Side by Side: Evolving and Reverting
Twenty-two days ago a miraculous shine engulfed the sky above Ponyville. As it descended the light took the form of the resident protégé of Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle. There was one minor thing off about her. The unicorn now had wings. Needless to say, everypony stood in silence, mouths agape at their friend’s shift in species…for all of five seconds. After a short display of wonder and kudos, Princess Celestia briefly explained Twilight’s transcendence.
“Who?”
“The mailmare.” Spike resisted the urge of flinging the small package just delivered at the owl, who insisted on asking the same question whenever somepony knocked at the door.
Opening the box Spike found the monthly invoice he was used to getting at this time every month, and though he expected the change on this one, he couldn’t help but stare at it. “Woah-oh. A hundred and fifty five bits less than usual, and our stock is still to the brim.” He grinned, placing the much shorter than usual stack on Twilight’s desk while contemplating ordering a dozen sapphire cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner. You know, to keep the bill consistent. Twilight hates being thrown off routine after all. His moment of glee was cut short however, as he glanced at the desk.
Twilight hadn’t come back to Ponyville since her coronation. Her friends returned home two days after the massive celebration, tears of joy still in their eyes. Twilight promised to come back after she learned what her duties as Princess would be.Twilight asked if Spike wanted to head back with everypony else the day after her coronation but he insisted on staying, at least until Twilight got settled in the castle. Naturally, in his nervousness, he forgot an important fact. The Princess was her teacher. Of course she would already be mostly prepared, he chided himself, If she wasn’t at school or in her own room, she was in the castle. There wouldn’t be any need for her to settle. The next day Spike was on a train back to Ponyville. He had to tend to Owlowiscious and the library until she returned. He realized that he shouldn’t feel so worried, but the conversation the night before the rest of the group planted a seed of worry in the dragon.
“If Twilight is a princess now, she will still live back home with us right? She won’t have to stay in Canterlot?” The soft voice of Fluttershy broke slightly near the end of her question.
Given the look on the other girl’s faces, it was clear the question had also been on their minds. Like Spike, they refused to actually consider it.
“I,” Rarity trailed off for a moment. “Of course she will be able to come home. There is no way she will allow herself to be separated from her friends.” She laid her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder to offer some comfort, careful to avoid too much contact so not to alert her to the trembling betraying the confidence in her words.
It didn’t work.
“You know she’ll visit whenever she finds the time.” Raising Fluttershy’s head with a hoof, Applejack brought her gaze to meet her own. “Ah ain’t gonna try to sugarcoat it, sugarcube. Twi’s got a lot more responsibilities now than she ever did. She’ll prob’ly have to stay here to do ‘em.”
“Not helping Applejack,” Rainbow pointed out, seeing tears well up in the big cyan eyes of the pink-maned pegasis.
“Ahm right though. Aren’t I?” The tone of her voice was begging to be told she was wrong. None of them tried to disprove her. “But I can sure as hay tell ya that she ain’t gonna settle in for occasional visits outright. She’ll try everything she can to stay in that big ol tree of hers, surrounded by us, first.”
“Absolutely,” an energetic voice came from behind Fluttershy, causing the poor thing to leap ten feet in the air at the shock. Pinkie was heading down the ramp to the train, carrying a large bag on her back.
“Pinkie where have you been?” Rainbow huffed.
“Cinnamon buns,” Pinkie happily proclaimed as if that should be explanation enough. She brought the bag up front to show her prizes as Fluttershy landed on her now bare back. “Oh, and I wanted to say hi and bye to Twilight first.”
The others shifted in place to look behind her. The new alicorn stood there, a soft smile on her face and eyes beginning to tear.
Twilight immediately trotted towards the sobbing pony and reached up. “She’s absolutely right Fluttershy,” she assured as she pulled the pegasus off the party pony’s back and wrapping her in a hug of hooves and feathers. Her eyes shifted slightly from reassuring to concern as she turned to the rest of the girls, and Spike. “I’ve been worried about that too,” she confessed. “My duties may very well keep me in Canterlot most of the time. But I promise I have, am, and in the future shall have done, looked into everything I can to secure as much time in Ponyville as possible.”
BRAAP!
Memory cut short at the sudden release of green flames and parchment, Spike grumbled as he reached for the letter. It was different than the others he had sent or received throughout the years. This one had a seal on it he did not recognize. A two curved wings with six six-pointed stars encircling them, very different from Celestia’s seal of the sun. Opening it a bit slower than he normally would, he read the top line:
"From the desk of Princess Twilight Sparkle"
That explained it. Twilight never could make up her mind about some things. The seal-less letters she had been sending for the past 3 weeks were a testament to that, each of them hinting that she was going nuts trying to design one. Finally she asked Rarity to design one, though Spike never saw the resulting sketch. Well, he has now it seems. Figured Twilight would be the one to pull him out of a flashback within a flashback. Pulling out of his tangent, he brought himself back to the letter.
"Can you believe it Spike? I finally have a royal desk, how wonderful! I will not be putting that at the top of every letter of course, but it had to go on the first letter I send. I hope you and the girls are doing well. I’ll skip the pleasantries for now because I’m sure you know what this letter is about. I will not be…"
Spike stared at the rest of the line. Double checking and triple checking it-a habit picked up from Twilight-to be sure he was reading it right.
"I will not be visiting Ponyville on a regular basis. Actually, I won’t be visiting Ponyville at all."
Stupefied, Spike tried to wrap his head around the two short sentences that seemed to smash his reality. Twilight had been unable to visit as she promised on the train platform due to all the new things she had to learn.
Twenty two days.
And now she wouldn’t be back at all? Staring at the letter with a mix of indignation, fear, and despair, he wiped the tears forming in his eyes and forced himself through the rest of the letter. Eyes growing wider the more he read, he bolted out the door and to Carousel Boutique as fast as his waddling legs could carry him.
"Closed for today. Do be a dear and inquire to a purchase tomorrow. Thank you for considering Carousel Boutique, where everything is chique, unique, and magnifique."
“Oh yeah, Wednesday. Rarity’s at the spa with Fluttershy.” He wanted to get the info to the others as quickly as he could, and Rarity was closest to the library. This…slowed things a bit. While he could head to the spa and tell her it was a bit out of the way, and his short legs don’t get him very far very fast. Fast…fast!
He looked up at the cloudless sky, deciding to forget about the cupcakes because he didn’t think about Rainbow Dash first. She wouldn’t be busy doing any work today. But it also means no clouds for her to nap on. He thought about it a moment and an idea came to him. It was a long shot. A real longshot. But it might just work on her.
“Well, Twilight’s out of town still…so who’s going to want to go with me to Spitfire’s autograph signing today?” It sounded as fake as a chatty Big Mac, but it did the trick. Within moments a streak of several colors rushed in from above, a cloud of smoke clearing to reveal the target pegasus, her magenta eyes as large as a fire ruby staring into his soul.
“You need a lift? Where? I’d be happy to…uhh,”-she slowed her hyperventilation- “I mean, I can give you a lift to the signing if you want. I’ve been meaning to talk to Spitfire anyway since I haven’t seen her after the academy prelims.”
Spike was quite surprised Rainbow was able to calm her voice to a believable tone despite her obvious excitement. It almost hurt to say the words. “Sorry Rainbow, there isn’t a signing.”
Wings limp, she looked at Spike almost heartbroken. Though it was quickly replaced by irritation. “What the HAY Spike! Why would you say that then? Do you have any idea how many ponies would love to take up that offer? You don’t want another Grand Galloping Gala ticket incident do you?” Her breathing was coming out in loud snorts and her voice cracked frequently.
Spike was sure under most circumstances, Rainbow would not have reacted as explosive as she had. Twilight’s absence was leaving everypony feeling down, which meant assertive ponies became outright aggressive. Enduring the assault, the unentertained dragon made his response into the gale of her shouts. “I don’t think a Wonderbolt autograph would cause that much of an uproar, and it was the fastest way of finding you without any clouds to throw things at.”
Halted by the last part, the steaming Rainbow caught herself amidst her next deluge of complaints. “Wait, what?“
“Look, I needed to find you because I need to get our friends together quickly, and there’s nopony who could out-speed you. So I had to find you to spread the message.”
Rainbow’s irritation vanished and she puffed her chest with pride. “Well when you put it that way, I am the only choice when it comes to speed. What do ya need me to tell them?”
“I need them in the library in a half hour. Have Pinkie bring extra cupcakes, we may need to console Fluttershy and Rarity after part one of the message.”
Still irritated, Rainbow examined the look on his face. Sighing, she relented. “Fine, but you owe me for that trick.”
“We just had the new Daring Do delivered yesterday. Forget about the trick, and you got your name in front of the other hundred and seventeen ponies on the wait list.”
“Deal!” she shouted, a bit louder than she intended to. “Back in a flash.” The multi-hued streak took off. Spike began to head back to the library before Rainbow stopped him. “What message? Is it from Twilight?”
He held up the letter, still partially rolled up in his claw. “Yeah, but I think it would be best if everyone was together before I tell you though.” And the dragon ran off again.
She couldn’t see the whole thing, but a certain part of the exposed letter stuck in Rainbow’s mind. “Twilight’s…not coming back home?”
Rainbow is never considered herself a good liar. She could cover up some nerves with her spare confidence sure, but outright saying something was black when it was really white was difficult for her. As she flew throughout the town to tell the others to meet at the library, her heavy heart clearly showed on her face. Each mare asked her if something was wrong and she replied “Nah. Spike just woke me up from a nap and I’m still a bit groggy.” She couldn’t say it actually worked, but it gave her the opening needed to fly off to the next pony. Pinkie accepted it wholeheartedly though, and tossed her one of the cupcakes from the pile she was bringing, intending for the sugar to perk her up.
Flying through the second floor window, which was frequently kept open due to more than a few flying accidents, Rainbow landed near the desk, where Daring Do and the Chimera’s Crypt ley. Instead of immediately devouring it like she originally intended, she placed it in her saddle bag. While she desperately wanted to read it, the glance at the letter worried her. What worried her more however, was Spike’s lack of worry. In fact, he seemed downright happy. Was it because he wouldn’t be woken up before he decided too? That there would be no more scolding about his ice cream sprees? That he could be Rarity’s dragon mannequin without having any pressing responsibilities?
No, it wouldn’t be like him. No matter the perks, Spike would never be happy that Twilight would be taking a permanent stay somewhere else. He was gradually getting more downtrodden and irritable as the days rolled by after he arrived back to tend the library in Twilight’s (supposed temporary) absence. Maybe I misread. Maybe she’s coming back soon and just started the letter weird.
“Hey, Spike.” Her eyes opened wide and she shoved her hoof in her mouth.
“Yeah?” The response was completely oblivious to the fact the question had not meant to be asked.
“Uhh.” Rainbow was not a good liar. “How many more books are supposed to be in Daring Do?” She hoped her genuine interest in the question would help mask the fact that it was not her original question.
“Dunno, I don’t write them, just order them. But I hear Georgia Lequuis said she might stop writing after the next two. But Moondancer likes gossip so it might not be true.”
Rainbow made a mental note of that while a feeling of relief swept over her.
“Now what was your first question?”
Aaand it’s gone.
“What do you-“
“You’re not a good liar Rainbow Dash.”
She looked out the window to avoid the dragon’s face. Anyone would be surprised at how much the purple cynic noticed regardless his usual indifference. She saw a hint of yellow and white turn the corner down the road. Rainbow had always wanted to be first in a lot of things, everything really. But this time she just wanted to put her mind at ease. She had to find out before the others came in. An antsy Dash was a sure sign of trouble.
“Is Twilight really going to stay in Canterlot?” She waited. Spike cocked his head to the side with a curious look.
“What made you think she wouldn’t be coming back?”
Is he trying to hide it? Is that why he wanted everyone together, some of that emotional support stuff? “I…I saw the letter.” Staring straight into his eyes she hoped to keep his locked on hers. “It said Twilight wouldn’t visit us anymore.”
“Oh. That.” Seeing the look on her face he suppressed the laugh that reflexively wanted to come out. “I didn’t know you could see the writing. Pegasus eyes sure aren’t something to sneeze at. It’s actually-“
An explosion of confetti and balloons signaled the arrival of Pinkie Pie. Her party cannon set up the table for her cupcakes. Where the punch bowl came from, or the punch in it for that matter, Spike didn’t bother guessing. “Why can’t I seem to finish any exposition today?”
“Plot convenience,” the perky pink party pony punctuated her comment by tossing the chocolate fountain on the horse head in the center of the room. By all means, it shouldn’t be able to sit atop it safely, but there was enough damage to the laws of physics and the fourth wall to care.
“I see.” Not entirely satisfied for the explanation to his interruptions, he held the door open for the remaining ponies. “Hey ladies,” he welcomed with a polite bow as Rarity sashayed in.
“Howdy Spike. Glad for the invite, but is there a reason you needed Rainbow to send three baskets of apples flying to send it?” Applejack clearly showed she wasn’t irritated at the loss of product. It must have been a spectacular crash.
“That would explain the applesauce in her mane when she got us. She was about to leave but then Rarity pulled her into the tub.” Fluttershy was already helping herself to the punch. The liquid revealed her hooves were shaking. It wasn’t often that Spike…or anypony for that matter, gathered them up at one spot out of the blue.
“Well I could not just sit by and let her fly out into the sun with mashed fruit in her hair now could I? I had to get it out before the heat made it rot faster. And rotten fruit is a smell that requires nothing short of removing the cuafure.”
“Say what now?” Applejack asked.
“She said if she didn’t get the apple out before Rainbow got outside she’d need a manecut to get rid of the smell,” Spike quickly answered, wanting to hurry things along. He wanted to tell everypony now before any other interruptions could claim him again. “Private Pinkie Pie.”
“Yes sir!”
“At my side.”
“At once!” She hopped next to him, loaded a cupcake into a slingshot she pulled out of her glass, and took aim…at Fluttershy.
“Wha-wha-what are you doing!?” Fluttershy stumbled around her words as she stumbled to get behind Rainbow Dash.
“Just setting up ahead of time, and you are the best bet for who would need it first,” Spike glanced around the room, making sure he had their attention. "Now, I know I never get everypony together like this."-each of them nodded in turn-“but I have news from Canterlot.” All of them stood a lot straighter and a little closer as he held up the Letter from Twilight and began to read it.
“I will not be visiting Ponyville on a regular basis. Actually, I won’t be visiting Ponyville at all.”
There were gasps all around, and as expected Fluttershy’s dam began to show signs of breakage. A cupcake promptly flew into her mouth as she was preparing a wail…or exhale…it was hard to tell with her. She began chewing and the tears in her eyes held without any further swelling at the moment. Pinkie loaded up another cupcake while shoving one in her own mouth. Whether it was to keep her calm or she just wanted a cupcake, Spike couldn’t be sure. Applejack and Rarity just stared with mouths agape. Spike was pleasantly surprised Rarity didn’t faint on the spot. Rainbow shut her eyes and hung her head, not hiding well the fact that tears were now trailing down her muzzle. I knew I read that right.
“Now hang on. There’s still letter left. Don’t fall to pieces just yet.” Once Fluttershy’s sniffles quieted and the other three sat down, though visibly shaken, he continued. Did you have to word it like that Twilight? If Rainbow was certain she read that she’d burst out the door before finishing another word…
“I’m sorry I have not been able to visit as I promised. There are a lot of royal protocol and procedures for me to learn, and if there’s anything I have learned during my years of study, it’s that you cannot stop in the middle of learning something this complex for days at a time. It would as a musician up here says, “Throw you off your Groove.”
“I’ve been researching something in my spare time. Unfortunately, the research is what has prevented me from visiting Ponyville outside my tutorials. I hope you and the girls can forgive me for putting the research before my visits, but they payoff will be well worth the wait…if it pays off.
Now my Number One Assistant, please gather our friends at the library about one hour after you receive this letter. We’ll see if my research has paid off together.
Always with you,
Princess of Harmony-Twilight Sparkle
p.s. Please DO NOT call me princess"
“So, what does that all mean?” Pinkie was sitting next to spike, munching on the tray of cupcakes and staring at him like she was listening to a teacher at story time. “She said we’ll find out together. Does that mean she’s going to be coming back soon?” The other four were also looking at him with the same intensity, hoping that what they could make out meant what they thought it did.
A bit uneasy at the ten eyes now holding him in place (he didn’t dare look at Fluttershy’s), Spike swallowed before replying. “I think it means that whatever research she’s doing we will be able to notice from here.” Four heads cocked to the side, while the other worked on another cupcake. “I don’t know if it means she’ll be here or not, but we’ll find out soon.”
As if waiting for its cue, amidst the streamers, confetti, and ponies, white light began to cascade down the walls and cover the floor. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash took to the air as the light encroached upon them, with Rarity immediately leaping into Fluttershy’s arms, Rainbow helping Fluttershy hold the unicorn aloft. Applejack leaped onto the chair and Pinkie’s grin spread ear-to-ear as the light touched her, covering her as well and giving her a soft glow. “Oooohhh look at me, look at me! I can glow in the dark!” As it swirled and undulated towards the center of the room, the light began to fade into lavender.
“Okay, very soon.” Spike’s eyes grew wider and wider, despite the brightness of the form in the center of the room. The scales on his face almost cracked from being stretched into a smile of Pinkie proportions.
The lights met each other in the center of the room, a pool of magic with its six sources encompassing it, forming an all-to recognizable symbol. Finally, in a burst of silent light, the alicorn decended down.
Right into the chocolate fountain…
With a half-squish-half-splash, the display fell over. Twilight, whose hooves were now stuck in the top cup of the small tower, fell with it. Very quickly, a small part of the room, and large part of the mare, was now coated in a dark brown sugar coating.
“Pinkie Pie?” The words came from a few bubbles that popped from where her face apparently was.
“Yes?”
“Okay. Just making sure there was a good reason for me to land in a chocolate fountain.”
Author's Note
Okay, first chapter of my first fic is done. Re-wrote it like four times and still not quite happy with it. I'll probably revise it after more chapters are posted.
Feel free to let me know of mistakes. I'm a bit concerned about "keeping character" myself.
Oh yeah, Grammer nazis welcome...except in dialogue of course.