Raise the Sun

"Hey, Twilight!" Spike's voice from above jaunted the young unicorn from her study, to which she hastily stored away her new copy of 'The Necromancer's Guide to Divination'. Closing and locking the chest she had stored her copies in, she galloped out into the open library to greet her assistant and friend.

"Hey Spike!" Twilight beamed at his waddling down the stairs. "You're up early, what's up?"

"Early?" Spike looked out through the window and over to the wall clock. "It's almost noon!"

"It is?" Twilight rushed over to the clock. Sure enough, 11:49 in the morning. "It is! Oh my gosh, I haven't even had breakfast yet!"

Spike heaved a long sigh. "You've been at those dark arts books again, haven't you?"

Twilight's ears flopped as she looked out through the window. "Yeah, even with the princess coming in to stop it I can't just let so many questions go unanswered though!"

Spike shook his head. "I worry about you, Twilight. Ever since you picked up that old copy of 'Ethereal Nature' you've been completely obsessed!"

"I know..." Twilight pouted, turning back to his own concerned expression. "But as long as I don't practice any of it directly it-"

"Directly?" Spike interrupted her, causing her to take a step back, "You said you wouldn't practice it at all, now you're saying 'directly'?"

Twilight lowered her head in defeat. She knew he was right in the end, and there was no point in fighting him every step of the way. Just then a knock on the door brought her attention back to reality. As she answered it, she immediately heard the clapping of a hoof down on a button.

In that split second, she deduced both who had pressed the button, and the device the button was attached to. Ever quick to be out of a projectile's way, the young prodigy jumped back and to the side as a thousand bits of ribbon and colorful decor sprang all over her library with the telltale sound of a kazoo being honked.

"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie bounced in, somehow managing to stabilize the bouncing of a tray of red velvet cupcakes on her back. "Did you miss me? Did you, did you, huh huh huh?"

Twilight couldn't help but giggle at the positively sugary party mare in front of her. Stowing away the topic she and Spike had discussed for later, she beamed at her friend. "Of course, Pinkie!" she exclaimed, "It's been so long!"

"No it hasn't." Pinkie Pie tilted her head with a raised eyebrow, "I saw you just the other day on your way to the market, but you looked all upset and I was super busy so I thought I'd ask you later but then I forgot and..." she took only a second to breathe, "Oh, silly! I forgot your present! I'll be right back."

Twilight didn't even have time to object before the fluffy pink mare took off through the doorway. Reluctantly, she turned her attention back to the surrounding library. Sure enough the decorations were as always, just over the top enough not to merit a complaint. Ribbons, streamers, balloons, colorful tablecloths that somehow had managed to slip underneath the books piled on them... Twilight pondered this for a moment but decided it better to leave it to the fact that it was Pinkie Pie. She didn't need to be explained; things just happened.

The smell of sugar practically hung in the air. No doubt courtesy of Pinkie's cupcakes she had brought in. Sugar, and... something Twilight couldn't quite place, but it was a bitter smell. Probably from her back room having gotten a little musty. Dismissing it as such, she traversed the stairs, pausing at her bed when she saw her four other friends - Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy - cantering merrily her way. The thought made her smile. "Just like old times." she reminisced aloud.

Spike cast a worried glance both at Twilight and the cupcakes sitting on the table. "I think I'll sit this one out," he offered, making his way out the door. "I got a bad feeling about all this."

"Oh come on, Spike, don't be s-" the door closed in her words. "Spike?"