STORY #8
By My Side Again
Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth nervously, her eyes fixed firmly on a spot above her. The little filly was muttering to herself, working out various ways to help her friend stuck in the tree.
The clopping of hooves behind her failed to attract her attention — though the white forehoof giving her a noogie did. She gasped in irritation and turned around to glare at the culprit.
"Shiny," she grumbled, "what was that for?!"
"Sorry, Twiley," Shining Armour grinned, "but I just couldn't resist. Anyway, little sis, what's wrong? You look fed up."
"My friend," Twilight pointed at the tree, "is stuck up there, and I'm trying to work out how to get him down."
Shining Armour cocked his head at his sister and raised an eyebrow in confusion as she began pacing again.
"You're a unicorn," he replied, "so just use your magic."
"No," Twilight replied, "I don't want to. I want to see if I can find an alternative solution to this problem. Using my magic would be the most obvious solution, but I wouldn't learn anything."
Shining Armour chuckled.
"It's just like my time at the Guard Academy." he said, "The commanding officers needed something done, they got us to do it for them. After all, nothing says discipline like peeling potatoes."
Twilight stopped pacing and gasped. She turned around and looked upon her brother fondly.
"That's it!" she squealed, "I could get somepony else to do it for me! Shiny, you're a genius! Say... you're not busy are you?"
Shining Armour gulped. He knew where this was going, but the pleading look in his sister's sparkling eyes made his heart melt and his pancreas cry out in despair.
"Sure, Twiley," he croaked out, "what do you need?"
Twilight jabbed a forehoof at the tree eagerly.
"Could you be the best brother ever and get Quadri down for me?" she asked sweetly, "We'd both really appreciate it."
"Quadri?" Shining Armour queried, "Is that his name?"
"It's short for Quadri Lateral," Twilight replied, "now are you going to get him down or not?"
Shining Armour groaned and trotted over to the tree. He lit his horn up with a levitation spell and took hold of his target. He brought them down to the ground, where Twilight took them eagerly into her forehooves with a small cheer.
The stallion watched Twilight for a moment with a grin on his face as she celebrated being reunited with her friend, before he sighed and rolled his eyes.
"When our parents told me you had made a new friend," he said, "I was really happy for you, Twiley. But looking at you now I can see that you need to make some friends who are actual ponies."
Twilight ignored her brother's remark and ran off, the kite trailing flimsily along the ground behind her.