//------------------------------// // Re-learning and Re-newing // Story: Twilight Sparkle's Otherworldly Misadventure // by ScrimpyMule //------------------------------// *Author's note: There will be a slight reference to another one of my stories, "The Dragon and the Pony", in this chapter. The chapter, however, is set up in such a way that not referring to the other story will have no affect your understanding of the events in this chapter. If you wish to read my other story, great. If not, that's fine as well.* ______________________________________________________________________________ John was sitting at the desk in the library, suffering from ever-mounting frustration. He had been struggling with his current task for a whole month, ever since he had come to Ponyville, and had covered very little ground thus far. It was one of the things that he had to remaster in a completely different way than he had when he had been a human. In all of his years, he had never thought he would have a need to learn to write with his mouth, but here he was, attempting to do just that. He had finally mastered walking on four legs several weeks ago. As difficult as that had been, it paled in comparison to his current burden. The first time he had tried to write with his mouth, he had produced noting more than several pages laden with pencil scratches. The page that now lay in front of him was now laden with squiggly lines. He was, at the very least, learning to move the pencil in more ways. He was, though, a long time away from learning to produce words by this method. He had tried to design gadgets that he could attach to his hoof in order to write, but there was nothing that could compensate for the lack of flexibility and grip that came with hooves. For what seemed like the millionth time since he had begun trying to learn to write with his mouth, John threw up his forelegs in frustration, spat out his pencil, and scattered the papers across the desk. Twi had come upstairs just in time to see the spectacle. "Are you alright, John?" she asked. "Yeah," John said, leaving his seat to start picking up his mess. "You're definitely making progress." She began powering up her horn to pick up the papers, but decided to use her mouth like he was. She wanted to avoid putting him down in his current state and feared that using magic would do just that. "This is hopeless. Maybe I just ought to give it up. I can't see myself mastering this in my lifetime." Twi looked sternly into his eyes. "You'll keep at it, John. No husband of mine is going to not know how to write. I know it's hard, but once you master the motion of your teeth and lips, this will all come naturally. Just promise me you won't quit" She walked over to him and nestled the side of her neck into the front of his. She was partly trying to calm him down and partly doing it just because she loved him. John closed his eyes and leaned into her make-shift embrace. He could feel his heart-rate slowing, his anger subsiding, and his face cooling. "Alright, I promise." Twi kissed his mouth and sat down with him, watching him practice more. He kept at it for a whole other hour until they decided it was time for them to go to bed. They prepared and then nestled together under the covers, drifting off to sleep. ~~~~~ The next day, John once again was practicing his mouthwriting at his desk, having been unable to find anything else to do that he could use as an excuse to get out of it. Twi was away having lunch with her friends, and so he was home alone at the time. He was beginning to miss his hands more and more by the day. Due to anatomical differences, Twi had adjusted to life in his world relatively easily, but he would be struggling with adjustment for several months, at least. He had been working for several hours when Spike walked in. "Good morning, John," Spike greeted. "Hey Spike," John returned the greeting. "Still hard at work on re-learning to write, I see." "I'm actually having more trouble with this than I did with math in college. And trust me, that's saying something. It's embarrassing that school foals learn this faster than I am." "Hey, you can't let that get to you, John. You're neglecting the fact that foals at that age absorb information like sponges. Not only that, but when they learn to write, it's their first time. You're an old fart who's been writing with hands all his life. Of course it's gonna be hard. Just stick with it, and eventually, you'll be writing with your mouth just as easily as you've ever written with your hands." "Yeah, I guess you're right, thanks. I just want to get this down because I want to write my first letter to Princess Celestia within a few months." "You know, John, I haven't lived with Twilight in a few years, ever since I married Rarity. Even so, I still come over every so often to help with writing, practice, study, and whatever else. I'd be happy to write your letter for you." "Thanks, but Twi and I agree that this is something that I really ought to do myself. I think the Princess would agree too." Spike nodded in understanding. "Well, keep working at and you'll get there." "I know, but I would give just about anything to have my hands back at this point." "Sometimes, we make great sacrifices to be with the ones we love." John nodded at this. "I guess you know that as well as anyone could." Spike simply nodded, having been put into deep contemplation by John's words. As a dragon, Spike would outlive all to their friends. He would live to be at least several centuries old whereas the average pony rarely ever reached one hundred. While being with Rarity brought him more joy than he could express, the back of his mind was constantly haunted by the prospect of being without her for so long. "Anyway," Spike began, having come out of his trance. "Your foal is just a couple months away at this point, isn't she?" John nodded. "Yeah, if that. She definitely isn't far off. Anyway, did you need something or were you just dropping by?" "I was just dropping by. I was in the area and decided to come and see how you were coming along. Anyway, I guess I had better get going. I need to pick up the foals from Sweetie Belle's place and get them back home. I'll see you later, John." "Always a pleasure, Spike." ~~~~~ That night, John and Twi sat on the balcony of the library, watching the sun go down. They were nestled together, enjoying the moment. Suddenly, John decided to ask her a question that had been on his mind for a long time. "Will you marry me?" he asked. Twi looked up at him, perplexed. "We're already married, silly," Twi responded. "Let's do it again. When we were married, there was nobody there to see it. Let's do it again just so we can have all of our friends and family over to see it. I'm sure they would all love to see that. I wasn't able to give you the wedding you deserved in the other world. Let me do it now." Twi threw his forelegs around him, crying. She was overjoyed at the prospect of a wedding celebration with her family and friends, albeit late. "Yes, John. I'll marry you." John returned her embrace and for what seemed like an eternity, they sat there, lost in each other's forelegs. ~~~~~ John simply stood in his position, lost in those eyes. Just as he had so many times before, he had lost himself in those beautiful, purple eyes and was at a loss of ability and desire to free himself from their mesmerizing lure. He stared into them as they stared into his soul, peircing him to his core. To his chagrin and embarrassment, he was pulled from his trance when Princess Celestia said his name for the fourth time in a row. He shook his head and remembered where he was and what he was doing. He began scanning the great hall of Canterlot Castle, seeing all of the eyes that were focused on him. He had drifted away before the wedding ceremony had even begun. He didn't even remember watching Twi walk down the isle in the dress that Rarity had made for her. He looked to his right and locked gazes with the Princess. After several seconds, his mind registered what was going on and he did his best to recover the situation. "Oh...uh...yeah. I mean, yes. I mean, I do," John barely managed to stutter. He earned glares, chuckles, and whispers from the guests. He looked back to Twi and saw that she was smiling, having trouble not to laugh at him. "Then by the power I hold," Princess Celestia continued. "I now pronounce you Husband and Wife." John stepped up to his wife and removed her wedding veil with his mouth. He then moved his mouth down to hers and they enjoyed a long, blissful kiss in front of a cheering audience. He didn't remember much of the wedding reception. In his blissful state, it was mostly a blur. He danced with Twi when the first song began, then he danced with his mother-in-law, Cadence, and then Twi's friends one-by-one. Eventually, the reception ended and the two of them set off to their destination in Manehattan for their honeymoon.