Twilight woke up a week after her coronation, her wings aching. As she laid in her bed back at the library, she reminded herself not to sleep on her back anymore. Rainbow dash had told her many times that it was possible if she got a cloud bed, but twilight refused to part with her old one. She wasn't one hundred percent sure why she didn't want to get rid of it-maybe it was the fact that, since she became a princess, everything was different. Even a little thing like the same bed made Twilight feel more connected to her old life as a simple unicorn.
She stroked her Starswirl the Bearded sheets and watched the thin streams of sunlight break through her curtains. With a sigh, she resigned herself to the fact that she still had a lot of work to do with the spells Celestia had sent home with her. She slipped out of bed, stretching her legs and wings, and plodded over to Spike's small bed. She watched him sleep peacefully, remembering the first day she saw him, when he was just newly hatched.
"Spike," she said gently, nudging him ever so slightly. "It's time to get up, we overslept already and we need to start on the spells."
"Mmm, five more minutes?" Spike murmured sleepily.
Twilight smiled at him, but wouldn't relent. "Come on, sleepyhead, we have to get started. These new spells aren't going to do themselves." Spike groaned and rolled over but knew if he stayed much longer, Twilight would wake him up again, but not as quite as gently as before. He rolled out of bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, following Twilight downstairs.
"What's for breakfast, Twilight?" Spike asked as he slowly made his way down the stairs.
"Nothing yet," she replied, waiting for him with a spell book open. "I've been looking at this one for days and I think I have it right. If it works, we can go out to eat; if it fails, then I guess we can go out to eat and I'll try again when we're done."
Spike listened to his stomach rumble. "Alright, but let's go as fast as we can, okay?"
Twilight chuckled as he joined her in the middle of the library floor. "Okay, Spike, I'll try."
"What spell are we trying out anyway?"
"It's a long transportation spell. Usually transportation spells are used to get out of the way quickly, like the kind matador ponies use, but long transportation spells can be used to transport more than one pony to somewhere far away. You and I will be going to Canterlot Castle, since we know it's safe and I can tell Princess Celestia about my success!"
Spike seemed uncomfortable. "But, Twilight, what if it doesn't work? What if we're transported somewhere dangerous? Or what if we go somewhere where we didn't mean to go, like Saddle Arabia?"
"I've thought about these outcomes quite a bit, and I think that if we get into a really sticky situation, I can use the spell again and hopefully we'll be transported somewhere safer. But really, Spike, would I ask you to conduct this spell with me if I thought that there would be serious danger?"
Spike considered this. "Well... I guess not. Okay, go ahead." Twilight's horn began to glow a bright fuchsia, but Spike interrupted before she could carry it out. "Wait!" He zoomed to a closet and grabbed a football helmet. "Ya know... Not that I don't trust you, but just in case..."
Twilight giggled. She sometimes she wondered how it would feel to be a big sibling, but she didn't need to ponder too hard, because Spike was just like a little brother to her, as well as an assistant, and almost like a son. "Do you need anything else?" She asked, partially teasing and partially serious.
Spike considered this and shook his helmeted head. "No, I'm good." He hopped on her back, hugging her neck closely, but not enough to choke her. "Fire away! I'm hungry."
Smiling, Twilight once again lit her horn, putting all her concentration into the spell. She envisioned the castle and concentrated, thinking of the room where the elements of harmony were once held, filled with stained glass windows depicting her and her friends, the princesses, and Discord.
Discord? Why are you thinking of Discord? When you first saw him all he did was mess with your friends...
She began to feel the magic wash over her and Spike. No! Not Discord! Not chaos! The Canterlot Castle! she thought in a frenzy. In a blast of dazzling light, she and Spike transported.
***
When the blast of light faded and their vision refocused, Twilight and Spike found themselves in the exact same position and the exact same place where they had been before.
"What? I thought I did everything right... We didn't even move!"
"Maybe it's a dud?" Suggested Spike, hopping off Twilight's back. "All I know is, I was promised breakfast!"
Twilight chuckled as she decided some time out of the library might focus her mind. "You're right, Spike. Let's see if they have any good breakfast pastries at Sugar Cube Corner."
"Mm-mm!" Cried Spike enthusiastically, licking his lips. "What are you waiting for? Lets go!"
As they trotted to Sugar Cube Corner, Twilight noticed everypony seemed kind of downtrodden and grumpy. Maybe Pinkie hasn't done her rounds yet today, reasoned Twilight as she opened the door and let the smell of early morning sweets fill her nose.
"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight called.
Pinkie Pie emerged from the back room with noticeably straight hair. "What do you want, Twilight?" She asked, settling on the other side of the counter.
Twilight was confused at Pinkie's noticeable lack of interest. "Umm... Can Spike and I get a couple of cinnamon buns, please?"
"HEY, WE NEED A COUPLE OF CINNAMON BUNS UP HERE," Pinkie cried suddenly, making Twilight and Spike flinch.
"We're makin'em, ya annoying mule! Don't get your tail in a bunch!" screeched a voice from the back.
"YA BETTER MAKE THEM QUICK, WOULDN'T WANNA LOSE BUSINESS AND BE A DEADBEAT FATHER TO THOSE LITTLE DEMONS YOU CALL CHILDREN," Pinkie screamed in reply. She turned to Twilight. "So anyways Twi, how's it working with our Great and Glorious Leader, huh?" She asked sarcastically.
Twilight shifted uncomfortably. What was wrong with Pinkie and the Cakes? "Um, it's okay, I guess..."
"Yeah, sure SOUNDS fun." Scoffed Pinkie Pie in reply. A bell ding-ed and Pinkie fetched the pastries. "Eat 'em while they're hot, so they don't get any shittier, and have a Celestia-ful day," she said, emphasizing the last part with faked enthusiasm.
"Okay then," said Twilight, paying for the desserts and accepting the cinnamon rolls. "You too, I guess..."
As they left the pastry shop, Spike asked, "What was that all about?"
"I don't know, Spike," Twilight said sadly, "but I really don't like the sound of it."