“Twilight, can you hear me?”
Twilight blinked as something shook her by the shoulder, bringing her out of her trance and allowing her eyes to drift up to meet Rarity’s. The other mare was looking down at her with concern in her eyes. She had a hoof placed on Twilight’s shoulder.
“Rarity…”
“Are you alright?” Rarity asked, glancing bitterly over her shoulder after where Moondancer had gone.
Twilight let her eyes drop again. “I… n-no. I don’t think so,” she mumbled, rubbing her shoulder absently.
Rarity gave a gentle sigh and helped Twilight back to a standing position. “Come now, darling,” she said softly. She gave Twilight a reassuring smile. “Why don’t we go back to your house, hm? Cool off a little?”
Twilight was quiet for a moment longer, her mind a swirling mess. Eventually, though, she gave a weak nod. “Sure… home sounds good,” she mumbled.
Rarity gave her a small smile. She draped a hoof over Twilight’s back and guided her away from the thoroughfare. Other ponies were still looking their way, and Twilight flinched guiltily under every look of dismay or suspicion she received. Try as she might, she could not help but wonder how many of these ponies she had hurt. Her rampage had been short-lived, maybe, but it had been swift and indiscriminate, too.
They had all been strangers, though. Moondancer had been her friend, once. How much had it hurt when it happened to her…?
“Who cares what she thinks?” Midnight spat from the depths of Twilight’s mind. She apparated next to Twilight, her eyes locked onto her in a disapproving manner. “You were only taking back what was rightfully yours. And even if we put that aside, there were many ponies you took from that night. What’s one more voice added to the chorus?”
Twilight turned to Midnight, her teeth grinding furiously behind her lips. “Don’t you dare…!”
“Don’t I dare what?” Midnight asked cheekily. “State the obvious?”
“She’s my friend, Midnight!”
Midnight laughed. A horrible, sadistic laugh that made Twilight cower back. When her doppelganger affixed her with her gaze again, her eyes were dilated with delight. “Oh? Really? Then pray tell, Element of Magic; why didn’t you tell her you were leaving for Ponyville?”
Twilight looked away, her ears drooping. “I…”
“And in all the years that followed, why did you never once write to her?” Midnight pressed on, stalking up until her side was pressed against Twilight’s. It was like a sheet of ice against her skin, and it made her shiver.
Rarity whispered something next to her, but her voice was lost in the tumult of Twilight’s thoughts.
Midnight pressed on, leaning in so close that her lips were right next to Twilight’s ear. “Why did you never stop in for a visit? Why did you never check in on her after the changeling invasion? Why didn’t you even recognize her until she looked into your eyes?”
Twilight screwed her eyes shut, her body quivering with emotion. Whether that emotion was rage at Midnight, or guilt at the fact Midnight was right, she didn’t know. “Shut up! Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!”
“Maybe she was your friend, once,” Midnight purred, her voice like a snake slithering between the folds of her brain. “But that was long, long ago. Now she’s just another worthless bystander, shouting insults and reprimands at a pony who stands head and shoulders above her. She is nothing to you. She was never anything else.”
That was the last straw. Twilight turned to Midnight with a frustrated shout, lashing out with a hoof as if to punch her shade in the face. But the apparition parted around her hoof like mist, vanishing into the cool morning air with little more than a mocking cackle.
“Twilight!” Rarity exclaimed, placing her hooves on Twilight’s shoulders and holding her in place. “Calm down! What’s wrong?”
The concern in Rarity’s voice was what finally snapped Twilight back to reality. Looking around, she became painfully aware of the few other ponies on the street suddenly backing away. A couple that was out on a walk with their foal ushered them away protectively, casting suspicious glances in Twilight’s direction.
Her heart twisted painfully, and it was all she could do to keep from shouting at them next. She screwed her eyes shut and took several deep breaths, inwardly chastising herself for letting Midnight get under her skin like that. “Deep breaths, Twilight. In and out, in and out…” Slowly but surely, she managed to regain her composure. She turned to Rarity with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry… it was Midnight again.”
Rarity winced, then scoffed at where Twilight had struck. “Now you listen here, Midnight,” she whispered just loud enough for Twilight to hear. “I do not know if you have noticed, but Twilight has more than enough on her plate for one morning! So do yourself a favor and shove off into whatever putrid corner you hide in, or Celestia as my witness, I will personally sit Twilight down and dress her up in the most frilly and poorly designed outfits I can find just to make you uncomfortable! Do I make myself clear, you shameless ruffian?”
“It’s adorable when the marshmallow thinks she’s threatening,” Midnight cackled in the back of Twilight’s head. “But very well. I wouldn’t want her to asphyxiate you with a long out-of-season corset, now would I?”
And with that, Midnight fell silent, withdrawing into the depths of Twilight’s psyche.
Twilight relaxed, loosing a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. She turned back to Rarity with a weak smile. “I think you scared her off. Thank you,” she said. “But, uh… you do realize that would be a punishment on me just as much as her, right?”
Rarity chuckled weakly. “Well, perhaps, but it was all I could think of on such short notice, you understand. Now! Shall we return?” she nudged Twilight back into motion. “There are eyes on us when they should rightly be minding their own business.”
She raised her voice just a little at that last part, and the message was clear. The gawping bystanders were quick to pick up their own business and scurry along, leaving the two mares to turn and begin the return journey.
Alas, they did not make it two steps before somepony else interrupted them.
“Pardon me, you two,” a gruff stallion’s voice cut through the companionable silence. Twilight went rigid and turned to see two members of the city watch approaching at a measured pace. Both were stallions. The one who had spoken stepped closer, an older, graying stallion who clearly had a fair few years of experience under his belt. “We saw a mare shouting at you two a few moments ago, and one of you lashing out at the air.”
Rarity heaved a quiet sigh. She turned to Twilight. “Let me handle this,” she whispered before turning to the guards with a respectful smile and nod of her head. “My apologies, sirs. It’s nothing you need to worry yourselves over. Just a little misunderstanding and personal drama, I am afraid.”
The first guard quirked a brow. “Misunderstanding?”
“Yes. It’s all rather personal, however, like I said. I would rather not get into it if I don’t have to. It is not my place, and there has been enough drama for one morning as it is.”
There was a moment of silence before the first guard nodded his head. “Alright. Try to keep your personal matters off the streets from now on. You two have a good day-”
“Sir, wait,” the other guard, notably younger, suddenly interjected, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. A second passed as all eyes were on him, and Twilight realized with a lump forming in her throat that he was looking right at her. He blinked, and then his eyes widened, his posture shifting to something more defensive. “Sir, that’s Twilight Sparkle! The one who went mad!”
Twilight flinched back, her eyes darting this way and that. Her mind was still scrambled, and she didn’t have the words ready to defend herself. She swallowed heavily. “I… I…”
The older guard’s serious stance returned in a heartbeat. He turned back to the two mares, now focused on Twilight. “I thought you looked familiar…” he said slowly.
Twilight didn’t bother to question how this guard had failed to notice her status as an alicorn until now. She simply shook her head. “I’m just… I’m just trying to spend some time with my friend. I don’t want any trouble, honest!”
The older guard stared her down for what felt like forever, sizing her up. Twilight shrank down under his glare, fidgeting awkwardly on her hooves. She only just noticed Rarity shifting to place herself protectively between them. After a moment, however, the stallion slowly nodded, seemingly placated.
The younger one, however, was not.
He narrowed his eyes again. “Then what was all of the shouting about?” he demanded. “Ponies don’t tend to start hollering like that unless there’s a problem!”
The elder guard turned back to his subordinate with a scowl. “That’s enough, private. No matter what their past record is, a shouting match that already ended is not grounds to harass a citizen.”
“With respect, sir, you weren’t there when she started snatching memories! I was!” the younger shot back with a stomp of his hoof. “I saw what she did first hoof! Hay, she almost got me, too!”
Twilight gave off a weak whimper, flinching as if she had been struck. The reminders of her misdeeds just kept coming…
“I’m sorry,” she choked out.
The young guard glared at her. “Sorry? Do you really think an apology makes up for anything?!” he demanded.
“PRIVATE!” the elder finally snapped, shoving his underling back. “That is ENOUGH!”
“Yeah, it is,” a new, distinctly unexpected voice suddenly chimed in. Twilight blinked, looking back the way she and Rarity had just come from to see Rainbow Dash marching toward them with a furious scowl on her face.
She blinked. “What is Rainbow doing here? I thought she was asleep.”
The two guards immediately snapped to attention and bowed their heads low in the presence of their princess. The elder spoke up immediately. “Your Highness! A thousand pardons for my subordinate! Rest assured, he will be properly disciplined for his misconduct!”
Rainbow snorted, coming up to Twilight and Rarity’s side. “I should hope so! I don’t know if you gentlecolts were aware of this, but Twilight Sparkle is here under my authority, my supervision, and is my responsibility. Not yours. So don’t let me catch any of you getting on her case again. Do I make myself clear?!”
Twilight blinked again. Since when did Rainbow talk in such a formal fashion, even when exercising her authority like this? And more than that, why was her mane undone? She never went out in public without doing up her ponytail these days…
The odd discrepancy didn’t seem to register with the guards, who both bowed low. “Of course,” the elder said before grabbing onto the younger’s shoulder and starting to drag him off. “Again, a thousand pardons, Your Highness. It will not happen again!”
“Good!” Rainbow called after them, keeping her eyes fixed on them.
Twilight and Rarity watched, confused until the guards faded from view around a nearby corner. Rarity turned to Rainbow with a relieved sigh. “Oh, thank you, Rainbow. But, uh, what are you doing out here-”
“Shh!” Rainbow suddenly silenced her by holding up a hoof. Her eyes darted left and right for a moment, almost as if she were checking to see if they were being watched. Then, without a word, she beckoned for them to follow and slipped into a nearby alleyway.
Twilight looked to Rarity, now more confused than ever. “...What was that all about?” she asked quizzically.
Rarity shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest. But, I suppose there is only one way to find out,” she said before starting after Rainbow at a brisk canter. “Rainbow, dear, slow down!”
Twilight went to follow Rarity but halted momentarily by the alley entrance. It was a narrow space, wide enough for two ponies to walk side by side, three if they didn’t care for personal space. Dumpsters and large recycle bins were scattered haphazardly around the space, along with old discarded cardboard boxes and bits of trash that would likely be gone by the end of the hour. It was dimly lit in the early morning hours, sending a chill of foreboding down Twilight’s spine.
Something wasn’t right, here. But Rarity and Rainbow were already heading deeper in. Not wanting - and not able - to be alone, Twilight cautiously slipped into the alley after them.
She didn’t have to follow them long before Rainbow stopped at a T-section. She looked this way and that, her eyes still narrowed.
“Rainbow, what is going on?” Twilight asked nervously as she came up to Rarity’s side. “What are we doing here? For that matter, why are you up so early? And where’s your hairband?”
Rainbow blinked, then glanced down at her mane. A moment passed before she gave off a weak chuckle, her posture relaxing. “Oh. I forgot she had that. One sec.”
Twilight yelped as Rainbow Dash was suddenly enveloped in a swirl of green flames. When they parted, there was no cyan pegasus, but a certain changeling drone grinning back at them.
“Hiya!” Thorax said, his wings buzzing on his back.
Rarity was the first to speak. “THORAX?” she asked in a practical shriek, her hoof flying up to her chest. “Good heavens, what are you doing here?!”
Thorax chuckled. “Getting those guards off your back, obviously,” he said with a good-natured smile. “You alright? That little guy was grilling your hide pretty hard there, Twilight.”
Twilight blinked, her brain going into overdrive as the last few minutes suddenly made perfect sense. She shook herself a moment later and put on a small smile. “I uh… I’m alright. Thanks, Thorax. I owe you.”
Rarity nodded. “Indeed. Your intervention is most welcome. But - and I do not mean to sound ungrateful when I say this - I am not certain it is entirely legal to pose as a member of the royal family in such a manner...”
Twilight shrugged. “To be fair, Rarity, he’s done it before.”
“I was under orders to do it the first time,” Thorax confirmed with a nod. “And I just thought it wouldn’t hurt here. I mean, everything I said was the truth. You’re here under Rainbow’s authority, right?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah, I am… But I wouldn’t go doing that again unless you absolutely have to. I don’t like the idea of you ending up behind bars for my sake.”
Thorax was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Fair.”
“I’m guessing Fluttershy told you we were coming?”
At that, Thorax’s face was split by a massive, infatuated grin. “Er, yeah. In one of her letters,” he confirmed, scuffing a hoof along the ground.
Rarity cooed. “Aw. So adorable...”
Thorax’s cheeks immediately turned several shades brighter, an impressive feat considering his chitinous body. Seeking a distraction, he shook his head and turned to Twilight. “A-anyway! It’s been a while, huh? How are you doing, Twilight?”
Twilight’s amused mood soured at the question. She glanced back over her shoulder. Moondancer’s voice echoed faintly in her ears. “...Better than I was a minute ago,” she admitted with a shake of her head.
“The poor dear was shouted at in the middle of the street,” Rarity explained, her brow furrowing in dismay. “By the very pony Twilight had just helped, no less. Such a lack of tact! Hmph!”
Thorax’s smile faded away. “Yeah… we saw all of that. We wanted to come and say hi sooner, but the guards showed up first. Then we saw it wasn’t going well and we figured we ought to help you.”
Twilight frowned, turning back to Thorax. “Wait. ‘We’?”
Somepony cleared their throat off to one side. Twilight looked and all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that they had been joined by a new mare. She walked to stand by Thorax’s side. Twilight’s eyes widened. She recognized that mare. It was one of the ponies that had been watching as Moondancer yelled at her. Where had she come from? Twilight hadn’t even heard her move.
Another snap and swirl of green fire later, and another changeling revealed herself. Spiracle offered her a tentative smile. “Hello, Twilight. It’s, uh… It’s good to see you again.”
Twilight’s eyes widened at the sight of the changeling mare, and her troubles with Moondancer were momentarily forgotten. A large smile appeared on her face, and she stepped forward. “Spiracle! You’re here, too?”
“Of course,” Spiracle said with a bow of her head. “Thanks to you.”
“Spiracle’s request for asylum was granted pretty much as soon as I vouched for her,” Thorax explained with a happy smile. “She’s been staying with me in Squall’s place while she gets caught up on Equestrian culture. We were out looking for places that are hiring when we saw you two helping that mare, and we were gonna say hi.”
Spiracle’s smile faded. “...And then, well… you know what happened next.”
Twilight’s face fell. “Yeah…”
A moment passed in silence. Thorax stepped forward. “I know it probably isn’t our business, but… who was she?” he asked quietly. “And is there anything we can do to help?”
Twilight didn’t answer right away. She wasn’t sure if there was any way to set this situation right. She wasn’t even sure if she should try.
Rarity spoke up a moment later. “I feel like this is not a discussion to be had in a dank—and frankly, creepy—alleyway. We were just heading back to Twilight’s family’s home in the city. If you’d like, you can come with us. I’m sure they would be happy to let you visit with us for a time, being the friends you are.”
Thorax glanced at Spiracle with a nod. “You alright with that plan?”
“Uh, I think so, yeah,” she said, a small hint of anxiety in her voice. “Are they nice?”
Rarity gave a small, happy nod. “A touch eccentric at times, but they are very nice ponies, yes. Come along, dears! We have a little ways to go before we arrive!” she said before once more draping a hoof over Twilight’s shoulders and starting back the way they had come, the two changelings falling into step behind them.
The journey back to Twilight’s home was made in relative silence. As they walked, Twilight occasionally looked toward Spiracle, trying to see how the mare was doing. Her posture reminded her of Fluttershy in a lot of ways. She carried herself lower than Thorax did, and she seemed to be easily startled. Not surprising, given how far from home she was.
Spiracle noticed her staring, and a moment later offered up a small smile. Twilight returned it, feeling some of her earlier guilt vanish. If nothing else, there was somepony in this city that she had helped…
It was getting late in the morning when, finally, Twilight’s family home came into view. She felt a surge of relief, subconsciously picking up the pace to close the remaining distance and get back inside.
The warm scent of freshly-cooked pancakes greeted the group the moment they were through the door. Twilight’s mouth watered, and she felt a tug toward the kitchen. She could hear Rainbow and Spike chatting with each other in low, casual tones. Following her nose, Twilight stepped into the kitchen.
Sure enough, Rainbow and Spike were at the table and having a breakfast of pancakes, though there wasn’t any sign of Velvet or Night Light. Rainbow looked to have only just awoken. There were still bags under her eyes, and her expression was the spitting image of early-morning grumpiness. She barely even seemed to register the fact that Twilight and Rarity had returned, merely continuing to nurse the cup of steaming coffee held in her hooves.
Spike, on the other hoof, noticed their arrival almost instantly. He shot up from his spot next to Rainbow with his eyes flying wide. “Woah! Twi, are you okay?” he asked in concern. “You look terrible!”
That drew Rainbow’s attention to the new arrivals. Her bleary-eyed expression was swiftly replaced with one of concern. She rose to her hooves, her coffee altogether forgotten. “Twilight? What happened?”
The swiftness with which Rainbow became attentive stirred a brief feeling of warmth in Twilight’s breast, but it didn’t last long. She sighed and looked down. “There was… an incident.”
“To put it mildly,” Rarity agreed, glancing around for Night Light and Velvet. “Where are the parents? I was hoping to ask their permission for these friends of ours to join us…”
“They went for a walk. Velvet’s idea. I think she’s trying to get him back into shape,” Spike said, glancing past Rarity at the two changelings. His face lit up. “Thorax! Hey, man! And, uh… Spiracle, was it?”
Thorax gave a flutter of his wings and a friendly grin. “Hey, Spike.”
Spiracle shrank back slightly. “Y-yeah, that’s my name.”
Spike’s grin grew. “Thought so. Any friend of Twi’s is a friend of mine. Same with the parents. You wanna sit down? I have a few spare pancakes, I’m sure I can whip something up for ya.”
Thorax shook his head. “Thanks, Spike, but you know your food doesn’t really do anything for us. Besides, we already ate.”
Spike shrugged as the arrivals sat and made themselves comfortable. “Suit yourself.”
Twilight was only half-listening to the discussion. She slumped into her seat, then pitched forward to bury her face in her hooves. She took several deep breaths, trying to put her mind back into some semblance of order. She felt a hoof on her back and looked to see Rainbow looking at her.
“What. Happened?” The pegasus pressed.
Twilight was quiet for several moments. She looked down at the table, tracing the grain of the wood with her eyes. “...Where to start?” She asked a moment later.
“How about with whatever made you look so upset?” Rainbow suggested, her voice firm and direct. Twilight glanced at her again, seeing a certain fire burning in her eyes. It was the same look she got whenever she was being just a little overprotective.
An endearing quality of hers… if, at times, a bit bothersome.
Nonetheless, Twilight took a deep breath before launching into a recounting of the events of the morning. From her and Rarity’s early departure to their run-in with Moondancer, and Thorax’s subsequent act of espionage. As she spoke, a grim, solemn atmosphere settled over the room, reflected in the sullen frowns of everypony else.
When she was done telling the tale, Twilight could only shake her head and set it down on the table. “...She has every right to be angry with me,” She concluded.
“Maybe she does,” Rarity gently conceded, picking her words with care. “But that is no excuse for her to treat you in such a manner! You’ve already been—er… admonished, for what happened. Her shouting and accusations will do nothing to make things any better.”
“But she’s still right,” Twilight pressed, her face resting against the table while her hooves raked through her mane. “I stole her memories, Rarity. And it hurt to do it…”
“That’s enough,” Rainbow cut in, giving Twilight a squeeze. “Beating yourself up over it isn’t gonna make things any better either. Besides, moping’s my job.”
The lighter tone of that last remark was enough to make Twilight smile, if only for a moment. There was a quiet pause, and Twilight took the chance to calm herself down. Rainbow was right. But knowing that academically did precious little to make her feel better.
Eventually, the silence was broken when Spiracle gingerly cleared her throat, drawing all eyes to her. “I’m sorry, but I’m a little out of the loop here. Would somepony mind filling me in? How do you know this pony, Twilight?”
Twilight sighed, sitting upright. It all seemed so long ago, now, it was almost hard to pick out the details. “...Moondancer and I went to Celestia’s School together when we were fillies. We had a few other friends we hung out with, too, but Moondancer was the one I spent the most time with. We were always butting heads in this sort of competitive, scholarly way. Or, well,” she chuckled gently and shook her head. “As scholarly as foals can be.”
Twilight’s ears drooped as she thought back on her old friend. “She was a genius. She was so much smarter than everypony expected her to be. But she was shy, too. Quiet. She had a hard time talking to ponies besides her small circle of friends. And, looking back… I never really paid her any attention back then. Not the way a true friend should, at any rate.
“And then, Rainbow and I moved to Ponyville… I understood friendship so badly at the time, and I was so enamored with the new friends I had made fighting against Nightmare Moon, that I just… I… forgot the friends I already had. And, the next time I saw her…”
“Was when she was unlucky enough to be in your way when you became Midnight,” Spiracle concluded with a solemn frown. “I see…”
There was a long moment of silence. It was eventually broken by Rarity carefully clearing her throat. “So… what do we do, then?” she asked.
Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think there’s anything for us to do, Rarity,” she lamented. She rested her face on the table in defeat. “Moondancer made it pretty clear she wants nothing to do with me… And I was doing a perfectly good job of not being in her life before. So just… back to business as usual, I guess.”
“Are you sure, dear?” Rarity pressed carefully. “If she was your friend before…”
“Before, Rarity,” Twilight emphasized. “She was my friend before. But not anymore. I ruined any chance of getting that back when I let Midnight take over. I don’t want to hurt her anymore, so… I should just leave her alone, right? Just back off and leave her be so I don’t cause any more damage.”
To Twilight’s surprise, Spiracle spoke up almost immediately. “Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”
Twilight turned to the drone in confusion. “Huh?”
Spiracle shifted in her seat, not quite able to meet Twilight’s gaze. “Look… I’m not going to pretend that I really understand the gravity of everything that’s going on here. I get that you hurt Moondancer, and in ways I doubt I could ever understand. There’s no taking that back, but… isn’t the right thing to do to reach out and make amends for what you did wrong?”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Spiracle…”
Spiracle finally met Twilight’s gaze. “I would never presume to tell you what to do, Twilight. I don’t have the right. Not after all of the horrible things I did serving Queen Chrysalis…” she paused, her expression slowly lighting up. “But even after everything I did—spying on Canterlot and opening the way for the invasion—you encouraged me to come here and make amends. You gave me the chance to make things right for everything I did, and I was your enemy at the time.”
There was a brief pause. Spiracle suddenly seemed to realize the eyes that were on her and looked away sheepishly. “I-I mean… I guess I just want to understand… what is the difference between you and me? Why am I deserving of a chance to make things right, but not you?”
Twilight went quiet for several seconds. She looked down, her mind racing. She recalled vividly the day she had met Spiracle, with equal parts shame for her initial conduct and relief for their eventual reconciliation. She had hurt Spiracle by turning her away and threatening her, albeit under the influence of Midnight’s biting commentary.
The guilt that had followed her had been soul-crushing… Just like right now. It had spurred her on to go behind her friends' backs just to try and make up for her mistake, to show some kindness to a lost, lonely changeling. Because someone had to.
It had been longer, but on a fundamental level, what was different between what she had done to Spiracle and Moondancer?
And so, Twilight couldn’t help but smile slightly. Maybe this was part of what the Tree of Harmony wanted? It wanted her to prove herself worthy of regaining the power of her Element of Harmony; to prove she still knew what friendship was all about, right? At least, that’s what it seemed to want. And how could she ever claim she was worthy if she didn’t at least try to put right what she had done wrong?
“Alright,” she finally said, sitting upright and nodding her head. “I can offer her an olive branch, at least. I owe Moondancer the effort, at least.”
Spiracle’s wings twitched on her back while her lips pulled up into a small smile.
A brief silence followed. Suddenly, Rainbow piped up. “So… how do we do that, then?”
Twilight frowned. “I… have no idea. I don’t know where she lives.”
Spike groaned, facepalming. “Ugh.”
Several seconds passed as everypony present thought things over. Twilight thought back on what she knew of Moondancer, hoping for some inspiration. She knew Moondancer had been just as bookish as her, if not more so. She remembered that Moondancer often shied away from their other friends’ boisterous antics…
Wait.
Twilight’s eyes widened as the inspiration she sought came to her with all the subtlety of a sonic rainboom. “I got it!”
All eyes were on her for a moment. She didn’t even register and pressed on. “Our other friends! Minuette, Twinkle Shine, Lemon Hearts! They still lived in Canterlot when we moved to Ponyville, I think! Maybe they can help us!”
Rainbow’s eyes lit up, and she shot up in her seat. “Aw, yeah! I remember Minuette! I spent some time at her house a ways back, so I know where she lives! I can take us right to her!”
Twilight turned to Rainbow, her grin growing wider. “Rainbow, I could kiss you!”
“Please do, but later.”
Spike gave a small snort of laughter. “Ha! Love birds…” his grin became more genuine. “But hey, mind if I come along, too? It’d be an excuse to see Minuette again. And get belly rubs. Minuette always gave the best belly rubs.”
“When you were a hatchling, maybe,” Rainbow commented.
“Still a baby dragon,” Spike rebuked with a wry smirk.
“You’re in your teens.”
“I’m waiting for your point.”
Spiracle frowned. “Is… Are belly rubs important to this?” she asked, bewildered.
“Yes!” Spike answered instantly.
Thorax just chuckled, shaking his head and nudging Spiracle in the ribs. “Just roll with it.”
Twilight listened to this exchange, and at that final remark, she was unable to keep herself from laughing. After the stress of the day, it was a welcome relief. She turned back to Rainbow, and in spite of her earlier prompt, leaned over to give Rainbow a quick, sneaky kiss on the cheek.
She giggled as Rainbow began blushing before lowering her voice. “Thank you, Rainbow. I mean it.”
Rainbow blubbered uselessly for a moment, before turning back to. Her blush diminished, and a more determined frown spread on her face. “Always. I never leave my friends hanging. And Moondancer was my friend, once, too. If I can help patch things up with you - even just burying the hatchet - I will.”
“What about us?” Thorax piped up after a moment. “Do you want us to help at all?”
Twilight turned back to them, thinking. In the end, she shook her head. “I think it’d be for the best if you two stay out of this; at least for now. This is a personal matter, and if anything goes wrong, I’d rather you two be out of the crossfire. You have enough to worry about already.”
Thorax looked disappointed by her answer but nodded in understanding. “Alright. But if you need us for anything, you come and get us, alright?”
“Don’t worry. I will,” Twilight answered.
Rarity suddenly shot up to her hooves, slapping a hoof against the table for dramatic emphasis. “Well, I for one, am coming along, regardless of what you have to say on the matter!”
Rainbow quirked a brow. “Er, you sure? You seemed about ready to rip Moondancer a new one a minute ago.”
Rarity hesitated, her determined expression melting into something more thoughtful. “Well… yes, but… I was there when she shouted at Twilight. And, I confess, my own response to her outburst did not help matters in the slightest. I’m invested now,” she said, though it sounded as if she was grasping at straws. A moment passed, and Twilight leaned in slightly, curious. After another second, Rarity sighed and shrugged. “But, more than that… I don’t know. I just feel like I have to be there for this. Call it intuition.”
Twilight studied Rarity. There was a strange blend of raw determination and strained hesitation in her eyes. It was not an expression she often saw on the other mare. Twilight eyed her for a few moments before nodding her head. “Well, I won’t say no. You’ve always had a good eye for social matters.”
Rarity nodded, relieved. “Thank you, dear. Now, when shall we depart?”
Twilight rose from her seat, wanting to get underway before she had a chance to lose her nerve. “Right now.”
A pitiful whine came from next to her. She turned to Rainbow to see the pegasus staring longingly at her plate of pancakes and her unfinished coffee mug. She then turned those bright, big, beautiful cerise eyes to look into Twilight’s, pleading, and Twilight found that there was no force of will she could ever muster that could let her say ‘no’ to that look.
“Pathetic,” Midnight gagged.
“Shut up.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay, never mind. We go just as soon as Rainbow finishes her breakfast.”
Thankfully, Rainbow was a fast eater.