//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Journey, Part 4 // Story: Chronicles of an Unknown World - The Awakening // by Blue Blaze {COMET} //------------------------------// {*First-Person View, Main Character*} Twilight had just finished what she saw at ‘Canterlot Castle’ as she called it. And wow, what a story to tell. Apparently, there was a lot of stuff going on outside this library. Mass demolition, annihilation and chaos were all a part of the storm’s payload. The purple unicorn was crying pretty badly after having to describe to me her past experience witnessing all the destruction. Her eyes were bloodshot, her ears were bent back and she was sniffling from all the mucus caused from her sobbing. I didn’t know what to think. I know I should give her my condolences, but should I also try and calm her down? I didn’t like her crying. It just didn’t fit in into the emotions of this room and was kinda sudden. It’s not like I’m a heartless douche or anything, but I really didn’t know what to do. She obviously needed some kind of outside help to guide her along through her troubled times, but I barely knew the girl! I don’t think it’s in my place as a practical stranger AND an alien to lend out my hand and help her get back to her feet-hooves. What if she felt uncomfortable if I did try to comfort her? I didn’t want to come off as a creepy person getting all touchy-feely with another species! That would end up very badly. I looked at her eyes again. She just simple looked back at me with her lips trembling, pleading in her eyes for the pain and sorrow to stop. My back was relaxed on the nice soft sofa while I watched another living being wail her eyes dry. What was I doing? She needed help! She was standing all by her lonesome self without anyone! And I’m not gonna just sit by like this and let it all happen! I’m not an asshole! Sure, I don’t even know her, but still, she needs someone, anyone to help her ease the suffering! Well, fuck. I launched out of my seat and slid across the floor on my knees towards Twilight. I reached and wrapped my arms around her in a great big hug. Yes, a hug. Now don’t mistake me for those kinds of people that go all mushy every time someone cries, but I felt it was necessary and appropriate for the situation. She returned the gesture by grabbing me in her own well-needed embrace. I could feel her tears soak through my t-shirt. Gross, but well worth it. It was then I realized how awkward the situation was! I was hugging a bright purple unicorn from another planet that was crying into my arms! Not only was it strange because of the nature of this angle that came to be, but also because normally I don’t hug people I don’t know. It’s just kinda weird. Well, if anything, I guess I’m learning the personality behind the unicorn bit by bit, eh? I allowed my mind to get back to the present. Twilight was still in my grasp but was slowly calming down. I kept my patience, waiting for the moment when she would be ready again. When her breathing stabilized, she let go of me, shuffled backwards and levitated a hanky out of nowhere. I flinched when she started to blow her nose, creating a trumpet-like sound in the process. Eww, I hoped that none of her snot got on me! She seemed like she was ready for another go. “Ok, so what happened after the balcony?” The unicorn sniffed before explaining her story. “Princess Celestia brought me inside to tell me something. I followed her to the innards of her bed room. Once there, she said…” Twilight began crying again. “What did she say?” I asked softly. “She said…” Twilight could barely contain her sniffles. I gave her time to answer my question. I didn’t need to push anything. “She said that I needed to leave Equestria!” Twilight announced, beginning to bawl once again. “WHAT???” I answered for the millionth time. “She-she said that I-I-I nee-neede-ed to leave Equ-Equ-Equestri-ria fo-for my own safe-ty…” The poor, poor unicorn could sparsely get her stammering out. “But why?” “She-she said that it was to-to-too dang-er-ous to st-stay in Equ-Equest-ria with the st-storm out an-an-and abou-t, so she-she told m-me-me to ge-get my friend-s and lea-ve the kingdom…” “So was that why you were down here?” She nodded, hiccuping from her rampant emotions. It all makes sense now! Sort of. I bet she was trying to leave while we were asleep because the Princess told her to go gather her friends and leave Equestria for their own safety! But then, obviously she didn’t mean to create such a mess and was trying to sneak away, so does that mean that she was going to ditch me here? Also, isn’t the Princess’s methods a little extreme? Well, I’ve still got a lot of questions, but inch by inch is a synch, right? “So were you going to just ditch me here while you ran away from your country?” I queried, leaning forward with my arm supporting my head by resting on my leg. “Oh, no-no! I wasn’t go-going to leave any-anypony be-behind! I-I planned to come ba-back as as-soon as I got every-everyone. I would nev-ever leave you or Spi-Spike behind! Never!” Spike? A sudden variable into the mix? “Who’s Spike?” I buzzed while at the edge of my seat. “Oh, he’s my ass-assistant. He li-lives here with me whi-while I run-run the library. He-he-he helps me run err-ands and wri-te lett-letters to other ponies…” Twilight replied, wiping the tears from her face with her foreleg. “So why didn’t I see him while I was awake and you were interrogating me?” “He was sl-eeping in my room.” “The entire time?” “Yeah. He-he can be a very heavy sleeper sometimes.” “So why didn’t he wake up with all the screaming and yelling that was going on?” “I-I cast a sound barrier sp-spell around the roo-room because he-he had trouble sleeping wh-while the sto-storm was going on.” Well, that was very nice of her. I tried to study her expressions some more and get a sense of what she looks like when what she feels. All I could tell was that she was still a bit blue from all the events she had to go through. I had a few more questions about her assistant, but I had to put them aside if I wanna wrap this questioning session up. “So… What now?” “Wha-what do you mean?” “I mean what are you going to do now? Are you going to still go out and get your friends and just leave? Or have you lost your confidence and you're just going to stay here?” “Well…” Twilight sniffed. She was once again recovering from her fit of tears, except at a swifter pace. Her eyes lost contact with mine as she gazed off towards the distance. I could see the gears of though churning in her mind, spinning and turning with utter consideration. She was obviously troubled and had a lot to think about, but that’s what I was trying to determine. What kind of thought process does she use to conclude questions and ideas? In what order does she organize her thoughts and how does she use that to create better solutions? What kind of first step does she like to take? And most importantly, What are you going to do next, Twilight Sparkle?