Life of a Queen

Chapters

In the Dark
Feeling Blue, Part 1
Feeling Blue, Part 2
Feeling Blue, Part 3
Ghosts, Part 2
Ghosts, Part 4
Ghosts, Part 3
Ghosts, Part 1

In the Dark

Celestia leaned back in her throne. The pain in her leg was only rivaled by the one forming in her head. She spent a moment massaging the base of her horn. Waning sunlight filtered in through the glass ceiling of her throne room.

“Mister Ruby, I understand that you are unhappy with my decision. However, the crown must see to the good of all citizens. These changes have improved the life of ponies all across Equestria. So, as I told you last week, I have no intention of reversing my proclamation. Do you understand?”

The stallion standing at the podium retreated, lowering his gaze from the solar princess.

“Yes, Princess Celestia. I understand.”

“Good,” Celestia rose, standing proudly over her court with a warm smile on her face. “If the situation changes, or if there is some other incident you believe warrants notice, please feel free to bring it to my attention.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Now then. I pronounce this case, closed. Which means this court session is adjourned.” She bowed to the stands crowded with ponies. Most of them watched her through the lens of a camera, the constant flashing only exacerbating the sour note in her mind. “I hope you all have a safe trip home and invite you to return at dawn, when my court resumes.”

The guards snapped to attention as the spectators began to file out through the massive castle doors. Celestia threw her head back, basking in the last few moments of dusk. She kept her eyes closed, listening for the last of the steps against the marble floor.

“Is everything alright, Princess?”

Celestia recognized the voice.

“Just a slight headache, Inkwell.” She sighed, turning toward the scribe. “I hope I wasn’t too harsh on Mister Ruby.”

“Of course not, Princess. If I might speak frankly, you may wish to be more harsh with him in the future. This is the fourth time he’s come here to argue with you.”

“It is his right to do so as a citizen of Equestria.”

“You’ve the patience of a saint, Princess. Well, if you have no further need of me, I will take my leave, then.” The stewardess bowed.

Celestia returned the gesture with the practiced grace of her station. She watched the younger unicorn tidy her desk before filtering out with the last remnants of the crowd. The doors slammed shut, leaving only Celestia and a small contingent of her guards within.

The burning sky extinguished as her sun finally sank below the horizon, replaced by the cool paleness of the moon. With her duties done, Celestia collapsed into her throne, sucking a breath through her teeth as a jolt tore through the muscles of her hind leg.

“Still no improvement, Princess?” one of the nearby guards asked. The rest watched her with grim expressions.

“No need to worry.” She shook her head slowly. “It’s still better than yesterday.”

“Shall we fetch the doctor for you again?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Gathering her strength, she pushed herself back up onto her hooves. “I will be returning to my room for the night. Would you mind having the kitchen send something up?”

The soldier pressed a hoof to his chest in salute.

“As you command, Princess.”

Celestia descended from her pedestal under the gaze of her attendants. She kept her head down and teeth grit, refusing to succumb to the ails of her damaged body. Only when she had climbed to the upper corridors did she let her stoicism falter. She staggered, her face contorting in pain as her knee buckled.

Her hoof searched for the wall as her body collapsed to the floor. She let her head hang, staring back at her leg, twitching and trembling as she tried to put her weight on it. Squeezing her eyes shut, she forced the limb straight. The resulting surge of pain knocked the breath from her, but allowed her to press forward.

She made her way up to her room. A grand set of double doors awaited her, emblazoned with the crest of the sun. A pair of stone-faced guards stood on either side of the gateway, their golden spears ready.

With a wave of her head, Celestia dismissed her sentries. They turned to one another. In the split second their eyes met, an entire conversation passed silently between them. Reluctantly, they complied with their monarch’s commands.

Alone again, Celestia threw open the doors to her chambers. The darkness of a cold hearth and drawn curtains battled valiantly to repel the light from the hallway.

Her horn burned with a golden flicker, pulling the doors shut. The chaotic cadence of her steps echoed in the emptiness. She lifted the crown from her head, relinquishing it to the model head that rested on her vanity. Its unpainted eyes watched as she pulled the clasp from her necklace and added it to the display.

“Good evening, Princess.”

A shock of adrenaline rushed through the princess as she twirled to face the speaker. A pony’s silhouette sat at Celestia’s desk.

The shape took advantage of Celestia’s shock to continue.

“We were wondering how long you planned on keeping us waiting.”

Celestia sobered.

“My sincerest apologies,” she growled, “I wasn’t informed of any visitors.”

“We see. We hope you don’t mind, we made ourselves a drink while we were waiting.” The princess didn’t have to see the intruder’s face. She could hear the smile in their voice. “We made you some, too, of course. Didn’t want to be rude.”

Without warning, a dim green light sparked from the candle on the desk. The emerald flames roared high before shrinking back into a nondescript orange flame. The light revealed black fur and a styled white mane. A single spiraling horn protruded from the mare’s forehead. True to her word, she nursed a small teacup. Another glass sat on a coaster on the desk. The mare motioned for Celestia to take it.

“It’s your favorite,” she explained. “Made just the way you like.”

Celestia stared at the cup but made no move to retrieve it.

“You do not trust us. That is understandable.” The mare nodded. “We shall get on with our business, then.”

Celestia widened her stance, readying her magic.

“And what sort of business is that?”

The stranger sat up in her chair.

“We’ve come to make a request of you, Princess.”

Celestia’s guard lowered slightly.

“A request? Well, you certainly chose an unorthodox method of asking for help.”

“Our request is best made in private. For all parties involved.”

“I see.” Celestia straightened up. “I make no guarantees that I can help, but you may ask.”

The mare swirled her drink.

“We seek Chrysalis. You will bring her to us.”

Celestia tensed.

The stranger continued, her lips curling into a smile.

“According to our sources, this was her last known location.”

The solar princess nodded.

“Your sources were correct. She was here.”

Setting her teacup aside, the mare leaned forward in Celestia’s chair.

“Was?”

“Was,” Celestia said, a slight tinge of satisfaction in her voice.

“And where is she now?”

“I do not know. She escaped in the night.”

The strange mare took a long, calming breath.

“We see.”

“If our business is concluded then, I would ask that you leave. I would like to rest,” Celestia said, as pert and perfect as ever.

“No. This does not change our request.”

“Excuse me?”

The mare rose from her seat, stepping forward fearlessly toward the princess, despite the obvious size discrepancy.

“You were the last one to know of Chrysalis’ location. Because of this, we will task you with retrieving her.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“We will give you a month. Does that sound fair?”

Celestia lunged forward, rising to her full size as she stared down the intruder. The celestial blaze in her eyes forced the mare to retreat.

“I will not be threatened or coerced in my own castle,” Celestia barked. Her horn flashed.

“Calm yourself, Princess. It was not a threat.”

“I’m not convinced,” she growled, wrapping the mare in golden light and lifting her into the air.

“It was not a threat, Princess, merely a warning. In one month’s time, those I represent will arrive seeking the changeling. We have nothing against you or yours, but we will not hesitate to remove any obstacle that impedes us. Out of respect for your authority, we thought to offer you a chance to end this with minimum bloodshed. But if you would prefer otherwise . . .”

Celestia released her magic.

“Who do you represent? What do they want with Chrysalis?”

The mare took a moment to brush a bit of dust from her coat before answering.

“Neither of those should concern you. Just give us the changeling, and we will leave the kingdom in peace.” She paused for a moment before adding, “As a show of good faith, we will delay our superiors for an additional week. You should use this extra time to decide, Princess.”

The visitor bowed to Celestia before turning and stepping out onto the stone terrace.

Celestia followed.

“And if I refuse to help you?”

The mare stepped up on the railing.

“My dearest Celestia, the game has already begun. The other players have already moved their pieces. And now it’s your turn. I do hope that you won’t disappoint us again.”

When the final word left her lips, the mare’s eyes shifted. Their shimmering green color dissipated, revealing a beautiful blue underneath. As the magic left her, she sobered, her dazed confusion turning to terror as she lost her footing on the cold stone.

With a start, the mare slipped from the edge, plummeting down the edge of the tower.

Celestia reached out with her magic, only to find something much darker in her way. Her spell fizzled and faded. With a feral howl, the princess dove from the edge herself, keeping her wings folded tight against her flanks.

The helpless mare screamed as she neared the stone courtyard below. The guards, roused from their stoic watch, rushed about, looking for something to break the poor pony’s fall.

Celestia narrowed her gaze. Her wings unfurled as far as they could. She pushed her muscles as hard as they would go. With one mighty flap of her wings, the air around her erupted. The overwhelming force of her movement shattered windows as she passed by.

With only feet to spare, she swooped by, snatching the mare from her fall. With no other option, she wrapped herself around the teary-eyed unicorn, wreathing her in angelic fur. Together, they hit the ground, smashing stone and dirt alike as they crashed through the garden courtyard.

Guards gathered at the edge of the rubble, waiting with bated breath for the dust to settle. A captain called for reinforcements, for a medical team. For any pony that might have some aid to offer in their current situation.

When the air finally cleared, the princess as her ward lay at the center of a crater.

“Don’t just stand there, idiots. Get down there,” The captain ordered, leading the charge over the edge and down into the pit. He tossed his spear aside before rushing to his princess’ side.

“Princess? Can you hear me?” He asked, leaning close.

Several of the others forced open Celestia’s wings, revealing a unicorn. She was bruised and battered, but very much alive.

“Captain Lance?”

Every head turned at the sound of the princess’ voice.

“Princess Celestia? What happened up there, Ma’am?”

With a groan of pain, Celestia pried herself from the dirt. Her wings fluttered, sending a rain of angelic feathers over through the air. She brushed the dust from her coat, revealing several patches of bruises and blood.

“Focus, Captain.”

“Don’t worry, Princess. We’ve got a medical team on the way.”

“I don’t need medical attention.” Her neck popped back into place as she flexed. “Get me Inkwell, instead.”

“Inkwell?”

“Yes. I have an announcement to make.”

Feeling Blue, Part 1

Blue sprawled out across his seat, resting his head on the armrest. Even as exhausted as he felt, the solid oak seat hardly functioned as a bed. Or perhaps the issue lay with the constant bumps that rattled the train car. Or, if he were being particularly cynical, it could be both.

With sleep unlikely, he didn’t bother to close his eyes. Instead, he stared thoughtlessly at the ceiling, eyes trailing along the gaps between the planks. Beneath him, he could hear the wheels roar as the train thundered through the rainy night.

As if the train itself could sense his spite, it shuddered. The resulting force sent Blue sprawling from his seat, landing muzzle-first on the floor. He grumbled beneath his breath, muttering all sorts of obscenities while praying the train might somehow understand him.

“Are you alright?” A gentle voice asked.

He reared his head back from the filthy carpet to see a pair of hooves blocking his sight. Spurred on by the appearance of another pony, he rose, coming face-to-face with a snow-white mare.

“You didn’t hurt your head or anything, did you?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.

Her words finally snapped Blue from his sour mood. He scrambled back into his seat.

“What? No. I’m fine,” he explained, wiping dirt from a tuft of fur on his chest.

She hid her smile behind a hoof.

“I see. Do you mind?” She motioned to the empty seat across from him.

“Nope.” He shrank back as far as he could into his seat. “Go right ahead.”

While she settled in, he tried not to notice every other empty bench in the compartment. She tossed her hat onto the seat, revealing a horn and a curly purple mane. A mystical blue aura lifted her bag onto the seat beside her as she sat down with a long sigh.

“You know, it’s rare to see another traveler out and about this late. Usually these midnight trains are quite boring.” As she spoke, she studied the stallion sitting across from her.

Blue chuckled nervously.

“Yeah. That’s usually why I take them. Not the biggest fan of crowds,” he said, pulling his cloak tight about his shoulders.

To his surprise, the mare laughed.

“Interesting. I have a friend who might agree with you on that. Of course, I’m not really sure how she would feel about sitting alone in the dark for a few hours. But I suppose that wouldn’t really bother a thestral, would it?”

Blue tensed for a moment.

“Is something the matter? I didn’t offend you, did I?” the unicorn wondered worriedly.

“No.” He shook his head. “Just a bit surprised is all. Most ponies don’t make that revelation as . . . calmly as you did.”

“Well, those ponies are rude, then.” She punctuated her sentence with a satisfied huff before adding: “And speaking of rude, I don’t believe I even introduced myself.”

She took a second to straighten her mane before outstretching a hoof.

“You can call me Rarity.”

“Rarity? The seamstress?” Blue asked, shaking her hoof.

The unicorn beamed proudly.

“The one and only. You’re familiar with my work?”

“I think every pony in Canterlot is familiar with your work. Your boutique is pretty popular.”

“You flatter me.” She chuckled. “I take it you live in Canterlot, then?”

“I used to.”

“Used to? Did something happen?”

Blue ran a hoof through his silvered mane.

“It’s kind of a long story. No offense.”

“None taken. I should be the one apologizing, really. I don’t mean to pry.”

In the moments of silence that followed their exchange, Blue found his gaze drawn constantly to the rain-streaked windows of the car. Outside, fields of grass flowed like waves beneath the gale, cresting with stripes of moonlight reflecting off the blades. His hoof moved toward his saddlebag, caressing the package entombed within.

“I’m not overstaying my welcome, am I?”

Blue wrenched himself from his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“You said you weren’t a fan of chatty strangers. And here I am. Being a chatty stranger. I swear that I’m usually much better at this.”

“The name’s Blue Requiem,” he said, grinning. “There. Now we’re no longer strangers.”

“That’s not exactly what I meant-”

“It’s pretty clear I won’t be actually catching up on sleep if this train has anything to say about it. And in a stroke of pure genius, I forgot to bring anything to entertain myself. So if you’re not going to chat with me, then I’m just going to have to sit here bored the rest of the trip.”

“You make a valid point,” Rarity relented. “Well, if you’re so eager for my company, then I suppose I could entertain you a little longer.”

“See? Now you’re getting it.”

The two of them chuckled.

“Well, then, Mister Blue, do you mind if I ask what brings you out to our friendly little Ponyville?”

He shrugged.

“Honestly?”

“If you’re so inclined?”

“I’m looking for something.”

“Well, I’ve lived in Ponyville most of my life. Whatever you’re looking for, I’m sure I can at least point you to a pony that knows how to find it.”

Blue returned his gaze toward the countryside.

“I don’t doubt it. Problem is, I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for.”

“Oh. I guess that does complicate things a bit.” Rarity tapped her chin. “Why Ponyville, then?”

“That circles back to that long story I mentioned earlier.”

“Well, we’ve got a bit of time until we arrive at the station. How about a short version?”

“I don’t know if there’s enough time in the world to explain it. Suffice to say, an old friend told me to find Princess Twilight. So, here I am.”

“You’re quite the mysterious one, aren’t you, Blue?”

“I do my best.”

Rarity fell silent. Her gaze switched constantly between Blue and the rest of the world. She chewed the edge of her hoof as she struggled to reach a consensus. The train’s whistle ripped through the quiet, forcing her into action as their journey reached its conclusion.

“Tell me this, at least.” She slipped a lock of her mane out of her eye. “Do you plan on staying in Ponyville for long?”

“If everything goes according to plan,” he explained through a smirk. “Why do you ask?”

Rather than offer an explanation, the mare withdrew her bag from beneath the seat. Out of one of the smaller compartments, she plucked a pen and a thin strip of paper.

The wheels below squealed as the brakes kicked in.

Her pen scratched against the page. When she finished, placed the cap back on the pen and offered the slip to the stallion across from her

“Here.”

“What’s this?” he asked, marveling at her superb penmanship.

“The address for my boutique in Ponyville.” Blue could have sworn she was batting her eyelashes. “It’s not difficult to find, really, but I wouldn’t want you getting lost.”

As the train rolled to a stop, she rose from her seat. She magicked her hat back onto her head and rolled her suitcase behind her.

“If you ever find yourself with a free afternoon, then perhaps you could pay me a visit. I’d be more than happy to give you a tour of our lovely little town.”

“That’s awfully kind of you.”

“I hope you find what you’re looking for. Don’t be a stranger, Blue.”

With a wink, she straightened her hat and strolled out into the rainy night.

Blue remained seated; his mouth curled into a smile. He drew a deep breath. His fatigue faded, driven away by the sweet floral perfume that lingered in the train car. Drunk on his second wind, Blue tightened the strap on his saddlebag and made his way off the train, whispering beneath the clatter of rain.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’m almost home.”

The conductor and a nearby guard waved to Blue as he stepped off the train. He didn’t bother returning the gesture, instead hurrying over to the stairs down from the platform.

Pulling his cloak over his saddlebags, he settled down beneath the ticket booth overhang. It proved nearly useless against the rain but kept him out of sight of any curious onlookers.

He waited there until the train left. It signaled its departure with a shrill whistle. The thundering wheels faded into the distance, leaving him alone with naught but the clattering raindrops to keep him company. Without prompt, he pulled himself up from the stone seat.

Checking the straps of his bags one last time, he set off on the long road into Ponyville. At least, he assumed it was meant to be a road. Compared to the finely crafted streets of Canterlot, these country roads were little more than a dirt path lined with cobble. A fence formed a border on either side of the road.

To the left, the trees of the Everfree loomed, their branches like talons, clawing toward the path. On the opposite side, a large, empty field. Across it, Blue spied rows of thatched roofs atop stucco cottages. Towering brass lamps lined the walkways, shimmering like lighthouses amidst the swirling miasma.

The road opened into the main street.

In Canterlot, even a night this dreary could not stop the hell-bent from roaming the city. This little village told a different story. Not a soul to be seen on the sidewalks. No guards on patrol. No late-night wanderers staggering through the gutter. And not a single window had a light shining within.

The main street widened into a plaza.

At the center of the square sat a fountain, filling the empty space with the sound of gurgling water. A statue of Princess Twilight stood atop the centerpiece, staring out at the endless sky. Empty benches were scattered across the scene, only adding to the empty feeling of Ponyville. Lines of booths edged the courtyard. They were sealed with wooden panels or metal shutters.

“Hello, Twilight,” Blue muttered as he approached the babbling fountain. Even through the rippling water, he could see the blurred reflection of the statue. “I bet you don’t remember me, do you?”

He scoffed, stepping back from the edge of the water.

“No. That’s stupid. I can’t start with that.”

With a deep breath, he stepped forward once again.

“Good evening, Princess. I was hoping you might be able to help me. What? You don’t know who I am? Oh, that’s simple . . .”

Blue pressed his face into the side of the stone basin with an unsatisfied groan.

“Why is this so difficult?”

Blue settled himself.

“Third time’s the charm.”

He puffed out his chest and straightened his shoulders. He stood like that for only a moment before tossing himself down onto one of the benches nearby.

“Yeah. Maybe that will work. I’ll just stare at her. That’ll get my point across. This shouldn’t be this difficult.”

Slumping down, he stared up at the statue.

“Maybe I just shouldn’t tell her? She doesn’t need to know it's me, does she?”

He waited, his focus never wavering from her stone face. It was almost as if he expected her to reach down and comfort him. When the absurdity of that thought finally struck him, he rose from his seat.

“I’ll think of something on the way, I guess.”

Twilight’s castle could be seen from any street in Ponyville, allowing him to find his way there with ease despite the oddly shaped avenues that formed the little town. After only a few minutes of walking, he arrived at his destination.

While the spires of Canterlot Castle were built within and above the sky, Twilight’s castle seemed to sprout up out of the earth. The crystalline base of the building stood as tall as the mountains around them, but were molded into the shape of a titanic oak.

Stone walls rose from the branches, which stretched out in all directions as they climbed up the towers like frozen ivy. Glass webbed between the leaves, forming what appeared to be an observatory. At the apex of the castle, a gemmed crest reminiscent of Twilight’s own mark glittered. Two stained glass windows decorated the front of the castle on either side of the main doors.

As Blue climbed the front steps, he stopped just out of reach of the doors.

They were tall enough to reach up to the second floor. Solid oak, he guessed, reinforced with an iron frame. A massive ring was bolted to the door, leaning against a scratched metal plate bent in the shape of a heart.

Tentatively, he reached for the closer ring. He mustered his strength, lifting it away from the door before letting it fall. The resulting boom echoed through the castle interior, shaking the visitor just as much as it had the door, causing him to flinch.

He opened his eyes slowly as the sound faded.

And then he waited.

Feeling Blue, Part 2

Using his cloak as a rag, Blue wiped the standing water from the stair above him. Cautiously, he set his bags down in the cleared spot. Once confident they were safe, he rolled onto his back. The stars peered down on him as he leaned his head back against the rough leather bags. Just as his eyes started to close, he heard the faint hiss of magic from the door lock.

Rocketing up, he slung his bag over his shoulder. He took a moment to make himself presentable. At least, as presentable as he could be with such a brief warning. A pink unicorn stifled a yawn as she stuck her head out through the crack in the doors.

“It’s about time you showed up. You had me worried. What took you so long?”

“You were expecting me?” Blue asked, taking a hesitant step back.

The unicorn rubbed the sleep from her eye.

“Wait. You’re not Twilight.”

“I’m not.”

Her pink cheeks flushed red.

“Sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

“It’s fine,” he muttered. “I came here looking for Princess Twilight, but I’m guessing she isn’t here?”

“Nope. Sorry.”

“Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you with that, either. But I am her student. I can take a message for her if you want. ”

Blue groaned as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Could you at least point me in her direction?”

Rather than answer, the unicorn stepped the front half of her body out onto the stairs. She glanced around the yard before addressing her visitor.

“It’s a bit of a trek. And not one that I’d recommend you make in the dead of night.”

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Blue said.

“Alright. Do you have anything else to do tonight?” She waited for him to shake his head before she continued. “Fine. Come inside.”

She retreated back into the castle, leaving the door swinging open freely behind her.

After double checking the strap on his bag, Blue followed after.

Through the front door, he stepped into a vaulted hallway. A flash of magic closed the door behind him. The unicorn stood a few steps ahead, waiting patiently for him to join her. Far above, a series of flags hung from the rafters, each of them emblazoned with the image of the newest Princess. Old-fashioned lanterns hung from iron hooks on the walls. Their flames never flickered.

Together, the duo made their way into the central chamber of the castle. A meeting room of sorts, given the table and half a dozen thrones gathered around it. A collection of gnarled roots sprouted from the ceiling. Chains of glittering jewels hung from the slender rootlets, warming the room with a calming glow. Two towering archways to the left and right led deeper into the castle.

The unicorn stopped at the threshold of the right-side hallway.

“Wait here for a second,” she commanded.

“Where are you going?” Blue asked.

“You said you needed to see Twilight urgently, didn’t you? Well, I can take you to her.”

“I thought you said she wasn't here?“

“She isn’t,” the mare said, as though it explained everything.

“Fine,” he relented, “I’ll wait here for you.”

She vanished through one of the many smaller doors that lined the path ahead.

While he waited, he sauntered over to the central table. The polished glass reflected the lights from above, creating a colorful swirl against the rather austere brickwork. Closer now, he noticed that each of the thrones bore the crest of Twilight or one of her friends. A star, a trio of diamonds, a bunch of balloons, a collection of apples, a small swarm of butterflies, and a rainbow cloud. In his head, he matched each symbol with the appropriate mare.

“Alright. I’m ready now.”

He spun around, coming face-to-face with the mare. She wore a new set of saddlebags over her flanks.

“What’s all that?” Blue asked, stepping away from the table.

“It’s just some traveling gear. Just in case.”

“In case of what?”

“In case we get lost . . . or run into a monster. Stuff like that.”

Blue blinked rapidly.

“Monsters? Right. Any chance of letting me in on your plan?”

She put on a lecturing voice that almost sounded like a mockery of Twilight’s.

“Have you ever heard of the Castle of the Two Sisters?”

“Can’t say I have.”

“It’s an old ruin out in the Everfree.”

“I’m guessing that’s where we’ll find Twilight?”

“Yup.” She nodded vigorously.

“And you don’t trust me to follow directions?”

The mare marched past, motioning for him to follow.

“It’s more that the directions are a little complex. And I don’t really want to be responsible for any missing ponies.” She stopped suddenly. “Oh, I almost forgot. It’s been raining all night. The trails through the forest are probably going to be a little muddy. You may not want to bring that.”

She motioned to his cloak, still damp from cleaning the stairs.

“Why not?”

“It’ll get dirty. Obviously. You can leave your things here if you want.”

With an annoyed grunt, Blue reached back and unbuckled his bags. He tossed them gently onto the table. From the corner of his eye, he spied the unicorn’s confusion.

“They’re cheap. And I would rather not ruin everything inside,” he explained.

“Right.” She nodded slowly. “What about the cape?”

“This cloak is cheap. I’m more worried about being caught without it.” He pulled the seams tight over his flanks, burying his wings.

“That’s fair.”

Together, the two of them made their way back toward the front door. She sent him through first. He waited at the bottom of the steps as she pulled a key ring from one of the outer-most pockets of her bag. It slid neatly into the lock. She gave the handle an experimental tug, just to be sure.

She led him back through the empty streets of Ponyville. This time, the melodic chirps of nocturnal insects were drowned out by the irritating tune the unicorn hummed as she walked. Blue varied his pace, trying to keep a gap between them until they reached the forest edge. No matter what change he made, she adapted. If she found his behavior odd, she never bothered to mention it.

They strolled past the fountain. Blue kept his head down as he crossed. He knew the statue’s lifeless gaze was drawn skyward, but that didn’t stop the weight of them he felt falling across his back. He held his breath until they finally left the courtyard.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the town outskirts. The pink mare stopped, nearly causing Blue to crash into her. She stared up at the gnarled branches of the Everfree.

“Why are we stopping?” Blue demanded.

“If you’re going to be accompanying me through this, I need to set up a few rules, first,” she said.

“Fine. Talk.”

She turned toward her companion.

“First rule. I don’t care what you see or what you hear, you stay on the path.” She emphasized by pointing to the muddy sludge that started a few feet beyond the cobblestone drive.

“That’s the path?”

“A little mud won’t kill you. Breaking the rules might. So listen up.”

Blue gave her his attention, but his frown made it clear he wasn’t thrilled about it.

“Second rule. Stay behind me. It’s easy to get lost in here, but I’ve got plenty of experience navigating.”

“Alright.”

“Third and final rule.” She straightened out, returning her focus to the trees. “I need you to talk to me.”

“What?” Blue chuckled. “That’s a rule?”

She didn’t seem to share his sense of humor.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Constant communication,” she said. “And it’ll help keep me awake.”

He sighed.

“Fine. Stay on the path. Follow you. Keep you company. That's all?”

“That’s all. Promise me you’ll keep them.”

“I promise. If only for the sake of self-preservation.”

She nodded happily. With a foalish swell of energy, she plunged into the forest. Blue kept true to his word and followed.

Only a single step into his journey, Blue already regretted his choice. His hoof sank an inch deep into the mud. He yanked himself free, only for his next step to be just as bad. Grumbling under his breath, he trudged forward anyways.

As he struggled, the unicorn marched forward, unphased by the rough terrain. When she noticed him falling behind, she slowed. When that didn’t help, she stopped.

“Not much of an outdoor pony, are you?” she asked, observing his struggle with the barest hint of a smile.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Blue huffed.

“Then what do you do all day?”

“Sleep.”

She chuckled.

Once they pressed deep enough into the forest for the boughs to block out the moonlight, the ground solidified. Their path thinned out, forcing them to weave between thick trunks to move forward.

“So, you got a name?” she asked, swatting a branch away with her magic.

“Blue.”

“That’s a cute name. I’m Starlight. Starlight Glimmer.”

“I’m aware of who you are.” Blue said, stepping carefully through a patch of uneven roots.

“You are?”

“Of course. The student of Twilight Sparkle. Savior of Equestria. Vanquisher of Queen Chrysalis. One of the ponies directly responsible for the reformation of the changeling race. Is any of this ringing a bell?”

He saw her cheeks glow red in the light of her magic.

“I guess I’m just not used to strangers knowing who I am. Most of Ponyville knew me before I did all that.”

“Or maybe I’m just a crazed stalker,” Blue suggested, a wicked smile on his lips.

“That’s a possibility, too.” Starlight shrugged. “I wouldn’t recommend trying anything, though. My magic is nothing to sneeze at.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Silence fell back over the forest for a short while. They weaved through the tangled forest growth. At certain points, Starlight used her magic to widen the path, clearing away the underbrush that had begun encroaching. With each blast, she eyed Blue, daring him to try something.

“Blue?”

“Starlight.”

She finished hauling a fallen log out of their way. Given the color of the wood, it had only collapsed recently.

“Since you apparently know everything about me, how would you like to share with the class?”

Blue sniffled.

“What makes you think there’s anything to share?”

“Come on,” she scoffed. “There’s got to be something.”

“Not a thing.”

“Alright then. How about why you’re here? You said yourself you’re here for Twilight, right? Well, what do you want from her?”

“Bits. I’m looking for handouts.”

“Oh. I mean, I guess she could—”

“It’s a joke, Starlight.”

“Prove it.”

“That I was joking?” Blue asked incredulously.

“Yes. Tell me what you really want from her.”

“Stop trying to analyze me, would you? I’m just going to lie.”

“You’re the worst,” she groaned. “You pick a topic then.”

They approached a fork in the road. Starlight took a moment to think, bouncing her head back and forth to an unheard song.

“Tell me about the Everfree.”

“What?”

She chose the left path.

“The Everfree. I’m clearly not as familiar with it as you are. Tell me something interesting about it.”

“That’s the topic you chose?”

“Don’t give me the power to choose if you’re not ready to live with consequences.”

Starlight rolled her eyes.

“Then would you care to narrow your question down?”

Blue glanced around. Even in the shadows, he could see shapes slithering around from bush to bush. He could feel the eyes watching from everywhere. They had been watching their whole journey.

“You gave me those rules to keep me safe. That means there’s something dangerous in here.” Blue snatched a twig from the path and launched it into the dense forest, resulting in a flurry of scurrying steps. “What exactly is so dangerous?”

Starlight laughed.

“In here? What isn’t dangerous? Poisonous plants. Ravenous monsters. Ravenous plants. Poisonous monsters. And those are just the things I’ve seen personally.”

Blue crouched low, stalking up to Starlight’s side.

“Monsters?”

She recoiled from the sudden voice in her ear. She shoved him away playfully.

“Seriously, you’re the worst. I almost punched you.”

“I was ready to duck.”

Far ahead, the path opened slightly. Cracks formed in the canopy, allowing slivers of moonlight to light the way. Even farther, Blue thought he saw ivy-wrapped stone.

“Why so curious about the monsters? Scared?”

“Look at us. We’ve been in the forest for nearly half an hour, and we’ve seen nothing dangerous. I think you lied to me about the danger just so you had an excuse to annoy me with rule three.”

“Did you ever consider that maybe we weren’t in any danger because you had an amazing guide?”

“So what sort of monsters are there, then?”

Starlight closed her eyes while she compiled a mental list.

“The first one that comes to mind is Timberwolves.”

“I’ve met plenty of nice wolves.”

“I guarantee you they’re nothing like Timberwolves. They’re constructs made of the forest itself. But they’re usually not too dangerous unless you wander blindly into their territory. Which we didn’t. Because I’m an excellent guide.

“There’s also Ursas. Have you ever heard of an Ursa?”

“I’ve fought an Ursa.”

“Then I doubt they were anything like the Ursas out here. When they’re fully grown, they’re as big as a house.”

“Should be pretty easy to avoid then.”

“Alright then, Mister Tough Guy, how about this? Have you ever seen a Wisp?”

“A Wisp? Like a puff of smoke?”

Starlight shook her head.

“A Wisp is a colony of little lights that float around the forest.”

“Sounds truly terrifying,” Blue muttered, obviously unimpressed.

“They are terrifying,” Starlight defended. “They’re shapeshifters. They take the form of something a weary traveler desires.”

“Like a bed?” he interrupted.

“More like a loved one,” Starlight corrected.

“Lame.”

“They use that power to lure unsuspecting travelers to their doom. When you live this close to the Everfree, you hear a lot of stories. Ponies going in by themselves, never to return.” She ended her sentence with a ghostly wail as she waved one of her hooves in the air.

“Nothing but campfire stories. Have you ever seen a Wisp?”

“Nope,” she answered definitively. “But I’ve read about them. They’re pretty rare, even by mythological creature standards. Just thinking about it gives me the chills. I mean, just think about it. You could be following a guide, but it just turns out that you’ve been following some monster through the forest. And now you’re completely lost and will never find your way out. Scary, huh?”

“Horrifying. I think we’re here.”

Blue pointed past Starlight, to the ruins of an old castle. The forest had grown up around it, smothering it in greenery and causing it to blend in with the forest canopy. Broken windows and collapsed walls that from this distance might as well have just been a pile of rubble.

One at a time, they crossed the rickety rope bridge that spanned the trench around the castle. It swung precariously back and forth, but the rotting wood held. As they closed in on their final destination, Blue noted the two vine-choked towers that, even from this close, resembled tall trees.

“Blue, welcome to the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Starlight announced with a dramatic wave of her hoof. “If you want to wait out here, I can go in and check on Twilight. I’m sure she just lost track of time studying. We should be back in no time.”

As she climbed the steps, Blue called out to her.

“Starlight.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks. For bringing me here, I mean. I don’t know if I would have found it on my own.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just here to find Twilight. You just happened to follow me.” With a wink, she slipped through the front doors.

A realization struck Blue as he sat alone on the castle steps, causing him to bury his head in his hooves. Before him, in what used to be the castle’s courtyard, a statue showed the two sisters standing side-by-side. The way the light reflected off it, he almost believed they were mocking him. Memories flickered through his mind like a slideshow. Of his arrival in Ponyville. And of his chat with the stone Twilight.

He breathed a long sigh.

What in Celestia’s name am I supposed to tell her?

Feeling Blue, Part 3

“Twilight?”

Starlight’s voice echoed through the ruined chambers. Finding that she could only hear her own voice, she realized this wouldn’t be quite so simple. She skipped over the shattered stone floor and sidestepped a smashed chandelier as she passed through the grand hall.

“Twilight?”

She repeated as she broke off into the wings. The Mess Hall, the Sleeping Chambers, and the Military Wing all turned up empty. With her options dwindling, she decided to check out the library in the far corner of the compound.

With the roof having caved in years ago, the library offered little in the way of reading materials. Still, this didn’t stop the most recent addition to the Equestrian Royalty from picking through the mess as she searched for anything of interest.

“What are you doing?” Starlight asked, spying the princess standing alone in the center of the destroyed room. She carried an old-fashioned lantern at her side, providing just enough light to see the hundreds of loose pages splayed out in front of her.

“Part of the shelf collapsed,” Twilight explained, not bothering to look up. “Book fell apart when it landed. I’m trying to piece it back together. I’ve already got the first three hundred pages. I’m pretty sure I’m getting close to the end.”

“Is it at least a helpful book? Like an ancient spellbook or something?”

“No, it’s an old mystery novel,” Twilight said, her eyes sparkling as she pieced several of the pages back into the book’s spine. “I started it on a whim, but the set-up really intrigued me. And I couldn’t just leave a perfectly good mystery unsolved like that.”

Starlight stepped over a pile of debris to get to Twilight’s side. She glanced over the alicorn’s shoulder to check for herself. Seeing the evidence for herself, she stepped back and massaged the bridge of her nose with a hoof.

“Seriously?” she asked.

“What?” Twilight said, pulling her project out of Starlight’s view.

“Do you know what time it is, Twilight? I’ve been sitting back at the castle waiting for you to get home for hours now.”

With a wave of her hoof, Twilight dismissed the annoyed mare.

“It can’t be that late. Spike has been keeping an eye on the time.”

The student sighed.

“And where is Spike?”

“Over there.”

Twilight pointed to a lump of cloth and cotton that, before the centuries of exposure, might have been a couch. Atop the soggy nest, a small purple and green bump lay, his face covered with a leatherbound book.

“Really looks like he’s working hard,” Starlight snarked.

Setting her project aside, Twilight turned to see what was causing the fuss, wincing at the sight.

“I thought he was just reading,” Twilight explained.

“Right. I read like this sometimes, too.” Starlight lifted the book from the dragon’s snout. She tapped gently on the shoulder. When that didn’t work, she hovered the tome close to him and slammed it shut. The resulting puff of dust made her eye water.

“Monster!” Spike hollered, rocketing up.

“Nope. Just me.” Starlight put a hoof on his shoulder to calm him.

“Oh. Hi, Starlight.” His sleep-addled mind took a moment to register his words. “Wait, Starlight? What are you doing here?”

“It’s past midnight and I hadn’t heard anything from either of you all day. I was worried.”

“I appreciate your concern, Starlight.” Twilight gathered the loose pages with her magic. She tapped them against the floor to straighten them before tucking them into the book’s front cover. “But it was dangerous for you to come here alone.”

“I wasn’t alone,” Starlight clarified.

Twilight glanced over her student’s shoulder.

“You sure?”

“Yes. He’s waiting outside.”

The princess retrieved her saddlebags. Notes, quills, and sealed inkpots floated towards her, allowing her to sort and stash each piece of gear as she spoke.

“He?”

“He. Apparently, he had something urgent to tell you that couldn’t wait until morning. Not that I was sure you would even be back by tomorrow morning. Or . . . this morning . . .” She shook her head. “Whatever.”

“Right. Give me a second to get my things in order,” Twilight said. In addition to her written notes, she gathered several stacks of drawings and blueprints. By the time she had fitted everything into her bags, they were filled to bursting.

“You got everything, Spike?”

The dragon glanced down at the book he fell asleep reading.

With a smirk, Twilight took the book from his claws. She couldn’t help but notice the cover depicting a dragon guarding a princess from an unsavory-looking knight.

“This is what you were reading?” she asked.

He tapped his index claws together nervously as he nodded.

“I thought it might have some interesting ideas for game night with the guys.”

By some miracle, Twilight managed to add the storybook to her over-encumbered luggage. Behind her, Spike hopped down from his moldy pedestal.

“Alright. I think we’re ready to go, then,” Twilight announced, giving the ruined room one final sweep.

“About time,” Starlight said, trotting toward the door.

Spike scampered across the room and up Twilight’s leg, sitting himself comfortably across her back. Together, the two of them followed Starlight out.

“Good evening, Princess Twilight.” Blue bowed, nearly pressing his nose into the dirt. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Yeah. I think I just need to play it nice and simple. Okay. That’s the plan then. Or will she expect me to be more formal?”

The sound of a clearing throat drew Blue’s attention to the castle door, where Twilight, Starlight, and Spike were all standing, watching him.

“I think ‘Good Evening’ will do just fine,” Twilight said, snickering into her hoof.

Blue’s cheeks burned red. He staggered back and bowed to the approaching trio.

“Princess Twilight? My apologies. I didn’t hear you arrive.”

“He’s worse than you are with Celestia,” Starlight scoffed, hopping down the steps and strolling past the bowing stallion. “You guys can stay out here and exchange pleasantries. I’m going back home and straight into bed.”

“Why don’t you go with her, Spike,” Twilight suggested. “Make sure she doesn’t get too far ahead.”

Spike answered with a vigorous nod. He hopped down off Twilight and sprinted ahead, barely managing to reach Starlight before she stepped out onto the bridge back into the Everfree.

“Sorry, Princess. I didn’t mean to upset her,” Blue said.

“Forget about her. She’s just tired and cranky, but we’d best keep up with her. Do you mind walking and talking?” Twilight ushered back toward town with her hoof.

“Yeah. That’s fine, I guess.”

Twilight passed, motioning for him to follow her.

“So, Blue, Starlight told me that you needed to talk with me?” Twilight asked as the two of them passed through archways of trees and back into the forest.

“Yeah.”

Blue glanced at Starlight and Spike. They were a decent stretch ahead, but not quite out of earshot on such a quiet night.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s kind of a personal matter,” he explained, scratching at his mane.

Twilight followed his gaze to her friends. With an understanding nod, she slowed down, allowing the gap between the two groups to widen to a more comfortable distance.

“Better?” Twilight asked.

“I suppose so.”

“Then let’s hear it.”

He sighed.

“Princess, I’m in desperate need of aid. I didn’t know who else could help me.”

Twilight sized up the smaller stallion beside her.

“What seems to be the problem? Need help with a spell? Monster attacks? School exams?”

Blue raised an eyebrow.

“No, Princess. Nothing like that.”

“Well, if you’re going to make me guess, we might be here for a while.”

“Right.”

Blue stopped and took a deep breath. Twilight made it a few steps further before she stopped. She glanced back over her shoulder, studying the stallion with soft eyes.

“There’s something wrong with me, Princess.” Blue reached for the clasp on his cloak. With a snap, the garment unlatched, falling away into the mud. “I’ve heard that you’re the expert on things like this.” Blue turned away from her and extended his leg, giving the princess a clear view of his blank flank.

“I see your problem,” Twilight said, pressing her hoof to her chin. “You don’t have a cutie mark?”

Swallowing hard, Blue retrieved his cloak and covered himself.

“Please tell me that you’ve seen something like this before, Princess.”

“I can’t say that I have. Aside from fillies and colts, I mean. But no, never on an adult pony.”

Blue deflated.

“Then . . . I guess it is hopeless?”

Twilight raised a hoof.

“I didn’t say that. I’d be more than happy to help you with this, Blue. I happen to have a knack for settling magic-related mysteries.”

“You . . . you’ll help me?”

“I’ll do my best, Blue. Unfortunately, I’ve already got appointments for the next few days. But once I’m finished with those, I’ll have time to work on your case. Is that alright with you?”

“I mean, it’s not like I have much of a choice.”

“In the meantime, will you be staying in Ponyville?”

“I don’t have much of a choice in that, either.” He shrugged.

“Of course you have a choice. You could always go home. Where do you live? Canterlot? Manehattan? I don’t mind being away from Ponyville for a while if you need me to travel.”

“Well . . . I don’t really have anywhere to go back to.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure I can work something out with a hotel around here or something. I’ve still got a few bits to my name.”

Silence overcame their conversation for a while. Up ahead, Starlight and Spike finally noticed how far the other two had fallen behind, but a solemn nod from Twilight kept them from getting any closer.

“Blue?” Twilight finally piped up.

“Yes, Princess?”

“You could stay with me.”

Blue tripped over a rock in the path, nearly toppling over.

“What?”

“My castle has plenty of empty guest rooms.”

“I couldn’t impose like that, Princess. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“You sure? The beds are comfy, and Spike is a fantastic cook. Besides, it’ll make my job easier if you’re close. It’s a win-win.”

Blue sighed heavily.

“Very well. I won’t argue with you, Princess. If you think that’s best, I’ll defer to you.”

“Good. Now that we’ve settled that, there is one other matter we need to discuss.”

“And that is?”

“Tell me about yourself, Blue,” Twilight said.

“About myself?”

“Yeah.” Twilight flashed him a kind smile. “You see, there’s one other rule if you want my help. We have to be friends.”

“I don’t know if I’m really looking for friends right now, Princess.”

“Come on, Blue. Everyone needs friends.”

“She’s the Princess of Friendship, Blue. You’re not winning that argument. Believe me, I know,” Starlight hollered from somewhere in the darkness ahead.

Twilight puffed out her chest.

“And besides, if I get to know you a little better, it might help us in getting you your cutie mark,” she argued.

“Alright. I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try. What do you want to know?”

“As much as you’re willing to share.”

“My name is Blue Requiem. I grew up in a small village outside of Manehattan.”

“See? You’re off to a great start already,” Twilight cheered on.

“I really don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Tell me about your parents.”

“Never knew them.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.” Twilight cleared her throat as she used her magic to clear a path through the brush. “Who raised you, then?”

“I grew up in an orphanage. Turns out that prospective parents didn’t want a freak with bat wings. When I was old enough and could take care of myself, they let me out into the world. I’ve spent my life wandering around Equestria, taking odd jobs and quick paychecks.”

“I’m sorry, Blue. I know that can’t have been easy.”

By now, Blue was lost in his memories. He didn’t hear the princess’ words.

“Most recently, I’ve been up in Canterlot. Heard that you were involved with solving a magical incident at the castle that even Celestia herself couldn’t handle. I thought you might be able to help me. So, now I’m here.”

Twilight’s eyes were misted over. She put her wing protectively over the smaller figure.

“That sounds awful. But you’re not alone anymore, Blue.”

He smiled in response, leaning his head on her shoulder.

“Your words are unnecessary, Princess. But they are kind.”

The rest of their journey passed in solemn tranquility. Soon enough, Ponyville appeared ahead. They snaked through the empty streets, eventually arriving at Twilight’s castle.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys,” Starlight began as they stepped into the foyer, “But I need some sleep. I don’t have any plans tomorrow, so please let me sleep in if you don’t need me.” She turned to leave, but twirled back around, suddenly aware of something. “ I almost forgot. Twilight. A letter arrived from Princess Celestia. I took the liberty of placing it on your desk.”

“Thank you, Starlight,” the princess sang.

“Yeah. Well, if you need me, I’ll be sleeping.”

Without another word, she marched awkwardly off down the same hallways she had escorted Blue down when he had first arrived. Even from here, they could hear her door slam.

“What about you, Spike?” Twilight asked, nudging the little purple dragon.

“I’m tired, too,” he yawned.

As they spoke, Blue retrieved his bag from where he left it. He checked inside, making sure the package hadn’t been moved or tampered with.

“Before you settle in for the night, would you mind showing our new guest to one of the open rooms?” Twilight pointed a hoof at the thestral standing on the other side of the room.

“He’s staying here?”

“Yes. For a while, at least.”

“Okay.”

“You’re the best, Spike.”

The baby dragon waved a claw nonchalantly.

“I know.”

Twilight turned to Blue.

“And speaking of our guest. Do you need anything? Food? Drink? Do you have any questions?”

“I’m alright, Princess,” he said.

“Glad to hear it. If you change your mind and decide you need something, don’t hesitate to wake me. If I’m not in my room, I’ll probably be up in my office. Spike can show you where those are when he takes you to your room.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

“Well, if there’s nothing else, I’d best go see what I missed while we were out all day. Sleep well, you two,” Twilight said before taking to the air. She bolted down the same hallways as Starlight.

“Are you ready for me to show you to your room?”

“Yes. Thanks, Spike.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The dragon led them down the same hallway, too. As Blue surmised on his first visit, the rows of doors that lined the castle hall were indeed guest rooms. Once in the hall, he noticed a larger door at the end. On either side of it, stairways were carved into the cylindrical tower. A second door, as large as the first, sat atop the landing. Additional sets of stairs were visible, too, though he couldn’t see exactly where they led.

“This castle is impressive,” Blue mused.

“You haven’t seen the half of it,” Spike chuckled.

The dragon led him to the last door in the row on the left.

“Here you go. She’s all yours.”

“Thanks, Spike. Before you go, would you mind pointing out Twilight’s office. I remembered something I had forgotten to tell her. I’d like to tell her before I forget again.”

“Sure.” Spike pointed toward the larger door. “That’s Twilight’s room. You can usually find me sleeping in there, too.” He raised his claw to the room on the second floor. “And that’s Twilight’s office. She spends way too much time there.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Spike.”

“Now, if you don’t need anything else, I’m going to follow Starlight’s example and hit the hay.”

“Alright. Goodnight, Spike.”

“Goodnight, Blue.”

With that, the dragon scurried off through the heavy doors into Twilight’s room, leaving Blue standing alone in the hallway. Taking a mental note of which door he had been assigned, he instead made his way up toward Twilight’s office. Standing outside her door, he reached back into his bag and removed the package. The message: For Twilight had been scrawled across it in marker.

He stood motionless for a moment, staring at the door as if it were some sort of horrible monster about to crush him. It took several minutes to finally work up the nerve to reach for the handle. And as he grasped the brass ring, one of his ears twitched. He closed his eyes, drawing his focus entirely to searching for a sound.

Crying.

He could hear crying on the other side of the door.

A quick tug on the handle opened the door just wide enough for him to slip inside. Twilight sat at the far end of the cylindrical room, her legs on her desk and her head in her hooves. As carefully as he could, Blue approached her. He passed cluttered stacks of books and papers. The shelves on the walls were lined with various knick-knacks and relics he neither recognized nor cared too much about. Instead, he kept his eyes on the princess.

“Princess Twilight?”

The alicorn nearly rocketed out of her chair. Blue saw her slide a sheet of stationary into one of the piles on her desk before quickly rubbing her tears away with her free hoof.

“Blue? What are you doing up here?”

“I tried knocking, but you didn’t answer,” he apologized.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.” She sniffled and swallowed hard.

“Is everything alright, Princess?”

“Everything’s fine,” she explained. “Did you need something?”

Careful not to draw attention to it, Blue slipped the gift under his wing.

“I came up here to talk with you.”

“Oh? Well, I’m free right now. What did you want to talk about?”

Blue massaged the back of his neck.

“It’s the letter from Celestia, isn’t it? Is that what made you so upset?”

Twilight waved him off.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Just some . . . Princess stuff.”

“Fine. I wanted to talk to you about . . .” Blue sighed. “You know what, don’t worry about it, Princess. It’s not important and it’s clear you’ve got enough on your plate as it is.” With a wave, he turned to leave.

“I’m fine, Blue. I promise.”

“With all due respect, Princess, less than an hour ago, you were asking me to share my life’s story with you for the sake of friendship. But you’re already lying to me. I heard you crying, Princess. I just want to help you. The same way you want to help me.”

Twilight gestured toward the chair opposite her and Blue obliged.

“I suppose there’s no harm in it. You’ll find out about it in the morning either way.” Twilight plucked the letter from its hiding place. “Princess Celestia wanted to warn me about an announcement she’s making tomorrow morning. Well . . . a few hours from now, at this point.”

“Sounds like something big?”

“It is. She wanted to make sure that she didn’t spring it on me unexpectedly.” Twilight put a hoof on her chest and took a deep breath. “She’s searching for someone. By this time tomorrow, every pony in Equestria will be looking for her.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Blue reasoned.

“It’s a capture order. A criminal warrant,” she explained.

Blue leaned as far forward as he could without falling from his seat.

“Who for?” he asked.

Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

“Chrysalis. The Changeling Queen.”

Blue slid back in his seat.

“Then the rumors are true? About you and Chrysalis. I heard them while I was rummaging around Canterlot. Every pony seems to have their own interpretation.”

“Ugh. Rumors.” Twilight threw her head back.

“I’m sorry, Princess. Given your reaction, she must have been important.”

“At one point, yeah,” Twilight moaned. “But I don’t know what to think anymore. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her. Maybe I had made a mistake. It doesn’t matter now, though. Now it’s your turn, Blue. Are you going to tell me what you came up here to say?”

“I . . .” Blue felt the weight of the gift in his bag. He felt a little surprised that it didn’t drag him down to the floor. “I just wanted to apologize if I seemed a little . . . unenthusiastic while we were out in the Everfree. I’m glad you decided to help me. It seems like we could both use a friend right about now, huh?”

Twilight grinned.

“Every pony does.”

“Goodnight, Princess Twilight.”

“Goodnight, Blue Requiem.”

Ghosts, Part 2

Blue nearly made it to the edge of the castle courtyard in the time it took him to realize just how different Ponyville was during the day. Ponies stood at every street corner, chatting idly as they went about their business. Compared to Canterlot’s congested streets, Ponyville’s almost seemed empty by comparison. Only the occasional delivery cart broke foot traffic.

“Alright,” Twilight began, withdrawing a piece of paper from her bag. “I have the shopping list Spike wrote for us. It has everything we need on it.”

“Ooh. If we’re lucky, we can get most of this in the Market Plaza,” Twilight cooed. “I think Applejack is supposed to bring in a new shipment today. We might be able to get something fresh.”

She looked about ready to start drooling. “We could pick up an apple pie. Or maybe some apple fritters. Heck, I’d settle for just some fresh apples at this point. What do you think, Blue? Blue?”

Twilight turned toward her companion. He seemed to be focused entirely on avoiding eye contact with the other ponies on the sidewalk. With an unimpressed look on her face, Twilight cleared her throat obnoxiously. Blue’s thousand-yard stare snapped back to the present.

“Did you say something?” he asked innocently.

“Yes.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I asked if you wanted to pick up anything while you were here. Do you have everything you need for your stay at my castle? You didn’t seem to have much in your bags.”

“Don’t worry about me, Princess. I travel light.”

The duo arrived at the Market Plaza. If not for the landmark statue of Twilight atop the fountain, Blue doubted he would have recognized the place beneath the dozens of ponies that congregated here. The empty market stalls of last night’s ghost town were now bustling with shopkeepers announcing their special deals.

Lines had formed in front of many of the stalls. The patient ponies spent their time chatting with one another while they waited. A commendable feat, given the sea of conversations that surrounded them. Several couples sat on the benches around the square, enjoying one another’s company. A group of foals entertained themselves by tossing bits into the fountain basin.

“Place sure is busy during the day,” Blue remarked.

“Yeah. This plaza is much more than just a market. A lot of ponies like to just hang out around here with friends, even if they don’t need to shop. I’m guilty of it myself.”

“It’s a bit chaotic.”

“That’s just part of what makes it fun. So many ponies in one place having a good time. It’s not too different from something like a club in Manehattan or those outdoor diners in Canterlot. It just takes some getting used to.”

“I’m not sure that I want to get used to it,” Blue muttered.

“Not a fan of crowds?”

“No.”

“I understand that. When I first got here, I thought all these ponies were crazy. They threw a surprise party for me to welcome me to town. I hated every second of it. But look at me now.”

“Now you’re just as crazy as them?”

“Possibly.” Twilight laughed. “I get that a place like this can be scary, but I promise that the ponies around here are as friendly as you’ll find in Equestria. If you give them a chance, you might find that you could make a lot of friends here. I know I did.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re practically a celebrity in these parts.”

Twilight shook her head.

“It’s not like that. These ponies don’t look at me like a princess, they look at me like they would any other friend. Get to know them, and I’m sure they’ll see you the same way.”

“I wish I shared your enthusiasm, Princess.”

“Don’t feel so down about it.” Twilight lay a wing over him to comfort him. “We’ve still got a lot of time to change your mind.”

Blue pulled himself away from the princess.

“No offense, Princess, but I didn’t come here to make friends.”

“Have you ever had one?”

He opened his mouth as if ready to rattle off a list. But the words died on his tongue.

“No. Not really.”

“Maybe the two issues have some connection,” she suggested. “All I’m saying is that it might be something worth looking into.” Blue considered her point in quiet contemplation.

Eventually, the lines wound down, and with it, their list of items. Everything from food for the week’s meals to writing supplies. Twilight made sure to keep them separate when she added them into her bags. As she struck the last item off her list, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Afternoon, Twilight.” An orange earth pony sauntered up, tipping the edge of her wide-brimmed hat. “Fancy seeing you out here.”

“Applejack!” Twilight crumpled the paper and tossed it into her bags with the rest, freeing her hooves to wave back at Applejack. “I was looking for you.”

“Were you now?”

“Yeah. Where’s your cart? Did I miss the new shipment?”

“Sorry, Twilight.” Applejack rubbed the back of her neck. “Trouble on the farm. Shipment won’t be arriving until tomorrow. But I still had a few things to pick up in town today.”

“Aww . . .” Twilight whimpered like a filly. “I was really looking forward to some of your Granny’s famous apple pie. Oh well.”

“Speaking of tomorrow, are you still free to come over and help?”

“Of course. It’s my only plan for tomorrow.”

“I’m sure Applebloom will be thrilled to hear that.” Applejack finally took notice of the blue thestral standing beside Twilight. “Who’s your friend? I don’t think we’ve met.”

Twilight motioned to Blue. “Applejack, this is Blue Requiem.” Then she motioned back to Applejack. “And Blue, this is my friend, Applejack.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mister Blue.” She stretched out a hoof toward him.

“You, too.” He took her outstretched hoof. Coupled with her firm grip, the spontaneity and energy in her hoofshake nearly knocked him off his hooves. When she finally stopped, he took a moment to reorient himself.

“Any friend of Twilight’s is a friend of mine,” she exclaimed with a vigorous nod.

“Thanks.”

A wide grin spread over Applejack’s face as Blue returned to his evasive self.

“Well, I’d love to stay and chat with the both of you, but I’ve got to be getting back home soon. I promised Applebloom that she could help me with dinner tonight, and she’s a filly you really don’t want to keep waiting.”

“I can imagine,” Twilight giggled.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Twilight.” With a tip of her hat and an enthusiastic wave, Applejack disappeared back into the crowd and out of sight.

“So, that was the famous Applejack,” Blue said.

“That it was. See, you’re already making friends.”

“I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

Circling back around toward him, Twilight put a hoof on his shoulder.

“Yeah, that’s part of it, too. Come on. Let’s drop this stuff off at home and pick up Spike. Then we can head out to the Everfree. There’s no crowds out there you need to worry about.”

For the first time since he left the castle that morning, Blue smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’d like that.”

“We’re here,” Twilight sang as she took her first steps onto the rope bridge.

“You know, I thought the Everfree was supposed to be a dangerous place,” Blue mused as he followed after her. The bridge swung under their combined weight. “But that’s my third time through with nothing happening.”

“That’s because you’ve got me to keep you safe,” Spike boasted. He sat comfortably on Twilight’s back, a leather-bound tome in his claws.

“There’s that.” Twilight bobbed her head back and forth. “And I’ve been leading us on the safest path through the forest. There aren’t many monsters in this area, so we don’t have to worry about it. Try to go any deeper, though, and you’ll start running into manticores and hydras.”

“And you definitely don’t want to run into a hydra in the dark,” Spike said. “Believe me.”

The trio stepped back onto solid ground in the castle courtyard. Without the night hanging over it, the castle looked far less intimidating. Blue started up the steps, only to realize that Twilight and Spike had stopped.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"Nope,” Twilight said, kneeling down and letting Spike climb down.

Blue hopped back down to join them.

“We’re just not going inside?” He pointed over his shoulder at the door.

“No need. With the rain last night, I was stuck inside the whole time. I already got everything I needed there. Now, I just want to take some notes on the outside architecture. I mean, just look at those beautiful archways. I can only hope my own designs can capture a piece of that.”

Blue marveled at the stars in the young princess’ eyes.

“You’re really passionate about this, aren’t you?”

“Of course. This has to be perfect.”

Somewhere behind the thrill, Blue thought he sensed sadness.

“Because you got the idea from her?”

Twilight turned to her assistant.

“Spike, would you mind helping me set this all up?” She removed a strange, compact wooden slab from her bag that she used as a flat writing surface. From a different bag, she produced a set of quills and ink, as well as a few large sheets of drafting paper.

“Twilight?” Blue started again. “I know it’s hard, but if you ever need someone to talk to . . . you know . . . about her—”

“Thank you for your help, Spike,” Twilight interrupted. “Blue, you can head inside if you want to. I’ll be out here for a while working on this. Oh! Don’t go too far in. There’s a bunch of traps and I’m not sure I’ll be able to find you again. There’s a few books in the reading room right inside if you’re interested.”

She refused to look at him.

Blue offered a sluggish nod in return. Taking her advice, he bounded up the steps and through the front door. He turned into the first room that branched off from the main hall. Based on the little that remained of the rotting furniture, he figured it must have been a den at one point.

Leaning back against the skeletal frame of a couch, he unbuckled his bag and withdrew a book from within. The red cover burned his eyes. He opened to the front page to avoid it, only to notice the signature penned on the inside cover. With a hiss, he flipped randomly to the middle of the book. There, in the middle of a chapter on the basics of telekinesis, he allowed himself to drift off into a world of paper and ink.

As the hours crept by, he grew more engrossed in the book. What started as a simple time waster evolved into actual interest. And as long as the pages kept him enraptured, he didn’t have to think about the princess. The next chapter focused on focusing magic into a light. The chapter after that, about the basics of combat. Each new paragraph offered invaluable insight into the uses of magic, and into the mare sitting alone outside.

She really is amazing, isn’t she? I have to tell her—

“Hey, Blue.”

The young dragon’s voice derailed any further thoughts down that line. Blue slammed the book shut and tucked it away as quickly as he could.

“Spike? Don’t sneak up on me like that. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“I did? Sorry.”

Behind the dragon, through the cracked glass of the window, the golden aura of dusk had already set in. The first few stars were just starting to peek out from their hiding places.

“Don’t worry about it. Is something up? Why aren’t you helping Twilight?”

“She’s finishing up now. She wanted me to tell you to start packing up.”

“Thank you, Spike.”

The dragon kept his claws folded behind his back as he rocked back and forth. The floorboards creaked under the constant shifting.

“So . . .” he said through pursed lips.

“What? Is there something else?” Blue inquired.

“What were you reading?”

Blue shifted the book further back under his wing until he was sure Spike couldn’t see it.

“Nothing important. Just something that Twilight lent me.” He scanned the room, looking for anything that might help him weasel out of this conversation.

“What’s it about? Dragons?”

“No.”

“Is it one of those detective novels she got caught up in last night?”

“No.”

“She didn’t give you one of her new Daring Do books, did she?”

“No, Spike.” Blue didn’t try to hide his frustration. “It’s a magic manual. It teaches basic spells and the like.” He flashed the book too quickly for Spike to get a good look. “Satisfied?”

Spike’s tail drooped.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I’ll leave you to your reading.”

After a few deep breaths, Blue started again.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten upset with you. Forgive me. I’m not used to others being interested in what I’m doing. Not unless they’re planning to make fun of me, that is.”

Spike walked up beside Blue and plopped himself down beside him.

“It’s alright. I know how it feels to be picked on for stuff like that. The first time I visited the Dragon Lands, I didn’t really get along too well with any of them. But you don’t have to worry about that here with us. Especially when it comes to reading. I’m sure Twilight would love to talk about books with you.”

Blue removed the book from its hiding spot and set it on his lap.

“Can I ask you something, Spike?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you really think of me as a friend?”

A soft clicking echoed through the room as Spike tapped his claw against his chin.

“I suppose I haven’t really known you that long, but you seem like a nice guy—”

“And what if I told you that I’m not?” Blue curled inward. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve hurt ponies that trusted me. That cared about me. Sometimes I wonder if I deserve friends like you and Twilight.”

“Everyone deserves a friend. No matter who they are.” Spike hit Blue’s shoulder with a playful punch. “At least, that’s what I believe.”

“I hope you’re right, Spike.”

“I usually am,” he said proudly.

“Right. Another thing. Would you do me a favor and not tell Twilight about this?” He waved a hoof, gesturing at the air between them. “I owe it to her to tell her the truth myself.”

It took a moment, but Spike eventually nodded.

With their pact secured, the duo gathered themselves and joined Twilight outside. Covered in sketches that captured every facet of the castle, the many sheets of paper were scattered around the opening. The one still clasping onto her desk seemed to be a depiction of the castle as it had been back in its prime.

“Impressive,” Blue noted as he peeked over Twilight’s shoulder.

“You think so? I wasn’t too sure about these parts.” She pointed to a few spots on the drawing. “The castle is so run down that I had to take some liberties with them.”

“I think you did a great job.”

“Thanks. I’m just hoping that I’m able to capture some of that historic beauty in my own construction. I know it won’t be easy, but I think it’ll be worth it.”

With the aid of her two assistants, Twilight cleaned up her station. She rolled the drawings up neatly and stashed them away in their own separate pocket. A varied collection of straight edges, protractors, compasses, and a litany of other drafting tools were ferreted away next. The oversized clipboard went last.

“All set?” Blue asked.

“There’s only one thing left.” Twilight knelt down. “Spike, you ready?”

With her lowered height, Spike had no issue climbing aboard. Despite the sun still sitting on the horizon, the dragon yawned while he made himself comfortable. Once he settled, the group began their hike back through the Everfree.

They were nearly halfway home before Blue broke the silence.

“So, what’s the point of this school idea?”

“Spreading the message of unity and friendship to every species in Equestria.”

“You really think that will work? Most of them aren’t known for playing nice. I mean, could you imagine dragons and ponies living side-by-side?”

Twilight offered an unimpressed glare at Blue before shifting it toward the sleeping Spike.

“Nope. Couldn’t imagine it.”

“You know what I mean. Spike’s hardly the standard for a dragon. They’re dangerous. Heck, a lot of other races are dangerous. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s definitely not going to be easy.”

“I have to try at the very least.”

“I know. I just want you to know what you’re getting into. Just promise me you’ll be safe, Twilight.”

“Are you worried about me?” She teased him.

“I didn’t say that.”

Blue’s cheeks glowed red, causing Twilight to burst out laughing.

“I appreciate the concern, but I’m not afraid. It’s not like I’m some stranger to this. I’ve befriended plenty of dangerous creatures. A sea serpent. A draconequus. Even the notorious Queen Chrysalis—”

Before Blue could question the abrupt end to their conversation, he stumbled into Twilight, nearly knocking himself into the dirt. The collision succeeded in sending Spike crashing into the dust with a surprised yelp. The thestral shook away his shock and marched up to Twilight.

“Hey! What are you just stopping randomly for—”

As he spoke, he followed her line of sight into the treeline. It didn’t take long for him to find the answer to his question.

“Chrysalis?” Twilight whispered, inching forward toward the tall, dark figure.

“Impossible,” Blue gasped.

At the sound of her name, the changeling Royal turned and whipped around to face them. Her eyes widened as she spied the travelers. Without a second of hesitation, she broke for the cover of the forest, vanishing into the brush.

“Chrysalis, wait!” Twilight cried, rushing after her.

“Twilight, wait,” Blue cried. However, in the time it took to warn her, Twilight had already traveled beyond their sight.

“What happened?” Spike asked, climbing up from the small ditch he crashed into.

“No time to explain. Get on.”

Sensing the urgency in the stallion’s voice, Spike pulled himself up by the straps of the saddlebags. He clung tightly as Blue broke into a full-on sprint.

“Keep your head down,” Blue ordered as they plunged through the forest, dodging and weaving through gnarled branches and thorny bushes. Spike obeyed, ducking down as far as he could manage without losing his grip.

The stallion kept his focus forward, ignoring the bloody marks opening across his legs and flanks as he forced through the forest’s resistances. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder. It took a minute for him to spot the purple tail bouncing madly ahead.

“I see her. Don’t let go, Spike.”

“I don’t plan on it.”

Up ahead, Twilight broke into a clearing. She stopped in the center, chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her head swung every way, searching for any trace of the changeling. A rustle of leaves caught her attention. She approached wearily, only for the beast to launch itself from the foliage, catching her off-guard as it dragged her down to the ground.

“Damn it,” Blue snarled.

Whatever had ambushed her, it stood nearly as tall as the changeling. Rather than the slick black chitin, the beast’s texture looked lumpy and uneven. It seemed to be coated in sticks and mud. It used its weight to its advantage, pinning Twilight down and lashing out with its fangs. She reacted quickly to raise her hoof. The beast obliged, sinking its stone teeth into her foreleg.

“It’s a Timberwolf,” Spike explained.

Another wolf appeared at the edge of the clearing, focused on securing its prey.

“You ready to fight, Spike?”

“Leave the big one to me,” he replied.

Blue felt the dragon’s weight shift. The temperature started to climb. As the two of them hit the edge of the clearing, they split.

Spike dove forward, rolling close enough to unleash a torrent of flame on the larger of the two. As the flames engulfed the beast, it snarled, releasing Twilight from its grasp. She followed up Spike’s distraction with a hearty kick to the creature’s center, sending it staggering back. Before it could recover, a fireball struck its flank, igniting the dry grasses and sticks and turning the bonfire into an inferno.

Sensing an opening, the second wolf rushed forward, only to be intercepted by a bodycheck from Blue. He knocked the beast aside with a surprising force, given his small frame. Before the wolf could even register the second attacker, Blue smashed its face into the forest floor, exposing its throat. Blue took advantage, and tore into the wood with his fangs.

The first bite broke through the exterior shell.

The second turned the wolf limp.

And the third separated its head from its body.

Blue wiped the muck from his chin and spat out a tuft of grass.

“You alright, Twilight?”

“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Did you see which way Chrysalis went?”

“I think we have bigger problems,” Spike pointed out.

The forest around them came alive. Shadows danced just outside their perimeter. Claws dug into the earth; howls filled the air. The trio gathered at the center of the clearing, standing with their backs together.

“I count seven,” Spike said.

“I count eight,” Blue countered.

Twilight stomped her good hoof.

“I don’t have time for this.”

Her eyes flickered with violet energy. Lightning arced around her horn. The clouds above started circling. With a furious cry, Twilight unleashed her magic. Blue scooped Spike in the crook of his arm and dropped to the ground. Ignorant to the true danger, the rest of the Timberwolf back closed in.

Blue squeezed his eyes shut as mystical energy tore through the night. Waves of magenta light rippled outward. Every fiber of fur on his body stood on end as the electricity washed over him. His teeth rattled in his skull.

The wolves weren’t as lucky.

The constructs collapsed wherever they were, wailing and squirming as the magic tore their bodies apart. Sticks, stones, and clumps of mud were pulled away without the slightest hint of force behind them. The beasts fell to pieces as Twilight’s magic tore their own magic from their bodies.

When Blue finally opened his eyes, all he could see were the piles of debris that marked the Timberwolves’ resting place. The thunder died down, leaving only the sound of a mare gasping for air. As soon as he found the coast clear, Blue released Spike and climbed to his hooves.

While he watched, Twilight shuffled back toward the trees.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to find her. She’s in danger out here.”

“Like Tartarus you are.”

Twilight’s eyes widened as she felt something pull on her tail. She kicked weakly at her captor, but Blue refused to let go.

“I have to bring her back,” she gasped. “I have to know the truth.”

“Twilight, that’s enough!”

As his voice echoed through the forest and through her head, Twilight ceased struggling. Blue tugged hard, dragging Twilight back to the center of the clearing. When he was sure she wouldn’t try to run, Blue released her. Instead, he put his fangs to use by slashing up his cloak. He cut the fabric into thinner strips and used them to bandage Twilight’s wounds.

She sucked a breath through her teeth as he went to work. But the tears in her eyes had nothing to do with the pain.

“You don’t get it,” she pleaded. “I need to know.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Twilight,” Blue said, his voice muffled by the makeshift bandage in his mouth.

“That's why I have to find Chrysalis.”

“You really think that’s a good idea?” He pulled the bandage tight, causing Twilight to squeal. “I don’t care what you think, but you’re not going looking for her tonight.”

Twilight hung her head. A tear splashed down into the mud.

“Spike.” Blue grit his teeth. “You good?”

“Yeah.”

“Glad to hear it. Would you mind keeping an eye out? Warn us if you see any more wolves.”

“Right.”

Spike trudged to the edge of the circle. He marched along the circumference, making sure no other surprises would sneak up on them. As Blue sat down beside Twilight, she crawled into his lap, allowing him to stroke her mane while she fought back tears.

“She ran.”

“She did.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Twilight curled up to him.

“She looked terrified of me. Do you think she heard about Celestia’s bounty?”

“Maybe it wasn’t her.”

That thought made Twilight’s breath catch.

“What?”

“I was talking with Starlight last night while we were trying to find you.” He moved his hoof through her mane. “She told me about something called a Wisp.”

“That wasn’t a wisp. It couldn’t have been.”

“Why not?”

“I-It . . . I know it wasn’t.”

“That isn’t an answer, Twilight. She saw you, she ran, she led you into a trap, and then she abandoned you in the ensuing chaos. Does that sound like Chrysalis to you?”

“I . . . I don’t know anymore.”

“You said she loved you. That doesn’t sound like love to me.”

“Or maybe I was wrong about her.”

Blue wiped the tears from the young mare’s cheek.

“What makes you think that—”

“Because none of this adds up, Blue. If she really loved me, why didn’t she come back?”

“We just decided that she was a Wisp, didn’t we?”

“I don’t mean tonight. For two months, I thought she was dead. Then I get a letter saying she’s alive but missing. And then nothing. We used to talk about what we would do after saving Celestia. She seemed so excited to come home and live with me in Ponyville. But she never came.”

“You’ve spent some time thinking about this.”

“Too much.” Crickets chirped in the long pauses between their words.

“You said that you needed to know the truth. What did you mean?”

Twilight swallowed hard.

“After she died, I started to wonder if maybe I’d been mistaken. She helped me through a rough time in my life, but we didn’t spend that much time together. I started to doubt whether I really loved her. But I decided that it didn’t matter. I put that chapter of my life behind me.

“But when I heard that she was still alive, I was so happy. It was like a piece of me had come back with her. It soothed a pain that I’d been ignoring for so long.”

By now, her tears had run dry.

“And now my past has come back to haunt me. When I read Celestia’s letter last night, all of those questions came flooding back. Had I made a mistake telling her that I loved her, or not? I thought that if I could see her again, talk to her, then I would be able to know. To know that I really did love her . . . or that I didn’t.”

“I can’t imagine what you must have felt these last few months, Twilight.”

The princess rose from the dirt. She took an experimental step with her wounded leg, but it buckled under the weight.

“I just want to go home.”

“What about Chrysalis?”

“You were right. That wasn’t her.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier.”

“No. I should be stronger than that. It caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting to see her and I lost my cool. I won’t do it again.” Her voice teetered on the edge of cracking.

“Isn’t that a little unfair to yourself?”

Twilight hesitated.

“What’s done is done. I can’t spend the rest of my life wondering what might have been. She’s made it clear at this point that she isn’t coming back for me. So, why should I waste my time caring about her? At this point, I think it would just be easier if she stayed away.”

“Twilight . . .”

She took another step. Although she still winced with each step, she refused to stop.

“Come on. It’s going to take up a bit of time to find the trail again.”

She marched off into the trees.

“We’d better keep up with her,” Spike said as he jogged past the lowly thestral.

Blue looked up to the stars. The last warmth of sunset had burned away.

“I suppose you’re right. Maybe Chrysalis shouldn’t come back . . .”

Ghosts, Part 4

“Are we almost there yet?” Blue trudged through the dust behind Twilight. “We’ve been walking for almost an hour and my hooves are killing me.”

“Just a little further,” she promised. “You know, we’d be there sooner if you quit dragging your hooves. Just something to keep in mind.”

The thestral’s lips curled into a pout. He couldn’t see the princess’ face, but the tone of her voice told him she was amused by his displeasure. With a groan, he glanced back over his shoulder. He could still see the silhouette of Ponyville in the distance. Just the thought of walking back aggravated the throbbing in his legs.

“Why am I even here?” Blue demanded. “Isn’t helping you more of Spike’s thing?”

“Spike’s been extremely helpful these last few days. I think he deserves a day off.”

“Then what about Starlight?”

Twilight chuckled.

“She’s busy, too. What’s wrong? Yesterday, you seemed so eager to help me out. Maybe I just enjoy your company.” She spun around to face him, nearly close enough for their muzzles to touch. “Don’t you enjoy spending time with me?”

Blue stumbled backward, kicking up dust as he fell.

“I-I didn’t . . . I didn’t mean . . . “ he stammered.

She flashed him a wicked smile as she offered her hoof.

“Good. I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“You’re a jerk.”

Succumbing to the contagion of her sly grin, Blue took the offered help and pulled himself up to his hooves. Twilight helped him brush the dirt off his cloak before they continued.

Over the next hill, the farm came into view. A house and barn sat at the center of the compound. A seemingly endless length of wooden fencing stretched around the perimeter in varying states of disrepair. Hundreds of trees lined the fields, their shimmering red treasures visible even from this distance.

“We’re here,” Twilight said, coupling her announcement with a grand flourish.

“I figured.”

Their dirt path led them through the interior of the farm, releasing them into a wide front yard. They made it halfway across when the house’s front door swung open. Applejack trotted out, leaving the door open behind her.

“Howdy, Twilight.”

“Good afternoon, Applejack. I’m not too early, am I?”

“Of course not. Applebloom’s been chomping at the bit waiting for you. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to start early. And I see you brought Mister Blue with you.”

Blue offered a half-hearted wave.

“Twilight thought I might be able to help. Right?”

The princess shrugged.

Applejack chuckled as she stepped aside, ushering them toward the front door. The patio’s wooden beams groaned as they stepped up onto the porch. A pair of rocking chairs creaked with the breeze. Above, windchimes played their ringing melodies.

Twilight’s magic pulled the door open, allowing the group inside.

The thin entryway forced them through one at a time. Their hooves clicked against the hardwood floors as they squeezed between a rather austere dining room and an old-fashioned sitting room. Just looking at the floral pattern and scratchy threads of the couch made Blue’s fur itch.

“Just go straight on ahead into the kitchen,” Applejack ordered.

The group spilled into the kitchen. Despite being the largest room in the house so far, it still felt cramped with three ponies standing in it. Wooden cabinets plastered with peeling paint lined most of the kitchen. An old metal refrigerator hummed in the corner. Out through the windows over the sink, the orchards stretched out endlessly.

Applejack squeezed past the other two to the staircase just beside them.

“Apple Bloom!” she hollered up the stairs. “Twilight’s here.”

“Already? She’s early. I’ll be down in just a second,” a squeaky voice yelled back.

“She sounds excited,” Blue remarked.

“You have no idea. When she told me she was having trouble in school, I said something about asking Twilight for help. I sort of meant it as a joke, but I don’t think she realized that. And once I brought it up . . . well, let’s just say you can’t put apples back up on the tree.”

“Don’t worry, I’m more than happy to help.” Twilight smiled.

“I know. And I thank you for that. I still remember back when I had to have Big Mac help me with homework. It would’ve taken us longer than Applebloom to figure it out.”

“Quit being dramatic. Speaking of Big Macintosh, where is he?”

“He took the cart into town with this week’s harvest. Granny went with him. She’s hoping to renegotiate our contract with a few of the vendors. See if we can’t squeeze a few more bits out of the season. Granny volunteered. She’s quite the negotiator.”

Applejack climbed the first few steps and raised her voice.

“And of course Applebloom is here, if she ever decides to come downstairs.”

“I’m going as fast as I can!” Applebloom whined.

The filly stumbled down the stairs. She carried a heap of pencils, papers, and textbooks, forcing her to walk on her hind legs. Applejack guided her sister into the dining room, where she heaved everything onto the table in a minor academic apocalypse. The little mare took a moment to catch her breath before rushing over the princess and skipping circles around her.

“Howdy, Twilight!”

“Good afternoon, Applebloom.”

She skidded to a stop and saluted.

“I’m ready to learn, Princess.”

Twilight’s smile stretched from ear-to-ear.

“It’s refreshing to have a student so eager to learn. Let’s get started right away, then.” Twilight took a seat at the table, using her magic to organize the mess. Applebloom rocketed into the seat beside her.

“Alright, looks like you have things under control here,” Applejack said, retrieving a belt of tools from one of the hooks on the hall tree. “I’d best be getting to work, though. If any of you get hungry or thirsty, help yourselves to whatever we’ve got. Applebloom knows where everything is.”

“You won’t be staying for the lesson?” Blue asked.

“As much as I’d love to, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. A storm nearly brought down some of our fences. I figure I’d best get out there and fix it right quick.”

“Sounds rough. I can come back another day to help with that if you need me to.”

“That’s kind of you to offer, Twilight, but I think I can handle this.”

With a tilt of her hat, Applejack disappeared through the back door. Blue watched her through the window as she started down one of the many paths that lead into the orchard.

“What about me?” the thestral asked.

“You can join us if you want. Just pull up a chair.”

Applebloom leaned in close to Twilight and whispered something into her ear. Twilight’s cheeks glowed red for a moment as she shook her head vehemently.

“Oh. Sorry,” Applebloom chuckled.

“It’s alright. He’s just a friend. You can call him Blue.”

“Nice to meet you Mister Blue,” the filly said, bouncing in her seat.

“Likewise, Applebloom,” Blue said as he collapsed into the free seat beside Twilight. He pulled a stack of books from his bag and set them out beside the rest of the school supplies.

“Thank you for carrying those, Blue.”

“Twilight, is that a calculus book?”

The alicorn turned to Applebloom, ignoring Blue’s last comment.

“Alright, first thing’s first. We need to figure out what you are currently working on. Do you have an assignment you’re supposed to be working on right now? We can start from there.”

Applebloom dug through her papers and removed a sheet of practice problems.

“Here you go, Twilight.”

“Thank you. Looks like pretty basic operations. Addition and Subtraction. Multiplication and Division. Are these the questions you’re having trouble with?”

“Only when the numbers get too big.”

As Twilight wrote out the first problem on a piece of paper, Blue turned his attention to the windows. Their voices faded as he devoted his full focus to the scene outside. He shifted constantly in his seat, causing the wood to creak.

“Alright, so here, you’re going to want to add these two number . . .”

Twilight’s voice faded out.

In the corner of his eye, Blue could still see the session underway. Occasionally, Twilight ruffled through the papers, plucking out another and setting it in front of Applebloom.

“What about this one?” Applebloom asked.

“You just have to . . .”

More math. More jargon. He didn’t care for it.

Twilight turned to Blue. Her lips moved, but he couldn’t hear her voice. Despite this, he nodded slowly, hoping it would satisfy her. She responded by slugging him in the arm.

“Hey, what was that for?” Blue demanded, rubbing his shoulder.

“You haven’t been listening to me at all, have you?”

“Of course I have.”

“Then what did I just ask you?”

Blue opened his mouth confidently, but his lips froze in place..

“That’s what I thought.” Twilight pouted. “I asked if we were boring you.”

“Oh. Whoops.” Blue scratched his muzzle. “I just zoned out for a bit.”

Applebloom snickered as Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Right.”

Blue huffed.

“I was wondering if Applejack needed any help. I mean, you don’t need me here. I don’t know anything about teaching math. I might be able to help her, though.” Blue pointed out the window toward the path Applejack had taken.

Twilight lowered her book and glanced out toward the fields.

“Fine. If you really don’t want to listen to me teach math, I suppose I won’t make you.”

“Thank you for showing mercy, Princess.” Blue smirked.

Twilight shoved him playfully.

“Just get out of here, you delinquent. Applebloom, don’t pay any attention to Blue. He’s a bad student.”

“I never claimed to be anything else,” he argued. He slipped out the back door before Twilight had a chance to get another word in.

He must’ve been zoned out for a while. The sun had long since passed midday. The backyard, much like the front, was little more than a patch of dust that separated the house from the fields. Blue sauntered down the path. The fences that lined either side looked almost brand new. It didn’t take long for him to spot Applejack as she hammered a wooden post into the ground.

“Applejack?” Blue called out.

The mare jumped, nearly dropping the hammer she held in her teeth.

“Sir Blue? Something wrong?”

“No. I was just getting a little antsy sitting inside. I can only handle so many math classes before I could lose my mind. I came out to see if you needed any help.”

“I understand that. There’s nothing like working in the fresh air.” She returned to her efforts to hammer the fencepost into the dirt, all the while narrating her work. “Now, we’ve got to get these posts down like this. Every few feet. Doesn’t have to be too exact. We’ve got boards that go between them.”

Much to Blue’s own amazement, he listened intently to her instructions. She offered him a second hammer and pointed to the nearby pile of lumber. Together, the two of them put together a few feet of fencing. Applejack put the posts in the ground, Blue built the fence between them. It took about an hour, but they eventually found their rhythm. The sun had turned a dark orange by the time Applejack had finally stopped.

“Are we done?” Blue asked, wiping the sweat from his brow. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually sweat like this.

“Not by a long shot,” Applejack admitted, returning her hammer to her belt. “But that’s enough for today. Granny and Big Mac should be back soon. I want to have dinner ready by the time they get back.”

“You’re going in, then?”

“Yeah. Admittedly, I probably should have started cooking a while ago.”

Blue glanced at the pile of wood. As much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t hate this work. It did the one thing he hoped it would. It kept his hooves moving and stopped his mind from wandering.

“I could keep going, if you wanted?”

“Mister Blue, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You don’t have to. I would like to help.”

Applejack sighed.

“If you really want to, I’m not going to stop you. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, okay? If you start feeling tired or thirsty just come on inside. This wasn’t supposed to be done today, anyhow.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

He and Applejack exchanged nods as she left. Alone, Blue continued his work. In spite of his best efforts, progress slowed to a crawl. With every new post he had finished, he took a short break. He’d lean up against the fence so that he could test for its integrity at the same time.

The sun started to sink. The sound of rustling leaves filled the orchard with every gust of wind. The eerie edge drew Blue’s attention to the edge of the property, where he could see the wild growth of the Everfree. At every break, he would look up into the tree line, expecting to see someone staring back at him. Even he didn’t fully understand his paranoia.

By the time the sun finally reached the horizon, he finished. He could still see several gaps in the fence that needed to be addressed, but that would have to wait for another day. Gathering up the tools Applejack had left him, he cantered back up toward the house.

The lights in the kitchen were on. He could see Applejack, Twilight, and Applebloom all gathered within, laughing and chattering as they went about cooking. Careful to avoid their line of sight, Blue tossed the tools onto the back porch and returned to the yard. He reached his forelegs up onto the fence and stared off into the sunset.

He didn’t bother turning around when he heard the screen door slam shut.

“See something interesting out there?” Twilight asked as she sat beside him. She leaned back against the fence and closed her eyes.

“Nothing in particular. Just enjoying the view,” Blue admitted.

“Applejack invited us to stay for dinner. I told her we would. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure.”

“She offered to make some fresh Apple pie for us. I’d recommend you try it. Their family is famous for their apples, but they’re also known for just about everything made with them, too.”

“So I’ve heard.”

The night time gale filled the long gaps in their conversation.

“Blue?”

“Yeah?”

“I want to talk to you about last night.”

“Yeah?”

“I said a lot of things that I didn’t mean. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing to me?”

“Because I lied to you. And I’ve been lying to myself for the last few months. Celestia knows that if anyone deserves the truth, it’s you.”

“Twilight, I—”

“This morning, Spike was helping me in the library. He . . . he talked about the book he caught you reading back at the Castle of the Two Sisters. He didn’t understand. But I do.”

“Twilight, don’t do this. Please,” Blue pleaded.

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t. We can just go back inside, eat dinner, and enjoy ourselves. I’ll be gone before morning. It’s that simple.”

“And leave me alone again?”

Blue sighed through his nose.

“If that’s what has to happen. Yes.”

“How can you say that? How can you say it so . . . easily? Didn’t it mean anything to you? Don’t you care?” Twilight grew impatient with the silence. “I asked you a question, Chrysalis.”

“What do you want me to say?” the thestral blurted.

“I want you to tell me the truth,” Twilight shot back. “I want to know if what we had was real. Or if it was just the right place at the wrong time.”

Blue shook his head.

“I can’t answer that, Twilight.”

“What were you planning?” she asked. “Were you just going to run off again without saying anything to me? By letting me spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been?”

“If that’s what I had to do.”

Twilight scoffed.

“Quit talking in riddles. Just give me a straight answer.”

Blue collapsed beside her, mimicking her leaned back posture.

“I wanted to tell you, Twilight. I swear I did. That first night we met, when I came up to your office. But then I heard Celestia’s edict.”

“You didn’t have to be scared. I would’ve helped you.”

“It has nothing to do with fear, Twilight. I heard you crying. It made me start questioning things. Then you saw the wisp in the forest. The way you chased after her . . . after me . . . I didn’t know what to think.”

“I . . .” The princess hung her head. “I see.”

“You said you wanted the truth from me. You wanted to know if what we had was real? I didn’t know the answer. You seemed so angry, so unsure. I thought that telling you the truth would just make things harder. I didn’t want to put you in that position.”

“Because of what I said last night?”

“Yeah.”

Twilight slid over, resting her head on Blue’s shoulder.

“Chrysalis, everything I said last night was a lie. That’s why I wanted to apologize.”

Blue rested his head on Twilight’s.

“It didn’t sound like a lie.”

The alicorn chuckled morosely.

“I’ve had a lot of practice since you left. I stayed by your side for days, hoping that you’d just wake up like nothing happened. When you didn’t, I fell apart.” Tears gathered in the pony’s reddening eyes. “I mourned for you. But, by the time I lost hope, it seemed like who knew the truth had moved on. Everypony wanted everything back to business as usual.”

“I’m sorry, Twilight.”

The tears started to trickle.

“But it wasn’t just them. They talked to me as though nothing had happened. Like they expected me to just forget about it. But I couldn’t. So I lied. I told them I was fine. That what we had was nothing more than just a fling brought on by such a horrible situation.”

Blue wiped a tear from Twilight’s cheek.

“I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“I spent every waking moment lying through my teeth, praying that I’d start to believe it. And maybe I did. But last night, when I saw that wisp . . . when I saw you . . . it all came back to me. All the bitterness and confusion that I’d been holding in came pouring out. At that moment, I just wanted you to hold me like you used to.”

Twilight sniffled.

“So?”

“So what?”

“Was it real?”

Blue brushed a hoof through Twilight’s mane.

“I came back, didn’t I?”

“And you were planning on leaving again. You just told me that.”

“Because I thought you wanted me to. You had to let me go once before. I worried that if I came back again, I’d be putting you in that same position. I’d be forcing you to choose a path for my sake. I couldn’t do that to you. If I revealed myself, I didn’t think I’d ever get the truth out of you.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“Then I won’t.”

Twilight buried her muzzle into Blue’s chest, drying her tears on his fur.

“And don’t you ever think about pulling a stupid stunt like that again. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“I promise that I’ll do everything in my power to stay with you.” Blue smiled. “At least up until the day you say otherwise.”

Twilight responded with a kick to his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

“That’s not funny.”

“You know what really isn’t funny? You, kicking me. I’m not used to being this soft,” Blue chuckled between coughs. It didn’t help that Twilight only tightened her grip on him.

“I think I have my answer now,” Twilight said, wiping her tears away.

“You think so?”

“Yeah.”

Eventually, Twilight released the thestral hesitantly, as though he might bolt the moment she freed him.

“So, what do we do now?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m pretty sure I have a bounty on my head. I’d be pretty scandalous if a Princess of Equestria were harboring a fugitive.”

Twilight sat up, turning away from Blue.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just spending some time with my new friend, Blue. We just so happened to become good friends quickly. I don’t hear anything wrong with that.”

“I do. No offense to your kind, but I really hate being a pony.”

“Oh. Well, you don’t have to stay in that form when you’re in private.”

“Relax, Twilight. I’m just being dramatic. If this is the cost it takes to stay, then I’ll live with it. So don’t you worry about me. Although, we’ll have to set some ground rules. Just to make sure you don’t blow my cover.” Blue winked.

“I promise I’ll do my best not to.”

“I would appreciate that. But we can deal with that another time. I smell freshly made apple pie. It’s making my mouth water.”

“I knew you liked her pie.”

“Yeah, you caught me. Now just imagine how I’ll feel about it now that I have actual taste buds. We can deal with everything else in the morning. Tonight, we’re just close friends. Very close, if Applebloom’s interest is any indication.”

“You heard her?”

“Nope. But based on the look of terror you had, I assumed.”

The sun finally disappeared, leaving them alone beneath a sea of stars.

“Chrysalis?” Twilight asked.

“Yes?” Blue answered.

“I really missed you.”

With their final moments together beneath the cover of night, Blue leaned over toward Twilight and kissed her cheek. For Blue, the sweet scent of emotion filled the night air, mingling with the smell of dinner.

“I know.”

Author's Note

Just going to throw this out there if anyone is interested. I posted an announcement in a blog, and would love to hear some feedback.

https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/955163/announcement-life-of-a-queen-new-chapter

TLDR: The story may go on hiatus for a few weeks, but it’s for a good cause.

Ghosts, Part 3

Twilight counted each tick from the clock sitting on her bedside table. They seemed to sync perfectly with the silent beating of her heart. She spent nearly an hour staring a hole into the canopy over her bed, listening to the patter of rain as the drops trickled through the leaves above her castle. Somewhere in the distance, the quiet rumble of thunder brought a strange feeling of serenity to her.

The soft din of the storm brought memories of the nights in her youth when they used to terrify her. Looking back now, it wasn’t fear she remembered all these years later.

As though in a dream, she saw herself as a young foal again, knocking on her parents’ door as the lightning flashed outside. She recalled the tired smile on her mothers’ face when she opened the door to let Twilight inside. Together, the two of them would build a bed from whatever sheets and pillows were available and ride out the storm together in blissful quiet.

Back in the present, she summoned her magic. She wrapped the heavy wool blanket tightly around herself to ward off the cold chill that plagued her. But no matter how cozy she made her little cocoon, she couldn’t shake the feelings welling up in her chest.

When it finally dawned on her that she wouldn’t be returning to her dreams, she kicked the covers to the foot of her bed and sat up. With a yawn, she stretched her wings. She eased herself off the bed, landing as softly as her creaky floorboards would allow and crossed the room slowly.

She opened the bedroom door just wide enough to slip through. She kept the handle depressed as she closed the passage, allowing the door to slide shut silently. Spike’s audible snoring told her she was successful. Now free to roam her castle, she continued down the hall and through the central chamber. The crystal chimes on the chandelier swayed slightly, filling the hall with their high-pitched peal.

Through the opposite hall, she found herself outside the kitchen. She hadn’t intended on taking a snack with her but reasoned that doing so would mean she could hold off coming down for breakfast just a little longer. Keeping that thought foremost in her mind, she trudged inside and pulled open the refrigerator. It held little more than leftovers from over the course of the last few days. Wilting salads, brown-spotted vegetables, and a small collection of blood-red rubies. Every option did little more than turn her stomach.

Eventually, she settled for an apple from the bowl of fruit sitting on the counter. Most everything in the bowl had already lost its luster; even the apple she held with her magic had faded to a dull red and seemed somewhat spongy. She took a timid bite, just enough to puncture the skin. A dull bitterness rocketed through her taste buds, though a tart sweetness came as an aftertaste.

Deeming her snack sufficient, she left the kitchen. She ignored the spiral staircase, instead relying on her wings to carry her up to the next story, and to the entrance of the library.

Shelves lined the inside wall, stretching nearly to the ceiling. All but the highest shelves were filled with books of varying color and sizes. The rest of the room had been split into three sections. The first contained a selection of tables still stained with ink from late nights of notetaking. The second section consisted of a trio of couches pushed up against the wall. Lastly, a rug and pile of pillows were stashed in the corner, forming a neat little cubby to lie in. Just beyond that, a metal and glass door led out onto a stone balcony.

As she strolled across the room, Twilight ran her hoof along the book spines. She could feel the subtle shifts in texture as she moved book to book. At the same time, she levitated her apple alongside her, taking an occasional bite as she searched. A grin crept across her lips as she finally found what she was looking for.

She scanned the shelf for a moment before choosing a book from the center. The cover depicted a dark gold pegasus, clinging tightly to a vine as she swung away from an jungle-infested pyramid. With the novel in her grasp, she went to the couch, snuggling into the cushions and cracking open the book to the bookmarked page.

For the next hour, she descended into the story. Alongside the titular pegasus, Twilight solved puzzles, avoided traps, and explored the labyrinthine pyramid. She slipped back into reality just long enough to munch her apple. Unfortunately, that was all it took for a concerning detail to catch her eye.

Twilight stood on the couch for a better look at the scene outside. Past the table and chairs, amidst several pots of greenery, she spotted a pink puff. Biting her bottom lip, she glanced down at the book, then back up to the door. With a tired sigh, she stepped down and made her way outside, throwing up a shield overhead. “What are you doing?”

Twilight jumped back as Fluttershy screamed.

The panicking pony tumbled over, knocking over the plants. As soon as she regained control over herself, she shot back up, nearly knocking her camouflage umbrella hat off her head. A pair of binoculars hung around her neck.

“Oh. Good morning, Twilight!” Fluttershy blushed.

“Is everything all right out here?”

“Yeah. You just scared me. I didn’t think you’d be up yet.” The pegasus’ eyes widened. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

Twilight shook her head.

“I was just doing some light morning reading and happened to spot you out here. On my balcony. In the middle of a storm.” Twilight blinked rapidly. “So, what are you doing out here?”

“Well, you see, a little birdie told me that a pair of Crystal Finches were seen nesting around here. They’re exceptionally rare, so I’ve never had the privilege of seeing them before. They’re supposed to be beautiful.”

Twilight tapped Fluttershy’s hat.

“And the camo?”

“That’s so I can hide,” Fluttershy said, as though that explained everything.

“Right. What exactly are you hiding from, though?”

“From the Crystal Finches. They’re really shy and timid, even by bird standards. I’ve tried to talk to them, but they fly away before I can get close enough to say anything. I figured the next best option was to take a stealthier approach.”

“I guess that makes sense. Any luck so far?”

“Lots.” Fluttershy bounded over to the railing, gesturing for Twilight to look out toward a lonely tree a short distance from her castle. “They’re up there, in the branches near the top.”

As Twilight stepped close, Fluttershy held out the binoculars. Sure enough, in the upper sections of the tree, a pair of birds were arranging sticks into the shape of a nest. Rather than the rustic brown and red hues of most birds Twilight had seen, these two were sky blue. As they moved around, the darker spots on their feathers sparkled like gems.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Twilight mused.

“I know. Aren’t they beautiful? I bet the chicks will be adorable, too!” Fluttershy squealed.

Twilight stepped back from the binoculars, allowing Fluttershy to continue her work.

“I guess I’ll leave you to it, then. If you get hungry or want to dry off, you can come inside. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

“Thanks. I probably won’t be here too long, though. All my little friends will be waking up soon, and I always like to be there to greet them in the mornings.” Fluttershy emphasized her gratitude with a kind smile.

With a content smirk, Twilight went back inside. As promised, she left the bolt unlocked.

She snuggled into the couch cushions, retrieving her book and picking up where she left off. Two chapters later, though, she was forced to put it down again as the library door opened.

Spike shuffled inside, his tail dragging and eyes half closed. By now, both the storm clouds and Fluttershy had vanished.

“Good morning, Spike,” Twilight greeted him.

“Hey.” The dragon yawned. “I’d say something about how obvious it would be to find you in the library, but I’m way too tired for that.”

Twilight chuckled as her assistant collapsed onto the couch beside her.

“If you’re still tired, then why didn’t you go back to sleep?” she asked.

“I thought you were gathering some things for Applebloom’s lesson. I was going to help. But you’re not, so I guess I just got up for nothing, then.” He yawned again, though it felt like he was dragging it out unnecessarily long.

“Well, I suppose we could get started on that. If we get done early, you can go back to sleep. After all, you’ll have the rest of the day off once I’m out the door.”

“I suppose that doesn’t sound like such a bad plan. Did you finish making the list?”

“I did.”

Twilight set the novel aside and walked toward the shelves. Spike hobbled after her.

“According to Applejack, she really needs help with math. That will be our subject for today. Are you ready, Spike? I’ll need The Basics of Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, and Beginner’s Calculus.”

“Calculus?” Spike sputtered.

“Beginner’s Calculus,” she clarified. “Just in case we have extra time.”

“If you say so.”

Spike stood straight, his scales clicking as he stretched. He retrieved the rolling ladder from the end of the shelf and started gathering the specified books. Twilight started at the other end and the two met in the middle with two of the necessary books.

“Are you sure we have a calculus textbook?” Spike asked.

Twilight set the two they found on the nearest table.

“I could have sworn we did.”

“Did you lend it out?”

“I don’t think so. Who would even want a calculus book? Hold on.” Twilight compiled the list in her head. “Rainbow Dash has the new Daring Do book. Pinkie Pie borrowed that theoretical physics textbook. Starlight has the magic manual. Can you think of anyone else?”

Spike frowned.

“Was it one of the ones you lent to Blue?”

Spike’s question jammed into the gears in Twilight’s head.

“Blue? I didn’t lend anything to Blue.”

“You sure?” Spike furrowed his brow. “He said you did. He was reading one of them last night when we were waiting for you to finish at the Castle of the Two Sisters.”

“That’s definitely odd,” Twilight growled. “What did this book look like?”

Spike shook his head.

“It’s not the one you’re looking for. He said it was a beginner magic guide, I think. Red cover. I think it had a unicorn filly on the cover? I didn’t get too good a look at it.”

Twilight’s mental gears started up again.

“A picture of a unicorn filly?” she questioned.

“Like I said, I didn’t get too good of a look at it, but I think that’s what I saw.”

With a foalish hop, Twilight took to the air. Her wings carried her upward while her eyes scanned every spine she passed.

“What are you doing?” Spike asked.

Twilight ignored him. She continued her ascent. Each flap of her wings created a cloud of choking dirt as she scanned older tomes. The sting of disappointment she felt for allowing such disrespect for her books far outweighed the burning sensation in her sinuses. She pulled a book from the shelf and levitated it into her hooves. Wiping the cover clean, she returned to Spike.

“Is this the book he had?” she asked, showing him a cover identical to the one he described. The wild energy in her eyes caused the dragon to back away nervously.

“I don’t know. It kind of looked something like that. But I don’t think that book has been touched since we moved it here. Besides, weren't we looking for a math book?”

“That can wait.” Twilight turned the book back toward her. “This is a backup copy that I acquired later. Is this the book he had with him, Spike? Please, I need you to remember,” she pleaded.

“I think it is,” Spike admitted.

Twilight stumbled as the world around her started to spin.

“Twilight? Are you okay?”

“Spike, I need you to do me one more favor. Then you can go back to sleep, okay?”

The young assistant hesitated. Though he couldn’t put a claw on it, something had changed in Twilight. In the pit of his stomach, he felt his nerves bubble.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Take a message to Blue for me.”

“Are you mad at him? I don’t think I can—”

“I’m not mad, Spike.” Twilight couldn’t tear her gaze from the book. “I want you to wake him. Tell him that I’m requesting his presence today. He’s coming to Applejack’s farm with me. Can you do that for me?”

“I can.”

“Thank you, Spike. This means a lot to me.”

Spike hurried off back into the castle to see to his task.

Twilight tightened her grip on the tome, pressing it to her chest. She squeezed it hard enough that the librarian in her worried it might break in two. She ignored it, though. Instead, she thought of the one question left floating around her mind.

“Could it really be her?”

Ghosts, Part 1

A thin ray of sunlight slipped through a crack in the curtains, causing Blue to wrinkle his muzzle in discomfort as it fell across his brow. He sat up and stretched, kicking his covers into a pile at the foot of his bed. It took a few seconds for him to recognize the bedroom as the one Twilight had offered him.

He hauled himself over to the edge and threw his legs over, setting his hooves flat on the colorful rug laid out across the floor. As he stretched, he took an account of the room itself. A queen-sized bed in the center of the room, a writing desk crammed into the corner, and a wardrobe to house a collection of clothes he didn’t own. A chamber door near the foot of his bed led into a decorative bathroom.

Massaging the ache in his neck, he forced himself up from the bed. He crossed over to the curtains, pulling them aside with a soft tug. In the world beyond the glass, no trace remained of the previous night’s storm. Ponies of every color were out. Some carried baskets of groceries, others walked with a foal in tow. Every one of them wore a smile.

With a relaxed sigh, he let the curtains fall back into place.

“Blue? Are you awake?” a voice called from the door. Too feminine for Spike. Too unfamiliar to be Twilight. That left Starlight.

“Yeah. I’m up,” he called back, scratching at the tuft of fur on his chest.

“Spike’s just about finished making breakfast, if you’d like to join us.”

Blue wrinkled his brow.

“Uhm . . . Sure. I’ll meet you there in a bit. Thanks.”

Hearing her receding footsteps set him at ease. He ducked down to the floor, reaching for the bags he stashed under his bed. Their weight told him the gift was still inside, but his nerves forced him to open them and check. Sure enough, the sealed box sat exactly where he left it.

He removed the package from the bags, which he tossed back into a heap on the floor. A hefty weight, wrapped lousily in brown paper and tied up with silver twine. He frowned. Using his fang, he cut the string, unwrapping the gift from its unflattering container. Just holding it in his hooves, he could feel the energy radiating from its cherry-red cover.

It took as much energy as he could muster to break free from the desire. With a pained groan, he stowed the book in the lower drawer of the bedside table. Luckily, that seemed to dampen its call.

As he turned to leave the room, he stopped in front of the mirror. He ran a hoof through his mane, breaking up the knots and laying it flat against his head. Satisfied with his reflection, he exited out into the hallway. After double checking his door, he made his way toward the kitchen. Four steps from his room, he realized he hadn’t bothered to ask where the kitchen was. Cursing himself under his breath, he picked a direction and started walking.

Aimless meandering brought him to the central room of the castle. With light pouring in through the windows, the gem strings hanging from the ceiling seemed duller than before. As he passed through the room, he caught a whiff of something sweet. His wings fluttered excitedly as he recognized the smell of maple syrup.

His nose led him down the opposite hallway from where he entered. While the overall structure hall mirrored its counterpart, it held far fewer doors to explore. He ignored them for now, instead tracking the sugary scent to the largest door at the end. As he approached, he could hear the others conversing on the other side, confirming what his instincts had already told him.

“Yeah, but what if he doesn’t like pancakes.”

“Everyone likes pancakes, Starlight.”

“You know for a fact that isn’t true, Spike. I’ve never seen you eat a pancake.”

The kitchen door opened with an eerie creak. Blue poked his head inside.

Spike stood on a footstool at the oven, fidgeting over a skillet. He wore a pink apron and a chef’s hat. Starlight stood and watched him work over his shoulder. She noticed Blue’s arrival and acknowledged him with a sloppy salute.

“Good morning, Blue,” Starlight said.

“You like pancakes, right?” Spike asked, sounding more than a bit worried.

Blue couldn’t help but chuckle at their sibling-esque rivalry.

“I love pancakes,” he said.

“See?” Spike crossed his arms commandingly. “I told you. Everyone likes pancakes.”

Starlight simply rolled her eyes and left him to his work. She dug through the cabinets for a mug and set about gathering the supplies to brew a pot of coffee.

Once she finished her setup, she pointed to the table in the center of the room, motioning for Blue to sit.

“Sleep well last night?” she asked.

“Yeah. Thanks for asking.”

“Hey, Blue,” Spike interrupted. “Last night, you wanted to know where Twilight’s office was, right? Did you end up going to talk with her?”

“I did. Why?”

The dragon flipped the contents of his skillet.

“She never came to bed. Was she okay when you left?”

Blue leaned back in his chair.

“No. She wasn’t.” From the corner of his eye, he saw the dragon and unicorn share a concerned glance. “She told me that Celestia’s letter had some bad news.”

“Of course it did,” Starlight scoffed. “It’s never anything good.”

Spike shoveled the fluffy golden discs onto a platter and poured a second course of batter in their place. Once they were cooking, he turned to face the rest of the room, revealing the phrase “Kiss the Chef” written across the chest of his apron.

“Did she tell you what happened?” he inquired.

The hesitant thestral lowered his gaze to the floor.

“I think it might be best for her to tell you that herself.”

The other two returned to their business in implicit agreement. Starlight finally finished and poured herself a mug of coffee. A spoonful of sugar turned the bitter brown liquid a tepid cream color.

“You want a cup?” she asked, holding her mug up toward Blue.

“If you don’t mind.”

Another mug hovered down from the shelf.

“Anything in it?”

“Nope.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow but made no further comment. Her magic carried the mug over to the table and into Blue’s waiting hooves. He sipped the brew contentedly. Starlight sat beside him and nursed her own drink.

The kitchen door creaked open to reveal Twilight’s unkempt mane, sour expression, and enthusiastic trot. She had seen better days.

“Yikes,” Starlight muttered under her breath. She went to work crafting a third mug.

“Tell me about it,” Twilight growled. “I fell asleep on a tax bill. I woke up with legal print inked into my fur. Took me half an hour to scrub it out.”

Spike hopped down off his footstool and charged toward Twilight. He collided with her foreleg in a wild hug. Twilight used her free hoof to pat him on the head.

“Hey, Spike,” she said.

“Are you alright, Twilight?” he asked.

“It’s nice of you to worry about me Spike, but—”

“He’s not the only one worried, Twilight,” Starlight interjected. She passed off the third mug of coffee to Twilight, who accepted it gratefully. The unicorn allowed Twilight a moment of respite before continuing. “What happened to Celestia’s letter?”

Twilight scowled. Something in Blue told him it had nothing to do with the bitter coffee.

“She made the announcement earlier this morning. She put out a bounty for the capture of Chrysalis.” Twilight frowned. “A really big bounty, too.”

“Oh. That’s all? I don’t see what sounds so bad about that. It’s about time we took care of a criminal like her.” Starlight cast a dodgy glance toward Blue.

“You don’t have to pretend around me. I heard the story,” Blue explained.

Starlight’s expression flipped like a switch.

“You did?” Starlight cleared her throat. “Then what was Celestia thinking? A bounty? Like, a criminal bounty? After everything Chrysalis did for her?”

“Why would she do that?” Spike wondered aloud.

“I don’t know.” Twilight shook her head. “I really don’t want to think about it right now.”

Starlight drew a deep breath.

“Right. Sorry.”

“Let’s just all sit down and enjoy a nice breakfast,” Twilight sighed.

Spike responded with a salute and returned to his station at the stove. Twilight, meanwhile, seated herself between the two ponies already waiting at the table. Starlight reached out a comforting hoof, which she took with a bittersweet smile.

“Alright. A happier topic.” Starlight nodded. “Do you have any plans for today, Twilight?”

“A few. Need to go pick up some things at the market today.”

“You sure? Spike and I can handle that on our own.”

“That’s kind of you to offer, Starlight, but I think I’d rather take care of it. Get out of the castle and see some friends. You know?”

Starlight withdrew her hoof and downed another swallow from her mug.

“That’s fair.”

“And later today, I’m planning on going back out to the Castle of the Twin Sisters. With the storm yesterday, I couldn’t get as much done as I wanted. I’ve still got to finish some of the preliminary sketches.”

Starlight tilted her head.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Twilight?”

“Yeah. The sooner I’m done with this, the sooner I can move on to the next part of the project. And the sooner I move on to the next part, the sooner the whole thing is finished.”

Spike emptied the second round of pancakes onto the platter. After getting the third round started, he carried the platter to the table. Starlight used her magic to float plates and cutlery from their respective places to set the table. Twilight retrieved the bottle of syrup from where it sat on the counter.

“Who wants pancakes?” Spike announced gleefully.

“I say the princess gets first pick,” Starlight said.

“And the princess says that our guest eats first,” Twilight responded.

Suddenly, Blue was aware of every eye in the room on him. He threw up his hooves in surrender.

“If you’re sure you’ve got enough. I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not imposing,” Spike chuckled, “This is a special occasion. We’ve got plenty for everyone.”

Urged on by the others’ protests, Blue built a stack of three and transferred them to his plate. Twilight and Starlight split the remainder between them.

“Now, what were we talking about?” Starlight asked, drowning her breakfast in syrup.

“I believe you were lecturing me on how my plans for today were a bad idea,” Twilight reminded her.

“Right. I think you should take someone with you when you go out to the castle today.”

“She’s got me,” Spike argued.

“And we saw how well that worked last night. I’m not going traipsing through the Everfree at midnight again to drag the two of you back by your tails.”

Twilight shrugged.

“You don’t have to wait for us if we’re late, Starlight.”

“Maybe. But I’ll be a nervous wreck about it. Last time I left you alone for an extended period of time, you got kidnapped by changelings.”

Blue choked on a bit of his breakfast. He recovered quickly, waving off the sympathetic looks from the rest of the crew.

“I’m not a filly, Starlight. I am more than capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know,” the unicorn relented. “I just worry about you sometimes, Twilight.”

“And I appreciate that. Look, if you’re really worried about it, why don’t you come with me. If you help me, we can get the job done even quicker.”

Starlight poked listlessly at one of her pancakes.

“I wish I could. I promised Trixie that I’d help her set up and practice for her shows this week. She’s got a few new tricks she wants to try out. I know I worry about you, but she’s even worse. I’m terrified she’s going to try something even more stupid than that manticore trick.”

“You know, you’ve been spending a lot of time with Trixie lately.”

“What can I say?” Starlight tried to hide the red tint to her cheeks. “She needs help.”

Twilight gagged silently, causing Starlight to shove her playfully.

“Fine,” Twilight continued. “If it would make you feel better, I’ll see if one of the girls is free to help me. I can’t guarantee anything, though.”

“Thank you.”

“I could go with you,” Blue interjected, drawing the other ponies’ attention to him. “I mean, otherwise I’ll just be sitting around here all day. Might as well help out.”

“You sure?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah.” Blue swallowed a bite. “Besides, I’m interested in this project you keep mentioning. Some kind of research or something?”

“I’ve been working on architectural research. I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate old Equestrian design along with a more modern interpretation. I’m hoping to do a bit of traveling before I finish. I would love to add different facets from the different races of Equestria—”

“She’s planning on building a school,” Starlight interrupted.

“Yeah.” Twilight sank in her chair. “I’m planning on building a school.”

“A school?” Blue asked.

Twilight nodded.

“A school where every race can come together to learn about friendship. It would really help us get to know our neighbors and make new friends. I got the idea from a friend.”

“That’s quite an ambitious goal, Princess.”

“It is.”

“I don’t have much in the way of skills, but I’m happy to help however I can. It seems like the right thing to do after you offered to help me.”

“That’s fantastic. I could use all the help I can get.”

“Another round, coming up,” Spike announced, adding another stack to the breakfast pile.

The rest of their meal played out in satisfied silence. Once they finished the clean-up, the group split, each pony heading out to attend to their day’s work.