//------------------------------// // 2: A star, a star, hanging on my rump // Story: Book of Sparkle // by Homeshine //------------------------------// "I was going to give it to you for your birthday, but I think I really need to give it to you now," Twilight held out the deep purple volume titled "Book of Sparkle" in her pink hooves. Pinkie took three tries at levitating it out of her possession, before the pink glow around Pinkie's horn caught hold and it lopsidedly lunged over to Pinkie, the book desperately flapping like a dying bird, as it careened across the room, barely under control. Finally, the book rushed to a stop. Twilight didn't even want to think about how Pinkie's later flying lessons would go. "Is this a book about you?" Pinkie asked. Pawing through the pages with one outstretched hoof, not daring moving it any further with magic, as the book hung, splayed open crazily at a reverse forty-five degree angle. "Sort of. It's all about how I think. Maybe you'll get to know me better as you read it. Although it may be a bit fast when you're actually BEING me." "I'm good at doing things fast." Pinkie said. At that moment, a library patron jangled open the door. An elderly female voice called out from out of sight, "Hello, can anyone tell me how to find the books on sewing a pearl stitch?" "I know just the thing. Oh Spiiiiike," Pinkie called out, in Twilight's voice. "Can you help this nice lady find her book?" "On it!" Spike called back as Pinkie smiled. "I always think fast. As you're going to learn when you make cupcakes!" * * * 'Okay, Twilight', she thought to herself as she stared down at the ingredients, 'you can do this. You've made cupcakes without Pinkie's help before, and it didn't go TOO bad.' Granted, they weren't exactly what anypony considered edible, but at least she hadn't started a fire or anything. It was a small victory, but a victory none the less. Think of it as a class. That was chapter one; this is chapter two: making EDIBLE cupcakes. Twilight smiled at that, and opened the cookbook. She may have to move everything with her hooves instead of with magic, but doggone it, she had a BOOK to help her. And if anyone could do something with a book, it was her. * * * "I KNOW it sounds crazy. But I'm actually Pinkie Pie and I need you to HELP. Aren't you like the assistant librarian or something? You know where all this stuff goes." Pinkie was struggling to magically lift a 10-book set of encyclopedias that she'd found draped over the reading table. The bright neon pink glow around them completely gave away their hover-er. "MOST of it, but you- er, Twilight's always been the one in charge of that stuff." Spike gawped at the pinkly-glowing books. "That's freaky." "Well, it's got to go somewhere; I can't hold this forever. We'll just MAKE a space for it." * * * So there was no molasses, eh? Well, Twilight could just use syrup as a topping for begonias and cream. They're basically the same, anyway. It should work out fine. * * * "You're right. The customer is ALWAYS right. Well, why are the astronomy and astrology books so far apart? People want to look at both. From now on, they'll be together." "But Twilight always- I mean, you've always said astrology was just hokum," Spike was wriging his hands, looking increasingly nervous with every change Pinkie made to the Library's sorting system. He was certain Twilight would NOT approve when she came back. But Pinkie was going all-out. And, to be fair, people were finding their books easier when they were arrayed from an outsider's orderly manner. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? "But the Daring Doo books HAVE to stay right where they are." Pinkie blinked twice, "Of course they do. That's where people expect to find them, silly." * * * "I want to thank you for making something for our anniversary on such short notice." Twilight beamed with pride as she held out the … whatever it was. She'd find a name for it later. But she knew that salty counteracted bitter in the taste buds so she could sweeten things without adding sugar. Once she put her mind to it. * * * "I never knew She wrote this." The young stallion said as he held aloft his newfound treasure. "Of course. That's why I put them together. Now you can find new things you like!" Pinkie grinned madly at her victoriousness. Even Spike was starting to cheer up. There was no way this could go wrong. * * * Finally, Twilight came back home to the library, balancing a tray of sweets- her sweets. Of her very own. She was quite proud of those sweets. Pinkie was busy dusting, wearing Spike's frilly pink apron, which somehow worked on her, giving her an air of being in charge, of Accomplishing Big Things. The pink tinge of the feather duster's levitation glowed softly in the fading sunset through the library windows, as Pinkie quietly hummed a catchy tune to herself. Then she saw Twilight coming in the door. "Oh heya Pinkie...Twilight...Pinkie. Which should I call you?" "I don't even know. I've answered to both so often today" "Same here. Even Spike got confused." "You told him?" "Yeah. You tell the Cakes?" "Yeah, but I told them to keep it a secret, though." "Same here. Although Spike did send a letter to Celestia." "Celestia usually knows what to do." "Um Twilight … until then … "Pinkie blushingly rubbed her front hooves together, "Can I still keep being you? I really like being Twilight. I'm so … important!" "Well, I rather like being Pinkie Pie. It's almost a vacation being the party animal for once. But... Pinkie, we can't keep this up forever." "OH, well, yeah," Pinkie smiled again. And blushed again. "But you know... until Celestia figures it out." "Until then .. of course" Twilight looked out the window. "We can have a mini-vacation. Until Celestia …" she trailed off, unsure what to say, exactly. She was secretly hoping it was later rather than sooner. With a massive belch or firebreath, a letter appeared between them. Spike dutifully unwrapped it. "Awww... I wanted to be Twilight some more." Twilight smiled, "What's it say, Spike? What's the cure?" "Well, you're not going to like this … Celestia wants all of us, all seven of us, to report to her, first thing in the morning. There's some sort of mission? Even though you're each other, she says this is more important right now, and we'll have to figure the swapping thing out later. "Well … that will be fun." "I LOVE fun!"