The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds

by Kamahido


REMASTERED - Chapter 1 - In the Beginning...

Spike walks down the stairs of the Golden Oaks Library’s basement. Spotting Twilight sitting at a workbench he walks over to her with a steaming cup of coffee.

“How’s it going, Twilight?”

“Pretty good considering…”

She takes the mug and downs the contents in but a few gulps before tossing it back to Spike. He sighs and shakes his head.

“That can’t be healthy.”

Twilight looks over her clipboard as she continues her work. “Hm?”

“Drinking coffee that fast.”

“It helps, as the caffeine hits me harder.”

Spike facepalms. “Yeah, like I said, that can’t be good.”

“Thanks for making it cooler for me.”

“I just did that so you wouldn’t burn yourself! Not so you could…!”

“Uh huh…”

“Are you even listening to me, Twilight?!”

The young mare writes something on her clipboard as she looks over a strange clipping. “Uh huh…”

Spike shakes his head as he sets the empty coffee cup on the table next to her. “What are you working on anyways?”

“A study of exotic plants.”

Spike looks at the clipping and frowns. “It just looks like oak leaves to me.”

Twilight nods as she continues writing. “They are.”

“Then how is that considered ‘exotic’?”

Twilight stops writing and looks over her clipboard with a grin at Spike.

“I never said they were from Equestrian oaks.”

Spike raises an eyebrow. “Uh… what other kinds are there?”

“These are literally out of this world!”

“That didn’t really clear it up, Twilight.”

Setting down her clipboard, Twilight’s horn glows as she pulls aside a large sheet with her magic. A tall oval shaped mirror comes into view as she does so. Spike raises an eyebrow, clearly perplexed.

“A mirror, Twilight?”

Twilight nods as she trots toward it excitedly. “Yes! Princess Celestia sent it over just this morning!”

Spike rolls his eyes. “Look, I’m sure you’re very excited about getting a gift from the princess, Twilight. But this isn’t telling me anything.”

“I guess not. Let me read the note that came with it.”

Levitation a scroll off of a nearby table Twilight reads aloud.

“My dearest, most faithful student, Twilight. You made mention on a recent trip to Canterlot that you wished to study something truly exotic. While I was overseeing the reorganization of the Royal Repository I came across this item. It’s known as the Crystal Mirror.”

Spike looks the mirror over. “It’s a crystal horseshoe.”

Twilight frowns. “Spike! It’s not…!”

She looks over the mirror for a moment before sighing.

“Okay, so it does. But let me finish.”

Clearing her throat, Twilight continues reading.

“This magical item, presumably created by Star Swirl the Bearded, can act as a gateway from another world to Equestria. I would like you to use it to study that land’s plant and fungus. Carefully bring through samples to examine and catalogue fully. Write a detailed report of every specimen you encounter and be sure to be thorough in your reports.”

Spike raises an eyebrow. “She feels the need to tell YOU to be thorough?”

Twilight sighs. “Yes, well… Princess Celestia explains that too.”

Going back to the scroll, Twilight continues.

“While I know that you prefer to get an assignment done quickly, this one will require a keen eye for details. Let nothing escape your notice no matter how insignificant. Unlike most other assignments you’ve been given thus far, this one will not have any sort of time constraints. If anything, I would prefer that you take your time with this and enjoy the journey… not the destination.”

Spike grins. “So she’s telling you to have fun with it?”

“Something like that.”

“Anything else?”

Twilight holds up the scroll again. “I will be out of the country for an unknown amount of time, hence this extensive project. We can talk about it in greater detail, along with your findings, upon my return. In the meantime Luna and Cadance will be in Canterlot governing the nation in my absence. Should you need assistance of any kind I’m sure they would be glad to help you. Enjoy this research project, but do not let it take you away from your friends in Ponyville. Remember what I’ve always said… all work and no play make Jack a dull stallion. I look forward to speaking with you in the future regarding your discoveries in this endeavor. Sincerely, Princess Celestia.”

Grinning, she gestures to the Crystal Mirror with the scroll in hoof.

“This report will show Princess Celestia that her faith in me was not misplaced! I plan to show her that I can do ANYTHING!”

Spike sighs. “And how are you planning to do that?”

“By writing a reference book for each and every specimen I study.”

Spike raises an eyebrow, skeptically. “You’re going to write an entire BOOK on every specimen?”

“Right!”

“But you’ve never done anything like this before!”

Twilight scoffs. “Yes, I have! I’ve written numerous reports on a number of different subjects, Spike!”

Spike groans. “I mean you’ve never written a book before!”

Twilight shrugs. “How hard could it be? I mean, I’ve certainly read enough of them to know basic layout.”

“Somehow I don’t think…”

“Princess Celestia will expect this to be done properly. Besides, from what I’ve learned thus far each plant sample is extraordinary in its own right.”

Spike raises an eyebrow. “They are?”

“Yes!”

“How?”

Twilight gestures to a microscope. “Take a look for yourself.”

Spike does so. He wordlessly stares through the lens for some time before backing away and turning to Twilight.

“I don’t get it. What is it I’m supposed to see here?”

Twilight groans. “The cells have much thicker walls!”

Spike rolls his eyes. “Not sure how I missed that.”

“I’m going to catalogue EVERYTHING!”

“Yeah, well… maybe you should have some help on something like this.”

“No, Spike. This is MY assignment. That and who would I even ask?”

“How about me?”

Twilight smiles at him. “Thanks for the thought, Spike. But I need somepony with more of a science background.”

Spike frowns. “I could at least help you take notes.”

“Like I said, this is my assignment. And I plan to get it done in a timely manner and record my data in a format that the princess with approve of.”

There is a knock at the front door. Spike turns to Twilight.

“Want me to get that?”

Twilight looks through the microscope again. “Get what?”

Spike sighs. “Never mind.”

Climbing the stairs, he opens the front door see Applejack standing there with full saddlebags.

“Hey, Spike. Is Twilight here?”

“She is, yes. But she’s just getting into a new assignment from the princess.”

“Really? What’s it about?”

“Plants.

Spike suddenly grins as he looks at the mare before him.

“Say maybe you could help her with it.”

Applejack chuckles. “If she wants to know anything about apple trees, I’m her mare. Other than that I’m afraid I don’t know too much.”

Spike sighs. “Aw… okay.”

“Sorry. In any case, I just came by to ask if you and her were planning to come to the orchard today.”

“Is today Cider Day?”

Applejack nods. “Sure is. Everypony in town’s going to be there. Hopefully she can tear herself away from that new project for an afternoon.”

Spike shrugs. “I don’t know about that. She’s really into it right now.”

Applejack sighs. “Well, see if you can convince her. After all, were getting a might bit worried about her holed up in that basement all day, every day.

“Don’t worry. I’ll think of something.”

“Thanks, Spike. Well, I need to get back to Sweet Apple Acres. Just popped into town to pick up a few things from Sugarcube Corner for the festivities.”

Spike puffs out his chest as Applejack turns to walk away. “Just leave it to me!”

Closing the door, the little dragon sighs and groans.

“How am I supposed to do this?! Twilight’s WAY too engrossed in this to leave NOW!”

Scratching his head with a claw Spike paces back and forth for a few moments before heading back downstairs. Twilight is just putting a leaf clipping into a vial of unknown liquid as Spike walks over to her.

“That was Applejack.”

“Oh? What’s up?”

“She wanted to ask if you and I were still coming to Cider Day.”

Twilight does not look up from her work as she speaks. “Is that today?”

“Yeah. The whole town’s supposed to be there.”

“Well, I’m a bit too busy to…”

Spike groans. “Come on, Twilight! You’ve been cooped up in your lab here for almost a week! You’re practically growing moss down here.”

“I’m not growing anything, remember. All the samples are from…”

“What I mean is that you’ve been down here too long! Take a break!”

Twilight frowns. “Like I said, I’m very busy with this at the moment. I can’t let Princess Celestia down.”

Spike grins as an idea comes into his head. “So you’re doing all this for the princess, huh?”

“Of course. Whom else?”

“Well, don’t you remember what she said?”

Twilight lifts a substance off of her Bunsen burner as she speaks. “Which part?”

“About all work and no play.”

“That was just a suggestion. I’m sure she still wants me to…”

Spike turns and paces slowly as he speaks. “You wouldn’t be ignoring her advice now would you, Twilight?”

“No, of course not. But I still think I should…”

“Princess Celestia’s been around a long time though. And if she says not to work too hard you should probably follow her advice. After all, she must’ve wanted to make a special point about that in the letter.”

Twilight sighs. “Just one more sample then.”

“Come on, Twilight! You haven’t seen your friends in a while and Applejack said she was getting a bit worried!”

“Well… I suppose I could go for a quick visit.”

Spike appears relieved. “You owe it to yourself.”

“But then right back here to keep working on my project.”

“Fine, fine. You going to be ready in time?”

Twilight nods as she continues working. “Of course. Just come get me when it’s time to go.”

Spike grins as he bounds upstairs. “That I can do.”

Sometime later Spike returns to the basement. He runs over to Twilight happily.

“Ready to go?”

“Just let me write a few more entries before we…”

“Twilight…”

“Okay. First just let me take one more sample. The I’ll…”

“Twilight!”

She puts down her quill and groans. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Heading upstairs with Spike, the pair walk out the door and down the path. Spike looks around and inhales deeply.

“I love the smell of summer.”

Twilight giggles slightly. “I thought you said a few days ago that you loved the smell of spring.”

Spike counts on his claws as he speaks. “First off, yes I do. Second, that was months ago. Third…”

“Was it?”

“You have no sense of the passage of time, Twilight.”

“Sure I do! It’s June!”

“Twilight?”

“Yes, Spike?”

“It’s August.”

“Are you sure?”

Spike facepalms. “We really need to get you a calendar for the lab, Twilight.”

Arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight spots what likely is the entire town milling around as they drink tankards of cider. She spots Applejack at her cider booth with Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh. The farm ponies wave as she approaches. Applejack is the first to speak.

“You made it!”

Apple Bloom giggles. “We thought you’d never get out of that basement.”

“Eyup.”

Spike grins. “I told you I’d think of something.”

Applejack chuckles. “That you did. Good work, Spike.”

Big Mac holds out a tankard to Twilight. “Cider?”

Twilight waves a hoof dismissively. “No, thank you. I’m not much for that.”

A voice nearby rings out.

“Twilight!”

Turning, Twilight spots Rainbow Dash flying toward them at top speed. She grabs the tankard, downs its contents, and tosses it back onto the counter as she lands.

“Great batch as always!”

Apple Bloom nods approvingly. “Glad you think so. After all, you’re our best customer.”

Twilight raises an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you were such a big cider fan, Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh yeah! I just can’t get enough of it!”

Applejack smirks. “We can tell.”

Apple Bloom appears confused. “How?”

“When she starts flying funny.”

Rainbow Dash frowns. “I can hold my cider!”

Applejack nudges her friend slyly. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Then tell me this. For somepony who’s supposed to be such a skilled flier, why do you crash so often?”

Rainbow Dash grits her teeth. “Because I… have an inner ear problem, that’s all!”

Applejack shakes her head and grins. “Fine. It’s your story.”

Twilight frowns. “Applejack, do you actually have proof?”

“A bit, yes.”

Rainbow Dash grimaces. “Like what?”

“I have noticed that your bouts of flying funny coincide with the day after I deliver a mini keg.”

Spike turns to Rainbow Dash. “Sounds like she has your figured out.”

A high-pitched voice rings out behind them.

“Who has who figured out?!”

They turn to see Pinkie walking toward them along with Fluttershy. Twilight smiles at them as she speaks.

“Applejack says Rainbow Dash drinks a bit too much.”

Fluttershy sighs. “That she does.”

Pinkie grins. “Yeah! And when she does she always comes to Sugar Cube Corner to nurse her hangover!”

Rainbow Dash groans. “Pinkie…”

The sound of giggling rings out. Rarity moves to join them.

“Hello, girls. Having a nice conversation?”

Spike grins hugely. “H-hi Rarity.”

“And hello to you Spikey-wikey. You’re looking very handsome today.”

“So do you.”

Rarity giggles. “Oh Spike. You always say the nicest things.”

She turns to Applejack.

“I’ll have a glass of apple wine, please.”

Big Macintosh opens a bottle and pours the contents into a glass and Apple Bloom slides a mug of juice toward Spike. Rarity takes her glass as Spike picks his own up. Raising her glass in a silent toast she taps it lightly to Spike’s and sips the contents slowly.

“Very good flavor and body. It just makes me feel warm all over.”

Spike nods, still dazed. “Me too.”

Apple Bloom looks to Spike, confused. “But you haven’t taken a drink of your juice yet.”

“Oh… right.”

Taking a large mouthful, Spike miscalculates and takes too big a gulp. Turning red with his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, he forces himself to swallow the sweet liquid as he fakes a smile to Rarity.

“D-delicious!”

Rainbow Dash grins. “Drinking it like a champ! You’ll be able to hold your cider in a few…”

Rarity frowns. “Don’t encourage him.”

Fluttershy clears her throat and turns to Twilight in an attempt to change the subject. “So… what’ve you been up to?”

“I’m working on a big project for Princess Celestia studying plants from another world.”

“And animals?”

Twilight shakes her head. “The princess’ letter was very specific. Plants and fungi only.”

Pinkie bounces happily. “Couldn’t you get something small and cuddly and warm and furry and…!”

Spike sighs. “If you want a pet Fluttershy’s the one to talk to about that. Not Twilight.”

Fluttershy nods. “Yes. That and Twilight shouldn’t be taking critters away from their family like that.”

Twilight puts a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “I probably should. Besides, I don’t really have the facilities to house and care for anything other than plants.”

Applejack steps toward her with a tankard of cider. “In any case, enough talk about books and studies.”

She gives Twilight the tankard as Big Macintosh walks over with a tray of drinks for the others. Each taking one, they knock them together happily and cry out.

“CHEERS!!!”

Knocking back their drinks, Spike facepalms as Apple Bloom walks over to him. She appears confused.

“Something wrong, Spike?”

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“What wasn’t?”

Spike points a thumb toward Twilight. “Bringing Twilight here.”

“Why? She and the others seem to be having a good time.”

“I’m kinda worried about her. I mean, she did need to get out of the basement, of course. But…”

Apple Bloom interrupts him. “But she isn’t loosened up enough yet? Big Mac, another round to Twilight and her friends.”

“Eyup.”

The stallion pours another round of tankards and heads over to the mares whom are laughing over something Pinkie said. Spike groans as he looks to Apple Bloom.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“What’s the problem? Afraid they can’t hold their cider?”

Spike groans. “The others, yes. Twilight… probably not.”

“How do you know?”

“Well, for starters… she pretty much never drinks more than one cider. And that’s just to be sociable.”

Apple Bloom looks over at Twilight whom is laughing happily as she and her friends watch Rainbow Dash take flight and do a few shaky tricks before turning back to Spike.

“I kinda see what you mean. But don’t worry about her. Applejack is pretty good about cutting ponies off before they have TOO much.”

Spike sighs. “That’s a relief. Honestly, I do like seeing her loosen up. But there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing.”

Apple Bloom nods. “I understand. Granny Smith taught me how to watch out for stuff like that.”

“What do you look for?”

“Eye movements, walking funny, slurred speech, and looking sick are good signs that somepony has had enough.”

Spike looks past Apple Bloom at Twilight before speaking. “At least she doesn’t look like any of that.”

After another drink or two Applejack looks around at her friends.

“That’s enough for you, Rainbow Dash.”

“WHAT?! But it’s Cider Day!”

“True. But you can’t be making a spectacle of yourself in front of the whole town.”

Rarity nods. “That and there are foals here.”

Pinkie gasps. Think of the children!”

Fluttershy appears confused. “What are children?”

Pinkie shrugs. “I dunno. It just came to me.”

Twilight giggles. “Well… I think I’ve had enough too. Like you said Applejack… we can’t be making fools of ourselves. But I do have to say that I think you’ve outdone yourselves on this batch.”

Rainbow Dash grins. “Yeah! This stuff is great! Can I get some bottles to take home?!”

Applejack nods. “Fine. Just as long as you drink them at home, not out in public.”

“Deal!”

She walks up to Big Macintosh to make her purchase as Spike walks over to Twilight.

“Having a good time?”

Twilight nods. “Oh yes. Thanks for convincing me to come here, Spike.”

Rarity smiles at her. “It was good to see you again, Twilight. After all, one can’t stay in the basement all the time.”

Pinkie giggles. “But why don’t you take a hint from Rainbow Dash?!”

Fluttershy appears confused. “Hint?”

Applejack nods. “She means buy a few to take home. They’re great after a hard day of work, after all.”

Spike shrugs. “Studying in your case.”

Twilight nods. “I think I will. But in any case, I need to get back to work now.”

Applejack smiles at her. “You come back anytime now, you hear.”

“I will. Come along, Spike.”

Spike turns to Rarity as they walk away. “Bye, Rarity!”

He and Twilight walk up to the counter as Apple Bloom grins at them.

“Came to make a purchase, huh?!”

Twilight nods. “Yes, I did.”

“How many bottles did you want, Twilight?”

Putting a hoof to her chin, Twilight considers the question for a few moments before answering.

“Well… I certainly would like to buy enough to last me a while. Don’t want to make a bunch of unnecessary trips, after all.”

Spike nods approvingly. “That’s very efficient, Twilight.”

“So… I guess I’ll take however many will fit in my saddlebags.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “You sure you want that many? They’ll be awfully heavy.”

Twilight nods. “I’m sure, yes.”

Shrugging, Apple Bloom motions for Twilight to step behind the counter. Doing so, Big Macintosh opens a crate. One by one they carefully fill Twilight’s saddlebags. Eventually they turn to her.

“That’s the most I’d dare put in there.”

“Eyup.”

Twilight takes a few steps to make sure everything rides well before turning to Apple Bloom.

“Perfect!”

Spike frowns. “Uh, Twilight?”

“Yes Spike?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You have to pay, remember?”

Twilight blushes slightly. “Silly me! I forgot!”

She looks at her filled saddlebags and groans as her ears droop.

“And my bits are in the bottom of one of these bags.”

Apple Bloom sighs. “It’d be a lot of work to unpack and then repack them.”

Twilight smiles sheepishly. “Um… can I start a tab?”

“I suppose so. After all, Rainbow Dash has quite the bill herself.”

Big Macintosh nods soberly. “Eyup.”

“Tell you what. I’ll head home and send Spike back with the bits today.”

Spike nods. “Sure. Then you’d be even.”

“Eyup.”

Apple Bloom nods. “Sure, that sounds fair.”

“Thank you. And sorry for this.”

It’s okay, Twilight. Any friend of Applejack’s is trustworthy enough in our eyes.”

“Eyup.”

Twilight turns to leave with Spike. “Thanks again.”

They head down the road together back towards town and the library.