare, quickly rearranging her mane.

"Oh, I'm sorry too," said Scootaloo, blushing in deep embarrassment at having smacked straight into a pony she didn't know.

"Can we help you?" asked Apple Bloom. This mare had definitely been walking towards them.

"I remember you," said the adult looking down at Scootaloo and smiling. "You asked me if I had seen Derpy Hooves earlier."

"Oh…yeah," said Scootaloo. "That's right." Instantly Apple Bloom knew that her friend had no recollection of speaking with this pony.

"So, are you still looking for her?"

"Yes!" cried Apple Bloom and Scootaloo together, surprising the older pony.

"Oh well that's good. I saw her a couple of minutes ago, she was heading back to her house I believe. She was going with that rainbow pony. Rainbow Crash isn't it? Or something like that?"

"Rainbow DASH," said Scootaloo, unable to help herself.

"Oh yeas, that's the one," said the mare, not noticing Scootaloo's unimpressed tone.

"Those two were going to Derpy's house I'm sure of it. I was standing just behind them waiting to buy something. Rainbow cr-Dash had no bits to buy food so Derpy offered to give her some."

"Oh," said Apple Bloom. Maybe this meant that the kind Derpy Hooves had returned. Even though it would have meant their journey had been pointless, it would still end up being a happy ending for Derpy at least.

"Thank you for your help," said Scootaloo.

"Oh it's no problem. I'm just glad that Derpy left before anypony confronted her about what she did earlier- the Cake family didn't see her return. And no other pony seemed to say anything."

"Yeah, I guess that's good," said Apple Bloom, trying to sound as though she didn't really care about it, to try and hide that she had been involved. Phew, perhaps there was a faint chance that they could still fix everything. Without Derpy facing any negative outcomes.

Scootaloo thanked the mare for her help once more, and the older pony took her leave, walking past Apple Bloom and over towards the overpriced cherry stand behind them.

"Offering Rainbow Dash food- do you think she's back to normal again?" asked Apple Bloom.

"I don't know Apple Bloom," replied Scootaloo. "I'm still a bit suspicious of it all."

"But what if she has changed back?"

"And what if she hasn't? We can go there and help both of them- and if I'm wrong we'll probably be able to get a muffin or something. And if I am right we'll be there to help," said Scootaloo.

"Well- ok let's go then I guess," said Apple Bloom. She hated the idea of just doing nothing and have Derpy end up falling out with Rainbow Dash over something they had done to her. And the prospect of food if all was well also sounded good. And tasty.

"Which way is her house?" asked Scootaloo.

"Follow me, I once helped Pinkie Pie deliver some cakes there," said Apple Bloom. That had been a fun, if odd day.

Scootaloo nodded her head and the duo set off at full speed. Hopefully it was time to end this once and for all!

"So Twilight, how many books do you have anyway?" asked Sweetie Belle. Their journey back to the library had been engulfed by an awkward silence.

The two ponies walked side by side as the carried on with their journey. Beside Sweetie Belle Twilight made a hmmm sound as she tried to recall the number.

"I think I lost count at about seven hundred and fifty nine- then Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie turned up and made me lose my place," said Twilight. She sounded a little grumpy.

"Oh wow, that's a lot Twilight!"

"I did try and get Spike to count for me, but he said the inventory was already up to date," said Twilight, continuing to pour out her story. "So I did ask him to count the number of titles in the inventory but he didn't seem too keen about it."

"I see," said Sweetie Belle. Her attempt to make small talk had resulted in too much small talk. She guessed it was still better than the original awkward silence.

"Of course, shortly it is time for the quarterly organisation of the library to make sure everything is in the correct place. Oh that reminds me, I need to get my checklist written up! And I need to write up a backup copy of the inventory just in case."

"Sounds like…fun?"

"A properly organised library is a wonderful thing, every book in its right place, just ready and waiting to be read."

"Isn't everything already in the right place?" asked Sweetie Belle. At least Twilight was helping her; the least she could do was be polite in return.

"Well, everything should be in the correct place, but why take the risk of having something out of place? An untidy library isn't much of a library at all."

"Yes, I guess that's true," said Sweetie Belle. The older pony seemed so adamant about it that it seemed pointless to try and suggest Twilight could just relax.

"And I'm sure Spike has fun too, we work together in the library rearranging the books. All day."

That sounded boring to Sweetie Belle, and she was thankful as a sudden flash of orange interrupted the conversation and caught her attention. She had looked up just in time to see her two best friends running past. Hopefully they were still her two best friends.

"Hey it's Scootaloo and Apple Bloom!"

"Oh my, it looks like they're in a rush," said Twilight.

"Maybe we should follow them," suggested Sweetie Belle.

"Hmmm, but the library might be the better choi-," Twilight paused, noticing the look on the fillies face. "I mean let's follow those two. We can catch up and help. Without the book. I guess. And if needs be we can then get the book."

"I hope Scootaloo won't be angry when she sees that you're with me," said Sweetie Belle nervously.

"So do you have a whole lot of snacks?" asked Rainbow Dash greedily as Derpy pushed open her front door.

"Oh yes. Many snacks," said Derpy, not turning to Rainbow Dash. "Come in."

She led her fellow Pegasi through her hallway (closing the door behind her) and up the stairs of her house. Derpy walked up the steps, Rainbow Dash hovered above them. It was far smaller than the place Rainbow Dash called home.

"Why are we going upstairs, isn't that the kitchen down there?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"I like to keep my snacks upstairs. Then I can get to them easier from my room. Quicker that way."

"Well ok then."

Rainbow Dash followed Derpy into another room, Derpy again closing the door. She indicated towards a comfortable and strong looking chair. Rainbow Dash didn't need a second invitation to sit down.

"I've never been here before Derpy," said Rainbow Dash, not turning to face Derpy as the pony moved around behind her.

"Oh. Well you never seemed to want to visit."

"Yeah I guess. Still it's a nice place here Derpy. Maybe one day you could visit my place too."

"I'd like that," said Derpy, slowly approaching the blue pony- who still had her back turned towards her.

Derpy smiled and held up her hooves. In them she held durable looking thick rope. The smile turned to a grin as she took another step forwards.