Dawn and Dusk

Spike grumbled irritability. Of all the days that Twilight and the gang had left  on an adventure, OF ALL THE DAYS, Twilight just HAD to leave TODAY. THE ONE DAY THAT NO PONY IN PONYVILLE HAS A BIRTHDAY. " WHY DOESN'T TWILIGHT EVER TAKE ME ON ANY OF HER ADVENTURES, WHY DIDN'T SHE TRUST ME WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOUSEWORK, WHY AM I ALWAYS LEFT BEHIND?! Spike screamed out, accompanied with a flock of frightened birds. Everypony in the marketplace froze and slowly turned towards Spike. Spike took off like a frightened gazelle. He ran and ran and ran, until he couldn't run anymore, thinking over and over "I need to get away, I need to get away,I need to get away!. Spike ducks into an alley, still panicking, when he hears something that throws hours mind for a loop.

He hears crying. Not the crying one would hear from a filly, but the tortured sobs of one who has lost everything.

" H-Hello?" Spike whispered, afraid of what he might see. He crept closer to the sounds panic and fear rising with each step, until.

Nothing. There was nothing in the alley except a dragon named Spike breathing heavily because of something he may or may not have heard. "Nothing. It was just nothing," he whispered, giving a relieved sigh.

CRASH!

The young drake gave a surprised shout as he jumped back. A squeak drew his attention to the trash can next to him. He slowly lifted the lid of the trash can and stared down in shock. It was a small filly about his age with a porcelain white coat and a brown mane that seemed to hide half of her face, but her eyes seemed to have the entire spectrum of color pulsing and weaving around her pupils. The pony and the drake starred at each other before the filly made the first move.

She charged forward, attempting to strike Spike with her forehoof.The attack never made it that far. Spike grasped her outstretched arm while sidestepping the initial strike.  Spike put the filly into a nelson and yelled, "Hold on a second you crazy filly, I just want to talk!" The filly didn't reply but stopped struggling. " I'd like to ask you what you were doing in a trashcan, but that would be impolite. So, where are your parents?" At this, the filly stiffened and seemed to crack. Then started the sobs, gut-wrenching and loud, they carried through the dark alley, which seemed to get bluer, and somber music started to play from the radio nearby. "I just hope she gets better soon, I have to get back before dark, thought the purple drake, trying to inch away from the depressed filly. Quick as lightning, she grabbed his neck and cried into his shoulder. Spike, not knowing how to respond to this, simply shrugged and accepted his fate, thinking, "I hope this doesn't take to long."

"An hour. One full hour. You wouldn't let go for a full hour," moaned Spike to the filly currently riding on his back. "Why do I always get stuck with the crazy ones? Ya know, I haven't asked what your name was."

"Nova."

"Sorry, didn't quite get that."

"Nova."

"Didn't quite catch that."

A bright blue butterfly fluttered by, beckoning. The mystery mare leaped off of Spike's back, kicking Spike's face into the ground, and ran after the alluring insect, like a moth to a flame. Spike charged into the foliage and was greeted by a scene with instant diabetes levels of adorableness. Every single animal was sitting down on a chair next to a long table that appeared, with an appropriately sized cup in hand while, Nova had Angel bunny sitting on her lap, resting like a complacent cat. Her eyes seemed to shift taking on a teal hue while still swirling hypnotically, and her coat became a light manilla with her mane turning the barest hint of rose. It was almost as if she had the color scheme of Fluttershy mixed in with her natural colors.

Spike nervously walked up next to the table just as his mystery mare was introducing  herself to the animals. "Hi, I'm Nova everyone," She spoke in a modest quiet tone. "Could I know all of your names, if it's not too much trouble." Each of the animals said something in their native language while Spike thought, "Fluttershy's cottage, the perfect place for our new friend to make some more friends. I wonder why she's so friendly with all the animals? I mean even Angel is being nice. Angel!"

Spike cleared his throat with a very solid "Eh hem." Nova whirled around on a chair that is clearly not a swivel, making for a very comical scene  with Angel bunny flying out of Nova's arms and Nova falling face-first onto the ground. "So karma does exist," thought Spike before saying to the audience of animals, "Nova here has to go and get situated with the rest of Ponyville."

"It means, she has to go meet the rest of the town," Spike added in response to the collection of blank stares. "Nova, we have to go," he said, dragging her hoof with him.

"How do you know my name? ARE YOU PSYCHIC?"

"What? No. You said it when talking to the demon rabbit."

"You mean Angel."

"That's what I said."

"B-b-but, tea party," she whined, tugging back to the collection of animals. Spike pulled back and said, "You can always come back later."

"But I want it noowww."

"How about this, we'll get some ice cream and we'll come back tomorrow. Deal?"

She huffed "deal" before scrambling onto Spike's back.

"Alright, away we go," Spike as the two walked into town with Nova giving a goodbye wave.

"Why are we stopping here?"

The fashion forward Carousel Boutique filled their vision. It appeared the same to the average pony walking by but, today there was a sign saying, "Closed Re: Friendship Problems."

"Because Rarity wants me to watch Carousel Boutique while she's off helping "The Twins," Spike stated giving air quotes for the last phrase.

"Who are "The Twins," asked Cress with the same mannerism.

"Twilight and that new pony Cress," said Spike, "They look almost exactly the same except for their colors. It's uncanny really."

"Ooooh, I get it now. Can we go get that ice cream now?"

"But we didn't finish taking care of the Boutique."

"But that will take foreeever, and ice cream waits for nopony."

"That is true... How about I take a trip to Sugarcube Corner and get you whatever cupcake you want. Deal?"

"Mmmmm... Double or nothing."

"Fine, Double it is. Where did Rarity say that the spare key was anyway," muttered Spike searching the surrounding area next to the door. Nova meanwhile sat in front of the door and seemed to pull an azure and teal key that floated through the air, only to smoothly land in the keyhole. The key turned and the lock opened with a resounding "Click."

"How did you do that?"

"Bleargh, I don't know, I just thought about how much better it would be if the door opened, and BAM! It opened," replied Nova, "Now I want that ice cream that you promised," she added with a pout.

"Fine, fine, ALRIGHT, alright, we're going inside. I just hope that Rarity and Sweetie belle understand," muttered Spike, "I wonder if Nova will be able to handle the caffeine that is in a cup of tea.

While the two of them were walking in, neither of them noticed that Nova seemed to become pale. Rather, her coat color was changing to white, and her mane seemed to change to a faint violet with a pink streak. Her eyes had the greatest change. What was once a constantly a shifting, pulsing explosion of color now had a teal tint to it.

"It should be smooth sailing from now on," thought the optimistic drake.

CRASH! "Sorry!"

Spike an exasperated sigh, with his mood taking a full 180.  Spike grumbled, "Maybe not," and ventured into the veteran disaster zone that was the Carousel kitchen, and the adorable Weapon of Mass Destruction within.