Be Ready


                                            >Twilight’s visit with the human had not gone well.

                                            >Despite informing him well in advance that Princess Celestia would want to see him when she came to visit today, he had slept in until the afternoon.

                                            >When he opened his door Twilight saw that he was not ready.

                                            >His hair was not combed, he had not bathed yet, and he was still wearing just his green robe and the Wonderbolts Dash pajama pants that Rainbow had gotten him for Hearth’s Warming four months ago.

                                            >The last observation especially irked her since she had made it an item on her checklist early on to give him a suit and tie to wear in preparation for Princess Celestia’s visit.

                                            >“You’re not ready?” Twilight said in shock. “Why aren’t you ready yet?”

                                            Well, she won’t be here until late in the day, right? I’ve still got some time.

                                            >“What about the clothes I gave you? Have you even tried them on yet like Rarity wanted you to?”

                                            Oh, did you give me clothes to wear?

                                            >“Of course I did,” Twilight said. “Don’t you have them?”

                                            Well, I might have them somewhere.

                                            >He looked back over his shoulder and mumbled some questioning words under his breath.

                                            >Twilight fought hard to not glare at him when he faced her again.

                                            I’m sure I’ll find them before your Princess Sequestria comes.

                                            >“It’s Celestia!” Twilight said. “And you better find those clothes.”

                                            >She made a gesture encapsulating his slovenly appearance while he stopped short of scratching at an itch that was between his legs.

                                            >“You can’t see the princess looking like a, like a . . .”

                                            >But her voice failed her.

                                            >He looked down at his robe and pajamas before meeting her eyes and, with one eyebrow raised, saying:

                                            What’s wrong with what I’m wearing now?

                                            >Twilight pressed her hoof to her forehead in annoyance.

                                            >She told him to be ready and at town hall within the hour.

                                            >He stopped her before she could trot away.

                                            What about Fluttershy?

                                            >“What about her?”

                                            Aren’t you worried she’ll mess things up? Even though I’ve made up my mind about her, she still thinks I’m just not ready to give her a chance yet.

                                            >Twilight frowned, more out of annoyance than sympathy for his concern.

                                            >While it was true that Fluttershy’s crush on the human had long ago passed the line of decency and veered into an obsession, Twilight knew that she could at least trust her friend to behave and perform the duties assigned to her while the princess was visiting.

                                            >Twilight had said as much days ago when she had first told him that the princess would want to meet him and she was annoyed at having to repeat herself.

                                            >“I’m sure Fluttershy will be able to control herself,” Twilight said. “Besides, she’s too busy practicing with her bird choir to bother you. She told me that she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Princess Celestia’s visit.”

                                            >He nodded and hummed to himself.

                                            She hasn’t really been coming over as much.

                                            >“Yes,” Twilight said, narrowing her eyes at him, “I’m glad that she’s taking this visit seriously.”

                                            Okay, fine, I get it. I’ll be ready.

                                            >Twilight thanked him and then went on her way.

                                            >Princess Celestia would be in Ponyville for a visit in just two hours and Twilight had spent her morning trotting all over town, making sure that there would be no ruinous disasters to spoil it this time.

                                            >That meant that no surprise monster attacks, colorful characters coming in from out of town, friendship problems, magic shenanigans or unplanned disruptions of any kind were allowed to happen while the princess was there.

                                            >A checklist, about six feet long, was trailing behind her as she rechecked the boxes of things that needed to be done before the princess arrived.

                                            >But this was just her personal list.

                                            >She was on her way to see Spike at the castle so that she could do the final check with the master checklist that he was carrying.

                                            >Though she was in a hurry, she waved at the ponies she passed by in the sunny afternoon streets.

                                            >“Hello, Cheerilee . . . Your roses look great today, Roseluck . . . Hi, Matilda!”

                                            >But behind her gay speech, her thoughts ran bitter.

                                            >“Move it, Cheerilee . . . I don’t have time for this, Roseluck . . . Shut up, Matilda!”

                                            >Twilight slammed the castle doors open and then yelled Spike’s name.

                                            >He ran into the foyer, with the rolled up master list carried under his arm, before the echo from Twilight’s entrance had gone.

                                            >Twilight, her face stern and grave, nodded at the out-of-breath dragon.

                                            >He nodded back, turned around and rolled the master list out, which was a good two feet longer than Twilight’s own list.

                                            >“Okay,” Twilight said, “what’s the first item on your list?”

                                            >Spike squinted his eyes at the top of the list but did not answer her.

                                            >Twilight waited patiently for all of two seconds.

                                            >Then, when she saw he was starting to yawn, she said:

                                            >“Spike, pay attention. Now, what does it say?”

                                            >“I don’t know. I can’t read it.”

                                            >Twilight pulled the list out from his claws, took one look at it, and then frowned.

                                            >“That’s because you have it upside down.”

                                            >“Oh, is it?” he said tiredly.

                                            >Twilight groaned and began rolling the master list up with her magic.

                                            >Spike watched, rubbing his tired eyes as she then unrolled the list the correct way.

                                            >She shoved the top of the list in his claws.

                                            >He moaned as he read off the first item, which concerned Lyra and Lily’s banner.

                                            >But all Twilight heard was his tired moan, and her look softened.

                                            >“I know you’re tired, Spike, but we’re almost finished. You can take a nap when Princess Celestia gets here. If she asks where you are I’ll explain it to her in a way where she won’t feel offended.”

                                            >“After all these years—”Spike yawned“—I think she’ll understand.”

                                            >“Maybe, but this time we’ll be organized and ready for anything. As long as things run by my checklist, everything should be in control, and her visit should go off wonderfully.”

                                            >Spike nodded.

                                            >Then he looked at the checklist again and read aloud:

                                            >“Item one: Make sure Lyra and Lily have made Princess Celestia’s welcome banner.”

                                            >“They finished it today. And they finally listened to me and wrote Princess Celestia’s name in paint this time instead of crayon.”

                                            >“They probably just ran out of crayons.”

                                            >Twilight rolled her eyes and went to check that item off of her list.

                                            >But she froze.

                                            >“Spike, our lists don’t match. The first item on my list is about Rarity’s decorating town hall.”

                                            >Spike straightened up.

                                            >“How was my fair lady Rarity coming along?” he said with a sigh.

                                            >“She was fine. Well, she wasn’t finished when I saw her, but you know how persnickety she is. Everything has to be just right.”

                                            >“Everything has to be perfect, like her,” Spike said admiringly.

                                            >Seeing that Spike had hearts in his eyes, Twilight rolled up her list and swatted the top of his head with it before unrolling it again.

                                            >Spike frowned at her while rubbing the top of his head.

                                            >“I was listening, you know?”

                                            >“Then what did I say about the lists?”

                                            >“They don’t match,” Spike said. “It doesn’t surprise me. We’ve made about ten of them, and I’ve been working on only three hours of sleep this whole time.”

                                            >“It hasn’t been that bad. You got at least four hours last night.”

                                            >“Well, excuse me for losing track of time while feeling sleep-deprived and delirious. Some of us don’t happen to be all-powerful alicorns who rarely ever sleep.”

                                            >“I can sleep after Princess Celestia has the best visit ever.”

                                            >Twilight bent down close to Spike’s face and said solemnly:

                                            >“I want everything to be perfect this time, and that means that everything has to be done, checked, and controlled according to my lists—which all should match perfectly.”

                                            >When she had finished speaking, Twilight was so close to Spike’s face that their noses were touching.

                                            >Spike took a step back and then waved a claw dismissively in the air.

                                            >“The lists don’t match. Big deal. Let’s just go down both of them one at a time so we can finally be done with this. At the rate we’re going, we won’t even be finished in time for when she shows up.”

                                            >“Wait, we’re not going to finish in time for her visit?”

                                            >“I was just kidding, Twilight.”

                                            >Twilight paused for a moment before covering her face with her list so that Spike would not see her blushing.

                                            >“Okay, let’s continue,” Twilight said. “What’s next on your list?”

                                            >He looked at the list.

                                            >“Item two: Keep the skies clear and the weather fair.”

                                            >“Rainbow Dash will take care of that,” Twilight said. “Now I’ll read mine.”

                                            >They went on like this, checking each other’s items.

                                            >Twilight had checked on Fluttershy and her bird choir yesterday as they ran through Celestia’s favorite song, “Ode to Joy”, and she was pleased with what she had heard.

                                            >Starlight was making a kite especially for the princess so the two of them could fly them together later.

                                            >Applejack was taking care of the catering.

                                            >Pinkie’s “Party Picnic Palozza for the Princess!” was still within city regulations as of this morning, although every time Twilight checked on her friend’s progress she had added some new unplanned idea to her party.

                                            >“So we’ll have to watch out for Pinkie,” Twilight said, looking up from her list. “We don’t want another Griffinstone incident like last year.”

                                            >“I heard their ambassador still has gum stuck in his feathers to this day,” Spike said.

                                            >“I wouldn’t doubt it, but I warned him about encouraging Pinkie Pie.”

                                            >Twilight shook her head.

                                            >“We can’t stay stuck in the past,” she said. “What’s next?”

                                            >Spike looked down and read the next item, which made Twilight frown when she heard the human’s name spoken aloud to her.

                                            >Spike sighed when he saw the face she made.

                                            >“I take it he wasn’t ready,” Spike said.

                                            >“I don’t want to talk about it,” Twilight said. “It’s the one thing that hasn’t gone well so far and I would really rather not focus on it.”

                                            >“Gotcha.”

                                            >Spike waited for Twilight to read the next item on her list.

                                            >He noticed she had a distracted, sour expression.

                                            >“Uh, Twilight, are you—”

                                            >“He’s the one part of this entire plan that isn’t finished,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia wants to see him, and he wasn’t even awake yet when I went there this afternoon.”

                                            >“That’s kind of normal for him, though.”

                                            >“But he knows that he’s supposed to be ready,” Twilight said, “and he was still wearing his pajamas. That’s practically disrespecting the princess by itself, especially when he has those nice clothes that Rarity made for him.”

                                            >Spike looked at Twilight concernedly.

                                            >“Uh, Twilight, those clothes—”

                                            >“I’ve decided that if he’s not there at town hall when I bring Princess Celestia, then I’ll tell her that he went on a vacation to Las Pegasus a week ago and that was the last that we ever heard of him.”

                                            >“Twilight.”

                                            >“What?”

                                            >Spike began to nervously fiddle with his claws.

                                            >“You never gave him those clothes Rarity made for him.”

                                            >Twilight paused.

                                            >“Yes, I did,” she said. “I gave them to him back when I first told him about this visit.”

                                            >“No, you thought he still had the nice clothes Rarity made for him when he first came here,” Spike said. “But he told you that he lost them.”

                                            >All was still for a moment.

                                            >Spike watched as Twilight began nibbling on her bottom lip.

                                            >“But I had Rarity make him some new clothes,” Twilight said to herself.

                                            >She looked over her shoulder, towards the castle doors.

                                            >“And I hung them up on the coat hooks by the doors so I wouldn’t forget to bring . . .”

                                            >Twilight’s voice died as she saw the suit, pants and tie that were meant for him were still hung up by the door.

                                            >Her ears fell and her left eye began to twitch involuntarily.

                                            >She turned to Spike.

                                            >“What are those still doing here?”

                                            >“They’ve been there for days.”

                                            >“Days! Why didn’t you say anything?”

                                            >“I don’t know. There’s been so much to keep track of, and I didn’t know if you were doing something with them, and—wasn’t it on your checklist?”

                                            >Twilight’s eyes shrunk.

                                            >She quickly scrolled through her list.

                                            >When she reached the bottom of the list she screamed and threw it up over her in the air.

                                            >“It’s not on my list. How could I forget to put something so important on my list?”

                                            >“I don’t know,” Spike said. “Maybe you were sleepy when it happened.”

                                            >“This is terrible,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia is going to be here soon and he’s not going to be ready for her.”

                                            >Spike gasped suddenly.

                                            >“Oh, I almost forgot, I got a letter from Princess Celestia while you were gone.”

                                            >“Spike, you have to remember things like that.”

                                            >“I did remember.”

                                            >“You did not.”

                                            >“Well, I remembered it eventually.”

                                            >Twilight shook her head.

                                            >“Never mind. What did it say?”

                                            >“I couldn’t read it. I think I was holding it upside down.”

                                            >“Spike!”

                                            >The castle doors opened and Rarity walked in.

                                            >She greeted Twilight and Spike in a cheerful manner.

                                            >“Twilight, I think you’ll be delighted to know that town hall is looking absolutely ball-worthy. Why, you could host the Grand Galloping Gala there and no pony would notice, if I do say so myself.”

                                            >“You mean you’re finished?” Twilight said, amazed. “You actually finished early?”

                                            >“I did indeed.”

                                            >“That’s great,” Twilight said. “Believe me, you don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that.”

                                            >“You’re amazing, Rarity,” Spike said. “I’ll bet everything is perfect.”

                                            >“Oh, yes,” Rarity said. “It was.”

                                            >“Huh?” Twilight said. “Did you say it was?”

                                            >Rarity began wearing an uneasy smile.

                                            >“It was indeed.”

                                            >“Are you saying that it was done, but now it isn’t anymore?” Twilight said.

                                            >“No,” Rarity said. “Not anymore.”

                                            >Rarity took a deep breath, and then began sobbing uncontrollably.

                                            >She wrapped her arms around Twilight’s neck and wiped her eyes and running mascara on her friend’s coat.

                                            >“Oh, it was simply a nightmare, Twilight!”

                                            >“What do you mean? What happened?”

                                            >“You should’ve seen it before,” Rarity said. “My scenery was fit for a princess, and then they ruined it.”

                                            >“What?”

                                            >“They tore my ribbons, severed my sashes, and got ejaculate all over the floor. It looks like the aftermath of an eight-grade dance in there.”

                                            >The castle doors opened again and Applejack and Pinkie walked in.

                                            >Applejack raised an eyebrow at Rarity’s hysterics before facing Twilight.

                                            >“We got a big problem, Twilight,” Applejack said. “The vampire fruit bats somehow got spooked right out of the south fields.”

                                            >“Where are they now?” Twilight said.

                                            >“Well, they’re in town,” Applejack said, “and they ate all my apples.”

                                            >“What!”

                                            >Twilight’s jaw dropped.

                                            >She shook Rarity off of her and let the fashionista crumple onto the floor so she could approach Applejack.

                                            >“Your apples are all gone?” Twilight said.

                                            >“There aren’t even any cores left,” Applejack said.

                                            >“Yeah!” Pinkie said. “And they had too much fun and ruined all of my party games. I’ve never seen a bouncy castle bounce so much before they got in it.”

                                            >“The fruit bats ruined your party too?”

                                            >“What? Not the fruit bats, silly.”

                                            >The castle door burst open and Rainbow Dash flew in.

                                            >“Twilight, we got a big problem.”

                                            >“Oh, what is it now?” Twilight said.

                                            >“Something happened to the fair weather clouds we were saving to use on the princess’s visit. I can’t find them anywhere.”

                                            >“There aren’t any clouds?” Twilight said. “Can’t you make any more?”

                                            >“Not without more water at the weather factory we can’t, and we don’t have the time to create another tornado.”

                                            >Twilight began to feel the weight of everything that had been going wrong so far.

                                            >She started pacing back and forth in front of her friends and taking short breaths to keep from hyperventilating.

                                            >“Twilight, what do we do about the clouds?” Rainbow Dash said.

                                            >“I’m thinking,” Twilight said. “Just give me a second to think.”

                                            >Twilight paced and her friends stood anxiously nearby.

                                            >Rainbow Dash took notice of Rarity after a particularly sharp wail.

                                            >She was curled up in the fetal position on the floor, shivering and crying while Spike kneeled by her and stroked her head.

                                            >Rainbow raised one eyebrow and turned to her friends.

                                            >“What’s with Rarity?”

                                            >Applejack and Pinkie both shrugged.

                                            >“Okay,” Twilight said.

                                            >She stopped pacing.

                                            >“Okay, I think I know what to do now.”

                                            >The castle door opened again and Twilight screamed as Lyra and Lily trotted in.

                                            >Twilight swallowed a lump in her throat before turning to face them.

                                            >“Did something happen to the banner?”

                                            >Lily held up a single scrap of it.

                                            >“This is all that was left.”

                                            >“Sweet Celestia!” Twilight screamed. “Not the banner, too!”

                                            >Suddenly the castle doors both slammed open.

                                            >“Oh, what in Tartarus is it this time?” Twilight screamed.

                                            >Everyone gasped as the human, still in his robe and pajamas, ran into the foyer with Fluttershy chasing him.

                                            Get the hell away from me!

                                            >”Oh, but I just want to see it for a quick second.”

                                            Stay away from my dick.

                                            >“But I’ve been kept away from it for so long.”

                                            Get used to it.

                                            >“I just want to touch it once. I just need one little fondle of your balls to keep my strength.”

                                            Go away!

                                            >“I will if you’ll just give me one little taste.”

                                            >As they ran around the foyer, Lily started to growl.

                                            >“They destroyed my banner.”

                                            >“Our banner,” Lyra corrects.

                                            >“And they ruined my bouncy castle,” Pinkie said. “I didn’t even get to try it out yet, either.”

                                            >“And he’s the one who’s kept his dick away from me for so long,” Fluttershy said.

                                            >Everyone turned to them just as Fluttershy had the human with his back against the wall.

                                            I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s all Fluttershy’s fault. She’s been chasing me all over town.

                                            >“If one must be blamed, then blame love, my love.”

                                            >“I’ve heard enough,” Twilight shouted.

                                            >Using an immobilizing spell, she captured both Fluttershy and the human in her aura.

                                            >Though she wished she had caught them a moment earlier if only so Fluttershy didn’t have her muzzle buried in his crotch.

                                            >“Now hold on a second, every pony,” Twilight said. “Are you all absolutely sure that it was Fluttershy and—”

                                            >“That’s them!” Rarity shrieked. “Those villains ruined my ball with their carelessness.”

                                            >“They did?”

                                            >Rarity composed herself for a moment.

                                            >“Well, them and the birds and fruit bats.”

                                            >There was a moment of silence before the undercurrent of flapping, tweeting and screeching slowly rose to everyone’s ears.

                                            >Everyone turned to face the doorway, still open, as multiple shadows on the ground outside grew to the size of big black dots.

                                            >“Close the doors!” Twilight said.

                                            >But it was too late.

                                            >The birds, followed by the fruit bats, began storming into the foyer in a thick cloud that pushed against the walls, floor and ceiling.

                                            >“Incoming!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

                                            >She pressed herself down to the ground and everyone else followed.

                                            >The wings and light bodies brushed over the top of their heads and glided along their backs as they rushed forward in swift, deafening movement.

                                            >After a moment the bats and birds spread out in the castle and the storm above those that had fallen ceased.

                                            >Twilight, still on the ground and with her arms over her head, looked up and saw that a few dozen birds and fruit bats were still flying overhead but not close enough to bother them.

                                            >Twilight and the others started picking themselves up off the ground.

                                            >“Is every pony okay?” Twilight asked.

                                            >Lyra and Lily shared fearful looks with each other before screaming and trotting out the doors.

                                            >Twilight scrunched her muzzle, watching where they had been.

                                            >“Okay . . . is every pony else okay?”

                                            >Every pony else, except for Rarity, said yes.

                                            >Rarity was still huddled on the ground, her arms over her head, saying:

                                            >“My mane won’t be safe until those bats have gone.”

                                            >Twilight looked around the foyer at her disheveled friends, her infested halls and her wasted plans.

                                            >When her eyes fell on the still-immobilized culprits of all her ruin, she felt her face burning as her mind boiled over with angry thoughts.

                                            >For one small moment Twilight was glad that Fluttershy had her face buried in his crotch, because she knew that Fluttershy never would have forgotten seeing the rageful expression that was being directed at her from her friend.

                                            >Just then Twilight heard her friends gasp as some pony walked into the castle.

                                            >Princess Celestia said hello as every pony bowed to her.

                                            >Twilight watched with a bewildered expression as Princess Celestia approached her, took a small bow, and said:

                                            >“My dearest student, it is so nice to see you.”

                                            >“Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?” Twilight said.

                                            >“I think you mean to say what am I doing here so early?” Princess Celestia said sweetly. “Since it seems that you were not expecting me.”

                                            >Twilight blushed and pinned her ears back.

                                            >Princess Celestia chuckled.

                                            >“Didn’t you get my letter saying that I was coming a bit earlier than we agreed?”

                                            >Twilight frowned and looked over at Spike, who had fallen asleep next to Rarity while lying down on the floor.

                                            >“I might have gotten a letter, but I can’t be sure.”

                                            >“I apologize for the last-minute changes,” Princess Celestia said.

                                            >Princess Celestia grinned as she eyed the shifting and ever-changing current of birds and colorful bats that covered the ceiling.

                                            >“It seems I’ve caught you during quite the exciting moment.”

                                            >“I’m so sorry, princess. We had everything ready for you—”

                                            >“Oh, please, Twilight,” Princess Celestia said with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “There’s no need to apologize. I only envy that my castle isn’t so memorable in comparison.”

                                            >Princess Celestia’s eyes drifted down from the ceiling and she eventually saw the human with Fluttershy still stuck in his crotch.

                                            >Her eyes widened for a moment and she brought her hoof up to cover her mouth.

                                            >But after the initial shock wore off she shrewdly smiled and was soon calm again.

                                            >“I see your letters about him and Fluttershy were correct, though I must admit that I did think you were exaggerating a bit until now.”

                                            >Twilight’s heart skipped as she remembered that she had immobilized her friend while her face was crotch-deep in the man Princess Celestia wished to meet.

                                            >She removed her spell and Fluttershy fell down at his feet.

                                            >They both turned towards Princess Celestia.

                                            You must be Princess Celastica.

                                            >Twilight scrunched her muzzle while Princess Celestia just laughed at his mispronunciation.

                                            >She said hello and then turned her eyes to Fluttershy, who was blushing and trying to hide behind her mane.

                                            >“There’s nothing wrong with being passionate, Fluttershy,” Princess Celestia said.

                                            >“It’s just . . . I didn’t think you would see me like . . . like that . . . oh dear.”

                                            >Princess Celestia smiled and then turned to the human, her eyes looking up and down his dress.

                                            >“And I admire anyone who is comfortable enough with themselves to dress how they wish. I especially like the pajamas.”

                                            >“They’re awesome, right?” Rainbow Dash shouted from the other side of the foyer.

                                            >Twilight shook her head, turned towards the doors and took the suit in her magical aura.

                                            >“I’m very sorry for his appearance, princess,” she said. “He’s supposed to be wearing this formal wear Rarity and I prepared for him.”

                                            >As soon as she attempted to move the suit off of the hook the back ripped.

                                            >Twilight held the front of the suit with her magic but the back was still on the hook.

                                            >Rarity’s head popped up at the sound and she began looking round the room.

                                            >“What was that? I thought I heard fabric tearing.”

                                            >A second later she saw the split suit and shrieked so loud that the bats on the ceiling detached from the ceiling and flew out the open doors.

                                            >Rarity fainted as the bat mass covered the front half of the suit and eventually carried it away to parts unknown.

                                            >Everyone stared at the open doors in shock for a moment before Princess Celestia’s laughter interrupted the silence.

                                            >“I’m sorry,” she said. “I really shouldn’t laugh but . . . that was pretty funny, wasn’t it?”

                                            >She continued to laugh and eventually a few others, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the human joined in with her.

                                            >Twilight sighed and shook her head.

                                            >“Well, this has been another disaster.”

                                            >“I’m sure you didn’t plan any of this, my dear student,” Princess Celestia said, “but now that it’s happened, I must know the whole story as to how things went so off course.”

                                            >“I don’t know.”

                                            >Twilight picked up one end of the master list and showed it to Princess Celestia.

                                            >“I planned your visit down to the very last detail so everything would be perfect. But it all went wrong still.”

                                            >“And how did that happen?” Princess Celestia asked.

                                            >Twilight and Princess Celestia looked to the rest of her friends.

                                            >Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash pointed past them and at the guilty parties.

                                            >Fluttershy turned her ears down while the human frowned.

                                            Don’t look at me. It was Fluttershy’s fault.

                                            >“I’m sorry.”

                                            >Princess Celestia nodded at the two of them before turning back to the rest of Twilight’s friends.

                                            >“And do you forgive them?” she asked.

                                            >Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash all thought for a moment.

                                            >“I can always forgive a friend who’s sorry,” Pinkie Pie said.

                                            >“What the hay,” Applejack said carelessly. “I guess I ain’t mad.

                                            >“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said, “things did get pretty awesome back there for a second. I mean seriously, who knew that Fluttershy had it in her?”

                                            >Rarity mumbled in her sleep something about “Getting revenge for all the fallen who were once fabulous”.

                                            >Twilight pursed her lips.

                                            >“I think Rarity still needs some time before we can ask for her forgiveness.”

                                            >Fluttershy, hear head bowed in shame, approached Twilight with her eyes looking up from under her brow.

                                            >“Do you need some time until you can forgive me, Twilight? I know that I said I could control myself, but I ended up staying away from him for so long that I just couldn’t help it when I saw him again."

                                            Yeah, thanks for turning her into a time bomb.

                                            >Fluttershy shushed him and he crossed his arms and started to pout.

                                            >Then she turned back to Twilight with earnest eyes.

                                            >Twilight looked around the room again until the warm smile of Princess Celestia captured her attention.

                                            >Twilight sighed.

                                            >She remembered the rage that earlier had so burned her inside and she knew she had every right to still feel that anger.

                                            >But that anger was over and instead she felt an odd peace within her that all her plans had been successful at some point but were now finished.

                                            >And she was ready to forgive her friend.

                                            >“I suppose if the princess is happy, then I am too. So I forgive you.”

                                            >“Thank you,” Fluttershy said. “I’d understand it if you feel like you can’t count on me to help you anymore.”

                                            >“I can count on you, Fluttershy. I just have to factor in your crush from now on, instead of making you try to control it.”

                                            >Fluttershy blushed.

                                            >“I can control myself, but only for a little bit.”

                                            Not long enough.

                                            >“Still, I’ll remember to factor it in next time,” Twilight said.

                                            >“That should be easy for an egghead like you, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said. “No offense.”

                                            >Twilight and Fluttershy hugged each other.

                                            >The human threw his arms up in the air.

                                            So, what, that’s it? She ruined everything and you’re all just going to forget about it? She’s not even going to get in trouble?

                                            >“Chill out, man,” Rainbow Dash said. “It happens.”

                                            Yeah, it happens. It happens to me and to nobody else.

                                            >Fluttershy broke free from Twilight’s hug and went to his side before leaning herself against his leg.

                                            >“My poor sweetie.”

                                            Not your sweetie. Man, I should’ve planned Princess Celalia’s visit. None of this would’ve happened if I was in control.

                                            >“In the meantime,” Princess Celestia said, “there’s a tale to be told and a cake to tell it over. Does any pony want to join me at Sugar Cube Corner? I’m treating.”

                                            >Twilight folded her ears and smiled as every pony cheered and started for the door.

                                            >“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” Fluttershy said.

                                            >She nuzzled the human’s open hand with her muzzle until he looked down at her beaming face.

                                            >“We can share a milkshake.”

                                            That disgusts me for reasons not just related to sanitation. And don’t even think of sitting next to me when we get there either.

                                            >“Princess, would you mind it if I brought some of my feathered friends along?” Fluttershy said. “They’ve been working on a song for your visit.”

                                            >“By all means, I’d love to hear it,” Princess Celestia said. “Ah, it isn’t ‘Ode to Joy’, is it?"

                                            >“Oh, um, no . . . ?”

                                            >“Good to know. I said that was my favorite song one time five-hundred years ago and now everywhere I go that’s all any pony seems to want to play for me.”

                                            >“I, um, know ‘Camptown Races’.”

                                            >“Oh, I love that song,” Princess Celestia said with an excited whinny. “Do dah, do dah!”

                                            >Fluttershy flew up the ceiling and, after a short talk, the birds started to follow behind her in a flock.

                                            >Everyone then went with the princess out the door—everyone except for Rarity, Spike, and Twilight.

                                            >With the birds gone and the bats settled inside the darkest corners of the castle, it was finally quiet in the foyer.

                                            >Twilight was left looking at the bottom of her master checklist.

                                            >The last two items, which she had forgotten about until now, had not been checked off yet.

                                            >She read them again.

                                            >‘Last Item: Make absolutely sure that Fluttershy’s obsession with the human does not ruin all your plans.’

                                            >‘Item Infinity: If all else fails, take solace in Princess Celestia finding the humor in the situation.’

                                            >She checked them, rolled up the list, put a blanket over Spike and Rarity, who were now cuddling each other, and then trotted after her friends.


                                            >An hour later the doors to the throne room opened up and Starlight stood in the doorway leading to the foyer.

                                            >“Twilight?” she called out. “Hello? I finished making Princess Celestia’s kite.”

                                            >Starlight looked up at the foyer ceiling where the bats were hanging from, their bodies wrapped within their folded wings.

                                            >“Is there any pony besides me who sees that the castle is full of bats? The ones in my room keep trying to rip my kite up.”

                                            >She entered the foyer and saw that the doors leading outside were wide open, Twilight’s checklists were on the floor—and so were Spike and Rarity, who were both also sleeping together.

                                            >Starlight turned her ears down and looked round the foyer again.

                                            >“Twilight?” she called out. “Any pony . . . Hello . . . Is Celestia here yet or not . . . ?”