//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Miss Sparkle Goes to Canterlot // by Fon Shaolin //------------------------------// “Spike, what box is EquestLaw: Volume 12 in? I want to read it on the train.” “It’s in the green box!” Twilight rooted around for a moment in the huge stack of moving boxes until she found the sought-after box. She pulled out a large brown tome from within and glanced over the title just to make sure. “Thanks!” she shouted and floated it over to her saddlebag. It took up precious space within, but Twilight figured that some last-minute political studying couldn't hurt her on the trip to Canterlot. The library was, for the most part, still intact after Twilight had gone through it with a fine-tooth comb. In the few days leading up to the start of Waning Moon, the purple unicorn had spent nearly every waking hour getting ready to move back to Canterlot. There were boxes on top of boxes that were packed with most of the books Twilight had gotten transferred from her Canterlot home when she moved. Even though there were still mountains of books left in the library, the work went surprisingly well; Spike had been diligent in his daily book sorting and his system let Twilight pick out exactly which ones she’d be having moved with her. The packing itself hadn’t taken so long, then – it was the reporters. Twilight had been in one news interview after another in a futile attempt to sate the public’s appetite for information about their newest representative. Even now, in the last few hours she had in her library home, Twilight wasn’t free from the public microscope. She cast a furtive look at the reporter sitting in one corner of the library. He was scribbling on his notepad, but Twilight had no doubts about where his attention was. Polaroid was a beat reporter from the Hoofington Herald that had waited until the initial reporting rush had blown over to get his story. Instead, he wanted to do a story on Twilight’s departure from Ponyville. True to his original promise, he had stayed out of the way and didn’t ask for anything, but at the same time Twilight felt a little uncomfortable. Today was going to be hard enough for her without an audience. The reporter’s head looked up and Twilight followed his gaze. Spike was very carefully stepping down the stairs, stack of books in-hand. He had evidently tried to take them all down at once to save himself a trip or two and they were piled up past his top-most spine. Twilight reached out with a little cloud of magic to help him keep steady as he nearly toppled over halfway down. Of course, Polaroid found something interesting there to write on and he was back to his notepad. Twilight went back to ignoring him. “Did you get everything from up there, Spike?” “Yup, that’s the last of the books on your list! Everything is checked, double checked and even triple checked.” Spike marched over to the table where the massive, leg-thick scroll was sitting and proudly rolled it back up. “The only thing left to do is get my stuff down here and then we can head to the train station!” Twilight winced. She reached out with her magic and lifted her assistant off the stairs and put him back in front of her. “We can do that after the party, Spike. There’s still a little more time.” I need a little more time for this as well. She put on a fake smile and nudged him toward the door. “Come on, Pinkie’s got all kinds of games and stuff for us to do.” As Spike was shuffled out of the library, Polaroid rose from his seat and approached. He was a middle-aged stallion with a dark coat and Twilight had to look up to meet his eyes. The camera hanging around his neck bounced off his chest as he stepped over some boxes. “Do you mind if I come with you? I’m almost done here and I just want to ask a few questions.” It was a bit of a walk to Sugarcube Corner and, if the reporter wasn’t exaggerating, there was a chance Twilight could get rid of him before he overheard anything personal. “I can answer them on the way to the party,” she offered. He nodded once and they set out for the bakery with Spike in tow. “Do you have any comment about the recent investigations into the campaigns of Dairy Star and Mountroamer for misappropriation of funding? There is talk that it was the impromptu donation to your own campaign that sparked interest from Canterlot’s Election Committee.” Twilight nearly tripped over her own hooves when she heard that. “An investigation? I-I haven’t heard anything about that.” The reporter raised an eyebrow. “That story is nearly two days old now. Donors have begun suing to get their contributions and the amount they paid to get you registered might have broken the donation limit for political action committees.” “I’ve been busy getting ready to move,” Twilight muttered, but she sounded uncomfortable. Wasn’t it her job to keep up with things like that now? “Well, if they’ve broken the law then they should face justice. If they haven’t, then there’s no harm in the inquiry.” Polaroid didn’t react to the answer beyond making a note. “How do you feel about the upcoming legislative session? Is there anything in particular you want to get done?” This was a question Twilight was ready for. She cleared her throat, recovered from her earlier gaff. “Well, I’ve looked at all of the positions the other candidates were campaigning on and I think I’ve found areas that need special attention. Education, infrastructure, and trade policy seem to be what the ponies of Briarwood want done and I plan on going over every piece of legislation in Canterlot dealing with them.” The question had been asked so much over the last week that Twilight had her answer down by heart now. Twilight had spent the better part of three days locked in her library after deciding to accept her new job – she didn’t do things by halves. She poured over every newspaper clipping and editorial written by any pony that had been even a semi-serious candidate and looked at all their positions. She studied Canter Polls that measured what issues were important to which ponies; she reviewed tapes from radio interviews with concerned citizens; she visited the mayor of Ponyville to see what problems there were in the town that escaped her notice – anything and everything there was to find about what ills plagued the land Twilight consumed with gusto. When she emerged to the reporters she had a veritable portfolio of ideas and had talked their ears off. All of that was already in the newspapers, though. Twilight was sure Polaroid was asking only to cover his bases and that her stock answer would appease him. She very much doubted that he’d be the first one to ask to see her flow charts on seasonal labor migration. Indeed he was not. Polaroid took one more picture of Twilight outside of Sugarcube Corner and said he’d be at the train station to snap a few more before she left for Canterlot. Twilight relaxed when the brown unicorn was finally out of sight. Today was the last day she’d have with her friends for a while and she wanted to make the most of it. True to usual Pinkie fashion, the bakery was done up with party balloons and streamers. Things were already swinging when Twilight entered – music was thumping from a boom box in the corner and a few of her friends were at the pastry table getting snacks. Spike, of course, was there as well. Twilight walked over, awed by the effort put into the party. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, Pinkie.” The pink earth pony was carving up the purple cake that had “world’s best representative” spelled out in icing on top. “Sure I did! You’re going to miss so many parties that I had to roll them all up into one super party!” She maneuvered a large piece of cake onto a plate and nudged it over the table. “I’m gonna call this party your ‘birthday-goodbye-comebacksoon-apalosa!” Not quite trusting her voice to not hitch, Twilight levitated her piece of cake over and took a demure bite, just to keep her mouth occupied. She let her eyes wander over the room of twenty or so ponies, most she really didn’t know that well but had helped in some way over the year. Five, though, were most dear to the unicorn. Twilight’s situation started to dawn on the unicorn. These were her friends – her best and only friends – and she was leaving them behind. She would always be back, but they wouldn’t be by her side for months at a time. What if there was a problem that she couldn’t solve by herself? What was she going to do without their advice? The problems she would be facing now were going to be bigger than anything she’d ever faced before and would affect more ponies. And she was going to face them. Alone. Twilight swallowed hard. She looked away from the crowd and her eyes landed on her little assistant. He was trying to reach the punchbowl and failing. Twilight magic’d a chair over so he could grab himself a drink. He grinned back at her and Twilight tried to return it. Not for the first time Twilight wondered if she should adjust her plans when it came to Spike. It hadn’t been a spur of the moment decision, but instead one Twilight had went to her friends and discussed. Most of them agreed with her (Applejack and Fluttershy had expressed some worry, but her explanation had settled them a bit) and the original reasons she had laid out still rang true. Twilight chided herself when a little voice in the back of her mind whispered her to do it anyway. But, no, she was being selfish enough already leaving her post in Ponyville – she wasn’t going to hurt Spike in the process. He had been entrusted her to and she’d look out for him. “Am I interrupting, Darling?” Twilight startled slightly as Rarity’s voice broke through her thoughts. She hadn’t noticed her friend come up to her. “No, I’m just thinking about Spike.” Twilight let out a deep sigh. Rarity had been one of the first to offer her help and the white unicorn, with the exception of Applejack, probably understood what she was feeling better than anypony else. She glanced at her friend, half afraid to have her fears confirmed. “Do you think he’ll be angry with me?” Rarity let out her own sigh. “He certainly won’t be happy,” she answered. “I understand why you have to do it, but I don’t know if he will. Are you quite sure there isn’t a way you could take him with you to Canterlot?” “We’ve already gone over this, Rarity. He would be so unhappy there! You know how attached he’s gotten to you girls,” Twilight argued. She and Rarity had gone over the same topic since Twilight made her decision to leave the library to Spike. “He loves it here so much and I remember what it was like for him in Canterlot. He was so busy just being my assistant when I was a student; can you imagine what it what me having an actual job would be like?” “You could simply go easier on him. Don’t you imagine he’d want to see his friends back in Canterlot as well?” Twilight didn’t have the heart to tell her that Spike didn’t have any friends back in Canterlot – or that it was Twilight’s own fault he didn’t. Friendship was a hard thing to come by when you spent hours in the research library like Twilight did. On the odd days that Twilight did take a break, Spike never ventured very far from her dorm. More often than naught he’d simply crash a party if he were too lonely, but as far as Twilight knew he didn’t have any social life beyond acquaintances. “You girls are much better friends to him than the ponies back in Canterlot,” Twilight muttered. The truth sounded far, far worse than that lie. Rarity’s face scrunched up in thought. Twilight imagined her picturing Spike being bullied or picked on. “I suppose you know best, then. You’ve known him longer than I have so if you believe that he will be happier here in Ponyville then I won’t argue any further.” Twilight cracked a weary smile. “Thanks, Rarity. Now, are you sure you’re alight with looking after Spike for me? I know the other girls said they’d look after him too, but I have a feeling he’ll be at your shop the most.” “I have a little sister, Darling. Children are not anything I do not have experience with. Besides, Spike is an excellent assistant and equally good at watching Sweetie Belle for me when she comes to visit.” It would be better if Spike was occupied, Twilight thought. He got along fairly well with the “crusaders” and he enjoyed their antics more than he admitted. Twilight almost felt guilty potentially adding a fourth to their group, but Spike was a bit more mature than them. Maybe he’d even talk them out of some of their more disruptive schemes? After clearing the rest of the details with Rarity, Twilight fixed herself a plate of party food and tried to enjoy herself. If she tried, Twilight could almost convince herself that this was just another “typical” Pinkie party and that she wasn’t going to leave all her friends in a few hours. Almost. Pinkie was good at reading the mood, though, and picked up the slack when Twilight found herself really starting to get down with games, drinks, or just little conversations. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were trying to do the same thing and were following her around like a shadow. Twilight was having a good time watching them fuss over who was closer to pinning the tail on the pony, but every time some other pony would approach to say their goodbyes it dimmed the mood. Finally the only people left were Twilight’s closest friends and most of them were busy cleaning up. Rarity caught her eye and motioned to Spike with her head. It was either now or on the train platform and Twilight did not want to drop this on her assistant like that. The little dragon was finishing off the punch and looked so content that Twilight took a few minutes just to make it across the room in order to let him be happy for a little while longer. Rarity joining her, though, steeled her nerves somewhat – enough to make it over and tap him on the shoulder. “Spike,” she began, “can Rarity and I have a word with you in the kitchen?” The dragon looked curious, and he checked the big clock on the wall, but followed the two into the empty part of Sugarcube Corner. He and Rarity plodded inside and Twilight closed the door to give herself a little extra time to brace. “So, what’s up? You guys look kinda serious.” Spike turned to Twilight. “We’ve got to leave in an hour, Twi, and I’ve still got to get my stuff.” Twilight looked to Rarity, but her friend wasn’t any help. She was ignoring the conversation for the moment and was looking out the kitchen window. Do your own dirty work, she seemed to be saying. “It’s about your things, Spike.” Twilight took a breath. “You’re not going to need them. You aren’t going with me to Canterlot.” The dragon’s mouth flapped a few times. “I…you…what? What do you mean I’m not going? I’m your—” “Spike! Do you enjoy it here in Ponyville?” Twilight couldn’t stop, couldn’t let Spike get on a roll or she’d lose her will. “Do you remember what it was like for you in Canterlot? We were in the library seven hours a day! It’s going to be like that again, Spike, only worse.” “But, I don’t mind any of that! It was my job!” Twilight stomped her hoof. “That’s right! It was your job and it shouldn’t have been!” The outburst calmed the storm in the kitchen for a frightful moment. Rarity actually looked like she was ready to jump in. Good, Twilight thought. That’s what I need her to be like. “Spike, would you really drop everything to go with me to Canterlot?” She saw him start to answer and cut him off with a raised hoof. “Think long and hard about that, Spike. I know how much you like Pinkie’s parties or Rainbow Dash’s pranks – if you leave with me you won’t see them for two whole years.” She dropped her voice and leaned in so that Rarity couldn’t hear her. “I don’t want to be responsible for you losing the only friends you’ve had in years, Spike.” The little dragon looked thunderstruck. Before she got to Ponyville Twilight never would have realized how antisocial the two of them had been back in Canterlot. This would be her biggest friendship lesson – leaving her best friend behind because it was good for him. She pulled back and let out a breath. “You know I’m right.” Her eyebrow arched, waiting on him to disagree. “Can you honestly say you want to go back to Canterlot and only get to visit Ponyville a few times a year?” “No.” The words were quiet, but both Twilight and Rarity heard them. It hurt Twilight to hear the defeat in his voice, but it also gave her the hope that Spike wouldn’t make this any harder. “I’m not leaving you, Spike. Whenever you’re feeling lonely, you can send me a letter. I promise you that the first thing I’m going to do when I get settled in Canterlot is get the princess to teach me how to send letters to you. We could write each night if you want, okay?” Spike still looked miserable, but he sniffed and nodded. Twilight wasn’t fairing that well herself and she swept the little dragon up in a hug. “It’s only for a little while. I’ll be back before you know it,” she whispered, fervently hoping she was being truthful. “You’re the best assistant anypony could ask for, Spike. I know I’m leaving the library in good hands.” “I still have all your checklists. I’ll check them every day! Every single one!” Twilight let Spike down and wiped her eyes. “I don’t doubt that you’ll try, Spike.” She gestured to Rarity. “Rarity’s going to have you come over a few times a week to help in her shop and the other girls are going to take turns checking in on you.” Rarity stepped forward. She was struggling to keep her emotions even as well, Twilight saw. “That’s right, Darling. Anytime you feel lonely, overwhelmed, or you just want to talk come right down the street to the Boutique. The door will always be open.” Emotionally drained, Twilight let her mind drift as Spike and Rarity worked out a schedule for helping at the Boutique. She felt emotionally battered after that; the talk itself was one of the worst things she had gone through in a long time. Rarity’s words from earlier, about being lonely in Canterlot, were starting to echo in her head as well. She had never been lonely before, but then again she’d never had friends before and Spike had been a constant companion. How bad would it be without any of her friends around? Twilight was, she knew, something of a shut-in in the eyes of the other ponies and that her friends constantly tried to get her out of the library more often. Twilight didn’t think of herself as one, though – fact was she spent far more time now being social than she did back in Canterlot. As she thought about going back to those days, she felt a knot tighten in her chest. She had just given up the only real social link she would have had in Canterlot other than the princess. In the midst of her mild panic attack, Twilight felt Spike tug on her mane. He looked much happier than he had just a moment ago and the unicorn wished she hadn’t drifted off like that in the middle of the conversation. “You don’t have to worry about me, Twilight. Really. Rarity said I could be her assistant until you get back and I promise I’ll take care of the library.” Twilight wondered how miserable she had to look for Spike to turn the tables on her. “I know you will.” She couldn’t tell her assistant what she was really worrying about. He would feel guilty and Rarity would insist that she take Spike. Twilight was firm in thinking that he shouldn’t have to suffer for another one of her odd choices in life. The party was winding down by the time the trio of friends returned to the bakery’s main room. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had managed to knock a few plates of food off the snack table and were busy helping the Cake’s clear the mess while Pinkie was telling Fluttershy an uncomfortably enthusiastic joke by the look on her face. She would miss this. Twilight’s unease crept back as she watched her friends go about their business. Were there ever five ponies as great as her friends? Twilight doubted she’d meet better ponies anywhere in Equestria even if she spent the next two years looking nonstop. The thought of leaving all this behind, even for a little while, hadn’t crossed her mind. She had been too caught-up with winning and being excited about the princess thinking she could do the job. “Darling, are you alright?” Rarity had hung back with the other unicorn as Spike fell in with Pinkie and Fluttershy to salvage the rest of the party. She looked more worried than when Twilight had been talking with Spike. “I know that leaving him here was hard for you, but something else seems…off.” Twilight ached to say something, anything, to explain what she was feeling. She knew that keeping feelings bottled-up wasn’t good for her (as the doctor at the clinic had explained after the Smarty Pants fiasco), but Twilight couldn’t bring herself to dump her feelings on Rarity or the others right before she left. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed with the moving and the reporters,” Twilight lied. “I hope that there won’t be too many at the train station.” As Rarity let out a sigh of understanding, Twilight promised herself that she’d talk to Princess Celestia about what was worrying her the second she got to Canterlot. If anypony would know what to do it would be her mentor – of that, Twilight was absolutely certain.