//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Phalanges // Story: Twilight's Life As A Teenage Pony // by Bullie //------------------------------// "Phalanges, they're called phalanges Spike!" I smiled, wiggling my phalanges around. "Huh, yeah I guess they are called that. Weird name, huh? Phalanges, hehe." Spike pronounced the word a little funny, but I let it slide with a laugh. I looked down fondly at the biological text book I had found in the library. It was very useful. "Well, we've learned that these are phalanges," I waved them around Spike's head, smiling,"annnnd that these," I swung my newfound legs around, and pointed at the feet,"are feet-" "And, that everypony here is a...human?" He asked carefully. I nodded, a large grin on my face. I had also found a book with taboos in it, such as how not to lose a guy, what not to wear, how to eat on a first date, which seems a little odd for a book labeled taboos, but either way it was helpful. I could easily transfer this information into day to day life here in this world, "Earth," I mouthed, closing the large text book, "Earth is an odd place, huh Spike?" I asked, side eyeing him as I stood up with the book in my phalanges. I padded over to a nearby shelf, and placed it back where it belonged. When I turned back to my pup, he was nodding, with a large yawn escaping his maw. I awed him, leaning down to ruffle his small, furry head, "You tired, Spi-" yawning, I went on,"-ke, heh, me to I guess." I picked the little dog up, looking around,"I didn't really think our sleeping arrangements out before we came here." He just yawned, pawing at the air. I grunted, "Thanks for the help, Spike." I rolled my eyes as he welcomed me. Starting out of the library and into the hallways, I noticed that the lights were dimmed. How long had we been in there? I looked around for awhile, not spying a single person. "Maybe we should just stay here tonight," the purple and green pup yawned again, snuggling his head into the nap of my elbow. I nodded slowly, and walked around, peeking into every other room, until I found one that looked the least used. It only had one desk in it, a few brooms, and some cleaning bottles lining the shelves that cornered the small room. I put my furry friend down, and took in a long breath, phalanges on my hips. "Well, this looks like as good of a place as any." The little pup nodded, laying his head down to the cold ground. I leaned back against the door, and slid down, hugging myself for warmth, "Heh, guess they don't keep the heat on at night, huh?" I asked, but quickly realized that Spike was fast asleep. I sighed, and decided that would be a good ideal. I curled in on myself, laying out on the cold floor, pressing up against the door so no one could walk in on us, at least not tonight... oOo "Twilight, TWI-TO-THE-LIGHT! Wake up!" My face stun as I heard a growling breath next to my head. I cracked open my eyes to see Spike with his paw out stretched. Eyes widening, I shielded my face- "Spike, stop! No, I'm awake-" SLAP! ...Too late. I sighed, sitting up, holding my swelling, sore cheek. I glared at the apologetic pup. Yawning, I wiggled around, and pushed myself up. I outstretched my arms behind one another, hearing popping and cracking as I yawned again. Rough nights sleep. "So, what's first on the list today-" the door swung open, causing a scream to seep from my lungs. I twirled around, backing up as I rambled about needing to use the bathroom, leaning down slowly as I did, I grabbed Spike, and rushed past the gruff looking old man that had opened the door. He cursed as I rushed down the halls, waving his phalanges in the air. I rounded a corner, heaving, "That was close..." I plopped my friend down, rubbing my cheek again with a hateful look, "you should probably hide somewhere for the day while I look around for the crown. I'll meet you back at that room tonight, okay, Spike?" I told more than asked, and he just nodded and began to trot off, then froze. Turning back around, he gave me a serious, stern look, "What...what if you're not there by that time?" I paused just as I stood, staring at him. I hadn't thought of that. I had no clue what kind of pony Sunset Shimmer was. She was bold enough to steal from a princess, brave enough to venture into another world, and evil enough to weaken harmony in all of Equstria. Honestly, the thought of her causing pain to someone, didn't seem so far-fetched. I shook off the feeling Spike just planted in the back of my mind, and just shrugged, starting down the halls. I could hear his pleading winces as I made distance, "First stop, Principal Celestia's office." I figured that would be as good a place as any, since learning more about this world, I felt more confident in fulfilling the needs of this task. I ventured around the large building, trying to memorize most of the rooms, and what was being taught in them. But sooner than I needed it to be, I realized I hadn't used the bathroom for the morning, and I realllllllly had to go. I held myself, and hurried along, looking every which way for a restroom. Later than sooner, I found one on the far sides of the building. I rushed into the one with a person wearing a dress, guessing that would be the ladies room. oOo "Aww, that's better." I smiled to myself, closing the stall door, and went to wash my hands. "I don't care, I hate you! I HATE YOU!" I jumped as a puffy pink hair girl rushed into the room, slamming the door behind her, and rushing into the nearest stall. I could hear her collapse on the floor, sobs erupting from her small body. I frowned, pondering on rather or not to ask what was wrong...I slapped myself inwardly. Gees, Twilight, even if this is a different world, she was hurting, for whatever reason, and you should always offer your helping hooves. I thought, walking gingerly over to the stall door she was in, and knocking lightly, "Are...are you alright?" She froze. Clearly she hadn't known I was in here when she barged in. After a few moments of deep breaths between us both, the door to the stall swung open. A small, pink girl stood with a large smile, trying her best to hide her reddish nose, and puffy cheeks. She quickly nodded her head, pushing past me, "I'm fine, thank you for asking." My mouth fell open at the enthusiasm she had for faking happy. I turned, leaning against the stall's main slabs, crossing my arms, commenting sarcastically, "Oh, good to know you're just fine, after a crying fit like that one." I rolled my eyes on a dull note. She froze as she started to wash her face. She slowly pulled her phalanges away from her reddish face, and peeked up at the mirror, staring at me dumbfound, "I...you heard that huh?" She sighed, standing up right and rubbing the back of her head, refusing to turn to me, but still looking at me through the mirror. I dropped my arms, and nodded, a worried-some look on my face, "How could I not?" I stated more than asked, and walked up to the poor girl, laying a phalange on her shoulder, "Are you alright?" She jumped to the touch, but quickly settled, and taking in a deep breath, she brushed my phalange off of her, "Yes, I'm fine. And if not, then I'll be fine tomorrow!" She pipped up, and twirled around, outstretching a phalange to shake mine, I'm sure. Odd thank you, but none the less, I shook it. No sooner than our phalanges had dropped, she hurried out of the bathroom, waving back at me, "Thanks for the unnecessary concerns-" she froze, and spun around, giving me an odd look and strolled back over, walking circles around me. "Purple skirt, purple hair-" she stated, pulling on a strand, I just stood, unsure of what to do, "mmm, Purple Drank!" she snapped her fingers, smiling to herself. I shook my head, her sighing, "Fine, I don't feel like playing." She crossed her arms, frowning, "What's your name?" she asked, popping her head to one side. "Twilight...Twilight Sparkle..." I said slowly, "and you are..." I teased, looking her up and down judgingly , mockingly. She smiled at me. "Pinkie Pie, nice to meet you. Now, I gotta go. Gonna be late for Math!" She threw a bright smile at my dumbfounded face, and hurried out. I stared after, unsure if anyone was like the ponies I knew and loved so much back home. How could that be an alternate Pinkie Pie? I just couldn't wrap my head around her screaming at anyone, or crying her eyes out in a bathroom, or acting as if nothing had happened! She was such a jibber jabber back home...home, this wasn't home, was it? I needed to get that thought out of my head, this was a much different, darker place. I shrugged the incident off, and went back on my adventure to find the principal's office. I headed out the door, and no sooner than I had started off in one direction, an all too familiar voice snapped at my back. "Young lady, where are you supposed to be right now? This is the second time I've caught you skipping class." I turned to see the pale face woman barking at me again, phalanges on her hips. I sighed, turning around, pinning my phalanges behind my back. "I'm heading to the principal's office, but I can't seem to find it. I'm new here." I stated flatly, and she responded with a rolling of her eyes, and snapped her phalanges as she turned on her heels, signaling for me to follow her, so I did. And before I knew it we were at the office I had been looking for for a good part of an hour. "Oh, thank you." I mussed, and pushed past her and into the small room with a large desk, with a plate that read: Principal Celestia. I took in an annoyed breath, turning back around and walking back out. "She's not in there, but thank you." She smiled meaninglessly, and walked into the room I had just left, "I am now." She stated with a snarl, and walked around the desk to take a seat. My jaw dropped. No, no, no, no, nooooo! This...this...hurtful, mean, aggressive, smartallec, overbearing, rude...just no. This could not be Celestia, but then again...thinking back on the...off Apple Jack I had met, for lack of a better word, and the sad Pinkie Pie, AND the rather short tempered Fluttershy I had met earlier yesterday, I can see this being probable. Though I hated to see it being so, she, the real Celestia, was so warm and loving and caring and nice. This person just...sent shivers down my spine every time I made eye contact. She raised a brow at me, "Are you just going to stand there, catching flies in your mouth, or are you going to come in here and tell me what it is that you need, little girl?" She ended condescendingly. I snapped my jaw close in a tight movement, and grunted. I trotted back in, and closed the door roughly, earning an aggressive look from the hateful Celestia. I plastered on a fake smile, and sat down, and explained that I was new here, and that I needed to be...enrolled as she told me, and also that I had misplaced a crown, and as I described it, she rolled her eyes, laughing, she crossed her arms. "Oh, you are full of yourself, aren't you, miss Twilight Sparkle?" She snarled at me, and reached down to retrieve a stack of papers she had been meaning for me to sign. "Excuse me?" I asked shortly, glaring. Slamming the papers down, she glared right back, and pointed to a poster on her wall after handing me a pen, "That crown belongs to my daughter, Sunset Shimmer. Or, at least it will. The crowning is after the fall formal. She's won three years in a row now..." she smiled fondly at three horrific looking pictures of a girl who she says is Sunset Shimmer, and once more her daughter, winning this 'fall formal' while posing in unpleasing ways. I stared dumbfoundedly at her, and then stood up sharply, hurrying to sign the papers, and turned on my heel to leave, throwing over my shoulder, "She's not winning this year, whether you like that or not!" I yelled, slamming the door shut, taking in a deep breath. I wiped my face with the back of my phalanges, and started down the halls blindly, running through everything. Sunset Shimmer was clearly dominant here, winning a meaningful award each year for the past three years, she was this Celestia's daughter, and she looked just as mean as the seed Spike had planted in the back of my head earlier today. "Spike!" I yelped out, shook my head to clear it, and took off to find my friend. He had to know what she looked like, and who she was here, and what meaning she had to these people. But...where was he anyway? oOo Spike found a hiding place in a nearby room, close to their make-shift bedroom. He curled under a desk, and laid his head down, taking in deep breaths. He hoped that Twilight was okay, he hated being away from her. She was his best friend after all. He shivered from a cold chill. "Burrr, it's cold in here." He talked to the air, and stood up on all fours to find something to cover up with. It didn't take him long, since most of the room had sewing machines and were clouded with clothes. He grabbed one with his mouth, and pulled it down, snaring it on a needle. He growled, pulling hard, hard enough to pull the whole machine down with it! "Ahh!" He yelled, jumping back after dropping the material. A loud crash rang through the room as he dropped to the floor, covering his eyes and waiting for the pain. Which never came. "Are you alright, cutie pie?" A soft, familiar voice asked, as a warm tingle sparked and shot through his whole furry head. His tail instantly started to wag, left leg twitching. Oh that's the spot, he thought. But just as soon as the pleasuring feeling came, it left. He whined, rolling onto his back to get a better look at who ever was holding him. He stared up at a purple hair curled beauty, with bright crystal blue eyes, and skin as pale as snow. She smiled down at him, rubbing his belly, "You like that?" This pure white angle asked, causing him to hum loudly. She giggled, "You sound like a little kitty purring." She kissed his forehead, sending electrical shocks through his whole little body as she set him down, frowning as she looked over the mess he had made, "Hey, you shouldn't be in here. Look at the mess you made, puppy. I have to clean that up before next period." She scolded lightly, and stood up to untangle the machine from the fabric. Spike huffed, and hurried over to grab a piece of cloth, tugging on it to loosen it. The girl giggled cutely, and shooed him away, "I don't need your help, but thank you anyway." She smiled, and bent down to look at his collar, "Spike. Thank you Spike," she nuzzled his nose, "you can call me Rarity, well, you can't call me anything since you can't talk, but either way. Nice to me you. Shake?" She asked, sticking a phalange out. He licked it, then placed a paw in her phalange, taking note that this Rarity was as stunning, and as caring as the one back home. He drooled. oOo I sighed, leaning against the door to our room. I couldn't find him anywhere, even though I rounded the school at least two different times. He wasn't in the library, or FFA, or the kitchen I had found. Though there was alot of people in there so I thought it highly unlikely, didn't hurt to try though, "I wounder where he is?" I asked myself aloud, and started to circle the building again. SMACK! I fell to the floor yelping, and swatting the air. What the heck was that?! "Oh my, I'm sooo sorry!" I whined, rubbing my sore face, "You must of been too close to the wall, I knocked you good with the door, huh?" I felt a phalange on my face, and I hushed it away. "That's okay, no biggy-SPIKE?!" My eyes widen. This pale girl was tangling him in her arms. "Huh? You know this dog? Is he yours? Well if so, just for your information, he made a huge mess in my favorite class! I had to clean it all up myself." She humped at me as she bent down, giving me a helping phalange to stand up, "And, you can't have him at school, you know that right?" She leaned in close, "You don't want to end up like that Fluttershy girl did, do you?" "Fluttershy? What do you mean?" I asked, reaching for Spike, who was oddly reluctant to leave her arms. "You haven't heard? What, are you knew here, or something?" I nodded, "Oh...well, let me dish girl. But on the way to English." We talked the whole way 'round the school, lapping it, she realized she had passed the room, "Heh, look at me, all talk and no action! I feel so bad for that girl...but I should be going, it was nice netting you, Twilight." She gave me a quick hug, and gave Spike a kiss on his wet nose, and headed into her class room, throwing over her shoulder, "We should talk more in lunch today!" I stood there, stunned. She was just like the Rarity back home. Though, as much as that should have relived me, I was crushed. Fluttershy, the Fluttershy of this world, had been humiliated, and shamed. Her animals taken away, killed infront of her...how cruel. No wonder she acted so...off putting. "Wow." Spike mouthed, and leaps out of my arms. I nodded down at him. "Yeah...wow. And that's not the only wow of today." I started in on everything, trying to push back all the bad thoughts I had, and focus on the task at hand. I took in deep breaths, letting out facts of Sunset Shimmer winning a formal that gives her the crown, of Celestia being her mother in this world, of the Pinkie Pie I had met, and now all this about Fluttershy and Rarity tuned in for a fun fact filling day! I joked with myself, shaking a bit. I had no clue as to what we were going to do next. "So, with all this 'info, what's next?" I screamed silently, raring my head back. Spike giggled, patting me on the leg, "There, there. With all this 'info, I think we should look in to the formal a little bit more. If Celestia says she'll WIN the crown, don't you think she doesn't have it? If she doesn't, then maybe you can win the fall formal! Whatever that is..." once again, Spike was much more helpful than my flabbergasted brain ever could be. "Yeah, you're right, Spike. But if she does have it already..." I trailed off, and Spike picked up. "We'll find her, and take it back! No worries!" He jumped up and licked my cheek, reassuring me. I smiled, nodding, and picked him up. I didn't know where to start, but we started off none the less. I lifted a leg to move forward, just as the bell rung. I fell to the floor with the rush of people. I squeaked, and hid Spike, who wiggled out from my grasp, whispering a good bye for now, and bolted off with the crowd. Once the ringing was over, I stood up, a bit dizzy. "Why do they DO that?" I rubbed my head, and started again down a hallway I just now noticed. It was littered with lockers, and it was a bit dimmer than the rest of the school, "Huh, I doubt I'll find anything about the fall formal here." I reasoned with myself, and turned around to head another way, but heard a scream. I whipped back around, "What was that about?" I asked no one, and ran down the deserted halls, peeking down each individual small sections that held at least twenty lockers each. Again, I heard a scream, coming from the back of the sections. I ran quickly, and slide past it, catching two people out of the corner of my eye. I took in heaps of breaths, and hushed myself, spying around the corner to see two girls aggressively arguing with each other, one was yelling loudly, almost screaming. "I swear to GOD Sunset, if you say a fucking word, I will KILL you!" A lean blue girl, with rainbow hair warned, pointing a phalange menacingly at... "Sunset Shimmer." I straightened up in awe. I found her...I found her by mistake, and she was just as hateful looking as in her pictures. I crumbled my brows, reasoning with myself that I should wait to see what happens, that maybe it had something to do with the crown as she waved around a wand like object. "Ha! Your threats are empty, Rainbow Dash." She held the wand over the girl as she jumped for it, but fell short. She growled, and slapped the fire hair girl in the face. She stumbled back, shocked, but snapped back quick with a hard shove, "I will destroy you! I can wipe out your whole career with this little bit of information." She stated dangerously, phalangering the small wand, giving it a loving look. Rainbow Dash of this world glared at her, and screamed, stomping the ground. She took in deep breaths, and then stilled, dropping her head, she asked, "What...what do I need to do to keep your filthy mouth shut, you bitch?" Sunnset Simmer smiled at her, and tossed the wand at her, "Nothing at all to bad..." she walked around the angered rainbow hair girl as she bent down to pick up the wand, tears in her eyes, "just stay away from him..." she ended flatly, and went to pass her. My eyes widen as I quickly hide behind a near by trash can. She stopped short, right near me. "Oh, and a vote would be nice too, ha...haha...mawhahaha!" She laughed menacingly, and took off right past me. I eyed her, not seeing the crown was a good thing, I hoped...but what about Rainbow? I unfolded myself and stood up, carefully heading down the dim hallway toward this world's Rainbow Dash. She was collapsed on the floor, crying her eyes out, holding the wand close to her belly, whispering words I couldn't understand...what was an abortion? Adoption I knew, but not abortion. "Are...are you alright, Rainbow Dash?" I asked carefully. She cut the water works fast, and slung the stick down the hall behind her, and stood up quickly, whipping her face, she growled: "I'm f-fine!" She pushed past me, but I grabbed her arm, worried, "What?!" She screamed, shoving me. I yelped, falling into the lockers. She gasped, and leaned into help me upright, "I-I'm sorry...I shouldn't...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." She begun to sob again, and fell into my arms. We slide to the floor, her nestled tightly in my arms. I just held her for awhile, stroking her hair, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. We stayed like that forever, long enough for the bells to start ringing again. She sighed, and separated herself from me. "I'm sorry. I don't even know you." She whipped her face, looking me dead in the eye. I gave a ghost of a smile. "I'm Twilight Sparkle." I said simply, not wanting to upset her again. She nodded, and stood up. She held out her phalanges to help me up. "I didn't mean to shove you, Twilight. I was just upset. Hey, um, don't tell anyone what you saw, okay?" I shook my head. "I won't say a word." I zipped my lips and threw away the invisible keys, and she broke down in a tight lipped smile, and hugged me tightly. "Hey, uh, there's a game tonight, you should come. We can get to know each other, I could really use someone right now...someone that doesn't know me, someone who can know without knowing...me." She shrugged on the ending, and I just nodded. "Sure. Where at?" She gave me a questionable look, but shook it off with a laugh and explained the starting of the fall formal, and the football game, and the soccer game, and the dance, and she knew so much about it. I had to go, not just to help her feel better, but to find out more about the fall formal, and Sunset Shimmer.