//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Obsession 
// Story: Spiral: The Strangeness of Ponyville 
// by GWFan 
//------------------------------//

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic owned by Hasbro, or Uzumaki written and drawn by Junji Ito.


Spiral: The Strangeness of Ponyville
By: GWFan (The Softcore Brony)


Chapter 1: Obsession 

To my dearest brother, Shining Armor,
If you are reading this for the first time, then I cannot guarantee that I am even alive.  I wish I didn’t have to resort to calling on you for help, but the measures we have taken are not working and the evil that threatens us is gaining the upper hand.  I shutter to even recount the strangeness that has occurred here in Ponyville, but I must tell somepony in the case that we fail to stop the horrors that have come to pass and it falls into the hooves of others to finish what we could not.  In that light, I would like to share with you the strange events that took place here…



Princess Twilight Sparkle pranced down the street on her way to Quills and Sofas.  She would need another supply of quills, especially after the events of the previous few weeks.  She smiled as she walked in the door and heard the familiar bell.
“Good morning, Mr. Davenport.  I’ll need a dozen more quills, please.”
Mr. Davenport looked up from his balance book and smiled back.  “Sure thing.  Morning, Princess Twilight.  Oh wait, is it okay to say Mayor Sparkle now?”
“It’s all right.  Even as mayor, I’m still Twilight to all my friends here in Ponyville.  You know I’ve never liked being treated like a Princess even if I am.”
Davenport laughed.  “I knew there was a reason I voted for you.”
It was true.  Twilight had been sworn in a little over two weeks before and she couldn’t help but smile whenever she went out in public.  It had been a heated election since the previous mayor had decided to retire.  Still, even Twilight’s opponent, Filthy Rich, had seemed to have a lot of respect for her and congratulated her sincerely on her victory. 
After placing her new quills in her saddlebag, Twilight shook Davenport’s hoof.  “Thanks again for the quills, Mr. Davenport.  I’ll probably be back for more next week.”
“Always a pleasure to do business with you.  See you later, Mayor Twilight Sparkle.”
Mayor Twilight Sparkle.  Just hearing it made Twilight feel giddy inside.  She had been rather reluctant when her friends had first encouraged her to run, but she was glad she had.  Already, she had started looking into ways to improve Ponyville and make it even more the wonderful place she had grown to love over the last ten years she had lived there.
“Morning, Mayor,” a citizen greeted her as she passed by.
“Good morning, June Bug.”
“Hi, Mayor,” another greeted her.
“Good morning, Carrot Top.”
“Hey there, Mayor Sparkle.”
“Good morning… Wind Dancer.”
“Good morning, Mayor.”
“Good morning to you… um… Mr. Waddle.”  
Twilight waved before quickly ducking into an ally behind Sugarcube Corner.  Silently, she went over the names of as many ponies as she could remember.  Befriending everypony in town had been Pinkie Pie’s idea, but Twilight didn’t have anywhere near the perfect memory that Pinkie seemed to have when it came to remembering names.  She didn’t want to offend anypony by letting them think she had forgotten them.
Cursing her memory, Twilight pulled a scroll out of her saddlebag and read through the various names of Ponyville’s citizens.  She read quickly while slowly walking further down the ally.  There was Sunshine, Mrs. Cupboard, and Mr. Green Hooves.  Of course, she couldn’t forget Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda, Pudding and Cookie Crum, Flower Light, Angel Mood…
How did Pinkie Pie do it?  Twilight kept reading and barely noticed a rump that she nearly bumped into. 
“Oh, sorry.  I almost didn’t see you there.  Um…”  She realized that this was one pony she definitely recognized.  Twilight smiled in an even friendlier greeting.  “Hello there, Mrs. Macintosh.  How are you doing this fine morning?”
Mrs. Lemonade Macintosh, Big Macintosh’s wife of about six years now.  Everypony had been surprised when Big Mac rather quietly popped the question to her out of the blue, but it had been quite the happy occasion.  Twilight had even been a bridesmaid at the wedding.  Nopony had seemed happier than Granny Smith though, who had found the strength to dance with her grandson that day.  The very sight of it had been enough to make even Applejack shed a few tears.
Lemonade however, didn’t answer Twilight.  She didn’t even look at her.
“Lemonade?  Are you okay?”  Twilight glanced around Lemonade’s rump and saw her focused on something stuck to the wall.  It was a snail shell.  It didn’t move and there was no sign that any snail inside was still alive, but Lemonade wouldn’t break her concentrated gaze.  Maybe it wasn’t Lemonade after all, and yet she was unmistakable with her bright yellow coat, green mane, and lemon slice cutie mark.  Even if you didn’t see her cutie mark, anypony could recognize her wearing her wide brimmed sun hat.  
“Okay then… it was nice talking to you.”  Twilight quietly walked away, not sure what to make of the encounter.  Lemonade still didn’t make any indication that she had noticed her and kept staring at the shell as if she expected it to come to life at any moment.  Twilight looked back once as she exited the ally.
“Good morning, Mayor Princess.”
“Oh uh… good morning, Flap Jack.  And please, Princess isn’t necessary.”  Twilight nodded and moved on down the street.  Perhaps Lemonade just wanted to be alone for a while or something.  In any case, being mayor, Twilight had many responsibilities to perform every day.  However, she couldn’t forget that it was also Saturday and she had a very important lunch date to keep after her morning duties were finished.  Not to mention she had an even more important dinner date as well.



Twilight hummed a merry tune as she set out the tea set Rarity had given to her when she celebrated her birthday during her fourth year in Ponyville.  Just as the teapot whistled on the stove, Twilight heard somepony knock at the door.  
“Come on in!  You should know you don’t need to knock by now,” Twilight called as she turned off the stove and floated the pot to the table with her magic.  With everything perfectly in place, Twilight was pleased to see her friend Applejack walk in.
“Hey, Twilight.  I know I don’t need to knock, but I can’t help how I was raised ya know.”
“I understand.  You’re just in time.  I just took the tea off the stove.”
Applejack sniffed the air.  Cinnamon.  It had been a while since they had shared cinnamon tea.  Before the stout work pony sat down at the table, she briefly glanced around the library.  “Is Pinkie comin’ today?”
“Eeyup,” Twilight answered, imitating Applejack’s brother playfully.  “She said she would be a bit late, but she’s definitely coming.”
“That’s good.  I feel like I haven’t seen her in ages.  She’s kept herself pretty busy since she had her kid and all.”
“Very true.  I never thought I’d see the day that Pinkie would start acting so serious.  Then again, I never thought she would be the first one of us to have a baby.”  
It had happened just a few years ago.  Pinkie had been the first (and so far only one of Twilight’s PFFs) to get married.  Not long after that, Pinkie had her daughter.  It was a little surprising too, since her husband, Pokey Pierce, worked in another town and almost never came home.  Her daughter Binkamena Cyan Pie, or just Binkie Pie for short, was truly a blessing for the pink party mare and had become the center of her universe.  Perhaps that was part of the reason Pinkie had become so serious and put so much effort into being a mother.  Twilight often wondered if Pinkie’s husband really cared or not.  Rainbow Dash had gone as far as to suggest that he was actually cheating on her, but Twilight had convinced her not to jump to such conclusions.  At least he sent a lot of money home. 
In any case, Pinkie would be coming today and their slowly diminishing circle of friends would be complete.  “That reminds me, I just received a letter from Rarity this morning.  Her latest design has taken Canterlot by storm and we’ll probably see it sold in Ponyville soon.  She said she is going to send us all a free outfit too.”
Applejack giggled.  “Good ol’ Rarity.  I’m glad to hear she hasn’t changed much since she became famous.  I actually kinda miss her attention to detail around here sometimes.” 
“I know what you mean.  Oh, and she said Rainbow Dash is doing fine too.  Rarity just had a quick lunch with her last weekend.” 
“Quick probably doesn’t do it justice.  Rainbow Dash doesn’t have time for nothin’ since she joined the Wonderbolts.”
“Can you really blame her?  You know it’s been her dream since she was a filly.”
“I guess not but still…”  Applejack shook her head.  “She could try visiting for more than ten minutes at a time.”
The Wonderbolts kept a much tighter schedule than any of them had realized and Rainbow Dash spent nearly all her time with them.  The last time Twilight had seen her in fact had been when Dash participated in a Wonderbolts Derby.  Inevitably, she had won, but the odds were in her favor anyway so the winnings were rather minor, much to Rarity’s disappointment.  Even though they had primarily been there for Rainbow Dash, the cyan pegasus had rushed off to another event before Twilight could even congratulate her.  Even with her schedule though, she saw Rainbow more often than she saw her last friend.
“Any word from Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.
“No, not yet.  Not since her last letter about a month ago, anyway.  I’m a little worried, but I’m sure she’s fine.  I’ll bet she’s caught up with a sick animal or something.”  Applejack nodded and took a small sip of tea.  
Fluttershy hadn’t been home to Ponyville in almost two years.  Through some rather amazing efforts, she had managed to find homes for nearly every animal in her cottage.  Apparently though, the lack of animals to care for had left her feeling rather disappointed and her determination to find homes for the few remaining made her anxious as well.  In what perhaps was the rashest decision Fluttershy had ever made, she decided she wanted to travel all around Equestria like a veterinarian version of Johnny Appleseed and care for animals the world over.  Taking Angel Bunny and her few remaining animals with her, she had set out and, to all of her friends surprise, never came back, only sending a short letter every now and then to tell her friends that she was doing okay and that animals all over Equestria were doing even better.  
“Anyway, how are things going around the farm these days?”
Applejack spilled some of her tea and seemingly hesitated a moment.  “It’s… goin’ fine I spose.  As fine as it could be.”
Maybe that hadn’t been the best question.  Twilight had heard that Granny Smith had suddenly moved herself to Ponyville Retirement home, but she hadn’t had the courage to ask why.  “So how’s your nephew doing?”
At least Applejack smiled.  “Little Mac’s doin’ just fine.  He ain’t even got his cutie mark yet and already he’s tryin’ to buck trees with his dad.  He’s not too bad at it for a kid his age neither.  I bet he’ll be a strong boy when he gets older.”  Not long after Big Macintosh had been married, he and his wife had had Big Macintosh JR or Little Mac as everypony called him since he looked so much like his father, only with Lemonade’s green hair.
Twilight laughed.  It was good to hear some good news and Applejack looked happier for the change in subject.  “Oh, I almost forgot, I thought I saw your sister-in-law earlier today, but I’m not sure it was actually her.  I saw her behind Sugarcube Corner looking at a snail shell.”
Applejack dropped her smile and suddenly sighed.  “You weren’t mistaken, Twi.  That was her.”
“Really?  You knew she was there?”
“No, but if you say she was lookin’ at a snail then I would bet mah hat that was Lemonade.  She’s been like that lately.”
Twilight raised her eyebrows in concern.  “Like what?”
“Well… a while back she started collectin’ stuff.  Stuff with spirals on them.  Don’t really matter what it is so long as it has that ridiculous design.”
“She started a hobby then?” 
“It ain’t no hobby.  It’s turned into a darn obsession.”
Twilight laughed.  “Applejack, I think you’re blowing this out of proportion.  I tend to collect a few odd things every now and then, for scientific purposes of course.”
“You don’t understand, Twilight, her collection is enormous.  It’s startin’ to freak me out.”
“There’s nothing wrong with having an interest in something.”
“An interest?”  Applejack knocked her teacup over, spilling the contents all over the table, but she didn’t seem to notice.  “What she does is more than an interest.  You know what she does?  If we leave her alone for more than a few minutes, she’ll go in that room she keeps all that junk in and just stare at it.  There ain’t nothin’ we can say that’ll distract her from it either.  It’s like she doesn’t even hear us.  We literally got to drag her outta there before she snaps out of it.”  Twilight poured her friend another cup of tea as Applejack continued.  “I keep tellin’ Big Mac that we gotta get rid of that collection for her own good, but he’s afraid she’ll get mad or somethin’ stupid like that.  I just don’t understand him.  If not for her, then he should do it for Little Mac.  The little guy needs a mama who don’t flake out like that.” 
“Well… she is the only one in the family who doesn’t harvest apples, right?  She probably feels a little left out and distant from you two since you’re always out doing that everyday.  Maybe if she came out and helped you at least put the apples in baskets or something, she would do much better.”
“I’m not sure it’s so simple, Twi.  She’s been doin’ other strange things too.  You know she needs to stir up the bathwater into a whirlpool before she gets in?  It’s… I don’t know.  It’s just weird.” 
“Maybe… um…”  Twilight didn’t have any explanation for that.  Some ponies just had odd hobbies.  
The lavender alicorn stuttered, trying to find something to say.  Applejack realized it too.  “I’m sorry, Twi.  I didn’t mean to come over just to complain.  It’s just… I don’t know.  I’ve been so frustrated lately.  So much has been changin’ around Ponyville.  Rarity and Rainbow Dash moved to Canterlot, Fluttershy’s off on her little excursion that I still don’t really understand, and the town is just flat out startin’ to look different.  Everythin’s growin’ so fast and so many new buildin’s are goin’ up all over the place, I hardly recognize it anymore.”
“I know what you mean.  Everything seems so different from when I first came here ten years ago.  A lot of the children we knew have grown up, new businesses are moving in, it’s a lot to take in.  Trust me, Applejack, I get it.”
The orange earth pony sighed.  “Yeah.  I miss Apple Bloom too.”
Twilight raised her eyebrow at that.  “What do you mean?  She still lives in Ponyville.  You see her all the time.”
“I know, but I miss havin’ her around the farm.  I still can’t believe she started her own business.  And who’d a thought it’d have nothin’ to do with apples.”  Though she sounded sad, Applejack still smiled.  Even if it wasn’t in the family business, she was still proud of her little sister for taking matters into her own hooves.  She was living independently, though Applejack didn’t know why she had decided to live alone. 
“We was all so proud of her, but then Granny just…” Applejack shook her head.  “I never told you why Granny Smith moved out, did I?”
“You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No, no, I…”  She sighed.  “You’re right.  I’ll just sound like a bitter old ninny.  Dang it.  I’m sorry, I’ve ruined the whole lunch.”
“You haven’t ruined anything.  I haven’t even served lunch yet.  You like daffodil and daisy sandwiches don’t you?”
Applejack was about to say something else when they both heard a knock at the door.  Twilight sighed.  “It’s open!  Come on in!”
“Hi, Twilight.  Hi, Applejack.  Hope I’m not too late.”  Pinkie Pie strode inside calmly, a gentle smile adorning her face.  Even just a few years before, she would either have bounced in or made a loud entrance of some sort that may or may not have been accompanied by party streamers.  But that was the old unpredictable Pinkie.  New Mother Pinkie acted more like the previous mayor.
Applejack sighed.  “That was the most depressin’ entrance I’ve ever seen from you.”
Pinkie cocked her head.  “What do you mean?  All I did was walk inside.”
“Exactly.”  Applejack’s reaction only served to make Pinkie look confused.
“What she means Pinkie is… well… I guess we kind of miss when you were more… random.” 
“I don’t think you’ve thrown more than a few birthday parties since you daughter was born.  Well… you know, not that I’m complainin’ or nothing’, I just never thought I’d see you like this.”
Pinkie giggled.  “Oh, girls, the old Pinkie is still here.  Do you need some cheering up?”
Applejack and Twilight looked at each other.  Pinkie giggled again and started singing a slow song.
“If you’re feeling down
And you think the blues are here to stay
Just turn that frown upside-down
And laugh your cares away.”
“Pinkie, I actually missed this side of you,” Twilight said as Pinkie’s song became louder and faster.
“So cheer up!
Let the sadness fade away-ay-ay-ay.
Just giddyup
And seize the day-ay-ay-ay-ay!”
“It feels just like the good ol’ days,” Applejack said, chuckling to herself.
“The good ol’ days are here to stay
We’ll make new memories everyday!!!!!!”
“Suddenly I don’t quite miss Pinkie’s songs as much as I thought.”  Twilight uncovered her ears and tried to get a word in with Pinkie, but the old party mare had come back from nowhere and there was no stopping the latest Pinkie Song.



Lunch had gone on a little longer than Twilight had intended and she almost missed her train to Canterlot.  She had a very important dinner date with her old mentor, Princess Celestia.  According to Celestia at least, Twilight had long passed her studies on friendship with flying colors, but every now and then, Twilight still felt obligated to send another report.  She didn’t see the princess as much as she used to before either, but at least once a month the two of them, sometimes joined by Princess Luna, would get together for a late diner.
Even though it was just about sundown, Canterlot was bustling with activity.  Ponies walked everywhere either shopping or going home from work.  Some even were about to start work.  As it happened, the guards at the station switched shifts just then and Twilight found herself striking up a conversation with double the guards.  Being a princess, they all recognized her of course and it was purely friendly conversation, but Twilight was already almost late when she realized she had been talking for over fifteen minutes.
The guards ending their shift escorted her to the castle and continued the conversation that had started with her becoming mayor but for some reason shifted on why she hadn’t found a husband yet.  Friendship was a wonderful thing, but taking things that far was still a bit beyond her desire.  Hopefully, Celestia would never ask her to research the magic of dating.  Twilight was relieved when she reached the castle and the guards returned to their barracks for the night.
Twilight glanced around the palace of Canterlot almost expectantly though she knew her brother, Shining Armor, hadn’t worked there in a long time.  He lived in the Crystal Empire now and it was a shame he hadn’t stayed in Canterlot.  Twilight would have liked to see him.  His wife (and Twilight’s old foalsitter) Cadence had become pregnant a few months before, and Shining Armor had decided to focus on his new role as a soon to be dad.  The odds of danger in the Crystal Empire were slim at best (though it had happened) and quite suiting for a father to be who wanted to be there for his future foal or foals.  Twilight couldn’t wait to meet her new nephew or niece.  There was so much she could teach and not just flying a kite, which of course she would leave to her brother.
Walking through the lit halls, Twilight realized that it was the first time in ten years that she had come to Canterlot without at least one of her friends.  She knew they were still her PFF’s, but it still felt strange to walk the halls alone.  She had done it plenty of times before she discovered the magic of friendship, but now it felt entirely unfamiliar.  Speaking of friends, Twilight decided to take a slightly longer route to the dinning hall where Celestia was inevitably waiting for her.  She passed through the lower halls looking into open doors, searching for a certain occupant.  She smiled when she finally saw the other resident of the castle she had been looking for.  “Spike!”
The dragon dropped the books he was sorting and turned around with a smile.  “Twilight!” Spike bellowed and rumbled over to her.  He snatched her up in his arms and hugged her so tightly that Twilight lost her breath.
“I’m glad to see you too, big guy…” Twilight managed to say before Spike realized he was crushing her and sat her down gently.
“Sorry, Twilight.  I guess I forgot that I’m bigger than you now.”
Twilight shook her head, telling him that she didn’t mind.  As the years went by, it was inevitable that Spike would grow.  He was not a full-grown dragon, but it was still difficult to keep his dragon instincts in check.  That was why Celestia had suggested he start working in the lower levels of the castle to keep him busy.  So long as he didn’t have a chance to think about gems or other valuable objects, his natural hoarding instincts couldn’t kick in and wouldn’t jumpstart his transformation into an uncontrollable behemoth the likes of which Twilight had seen only a few times.  Besides, Rarity lived in Canterlot now and that always seemed to have an effect on repressing his inner-dragon.
“So,” Twilight said, nudging him with her elbow.  “Did you ask Rarity out on a date yet?”
Spike turned red.  “No way.  I’m not ready to ask her that.  We did have dinner the other day though.  Rainbow Dash was there too I guess, but it was still pretty romantic.”
Rarity hadn’t mentioned Spike being there.  Twilight shook her head.  Spike must have been hiding behind something and watching her again.  He was no longer Rarity’s little Spikey-Wikey anymore since he was so large, though Rarity was still fond of him.  Spike was just afraid that his larger size was off-putting and didn’t like to let her see him like that.  Twilight figured he would eventually learn that Rarity wasn’t so vein, though she also didn’t know how a dragon and a pony could date.  The magic of dating was starting to look all the more intriguing.
Twilight shook the thought from her mind and bid Spike a short farewell before continuing on her way to have dinner with Celestia.  She could catch up with Spike later that evening.



In the end, Twilight was twenty minutes late.  A few more guards had struck up a conversation with her just as she reached the dining hall.  She didn’t know why everypony was so interested in her social life and she was glad when Celestia came looking for her.  After apologizing for keeping her, the guards returned to their posts outside the door and Twilight sat down to dinner.
“I can’t believe how exhausting it is just to walk from the front door.  This is the busiest day I’ve had all week.”
“Being mayor is a big responsibility.  You have your work cut out for you.”
“I hardly even did anything productive today.  I’ve just been going from one place to the other.” 
As some of the servants brought in their dinner, Twilight relayed the various events that had gone on in Ponyville for the past week.  There had been endless meetings, lots of papers to sign, and decisions she never knew existed regarding everything from taxes to whether a new series of homes should be built or not.  As dinner moved on, Celestia had hardly spoken a word and mostly listened to the various troubles of Equestria’s most recent princess.
Finally, with the main course finished and desert, which for some reason was always cake, eaten, Celestia called for some tea.  Somehow, Twilight’s life had begun to revolve around drinking tea.  It had become her private stress reliever since her various duties at home had started to pile up around the time Spike had moved to the castle.
“So Twilight, how are your friends doing?” Celestia asked when the tea was ready.
“They’re doing fine.  Pinkie sang a song today, ten whole minutes.  I think that’s a new record for her.  Oh, wait… never mind.  I almost forgot about her wedding song.”
“Have you been having a good time with your friends?”
“I guess.  Whenever I get a chance to see them.”  Her own words partially startled her.  Other than lunch that afternoon, Twilight hadn’t seen Applejack since their lunch the week before and hadn’t seen Pinkie since she organized a surprisingly small celebration the day she had become mayor.  “I’m losing touch with my old friendship studies aren’t I…,” she said knowingly.
“You may not be my apprentice anymore but that does not mean your studies ever have to end.  Trust me.  Take some time to keep in touch with your friends.  You already know the obstacles you can overcome with the strength of friendship.”
Twilight nodded her head and stirred her tea with a spoon.  How many adventurers and trials had she managed to overcome because her friends had been there?  What had ever happened to their friendship?  It felt as if they were drifting apart.  They all had their own things to do, though it seemed like Applejack was still trying the hardest to keep their relationships together.  She had proven it that afternoon when she reminisced about the others.
Twilight looked at her cup of tea as she finished stirring it and watched the umber liquid spin.  She smiled.  “A spiral.”
“Hmm?  What did you say?”
“Huh?  Oh, sorry.  I was just thinking about something Applejack said today.  I guess she’s had her hooves full with her sister-in-law lately.  Apparently she likes to collect memorabilia with spiral designs on them.”  Twilight giggled but she was surprised when her former teacher stared at her.  
“Spirals?”  In fact, Celestia almost looked stunned.  “Mrs. Macintosh has been collecting spiral designs?”
“Yes.”
“Anything as long as it has a spiral?”
“I’m… not really sure about the details but-”
“And this is a behavior that she has developed just recently?”
“I guess so.”  Twilight couldn’t understand why Celestia sounded so serious.  There was certainly nothing wrong with collecting things.  Twilight for example liked to collect books.  “Is something wrong, Princess?”
Celestia didn’t answer right away.  Her expression almost seemed dark when she responded, “I’m not sure yet.” 
“If something is troubling you, then you can tell me.  I’m your friend after all.”
“Yes.  You are, Twilight Sparkle.”  To that, Celestia smiled.  “How about we end this a little early?  Luna should be finished bringing the night soon and I’m sure she would like to spend some time with you as well.”
“Huh?  What about you?  I thought we would all have tea together.”
“I… have something I need to look into.”  With a brief nod, Celestia excused herself and walked out of the room.
“Princess?”  Twilight teleported out of the room and right in front of the regal ruler.  “If something is wrong then I want to help.  Please, tell me what’s the matter.”
The gentle smile that Twilight had seen so many times in the past, greeted her once again.  “What I want you to do is stay up with Luna for a while.  I may call on the both of you later to discuss something.”
“Princess, you’ve never acted like this before.  I don’t understand.  What is it that you can’t tell me?”
“I’ll explain the next time you hear from me, my faithful friend.  I promise you that.”  
That said, Celestia walked past Twilight.  Her horn lit up in magic and a satchel appeared around her side just as she headed for the balcony.  The lavender alicorn watched as Celestia spread her wings and took off into the night before teleporting.  
The princess’s behavior was beyond odd.  Twilight couldn’t understand why she had reacted so strangely to something as simple as a friend’s family matters.  Moreover, Celestia had left alone.  She almost never went anywhere without her royal escort.  However, there was more that bothered the magical mare.  Celestia had said, ‘…the next time you hear from me…’ almost as if she didn’t expect to see her in person.  Twilight dashed to the balcony, scanning the sky for any sign of Princess Luna.  She had to tell her about this immediately.  But in reality, she had little to tell.  Twilight didn’t even know where her former mentor had gone.



“You have to add the apples now,” Lemonade said sternly, scratching her head slightly underneath the prim, white, wide brimmed sun hat she always wore.
“And I’m tellin’ ya that we have to wait.  You’ll spoil the whole batch if we put them in so soon,” Applejack retorted.
“Well that’s not the way I was taught.”
“Well it is the way I learned, and mah family makes a business out of apples.  You aught to know that by now.” 
“Did you ever think that perhaps you weren’t making them the right way?”
“How dare you!  I’ve been makin’ apple goods mah whole life and I sure as shootin’ know how to make em’ right!”
Lemonade huffed and turned away from her sister-in-law.  “Mac honey, please tell your sister that she is being unreasonable.”
“If you want to tell me, I’m standin’ right here.  Big Macintosh, don’t you let her fluff her way through this.  Stand by your sister and tell your wife that she’s bein’ ridiculous.”
“Uh…”  Big Macintosh gulped, looking between the two squabbling mares from where he was sitting at the kitchen table.  
“Well?” the two said together.
Big Macintosh nodded his head and said, “Eeyup,” before returning to the pre-dinner soup he was drinking.  His son, Little Mac, who sat opposite of him, laughed into his hoof.  He was used to seeing his dad resolve problems like that.
“Oh, you’re a big help you big softie,” Lemonade scolded him.  Then she looked at the apples that were still sitting on the counter.  She sighed.  “Sorry.  I guess haven’t really been myself lately.”
Applejack tried to look her in the eyes, but it wasn’t easy.  Lemonade wore her hat so low it nearly covered them.  “It’s all right.  I shouldn’t a yelled.  But you know I’m right about this.”
Lemonade looked away.  She didn’t voice disagreement but she didn’t look happy either.  Then her eyes lit up.  “What is this!?”
“What?  What did I do now?”
“The noodles!”  She pointed at a bag of noodles on the opposite counter.  “You didn’t buy the noodles I wanted!”
“The store was outta spiral noodles so I bought them stringy ones instead.  What’s it matter anyway?  Pasta is pasta.  It all tastes the same.”
“You don’t understand.  I wanted spiral noodles!”
“Stop your screamin’ and hollerin’.  You sound just like a little kid.  Especially not in front a Little Mac.  Big Macintosh, why ain’t you sain’ somethin’?”
“I uh…” Big Macintosh started, but his wife cut him off.  
“Look at this, the whole dinner is ruined now.”
“Shmoopy doo, please-”
“Don’t you shmoopy doo me.  I know what you’re trying to do.  Don’t you dare change the subject.”
“I’m not, but what you’re sayin’ just don’t add up.  It don’t matter what kind a noodles they are.”  The sudden glare from his wife made Big Mac clear his throat.  “Though I certainly wouldn’t mind havin’ them spiral shaped ones.”
Applejack facehoofed.  Every day had been like this lately.  “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t buy your noodles, but this is gettin’ way outta hand.  We’ve been squabblin’ so much that dinner is hardly even started and we shoulda been just about done by now.”  The only thing they had finished was the soup.
“What are you suggesting?  That there are too many cooks in the kitchen?”
“Maybe a little.”  Applejack scrunched her lips together and expected a retort, but Lemonade looked hurt instead.  
“I’m trying, okay?  I know I’ve never been the greatest cook, at least not as good as you.  Just let me help with this.”
Applejack thought about what Twilight had said about Lemonade feeling left out of the family but shook her head anyway.  “I’ll handle the rest of dinner, so you just sit down and… just eat the soup or somethin’ … okay?”
Lemonade glared but complied, sitting herself roughly at the kitchen table.   
“Mama, are you mad?” Little Mac asked.  
Lemonade looked at her son and finally put on a smile.  “No, sweetie, your aunt and I are just having a little tiff.  We’ll work it out…”  She breathed in heavily, apparently calming her nerves.  
Applejack smiled too.  She couldn’t deny that Lemonade was a good mother.  Even her strange spiral obsession usually took a backseat to her son.  Maybe Twilight and Big Macintosh were right and the whole strange hobby would pass.  Applejack hummed to herself and returned her attention to dinner.
Her ears shot up when she heard the sound of a spoon rumbling against something.  Turning her attention back to the table, she saw Lemonade stirring her soup with a spoon.  She stirred with increasing speed, somehow not spilling even a drop.  Eventually she stopped and stared into the bowl.  She smiled as her eyes followed the spiraling liquid.  Lemonade took a sip of the soup and giggled to herself, stirred it up again before slurping up some more.
The sudden knock at the door was the only thing that stopped Applejack from going off on her sister-in-law.  When nopony moved, Applejack sighed.  “Don’t everypony get up at once.”  
She walked briskly to the door, grumbling to herself in an attempt to calm her temper.  She knew she didn’t need to be angry but it wasn’t entirely her fault.  Lemonade had put Applejack in such a foul mood lately with her weird hobby.  She didn’t know what was wrong with her.  At one time she had been one of the sweetest mares Applejack had ever met, second only to Fluttershy if that was even possible, though much more talkative.  She was actually quite the gossiper when given the chance.  Applejack remembered sharing many funny stories with her before she and Macintosh married.  She had seemed even sweeter after Little Mac was born.  Then, just recently, all of a sudden came the obsession with spirals, and rational, sweet Lemonade had simply ceased to be.  
Applejack shook her head in regret as she opened the door.  “I’m sorry, but it’s late and…”  She stopped with her mouth still open.  A gentle smile greeted her.  “Whoa nelly… Princess Celestia?”
“Good evening, Applejack.  I hope I’m not disturbing you,” the princess answered with a further smile.  “How are you?”
“Uh… fine I guess.  Forgive me if I sound rude but I thought Twilight was goin’ over to visit you tonight.  Did you decide to come see her instead?”
“Oh no, Twilight is in Canterlot talking to my sister, so I decided to come and visit you while they catch up.  Is that okay?”
“Well… sure.  Please come in.”   Applejack stepped aside, almost bumping her knee on the door in her haste.  She watched Celestia walk in, still shaken by the unexpected visit.  She followed Celestia as far as the entrance to the kitchen and just stood there, still in awe that she came to visit so unexpectedly.  She was even wearing a satchel, something Applejack had never seen on her before.
Big Macintosh stood up immediately, bowed his head, took Celestia’s hoof, and kissed it.  Celestia giggled.  “Such a charmer, Big Macintosh, but remember that you are married now.”
“Uh… eeyup.”  Big Macintosh blushed.  He hadn’t meant it as anything more than a friendly gesture.  He looked at his wife as if to make sure she wasn’t glaring at him, but she wasn’t even paying attention, still watching her swirling soup.
“What a beautiful kitchen you have.  You must keep a strict hoof in the house, Mrs. Macintosh.”  Lemonade didn’t answer.  She nodded her head slightly and stirred her soup again.
“And how are you, Little Mac?  Helping your father around the farm?”
“Eeeeyup,” Little Mac mimicked his father and nodded happily.  “Some day I’m going to buck as many apples as my dad.”
“That’s wonderful.  I can see a bright future in you.”  Little Mac beamed as Celestia pat his head.
Applejack cleared her throat and walked into the kitchen.  “Please Princess, we would be honored if you joined us for dinner.”
“That sounds lovely, Applejack.  You always make the best goods.”  It was a compliment that Applejack almost wanted to rub in Lemonade’s face, but her manners and sense stopped her.
Celestia turned to Lemonade.  “So Mrs. Macintosh, are you making the dinner as well?”
A strange silence fell over the room, only interrupted by a single spoon rattling against a bowl.
Celestia finally broke the silence.  “That must be quite delicious soup.” 
“Mmmm,” Lemonade agreed as she slurped more up.
Applejack couldn’t have felt more embarrassed.  “Why don’t I fix you up a bowl, Princess?  Dinner’s not quite ready yet.”
“I would love some.”  She sat down next to Lemonade and glanced at her.  Lemonade giggled at her soup again.  Celestia cleared her throat.  “If you’ll please excuse me, I need to visit the little fillies room.  Would you mind showing me the way, Mrs. Macintosh?”
Lemonade looked up from her soup with a start.  “Huh?  Restroom?  Um… sure…”  Lemonade slowly pulled herself away from the table, scratched her head, and asked the princess to follow her.
“I’m sorry, Princess, she hasn’t really been… feelin’ well lately,” Applejack apologized.
Celestia nodded and started to follow Lemonade.  “Oh, and Applejack?”  Celestia’s horn lit up with magic and she pulled a scroll out of her satchel.  “I know this may sound peculiar, but if anything… strange happens, I would like you to give this scroll to my sister Luna and Princess Twilight as soon as possible.”
“Uh… okay.”  Applejack slowly accepted the rolled up parchment and tipped her hat as Celestia followed Lemonade to the bathroom.  She honestly couldn’t imagine how the night could become any stranger than it already had.


 
Celestia watched the smaller mare with concern.  She had exhibited very strange behavior the likes of which she had only seen once before.  That’s what concerned her.  She couldn’t imagine something like that happening again, but the signs she saw were beginning to add up.  She only hoped she was wrong.
Lemonade seemed half in a daze as she led her down the hall.  When they reached what presumably was the bathroom door, Lemonade scratched her head and pointed at it with her other hoof.  “By all means.” 
Celestia stood at the door but didn’t enter.  Lemonade smiled awkwardly and scratched her head again.  “So I hear you are collecting spirals,” Celestia said rather nonchalantly.
Lemonade’s face suddenly lit up.  “Oh yes.  Lately I’ve come to love that pattern.  I’m collecting everything that has spirals.  Do you want to see?”
“It sounds quite intriguing.”
Lemonade led the way with much more enthusiasm than she had a moment before and in a perfectly straight line.  It only made Celestia worry even more.  It couldn’t be happening again, not after so much time had gone by.
They reached a door at the end of the hall and Lemonade quickly opened it and walked right in.  “Here it is,” she said as she waved her hoof around the room.  Celestia stopped in the doorway and stared.  “Isn’t it fantastic?”  
Fantastic didn’t even begin to describe it.  It wasn’t just a few items.  The entire room was filled from wall to wall and floor to ceiling with spiral shaped objects and patterns.  Several conches littered a corner and snail shells by the dozens lined and overcrowded a long shelf.  Clothing, artwork, and pottery all covered in spiral designs hung on the wall or sat all over the floor.  Spiral-shaped wind chimes hung from the ceiling.  Hoof-woven baskets, paper lanterns, and even clock springs cluttered what little walking space there was in the room.  Even fully wound scotch tape, twisting vines, and drill bits were not excluded from the huge collection.  
“It’s so wonderful I could almost cry.”  Lemonade walked over to the shelf of snail shells and stared at them admiringly.
Celestia stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind her.  “So tell me, what is it you find so intriguing about the spiral design?”
“I find the spiral to be very mystical.  It fills me with a deep fascination… like nothing else in nature… no other shape…”  Lemonade lovingly petted a ceramic bowl with a spiral pattern around its inside.  
“Mrs. Macintosh?”  Lemonade sat and stared intently at her sprawling collection of spirals.  “Lemonade?”  As if she couldn’t even hear her, Lemonade transfixed on the shape of a clock spring she picked up and held in her hoof.  Celestia gazed around the smaller pony’s shoulder and looked at her face.  Lemonade’s eyes were spinning, following the spiral shape.  
Celestia raised her head and sighed.  “I’ve seen enough.”  A strong light ignited on Celestia’s horn and she tapped Lemonade with it.  The other pony cringed at the tap and dropped the spring.  “Snap out of it.  You’re not yourself.”
Lemonade appeared momentarily spooked and gazed around the room at the various articles of spiral-inspired junk as if she had never seen them before.  Then she looked at Celestia and jumped back, landing in the pile of conch shells.  “What did you do!?  What are you trying to do to me?” 
The light on Celestia’s horn only grew brighter and she stamped her hoof.  “Get a hold of yourself.  You’ve been cursed by the Spiral.” 
“Cursed?” Lemonade answered with a grin.  “I’ve not been cursed by anything.”
“Do you honestly believe this collection of yours is healthy?  Look at it.  It’s taking over your life.  You’re not well.”
Lemonade scratched underneath her hat.  “Who are you to say that?  Just because you’re the almighty ruler of Equestria you think you can tell me how to live?”
“No, I’m trying to help you.”  Celestia tried to move closer but Lemonade stood up and held a corkscrew in front of her. 
“I’m fine.  I’ve never felt better in my life,” Lemonade argued around her mouthful of the corkscrew and scratched underneath her hat.
“Why do you keep scratching your head?  Is something bothering you?”
“That’s none of your business!” Lemonade shouted and threw the corkscrew at the regal ruler.  Celestia calmly caught it with her magic and let it drop.  Apparently, the small dose of magic she had hit Lemonade with hadn’t been enough.
“Please… you don’t understand what the Spiral is or what it can do.  If you don’t give up this spiral obsession of yours soon, you are going to die.”
“Die?  Over this?”  Lemonade dismissively waved her hoof over her collection and laughed.  Then she glared at the much taller pony.  “You really think I need this?  I don’t need to collect spirals.  The spiral is so much more wonderful than this junk can portray.  Why, I’ve just realized that you can even make spirals yourself.”
“Lemonade, no!  You don’t understand what you’re saying.  You can’t think like that.  Otherwise-”
“No!  Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t understand spirals.  The spiral is amazing.  You can even express it through your own body… like this…”  
Though her eyes were just barely visible beneath the brim of her hat, Celestia saw Lemonade open them as wide as she could.  Then her left looked straight to the left and held there a moment, independent of her other eye.  Then it moved again around until it stopped, looking at her nose.  Then her other eye started to move.  In fact, her eyes started to move independently of each other.  They both spun in opposite directions, moving faster and faster until Lemonade’s eyes looked like rings.
“My fears really have come true.  The Spiral has actually returned.”  Celestia cringed as Lemonade laughed at her accomplishment.  Celestia could see her tongue twisting and curling in her mouth.
“Princess Celestia…” Lemonade hissed.  “You asked about my head?  Look how beautiful I’ve become.”  She flipped her hat off.  Celestia stared.  In the middle of her forehead was a gaping hole corkscrewed in such a way that it looked as if a massive drill had been jammed there.  Even though it was clearly on Lemonade’s head, the hole looked infinitely deep, baring nothing but blackness inside.  Her left eyeball sat at the very edge of it, as if the hole threatened to swallow it.  Lemonade hadn’t done that herself.  Celestia knew that only the Spiral could have been responsible.
There was no time to waste.  Celestia knew that only the strongest variation of that spell could stop the contamination before it spread.  With haste in mind, she started to cast it.
“Princess!?” came a shout from the other side of the door.  Celestia flinched.
“No!  Stay out, Applejack!” she shouted as the door opened.



Applejack tried to concentrate on finishing dinner, but her mind kept wandering to the parchment Princess Celestia had given her.  Something about her behavior bothered her.  It wasn’t so much her sudden appearance but the fact that she had said something so odd regarding the scroll.  Then there was the fact that she had never stopped smiling.  It wasn’t an honest smile but one that seemed more forced.  
Applejack tried to focus on stirring the batter for the cornbread but she stopped when she realized her stirring had started to make a spiral shape.  It reminded her too much of Lemonade’s hobby.  Applejack rubbed her eyes and looked away.  The scroll sat on the counter where she had left it.
It would be horribly dishonest to read it, but Applejack couldn’t resist.  Something about all the strange events of the evening made her feel it was necessary and perhaps even a little urgent.  She slowly unrolled it and read.
“What the hay?” she uttered quietly.  Her eyes grew wider as she continued to read.  The words were unbelievable and yet Princess Celestia had apparently written it herself.  “This is crazy.  It can’t be true, it just can’t.”
“AJ?”  Big Macintosh asked her, having noticed what she was doing.
“Little Mac, stay in the kitchen.  Your dad and I need to go find your mom.”
“Huh?” Both Macintoshes said at the same time.
“Come on Big Macintosh.”  Applejack speed walked out of the kitchen.  The letter couldn’t be true and yet it was addressed to both Princess Luna and Twilight, and signed along with an official royal seal at the bottom.
“AJ, what’s goin’ on?” Big Macintosh asked, after catching up with her.
“I think Lemonade’s spiral obsession is more than we thought.”
“AJ, I told you-”
“No, Big Mac, this is more than an obsession.  Her life’s in danger.”  Big Macintosh didn’t reply but the look on his face said more than he could have in a hundred words.  He knew Applejack would never say something like that if it were a joke.
The siblings raced to the bathroom, but neither Lemonade nor Celestia were there.
“The room,” Big Macintosh said.  Applejack knew exactly where he was talking about.  They galloped down the hall to the room Lemonade kept her collection in.
“Princess!?” Applejack called as soon as they reached the door.
She listened and heard Celestia shout, “No!  Stay out Applejack!”  Her voice sounded desperate.  Something was wrong.  
Without hesitating, Applejack threw open the door.  Celestia looked back at her with powerful magic dancing on her horn.  Behind her, Applejack saw Lemonade spring at her.  Applejack nearly screamed when she saw the gaping hole in her sister-in-law’s head.  Lemonade did scream.  She pounced on top of Celestia who tried to strike her with magic, but the light stretched and started to funnel inside Lemonade’s corkscrew hole.  Big Macintosh pushed past Applejack and stopped dead as something else unexpected happened.  Celestia’s form suddenly warped and twisted, funneling into Lemonade’s head like water going down a drain.
“Princess!” Applejack yelled, but Celestia was gone.
“Lemonade!” Big Macintosh called to his wife, but her laughter drowned it out.  However, she cut short and started to scream again, this time in what sounded like fear.  The hole suddenly swallowed her eyes and it started to become larger. 
Big Mac tried to go to her but despite all his strength, Macintosh’s legs refused to move.  “Honey!” he yelled as the hole expanded and swallowed his wife from head to tail in the blink of an eye.  
Big Macintosh gaped, frozen where he stood.  Applejack stared at the spot where she had just seen two ponies disappear into nothingness in ten seconds flat.  “What in Tartarus just happened?”