Ra's Loyal Servant

The Council of Ra: a preliminary force of officials set behind a high table that gave perfect view of the less acclaimed city dwellers below. The raised platform and high table showed authority over those citizens, or in some cases, the criminals of the empire. It decided over their fates and their woes. Some of the city dwellers saw them as corrupt overlords who hid their identities in the shadows of the night. Others, like Hepu, saw them as a body of normal dwellers like them. They cared about those woes mostly. Ra would love them. Ra does love them.

The sun shone high over the Council's building, which shown tall in the deserts of Egypt. Its large columns towered over the innocent, and its grave cream form beckoned those who desired change. Age, however, had tampered with its once perfect form. It used to be a pristine building made by the followers of the last Pharaoh, a man with the desire to continue the trade of Ra's formidable traits. He wanted the place to be of work, friendship, and belonging. Now, with Hepu being thrust into the place, his sandals scraping the floors, the whole view was flip-flopped. Friendship still existed, and so did the belonging. It was at an all-time low, though. Work was the main focus in Ra's eyes.

"Glory to the Works of Ra."

Hepu paid him no heed. It was the greeter, a servant of the Council. They were normal, he thought. They were normal, just like him. They just have more than he does. They just have more.

"Glory to the Sun."

Hepu sent his gaze around, disregarding the fact that the now upset greeter he ignored was racing towards him with a torch in his hand. The fire sent a beautiful yellow hue in the giant monument. The path he walked was centered and encrusted with gold. The ceilings were decorated with the hieroglyphs of past Pharaohs who sat with the council. Wars, achievements, and other marvelous events of the empire showed how the Pharaohs reigned.  Hepu saw them as something to gaze at. It was always fresh to see them in all their glory. Ra would be happy to see them. It was work.

After letting his mind and eyes wander, he finally set his gaze on that high table. That large raised platform. Hepu assumed that there were officials there, but the torch's fierce gaze wouldn't allow him to see them. It hid their masks well behind the shroud of darkness. Hepu wished he could see them, though, but not for the purpose of seeing their physical faces. Instead, he had a different agenda: one that involved his beloved donkey.

In his arms is where his poor donkey lay fast asleep. After trying to walk for only a short time, he passed out in Hepu's arms. Hepu was worried that his donkey--no, his best friend was dying after all these years of traveling across the desert landscapes to his home in the desert and from the empire. He would travel with him happily by his side and even in times of trouble, the donkey would never leave Hepu alone. It was perfect.

Until today, that is. In his arms, Hepu held his seven year old donkey tightly as he had walked all the way up to the front, where the counsel now rested (he hoped) their eyes on him. He was here to get permission to sacrifice his donkey to Ra, but Hepu's heart couldn't take the pressure of releasing his best friend to Ra, who he cared as much as he cared for his donkey. He was confused, lost, and needed guidance on his sacrifice.

"Welcome to the Council, dweller," a voice from the dark said. His voice echoed in the expanse of the building. "What service can we be of for you on this fateful morning?"

Hepu couldn't stop shaking as the booming, husky voice echoed in his ears. "I-I'd like some guidance from t-the Council f-for sacrificing animals to Ra."

Hepu kept his eyes closed and hid in his donkey's neck. He was afraid to look up, to see those glaring red eyes bombard him. He had asked how to worship, how to sacrifice, and to ensure a proper ritual. He could've asked a family member, a servant near the house, maybe even another man like him: homeless, alone, left for dead--he couldn't; there's no way he could.

Hepu heard a few mumbles in the dark. "Is that all?" The husky voice had changed. Raspy, now.

"A mere dweller asks for help on how to sacrifice his donkey?" Another harked.

He looked down and kneeled in their presence. "Please!" Hepu begged. "I do not want to disobey Ra!"

As the words were said, Hepu's best friend woke from his sleep. He gazed at the table, then back at his owner, and before long, the donkey let out a shrill bray. The members of the Council gasped, some held their ears, but Hepu, with his donkey now beside him, kept his position, kneeling right before the court with his lowered and eyes glaring straight at the floor.

After his best friend calmed, Hepu gazed at where the council members sat. One had mumbled, another grumbled, and a few who had stayed quiet before, voiced their opinions:

"He's quite a loud donkey."

"A donkey like that? A perfect choice."

"What a gift Ra will be getting this time!"

"I hope Ra likes donkey."

Hepu looked up, and saw the darkness descend on him with their red eyes poking through the black. In seconds, the servant, who was afraid to approach once Hepu had been accepted by the Council, tapped him on the shoulder. Hepu turned and raised a brow at the torch, which was shoved in his direction.

"You forgot your torch," the servant said, before returning back to where he came.

Hepu eyed the torch for a moment, before seeing a glimpse of a brown stick jutting from the ground. He moved the fire towards it, and there, he saw the holder: a giant, circular module sitting there, waiting for him to slide the torch it the secured spot. Hepu smiled and set the torch into the holder, which brought the gazes of the dark to a whole new light. They were smiling too, just like Hepu.

"Glad you figured that out, dweller." They all looked the same. "Would've been annoying to not see us, would it?"

Hepu just nodded as he gazed at every single one of them. Seven members total, all in clean white robes. The shrouds covered their hair, and only their eyes were to be seen. The rest was just white. White as...

"So, our decision, yes?" one said.

"Must it be served to the Pharaoh?"

Hepu raised a brow as the main official, which he assumed was the one in the middle, waved his hand dismissively at the one who asked the question. "Not at all, in fact, I will handle it personally."

The council members surrounding him gasped in unison. "But you can't! Pharaoh said--"

"But look at him!" The man's skin was like mine: brown. "You cannot simply dismiss a helpless dweller who is willing to sacrifice his only animal to Ra!" He threw his arms out wide. "Who wouldn't help this man?"

None of the members said a thing. All that reigned in the room was silence, which caused Hepu to think that maybe his problem would never be resolved. It made his heart race, his mind travel, and his head to ache. A drip of sweat slid down his cheek as he held his donkey close, hoping that maybe the main official wasn't lying.

The official smiled. "Great, then it has been settled." He turned to his colleagues and bowed. They returned the gesture. "I will be seeing you all in twenty suns."

Hepu could not believe his ears. Twenty suns was not just a walk to the marketplace and back to his home. Twenty suns...

Hepu brought his gaze to the official and smiled. "Thank you for taking care of me, sir."

The official descended, his white robes shimmering in the light. "Nonsense! I will help you come closer to Ra, dweller!" He beckoned Hepu with a flick of his wrist. "But first, I must take you outside with your donkey, so we can discuss the conditions..."

"Conditions?" Hepu asked, as he stood with his donkey by his side.

"Yes, several." Hepu raised a brow. "Oh! You mean what conditions, yes?"

Hepu nodded.

"Ah, well, let us be out of my fellow members' ways, they have more dwellers to see!" He swung his arm around Hepu's head. "Let's go," he added, and there, the three walked out of the giant, once pristine building, where hieroglyphics told of many great achievements, and where Ra held his head towards the sun.

Hepu took a deep breath.

"So those conditions will be all decided by Ra?"

The conversation had been heated.

"Mostly," the official said. "Two conditions do remain, and those are for you to understand." He shifted his shroud. "You know, Egyptian or not, these type of sacrifices, where a human and donkey both die for the cause of Ra, are not very fortunate in your favor."

Hepu sighed. He knew he would be vilified by those who heard of this sacrifice. Any bystander walking near and see him with this council member in a temple could destroy not only Hepu's reputation, but the official's too. There's no way he'd be allowed in the council again. Yet, here was the judge helping him, without any problem nor care of the consequences. "I understand. I just want him by my side instead of rotting away from certain death."

Blood stains on fur, grey; swirled. The official smiled. "Then the only other condition that you must come to realize is the fact that Ra, in his own design, may not accept your offering and instead bring the sun's power upon you."

His body quaked and shook. Hepu quivered as the thought of his beloved friend dying for nothing but a hope of being accepted by Ra invaded his mind. It made him want to turn and go home and live his final moments with his best friend, but...

"I don't care if he rejects him," Hepu says defiantly, his sandal creating a puff of dust in its wake. "I mustn't give up; this is the option I have chosen to take!"

"If it is of the case, then your conditions have been met," the official began, his eyes skirting to the dusty path below. "We're on course now, just a few ticks away and you'll meet Ra through the high priests."

Hepu raised a brow. "They allow that?"

Surprisingly, the official shook his head. "No, but on this occasion, they shall."

Hepu couldn't believe his ears. Him being allowed to step foot in a place where no other dweller had gone before? A miracle, in his eyes, as he brought his wide eyes down to a less shocked state. "You mean..."

"By council order, Hepu," the official said bluntly. "Besides, how else do you think you'd get in there? By force?"

Hepu looked down at his donkey, who smiled happily at him. "If need be..."

"That would be a bust."

"Why?" Hepu asked as he brought his attention back to the official, who was looking at the temple.

The official turned and gave Hepu a smirk. "Ra would not like it if you became a criminal."

Eyes wide, Hepu stared. "Right," he murmured, before petting his donkey once last time. "Is it time?"

Nodding, the official beckoned Hepu forth into the temple, where the dust did not flow in, and where the offering of integrity would come. The two men and one happy-go-lucky donkey walk into the temple of Ra, a place where high priests and council members alike roam to provide Ra with gifts of appreciation. Here, several high priests ran the building's daily offerings. Some cleaned the gold statue of Ra, which sat dead center in the building, while others tended to the offerings, which were set all around the statue. Hepu knew only this much due to the main judge's rambling on the way to the temple, but seeing it in person made Hepu feel different. He didn't know how to express himself in a way that could describe how the god stood. He...

"Brother Nehi."

The official, who Hepu now recognized as Nehi, turned and smiled. "Brother Pawah!" The two shook hands. "How's the temple coming?"

Pawah, in his headdress and white robes, scratched his neck. "Ra's temple had been fixed. Walls, everything; washed."

His speech, Hepu thought, was broken and slashed. It didn't sound right in his ears as the ideas swirled into one. "Ah, I knew something had been fixed! The walls look clean for Ra's service tonight!"

Pawah nodded. "They must; Ra deserves more than ever. Sun, glaring; high in the sky. He defeats Apep every dawn." The man's hand shook as he brought it to his staff, which laid up against the nearby wall. "Say, who is he? A new council member?"

Nehi shook his head. "No, he's a dweller that wishes to sacrifice his animal to Ra."

Pawah mirrored Nehi's response, his headdress turning black in the dark. "No dwellers are allowed in the temple."

"Not even under council's order?" Nehi asked, a brow raised high. "Would you want Ra's work to be shot down?"

Pawah froze. "You're kidding, right?"

Nehi sighed and walked further towards the statue. He circled it twice as he announced clearly, "You and I own this temple in the name of Ra, correct?" A nod was given by the high priest. "And if we both own this property equally and share it for Ra's divinity, then shall it be wrong in the name of Ra to uphold his divinity by sharing the property equally among those who wish to quantify his divinity?" The high priest shrugged. "You must have a better answer than that, Pawah."

"I wish I did," Pawah replied. "His divinity is unknown, but not through story. His boat sails high but Pharaoh cannot seek him."

"If that's the case, then what harm must be for him if the Pharaoh cannot even reach Ra?" Nehi asked as he finished circling the statue.

Pawah sighed and stood right in front of Nehi's path. "Stop circling the statue," he commanded. "Even though you are council, it is not polite; Ra, hated."

Nehi facepalmed. "I get it, I will not circle the statue." He brought his hand to his side and looked at Pawah in full. "Look, give him an approval."

"Pharaoh's orders, only," Pawah replied flatly.

"In Ra's name, please?"

"If Ra crashed into Pharaoh's boat of life on the Nile, I'd let him in for the sake of saving the Pharaoh."

"Not even for more funding to the temple--"

Pawah groaned. "You're serious? You won't back down for this common dweller?"

Nehi sighed and beckoned Hepu over. Carefully, he wrapped his arm around Hepu's neck. "Even common dwellers have something to say to Ra. We shouldn't deny him of that ability."

The high priest glared at Hepu with the daggers of a thousand suns. Hepu saw his glares look like the daggers bleeding from the council that he saw, but thankfully, it was only one dagger glare versus seven. Hepu sighed. "I understand the consequences of my failure to sacrifice my animal properly, sir."

Suddenly, Pawah laughed. "Sir? A common dweller with courtesy towards us?" The high priest patted Hepu on his back. "I change my mind, let him worship Ra in all of his glory."

Nehi smirked at Hepu. "I need to know your tricks for later, Hepu. I can never get this guy to work with me."

"Stop talking in Ra's chambers, thank you," Pawah said, before going outside the large doors and into the sands of time.

Hepu stared at where Pawah had left, before turning to Nehi with shock worn on his face. "Why did he leave?"

Nehi shrugged. "Not sure, probably telling the upcoming order that my seat will be vacant."

"Upcoming order?"

"You're curious about everything, aren't you, Hepu?" Nehi stomped his foot on the stone floor.

Hepu nodded. "Anything out of my scope is something to learn."

Nehi smirked. "For a dweller, you're very concerned about us highers."

"Every official has their own purpose and motives," Hepu began as he stood in front of the statue. "And so does a dweller."

The atmosphere around the three went tense as the realization of them being alone struck. Nehi coughed, while Hepu took a few steps back. His donkey, however, stayed put and stared at the statue as it stood in a perfect gleaming shine. "The sun is near peak. Quick, Hepu, ask Ra for assistance."

"How do I--"

Nehi sighed. "Kneel before the statue and slowly rise with your hands out wide."

Hepu did as he was told. He stepped forward, kneeled, and slowly rose with his hands out wide. Nothing happened.

Nehi facepalmed. "You forgot to ask Ra for assistance."

Hepu grunted and performed the ritual again. Blood splattered all over. "Ra, I ask of you to help me bring good to your life."

Hepu stopped and stared at the statue. The sun, which had set its gleaming light upon the statue, had suddenly vanished. Nehi watched it in horror as he took several long steps towards the door.

"Hepu, stand back..." Nehi said from behind Hepu, who was frozen at the sight of the now splintering gold statue. Meanwhile, Hepu's best friend had begun to bray at the statue, his loud calls of distress sending shockwave after shockwave through Hepu's ears. Hepu gasped as he gripped his ears in pain, but his eyes stayed focused on the statue. He didn't want it broken, and he didn't want the high priest to send them away.

"Hepu! Come here, quick!"

Hepu turned and saw Nehi standing by the exit. He was beckoning him with his hand, the hand that was not covered by his white robe. "Come with the donkey; we must leave now!"

Grey, grey, grey; ashes on the ground. Hepu shook his head. "I can't! This is the only opportunity I have, Nehi!"

Nehi groaned and raced into the temple. With quick footwork, Nehi grabbed Hepu by his shoulders. "You must move!"

"No!" Hepu replied, keeping his ground strong. "Not in a million suns!"

Hepu watched as the statue began to fully split. It was just a few quarters more, and all he had to do was distract Nehi from pulling him away from Ra."Hepu!"

Then, as Nehi pulled Hepu to the ground, the statue split in two.

The two gawked as the temple grounds shook with vice. The stones began to shift, the foundation began to crack, and the offerings began to shatter and roll; the entirety of what Hepu just experienced would be destroyed in a matter of seconds.

"Donkey!" Hepu shouted, who was still braying at what was left of the statue. "Come!"

The donkey came to, and swiftly stood by his side. Hepu petted him momentarily, before turning towards the exit. However, in mid-turn, a strange presence invaded his brain.

Hepu, hear me...

Hepu stopped and stared as Nehi shouted at him. However, Hepu heard nothing. Not a single peep of those words. Instead, he heard something in his head that shattered all other sounds that were around him. It felt... nice.

"What is it?"

I must give you refuge for you and your donkey. Those of the priests and officials do not desire my attention for the purpose or motives you thought.

"Really?"

A slab of stone shattered in front of them. The world of the empire does not require my assistance if they do not allow my children seek refuge in their temples.

"So where must I go, Ra?"

Turn around.

So, Hepu did, and there, where the statue once was was a stairwell under the stones of time. Go down them.

Hepu grabbed his donkey and nuzzled him. "I will do as you tell me, Ra."

"HEPU!" You are loyal, my servant.

There, Hepu descended the steps of the Sun.

The hot dense air flourished where Hepu once walked on. For Hepu, however, the Sun's lair he had been order to descend into was colder than any environment he had ever stood in. It was frigid, like the nights that Apep provided to scare the followers of Ra and make them scurry into their homes for safety. Hepu wasn't one of those followers. He wasn't afraid of Apep and his cold dark nights. He somewhat liked them, but only if they did not harm their integrity. If it did, then Hepu would carry his donkey into his home, which laid far from the empire's boundaries, and set him beside his bed. It was all about safety and friendship to Hepu, and here, it was the same ordeal: cold and frigid, yet just enough to bear.

Hepu also had to worry about the voice, which he assumed was Ra. It echoed in his mind whenever it needed him or vice versa. Well, Hepu needed him now, since the torches were not lit, and there was no way of telling where he was going. It was darker than any place Apep had spent his nights, but Hepu trusted Ra with all his might and will. With his donkey in his arms, Hepu trudged on in the unknown wastes under the temple he once walked on.

You're close.

"To what, exactly?"

Me.

Hepu's eyes widened. "You mean..."

Yes, I, Ra. I will meet you where the torches stand in a circle, all lit to perfection.

"Am I going to run into a wall anytime soon?"

Ra does not use walls.

Hepu's eyes lowered to the ground. "Then what am I standing on?"

Mud and soot from when Apep decided to make art.

Hepu didn't want to comment, he was too afraid to ask what Apep was making. "Not going to ask what it was he was making..."

Nothing important, if that's anything... Besides, I sense you have another question to ask.

Hepu did have something on his mind, but he was unsure whether to ask it or not. "Will Nehi be all right?"

Nehi, that man who called you away?

Hepu nodded. "Yes, he wanted to save my donkey and I so we could--"

You wanted to sacrifice him to me, correct?

"Not exactly..." Hepu replied. "I wanted to see if I could be with him forever, since he is my best friend."

Suddenly, the world he saw came light. Full of it, in fact, an orange glow that formed a circle stared right at him. Around the area was simple dust compacted into a true form. Hepu gawked in awe at how cleaner it felt to be under ground, and how scary it was to be alone here with Ra. He wasn't afraid of Ra, but rather the idea of being buried alive without any chance of escape haunted his brain. Maybe he should ask Ra to be safely escorted out?

Look at the center.

And Hepu did. The center of the torches stood a man with a hawk's head. On top was a large gold disk with a snake slithered tightly around it. It was him, it was Ra. He was Ra. Hepu was his servant.

You found me.

Hepu began to approach Ra. "Can you speak outside my head?"

Hepu watched as the man shook his head. No, I am not a physical entity. What you see is my representation, a familiar look you see me as.

"So you don't have your own representation?"

Once again, the man shook his head. I only exist because of you and the followers of Ra, Hepu.

Hepu stood next to the man. Hepu noticed some very similar qualities that Ra had. He was tall, like Hepu, but not as big. He would call it lean, but it sort of staggered between lean and muscular. On the other side of the coin, he was lighter skinned. Maybe it was due to being the Sun? Hepu could only wonder. "Why are you light skinned?"

The Sun does not mirror his followers' tan. I cannot become tan, since I bear the power, and you wear the sign of my power.

"So I am darker because of your ability to make me brown?"

Essentially. Anyway, would you like to talk about your sacrifice?

Hepu sighed. "I am... afraid. Nehi said my offering could be rejected on the basis that it would satisfy you..."

Hepu heard the man sigh. May I fix that for you?

"Huh?"

Look down.

Hepu's gaze landed straight to the mud and soot that entrenched his feet. "What is this supposed to--"

Suddenly, he felt a hand cup his cheek. He was about to look up, when he heard Ra tell him to stay. "I will, Ra."

The feeling was like no other. It did not burn him, but it made Hepu feel like he was standing in a fire, where all the warmth in the world settled. Yet, the warmth was caring, and it glided along his cheek ever so softly. You love me intensely, Hepu. Why would I reject an offering from you? The man had removed his hand from Hepu's cheek. No man has loved me with such sincerity and need. It's heartwarming, and I would not, in a million nights, would I see you out. So, I will do the best in my power to keep your friend alive.

Hepu could not feel anymore giddy and embarrassed. His face lit up a bright red and his heart raced as fast as it as ever ran. He almost fell to the ground when he had heard Ra's confession of knowing Hepu's undying loyalty to him, but knowing that he would not reject his offering made his legs begin to wobble. Are you anxious?

"I am just so... happy. I just want to know what we will do to save him and I."

It is a bit complicated, but you must listen closely.

Hepu nodded. "I will do as you wish, Ra."

Good. I ask of you to be calm, but I only fear that you will react harshly.

Hepu took a deep breath. "Not in your name."

Hear me, then, servant. Put your donkey at my feet and let him bray.

Hepu looked down at his donkey, which was still in his arms. The shock of seeing the temple fall from every angle made the donkey pass out. He must get him to wake, and by doing that, he had to lay him away from his body. So, Hepu placed the donkey at Ra's feet, and stood five steps back.

Where are you going, my servant?

"Waking him up," Hepu replied lamely. "He doesn't wake if he's in my arms--"

The words Hepu were going to say were shot down with fire as his best friend woke with extreme fright. The donkey had seen Ra's being and jumped, braying at him all the while. Good. Now, I will accept him as an offering as long as you promise three things.

"What is it you want?"

First, you will be separated upon your leaving. Since that is the case, I must ask of you to not hate me for this purpose.

"Leaving?" Hepu said as a shockwave of adrenaline rushed through him.

Yes. I cannot keep you two together as this would cause you both to die on re-entry into the world.

"This world?"

No. I will not let you live in a world where status rules the temples. Instead, I must ask of you to be strong and bear witness to the lands beyond ours. There will be my wife, who I wish for you to ask for anything that you need in my name.

Hepu couldn't feel his feet. It wasn't because they were buried in Apep's failed masterpieces, but the fact that he wasn't going to be near his best friend meant he had to searching for him in a place that was unknown to him. This worried him so. What if he was unable to find him? What if he died before Hepu could reach him? "I will... do as you say, Ra."

I sense the hesitation in your voice. I understand it too, this is one hard task to accept. However, the other two will be easier to swallow, as I know you would love to be well off. The man approached Hepu slowly. I will offer you something too, to help you on your journey beyond.

Hepu watched as Ra slowly pulled a purple medallion from his robes. "Is this what I think it is?"

The man nodded as he kneeled in front of Hepu. This medallion will keep you safe from Apep's destructive nature. Wear it and be safe.

Hepu nodded as he took the medallion and let it lay languidly against his neck. "Thank you, Ra. I will do as you wish."

The man patted Hepu on his back. One final condition. Are you ready?

"Yes. What is it that I must do?"

You must die.

"W-What--"

The world began to spin as he looked down at Ra's form. His beak at pierced his stomach and shattered what was his torso. Blood splattered on the walls of life that had aged many suns before, while the dark feasted upon the organs of the light. Hepu tried to say words, but nothing would come out as he watched another man--he looked just like Ra--stabbing his donkey with a sword drenched in blood. It didn't make sense why he had to die. He just wanted to be alive with his donkey.

Was it all a lie?

Hepu could only think for a second more, before his mind gave way to the darkness of Apep. He no longer knew where he was going, but as long as Ra told the truth, may he rest here, and live anew in his name.

Glory to Ra.

"Twilight?" She knew that voice. It was somepony she didn't want to listen to right now as her muzzle was preoccupied with being buried in a novel written by a magic specialist in Canterlot. It was a great work that she needed to understand before the competition she had devised against her former mentor, Celestia. All she needed was to read a few more words...

"Twilight! Get in here, your egg is about to be burnt!"

Twilight snapped to the voice, who was wearing an apron and sporting a chef's hat that was whiter than any of the teeth in her mouth. Twilight sighed as she was pulled a few seconds early from her book. "All right, Spike!" she shouted, before murmuring, "I will read you, book."

Spike watched as his friend pointed at the book she was reading with a mild glare of disgust. He was concerned about her ever since she decided to challenge Celestia to a duel of lifting... It didn't make sense in Spike's eyes, knowing that the two had most of the magic in the world, but Spike didn't care. If it made her happy, then it made him happy. That's all that mattered, right?

Quietly, Twilight sat at the table while Spike served her her breakfast. "Bon appetite, mon chere!"

"Spike, I'm not your wife," Twilight replied bluntly, before digging into her food.

Spike groaned. "Mon ami?"

Twilight smiled. "Much better," she said, before digging into her food. "Has your 'rench become better?"

"My wrench?" Spike asked as he turned off the stove. "I don't have one of those..."

Twilight swallowed the food that she was chewing. "I meant to say 'French', but the egg decided to wedge itself in my teeth."

Spike laughed. "Didn't Cadance tell you to not talk with your mouth full?"

"No..." Twilight said while looking down at her plate with seething hatred. "But you haven't answered my question."

Spike smiled. "Yes. Celestia has been very helpful in teaching me French!" He got up from the table and rushed into the living room with speeds that Twilight never thought he had. As she was about to take another bite to savor the taste of egg in her mouth, Spike rushed back into the room with a large white book in his claws. "She even gave me this to study from!"

"An actual textbook, huh?" Twilight asked with a raise of a brow. All she received was a giddy nod. "Wow, you're really excited over learning from a textbook."

Spike saw the smirk wedge its way on her face. It was really intimidating, but nothing that could measure any sort of threat. Besides, Twilight being a threat to him? That wouldn't happen any time soon! "At least I don't get excited over a bread crumb."

"Hey! I thought it was a new species of crumb!" Twilight said with flushed cheeks. "It's not my fault they looked exotic!"

"Exotic bread crumbs?" Spike said as he tried to hold in his laughter. "Twilight, you're hilarious!"

Twilight, on the other hoof, didn't think she was being funny. Her face was flushed, her ears were splayed against her head, and the world of academia as she knew was spiraling into her castle and sending it in every single direction that she did not want it to go. It was terrible, and it was all because of Spike making fun of her.

Oh well, it could be worse.

"All right, Spike, you had your fun," Twilight said as she took another bite of her egg. "We gotta get finished with breakfast."

"Reading the rest of your book?" Spike said, his eyebrow raised towards the sun, which peered through the window.

She sighed. "No, we have to go visit Fluttershy today."

"Fluttershy?"

Twilight giggled. "Of course! You know her, right?"

Spike nodded. "I know. I'm just surprised that we're doing something else together."

Twilight's gaze lowered. "I know, Spike. I'm sorry, but fixing other ponies problems along with--"

"Being with your friends to save the day comes first, I know." Spike flashed his friend a bright smile. "It's just refreshing to know that we're doing something together that doesn't involve books or saving the world from danger."

Smiling, Twilight finished up her egg and levitated her plate to the sink. "I understand," she said. "Want me to take your plate?"

Spike smiled and handed his plate to her. "Thank you," he said.

"It's nothing, Spike," she said before looking at the sun. She felt something strange come upon her, a sudden surge of adrenaline; an unidentified source of energy. She didn't know where it came, but it felt like a jolt from the sun. It felt foreign, but for some reason, it was warm and comforting. The sudden surge made Twilight want to head out of the house and investigate, but she didn't know where to start. It just... felt like another mission. Another friendship mission.

She looked at her cutie mark.

It was glowing.

"Spike, we need to go."