A/N: sorry everypony, last chapter kinda sucked. I guess I was out of ideas and out of creativity…. But this time I hope it's better. Enjoy ^^

Chapter 9: Meeting the Cakes

Lucky just looked at Applejack. "You really think I could become the Princess' pr-o-to-ge?" Applejack chuckled and sounded the word 'protégé' out slower for Lucky to copy. "Yeah, there ya go, and yes. I do believe you might have what it takes to become the Princess' student." "I have to agree with Applejack. You're a very talented filly, she should accept.", Rarity said. Lucky smiled. "That would be cool. But I won't be able to see any of you guys for a while…. right?"

The others looked at each other, then back at her. "Unfortunately, yes. But you might be able to visit if the Princess gives you any days off.", Twilight said. Lucky did look happy at that. "I really hope she would. Twilight? Can you write to her and ask her?" "How about you ask her? It might be better to write to her yourself." Lucky thought about that, then nodded. "Ok Twilight." Lucky went to her saddlebags and grabbed paper, her ink pot, and her quill. She laid down and thought what she wanted to write.

She tapped her chin for a minute then started writing.

'Deer Prinses Selestia,

This is Lucky Fire. I am riting to you becas I want to be your stoodent. But I want to stay Miss Cherile's stoodent stil to. I want to no if I can stil do that. I want to lern majik and to fli and be taut things Miss Cherile teeches. If you get this, can you rit bak to me?

From, Lucky Fire'

"Ok, I got it down.", Lucky said after rolling it up and sealing it. "Very good Lucky. Now, Spike, could you send this please?" "Sure! Give it here Lucky and I can send it to Princess Celestia very fast." Lucky handed it over to Spike, and he breathed his green fire on it and it then was on its way to the Princess. "Now, we wait.", said Spike. "How long?" "Oh, however long it takes for the Princess to read and write back.", said Rarity.

Lucky just nodded. "I wanna fly Rainbow, can we fly?" "Sure, as long as we're waiting we can practice." Lucky hopped up and down, then went out the door, the others following. "I'm not going to fly all the way home again, not for a reeeeaaally long time. I can't handle it again." "Good, you shouldn't anyway. Now, go as high as I do, if you can." Rainbow then goes about….. 4 feet. Lucky got up there easily. "Good, now, stay in one place, in other words, hover." Lucky does, for a good long while. "You're doing awesome Lucky. Now, fly from me to….. Sugarcube Corner. That's a good ways away. If you can't make it, don't push yourself like this morning. If your wings start to hurt, touch the ground and relax."

Lucky nodded. Then she flew with Rainbow, the others trotted with them, Spike was on Twilight's back. Just as they got more than halfway, Spike burped out green flames and a letter appeared. Spike caught it and everypony halted. Even Rainbow and then Lucky when she noticed everypony was behind her. She stopped, then went back. Then she touched the ground. "Did she write back?", she asked. "Yup, here, oh, you can't read. Sorry. I'll read it to you.", Spike said, then cleared his throat.

"Dear Lucky Fire,

I am honored you want me as your teacher, but I am afraid I have to decline. You'd have to move to Canterlot, and it would cost too much and be too much of a hassle to ride the train from Canterlot to Ponyville, and from Ponyville to Canterlot everyday. Not unless you can teleport all that way, but I don't know anypony who can teleport all that way. Not even I can, or my sister Luna. It's just not possible. I'm very sorry and regretful to say this, but I do believe Rainbow and Twilight are doing an excellent job being your teachers. What made you ask me to be your teacher? Also…. why didn't anypony help you spell check?

From,

Princess Celestia."

Lucky looked at everypony. "Spell check? Did I spell some things wrong?" Everypony looked at each other. "Lucky, you should have probably let us spell check your letter before sending it. No wonder it took a bit for the Princess to write back.", Fluttershy said. "Sorry, but I wanted to send it as quick as possible. I wanted to see if she would let me be her student, but kinda stay Miss Cheerilee's student too." "It's alright dear, but next time, do let us check your letter before sending it. That way the Princess can send a letter back a little quicker.", Rarity said. Lucky nodded. Twilight then asked Spike for a quill and paper.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

I'm sorry about Lucky's letter. She was too impatient so she rolled it up, sealed it and kind of demanded it to be sent right away so she can get your answer sooner, before we could spell check it. Well, Applejack said something about you being her teacher as well as mine the rate Lucky is going at her lessons. She's very advanced for her age. I am in shock because I didn't think there could be another pony like me. Well, maybe there is, but they could be miles away. Anyways, there's your answer Princess. Also, Rainbow and I thank you for your compliment on us being excellent teachers.

"So, can we go back and you teach me magic again?" "Boy, aren't you the enthusiastic one? You love to learn don't you?" Lucky nodded. "Well, ok. Oh, maybe you can spend the night and I can read you my book of spells. Would it be ok Rainbow?" Rainbow just shrugged, "Sure, why not? She really wants to learn magic, so why keep her from learning." "Yay!", Lucky said, hopping all the way back to Twilight's tree house, alongside Pinkie.

Everypony giggled again, this time at Lucky's antics. Looked like they did have another Pinkie Pie in the group, well, somewhat. When she meets new ponies she's a lot like Fluttershy. When it came to the spa, she was a lot like Rainbow Dash. When it came to learning, whether at school, or learning magic, she was a lot like Twilight. The only thing now is to see if she's like the last two ponies in the group. Rarity and Applejack. Get Lucky in a shop full of fashion, see if she's interested, and also get her into a working area, like Applejack's farm, see if she helps out and works very hard.

When they reached Twilight's place, Twilight saw Lucky's last homework paper on the ground, "Oh shoot. I almost forgot. I was very close to finishing looking over your last homework.", Twilight said, then laid down and finished up. "Hmm….. none wrong! Oh my, awesome job Lucky. The ten question one and you got them all right." Lucky just grinned. "That's because that one is my favorite subject. I know a lot about that stuff." Everypony looked impressed. "Well, I guess everypony does have a favorite subject and one they're good at.", Twilight said.

"I did when I was young. It was recess!", Pinkie said. "Well of course. You're one to always have fun, and think school is boring.", Rarity said. "Well of course school was boring. You have to just sit there almost all day listening to the teacher talk. There's no moving or fun to be had.", Pinkie replied. Everypony just shook their heads. "Flight camp, now that was a fun 'school'. Wasn't it Fluttershy? Oh wait… you couldn't fly very well. Sorry."

Fluttershy just smiled kindly. "No, it's ok. I know I wasn't a very good flier back then, all that matters is now I've become a better flier, thanks to my bird and butterfly friends." "Oooo, hey Rarity, were you a good spell user when you were a filly?", Lucky asked. "Well of course. When I was still in school, we put on a play, and I wanted to find jewels for the costumes I made, and when I least expected it, my horn lit up and found me some. Though it took a day or so, it was worth it. Though, they were in a rock, and there was no way to crack the rock, it was so huge. But Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom resounded very far and split my rock right in half."

"Woooooowwww. Aw, wish I could do a Sonic Rainboom when I get older. That would be awesome!" Everypony just smiled. "It would be, but I don't know if anypony other than Rainbow can. You'd have to be going extremely fast to be able to actually break the sound barrier.", Twilight said. "Awww. I can't go very fast. I'm still too little." Twilight went over to her spell book and brought it over to Lucky. She opened it and laid down, Lucky did the same. "Now, I promised to teach you more magic. We'll look at this and you can see what other spells look like and how to do them." Lucky grinned, excited.

All the others then left, saying they'd see the two ponies and Spike tomorrow. So Twilight showed Lucky some other spells, especially ones Twilight herself and even Princess Celestia knows. Lucky was very interested. "Wooow, think I could do the same spells someday Twilight?", she asked. "Well of course. You just need lots of practice." Lucky grinned and studied with Twilight some more. When it came bedtime, Twilight took out the other bed she had from the time Rarity and Applejack stayed. Lucky eyed it uncertain. She's not used to staying the night here.

When she never stayed a night somewhere, she always slept in a bed with the pony she's staying the night with. She's always been like that, she hates being alone. This time though, she wouldn't be totally alone, she'd have Spike near her and especially Twilight near her. Maybe she could try. She climbed in and sighed. She stared at the ceiling for a bit and slowly fell asleep. Twilight made sure Lucky was comfortable before falling asleep herself. Lucky actually slept through the night, and by the time morning came, she had woken up and saw the sun rise.

She hurried to the window to watch it. She was amazed. This is the first time ever that she's seen the sun rise. She watched it in amazement, and then Twilight appeared next to her. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Lucky smiled and nodded. "Can you believe Princess Celestia raises and lowers the sun?" Lucky looked at Twilight, "No, you haven't." "Oh? Well, yeah. Luna raises and lowers the moon." Lucky grinned, "That's really cool." She went back to watching the sun. Twilight did too. "You know Lucky, you're really something else. You do things that are advanced for your age. I just can't believe your flying and magic skills."

Lucky just shrugged. "I really dunno what to say. I just really love magic and flying. Though I'm not trying to fly up to my and Rainbow's cloud home again any time soon… I don't want to go through that again." Lucky looked at the clock. 6:30 now. An hour before she has to go to school. Lucky went down with Twilight to get breakfast. "Oh, and thanks for looking over my homework last night." Twilight smiled, "It's no problem." So after they ate, Twilight asked, "Want me to walk to school with you or do you want to walk to school yourself?"

"I can go myself thanks." Lucky gets her saddlebags on and goes out the door, turns around and says, "Thanks for letting me stay and for reading your spell book to me. I'll practice them when I stay at Pinkie's tonight." Twilight smiled and said, "It's no problem Lucky. I'm glad you stayed and enjoyed the book. Have a good day at school ok?" Lucky nodded, shut the door and headed off to school. Twilight decided to go pay Pinkie a visit. She left a note for Spike for when he wakes up he won't worry and will know where to go after he eats.

As Twilight arrived, she saw Pinkie walking by the window inside Sugar Cube Corner. No doubt she was getting everything ready for when they open up for customers. Twilight knocked and she heard, "Coming!" Pinkie opened the door and smiled, "Oh hi Twilight! What brings you here?" "Oh nothing really. Lucky just headed off to school and I just wanted to drop by for a visit. May I come in? Pinkie stepped off to the side to let her friend in. "Getting ready to open up?" "Yup. Wanna help?" Twilight smiled, "Sure. What can I help with?"

"Just bring in the treats and put them in the display counter thingy and I will set up the tables and chairs and make sure everything's clean." Twilight nodded then did what she was told. Mrs. Cake saw Twilight as she went in the kitchen to get the treats. "Hello Twilight. Helping us out this morning?" Twilight looked over at her and nodded. "Thought I'd pay Pinkie a visit and help out." "That's kind of you. Thank you." Twilight smiled and nodded, "It's no problem really. I didn't have anything to do this morning anyways and I wrote Spike a note saying I was over here, so that when he wakes up and eats he can just head on over."

So Twilight got the treats and brought them out to the display thing and put them in. She also saw Pinkie getting the tables ready, 'She's a good worker despite her being all hyper and energetic all the time.', Twilight thought. "Oh hey Pinkie, you know you're getting Lucky tonight right?" Pinkie looked at Twilight. "Yepper. We're going to have fun together." "I know. Just, play it down with your energetic self. I still don't know if she's used to it." Pinkie nodded. "I just remembered too, isn't this around the time Zecora comes into town?", Twilight asked. Pinkie thought for a second. "I think so. Why?" "Well because Applejack told me that when her, Lucky, and Rainbow saw her in the forest when Lucky went to get her things, Lucky saw her and hid, then went ahead."

"Huh, then do you want Lucky to get to know Zecora too?" Twilight nodded, "I think that would be nice, and good for Lucky. Keep her from hiding a lot, get her used to talking to other ponies." Pinkie nodded in contemplation. "Yeah, you're right. It would be good for the little filly." So opening time came and Sugar Cube Corner was starting to get busy, and Spike came in. "Hey Twilight. Lucky's at school?" Twilight nodded, she's still helping out. She's waiting tables with Pinkie.

So as the day went by, Spike and Twilight helped Pinkie and the Cakes. At 2:35 Lucky arrived at Sugar Cube Corner, school having gotten out. "Hi everypony.", Lucky said quietly and shyly. She had seen the Cakes and she got shy, but she did talk this time. Getting much better, Twilight grinned at that. "Hi Lucky, do you have homework today?" Lucky beamed, "Nope. I can play all day today. I learned about cutie marks, the others weren't too happy, they already learned last year they said, but I was new so Miss Cheerilee said that it was for my sake.

"Well, the crusaders were kinda happy to learn about them, but they were disappointed and said now everypony they know told them that it takes time for the marks to appear and it's all about finding out who they really are. It's true though, mama and papa told me one day and I believe it. Why can't they see that?", Lucky had asked sadly. "They're just impatient silly fillies. I've seen them do everything they can to get them. It doesn't work that way.", Pinkie said. "I do wonder when I'll get mine and what it'll be like." The others shrugged.

"So, this is the itty bitty alicorn filly you were talking about?", Mr. Cake said. "Yessir! This is Lucky Fire. She's just starting to learn magic and how to fly. Twilight and Rainbow are her teachers.", Pinkie explained. "How sweet. She's adorable. Hello Lucky, my name's Mrs. Cake." "And I'm Mr. Cake." Lucky nodded in acknowledgement. The bell rung again and in came Fluttershy. "Hi guys." Everypony waved. "Hi Fluttershy." "Lucky, when someone gives you their name or names, if it's more than one pony, it's always polite to say, 'nice to meet you'." Lucky looked at Twilight. "Ok, um…. Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Cake." They smiled and said, "Nice too meet you too Lucky." Fluttershy smiled gently and said, "It looks like Lucky is getting better at talking to other ponies she doesn't know."

Twilight nodded, "I'm glad because that way she's getting used to saying 'hello' at least. She also should start introducing herself as well. Well, when another pony comes in that we know, we should get her to try introducing herself and saying hello." Pinkie and Fluttershy nodded in agreement. "Hey Lucky, Zecora will be coming into town, maybe you should introduce yourself to her." Lucky smiled a bit, "Ok. I saw her in the forest the one day with Rainbow and Applejack."

"That's what they told me. She hadn't actually talked with you, so this time talk to her, she'll talk with you. Though she talks in rhymes, I don't know if you heard her when she talked with both of them." "I heard a little bit, but not the whole thing." The bell rang and in walked Zecora, she decided to see a different building today and she saw Sugar Cube Corner. "Hi Zecora.", Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy said. Zecora smiled at them. Lucky stood still, at least she's not hiding this time.

Twilight looked at Lucky and said, "Go on Lucky. Say hi and introduce yourself." Lucky stepped up to Zecora. "Well, it seems before me it's the fearless filly I see.", Zecora said. "Hi Zecora. I'm Lucky Fire.", Lucky said quietly, much like Fluttershy when she meets a new pony, but Lucky was a bit louder than Fluttershy. "You are not the shy filly from before, but much braver ever more." (if that makes sense? .) "I guess, Rainbow wants me to be more brave, not to hide from ponies anymore. Try to open up I think she said." Zecora nodded, understanding Rainbow's wish.

"Will she be your parental figure, up until you are much bigger?" Lucky shrugged. Sure she told Princess Celestia she kinda looked up to Rainbow as a parental figure, but she didn't want to admit it to other ponies. Though, now remembering Twilight and probably the other 5 know now too. Though she wants to keep it from everypony else. "Well, she does take care of me really well. Unless she has to be on the weather team making the weather. Then she has me stay with the others. Tonight I'm staying with Pinkie. Last night I stayed with Twilight and the night before I stayed with Applejack. Tomorrow I get to be with Rainbow again. Ooo, and I wonder what we'll be doing for Hearth's Warming Eve? I couldn't see the play last year in Canterlot. I was mad, but I got over it."

"We were in the play last year, well, 'we' meaning in Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack and I.", Twilight said. "Awww, now I'm really upset I couldn't go last year. I'd have seen you guys, then met you a year later." "How come you couldn't go?", Pinkie asked. "I was sick." "Oh, that stinks." Lucky nodded in agreement. So as time went on Lucky played with Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Zecora, and even Pound and Pumpkin Cake. Lucky loved meeting the twins. When it got dark, Twilight asked everypony to watch the moon rise, so Lucky could see it.

"See Lucky? That's Luna raising the moon. Well, you can't see her actually raising the moon, but you can watch the moon rise." Lucky grinned, "That is awesome. Like I said when Princess Celestia was here that day, I love the moon. It's so pretty." Everypony else nodded in agreement. The moon is pretty. "Well, I should go home now. I had fun today.", Fluttershy said. "See ya Fluttershy." Then Twilight and Spike left, after saying good night. Then Zecora left, saying good night, and saying she could get her herbs tomorrow.

Mr. and Mrs. Cake had put the twins to bed a little earlier, and now Lucky and Pinkie went inside and to Pinkie's room. "Oh, and Lucky, I almost forgot to mention, I have a pet baby alligator, his name is Gummy. He has no teeth, so when he playfully bites you, it doesn't hurt. See?", Pinkie said, as Gummy bites the top of her mane down to the end of it. "Ya know, Gummy is kinda cute." Pinkie grinned. "Thank you." "Um… is there another bed or even a sleeping bag or something?", Lucky asked.

"Ummmmm, I don't think so. I guess you'll be sleeping with me." Lucky nodded, "Probably a good thing because Gummy might scare me sometime during the night if he decides to sleep in my bed or whatever." Pinkie giggled, "Yeah, sometimes he likes to sleep with me if he doesn't want to sleep in his little bed." So after talking a little bit, they decided to get to bed, also because Lucky had school in the morning. The Cakes knew that so if Pinkie forgot to get Lucky up, they could get her up. Lucky curled up into her usual ball, and fell asleep. Pinkie smiled, 'She's so cute. She looks even tinier when she does that. Almost like she's baby sized again.' Pinkie then patted Lucky's head, like a big sister would, then she too fell asleep.