“What’s that smell?”
“It’s tea, Twilight.”
“Don’t get smart with me,” she snapped, pausing to push milk-bottle glasses up her muzzle, “I know what tea smells like, and this isn’t it.”
“It’s just normal tea Twilight. It’s the blend the princess used to make for you, remember? It’s your favourite.”
“Haha,” she laughed, bitter and humourless, “Think you can trick me, don’t you? Well I used to take tea with Princess Celestia. She knew her tea. I’m her student actually, did you know that?”
“Yes Twilight, that’s why I made you the tea the two of you always used to have.”
“The point being,” she pressed angrily, ignoring him outright, “I know exactly what tea smells like. You’ve done something to it, haven't you? Who are you? What have you done? What are you trying to do to me?”
“Well,” he began, straining to force his voice to remain positive, “There’s no getting past you Twilight! It’s your medication, I put it in the tea so you don’t have to swallow the pills. I know you hate doing that. I thought this would be easier for you.”
“What medication?! I think I’d know if I needed medication!" she snapped haughtily, voice high and reedy, "Now go and make the tea again! Without all the messing around this time."
“Okay. I’m sorry Twilight,” he stood up, taking the tray with him. He walked out of the room and stood in the hallway for a little while. It was white, too shiny and clinical. The smell was chemical, overly sanitised. He grit his teeth, knowing he only needed to be in here a couple of minutes. When this was done, he turned around and walked back in.
“I brought you some tea Twilight!” he said, affecting a cheery tone with great effort. He placed the tray down in front of her again and she took a long, satisfied smell of the brew.
“Oh lovely!” she said, clapping her hooves together, “I love tea. I used to take it with Princess Celestia all the time.”
“Wow, Twilight” he replied, pouring her out a cup, “That’s very impressive,”
“I'm her most faithful student, did you know that?” she asked proudly.
“I do Twilight. I know you were really good at it too. Make sure to drink your tea, it’s your favourite.”
“What's that? Oh yes, the tea," her horn lit up very briefly, as if by instinct, but went unnoticed by the unicorn. Instead she leant forward and scooped up the cup in both her forehooves. "I’d send her letters from my library in Ponyville, you know?”
“Did anyone help you? With your letters?” he asked, grip tightening around his own cup.
“Hmm. Not that I can remember,” she replied, and he nodded silently.
“I wonder if the Princess will be visiting soon? It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. I have a lot of friendship reports to give her, you see? That’s what I work on. It’s quite a remarkably misunderstood field of study actually! Ponies think friendship means just getting along with someone, but it’s a lot more nuanced than that!”
“Would you like to tell me about it?” he asked.
“Well, the thing is that when you’re good friends with someone, problems come up surprisingly often. Maybe they’ll disagree with you on something. Maybe you'll have a secret you can't tell them.”
“Maybe they could change?”
“Oh yes!” she replied enthusiastically, “That’s a big one actually! What to do when someone you care about changes.”
“Yes," he took a sip of his tea, "I can imagine that would be quite hard wouldn’t it? When you think about the pony they used to be. Especially if they don’t realise they’ve changed at all.”
"You’re quite good at this actually,” she offered.
“I had a good teacher. Make sure to drink your tea, Twilight,” he pointed to her cup, and she sipped from it again, “Why don’t you tell me about your friends?”
“Well there was…” she trailed off, looking troubled.
“Remember Twilight? Your friends from Ponyville,”
“I know!” she snapped suddenly, “I know I’m just… well I’m just trying to…”
“There’s Rarity and Applejack. You saw them just yesterday, didn't you? Applejack brought you some pie, and Rarity had made you those nice earmuffs.”
“Yes! They visited and… erm… well there was a sleepover I think. That's why they came to see me. And Applejack was always so fussy and it would make Rarity mad.”
“No Twilight, it’s Rarity who is fussy, remember?" he urged, trying to be as gentle as possible, "What about Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash? Do you remember them?”
“I… I don’t know... I can't...,” she began to fidget in her chair, looking around with a deepening sense of confusion.
“I don’t know where this is? Where am I?” she babbled, her breaths getting quicker and more shallow.
But it only took a second for him to be on his feet and comforting her. He rubbed her back in gentle circles, like she used to do for him when he was upset. She seemed to relax slightly, but the fear was evident in her eyes as they scanned the unfamiliar room. The same room she’d been in for nearly six months now.
“Why don’t you drink your tea, Twilight? It’s your favourite.” She nodded vacantly and picked up the cup. Her attention, however, was still clearly on her surroundings and she accidentally spilled some of her drink down herself. It wasn’t very hot, he knew from experience that she couldn’t be given boiling tea anymore. She looked down at the mess, frustration and shame on her face.
"I should be able to..."
“It’s okay Twilight,” he soothed, “I’ll get one of the nurses, they can help clean it up. It’s nothing to worry about,”
He took the cup from her gently and set it down. He then started towards the door.
“Spike,” she called out, and he froze. When he turned, everything seemed different. Her eyes had regained some of the focus she used to have.
“I know I don’t know but… I know something’s not right.”
“Twilight I…”
“It happens so infrequently now. I get these little moments and I can suddenly remember who you are and then… I just can't think it through anymore, it's like there's something blocking the road," she said, close to tears, "I’m scared to go back.”
“Twilight,” his voice cracked and he rushed towards her, “It’s okay. You're gonna be fine.”
But it was a lie. When she looked at him, the spark seemed to have left as quickly as it had come.
“What’s that smell?” she asked, and the life died in him yet again. He stared past her vacantly. At one of those blank walls.
“It’s tea, Twilight. It’s your favourite.”
“I do love tea,” she giggled, “I used to take it with the Princess all the time. I’m her faithful student. Did you know that?”
“Yeah Twilight, I know.”
