“EEEEEARTHQUAAAAAAKE!” Clover’s mother shouted as she shook her daughter's bed violently.
Clover the Clever tumbled off the mattress with a high pitched squeal. “Mom!”
“Good morning Sweetie,” Rosebud replied with a wide grin. “I'm surprised you are up already, don’t you normally sleep for another hour?”
Clover stared incredulously at her mother for a moment before coming to grips with the situation. She pointed an accusing hoof at the older mare. “YOU SHOOK THE BED!”
Looking stunned, Rosebud lifted a hoof and placed it to her chest “Me?”
“Yes, YOU!” Clover shouted.
Rosebud simply smiled at her daughter’s outrage. “I was planning to make pancakes for breakfast... But now, I just don’t know.”
Clover the Clever’s ears had perked up at the mention of pancakes. By the time Rosebud finished, Clover was smiling broadly. “Mom, did you also feel that huge earthquake shaking the whole house just now? I even fell off my bed!”
Rosebud grinned down at her daughter. “I sure did, and I'm glad it waked you, since somepony needs to go ‘borrow’ some milk from our good neighbor. I would go myself but... He will probably be asleep for another couple of hours.”
Clover flung her forehooves around her mother and gave her a big hug. “I love you Mom,” she said, her face nuzzled into her mother's white fur.
Rosebud hugged her back. “Awww, I love you too, Sweetie –” she paused for a moment before adding “– just bring me that milk.”
“I will see the world burn before I fail,” Clover replied, already planning her approach.
As Clover rushed out of the room, Rosebud called after her. “Sweetie, I'm going to the post office this afternoon, so have your report to Princess Celestia ready before then!”
“Okay mom” Clover called back, before leaving the house.
-----
Starswirl’s eyes hurt, and his head ached, staying up all night and been a bad idea. Still, he allowed himself a small smile as he gazed at the second crystal orb, holding pure alicorn magic. It had taken all night to extract it from Twilights blood, but now it was done. It spun gently within its container, a mass of white with shades of pink and cyan.
Starswirl stretched, he needed coffee and a lot of it. Since it was monday, the day for organizing and scheduling, Twilight would probably be popping in at any moment. Maybe he should make a cup for her as well. He paused, what a strange thought.
He left his study and headed down the curving staircase that followed the inner wall. His kitchen was located at the base of the tower so it would take him a few minutes to get down there. A poor design choice, in retrospect. But, now that he could teleport, maybe he should move the kitchen up and then fill the bottom three levels with rocks. That way, his potential visitors would be limited to pegasi and alicorns only. Starswirl smiled, liking the idea.
Upon opening the kitchen door, his smile fell away, replaced by outrage. “YOU!”
-----
Clover spun around, and tried to hide the bag containing her newly acquired milk bottle, behind her back. “ME!” she replied, with as much bravado as she could muster. But on the inside, her heart was hammering. This mission was too important, it mustn't fail!
Uncle Swirly took a step into the kitchen, narrowing his eyes at her. “How did you get in here? I have warded all the upper windows as well as the lower ones now.” He paused and peered at her, “ What are those smudges all over your coat? Wait… Is that soot? YOU CLIMBED DOWN THE CHIMNEY?!”
Clover swore softly, she had hoped to keep that entrance a secret, at least until the tunnel was finished. But that wasn’t important right now, what was important, was the mission, to get the milk home. She needed to stall him while she thought of a plan. “Don’t be silly Uncle Swirly, ME going down the chimney? That must be the silliest thing I ever heard.”
The older unicorn took a step closer, narrowing his eyes even further, “I'm starting to wonder why you go to such lengths just to vex me...”
Clover flinched. “No reason,” she said quickly, too quickly.
Uncle Swirly stared suspiciously at her, “So there is a reason, something more than your personal enjoyment?”
This was bad, very bad. Clover took a step backwards, and accidentally bumped the bag with the milk bottle. It tipped over and fell to the stone floor with an audible “clink“.
Uncle Swirly tilted his head to the side, looking past her. “Is that my milk?” he asked, outraged. He probably needed it for his coffee.
“What? Nooo No Nooo,” Clover replied, forcing a grin on her face. “I… I brought this with me from home. I… I was planning to help you organize your stuff today, and organizing sure makes a pony thirsty!”
Uncle Swirly took an aggressive stance, “You will return that bottle to me, now.”
Clover the Clever was truly worried now, she cast her eyes about, trying to think of something. What would Celestia do in a situation like this? That question had only one possible answer. Clover flung the bag over her back and charged, letting out a battlecry for good measure. “FOR CELESTIA AND PANCAKES!”
-----
Starswirl’s eyes went wide as the tiny unicorn charged him, her golden eyes burning with purpose. He tried to grab her with his magic, but she zigzagged wildly, avoiding his grasp. However, when she tried to pass him in the doorway, Starswirl managed to get a foreleg around her and pinned her to his chest. “Got you, you little monster!” he said smugly as she writhed in his grip. “Now you will–” Starswirl yelped in pain as Clover bit him.
Cursing, he released her. A moment later she was past him and running up the stairs shouting back over her shoulder. “I'm sorry Uncle Swirly, but the mission must come first! Viva la Panqueques!”
“I'm not your Uncle! And don’t go spouting your fancy griffin sayings at me!” Starswirl called after her. He tried to teleport up to his study, but he realized quickly that he was just too drained at the moment. Cursing, he ran up the stairs after the little demon. He had to catch her before she reached the fireplace and crawled up the chimney.
But the little miscreation was fast. And he had been up all night. When he finally reached his study door, he was breathing heavily and he knew it was too late, she would already be crawling into the chimney by now. But then his ears perked up as a muffled shout came from inside the door.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”
Starswirl swung the door open and stepped inside, and was met by the beautiful sight of Twilight Sparkle holding a struggling pink filly in her magical grip. Twilight turned to him as he walked inside, “She burst in here, laughing like crazy. So I grabbed her just in case.”
Starswirl grinned wide at her, “Twilight, I could kiss you!” Then he turned his attention to Clover the Clever, and didn’t see Twilight’s face turning bright red.
“Release me” Clover demanded, paddling her legs in a futile effort to escape the magical field.
“Nothing would please me more than to throw you out the window again. But first I'm taking my milk back.” Starswirl said, somewhat enjoying the situation, it wasn't often he won against her.
Clover’s eyes went wide, and she clutched the bag to her chest. “Stay away!”
Starswirl grabbed the bag with his mouth and pulled. Clover clung desperately to the bag, her face one of desperation. Starswirl slowly worked the bag free. Clover looked like it was her soul being torn from her rather than a bottle of milk.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” she wailed.
“Don’t be so dramatic you little thief,” Starswirl murmured around the bag in his mouth. Still, Clovers anguish seemed so real, that he actually felt a little bad for her. Which just served to make him even more annoyed.
“It’s time you told me everything,” Starswirl said. “Why do you do what you do?”
“NEVER!” Clover shouted, eyes filled with defiance.
Starswirl smiled wickedly, “Speak, or we will have to force you.”
Clover set her jaw, “Torture is it? Well, bring it on! I can take it!”
Starswirl turned to Twilight, “Twilight, could you please take those two feather quills on the table over there and use them to tickle her until I tell you to stop?”
Twilight blinked then turned to Clover with a smile, “She did toss mudballs at me last week, I guess there is nothing wrong with a little payback.”
“You wouldn’t…” Clover said, her defiance draining away.
------
Clover cracked 20 seconds later, laughing and shaking while desperately trying to keep the wiggling feathers at bay. “HAHAHahaha, Celestia, hahah, made, hihihi, Not there! Hahaha, She made me her special agent! Hahahaha, Curse you purple one! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I was to make Uncle Swirly’s life interesting, Hahaha, because Celestia was worried about him since he didn't have any friends.”
Starswirl and Twilight both gaped at the pink filly. “He doesn't?” Twilight asked.
But Starswirl shouted over her. “ CELESTIA DID WHAT?! THAT CAKE GORGELING TROLLOP. Ohh, when I get my hooves on her, I will give her a piece of my mind!” He glared daggers at Clover, “You tell her, that my social affairs are none of her business, I’m perfectly happy here in my tower.”
“You don’t have any friends?” Twilight asked again, this time addressing herself to Starswirl. “None at all?”
Starswirl frowned at Twilight, “Define the word friend.”
“Somepony you can trust and depend on, who cares for you and that you care for.” Twilight replied seriously.
Starswirl made a face, “Ehhh I guess… you maybe.”
“What do you mean ‘maybe’?” Twilight asked. “No, this wont do! Tomorrow, we are going out and you will make some friends and learn about the magic of friendship!”
Starswirl stared at her, she couldn't be serious… could she?
Oh My!
should be Viva los Panqueques!!
kudos on spelling panqueques right. Also this is hilarious, I love clover's charactherization. and the increasing shipteasing between Twily and Starswirl.
Oh my ....
4705261
It was meant as a spin on "Viva la revolución" so it was okay to go with "la", right?
Eh, Everyone seems an appropriate rating to me. The only "teen-like" moment was when Starswirl was on top of Twilight, and that was barely suggestive at all.
I thought he wasn't that old. And I haven't seen anything that conflicts with an everyone rating thus far.
There are no words that can describe how much I like Star Swirl right now. No words at all. Thank you for this.
Shouldn't that be gorging, not gorgeling? Gorging is to stuff yourself with a vast quantity of food, while Gorgeling is a monster from one of my younger brother's games. Of course, if it was the latter that would probably be more of an insult.
I love your characterization of Star Swirl... It's hilarious without going into unrealistic or crack territory.
And I think Twilight may have a tiny, teensy crush on the dude... Somehow, this doesn't surprise me at all.
It could just be hero worship, though. He is one of her idols, if not the idol, so that's a definite possibility.
Also, Rosebud is awesome. That sort of parent is best parent xD
4705365 you mean you've never gorgeled cake before? damn, you're missing out on something special
Yes if it means it would be more likely to develop into TwiSwirl.
>CAKE GORGELING TROLLOP.
And somewhere, the divine powers are inspired to create Pinkie Pie, thereby giving the walking paradox a reason for being well in advance.
Awesome update!!
Well I guess he never got the part were he was talking to the Princess of Friendship and what not.
I much preferred the old cover art.
But still, cool story, bro!
4705397 Well I love your profile pic... More specifically Pinkie.
So cute!
New chapter... AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!! SOMEPONY CATCH CLOVER BEFORE SHE THROWS ANOTHER BUTTERFLY KNIFE!!!!!!!!!!
4705544 I don't think she mentioned that, no. Future paradoxes and what-not.
alright, you've earned my like and favorite, and maybe even the other half of that mustache
weeeell, maybe a fourth
but I kid
so anyway, MOAR PLZ why do I do these things and still, cONtrActioNS??
+ ()/4
4705678 any tiiiiiiiiime friend
sorry dude I like the old cover at better, Twilight with that grin is just perfect for this story
Unless StarSwirl Starts talking about how much he wants to ravage Twilight, Other than that I don't think it needs to be teen
Keep it E.
As much as I like a mature story, I think you've already set the mood as E. Not to say you couldn't dip into the romance.
What? The story has a new front cover? But it looks exactly the same as the old- I mean, wow, that is an amazing cover image! It really captures the feel of the story much better than the old one.
Having said that, do I get pancakes now?
glad you changed it back. nice work on the other cover that was good but the original one just fits better for the comedy element of this story.
theres a difference between E and M, T being the mediator... sorta. so if you do make it T then make it closer to E than M.
me myself think that there are 3 stages to the Teen raiting. something like E10, T-teen, and then Teen bordering on mature.
(man i suck at explaining things.)
so i say make it teen, ya know, more chances for crude-ish humor. it would be funny in my opinion.
4706065 That would be ravish... hopefully.
4704732 Or it's not a stable time loop and we only saw the altered timeline.
Oh...Oh!
That's Celestia's plan, she wanted Twilight to go back in time to meet him. And now he's going to become an alicorn once he learns the magic of friendship.
4705479 As it is, however, the story is just fine with an Everyone rating. If you want to take things in a romantic direction or start using foul language, then it might merit a teen rating.
4706865
I didn't make the second cover, someone sent it to me. So I had to display it, if only for a little while. Still, am glad people prefer my own 'amazing' imaging techniques.
4707872
But I am using foul language! Trollop! It's so foul it's not even used anymore. What was I thinking... I'm corrupting the younger generation!
4706785
Nope!
4705365
Alas, the English vocabulary has failed me, not having the word I wanted, so I made up my own. Gorgeling is a combination of snorkeling and gorging. It's just like gorging, but 10 times worse, implying a sense of breathing in the food.
4705316
4705397
Now you, are just stroking my ego.
4707644 Maybe he becomes an Alicorn Princess. My bits are that he is Cadence.
4708282 I know, butt stil complament the guy on a good quality pic but the Twilight smiling is just plain better.
4708282 Hehe ^_^
In regards to the picture, well, the expression on Twi's face there is priceless. S'no wonder people prefer it.
4708282 I personally prefer my word 'bromcrastulating'.
Yes! YES! UGH AH OH YES!! MORE! I WANT MORE! GIVE ME MORE! (produces even more sensual moans of delight)
... yeah all jokes aside fun chapter keep it up man
s6.postimg.org/dd47s96ap/Pirate_Approved.jpg
Oh, Celestia's gonna freak out when she sees another alicorn!
Also, she's totally gonna think Twilight and Starswirl are dating
4705295 Yes. Yes it was
Whispers shipshipshipshipshipship
O hai how are you
BUT THIS IS SERIOUSLY AMAZING
My name is Starswirl and I'm here to say, I'm gonna smack your ass in a major way. What are you doin' in my basement, get out of here! GET OUT OF HERE!
4969794 And thus began Clover's painful and mind scaring lessons of the magic of buttball
4705365
It reads as "gorge-ling" rather than "gor-gel-ing". Perhaps "guzzling" instead?
So is Starswirl gay? He said only if twilight was a mail
Oh you have no idea...