Twilight stood outside the library, rocking on her hooves. She had her saddlebags, and in them she’d managed to squeeze in the chest-piece. Her eyes scanned the sky for Luna’s guards; she pawed at the ground, and hoped they’d hurry up.
“I’m coming with you.” She heard Spike behind her.
She shook her head and sighed, “No Spike. Not this time.”
Spike crossed his arms defiantly. “You’re acting weird! Let me come with you!”
Twilight dug her hooves into the dirt, looking back at him. “I’m sorry, Spike. I’ll be right back, I promise. I just need to talk with Luna.”
“And I’m going with you!”
“No, Spike.” She turned her head.
“Come on,” he stepped in front of her. “Please? I’m worried about you.”
Punish the lizard. The thought came so suddenly. She blinked, “No, Spike. Go back to bed.”
“No!” Spike put a foot down.
“I said, go back to bed!”
And Twilight whirled around, and bucked him right in the chest. The dragon cried out, stumbling back several feet before hitting the ground hard.
Twilight blinked several times, before slowly turning around. “O-Oh my gosh, Spike! I’m so sorry!” she galloped to his side, “Are you alright? Spike?”
Spike sat up slowly, one claw held over his chest, he looked wide-eyed, before turning his head away from her.
“Spike!”
“N-No!” he got up and ran towards the library, Twilight didn’t follow. She stood there, blinking back tears.
She saw Luna’s guards in the distance now, like dark shadows against the night sky. Her stomach twisted, and she turned around.
Avoid them! Run!
“What’s become of me?!” she wailed, and then galloped into the darkness.
~~
Fluttershy was first brought out of her sound sleep by a gentle tapping on her forehead. “Who… what?” she murmured opening her eyes sleepily before letting them fall closed again. The tapping got harder, and she finally sat up, stretching. Angel fell off of her forehead, falling into her lap. “Angel? What…”
The rabbit hopped to his feet, and pointed towards the window, jumping up and down. Fluttershy yawned, scooping her pink mane out of her face. “What is it Angel?” she asked, fluttering off of the bed and staggering slightly towards the window. “Angel, the sun isn’t even up yet. What is it?” Angel pointed out the window, pointing out towards the chicken coop. “Is something wrong with the chickens?”
Angel hopped off the window sill and out of the room. Fluttershy stretched, and followed him.
“Slow down, Angel Bunny!”
She followed him down the steps and out the back door. She sighed when the pleasant, nighttime breeze gently blew her mane around her. She flew out to the chicken coop, which the rabbit was pointing into.
“Oh, alright,” Fluttershy yawned, and flew over the gate, poking her head in. “Is everything all right in here, friends?”
The chickens were all wide awake, they didn’t make a sound but they looked rather distressed. Fluttershy squeezed in cautiously, “Shh, it’s alright, friends. What’s wrong?” Fluttershy frowned when she heard a sound towards the back – sniffling? “H-hello?” she called gently, slowly stepping forward.
Silence.
Fluttershy squinted her eyes in the dark, and stepped into the back of the coup. She heard another sniffle, and turned her head towards the noise. There, squeezed into one of the empty nests was Twilight, curled up with her back towards Fluttershy.
“Twilight?” Fluttershy’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you doing in my chicken coup? Are you all right?”
“No.”
Fluttershy was startled at the coldness of the reply, but gently placed a hoof on her friends back.
“What’s wrong? Come on out of there…”
“No!” Twilight raised a hoof; it shook in the air, before she forcefully brought it back down and curled it underneath her. Fluttershy backed away a step, was Twilight about to… no, no of course not!
Angel bounded in, and hopped on top of Twilight, gently tugging on the strap of her saddlebags. “Don’t touch that!” Twilight shrieked, wriggling frantically in the tight space, but Angel held tight.
“Angel, respect ponies’ privacy!” she scolded, gently picking him up in her teeth. He wiggled, pointing at Twilight’s saddlebags. She set him down, and he bounced, still pointing. Fluttershy turned back to Twilight, “Twilight, please… why don’t you come in for some hot cocoa?”
“I don’t deserve it,” the unicorn said, her voice wavering.
Fluttershy pawed at the ground nervously, “Well, I… please, why don’t you come and talk about it?”
Twilight shook her head, which proved difficult in the tiny space. “No, just leave me for now.”
Fluttershy put a hoof down. “Twilight, no. Come on out of there, please? Whatever it is, talking about it will make you feel better. Come on out,” she gently tugged on Twilight’s tail.
“Well…” Twilight bit her lip. “Okay…” With some help from Fluttershy she managed to pull herself out of the box, she groaned and stretched legs, feeling weighed down. Fluttershy wondered about the saddlebags, but decided not to ask.
“Come on inside.” she led her friend out of the chicken coup, “I’ll make you some hot cocoa.”
The stiff-legged Twilight followed the butter-colored Pegasus into her cottage and seated herself at the table, as Fluttershy turned on the lights. Fluttershy was startled at how Twilight looked. She had hay from the coup stick to various parts of her body, and there were tear-streams on her face and hooves.
“Oh, Twilight…” Fluttershy said softly, running a hoof through her friends’ sweaty mane. Angel pounced on Twilight’s side, trying to get into her bag. “No! Please, cut that out, Angel!” Twilight gently pushed him off and onto the floor. “Angel!” Fluttershy scolded, “Leave her be!”
With a huff, Angel bounced over to the doorway and kept a suspicious eye on Twilight.
Fluttershy prepared the hot water, and then sat down across from Twilight. “Want to talk about it?” She offered, but Twilight shook her head, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
“No thank you, Fluttershy.” She smiled. “But… thank you.” She looked towards the window, the sun was coming up. It wasn’t very visible, but she could see the light shining up over the horizon. She felt a twinge of regret, fear, and anger. She shook her head softly, sun is good. The sun is great, it’s not bad. It brings warmth and light and–
-hatred. Twilight closed her eyes, No! You must resist, Twilight! Resist! “Twilight, are you alright?” Fluttershy gently set the cup of steaming chocolate in front of Twilight, and seated herself once more.
“What?!” Twilight looked up, “Oh! Yes, yes, I’m perfectly fine! Why? Do I look not fine to you?!”
Fluttershy cowered under her mane, “No! You look fine!”
“Wait,” Twilight winced, “Don’t… I’m sorry. Really sorry,” she lowered her head and took a sip of her cocoa. Fluttershy sipped hers, the silence was deafening.
“So, um… would you like me to walk you home?” Fluttershy offered, “Or I could let you sleep here if you’re tired.”
Twilight shook her head, “I can’t go back to the library right now.”
“Why not?” Fluttershy ventured cautiously, and Twilight simply shrugged.
“I… I just can’t. Not right yet, at least.”
Twilight closed her eyes and yawned. She hadn’t slept easily, and she was tired. “I should go…” she said uneasily.
“Go where?” Fluttershy blinked, “You said you couldn’t go back home. And I hope you don’t plan on sleeping in my chicken coop…”
Twilight shook her head and smiled, “No. I have to see Princess Luna.”
“Oh.” Fluttershy wondered, but didn’t pry for answers. Twilight pulled herself off the chair and started for the door.
“Bye, Fluttershy. And thank you,”
Angel jumped up and down, once again trying to get at her bag. Twilight shot him a dark look, and he stopped, staring in shock.
~~
Twilight didn’t trust the rabbit – and she didn’t know why. He sense something odd was happening, she could tell! Animals had that odd sixth sense for the unnatural. The sun was peeking up over the horizon now, casting an orange glow over Equestria. She scowled – that rabbit. She then stopped herself.
“Don’t think like that…” she whispered aloud. “Oh Luna, what’s happening to me?!” she sighed. She wiped away more tears and started forward. If the guards had left, she’d just take the train. Or walk. Yes, at this point she was willing to walk.
Somehow, she found herself turning around. Towards the forest, with a sleepy yawn. She closed her eyes, her legs working on autopilot as she headed past Fluttershy’s cottage and into the Everfree.