//------------------------------// // 152. Books by Drizzle Quill // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// by Drizzle Quill *** “Package for Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight stared at the box uncertainly, an aura of scrutiny hovering about her in the way she narrowed her eyes and signed the paperwork with jagged, uneven lines, rather than her usual flowing signature. Not even bothering with a thank you, she abruptly slammed the door in the delivery colt’s face. The pitter-patter of dragon feed came from above; Spike hopped down the first few stairs and then stopped as he lay eyes on the box. “Another one?” he managed weakly. Twilight nodded grimly, using her magic to open her package. “Another one.” Spike hopped down the final few stairs and came to a halt next to Twilight, trying to peer over her shoulder. “More books?” The alicorn’s nose scrunched as she levitated three large volumes, each with covers of brilliant rose, scarlet, and white. “More books.” Spike frowned, reaching over to take them in his arms. “Should I put them with the others?” His gaze shifted to the right side of the room, then back to the very dissatisfied princess, who threw her hooves up in the air. “Heck if I know!” She groaned, turning to stare at the now towering wall of books leaning precariously against the bookshelves. The baby dragon hurriedly tottered over to place the three new additions at the bottom. “I love to read and all, and the Princess knows that...but why the hay has she continuously been sending me romance novels?” Spike simply shrugged, hoping that was an adequate answer. Twilight moaned, staring up at the massive barrier of books looming before her. “How am I supposed to read all these? Surely she doesn’t expect me to discover the Magic of Romance now, right?” She turned and glared at Spike. “Right?” “R-right!” he agreed a little overenthusiastically, nodding his head up and down. Twilight put her hooves to her head, wincing as a jolt of pain shot through her mind. “This is literally giving me a headache, Spike.” She turned and seemed to deflate. “Princess Celestia is just so confusing sometimes. She speaks in riddles, and seems to know everything, and nothing she says ever seems to make sense because it’s always alluding to something else, and normally I can figure her out, but this…” The alicorn slumped to the ground, folding her wings over her head as if to block out the world around her. “This, I just don’t know.” Spike sat down next to her, placing a claw on her back. “What if she’s trying to send you a message?” he suggested. Twilight lifted one of her wings slightly to peer at him through wide violet eyes. “What kind of a message?” she whimpered. “Well, she keeps giving you books about love.” The dragon leaned back, thinking. “What if she wants you to find a date?” The alicorn’s cheeks flushed rose. “Why would Celestia care about me finding – oh.” Slowly her face grew to an even more violent shade of pink, slowly turning as red as Apple Bloom’s mane. “Oh.” Spike’s eyes went wide. “You don’t think—” “—it’s not possible—” “—she wouldn’t…” “…like me too?” Spike stopped and stared at her; Twilight blinked, flushing. “Did I say that last part out loud?” Before the dragon could reply, something seemed to swell in his throat; hacking, out popped a small piece of parchment riding a green flame. On it were six simple words. Meet me in the castle. -C Twilight’s eyes went wide.