Sparkler came in for a landing at the front doors to the Castle of Friendship. Where she saw Starlight pacing back and forth. Starlight looked out to see Sparkler land and smiled. “Sparkler. You’re here. Good. Come on, they’re waiting for you.”
Sparkler nodded and Starlight led her into the castle. After a moment of walking, Sparkler broke the silence. “So, how have you been Starlight? Your tour with Trixie go alright?”
Starlight nodded. “It went well. But it sounds like I missed something big during the Ponyville Music Festival.” Starlight glanced at Sparkler’s wings. “By Starswirl’s beard, you really are an Alicorn.”
Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
Starlight nodded. “Twilight gave me a few details last night when I got back, after I inquired about what the heck I saw on the front page of Ponyville Daily, along with chatter in town.”
Sparkler nodded. It was to nopony’s surprise that Sparkler made the front page of the local newspaper, and Sparkler was certain there would be a reporter from Ponyville Daily in the crowd today. “What did Twilight tell you?”
“She told me that you were hiding your wings because of your fear of the past repeating itself, didn’t go further in than that. She also FINALLY told me and Spike EXACTLY what you two have been doing in the library. Uhm, sorry for rumoring about...well, you know...”
Sparkler nodded. She knew full well what Starlight meant. “It’s ok Starlight. And hey, you aren’t completely wrong. I am in fact in love with Twilight.”
Starlight smiled. “Are you going to tell her?”
Sparkler nodded. “Someday soon. But for now, I’m just going to get through this press conference, and futilely hope that the final prints will stay true to my word.”
That got both mares laughing. For they both knew the tendency for news outlets to over exaggerate and print fake news. They turned a corner, and Sparkler immediately started hearing chatter coming from a room, and getting louder as they got closer.
Spike was pacing in front of the doors. Waiting for Sparkler to arrive. He turned to back another way when he noticed Starlight and Sparkler turn the corner. “You got Sparkler! Good. You gotta get in there Sparkler, they’re hounding Twilight like a pack of predators!”
Sparkler nodded, lit her horn. And looked at the doors. An X-Ray spell showed her that the room was packed with reporters and journalists. And Twilight was on a stage looking frantic. She canceled the spell and sighed. “Hey, do either of you think those ponies are expecting some kind of grandiose entrance from me?”
Starlight and Spike shrugged. “If they think you’re a princess than probably.”
“What are you thinking?”
“There’s too many reporters for me to just walk in. I’d be blinded by camera flashes in seconds. The best chance I have of getting to the stage without bumping into anything and looking like a fool is teleportation.”
Starlight nodded. “That makes sense.”
Spike shook his head. “Just get in there and save Twilight. Please!”
Sparkler giggled and nodded. “Alright alright.” She reactivated her X-Ray spell, this time paying attention to where Twilight was exactly. She deactivated the spell and nodded. “Right. Wish me luck you two.” She lit her horn and popped away.
...
In the ballroom, Twilight was trying to calm down the press. “Just calm down everypony! I just Horn Pulsed Sparkler and she said she’d be here soon!”
That didn’t seem to quell the reporters. “What is princess Celestia’s stance on this?”
“Will there be a coronation?”
“Your thoughts on this new development?”
Twilight just sighed. She had expected, waited for, and dreaded this moment. Since Sparkler was an Alicorn, and Alicorns were regarded as royalty and in some cases, goddesses, the press finding her was a foregone conclusion. Also a foregone conclusion is that almost none of these reporters will stay true to Sparkler’s word. Twisting the facts for a profit. It was a sad truth.
At that moment, there was a small pop, and the crowd went wild. Twilight luckily heard the pop before all the commotion and turned to see Sparkler with her wings spread, obviously making sure the press could see the wings. Twilight let out a relieved smile. “Thank Celestia you’re here Sparkler!”
Sparkler nodded as she leaned in to ensure Twilight heard her over the commotion. “I’m sorry about all this Twi.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, don’t be. It’s not your fault.” Before Sparkler could counter, Twilight turned to the crowd. “Ok, everypony calm down!” The crowd didn’t listen. Twilight just deadpanned and summoned an Airhorn from who knew where.
Sparkler knew what was coming and covered her ears. Just as Twilight blasted the Airhorn through the podium mic. The horn blasted through the speakers, and that shut the crowd right up as they covered their ears. With the room silent, Twilight nodded. “There. Now. I said Sparkler would be here and look who just popped in. Before I turn it over to her. Let’s get one thing very clear. This will NOT be a shouting match. This will be a calm and orderly press conference.” With that she nodded at Sparkler. “The floor is yours.”
Sparkler nodded walked up to the podium. “Hi everypony. I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about me and yes. My wings are genuine. I am an Alicorn.”
The crowd, having seemed to get Twilight’s message, murmured to themselves instead of shouted. Sparkler continued. “I’m sure you all have questions. I’ll try to answer them best I can. But before that. Let’s put the big one to rest right now. Unlike my fellow Alicorns. I am NOT a princess. There is going to be no coronation, I have no desire to be a princess.”
At that, the crowd erupted in questions being shouted. Twilight sighed and blasted the Airhorn again, getting everypony’s attention and silencing them. “Remember what I said about being calm and orderly people. Any questions, just raise your hoof.”
Near instantly, everypony put their hooves up. Sparkler sighed. This is could take all day. She gestured to a pony in the front. “You in the front.”
The reporter nodded. “Does Princess Celestia concur that there will not be a coronation?”
Sparkler nodded. “Yes. She and I came to an agreement that she will not make me a princess.”
She pointed to another pony. Who nodded. “Does that mean she’ll be descending you to either a Pegasus or a Unicorn?”
Sparkler shook her head. “The wings are here to stay.”
She called on another pony. “What do the other princesses have to say about this?”
“Princess Luna’s stance on me is that of her sisters’. I’m on good terms will both of them.”
“And Princess Cadance?”
Sparkler actually paused at that. She didn’t know the answer to that one. She glanced in Twilight’s direction. Seeing her shrug, she cleared her throat. “I have not had the chance to talk to Princess Cadance, so we do not yet know her stance.
While Sparkler called on another pony, who asked something about what she did to earn her wings. Twilight bit her lip. The minute this is done I’m sending word to Cadance and Shining about Sparkler, make sure they hear the TRUTH. She internally cursed herself for not thinking to let Cadance know, especially after Sparkler said she didn’t have to remain quiet anymore. Hopefully I can get to them before the papers.
“I didn’t ascend to Alicornhood. I was born like this. I have no idea how because neither of my parents are Alicorns themselves, but by some miracle, I was born an Alicorn. Next question.”
...
The questions had indeed continued for hours, as reporters came up with more and more questions. At last, Twilight, Spike, Sparkler, and Starlight had managed to get them to leave. When the final reporter left, it was dark out. Twilight sighed as she closed the door to her castle and turned to her friends. “Thank Celestia that’s over.”
Starlight nodded. “Yeah. And you only had to use the Airhorn twice. They’re learning.”
Spike nodded. “Thank goodness for my ears.” He turned to Sparkler. “Do you think that went alright Sparkler?”
Sparkler shrugged. “They didn’t seem to like that I wasn’t going to be a princess. We’ll just have to see what the papers churn out.”
Twilight nodded, then her eyes widened as she remembered something. “Speaking of papers.” She pulsed her horn and a scroll and quill appeared. She unfurled the scroll and started scribbling with the quill. “Spike, I need you to firemail this to Cadance and Shining. They need to know the truth before the papers reach them.”
Spike nodded while Sparkler bit her lip. “You think they’ll believe you Twilight?”
Twilight nodded. “At the very least they won’t dismiss it, they should’ve learned their lesson after their wedding.” She glanced at Spike as she said that.
Spike raised his claws in defense. “We said we were sorry Twilight.”
Twilight nodded. “Yes you did. And I forgive you. But still left a bad taste in my mouth and I really don’t want to go through that again.”
Spike nodded while Twilight finished scribbling the letter. She rolled the scroll back up, put her seal on it, and gave it to Spike. “Here you go Spike.”
Spike nodded, took the letter, and breathed fire at it. The letter burned up, and the ashes whisked away. With that done. Twilight nodded. “Now. It’s dark out so that must mean we’re late on dinner.” She looked at the clock and confirmed her suspicion. “Yep. It’s well past dinner time.” She turned to Sparkler. “You’re welcome to stay for dinner if you want Sparkler.”
Sparkler shook her head. “As much as I want to.” And I would love nothing more. “I need to pick up my new sweaters from Rarity, then I need to get home and get Flappy his dinner. He’s probably worried sick by now where I am.”
That got all of them chuckling. Twilight nodded. “Oh yeah. I forgot about that.” She at long last noticed that Sparkler was wearing a new sweater right now. “Wow. Rarity’s really outdone herself this time. You look great.”
Sparkler nodded as she fought back a blush. “T-thanks. I’m really happy with how it turned out.”
Spike nodded. “Yeah. Now your wings can breathe. Because they must’ve been stuffed under sweaters since you came to Ponyville.”
Sparkler nodded. “Pretty much. Anyway, I gotta go. Again, sorry about today Twi.”
Twilight shook her head. “Don’t be Sparkler. You never asked to be an Alicorn. It isn’t your fault Alicorns are celebrities. And if your worried about us missing our regular study session, we can just do it tomorrow.”
Sparkler nodded. “I’m up for that. Anywho, have a good night guys.”
Twilight Spike and Starlight nodded. “You too.” With that, Sparkler left.
Twilight turned around when the door closed, and saw Spike and Starlight smiling at her. “What?”
Spike snickered. “You say you two aren’t together, but if I remember right, you always make sure to get her here for a study session if you happen to miss the original time, even rearranging your schedule just for her.”
Twilight blushed like mad. “Simply because we both like learning. She’s expressed tremendous interest in Alicorns and as a scholar it’s my duty to feed her brain with knowledge. Plus, now that we’re getting into figuring out how she is an Alicorn, I can’t really stop now. That’s all there is to it.”
Starlight nodded. “And also you have a crush.”
Twilight shook her head. “I do not! On that note, we’re having a talk tonight about what is and isn’t ok to spread around without permission.”
...
Sparkler walked down the street to her house, carrying the two bags she picked up from Carousel Boutique in her magic. She glanced at one of the bags and raised an eyebrow. “How is it that all these sweaters just fit into two bags?” She shook her head. “I should get Rarity to teach me how to fold like she did. Would make packing for any trips MUCH easier.” She nodded as she walked by an alleyway. She stopped when she heard a loud crash coming from said alleyway. She turned her head to see nothing that could’ve caused the crash, raising an eyebrow, she set the bags off the the side and because her curiosity forced her to do so, lit her horn and slowly entered the alleyway. “Hello? Anypony there?” She got no response. Other than another, quieter, crash. Sparkler raised an eyebrow. That sound like a head banging? Even more curious, she followed the sound, eventually coming on a dumpster, likely the source of the noise. Sparkler glanced around, and noticed a trunk on wheels. Now she was confused. Who would leave a trunk here in... She glanced back to the dumpster. “Hello? Is somepony in there?”
She still didn’t get a response. Deciding to just go for it, she lit her horn and swing the dumpster lid open. She peered inside, and gasped when she saw a small orange Earth Pony foal with a red mane curled up inside it. “What the...” She immediately flung open the other half of the dumpster and brightened her horn for more light. Sure enough, she wasn’t seeing things. There was a little colt curled up in the dumpster, presumably eating garbage given he had a rotten apple in his hooves.
Sparkler shook herself out of her shock and carefully encased the colt in her magic. “My goodness. Are you ok?” She asked as she lifted the colt out of the dumpster and set him on the ground. The colt said nothing as he continued to eat the rotten apple. Sparkler grew concerned. A colt didn’t belong in a dumpster eating rotten food, especially so close to winter when it was starting to get cold out. She got down on her haunches and gave the colt a worried look. “Hey, are you ok?”
The colt didn’t respond as he continued to nibble at the the Apple. Sparkler lit her horn and took the apple away from the colt. “Hey, you shouldn’t eat this. Celestia knows how long this has been sitting in that dumpster. What were you doing in the dumpster?” She asked as she tossed the rotten apple into back the dumpster.
The colt let out a barely audible whimper, gulped, and at last answered her. “Eating dinner.” He said as he looked down, refusing to make eye contact.
Sparkler shook her head. It was just as she thought. “You can’t eat from the dumpster. It’s unhealthy.” She stood up and gestured out of the alleyway. “Come on. I’ll take you back to your house—“
“No!” The colt unexpectedly exclaimed as he ran to the trunk, and curled up into a ball, visibly shaking.
Sparkler was taken aback by this. What was going on with this colt? Eating garbage, not wanting to go home? Sparkler glanced from the colt, to the dumpster, to the trunk, and back to the colt. She could she do? She didn’t want to leave him out here on his own, but at the same time, what if his parents were already out looking for him? Her thinking came to a screeching halt when her ears picked up a faint crying. She refocused her attention to the colt and saw that he had tears in his eyes. Slowly, Sparkler approached him. “Hey. Are...are you ok?”
The colt heard her voice and immediately tried to back away from her. Sparkler stopped on the spot. Was the colt afraid of her? “Hey. It’s ok.” She cooed as she slowly approached the colt, trying to calm him down. “It’s ok. I’m not gonna hurt you.” She cooed as she got down on her haunches in front of the colt.
The colt looked up at Sparkler, who had a warm smile on her face. For a moment, nopony moved, nopony said a word, then, the colt uncurled himself and got up on his hooves. Sparkler smiled. “So, you don’t want to go home?”
The colt shook his head. Sparkler nodded. “Well. You can’t stay out here in this weather. It’s getting colder every night...” She nodded, making up her mind. “I can take you back to my house and let you stay there for the night. You want to do that? I can make you a better dinner than garbage. And you’ll be warm for the night.”
The colt bit his lip, hesitating. After a moment, he nodded. Sparkler smiled. “Alright. Than you can ride on my back. That alright?”
The colt nodded. Sparkler nodded and gestured for him to hop on. He did so and soon, he laid on Sparkler’s back. Sparkler smiled. “Going up.” She got back on her hooves, slowly as to not accidentally shake the colt off. She eyed the trunk. “That yours?”
The colt nodded. Sparkler nodded and magically grabbed a handle and started out of the alleyway with the trunk wheeling behind her. On the way out she created two more magical apertures to latch onto her sweater bags and take them with her. She turned out of the alleyway and headed for home again. “What’s your name little one?” She asked as they walked.
The colt hesitated before replying. “Thunder kicker.”
To be continued...