The sun began to set over Ponyville, casting beautiful rays of oranges and pinks throughout the town and parts beyond. Everypony set this time aside to wrap up the day's events and find their beds for a good night's sleep. Everypony...except Applejack. This evening was once again her drinking night with Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash, but she decided not to go today and, instead spend some time with Applebloom.
"Ain't it nice, Applebloom? Ownin' yer' own farm, raisin' a good, honest livin', doin' somethin' good wit' yer' life..."
"Sure is, Applejack."
"That's the life Ah'm glad I'm livin'..."
"Ah'm jus' glad ya' didn't go off an' stay with Auntie and Uncle Orange out in Manehattan."
"Yeah, Ah'm glad Ah came back, too. Somepony's gotta make sure you grow up right an' stay outta trouble..." She rustled her little sister's hair.
"Oh come on, Applejack. Ah don't get in too much trouble."
"Course ya' don't, lil' miss 'Love Potion...'" Applejack loved teasing both of her siblings about that little tangle with Cheerilee ever since she heard about it from Twilight.
Applebloom turned bright red. "Ah told you already! It was an accident, and we misread! How many times are ya' gonna bring that up?!"
Applejack leaned back against the tree and tipped her hat over her eyes. "Ah promise Ah'll stop bringin' it up...when it stops bein' so dang funny!" She giggled and took a gulp of her cider.
"You said that last time, too!"
"Well, Ah guess it's still funny, ain't it?"
"Shouldn't you be on yer' way to be findin' Big Mac an' goin to your bar, already? Sheesh!"
Applejack lifted her hat and gave her sister a smug look. "Ya' mean you don't wanna spend some quality time with yer' own big sister? Ah'm plum offended, Applebloom!" She stuck out her tongue, and the filly responded in the same way.
"Speakin' of, where is Big Mac? Wasn't he out here with you buckin' apples just a bit ago?"
"Ah told him to go on and find Rainbow Dash without me. Ah didn't feel like goin' out to no bar tonight. Besides, here Ah can mix my drink the way Ah want it, an' it's always on the house!~" Applejack took another gulp of cider. "Ya' want some?"
Applebloom looked up at her. "But that's the hard cider fer' grown ponies! Ah can't drink that!"
"Ah'm not sayin' drink the whole mug, Applebloom! Jus' a sip or two...Do ya' want some or not?"
Applebloom was a bit skeptical. "This is some kinda trick, isn't it?"
"Why in tarnation would it be a trick?"
"You want me ta' say yes so you'll get me in some trouble some kinda way an' it'll give you some more ta' laugh at, huh?"
"A'course not, Applebloom. Ah jus' figured, since we hardly ever get to spend time together out here like this with me workin' an' all, I could share a lil' drink with you. But if you don't want any, I'll jus' keep it ta' myself..."
"...You sure ya' won't get me in trouble?"
"Come on, Applebloom! It ain't even that alcoholic! You'd need like ten'a these ta' even notice that yer' feelin' somethin'! Ah'm sure Granny Smith wouldn't mind you havin' a tiny sip. 'Sides, she let me have some when Ah was about yer' age."
"Well, if you say it's okay..." Applebloom took the mug from her sister and took a small gulp. She was right about it being safe for her; there was barely any alcohol in this cider. She could taste a small hint of it, but not enough to make her spit it out. "It tastes...sour."
"Eeyup, that's what it's s'posed ta' taste like. Now give it back. Ah need a swig." She took the mug back and drank the rest in a few gulps. "Oh dag-nabbit. Now Ah gotta go get some more..."
"Ah can go get it for you! Ah'll get some'a the non-alcoholic kind for me too so we can both have somethin' ta' drink!"
"Well, Ah'd mighty 'preciate that, AB." She watched her little sister get up and trot towards the barn that they keep the barrels of stored cider in. "Hurry back, we're losin' sunlight!" Applebloom disappeared over the hill, and Applejack took the opportunity to catch a few minutes of sleep before she came back.
Minutes passed, and eventually Applejack felt something somewhat sharp poke her leg. She lifted the hat off of her eyes expecting to see cider. She actually saw something completely different. "Hey Applejack. I didn't wake you from a nap or something, did I?"
"Well, a'course not, Spike. What's up?"
"Well, I was kinda hoping that I could talk to you about some things. You said I could come to you, right?"
"A'course ya' can, Spike. Are ya still on that issue with Rarity?"
"Actually, Twilight helped me work through that. How did you know that I had a problem with Rarity?"
"Well, Ah saw ya sulkin around the other day with a suit an' flowers. Ah didn't need to be a detective ta' put two and two together about that night."
"Oh..."
"So what can Ah do ya' for?"
"Well, I actually had a few questions about dating. Would you be able to help me?"
Applejack sat up. "Ya' finally got a date with Rarity? Well, thats great news!"
"Actually, it's not with Rarity. I've decided that I'm not gonna get my heart played with anymore, so I'm not goin' out for her anymore."
Applejack was a bit surprised. Spike was going out on a date with somepony who wasn't Rarity? "Well if it ain't Rarity yer' needin' help with, then who is it?"
"I'd rather not say, if that's okay with you. It's a secret until I officially ask for the date and she accepts."
"Wait, yer' askin' for datin' advice and you haven't even asked fer' the date yet?"
"I'm workin' on it, okay? Can you help me?"
"A'course Ah can help, Spike. Ah'm assumin' ya' need help with askin' the gal first?"
Spike nodded quickly. "Of course. Any help would be awesome!"
"Take a seat, then. We gotta lot to learn tonight..." Spike plopped down next to Applejack under her tree. "Speakin'a learnin', where is Twilight? Shouldn't she be here ta' help ya' take notes er' somethin' like that? You know how that mare can be when it comes to learnin'..."
Spike blushed a bit at the mention of her. "Actually, she's out right now studying in the Eastern Fields not too far from here. She left me behind to take care of the library and said she wouldn't be back until nightfall."
"Well, Ah guess that gave ya' time to come talk ta' me about yer' mystery date, didn't it? In that case, let's get down ta' business before she finds out yer' gone. Now, what seems ta' be the problem?"
"I just don't wanna strike with this girl like I did with Rarity, ya know? How do I talk to her? How should I ask her? What if she says no? How will I--"
Applejack brought a hoof to his mouth. "Step One: don't get too excited. Yer' gonna drive her away if ya' act too crazy around'er. Stay cool and calm, and let her come to you. Remember what happened with Rarity? Ya kept gettin' all worked up and that scared'er off..." Applejack didn't like saying that to Spike, but it was the truth.
"Okay, stay calm. Got it. What's next?"
Applejack thought for a few seconds. "Do ya' know what she's interested in?"
"Oh, definitely! We know just about everything about each other!" Spike regretted saying that to some degree, hoping Applejack wouldn't get the slightest hint as to who he was talking about.
"Well, could ya' talk about it in conversation with her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Her interests. If this gal tried to talk about'er interests, could ya keep a conversation goin'?"
"Well...I mean I guess..."
"That's Step Two: learn more about'er interests. Figure out what she likes ta' do in her spare time and try ta' work that into some kinda thing you both can enjoy."
"Well, I do know she really likes to stargaze, so..."
"Now that's exactly what Ah mean! If ya' wanna get'er intrigued about goin' on a date with you, tell'er y'all can do that."
"Okay, what else?"
"Step Three: the way into a mare's heart is a long and winding road...but shortcuts're covered in gift wrap. Give her presents every now and again, maybe a few flowers once a week. That'll always brighten her day!"
"Presents every so often. Right. Anything else?"
"Only one other thing Ah can think of: when in doubt, communicate about it. There's only one thing a gal likes more than a guy who isn't afraid to talk about'is problems, and that's a guy who will let them talk about theirs. If you've got a problem, communication is key. Get it?"
"Got it."
Applejack nodded. "Good. Now, Step Four--"
"Applejack!~" Applebloom called from down the hill. "Ah'm back!" Spike turned around to find Applebloom trotting up the hill with two mugs of bubbling cider.
"Ah, shoot. Ah fergot all about Applebloom...Sorry ta' cut our lesson short, but...ya' know, lil' sister's an' all. Anyway, that's jus' the basics of my datin' tips. Yer' still too young to hear about anythin' past second base, so that's all Ah'm gonna say fer now."
Spike looked to her. "Wait, what's past second base? And...What's second base?"
Applejack laughed. "Exactly, Sugarcube. Jus' stick ta' what Ah taught ya' for now, an' you'll be fine."
Spike stood up, ready to head for home. "Well, thanks for the help, AJ. I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Spike. Jus' remember to bring yer' lil' friend on over to the farm sometime so Ah can get a good look at her..."
Spike blushed. "Uh...Sure thing, AJ."
"Either way, Ah wanna see'er, okay?"
"Sure thing!" Spike started to take off down the hill for home before Twilight realized that he was gone. He had learned quite a few valuable lessons that evening, and he wanted to make sure they were put to good use.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The sound of magical sparks broke the peace and quiet of the Eastern Fields of Ponyville, quickly preceding a flash of bright purple light and signaled a fast approaching Twilight out of nowhere. She had spent all day down in the catacombs finishing documentation of what she could about her precious No-Gems. She was obviously exhausted from walking around in a cave all day, conducting experiment after experiment. Her mane was slightly curled in places it shouldn't have been, her eyes were half-lidded, and her expression screamed 'bed'. "Oh, dear sweet Celestia. Is it that late? Spike must be worried sick about me!" She tried to gallop home, but her legs quickly rejected that silly idea by giving out under her and landing her flat on her face. "Ow...Maybe I should try walking..." She picked herself up, dusted herself off, and bean to lightly trot herself home.
She looked up at the moon as she walked. She loved nights like this: the air was cool and brisk, the grass was soft and barely damp with the coming dew, and nopony was around making noise or interrupting Luna's beautiful symphony of silence. This moment was almost perfect; the only thing that could've made her walk home better would be if she had been walking with Spike. She had finally decided while down in the catacombs that she wasn't going to be afraid to say it anymore. She made herself say it down there in the safety and privacy the catacombs brought: she loved Spike. She loved him, and nothing Celestia could do would change that fact. It was a scary thing to say, to reject the direct words of one who could send her to another heavenly body for the rest of your life...but it was the truth.
She quickly found her way back into Ponyville, where she found most of the town's residents fast asleep in their homes. She had to admit, seeing Ponyville so devoid of activity was a bit...eery to her. It was like a ghost town, save for two ponies walking her way. "Hi Rainbow Dash! Hi Big Macintosh!"
Rainbow walked up to her, stumbling a bit as she did. "Hey Twi...*hic!*" Rainbow slurred a bit as she spoke. It was obvious that she was tipsy. Big Mac followed closely behind and nodded in Twilight's direction.
Twilight sniffed the air and noticed a familiar scent. "Have you two been drinking tonight?"
"Eeyup..." Big Mac uttered in reply. He didn't have the slurring in his voice that Rainbow did. He was always able to hold his drinks down better than her.
"But it's nothin' serious yet. We only hit two clubs so far. There was that one down on *hic!* Brand Street that plays that jazz stuff," She turned to Big Mac."I don't see why you're into that *hic!* kinda music..." He shrugged his shoulders. "And then there was that one on the other side of town that I really *hic!* like that Vinyl plays in. She seriously knows how to drop some *hic!* fat bass!~"
"Well, I hope you two are enjoying yourselves. Don't stay out too late, okay?" Twilight walked around them in an attempt to get home.
"Twi, wait up a sec!~" Twilight turned around. "I don't know if this is your 'thing' or not, but..." Rainbow started to blush a bit. "...when we're done bar hoppin' or *hic!* whatever, we were gonna go back to the farm for a little...afterparty, if you know what I mean.~" Big Mac started to blush. "If you aren't doin' anything in a couple hours, you could joi--" Big Mac covered her mouth with his hoof and smiled sheepishly at Twilight, who returned the expression.
"Uhhh, she's drunk, isn't she?"
"Eeyup..." He started to pull Rainbow away to the next club.
"Hey! I'm not that drunk!" She stumbled into Big Mac's chest. "Well...maybe a little drunk..."
Twilight couldn't help but chuckle at her friend. "Try to get her into bed at a reasonable hour, okay?"
"Eeyup," Big Mac replied and nodded. He turned himself and the now giggling Rainbow Dash down the street to their next destination.
Minutes passed quickly and once again, Twilight was alone on the street leading home. In the distance, she could see the wooden door of her library and her legs picked up a bit of speed to make it there faster. She longed for her home, for her bed, for a wonderful night's sleep. In her mind, she could not have gotten home fast enough as she pushed the door open with one hoof, having drained all of her magic in the catacombs. "Ugh, finally home!" She fell into a heap of exhaustion on the floor.
"It's about time you got back, Twilight. I've been waiting here all day! You said you'd be gone for a little while with those No-Gems. What kept you?" Spike and Owlowicious were sitting on the steps leading up to the bedroom, reading a book.
Twilight stood up again, much to the protest of her aching legs. "What are you still doing up, Spike? Don't you know how late it is?"
"Well, of course I do. I'm guessing somepony didn't notice the sun going down again, tonight?"
Twilight blushed. "Uh, never mind that. You're actually reading?"
"Yeah, I know. Surprising, huh?"
"You have no idea. I knew I'd rub off on you one of these days..."
"Oh, hush Twi. I'm just brushing up on some things I already knew about. I pick up a lot of stuff listening to you when you write out loud."
Twilight looked away when she realized she did have a habit of saying what she wrote as she was writing. "Well, what are you brushing up on?"
"Just some stuff on stars and comets and junk like that. Learning constellations is tough work when you realize just how many there are..."
Twilight walked over to her assistant and sat next to him. "If you'd like, I could teach you a few I know off the top of my head..."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Of course..." She yawned. "...But can it wait until tomorrow night? I'm pretty tired..." An idea popped into her head. "Better yet, how about we go out to the Southern Fields tomorrow night? The stars are always more beautiful there than the Eastern Fields, and I can show you every constellation up there in the sky instead of on a page."
"Sure. We'll go at sunset?"
"That sounds lovely. It's a date..." Twilight yawned again.
Spike and Owlowicious looked at each other before looking back at Twilight. "A date?"
Twilight started to blush. "If you don't want to call it that, it can be something else like an outing or a meeting or a--" Spike brought a claw to her muzzle.
"Calm down, Twi. I'm fine with it being a date. That is, if you're okay with it..."
"I'm fine with it being a date, too..."
"Good..." He looked into her eyes.
"Good..." She looked back into his.
"Hoo..." Owlowicious hooted.
The pair looked at the owl before Twilight realized how tired she was again. "Heh heh...Well Spike, I'm heading up to bed. I'm really tired, and I'll need my sleep for tomorrow." Twilight climbed up the stairs and turned back to him at the top. "You coming?"
Spike looked at the book in his hand. He placed it on the table in the middle of the room and started his way upstairs. He already knew tomorrow would be a great day, he could just feel it...
~*~*~*~*~*~
Twlight woke up. She was in complete darkness, and she was unable to move any of her limbs. From what she could tell, she was chained up, hanging straight up from some place high in the air. "...Hello?" She called out to the echoing darkness. The darkness didn't answer her. "Is anypony there?" Still, no response. However, she saw a flash of yellow light behind her before she heard the sound of wings flapping. The sound got progressively closer and closer to her and she couldn't breathe. She was terrified; she had no idea what was going on or what was about to happen. "Please, you have to help me! Somepony trapped me in these chains and--"
"The chains I wished I would never have to use on anypony else. Especially you, my dear student..."
Twilight's eyes widened. She had never been so afraid in her entire life. She heard the voice. It was sharp. It was cold. It was devoid of all feeling. It was Celestia's.
"P-p-p...Princess Celestia?...What's going on? Where am I? Why am I chained up like this?" She felt Celestia's prescence directly behind her, but she dared not look. She was too afraid of what she might see.
"Really? You don't know why you are here, my student? Allow me to refresh your memory..." Twilight felt her mentor's horn press against the back of her head before everything went white.
She was back in her library, with Celestia by her side. She wondered why her teacher brought her here, and her eyes widened when she looked around and found out why. She was watching herself and Spike have their conversation the previous night. She watched the corner of her eye in horror as Celestia shook her head. She felt sick to her stomach, as if she were watching a brutal murder play out in front of her. She saw herself stand up and walk up the stairs before everything faded to white again and she returned to her prison. Twilight looked down in shame.
"Well? Do you not have anything to say for yourself?"
Twilight looked back up. Tears were now in her eyes. "I...I don't know what to say. I'm sorry I broke your rule, Princess..." She started to cry.
Celestia turned around and started to leave. "You aren't sorry now, but don't worry. Like my sister was when she was brought here, you will be..."
"Your sister...So that means..."
"Yes, Twilight. I hoped you would not have to share the same fate of my sister in a banishment here in the moon. You saw what turmoil it put her in. However, I personally told you not to pursue a relationship with your dragon, and you deliberately disobeyed my orders."
She tried to break free of her chains, but they would not allow her much movement. She tried to use her magic to break them, but her horn did not work. A magic inhibitor ring was placed aound the base of it, preventing any magical use and leaving her useless. She grew frantic; she couldn't spend a thousand years on the moon! What would happen to her friends? What would happen to her library? What would happen to Spike? "Please, Princess! Don't leave me here! I'm sorry!"
Princess Celestia was surrounded by a bright yellow light once more. "No, my student. I'm sorry..." She disappeared.
Twilight was left alone again. The darkness surrounded her again, almost threatening to choke her. She struggled hard, trying to break free somehow. Her strength and will was draining fast. She screamed with everything she had in her, hoping somepony would hear her and knowing nopony would...
~*~*~*~*~*~
Twilight sat up in a cold sweat. She gasped for breath, feeling for something solid, something real. It was just a dream...Just a dream... she had to repeat in her head. She looked out the window to prove she was still in Equestria and not in the moon. Slivers of the sun were visible over the hills beyond Ponyville, meaning that day was fast approaching. She got out of bed and looked at Spike. He was starting to stir, so it wouldn't be long before he woke up for his morning chores. She quietly walked to the mirror she kept on her personal shelf and took a good look at herself.
She looked terrible: her eyes were red from crying in her sleep and her face was sticky from the tears. But what surprised her most were the specks of white in her mane. She grabbed a brush and groomed her mane and tail free of the unknown substance. Apparently, she still had pieces of No-Gem in her mane from the catacombs the night before. She would have to make a note to wash herself after each trip down there from now on.
She heard a yawn from Spike, a sign that he was now awake. "...Twilight? That you?"
"Yes, it's me. Good morning, Spike..."
"You're never up before I am. What's going on?"
"I just..." she shuddered, "...Just had a bad dream."
Spike stood up and scratched his back. "What happened?"
She stared at herself in the mirror. "I don't want to talk about it..."
Spike walked towards her, but paused when he stepped on something behind her that poked his foot. "Ow..." He bent down and took a closer look at what he stepped on. "Hey, are these bits of No-Gem? You have some with you?"
"Yes, they're No-Gems, but I don't have anymore with me. These little pieces were in my mane and tail last night and I must not have noticed."
"Well, I guess these'll count as a little snack before breakfast..." He began to walk around her, picking up bits and pieces of the crystals she accidentally brought home.
She took them from his hand using her magic. "Spike, no. Remember what happened last time you had eaten too many No--"
"Oh, come on Twilight. I just woke up! I'm not gonna have nightmares this time I eat them. And besides, these are only little pieces! What harm could they do? Please?"
"I'm sorry, Spike. I still don't know how we react in prolonged exposure to them. I think they cause hallucinations or something..." She began to have flashbacks of her nightmare, but she quickly shrugged them off. "Until I know for sure, we're staying far away from those things, okay?"
Spike pouted. "Fine..."
"Good. So now that that's settled, start on your chores and I'll be down in a minute."
"Alrighty then!" He saluted and jumped down two stairs before turning around. "Wait! What do you want for breakfast?"
She thought it for a moment. "Surprise me."
"Okie dokie!"
"Oh, and Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Be sure to pack some food for our date tonight. Don't forget, okay?" She gave a little smile at him.
"Got it!" The little dragon moved out of sight and onto his first task with a bit more pep than before.
She turned to her reflection in the mirror. "Come on, Twilight. You can say it. You said it down there, and you can say it up here..." She stared at herself begging, pleading, daring to say those three words in the light of day. She remembered everything in her dream, the Princess' tone, her face, her disappointment. She closed her eyes, faced the sun, took a deep breath, and spoke with every ounce of bravery she had in her body:
"I love Spike. I know you told me not to. But I do, and there is nothing that you can say or do to me, in a dream or otherwise, to make me stop loving him."
She exhaled. She just indirectly spoke against her mentor, her Princess, the most powerful being in all of Equestria...and she felt so much better for doing so. She felt lighter than air, knowing a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. If she had the courage to say that, she had the courage to do anything. And there was something that she wanted to do that night that required that much courage...