Displacement Shock

Whew. It’s been a while hasn’t it? I’ve been excited for my birthday since school ended. I apparently did pretty well judging by Twilight’s excitement for the report card she got about me yesterday, which was a Monday. It feels like yesterday when I went to the cookout with Sunset Shimmer and her friends.

I’ve been told throughout the weekend to keep my mind off my birthday until Wednesday, which happens to be tomorrow, but by mentioning that just now, I probably failed at that. I wonder why Twilight and her friends were telling me that.

…Hmmm… Oh! Are they planning a surprise party?!? I can’t believe it took me days to figure that out! I’m gonna have to keep my eyes peeled for a dark room tomorrow then. One thing’s for sure. I can fake the appearance of anybody, but there is no faking my reactions.

What’s that? Oh, sorry. Forgot to talk about the present. My bad. I just get so lost on my thoughts playing Planet Puzzle League. It’s pretty obvious how I play: I float the stylus. It does get a little lonely only having myself to play with. There isn’t another DS in Equestria, so even if Starlight, Twilight or even Spike can play, I would have to wait my turn.

I pause my gaming session when Twilight knocks on my door and opens it. I set down the DS and jump off the bed and hug her.

“What’s up Twilight?”

“Oh… Spike and I will be out for the afternoon. Lots of mail to send throughout Ponyville. Starlight’s staying here in case you need some company. Sound okay?”

I nod. “Are you gonna be talking with my classmates too?”

“Yep.” Twilight looks over my shoulder towards my bed. “Planet Puzzle League?”

“Yeah, I felt like having some fun today, trying to distract myself.”

Twilight sits down and pulls me closer with her wing. “I’m really proud of you for acing the semester. We’ve got a special treat for you tomorrow as a reward. All I can reveal for now… is we’ve managed to get an old friend in Canterlot in on the action. You might’ve heard of her.”

This is leaving me confused. What could Twilight Sparkle be planning?

“Oh yeah, and while we’re on the topic, is it okay if we borrow your device a bit when we get home? I promise it won’t be long.”

“Okay.” I race back onto the bed and turn off the DS.

“I didn’t mean now, Aita. I mean when we’re done with mailing your friends.”

“Oh, well I figured if you were gonna need my DS, you might as well have the extra time in case you need it.”

“I appreciate the thought, but that won’t be necessary.” Twilight jumps onto my bed to join me. “It feels like only yesterday when you visited my old library. You weren’t even half my height. And now look at you; you’ve grown so much. I really hope tomorrow goes well for you. I guarantee it will be the best day of your life.” Twilight then gets up and takes the DS with her as she heads out of the room. “I’ll swing by the library to charge your DS, but we won’t need it ‘til we get back.”

“Okay, thanks?”

Something was definitely off. Twilight said someone in Canterlot was helping her, then immediately asked to borrow my DS, then returned it with the game I was playing still in the slot. Obviously Twilight was referring to Moondancer since all she does is study. Are they going to make a new game for me?

Well for now, I’m in bed with the DS on the side-table. Like Twilight promised, she’d only need it for a short time. It was a good thing too, because it’s supposed to remind me of my birthday tomorrow, because that’s how it was set when I first got it.

Oh well, I won’t let that day of weirdness stop me from looking forward to tomorrow. I’m really hoping to have the best day of my life like Twilight said.

When I open my eyes after the feeling of a few minutes, I’m in the hive with Chrysalis.

“Ah! Aita! I was just thinking of you. How is everything shaping up back in Ponyville?”

“Fine, from what I could tell. Maybe I could be filled in on something though. Is there going to be a surprise party for me? A new DS game?”

My questions leave Chrysalis speechless. I guess human Applejack wasn’t lying about my guessing. She looks like I was right.

“How did you… guess that?”

“At least with the DS thing, Twilight kept Planet Puzzle League in the cart slot, she told me she got Moondancer in on whatever they’re planning, and she asked to borrow the DS. I could only guess that they’re making a new game for me. For the surprise party, throughout the weekend Twilight and company told me stuff like one day at a time, or your birthday will be here soon enough whenever I brought up my birthday.”

You know Aita, Chrysalis was right about you. You are such a bright soul.

I jump and crouch down. “Huh? Chrysalis who’s that?”

Chrysalis just chuckles as a similar looking changeling comes up into our view. “You probably haven’t met her, but this is my old teacher, Queen Areola.”

Pleasure to meet you, youngling. Areola holds out her right forehoof. I meet it with my left.

“So you came before Chrysalis?”

Areola nods. Mhm. This is your first time in Equestria for your birthday, so I figured I’d wish you a truly great one.

A smile starts growing on my face. “Hm… thanks, Areola.”

Suddenly, lightning starts striking outside the hive, prompting Chrysalis to get out of there while Areola and I watch in shock. “W-what’s happening?!?” I ask.

I don’t know but I’m pretty sure you should hold onto me.

I start to feel a pain in my head as my horn starts lighting up, crackling with its own electricity, sparks every which way, and I feel all of it. I turn my head away from Areola, but then my vision goes white.

Next thing I know, I am in my room, curled up in the fetal position, shaking more violently than I could ever shiver in the winter. The pain catches up to me, making me scream and hold my horn.

When I do stop screaming, my eyes are about to close, only to be kept open by a six and a half foot ball of light in the center of my room. After a few seconds, the ball sinks onto the floor and fades out to reveal that Areola is now in my room.

I look around me. Every loose item you could think of is on the floor, in front of where it’s supposed to be. This also includes my DS. I try to put it next to me, but I feel too drained to even do basic levitation. I’m still in too much pain to inch anywhere right now. All I can do is wait.