//------------------------------// // What's happening? // Story: Crime: The Beginning // by WwolfJade123 //------------------------------// Twilight was left alone in the halls of the castle. She walked passed and admired the photos that resemble the ones that were on Celestia's glass pane. She admired every single one that represented the Friendship of Magic, she saw all of her friend's victories and awards for each battle that they had faced. Her friends had already left the castle after one of them had realized what time it was. Applejack was the one who left first after realizing how late in the night had been and remembered that she would read Applebloom her adventures before she got to bed and soon enough everypony had left, which was something Twilight understands. She did not want to be somepony who needed constant company after being blamed for a crime that she did not commit. She frowned. She halted at a similar door to her left and turned. She saw the dragon wings symbols on the doorknob and quickly knew who's room this was. She opened the door with her magic slowly, a low creek mimicked its movements. When the door was wide enough for Twilight to look inside she stopped and checked to see if Spike was already asleep. Her heart melted to see the dragon sleeping peacefully on his bed. She still didn't get over about Spike's growth spurt, he was as tall as a grown adult pony. The others were shocked too and not only his height has grown, his maturity as well. Celestia and Luna had their minds jumbled when they saw how responsible and noble Spike has been after his growth spurt. The memories can bring you back. She closed the door trying not to disturb the dragon much further and continued walking down the hall. Luna walked inside of Celestia's chambers from her balcony, "It looks like the storm has subsided, sister." Tears were still present from her face but it wasn't as soaked as Celestia's, a guard told her she had been crying ever since she heard the news, the counselor also told her that Celestia hit Twilight earlier this day which made her condition even worse. Hitting one of your favorite and faithful friends are not something you can take on lightly even if he/she has been accused by such felony. She walked up to her sister and held her shoulder. She could feel the way Celestia was shaking and shivering from the news and from the cold breeze the storm emitted. She could also feel how Celestia's aura had faint from its blinding form to darkness that resembles the night sky in its own way. "Talk to us, Celestia. This is grief that we all have to partake," She said using her own formalities. Celestia sniffled and choked from her own tears before replying, "You wouldn't understand, dear sister..." she said like it was a whisper with a dull voice that only Luna could hear. This was aching for Luna to watch, she had to admit she was upset about Twilight's banishment, but seeing her sister having to suffer from the loss of her faithful friend was torture for her. She wanted to comfort her for all that's worth but she knew deep inside that it would do nothing for Celestia. So she remained by her side and joined Celestia's grieving process. Rainbow stood outside the door to the bathroom where Shining Armor was kept prisoner for almost two days. She was expecting to hear some banging and somepony screaming and grunting, which was a little creepy if you didn't know what or who was inside. She expected the door to bounce at her, expected for the door to burst wide open, expected it to make anything harmful or just loud enough that it would echo through the whole castle. But nothing happened. She lowered her guard for a second and leaned towards the door to overhear what's happened on the other side. Her eyes widen to what she was starting to hear. Muffled sobs and sniffles. He was crying. She backed up from the door, a look of discomfort was present on her face. What the hay? She thought. She had expected too much danger to come out of this door yet her ears were welcomed by a matured stallion's sobbing and muffled cries of his sister's name and how he had failed her. She opened the door slightly with her wings and took glimpsed inside. She was right. The general of the Royal Guards, The prince of the Crystal Empire was crying on a bathtub, all bloody and bruised. She stared at him with pity and shock, she did not want to hurt Twilight's older brother even if he had vaccinated her something foreign. He was still Shining Armor, the beloved brother that would do anything to protect his little Twily. She sighed and closed the door and left the stallion to reminisce and regret the things he had done. She frowned and stared at the doorknob for a second. She thought for a while, this was a big surprise for Rainbow, she did not expect him to cry and sob like a child after their little chit-chat or after anything at all. She expected the stallion to still be angry at her after what she had done to him, but no, she got the opposite. "Rainbow..?" A soft voice caught her off guard which made her jump, and well, shriek a little that was within earshot, "Celestia! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" she said as she helped the pegasus up to her feet. Rainbow Dash noticed something in her sentence. She didn't mean to Scare me?. She pulled away from Twilight's magical grasp which made Twilight let out a 'huh', "Woah Woah Woah!" She said as she hovered above Twilight, "Me? Scared? I'm NEVER scared!" She proclaimed. Twilight only smiled slyly, "Uhu, then explain you jump like a little filly had seen the monsters hiding under her bed?" She managed a snicker. Rainbow blushed in embarrassment, "Well... uhhhh..." She rubbed the back of her head for information to at least save her from Twilight's slyly gaze, which actually looked cute on the Alicorn. What? Twilight chuckled, "What are you doing here anyway, Dash?" She said as she walked near the door which made Rainbow's heart raise. Rainbow swiftly landed and stood beside Twilight, "Did you wanna use the bathroom?" She titled her head on the pegasus, "Well if you wanted, use the other one on the left-wing. Spike said this one will have some plumbing before in use." She said as she smiled warmingly at Rainbow. "Really? Thanks, Twi," She played off, "I really need to go to the bathroom, I'll be going now!" When she was about to take off she was stopped by the alicorn's voice. "Wait!" Twilight called. Rainbow turned around, "Yeah, Twi?" Twilight hugged her loyal friend, "Thank you for staying..." She broke their embrace, "I appreciate it." "No problemo, Twilight!" She replied, "Happy to keep you company!" And took off. Twilight watched as her rainbow friend took off leaving a rainbow trail behind. She sighed. Well that's over, I'll go head to bed She thought as she held back her yawn. Her horn radiated a purple aura and was followed by a bright glow of purple. Twilight had teleported back to her room, "Well I really need to fix this mess..." She said to herself with a sleepy voice. Her magic played its role and levitated the papers and teleported it to the post office, not minding what Derpy will say to her the next day. She quickly listed the things in her mind at what she was going to do tomorrow, or what Rainbow Dash had planned for them to do tomorrow. She rolled her eyes as she thought of what Rainbow had on the mind, even a little chuckle escaped from her lips just thinking on how Rainbow Dash is going to trouble herself once again. She climbed on her bed making herself comfortable. With a flick of her magic, the blanket tucked her in flawlessly. She closed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh and drifted off to sleep. ~~~ ERRRRR ERRRRR ERRRRR ERRRRR Spike groaned and used his left arm to grab his alarm clock. He squinted at first but didn't give up to find out why it's making so much noise. He blinked a couple of times clearing his vision to know what time it was. 2:30 A.M Spike sat up, "What in Celestia's name has gone wrong with this thing..." He said. He rubbed his eyes to get rid of his sleep while he slowly climbed out of bed. He looked at the time again and then outside the window, "How did you get so advanced?" He asked the non-living thing. He walked to his window and opened it. The cold breeze entered the room which awakened Spike from his half-sleep perspective. He inhaled and exhaled the wind as he watched Ponyville from such height, though all lights are out, he still finds it breathtaking to watch Ponyville's state at night. It was like Spike watching his children sleep, not that he had children. Only the thought of it made him blush. He sighed and held his alarm clock at a height that lets him see what was the problem and sat down on the window's arch which he had gained a habit of doing so. He didn't see any errors that might have happened, he raised an eyebrow, How can it alarm at this time without something or someone even touching it? He thought. "Weird," he said as he sat the alarm down at the counter. He paused and picked up the item frame. He smiled to see the picture of Him and Twilight outside the Golden Oaks Library. It had been at least four years ever since the library was destroyed. He frowned, "And now, Twilight is next..." He sat the picture and walked out of his room, "Let's just stroll around the castle until I'm tired," He opened the door and was shocked to see who was on the other side. Spike stared at her for a few moments before blinking a couple of times and spoke, "What are you doing at this hour, Rainbow?" Rainbow backed up, "Me?! What are you doing? You're supposed to be in bed!" She said. "Well, I'm not the only one! You should be too!" Rainbow paused at the realization and did not respond. Spike sighed, "Well if you really want to know," He started as he pointed at the alarm clock inside of his room, "My alarm clock woke me up at the wrong time," Rainbow's eyes widen. She hovered above the crystal floor, which she was not aware of, "Mine too! The alarm clock in the guest's bedroom woke me up at 2:30!" Rainbow exclaimed, "I took a stroll around the castle to use my energy so that I can sleep again." "Odd." Spike frowned, "Tell me... did you check if your alarm clock was touched?" He asked with a claw on his chin waiting for the answer. "Of course! I thought Twi changed it but it hasn't been touched!" Spike walked out of his room as he closed the door behind him, "Let's go check if Twilight's awake." He said as he headed the way to Twilight's bedroom and was followed by Rainbow. Their walk to her bedroom was silent, each one not knowing what to say. It has been a long time ever since Rainbow and Spike had their Bro Time after his growth spurt. Spike had been incredibly occupied helping out Equestria's needs just like what Celestia had told him to do. He was somebody else after that growth spurt, but he still talks the way he used to when it comes to Rarity and his now huge crush on the mare. To everypony's surprise, Rarity was oblivious enough to know about Spike's little crush but they knew it wasn't their place to tell. Rainbow chuckled softly, trying not to get Spike's attention. Rainbow looked at the dragon and studied him. His physic is incredible. He must have been carrying too much heavy stuff on his short crusades that made him look this way. His biceps and triceps were like big guns being glued together. His shoulders made him look like a dragon that came out from war, without scars and wounds though. Rarity and the others were quite impressed by his six-pack. His wings were also amazing for Rainbow, his wings make Spike look totally awesome. While Spike maybe muscular after his growth spurt, he still couldn't beat Rainbow when it comes to fitness and, well, muscles. The mare doesn't seem to have an ounce of fat in her body, all were muscles. Researchers and Scientists from Canterlot have been wanting to experiment Rainbow after she pulled off that Sonic Rainboom in the contest but was ruthlessly rejected by Celestia years ago. Even up until now Celestia has gotten some requests for a quick scan on Rainbow's body but was still ruthlessly rejected. "We're here," Spike said. Spike knocked a couple of times. No answer. He frowned and knocked again. This time, it was followed by a loud thud coming from the other side. Spike and Rainbow's eyes widen. Rainbow was about to break the door open with her strength and speed but was stopped by Spike's brute strength which made the nails flung off its the handle. Spike threw the door's remains behind him. Rainbow stared at the dragon in shock but she didn't have time to tell him off 'cause she was also worried about her friend. Before Rainbow knew, Spike had already entered the room. Rainbow checked the room first before entering to see if there were any intruders when she had realized there no one else besides Twilight and Spike, she entered. Twilight was unconscious on Spike grasp, she had seemed to be crying inside her dream world by the looks of the wet streams from her cheeks. Spike had picked Twilight when he had ran inside, tears were starting to form from the corner of his eyes, "T-Twilight?!" He called as the tears started to stream down his face and dripped one by one on Twilight's face, "Twilight wake up!" Rainbow dashed beside Twilight and took her off of Spike's grip. She held her by the neck and placed her head over her shoulder as tears started to stream down her eyes as well, "T-Twilight... Th-this isn't funny you know..?" She implanted her face on Twilight's neck, "Wake up, Egghead..." She whispered. ~~~ Twilight woke up in a void looking room. She looked around to see nothing but darkness. She raised an eyebrow and started to walk around darkness, a little worried that she may fall on a hole that she did not know of or just didn't notice. She looked from left to right, down and up to find nothing. She was now confused, "Luna?" She called, "Luna where am I?" No answer. This made her worried more than ever. She started running around finding an exit, or even an entrance. Twilight's heart raises in fear and despair was starting to flood over her body. She was now hyperventilating. A figure in the distance had appeared. From afar, she was sure that this figure was a pony. A mare. An alicorn? It's purple coat and mane were the same as Twilight, but the strands were different hues of blue than purple. Twilight let out a breath that she did not know she had been holding and ran at the figure. As she was getting closer and closer her heart tightened which she ignored. She felt like she knew this pony. She felt like her galloping was getting slower and slower so she flapped her wings until she was hovering above the ground and was racing with air. Her speed was getting faster and faster as streams of tears started to flow from her eyes which she did not notice. She felt like this pony had some connection between her and something inside that she had shut down for decades. She slowed down when she was nearing her destination. The pony was looking in the opposite direction, but from the looks of it, this figure was also confused as she was. Twilight wiped the tears away and landed behind the figure, "H-hey..." She said with a shaky voice. The pony gasped and turned around as she backed up. She was definitely crying just like Twilight. She looked at her with shock, confusion, and fear. Twilight took a good look at the alicorn and saw that she had a crown. The crown was almost the exact replica of hers but instead of the pink-ish gems, it had blue-ish gems. Her eyes matched Rarity's hue, regal shade of blue. "Wh-who are you..?" She asked with the same shaky voice as Twilight's, "Why am I here?" Twilight took a step closer and she took a step back, "M-my name's Twilight Sparkle..." She received a shocked look from the mare, "I-I don't know why your here... I-I don't even know why I am here..." She replied truthfully. The pony took a step closer to Twilight which made Twilight back up a little from this sudden action. The mare seemed to be satisfied with what she had seen and backed up wiping her own tears away. She put her hoof on her chest, "I-I'm Nightfall Glint..." She paused and took a deep breath, "Your twin sister..."