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// Chapter 2: Trepidation 
// Story: Stroke of Luck 
// by Gboyd 
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'With time, we change. And as we change, so do our perspectives of each-other, regardless if we're family or friends. But that's the where you need to draw the line. If you decide change for the negative, chances are that others will too." ~Amanda Hunter

The sun continued to inch over the horizon at an infuriatingly slow pace. It was slow by even Tank's standards. Patience ran out, and irritation took it's limit with one certain pegasus. She let loose a low growl and shot into the air. "Right, first off people, this doesn't take but five seconds. Say hi and move on. Don't stand around and chit-chat; she's got other things to do." No one heard her, except for the five below her. 
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Uh.... ain't what we're planin' on doing?" Rainbow responded by rolling her eyes and looking at the glittering castle up ahead. 
"Well, look on the bright side, Dashie," Pinkie chirped. "At least we're closer, right?" Rainbow scoffed, and was instantly rewarded with a Fluttershy glare. 
"Apologize. Now."  Rainbow shrunk back and mumbled a 'sorry' to Pinkie, who burst into the widest of grins. 
"That's all-right, Dashie-Washie! We all get mady-wady sometimes." Pinkie ruffled the discontent pegasus' hair, who grunted and fixed it as fast as possible. Applejack's mind was on the comment Rainbow made earlier. She shared a look with Rarity. Maybe they were just as selfish as the towns people. Twilight had a life too, after all. Applejack blinked in realization. "Arrgh!" she thought. "Where in the world all them thoughts commin' from? We've never felt this way 'bout Twi'. Ever. So why are our ideals changin' now?"
An hour later, the line had shortened enough. A cool breeze played with the hairs on their heads as the sun sunk behind the hills. Applejack slammed her hat on the ground when she saw what time it was. 
"I can't believe it! We've been standin' in this here line all ding-dong day long!" Rarity shook her head, and Fluttershy let out a whimper. 
"My poor animals," she murmured. 
Applejack scoffed and began to pace. "I got chores ta get done. Apples to buck, caramel to be stirred. The Ponyville Days Celebration ain't but two days away, and there's still bushels o' work ta be done." 
Pinkie stared at the castle in pure silence. Her usual bouncy hair had lost its puffy state, and her eyes no longer had their sparkle of fun. 
Silence surrounded the girls in a cloud, and one question bounced around the back of all their minds. They didn't consider themselves more important than any other citizens living in this community, but they certainly knew Twilight better than others did. Before she received princess-hood, others hardly approached her, let alone get to know her, but that was understandable, given certain.... events. But once she ascended the throne--boom! People clamored for photo-shoots and autographs; some even brazen enough to ask her hand in marriage. Heck, people migrated to Ponyville just because Twilight lived there. 
The girls had known Twilight before all the craziness happened, and they still treated her the same, because they knew underneath all the fancy gigs of royalty, that she was still the same Twilight they had always known. They knew Twilight hated the publicity she constantly received, even though she richly deserved it. They knew that whenever she was put on the spot of telling tales of how she saved Equestria, she would always direct the spotlight back to them. Because they had always been there. And they always would be. 
The girls had been looking forward to Twilight's return ever since she left over a month ago. They hated it when she left, because they always felt like a piece was missing whenever she wasn't around. Ad these days, she wasn't around often. Why? She was their pillar, their sturdy ground. The strong one on the inner, because Applejack and Rainbow took care of the outer walls. If someone was bothering the group, the competitive duo would go in and lay waste to it. Rarity polished their sides, Fluttershy healed their hurts and broke up fights that occurred. Pinkie lifted them up from their problems with laughter every time, carry them back to the beginning, where they would fall into safe nets of indigo, always being led the one who started their awesome lives in the first place. And they would never trade it for anything else in the world. 
Sure, there were times when they had their doubts, and blamed Twilight for all the strange occurrences that plagued on the small town. They complained about having to leave their comfort zones whenever Equestria's fate was hanging in the balance sometimes. But once they were out of sight and beyond earshot, beyond on communication, moods would flip. Freedom pushed their feet to run, and nature  would guide their way, helped by Twilight's brainiac solutions if they ever got stuck in a sticky situation. From spending the nights under the stars and listening to Twilight's lectures on constellations, to dealing with Rarity's constantly complaining that she'd forgotten one thing or the other and wished she'd brought this or that. But Rarity complained to fill what would have been an otherwise comfortable silence, and if no one else knew what to say, Fluttershy would sing. It was a different world, a world they visited in their dreams. A world they would talk about to no one else but each-other. 
Yes, they were good friends; some might even claim they were close to being sisters. So why did this welcome-back party end up feeling different? Why did they end up at the back of the line, where they could even see her? They were already upset at the world, being that Rainbow had to miss Ponyville's biggest celebration because of her mission. Not that it was her fault. But were thing s going to continue to go downhill from here? 
Twilight cascaded over the hills, bringing the moon with it, and bathing the surrounding hills, mountain and valleys in shadows. It was, officially, night, ad they were STILL in line. The line eventually dispersed, fed-up parents dragging screaming children back to bed. 
The golden doors sparkled in the moonlight, and the girls approached them slowly with trepidation. The doors usually felt warm and welcoming. Now they loomed over the girls with a disapproving air. 'You have no business here,' they seemed to say. 'The princess has no interest in entertaining commoners like you.' But that didn't stop Rainbow from fluttering up the steps and landing on the threshold. The others needed no second bidding. They hurried up the steps. Rainbow gazed at Applejack. She looked thin, weak, unsure of herself, and the moonlight made her seem pale. No, scratch that--she WAS pale. So different from her usual blustering, bold self. It unnerved Applejack to no end. 
One last shared look, and Pinkie stepped forward. She put her fist to the doors, and paused. She didn't knock. The doors mocked her in the silvery moonlight. 'Go ahead,' they whispered. 'Knock. See if she even hears you. We warned you. You are common filth, not even worthy for her eyes to gaze upon. An uninterrupted jester. A blade of grass in the field. She is a goddess. A being above the skies. You were left in the back of the line. Sigh of fate's first warning. So go ahead. Knock.' 
Pinkie shook her head to clear it. Her fist made contact with solid gold three times. Three booming, hollow knocks sounded throughout the castle. The girls scrambled backwards, startled at how loud the sounds were. They weren't usually that loud. The girls huddled together, fearful. 
That same question and several others refused to leave them alone. What was wrong with them? What awaited them behind those doors? Would they even recognize her? So many questions, so little time. Rainbow sucked in a breath. The handle had started to turn.