A New Friend?
Twilight stared in shock to see who the older mare from Canterlot again, the young mare rubbed her eyes with her one hoof to see if her mind was playing tricks on her. As Twilight opened her eyes again to see the old mare standing right in front of her.
“Something in your eye?” The Older Mare asked with a smile, “I too thought my mind is being addled from my old age.”
“H-how did you reach Ponyville on time?” Twilight sputtered out in confusion, “The long lines from the train station could’ve taken all day.”
“Princess Luna made things easier for us ponies to run things so smoothly,” The Canterlot mare replied, “I was most fortunate enough to reach the final seat to Ponyville.”
“Oh,” The younger unicorn mustered out, after some thinking, it makes sense to Twilight that the lines would go more smoothly with Princess Luna running the train station. But there is still another nagging question, well, two. The first question is that her visitor mentions to the librarian that old age is getting to her, but the mare from Canterlot is about the same age as her mother. The second question is her reason for visiting Ponyville. On what felt like over an hour of self-debating in Twilight’s mind, only seconds went by as she decided to ask the latter question with more tact. Anti-aging spells and ointments are all in a rage and considering how rude it is to ask a mare her age, Twilight believes this is a better choice.
“What brings you here to Ponyville?” Twilight asked, before adding, “If you don’t mind me asking that is.”
“Oh, not at all dear,” The older mare replied chucking, “My grandchildren are into Daring Do books, and I am looking for some new editions up for sale.”
“Oh, I believe I just got a new shipment but I’m afraid I only have one copy, and I don’t have any spares to sell.” Twilight said regretfully before another thought entered her mind, “Besides, this is only a library, not a bookstore. I'm fairly sure that Canterlot have many more bookstores than Ponyville.”
“They do, but they are sadly much out of my price range,” The mare from Canterlot explained, “I assumed a town like Ponyville would be more affordable.”
“That does seem reasonable to think that way.” Twilight nodded understandingly, “At first, I didn’t care about Ponyville first because I grew up in Canterlot myself, but the cheaper prices are one of the reasons that grew on to me.”
That sounds lovely dear, but I can’t just go back to Canterlot empty-hoofed,” The older mare said dejectedly, “Is there possibly a toy store nearby?”
“Hmmm,” The librarian thought aloud, “There is one nearby but if your grandfoal really wants the new edition, I can give it to you for about half the price the Canterlot bookstores are offering for you.”
The older mare’s ears perked up and her expression changed from disappointment to a pleasant surprise.
“For real?” The older mare asked excitedly, “I mean, I understand that this is a library, but what if the others wanted the book? Are you certain?”
Twilight shrugs before saying, “I can simply order a new shipment, saying that the package got damaged or something.”
“Thank you so much Miss” She pauses before asking, “I'm sorry my dear, but I never asked you your name,”
“My name is Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight introduced herself, “What about yours?”
“Oh, where are my manners?” The older mare said, before clearing her throat “You may call me Sagely Advice.”
“A pleasure to meet you Sagely Advice.” The young librarian said with a smile, a smile that she haven’t felt in a while. “Just how much are the books in Canterlot anyway to make a trip to Ponyville?”
“The last store I visited costed about twenty bits, plus the owner have the nerve to add fees.” Sagely Advice answered with a disgruntled snort. “Such greedy behavior nowadays.”
“Well, I hope only ten bits will be more of a fair price.” Twilight said empathetically, as she too thought to herself that twenty bits for a Daring Do book is exorbitant. A beginner’s spell book for school or a guidebook but certainly not for Daring Do.
“Ten bits is more than fair,” Sagely Advice said with a smile as she levitates ten coins out of her saddlebag and hands them to Twilight. “I now have enough money to rest before getting a trip back home. “
“Well, I wish you the safest trip home Sagely Advice,” Twilight said accepting the bits with her magic, “I hope that your grandfoal would love the new book, speaking of which, just wait for one minute.”
Twilight Sparkle went inside the library and gazed around her surroundings before finding the new Daring Do book that was just sitting on the table. The young unicorn set the coins down next to the book, picked up the said book with her magic and went out the door where she finds Sagely Advice still standing patiently.
“Here you go!” Twilight Sparkle said handing the book to her, “I hope this is the book your grandfoal is looking for.”
“Absolutely!” Sagely Advice cried out happily, accepting the book gratefully. “I appreciate this book and I hope my grandfoal would appreciate the same!”
The older mare turned around and waves Twilight Sparkle goodbye as she said, “I hope that everyone you know appreciates everything you do.”
Twilight’s smile nearly dropped but kept her composure, she almost forgot about her traumatic events back at Canterlot. How her brother, friends, and mentor left her, no doubt thanks to her own actions. The unicorn shook her thoughts out and hopes to see that Sagely Advice does not notice her change in attitude. Thankfully, not only is the older mare still there but she did not notice her sudden, albeit brief change in expression. She then waves back to Sagely Advice as she walks away from her sight into the crowd of ponies.
Twilight Sparkle closed the door with content and walked away to her table to count the bits which thankfully are still there. For it’s not unheard-of shady ponies who counterfeit coins with magic of illusion. But Twilight Sparkle doubts that a sweet unicorn like Sagely Advice could be devious, she has no reason to trick her nor want anything that valuable to steal. It is only a Daring Do book after all, and she got what she wanted for. Then again, nopony back at Canterlot has any reason to doubt the changeling queen when she masquerades as Princess Cadence. Shining Armor at least has an excuse to be mind controlled by her.
The unicorn shakes her head from side to side to escape the thoughts of doubt. She grabs the book about the dangers of grudges earlier then she hears the voice in her head.
Are you sure you can trust her?
“Yes, I am sure,” Twilight said, “I think I made a new friend.”
yeah a rewrite wouldn't hurt
Seriously? She is right to be pissed at them.
11464816
If you're curious hit me in the note sometime.
11464822
the only suggestion I have is to have a theme about Grudges example Soarins bully could be a ghost that follows twilight showing what would happen if she kept holding on to grudges to the end
11464826
Very nice idea, I might actually use it!
11464827
I was inspired by Psychonauts
This is too suspicious.
11464820
Not really when you actually think about it. We’ve seen ponies do worse. So by that logic if she’s willing to shun the others for what happened at the wedding she should shun discord, tirek, sunset shimmer, starlight glimmer and many others.
The real reason she's upset is she no longer gets to monopolize BBBFF dickings. Someone tell Cadance she's going to either have to deal with this for the rest of her marriage, or she can allow Shiny a little bit of extra fun, fun he'd definitely let her join in on if she wanted.
11464909
She hasn't met all them yet ( Except Discord, but he is still bad. ), so this is irrelevant sadly.
I'd say keep this story going as it is, If you want, you could try the idea a fellow member posted on DeviantArt when you first posted the story all those years back.
11464828
That's a game I haven;t played in ages, I might go back and play it again.
11465019
I know. I’m just saying that by that logic she shouldn’t forgive them.
11464908
Just in case you are curious, leave me a Personal MEssage.
11465209
Curious about what?
11465239
Worst case scenario, if I canceled the fic or died before the story is finished. I was thinking of passing the story to someone.
11465258
Oh ok. I’m sure someone is interested.
11465346
Sorry for the confusion, I just assumed that you're interested
11465806
Nah, I’m not much of a writer.
11465806
I'm just gonna say, you might benefit from reading what TV Tropes has on the fic.
It's sufficiently neutral, but I do think you might benefit from what's there.
11468039
Tempting offer, but alas, I got kicked out of TV Tropes permanently over ban evasion.
11469891
Unless you're IP banned (in which case it'd return an Error 403) you could still visit as a guest.
11469932
THat's still true
Are we going to have to wait until New Year's Eve for another update? I kinda want to finish the story before I'm old enough to draw pension.
11551800
You're not the only one who feels this way. The majority of us who haven't left this site who still keeps this story on our fav/later/watch lists don't want to wait to see a new chapter every single year.
Well I didn't like this story cause I was against the idea of Twilight being so unforgiving but I guess I'm changing my mind. I really think you should finish it off already. I mean I write a thousand words in an hour if I can shut out distractions easy. Just use whatever free time you have I say.
11464826
Like shows her what will happen to her like becoming the very thing that happened to Sunset becoming a demon like pony and hurting so many others with everyone she knew taken down or worse. A monster.