//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Twilight Sparkle Sprouts Wings 
// by Sollace 
//------------------------------//

With the day drawing to a close, and the sun setting low over the horizon, we return to Twilight Sparkle in the middle of the one thing she loved the most.

Twilight Sparkle was sitting in the middle of the library, huddled up nice and warm with a mug in her hoof and a large, ten inch, five-hundred pound tome spread out in front of her. She was engrossed in reading, ecstatic even, and bore a toothy grin as she pored over the words with full rapt attention. As suggested by Princess Luna and her care package—and the begrudging help from Spike—she had her wings meticulously preened, combed, and tied back into bundles around her head to keep them from getting in the way whilst she read.

She was just leaving the bathroom when Twilight was lucky enough to happen upon Spike with this new book. Though, granted, it was more dusty than the time she’d gone digging through Starswirl’s Journal—Twilight brushed a hoof across the page, clearing it of the noticeable rubble, but it was still one she’d never seen before, and that made it new for her.

And to think Spike had actually thought to throw it away, too. Just because it was mistakenly filed in the jokes section doesn’t mean that How to Read – a proper guide to proper reading etiquette – for dummies wasn’t an important piece of literary knowledge.

Luckily, Twilight was there to save it. And, it’d take some convincing, but she was finally able to wrest it free from Spike’s grip, steal it away back to her library, and lock herself inside with it so she properly consume these words undisturbed.

Without so much as a blink, Twilight brought up her mug, and took a sip. She set it back down, and continued reading, not breaking pace as the dribble of white foam coated her lip, and threatened to run down her chin and back to her lap. 

She was so engrossed in her reading about reading, that nopony seemed to notice as the library door clicked and creaked open behind her. There was some snickering on the other side, and the door began to swing inwards, before being jolted back against the enchanted chains around its edge.

“Oh, come on—” There was there was a frustrated sigh, and the groan, followed by the subtle squeaking as a large, white, puff of cloud forced its way up through the gap.

It trembled and bulged, and—finally—popped through with a silent pomf. It bobbed slightly, and glided across the air, gliding silently overhead. The door was forced open again, slightly further, and Rainbow Dash moved in to squeeze sideways through the gap.

“Ugh—” she groaned under her breath, fighting against the doorframe to get through. “Come...” She pulled again, and brought up one wing. She’d managed her head, and two hooves, all she had to do now was—

CLACK

Something popped in Rainbow’s shoulder, and she tumbled through, catching herself mid air and directing her fall upwards to where the cloud was floating.


“Tip four hundred and seventy-six,” Twilight read aloud, as she wriggled with excitement. “Never lift your elbow beyond a straight forty-five degree angle, and ensure proper neck and back support to ensure—”

CRACK

Twilight was cut off by a deafening clap, and the crack of thunder from directly behind her. She almost jumped out of her skin, yelping, “Yah!” The book went flying, followed by a mug of hot chocolate and a reading lamp. Twilight’s mane bristled, standing on end. Her wings broke loose, flaring out like peacock trying to deter a predator, and Twilight pitched back in her seat.

She landed with a thud, her eyes wide, as she looked around the source of the disturbance. Luckily, she could see exactly where it came from. “R- Rainbow—hick – Dash!” she hiccupped. “What—hick –are you— hick –doing!?”

Leaning over the side of the cloud, Rainbow Dash looked down to Twilight with an innocent expression. She waved a hoof, rolling her eyes. “Well...” Twilight watched on a frown. “... I was waking up from my later-early-pre-dinner nap, when I remembered you little ‘problem’ and I thought: Hey, if it works for hiccups!”

Twilight’s frown grew deeper. “Hick” She screamed, “Get out!”

“Huh,” Rainbow huffed. She crossed her hooves and turned her muzzle up at the princess. “Fine, sheesh.” She leapt off the cloud, and took to the air, then circled back to push it in front of her back to the door. “’Last time I try to help.”