The last thing Twilight remembered was laying her head on Rainbow’s absurdly cuddleable chest and falling asleep, promising herself that, come the morning, she would devote every ounce of brainpower she could toward finding a solution to the conundrum of Moondancer. She had been anxious but also resolved. She was determined to give it her all despite the risk of failure.
But if that was her last memory… then how did she get here?
She didn’t even remember opening her eyes. She was standing in the middle of a seemingly endless space, illuminated from above by the light of the stars. The ground beneath her hooves was perfectly flat and reflective, like a mirror, and stretched on for eternity, vanishing beyond the infinite horizon like the stilled surface of the ocean. The air was still, but pleasantly cool.
“What the…?” Twilight questioned, turning this way and that for a clue as to where she was. It only took a moment before the running themes - and the familiar sensations - made it clear, and she realized what was happening.
As if on cue, the sky above was graced by a new heavenly body. The full moon faded into view with a pulse of platinum light and a low, melodious chime like a morning bell. The serene starscape below was bathed in pale radiance. Twilight squinted against it, waiting patiently for the pony she knew was about to emerge.
Sure enough, gliding gracefully down from the moon as if it were a portal was none other than Princess Luna. The alicorn’s descent brought her in a single loop around Twilight before, with an elegant flap of her wings, she gently touched down in front of the dreaming mare. The mirror-like surface beneath rippled gently under her hooves, but only once.
“Are you ever going to get tired of making dramatic entrances like that?” Twilight questioned with a small smirk.
Luna smiled right back at her, her wings folding up at her sides. “Once, my niece posed a similar question to me. I shall offer you the same answer I did her: So long as my entrances remain fun, then no, I shall not grow tired of them. And besides, it helps to pull my little pony’s thoughts away from the subject of their distress when I make a spectacle of my arrival.”
Twilight nodded along. She could see the logic in that. Make a big enough splash and you’ll draw all the attention you need. And in the realm of dreams, holding somepony’s attention was almost certainly harder than in the waking world. Especially if they weren’t lucid yet.
Twilight shook her head to dispel that train of thought and gave Luna all of her attention. “Alright, fair enough. But tell me… what are you doing here right now?” she asked curiously, glancing around at the beautiful, albeit barren, dreamscape. “I don’t think I was having a nightmare…”
“Perhaps not,” Luna noted with a small nod. “But that does not mean your mind is at ease. And I wanted to check in with you and touch base regardless. You are in Canterlot right now, are you not?”
Twilight nodded. “Yes.”
“And do tell… how has your first return to your home been treating you?”
Twilight winced, looking away. “It’s been… difficult,” she understated, her ears lowering.
Luna quirked a brow but did not appear surprised. “As I thought. Could I trouble you for the details?”
Twilight blinked, and a walkway of smooth stones had risen from the water, winding off into the distance. Twilight gave Luna a curious look. The taller alicorn merely smiled and nodded at the path.
Getting the idea, Twilight started walking, and Luna walked beside her.
“I’m not really sure where to start,” Twilight muttered, frowning. “How much do you know?”
“I have not been monitoring the situation as closely as you might think,” Luna confessed simply. “This is your first time in your home city in quite some time. I wanted to afford you your privacy, and not shove my muzzle where it does not belong.”
“A refreshing change of pace,” Twilight thought with a small degree of bitterness. She paused for only a moment, then shook her head to banish the invasive thought. She glanced up at Luna. “So, if I don’t want to tell you anything, you won’t make me?”
“Such a practice would be extremely counterproductive to meaningful therapy, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replied. “I am not here to force you to do anything. In this space, I am a resource at your disposal, should you have need of me. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Twilight nodded quietly and focused ahead. The two walked on in silence for a time. Twilight took the chance to let her thoughts wander before she confronted her troubles. As they walked, a thought came to her, and she gave the alicorn beside her a questioning glance. “Will Rainbow be joining us tonight?”
“Do you desire her presence for this?”
“...Not yet,” Twilight decided a moment later. “When you and I are done, though, by all means. Send her in.”
A knowing look crept onto Luna’s face, and Twilight suddenly felt a tingle of warmth in her cheeks.
“Ah… so that is the way of it?” Luna asked in a tone that made it clear she knew exactly what Twilight had in mind. Twilight’s flush deepened, and she looked away with an awkward cough. Luna only chuckled. “Very well. You shall have your date when our matters are concluded.”
Twilight swallowed heavily, somewhat regretting bringing it up now. “R-right. Uh, well, how about I get you all up to speed on what’s been going on instead of talking about that anymore? That sounds like a great idea! Let’s do it!”
Again, Luna chuckled. “By your leave.”
Twilight gave a quick nod, then launched into a point-by-point recounting of her time in Canterlot so far. Luna listened attentively the entire time, her expression impossible to read. As Twilight was reaching the end of her story, the path led them out of the infinite starscape and once more into Luna’s tranquil grotto. The harp on the island was already playing a soothing melody as they stepped onto the shores of the little island, accompanied by the gentle lapping of the water at the island’s edge and the faint rustling of the trees over their heads.
“So… that’s where we stand,” Twilight confessed with a shrug of her shoulders.
Luna nodded, closing her eyes. “I see.”
Neither of them said anything for several moments. Twilight took a breath and found a place to sit down. As she looked, a large, soft, spongy-looking mushroom sprouted from the ground to serve as a chair. Grateful, Twilight closed her eyes and slumped into the seat with a long, tired sigh. A moment later, she covered her face. “I don’t know what to do, Luna… It’s all just so… complicated.”
Luna hummed contemplatively, taking a seat on a mushroom chair as well.
“So it is,” she said slowly. She affixed Twilight with a hard, thoughtful look. “But I have faith in your ability to come up with a plan of action.”
Twilight stifled a humorless snort. “Not going to hoof me an easy solution, are you?”
“If there were an easy solution to Moondancer’s troubles, you may be confident I would have employed it myself long ago.”
That reply gave Twilight pause. She turned to Luna, raising an eyebrow.
“I mentioned to you before that the minds of those you accosted that night had been haunted by nightmares, did I not?” Luna reminded plainly. “Yes, I know of Moondancer’s suffering. What I did not know was the extent of her history with you, nor was I fully aware of how difficult her life was before Midnight’s emergence. Such details she elected to keep to herself, even when I intervened in her nightmares.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “So, you’ve already been helping her?” She asked in surprise, leaning forward. “I thought she’d been dealing with all of this all on her own! I mean, she didn’t say anything.”
Luna quirked an eyebrow at Twilight. “Forgive my bluntness, but do you believe she would have reason to share the contents of her dreams with you, given the current state of affairs?”
Twilight opened her mouth to retort, but the words died in her throat. She slumped back into her seat. “I guess not…” she confessed.
Luna hummed, her eyes drifting to look at her harp. “I have aided Moondancer where I can. But her recovery has been slow, and much of the progress I had made with her after the changelings invaded was undone in the wake of Midnight’s rampage. That was not so very long ago, and the various practical troubles she faces in the waking world continue to wear her down even as I try to help her build herself back up.”
Twilight felt another stab of guilt in her chest, her lungs constricting in response. She looked down, a withering sigh slipping past her lips. She might have uttered an apology, but the words did not come. Probably for the best. What would be the point? Her words meant nothing in isolation.
Luna continued a moment later, her tone lowering with melancholy. “She is shy. Vulnerable. Self-conscious. Lacking self-esteem. Easily upset… I have known many like her, both before and after my banishment. Such souls are often the most deserving of happiness, but helping them to accept it is an ordeal of patience. The self-destructive and harmful thoughts that can be bred from such a mindset are difficult to break down, and in the end, I cannot do it for her. And neither can you.”
Twilight felt a small pang of curiosity but forced it aside. She knew how Luna worked. The details of other pony's dreams were off-limits to her. She shifted on her mushroom and looked off to the harp, letting her thoughts relax under the guidance of its gentle lullaby.
“...Do you have any advice for me, at least?” she asked hopefully.
Luna hummed thoughtfully, closing her eyes. Twilight waited for several seconds for the lunar princess to speak. Finally, Luna opened her eyes. “Precious little, I am afraid… other than you should be prepared to accept it if Moondancer wants no more to do with you. At this stage, rekindling your old friendship is not likely, and no amount of amendments can ever take away the events of that night.”
Twilight sagged in place, her ears drooping. She had known that already, of course, but it still stung to be reminded of it so bluntly.
“Nonetheless,” Luna went on a moment later. “That is no reason not to try.”
Twilight was quiet for another few moments. Finally, she took a deep breath and gave a small nod. “I guess that’s all I can do now, huh? Try my best and hope I pull it off.”
Luna smiled. “And that you will try your hardest, I have no doubt. For all of your anxieties and fears, you have ever pushed through at the last. I have faith you will walk this path till its end, and walk it well, regardless of the outcome.”
“Right. Till its end…”
The two were quiet for a moment. Twilight closed her eyes and took one more deep breath, savoring the serenity of the environment. The fresh, fragrant air filled her lungs before she let it out in a long exhale.
Luna gave her a reassuring smile. “Have you any more concerns you wish to share with me, tonight?”
Twilight shook her head. “No. You already know the others.”
Luna’s expression darkened somewhat. “Midnight continues to hound you, then.”
“Yes. But I have her under control,” Twilight replied with a nod. “It’s pretty easy to ignore her with my friends around.”
Luna eyed Twilight cautiously for a moment, making the smaller alicorn feel uncomfortable. She suddenly felt as if she had said something wrong. Before she could press the matter, however, Luna’s lips twitched up into a small smile.
“Very well. If that is the case,” she began, rising back to her full height. Her horn flared up with pale light, and a familiar door materialized in the air beside her in a rippling shimmer. “Then I shall leave you and your love to your activities. Should you have further need of me, you know how to reach me.”
Twilight got up from her seat, sending the princess a grateful smile. The grotto around them was slowly fading away, replaced by a generic cloudscape beneath a starry sky. “We will, don’t worry.”
Luna didn’t say anything else. She just smiled and faded away like a breath on a mirror. With that, Rainbow’s door clicked open, and for a little while at least, Twilight’s concerns were forgotten.
Twilight’s return to the waking world was a pleasant one. She could feel the unmistakable sensation of Rainbow Dash nuzzling into the back of her neck, and the pegasus’ hooves wrapped snugly around her barrel from behind, mirroring how their time in the dream had ended. The warmth of the sun on her face as it lifted also did wonders to chase away her grogginess.
“Mmph. Yoo’wake?” Rainbow slurred groggily, making Twilight giggle.
“Heh heh. Yes, Rainbow. I’m ‘wake,’” Twilight replied. She gently pried Rainbow’s hooves off of her and rolled to face her sleepy girlfriend. Rainbow’s expression was even more comical than her mushy greeting. Tired eyes, a mussed-up mane, and maybe just the tiniest bit of drool leaking out the corner of her mouth.
Not that she needed to know that.
“Mmmf. Idsha slurll…?” Rainbow mumbled as she pressed her face into Twilight’s chest. Twilight wrinkled her nose. She could only assume that was supposed to be a sentence.
“...You want to run that by me one more time?”
Rainbow gave off a groan and pried her face away so she could speak clearly. “Ugh. Didya sleep well?” she tried again, actually enunciating this time.
Twilight snickered. “Ah. I slept alright, thanks,” she assured before leaning in for a quick kiss. When she pulled back she gave Rainbow her best ‘lovey dovey’ eyes. “Much better after you turned up.”
And with that, Rainbow went right back to cuddling her, probably trying to hide her now furious blush in Twilight’s chest fluff. Twilight rolled her eyes and held Rainbow closer.
The two lay there for what felt like an eternity. Not that Twilight was complaining. Rainbow’s warmth and embrace did wonders to keep her nerves in check, and she was more than happy to capitalize on the opportunity to just exist. No concerns, no worries, no immediate drama to tend to. Just her and the mare she’d fallen hopelessly in love with.
But, as with all good things, their peaceful rest had to come to an end. As the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, the temperature rose with it. And before long, joining the slow build-up of body heat and Rainbow’s sweaty musk was the irresistible smell of a freshly cooked breakfast.
Rainbow and Twilight tried to resist the siren call, but it was to no avail. Spike had trained them well, and if he had the help of Twilight’s family, then all hope of victory was lost before the battle lines had even been drawn.
Drawn out of bed like dogs to the smell of chicken, Twilight and Rainbow soon found themselves in the dining room, where a hearty meal awaited them, prepared by the suspected duo of Spike and Velvet. There was some idle chatter as they ate, but nothing Twilight felt particularly interested in committing to memory.
As they ate, Twilight’s mind instead turned to the uncertainty of her predicament. It wasn’t eating at her as much as before, mercifully. But still, it was there, just at the edges of her mind. Nibbling away at her thoughts.
Her inattentiveness and uncertainty must have shown. Soon enough the chatter around the table faded into silence. Twilight glanced up when she realized ponies were looking at her. Rarity and Night Light had joined the table since she had zoned out.
Twilight blinked. “What? What is it? Is there something on my face?” she asked, though she knew that wasn’t it.
Night Light pursed his lips, but Rarity spoke. “I asked you if you were feeling alright. You haven’t said a word since we got here.”
“Ah,” Twilight leaned back in her seat. “Sorry. I’m just thinking…”
Rarity hummed quietly, looking back down at her own meal. The silence that fell over the table was deeply unpleasant, but Twilight didn’t know what to say to break it.
She felt Rainbow’s hoof on her back in a silent display of encouragement. Twilight felt a small flutter in her chest and offered Rainbow an appreciative smile before returning to her meal.
The rest of the meal was had in silence, and all the while, Twilight was trying to piece together some kind of strategy to solve the problem in front of her. But try as she might, the ideas just wouldn’t come to her. It was maddening. She felt like she should have had the answers set up and ready to go just like that! Solving friendship problems and learning from them had been her entire life for the better part of a year after she moved to Ponyville, so one would think that she’d be prepared.
But the trouble was, none of those friendship problems had been this complicated, nor had they been caused by her own mind turning against her.
“Or the stupidity of those around you,” Midnight whispered into Twilight’s ear.
“What, like you?” Twilight shot back.
Midnight merely snickered, amused by the retort, and said no more.
Twilight shook her head, eyes locked onto her now empty plate. “Well,” she finally decided. “Loitering around my parents' house isn’t going to help.”
“I think I’m going to take a walk,” she announced as she rose from her seat.
Rarity almost immediately perked up. “Ooh! May I come with you, dear?” she asked, politely floating her plate over to Night Light, who had been assigned to clean the dishes after losing a coin toss with Velvet. “A morning stroll sounds like just the thing to clear out the cobwebs.”
Twilight smiled. “Sure, I don’t mind.”
“I’m coming, too,” Rainbow chimed in, rolling out of her seat.
Twilight smiled at her, glad for her company in particular. She then turned to Spike, who had said nothing, and yet the hopeful glint in his eyes, and the way he kept glancing at Rarity, said it all. And so, without a word, Twilight ensnared him in her magic and dropped him off on her back. “Yes, you can come, too, Spike.”
“Yes!” Spike practically cheered, perhaps a little too triumphantly.
“Goodness, I didn’t realize Spike was one to be so eager to go on quiet strolls,” Rarity commented, tittering into her hoof.
“He’s not,” Rainbow commented, giving Spike a sidelong smirk. “He just likes following things he likes.”
Spike gave Rainbow a hard glare that clearly said ‘shut the hay up.’
Thankfully—or disappointingly, depending on where one stood—Rarity did not seem to catch on to what Rainbow was implying. Or if she did, she did an absolutely magnificent job of hiding it. “Well, the more the merrier. Do we have a particular destination in mind, Twilight?”
“Not really,” Twilight said as she slipped out of the dining room. “But who knows? Maybe my hooves will take us somewhere nice.”
There was only a scattered hooffull of clouds in the sky, allowing for the late morning sunlight to chase away the chill of the mountain. Twilight welcomed the warmth and the purity of the air. As soon as they stepped outside, she picked a random direction and got to walking.
The number of ponies out on the street was relatively small, considering the hour. No doubt just the calm before the lunch hour storm, Twilight figured. She did her best to ignore the occasional glances their little troupe received. As usual, most of the attention was on the literal princess among their number. A tiny blessing.
The group shared brief bouts of idle chit-chat and banter as they were walking. Nothing of note. The topics always petered out and died long before they could evolve into anything of substance. Not that Twilight minded. It was nice to just stretch her legs and not think about her problems for a little bit. The reprieve wouldn’t last, and she knew that she was just stalling. But like with any problem, maybe stepping away from it, even if only for a moment, would bring that flash of inspiration she needed to turn it all around.
“Hey, Rarity?” Spike suddenly spoke up as the group was ambling by a series of empty roadside buildings up for lease. When Rarity turned back to him, Spike continued. “Think any of these places would make a good place for you to open up shop one of these days?”
Twilight expected Rarity to immediately launch into a long-winded tirade about how ‘this shop has the perfect front display windows,’ or ‘this one is just too small for my needs,’ or some other explosion of passion about her craft. When Rarity didn’t say a word, she turned to see the unicorn’s head tilted to one side, and one eye quirked in confusion.
“...Open up shop?” she questioned.
Spike tilted his head. “Er, yeah. You were wanting to open up another boutique here in Canterlot someday, weren’t you?”
Rarity blinked a few times before slowly nodding. “Ah, yes. Right. Of course. Hmmm…”
Rainbow gave her a questioning look. “You okay there, Rares?” she asked, beating Twilight to it by a second.
Rarity gave her a smile. “Perfectly fine, yes. Forgive me, but my own aspirations are a little far from my mind at the moment.”
Twilight hummed in thought, but said nothing on the subject.
They carried on for a short time, and before long they emerged onto a large boulevard, on one side of which was one of the public entrances to the grounds of Canterlot Castle. The drawbridge was lowered. Twilight paused on the side of the road, looking up at the imposing structure of the castle. The structure had always made her feel small like she was a little filly again. And that feeling sent a fresh wave of nostalgia crashing over her. Her mind wandered back to happier, easier days…
…And then to the last time she had been there. A chill raced down her spine, and she could practically feel Midnight smirking at her from the depths of her subconscious. For a moment, she thought she could hear the sound of melting glass, her own despairing wails morphing into murderous laughs, and see the horrified look on Spike’s face…
Rainbow nudged her gently from the side, chasing away the phantoms. Twilight turned to her. The pegasus’ concern was written plain on her face, but she said nothing. Twilight just smiled and nodded gratefully. She then turned back to the castle.
“Hey, do you all mind if we head into the castle?” Twilight asked, though in reality, she was more curious about whether she was even allowed to enter.
Rarity hummed. “I don’t mind. I’m always eager to marvel at the Princess’ abode.”
“I’m good,” Rainbow agreed. “But what’re we gonna do in there? Aside from some nice buildings and stuff and whatever’s happening with the guard, it’s pretty much all just stuffy paperwork and legal jargon.”
“Does a pony need a reason to admire the castle?” Rarity countered indignantly.
“When you lived there for years and got bored of said castle’s looks, kinda?”
“Girls, please,” Twilight cut them off with a flick of her tail. “There’s just something I want to check on. It won’t take long, I promise.”
“Yes, please,” Midnight snarled. “I don’t think I have the patience to deal with their pointless bickering.”
Rainbow shrugged. “Alright. Sure. Lead on, I guess.”
The group ventured toward the front entrance. A small tingle of anxiety crept up Twilight’s spine as they drew closer to the guards. One earth pony and one pegasus, both eyeing the passing crowds with scrutiny. Their eyes did land on Twilight but then shifted to Rainbow before they said anything.
Twilight wasn’t sure what face Rainbow gave the guards, but it seemed to do the trick, as they immediately snapped their eyes forward until the group had passed. Twilight gently bumped into Rainbow from the side and felt the gesture return, giving her a little tingle of warmth.
The castle courtyards were as beautiful as ever, but Twilight’s eyes barely even registered them. She soon found one of the familiar paved paths and followed it. She could hear Rainbow, Rarity, and Spike chattering amongst themselves, but she didn’t pay their conversation any heed.
Soon enough, her destination came into view, and she drew to a halt. The others stopped beside her, their conversation dying out, leaving them in silence. A gentle wind whistled through the otherwise empty courtyard, putting a feeling of foreboding deep in Twilight’s gut. It felt strange to look at it again.
Her old observatory tower rose high into the air from the center of the courtyard. Even from here, she could see that the window she had blasted through had been repaired. There was almost no indication that anything bad had even happened, or that so much heartache had reached a boiling point from within her old home.
“Twilight?” Spike spoke up quietly.
“I’m okay, Spike,” Twilight assured him. And she was.
Mostly.
Nopony else said anything. Twilight took that as her cue to continue and stepped forward.
There was only a small selection of guards scattered around the courtyard, standing vigil at doors that led to other parts of the castle. She saw them observing her as she climbed the steps, but she paid them no mind. She just focused on the steps in front of her. And soon enough, those steps led her to stand before the entrance to the observatory.
She ran a hoof gently down the grain of the wood. So many fond memories beyond this door… All tarnished, now. Blackened and smeared with soot and ash. Her ears drooped.
“Um… Pardon me, dear,” Rarity spoke up gently. “But is this…?”
Twilight nodded. “Yes. This was my home, once…”
“And it’s where you set yourself free.”
Without another word, Twilight gently pushed open the door. It let out a low, ponderous groan that echoed unnaturally in the empty space beyond. The interior was dull and unlit, and the stale stench of something burnt wafted up her nostrils. Motes of dust were kicked up from the disturbance, dancing in the air before parting like the sea before the prow of a ship.
Twilight swallowed heavily and ventured in. The first floor was unharmed, and a small smile of relief tugged at her lips. The small scattering of books she kept on the lower shelf in front of the door were all still there, untouched by the events of that night. They were slightly dusty, and she immediately recognized that they were not sorted in accordance with her current sorting style. A quick flick of her horn neatly arranged the three shelves of books into their proper order, clearing the lingering dust away in the process.
As she did this, Rarity spoke again. “Pardon me, darling… but you did not leave this place in good condition, did you?”
“When I moved to Ponyville?” Twilight muttered distantly. “No, not really. I was in a rush and I was scared. It was a total mess. I didn’t get to tidy it up until-”
The words died in her throat. She swallowed heavily and tucked the last book into place. She was stalling. She knew it. Deciding that enough was enough, she turned and climbed the steps heading up to the main floor.
As she emerged onto it, she was disappointed to find that there was nothing left. No furniture. No books. No reading pedestals. The giant hourglass was gone. Even the signs of the destruction she had left in her wake had been scrubbed. It was all pristine. But the lack of her old possessions sent a very clear message.
This was not her home. She did not belong here. Not anymore.
“There used to be a bed,” she said softly as she strode into the heart of the room. “There were bookcases all along the walls. A reading pedestal over there. All kinds of measuring tools and implements were tucked into the corners. Spike would sleep over there…”
Spike hopped down from her back as she advanced. She paused in the center of the room and looked back at him. His claws were tapping together in front of his chest again. His eyes bored into hers with concern. “Twilight? Are you…”
“I’m okay,” Twilight dismissed him, turning away. “I just… I wanted to be here. See if anything had been done with it after… After I let Midnight out.”
Rarity looked around uneasily. “Then… this is where it happened?” she asked. “Where that thing took over?”
“Oh, how they frolic in their ignorance.”
Twilight simply nodded. Silence dominated the room, and her mind began to wander. Memories of that horrible night once again bubbled to the surface. Rainbow’s confession of her lie of omission. The sudden feeling of Twilight’s world shattering under her hooves. The idea that she couldn’t trust anyone - not even her dearest friends - to be honest with her. Not even the pony who loved her.
It had all been too much…
“What came next was only natural.”
Twilight turned back to Rainbow. There was clearly a lot going on inside her head, but she was keeping it well hidden behind a stoic mask. She took several steps forward, her eyes wandering about the space. Twilight recalled that Rainbow shared a fair few of the memories they had of this place.
“...You remember when we had that sleepover here?” Twilight asked, trying to keep her voice optimistic. “When Celestia first gave me this place?”
Spike perked up. “Oh, I remember that! It was a lot of fun! Especially when Rainbow brought out all those water balloons!”
Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle. Now, that had been a disaster and a half.
Rainbow, however, didn’t answer. She didn’t even seem to realize that they were talking about one of her juvenile blunders. Her eyes were lingering on the window. Twilight’s smile died, and she shifted uneasily on her hooves.
Finally, Rainbow turned to her. Her expression was dark and solemn. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
Twilight blinked. Rainbow held her gaze for a short while before walking up to her. Without a word, Twilight allowed herself to be drawn into a hug. She buried her face into Rainbow’s shoulder, taking a few deep breaths.
“It’s okay, Rainbow,” Twilight whispered to her a moment later. “You don’t have to apologize. It was-”
“Don’t say it.”
“But I-”
Rainbow’s hooves around her squeezed tightly, once again cutting Twilight off. Rainbow’s voice hardened. “Don’t.”
Twilight was quiet for a few moments. Then, with a nod, she pulled away. She snuck a quick kiss from Rainbow, uncaring about Spike or Rarity watching, then gave the pegasus her space back. For once, Rainbow didn’t seem bothered that there were observers.
Twilight turned to their audience. “Sorry, you two. I don’t really know for sure why I came here. I haven’t seen it since that night. I guess I just…”
Rarity only smiled and shook her head. “Now now, dear. You don’t have to explain it to us. Take all the time you need,” she said before looking down at Spike. “Both of you.”
Spike gave Rarity a warm smile before looking up and around. “Heh… it was really nice, living here. It was so high up. It was quiet. And Twilight didn’t have to go far for anything. If there wasn’t a shop right outside the walls that had what she wanted, she could just ask a guard to fetch what she needed.”
Rainbow smirked. “It was, in short, the perfect tower for the reclusive wizard.”
A surge of indignation sprang up in Twilight, and she opened her mouth to counter that, but the words died in her throat when she realized that Rainbow was kind of right. She closed her mouth and puffed up her cheeks in irritation.
Rainbow just smirked. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I won’t,” Twilight snipped. “But I will get revenge.”
“Try it.”
“You know I will.”
“I do. And ya know I’m lookin’ forward to it.”
Rarity smiled at the loving banter before walking up to the window. “Well, I can certainly see why you would enjoy it here, darling. It seems perfect for you.”
Twilight’s smile faded again. She turned to Rarity. “It really was. As much as I love the library, I’ve always had a soft spot for this place. I miss it, sometimes.”
“Did you ever consider coming back and just taking a few days off here?” Rarity asked. “For vacation or the like?”
“I might have,” Twilight answered. “If I had even remembered this place.”
She only realized after she said it how much bitterness her words carried. She took a short breath and shook her head to chase away the frustration at that part of her life. “It doesn’t really matter, though. I don’t think I could ever live here again after Midnight… And even if I could…” She gestured widely. “Look at it. Everything’s gone. The whole place is empty because I destroyed everything.”
Spike shifted uncomfortably in place. Twilight smiled softly and gingerly drew him into a hug from the side with her wing. He gave her a thankful nod and cuddled close to her.
Rarity nodded quietly. “Yes, I see what you mean… Empty and waiting for new habitation. A shame. It truly is a perfect home for a bookish sort like yourself.”
There was a pause. A lingering moment, like when a coin was tossed into the air and all eyes locked onto it, waiting to see it land. The almost inaudible ringing of the metal whistling through space.
The proverbial coin landed, and it was at that moment that Twilight was suddenly struck with an epiphany. Her eyes flew wide as, all at once, so many things clicked into place.
“A perfect home…” she whispered.
Rainbow tilted her head in confusion. “Twi?”
Twilight ignored her. She suddenly sprang away from Spike and shot over to Rarity. She took the startled Unicorn’s hoof in her own and shook it emphatically. A massive grin spread across Twilight’s face, and her wings were flapping of their own accord. “A perfect home for a bookish sort! Rarity, that’s it! You’re a genius!”
Twilight hugged Rarity. Rarity squawked in confusion.
“Twilight, what are you-” Spike tried, but it was too late. Twilight was already in motion.
“Don’t you see?!” She exclaimed as she broke away from Rarity. She flew up into the air to better address her friends. “I used to live here! It was a perfect place for me to call home! Far away from ponies trying to harass me, all the books I needed, and ways to get all the books I could ever want! A beautiful view, peace, and quiet! But I don’t live here anymore.”
Twilight spun in place for a moment, casting her eyes about her to once again drink in the sight of her old home. The feeling of loss and regret was still there, but it was now overshadowed by a powerful sense of hope. She turned back to her friends, her smile growing.
“I don’t think I ever could live here anymore. But I can think of somepony else who can.”
Spike seemed to catch on first. He perked up with a large smile before throwing his claws wide. “Moondancer!”
Twilight grinned and pointed at him. “Precisely!”
Rainbow quirked a brow. “Huh. I never woulda thought of that.”
“Of course, she wouldn’t. She’s an idiot,” Midnight spat.
“An idiot I’m in love with,” Twilight countered.
Midnight gagged.
Rarity hummed thoughtfully, clearly intrigued by the idea. “Well… the idea does have its merit,” she said softly. Her expression hardened with concern a moment later. “But are you certain? Tragic endings notwithstanding, this place was still your home for such a long time. Are you certain you just want to… pass it off?”
Twilight hesitated for a moment, a bead of uncertainty forming in her chest. She looked around at the old abode once again, her ears drooping. The emptiness stared back at her. Twilight stared into it for a long second, licked her lips, and finally offered up a nod. “Yes. Yes, I’m sure. Besides, you heard Moondancer.”
Twilight dropped back down to the floor, her enthusiasm for the idea now tempered by the solemn reality that prompted it. “She’s at risk of being evicted. She doesn’t have anywhere else to go, she doesn’t have a job anymore to help cover her rent. And worst of all, she’s too stubborn to reach out and ask anypony for help.”
A long silence fell over the chamber. Twilight turned to look out the window, at the cityscape of Canterlot beyond. Her face lowered. “Moondancer will get far more out of this place than I ever will. Ponyville is my home now. ”
With that, Twilight turned back to Rarity, looking into her eyes. There was a degree of scrutiny behind Rarity’s gaze. But slowly, ever so slowly, Rarity’s lips curled up into a sad smile. “Yes, I rather suppose she will…”
Rainbow took a few steps forward. “Alright, so… what’s the plan then? Just grab some paperwork and sign it over to her, or what?”
Twilight’s smile slowly returned, her enthusiasm for what was to come slowly returning. She stepped closer to the group, her mind spinning into motion as ideas took shape. “Not quite. I had a few other things in mind first.”
She placed a hoof on Rainbow’s chest, looking into her eyes for a moment before turning to Rarity, and then Spike. “But first, I’m going to need all of your help.”
Spike blinked. “Really? With what?”
Twilight turned to him, a grin slowly creeping across her face. “Spike? Get some paper. We need a checklist.”