//------------------------------// // "Twi is that you?" // Story: "Ooopsie" // by Golden Paw //------------------------------// "Twi is that you?" Applejack was weeding out in the orchard when Spike came running up the lane. Grunting she leaned on the hoe she was using and watched the little dragon as he puffed his way to a stop, resting his clawed hands on his knees as he fought to catch his breath. "Howdy Spike, what's got yer all in a huff then?" Applejack asked in a friendly way. Spike raised a claw with one finger extended as he drew in deep breaths, "I.....have....a.....letter for you." He managed to gasp out in between huge gulps of air. Applejack raised an eye brow, "Must be pretty important fer yer ter come runnin all this way. What's this all about sugar cube?." Spike nodded and produced a small scroll addressed to Applejack. Her curiosity peaked she opened the letter looked at what was inside, the writing was in Twilight's normal ink and had hints of her style, but it had none of her normal neatness. Above all it was so short. Applejack, can't explain here, need you at the library as soon as possible. Twilight. P.S Make sure spike sees Rarity next P.S.P.S Bring a plough Applejack looked up from the letter to the dragon, her mouth open. "Um Spike, why would Twi need ma plough?" He gave one last heaving breath before answering. "She asked for what?" Spike asked, his face showing confusion. "Twi says she wants me ter bring a plough. Not just that she want ter make sure ya go ter Rarity next," Applejack explained to Spike's mounting concern. "Oh that can't be good," Spike said in a cryptic way, "Gotta go; Twilight is timing me". Without another word Spike rushed off towards Rarity's house. "Spike hang on!" Applejack tried to call him back, but he either didn't hear her or was too intent on his assignment. It was a similar story for each of Twilight's friends; Spike would arrive and give them a poorly written note before running off again with almost no explanation. Spike had been given Specific instructions about which order to visit Twilight's friends; Applejack was only third on the list and he had a long way to go. The exhausted Spike collapsed through the door of the Golden Oaks Library and just lay on the floor while the world spun around him. He had done the tour of Ponyville in record time, delivering Twilight's 'hand' written messages one after another. His small chest heaving, Spike dragged himself back to his feet, shut the door behind him and looked around for Twilight. He managed to wheeze out a "Twi, I'm back," before Spike saw what was different: The books were all gone, every shelf was empty. "Welcome back Spike, I hope you don't mind but I was getting a little bored so I rearranged things a little," Spike looked directly up to see Twilight coiled across the ceiling of the Library. All the absent books were neatly stacked there in a complicated pattern. "Um Twilight, are you feeling okay?" Spike asked, suspecting he knew the answer. "Oh of course spike, I know you think I have gone mad being a draconequus now and all, but it turns out it's just that their minds work a lot faster than a pony's. This does have the unfortunate side effect that their thoughts often bump into each other and get mixed up but I think I can sort it, I am very good at organising as you know," Spike saw her eyes, the pupils had taken on a slightly lopsided aspect. With a sudden darting motion Twilight was next to spike without seeming to have moved, "Oh spike your twenty three point seven two seconds late. We really need to work on your time keeping now don't we." "I er..." Spike took a step backwards. "Oh calm down Spike, she's actually doing very well. I was climbing the walls a good couple of centuries before I was her age," Discord said in bored voice. The Discord alicorn was sitting in a comfy arm chair, reading a complex book on magical theory. It seemed that Discord was getting the hang of unicorn magic as his hooves were resting by his sides and the book was held gently in a spell. After turning the last few pages Discord closed the book and tossed it over his shoulder, "Fascinating, completely wrong of course but a nice distraction." The book never hit the floor as Twilight darted forward and caught it in her lion's paw. With a glare at Discord she was once again on the ceiling and delicately placed the book among the others, "Discord I told you not to do that!" Twilight snapped, showing a sharp set of teeth. Spike watched the whole exchange in dumbfounded silence. He was sure he didn't see Twilight move, one moment she was on the ceiling, the next she was on the ground holding the book and finally once more on the roof. There had been a time in between these states, but Spike must have missed the gap. "What do you mean Discord?" Spike asked slowly, not taking his slitted green eyes off Twilight's, which were watching the dragon like he was some sort of new research project to be understood. Discord waved a hoof in a dismissive way, "Well the basic logic behind the anthro-morphing spell is sound, but once you apply it through the thirteenth dimensions you can see that the polarity of field begins to reverse, thus forcing the subject to revert back to it's original state, but that effect seems to have been overcome somewhere in our case." Spike blinked, he understood that last contribution to the world right up to the word 'basic'. Holding his head he tried once again, "Not the book, about Twilight and your age." "Simple observations on the nature of cross species comparative chronological development," Discord said before Spike looked up pleadingly at Twilight. "He means, that when he was of the same comparative draconequus age, he was already completely insane," Twilight tried to explain. "I told you before; draconequus brains work far faster than a pony's, Discord is having a hard time saying what he's thinking in simple terms. It is said that the mark of true understanding and mental skill is to take the most complex idea and explain it in a way a child could understand it." Twilight seemed to calm down as she began lecturing Spike, "With Discord only having a pony's mental makeup, he has lost some of his edge," She said in a slightly sad way. Spike wasn't sure if he should feel insulted by that last comment, he believed there was logic in there somewhere but after a few moments trying to work it out he gave up. "So what you’re saying is you're okay Twilight," Spike more hoped than concluded. "Just a couple of odd twitches here and there, I should be able to last three weeks at this rate give a or take a few hours," Twilight smiled down at her number one assistant. "Um that's good, I think" Spike replied in a cautious way, "So what do we do now?" "Oh that's simple, take two steps forward," Twilight said in a kind way, Spike had a few seconds to wonder what she meant before the door burst open and Pinkie Pie bounced in. He was knocked sprawling as the pink pony neatly leaped over the stunned reptile. "Hi Spike, I had a feeling I was needed so I hopped right over," Pinkie gently picked up the bruised dragon and dusted him off before looking around the room, "Ooooo I see that I am just in time, Twilight will go loco in the coco if she saw all her books were missing." Pinkie Pie then caught sight of Discord and she let out a huge gasp, in a pink blur she was next to Discord and staring intently at the grey alicorn, "Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name? you must be new!" Discord raised an eyebrow at Pinkie Pie before he answered. "Discord, currently in Equine form due to a miss-hap with arcane polarities," Discord replied, "I was ancient when before your grandmother was a twinkle in her grandmother's eye. So no I am not new." Pinkie's open face creased up in confusion, "Wow you knew Granny Pie, you must be old. So you’re a pony now, can you still make chocolate rain?" This kind of event was all in a day’s work for Pinkie. "Sadly not Pinkie, he's still powerful but those kinds of tricks are for draconequus and other like creatures," Twilight called from her perch on the ceiling. Pinkie Pie looked up and smiled, "Oh hi Twilight, I can see why you wanted the party string now, Should I leave it on the table, or do you want it up there. "Up here is fine Pinkie and thanks for coming. I knew I could rely on you," Twilight grinned as she watched the thrown cans of party string. They left Pinkie's hoof and flew upwards, but as they reached the peak of their trajectory they accelerated away from her and landed in Twilight's lion paw with a 'Thwup'. Spike rubbed his eyes with his palms, this was all getting very complicated. Twilight had told her assistant that he didn't need to fetch Pinkie Pie and now the dragon knew why. In so many ways Twilight's brain was speeding full steam ahead it seemed. "Why hello spike, I see you made it back alright. Now would you mind telling me why Twilight wants one of my manikins?" Spike's heart did a flit as he heard Rarity's voice. The white unicorn was patiently waiting just outside the door to the Golden Oaks Library. "Oh hi Rarity. I er don't know, maybe you should ask her," Spike answered, his attention still riveted on the party string cans. Rarity was taken aback by this, "Spike, you're normally so polite and gallant, what has become of your manners?" Rarity commented as she stepped around Spike who was still watching the ceiling. "Well I never," Rarity voiced in a peeved way before she caught sight of Discord, "Well Twilight, you never said you were having high class company with you, I would have come more prepared." Discord arose and bowed to Rarity, "Ah my dear we meet again, may I ask how is 'Tom'?" Rarity froze and glared at Spike, "I thought you promised to 'never' speak of that again and Spike it's rude to ignore a lady. Spike? Spike! For Celestia's sake what are you staring atwoahooha!" Rarity crumpled on the floor and looked like she was going to faint as Twilight gave her a little wave. Rarity's mouth moved up and down but no sound came out. "Hi rarity, if you could just pass the manikin up here please that would be great," Rarity's eye twitched and without further complaint she lifted the clothes pony into the air, where it joined Twilight with the rest of her hoard. "Spike my dear, where is Twilight?" Rarity finally managed to ask. "You're looking at her silly," Pinkie Pie had joined the other two in looking up. "Urer" Was all Rarity could say to that. "Long story Rarity, just take a seat over there if you would," Twilight instructed Rarity who let herself be lead by Pinkie Pie to a waiting soft chair that Spike was sure hadn't been there moments before. Rarity turned to look at the other stranger in the room in a glazed way, "And you are good sir?" "Why Discord of course, I don't blame you for not recognising me, I am a little out of sorts at the moment," He replied a little moodily, Discord was used to being the centre of attention. "Great," Twilight looked out at the sun's position before going on, "It's about time for Fluttershy to arrive," All present turned their heads at a quiet knocking on the library's door. "Oh hello every pony, I got Twilight's letter and I came as soon as I could, I would have been here sooner, but I needed to collect 'this'," The yellow pony lifted up a small fine mesh cage, inside was a captive parasprite, "I still can't think why I would need it though." "Why do come in Fluttershy, I am sure all will become clear," Rarity said in vague way, her eyes unfocused. "Oh alright, um hi Spike, who's this?" Fluttershy had spotted Discord who was looking at the her with wide eyed wonder, the stallion's bored look had turned to one of confusion and his cheeks began to redden. "Oh my fair maiden, let me take you away from here that we may fly through the sky together!" Discord declared as he sunk to one knee. This was the first time Discord had seen Fluttershy through pony eyes and he very much liked what he saw. As a draconequus he had seen Fluttershy as a good friend, but now his mind was giving him much stronger urges that he wasn't used too. Fluttershy just stood there transfixed, she was sure she knew the voice of the pony before her, "Discord?" Was all she was able to ask before a magical aura surrounded her and lifted her from the floor. She 'mewped' as Discord floated her towards him. With his fore hooves opened wide to give her a huge hug. Once Fluttershy was embraced he lent her over his fore leg, raised his other theatrically and opened his mouth wide taking a deep breath. Whatever he was about to say was lost as a length of party string arched right into Discord's open jaw. "Oh I have been dying to do that," Twilight chuckled as he spluttered and dropped Fluttershy. Twilight had a can of party string in each 'hand' and a triumphant look on her face, "I would have said something earlier but it would have ruined the surprise." Fluttershy gratefully backed away from Discord and tumbled into another comfortable seat that hadn't been there a moment before. She looked up to the ceiling with a grateful expression, "Oh Twilight there you ar..." Her eyes went wide and she began to hyperventilate. "Spike, the cage," Twilight called out and her number one assistant hopped to work, a life time of ingrained obedience coming to the fore as he responded to Twilight's command. He lifted the cage and placed it in Fluttershy's unresistant hooves. Twilight made a strange noise with her lips and the small insect began to 'chirrup' musically. Fluttershy's attention was instantly distracted from the draconequus above her as she focused on the sounds drifting from the cage. "Awww it's so pretty," She 'cooed' as Fluttershy felt the tension and fear drain from her. "Now Fluttershy, this will take a long time to explain, but it's me Twilight. You just sit tight until the others get here and then we can get started," The serpentine creature reassured her. Spike was starting to catch the flow of things now, but there were still a lot of points he didn't understand. "Twilight, how did you know all this would happen?" Spike asked over the sounds of Discord clearing his mouth of party string. "I didn't know these were going to happen Spike, let’s just say I worked out the chances of these events working out this way in great detail, as I said I got bored while waiting for you to come back," Twilight explained. That sort of made sense, "So you’re understanding chaos magic too then?" Spike indicated the items stuck on the ceiling. Twilight smiled at this, "Oh Spike of course not, by it's very nature you can't understand chaos magic, it's all far more ingrained and just kind of happens. I'm am having to work really hard not to let it run wild and distracting my brain seems to be the best way." Spike and the others nodded, "Speaking of distractions you had best duck." Pinkie Pie said and Twilight nodded, her longer neck making it a much more expressive gesture. Spike didn't need to be told twice and dived for the floor just as Rainbow Dash careened through the open doorway with cry of "Make way, heavy stuff coming through!" The Pegasus flew right into another comfy arm chair that flashed out of nothingness, slowing her out of control flight and protecting the large canister she was holding. Rainbow rolled over and carefully placed the container on the ground. "Wow sorry every pony, had to leave Cloudsdale in a bit of a hurry and couldn't slow down," The pegasus had a slightly guilty look on her face. "So spill the beans, what's going on and why did I need this can of rainbow colouring?" She looked about the room and saw Discord. "Hey who's the unicorn......" She then saw the wings and her jaw dropped. "No-way, did Twilight find a special some pony, who's this guy?" She looked the alicorn up and down with a suspicious glance. She saw Fluttershy sitting her eyes closed as a parasprite sung to her from a cage while Rarity sat stiff as a board with only her left eye twitching. "Oh Rainbow I am insulted, how could you even think I would be interested in Twilight, when the beautiful Fluttershy is before me," Discord said in a slightly dreamy way. He took a deep breath and raised his hoof once again, but thankfully the twin jets of party string were bang on target again. Rainbow finally looked up, seeking the source of the barrage. For the second time that day Rainbow's mouth hung open not knowing what to say. Twilight held the cans once more and was grinning from ear to ear, showing off her impressive fangs. Rainbow had heard Discord's wheedling voice and saw a draconequus attacking a pony and jumped to the wrong conclusion from the start. "Okay 'Discord' you're going down this time!" Rainbow launched herself upwards, well would have done if the chair hadn't become as sticky as tar at that precise moment. "Silly Dashie, that's Twilight and he's Discord, but I can see why you could get them mixed up," Pinkie Pie pointed to the respective creatures in turn. Rainbow Dash just looked at Pinkie Pie as if she had grown an extra head. "Thanks Pinkie but it's alright, I can take it from here," Twilight said as she deposited the can's within easy reach. Rainbow Dash stopped straining against the sticky surface of the chair and slowly turned her rose coloured irises up to the expectant draconequus. "Twilight?" She then turned back to the retching alicorn, "Discord? Okay what's going on and it better be good?" "Sorry rainbow, no time. I am going to let you go now and I don't want to have to stop you again okay?" Twilight snapped her fingers and the chair returned to it's former consistency. Rainbow looked like she was about to fly up again, but saw Pinkie Pie and Spike shaking their heads. Rainbow Settled down with her fore legs crossed over her chest, "Go on I'm waiting." Twilight lifted three claws and counted down on them one after the other, Just as the last claw lowered Applejack's voice was heard calling. "Hey, yer in there Twi? I got that plough yer wanted." The orange earth pony stepped into the room and saw the rest of them looking at her, "Okay, what in the hey is this all about? The rest of the room's occupants raised their collective hooves and claw upwards. Applejack followed their prompting and let out a low, "Oh Nelly, I reckon I have missed an awful lot here ain't I," The rest of the ponies nodded as the door drifted shut behind Applejack and Twilight finally began to explain to them all that had happened. "......and that's when you arrived Applejack" Twilight Finished her explanation. The rest of the room looked back and forth from Discord to Twilight in a measure of no small amazement. Spike watched Twilight carefully, She seemed to be more in control than ever before and he wasn't sure that was a good sign or not. "So why did you want us to bring these strange items then?" Rarity asked, she could see the reasons for the Pinkie's and Fluttershy's items but that still left the other objects. What could Twilight possibly want with a manikin, a plough and a canister of rainbow paint. "I am glad you asked that," Twilight said in a happy way. "I don't plan to be stuck like this for the next few days, let alone the next few weeks and I think Discord agrees." Twilight indicated to the tied up Discord, After the third attempt to sing his undying love for Fluttershy had failed the others had tied him up and gagged him. That had disappointed Twilight who was eager to use the party string again, but she relented. "Well miss clever claws, what’s the big plan then?" Rainbow Dash asked, she had been the hardest to convince that Twilight was really in there somewhere. It had taken Twilight's word for word recital of the first two chapters of 'Dearing Do and the Sapphire Stone' before Rainbow believed her. "It's simple, I plan to work out what happened in the basement that caused the change to happen then undo it," Twilight said with a confidant voice. "But Darling, you said there were hundreds of chemicals in there, along with a lot of powerful magic being channelled, how can you possibly piece all that information back together again?" Rarity asked, "I know you’re clever, but I don't think even you could figure that all out." Twilight seemed to have developed the true draconequus sense of theatre as the lights all went out, "With this!" She said after a tense pause. A shaft of light illuminated the strangest contraption they had ever seen, "Isn't she beautiful?" The assembled friends looked at the collection of assembled junk that Twilight had presented. "It's um really summit Twi, um what is it?" Applejack asked. Twilight's left eye twitched as she looked down at her friends, they all looked so small from her vantage point. Twilight looked down at her new form and for the first time since she had formed her plan to change herself along with Discord back Twilight had a moment of doubt. "You know what.....I have no idea." Her pupils began to drift in opposite directions and she began to giggle. It grew into a laugh that echoed around the Golden Oaks Library and the ponies all backed away from Twilight in sudden fear. “It's fine, really I have everything under control,” Twilight's trembling voice did nothing to reassure her friends.