Chapter 49: To Be Magnificent.
We spend a bit longer in our friendly visit with Rarity, and parting with her finds me to be the new owner of the box that she had Spike fetch from her work room while we sat around her kitchen table. Inside that box are a number of shirts-and-pants sets clearly made to mimic my existing set – correctly pegging me as a utilitarian, I see. However, it makes me aware of a certain luxury I've been lacking since my arrival in Equestria – a proper change of clothes, instead of being stuck making awkward attempts to re-wash my existing set whenever an opportunity presents itself, and I find myself appreciating it quite a bit.
After parting ways with Rarity, Trixie and I head back to the Golden Oak while Twilight and Spike set off to continue down their list of chores for the day, no doubt informing the rest of her friends that we're doing better and get another get-together going before Luna comes to sweep us back to Canterlot during the night. This is all starting to get far above my threshold for social gatherings, but I suppose I can't complain when I'm freeloading. For now, however, I'm simply relaxing in one of the foyer chairs, cloak draped across the back and new armor set on the floor beside me. Normally, I'd keep them on for that whole 'disguise' factor, but I've come to the conclusion that nobody actually uses this library besides Twilight, despite it basically being the center point of the entire town geographically. Weird, that, but I'm not complaining.
Trixie's sitting across from me, as we both ponder a similar problem.
“What do you ponies do to pass time, anyway?” I ask, leaning back in my seat. Our mutual problem, in this case, is boredom.
“You're the one that wanted to come back here, Dusk.” She admonishes with a roll of her eyes.
“Well, sorry I've got a scoop missing from my chest cavity. Again.” I shoot back.
Her eye-roll transitions into a head-shake. “Weren't you just complaining about being doted on because that doesn't actually bother you back at Rarity's?” She flashes a grin. “Make up your mind already, will you?”
“You gotta admit,” I start, stretching both my arms forward and cracking my knuckles, ignoring the accompanying chest discomfort, “it worked as a good excuse to get us out of Twilight's newest to-do list. You can't tell me you were looking forward to walking the entire town and having the same conversation at least three more times after Rarity's.”
“Yeah, nope.” She agrees. “Though, we'd at least be less bored.”
“Maybe.” I nod. “We could always slip out on our own to find something to do and try to beat Twilight back here.”
“And do what?” Trixie asks. “It's not like either of us really know a damn thing about this town besides the last time we went out with Twilight.”
“Point.” I sigh and shrug.
“We could...” Trixie trails off, looking around a moment before turning back to me, “always read a book. We are in a library. Technically. A library for one is still a library, right?”
“I was wondering the same thing, earlier.” I let out a small laugh. “Though, we can't honestly be considering that one.”
“What's wrong with that idea?” She asks, placing a hoof to her chin and closing her eyes, mimicking being in deep thought. “You can pick out a book with an interesting cover and I'll read it to you until Twilight gets back. Sounds like a fine idea to me!” She punctuates her sentence with a sideways, mischievous grin.
I fire back with a deadpan. “I can read just fine now, you know.”
“That remains to be proven!” She exclaims, her eyes snapping open and hoof pointing to me accusatorily.
“Right...” I shake my head, deciding not to point out the obvious flaw in that one.
Silence falls between us for one minute, then two, the atmosphere shifting slowly from levity to awkwardness.
“Hey.” Trixie says, breaking it before too long.
“What is it?” I ask, eyeing her curiously. She's resting both her front hooves against the edge of the table, looking down between them instead of meeting my gaze.
She moves one of said front hooves into the depths of her many-pocketed coat, withdrawing a wooden box and setting it on the table. It's remarkable in its plainness, and it takes me a second to recognize it as the box she took from her old cape when she first received her new outfit. “Do you know what's in this box, Dusk?” She asks after another small passing of silence.
I raise an eyebrow. “No? Why would I?”
A sad-looking smile makes its way across her lips. “I figured. You're not one for peeking, are you?” It's a statement, not a question, despite the phrasing. I know her well enough to know that. Is she testing me on how much I pried into her thoughts back when she used the memory spell? “In that case, I have a bit of a confession.”
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table and folding my hands together, resting my hands on them as I keep my gaze locked on her. “You've become really intense lately, you know.”
“No matter how many times I tell you to shut up, you never learn, do you?” She shakes her head, unable to resist letting a small laugh escape. “Besides, I''m not really sure how serious this is, in the grand scheme of things.” She lets out a deep sigh before continuing. “When we first met, I might've... lied to you a little.”
I don't know what reaction she's expecting from me, but I don't think a shoulder-shrug is among them. “That's not too surprising.” I let a smirk slide across the side of my face as I try to lighten the air a bit. “Did you give me a fake name, too?”
That finally gets a bit of a laugh out of her, before she carries on. “Not quite. I lied about my intention. I wasn't heading to Appleloosa before we met. I was considering it, sure, which is why I was still practicing my routine, but I had a different goal in mind.”
“Now I'm curious.” My eyes pass between her, and her box, which her own eyes are locked on. “Go on.”
“As I'm sure you remember, I had a very... powerful grudge, back then.” Her eyes finally turn back up to face me. “My actual plan had a lot less to do with reviving my career and a lot more to do with getting payback on a certain lavender host of ours.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I shrug, again. “How'd you intend to do that?”
“Cheating.” Her eyes pass back to the box on the table. “I just hadn't worked up the courage to go through with it when you decided you were entitled to a free booking of The Great and Powerful Trixie's Most Famous Feats of Magical Ingenuity and Illusory Awe.”
I cringe inwardly at the overblown mouthful of a name. “Please tell me that's not what you actually called your routine.”
“What?” She huffs up. “It made Trixie sound more impressive!” She then deflates, eyes returning to her box. Silence hangs between us again for a minute, before she breaks it once more. “I suppose I just wanted to say thanks. I imagine my path would've turned out a lot worse than it has if you hadn't given me a reason to try a final round at showmareship.”
“Worse?” My eyebrow raises as I feel a pit start to form in my chest. She'd said payback and cheating to do it. The gears in my head turn when she doesn't reply to my question, opting to remain silent instead. I'll probably never truly know the limits of what does and doesn't go in Equestria, but I know those limits often impressed me in how flexible they seem sometimes. I also know Trixie can do some really stupid things when she's pissed, especially back when her and I first met. “What's in the box, Trixie?” I ask the million-dollar question. Whatever she's referring to must be in there.
“It's... nothing important. Not anymore.” She replies, sweeping the box up with a hoof and stuffing it back into her coat. “Promise.”
“You know that's not a good enough answer.” I stand up, leaning over the table, supporting myself with my arms and mentally telling my chest pain to stuff it as I lock my eyes on Trixie. “You've got my entire brain swirling around in that head of yours, the least you could do is not keep secrets from me after you prompt the honesty to begin with.”
“Sorry, it's just...” Her words trail off as she turns her eyes up to meet mine. “I probably can't even use it anymore, honestly.” She shakes her head, the sway of her mane making the likely reason she can't use it anymore obvious as my stomach knots a bit. That's a sight I'm never going to be used to in its entirety, I think. She meets my eyes again and gives me a another sad smile. “Sorry, this has all just been weighing on my chest and I didn't know if I'd get another good opportunity to talk to you about it. Thanks for listening.”
I lean in a bit more, my face making my disbelief clear without the need for words.
“I'm telling the truth, honest!” She protests my silent accusation. “I'll be fine, Dusk.”
I sigh, and take my seat again, crossing my arms. “Fine, you win.”
“Of course!” She brings herself up in her seat and crosses her hooves, mimicking my posture. “Trixie is always victorious in the end! You know this, Dusk!”
“I suppose I do.” I lean back in my seat and rest my eyes, letting my mind churn undisturbed. Once upon a time, my mind would churn over whatever the contents of Trixie's box are, but despite not believing her answer, I find it easier to trust in than I used to. While it's definitely something important and likely dangerous in there, she's no longer the mare that would recklessly toss its power at whatever her mood decides deserves to be the victim. Instead, the more pressing matter in my mind is again Princess Luna. Now that Trixie mentioned her actions back at the train, I've remembered her similar actions back in Ponyville. I wonder if having my memory back in this situation is letting my past experiences make me paranoid.
“Time sure flies, doesn't it?” Trixie's voice breaks me out of my thoughts.
I shake my head clear and turn to look out the window. The blues of the sky are now a mix of reds and yellows as evening settles in. I can't resist a bit of a chuckle. Even Twilight must realize how under-trafficked this library is if she's so open to spending entire days away from it like this. As my eyes scan along the wall from the window, they lay upon one of the few things I haven't seen since our battle in the caves – the Starmetal Buster Sword.
Before I even realize what I'm doing, I find myself standing up, slowly making my way over to it, one hobbled step at a time. It's laying on the floor against one of the walls, requiring me to bend to a squat to reach the handle. I grasp it tightly in my right and and take a breath, steadying myself with my left as I slowly pull myself back to my feet. It takes a lot of willpower to resist jamming the blade of the sword into the floor and using it to pull myself up that way – but the lecture I'd receive from Twilight over putting a giant hole in her floor is enough to deter me from the easy path.
“Dusk?” Trixie's voice calls from the table, tinged with a mix of concern and confusion, but I ignore her.
Once I'm back to my feet, I try to lift the sword in one hand. It moves, but its... heavy. I need to grip the handle with both hands to maneuver the weapon with anything close to the nimbleness I'd need to actually make use of it – but doing that causes the flaring pain from my punctured left bicep to join in with that of my chest. Beyond the mere pain, however, some testing swipes and spins are enough for me to decide my suspicions are confirmed. Whatever Jenova's infection is, it's definitely leaving my body weaker, for one reason or another. Even without the injuries, I can't imagine I'm much stronger now than I was when I first arrived in Equestria.
Argh! Frustration quickly builds again as I realize just how far down the scale of dead weight I may as well be relegated back to in this condition, should another fight break out. I close my eyes and let the moment pass, however. This isn't Gaea, and there's no more Jenova. At most, there might be some aimless pieces of Jenova, wandering on instinct, but they wouldn't be more threatening than any of the other dangerous fauna I've seen in Equestria so far, and this place seems otherwise peaceful.
It's okay to be like this right now.
But it's not. It's just not.
“Dusk?” Trixie's voice calls from behind again, much closer this time. “You okay? You look like you're in Super-Brood-Mode again.”
Heh. I lean the Starmetal Buster Sword up in a crook where a bookshelf meets a corner, balancing it to allow it to stay upright without the blade digging into the floor. “I'll be fine.” I assure her, turning to meet her upturned gaze.
“You know you're a much worse liar than I am, right?” She asks, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.
“Yep.” I give her a thumbs up as I meander back to my seat.
“Then why do you bother?” She continues pressing with questions as she resumes her own seat.
“It wouldn't be Super-Brood Mode if I just came out with it, would it?”
She gives me a deadpan glare. “No, but it'd make both our lives easier.”
A response of 'You're one to talk' gets caught in my throat as the door to the library clicks open. Both Trixie's head and mine snap over to see a familiar duo make their way inside, with enough bustle and colors behind them to ensure the rest of the group is in tow before I can even make out any distinct forms.
“We're back, everypony!” Twilight calls out as her and Spike enter first, followed by – yep – the entire rest of the group, including the two who already know Trixie and I are up and doing fine.
“Yo.” I give her a wave of welcome anyway, even if I'm not exactly looking forward to the coming probe of questions from Pink, Prism, and... Apple. Damn. Almost had some fancy mental alliteration. Applejack raises a hoof in returned greeting, but as she goes to speak, I decide to save some time and cut her off. “I'm alive. Trixie's fine. I have Space-AIDS thanks to Jenova and a giant hole in my chest that doesn't want to fix itself. Both of us are going to Canterlot tonight once Princess Luna arrives to try and cure said Space-AIDS.” Applejack blinks. “That cover everything?”
“I was just gonna say 'howdy'.” She replies, eyebrow raised. “But yeah, that covers all the follow-ups I was gonna throw yer way.”
“You're leaving already?” Pinkie pouts, lower lip quivering and eyes watering in a way that can't be natural to most ponies. When I nod, her expression quickly switches to being especially grumpy, giving me a stink-eye. “Do you to realize how far behind I am on my party schedule because of you two? Huh?!” She punctuates her final word with a hoof to my good shoulder.
“Uhh...” I blink, left a bit speechless. “I didn't realize you took those quite that seriously.”
Her grumpiness quickly evaporates into a cheery grin. “I don't! I don't even keep a schedule! Who do I look like, Twilight?”
“Hey!”
“Don't you worry, Grumpy! Whenever you and Trixie are done with all this important stuff, Pinkie Pie will be right here to give you both the bestest Pinkie Party ever!” Her eyes narrow down, in a gesture that would be threatening coming from anyone else. “Even if she has to hunt you down to the ends of Equestria to do it.” With that, her face breaks back out into a grin and she bounces on her four legs, a single motion letting her flop her way into the chair to my right. Okay then.
“So, Cloud, what do you think?” Rainbow Dash asks open-endedly as her wings beat, letting her quickly bridge the gap between the girls and myself as she hovers near my head. “Wall-mounted or trophy? I totally yanked a piece of that thing's horn after we beat the tar out of it.”
I meet eyes with her, ready to ruin the idea of her new conversation starter. “You should probably turn it over to Twilight and have her send it to the Princesses. Its hard to say just how little of Jenova is really needed for it to start bounding back under its own power.” Or for someone like Sephiroth to be able to gain control of it, I add mentally. Sephiroth had the ability to completely dominate its consciousness in my world, so whose to say something like that couldn't happen here if the loose bits of Jenova were still around and alive?
“Oh, come on!” She protests. “Its just a bit a horn! Bones aren't even alive to begin with!” She blinks, then turns to Twilight. “Are they?”
Twilight simply shakes her head. “I told you not to keep it when you first took it, remember? Don't come looking to me for help on this one.”
Rainbow Dash crosses her forehooves, flipping onto her back in the air as her wings beat. “Gee, thanks, Twi.”
“So,” Rarity cuts in, “any idea when Princess Luna is actually getting here?”
I shrug. “Nope. Her note only said 'tonight', from what I remember.”
Twilight's horn glows, summoning the piece of paper in question in front of her muzzle to verify with. “Yep. Princess Celestia didn't specify beyond that. How prompt do you think she is on these sorts of things?” With a pop, the note is gone again.
“Probably the second the sun drops.” I answer speculatively. “She does kind of have a stick up her-”
My sentence gets cut off as a glow of Twilight's horn forces my jaw shut. “No crude jokes in front of Spike, you!”
Blue pony one and blue pony two break down into spontaneous laughing fits, while Applejack grins and I can hear Pinkie's giggling beside me. Rarity shakes her head in disapproval to match Twilight's, but Fluttershy, head mostly hidden behind her mane, seems to have a hoof pressed against her lips to suppress a laugh of her own. I'll take five out of seven.
“Come on, Twilight.” Spike huffs and rolls his eyes at her. “It's not like I haven't heard that one like a bajillion times already, anyway.”
“Yeah!” Rainbow affirms, zipping from my side to Twilight's and wrapping a hoof around her. “No need to go overprotective soccer mom there, Twi.”
“What?” Twilight protests. “I'm just making sure Spike grows up into a proper gentledrake and not one of those crude kids you see these days!”
I swear I can hear a 'plink' sound as Pinkie's eyelids blink, soon followed by snorting laughter from Trixie. “Geez, Twilight! You really are like one of those soccer moms! Soon we're gonna have to start calling you Twimom!”
“I think what Trixie's try'na tell ya, sugahcube,” Applejack steps in, “is tha' we know you take raisin' Spike seriously and all, but girl, loosen up a little. Bit o' ribbin' never hurt anyone, y'hear?” Emphasis her point, Applejack lightly nudges Twilight in her ribs.
“Yeah, yeah...” Twilight relents as the rest of her group makes their way over, Twilight using her magic to scrounge up enough chairs for everyone so we can sit at our impromptu Round Table. “Though, as much as I hate to say it, I think Cloud's right. Princess Luna seems the type to be... punctual.”
“Quite.” Rarity nods, agreeing.
I turn to look out the window again. The reds and oranges of evening are slowly being encroached by the colors of the night. Not much longer now. A knot in my chest tightens, but I can't tell if I'm anxious, impatient, or both.
“You alright, Cloud?” Applejack asks. “Y'all lookin' pretty spaced out right now.”
“Yeah.” I shake my head. “I'm fine. Guess I'm getting a bit impatient, is all.”
A grin plasters its way halfway across her face as her eyes narrow mischievously. “Lookin' ta be rid of us that quick, huh?”
I lean back in my chair, arms crossed along my chest. “Whose to say?” I shrug, and continue before anyone else can sneak a word in. “I just don't like waiting. Not in these circumstances.”
My eyes cast along the group to see if my answer is satisfactory until they eventually meet Rarity's, whose twinkle knowingly in response. “Ah, I get it. Don't you fret dear, everything's gonna turn out just fine. It always does, one way or another.”
As if on cue, hooves patter against the ground outside the door of the library, followed by the distinct sound of chariot wheels. Everyone's attention turns to the door, and before long, its rewarded with a firm, three-rap sequence of strikes against the door.
“I'll-” Spike starts, but is cut off by a pink blur whizzing past and to the door, pulling it open with a cheer.
“Welcome to Golden Oak Library! Head Librarian Twilight Sparkle is in today! Part-Time Assistant Pinkie Pie here at your service!” She greets a stallion member of Luna's guard with a toothy grin, while he takes a moment to break from trained emotionlessness to gape in confusion.
“Well, yes,” he starts, quickly regaining his character. “Her Majesty, Princess Luna, has business with one,” his head turns down, looking at a piece of paper in his hooves, “one 'Cloud', located at this residence, to be attended personally upon the deliverance of this notice.” He gives a short bow of his head, stepping back and allowing the taller form of Princess Luna to take up the frame.
“Ah, thank... you.” She pauses, catching herself on language before giving a nod to him and turning to Pinkie. “Miss Pie, it is good to see you are well.”
“Yupperoni!” She affirms with her characteristic excitement. “Fit as a fiddle after kicking some alien butt back to the depths of space!” She turns to us, skipping into the room at an even pace. “Hey everypony, Princess Luna is here!”
“We can see that, Pinkie.” Applejack replies deadpan. “Thanks.”
“No problemo!”
I turn back outside, seeing that night has indeed properly settled over Equestria, then turn back to the Princess. “I've learned not to ask under normal circumstances, but, how did you get here so quickly?” I look between her and the window again. “Night just barely fell.”
She lets out a mirthful chuckle. “Oh, that is quite simple, dreamer.” She says as she steps into the library. “We simply took flight as Celestia lowered the sun, setting the moon and stars in place as we journeyed from Canterlot to Ponyville, allowing Us to have the night complete upon Our landing at the entryway of Miss Sparkle's humble abode.”
She gives me a look that says her explanation makes perfect sense and I'm dumb for not considering it. Okay, there's punctuation, but damn, that's... a thing all its own.
“Y'all are lookin' a might bit better now, Princess.” Applejack comments with a nod. “We was worried about'cha, since you weren't lookin' that hot when ya left for Canterlot before.”
Princess Luna gives her a nod in reply. “We appreciate your concern, Miss Applejack. We assure you that We are improved greatly and that We shall only continue to do so.”
Twilight decides to respond by giving her a playful grin. “So, when can I come by to continue those language lessons, so we can start finally stomp that pesky Royal We out of your vocabulary, Princess Luna?”
“Ah, Miss Sparkle.” The Princess shakes her head, keeping her face held serious, though the corners of her mouth twitch slightly. “There are truly some beasts that no mare can slay, let Us assure you.”
“Right!” She nods. “I'll have Spike take a letter later. Princess Celestia can set us up for next week!”
“Curses...” The Princess grumbles, eliciting giggles from the table, sans-Trixie.
After the group falls silent for a moment, Princess Luna speaks again. “We hate to intrude upon this gathering more than necessary, but the dreamer must embark alongside Us to Canterlot with utmost haste. While there are no immediate threats to Equestria, We are indeed now behind on Our more mundane royal responsibilities and can't dally beyond what is necessary at this time.”
“Right.” I pull the armor off the floor and quickly fit it over myself, followed by my cloak in a practiced sweeping motion as I get to my feet. A moment later I've crossed the room, gathering the Starmetal Buster Sword, though one thing is missing. My eyes find my Crate of Holding and I make my way over to it, pulling a familiar cowboy hat from its depths and flipping it onto my head, pulling the hood of the cloak over it. Once I'm set, I scoop up a box from within my Crate of Holding, containing all the clothes Rarity had so graciously made for me earlier. That should be everything.
“I'm coming too, of course!” Trixie quickly jumps down from her chair, rounding the table toward the space between myself and Princess Luna. “That's not a problem, I hope, Princess Luna?” She's become noticeably bolder speaking around royalty than she used to be, I can see.
“Ah, of course not, Miss Lulamoon.” Princess Luna assures her. “We quite planned on that eventuality. We simply did not include you in the royal notification should there be another matter which more greatly required your attention, as your attendance is not mandatory, though indeed welcome.”
“Excellent!” She grins, nudging her head in this direction. “Though, my attendance might as well be mandatory. It's not like we can trust this doofus to go anywhere on his own, anyway.”
I fire a glare at the table of again-giggling ponies as Trixie and I cross the distance of the library to where Princess Luna is. “There is nothing else either of you have forgotten, yes?”
“I'm set.” I confirm to her with a nod.
Trixie, however, looks around the library foyer for a moment. “Wait!” She exclaims, turning her back to us and facing the table again. “Twilight, can you come here a moment?”
Said mare blinks in confusion before exiting her chair, crossing the distance between herself and Trixie. “What is it, Trixie?”
“Close your eyes for a minute, please.” She instructs Twilight once Twilight's finished her short journey across the library.
“Huh?” Twilight crooks her head in confusion.
“Just do it, please.” Trixie instructs again. “Trust me, nothing bad, promise.”
“Uh... okay.” Twilight complies, closing her eyes as Trixie turns and heads over to the coat rack.
With deft hooves, Trixie scoops up her old hat and cape, returning to Twilight. The cape is soon flourished along Twilight's back and snapped together at the brooch with practiced showmareship, and the hat set evenly on her head. Trixie steps back as Twilight opens her eyes.
“Presenting, once more for mares, gentlecolts, and foals of all ages, the Magnificent Twilight Sparkle!” Trixie beams as she gives the stage introduction, one foreleg swept in Twilight's direction.
Twilight only takes a moment to identify the garments she's now wearing. “Trixie? What are you doing? These are super important to you, aren't they?”
“Well, now, I'm giving them to you, the same way any showmare passes their wares down to their star apprentice.” She winks and turns her back to Twilight, and from my perspective its easy to see why – Trixie's struggling to keep up her facade. “Besides, those were important to The Great and Powerful Trixie, and she's like, so last week. The Magnificent Twilight Sparkle is totally in right now. I'm sure Rarity can tell you that fashion is just as fickle as showmareship, so strike while the iron's hot, as they say!” She waves her front hoof dramatically above her head, then changes to a beckoning motion. “Come, Dusk, we have business to attend to! Let's be off!”
And with that, she pulls the door open and heads into the newly laid night. I turn my attention back to Twilight to see her gently draping the fabric of the cape across her front with one hoof, grasping it as her eyes waver.
“Come, dreamer.” Princess Luna snaps my attention away from her. “Miss Lulamoon is correct. We must make way to Canterlot.”
“...Right.” With that, we turn and follow Trixie into the night, only one carriage-ride away from whatever awaits in Canterlot.