Chapter 1: A gathering of friends
Shining Hearts
Chapter 1.
A year had passed since the famous Canterlot Wedding, Twilight Sparkle was in her bed sprawled out on her stomach. In her hoof she held a book bound by leather. Soft locks of straight violet hair accented by hot pink highlights fell by her side. She frowned as her glazed over eyes glanced through picture inside the book. She wasn't actually reading since there were very few words, but the images on the pages were enough to make her matching eyes begin to water. Around the corner stepped a little green and purple dragon. He could tell when something was wrong with his friend even if he was miles away. He was in tune with Twilight's emotions and felt a vast amount of empathy toward the pony he cared so much for. Taking a couple small strides, he went to sit by her wrapping his tail around both of them.
"What's the matter Twi?"
He could sense something was off about his friend but was unsure what it was. Twilight sighed softly and shut the cover of the book she had with her front hoof. A small tear rolled down her cheek. She silently turned to hide her face from the Dragon.
"I just miss him.." she trailed off, getting up to sit on her hind legs.
Spike blinked wondering who 'he' was. His silent questions were answered when he peered down, emerald hues catching a glance at the title of the book. It was a black book and on the cover written in golden writting were the words 'Years of Filly. My BBBFF and I'
"Oh." the green dragon said leaning over and placing a short arm around the purple pony's neck.
Twilight sniffled and wiped away the forming tears giving the dragon a light smile.
"Thanks Spike." she said "You're the best." The dragon grinned from ear to ear, he loved it when he received compliments, and when they came out of the mouth of his best friend they meant the most.
"But still, I can't help it. It has been a whole year you know, I wish I could go to Canterlot and see his smiling face again. Play Sunshine Sunshine with Cadence and just hang out with them the way we used to so long ago."
Twilight got to her feet and walked over to the window. Her horn lit up as she used her magic to open the window.
"Why does it have to be so far away?" She said to herself, but the little Dragon stood close enough to hear her silent thoughts.
"Well why can't we go? You are the best magic user around, you could easily teleport us there right?" He gave an encouraging smile but the mare shook her head "It's not that easy Spike. I can not leave Ponyville unless Princess Celestia orders me to."
Spike sighed, he hated it when Twilight made the Princess sound like a monster. She was not holding the mare captive and yet Twilight always felt if she did something wrong Celestia would banish her from Equestria. Spike knew this was not the truth but he was unsure how to make her feel the same way.
"Awww no more moping around Twi, lets go see the others. I'm sure Pinkie Pie can cheer you up."
Twilight chuckled, it was true. If anyone knew how to cheer someone up, it was that eccentric over the top crazy pink pony she knew and loved. "Alright Spike" she said. after all, he was right, there was no point in laying around remeniscing on the old memories when new wonderful memories were waiting for her outside.
"Twilight!!! Oh there you are!!" A bright cheerful voice greeted her almost immediately as she stepped out the door. Twilight turned to see her friend standing by her as if waiting for her arrival. Her pink cotton candy mane bounced up and down as she did a happy little dance around the unicorn.
"Hi Pinky" Twilight's ears drooped. She was in no mood for the pink pony's enthusiasm at the moment despite what Spike had said earlier.
"Aww What's the matter Twilight? Bad news? did you fall? Oh my gosh are you hurt?! Where's that smile? Oh Twilight can't I help you? Look I made balloon animals!"
Pinkie Pie was talking so fast the violet mare could hardly keep up and as she opened her mouth to speak the pink pony pulled a purple balloon from literally no where and blew it up twisting and shaping it until she was satisfied "A puppy!" She said holding out the very bad-shapen dog to her friend.
Twilight chuckled softly "Very nice Pinkie. Now, where are the others?" she asked looking around, half trying to avoid the insanity of her friend.
"Ohh Ohh I saw Applejack in sweet apple acres, she was bucking apples like this" The pink pony bounced around kicking at the air with her back feet. "And Rainbow Dash is around here somewhere, I was following her but she flew and uhh"
"Woah!!"
On cue a blue pony fell from the sky and landed on Twilight with a thud.
"Ack!" Twilight screeched her eyes swirling.
When she finally came to her senses she looked up Pinkie Pie was hopping up and down pointing an accusing hoof at their sapphire friend.
"There she is, there she is, there she isssss" she sang. Twilight brushed the multi colored tail out of her eyes and looked up "Hello Rainbow Dash" she said, a bit of annoyance in her tone.
The rainbow pony shook her mane and glanced down "Ohh uhh hi here Twilight, thanks for breaking my fall." her wings flapped and she levitated hovering slightly off her friend and offered a hoof to help her up.
"Thanks." she reluctantly took the hoof and got to her feet brushing off her coat. "Sooo what were you doing up there anyway?"
"I was helping Fluttershy." Rainbow explained pointing up. Twilight and Pinkie Pie followed her gesture looking up into the clouds. A small cloud was in view with a stripe of pink hanging in front of it.
"Fluttershy!!!" Rainbow Dash called out loudly.
The cloud bounced and a pair of tiny yellow ears popped out from behind it. Following the ears were a pair of cerulian blue eyes that dazzled in the sunlight. Fluttershy looked nervously over the cloud. "Hello Rainbow Dash." she said, nervously.
"Fluttershy! Get down here!"
The rainbow colored pony exclaimed taking flight up to the clouds. She grasped the yellow mare by her tail and yanked her out of the cloud she was hiding in. Fluttershy yelped in fear but sighed in relief as her feet landed softly on the ground. Rainbow Dash hovering above her.
"I..I didn't mean to push you out Rainbow Dash, but this wittle birdy here was falling, and I had to catch her." She held up her hoof presenting a light blue baby bird priming its wings.
Rainbow Dash smacked her face with her hoof.
"Fluttershy, its a BIRD!" she yelled.
The yellow pegasi's ears drooped at the sound of her voice.
"BIRDS FLY!!!" Fluttershy ducked her body down, letting her tail slide between her legs.
"I..I'm sorry Rainbow Dash I.." she was unsure what to say. She felt bad for making her friend fall. Twilight stepped to her friends side and placed a hoof around her pulling her into an embrace
"It's alright Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash is fine. I'm the one who took the fall" she gritted her teeth as she spoke.
"Oh I'm so sorry Twilight, are you hurt?"
"No Fluttershy, I'm fine." she said with a sigh. Her body was fine, but her mind was far from it.
"Oh good." The yellow mare perked up giving a nuzzle to the blue bird "Then everypony is ok." Rainbow Dash growled in the background but she decided to let her friends mistake go, after all the most important thing to the shy pony was her animal friends, she put them before anything else.
"What is all the commotion about?" A new voice chimed in cutting the tension between everyone. Twilight turned to see another unicorn rubbing her eyes with a hoof. She opened her mouth letting out a long yawn and looked over the group of friends. Her silvery white fur was brushed perfectly into place but the purple mane that ran along it was a tangled mess, hairs stuck up in random places.
"Rarity!" Twilights eyes widened in suprise at the sight of her friend. It was a rare sight to see the ivory pony in any condition less than perfect. Twilight's eyes filled with concern.
"Are you alright, Rarity?" Twilight asked. The white mare gasped as she realized why her friends were staring at her with their jaws dropped to the gound.
"Oh dear, I was working on a new dress for Sweetie Belle, I must have fallen asleep. But then I heard you four. Your mere squabbling awoke me from my beauty sleep."
"HA BEAUTY SLEEP!" Rainbow Dash flipped onto her back giggling hysterically at the sight of her friend. her wings fluttered to keep her afloat. "Looks like you'll have to hibernate to get those tangles back to normal!"
Rarity lowered her sapphire eyes glaring at the rainbow pony. "At least I have the option, I'm afraid a tomboy like you will never compare to my beauty"
She smirked and turned back to Twilight "Excuse me.. I will be right back." Nervous laughter escaped her throat and she turned on her heels to head back to her house. Rainbow Dash crossed her arms "Aww who wants to look like you anyway.." She said in aggravation. She glanced down at her hooves and rubbed them together, her smile fading. The truth was she was jealous of Rarity. She was indeed a tomboy and could care less about any fashion or the way she looked, however she was tiring of ponies mistaking her for a colt all the time. The night of the Gala, she wore the dress that Rarity had created especially for her. She loved the dress, it fit her form perfectly and for the first time ever she felt beautiful.
Twilight chuckled interupting Rainbow Dash's thoughts.
"Alright Rarity"
She turned to face the other three "Let's go visit Applejack. You said she was in sweet Apple Acres, right Pinkie Pie?"
The pink pony nodded in a quick pace "Yepp that's right. She was bucking apples from the tree. I tried to get her to come play but she was like No Panky I'm busy why don't ya'll go bother Twilight." She said in her best 'Applejack' impression.
"Thanks Applejack" Twilight said rolling her eyes. "Alrighty, well then how about we return the favor and go bother her"
"Oh I think that is a very good idea. Poor Applejack works too much, she needs a break." A shy voice replied quietly. Too quiet to be heard by the other ponies around her.
"Yeah! Let's go bother Applejack she works too hard she needs a break!" Rainbow Dash added enthusiastically.
"But that's what I.."
The three ponies took off to find their western friend. Twilight galloping in the lead followed by Pinkie Pie who was bounding along happily on four hooves at a time.
"But thats what I said.." Fluttershy called after them in a fragile tone still unheard.
"Come on Fluttershy, or they'll beat us." Rainbow Dash tugged on the yellow mares pink mane pulling her along.
Fluttershy sighed "Oh alright." She squeezed her bird tightly to her chest and followed along behind them, Rainbow Dash sped off to pass Twilight as the four of them made their way to Sweet Apple Acres.
Author's Note
Sooo This is chapter 1. It is no where near finished. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please leave a review. Creative criticism is always welcomed. I am working on Chapter two as we speak but it may be a little while before it is posted since I have been having internet issues. Anyway until then, enjoy ^_^
