The book fell to the floor, scattering tiny specks of dust throughout the room. Twilight sighed. "I don't think it's here, Spike." Twilight pulled another book from the shelf and quickly looked at the cover. Equestrian Technology, Vol. 4, it read. It arced through the air before joining the other books on the wooden floor of her father's study. Another sigh. Her father didn't have Unicorn Music Through the Ages, a rare text that she hadn't been able to find in Canterlot library or Princess Celestia's personal collection.
"It's okay Twilight," said Spike, moving to help clean up the pile of books. "Were these ordered by letter or color?"
"I don't know Spike," Twilight replied, a hoof to her forehead, eyes closed in frustration. She wanted to read the book, one that she hadn't read before, because she thought it would help quell the constant unease that she felt. Deep down, she knew it wouldn't though. After hundreds of textbooks, novels, and encyclopedia volumes, she still felt it. The emptiness.
There had to be something more, right? She lived in one of Canterlot's fanciest districts and attended one of the greatest schools for unicorn magic in Equestria. Princess Celestia herself was Twilight's mentor and confidant. Yesterday, she spent a warm Hearths Warming with her family, filled with food, presents, and laughter. But it wasn't enough. The emptiness was accompanied by strong feelings of guilt. What could possibly be missing?
She walked slowly across the floor of her father's office towards the closed door. Outside, she could hear the gentle laughter of a mare. Cadance and Shining Armor had been each other's special somepony for quite some time, and Twilight suspected that they would soon be married. Thinking about her brother's imminent marriage only made the hole within her grow larger.
There once was a time when Twilight enjoyed the affection of both her brother and Cadance. Cadance was her foalsitter, and, in Twilight's opinion, the best foalsitter a young filly could ask for. Cadance and Twilight engaged in many activities together, but Twilight was particularly fond of the nights she snuggled against Princess Cadance's warm body while Cadance read stories to her.
Twilight and her brother were also close, like two peas in a pod. Together, they explored Canterlot, getting ice cream together, playing in the park, flying kites.
Shining Armor's excited voice was heard through the door. That was yesterday. Today, Twilight felt distant from him and from Cadance. When the two began to spend time together, Twilight was left behind. She sighed again.
"Everything okay Twi?" asked Spike with a look of concern on his face.
"I'm fine."
Twilight's hoof slid across the slick hardcover volume, and she stumbled before falling over, sending more dust throughout the room. Sorry for the mess, Dad, she thought to herself before standing upright. Her eyes scanned the floor to identify the book that she tripped over. After a few seconds of measured searching, she saw it. Geography of Equestria and Beyond, Vol. 9 On the cover, there was a photograph of a snow-capped mountain standing majestically against a clear blue sky. It wasn't Unicorn Music Through the Ages, but it would suffice.
Nose deep in the encyclopedia volume, she turned the page. This volume covered the geography of the world's arctic north and south. The current section discussed weather phenomena in academic language only a true egghead like Twilight could understand. Her eyes glazed over, she continued to read the words on the page, deep in concentration. The words themselves were fascinating, but they were complemented by some of the most beautiful images of packed snow, arctic animals, and natural structures. "Aurora borealis," she mumbled to herself. "Geomagnetic storms, easily seen near north and south poles." Before she could turn the page, there was a knock at the door.
"Twilight, are you in here?" said a male voice. How long had she been reading?
"Yes."
"Come out and join the fun! We're really missing you out here," said her father, his voice full of enthusiasm. She hesitated, then closed the book, but not before inserting a small strip of paper to keep her place.
Outside, her family sat around the hearth, eating deserts that looked quite delicious. The treats were no doubt the work of Twilight's mother. Gingerly, Twilight trotted over to the plate on the low table, and took one of the chocolate chip cookies. The first bite made her feel warm. She sat down on one of the sofas, Spike by her side.
"So Twi, what were you reading in there?" said Shining Armor, who was nuzzling with Cadance on the other sofa across from Twilight.
"Yes. I'm curious too. You were in there quite a while dear," added Twilight's father.
Twilight spoke with her mouth full of cookie. "I was reading Geography of Equestria and Beyond volume 9." She swallowed. "It's fascinating. Did you know that..." Twilight began speaking about all that she had learned, pausing only briefly to take a bite of cookie. "...and that's why sometimes, the aurora borealis is red or blue."
"That's truly interesting," said Twilight's father, cradling his chin with his left hoof. "I remember reading that volume during my studies. I always wondered how they got those photographs. Those photographers are lucky ponies I tell ya'."
Twilight looked down at the wooden floor. In her mind, she could see it. The wonderful colors of the northern lights painting the sky with brilliant bright hues. She looked out the window, at the colors of dusk in Canterlot. Light pollution rendered many of the stars invisible to ponies here. Still looking out the window, Twilight closed her eyes, imagining that she was looking at auroras instead of streetlights. For a moment, she felt whole. Then, an idea formed.
"Twi. Earth to Twilight." Twilight opened her eyes at the sound of Cadance's easy voice. "We were thinking of playing a game of Dragon Pit. Are you in?"
"Yes," Twilight said absentmindedly, before returning her focus to the table, where shiny game pieces were illuminated by the firelight of the hearth.
"Spike," Twilight whispered. It was early morning, but Twilight was still awake, her thoughts racing. "Spike," she whispered again, a bit louder. Spike's snoring ceased, and his eyes fluttered open.
"Ugh. What time is it?" asked Spike, rubbing his eyes.
"Do you think it's cold near the north pole?"
"Uh... yeah Twilight, it's the north pole. Are you okay?" Spike looked towards Twilight, who sat upright in bed, her old bed from before she moved to her own residence near the princess's castle. She had a crazed look in her eye. Here we go again, thought Spike.
"No but like, do you think that a pony, a unicorn, could survive a journey there and back? Can a dragon?"
Spike shrugged. "I dunno. Those photographers did it, right?"
"Oh. Right, right." Twilight mulled it over. "I wonder what they wore? What did they eat? Where did they sleep? I have so many questions Spike. SO MANY QUESTIONS." At this point, she was practically shouting.
"You aren't thinking of... going there, are you?" Spike squinted in confusion, hoping this conversation wasn't going in the direction he thought it was headed.
"Maybe I am. Would you come with me if I was?"
"...uh, it's cold out there Twilight. There's not much to see either."
"Not much to see? Were you even looking at the pictures Spike? All that beauty. I want to see it with my own eyes."
"Is this about... y'know, that feeling you keep telling me about?" asked Spike. He knew not to talk about it directly, for openly discussing it provoked maniacal behavior. Seeing as Twilight was already approaching that state though, he felt it necessary to ask.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Y'know, you think something will complete you and then when it doesn't you get... you get..."
"I get what, Spike?" Twilight's eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"Listen, I'm just not sure this is the greatest idea. To go out there, I mean. Alone."
"I wouldn't be alone. I'd have you Spike." Spike could see Twilight's smile.
Spike sighed. "Can I go back to sleep now?"
"Sure, sure." Twilight turned away from Spike and looked out the window, her face illuminated by pale moonlight, whispering to herself.
"I'm going to the arctic north," said Twilight, matter-of-factly. She sat at a circular table, where she, her mother, and her father were eating breakfast. Shining Armor and Cadance liked to sleep in.
"Hon..." Twilight's mother started, then paused because she couldn't find the words.
"Why?" asked her father, stirring a bit of sugar into his coffee.
"I want to see the northern lights with my own eyes," replied Twilight.
"You do know that it's cold and desolate out there, right? Do you have a plan?"
Twilight laughed. "Do I, Twilight Sparkle, have a plan?" A scroll appeared in front of her, unfurling until it spanned the entire length of the kitchen. Spike stared at it, frowning. If her checklist was this long, she was definitely committed. So much for spending New Year's eve in a warm home.
Twilight glossed over the parchment. "Do we have any twine Dad?"
"It's in the—wait, I think we should talk about this," said her father.
"I agree," added her mother.
Twilight looked at Spike, who had opened his mouth to side with Twilight's parents. Seeing her piercing stare, he knew better than to say anything.
"We know things have been hard for you Twilight, all alone in that big ol' apartment of yours near the princess, and I'm sorry that we don't visit more often." Twilight's father took a sip of coffee. "But is this journey you want to take necessary? You'd rather trek to one of the most remote corners of the planet than spend the first days of the new year with your family?"
"Yes," Twilight said with utmost sincerity.
"Honey..." her mother began, still at a loss for words. Then, she found them. "And what would you do if we said no?"
"Oh. I accounted for that possibility. Item number two hundred and seventy two on my list." The roll of parchment was pulled upwards by unicorn magic. "In the event that my parents say no, Spike and I will leave at 1 P.M., regardless of their efforts to convince me to stay."
Twilight's parents sighed at the same time. This was classic Twilight. Twilight's dad leaned over to his wife's ear. "Write a letter to Celestia," he whispered. "We can't let her do this, checklist or not." His wife nodded.
"Give us some time, sweetie, okay?" her mother said gently. "We know we can't stop you. There's not much to eat out there, so eat up while you can." She smiled and gestured to the stove, where a pot of porridge was still steaming. Twilight took her mother's advice and stood up to get a second helping of breakfast. She set her porridge on the table and went in to her father's study, returning with a thick volume, the one she had been reading yesterday.
"Can you believe it Spike? There used to be an entire pony civilization in the north." Twilight nosed through illustrations of beautiful crystal castles and shimmering ponies. There was silence as she admired them. "Celestia and Luna took part in a battle there. She never told me about that."
She flipped through more pages, reading about Yakyakistan and the Yaket mountain range. "Look at this." She motioned to Spike who was looking out the kitchen window. "Yaks. Fascinating." Another page turn.
"Uh huh," mumbled Spike.
"Aren't you excited? To see Equestria's frozen north? I am." Twilight's hooves jittered as she turned the page again.
"Uh, Twilight," said Spike, poking the purple pony with a sharp claw. A warm glow illuminated the streets outside as a massive white alicorn descended from the sky above. Outside, ponies gawked at the sight of the princess, a surprise visitor on their humble streets. Twilight didn't even look up from the book.
Celestia's hoof rapped on the wooden door. Shining Armor emerged from his bedroom, sleepy-eyed. "Can you get the door, Twi?"
"Huh?" Another knock. "Oh, yes." With difficulty, she removed herself from her reading and trotted towards the door, where a hoof was still knocking. Opening it, she stared at a broad white chest decorated with a shiny golden amulet. She looked up.
"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student," said the princess.
Princess Celestia? What is she doing here? thought Twilight. She stood aside as the princess ducked and let herself in through the pony-sized doorway of the home of Twilight's family.
"I haven't been here in ages. Not since you were a filly," Celestia said, her warm smile unwavering. Shining Armor bowed in respect, as did Cadance, who emerged from the bedroom behind Shining Armor. Twilight stood still. "Please, that's not really necessary," Celestia looked at Shining Armor and his marefriend, who stood up at the same time. "They're cute, huh?" She turned to Twilight and pointed a hoof in their direction. They both blushed. Twilight didn't reply. There were so many questions running through her mind. Which one should she ask?
"Why are you here?" was the question Twilight finally asked Celestia.
"I am here Twilight, because I sense that you are going through a personal crisis."
"What?"
"I received a letter about your plans to travel to Equestria's frozen north in search of aurora borealis." Celestia nodded towards a closed door. Twilight's parents were hiding behind it, no doubt. Bringing Celestia here was their work.
"Tell me Twilight, what is it that is troubling you?"
Spike looked to Twilight with uncertainty. "There's... nothing troubling me. I just want to see the frozen north for myself." Twilight spoke with a measured tone.
"Ah. I see. Do you feel that there's any danger in that?" Celestia replied.
"No."
Celestia walked towards Twilight with an awkward gait. It was hard for the large princess to move around in a house built for normal ponies. She embraced Twilight, then spoke. "I'd just hate for anything to happen to my student. The lands are quite dangerous. I would know." She looked into Twilight's eyes, her expression pleading.
Twilight gently slipped out of Celestia's warm embrace. She looked at Spike, whose expression was unreadable. Behind Spike, the book was still on the kitchen table, open to a page about the shimmering crystals that could be found in the crystal mountains. The book about the north. Even though the book described it as a mostly barren land covered in endless snow, Twilight felt that there was still something there. There had to be. She imagined them again, the northern lights before her, and felt a brief sense of wholeness.
Celestia was still looking at Twilight. If Twilight stayed, she would spend New Year's eve and New Year's day with her family. She took time to imagine this too. Sharing resolutions with Shining Armor and Cadance. Eating her mother's special New Year's marshmallow treats. Watching unicorn fireworks from the cobblestone street outside in the first minutes of the new year. A bead of sweat dripped down her forehead as she weighed her options.
"I'm going."
Celestia sighed. "Well... I've never been one to deny students a valuable learning experience. I'm not sure you will find what you're looking for, however. Spike, do be sure to keep Twilight safe on this journey." Spike, who had spaced out, stirred for a moment before snapping to a salute.
"Of course, princess," said Spike, strongly.
Celestia lumbered towards the doorway, preparing to leave. Before opening the door, she stooped down and whispered in Twilight's ear. "There's no shame in returning home, to the people who love and care for you, if this journey proves to be too difficult." Twilight nodded, and the glowing princess walked through the doorway, out of the house. From the window, Twilight saw her majestically fly away into the Canterlot sky.
"Dad, where did you say the twine was again?" shouted Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight scratched a quill on parchment. She'd gone through the checklist. Now she was looking at the checklist for the checklist, to make sure that she didn't forget any of the essentials for the trip. Her bag was nearly as large as her, black, pockets stuffed with food and clothing.
There was no way for her to travel directly to the frozen north. The closest she could get using transportation was Manehatten, which was just south of the crystal mountains. Canterlot's zeppelin station offered a trip every afternoon, though it wasn't cheap.
The pouch of bits could be heard jingling in one of the side pockets of the bag as Twilight rotated it to inspect other pockets. She had the bits, the food, and the clothing. Everything was in place. Twilight turned to Spike, who was pacing the room. "Relax Spike. If everything goes according to plan, we'll come home the day after New Year's," said Twilight.
She reached the end of the scroll of parchment. She was ready. Ready to see the northern lights in their colorful splendor. Looking around the guest room one final time, she nodded her head. "You ready Spike?"
Just say no, thought Spike. But Princess Celestia had tasked him with keeping Twilight safe while trekking through the snow. He couldn't let her do this alone, even if it meant that he had to endure the freezing temperatures and isolation of the distant lands. Such was necessary to watch over his best friend. Spike nodded, and he and Twilight walked out of the guest room and into the common area, where Twilight's family waited.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked her father.
"Yes."
"Did you pack some extra cookies?" asked her mother.
"Of course."
Shining Armor approached her, then hugged her. Twilight let herself feel his warmth, savoring it. Shining Armor backed away, and his hug was followed by a hug from Cadance. "We'll miss you while you're gone Twi," she whispered Twilight's ear.
"I'll miss you too," said Twilight. "Okay. I checked over everything, so rest assured this trip will go according to plan. How could it not?" She stood at the doorway now, waving goodbye to her family one final time before heading through her front door with Spike. Outside, the air was cold, and Twilight could feel a gentle breeze flow through her mane. She looked up at the sky, which was a crisp blue. Excellent, she thought to herself. The weather was perfect for a zeppelin flight.
She walked down the streets of her neighborhood, large bag in tow. There were children playing with their new Hearths Warming gifts. A blue ball, sailed past Twilight, followed by a purple unicorn colt, who dashed at full speed to retrieve it. His friends were watching him, cheering him on. Two fillies sat on a doorstep, bodies touching. One was holding a remote control. Together, they watched a small zeppelin fly through the air with smiles as bright as the sun. A family walked in Twilight's direction, giggling.
Closer to the heart of Canterlot, the streets became much wider, and much busier. The children and families were replaced by adult ponies bustling along towards whatever gathering they were attending. Some held large trays of food, others bottles of fine drink. A tall white mare holding a bouquet of beautiful red roses passed Twilight on the left.
In the distance, she could see it. The zeppelin station. She'd only flown on a zeppelin once, when Princess Celestia sent her most gifted students on a field trip to the Unicorn Range, a band of mountains west of Canterlot. Twilight recalled the feeling of flying through the air. The view from above was spectacular as she draped her arms over the railing. Canterlot's shiny surfaces twinkled as a younger Twilight traveled west by zeppelin, the world below her growing smaller with each passing moment. Twilight thought of Princess Celestia and her broad wings. She wished she could soar like her.
She approached the station, Spike by her side, doing her best to avoid the ponies streaming in all directions, coming and going. The line for tickets was about a dozen ponies long. Anxiously, Twilight looked at her list, then let out a sigh of relief. "We're ahead of schedule Spike, so we can spare a few minutes here," Spike rolled his eyes.
Twilight was next in line now, and could see the attendant. The mare was slumped over, her head supported by a light blue hoof. "Next," she called, without much enthusiasm at all.
"I'd like a ticket to Manehatten please, 2:30." Spike reached into the suitcase and retrieved the heavy sack of bits, grasping it with his young dragon claws. He handed it to Twilight, who relayed it to the attendant. Without a word, the light blue mare turned to a machine Twilight had never seen before and tapped a few keys. Within moments, a piece of parchment was dispensed from a slot near the top. It read "DESTINATION: MANEHATTEN, TIME: 2:30, STATION C".
Twilight was about to ask where station C was when the mare pointed to the left. Up a flight of stairs was a platform, the letter C draped from a flagpole. "Thank you," said Twilight. Her hoofs tapped on the ground excitedly, as she strode towards the platform.
"Isn't this exciting Spike? Just think, in a few hours we'll be closer to the north than we've ever been!"
And further away from home than we've ever been, thought Spike. Twilight punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Cheer up Spike. Think of all the things we're going to see!"
"Like snow, and uh... more snow?" Spike said. Twilight ignored the jab and pressed onwards, up the staircase.
She checked her scroll again. It was currently 2:17 P.M. according to a clock on the platform. The zeppelin that would carry the pair to Manehatten was expected to arrive shortly. Twilight stood still as a massive shadow eclipsed the sun, flying towards them. It grew closer. She could see the smiling passengers on board, waving to the ponies below. Twilight waved a purple hoof back at them. The zeppelin docked. A large crowed of earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns walked down the ramp. Then, it was Twilight's turn to board.
Once on board, she trotted around, searching for the best place to watch the sky during the journey, which was scheduled to last three hours. She found it. A spot just slightly left of front, and sat down. The zeppelin took off, carrying her towards Manehatten and the frozen north beyond.
As the zeppelin approached Manehatten, Twilight took a moment to observe the other ponies below. The streets were bustling, significantly busier than those of Canterlot. There was quite a bit of shouting. Many of the ponies donned coats, coats of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Twilight marveled at their beauty, pausing to appreciate the work of good fashion designers. She reached a hoof into her suitcase and withdrew a blue jacket. It wasn't much in the way of fashion, but it would keep her warm. The zeppelin was at the gate now. She took a step off of the ramp, then slipped.
Ponies stared as Twilight pushed herself up off of the icy ground.
"Must not be from around here," she heard a stallion say.
"Let's go Spike," Twilight said, and the two of them moved off of the platform and onto the busy streets of Manehatten. She handed a map to Spike. "You navigate. We want to head west until we reach the city borders. There should be a village nearby that serves as the gateway to the crystal mountains." Spike pointed a claw to the right.
As they walked, Twilight craned her neck to look at the square buildings, and the ponies hanging out of rectangular windows overhead. Some ponies were listening to music. Others were partying, laughter ringing through the chilly air. For a brief moment, Twilight wished she knew someone who could throw parties, so that she could celebrate with her friends. Friends. Twilight's head drooped as she shivered.
"You all right Twilight?" Spike asked.
"Yes. Let's keep going. We should be getting close, right?"
They passed a buckball stadium, where ponies were cheering loudly for the hometown team. Twilight slowed her pace to look at the banners that were draped from the stadium walls. On the banners were members of Manehatten's buckball team.
There was a burly earth pony stallion with a dark gray coat. Twilight was skeptical about the size of his muscles. His forelegs had the diameter of dinner plates. On another banner, a toned mint green unicorn with a short mane. He's handsome, thought Twilight. On the last banner was a pink pegasus with an electric blue mane. In the photo, her eyes gleamed with staggering confidence. Twilight had read many books about sports in her spare time, but was suddenly struck by an urge to talk to a professional athlete, and ask him or her questions about the life of an athlete. If only she knew somepony.
At last, the buildings became less dense, the streets less crowded. Twilight let out an exasperated sigh. That trek had been so... exhausting. So much activity! On the outskirts of Manehatten, Twilight saw an apple painted on a sign. Inside the bar, ponies were drinking merrily. She'd tasted apple cider a few times, a secret kept between her and Shining Armor, because she wasn't old enough to drink it yet. It had tasted incredible, made her feel incredible. If she could farm apples and make some herself, she would.
Still, the energy emanating from the bar sapped Twilight's energy. The empty lands of the north would be a welcome sight. First, however, Twilight and Spike had to pass the village to reach the Crystal Mountain pass.
Beyond the last building, there wasn't much. Only plains lightly dusted with snow, and mountains much too tall to climb. Solitude. Together, Twilight and Spike trudged onward, the sun dipping on the horizon behind them as they headed west. Around dusk, Spike tapped Twilight and pointed to a small canyon. "Look! That must be the village." A few buildings and a warm orange glow indicated that the pass was near. "Do you want to stop? Maybe we can rest there for the night." Twilight shook her head.
"I want to make as much headway as possible before it gets dark. I borrowed camping gear from my dad. It's in the largest pocket."
"But... I'm sure the ponies are hospitable." Spike looked down into the canyon. A snow white pony and a pink mare were chatting together far below, sitting at one of the picnic tables. The village was arranged such that there were two parallel rows of houses. It kinda looks like an equals sign. Huh, Spike thought to himself.
Twilight pulled out her checklist again. "Look Spike, I made this checklist, and we are sticking to it. I don't care whether those ponies below are hospitable or not. If we are going to reach the edge of Equestria's northern lands, we can't deviate from schedule." Spike sighed. He knew better than to argue.
They walked around the crevice, avoiding the village entirely. The sun was beginning to set, painting the land before them a shade of deep blue. A gust of cold wind blew in Twilight's direction. A few more miles until they reached the pass, where the mountain would be traversable. Across the flat plains, she could see the small stone obelisk that marked it.
The stone obelisk was not small. In fact, when Twilight and Spike stood underneath it, it stood taller than some of the buildings in Manehatten. Twilight looked up at it in awe. I wonder how this got here?
Turning away from the stone structure, she stared ahead at the wide path before her, covered with white snow.
Spike looked back. "There's still time to go back to the village."
"No. We're doing this Spike. The list says we're going to rest in three hours, so that's what we're going to do."
Onwards they went, into the pass of the Crystal Mountains, heading north towards the even taller mountains of the Yaket Range.
Twilight and Spike reached the crest of a large hill. Below was a valley of deep snow reflecting the pale glow of moonlight. Above, the sky was clear. Twilight gazed at the stars, then frowned. No aurora. She reached into the largest pocket of the suitcase and pulled out a large, flat rectangle. A small bag of stakes followed, suspended in the air by magic. "Hold on to the these, Spike," Twilight said.
In the distance, Twilight heard howling. She placed the folded tent on the flat snow and began to unfurl the poles. Meanwhile, Spike hunched over the thin layer of snow, toying with the stakes. For someone who never camped, Twilight knew how to choose a good campsite. Spike removed a bit of snow, preparing to set up the tent with her. With the poles unfurled, Twilight began to pitch the tent, working methodically. The faint purple glow of magic provided illumination. "You don't need the manual?" Spike looked at Twilight, who just laughed.
The howling grew closer. I wonder what species that is? thought Twilight as she pushed aside snow around the entrance to the tent. Hopefully the animal, whatever it was, didn't come any closer. Twilight entered the tent, and Spike followed.
Twilight's stomach growled. Before she left, she had taken some pastries her mother made. She dug a hoof into the front pocket of the suitcase and retrieved a plastic bag, the inside of which was very moist. The cookies she had packed had become unbearably soggy along the climb up the mountains. She put one in her mouth anyways, grimacing as she chewed on it.
Spike shuffled through the bag. "Where are my gemstones, Twilight?"
Twilight looked at Spike for a moment. "They... should be in there somewhere, unless I forgot to pack them which I definitely did NOT."
More shuffling. "I don't think they're in here. You said you would pack them!"
"I'm sorry Spike." Internally, Twilight admonished herself. How could she not have packed them? She checked the checklist and the checklist for the checklist. She must have forgotten to write them down while frantically preparing for the trip.
Spike groaned in frustration. "Whatever. I'll be outside." He exited, leaving Twilight alone inside the small square tent.
With a sigh, Twilight reached for another cookie.
"AGH!" Spike screamed suddenly. His scream was followed by a piercing howl. Twilight immediately dashed out of the tent. A gray wolf, teeth bared, approached Spike, who stood stock still. Twilight also froze, unsure of what to do. The wolf stared at them through small, beady eyes.
Twilight was running through all of the magical spells she knew by heart as the wolf continued to approach Spike, who jittered with fear. Behind the first wolf, an entire pack was beginning to emerge from the valley below. Biting her lip, Twilight continued to think. She couldn't... kill the wolves. Could she? They were innocent creatures. A pony might even call them sweet. But she was running out of options. The first wolf had reached Spike, and was poking him with its snout, teeth flared.
"SPIKE!" Twilight shouted, and in an instant, a bright beam of pink light radiated forth, engulfing the entire landscape. The gray wolf changed tactics and lunged at Twilight. Twilight flinched. She felt the wolf's warm breath against her cheek. Then, nothing. The wolf pack had disappeared. Spike blinked, stunned.
"Don't worry Spike. I just relocated them to an area AWAY FROM HERE," Twilight practically shouted, her mind still attempting to process the events that had just occurred. What she didn't tell Spike was that she had no idea where she sent them. The teleportation spell she used required a clear mind in order to visualize the intended destination. Twilight's mind was far from clear, even before the wolves arrived.
Spike brushed snow off of his tiny dragon body. "Thanks Twilight. Maybe we should call it a night." He dragged his legs through the low piles of snow before adding, "Still upset about the gemstones, by the way."
Twilight nodded and the two of them retreated to the tent where (hopefully) they were safe.
Tossing and turning, Twilight couldn't sleep. Spike's snoring didn't help, especially given that he was only a few feet away from her.
"Spike," she whispered. Spike awoke and sighed.
"Not this again. What is it?"
"Why are we here?"
"You uh, wanted to come here."
"No. Why are we here?"
"I'm not sure what you're asking."
"Okay, okay. What is the meaning of life?"
"Geez Twi, that's a heavy question. Have you asked Celestia that one? I'm sure she'd be able to give you a better answer than me, what, with having lived over one thousand years longer than I have,"
"Just because you're young doesn't mean that you can't answer the question,"
"I don't know what my answer is. I guess I've never really thought about it." Spike sat up and shrugged. "I do know that I like spending time with you and your family though. It makes me happy."
"Spending time with us makes you happy?"
"Yeah. Who else would be around to listen to my constant sarcasm? Who else would be around to shower me with gems?" Spike paused. "Well, most of the time anyways. You're my best friend Twilight, and I'd do anything for you. I mean it."
Twilight smiled. "Thanks Spike. I just feel... so empty inside all of the time. When I thought about aurora borealis, imagined it in my head, I felt whole. I don't know what I'm going to do if it's not like I imagine, and that when I return I'm still the same empty pony I was before."
"I don't know."
"I don't know either."
"You know who we haven't seen in a while? Minuette."
"What does she have to do with anything?"
"I'm just saying that it's been a while since we've seen her, or anyone else really. Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Moondancer..."
"I've been busy studying. My books won't read themselves, y'know."
"Of course, but still, maybe you should, I dunno, talk to them? Go out for a meal? I'll even stay at home so I don't embarrass you."
"You could never embarrass me Spike. I'm not sure I'll have time though. After New Year's I'm supposed to start researching the history of Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon with Celestia. Celestia believes that it's possible to bring her sister back from her banishment. Not sure how much help I'll be to her though."
"Oh. Okay."
"It hurts, y'know."
"What does?"
"The emptiness." Yawning, Twilight rolled over. "G'night Spike." She continued to mumble to herself, eyes closed. Spike tentatively reached out a claw, then retracted it and placed his head down on his own sleeping bag.
The sun was bright that morning. Twilight was nearly blinded as she extended a hoof out of the tent and looked outside. In front of her, across the valley, was the Yaket range, and beyond that, the unknown. If she and Spike walked quickly, they might be able to cross the mountains by the end of the day.
Spike walked out behind Twilight and was presented with a droopy disk with some chocolate chips. Twilight looked at him and smiled. "Thought you might be hungry." Spike shook his head, declining the offer.
Together they disassembled the campsite, Spike guided by Twilight's instructions. Within minutes, it was as if they had never been there in the first place. Only a small rectangular imprint remained in the snow. Twilight nodded towards the mountains, and together they trotted down the slopes, into the valley below.
Down in the valley, the snow was thick. The green protrusions of Spike's head stood barely an inch taller than the walls he and Twilight dug through. Sensing that Spike was slowing down, Twilight grabbed him and placed him on her back. "Thanks," he said. With Spike on her back, moving through the snow was even more difficult. She recalled Spike's words the previous night. I'd do anything for you. She wanted to show that she would do anything for him as well.
Moving through the valley was monotonous. Tedious. Boring. For a brief moment, Twilight's excitement about the northern lights diminished, and she wished she was at home with her family. She thought about Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Moondancer. About Cadance and Shining Armor. She even thought about her brother's friends, Gaffer and Poindexter, who still came around sometimes. Yet here she was, in a desolate frozen land. Alone.
She closed her eyes. The lights flared before her against the evening sky. "Yes," she said aloud. She could see it. She could feel it.
Around midday, they had crossed the valley and were now in the shadow of mountains much, much taller than the Crystal Mountains they had traversed the previous night. Twilight and Spike stared at the precipices, looming before them like great shadows.
Twilight tried to see the crest high above, but it was difficult. I shouldn't of used my magic on those wolves, she thought. She didn't doubt her confidence in her magical abilities, but it was difficult for her to perform such advanced magic multiple times within such a short period of time. That, coupled with a poor night's sleep, made the final part of Twilight's plan difficult. "Let's rest for a bit, Spike. I'm not sure I can get us to the top yet."
"What do you mean? Are you going to teleport us up there?"
"Yes, but saving us from the wolves tired me out, and I was awake late last night, so I need some time to prepare."
So the two of them rested in a relatively flat bank of snow. Twilight's jacket kept her warm, and Spike sat on her back, above the cold slush.
By the time the sun was setting, bathing everything in a golden orange hue, Twilight felt rested, ready to see what lay beyond. A spark. A pop. They stood atop the mountain. They had arrived.
