-Twilight-
It hadn't been more than a day… really it hadn't been more than a night when Twilight had seen and found something that had completely captured her attention.
"Twi?" Spike asked, a blanket in one claw and a mug in the other, "It's three A.M, you need to sleep," He pleaded, "Here, I brought you some Tiger Lily tea, I know how much you like it."
"I'm sorry Spike, but I finally understand why Celestia sent me here," Twilight replied, not even glancing at the drake as she took hold of the blanket with her magic, "Well, really it was several reasons… but this..."
She levitated the shattered remains of her trial disk, tearing away and replacing the broken metal where she saw fit and marking other areas with a red dot for future repairs, "This is just the tip of an even bigger iceberg, and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface!"
Sighing, Spike placed the mug on a side table and started massaging Twilight's shoulders, "Twilight… mom, please. You're scaring me. Again."
The unicorn sighed, shaking her head as she craned her head back far enough to nuzzle the drakeling, "I'm so sorry… No… you're right, we could have died last night. Hey, how about we head over to the farm again, I know how much you liked those pastries."
"Really!?" Spike cheered happily, "Then, does that mean we're-"
"That's right, the princess was right, I need to make friends…" Of course, in the back of her mind, this was but a secondary objective to her true goal.
As the new moon fell from the waking world, a rooster's cry heralded the dawn, the studious mare yawning as she gently left the warmth of her bed. Despite her change of venue, her daily rituals had failed to change:
Step 1 of the Morning Routine, clean, iron, and set the bed. Step 2, brush the bed head out of your mane (Now doubly important so as not to incur the wrath of the Fashionista). Step 3, plant a kiss on Spike's forehead. Step 4, make coffee.
It was a bad habit if there ever was one, but ever since her twelfth birthday, Twilight couldn't help but crave the bitter bean. Really, it was Celestia's fault for enabling her habits, especially once she introduced her to java.
As the unicorn brought the brew to a boil, a knock at her door shocked her from her silent bliss. Taking the time to make sure she was presentable, Twilight made way for the door, coffee mug in hoof.
"It's only six A.M, what pony in their right mind is actually awa-" Before her hoof had even touched the door, it had been kicked open as Pinkie Pie rather happily bounced inside.
"HIIII TWILIGHT!~" The party pony exclaimed, much to the worry and horror of the unicorn.
"This is a library! You shouldn't be making so much noise!" Twilight shouted as she ran up to the energetic ball of pink, failing to get her to stop bouncing.
"Hm? But this is your home now," Pinkie pointed out, stopping to smell the coffee, "You should want to make noise in your home, also, is that coffee?"
"Miss… um… Pie, right?" Pinkie happily nodded when Twilight managed to remember her name, "I don't mind your company, but it is still a little too early in the morning to be causing a ruckus… also my son is still asleep so if you could maybe…" Twilight thusly began to make a rewinding motion with a hoof as if telling Pinkie to settle down.
Blinking in confusion, Pinkie only tilt her head, "You have a foal? I didn't see you with a baby."
"Spike? The dragon?" Twilight pointed out as she took a seat and brought out her coffee pot.
"Ooohhh… wow! You really laid an egg that big!?" Pinkie asked with awed excitement, much to Twilight's embarrassment.
"What!?" The unicorn cried, "NO! Not at all!"
The gears in Pinkie's head began to grind as she audibly gasped while rising into the air, "You're not his mommy! You're his daddy!"
"Excuse me!!?" Twilight shouted, pale and mortified.
"I mean, it isn't everyday you meet a pony who's gotten busy with a dragon!" Pinkie continued, blissfully unaware of the yawning drakeling coming down the steps.
"Pinkie! I hatched Spike from a donated egg!" Twilight shouted, "How would I even be able to… well… you know…"
"Magic?" Spike asked as he walked in between the two mares, groggily reaching for the coffee pot, "Guess I always wondered though… you know, if you were my mom or my dad," As Twilight wrestled with the growing inner turmoil of what her child had just said, Spike flashed Pinkie a grin and a wink before serving himself a still hot cup of coffee.
Finally clearing her throat, Twilight regained her composure, "Miss Pie."
"Call me Pinkie!" The party pony chimed.
"Pinkie… I'm actually glad you're here." Twilight stated calmly, slowly nursing her cup with closed eyes.
"Really? Why's that?"
"Twilight wants to start over with everypony and make friends!" Spike said happily, Pinkie audibly gasping again from the declaration.
"W-well… I mean I feel like I got off on the wrong hoof, and maybe I-" Before she could finish, Twilight found herself nose to nose with Pinkie Pie.
"You. Won't. REGRET IT!" As Pinkie popped a party favor, showering Twilight in confetti, the unicorn only gulped as she wondered just what it was she resigned herself to.
"And of course we need to take a visit to Berry's! Her fruit drinks are awesome!" Pinkie cheered as she bounced along. Twilight however was more than a little detached from the conversation, her eyes constantly staring into the empty of the Everfree.
"That's not to say she's the only fruit vendor in Ponyville," Pinkie continued, completely oblivious to Twilight's own obliviousness, "And watch out for that tree!"
"Tree?" Before Twilight actually had time to process this, she was met face first with tree bark, "Oof! Who put that… tree?" Blinking, the unicorn actually found herself before the entrance of the forest. She hesitantly began to paw at the air of the forest.
"I wouldn't if I were you," Pinkie had said, practically into Twilight's ear, causing the unicorn to jump up in shock before falling onto her back, "Need a hoof?"
Blinking away the mildly growing confusion, Twilight took Pinkie's hoof, the party mare helping her to her hooves, "What… what do you know about him?" Twilight asked, eyes still fixed on the forest before her.
"Oh we're super duper bestest friends!" Pinkie cheered, practically throwing her fore hooves up as another confetti shower pelted the area.
"So, you could… take me to him?" Twilight asked with a hopeful smile.
"Oh I don't know… that's kinda not a good id-" With a small yelp, Pinkie found herself being unceremoniously dragged by the tail and into the forest.
"Oh come on, I'm sure he'd love to accommodate me!" Twilight replied cheerily.
"You mean like how you accommodated Spike's mom?" Pinkie asked rather aloof, the innocent tone only causing greater embarrassment for Twilight.
For as cherry red as she was, Twilight refused to dignify Pinkie's question with a response. Coughing into a hoof, Twilight continued her way into the forest, "So, has he always been here? In Ponyville I mean."
"For about nine months? Applejack wanted to keep him for herself, so I decided to follow him one day!" Pinkie stated cheerfully as she hopped along.
Confused, Twilight cocked her head to the side, "What do you mean by keep him? Was his existence a secret before you met?" Pinkie gave a nod, thoughts running wild in Twilight's mind, "And it's only been recently that he's had an active role… This only makes me want to study him more…" Twilight whispered.
"Study?" Pinkie asked, now very close to Twilight's face.
"What? No no no! See! I really need to see him!" Twilight answered quickly and with a nervous chuckle, "No studying here!"
Aloof, Pinkie's left ear flicked, her right eye twitched, and her tail snapped straight before settling, "Okay! I believe you! Come on, it's this way!"
It wasn't long before Pinkie led Twilight to the castle, the unicorn's eyes widening in awe… before her eyes shrunk to pin pricks as gun fire drew a line into the ground.
"Halt! State your business!!" A giant, mechanical and centuries old automaton shouted, a strange arm cannon now leveled at Twilight.
"Excuse my partner," A second giant stated, his own arm pointed at the floor, "His gears haven't been oiled today…"
"They don't need to know that!" The first giant shouted.
"Uh… can I go in?" Twilight finally asked, the shock of almost being ripped apart having faded.
Though the giants both answered simultaneously, their answers were vastly different, the first giant proudly yelling "NO!" as the second shrugged and said "Sure."
"Okay, why doesn't she just knock?" The second giant asked.
"The master is not to be disturbed!" The first giant countered.
"Boys, boys!" Pinkie cheered as she sauntered up, the giants immediately standing at attention, "May I go in?" She asked sweetly, the two stepping to the side as the gate opened.
Twilight was more than a little flummoxed, eye twitching at the level of control Pinkie seemed to hold, "So… can I go-"
"NONE SHALL PASS!" The first one shouted before in a more normal voice he said, “Besides Miss Pie.”
"HOW IS THAT FAIR!?" Twilight shouted, her mane now on fire.
"Look, you wanna go in?" The second asked, Twilight now calm and vigorously nodding, "Alright, go in. We'll send a message to the big guy, if he says you're good, you're good, if not-"
The first giant dropped a guillotine from seemingly nowhere, cleanly slicing a watermelon in half.
"Yeah… that…"
With one last gulp, Twilight made her way in, eyes sparkling in excitement.
-Ten minutes later-
"KyaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!" Twilight cried as she flew over the Everfree and onto the balcony of her current home.
"Shouldn'ta done that~" Pinkie cooed, somehow having been on the balcony before Twilight.
"But! But but! Science!!" Twilight shouted, holding an aged gear… which Pinkie plucked from her grasp.
"I'll make sure this goes back to the Box." The party pony said as she started hopping away.
"Wait! What do I do!?" Twilight cried, doing nothing to get herself out of her wooden, leafy prison.
"Don't know, maybe start by making a friend?" She replied slyly before hopping off the balcony.
-Sweet Apple Acres: Twenty minutes earlier-
"Howdy partner!" Applejack cheered as she welcomed Spike to her orchard, "Here alone today?"
"Yep!" The drakeling replied happily, Twilight was supposed to come with me, but she sent me ahead!"
Chuckling, Applejack placed a hoof on Spike's shoulder and urged him forward, "Ya hungry?" She had to stifle a laugh as the drakeling's stomach groaned like a whale, the young dragon smiling bashfully, "Ah'll take that as a yes."
-Twenty Minutes Later-
"So she's an Egghead, I get that right?" Applejack asked, the two having set up a rather large meal for the Apple Family as well.
"Yeah, she can get a little 'Research Crazy', but she's really nice!" Spike said happily, a half eaten bear claw in his grasp.
"Bah! Can't trust them bean counters!" Granny Apple Smith shouted spiritedly, waving a cane around, "No good crooks always tryin' ta take the land from under ya!"
"Granny, that's a tax collector," Applebloom replied, "Plus, she can't be that bad if she raised a dragon all by her lonesome!"
Big Macintosh only nodded at this, his ears perking up as the sound of someone screaming through the air caught his attention… followed by an unearthly thunk.
"Summ'in wrong, Macintosh?" Applejack asked.
The crimson pony only shook his head, the others shrugging as they seemed not to have noticed the noise. Everyone satisfied, Spike started to collect the dishes only for Applejack to stop him.
"Woah there, y'all got enough on yer plate!" Applejack shouted as she took the dishes.
"But I always help Twi with the dishes." Spike replied.
"And that's all good, but ya gotta unwind every now and again," Applejack explained with a smile, "When's the last time ya had fun?"
The dragon began to poke his chin, "I… don't know. Most of my fun came from reading and helping Twi with her experiments. We do go to the park every once in a while, we even go get donuts on my birthday!"
"Ain't ya a little young for donuts?" Granny asked questioningly.
"Ah what's the harm," Spike replied with the wave of a claw and a smile, "I'm a dragon! I'll be fine."
Applebloom then took Spike by the claw, "Hey, me and a couple gals are headin' to Rarity's! Wanna come with?" Spike's face seemed to glow with excitement.
"What are we waiting for!? Let's go!"
-Twilight-
The unicorn had finally gotten the last of the leaves out of her mane, just in time as she had made her way to Sweet Apple Acres' gate, "I hope I'm not too late…"
Child like giggling began to fill the air, Spike and a red haired filly running to the gate.
"Spike?" Twilight asked under her breath, a smile on her lips as she looked upon the scene.
The dragon finally caught sight of the unicorn, smiling brightly as he urged Applebloom along, "Mom!" He shouted, "I made a friend!"
"Name's Applebloom m'am!" The filly stated, holding her head up high, causing Twilight to giggle.
"Is your sister in? I'd like a few words." The unicorn had asked, Applebloom nodding quickly.
"We'll be at Rarity's," Spike said excitedly, "Don't worry, we'll probably be there a while."
The two shared a hug, Twilight watching as the two ran off.
"Quite a sight ain't it?"
Twilight shouted in shock, jumping up slightly and falling on her back, looking up to see Applejack laughing into a hoof.
"Well ain't you flightier than a fruit bat! Lemme help ya up," Twilight sighed, thankful that Applejack was there to get her up, "Yer kin just left, gonna catch up to em?"
Twilight shook her head with a smile and closed eyes, "No, he's in good hooves, actually, I was hoping maybe we could… start over? We didn't exactly hit it off when we first met."
Applejack chuckled at this, turning around and motioning for the unicorn to follow, "Come on, ya any good with yer hooves?"
"My hooves?" Twilight asked with confusion, clicking said hooves on the dirt path, "I mean… I'm good with metal? Not manual labor if that's what you were alluding to."
Applejack chuckled as she placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, "Ah don't worry none, but Ah could use some help with a bit a' metal."
Blinking, Twilight only smiled as the farm mare strung her along.
-One Hour Later-
"I don't know how I did it… but I did." Twilight commented, wiping sweat from her brow and marveling at her four wheeled and armored contraption. A shining, sharpened, and well buffed plow jutting proudly from the hoof powered cart.
"Landsakes…" Applejack gasped as she started to walk rings around the beast, "So, all a pony has to do is… what?"
Twilight jumped onto the cart, raising mirrors with her magic as she began to show the farm mare the various levers and cranks, "It's all fairly simple, these pedals in front dictate movement of all four wheels, the lever in the back manipulates between left, right, and straight, and the levers to the side lock the vehicle in place."
Nodding, Applejack then clicked her hoof on the polished steel, "What about this here? How's that work?"
"This crank right up front releases and raises the plow," Twilight threw a wheel, the sharpened heavy steel digging into the earth with a thud, "Now if you want to raise it…" Dropping her showcase mirrors and struggling a little, Twilight focused her magic to turn the wheel clockwise, Applejack watching in awe as the unicorn both raised and locked the plow in place.
"Hoowee, Sugarcube! Yer a lot stronger an' ya look! I ever tell ya that?" The farm pony cheered as she slapped her knee with her Stetson.
Visibly sweating, Twilight managed a smile as she slumped out, landing on her chin, "I… just give me a moment…"
Chuckling, Applejack helped her to her hooves, "After what y'all just did? I think ya deserve a treat."
"A… treat?" The unicorn gasped out, the farm mare only smiling.
-Thirty Minutes Later: Fluttershy's Cottage-
"Oh… my…" Twilight gasped as she sank into the heated pond behind Fluttershy's home, The Ultimate Baseball Kid periodically heating the body of water with his hands every now and again, "When you said treat, this was not what I was expecting…"
"Yep, I come out here every once in a while…" Applejack muttered as she settled into the pond, an easy smile on her face.
"And… the monster? How long has he been here?" Twilight asked, eyes now focused on the Baseball Kid.
"What? Him? Hasn't been here long, Fluttershy said she woke up to see him tendin' ta the critters round here. Had help too."
The unicorn only tilted her head in confusion at this. "Help?"
A quiet howl alerted the mare, Twilight looking back to see Fluttershy carrying a small platter of cheese, flowers, and bread slices… followed closely by the Watch Dog, the tattooed hound stringing along a wagon carrying a rather large jug of lemonade and several glass cups.
"Um… H-how is the water?" The buttery pegasus asked hesitantly, "Is it w-warm enough?"
"The water is perfect~" Twilight replied dreamily, "Thanks to your… uh…" She motioned to the Baseball Kid, the tiny warrior rubbing his nose as he gave a wild smile.
"Ah, just call me B.K," the baseball themed warrior replied, "Shy tells me that you're new in town. Where ya hail from, lass?"
"Oh! I'm from Canterlot," Twilight replied happily, "I'm here with my baby dragon."
"Ya laid an egg that big?" B.K replied, eyes growing with awe… only to burst out laughing at the now cherry faced and flustered unicorn, "Just messin' with ya, lass! A lady needs ta handle herself in a tough situation ya know."
Fluttershy giggled softly at this, the Watch Dog rolled his eyes and Applejack only stared at B.K with a critical look.
"A-anyway…" Clearing her throat, Twilight collected her thoughts before looking back to B.K, his hands once again wrist deep in the water so as to maintain its temperature, "I'm sure Miss Shy has already told you of the night's events?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah. Heard ya gave that oversized Nightmare Horse a good pounding," The Baseball Kid replied, "Wish I coulda seen it with me own eyes."
"Well, things did get a little exciting once Obelisk was summoned…"
"Heard Vincent managed to turn into Ra," BK pointed out, "How'd that go? Poorly I'm guessin'?"
"The resulting energies seemed to cancel out Obelisk's summoning… that or Nightmare Moon could have recalled Obelisk herself…"
BK pulled at his scarf nervously, "Eesh, she had ya right where she wanted ya."
"Well," Fluttershy mumbled as she joined everyone at the pool, "If it wasn't for Twilight's help, we may not be here to… talk about it." It was quite apparent the event still haunted the shy mare.
"We only survived because I had made certain precautions," Twilight added, "Everything about that duel disk was experimental though, so there was just as large of a chance that everything could have gone terribly wrong as well."
"Don't think we needed ta know that, lass." BK pointed out, motioning to the now shivering Fluttershy.
"But it's great that we made it out alive!" Twilight hurriedly said as she gave a nervous laugh.
"Smooth partner…" Applejack teased with a sly smirk.
Twilight only sunk into the pool, red from embarrassment.
It wasn't but another ten minutes until the trio of Applejack, Twilight, and Fluttershy made their way to Rarity's. Though, Applejack had to hurry at this point as Twilight had started to bombard the Ultimate Baseball Kid with some rather personal questions…
"Come on Sugarcube…" The farm mare grunted as she dragged Twilight away by the tail, "Places to be and all that…"
"Oh my…" Fluttershy commented as she watched the unicorn paw at the dirt to no avail.
"But there's still so much I need to know! So much I still have to ask!" Twilight shouted, causing BK to laugh hysterically.
"I'll be here all week, lass!" BK called out as he waved.
Whimpering, Twilight allowed herself to be dragged away by her tail.
Once the trio was a good ways out, Twilight was helped to her hooves so as not to collect anymore dirt.
"So… could you two tell me more about this town's history?" Twilight asked once she built up enough nerve, "Maybe even something about the castle in the Everfree?"
"Castle of tha' Two Sister's, right?" Applejack responded, "Can't tell ya much, Granny drilled it into us that the whole story 'round it was a big ol' horror story."
"You mean because of Nightmare Moon?" The unicorn asked as she tilt her head, "Does it have anything to do with it's new resident?"
Applejack raised an eyebrow at this, "What? Ya mean, Vincent? Nah…" Focusing back on the path, the farm mare kicked a loose pebble away before continuing, "Nightmare was 'fore he came round. Used ta think tha whole place was haunted… hay, might still be."
"Um, girls?" Fluttershy had spoken up softly, "We're here…"
Twilight had gulped as she stared at the carousel themed parlor, thoughts of being constrained by a corset saddle still haunting her thoughts.
"Ya feelin' alright, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she nudged Twilight's shoulder.
"Just flash backs…" Twilight muttered as she rubbed her barrel, "Well, shall we?"
And with that, Applejack had walked to the doorframe to knock, only to stop as she heard what sounded like a struggle coming from inside. With a determined nod, the farm mare kicked the door in to the sight of Rarity, Applebloom, the filly's two friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and Spike all tangled in a mess of yarn and ribbons.
"Is… something the matter, Applejack?" Rarity asked, wide eyed with surprise.
"Ah heard fightin'," The farm mare replied carefully, "Thought some pony might a broken in."
"Oh no no no, dear!" Rarity shouted jovially, "We were only having a bit of fun."
"Spike?" Twilight asked as she peeked inside, smiling in amusement as she watched as the dragon laughed with his new friends.
Maybe… just maybe. This is what Celestia wanted her to see.