Dutifully Yours

Direct sequel to Unintentionally Yours

Prologue

1… 2… 3…

Twilight Sparkle paced about nervously on the lone platform of Ponyville Train Station. Little more than an arrangement of wooden planks nailed firmly in place, it was certainly no Canterlot Central. Even so, she took comfort in inspecting the aging boards, as if by doing so she could ground her own fluttering thoughts.

…8, 9, 10…

Thoughts that threatened to pull her away from herself, away from home. Actually, thoughts that really were pulling her away from home: Twilight was leaving Ponyville.

…16…17…18…

Oh, not forever, she did have duties as town librarian to fill after all.

…21…22…23…

It was just a few days. Time enough to reassess where her life was headed.

…27… 28… 29…

There had been much to consider and process as of late, especially after Spike’s return the world of the waking. Her junior assistant and lifelong friend’s sudden and involuntary hibernation had… changed him, mentally as well as physically. He’d grown large and handsome and seemed to have gained that special kind of wisdom that one only accrues with age.

…34…35…36…

Being outgrown by her little brother was disquieting to say the least, but it was a firecracker compared to the bombshell that followed.

…39…40…41…

A pony and a dragon. It had never even been attempted in the history of Equestria as far as Twilight knew, and that was saying something. She could probably write an honors thesis in Equestrian History from the archive tomes she already knew by heart and she’d spent the last few days trying to ferret out evidence of any past occurrences. No such luck. They would have to figure it out on their own.

…44…45…46…

They: A word loaded with meaning.

They: More than one–persons united in interest and purpose.

They: Together, bound as pages in a book, meant for each other.

The Dragon and the Mare.

Spike and Applejack… Friends, lovers, and soon to be lifelong mates.

…48…49…50…

Twilight was still trying to come to terms with their sudden relationship, let alone their decision to engage in matrimony!

…52…

Most of the townsfolk were unaware that the unusual pairing even existed. She was allowed to feel conflicted, right?

…53…

Her closest friends had embraced the relationship with open hearts and outstretched hooves, why couldn’t she do the same?

…54…55…

It wasn’t that she couldn’t understand how it had happened- she could, really! The love, having sprouted from a warm friendship, had grown gradually in peace before being tempered by war and political intrigue. All things considered, Twilight would have been more surprised if they hadn’t grown closer together through the ordeal. Still, Spike was her little brother. He was…

…56…

Spike was…

... 57…

Spike was, objectively, no longer the hatchling she had known. Objectively, he was a full drake, a grown up, and had the right to be treated as such. Objectively, He could make his own decisions and make them wisely. But, subjectively….

…58…

Still… still… She looked hard at board fifty-eight, silently demanding that it justify her nebulous misgivings. After a moment of hard staring, she realized that she would receive no response. She had over-counted: board fifty-eight simply did not exist.

Fifty-seven planks in total had been the subjects of her scrutiny, many weathered but all in acceptable condition to bear the brunt of shuffling ponies for years to come. Assumedly Canterlot Central was bigger and fancier due to the greater weight of traffic it received. She began to calculate the minimum population that would be necessary for the local train station to be built in the first place but soon gave up. Despite reading a textbook or two on the subject she was no engineer, and she certainly hadn’t gotten her cutie mark in contracting and development. Much like Spike and Applejack, some things simply were, for better or for worse. This station sit sentinel for her departure and would welcome her return.

My return. Twilight gave her head another shake, her distraction dissipating as she recalled the real reason for the rut she was wearing into the peaceful station floor. In an effort to keep her thoughts from spinning over into another loop Twilight checked the ticket she had purchased.

The Northeastern Express

Destination: Seasaddle –

Departing: 0930hrs

Arrival: 1800hrs

She turned to the station’s clock, set in the wall behind her.

0927hrs.

It wouldn’t be long now.

A tepid rumbling ran up her hooves and resonated in her thoughts. The train was nearly at the station. A distant steam whistle’s cheerful tune confirmed that reality. Before long, a steady stream of smoke puffing an ever-growing line that poured from a now-visible stack, followed by the bright cherry blossom pink of the Pony Express engine. A final whistle shrieked as it declared its imminent arrival at the simple platform. Twilight felt that she had merely blinked before she was standing before with the train that she dreaded boarding. The formerly quiet platform bustled with activity, ponies busying themselves with luggage, joyful reunions, and business of all kinds.

“All aboard!” the conductor bellowed from his window, his voice cutting across the busy station “All aboard for the Northeastern bound for Seasaddle!”

This is it, Twilight announced to herself. She prepared to step on the train but found her knees had locked leaving her hooves anchored rigidly to the platform, her courage frozen by a glacier of internal strife.

“May I help you with that, ma’am?” A deep voice startled Twilight from her stupor. Flushing with embarrassment, she turned to see a portly stallion wearing the blue coveralls of his industrial trade, a worker pony from the Express. He hefted the unicorn’s sole piece of carry on, a suitcase, with a single hoof and offered a small businesslike smile.

Twilight returned the smile, “I appreciate the notion, really, but I can handle it from here.” With a simple thought, the baggage floated free of the stallion’s grasp, wreathed in a magenta aura toward its owner.

“No problem, ma’am,” he smiled again before turning and hurrying over to help an arriving elderly couple who were cautiously stepping free from their coach. A couple. Intrigued, Twilight studied them. The stallion first assisted the elderly mare onto the platform, followed closely by the shaking old stallion while the mare waited quietly by. She smiled at the couple, so wrapped up in one-another’s presence.

What would it be like to settle down, to live and love with another, to spend the remainder of one’s own personal eternity side-by-side? She turned her gaze the strong worker, busy now assisting his elders. He was young, definitely younger than the ones he assisted, but still old enough to settle and marry, maybe have a few foals with a nice mare. Perhaps he already done so, but there was no easy way for Twilight to know. She lacked the boldness to inquire directly and more importantly lacked the time to explore the matter. Time, yes she was running out of that wasn’t she? She found herself moving towards the emerald-green coach, her hooves having forgotten their prior stupor.

As she approached the now-vacated coach she got a closer look at the elderly stallion. He seemed a proper kind of pony, silence born of manners and civility, a snapshot of the past days of class and gentry. The class and gentry… The stallion disappeared from her view as Twilight boarded the train, navigating the narrow halls before she found her assigned stall. She took a seat upon the unoccupied cushion of the provided couch, and laying her luggage down neatly in the corner she allowed herself to relax.

In the gentle humming of the overhead gemstone lamps it was not long before she drifted to him, she object of her little infatuation. The one who was as of yet unaware that he would soon have a guest. Part of her felt guilty for not writing him back, if only to ‘catch up’ on lost time. The more mischievous half was just giddy with anticipation, wanting to see a look of surprise on his firm visage when she suddenly appeared at his Seasadle seaside home. Lost in though, she had not realized how much time had passed since her boarding, for the gentle, yet abrupt surge forward that shook Twilight from her daydreams. The train slowly, but surely trudged on, building momentum as it shifted away from waking Ponyville. She leaned back into the couch and let her lids fall shut.

Drifting along in the soft rumbling of the cart, her thoughts turned to the trip ahead. Eight and a half hours, a whole day’s period of work for a normal pony, almost the whole day as far as productivity was concerned. Oh well, the trip would be worthwhile. Seasaddle was nice this time of year, with fresh breezes, a wonderful climate and picturesque shorelines. At least, that was the way the travel pamphlet had portrayed it, there was more than one side to everything, after all. Assuming the train kept to the proper schedule she would be able to see a spectacular sunset over the ocean. Hopefully she’d make it there before dark, although she was sure the night would be stunning in its own right.

Behind her lids the dark starry skies twisted into a dark coat and deep eyes. Clegmane, the one she sought upon her voyage’s end. The image filled her with warmth and she allowed a smile to spread across her lips. Yet still a twinge of worry nagged at her objective and logical side. Would he greet her? Her lids fluttered open, taking stock. As far as she knew he was unaware of her pending arrival, let alone prepared to receive her by day’s end. She wanted to surprise him, but in what manner would he be surprised? She eyed case she’d put so neatly in the corner. There really wasn’t much in terms of provisions that she was bringing with her, not much to really survive on. Her eyes snapped fully open. What he shut the door on her and made her leave? Her breathing rose. She’d have to find a place to stay and then take the next train back and-

No, she scolded herself, Just focus on arriving in one piece and deal with his reaction as it happens. It was the most logical notion she had conjured all morning. That little bit of respite allowed Twilight to calm her nerve and set her breathing into a deep and even pace.

Just one step at a time. Her eyelids drooped, gently pulling her thoughts down with them, and the unicorn settled into a pleasant sleep.

A/N: A special thanks to Luminous Lead for just being awesome and putting his 2 cents into the prologue. He will make this fic better without even realizing it.