When we slid into Pinkie's Party cave, some of us learned Pinkie's party plans. But when I got to read my dossier, in private, I learned something that might change the trajectory of my entire life.

Had Pinkie Pie read my soul and provided a vision of a future I could not resist? Or was she once again evilly taunting me, to get me to react? I could help animals, but could I help ponies and help myself?

A My Dinner with Andre meets MLP interlude within Party Pooped. You'll never watch the episode and see it the same way again. The story does not take into account the events in subsequent episodes.

I did go overboard using Twilight’s name for my own gratification at the summit, but then I thought how odd it was that Cadance did little to help Twilight, had sent her to get sleep but had let ponies visit her anyway, and had known about the public works projects but set up a situation where I’d certainly botch it and take the blame. It was like she wanted Twilight unable to function after the summit. Not only that, but Cadance could grow crystals, and I knew only one pony who knew that magic. I volunteered to help with the Crystal Faire. Something seemed terribly wrong, and if I could not figure out what quickly enough, the Crystal Empire might fall.

Dark tag for foreboding mystery and suspense not violence.

When Doc left the reception early, he declared in his fancy Trottingham accent, “You were brilliant!" He grabbed me into a strong brief hug, with back pats, that left no doubt that I had been embraced by an earth pony stallion. And as quickly as that, he set off across the town hall’s ramada.

Me? Brilliant?

"Wait, Doc!" When he turned on the steps, I said, "You haven't eaten anything. It's free food. Not only that, it smells good, too.” Mostly, I wanted to ask what he meant by “brilliant.”

Little did I know this meant discoveries about fundamental physics, fixing a time machine, and learning the truth about my special talent.

I opened my mouth and let go of the hammer mid-swing. It clattered to the flagstone floor with sparks.

Nopony had given Princess Twilight a house-warming gift. Nopony. And somepony had to fix that.

Could I arrange for everyone in Ponyville to do just that? I was differently shy than that famously shy Fluttershy, but shy nonetheless, and tongue-tied around others. I’m even scared of butterflies…

Yeah, I’m Bulk Biceps, and this is my time-bending tale.

Saving a friend, and acknowledging her, had led me to right here, right now, Twilight Sparkle’s tourist guidebook under my talons, thinking about this thing ponies called community. Griffons had lost the symbol they agreed brought them together and had allowed themselves to forget their greatness. It was the degradation I’d brought upon myself when I humiliated myself at Pinkie Pie’s party. But then I thought, what if Dashie had foreseen the true second step in saving us? She knew griffons through me. Was she right? Save the idol, save the world?

So Fluttershy said, “Pretty much everypony knows you’ll ask us out. Your performance at the Gala is the talk of the town. The Downtown Rag ran a transcript.” I said, "Well, then, dinner out?" To which Fluttershy replied, "Yes, if Tree Hugger agrees."

And there in a nutshell lies my problem: This red-maned Bohemian was inscrutable and unflappable. And picky about the food she puts in her temple. Worse, I had the uncanny feeling she was playing me. Me? Yeah, she didn’t remember meeting me. That was my line! So, how do you arrange a double date, without raining down chaos, and keeping every pony happy?

Well, I started by asking Spike about Rarity...

I only want to help ponies. Twilight had it all wrong about me. Yes, I stole her and her friend's cutie marks, but nopony else's before that. I ran a town of happy ponies. But in the end, I deluded myself. Choice is important in equalization therapy. I've set up practice, under the radar, in Canterlot, where plenty of ponies have trouble dealing with life. Problem is, my reputation proceeds me. And today, it looks like somepony wants me to help him help his "friend," and not in a good way. Sometimes it seems my life is filled with burnt hay burgers.

This story follows show canon only through the season 6 season opener.