Twisted: Four Little Foals

---2: Spike and Twist---

On the outskirts of Ponyville, not far from the schoolhouse, there stood a small hill. The hill was unremarkable enough that it did not have a name; its only notable quality was that it offered a beautiful view of the sunset. Since it faced away from the town on one side, there were no buildings to get in the way of the sky. At the end of the day, a viewer could sit on that hill, and observe as Celestia and Luna painted the sky a thousand glorious colors.

“It's different every evening,” Spike said to Twist, as they sat on that hill together. “But it's always so pretty...do you think they plan it that way? Or is it just...automatically beautiful?”

“I wonder what that's like...” Twist said wistfully.

“What what's like?” Spike asked.

“To be beautiful,” Twist said.

“Twist! Don't start that again! You ARE pretty! Okay, sure, you're not, like, RARITY pretty, but you're a really pretty filly...”

“You always say that, Spike...”

“Because it's always TRUE!” Spike retorted. “And look, you said my name without lisping that time! You said your lisp was ugly, well, now it's gone!”

“It's not gone,” said Twist. “The speech therapy helps, but it keepth coming back. Arrgh! There, again!”

“Well, it's still progress,” said Spike. “And anyway, why do you keep saying you're not pretty? Remember how Truffles accepted your Hearts and Hooves Day card?”

Twist sighed. “You didn't see the card he gave ME.”

Twist opened her saddlebag and produced a small blue card illustrated with an image of two ponies happily walking next to each other, but maintaining a far enough distance that it would be a stretch to refer to them as walking “together.” Written on the card in big red letters were the words “HAPPY HEARTS AND HOOVES DAY TO A GREAT FRIEND!”

“Oh...” Spike said as he read the card, “Yeah, I see what you mean there.”

“And it's not just this one,” said Twist. “Every thingle - grrr, every SINGLE card I got from a colt has the word 'friend' on it!”

Twist flopped unto her back, exasperated. “I'm NEVER going to get a coltfriend!”

“Hey, at least you're the same SPECIES as the guys you like,” said Spike. “Try getting someone interested when you're the only dragon in town.”

Twist sat up, her frustration replaced by concern for her friend. “Still no progreth with Rarity, huh?”

“No,” said Spike. “I hardly ever see her anymore. Back in the old days, she used to pal around with Twilight and the gang, but lately it's like they've...grown apart. Twilight doesn't like to talk about it.”

“I'm sure they'll be friends again soon!” said Twist. She was always optimistic when it came to everyone else's problems. “You'll see! They just need to talk it out! You said the other day how Twilight's friends have some kind of crisis pretty much every week!”

“Yeah, and then there's the apology and the friendship letter. Or at least that's how it used to be. Lately everyone's been kind of doing their own thing...” Spike looked down at the ground. “I think Rarity's busy with her dresses or something. Rainbow Dash is mentoring Scootaloo, I heard Pinkie's having a baby again...”

“I heard it was twins this time!” said Twist, her mood brightening instantly. “Oh, isn't that thpecial? She's so lucky! One day I want to be a mommy! My daughter will be the prettiest filly in town and she'll make me so proud! And then she'll go into politics, and grow up to be Princess Celestia's High Chancellor!”

“Um, yeah. So like I was saying-”

“And I'll have a colt, too! And he'll be thuper throng and brave, and he'll grow up to be captain of the city guard! No, captain of the ROYAL guard! No Earth Pony's ever had that job, you know! He'll be the first!”

“Yeah, that's, cool. So anyway-”

“And my huthband will be so handsome, just the most gorgeous stallion ever! But he won't work, he'll stay home and look after the foals, because I'm going to become the most rich and famous candymaker in the history of Equest-”

“TWIST!”

The filly snapped out of her fantasy and blushed. “Sorry, Spike. I did it again, didn't I?”

“Yeah, you did.” Spike said, smiling. “You sure do get carried away sometimes.”

“My mom says I have an active imagination,” said Twist. “But whatever! What were you saying before?”

“Just that Twilight and her friends seem to have grown apart. I don't think she hangs out with any of them anymore, except Applejack. You know her, right? You're friends with her sister?”

Twist's mood soured again at the mention of Apple Bloom. “Yeah...” she said. “We WERE friends. But then she got involved with her cutie mark club and just...forgot about me...” The little filly let out a long sigh.

Spike didn't know what to say. He didn't realize that Apple Bloom was a touchy subject for Twist. It had only been two weeks since the two of them became friends, when Twist noticed Spike sitting on the hill and walked over to say hello. She had made a huge deal about him being a dragon, and asked him all sorts of embarrassing questions. But somehow, even then, Spike could tell that the two of them had a lot in common. Each of them was, in their own way, driven by one maddening question:

“Spike, why can't I be normal?”

There it was. He'd lost track of how many times Twist had asked him this.

“Twist, I keep telling you, you ARE normal! More normal than me, anyway...”

“No, I'm not! I've got this stupid lisp I can't get rid of. My nose is all funny looking. I have to wear these giant glathe- ARRRGH! These giant GLASSES! I look ridiculous!”

Twist stood up and kicked the grass in frustration. A dozen little green blades sailed up into the air, carried gently by the wind until they seemed to mingle with the still-beautiful evening sky.

Spike watched the blades for a moment before responding.

“Twist, you're a sweet, fun pony, and that's way more important than how you look! Besides, at least you ARE a pony! Now, if you were the only pony living in a place called Dragonville, THEN you wouldn't be normal...”

“Spike...”

“I just...I wish I could go to school,” said Spike. “I know it would be a waste; Twilight says that dragons develop much more slowly than ponies. Lifepsan differences, I guess. That's okay, but...do you know what I was doing, that day when you found me up on this hill?”

“Uh uh,” Twist replied.

“I was watching you guys. I do that every now and then. Just...go here and look at the schoolhouse, and see all of you get out of school and walk home together. It's kind of...nice. But it's kind of lonely, too.”

Spike stretched an arm out in the direction of the schoolhouse. From this distance it looked smaller than his hand. He flattened out his palm and centered it so it was directly under the schoolhouse in his field of vision. It was as if he was holding it in his hand. He could pick it up, put it in his pocket, and take it with him wherever he went.

“One time I ran away, went to join the dragons...” he said, “but I didn't fit in there. So I came back here, and decided I'd live like a pony. And everyone in town is nice to me and all, but...it's just not the same. I wish I could be a real pony...”

“It's not that great...” said Twist. “But hey...you don't have to be lonely anymore. We're friends, right?”

“Yeah...yeah we are. And that goes double for you, Twist.”

Twist smiled. “Thanks, Spike. You're really sweet...” she said. “So, why haven't you just gone to where Rarity lives and talked to her?”

Spike crossed his arms, suddenly annoyed. “Twilight won't let me go to her place anymore,” he said. “I mean, she's REALLY serious about keeping me away from her. Like, the other day I snuck over to Rarity's shop, but it was locked so I couldn't see her anyway, and then Twilight just showed up and got super, extra mad at me! She even put a charm on me so if I go close to Rarity's place again, I automatically get teleported back to the library! Can you believe it?”

“Wow,” said Twist. “She musth be really mad at her.”

“Yeah, I bet it's some kind of crazy drama. Probably blown way out of proportion. You know how girls can get. Um, no offense.”

“None taken,” said Twist happily. “But hey! I was thinking, maybe we could help each other! Like, you could help me get a coltfriend, and I could help you get a date with Rarity!”

“How would you do that?” said Spike. “You don't even know Rarity...”

“Oh, I'll think of thomething. I just need to have some girl talk with her. I'll talk you up a little and then she'll be BEGGING for a date with you! And then you'll start going out, and pretty soon you'll become a serious item! And then when you're a little older, you'll pop the question to her while taking a romantic hot air balloon ride! And then you'll get married in Canterlot! And I'll be your maid of honor!”

“Um, the bride chooses the maid of honor.”

“I'll be the groom's maid of honor!” Twist said, without a hint of irony in her voice.

Spike laughed. “That sounds...really nice,” he said. “I don't know how you'd make friends with Rarity, though...”

“Well, setting that aside,” said Twist, “What about me? If I ever want to get a coltfriend, I need to become pretty.”

“Twist, I keep telling you, you already ARE-”

“Spike, I'm serious!” said Twist. “It's nice of you to say this, but even if I am pretty, I'm nothing compared to most of the other fillies in my class. I'm just so...plain. Can you think of a way I can become beautiful?”

Spike was at a loss. He was a terrible choice to go to for beauty tips. He tried a shot in the dark. “Ummm, spa treatment?”

“Nah, that's just a fancy bath,” said Twist. “I need to completely change my look! Head to hoof!”

“So, like, a makeover?”

“Yeah! Or a fancy new dreth!”

“Fancy new dress....fancy new dress!” Spike slapped his forehead. “I'm so stupid! Twist, the answer to both our problems is you going to see Rarity!”

“Oh, but I don't have any money...”

“Don't worry about it! Rarity's the most generous pony in town! And the prettiest...and the smartest...and the most elegant...the most charming...” Spike managed to stop himself before he got carried away like Twist. “But anyway! I'm sure she'd be happy to do you a favor and make you a dress as a gift.”

Spike jumped up and began running down the hill. “Come on!” he said, “I know just the pony to talk to!”

Sweetie Belle sat on one of the swings outside the school, feeling utterly defeated. All day long she had tried, she really had, but she just couldn't bring herself to coax any of her schoolmates to come back home with her. She would start conversations with fillies with the intent of luring them back to her house and her sister, but she would always change the subject before she could close the deal. Even though she knew Rarity's life was on the line, she simply couldn't do it.

“What am I going to do?” she muttered to herself. “It's almost dark...if I come home without anyone...”

Sweetie looked up at the sky.

“Please, Celestia,” she whispered. “Please help me save my sister...somehow...I think she's finally starting to get better....please don't take her away now...”

The evening sky was unusually still.

“This isn't fair!” she shouted at the sky. “I don't want to hurt anyone, but I don't want anything to happen to my sister! Why are you making me choose? Princess, why do I have to do this?”

Sweetie fell off the swing and huddled on the ground.

“I can't do this...” she said. “I know I need to, but I just CAN'T...”

“HEY, SWEETIE BELLE!”

Sweetie looked up from the grass and saw Spike running towards her, waving. It didn't seem like he'd heard what she'd said. Sweetie got to her hooves and put on her most convincing smile.

“Hi, Spike! What's up?”

“I need a favor....I'll totally owe you for this!”

“Um, I'm a little busy today...” said Sweetie, avoiding eye contact with the baby dragon.

“It won't take long, I promise!” he said. “You know Twist, right?”

It was then that Sweetie noticed the bespectacled, awkward filly galloping down the hill behind Spike. She yelled a cheerful greeting to Sweetie as she approached, much like Spike had. Sweetie waved to her, tepidly.

“Yeah, so Twist was wondering...see, the thing is, she could really use a new look...”

Wait.

“Or more specifically, a nice new dress!”

No. Princess, no. Not like this. You wouldn't...

“So I guess the question is...”

Why are you making this so easy? Why after this whole day....

“...do you think Rarity could see Twist today?”

Say no. Just say no and walk away. They'll never suspect anything. You'll still be able to live with yoursel-

“Yes.”

Sweetie Belle's tone was completely emotionless.

“Yes, my sister can see Twist today. I'm sure of it.”

“Oh...” said Spike, slightly caught off guard by Sweetie's demeanor. “Well, that's good to hear...”

“It's GREAT to hear!” said Twist, hopping happily in the air. “Can we go right now, Sweetie?”

“Yes. We can go right now...” said Sweetie Belle. “Um, but first... I need to...um...I left something in the schoolhouse...I'll be right back!”

And with that, Sweetie ran as fast as she could in the direction of the schoolhouse. To Spike, it almost seemed like she was trying to outrun something. She did not break her frantic pace until she was inside the schoolhouse and out of sight. With the day over, the building was completely empty.

Sweetie slammed the door shut behind her, buried her face in her hooves, and began to scream.
She uttered no words; just a long, anguished howl. She had to let it out. All of it. She couldn't show Twist or Spike any emotion. She had to burn it all off then and there.

The screams threatened to turn into sobs, but Sweetie forced herself not to cry. They would be able to tell if she'd been crying.

It only lasted a few minutes. Her hooves muffled most of the sound, and the walls did the rest. When she emerged from the schoolhouse, she had a completely neutral expression.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Twist.

“Umm, no. I guess I left it at home,” said Sweetie. “Well...let's go.”

“Alright!” said Twist, hopping happily again. “Bye bye, Spike! I'll be thure to put in a good word for you with Rarity!”

“See you later!” said Spike, as he waved to his friend.

The two fillies began to walk in the direction of Rarity's house. Just before he was out of sight, Sweetie heard Spike shout to her.

“THANKS, SWEETIE BELLE!,” he said. “YOU'RE THE BEST!”

Twist was pretty sure it was just her imagination, but at that moment, she could have sworn she saw Sweetie Belle shudder.