The Mess
‘Twilight? Twilight Sparkle!’
Twilight Sparkle looked up from the tome on the desk, startled by the call. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear it.
You should probably answer, a voice lazily drawled in her head.
Twilight shot an annoyed glare at the cat-sized pseudodragon reclining on the desk beside her book, before turning to face the doorway.
‘Coming, Master Starswirl!’ she called, hopping off the chair in a clatter of hooves and rushing out of the chamber that doubled as her bedroom and study.
Starswirl the Bearded stood at the base of the staircase. Twilight stopped after stepping onto the hallway floor and looked up at him expectantly.
‘You called?’
‘First of all, as I’m sure we’ve discussed many times,’ Starswirl began, a tinge of irritation marring his otherwise gentle tone, ‘I prefer to consider our formal relationship as one of a mentor and apprentice, rather than master and apprentice. You needn’t tack on “Master” when addressing me, least of all in the comfort of this cottage.’
‘Of course, Ma – I mean, Starswirl.’
Starswirl crooked an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth twitched upwards for a moment.
‘Second, and most importantly, what have you been up to down here?’
Twilight cringed. ‘Oh! Well, I, ummm, I was eating this morning when I thought of how I could finally solve that Skibur Cube puzzle you set me to solving. I spent some time in the lab working on an enchanted – ’
‘I beg your pardon for interrupting,’ Starswirl said, ‘but it is not your lab work which concerns me. I noticed straight away upon my return that you had made considerable progress on the elixir that is even now simmering in the lab – I must commend you for knowing that it takes many hours to render down, although I hope you’ve been coming down to stir it every once in a while.
‘No,’ he went on, raising a hoof and gently leading Twilight a few steps down the hall to an open archway. ‘What I’m desperately curious to find out is… what happened in here?’
He gestured with a hoof into the room beyond. Pots and pans, crusted with dried food, cluttered a narrow counter, itself covered with a fine layer of flour. Towards on side of the counter was a sink, within which were cooking implements – spatulas, stirring spoons, cutting boards, and knives, themselves all similarly encrusted. Towards a corner of the room was a small round table with two stout chairs, upon which lay a dirty plate and bowl, cutlery, and a thick ceramic mug.
‘Care to explain yourself, young lady?’ Starswirl asked.
Twilight shrunk into herself, grinning sheepishly. ‘Uhhh… breakfast?’ she managed with a nervous titter.
The Essay
What are you doing?
Twilight started, spotting ink on the thick roll of paper, then glanced over at Spike, flustered and annoyed.
‘Spike, I’m trying to concentrate on my essay!’ she hissed. ‘Next time you have something to say, please say it out loud! You know how startling your telepathy can be.’
The small draconic creature raised his head to look at Twilight more intently, then rose from his curled-up position on the desk, stretching his four legs and two wings. He swayed his long neck from side to side and whipped his prehensile tail to and fro, before yawning, opening his tiny maw and lazily displaying razor-sharp teeth.
‘That doesn’t answer my question,’ he said aloud, unapologetically.
‘Ma – Starswirl wants me to show how I worked out, on my own, the solution to that Skibur Cube.’
Spike yawned again. ‘Twilight, I really can’t understand why you went through all that effort. Surely you could have impressed him with your research skills and found a solution in the library?’
Twilight was unimpressed. ‘Of course not! I’m trying to demonstrate how much magical theory and technique I’ve learned, not how well I can look things up!’
The pseudodragon shrugged. ‘Suit yourself. Are you almost done? I’m hungry.’
Twilight huffed, but soon after her face softened. ‘Oh, Spike,’ she said affectionately. ‘When aren’t you hungry?’
‘Never,’ declared Spike. He walked along the desk to where a small cloth lay crumpled, and began polishing his amethyst scales with it.
Twilight looked down at the desk, her horn aglow. A small hourglass floated into the air from one of the shelves, wrapped in the violet light of her magic.
‘All right… ten more minutes, and we’ll go get you a snack,’ she conceded, flipping the hourglass over. Sand began to slide down into the lower chamber as she set it on the desk and got back to writing.
Late Sunrise
The small chime of the clockwork bird went off early that morning.
Twilight woke almost instantly.
‘Spike! Spike!’ she half-shouted, half-whispered excitedly. ‘Wake up! It’s the Festival of the Summer Sun this morning!’
Spike was curled up at the foot of her bed. He did not respond.
‘Spike, come on! We’re going to miss the sunrise!’
Twilight prodded the pseudodragon with a hoof until he woke up, glaring crossly.
‘I was having the most wonderful dream,’ he muttered, ‘about swimming in a vault of gemstones that I could eat.’
‘Well, aren’t you glad I interrupted your unattainable fantasy for the best Festival of the year?’
‘Unattainable? Well, I suppose so, if that’s how you’re going to think of it,’ Spike groused. ‘I think it’s perfectly reasonable, if you’re willing to do the work to make it happen.’
Spike yawned, then stretched himself out before coughing a puff of smoke into the air. By the time he had finished, Twilight already had organised herself for the day: a blanket for watching the sunrise, and her staff, robes, and pouch of coin for spending the Festival in town.
‘What bothers me is how enthusiastic you are about waking up so early today,’ Spike continued. ‘It’s unnatural. I mean, Starswirl can hardly drag you out of bed most days unless he uses magic.’
‘Ha, ha, ha,’ Twilight responded snippily. ‘Come on, hop on, I’ve never missed a Summer Sun sunrise in my life, and I’m not about to start today.’
The pseudodragon leapt into the air from the bed with a flap of his wings, then glided smoothly onto Twilight’s back, where he promptly curled up again.
Next year, Spike’s voice sounded in her head sleepily, let me miss it if you don’t mind.
Twilight smirked as she trotted out of her room and down the stairs.
Within minutes, she had set the blanket up, accompanied by a jug filled with water and a mug to drink it in, and sat in the darkness of the pre-dawn morning.
She’d made sure to check the enchanted clock in the hall to get an accurate time before leaving the house. Among the other things Twilight always did for Summer Sun was accurately count down the seconds before the sunrise, which she was now doing with growing excitement.
‘Five… four… three… two… ONE!’ Twilight exclaimed, looking joyfully at the horizon for the imminent rise of the sun, marking the start of the midsummer festival day.
Nothing happened.
Twilight reared back, shocked.
‘Did… did I miscount?’ she asked herself, shaking. ‘No, that’s not possible.’ She got up and began to pace anxiously.
The jostling had disturbed Spike, who had once more fallen asleep resting on her back. ‘Ugh, Twilight, what is the matter?’
‘It’s the sun, Spike!’ Twilight exclaimed fearfully. ‘It’s late, and it’s never late! Something’s gone drea- oh!’
Light shone suddenly on the horizon, and the sun began crawling up into the sky, casting its welcoming warmth.
‘Why was it late?’ Twilight asked, pacing, her usual enjoyment of the sunrise forgotten. Then she shook her head. ‘Come on, Twilight,’ she muttered. ‘That can’t be it. I must have miscounted.’
‘You didn’t, child,’ came Starswirl’s voice. Twilight looked over to the cottage. He stood in the doorway, looking sterner than she had ever seen him.
He stepped out onto the lawn. ‘I’m afraid you are correct. The sun was late, Twilight.’
As if to punctuate his words, the air grew cold as a blustery wind suddenly blew from the north for a moment, before calming again. Starswirl’s head shot to the side, and he gazed northwards for a moment.
Twilight stared at him for a while, before hesitantly stepping towards him. Spike, no longer sleepy, glanced keenly between them.
‘What – what does this mean, Master Starswirl?’
Starswirl slowly turned his head towards her. She had come close enough that she could see her fearful countenance in his eyes, along with the concern that filled them.
He shook his head. ‘I do not know.’ He breathed deeply for a moment.
‘It won’t do to dwell on this for now, Twilight,’ he said finally, smiling kindly. ‘Try to get your mind off things. Head into town and enjoy the Festival day, why don’t you? I will stay here and learn what I can.’
‘I-if you’re sure,’ Twilight managed doubtfully.
‘Go on, go on!’ Starswirl said gruffly. ‘You’ve worked very hard these past few weeks, you deserve the break. I’ll tidy your blanket.’
‘I… okay,’ Twilight said, smiling weakly. She trotted down the path, turning back to wave at him. Starswirl waved back.
His smile faded as soon as Twilight was out of sight. He gazed northwards again, putting a hoof to his lower jaw. After a long while, he turned, lifted the blanket and ceramics and brought them back into the cottage.