The Golden Trail

One of the things Twilight was no stranger to, was awkward meetings. Being a new princess tended to lead to those moments more often than she was willing to admit. That didn't make them any easier for her to deal with when they came. Today held an example that was especially difficult for her to deal with.

She sat stiffly in her castle's dinning room, white ivory tea set placed at the heart of a large round table made of polished oak. The room itself was fairly plain, with a single crystal chandelier in the shape of Twilight's cutiemark being the only decoration. Being made of crystal and rarely used, Twilight barely felt the need to decorate it beyond that. Four chairs made of the same wood were set around the table, each of them occupied by a different resident. To her left sat Spider, the stallion's demeanor eerily calm as he observed the pony sitting across from her. Starlight sat across from him, scowling and taking sips from her own cup. Twilight barely paid them any attention. The true center of her focus as well as her nerves was the mare sitting directly across from her.

Gold sat completely still, a faint tremble and occasional blink the only signs that she was alive.

The sight cut Twilight deeply, but given what her friends had told her about the mare, she was not at all surprised.

After her meeting with Gaia, she immediately went to the room she was being held and disabled the barrier. The second it went down, Gold had started to panic, begging her to at least knock her out before she tortured her. It took the combined efforts of Gaia, Manchineel, and Starlight to get her to calm down enough to reveal Twilight's intentions. After removing the mare's bindings, Starlight suggested that they try to talk things out over some tea. Satisfied with the way things had turned, Manchineel and Gaia decided to let them sort the rest of the situation out without them. While Manchineel made her exit with nothing beyond a sharp glare, Gaia was a lot more vocal and descriptive with her thoughts on the way out.

"I trust you to keep to your word, princess. For if you are lying to me about your intentions, then your death will haunt the Taker's darkest nightmares."

With that, the spirit left the same way she arrived, leaving a very shaken princess staring blankly at where she had stood. Even twenty minutes later with Spider at her side, she still couldn't completely shake off the dread Gaia's warning instilled.

Forcing the memory back, Twilight let a small smile grace her lips, then tried to break the ice with Gold the only way she could think of at the time.

"I would like to apologize for...um....everything that happened yesterday."

"It is fine," Gold stiffly replied, eyes unable to meet Twilight's. "As a hight royal, your authority is absolute. A mere serf, such as myself, has no right to refuse you."

Twilight froze, not entirely sure how to react to that. Granted, her title gave her special privileges and power, but she never considered herself above her fellow ponies. She even went out of her way to reject any formal actions around her. The only exceptions to that being when she needed to use her authority, occasions that she honestly hated needing to do so in the first place.

Burying down the shock, she held her smile and calmly said, "I'm not that kind of mare, Gold. Right now, I'm not a princess. or high royal. I'm just Twilight Sparkle; a normal mare no different from you or Starlight."

"You say that," Gold gulped. "But I would be foolish to follow that line of thought. I refuse to believe that you and I are of the same station. The last time I dared to believe that I..."

She closed her eyes with a pained grimace, the guilt of her past life searing her worse than the flames that bested her or the ones that Moonstone bathed her in.

"I..." she continued, a pained shudder running through her. "I...refuse to make that mistake again."

A hard silence filled the room, Twilight and Starlight both struggling to think of a way to proceed. Meanwhile, Spider continued to study Gold, face and posture completely unreadable. After letting the silence sit for a few more minutes, he calmly broke it with a question.

"How do you see the princess?"

Gold flinched, but gave no other indication that she heard him. Staring at her cup, she gave her meek response.

"She is a high royal, a pony that stands above all in every way. Her power, both political and magical, are on par with the godly spirits that rule from the shadows. Only the Maker and the Taker are beyond their might. She, and the other princesses are without fault or flaw, their machinations beyond the understandings of us mere mortals. To them, I am an ant standing before a mountain. I......am nothing."

Silence briefly retook the room, before it was once again shattered by the stallion. This time, by deep laughter.

Starlight and Twilight stared at him in shock, neither of them aware that the stallion could laugh in the first place. Gold was equally stunned, staring at her cup with visible confusion. When the fit passed, Spider's posture was more relaxed and a small smile sat on his muzzle.

"You're claims about their power is correct, but they are far from perfect," he sighed. "For example, did you know Twilight drools in her sleep?"

"Spider!" Twilight gawked, face turning bright red.

He gave her a small chuckle before continuing.

"In addition, did you know Princess Celestia once ate a cake as tall as she is?"

"P-Pardon?" Gold blinked, still staring at her cup.

"She did, what now?" Starlight asked, mildly impressed.

"Why," he continued, his smile turning a bit wistful. "Even my dear Princess Luna has her quirks. The best I know of being that she sleeps with the same sheep plushy she had when she was a foal."

"Princess....Luna....Really?" Gold asked, finally bringing herself to meet Spider's eye.

"Oh yes," he nodded. "Till this day, she refuses to sleep without it. Princess Celestia has to go to war with her every few weeks to have it cleaned."

"That is...." she frowned, then let out a small giggled. "So silly."

"Yet still true," he nodded.. "That, and the river the Princess makes every morning."

"I don't drool!" Twilight barked, face red and wings spread wide.

"You are right," he stoically nodded. "You drool and talk in your sleep."

"Really?" Starlight smirked. "What does she talk about."

He opened his mouth to answer, but Twilight angrily cut in with, "Say anything and I'll make you regret it!"

"Threatening me with a good time?" he smirked. "My, princess, so bold."

Twilight's blush grew, the alicorn grumbling bitterly to herself and closing her wings While she floated her cup to her lips. Starlight watched the exchange with a raised brow, knowing smile slowly starting to accompany it. A small giggle pulled everyponies attention to the southern end of the table. The giggle quickly turned into full on laughter, Gold barely able to stay seated. When it passed, she quickly schooled her features, a small blush the only sign of her feelings on the matter.

She just couldn't help it. The contrast between Spider's words and what she had been taught for all of her life was so vast that it was impossible to keep a straight face. Watching the way he interacted with Twilight was just too much to bare.

"M-My apologies, your highness," she mumbled. "Your lover's words had too much of an effect on me."

Spider simply coughed into his hoof at that, while Twilight's blush deepened as it spread to her ears.

"I-I-I-It's not like that!" she sputtered.

"Says the mare that dragged me into bed with her," he casually stated, taking a sip from his cup.

"WHAT?!" Starlight gawked.

Gold's eyes widened a bit, only to do so fully when she saw Twilight's reaction. Said princess was stiff as a board, eyes wide while her blush spread to her horn. Steam drifted off its tip while a soft high-pitch whine filled the air. Whether that came from her horn or mouth was anypony's guess.

Perhaps....the high royals are a bit more mortal than I thought, Gold mused, taking a nervous sip from her cup.

***

Gold let out a happy sigh, soft grass lightly crunching under her hooves with every step. While truly spectacular in design, Twilight's castle was too much for her to handle. The magic she felt running through the building weighed down on her nerves like a heavy lead blanket. Walking through the open fields that surrounded it and feeling the sun on her coat eased her soul, the wind rippling her cloak bringing a small smile to her face.

Twilight, Spider, and Starlight noticed, the trio walking at her sides from a respectable distance. Twilight let out a small relieved sigh at the sight. While pointing out Twilight's more embarrassing quirks had helped, Gold was still tense in the princess's presence. Spider didn't make things any easier on that front, the mare apparently familiar with his more dubious talents. With a casual suggestion from Starlight, the four ponies decided to go to town for lunch and some fresh air. It instantly became apparent to Twilight that there was a bit more to that suggestion than she initially thought.

It's too soon for her to be in the castle, she mused, a faint grimace briefly flickering across her face. I'm going to need to think of some other way to keep her safe.

"So, Princess, where are we going to dine?" Spider asked, raising a brow at her.

Smirking playfully at him, Twilight said, "Just a local sweet shop."

"A...sweet shop?" he blinked, a slight hint of intrigue coloring his tone.

Twilight nodded with a small giggle.

"One that I am sure can meet even your standards," she added.

He let out a haughty breath through his nose, then looked forward stoically and grumbled, "We shall see."

Twilight just rolled her eyes at that, playful smile still locked in place. Gold and Starlight watched the exchange with raised brows. Noticing, Twilight giggled and leaned toward the pair to stage whisper to them.

"Spider has a picky sweet tooth. According to Princess Luna, chefs have been trying for years to make something that he would like, but none of them have been able to completely meet his standards."

"H-How so?" Gold nervously asked, leaning back a bit from the princess.

Ignoring the subtle shift, Twilight happily continued.

"Even I can't make a list long enough to keep track of all of the problems he's had over the years. Too sweet. Not sweet enough. Too dense. Too soft. Too much icing. The wrong flavor of icing. It's endless!"

"I....see," Gold nodded, looking past Twilight at the stallion. "Perhaps Discord could create something that is to his liking."

"I would never trust anything made by that lunatic," he snorted, eyes forward as he walked. "Knowing him, he would add something that would turn my horn into a snake or some other form of nonsense."

"Agreed," Gold nodded, then raised a brow at Twilight and asked, "How exactly do you think anypony in town can succeed where so many others have failed?"

"Just a hunch," she smiled.

"V-Very well," she allowed, fighting back a shiver.

Noticing, Twilight gave Spider a subtle tap on the side and the duo gave the mare a bit more space. Gold gave them an appreciative nod then tried to settle her nerves. At the same time, the main path to town started to come into view. As they stepped onto it, a hint of nervous excitement started to fill Twilight. She could only imagine the look on Spider's face when he faced what she had in mind. After all, if she needed somepony to do the impossible, there was really only one choice.

***

If Sugarcube Corner could be described in one word, it would be bright. The vibrant colors and sweet smells that dominated the shop from its very core, it was hard not to be filled with mirth. The warm aura of the ponies that worked there only added to the charm of the place. That radiance was slightly dimmed today, the source being a certain cheshire sitting stoically at a corner table.

Twilight, Starlight, and Gold traded nervous smiles, trying to ignore the cautious stares they were getting from the other patrons. If Spider noticed, he didn't show it. Instead, he calmly scanned the menu held in his hooves.

"There is quite a large selection here," he mused.

"Y-Yeah," Twilight nodded, looking over her own menu. "The Cakes are really good bakers and Pinkie does a great job adjusting the menu to the season."

"I see," he nodded. "There are a lot of autumn flavors here."

"I-Indeed," Gold gulped, pulling most of her focus onto the menu in her shaking hooves. "I think I will give the cinnamon pumpkin pie a try."

"Same," Starlight said, aiming a sharp glare at a staring pony at a neighboring table.

Spider looked up at them , a faint hint of shock creeping onto his features.

"They have that here?"

"Apparently," Starlight shrugged. "Why?"

"No particular reason," he frowned, setting down his menu.

A small smug smirk slipped onto Twilight's muzzle at that, setting her menu down as well.

"Looks like we all know what we're ordering , then," she giggled.

"So it would seem," he nodded.

A second later, Pinkie appeared at their table with a pencil and notepad in her hooves.

"Are you all ready to order?" she beamed, ready for their answers.

"Yup," Twilight nodded. "Four slices of pumpkin cinnamon pie."

"Thought so," she giggled, noting the order. "That's really popular this time of year. Any drinks to go with them?"

"Blueberry tea," Gold softly smiled.

"I'll have an iced coffee," Starlight said, raising a hoof.

"I'll have the same," Twilight nodded.

Pinkie quickly took note of their orders, then aimed a bright smile at Spider. Said stallion just stared at her, a hint of confused surprise spread across his face. When he found his voice, his order earned a few raised brows among the mares sitting with him.

"A moonglow coffee."

Pinkie froze, then sported a nostalgic smile as she took his order.

"You got it," she nodded, demeanor still bright, but a lot less bubbly than it had been a moment ago.

As she left to deliver their orders, the three mares gave Spider questioning looks.

"What was that about?" Starlight asked.

"Indeed," Gold nodded, a cold edge gracing her features.

"Spider?" Twilight blinked.

Spider didn't answer until he saw Pinkie enter the kitchen. The whole time, he sported a small, yet sad smile. He let it fall with a tired sigh before giving the mares his full attention.

"Call it a hunch from an old memory. One that, if correct, will be something I am sure the princess will hold over my head for many years to come."

"What do you mean?" Twilight blinked.

"Simply wait and see," he lightly chuckled.

With that ominous statement left hanging in the air, the three mares traded stories to pass the time. Of course, Twilight already knew most of the stories Gold was telling, but that didn't mean there weren't parts that caught her off guard. Even Spider raised a brow when Gold mentioned being able to communicate with the timberwolves in the orchard. When she said that she could talk to the trees themselves, Twilight and Spider let out a chuckle and amused snort respectively.

"W-What is so funny?" Gold asked, flustered.

"With all due respect," Spider stated. "What you are saying is impossible."

"Are you calling me a liar?" she frowned.

"No," he frowned. "Simply delusional."

"Hey!" Starlight snapped, glaring daggers at him.

Twilight awkwardly cut in, stiff smile spread wide across her muzzle.

"I think what Spider is trying to say is that there are no known ways for ponies to communicate with plants."

Gold and Starlight gave Twilight flat looks before giving the stallion sharp glares.

"The princess is correct," he nodded. "All forms of communication magic can work on creatures that possess a mind or an outright form of speech. Plants lack both of these qualities , thus making it impossible to verbally interact with them in the manner that you and I are."

Gold held her glare for a moment, then let out a calming breath before giving him her response.

"To a certain extent, you are correct. Generally speaking, plants do lack minds or any means of verbal communication. However, that only applies to seedlings and other young plants. Once a tree reaches a certain age, they develop a mind that is not dissimilar to that of a foal's . As the tree ages, their mind will do so as well. If one knows how to connect their magic with that kind of tree, then they can, in fact, communicate with it."

"I see," he nodded. "And you claim to have that kind of knowledge?"

"I do," she smiled, a hint of pride straightening her posture.

"Interesting," he mused. "Where did you obtain this skill?"

"It was innate, but Lady Gaia Everfree taught me how to properly refine it," she stated, with certainty.

"I see," he nodded again.

"Are you satisfied?" Gold frowned.

"In a sense," he allowed. "I still doubt your claims, but I am open to the possibility of being wrong. The fact that you state that Gaia herself taught you that skill is a very large point in your favor."

"I see," she huffed. "I suppose that is the best I can hope for from you on the matter."

"Until you can prove to me otherwise," he calmly stated.

"Very well," she grumbled, then softly muttered, "Stubborn stallion," under her breath as she looked away from him.

Before anything could be added to that, Pinkie came by to drop off their orders. Each slice was generously cut, taking up a quarter of their plates with a large dollop of whipped cream on top. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin cream tickled their noses, brining a small smile to everypony's muzzle. While everypony's drink order was relatively normal, Spider's drink was the only exception. Instead of the normal glass cups or pink porcelain mugs, the mug set before him was made of a faintly glowing silver crystal. The drink itself was a thick golden brown with small wisps of glowing white steam drifting off the top. A faintly sweet, yet earthy scent came off of it, a combination that oddly went well with the pies' aroma.

A hint of eagerness flickered across Spider's face as he cut off a small piece of pie with a fork held in his magic. Twilight and Pinkie watched him with growing anticipation. Starlight and Gold did the same, curious to see if his "hunch" was correct. Ignoring his audience, he studied the small piece, gave it a small sniff, then ate it. The second he did, he let out a pleased nostalgic sigh through his nose. Setting down his fork, he used his magic to float his mug to his lips and took a small sip. When he set it down, he closed his eyes and his smile grew.

When he opened them, he turned his head towards Pinkie and said, "It does my old heart good to know that Roselyn Diamond Pie's skills still live on."

Pinkie nodded, smiling in spite of the tear forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Yeah," she giggled, wiping her face with a hoof. "I did pinkie promise her that I'd do my best."

"And for that, I thank you," he happily nodded.

Doing the same, Pinkie left the table to tend any other customers that needed her.

As she did, he raised a brow at the surprised princess at the table.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I-I didn't," she stammered. "I just....Pinkie is....oh my gosh..."

"What's going on?" Starlight worriedly asked, looking back and forth between the two.

"Yes, please share," Gold pressed, offering Pinkie a worried glance.

"Later," he sighed, staring wistfully down at his pie. "For now, I would like to enjoy a treat I haven't had for far too long."

Gold wanted to press further, but a subtle shake of the head from Twilight made her stop. Reluctantly letting the topic drop, she instead let herself enjoy her own pie and drink. At the same time. Twilight watched Spider enjoy his own treat, the stallion looking truly at ease for the first time in her own memory. With a small smile and faint blush, she looked down at her own slice and did the same