//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Becoming Twilight // by RandomGreymane //------------------------------// Becoming Twilight by RandomGreymane (Mike Hebel) Chapter 2         Later in the morning, Celestia and Luna took their leave to return to Canterlot due to affairs of state. This left only Cadance for the time being.  It was by this time that Applejack cautiously poked her head in through the library door.         “Twilight?  Can I come in?” she asked, her eyes searching the room.         “Applejack!” exclaimed Twilight “Please come in!  I've missed you the last couple days!”         “Y’all feeling better now?” Applejack asked cautiously. “Get enough ta eat finally?”         “Plenty.” Twilight affirmed. She ruffled her wings a bit, “Enough to last a lifetime.”         “Well when Princess Celestia emptied the ‘ole root cellar and I got mah note from Spike I was kinda worried there weren't gonna be enough food fer ya.” Applejack replied smiling.         “Emptied...root cellar...” said Twilight before shaking her head to clear it. “Well she paid you for it all right?  You guys are going to be okay over the winter season right?”         “Biggest bag o bits I ever seen Twilight.  Biggest.  Bag.” said Applejack smiling. “We've got enough bits to  repair anything wrong with the farm and stock up fir the winter.  We all’s gonna be just fine.  You can eat us outta house n home anytime girl!”         “Phew!” Twilight exclaimed in relief. “Well that’s good to know.”         “Iffen yer not too busy the girls and I are meetin at the cafe fer lunch.  Provided ya can stomach it that is.” Applejack said, poking her friend with a grin on her face.         “I think I can find room.  Provided it doesn't include anything with cheese that is.” Twilight replied with a disgusted look on her face.         “I think we can oblige that.” said Applejack still grinning.         “Would you mind if I tagged along?” asked Cadance “I haven’t seen you girls since the last time you made it up to the Crystal Empire.”         “Ahm sure it’ll be fine princess.” said Applejack congenially. “Shall we get movin ‘all?”         “Let’s go!” exclaimed Twilight happily heading for the door. Stopping cold she exclaimed “Oh!  I almost forgot about Spike!”         “You go Twilight!” Spike answered from the kitchen.  “I’m still cleaning up after all the castle goons we had invading.  I’ll try and join ya later.”         “Okay then...now we’re off!” said Twilight, once again headed out the door.         The walk to the cafe was short and, to Twilight’s joy, the rest of her close friends were waiting there for her.         “Howdy girls!” said Twilight happily as she sat at one of the empty spots around the table.         Immediately there was a chorus of random greetings from her friends, though as usual Pinkie Pie’s greeting was slightly non-sequitur.         “Twilight darling!  How are you feeling!” said Rarity. “Any leftover cravings from your bout of illness?”         “I think I’m finally over that Rarity, though I will admit I could do with a little snack.” Twilight responded. Her stomach grumbled a little.  Again? she thought How could I still be hungry?         “Your body is pretty much back to normal now.” Cadance said answering her unspoken thought. “That means since it used up everything from before, it needs regular food as normal.  And frankly...I could stand to eat something as well.”         With everyone seated they placed their orders and proceeded with small talk.  Once the meals were finished Twilight cleared her throat briefly and started to speak.         “Well I’m glad we’re all here because I have some important business to discuss.  We all have been given a task that we've already accomplished multiple times over the last couple of years.  Namely we are now formally the Defenders of Equestria.” she stated.  Taking a drink from her glass she continued “That means that we are responsible for dealing with all threats that appear and hopefully stopping them before they cause harm to anypony.”         “Pfft.  I’m not surprised.” scoffed Rainbow Dash “I mean we’re the most awesome team of friends in ALL of Equestria right?  How could we not protect it?”         “Agreed.” said Twilight, a broad smile on her face. “But there is more to it than that.  If all of you could please stop by my home this evening I’ll fill you all in on the details.  Meanwhile I want to make it clear that we’re only responding reactively.  That means unless something appears or attacks or whatever we are going to try and go about our daily lives without interruption.”         “A good plan.” said Cadance under her breath. “Being a princess will change your life enough.”         As if on cue, a filly with her mother approached cautiously.  “Princess Twilight?  Can I have your autograph?” she asked softly.         “Certainly little filly.” replied Twilight. Floating a quill in the air, she signed a picture of herself being held by the filly. “There!  You have a good day!”         “Thank you!” said the filly happily as she was led away by her mother.         “Get used to that Twilight.  It’s going to happen a lot over the next few years.” Cadance warned. “I still get them on a regular basis, and for the period after Shining Armor and I were married I couldn't go out in Canterlot without a disguise or I would be mobbed.  Not so bad here in Ponyville though so you may luck out.”         “All this attention is going to give our dear Twilight a new perspective on fame.” said Rarity “I mean you’re FAMOUS now!”         “Actually I’m surprised you all aren't thronged at times.” said Cadance in a thoughtful tone. “You have saved Equestria multiple times.  You’re the heroes of the land.  Yet you go about your daily lives without much interference.  I wonder if Celestia had a hoof in that...”         “Umm...I do get asked to sign things from time to time.” Fluttershy interjected. “But not all in a mob, and sometimes it’s only once every couple of months.  I don’t know what I’d do if I was suddenly mobbed by everyone!”         “Bark like a dog?” asked Rainbow Dash pointedly.         “Umm...that was only the one fashion show...” replied Fluttershy, hiding under the edge of the table so just her eyes showed.         “Ahm sure ‘Dash was just pokin fun atcha Fluttershy.” said Applejack in a soothing voice. “But Cadance is right y’all.  We’re gonna get more attention ‘cause Twilight’s a princess now.”         “And since we’re all friends” Pinkie Pie said suddenly hugging them all. “it’ll be fun!”         “Well it won’t always be fun Pinkie but we’ll do our best!” said Twilight, leaning into Pinkie’s hug.         With that the lunch date broke up, each of them heading their separate ways, Twilight and Cadance headed back to the library.         “I can see why you got your wings.” remarked Cadance, looking at some rose bushes as they walked. “You’re a natural leader.  And you and your friends have such a tight bond.  I’m a little jealous really.”         “You don’t have more friends Cadance?” asked Twilight in surprise.         “Well all my friends that I originally had have either passed on or are incredibly old.” Cadance said. Scuffing the dirt with her hoof she continued “And with the marriage to Shiney and the Crystal Empire to run it’s not making it easy.”         “You’ll work it out.” said Twilight, bumping shoulders with Cadance. “You are The Princess of Love after all.”, she continued with a grand gesture, “And you have the other three princesses as well.  It’ll be fine.”         Smiling warmly, Cadance said “Thank you.  You always know just what to say.”         “I AM a princess after all!” said Twilight, holding her nose in the air.         “Oh you!” said Cadance. Abruptly she bumped Twilight into a bush on the side of the path, causing both of them to laugh. ----         “...so you’re all effectively immortal unless you choose otherwise.” Twilight finished speaking. She was once again surrounded by her friends in the main room of the library.         “Flying for all eternity! Awesome!” shouted Rainbow Dash         “And parties for all eternity!” shouted Pinkie Pie “Foreeeever!”         “Hmm....an eternal line of fashion...sounds like a new tagline to me.” Rarity chimed in smiling.         Fluttershy and Applejack were noticeably silent during this exchange.  Applejack was looking at the floor with a slight frown on her face while Fluttershy stared off into the distance eyes wide.         “You girls okay?” asked Spike, waving a hand in front of Fluttershy’s face.         “Ahve got a lot to think about Spike.  It’s a lot to take in.” said Applejack while looking at her hooves.         Fluttershy shook herself suddenly and tears started welling in her eyes.  “I guess it’ll be hard but I’ve watched animals I’ve loved and cared for die before.  It’s just going to be so hard knowing I’ll see that all the time!”         “Oh Fluttershy.” said Dash, flying to her side and drying her eyes. “You have to remember that there’ll be good times too!”         “Hopefully more good times than bad if I have anything to say about it.” said Twilight.  “We do have more things...”         “Ah don’t want it.” said Applejack suddenly.         “What?” said Twilight taken aback.         “Ah said ah don’t want it.  I don’t want to live forever and watch my family all die.” said Applejack firmly “Ahll wear the element for a time then pass it on to the next pony down tha line.”         “Well....that’s your choice Applejack and I respect it.”  said Twilight nodding “But for the present we have to figure out some logistics here.  For instance we do have to figure out how best to gather us all together when something threatens Equestria.”         “Well can’t you figure out a spell for that?  I mean all the elements are connected aren't they?” asked Spike.         “Right you are Spike!  I’ll just whip up a spell that causes the elements to blink or glow when we need to come together.” said Twilight pulling out her spellbook, ink, and quill.         “Now just one minute Twilight” interrupted Rarity “Does this mean we’d have to wear the elements all the time?  I can’t abide that because as wonderful as my element is it doesn't go with even half my ensemble!”         “Okay then...how about our cutie marks?  I can easily make them glow!” countered Twilight.         “Ah am NOT goin ‘round with a potentially glowing flank!” Applejack said “Noway nohow.”         “I don’t know.” said Dash interjected “I think it would be kinda cool.”         “No.” said Applejack flatly.         “Twilight - what about some associative magick?” asked Spike.         “Associative magick?  You mean something else connected to the elements but not the elements themselves?  That sounds like an excellent idea!” said Twilight hugging Spike “Thank you!”         “Well I was saving them for our next party but I had these made up as gifts!” said Pinkie Pie pulling a small bag out of nowhere.         Inside the bag were tiny pendants, each with the cutie mark of one of her five friends, as well as Pinkie Pie herself.         “These will do nicely Pinkie!” exclaimed Twilight “Now how do we want to be notified.  Since some of us are against glowing...I’m thinking making the pendants vibrate would be the next best solution.”         “And much more discrete darling.” said Rarity as she tried the pendant on for size.         “I think I’ll also make the spell teleport the elements to you.  It’ll be a limited range but I think I can work that out.” replied Twilight. She scribbled furiously with her quill on the book's parchment.         “That’ll be good.” said Rainbow Dash “No more problems like we had when all those cheese legs overran Canterlot!”         “Okay everybody gather in a circle!” Twilight said. She levitated all the pendants as her friends arranged themselves around her.         “Do we hafta do this now?  I've got apples to buck.  Seein how someone ate all tha others.” she said glaring at Twilight a little.         “I’d rather get this done while it’s all fresh in my mind Applejack.” said Twilight, She ignored the glare and levitating all the Elements of Harmony to her friends so they could put them on.         “Swell.” said Applejack. She put the pendant on with open reluctance.         “It’ll be fine Applejack.” said Rainbow Dash “You’ll see.”         “Ah hope so...” said Applejack softly.         “Okay girls here we go!” said Twilight as her tiara settled softly on her head and starting to glow.         Slowly the glow started to spread from her to the pendants, then beams of different hues shot out to the elements on each of the surrounding ponies in a bright flash.  Suddenly it was over and Twilight was placing the Elements of Harmony back into their case in the library.         “That should do it everypony!” Twilight said happily. “And best of all they won’t activate for anyone but you so if you lose them it’s no big deal.  Rainbow Dash why don’t you try yours out first.”         “On it.” Rainbow Dash said with a quick salute. Squeezing her face a little and concentrating, there was a flash and suddenly her element was there around her neck and the pendant was in the case.  “Cool!” Rainbow Dash said puffing her chest out proudly,         “Okay now return it.” said Twilight.         Rainbow Dash concentrated again but nothing happened.  Opening one eye she looked at the element then at Twilight. “Hey...uh...Twilight?  Nothing happened.”         “Strange....I was sure I got the spell right...” said Twilight. Rapidly flipping pages back and forth in her spellbook, she told Rainbow “Well take it off and put it back in the case while I figure out what went wrong.”         Tugging and prying, Rainbow Dash tried to remove the Element of Harmony from around her neck but it wouldn't budge.         “Twilight!  I can’t get it off!” Rainbow Dash said as she frantically tugged at the necklace. “I mean I’m all for showing my element and all but how am I going to take a rain shower with this thing on?”         “Oh dear.  One second.” said Twilight, grabbing at the necklace with her magick.  Try as she might though the necklace wouldn't budge.  “Oh dear.”         “Ahem.” said Rarity clearing her throat “I’ll just collect all the others and we can try again once you've sorted out the problem Twilight.”         To no-one’s surprise the pendants wouldn’t come off either.         “Should I write a letter to the princess?” asked Spike quietly.         “NO!” shouted Twilight “I CAN FIX THIS!”         The shout shook books off their shelves and rattled everything in the room, not to mention knocking Spike head over tail into one of the shelves.         “Oh....oh no....Spike!”  said Twilight in horror. “What have I done!”         “Easy there sugarcube...” said Applejack soothingly. “It’s gonna be just fine.  See?  Spike is dustin himself off as we speak.”         “Okay...I’m sending that letter whether you want me to out not!” said Spike as he pulled out a scroll and began writing on it.         For the second time in as many days, Spike heard someone enter from another room and say “No need.  We have already arrived.” Princess Luna stepped out of a shadow in the corner of the room.         “Luna!”  exclaimed Twilight in relief. “I just don’t know what went wrong!”         “Well my subject it’s quite simply a matter of power.” Luna said as she peered at the pendant in the glass case. “With your recent transformation you have more power at your command and thus pushed a little too hard.  Where once you had to strain to do more complex magick now more comes freely to you.”         “That...make sense.” said Twilight hesitantly. “Can you help me fix it?”         “That I can.” said Luna smiling. “Gather around everypony.  Twilight follow my lead please.”         Everypony once again assumed their previous positions.  Luna’s horn began to glow along with Twilight’s. “First Twilight we need to remove the old spell.” instructed Luna. “Concentrate on the bonds of the spell eroding away into nothingness not snapping or breaking.”         Nodding, Twilight concentrated and her horn began to glow brighter.  Her magick slowly enveloped all her friends, the elements, and pendants.  Leisurely it withdrew, taking the original spell with it.         “Now.” said Luna “This is how you do it.”  Almost immediately a soft string of silver magick burst from Luna’s horn and like a sewing needle stitched lines between first the pendants, then the elements, then the pendants, and finally their bearers. A network of lines appeared like a glowing spiderweb.  With a flourish Luna tied the magick off with what appeared for all the world to be a bow in the center.  Breathing out and releasing her concentration, Luna released the spell and the glowing web faded into nothingness.         “Now someone please test that for me?” Luna asked.         Rainbow Dash immediately removed her element and breathed a sigh of relief.  The others quickly followed.  Pinkie Pie picked up the pendant for her element and put it on.         Pinkie's face contorted with concentration and there was a flash, then Pinkie was wearing her element and the pendant was in the case.  Almost immediately Pinkie concentrated again and the pendant element were once again switched.  True to form Pinkie switched the element and pendant rapidly until her friends yelled at her to stop.         “Okie Dokie Loki!” said Pinkie finishing up with the pendant around her neck.  To make sure it could be removed she quickly took the pendant off and laid it on the ground.         “Looks like it worked.” said Twilight breathing a sigh of relief. “I can’t thank you enough Princess Luna!”         “It’s quite all right Twilight Sparkle.” said Luna smiling.  Leaning in close she whispered “We’ll talk more of this tonight.”         With a flourish of her wings, and a nod to the other ponies in the room, Princess Luna vanished in a flash of magick.         “Well that was awkward.” said Twilight “I’m so sorry girls.  Once again I messed it all up and had to have somepony else pull my tail out of the fire.”         “To be honest dear that happens a lot less often than you think.” said Rarity putting on her pendant. “For the most part you pull our tails out of the fire on a regular basis.”         “Don’t correct her when she done screwed up.  I was almost stuck with that gol-darned pendant around my neck for all eternity!” sputtered Applejack. Speaking angrily from the library doorway she continued “You all may be fine with here immortality thing but the last thing i want to be is the Immortal Apple or whatever.”         Slamming the door behind her, Applejack left the rest of her friends in stunned silence.  It was Fluttershy who spoke first.         “Don’t worry Twilight.  I’m sure she’ll come around.” she said softly.         “Unfortunately she’s right.” said Twilight sighing deeply. “She made a choice and I could have taken that choice away from her without so much as a by your leave.  I screwed up.”         “Hey don’t take it so hard Twi!  It’ll definitely work itself out so don’t sweat it.” Rainbow Dash said. Suddenly hovering in front of her face to get her attention Rainbow continued “How’s about you and me take in some flying lessons tomorrow?”         “I guess...” said Twilight hesitating. “I flew the one time but I could really use some instruction.  Can I ask you something about that?”         “Go ahead!  I’m all ears!” Rainbow said happily.         “How the heck do you not knock things over with these!” asked Twilight. She extended her wings to look at them and promptly knocked over the wooden horse head on the table nearby.         Chuckling slightly, Rainbow Dash said “Well first of all you have to remember that wings are NOT just another pair of legs...” ----         Later that evening, after everyone had gone, Twilight laid her head on her pillow and closed her eyes. Once again she opened them in another place.         This time she was on a cloud watching Princess Luna shuffle stars around as if conducting some unheard symphony.  “One moment Twilight.”  said Luna over her shoulder “I’m just finishing up my first batch of stars for tonight.”         “Take your time.  After today I could use a little calm.” said Twilight. Looking down, she pushed a little cloudstuff around with her hoof.         “Oh buck up Twilight.  You are by no means the first pony or even the first princess to have a spell go awry on you.” replied Luna “My sister once spent an entire year with a jar of pickles stuck to the top of her head.  Please don’t tell her I told you that though.” she said with a wink as she finished placing the last star.         “As amusing as that is I almost trapped one of my friends in a situation against her will for all eternity!” exclaimed Twilight. “That’s a bit more of a mistake than pickles...”         “I suspect that once Applejack thinks about it she will decide otherwise.  She’s not so much opposed as she is afraid. Tea?” said Luna, levitating a cup in Twilight’s direction.         “Thank you.” said Twilight, taking the cup and sipping from it.  Once again the tea calmed her and she stared into the cup searching for answers.  “How do you know?”         “I am the Princess of Dreams after all.  She has had nightmares since becoming an element bearer of losing her family.  Being torn from them.  Having to choose between them and her Element of Harmony.” she said flatly as if Twilight should have figured that out already. Then matter-of-factly she continued “Admittedly it can be a bit tiring helping people in their dreams.  This is why you see me very little during the day.  I sleep to clear my dreams of the dreams of others and rest among other reasons.”         “I...didn't know...” Twilight said. “I didn't know any of this.”         “Nor should you.  Knowing your friend’s hearts by their actions and their words is enough for most ponies - even princesses.” said Luna, smiling softly. “More than that would be too intrusive and could cause bitterness to grow between.”         “Do you...have that problem? I mean...” asked Twilight.         “Sometimes.” sighed Luna. “But for the most part there are ways to prevent it from happening.  For instance I don’t go into every dream.  Only the ones that call to me in pain and sorrow.”         “So you spend your nights bathed in sorrow so other ponies can live life happy?" asked Twilight with her eyes wide.         “No.  Nopony could do that.  I join in happy dreams as well.  And when a fear is confronted or pain and sorrow are released the dream goes from a nightmare to a joy in an instant.  Those are some of my happiest moments.” Luna said. Smiling and looking up at her stars she asked “Would you like to place a star Twilight Sparkle?”         “Can I??” asked Twilight with wide eyes and a smile on her face.         “Yes.  Yes you can." said Luna. "In fact more than one if you want.  Grab that one over there and then you...” ----         Twilight awoke to bright sunlight on her face. Remembering the dream and quickly rolling over to write it down in her dream journal, she still felt giddy from placing stars in the sky at Luna’s instruction.         Getting out of bed, Twilight headed downstairs into her kitchen to find it clean and well stocked.  A small note on the counter from the royal kitchens indicated that she no longer needed to worry about buying food for herself if she did not want to.         “Well that’s something anyway.” said Twilight, shaking her heard in amazement.  Levitating an apple from a nearby bowl she was about to bite into it when she noticed her reflection in the shine. Carefully she placed the apple back into the bowl and headed to the washroom to get cleaned up.  She had a friend to visit. ----         An hour later she found herself at Sweet Apple Acres helping Applejack push hay bales into place in the fields.  It was tough work and neither of them spoke more than a word or two during the task.  Each avoided eye contact with the other as best as possible.         After the last bale was placed, Twilight sat on her haunches and looked patiently at Applejack.         “What?” asked Applejack. “I got sum dirt on my face?”         “Well...yes but that’s not why I was sitting here.” said Twilight. “We need to talk.”         Applejack sighed. “Okay." she said.  "I reckon after last night yer prolly right.”         “Look...I know you don’t want to see your family pass by.  I get that.  And I’m so sorry about last night.  But here’s the thing...” said Twilight with some hesitation. “...you’re also keeping yourself and possibly generations of the Apple Family safe.”         “I can do that fer as long as ahm alive Twilight." Applejack affirmed. Looking out over the field she continued, "I don’t need to keep doin it after I should be dead and gone.  ‘Taint natural."         “So the princesses aren't natural then?” Twilight asked coyly.         “You know what ah mean Twilight.”  said Applejack in exasperation. “And ahm not a princess anyways.”         “I think you’re wrong.  I think you and all the other bearers are princesses inside.” said Twilight. “Honest, Generous, Kind, Mirthful.  All those are qualities befitting a princess.  And while you all excel at one or another of those according to your element you all have some part of the other in you.  It’s one of the reason we’re all as close friends as we are.  We understand our hearts more than most.”         “Fancy words Twilight.  And by my reckoning they’re true too.” said Applejack as she matched eyes with Twilight. “But ah still think it’s a mistake to live longer than I think I should.  Like I told ya last night - I’ll proudly wear the element until I choose not to.  That and no longer. Fair ‘nuff?”         “Oh Applejack that’s fine.  I guess what I was really here about was I just wanted to make sure things were okay between us.” said Twilight. “We are okay....right?”         “Right as rain sugarcube.” said Applejack with a smile. “Speakin of right I say we go get sometin ta drink back at the house.”         “Sounds like a plan.” said Twilight, smiling as well.         Both headed off towards the house, a breeze blowing what hay was left unharvested in waves across the field.