//------------------------------// // Chapter Forty Four // Story: Save The World, Duh! // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Sunset I yawned as I rolled over in bed as I identified something missing: Twilight. She snored like a horse and don’t you dare make a joke about me being a pony. “Where’s Twilight?” I asked Spike as he stirred on the pillow on the floor. He yawned and looked around before jumping to his paws. I gently shook my sleeping girlfriend as Derpy groaned softly. After our walk, she passed out on the trail and I carried her to the closest tent, which ironically had my bed. I would have slept on the ground but I knew Derpy would have killed me the moment she woke up. Besides, who would turn down sharing a bed with your partner? “I got the scent,” Spike announced after he sniffed the air a bit. “Hey Derpy,” I whispered to avoid waking up the others in the campsite. “Twilight’s missing. Me and Spike are gonna go look for her. Can you stay here in case she comes back?” Derpy sat up instantly and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she glanced around. “Yeah you got it Sunshim.” I blushed slightly at the nickname she gave me as Derpy stood up. “I’ll get Lyra and we will wait in your tent. If Twilight comes back, either Lyra will come find you or we will text you.” “Okay,” I nodded as we both quickly exited the tent as we snuck in opposite directions as I followed Spike. “Lead the way, buddy.” Spike ran through the forest as I jogged behind him, our only pauses were Spike stopping to sniff the ground. “This way!” Spike announced as we ran down a rough trail and shortly we caught up to Twilight. “Twilight!” Twilight flinched and almost dropped her backpack as she stared at us. “What are you guys doing here?” Twilight asked nervously. “What am I doing out here?” I asked incredulously. “What are you doing out here?” “We’re uh meeting a cab to take us home,” Twilight admitted sheepishly. “I didn’t expect Spike to lead you to me. He was supposed to wait till I was a bit into the forest.” “Yeah she thought you would talk her out of it,” Spike answered nervously as I glared at him. I would have used this information ten minutes ago, not now. “Yeah because I would,” I frowned at Twilight. “Twilight, you can’t leave.” I grabbed her hand and gasped. I saw the moment Pinkie panicked about the spirit and Twilight sitting alone with Spike during the lanterns. ”No, it was me,” Twilight muttered. ”I think it’s Midnight Sparkle. She stills part of me, I can feel it. And I think her magic is infecting my friends too. I gasped again and let go of Twilight. “Twilight, there’s no Midnight Sparkle,” I reassured her as I placed a hand on her shoulder as her eyes widened. “Only you.” “How did you know what I was thinking?” Twilight asked nervously as I rubbed my chin. “When I touched you, I could see things. I could understand why you were leaving,” I explained as I folded my arms. “My new magic? This is my new magic! This is incredible!” “No, it isn’t!” Twilight shouted as she stepped back. “I’m infecting you now too!” “Twilight, you gotta stop looking at this as a bad thing.” “Easy for you to say!” Twilight snapped as she stepped past me. “The last time you used magic, it turned you into something into beautiful. It turned me into a monster!” “It turned me into a monster too at first.” Twilight paused and looked at me as Spike rubbed his head against my leg. I forgot I was upset at him and instinctively picked him up. “But it won’t happen to you,” I reassured her as I stroked Spikes head. “Midnight Sparkle is weak, you are strong. She won’t return. Trust me.” “Gah!” Twilight screamed as I spun around and Spike growled at the shadow behind me. “What are you two doing out here?” Timber asked as he rested the axe against his shoulder. I’ve seen too many Friday The Thirteenth movies with Octavia to know what happens with two attractive girls and a weirdo with an axe in the woods. “Oh it’s you,” I scoffed and looked away. I still may hold a grudge against him for how he treated Derpy. “What are you doing out here?” “Cutting wood for the campfire tomorrow night. Come on, I’ll walk you three back to camp. Are you really mad at me still? I apologized multiple times to your girlfriend,” Timber asked as we started following him back to camp. I huffed and looked away as he groaned. Some glittery dust fell out of his back pocket that I recognized and I narrowed my eyes. “Gaia Everfree, huh?” I lost track of how long we were walking, faintly making out the two talking. I didn't want to believe he would try to destroy the camp but why would he have the same powder that appeared when the was destroyed? Soon enough, we approached our tent as Timber left us with a wave to Twilight and nervous look at me. I pushed the tent flap open as Derpy and Lyra glanced over, instantly standing up as Twilight plopped on her bed. “Where were you?” Lyra yawned as she stretched. “It’s two am.” “Twilight tried to leave,” I explained as Twilight groaned. “Why?” Derpy asked sweetly as she sat next to Twilight and stroked her hair. “You can tell me anything.” “I think Twilight has had a long night. We should let her go to sleep,” I answered as Derpy sighed. “I’ll see you later in the day. Let’s keep her trying to leave between us.” “I don’t like keeping secrets from our friends,” Lyra frowned slightly as she opened the tent. “It feels wrong. If you think this is best though, I understand.” Derpy said nothing as she followed Lyra out and I sighed. “Do you think Sunset might replace me with Twilight?” Derpy quietly asked as Lyra snorted. “She’s smarter than me after all.” Twilight and I looked at each other as I opened the tent. “Hey! Come back here!” I called out quietly as Derpy nervously came back with Lyra. “I would never replace you. Don’t think like that. Are you taking your anxiety meds?” “Uh yes?” Derpy offered weakly as I rubbed my thumb against her cheek. “Okay,” I nodded after a second and kissed her as Derpy sighed contently before kissing me back as I faintly identified the taste of strawberries on her lips. We reluctantly separated as Derpy hugged me. “I love you but I gotta calm Twilight down. We will go bake together after I wake up, just me and you.” Derpy beamed as she let go and walked away happily. Lyra gave me an approving nod as she walked away. Derpy wasn’t the only plan I had tomorrow. I had to investigate Timber.