//------------------------------// // A New Friend // Story: Twilight and the Big City // by Turbo the Brony //------------------------------// The whole city seemed to be crazy! That was what Twilight was beginning to think, as she and Spike were trying to find a place to hide, for they were running across the every street corner and city location, doing their best on hiding from the crowds. To them, they felt like they were in a labyrinth of buildings, as they sometimes end up in dead ends, or sometimes ending back where they were. During this, they got the attention of just about everyone, from kids to adults, from the kids wanting to play and/or try to keep as pets, to the adults trying to contact animal control or even police about their whereabouts. Until finally, during the afternoon, sometime after escaping another crowd, Twilight and Spike had found a hiding spot on one of the high buildings. “Okay, I think they’re gone…” Twilight said, as she had a quick peek from the top of the building. Spike, meanwhile, was a bit grumpy at the moment, as he looked to Twilight. “Yeah… so we’re stuck up here, aren’t we?” he asked. “I’m sorry, Spike,” Twilight said, with a nervous chuckle, “I guess we are kinda forced to stay here for the night…” Spike, however, just rolled his eyes in annoyance as he said, “So, after all that travel, being chased by weird creatures, and running all over this strange new town, we have to camp on top of some random house.” “Spike, I know this isn’t perfect,” Twilight said sternly to him, “but as least we are safe up here. Now stop complaining.” Things were about to change, as while they were talking, across the road by where they were, just coming outside a flower shop, a young lad with black hair was rushing out, holding a cream-colored purse in his left hand, calling out to a green car that was driving away. “Miss!” he cried out, “Your purse! Miss!” Unfortunately, the driver had already left, leaving the young man to sigh at this. “Great,” he said to himself, “she won’t be happy about this… okay, she has to stop at a traffic light down the block. But who’s going to watch the store for me?” Over hearing what happened down on the ground, Twilight and Spike looked down to see what the commotion was. “What’s with all the shouting?” Spike asked. “Looks like someone needs help…” Twilight said, her instincts kicking to help someone in need. “Let’s go help him.” She said, as she used her magic to put Spike on her back. “What?!” Spike cried out, “What if he’s one of those idiots?!” Twilight didn’t respond as she instantly flew down to the street. “Twilight! Are you listening?!” Spike spoke out to his Alicorn friend, who was too busy wanting to help. “Excuss me, sir?” Twilight said, getting the young man’s attention, as he looked suddenly in shock at what he saw as she continued, “Do you need help? It seems to me that someone forgot something…” The shop owner was speechless for the moment, until he then got his words, “Huh… yes…” ‘What am I looking at?’ he thought to himself as Twilight continued. “Is it the woman in the green carriage?” she asked, “I’d be glad to hoove it over to her.” “But… uh…” the young shopkeeper could say before Twilight spoke again. “You can trust me!” she said, “Would you be so kind to look out for my bags, though?” “Twilight,” Spike whispered to her, “Are you sure about this?” “Don’t worry, Spike,” Twilight said to her dragon friend, “I think if we help this guy, he will might return the favor.” “Uh… okay,” the shopkeeper said, “you can find me at the flower shop nearby. I’m keeping an eye out on the store.” “Okay.” Twilight said, “We’ll be back as soon as possible!” Twilight then used her magic to take bag out of the shokeeper’s hands. ‘What the…?’ he thought to himself, as Twilight handed him her bags with her magic. “We’ll be back soon!” Twilight said, as she and Spike zoomed off to return purse. “Wooooooow~” the young man in amazement, “I’m not dreaming, am I?” Meanwhile, after reaching a red light on 9th avenue, the lady in the ‘Green Carage’ was waiting for a green light, until Twilight suddenly popped up beside her. “Excuse me?” she said, causing the lady to startle in surprise. “You’ve left this…” Twilight said, as she used her magic to return the purse back to the owner. “Um… oh, I did,” the lady said with a nervous, but gratitude, smile, “Strange, how did I forget my own purse? Thanks.” “You’re welcome.” Twilight said with a smile. ‘Am I seeing things?’ the driver thought to herself as Twilight flew back to the shopkeeper. 10 minutes later… Without any attention on the streets, Twilight and Spike arrived to where the young shopkeeper told them where they would be, at the 10th Ave Flower Shop. “He said it’s the flower shop, right?” Spike asked Twilight as they looked to their destination. “Yep, that’s it.” Replied Twilight, as they then went inside, the bells on the door jingling in response to the opening door. “Sorry, we’re closing in 10 minutes.” A familiar voice said, Twilight and Spike saw the young man behind the till. “Oh, hi!” Twilight said, “I’m here for my bags.” “Why, hello again!” the shopkeeper said, now with a comfortable smile. ‘Wow, I’m really not dreaming.’ He thought to himself, ‘It’s a real talking pony with a horn and wings.’ “Well, here are your bags, miss.” He said politely, as he handed them Twilight’s bags, in which Twilight used her magic to place them on her back. “Thank you, sir.” She said, “I’m so happy to tell you that I returned the purse safely to its owner.” “Great! Thanks a bunch for helping me out there.” The young man said. “You’re welcome,” Twilight said, as she and Spike turned towards the door, “well, we must be going, it was nice meeting you.” “Um, wait!” the grown boy said, stopping the two in their tracks as he spoke to them, “Hold on a minute, miss!” “Yes?” Twilight asked. “Well, I can tell that you guys must’ve traveled quite a long way.” He said, “Why don’t you stay here for the night? It’s getting dark soon and it will be hard for you to find a safe place to stay at… I suppose you don’t have friends living here?” “No, not really.” Twilight replied. “In that case, my apartment is right upstairs. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.” The shopkeeper offered. “Wait,” Twilight said, “are you sure about this?” “Of course I’m sure!” the young man said with a smile, “So, what are your names?” “My name is Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight introduced herself, “and this is my friend Spike.” “Well, actually,” Spike said, gesturing to himself, “I’m her number one assistant!” The shopkeeper chuckle at that before introducing himself, “My name is Tommy. It’s nice to meet you.” 20 minutes later, after closing time, Tommy, Twilight and Spike made their way up to the human’s apartment, right above the flower shop. “Wow, look at the view, Spike,” Twilight said, as she and Spike looked through one of the windows to see the view of New York, “the river, the sunset…” “Yeah, it looks nice…” Spike said, being a little interested. “Spike? Twilight?” Tommy called them to their attention, as he pointed to an opened door, “This is the apartment.” “Okay. Coming.” Twilight said as she and Spike followed. “As you can see,” Tommy said as he let the duo in, “it is not exactly what I would call perfect.” “Not perfect?” Twilight asked, as she and Spike looked into the apartment. It was like any other apartment room would look like; it had a kitchen and a lounge together in one room with several other rooms, in the kitchen a few pots and pans were on the stove, while on the small kitchen table, there was a packet of chips, an empty box of donuts, a clothe and a mug, while on the sofa, an open newspaper was lying on the couch pillows, the inside info in the paper facing the pillows. “Yes,” Tommy said, answering Twilight’s question, “I sadly haven’t had the time so far to do my chores and keep it tidy.” “Well, it looks okay.” Spike said. “Look homely.” Twilight added. As they walked they arrived at the spare bedroom. “Well, here’s your bedroom.” Tommy said, as he showed Twilight and Spike where they were sleeping, the bedroom had a nice bed with a window to look to the view of the city, while there was also a desk for Twilight to do some reading or writing. “It looks nice.” Twilight commented. “Thanks,” said Tommy, “you can stay as long as you like. My bedroom is across the hallway. If you need anything, you know where to find me.” “Okay, thanks.” Twilight politely said. “Alright, I’m going to prepare dinner.” Tommy said, as he then asked his guests, “What do you want to eat?” “Well, I would like a daffodil daisy sandwich.” Twilight requested. “Do you have any gems?” Spike asked, “That’d be great.” “Gems?” Tommy looked a little surprised at that request from the dragon, “I’m sorry Spike, I don’t have any.” “No? Oh, alright.” Spike said, as he decided on something else, “I’ll have some potatoes if you have any.” “That I do have.” Tommy replied. As he left, Tommy looked back to his guests, “Well, anyways, please relax and settle down for a bit. I’ll be in the kitchen if you want to join me.” “Okay, Tommy.” Twilight spoke up, as the kind human went off to make dinner. “You see, Spike?” Twilight said, as she looked to Spike, “He did return the favor after all.” “Well, yeah, I guess.” Said Spike, as he scratched the back of his head. “Come on,” the new princess said, “let’s unpack.” Soon, Twilight had got all of the stuff from her backpack nicely into the trunk at the end of her new bed with her magic, “Ohh~ this is a good spot to store my books.” She said as she then looked over to both the trunk and her bag see if she had everything out. “Uh oh…” Twilight said, as she looked into her bag, “Um, Spike?” “What is it, Twilight?” the dragon asked. “I think one book is missing…” she replied. “What?!” gasped Spike, “Which book?!” “I think it’s the one about the 6 Elements of Harmony!” Twilight panicked, “When did I drop it?!? …And WHERE did I drop it? How am I supposed to protect innocent lives in case of danger without it?! But… but I don’t even have my own crown or my friends here!! Why didn’t I think of this? What am I going to do?!” “TWILIGHT!! Calm down!” Spike said, as he got her to look at him, snout to snout, “There’s nothing to be afraid of!” “But, Spike…” Twilight was about to speak until Spike spoke up first. “But what? Just look at all those creatures.” Spike said, “They’re harmless, compared to you, and they can’t use any magic against you or…” “But what if one of those idiots picked it up?” Twilight stated, which caused the both of them to be silent for the moment, as Spike saw Twilight’s (possible) point, if one the creeps who cornered them managed to snag the book, who knows what they would do with it. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Tommy was busy making dinner, as he was peeling some potatoes, he was in deep thought about the bizarre cravings from his new friends. ‘I know ponies eat flowers and hay,’ he thought to himself, ‘but a dragon with a craving for gems? I thought they eat meat…’ “Tommy,” Twilight’s voice snapped him back to reality, as he looked to see the Alicorn looking quite anxious as she said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” “What happened?” he asked. I dropped a very important book of mine around the city earlier on, and I must find it!” Twilight explained as she went to the front door. “Wait a minute!” Tommy spoke up, stopping Twilight in her tracks, “Do you have any idea where you dropped it?” “I don’t know,” Twilight replied, “but I won’t come back until I’ve found it!” “Twilight! This city is over 35 miles wide, and you have no clue where you dropped it?” Tommy stated. “Thirty five… miles?” said a stunned Twilight, “…but… I can’t take the risk of someone finding that book.” Twilight, there’s over 8 million people living in this city!” Tommy explained, “It would take forever to find someone who took your book.” “Oh…” said a disappointed Twilight, understanding the situation. “What is that book even about?” Tommy asked. “Well…” DING DONG Before Twilight could explain, the doorbell rang, indicating that someone was at the door. “Oh, I forgot to tell you Twilight,” said Tommy, “I have a friend coming over for dinner.” “Um, should I go and hide?” asked a nervous Twilight. “You don’t have to really…” said Tommy, as he approached the door to open it, “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I’ll do my best to explain…” As Tommy opened the door, Twilight looked in shock to realize who it was as her host said, “Hey, Flash! How are you doing?” “Doing fine.” Flash said, as the blue haired teen came in and said hello to his pal, “But you should’ve seen what happened today.” “Really?” Tommy asked. “Yeah, there was-” Flash was about to explain as he instantly recognized a stunned Twilight as she recognized him from earlier when the goons had cornered her during their first meet up. “What are you doing here?!” they both asked in surprise, as Tommy, as he closed the door, looked to both of them. ‘Hmmm… I’m getting the feeling they’ve already met before…’ he thought to himself, ‘oh well, saves me the trouble from explaining…’ Tommy just knew that tonight’s chat at dinner was going to be quite an interesting one.