//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Quill and the Sword // by BloodQuill //------------------------------// BloodQuill, Twilight and Spike sat around the small table in the middle of the library floor. The three of them had been talking steadily for a few hours. Finally, Spike noticed the clock and hopped up to prepare dinner. Twilight and Blood Quill sat in an awkward pause for about a minute. Without Spike's lighthearted charisma the conversation lacked in subjects to discuss. "Sooo," Blood Quill began after a while, "have you visited your mom and dad recently?" Twilight let out a short breathy laugh as if she had forgotten to breathe since Spike left and relieved to finally have a topic to cling to. "I know it's been so long since I went back to Canterlot for anything but emergency calls," Twilight sighed regretfully, "can't be helped I suppose but I do miss them. I've been so busy between my studies and my friendship reports that I had almost forgotten about my family to tell the truth." "I know what you mean. I haven't been to see my parents for a really long time. Neither has Sylva. Writing my books and being a Princess's personal helper are both full time occupations." The two started talking about their work and family and soon were back in a steady conversation. Spike came in with a huge platter of food for the talkative cousins. They all sat down and enjoyed a nice meal oblivious to the rest of the world. Nothing could go wrong with the cousins back together again. ---- A small white unicorn sitting at a table in the corner of a room. A purple unicorn who looks two years older older walks in and sits next to her. The smaller one looks up at her with large, rose eyes. "When will I get my cutie mark Twilie?" "Don't worry, Q," the purple filly next to her comforts. "But Twi, everyone in my class has their cutie marks except for me!" "I know but don't get yourself so worked up about it. Cutie marks explain your destiny. You can't just rush something as important as that!" "I know but if I'm going find out my destiny shouldn't I know it now so I can have lots of practice for my career?" "Well, maybe you have a special something that doesn't need as much practice as the other fillies' and colts' in your class," the older unicorn reasons. "Or you could just be something super special," she says poking the other filly playfully. The small one grins hugely and wraps her hooves around the purple pony's neck, nestling her muzzle in the older fillie's mane. "I love you, Twilight," she says, "you're the best cousin anypony could ever have." The older filly returns the hug. "Promise you won't leave, Twilie?" the small, snow-white coated unicorn says, "I need you to promise you'll stay here always to make me happy." "I promise." --------- Twilight opened her eyes suddenly, the last words of her dream still with her. "I promise." Twilight didn't ever remember that moment until now. She had forgotten it about it completely because of being busy. After all, wasn't that exactly what they had been talking about just last night at dinner? Being too busy for anything like memories or family. But, somewhere in the back of Twilight's mind, she did remember. A pebble of guilt bloomed into her heart remembering that now. Why did she forget? Shouldn't she have had this dream when she was about to leave for Ponyville?Of course not. BloodQuill had testing the day she left for the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville and certainly couldn't have come to see her cousin off to somewhere that everyone expected her to be back from the next day. She had told Twilight that she wanted to stay in Canterlot this year. "Sorry Twilight finals are coming up. Do a good job of organizing it though." "It's okay, Quill," Twilight had responded, "I'll be back day after tomorrow anyway." "I'll miss you" Twilight hadn't forgotten those words, though. No matter what she did in Ponyville, Twilight wouldn't get too busy to forget those words. Sometimes she would be having a really good time in Ponyville, whether it was at one of Pinkie's famous parties or there was a sale on encyclopedias at the bookstore, and she would think of those words. And suddenly it would all seem meaningless. The pebble grew slightly heavier. A bump from the room next to twilight's woke her up from her trance. BloodQuill was here now so it really didn't seem to matter now but Twilight couldn't help but feel guilty. She shook her head to try to clear it. "You okay?" Spike asked just waking up. "Uh, yeah, fine," Twilight replied blinking away the sudden dizziness. She made her way towards her cousin's room at a brisk trot in an attempt to leave her thoughts in the other room. Spike groggily stood up and stumbled after her to start breakfast. He went down to the kitchen to begin his day. When Twilight entered BloodQuill's room she was greeted by two familiar faces. "Sylva!" Twilight ran over to the midnight dragon and hugged her. "Wow! You're almost as big as Spike," she said and immediately feeling older than she was for it. She blushedand put a hoof to her mouth, embarrassed by her outburst. "It's fine I'm totally used to it," Slyva giggled. "Spiiiike!" Twilight yelled, making the other two in the room flinch. "Yeah?" Spike yelled back from the kitchen. A clang of a pan falling to the ground came from the kitchen immediately followed by the sound of tiny padded dragon feet running as fast as tiny legs could for the room the three girls were stationed it. They unicorns and other dragon giggled in unison. "Sylva!" Spike panted as he came to the door holding onto the edge of the door frame. Seeing the three giggling made him blush and in an attempt to hide it by lowering his head towards the ground in an to make it look like he was just tired. "I missed you too, Spike," Sylva said, walking over to hug him. He tried returned the friendly hug and stood there just tall enough to make trying to hug her back awkward. "Hey!" Spike said remembering something. " Pinkie Pie said to head over to Sugar Cube Corner for a surprise!" BloodQuill glanced at Twilight. "Is that the...." "Yes," Twilight said, cutting her off. "Right..." BloodQuill said slightly nervously. Sylva looked slightly nervous too. "I think I know who Pinkie Pie is," she said, " I came off the train last night and a pink pony claiming to be called Pinkie Pie came out of nowhere and started singing me a song while bouncing around me in circles and begged me to be her friend." "That definitely sounds like Pinkie," Spike muttered. "So is every pony around here like that?" "Um, no, thank Celestia," Twilight responded, "but I imagine you will get a little extra attention, since you're new." "So let's go!" Spike interrupted, hurrying out the door and bouncing up and down by the coat rack in anticipation. Sylva tagged along behind him in the same way she did in Canterlot, falling into old habit. "Why is he so worked up to see Pinkie Pie?" BloodQuill asked Twilight quietly. "Oh it's not Pinkie, it's where she lives," Twilight said mysteriously. "And the inevitable fact she's throwing you guys a totally awesome party!" Spike added helpfully Twilight shot him a Look.