Mid September, 1004 A.D. (After Discord)
Discord, the spirit of disharmony and self-proclaimed Lord of Chaos; during his reign of terror for a single day, all of Equestria suffered. The population suffered from one of three terrors; either becoming their natural opposite, forced to live through their worse nightmares or having to live through the Tartarus of the real world ruled by Chaos.
It took the country three days to properly recover and resume their normal routine, though one wouldn't know this if they observed the residential librarian of Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville.
Having recovered during the draconequus' reign, Twilight wasn't unsure of herself as much as other ponies were; it was whether or not the others meant what was said that was the question.
“Twilight! You saw how everypony else was like after you helped them; they totally didn't mean anything they said.” Spike patted the lavender mare's shoulder as she sat by her upstairs desk; she had been making extensive notes about the event and had gotten to the point of how the others behaved.
“Yes but what if deep down that's how they really feel but their manners dictated they can't say so?! What if she really does hate libraries!?!” Twilight's mane frizzed out as she put both fore-hooves to the top of her head; Spike merely rolled his eyes as he realized what this could very well be about.
“I'm pretty sure Pinkie Pie likes libraries. Most of your dates wouldn't be staying here and reading if she didn't like them.” The young dragon tried to cheer up the librarian who merely shook her head as she pressed her hooves harder on top of her mane.
“What if she's bored of it because of that?! What if she's gotten so bored that she now hates libraries and she's just hadn't gotten around to telling me!?” Spike deadpanned the lavender unicorn who stared to pull out the various books on dating to compare what the experts said about keeping both parties interested in the relationship.
“Twilight! I'm pretty sure she would let you know if she wanted to try something new. You're worrying too much; everything is fine!” Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, her imagination running wild with images of her marefriend, who was in her proper color but was still mean and annoyed at the unicorn, stating how she no longer wanted to be with the unicorn because she was too boring.
Spike sighed and began to look around the library to find something that could distract or bring the unicorn back from her imaginary future. Books were unlikely to help, she wouldn't even think about eating if she went too far, nopony was visiting that could help...
Suddenly there was a pink figure who slowly trotted up the stairs; the odd sight of the usually bouncy mare sedately walking, almost hesitant as she came inside, gave the purple dragon pause.
Spike quickly trotted over to the pink earth pony who smiled weakly at the dragon which caused him to frown in concern. He had only seen Pinkie this sad the day of her last birthday and heard stories of how well that went.
“Pinkie Pie? What's wrong...? You gotta talk with Twilight, she's worrying too much about what happened.” Pinkie lost her attempted smile as her eyes looked to her mare to find that Twilight was indeed fretting herself into knots; the lavender mare was crouched down with her mane and tail frizzy and out of sorts with both fore-hooves covering her eyes.
The usually hyper mare made her slow way to the lavender one's side; she kept low to the ground to try and catch purple eyes even if they were covered. Twilight whimpered as she continued to mutter about what may happen if Pinkie did indeed hate libraries.
“.... what if she doesn't like how the books are stacked and purposely threw them to the ground to make me upset and then stomped all over them as she frowns at me for having thought they were any good and she starts to say how much she's never liked any of the books we read and hates me, the library and everything else and never wants to see me again...?” The pink mare was able to hear some of the ramblings and gasped in shock and sat next to the lavender unicorn abruptly and leaned into her with a nuzzle.
“Oh Twilight! Honest, I love libraries! They remind me of you and how much you love books and that you live in one and -” Twilight peered out from under her hooves with slight tears in her eyes, surprised to find her marefriend next to her.
“Pinkie Pie?” The hyper mare took no notice of the whispered call and continued her reassurances.
“-And I didn't mean any of those things I said when Discord made my eyes go all spinny and made me a meany mean pants who didn't like fun, I mean, really! I was no fun at all and didn't make anypony happy! How crazy is that? And I even said I didn't like chocolate milk! That's too crazy even for me! Chocolate milk is SO my favorite milk, except for maybe strawberry milk or mint milk or apple berry pumpkin pie milk... Oh, uh, uh... Libraries! Yeah, so I love libraries just like I love chocolate milk! There's nothing to worry about and -” Pinkie stopped suddenly as she felt hooves wrap around her barrel while Twilight buried her head into the pink earth pony's neck.
“You're here... You don't hate libraries?” Pinkie was a fluent speaker of mumble and grew concerned at how nervous the usually brave leader was.
“Oh my little star, I definitely don't hate libraries and of course I'd be here! Where else would I be but by my marefriend's side after such a meany mean Discord came through and made everything go upside down and topsy turvy; and not the good kind of festival either.” The pink baker held the other mare firmly as she rested her head onto a purple mane, slowly rubbing Twilight's back as the unicorn tried to pull herself together.
Spike sighed in relief as the librarian slowly relaxed and went downstairs to start making something for them to eat; Twilight had been working all night and hadn't stopped for breakfast when she began to panic about what her friends had said.
Pinkie noticed the dragon creeping away and gave him a reassuring smile though it was still weak due to the distress of the mare beside her. As she turned back to the lavender mare, she found searching purple orbs that lit up further when Twilight found that she was NOT imagining the pink baker beside her.
“Thank you Pinkie Pie...” Twilight nuzzled the mare beside her and gave Pinkie a tight hug before sitting up straighter.
“I guess everypony was affected by what Discord did....” Pinkie Pie tilted her head at the unicorn's words and watched with curiosity as the studious mare put the finishing touches on her paper before setting it aside with its brethren.
“Whatcha doing?” Twilight smirked at the curious tone and sudden intrusion and turned to find Pinkie's face right next to her own.
“I was writing a report about what happened with Discord and how the townsfolk, and most likely all of Equestria, were recovering from it. I had just finished the part of how ponies acted when they were 'discorded'.” Twilight made a note in the index of the finished entry and made sure the whole thing was put together properly before turning to face her marefriend completely once more; upon noticing the slightly downtrodden aura of the usually peppy mare, Twilight frowned slightly as she searched sky-blue eyes.
“What's wrong Pinkie?” The pink earth pony withdrew slightly as she looked upwards to avoid persuasive eyes; it wasn't as fun to talk about sad stuff especially since she was trying to cheer up the unicorn.
“Nothing! Nope, nada, zilch, nothing is wrong whatsoever!” Pinkie tapped her hooves together as Twilight rolled her eyes before sitting to face the now nervous earth pony.
“Pinkiiee....” The baker flinched slightly before hesitantly looking at the unicorn.
“Well, maaybbeee I kinddaa, was a little worried that you were possibly maybe... Taking what happened way too far and was totally freaking out and needed my help.” Pinkie Pie finished in a rush as she cringed in worry at the lavender unicorn's reaction.
Twilight frowned and shifted her pile of notes without looking as she thought about the mental repercussions of being 'discorded'; while she appreciated Pinkie's concern, the pink pony actually was the one whom others should worry for if her research was accurate about the side affects.
“Pinkie, are you sure that's all? It's ok to talk about things that make you sad... Sometimes talking about the sad things can make you happy.” Pinkie pondered this logic, never having thought of this kind of method to make others happy.
“But, talking about the sad stuff only seems to put frowny faces on everyone's face.” Twilight raised a single brow at this but pressed on none the less.
“Yes, but afterwards they're usually smiling right?” Pinkie tapped her chin as she tried to think of the ponies she had passed just on the way to the library including the Crusaders who were trying to find Scootaloo to help her feel better as well.
“I guess...” Twilight smiled at the concession and laid her final argument.
“Soooo, is there anything you want to tell me?” As Twilight peered at the earth pony, Pinkie Pie looked to the ground before cuddling up to the unicorn.
“I was scared that you would think that I meant what I said when I was being a grumpy pony and that you wouldn't want to be my marefriend anymore....” Twilight relaxed into the hug and rested her head onto the poofy pink mane.
“I was worried that you meant what you had said, but you've come and made me much happier. I wouldn't want to stop being your marefriend unless you want me to, and I'd be very sad if you did.” Pinkie began to grow more chipper as Twilight reassured the party pony.
“I'd never ever ever ever ever want to break up Twilight! That's four evers! Forever forever! I'd never make you all sad...! OooohhhH I know! This calls for a party!” Twilight couldn't help her sudden laughter at the almost expected response from the hyper mare and shook her head in resignation.
Just as the lavender mare was about to respond, her stomach spoke for her in the from of growls and rumbles, bringing both mare's attention to it and the time of day.
“Oh, uh, maybe we should get something to eat first... I guess I forgot to have breakfast while I was working.” Pinkie grinned at the usual behavior of the unicorn and as she was going to suggestion a meal, Spike called from the ground floor.
“Twilight! I made breakfast! There's enough for all three of us.” The couple shared grins before trotting down to eat the freshly made food.
“Gosh Spike, you got the timing just right and everything. You don't have a Spike Sense do you?” The young drake stuck out his chest as he polished a claw against his scales.
“I am good at what I do.” The two ponies laughed as they sat at the dinner table to enjoy their brunch.
“Of course Spike, whatever you say.” Twilight rolled her eyes at the bravo of the dragon before scarfing down her food; having early morning panic attacks helps one's appetite.
Clean up was a simple affair, with both mares helping in order to do it together and to spare the young assistant the work. As they were heading into the main room to plan out the 'We're-no-longer-sad' party, Pinkie paused as her knee got pinchy, her two back legs twitched and her right fore-hoof became itchy. Twilight had noticed the sudden spasmic movements of the other mare and paused as well, curious as to what the Pinkie Sense was saying this time.
“Oooo... Hmmmm...” The unicorn tilted her head in curiosity at the unusual contemplative silence of the hyperactive mare.
“Is everything ok Pinkie?” Pinkie Pie snapped out of her daze and smiled at the lavender unicorn, pleased to show that she was helping the Cutie Mark Crusaders when they needed it.
“Sure thing Twilight! The Cutie Mark Crusaders need my help in a moment though, so I'll be back ok? Don't worry, it's nothing bad bad, only a little bad like sad bad and they're totally fine!” Twilight couldn't decide if she was more surprised that there was a Pinkie Sense for that or that Pinkie was actually helping the girls stay out of trouble; which was something the studious mare was starting to feel they attracted like magnets.
Twilight watched the hyper mare hop out of the library before turning to the books around her.
“Spiiike! I'll need Magical Mysteries, Mythological Lore, Beasts of the Unknown and The Land Before Time; I should be able to finish another chapter of what happened and the repercussions before Pinkie gets back.” Spike rolled his eyes at the command but went in search of the books anyways; hopefully it wouldn't take the pink baker too long and she'd be able to break Twilight free of the study mode she was trying to remain in.
Pinkie Pie had found the girls almost right outside the library, chasing a ninja-pony. After a moment to recall how fun it was working with ninjas (they were fun to surprise and a real challenge to prank), the hyper mare went over and introduced herself to the new filly.
“Oh, I don't think you'll make it; he's already used his Ninjistu to run among the leaves... Oh! Hello, I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?” As the pink mare leaned towards the green with purple mane and tail unicorn filly, the Crusaders stared back in shock and surprise. They hadn't expect to see the older mare with a much improved mood after their earlier encounter.
“Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie tilted her head to the right as she continued to smile at the girls.
“Silly, that's my name! Unless...” Blue eyes shifted back and forth as the older mare leaned forward towards the green filly even more.
“Unless that's your name too! Oooh! That'd be so neat, I've never met another Pinkie Pie, though you don't look like me at all and -”
“Pinkie Pie!” The older earth pony paused in her rambling and opened and closed her mouth while blinking before suddenly smiling again. Pinkie realized that she was getting side-tracked and heard an almost Twilight-like voice in her head trying to reign her in, something she wondered about as she waited for a response from the new filly.
(Maybe Twilight cast a spell while I wasn't looking? Ohh, what if she shrunk down and is in my head right now and listening to what I'm thinking right now?! Cuddle time's a coming!)
“Hi, I'm Eripio and you said we wouldn't be able to catch the ninja?” Pinkie smiled a little wider and nodded rapidly as she was brought back from her imagined cuddle time with a shrunken Twilight.
“Yep, I did say that! He's too far now and you don't have super secret ninja training to fight him, not yet at least.” The four fillies looked at the pink mare blankly for a while before coming back to their senses as more ponies started to become active.
“Okay... So, um, it was nice meeting you but we must be going...” Eripio started to edge away and checked her surroundings.
“Yeah, thanks Pinkie Pie.”
“Thanks...”
“Thanks fer yer, ah, help.”
Eripio had been watching the growing crowds as the Crusaders said their thanks and noticed a worrisome sight; she nudged the others and nodded towards a pony who looked rather menacing while heading towards the fillies.
As the four girls took off in the opposite direction, Pinkie hopped forward to stand in the stallion's way knowing that this was what the girls really needed help with and more than willing to provide it.
“Hi! You must be new here because I know everypony and I've never met you before!” The dark blue earth pony glared at the pink mare before trying to shift around her.
“I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?” The hyperactive earth pony shifted with the stallion who growled slightly in annoyance.
“Is it... Big Blue? Little Blue? Red Scarf? Oh oh! Red Meany, Red Meany!” Pinkie started to hop in place as she tried to guess the silent stallion's name, who was starting to become really annoyed at the fast talking mare.
Pinkie continued to try and help the girls with their 'being chased' problem but the dark coated stallion wouldn't work with her and pushed by rudely.
“What a grumpy mean pants, no party invite for you Mister Red Meany.” The pink earth pony watched the stallion go on his way into the crowd, searching for the four fillies but having no luck with it. The baker was thinking of trying to cause him more of a delay when she heard a call from behind her.
“Pinkie darling, is everything alright?” Pinkie quickly changed gears and rapidly turned around to hug Rarity with a large smile, thrilled that some of her other friends were also starting to feel better.
“Yepperoinie! It's wonderful-tastic! But you're not happy... What's wrong?” The hyper mare's face fell at the melancholy of the unicorn who briefly considered dismissing the concern before remembering exactly who she was speaking to.
“As you may recall, Applejack and I are not on the best of terms right now... But I want to make it up to her, what do you suggest darling?” Pinkie brightened at the chance to make two friends happy at once and answered without a moment's hesitation.
“A party! There's all sorts of parties for any occasion; 'I'm-sorry-we-fought' parties, 'please-be-my-friend-again' parties, 'I-really-missed-you-and-we-should-totally-be-marefriends' parties-” Rarity felt the rambling was getting too far and put a gentle hoof onto the pink muzzle to stem the flow of suggestions.
“Thank you for the suggestions but I do believe that some of those party ideas do not apply to Applejack and my hopefully renewed friendship.” The pink pony merely continued to grin at the other mare who contemplated on some of the first few suggestions.
“Though I suppose that a party may be a good idea... Oh! I've got it!” Rarity's eyes lit up and she grew excited to the point of almost stomping her hoof against the ground when she realized how she must seem and used the hoof to rest against her throat as she cleared her voice of over-excitement instead.
“Hum hum.... Darling, I know you love to throw parties, especially for birthdays, but perhaps I could plan Applejack's birthday party this year? You may, of course, help with supplies; I wouldn't even know where to begin to get half of the party supplies that you use for each of our birthdays.” Pinkie grew excited to see the power of parties at work; she always knew that parties could solve any problem and was happy that it would mean that two of her best friends wouldn't be fighting anymore. She rapidly jumped in place while nodding even faster to the proposed plan of action.
“Ohhh! Applejack's gonna be so super surprised! Just remember, her birthday is September 19th!” Rarity gave the ecstatic mare a gentle smile and waved goodbye as she continued on her way.
Pinkie quickly about-faced and went back into the library in order to get a real smile from her own marefriend. She realized that that's what the day was missing and was determined to get more real smiles from others, starting with her own special somepony.
The pink baker was unsurprised to find that her special mare was once again buried in her work; Twilight had brought her report downstairs in order to have quicker access to the books she would need. Spike had given up trying to persuade her to take a day off and was running back and forth with more books as the unicorn cross referenced facts about Draconiquuses.
(Okie dokie lokie Pinkie Pie! Your first mission, bring lots of laughing and smiles to your one and only special somepony... Though it would be a little odd to have lots of special someponies for one pony... Or would they all be each others' special someponies?) The sound of Spike tripping across the floor at the sight of the crouching pink earth pony brought Pinkie's attention back to her mission at hoof.
(Oh right! Mission time! Dun dun da Daa, Dun dun da Daa, dun dun da Daa!)
Spike could only watch in frozen shock at the leaping mare as she tackled Twilight in the perfect way to get her from the desk without hurting any of the books or the report itself.
“Whaaaaa!”
“Mwahahahahahaha, I've got you now my dear and you're all mine!” Pinkie tried to sound sinister but her smile shown through as she began to tickle the mare who was trapped under her.
“Pinkie wha-hahaha- what are -ha ha ha- no sto- ah hahaha – Nooo!” Twilight couldn't contain her laughter as the pink party pony found all of her ticklish places and attacked with vigor.
Even Spike, who wasn't near the pony pile and didn't plan on getting closer, couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Twilight struggling under Pinkie who grinned maniacally.
The party mare decided to spice things up and closed onto the lavender belly to blow loud raspberries; the feel of vibrating lips and the loud noise accompanying it surprised Twilight so much that she bucked Pinkie off in one go even as she continued to laugh.
“Ha ha- Pinkie! What, *pant *, what was that?!” The unicorn tried to look sternly back at the earth pony but couldn't help smirking at the joyful face of her marefriend.
“Silly, that was a Raspberry! It didn't taste like raspberries though, it tasted like books and fur and you and-” Twilight rolled her eyes before giving the other mare a quick peck to silence her rambling before she heard exactly what she tasted like (she was already starting to want to take a shower at the short description).
Pinkie smiled at the kiss and took in the demeanor of the mare before her, appraising to see if her smile was 'real' enough yet or not. Seeing how quickly Twilight turned back to her work once the party mare remained stationary, Pinkie decided that it wasn't enough and went on the attack once more.
Spike dived for cover just as Pinkie sent Twilight rolling across the floor in an attempt to escape capture; something that she ultimately failed to do leaving her trapped under pink hooves once more.
“Pinkieee!”
“I cannot hear the cries of the tickled, for you are tickled and unable to stop me!” Pinkie continued to press her advantage, throwing Twilight into another fit of laughter.
Spike peered over his book fort to find curious blue eyes looking back, keeping track of their next target once Twilight showed enough of a 'real' smile. The dragon read the intent and took off for the rooms upstairs to build a better fort with a small laugh of his own.
Just as Pinkie was going to unleash more 'not-really-raspberries'-raspberries, both mares coincidentally looked up to find four frozen fillies right inside the doorway, their jaws hanging loose at the sight of the lavender mare stuck under the pink one.
“Hey guys! Do you have ticklish spots?” Pinkie grew an evil grin as she hopped off Twilight and crept closer to the girls who were in shock at the sudden change and stood frozen in the middle of the room.
“Guys, do ya think we came tah the wrong library?” Apple Bloom glanced out the side of her eyes to the others who were all slack jawed at the pink menace.
“Maybe…” Scootaloo tried not to break eye contact with the party pony least she pounce as the pegasus looked away.
Twilight watched with a smirk at the crouching pink earth pony and her need to put smiles on ponies' faces on these difficult days. The unicorn was amused at the terror the girls had just from being threatened with tickles and her smirk grew as she watched them shake free of their frozen stupor.
“Wait!” Pinkie merely grinned larger as she came closer, ignoring the three shouts as she began to wiggle her hind end as she crouched further; Eripio saw and decided a different tactic was needed.
“Secret Labs!” Both older mares paused at the shout and looked to the green filly who was wide eyed and looking between the two mares in slight desperation; Pinkie tilted her head in confusion at the shout and stopped her advancement while Twilight frowned at what they could possibly want with secret laboratories.
“We want to know about secret laboratories...!” The others nodded rapidly and began to chime in as well.
“Yeah, we wanted tah know where ya got yours from.”
“We, ah, we wanted one too.” Scootaloo was nervous as the lavender started to frown as possible bad ideas ran through her mind of what the girls could do with a 'secret laboratory'.
“But we wouldn't want to use it for much! We just want to have internet and computers and... And things... So we can talk with Eripio when she goes back to Manehatten.” Sweetie Belle finished with an innocent smile, which was soon copied by the others as they looked to the party pony who began to smile in return with realization in her eyes.
“Yes, we wanted to know who helped to make it; the Crusaders said that it was really cool when they were telling me about yours.” Eripio flashed a smile at the pink mare who nodded happily before bouncing to Twilight and giving her a quick nuzzle.
“I'll be right back Twilight! Don't you worry your pretty little head, Auntie Pinkie Pie has it all sorted out in a big ol' knot!” Twilight raised a brow at the phrasing and smirked at the nuzzle before frowning a little towards the girls.
“You girls are going to be safe with that kind of thing?” The four fillies smiled reassuringly at the studious unicorn.
“Yes ma'am!” Twilight relaxed slightly at the answer while the pink earth pony led the way outside with the four girls following behind.
Once the visitors and their guide left the library, Twilight began to clean up her mess that she made while writing the report. She had a feeling that if she tried to finish the report on Discord she would have another tickle session within moments. Once all the books were away Spike had grown curious as to why it was quiet downstairs; he knew the couple liked to cuddle but they usually kept that for the bedroom where they didn't run the risk of others finding them.
“Twilight? Is it safe?” The lavender unicorn smirked at the term and called back up the stairs for her assistant.
“Yes, Pinkie's gone to help the Cutie Mark Crusaders again. Can you come down after you've put away your 'fort' to help me with a letter for Princess Celestia?” Spike flinched at how the unicorn knew that he used the majority of the books on the upper floors to make a large castle to defend himself with and began to put them away quickly, knowing that Twilight would want to send the letter right away.
To occupy her time and as a way to wait for Spike to finish cleaning upstairs, Twilight began to start reading her next assignment. In the midst of her reading, the studious mare realized that she had more work than she thought to catch up on; having fought Discord and then trying to document it had taken a lot of time to do.
The purple and green dragon came downstairs to a clutter of books, papers and calenders as Twilight tried to reorganize when she had to finish everything, having came to the conclusion that she would have to cut back on most of her other activities to get her studies done.
“Uh, Twilight? You wanted to send a letter to the Princess?” Twilight jumped at the voice but turned with a frantic look before remembering what she had wanted to send.
“Oh, yes, yes I do. Spike, take a letter please.” The unicorn waited until the young drake had quill and scroll in claw before starting.
“Dear Princess Celestia, I learned today that somethings can effect everypony, no matter if they were able to realize what was wrong before and that sometimes the best way to help somepony else is to be there to listen to them...” Spike wrote as quickly as possible to keep up with the dictation of the bookworm as Twilight recounted the various things she learned from Pinkie that day.
The hyperactive mare returned to the library to find her special somepony buried in books once more, though of a normal kind instead of sad/depressing things like Discord. Pinkie shook her head at the sight before giving the unicorn a nuzzle, drawing her attention from the book she had opened in front of her.
“Hey Twilight, whatcha reading?”
“Hmm? Oh hello Pinkie. I'm reading a book on the stars and how it used to be thought that they could influence some of the things that happened here in Equestria. Sorry but I've got a lot of work to do today, you let me know when you want that party ok? I have to make sure I can get all my work done so I'll have to set aside only a certain amount of time for it...” Pinkie wasn't sure of what to make of Twilight's almost paranoid scrambling but wanted to help her mare stay happy, including making it so she could do all the studying she wanted.
“Sure thing Twilight! We'll have the party tomorrow and then you can do all the studying you want! We can even compare schedules for when we can go on our next date!” The pink earth pony clapped her hooves in excitement while the unicorn looked on in shock as she realized that she hadn't thought of any dates that they would want to do while making her crash course of studying.
“Oh, ah, yes, of course. Let me get my calender out.” As the small calender was floated over, the two mares spent another hour discussing when would be a good time to have some simple dates in the next month.
It was a little hard to find days that they could be together with all the work that had piled up but they managed and they even put a few dates that would be get togethers with their friends (as well as the 'nopony-is-sad-anymore' party).
Once that was settled, the couple shared one last kiss before going their separate ways for the day; one to continue her studies and the other to spread happiness around town.