Chapter 7
The next morning, Blue woke up sitting next to the remains of the fire. She pried herself of the ground and looked around. The others were asleep on the forest floor near her. Twilight lay a little farther from the group. Blue got up quietly and walked over to her sleeping form.
It was like looking at a completely different pony. Her normally stressed, guarded face was relaxed. A slight twitch in her front hoof and lips showed that she was dreaming. Her mane, filled with dirt and twigs from a night on the forest floor, fell over one of her eyes. Her ears were pressed against her head, and one would twitch occasionally. Blue could feel a small smile cross her lips as she looked down at the Mare who was her mother.
Looking around, she noticed that one pony was missing. Looking at the horizon, she saw that the sun was rising. She knew exactly who was gone, and where he would be. She spread her wings, but stopped. He would probably want to be by himself, she thought. Folding her wings, she started the job of waking the others up. Several pretended to be beyond the reach of a hoof on the shoulder, which would require a stronger hoof on the flank.
When they were all awake, She walked over to Twilight, who was still asleep. “Twilight...mom, it’s time to go.” She pressed a hoof against her shoulder, which was still covered in the lab coat. A small snort brought her back to reality. She stood up fast, eyes wide. She looked up at the sky, then at Blue.
“Oh, Celestia. I guess I over slept.” She stared to run around the camp site. "I told myself not to do that."
“It’s OK.” Blue said, not knowing that she had actually overslept. She could tell that Twilight was EXTREMELY stressful. This was going to be interesting.
A flash in the trees caught her eye. Looking up, she could see Dual flying down. He landed next to Twilight silently. “What are we doing today?” he asked, when she had noticed him.
“Well, we are getting home today.” she said, a smile on her lips. “But it is going to be tricky. We will have to dodge not only Celestia, but my friends as well.” she said, chewing her bottom lip. “I don’t want them to know about you guys yet.”
“Why not?” Blue asked. Would her friends not like them? Would they consider them freaks?
“Well, they don’t know what I have been doing for the past nineteen years at the lab.” she said, starting to pace again. “They think it was for Unicorn studies. If they knew...” her voice trailed off. She shook her head.
“I don’t want to deal with that until I have to.” She unfurled her wings, gently jumping off the forest floor. “What I need to worry about, is getting you home.” She started flying away from them. Blue looked at Dual.
“Still think we should trust her?” he asked, black eyes hiding any emotion. Blue nodded.
“She has gotten us this far.” she responded. “I see no reason not to trust her.” Dual nodded, then jumped into the air. Blue followed, along with the rest. She could feel conflicting emotions from the rest. Fear, joy, suspicion. Each of the Gens felt different, but they all knew one thing, this was going to end one of two ways. Terrible, or fantastic.
Blue watched the forest shrink below her. Their shadows disappearing as they rose higher. Her thoughts were still on Dual, but she tried to push that to the back of her mind. This was more important, she told herself. But a little voice in the back of her mind spoke up. Was this more important, it asked. When they finally settled down, she would have to get the answer. One day.
She shook her head, stopping the thought. She tried to focus on other things. The pull of the wind at her mane. Her wing muscles moving under her skin. The fact that they were going home. Finally, the thought was broken.
Hours passed, the forest had turned to dessert. They had passed a small town and were now following railroad tracks in the sand. Blue looked in amazement at the landscape. She had never seen anything like it. They had only lived in the mountains. This place was so alien to her, so strange. But then the sand ended, and another forest began. Twilight started to drop low over the trees. Her hooves were almost touching the treetops. Her head moved side to side, eyes scanning the ground. Finally, with a smile, she stopped. Dual and the others stopped next to her, their wings beating in unison.
“What is it?” dual asked, looking down at the ground. blue followed his gaze. Tucked within the trees, she could see a small hut. No bigger than her room at the old house. Smoke rose out of a chimney, and the sound of chanting broke the silence. Twilight turned back to them, still smiling.
“We are almost home.” She pointed at the mountain in the distance. They could see the silhouette of a castle hanging off the side of the mountain. it perch was so precarious that it looked as if it was held by magic. Which, Blue reminded herself, it probably was. She looked down at the base of the mountain. Small building rose up from the ground as if somepony had planted them there.
“Is that your home?” Blue asked, looking at the small town. Twilight nodded.
“Ponyville. I have lived there for, oh, 20 years now.” she said, looking at it. She started to drop towards the ground, pushing branches out of her way “Come on, we will have to go by hoof from here on.”
Twilight landed on the ground, hooves sinking slightly in the marshy soil. The Gens landed next to her, all looking in amazement at the new scenery.
“How far is it?” Yellow asked. he wings were staring to droop, as were her eyelids.
“Not to long, sweetie.” Twilight said. ‘About ten minutes. Then I will have to sneak you to my house, through Ponyville. that is not going to be easy.” She started walking in the direction opposite the small hut. Blue trotted to catch up with her.
“What is Ponyville like?” she asked, voice filled with curiosity. Twilight smiled at her.
“It is fantastic.” she said, eyes shinning. “It is small enough that you know almost everypony there. Birthdays, town parties, we all have them together.” She stared through the forest, as if she could see the town. “It will be amazing to go back after so long.”
Blue cocked her head. “I thought you lived here?” she asked, confused.
“I do.” Twilight responded. “But I haven’t been back for a few months now. I have been doing work at the lab.” her voice trailed off. “Well, I guess I don’t have to worry about going back there anymore.” she said, melancholy in her voice.
Blue didn’t know what to say, so she just slowed down slightly, letting Twilight move ahead slightly. She pulled up next to Dual, who was scanning the forest around him.
“What do you think?” she asked, looking at his pure black eyes. he continued looking around, not at her.
“About what?” he asked.
“You know, living in a city, with other ponies. What do you think it will be like?”
“I suppose it will be fine. All we have to do is stay there for more than two days, and we beat out last record.” he said, sly smile on one corner of his mouth. Blue chuckled when she heard this. But that was the last thing they spoke for the rest of the walk. it passed in silence until, finally, they broke through the trees.
Light seared their eyes, which were used to the darkness of the forest. Slowly, that glare faded, and they stepped out into their new home. Twilight watched them, grinning from ear to ear.
“My house is just over there.” She pointed to the middle of the city. “I think if you Stay on the roofs, you should be able to stay out of sight.” She started walking away. “Just follow me.” Dual nodded and jumped into the air, the others following. She watched them fly to the nearest building, then started walking.
Slowly, they followed her through the city. The houses provided cover as they flew, keeping Twilight in range. All the while, they stared in wonder at the town. Ponies walked here and there, buying, selling, or just talking. They had never been this close to other ponies in their lives. Blue had to resist the urge to fly down and introduce herself.
Five minutes late, Twilight stopped outside a giant tree. But on second look, Blue realized that it was a house. Windows rested between the branches, and a door st in the middle of the truck. To what seemed like nopony in particular, Twilight pointed to the top of the tree. Blue followed her hoof and saw a small balcony. Then, she walked inside. Blue turned and looked at Dual. His gaze was filled with suspicion, but also hope. he nodded, then flew over to the balcony. Blue followed, and so did the rest.
When they reached the balcony, Twilight opened the window. They stepped inside, marveling at the inside of the house. yellow started flying around, looking at everything she could see. Blue walked up to one of the walls, which were covered in large, rectangular objects. She pulled on off the shelf, almost causing several others to tumble down as well. She looked at the soft blue cover. Ornate, gold lines swirled across the cover, somehow finding themselves on the back as well. She let it flop on in her hoofs. Strange lines, loops, ans swirls covered the pages. Blue looked up at Twilight, who was biting her lip again.
“What are these?” she asked, turning around to look at the rest of the house. Almost every wall was covered in them. There had to be thousands. Twilight looked confused.
“They’re books.” she said. Blue still had no idea what she was talking about. “Do you know how to read?” Blue shook her head.
“What is reading?” Dual asked, walking towards the book in Blue’s hoofs. Twilight started pacing again.
“Reading. Ummmmm...” her voice trailed off. “It is like talking, except not talking. Every word I say, can be written down, and put into a book. When you learn how to read, it is like second nature. You wont even know your doing it.” Blue nodded, still not understanding. She doubted that she will ever learn how to read.
Twilight stopped pacing. She started walking towards a flight of stairs that led to a lower floor. “Anyway, let me show you where you will be staying.” she jumped off the stairs, her wings flaring out to catch herself. She landed with only a soft clop of her hooves. Dual was not one to be shown up. He jumped off, flipping in the middle of the air, and landed next to her, raising an eyebrow. Twilight just laughed, shaking her head. “I have a friend who I think will like you.” she said, a sly smile showing for a split second. Then she walked towards a door right under the stairs. Blue jumped down and landed next to Dual. She started to walk towards Twilight, but Dual stopped her.
“Wait, let’s see what shes got.” he said, not taking his eyes off the door. Twilight just shrugged, her horn glowing. The door opened by itself and she walked in. Dual followed her slowly, peeking his head into the room. A look of surprise crossed his face. Blue rushed over to look as well.
Inside, six beds rested, three against each wall. Their covers matched their eye colors. Black, blue, green, res, yellow, and....orange. Blue could feel her heart sink when she saw it. Looking around the room, she noticed how Duals bed rested against the east wall, and hers against the west. The ceiling was painted to look like open sky, with clouds and birds flying. She could feel a slight pain in her throat from holding back tears. She turned to Twilight, who was looking anxious.
“I didn’t know if you wanted beds, or, you know, clouds.” she said, avoiding eye contact. Blue rushed over, pulling her into a tight hug, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Thanks, mom.” she sniffed. “This is amazing. Wonderful. How long have you had this here?”
“About five months.” she said. “I had a feeling you would be coming home with me, so I did this.”
Dual walked over, bowing his head. “I am sorry for not trusting you.” He stuck his hoof out. Twilight took it, smiling.
“Well, get yourselves settled. I will---” She was interrupted by a knock at the door. Her eyes widened in panic. “Stay here. Don't follow me.” she told them, then started to walk towards the front door. She rounded the corner and was gone from sight. They heard the door open, and a slight yell.
“Twilight! I heard you were back!” the voice said, excitement on every word.
“Hello Rainbow. It’s good to see you.” Twilight said. She sounded a little less thrilled.
“Where have you been all this time?” Rainbow asked. Blue could hear the sound of wings beating up and down. “It’s been months since you were back in town.”
“I was just doing some work.” Twilight said, trying to avoid the question. “Can you come back a little later, please?” she asked. “Now is not the best time.”
“Why?” asked Rainbow. “I don’t see any packing. What are you doing?” She gasped slightly. “Do you have someone over?”
Twilight cleared her throat slightly. Even Dual could hear the blush in her voice. “In a manner of speaking...” A small cheer rose from Rainbow.
“Well I have to meet him!” she said. The sound of wings grew stronger. Twilight protested, but Rainbow flew in anyway. She rounded the corner and saw them. For a second she just stared at them. She was so stunned that she forgot to flap her wings, and she fell to the ground.
Blue looked down at the cyan Pegasus on the floor. Rainbow just stared back. “Umm, Twilight?” she finally said, still looking at Blue. “Is there something you want to tell me?”