Chapter 7
The sun seemed to be taking its time on its daily journey. Almost as though it were trying to make the afternoon last as long as possible. Still, nothing could stop its slow arc through the sky. All it could do was continue to shine for the last few hours left in the day.
At that moment it was shining down through the cloudless sky on the trail leading to the library. Spike's hooves gently clopped against the ground as his notepad hovered by his side. The 'Come-to-life' enchantment was still working perfectly. His writing implements had already recorded a few more pages of interview.
"So wait," he said, staring at the pegasus walking next to him in disbelief. "You're saying Rainbow Dash is actually good for the weather team?"
"I'm not gonna lie, it's a pain when she just runs off," Thunderlane answered with a shrug of his wings. "But everypony in town will tell you that she gets the job done faster than anything when she's working."
"Everypony, huh?" Spike asked, looking back over the transcripts with notable disappointment. "Huh, so much for an exposé."
"Didn't you say this was about the Summer Sun Celebration?" Thunderlane asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
Spike's quill ceased writing and the notepad floated in front of him. He resisted the urge to facehoof, unsure if he could take another bruise. Aside from the first page or so most of his notes were regarding Rainbow Dash's (apparently well known) reputation around Ponyville.
"At least I got the stuff I could use first," Spike said with a groan as he put away his pad. "Thanks for that at least."
"Uh, no problem," Thunderlane said, clearing his throat awkwardly as they approached the old oak tree. "Oh look, we're here!"
Spike looked up, the literal tree house standing in front of them. He could vaguely recall Time Turner mentioning something about the library's history. Whatever the officious earth pony had said, Spike had to admit it was impressive to look at. He could only guess just what sort of work must have gone into hollowing out such a large tree.
Thunderlane didn't hesitate, heading right up to the door. Spike took a quick glance around and tapped his hoof against the ground.
"Huh, that's weird," he commented, checking the sun's position again. "Twilight should have been here by now."
"Maybe she's inside," Thunderlane suggested. "It is a public library."
Spike looked at the tree one more time before giving a shrug.
"Twi does love books," he admitted, walking over to join the pegasus.
The two stallions walked in, and Spike had a moment to look around. The inside of the library was no surprise to him. Enough books on the shelves that one could be forgiven for thinking it was wallpaper. The afternoon sun was streaming in through the windows...
Highlighting Twilight pressed up against the far wall, surrounded by a herd of fillies and colts. The dragoness's eyes widened as she saw Spike, and she broke through the group in a surprising burst of speed. The unicorn let out a strange squawk of surprise as she managed to swing around his neck and onto his back.
"Hide me!" she frantically whispered, clinging to his mane.
Before Spike could respond, he found himself surrounded by roughly a dozen foals. Thunderlane had jumped to the side and was staring in shock as they all chattered at once. Spike couldn't move for all the tiny bodies around him struggling to get a glimpse of Twilight as her claws dug into his back.
"Alright my little ponies, settle down," a kindly voice called out. "You all know better than that."
Mercifully the foals obeyed the voice, and Spike sighed in relief as they backed away. A purple-coated mare was coming down a flight of stairs. She wore a caring smile to match the flowers on her cutie mark. Spike could hear several muttered apologies from the foals as they walked to the mare's side.
"Ah, you must be the friend Twilight was waiting for," the mare said, extending one hoof. "Purple Prose, was it? I'm Cheerilee."
"Um... hi," he said, taking the hoof shake as he looked back at Twilight.
The dragon's grip had loosened considerably, and she was leaning heavily against his neck. She gave him a relieved looking smile and flashed a thumb-claw-up to him. Spike released Cheerilee's hoof and gave Twilight a playful nudge in response.
"So what was all that about?" Thunderlane asked, right before Spike could have the chance.
"Well—" Cheerilee started to answer before a chorus of little voices cut her off.
"She's a dragon!" a chubby unicorn colt spoke up.
"—Said she wanted to ask us questions," added in an earth filly.
"Is she your pet?" asked another unicorn.
Spike had a stunned look at being mobbed with so many questions, and could feel Twilight tensing up again. Cheerilee placed herself between the young ponies and the stallion, the foals quickly falling silent.
"Now students," she said, her patient smile never fading. "Why don't we leave Mr. Prose and Miss Twilight to their work. You all have those drawing to finish for your parents after all."
Cheerilee ushered the foals toward the other side of the library. Twilight let out a sigh of relief, slumping heavily across Spike's back.
"Are you alright?" Spike asked, looking her over with a worried expression. "How long were you waiting for me?"
"Not too long," Twilight answered, wiping her brow. "I just though I'd start interviewing Cheerilee and her class for the article while I waited..."
"But they got a little too curious, huh?" Spike guessed, nuzzling her a bit. "You didn't have to put yourself through that."
Twilight just nodded her head, her eyelids drooping a bit.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Thunderlane asked, concern in his eyes as he watched Spike and the dragon. "She looks pretty beat."
"She has been up since sunrise," Spike realized, rubbing his chin. "I don't think she even slept on the train ride from Canterlot."
"Well no wonder she's tired then," Cheerilee chimed in.
Spike and Thunderlane looked up with a start. The purple mare's students were now sequestered away from the stairs, working on various crayon drawings. Cheerilee herself had walked over, and was tutting over Twilight.
"Poor dear," she said with a nod toward the stairs, her lavender mane bouncing a bit. "There's a private study room upstairs if you'd like. It would be a fine spot for her to nap."
"Really?" Spike asked, shoulders relaxing a bit. "That'd be great."
"Rumble is up there too," Cheerilee said, turning to Thunderlane with her smile fading a bit. "I tried getting him to play with the others, but he noticed how late you were—"
Thunderlane winced in response, his wings slumping a little.
"It's no problem, Cheerilee," he said, starting up the stairs. "I'll go get him."
Cheerilee bit down on her lower lip before following after the pegasus. Spike watched the two start up the stairs, wondering whether or not to follow. A soft clatter of hooves drew his attention though. Looking over he could see some of the students getting up from their drawings, their gazes locked on him.
Spike swallowed hard, the decision made. He headed up the stairs as quickly as he could without Twilight falling off. He could just make out the voice of a colt shouting something as he climbed.
The purple unicorn wasn't surprised to find more bookshelves at the top of the stairs. The room was much smaller than the main floor, though it did have a second level. Thunderlane and Cheerilee were standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to it. A pale-gray pegasus colt was looking out the window above them.
"Now Rumble," Cheerilee said, her tone still gentle and patient. "Don't you think you're being just a little unfair?"
"It's not like I wanted to be late, bro," Thunderlane added, flapping his wings and hovering up next to the bench.
The colt let out a humph and continued looking out the window. Spike softly walked in, moving next to Cheerilee.
"So you had to clear out the whole town on your own?" Rumble asked, not turning around. "You can't come up with anything better?"
"I know, it sounds unbelievable," Thunderlane sighed as he landed. "I can't even believe I managed to do it."
"Having a little trouble?" Spike whispered to the school teacher
Cheerilee looked to the unicorn stallion, her mouth drawn tight. He could see her struggling with how to phrase the situation.
"Rumble is just a little upset," Cheerilee finally whispered back. "Thunderlane usually manages to calm him down though. I wouldn't worry."
Thunderlane reached a hoof toward Rumble, only for the colt to scoot away from him. Spike flinched as the stallion stamped his hoof against the ground, his eyes narrowing.
"Come on, enough of that!" Thunderlane insisted, his voice raising. "You're acting like a brat, Rumble!"
"Rainbow Dash couldn't have cleared that whole sky on her own!" Rumble responded, rounding on his brother.
Spike turned to Cheerilee, but his voice quickly shriveled before he could speak. The teacher had a stern gaze on the two pegasi. A gaze Spike was all to familiar with, as well as the tone of voice that normally followed.
"Guess we'll never know," Spike jumped in before Cheerilee could. "Seeing as your big brother handled it first."
The other two grown ponies looked at Spike in disbelief. Cheerilee in particular seemed confused as to what to what he was doing. The unicorn just smiled, lifting his press pass from his hat once more.
"Purple Prose, reporter for the Canterlot Sun," Spike said, the slip floating in front of Rumble. "Thunderlane there did me a big favor letting me interview him about cloud cleaning duty today."
Spike floated the pass back to himself as Rumble looked from him back to Thunderlane. Cheerilee smiled as Spike flashed her a wink.
"Yeah, your brother is gonna get to be in the paper and everything," Spike continued as he tucked his pass back into place. "You can ask Time Turner, he was there too."
The colt's lower lip quivered a bit as Thunderlane tousled his mane.
"You have no idea how hard I had was working to get it wrapped up," he said, lifting his hoof from Rumble's head. "And I was still late. I probably should have told Time Turner to find somepony else—"
Spike smirked as Thunderlane was cut off by his brother jumping at him. The colt wrapped his forehooves around his brother in a hug, and Thunderlane seemed stunned into silence. He finally smiled and returned the embrace, and Spike gave himself a mental pat on the back.
"Sorry I didn't believe you," Rumble apologized as Thunderlane lifted him onto his back.
"Yeah, well..." Thunderlane nudged the colt with one of his wings. "You are going to bed early tonight for calling me a liar, mister."
Rumble hung his head, only for Thunderlane to give him a nuzzle and laugh.
"And so that you don't sleep through the sun raising," he said as he started toward the stairs.
"No fair!" Rumble complained, though Spike could see him smiling. "You're staying up all night."
"Thunderlane isn't still in grade school," Cheerilee spoke up, her eyes friendly once more. "Now you two promise me no more fighting, alright?"
"Alright," Rumble said with a quick nod of his head.
"You've got it," Thunderlane answered, before nodding to Spike. "And thanks, Prose."
"Thank you for the help," Spike said, exchanging a hoofshake with the pegasus. "Guess I'll be seeing you both at the sun raising?"
"Count on it," Thunderlane said, turning back toward the stairs. "Time to say goodbye, Rumble."
"Bye Miss Cheerilee!" Rumble said, waving a hoof as they started downstairs. "Bye Mr. Prose!"
Spike waved as they left until he felt something squirming on his back. He restrained the urge to jump from the surprise, looking back at Twilight in disbelief. She had one thumb-claw in her mouth and was drooling a bit on Spike's mane.
"You actually slept through all that?" he asked the dragon, only for some light snoring to answer him. "And you say I'm lazy."
"I think she'll be more comfortable up here," Cheerilee's voice offered from the second level.
The purple mare was gesturing to the bench Rumble had been waiting on. Spike smiled, his horn sparking and carefully lifting Twilight into the air. Supported by the green aura, she slowly floated to the bench before gently settling onto it. Cheerilee came back down the steps, smiling at Spike.
"That was really sweet of you to help Thunderlane," she praised. "Are you sure you don't have some experience dealing with foals?"
"Aww, it was nothing. I was just paying him back for helping me," Spike explained, his chest puffing out a bit at the praise. "What about you? You were pretty cool handling all those little ponies downstairs."
"Oh it's nothing special," Cheerilee answered with a slight blush. "My students might be a little energetic, but they're all sweethearts."
The teacher started downstairs again, and Spike fell in step behind her.
"I'm just sorry if they scared Twilight," Cheerilee apologized, leading the way. "Is she going to be alright?"
"Twilight? Oh sure," Spike said, with a wave of his hoof. "She'll feel much better after a little nap."
Secretly he glanced back up the stairs. There were no sounds coming from there, and the room did have quite a few books in it. He shook his head and pushed his fears aside.
"So Ponyville foals still have classes today?" he asked, as they reached the first floor. "Even in Canterlot we get a day off."
"Mr. Prose you're such a kidder," Cheerilee responded with a laugh. "No, I'm just handling foal-sitting today. So many parents have work to do before the big party after all."
Spike was thankful for his purple coat hiding the worst of his blush. He noted several of the fillies and colts were coming over, gripping crayon drawings. Cheerilee turned to each of them, looking over the crude scribbles.
"Oh, now aren't those looking lovely!" she said to the children.
The little ponies all wore proud smiles, several "Thank you's" coming in response. Spike just chuckled a bit as Cheerilee gave each of the foals a brief hug as they came to her in turn.
"I can see why Twilight wanted to interview you," Spike commented. "Don't suppose you mind if I pick up where she left off?"
"I would have guessed you already had," Cheerilee answered with a gesture to the quill floating by his head.
Spike looked to the feather and paper, only now realizing he'd even pulled them out again. The unicorn could feel his cheeks burning again, but the sensation faded quickly. The foals were beginning to crowd around him, and another bevy of questions seemed inevitable.
Celestia gazed down from her chariot. She could see the hamlet of Ponyville growing closer by the moment. Her eyes wandered away from the ponies waiting down in the Town Square to greet her. She looked toward the horizon.
The sun was getting low. It had been so long since she'd raised it that morning. Thanks to her request it had been hours since leaving Canterlot. Now it felt like that had been only moments ago. A part of her was screaming in deep inside, begging her not to let it set. That if only she left it in the sky nothing would happen.
"No," she whispered, too softly for even the pegasi pulling her chariot to hear.
There was an order to things. Much more dire consequences would await if she listened to that voice. The white alicorn's horn shimmered, and the sun began sinking below the horizon.
"Hold up here for one moment, please," she called to the lead pegasus.
The four guards pulled to a halt, their wings flapping in practiced strokes to keep themselves and the chariot aloft. Celestia bowed her head as the western sky was tinged a fiery red and gold.
If this would be Equestria's last sunset then she would make it one worth remembering.
Spike could officially understand why Twilight was so tired. Though he tried not to show it, the last few hours he'd spent downstairs had felt like an eternity. Cheerilee was assisting him up the stairs with one of his hooves over her back.
"I'm so, so sorry Mr. Prose," Cheerilee apologized as they reached the second floor. "I guess my students are more excitable than even I thought."
"It's alright, really," Spike said as he moved to stand on his four hooves again. "I didn't think I could get this tired just trying to have an interview."
"Well, my students all really seemed to enjoy talking to you," Cheerilee pointed out. "Are you sure you don't need anything else before I go?"
"It's cool, really," Spike insisted, trying not to slouch. "Twi and I should be getting to our next interview soon."
"Oh," Cheerilee said, giving the stallion one last look over. "Well, if you're sure. I'll see you at the celebration then!"
"Yeah, you bet," Spike said, smiling as the teacher headed down the stairs.
The moment she was out of sight, he sighed heavily and slumped against one of the bookshelves. A soft giggle from above drew his attention, and he looked up to find Twilight looking down on him.
"When did you wake up?" he asked, climbing up the steps to the upper landing.
"A few minutes before you came upstairs," Twilight answered, giving him a smug grin. "Not so easy dealing with all those foals, huh?"
"Oh I don't know," Spike joked, tousling the dragon's head spines. "Kinda made me feel like that filly from magic school."
He struck a particularly garish pose, one hoof raised over his head.
"Come one, come all!" he intoned. "See the Great and Powerful Spike and his amazing assistant Twilight..."
The tapping of claws on hardwood made him trail off. He let out a nervous chuckle as he saw Twilight glaring at him. Her deep frown quickly made him clear his throat.
"Alright that was bad..." he admitted, eyes darting to the side.
"It's fine," Twilight said as she sat back down on the bench. "So, where to next?"
"Good question," Spike said as he sat down next to her. "We could take another crack at interviewing Applejack I guess or—"
His eyes went wide as he noticed the sun shining outside the window.
"Whoa," he breathed.
Twilight turned around, her lavender eyes dazzled by the sunset outside. The horizon was slowly melting from blazing yellow and orange to a deeper purple. A few stars were twinkling above as the sun sank lower, its warm light seeming to try and reach out one last time to the world.
"Wow," she whispered, putting a claw on the window as she stared. "Princess Celestia is really outdoing herself this year!"
The mention of the princess rang in Spike's ears. A smile formed on his muzzle.
"That's it!" he shouted, magic suddenly flipping Twilight onto his back. "I know just who to talk to next!"
Twilight gripped the reporter's mane tight as he charged for the stairs. She could feel herself bumping against his back as he descended them two at a time.
"Wh-wh-where are we going?" she managed to stammer out as they reached the ground floor.
"Princess Celestia!" Spike answered, his magic already grabbing the door knob. "Think about it, Twi! How great would an interview with the princess look in our article?"
The front door flew open as Spike applied his magic. Rather than charging straight out though, the stallion skidded to a halt. Twilight let out a shout as she was pitched to the ground. A set of hooves belonging to a familiar pink mare filled her vision for a moment.
"SURPRISE!" Pinkie Pie shouted, springing over Twilight and landing in front of Spike.
Twilight rolled back to her feet, dusting herself off just in time for a herd of ponies to come trampling in. She just managed to leap aside as the ponies began setting out sweets, napkins, streamers, and even a punch bowl. In a matter of moments the entire library was set up for a rather festive looking party.
"I... wait..." Spike struggled to find the words as he looked at the grinning mare before him. "You're Pinkie Pie, right? What are you doing here?"
"Well..." Pinkie took a deep breath, and Spike suddenly found himself wishing he hadn't asked. "After you left the train station I had to go help out with the celebration. But a few ponies were talking about you looking around for interviews for the newspaper. So I got to thinking that maybe I could throw you a big party and invite some of the ponies you hadn't managed to speak with yet!"
Spike's eyes had crossed as the pink earth pony explained herself all in the one breath. He could feel his brain rattle as he tried to comprehend what was going on.
"You're throwing an interview party?" he summed up, his eyes returning to normal. "For me?"
"You betcha! Told ya I'd make sure to get to know you at the party tonight," Pinkie answered, bouncing in place. "Let me tell you, you're not an easy stallion to follow either! I had to talk to Ditzy, Time Turner, and Thunderlane to figure out where you went! Lucky I ran into Cheerilee on the way here. She told me you were still at the library."
Twilight had managed to make her way through the crowd of ponies and was climbing onto Spike's back. The stallion looked around those gathered, seeing most of them were already mingling. A very substantial part of him was trying to guess just how Pinkie had gotten so many others to agree to come so quickly.
"Uh... well thanks, really," he said, trying to slide around her toward the door. "It's just I've got a really important interview to get to—"
"You bet you do!" Pinkie said, grabbing his shoulders and spinning him away from the exit. "Mayor Mare agreed to show up before she has to meet the princess! Can't keep her waiting."
Twilight and Spike both looked to one another. The dragoness shrugged and Spike lowered his head. It seemed it would be futile trying to escape the party planner's clutches.