What if....

Twilight Sparkle awoke to a feeling, a chill, on her coat. She sat up slowly, not knowing what to expect, but released her breath when she saw her surroundings.

“A forest, but what am I doing in a forest?”  Twilight asked herself. She shook herself off looked up. It was very hard to see through the tree line, but she could tell it was daytime. She then proceeded to find where she was.

She wandered through the forest, but walked around in circles, evident by the imprint in the grass from where she was laying.

“Ugh, this is getting me no where!” she yelled. Flustered, Twilight continued in an attempt to find out where she was. She walked through a break in the trees, and came across a clearing. “Finally!” she exclaimed, but her victory was short lived.

“Not again.” Grass up to her neck covered the clearing. Twilight jumped, looking for an exit, and sure enough, another break in the trees was on the other side of the clearing. She nodded to herself before her horn lit up. The grass parted, somewhat, and Twilight walked through the grass. She walked through the grass, silently humming to herself, but something on the ground caught her attention. A fairly large tree stump lay in her way, but it wasn’t the stump that caught her attention.

“Now who in their right mind would leave a book out here!?” Twilight yelled. Thoroughly irritated, and with a few strands of hair sticking out in her mane, Twilight lifted up the book with her magic. She glanced over it, but it seemed that the book wasn’t damaged at all. In fact, it seemed to be in pristine condition.

“Huh…”

Twilight lifted the book above her head. “Well, you’re lucky that this book wasn’t damaged!”

Twilight brought the book down and looked over it once again.

“A brown book, no title, unsoiled at first glance…” she said.

Twilight placed the book on the stump and sat down on the stump as well. “But appearances can be deceiving.”

She opened the book to the first page and came across foreign writing.

“I haven’t seen anything like this before, but I bet I can translate it when I get home!” she told herself optimistically. She turned to the next page and immediately declared her disapproval.

“Tsk tsk, why would anypony draw on a good book. I mean really!” On the page was a black heart; pitch black and… beating!

Twilight did a double take, but still the heart was beating. “Amazing!” she proclaimed.

“I wonder…” Twilight lifted her hoof, and touched it.

“Eww!” She retracted her hoof once she felt that the heart was very… squishy. She rubbed her hoof and glared down the heart.

“There’s no way that’s possible, I mean it’s on a book!” Twilight told herself. “I’ll find out more about this,” she pointed at the heart. “When I get home.”

Twilight closed the book, not concerned with the other pages. Her only apparent concern was getting home. She got up from the stump, but didn’t get off. Something had caught her attention.

“Twilight…”

“What. Who’s there?”

“Twilight.”

“Stay back!” The voice seemed to be getting closer.

“Twilight!”

Twilight finally went over end. With the book close, she jumped off the stump, but never touched the forest ground.

“AHHH!” Twilight fell face down and hit familiar ground.

“Twilight! Are you alright?” Twilight opened her eyes to see Spike, with genuine concern plastered on his face.

“Ugh… yeah Spike, I’m fine.” Twilight groaned and rubbed her face with a hoof.

Spike’s concerned expression turned into an inquisitive one. “What happened? I heard you talking in your sleep.”

Twilight looked around, and then turned her attention to Spike. “I, I was dreaming, but it was so… vivid.”

“Well, what happened in your dream?” Spiked asked in a curiosity laden voice.

“Wait! Spike, what time is it? What day is it?!” Twilight frantically asked.

“Take it easy Twilight. It’s Monday. Don’t worry; tomorrow’s your breakfast with Rarity.” Spike said before turning around and walking downstairs.

Still unsure, Twilight double checked. “Are you absolutely sure?”

Spike stopped and turned his head. “Yes Twilight, I’m absolutely sure. I’m gonna make us breakfast, you can tell me what happened in your dream when I’m done.”

“So that’s what happened.”

“Yes that’s what happened. Now you know why I fell out of bed.” Twilight ended it with a smile of embarrassment.

“Wow Twilight. Now I now that even in your dreams you dream about books.” Spike said with a teasing tone.

“Spike!”

“What, I already knew that.” Spike finished before jumping up from the chair he was sitting in.

“I’ll be right back Twilight; I’m going to go… wash the dishes.” Spike ran out of the room.

Twilight shook her head, and then smiled, knowing that Spike was just teasing her. She got up from the couch she was sitting on and trotted over to the bookcases, hankering for a good book.

“No, no, no…” Twilight said as she sorted through the various books.

“Ah, this will do.” Twilight pulled out a small book. She read the title out loud. “The old kingdoms”

“Oh, that book. I read it but never understood it.”

Twilight turned around, the book floating beside her. “Spike, I thought you were going to wash the dishes.”

“I did.” Spike replied. You also know that you and I the only ones living here…”

“Hoo!” Owloysius interrupted from his perch.

Spike shook his head. “Yes Owloysius, I didn’t forget about you. Anyways, like I was saying. We’re the only ones living here. There’s not much to wash. “

“U-huh, well what didn’t you get about this book.” Twilight gave Spike the book.

“I understood most of it, but I didn’t understand the end.” He turned to the last pages of the book. He then read the beginning of the last chapter out loud.

“I recently came across a small brown book during a midnight walk in the forest. It was perched on top of a rock. I questioned who in their right mind would leave a book unattended to in the middle of this forest. I waited for a while, but no pony came to claim the book. So I picked up the book and took it back to my study. When I opened it in the study I was greeted by a foreign magic. It was a protection spell, so I suppressed it. Immediately I was greeted by a wealth of knowledge of an ancient kingdom. I wrote down what I saw.”

Spike closed the book and looked up to Twilight. “Star swirl the Bearded talked about a kingdom, but he didn’t say who lived in it.”

Twilight lifted the book from Spike’s claws with her magic and skimmed through the last pages. “Huh, I never noticed that. I always thought it was a kingdom of ponies.” Twilight gave the book back to Spike, who placed it back in its place in the shelf.

“Hey Twilight, did you know that the book said that there is a ruin somewhere near here.” Spike said after he put the book away.

Twilight smiled, then began trotting over to the door.

“Yes, that might be true Spike, but remember, that was written a thousand years ago, and I doubt it still exists.”

Spike gave Twilight, or more so her back, a skeptical look, then asked her a question.

“Twilight, where are you going?”

Twilight turned back to Spike, and then answered.”I’ll be back; I’m just going for a walk. It’s only...” Twilight glanced at the clock behind Spike. “one o’clock.”

“Alright then, I’ll clean up the library while you’re gone.” Spike saluted, and then walked off. Twilight opened the door, complimenting Spike as she walked out into the sunshine.

“That’s why you’re my number one assistant.”

Twilight emerged out of her library home and inhaled a huge breath of air. She observed the sky for a few moments, and noticed no clouds in the sky.

“It sure is a nice day today.” Twilight walked through to the center of town. Every pony seems very happy today, Twilight mentally noted. It was very true; many ponies seemed to emanate happiness.

There were lots of smiles and laughter filled the air. She approached two ponies, Lyra Heartstrings and Bonbon who were sitting around a table.

“Good afternoon Lyra. Good afternoon Bonbon.” She greeted.

“Good afternoon Twilight.” They both greeted simultaneously.

“How have your days been?” Twilight asked.

Bonbon began, “Oh my morning has been a nightmare! I had lost my…”

“Hey Twilight, I really need your help!” Lyra interrupted.

Twilight shifted her gaze from a slightly peeved Bonbon to Lyra and nodded for her to continue.

“Alright, so I have been doing this project on different music styles.” Lyra levitated a paper out of her saddlebags on the ground. She placed the paper in front of Twilight.

“These are all known pony styles.” Twilight mentioned.

“Right! Now I need to research some other styles, like gryphon styles, or anything really. If you have any books on other’s music styles, can you please find them to me?” Lyra gave Twilight a pleading look.

“Of course Lyra! I’ll find them for you, just drop by the library and you can check them out.”

Lyra beamed, then got up and gave Twilight a hug. “Thanks Twilight!” Lyra then walked back to her seat. Twilight left, but she still had no destination.

“Where do I go next…” Twilight asked herself as she walked aimlessly. She felt that her answers were solved, though, when she came across a building she knew very well.

“Sugar Cube Corner! I wonder if Pinkie Pie is there.” Twilight told herself, although she already knew Pinkie was there.

Or at least she thought she knew. She approached the counter, but instead of Pinkie, Mrs. Cake was there.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Cake.” Twilight greeted.

“Good afternoon Twilight.” Mrs. Cake responded. “Sorry for the mess.”

Twilight looked around the area she was in, but didn’t anything that stood out.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Cake, but what mess.” Mrs. Cake motioned towards the back and left in that direction. Twilight followed, expectations running high, considering that they were in a bakery. What she saw though was more than she originally thought.

“Mrs. Cake, what happened here?” Twilight scanned the area, noting many items lay strewn on the floor. Flour all over the floor, eggs broken; their contents mixed with the flour, liquids spilled on the floor, and various wooden implements broken.

“Something broke in and stole some of our food.”

Twilight eyed Mrs. Cake in disbelief. “Did you go to the authorities?”

Mrs. Cake shook her head. “I don’t think it was too much damage. At least the creep didn’t try to hurt me or the babies.”

“I’m sorry about this Mrs. Cake. If you need anything, I can help.”

Mrs. Cake smiled. “Thanks dearie, I think my husband has it under control though. I do wonder what happened to Pinkie Pie though.”

“Oh, she had a sleepover with Applejack.” Twilight responded knowingly.

“Oh, at least she wasn’t here for this disaster. Thank you Twilight.”

“No problem, Mrs. Cake. Take care!” Twilight left Sugar Cube Corner with her next destination in mind, Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight walked over to Sweet Apple Acres, intent on greeting her two friends Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Along the way she said hello to those ponies who greeted her.

Twilight made it to Sweet Apple Acres after 10 minutes. She walked through the gate and up to the farmhouse. She knocked on the door; moments after a response came from the opposite side.

“I’ll be right there!” Twilight heard rapid hoof steps approaching the door, and soon was met by the sight of Apple bloom.

“Oh hey Twilight!” Apple bloom said. “What brings you here?”

“Hi Apple bloom. I was just looking for your sister and Pinkie Pie. Are they here right now?”

Apple bloom scrunched her face in thought, and then gave Twilight her attention again.

“Yeah, ah think they went to Rarity’s for something. They said something about meeting up with Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash.”

Twilight looked up, thinking for a reason as to why her friends would go somewhere without her

.

Twilight glanced back down at Apple bloom, and then began with a question again.

“Did they say what they were going to do while they were there?”

“They just said planning, but…

“Well I’m going to find out what they are planning Apple bloom.” Twilight interrupted with a curiosity driven voice.

And with that, Twilight left Apple bloom in the dust.

“Wait Twilight, they said you weren’t supposed to be there!!!” Apple bloom futilely yelled at the already disappearing Twilight.

Twilight slowed down her gallop after she saw Carousel Boutique enter her sights. She stopped at the door, gave herself a few moments to compose herself, and then lifted her hoof to knock. She never knocked however when she heard talking coming from the other side of the door. She placed her ear on the door, but never heard anything because it was too muffled.

I can’t hear a thing, Twilight thought.  But I think I have a spell that amplifies muffled sounds.

She horn lit up, but it made a pop that was loud enough to notify the boutique’s current occupants.

“I think somepony’s outside.”

Dang it.

“Who’s outside!? Open the door and show yourself!”

Twilight gave in and opened the door with her magic, head down.

Five ponies, all of them Twilight’s friends sat at a table, all of them staring at Twilight and silent.

“Awkward!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Pinkie Pie shush.” Applejack scolded Pinkie.

“Twilight! What are you doing here?” Rarity asked surprised.

Twilight regained her confidence and lifted her head.

“I came here to get some answers.” Twilight walked over to the group.

“Why are you guys planning some kind of event without me?”

The five ponies sitting at the table gave each other looks, then turned back to face Twilight.

“Look dear.” Rarity spoke again. “Yes, we are planning something, but we can’t tell you what. Sorry.”

Twilight spoke up, curiosity heavy in her voice. “What are you planning that is so secretive that you can’t tell me.”

“Twilight, we can’t tell you what we’re doing, sorry.” Rainbow Dash plainly responded.

“But why not?!”

“I’m sorry Twi’, we can’t tell you.” Applejack said.

“Fine! You don’t have to tell me, I’ll find out on my own.” With that, Twilight stormed out of the boutique.

Back at the table where the others were sitting, Pinkie Pie turned and spoke to Applejack.

“It really was awkward Applejack.”

Applejack nodded, “Yes, it was, but you didn’t have to say it.”

Rarity spoke up, “Alright girls, we still need to plan this,” she pulled out a paper with writing on it. “but now Twilight is on to us. We need to plan her birthday party somewhere else.”

Fluttershy spoke up, albeit softly, “We can have a slumber party at my cottage and plan the rest of the party there.”

Rarity’s face brightened, “That sounds like a marvelous idea darling! All in favor of sleeping over at Fluttershy’s and finish planning there say I.”

“I,” Pinkie Pie immediately said.

Applejack mulled it over. “I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

“Yeah, sure,” Rainbow Dash casually responded.

Rarity smiled, “Alright then it’s settled, we will continue our planning at Fluttershy’s cottage. I will also bring Spike over for a while so we can invite the princesses and his relatives. Oh, and I will bring over some beauty care among other things so we can give each other makeovers! It will be simply marvelous!”

“Rarity,” Rainbow cut in.

“Yes.”

“Please don’t overdo it.”

At the library Twilight was pacing in the main room. She was frustrated that her friends didn’t tell her what they were planning, but at the same time she was equally curious.

“I said I would find out on my own, so that’s exactly what I’ll do.” Twilight walked up to a board that had 5 drawings, each one of her friends.

“I need to see who is the best I can spy on.”  Twilight paced in front of the board and began talking.

“Alright, so I know that I can’t follow Pinkie Pie because…” Twilight felt a tapping on her hind leg.

“AH!” Twilight jumped to face whoever scared her. “Spike! You really shouldn’t sneak up on ponies like that!”

Spike rubbed his head. “Sorry Twilight, I just wanted to know who you were talking to.”

“Nopony Spike, I’m just having a little problem.”

Twilight’s mysterious dilemma piqued Spike’s interest. “What problem Twilight?”

Twilight shook her head. “My friends are being vague about something. Something they don’t want me to know. So I intend to find out what they are hiding.” Twilight motioned towards the board. “I’m planning on spying on one of them, but I don’t know who yet.”

“Oh, you should spy on Rainbow Dash.” Spike said matter of factly.

Twilight’s ears perked up. “Oh and how is spying on Rainbow Dash going to be any easier than anypony else. Were you spying on her before?”

“No! Scootaloo told me that she watches Rainbow Dash on occasion and Rainbow doesn’t even see her.” Spike reacted defensively.

“Okay Spike, if you say so…” Twilight teased. She began to walk up to her room.

“Twilight!” Spike ran up beside her. “I’m not lying, Scootaloo told me so herself.

Twilight giggled. “Don’t worry Spike. I’m just teasing.”

Twilight arrived at her room and opened the door.

Spike gave Twilight a dull look. “Ha ha very funny.”

“Alright Spike, I’ll follow your advice, but I’ll go later, alright.” Twilight said before closing the door.

Twilight emerged out of her library home a few hours later clad in baggy green clothing that would have made Rarity faint. She jumped into a bush and looked towards the south. In that direction she saw a cloud which she made out to be Rainbow Dash’s home. She jumped out of the bush in a manner that wasn’t very inconspicuous at all and began to walk towards Rainbow’s home. Along the way she received a few remarks about her outfit. After a short time they stopped though. Huh, I guess ponies are used to seeing others in camouflage, she thought.

After a couple of minutes she arrived 50 meters from Rainbow’s home. Twilight jumped into a bush and watched the home, yet after 5 minutes nopony came out. Either she’s sleeping or she’s already left, because right about now she leaves to do a few errands, Twilight thought. Yet after 10 minutes of sitting in the bush nopony came out of the house.

“Well, I guess she left already. I think I can search inside the house for any clues as to what they are planning,” Twilight told herself aloud. She walked towards the house and stopped under it. She sat down under it and focused. Her horn began to glow and the glow began to encapsulate her legs. A small shimmering was heard and the light wore off.

“Alright, so now that I’m finished with the cloud walking and spell, I think I can get up there.” Once again her horn began to glow. It shone brightly, then a loud clap was heard, and she was outside the cloud house. With her new plan in mind, she opened the door. She walked into the house and saw numerous articles of clothing on the floor along with a few food packages on the floor. “Ugh, this room is really dirty, nothing I can’t fix,” Twilight announced before lifting all of the clothing and neatly placing them in the dirty clothes hamper. She also placed in tandem the trash in the garbage can.

After cleaning the room, which gave a sparkle of cleanliness, Twilight walked over to the dresser. “I know this isn’t right, but I need to know what they are planning.” She opened the drawers, from top to bottom, and rummaged through them, but still found nothing.

“There’s nothing here! But I still can’t give up… wait a second, what is this.” Twilight found wad of paper under the dresser. She picked it up with her magic and straightened it out. Her hopes suddenly went up.

“It looks like some kind of invitation.” Twilight glanced over it once more, yet she didn’t see who it was specified for or what the occasion was. “Well, it says to go to Sweet Apple Acres on Saturday… which is 2 days from now.” She flipped the paper over, but nothing was on the other side. “Huh, I guess I’m going to have to look somewhere else, but this is a good clue. I think I’ll keep it.” Twilight folded the paper and pocketed it inside her clothes. “I think I’ll look inside…” She was cut off by the sound of a door opening.

Uh-oh, she’s here!

Rainbow Dash walked in with a bag in her mouth, but dropped it when she caught sight of a green clothed… thief, in her living room, and immediately went into a fighting stance.

“Who’s there!?”

“And way too early,” she heard it say.

“Answer me!”

It responded in a forced gruff voice. “Nopony important, just forget I was here… in fact, I’ll leave right now.” Rainbow Dash saw a glow coming from the front of the clothes and immediately she pounced. Once she landed on the perpetrator she flipped it over.

“Twilight!?” She said dumbstruck. “What are you doing here?”

Twilight chuckled nervously. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, you’re here early. Don’t mind me, I’m just here looking for something I… uh left last time I visited, yeah.”

“But Twilight, you haven’t visited my home in a long time, and you never brought anything.” Rainbow said hesitantly.”

“You know what, never mind. I’ll just be on my way.” Twilight began to walk towards the door.

“Twilight wait!” Rainbow stopped her. “Why did you dress up in this?” She motioned with her hooves Twilight’s outfit. “Even though it’s kinda cool, why?”

“Oh, um, I was… studying animals with Fluttershy!”

“Twilight, I was just with Fluttershy.” Rainbow said.

Twilight facehoofed. “Rainbow, we’re going in circles, just forget I was ever here.” Twilight’s horn began to glow. She faced Rainbow and forced a smile.

“Bye Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash stared at the spot where Twilight was then shook her head.

“Twilight, sometimes you can be as random as Pinkie Pie.”

Twilight appeared in the library’s main room with a small headache.

“Ugh, long range teleportation still gives me headaches,” She said while she rubbed her head. She walked up towards the bedroom. “Spike!”

She received no response, but that didn’t deter her. “Spiiike!” She yelled a second time.

Nothing… I wonder what that young dragon is up to. He said he was going to take a nap when I left.

Twilight opened the door, but instead of a baby dragon in the basket, a piece of paper took his place. Twilight picked up the paper with her magic and read it out loud. “Went with the girls to do some errands. There’s also a note from Rarity behind this one. –Spike.” Twilight flipped the paper over and read the backside.

“Dear Twilight,

I took Spike with me, if that’s alright with you, to do some errands. We’ll all be at Fluttershy’s cottage for the night, if you really need us, then come to us, if not, then take the rest day off.

Yours truly,

Rarity”

“I wonder why the girls would have a sleepover without me, and why would they bring Spike along?” Twilight wondered.  She shook her head before heading downstairs with the paper. She placed the paper on a table and walked over to the bookshelves. Her horn flared as she pulled out books. She went through a couple dozen before she finally found the book she wanted. “Aha!  The Art of Invisibility Spells.” Twilight walked over to the counter with the tome floating next to her. She placed it down and opened it up. She also brought over a piece of parchment and a quill and inkpot with her. “Alright,” Twilight began. “First, review about invisibility before nightfall. Second, visit Zecora and see if she has more of those shoes. Side note, those shoes worked wonderfully last time! Third, spy on the sleepover.” Twilight finished the list and rolled it up. She looked over to the tome on the counter. “Well, looks like I better begin reading,” Twilight looked up at the clock. “but with only 3 hours left, I better start now!” With anticipation in her voice, she opened the book and began reading.