The Strange Case of Dr. Sparkle and Miss Hyde

by Midnight Calm

Rating: everyone
Tags: Spike, Tragedy, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 11272

Twilight has come to realise that everypony has a bad side, but what happens when she finds hers?

Currently trying to earn another doctorate in the Magical arts, Twilight Sparkle is unable to use her previous research on the 'Magic of Friendship' for her final thesis. Forced to look elsewhere for a suitable subject matter, she approaches Zecora who directs her to an undocumented species of magical flower.

While she studies this plant, Twilight learns more about a little known field of study called 'dream magic' and some of the hidden secrets of her consciousness.

During this period of magical and self discovery, Twilight has come to realise it that everypony has a dark side, even the best of us.

But what happens when she finds hers?

Don't let the tags scare you off! Dark tag is 'Light Dark'
Rating may (most likely will) have to change in future (No higher than Teen). Character tags may be subject to change.

Coverphoto images:
Twilight's Gala Dress and Rarity's Gala dress Vectors made by http://catnipfairy.deviantart.com/
Ponyville Road Side View Vector by http://boneswolbach.deviantart.com/
Twilight Sparkle Gasping Vector by http://xpesifeindx.deviantart.com/

The rest was me with Magic of Friendship Photoshop.

Published 2012-08-25 09:14:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-20 13:39:14 UTC

Chapter 1: Radiant as the Dawn

Chapter 1
Radiant as the Dawn

Dawn was a special time for some ponies. The mysterious night being slowly overwhelmed by the majestic light of the sun peeking over the horizon. Equestria was quiet at dawn, many ponies slept through it. For those who are awake however, they experience the waking of the world as the sun's warmth slowly breathes life into the land. The cool morning air, crisp and biting, is energising and each breath taken is fresh and clean.

Yes, the dawn was a special time for some ponies. Today, Twilight Sparkle is not one of those ponies.

"Ughh, Spike, let me sleep," Twilight groaned as she buried her head underneath her pillow "It's too early to be thinking."

"Sorry Twilight but you told me to get you up early today" Spike replied, slowly prodding Twilight as he did. Twilight rolled over facing away from Spike.

"Then considered that request retracted."

"No can do Twilight, 'last night Twilight' told me to ignore what ever 'this morning Twilight' said about ignoring 'last night
Twilight'." Spike then adopted a blank stare and raised his hand to his chin in thought. Moments later he gave a definitive nod, reassuring himself that what he said was correct.

Twilight didn't respond, maybe if she ignored the interloper, he would give up and go away?
Spike resumed prodding Twilight. She groaned again.

"The only way you are going to get me to stop poking you is if you get up." said Spike "Either that or you could try and stop the sunrise" he added after a few seconds, slightly chuckling.

"Fine then. Spike, take a letter."

Spike's left eyebrow slightly raised "Okay…" he responded with a deliberate slowness. Spike paused slightly, considering which route would be better to get Twilight up, jump on her or fulfil her request. Eventually deciding the aftermath of route one wasn't worth the effort, Spike walked over to Twilight's desk and pulled open the second draw from the top, the paper draw. Grabbing a sheet, he then opened the top draw of the desk, slightly frowning after he did. His quill wasn't there. Twilight was very particular with her quills, and Spike wasn't allowed to touch her favourite one. In fact, Twilight her self rarely touched it. Setting that thought aside, he set about trying to find usual quill.

After a minute or two, Spike gave up and took one of Twilight's 'not-a-serious-or-crucial-emergency' emergency quills, she wouldn't mind and he was going to return it soon anyway. Clutching both items in his hands, he returned to Twilight's bedside. She hadn't moved.

"I'm back Twilight, what did you want me to write down?" Without rolling over to face him, Spike heard the muffled voice of Twilight through her pillow say:

"Dear Princess Celestia,"

Spike started transcribing her words, "Dear Princess Celestia" he muttered to himself. Twilight continued:

"Please put the sun down again.
Your Tired Student,
Twilight Sparkle"

After he had finished writing, Spike reread the letter with a dubious expression, wondering what exactly he was supposed to do in this situation. Twilight obviously didn't intend for this letter to be sent, so what now? During Spike's internal monologue, Twilight had completely wrapped herself in her duvet and resumed her previous state of inactivity, the slow rise and fall of her bed covers the only indication she was still inside.

After several more awkward seconds of looking down at the message in his hands, Spike rose his head and saw the mess of covers that contained Twilight. His eyes flicked down at the letter, back up at Twilight and then across to her bedroom window. Developing a wicked grin, Spike sauntered over to the window making sure his claws gave a distinctive clack on the wooden floor so his footsteps would be heard by Twilight.

Upon reaching the window, Spike undid the latch as noisily as he could and pushed the window open, ensuring it creaked and screeched for as long as possible. He could hear shuffling from Twilight, trying to block out the the noisy windows by pressing the pillow on her head into her ears. Twilight, realising this was futile decided she had to take more drastic measures.

Uncovering the duvet from her pillow and then taking said pillow off her head, Twilight emerged from her cocoon. Recoiling as the cool breeze touched her, Twilight turned her head towards Spike, squinting at him through weary eyes.

"Spike…" She wailed as Spike finished opening her window. "What are you doing? Why is the window open? Close it so I can sleep."

Her demands delivered, Twilight's head flopped back down and landed on her mattress with a satisfying 'oomph'. She then promptly reintroduced the pillow to the top of her head.

"I had to open the window Twilight, how else am I supposed to send your letter to the Princess if it can't get out of the Library?" replied Spike, still sporting his devious smile.

He wouldn't.

"You wouldn't"

Spike drew a deep breath.

He would.

Twilight Sparkle flew into action. Horn blazing, she ripped her covers off using her magic and launched them across the room. Whipping her head towards the window, she saw 'the-letter-that-could-not-be-sent' and the little dragon holding it. She locked eyes with Spike as he was about to start sending her letter. Twilight gave him a baleful glare that scarcely concealed her immense dislike for the current situation and the promise of a very unpleasant day ahead. Seeing this look and with a twinkle in his eye, Spike started to exhale his magic dragon breath.

"NO!" Twilight yelled, her face contorting with horror.
Starting off in a gallop towards him, she went as far as the end of her bed and started to lunge at Spike before teleporting mid leap, sliding across the floor as she reappeared in front of him, dying remnants of teleportation magic still crackling behind her.

Twilight, however, had reappeared a fraction of a second too late and arrived to see her letter being turned to ash by a brilliant green flame. Reaching out with her magic, she desperately tried to stop the letter in transit by magically restraining all the individual pieces of ash, but the letter had gone too far and the pieces spread too thin. By the time Twilight had devised a suitable method of restraint, the letter had already sailed just beyond Ponyville and beyond all hope of retrieval.

Twilight stared blankly out of her bedroom before slowly turning to face a suddenly less amused looking Spike.

Spike crumbled under her unnerving gaze, suddenly finding the floor to be interesting in a way he had never before thought possible. "Uhhh…. Hey there Twilight." Spike mumbled while he awkwardly shuffled his feet. "Nice weather we're having this morning… don't you think?"

Silence reigned over the library. Spike could hear it. He could feel it. The sound of nothing. It was overwhelming. It was more than uncomfortable, it was oppressive, it was unbearable. As the present painstakingly became the past, Spike held his breath. He could feel every slight twitch was scrutinised under her piercing eyes .
And then;

"Spike."

Twilight took a slow breath.

"Spike," repeated Twilight, eerily calm "I'm not going to explain to you how angry I am. I will say, however, that while I currently lack the effort to do anything, you will have a rather displeasing day should I see you again before now and breakfast." With that, Twilight turned and left her bedroom.

After Twilight had left, Spike's legs gave out and he fell to the floor, his hand rising to his chest. Still clutching at his furiously beating heart, Spike was overcome with waves of relief, having in his mind just been walking on the razors edge between life and …. well, maybe not death, but serious unpleasantness to say the least.

After several minutes contemplating his close escape, Spike went downstairs, carefully looking around all corners to avoid a confrontation with Twilight. Arriving at the kitchen with out incident, Spike proceeded to make the most amazing breakfast he could think of, he could not afford to make any mistakes today.

Roughly an hour later, Twilight descended down the stairs and trudged across the room to her usual seat at the table. Upon reaching it, she sat down heavily, her head hanging down limply. Laid out in front of her was an assortment of breakfasting goods. Looking up, she cast her eyes over the table and was greeted an assemblage of all her favourite morning meals but in petite portions, so she would be able to physically eat them all, each item no more then two or three bites.
A breakfast entree of thick porridge with sliced banana on the right side and honey on the left. This was followed up by the breakfast main course which consisted of hay bacon strips and eggs on toast, a croissant filled with melted cheese and lastly, Prench toast. The final two items being; Waffles with sliced strawberries and ice cream and blueberry pancakes glistening with maple syrup for breakfast desert.

She recalled Spike having said once that one of the things he wanted most was a six course breakfast everyday, albeit with a more gemstone related menu.

Shifting her gaze across the table she spotted Spike sitting to her right, almost disappearing beneath the table. Spike, noticing that Twilight had seen him, raised himself in his chair and adopted a normal sitting position. He was, however, still unable to look at Twilight in the eye.

"Look Twi, I'm sorry for sending that letter to the Princess, I'll—" Twilight cut him off before he could say anything else.

"I'm sorry as well Spike, I shouldn't have acted that way. You were right, I should have got up when you asked me to and it's my fault that you wrote that letter to the Princess."

"But Twilight, I sh—" Spike started again,

"Spike, we can talk about it after we eat." interjected Twilight once more, "I'm famished and I don't want to even consider talking about this further before I have eaten at least half of this." she said while sweeping her hoof over the table, gesturing at the food Spike had made. With the conversation effectively killed for the present, Twilight started on her meal and Spike did the same.

Spike was an amazing cook and this meal was no exception. While she ate, Twilight considered the logistics of having such an extravagant breakfast everyday. Perhaps Spike was onto something with this six course idea? She eventually dismissed the idea, due to not only inefficient costing but time constraints. Having to eat, let alone prepare such a feast each morning would cut a huge chunk time out of her daily schedules. However good it may taste, it could not out weigh the benefits of punctuality.

Eventually eating her meal in its entirety, Twilight levitated hers and Spikes dishes to the sink. She absentmindedly washed them, not really paying attention to her current task. Her mind was preoccupied with other things like: 'What Princess Celestia was going to do to her when she read the letter'. Would she be cast off as Princess Celestia's student? That seemed most likely. What if Princess Celestia was having a bad morning, what then? Exile from Equestria? Maybe if she was feeling lenient. As Twilight was contemplating her ever increasing punishment, she started to visibly shake.

Spike walked over to her and put his hand on her side. He opened his mouth, preparing an encouraging speech to calm Twilight down but instead of words, a bout of dragon flame escaped his mouth. Twilight jumped back at the sudden sound and then proceeded to stare at the flame in horror. As Spike's messenger flame began to coagulate into the familiar form of a letter, her eyes grew wider and her jaw dropped lower. The process seemed to take hours for Twilight and Spike but in reality, it was close to instantaneous. When the letter had finished forming it fell to the ground with a dull thud. It was then that Twilight Sparkle decided was the appropriate time to freak out.

"AHHHHHHHH!! Spike! Spike! What am I going to do!? Celestia's going to banish me from Equestria! I can't be banished, I still have so much to learn!"

Twilight ran around in circles around Spike and the letter, yelling various reasons why she couldn't afford to be banished from Equestria. The continued for several minutes until Spike decided that enough was enough. He waited until Twilight came within reach during one of her circuits flung him self at her neck. He latched onto her and started stroking her shoulder while saying; "Calm down, Twilight. Princess Celestia won't banish you from Equestria, it's going to be alright."

Twilight immediately stopped running.

"Of course Princess Celestia won't banish me out of Equestria," reasoned Twilight. Spike smiled, maybe he was getting better at this! "She's going to banish me to the moon! I can see it now! She is going to take back the Elements of Harmony and lock me in the moon for the next one thousand years!"

Falling to the floor and trapping half of Spike underneath her, Twilight curled into a ball and started shaking. Spike sighed heavily.

"Spi-ih-ih-ike, what am I going to do?" she sobbed.

Deciding that talking to Twilight was a lost cause, Spike yanked his leg out from underneath her and made his way over to the recently delivered letter.

The sound of Spike picking up the letter and unfurling it grabbed Twilight's attention immediately.

"Spike!" she gasped in a hushed tone, "What are you doing? Stop that. We have to leave, go somewhere where Celestia can never find us. We can go out to the Western Frontiers, one of the newer settlements. There should be—"

"To My Tired Student Twilight Sparkle," Spike exclaimed rather loudly, effectively drowning out Twilight's babbling.

"I must regretfully inform you that I am unable to fulfil your request. Whilst I know sometimes the decision to get up and face the day or stay in a warm bed can be rather difficult, perhaps these choices would be made easier if we didn't stay up until early morning reading about new magical theories from Canterlot University. "

"Why did you tell her that Spike!"

Spike continued, completely ignoring Twilight's comment.

"Remember Twilight, sometimes we must give things that have a lesser appeal to us a higher priority than the things we enjoy. That may mean going to sleep instead of reading or perhaps having to having to adhere to a royal schedule instead of immediately replying to a letter from your faithful student.
Your Mentor,
Princess Celestia"

Having finished reading letter, Spike rolled it back up and gave a sagely nod of approval.

"See, Twilight, I told you everything would be fine." he said

Twilight rolled up into a kneeling position. "Yes Spike, I know you did…" started Twillight, looking clearly relieved, "But that doesn't excuse the fact that you sent that letter in the first place. I'm sure I can think up a suitable way you can repay me for that Spike, so be ready for it. For now though, I just want to forget this event ever happened." Twilight sighed tiredly, putting her head down on her front legs.

"Spike, could you please get my checklist for today?"

"Na, I don't need to Twilight."

Twilight raised her head again, raising and eyebrow as she looked at Spike.

"I remember what was on today's one." Spike continued, "The only thing that was on it was 'visit Zecora before 10:30am'."

Twilight stood up suddenly.

"What's the time now?" She asked Spike.

"It's just after 8 o'clock." he replied flicking his eyes up at the clock on the wall behind Twilight.

"I shouldn't waste any time then!" Twilight declared while standing up, her previous near mental collapse already forgotten.

Rushing over to the library's front door, Twilight prepared to leave as soon as possible. The sooner she was preoccupied with something to take her mind off the massive amount of embarrassment caused by Princess Celestia reading that stupid message, the better.

Levitating her saddlebags, which were filled with all sorts of miscellaneous items the night before and whose inventory was tripled checked for accuracy, onto her back, Twilight walked out of the library feeling invigorated. After a terrible morning that would never again be mentioned, Spike had made her an amazing breakfast, she was still in time to keep her scheduled, drop-in appointment with Zecora and she was NOT getting banished. Life could scarcely get better.

She happily cantered along the main road out of Ponyville, towards the Everfree Forest. Disregarding the odd looks from many of the shopkeepers who were setting up their businesses for the day, she merrily continued on her way to see Zecora.

As Twilight approached the edge of the Everfree forest, her cantering slowly wound down to a modest pace and finally to a sluggish walk. Going into the darkness of the Everfree was always a daunting experience. Even though Twilight knew the way and she had traveled it many times, there was always a sense of foreboding that came with the Everfree. Ignoring the urge to shudder, Twilight peered through the trees and brush, steeled her nerves and stepped into the forest.

She quickly found the small trail leading to Zecora's hut and promptly started following it. While the Everfree was still dangerous place, she felt significantly safer walking on familiar ground. The path itself was becoming more and more defined against the underbrush and leaf litter of the forest. Not long ago, Zecora had been the only one to ever walk it on her monthy excursions to Ponyville but now as she was visited more often, the path was being used with greater frequency and had started to develop.

'Perhaps we'll have to lay down a small stone road if she gets any more visitors' Twilight chucked at the thought.

As Twilight continued along the path a sudden noise from behind startled her. Quick as a flash, she turned around, jumping backwards as she did to further distance herself from…. Zecora?

"Twilight Sparkle, what a surprise!
A pleasant a sight for weary eyes."

Zecora stood in front of her, wearing saddlebags made from an odd dark brown material she could not place. Twilight let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding.

"Zecora! Thank Celestia it's you, you scared me half to death!" exclaimed Twilight.

"Then I must say I am quite contrite
for causing such a ghastly fright.
But why do you so bravely roam
in this forest, so far from home?" questioned Zecora in her usual rhyming couplets.

Twilight took a moment to collect her self before answering; "Actually, I was looking for you, Zecora."

Zecora didn't speak but looked at Twilight with an inquisitive expression on her face. Twilight took this as a cue to elaborate.

"I am doing a study into strange or unusual aspects of magic for my thesis about inconsistencies within the predefined nature of natural magical occurrences. I would have used my study into the Magic of Friendship but unfortunately, I used my research on that for a separate degree, a Doctorate of Theoretical Magic. The problem with this is the Canterlot University of the Magical and Arcane Arts doesn't allow a student to submit any one topic of research twice, even in separate areas of study.
I came to you because you are the foremost expert of the Everfree forest in this area, perhaps all of Equestria. I thought there was maybe some interesting flora or fauna you may know of that I could make the subject of my thesis?"

The look on Zecora's face changed from inquisitive to thoughtful as she reflected on Twilight's words. Zecora knew a lot about the Everfree forest. She had seen much in her travels and she had learned a great deal, sometimes through careful observation and other times through blazing action. There were things she knew of that she dare not tell Twilight for fear of her safety, she may be a powerful unicorn but young and naive. She lacked the wisdom and steady heart that could only be gained through the passage of time. Zecora did however, have one item in mind.

"In this wilderness there are many creatures
of which you could study and their features,
But there is a flower in this land,
which may comply with your demand.

Twilight clopped her front hooves together excitedly, "Ohh, a magical flower? What does it look like? Where does it grow? How big are…"

"On this track we should not delay, " interrupted Zecora abruptly,
"In my home I'll hear what you have to say."

With that, Zecora started to walk along the path leading to her house. Twilight nodded sheepishly as Zecora walked past her, following her after she was several steps in front of Twilight.

When they had reached the safety of Zecora's hut, Zecora led Twilight inside and excused herself momentarily. Twilight took this opportunity to look around. The strangeness of the masks on Zecora's wall never failed to catch her attention, she often wondered how Zecora had come into them. Her line of thought was cut short when bagless Zecora returned. Twilight, getting the vibe Zecora was articulating herself for an explanation, watched her patiently until she was ready to speak.

"Twilight, my friend, the flower you will seek
fits your requirements of a magical mystique." began Zecora,

"Petals dark like cold winters night
but shimmer with bright gleams of white.

They twinkle as the starry sky
and these stars flow off them, as if they cry.

A brilliant midnight brought into day
but when the sun is down they fade away.

To shine after dusk, they have forsworn
and wait in the earth until next morn.

They try, it seems, with all their might
to bring the everlasting night.

Beyond the Sisters' Castle gate,
travel north and travel straight.

Until you see the Weeping Tree,
then eastward bound you'll surely be.

Advance this way and you shall reach
a garden of whose edge you'll breach.

In this garden, where time forgoes,
it is there the dark Moonflower grows."

Twilight sat stunned at Zecora's speech, never before had she heard of any flower as sublime as the Moonflower and if Zecora's description of it held true, she doubted she ever would.

Twilight thanked Zecora quietly and with her imagination running wild at the thought of this new discovery. Slowly, she walked out of the shaman's hut into the Everfree.

A/N
So yeah, there you are. I'm not a writer and this is my first fic/creative writing ever so you can call me out on the terrible bits if you want. OOC characters, silly dialogue those sort of things. I most likely will be unable to fix OOC-ness to some degree for several reasons, one of which is experience, another is I lack the magic writing 'touch'. The main reason I started this was the whole "If there are no good books to read, write one yourself". I wanted to read Jekyll and Hyde ponies but I couldn't really find anything so I started one myself. I realise that this fic may be quite verbose but them's the breaks. I might try and trim down the figurative fat if it gets too bad but we'll see how we go.

Speaking about playing things by ear, I have a reasonable idea of where this fic is going but it may take a while to get there due to aforementioned verboseness and I highly doubt (read: guarantee) that I will not be producing a chapter a week like some authors. I have uni which takes up a sizeable portion of my time and I generally write slowly on everything. It may take a while for a new chapter. I also never/can't write things sequentially (i.e I wrote the 'breakfast scene' to 'edge of the everfree' in this chapter after writing the 'meeting zecora' which was written after the 'wake up') so that also contributes to slowness. On that note, by writing non sequentially, the flow of the story may be... odd in some places. Point them out if you feel that way and I'll see how I go improving it.

I'm basing the Moonflowers in my story loosely off a well written Twilestia: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/26525/Among-the-Moonflowers by butterscotchsundae. They have a similar concept but not the same.

Additionally, Australian = British spelling. Sorry.

Chapter 2: A Quiet Stroll Through the Everfree

Chapter 2
A Quiet Stroll Through the Everfree

Anypony could to tell you that walking through the Everfree Forest, especially alone, was scarcely a sound idea. Nopony more so than Twilight Sparkle. Twilight, who had already engaged in several precarious situations within the forest, took a healthy amount of caution while approaching its boundaries or traversing its domain.

That being said, Twilight considered herself somewhat of an accomplished adventurer of the Everfree Forest. While not being the most physically adept or experienced mare, she had solved that problem the same way she solved most of her problems, with books. After a previous encounter with with one of its inhabitants in which she was petrified, she had endeavoured to read as much as she could about the Everfree Forest and the many dangers that lurked within.

It is armed with this knowledge that Twilight Sparkle began her journey to the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.

Departing from Zecora's house at a reasonable pace, Twilight set off back towards Ponyville. It was an unfortunate but unavoidable detour, as she was unwilling to try her luck at stumbling through the forest towards where the Castle was situated in the hopes she would find it. Maybe if Pinkie Pie was with her she might have tried her luck. That pony had a knack for being exactly where she wanted at exactly when she wanted. Even if sometimes she had to break a few fundamental laws to do it.

Regardless, a blind romp through the forest would be an unwise decision as there was already a perfectly good path to the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters that she, as well the rest of her friends, had found on their way to find the Elements of Harmony with which to confront Nightmare Moon. Besides, there was little point enduring what would most likely be severe heartache to forge a new path when a reasonably safe and pre-used path already existed.

By the time Twilight had finished justifying her delay as a necessary evil, she had already walked back to the edge of the Everfree, so it was quite a simple task to find her wanted entrance back into the forest and continue on her journey. As Twilight walked, she reflected on all the things that had happened since she had come to Ponyville. It was strange to think that Equestria had been saved twice by nothing but friendship (and a little bit of magic).

It was not long until Twilight came across a cliff face that she remembered well. It was the first time of that night covered morning that Twilight and her companions had come into serious peril. In fact, while she thought about it, it was arguably the most dangerous thing that had happened to them while in the Everfree on that occasion, barring their confrontation with Nightmare Moon.

Feeling slightly nostalgic, Twilight decided to forgo the easy route and follow the same path to the base of the cliff as Applejack had done. She walked to the edge of the cliff, looking down and scanning the face of it and she saw the first of the step like protrusions and instantly vanished in a burst of purple and white. Reappearing on the first of these steps, Twilight looked down again to see the second and then teleported to it. This continued several times until she had reached the bottom.

As Twilight walked on, she contemplated the circumstances of her first decent down that cliff, by free falling to a possibly messy end, and the current ones, an easy few instant geospatial matter transmissions. She preferred the current one.

Twilight quickly passed through the next obstacles that had previously hindered her entourage on this road. As she passed over the river, she kept a look out for that Sea Serpent she had met once before but he seemed to be absent, much to Twilight's dismay. She had very much wanted to speak with him again after their last short exchange.

Finally arriving at the Ancient castle gates. Twilight retrieved a pre-packed compass from her saddlebags to plot a course. Examining the position of the sun to reaffirm her path (because you can never to too sure), Twilight set forth on the final legs of her quest deep into the Everfree Forest.

Twilight had been walking for well over an hour now and was beginning to worry that she was lost. Stopping to check her compass once again, she marginally adjusted her bearing and continued in what she hoped was the direction of the 'Weeping Tree'. Zecora had not told Twilight neither the distance the tree was from the ancient castle's gates nor how long it would take to get there. She hadn't even described what the tree would look like! How would it be distinguishable from the rest of the forest, which was quite literally, a collection of thousands of similar looking trees? Was the 'weeping' figurative? Was this tree hunched over or had grown in a peculiar manner which would give the impression it was crying? Or was it a tree with airy branches and droopy leaves, like a Weeping Willow? The only clue she was given was to 'travel north and travel straight'. The longer Twilight thought about the subject, the more irritated she became.

"Non-specific instructions are no less irritating when given in in rhyme" she grumbled.

Looking ahead, Twilight was brought out of her reverie by a peculiar sight; a pond at the base of a rather large tree, reflecting the light with a dull shine. The closer she got this to this pond, more disgusted she became with the water within it. Even at her reasonable distance from it, she could see a foulness in the light brown water, a testament to the chaotic mess that was the Everfree forest. As Twilight closed the gap between her and the tree, her eyes remained on this pool. A pool, oddly, not of water she realised, but tree sap. It was thick and it's texture reminded her of honey but Twilight had severe doubts that it had a similar taste.

Seeing that this was something worth being logged for further research, Twilight collected a small sample of the sap. She then pulled out a journal from her saddlebags and began to analyse the strange phenomenon.
"I wonder where this sap is flowing from? I can't imagine too many trees could survive the loss of such a substantial amount of fluid."

Walking around the left side of the tree, she noticed a odd arrangement of markings. WIth a slight gasp she noticed that the markings were in the shape of a highly disfigured face.

"That's unusual" she remarked, jotting down her thoughts in her notebook.

Twilight inattentively stowed her notes away and started to scrutinise the face more closely. It was an eerie experience. The tree looked… unholy. Corrupted. Depraved. Its face forever twisted in a visage of pain and crushing sadness. The trees eyes were two black pits that seemed to absorb the light around them. Liquid amber flowed freely from its them, slowly making its way down the grooves it had abraded out of the bark. It represented an unending torment, a cycle of betrayal, loneliness, hate and regret. The sight of this tree was almost unbearable for Twilight but she was unable to tear her gaze away from it, struck with a morbid fascination. The cruelty of this fate, to be always stuck in eternal anguish made Twilight shudder. The sight was heart wrenching and it almost made Twilight feel physically ill.

Suddenly, she could take no more. Twilight shut her eyes and violently shook her head. Facing the ground with her eyes still closed, she took several deep breaths and started to walk around the tree. Twilight knew she would feel uncomfortable with that face staring anywhere but directly opposite her so she endeavoured to get as close to the its antipode as she possibly could.

Feeling an acute desire to leave this tree far behind, Twilight opened her saddlebags and probed them with her magic. Taking hold of her compass, Twilight removed it from its compartment and set it flat in the air. Unamused, she noticed that she was already facing due east.

" ' Then eastward bound you'll surely be,' huh?" she remarked dryly.

Twilight proceeded in this direction and the forest quickly transistioned into a small clearing. She could feel there was a magic presence in the air, it was spread throughout the entire field. This had to be it.

"I finally made it." declared Twilight, surveying the land for her plant of interest. Spying a flower bed at the far end of the glade, she galloped up to it, laughing triumphantly. As she approached the border, Twilight noticed a resounding truth about the verse given to her by Zecora.

"This is amazing! The Moonflowers are exactly how Zecora said they would be! I have to write this down!" she gushed, writing equipment already scribbling at a blistering pace. She wrote notes about the field and everything in it not just the Moonflowers, all the surrounding flora could be vital to her studies. It took the better part of twenty minutes to jot down every last detail that she could find. Lastly she started to roughly sketch the flowers and plants. Twilight was no Marechlangelo but she was a decent artist, she had read a book on the subject after all.

Now it was time for the bit she had been so eagerly anticipating, a magical responsiveness test. Twilight was giddy with the thought of her new discovery. This was something that had, in all likelihood, never been tried! She may be the first Unicorn to ever magically inspect this undocumented species of flower. Flipping over to a new page in her notebook, wrote the words 'First Magical Examination of the Moonflower'.

"Now, the first magical contact. Ohh, I wish I had Spike here to help me record this!" she lamented.

Focusing herself, Twilight slowly let several thin tendrils of magic out towards the nearest Moonflower. The magenta wisps of energy creeped forward and latched onto the flower's stigma. Then she felt it.

Twilight started to back away, "Something's wrong… "

The Moonflower started to draw more magic from her than she was giving it. Panicking, Twilight frantically tried to sever the magical connection and to her horror, found that she couldn't. The thread of magic she had first sent out was becoming an intense stream. Twilight could feel her magical reserves lessening as the stream grew thicker. If it continued to increase at this rate for much longer the flowers would have no magic left to take from her.

She knew what happened to Unicorns whose magic was exhausted and she had no intention of becoming comatose or dying. Twilight tried to run, to turn away, to stop, anything!

"I can't move!" she shrieked, "This is not good, what am I going to do! What am I going to do!"

"Alright Twilight, calm down, you can get out of this. Take a deep breath and stay calm." Twilight reasoned with herself.

"The Moonflowers must have used some form of immobilisation spell, probably a muscular paralysis, when I started to channel magic into them. Possible mediums would include--" Twilight's words died in her mouth as she noticed something, a something that looked like she would not enjoy. The small plant in front of her started to glow and shiver violently.

Using the the power it had siphoned from Twilight, the Moonflower released a powerful burst of energy, shooting out powerful bolts of magic towards all its neighbours. Purple streaks raced from flower to flower until the entire field was glowing with the lightning arcs of Twilight's stolen magic.

The stars that flowed off the Moonflower petals so delicately before were now waterfalls of white. They pooled onto the ground creating rivers of twinkling light. If Twilight wasn't in a situation of life and death, she may have found them very beautiful.

Just before Twilight was drained of what she would describe as a 'reasonable' amount of magic, the original Moonflower that had so greedily drank that portion of magic, abruptly cut its drain on Twilight, its thirst seemingly quenched. Finally released from the flowers iron grip, Twilight stumbled back with relief. Sitting down heavily, she took in deep gulps of air, trying to control her furiously beating heart.

While she collected her self, Twilight failed to notice that all the magical arcing had become more concentrated. The Moonflowers had formed several groups and no group shared any magic with another.

Each of the Moonflower groups shot a beam of focused magic towards the centre of the flower patch, the point where they joined became a bloated sphere of energies. The lake of stars that was beginning to edge its way across the field began to swirl. Drawn by the this display of power, the stars started to emulate the magic and made their way inwards, following the still active magic flow. They twirled along each of the beams with frightening speed. Never straying from their course, the stars splashed against each other with brutal force, the spray of the impact was swiftly drawn back inwards, towards the centre of starts that had begun to collect. This continued until all of Twilight's magic had been depleted from the Moonflowers and absorbed into the ball of clashing starts, eventually the settling down into an ever spiralling constellation.

The miniature galaxy spun around lazily for several seconds before it rumbled loudly and violently spat a torrent stars straight down. When they impacted with the ground, the stars started to take shape, filling an invisible mold only they could see. As they poured down, an armoured hoof started to form, followed quickly by three more. Long, graceful legs were cast soon after. As they formed, they flickered to a deep midnight blue and started to darken, settling on an almost black. The stars began fall more rapidly and a chest and flank were forged onto the statuesque figure, now imposing and powerful. It was while the start of the pony's head was being moulded that Twilight realised just who was being assembled in front of her. She watched in shock as the final pieces of starlight zoomed into their place, the point of a sharp horn.

"No… That's not possible…." Twilight whispered.

The figure shuddered as her finishing touches flashed into existence, a heavy necklace and sleek blue helmet. The sky darkened as grey clouds blotted out the sun. Lightning flayed the sky and the faint wind turned cold and biting. Before her, in all her terrible beauty, stood Nightmare Moon.

"You can't be here! We cleansed you from Princess Luna, you don't exist anymore!" Shouted Twilight in distress. 'Nightmare Moon can't be here!' her mind was a flurry of thoughts, 'What am I going to do? I don't stand a chance with out the Elements. I have to escape, I have to warn Princess Celestia!'

The Nightmare's gaze turned towards Twilight, cerulean eyes gleaming with a frigid light. Giving a sultry laugh, Nightmare Moon addressed her beloved subject; "Hahaha, I don't exist? I see, well then—" flaring her wings, she disappeared. Just as suddenly, Twilight felt one of her heavy wings draped across her back, pulling her into the Alicorn's warm embrace.

"We'll see if I can't change your mind then, shall we?" Nightmare Moon purred into her ear.

Twilight was frozen in terror. Her muscles contracted sharply as she stood rigidly in Nightmare Moon's smothering grasp. The Nightmare's mane of liquid night gently enveloped Twilight. It was soft and silken, Twilight could feel it serenely blow in the cosmic winds. It felt like a warm breeze that fluttered against her coat, refreshing, relaxing. Twilight's eyes fluttered and her head started to lull as she began to feel an overpowering fatigue seeping into her. She was exhausted, too tired to be awake. This seemed like a good place to sleep…

"No!"

Twilight flared her magic around her, force of the impact pushed Nightmare Moon away. The Nightmare dissolved into a cloud of thick smoke and slithered away, reassembling herself several meters in front of Twilight.

"Oh my, a little sensitive are we? I wonder what ever is the matter?" she smirked coyly.

It was then Twilight realised she was completely outmatched. Escape was impossible, attack would be suicidal and that only left her one avenue. One she was not sure she could accomplish, diplomacy.

"Nightmare Moon! How did you escape the Elements of Harmony?"

"My escape? Well, a mare has her secrets." she replied evasively.

Twilight's eyes narrowed, "Why are you here?"

Raising an eyebrow, the Nightmare laughed lightly, "Why am I here? Did you not summon me or have you already forgotten?"

"Summon you?" Twilight answered hesitantly, "My magic you mean? How could that have summoned you? I didn't cast any spell, let alone a summoning ritual."

"If you aren't aware of the true nature then you are more foolish than I had first anticipated. I had expected perhaps some cretin to enable me but not Celestia's little pet. I have no time for someone who is the same as her little sun devotees."

"That's not true, I've enjoyed nighttime as long as I can remember. Just last week I attended a meteor shower that Princess Luna created. I can sympathise with you actually, even before I knew of the you and the Elements of Harmony I often used to get in trouble with my parents when I stayed up all night to watch the stars. I often wondered why other ponies never noticed how beautiful they are, it made me sad, in a way."

"You claim to adore the night? Then, Twilight Sparkle, join with me. I will ensure that Celestia's transgressions against the hours of darkness are rectified."

"What do you mean?"

"Surely, my dear, you can't be so unaware. I know nothing has changed over the last 1000 years, our subjects still do not love our night as they do the day."

"That's not true," argued Twilight, "many ponies love your night! They even created a science to study it, called Astronomy."

Nightmare Moon gave a snort of derision, "To study it? Then they do not understand. The night is art, it is dynamic, it is emotion. It has become stale and lifeless under the Sun's guiding hoof."

"Princess Celestia tried her best! She taught me about the night and I know she cares for it as well!"

"My sister, Celestia? She loves my night?" Nightmare Moon laughed mirthlessly, "What farce is this? You presume to stand before me and proclaim Celesita's adoration of my work? No, Twilight Sparkle, you are wrong she does not love the night."

"She does! I remember when Princess Celestia would take me out on her balcony after my studies, we would sit down and look at the stars! I remember her teaching me about the constellations and astral navigation. We used to sit under the Moonlight and talk. It was a special time for her, I could tell!"

Nightmare Moon said nothing. She just stared at Twilight with her icy blue eyes. The silence drifted on, Twilight started to become worried. 'What if I said something wrong, maybe I went too far?' she thought. Nightmare Moon finally broke the stillness. She began to advance somberly towards Twilight, each hoof step deliberate and slow. As she walked her astral mane and tail started to expand. It quickly grew and started to engulf Twilights vision, shrouding her beneath it. The same feeling of drowsiness that had almost taken her before now had Twilight completely in its grasp.

As Twilight started to drift off, she heard the Nightmare, her voice deep and melancholy.

"I will show you her love for the night."

Luna fled across the Castle gardens, beyond into the forest. It didn't matter where she went, as long as it wasn't here.

Luna had pleaded to Celestia to extend the night, not for long, just a week or two. Just enough so the ponies beneath could admire her night as they did Celestia's day. It wasn't too much to ask, was it? Apparently it was. Celestia had lectured her on the 'need for balance' and that 'many crops relied on the sun to grow and flourish'. Celestia seemed to think that she did everything that was vital for the kingdom, that she was the important sister that gave life and nourishment and Luna was the dunce. A fool, playing with her toys. And where was Celestia now, when Luna needed her? Up on her gilded throne, benevolent and genial to all who bask in the sun.

Her subjects cared nothing for her. Her love for them was wasted, they didn't appreciate the efforts she put forth to conjure the delicate night for them. Luna's masterpieces were wasted on them. Wasted on her. Celestia got everything she wanted from her 'little ponies'. Things that Luna rightfully deserved. The night was no less brilliant than the day; it was alluring and mysterious, tranquil and passionate. All the things the sun was not. Though it appeared nopony but her seemed to notice that.

As she ran, Luna came across a small clearing with an old oak tree. It was a gentle old tree, rocking to and fro with the wind, a happy visage was imprinted upon its trunk. The magic of the Earth had seeped into its roots over many years, it happiness of the sun, the water, the air had become a smiling face it displayed proudly. The feeling of joy to spread to others.

Slowing to a steady walk, Luna stepped forward to observe this tree. Luna saw the tree's expression and she hated it. Why was this tree so happy when she was not? How could it have to audacity to show that face in front of her, Mistress of the Night. Is it because it loved the sun? The sun that gave it warmth, gave it life? That it did not need the night? Is that why it was so pleased?

"How dare you." She started, " How dare you mock me! I am a Princess! Ruler of Equestria! Your happiness is false! A lie! You sit there oblivious to all! My efforts are wasted and you do NOTHING! YOU ALL DO NOTHING! I will let you know my pain, I condemn you to my life! A life of anguish and suffering! You will never smile again!"

Using dark magics, Luna's corruptive thoughts reached out towards to ambient earth magic and twisted the tree. She poured into it her pain, her anger, her frustration, her hate, her spite, her malice. Its bark became dark and scarred. The smile which had once happily sat upon its face was warped into a painful grimace. Its branches were drained of their vigour, no longer possessing the will to reach skyward, drooped down limply, no longer swaying with the wind. It's eyes, once bright and gleeful, were drained of life. They no longer saw cheerful tomorrow but a terrible world, devoid of colour and meaning. A world of death and pain.

It understood now. The sadness it felt, the treachery it had undergone, the life it had lost. The tree started to weep bitter tears.

Luna glared at the tree. "Now," she said scornfully, "Now you see. This is the verity of the world. Your friends are a lie, their real intensions are shown through their betrayals. Now you can see the world as I do. You will never smile again."

A/N
Luckily I said, 'no promises'. Sorry for the sizeable gap in chapter releases but as I said, this comes second to Uni. On that note Mid semester exams were… fun…

On a different note however, I'll try and put more effort into getting a prereader/editor or someone of the sort before now and the next chapter.

I may or may not try to convert Luna's Past into Old English/Elizabethan. Still deciding whether or not it would be worth it.
Also, I am aware that amber is not formed from tree sap but just go with me on this, it's a magic tree.

Chapter 3: What is Reality?

Chapter 3
What is Reality?

Twilight realised that she was herself again. Being Luna was odd. She could reflect on the experience later, however, there were more pressing issues at hoof. Issues like Nightmare Moon. Opening her eyes, Twilight clumsily tried to stand. Her legs were shorter than she remembered and she had trouble getting her balance.

Nightmare Moon watched on stoically, waiting until Twilight regained her bearings. Seemingly unperturbed by her sudden lack of coordination. Eventually deciding that Twilight had had enough time to compose herself, Nightmare Moon started to address her.

"Do you see now? That is Celestia's care for me, care for the night. I tried to be peaceful and I asked her sincerely, but she rebuffed me and mocked my attempts. I had no other option. I shan't be ignored or play second fiddle to the whims of the sun."

Nightmare Moon flared her regal wings aggressively.

"I was, and still am, justified in my actions and I will not be refused. Now it is time, Twilight Sparkle, you will join with me, or you shall come to regret it."

Twilight remained silent for sometime while she contemplated the Nightmare's offer.

'What am I supposed to say?' She thought, 'Do I accept her offer and deceive her later? Could I do that, acquiesce to her whims with the full intent being disloyal? Can I consciously betray somepony else? No, no I can't. If I do, everything I've learned so far will have been for nothing. Even if this situation becomes dangerous, I have to stay true to my convictions.'

"If what you showed me was real," she began carefully, "Then it's true that Princess Celestia may have handled that situation badly. That being said, plunging the world into eternal darkness was certainly not a proper response. If you insist on this path of revenge, I cannot join you, Nightmare Moon."

"Then you abandon me like the rest, unfortunate but not unexpected. This will be the last time we meet. Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle."

Nightmare Moon abruptly leaped into the air, advancing quickly upon Twilight. Turning to run, Twilight stumbled in her attempts to flee, still unused to her own body after her recent reliving of Luna's memory. Twilight felt the Nightmare's fangs pierce her neck and vision started to fade.

Twilight shot up with a gasp.

She rose to her hooves with a promptness more befitting of a pegasus. Whirling her head around, Twilight's eyes scanned in every direction for her once defeated adversary. Nightmare Moon was nowhere to be seen.

There was seemingly nothing out of the ordinary in the clearing - that is, nothing too outlandish for the naturally lawless state of the Everfree forest. Wasn't she just assaulted, and bitten, by a goddess hellbent on a starry vengeance? This situation was unsettling. Not quite as unsettling as feeling her fangs puncture her skin but still reasonably bad. What had happened when Nightmare Moon bit her and, more importantly, where had she gone? Was it was possible that the Nightmare was still here, watching her? Instantly coming suspicious of everything in the near vicinity, Twilight scrutinised all she could see with a meticulous eye. Twilight knew that Nightmare Moon was able to transform into a 'tacky' cloud of purple smoke and even other ponies. A transmogrification into other objects certainly seemed well within the Nightmare's abilities. Wanting nothing more to run away and not look back, Twilight stayed her ground. Her eyes flicked towards the flowers, she couldn't leave yet, not without her spoils. Being the diligent student that she was, even this incident didn't dissuade her from gathering the object of her dangerous excursion, the Moonflower. Twilight slowly creeped up to her flowery quarry, weary of any impending ambushes. Unwilling to use magic to harvest the Moonflowers after her last attempt had seemingly invoked the vengeful wrath of an ancient evil, Twilight cautiously picked roughly a dozen flowers with her mouth and placed them in her saddlebags, pausing every few seconds to scan her environment.

After the last one was organised within her bags compartments, she took one last glance around the glade for any abnormalities. Walking over to the spot where she had spoken with Nightmare Moon, she was surprised to see only her hoofprints, as if the Nightmare was never there at all.

'This can't be right,' She thought.

Everything was the same as it was when she had arrived. The glistening of the grass, the trees softly swaying in the slight wind, the haunting beauty of the Moonflowers as they discharged their cosmic produce. It was too... perfect. Disconcerted by her discoveries, Twilight departed from the flowerbed and began her trek back to the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, giving the 'Weeping Tree' as wide a berth as she could manage.

As Twilight retraced her steps back to the road leading to Ponyville, she stayed vigilant against the possible threat of Nightmare Moon. In spite of her encounter with the legendary mare, the more she pondered the issue of Nightmare Moon's return, the less sure of her self she became. 'How could Nightmare Moon be here? I know that we cleansed her from Princess Luna. How could she have come back, and if she is back, where is she now?'

As Twilight walked, she become so engrossed with her train of thought that she stopped paying attention to her surroundings and her gaze became focused on the ground in front of her. She was so distracted that she didn't even realise that she was already nearing the edge of the Everfree River. Twilight was suddenly broken out of her contemplations as a she walked directly into a purple wall. She recoiled at the impact, shaking her head.

"This wasn't here before," Twilight grumbled.

She looked up at the colossal purple barrier that had hindered her progress towards Ponyville, and it looked right back. In her way lay a gigantic sea serpent with a perfectly styled orange mane.

"Oh my, if it isn't one of my little pony friends! It's been too long, far too long! How are you, my dear?"

"Oh, hello! I've been doing well, Mr—" Twilight paused trying to recall the serpents name, "How embarrassing, I don't think I learned your name the first time we met."

"Introductions? I love introductions! Well then, I'll begin!" exclaimed the Serpent happily. The slight trill in his voice made Twilight giggle. Taking an exaggerated bow he said;

"I am Stephano Thaddeus Magnet. Though you can just call me Steven, 'Mr. Magnet' makes me sound so old. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss…"

It took a moment for Twilight to realise that he was waiting for her to supply her name.

"Huh? Oh! My name is Twilight Sparkle."

"Miss Sparkle."

"Please, call me Twilight."

"Of course, of course! Not out with your friends today, Twilight?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow, "Not today, why?"

"Now, please don't take this the wrong way, but I did very much want to meet that gorgeous little fashion mare again. She did me such a great favour and I feel perfectly dreadful about it. The poor dear cut of her beautiful tail to mend my moustache. It was such a generous thing to do, it brings a tear to my eye."

"Rarity is the most generous mare I know, she always lends a hoof to those in need. Especially in the name of fashion," Twilight chuckled lightly.

"I know, I know! I saw her, the brave little soul, give her very own tail to me! I'll feel just awful if I don't pay her back somehow. Could you please tell her, when you see her next, that I want to help her somehow. If she has any issues I might be able to help with, tell her to come to Steven here and he'll fix them right up!"

"I'll make sure to hell her, Steven. I'm sure Rarity will he happy to know that you still remember her."

"Thank you ever so much!"

"I'll introduce you to the rest of my friends that you saw during out brief encounter next time we have an expedition out this way," Offered Twilight, "I'm sure that they would be interested to meet you."

"That would be marvelous, I do love meeting new people!" Steven said cheerily.

Thinking back to her friends, Twilight started think back to the times when they used the Elements of Harmony. She began to wonder if the Elements of Harmony were more complicated than she had originally anticipated. They didn't seem to work in the manner she had thought they would or else this whole Nightmare Moon fiasco would have never happened. She had assumed that the magic of friendship created harmony through peace but now she wasn't so sure.

"You seem distracted dearie, is something the matter?"

Noticing that she had zoned out of the conversation, Twilight apologised, "I'm sorry," She said," It's just…" Twilight looked up at Steven, "…*sigh*. It's nothing. Don't worry about it, just a silly thought."

Steven dramatically raised his hand to his chest, clutching his heart like an old wound.
"My dear Miss Sparkle, just because we have only been formerly introduced, it doesn't mean we aren't friends, does it? Now don't be shy, you can tell little old me all about it."

With that, Steven slithered into a much lower position, he coiled his body loosely and brought down his head to the riverbank to get a better view of his conversational partner. Propping his head up with his hands and gazing patiently at Twilight with his pony sized eyes, he waited silently for her to begin divulge her latest worry.

Caving in to his offer, Twilight sat down and collected her thoughts. 'Where do I begin...?'

"Do you remember how you lost your moustache Steven?"

"Remember? How could I forget?! It was horrible, positively awful!"

"Well, that cloud of smoke that sliced your moustache was actually Nightmare Moon in disguise, if you know who that is. She was the reason that we were in the Everfree forest that day. She wanted to make the night indefinite, so my friends and I came into the Everfree Forest to find some ancient artefacts that could stop her. We did manage to stop her and used those artefacts to… umm… purge her I suppose? Regardless of wording, we won and stopped her for good. Or, at least, I thought we did. Nightmare Moon may have come back somehow. I saw her again today, well, at least I think I did. I don't know what I saw."

Steven remained unspeaking while he contemplated what Twilight had told him.

"So you are sad because this meanie mare has come back?"

"I'm not sure. If she was back, I imagine she would have forcibly swapped the sun with the moon, like the first time she returned. I came into the forest today because I investigating a magical plant, a flower specifically."

Twilight's horn glowed lightly and one of the Moonflowers emerged from her saddlebags, a thin cloth was tightly wrapped around the stem so that her magic wouldn't directly touch the flower as she levitated it. Coerced by her magic, it floated gently upward until Steven softly plucked it from the air.

Twilight continued, "I believe that Nightmare Moon is connected to these flowers but I don't know how. Have you seen them before?"

Steven brought the flower level with his face and gazed at it with a critical eye.

"I'm afraid I haven't but they are absolutely gorgeous!" exclaimed Steven. "Do you know how it glimmers like that? It makes for the most charming display."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand how they do it. It was one of the things I was hoping to find that out when I got back home to study them, among other things. I don't even know what is going on anymore," Twilight let out a deep sigh, "It's all confusing and I'm not sure what I should do."

Steven stooped down in front of Twilight and gingerly slid the Moonflower into her hair, resting just next to her ear. Twilight's face flushed with embarrassment as she awkwardly shuffled her front hooves.

"My dear, you can do what ever you want to. Sometimes you just need to do something, whatever that may be. You seem like a strong young mare, you should learn to trust yourself more. You just need to have a little self confidence."

"I'll try," Twilight replied.

Twilight turned her head towards the horizon and noticed the sun was much lower than the last time she had looked. She had been talking to Steven for longer than realised.

"It's getting late, I should get going. The Everfree forest isn't a safe place for ponies at night."

"Such a pity! I was very much enjoying out little chat. Oh, I know! If it's getting too dark out for you, you are welcome at my house until morning. I haven't had a sleepover in such a long time."

"I'm sorry Steven. I'd love to I'm afraid I have to get home. I left my baby dragon alone at home for the whole day today. I trust him implicitly but he is still just a baby, so I worry about him."

"What a shame, I best not keep you then. Have a pleasant journey home, my dear!"

Giving a small wave, Steven spun around and began to sink into the river until Twilight called after him.

"Steven!"

Steven turned his head back towards Twilight.

"Umm, thank you for listening."

"It was my pleasure. Anytime you are in the area come and see me, my dear! I do so rarely get guests. Ta ta now!"

With that, Steven sank into the water and started gliding swiftly along the surface, his perfectly styled orange hair easily visible against the tree line as he left.

With her confidant disappearing beyond the bends in the river, Twilight decided that she had lingered in the forest long enough and started along the relatively easy path back to Ponyville.

The sun was just beginning to set as Twilight walked through the door of the town library, her home.

"Spike! Spike!" she called out, dropping her saddlebags near the front door. Unpacking could wait until tomorrow. "Where is that dragon?"

Spike popped his head out from the kitchen.

"Hey Twilight! You were out for aaages. I made dinner for you but I didn't know when you were getting back so I have it cooling. Did you want me to heat it for you?"

"Yes please, Spike, that would be lovely."

"No problem, Twi, one slice of spicy sweet potato frittata coming up!"

"Not too spicy I hope," Twilight said worriedly, "You know how I am around really spicy food these days. Pinkie's special, super-dooper, extra hot sauce has had me on high alert whenever the word 'spicy' is mentioned ever since we moved into Ponyville. Perhaps doubly so because I know you enjoy it."

"Naw, I made it a normal spicy. Medium-spicy? Yeah, a medium spicy."

Spike ducked his head back into the kitchen with the accompaniment of clattering pots and pans. Twilight giggled, Spike may be a good chef but he was still a bit uncoordinated.

"Oh yeah," Spike's head emerged from the kitchen once more, "I like your flower Twilight, it suits you!"

"My flower...?"

Twilight's hoof went up to search her head and she felt the Moonflower that Steven had put in her hair still sitting there proudly. Her face reddened, had she really walked through all of Ponyville with this flower in her hair?

Twilight buried her face underneath her front hooves, 'That's so embarrasing!'

Grabbing the flower's stem in her telekinetic grasp, Twilight floated the flower on top of her saddlebags, making sure it didn't drain any of her magic. That would need to be done under rigorous test conditions considering what happened last time.

Spike brought out Twilight's meal, clutching a large sapphire in his free hand. Twilight sat in her usual seat just as Spike delivered her food to her.

"Here you go, Twilight. Warmed to perfection! And you said that cooking with dragon fire sounded like a bad idea. Hmph!"

There was a loud crunch as Spike took a sizable bite out of his gem.

"Ok, Spike, I'll admit, you did a better job than I thought you would at cooking."

"Just a 'better job'?" Spike prodded.

Twilight laughed, "A really good job, Thank you, Spike."

"Ahh, it's okay. I'm gonna go off to bed now, Twi, I had a long day. I had to watch the Library while you were out so I didn't get my lunch time nap."

"I completely forgot, I'm so sorry Spike!"

"I don't mind, but uhhh, I sorta had to have a few snacks to make up for it."

Twilight gave him a disbelieving look.

"You know, to get me through the day?" He added hastily.

"That's okay, Spike, I'll go and see if Rarity has any spare gems that you can have tomorrow."

Spike jumped into the air with a little fist pump, "Yes! Umm, I mean.. Thanks Twilight. Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Spike," replied Twilight.

With Spike now in bed, Twilight made short work of her meal. Sneaking into the kitchen, she cut her self another slice. She would never tell Spike to his face but he was one of the best chefs that Twilight knows. She complemented him frequently about his culinary arts but if he knew that he was a top class chef, well, Twilight had a feeling that Spike would actually become Rainbow Dash in more ways than one.

Snickering to herself, Twilight crept upstairs, making sure she didn't wake up Spike. Spike was an extremely heavy sleeper but; 'better to err on the side of caution' as they say. Climbing into her bed, as Twilight drifted of to sleep, she had one last thought stuck in her mind.

'Tomorrow, I have a lot of research to do...'

A/N

Yeah I was ~~a little bit~~ a lot lazy and didn't get this chapter out as fast as I wanted to. Sorry. I'm not sure how the "weekly release" authors can do it. I need better time management I suppose -.-

On Steven: I see Steven as a bit of a drama queen, a social butterfly and a romantic at heart, a lot like Rarity in a way but more vocal and less reserved. I hope his personality / character seemed alright....

Not much happening this chapter, just setting foundations. Next chapter should be a bit more exciting I hope.