//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Becoming Twilight // by RandomGreymane //------------------------------// Becoming Twilight by RandomGreymane (Mike Hebel) Chapter 3         Twilight awoke to the sound of someone banging on the library door, in concert with Spike’s sleepy voice complaining about the hour of the morning while opening the door.         “Hey Spike!” Rainbow Dash said, greeting the young dragon as she flew into the room. “Where’s Twi?  She up yet?  I’m supposed to take her flying on her first lessons today!”         “She’s still asleep upstairs.  You know what time it is right?” said Spike through a yawn.         “Yeah - far too late to be still in bed!” replied Dash “Twiiii!  Time to fly!” she yelled as she flew up to the bedroom.         Twilight groaned a bit but sat up. Pulling the covers off her, she found Rainbow Dash in her face nudging her to get moving.         “C’mon Twilight!  The longer we wait the less practice time we get!” Dash pleaded as she hovered next to the bed.         “One minute Dash.  I have to brush my mane.” said Twilight. Yawning she stretched then folded her wings..         “Pfft!  Your mane isn’t going to stay brushed through your first bank around a cloud girl!” Dash exclaimed as she Twilight’s move towards the stairs.  “Not unless you use an awful lot of gel or have a perfectly straight mane like mine that is.  Besides - nobody is gonna care about your mane when you’re flying!” she said with a final nudge that pushed Twilight in the direction of her bedroom window.         “Umm....okay...” said Twilight, levitating her pajamas over her head and onto the bed. “...why are we standing next to my bedroom window?”         “Duh!  We’re leaving like a flyer leaves Twilight!” said Dash as she hopped up on the window sill and opened the window.         “I’m not sure this is a good idea Dash...” Twilight said with hesitation. Approaching the window she carefully climbed onto the sill. “I mean it was one thing when I flew in Canterlot.  I mean I was overwhelmed with magick and I really didn’t realize what I was doing and...and....”         “Enough talk.  Fly now!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she pushed her friend over the edge.         Twilight panicked instantly. In that short time her wings opened of their own accord and caught air slowly gliding her to the ground behind the library.         “What...?” sputtered Twilight.         “Reflexes.  Since Celestia gave you wings I suspected she gave you the whole package.  That means Pegasus reflexes as well.” explained Dash as she landed next to Twilight. “That’s what caused your wings to open like that.  I think Fluttershy is the only one that doesn’t react that way.”         “Makes sense I suppose...”  Twilight replied while examining her wings over he shoulder. “Still that was a dirty trick!” she exclaimed, looking back at Rainbow Dash while smiling a bit.         “Eh.  Figured an egghead like you needed an immediate lesson.  It’s best not to over think these things.  Good flying is all about precision guidance of instinct.”         “Uhh...Dash...I don’t think those two go together...” Twilight started to say.         “Who’s the experienced flyer here?” said Dash, suddenly in her face. “Hmmm?”         “You are.”Twilight said with a sigh.         “Okay then.  Let’s get into the air.  We’ve got a jaunt to the park where the class meets.” Dash said. Flapping her wings, she hovered and waited for Twilight to take off.         “Class?” said Twilight raising an eyebrow.         “Oh yeah!  I teach a flying class when I’m not on weather patrol!” said Dash, executing a short flip in the air. “It’s my way of spreading the awesomeness that is me around.  The students are all Pegasus who can’t afford flight school in Cloudsdale so it’s kinda giving back to the community!”         “Okay then!” said Twilight, firmly flapping her wings and lifting herself into the air. “Off to class.”         “Great!” said Dash as she oriented in the direction of the park. “Try to keep up!”         With those words Rainbow Dash was a streak of color and halfway to the park before Twilight even got moving.         Twilight flapped her wings to get herself higher in the air, briefly bumping her head on a branch of the library tree, and headed towards the park.  While flying, she marveled at how light her body was now.  How easy it was to bank one direction then the other.         Which of course meant she wasn’t looking where she was going and hit the slant of a roof which launched her directly into the side of a building.  Recovering quickly she got back in the air and continued towards the park.         OW! thought Twilight That really...oh wait...the pain is gone all of a sudden.  Huh.  I wonder what that’s all about.         “Twilight you okay?” she heard Dash call. “Saw you take a header into that building!”         “I’m fine Dash!” Twilight called back.         “Good!  Now hurry the hay up!  You’re making the entire class late!”         “Late!” Twilight exclaimed as she pumped her wings faster. “Auuuugh!”         Damn.  I’m already tired! thought Twilight as she glided the last stretch to the park The Pegasus all make this look so easy.         Landing in the park, Twilight saw that Scootaloo as well as several other young Pegasus were lined up in front of Rainbow Dash waiting for the class to start.  Twilight took a place on the end of the line nearest her landing point.         “The princess...” one of the young ponies said in awe his eyes fixed on Twilight.         “Okay class!  Now that the last slowpoke has arrived...” Rainbow Dash said, a mocking glare in Twilight's direction on her face, “...we’ll get started.  With the exception of Twilight you’re all Pegasus who have been raised by Earth Ponies and thus are having issues getting started so let’s begin with level flight.”         Flapping her wings Twilight slowly lifted herself off the ground along with the others.  She couldn’t help but notice how hard Scootaloo was flapping and how low to the ground she was.  Nor could she ignore the hard stare Scootaloo gave her when she caught Twilight looking.         “Mind on your own wings ponies!” snapped Rainbow Dash, defusing the situation before it could get ugly. “Okay down to the end of the park and back everypony until I tell you to quit!  Go!” she shouted as she landed near Scootaloo to give some personal instruction.         Twilight fell in line behind the others and made one pass back and forth.  The second pass she slowed a bit and saw a gap develop between her and the other ponies.  Point in fact she was already tired from the flight to the park.  On the third pass she missed the turnaround and buried herself into one of the nearby oak trees leaving only her tail sticking out.         “Ugh!  Twilight!” exclaimed Dash, flying up and pulling on Twilight’s tail with her teeth, “What am I going to do with you!”         “Just a little...tired...” Twilight said, out of breath as Dash pulled her from the tree.         “Um...okay.” said Dash putting a hoof to her forehead “ You’re new so why don’t you fly back to the starting point and rest there a bit.”         Without a word Twilight slowly flapped back to the starting point and landed there.  Pawing the ground with her front hoof she watched as the rest of the students completed their laps.  Putting her head down she stared at the ground lost in thought.         After a few moments she heard small coughing noise and looked up to find Scootaloo in front of her while Dash was off guiding the students on one final lap.         “Look...” started off Scootaloo also pawing the ground “..I want to apologize for the way I looked at you earlier.  I was so mad because here you suddenly get these wings and all and I can hardly lift off the ground!”         “Scootaloo....” said Twilight         “Let me finish.” interrupted Scootaloo. “I saw how much trouble you had doing the laps and I realized that that’s why you’re here.  You are having trouble flying.  Just like me!”         Twilight just nodded.         “So....I felt bad about being mad at you and tell you not to worry!  If anybody can teach you how to fly it’s Rainbow Dash!” finished Scootaloo as a smile lit up her face.         “Thank you Scootaloo that means a lot to me.” Twilight said, returning the smile.         “Okay you two...” said Dash after she sent the rest of the students off to do figure-eights around the trees. “Got a moment to talk to both of you.”         “Yes?” said Scootaloo and Twilight simultaneously.         “I’m just gonna cut to the chase - you both have the same problem.” Dash said simply. “Wing strength.”         It was Scootaloo’s turn to just nod.         “But my wings are fully grown.” said Twilight in a puzzled voice “Why would I have strength problems?”         “Duh Twilight!” said Rainbow Dash a he reached out and extended one of Twilight’s wings. “New wings!  You’ve never used them before!”         Scootaloo snickered.         Ignoring her snickering companion, Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash for an explanation.         “Remember what I told you that day at the library Twi?  These aren’t just another set of legs.  Legs you  have to fight gravity and use them all the time just to get around.  Unless you’re born in Cloudsdale that doesn’t happen with wings.” explained Dash “You have to use ‘em or lose ‘em.”         “So I’m guessing I’ll be doing wing exercises every day then?” said Twilight, looking at Scootaloo for support.         “Got it in one!” said Scootaloo grinning.         “Scoots here can show you the exercises.” continued Dash “She has a routine she does every morning.  Or should be doing every morning....when she’s not hanging with her Cutie Mark Crusader pals that is!” she finished, giving Scootaloo a pointed stare at the same time.         Suddenly Scootaloo took an intense interest in the blades of grass at her feet while whistling slightly off key.         Twilight smiled.  “Okay Instructor Dash I will do my best!” she said saluting.         “You better.” replied Dash poking her in the chest “My reputation is on the line here.  I mean how would it look if the future captain of The Wonderbolts couldn’t teach an egghead how to fly!”         “That’s Princess Egghead to you!” Twilight shot back, sticking her tongue out at Rainbow Dash.         All this was too much for Scootaloo who was by this time rolling on the ground laughing.         “Scoots!  Grab your scooter and give me twenty laps around the park!” snapped Rainbow Dash.         “Yes maam!” said Scootaloog springing to attention.  Grabbing her scooter, she was gone in a flash of orange down one of the paths.         “Twi....” Rainbow Dash said in a serious tone. “I need you to really practice this stuff.  Not just for you but for Scoots as well.  The kid is having a really hard time and seeing someone who she can help with the same problem so to speak could make a world of difference.”         “I’ll do my best.” Twilight said as she saw Scootaloo pass by completing another lap around the park.         Following her gaze Rainbow Dash said nothing but Twilight could feel how much Dash cared for the little filly.         I’ll have to do my best. she thought Though I’m sure this is just one more change I’m going to have to get used to.         Scootaloo finished her final lap around the park and pulled up next to Twilight and Dash.         “Okay boss!  Done with the laps!  Want me to get started teaching the princess a thing or two?” Scootaloo said grinning.         “Sic ‘em kid!” exclaimed Dash pointing a hoof at Twilight. A moment later she was off to continue instructing the other fliers.         Saluting to Dash, the small orange turned to Twilight with a serious look on her face. “Okay.  Let’s get started with stretching which you OBVIOUSLY didn’t do before flying here.”  She started stretching her small wings in a precise manner.         “Yes maam!” Twilight smiled, snapping to attention and mimicking Scootaloo’s wing motions with her own.         A couple of hours later Rainbow Dash was standing under a tree watching the rest of the students including Twilight head home slowly, exhausted from the day’s struggles.  Quietly a small orange filly appeared by her side.         “So...” said Dash “...your opinion Scoots?”         “She’s not sure she even wants to fly yet.” said Scootaloo simply “I think she’s not even sure WHAT she wants yet.”         “Good observation girl.” said Rainbow Dash with a grin, and patting Scootaloo on the head. “As accurate as a lighting strike.”         For a few moments they both just stood there watching Twilight walk off in the distance before going  their separate ways. -----------------------------         To say that Twilight was exhausted was putting in mildly.  She was beyond tired and it was all she could do to drag herself up the stairs and into her bedroom before collapsing on her bed still dirty and sweaty from the day’s exertions.  In moments she was asleep and snoring.         And as expected she found herself yawning and stretching on a dark blue cloud among the stars.         “Well look what the mule dragged in!” said Luna grinning from ear to ear.         “Hardy *yawn* har har.” said Twilight shaking herself a bit in the dream to slowly focus on the Night Princess sitting across from her.         “You don’t even want to know how long it took me to learn how to fly.” said Luna as she floated the ever-present teacup over to Twilight.  “Or how many trees I ended up in myself.” Luna continued as she watched Twilight’s memories of the day play out in the fog of the clouds.         “About the linking spell...” Twilight started, after taking a sip of tea, “...I was lucky you were there to help me.  Thank you.”         “You’re welcome.”  said Luna simply “And it wasn’t luck.  The sisters said they’d be there to help guide you through this process and we will.  Just as we hope you’ll do with someone else some day.”         “But I thought...the food...the transformation?” stuttered Twilight         Luna laughed so loudly the clouds around her rippled in the dreamscape.         “You thought the end of the transformation meant we’d leave you off to your wiles without a care in the world?  Please.  You now are a princess Twilight and there are standards to be maintained for the good of Equestria.  And you are mistaken about the transformation.” said Luna looking very seriously into Twilight’s eyes.         “I was?” asked Twilight trembling a little.         “Yes.  You were.” said Luna holding very still. “It’s not finished.  The transformation that is.  It will take you most of your current life’s worth of days before it is even close to being finished.”         Twilight sat there stunned.  I should have known better. she thought Most ponies take an entire lifetime to become who they are and some never complete that journey.         As if sensing her inner distress Luna gave her a moment before refilling her teacup.         “So...” continued Twilight “...what else can I expect?”         “Oh come now Twilight what fun would the journey be if I just told you?” Luna replied with an impish grin on her face behind her teacup. “You’ll experience it all soon enough.  You have already started some of it today with a simple pen stroke.”         “The autograph? I don’t see how that...” Twilight started. She stopped cold as Luna looked at her over the top of the teacup with a raised eyebrow.  With a flash of insight Twilight understood.         Her privacy.  Cadance had hinted at it and she’d missed it.  She was going to be more famous than she’d ever been in her life.  Her quiet days of study were over.  She would have to fight for quiet moments every day.  Every time she went out.  Every time she showed her face.  She’d thought about it briefly but only now did it finally hit home.         “Well this explains why you and Princess Celestia are so good at illusions.” said Twilight more to herself than anyone else.         “Indeed.  And you’d be surprised how many times you’ve seen me and never known.  It’s very refreshing to walk amongst the populace as a common pony.  In fact I recommend it to all princesses if only for the knowledge it brings of what the ponies are saying.” said Luna, grinning again.         “About princesses?  About...me?” asked Twilight.         “About anything.” Luna said finishing her tea. “You’ll find my dear Twilight that ponies wear many masks.  Often while your closest of friends let theirs down even they wear one made just for talking to you.”         Finishing her own tea Twilight felt suddenly very weary.         “Oh dear.  I’ve kept you too busy in your dreams.  Rest now Twilight.  Perhaps you shall meet a stardust pony one day.” she said winking. Twilight’s eyes closed, drawing her into a peaceful dreamless sleep. -----------------------         Twilight woke the next morning exactly where she had landed the night before.  Grimacing at the condition of the bed covers she carefully climbed off the bed almost every muscle in her body protesting.         Standing straight she stretched her legs one at a time each providing a satisfying popping noise.  Fluffing her wings she found she couldn’t make them lay straight.  All the feathers were ruffled from her sleep.  Sighing she ignored the wings for now and focused on cleaning the room.  With questioning eyes Spike poked his head into the room to see if Twilight had finally woken up.         Seeing him standing there Twilight said “One minute Spike.  Cleaning.”  With a burst of magick, Twilight cleaned the room until it sparkled.         Spike barfed.         “Did you have to do that?” Twilight asked “Seriously?”         Spike just groaned and fell over onto his side.         “SPIKE!” shouted Twilight, levitating him quickly.  With a flash of purple magick, she teleported herself and Spike directly into the hut of a very startled Zebra, and on top of an intricate design of powder on the floor.         “You foolish foal!  Appear where you will!” started Zecora “But do not disturb my magickal skill!”         “Zecora!  I’m so sorry but Spike is sick!” fretted Twilight  “I think it was something I did while cleaning!”         “Cleaning you say?  Then let’s examine right away!” said Zecora. Grabbing a nearby stick with a glowing end she waved it over Spike.  Frowning she then quickly changed to some dust that she blew over him.  It settled on a particular region of Spike’s underbelly.  She sat back on her haunches with a look of thought on her face.         “Well?” asked Twilight softly.         “Tis an ailment that is easily cured.  Some of the bugs in his gut have disappeared.”  replied Zecora “The cleaning spell you did use his bacteria inside it did abuse.”         “But you can help him right?” Twilight asked. “It won’t take long will it?”         “Help him I can and easily so.  But for his rest and welfare you must go.”  Zecora said looking at Twilight. “Fear not my pony friend.  Today is not the day he will meet his end.”         “How long will he have to stay here?” Twilight asked again.         “He will have to stay as long as he stays.” huffed Zecora “No more for now can I say.”         “Ok...” Twilight said lowering her head.         “I’ll...*urp*...be fine Twilight.” Spike said as he returned to consciousness. “Just make sure you get that cleaning spell checked out.” he finished collapsing again.         “Go now away.” said Zecora, pushing Twilight towards the door. “Linger not I say!”         “Bye Spike.” said Twilight sadly, leaving the hut and her companion behind.  As the door closed tears welled up in her eyes and she cried her entire walk through the Everfree forest towards the library.