“Well, this sucked.” Scootaloo rested her head against the handle of her shovel. They’d actually managed to get pretty far down, and now there was a small crater, and a massive pile of dirt next to it. The sun was beating down mercilessly upon them, and not even the breeze seemed able to reach them down there.
Apple Bloom collapsed in a heap on the dirt floor, “Now what? I don’t wanna have to fill all this in!”
“Me neither,” Sweetie fanned herself with a hoof.
“Why don’t we fill this with water?” Spike suggested, “That way your family will have a watering hole to swim in when it’s hot!”
“Oh my gosh, that’s a great idea!” Apple Bloom cried. “Applejack has always wanted a quiet place to relax after doin’ chores! C’mon, girls – and dragon! Let’s get the hose and some buckets!”
~~
“Yo, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash was lying on her belly on a soft cloud, her head hanging over the edge as she witnessed Twilight gallop underneath her. Twilight ignored the Pegasus’ call and continued on her way. “I wonder what her issue is,” Rainbow Dash sat up and watched her; the unicorn had stopped to speak to the local mail mare Derpy, who was delivering mail to her own home. Rainbow watched Derpy shake her head and Twilight shook her head in frustration and ran off.
The rainbow-maned mare hopped off the cloud and with a lazy flap of her wings started towards Twilight. “Twilight,” she called. “What’s up?” She zoomed up beside Twilight, keeping perfect pace with her. “What’s the hurry?”
“Rainbow Dash, my bestest of friends!” Twilight smiled, keeping her eyes in front of her and not slowing down. “Do you know where Spike went? I mean, he certainly didn’t leave me – but I can’t find him!”
“Uh, yeah! I saw him hangin’ with the Cutie Mark Crusaders a few hours ago, I think they’re at Sweet Apple Acres.”
Twilight skidded to a complete stop, and Rainbow, taken by surprise flew into a tree face-first.
“Thanks, Rainbow!” she hugged the downed Pegasus, and then galloped off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Rainbow lifted her head, scratching her neck. “Dang! She’s acting weird!”
~~
“Applejack!” Twilight knocked on the door of the house, sweating and gasping for breath. Big Mac opened the door, and she smiled at him. “Oh! H-hello,” she wheezed. “Is… is Spike here?”
“Eeyup.” The stallion answered, and Applejack appeared beside him. “Well, howdy Twilight! What brings ya here?”
“She’s lookin’ fer’ Spike,” Big Mac answered and disappeared inside the house.
“Oh!” Applejack said, “He’s playin’ with Apple Bloom and her friends! I think they’re out near their clubhouse.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know where the clubhouse is,” Twilight said, and Applejack stepped out.
“No problem! I’ll take ya there!”
Applejack lead her out towards the orchard, and Twilight followed. The breeze helped to cool her off. The trees swayed slightly in the wind. It was chilly, probably one of the last ‘nice days’ before the Pegasi prepared for winter. “…Applejack?” she started uncertainly, and the orange earth pony looked at her.
“Yes?”
“You would never… like… How do I phrase this, um – you’d never leave me right? For better friends?”
Applejack paused for a moment, then stomped a hoof. “Of course not, Sugarcube! I’d never leave you for the world!” the two continued on in silence, and Twilight smiled softly.
“Thanks, Applejack. I can always count on you,”
Twilight felt much better now, although she still felt a twist of dread in her stomach. What if Applejack decided not to be her friend because she asked? Was Applejack offended? Was she going to avoid her?
Twilight shoved these fears into the back of her mind. They can fester with that little-head voice, she thought angrily. She knew her friends better – they wouldn’t leave her!
The sounds of splashing water interrupted her thoughts, “Water?” Applejack said aloud. “Now where on earth…”
And the two made their way through thick bushes and found themselves at the clubhouse. A few feet away was a massive pile of dirt, and next to it a pool filled with water. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were carrying a big bucket of water, and poured it in.
“I think we’re finished!” Apple Bloom cried, “Now we’ve got our very own pool!”
“Huzzah!” Spike pumped his fist in the air.
“Now what in tarnation are y’all doin’?!” Applejack cried, “You dug a huge hole! You know better than that, Apple Bloom!”
“But Applejack,” Apple Bloom cried, “We wanted to be Cutie Mark Crusaders Archaeologists, but we got tired so we decided to make a pool instead for swimming!”
Applejack marched up to the four and pointed to the dirt pile. “And what about that? What’re y’all plannin’ on doin’ with that?”
“Uh… put it in a bunch of pots and grow flowers?” Sweetie said slowly, as though it were a trick question.
“Ugh! And y’all are covered in mud!”
“Not for long!” Scootaloo said, and then proceeded to jump into the pool, splashing everypony with water.
Applejack pressed a hoof to her face and let out a frustrated groan.
“Should I just…Take Spike and go, then?” Twilight half asked half stated, and Applejack nodded.
“I’ll send Scoots’ and Sweetie home. Come on then!” She said louder, directed at the children. The four quickly trotted over to stand in front of her, looking ashamed. “You three are goin’ home, and you young lady are comin’ with me!”
Twilight magically tugged on Spike’s ear, eliciting a cry of startled pain. “Ow, hey!”
“Come on, Spike, we’re going home.” She offered Applejack an apologetic smile, “Sorry for the trouble. I’ll have him fix the damage some other time, then?”
Applejack chuckled, “No, don’t worry about it for now. Bye then, Twilight!”
~~
Spike didn’t like the silence. He followed Twilight home, her head was low, her movements slow. He wanted to say something to break the silence, but every time he opened his mouth he thought better and decided not to.
He attempted to climb onto her back, but she knocked him off. Not a good sign. Was she really that mad at him?
He kept his eyes on his feet, nervously twiddling his thumbs. Why wouldn’t she say something?
They entered the library, and he closed the door gently behind him. Twilight stopped walking, but didn’t turn to face him.
Spike noticed the broom was leaning against the wall, broken in half. Did it break when I dropped it? He couldn’t remember. Was that what she’s mad about? I should have put it away instead of leaving it…
He attempted to break the silence, “Twilight?”
“I. Looked. Everywhere for you!” Twilight didn’t move, her cold voice seemed to drift back towards his ears.
The baby dragon rubbed the back of his head, eyes low. “Sorry, I should have left a note…”
“A note?!” Twilights laugh was cold and humorless, and ended as abruptly as it started. “You should have asked permission to leave in the first place!”
“Well, you said you wanted to sleep and you looked really tired and I didn’t want to bother you, and…” he trailed off.
Twilight stomped a hoof, causing him to flinch and leaving a nice crack on the floor. She still didn’t turn around, and that bothered him. “Then you should have waited for me to wake up.”
“Well… I…”
“You what, Spike?!” Twilight interrogated, finally turning around. Her head was low, her dark eyes glaring at him. “You planned to leave didn’t you? Leave me, leave ponyville!”
“What?” Spike was shaking, “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play stupid!!” Twilight shrieked, causing him to fall backwards. “Don’t lie to me! I’ll bet you lied about not looking into my bags too, right?! What else have you lied about, my most trusted assistant?!” that last part came out in a low, angry hiss that made Spike cower.
“No!” He cried, “I’m not a liar! I didn’t lie! I swear!”
“All lies!” Twilight yelled, stomping her hoof again. Her horn glowed with raw energy, the magic snapping and popping. Spike shut his eyes and tensed, instinctively shielding himself with a claw.
“D-don’t!”
Nothing happened, and the popping of her magic stopped. Spike dared to open an eye, Twilight wasn’t looking at him anymore, she was staring off into space; looking uncertain. She appeared deep in thought,
“T-Twilight?”
Her eyes widened, and then her expression turned to a grimace. “I’ve taught you better than that! Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt ponies when they’re talking?! Oh, but I guess I haven’t taught you well enough – my little liar! Go to your room! I don’t want to see you again until – until later!”
Spike was speechless, he tried to get to his feet but nearly fell again; he was shaking so hard.
“What are you waiting for?!” Twilight shouted. “Get! Go!”
Finally the baby dragon got to his feet and ran towards the bedroom, Twilight levitated the broken handle of the broom and hurled it at him, he yelped and crouched down on all fours, running towards the steps as fast as he possibly could.
Twilight made the door slam hard behind him, and stood there breathing hard. She sucked in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Lying beast,” she hissed. She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.
Her expression relaxed to a neutral one, and tears started slipping past her closed eyelids. She stepped up towards the window and looked out at the ponies outside, enjoying the nice weather.
She looked at her reflection in the glass, at her own dark purple eyes, lavender coat, violet mane with a pink stripe. She gulped, rubbing her eyes. Her dark purple eyes, with the slit-pupils.
Twilight sat there on the floor for the longest time, not moving, just thinking. After a solid ten minutes, she got up and trotted towards the steps. She trotted up and slowly opened the door into their bedroom – she paused, searching for Spike.
Ah, he was buried underneath his blankets, wailing. He probably hadn’t heard her enter – good.
She slowly and carefully used her magic to open the chest, and pull all if the sentimental trinkets inside out of her way. The armor came up out held in her magenta aura, and levitated towards her. Up came her saddlebags, and then the armor was stuffed inside. She closed the door, and started down the steps; tying the bag around her middle.
She headed out the door, and looked around as though somepony might see her and immediately get suspicious – but nopony noticed or cared. She rubbed her mane, and started out towards the far edge of ponyville.
~~
Luna wasn’t sure where to begin. She was sure Nightmare had left Twilight… if Twilight had been possessed, she would have been hostile – and if she had been simply followed or haunted, she undoubtedly would have told them the truth.
And so Luna was left wondering: Where would the Nightmare go next? Was she even back, or was this just paranoia?
Luna closed her eyes, she was sleepy. So very tired. Luna stood up behind her desk, and started to pace. This wasn’t unlike a thousand years ago, when she was up all day trying to think of new ways to arrange the stars to please her subjects, wondering what she was doing wrong.
But this time it was much more important. She rubbed the bridge of her nose with a hoof: What to do?
Luna hadn’t the slightest.
The elements! The thought came, and she sprang up. “The Elements!” She repeated out loud. “If Nightmare returns, she’d want to get rid of one or all of the elements… If she’s already perused Twilight, she gave up. And maybe now she’s going after one of the others!”
She sat back down, and begun furiously scribbling down notes.
~~
Twilight smirked as she watched the shining chest-plate sink to the bottom of the river. She’d made sure to drop it in the deepest part, where nopony would see her do it.
She felt as though a thousand pounds had been lifted off of her shoulders after she’d climbed a tall mountain – she walked home with an extra skip in her step.
While on the outside, she appeared as carefree as a foal chasing a butterfly, but inside she was seething:
‘Why did you do it?’
I have to fight you! I can resist!
‘Go back for it.’
No!
‘Now. Bring it back.’
No!
‘Swim!’
“I can fight you!” Twilight growled, trying to continue her skipping, yet some other force was tugging her – tugging her back, the same force that had overridden her temper back home, and caused her to hurt Spike.
‘Go back for it.’
NO!
‘Come on, child. You know you want to…’
Never!
‘It would look so good on you’
Resist, Twilight! You can do this!
‘No. Go back.’
“NOOOO!” Twilight galloped home, feeling that weight again. As though Ponyville was getting farther every time she stepped forward.
~~
Spike crept down the stairs once he was sure she was gone – he thought he heard her leave, but he wasn’t sure.
She might still be down here, but if she was out he wanted to take his chances. He carefully looked around, making sure she wasn’t hiding around any corners or something. When he was sure, he ran out towards the desk and grabbed a quill and parchment. He wiped a stray tear from his eye and dipped the quill into the inkwell, then prepared to write,
Dear princess Celest-
He was interrupted by the front door swinging open and hitting the wall hard - the ‘I’ in Celestia’s name now had a hole in it. Spike’s heart sank when he saw who’d entered – Twilight.
She looked up, and their eyes met. There was a long silence, Twilight stood there staring in surprise and Spike quivering in fear.
Twilight raised a hoof, opened her mouth, and then closed it, narrowing her eyes; seeming to glare into his soul.
With a furious hiss of rage, she charged.