//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: All She Ever Needed // Story: How It Works // by Crazypurplebat //------------------------------// Chapter 2: All She Ever Needed Twilight whirled around. "AJ!" she cried as the orange pony trotted her way towards her. Her gaze dropped to the ground and she shook her head back and forth repeatedly while trying to stave off the flood of tears building behind her eyes. "I am so sorry, everything was just so busy and I had..." Applejack cut her off before she could repeat the story she had told Derpy. "Don't worry Sugarcube, we ain't mad at ya'," she said as she wrapped a foreleg around Twilight's shoulder. "Speak for yourself," snapped Spike, as he Rarity and Fluttershy came into view. Applejack glared at the young dragon, and Spike reluctantly shut his mouth. Twilight had raised her head, but still did not make eye contact with the friends that surrounded her. Rarity came forward, every hair in place, perfect as usual. "Darling don't be silly," she began, "we were worried about you. You had run off all willy-nilly and were just impossible to find! It was truly horrible!" She raised a hoof to her head to emphasize her point. Rarity stayed still dragging out the moment to almost an almost unbearable length. AJ let out a loud huff, blowing a strand of hair from her eyes. "Ah' think yah' made yer' point there, Rarity." "Oh! Right, of course," she replied lowering her hoof to the ground. "So...so you forgive me?" asked Twilight warily. "Oh Twilight," said Fluttershy in her soft, gentle voice. "There's no need to apologize, we are your friends and we understand, we were just really worried about you." "Well I'm still sorry," she replied a blush rising to her cheeks. "And I need to apologize to Spike as well; I didn't mean to yell at you, I was so exhausted and I wasn't thinking." Spike looked to the sky seeming to ponder the offered apology. He waved a paw at Twilight and began laughing. "Ah Twi, I could never stay mad at you. We're all just really glad that you're alright. It could have been a lot worse," he trailed off with a shudder. Twilight sniffled, fighting off new tears. Everything was alright. Her friends weren't mad at her, they were her friends, and they continued to remind her of that every day. Twilight admitted to herself that what she had done was wrong, and she understood that now. She shouldn't have caused them so much worry, and it all could have solved if she had just told somepony. It was all in the past now, and she vowed never again do something like that. A wind from behind blew Twilight's mane up in a frenzy or pink and purple. As her mane settled back down into a now-messy tangle, a rainbow blur appeared in front of Twilight. The blue settled into the form of an angry blue pegasus. "Twilight, I swear I'm gonna' kick your tail!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "Hold on there Rainbow, everything's already been figured out," said Applejack bringing Rainbow Dash, quite literally, back down to earth. Rainbow's eyes narrowed, clearly not happy with the short explanation. "Well you count yourself lucky Twilight, 'cause you ever do something like that again and," Rainbow took a pause and slowly shook her head," and oh you don't even want to know." "I'm sorry Rainbow, I really didn't mean to I just got lost and it went downhill from there I guess," she replied softly lowering her ears in shame. Rainbow simply replied with a "humph" and a lash of the tail. "Oh you guys found her already?!" The unmistakable voice was quickly followed by its owner as Pinkie Pie bounced from around the corner of a house. "You know Twilight, you would be like really good at hide-and-seek!" "Heh, thanks Pinkie," Twilight smiled. "Oh! I know!" Pinkie Pie cried, not even recognizing Twilight's response. "We should have a party! A Welcome Home Party! "Pinkie, I'm really not..." Twilight sighed, "Oh alright, I didn't have much studying today anyway." "Whoopee!" she cried, bouncing off in the direction of Sugar Cube Corner, trailed by her five friends and a baby dragon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I will never understand how you put these parties together so fast Pinkie," Rarity commented, lifting another forkful of cupcake to her lips. "Well it is my special talent," the party pony trilled as she pranced around the room, ensuring everypony had refreshments. Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake played around the hooves of the gathered mares. From time to time Pound would pause to rear back and slam his small hooves to the ground, and from time to time a nearby drink would shudder. Pumpkin on the other hoof was much more interested in the array of delectable sweets that blanketed the tables. Using her raw, untamed magic, the small orange filly filled her hearts desire for a frosted treat. For a few moments she would envelope herself in a pale blue magic and levitate herself to the table's edge where she would grab a cupcake or cookie, before lowering herself gently back to the floor. "Wow," commented Twilight shaking her head, "I've never seen a filly with such talent!" Beside her Rarity nodded in agreement, "She has a definite gift." "Oh, well she is our Pumpkin," said Mrs. Cake glowing with pride. "You should see the things she does when I'm babysitting," Pinkie chimed in randomly entering the conversation. "Oh dear, she hasn't been causing you trouble again has she Pinkie?" Mrs. Cake's voice turned from joyful to stressed in an instant. "Oh no! She's just full of energy, just like me! Right my wittle Pumpkin-Wumpkin-Lumpkin!" she cooed while rubbing noses with the giggling filly. Mrs. Cake nodded with relief as Pinkie trotted away, Pumpkin following in her hoofsteps. "Well I'd love to help her with her magic once she gets older," said Twilight smiling at the older mare. "That would be wonderful," she replied with a weary smile. Twilight smiled and returned to the party and conversation with her friends. It had all worked out. Twilight was happy, she had her friends, and that was all she ever needed.