Chapter 2 – Research and Developments
Twilight Sparkle sat at her desk in the spacious bedroom in the Palace of Friendship created by the Tree of Harmony following the intense Battle with Tirek. As comfortable as her new home was, she would occasionally long for the simplicity of being a simple librarian in a small town. Then she would remember that being a simple librarian in Ponyville meant a new round of craziness or shenaniganry every week.
At least I have my friends, she thought, staring at the framed picture they had all taken when she moved into the castle.
Breaking herself free from her reminiscence, Twilight picked up the scroll her mentor had sent the previous evening detailing her new responsibilities.
To my precious student,
As you have now moved into your new palace, I believe it is time that you begin to take on additional responsibilities as a ruling monarch. Effective immediately, I, Princess Celestia, Diarch of Equestria, Princess of the Sun, do bestow upon you the title of Duchess of Ponyville and Guardian of The Everfree. I have included with this letter several books which should serve useful in learning the new responsibilities I have given you as well as the pertinent laws of your new principality. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact either Cadence, Luna or myself. We all expect great things in your future.
Your Caring Mentor,
--Celestia.
Since receiving the letter and books (and after helping Spike with a serious case of indigestion), Twilight had begun reading. And she had not stopped until the very early hours of the morning when her draconic son had forced her to go to bed. Some of the things she had already known, having grown up as a Unicorn and living under the Sage’s Wisdom. She was surprised how militaristic the Code of the Air had been, but considering it was written by Commander Hurricane after the Unification, she should have expected it. She had not yet gotten into the Earthmover’s Lexicon written by Chancellor Puddinghead and was pointedly ignoring Princessing for Dummies and a Beginners Guide to the Newly Ascended.
Gazing out the window, Twilight could see the tell tale signs of her best friends presence in the clear blue sky, her technicolor contrail flashing through the air in complex patterns. Smiling to herself, Twilight reached down with her magic and opened Princessing for Dummies and began reading the simplistic tome.
Most of the information was common sense. She would need to maintain and train her own personal guards as well as arrange for a place for their barracks to be built. She would also need to collect a cabinet of ministers to serve as her advisors and speak to Mayor Mare about transitioning power to the newly crowned princess. Reading over the section about finding a consort, a deep blush spread across her face as she set the book to the side.
“Spike?” She called, as she collected herself and stood up from her desk, “I need you to take a letter.”
Exiting her room, Twilight walked across the hall and knocked gently on her son’s door, trying to get his attention. Though the thick, crystalline walls of the balance acted as good noise insulators, she could still hear the deep base rumbling from one of DJ Pon-3’s records blaring behind the door. Gently opening the door with her magic, she poked her head in and found Spike sprawled on his bed, a large bowl of gems at his side as he read a towering stack of comics.
“Spike, how many gems have you eaten.” She scolded playfully, “You shouldn’t just snack, have some breakfast.”
“Aww, com on mom,” Spike said, turning down the volume on his record player, “I’m a growing dragon and I need all the gems I can get.”
“Your right, you do,” She replied, walking over to the young dragon and giving him a nuzzle, “But you also need to eat some oats or fruit or you’re going to start getting squishy around the middle. Come on, I’ll make you some breakfast and then you can help me send a letter to the Mayor. I need to set up a meeting with her in a couple days to discuss taking over Ponyville.”
“Don’t you mean I’ll make breakfast?” Spike said with a laugh as he set down the comic book and leapt out of bed, “The last thing you cooked came to life and moved into the basement.”
“Yes, but Kevin is so helpful with collecting your gems isn’t he?” Twilight responded as they walked towards the kitchen. “After we send out my letter, do you have any plans other than lazing about reading comics?”
“Um, well, see,” Spike said, his scales darkening lightly as he blushed, “I kind of have plans later to Hang out with Applebloom.”
“Applebloom?” Twilight asked, “No longer crushing on Rarity?”
“I realized somethings,” Spike said, hanging his head as he stepped into the kitchen and pulled on his pink apron, “For one thing, Rarity is ten years older than me. Two, she’s one of my mom’s best friends. Things never would have worked out. So, I decided to try and find a mare in my own age bracket.”
As the kitchen settled into a comfortable silence, Spike began making pancakes for the two of them while Twilight busied herself making a cup of tea with her magic. Taking a sip, she cast an appraising glance at her son. In the years they had lived in Ponyville, he had grown from the baby dragon she had raised into a teenager who stood nearly as tall as she did. While she did focus on her own studies, she made sure her son was no less educated and had been privately tutored for many years.
“Do you need any bits for your date?” She teased over the rim of her teacup.
“Just because I’m spending my time with a cute farm filly doesn’t mean its automatically a date,” Spike shyly said as he placed 2 plates of pancakes on the table, “I mean we’ve only kissed like twice.”
“Fourteen years old and you’ve already kissed a mare,” Twilight said with a smile, patting him affectionately on the knee, “I think I might need to crack open that book of Earth pony laws sooner rather than later so you know how to court your ‘cute farm filly’.”
Seeing his shocked look as he choked on a mouthful of pancakes, Twilight patted him on the back and magicked over a cup of water.
“There’s really a book like that?” Spike squeaked, “I mean, if I don’t follow Earth pony laws I could end up in jail?”
“As far as the book, yes, I have it upstairs in my room,” Twilight replied between bites of pancakes, “Going to jail? Can’t really say, we would need to read the book together later. For now, lets get that letter off then you can go see Applebloom.”
After quickly scribbling the letter to Mayor Mare and sending it off via Dragon Fire, Spike hurried through his breakfast and rushed out the door as Twilight retired to her room to begin making plans. Sitting down at her desk, she took quill in magic and began making a list of potential members of her royal court.
She would appoint Applejack to be her Agricultural advisor as farming was her specialty. The influx of bits from the appointment would definitely help around the farm and the notoriety would spread Sweet Apple Acres products all across Equestria. Pinkie Pie would be her Royal Entertainment advisor as well as acting as her social secretary, knowing the overly excitable mare would embrace the challenge of handling all of Twilights royal parties and dinners. Rarity would head her finance team, managing the trade of her new realm and maintaining the tax flow as well. Fluttershy would be responsible for looking out for the local wildlife, both flora and fauna, making sure things stayed in a natural balance.
When Twilight thought of her best friend Rainbow Dash, one word rang through her mind echoing cavernously as a fierce blush tinging her normally purple color a deep rose. Consort. Since moving into the library over four years ago, Twilight had looked deep inside herself and found that after finally spending quality time around other ponies, she was attracted to mares more than stallions. And every time she found the urge to….relieve some stress….it was a certain cyan furred Pegasus that filled her thoughts. Reading through the Code of the Air helped her understand the complicated steps in Pegasi courtship. She would need to have a long talk with Dashie soon to feel her out.
Hehehehe feel her out, Twilight thought, a goofy smile spread across her face.
Thinking of her crush, Twilight looked out the massive window again, concern replacing hey previous joy. Dark clouds rose into the sky above the Everfree Forest, green lightning arcing outwards as the ambient magic of her castle collided with the still active magical forces of the forest. As the clouds sped towards town, a familiar blue and chromatic blur raced to stay ahead of the storm streaking towards the castle. But even at her sub-sonic speeds, Rainbow wasn’t able to move faster than magic. As the enchanted rains began to fall across town, Twilight used her magic to through open her balcony doors and arrange a pile of blankets and pillows into an improvised crash pad.
As the blue blur raced through the doors, a loud clattering echoed through the spacious room as Rainbow dropped the blue scooter she held tight to her barrel to the floor. Tucking her wings tight to her body, Dash crashed hard into the comforting closeness of the padding, sending out a cloud of feathers and stuffing. Standing up on wobbly legs, Dash sat back on her flank and helped her unseen passenger onto the ground.
“You ok there, squirt?” She asked, wrapping a wing around the little orange filly.
Receiving a gentle nod in response, both Dash and Scootaloo collapsed onto the heap of bedding as exhaustion overtook both of them. Picking them both up in her magic, Twilight gently laid them down on her bed, allowing them to rest comfortably. Without any warning, Dash reached out her foreleg and wrapped it protectively around the filly before pulling her against her barrel and laying a wing gently over Scoots as their breathing slowed and sleep overtook them. Smiling gently to herself, Twilight turned back to her planning and books as she prepared for a discussion with her best friend.