Mini Messages

Hello, Other Occupant.

First of all, my name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, but my friends call me Twilight. I apologize for the mess I left last night; I was not aware of your presence.

Also, would you mind answering some questions? If there is a guest in my palace, then I would like to know a little bit about them. I would like to know how long you've been here, why you're here, and where exactly have you been staying? And if you wouldn't mind, I would like to meet you some day. Please reply ASAP; I've left parchment and a quill by this note for you to write back. Thank you.

~Twilight

The unicorn was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected a reply. Then again, who wouldn't want to know about a guest who happens to be staying in your house behind your back? Levitating the quill, she began a reply.

* * *

Twilight practically leaped out of bed the next morning. She galloped into the kitchen, leaving a snoring Spike behind, and scanned for a letter.

There it was! In the middle of the table sat a new note. Twilight excitedly grabbed it and began reading.

Twilight,

I understand you did not know I was here. Don't worry about that. As for the questions, I have lived here for a few months. As for why I'm here, well, I'm not going to get into that just yet. Where I live? I think I'll show you a little later. I think I should wait a little while to meet you. Sorry I cannot provide more information, but it's for your safety.

Oh, and as for you, I'm tired of eating scraps. I would appreciate it if you left some food in the middle of the table each night. Thanks. And by the way, my name is Snowflake.

~Snowflake

Twilight's heart was beating rapidly. I can't believe it! I have a guest in my palace who I'm talking to! Well, not talking to, more like writing to, but still! I wish I could meet her, but she seems to be a little too uncomfortable with that. Oh well. Hopefully I'll get to meet her in the future.

"Morning, Twi." A familiar voice drifted into the room, and Spike walked in. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, nothing," Twilight sang. Excitement and confusion were coursing through her. She couldn't wait to learn more about this pony...hopefully Snowflake wasn't dangerous! Was Snowflake comfortable? When would they get to meet?

"TWILIGHT!"

"What?" Twilight blinked, snapped out of her stupor by Spike's yell.

"I said, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Oh. Um...anything's fine."

"Ok." Spike looked at her, concerned. "Twilight? Are you okay?"

"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno. You just seem...different."

"Oh."

Twilight was planning out what to write next. Should I ask more questions? I don't want to seem nosy. How do I know I can trust Snowflake? Maybe I should ask when they'll feel alright to meet? What if I sound pushy? And the food...I'll have to remember to set some food out.

Spike set a plate in front of Twilight loaded with apples and daisies. Twilight began to slowly eat breakfast, pondering her reply.

"Twilight?"

"Hmm?"

"Um...won't you be late for your meeting with Mayor Mare?"

"What?" All thoughts of her next letter instantly vanished as her heartbeat sped up even more. "I'm going to be....TARDY?" Twilight's horn lit up and in a magenta burst, she was gone.

Spike sighed and rolled his eyes.  "Bye, Twilight," he muttered.

* * *

Snowflake couldn't believe it when she found another reply, as well as a platter full of apple slices set out for her. She only needed one of the slices, but she was grateful for the gesture. She gobbled one down, grateful for the juicy, sweet taste.  Ah...that's the most I've eaten in awhile.

After her snack, she settled down to read the reply, her eyes skimming over the neat writing of Twilight Sparkle.

Snowflake,

Thank you for that much information. I suppose I can wait to find out the other information, but eventually, I may need to know it. What I want to know mainly is when you'll feel comfortable meeting me? I don't want to force you to before your ready, but if you're living in my palace, I would like to know a little bit about you. Also, is there anything else you need? Just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

~Twilight

Her lips curled up in a slight smirk. She wants to meet me, huh? I think she'd be pretty surprised when she saw me. Chuckling aloud, she grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and began her reply.

* * *

Spike was annoyed.

Twilight had been very distracted lately. She had been reading tiny slips of parchment nonstop lately, and Spike had no idea what they meant. The one he had read made no sense to him, and Twilight refused to explain. And now he barely even got to talk to her because she was so busy.

I hope she's not mad at me...what if she doesn't need me any more and has been trying to tell me that by ignoring me? Spike's eyes widened. No, that couldn't be it. Could it?.

Spike groaned, pulling the covers up to his chin. It was the middle of the night, and he was restless. He couldn't stop thinking about Twilight and the pieces of parchment. Not only had the mare been sneaking snacks outside and been acting obsessed with the slips of paper on her table, but the mare had been acting extremely wary. She always seemed to be on the lookout for something, and she often begun staring into space for so long that Spike had had to snap her out of it.

After another moment, he sat up, pushing the covers away, and crawled out of his bed. He made is way into the kitchen, where he grabbed a bowl of gems and flopped down on a chair in the throne room. Grasping a ruby in his claws, he shoved it in his mouth, savoring the sweet taste.

Wait a second... He looked at the floor again to see a tiny piece of parchment sitting in the middle. How'd I miss that? He grabbed it, prepared to toss it, but after another glance he realized that the paper had words on it.

What is it? The temptation to read the paper was weighing on Spike, but he turned away. It's not mine...and Twilight said I shouldn't snoop...

But the urge was too strong. His eyes snuck a quick glance at the paper, and he was instantly hooked. Entranced, he kept reading.

Dear Twilight,

I understand that you're willing to meet me. A stranger in your house, living behind your back? It's probably s bit scary. You're going to have to trust me that I'm not a bad guy. But a meeting may not be the best thing...let's just say that my appearance may be a surprise. Again, just trust me that I'm okay.

Oh, and about things I need...Even though I don't like huge messes, if you could leave a few books of varying sizes out, that would also be great. Thanks.

~Snowflake

It was another note from...Snowflake? Who the hay was that? And the note said she was living behind Twilight's back? Spike swallowed the crushed pieces of an emerald, beginning to fret. This Snowflake could be a threat! She's somehow living in this castle? But...how? Something strange is going on, and I'm going to find out...

* * *

Snowflake was peering through the tiny peephole she had carved into the door. The assistant...whatever his name was...was reading her letter!

How dare he! She turned and began to pace, silently seething. Those are between Twilight and me only!

She bit her lip angrily, fighting the urge to go out there and give him a piece of her mind. But she couldn't risk revealing herself to him. Not yet. She continued to pace the perimeter of her tiny home angrily, stopping to peer through the peephole. The assistant was now looking closely at the note, a worried expression on his face.

Stupid dragon. He should know better than to snoop. She stabbed the ground with her hoof angrily as the assistant turned the paper over.

After what felt like forever, the assistant let out a long, unsatisfied sigh and set the letter back down. He picked up a half-eaten gem and waddled out of the room, finally leaving Snowflake alone. She waited one more minute before trotting out once more.

She sat down in front of the massive bowl full of gems. The dragon had left them, and there were several left. Perfect. She instantly closed her eyes for a moment, igniting her horn, then concentrated on a massive sapphire. A weak aura began to form around it, and she slowly willed it upwards.

The gem was heavy, but Snowflake was persistent. Beads of sweat began to drip down her face, and she let out a tiny grunt as the sapphire glided up.

As continued to levitate the heavy gem, a sharp sound broke suddenly echoed throughout the room. Her concentration instantly broke, and her eyes widened as the sapphire flung itself against the bowl of gems. Snowflake squeaked, then clapped a hoof over her mouth. Her ears pricked as the noise grew louder.

Loud clinks filled the room as gems spilled everywhere, the quiet sound magnified by the crystal walls. Snowflake clapped her hooves over her ears, the sound too great for her sensitive hearing. Oh no...

Footsteps sounded in the hall as the noise subsided. Snowflake turned to run back to her home, but a maze of gems blocked her path. Her magic, already well-used from that night's practice session, was much harder to summon and control as she attempted to levitate the objects out of her path. Panic coursing through her, she quickly cut off the flow of magic and begun to swerve around the jewels littering the floor.

No! Snowflake dove behind a sapphire, her muscles tense and ready to run if she were discovered. Sweat now drenched her body instead of just beading her forehead, and she tried desperately to make her breaths silent.

It was the assistant. She could hear him muttering as he picked up the gems.

Oh, no. Please, Celestia, don't let him see me, please...

Closer and closer. In one last desperate attempt, she lit her horn and tried to teleport, but her already weakened magic refused to perform such a spell. The assistant was now dangerously close, breathing fire-warmed breath in her direction.

His claws were coming. If she ran, she would be seen. Maybe if I grab on, he won't see me...

She hugged her hooves around the gleaming blue stone a heartbeat before she felt herself being lifted into the air. She drew in her hind legs tightly as she struggled to keep a hold on the gem. The assistant wasn't even bothering to look at the gem as he moved back towards the bowl. Almost there...

Suddenly, her forelegs, wrapped tightly around the gem, began to slip. She squeezed the sapphire with all her might, but her efforts were in vain. She was falling.

Please, just put me back in the bowl...before I slip...

Now, just the very end of her forelegs were hanging on. Her body was shaking, and her legs ached, but she held on. Just a few more more seconds...

Without warning, she was no longer clinging to the gem, but plummeting downwards like a rock. With no way to soften her fall, she curled into a tiny ball and prepared for the earth-shattering impact. Terror made her heartbeat speed up, and time seemed to slow around her as she fell, her icy blue mane streaming upwards. Make it quick, Celestia, please...

* * *

Spike was a bit confused and more than a bit miffed at the sight of all of his precious gems on the floor. He had heard a chorus of clinks on his way to get some water and come to check it out, and was greeted with this sight.

How the hay did these even fall over? Annoyed, he grasped a gem in his claw and deposited it into the bowl. He continued this for a moment, picking up gems and dropping them into the bowl.

With a only a few to go, he picked up a sapphire and turned back towards the bowl. He didn't bother to inspect the gem for dust that may have coated it; he was just glad to almost be through with the tedious task of replacing gems. Plus, it was making him hungry again.

Suddenly, a white shape fell from the gem. It appeared to be a snowy white ball, small enough to fit in his palm. Curious, he plucked it out of the air to further inspect it. Mm...maybe it's a diamond that got stuck to it? Wait...diamonds are shiny and hard. This thing is not shiny and hard.

What is this thing? And more importantly, what was it doing on my gem? He leaned in closely, studying it. It was soft, as if it had fur. And it had something silky and icy blue trailing from it.

Looking even closer, he frowned. Wait a second, that looks like...no, it can't be. Could it?