Had Apple Bloom been visible, Dinky would have shrunk back at the look of disgust aimed at her.
Had it been anypony else, Apple Bloom would have called them a liar to their face, and even pushed them down for spreading nasty rumors about her closest friends. With Dinky, it was different. Dinky spoke like an adult, or at least like the kind of filly who spent more hours reading books without pictures instead of talking with her peers. It was easy for anypony to simply agree with what she said based on how she said it.
At that moment, Dinky sounded envious.
“Well,” Apple Bloom said, speaking roughly, as she began to turn away, “ah guess ah know why nopony in class talks to ya much.”
“Huh?” she heard Dinky say, but was already walking away from her. “I’m not lying! I saw them!”
“First of all,” Apple Bloom raised her voice, “ah know Scootaloo really likes Rainbow Dash, but ta kiss her? Fillies and mares do not kiss on the mouth. And nopony kisses with tongues! That just don’t make any sense.”
At that moment, Dinky’s invisibility spell on herself flickered. Apple Bloom saw Dinky’s body appear in a flash, only to disappear the moment after. The quick look she saw on Dinky’s face was full of confusion.
“Doesn’t make… are you being serious?” Dinky asked, and once more, her body flicked into view, the spell on her seeming to strain under stress.
“Ah feel like ah’m the only pony here who has been serious about anythin’. First, ya get me to invade Snails’ privacy for somethin’ that sounds like a whole lot of nonsense to me, and now ya want to get me to believe mah best friend is puttin’ her tongue in her favorite pony’s mouth? Those would be fightin’ words if ya were any pony else, and don’t just think it’s because ah can’t see-”
Apple Bloom stopped short. Dinky’s spell cracked around her body like the shattering of glass. Dinky quickly reappeared whole and very much visible, looking over her body in shock. Apple Bloom noticed how Dinky’s legs were trembling.
“My spell?! It must be the stress… this has never happened before. Wait, Apple Bloom? Are you still here? Where are you now?”
Dinky not only looked less confident than she had before, Apple Bloom could hear the fear in her tone as she spoke. All the confidence she spoke with seemed to disappear along with her spell.
“Ah’m still standin’ right in front of ya.”
Dinky looked directly at where she heard Apple Bloom, but her gaze shifted from left to right without a focus for her to settle on. “I know it might sound hard to believe right now. Let me start from the beginning about what I saw. I think you will understand better once you hear just what happened yesterday.”
Dinky woke up in discomfort. Her neck was sore, mouth dry, and her back legs ached something fierce. She slowly raised her head from the book she had used as a pillow, though she could not recall when she fell asleep.
It was not the first time this had happened.
Twilight Sparkle had told her once that she suspected Dinky could take naps easier at the library than at her home. Believing Dinky to be a fellow bibliophile, Twilight theorized that an overwhelming sense of calmness and security could result in spontaneous soporific reactions to an already tense mind. Surrounded by books made Dinky feel calm and at peace, enough to take naps without her noticing she was getting tired. Twilight had spoken to her about falling asleep during her studies before:
It could also mean you are under a lot of stress when you are not at the library. You are still just a filly, try not to worry so much over the things you cannot control. I know it is easy for me to say that, but I see you make the same mistakes I did at your age. It is a hard habit to break, but speaking from experience, you will be happier if you do not hold on so tightly to the things that worry you. In addition, you do not have to apologize for falling asleep during your studies; I still use books as pillows too every now and then, even if I don’t mean to!
“Princess Twilight?” Dinky called out, rubbing the back of her neck and noticing how sore her flank felt, no doubt a sign of having sat for too long. She looked around the small, mostly empty private reading room to find she was alone. She could not even recall when she had entered the room, or what she had tried to study. The windows were open, letting in a breeze and showing Dinky where the sun now sat in the sky—it was getting close to dinnertime, her mom would be coming to pick her up soon.
She was about to call out for her princess again when she noticed a pitcher of ice water on the table and a single glass. Both items were a safe distance from the magic theory book Dinky assumed she had been reading. The empty glass sat on top of an open letter, signed by Twilight and written out to her.
A practiced burst of magic quickly put both the glass and letter in an aura of sparkling yellow magic. Dinky raised the glass and brought the letter up for her to read. A quick glance to the pitcher of water encased it in her magic next, lifting it to pour Dinky a much-needed drink.
To my faithful student, Dinky read, and felt a shiver go down her back, unaware of how she squeezed her back legs together to hear that phrase in her mind, spoken in Twilight’s motherly voice. It was her secret pleasure to hear Twilight call her ‘my faithful student’.
To my faithful student,
Your mother ran into Spike Spike ran into your mother this afternoon and informed him that there was an emergency at work that would make her stay longer, perhaps well into midnight. She is fine, but asked if you could spend the night with me at the library. Spike agreed for me (and I am SO happy to have you over). I would have told you myself, but I did not want to wake you. By the time you read this, Spike and I will be out getting groceries; he has offered to make us a special dinner tonight.
The library is closed, but you are not alone. Rainbow Dash crashed came to visit to read the latest autobiography of A.K. Yearling, and she agreed to stay until Spike and I return.
I know I might seem too old to you for this, and it will be just the two of us, but how do you feel about treating this as a sleepover party? No ‘Princess’ Twilight, just plain old Twilight Sparkle and her good friend Dinky Hooves, sharing a bed and telling stories (no scary stories I promise), playing some truth or dare, maybe even a pillow fight?
In the meantime, try practicing your invisibility spell while I am gone. You have been making great progress with that spell, more so than I would have guessed a filly your age could manage. Remember it is important to keep the flow of magic stea-
Spike is telling me to hurry, and I suppose my letter is getting a little long. I will see you soon.
Yours Always,
Twilight Sparkle
Princess of Friendship
Dinky's drowsiness was instantly gone after reading Twilight’s letter. She even forgot the stiffness in her body as she reread the letter, squealing at the idea of having dinner and a sleepover with her princess!
Part of her could not help feeling a little bad. She would not be able to see her mom that night, and the selfish part of Dinky was relieved, if only a little. Her mother worked too hard, and Dinky often took it upon herself to get dinner ready for her, as well as take care of the chores around the house, believing she was doing her part in taking care of her mom. All the practice she had with cooking would come in use tonight; it would be another way to show off her skills and impress her princess.
Moving away from the table, Dinky briefly wondered if she should inform Rainbow Dash that she was awake now. She hesitated, wondering if she really needed to. She had seen Rainbow all around town, or at least heard her speaking loud and boastful. She had never actually spoken to the Element of Loyalty before, and something about her nature did not make Dinky feel inclined to make introductions.
On the other hand, maybe, indirect introductions would be better.
The princess did suggest that I practice that spell more. I bet Rainbow Dash is really different when she thinks no one is watching.
Dinky shut her eyes and summoned a swell of magic in her horn that left her feeling slightly light headed and dizzy. Her magic felt heavy but strong, reminding her of a river current. It was unstoppable, but only needed a little direction for the purpose she needed. The glow in her horn built, and then started to spill down her body like liquid gold, coating her all over in warmth. She could feel even the tips of her mane and tail bathed in her magic, which was the sign she needed to cease her silent spell. Her horn dimmed, along with the glow on her body. As it dimmed, she raised a hoof up to her face, watching the shape of it diminish, until it was no longer there.
It was getting easier and easier to become invisible.
“Awesome!” Dinky smiled, checking to make sure she was invisible, “Now, Let’s see what the real Rainbow Dash is like when she thinks no one is watching.”
Stepping out into the main floor of the library, Dinky did not have to try hard to find out where Rainbow Dash was. She heard the faraway sounds of giggles coming in the direction of Twilight’s open bedroom, along with the squeaks of bedsprings.
Wait, what is going on? It sounds like there is somepony else besides Rainbow Dash here.
Dinky moved quietly towards the stairs and the bed squeaks became louder. She froze as a voice that was certainly not Rainbow Dash’s suddenly spoke up.
“We’re going to wake her.”
I’ve heard that voice before…
“She’s pretty far away, Squirt. But if you really want us to be quiet, we better do something about your mouth.”
“Rainbow D-”
Her curiosity piqued, Dinky reached the head of the stairs, eyes opening wide at the sight of Rainbow Dash lying on Twilight’s bed, holding Scootaloo on top of her. They were kissing, with their tongues.
Kissing was a gentle way of saying it. Dinky had not seen many other ponies around town in a lip lock, but she had read plenty of adult books that described kissing as one of the most passionate things two ponies could do. The sight before her put those books to shame.
Scootaloo looked like she was leading the kiss, her front legs wrapped around Dash, resting under her head. She kept her eyes closed as she pressed the kiss forward, moaning into Dash’s mouth. Dash in turn had Scootaloo wrapped in her wings, making a blanket of feathers around the filly. Even from the distance she kept, Dinky could see their tongues quickly swirling inside their mouths.
Louder squeaks from the bed pulled Dinky’s attention away from the kiss. Under Rainbow Dash’s wings, Dinky could see Scootaloo rocking her hips, as if she was making lazy thrusts against the older pony. Dash grinned under the kiss, her front legs moving over Scootaloo’s body where her wings did not cover, and began rubbing circles over Scootaloo’s blank flank.
That got Scootaloo to break the kiss, letting out a surprisingly high-pitched moan that made Dinky’s knees buckle.
“Thought you wanted us to keep quiet?” Rainbow Dash asked playfully.
“I can’t keep quiet if your hooves are going to be touching me there,” Scootaloo complained, taking a moment to lick her lips. It sounded to Dinky that Scootaloo was not really complaining at all.
She also could not name the look that came over Dash’s face, “Where should my hooves be touching you then?”
Dash pulled her wings away, resting them on the bed and allowing Dinky to see her classmate’s wings stiffly raised up. Having read anatomy books, Dinky knew just what it meant for a Pegasus to have their wings raised so prominently.
“I think we both know the answer to that question.”
Dinky found herself agreeing with Scootaloo, her eyes still on the filly’s flank. Rainbow Dash’s hooves had not moved away nor had they stopped rubbing circles over her.
“Hey Squirt? Are you winking back there?”
Dinky heard herself gasp, but luckily, Scoots and Dash had not noticed. Though she wanted to get a look for herself, she could not take another step past the stairs, fearful that even the slightest movement would give her position away.
“Y-yeah… I am. Are you?” Scootaloo asked, sounding to Dinky as if she was beginning to breathe heavy.
“Hmmm,” Dash gave Scootaloo a thoughtful look, her hooves still rubbing in circles. “I might soon. Guess that means we better call it quits here.”
“What?!” Scootaloo yelled, looking outraged.
“Sorry Squirt, but think about it,” Dash gave Scootaloo an apologetic smile, bringing a hoof up to caress the filly’s pouting cheeks. “If we go flying now, I think Princess Star Butt is going to wonder why her bedspread is soaked.”
S-Star Butt? How dare she! Dinky clenched her teeth, surprised and upset that one of her princess’ close friends would call her names behind her back. Joking or not, it struck Dinky as a low blow, and got her legs to start moving again.
She carefully walked back down the stairs, ignoring whatever Scootaloo brought up about flying, which Dinky herself did not understand and was now too upset to care about. Heading back to the room she had done her studying in, she let the invisibility spell dissipate around her, then took the door to the private reading room in her magic, opening and then slamming it shut with a loud bang.
She could hear the two ponies suddenly scramble to pull away from each other, and Dinky allowed herself a small smile at having put an end to their time alone.
“And that’s how it happened,” Dinky said, sitting on the grass, no longer trying to spot just where Apple Bloom was standing. “Five minutes later the Princess and Spike came back to the library. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo stayed for dinner. It was after dinner that Scootaloo tried to make conversation with me, but I could not really look her in the eye after what I saw. I could still… smell her. She asked me if I could recommend any easy reading manuals on flying, and told her I could get her one when she came to school today; that was when she told me she wouldn’t be at school.”
Apple Bloom had remained quiet throughout Dinky’s detailed account of yesterday, and while she was ready to dismiss it completely, she now found herself questioning how believable the details were. Certain parts of Dinky’s story struck her as being hard to lie about.
“Apple Bloom? I’m sorry, I know it must be hard to believe, but everything I said is true.”
“Really?” Apple Bloom found herself asking in a cold tone. “Ya sneak around and spy on other ponies, how can ah be expected to trust ya?”
Dinky’s ears pressed against her head and she let out a sigh before thinking of how to respond to that. “I guess that is fair. I won’t deny that I have some, bad habits. I’m not a trusting pony. I’ve seen and heard too much to be very trusting of anypony. The ways ponies act when they think they're alone versus when they are in front of you, it’s like night and day sometimes.
“But still,” Dinky continued, “It’s for that reason that I hate liars. I would never resort to lying. Everything I’ve said is true.”
Apple Bloom did not respond right away. There were things she was still trying to work out from what Dinky had told her, things that had her more disturbed than she realized. “Ya said ya heard Dash mention somethin’ about flyin’?”
Dinky nodded, “I didn’t think too much of it before, but yes, she definitely said, ‘If we go flying now’. I have a feeling I know what that phrase really meant.”
“W-what do ya think it meant?”
“Well… given that Scootaloo was already on top of Rainbow Dash at the time, and the part about winking, it’s safe to assume they were going to have sex.”
“No.” Apple Bloom shook her head and stood up, turning away from Dinky. “That’s impossible. Ah might not know much about… that, but ah know it’s for makin’ babies only.”
“Only?” Dinky stood up, hearing Apple Bloom sound as if she was going to walk away. “That might be its main purpose, but sex is also for pleasure. In fact, it’s mostly for pleasure.”
Pleasure?
Apple Bloom banished the thought. “But they’re both girls. They ain’t got… ya know. All the right… parts.”
Dinky blushed a little, “No. They do not. But that doesn’t matter because—”
Wait, don’t tell me…!
“—they can use their hooves to pleasure themselves. It’s basic masturbation.”