The dirt paths that carved through Ponyville were the only route to anywhere in town. As a usual path of transportation, it should be crowded with the bustling inhabitants trying to get around. SHOULD.

Today, today of all days, it was barren. The paths were completely devoid of anything living. It seemed as if I was being avoided.

The walls began their metamorphosis from safe, warm, protecting brick stacks into the cruel bars of my cage. The shock slowly set in. My breathing became more ragged, and my heart began to race inside my small chest.

I did my best to contain my panic attack. They struck on and off since I was left alone, but I had a good hold over their visible symptoms.

Okay Twilight, breathe. You can do this. In....out....in...ou-

“Twi? Are you alright?”, a voice called out in the urban desert.

‘W-w-what?”, I managed.

It was Rainbow Dash. She had a legitimate concerned look on her face. Her cerise eyes searched mine, looking for any indication of my status. I could my heart rate quicken, and my breaths became more rapid.

“Whoa! Twi!”, she exclaimed. She bolted over to me, and pulled me into a hug.

“Wha? Rainbow? I’m...fine.”, I lied.

“Shh.”, her soft voice whispered, “Look I know what’s up. You just need to breathe. We’re almost home, so let’s try to last until then.”

My eyes watered at my friend’s sudden knowledge. Someone, for once, could understand me.

“But, how long have you known?”, I asked her in the same hushed tone.

“Please, you know how stressful Wonderbolt try-outs are? Especially in front of that Lieutenant Leg Sweep. Oooh! He makes my legs feel like jelly, but that’s our secret.”

“Thanks Rainbow. It really does mean a lot to me.”

She removed her arms from around me, and gave me a reassuring rub on the head.

“Ahem! Ladies? Am I interrupting something?”, an extremely jealous Rarity intervened.

Rainbow turned to face her girlfriend with crossed arms and the dumbest grin ever.

“Oh baby, I love it when you get all jealous!”, she said.

Rarity’s normal pale complexion was dusted with a bright shade of crimson.

“What? I-I have no idea what you’re talking about!’, she protested.

“Mmmh, I just love the anger you give off when you get like this. It just sends...chills down my spine.”

Rainbow got close to Rarity, and moved a lock of hair out of her face.

“No don’t pretend that angry sex isn’t the best kind of sex.”, she whispered.

Just hearing this little talk gave me chills. As far as I was concerned, Rainbow was the queen of sexy. She could have anybody, any way she wanted, and nobody was dumb enough to deny her.

“Oooh, Rarity, keep getting mad for me.”, she whispered again.

Rainbow moved her head in, and planted a kiss on Rarity’s lips. Rarity’s eyes shot open, but soon fluttered down. A few small moans came from the kissing couple, but soon Rainbow turned around swiftly, and began to giggle.

“See Twi? That’s how you get your way! Now all we have to do is work on your sex appeal!”, she laughed.

I blushed feverishly, and turned my head to look at one of the walls on the street.

“I-I have sex appeal!”, I bitterly protested. Rainbow elicited another amused laugh.

“Right! The whole ‘introvert, hermit librarian chick with nobody keeping her company’ thing definitely leaves lady stains in my panties!”

She walked over to me, and wrapped one of her arms around my shoulders.

“Come on, we’ll work on it at home!”

And Rainbow laughed the whole way there........

Carousel Boutique was, of course, spotless as usual. It’s bleached exterior and purple trim was practically glowing in the dim sunlight. The windows were crystal-clear, exposing the intricate designs within the store.

“Ah! Home sweet home!”, Rarity exclaimed as she walked up to her home. She went into her expensive-looking purse, and withdrew an equally gaudy key. She unlocked the door, and gestured us in.

“You can put your bag down in the guest room.”, Rainbow said as she entered the store, “It’s upstairs, second room on the right.”

I marched up the stairs, suitcase in hand, and looked for the indicated room. True to her word, I found my new room with ease. I opened the door, and admired the sight.

More like a prison., I mentally jested.

A small sliver of sunlight peaked between the closed lace drapes, white as well. I pulled them open, and two identical golden hooks, shaped like ivy branches, were nailed to the sides of the window to hold the drapes in place.

Whatever sun could peek through the cloud cover entered the room, brightening the violet walls.

“Much better.”, I said to the empty room.

“Knock, knock!”, a voice called from behind the closed door.

“Come in.”

Rainbow entered the room, looking around the place.

“Man, it’s been awhile since I’ve been in here.”, she said, “Say! I wonder if they’re still here!”

She moved over to the closet, and pushed to the back wall. She put her hand to the wall, and a small square of it pushed in. The square retracted up, and revealed a small compartment.

“Whoa, what’s that for?”, I asked.

“It’s from when Rarity’s parents lived here. Sweetie Belle was just a baby, and Rarity was making a real name for herself, so her dad got all paranoid. He bought a gun, and stored it here.”, she explained.

“When they moved out, they took the gun with them, and just left the space here. I used it to hide-These!”

Rainbow removed a 1” black binder, and put it on the bed. She lifted the cover, and revealed an impressive collection of photos.....all of Wonderbolt members.

“Cool, I guess. But why hide them?”, I asked.

“‘Cause they don’t know these exist.”, Rainbow stated bluntly.

I nodded my head in complete disbelief, and dropped the subject. Rainbow took the binder under her arm, and looked back at me.

“Dinner’s ready if you’re hungry. See you downstairs.”, she said, and left the room.

“Ah Twilight! Come, join us! I hope you don’t mind pizza. Someone forgot that it was her turn for dinner duty.”, Rarity said, glaring at Rainbow.

Rainbow rubbed her head in embarrassment, and took a seat. I sat across from Rarity at the square table.

“You like Meat Lovers’, right?”, Rainbow asked with a smirk.

“It’s fine.”, I reassured the not-concerned Rainbow, and took a piece of the pizza.

I went through four slices, before the somewhat weird silence was broken.

“Okay, now that you ate some my food, I think it’s time we set up some ground rules.”, Rarity said.

I nodded, and waited for the law to be laid.

“Don’t worry, they’re pretty mundane in my opinion.”, she said, “Rule 1: Do not bother me during a consultation. Those are the framework of my career, having a roommate or a lewd girlfriend interrupting one could ruin me.”

“Okay, that’s fine.” I said.

“Number two, please inform me if you....have a ‘friend stay the night’......actually, just tell Rainbow, I have no desire to know.”

I nodded in confirmation.

“Three............

“Number 107, please never wear the colour-”

“OKAY ALREADY!”, Rainbow snapped, “I think she gets it.”

Rarity looked hurt, and shot Rainbow a mean look.

“Fine Rainbow, if you want to make rules, please, go ahead!”, she said, turning her nose away from Rainbow.

“Okay, rule 1, don’t be an ass. There, all covered!”, Rainbow said with a childishly accomplished grin on her face.

“Um, it’s getting kinda late.”, I piped up, “I think I’ll be off to bed now.”

I left the two at the table, and returned to my room, hoping to escape whatever wrath may occur in that small dining room.

I put on some basic sleepwear, and rummaged around in the swamp of clothes. After a nice session of deep-sea diving, I found what I was looking for. A small purple picture album.

The ends were starting to wear, and the star on the cover, the Sparkle family symbol, was faded to near invisibility. I’ve had possession of it since my birth, and nothing will separate me from it.

I lifted the cover, and began to leaf through the 21 years of memories that were within.

The first few were of my mother holding me as a young infant, shortly after my birth. She looked so happy, having a daughter of her own. If only she could see me now.

I continued my dark journey down memory lane, flipping through more of the book.

A few of the pictures were of my and Shining doing all sorts of things, playing in the park, eating at restaurants, blowing out birthday candles, and the occasional group photo of him, me, and Cadence.

My stomach began to feel sick as I looked at the memories came back to me.

I just wish I could go back to this. The good times., I thought.

Further on, I found some pictures of Spike and I, young as ever. I can still remember the day I got him.

{<^/>}

It was my entrance exam to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. The sick administrators stole a dormant new-born Drakon, and ordered me to rouse him. Of course back then, I had no idea what they did.

I tried my best to wake the small child. I pushed myself to my limits, but no matter how hard I tried, no magic would spring from my hands. After another minute of trying, my head began to ache, and I just.....quit.

The administrators were writing down my failure, but as if by divine chance, an explosion sounded throughout Canterlot. My parents panicked, and the guards primed their rifles, awaiting an attack. Instead of hiding in dread, I looked out the window.

A beautiful, shockwave-shaped rainbow spread throughout the sky. Then I felt it. A strange electricity spread throughout me, and beams of magic flew out in every directions. I turned the Drakon child into a more terrifying form, suspended the administrators in the air, turned my parents into plants (which for a child my age was pretty funny), and the guards’ rifles flew off.

This strange magical phenomenon was only good for a second. Spike began to rampage, headed for the unarmed guards, and cracks opened in the walls. I feared the destruction of the school, until a hand rested on my shoulder.

It was none other than Princess Celestia. Just seeing her shocked me out of whatever form of hell I had created. Spike turned back into a child, now awake, and my parents were back to their usual forms.

“I’m so sorry.”, I whispered.

“Sorry for what? Performing some of the most advanced magic in existence, or getting your cutie mark?”, Princess Celestia said.

I gave her a quizzical look. I pulled back my waistband, and sure enough, a six-pointed star was burned on my bum. I cheered loudly, and enjoyed my new accomplishment.

“Now.”, Celestia spoke up, “What to do about the Drakon?”

Spike looked up at her, and began to crawl over to me. I knelt down to look at him. He put out one of his hands, and I took it in my much bigger one.

A searing pain spread through my arm, and an odd crest was burned onto my hand.

“Ow! What was that for!”, I said with small tears in my eyes.

“He’s chosen you as his guardian.”, Celestia explained, “He is a part of your family now, the Noble Drakon Code decrees it. But that won’t be a problem the caretakers here can help you.”

“Wha?”, I said in disbelief. There’s no way I could have....

“Welcome to Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns Twilight Sparkle.”

{<^/>}

Tears began to spill at the memories swirling in my head. I looked at my left hand, and could see the scar of the crest, still white as it was when I was eight. It was my constant reminder of my responsibility as Spike's surrogate mother.

I closed the book, blocking the loving pain of the photos. My head hit the pillow, and my tears washed me to sleep.

I slowly aroused to the pitch black of Luna’s night. I looked around the room for any indication of the time. On the nightstand next to me, a small digital clock was sitting resolute, displaying the time in green numbers.

It read 3:23. I groaned in frustration, and tried to fall back asleep, but my bladder had other plans.

I put my feet on the carpet, and moved to the bathroom. The last time I was here, I remembered that the bathroom being the first door on the left. I did my best to get to the bathroom, and opened the door. However, there was no porcelain bowl and sink in the room, only a bed.

A bed on which two women were making love. The two were completely naked, and from what I could tell, Rarity was buried in Rainbow’s crotch.

There was moaning, panting, and a whole lot of sweat.

“Oooh, Rarity! Just like that!”, Rainbow moaned.

I couldn’t tell you why I just stood there and watched. Maybe I was shocked, or maybe I was embarrassed, but I knew both were untrue.

I was aroused.

A heat began to form in my gut, and spread down to my thighs. I started to shiver, and my hand traced down my body.

No! What are you doing! These are your best friends! They’re like your sisters! How could you....touch yourself to them!

The answer was obvious, it was because I liked it.

I feared the worse, but thank Celestia someone stopped me.

“Twilight is that you?”, Rainbow piped up.

Rarity shot up, and a strand of saliva or something else snapped from the distance.

“Oh gosh! I’m so sorry!”, I exclaimed with a heavy blush.

“You’re welcome to join in!”, Rainbow said with a sultry glance.

“What?!”, Rarity and I said in tandem.

“I.....I think I’m gonna stay with Applejack for a while.”, I said.

With that, I turned out of the room, grabbed my bags, and marched to Sweet Apple Acres.

I knocked several times on the farmhouse door, waiting for someone to answer. I gave a few more knocks, and the door swung open.

But no person greeted me, only the barrel of a revolver.

“Oh! Twi, is that you?”, a southern voice asked.

“Y-yeah. Would you mind...?”, I replied.

“Ah, sorry.”, Applejack said, lowering the gun, “Ahm not used ta’ late guests. So what brings ya out here?”

“I.....saw too much?”, I tried.

“Ah understand.”, Applejack said bluntly, “Come on in, ya can crash with me.”

At the breakfast table, I explained my whole situation to Applejack.

“Ah gotcha’, Twi. Ya’ can stay as long ah ya like, just as long as ya pull yer own weight.”

I nodded, and accepted my new home.

As I was clearing my place, a knock sounded on the door.

“Ah got it!”, Aj announced.

I looked to the door to see the guest.

“Uh, Twi? It’s for ya.”

I walked up to the living room, and saw a royal guard, clad in golden officer’s armour, standing there.

“Are you Twilight Sparkle?”, he asked.

I nodded, fear pooling in my stomach.

“Princess Celestia requests your presence on an urgent matter, regarding your brother

and Queen Chrysalis.”

My jaw dropped, and I ran out the door to gather everyone.

Author's Note

I'M BACK BITCHES!

Today's song: Hysteria by Muse off of their album: Absolution

Sorry this took so long, I had to re-do the entire chapter due to ultimate suckiness.

{<^/>} = Flashback