Epic Pony: Friendship is Legend

Part 1: Equestrian Secrets
Chapter 6: Twilight’s Preparation

“Let’s not talk about our ‘new friend’ around anypony else, agreed?” Rarity urged everyone, on the way back to Ponyville. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

“Um, Rarity?” Fluttershy uttered. “I’m sorry I didn’t look after Sweetie Belle like you told me to. I should’ve been more responsible.”

“All is forgiven,” Rarity replied, with a smile, “I shouldn’t have told you off like that; I was just in such a shock at the moment. Besides, Applejack is a very responsible pony, so it was all right.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy responded, then turned to Applejack. “What were you girls doing in the mountains, anyway?”

“It’s an int'restin' story, really,” Applejack answered, “Y’see, a few days ago, Apple Bloom an’ ‘er friends apparently decided t’go spelunkin’ in the mountains, an’ they were about t’jus’ waltz off when ah decided to stop ‘em an’ ask what they were up to. An’ a good thing, too, ‘cause ‘ey did’n’ even have th’proper equipment. When ah found out where they were headed, ah said that ah simply couldn’t let ‘em go off on their own. ‘It’s dangerous in th’mountains,’ ah told ‘em. But then, they said, ‘so come with us.’ At first, ah said no, but they wore me down lahk a cart full o’ anvils, so ah agreed to take ‘em. We took a couple days t’prepare, an’ left jus’ yesterday. We actu’lly had a lot o’ fun. We spent th’night campin’ in one of th’caves. Earlier t’day, we did a li’l more explorin’, an’ were jus’ about t’head home when that thing appeared.”

“It was just standin’ there, lookin’ at us,” Apple Bloom cut in, “And we were all afraid a bit, ‘cept fer Scootaloo. Isn’t that right, Scootaloo?” Scootaloo tossed her head upward with a proud expression. “Course, then it came fer us,” Apple Bloom continued, with a smirk, “And Scootaloo was runnin’ faster than any of us!”

“Hey!” Scootaloo protested, frowning at Apple Bloom.

“It’s true, you know,” Sweetie Belle added, trotting at Rarity’s side, “Applejack had to use her awesome lassoing skills to keep you from falling off a cliff that one time.” Scootaloo turned and glared at her, then looked down.

“Now, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity interjected, “Promise me you won’t get into anything dangerous ever again.”

“I promise,” Sweetie Belle agreed, “That monster really scared me. It scared all of us. We’re not going to do anything like that again.” She paused briefly, then added, “Unless, of course, all of you will be there to help us.”

Rarity sighed, while the others laughed. And so, they made their way out of the mountains, talking about the exciting things the three fillies experienced while spelunking, about the Chimaera, and, eventually, about Kelpy. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were happy to relay how they first met her, and how they managed to write and send the letter to Twilight. Twilight and Rarity then talked about their visit in Canterlot, and their late-night research on Kelpy, and how they kept it as a secret from Princess Celestia and Luna. By the time they were finished with their conversation, they had reached the edge of Ponyville, where they split up and went to their homes.

Twilight picked up her pace as she headed for the Library, her mind now full of ideas. There was something that she wanted to do, something that she could look into when she got home. When she arrived, Spike was waiting inside.

“So, how’d it go?” he asked eagerly, when Twilight closed the door behind her. “You girls took off so fast I couldn’t follow you, so I decided to come here and wait until you came back. If you came back. Which you did. So, how was the, um… what was it called again?”

“Chimaera,” Twilight answered enthusiastically, scanning the bookshelves, “And it was pretty terrifying, all right! Just like it said in the books! Luckily for us, there was this-” Twilight stopped herself. She almost brought up Kelpy, which she had just promised not do. Thinking, Twilight continued, “Um, avalanche. Yeah. There was this avalanche in one of the caves, and the Chimaera was trapped in the rocks, but everypony got out safe and sound.”

“Wow!” Spike exclaimed, “I wish I was there!”

“Believe me, you would’ve been amazed at what you saw,” Twilight hinted, taking books out and examining their titles, “Could you help me out, Spike? I’m looking for the book Spells for Exploration. There’s a spell that I want to try out, and I’m pretty sure it’s in there.”

“Spells for Exploration,” Spike repeated, “Got it.” And with that, he scurried off to look for the book.

It only took them a couple of minutes to find the book. When Spike handed it to Twilight, she immediately began flipping through the pages.

“So, whatcha looking for?” Spike asked, rocking back and forth on his feet curiously.

“Oh, nothing important,” Twilight answered firmly, not looking away from the book, “Just something that I suddenly felt like practicing for no apparent reason, and that has nothing to do with anything that’s happened recently.” She stopped to give Spike an assuring smile, then continued browsing.

“Well, is there anything else you’ll need?” Spike asked, with his eyebrows raised.

“Actually, yes,” Twilight answered, “I’m going to need a medium-sized tub filled with water. Put it in the small room, if you please. You know, the one with the door that can be locked so that nopony can look in on what I’m doing… because, um… I’d like to practice in private.”

Spike stared at her for a moment, then shrugged, said, “Alright,” and went outside to search for a tub.

Right after he left, Twilight declared, “Aha! I found it! Now, to study it, so I can practice it, so I can master it. I don’t want to mess it up when I use it later on. It’s going to be very useful in the near future.”

And so, for the rest of the afternoon, Twilight secluded herself in the small library room, with the tub of water and Spells for Exploration. She practiced the spell she found in the book over and over again, with not much success at first. Spike, who stopped every now and then to listen at the door, could hear nothing but splashes, sputtering gasps, and growls of frustration.

“Argh, this spell is trickier than I thought!” Spike overheard Twilight fuming at one point. Spike wanted to knock and ask how Twilight was doing, but he knew she didn’t like being disturbed when she was focusing on something.

Eventually, Twilight managed to cast the spell perfectly. After that, she tried it again and again to make sure she had the hang of it, and was pleased to find the same results. Hearing her squeals of joy, Spike went over to the door and reached to open it, but then Twilight flung it open, sending him flying.

“I did it, Spike!” Twilight cried. “I mastered the spell!”

“That’s great,” Spike said, holding his aching head, “What spell is it?”

“Oh, just… something to do with water,” Twilight responded, looking behind her into the room. Seeing that she left the book open to the page she was studying, she quickly shut it with her unicorn magic as Spike entered the room. The first things Spike noticed were the puddles of water on the floor.

“Whoa,” he remarked, “Whatever that spell is, you must've done a lot of practicing. I suppose I should mop this up,” he added with a sigh.

“Actually, I think I can handle it,” Twilight stated.

“Really?” Spike asked incredulously.

“Of course,” Twilight insisted, “This is my mess, so I should be the one clean it up.”

Spike leaned toward Twilight and looked her precariously in the eye. Twilight stared back with a nervous smile. Spike made a passive noise, then walked away.

“In that case, I’m heading over to Sugarcube Corner,” he said, “Pinkie Pie made a brand-new type of cupcake, and she wants me to try it.”

When he left, Twilight picked up the mop and bucket via unicorn magic, and took them into the room. As she swabbed the floor, she thought to herself. With the mastery of this new spell, her plan was now confirmed. She wondered if she should pack anything, but then she realized that nothing she had was very waterproof, and even the new spell couldn’t change that. She thought and thought and thought of other possibilities and ideas, and it took her a while to realize that the floor was now completely dry.

Setting down the bucket and mop, Twilight mumbled proudly to herself, “Got it all under control.”

That night, Twilight went to bed early, arousing Spike’s suspicion even more. He brought home one of Pinkie Pie’s new cupcakes, but Twilight told him she would try it in the morning. Even as she snuggled up comfortably under her blanket, Twilight found it hard to sleep. She was just too anxious about tomorrow afternoon. Thoughts were running through her head nonstop. She tossed and turned, and tapped impatiently with her hooves. It seemed like she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at all that night. Eventually, though, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slowly, but surely, drifted into sleep.