The alarm went off but Twilight chose to ignore it. Groaning, she rolled over and slammed the snooze button before rolling back over to fall back asleep. She frowned as there was a knock on her door.
"Mom says get up!" Spike, her now eleven year old little brother yelled.
Ten years later and she still couldn't stand him. Not that she had kept the same mentality she had when she was seven. She was still sarcastic, insensitive, and irrational. Among other things. But there were some things that had changed about her. Sighing, she yelled back, "Yeah, yeah!"
Getting up, she yawned, before scratching her belly. Stretching, she left her room to make her journey into the bathroom. The need for her step stool was long gone. She had a surprising growth spurt at ten, and with that came her current height, her ample breasts, and attractive hips.
Lazily, Twilight applied toothpaste onto her tooth brush. Brushing, she hummed a song she had heard on the radio. When she was satisfied, she spit into the sink, then went about with her daily routine.
Thirty minutes later, she was out the shower and walking into her room. She cursed under her breath when she stepped on a leggo. "Stupid kid with his stupid toys." She mumbled, slamming her door shut.
Her phone began to buzz and she picked it up. "Hello?" She answered.
"Sup, babe."
"Rainbow, I'm already running late, just tell me what you want and I might consider not hanging up on you." She snapped.
Twilight was dating Rainbow Dash. It was a surprise to her as much as everyone else. She'd honestly thought she would end up with Flash Sentry. But as she got older, she knew that she didn't like him more than a friend. What he had done in second grade was cute, but she couldn't bring herself to like him enough to date him. (Even though she kissed him.)
How it happened she wasn't really sure, she just remembered that in seventh grade Rainbow stopped being such an asshole to her, and actually turned out to be a pretty good friend. (And a pretty good kisser, but she didn't want to think about that right now.)
"Applejack's wondering what's taking you so long. You know how she gets when none of us get to class on time." Rainbow told her, her voice on the edge of conveying annoyance.
"I'm surprised you're there before me. What'd she do to get you to come on time?" Twilight asked her, walking over to her closet.
"She said she'd get me tickets to that big wrestling match this weekend. Wanna come?" The prism haired girl offered.
"Yeah, no, I'll pass." Twilight deadpanned. "The last thing I want to spend my weekend doing is watching a bunch of sweaty men try to pin each other." She responded with an eye roll. "And you know my birthday is on Saturday right?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "...Right."
"You forgot didn't you."
It wasn't a question.
"You gotta start living a little, Twilight." Rainbow tsked. "This is first year of college and all you want to do is take your AP classes and graduate on time."
Twilight rolled her eyes at the immediate subject change. "Yes, because someone of us actually want to move on in life!" Twilight explained, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, my mom is three seconds away from kicking down my door. Can we discuss this when I'm actually in front of you?"
Dash laughed. "Sure thing, babe. See you in a bit."
Twilight hung up the phone and sighed, as she finished getting dressed. Hopefully the rest of her day would go better than her morning had.
It didn’t. Not only did she get lost on the way to orientation, she couldn’t find Dash, or Applejack, Or anyone for that matter. By the time she had made it to the auditorium, it was packed, and she doubted she could find her friends that easily.
Rainbow stood up in her seat and waved her hands. “Over here!” She mouthed, before having Applejack abruptly pull her back down.
Twilight smiled wryly to herself before making her way over to where her friends were. “Hey guys,” She greeted as she plopped down next to Rainbow. “Where’s Rarity and Fluttershy?” She asked, looking around but not seeing the pair.
Dash waved her hand dismissively. “Who knows? You know that they can never get anywhere on time.” She said, putting her arm around Twilight, leaning in for a kiss, but Twilight stopped her with her finger.
“We’re in public and it’s orientation, we need to pay attention.” She told her with a stern look and a raised brow. Twilight wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but Dash was all for it. Which was severely annoying.
Applejack chuckled. “Even after all these years you’re still weaker than Twilight.” She teased, smirking when Dash sent a glare her way. She stuck her tongue out at her as Fluttershy and Rarity sat in front of them.
“Sorry we’re late, darlings.” Rarity apologized. “Fluttershy and I had to stop for some coffee.”
“Had to, or wanted to?” Dash asked with an arched brow.
“The important thing is that we’re here is it not?” Rarity asked back, her expression mirroring Rainbow’s.
Before Rainbow could make a snide comment back, a tall, regal looking woman made her way across the stage and cleared her throat as she began to speak.
“Good morning, new students. My name is Dean Celestia. I hope you all will have a great first year here at Canterlot University. That’s about all I have to say considering you all should be getting to your classes now. Let’s make this a good year shall we?” She asked with a warm smile.
A few students around the five girls clapped and hollered before getting up to shuffle to their first class.
“Ah guess we should be goin’ too.” Applejack mused. “Ah got business so Ah guess you’re rollin’ with me, Rarity.” She said, turning to the older girl.
“I suppose so,” Rarity answered, pulling on her purse. “What are you all majoring in?”
Dash pointed a thumb to herself. “I’m gonna do sports management business.” She said proudly.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I give it half the semester and you’ll be dropping one.” She teased. “I picked something I’m actually good at.” She bragged, folding her arms.
“Oh yeah? And what’s that? Being a smart ass?” Rainbow bit back.
Twilight pulled at Dash’s cheek with a wry grin. “You shouldn’t call the person you’re dating names.” She smiled.“Besides, its writing and psychology. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the diary Cadence had given me. That dumb diary actually helped me realize that I liked writing.”
“Speaking of Cadence, have you heard from her lately? It’s been ten years. I’m sure she’s out of college and on her own by now.” Fluttershy said, rocking on her heels.
Twilight shrugged. “Nope. The last thing I got from her was a card with ten bucks in it on my ninth birthday. I’m honestly a little worried. I mean, I haven’t seen her since I was a kid. What if she turned into a stripper? Or a whore?”
Applejack let out a hearty snort. “Okay, yea, Ah highly doubt that.” Then her expression became serious. “How’s....your brother? Is he doin’ alright?”
Twilight heaved a heavy sigh. “Not really. After Cadence left for college he just kinda deflated you know? She was the first girl he ever really loved. Like, you guys saw how they were together. Seven year old me would have hated to say this, but they were inseparable.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “He lost his job again, and his depression’s gotten worse. Sometimes when I’m up late writing or something I can hear him crying.”
“Oh dear...that’s not good.” Rarity said with a hand to her mouth.
“I don’t know what to do either. He’s my brother. As we grew up, he became distant from me. He doesn’t even talk to Spike. We just, we don’t know what to do.” Twilight looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Dash grabbed her hand compassionately, rubbing it affectionately. “Why don’t we get to class alright, and we can discuss this later?” She made eye contact with the other girl with soft eyes.
Twilight nodded, blinking away the tears. “Yeah,” She sniffed. “I don’t wanna be late on my first day anyway.”
“Mom, I’m home!” Twilight called as she hung her scarf and jacket on the coat hanger by the door. “Mom!” She called again when she didn’t get an answer. After another beat of silence she stalked into the kitchen to find a note on the counter.
“Went to your brother’s soccer game, there’s money on the counter for pizza.” She read. “Great.” She grumbled sarcastically, reaching for the phone off the wall. After ordering the pizza, she went into the fridge to get a bottle of juice before plopping down on the couch in the living room.
She turned on the TV and smiled faintly when she saw that a re-run of My Pretty Pony from when she was a kid was on. Deciding to not waste the chance at nostalgia (and too lazy to see what was on) Twilight relaxed into the couch.
Twenty minutes later, her peace was disturbed by the doorbell ringing. She got up to answer it and saw that it was the pizza guy. Paying for the pizza, Twilight retook her place on the couch again, put her feet up on the table, and took out a slice for herself.
It was common for Twilight to be left alone by herself, (especially ever since Cadence had left and she refused to have another babysitter.) And she truly didn’t mind it. It gave her time to think, plus she didn’t constantly hear Spike yelling at someone he was playing with online in one of those stupid video games he played.
Most of the time she was home alone, mostly when Shining had a job, and when he didn’t have one he was up in his room sleeping, only leaving to eat and use the bathroom. He rarely sat at the dinner table anymore. In fact, Twilight barely remembered him ever sitting at the table. He’d just take his food upstairs without a word.
Shaking her head, Twilight took another bite of pizza. She seriously wondered what it would take for him to get out of this funk. It’s been ten years now. For all they know Cadence could be married or a single mom or something. She missed Cadence as much as he did, but life was happening without her. Shining needed to see that.
Feet thudded down the stairs, which made her look up. On rare occasions when Twilight was home alone he would come out of his room, but they would never exchange anything more than hellos. This time would be different.
“B.B.B.F.F.?” She asked hesitantly as they made eye contact; she hadn’t called him that in years.
The nickname made Shining stop in his tracks as he went to open the front door. “What uh, what made you call me that?” He asked, turning to her completely.
“I need to talk to you.” She said, giving him a weak smile.
“I’m listening.” He answered, folding his arms. There was something of a hostile edge to his voice, Twilight noticed.
“It’s just....you know my eighteenth birthday is on Saturday, right?” She asked carefully. She bit her lip as there was a moment of silence.
“Yeah, I know, Twilly.” He said, with a nod. “What are you trying to get at? Spit it out.” The hostility was replaced with annoyance, and Twilight had to fight off her own edge of annoyance.
“I’m not even going to beat around the bush anymore. Seven year old me wouldn’t have so I won’t either.” She told him determinedly, standing up. “You’ve been moping around since Cadence left and have done nothing with your life. Bubblegum Princess left ten years ago, Shining! She’s probably moved on to some other guy, had a kid, got married! And you’re still here, living at home, moping about someone who left your life a decade ago!”
Shining looked at her angrily. “Don’t you think I know that Twilight?!” He shouted, making the young woman wince. “I can’t let her go, Twilight. She was the first girl I’ve ever loved. I’ll never love someone as much as I love Cadence.”
“That’s all romantic and all, but you have to understand that you’re twenty six and still living at home with your seventeen year old sister and eleven year old little brother. I miss her too, Shiny. I miss her alot. But I don’t let it stop me from living my life and neither should you!” She pointed to him, just as angry as he was.
Her face softened. “I’m tired of seeing you this way, big bro.”
Shining’s anger only seemed to increase. “Then don’t Twilight. Don’t look at me, don’t talk to me, and stop trying to help me.” He said in a warning tone, before opening the door and slamming it behind him, leaving the younger girl behind in his wake.
Twilight plopped back down on the couch. “Well,” She sighed to herself, rolling her eyes. “That went smoothly.”