Twilight's Secret

“I gotta say, Twilight. You're really behind on the Daring Do series!”, Rainbow said. They were in the Ponyville book store.

“I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. I've been so busy, I've had no time to read”, admitted Twilight, as she looked at all the books.

Rainbow's jaw dropped.

“What?! You love to read!”, she cried, not believing what she just heard.

“Oh, well..I still read. But only for studying purposes. I've been so busy in Canterlot, I didn't even know three new books were written”, Twilight explained quickly.

Rainbow Dash was taking the turn first at trying to get Twilight to say what was really going on. Twilight looked at the new books.

“Ooh, 'Daring Do and the Lost Unicorn Princess', she used her magic, to open the book and look inside.

Looking at all these new books...it reminded me of how much I loved this stuff. It had been so long since I...even felt up to doing something I loved. Other than studying.

“So...where did the bruise come from, Twilight?”, asked Rainbow Dash, as she walked up to her friend.

She went to reach up, to grab 'Daring Do and the Phoenix of Ruby Forest'.

“I got it, Dashie!”, Soarin quickly grabbed it for her.

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

“I told you, Rainbow Dash. I crash landed. I guess my shoulder bruised from it”, Twilight said quickly, as she flipped through the pages with her magic.

“From the crash? I gotta say, Twilight. You've crashed dozens of times! And I never saw a bruise like that on you”, admitted Rainbow Dash, as she sat on a chair, looking through the book.

Soarin quickly hurried over, and rubbed her back.

“Thanks, Soren...”, Rainbow smiled, blushing.

“Well, it was my worst one”, Twilight replied.

I already knew what Rainbow Dash was trying to do...my friends knew me all too well.

But...every time I almost broke and told them, I remembered his threats. The Crystal heart, Cadence, my niece...the entire fate of Equestria.

“What did you crash land into?”, asked Rainbow.

“Um...well, it was a tree”, Twilight lied quickly. She turned through the book pages more quickly.

Soarin and Rainbow exchanged worried glances. Soarin gave his wife an encouraging look.

Rainbow Dash sighed, as she set the book down. She got up, and walked over to Twilight.

“Look...Twilight”, she took the book from her.

Twilight blinked, looking at her friend.

“I have to ask...is something going on? Something you're not telling us?”, Rainbow asked, a worried look in her eyes.

“It's really nothing, Rainbow Dash. I just have been really busy in Canterlot”, Twilight said. It killed her to look into her friend's eyes and lie.

But she had no choice.

Rainbow Dash frowned.

“Twilight, c'mon! You can tell us anything! We're friends!”, Rainbow Dash pleaded.

Twilight looked away, a painful look in her eyes.

“I crash landed last night, Rainbow. That's all”, she repeated.

Rainbow Dash's ears folded back, worry in her eyes.

“Twilight...”, she started. That reply was more than enough to confirm Rainbow's fears that something was very wrong.

“I..promised Pinkie Pie I'd go see her. I'll see you later”, Twilight exited the book store then.

“I don't know Twilight as well as you, Dashie, but even I can tell something's off”, Soarin admitted.

“I don't understand, Soarin. She always comes to us for help...”, Rainbow Dash sighed, worriedly.

Soarin gently wrapped his wing around her shoulders.

“Do you...have an idea of what's wrong?”, he asked.

Rainbow looked down, worriedly.

“I...I'd rather not think about it”, she replied.

If it caused Twilight to hide things from her best friends, it had to be something horrible.

“I just hope Pinkie Pie, or somepony else can get an answer”, Soarin said.

Twilight arrived at Sugar cube corner. She held her head low.

'Rainbow Dash knows something's wrong..they all do. But...I can't tell them', Twilight fought back tears.

“Twilight!”, Pinkie Pie's cheerful voice cried. Twilight looked up, seeing her friend waving from the counter.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie”, Twilight forced a smile, as she trotted over.

“How'd things go with Rainbow Dash?”, asked Pinkie, grinning.

“They went okay...I had no idea A.K Yearling write three new books”, Twilight replied.

“Totally! I haven't had time to keep up myself, with the foals its been a craaaazzzy year!”, Pinkie Pie bounced excitedly into the kitchen, Twilight following.

“But one great thing, business is booming! The Cakes have added all kinds of new sweets to the menu! We even have an ice cream area now!”, Pinkie said, smiling.

“You...still live in the Cake's attic?”, asked Twilight.

“Don't be silly, Twilight! Cheese Sandwich bought a house in Ponyville for us! It's only two houses down from here! The attic's a play room for Pound and Pumpkin cake now”, Pinkie replied.

"Since having kids, I only come here twice a week to help out", she added.

“Pinkie...I have to apologize again”, Twilight said then.

“For what?”, asked Pinkie, beaming.

“I didn't even know you had a third foal. I...should have at least known”, Twilight replied, she looking down shamefully.

“Awww, don't worry Twilight! I did send you a letter, but I guess it got lost in the mail”, Pinkie said.

Twilight looked at Pinkie, as it hit her.

“What's wrong, Twilight?”, asked Pinkie.

“Oh...nothing”, Twilight looked down. Flash must have kept the letter. She glared slightly.

“So, you want some ice cream?”, asked Pinkie Pie, as she led Twilight to where they kept it.

“Um..sure”, Twilight replied.

“What flavor? We got your common vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry! But then we got chocolate chip mint, lemon, butter pecan, cookies and cream, Rockey road, and almond fudge!”, Pinkie replied, excited.

“Oh...well..”, Twilight started, about to say strawberry.

“Wait! We got the more rare flavors! Cotton candy, bubblegum, green tea, coffee, party cake, and my personal favorite...”, Pinkie took a breath.

“20 Layer of every Flavor, triple hot fudge, 300 sprinkle, extra thick whipped cream, chocolate chip, cherry on top Surprise!”, she said, as she finished building it, and showed it.

“Wow...that's a mouthful”, Twilight said.

“And a bigger mouthful to eat! It comes on a cone, or in a cup. But if you order it on a cone, you got to eat it real fast before it collapses! It's my own personal recipe!”, Pinkie then ate the whole thing then.

“It sounds really good, but I'll just take a simple strawberry cone”, Twilight smiled softly.

“Okay, strawberry cone it is!”, Pinkie Pie got it ready.

Twilight went to pay.

“Twilight! You don't have to pay, silly! We're friends!”, Pinkie assured her.

“I know...but you have three foals. I'm guessing you can use all the help you can get”, Twilight explained.

“Don't worry about it!”, Pinkie reassured her friend.

Twilight smiled softly...she didn't realize how much she missed Pinkie's cheerful energy.

“So...how's your wing feeling?”, Pinkie hinted then.

“It's okay”, Twilight replied, she started to lick her ice cream.

“You know Twilight...if it was something embarrassing...you can still talk about it”, Pinkie pressed.

Twilight's ears folded back. Not Pinkie too...

“It was pretty embarrassing to crash land...”, she said quickly as she finished her ice cream.

“Oh I know, I meant something so horrible, you can't even talk about it to your closest friends!”, Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight froze, she even found herself cringing.

“Pinkie...”, she started.

“I mean...there are just some things you don't feel comfortable telling your friends. Or are too scared to! Maybe someone forced you not to tell...but Twilight, whatever's bothering you, you can tell us! You know that!”, Pinkie rambled.

Twilight closed her eyes sadly, her ears folding back.

“Pinkie...it's nothing”, she lied.

Pinkie's eyes filled with worry, as she frowned.

“Twilight...”, she placed her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, the one that wasn't bruised. Twilight looked at her friend, grimly.

“You can tell me. We're friends”, Pinkie said, worriedly. The look in Pinkie's eyes broke Twilight's heart. She hated worrying her friends.

How she wanted to just hug Pinkie, and cry, and tell her everything.

But...she couldn't.

She knew her friends wouldn't let her go back to Canterlot...and Flash would figure it out sooner than they could alert Celestia.

The very thought of the Crystal heart vanishing...and the Crystal Empire covered in an eternal winter, along with the rest of Equestria.

King Sombra's return...and the lives of everypony...Twilight couldn't bear it. The very risk of that possibility...was too great.

She forced a smile.

“Pinkie Pie, you're worrying over nothing. Nothing is going on”, she lied.

Pinkie's ears dropped down. That wasn't Twilight's real smile.

“I better go...Rarity wants to visit with me. And I only have today...”, Twilight hurried out then.

“Twilight!”, Pinkie called, but Twilight was gone.

“You're kidding? You have a shop in Manehatten, Rarity?”, asked Twilight.

She was at Rarity's house, and the two were catching up.

“Oh well, I'm just the founder and designer. Its managed by other ponies. Of course, I am the boss of the manager”, Rarity replied.

“It's called Rarity's Radiant Boutique”, Rarity added, smiling.

“It sounds beautiful...”, Twilight smiled.

“It is...I can only go see it once a month though, due to designing a huge line of outfits”, Rarity replied.

“I should go see it soon. I haven't had any time to leave Canterlot...”, Twilight said.

Rarity looked at her friend, worried.

“Twilight...if you have anything you want to talk about, darling. Anything at all, you know you can, right?”, asked Rarity.

Twilight sighed softly.

“I know...but there's nothing. It's just been really hectic”, Twilight assured her.

“Well...how can I put this delicately...you've seemed to lose your sparkle...Twilight Sparkle. And well, we can't help but wonder if something is going on you're not telling us”, Rarity explained.

Twilight's ears folded back.

“The day will soon be over...I have to see Applejack and Fluttershy before it does”, she said then.

Rarity blinked, surprised.

“Twilight! I didn't mean to upset you”, she cried, worried.

“You didn't, Rarity. I'm just so busy and can't stay as long as I wish”, Twilight said, there was a sad look in her eyes.

She left, closing the door behind her.

"Oh Twilight...", Rarity cried, worriedly, her ears folding back.

Applejack bucked a tree, apples falling from it.

“So, how was your visit with Rarity?”, she asked.

“It was fine, I couldn't believe she has a store opened in Manehatten”, Twilight replied.

“It's as big as a mall! Who knew a store bigger than five barns could be filled up with just clothes!”, Applejack said.

“Well, that's Rarity”, smiled Twilight. Applejack looked at her friend, worried.

“Twilight, look...I'm just gonna be honest with ya. You're not telling us something!”, she said.

“Applejack, I'm really telling you everything. There's nothing for you to worry about”, Twilight assured.

Applejack frowned at Twilight.

“Sugarcube, come on. You know you can tell us anything”, she said.

Twilight looked away.

“Why is everypony so sure something's wrong? It's not like I came back all beat up...”, Twilight froze then at what she just said.

“Beat up? I thought you crash landed?”, Applejack pressed, sensing she was close to getting an answer.

“I meant...you know, its not like I look like anything's wrong. You girls worry too much. I crash land, and you think...I don't know”, Twilight struggled to keep lying to Applejack, sweating now.

“No, you don't. But you're acting like something's wrong”, Applejack pointed out.

Twilight looked down. She wanted to tell Applejack...but she couldn't.

“I'm sorry, Applejack”, Twilight said. She fought back tears.

“Just talk to me, sugarcube...”, Applejack said, gently.

“I got to go meet Fluttershy!”, Twilight galloped off then, seeing it was close to sunset.

“Twilight, wait!”, Applejack cried, but she was gone.

"I don't care what she says, she ain't telling us something", Applejack sighed.

"Yep", Big Mac agreed, as he walked over.

“I'm so glad you had time to stop by before you had to return to Canterlot”, Fluttershy said.

“I wouldn't forget you, Fluttershy”, Twilight smiled sadly.

“You know...maybe you could sleep over! It would be lots of fun”, Fluttershy suggested.

Twilight looked down, sadly.

“Oh...I'm sorry Twilight. You're too busy”, Fluttershy said, she looked sad.

“Don't apologize, Fluttershy. I'm the one who's sorry. I just...don't have time”, Twilight replied, sadly.

“Oh...you poor thing. You're so busy all the time. I'm sure Princess Celestia wouldn't mind if you slept over. You really look like you need the break”, Fluttershy pressed.

She was the last one left to get an answer out of Twilight, and they were almost out of time.

“Fluttershy, I wish I could. But I can't”, Twilight said, more firmly. But a sad look remained in her eyes.

“Twilight...you can talk to me. You obviously got something on your chest”, Fluttershy continued.

“It's nothing, Fluttershy. I have to head back now...Celestia's already lowering the sun”, Twilight noticed, as she looked at the sky.

“Wait!”, cried Fluttershy, blocking her.

“Can't you stay just a little longer? For tea?”, she asked.

“I can't...I'm sorry, Fluttershy. It was really great seeing you again”, Twilight said.

“When can you come back?”, Fluttershy asking, starting to panic.

“I..I don't know. I'll let you girls know”, Twilight replied, she went to leave.

Fluttershy panicked, sweating.

“Twilight!”, she then did something unexpected. She hugged Twilight tightly.

Twilight blinked, and froze.

“I'm sorry...I just...have missed you so much. And...I want you to tell me what's wrong”, cried Fluttershy.

Twilight felt a heavy lump in her throat, as she fought back heavy tears.

“Fluttershy...please...”, she cried.

“I know you don't want to talk about it...but something awful must have happened...”, Fluttershy said.

Twilight shut her eyes tightly.

“I...”, she almost said it...about to break down.

She felt so comforted in Fluttershy's embrace...her friend...the element of kindness.

But...she remembered Flash's threat. The Crystal Heart...eternal winter...King Sombra.

Twilight's ears folded back, she didn't want to do this. But there was no other way.

“Fluttershy, stop it!”, Twilight pulled herself from Fluttershy, glaring.

“What...?”, Fluttershy looked surprised.

“I don't know why you and everypony is so convinced something’s wrong! But it's getting annoying now! Nothing is wrong!”, Twilight yelled.

Fluttershy blinked tearfully, hurt at first.

“So please...stop asking me”, Twilight finished, shaking. Fluttershy froze then, seeing tears in Twilight's eyes.

“Twilight...”, she reached her hoof out, but Twilight galloped off. She picked up Spike, who was hanging out at the Bowling Alley.

Twilight ran towards the train station.

“Twilight...? It's still early! The train isn't there yet!”, Spike complained.

“It will be in a few minutes, don't want to miss it”, replied Twilight.

“Oh come on! I almost bowled a turkey!”, Spike whined.

“Twilight!”, came five voices.

Twilight panicked, she stopped. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity were following her.

“Wait!”, yelled Pinkie Pie.

Twilight looked back at them.

They all stopped, looking at her.

“I'm sorry girls. I want to talk to you all, but I just can't! I'll be okay, the best thing you can do for me is not worry”, Twilight cried.

Spike didn't say anything. He was still unsure if anything was really going on, being a child dragon.

“Twilight, you know you can talk to us!”, Rainbow Dash said, urgently.

“If you're in any kind of trouble, you know we'll keep you safe”, added Fluttershy.

“Please, sugarcube. We know you! Something's wrong!”, Applejack said.

“Whatever's happened, you can tell us, sweetie”, Rarity said.

“Did you and Flash have a fight?”, asked Pinkie.

Spike blinked, worriedly.

“Twilight...what are they talking about?”, he asked.

Twilight looked away, she turned her back to her friends, her head low.

“I'm sorry girls...”, was all she could say. A single tear escaped her eye, hitting the ground.

She galloped off, Spike holding on tight.

“Twilight!”, the girls followed, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy slower than the rest.

They made it to the station, but the train had just left.

“Twilight...”, cried Pinkie, worriedly. The rest of the girls all looked worried as well.