Mush Story

by Dafaddah

Chapters

What did you do on your 500th Birthday, Twilight?
Something Borrowed
We'll always have Paris

What did you do on your 500th Birthday, Twilight?

Mush Story

by
Dafaddah

Chapter one: What did you do on your 500th birthday, Twilight?

Edited by Sharp Logic, TotallyNotaBrony and Mythee

Prologue

“Who was your first special somepony?” asked the little unicorn filly. The classroom behind her exploded in a fit of excited tittering. Most of the twenty of so foals would never have considered asking such a daring question, but Ginger Snap was more daring than the average filly. Their teacher, a young earth pony stallion pale of coat and mane, practically glowed red in embarrassment. The filly tried to hide her own giggles behind a dainty orange hoof. Twilight thought it was all so very cute!

She hadn’t lost her smile despite the awkward question. After five hundred years of being a Princess of Equestria, Twilight’s control over her ‘public face’ – as Celestia called it – was rock solid. She scanned the eager young faces gazing towards her expectantly. Looking into those innocent eyes she saw much of herself at that age, and she knew she couldn’t lie to them. Besides, she had offered to answer any questions they had.

“Uh, children," said their teacher, "we shouldn’t ask Her Majesty such personal things that are long past and surely forgotten.”

“Nonsense!” Twilight gently chided the stallion. “After all these years of life I can personally attest that the past is never gone, it’s all around us.” She gestured at the pictures of the princesses and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony that covered the walls of the tiny classroom. “This is especially true of those you have loved and those who loved you.”

She looked into her past and gathered her thoughts. Names, faces, and feelings rushed back into her awareness. The joy and the hurt. Sight, scent, touch. Him. How incredibly precious it all seemed to her now.

“It was not long after Tirek tried to take over Equestria...”

Part one: Ambassador Sparkle

Princess Celestia’s office felt a bit crowded with all four princesses, Discord and the ambassadors of the Dragon, Gryphon, Minotaur, and Diamond Dog nations all standing in a rough circle before her huge desk. Bright daylight came in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the cheerful light a stark contrast to the serious expressions on all their faces.

“This is a historic moment for all the inhabitants of this world,” said Princess Celestia. “For today we send an emissary to another planet, in the spirit of Friendship and Harmony.” She glanced at Discord.

“You have all been made aware of my involuntary visit to the world of the humans, instigated by Discord, –” she waved a hoof in his direction “– who has since wisely chosen to reconcile with us, offering his assistance in establishing peaceful contact with the humans, and in making it possible for us to create a bridge between our two universes.”

Discord grinned sheepishly. "Really, Celestia, you must admit some good did come of my little prank." When Celestia raised an eyebrow in his direction he quickly added: "And of course I promise to never do it again."

Celestia continued. “You have also been made aware of certain reservations I have regarding the establishment of such a link. The humans are both more technologically advanced and far more numerous than we are. Consequently, we have worked closely with Princess Twilight Sparkle to ensure that this gateway between our worlds will allow mutually beneficial exchanges and trade, while limiting the potential dangers inherent in dealing with such powerful beings.”

She turned to Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight, are you sure you want to do this?”

The young princess swallowed. Her mentor hadn’t been smiling when she asked the question, a sure sign she thought that the road ahead might not be an easy one. She nodded, and grinned nervously. “I just hope I’m ready for it.”

Celestia regarded her a moment, her eyes searching for something in Twilight’s own. Then the corners of her mouth curled upwards and Twilight basked in the radiant warmth of a full-on Sun Princess smile. “Yes, Twilight, I’m sure you are.” She nodded to Discord.

He rolled his eyes and held up his paw. “Very well! Let’s do this before this scene gets any more maudling.”

“Wait! I haven’t –” Twilight began just as Discord snapped the digits of the paw and...

... rushing blackness filled Twilight’s senses. As she fell, her entire body was wracked in pain all the way to her core. It felt like her body was being ripped apart, which wasn’t very far from the truth.

Despite Celestia’s warning about how this would feel, her mouth flew open with a shriek of anguish that terminated suddenly as she landed on her back.

Twilight gasped, slowly catching her breath. She opened her eyes. She was lying on her back on a soft surface. A quick glance down revealed exactly what she expected: the body of the Alice Scrivello, the human with whom Princess Celestia had swapped bodies involuntarily for that first visit to Earth, and who had now done the same thing with Twilight, but this time voluntarily.

Several humans stood around her bed. One, an elderly mare... uh, woman, leaned closer. “Princess Sparkle?” she enquired gently.

Twilight bent at the waist and pushed herself up into a sitting position with her forelimbs. She looked down and saw the rather unsightly collection of digits now supporting her instead of hooves. The urge to wriggle and experiment with them was almost irresistible. Remember your mission, Twilight! She turned her head to face the woman who had spoken.

“Yes, indeed,” she said with a smile. She quickly scanned the room. As expected she sat on a bed in a hospital room with several people looking intently at her. Remembering Celestia and Alice’s protocol briefings, she held out her right hand. It took her a moment to figure out how to position her fingers the way Alice had described she should. “And you must be Secretary of State Rosemary Pinchaunt.”

The woman took the proffered limb in her own and pumped it up and down firmly, although certainly not as vigorously as Applejack did when she shook hooves. It’s so weird that they have the same greeting gestures as we do! she thought. She turned her gaze back up to the human’s face.

“So I am,” said the woman. “Welcome to the United States of America, Princess, and to planet Earth!”

She let go of Twilight’s limb and stood back a bit, waving a hand at the humans on the other side of the bed. "These fine gentlemen are Mr. Hiro Takehashi, –” the man who had dark hair and eyes, and a golden tinge to his complexion, bowed “– special envoy from the United Nations, Mr. Jason Redfield, –” an older man with a white beard nodded his head “– the Secretary of Commerce, and this –" she pointed to the man standing next to her "– is Richard Lyon, whom I've appointed special liaison to Equestria. He will be assisting you during your stay on our world."

Lyon smiled. “I’ve been told you might need some assistance to walk at first...” He offered her a foreleg. No, Twi, the forelimbs are called arms, she reminded herself.

She grinned back and dropped her hind legs over the side of the bed. Just legs, Twi. “Don’t worry, Mr. Lyon, I practiced walking upright extensively before I left Equestria, –” she slid onto the floor “– so I should have no difficulty in getting around.” She took a confident step forward, squealed as she overbalanced, bumped her head on something hard, and promptly found herself lying on her back on the floor.

Secretary Pinchaunt was bent over her, concern written all over her face, but hesitating to touch her. “Are you alright, Princess?”

Twilight wiggled a bit. Nothing felt damaged or or particularly painful, although she did feel a flush of heat spreading from her face. So, humans blush just like ponies do! Twilight grinned sheepishly up at her. “I take that back. Maybe I need just a teensy bit more practice. Staying balanced without a tail is trickier than I thought it would be!” She glanced at Lyon and saw blood dripping from the human’s chin. “Oh my gosh! And I think Mr. Lyon needs to see a doctor.”

The Secretary looked up at her assistant. Her eyes grew wide as she took in his bloodied countenance. “Richard! You’re injured!” she said.

He straightened up slightly, dripping red down his white dress shirt. He held a tooth in one hand. “Etter ake tha a dentis,” he remarked and then hunched over, so that the blood dripped to the floor instead of onto his clothing.

Pinchaunt kneeled and offered Twilight a hand, which she gratefully accepted. Once upright she noticed the gap in Lyon's teeth. And his swollen lip. And the flash of resentment in the man’s eyes. She felt her heart sink in her upright human chest.

Great first impression, Twi, she thought. Ready? My hoof!

Twilight stared at her Ceasar Salad and tried not to hyperventilate. The morning had been an endless sequence of small disasters as Twilight tripped, inadvertently kicked, stepped on people’s feet, and generally fell off of chairs, sofas and even the commode in the bathroom when she needed to go. Her only luck had been the fact that the stalls to either side of hers had been unoccupied at the time. These feet things are awful! she thought. They project in front of everypony, and worst of all me!

After being driven to a large glass and steel office building, her agenda had mostly consisted of introductions, and a re-reading of the preliminary gateway accord between Equestria, the United Nations of Earth, and the US government, as that was where the initial portal would be set up. During all of this Mr. Lyon had been to visit a dental clinic.

If Alice had been there she could have helped him, thought Twilight ruefully. The human was a dental medicine technician on a huge human warship. She had even taken a job as assistant to Ponyville's dentist, Colgate, during her involuntary stint as a pony in Equestria. But then she wouldn’t have knocked the poor man’s tooth out with her forehead to start off with. She sighed.

They had finally broken for lunch and carefully walked to a neighboring restaurant. Now I have to eat with utensils using these hands instead of magic, and without utterly embarrassing myself – again!

“Is there a problem, Twilight?” asked the Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Redfield – he had invited her to call him Jason – to which she had reciprocated with her own first name. His attitude was very straightforward and matter-of-fact, traits that Twilight appreciated all the more since her coronation.

“No, Jason.” She grinned nervously. “It’s just that being human is harder than I thought it would be.” Under his friendly gaze her own smile grew warmer. “I thought the negotiations for setting up the portal would be the real challenge here, but trust me, bilateral inter-universal trade agreements are easy-peasy compared to using fingers to hold salad forks. I mean, stuff like that is so much easier to do using magic.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve mentioned magic more than once this morning. Forgive me, but it’s a bit hard for me to imagine that such a thing exists.”

Twilight grinned at him. “Would you like a small demonstration?”

“Sure. What did you have in mind?”

Twilight licked her lips in anticipation. “Watch my salad fork.”

Her brows furrowed, and nothing happened. “Uh, Princess Celestia warned me that it was harder to do magic without a horn to focus it. Let me try that again.” Her face scrunched up, and she stared at the fork until a bead of sweat appeared on her brow. A purple glow erupted around the utensil. Slowly, it levitated into the air, and then suddenly shot upwards, embedding itself in the plaster ceiling. Several guests at nearby tables stared at it, and then at Twilight. Two rose from their tables and left the room.

She grinned sheepishly. “Princess Celestia also warned me that without a horn it’s hard to control intensity. Sorry!”

All four of them still had their eyes on the fork’s handle protruding from the ceiling when a movement to her left caused Twilight to look down. A somewhat puffy faced Richard Lyon sat down to her immediate left.

“Mr. Lyon,” she said hesitantly, “I’m so glad they could repair the... damage I did. It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

His attempt at a smile would have been friendly enough, if it wasn’t for the daggers projecting from his eyes. “I don’t feel a thing since I’m still frozen from the novocain. The doctor gave me painkillers for when it wears off, Your Majesty.”

Twilight leaned closer to him. “I know several really good painkiller spells. I could –” she stopped mid-sentence when Lyon leaned away from her. Blushing, she lowered her head and she mumbled “– leave bad enough alone.”

The advantage of being at a table full of diplomats is that they can be very... diplomatic, she thought, as the others pointedly began eating. She hesitantly picked up another fork and tried to hold it like Madame Pinchaunt did. She speared a leaf of Romaine lettuce and brought it to her mouth. Or at least she thought she did.

“Is there a problem with the salad?” asked Lyon.

“Er, no,” she replied.

“Then why aren’t you putting it into your mouth?”

Twilight stared down past her almost non-existent nose at the leaf hovering in front of it. Why is it still so far from my mouth? Suddenly it hit her.“Er, I’m kinda used to having a muzzle, so my mouth isn’t in the same position relative to my eyes anymore. I’m going to have to remember to bring the food in closer.” She tried not to look at her hand and carefully brought the fork closer until she felt the lettuce strike her tongue. Closing her mouth she cautiously pulled the fork away and chewed. Her eyes widened. “Hey! This salad’s actually pretty good!”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Lyon raised an eyebrow.

“Well,” said Twilight, “I wasn’t expecting carnivores to be as skilled in preparing vegetable dishes as we ponies –”

“– And why wouldn’t we be?” interjected Lyon.

Twilight felt the heat of her blush double as she reviewed her last words in her mind. Not again!

“Richard?” said Madame Pinchaunt, “Perhaps the Novocain is already beginning to wear off.”

Lyon’s eyes widened and he blushed in turn. “Of course, you’re right Madame Secretary. I should take my pill.” He took a small plastic bottle out of his pocket and carefully opened it, extracting a bright yellow capsule. Placing it in his mouth, he grabbed a glass of water and brought it to his lips. The coolness of the glass felt so good on his swollen lips that he let it linger a moment before he tilted the glass. He swallowed half of the water while the other half dribbled down his chin to splatter on the table. His eyes widened as he noticed. Glancing down, he saw the spill and turned a bright red as it spread over the table.

Twilight hastily reached for her napkin with the same hand that held her fork, which unfortunately struck the edge of her plate and sent it flying off of the table. There was a loud crash as it broke into pieces on the floor. Simultaneously, much of her salad ended up on Lyon, who still held the half empty glass of water against his lips. When he lowered it back onto the table a long line of drool extended from his lips to the glass.

There was absolute silence as everyone, even the nearby tables, froze. Lyon was the first to move, raising his napkin to wipe the drool from his lips. He brought it close to the glass to do the same when there was a slight noise from above. Gravity had pulled Twilight’s first salad fork from the ceiling's fragile plaster. It landed handle first in Lyon’s glass, which split into several pieces, liberating a small Tsunami of water that ended up mostly onto his lap. The only shard of the glass still standing was the part that anchored the other end of the drool strand that still extended to Lyon's napkin.

The deathly quiet held for another long moment. Then someone started laughing. It was Jason, the Secretary of Commerce. He looked at Lyon’s water stained, salad covered suit topped by his drug-addled expression, and laughed even harder. Takehashi added his own unexpectedly deep laugh, and then finally Madame Pinchaunt joined in.

Twilight and Lyon sat unmoving as the others laughed. The two were blushing furiously. Finally, they looked towards each other. Their expressions softened simultaneously. Both started to chuckle and then paused. “I’m sorr..." they exclaimed at the same time.

This only set everyone else to laughing again. It was close to a minute before they managed to calm themselves down. Lyon brushed the salad off of his clothing. Twilight did her best to help. When he was reasonably clean, she got a focused look in her eyes. There was a purple flash and Lyon stared down at his lap in amazement. His clothes were dry.

"Was that you?" he asked.

Twilight nodded.

Lyon looked at her shyly and extended his hand. “Let’s try this again. It's truly a pleasure to meet you, Princess Sparkle. And please, call me Richard.”

Twilight felt incredibly relieved. The handshake felt so more more natural and relaxed this time. “And I would be honoured, Richard, if you would call me Twilight.”

The rest of lunch was quite happily uneventful.

Twilight sat on the huge hotel room bed, pen held in one hand and her ‘special pad’ in the other. Somehow Discord had been able to link it magically to a similar notepad in Equestria. Well, she thought, let’s see if this works as advertized. She began to write.

Dear fellow Princesses,

I’m glad to report that the day went pretty much as planned, although the start was a bit rockier than I would have hoped for!

Bipedal locomotion is not as easy as I thought it would be and I was just a total klutz, falling over everything and everyponyeveryone around me. Well not everyone, actually, mostly just the diplomat called Richard Lyon – and before you ask, no, he’s not a lion, that’s just his name! The poor man was assigned to be my “host” while I’m here on the world of humans, and the first thing I did was knock out one of his teeth with my forehead! Just thinking about it makes me want to “facepalm”. That’s what humans do instead of a facehoof – it’s amazing how much body language ponies and humans share!

Things improved after lunch, thank Harmony! I was able to nail down most of the import/export processes, legal jurisdiction issues and commercial terms for setting up trade via the portal. I also finally got the hang of moving around on two legs, and just in time, as poor Mr. Lyon’s local anesthetic had worn off and the medication he took made him rather woozy and unsteady on his feet. For most of the afternoon it was me helping Richard to walk around and preventing him from falling down! I also gave him just a little magical healing push and his face was looking decidedly better by the time he left to go home.

Oh, that reminds me! I’ve made an interesting discovery. We went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner – by the way, I could have sworn from the decor it was an Equestrian Chineighs restaurant, yet another interesting parallel. However, that’s wasn’t the discovery. That came about because I got frustrated trying to use the chopsticks (another parallel) with my hands, so I tried holding them with magic as I would in Equestria, and guess what? It was much easier than my earlier experience with the fork! It turns out that somehow ivory chopsticks actually allow me to focus my magic, just like my horn would: I just hold a chopstick and point. At first Richard was amazed, and then he laughed, calling it my magic wand! He said that now I even looked the part of a magical princess. Even better, the restaurant graciously gave me the chopsticks when I enquired where I could buy them. I was really lucky. According to Richard ivory pieces that can be bought legally aren’t easy to come by.

Well, that brings me to the conclusion of this first day. I figure it will take three or four more days tops to finish up and get permission to set up the portal, and maybe ten days to get it operational.

Now I’m going to get ready for my first night’s sleep as a human. The rituals are about the same as for ponies: wash your face, brush your teeth, clean your hooves... well, I guess I don’t have to clean my feet. Humans wear socks and shoes that cover the entire lower part of their legs, so they never actually touch the ground. Toes, by the way, are truly disgusting. They wriggle like tiny pink maggots. Gross!

With that inspiring image, I end this report and look forward to a more productive (and less accident prone!) tomorrow.

Your faithful friend, fellow Princess of Equestria, and Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Nations of the Human Earth,

Twilight Sparkle

Twilight took the pad and pinched the lower left corner for two seconds. The ink magically lifted itself from the pad’s surface and dissolved into nothingness, as it was supposed to do. It barely took a minute for new words to magically appear on the pad’s surface:

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

We knew you could do it! Congratulations, and here’s looking to another successful day tomorrow!

Princesses Cadence, Celestia and Luna

P.S. We all think this Richard Lyon sounds like a really nice stallion. Does he already have a special somepony?

Twilight got a warm fuzzy feeling reading the first part and then felt herself blushing as she read the postscript.

That must have been Cadence.

Then she recalled the first part and smiled. I passed the test!

She put the pad down, lay down in bed, and with her magic wand turned off the lights.

A lot to do tomorrow, she thought, fading. Richard and I will be so busy! She smiled and fell asleep.

Something Borrowed

Mush Story

by
Dafaddah

Chapter two: Something Borrowed

Edited by Sharp Logic, TotallyNotaBrony and Mythee

The room looked more like a bank vault than a Customs office, although just outside the steel reinforced door were the usual US immigration counters wrapped in floor-to-ceiling bullet-proof glass.

Secretary of State Pinchaunt stood in the room with Twilight and Richard, looking well pleased. "I must say that you two have set the bar high for interstellar cooperation: you managed in just under two weeks to set up the portal and get it operational. Now all we need is to set up the human infrastructure in Equestria before we reveal its existence to the general public."

Richard fairly basked in his boss' praise.

"Let's hope things go as smoothly on the Equestrian side of this project," said Twilight.

“Richard, are you sure you want to do this?” asked Pinchaunt.

Twilight smiled as Richard nodded. He did a short mock bow in the princess’ direction.

“Her Royal Majesty commandeth me thusly, and so I, Richard Lyon-heart, had better goeth if I knoweth what’s good for me.” He whispered to his boss, sotto voce: “I also can’t wait to see this dragon assistant of hers and her castle in the shape of a tree.”

Pinchaunt raised an eyebrow. “I do hope you will take this seriously, Richard. You will be the first human diplomat to visit another planet, after all.”

Richard’s expression grew glum. “Yes, but I’m merely the second human to do so. Alice Scrivello’s will be the name in the main text of the history books. At best I’ll merit a footnote in a six point font.”

“Oh, come-on, it won’t be that bad!” objected Twilight. “You’ll get to meet the other princesses, and all my best friends, and visit Canterlot, and Manehattan, and Ponyville and tons of other places I want to show you. It’ll be fun.”

“I’m sure it will be, Princess Twilight,” said Pinchaunt. “And I’ll expect a full report every day, Richard.”

“Yes, boss.” He hefted a rather large briefcase. “I’ve enough diplomatic pouches here to last a month if need be.”

He looked to the portal. It resembled a typical large stand-up mirror that one would expect to find in a clothing store, except that instead of reflecting their images it showed a room with a marble floor and stone walls. It was like a doorway to an impossible other room. Next to the mirror lay a very large copper cable which had been connected directly to the national electrical grid. For a period of close to an hour, Twilight had held the live cable in her hand. From it enough current to power a medium sized city flowed into her. Her eyes had glowed white, and then the mirror’s image changed to that of the room on another world, with several winged unicorns waving from the other side.

Now it was half an hour later, the portal was still stable, and he was going to step through it. He swallowed.

Twilight put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “You’ll be fine, Richard.” With her other hand she waved her chopstick wand and their luggage levitated into the air. “Let’s go!” She looked back towards Madame Pinchaunt. “I’ll bring him back in a week. That should give us time to set up the Human embassy in Canterlot, trade office in Manehattan, and a visit to my residence in Ponyville. Then I and Alice can swap back into our own bodies and so the next time you see me it will be in my own native form.” She looked at Richard.

“That should be much safer for the teeth of everyone and everypony involved,” he remarked.

“Ha-ha! Very droll.” She looked towards the ceiling then pushed him forwards. “You first, mister comedian.”

He stepped over the threshold and found himself in the room he had seen through the portal. The luggage followed him in and then Twilight herself stepped over. He faced the tall white, pink and dark blue winged and horned ponies that stood before him. “Your Majesties, greetings from the people of Earth,” he said as he bowed deeply.

“We are pleased to meet you, Richard Lyon. We offer own our greetings to the people of Earth, and welcome you to our world,” said the tallest, white-coated one, Princess Celestia, he recalled. Richard felt a shiver of awe when he met the princess’ gaze. Nevertheless she was not intimidating, rather much the opposite, she made him feel... like he belonged. She’s everything Twilight said she is! he thought.

“Indeed!” said Princess Luna. “We have much to discuss in regards to trade, scientific and cultural exchanges.” The younger princess also had an almost ethereal feeling about her. This is what it’s like meeting beings who have lived for over a thousand years.

The pink coated princess approached him and Twilight. She very much dropped the regal attitude, and hugged Twilight and then Richard. “So, Richard, it’s so nice to finally meet you in the flesh. Twilight’s told us all about you!”

This one’s different! Richard felt his smile waver. “Uh, really? What did she say?”

“Oh, this and that. What foods you like. Your favorite colour. How you hate men who wear hats indoors, that kind of thing.”

A quick glance at Twilight showed her face practically glowing red. “Uh, Richard. This is my sister-in-law Princess Cadence, Equestria’s avatar of love, a role that she seems to take a bit too seriously at times.”

Cadence smiled all the more. “Not at all, Twilight dear. So what are you two doing first in our fair land?”

Twilight glared back. “We’re going to our rooms to unpack, –” she waved to a large white stallion waiting in the corner “– my brother Shiny will show you to yours, now.” Another wave with the chopstick and Richard’s luggage flew in the air at high speed towards the stallion, whose horn glowed as the suitcases came to a sudden halt. Twilight turned back towards the three princesses. “I think the Princesses and I have a few things to discuss first. I’ll see you at dinner, Richard, Shiny.”

“Yes, Twi!” they replied in unison, then looked at each other in mutual surprise.

“We’d best get out of here, Richard,” said Shiny.

“Ayup,” he replied. For some reason that made the stallion laugh.

They paused outside the door to the portal room.

“So you’re Richard Lyon,” said Twilight’s brother. He offered a hoof. Richard closed his hand and hooked his wrist around Shiny’s as if his fist was a hoof. The two regarded each other a moment, obviously sizing each-other up.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Shining Armour.”

A black eyebrow rose to a mane of navy and sky blue. “You’ve been briefed then?”

“Of course. If I understand correctly, you were essentially the chief of defense staff in Equestria before you married Princess Cadence, the head of state of a tributary nation called the Crystal Empire.” Shining Armor nodded as Richard continued. “Oh, and you’re Twilight’s BBBFF.”

The stallion looked surprised for a moment, then waved a hoof down the corridor and began moving at a sedate pace. Richard followed. They walked together in silence.

“She’s told you a lot about herself then, has she?” asked Shiny.

The line of inquiry was making Richard a bit nervous. “We’ve had to spend quite a lot of time together over the last two weeks. If you don’t mind my saying so, your sister is both incredibly capable and has an almost frightening capacity for focusing on the job at hand.”

Shining laughed outright. “That sounds like Twilight alright. That intellect and drive are what made her the most powerful unicorn mage in generations, and that recently got her elevated to princess.”

“It doesn’t seem like any of that has gone to her head though. She’s not at all what I had imagined her to be before I met her. She’s a nice, humble and a truly decent woman. Your parents must be remarkable people.”

Shining Armor halted abruptly. His expression seemed displeased. “Richard. Everything you’ve just said about Twilight is absolutely true, except for one thing – she’s a pony, not a woman. In a few weeks she swaps bodies back with Alice, and becomes a pony again. Please take that into account in your relationship with her.”

Richard felt he was on very unsure ground. He didn’t know how Twilight would feel about the conversation he was having with her brother. “Of course I know that, Shining. Look, we haven’t become romantically involved, if that’s what you’re afraid of. I think we’re both mature adults without any illusions in regards to our situation.”

Several emotions crossed the stallion’s face: suspicion, concern and with a visible effort, grudging respect. “I should hope so.” He extracted a key from a pocket of his vest uniform and unlocked a door. The key floated to Richard, who plucked it from the air. “These are you quarters and your office in the Castle. They will be treated as consular territory while you’re in residence here. Come in and I’ll introduce you to your staff.”

Taking a deep breath, Richard followed him in.

“Okay!” said Twilight rather archly. “Let’s nip this matchmaking talk in the bud.”

“Now really Twilight, do you expect Cupid’s arrow to forever pass you by?” Cadence smiled sweetly.

“I’m too busy for stuff like that and you know it. Besides, Richard isn’t like that. Sure, he’s a really nice guy, but he’s also a true professional, just like I am! We’re both dedicated to making this portal work is all, and nothing else. I’m sure he’d tell you the same if you asked him. Does everypony have the picture clear, now?”

Cadence nodded, but her smile never wavered. Princess Celestia seemed relieved, and Luna just looked serious again.

“Good!” said Twilight. “Not that we’ve got that behind us ,let’s finish planning for the week. Have the dragons, gryphons and all the other nations signed the interstellar trade agreement yet?”

“Yes, Twilight,” said Luna. “We have inaugurated the bonded warehousing system you recommended here and in Manehattan, as well as the transit-only classifications for the shipping trade. You and Mr. Lyon should find the consular and Customs offices at both locals fully staffed and ready to engage with the merchant guilds.”

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness somepony’s keeping her mind on the business at hoof.”

Luna smiled widely at the praise. “And I understand he is quite fetching for a human, is he not?”

Twilight threw her hands into the air and growled. “Fine! If that’s the way its going to be then I’m going to go to my room and see if at least Spike has been keeping up on his homework while I was away!” She stormed out of the room.

“Now ladies, we mustn’t tease poor Twilight so mercilessly,” said Princess Celestia archly. “She has a lot on her mind, and she has been exemplary in doing this very important work.”

Luna looked only mildly contrite. “Indeed she has, sister. Yet, one needs not be human to see how obvious and close their planets orbit one another.”

Cadence smiled sweetly. “If my dusty old aunties can see it, then I suppose it’s obvious to everypony but Twilight, and maybe Richard as well. Something tells me that those two are quite alike in certain respects.”

Luna laughed delightedly as Celestia tried to hide her own chuckles behind a gilded white hoof.

"Spike! I'm back!" Twilight called out as she entered her apartment in the Canterlot Castle.

There was a commotion in her bedroom. Spike's reply came through the semi open door. "Twilight! Hey, I made cookies! Come on in!"

"Oh Spike!" She walked across the foyer to her bedroom. "You really shouldn't ha–"

"SURPRISE!" Multiple voices shouted as party streamers erupted from everywhere at once. On the wall was a banner that read "Welcome Home!" There was a table with food, and very dear faces were all around her, and Spike ran up and hopped into her arms, and... she suddenly realized how much she had missed everypony.

She gave Spike a quick peck on the forehead, and set him down. Her mother was next, approaching with a big smile. In this human shape Twilight was significantly taller than most ponies, so she had to kneel to get close enough for a proper hug.

“Hi, Mom! So did Spike behave while I was away?” asked Twilight.

"He was a perfect little angel, as usual,” replied her mother while Spike beamed up at her. “We even cooked lasagna together! So how was that other world, dear? Did those humans treat you well?"

"They treated me like royalty... when I let them get away with it!” She ruffled the green vanes on the little dragon's head affectionately. “It's kind of like how you and Dad treat Spike when you babysit him."

Her mom tilted her head and took a step back, concern growing evident on her pale grey face. "Are you supposed to be this thin? Seems to me the pictures you showed us of Alice were a bit more... muscular."

Twilight looked down at herself. "Ohmygosh! I didn't notice any change! I don't want Alice to think I've neglected her body."

"Don't worry darling," said Rarity approaching and measuring Twilight with a dress-maker's eye. "I took Alice’s measurements when Princess Celestia wore her shape. It's not enough to be worth taking-in any of the clothes you wear." She stepped into Twilight's outstretched arms. Hugging her warmly, she whispered in her ear. "Although you might want to eat a tad more, and do a bit more exercise, darling."

"I guess I kinda got caught up in work."

"We didn't expect anything other than total commitment from you, darling!" said Rarity with a big smile. "Oh, and you might find your wardrobe has expanded a bit upon your return. Alice simply won't go out undressed and she quickly exhausted your closet, so I made her – uh you – a few more dresses. I hope you don't mind?"

Something in Rarity's smile gave her the impression that Alice's taste in clothes departed significantly from her own. However, now wasn't the time or place to discuss it. "Er, certainly not. It's really very kind of you."

Applejack came in for her hug. "And speaking of Alice, she's been having a great time back in Ponyville working as Colgate's dental assistant."

Twilight's eyebrows rose. "Why does she bother working – everything's provided for her and I thought this was going to be a vacation?"

"Heh, well it turns out she ain't the type of pony to stay idle, so on the first morning she was back in Ponyville she showed up at Colgate's office ready for work! To hear her tell of it Colgate was mighty surprised and happy that she did." She put a hoof next to her mouth and whispered. "The scuttle-butt is that she kinda took a liking to Alice when the poor thang was stuck in Celestia's body a few months ago."

Twilight's mouth gaped. "Does Alice know?"

Applejack shook her head and laughed. "And I ain't gonna be the one to let that cat outta the bag! Not to mention, Colgate's business has been booming 'cause it ain't every day a pony can get her teeth cleaned by a princess!"

Twilight wasn't sure she was entirely comfortable with the situation, but she and Alice had exchanged lists of Dos and Don'ts while inhabiting each other's bodies. Taking a job as a dental assistant hadn't been on Twilight's Don't List. But with Applejack obviously keeping an eye on things she felt reassured. She gave the orange mare another short gratified hug. "Thanks for looking out for Alice, AJ. I really appreciate it!"

Applejack blushed. "Awe shucks, sugarcube, we all did."

"Yeah!" said Dash, who held a foreleg up for a high one. Twilight looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She shrugged elaborately. "Sheesh, okay. A hug, a hug!" Mushiness dispensed with, Dash was all enthusiasm. "And I introduced Alice to the Daring Do books, which she loves, being a pony with both taste and a can-do attitude!"

"A can-do attitude about what?"

"Barrel rolls! I gave the girl flying lessons. She's a natural, I tell ya." Seeing the look of horror on Twilight's face, she rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Don't worry, I had two other pegasi spotting and two unicorn on the ground to cushion crashes. I learned my lesson trying to teach you to fly, okay?"

Twilight swallowed. "Okay. I guess." She looked back at the blue pegasus. "She did barrel rolls in just two weeks?"

"Naw, it just took her two days. And that was after her shift at Colgate's." She raised one eyebrow. "I hope you won't let all that conditioning Alice's done on your flight muscles go to waste when you swap your bodies back!"

Twilight blushed. Rainbow Dash had a point. She resolved to devote more time to physical exercise and proper nutrition. Alice was an officer in her country's armed forces, and so had an obligation to keep in shape, an obligation that Twilight was honour bound to fulfill while she lived in Alice's body.

“Thanks, Dash.” The cyan mare looked up as Twilight hugged her yet again. When she pulled away Twilight quickly scanned the room.

"Hey! Where are Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy?"

"TA DA!" Pinkie seemed to appear from nowhere, standing on her hind legs with Richard sandwiched between herself and Fluttershy, who was also reared up on her hind legs. Both of them held onto one of the human's arms. Richard and Fluttershy had confused looks on their faces.

"Did ya think we'd have a surprise party for you and not invite this hunk you brought home with you?" asked Pinkie. She raised a hoof to her mouth. "Hey everypony, say hi to Richard!"

A chorus of "HI!"s rang out. Pinkie was already chasing her next party impulse, which seemed to be making sure everypony had a glass of punch in hoof.

Richard leaned forward. "How did we get here?" He looked confused. "We were walking down the corridor and then..." His eyes scanned the room.

Twilight took a deep breath. "Look Richard. Pinkie has an effect on reality. Sometimes it’s better for your sanity not to question events around her too closely."

"Oh." He exchanged glances with Fluttershy. "I've met a few of your friends. They're really nice. Fluttershy came up to see how I was settling in, and then Pinkie Pie showed up." He looked up to see Pinkie Pie hanging from the chandelier while tossing what looked like an infinite supply of streamers into the air over them. He looked away. "She says its party time, and then here we are."

"Good," said Twilight grabbing his arm before anything else further discombobulated the poor man. "Let me introduce you around." Thinking quickly she spotted Spike.

"Hey, Spike, come meet Richard Lyon." The little guy waddled over as Richard stared.

"A pleasure to meetcha!" Spike offered a tiny claw. Richard bent over, took it in his relatively huge hand and shook, eyes wide.

"You are... a dragon!" the human remarked.

“And Twilight’s number one assistant!” Spike added, smiling from ear to ear. His expression suddenly turned suspicious. “You aren’t fixing to steal my job are you?”

Richard barked out a nervous laugh. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Spike.” He went down on one knee. “And since Twilight is Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Planet Earth, doesn’t that make your official title ‘Senior Attaché to the Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Planet Earth’, as well as ‘Savior Twice Over of the Crystal Empire’ and ‘Number One Assistant To Her Royal Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria’?”

Spike eyes grew wide as he took in the implications. “Senior Attaché, eh? I like the sound of that!” He rubbed his foreclaws together. “Twi, do you think I could get some business cards printed with that?”

“Uh, sure, Spike.” The look she gave Richard was equal parts annoyance and admiration. “I’ll order them first thing tomorrow.”

“Cool! I'm gonna go tell Rarity.” They watched as the little dragon rushed off, no doubt to go brag about his new official title.

"I had no clue you were so good with kids, Richard," said Twilight.

"I come from a big family. And he's a really neat little guy, Twi. So you raised him from an egg?"

She blushed at the implied praise. "Yeah, but Princess Celestia had a major hoof in raising both of us, and of course most of the credit goes to my mom and dad."

"After having met you, your brother and Spike, I can't wait to meet them as well!"

Twilight waved to a light grey coloured mare standing next to a greyish-blue stallion. They waved back. “Then there’s no reason for further delay, is there?” She moved towards the pair, tugging Richard along. “Mom, Dad, here’s someone I’d like you to meet!”

He swallowed and stepped forward, not sure why he was feeling so nervous.

We'll always have Paris

Mush Story

by
Dafaddah

Chapter three: We'll Always Have Paris

Edited by Sharp Logic, TotallyNotaBrony and Mythee

“Celui de gauche est trop bas," said Richard.

Twilight raised the portrait of Princess Luna higher.

"L'autre gauche!" he laughed.

She blushed and the picture of Princess Celestia rose until it was level with that of Luna.

"Parfait! Voila, c'est fini!" he exclaimed. Richard was having a great time. In another of those monumental parallels between universes, there was a whole province of Equestria that spoke French, or Fancy according to Twilight, a language Richard had learned from his father. The province's capital, Lutèce, was the last stop in their tour to establish local trade offices for the UN and US. The actual work had gone tremendously quickly given Twilight’s use of her magic chopsticks and the eagerness of the local pony population to make things happen for her.

She did get a tad annoyed when he began to sing 'Bibbety, Bobbety, Boo' whenever she was waving both chopsticks to orchestrate multiple levitations, translations and transformations, all at the same time. Usually she could manage over an hour of wand waving before she tired and had to lower her arms, a sheen of sweat on her brow. Then she certainly didn’t complain when he massaged her shoulders, called her ‘champ’, and gave her gravelly-voiced advice on how to fight the ‘next palooka on the ticket’.” Her laughter was spontaneous, and infectious, and he enjoyed it tremendously.

Over the last few days he’d realized something. You’re going to miss her, Richard. Being a diplomat was nothing but an endless series of new postings, new faces, and then goodbyes. It’s part of the package. You knew that going in. Still, she drew his eye, no matter what she did, and the sound of her voice was an endless delight. Dude! You’ve got it bad!

Twilight stepped back and eyed the entire room skeptically. The furniture was in place. The service desks in their corners, the pamphlets outlining the new interstellar trade laws and the recommendations to ponies on how to behave when visiting the 'Human Earth' were in the literature racks, and the trade offices for both worlds fully staffed.

Twilight's expression turned into a multi-thousand candle-power smile. "We're done, Richard, we're done!" She grabbed his arm and gave him an impromptu hug. "Princess Celestia will be so pleased!" The hug lingered. "I'm so happy!"

Richard looked down into her shining face. She was so close, and so beautiful, he thought. So... You musn't, he scolded himself, and struggled to raise his head and square his shoulders.

"Congratulations, Twi," he said, enunciating carefully, instead of doing what he wanted, what he had wanted to do for weeks now. But that's not really her, he reminded himself. The real her is a purple winged unicorn in some town called Ponyville. As they stared into each other's faces their expressions grew serious, and all that other stuff just seemed to fade from his awareness. Why does she still hold me so close?

"Tomorrow we go to Ponyville," she said very seriously, "and Alice and I swap our bodies back."

Richard was momentarily dumbstruck. He nodded. "I bet you can't wait," he said finally.

Then his brain caught up with his mouth. Idiot! he berated himself.

Twilight slowly pushed back. She suddenly seemed very unsure. Her smile, when it came, was tentative at best. "I really... can't wait!" she said as she turned and began hurrying towards the exit.

Fix this, Richard! Don't let the last evening you'll have together be an awkward disaster!

"Hey, Twi!" he called out, "Let's celebrate. Dinner's on me!"

She stopped and turned to face him, still looking unsure.

"I don't mean that literally," he deadpanned, "I mean I'm going to pay."

She smiled, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, Fancypants did recommend this particular restaurant. But he usually goes in for the gourmet type of place, so you’d better bring a lot of bits!”

Richard tilted his head and pretended to be shocked. “You mean they don't take credit cards?"

Twilight was still laughing as they left the room.

The train pulled into Ponyville station. Through the open windows wafted the enticing and familiar smells of the town nearby. A reasonable crowd of ponies waved and cheered as they slowed to a stop.

Twilight glanced at Richard. “This is it! My own little kingdom!” He had seemed a bit moody on the train ride. In fact, things had been a bit awkward since yesterday, when she had almost done something... unprofessional. She blushed again just thinking about it. This isn’t your body, Twilight! Show Alice the respect she deserves for volunteering to do this.

“Oh My Gosh!” said Richard, staring out the window. “That spiky, sparkly and purple thing that sticks out above the town’s roofs... is that...?” He ran out of words.

“Do I detect a tinge of envy, Richard?” asked Twilight archly. “That is Friendship Rainbow Castle, and it’s my home.”

“It’s... architecturally quite distinct,” he opined.

“It’s comfortable,” replied Twilight. “And its design is based on my previous house, which was a library in a tree, actually.” She sighed and got up. “We’d better get going. Everypony’s waiting outside.”

Richard looked at her for moment, as if he were going to say something. When he didn’t, she turned and he followed her out.

There was a loud cheer from the crowd when they disembarked. Twilight noticed a banner slung over the entrance to the stationhouse that read: ‘Welcome Home Princess Twilight – We Missed You!’ Mayor Mare was there, too, giving Twilight the feeling that things were becoming a bit too formal in her absence. She hoped they would get back to normal as soon as she was home for a few days. What warmed her heart was seeing her dearest friends there too. Even Discord was present, and sticking close to Fluttershy.

Ignoring the podium that had been set up for her she went straight to Spike and the girls and began hugging practically everypony in sight. Mayor Mare at first tried for a hoof-shake but gamely submitted to the hug when Twilight pulled her close. One advantage of being bipedal was the ease with which one could go from hug to hug! That reminds me! She scanned the crowd.

“Has anypony seen Alice?” she asked Pinkie Pie, who looked fit to burst with some sort of news.

“Sure, Twilight. But you’re going to be surpriiiiised! Look up! Look waaaaaaay up!” the pink mare pointed to the eastern horizon.

Two dots were moving at high speed, both leaving behind them a rainbow trail. As they got closer Twilight wasn’t surprised to see that one sported a cyan coat. The other was a bit harder to make out. The two twirled around each-other in well synchronized spirals, just like members of the Wonderbolts. Finally she could make out some colour on the second one: a dark mane, a lavender coat...

“That’s my body!” she cried out. “And that’s Alice flying with Dash!”, just as they passed overhead.

“Nice!” said Richard. “A double rainbow!”

The two flyers looped back and came in at Twilight, still at high speed. They’re going to crash! she thought, and fumbled to pull her chopsticks out of her travel bag. Just as she got them out, both flyers spread their wings wide and made a perfect ‘flare and land’ manoeuvre, dropping almost soundlessly to the ground mere paces away from her. Both were breathing hard as the crowd cheered wildly at the display of precision flying. Twilight stood frozen in shock.

Rainbow Dash regained her breath first and put a foreleg over Alice's withers. “And that’s what I can do with a pony who really wants to fly!”

Alice, still breathing hard, bowed to Twilight. “Your Majesty, I return you your body, winded, but intact.” When she looked up there was a tinge of sadness in her gaze. “Thank you for giving me a chance to fly, Princess Twilight. I’ve spent most of the last few years on an aircraft carrier with all these people who are passionate about flying, and I never understood why, until now. I’ll never forget this.”

The look of immense gratitude in Alice’s eyes calmed Twilight down. She had obviously not damaged her body. If anything it looked more fit than it had since she participated in the running of the leaves.

“Alice Scrivello,” said Twilight, "I return you your body, in good health, and with the gratitude of two worlds.”

“Wow, Princess Twilight, that was a pretty good speech,” said Richard. Everypony within earshot laughed.

Discord raised a paw. “Well then, I guess it’s time for a swap meet.”

“Discord, wait! I haven’t...”

The Draconequus snapped his digits and everything went dark. There was pain, but she was prepared for it this time, and it actually felt much shorter in duration. Her eyes opened, and her perspective had changed: she was standing next to Dash, and just across from her Alice was being held in Richard’s arms. His face showed deep concern as she blinked and fought to regain consciousness. The look of relief on Richard’s face was something Twilight would never forget. For her, not for me! Twilight’s ears drooped as she stared at the oblivious couple. It must be nice to be held like that! Without another word she teleported home.

Richard held onto Alice as she gradually woke up. Luckily he had been looking her way just as the transfer was effected and so was able to catch her as she fainted. Twilight would have killed me if I had let any harm come to Alice, he thought. Speaking of Twilight, he looked up to where the lavender alicorn had been just a moment before the transfer, right next to Rainbow Dash. She wasn’t there. He turned his head left and right.

“Did anypony see where Princess Twilight went?” he asked.

Fluttershy spoke in a timid voice. “She was there... and then she wasn’t. I think she must have teleported.”

Dash turned to the yellow mare. “Why would she do that? We haven’t even had the dumb speeches yet.”

It was Rarity who spoke next. “Darlings, if I recall, just before disappearing she was looking at Richard and Alice.” Richard could tell there was something else she didn’t want to say in public. He and the white unicorn exchanged concerned glances. “I suspect she’s in the castle. We can lead you there, Richard.”

“I would very much appreciate that,” he replied.

A light blue mare came up to him. “I’ll keep an eye on Alice. She’s a friend. Go.”

Richard nodded his thanks and set off with the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony.

Twilight lay on her bed and held onto Smarty Pants.

“Why am I so miserable?” she asked the doll. “It’s not as if we ever courted, or held hooves, or kissed or anything. Besides, I’ve never wanted to do any of that stuff before. Maybe the only reason I felt that way was because I was in Alice's body. Maybe the only reason he liked me was because of Alice’s body. He’s never shown any interest in the mares we were with. He probably doesn’t even like ponies.”

She hugged the doll to her chest.

“Oh, Smarty Pants –” tears plopped as they fell onto the bedcovers “– how can this hurt so much?” She wiped her eyes with a fetlock, and stared down at her lavender foreleg and hoof. “What an idiot!” she confided to the doll. “How could I do this to myself?”

There was a noise at the door. It was usually left open when she was out of the room, and she hadn’t thought to close it since she had teleported straight onto her bed.

She sniffed and looked up. There he stood, looking serious.

“You had help,” said Richard, answering her question. He hesitated. “Twilight, may I come in?”

She swallowed. “I don’t know if you should. I’m really confused right now, and confused magical princesses aren’t the safest company."

Richard smiled. “Meh! What’s the worst that could happen? I hear this town has a pretty good dentist.”

She made a strangled noise halfway between a sob and a guffaw. “Don’t make me laugh when I’m trying to cry my eyes out!”

Richard walked in and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Twilight. I have to ask you something.” His hand was just inches away from her hoof. She stared at it, an object that would have been incredibly alien to her just a short time ago.

"I have a problem, you see. I think I've fallen for a girl."

Twilight thought her heart would stop beating.

"But who did you fall for, Richard? Is it Alice? It was her face that you saw. It was her hands that touched you. I saw the look in your eyes when you held her in your arms. If that's the girl, then I'm not her." Twilight shook with a silent sob.

Richard edged closer. "Twilight, when Alice's eyes opened, you weren't there, and I knew I was holding the wrong girl."

A fragile hope flooded Twilight. She wanted to respond to Richard, but she had never been more afraid of saying the wrong thing. Thankfully, Richard wasn't finished.

"Listen, Twilight, I just spent the better part of a month with the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She wore a disguise, but it couldn’t prevent the real her from showing through. I’d like to think that this person is still there, even though the disguise is gone. But she’s royalty and I’m a commoner, and she is kind of different from me, and I just don’t know if that kind of relationship could work. My brain tells me that the odds are stacked against us, but my heart says don’t give up. Fight for her, because she is wonderful, and kind, and beautiful inside and smart and... because I love her. I love you, Twilight. Not Alice, not anyone or anypony else. I love you.”

The phrase echoed in Twilight’s mind. I love you. Words she had dreaded and longed to hear since she learned of the existence of romantic love.

Richard reached tentatively for her hoof, and she placed it in his hand. He smiled, shyly at first, and then more broadly.

“What about you, Twilight? How do you feel about me, now that you’re not awash in human hormones stimulated by my handsome, masculine he-man-ness?”

She laughed and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m a bookish mare, with bookish ways. Physical looks have never impressed me as much as a good argument or a really cheesy pun. But I’ve never felt this way about anypony or anyone before, so I don’t know if it’s love or if it’s something else.” She moved in closer to him. “But I do know that I want it to continue. So I guess I’ll call it love until I can gather more definitive data on the subject.”

Twilight felt a hand caress her neck. “It’s going to be tough to build a double-blind test series for romance,” he replied. “And I wonder how ponies will react to your involvement with a monkey-boy.”

She sighed contentedly and lay her head on his lap. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Equestria has harbored multiple sapient species since forever. Friendship across them is common, and mixed couples aren’t unheard of by any means.”

“Oh,” he replied. “In that case –” he gently took her in his arms and raised her up until their faces were inches apart. Her eyes grew wide as he closed his and brought their lips together.

The kiss wasn’t the messy slobbery business she had imagined. His lips were warm, as was his body against hers, and Twilight had never felt so... right. She relaxed against him and let the kiss linger on.

Finally they broke for air. From the doorway came the sound of cheers and hooves clapping.

“Hey, Twilight!” shouted Pinkie Pie. “First Kiss Party tonight at Sugarcube Corners. Be there or be square!” She turned back to the other ponies.“C’mon, girls, let’s give these two lovebirds some time to themselves.” The group began shuffling back.

This time it was Richard’s turn to blush a bright red. “I, um, forgot they had led me here.”

She lay her head on his shoulder. “That’s okay. They probably figured out we were in love before we even realized it. They’re good friends.” She glanced back at their departing forms. “The very best!”

She pulled back her head and brought her lips to Richard’s for another kiss when she heard a young male voice go “Ahem!”

Spike raised his head from his basket. “I’m going to barf if I see any more of this mushy stuff. Twi, do ya’ mind if I go read some comics?”

Twilight sighed. “Sure Spike. None of the spooky ones, okay. I don’t want you having nightmares again.”

The little dragon waddled to the door. “Drat! Well, I guess I’ll read something else then. Later, Richard.”

“Later, dude,” replied the human.

“Now, where were we?” asked Twilight.

“Something, something, interstellar studies of lips,” said Richard.

“And we need more data,” she added, leaning into another kiss.

Epilogue

“So your first special somepony was a human?” asked the orange filly. That drew another round of titters and whispers from her classmates. “So what happened afterwards, did you and Richard get married?”

Her teacher rose from his desk, looking tongue-tied and very embarrassed indeed. Twilight waved a hoof a him, then pointed at the clock on the wall.

“Children, it looks like we’ve run out of time. We’ll save some questions for next time, shall we?” She winked at the little orange unicorn. “And I’m sure a lot of the answers are already there in your history books, just waiting for smart little ponies like you to read and discover. That’s what I did when I was a filly your age.”

“Hey class!” said the teacher. “Let’s show Princess Twilight our thanks and appreciation for coming here to answer our questions today!” His applause was amplified enthusiastically by twenty more pairs of hooves clapping and tiny voices saying “Thank you, Princess!”

She nodded and left from the big central door. She looked behind her a moment. She felt grateful to the little foals and their teacher. They had brought back some very sweet memories from long ago.

On a whim she decided to walk back to the castle rather than fly. She just followed her hooves and wasn’t at all surprised when she approached a part of town she seldom visited in the last century. Celestia had warned her of how the meaning of this place and her feelings towards it would radically change for her as the years accumulated. So many lives had come and gone, so many faces. Memories cascaded through her awareness, as one image brought another to mind.

Still, this was a quiet, restful place. The trees rustled in the light wind, a sound that had always made her feel happy and secure. She only realized she had stopped walking after several minutes had blown by.

She stood in front of a stone, one amongst many in this older section of the cemetery. Kneeling down she brushed away accumulated dust and wind-borne debris.

The area was pleasant, and the soothing breeze was still blowing, so Twilight decided to lay down on the grass. She looked at the partially eroded lettering and smiled.

“Hello, Richard. It’s been a while since I last visited. Some little unicorn reminded me about you...”

She spoke to Richard of her visit to the class, and of the foals’ questions. She lay there and talked to him for over an hour, recalling both good and bad times. As she did, she saw the past all around her. No, the past was never truly gone. Especially not for the ones you had loved, and who had loved you. They were forever present your heart.