Symbiosis
05 We are One
Previous ChapterTwilight’s castle was a much different place under Luna’s moon. The halls were silent and devoid of all but the odd guards pony silently standing vigil. The doors were locked, the pegasus landing pad secured, and the teleportation cancellation ward prevented mages from entering magically. Gone was the hustle and bustle of the day, the servants lay abed, Twilight and Rainbow also fast asleep. Their new child peacefully dreaming of doing battle with Tirek using a piece of bedframe being used as a lance while riding on Celestia’s back.
She rolled over mumbling in her sleep, “Nnn… take that meanie head… Look out… He’s got a carrot…”
The moon reached it’s zenith, a brilliant shaft of moonlight lighting up her bedroom like a lantern. The ray of light slowly crept across her floor as the night progressed. Inch by inch, foot by foot the light moved across the floor, then the bed, up the nightstand, until finally the ray of moonlight struck the gem-like egg seated upon the nightstand.
The room dimmed as the egg drank in the light. The whirling ribbons of energy beneath it’s faceted shell grew brighter, longer, their colors became more vivid and robust. Slowly the energy ribbons joined together forming intricate patterns. Perhaps an especially gifted pony with a medical degree would have recognized the pattern the ribbons wove themselves into.
The ribbons wove themselves together into coiled strands, joining to one another with countless tiny tendrils of energy. The strands too writhed and wriggled into a long helixing strand of energy which folded, split, and joined until the helix shape was joined to three other such long strands forming four intricately interlinked strands wrapping about each other in an extremely precise pattern.
The entire structure slowly coiled around itself like an impossibly tight spring, shrinking in size until it formed but a small dot of light within the center of the egg. The dot slowly grew larger. Once it reached twice it’s original size the light split into two different points. The two points grew, split, and became four. The four become eight, the eight became sixteen, and their number simply continued to double as the points of light moved, configuring themselves into a complex three dimensional pattern as they replicated.
At the end of the hour, when the moonlight no longer illuminated the egg directly the blue gem blazed with a pinkish blue light. The shape at it’s center was impossibly to make out as it’s light radiated outwards like an impossibly well performing candle. The light continued to shine for a few long moments after which it’s brilliance died down leaving behind a single small portion of light within the egg no bigger than a candle’s flame.
The remaining light moved. It slowly turned within the egg, taking shape as it moved. The light was too small for the features it possessed to truly be made out. One could be forgiven for believing it to be merely a ball of pink light with many small tendrils attached to one side which seemed to flow and move of their own accord.
Several of the light's tendrils stretched towards where Copper lay sleeping in her bed, passing through the surface of the egg as if it were not there. The light had no thought’s of it’s own, it’s young consciousness had only instinct to guide it. It could feel the safety of a corporeal creature nearby, it could sense the creature was happy, but also alone, and just a little frightened. The light understood these emotions, it was happy to be alive, was also alone, and quite frightened of what might happen to it if it could not find a safe place to exist.
The light floated slowly closer to the filly, it’s movement carrying it right to the side of her head. The light stopped, hovering in place for a few moments now close enough to listen in on Copper’s thoughts. The light slowly came to understand some of the world in which it found itself. There were many corporeal life forms here, many kind and many cruel. Some were very dangerous and preyed upon the type of creature it floated by now.
The more it listened, the more it developed. The filly’s wishes did seem like a lot of fun, adventuring, protecting others, discovering new things, learning of the universe's wonders.It wanted to do these things too. It became female, these creatures seemed to see females as being more suited to the many things the pony before her desired to do. Besides, this creature was female, she did not want to confuse her by bonding and having a completely different mentality.
She had found her host. This filly wanted to explore, to see wonders, and apparently to fight massive monsters and save the world. The light wanted to do these things as well and could help her accomplish them given time to mature and develop her powers. Besides, they were both alone, who wouldn't want a friend? All the pony would have to give up was a little space in her head to shelter her from the dangers of the physical world. That wasn’t too much to ask was it?
The light moved her tendrils outwards, the thin lines of energy elongating until they spread outwards and touched a dozen different places on Copper’s skin, phased through her body and stopped in the middle of her major nerve clusters. The tendrils gently attached themselves, a slight pinching sensation causing Copper to roll over with another sleepy mumbling, “Ow… I’m hit… bring me a lettuce quick…”
The light winced, she hadn’t meant to hurt or disturb her host. Obviously bonding was more invasive than she had anticipated. Unfortunately she couldn't stop now, removing herself would definitely cause her pain. She continued as gently as she could manage, physically and psionically joining her tendrils to the filly’s nervous system until at last she slipped herself entirely inside her host and as gently as she could managed bonded completely, setting herself up inside the filly’s mind.
She was surprised as she stepped from the physical world directly into the filly’s dream, it felt more real than the real world. it was so vivid, so robust, so-
Copper spun to face the newly appeared monster, raising the elegant rapier held in her tail to attack, “Another monster! I’ll beat you up too.”
The light drifted back, holding up all four of her hands to ward off any possible attacks. her telepathic voice sounding insulted and afraid.
Copper blinked and frowned, “Then why do you look like one?”
The light informed, reshaping itself to into a ghostly purple filly shape.
Copper nodded, the dreamscape around the two simply freezing in time as Copper’s imagination turned to focus on this new thing. Her rapier morphed into a cup of hot-coco which she promptly took a sip of before the beverage morphed back into a sword. “Uhhuh. Sooo who are you?”
The light answered truthfully, shrugging her shoulders.
Copper was quite astonished, “You don't know?”
“Do you have a name?”
“Well you need a name.” Copper informed looking about her dreamscape for anything which might be a suitable name. Her eyes fixed on a winged tin lunch box frozen in mid air, “Your name is Tin um…” a nearby spring sticking out of a ruined armchair caught her attention next, “Spring! Yeah you can be Tin Spring.”
“Will you help me beat up Tirek? He stole my lollipop and is a big meanie head.” Copper informed in a tone one would have expected to accompany much harsher words spoken by a military officer in regards to a hated enemy.
Tin nodded,
Copper grinned and did a little dance, “Yay!” The dreamscape resumed, rubble fell with a crash, the lunchbox flew away like a frightened bird, “Once more into the um… beech! Charge!”
The two played in Copper’s dream, fighting side by side in a battle of such epic proportions that it could only exist within a foal’s dream. Mountains exploded into custard, to be hurtled at the enemy via giant catapults made entirely from sporks and rubber bands. Armies of stick ponies were summoned via chalk drawings to assist in the battle. The sky itself had ropes nailed to it so Copper and Tin could swing from the deck of their pirate ship and attack Tirek with a boarding action along with their crew of snowpony pirates. At some point a square circle was involved.
The battle ended when Copper at least snatched back her lollipop from the rampaging centaur daemon, bopped him on the nose with her sword, screamed “Victory!” and then promptly awoke in her bed the dream world vanishing instantly as she rolled out of bed to go bother mom or mommy for some breakfast.
“No.” Copper answered as she trotted down the hall only to stop dead in her tracks, “Tin? You’re still here?”
To a grown mare this would have been the most terrifying thing imaginable. A voice in their head when they most certainly not dreaming. To a filly like Copper however, “Awesome! Let’s go ask mommy for some breakfast! What do you like to eat? I want pancakes. Do you like pancakes?”
~~
The doors to Twilight’s bedroom exploded open with enough force to tilt pictures hung on the walls as Pinkie Pie flung the double doors open calling, “Wakie wakie Twili! It’s exactly ten-forty-five in the morning which mean’s it’s time for brunch and that at means we can have tea!”
Twilight and Rainbow sat up slowly, far too used to Pinkie Pie’s methods of waking her friend’s up to be surprised anymore.
Pinkie on the other hoof gasped as she saw the two together. She reared up, one hoof covering her mouth before she zipped over to Twilight’s bed, “Oh my gosh you two are dating?”
Twilight nodded weakly. Rainbow bobbed her head as well.
Pinkie made a pouting expression, stomping her hoof on the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me? I had a whole party planned and paid for. Now everything will have to be redone from a ‘They finally got together’ party to ‘My best friends are a couple’ party. That means I’ll have to change all of the decorations.”
Rainbow sighed, “Pinkie, we have only been together since yesterday.”
“Really?” Pinkie asked looking over at Twilight.
She nodded, “Yes. Honestly Pinkie, I was going to let you know at tea today. I remember all too well what happens when we exclude you from something.” Twilight shook her head, they ditched Pinkie just once and clearly Pinkie’s brand of playful crazy couldn’t handle being left out of the loop. “I’ve always kept you up to date on my life. Name one big change to my life I haven't told you about.”
Pinkie hummed and sat down, stroking her chin thoughtfully as she searched her memory for anything. Midway through her thinking Pinkie blinked as a small orange filly trotted into the room, walked around her, hopped up onto Twilight’s bed and asked, “Morning mommy! Can we have pancakes?”
Pinkie grinned and raised her hoof, “Oh! Does that count! Hold on you have a foal?” Pinkie asked entirely confused standing up to get a better look at Copper.
Rainbow chuckled, “We adopted her yesterday. Twilight was determined to adopt somepony, asked me to help and well… I kinda sorta told her I would only help if she gave me a shot at being her special somepony.”
“Can we please have pancakes?” Copper asked, starting to wonder if the grownup talk was a conspiracy to delay breakfast.
Twilight gave Pinkie a small grin, “Sorry…”
“Sorry?” Pinkie asked in a completely confused tone before quickly snatching Copper off of the bed and setting her on her back.
“Eep!” Copper meeped in surprise.
“Come on little pony auntie Pinkie’s gonna make you pancakes!” Pinkie announced starting to trot off towards the castle kitchen carrying the filly on her back.
“Hold on, you don't have a “My best friends adopted a foal party?” Rainbow asked a little confused.
“Nope-piddy-nope-nope!” Pinkie sang adding, “You really should do your best to wake up before a filly you know. Trust me, always have breakfast ready before she gets up. So what’s your name?”
Rainbow and Twilight slipped out of bed following along behind Pinkie, “I thought you knew everypony’s name.” Twilight teased.
“I’m Copper.” Copper informed.
“Nice to meet you Copper! How do you take your pancakes?” Pinkie asked cheerfully.
“Umm… Cooked?”
Pinkie laughed happily and led the group into the castle’s kitchen. The serving staff looked up as they entered and cleared a range for the princess’s friend’s use. It wasn't the first time somepony had decided to cook their own meal. Pinkie quickly took a frying pan in hoof and pointed the other three to the small private dining room adjacent to the kitchen as she informed them that pancakes would be ready soon.
Within ten minutes the pink pony set a plate with a full stack of pancakes in front of everypony. After a happy proclamation of, “Dig in!” Twilight and Rainbow filled Pinkie in on what had happened yesterday.
“Ok so Twilight wanted to know what it was like to be a parent in case she has to mentor somepony in the future because you think that parental experience will help. But Rainbow wouldn't help unless you gave her a shot at being your marefriend. So you are moving in together to help raise Copper. ” Pinkie summarized.
“That is pretty much it.” Twilight said with a nod.
“Well good you two are so cute together!” Pinkie giggled quickly finishing off her pancakes.
Rainbow opened her mouth to speak but paused when she noticed Copper quietly talking to herself.
“So that was pancakes. Did you like them? Yay! I’m glad, they taste totally awesome.” The filly said seemingly to herself.
Rainbow blinked at looked over to Twilight, “Is she talking to herself?
Pinkiepie shook her head, “Nope! She’s talking to a friend who lives in her head named Tin.”
Copper yelped in surprise, “How’d you know that?”
“I have friends in my head too! You kinda learn to recognize how a pony looks talking to one.” Pinkie answered sipping at a glass of orange juice everypony swore hadn’t been there a second ago.
Twilight smiled at Rainbow, “Lot’s of fillies have imaginary friends. So how are Supprise and Pinkamena today?”
“Pretty good! We’re looking forward to tasting that new tea. Ooop!” Pinkie grinned and stood up, “Everypony else should be in your study by now. Let’s go!”
Pinkie sproinged up from the table and eagerly raced off to Twilight’s study for tea. The others followed at a more sensible pace, arriving in the study to find Pinkie almost finished explaining everything Rainbow and Twilight had told her earlier. As the three entered Applejack spotted Copper and smiled gently, trotting over to her and introducing herself, “Hey there Copper right? ah’m Applejack. Are you talking yet?”
“Yep!” Copper answered cheerfully, “You have my color fur.”
Applejack nodded, “It’s a good color for an earth pony.” She gave Copper a hoof bump.
Rarity trotted over to gently shake hands with the filly, “I’m Rarity, pleased to meet you Ms. Copper.”
“I’m not Ms. Copper. I’m just Copper.” The filly informed sounding a little confused as she returned the hoof shake.
Rarity blinked, “I know darling, it’s just a title for any-”
“I know. I don’t like it. It’s too girly.”
“Oh…” Rarity said a little deflated.
AJ grinned and gave Rainbow a hoofbump, “I see she takes after you.”
Rainbow held her head up proudly, “Yep!”
Fluttershy politely waited for her two friends to step aside before introducing herself, “Hello. I’m-”
“Fluttershy!” Copper gently hugged the yellow pegasus before backing off a little, “Mr. Gleam took us all to your cottage once! You had all these lil baby chicks and they were all fluffy and yellow, and your weird snakey friend made us all sandwiches!”
Fluttershy smiled, “Oh yes, I think I remember you now. You kept asking me about timberwolves right?”
Copper nodded, “Uh-huh!”
“Well if you are still curious you should ask Twilight, i am sure she has a book or three on them you could read.”
“I can’t read yet.” Copper said in a frustrated tone.
Twilight gently patted Copper’s head, “Don’t worry Copper, I’ll teach you how to read as soon as I can. Why don’t you go play in you room for a little bit while we have some tea? I’ll see how much I can show you to read before I have to hold court this afternoon ok?”
“Ok!” Copper excitedly darted off to her room, leaving the six mares alone.
Rarity gave a sincere smile, “Charming daughter you two have.”
AJ nodded, “Yep. Cute as any filly ah’ve ever seen. Good thing Applebloom isn’t her age still, we would have had four crusaders running around.”
“Oh you have no idea.” Fluttershy commented as she moved to pour everypony a cup of tea, “During the field trip she mentioned Copper kept asking me all day about how you should go about fighting off a timberwolf.”
Rainbow frowned, “Huh… maybe I should keep a closer eye on her then I thought.”
Twilight smiled, “Probably. But at least she listened to me just now. I was afraid I would have to say things a million times.”
Applejack smiled knowingly, “Oh that will come later. Wait till she’s hungry, or tired, or cranky then decide if she’s well behaved or not… Sooo ah have to ask, how’s it working out between you an Rainbow?”
Rainbow grinned happily, “Awesome!”
Twilight blushed sheepishly, “W-well snuggling was nice.”
Rarity smiled, “Good! Every time we got together for a drink and you couldn’t come along Rainbow would wind up lamenting the fact the two of you weren’t-”
Rainbow cut her off with a sheepish grin and laugh, “Umm hey! No need to mention that.”
The six gathered around a table for their tea, happily talking about the new couple. Outside the room however Copper lay with one ear pressed to the door. “Yep they are gonna be there for a long time.”
“Yep! I think I can remember where the kitchen was…” Copper mused standing up and trotting off down the hall.
Copper nodded in a most determined manner. Operation ‘Cookie Break’ was go.