The Incantation

       The Golden Oak library was not what I expected to be the residence of a princess.

Not that I too much cared; I was more afraid of meeting her in the first place.

Fluttershy chose "Twilight Sparkle" as the next candidate for meet-and-greet because she was likely to be there studying. Fluttershy insisted that her other friends, like Applejack, were probably not home and off doing something, and so meeting them was more up to chance, as with the meeting in the grocery district.

Upon arriving at the library, which was in fact a very large, hollowed-out Oak tree, Fluttershy promptly opened the door and led me in, against my better judgement. She caught me shaking and sweating nervously. I was told I had nothing to worry about, and that Twilight was a gentle Princess and preferred not to be called one at all. It's funny, because she had absolutely no clue as to the real reason for my shaking and fear. She thought I had no reasons, but I did in fact have at least one reason to worry.

         Princesses talk amongst each other. There could very well be a trap waiting for me here in this place with a humble princess waiting to deliver me to Princess Celestia on a silver platter. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Upon walking in, the library seemed empty. The shelves were loaded with many kinds of books, and there were several towering stacks of them around the room on the floor.

"Twilight, Spike? Anypony here?" Fluttershy called out conservatively. Her daintiness was adorable.

A head poked up from behind a stack of books. "Oh - Fluttershy. I didn't even hear you come in." Then the unicorn came out from behind the books. She was definitely a princess. Her wings were longer than normal, besides that fact that she had them to begin with. She immediately shifted her attention to me. "And hello to you, too."

I smiled nervously. "Hey." Here we go...

"This is Emerald Mist." Fluttershy said. "He's new here from Canterlot."

Twilight seemed surprised. "Canterlot? What made you come here to Ponyville? Learning friendship lessons?"

Heh. I guess you could say that. I gulped. "Uh, well, you see...I wanted to get out of all the cramped, tidy spaces. Plus, things just weren't working out for me there."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked. She turned and went back to the stack of books with me and Fluttershy right behind her.

It seemed the princess was working on some kind of spell. A few books were sitting open on a table past the tall stacks of books, and a small purple dragon with unusually large feet was struggling to move from his place next to a chart he was just working on.

I finally decided to answer the princesses question. "I lost my job, couldn't find another, then I got robbed, and I determined that Canterlot was just just not for me. Long story short - here I am."

Twilight buried her face in a book on the table. "Oh - well, we're glad you came. How'd you and Fluttershy meet?"

"I found him in my chicken coop. He went through the Everfree Forest alone for two days," Fluttershy said, her voice wavering with fear.

Twilight turned the page of her book, going back. "Chicken coop? Everfree Forest? That sounds like it was quite the adventure." She looked over at the dragon. "Obviously I'm missing something, Spike. I'll get it right this time," she said, casting some sort of spell and making his feet normal size again.

"I've heard that before," he mumbled, clearly not amused with his position.

"What are you trying to do?" Fluttershy asked Twilight, who was still in the spellbook.

She looked up at Fluttershy and me. "Spike asked if it was possible to make him bigger. I told him maybe, but so far it's been 'no'."

"Bigger?" I asked quizzically.

"Insecurity," Twilight explained without looking up."He believes his size prevents him from being a 'bigger' help, so to speak."

"That's ridiculous," Fluttershy said. "Spike, you saved the Crystal Empire. Nopony else has done anything like that... except maybe Twilight saving us from Discord."

"You know that all six of us defeated Discord," Twilight replied, giving her a look.

"Discord... that crazy draconequus that nearly destroyed Equestria?" I asked, remembering that incident not so long ago. My parents were still alive at that time, and we'd been spared by the chaos somehow.

Twilight turned back to me and Fluttershy, apparently distracted by the conversation. "Yes, that one. Good thing Fluttershy was able to reform him. He's much more tolerable when he's behaving himself."

I cocked my head to the side. "Reform? He's reformed? Does that mean he's... free?"

        Fluttershy nudged me with her elbow. I hardly felt it. "He's not a threat. I promise."

I looked from Fluttershy to Spike and then to Twilight. "Who's idea was it to free that monster?"

Twilight looked ashamed. "Well, um... it was Princess Celestia's idea. She brought Discord to us and asked us to do it."

I shook my head but said nothing.

"So... Canterlot, huh?" Twilight asked, changing the subject.

I scratched the back of my head. I didn't want to get into a conversation about something I am trying to forget. "Yeah, Canterlot. Not too fond of it," I replied, my voice hinting that I didn't want to talk about it. Unfortunately, the hint went unnoticed.

"You don't like Canterlot?" Twilight asked incredulously, her eyes wide. "What's not to like about it?"

Fluttershy leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Twilight's face now displayed embarrassment and concern. "Oh..."

I didn't hear what Fluttershy told her, but whatever it was, it worked, as Twilight changed the subject once again.

"Well, you seem like a nice guy. What do you plan on doing here in Ponyville? For a profession, I mean."

I never really considered more than escaping justice. "Not sure just yet. I'll find something, hopefully."

Twilight turned back to her book and closed it, then set it to the side. "Well, Applejack could always use an extra hoof at Sweet Apple Acres. Have you met her yet?" she asked.

I nodded. "What's there to do at Sweet Apple Acres?"

"It's an apple farm, among other things," Twilight said, smiling. "Lots of hard, physical labor."

"No thanks," I said hastily, thinking about my little run through the woods. "I've had enough of that recently. I'd rather do something less tiresome."

"Okay... how about Rarity? She owns the Carousel Boutique. She always needs help with her fashion designs and such. Although, come to think of it, you might not be so good at making dresses." Twilight looked at Spike to quiet his snickering. He stopped and shrugged at her.

"Mmmmmm... still doesn't appeal to me. I'm going to look, probably starting tomorrow. I don't want to be bothering Fluttershy here by living with her too long." I winked at her to let her know I was joking.

"You're living with her?" Twilight asked, astonished. "Since you got here?"

"I told him it was okay," Fluttershy assured her.

"I promise it won't be long," I added.

Twilight seemed skeptical, and I didn't blame her for it, either. "Okay... but no funny business. I'd hate to  have to deal with you," she warned me.

I gulped. "Message received."

"Hey, Fluttershy could use somepony to help with her pet-sitting," Spike said, finally speaking up.

"Oh, of course," Twilight agreed. "Since you're living there anyway."

I looked over at Fluttershy, who simply smiled back at me. That smile always invoked feelings of self-worth. I never grew tired of that smile.

"I guess," I said finally, shrugging lightly.

"Good. Hey Fluttershy, has Rarity decided on what kind of gown to make you for the gala?" Twilight asked her.

Fluttershy shook her head. "No, but I'm going to take Emerald to see her tomorrow. I'll ask her then."

"Are you going to the gala, Emerald?"

I wish I didn't have to. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"That's good." Twilight looked down at Spike, who was waiting patiently for her to resume working on the spell. "Alright guys, I promised Spike I'd get this spell right before the end of the night, so I'd better get back to it."

"Oh - okay. No problem. See you later," Fluttershy said, making her way to the door.

I turned to follow her after giving a weak wave to the princess, who waved back.

"Nice meeting you, Emerald!" she called out to me as I followed Fluttershy out the front door and closed it.

I sighed with relief. "Finally..."

Fluttershy came up to me. "Are you okay? You look a little sick."

I wiped some sweat off my forehead with the back of one of my forelegs. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for asking."

She smiled brilliantly. "What else are friends for?"

My heart leapt in my chest. So, she does consider us friends..."Oh, thanks." I looked up at the sun, squinting at it for a moment. "I am a bit hungry, actually."

"Okay. I guess I am a little, too. We could always go back home and get something if you'd like," she said, following my gaze.

I stood there, staring at the sun. "I was actually thinking about maybe a nice little diner or cafe, if you're okay with that." I looked back down at her, and found her big, pretty turquoise eyes searching mine, her face expressionless.

"Um, I-I'm not sure I brought enough bits..." she said, looking back at her saddlebag.

"Not a problem," I assured her, jingling my own saddlebag full of bits. "I brought plenty."

"Oh, Emerald, you don't have to..."

I placed my hoof on her shoulder. "I insist."

"Okay. I'll pay you back sometime."

I walked with her as she gave me directions to the nearest place to eat. "Don't worry about it. As far as I'm concerned, I owe you. You're doing so much for me..." My voice cracked as emotion found its way in.

"That's very nice of you," she half-whispered, startling me with a quick hug. "Nopony's ever bought me lunch like this."

"Like I said, you deserve it. You're the kindest mare I've ever met. I intend to treat you well for showing me kindness. It's the least I can do."

We came around a corner and Fluttershy stopped. "There's the restaurant. It's nothing like the ones in Canterlot, though."

I put my arm around her shoulders, despite the fact that my heart was beating so fast it almost hurt. "It's okay. I'm not concerned with the quality of the place as long as you're happy."

She smiled up at me and hugged me again. "I am happy. I really am." And we went in.