//------------------------------// // Bitter drink // Story: Homecoming // by seeker9709 //------------------------------// 20 Day's remaining. Octavia's home Twilight sat at the small table in Octavia's dining room. In front of her was multiple glasses holding individual berries from the manafruit. Back and forth she worked with a small scalpel, grabbing one berry, cutting it into a small glass. Inside the delicate skin was a gray juice, which glowed slightly as it met with the open air. By the time she had cut the 20th berry open the glass before her was nearly full. Inside, the glowing gray liquid seemed to pulsate and more as if it were alive. Twilight stared at the glass with a disgusted frown, her front hooves folded in front of her. Behind her a soft voice spoke up. “Well. That looks... pleasant.” Octavia stood just a few feet from the table. “Trust me Tavi.” Twilight began, her voice full of disgust. “It looks terrible. It tastes a thousand times worse.” Octavia now stood over Twilight's shoulder, looking down curiously at the strange substance. “And what exactly is it?” Twilight took a deep breath. “It's a manafruit.” “A what?” Octavia gasped loudly. “I thought they didn't exist.” “Well technically they still don't. There hasn't been official discovery, so it's still legend in the eye and minds of almost everypony in Equestria. Seeing as how no-pony goes to the windigo territory, no-pony ever finds them except for a rare few.” “Is it worth asking where or who you got this from?” Twilight sighed again. “I'd rather not talk about it.” She slowly stood and embraced Octavia. After a brief few moments they separated. Twilight walked out of the dining room only to return moments later, this time carrying her saddle bags. Returning to the table she began rummaging through her bags as Octavia spoke, staring at the bright fruit. “So... How exactly does this work? It's not at all what I imagined it would be.” Twilight still moved through the bottomless bag. “Yes. Ponies have a way of making everything more glamorous than it really is. The fruit itself looks delicious, but anypony who has tasted it will disagree quickly.” “You know.” Octavia continued. “In the Canterlot museum they have a supposed seed and art work of what it looks like. They described it as a golden fruit that tastes so divine, nothing else can match it.” “Well their not to far off there. Twilight pulled herself from the bags open mouth, holding in her hooves her crystal ball. “Nothing else can match the flavor alright. It's the most bitter, vile... thing, in all of Equestria. I don't even want to justify it as a fruit. Fruit is sweet even if you don't like the flavor. She gently set the crystal down on the table. “The way it works is pretty basic. Inside each berry is highly compressed liquid magic. What makes it interesting is that the magic within is neither volatile nor toxic to touch, unlike normal liquid magic, which has the tendency to melt through fur and skin. Anyway, once ingested it's released into the unicorns body and after a short process, it gathers into the horn and voila. Instant magic.” Octavia still stared at the tables contents. “Twilight.” She called softly. “Do you think...” Twilight looked up at her, her face hardening at Octavia's stare. It was almost... hungry. Twilight rose, standing in front of Octavia, breaking her stare. Twilight met her eyes. “I wouldn't.” She warned. "The fruit is enchanted. If you let it draw your eye, it wont end well. Throughout years, armies have fought for a mystical manafruit. Supposedly at least. I wouldn't stare to long. Also, Since your an earth pony I doubt it would have any effect, even with your... talent.” Octavia stared at the floor downcast. This time more cautious to look at the fruit. “So. Are you drinking it now?” Twilight scrunched her face. “Yeah. No point in putting it off. I wont be doing it in the house though.” She moved the crystal off the table. Instead of dropping to the floor, it hung in the air. “The process can be rather violent. Not something you would want to see.” She quickly touched her horn to the ball, the glass balanced on one hoof. “I'll be back.” A moment later she appeared inside the small room. She made her way to the center of the room, the glass still on her hoof. She stood there staring at the glass. She swallowed hard and fast. “This is going to hurt.” She said quickly before tipping the glass back. In only a moment, the glowing gray liquid was gone. Twilight sat on her haunches, the glass clenched between her two hooves fell free. Shattering at her hooves. Her body shuddered lightly before she suddenly heaved foreword. Her body jolted as if all her muscles clenched at once. She gritted her teeth, trying not to scream. Her two front hooves held her from the carpet. She slowly tried making her way to her hooves before she uncontrollably lunged foreword again. Horrible retches erupted from her throat. She rolled on he back, flailing her hooves at the immense pain. Still she forced her teeth shut, trying to keep the bitter liquid down. Her muscles burned and her body jolted. As she lay there trying to stay calm, her body began glowing with bright blue magic. It shined through her fur and skin. Through every hole in her body the magic emerged, gathering around her like a storm. As it did, it began slowly changing from light blue to a light purple color. Twilight's body went stiff, her head rearing back. Her teeth finally unclenched, her jaw open in a silent scream that couldn't express the pain the rocked her body. Fat tears from the pain rolled down her cheeks in rivers, her eyes a brilliant red. The seconds dragged on for hours and the minutes dragged on for days, until finally the swirling magic condensed on her horn. The light from her body collecting at her horn soon dwindled until it only a few absent sparks floated lazily around the unicorn. She lie on her back, her hooves spread eagle around her. Her eyes half open as she drew heavy, ragged breaths. Her whole body ached and her head pounded as if it were being hit with a hammer. Her dilated eyes were colored with bloodshot veins and an absent magical glow. She moved her hooves to sit up but her muscles tensed ubruptly, locking her in place momentarily. Slowly she worked through the pain and soreness, until she could move with only a small and sore limp. She surveyed the room and the area around her. Where she had laid, the ground was turned to black and the stone was cracked. The carpet burned away. A small silhouette of her body burned into the floor. Pillows that lined the floor were burned or simply torn open. Stuffing and feathers from said pillows were scattered around the entire room. The smell of burning fabrics dominated the room. She rubbed her eyes, swaying on her hooves. She frowned at the room through half closed eyes. She could deal with this later. On shaking hooves she made her way over to and touched her horn to the crystal, which was still resting on the table despite the recent event. In a moment she was back in Octavia's dining room. As soon as she appeared, her legs collapsed underneath her. “Twilight.” Octavia called, concerned. Twilight waved her off with a hoof. “I'm fine I'm fine.” She said quickly. “I'm... I'm just tired.” She made her way back to the bed, Octavia following closely behind. Once she arrived she lowered herself down breathing a sigh of relief. Octavia sat at the edge of the bed smiling down on her. The pair was silent for minutes before Octavia broke the silence. “Never a dull moment. Is it darling?” Twilight smiled and chuckled softly. “The universe doesn't seem keen on letting me take it easy much. Whatever god looks down on me, must have fun watching me struggle. The only good thing I've ever been given is you. Other then that the 'excitement' never seems to end.” “Maybe it's not some higher power. Maybe you just like the excitement a little to much.” Twilight smiled softly. “Possibly.” She turned her gaze to the window. Snow was fell gently from the calm, gray sky. It fit the tired mood Twilight felt perfectly. “One day. One day I'll stop and I'll never start again. One day.” She mused softly. Octavia turned her head slightly. “Stop what.” Twilight pursed her lips. “That's the real question. Isn't it Tavi? Stop what? Maybe my adventuring. Maybe it will be the day I stop running. The day I come home and stay home. The day I no longer question myself. The day I never want to return to a land filled with evil or the day it has been cleansed of it.” Twilight's gaze went to the ceiling. “Or maybe it will be they that I finally know peace. The day that I never HAVE to keep running. Or I HAVE to keep myself in check. When I have to follow another order or risk my life again.” Twilight's eyes seemed to glaze over. “The day when I am truly at peace.” She whispered. The pair were silent until Twilight shook her head. “But.” She croaked. “That day is not here yet and I suspect it wont be for quiet a while.” Octavia stood slowly from her seat. “I see.” She said softly. “Will you be falling sleeping again?” Twilight shook her head softly. “Unfortunately no. I have a deadline to meet and I need to keep preparing. But-” Her hooves wrapped around one of Tavi's, pulling her on top of Twilight. The lavender unicorn smiled mischievously. “I have some time to spare.”