Twilight's Secret

Twilight lay in bed, looking through a photo album. It was late, the Gala finally ended. Spike slept in his bed, having a sugar coma from all the doughnuts. The baby dragon snored loudly.

The album contained lots of photos of her friends. Twilight blinked tears from her eyes. She missed them so much.

It's been almost a year. She had to see them again. The last time she saw them, a year ago, Rainbow Dash and Soarin got married, and Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich had their second foal.

“Flash has to let me see them...he knows if I don't return to Ponyville sometimes...ponies will get suspicious”, Twilight said softly.

“You're still awake?”, Flash walked over. Twilight looked up.

“Flash..I'd like to see my friends tomorrow. In Ponyville...”, she got right to it.

Flash was quiet, frowning.

“I suppose if I don't let you go, your friends will start to worry”, he sounded irritated.

“You know I'll come right back. I just..need a day with them”, Twilight said, her ears folded back.

“You could try to run away with them...how can I trust you?”, Flash asked, glaring.

Twilight looked at him.

“Flash...you know I won't...”, she said. She was so desperate to see her friends.

“Fine...but just to be sure”, Flash approached her. Twilight froze, her heart sinking.

“Sorry dear, but I can't take any chances...”, Flash suddenly snapped Twilight's left wing. Twilight cried out in pain, almost a scream, as she flinched.

She then bit her lip, gritting her teeth, silencing her scream, not wanting to wake Spike. Her wing was twisted in an unnatural position, and the fracture caused her unbearable pain.

She sweated, shutting her eyes tightly. She exhaled, blowing air out several times, trying to keep herself from going into shock from the dire pain.

“Don't go telling those freak friends of yours...or I'll break your other wing”, he threatened. Twilight couldn't answer as she grimaced in pain, her wing burning.

She continued to take deep breaths...not wanting Spike to wake up.

I always suffered in silence...I couldn't let anypony know what was really happening. Every second of my life, the fear remained. The thought of King Sombra's return.

Perhaps...if I wasn't broken from this fear and his threats, I would have fought more...

“I...I won't...”, she said, breathlessly.

“Good. You can leave in the morning”, Flash sneered.

Twilight curled up, her wing still pulsing in pain, as Flash left the room.

Only seconds after Celestia rose the sun, Spike lifted his eyelids. He blinked, hearing Twilight groaning painfully.

“Twilight...?”, Spike rubbed his eyes, and stretched, yawning. His eyes widened then, seeing Twilight bandaging her wing.

“Twilight! What happened?!”, he asked, worried. The young dragon hurried over.

“It's nothing, Spike. I went for a flight last night, and crashed. I've always been a clumsy flyer”, Twilight lied, she forced an assuring smile.

“That must have been a nasty crash...”, Spike said, worriedly.

“It was...but don't worry about it. I got some good news”, Twilight smiled.

“Yeah...?”, asked Spike but his eyes remained worried.

“We're going to Ponyville for the whole day, to visit”, Twilight revealed.

Spike gasped, and his eyes lit up.

“We are?!”, he asked, excitedly. Twilight nodded.

“YES! It's been so long! We have so much to catch up on!”, Spike cheered. Twilight smiled tiredly.

“We better hurry before the train leaves. I already sent them a letter, so they'll be greeting us at the station”, Twilight said.

She winced then, her wing still hurting bad.

“Twilight...are you sure you're okay to go? Your wing really looks hurt”, Spike asked, worried.

“I'm okay, Spike. We don't get to see our friends often, I can't let this stop me”, Twilight assured him.

Spike blinked, worriedly. Twilight crashed many times, and never broke her wing before. At least...not this badly.

At the train station, at the edge of Ponyville, a group of ponies waited, excited.

“I can't wait much longer!!!!”, Pinkie Pie looked like she was going to explode.

“She'll love your banner”, Cheese Sandwich smiled. He was holding a newborn foal. The foal was a colt, and orange.

The two were married, and had three foals.

“Yay, Auntie Twilight!”, cheered one of them. He was only a year old, still a toddler colt. His name was Applepie.

“She hasn't even met our little brother, Applepie!”, cried CherryPie. She was the oldest foal, and a filly. She was dark pink, and had her mom's tail and eyes. She was 6 years old.

“It's been over a year, ya'll”, Applejack added. Some things changed at Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith did pass away three years ago, and Big Mac and Marble Pie were dating.

“It's really been too long”, Fluttershy agreed. She stood by a golden Pegasus. He had a green mane and tail, and his wings were quite big and beautiful. His Cutie Mark was three green paw prints, he had a special talent for animals like Fluttershy.

“I haven't even met her yet”, her husband, Goldenfeathers said.

“And she doesn't even know you're expecting, Fluttershy!”, Rainbow Dash said, excited. She stood by Soarin, the two married.

“She hasn't seen us since you and Soarin got married”, Fluttershy said.

“Speaking of which...Rainbow, why in tarnation are your wings tied?”, Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash groaned, annoyed.

“Because somepony is overprotective”, she eyed Soarin when she said this.

“Rainbow, you're due in only a month! And you're carrying twins! If you think I'm gonna let you fly in your condition, you can forget it”, Soarin said, putting his hoof down.

“Ugh...I'm pregnant, not dying”, Rainbow rolled her eyes. She was quite big, and Soarin was always protective of her.

Fluttershy was about 6 months along, and showing.

“It's taking that train so long!”, Pinkie couldn't keep still, she was so excited.

“She'll be here real soon now”, Rarity smiled, happy.

There was a banner hanging over the station designed by Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich. It said “Welcome Home, Twilight!”

“There's the train!”, squealed CherryPie, excitedly.

“Where is it?!”, Pinkie asked, excited.

“There!”, her daughter pointed.

Sure enough, the train was seen in the distance.

“This is gonna be so awesome!”, Rainbow cried, beaming.

“She's so close...!”, Fluttershy spread her wings, excited.

“Twilight's actually coming home...!”, Pinkie was bouncing up and down nonstop, along with CherryPie. They seemed more like sisters.

“Oh I wonder how she looks!”, Rarity cried, happily.

“Maybe she's expecting a foal!”, Fluttershy wondered.

“Now settle down, everypony. We shouldn't crowd her”, Applejack said, but her eyes were lit up.

The train pulled up to the station.

Pinkie bounced nonstop, her eyes big with excitement.

The train door opened. Twilight went to step out with Spike, and the first thing she heard was Pinkie Pie's party canon, and confettie flew everywhere.

“WELCOME HOME, TWILIGHT!”, her friends all cried, excitedly. Twilight froze, her heart skipped a beat, seeing the banner. Tears appeared in her eyes.

I never thought I'd see their faces again...it was so overwhelming. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so happy...and safe.

“TWILIGHT!”, Pinkie Pie rushed over, and hugged Twilight tightly.

“Pinkie Pie...!”, Twilight cried, just as happy.

She blinked tears from her eyes. The other girls hurried over for a group hug.

“I missed you girls so much”, cried Twilight.

“It's been so long, sugarcube!”, Applejack said, beaming.

“Too long!”, Fluttershy added.

“I thought I'd never see you again!”, Pinkie gripped Twilight tighter then.

“Ow...Pinkie...”, Twilight wasn't able to bite back a whimper then. Pinkie blinked, and then her friends all saw it.

Twilight winced again, her wing still bandaged. Her friends all gasped.

“Twilight..?”, asked Rainbow, worriedly.

“Darling, what happened to you?”, cried Rarity, fearfully.

“That looks really bad..”, Fluttershy said, anxiously.

“It's...nothing, girls”, Twilight said softly.

“That ain't nothin', Twilight!”, Applejack said, worriedly.

“I didn't do that from hugging you so tight, did I?”, cried Pinkie Pie, confused.

“It's okay girls. I just...crashed last night from flying. It's really not so bad”, Twilight assured them.

The looks on my friends' faces said it all. They didn't believe me. But...I couldn't say anything.

“What on earth did you crash land onto?”, asked Rarity, worriedly.

“It's...really gruesome looking”, admitted Rainbow.

“It's really not that bad girls. It looks worse than it feels. Don't worry, okay? I feel fine”, Twilight reassured them.

Before they could press the matter, CherryPie and Applepie suddenly ran over, hugging Twilight.

“Auntie Twilight!”, they cried happily. “Cherrypie..! ApplePie! You grew so much!”, Twilight smiled, happy to see her godchildren again.

"We have a new brother!" Applepie revealed.

"What?", Twilight's heart skipped a beat.

“Meet Pumpkinpie!”, Pinkie introduced. The orange colt sucked on his pacifier. Twilight's ears folded back, tears in her eyes.

“Oh Pinkie...he's beautiful..I'm sorry. I should have been here”, Twilight cried.

“It's fine, Twilight! We know you're extra busy in Canterlot”, Pinkie assured her, beaming.

“We got lots of catching up to do”, Rainbow smiled, walking over.

“Rainbow...you're...!”, Twilight was speechless.

“Yep...its twins”, Rainbow blushed.

“Really?”, asked Twilight, smiling.

“Yeah”, Rainbow replied.

“Why are your wings tied?”, Twilight noticed.

Rainbow groaned.

“Because I don't want her flying when she's this pregnant”, replied Soarin, softly.

“He worries too much! I'm not even due for another month!”, Rainbow complained.

“But the doctor did say it could happen early, honey”, Soarin pointed out.

“Pfft, what does he know?”, Rainbow rolled her eyes.

Twilight watched the two, and even though they are arguing...she could see how much they loved and cared for each other.

“He knows enough”, Soarin said.

“He drives me crazy, Twilight!”, Rainbow ranted. Twilight smiled softly.

“It's nice to see you have a husband who really cares about you...”, she said, looking down. The girls exchanged confused looks.

“Well...you have Flash, Twi”, Applejack pointed out.

“Oh...of course. Just...he's busy a lot, being part of the Royal guard”, Twilight said quickly.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanged worried glances.

“Oh, Twilight, I have amazing news”, Fluttershy spoke up.

“What is it?”, asked Twilight, giving her friend a smile.

Pinkie pie starred at Twilight, having gone strangely quiet. She had a look of worry in her eyes.

“I know Twilight's smile...and that smile isn't right”, she muttered, worried.

“What?”, asked Cheese Sandwich, hearing his wife.

“I'll tell ya later”, Pinkie replied.

“Well, Goldenfeathers and I are married, and expecting a foal”, Fluttershy revealed. Her belly was alot smaller than Rainbow's, so Twilight didn't even notice at first.

“Really? Oh Fluttershy, that's wonderful”, Twilight beamed, and the two hugged.

“So you're Princess Twilight Sparkle”, Goldenfeathers smiled.

“Its nice to meet you”, Twilight said, as they shook hooves.

“Come on girls, it's about time we all catch up. I got a whole feast of apple desserts waiting at the farm”, Applejack said.

The ponies walked to Sweet Apple Acres. All of them noticed something wasn't quite right with Twilight.

Soarin, Goldenfeather and Cheese Sandwich took Pinkie's foals, so the girls could spend some time alone.

“So, are you and Flash expecting yet?”, asked Rarity.

“Oh...no. Not yet...he's been really busy”, Twilight replied.

Rainbow Dash blinked, usually Twilight blushed when talking about Flash. But...nothing. No color at all.

In fact, she looked paler than usual.

Once they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight sniffed the air. She hadn't smelled fresh apples from Ponyville in so long.

It felt so amazing to be back home...the smell of the apples, being surrounded by my friends, and just my hooves walking on the land.

It felt like an entirely different world from Canterlot.

It was comforting.

The group sat on a picnic blanket, under an Apple tree.

“Soup's on, everypony!”, Applejack brought all the food over.

Rainbow Dash started eating like crazy.

“Hey! Rainbow! Save some, will ya?”, Applejack scolded.

“Excuse me, AJ. I'm eating for not one, not two, three!”, Rainbow Dash shot back, as she continued eating.

“She hates being babied about her pregnancy, unless food's involved”, Applejack commented.

“It's so nice to be back here, girls”, Twilight smiled.

“Twilight...are you sure everything's all right, sweetie? You look so tired”, Rarity pointed out, worried.

“I've had lots of royal duties at Canterlot...so I haven't been sleeping too well”, Twilight said, she took a bite out of an apple.

“Well surely you get a break sometime”, Fluttershy said, concerned as she ate apple pie.

“I do...just...not as much..as I...”, Twilight suddenly swayed.

I felt so exhausted in that moment, from everything. Exhusated physically, mentally and emotionally.

Twilight suddenly passed out.

“Twilight...!”, Spike said worriedly, all the rest all looked worried and alarmed.

“The poor thing's exhausted..”, Fluttershy said, worried. Rainbow froze then.

She walked over to Twilight, and looked at her shoulder closer.

“Hey..girls...”, she said, seriously.

"What's wrong?", asked Pinkie.

"Come look...her shoulder...", Rainbow pointed, worriedly.

“What the..?!”, Applejack froze, seeing it.

“Is that a...bruise?”, asked Spike, worriedly.

“Where'd it come from?”, asked Rarity.

“I don't know...”, Spike looked shocked.

“I only just noticed it”, admitted Rainbow.

“Is it from her crash?”, asked Fluttershy.

“I don't think so...”, Applejack said, fearfully.

“Something's not right...that's obvious”, Rainbow agreed.

“I know Twilight's smile...and this smile she's had...its not hers”, Pinkie added, worriedly.

“So what do we do? Something's going on, and she isn't telling us”, Rarity asked.

“Spike, do you know?”, asked Rainbow.

“I really don't...Twilight hasn't said anything to me”, Spike replied, worried.

“Twilight's going to be here for the whole day...we should each try and get an answer out of her. She hasn't been herself since she arrived”, decided Rainbow.

“Okay...we each take a turn”, Rarity agreed.

“Starting...as soon as she wakes”, Pinkie added.