The Orb of Revelation

Chapter 4: Staying Home.

“Twilight, what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?” Celestia asked hotly.

“Friendship, love, and tolerance,” Twilight squeaked, sitting at a desk several times too small for her.

“Wrong. The correct answer is 42,” Celestia spoke dead evenly.

“You got me again, Princess,” Twilight laughed, and Celestia did as well. It was quite invigorating to laugh with her teacher again, after so many months separated. She spied Luna out the corner of her eye, and called her over.

“Hello Twilight Sparkle,” Luna nodded, and it suddenly became clear to Twilight something was off.

“Princess? What’s going on?”

“Thou art dreaming, Twilight,” Luna frowned. “I have come by to check on you. Celestia sends her regards, and wishes she could have come to see you today, but her royal duties prevented this. There is trouble with in the Crystal Empire, and Celestia feels it is tied to Princess Cadence.”

“Check on me?” Twilight asked.

”Yes, you were checked into Ponyville hospital today for a heart condition, remember?”

“Oh yeah,” Twilight mumbled as she felt her chest. “How can I ever sleep again, knowing I might die in my sleep?”

“I shall not allow this to happen, Twilight. You have my word. Now, I have heard tales that you once bested Celestia in chess? Care to prove your skills?”

“Twilly, wake up honey,” Nightlight said as he shook his daughter awake. “Mom made breakfast.”

“Five more minutes Dad. I’m winning...” Twilight groaned. But it was too late. She lazily got out of bed, and complained the while. “14 bucking games, and the only one I come close to winning is the one where my dad wakes me up.”

“Twilly, come down here,” Shining called, as his sister took too long.

“On my way,” Twilight growled, running her hairbrush through the mess she called a mane.

“Sometime today darling,” An unexpected voice called out. Twilight smiled, and fought the urge to go down there as is. She knew better than that, to go down with her-

“Darling, you look so cute with your mane like that,” Rarity sang as she came upstairs to Twilight.

“So much for that plan,” Twilight said under her breath. “Hey beautiful,” She happily greeted as Rarity drew near.

“Darling? Are you alright? Your eyes are dilated,” Rarity voiced her concern.

“I’m fine. Just very happy to see you.”

“Oh you,” Rarity blushed. She would never tell Twilight to stop.

“Come on. My mommy made breakfast,” Twilight said as she gave up brushing her mane as she smelled Fancy Toast. The two mares went down and enjoyed an excellent breakfast made by the master chef.

“Mmm. Mrs. Star, your cooking is divine,” Rarity giggled, though she felt as if she was about to pop.

“Mrs. Star? Oh honey, you can call me mommy too,” Twilight Velvet corrected.

“Keep cooking like this and I shall have too. Sorry my love, I’m only with you for your mother’s cooking now,” Rarity joked.

“I hear ya. Mommy, I think there’s a house for sale on 2nd St. if you want?” Twilight offered.

“And leave my kitchen in Canterlot?” Twilight Velvet rebuked.

“Please?” Spike asked, looking up from his plate.

“You can start a chain. We need a Star Cafe down here too,” Twilight begged.

“Baby girl, you know I- start a chain,” Twilight Velvet nodded. “I like the sounds of that...”

“So what do you plan on doing today pumpkin? Spike?” Nightlight asked, hoping to stop his wife before she bought a new restaurant.

“I have studies to do, things to research,” Twilight smiled. “Spike’s gonna help me, right lizard boy?”

“Maybe,” Spike joked. “I have to prank Snips and Snails sometime today.”

“Ah, foalhood... or hatchling-hood... Anyways, what about you Rarity?” Nightlight asked his new pseudo daughter.

“I have to do a fitting for Pinkie Pie,” Rarity sighed. “This is going to be one long day. She never stands still.”

“No kidding,” Shining laughed. “By the way, that reminds me. She’s banned from Flugel Horns up north.”

“And the list gets bigger,” Twilight groaned as she got up and helped her mom with the dishes. About an hour later, she saw off her family and lover, and fixed her mane. The parents had to go back to Canterlot, Rarity to her shop, and Shining to his wife. So Twilight and Spike set about their research, namely flinging rubber bands at the orb while they tried to think.

“Maybe sound just doesn’t work with it,” Twilight gave up. “The vibrations would counteract the resonance, distorting the picture.”

“I can’t buy that. It sends pictures through the air, like magic. It can do something about sound.”

“Well I just don’t know anymore,” Twilight groaned as she fired her last rubber band at the orb. “I wonder how it’s going at Rarity’s?”

“Twilight,” Spike chided, “You’re on doctor’s orders to stay home today.”

“I know. But I could just peak, couldn't I?” Twilight asked innocently, as if any part of her plan was itself innocent.

“Um, no.”

“Oh don’t be a spoilsport. If Rarity’s having a hard time, I want to send you over to help her. If not, I need some things from the market. Sound fair?” Twilight asked.

“I’ll just go to the market,” Spike sighed, firing his last band as well. “And no spying.”

“Spoilsport,” Twilight called after the dragon, fixing her seat as the dragon walked off. With her assistant gone, Twilight inched towards the ball, at first toying with Spike should he come back, but then her curiosity was overpowering as she wondered what her friends might be up to.

“Come on orb thingy, show me something,” Twilight pleaded, her boredom rising. “Let me see something fun at least...” Twilight was first greeted to an image of Pinkie and Rarity, and for once, Pinkie looked rather sad, and easy to manage. The two were talking, though Twilight could not hear a word of it. She guessed it was professional, judging by how short Pinkie’s replies were.

“Why can’t I hear them?” Twilight groaned. She shifted the crystal to Fluttershy’s place, but found it empty. Rainbow Dash didn't have any crystals in her home, so she was a bust too. But eventually, Twilight found a piece in Applejack’s home, and let the view grow. She was greeted to a view of Big Mac, and he was writing something. Twilight could just see it over his shoulder as a letter.

“That’s private and boring,” Twilight groaned, walking around the crystal to get a better look around. She spied Applejack in the kitchen, along with a crystal pitcher on the shelf, and switched to it instead. Applejack was actually with Apple Bloom, teaching her to make something. It looked like caramel actually, and this was confirmed when they dunked apples into it, then rolled them in crushed peanuts.

“Damn it AJ, why does your cooking have to look so delicious?” Twilight changed her view in an effort to stop the growling of her stomach. She was soon graced by an image at random, a small dragon in a shop actually, talking to Fluttershy. “That’s where you are. Wait, they have crystals at the market?” Twilight conceded defeat. There was nothing on the orb in the daytime to watch now that she was stuck at home.

“Hello?” The soft butter colored mare sang, poking her head into the library.

“Huh? Oh, hi Fluttershy,” Twilight smiled, looking up from her book.

“What are you working on Twilight?” Fluttershy softly asked, trotting over next to her friend. Twilight blushed, and held up the book for her friend to see the title. “Daring Doo and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Oh I love that one.”

“Thanks Shy, but I was actually researching something,” Twilight said. “The author poured months of research into Crystal artifacts. I was hoping something in here may give me a clue about this one,” Twilight said as she motioned to the orb. “So far, it looks like they believe Crystals absorb magic, but nothing else.”

“Huh...” Fluttershy shrugged. “Well, Spike said you were just sitting around today, so I thought I would stop by.”

“Thanks,” Twilight smiled.

“And also ask you about fillyfooler relationships?” Fluttershy begged with her smile. Twilight held her smile, but found her teeth were now grinding against each other. “See, um... Rainbow Dash and I are, um...”

“Wow, really?” Twilight asked through her teeth.

“Yeah. It was so sudden, but I just couldn't help myself. I took a page out of your book Twilight, and just told her how I've felt for years.”

“That’s great Sh- Wait wait wait wait. What?”

“I told Dashie I loved her, and at first she was scared, but then she got all quiet, and then she talked about how much I've always meant to her as well, and she decided that if what she felt wasn't love, then nothing was. It was so romantic,” Fluttershy cheered softly.

“So wait, Dash was or wasn't...?”

“She wasn't. But she decided I mean too much to her, and if I could find it in my heart to love her like that, she could love me like that too.”

“Wow...” Twilight blinked, trying to jump start her brain with her eyelids. “I- wow...”

“Yeah,” Fluttershy nodded. “So how are things here?”

“Boring,” Twilight laughed. “I wanna go visit Rarity.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea Twilight.” Fluttershy squeaked. “Last time you saw her, you lost your eyesight for ten minutes.”

“Two, and no. Last time I saw her, we had breakfast with my parents, and it was wonderful.”

“Well very nice for you then,” Fluttershy laughed. “So has anypony else been by?”

“No. Pinkie is at Rarity’s, and I have no clue about Rainbow Dash. I think Applejack is cooking back at her place, seeing as they just did a large harvest.”

“Mmm. So you've just been sitting around here bored?”

“How can anypony be bored in a library?” Twilight smiled, and asked honestly. “Well, besides me. I hate to admit it, but I've already read every single book in the library now.”

“Heya Twilight,” Spike greeted as he came back to the library.

“Where have you been?” Twilight asked lazily as she continued to read a book at random.

“I said I had to prank Snips and Snails,” Spike replied, looking to the covered orb and smiling. “What have you been up to?”

“Fluttershy stopped by. Said she ran into you at the market and you sent her over.”

“Yeah, I thought you might be lonely.” Spike nodded, pulling up a seat. “So, how’s th-”

“Twilight!” Rarity exclaimed, bursting in and scaring everypony and dragon. “Gossip, now.”

“Rarity, how good to see you. You look amazing. How about some lunch?” Twilight corrected her lover’s greeting.

“Yes yes. Of course,” Rarity dismissed. “I have shocking news.”

“Okay.... food first?” Twilight asked.

They sat down, and Twilight managed to get food on the table, though her magic was still oddly weak, and Rarity was not helping. But after ten minutes, Twilight was ready for some lunch. “Okay, now what’s the gossip?”

“It’s about Pinkie Pie and her sister’s wedding,” Rarity nearly shouted, and Twilight was only able to catch a few words.

“What about it?” Rarity gasped to speed through another conversation, but Twilight stopped her. “And go slow enough that I can actually understand you, or I’ll just blow through our next... playdate.”

“You wouldn't?” Rarity gasped.

“Try me.” Please don’t!

“Alright my love,” Rarity conceded, as she calmed down, and Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh you little cheater. Anyways, I do not know if you were made aware, but Pinkie is, or rather was, in love with somepony.”

“Yes, I heard her say that yesterday morning. But he’s getting married,” Twilight nodded.

“Yes. To Pinkie’s own sister,” Rarity supplied.

“What?” Twilight and Spike asked, wide eyed.

“I know. It’s too much, isn't it darling?” Rarity smiled.

“Oh my. That has to be the worst feeling ever,” Twilight muttered.

“Yes, it is,” Spike supplied.

“Oh. Oh man,” Twilight groaned.

“I’m so sorry Spike. I should have talked you down months ago,” Rarity added softly. “I just didn't want to hurt you Spike. I think of you like a brother, but-”

“I know,” Spike finished. “Pinkie explained it to me. She told me about when it happened to her, though I guess this is what she meant.”

“The only colt she ever loved,” Twilight whispered, shaking her head. “Is she alright?”

“She’s putting on a strong face, but she had a little breakdown today. Thank heavens for Fluttershy. She came by right afterwards and soothed Pinkie. They went off together, and I came here.”

“Poor Pinkie. We should do something to help cheer her up. Spike? Take her this...” Twilight said, trying to pull a book off the shelf, but found her magic was severely drained. “Ugh, stupid heart condition. Why does it have to throw my magic off?!”

“There there Twinkle,” Rarity cooed, sitting next to the lavender mare and rubbing her back. “It just gives me an excuse to pamper you for a night.”

“Ooo. I like the sounds of that,” Twilight giggled.

“Oh gross. I don’t wanna think about you two,” Spike groaned, as he got up and grabbed the book. “I’m heading to Pinkie’s. Don’t do anything in my room.”

“It’s our room,” Twilight shouted at the retreating dragon. She looked down to see Rarity was drawing small circles in her fur, and breathing on her neck. “Oh boy...”

“We have the library all to ourselves...” Rarity whispered, locking the door with her magic, and looking down Twilight’s body to her own hoof as it continued to draw it’s tiny circles.

“Rarity, as much as I want to, and trust me I really, really... want you... I think we should hold off,” Twilight struggled.

“Your blood pressure?” Rarity asked.

“I have not had ten minutes alone all day,” Twilight corrected. “And it would be a sin to pack everything into ten minutes...”

“Mmm, too true,” Rarity whined, licking the outside of Twilight’s ear. “But it’s a greater sin to do nothing.”

“Oh goddess,” Twilight groaned as she accepted that Rarity was going to get her caught by another friend. But at least they had time, and could maybe-

“I need it now!” Twilight screamed as Rarity drew circles on her belly. Twilight had a shameful secret concerning her and belly rubs. The pair would make due with a kitchen table, that not five minutes ago had hosted her ward and baby brother of a sense. They would put the table through it’s paces, and knock over glasses and mugs, and a plate or two as they had their fun.

“Howdy Twi-” Applejack began as she walked in, all smiles, till she laid eyes on the sight of the unicorn couple.

“Oh come on!” Two of the mares shouted as they made eye contact.

“About too!” Twilight screamed, unable to stop.

“I am sooo sorry AJ,” Twilight offered as she and the work pony sat around after the fact.

“Ah ain't talkin bout it,” Applejack snorted.

“How did you get in?” Twilight asked.

“Y’all gave me a key last year Twilight. Yer parents asked me to stop by and check on ya,” Applejack supplied.

“That’s actually the second time we've been walked in on,” Twilight offered, trying to help ease the awkward tension.

“Goin at it like that, Ah believe it,” Applejack cracked, and allowed herself to laugh.

“Yeah. Pinkie found us yesterday. Right before I lost my eyesight actually,” Twilight giggled.

“How ya feeling now sugarcube?” Applejack asked, now full of concern.

“Fine, I guess. My heart’s still going a mile a minute, but fine.”

“Alright,” Applejack worried. “Say now, what’s this thingy?”

“Oh, that’s the magical artifact I was telling you about,” Twilight swallowed, and pulled off the blanket. “It transmits visible light from one crystal structure to another.”

“Ah-”

“I know, that means nothing. Here, I’ll show you,” Twilight said as she fed the orb more magic, and let it spring to life. It was still showing the market, thankfully, but Applejack looked amazed.

“Well boy howdy, that’s something else!”

“Yeah,” Twilight gasped. Something was wrong, her vision was failing.

“Y’all can see everything clear as a bell!” Applejack marveled, getting closer to it.

“A-J...” Twilight wheezed, her vision completely black and her breath coming hard. Her head hit the table as the bookish mare passed out, and her senses failed.