//------------------------------// // Preparations (wip) // Story: Red Ash: The Struggle // by RedAsh714 //------------------------------// It was 6:45 p.m. and Twilight of course was stressing over how to tell her friends the situation and ask them if they would be willing to come and be introduced to Devon even though he probable won't to communicate with them or even understand what's going on or being said to him. "Okay,so I was just wondering if you girls would be willing to come with me to the hospital tomorrow so I can introduce you all to Devon;who is a human from another dimension that I teleported here because Discord asked me to and also I'm kinda the reason he's in the hospital because I wasn't careful enough with the spell I used...and...Ugh!THEY'LL NEVER agree if I tell them that!What am I gonna do!What am I gonna say!Ugh!WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SO COMPLICATED!?!?!?"she ranted while pacing,and making another grove in the floor around the table in the libraries main room,in her frustration. "Although I don't seem to have a lot of luck with you not pummeling me when I say this,I'm gonna say it anyway:Twilight don't worry about it.Everything is going to be fine.Besides,doesn't something bad usually happen whenever you stress out like this?"Spike half stated half asked after having dawned his 'Twilight's freaking out armor'(1). If looks could kill,then the look that Twilight gave Spike when she turned to him would have blown the planet up from her dreaded 'What did you just say to me' glare(1). "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!?!?!"the purple mare screamed not loud enough to be called the 'Royal Speaking Voice',but still loud enough that you could probable hear it all the way from Fluttershy's house. Do you realize what they'll do or say when they hear that one Discord asked me to teleport him here FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION!!"she quietly shouted,"Two that Devon has been here in the hospital for TWO WEEKS and NONE of them were informed!And if that aren't skeptical enough of my sanity by that point then when they ask if Celestia knows about Discord asking ME to do what he asked me to do and I tell them NO BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T!!!!THEY'LL THINK I'M FULL BLOWN INSANE!!!!"she screamed because she had lost the ability to stay quiet when she got to the last few parts. "So YOU tell ME!!WHAT PART OF THIS SHOULDN'T I BE WORRIED ABOUT!?!?!?!?!!" She screamed the last sentence so loudly that all the windows and other glass objects in the house all but shattered from the shear volume of her voice.(which was so shocking because all the windows were 4 inch thick quadruple reinforced shatterproof glass.Reason for this being a certain rainbow maned pegasuses constant crash landings through said windows.And all the glass objects in the house had a spell to make them just as strong.) Needless to say that both Nyx,who had been on the sidelines watching this all unfold, and Spike,along with anyone in the immediate vicinity of about 40 feet,were deaf for about 10 minutes and would be hard at hearing for the next 3 hours. The other 5 bearer's of the Elements of Harmony arrived collectively at about 7:05.Noticing the still shattered windows Rainbow Dash decided that she would be the one to knock on the door,but still did so very,very cautiously.Could be some kinda trap by a new villain or or something...right?I mean how else could the windows be shattered,as much as I hate to admit it but those windows are almost indestructible.Even to somepony as awesome as me.she thought as she reached to knock on the door. Knock,Knock,Knock. No answer."Hey Twi?You home or what?"she paused for a second to listen and see if there was any shuffling or if Twilight would answer.Which there were not. Rainbow was now a little agitated that they had been called to a meeting and now that they were here Twilight was ignoring them or lost in her own little world while reading,again. The cyan mare soon called out with a hint of impatience in her voice,"Twilight open up!We're all here!HELLO?!"she shouted the last part in her frustration. "Ya do relies that ain't gonna make her answer any faster,right?"Applejack questioned from behind Rainbow. Rainbow let out a frustrated sigh and replied,"Ya...I now."she then pouted,wishing she could just go back to practicing her stunts instead of waiting. "COMING!Just one moment!"Twilight finally could be heard saying along with the sound of shuffling and a few shouts that were not Twilight's. "Finally!"Rainbow said before she could stop herself. "Rainbow!"Applejack shouted as she cuffed the pegasus in the ear. "OW!Sorry!Shesh!"she shouted while rubbing her ear. "Oh!There you girls are.You're seven minutes late by the way."Twilight said suddenly said from her spot in the doorway,effectively startling all five mares because they all,yes Pinkie too,had not heard her open the door. "Ya,Sorry about that Twi.I kinda was the reason Fluttershy was late.Tank accidentally crashed through one of my cabinets,Again, so I asked her to give him a check-up.And Scootaloo here,"Rainbow paused and pointed to one of the three fillies that were behind the group,"Wouldn't let me leave without taking her."she said before adding,"And it looks like AJ and Rarity had about as much luck getting out of it as I did." "Yes!"AJ and Rarity grunted together in frustration. "Well...I guess that's okay.But they have to promise not to tell ANYONE about what they see and hear tonight or tomorrow...If you all say yes that is and they come with us.You girls are going to have to make the same promise until I say otherwise as well."she said looking as well as sounding very hesitant about said decision. They all decided that it was for the best to just agree and as if they had been practicing for hours,the five mares and three fillies all said the words and did the motions for a Pinkie Promise in perfect unison. "Alright,come on in."Twilight said motioning for them all to come inside. As they were all going inside,the group was met with the sight of a very mentally scared looking Nyx and Spike.Both their eyes were the size of saucers and their ears were twitching constantly. "Um...Twi?"Applejack whispered in Twilight's ear. "Mhm?"Twilight said innocently. "Why does it look like you just,um...'flashed'...Nyx and Spike?"AJ whispered hesitantly. "I can assure you I didn't 'Flash' them.As to why they look like that...you could probably ask the windows that question and get the same answer."she said sheepishly. "Geez Twi!"AJ quietly shouted,"What did he say ta ya this time girl?"she said already knowing that Spike had said something that set Twilight off. "Let's just say that I think Spike finally learned not,to tell me not to worry about something when I'm already worrying about it."the purple mare said with an amused grin on her face when she stole a glance at Spike and Nyx to see the CMC trying to interrogate them on why they looked the way they did.(Trying and failing on the CMC's part because of the partial deafness from Twilight's scream.) "Wow.I think I'll keep that in mind next time I plan on doing that."Applejack said while visible wincing. "WHAT?"both Nyx and Spike suddenly shouted.(They could could not tell that they were because of,again,the partial deafness.) "Um...Girls,could you follow me upstairs?I still want as little information about this to have a chance of being revealed as possible."Twilight asked a little sheepishly. The five mares looked to each other,shrugged,answered "Sure",and then preceded upstairs to the second floor of the library soon followed by the alicorn mare herself. When they were all upstairs Twilight shut and locked the doors and windows as well as put a soundproof spell on the room.She then turned to her friends and was about to start explaining what was going on but was interrupted by Rarity before she could even start. "Darling,whatever is going on?I mean,a soundproof spell on this room after you already put one on the library itself.Really darling I think that you really are starting to develop a serious trust issue.And,what did you do to poor Spiky-Wiky and Nyx?We saw the windows,dear."the fashionista asked suspiciously. Twilight let out a deep sigh to try and calm her mind before she answered her friend's question. "Look,what I'm about to tell you...the kids,excluding Nyx and Spike because they already know and were there when it happened,can't know about yet because...well..."she let out another sigh before continuing,"I honestly don't trust them not to accidentally let out any of this information."she admitted hesitantly. "Twi,this had better be darned important 'n classified info if'n you honestly don't trust our sisters."Applejack deadpanned as she glared at Twilight. "Girls...Someone's life might be in danger if this gets to the public right now.And as far as I'm aware neither Celestia or Luna knows about him or the information that I'm about to tell you right now and maybe show you and the kids tomorrow."the alicorn admitted with shame,regret,and fear evident in her voice and on her face. "And I need it to stay that way...at least until this situation gets better...or until I decide that there is nothing else to do but tell them."she added hesitantly.She was beginning to regret her decision to bring her friends and their sisters tomorrow. "WHAT?!?!?"the other five mares in the room exclaimed. "What do you mean someone's life might be in danger?!And what do you mean you DON'T want the princesses to know what's going on?!?!"Rainbow Dash shouted,unable to accept the fact that their friend,'Princess' Twilight Sparkle,would even THINK let alone SAY those words. The alicorn mare sighed hoping that this wasn't going to be as long a night as she could see it becoming."I guess I should start where this all started..About two and a half weeks ago while Nyx was in school and Spike was on his way home from your place AJ,I was woken up by a unusual and unexpected visitor,Discord.And he asked me to do something for him that he couldn't ask Celestia for because he was afraid of what she would do to him when he asked her.He asked..." ~<+: 20 minutes later:+>~ "So,now that you know the situation...I was wondering if...maybe tomorrow...you girls would be willing to come and visit Devon in the hospital?"Twilight asked hesitant yet hopefully. "So let me see if'n a got this right,Twi..."the farmer paused to collect her thoughts,"Discord asked ya ta teleport a human here,a human from another DIMENSION,which ya do;But he arrived not breathen and he has been in the hospital for 2 WEEKS,and now ya want us ta go 'n visit him 'cause ya think if'n we go 'n see him it might help him ta recover faster?"she asked before adding,"AND ya haven't even told the princesses yet.Nor do ya won't fer 'em or the general public ta know about him tell he can talk 'n stuff again?"the farmmare finished still sounding skeptical that there wasn't more to this than what Twilight had said to them. "Um,Yes?"the purple mare answered hesitantly making it sound mare like a question than an answer. "And yer sure ya didn't leave out ANY details at all?"Applejack questioned sounding just as skeptical. "Cross my heart,hope to fly,stick a cupcake in my eye."Twilight replied confidently while doing the motions. "Alright.It's not like I got anything better ta do tomorrow anyhow see'n as it's one a ma days off.And I reckon Apple Bloom can come to as long as she promises to behave 'n not tell anypony about Devon.Until ya say so that is."stated the farmmare. "And Dash,before ya even get started,"she continued turning to the pegasus in question,and effectively cutting her off,"I already know ya don't got anything better ta do tomorrow so just say 'yes' already 'n get it over wit."AJ finished with a serious tone that made it clear that not going wasn't going to be an option. "Ugh!Fine!"RD shouted,irritated that she had been cornered into going. "Well,I for one am most definitely interested in seeing this human for myself.Maybe I can even design him a new ensemble when he gets better and,or is in need of it."Rarity said with stars in her eyes. "You know you can count me in Twilight!And I Pinkie Promise not to be my usual self around him until you say I can!"Pinkie said with her rarely ever heard serious tone and face. "Um...I don't have anything planned for tomorrow either..so..I guess..I can come to...If that's okay with you of coarse."said Fluttershy in her usual quiet and meek manner. Twilight was brought to tears of joy by how well her friends were taking all this considering the circumstances. "Thank you girls!"the alicorn exclaimed galloping up and giving them all a group hug,"You have no idea how much this means to me!"she continued through her choke like sobbing.After a few more moments of hugging she pulled away and wiped her eyes before saying,"Thank you all for being so understanding about this girls...It really is great to be able to talk about this to someone other than Nyx,Spike,or the medical staff at the hospital that Devon's in."she sighed happily after finishing. "'Course!What kinda friends would we be if we just left ya hang'n like that Twi!?"Rainbow exclaimed in her usual prideful yet loyal sounding manner. "Even if I am still a little skeptical about this whole thing not being some big elaborate scheme by Discord to get back at us."she admitted with a bit of shame on her face and in her voice from her admitting to not fully trusting Twilight's judgment and from the disapproving look that Fluttershy was giving her. "Rainbow,if you weren't at least a little skeptical about this whole crazy situation I honestly would think you were a bit crazy yourself.Even I'm skeptical about this situation.But that still doesn't change the fact that I need to do whatever I can to help Devon because if I had been more careful when I cast the spell,then he wouldn't be in the hospital or unresponsive,and we would probably already know why Discord wanted him teleported here and why or even how he knew that Devon would do what he did.So until Devon gets better and possibly tells us what the heck is going on,"Twilight paused for a moment to choose how to say her next words. "Then I will do anything and everything in my power to both protect him from possible danger and help in any way possible to help him him get better and recover from the mess that I put him through."she finished with an air of confidence and determination about her. Twilight was sitting at her full height waiting for her friends to ask a question or do something.After a few moments of silence had passed she decided that it was time for them to decide what time they would all meet up and go and visit Devon. "So...Since you all have agreed to go...What time do you all what to meet here so we can go to the hospital together?"the alicorn asked. "What time the visiting hours start at would be nice to know before we decide."Fluttershy stated before quickly adding,"If you want to tell us that is." "Oh!"Twilight exclaimed,now starting to blush at the fact that she had left out that important piece of information."Sorry...Um,let's see,"she paused to recall what time they started at,"Visiting hours start at 12:30 and end at 6:30."stated the purple mare. "Then if'n it's alright with everyone else,then let's meet up at 12:50 and leave at about 1"AJ suggested. "Sounds good ta me!"exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "The only problem I see with that is what about the kids?Tomorrow is a Tuesday is it not?"questioned Rarity. "I was kinda thinking...Maybe we could take them out of school early for this?"Twilight asked hesitantly. As the alicorn mare finished that sentence the jaws of the other 5 mares in the room dropped simultaneously.After a few agonizingly long moments,the silence was finally broken by Fluttershy. "Um...Twilight,are you...feeling okay?"the canary mare asked with concern evident in her voice. "What?Yes!I'm fine!I...kinda already said that Nyx,Spike,and I would be going tomorrow...and that I would ask you girls if you would be willing to go...And!,this might actually help him with becoming responsive if he is exposed to other ponies,and dragons,other than me and the medical staff at the hospital."she said. "Also,if you think that something is wrong with me just because I plan on taking my daughter out of school early...then all I have to say to that is;Really?FAR stranger things have happened you know."Twilight said with a bit of irritence that her friends immediately think something is wrong when she says or does something even remotely strange. "Well if'n that's the reason why then I don't see why we should be concerned.'A mean she's only keep'n a' her promises,and I reckon Apple Bloom does deserve a break after all the work she's been doing both in school and on the farm.So count the both a' us in."AJ said,relieved that Twilight was only keeping one of her promises to somepony. "Sweetie Belle has been doing fairly well in school too,as well as a giant help around the Boutique