From Solitude to Friendship

It was a sleepless night for Clyde. His thoughts were constantly rushing through him. The feeling of pure disbelief wasn't going to leave him soon. The sun rose before he could catch some sleep, much to his annoyance. He didn't mind too much, since he knew he would be fine. He could hear some steps from upstairs, Clyde assumed Twilight was also awake. He left the spare bedroom and expected to be greeted by Twilight, but he as instead greeted by a small, purple dragon. The two just stared at each other for about a minute. The dragon finally broke the silence.

"Um.. You're new." He said. "Twilight told me some colt was staying here for a day, but I wasn't expecting some pony so.. big." The dragon looked at him with awe.

"I'm only about as big as any other pony." Clyde said as the dragon shrugged and held out his claw.

"The name's Spike, what's yours?" Spike asked.

Clyde tried his best to shake his claw with his hoof. "Clyde. Nice to be of your acquaintance." He said. Spike continued to look at him with awe and bombarded him with questions.

"So it is true that you are from the moon? That you were Nightmare Moon's Servant? That you are Twilight's boyfriend? Can you give me relationship advice?" Spike looked at him with buggy eyes, folding his claws together. Clyde sighed, remembering he was only a child.

"Yes, yes, no, and no." Clyde simply answered. "What gave you those ideas?" He asked.

"Oh, I may have eavesdropped a little, and made a few assumptions that could maybe lead me to Rarity. A lover has got to try." Spike said, clearly in another world. Twilight entered the room, and just in time too.

"Leave him alone, Spike." Twilight said, laughing. "How did you sleep, Clyde?

"Fine." Clyde lied. Twilight started to walk to the kitchen.

"I'm going to make some breakfast for us, why don't you two chat for a bit?" Twilight said.

"Oh, you don't need to make me anything." Clyde said. Spike looked at him funny.

"What will you eat?" Spike asked. Clyde looked away.

"I can fend for myself. I don't want to be a burden." Clyde said.

Twilight laughed, as Spike got more confused. "You don't need to worry, Clyde. Please, accept my offer." Twilight asked. "I'm sure you enjoy pancakes, right?" She asked. Clyde looked at her funny.

"I've never had pancakes. I've only eaten hay and rice for the past many years." Clyde said. Spike looked at him with horror.

"What!? You haven't had pancakes? Let alone any other food that actually tastes good! This is an emergency!" Spike yelled. Twilight laughed.

"Just more of a reason to make you something nice, Clyde. Sit down and relax." Twilight said as she went into the kitchen. Spike continued to look at Clyde in utter shock.

"You okay there, Spike?" Clyde asked.

Spike looked at him in astonishment. "I'm fine, but what about you? You haven't enjoyed all the different types of food out there!" Spike said, snapping out of his shock. "I'm sure Pinkie Pie will be all over it." Spike said, chuckling a little. "I have to warn you about Twilight though.." Spike said, playfully.

"What do you mean?" Clyde asked, clearly confused. "She is the most level headed of her friends in my opinion." As Clyde said that, Spike had to hold back his laughter.

"Well, she may not be as 'level headed' as you say. She is obsessed in books, she is obsessed in meeting Celestia's expectations, she is just obsessive." Spike said.

Twilight's voice can be heard from the kitchen. "I am also obsessed in my friends, because they are the most important ponies in my life. You know what else I am obsessed with Spike?" She asked. Spike didn't answer, just gulped nervously. "I am also obsessed in a certain dragon being quiet about my over compulsive behavior. I may also be obsessive of cutting off sugar in a certain dragon's pancake. Who is obsessive now, Spike?" She asked, audibly laughing.

Clyde looked at Spike, curiously. "I figured you two were just classmates or something, but she seems more of a mother to you." Clyde said.

"I'm more like a brother, thank you." Spike said, clearly embarrassed. Twilight announced that breakfast was ready and the two entered the kitchen to be greeted by a tower of at least 15 pancakes. Spike looked at the tower in awe. "Whoa, Twilight, what is this all about?" He asked.

"I just wanted to treat Clyde for his second day in Ponyville." Twilight said with a proud smile. Spike shrugged and starting eating his first of many pancakes.

"You didn't have to do all this Twilight, but.. Thanks." Clyde said as he sat down in the open seat next to Spike. He began eating his first pancake along with Spike and Twilight.

"This is just a demo for Pinkie Pie. No pony knows what she has planned..." Spike said, shivering. "All I can say is good luck." Spike laughed, so did Twilight.

"Pinkie Pie is.. Something." Clyde said. The other two cracked up some more. "She is kind of annoying too, to be honest." Clyde said, Twilight calmed down a little.

"You will get used to her. Well, as much as any pony can, I'm not even used to her yet." Twilight said. All three of them were laughing at this point. The three continued to share small talk and enjoyed their breakfast. Clyde seemed to enjoy his time with these two. After breakfast, Spike went upstairs so Twilight and Clyde were left alone.

"So Clyde, do you enjoy reading?" She asked.

"Sure, I haven't had much time to read on the moon for obvious reasons, but I have read a few tomes to learn how to get to Equestria." Clyde answered.

"Really? How did you get here anyway?" Twilight asked.

Clyde took a deep breath He was comfortable telling her, but he knew it would take a long time. "Well, I first got information from a few elderly Lunar Beings. I had to work around Nightmare Moon as well. I was her communicator, where I would fly from colony to colony exchanging information. I got a few books on the way. One explained the spell used to barricade Nightmare Moon on the moon, another talked of the Celestial being, sister of Nightmare Moon, and another spoke of portals and how to create them. When I finally got together the materials necessary to create the portal, I needed a Lunar Being who could cast magic. We are much like ponies, where there are pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies, just adapted to the moon. When I found her, she wanted to come with me. Sadly, when we began the spell to breach the barricade, Nightmare Moon tried to stop us. She defended me, using herself as a wall to block Nightmare Moon as I made it through the portal. And that is when I transported here on Equestria, years ago. It took me a very long time to find Canterlot, considering I had to move very slowly, and stay as inconspicuous as possible." Clyde explained, taking a long, deep breath. Twilight just looked at him, no words, just looked at him. She then looked down at the ground.

"It sounds like you have had a very hard time." She finally managed to say. "I am sorry, Clyde."

"It is alright. It was you and your friends that ended it all." Clyde said.

Twilight blushed, "Clyde, we just used the elements of harmony, we really didn't do that much." She said. Clyde looked at her with very serious expression.

"Twilight, you don't get it. Nightmare moon tortured us. Lunar Being were being taken away and locked up with no food until the inevitable happens. She destroyed what she believed didn't work." Clyde began to tear up. "She took away my family, first hand." Clyde wiped away his tears and continued talking. "My parents, brothers, and my younger sister. They are gone. I hated her so much, I still do. Every Lunar Being feared and hated her at the same time. You six eliminated the one that caused all of that fear and hatred." Clyde explained, with sincerity in his voice. "When I first found out, I was too dumbfounded to react properly. Twilight, on behalf of all of the Lunar Beings, I thank you." He said, looking straight into her eyes. Twilight couldn't help but to stare back, she could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Clyde.." Twilight started to say. "You are very welcome. I am very happy to hear what kind of impact we have had on an entire population." She said, not sure of what to say. The tow stayed silent for about a minute. Clyde looked down.

"Twilight, what kind of books do you read?" Clyde asked, clearly off topic. Twilight perked up.

"Oh, I read all kinds of books. I love reading to research magic, but bedsides that, I read many fantasy novels for fun. There is hardly a day where I don't read." She answered. "Why do you ask?"

Clyde continued to look down. "I would like to start reading again. It's something I haven't properly done since I was a kid." Clyde answered.

Twilight beamed. "I would love to give you a few books, I have many recommendations." Twilight said. She started to show Clyde many different types of books ranging from nonfiction to fiction, history to adventure. She gave him a spare saddlebag to carry some of the books she gave him. The time passed quickly as the two read in silence. The sun was beginning to set. Clyde looked up from the book.

"Twilight, what kind of relationship do you have with Spike?" He asked.

"With Spike? Why do you ask?" She asked.

"I noticed that you two are very close, like mother and child." Clyde responded.

Twilight blushed. "Well, I am sort of like his mother. I hatched him when I was taking my entrance exam to Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. We then bonded together and he helped me along my time as her student. He would always grab me a book I wanted from my bookshelf, he would always surprise me with gifts. He was one of my best friends." She said. "I was sent to Ponyville to study friendship, and that is when I met the other five ponies you met yesterday. He was always by my side through hard times. He is always there to help me, and I am very grateful for him. He may not admit it, but he is definitely like a son to me." She answered.

"That's nice." Clyde answered. "It's interesting how you two are like mother and son, even though you are of different blood and species." Clyde said.

"I've never thought of it that way." Twilight said, tilting her head towards the window. The moon was already up, shining as usual. "It's getting late, we should probably head to bed. It was nice getting to know you Clyde, I hope you have a good time with Rainbow Dash tomorrow." Twilight said.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I enjoyed my stay. Thanks for having me around, Twilight." Clyde said.

"No problem, Clyde. You need Spike to send your letter to Celestia, so you can leave it on the desk in the living room and I'll have him send it tomorrow. In the next five days you will need to put it in my mailbox. have a good night, Clyde." She said.

"Good night, Twilight." Clyde responded. Twilight went upstairs and Clyde proceeded to enter the spare bedroom. He sat on the bed for a few minuted before grabbing a quill and paper. He began to write his first letter.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I had a very nice time at Twilight's. I met her assistant, Spike, and I was very impressed to see how close they were. She said they bond like mother and son, which I found interesting because they are so different from each other. I also told her about how I got here, and she expressed interest and never seemed bored or uninterested. She is a very polite and kindhearted pony and I am sure you are proud to have her as your student. She has also got me back into reading, I am actually about to finish a chapter of this book she showed me before I go to bed. I had a very good time speaking with her, she is very wise. You should also be proud of Spike, he is a very smart child, and will grow to be very wise as well. Twilight has risen him that way, and I know she is proud of that. I hope to be able to report this well about Rainbow Dash tomorrow. Have a good night.

Yours Truly,

Clyde.