It was cold in my new bedroom. Too cold. Despite the warmth outside, the crystals of my new castle made it unseasonably chilly. The thick quilt and blanket I had over my sheets did very little to keep out the cold air. I laid on my bed, with all four of my legs pulled close to my barrel, trying desperately to warm myself. I had tried opening the window to let in a warm summer breeze, but the pegasi had scheduled a shower for that evening, because why should my first night in my new castle be peaceful and warm? I had only saved Equestria for, what, the third time now? That wasn’t so special! Certainly not deserving of conveniences so simple as a warm bedroom and good night’s sleep! So I tossed and I turned, trying to get comfortable in the new bed that my friends had generously paid for. But no matter how I lay on the soft mattress, it made no difference.
Because it was too.
Damn.
Cold.
I needed more blankets. And some torches. Maybe a couple of throw rugs, some carpet, a thermonuclear device…
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
…and to answer whoever was knocking at my door at two o’clock in the morning. Of course, there was only one other person it could be.
“Come in, Spike.” I called wearily.
My bedroom door creaked open, and a purple baby dragon walked inside. “Twilight,” he began, “my room’s too cold. Can I sleep in here tonight?”
I smiled as best I could manage. “Of course you can, Spike. Hop in.” I levitated the covers back to allow him in, and he trudged his sleepy body across the room and climbed in next to me. I telekinetically shut the door, wrapped my forehooves and wings around him, and covered us both up. Having Spike next to me brought back memories of my fillyhood at the School for Unicorns. He and I were roughly the same size back then. We’d hug each other tight and snuggle together under the covers. I smiled fondly at the thought and found myself feeling content for the first time that evening despite my shivering body. Wait, that wasn’t my body shivering.
“Spike? Are you okay?” When I didn’t get a response, I lifted my head off my pillows and looked down at his face. Sure enough, a small stream of tears was flowing down his face. He look up at me, and then rolled over and buried his head in my chest. The problem was obvious. It had been bothering me, as well. I thought for a moment for the right thing to say.
“My first night in Ponyville was kind of hard, too.” I told him. “Canterlot is my home town. I spent more time in the astronomy tower at the castle than I did my own home. Heck, the tower practically was my home. As excited as I was that I finally had friends, leaving my old life behind was intimidating. I kept thinking, ‘What if I do something wrong? What if I do something that makes the others hate me? How could I possibly go back to Canterlot and face Princess Celestia? And even if we do stay friends, will I ever go back to Canterlot? Will I stay here for the rest of my life? Will we be able to maintain our friendship if I ever do move back?’
“The questions just kept coming like that for I don’t know how many nights. But do you know what I did?” I asked him, pushing him away slightly so we could look one another in the eye. “Every morning I woke up, had a good time with my friends, made some great memories…and a few not-so-great ones, I’ll admit…and then one night I realized none of those questions bothered me anymore.”
Spike’s tears had stopped. For a moment, he didn’t respond. Then he said, “I know I shouldn’t be so upset. I mean, I’m okay, you’re okay, the girls are okay, and Owlowiscious is okay, and all I really lost was a couple of comic books, but this place just feels wrong somehow. Not bad, just…different.”
“It’s okay to feel that way after a big change, Spike. Believe or not, that’s the way the library first felt to me.” I giggled at his confused stare. “Yes, I was afraid of a library, okay? Go ahead and laugh if you want to.” He did allow himself to smile, at least. “But like I said, I took it one day at a time. And I had a lot of help.”
Spike turned on his back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. “I guess it’s just because we cut it so close this time. I mean everypony was hit by Tirek. Even the princesses. Even Discord! But usually everything goes back to normal after these kinds of things. We learn a lesson, have a good laugh, maybe a party, and then we go home. Then the next morning, it’s business as usual. But, we don’t get to do that this time. This place isn’t home. It’s more of a…a…”
“Current residence?” I offered.
“Yeah, that sounds right. And it’s too cold.”
“Yeah.”
We were both silent again for a while. Finally, I broke the silence. “So are you feeling any better?”
“Eh, a little I guess. This is just gonna take me a while to get used to. I thought my first night in my own room would be cool, but it’s just so empty. It’s kind of creepy.”
“I know, but it won’t be that way for long. Now try and get some sleep. We have to help clean up the town tomorrow, or later today, rather.”
“Okay. And Twilight?” he asked.
“What is – oh!” I exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around my neck as tightly as he could, inadvertently digging his claws into my skin in the process.
“I’m really glad you’re okay.”
I smiled as I returned his embrace. “I’m glad you’re okay, too.” I replied as I planted a kiss on top of his head. “Sleep well.”
And with that, we snuggled up again and lay our heads on pillows. Before I nodded off, I turned my head gently and glanced once more around my new room. It was just as empty as Spike’s, with only my bed and my nightstand to fill it. And it was still far too cold. Spike was right; it wasn’t home. Not yet, anyway.
But maybe one day, it will be.
Author's Note
Here's my little submission for One-Shot-Tober, which a thing on this site, apparently. Anyway, if you have an idea for a short story you'd like to see me write, see my blog post for my rules. As always, constructive criticism is welcome.
