...My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!
A young dragon read a letter to a purple pony, Twilight. Twilight’s twin sister, a dark purple unicorn named Crescent Moon sat next to her. Twilight sighed.
“Hey, look on the bright side, the princess arranged for you to live in the library, doesn’t that make you happy?” Spike asked.
“Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return,” Twilight said stubbornly.
“Then… will you make friends like the princess asked?” Spike asked.
“She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends,” Twilight huffed.
“Hey, you never know,” Crescent spoke up. The Royal guards whinnied as they landed the chariot.
“Thank you, sirs.” Twilight said.
“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about!” Spike said, cheerfully.
“Maybe you could make friends while talking to them,” Crescent remarked snidely.
“I have friends.” Twilight insisted.
“You have a friend, and she’s your sister, so she don’t count, hun,” Crescent responded. A pink pony with a curly mane trotted up to Twilight.
“Uh, hello?” Twilight said to the pink pony, timidly. The pink pony jumped up, and gasped, before speeding away. There was a brief shocked silence, before Twilight said,
“Well, that was interesting alright…” Twilight trotted off as Spike sighed.
“Summer-Sun celebration official overseers checklist! Number one, banquet preparations, Sweet-Apple Acres,” Spike said, as the three walked through a gate.
“Yee-haw!” A pony charged up to a tree, and kicked it with her hind legs, causing it’s apples to drop neatly into a set of baskets under the tree. Twilight sighed.
“Let’s get this over with. Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight couldn’t say anything else before the orange pony started vigorously shaking her hoof.
“Well how'd’ ya do, Miss Twilight. A pleasure making your acquaintance. I’m Applejack, we here at Sweet-Apple Acres sure do like makin’ new friends!” Applejack exclaimed.
“Friends? Actually I-” Twilight stopped talking.
“So, what can I do ya for?” Applejack asked. Twilight cleared her throat.
“Well, I am in fact here to supervise preparations for the Summer-Sun celebration. And, you’re in charge of the food?” Twilight asked. “We sure as sugar are! Care to sample some?” Applejack asked. “Well as long as it doesn’t take too long.” Applejack dashed off, and started ringing a cowbell. “Soup’s on, everypony!” She yelled.
“I think I’ll leave. To go check the next- uh that,” Crescent said hastily before dashing off. Right as Crescent Moon fled the farm, a stampede of ponies rushed into the farm, kicking up a cloud of dust. When the dust cleared, Twilight and Spike found themselves at a table.
“Now, why don’t I introduce y’all to the Apple family?” Applejack said, pointing at the ponies who had rushed in.
“Thanks, but I really need to hurry-” Twilight was cut off by Applejack.
“This here’s Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala...” Applejack began rattling off a list of names, before ending with,
“Big McIntosh! Applebloom, Aaaand! Granny Smith! Up and at em’, Granny Smith! We got guests!” An old pony who was sleeping on a rocking chair snorted, and awoke. “What? Soup’s on? I’m coming, here I come, ahm comin’...” The old pony slowly made her way to the rest of the ponies.
“Why, I’d say, they’re already part of the family! Now say, where’d your friend go off to?” Applejack said. Twilight nervously laughed. “Oh, my sister? She must have left- Ok, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we’ll be on our way.” Twilight started to move, when a small filly- the one called Applebloom- stopped her.
“Aren't Cha gonna stay for brunch?” She had a pleading look in her eyes.
“Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do,” Twilight said to the little pony. There was a collective disappointed sigh. Twilight looked around for a bit at the saddened looks on everypony’s face.
“Fine.” All the ponies cheered, and started offering different foods to Twilight.
“Food’s all taken care of, next is weather,” Spike read of his checklist.
“Ugh, I ate too much pie,” Twilight groaned.
“Hmm, there’s supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds,” Spike said. Twilight looked at the many clouds in the sky.
“Well, she’s not doing a very good job at that, is she.” Suddenly, a pony came out of nowhere, and crashed into Twilight, sending them both into a mud pit. The new pony giggled.
“Uh, scuze me? Hehe. Let me help you.” The pegasus flew away, and brought make a dark cloud. She stood on the cloud, and started bouncing on it. After a few bounces, the cloud began pouring rain onto Twilight. The rain continued until the cloud was white. Twilight was drenched. The pegasus laughed again.
“Oops. I guess I overdid it. Um, how about this?” The pegasus started flying around Twilight very, very fast.
“My very own patented- Rainblow Dry. Nono, don’t thank me. You’re QUITE welcome,” The pony caught a glimpse of Twilight, who’s mane was now poofed up and tangled. The pegasus started laughing hysterically, with Spike quickly following suite.
“Let me guess, you’re Rainbow Dash.” The Pegasus perked up.
“The one and only! Why, you heard of me?” Rainbow Dash said.
“I heard you’re supposed to be keeping the sky clear!” Twilight said, and sighed.
“I’m Twilight Sparkle, and the princess sent me here to check on the weather.”
“Yeah yeah, that’ll be a snap. I’ll do it in a jiffy, just as soon as I’m done practicing,” Rainbow said.
“Practicing for what?”
“The Wonderbolts!” Rainbow exclaimed, as she flew into the air.
“They’re gonna perform at the celebration tomorrow, and I’m gonna show them my stuff!”
“The Wonderbolts!”
“Yup!”
“The most talented flyers in all of Equestria?” Twilight said, an idea forming in her mind.
“Yep! That’s them!”
“Ppft. Please, they’d never accept a pegasus who can’t even keep the sky clear for one measly day!” Twilight said, turning away from Rainbow so she wouldn’t see her smile.
“Hey! I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow said, furrowing her brow.
“Then go ahead. Prove it.” Rainbow zoomed into the sky, zipping around, kicking all the clouds around, destroying them.
“What’d I say? Ten. Seconds. Flat. I’d never leave Ponyville hanging!” Rainbow said.
Twilight and Spike both stared in awe and surprise at the pegasus, as she did in fact clear the skies in ten seconds. Less, actually. Rainbow laughed again.
“You should see the look on your face. Hah! Your a laugh Twilight Sparkle. I can’t wait to hang out some more!” After saying this, Rainbow, living up to her name, sped away, leaving Twilight and Spike alone.
“Wow! She’s amazing!” Spike said in amazement. He looked at Twilight, and started to giggle, and began to flip her tangled hair. Twilight began walking away in annoyance.
“Wait! It’s kind of pretty once you get used to it!” Spike said, running after Twilight.
“Woah. What happened to you?” Crescent appeared from a corner and trotted up to Twilight.
“It’s a long story. Where were you?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, you know, exploring Ponyville, looking at buildings, definitely not checking on preparations… maybe checking out the local stallions, the works.”
“Decorations. Beautiful…” Spike trailed off.
“Yes. This ought to be quick. I’ll be back in the library in no time. Beautiful indeed,” Twilight said.
“Not the decor, her!” Spike pointed at a white unicorn. The mare sorted through some different ribbons.
“No, no, no, OH! Goodness no!” The mare said to herself.
“How are my spines? Are they straight?” Spike asked, as he stared at the unicorn.
“Ahahah, you’ve got a pretty big crush there, I see.” Crescent playfully teased.
“Good afternoon!” Twilight said.
“Just a moment please! I am ‘in the zone’ as it were. Oh, yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why, Rarity, you are a talent!” Rarity self complimented.
“Now, um, how can I help you-” Rarity stopped talking as she yelped in surprise.
“Oh my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?” Rarity asked.
“Oh you mean my mane? Well it’s a long story. I’m just here to check on the decorations, then I’ll be out of your hair,” Twilight said.
“Out of my hair? What about your hair?” Rarity said, as she went behind Twilight and began pushing her into a separate room.
“Wait! Where are we going! Help!” Spike began to follow after the two ponies, but Crescent pulled him back.
“Wait a minute, buster, don’t go doing something you’ll regret,” Crescent said.
Spike seemed to snap out of his daze.
“Oh, what?” Spike said.
“Just let them do their thing and stay out of Rarity’s way,” Crescent said. There was a short silence.
“Hey Crescent? Can you keep a secret?” Spike asked. Crescent nodded.
“I think-” Spike leaned in closer, “I have a crush on Rarity!” He whispered. Crescent nodded.
“Don’t let that crush get too out of hoof. Cause that girl is mine,” Crescent said with a wink.
“Just kidding. But seriously, don’t let your crush get too out of hoof. Err, claw, sorry.”
“Music! It’s the last thing on the list,” Spike read to Twilight. Twilight and Crescent stopped as she heard chirping. Following the noise, Twilight and Spike found a light yellow pegasus, who seemed to be talking to some birds. Twilight walked up to the pegasus.
“Hello!” Twilight’s sudden loud voice scared away all the birds.
“Oh my. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten your birds, I’m just here to check on the music and it’s sounding beautiful.”
The yellow pegasus landed, and stood, not speaking. There was a short awkward pause.
“I’m Twilight Sparkle.” There was another pause.
“What’s your name?”
“Um. I’m Fl-” The pegasus whispered her name.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Twilight asked.
“Uh.” The pegasus began backing away while whispering.
“Didn’t quite catch that,” Twilight said, trying to be polite. The pegasus began whimpering.
“Well, um. It looks like your birds are back, so I guess everything is in good order. Keep up the good work!”
The pegasus whimpered. Twilight walked way.
“Ok. Well that was easy.” Twilight said walking to Spike.
“A baby dragon!”
The pegasus suddenly tackled Twilight out of the way.
“Oh! I’ve never seen a baby dragon before! He’s so cute!” The pegasus said.
“Well well well!” Spike said to Twilight, who was sprawled out on the ground.
“Oh my. He talks! I didn’t know dragons could talk! That’s just so incredibly wonderful! I just don’t even know what to say!” the pegasus exclaimed in her quiet voice. Spike was suddenly lifted with magic, and was placed on Twilight’s back.
“Well, we better get going!” Twilight said, and Crescent trotted up beside her.
“Wait, wait! What’s his name?” the pegasus asked.
“I’m Spike.”
“Hi Spike, I’m Fluttershy.” Fluttershy said.
“Wow! A talking dragon! And what do dragons talk about?” Fluttershy asked.
“What do you want to know?” Spike asked.
“Absolutely everything!” Fluttershy responded. Twilight groaned as she realised she would have to listen to everything Spike had to say.
“Such is life,” Crescent said, nodding with her eyes closed.
Spike explained in detail his entire life from when he was an egg up until the current day for hours.
“...And that’s the story of my entire life! Up until today, at least. Want to hear about today?” Spike asked.
“Oh, yes please!” Fluttershy said.
Twilight suddenly whirled around.
“I am so sorry, how did we get here so fast? This is where I am staying while in Ponyville, and my poor baby dragon needs his sleep,” Twilight said.
“No I don’t- woah!” Spike was thrown off Twilight’s back.
“Aww, look at that. He’s so sleepy he can’t even keep his little balance!” Twilight grinned at Fluttershy. Crescent had to look away to keep herself from laughing.
Fluttershy swooped in and grabbed Spike.
“Poor thing, you simply must get into bed!” Fluttershy put him inside the library.
“Yes yes, we’ll get right on that. Well goodnight!” Twilight said, pushing Fluttershy outside and shutting the door, closing Fluttershy- and Crescent- outside. Crescent opened the door to give herself enough room to slide in, gave Fluttershy as small smile, and shut the door.
“Huh. Rude, much?” Spike said.
“Sorry Spike, but I have to convince the princess that Nightmare Moon is coming and we’re running out of time! I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now where’s the light?” As soon as she said that, the light flicked on, and a bunch of ponies yelled,
“SURPRISE!”
“Woah!” Crescent stumbled back, before quickly regaining her composure.
Twilight groaned.
“You can’t avoid making friends in this place,” Crescent whispered to Twilight.
“Surprise! Hi, I’m Pinky Pie and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised were ya huh huh huh?” The pink pony from when Twilight arrived in Ponyville said, bouncing around Twilight.
“Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet.” Twilight said, annoyed.
Pinkie laughed.
“That’s silly. What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet! I mean, duh! Boring!” Pinkie said.
“You see, I saw you when you first got here remember? And you were all ‘Hello?’ and I was all ‘GAAAAASP!’ remember? You see I never saw you before and if I never saw you before that means you’re new! Cause I know everypony and I mean EVERYPONY in Ponyville! And if you’re new that means you haven’t met anyone yet! If you haven’t met anyone yet you must not have any friends, and if you don’t have any friends you must be lonely and that made me so sad, and I had an idea and that’s why I went ‘GASP’ I just throw a great big gigantic enormous super tacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville! See?” The rest of the ponies in charge of preparations appeared next to Pinkie.
“And now you have lots and lots of friends!” Pinkie finally finished talking. Twilight groaned, and started heading upstairs.
“Please leave,” She said before slipping behind the corner. Crescent quickly followed.
Crescent entered the bedroom. Inside were two beds, and Twilight was lying on one of them face down.
“Hey, sis, not in the mood for a party?”
Twilight groaned and pushed herself up.
“I thought I’d have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony, but oh how silly of me!” She sighed. “Legend says that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in NIghtmare Moon’s escape, and she will bring about everlasting night.” I hope the princess was right and this is just an old pony’s tale.”
Twilight dropped back onto the bed. Crescent walked over to her.
“Twilight, you know I trust you, and I believe that what you’re saying has some truth behind it, but for the time being, you should just focus on the present. You know if you keep thinking about the future or the past and don’t focus on the present, you’ll end up driving yourself crazy.” Crescent gave Twilight a brief hug. “Now, I woke up way too early-”
“Six O’ Clock,” said Twilight’s muffled voice.
“And I’m really tired, so I’m going to just skip the celebration.” Crescent turned around and flopped onto the bed. Within seconds she was softly snoring.
“Hey. Crescent. Wake up.” Crescent felt tapping on her head. Her eyes slowly opened, and she looked at her assailant. She saw Spike tapping her.
“What’s happenin’?” Crescent slowly got up.
“Twilight and some other ponies went into the forest. I just thought I should let you know. THey don’t want me going with them.”
“Oh… the forest? Like, the dangerous one?” Crescent lifted her head and got up. “I should probably go and… I don’t know, make sure they don’t die. And you should totally stay here, Spike, it is dangerous, or so I have been told.” Crescent rubbed her eyes.
“I will be back soon!” She promised. “Don’t have any parties!”
Crescent made her way into the Everfree Forest. She trotted down the main trail for a bit before stopping.
“Let’s see… If I were Twilight running into the forest for whatever reason, where would I go…” Crescent looked around.
*GROOOWL*
“Woah!” Crescent spun around to faze whatever horrible beast made that noise. Isstead of a horrible beast, she saw a rather bored looking white tiger. It had black stripes all over it.
“Heeeeey, big guy. How you doing? You seen any ponies run through? Maybe a purple one?” Crescent asked the tiger. The tiger looked down at her, and dropped to its back to expose its belly.
“Ah, you want some rubs?” Crescent stepped forward to pet the tiger. “I’ll call you.. Stripes. For your stripes.” Crescent reached forward, and then felt herself flying through the air and landing on something soft. Without quite knowing how it happened, Crescent was on Stripes’ back, practically flying through the forest at high speeds.
“Ahaaa! Care to slow down at all!” Crescent yelled to Stripes. Stripes stopped, and Crescent was thrown from his back onto the ground. She quickly sat up, and saw a castle a short distance away. She witnessed Twilight, along with a few other ponies close behind her run into the castle.
“Good Stripes!” Crescent turned around and rubbed Stripes’ ear, who emitted a purr.
“Now stay here, I’ll be back in a bit.” Crescent rushed down to the castle, looking back once to see that- of course- Stripes had left.
“Big cats are still cats,” Crescent said to herself.
As Crescent neared the castle, she could hear voices from inside. Though she couldn’t tell what was behind said, Crescent could tell that it was her sister speaking.
“No… Noooooooooo!” As Crescent entered the room, she saw her sister along with five other mares- most of which Crescent recognized- all floating and glowing while firing a rainbow colored beam at a quickly disappearing black pony.
Crescent stepped forward, speechless at first, before managing out a faint “Wow.”
Twilight heard and turned around, seeing Crescent standing there with her mouth open and eyes wide.
“Oh! Crescent! Didn’t see you there.” The rest of Twilight's new friends all turned around to look at Crescent.
“Who’s that?” Rainbow asked.
“Oh, it’s my sister. Crescent, these are Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie.”
“Oh my gosh you’re Twilight’s sister?” Pinkie began. “I mean I knew you two had to be related because you both got off the Chariot but I-”
It would turn out that luck was on Crescent’s side, as light filled the room, and the princess of the sun, Princess Celestia appeared.
“Well done, my little ponies.”
Twilight gasped. “Celestia!” She bowed, and was quickly imitated by everyone else.
“You truly represent the elements of friendship. Well done, my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. I knew you could do it.
“You told me it was an old pony’s tale!” Twilight cried.
“I told you that you need friends. I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return, and I knew you had the magic to stop her, but you could not do it alone. Now, there is another who must let friendship into their hearts. Luna!”
A small voice gasped. Everyone turned to see a small black filly where Nightmare Moon once was.
“It has been… one thousand years since I have last seen you like this, little sister.”
At these words, several ponies gasped, with Rainbow Dash and Twilight saying,
“Sister?”
“Will you accept my friendship?” Celestia asked.
“Yes! I’m sorry! I missed you, sister!”
“I have missed you too.”
The two siblings shared an embrace.
“Hey! You know what this calls for!?” Pinkie’s voice rang. “A party!”
Crescent and her new friends- minus Pinkie, who had rushed ahead to start a party- walked out of the Everyfree.
“Hey, I think I’ll stay up for this one.” Crescent said to Twilight.
“Heh. You can get your sleeping schedule back to normal.”
“My normal, right?” Crescent and Twilight both laughed lightly.
Crescent took a look behind her in the forest, and saw Stripes sitting, watching her leave. She saw Stripes get up and walk out of sight.
A white tiger with superspeed… Strange world we live in.
Author's Note
This first chapter was pretty reliant on the actual episode, I know. But there will be more changes, I swear! Please leave a comment, it would mean the world to me, and I need the feedback!
