Prism

Prism

Chapter Three

The door to the library began to rattle with the knocks of somepony outside. Dash groaned with annoyance; she just got comfortable on the couch. Looking around for Twilight bore no fruit, and that meant that she had to move. She slowly got up and walked up to the door.

“Who’s there?” She asked through the door.

“It’s Applejack.” Dash heard her friend say. She opened and let the farmer enter. The two mares looked at each other. To Applejack’s relief, the Pegasus didn’t seem to be angry at her.

“Howdy, Rainbow,” Applejack said, still a little sheepish.

“Well, hi!” Dash responded, smiling gently, “what’s up?”

“First of all, Ah would like to apologize fer yesterday.” She began, looking at the floor for a moment.

“Sure, I understand.” Dash said, patting her friend on the shoulder. “I managed to... appease Twilight. We’re alright.” Applejack put a strained smile on as she heard the news.

“Who’s there!?” both mares heard Twilight echo Rainbow’s previous question from upstairs.

“It’s Applejack!” Dash yelled back. Twilight soon appeared in the doorway to her bedroom. She greeted the farmer and came down the stairs to join the duo. She stood next to Rainbow and cast a glance at Applejack.

“Don’t just stand by the door, come inside,” Twilight proposed, heading to the kitchen, Dash following.

“Sure, but Ah don’t have a whole lot of time on my hooves,” Applejack said, following the Pegasus reluctantly. Rainbow and Applejack sat at the table across from each other while Twilight was making some tea.

“So, why did you visit us, AJ?” Twilight asked as she was working. “Want some tea?”

“Well, Ah came to invite y'all to the Apple Festival,” Applejack said. Twilight’s ears perked up at this as she let out a short uneasy laugh.

“Aww yeah!” Dash responded energetically, ignoring Twilight. “I love the Festival, it’s always so crazy...” She finished, looking at the ceiling with dreamy eyes. “All the delicious treats, the games—”

“I can’t come,” Twilight cut her marefriend off.

“What?” Dash asked, surprised at Twilight’s words. “You seemed like you wanted to come earlier.” The two mares looked at Twilight. She felt a chill as their gazes drilled into her.

“Well... I was summoned to Canterlot by the princess. I have to go today.” Twilight managed to stutter out, Applejack lifting a brow.

“What does the princess want from you?” Dash asked.

“Well, she requires my presence at the castle; she didn’t say why. I still have the letter, I can show it to you.” Twilight said as she levitated three cups of tea with magic, setting them on the table. “Wait a moment.” She said as she left the kitchen. She went up the stairs, and back down, levitating a letter this time.

“Here it is; from Celestia.” Twilight said as she put it on the table for the two ponies to read. Rainbow unrolled the parchment and read aloud.

Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,

I require your immediate presence at the castle, there is a pressing matter at our hooves, and I would like to talk to you in person. I await your arrival today.

Princess Celestia

“Oh, you’re right, it doesn’t say what she wants from you.” Dash commented, setting the letter back on the table and sipping her tea.

“Ah wonder what the princess would need from ya on such a short notice.” Applejack said, looking at Twilight and then at the letter. She took it and read it again to herself, as if to check if Dash read it correctly.

“I’m sure that the princess just misses me, or something...” Twilight said and sat down at the table.

“So, anyway, the festival is tonight. Mighty bad that ya can’t come Twilight,” Applejack said when she read the letter. She stood up from the table. “Ah need ta be goin’, Ah still have to invite a bunch of ponies from all over Ponyville,” She said as she turned to leave. “See you later, Dash.” Applejack walked out of the kitchen and the library.

Twilight blinked a few times. “She didn’t even try her tea...” She remarked as she looked at Applejack's cup.

“I’ll take it.” Dash said and moved it closer to her half-empty one.

“So, you have to admit, she’s acting up little.” Twilight said, looking at her reflection in the tea she was drinking.

“Maybe a bit. But as I said before, she’ll get over it. She said sorry when I let her in, while you were upstairs. I think she’s still embarrassed. Pretty weird, I always thought she was fast to get over stuff.” Dash responded, as she finished her first tea. She looked at the second cup and sighed quietly, taking a small sip.

-«<♦>»-

Twilight and Rainbow sat closely together on the upstairs balcony that looked over Ponyville, each enjoying the scenery as well as the company. Twilight felt Rainbow’s wing over her, the feathers brushing her purple coat. It was a small gesture, but it made Twilight feel safe and loved. She smiled and kissed the Pegasus on the cheek. The two mares gazed upon the distant Canterlot towers that loomed over the whole land majestically. The sun was slowly hiding behind those towers, shooting its last rays between them. Pink and orange clouds marked the sky, stretching out for miles.

“Isn’t it time for you to go to the castle?” Dash asked, turning her head at Twilight. She nuzzled her cheek gently, her face bathed in the pale orange of the evening sun.

“Yes... I’ll have to teleport; it’s too late to take the train.” Twilight responded quietly, looking down. She seemed not to notice Rainbow’s nuzzle. The unicorn stood up and walked a few steps away from Rainbow.

“See you later; you’ll have to leave for the festival soon, too.” Twilight said, looking at her love.

“Yea, right. I’ll be on my way in a few minutes.” She stood up and walked up to Twilight, planting a final kiss on her lips. “See you, ‘Twi.”

Twilight's horn blazed with magic as she concentrated. A purple flash and she was gone, leaving Dash alone on the terrace. The cyan mare cast one final glance at the towers and headed inside.

One thing was sure; it was dark. Twilight could barely make out the silhouettes of various items stacked all around her. She followed the wall and finally found the light switch. She squinted slightly as a single light bulb came to life at the ceiling. She looked around. The library basement was a place that she hadn’t visited in ages. The whole room was built from wood, under the big library tree. Most of the items that ended up here belonged to Spike, who liked to hoard excessively. Dozens of boxes filled to the brim with old books that the library didn’t have place for upstairs were scattered all over the place. Everything was covered in a thick layer of old dust. Twilight could swear that she saw a spider disappear in a small hole where the wall met the floor.

She found her way between the boxes and reached the exit. The unicorn opened the door and climbed a short series of stairs, reaching another door. She put her ear to it and listened for a while, but the silence was perfect. Hoping that Dash was already gone, she slowly opened it and found herself in the living room. She stepped out and was sure to close the door behind her. It was hidden in one of the corners, seldomly anypony noticed it.

The unicorn looked around. The library was bathed in dim light, she saw the first stars appear on the sky as she glanced out of the window. To her relief, she didn't spot her marefriend anywhere. She walked to her bedroom and looked under her bed. She reached out with her magic and withdrew a small box from under the bed that held her private possessions. She opened it and pulled a pair of old binoculars out. She remembered when her mother gave them to her to play with when she was a small filly; remembered that she took them with her to the magic school and spied on ponies from the window of her dorm. She quickly expelled the memories.

Twilight closed the chest and walked down the stairs again. She looked at the library for the last time and sighed. She opened the front door and walked out into the night, shivering as she felt the temperature drop. Late summer nights were already starting to become colder. A white crescent moon was peeking from behind the horizon, embarking on its journey through the vast night sky. Twilight started walking towards the Sweet Apple Acres, not having time to take in the sights.

Even from afar she could hear that the Apple Festival had already begun. The music and singing got louder the closer she got. She could hear loud laughs of the various ponies that came to the festival as she walked past endless rows of trees and approached a fork on the road. One path lead right into the center of the festival, but it wasn’t where Twilight was heading. She took the second path that lead uphill.

The Apple Family house was surrounded by hills of different sizes. Twilight was climbing the biggest one; the one closest to the house itself. The hill was still part of the orchard; apple trees still surrounding the mare as she made it to the top. She looked around, awestruck by the view. She was wondering how come she hadn’t visited this place before. Ponyville stretched at her hooves like a carpet, glimmering with dozens of small lights. The whole village was tinted light blue by the moonlight, accompanied by the stars. She could make out her home, lost around all the others.

To the other side of the hill, stood the Apple Family house. It wasn’t quiet and peaceful as it usually was. A huge bonfire was lit in the meadow next to the house, shining orange light in every direction. Twilight sat on the grass, letting the coolness overtake her body. She levitated the binoculars in front of her face and looked at the party below her. The flame was extending its tongues to the sky as ponies mingled all around it. Twilight spotted several tables scattered all over the clearing, each one laden with apple treats of all kind. She noticed that one of the tables had what looked like mugs on it, standing next to a barrel with a small tap. One of the biggest groups of ponies were standing next to it, talking and laughing. A few other barrels were set next to the table. The unicorn wasn’t surprised to see Pinkie Pie, the queen of parties, dancing around the bonfire with a few other ponies. After a while, she was able to spot all of her other closest friends. All except for Rainbow and Applejack.

-«<♦>»-

Twilight stood up and walked around for a while, flexing her legs. It had gotten really cold; she felt like she spent at least an hour here already. She sat down in her spot and looked through the binoculars again. She gasped as she saw Rainbow, Applejack and a few other ponies walk from behind the Apple House. She facehooved as she guessed that there was another part of the party going on behind the house that she didn’t see from her vantage point.

She observed as the two friends approached the cider table. They both grabbed two mugs, filled them to the brim, bumped them, and started drinking. After a moment, both were emptied. The two mares continued talking as they refilled their mugs again and again. Rainbow Dash said something to Applejack and decided to go and see the bonfire up close. She slowly started walking that direction, leaving her friend. Applejack looked at her friend walking away, and filled her mug again. Twilight swore that the liquid disappeared down the farmer’s throat in a second.

Applejack started to follow her friend, having apparent problems with placing her hooves straight. She laughed loudly as she nearly tripped over herself, but managed to finally reach Dash. They started to dance around the bonfire and mingle with the other ponies. After a while, Twilight saw as Applejack stopped Rainbow with a hoof, in the middle of her drunken dance. She squinted as she saw Applejack leaning to Rainbow and whispering something into her ear.

Twilight gasped as she saw something. A nuzzle. Applejack nuzzled Rainbow on the cheek, slowly and passionately. Rainbow accepted it, looking so content while doing so. She flapped her wings a few times, as she always did when she kissed with Twilight. The unicorn felt tears slowly welling behind her eyes as she kept on looking. The duo walked away from the crowd side by side, and towards the barn.

‘S-should I go there?’ Twilight asked herself frantically as she felt the first tear slide down her cheek. She sniffed and tried to collect herself. She knew perfectly that they were drunk and tried to convince herself that the nuzzle didn’t mean anything. The two ponies walked up to the barn. It was far enough from the party and nopony was around. Twilight saw as Applejack opened the door and let Dash go in front of her. It might have been Twilight’s imagination, but she thought that she saw Applejack ogling Rainbow’s flank as she passed her. They both disappeared in the barn, shutting the door.

Twilight threw the binoculars into the dirt and sniffed a few times. She fought against them, but tears kept on streaming down her cheeks. She suddenly felt cold, and shivered in the grass. She stood up and looked at the scenery. The big bonfire was still raging, all of the ponies oblivious to what was happening in the barn. To her own dismay, she didn’t know either.

“Hello!” Twilight jumped as she heard a high pitched voice yell. She looked around, unable to pinpoint the source. After a second cogs in her mind clicked into place; she knew who the voice belonged to.

‘Pinkie Pie... not now!’ She thought as she saw rustling in the nearby bush. As Twilight predicted, the pink pony jumped from between the leaves.

“Hi, Twi!” She said, immediately finding herself next to the purple unicorn.

“What a super-duper-awesome party we are having! I mean, I am having, because you are in Canterlot doing mega important stuff with the princess!” Pinkie blurted out, jumping around Twilight like a ball.

“But wait... If you are in Canterlot, how am I talking to you? Am I in Canterlot?” She stopped dead in her tracks, and looked around, spotting nothing else than countless trees. “No, I don’t think so...” She put a hoof to her chin.

“Pinkie... please...” Twilight mumbled, she felt a increasing pain in her head.

“Maybe you are in Canterlot and here at the same time!?” She asked herself and jumped in the air at the seemingly genius idea. “Yea, you know how to use those complicated magics that earth ponies will never understand!” She glanced at the purple unicorn with a big smile, but it fell immediately as she saw what state her friend was in. Ears down, tear stains under her eyes, and an occasional sniff.

“Twilight, are you alright?” She asked, walking up to her friend. Her voice was completely calm and devoid of the energy it carried not a few seconds ago. She embraced her friend in a bear hug.

“Please tell me that nothing is wrong...” Pinkie asked. They parted and looked each other in the eyes. Pinkie pouted, seemingly close to tears herself.

“I hope so...” Twilight said, sniffing again. She felt new tears stream down her cheeks.

“Twilight—” Pinkie began.

“Please leave me alone,” the unicorn cut her off. Before the pink mare had time to do anything else, Twilight teleported away in a curt flash of magic.

“Twilight...?” Pinkie asked and dropped to the ground. She sniffed quietly and looked at the party that was still going on at Sweet Apple Acres. The pink pony sighed; she didn’t know what was going on with her Twilight, but she knew that you don’t leave friends hanging.

-«<♦>»-

Twilight reappeared at the library and looked around. The whole living room was immersed in darkness. The mare shot for the bathroom, fighting back tears. She switched the bathroom lights on, and splashed a hoof-full of cold water on her face a few times. She dried herself and looked at the mirror. The stains were gone, but her eyes were still bloodshot.

Her heart stopped for a second when she heard the main door slamming with force as somepony stormed into the library. She ran out of the bathroom and gasped as she saw somepony inside. Rainbow Dash was standing by the door, trying to keep her balance. Their surprised gazes met.