Rarity adjusted her garden hat and sighed with contentment. "Ahh.. This day is gorgeous, just gorgeous!"
Rainbow looked when she heard Rarity's voice, and seeing Rarity's outfit, she nearly choked on her food. Fluttershy shot her a glare. Rainbow swallowed her food with some difficulty, and desperately tried to keep her laughter under control.
"Snrk-ahh uh Rarity, what's with the hat?"
Rarity sniffed. "Its quite simple, darling. Seeing as its spring, I thought it quite fitting to wear a spring hat, especially since we're in public," she said pointedly with a dissaproving air.
Rainbow balked. "'In public?' Rares, look around you. We are a mile away from Sweet Apple Acres. That's five miles away from the nearest house. We are out in the middle of nowhere. I repeat: No. Where. What part about this tells you that we're in public?"
"She's got a point sugar." Applejack walked up, carrying a big basket with Pinkie ponking behind her. Rainbow rubbed her hands together.
"Finally," she groaned. "Took you guys long enough." She turned her attention to Pinkie. "I trust you brought the sweets?"
Pinkie snorted. "Well duh! What kinda picnic would this be without cupcakes?!" She drew out a three-tier plate with iced cupcakes. Ignoring the fact that Pinkie had drawn the sugary treats out of her hair, Rainbow dove in."Sweet!" Rarity and Applejack shared a look, shrugged, and began eating.
After a few comfortable moments of silence, Applejack spoke up. "So y'all? What's new?"
Rainbow stretched. "Oh nothin' much. Just practicing my awesome moves." She nodded matter-a-factly, while Applejack just rolled her eyes good naturally.
"I meant somethin' new."
"Oh. ....Nah. Just workin' on makin myself 20% cooler."
Rarity dabbed her mouth with a dainty napkin. "Well, I just got a new orders to create a new spring line. In fact, I just gleaned some inspiration from meadows surrounding Ponyville. I think I'll call it, 'Nature's Dreams'."
"Wow. That sounds pretty good." Applejack said. "Welp, ain't nothin' new fer me. Same old same old. Jest the way I like it."
There was another moment of silence. Rarity turned towards the only person who hadn't said a word. "Fluttershy, dearest? Are you all right? I know you're shy, but you're being very quiet.... Even for you."
Fluttershy was silent for a moment. Then she spoke up. "Haven't you noticed? Twilight isn't here. Twilight. You know, the one person we know who has a panic attack if she a second late for something? She's usually the first here!"
Applejack clammed up, shocked by Fluttershy's unusual harsh tone. Pinkie frowned.
"Wow, Flutters. Blunt much?" Rainbow quipped.
"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity snapped.
"What!? This is Fluttershy; she never does this. Something's really bothering her."
Fluttershy sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just really worried. I haven't seen Twilight in days, and a few weeks ago she promised to help me with some animals. w
We agreed the yesterday was the day, but she never showed up. Discord had to help me instead. Not that I, um, minded, but you know how he is with Angel."
The others were quiet. "You know, Fluttershy's right." Applejack spoke up. "I ain't seen heads nor tails of Twi in the past week. Pinkie, did she ever show up buy somethin' from Sugarcube corner this mornin?"
Pinkie scrunched up her face. "Hmm... Let's see.. Carry the three and... Nope nope nope and nope!" Pinkie suddenly let loose a huge gasp. "What if something's really wrong!? What if she's sick!? What if she got attacked by a monster and tried fight it off herself and failed miserably and got carted off wondering why in the world her friends didn't come to save her and is probably thinking we've betrayed her and that her world is over--mmph!" Applejack had shoved a hand over her mouth.
"I'm sure it ain't that bad. We just gotta see what's up."
"You don't think there's something actually wrong, do you?" Fluttershy panicked. Applejack opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off.
"Guys!" Yelled a distant voice. "Guys!"
Rarity perked up. "That sounds like Spike!"
Everyone turned their attention to thier towards the direction of the voice, and Rainbow fluttered into the air.
"Guys!" Spike pounded up to them, wheezing. "I..... Twi...light is...." The young boy collasped to his knees, panting.
"Did you run all the way here?" Rainbow asked. Still breathless, Spike just nodded. Rainbow whistled, reluctantly impressed. "Geez, little man. Take it easy next time huh?"
Spike paused, then blew out a breath of air. "Twilight... She's locked me out of her room."
The girls shared glances of confusionwith each other while Spike caught his breath.
"Spike, dearest scales, that's nothing of real concern to panic over." Rarity dismissed, flipping her hair as if to prove her point. "Every lady needs some alone time." Rainbow rolled her eyes in response.
"No," Spike protested, still out of breath. "Even if she DID want 'alone time', whatever that is, she would NEVER lock me out!" The girls silent now, surprised by his sudden conviction. He paused, wondering whether to drop his bomb or not.
All six of them had been friends for at least two years, and while Twilight trusted them completely, Spike still had his reservations. And although Twilight had moved on from the vicious betrayal that had torn her apart years ago, Spike still hadn't, and he wasn't going to let her make the same mistake again.
Hia caretaker's trust wasn't something to be taken for granted, because once you lost it, there was little chance you could get it back. She was like Rainbow in that regard, and he had to smile at that. But her natural anxiety and tendency to panic made her vulnerable, and the last time Twilight trusted someone, she was left heartbroken and numb to outside world for at least two years.
All the same, Spike couldn't help but feel as though he could trust them. If their past adventures with Discord and Nightmaremoon were anything to go by, then one could trust them with anything. But Spike still had his doubts, and by the looks he was getting, he could tell they were getting really concerned.
He sighed, still struggling with this inner battle. If he told them, then they could have information to use against Twilight on the future, or just not help her at all. They proved they were more than capable of that during Twilight's freak out last year. But if he didn't tell them, then maybe life could go on as before, albeit with minor trust issues. Then again...
Spike jumped, startled when Applejack put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Sugar, yer still havin' a hard time trustin' us, aren't ya?"
Ashamed, and unwilling to answer, Spike nodded.
Applejack looked extremely sad. "That's okay, sugar," she sighed. "But you should know that we care, and you can trust us. It'll be a chance to prove we learned our lesson." Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
"And if you still have doubts, put us all under the Pinkie Promise!" Pinkie piped up. "No one breaks a Pinkie Promise!"
Spike perked up. He hadn't thought of that. "Okay.... " He faced them. "I'll tell you, but I need you to Pinkie Promise to NEVER tell anyone else!"
Everyone nodded and complied, doing the motions, but Rainbow rolled her eyes slightly. "You make it sound like this is a life or death situation."
Spike whipped to face her, emerald eyes glowing fire. "I mean it!" He snapped. "Shining Armour doesn't even know about this!"
That got Rainbow's attention. She instantly did the motions and dropped to the earth; studying Spike, quiet and determined. Spike took a deep breath and finally dropped his bomb.
"Twilight is crying." There was silence, and Spike continued. "And I think I know why." Rainbow lifted into the air, about to take action, but was stopped.
"Wait! Before you go break down the door and demand to know what happened, there's something you should know." Spike beckoned them to come closer, and took a deep breath, preparing to tell his story.
"About fifteen years ago, there was a devastating storm off the east coast of Phillydelphia. It was the one of the worst storms the East Coast had ever suffered, and not even the Wonderbolts could gain control of it. People wondered if the storm was natural, or had magical qualitites to it. It probably did. Homes were completely destroyed, and thousands of lives were lost. People called it 'Hurricane Kraken.'"
The girls began to shiver with fear as Spike told his story. Of all of them, Rarity and Applejack were the only who truly remembered what the storm was like. While Ponyville was situated in the middle of Equestria, it was affected by the storm. Wind and rain from the storm still damaged the land, and the East Coast had been completely reshaped.
The place the where the storm first hit land was sealed off from the rest of Equestria, because it was said you could still hear the screams of those who lost their lives trying to fight the storm. It was known as 'Kraken's Cove', in honor of the creature that took over the land millinias ago, back when the Great Northern Kingdom still existed. Like the tale of Nightmaremoon, the 'Kraken' was also used as a way for parents to scare children to get them to obey the rules, such as 'Go to bed or the Kraken will come for you', or 'Eat your vetables so I won't to call the Kraken.'
Spike continued to tell his story. "After the storm was over, Princess Celestia sent battlaitions to the shore, to see if they might find any survivors. A group found a small basket fifty miles north above Phillydelphia..." Spike trailed off, a lump in his throat. He could only imagine how the girls would react once they put two and two together and found out the truth.
Swallowing, Spike managed to choke out his peice. "Twilight was in the basket." He fell silent, frozen. If you asked Spike then and there what was the loudest sound he had ever heard, he would probably tell you it was the silence that occured after their friends knew the truth about Twilight.
The girls were completely shocked. Twilight? An orphan? Impossible! She had parents; a family. She was so perky, so friendly. It was hard to believe, but the grim espresson on Spike's face told them they weren't dreaming.
Spike cringed, knowing this would hit them hard. Applejack, especially. It was of the reasons she and Twilight got along so well. They both knew what it was like to lose parents. But while Applejack knew what had happened to hers, Twilight, unfortunately did not.
Applejack finally spoke up. "So that's why she said that..."
Rainbow turned to the farm girl, still stunned. "What do you mean?"
Applejack drew in a shakey breath. "Last year, she was helpin me out in the orchard, and I guess I mentioned my parents or sumthin, 'cause she got all curious. Not that I minded, but if I'm bein honest, it was more questions than I'd've like answer. I answered 'em, 'course; she's my friend. When we finished our chat 'fore she left, I heard her mutter, 'I know how you feel.' I always wondered how; I mean she's got parents... until.. now."
There was a long moment of silence.
"So... She's adopted?" a tearful Fluttershy asked.
Spike could do nothing but nod.
"This makes a soooo much sense!" Pinkie voiced. Everyone turned to her. "Well, I mean, look at it this way: we always kinda wondered why she so nervicited and scared and tense and had mental breakdowns all the time, and I guess we started to think it was a part of her personality but now we know its not because.... Because.." Pinkie trailed off and grew silent.
"Because why?" Spike asked; scared. Seeing Pinkie quiet and sad was a rare sight.
"Because its a deep down fear that everyone has. And its part of why we do what we do. Rarity draws attention to herself by her makeup and frilly ways, I express it by being loud and energetic all the time, Applejack does it by talking about apples all the time, Rainbow's niche is boasting, Fkuttershy's is.... well, you get the idea."
Spike nodded and Pinkie continued. "Its the fear of being forgotten. The fear of being left behind, and everyone has it."
"But you guys have saved the world mutiple times! You could never be forgotten!" Spike protested.
"I know," Pinkie sighed. "I don't think we ever grow out of it, because its a natural thing."
Rainbow balked. "Wow, Pinks. I didn't know you were a philosopher."
Pinkie smiled. "Just another one of my many talents," she giggled. Pinkie turned back to Spike. "Its always there, lingering in the back of your mind. But for Twilight, its always at the forefront of her mind, and I bet you Discord's tomato and confetti soup she thinks about it every night before she goes to sleep. She wonders who her real parents were, and why they left her." 'Believe me, I know how she feels,' Pinkie thought.
"Wow," Spike mused. "Now that I think about it, that actually makes allot more sense, and.... why Twilight's parents were hesitant to tell me the truth."
"Whatever do you mean, Spike?" Rarity asked.
"Well, I noticed that Twilight would distant and sad sometimes, especially when holidays drew near," Spike explained. "She hid it well, but I always knew." He looked down in shame. "I never knew why, and I always did my best to comfort her, but.... it was never enough."
Once again, there was another long bout of silence as the girls digested this new information about their friend.
"Guess its true what they say," Pinkie voiced. "You never stop learning."
"That's not funny," Fluttershy protested softly. Pinkie just smirked sadly in response.
"So... now what?" Applejack asked.
Rainbiw stood up with a determined air. "I'll tell you 'now what'! We got and let her know she's not alone." Rainbow paused with satisfaction and rose into the air amid murmurs of agreement and the sound of ths girls gathering their things.
Rainbow Dash looked over in the direction of the library. "We let her know she's loved."
***
Twilight placed her fist on the glass, opened her hand, and let it slowly fall. To anyone looking at her from outside, they would she looked trapped. She was trapped. Trapped inside a world that wasnt her own.
Trapped by a sacrafice that wasn't her desicion. A scarafice that bound her to Equestria not how hard or long she pinned for home.
Twilight gazed out the window to the north, looking beyond the faint white sparkling haze that was the Crystal Empire.
She wanted to go home. To see the land of her bloodline. Where green pastures rolled for miles alongside miles of wheat fields. Where forest continued to grow, unhindered and untouched by human hands. Where stars twinkled like a million little lights in the sky. Where, a kite above a graveyard gray, at the end of the line far, far away, where a child still holds on to the Magic of Thirthinal.....