Despite the arguments over what should happen next in her life, Twilight wanted to spend the rest of the day with her parents. When she finally got back to her rooms, Spike had had a full on temper tantrum. Books were scattered, clothes unpacked, and fresh bowl of Pinkie-tastic Punch had been delivered, then half drunk. In the middle of the mini-mess was the sleeping dragon.
Twilight looked around and sighed. Thinking that Spike could have done much worse in the mood he was in. So she simply used her magic to repack the clothes, re-shelve the books, and pour the punch down the drain. Then she gently placed Spike on her back, cradled by her new wings.
“Guess you really wanna go into that forest, huh,” Twilight whispered to him.
She then made arrangements for her large collection of books to be sent into storage at the Ponyville Train Station. After some long goodbyes, Twilight took the late night train back to Ponyville.
Spike still wouldn’t budge about being left behind, Twilight and the others went into the forest; so she promised him if he stayed behind she’d ask Celestia to send him some extra large gems.
It was nearly 10 o’clock at night, when the train finally stopped in Ponyville.
The good news is that very few ponies were on the train, even fewer still awake. Ponyville was not a popular destination, so except for Princess Twilight and Spike, no one got off at the small town. There was no one to notice the new alicorn princess returning home to her small library, in the quiet hamlet. No one to crowd her pepper her with questions about being an alicorn. No one to look down their muzzles at her newly crowned status, for whatever personal reasons they had; Twilight didn’t care, she just wanted to get back home, do a little (a lot) more research, then continue on her new mission.
Twilight still wasn’t used to being called “Princess” yet, so she was more than willing to put up with the extra work. All the bowing and the “My Lady Princess” was getting on her nerves. She wasn’t any different from before, she just had alicorn wings and power. A few days did not really make a difference, but every other pony she met seemed to think it was some big deal.
On the other hoof… there was no one there to help Twilight carry all the luggage, plus one sleeping dragon. No one was there to help her pull the wagon full of research, gifts, and old mementos from her foalhood. None of her friends were there, to tell her that being an alicorn wouldn’t change their friendship.
So it was, a few minutes later an exhausted Princess Twilight Sparkle arrived at the Ponyville Library. Walking up to the old building, Twilight was struck by a sense of deja-vu. Only 3 short years ago, she had arrived in Ponyville on behalf of Princess Celestia. That event led her into the heart of the Everfree Forest. It was then that she first began her journey, unknowingly, to become a princess. Now she returned as a princess, on behalf of Princess Luna, to go back into the heart of the Everfree Forest once again.
“Wake up Spike. We’re home.” Twilight told her sleeping companion.
Spike rolled over on Twilight’s back, unknowingly wrapping one of her wings around his body. “Wh-what already?” Then panicked when he saw what he did, quickly un-entangling himself and jumping off the alicorn’s back.
Opening the library door for him, *giggle* “Don’t worry about that Spike, you were tired and we got here safe and sound. But now it’s time to get inside before someone sees us.” Twilight motioned for him to go in before she did, leaving the cart outside.
Spike yawned and dragged his tail on the ground, stumbling over a sleeping Pinkie Pie. “Yikes!” He screeched, nearly instantly awake.
*Yawn* The pink, party hat wearing, pony slowly blinked her eyes, then quickly jumped up and tightly hugged Spike. “You’re back! You’re back! I thought you were gonna get her much, much sooner, you said you were getting back today, so I decided to throw you a “welcome back Princess Twilight Sparkle the Alicorn” party but then I got tired and fell asleep,” Pinkie took a tiny breath so she could check the clock on the mantle. “But now it’s nearly too late! Because today is almost tomorrow, so now we can throw a “welcome home 2 day party” which is almost better than a silly old regular “welcome back Princess Twilight Sparkle the Alicorn” party, don’t ‘cha think?”
Twilight yawned as she gaped at the enthusiastic greeting of her dear friend, “I really do appreciate what you’ve done Pinkie.” She began not wanting to hurt her feelings. “But Spike and I had a really long day, and any other time I’d certainly like to join you…” Pinkie’s face began to get sad so Twilight quickly added, ”but don’t you think this party would be even better if the others were here with us?”
Pinkie’s face nearly split from the grin slowly spreading across it. “That’s – a – great! Idea! Oh! Twilight you’re still the most brilliant-est pony I know! Well maybe that should be most Brilliant-est Alicorn Princess Pony, I know! Ooh this party will be great! Better than great! I’ll get started on it right away!”
Enjoying her friend’s unending enthusiasm, Twilight escorted the pink jumping party hat wearing pony out the door. Then she picked up Spike, whom quickly fell asleep soon after waking Pinkie. Then she got into her own bed and fell asleep.
#########
Knock, knock, Spike woke up first to the sound of somepony knocking on the door. So he got up to answer it. Before he even got there though… “Urr-rp,” out came some green smoke quickly followed by a letter and brown paper wrapped packaged from Celestia.
Knock, knock, knock. “I’m coming! I’m coming!” Spike called out before setting the letter and package absently on the nearest table.
“Oh, hello Mayor Mare,” Spike greeted. “Lovely morning isn’t it?”
Telling her advisors to stay outside, Mayor Mare invited herself in and then sat down on a pillow. It was left by Pinkie last night, the mayor ignored the high pitched fart that escaped said pillow. “Good morning Spike. How are you?”
“Fine thank you.” Spike responded automatically, taking mental note that Twilight left the cart, filled with stuff from Canterlot, still outside. Silently making plans to bring it in and put everything away later. “So. How can I help you today Mayor?”
“Oh Spike, you’re such a sweet dragon. Actually I wanted to speak with the Princess this fine morning. Is she awake yet?” Mayor Mare inquired.
Spike wanted to be helpful, but Twilight didn’t mention to him about an early morning meeting today, with the mayor. So he tried to answer carefully, not wanting to be wrong and disappoint both very important ponies. “Not yet, but she should in an hour or so. The train was very late arriving at Ponyville last night and then we found Pinkie in the Library-“
Mayor Mare waved her hoof to stop Spike. “Spike, I understand that the last few days have been quite stressful, on our dear Princess Twilight Sparkle is tired. Why with all the festivities and her unique transformation… Why I’m nearly breathless myself, just thinking about all of it. However there are many new responsibilities Twilight Sparkle has to attend to as our newest Princess, and of course as Ponyville’s most famous resident.” Mayor Mare paused, her patient politician’s smile gracing her face, signaling her willingness to wait.
Thirty minutes later, one of the mayor’s advisors cleared his throat while poking his head inside the library. The scowl on his face directed at the mare, when she looked at him he pointed to the clock tower. “Hmm? Oh right, yes,” She nodded at him, just before turning her attention back to Spike. “I’m sorry, Spike I guess my other duties cannot wait for the Princess to wake up. I must be off now, but please be sure to let her know to come and talk to me.” Then let herself out, as unexpectedly as she came in.
As soon as the Mayor left, Twilight poked her head over the balcony overlooking the main floor of the library. “Is she gone yet, Spike?”
“Huh?” Spike looked around for a moment, before slapping his paw to his head, as he looked up. “Twilight, what are doing? The Mayor was just here, and she really seemed to want to talk to you.”
Twilight hopped onto the railing before extending her wings and gliding awkwardly down to the floor below. “I know. And I’m really, really sorry for putting you into such a position.” Then she tried to fold her wings, but they were still stiff from the way she slept, so she settled for using one to wrap around the young dragon. “You’re such a good friend to keep the Mayor occupied for me. It’s just all this fuss over me becoming an alicorn and everything… I never expected any of this.”
Spike sighed. “I know Twilight. I know, but you’re going to have to face this sort of stuff eventually.”
*Giggle* “Hey! Where did my baby dragon go? Since when did you get so wise?” Twilight teased.
“Since I came with you to Ponyville three years ago, that’s when. The whole ‘the world is going to end’ thing, kind’a changes a dragon ya’ know?”
“Right.” Twilight responded. She turned her focus the shelves, “enough talk about the mayor. It’s time to get to some serious research.” Levitating the ladder over to the legends, “Alright Spike, climb on up there and find everything we have here about the Everfree Forest.”
“Right, my ‘favorite part’, the research.” Spike automatically began to climb the ladder, “you know since the ledgend of Night Mare Moon was in a foals’ story book, we might want to add those to the list as well.”
“Wait I just remembered something. The princesses sent you a letter and a package this morning.” Spike commented as he grabbed a copy of Little Red Hood.
“What?!” Panicking Twilight looked around, checking the fireplace mantle, the kitchen table, the side table by the base of the stairs. She ran around looking everywhere but the library work table in the center of the room. “Oh no, oh no, where is it? Where is it?”
“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight!” Spike kept calling out to the panicked pony until she finally looked up. When she paused in her search and looked up, he calmly pointed down to the scroll and package in the center of the room.
“Oh.” Smiling she gave Spike a sheepish smile, before turning her full attention to the princesses delivery.
*ahem* “Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, although I am pleased to receive word of your successful return to Ponyville. I still disapprove of Luna’s quest for answers of what happened back then. The ancient palace holds many happy memories for both of us, but it is what happened after Luna became NightMare Moon -”
“If you discover any secrets within those walls, then do not judge me too harshly. A thousand years is a lot of time. I will not stop you from seeking answers, and you are the best choice to find and guard the past. Perhaps you might be able to welcome this forgotten part into the modern age of Equestria, though I gravely doubt even you will succeed.
“So I have enclosed 2 things to aide you. One of them is a fireproof, waterproof, and magic proof blank journal for you to record this latest adventure. The second is an old story book I commissioned 977 years ago. Due to lack of interest, the book never caught on, so only a few copies remain. This one is from my personal collection. (Please take good care of it.)"
“Princess Celestia.” Twilight finished reading the letter then re-read it to herself twice more. “Okay, so there are no hidden meanings, that still doesn’t tell me anything more than I knew before, but maybe the storybook she sent can help. And in any case having a practically indestructible journal for this trip will most assuredly come in handy.”
Just then, Fluttershy gently trotted inside, carrying her travel bag over her hindquarters, “hello princess Twilight. I hope I’m not too early.”
Smiling, Twilight Sparkle moved aside to allow Fluttershy to view the story book Princess Celestia sent. “Not at all, actually I’m pretty sure I still have a bag packed, but I just got this letter and package from the Princess. Come and look at it. Apparently the Princess had this book published nine hundred and seventy seven years ago.”
Fluttershy opened the first page gently with her hoof, carefully turning each yellowed page. “Ohh, the pictures are so pretty. But um, this pony right here.” Fluttershy indicated a drawing of a blue pony with a flowing green mane and tail, the cutie mark was a cluster of Morning Glory booms. “She reminds of the portrait hanging in my great-grandmare’s cloud cottage, back in Cloudsdale. Only that pony had regular pegasus wings, not the transparent ones drawn here.”
Looking closely at the drawing, Twilight realized that all the ponies in that picture had only uncolored outlines for the wings. “Huh? They don’t look like ordinary pegasus ponies, do they? The wings, are all wrong. They kinda resemble the wings Rarity had when we went to Cloudsdale a few years ago.”
“Uh huh, but, that one pony there, really does look like that portrait, except for the wings. I’d almost say it was the same pony.” Fluttershy replied in a moderate tone of voice.
Fascinated Twilight and Fluttershy lay down on the floor to read the book together. Spike wanted to see what they were talking about, so he jumped down off the ladder and sat behind both ponies.
Twilight then began to read out loud. “All my little foals and gather round my hoofs. I’ve come to tell you a tale from not so long ago.” This sentence accompanied a stylized image of Celestia, surrounded by all types of foals, including a few breezies, nestlings and a buffalo calf. “I know a beautiful valley, beside a quiet brook, filled with many flowers of every kind. This valley is the home of a forgotten pony, a flutter pony.” This was the page, Fluttershy pointed at. It was covered in a field with colorful flowers, but above these flowers were water colored ponies hovering above them. The ponies had long legs with manes and tails that flowed well past their hooves. They also had colorless wings with flowers for cutie marks. “They laugh and fly about all day long. These ponies love to tend their flowers. They flitter and flutter about singing old songs.” The next two pages had pictures of these ponies playing in the sky. The page after that had stylized flowers, stars and candy around the edges and a windmill as the center image. “This wonderful gentle pony can do more than fly, sing, and garden. This flutter pony is a magical pony and will grant a wish to any brave enough to find her.” A single flutter pony, with a rainbow halo of six gems, was drawn standing alone. The background showed her standing amidst a forest. “The valley is in the forest, little foals. So never fear the woods. The flutter ponies will find you there and guide the lost home. That is the end of my tale. I love you all, but please don’t forget the flutter ponies. The wonderful ponies whom live in a valley in the woods.” The ending page was another picture of Celestia, this time she was standing in the woods beside a yellow coated flutter pony with pale pink mane and tail. Between them was a rosebush with six blooms each a different color of the rainbow.
“Cool story, guys.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Eeep!” Startled, Fluttershy swiftly hid under the table.
Twilight got up abruptly, her wings knocking Spike in the face. “Rainbow Dash… that wasn’t very nice.”
“Sorry, I saw you guys sitting around the book, and when I realized you were reading it out loud…” Rainbow Dash shrugged apologetically. “I couldn’t help myself. I just sat behind you guys. But it is a cool story. Nothing like ‘Daring Do,’ but for a foal’s tale… eh, it was kinda cool.” Then she went to pick it up where it had fallen to the floor. “Tale of the Flutter Ponies.” Rainbow Dash read aloud.
Twilight levitated the book out of Rainbow’s hooves, before carefully rewrapping it back up with the blank journal. After that she magically transported her pre-packed saddle bags from the upstairs rooms where she’d left them.
“So when do we leave?” Rainbow asked.
“Just as soon as the other’s arrive. Hopefully before Mayor Mare comes back.”
Rainbow smirked at Twilight’s comment. “She’s after ya huh. Well get used to it fast Twi. I can tell you, the life of a celebrity is not easy. I know from first-hoof experience.”
Just then Rarity, AppleJack and Applebloom stepped inside the library.
Rarity dressed herself in tortoiseshell sun glasses, white sunhat, purple silk scarf and her personally designed saddlebags. “But what fun it is darling.” She looked briefly around and spotted Fluttershy still under the table. Then she went to help the nervous pony get out from under it. “Of course our Twilight has never been a pony to actively seek the lime light. Why, I dare say, she’s the most humble pony any of us know.” She said, just before gently removing her hat, scarf and sun glasses for Spike to hold.
“Too right, Rarity! But I’m supposing that the mayor has some really important business to talk ta Twi about. So why aren’t one of the most responsible ponies on the planet I know, sides m’self. Avoiding the mayor?” AppleJack inquired, while keeping an eye on her younger sister.
Applebloom for the most part was trying to keep out of trouble, and help the princess at the same time. So she thought she’d climb the ladder by the dusty old books and see what they interrupted. That was when she began to sneeze and the sneezes propelled the ladder, with her on it, into the books Spike had partially pulled out. This ended up in said books, ladder and pony falling on the mane 6 standing below.
Fortunately Twilight spotted what was happening in time. Her purple colored magic shield covered everyone at the last second, while Twilight simultaneously caught Apple Bloom and saved the young filly from injury.
Shaken Bloom, had an awestruck silent expression, and then…”That! Was, Awesome! Can ya do that again Twilight? Huh? Huh? That was just too awesome, ya got really, really, powerful. Why I bet you could’a caught ten ponies falling out of the sky! Huh-“
As soon as Twilight released the shield on Apple Bloom; AppleJack quickly covered her sister’s mouth, stopping the jumping, skipping pony.
“I know you was just trying ta help and stay outta trouble, Applebloom,” AJ began once she had her sister’s attention. “But maybe you should just go find your friends and play elsewhere, okay?” She waited for the nod of agreement, before releasing Applebloom.
Tears beginning to well in Applebloom’s eyes, “but I wanted ta see if Princess Twilight Sparkle would let me and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders come with you guys…”
Twilight, busy helping Spike clean up, walked up to the squabbling sisters. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea Applebloom.”
“But-“
“Now I know you’re just trying to help, and there’s nothing to say this is going to be a dangerous mission, but I’m sure you’re old enough to understand that there are many dangers in the Everfree Forest.” Twilight Sparkle levitated the package she’d just re-wrapped before Apple Bloom fell. Magically un-wrapping it again, Twilight handed the children’s story to the young filly. “Why don’t you, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell look after this for me while we’re away? It’s from Princess Celestia’s personal library and it’s very old, so make sure you guys take extra special care of it.”
Mollified, Applebloom stopped nearly crying and gave Twilight her brightest smile. “Thanks Princess Twilight Sparkle! Me and da others will take great-great-extra-super-duper-specially-special care of it!”
Taking the book, Applebloom ran off to find the rest of the CMC to tell them about the new mission Princess Twilight Sparkle gave them. Thoughts of earning a "Royal Book Protector" cutie mark running through her head.
Pinkie Pie happened to get to the library just then. Since she was hopping along like usual, Applebloom’s mad dash resulted in the pink pony spinning like a top, just before falling over in a giggling tangle of limbs. “Wow! *giggle* That was fun, is everyone ready for the party yet?...”
Dear Princess Celestia,
I want to thank you for the lovely journal, as well as the children’s book. Both are quite fascinating and I’ll be sure to use the journal to record my experiences, in lieu of sending letters everyday. The book about Flutter Ponies, on the other hoof, I decided to lend it to Apple Bloom and her friends. Since, it really was intended for young ponies to enjoy.
I know I told you I’d leave today, but certain events occurred and I and my friends decided tomorrow morning would be better.
I wish I knew more about being a politician, but my studies never focused on that. Really thinking about what you, Luna, and Cadence have to handle every day, verses what I’ve recently experienced. I can’t figure out how you balance the everyday needs of the kingdom with the individual problems and personal needs that arise.
I can honestly say I’d rather face another changeling invasion.
I’m sorry that I can’t understand your reluctance to help find the answers Princess Luna is seeking.
A selfish part of me knows I’m only helping Luna to delay taking on my full role as the Princess of Friendship. I understand the risks of going into the Everfree Forest, what I don’t know; is what my current role as an alicorn.
I’m scared Princess Celestia. It seems there is so much I never studied for…
I am truly grateful for my friends and the Magic of Friendship. I believe that will help me get through all my doubts.
Sincerely,
Princess Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of the Element of Magic