The Plight of Pain

Spike burped up a letter from Princess Celestia. He picked up the small and beige scroll, opened it, and began reading.

Dear my faithful student,

"It's for you Twilight."

Spike extended his arm to give her the scroll. She levitated it towards her face and peered at the words written on the scroll and began reading.

Dear my faithful student,

I have just received notice that your friend from Canterlot, one, Star Charmer, has chosen to come to Ponyville, in hopes to find you. I expect she will arrive tomorrow. Sources told me that she has been looking all over Equestria for you. I do not know what her intentions are, but I'm sure you may have some idea.

Yours Truly,

Princess Celestia

As Spike stared at Twilight Sparkle pacing around the floor of the library, he couldn't help but to feel a sense of nervousness.

"Um, T-Twilight? I-Is everything alr-right?” Spike stuttered.

Twilight looked at her assistant. She could hear the worried tone in his voice.

"Sorry Spike. I don't mean to worry you. It's just that my friend from Canterlot is coming to Ponyville tomorrow. I've lost contact with her since moving here. I’ve been so caught up with my studies of friendship here that I forgot about her.”

"I don't get it Twilight. If you two are friends, why are you so nervous?"

"We've known each other since we were fillies and we attended magic kindergarten together. I'm just a little apprehensive because it's been so long since we've seen each other. We were the best of friends until I moved. I wonder why she’s been searching for me.”

"Twilight you worry too much," said Spike with a smile. "You're getting all nervous over nothing. Trust me, you have nothing to fear."

Twilight shot a quick glance at Spike and couldn't help but crack a smile herself. She knew he was right. But she still had a feeling of uncertainty.

"I know Spike. I'm over thinking too much. Anyway, we should get to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow, getting her at the train station and all."

“Sleep sounds perfect,” said Spike, who had suddenly become tired.

Trudging his feet on the wood floor of the Golden Oak Library, Spike yawned and walked towards his basket. He flopped inside and yawned again.

Yawning herself, Twilight walked to her bed and lay down. She tried to sleep, but, because of her thoughts, she found it extremely difficult to stay comfortable. After tossing and turning for a few minutes, she sat up.

"Spike?"

"Mmpf" came the muffle reply.

"Are you sure that everything will be alright? I just still have a nagging feeling that I can’t suppress.”

There was no response. Hearing strident, shrill, snores coming from the basket adjacent her bed, she knew Spike had fallen asleep.

Sighing to herself, she tried to make her mind at rest. Closing her eyes, she dozed off a few moments later.

_________

At the crack of dawn, Twilight awoke. She immediately went over to Spike's basket and nudged him awake. Spike sat up and parted his eyes. He fell back down asleep. Twilight shook the basket to make sure he awoke.

"Huh? Wha?" said Spike, groggily.

He looked outside. The sun wasn't even out yet.

"What are we up so early for? Couldn't you have waited till morning to wake me up?"

"We don't have time for that Spike," spoke Twilight. "There's only four hours left until she arrives."

Spike rubbed his eyes to make himself alert. He used a claw to scratch his face.

Twilight frantically began running around, making sure she could check things off of her checklist.

"Books organized? Done. Bed made? Done. Formal dress to greet? Done. Spike dressing formally?"

She shot a glance at Spike, who, tried running. Twilight used her magic and levitated him back to where she stood.

"Come on Spike. I know it's not your tuxedo but this looks much better," said Twilight, holding a blazer.

Spike grimaced. He didn't want anypony to see him in that. He looked at Twilight and saw the encouragement and pleading in her eyes.

"Aww phooey. Alright, I'll wear it. But only because it’s important to you.”

"Hurry up and get dressed Spike. We only have three hours, forty-two minutes, and twenty-three seconds left.

After a quick breakfast of toast, pancakes, and orange juice, Spike and Twilight began their walk to the train station. The sun was shining brightly through the clouds. There were a few other ponies walking through town. Twilight looked down at the miniscule dragon perambulating alongside her.

"Are you interested in meeting her Spike?" asked Twilight.

"Of course I am. But do I really need to be dressed like this?"

"I told you Spike. It's for a good impression."

_________

Once at the station, she was shocked to find the rest of her friends waiting for her arrival.

"What is everypony doing here"? Twilight asked.

"Isn' it obvious sugarcube?" said Applejack. "Spike told us about your friend comin' to Ponyville t'day, and we jus' wanted to give 'er an official welcome."

"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed. "I even brought my party cannon to celebrate this occasion."

Hearing Pinkie, all the ponies and Spike began laughing. Twilight took a look around at all of her friends and smiled.

"You are all the best friends anypony could ever ask for," said Twilight. "Thank you all so much."

"You don't have to thank us," said Rarity. "We all know you would do the same for us."

"Oh yes," said Fluttershy. "It's no trouble. You're our friend. We'd do anything for you."

"And from what Spike told us, she seems cool. I can't wait to meet her." Rainbow Dash said.

“Excuse me a second everypony. Spike, follow me please,” Twilight said. "This will only take a minute. I promise." Twilight said to her friends, who, were looking on in bewilderment.

The two began walking away from everypony else. They came to a halt at a rough patch of short grass, which was surrounded by brown, mucky, dirt.

"Spike, I can't thank you enough," said Twilight, whose eyes were filling up with tears of joy.

"Aw c'mon Twilight," said Spike, who began digging at the ground with his tail out of embarrassment. "I just wanted to make sure that you would be calm today. I remembered how panicked you were yesterday and I knew that inviting the rest of your friends down here would calm your nerves."

The purple unicorn looked at Spike, then to the rest of her friends, and then to Spike again. She began giggling and Spike joined her soon after. The two hugged and went to join the rest of their friends, in anticipation for Twilight's friends' arrival

.

Twilight looked at the clock. 10AM. In one short hour, Twilight would reunite with her.