Twilight's Horn

Chapters

The Spell on the Hill
Enchantments of Amore
Sonic Magiboom

The Spell on the Hill

The Spell on the Hill

Ponyville's town square bustled with energy and activity as ponies gathered for meals and entertainment. Colorful displays of umbrellas blossomed over lunch tables, surrounded by giggling and gossiping ponies. Others slouched on park benches, their eyes lazily wandering over some of the fountains. At one end, ponies crowded so closely their hides touched, window shopping the marketplace carts as they bargained over the fresh picks of the day.

At the opposite end, Twilight Sparkle trotted forward, trying and failing to focus on a hill beyond the square. Her head was bowed, body weighed down by her saddle bags, mumbling to herself as she walked.

"It's okay," she said to herself. "It's not your fault. He'll get over it. Just give it time."

Spike had always been rather subdued about his infatuation with Rarity. Of course, it was always painfully obvious how he felt whenever he was around her, but he still at least liked to pretend that his feelings were concealed.

As of a few days ago, however, Spike had started openly swooning in the library. Why he had started acting like this was still a complete mystery. Perhaps Rarity gave him another gemstone, or another tie. Perhaps he had found a book in the library on unicorns, and read something about their relationship with dragons. Whatever the reason, all it meant to Twilight was an added irritation to her studies. She couldn't quite remember how it happened, but somehow Twilight's exasperated attempt at quieting him down had gotten a little out of hand, and Twilight's chiding was soon directed at a sulking and sobbing baby dragon.

Of course, that was a few days ago, and Spike had calmed down since then. Twilight had tried and failed many times to break the ice since their argument, and could tell he wasn't quite healed. She kept telling herself that this would all blow over with time. After all, he was only a baby. Babies get upset about things all the time, right? They cry, they sulk, they throw tantraums, and then they get over it. Twilight just needed to give him time, right?

Regardless, Twilight was finding it difficult to get off her mind. She had hoped that simply getting out of the library for a while would help, but unfortunately it only prompted her to think about it even more.

Her mumbling continued as she headed up the path, looking but not seeing as a she approached a hooded figure up ahead. It wasn't until Twilight was right next to the figure that she recognized the distinctive way her hooves propelled her forward.

"Zecora?" She stopped mumbling and looked at the equine, hoping she wasn't mistaken.

The figure stopped her ritualistic walk, lowering her hood to reveal the striped face and bristling mohawk of her Zebra friend.

"Twilight Sparkle by my side? Come to join me as I stride!" Her warm eyes welcomed her companion.

"Zecora!" Twilight perked up, "It is you! I had a feeling it might be. I'm assuming you're here to get more supplies?"

Both turned and walked towards the marketplace as Zecora continued. "Seeds to sow and food to stock, to the marketplace I walk."

"Well, that answers that question. Anything in particular this time?" she said.

"There is little that I seek that is worthy of a peek" Then, turning to look back at Twlight, "But while my tasks might be bland, I'd like to hear what you have planned."

"Me?" Twilight thought, forcing Spike out of her mind. "Well, I was just, um, on my way to practice a spell," she said meekly. "You know. Just standard stuff here. Nothing special." This was almost true. It was, indeed, a rather special spell, but Twilight wasn't keen on drawing attention to herself.

Zecora could sense Twilight's worried thoughts, but thought it best not to intrude. She turned and smiled instead, eyes piqued with interest. "Magic my friend has to cast. For what purpose, might I ask?"

Twilight turned her head and gave a nervous laugh. "Well, if you really must know, Ponyville is hosting a wedding in a few weeks and they asked me if I could create some fireworks during the reception. They're unicorns, so they want a lot of stuff done with magic. They said it's kind of a big deal...ya know...to have me there..." She trailed off with a blush as she turned to gaze at the hill. "I've...well...it's my first wedding. I don't really know the couple that well. But, you know, it's the whole town, everypony's invited..." she trailed off, looking up at Zecora. "You don't have anything like that where you're from, do you?"

Zecora gazed ahead again as she thought. "Love and passion are complex: never quite what one expects. We praise it much in my homeland, and cherish each and every strand."

"Oh?" she said, seeing an opportunity to steer things away from her. "How so?"

Zecora smiled. "Rites and spells and customs play a role in nearly everyday. Simple remedies and brews to shape the lives that we pursue." Her eyes glowed as she continued. "Love especially plays a role in our culture, you should know. We have our own spells for that too, and they can be of use. It's true."

"Spells? Really?!" Twilight felt an unexpected surge of excitement upon hearing that word. "You mean you have magic for stuff like this? Like, actual, real magic?!" Her eyes went wide at the possibilities. She had never quite considered Zecora being able to cast spells. "Oh, wow. That's...that's amazing! I wonder if - Wait!" she said, turning towards her. "Could you teach me? I'd love to learn some new ma-"

"Do not misinterpret me" she interrupted, the warmth in her eyes diminishing as she turned to gaze at Twilight. "We take things more seriously."

"Zecora, I didn't mean like that. I always take things-"

"Spells and incantations can affect a being for a span," she continued. "Never underestimate how feelings change through magic's gate." She leaned forward. "It is inadvisable to toy with things this volatile."

"What are you trying to say, Zecora? I learn new spells all the time! Magic is part of who I am!" Twilight raised her voice without realizing it.

"True. I've heard much accolade, and I have yet to be dismayed. However, that is not to say you'll never find yourself astray. Caution I must then confide, should you choose to not abide." She leaned in as she spoke the last words softly, "You might just be surprised to find another to yourself entwined."

Twilight's breath caught as these words passed through her ears. Her head spun as she tried to work out what Zecora was trying to say. "What? Entwined? What do you mean, entwined? What are you..."

"You know exactly what I fear," she said in the same hushed voice. "Think, and it will be quite clear."

Twilight let the words simmer in her mind. "Another...entwined..." Twilight thought. "Another...pony? Wait, you don't mean you..." Twilight looked up at her, hoping it wasn't what it sounded like.

Zecora nodded, making Twilight's eyes go wide. Zecora leaned in some more and whispered. "Do not speak of this offhand, for it is sacred to our land." She pulled back, eyes gleaming. Twilight couldn't tell whether they glowed in warning or insight.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Zecora gave a hint of a smile. "My purpose is to prevent harm, not to simply cause alarm. I warn you not to meddle much. You might could find yourself - " Zecora stopped short. She looked around and noticed a few ponies who had apparently stopped to listen. Her smile faltered. "I've said too much, now I must go." She lifted a hoof before taking off. "Kwaherini ya loe!"

Twilight watched as Zecora trotted into the distance, disappearing into the crowd of the marketplace. "Well, that was interesting," she said to herself, shaking her head as she faced the hill again. "Was she really saying what I thought she was saying?"

She trotted forward again, her mind pulled towards the library, but stuck on Zecora's words. Curiosity trumped guilt as she considered exactly what Zecora's people would use that kind of spell for. Her culture was just so different than anything around here.

Twilight was forced back into reality by a large burst just inches away from her. "Rarity!" Twilight jumped back, startled at her friend's sudden appearance out of thin air.

A dazed face with singed waves of purple hair looked around, tiny whiffs of smoke fizzling from her mane. She sighed exhaustedly upon seeing Twilight. "Oh, good! It worked." She glanced at the ground. "For once..."

"Rarity! I can't believe it!" Twilight gasped. "You actually learned to teleport!" Twilight recalled Rarity borrowing that book from her library ages ago.

Rarity waved her hair around, trying to hide the scorch marks as she turned towards the hill. "Here, walk with me," she said. The crowd had diminished and almost disappeared as commercial structures turned to residential.

Rarity turned her baggy eyes towards her. "Twilight, dear, let me tell you. This magic stuff is simply driving me mad. I honestly don't know how you do it! I mean, sure I've always been able to bat my eyes and make miracles happen, but when it comes to magic..." She glanced at Twilight, and sighed. "Oh, some days I'm not sure how I'm going to get by. My business really needs this!"

"Your...business?" Twilight trotted up beside her. "You know, you never exactly told me why you needed that book. Why do you need to teleport, anyway?"

Rarity strained her face, holding back a sarcastic glance. She countered it with a fake smile and laugh.

"Oh, Twilight, you silly mare. You ask that like I intend to teleport around the carousel!" She flicked her hair, accidentally revealing a few singed hairs. "I need to commute, dear. You see, there's this...this client in Canterlot who wants to work closely with me next week. I practically need to be there every day. But unfortunately I simply can't leave my carousel. There's simply too much to do! My entire business could be at stake!” She looked at Twilight again, who was staring in amazement. “This was simply too big an offer to pass up. And, while magic really isn't my thing, at this point it's practically the only option I have." She let out a breath as she trudged up the hill.

"Well," Twilight responded, "I think you should be quite proud of yourself, Rarity. Now you can go anywhere you want!"

Rarity shot her a look. "Oh, yes, if only it was that simple," she said sarcastically. "Obviously, Canterlot doesn't let you appear just anywhere. I mean, imagine if Princess Celestia simply let anyone teleport inside the castle!"

Twilight opened her mouth, but couldn't quite think of anything to say to this. She had never exactly asked about this stuff back when she lived there.

Wildlife now swept around them, scattered trees standing on uneven ground as whistling wind and singing birds replaced the sounds of conversing from the town. Their coats were now brushed with the web-like umbra of the overhead tree branches.

"I apologize if I sound a bit exasperated at the moment, dear." Rarity shot her a compassionate glance. "I guess it's just...between Fluttershy being out sick, and having to learn magic on top of my business, I think the stress might be getting the better of me."

Twilight braced herself for what she knew was coming up.

"And can you believe those two?!" Rarity let out. "Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash, leaving town just like that! I mean, obviously they'll be back in a few days, but still. They shouldn't run off to some competition like that just because they're butting heads." She blew at a strand of her hair. "Pfft! Sports! Is that all they ever think about?"

Twilight stood a few paces away now, having nothing to say. The ground inclined steeply now, and some of the roots of the trees were extending above the lowering slope.

"Speaking of friends," Rarity said, changing the subject much to Twilight's relief, "Where's Spike? I always see him with you when you're out doing errands."

"Spike?" Twilight jumped, panicking slightly as she said the name. Her mind raced as she thought about what to say. She really didn't want to bring up the argument she had with him the other day, considering Rarity was the topic.

"Spike is a bit...well...moody at the moment." she compensated. "I didn't want to bother him. Besides, there's really nothing I have for him to do."

"Oh, really?" Rarity said, looking concerned. "Is he all right? Is there anything I can do? I'd hate to see the poor little thing be-"

"Oh, no!" Twilight blurted. "No, no. I'm sure it's nothing. I mean, he is a baby after all. I'm sure he'll be fine. It's...it's not like this is the first time this has happened or anything. I'm pretty sure he'll be feeling better by tomorrow."

"Oh, you're sure?" Rarity said, glancing Twilight a concerned look. "I mean, I wouldn't exactly say I'm an expert with children or anything, but I do know a thing or two that might help cheer him up."

Twilight blushed. "Ha!" she laughed sarcastically, looking frantically for a change of subject. "Well, looks like we're here!"

They crested the top of the hill, trees giving way to a clearing extending across the apex. The sun shone relentlessly in their eyes. The rugged buildings of Ponyville extended below them as Rarity followed Twilight to the center. Twilight glanced at her nervously as she discovered a flat plain away from the rocks and obstructions.

"Ah, that's right!” Rarity said, seeing the book levitate from Twilight's saddlebags. “You're attending the wedding here in Ponyville! I hear you're responsible for some of the festivities?"

"Yep!” she said. “And I really need to practice my spell. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time."

"Oh, don't talk to me about time, Twilight. The wedding's not for another few weeks, but that still doesn't give me much room to prepare. I myself signed up to design all the apparel and decor, you see." Twilight narrowed her eyes, which Rarity apparently caught on to. "Well, you couldn't possibly expect me to pass up such a marvelous opportunity to present my designs, could you? In an elaborate ceremony like this? I mean, really."

Twilight sighed. "Could I maybe just have a little room to practice my spell? I haven't even gotten a chance to look at it yet."

"Oh? Well first you'll have to satisfy my curiosity. You still haven't told me what spell they're having you perform!" Rarity peered at the open page, adorned with fluid cursive and strange symbols. The title "Romare Candles" showed at the top, but much of the other diction was unfamiliar to her.

"Twilight, dear! This is...highly advanced!” she said in surprise. “I mean, even for pyrotechnic enchantments, this looks like a very hefty piece of magic!"

Twilight's nervousness was heightened by embarrassment. She hid her reddened face as she familiarized herself with the new incantation. "I...I don't think it's that complex. Just...how about I give it a try, first?"

Rarity looked a bit unsure, but backed away regardless. "Well, you are the Element of Magic, dear. I'm not going to be getting in your way." She trotted behind a tree for cover, observing the view of the town below as Twilight read through the spell.

Rarity was right. It certainly looked tricky. Many of the steps were as complicated as entire spells she had performed. And some looked quite odd...almost out of place. But this was not the first time she had seen spells with strange steps in them. She bent her head, feeling the magic before her as her horn answered with a haze of light that thickened and magnified with each step.

Minute after minute passed, as the glow turned to fizzling, which turned to sparks. Nothing resembled rockets yet, but she plowed forward anyway. As she performed the final lines, there was a flash, as if light bulb burned out, a thick searing light fogging the hilltop.

Just...how much further...until...something happens! she thought, nearing the end of the spell.

The final step retracted the haze as it turned a vivid pink, resembling bubble gum blown in reverse. Magic particles swirled threateningly around her before retracting into the cloud.

Wait a minute, she thought, looking up from the spell book. This isn’t right!

She flipped hastily through the book for a counter curse, the spell continuing without her. Most spells diminished without conscious reinforcement, but this spell was different. A feedback loop had been established, cycling through her own body as it strengthened. Twilight looked up in a panic as the spinning particles compressed, accelerating into a blur of raw power.

A scream escaped her lips as the spell condensed inside her, heating her like a forge as it lifted her effortlessly into the air. Her own screams were met with the shouts of another pony, shouting out her name. As the last of the spell condensed inside her, all senses were engulfed in pain, her body paralyzed, her eyes blind. The last thing she remembered was a deafening explosion echoing around her before everything plunged into darkness.

Twilight's eyes slid open, stopping halfway as she stared at the rough wood ceiling above her. A groan escaped her lips as she realized her back was resting uncomfortably against a leather bed with stiff sheets, her head propped slightly on a small springy pillow.

She thought back to her last memory, drudging it up from the back of her mind. She remembered being on the hill and trying to cast a spell that would shoot off rockets. However, she also remembered a strange sensation, as though her mind was telling her she had missed something: perhaps she had turned to the wrong page, or had skipped a few steps - whatever had gone wrong, the result was anything but pyrotechnic. It was almost as though she had cast an entirely different spell.

Moving her hooves brought pain as her muscles contracted for the first time in hours (or days). Sitting up was nearly impossible at first, but by shuffling on her left side and using an elbow, she managed to bend her torso up before rolling back on her flank. Rocking back and forth a bit, she let the painfully satisfying feeling of her lower back being pulled taut roll through her body.

Lifting her head, Twilight observed the half-open clinic of Ponyville, bathed in the light of the setting sun from outside. A set of identical beds were strewn across the floor, surrounded by the semi-circular walls of the building itself, which formed a sort of open gazebo around the room.

Apparently, a pinata had decided to splatter itself all over her bed beds, soaking it in festive decorations. Twilight looked up at the myriad of balloons hanging above her, then down at the cavity-inducing baskets of sweets surrounding the bed. Looking up, she noticed the other bed, sporting the same set of party decorations. A white pony lay unconscious on her side, the golden rays of the setting sun shining off her white coat. Twilight doubled up as her stomach contracted.

Rarity... she thought.

A second pony stood with her flank towards Twilight, preoccupied. She was thinner, but her coat shone just as white, a distinguishing medical cap adorning her head. Normally there were two nurses in the clinic, but Nurse Tenderheart appeared to be out today. Twilight watched curiously for a moment as she gathered her thoughts.

"Oh, thank Celestia! You're awake!"

Twilight blinked as the nurse turned around, trotting over with hopeful excitement. Twilight felt her horn sear with a dull burning sensation, her hoof automatically reaching up to rub it.

"Ohhhh..." she groaned, "What happened..."

Nurse Redheart walked around to the left side of the bed, placing her hoof on Twilight's forehead as she spoke.

"You slept through all the excitement." she said in a quietly energetic voice.

"Excitement...?"

"Well, after the explosion on the hill, there was practically chaos in Ponyville! The mayor herself had to help restore order. AND..." she added, emphasizing with her eyes, "Princess Celestia was here!"

"What?" Twilight asked, jumping in her bed slightly as the nurse's hoof on her shoulder held her back. "The Princess was here?"

"Indeed! In fact, it was the Princess who saved you!” she continued, relief spreading through her as she shared her experience. “She saw the explosion, and traveled to the hill herself. You wouldn't believe the look on our faces when we saw her carrying you two to the clinic! We thought you might be..."

She trailed off, looking away for a moment as she searched for a less disturbing topic.

"What exactly were you doing up there, anyway?" she asked.

"Fireworks," Twilight groaned automatically. She considered elaborating before falling silent. The nurse merely looked confused.

"Well, it was certainly a frightening display, whatever it was," she said at last. "I'm just glad there weren't any other ponies that got hurt! As far as explosions go, it was actually pretty tame...more like a mist or a fog than anything."

Twilight wanted to ask more questions, but got the feeling Nurse Redheart didn't know much more than she did. Looking around, Twilight caught the shimmering form of her friend resting lifelessly on the other bed.

"Is Rarity going to be all right?" she asked.

"Hmmm?" the nurse asked, turning back before gazing off in the direction Twilight was looking. "Oh, yes, of course!" she said, recognizing her concern. "She's fine now, at least, thanks to the Princess. I expect her to be up momentarily."

Twilight looked up at the balloons again. "Where's Pinkie Pie? I'm assuming she was in here before at some point?"

"Pinkie Pie?" Redheart followed her gaze absentmindedly. "Oh, wait! I know that name! She's the one who made those bad muffins, isn't she?"

Twilight cringed at the memory. "Actually, that was Applejack. Pinkie Pie just helped."

"Oh." Redheart looked around at the decorations again. "Well, in all honesty, I didn't really get a good look at her when she came to see you. It was more like a pink tornado turning this place into a fiesta. I had to remind her this place was for resting and healing, not for partying. I'm not entirely sure she took it all that well..."

The nurse caught Twilight's look of disappointment. "Oh, don't worry", Redheart said. "I'm sure she'll be back. Probably very soon now, too."

Twilight cringed at the thought of Pinkie Pie nagging at her in her groggy state. She almost wished the others were here as well, but there really wasn't much she could do about that. Pinkie could be fun sometimes, but she didn't make for the most soothing visits.

She shifted her hooves to the left, swinging them over the edge of the bed before pushing herself forward to test her weight against them.

"What are you doing?" the nurse said, backing up to give her room, "You're not getting up, are you?"

Twilight ignored her as her hooves struck the floor, her body sinking and wobbling under the weight of the impact.

"Twilight, you've been out for a couple days. You're really going to want to take it easy," she said, apprehensively grimacing as she indicated her head towards the bed. Twilight felt like she had gained 200 pounds, her muscles almost giving out under her own weight.

"I should be okay until I get home," she said, thinking only about how much softer and cozier her own bed was in the library. "Thank you so much, by the way. I really hope Rarity wakes up soon."

Both sets of eyes veered towards the occupied bed. For a fleeting moment, Twilight felt like apologizing to her on the spot, even in her unconscious state. However, fatigue kept her hooves rooted to the floor.

"Home?" the Nurse said, "You...you don't want to wait for your friend?"

"I really should be heading back." she said, the thought of Pinkie Pie urging her to get out of there. "Spike is probably worried sick!"

"Oh?" the nurse said, "You're sure? You really want to go home?"

"I should be fine," she said automatically, forcing her hooves to carry her over the threshold and onto the grass outside. "Thanks for everything."

The nurse teetered for a moment, her mouth crinkling anxiously before lunging forward to stop her.

"One more thing, dear!" the nurse called, bolting around her before she could get too far. "Your horn. It-"

"My horn?!" Twilight's hoof reached up to her forehead, her eyes darting up to follow it. "What about my horn? Is it all right?! Is it-"

"Twilight, do calm down! Your horn is fine!" the nurse said, helping Twilight get her balance. "Just...here, let me explain."

Twilight's initial anxiety was soothed by the feel of the dry grass blades tickling her hooves, a breeze gently caressing her hide. The words of the nurse rolled over her, backed by the ambient sounds of the outside.

"Your horn apparently got damaged during the spell. The Princess told me about it when she brought you in. It was one of the reasons she wanted to get you here so quickly. Horns can get damaged by magic, if the spell is powerful enough, and the spell you cast was devastatingly powerful!" she noted. "The Princess explained that, had she not gotten you here soon enough, it could have escalated into something permanent!"

All this was said so quickly that only bits and pieces reached the destination of her mind. The word permanent struck her harshly, but subsided when she realized it was conjecture.

"Of course," the nurse continued, "she also explained how horns have amazing healing powers, but she still told me you shouldn't use any magic for the next few days. Until it's fully healed, you simply won't be able to cast any spells without substantial risk."

Twilight gaped as her bottom lip curled under. "No magic?!" she repeated. Her front hooves went onto a startled Nurse Redheart's chest. "You're sure!" she leaned in. "You're absolutely positive that's what she said!"

"I'm sorry," was all she said, half-surprised at Twilight's reaction, half-sorrowful. Twilight mouthed wordlessly for a few moments as her hooves fell back onto the grass, trying to remember all the things she used magic for. Her brain didn't seem to be fully working yet, though, and she simply stood there, doltishly flexing her jaw with wide eyes before giving a "I'm...I'm sorry. You're right. Thanks for everything."

What happened next, Twilight couldn't recall. All she remembered was suddenly arriving at the library door after an indeterminate time, her body weighted with fatigue, her mind weighted with concern.

"TWILIGHT! YOU'RE ALL RIGHT!"

The green and purple streak of her number one assistant rocketed into her with an "OOF!", causing Twilight's front hooves to slip out from under as she sank down to his level. They embraced together, Spike's arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

"Twilight! I was so worried!" he said, words muffled as he spoke into her coat. "And the town! And the mayor! And...I even heard that that the Princess...!"

"Everything's all right now, Spike," Twilight reassured him, rubbing his head with her hoof. "Once Rarity is awake, we can all get together and work out what went wrong." Spike let go, giving Twilight a chance to hoist herself back onto her front legs.

"Are you hungry?" Spike said, jumping away excitedly. "Thirsty? How about a game!"

"It's okay, Spike!" she said with a small laugh, heartened by his sudden change in mood. It was so nice to have the old Spike back. "I think right now I just want to relax..."

“Relax?!” Twilight outright giggled at Spike's antics as his eyes bugged and his arms flew down in shocked disappointment. "You just got home!"

“Exactly, Spike," she said, slumping towards the stairs. "I'm exhausted! I think I’m just gonna go rest for a bit. I promise we’ll spend plenty of time tomorrow discussing every last little detail!”

“Oh, okay...”

Twilight's head dipped as her smile crested, adoring the sulking dragon now dragging his feet along the floor. It was enough for her to ignore the strain of her muscles as they struggled to heave her up the stairs. Collapsing at last on her own bed, her body rewarded her with a glowing warmth of pleasure as she sank into the sheets. With hardly a thought, she felt her head sink into the velvety pillow, and drifted off to sleep in seconds.

A sharp knock from downstairs jolted Twilight awake, cascading into tingles all over her hide. The bed was still comfortable, but the effect was ruined by her return to consciousness. She lay on her side a bit longer, letting the early afternoon sun drift through her window, hoping the sound was just some colt kicking their sports ball into her door.

Three more knocks struck. Twilight's groan grew to a yell as she roughly wiped her eyes with her hooves and flung the sheets off of her, the cold air making her coat stand on end.

"I'm coming!" she said as the guests started incessantly pummeling the door like a nail. She stumbled out of bed, sliding roughly down the stairs. As she reached the bottom steps, everything went silent.

A battering ram slammed into the door, shaking the tree and making Twilight leap a few inches off the ground. Was there an angry mob at her door?

"OKAY, OKAY!" she shouted, reaching the bottom floor, eyes lined and hair disheveled. "Don't get your hooves in a tangle..."

Stumbling to the window next to the door, she peered out to see only the grass and sky, the dirt path to her door devoid of the mad crowd she had expected. The only sign of life she recognized was a cockatoo resting on the library sign at the far end of the path.

More knocks prompted her to lean forward, revealing more of the path. And then even more of the path. And then something flicking in and out of sight. What was this? Her eyes widened as she saw the purple tail – the white flank – the gemstone Cutie Mark.

"Rarity!" She galloped to the large wooden door, rearing as she swing it open. "Rarity! You're awake! I can’t believe you’re-"

"TWILIGHT!" Rarity shouted so explosively her voice nearly knocked Twilight on the ground. She had reared on her hind hooves, pupils dilated and mouth so wide she could swallow a saddlebag. "I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU ALL DAY!"

Twilight smiled awkwardly, stunned into silence as she fumbled with the words to respond with.

"Well, Rarity!" she finally said. "I'm really glad to see you're okay and everythi-MMMMM...MM-M--MMM...!"

Rarity had shoved her muzzle right up against hers, kissing her so firmly that she toppled over and crashed painfully onto her back.

"MMMMMM! MMMM-RARITY...!" she screamed, struggling as Rarity landed on top of her, pressing her body against Twilight's so hard she was struggling to breathe. "RARITY! WHAT – ARE – YOU – DOING!"

Rarity was now frantically kissing Twilight on the neck as her hooves explored more and more uncomfortable places.

"OH, TWILIGHT!" she screamed between great smacking kisses, her face strained so much in ecstasy that wrinkles had webbed around. "DON'T YOU THINK...*smack*...THAT WE WERE JUST...*smack*...MADE... *smack*...FOR EACH OTHER...!"

Twilight wobbled and wormed underneath her, working her way onto her stomach so she could claw herself out. Her eyes strained from panic as she screamed out for help.

"SPIIIIIIIIKE!"

Rarity continued holding her lovingly, resting her head against her back like a pillow as she rubbed it back and forth, eyes closing against an enormous smile.

"SPIKE! HEEELP!"

"Oh, Twilight!" Rarity mused, her voice softening in texture but just as loud. She pressed her head into Twilight's coat with every emphasized word. "There I was...sitting heeelplessly in that awful bed...and all I could think about was YOU!" she said, each word more passionate than the last. Twilight dug her hooves into the wood, forcing herself forward little by little until her flank was the only remaining captive. "Your hair, your face, your tail...your BEAUTIFUL EYES!"

Twilight gave one last tremendous pull before explosively freeing herself, crashing into the bookshelf and scattering reference books of flora and fauna across the floor.

"Oh, Twilight!" Rarity continued, grasping her own torso in Twilight's absence. "You really MUST come back to the Carousel with me! Just think of the SCENE we could make together!"

Oh gosh, oh no, oh Celestia...Twilight thought, frantically looking for a book that could help her as Rarity sprang onto all fours. What have I done! GOTTA be a spell here somewhere...

Twilight magically reached out for a large purple book that had a promising gold title woven on the spine and felt her horn sear with pain.

"Ugh! Stupid horn!" she said, bolting for the ladder in the corner of the room and scraping it noisily against the wood floor.

"Oh, and the makeovers! All the ponies of Equestria can see our love for each other, in all our glamour!"

Twilight reached the top rung of the ladder, frantically throwing books down from the Relationships section of her bookshelf as she ticked off title after title, littering the floor below her.

...Improving Appearance...Creating Gifts...Guide to Making Out...uuurgh! Where are all the books on ARTIFICIAL love!

"TWILIGHT, DEAR! DOOO COME DOWN FROM THERE!"

Twilight's hooves went to her ears in a grimace as Rarity's piercing voice vibrated the ladder. For a moment she closed her eyes, hoping all this would just go away.

"Oooh!" Rarity sounded exasperated. "If you're not coming down, then at least let me hold the ladder for you, dear!"

Twilight only had a second to think before Rarity bounded forward. Looking down, she watched as Rarity passionately lunged at the ladder, striking it so hard that the bottom slipped out completely, slamming Twilight and the ladder into the floor.

Rarity jumped at the resounding crack of wood striking wood, bouncing over to stand uncomfortably close to Twilight, head leaned over, mouth right next to her ear.

"OH MY GOSH! TWILIGHT! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT!"

Twilight launched off the floor with her hair on end, flopping spread-eagle back on the ground, ears ringing against her aching brain as Rarity's words echoed around the room.

"Where does it hurt?! Let Rarity kiss the boo-boo!"

Without a thought, Twilight bolted off the ground and galloped across the room, making a break for the door. She blasted right through it, not even bothering to close it as it swung so hard it slammed into the brick of the outside. Rarity screamed out behind her as she ran, eyes forward, heading anywhere but back.

"TWILIGHT!" Rarity yelled from the threshold. "COME BACK, TWILIGHT! Widdle Wawwity needs to cuddle..."

Twilight walked wearily into Sugarcube Corner, pushing lazily past the loitering lunch crowd. Most of the ponies stood gossiping or leaning satisfied against a wall, having finished their desserts already. Twilight caught a glimpse of Mr. and Mrs. Cake walking wearily, catching their breath now that the crowds had died down.

"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, popping out of nowhere and making Twilight jump backwards a few steps. She was bouncing so fast her body was just a blur. "You're back! Oh, Celestia, you’re back, I'm so excited! I saw you in the clinic, but you were sleeping for so long! I was so worried! Did you get my treats? OOO, wait!" She bounded to the counter to grab something. "Wanna try a cupcake? They're apple-flavored! I spent all day coming up with the recipe just for you, Twilight! You absolutely must try it! It's the most deliciously-supertasty-sugarpastry-treat in the entire confectionary!" She presented the small cupcake on the tip of her hoof.

Twilight was speechless, but reached her hoof out anyway. She carefully grabbed the cupcake from Pinkie's own outstretched hooves, nearly dropping it on the floor in the process.

"Hey! What happened to your horn? Is it hurt?! Oh no! Did that big nasty spell do that do you?" Pinkie chimed, helping Twilight balance the cupcake on her hoof so she could bite into it.

"My...what?"

"You didn't use your magic to pick up the cupcake! You always use your magic, Twilight!" Pinkie said, lowering both hooves back to the ground as Twilight took a bite, letting the sweet tang of apple icing flow down her throat.

"Oh! That..." Twilight said, flicking her eyes to her horn and back, realizing at the last minute how much it looked like she had rolled her eyes. "It's...nothing, really. Just a minor injury, that's all."

Pinkie made a frown, tilting her head to the side as Twilight took her next few bites. "Oh my gosh, that's no fun at all! My poor friend is hurt!" She thought for a moment before bursting in the air. "OOO! I know what'll cheer you up!" Pinkie said, springing against the ground like a pink playground ball. Twilight cringed as she swallowed her last bite.

"Pinkie," Twilight said, lowering her empty hoof to the ground, "I really don't have time for a party today..."

"Oh...?" Pinkie said, her smile faltering as she bounced a little lower. "You're sure? Like, really sure sure?"

"Yeah," said Twilight, watching Pinkie sink into the ground with a frown. "But you know, I think I could go for a few more of these cupcakes," she said with a grin.

The bubble gum pony popped again, her curled hair positively shaking with delight as her face lit up like a firework. "OOOO! Yes! Aren't they DELICIOUS!?"

Pinkie Pie bounded back into the kitchen and brought out a large tray of cupcakes stacked three layers high, which she balanced lightly on her hoof. With the lunch crowds dying down, Pinkie was free to join Twilight outside.

"MMM, that's GOOD!" Pinkie said, chowing down on one as they sat down at the umbrella-laden picnic table. Many of the other tables were becoming unoccupied as the ponies finished their treats. "Say, you still don't look happy, Twilight. What's wrong?"

Twilight sighed at the weepy look on Pinkie's face as she finished her cupcake.

"Well...it's Rarity," Twilight said, lowering her head with a scowl. "She hasn't exactly been the same since she woke up. I'm worried that it might have something to do with what happened on the hill."

Pinkie Pie gasped. "Now that was exciting!"

Twilight's startled jump quickly became an eyeroll, and then a facehoof as Pinkie bounced up from her chair and started charading her thoughts.

"There was this biiiig explosion that went, like, POOOW!" she said, waving her arms. "And then all these ponies started screaming, like EEEEEEEEE!" she said, squishing her cheeks with her hooves. "And then, there was this big pink wave! And it went WHOOOOSH! right over the whole town! And then everypony started racing around, and ducking for cover, and screaming some more! And then, OOO-OO-OO-OOOO! Princess Celestia showed up! And she was carrying you! And I was standing there like *GAAAAAASP*, TWILIGHT! And then she took you into the clinic, and I went in there and saw Rarity with you! And I got so upset! So I brought balloons and confetti and streamers and sweets and tried throwing a BIIIIIIIG party for you in the clinic! Only, the nurse didn't let me, and she made me stay outside, and said I should come back at the end of the day. Only, I didn't see you! And THEN!" she finished dramatically, wide-eyed and mouth gaping.

Twilight had been staring at her, thin-mouthed and narrow-eyed the whole time.

"And...then...?" Twilight repeated, hoping for once Pinkie would actually make sense.

Pinkie stood there a few seconds. Then, turning suddenly back to normal and bouncing back onto her seat, "And then you showed up here," she finished.

Twilight exhaled loudly, her face sinking into her hoof again as Pinkie grabbed another cupcake.

"So you didn't think to visit me or anything when I got out?" Twilight said, looking back up and sinking her shoulders.

"Oh, Twilight!" Pinkie said with a sideways wobble of her head, "I knew you'd come to see me first thing when you got better! That's why I wanted to throw you a party just now!"

"Pinkie, you offered me the party because I-"

"See, Twilight! Everything makes perfect sense now!"

Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but after finding it still hanging there after a few seconds with no words to accompany it she ended up simply closing it again.

"So!" said Pinkie Pie, reaching her hoof out for another snack. "You were saying about Rarity?"

"Huh?”

The splash of dumb on Twilight's face hadn't quite worn off yet, so she shook it a few times and rubbed her eyes.

“Oh, right!" she said, blinking, the image of Rarity at her door popping back into her head. "Well, anyway, Rarity showed up at my door, and she seemed...well...very happy to see me!"

"Awwww!" Pinkie cried, holding another cupcake to her mouth. "Isn't that sweet!"

"Well, not really," Twilight continued to the sound of Pinkie swallowing. "She seemed...well...she kinda jumped on top of me...and kissed me..."

"She KISSED YOU?" Pinkie leaped away from the table again. Twilight quickly looked around, noticing that some of the ponies at the other tables turning to eavesdrop. "WOW! I didn't know she was into both colts AND fillies! I just think that's SOOO cool! She's, like, totally open-minded! And I-"

"NO, NO, NO!" Twilight exclaimed. "It wasn't her! It wasn't her at ALL!"

"It wasn't?!" Pinkie Pie said, slanting her face to one side so one eye was more open than the other. "You mean it was...an IMPOSTOR!" Pinkie said dramatically, raising her hooves over her head with an evil scowl like the one she had at the end of her Zecora song.

"Ummm...no," Twilight said, her eyes so thin they were almost closed. "Like, I think something's wrong with her! Like, I don't know...maybe she hit her head or something!"

"Or MAYBE," Pinkie started energetically, "that spell you cast was really a love spell! And all the ponies in Ponyville are going to start falling for each other, and this whole place will turn into a giant town of love and affection and cuddling and-" Pinkie took a deep breath, which Twilight used to respond to her.

"Uh, no. First off, there's no way my spell had anything to do with this. I was casting fireworks. Second, Princess Celestia was here. I seriously doubt she'd let something like that happen. And third, even if it was the spell, and even if the Princess just so happened to leave us without fixing it, wouldn't there be more ponies acting like her? I mean, I don't know about you, but..." she looked around at the few occupied tables and wandering ponies, "I really don't see that much zany love-making going on around here."

Pinkie dropped her wacky demeanor as she leaned into the table. "Give it time..." she said quietly from the corner of her mouth. Twilight sighed heavily.

"In the meantime," she said as Pinkie slouched back into her seat, "I have a swooning Rarity in the library doing...gosh-knows-what! And no spell to reverse the effects! I mean, I've never even seen a spell for love! Where would I-"

She stopped mid-sentence, completely forgetting to close her mouth. She blinked a few times before leaning back and slapping her hoof to her forehead with a small cry. "Pinkie!" she said as she lowered her hoof. "You wouldn't happen to have seen Zecora here lately, would you? Like...today?"

"Hmmm..." A few crumbs escaped from her lips, her cheeks puffed out from stuffing three cupcakes in her mouth at once. "i no-iv sehna ebra ere dee oder day, ut-" She stopped and swallowed the entire mouthful in one gulp. "She's probably long gone by now." she finished.

"Oh, great," Twilight said, her head leaning into her hooves again. "I was really hoping I wouldn't have to go into the forest..."

"Oh, Twilight!" Pinkie said, grabbing all but the last cupcake off the platter. "She'll be back out here soon enough!"

"Pinkie!" Twilight said, striking her hooves on the table as she raised her voice, "Zecora might have a cure! She told me her people have spells for this kind of thing! Or, at least, I think that's what she was saying..." She lifted a hoof to her chin as she looked up.

"A spell for what?" Pinkie asked, popping the last cupcake into her mouth.

"For curing Rarity!" she said, flailing her hooves wildly in the air. "For curing her...affection..."

Pinkie's entire expression vanished, leaving a set of eyes and a mouth staring blankly at her.

"Uh, why would you want to cure affection?! Isn't affection a good thing to have?"

Twilight sighed, getting up from the table. "It's been really nice." she said. "Thanks for the cupcakes, by the way."

"Oh, Twilight! You're leaving already? Are you sure you don't have time for a party?"

"I'm...pretty sure, yeah," she said, pulling away from the conversation like taffy. "I really gotta go!"

Twilight turned around, leaving Pinkie sitting at the table with a hoof outstretched and her mouth slightly open, the empty platter still lying in front of her.

"Okay, Twilight," she said to herself. "You're good! Just be careful...and you'll be there in no time..."

Twilight trotted, quivering, through the darkened forest, hooves striking the dry earth as her head turned from side to side, her eyes piercing the surrounding trees. Light from above shot through small breaks between the ceiling of leaves, but most of the undergrowth of the forest floor was cast in shadow. Every rattling of a leaf in the wind, every cry of a bird, every movement of critters racing through the foliage at her hooves sent her heart racing as she stopped in cold silence to listen silently.

As Zecora's gnarled twisted tree finally came into view, she let out a deep breath as her muscles relaxed. Her pacing slowed as her eyes lazily watched the bulky form approach with every one of her steps.

At first, she ignored the blackness peering from the windows, as well as the lack of incense and homely cooking smells of foreign spices, waltzing straight up to the door and giving it a few hopeful knocks. She bowed her head after the silence before knocking once more just to be sure.

"Yeah, this doesn't look good..." she mumbled to herself.

She turned to the right, peering through the darkened window, placing a hoof on the sill so she could lean her head in. A few shapes could be seen, including the faint highlights of the cauldron in the back, as well as some ceramics on the back shelves haunting the darkness with their hourglass shapes. One thing was perfectly clear, however. The tree was completely devoid of any zebras.

"Well..." she sighed, slumping her flank onto the dirt and leaning her back against the trunk. "I guess I can always wait for her to get back!"

Twilight lay still for a few moments, placing her head in her hooves as she cleared her mind. Wind gently rustled her coat as the sounds of the forest tickled her ears. They were quite calming, actually. The wind blowing, the birds chirping, the pony singing, the-

"Pony...singing?" Twilight said out loud, looking up with her ears perked. She looked around for the source of the voice which was clearly an older filly, and obviously not trained in choir. Twilight guessed that, had the voice sung any louder, it probably would be an accurate depiction of what most ponies sounded like in the shower. However, what was particularly strange were the lyrics. She had heard them before.

"You gotta caaaaaaare...you gotta shaaaaaaare..." it sang serenely and lovingly. If Twilight hadn't heard the original rendition, she would have guessed it was a serenade. It was so much calmer and more soothing than Pinkie Pie's version.

Twilight got up slowly and walked in the direction of the voice, carefully weaving through the thicket of tree trunks, roots, and vegetation.

"Hello?" she called into the trees around her, her voice suddenly sounding strange in the emptiness of the forest. The singing voice was unperturbed. She kept following the sound, taking careful note of the path she took away from Zecora's tree, and soon found herself at a clearing, the sun reflecting brilliantly off the glass surface of a small pond. The source of the song appeared to be a light-blue filly with flowing white-blue mane standing on the shore as she gazed alluringly at something in the water.

"Hello?" Twilight repeated, walking up to her side. The filly stopped singing, but didn't look up.

"Oooh, Great and Powerful Trixie! What fabulous hair you have!"

Twilight took a step or two back. "Trixie?!"

The pony kept staring at the pool, Twilight struck dumb as she observed the strange sight.

"Oh, and those eyes! So stunning!"

Twilight hadn't recognized her at first without her magical garb. But now that she saw her silver mane, there was no mistaking her.

"Oh, Trixie! You're all I ever dreamed of! Why don't you come out of the water so we can show this forest what TRUE love is!"

Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but ended up closing it and stepping over to the pool. She leaned over and looked at what was in the water. A replica of herself peered back, plastered against the blue sky and clouds, a few overhanging tree branches visible in the reflection.

"Ummm...I don't think that's a real pony in there, Trixie."

Trixie reared up as she continued. "Oh, how I loooong to hold you! To be with you! To love you forever and EVER!"

Twilight walked over with an exasperated sigh, raised her hoof above the water, and brought it smashing down on top of Trixie's reflection. A loud splash sounded around them as droplets sprayed over both of them, the smooth glass now disturbed with turbulent ripples. Trixie's rant immediately stopped, her eyes wide and her mouth thin.

"Trixie!" Twilight screamed. "Snap out of it!"

Trixie blinked a few times, lifting her head slowly before turning towards Twilight. She stared at the purple unicorn in front of her for a moment.

Then her eyes narrowed.

"You!" she exclaimed dully, her face scrunching in pain. "YOU!" she repeated, rearing on her hind hooves, radiating heat from her quivering body. "What do you want! Come to mock me again, huh? Come to cause more shame and embarrassment to...to...the Lonely and Defeated Trixie? Huh?! Is that what you're all calling me now?"

"Trixie!" Twilight said, blinking hard before pointing her hoof at her. "You were infatuated with your reflection!"

"Don't try and fool me, Twilight! I know why you're here!"

"I'm not trying to trick you!" Twilight said, "I just helped you! You were under a curse!"

Again, Trixie reared up, projecting each word with increased emphasis. "I – was – NOT under a...wait, did you say curse?" Her hooves dropped onto the ground, face suddenly losing its taut lines of pain.

"Uh...yeah!" Twilight exclaimed, shaking her head sarcastically like some of the fillies did back in Canterlot. "Unless you're always trying to make love to yourself! You should have seen the way you were treating your reflection!"

Trixie's mouth opened, drawing her eyes shut as she let out a rattling breath. She lowered her head.

"Oh, nooo! I didn't! ...did I?" She lifted her head pleadingly. "Oh, tell me I wasn't!"

"What's wrong?" Twilight said.

"Oh, I was afraid of this!" she said, energized as she cantered around the area with frantic antics. "There I was, wandering the forest like I have been the last few months, when suddenly..." she threw her hooves at the sky, making the same "whooshing" motion Pinkie Pie made in her own depiction. "It was HUGE! This...massive pink cloud...or fog...or something! It was like an explosion of some sort! I had hoped it was nothing, but..." She looked up at Twilight. "I just came to get a drink of water a few minutes ago and completely phased out! Next thing I know, you're here, telling me how I was..."

"Swooning?" Twilight put in blankly.

"...yes. Swooning over my own reflection! Oh...I should have known it was a curse! And to think! I was-"

"Wait!" Twilight said, putting her hoof out to stop her mid-sentence. "You said explosion? That sounds like..." Twilight's eyes went wide with fear as she remembered Pinkie's crazy prediction. "Oh no...this is not good!"

Trixie stared blankly at her now, prompting Twilight to fill her in on the details.

"The explosion on the hill, Trixie! The spell! The curse! Your infatuation! It's...latent!" Twilight was now wandering nervously back and forth as she spoke. "This...this doesn't make any sense! It was just a fireworks display! How could this be making all the ponies go crazy like this? This isn't how magic is supposed to work!" Her eyes went wide. "This is all going seriously wrong. If this thing really is the spell I cast," she put a hoof to one side, "and it didn't start affecting you until just now," she moved her hoof to the other side, "then that means all the ponies in Ponyville could..." She put her hoof down and lifted her head. The picture that Pinkie had painted swarmed into her head. An entire town filled with ponies falling hopelessly in love with each other. "Ooooh! This isn't good. This isn't good at all! Whatever spell that was could wreak havoc through all of Ponyville! We have to find a way to stop this, Trixie!"

"We?!" Trixie exclaimed, backing up a few feet, her pained expression returning.

"Well," Twilight argued, "you don't want to be amorous towards yourself forever do you?!"

Trixie's mouth opened and shut a few times as she stammered. Finally, she bolted herself around to face away from Twilight, digging her front hooves into the ground. "Fine! What choice do I have!"

Twilight was staring at the ground, mumbling to herself as Trixie turned back to face her. When Twilight looked back up, she launched straight into explanation.

"I've been looking for Zecora. She's a zebra that lives around these woods. I heard she might have a cure for this kind of thing. I know she lives in these woods a bit further back, but she wasn't home the last I checked. We'll need to split up to find her. If we're lucky, we might-"

"Hold on!" Trixie interrupted, sticking a hoof up. "I do believe you're in luck. I just so happen to have seen a zebra walking around here just before I got my drink! She was heading off this way." She pointed her hoof to the right of the pond.

"Well what are we waiting for! Let's go!"

No sooner were these words spoken than Trixie bolted into a gallop. Twilight was left behind a few paces as she watched Trixie round a corner and disappear into the treeline.

“Wait!” Twilight yelled, racing after her, glimpsing her silver tail just as it flickered out of sight. Picking up speed, Twilight raced around the pond, delving through the same opening in the trees.

Every so often, Twilight glimpsed a blue tail and flank as the jungle labyrinth of Everfree swished past her. Twilight found herself constantly falling on her face, tripping over roots and small stones as she tried to match the incredible pace Trixie had set. Many times she found herself racing blindly, going on instinct as to which turn to make, exploding with speed each time a silver flicker waved amid the green. Finally, the filly ahead of her was fully visible, quickly getting bigger as she caught up.

“Trixie, slow down!” she said, racing right up to the filly. “I’m having trouble-”

“SHH!”

Twilight rebounded, nearly colliding with Trixie's hoof as she held it out in front of her, peering quietly into the trees like a game hunter. Twilight's heart pounded, unsure whether what lay ahead was a threat or a destination.

“Is this it?” she whispered. "Did you find her?"

As an answer, Trixie moved her hoof from sideways in front of Twilight, to out in front, pointing at something amidst the trees. Twilight followed its trajectory, squinting at the rustling leaves. It was subtle, but the tinge of black and white, as well as the familiar rhyming rhetoric, could mean only one thing. Twilight listened carefully, picking up on only a few lines.

"I see before me beast of plume, what grace and fairness I presume."

Twilight inclined her head towards Trixie. “What’s she doing?” she asked.

Trixie didn’t say anything. continuing to stare ahead blankly. Twilight turned back, trying to make out the rest of the words, most of them shrouded amongst the rustling leaves.

“I’m gonna go ask-”

“No!” said Trixie, her hoof shooting in front of her again, “wait...”

Twilight peered again closely, and thought she recognized the strange way the zebra was poised. It was very similar to Trixie's demeanor in front of the pond. Listening intently, Twilight caught another set of lines as she realized exactly what was going on.

"Body serpant crowned by fowl, passionate the way you prowl. Pronounce my love I do hereby, as I gaze upon thine eye."

She couldn't see it clearly, but there was something else in front of Zecora now. Something white was slithering out of the leaves, peering into Zecora's eyes. Twilight's mind put two and two together and jumped, shooting forward towards her foreign companion.

“NO!” Twilight shouted as she sprang forward, Trixie suddenly unable to hold her back anymore as her hooves slipped frantically against her hide.

“Twilight!” she yelled.

A crackling noise sounded as Twilight rounded the corner, watching Zecora's half-stone body looking enchantingly into the eyes of a cockatrice. "ZECORA! NO!" She caught right up to the zebra just as the stream of gray crested her head and ran together at the temple. The statue tipped under its own weight, thumping at Twilight’s feet.

“ZECORA!” she yelled, leaning her tear-stricken face over the swooning stone form of her zebra friend. She turned back to Trixie, pleading for help with her eyes. Trixie pulled back, her eyes focused on something just beyond her.

“Twilight!” Trixie yelled, rearing on her hind hooves as she turned around. “RUN!”

A loud cry behind her threw Twilight's eyelids so far back they disappeared into her wrinkled forehead. A moment later, the bush exploded behind her with a piercing shriek, sending Twilight galloping forward in a surge of panic as she shouted uncontrollably. “Trixie, WAIT UP!”

The blue flank and tail flickered and disappeared again as Twilight blindly flew through the trees. The screaming cry of the cockatrice echoed around the forest as it swam shark-like through the thick brush, leaping out every so often a little further ahead of Twilight. She kept her head down, avoiding obstacles as they appeared in her peripheral vision, her hooves roughly colliding with rocks and stumps in shocks of pain, suppressed only by her adrenaline.

“Trixie! Where are you!”

Trixie's ghost of a voice could be heard in the distance, but her form was nowhere to be seen. Twilight slowed as her hooves gave out, panting frantically as she burst into a cough, finally stopping to look around. Trixie's voice kept echoing off to her right.

“This way! Almost there!”

The silence had become deafening as her pounding heart drowned all other noise, her vision blurred and her mouth dry. Everything was perfectly still for a moment.

An burst of leaves and twigs startled Twilight into nearly falling over as the cockatrice charged out of a mangled flower bush. Red eyes gleamed from the clearing fog, a screech burning her ears. Twilight put her head down, saving herself before the spell set in motion. The cockatrice was now twisting deftly around her, trying to set its face in front of hers.

“Twilight!”

Something crashed out of the shrubbery, striking Twilight in the side and knocking her to the ground. Pain shot through her as she forced herself back up, hearing a battle between pony and beast beside her. She stumbled to her hooves, regaining her balance as a blur of blue and green chaotically fought beside her.

“Run, Twilight!”

She hesitated for a bit, eyes stinging, body sore, mind racing. All she could do was stare blankly at the wild fight before her.

"Don't think!" Trixie screamed, "Just RUN!"

Trixie's voice heated her blood, charging her hooves into an uncontrollable gallop. Her mind fought against it, but there was no stopping the cascade of adrenaline. A crackle sounded behind her as the cockatrice at last reigned victorious over its victim, but Twilight fought past it, her mind flooded with fear.

Racing to the edge of the forest, she bolted beyond the tree line, revealing the blinding sun quickly setting before her. She charged forward, hardly even realizing where her body was carrying her until the town buildings rose up before her.

She turned in the direction of the library, and charged into the sunset.

Enchantments of Amore

Enchantments of Amore

A cockatrice! Twilight thought to herself, nearing the library at last. Of all the things for Zecora to be enamored with... a cockatrice!

The sun was nearly set, showering the town in a golden-red haze. The library tree was just up ahead. The sun's glare made it difficult to make out, but from what Twilight could see, something about it was different.

Very different.

As Twilight approached the tree and took in the strange site before her, she stopped altogether, stunned to the point of total confusion. Was she in the right place? This was certainly where she remembered the library tree being. The buildings on either side were certainly the same.

A few moments later, her eyes took in the mushroom shape, the bits of green amid the white, gold, and rainbow, and finally the sign outside still reading "Library," determining in the end that, indeed, this was her home. Or, at least, what used to be her home.

Rarity had apparently taken this time to cover every leaf, branch, and twig with every frill, fabric, and decoration in all of Ponyville. Ribbon and lace hung down the trunk, golden statues sat outside her front door, moving mechanical birds swung on the branches making small chirping noises, and every last inch of bare wood was covered with gemstones.

"Oh, this is not good!" she muttered, shaking her head.

Her hooves refused to move for a moment, but she eventually forced them to move and fought with herself all the way to the door. Opening the door, she stared into what could only be described as the strangest version of the Carousel Boutique she had ever seen. Every last inch of the library was redecorated. The only thing Twilight still recognized were the books. Walls were repainted and covered with tapestries, marble archways were placed in the ceiling, and the stairs were now covered with a thick red carpet down the middle.

"Twiiiilight!" Rarity exclaimed from the top of the stairs as Twilight crossed the threshold. "You were gone so long, I was starting to get worried, dear!" She trotted down an elaborately decorated staircase, closing the door to join her. "Oh, you must be so tired right now. Why don't I show you the tour?"

Twilight's head turned, but her face was blank. "What...is all this?" she asked, blinking mildly as she glimpsed the mannequins and sewing equipment in the corner of the room.

"Ooooh! Silly Twilight," said Rarity, trotting up with a loving smile and rubbing her head against her shoulder. "I'm moving in with you, of course!"

Before Twilight even had a chance to groan, Rarity was already forcibly guiding her up the stairs, her head pressed against Twilight's side. "Oh, but you must see what I did with the bedroom, dear! It's simply splendid!"

Twilight's hooves caught a few times as Rarity pushed her up the stairs. As she finally reached the second story, Twilight's heart sank as she saw the ridiculous "enhancements" that had been made to her own bedroom. Rarity was beside herself, emitting excited squeaks as she concealed a bursting scream of joy.

"Rarity!" Twilight said, looking around. "What did you do to my room?!"

"Isn't it just marvelous!?" she said, rearing up on her hind hooves.

"Rarity, there are so many gemstones in this place, I can hardly see from all the sparkling! This place is completely impractical! And..." Twilight stopped and looked up, "is that a ... chandelier?"

"Pure gold!" Rarity chimed, "32 candles! My best work!"

"But ... this is a tree! Don't you think we should have as little fire in this place as possible?!"

"Oh, don't be silly, Twilight. Wait 'til you see our bed!" Rarity said, bouncing up to Twilight's sleeping quarters, leaving Twilight sinking in her place as she watched Rarity round the elaborate curved staircase.

"Our...bed..." Twilight mumbled, half to herself.

"Silk sheets, dear!" she said, laying down on the bed Twilight had slept in so many times, rubbing against the fabric suggestively. "Only the best for us, Twilight! I can't wait for us to try them out tonight!"

Twilight closed her eyes and groaned.

"Rarity! You really don't have to do this! I mean...the room, the bed...it's too much!"

"Oh, you!" Rarity said, bouncing off the bed as she bounded back down the stairs with a smile worthy of Pinkie Pie. "You won't be so apprehensive tonight, when we-"

A thump from outside made Twilight and Rarity jump. Twilight let the tingling feeling of shock subdue before looking towards the balcony where the sound had occurred.

"Good heavens!" Rarity jumped back. "What in Equestria was that!"

Twilight held a hoof up. "Stay here," she said, walking to the balcony door and peering out.

The balcony was one of the few places Rarity had barely touched. There were a few pieces of fabric here and there for added color, but the most prominent addition were the two ponies now furiously making out in the sunset.

"Ohhhhh, great!" she thought, putting her hoof to her face before flinging it over her head. "Just what I needed. More lovemaking!" She flung the door open and stepped out onto the balcony, leaving it open as she walked right up to the couple still wrestling with their tongues.

"What do you two think you're doing?!" She looked down at the frantic display of blue and gray. The two ponies ignored her, taking their actions to higher extremes, the sounds of slop striking her ears. Twilight almost had to look away a few times.

"Wait..." she said, finally recognizing the blue uniform adorning the form of the pony on top. "Soarin?"

The esteemed member of the Wonderbolts was apparently busy kissing the mailpony. At least, Twilight thought it was kissing. It looked more like he was trying to eat her face off.

Derpy Hooves ( as everypony called her, not knowing her real name ) was lying on her back, lazily enjoying the make-out session when she suddenly remembered something. Pulling her tongue out of Soarin's mouth with a horrible squelching noise, she reached down and clamped her mouth around a couple-dozen gold-laced envelopes sticking out of her saddlebags, turning her gray face towards Twilight, eyes spinning like pinballs. Spit shined on her lips as it soaked some of the envelopes.

"Muuill!" she stifled, holding the letters out expectantly. All she got back, however, was a blank stare.

"Gee! A little late today, huh?" Twilight said.

Derpy continued to hold out the letters in her mouth, a dribble of spit dropping lazily onto the balcony.

"Uh...why don't you just leave those here on the balcony for now..." she groaned, trying not to hurl.

Derpy dropped the letters turning her face back towards Soarin who went at it like an apple pie.

"You taste like muffins!" he exclaimed, slopping saliva all over Twilight's balcony.

"Look!" Twilight said, punching her hoof out towards the couple. "Do you two really need to do this on my balcony!? Can't you two go somewhere else!?"

Soarin looked up, his entire face shining with spit, adorned with a wacky smile.

"Somewhere el – Oh, wait! You're right!" he said, his eyes darting just past her. "Thanks Twilight!" Lifting Derpy off the ground, he promptly flew past Twilight and through the open balcony door.

"I DIDN'T MEAN INSIDE THE LIBRARY!" Twilight yelled, closing her eyes and stomping maddeningly on the balcony floor. She turned with a loud growl, reaching for the sticky gold envelopes on the balcony and let out a yelp. "Ow! Stupid horn..."

Rarity's voice echoed from inside as Twilight walked back inside the "Library Boutique," leaving the letters to rot until she got her magic back. "OH! It's so unseemly! Twiiilight! How could you!"

Twilight looked at the scene of Soarin and Derpy messily making out on the elaborate carpet as Rarity stared in revulsion.

"OH, Twilight! And on the carpet and everything! How could you just have invited them in! And just as I was about to start up the music and everything!"

"I didn't invite – them – in," Twilight said, sounding each word separately as she trotted in aggravation towards the scene before her. "They just came in by themselves, and – wait, did you say music?"

Rarity trotted over and drew a set of curtains that hadn't been there earlier that day. Behind them was a small DJ set and stand, complete with DJ Pony behind it.

"Wait..." Twilight started. "DJ PON-3?"

The disc jockey she had seen at the fashion show earlier that year looked up, her glasses on her forehead revealing her crimson eyes.

"Oh, hi Twilight!" she said. "You don't have to call me that. DJ's just my stage name. You can call me Vinyl!"

"But..." Twilight continued, "what are you doing here!?"

"Rarity hired me!" she said, looking pleased. "Personal request. Said I'm here to serenade you two tonight!"

Twilight put her hoof to her face and grimaced before looking back up to retort. However, something else caught her eye at that point. She look closer to find a green-purplish thing poorly hiding next to Vinyl.

"Sooo," Vinyl said, leaning over her set as the purple scales vanished behind the disc-stand, "got somethin' romantic planned, do ya?"

"SPIKE!" Twilight yelled, racing around the stand and pulling Spike out by the tail with her teeth. The purple dragon jumped with surprise and fright, clawing at the floor to get back under the table, but Twilight didn't stop until he was completely out in the open, rolling him hastily onto his back.

"Spike! Where have you been?" she screamed, glaring at the fidgeting purple and green form before her. Spike didn't look at all like he wanted to be found.

"Oh...ummm...hi Twilight! Uh...gee! This place sure does look nice!" he said, trying not to stutter.

"Spike! I haven't seen you all day! Where have you been!?"

Spike was now sitting up and holding his tail, shaking slightly. "Oh...well...you see...I was just...ummm..."

"Hiding?" Twilight put in.

"Yeah. I mean, NO! I mean...Rarity was just...and then I...but then you came in...and I was all...and then I saw Vinyl and I just..."

"Spike, whatever you're hiding, spit it out!" she said as Spike winced.

"What? Hiding? Twilight, I would never...I mean...there's nothing to hide! From...you. Nothing at all!" His tone changed as he shifted his eyes to meet Twilight's. "Why?" he said slowly. "Did someone tell you...I did something wrong...?"

Twilight glared at him, and Spike grimaced like he always did just before admitting guilt. "Okay! Okay! I confess! I put a different spell in your spell book when you did the fireworks display!" He cringed just before Twilight lashed out.

"SPIIIKE!" Twilight screamed. "Do you have any idea what this has done!?” She walked around in a small circle on the carpet, recounting her experiences. “My horn’s damaged, Trixie and Zecora are turned to stone, Derpy and Soarin are slopping their love-juice all over my floor, and Rarity...well..." She turned towards Rarity, who was still fussing over the love-couple's presence.

"I didn't mean it to!” Spike jumped in. “I mean...I never wanted to hurt anyone! I just..."

He trailed off as his eyes followed Twilight's glare, and found himself looking at Rarity frantically tugging at the blue-gray couple still fighting to stay hooked at the mouth.

"I thought you didn't want Rarity to know about your little crush," Twilight said quietly. "Why would you do something like this?"

Spike glanced around before leaning in to whisper to Twilight. "I read somewhere about an alicorn falling in love with a dragon." He glanced at the bookshelf, staring at the particularly thick green spine of one of the older, dustier books. "It kind of made me think, you know, about the future."

Twilight looked in his direction, eyeing the large book of old pony tales. She refrained from telling him that nothing in that book was based on fact.

"Look. I can understand you were upset, and I know I said some things I shouldn't. However, switching spells to try and force your crush to love you is not the way to make it happen." She was half-proud of herself for finally figuring this out, but kept herself focused on the situation. "We're going to discuss this downstairs," she said, turning her head to look narrow-eyed at the top of his head. "And you're going to help me fix this, understand? Even if it means travelling around the entire town, pony-by-pony, and feeding them all an antidote."

Spike made a loud gulping noise, twiddling his thumbs as Twilight walked towards the struggle in the middle of the room to help Rarity.

"We'll get started just as soon as this little fiasco here is cleaned up."

Soarin and Derpy proved to be most uncooperative, but Twilight and Rarity still managed to get them out of the library somehow. Luckily Rarity found herself preoccupied with polishing the floor again, giving Twilight ample time to chastise Spike, now quivering apprehensively in the corner. Twilight needed only to look at him and gesture to get him down the stairs.

The sun had now set, the windows reflecting the inside of the library as it glowed in the blaze of a dozen sconces around the walls. She led him through the fanciful room, straight up to the bookstand in the downstairs entryway (now rebuilt using vitreous enamel) and sat him down like a prisoner for interrogation at its base, his back resting against the stand.

"Okay, Spike!" Twilight said, standing over him. "Exactly what spell did you use?"

Spike trembled, grabbing his tail and chewing on it nervously between answers.

"It...it was something called 'couples generation'. I can show you the book! But I don't think it had any counter-spells in there..."

Twilight blinked a few times, the lines of her face fading a bit.

"Go on then," she said, flicking her head.

Darting his eyes around, he shot onto his feet and stumbled into the other room, returning with a thick black book adorned with an elaborate pink emblem on the front. His forefinger was wedged between the pages, open to the page with the spell.

Twilight tapped her hoof on the floor as Spike lay the book open to the marked page, revealing the same flowing cursive writing and symbols she had seen on the hill. However, this was a different spell than the one she had cast, the title covered by the remains of another page with the words "Couple's Generation" just above a fibrous tear where the rest of the spell had been torn off.

"You ripped out the whole spell?!" Twilight asked, looking up at Spike, now standing just to the left of the bookstand, the tip of his tail brushing his chin as his claws wrung around it. "How exactly did you pull this off?! Believe me, I would have noticed a page being hastily glued into my other book."

Spike continued wringing his tail out as he stuttered.

"W-w-well...see...I h-h-had a little help," he winced. Twilight's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Go on."

"I had...well...I had another unicorn help me out."

"Lyra?" Twilight said, her eyelids dipping further.

"Well...yeah. How did you know?" he said, squinting an eye.

"She's the strangest, most gullible pony I know," she said, blinking as she cocked her head. "I couldn't think who else would agree to a baby dragon's plan."

Spike looked back down at the floor, squeezing his tail so hard the spines cut into his palms.

"Well, she didn't exactly agree to anything..." Spike admitted. "In all honesty, I kinda...pretended the love-spell page fell out of the other book..."

He kept his head bowed as his eyes rolled up to meet hers.

"And you asked her to fix it for you," Twilight finished, head cocked with a smile. "How kind of her."

A nervous laugh tickling his lips as he backed up a bit.

"Actually," he said, "it was a bit trickier than that," he said with a grin. "I mean, I had to hide the title and everything, and I had to rip out the page just so so that-"

He stopped short as his eyes met up with Twilight's, now glaring at him. He fell quiet again, dropping his head again as he loosened his grip on his tail. Twilight breathed deep and leaned back a bit.

"And you say there's no counter-spell," she said, watching him finger his tail like a pungi. Spike glanced around the room, his eyes catching the mannequins in the corner. His mind drifted to Rarity, imagining her sitting at the sewing table with those half-moon glasses perked on her nose. Twilight's voice pierced his ears again.

"Right?"

Spike continued to stare at the equipment in the corner, wishing Rarity was down here with them. He bowed his head, turning to look down at the open book sitting on the carpet.

"Actually..." he said slowly.

Spike didn't even notice Twilight's surprised reaction as her ears perked in anticipation. He continuing to stare at the ripped page as the feelings of that day flooding back in a heated rage before spiralling into stomach-churning guilt. Above them, the sound of scrubbing drifted through the ceiling, perking Spike's ears. Twilight could tell something was eating away at him, but couldn't quite put her hoof on what it was.

"This wasn't the only book," he said barely above a whisper. "There was one other..."

"Another book?!" Twilight exclaimed, her eyes twinkling the reflection of the sconce flames. "You're sure! Oh, please, please, please tell me it's here in the library!" she said, stomping right up until they were inches apart.

Spike continued staring at the book, fighting an internal struggle that Twilight could only hint at. She watched the subtle blinks and twitches on his face as he considered what to tell her. Twilight's smile quivered.

"WELL?" she said, losing control.

Spike slowly looked up at Twilight, pupils dilated. Twilight stepped back, a feeling of fright seeping through her as she saw the pained expression on his face.

"I...Twilight, forgive me! I left it back in Canterlot!"

"CANTERLOT!" she shouted, Spike cradling his head back to the floor with his arms wrapped tightly around his tail. Twilight stopped and looked up at the ceiling with her ears perked for a moment, listening to the small silence above them before the sounds of scrubbing started up again.

"Canterlot?" she repeated, looking back down. "You're sure!"

"Yeah. I'm sure," he said quietly with the tiniest of nods.

"Do you at least remember the name of the book?"

Again, Spike subtly nodded, still staring at the floor. "It's actually the same book," he said softly. "They're part of a set. Our volume has the spells, but you need the second volume for counter-spells."

Twilight watched the pitiful creature in front of her, feeling her rage subside. She slowly walked up to the book beneath his gaze and closed it gently with her hoof, revealing the black cover and pink emblem splayed web-like beneath the thick curling title.

"Enchantments of Amore," she read aloud. "Volume I."

Her mind drifted away for a moment to the white towers of her old home. She remembered living in a library up in one of the towers before she had been sent down to Ponyville. In fact, she still remembered where it was. She toyed for a moment with paying a visit, perhaps saying hello to some of her old classmates she had never really gotten to know, maybe even stopping by to pay a visit to the Princess if she was-

Wait a minute! she thought, the brick of an idea striking her temple. THE PRINCESS! Of course! How could I not have thought of this before!

Spike watched as Twilight's internal struggle revealed itself as as set of eyes glowing brightly as her lids slid back, followed by her rearing onto her hind hooves with a loud "YES!". His eyes were no longer on the floor, staring up at this strange reaction as she walked up and rubbed her hoof lovingly into the dragon's head.

"This won't be a problem at all, Spike!" she said, turning to walk up the adorned staircase. "I'll just write a letter to the Princess! I'm sure she won't have any objection to helping one of her students get a book!"

"NO!" Spike yelled, holding a claw out as he lunged forward. She stopped mid-walk, rolling her eyes before swiveling around.

"What?"

Spike mouthed silently for a few seconds before stuttering.

"You...you can't ask the Princess!"

Twilight turned the rest of the way around now.

"Why not?" she said blankly, watching Spike wringing his tail again as his eyes darted to the ceiling, then to the stairs, then to the mannequins before settling on the book.

"Because...uh...because..."

Twilight's tiny smile emerged into a giggle as her hoof went to her lips. Twilight may be been bad at reading people, but she knew a guilty conscience when she saw one.

"It's okay, Spike!" she said with a smile. "She's not going to find out about you. I'm the only one who will be punishing you for this crime," she finished, punching her hoof towards him before swishing around to trot up the stairs.

"No!" Spike put out a claw, catching her as she turned to leave. "It's not that! I just-"

"What is it, Spike?" Twilight turned, her smile now a scowl, her hooves fidgeting as they held her at bay.

"It's the book! It's...well...it's not...allowed..." he trailed off, his entire body curling back.

Twilight mouthed the words "not allowed" as her eyes rolled down into a corner, finally giving up before snapping back to him. "What do you mean, not allowed?"

"Well..." Spike twiddled his thumbs again, keeping his head down as his eyes stayed innocently focused on hers, "it's...no one's really supposed to have it..." he said quietly. "it's kind of...they took it out of the buildings...and stuff..."

Spike watched in horror as Twilight's eyes widened and her pupils contracted, her bottom lip descending shakily.

"Out of the buildings..." she whispered. "Oh no. No! NO! SPIKE! You're not telling me the spell I cast came out of a...a banned book, are you?!"

Spike stared at his feet as he let out a squeak. "Maaaaaaybe?"

"SPIKE!" She shut her eyes as her head reared at the ceiling. "You're here to tell me that this book...the book on that floor right there! The one all this started out of is..." She looked around, lost for words before lunging onto the floor with a grimace. "Uuurge! You brought a banned book here from the Canterlot Library?!"

"Well it wasn't banned at the time!" Spike said with his arms out. Twilight let out a loud sigh as she walked aimlessly around the room.

"And to think! Here we are, suffering from a runaway spell that's taking over all of Ponyville. Ponies have turned to stone, Rarity's gone off to left field with infatuation, this whole library now resembles some kind of gaudy, twisted, fabric-laden brothel, and we can't get the one book with the counter-spell without risking massive fines and punishment because it just so happens to be BANNED!" Her hoof smashed the carpet on this last word.

Twilight breathed heavily through her nostrils for a few moments as her face sunk, her body facing off to the side now. Her hooves gave way as she finally sunk to the floor, burying her face in them. One way or the other, they were in trouble now. As soon as Princess Celestia discovered she had performed banned magic, it was over. Done. In fact, she was lucky to have not been caught in the first place when she was rescued from the hill. No, she thought. At this point, there really was only one option left.

"What are we going to do, Spike?" she mumbled into her hooves quietly. "We can't go back to Canterlot!"

"Well...why not!" Spike said, running up to her.

Twilight looked up from her hooves, shaking her head to make sure she heard correctly. She turned towards him with a deep breath as she switched into lecture mode.

"Well, for starters, my horn's damaged! Even if I wanted to teleport, I couldn't! And don't even think about the balloon," she put in as Spike raised a finger. "We need to do this without anyone questioning why we're there. And ideally, we'd need to do this without anyone even knowing we're there at all! Plus, it's a long way to get there on foot. It might be a few days travelling time. We simply don't have that kind of time. And why are you stuttering?!"

"B-bu-b-b-but what if another unicorn w-w-wa-w-was to..."

He glanced around the room again as he stopped completely before turning innocently back to Twilight.

"Go on" she said quietly.

"Well, I was thinking," he continued, no longer stammering, "if you can teleport other objects with your horn, why can't you teleport another pony?" he said, flinging his arms out behind him.

Twilight's mouth quirked as she considered this.

"You've put some thought into this already, haven't you..." she said. Spike shook in his place again, as if holding something back.

"That's what I've been doing all day!" he confessed, spreading his arms. "I've been trying to find another unicorn that could take me there! I was hoping I could get the book and come back here before you found out about all this!"

Spike stopped, again watching her blank face staring back at him.

"And you thought they'd just let you walk in and grab a banned book," she said blankly.

Spike lowered his head, grabbing his tail again as he brushed his foot back and forth across the carpet.

"Okay, so I hadn't quite thought it all the way through..." he said quietly.

Twilight sighed, looking down at the floor, then up at the ceiling, taking in the elaborate arches overhead. Dull thuds could now be heard coming from the floor above her.

Wait a minute...she thought, her mouth suddenly tilting as her brow furled. A unicorn that can teleport! She subtly shook her head before closing her eyes tight. It may have been crazy, but there was simply no way she could pass up an opportunity this good when it was sitting just on the other side of the ceiling like this.

"Well," Twilight sounded out very slowly, eyes still clinging to the ceiling as the thuds stopped for a moment, "I know at least one unicorn that knows how to teleport!"

She lowered her head back down to watch as Spike dropped his tail, eyes going wide. "And I'm pretty sure she'll be quite willing to help us, too!"

It was almost worth putting this plan forward simply to watch Spike's reaction. His pupils contracted as he stuck out a claw at her, stuttering "You...y-y-y-you can't be serious! You mean...you can't mean...her?!" He pointed a shaky claw up at the ceiling.

Twilight let out a laugh that sounded like a cackle as she got off the floor, surprised at how much she was enjoying this. "What are you worried about, Spike?" she said as she walked up to the stairs. "I'm not in love with her or anything!"

"I know. I just..."

"I'm just gonna ask, and see where things go! I mean...what's the worst that could happen?" Twilight said, turning around. Spike stood rooted to the spot as he watched her tail disappear up the stairs and around the corner.

Rarity was busy stomping on a few white towels on the floor as Twilight came into view. Her eyes glared at the floor as she brought her hooves down, as if the carpet was riddled with cockroaches. As Twilight came into her peripheral vision, her eyes darted up before swinging back to the floor again.

"Ah! Twilight! I think I've just about got this place cleaned up," she said, Twilight now watching the damp towels crinkling beneath her crushing hooves. "I have to admit, we really need to keep that door closed more often! Not that I blame you or anything, but if we're going to be living together like this, we need to establish some ground rules. Some of the things I had to touch on this floor were simply-" she cut off as she looked up at Twilight, her hooves relaxing to a stand-still.

"Is something wrong, dear?" she said.

"Oh, no!" Twilight said, putting on a quick, fake smile. "I just wanted to see how you were doing!"

"Oh, well, how kind of you dear," she said. "I'm actually just finishing up. There's really not much left to do here."

Twilight kept watching her pound her hooves into the floor, licking her lips before opening her mouth to speak. However, as Rarity glanced up, her hooves slowed down to light presses, and then kept slowing down, until they were sliding gently across the fibers. Her head stayed down as her eyes rolled up with a promiscuous smile.

"I've been thinking about tonight," she said simply, continuing to paw at the towels.

Twilight's words, already at the tip of her tongue, failed entirely as her eyes followed those hooves caressing the floor, Rarity's eyes still focused on her own.

"Tonight?" She said, backing up slightly and holding back a nervous laugh.

"Well, yes!" Rarity said, looking up completely, all but one of her hooves now stopped as the other swung freely, brushing the ground lightly. "It's the first time we'll finally get to be...intimate together!"

"Oh, dear! Yes! Yes, of course! Intimate..." Twilight said, coughing slightly as she regained her composure. "Uh, listen. Can I ask you a favor?"

Rarity tilted her head, her mouth curiously lined.

"Can you take me to Canterlot tomorrow? I kinda left something there I need..."

"Canterlot!?" she said, bolting up excitedly. "Why of course, dear! We'll take the first balloon in the morning!"

"Actually..." Twilight continued, "I was kinda hoping you'd teleport us there."

"Oh?" Rarity said, before Twilight could elaborate. She put a hoof up to her chin for a bit before shrugging it away. "Well, okay. Whatever you want, dear. Although I don't think I've ever teleported more than one pony at once!"

"Oh, no no no no no, you don't have to come with me-"

"But I do!" she interrupted, now wide-eyed as she forgot all about the towels she was standing on. "You have no idea how long it's been since I was last there!"

"Since the Grand Galloping Gala?" Twilight said meekly.

"Darling, I simply must come with you!" she reared back. "It would be...it would be like a date! A glorious date! Imagine us now! Strolling down the streets of Canterlot! Two lovers, side-by-side!" she said with a hoof majestically in the air.

Twilight mumbled things that barely sounded like words before falling silent.

"Anyway, don't worry about it. We'll work it all out in the morning," Rarity said, magicking the towels with her into the lavatory.

"Oh" Twilight said, watching Rarity's tail whip out of sight. "Okay...I guess..."

She turned slowly, putting one hoof in front of the other, directing herself back to the stairs.

"Twilight?" came a voice from behind her, making her stop short with one hoof still in the air. "You're going back downstairs?"

Twilight turned to see Rarity walking up to her, the towels put away.

"Oh, um...I'm just going to talk to Spike," she said, adding a huge fake smile as Rarity studied her for a bit. Rarity cocked her head as if to admonish her, but it faded quickly.

"Well, don't take too long, dear," she said, turning with a flair. "It is our first night together after all!"

"Oh, um, actually..." she said, turning away from the downstairs hallway, "I'm not sure I'm really in the mood..."

"Not in the mood?!" Rarity said, turning around with a dumbfounded look. "Don't be silly, Twilight! It's our first time! We have plenty of time for not in the mood after we've been married a while."

The word "married" tickled Twilight's lips, sending a sour taste down her throat.

"Seriously, Rarity," she said again, catching her mid-turn, "Is it all right if we hold off on being...er...intimate until tomorrow night?"

Rarity now stopped entirely, turning and walking back down the stairs.

"What are you trying to say, Twilight?" she said, trotting right up to Twilight, backing her up against the wall. "Is something wrong, dear?"

"No! I mean...uh...yes! Yes, something's...er...wrong."

Twilight averted her eyes as Rarity looked over her, staring at first at the hallway with the stairs, and then down at the carpet. She could feel Rarity's breath as it brushed against her hide, warming it with moisture each time. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Rarity slowly picked up one of her hooves, raising it up to her face and using it to gently push against her cheek. Twilight felt her head turn against her will until she was looking Rarity in the eyes. Rarity looked concerned, like a parent looking at a wounded child.

"Twilight?" she said, very quietly, stroking her cheek. Twilight backed up and felt her flank press against the wall. Rarity stepped in to fill the gap. Again, Twilight averted her eyes, looking off to the left catching the bed at the top of the stairs, then looking back and catching Rarity's tail as it whipped out from behind her.

"Twilight, dear..." she whispered again, leaning forward again so Twilight could feel the warm breath on her lips. "It's okay... Everything's going to be all right..."

As the hoof stroked gently against her hide, it began to move back towards her neck. Rarity leaned to her left and brought her lips beyond Twilight's face, walking closer and placing them right up to her ear, the feeling of her breath making them stand firm. Her hoof continued to gently stroke the side of her neck right down to the shoulder as she spoke her next words.

"Everypony's nervous during their first time. It's nothing to be ashamed of..."

"I......I......" she stuttered, shaking now. She felt heat emanate from the back of her body, spreading forward to her fluttering chest. The hoof on her neck threatened to guide her face into nuzzling Rarity's. She nearly gave in a few times, barely able to hold back as Rarity spoke again.

"I promise I'll be gentle," she said, her lips almost touching her ear. Twilight waited with bated breath for the moment her lips would actually grasp the tip of her ear. Her breath shook as she became aware of every movement her body made. The way her mouth had suddenly moistened, the way her chest expanded with each breath, the they way her stomach methodically churned and fluttered. And a tightening emanating from just beyond...

"Do come now, Twilight," Rarity said, pulling away from her. "This is a special night for us! We should enjoy it as much as possible, don't you think?"

As Rarity's body left her presence, the cold air hit her again, making her curl up a bit. Her hoof subconsciously reached underneath her, but she held it back as she realized what she was about to touch. The stairs to her right were open again, but her head turned to the left, watching Rarity from behind as she trotted up the steps, her tail whipping around suggestively. Twilight caught a glimpse of...something...and turned her head again as another wave spread over her body.

"Whoooboy!" Twilight sighed quietly. She panted at the ground a bit, trying to think about Spike. She forced herself to turn and walk, but found herself limping as she went up to the stairs.

"Okay, Twilight," she said to herself. "Keep it together. You can do this."

She took a few steps, cringing at the uncomfortable feeling as she moved her hind-legs. And as she neared the first of the steps, she paused. The cold hallway stood before her. The warm light of the chandelier stood behind. She could feel the heat from the candles striking her from behind, her knees slightly buckling.

She stood there panting and staring at the ground, unable to look up. Every thought kept turning into the feeling of that hoof on her face, those lips moving in to suckle her ear. That whisper! She shut her eyes tightly, grimacing.

Slowly, moving only her fore-legs, she turned, looking up at the bed with Rarity on her side looking down at her. Twilight's stomach contracted as her eyes wandered over her coat, her mind filling in the parts she couldn't see. Another wave washed over her, buckling her knees again slightly as she was tortured from holding back her fore-hoof.

Okay, Rarity, she thought at last, forcing her knees straight as the wave of heat fluttered through her chest. You want to do this? Then we'll do this.

Trotting up the stairs, stumbling horribly as she fought against her own body, she reached the top. Again, she averted her eyes from the provocative sight on the bed, her mind forming it vividly in her imagination instead.

"You look nervous, darling," Rarity said, her voice adding to the image in her head. "You're sure you're all right?"

Twilight looked around on the ground, finally spotting the basket on the floor that she had been looking for.

"There's something I have to do first, Rarity," she said, her voice shaking madly. She brought her head up so she could look Rarity in the eyes for just a moment. "I'll be right back. Don't...move!"

Grabbing Spike's bed with her teeth, she dragged it awkwardly down the stairs, groaning at first as her body's yearning for touch was satisfied by her own hind-legs. The basket thumped down every step as she felt for each one with her hooves.

Spike was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps, anticipating her arrival as the thumping of his basket piqued his curiosity.

"Did it work? Is she taking us to Canterlot?" His eyes went to the basket as Twilight reached the bottom. "Wait...what's tha...is that my bed?! Oh no! You're not...!"

Twilight kept sliding until the basket was tucked into the corner in the opposite room.

"What are you doing?!" Spike said, running up to her. "I sleep there!"

"You're out here tonight," Twilight said quickly, looking up from the basket at him, "Don't ask questions. Just...stay down here."

She made a break for the stairs without so much as a backwards glance.

"WAIT!" he shouted from behind her. "What does this – why are you – are we going tomorrow or what?!"

Twilight turned and walked backwards up the stairs, painfully aware of the way her hind-legs moved. "It's...I'll tell you in the morning. YES! We're going! We're doing – stuff – right now. Noisy stuff! Very, very noisy stuff! Nothing's wrong! Just...don't come up here! We're just...stay down here get some sleep I'llseeyouinthemorningGOTTAGO!"

Leaving Spike standing wide-eyed and agape, she shot up the stairs, charged by the burning sensation just below her flank. Each stair she landed on shot another hum through her, pushing her to go faster. She raced through the tunnel, into the room, around the stairs, not stopping until she was right up at the bed.

"Goodness, Twilight! Are you all right?!"

Rarity was propped on her side now, her eyes wide as she watched Twilight canter up to her, completely out of breath. Twilight's eyes shot straight down at an area subtly covered by Rarity's pose, immediately glancing back up into her eyes as she realized what she was looking at. Rarity's mouth was slightly open, causing Twilight's mind to conjure the feeling of those lips around her ear as she walked, struggling right up to the edge of the bed, shaking with every breath.

Rarity was taken aback. But, as she slowly recognized Twilight's disquiet as something other than nervousness, her eyes began to relax. Twilight watched as Rarity's mouth slowly closed into the tiniest glimpse of a smile, her tongue flicking out to moisten her lips. Twilight did likewise. Their eyes met, and for a moment neither of them moved.

Twilight opened her mouth to say something – perhaps Rarity's name – and found herself lunging forward, cutting off Rarity's wide-eyed gasp as their lips locked. Her mind collapsed under the siege of impulse as her body leaped onto the bed, meshing with Rarity's as it surrendered to the waves of fire engulfing her. She could feel Rarity's hooves gliding over her back, her shoulders, her sides. Twilight's hooves yearned to go further, but held back, keeping them tangled in Rarity's mane as she brought her lips down to Rarity's neck.

As Twilight sunk lower, she felt her ear brush against Rarity's mouth and gave a cry as Rarity responded with a flick of her tongue. Hearing Twilight's reaction, Rarity seemed to get the message, and Twilight suddenly found herself gasping and holding on for dear life as Rarity's mouth wrapped entirely around it. She felt her hoof unconsciously slip downwards, exploring every inch of Rarity along the way, breathing quickly at the overwhelming sensation around her ear. Rarity was so busy she barely sensed the hoof wandering down her body. Twilight brought it lower, inch by inch, hoping to find what she was looking for.

Rarity suddenly stopped, now catching on to what Twilight was doing. She pulled back. "Oh my!" she said, glancing down at Twilight's hoof. "Twilight, you naughty mare!" She looked up at Twilight, smiling. "Look at you! Not so nervous anymore, are you?"

Rarity lifted Twilight clean off her, tossing her onto her back on the bed. "Not just yet," she said, leaning over and placing her hoof just over Twilight's...place. "Why don't I show you how I like it, first?"

Twilight simply nodded. And smiled.

Twilight slowly opened her eyes the next morning, trying not to think about last night. Small memories flashed before her, which she quickly pushed back. The first few rounds hadn't been too bad, but some of the things they had done towards the end had gotten a little...wild.

Starting to get up, she noticed she was holding on to her pillow particularly tightly and loosened her grip, reaching one of her hooves up to rub her eyes. She sat up slowly, bringing her other hoof up, and started rubbing her face furiously, as if trying to get something nasty off of it. She was careful not to touch her horn. It wasn't particularly sore or anything. It was just, after all the places it had been, she wasn't sure it would ever be clean again.

Twilight sat up on her elbow and looked at Rarity's slumbering form. Thoughts raced through her head, remembering all the awkward details of what they had done together. What exactly happened last night, anyway? That couldn't have been...that wasn't the spell that had made her that excited, was it? Oh, Twilight didn't know. All she could remember was the way Rarity approached her, followed by that amazing feeling.

Rarity stirred for a few minutes before opening her eyes and looking up at her.

"Morning, dear!" she sang sweetly, smiling peacefully. "I bet you slept soundly! You made quite a scene last night!"

Twilight blushed slightly as Rarity rolled out of bed.

"Well! I'm going to shower up!" she said, heading for the lavatory. "I highly suggest doing so yourself, dear. That bed is anything but clean, after last night!"

Twilight jumped off the bed at these words, staring at the sheets a few minutes just to be sure.

"I'll be out in a minute, dear!" she said, closing the bathroom door behind her. Then, opening it a peak and sticking her head out, "Although, if you'd care to join me...!"

Twilight shrunk back a bit, pushing the sudden host of images out of her head.

"I...think I'm fine by myself, thanks."

"Suit yourself!" Rarity finished, closing the door.

Twilight stared at the door as she thought to herself. Perhaps last night wasn't such a bad idea after all. Rarity certainly seemed in a good mood this morning, and Twilight had most definitely learned a lot in the hours they spent together. Turning away from the door, Twilight cantered down the stairs to find Spike curled up in his bed, snoring loudly.

"Spike!" Twilight said, nudging him slightly. “Spike, are you awake?”

Spike let out a gurgling noise, too tired to let out a proper moan.

“This is it, Spike!” she said. “Rarity’s agreed to take us to Canterlot today. It shouldn’t be long now...”

Spike stirred a bit, but didn’t get up.

“Oh, Spike! I hope I wasn’t too loud or anything. You seem exhausted!”

Spike finally turned and sat up, rubbing his eyes for a while.

“Huh?” he said. “I’m always exhausted!”

He slumped back into his bed.

“I'm just glad you actually convinced her to take us there! You seemed so...weird last night, I was beginning to think the whole thing just wouldn't work!”

Spike had closed his eyes again and was snoring within seconds. Twilight couldn’t blame him. Both of them knew that Rarity always took a long time to get ready. Twilight turned to go back upstairs.

“Oh, by the way Twilight,” said Spike, lazily sitting up, his eyes almost drunken from exhaustion. "What exactly were you doing up there last night, anyway?"

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes bugged.

"Uh...just...just a game! That's all! Nothing serious or anything. Just a game." She turned to look at him with an utterly ridiculous smile on her face. Spike glared at her with an odd expression.

"Pretty loud game, if you ask me," he said. "I thought some pony was trying to murder you two up there! I mean, what was with all the screaming?"

Twilight backed up some more, her smile widening as her eyes darted around the room.

"Just some light playful fun, that's all!" she said, looking at Spike still sitting innocently in his basket.

"With...screaming," he said.

Twilight's lips came together as an equally ridiculous smile pulled taut against her face, her eyes darting around the room again.

"That was just...part of the competition!" she said quickly, her eyes finally resting on his. "Who can scream the loudest."

"And the shouts of 'Stop! Please stop!'?"

Twilight thought for a moment.

"Tickle fight," she finally said.

"And 'right there!'?"

"Uh...target practice?"

"And that sound of you two slapping each other in the face? I mean, what was that all about?!"

Twilight thought for a moment before murmuring in the corner of her mouth. "Oh...right. Face..."

Spike finally flailed his arms into the air as he collapsed back onto his pillow. "You know what? Forget it! I'll just ask Pinkie Pie. She knows all the fun games around town."

Twilight held her breath in case any more questions came, but Spike was already starting to snore again. Letting out a sigh of relief, she headed back upstairs, getting out some parchment and a quill with great difficulty as she stood at her desk to think. It took a while for her to get her conversation with Spike out of her head, but she finally convinced herself he wasn't going to question her anymore about it, and turned her full attention to the monumental task of retrieving a banned book from Canterlot.

Twilight and Spike both knew that banned books didn’t stay in the central Canterlot Library. There was no section there to contain such books. Instead, they were carted off to Princess Celestia’s personal library in the castle, where they could only be accessed by ponies with the proper permissions. This had to be thought through. They would need a plan.

Twilight got up and started meandering around the room, letting her mind wander. She did this quite frequently, in fact. It drove Spike completely mad.

She looked over at the curtain and saw that the DJ was gone. She must have packed up and left after they fell asleep. Now that she thought about it, they had been so loud last night that Twilight had barely noticed the music. Twilight felt a tinge of blood rush to her face. She really didn't want word to get out about what she had done, and made a mental note to find Vinyl when this was all over, just to be sure.

Forcing this to the back of her mind, she pushed her thoughts to how the day should go. She considered how Rarity would fit into the plan, what she would say to her, how Spike could be of use, if there was any weakness that could be exploited within the castle from the little she had seen of the inside...

She wandered out onto the balcony and noticed the mail still sitting there from before, making her thoughts wander to the incident with Soarin and Derpy, chuckling slightly. It seemed much funnier now, looking back. The letters on the balcony were mostly dry now, and upon closer inspection, they appeared to be gold-wrapped, which she found somewhat unusual. If her horn wasn’t damaged, she might have opened them on the spot out of curiosity.

She walked to the edge of the balcony and stared out at the town. Some of the ponies were already outside. And, not surprisingly, many of them were showering a second pony with affection. Twilight stared at the strange scene unfolding before her, her smile starting to fade.

It was another hour before Rarity was finally out of the shower and preparing her dress. Twilight had spent most of this time thinking out plans in her head, put out by the fact she couldn't write without magic. She would have loved to have a map, or even a written plan.

“The shower’s all yours, dear,” Rarity said, stepping out of the lavatory. “I’m afraid your own dress isn’t as...well...prepared as it should be. But it should still look good enough to be seen in public.”

“Oh, no!" Twilight smiled, "I really wasn’t planning on wearing anything there. It’s not that kind of-”

“Twilight, really! This isn’t Fillydelphia we’re going to. This is Canterlot! You simply must go in formal attire!”

“Rarity, really,” Twilight said with a scowl, “I lived there before, remember? It’s fine!”

Rarity pouted at her in a horribly strained way. Twilight narrowed her eyes.

“Rarity...” Twilight said more slowly. “I am not – dressing – up – for – this.”

Rarity walked up to her, but didn’t get anywhere near enough to touch her, believing her still stained from the previous night.

“Please, Twilight?” she whined softly. “Can’t you at least do this for me?”

Rarity was now pouting painfully in Twilight’s face. Twilight let out an exasperated groan as she leaned her head down.

“Fine” she said through gritted teeth.

“Wonderful!” Rarity said. “Now! I think we should plan out all the places we want to go! I've been thinking about it all morning!”

Twilight was pressing her hoof so hard into her face it hurt.

“Rarity,” she said, “there’s something I have to tell you.”

Rarity was walking around the carpet, busily ticking off placing she wanted to visit.

“Pony Star’s Coffee Shop...the Seven-Hoof Cafe...OOO! And that new mall they just opened! What was it called? The Gold-Tooth Stallion?”

“Rarity!” Twilight yelled out again.

“Oh, dear! I’m just so excited! And everypony will see us together, and we’ll-”

“RARITY!” Twilight screamed, bringing her to a halt. Twilight caught her breath, ignoring Rarity's offended gaze.

“Look,” Twilight explained, “I know you’re excited and all, but I really have something I need to explain!”

“What is it, darling?” Rarity said, switching back to that same concerned look she had last night. “You’re not nervous again, are you?”

“NO!” Twilight shouted, a little louder than she intended, making Rarity take a few steps back. Twilight took a deep breath.

“No, it’s not that,” she repeated. “It's just...this isn’t that kind of visit,” she finally said. “The only reason we're going there is to get something I left. We really can't stay long enough to do anything else.”

Rarity’s face went blank for a moment before she smiled with a nervous laugh.

"Well, Twilight! I mean...we're already going to be there anyway! It would be silly not to take advantage of-"

"It's not that kind of visit!" Twilight explained before Rarity could finish. "We're not going to a mall! We're not going to a restaurant! And we sure as heck are not attending any formal plays or performances! This is pick-up-and-leave only!"

Rarity stared, gaping in astonishment, blinking a few times. Twilight watched as her lips quivered for a moment, her face scrunching up as her pupils dilated.

“But...but Twilight!” she stuttered. “It’s Canterlot! All those...those shops, and...and restaurants, and...and shows!”

Large tears crested over her twitching eyes, on the brink of escaping down her cheeks. Twilight grimaced as she forced herself not to bring her hoof to her face again.

“Rarity, there will be plenty of time for that some other day,” Twilight said. “Today, we're just gonna go there, grab what I need, and come right back!”

Rarity stood there trembling for a bit.

“But.......but.......”

“I’m sorry Rarity, but I really don’t have time to do any of those other things!”

Rarity started shaking maddeningly, her face horribly scrunched as tears flooded down her face. She took a few shaky breaths as her body pulled back, trying to hold something in. Twilight realized what she had done a split second before Rarity completely broke down, crashing into the floor in a cascade of tears.

“BUT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPE-HE-HE-HE-HE-HEEEEEEECIAAAAA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAALLLL!”

Rarity was beating her hooves against the ground now like a temper-tantrum foal. Twilight backed up a few steps, unable to take her eyes off the wreck on the floor before her.

“PLEEE-HE-HE-HE-HEEASE, TWILIGHT! PLEEEEASE JUST LET ME DO THIS WITH YOU! PLEEE-HE-HE-HE-HEEEASE!”

Completely out of options, she made a dash for the stairs and immediately felt a weight against her ankle. She looked down to see Rarity's hooves latched tightly around her hind leg, her eyes closed tight as she screamed up at her.

“PLEEEEEASE, TWILIGHT! JUST ONE DAAAA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAY!”

“Uuuuuurgh!” Twilight growled loudly.

Pulling with every muscle in her body, she proceeded to drag Rarity down the red-carpeted stairs with her, listening to her whining the whole way as her body thumped down each individual stair, leaving a wet trail of tears behind her.

“Spike!” Twilight tried yelling above the screaming. “Spike! Help me out here!”

“What did you do!” Spike said, racing up to them as they reached the bottom stair, squeezing his ears with both claws with a grimace.

“I don’t know! I was just trying to tell her what we were doing in Canterlot, and she...well...”

Both of them watched as Rarity continued bawling on the floor, Spike looking up pleadingly as Twilight bent her head trying to hide her ears.

“Do something!” Spike shouted.

Twilight tried to think, but everything kept being drowned out by the incessant screaming.

“RARITY!” she screamed, turning awkwardly against her captured hoof to look at her. “RARITY, IT’S ALL RIGHT! JUST...STOP!”

Rarity immediately stopped whining, but her face looked terrifying. Her coat was drenched and her eyes puffy, her face now lined with scrunch marks. She brought her huge dilated eyes up to meet hers, mouth trembling as she blinked.

“Look, Rarity," Twilight said, finally able to think again. "I know this could have been something special for us. And I’m sorry...I’m really sorry...if I didn’t thoroughly explain this. But...well...”

She looked over at Spike, who backed up with his claws out in front of him shaking his head. Twilight sighed as she turned back to the white wreck of a mare.

“Here’s the truth, Rarity. The hard cold truth.” She took a deep breath. “That thing I need is...well...it was confiscated!”

Rarity's trembling stopped. Twilight watched as Rarity's eyes shut tightly and then re-opened, staring blankly. Hooves loosened against her ankle as Twilight pulled it free, moving her flank around so she could face Rarity properly.

“Con...confiscated?” she croaked.

Twilight bent her knees and dropped onto the floor with her, bending her head down until their faces were about a foot apart before continuing.

“Yes. It's been confiscated," she said. "And we have to get it back. Only, it’s...well...it’s being held in the castle, and we need to get to Canterlot so we can try and...retrieve it. And...well...the only way to really get it back is to...to..."

She again looked over at Spike, begging him to help her out, but Spike just kept staring. “We’re going to have to break into the castle,” she said quickly.

Twilight made another astonishingly goofy smile, the muscles in her face pulled taut. Rarity looked like she had just been told to make a dress covered in parasprites. Spike was now facing the wall, lightly brushing his foot against the floor with his hands behind his back. Rarity's face relaxed slightly as she spoke next.

"S...s-s-s-so let me get this straight..." Rarity said slowly, her eyes darting over to Spike before looking back at Twilight. "You're telling me that we're going to be leaving our home in Ponyville to go all the way to the elaborate castle city of Canterlot...to commit a crime?!"

Twilight cringed at how bad this sounded upfront.

“No no no no no, Rarity!” she said. “No, you see, this thing, it was taken from me unjustifiably! And the Princess...well...she just won’t listen!”

She held her breath as Rarity let these words sink in. Her face was blank, but her eyes screamed out in pity, praying that this was merely a joke. Again, her eyes darted back to Spike, who was busy fiddling his claws now as he looked down at the floor, then darted back to Twilight, who widened her ludicrous smile to insane proportions.

At last, Rarity took in a huge slow breath before letting it out in a deep sigh, deflating like a weather balloon. Her chin hit the ground as her eyes drooped. She stayed there for a moment like a lost puppy, hopeless in a world unfamiliar to her.

However, a few seconds later, Rarity pawed lightly at the ground and slowly hoisted herself up with great effort. Twilight followed suit. Rarity's head was bowed for a second as she studied the floor, but soon it was lifting to meet Twilight's gaze. There was something in her eyes now that Twilight couldn't quite put a hoof on. At first, she thought it was pity, her pupils contracting back to normal size as she slumped carefully up to Twilight in a very different way than last night. Once again, her words were quiet as she whispered them inches from Twilight's face, but this time they sounded more solemn.

“This...this thing...” Rarity croaked out, now barely audible. “It’s really that important to you?”

Twilight looked back into her eyes, trying hard not to let Rarity’s pained expression spread. She swallowed hard, finally starting to recognize what she saw in Rarity's eyes.

“It’s the only important thing in the world right now,” she said, painfully aware of how each word she spoke affected Rarity.

Rarity gave the tiniest hint of a smile, her eyes flicking to the floor for a moment before glancing back up.

“You...have any idea...what this could mean for us...?” she said, moving in slightly as her lips trembled subtly. “Breaking into the castle is...well...it’s a capital offense! We could be imprisoned for it! Or worse!”

“Rarity, this thing...this thing is worth the risk,” Twilight said, shaking her head as she breathed deep. “Nothing is more important right now. Well...almost nothing,” she added as Rarity gave her a look.

“And then...” Rarity continued, backing up slightly as she mused to herself, “...even after we were freed...think of our reputations! Reduced to common criminals!”

“Rarity, you don’t have to do this!" she said. "Just...just teleport me there! Just me! You don’t have to have anything to do with this!”

Rarity breathed deeply, Twilight's words finally striking something inside her. Her face pulled back together as her eyes sparked back to life. She looked back up at Twilight with a knowing smile.

“Nonsense, Twilight,” she said, stepping right up to her and placing her face up against Twilight's as if they were facing off in a competition. “This thing is important to you. Therefore it’s important to me.”

Twilight's breath was nearly taken away by this. She knew the spell affected infatuation, but she had never imagined it would trigger this level of sheer devotion. "Really? You really mean that?"

Rarity put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder, smiling wide as her eyes bored into hers.

"Yes, really," she said. "I support you no matter what, Twilight. Even if it means doing something...unconventional."

Rarity took her hoof off Twilight's shoulder as she swept away, immediately sinking back into her usual pompous demeanor as she trotted towards the stairs

“Besides,” she said with a flair, “if you’re going to stand any chance of getting into the castle, you’re going to need – my – help.”

Twilight shook her head, completely baffled as she and Spike followed Rarity back to the second floor.

“Huh?”

Rarity turned back to them as they reached the second floor, standing in the center under the chandelier.

“I know it’s hard to believe," she continued, "but I’ve learned a thing or two about the castle from my...clientele,” she said. “And it’s by far and away one of the most difficult task that any amateur criminal could undertake!”

“BUT!” she emphasized, “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that will help us get in there. I just...promise me Twilight, that this is something that really, really is that important.”

Twilight looked into Rarity’s eyes, and saw a fear there that Rarity almost never showed. For a moment she stood there, feeling the weight of this decision, realizing the risks that would be undertaken. She imagined the guards sending them to prison. She imagined Spike being taken away. She imagined Rarity freed from her trance only to have her reputation and business ruined. And finally, she imagined Princess Celestia and her harsh disappointment in her star pupil.

“I promise, Rarity,” Twilight finally said with a deep breath. “This really is that important.”

Sonic Magiboom

III

Sonic Magiboom

“This is crazy!” Twilight whispered.

“Well...you’re the one who wanted to do this,” Rarity said quietly in return.

“I know...I just...”

Rarity, Twilight, and Spike were crouched in the foliage within the immediate surroundings of the castle. Getting to Canterlot had not been easy. Rarity had struggled to teleport them all one-at-a-time, and could only get them to a very specific location. It had taken some careful planning to determine the best route with which to worm their way up to the castle without being noticed.

Approaching the main gate directly was simply not an option. They may as well simply turn themselves in. However, Rarity had learned of other, much smaller entrances surrounding the castle, which Twilight had forgotten about since she had last lived here. The one they were at now, according to Rarity, was the one that was closest to the royal’s personal library.

A moat surrounded the entire castle, carved into the marble floor of the city. It was widest at the central gate, but varied greatly as it wormed its way around the castle. At this particular entrance, it wasn’t more than a few feet in diameter. However, it still required a small wooden drawbridge to be extended, which Rarity explained was opened from the inside.

Two royal Pegasus guards stood at the ready at the bridge’s entry point, adorned with the usual bronze armor and blue crest. Twilight and the others could easily see the two guards from the side from their vantage point. Neither of them moved. Neither of them blinked. Neither of them even looked alive!

“That’s the thing about the royal guards,” Rarity whisper next to Twilight. “They’re not allowed to move except in very strict ways.”

Rarity tilted her head slightly towards a brown delivery stallion who approached the gate down the gleaming marble path.

“Keep a close eye on the guard on the right,” she said.

As the pony approached, both guards blocked him as their wings clanged outwards.

“HALT!” they said.

Rarity hinted at Twilight with her eyes.

“See?” Rarity pointed out. “The bridge isn’t even down! So why would they even need to block him with their wings?” Rarity smiled slyly. “That’s one of the traditions I’m talking about. They have to follow very strict rules, even if they don’t always make sense.”

Twilight continued to watch as the delivery pony explained his purpose. The guards seemed to be considering him as they lowered their wings. Neither guard even-so-much-as blinked throughout the entire explanation. The poor delivery pony seemed to have become used to putting up with this nonsensical system by now, as Twilight could only imagine the number of packages he had delivered to this very gate by this time in his career.

“Now...watch carefully,” Rarity whispered.

Twilight strained to watch as the conversation came to a close. The delivery pony gave a small sigh of relief as he thanked the guards.

“There!” Rarity burst out quietly.

Twilight tried to see where she was pointing, but the only thing she saw next was the drawbridge being extended, followed by the stallion walking casually through the entrance as it closed swiftly behind him.

“How...how did they know?” Twilight whispered.

“Did you not see it?” Rarity said. “There was a signal!”

Twilight looked over at her in confusion.

“The one on the right there...he gave a small gesture with his wings!”

Twilight watched as another group approached the gate. These were much more upscale ponies. Guests, in fact! Each of the three mares were dressed as formally as they had for the Gala, and Twilight even recognized one of the dresses as one of Rarity's own designs. Rarity must have noticed, giving a small shudder of excitement next to Twilight.

Once again Twilight watched as the guards swung out their wings to stop them. Two of the mares giggled as the guards gave their usual shout. The third one was in front, holding her hoof out as she approached one of the guards. Staring as close as she could, Twilight watched as the guards swept their eyes across the note being held out in front of them. And then...

“I...I think I saw it!” Twilight said.

It was very subtle. Just the tiniest flutter as the guard on the right lifted his wings. It couldn't have been more than an inch.

Rarity pointed at the wall next to the drawbridge. “There’s a small peephole on that wall,” she said. “The gatekeepers use it to keep an eye on the guards to make sure no pony messes with them or tries to abuse the system. However, it has a very limited field of view, and they can’t always see exactly what’s going on. That should make just enough difference to give us the upper hand.”

“How many gatekeepers are there?” Twilight whispered.

“Usually only one,” Rarity explained. “They never really need any more than that.”

Twilight watched as the group marched across the bridge and into the castle, the gate closing quickly behind them.

“If all goes well, you should be able to sneak inside very quickly.” She turned to the dragon sitting nervously on the ground next to them. “How are you doing, Spike? Are you ready?”

Spike hadn't said a word since their arrival, his eyes turning every which way. Judging from his demeanor as they had journeyed to the castle, you might have thought the city was undergoing some kind of zombie apocalypse.

“I think so...” he said shakily. “I just...you’re sure I won’t get in trouble for this?”

“Probably not, Spike,” Rarity explained. “They like to pretend to be strict, but they tend to make exceptions for those who are too young to understand.”

“You remember your signal?” Twilight asked Spike.

“As soon as the drawbridge is down,” Spike recited.

“And yours?” Rarity looked at Twilight.

Twilight blushed slightly, remembering her signal.

“Yeah...I remember, Rarity.”

“Good. Now, I’ll go out first. I’ve only dated a Pegasus once, but I learned a thing or two during that time. Watch and learn, you two!”

Rarity left the comfort of their hiding spot, being careful not to dishevel herself too much. She was dressed in her Gala outfit, and had maintained an impressively tidy appearance, despite being hidden amongst leaves and branches. There were a few small scorch marks here and there, but for the most part she had hidden them well. Twilight could only stare in amazement at how well Rarity was able to present herself, even under such pressure.

Twilight couldn’t hear all that well from her current position, but she could tell Rarity was approaching the guards in the same way as the previous group had. There was a playfulness about it – an art, which Twilight had never been taught. She watched carefully, fascinated with what her plan was.

As Twilight looked closely, she noticed Rarity starting to change things up now. A lot. Rarity was getting very close to the guards, changing her poise to a more relaxed state, and was making...flirtatious gestures. Twilight looked around, hoping she wasn’t drawing too much attention, but realized luckily that no one was around who could see.

“What’s she doing, Twilight?” Spike said to her right. “I can’t see...”

Twilight kept an eye on Rarity now, who was so close to one of the guards they were almost touching. It looked as though she was whispering something to him.

And then...

“Oh my-!”

Twilight had to stifle a gasp. Rarity, from what she could see, had leaned in and was locking lips with the guard on the right, who was powerless to resist. She couldn’t quite read his expression, but she guessed it would have been surprised satisfaction. He certainly seemed to be liking it.

And liking it a little too much!

Twilight watched as his wings shuddered slightly, and then started to lift up. Rarity seemed to notice this too as she quickly pulled back, returning to her stately pose. His partner didn't seem to notice anything, and Twilight guessed that Rarity hadn't been entirely visible to the gatekeeper. The guard stood there staring at her in suppressed shock, his wings returning to their sides as he struggled to maintain his stock-still pose.

And then...

“It’s opening!” Twilight said. “The gate, Spike! It’s open!”

Spike jumped up.

“Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh-” he quavered.

“Don’t think, Spike! Just go!”

Spike jumped out of the brush and towards the bridge, stumbling as fast as his two feet could carry him.

“AH!” Rarity screamed. “Little Billy! What are you doing!”

Twilight giggled as Rarity’s voice carried easily to Twilight’s hiding place now, the situation quickly heating up. Spike was running across the drawbridge as the guards signaled for it to be closed.

“NO!” Rarity shouted, putting on a show of distress and panic. “Not little Billy! You’ve GOT to open the gate! He’s run in there!”

Twilight knew where this was going, but could only stare in amazement as it unfurled before her.

Within seconds, the gate had opened again, but not because the guards had given a signal. The opening bridge slowly revealed the gatekeeper, who was running frantically out of the castle entrance, screaming wildly. Spike was clinging on his back for dear life, a large set of flames licking dangerously close. The gatekeeper's mane was on fire.

“AAAAIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!” he screamed as the flames licked around his head. Dashing quickly onto the half-opened bridge, he leaped spectacularly off the side, splashing spectacularly in the moat. The bridge continued to drop the rest of the way under its own weight. Immediately one of the guards turned, leaving his armor behind as he leaped after the flailing gatekeeper.

Just before Rarity ran off, Twilight saw her give a small flick of her tail. Twilight's heart fluttered as a shot of adrenaline race through her body. THE SIGNAL!

Twilight waited until the second guard had chased Rarity down the road a ways before getting up. She was painfully aware of how exposed she was now. However, with the gatekeeper underwater and the guards distracted, there was no pony left to notice her as she walked silently across the bridge, through the gate, and out of sight.

She was in!

Twilight bolted down the ornate hallway, adorned with blue carpet and marble walls. Sconces and tapestries lined the walls between the wooden doors, giving a dark flickering look in the windowless corridors as she raced towards the library.

It was amazing how little of the castle was actually used. Most of the royals and celebrities that visited the castle spent their time in very specific chambers, leaving the rest of the castle vacant. This proved most advantageous to Twilight, who wanted least of all to be seen by passersby.

Every so often, Twilight would pass by a door through which conversations could be heard. Most of these were too political or business-oriented to garner any interest. However, one conversation struck her interest very harshly.

“...with what’s happening in Ponyville!” the first person finished, making Twilight stopped short.

“What's this? Ponyville, you say!” came a second voice in response.

Twilight went very quiet, her heart thudding loudly as she backed up against the door and leaned in to listen.

“Well, I heard that the place has been having some...er...difficulties.”

“Oh, please. That small place? What could possibly be of interest in such a rural town.”

“You haven’t heard anything?”

Twilight heard shuffling as one of the ponies leaned in to speak quieter. Twilight pressed her head a bit harder against the surface of the door.

“Well, apparently it has to do with the incident a few days back. You remember. The one Princess Celestia had to attend to? Well, everyone thought it was just a fluke! A small prank or something gone terribly wrong. But now, you see, it’s starting to look like something different!”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not just the ones involved on the hill, apparently. It’s the whole town! Everypony down there is starting to lose their minds! The ambassadors for the town are completely driven mad by it. They say they can’t even speak to the Mayor!”

A quiet gasp came through the door as Twilight leaned in closer, placing her hooves up onto the surface now.

“What happened?!”

“Well, nopony really knows...but from what I gather from the sporadic conversations I’ve overheard, it’s some kind of love spell!”

“You mean...”

There was a silence as Twilight leaned so hard against the door she threatened to collapse right through it.

“Why doesn’t the Princess do something about it?!”

“Well, that’s the question, isn’t it? I mean, it wasn’t too bad earlier today. But by now we could be looking at chaos! Pretty soon she’ll have to get involved!”

“And...and she didn’t foresee...?!”

Twilight could tell by her inflection that she was entering a somewhat taboo subject area.

“Dear, don’t even think about it. The things the Princess foresees are beyond what we can comprehend. There’s no doubt she knew what that spell was the moment it went off on that hill.”

“And she didn’t think to do anything...”

There was a small silence, followed by the clang of china on wood.

“Dear, you say that as if the Princess has nothing better to do than attend to a small town! She has much bigger things to worry about than fixing spells that go wrong. I’m just worried that things have now escalated beyond what the town can deal with on its own! The Princess won’t be happy at all if she has to go down there a second time.”

“So she really thought the town could fix something this big?!”

“The Princess puts her trust in us!”

Twilight could tell she was started to get irritated.

“She only fixes problems herself when she absolutely has to. Otherwise, nopony would ever learn! That’s the way it works. She hates having to take matters into her own hooves.”

“So...if this situation doesn't fix itself pretty fast...”

Twilight had heard enough. She pulled her head away from the door, regaining her balance. Her head was swimming from adrenaline, as the words from the conversation bounced around in her brain.

Oh this isn’t good...this isn’t good at all...

Twilight stumbled a bit, regaining her composure before darting down the hallway. She was close now. She could feel it. Rarity’s description led her to believe it was just around the corner.

Twilight let out an audible sigh of relief when the large ornate set of double-doors to the library finally came into sight on the left-hand wall. Rarity had been a godsend so far. She never could have found this place without her.

The right-hand door was slightly ajar, but Twilight didn’t dare bolt straight through. Tiptoeing as lightly as she could, she put her ear up to to door.

Nothing... she thought, listening intensely.

Slowly, being careful not to make any noise, she pushed the door wider, placing her head slightly through so she didn’t open it more than she had to. A relatively small room presented itself, not much larger than the downstairs of her own library. It was somewhat darker than hers, the blue carpet giving way to a dark marble tiling. The books were lined on a set of rosewood shelves all placed against the walls, allowing the rest of the room to be open. Stepping in a bit further, she noticed an elaborate chandelier hanging from the tall ceiling above, providing the only light in the room.

She slipped further through the door, until she was practically all the way in the room before looking the rest of the way around. She caught a glimpse of some chairs in the corner, as well as a small black sofa with a-

Twilight stopped dead, a wave of feelings washing over her. It was like being slapped in the face, kicked in the stomach, and knocked upside the head all at the same time.

Her first feeling was fear. Fear of having been caught. For the library was already occupied. A single pony lay on her stomach, a large book in front of her, her head bolted up to stare at Twilight like a deer in the headlights.

Her second feeling was extreme heat. Her body had lit up like a furnace, her heart speeding to a frenzy. This was accompanied by a sudden urge to grab something and hold it close to her, to comfort her.

Her third feeling disturbed her the most. It was the same feeling she had last night, just after Rarity had approached her in such a seductive way. The tightening was so bad now, she wasn't sure she would be able to move.

The last feeling was pure shock and realization. She recognized the pony sitting on the couch. She had only met her once before, but that hardly mattered. She would recognize her anywhere. For that special pony sitting in the corner was nonother than the alicorn responsible for all of nighttime in Equestria, the giver of light through the moon, Princess Celestia's sister:

Princess Luna! she thought, trying but failing to back out of the room.

A deathly silence encompassed the room as Twilight fought her sudden feelings of infatuation. There was a physical rope hooked into her heart, tugging her mercilessly towards the alicorn in the corner. The fire under her flank was unbearable.

Remember why you're here, Twilight she told herself. Remember the book!

But however much she tried to think of something else, thoughts of her and Luna crept back, invading her mind. Uncomfortable thoughts. Looking at Luna's eyes was like staring at some entrancing pit. Twilight couldn't look away from them. The only thing worse was the sound of her voice, now stuttering in that dark room.

"Wha...is it...Twilight?"

Luna most certainly had to look confused right now. But all Twilight could see was the gleam in her eyes. She was blind to Luna's true expression.

"Twilight! What are you doing here! Princess Celestia didn't say anything about you being here! What a pleasant surprise!"

Twilight wanted to say something, opening her mouth as she accidentally let a large roll of drool dribble onto the floor. She quickly closed her mouth as the fire spread up into he face.

"Is...is something wrong, Twilight? You aren't...ill...are you?"

Twilight closed her eyes tight, trying to force the image of Luna out of her mind. Slowly, painfully, Twilight turned away from her, groaning at the intense feelings her hind legs produced as she moved.

"I...book!" she said, trying and failing to form a complete sentence. "Need...book. Spell! Ponyville!"

"I...I don't understand, Twilight. Is something wrong?"

With Luna's eyes now out of view, it was her voice that entranced Twilight. She couldn't listen to Luna without feeling lightheaded with ecstasy.

"Spell!" she said again. "Curse!"

"Twilight, I-"

"NOOOO!" Twilight said, forcing the sound of Luna's voice out of her mind. Twilight let out a loud groan as her elbows buckled and she collapsed onto her stomach on the floor.

"TWILIGHT!" Luna yelled. "We have to get you to-"

"NO!" Twilight yelled out. "DON'T....TALK! LISTEN!"

Twilight bowed her head to the floor and let out another moan. Using every last ounce of will power she had, she forced all the words together she could.

"Ponyville...Ponyville is in trouble! Ponyville is cursed! A spell! Went terribly wrong! Need...book...need...uuurrrrg...need counter curse!"

Luna was now breathing very fast, which wasn't helping Twilight at all.

"You're talking about the accident on the hill, right? The one Celestia saved you from!"

Luna's voice hit Twilight like a brick, making her blood boil. Twilight nodded vigorously in response to Luna.

"What spell?! What book?!" Luna said frantically.

"It's..."

Twilight couldn't take another second of this. The adrenaline pouring into her was making her sweat. She needed to move. She needed to do something.

“It’s...” she started, suddenly forcing herself off the ground and turning with a burst of energy to look at Luna.

"IT'S LOVE!" Twilight screamed, giving in and charging headstrong into Luna, pressing against the back of the couch, eyes wide with fear – or surprise – or...oh, Twilight didn’t care anymore!

"LUNA! YOU HAVE TO HELP ME! IT'S TAKEN ME!"

Luna's eyes widened, her lips trembling from her open mouth as Twilight's hooves grasped her soft hide. She hardly noticed the heat coming off Luna's body, the glistening of those lips, the fast fluttering of the Princess's heart.

"W-w-what" Luna stammered, the shadow of a smile passing over her face. "I - I don't even know what spell it is! What do you want me to do?!"

Luna seemed to give a slightly inviting gesture and Twilight took it, jumping out of control onto the couch and tackling Luna onto her back. She gripped Luna in a bear hug and heard Luna gasp, grasping Twilight equally as strong before letting out a soft moan. Twilight screamed out just before she felt her lips lock against Luna’s.

"LOOOOOOOOOVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Twilight exited the castle from a different gate that was devoid of any gatekeeper. None of the guards were present just on the other side of the moat either, now all gathered around the gate that had been broken into a few yards down. It had taken a while for her to regroup with the others and still manage to stay hidden. Twilight had finally spotted a hoof waving at her from behind a small wall only a couple feet high, looking around quickly before leaping over to join the others.

"There you are!" said Rarity. "Did you get the book?"

Twilight nodded, trying not to be sick.

"What happened, darling?" she said, smoothing her mane out with her hoof. "You were taking so long, and...are you feeling all right?”

Twilight was completely disheveled, her mane mostly standing on end with her eyes bugged. She was breathing like she had just run a marathon.

"I don't wanna talk about it," she said, shaking her head as she brushed Rarity's hoof off her neck. "Let's just concentrate on getting back to Ponyville."

Twilight didn't want to think about what Celestia would do to her if she found out she had violated her sister, however much Luna seemed to enjoy herself. Wait...enjoy? Had Luna really been as enthusiastic as she had seemed? Twilight shook her head trying not to think about it.

"But you...you found what you were looking for?" Rarity said, shaking slightly.

Twilight nodded, swallowing hard.

“The guards have already caught on to what we did. They'll be sending out a search party soon. We need to get out of here, and fast!”

She turned towards Rarity, resting a hoof on her shoulder.

“I need you to teleport us to the Ponyville Town Square. Can you do that?”

“I...” Rarity's mouth opened and closed silently a few times. “I can try...yes! Yes, I don’t think that should be a problem.”

“Good,” Twilight said. “Take me first. I’ll be waiting on the other side for when Spike gets there.”

“Of...of course!” she said. “But...Twilight...”

Rarity looked absolutely horrified by something. Twilight wasn’t quite sure what was going through her mind, but it was almost as if Rarity knew what had happened inside the castle.

“Twilight...whatever is wrong...I just want you to know...”

Rarity leaned in, placing her nose less than an inch away from Twilight’s.

“I just want you to know,” she whispered, “that I’m there for you. You know that, right?”

“Rarity, it’s fine! Just...just teleport me there and I’ll-MMMH!”

Rarity had pressed her lips against hers, wrapping her hoof tightly around Twilight's neck. A soothing sensation overtook her, and for a moment the entire castle disappeared, leaving nothing but her and Rarity floating amid a cloud. Their lips parted, Twilight breathing heavily through her mouth now.

“It’s all right, Twilight,” she smiled lightly. “Remember. We’re together on this. No matter what happens...”

Twilight stared into Rarity's eyes to see the same thing she had seen in her eyes back at the Ponyville library. There was a glow to them, a twinkle. Was it hopefulness? Encouragement? Love? Twilight still couldn't put her hoof on what it was.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Rarity said, a bright glow wafting from the tip of her horn.

The glow grew, expanding into a corona that engulfed Twilight, dissolving the ground beneath her feet. She watched as the castle walls melted, the sky grew white, and the two companions before her disappeared into the mist. The last thing she saw were Rarity's eyes before everything was completely swallowed by the spell.

Her hooves struck the ground, her knees buckling slightly as her eyes went to the ground, stinging horribly. Looking up, her eyes slowly adjusting, the first thing she saw was a yellow pony with flaming hair busily attacking something on the ground. She recognized the pony as Spitfire, one of the ponies she had seen with Rainbow Dash at the Gala. They had never been formally introduced, but she guessed that now probably wasn't the best time.

The item Spitfire was attacking just so happened to be Mr. Breezy, who looked zoned out in ecstasy on the lawn near the central pavilion. Twilight cringed, turning away from this lewd sight only to recoil in horror.

Every – last – pony in Ponyville apparently had decided to announce their love in public display. Pegasi kissed in midair, unicorns enveloped themselves in magical glows, earth ponies wrestled on the ground. Some of the ponies were chasing others that looked less-than-thrilled to have been chosen by the chaser. All the buildings were closed now, the entire town looking dead except for the thick crowd of lascivious activity filling the fields around the pavilion.

A moment later, a pop announced the arrival of Spike, who immediately looked around for Twilight, still catching his balance from the transport.

“Whoa," he said wobbling. "I’m not sure I like teleporting that mu-HEY!”

Spike yelled out as Twilight grabbed him around his head, hiding his eyes as she pulled him in close.

“WHAT-THE-”

“It’s me, Spike! Just...close your eyes!”

“What’s going on!”

Another pop as Rarity arrived, looking around wide-eyed. She moved right up beside Twilight, placing her flank against hers.

"Oh my!" said Rarity, rubbing up against Twilight with a tiny smile. “What is...is this some sort of holiday?!” she continued, observing the lovemaking around her with great interest. “I didn’t remember there being something this extravagant planned the last I checked my calender!”

Spike was struggling against Twilight's hooves, curious to know what they didn't want him to see. Twilight's eyes glanced nervously around, very aware of every last form of prurient activity in their vicinity, though thankfully there wasn't that much. She inclined her head towards Rarity, whispering something into her ear as she glanced down at Spike.

Rarity's ears perked as she shuddered. "Oh, right! Of course! Uh...let the see..." Her horn lit up, and a moment later there was a flash just around Spike's head. Twilight felt her hooves give way under the spark of the spell as Spike let out a small cry, holding his eyes.

"Ah! What the-"

Rarity leaned over to whisper to Twilight as Spike rubbed his eyes, blinking madly. "That should last for the next few hours," she said, giving Twilight a subtle wink. Twilight wondered why she might have learned something like that, but then she remembered Sweetie Bell. Perhaps it was best not to ask.

As Spike's eyes finally adjusted, he looked around at the mostly-innocent scene around him, gaping at the exorbitant amount of affection and infatuation around every turn. He stared back at Twilight and Rarity, both of them looking around to study the situation at hand.

“What are we going to do!?” Spike said. “Your horn’s damaged!”

Twilight stuttered as she looked back at Spike for an answer. She had only partially thought this through.

“Well...I was kinda hoping Rarity...”

She turned towards Rarity, who was busy observing a Pegasus couple making out on a picnic table as if trying to judge whether they were doing it right.

“Rarity!” Twilight yelled out.

Rarity turn to face her, looking jubilant. “Isn’t it wonderful?!” she said. “So much love in this town! I can definitely see why you wanted to come here, dear! This almost makes up for our lost time in Canterlot!”

“Rarity, I need one more favor.”

Rarity and rubbed her cheek lovingly against Twilight's. “What is it, dear?”

Twilight was glad that most of the acts occurring around her were quiet. There was still some noise around them, like the occasional crashes and ruckus when a couple got too aggressive, but for the most part Twilight was having no trouble communicating. “I need you to cast a spell for me. You see...my horn’s damaged. I can’t do it myself. I was hoping you-”

“But of course, dear! What spell do you need help with?”

Twilight looked around, quite aware of the book just out of reach in her saddlebags. She couldn't quite remember it happening, but she assumed Luna must have placed it in there for her.

“SPIKE!” she yelled out. “Spike, help me get the book out!”

Spike came bounding back from around the pavilion, walking around to where Twilight was pointing before opening up the bag with the book in it.

“Did you see those unicorns on the pavilion steps?!” he said as he searched for the book. “One of them looked like they might have been chewing on the other, but I couldn't see all that well. There was some kind of strange black box floating around. Do you remember that being part of the spell?”

Twilight glanced over at Rarity, who gave a tiny wink and a smile. Twilight smiled back as she reached back to rub Spike affectionately on the head. She felt her bags suddenly lighten as Spike pulled out what he was looking for.

“You got it!" Spike said excitedly, holding the book out in front of him to read the title. "Volume 2!”

He held it in front of Twilight revealing another thick black book, this time with a blue design embroidered on the front. Twilight nearly reared on her hind hooves in excitement.

“Great!" she said. "Now put it on the ground open to page 42!”

Spike did as she asked as Twilight approached Rarity, indicating the book now showing a similar elaborate cursive with strange symbols.

“Rarity! Can you do this?” she asked. “Can you cast this for me?”

Rarity came out of her trance, shaking her head a few times before following Twilight's hoof to the open book on the grass, walking curiously to peer at the strange calligraphy inscribed on the thick page.

"Oh my!" she cried out, getting right up close to the page. "Twilight, dear! This spell is...well, it's terribly difficult! Whatever does it do!"

"I can't tell you that, Rarity. I just need you to do your best at casting it! And do it now!"

"Twilight! I...you know I'm not you, right? I can't...you actually expect me to...something this advanced?!" Her eyes wavered as they met Twilight's.

"You have to try, Rarity." She walked up to her. "This is very, very important to me. Just..." She sighed. "Please, Rarity. Just try it. For me."

Rarity didn't even say a word. She put her head down, turning to read the words on the page, a glimpse of worry creasing her face. A moment of apprehension passed.

A small spark formed at the tip of her horn as her face scrunched up. Seconds passed as the spark grew into a wavy pink bubble the size of her head. A few cones of light shot out in all directions, and for a moment Twilight could have sworn all the ponies were holding back a bit from their partners. As Rarity continued, Twilight found herself digging her hooves into the ground in anticipation, watching the spell continue to grow.

However, Rarity seemed to be slipping now. Her face relaxed, growing concerned as she took a few steps back from the book. The spell continued to grow without her, feeding off her as the original spell had fed off Twilight. Rarity was shaking her head now, taking a few more steps back.

“You’re doing great, Rarity!" Twilight said. "Just...”

But Rarity wasn’t even trying anymore. She was backing away from the book entirely, a look of surprise on her face as she slowly looked up at Twilight. Large tears welled up in her eyes as her face scrunched up, just as it had that morning.

"Twilight!" Rarity said, the spell still swirling around her menacingly as she lost her composure. However, instead of collapsing on the ground in a tantrum, her face lit up in a storm of agitation. The tears only added to the effect of addled irritation, quickly sprouting into outrage.

“Twilight!” she screamed out, stomping her hooves on the ground before thrusting one of them at the book. “This is an anti-love spell!”

Twilight backed up a bit, watching the magic continue to swirl around her.

“You’re not...” Rarity said, scrunching her tear-stricken face as her voice disintegrated into a high-pitched squeal. “You’re not...breaking – up – with – me!”

Before Twilight could say anything, the magic floating around Rarity condensed as wave upon wave flew into her, enveloping her body just as Twilight's spell on the hill had enveloped her. Twilight watched in horror as Rarity was picked up, thrashing through the air and screaming. As the spell reached critical mass, Rarity was violently thrown across the lawn with a loud snap, sliding to a halt a few yards away.

“RARITY!” Twilight yelled out, racing across the lawn.

Rarity’s unconscious body was piled in a heap on the ground. Twilight bent down fighting back the sudden lump in her throat that had appeared as she stared at the body of the mare.

"Rarity!“ she said again quietly, her knees buckling as she lay down on the grass. “Rarity, I’m...I...”

Spike caught up to her a moment later and stared at the white heap on the ground too. Twilight tried to say something to him, but no words came out. Spike, too, was unable to speak, both of them unable to think of anything except to stare at the pitiful body on the ground. The lump in Twilight’s throat pressed against the bottom of her mouth, threatening to leak out through her eyes as the chaos continued around them.

Twilight brought her head down and rested it against the side of the mare, feeling her chin sink into her hide. She closed her eyes as a tear slid freely down her face, soaking into Rarity's white coat.

“I’m sorry...” she croaked. “I didn’t mean for any of this...”

Twilight closed her eyes tighter, trying to form a barrier for her tears that failed miserably. She lifted her head up, letting in a stifled gasp as she realized how shallow her breathing had been. Her face was soaked just beneath her lids, wrinkling the hide. She looked around before wiping them with her hooves so she could see. Spike was no longer in sight. He must have run off while her eyes were closed.

“Oh, Princess Celestia!” she said to herself, stifling horribly as she struggled to take a deep breath. “What am I supposed to do!”

She leaned her head down, closing her eyes as more tears slid down to the white coat.

“What am I supposed to..." she said, opening her eyes again. "I can’t perform the spell myself! I just can’t!”

The scene before her brightened, shining like an over-exposed photograph. Above her, the sun radiated in a blinding white. Time slowed as a great fear overtook her, as well as an equally great hope. She brought her head up, her ears perked as a voice floated down to her from overhead.

"Twilight Sparkle!" the voice echoed, drifting down upon her. "My most faithful student!"

The voice echoed through Twilight mind, accompanied by a divine set of god-rays from the sky. Looking up, she felt her jaw drop as she saw the magnificent form of Princess Celestia descending quickly upon her. Twilight gasped and cringed, wanting more than anything not to have to look at that face. Not today.

Princess Celestia landed just in front of Twilight, glowing magnificently as always.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight croaked, standing up on shaky hooves. "Princess! I'm sorry! I really didn't want any of this to-"

Princess Celestia put a hoof up, silencing Twilight at once. Looking up, Celestia turned her head to take in every last couple around her, every Pegasi in the air, every unicorn rubbing horns, every pony rolling on the grass, every couple chasing each other around, and finally, down at Twilight...

...and smiled.

“Twilight Sparkle!” she said, sounding amazingly calm, almost sprightly. “I have to say, I like what you’ve done with the place!”

Twilight's continuation of her apology came to a halt at this words. She looked up in total confusion, a few tears still sliding silently down her cheeks.

“Wha...what?” she said.

Princess Celestia looked around, smiling even wider.

“Well,” she continued, “it’s not exactly what I would have done. But it certainly livens up the mood!”

Twilight was now too shocked to keep crying. She just gaped at the Princess, who looked back at her with that wide smile.

“Don’t feel so bad, Twilight,” she said. “Worse mistakes have been made. For example, one of the guards told me on my way over here that somepony broke into the castle!”

Twilight felt the lump in her throat forced down into her chest as she sputtered.

“You...you don’t say...” Twilight croaked out.

Princess Celestia let out a laugh. It spread out over the entire town square. And it was contagious. Twilight sputtered as her body convulsed in a chuckle against her will. As the laugh died down, Princess Celestia lit her horn as Twilight watched the book she had stolen fly across the lawn, landing just in front of her.

“You know,” Celestia said above her, Twilight's eyes now on the inscription of the spell Rarity had attempted, “you could have just asked!”

Twilight continued to stare at the book, feeling dumber every second. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly in her bafflement.

“I thought...” she said, looking up to meet Celestia in the eyes, “I thought it was banned!”

“It is, Twilight” the Princess said, smiling. “And for good reason, too! I don’t have to tell you.”

Twilight felt the last of her tears dry against her cheeks as she looked up hopefully at the Princess.

“Can you fix this?” Twilight asked.

The Princess looked down, her smile faltering a bit as she leaned her head down.

"Actually..." she said, sounding a bit more solemn, "I think I'll let you perform this spell, Twilight."

Twilight backed up a few steps. She obviously didn't heard right. This must have been some sort of playful joke Celestia was pulling. She felt another goofy smile crest over her face as she let out a strange giggle.

"Hee-hee...good one, Princess!" she said, half-hopeful, half-fearful as she brought her eyes up to meet hers. “You...you really had me going there for a minute!”

"Actually" Celestia cut in, "this time I am serious," she said, her smile fading away entirely.

Twilight's heart ran cold as the eyes of the Princess bore down upon her. She felt her knees weaken as her body slouched a bit, a faint spell coming over her as the world flickered.

"But...b-b-b--but Princess! My horn! You said yourself you don't want me using it!"

"Of course I did, Twilight!" Celestia said, stepping up to the now-cowering Twilight. "And under normal circumstances, that would be the case!"

She glanced around as time stood still. When she looked back, a smile was laden upon her again, kind and understanding.

"But now, I am with you. And I give you full permission to use your horn."

She bowed as she said this, presenting her own horn towards Twilight as she granted this sanction as though it was a privilege. Twilight thought she was about to faint. How could she expect her to use her horn? Was this her punishment? Did Celestia want to see Twilight blasted unconscious like Rarity?

"But...but Princess!" Twilight said, now completely in shock.

"Don't worry, Twilight," Celestia said, lifting her head slightly and placing it right next to Twilight's, as if sharing something just between herself and her student. "Just...try..."

Celestia's last word resonated through Twilight as the Princess raised her head and gazed down at her most prized student. Something seemed to stabilize in Twilight's mind. The lump in her throat was gone, and her thoughts were more focused.

"Okay Princess...” she said with a deep breath, “I'll try..."

Twilight put her head down and lit her horn, feeling a sharp pain flow through her body, which she tried hard to ignore.

Seconds passed as Twilight trudged through one difficult step after another. Pain seared through her as her horn lit up a volcanic migraine, making her break out in a sweat, occasionally having to stop and cry out. But she never lost her focus.

Halfway through, she thought, her whole head throbbing uncontrollably.

The bonfire exploded from her head and spread out as Twilight neared the end of the spell, a massive pink cloud swirling inward and condensing just around her horn.

Almost...almost there...just...

As Twilight performed the penultimate step, a lightening-bolt of agony shot threw her as she lost her train of thought. All she could do was scream out as the pain blinded her from feeling anything else. Once again, the magic overtook her, wafting through her...

This time, however, it didn't magnify. She wasn't blasted through the air either. Instead, the magic simply condensed inside her, lighting her body on fire as it acted as a container, rather than a catalyst. A split second later, the magic burst all over Ponyville as Twilight collapsed, panting, finally relieved that the pain was gone. Looking up, she stared in awe at the incredible ring of magic spreading out. Did that really come from her?!

"Did...did I do it...?" Twilight said, still lying her on stomach with her hooves spread-eagle, her head looking hopefully up at Celestia. The Princess was facing away from her now, her mane and tail wafting in the wind.

"We'll see..." was all she said.

Twilight looked around her. None of the ponies were moving. They seemed stunned. Even the Pegasi simply flapped their wings, looking blankly at their partners.

"Is...is that it?" Twilight said. "Is it over?"

Twilight's question answered itself as every last pony suddenly turned away from her, apparently entranced with something she couldn't see. Then, with a rumble that shook the earth, every pony stampeded away, clouding the entire Square in dust. Twilight watched as pony after pony ran past her, the Princess stepping over her to ensure she wasn't trampled. As the dust faded and the Princess stepped away to gaze into the distance, Twilight hoisted herself back onto her hooves.

"Wha...where are they going?" Twilight asked,

Her eyes followed the Princess's gaze, pointing off in the direction of the hill from which the original spell had been cast. She noticed a blue speck moving amid the blue sky, growing larger each second, followed by an audible scream just as she noticed the colorful tail of the comet streaking overhead.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-"
"WHOOOOOOOSH!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"RAINBOW DASH!" Twilight yelled.

A moment later, a rumbling shook every building in the Town Square as the stampede crashed back through the field, knocking Twilight over. Again, the Princess stood over her to protect her as the horde of ponies galloped noisily past her. She caught bits and pieces of what they were yelling out as they passed.

"Did you see her?!"
"She went that way!"
"I can't wait-"
"-grab her tail and-"
"-gonna play with her wings-"
"-heard she tastes like cupcakes!"

As the last of the ponies shot past her and faded away, she looked into the distance at the wild crowd chasing a rainbow trail getting smaller with each passing second. Twilight's breath was taken away as she once again stumbled to her hooves.

"Oh no!" Twilight said, turning towards Celestia, shaking her head. "Princess! I'm so sorry! I couldn't! I just couldn't!"

Princess Celestia continued staring into the distance, the wind still blowing her colorful mane through the air. Twilight could have sworn she saw another glint of the smile crest her face, but a moment later it was gone.

"Princess...I..." Twilight held back her tears as they threatened to break through again. She bowed her head, awaiting the Princess's reprimand.

"My dear Twilight..." Celestia said, her hint of a smile finally breaking through into a wide grin as she turned towards her. "Believe it or not, you actually did even better than I expected!" she said.

Twilight blinked, unable to form a baffled expression anymore. This was all so strange to her.

"I think it's now time,” the Princess whispered, moving right up next to Twilight, “to let you in on a little secret,"

Twilight looked up at her, producing a barely audible "huh?" as her brain twisted and turned around everything that had just happened.

"There's something you should know about the magic of Equestria," she said, leaning over and putting her mouth right next to Twilight's ear.

The next five words repeated themselves in her mind, as if magic was placing them into the deep resources of her memory.

"You don't need your horn."

...

A silence ensued, as if something profound had just been revealed. Twilight couldn’t understand quite what it meant, but knew it was something she would remember for a long time...

"But...Princess..."

Celestia brought her head back up.

"My dear student,” she continued, as if she was in a classroom giving a typical lecture. “Magic is not something you make! It's all around us! Even Earth-Ponies can use it! Any pony is free to use magic at their will!" she said. "All they have to do is tap into it!"

Twilight stared, trying to make sense of this.

"I...I still don't understand..."

"The magic of Equestria," Celestia continued, now stepping back as she faced her student proper, "is older even than I am! Even I had to learn this very lesson myself! Magic is something that's all around us, all the time!" she said. "The material on a unicorn's horn is simply the most sensitive to it! But it's not required to tell it's there!"

Twilight took a deep breath, starting to see where this was going.

"And so, Twilight," Celestia finished, standing up tall in her most majestic pose, "my dearest, most faithful student, here is your final task for today! Close your eyes. Forget what you know about magic. Forget that your horn is damaged. Forget about your handicap. And feel for the magic that you already know! Reach for that feeling you’ve had all your life! You know the spell. You know the steps. Now...cast it!"

Twilight looked at Celestia to be sure she was finished. The town was still ironically filled with frivolous activity, despite Celestia’s enlightening speech, which still waved in the air around her.

Twilight wanted to say something – to announce that she was starting, but nothing came to mind. So instead, Twilight closed her eyes, and let her body become calm, letting her thoughts become blank, and becoming very aware of everything she felt around her.

At first, she could feel only the wind and the grass against her skin, making her feel very silly just standing there. But then she remembered what Celestia had said, and imagined the feeling of her horn when she cast magic, back before she was injured. And before she knew entirely what it was, Twilight felt it. A small, faintly noticeable ripple through her body.

She had felt it before, but had only dismissed it as her nerves acting up. Now, however, she was beginning to recognize it as the same rippling she felt so strongly in her horn as she performed her spells.

Slowly, carefully, Twilight willed it to move...

And the waves of magic shifted inside her.

I can control it! she thought.

Remembering the steps in the book, she used her thoughts and feelings to mold the waves and ripples, as the notes of an instrument are shaped as one learned to play. With each step, the rippling became more focused and dense. And what was even stranger was that the magic seemed to be helping her. Each step of the spell seemed to be handed to her through the song.

With each step, the rippling magnified, like a series of waves magnifying in the wind. They became denser, too, piling onto one another in a cacophony that played all around her.

As the final steps were performed, Twilight could feel something grand coming together. The cacophony condensed into unity as the waves turned to pure song. Twilight felt her body leaving the ground. It was as if she was being hoisted onto a pedestal, and crowned with power and respect. She was the master of this song. She decided what it did.

With a commanding sense of control, Twilight pulled in every last inch of magic into herself, condensing it into a ball of light inside herself that washed over the entire town. And with a single powerful stroke, she released it into the wild.

What followed was something Twilight could never fully describe. All of Ponyville, and possibly even Equestria, was bathed in a blinding white light. The light spread, condensing into golden seeds that fell lightly on every inch of Equestrian ground. It seemed to last for ages, but eventually it faded. And as it did, she could see off in the distance a large mass of ponies, all rubbing their heads confusedly as they tried to work out what had just happened.

Twilight descended onto the ground and looked up at Celestia, who was beaming brighter than Twilight had ever seen her.

"My Dear Twilight Sparkle!" she said.

Twilight hadn't seen her this happy since she got her cutie mark!

"You know you have done something very special just now, but perhaps you do not know how special!" she said. "You see, the magic you have just performed has only ever been used five times since I first raised the sun."

Twilight couldn’t quite take this in. She just stared at Celestia as the edges of her face were pulled into a smile.

"In fact..." Celestia continued, looking a bit more solemn, "it was this very magic that my sister Luna used in her transformation...so long ago..."

Twilight watched as the Princess bowed her head in remembrance, Twilight following suite out of respect. However, the thought of Princess Luna brought forth another uncomfortable memory that Twilight couldn't bear to hold back anymore.

"Princess Celestia" she said, "I think there's something you should know about Princess Luna."

“Hmmm?” Celestia said, pulling her head back up and turning her attention back to her favorite student. Twilight stuttered a bit as she worked out how to say this.

“I sorta...well...”

After opening and closing her mouth a few times, she finally gave up, determining there was no easy way to explain this.

“When I went to get the book from the castle library, Princess Luna was there and I sorta...jumped on her...” she said. Twilight grimaced, hoping the Princess knew what she meant by this. Heat invaded her face as she imagined having to describe it in any more detail.

Princess Celestia's face was simply blank, a pair of eyes looking at her unseeing. Twilight could tell there was something else going on behind the scenes that she didn't know. However, the Princess did eventually speak, prompting a bit more information.

"These actions," she said. "Were they a result of the spell?"

Twilight thought back and remembered how suddenly everything had occurred. There really was no other explanation.

"Yeah," she said, keeping her head down as she spoke.

Again, a completely blank expression as the next question came.

"How far did it go?"

Twilight pawed at the ground, hoping she wouldn't have to admit this. Her words were barely more than a whisper, but the Princess caught them clearly in the silence of the Town Square.

"All the way," she said.

Celestia continued to stared at her, expressionless. Twilight could only imagine the utter detest she must have felt towards Twilight, expecting any moment to be banished somewhere horrible, cast away from learning magic forever. However, as she let these words simmer, a smile formed on Celestia's face, almost against her will.

The smile grew.

And then grew some more.

Until at last the Princess burst out in fits of laughter, shaking the ground beneath her. The laughter spread out like an avalanche as Celestia struck the ground with her hooves, her body shaking and convulsing as she leaned forward. Twilight had backed up quite a few feet in shock as she listened to this strangely jovial reaction. It was quite a few minutes before the laughter died down enough for her to speak, getting back up chuckling between words.

"Ooooh! Oh my!" she said, having trouble taking gasping breaths between laughs. "Twilight!"

Twilight looked at her concerned.

"What's so funny, Princess?"

Celestia turned towards Twilight, shaking her head as she suppressed another fit of laughter.

"Oh...oh Twilight! I guess I should have told her about the love spell. She must have been - Oh, my! I thought she looked particularly happy just before I left! Ooooh...how do I put this..."

Celestia shook her head, still giggling before pulling it back with her eyes rolled up in contemplation.

"Luna...well...Luna hasn’t really had much...affection since I banished her to the moon,” she said, trying to keep a straight face as she looked Twilight in the eye. “In fact, she’s been so tied up in recovering and reestablishing herself that she hasn’t even tried moving forward in that direction! She'll never admit it, but I guarantee you she enjoyed it every bit as much as you did."

Twilight had no idea what to make of this as Celestia burst out into more laughter, again shaking the ground around her. As her laughter died down, many of the ponies of Ponyville could be seen returning to the Town Square. Many were dragging their feet and holding their heads.

"That was not the reception I was expecting." Rainbow Dash said, walking up to where Twilight and Celestia were, holding her sore body at an odd angle. One of her hooves was reaching back near her flank. "I mean, I know I'm the most awesome pony in this town and everything, but did everypony have to go that crazy just because I was gone for a few days?!"

Twilight smiled weakly. "I'm glad you're okay, Rainbow Dash," Twilight said, looking around to make sure there wasn't any lasting damage. "You are okay, right?"

Dash brought her head up as her hoof dug into one of her glutes. "Yeah," she said, "Luckily none of the ponies actually did anything official, but I'm still steering clear of of any of the games they were playing. I think one of them actually chewed on my cutie mark!" she said, Twilight now catching a glimpse at some marks on her side. "Nothing that won't heal up in a couple days, though. Who knew Ponyville ponies liked it that rough!"

Twilight chuckled as she turned back to Celestia, Rainbow Dash suddenly blushing horribly as she noticed the Princess standing just in front of her. She immediately removed her hoof from her flank and bowed low.

“Well, Princess!" Twilight said, "It looks like everything’s returning back to normal now! I can only imagine where we’d be if you hadn’t shown up!”

“Oh, don’t mention it,” Celestia said. “I just got your note and came here as soon as I could!”

Twilight’s smile faltered slightly.

“Note?”

“Why yes!” Celestia continued. “Didn’t you write to me?”

Twilight glanced around the crowd quickly for Spike, but he was nowhere in sight. She thought back, trying to remember if she had ever written anything, but recalled that there was no way she could write anything without her horn.

“But...but I thought Spike had just...”

Thinking back to where Spike had been last, a memory flashed before her of the body of a white mare, lying unconscious on the grass just a short distance from where the Princess had landed.

“Rarity!” she said. “Is she all right?! Where is she!”

Twilight dashed around the crowd, finally spotting the white body on the ground. Twilight heaved a sigh of relief as she noticed the mare working her way back onto her hooves.

“Rarity!” Twilight yelled out, racing up to her. “Rarity! You’re all right!”

Rarity was also rubbing her head with one hoof, trying to get her balance with her others. The other ponies around her were all busy conversing as they tried to work out what had happened.

“Twi-Twilight!” she stuttered. “What happened? Is everything...why are all these ponies here? Did I...”

“I’ll explain later,” Twilight said with a sigh of relief, reaching a leg up and embracing her tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

She walked back to Celestia, positively beaming at finally having her friend back to normal again.

“Thank you so much, Princess!” she said again.

Celestia smiled in return.

“It wasn’t me who saved Ponyville from the spell,” she said, bringing a hoof up and lightly brushing it against Twilight's cheek. Twilight brought a hoof to her mouth and giggled. “And speaking of spells,” Celestia added, “I believe there’s still the matter of the book...”

Twilight was blank for a bit before remembering "Enchantments of Amore Volume II" still lying on the grass.

“Oh, right!” she said, running over to return it to Celestia.

At first, she tried picking it up with her horn only to find that it was still damaged. She considered trying out Celestia’s advice again, but decided it would be overkill and ended up simply kicking the book over to her instead, some of the pages collecting pieces of grass and dirt as it rolled along.

“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle,” she said, magicking the book clean as she lifted it. “I’ll be returning this to the library in the castle where it belongs. Oh! And I believe there’s one more!”

She looked down at Twilight, who glanced back in the direction of the library. “Oh...um...right. I’ll be sure to get that to you...you know...soon...”

“And I trust you to do it,” Celestia said. “Farewell, my faithful student.”

As Celestia spread her wings, Twilight called out. "Wait! Princess, one more thing"

Celestia's wings stayed open, but dropped slightly. "What is it, Twilight?"

"The spell. I don't understand. Why...why Luna? Why would the spell choose her?"

Celestia's eyes perked, surprised at her student's curiosity. She thought for a moment before giving a slight smile, trying to explain the best she could. "Funny you should ask that question, Twilight Sparkle. Love spells are a strange business sometimes, especially when they go wrong. Had the spell been performed properly, I would imagine you would have been completely unaffected. That's the way all love spells work...usually, at least." Her head glanced to the side momentarily before she continued. "However, strange things happen when a spell goes wrong, and many times you can get some...er... bizarre effects. I wasn't there on the hill with you when it happened, so I couldn't give you a straight-up answer. However, if I was to take a guess, I would say it was some kind of reinterpretation of the powerful connection you already share with my sister."

Twilight thought for a moment. "Powerful connection? You don't mean...the Elements?"

Celestia gave a slight nod. "Again, it's only conjecture. All magic is connected in some way, and the Elements are the most powerful magic in this realm. It would not be surprising to find that the love spell somehow tapped into that same magic from before. Perhaps you might be interested in writing a thesis on it at some point! It would fit nicely with the other lectures in our Annual Magic Seminar. I'd look forward to hearing your own theory."

Twilight blushed as another quirky smile crossed her face. Celestia smiled upon her one last time. "Farewell, Twilight Sparkle", she said, spreading her wings before flying off towards Canterlot.

Twilight turned around to see a glimmer of purple and green fighting its way through the crowd.

“Spike!” Twilight said, picking up her hooves and racing through the crowd of ponies. She crouched, almost sliding on the ground as she wrapped her hooves around him, almost suffocating him.

“GEEZ...TWILIGHT!” he coughed. “YOU CAN...LET GO NOW...”

Twilight relaxed her hooves a little but kept them wrapped around him, placing her chin on the top of his head as she took a deep breath.

“You did it!" she said, backing up to look at him properly. "You sent a letter to the Princess!”

Spike blushed, looking down at the ground. His foot scraped back and forth across the grass as Twilight continued.

“I thought you said you didn’t want to send her a letter!”

“Well...you know...” Spike said, still studying the grass at his feet. “I saw Rarity there and...well...I don’t know what got over me!" he said, looking up. "I guess...I guess I decided there are simply some things worth getting in trouble for,” he finally said.

Twilight beamed at him before grabbing him in another not-so-tight hug. “You did what I couldn’t, Spike,” she said, pride emanating from her eyes.

“Well, I kinda had the letter with me the whole time,” he admitted, trying to worm his way out of her embrace. “You know...just in case”

Twilight let go again, keeping a hoof on his shoulder.

"I never should have gotten upset with you about Rarity," she said. "You're young! You should enjoy the time you have with Rarity now! Don't worry about the future just yet!"

Spike’s smile dropped as he looked over Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight didn't notice.

"Besides. Who knows! She may come to like you in that way once you're a bit older. And anyway, who am I to say you two couldn't-"

"Uh, Twilight!" Spike said, now tapping his claw against her fore-leg.

Twilight saw where his eyes were pointed and got back up on all fours, turning around to see Rarity standing behind them. Twilight blushed as she saw the awkward look on her face.

“Oh, Twilight,” she said, glancing around at Spike before turning back to her. “Um...listen...can I talk to you for a moment?”

She indicated with her head towards somewhere away from the crowd. Twilight turned back to Spike, who shrugged.

“Oh...okay,” Twilight said, turning back to Rarity. She led Twilight away from the crowds to a park bench at the outskirts of the Town Square, well out of earshot and sight of the rest of the ponies. She turned around, shaking her mane out as she got up close to Twilight, speaking quietly as if some pony might be eavesdropping from behind the bench.

“Uh, listen Twilight. I just found out that...well...I found out this town was under a bit of a love spell, and-”

“That’s all taken care of now!” Twilight blurted out. Rarity gave a weak smile, but still didn't look satisfied.

“Actually, that’s not really what I meant,” she continued. “You see, I was kinda wondering if I...well...you know...did anything with...” Rarity swirled with her hoof a bit, finally squinting at Twilight before the unicorn picked up on what she was asking.

“Oh! Right! Um...you were with me the whole time,” Twilight answered, backing up as one of her crazy smiles started to creep up on her again.

“Oh! Good! Great!" she said, sounding relieved. "And of course, I’m assuming that by “with me” you mean...”

“Yeah,” Twilight said, picking up on this question much quicker than the last.

“Oh, okay,” she said simply.

For a moment, they stood there awkwardly, each one a few paces from the other now. Twilight was reminded of her first encounter with Fluttershy as they both looked away from each other dangling one of their hooves like a pendulum. Finally, Rarity turned towards her again, a shade of pink cresting her cheeks.

“Did I..." she started awkwardly, "did I happen to do anything...you know...intimate...during that time...?”

Twilight looked at her completely blank. Then, lowering her head slowly to the ground, she gave the tiniest of nods.

“Yeah,” she said very quietly.

More silence. Twilight heard Rarity's hooves crunch against the grass as she moved up to Twilight again. In fact, she kept walking up to her, prompting Twilight to lift her head to see her now just a foot in front of her, swallowing hard just before she whispered awkwardly.

“Was it...was it good?”

Twilight was so taken aback by this question she actually stepped a few paces away from Rarity.

“Oh!” Rarity said, lifting a hoof, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...”

“No, that’s all right, I just...”

Taking a deep breath, Twilight smiled at Rarity, bringing back those sweet feelings of satisfaction from last night.

“It was fantastic!” she said, closing her eyes with a shake of her head, feeling most unlike her usual Twilight self.

Rarity gave a weak smile, approaching Twilight until she was just inches apart from her. Twilight's excitement level wasn't anywhere near what it was when Rarity approached her on the library stairs. However, she still felt an uncomfortable feeling from Rarity being so close again.

“Don’t...” Rarity said, turning her head to glance all around them, “...don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

“Rarity, you have my word. I won’t tell any-MMM!”

The familiar feeling of Rarity’s lips brushed around hers. For a moment she was in total shock as Rarity sank into her again. Twilight closed her eyes and tried to find a way to enjoy this, but the awkwardness was just too great.

Finally, Rarity pulled away, leaving Twilight standing with her mouth still open. Rarity’s eyes were phased out and looking up at the sky as she pondered something, smacking her lips quietly as if she had just tasted a small glass of wine.

Finally, she let out a long sigh as a huge smile crossed her face. Turning towards Twilight again, she bounced a few times on her hooves.

“Nope!” she said. "Not into mares!"

And with that, she waltzed back into the crowd, leaving Twilight standing there completely perplexed.

Epilogue

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I learned that it's always a good idea to talk things through with your friends when they're upset. Many times, a grudge does nothing but escalate when left alone. We all just need to be open about our problems, and allow our friends to help us find solutions we might not have considered.

Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle

“Send it, Spike!” Twilight said, handing Spike the magic book to send with it. With a deep breath, Spike released the green fire, engulfing the letter and book and sending them away from the library.

“Well!” Twilight said, turning away from the desk. “That takes care of that!”

Spike ran over to her, holding his arms out. "But what about Trixie and Zecora?" he asked. "Aren't they still turned to stone?"

Twilight thought a bit. "I...gosh, Spike, I guess you're right! We need to help Zecora somehow, don't we" She brought a hoof to her chin. "Hmmm. I guess I could always talk to Fluttershy tomorrow. After all, she's the one who managed to get me back to normal. If anyone can help with that, I'm sure she could."

Twilight trotted over to the balcony again, noticing the mail still sitting out there since yesterday. Spike followed her outside as she glanced down at the dried up golden envelopes.

“You know" she said, "I never really got a chance to see what all these letters were. I wonder...”

She indicated her head down towards them, letting Spike peel each one apart from the other, opening them in turn. Spike let out a gasp by the third one.

“Twilight!” he said, holding up one of the letters so she could see. “These are all wedding invitations!”

Twilight stared at the cursive writing, reading the formal invitation, polished to the point that Rarity would have approved.

“Wow...” she said. “And here I thought Rarity was crazy!”

“Hey, I’m just glad she’s back to normal!" Spike interrupted. "All those decoration's of Rarity's took forever to take down!”

“Yeah, Spike. And you're probably happy to have your favorite Rarity all to yourself again now! Plus at this point, there's only one wedding we need to attend. And that's not for another two weeks.”

Twilight walked up to the edge of the balcony as Spike finished ripping apart the envelopes. She peered out at the view of Ponyville, now devoid of the copious amounts of affection there had been just 24 hours prior.

“Yep!" she said to herself, turning back to Spike. "No more love spell! No more problems! Just me...you...and-”

Spike let out a loud hiccough.

“You all right Spike?”

Spike looked like he was about to hurl. A few moments later, he let out an enormous belch as a letter popped out in front of him.

“Oh! That must be from the Princess!” Twilight said, walking up to read it.

“Actually...” Spike said, opening it so Twilight could see, “it’s from Princess Luna!”

Twilight jumped back, trotting up quickly to see for herself.

“Luna? Really?!”

Spike held the letter up so Twilight could read it.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I thoroughly enjoyed your visit here in Canterlot, and was wondering if perhaps you would care to join me back in the castle some time. You certainly seemed to enjoy yourself, and didn't even seem all that inexperienced.

Anyway, just let me know if you'd like to get together sometime.

Your Hopeful Lover,
Princess Luna