//------------------------------// // Good old days // Story: A Friend Not Met // by Legioner8 //------------------------------// "That pony sure does love books!" That's what everypony familiar with Twilight Sparkle would tell you. And that's true. Twilight Sparkle loves books and she loves to read them even more. Reading always was an important part of her life. It was what made her into a pony she was. It allowed her to learn magic, it helped her to save Equestria multiple times, it even showed her how to throw some great slumber parties. It was normal for Twilight to go through the huge tomes, that would normally take others several days to read, in just one night. So, yes. Twilight Sparkle always loved reading. So how ironic it was, that her most beloved activity has turned into an excruciating torment? The deciphering spell took at least one second to cast, and under the normal circumstances that would not be a problem, however since the cipher enchantment was damaged in such a way that made an automatic deciphering impossible, Twilight had to cast her spell for Every... Single... Word... And that effectively dropped her reading speed to about sixty words per minute! This is ridiculous, Twilight thought. I'm sure that I could read faster than that even when I was just learning how to read! At this pace it's going to take weeks to undo everything! She sighed and deciphered yet another word. However, despite the terrible inconvenience of this whole situation, there actually was something positive about the process. Diaries and journals exist to store the memories of their owners and to allow them to relive some of their most important days. But Twilight was mostly interested in her notes on the experiments she run, or the letters she sent to the princess, so she could not, for the life of her, remember the last time she simply set down an actually read through the events surrounding those experiments and letters. But now Twilight was practically diving into her own past, all be it one word at the time. And so, despite her frustration, the smile slowly crept onto her face. Slowly, word-by-word, Twilight got to the point where Moondancer invented her to her birthday party. The way she wrote about the event made Twilight's ears droop. I can hardly believe that I used to be like this, she thought. I only mentioned Moondancer's party as some annoyance that would distract me from the "important stuff". Twilight sighed and shook her head, feeling ashamed of her past self. But then she realized something, that made her perk up again. Wait, that happened two days before The Summer Sun Celebration! Twilight eyes sparked with anticipation as she continued to decipher and read, ready to relive the night that changed her life. ~~~ I could not believe it! How could Princess Celestia dismiss my warnings so nonchalantly? We are talking about the biggest crisis Equestria has faced in centuries! And she sends me to some backwater village to "make some friends"!? I sighed and hanged my head over the chariot's edge. I didn't know what the Princess was thinking, doesn't she trust me? Did I somehow failed her recently? I hoped not. At least I didn't think so... Plus Spike, who was rereading Princess's letter out loud for the fourth time, did not exactly boost my confidence. "Look on the bright side, Twilight," he continued, trying to cheer me up. "The Princess arranged for you to stay at the library! Doesn't that makes you happy?" Maybe Princess Celestia was right and I really was overreacting? After all, when was the last time some ancient dark prophecy came to pass? No! If there was at least a fracture of chance that the prophecy was true, it was my duty to prevent the disaster! Or at very least to prepare for it. So my stay at the library was indeed a fortunate opportunity to do so! "Yes, yes it does," I turned to face Spike. "And you know why? Because I'm right! I'll check up on the preparations as best as I can, then I'll get to the library to find the proof of Nightmare Moon's return!" Spike gave me one of his disapproving looks, apparently all of my reasoning flew right over his head. "Then when will you make friends, like princess said?" He asked. Ugh, not that again! Princess made one little remark about my social life at the end of her letter, and Spike decided that this is, apparently, our main objective for today. However, I guess it's not fair of me to be so annoyed at him. After all he is still a baby dragon, it is quite logical that he would be more interested in this friend-making nonsense, rather than the official royal business or ancient history. "She said to check on the preparations," I reminded him. "I am her student and I'll do my royal duty." As I was talking, our chariot started to descend faster as we were nearing the town square. That was good, the sooner we start the more time I'll have later. "But the fate of Equestria does not depend on me making friends!" I concluded, hopping out of the chariot. ~~~ ~But the fate of Equestria does not depend on me making friends!~ Twilight smiled and closed her eyes. "Oh, silly little pony, if only you knew how wrong you were," she quietly whispered to herself. ~~~ I thanked the royal guards who brought as here, I might be a bit irritated but that is no excuse for being impolite. "Maybe ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about?" Spike continued to push on as he followed me. He turned around looking for somepony and, as if right on cue, a bright pink mare came to us and... just stood there? She was smiling and all but that was somewhat creepy, I mean, I wasn't even sure if she was looking at me, or past me, or right through me. Spike however was completely unperturbed by the mare's strange behavior and gestured at her. "Come on Twilight, just try!" He said, giving me a reassuring smile. I looked back at the mare, and yup, she was still standing there, as if waiting for something. I didn't want to start up the conversation, let alone to befriend this strange pony, but that silence was beginning to unnerve me. "Um... Hello?" I started. The mare's eyes shifted a little, truly focusing on me for the first time, and a moment later she lipped up into the air with a loud gasp. Before I could even comprehend what just happened, she was gone, kicking up a cloud of dust. ... "Well that was interesting all right..." I concluded and started to walk. Did I startled her? I sometimes get lost in thoughts myself but this was just ridiculous. How did she leap two meters into the air like that? I could have sworn that she was an earth pony, but to fly away like that would surely require a pair of wings. "With that mission failed, what is next on the list?" I asked still confused Spike. "Oh! Um," he looked at the letter again. "It's the food for the celebration. Ponies at the Sweet Apple Acres are in charge of it." "I think I saw an apple orchard when we were flying," I said. "Come on, it's this way." *** Thankfully our trip to the orchard was uneventful. We didn't run into any more crazy ponies, and more importantly Spike dropped his attempts to force me into befriending total strangers. I've only spared the orchard a passing glance when we were up in the sky, and I must admit, it didn't give this place a justice it deserved. Rows upon rows of tall apple trees were stretching as far as eye could see and the fruits looked crisp and appetizing, fit for the royal table. "Wow, this place is huge!" Spike said, looking around. "The Apple Family is Equestria's largest supplier of apples and apple related products, it's logical that their fields will reflect that," I said, looking around myself. "I only hope that we won't spend the rest of the day looking for somepony who can give us the report. Let's go." Turned out it was much easier than I expected. Almost immediately after we walked through the gate we heard a loud "Yeehaw" and an orange mare ran past us to the nearest apple tree. Just before reaching the tree she quickly stopped and turned, letting the momentum to carry her hind legs forward, and gave the tree a powerful buck. As the result all of the apples fell neatly into the baskets at the base of the tree. Impressed, I briefly wondered if that move was calculated or achieved by the many trials and errors. Regardless the mare looked proud of her work. At the corner of my eye I saw Spike looking at me, and when I turned to him I was greeted with the same encouraging smile he gave me not so long ago. "Heh... Let's get this over with," I sighed, not wanting to get into another pointless argument. Not wanting to startle this mare as well, I decided to put on my best smile and properly introduce myself. "Good afternoon, my name is Twilight Sparkle." I started, but before I could say anything else my right forehoof was yanked from the ground and vigorously shaken. "Whel howdy do miss Twilight, a pleasure making your acquaintance. Ah'm Applejack!" She said with a noticeable southern accent, all the while shaking my hoof as if trying to dislodge my whole leg from its joint. "We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like making new friends!" "F-f-f-friends? A-a-actually I-I-I..." I could not speak like that! "So, what can Ah do you for?" Applejack asked, finally releasing my forehoof. Not that it changed anything. I still couldn't stop it! Thankfully Spike grabbed onto my leg, finally stopping it. He barely managed to stifle a giggle. I shot him an annoyed glare and, after getting back my composure, turned back to Applejack. "Well, I am, in fact, here to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you are in charge of the food?" "We sure as sugar are!" She answered proudly. "Would y'all care to..." Before she could finish she was interrupted by the pare of coughs, that were clearly demanding our attention. I looked past Applejack and saw a pony, wearing a strange clothing, walking from behind the big apple tree. "Sorry for the interruption, but I was told to find someone named Applejack." She said. "I gather that's you?" ~~~ ~I was about to gather her report regarding the food, when we were interrupted by the mare in the strange clothing.~ Twilight stared at the last sentence. Then she reread it again. And again. I don't remember anything like this... She thought. Then she closed the journal, opened it again and read the last deciphered sentence again. It was still the same. And then, like a ton of bricks, it hit her. She jumped up on all four and shouted. "That is not my journal!"