//------------------------------//
// Crossroads 
// Story: Assorted short works 
// by Adrian Brony 
//------------------------------//

          "Twilight! Twiliiiight! Wake up! You got a scroll from Princess Celestia!"
        Twilight's eyes snapped open, then began to squint, "Too bright. I need to stop reading out in the sun like this."
        Twilight closed the sun-soaked book and walked back inside. A refreshing breeze made the room seem lively and dynamic, with papers and curtains all occasionally twitching in the wind. The breeze carried a hint if apple tree blossom as it wafted over the orchards. Spike slipped the seal off the scroll and eyed the message, "Gee Twilight, it has been a long time since we got anything from Celestia."
        "It's been at least a year or so. I was beginning to wonder if she's even been getting my reports anymore. So wha-"
        "My dearest pupil Twilight, I have monitored your progress closely. making friends, learning about friendship. My, it reminds me of when I was your age. All the friends made. all the experiences shared. The magic of people to confide in. The awkwardness of wishing for one to be more than 'just a friend'."
Twilight blushed, "Oh. So she did get that one."
        Spike Continued, "Your reports all could have been excerpts from my personal diary. You have learned so much in such a short time. Many have taken their entire life just to learn half of what you know now. I have but one lesson left to teach you, my beloved pupil. Please return to the palace in Canterlot. I have scheduled for a nobles chauffeur to bring you home in one week. Use this time to tie up any loose ends and prepare for your return. Any further obligations will be filled by Royal servants, so do not worry for the sake of your friends.
        Twilight, I am so pr, prr-" 
        "What's wrong, spike?" 
        "The ink is all smudged at this part. I think it says 'proud.' yes, 'Twilight, I am so proud of you right now.' She must have accidentally gotten this wet before sending it."
Spike rolled the letter up and set it on a nearby desk. "This is great! We can finally go back home, right Twi...light?"  
        Twilight said nothing. she nodded slowly to spike and turned to look out the balcony. "I think I'll just, uhh, leave you to be alone. Just call for me if you need me for anything." 
        Spike glanced back at Twilight as he made for the door. 
        Twilight murmured, "No, stay. Please, just stay for a moment." 
        Spike stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then closed his eyes and turned around. He kept walking until he felt a warm, soft neck gently grip around him, rhythmically quivering. Spike wrapped his short arms around the base of Twilight's neck. "I never could stand to see, you, I mean, well, you know." 
        Spike stood with Twilight as the sun's light moved across the floor, shadows changing formation as he weathered the storm with Twilight. Not once did he dare open his eyes. Not once has he ever been able to. 
        Every detail of that moment was magnified. Spike could feel the cool breeze contrast with the warmth of Twilight's fur. The quiet of the room broken only by the occasional audible sob. The moisture of tear drops rolling down his back, tightening his hold each time he felt one.  
        Twilight went to her knees, leaning her forward weight onto Spike as she went down. His arms almost felt as if they were squeezing the tears out of her. By the time the storm passed, the shadows in the room were long and dark. "Thank you spike. I, I think I'll be okay now." 
        Spike nodded, let go of twilight, and quietly stood aside. Twilight walked for the door, and stopped. She felt something wet on the back of her neck. Before leaving the room, she gently nuzzled the side of spike's head and kissed him on the forehead. 
   "A goodbye party! Of course! Ohh, we can put up stringers and play games and have music and do you think that DJ pony is still available? She was really good- OH! Rainbow Dash is talking with the Wonderbolts about arrangements for joining them! maybe we can get her to have them perform for us! maybe we can all--" 
        Twilight turned away from the increasingly excited Pinkie Pie with a chuckle. She looked around at her other friends, inching towards applejack. "Ah'm so happy to see you get such an honor from the princess herself. Called back to the royal palace for a personal less'n. Gotta be really exciting for ya'. 'Course I'm sad to see ya go, but I'm sure you'll be back'n all from time to time."
        "Yeah, I'm sure I will. Definitely. Maybe. Let's not get too hung up on that, though.”

Author's Note: This was written to share on /co/ back in February of '11. It was the very first fic I wrote for this fandom and the first time I've written anything in a while. This was to test the waters on a series I was considering in which Celestia makes Twilight a princess and teach her how to let go when she outlives her friends. Celestia viewed it as a harsh but necessary lesson and did it with the best intentions and "tough love" but in the end it turned out that her own lesson was not complete. It was supposed to end with Spike standing up to Celestia to let Twilight escape the palace in order to save one of her friends, and ended with Twilight actually teaching Celestia something about friendship (namely, you may have to break paths with your friends at some point, but you never abandon them.).